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Magical Drop 5 review: Magical Mess
I'd imagine that most people would pick something like Resident Evil 6, or Assassin's Creed 3, or the original ending of Mass Effect 3 as their biggest gaming disappointment of 2012. But as a testament to my oddball taste in gaming, I'd list my biggest disappointment as Magical Drop 5. I've been a fan of this weird, underappreciated little puzzle series for many years, and I have been eagerly awaiting the latest sequel since it was revealed at E3 2011. The reason I'm disappointed isn't because Magical Drop 5 is inherently a bad game, but rather because it's an unfinished one.The fact that this was released in 2012 and I'm only reviewing it now isn't due to laziness on my part. Developer Golgoth promised a major patch to fix many of the game's issues since its release and, in good faith, I decided to wait until the patch hit before I wrote my review. But as said patch saw delay after delay, I began having a difficult time justifying my decision. "But Golgoth is a small developer," I said to myself. "You know how rough game development is, so cut them some slack." Besides, I was familiar with the myriad issues the game encountered simply being released at all.Approaching two months after the game's release, MD5 is still riddled with online play bugs and missing some features. At this point, I think I've been patient enough.%Gallery-175748%
Magical Drop 5 still happening, internal beta approved by Ignition
Ignition has been silent about Magical Drop 5, other than a recent assurance that it would be ready by summer. That's why we were relieved to see this update from developer Golgoth Studio, stating that "Magical Drop V Beta version was approved by the Publisher UTV Ignition! So we are now on the road to the Master version!"Once again, we have word that it hasn't been canceled, and that Ignition is still publishing it, despite being oddly quiet for most of this year. Golgoth promises more frequent updates from now on, as well.
Magical Drop V due this summer
It's been a while since we heard about Magical Drop V, the new entry in Data East's venerable puzzle series, which contains another Data East puzzle game, Ghostlop, within it. In fact, it's been since E3 of last year. So we contacted publisher Ignition to make sure it was still happening, and if so, when.An Ignition representative told us that the puzzle game is now due this summer. There is as yet no update on platforms, so until we hear differently it's still PC first, and unspecified consoles after.
Magical Drop V preview: The ghost of Data East
Few things in the game industry make me happier than over-the-top dedication to a random classic franchise. Another thing that makes me happy: Magical Drop games. So when I rolled up to Ignition Entertainment and saw a new Magical Drop game, I was pleased. And then I played it, and that "pleased" status was upgraded to "delighted." Magical Drop, for the uninitiated, is a color-matching puzzle game series by Data East in which players grab gems from the top of the screen, and then shoot them into different locations to match three or more. All the while, more gems come in from the top and drop the whole arrangement toward the bottom of the screen. Of course, there are several selectable characters (named after tarot cards), and different patterns of blocks can be sent to the opponent's side in multiplayer matches.%Gallery-125736%
Noitu Love 2 headed to WiiWare from Golgoth Studio
IGF 2008 finalist Noitu Love 2: Devolution is a 2D action game notable for having an extremely odd control system that combines keyboard-based movement with mouse gestures. It's now being ported to WiiWare, no doubt with Wii motion controls adding an extra layer of oddness to the run-and-gun's control scheme. The port is being developed by Golgoth Studio, the French studio behind the HD remakes of Toki (which was without a publisher last time we heard) and Joe and Mac. It asked the community for retro remake ideas when it received its WiiWare developer credentials. Whoever is responsible for this idea, the result is another interesting indie game on WiiWare. If you'd like to try it now, there's a demo of the PC version on original developer Konjak's site. [Via Gamerbytes]
Golgoth forced to find Toki HD publisher for XBLA
French developer Golgoth Studio captured our attention this October when it announced it was working on a complete high-def remake of the classic arcade game, Toki. However, today Joystiq learned that Microsoft has decided against publishing the remake itself and has invited the indie dev to find another publisher willing to put the game on its platform. According to Toki HD producer Anthony De Sa Ferreira, the Xbox Live Arcade approval process only allows titles published by Microsoft or an approved third-party company. Following its submission, Microsoft told Golgoth Studio that Toki HD "did not fit with the current needs of Microsoft Game Studio," and suggested the developer contact another publisher. Golgoth tells Joystiq that it is in active conversations with multiple publishers and is confident the game will see life on the Xbox Live Arcade, saying an agreement may be only weeks away. Ferreira believes Microsoft's approval process may have become more stringent in light of the recent high-profile success of original games on the platform, such as Shadow Complex. "I think it's too bad, because it's the independent studios who helped the XBLA to [meet] the success it knows today," he said, adding that not many indie devs can achieve such an impressive result as the Chair-developed title. %Gallery-80535%
Golgoth Studio gets Nintendo developer license, solicits retro remake ideas
French indie dev Golgoth Studio announced today via its Twitter feed that it has become a licensed Wii and DS developer. The company came out swinging like a giant ape -- an ape named Toki to be exact -- back in October. While its HD remake of the Data East classic Toki has been confirmed for Xbox Live Arcade, the five-person team also has preparing a similar retooling of Joe and Mac: Caveman Ninja underway for an undisclosed platform. Given this latest news, the game could appear for WiiWare (and/or DSiWare) or, of course, neither. Golgoth is asking its growing list of followers to let it know what other retro classics they'd like to see "remixed," so it's altogether possible that Nintendo platforms will see some results from the, er ... results of the informal survey. Let's hear your ideas in comment, but don't forget to submit 'em to Golgoth at its official forums. [Via GoNintendo] Source -- Twitter [Developer License] Source -- Twitter [Remake Poll]
Golgoth confirms Joe and Mac remake in the works
Golgoth recently dropped a press release to cut off conjecture about their next project at the pass, simply stating, "after our Toki remake release, we'll work on Joe and Mac license." That simple confirmation, as well as the concept art seen above, was really the only meat on the release's bones -- platforms for the remake, or a tentative launch window still remain unannounced. We'd love to toot our own horn for correctly guessing the franchise Golgoth would work on next, but the studio's boss did say it would be a Data East-developed co-op platformer. One needn't be a world-renowned cryptographer to suss that one out.
Toki remake devs planning another Data East revival
Golgoth Studio, the French developer behind the extraordinarily unlikely HD remake of TAD Corporation's Toki, isn't planning to stop bringing back things you might not have even known existed. During the hunt for Toki rights, Golgoth got in touch with G-Mode, who owns most of Data East's IP, and who offered the developer the license for a Data East property. "I can't really say the name of the game right now," Anthony De Sa Ferreira told Gamasutra. "We only have the new design of the principal characters. To give a little hint about this license, it's a co-op platformer game. But I can't say more yet." Our guess for that co-op Data East platformer: Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja. A less likely guess: Spinmaster. Finding the Toki license, De Sa Ferreira said, was "like an RPG," with most of the companies involved with Toki now gone and the rights to those companies' works spread among multiple buyers. We didn't even know that Data East had been involved with Toki, much less that it was among the properties purchased by G-Mode. [Image credit]
French dev bringing Toki back with HD remake
The classic shoot 'em up platformer Toki is getting the HD treatment, with an upcoming enhanced version from French developer Golgoth Studio. The studio -- which currently consists of six members -- intends on bringing the adventure back to life in with a "full 2D remixed version" based on the 1989 arcade original. In Toki HD, players must rescue his princess Miho from the evil sorcerer Vokimeldo, and reclaim his human form.Toki HD producer Anthony De Sa Ferreira told Joystiq via email that -- while the game has no official platform as of yet -- the game has been submitted for approval for Games for Windows Live and Xbox Live Arcade. If its goal of resurrecting a classic arcade title isn't enough to get you on its side, Golgoth's motto of "2D refuses to die" might rope you in. Way to tug at our nostalgic heartstrings, guys. Check out the first gameplay footage of Toki HD after the break.[Via GameSetWatch]
