The-Behemoth
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The Behemoth finally has enough clout to get away with Game 4
The Behemoth, better known as the house that made Castle Crashers, is continuing a pattern in which it approaches new genres with each project. Its newest venture, Game 4, is a turn-based strategy game for PC and Xbox One that retains the developer's quirky humor and trademark charms while stripping away some of the expected tropes found in the genre. In it, players collect a team of interchangeable, oddball heroes wielding the strangest weapons and helmets, then select their movement paths on the battlefield and observe as attacks play out. It's an intriguing direction for a studio that made its biggest mark with a beat-em-up.
Seen@PAX: The Behemoth's arcade
Above is the massive control panel that powers The Behemoth's untitled fourth game, currently codenamed "Game 4." After organizing their troops across a hex-based field, players confirm their selections with a tantalizing glowing green button, and send out orders by pulling an unusually shaped lever at their side, slot machine-style. After completing the PAX Prime demo, the screen instructs players to fill out a nearby comment card to rate the experience. This isn't the only throwback hardware The Behemoth has on display at PAX, though. Hit the break below to get a look at some unique arcade cabinets created for Alien Hominid, Battleblock Theater, and Castle Crashers.
Castle Crashers dev teases its next game with Earth-shattering bear
The Behemoth, developer of Castle Crashers and Battleblock Theater, is teasing the impending announcement of its next game. Labeled "Game 4" for the time being, its trailer shows an enormous six-legged bear crashing into the Earth as a narrator describes the apocalyptic event that happened as a result. Of course, the narrator couldn't imagine the planet in any state other than in a storm-riddled chaotic mess. The Behemoth revealed that Game 4 is in development for Xbox One in April. The developer began working on the game's concepts just before launching Battleblock Theater in April 2013. It said the game is "of a genre we haven't covered before and seek to breathe a new flavor into," and that a "lone survivor" prototype emerged during its beginning phases before noting that it may have hinted at its genre in the teaser video. The Behemoth plans on offering a playable demo of Game 4 at PAX Prime in Seattle, which begins next Friday, August 29. [Image: The Behemoth]
PSA: Battleblock Theater now available on Games with Gold
Made by the creators of Castle Crashers, Battleblock Theater was a game that caught our attention last year. The multiplayer puzzle-platformer/brawler combined great things like evil cats, a snarky and sinister narrator, and the opportunity to kill friends over and over. If you didn't experience it last year and you're an Xbox Live Gold member, you can rectify that by acquiring Battleblock Theater at no extra cost. The game's just replaced Gotham City Impostors on Xbox's Games with Gold program, and so it'll stay free to Gold members until the end of the month. To grab it, head on over to the Xbox Games Store.
Battleblock Theater bundled with Castle Crashers for Steam launch
The Behemoth launched party platformer Battleblock Theater on Steam today, and is offering some special discounts and bundles to celebrate. For starters, those that don't already own Battleblock Theater and the developer's popular beat-em-up Castle Crashers on Steam can download both games for $22.49, or receive Battleblock Theater on the cheap with a loyalty discount for already owning Castle Crashers. If that isn't enough savings for you, Battleblock Theater is 10 percent off ($13.49) its standard $15 price tag for its first week on Steam. Those that own both games also have access to special unlockable content thanks to the "Can't Stop Crying Pack." The Castle Crashers knight opens up to Battleblock Theater players, whereas the latter game's character Hatty joins the pillaging crew in the beat-em-up game, bringing a golden whale orb and gem sword for the ride. Each discount is good until Thursday, May 22. [Image: The Behemoth]
Battleblock Theater brings perilous platforming to Steam soon
Castle Crashers developer The Behemoth revealed that its manic co-op platformer Battleblock Theater is coming to Steam on May 15, with ports available for Windows and Linux. Released for Xbox Live Arcade last year, Battleblock Theater lets up to four players team up to tackle dozens of levels filled with tricky enemies and deviously placed traps. The upcoming PC version features weapon switching, new enemy characters, and custom level trading via Steam Workshop. The Steam version of Battlebock Theater is priced at $14.99. [Image: The Behemoth]
The Behemoth's next game is an Xbox One exclusive
Castle Crashers developer The Behemoth is working on an unnamed project for the Xbox One, the studio announced at PAX East today. No further details were revealed regarding the untitled game beyond the bizarre teaser image seen above. The Behemoth notes that "Game 4" will be playable this year, and further information will be announced at San Diego Comic Con in July. The Behemoth is currently hosting a catalog sale on Xbox Live, discounting Castle Crashers and BattleBlock Theater to $5 apiece. [Image: The Behemoth]
Castle Crashers, BattleBlock Theater $5 each on XBLA this week
The Behemoth is hosting a catalog sale on Xbox Live Arcade this week, discounting the studio's downloadable Xbox 360 hits Castle Crashers and BattleBlock Theater to just $4.94 apiece. Castle Crashers, originally released back in 2008, is an arcade-style beat-'em-up in which up to four players band together to slay armies of barbarians, demons, and dragons. The more recent BattleBlock Theater puts a teamwork-oriented spin on the platforming genre, challenging players to work together as they clear dozens of included co-op levels. As a bonus, players who purchase both featured games will unlock Hatty Hattington in Castle Crashers and the Knight in BattleBlock Theater. The Behemoth's sale continues through April 14. [Image: The Behemoth]
The Behemoth offers aid to indies with The Research Centaur, Gold Egg
In the indie world, Castle Crashers studio The Behemoth lives up to its name, and now it's using that awesome reach to benefit the larger development community. Two new divisions, The Research Centaur and the Gold Egg Project, aim to help out smaller studios by providing QA resources and financial support, respectively. The Research Centaur offers The Behemoth's user experience and QA teams to a limited number of outside studios at a time. So far, The Research Centaur has helped out Supergiant Games on Transistor and Bastion iOS, Capybara Games on Super Time Force and Alientrap on Apotheon. The Gold Egg Project is an alternative funding source for developers that The Behemoth hand-picks out of gaming competitions and general buzz. Developers don't apply to become a recipient of the Gold Egg Project; The Behemoth simply keeps its eye on competitions and contacts developers they find promising. The Gold Egg has helped out Tyler Glaiel and Jon Schubbe on Closure, and it's currently providing aid to Asteroid Base for its adorable death-dealing game, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime. "Born out of necessity and past experience, it provides an optional lifeboat in the sea of scary options currently out there," The Behemoth says. "It's your game, we just clear the roadblocks. No strings attached."
BattleBlock Theater coming to Steam, closed beta begins this month
Castle Crashers developer The Behemoth announced that its co-op platformer BattleBlock Theater is coming to PC platforms via Steam this year. The PC version of BattleBlock Theater boasts a number of new features not seen in its initial Xbox Live Arcade release, including weapon switching, new enemy types, and online item-trading with Steam Inventory. The port will also feature Steam Workshop integration, allowing players to build their own custom levels and share them with friends. The Behemoth will host a closed beta test for the PC version of BattleBlock Theater from March 24 through March 31. Beta signups are available here. [Image: The Behemoth]
The Behemoth co-sponsoring Japanese indie festival BitSummit
Castle Crashers and Battleblock Theater developer The Behemoth is co-sponsoring the BitSummit festival this year. Set to to take place in Kyoto, Japan, the event offers a venue for independent developers to show off their games. It typically has the primary mission of bolstering the presence of Japanese indie game developers, though the event is open for developers outside of Japan to attend and showcase their work. In the case of The Behemoth, it believes that through events like this year's BitSummit MMXIV, "independent Japanese developers can build a healthy counterpoint to the industrial strength AAA video game industry in Japan." The event will be held March 7 through March 9; developers hoping to attend must register before February 7. [Image: BitSummit Organization Committee]
Castle Crashers character DLC now available on PSN
Two new DLC packs for The Behemoth's multiplayer beat-'em-up Castle Crashers launch today on the PlayStation Network, bringing the PlayStation 3 version of the game up to speed with its Xbox Live Arcade counterpart. The Legend of the Blacksmith Pack adds the purple-clad Blacksmith to Castle Crashers' playable roster, and introduces five new weapons in the game's story mode. Today's second DLC release, The Can't Stop Crying Pack, was originally an unlockable bonus for players who purchased both Castle Crashers and The Behemoth's follow-up Battleblock Theater on the Xbox 360. As Battleblock Theater is not available on PSN, the pack is currently the only way to access Hatty Hattington character within the PS3 version of Castle Crashers. The Can't Stop Crying Pack and The Legend of the Blacksmith Pack are priced at $1.99 apiece.
All Behemoth games half off on Xbox Live until September 16
To celebrate its tenth year of making games, The Behemoth is offering up its games for half off on Xbox Live. Alien Hominid HD, Castle Crashers and Battleblock Theater are all on sale until September 16. In addition to the snazzy 10-year anniversary trailer The Behemoth cooked up for the event, it noted that the developer's lead designer, Dan Paladin, has a birthday this week. To properly celebrate both events, might we suggest the gift of Castle Crashers 2 for everyone?
The Behemoth handing out three prisoners in Battleblock Theater for free this week
The Behemoth is offering three playable prisoners to Battleblock Theater owners this week. Players that log in to the full version of the game on Xbox Live will receive the Boot, Moose and 50% Off Prisoner characters for free. The developer plans to introduce at least one new Battleblock Theater prisoner on a weekly basis through the month of August, so those that have missed out on characters such as Donuts or Rose still have more to look forward to. %Gallery-184916%
Get free donuts this week in Battleblock Theater
In celebration of National Doughnut Day on Friday, The Behemoth announced the return of Battleblock Theater special prisoner Donuts. Players that log in to the game on Xbox Live any time from now until June 13 will receive the character for free. Donuts originally appeared in the game as an unlockable Furbottom Features character. Donuts isn't alone, either, as this week's Furbottom Features unlock is a Lava Lamp character.
Battleblock Theater adds 'Rose' prisoner in honor of Mother's Day
Mother's Day is tomorrow, in case you had forgotten, and to celebrate the Behemoth has released a new, limited engagement prisoner actor for its grand shows of bravery and daring do: Rose. Anyone that logs into Xbox Live and boots up the full version of Battleblock Theater between now and Thursday, May 16 should receive Rose automatically. What you won't receive automatically, however, is a happy mama, so make sure and do something especially special for the special lady that made you special.
Battleblock Theater lets loose a new prisoner for two weeks: Toast
Play and complete the featured solo or co-op fan-created levels in Battleblock Theater over the next two weeks and unlock another special prisoner, Toast. Mmm, crunchy. The levels can be found under the Furbottom's Features tab, where every two weeks developer The Behemoth brings out a new, unlockable prisoner for completing some user-generated stages. The Behemoth has already locked back up the Behemoth Chicken prisoner, Winston, Donuts and Furbottom, and Toast will be available for the two weeks following May 3. Check out the solo and co-op Furbottom's Features here.
Battleblock Theater ringtones tell the fart jokes for you
Battleblock Theater is charming beyond all reasonableness, and much of that comes from its hilarious narrator, adorable songs and, of course, the rampant fart jokes. The Behemoth has thrown some of Battleblock Theater's best audio material into a downloadable ringtone pack, available in .mp3 and .mp4 varieties.The ringtone pack includes tracks such as "Secret Song," "Relationship Song" and "Buckle ur Pants," and it includes the gem sound, the narrator's "Whoooooo" and "Mmmmhmmm" noises, and classic lines such as "Good job, baby farts" and "Everything's coming together like buttcheeks."The Behemoth is working on an official soundtrack for the game, currently listed as "coming soon." For now, download the Battleblock Theater ringtone pack and annoy all of your friends for free right here.
Play Battleblock Theater featured levels, unlock the Chicken Prisoner
Battleblock Theater is rolling out spotlight collections of the best user-created levels, under the Furbottom's Features (story mode) and Arena Feature (multiplayer) tabs. As an incentive to try out some playlists from unprofessionals, The Behemoth is offering a new character to anyone who plays through all of the Furbottom's or Arena features, available for an undetermined, limited time: The Behemoth Chicken Prisoner.If you are a professional unprofessional and want to get some levels on the Battleblock Theater featured tabs, check out The Behemoth's handy guide right here. Furbottom's and Arena features will be swapped out to highlight community-created content "in the near future."
Battleblock Theater review: Bring some friends and beat 'em up
Every week, a group of friends and I get together to watch the television show, The Walking Dead. By "watch" I mean we make fun of the terrible acting and bemoan the missing parts that made the comic so good. It's a joyful, heartfelt tradition that we look forward to each week, and not much distracts us from this routine. Except, of course, a really good excuse to beat each other up.This week we started our screen session with a local co-op round of The Behemoth's Battleblock Theater in Arena mode. Arena mode features a handful of four-player mini-games, all of which are co-op, two-on-two or every man for himself. We started with "Ball Game." After two hours of passing the controllers, running through various levels, rolling in laughter and punching each other whenever a sweet move went awry, someone suggested we start up The Walking Dead. The response was immediate."No way. We're playing this." And so we did, all night long.%Gallery-184916%
