Rockstar

The library of unofficial colorization projects for the original Game Boy keeps on growing, and today, another classic for the original Game Boy joins the list of fully colorized games thanks to the romhacking scene. Marc Robledo, a renowned romhacker known for his romhacking work like the Mega Man World 4 & 5 DX projects and the most recent colourization romhack released by him being Mole Mania DX, has released yet another full colourization project, with this colourization being for the 1990 title "Burger Time Deluxe", a port to the Game Boy of the classic arcade title released back in 1982. The gameplay for Burger Time is quite simple, with the player having to move between different levels through stairs to drop down the ingredients and form a full hamburger while avoiding certain objects and obstacles. Interestingly enough, Burger Time was later re-released for the Game Boy Color but under a different license, using the Flintstones branding and changing the graphics to accommodate Flintstones characters, but the original Burger Time Deluxe never got a Game Boy Color release. Those interested in trying out this new colorization hack for Burger Time Deluxe, can do so by download the patch file from Romhacking.net and bringing their own ROM for the patching process, or even compile the project from source thanks to Marc providing the full source code as open source on his GitHub. "Burger Time DX" Source code at GitHub "Burger Time DX" Romhacking.net Project Page

Wild Zone 1 will be your introduction to Pokémon Legends: Z-A's abundance of closed-off areas: there are specifically designed to keep Pokémon and people safe, and allow you to catch some 'mons for your team. There's a healthy selection of early companions for you to collect here, so we'll be covering every single Pokémon you can catch in Wild Zone 1, including guaranteed Alpha Pokémon spawns. Wild Zone 1 Location Wild Zone 1 is very close to Hotel Z, and as you'd expect, it's the very first Wild Zone you'll be visiting. It's just south of the Hotel, right by Vert Sector 8. When you leave the Hotel for the first time, it'll be just to your right on South Boulevard, west of Station Front, Café Introversion, and the Vert Pokémon Center. Alternatively, you can reach it by going east from the Pokémon Research Lab south of Vernal Avenue. Easy! How to unlockWild Zone 1 is available from the very start of the game. No effort needed! You actually have to visit it as part of the story. All Wild Zone 1 Pokémon There are 7 Pokémon to catch in Wild Zone 1. Most of these will be found on the ground, but once you get Rock Smash from Mable, you'll be able to climb up a ladder and reach the top of some buildings. The recommended level for this WIld Zone is Level 5. Pokémon Type Location Fletchling Normal/Flying On the ground level, flying around the grass Bunnelby Normal Hopping around the ground Weedle Bug/Poison Wandering near the grass Scatterbug Bug Wandering near the grass Mareep Electric In the grass patch at the west exit of the area Pidgey Normal/Flying On the rooftops, need Rock Smash to reach Pichu Electric In a small courtyard on the opposite side. It only has one spawn here, so we've got specific tips on how to catch Pichu Alpha Pokémon Locations Once you've met Emma and completed three Side Missions for her, you'll start meeting Alpha Pokémon in the wild, and many of these can be found in Wild Zones. Every Pokémon has a chance to be an Alpha, but there are guaranteed Alpha Pokémon spawns in every single Wild Zone. In Wild Zone 1, there's just the 1 Alpha, but it's easy to catch, so worth grabbing. Pokémon Type Level Location Pidgey Normal/Flying 26 On the right rooftop within the Wild Zone Best Wild Zone 1 Pokémon to catch You'll need to catch five different Pokémon anyway to progress the story, so that means you'll probably get most of these first time around. Still, for a little type variety, you can't go wrong with a Fletchinder (perhaps Pidgey if you started with Tepig) and a Mareep. The latter in particular is good because its final evolution, Ampharos, can Mega Evolve, meaning it'll be viable for a good chunk of the game. Bunnelby is also a decent early-game Pokémon, and you'll need it to use Rock Smash anyway. So why not?

It’s another GTA Online Weekly Update and it’s a big one to make some money in the casino before mansions get added. Plus, we have the the usual rotated discounts and more. This Event Week will run from November 20th through November 26th. GTA Online Content UpdatesMansions Construction Continues Rockstar Games will be releasing a brand new GTA Online DLC next month with a heavy focus on mansions. These new properties will be sold by Prix Luxury Real Estate. The company have begun construction of new mansions in the Vinewood Hills. You can visit these construction sites in West and East Vinewood Hills before they’re completed. New Listing Missions To help generate some income for such expensive properties, “New Listing Missions” have been added to the game and you can up to 4x GTA$ and RP on them. Want to find out how to access and complete them? Check out our guide here. This also comes with the Prix Luxury Real Estate VIP Program. Ear the Gold Tier of this program by December 7th to earn rewards that will be important for the next GTA Online update. The rewards are as follows: GTA$2,000,000 off all Prix Luxury Real Estate listings GTA$1,000,000 cash bonus New Rockstar Games Varsity Crew Neck Sweater Given the fact that Rockstar are giving you up to $3m off mansions…they’re about to be expensive! To get these rewards, you need to complete all of the New Listings Missions by December 7th. Free Rewards VIP Program Continues As part of the “VIP Program”, Rockstar are giving away several items over the course of the next few weeks. Simply log into GTA Online once before December 7th and you’ll earn 5 items. You’ll receive these within 72 hours of logging in. The items are: Übermacht Revolter with the Sessanta Nove Monogram livery Santo Capra Cap Black Santo Capra Ornate Tee Black Santo Capra Ornate Mini Dress (Ladies Only) Black Santo Capra Coin Pool Sliders FIB Priority File The FIB Priority File in GTA Online this week is The Black Box File. Priority Files pays double. Salvage Yard Robberies The Duggan Robbery: Enus Jubilee The McTony Robbery: Gallivanter Baller ST-D The Podium Robbery: Dinka Sugoi Podium Vehicle This week at the Casino in GTA Online, take your daily spin with the lucky wheel for your chance to win the Dinka Jester Classic, which costs $790,000 from Legendary Motorsport. GTA+ members now get 2 spins per 24 hours. Prize Ride Challenge This week in GTA Online, place top 4 in the LS Car Meet Series for 2 days in a row to unlock the Gallivanter Baller ST as the Prize Ride vehicle. It costs $890,000 from Legendary Motorsport.. Premium Test Ride Vehicle This week’s GTA Online Premium Test Ride Vehicle is the Principe Deveste Eight for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC players. Test Track Vehicles This week’s GTA Online Test Track Vehicles are the Nagasaki Hot Rod Blazer, Weeny Dynasty & Western Zombie Bobber. Luxury Autos Car Dealership The GTA Online Luxury Autos Car Dealership located in Rockford Hills has two cars on show for purchase. The cars this week are the Karin Everon RS & Übermacht Revolter with the Sessanta Nove Monogram livery. Premium Deluxe Motorsport Simeon’s Auto Shop has five cars available to purchase and test drive in GTA Online. They are the Bravado Verlierer, Hijak Ruston, Lampadati Furore GT, LCC Innovation & Western Cliffhanger. Gun Van Contents Weapons Heavy Rifle (50%, GTA+ 50%) Military Rifle (10%, GTA+ 30%) Battle Rifle (10%, GTA+ 20%) Marksman Rifle (10%, GTA+ 20%) MG (10%, GTA+ 20%) Nightstick (10%, GTA+ 20%) Baseball Bat (FREE) Throwables Pipe Bomb (10%, GTA+ 20%) Proximity Mine (10%, GTA+ 20%) Sticky Bomb (10%, GTA+ 20%) Body Armor Super Light Armor (10%, GTA+ 20%) Light Armor (10%, GTA+ 20%) Standard Armor (10%, GTA+ 20%) Heavy Armor (10%, GTA+ 20%) Super Heavy Armor (10%, GTA+ 20%) Premium Race This week’s Premium Race is Eight Figure Bonus. HSW Time Trial This week’s HSW Time Trial is East Vinewood. RC Time Trial This week’s RC Time Trial is Construction Site I. Time Trial This week’s Time Trial is El Burro Heights. Weekly Challenge The GTA Online Weekly Challenge for this week is “Complete The Diamond Casino Heist two times”. You’ll earn the The Diamond Strike Vest and GTA$100,000 for doing so. DiscountsFREECasino Master Penthouse Casino Master Penthouse Party Penthouse Package (GTA+) 30% off Arcade Properties plus Upgrades and Modifications Albany V-STR BF Surfer Custom Declasse Mamba Dinka Blista Kanjo Dinka Vindicator HVY Insurgent Pick-Up Imponte Arbiter GT Invade and Persuade Tank Karin Sultan Classic Karin Sultan RS Classic Lampadati Tropos Rallye Maibatsu Penumbra FF Maxwell Vagrant RUNE Zhaba Vulcar Warrener HKR Bonuses 3x GTA$ and RP on Open Wheel Races 2x GTA$ and RP on New Listings Missions (4x for GTA+ Members) 2x GTA$ and RP on The Diamond Casino Heist Finale 2x GTA$ and RP on Casino Story Missions 2x GTA$ and RP on Casino Work 2x GTA$ and RP on Community Race Series 2x on Casino Daily Visitor Chips GTA+ Benefits A new month of GTA+ perks has gone live and it has a new perk! It now includes access to GTA Online.

Mega Evolutions return! Pokémon Legends: Z-A brings this fan-favorite mechanic back; not seen since Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, this ability allows your favorite 'mons to get an extra power boost and a snazzy new look to boot. All previous Mega Evolutions have returned in Z-A, but we've also got some brand new ones to sink our teeth into. But before you jump in, you'll also want to know how to get that 'mon's Mega Stone. So we've got every single Mega Evolution in Pokémon Legends: Z-A and the location of the relevant Mega Stone, including for the upcoming Mega Dimension DLC. Note: This guide will contain spoilers for the entire game, so please read at your own risk! All Mega Evolutions & Mega Stone Locations in Pokémon Legends: Z-A There are currently 65 Mega Evolutions in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, many of which are brand new to the franchise. At least four more will be added to the game via the Mega Dimension DLC. We've listed all of them below, along with the Mega Stone you'll need to Mega Evolve them, and how to get the stone. Mega Meganium* Meganiumite After defeating Rogue Absol (Chikorita starter), or from the Stone Emporium in Post Game (100,000 Poké Dollars) Mega Emboarite* Emboarite After defeating Rogue Absol (Tepig starter), or from the Stone Emporium in Post Game (100,000 Poké Dollars) Mega Feraligatr* Feraligite After defeating Rogue Absol (Totodile starter), or from the Stone Emporium in Post Game (100,000 Poké Dollars) Mega Beedrill Beedrillite Defeat Rogue Mega Beedrill Mega Pidgeot Pidgeotite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 180 Mega Shards (Reach Rank F) Mega Ampharos Ampharosite Defeat Rogue Mega Ampharos Mega Gyarados Gyaradosite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 240 Mega Shards (Reach Rank F) Mega Barbaracle* Barbaracite Defeat Rogue Mega Barbaracle Mega Starmie* Staminite Defeat Rogue Mega Starmie Mega Eternal Floette* Floetite Get Eternal Flower Floette (post game) Mega Pyroar* Pyroarite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 240 Mega Shards (Reach Rank A) Mega Clefable* Clefablite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 240 Mega Shards (Reach Rank B) Mega Alakazam Alakazite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 360 Mega Shards (Reach Rank F) Mega Gengar Gengarite Stone Emporium on Vernal Avenue, 50,000 Poké Dollars Mega Scolipede* Scolipedite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 240 Mega Shards (Reach Rank C) Mega Victreebel* Victreebelite Defeat Rogue Mega Victreebel Mega Medicham Meditchamite Stone Emporium on Vernal Avenue, 50,000 Poké Dollars Mega Manectric Manectite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 180 Mega Shards (Reach Rank F) Mega Gardevoir Gardevoirite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 240 Mega Shards (Reach Rank C) Mega Gallade Galladite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 240 Mega Shards (Reach Rank C) Mega Houndoom Houndoominite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 180 Mega Shards (Reach Rank E) Mega Altaria Altarianite Defeat Rogue Mega Altaria Mega Audino Audinite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 180 Mega Shards (Reach Rank C) Mega Lopunny Lopunnite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 180 Mega Shards (Reach Rank C) Mega Banette Banettite Defeat Rogue Mega Banette Mega Camerupt Cameruptite Defeat Rogue Mega Camerupt Mega Excadrill* Excadrite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 360 Mega Shards (Reach Rank E) Mega Garchomp Garchompite Stone Emporium on Vernal Avenue, 70,000 Poké Dollars Mega Sableye Sablenite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 180 Mega Shards (Reach Rank F) Mega Mawile Mawilite Defeat Rogue Mega Mawile Mega Absol Absolite Defeat Rogue Mega Absol Mega Lucario Lucarionite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 240 Mega Shards (Reach Rank F) Mega Slowbro Slowbronite Defeat Rogue Mega Slowbro Mega Sharpedo Sharpedonite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 180 Mega Shards (Reach Rank E) Mega Eelektross* Eelektrossite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 240 Mega Shards (Reach Rank E) Mega Dragonite* Dragonininte Defeat Rogue Mega Dragonite Mega Venasaur Venusaurite Defeat Rogue Mega Venasaur Mega Charizard X Charizardite X Stone Emporium on Vernal Avenue, 100,000 Poké Dollars Mega Charizard Y Charizardite Y Stone Emporium on Vernal Avenue, 100,000 Poké Dollars Mega Blastoise Blastoisinite Stone Emporium on Vernal Avenue, 100,000 Poké Dollars Mega Malamar* Malamarite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 240 Mega Shards (Reach Rank A) Mega Dragalge* Dragalgite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 240 Mega Shards (Reach Rank B) Mega Glalie Glalitite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 240 Mega Shards (Reach Rank E) Mega Froslass* Froslassite Defeat Rogue Mega Froslass Mega Abomasnow Abomasite Stone Emporium on Vernal Avenue, 50,000 Poké Dollars Mega Scizor Scizorite Stone Emporium on Vernal Avenue, 50,000 Poké Dollars Mega Pinsir Pinsirite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 240 Mega Shards (Reach Rank E) Mega Heracross Heracronite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 180 Mega Shards (Reach Rank F) Mega Hawlucha* Hawluchanite Defeat Rogue Mega Hawlucha Mega Scrafty* Scraftinite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 140 Mega Shards (Reach Rank C) Mega Chandelure* Chandelurite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 360 Mega Shards (Reach Rank D) Mega Aerodactyl Aerodactylite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 240 Mega Shards (Reach Rank F) Mega Steelix Steelixite Stone Emporium on Vernal Avenue, 70,000 Poké Dollars Mega Aggron Aggronite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 360 Mega Shards (Reach Rank D) Mega Tyranitar Tyranitarite Defeat Rogue Mega Tyranitar Mega Falinks* Falinksite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 360 Mega Shards (Reach Rank D) Mega Skarmory* Skarmorite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 240 Mega Shards (Reach Rank C) Mega Salamence Salamencite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 360 Mega Shards (Reach Rank A) Mega Kangaskhan Kangaskhanite Stone Emporium on Vernal Avenue, 70,000 Poké Dollars Mega Drampa* Drampanite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 360 Mega Shards (Reach Rank F) Mega Metagross Metagrossite Quasartico Inc,, Mega Shard Exchange, 360 Mega Shards (Reach Rank A) Mega Zygarde* Zygardite Receive at the end of the game Mega Chesnaught* Chesnaughtite Reward from Z-A Battle Club's Ranked Battles Season 3 Mega Delphox* Delphoxite Reward from Z-A Battle Club's Ranked Battles Season 2 Mega Greninja* Greninjite Reward from Z-A Battle Club's Ranked Battles Season 1 Mega Diancie Diancite Mysery Gift (as of 6th Nov 2025) Mega Raichu X* ??? Mega Dimension DLC Mega Raichu Y* ??? Mega Dimension DLC Mega Chimecho ??? Mega Dimension DLC Mega Zeraora ??? Mega Dimension DLC Mega Baxcalibur ??? Reward from Z-A Battle Club's Ranked Battles Season 4 How many new Mega Evolutions are there? Image: Nintendo Life We're pleasantly surprised that Z-A has added so many new Mega Evolutions to the game — right now, we've counted 29 (though not all of them are immediately available), which includes Mega Diancie, revealed on 6th November 2025. The DLC will be adding at least four new Mega Evolutions too, so this list is bound to grow. What are Rogue Mega Evolutions? You'll see in the list above that lots of the Mega Stones are only available once you defeat a Rogue Mega Evolution. Don't worry, these are all related to the mainline story, so no need to worry about seeking them out. Rogue Mega Evolutions are similar to Frenzied Pokémon from Legends: Arceus — they're big boss battles where you need to whittle down your opponent's health. Once you defeat them, you'll get their Mega Stone as a reward.

Apparently, we must warn you about the content of the latest gameplay trailer for Hellraiser: Revival, because it’s seriously graphic stuff. While there is a heavily edited version on YouTube, dev Boss Team Games is encouraging you to watch the red band version on its official website, which is much more explicit. Obviously, your discretion is advised. The trailer itself is pretty rough, showing all kinds of mutilation and sexual deviation. Based on what we played of the title at Gamescom, though, we reckon this should absolutely be on the radar of any survival horror fan. Here’s what the blurb says about the game: There’s still no official release date attached to the title, but Saber Interactive’s saying it’ll be out in 2026. Have you got the stomach for this kind of sadism? Let us know in the comments section below.

Reanimal is one of the headline games for today's Xbox Partner Showcase, but the key detail from the show has gotten out ahead of time: the PS5 horror title will release on 13th February 2026. PC platform Steam currently lists the release date on the game's landing page, offering up a horror-fueled alternative to any early Valentine's Day dates. The title comes from Tarsier Studios, which made the first two Little Nightmares games before leaving the franchise behind for Reanimal. "In this horror adventure game, a brother & sister go through hell to rescue their missing friends and escape the island that they used to call home," is the setup. In addition to today's news, a PS5 demo will go live on the PS Store, containing the opening chapters of the game. On PC at least, Reanimal will cost £34.99, so expect a similar price on PS5. Will you try out the Reanimal demo, and are you looking forward to the game? Let us know in the comments below. [source store.steampowered.com]

PS4 classic Bloodborne turned 10 this year, and to celebrate, Sony did absolutely nothing whatsoever. Companies have no duty to celebrate anniversaries in any substantial way, but given the FromSoftware game's status as a fan favorite, it was hoped that something might happen. It didn't, of course, but there is one way you can still mark the occasion: a series of new Bloodborne vinyl sets offering select tracks from the soundtrack. Pre-orders are opening up today. Available from Laced Records, you can purchase up to three different versions of an expanded vinyl that extra songs on it not featured in the original release. Volume 2 includes "four songs not included in the original vinyl release from the base game, as well as five boss cues from The Old Hunters DLC, including 'Ludwig, The Holy Blade' by Nobuyoshi Suzuki and 'Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower' by Yuka Kitamura". Bloodborne Vol. 2 LP Bloodborne Vol. 1 LP - Laced Records Exclusive Bloodborne Vol. 1 + Vol. 2 LP Collector's Boxset

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is now available on PS5 after one year of Xbox Series X|S and PC exclusivity, and much like that original launch, the hardcore title comes with a long list of technical faults on PS5. We have had access to the open world game for a few weeks now for review purposes, but have encountered numerous bugs, glitches, and performance issues during that time. A day one patch has been promised to fix many of those flaws, and now the game is out, so too is update 1.7. Based on our experience, it is essential that you update the game to this version to ensure the best experience available on PS5. Once we've tested S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 with its day one patch enabled, we'll have a full PS5 review to publish. As for what the patch entails, here are the highlights from team GSC Game World, with hundreds of other improvements said to be included: Major A-Life Overhaul NPCs and mutants now actively fight for and lose control of territories. Most points of interest, checkpoints, and locations (except hubs) are constantly contested. Master Difficulty A new ultra-hard mode, selectable only at the start of a new game. Features tougher balance, no autosaves, and disabled manual saves. Progress is saved only when leaving hubs or during major story moments. Inventory & Equipment UI Rework Redesigned interface showing protection against Zone hazards. Consumables and artifacts now have five quality tiers instead of three. New radiation balance bar for equipped artifacts. Stamina & Energy Drink Changes Three movement speeds: walk, jog, and sprint. Overusing energy drinks now causes hand tremor and aiming penalties. Outlets who have chosen to review the PS5 version based on what was available pre-release have landed on a Metacritic rating of 75 so far, based on eight verdicts. This is only a very slight increase on the Xbox Series X|S and PC versions, which both sit at a 73. There'll be more to come from STALKER 2 in the future as well, as the Ultimate Edition contains a season pass promising at least two expansions. Are you braving the potential technical faults to play STALKER 2 on day one? Let us know in the comments below.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds gets a bit spongier this week, as its SpongeBob SquarePants DLC pack is now available in the kart racer. Those who own the season pass or Digital Deluxe edition of CrossWorlds will already have access, or you can buy the pack separately for $5.99/£4.99. Here's a look at what you're getting: The DLC adds both SpongeBob and Patrick as playable racers, alongside the Patty Wagon vehicle and a brand new track that takes the game to Bikini Bottom. You're also getting new music, emotes, and sounds included. SpongeBob is the second premium DLC pack for CrossWorlds, with the first being Minecraft. Coming up next will be Pac-Man, followed by Mega Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Avatar Legends. If you don't want to fork out for all that, though, SEGA is at least updating the game with freebie content as well. It was recently announced that NiGHTS, AiAi, and some Sonic comics characters are joining the fun for free. Are you dipping into Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds for the SpongeBob DLC? Tell us in the comments section below.

In the great pantheon of shoot-'em-up games, R-Type is both one of the greatest and one of the most excruciatingly difficult. Released in arcades in 1987 and drawing visual inspiration from the works of H.R. Giger, you pilot an R-9 fighter craft through spectacular alien worlds in a bid to destroy the Bydo Empire. Although shoot 'em ups later evolved to favor more twitch-reflex gameplay, R-Type’s staple is its strict memorization, requiring you to learn it by rote. As with Gradius, not dying is an unspoken challenge: losing your power-ups makes recovery brutally tough, and the game's infamously aggressive checkpoints send you back a considerable distance each time you bite a bullet. Impressed with the polygonal revision of Taito’s 1996 Raystorm, IREM endeavored to make a similar transition for R-Type’s fourth entry. Being their first attempt at 3D, it was a project with a steep learning curve. And, while the result was glorious, it was also mystifyingly brief, remaining a PlayStation exclusive for 27 years. Enter R-Type Delta: HD Boosted - a remaster that upscales the visuals handsomely. Its PlayStation-era polygons have been buffed to an astonishing shine without losing any of their characteristic charm, and overall visibility is greatly improved. Additionally, while the game was originally in a 4:3 aspect ratio, some trickery has been done to create the illusion of widescreen, using an “expanded” fade effect on the border edges that, when locked in, you quickly forget are there. Its upscaling is on par with M2’s G-Darius port, and, coming from City Connection — a developer praised for their taste in re-releases but less so for their effort thereafter — its quality comes as a pleasant surprise. R-Type Delta is one of the series' best, both smoother and cleaner than R-Type Final, and faster and freer than the three 2D entries that preceded it. Delta is to R-Type what G-Darius was to, well, Darius: a remarkably slick, visually gorgeous game that maximizes the possibilities of 3D architecture. There are now three craft available: the original R-9, playing in traditional fashion; the new R-X, with Force Ball homing properties; and the R-13, which is primarily hinged around its Force Ball’s sticky anchoring and laser tether. Impressively, each craft totally changes your approach, requiring its own roadmap to victory. Power-up modifiers vary greatly depending on the ship you’re using, making a maximum of nine shot-types when factoring in three per craft. Additionally, the doubling up of said power-ups expands the range even further. Visually it’s beautiful and the audio is stellar. Set pieces abound as early as stage one: mecha-centipedes rip through burned-out industrial high-rises to encircle you in the foreground, and screen-dwarfing bosses pump out neon laser barrels and fiery exhaust flame. Dynamic and ploughed with invention, it cherry picks elements from its predecessors and paints them across a bolder seven-stage canvas. Stage three is wonderfully creative, the entire episode just one hulking, stalking boss that requires travelling beneath its feet to strip its armory, before climbing to its peak under a hail of missiles. The way the camera scales, shifting your flight path in various directions, heightens its cinematic nature. The fine visual and audio details are terrific, too, like the way the music switches to a muted, bassy throb the instant your ship dips below water. Delta remains a hardcore memorizer, despite having more random elements than those before it. It also maintains checkpoints, although now getting powered back up post-death is much easier. Not dying, though, is still the star to shoot for, as maintaining a strong ship enables you to wipe out large enemies and bosses in a fraction of the time. More than anything else, though, Delta is about ball control. And by that, I mean the Force Ball: R-Type’s idiosyncratic ship attachment. More than any other game in the series, Force Ball usage feels so much more integral, and its strategy varies greatly depending on the different ship types. Typically the ball can be bolted to the front or back of the craft with a touch. When positioned there, it provides different shot boosts depending on the color of the power-up you collect. It also shields against almost all incoming bullets and missiles. With a touch of the button, it can be shot out directly into enemies or objects, and set to travel adjacently, firing as it goes to cover more screen space. Sending the Force Ball out on repeat is how Delta ticks, with the landscape and enemy patterns calling for ever-evolving strategies. When it’s fired into a large enemy it can be absolutely devastating, its point-blank hit-rate making short work of any foe - but its greatest trick is in its new “Dose” function. Now, whenever the ball absorbs a bullet on your behalf, it fills a gauge that, when reaching 100%, will allow you to deploy an explosive super attack against everything on the screen. Delta has been engineered painstakingly around this, cleverly placing swarms of popcorn enemies in-between junctures so you can quickly ‘dose up’ with a little risk-reward flying. Attached to the front of your craft, it can be used as a collision barrier, nosing through enemy waves and building the meter fast. Dedicated players will be able to eke out myriad possibilities for maximizing the Dose attack's regular deployment. Delta proves incredibly deep and impressively malleable for a series known for its strict rail structure. Elements that pose problems initially can be quickly outwitted through experimentation, and often felled in the blink of an eye. Learning not just where to camp, but how to utilize the Force Ball effectively increases your offence and defense in equal stride. And when all else fails, you still have your charge beam to cut through incoming obstacles. Although you start with limited continues, these increase through play time, and once a stage is beaten it becomes available in practice. There are three difficulty levels to choose from, and perks in the form of graphics texture options, screen dimension adjustments, and time-unlockable bonuses that will keep you plugging away. Delta HD Boosted's only real presentation shortcoming is that, inexplicably, you can’t skip the lengthy start-up sequence on each new game. With no quick restart from the pause menu either, you’re forced back to the title screen to repeatedly endure the whole opening preamble. It’s an easily addressable oversight that proves genuinely frustrating. Delta is often cited as one of the most difficult R-Type games, but I beg to differ. Compared to the more static nature of its predecessors, all the new tricks and possibilities here actually make it easier in many ways. Getting powered back up after a death is far friendlier, the Dose super weapon is a crucial get-out-of-jail-free card, and being able to adjust the ship’s speed can save you in a pinch. That said, it’s still hard as nails, and 'Kid' difficulty, despite the disparaging name, comes highly recommended as a first port of call. ConclusionA true arcade game that never was, and confined to the PlayStation until now, shoot-'em-up fans will adore what’s in store. A seminal work that has never looked better, Delta, with its boundless creativity and exacting design, stands out not just amongst its peers, but as perhaps the best R-Type the series ever produced. Yes, it’s still crazy tough, and no quick restarts or scene-skipping is painful, but this new HD revamp is by far the best way to play it. If you’re itching for a shoot-'em-up experience of note, this will make your year.

Earlier this week, G-Mode announced it would be reissuing another rare mobile spin-off to Atlus's 2004 tactical RPG, Stella Deus, as a G-MODE Archives+ title for Nintendo Switch and PC (thanks Gematsu!). Stella Deus: Time of Alchemy was originally released in 2007 for i-Mode compatible feature phones (mobile phones with limited functionality that predate modern smartphones). It is the follow-up to 2006's Stella Deus: The Spirit of Darkness, which G-Mode reissued back in September, and, much like its predecessor, once again focuses on a world embroiled in a bitter religious war, where a strange mist called Miasma has also begun destroying everything it comes into contact with. Within this setting, players will take control of a group of heroes who must embark on an adventure to heal the dying land, with the gameplay being divided between visual-novel-style story segments and tactical battles played out on an isometric grid using Action Points. Here's a list of features: Tactical battles using an Action Point (AP) system. Effective Zone (EZ) system enables powerful team attacks when allies and enemies are within range. Unique skills and combo attacks for each character. Character strengthening with Class Change. Craft powerful gear through item synthesis. 50 stages of strategic gameplay. An original scenario set in the Stella Deus world. Despite being a follow-up to The Spirit of Darkness, Time of Alchemy is described by G-Mode to be an entirely standalone game, meaning that you won't have had to play the other game in the series to get something out of it. It releases on Nintendo Switch today in Japan (November 20th), with the PC (Steam) release being planned for December 4th. Much like Spirit of Darkness, the Steam version will be released worldwide, but sadly won't feature English language options, meaning your interest may vary. Nevertheless, if you still want to check it out, you can wishlist the game here.

The arcade market may be a shadow of its former self, but that doesn't mean its most distinguished veterans aren't still plugging away with new cabinets and titles. Sega Amusements has just revealed that it is updating its Daytona Championship USA arcade title with a new "motion" version, evoking the "taikan" ("body sensation") craze that Sega spearheaded in the '80s with games like Hang-On, Space Harrier, and After Burner. Here's what Sega Amusements has to say about the new model: As spotted by Arcade Heroes, this isn't an all-new cabinet – Sega Amusements previously used it in Apex Rebels, a racing title it co-produced with 3MindWave. Daytona Championship USA (also known as Daytona 3 Championship USA) is the 2017 successor to Daytona USA (1994) and Daytona USA 2: Battle on the Edge (1998), and was mainly developed in the UK. The Daytona series also includes Daytona USA: Championship Circuit Edition (Saturn, 1996) and Daytona USA 2001 (Dreamcast, 2000).