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Giana Sisters: Director's Cut coming to Xbox One, PS4 next month
An upgraded version of the crowdfunded dimension-swapping platformer Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams will launch for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One next month, developer Black Forest Games announced this week. Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams Director's Cut is presented at 1080p on both platforms, and includes all of the original game's content along with the previously PC-exclusive Rise of the Owlverlord and Halloween Level expansion packs. Black Forest Games plans to launch Director's Cut in "early December." [Video: Black Forest Games]
Giana Sisters 2 coming to Wii U, Xbox One, PS4
Developer Black Forest Games is prototyping a sequel to its 2012 platformer Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams that could see a multiplatform release as soon as next year, Nintendo Life reports. Studio co-founder Adrian Goersch confirmed that the follow-up is slated for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo's Wii U. Development is still in its early stages, but Black Forest Games is currently targeting a "late 2015 or early 2016" launch date. Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams was initially funded through a successful Kickstarter project in 2012, and went on to sell more than one million copies across the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U, and PC platforms. Prior to its crowdfunded return, the Giana Sisters series began life as a Commodore 64 Super Mario Bros. clone before settling its differences with Nintendo for a 2009 DS release. [Image: Black Forest Games]
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams shifts one million copies
Indie developer Black Forest Games announced that its Commodore 64-era revival project Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams has crested one million sales units across all available platforms. Funded by a successful Kickstarter project, Twisted Dreams is a dimension-shifting platformer that launched in 2012 for Windows, with ports for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii U arriving last year. Black Forest's recent sales milestone comes in the wake of Twisted Dreams' recent appearance in Humble Indie Bundle 11, where it accompanied standout indie hits like Guacamelee, Monaco, and Dust: An Elysian Tail. Black Forest continued to update the Windows version of Twisted Dreams with new content in the years following its initial release, including holiday-themed Christmas and Halloween levels. [Image: Black Forest Games]
Humble Indie Bundle 11: Guacamelee, The Swapper, Antichamber and more
There's a very tempting collection on sale over at Humble Bundle right now. Humble Indie Bundle 11 tosses together four indie treasures: Guacamelee, Dust: An Elysian Tail, Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams and The Swapper. Pay more than the average and you'll also get Antichamber and Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine. Guacamelee is Drinkbox Studios' lucha libre-inspired action platformer, while Dust: An Elysian Tail is Dean Dodrill's beautifully-animated action role-playing game. Giana Sisters, from Black Forest Games, is a difficult 2D platformer, The Swapper is a lauded puzzle game built around a cloning device, Antichamber is a psychological first-person exploration game and Monaco is all about pulling off heists with up to three other buddies. This bundle will be live for the next two weeks, and the Humble Bundle folks assure us new games will be added before the sale period ends. In order to secure those additional games, you'll need to pay beyond the average – which is hovering around $4 as of right now. [Image: Drinkbox Studios]
Wii U indie eShop sale offers buy one, get others 60 percent off deal
Waiting on Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze for a fresh reason to turn your Wii U on? We hear you, but several indie studios have banded together to offer the Super Indie Connection Sale, a deal on eShop titles you might have missed from the past year. From now until February 13, anyone that owns Spin The bottle: Bumpie's Party, Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien, Giana Sisters: Twisted Dream, Toki Tori 2 or Mighty Switch Force! may purchase any of the other titles for 60 percent off. It's generally a good deal to get 60 percent off of anything, but buying Spin the Bottle would be especially smart given that its price will gradually rise as more content is added. Toki Tori 2 developer Two Tribes also cited the game's low sales among reasons to recently cease development efforts, so this sale is a chance to reward their efforts for cheap. On a more general note, with Mario Kart 8 planned for May, the Super Indie Connection Sale is a great way to plan for March and April. [Image: WayForward]
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams updates with new Halloween level
Indie developer Black Forest Games has released a new Halloween-themed level for its Kickstarter-funded 2.5D platformer Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams and its PC follow-up Rise of the Owlverlord. Today's free update extends the sisters' dimension-shifting adventure with a lengthy and challenging Halloween map, joining previously released Christmas and Halloween-themed bonus episodes from 2012. The update is also available for Rise of the Owlverlord, a recently-released standalone expansion that offers its own collection of unique levels. The new Halloween level is exclusive to PC platforms, though Black Forest Games' managing director Adrian Goersch notes that "there are several things planned for 2014," with regard to upcoming console-specific Giana Sisters content. Twisted Dreams is also available via Xbox Live Arcade, the PlayStation Network, and the Wii U eShop.
European PS Plus members get Far Cry 3, Dragon's Dogma in October
Sony has announced its European PlayStation Plus lineup for October, revealing that subscribers will receive free access to Far Cry 3 and other downloadable hits throughout the month. Capcom's action-RPG Dragon's Dogma will also launch for PlayStation Plus in Europe next month, complete with the game's recently released Dark Arisen expansion. Black Forest Games' Kickstarter-funded platformer Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams rounds out the month's PS Plus offerings on the PlayStation 3. PlayStation Vita owners will receive the crossover fighting game Street Fighter x Tekken as part of the PlayStation Plus program in October, along with Namco Bandai's oddball stuff-gathering sim Touch My Katamari. Sony has issued no word as to whether any of next month's featured games in Europe will join North America's PlayStation Plus lineup.
Giana Sisters available September 5 on Wii U in Americas
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams will complete the console circuit with its debut on Wii U on September 5 in the Americas. The game is priced at $14.99 and, according to developer Black Forest Games, will be released in the US, Brazil and Mexico Nintendo eShoppes. "Our sales on Wii U eShop in Europe are even better than those on PSN Europe. Now we are very curious to see how much the US Nintendo-fans like our game," said Adrian Goersch, managing director at Black Forest. The Wii U version of Giana fully supports the game through the WiiPad, along with a super easy mode for casual palyers (hardcore and überhardcore are still supported).
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams Wii U dated for Europe, Australia
Black Forest Games' Wii U port of Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams twirls into Europe and Australia's eShops on August 22, but remains date-less in North America for now. The German studio told us it was bringing the sororal platformer to Wii U this month, but this week's announcement notes US and APAC dates are as yet unconfirmed. We've reached out to Black Forest Games for more info. Those who like their platforming semi-portable will be pleased to know the Wii U version supports off-TV play, as well as featuring a new easy mode – don't be fooled by the cutesy look, Twisted Dreams can be a tricksy hobbit when it wants, even on Normal mode. Meanwhile, the game's Steam version is getting new DLC in September. The punfully titled 'Rise of the Owlverlord' includes seven levels, new music, and an owl commander boss to take down, all of which sounds like a hoot. It comes to Steam in September, priced $4.99, a DRM-free version due sometime after. If you're wondering, Black Forest Games hasn't forgotten the game's Kickstarter roots. Backers who pledged $25 towards the Giana Kickstarter get the Owlverlord DLC for free, as do those who put $15 towards Ravensdale fundraiser, despite the extreme likelihood it won't achieve its goal.
Nintendo shows off 18 indie games for Wii U in video montage
Nintendo opened the floodgates on the Wii U's indie offerings in a video today, showing 18 different games coming to the system from European and Australian developers. Head past the break to see the list of games shown in the video. Among things missing from the video were release dates for some of the games, which is a blessing given the state of our wallets right now. We do know that Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams launches this month on Wii U and Ittle Dew will head to the system this fall or winter.
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams envisions itself on Wii U next month
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is set to weave onto Wii U very soon, if everything goes to plan. A Black Forest Games spokesperson told us the retro-revival platformer has been submitted to Nintendo and the studio is currently awaiting feedback; if all goes well it's eShop city in August. Black Forest's follow-up to 1987 Mario-a-like The Great Giana Sisters came to XBLA and PSN this year after finding success on Steam Greenlight, and the Wii U version completes the console set. Meanwhile, the German studio is knee-deep in Kickstarter for its co-op run-and-gunner Ravensdale, which at the time of writing was at $33,500 of its $500K goal with 25 days to go.
PSN Tuesday: Dungeons & Dragons, Giana Sisters, Jak & Daxters
The weekly PSN update is live, unlocking Capcom's collected quest classics, Dungeons and Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara. Joining the 2D beat-em-up is Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams, which finally makes its way to PSN after its Xbox Live Arcade debut back in March. The Jak and Daxter Collection – which includes all three original PS2 games, Jak and Daxter, Jak 2 and Jak 3 – steps up on PS Vita today, along with Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two. Rounding out this week's update are free PS Plus games Saints Row: The Third and Gods Eater Burst. For the full list of this week's PlayStation Network content, hit up the PlayStation Blog.
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams spins to PSN this month
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is due out on PlayStation Network "later this month," Black Forest Games announced on the PlayStation Blog. This is a delay from an initial launch window of March; Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams landed on XBLA on March 20, and the PSN version was slated to hit "a few days later." Not to worry, though – we found Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams on PC to be beautiful and challenging, and absolutely worth a history embroiled in scandal and bankruptcy. It should be worth a few extra months to play it on PSN.
Giana Sisters alter console reality later this month
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams makes the leap to consoles on March 20, arriving first for Xbox Live Arcade. Publisher bitComposer mentions "a few days later" the game will arrive on the PlayStation Network.Our snapshot of Giana Sisters after its PC launch last year noted developer Black Forest "knows how to make a platformer that requires more than sheer luck to complete, and how to incorporate strategy into a linear path."The game is priced at 1,200 Microsoft Points ($15) on XBLA. Although there's no mention of the price on PSN, unless the publisher is striving for punky and painful duality, it should also be $15.%Gallery-181530%
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams offers free standalone Xmas level
Taking a page from Christmas Nights, Black Forest Games is releasing a free, standalone Christmas-themed level for Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams, in which you explore two different versions of a snowy level and defeat Santa-Owls.If you already have the game, the new level will available as an update from Steam, GOG, or Gamersgate, and can be found in the extras menu. If you don't have it, the Christmas level will be available for separate download from Steam and GOG. It'll act as both a gift and a demo when it's released this month.
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams soars onto XBLA next spring
Giana Sisers: Twisted Dreams is coming to XBLA in spring 2013, from publisher bitComposer. Giana Sisters hit Steam in October as the second title to launch under Greenlight, published and developed by Black Forest Games. It appears bitComposer will be taking over all publishing duties, listing a PC launch for spring, too.The (quite successful) Kickstarter for Giana Sisters listed a launch on PSN and XBLA in "early 2013," so we're keeping our eyes peeled for any PS3 news from bitComposer.Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams pays homage to the platformers of yore, and does a wonderful job of it on PC. Sitting on the couch and holding a controller should only exaggerate that nostalgic joy. Unfortunately, blowing on the code of a downloadable game just isn't the same as blowing into a cartridge. But hey, give it a go anyway. You won't look insane at all.
Snapshot: Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams
There are so many games out there we couldn't possibly review them all. Welcome to Snapshot, where we highlight games that might fall outside our usual coverage but are still something we think you should know about. Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is older than I am. Ancestrally, at least – The Great Giana Sisters launched in 1987 on Commodore 64, Atari ST, the Amiga and a few other, old platforms. The publisher, Rainbow Arts, was immediately embroiled in scandal for the game's similarity to Super Mario Bros. It was pulled from retail and eventually the IP shifted to Spellbound Entertainment, which released Great Giana Sisters DS in 2009. Spellbound went bankrupt in 2012 and many of its members re-formed as Black Forest Games with the Giana Sisters IP in hand.On August 31, Black Forest's Kickstarter for "Project Giana" earned $186,000 of a requested $150,000, promising fans a modern, direct "grandchild" of The Great Giana Sisters. Now, Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is the second game to launch on Steam through the latest crowd-sourced initiative, Greenlight. After 25 years of refusals, bankruptcies and a shifty legal foundation, the only thing that matters is if the game, in the end, is worth it.Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is worth it.%Gallery-169126%
PSA: Giana Sisters Twisted Dreams now available, is Greenlight's second release
It's always a welcome relief to see a Kickstarter project transition into being an actual, released product, especially when it's as nice to look at as Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams. Developer Black Forest Games has released the world-shifting platformer on PC through GOG, Gamersgate, and Steam – where it is only the second Greenlight pick ever to make it to release.Through October 30, all three retailers are offering 10 percent off the $14.99 purchase price, so there's an incentive to check it out soon even if you didn't already buy into it via Kickstarter.
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams rests on Oct. 23 release date
Kickstarter success story Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams will leap onto PC October 23, with XBLA and PSN versions planned for "early 2013." During its Kickstarter days, the game was titled Project Giana and its campaign raised $186,158, over $36,000 beyond the initial goal. The final title was also voted upon by the community, with Twisted Dreams receiving 76 percent of the vote.Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is an Ikaruga-like reimagining of the classic Super Mario Bros. clone. Switching polarities between dreams and nightmares, the platformer has Giana twisting the environment to attack directly or drift by obstacles. We've checked with the developer on price and will update when we hear back.
