Medusa And Her Lover, out today, turns a Greek legend into a co-op PS VR adventure

After showing the game to thousands of players at various game shows, I am excited to finally see Medusa And Her Lover release on PS VR internationally. All the smiles and support that I have received from everyone who has seen the game has pushed me toward the release of this unique PS VR game, which focuses on co-op play.

Since this game is rather unique, and throws the player deep into the world that Medusa and her lover find themselves in, I wanted to take the time to introduce how you can play in both single and co-op modes. I hope that you will all use this information to fully enjoy the game!

Introducing Medusa And Her Lover

Medusa is cursed — any living being that she makes eye contact with will be turned to stone. When facing various enemies, this curse turns into quite an advantage, as she can turn her opponents to stone with a single glance. However, great power comes at a cost; overusing her hardening stare can tire her out and place a great amount of strain on her body. Her only form of recovery is to close her eyes and take a moment to rest.

Medusa doesn’t travel alone. Gaios is a young hero, determined to find a cure to Medusa’s curse. Gaios battles side-by-side with Medusa, covering her blind spots. He draws enemies away from her in moments when she needs to close her eyes to recover.

Medusa and Gaios are tragic lovers — though they support each other through every step of their journey, it could all end in tragedy with a single glance.

Medusa And Her Lover can either be played with two people in local co-op or as a single player in VR where each side of the controller takes control of a different character. The set up is rather unique, but can lead to hours of fun as you face the various stages of monsters.

Local co-op mode

Medusa And Her Lover can be played with a partner in local co-op mode. One player assumes the role of Medusa, and wears the PS VR headset. The other player takes the role of Gaios, played via the TV screen. The game is relatively simple to operate, with no complicated game mechanics that might deter casual players.

The key part of local player for Medusa and her Lover, is the chance to communicate and work together, without looking at each other — the same circumstances as our two main characters. While I was developing the title, I often heard comments such as “My relationship with my husband/wife improved though this game” — something a developer is always delighted to hear!

Please note that two DualShock 4 controllers are needed for co-op mode.

Single player mode

Single Player mode features a rather unique style of play as you take control of both Medusa and Gaios. Controlling two characters at once can be challenging at first, but doing it smoothly for the first time results in a huge sense of accomplishment.

While wearing the VR headset, both characters are controlled using a single controller, where the buttons and joystick on the left side controls Medusa, the buttons and joystick on the right controls Gaios. Since I was developing this game alone, I was exclusively playing in this mode.

You can switch between the characters simply by moving them, viewing the scene from a third-person perspective. This can help you navigate the field, see your surroundings, and escape from enemies you didn’t notice behind you.

Standing still after moving Medusa switches you to her first-person perspective. In this mode, you can directly look at your enemies and turn them to stone. Just be careful not to look at Gaios!

Although Medusa’s ability is powerful (and cursed), she must time take to rest. It is during these moments where Gaios can shine. Using the two characters in tandem can create a defensive team with Medusa handling long range attacks, and Gaios focusing on close range.

Since single player mode is much more challenging than co-op mode, I recommend you start on Easy difficulty. It can be rather difficult at the start, but you can begin slow and work your way bit by bit through all six stages of the game.

This two-character set up can open up a variety of unique playstyles, so I look forward to hearing everyone’s best strategies for the game!

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PS VR adventure Moss gets an all-new chapter in today’s free update

Hello! Today, we’re bringing the Twilight Garden — a free update and brand-new chapter of Moss — to the PS VR community. That’s right, your favourite little mouse is ready to extend your adventure in her whimsical, fairytale world. And having launched Moss nearly a year-and-a-half ago, the Twilight Garden is an answer to every fan who can’t wait for more Moss.

The Twilight Garden is an all-new adventure that runs alongside Quill’s incredible journey through the original storyline of Moss — a complementary experience to the main game. This new chapter introduces additional environments, challenges, and story for new and returning players to experience.

So, really… what’s new? Well, first you’ll discover strange portals woven throughout the existing game. These magical gateways will transport you and Quill to the Twilight Garden, a place unlike any you’ve seen in Moss thus far.

 

The strange and vibrant garden is adorned with Sprite artifacts, making it clear you’re somewhere special that is rarely (if ever…) visited by outsiders. Here you’ll reunite with the familiar toad character from your previous meeting with Rootseer Vada and the Sprites, and you’ll also encounter a mysterious presence that will prepare you for the dangers ahead.

 

The toad may not trust you at first, but there’s a good chance he’ll turn around as you best the challenges and prove your worth. And as you get to know him, you’ll realize he is alive, and players will have fun feeding him dragonflies, initiating a staring contest, annoying him, and ultimately departing with a cool fist bump.

 

And as a reward for overcoming the challenges within the garden, Quill will receive a new, magical gauntlet and armour set. With the new look, she’ll possess the ability to reveal hidden pathways, allowing her to traverse to areas otherwise unattainable.

Along with the new armour set, the guiding presence within the garden will gift Quill a new sword, allowing her to modify her attack style, making it more directional and allowing for rapid, successive attacks. With the new sword, you’ll observe that Quill’s attacks are more fluid, a testament to her growing skill in combat. In fact, this new weapon handling skillset transfers to Quill’s base sword as well. Enjoy!

Additionally, the sword offers more than a new directional attack style of combat, as you can empower Quill’s new sword with a magical energy charge which enables her to reach far away targets. We love this mechanic and can’t wait for you to try it out.

 

But, if you want to continue outside of the Twilight Garden with Quill’s signature green gauntlet and sword, we’ve given you the ability to equip Quill with your preferred weapon and armour. Now, players who enjoy using our screenshot mode (right-thumbstick-press while in the game menu) will be able to snap a picture of Quill with their preferred look!

We’re so thankful for you all and hope that with the release of the Twilight Garden, we’ve given you a reason to reexplore Quill’s world and renew your excitement for what is still yet to come.

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How Lost Orbit: Terminal Velocity expands the fan-favourite sci-fi racer when it launches on PS4 next month

Prepare to once again embark on a perilous journey filled deadly asteroids, orbital boosts and the emptiness of space, but now featuring a polished experience, a brand new epilogue and a myriad of new challenge levels. Escape space pirates and more in Lost Orbit: Terminal Velocity!

A journey revisited

Relive the original tale of Harrison’s journey through the stars with a fresh take on the story. We had an enormous reaction from fans of the tale of Harrison and his robot sidekick, so when we decided to create the definitive edition of the game we wanted to add new levels and enhance the original game.

Terminal Velocity features a more cinematic retelling of the original story, bringing a new perspective on the trials and tribulations of our surly hero. We also improved the gameplay experience, polishing levels, timing and controls. This is by far the best way to play Lost Orbit.

The story continues

Lost Orbit: Terminal Velocity features a new epilogue to continue the story. After the events of Harrison’s journey across the universe our hero is reunited with his sister only to find out that things are much worse than he thought possible.

Space pirates roam the system salvaging whatever they can all the while Ferro Corp is rounding up refugees and forcing them into labour contracts. Harrison sets off on a mission of escaping the chaos that was once his home world in hopes of finding more survivors and a place to call his own. With the new story, we also added three new trophies.

More challenges

Players boost, swim, bounce, leap, smash and teleport their way through a myriad of obstacles in a desolate yet beautiful galaxy as they struggle to find their way back to civilisation.

Armed with only an improvised set of equipment and a relentless spirit, astronauts will need to survive 65 intense levels across 5 systems, and confront not only their mortality, but also what lurks in the darkness. To aid in the travels, survivors must upgrade their abilities and employ fast-thinking skills to complete their interstellar journey alive.

The original game had four systems and around 40 levels. Players wanted more and that’s exactly what we focused on. For story-driven fans we created a deep epilogue to continue the tale, with new friends, foes and insults. For the challenge hungry players we crafted 15 extremely challenging levels to test to the most committed astronauts.

New mechanics

The epilogue is our most dense system in terms of new mechanics.

Players have the ability to smash into old depleted cores sending them flying into obstacles to clear a path. Next players receive a new drill upgrade, allowing them to punch through asteroids smashing their way forward. The system is filled with space pirates, actively trying to gun down Harrison, setting up traps and laying down homing mines. The system is also filled with old space cables, allowing players to grind on rails to quickly traverse areas.

We also added a few story-focused gameplay levels. Players must drill asteroids to clear a path for an out of control starship, make their way through an old pirate filled mine and even face off against an enormous pirate ship.

Lost Orbit: Terminal Velocity, the definitive version of the fast-paced, dodge ’em up game from PixelNAUTS Games is launching 16th July and will be a free upgrade for players who already own the original game!

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Samurai Shodown’s Season 1 DLC roster revealed as the fighter launches today on PS4

Samurai Shodown is just about to launch and players around the world are roaring to embrace death with their fellow peers. This sword-based fighting game is not for the weak at heart, for at any moment you can go from being on top of the world to six feet under in mere seconds.

This new title in the Samurai Shodown series cuts its way into the FGC by adding three new, completely original characters to its roster. Fan favourites like Nakoruru and Galford take the stage as newcomers Darli Dagger, Yashamaru Kurama, and Wu Ruixiang come blazing in with playstyles unique to their character personalities.

Additionally, SNK has announced who the four characters of the Season 1 DLC pack are!

We kicked off E3 with the reveal of Rimururu, the cute but deadly little sister of franchise star Nakoruru. But the three other characters are true-to-form OG ones that will make any SamSho fan squeal with delight.

In order of release they are:

Rimururu

I bet you’re looking for ice or cold puns. Come on. Even I know better than that.

Cute and cold have never gone together so easily! Oh, but watch out; her zoning tactics will have you ripping your hair out. Loveable Rimururu is joined by her protector spirit, Konru, as she sets out on an adventure to prove she has what it takes to protect nature. Does she succeed or fail in her journey? Read the first letter of each sentence in this section to find out!

Basara

Basara is back and ripping into action with his signature weapon, the Togabitogoroshi. If you thought ninja throwing stars were dangerous, wait till you see this monstrosity. Nobody wants to embrace death more than Basara, but he is one of the few examples where you can’t always get what you want.

Kazuki Kazama

When there’s an evil spirit bringing an imbalance to the natural order of things, who do you call? Kazuki Kazama, of course! Armed with the Suzaku, a blade which contains the trapped fire spirit, Enja, Kazuki sets out to bring peace to the land and vanquish evil!

Wan-Fu

Wan-Fu has used many weapons to send his opponents to the afterlife. In this instalment, he’s picked up his trusty stone pillar to turn people into manhole covers. Wan-Fu doesn’t just drop his weapon, he throws it–you decide who’s going to be on the receiving end.

A message from (Samurai Shodown) Producer, Yasuyuki Oda

“For the first season, we wanted to extend our roster with different playstyles which can keep all players on their feet. Even though they’re still in development, we feel that each character has a very unique playstyle which fans new and old are sure to love. We at SNK truly hope you enjoy the newest instalment in the Samurai Shodown franchise.”

Samurai Shodown hits PS4 today, and the DLC characters start rolling out this August. And don’t forget, the first Season Pass DLC is completely free if you purchase or pre-order by 30th June!

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Catan VR brings the famous board game vividly to life on PS VR, from tomorrow

We’ve all had that moment. You stare across the room and see that familiar red box. It’s time to roll some bones, build some roads, hoard some sheep, and trade your way to victory on the island of Catan.

Unfortunately, this often happens when getting an impromptu gaming session together with your crew would be impractical if not impossible. You could fire up the mobile game, but you’re craving something a little bit more present; a bit more immersive.

Finally, you can scratch that itch any time, day or night, with the PlayStation VR version of Catan, starting tomorrow!

Social settling

The absolute best part about Catan on PS VR is the sense of social presence you get when you jump into a game with friends or online opponents. Catan VR has a broad vocabulary of game experiences and the excitement of a great roll, the frustration of getting robbed, or the satisfaction of landing a big trade is really evident in the myriad micro-movements that you see other players exhibiting throughout the game.

Our Discord-based Catan VR tournament group has evolved from a few players coordinating games to a full-blown community of friends and gamers. A big part of that cohesion is the feeling that once you jump into a game, you’re really there with the other players and PS VR really shines in this regard.

Whether you’re talking about the game itself or just catching up with friends before a game, Catan VR on PS VR serves as a great virtual tabletop to bridge the gap.

Catan characters come to life

While the social presence of Catan VR is amazing, sometimes you just want to game by yourself or practice different strategies. This is where our AI shines.

We worked directly with Klaus Teuber and his team of incredible game designers to develop AI players that both provide challenging tactical opponents at every difficulty level, but also express the canonical personalities that have made other versions of Catan so compelling.

For example, if you want to fine tune your strategy with a more relaxed opponent, Mary Anne is a friendly player who just wants to build roads and have a good time. On the other hand, Jin will provide an aggressive challenge that will help you hone your skills for higher end play.

I for one have enjoyed way better play in meat-space with my usual Catan gaming group (aka my sister and her husband) which I totally credit to playing against the Catan VR AI in a controlled environment that really replicates what the live game feels like.

We also think we’ve come up with a really fun way to represent these classic characters in VR. While the card face presentation might seem very stylized at first, once you’re halfway through your first game, you’ll be reading their “tells” as if they were in the same room as you and looking for similar behaviors in online opponents too.

The iconic island like you’ve never experienced it before

One of my favourite parts of playing Catan on PS VR is that moment where you put the headset on and the game fires up from black. The VR display is so clean and the audio is tuned so perfectly that you can’t help but get goosebumps when you see the island fade into view, with some really soothing ambient audio making it feel like you’re really sitting on a hilltop just a few miles from the coast. I’ve probably seen this startup sequence a thousand or more times and it still gets me excited every time.

While the visuals of the island really are stunning, we’ve all spent a ton of hours in the headset on that island and quite a few of those hours were spent not playing, but just relaxing in the game lobby, either chatting with friends, poking around the room, or simply daydreaming. There’s something magical about the visuals of the island, the nostalgia of your favourite game setting coming to life, and the soundscape of the five elements of the game coming together.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t catch a nap or two in the headset in the name of “quality assurance” throughout production.

With over 30 million copies sold, and a legacy that includes spawning the modern tactical board gaming movement, Catan is one of the most important games of all time. Combining that fantastic experience with the power of PS VR has led to some incredible results and we’re thrilled to share that experience with you tomorrow, 25th June.

See you on the island!

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5 things to look out for in Lovecraftian detective thriller The Sinking City, out this week on PS4

Hey folks! The Sinking City — our Lovecraftian detective thriller — is available this Thursday, 27th June on PS Store and we are very excited to share it with you!

In The Sinking City, we play as Charles Reed, a private eye who is slowly losing his sanity. The search for a cure brings him to the fictional city of Oakmont, where the game takes place.

Reed’s mental state is something you will need to keep an eye on throughout your adventures. If it goes down, things will become… weird. Strange visions will plague the detective’s mind, he will start seeing phantoms, the city will turn to ash around him… It’s a nightmare. In this strange world, there’s a lot of things that can deplete your sanity.

To get you hyped with us, and to give some heads-up on what to expect in the game, I’d like to share a top 5 list of things you want to avoid while exploring Oakmont.

1. Disturbing sights

Even though Charles is a hardened Great War veteran and a private detective, seeing gore and massacre will still have an impact on his already damaged mental health. When you are two steps from complete madness, more violence will definitely not help, you know. Unfortunately, it’s literally his job to examine bodies and crime scenes.

2. Supernatural beings

Oakmont is home to all kinds of supernatural beings. Monsters that came along with the mysterious flood, are now roaming the city’s streets, slaughtering everyone in their way. The locals have learned to avoid them, but this is not the case for Reed. His path to the terrible truth behind his visions will often put him against the terrifying creatures. And you know what, fighting these otherworldly entities will do as much damage to your sanity as their vicious attacks – to your health.

3. Choices

In this deranged world of desolation and hopelessness, Charles will often have to make difficult choices. People you depend on, your life depends on, will ask you to commit appalling deeds, in return for their favors… That’s the price you will have to pay if you want to get to the bottom of what is making you lose your mind. And make no mistake, the consequences of your actions may and will haunt you.

4. Supernatural abilities

Charles Reed is no stranger to the supernatural. In fact, he has certain supernatural abilities that arose from the same mysterious events that permanently damaged his mind. The detective learned to use these special skills in his investigations — they allow him to see things that no one else can. But everything has a price, and resorting to these supernatural powers will take a toll on your sanity.

5. Presence of something incomprehensible

Monsters on the streets are not the only otherworldly beings, the ocean depths are dangerous as well. The dark and oppressive underwater environment will inevitably take a toll on the detective. However, there’s something far more momentous lurking among the sunken ships and waterlogged ruins. Something a man is not ready to face.

Prepare to plunge into insanity right now in The Sinking City and don’t forget: do not call up that which you cannot put down.

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Your 5 essential PlayStation Store releases this week: The Sinking City, Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers, F1 2019, more

We’re back with a host of new PlayStation Store releases for you to dig into in the week ahead. Solve a spooky mystery in The Sinking City, explore the new Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers expansion and race at breakneck speeds in F1 2019.

Read on for more details and head over to PlayStation Store’s ‘Latest releases’ hub for more information on the rest of this week’s new arrivals.

1. The Sinking City

Investigate a half-submerged city plagued by supernatural forces in Frogware’s Lovecraftian horror adventure. Each case you take on has multiple outcomes making it perfect for those of you who are up for something with a high replay value.

• Available: Thursday 27th June
• Pre-order The Sinking City on PlayStation Store now

2. Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers

If you can’t wait until 2nd July to get started on Final Fantasy XIV’s latest expansion, you can get early access from this Friday, 28th June if you pre-order Shadowbringers (requires FFXIV: A Realm Reborn / Starter Edition to play) on PlayStation Store.

You’ll have to cast aside the light and become a Warrior of Darkness to save the realm in this huge new expansion for Square Enix’s MMORPG. Explore Norvrandt, master new job classes and become even stronger with the raised level cap.

• Available: Friday 28th June 2019
• Read more: These are the big changes Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers is adding to the PS4 MMORPG
• Pre-order Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers on PlayStation Store now

3. F1 2019

Start your motorsport career in Codemasters’ latest instalment of its racing franchise, featuring all the official teams, drivers and circuits from the 2019 season. If you want some more variation, you can even compete in Formula 2.

• Available: Friday 28th June
• Pre-order F1 2019 on PlayStation Store now

4. Samurai Shodown

SNK returns with a brand-new entry to its blade-wielding fighting series, 11 years after the last instalment. Take on intense battles with new and familiar characters, and test out the Deep Learning AI that creates Ghost characters from your playstyle to share with players around the globe.

• Available: Tuesday 25th June
• Read more: Samurai Shodown out 25th June on PS4, Season Pass free for early adopters

5. Judgment

If you missed the early access for judgement, it’s available for its general release this week. Embark on an action-packed adventure by the creators of Yakuza as you uncover the secrets within Kamurocho’s corrupt underbelly.

• Available: Tuesday 25th June
• Read more: Judgment, the latest game from Yakuza creator, gets a PS4 release date in Europe
• Pre-order Judgment Pre Order Edition on PlayStation Store now

This week’s new pre-orders

1. NHL 20

Make sure to keep an eye out for EA’s returning sports franchise featuring some of the biggest names in hockey. It’ll even have a battle royale mode for up to 81 players in a survival, winner-takes-all tournament.

If you pre-order the Ultimate Edition before this September’s launch, you’ll get access to the following bonus content:

1. 1. Cover Athlete Choice Pack (85 OVR) ( Early pre-order bonus available until 18th July)

1. 1. Up to three days early access

1. 1. Up to 10 HUT Diamond Choice Packs (Pack available through pre-order offers only)

1. 1. Hometown Choice Pack (Choice of 1 hero item, increases +1 OVR each month until April 2020)

1. 1. 5 World of CHEL hockey bags

1. Access to exclusive HUT Competitive Season (Starts 13th September)

• Available: Friday 13th September 2019
• Read more: EA Sports NHL 20 announces release date, cover star
• Pre-order NHL 20 on PlayStation Store now

For the full list of all this week’s releases, head on over to PlayStation Store now. 

*All release dates are correct at time of publication.

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