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Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered now available for consoles & PC

AUSTIN, Texas – Feb. 14, 2025 – Aspyr and Crystal Dynamics are excited to release Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered, available today on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store and GOG for $29.99. Developed and published by Aspyr, this new three-game collection features Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, Tomb Raider: Chronicles, and Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, each remastered with improved visuals, modern control options, Photo Mode, classic cheat codes, trophies, achievements, and more.
 

Launch Trailer: YouTube
 

Aspyr has also released a new bundle, “Tomb Raider I-VI Remastered,” featuring all three titles from the acclaimed Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft (Tomb Raider I + The “Unfinished Business” Expansion, Tomb Raider II + The “Gold Mask” Expansion, and Tomb Raider III + The “Lost Artifact” Expansion) plus everything included in Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered. Grab this 6-game bundle deal today on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and GOG for $54.99.
 

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered brings the next trio of beloved, globe-trotting Tomb Raider adventures, originally developed by Core Design, to modern platforms with a variety of improvements for players to relive or experience for the very first time. Building on the success of last year’s Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft, Aspyr has raised the bar even further this time around, introducing several fresh tools to improve the experience, including the new Flyby Camera Maker, an on-screen ammo counter, a cutscene skipper, and multiple new animations.
 

Key Features

  • Enhanced Visuals: Discover remastered visuals that bring new life to environments, characters, and artifacts, with the option to toggle between classic and modern graphics on the fly!
  • New Modern Control Scheme: Choose between new modern controls inspired by later entries in the series for smoother movement and camera capability, or opt for the original tank-style controls.
  • The Return of Photo Mode: Photo Mode is back with all poses from Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft included, along with brand-new ones to commemorate the adventure!
  • Flyby Camera Maker: This new tool empowers players to create their own dynamic, cinematic shots. Map out moving camera paths through any scene, opening up a world of creative possibilities. See it in motion with this special video preview.
  • And So Much More! Enjoy a variety of quality-of-life updates like boss health bars, an ammo counter, cutscene skipper, new animations including ledge hangs and 180-degree turns, and new trophies and achievements* nodding to iconic moments from the series.

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered includes:
 

Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (1999)
 

Lara Croft uncovers the lost tomb of the Egyptian God Set, unwittingly unleashing him and fulfilling an ancient prophecy—one that plunges mankind into darkness. Pursued at every turn by her archrival, the unscrupulous archaeologist Werner Von Croy, Lara embarks on a journey of discovery across Egypt, where she must overcome the most ingenious puzzles and infernal traps ever devised while facing terrifying evil from beyond the grave.
 

Tomb Raider: Chronicles (2000)
 

Following the events of The Last Revelation, Lara Croft is buried in an Egyptian tomb and presumed dead. At her memorial, those closest to her reminisce about secrets from her past. Travel back and experience Lara’s untold adventures, introducing new gameplay mechanics like stealth and tightrope balancing!
 

Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003)
 

Accused of murder, Lara becomes a fugitive on the run, uncovering a sinister conspiracy involving alchemical experiments and the search for ancient artifacts. It’s up to Lara to stop this unholy alliance from unleashing its incredible powers on the world.
 

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered is available today on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GOG for $29.99.
 

*Trophies and achievements available on supported platforms.
 

For more information about TOMB RAIDER, follow at:

Official Website: www.TombRaider.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/TombRaider Discord: https://discord.gg/Tomb-Raider YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TombRaider Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TombRaider Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TombRaider
 

About Aspyr

Aspyr is a leading video game publishing and development partner focused on maximizing the potential of games across all platforms for all players. Most recently, the organization launched Legacy of Kain™: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered and STAR WARS: Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles, available now on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. Today, the company supports a growing network of partners that includes many of the industry’s leading entertainment IP holders, publishers, developers, and technology providers. Aspyr is an Embracer Group company. Aspyr is based in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.aspyr.com and follow Aspyr on Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, YouTube, Bluesky, and Threads.
 

About Crystal Dynamics

Crystal Dynamics is an award-winning, best-in-class game development studio headquartered just south of San Francisco in sunny San Mateo, Calif. Founded in 1992, Crystal Dynamics has grown into a world-class studio by developing iconic franchises and keeping at the forefront of the very latest in technology and graphics. Having created beloved properties such as Gex and the Legacy of Kain series, as well as driving the award-winning, massively successful Tomb Raider franchise at over 100M franchise units sold to date, Crystal Dynamics is now laying the groundwork for the next generation of innovative and technologically stunning projects. Crystal Dynamics’ website can be found at https://crystald.com.
 

About TOMB RAIDER

The TOMB RAIDER video game franchise includes more than 20 video games, is loved by more than 160 million people around the world according to a May 2022 survey, and has sold over 100 million copies since the first entry was released in 1996. The franchise’s popularity has exploded into a series of blockbuster films based on the original Tomb Raider game and 2013 reboot. Its protagonist Lara Croft has been a contemporary global icon for over two decades and was listed as one of TIME Magazine’s 15 Most Influential Video Game Characters of All Time. The most recent “Survivor Trilogy,” comprised of Tomb Raider (2013), Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015), and Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018), garnered more than 200 “Best of” awards and nominations, and chronicles Lara Croft’s remarkable origin story. All of this continues to make TOMB RAIDER a destination brand for adventure entertainment.
 

TOMB RAIDER Related Links: Official Website, Twitter, Discord, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Threads
 

© 2025 CRYSTAL DYNAMICS, TOMB RAIDER, RISE OF THE TOMB RAIDER, SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER, LARA CROFT, LARA CROFT AND THE GUARDIAN OF LIGHT, LARA CROFT AND THE TEMPLE OF OSIRIS, and LEGACY OF KAIN are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Crystal Dynamics group of companies. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

Rocket Panda launching for SEGA Genesis on September 16th

Pittsburgh, PA, Sept. 06, 2024 – The confectionary connoisseurs at Mega Cat Studios, Space Pants Games, and Video Game Sage are excited to announce that their upcoming jet-powered adventure, Rocket Panda, will launch for the Sega Genesis & Mega Drive on September 16, 2024.

Get ready to soar in a scrumptious adventure where collecting treats and battling ferocious enemies is the name of the game! In Rocket Panda, players join our heroic panda as he sets out on a delicious quest to gather goodies, rescue badgers, and thwart the nefarious Biscuit Head. With more than 60 maze-like levels to navigate and cookie-crumbling action, this retro gem promises to be a treat for fans of classic 16-bit gaming.

Key Features:

Blast through hordes of enemies commanded by the evil Biscuit Head, such as Flying Pigs, Mines, Toasters, Tanks, UFOs, and other dangerous creatures!

Collect all of the biscuits for the highest score, and drink tea to power up your dash move!

Challenge and defeat 7 Bosses in the game, including a giant Teacup, Dragon, Mega Toast, and Cheese Ball.

Fly through 60+ levels in the game, taking you across seven worlds. From Biscuit City to the Ice Cream Archipelago, the Chocolate Mountains, Candy Catacombs, and more!

“We’re really excited to get this out to the wonderful people still supporting the Genesis / Mega Drive,” said Julian Scott, owner of Space Pants Games.

“Rocket Panda is finally here, and it’s packed to the brim with all that sweet retro fun that ya’ll have been missing,” said Jev Reyes, Retro Marketing Manager at Mega Cat Studios. “We have been working on this with the Space Pants Games Team for a long time, and it means a lot to us that we can finally bring it to you. We hope you enjoy the game as much as we had fun working on it. This game would not be possible without your support!”

As players soar across a smorgasbord of vibrant snack-themed stages strapped to their trusty jetpack, they’ll face the nefarious Biscuit Head’s evil lackeys, collect delectable power-ups, and test their mettle against a legion of bosses dead set on watching your bear-shaped cookie crumble. Whether you’re a seasoned 16-bit veteran or new to retro gaming, Rocket Panda promises to deliver a confectionary experience that’s as enjoyable as it is challenging.

So, mark your calendars for September 16th and get ready to blast off as Rocket Panda buzzes your Sega Genesis & Mega Drive.

To stay up to date with our releases

Visit our official site: https://megacatstudios.com
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/megacatstudios
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megacatstudios/

About Mega Cat Studios: Proudly based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mega Cat Studios has a passion for creating unforgettable retro experiences for your favorite classic consoles.

For media inquiries, contact:

Francis DiPersio

PR Specialist

frank@megacatstudios.com

Tetris® Forever unveiled by Digital Eclipse

EMERYVILLE, CA — Digital Eclipse, in partnership with The Tetris Company, recently announced Tetris® Forever, the latest in the studio’s acclaimed Gold Master Series. The collection features a variety of playable Tetris games from the last 40 years and a brand-new game created by Digital Eclipse. It launches this holiday season on PC & consoles.

Discover the extraordinary story behind Tetris in more than an hour & a half of all-new documentary featurettes. Explore the lifelong friendship and creative partnership between Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov and The Tetris Company founder Henk Rogers, and dive into the remarkable odyssey that shaped one of the most iconic games in history.

Journey through four decades of Tetris with more than 15 playable classic games, including several being released outside of Japan for the first time. See where it all began in 1984 with an accurate recreation of the first version of Tetris on the Electronika 60 computer; battle your friends in the multiplayer cult favorite Tetris Battle Gaiden; create massive explosions to clear lines in Super Tetris 2 + Bombliss, and many more memorable game experiences.

Tetris Forever introduces an all-new Tetris game with Tetris Time Warp! In this original game variant from Digital Eclipse, players will ‘warp’ between different eras of Tetris in real time to experience a variety of classic graphics, playstyles, and game mechanics.

“We’re incredibly honored to be entrusted with Tetris,” said Mike Mika, Studio Head of Digital Eclipse. “Its impact on the game industry cannot be overstated, and we’re excited to share this international collection of diverse Tetris variations alongside the stories told by Henk Rogers and Alexey Pajitnov of the many challenges they faced bringing this game to the world. “

“Our collaboration with Digital Eclipse on Tetris Forever was a long time coming, and we enjoyed being able to work on a project that honors the incredible legacy of Tetris and the creative brilliance that has driven its lasting success,” said Maya Rogers, CEO of Tetris. “For four decades, Tetris has captivated hundreds of millions, and this interactive experience gives fans an unparalleled opportunity to explore its evolution. Tetris is truly a timeless game, and we are excited for everyone to explore these curated game variants and the new surprises Tetris Forever offers.”

Key Features of Tetris® Forever:

The Game that Started It All: Digital Eclipse has prepared an authentic recreation of the first version of Tetris, which Alexey Pajitnov created on a Soviet “Electronika 60” computer system. Experience the look and feel of Tetris as Alexey envisioned it in 1984.

Interactive Timeline: Explore a virtual museum with archival materials, including video featurettes, photos, original ads, and playable games restored in high-definition and presented chronologically.

The True Story of Tetris: With over 90-minutes of all-new documentary featurettes produced by Area 5—creators of Outerlands, Grounded: The Making of The Last of Us and Grounded II: Making The Last of Us Part II—unravel the true story of Tetris in its purest form.

An All-New Tetris Game: Tetris Time Warp, an all-new Tetris variant by Digital Eclipse will have up to four players warping between different eras of Tetris in real time to experience a variety of memorable graphic styles and play mechanics!


Tetris® Forever will launch on PC via Steam and GOG, and on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4|5, and Xbox One and Series X|S later this year. For more information, sign up for the Digital Eclipse newsletter HERE.

classic zelda

16-Bit Classic Zelda Funk Album Released

PHILADELPHIA – May 7, 2024 – Joshua Morse & GameChops are excited to release Zelda Funk, a funky adventure of legendary proportions. The album features Morse’s signature 16-bit-inspired funk across several Zelda classics from A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, and more, touching on fan-favorites such as regal “Hyrule Castle,” the jubilant “Lost Woods,” and the ominous “Dark World.” Listeners can also enjoy Link’s impressive dance routines created by Lee Griffin via the YouTube visualizer for the album, with Link break dancing and showing off his smooth moves in time with the funky musical backing.

Zelda Funk is available on all storefronts and streaming platforms now:
Zelda Funk on All Storefronts and Streaming Platforms

GameChops founder and mastering engineer Chris Davidson commented, “Mastering Zelda Funk for Joshua Morse was a real treat,” I have been a fan of his music for almost two decades and he continues to raise the bar in terms of creative and fun arrangements of videogame music. As a big Zelda fan and an even bigger listener of game music, there’s nothing else out there like Zelda Funk.”

The full track listing for Zelda Funk is as follows:

  1. Ocarina of Time
  2. Faron Woods
  3. Hyrule Castle
  4. Lost Woods
  5. Dark World
  6. Death Mountain
  7. Princess Zelda

Learn more: http://gamechops.com/zelda-funk

Domino Sandbox

Let’s do a simple game today!

It is as it says in the title: A solo-player domino line physics game where you just set up what you want and push it back down.

The Colors (which are customizable) that it comes with are eye pleasing, and warm. I love the music for this game! It really fits the relax and play vibe.

Overall, it looks to be simple and effective.

The link is here.

from the Steam Page

How to Create Factions: Part 1

Starting with…

The World ready!

The easiest way to determine factions would be to simply split them by location, or world history.

Then, the conflict could revolve around gaining or maintaining territory, and that could include groups being pushed out of their original territories and then trying to take them back.

You can also split it by the each of the area’s history, using previous conflicts to shape the factions, i.e. political ones.

The Characters ready!

Build your factions around your characters’ core beliefs.

What do your characters care about? What is their worldview? What about the opposite?

With a focus on the characters, the creation of the factions can become integral to your OC’s story. Will they need to grow out of the faction? Will the faction grow and change as the character does? Will they leave one for another as their story moves forward?

And conversely: what does being in that faction say about the character? What does a monster being in a Hunter’s faction, for example, say about the monster? Are they guilty? Do they doubt their identity, or are they a wolf in Sheep’s clothing waiting to strike?

by Abby Zarakovich

Art and Horror in Mundaun

Explore Alpine mysteries in a Puzzle based Horror with Mundaun! This game has a focus on Art and storytelling, and its overwhelmingly positive reviews rave about the vibes this art piece gives off.

The art of the game has a combination of Two and 3 dimensional aspects, and is entirely in black and white. The overlay of 2-d textures heightens the uncanny valley often seen in 3-d video games.  The consistent  art style provides a feast for the eyes and increases the spook factor when a monster fades into view.

The atmospheric ambience  is achieved through the use of  rough textures of the mountain , while things like plants and animals are carefully detailed. By making the sky light grey and the mountains dark, there is just enough contrast to distinguish the two as you traverse the map.

The simplified human shapes of the characters lend credence to the appearance of the monsters. Having a simple style throughout  lets the player maintain their suspension of disbelief.

The story-book-esque style contributes to the games easy-going gameplay, with minimal stats to keep track of an the ability to run or avoid monsters. The game only has  a few jump scares, relying on psychological horror to keep you on the edge of your seat.

A pleasant vista
From the game’s STEAM page

Blaseball’s Boom

Musicals and Music video, fan animations and artwork…. for a fantasy baseball browser game?

It’s indeed the case!

Blaseball is an absurdist online baseball game that was split into “seasons” (a la Apex Legends) with a rulebook with chunks that are redacted for the player. There’s a shop with in-game items purchased with in-game money won by backing teams, similar to various irl fantasy leagues.

The trick with this game is the unusual stats, the ability for you (as a player) to vote on actions of the teams or rules of the game, and “blessings” (random powerups) get randomly assigned to the blaseball players on the teams, like “performance enhancing demons” and “bloodlust”.

The trick is both in choice making, and knowing the players enough to decide which teams to bet on.

For fans, the joy is in the story telling, the characters, the competition, and the eagerness of waiting for your team to win.

Robotech: The Macross Saga HD Edition

Robotech: The Macross Saga HD Edition was released on the Nintendo Switch on March 4th. It’s a remaster of the original Game Boy Advance side-scrolling shoot em up game that came out in 2002. The game is based on the anime, Robotech, from the 1980s. The original game was developed by Lucky Chicken Games and published by TDK Mediactive, both of which are now defunct. The remake was released by the California-based indie developer Galaxy Pest Control, founded in 2010. Many of the people at GPC who worked on the remaster were also a part of the team that made the original Game Boy Advance version, so the game mostly stays true to its origins. The remaster mostly focuses on enhanced assets, models, and audio.

There are a total of 10 playable characters if you include the unlockable characters.

Blast from the Past

Robotech: The Macross Saga takes the player through the events of the first season of the Robotech anime. You play as one of the characters from the show while piloting a Veritech fighter. Veritech fighters are unique mech units that can transform into three different modes. You can switch between all three modes in the game. Fighter mode is like a military aircraft, Battloid mode is like a huge robot suit, and Guardian mode is like a mix between both. There are also special missions where you play as a Destroid. Destroids are essentially walking tanks that cause major damage to the enemy. The game features five playable characters from the show to start and you can unlock an additional five more characters by playing the game.

The game’s visuals have been fully overhauled.

A Major Update

While most of the gameplay features remain the same, the game looks very different. The player and enemy models have all been enhanced to 3D. All the backgrounds have also been updated with higher resolutions. The developers also added enhanced lighting and various other effects. Beyond the graphics, the audio also received an update. The developers added soundtracks from the anime in hopes to connect players more with the story. Plus, you’ll be able to play local multiplayer on the Switch. You won’t need to use a link cable like back in the old gays with the Game Boy Advance. The game is only $9.99 USD on the Nintendo Switch store, so consider picking it up if you’re a fan of classic side-scrolling shoot em ups.

#Robotech #Macross #Remaster #Sidescroller #Mech

Dungeon design in DnD: The Rooms, Hallways, and the bits between your players and the Boss

A home is not an empty house; even the most neat space still has stuff in it. In Dnd,  the problem is how to describe a space without tripping up your players, while maintaining the atmosphere you want.

Where is this place going to be? Will you build the building around the location? Will you develop the building based on its occupant? Both?

Think about what people would need to live in your chosen location. For example: A Cult that lives below ground; where do they get their food? What do they do for entertainment? What do they find important in their cult, and what kind of space does that occupy? In that case, you could add in pantries, game rooms, a few sacrificial alters in front of a statue with it’s own room, a space for priests in the cult, a space for digging tools, an area for certain building or support materials, and some sort of path to remove dirt that’s been freshly dug.

Even with just this, there’s already a map being developed.

To build a place around its occupants can be more complex than just location-based design. For example, If you have archers in your castle, you’d want the tall, thin windows and battlements that will protect them; however, non-European cultures tend to use mounted archers (those on horses) more often, so the buildings in those areas don’t account for defense-based archery.

More simply, you can examine the origin and design of your boss, and what pieces of architecture would accentuate those traits. an Eldritch beast would call for a dark and imposing building, with heavy materials, the tall ceilings oozing with foreboding shadows, and stained glass windows alluding to something far beyond the Players’ knowledge. There is also a need to consider the atmosphere you’re trying to create, and creating a moodboard (a selection of images associated with what emotions you want to convey) can help.

For the individual rooms, you can search up a list of items created in the era you wish (for more historically-inspired pieces), or a list of items found in books or media for the location (for sci-fi or high fantasy). You can also review your list of occupants and wonder about what they might need for daily life, and then scatter about these items.

To spice up the interior, you can add in Furniture! Use words that can describe the atmosphere or boss as well. The furniture a person has can tell you something about them. A “bone-thin chair with a black metal back” has a much different vibe than a “warm, plush couch, made of quilted velvet”. A visible lack of furniture can set up an atmosphere of barrenness, or even when placed in context, an air of suspiciousness.  Furniture can be minimalistic, decorated, homely, and can help set up your atmosphere as well as any sounds made by a you-tube playlist.

The materials used in the room can also give it flavor. Describing types of stone using their textures or appearances, or using the wallpaper to its maximum effect. Add in color-meanings or flower symbology to tell the story of the place or its inhabitants. How well-maintained are the rooms? Do people care about the place they’re in?

You can also Give clues about your Boss in main rooms. Shed skin for scaly beasts, the odd hair or piece of fur, or even a closet with the Boss’ preferred outfits. Does your Boss have a particular diet, or habits that are unique to their species or situation?

All of the above can be used to world-build in a way can be as subtle (or dramatic) as you’d like!

Have fun designing!

Gaming News and the Ultimate Universe