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This Week (Jul 26 to Aug 1) |
July ends on a relatively quieter note, with much of the industry seemingly holding its biggest announcements for Gamescom later this August. Even so, the week still had plenty worth following. Live-service games came out with collaborations, events, and anniversary updates; Capcom set a date for Nioh 3’s first expansion, and two of this year’s biggest action games confirmed they have more fight in them. Not every headline was celebratory, either, as Blue Archive’s anniversary update drew backlash before its launch.
The same variety carried over to our reviews. This week took us through rather difficult action RPGs, turn-based adventures, and one of the most anticipated betas, each with its own strengths and frustrations. Many were impressive, though some had their frustrating bits.
Nonetheless, here’s a quick look at some of the week’s biggest gaming headlines.
Gaming News At A Glance
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Sequel Greenlit, Series Creator Back on the Helm
hololive Dreams "Hello! Brand New Summer!" Event Opened Just Days After Game’s Launch
Blue Archive 5.5 Anniversary Backlash Prompted Apology from Devs
Umamusume x KFC Japan is the Unlikeliest of Pairings, But It’s Happened Three Times Now
Nioh 3 Hell Rising DLC Receives a Concrete Release Date
Other News and Developments This Week
Review Roundup: July 26 to August 1
Some Good, Some Just Average
⚫︎ Silver Palace Dichotomy Beta Test
⚫︎ BLUE REFLECTION QUARTET
⚫︎ Disgaea Mayhem
⚫︎ The Relic: First Guardian
Other Reviews This Week
Gaming News At A Glance: Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Gets a Sequel, hololive Dreams New Event Opens, Blue Archive Gacha Changes Drew Backlash, Umamusume Collabs With KFC Japan Again, and Nioh 3 DLC 1 Launches Soon
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Sequel Greenlit, Series Creator Back on the Helm
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is officially getting a sequel, with publisher 505 Games partnering with series creator Xia Siyuan and his new studio, Indolphinity, to begin development. The publisher will fund the project with up to €21.5 million while handling its worldwide release, as both sides look to turn Wuchang into a bigger franchise. No title or release window has been announced.
The sequel is also Xia Siyuan’s return to the series after his departure from Leenzee Games, where the original Wuchang was developed. Following Digital Bros' acquisition of the IP earlier this year, the company says it wants to build on the first game's success while staying true to its original vision.
hololive Dreams "Hello! Brand New Summer!" Event Opened Just Days After Game’s Launch
Hololive Dreams began its first limited-time event, "Hello! Brand New Summer!," less than a week after the rhythm RPG’s global launch. Running until August 5, the update introduces a new story, a point rally mode with exclusive rewards, and a summer-themed recruitment banner featuring 5-Star swimsuit versions of Oozora Subaru, Shiranui Flare, Shirogane Noel, Tsunomaki Watame, and Otonose Kanade.
The event also adds six playable songs, including a brand-new group original, including the brand-new group original, "Boom! Boom! Tropica Vacation," alongside new originals and cover tracks for each featured talent.
Blue Archive 5.5 Anniversary Backlash Prompted Apology from Devs
Blue Archive’s 5.5th Anniversary gave way to controversy after Yostar unveiled a big change to the game’s gacha system. The new recruitment model introduces a guaranteed 3-Star Student after 100 pulls and a guaranteed featured character by 200 pulls. This, though, replaces the previous Recruitment Point system that players argue reduces flexibility, especially during limited banners with multiple characters.
The backlash spread across the Japanese, Global, and Chinese communities, which prompted Yostar to publish a detailed explanation of the new system before Executive Producer Kim Yong-ha issued a public apology. Despite the apology, the update remains on track, with many players waiting to see how the revised system performs after release.
Umamusume x KFC Japan is the Unlikeliest of Pairings, But It’s Happened Three Times Now
Umamusume: Pretty Derby is teaming up with KFC Japan once again, with the pair’s annual collaboration returning on August 12. Cygames has so far revealed only a teaser illustration featuring several horse girls in KGC uniforms, alongside Gold Ship’s Colonel Sanders costume. This is the third time it has happened. The partnership previously featured themed meals, collectible merch, in-game rewards, and even a virtual KFC visit inside Umamusume itself.
Nioh 3 Hell Rising DLC Receives a Concrete Release Date
Nioh 3's first paid expansion, Hell Rising, launches on August 19. It is set after the main story and follows Takechiyo into a ruined future version of Edo. Here, he joins allies, including the legendary swordsman Yagyu Jubei, to uncover the truth behind the city’s downfall.
The DLC adds two shield-based weapon types, new Guardian Spirits and equipment, plus an additional difficulty mode that further expands character progression. Players can also create their own combat encounters through the new Hundred Demon Realms Picture Scrolls, a customizable challenge mode that supports both solo and multiplayer play.
Other News and Developments This Week
⚫︎ Pragmata Sequel Might Be In The Works After Record-Breaking 2.5 Million Sales
⚫︎ Arknights x Persona 3 Reload Announced for CN Server With Free Koromaru
⚫︎ Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley and Skytree Village Launch on Mobile
⚫︎ Starsand Island 1.0 Brings Multiplayer, More Relationships, and An Autumn Festival on August 18th
⚫︎ Final Fantasy XI x Wizardry Variants Daphne Collaboration Event Now Live
⚫︎ The Sinking City 2's New Gameplay Trailer Features Less Investigations, More Occult
⚫︎ 1666: Amsterdam's Noa and Aaron Show Off Skills In New Gameplay Trailer
Review Roundup: July 26 to August 1
Some Good, Some Just Average
A good week of reviews rarely points in one direction. Silver Palace opens with a confident first impression, while Rubinite finds strength in its unsettling atmosphere and sharp sense of style. Elsewhere, Blue Reflection Quartet, Disgaea Mayhem, and The Relic: First Guardian all show flashes of promise, but each comes with enough rough edges to keep them from fully coming together. Even so, check them all out below!
Silver Palace Dichotomy Beta Test
Silver Palace is likely one of the most anticipated gacha RPGs this year. It’s still janky in its current state, but even as a beta, it has enough confidence in its world and storytelling to leave a lasting impression. The experience, though, is weighed down by some level of jankiness that is hard to ignore.
Our time with the beta left us optimistic. Solving cases feels rewarding, the city is a joy to wander through, and the story builds toward an ending that makes us want to see more. None of that changes the fact that bugs, performance issues, and unpolished animations regularly break the illusion, but there's a solid game underneath the jank if the developers can deliver on that potential.
BLUE REFLECTION QUARTET
High school drama meets apocalyptic monster battles in BLUE REFLECTION Quartet, a $50 bundle that combines two full-length JRPGs with two light adaptations. The franchise’s deep lore and fantastic soundtrack by Hayato Asano are clear highlights. Still, this collection struggles to justify its total weight.
The two mainline games carry the experience, and welcome additions like autosaving and a lore database refine the moment-to-moment play. Unfortunately, the two adaptations act as little more than weak narrative bridges. On top of that, technical flaws like visual clipping and framerate drops persist, particularly during Switch 2 cutscenes. You get plenty of hours for your money, but the poor quality of half the package ruins the deal.
Disgaea Mayhem
Disgaea Mayhem takes the series' trademark obsession with massive numbers and endless progression and reshapes it into a Musou-style action game. The spin-off captures Disgaea's humor and over-the-top personality, but its streamlined approach to its features leaves much of what made the strategy RPG so rewarding behind.
The fast-paced action struggles to support the series’ deep progression systems, especially with only one playable character carrying the entire experience. Even so, the colorful visuals and comedic writing keep things entertaining.
The Relic: First Guardian
The Relic: First Guardian is a Soulslike action RPG that builds its combat and progression around unconventional ideas. Some of those risks pay off, particularly during its memorable boss encounters, but uneven execution keeps the experience from reaching its full potential.
Its equipment-driven combat and unique progression systems are fresh, though its clunky animations and clunky storytelling often get in the way. The game stumbles too often over its own big ideas, but it at least leaves a favorable impression.
Other Reviews This Week
⚫︎ Rubinite Review | A Bloody Good Challenge
