Author Archives: Samuel Elphick

Two Hit SteamWorld Games Coming to Retail in SteamWorld Collection

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The physical boxed edition of SteamWorld Collection is coming to retail in October, publisher by Rising Star Games

LOS ANGELES, USA – August 25, 2016 – Rising Star Games today announced it has the honor of publishing SteamWorld Collection, from acclaimed developer Image & Form, in October.

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Doesn’t everything look better in a box?

Featuring two critically-applauded, award-winning and massive-scoring games – SteamWorld Dig and SteamWorld Heist – in the same package for the very first time, SteamWorld Collection is published by Rising Star Games on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system in USA, Canada, South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Middle East. Rising Star Games also publishes the title on Wii U™ in USA, Canada and South America.

SteamWorld Collection features 2013’s seminal SteamWorld Dig, and this year’s smash hit SteamWorld Heist, presented together as a double-dose of SteamWorld satisfaction.

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Take the fight to the three-eyed armored maggots!

Drill down into a platform game mining adventure full of secrets, treasure and terrors in SteamWorld Dig, and discover a world of steam-driven robots, inspired by Western and Steampunk themes. SteamWorld Heist on the other hand offers turn-based strategy with a twist: manually aim the guns of your robots, allowing for insane skill shots and bullet-bouncing action. Board, loot and shoot your way through enemy spaceships and upgrade your recruits with unique abilities, weapons and, of course, stylish hats!

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Not something they teach at marksman school

“It is an honor and a thrill to partner with a developer of Image & Form’s caliber and renown in order to bring the physical boxed version of two smash hit, critically-acclaimed SteamWorld games to new audiences across the globe,” said Martin Defries, Managing Director of Rising Star Games. “These are deep and rewarding, intricately designed and gorgeous-looking games that, taken together, present an extremely compelling proposition for gamers”.

Developed by Image & Form and published by Rising Star Games, the boxed edition of SteamWorld Collection will release in USA, Canada and South America on PlayStation®4 and Wii U™ at selected retailers in early October priced at $29.99. In Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Middle East, the PlayStation®4 edition will be available from Rising Star Games in early October, priced £29.99/€29.99.

PAX West 2016 Line Up

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Come by Booth #114 at PAX West to Experience 4 of Our Upcoming Titles 

LOS ANGELES, USA – 19 August 2016 – We’re super happy to announce that we’ll be coming to PAX for the second time this year, and this time in the west! We have 4 new titles in the arsenal to incite rapture this year at Penny Arcade Expo West in Seattle! From September 2-5, we welcome PAX West attendees to navigate their way over to our booth at #114 in the North Hall on the main exhibit floor, and bask in the PAX debut of four awesome titles pulled straight from the upcoming lineup. The games to be featured are: Conga Master, the ultimate dance-off experience; 88 Heroes, a game filled with an insane selection of crazy playable characters; Brut@l, a modern-take on the classic ASCII dungeon crawler on PC; and Earth’s Dawn, a frenetic side-scrolling action-brawler with eye-popping visuals.

PAX East gamers can get hands-on with the following titles at Rising Star Games’ Booth #114: 

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Conga Master – Undercoders (Platforms: PC, Consoles):

Travelling through different nightclub locales during a night to remember, players will find all manner of dancers with different styles and personalities. And with great conga comes great responsibility – the longer the conga, the harder it will be to maintain momentum and avoid disco downers, like the crotchety custodians or the pigs in disguise who will try to stink up your party vibe. Conga Master features extensive local co-op and competitive multiplayer modes for up to four players, as well as a crazy single-player campaign.

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88 Heroes – Bitmap Bureau (Platforms: PC, consoles):

From the creators of Super House of Dead Ninjas, 88 Heroes is a chaotic 2D platformer that is as fun to watch as it is to play, where each level completed or untimely death brings a new uniquely skilled hero into the action. With just 88 minutes to complete all 88 levels, you’ll need every one of the 88 heroes to stop the dastardly Dr. H8 destroying the Earth! Are you up to the challenge? 

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Brut@l – Stormcloud Games (Platform: PC):

Brut@l is a modern re-imagining of the classic ASCII dungeon crawler with roguelike elements. Players choose their hero: Ranger, Mage, Warrior or Amazon then descend into a procedurally generated world constructed entirely from ASCII. With weapon crafting, potion brewing and an onslaught of enemies to face, it is guaranteed to be Brut@l.

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Earth’s Dawn – OneorEight (Platforms: Consoles, PC):

After decades of peace, the Earth was decimated by an invasion from an alien race known to humans as E.B.E. Ahead of the impending annihilation a breakthrough was made – the E.B.E. was susceptible to damage by weaponry designed using its very own technology. The power to fight back was now in the hands of an elite fighting force and in Earth’s Dawn, players will experience a huge amount of depth with a layered combat system that will appeal to both rookies and hardened players.

We can’t wait to see everybody there!

-RSG Team

Press members and media outlets are encouraged to make appointments for in-person demonstrations and/or interviews from the respective development teams by contacting Shannon McPherson (shannon@reverbinc.com) or Anthony Chau (anthony@reverbinc.com).

WHAT: Rising Star Games PAX West 2016 Line-up Demo stations
WHEN: September 2-5, 2016
WHERE: Booth #114 in the North Hall on the main exhibit floor
HOW:  Contact Shannon McPherson (shannon@reverbinc.com) or     Anthony Chau (anthony@reverbinc.com) to book an appointment!

Uniquely Stylised ASCII Dungeon Crawler Brut@l Coming to PC Early 2017

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Kick some ASCII with the PC release of Brut@l, coming early 2017, courtesy of Rising Star Games

LONDON, UK – 19 August 2016 – Rising Star Games today announced a partnership with Stormcloud Games to bring the popular and critically-applauded roguelike ASCII dungeon crawler Brut@l to PC in early 2017.

A modern re-imagining of the classic ASCII dungeon crawler, Brut@l fuses old-school gaming with a stunning 3D visual style to create something the critics are calling a “hugely entertaining, visually striking experience” (DigitallyDownloaded, ‘4 star’ review).

Choose your Brut@l hero: Ranger, Mage, Warrior or Amazon then descend into a procedurally-generated world constructed entirely of ASCII. Your goal? Reach the 26th floor, vanquish the fearsome Guardian of the Dungeon and claim his crown! Craft and enchant weapons, brew and drink strange potions, risk their effects and level up your hero based on the play style that suits you. Most of all, survive for as long as you can as you battle Trolls, Orcs, Rockmonsters and Lycanthropes, and many more in this Brut@l roguelike.

Share the adventure by exploring Brut@l’s dungeon with a friend in local co-op, lay waste to hordes of enemies that stand between you and floor 26, and evoke the nostalgia of all-night gaming sessions from years past. Get creative with Brut@l’s Dungeon Creator – an intuitive editing tool that lets you build, share, play and of course die in your very own dungeon.

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The console version of Brut@l released earlier this month has been widely well-received by critics. GameInformer praises the game’s “meaty” and “enjoyable, squishy combat” while HardcoreGamer awarded the game ‘4 out of 5’ praising the art style, stating it is “one of the most surprisingly compelling yet charming aesthetic decisions of any game I’ve played in recent times” and also “one of the year’s most unique art directions.”

PlayStationLifestyle awards the game a ‘7.5 out of 10’ declaring “this is a quest worth embarking upon” and PlayStationUniverse’s ‘7.5 out of 10’ review asserts that “co-operative play in Brut@l manifests itself as a proper treat.”

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Developed by Stormcloud Games and published by Rising Star Games, Brut@l will release in early 2017 on PC. To find out more, follow Rising Star Games on Twitter and visit the official Rising Star Games website.

Conga Master Brings Solo, Co-op and Competitive Conga To PC

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Console versions to follow next year with Rising Star Games publishing all versions of the hilarious party arcade game

LONDON, UK – August 16, 2016 – Rising Star Games today throws on its dancing shoes and funkiest moves to announce a new partnership with game development studio Undercoders, bringing the dance party extravaganza Conga Master to PC and consoles.

The hilarious party arcade game Conga Master sees up to four players each controlling their chosen party-goer in his or her quest to create the most epic conga line ever.

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4 player Conga combat!

Travelling through different nightclub locales during a night to remember, players will find all manner of dancers with different styles and personalities. Shimmy up close to entice them with a successful display of dazzling dancing, and they will join your line. But, with great conga comes great responsibility, and the longer the conga, the harder it will be to maintain momentum and avoid disco downers, like the crotchety custodians or the pigs in disguise who will try to infiltrate your line and stink up your party vibe.

Birthed out of the theme-based accelerated game development event ‘Ludum Dare’, Conga Master is now a fully fleshed-out, content-packed game in its own right. Conga Master features extensive local co-op and competitive multiplayer modes for up to four players as well as a crazy single-player campaign. Don’t be fooled by the easy-to-learn, simple two-button controls – the game boasts a wealth of features such as combo systems, objective-based play, over 30 different characters each with their own skills and attributes, seven different nightclub environments, bonus stages, unlockable rewards, online rankings and ‘endless’ modes, and much more.

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Master the ancient art of the Conga

“Conga Master has a singleness of vision that glitters and stands out in today’s gaming space,” said Lee Skittrell, Marketing Strategist, Rising Star Games. “The game’s heart and spirit is made of pure unabashed fun; the kind of game that brings smiles to the faces of players young and old alike, coupled with a pleasingly peculiar sense of humor. Conga Master is a shiny and surreal disco-ball glittering over the heads of our already hugely diverse portfolio of quality titles.”

“All our life we wanted to play a conga dancing game but nobody would make one… so we had to become developers to fulfil our dreams,” said David Jaumandreu, CEO of Undercoders. “When we saw that the jam version of Conga Master was ranked as the top 5 most fun game of Ludum Dare 34 (out of 1,600+ entries!), we knew we weren’t alone!”

Developed by Undercoders and published by Rising Star Games, Conga Master will release on September 14 on PC. Console versions will follow in early 2017.

Boxing the Acclaimed Platform Adventure Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse!

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The critically-applauded Nintendo 3DS™ classic will hit retail in the USA and Europe in September with additional content

LONDON, UK – August 04, 2016 – Video game publisher Rising Star Games today announced it will release a physical edition of the beloved platform adventure game Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse for Nintendo 3DS™ family systems, in the USA on September 27 and in Europe on September 30.
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse on Nintendo 3DS

Boasting outstanding review scores from media across the globe and a current Metacritic score of 82, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse on Nintendo 3DS™ from Rising Star Games marks the first time a Shantae game will be made available to players as a physical release in over a decade. And what’s more, the boxed version of Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse features new content not available in any previously released version.

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This Venus Flytrap overdid it on the Miracle-Gro.

In Shantae’s third and biggest adventure to date, the hair-whipping belly dancing genie must team up with her arch-nemesis, the nefarious Risky Boots, in order to save Sequin Land from an evil curse. By becoming a pirate, Shantae gains new weapons she can use to solve fiendish puzzles and battle fierce bosses. In a game already packed with thrilling content the physical boxed retail release also includes “Super Shantae Nab!!”, a new arcade-style game exclusive to this release.

Check out the trailer below!

Developed by WayForward and published by Rising Star Games, the physical boxed edition of Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse for Nintendo 3DS™ family systems is priced £29.99/$29.99/€29.99.

The Sun Rises on Earth’s Dawn

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Deliver Civilization from Darkness this Autumn

LONDON, UK – June 13, 2016 – Video game publisher Rising Star Games today confirmed that it will bring Earth’s Dawn to PlayStation®4, PC and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, this fall. Developed by OneorEight and previously released in Japan under the name Earth Wars, Earth’s Dawn fuses frenetic side-scrolling action mechanics with RPG elements and a hard-edged manga aesthetic to deliver a deep and unique gameplay experience.

Fast paced action game Earth's Dawn

Master the fast paced action combat

From the outset Earth’s Dawn gives gamers the freedom to enjoy the game their way – from creating their own character; customization of skill trees to augment abilities best suited to play style; weapon and equipment crafting; alongside a unique narrative-driven branching mission system.

After decades of peace, the Earth was decimated by an invasion from an alien race known to humans as E.B.E. The E.B.E. moved across the planet, consuming anything in their path and proved impervious to existing weapons. Ahead of the impending annihilation a breakthrough was made – the E.B.E. was susceptible to damage by weaponry designed using its very own technology. The power to fight back was now in the hands of an elite fighting force.

Watch the trailer here:

Combat in Earth’s Dawn offers a huge amount of depth with a layered system that will appeal to both light and more hardened players. Basic attacks can easily be strung together to pull off combos, while tying these to the analogue stick will instigate launchers, aerials and sliding attacks. Timing a dash during a combo will extend its length and finisher moves will dispatch enemies with flair. Players are evaluated after battles and ranked according to expertise and skill, and may then use the points awarded to enhance and level up their hero.

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Upgrade, Enhance, Overcome

Join the fight for Earth’s survival this fall, when Earth’s Dawn launches digitally on PlayStation®4, and Xbox One, and as a physical boxed version on PlayStation®4, with a PC version coming soon after.

ABOUT ONEOREIGHT

We are a Japanese game creator established by gathering members who want to “make games that we ourselves think are interesting”. The Earth’s Dawn (Earth Wars) series is our first entry into console gaming as OneorEight. We would be delighted if you were able to play this game which we ourselves think is “fun to play”.

Bafta-Nominated ‘A Pixel Story’ Teleports to Console this Summer

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The award-winning PC puzzle-platformer comes home on PlaySation 4 and Xbox One

LONDON, UK – June 13, 2016 – Rising Star Games today announced that it is publishing the BAFTA-nominated A Pixel Story on PlayStation®4 and Xbox One as a digital release this summer.

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The world around you changes dramatically as your journey unfolds.

Released last year on PC format to critical acclaim, this award-winning puzzle-platformer tells an intriguing tale set against a visual backdrop that charts the evolution of video games. You’ll journey from 8-bit pixel art through to current-gen graphical splendour as you play through this lovingly-crafted celebration of gaming’s history.

Check out the trailer below:

A Pixel Story sees you embarking on an epic quest to reach the core of The System. As you progress further into your journey through video game history, your world becomes increasingly more detailed and complicated, and ever-more perilous, tasking you to test the mystical powers afforded to you by your Magical Teleportation Hat.

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An adventure awaits!

Discover a charming and challenging adventure filled to the brim with gaming and pop culture references as you immerse yourself into A Pixel Story’s colourful world. Unlock the awesome power of your snappy Magical Teleportation Hat while you traverse six large free-form zones, interact with a diverse range of NPCs, and attempt to stop the evil OS from destroying the universe.

Developed by recent graduates at Lamplight Studios, this charming underdog arrived in a hail of accolades when first released on PC and went on to be nominated for four awards, including Develop’s Industry Excellence Award and a BAFTA. With Rising Star Games on publishing duties, now console gamers can finally see why.

ABOUT LAMPLIGHT STUDIOS

Established in 2012, Lamplight Studios is a BAFTA-nominated, indie game development studio based in Manchester, UK. Formed by a group of graduates, they decided that, rather than get a real job at a real company, they would take a crack at making their own. As a result, their lives have been constant torment and anguish in the name of video games. We are stuff, you don’t.

Design A Hero – 88 Heroes Wants YOU!

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From your brain, straight into the game! Win the chance to have your own character design appear as a playable hero in forthcoming action game

LONDON, UK – May 25, 2016 – Today, we want YOU to don your brightest cape and tightest spandex as you are invited to become a part of 88 Heroes’ design process. Pick up your finest crayons and wow us with your most creative hero designs and your delightful doodle could become the game’s 88th playable hero on PC, Xbox One and PS4!

The criteria are simple: design a hero (or zero!) with a unique skill that will help or hinder players as they navigate the side-scrolling enemy-filled and booby-trapped levels. Entries may be submitted digitally by any means. You could scribble a doodle on a fast food wrapper, create a rich and lore-filled backstory for your hero in a 100-page document – or anything and everything in between. (Just keep it under 10mb!)

Design a new hero for 88 Heroes!

Drawing with Dr. H8 is fun!

To help you on your way, we’ve provided a basic template. Just remember, the three essentials to include are: a visual sketch or drawing of the hero (as basic or elaborate as you like), the hero’s name (keep it clean!), and a description of the hero’s unique skill. That’s it! Closing date for entries is 30th June 2016. Send your designs to comp@risingstargames.com or tweet them to @88HeroesGame.

88 Heroes is a chaotic 2D platformer that is as fun to watch as it is to play, where each level completed or untimely death brings a new uniquely skilled hero into the action. With just 88 minutes to complete all 88 levels, you’ll need every one of the 88 heroes to stop the dastardly Dr. H8 destroying the Earth! Are you up to the challenge?

Struggling to create your killer character concept? Here are some examples of the heroes and their skills that already feature in the game:

  • Gonan – Muscle-bound warrior wielding a mighty sword that’s slow to swing but can slash through scenery to create shortcuts
  • PowerTron – Robo law enforcer who fires missiles that are deadly to enemies, but also himself
  • Neutron Brothers – Scientists fused together in a lab blunder, who can teleport through walls and even into enemies to kill them
  • Max Velocity – With a rocket pack strapped to his back there’s nowhere he can’t fly, but he’s a piloting nightmare
  • Invisible Sheriff – You can’t hide from the law if you can’t see it coming; hard to see but also hard for enemies to hit.
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Keep it weird and wonderful like the lovable Blocktopus

For more inspiration, follow the ever-growing assembly of daily character reveals for 88 Heroes on Twitter. And, watch the latest trailer on YouTube.

Developed by Bitmap Bureau and published by Rising Star Games, 88 Heroes will release on PlayStation®4, PC, Mac, Linux and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, with a target release date of 8th August 2016.

For more information on 88 Heroes, please visit the official site: http://88heroes.com.

Please see the competition terms and conditions, found here.

Countdown to Chaos! 88 Days Until 88 Heroes Zaps onto Console and PC!

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Frantic, funny, and full of hapless hopeless heroes, the crowd-pleasing platform action game 88 Heroes is assembling for launch this Summer

LONDON, UK – May 12, 2016 – Rising Star Games today announces a new partnership with acclaimed development studio Bitmap Bureau, to publish 88 Heroes on PlayStation®4, PC, Mac, Linux and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft. Targeting a release date of the 8th day of the 8th month (8th August 2016), Rising Star Games will be revealing a new hero each and every day for 88 days counting down to launch. The mighty assemblage begins today with Gonan, the muscle-bound warrior who wields the mighty blade of his 88 forefathers, which he uses to smash through walls and lay waste to enemies.

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The clock is ticking – Stop Dr. H8 before it’s too late!

Rising Star Games and Bitmap Bureau are also excited to reveal that a global 88 Heroes ‘Design-A-Hero’ contest will begin very soon. Design your own fabulously mundane or magnificent champion complete with superpowers and title, and win the chance to see your creation appear in pixelated glory in the final game! Stay tuned for details on how to enter, coming soon.

88 Heroes is a chaotic 2D platformer that is as fun to watch as it is to play, where each level completed or untimely death brings a new uniquely skilled hero into the action. With just 88 minutes to complete the 88 levels, you’ll need every one of the 88 heroes to stop the dastardly Dr. H8 destroying the Earth! Are you up to the challenge?

No need to watch out for a signal in the sky – watch the latest trailer for 88 Heroes here!

“We’ve got at least 88 reasons why we’re so excited to be working with Bitmap Bureau on the release of 88 Heroes”, said Martin Defries, Managing Director of Rising Star Games. “Top of the list has to be the fast-paced and hectic, yet cunning and precise platforming gameplay, that is a genuine crowd-pleasing spectacle to behold and a thrill to play”.

“88 Heroes has been a labour of love for us at Bitmap Bureau, and is representative of the many years of 2D game development we have accumulated”, said Mike Tucker, Director at Bitmap Bureau. “It’s particularly exciting for us as it’s both our first console release and also the first time we’ve worked with Rising Star Games; a publisher with a great reputation in the industry”.

Werebulk smash!

88 Heroes Key Features:

  • 88 unique and original playable characters, each with their own skills and abilities that may help or hinder the player
  • Hero order is randomly selected with each play, meaning players will always face a fresh and varied challenge!
  • 88 levels across 4 areas to conquer, each with its own unique boss encounter
  • Watch the action from Dr. H8’s lair as he tries to thwart your plans, drinks coffee, takes bathroom breaks and berates his accident-prone henchmen
  • Multiple game modes including: Magnificent 8 mode – choose a team of just 8 heroes to tackle the entire game with; Solo mode – pick just one hero and master their skills in order to survive as long as you can
  • More heroes incoming with DLC!

Follow the daily character reveals for 88 Heroes on Twitter to keep up to speed with the ever-growing assembly of super heroes and zeroes.

For more information on 88 Heroes, please visit the official site: http://88heroes.com.

 

Mech-Action Shooter ‘Assault Suit Leynos’ coming to PlayStation 4 and PC This Summer

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Defend the Earth from a Mysterious Invading Force with Powerful Customizable Mechs in this HD Remake

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LONDON, UK – April 06, 2016 – Pursuing our quest to bring unique and diverse games to players everywhere, we are partnering with Japanese developer Dracue Software to publish Assault Suit Leynos for PlayStation®4 and PC. Drawing from the fantastic action of the classic 16-bit series (also known as Target Earth), the Assault Suit series is well-known for fierce and fast shooting action, challenging boss battles, and an amazing array of weapon options. Assault Suit Leynos stays true to these gameplay elements and delivers HD visuals for the ultimate alien-blasting experience.

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Just a normal day in the field

“The slick production values and fast-paced action make Assault Suit Leynos an incredibly addictive game,” said Martin Defries, managing director of Rising Star Games. “This title is both challenging and rewarding and a great example of the type of game, borne out of Japan, that we love working with here at Rising Star Games. Fans of old-school shooters will absolutely feel that familiar thrill and quickening of the pulse when they start blasting wave upon wave of enemies.”

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Take to the skies in your Assault Suit

As Earth reels from the impact of a fourth world war and dwindling resources, an uneasy truce between nations sees mankind reach for the stars. Colonies are settled, resources are mined, and the future starts looking a little brighter. But just as peace finally seems possible, an unknown enemy emerges from the deepest region of space to threaten the very existence of humanity. Only one thing can stop them – It’s time to deploy the Assault Suit Squadron! Gamers will blast through the opposing enemy forces with devastating weapons like machine guns, rocket launchers, and laser beams while discovering the hidden truth behind the invaders.

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Dust off those dodging skills!

Developed by Dracue Software, Assault Suit Leynos will be available summer 2016 on PlayStation®4 and PC through select digital retailers. The physical boxed release of the PlayStation®4 version includes a deluxe double-sided poster featuring artwork from the Japanese release as well as original art from the classic 16-bit release. For more information and media, follow us on Twitter and Facebook!