New Releases: December 15th-21st, 2022

Lately, there’s been a resurgence in retro-style brawlers, with the appearance of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge and River City Girls 2 substantiating the trend. Meanwhile, Azure Striker Gunvolt 3’s appearance on PlayStation 4/5 delivers an intense dose of 2D action. But for those looking to take it easy, Aokana – Four Rhythms Across the Blue – EXTRA2’s (pictured) arrival on Steam should sooth souls longing to spend more time with the free-spirited Misaki.

PlayStation 4
Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 (digital, $29.99)
Blacktail (digital, $29.99)
Cassiodora (digital, $16.99)
Grime (digital, $24.99)
Kawaii Slime Arena (digital, $5.99, $4.79 PS+)
River City Girls 2 (digital, $39.99)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge (physical, $34.99)
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion (digital, $14.99)
Unpacking (physical, $34.99)

PlayStation 5
Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap (physical, $34.99)

Switch
Aero Striker – World Invasion (digital, $9.99)
Aery – Path of Corruption (digital, $9.99)
Burger Chef Tycoon Extended Edition (digital, $5.99)
Cassiodora (digital, $16.99)
Chubby Cat 2 (digital, $6.99)
Cosmo Dreamer (digital, $8.20)
Elves Christmas Hentai Puzzle (digital, $2.99)
GyroBlade (digital, $4.99)
Headbangers in Holiday Hell (digital, $5.99)
Hero Hours Contract 2: A Factory for Magical Girls (digital, $1.99)
Jitsu Squad (physical, $29.99)
Knights & Guns: Expansion Packs Collection (DLC, $4.99)
LogiKing (digital, $14.99)
Mind Jab (digital, $7.00)
Moto Rush GT: Expansion Packs Collection (digital, $3.99)
Mysterious Retro Games Bundle (digital, $9.99)
Naiad (digital, $TBA)
Napoleon Maiden Episode 1: A Maiden Without the Word Impossible (digital, $22.99)
Outbreak: Contagious Memories (physical, $39.99)
Package Inc (digital, $4.99)
Panda Punch (digital, $4.99)
Postal Redux (physical, $34.99)
River City Girls 2 (digtial, $39.99)
Santa’s Holiday (digital, $19.99)
The Crackpet Show (digital, $16.99)
Tropical Resort Story (digital, $14.00)
Unpacking (physical, $34.99)
WRC Generations (physical, $39.99)

Evercade
IREM Arcade Collection 1 (physical, $19.99)
Toaplan Cartridge 1 (physical, $19.99)

Xbox One
Aery – Path of Corruption (digital, $9.99)
Alphadia Neo (digital, $14.99)
Cassiodora (digital, $16.99)
Grime (digital, $24.99)
It’s Kooky (digital, $9.99)
Project Snaqe (digital, $3.19)
River City Girls 2 (digital, $39.99)
Vampire Survivors: Legacy of the Moonspell (DLC, $1.99)
Wally and the Fantastic Predators (digital, $14.99)
Wave Break (digital, $TBA)

PC
Aokana – Four Rhythms Across the Blue – EXTRA2 ($TBA)
Blacktail ($23.99)
Bots are Stupid ($10.39)
Cygnus Enterprises ($TBA)
Demeo: PC Edition ($23.99)
Frontier Hunter: Erza’s Wheel of Fortune ($17.99)
House Flipper Pets VR ($15.73)
Immortals Fenyx Rising ($15.00)
KoboldKare ($10.49)
Melatonin ($13.49)
Metro Simulator 2 ($13.49)
Miss Neko 3 ($TBA)
Noun Town: VR Language Learning ($14.99)
Oriental Dynasty – Silk Road Defense War ($TBA)
River City Girls 2 ($35.99)
Sakura Hime 3 ($TBA)
Vampire Survivors: Legacy of the Moonspell (DLC, $1.99)

Rob’s Pick: The Crackpet Show resembles yet another roguelike twin-stick shooter in an already crowded field. But here’s the thing: the game isn’t actually a twin-stick shooter. Instead, your projectiles automatically lock onto foes, allowing you to concentrate on using environmental cover and just generally staying on the move. But what I like about the game is the slightly subversive feel. It’s framed as a reality television show where animals battle and the currency is social media “likes”. Occasionally, you can be unruly, killing people in the studio audience or tearing down billboards. Best of all, there’s a reasonable difficulty level across each run and a respectable amount of risk/reward options.

As it’s nearing the yuletide season, I’ve been playing a bit of Headbangers in Holiday Hell on Steam Deck. It’s a true twin-stick shooter where you’re a metalhead saving your riff-loving brethren while shooting elves, reindeer, and even the big, bearded man in the red suit who hates metal. Had it been a violent romp I probably wouldn’t feel comfortable recommending it. But Holiday Hell is much closer to the suburban satire of Zombies Ate my Neighbors, albeit with an interpretation of clearing rooms of enemies. Essentially, it’s like Elf Bowling but with paintball guns and Lemmy posters. Lastly, I’m looking forward to Frontier Hunter: Erza’s Wheel of Fortune. IceSitruuna’s predecessor showed promise.

Matt S’ pick (editor, DigitallyDownloaded): You know, I really enjoyed the original Aokana. It has stood out as one of the visual novels that has really stuck in my mind, and I’ll always be up for more of it. So I’m quite looking forward to giving Aokana – Four Rhythms Across the Blue – EXTRA2. As a direct continuation of the original game, you need to have played that through first (as I obviously have), and then you get more story featuring those very pretty characters. Which is good! I don’t expect it to be a masterpiece, but I do expect it to be very enjoyable.

It’s a week for visual novels, as I’m also looking forward to Napoleon Maiden Episode 1: A Maiden Without the Word Impossible. Again, I don’t expect it to be anything earth shattering (honestly, I’m just hoping the localisation is readable), but a VN featuring a very pretty, gender-swapped Napoleon Bonaparte? Sure, why not! I’ll give that a chance.

Ryan’s pick: Typically, player control semantics are often overlooked in 2D platformers, and despite a lot of time being invested in vectors and physics to make the platforming intuitive by programmers, the nuts and bolts of those systems are obfuscated from the user. What I like about Bots are Stupid is it gives players a chance to be more hands-on and allows you to precisely define via pseudo-code how the bots should move step-by-step through levels. Trial and error is definitely built into the gameplay for this, so I think it may take a certain level of patience to enjoy this game. If you are looking for a bit more instant pleasure, and/or less problem-solving, then you may want to pass on this one.

River City Girls 2 also caught my eye as I will never give up the chance to check out a new side-scrolling beat-em-up. I really like the sprites and the animations for the characters, and the only thing that I really wasn’t into were the 2D bust-ups scenes that are interspersed throughout the game. Dual language appears to be included for Japanese and English on Steam, so this is an added bonus for those that prefer Japanese voice acting. The River City franchise is a solid choice if you are a beat-em-up fan and has been one since the NES. Be a bancho and give this one a try.

Matt R’s pick (editor, Shindig): Danmaku fans, don’t overlook Cosmo Dreamer this week. It’s a cute doujin shmup, and while it lacks the scoring intricacies of a Cave game, there’s a lot to be said for the simplicity of the “dodge bullets, shoot enemies, pick up medals” style of bullet hell. That simplicity works because it’s backed by solid design, nifty bullet patterns that lean more towards a Touhou style of shot maze to navigate, and a very cute art style. It lacks bells and whistles, but for a few bucks, it’s a whole lot of fun.

I also like the look of Naiad, a colorful exploration adventure that makes me think of Koi. Swim along a river with a mermaid-like being, discovering nature’s little secrets along the way and helping various other critters find their way. With a very lovely papercraft-esque art style and a soothing atmosphere, it looks like just the right game to unwind with after a day in the office.