CTW announced Doraemon Comic Traveler, a new online Doraemon browser RPG coming soon to the company’s G123 platform. Pre-registration for Doraemon Comic Traveler is live, and several pre-registration goals have been set.
Players can pre-register by heading to G123 or following the game’s official Twitter account. At 30,000 pre-registrations, players will earn 1,000 Gems on launch day. At 50,000 pre-registrations, players earn an additional 1,000 Gems and two Gold Keys. 100,000 pre-registrations awards another 1,000 Gems, two more Gold Keys, and two Legendary Keys.
Lastly, here’s an overview, via CTW:
The new Doraemon browser game is an RPG set on a brand-new star!
Doraemon Comic Traveler is a full-scale online RPG set on COMIC PLANET, a world rich in manga culture. Team up with the native COMIC ALIENS and embark on a one-of-a-kind adventure!
Join the iconic five—Doraemon, Nobita, Shizuka, Gian, and Suneo—as you use Secret Gadgets to clear stages and enjoy heartwarming interactions with the COMIC ALIENS!
Available on the free game platform G123, this title can be enjoyed directly in your web browser—on smartphones, tablets, or PCs. Play deeply at home on your PC or casually on the go—whatever suits your style!
A brand-new adventure, only in this game—Related to Doraemon’s Long Tales!
COMIC ALIENS possess the unique ability to transform into anyone.
They can become Robble and Chammy from Noby the Spaceblazer, or Lyril and Zanta Claus from Noby vs. the Mecha Army, and Zanda Cross from Nobita and the Steel Troops—and join Doraemon and friends on an epic journey!
Over 700 Secret Gadgets! Search, Collect, and Power Up Your Adventure!
An accident on the way to COMIC PLANET caused hundreds of Secret Gadgets to scatter across the land! Explore the planet, collect gadgets, and use them to conquer brand-new stages!
Crunchyroll and Aniplex of America announced Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train is getting a re-run in theaters in the US and Canada starting May 14. Tickets for the US and Canada screenings will go on sale starting April 30.
International regions will also be featuring Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train in theaters that same day. In all regions, the movie will debut in 4K, and it will be available in Japanese with English sub titles and an English dub.
Afterward, Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment will screen the first Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Infinity Castle film will premiere on September 12 in the US and Canada. Here are the theatrical dates for the first Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle film:
August 14: Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore
August 15: Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam
August 20: Philippines
September 11: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bolivia, Brazil, the Caribbean (Jamaica, Aruba, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Curacao), Central America, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland (Italian-speaking), Syria, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela
September 12: Bulgaria, Canada, Estonia, Finland, India, Kenya, Latvia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Romania, Southern Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States
September 17: Belgium, France, French-speaking Africa, Luxembourg, Switzerland (French-speaking)
September 18: Moldova
September 25: Austria, Germany, Switzerland (German-speaking)
The first film in the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle trilogy premieres first on July 18 in Japan. It will play on 443 screens through Japan, setting a new record for the franchise.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is streaming now on Crunchyroll.
Intima Leaf has announced Riven Crown, a new Soulslike action RPG that features mechanics inspired by fighting games. The game will be coming soon to PC via Steam, and an exact release date has not been announced yet.
Riven Crown is an action-packed Souls-like game in development, set in a high-dimension realm where battles are fierce, and destiny is ever-changing. Immerse yourself in a dark narrative woven with intrigue, betrayal, and the supernatural.
A World Beyond Death
After perishing, the hero ascends to a higher dimension where four ancient civilizations, each ruled by a king or queen in communion with their god, have transformed into hellish beasts. Petrified by the Great Sweep, these rulers and their people await a hero to unravel their fate. Explore a vast, interconnected world where new civilizations have risen upon the ruins, guarded by elder councils and black magic centers.
Epic Storyline
Unravel the mysteries of the past as you navigate through multiple worlds, facing the corrupt and the damned. Each death and resurrection shapes your journey, with the chance to alter fate at every turn. Beware of the curse that grows with each demise, and use rare items to stave off petrification.
Dynamic Combat System
Experience a combat system that merges fighting game mechanics with traditional action RPG elements. Master devastating combos by activating your super meter and save prisoners scattered across the world to summon powerful allies. Each weapon and armor piece you equip brings unique abilities, becoming permanent as you master them.
Intricate World Exploration
Delve into a richly detailed non-linear world filled with secrets and lore. Engage with complex puzzles and hidden codes, sometimes revealed through our social media posts. Explore haunting dungeons, desolate landscapes, and vibrant cities, all while uncovering the secrets of the ancient gods.
Strategic Gameplay
Utilize a unique dual-kick system: break blocks with a light kick or push enemies and destructible elements with a heavy kick. Block strategically with standing and low blocks to counter enemy attacks. Discover statues throughout each level to increase your threat level, unlocking encounters with formidable bosses.
Key Features:
Supercharged Combat: Activate super combos and summon saved prisoners for devastating attacks.
Customize and Master: Equip and master various weapons and armors to gain permanent abilities.
Deep Lore and Secrets: Explore a world rich in history and hidden secrets, with clues scattered across social media.
Strategic Blocking and Kicking: Utilize two types of kicks and blocks for a tactical edge in combat.
Epic Boss Battles: Face off against powerful bosses, with unique mechanics and thrilling challenges.
Petrification and Resurrection: Manage your curse level to avoid petrification and continue your quest across multiple worlds.
Rise, face the ancient evils, and shape your destiny in Riven Crown. Will you break the curse and bring peace to the realms, or succumb to the encroaching darkness?
Shunji Maki directs the anime this season at CANDY BOX. Yū Satō writes the series scripts with Hotaru Asafuji. Nana Mori is the character designer and chief animation director for the second season. Fūga Hatori is the music composer, and Masanori Tsuchiya is the sound director.
Lastly, Azur Lane is available now for Android and iOS, and the Google Play/App Store pages describe it as follows:
Azur Lane features an interactive combat system that combines the best of strategy and 2D shooter games. Players must command a flotilla, divided into two parts: the Vanguard Fleet and the Main Fleet. While the Vanguard is responsible for striking and clearing operations, the Main Fleet must focus on fire support and dealing damage to enemy ships. Strategy is key, and players must build their fleets carefully to succeed on the high seas. Players can strengthen their fleets from the base via the Academy and Dorms, where they can earn experience points, buy items from the shop, or improve their skills in the Classroom.
Sloclap’s previous games, Absolver and Sifu, have explored the genres of action RPG and beat’em up, but have had the common DNA of kung-fu and martial arts. So you can imagine the surprise when the studio announced its newest game, Rematch, at The Game Awards last year. I’ll admit, I wasn’t too excited about the idea of Sloclap moving into the sports game world. I’m also not the biggest soccer fan out there, so that only made me more skeptical. However, after spending time with the open beta for Rematch this past weekend, I think Sloclap may be onto something here.
High-Octane Soccer
Working as a team is paramount to victory.
One thing I will say straight out of the gate is that the trailers for Rematch do not do the game justice. This isn’t a knock on the marketing for the game, it is just very hard to display what this game feels like to play without just putting it in players’ hands. When you load up your first game of Rematch, you will be surprised by how fast-paced and engaging the gameplay really is.
In the Rematch beta, you can choose either 4v4 or 5v5 matches, although in the full release, there will also be a 3v3 option. I found the 5v5 mode to be my favorite, as it required more teamwork, and this is where Rematch really shines. Nailing a pass to a teammate, landing a well-timed slide tackle, or just blocking off an opposing player’s path for your team feels just as satisfying as nailing a goal. The size of the arenas is just tight enough to make sure that there is limited downtime, but also gives enough room to spread the ball around.
I never found myself feeling like I was too far out to try and make a play or to recover after the opposing team forces a turnover. This could be nerve-wracking for some players to not have a single moment of downtime, but I found it thoroughly engaging.
Goalkeeping
After each goal, players rotate starting positions. This means that you are likely going to find yourself back in the goalie box at least once per match. One of the biggest problems games like Rematch run into is that no one wants to be stuck as the goalie. It can feel like you are restricted in what you can do, or you will find yourself bored while waiting for the opposing team to break away and take a shot.
Rematch’s answer to this is to not restrict the player who started as goalie to that position. Whenever the goalie leaves the goalie box, their goalie gloves come off, and they can join the fray in the middle of the pitch. The next player to enter the goalie box on your team will then take over as goalie and activate their goalie gloves.
This mechanic allows players to feel less restricted in their roles and not feel out of position at times. It also reestablishes the key component of Rematch: every member of the team matters. However, this key component is also what causes the biggest hurdle you’ll face with this game.
The Human Element
Rematch can be daunting to those not used to this style PvP.
Online multiplayer games have a reputation, somewhat earned, of being very hostile and intense communities. This is especially true when it comes to team-based PvP games. When victory is heavily reliant on every member of the team being able to maintain focus and execute, some people allow their emotions to take over when things go wrong.
I encountered a couple of instances of this coming through with teammates getting aggressive or just disconnecting when things started to go wrong for our team. This can be frustrating and intimidating for those who are not used to this style of game. If something goes wrong, there’s a chance that one of your teammates will just leave, which can make things infinitely more challenging.
A lot of my enjoyment in team-based games can be squashed when you are matched with one player who feels the need to play hero ball or blame anyone they can for a poor match. Those who are familiar with online games will probably be used to this behavior, but it still bears repeating for those who aren’t.
Top Marks
Regardless of my few negative online encounters, I had a blast playing Rematch in its open beta. There has never been a soccer game I’ve played that has given me the joy and thrills that I experienced in my short time with Sloclap’s third game.
I understand if some people are apprehensive or skeptical about giving Rematch a shot, but I cannot recommend it enough to anyone looking for their next addictive online experience. It really feels like Sloclap is cooking up something special here.
Rematch is set to launch on June 19 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.
The main staff of The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 4 has been revealed alongside the anime’s first official trailer. Moreover, the opening and ending theme songs for The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 4 have been revealed.
As for staff, Hitoshi Haga directs The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 4 at Kinema Citrus alongside assistant director Takanori Yamamoto. Keigo Koyanagi will oversee the series scripts, and Franziska van Wulfen, Sana Komatsu, and Masahiro Suwa are the character designers. Kevin Penkin is the composer alongside sub-composers Alfredo Sirica and Natalie Jeffreys.
Other staff members include:
Color Design: Azusa Sasaki
Art Director: Junichi Higashi
3DCG Director: Yuushi Koshida
Screen Design: Shinichirō Miyazaki
2D Artist: Hydekick
Director of Photography: Miho Ikeda (T2 Studio)
Photography Supervisor: Tsunetaka Ema (T2 Studio)
Editing: Hitomi Suudo, Honami Yamagishi (REAL-T)
Sound Director: Fumiyuki Go
Sound Effects: Shota Yaso
Sound Production: Glovision
Music Production: Nippon Columbia
MADKID performs the opening theme song “Resolution,” and Chiai Fujikawa performs the ending theme song “Eien ni Ikkai no (One Time for Eternity).”
The new cast members are Takeo Ōtsuka, who stars as Werner, and Jirō Saitō as Jaralis. Kaito Ishikawa, Asami Seto, and Rina Hidaka will be reprising their roles as Naofumi, Raphtalia, and Filo, respectively. The staff will also hold a Shield Fes event with some cast members and musicians on June 15.
Lastly, fans can stream the previous three seasons of The Rising of the Shield Hero on Crunchyroll.
Following the Version 2.3 special program of Wuthering Waves, several fans have gone on the record to criticize the company for the lackluster anniversary rewards that were announced. Today, Kuro Games has posted an official announcement on their X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that they have acknowledged the criticism, and has decided to address this.
A special login bonus will be held sometime this week, and will allow players to obtain 10 Radiant Tides, 10 Forging Tides, and 10 Lustrous Tides. The exact timing of the bonus will be disclosed at a later date. The developer also urges players to stay tuned for more updates.
Wuthering Waves Version 2.3 Trailer
Wuthering Waves launched on May 22, 2024 for Android, iOS, and PC via Windows and Epic Games Store, and on PlayStation 5 in early January 2025. Over 30 million players have downloaded the game thus far. To celebrate 30 million downloads, Kuro Games distributed Lustrous Tide x10 and Crystal Solvent x5 to all Wuthering Waves players for free.
Version 2.3, titled Fiery Arpeggio of Summer Reunion, will be released for Android, iOS, and PC via Windows and Epic Games Store, and on PlayStation 5 on April 29, 2025 (UTC+8). The previously announced Steam version of the game will also be releasing on that same day.
The official Twitter/X account for CITY The Animation revealed multiple cast members for the anime series, which premieres on July 6. Yū Miyazaki joins the cast of CITY The Animation as manga artist Kamaboko Oni, alongside Ryōta Suzuki as Todoroki, Kamaboko’s editor.
The cast also includes:
Kazutomi Yamamoto as Obaba
Kiyomitsu Mizuuchi as Ii Hito (the Good Guy)
Yūko Gotō as Sumire Sakurakomi Tanabe
Jin Domon as Hotaka, the Tanabe family’s butler
Makoto Kaneko as Rindō Obina
Atsushi Kousaka as Yamato Kurogane
Riho Furui performs the opening theme song “Hello,” and TOMOO performs the ending theme song “Lucky.” Piranhans will compose the anime’s music, and Pony Canyon is producing the music.
The staff and cast of CITY The Animation include:
Cast
Mikako Komatsu as Midori Nagumo
Aki Toyosaki as Niikura
Yui Ishikawa as Wako Izumi
Yoshihisa Kawahara as Tsurubishi Makabe
Miyu Irino as Tatewaku Makabe
Ayaka Nanase as Matsuri Makabe
Azusa Tadokoro as Eri Amakazari
Yū Wakui as Riko Izumi
Takehito Koyasu as Dr. Adatara and Adatara’s father
Mayumi Asano as Adatara’s mother
KENN as Tatsuta Adatara
Satoshi Inomata as Ryōta Adatara
Coco Hayashi as Kamome Adatara
Haruna Fukushima as Umi Adatara
Yūki Tenma as Sora Adatara
Staff
Director: Taichi Ishidate
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Chief Animation Director: Tamami Tokuyama
Art Director: Shiori Yamazaki
Color Designer: Kana Miyata
Director of Photography: Hiroki Ueda
3D Director: Tatsunori Kase
Sound Director: Yōta Tsuruoka
Keiichi Arawi launched the manga in Kodansha’s Morning magazine in 2016. The series ended in 2021. Kodansha published the 13th and final compiled book volume in April 2021.
Lastly, here’s an overview of the manga via Kodansha:
From Keiichi Arawi, the adored creator of nichijou, this surreal-slapstick series revolves around a penniless college student, Midori Nagumo, who lives in an ordinary city filled with not-quite-ordinary people. And as this reckless girl runs about, she sets the city in motion.
Midori is in a bit of a bind. She is in debt, and her landlady is trying to shake her down for unpaid rent. Her best friend refuses to loan her cash since she’s wised up to her tricks. Maybe some bullying would help. Or a bit of petty theft? Neither is sustainable. Maybe getting a job would settle things… But working means less time for fun adventures in the big city…
Bandai Namco Entertainment announced the Dragon Ball: Sparking ZERO – DAIMA Character Pack 1 DLC will release on April 24. The DLC will introduce eight playable characters from the Dragon Ball Daima anime series.
The Dragon Ball: Sparking ZERO – DAIMA Character Pack 1 DLC includes:
Goku (Mini) – Super Saiyan
Vegeta (Mini)
Vegeta (Mini) – Super Saiyan
Vegeta (Mini) – Super Saiyan 2
Vegeta (Mini) – Super Saiyan 3
Glorio
Panzy
Majin Kuu
Alternate costume for Goku (Mini) with Super Saiyan transformation and Aura Impact
The recently released Dragon Ball: Sparking ZERO Hero of Justice DLC includes 11 playable characters from the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero movie, a new costume, and three custom battles. These characters include Gohan (Super Hero), Ultimate Gohan (Super Hero), Gohan Beast, Piccolo (Super Hero), Orange Piccolo, Gamma 1, Gamma 2, Cell Max, and more. The latest update for Dragon Ball Sparking ZERO also adds a new Legendary Warrior Face-off Mode for a limited time.
Dragon Ball: Sparking ZERO is available now for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, allowing fans to relive iconic moments from Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super. Dragon Ball Sparking! ZERO DLC 3 release in Q2 2025 with more playable characters from Dragon Ball Daima. Mini Vegeta and Glorio are two of the confirmed DLC characters.
All 20 episodes of the Dragon Ball Daima anime series are streaming on Crunchyroll and Netflix with English subs. Crunchyroll is releasing the English dub of the Dragon Ball Daima anime, with Stephanie Nadolny reprising her role as Goku (Mini). The anime is streaming in North America, Central America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
Tetris needs no introduction. I have played it, you have most likely played it, and everyone I know has touched a version of it. Its popularity far exceeds that of video games and has become a cultural icon. Moreover, there were plans for a sci-fi trilogy of films based on Tetris, followed by an actual biopic about the licensing of the original game. It’s been the subject of countless research papers, coining the term “Tetris Effect.” The reach is massive and will continue to be for decades to come, and the latest entry in this storied lineage of games is Tetris: The Grand Master 4 -Absolute Eye-.
Tetris: The Grand Master is a series specially designed for skilled players wanting more of a challenge. Initially released in 1998, this version became a series and expanded to home consoles in recent years. While the series is mainly designed for arcades, the latest entry is the first to be natively released on PC. While Tetris: The Grand Master 4 -Absolute Eye- is an excellent version of Tetris, it also suffers from a rocky PC release.
Become a Master in Tetris: The Grand Master 4 -Absolute Eye-
The core gameplay of Tetris has remained unchanged for decades, but I will still quickly explain it. In short, Tetris is a puzzle game about lining up blocks. Four blocks join up to make shapes called Tetriminos, and you must place them as they fall. When you line up a row of blocks, the line will disappear. The longer you play, the faster the Tetriminos fall, making it harder to make complete lines. When you overfill the area, the game is over. The goal is to get as many points as possible while not overfilling the area.
In Tetris: The Grand Master 4, you are given the option of playing the Standard or TGM versions of the game. TGM has slight variations in block rotation, dropping, and overall handling, making the game harder and faster. You can play all the game modes in the control scheme you prefer. In Marathon (Standard)/Normal (TGM), you play the core Tetris game that’s stayed the same for years. Asuka is meant for intermediate players. Tetriminos drop much faster, but there is a rewind-like function called backstep.
Master is the next step, offering you the most significant challenge as Tetriminos drop at top speed. Konoha is a less traditional mode where the blocks are bigger and you are guided on where to place them. When you clear out the area, you unlock part of an illustration, and after three clears, you unlock the whole thing, but be quick, there is a time limit.
The last mode is Shiranui, where you face a CPU and unlock harder tiers each time you win. There is an in-depth practice mode, showing you how to do specific block placements, and a replay function that lets you watch and even play previous saved games. You can also play against a friend locally. There is no shortage of ways to play here, and I can’t praise that enough.
Falling back in love with Tetris
I have always liked Tetris. It was easy to grasp, and the endless replayability made it a quintessential game for me growing up. As I got older, I would stop playing, but I would rediscover my enjoyment of the franchise later on. The last time that happened was seven years ago when Tetris Effect came out, Tetris: The Grand Master 4 has reminded me why I loved Tetris and made me want to improve.
Before now, I had never attempted Tetris’s TGM control scheme. I loved watching high-level players, but it always looked intimidating. After a couple of rounds of standard Tetris, I finally switched to TGM for this review, and I’m glad I did. The changes are noticeable, but they do make it feel fresh. This game, I had played for most of my life, felt new again, and I felt myself falling back in love with Tetris.
I switched between both control schemes and try to improve with each, including Asuka and Master. I’m having a great time in Asuka and Master, despite not lasting too long in each mode. Konoha has been a pleasant surprise as well, and I’m actively trying to unlock all the illustrations. Shiranui is also a lot of fun, and I can’t wait to unlock more tiers. I’ve enjoyed each game mode and can’t wait to put more time into each.
A rough launch but hopeful future
While this is some good Tetris, one glaring problem holds it back. The PC launch for Tetris The Grand Master 4 has not been smooth. On launch, it had major issues with keyboards. The game is buggy, and you want it running as smoothly as possible with a game like Tetris. I have also experienced my share of bugs, including one that didn’t let me play the game. It kept triggering Windows Defender for a full day and would not launch. Reinstalling the game did nothing. It was at least working fine on Steam Deck that day, so I could still play.
While this launch had its fair share of issues, the developers actively listen to the community. The keyboard rebinding issue was resolved in the first patch. The Steam forums contain dev posts discussing development updates, known bugs, and potential fixes. The game’s current state is still rough, but it works for the most part. There is still much to do, but I have faith in the dev team, even if it might take a while.
Despite its issues, Tetris: The Grand Master 4 -Absolute Eye- is a solid version of Tetris, and I will continue playing it. I have rediscovered a love of Tetris and genuinely can’t wait to play more. The game is getting better, but there’s work that needs to be done. Even after all that, it’s not hard to recommend Tetris: The Grand Master 4 -Absolute Eye- right now, but it can certainly reach a state where this can be one of the best Tetris games to dive right into.
Disclaimer: ARIKA provided a PC (Steam) key of Tetris: The Grand Master 4 -Absolute Eye- to Final Weapon for review purposes.
