Contest: Win Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee HD in physical form for Switch
In today's contest, you can win a physical Switch copy of Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee HD!
Is your shelf looking a little bare? With so many things getting digital-only releases, it's harder to fill out that empty space. Good thing we snagged some physical copies of Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee in both Standard and Limited Editions so you can actually hold a game in your hands again.
And we haven't forgotten about the rest of the world! While you can only score a physical copy here in the US, we've got EU game keys to give away, as well. Call me Mr. Worldwide! Except don't...
You're gonna have to really love Karate Kid to play the new Cobra Kai game
A few weeks ago, Jordan told you about a GameMill G.I. Joe game that passed the sniff test of not looking immediately awful. I am here to tell you about another nostalgia-driven pop culture adaption that doesn't clear that low bar -- to my eye, err nose, at least.
GameMill has announced Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues for PS4, Switch, and Xbox One. IGN had the exclusive along with the launch trailer that is embedded above.
Cobra Kai is a side-scrolling beat-em-up in the vein of Double Dragon and Streets of Rage. There's two-player local cooperative play, and a character selection of eight fighters. Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso. There are two campaigns -- one for Cobra Kai and one for the Miyagi-Do Karate Dojo -- and they both need to be cleared in order to see the game's true ending.
It sounds fine in theory, but the trailer doesn't inspire a lot of optimism. It looks clunky and kind of ugly. It certainly doesn't seem like it can hold a candle to the likes of Streets of Rage 4. But maybe it doesn't have to. Maybe it can be decent enough and get by on some charming storytelling.
Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues launches on October 27. This feels like a game we're going to force Moyse to play, and he'll want to love it but he just can't. Two months until that inevitable verdict.
343 shoots down rumors that Halo Infinite isn't coming to Xbox One
There have been a couple of lingering rumors that popped up in the two weeks since Microsoft delayed Halo Infinite out of the Xbox Series X launch window. There's growing traction to the thought that a) Halo Infinite won't come to Xbox One after all and b) it will be delayed into 2022.
Not so says developer 343 Industries. The studio's community manager responded to concern from one of Halo's esports players (actually, the best sniper in the history of Halo) by downplaying those rumors:
Guild Wars 2 will be playable on Steam in November but accounts won't transfer
Eight years later, Guild Wars 2 is finally coming to Steam. Out of nowhere. ArenaNet also shared a vibrant teaser trailer for the 2021 expansion End of Dragons that references Cantha and Kuunavang.
The subscription-less MMO will be playable on Steam starting in November – who knew the day would ever come? – but there's a big caveat: current player accounts "cannot be accessed via Steam."
In other words, the Steam edition of Guild Wars 2 will have "the same maps and servers," and "everyone plays together," but accounts won't be able to transfer over from the ArenaNet launcher and vice-versa.
With that in mind, the Steam release is about pulling in new audiences (or, I guess, bringing back lapsed fans who dropped the game years ago and wouldn't necessarily mind starting fresh on Steam along with their buddies). It's wild to think that I was into Guild Wars 2 way back when. I can't imagine returning – MMOs aren't compatible with my day-to-day in 2020 – but plenty of people will dig it.
Your First Look at Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons [ArenaNet] [Thanks, elric6]
Fall Guys promises to start banning cheaters in between rounds
It has bean three weeks since Fall Guys launched and the frustration over cheaters is as persistent as ever. Sometimes there will be 60 clumsy dudes tripping over one another. Sometimes one or two of them will leap through the air like they're playing Crackdown.
"Crackdown" is an appropriate term because developer Mediatonic plans to really crack down on cheaters very soon. Right now, an auto-detection system is said to drop the hammer after an episode is finished and the offender (likely) wins the game. In an upcoming update, Mediatonic's anti-cheat software will boot players before the game is over.
Review: Tom Clancy's Elite Squad
When it was announced Ubisoft would be bringing its Tom Clancy series to mobile for the first time, I immediately thought back to the oft-forgotten Nintendo 3DS launch title Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars. As a turn-based tactical shooter, a title like that reworked for smartphones would be a wonderful way to introduce the Tom Clancy universe to mobile audiences.
Instead, we get this.
Predator: Hunting Grounds is running a free trial this weekend for PS Plus
IllFonic isn't giving out Predator: Hunting Grounds through PlayStation Plus just yet, but the multiplayer action game will have a Free Trial event on PS4 this weekend if you're a PS Plus subscriber.
The Hunting Grounds trial is running from August 28 at 7:00 a.m. Pacific until August 30 at 7:00 a.m.
Predator's 2.0 patch is rolling out on the same day, and the update will finally let people form cross-platform parties with their friends – a feature that missed the game's launch – among other fixes.
A few days later, on September 1, IllFonic is adding another DLC character skin, this time for Dutch '87. The paid pack comes with eight "tint customizations" and early access to the grenade-launching Mercenary rifle (which will eventually be unlockable in-game, at no extra cost, in October).
I'm at the point where I'd like to see Predator: Hunting Grounds lower the barrier to entry even further for the health of the community and matchmaking. DLC is fine, but let's get some new blood in here.
Dutch '87 and a Free Trial Coming to Predator: Hunting Grounds [PlayStation Blog]
Fall Guys is headed to mobile, but only in China
The current viral gaming craze that is Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout is about to hit the small screen. The madcap battle royale title is officially being ported to mobile platforms at some point in the near future, but it will only be initially accessible in China.
The news was first noted by Niko Partners games analyst Daniel Ahmad, who reported that Chinese corporation Bilibili had secured the rights to port the popular multiplayer title to mobile. In a later statement made to GamesIndustry.biz, developer Mediatonic confirmed that Jelly Bean Man (the Chinese name for Fall Guys) was indeed coming to the mobile market for that specific territory, while noting that the Mediatonic team is staying committed to the PS4 and PC platforms for the time being.
It's been a big week of news for Fall Guys. A recent update fixed a run of bugs and tweaked select in-game options, a charity auction was announced for big brand companies to earn an in-game skin, and this Thursday's Gamescom Opening Night Live stream will offer fans the first look at the game's second season. Season two will hopefully include new skins and stages, expanding upon the instant phenomenon that Fall Guys has become.
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout is available now on PS4 and PC.
Fall Guys is coming to mobile in China [Twitter / GamesIndustry.biz]
Xbox gets another UX refresh ahead of Xbox Series X launch
Microsoft is again tweaking the Xbox interface, making subtle changes to enhance the user experience. Last week, we told you how the dashboard and UX is being redesigned to be uniform across all devices (Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC, and Android OS). The first wave of alterations is now live on Xbox One for all users.
Streamlining is the name of the game with the August Xbox 2020 Update. The Guide is the main focus, as Microsoft has cleaned up the clutter when the controller's top-and-center Xbox button is pressed. Now, there seem to be fewer categories, and emphasis is placed on quickly swapping between most recent activities, the dashboard, and the "My Games and Apps" library. The Guide can also be customized to some extent, as the order of the tabs is free to be rearranged.
A handful of options have been relegated to the bottom of the Guide, freeing up space for the top to look cleaner. These are: Notifications, Game Pass, the Xbox Store, search, and volume options. Microsoft has also taken notifications and combined them into a single feed (previously, messages and alerts were separate things) which can be checked and cleared-out from any device.
There's one more minor-seeming-but-actually-important quality of life change made to the parties system. Now, there are volume levels for individual party members. No more suffering through one friend's annoying loud microphone, leaving all your other buddies quiet as a mouse.
This isn't the end of the updates for 2020. Microsoft is slowly morphing the Xbox One UX until it becomes the interface that Xbox Series X will launch with. We'll see more changes in the coming months as Microsoft works toward getting all devices to look as identical as possible. Check out the gallery below for a visual aid as to what some of these iterations look like.
Xbox One and Xbox Series X UX Gets a Fresh Look and Streamlined Experience [Xbox Wire]
If there's one thing that anime has proven most adept at, it's gathering together a gaggle of doe-eyed, sexually-charged women and tossing them into a mixer with a random sport, occupation, or hobby, usually creating a successful multi-media franchise in the process. Kandagawa Jet Girls is no exception.
Launching as a TNK-produced anime series in the fall of 2019, Kandagawa Jet Girls is a brand still very much in its infancy, having not yet quite developed the full range of movies, toys, OVAs, manga, and body pillows that often spawn from such franchises. It does have its first video game, however, which launched in Japan in January, courtesy of Senran Kagura publisher Marvelous.
Still, the appeal of anime is not strictly limited to the borders of Japan, and so Xseed Games has taken upon itself to localise this all-women's jet-ski extravaganza for cheesecake fans over on the western shores. So slap on some sunscreen, put on your best swimsuit, and let's dive into the action.
Oh, and a warning to the first four rows: You Will Get Wet.
Super Bomberman R Online is out September 1 for Stadia Pro players
I'm finding it hard to drum up much enthusiasm for Super Bomberman R Online while it's locked to Stadia, but if you're okay with Google's streaming platform and you're into the idea of a 64-player Bomberman mode with multiple stages running simultaneously, it's releasing on September 1, 2020.
When I say the game is launching on September 1, what exactly does that mean?
Well, if you're a Stadia Pro subscriber, you'll be able to play Super Bomberman R Online right away. Your paid membership will include the base game and a separate, free-to-claim Premium Edition bundle – a collection with 14 extra characters and the ability to "creative private matches with your friends."
As for Stadia Base users who don't want to drop $9.99 per month on a streaming game service, you'll have to wait until after September 1 to play. The exact release timing "will be shared soon."
According to Konami, "Stadia Base users will be required to purchase the Premium Edition bundle at SRP $9.99" since a "'base game only' option will not be available." So, ten bucks it is.
Super Bomberman R Online is leaning into Stadia's new Crowd Play feature that lets players easily jump into a match with a streamer, it has wacky tie-in characters like Pyramid Head and Simon Belmont, and Louies – those kangaroo creatures you can ride around the stage – are finally back in action.
Can Bomberman hit it big in the streaming era? I'm not convinced. I am hoping for ports, though!
Star Wars: Squadrons to feature in gamescom Opening Night Live
This week will give Star Wars fans a new look at Electronic Arts' latest foray into a galaxy far, far, away. As tweeted by Geoff Keighley, Thursday's gamescom Opening Night Live stream will feature brand new footage from interstellar dog-fighter Star Wars: Squadrons.
Officially revealed during June's EA Play presentation, Star Wars: Squadrons will let budding Resistance pilots blast off in either a single-player campaign or a selection of multiplayer modes. Various recognisable craft from the movies will be available, each fitting in with a specific class - such as Bomber, Fighter, and Interceptor. The PC and PS4 editions of Squadrons will also feature VR support, which has gotta be some experience.
Marvel's Avengers will bring a new hero to next week's War Table stream
I'm not wild about Marvel's Avengers – and I may never be – but after seeing that lengthy data-mined list of possible characters beyond the core launch-day cast, I'm intrigued for sure. A little hopeful, even.
The next War Table stream is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Pacific on Tuesday, September 1, and fans are expecting a lot given its proximity to launch. According to Square Enix, this latest Avengers showing will feature "numerous" reveals including "an in-depth look at the first post-launch story season for the Avengers Initiative" (Hey Clint!) and "the unveiling of an additional post-launch playable hero."
"Minds will be blown and wishes granted as some of the game's extensive slate of additional heroes, villains, missions, regions, and gameplay modes are unveiled," the publisher added.
Who's up next? Black Panther? Ant-Man?
@PlayAvengers [Twitter]
The license holder for Skullgirls, Autumn Games, has distanced itself from the game's original developer, Lab Zero Games, following an exodus of staff from the latter company. The resigning staff all cite an inability to continue working within a culture of toxic behavior at the independent studio.
Several Lab Zero team members resigned from their respective roles at the studio yesterday, taking to Twitter to explain their actions. The online testimonials collectively point to studio owner Mike Zaimont, accusing the Skullgirls co-creator of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior around employees.
Animator Jonathon Kim states that Zaimont would "frequently mention his genitals, force unwanted physical contact, [and] make sexual comments about himself or about his employees' bodies." Zaimont reportedly used "very personal details to threaten or demean coworkers when they didn't go along with what he wanted or act in a way he wished."
Artist Mariel Cartwright accuses Zaimont of "years of sexual comments about my body and clothes" along with other sexually-invasive and personal remarks. Cartwright recounts that she confronted Zaimont about his behavior in 2017, only to be "blamed for how [she] dressed". Cartwright states that Zaimont has told Lab Zero staff that he "can't and won't change."
Kim states that, after holding an internal investigation, the Lab Zero team approached Zaimont with a suggestion that he leave the company, which Zaimont refused unless "unrealistically high" requests were met. It is reported that Zaimont then gave any staff members unsatisfied with the situation until August 31 to leave, which lead to yesterday's exodus.
Another Sega-on-Switch double pack is on the way, with Sonic Forces gumming half of it
This week, we learned that Sega plans to introduce yet another one of their collections into the world: this time, a double-pack of Sonic Mania and Team Sonic Racing on Switch.
It's not a bad back! Team Sonic Racing might not be to everyone's liking but it's a decent little arcade racer, and Sonic Mania is...one of the best Sonic games in years. But this upcoming double-pack, spotted on a GameFly listing, isn't quite as enticing.
First up as part of the duo: Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz. It might not be the strongest way to sell a collection, but it's not bad! The other half is where it gets scary: Sonic Forces. Back away, not today, Sega! Although Forces had some bright spots, by and large it was panned as another misstep in the 3D Sonic universe. We're still anxiously awaiting a new 3D Sonic that gets it right.
The pack is not priced out on Gamefly's site, but it seems to be out on October 31 of this year. A $40 price point, like the other pack, is probably a good guess though.
Sonic Forces + Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz - HD Double Pack [Gamefly] Thanks Rick!
More Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart gameplay to debut at gamescom
Sony Interactive Entertainment and Insomniac Games will debut fresh gameplay footage from Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart during gamescom's Opening Night Live presentation.
As revealed by show host Geoff Keighley, Thursday's stream will feature all-new gameplay demonstration taken directly from the PS5 adventure, which made its official debut during June's PlayStation Future of Gaming presentation back. The new "uncut" video will feature a "full demo playthrough," according to Insomniac's James Stevenson, so we'll be able to see our heroes, (and their enemies), in all of their shiny, ray-traced glory.
The rumor that Nintendo is planning a Switch Pro popped up again, could come next year
We've heard from various sources that Nintendo is planning on developing a "Switch Pro" of sorts for several years.
From the jump, outlets have reported that Nintendo has been looking into upgrading the Switch's hardware to be more competitive; but outside of nebulous release windows (that have all came and went), there aren't very many specifics. Now we have more hope thanks to a report from Bloomberg.
As Bloomberg states, Nintendo "has looked into including more computing power and 4K high-definition graphics," which would come in the form of a new Switch. That Switch could come next year, and an analyst predicts that with that additional hardware upgrade, the Switch family could surpass Nintendo DS' lifetime sales (the Switch is currently at 62 million units sold, whereas the DS hit 154.02 million sold across its various iterations, so that's a tall order).
Bloomberg also reports that there are "major games" planned around its release, but that's probably one of the most vague Nintendo insider statements I've seen in a while. If Nintendo is planning an enhanced version of the Switch, you can bet they would want to promote it. It's just common sense.
Nintendo Plans Upgraded Switch Console and Major Games for 2021 [Bloomberg]
Borderlands 3's fourth story add-on goes inside Psycho Krieg's demented mind
Shit is about to go off the rails. That's perfectly apropos considering it's the Poop Train that's barreling down these tracks.
Gearbox has detailed the fourth and final expansion that makes up the Borderlands 3 season pass. Titled Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluck, this DLC takes place inside Krieg's mind. Tannis believes that Psychos are unhinged because they're driven insane by a mythical place known as Vaulthalla. She wants you to go all Being John Malkovich and figure out what Psychos know that we don't.
Because this expansion exists within the brain of a very unreliable narrator, there's all sorts of opportunity for perception to be skewed from reality. It's probably why Krieg is 100-feet tall in the trailer. It means things will be very violent, too. Also, we'll see Krieg's side of his personal relationship with Maya, which has potential to play out exactly like the ending to Braid.
Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluck launches on September 10 alongside a free update for all Borderlands 3 players. This update will bump the level cap from 60 to 65, and serves as the last planned level cap increase (although Gearbox teases the possibility of more by saying "at least for the foreseeable future").
This last expansion drops right before the one-year anniversary of Borderlands 3. Despite this being the end of the roadmap, don't be surprised when Year Two content plans are inevitably announced. The Poop Train isn't the only thing that's gonna keep a'rollin'.
Going hands-on with Amazon's New World MMO was pretty wild
Amazon has more money than God.
Why can't it get a first-party release right? I...I don't know. But something tells me that they're going to put a little more oomph into New World than their prior efforts.
Dragon's Dogma anime looking slick in its debut trailer
Netflix has released the debut trailer for its upcoming anime adaptation of Capcom's celebrated series, Dragon's Dogma, which will premiere on the streaming service from September 17.
Dragon's Dogma will tell the story of warrior Ethan, whose heart was stolen in battle by a fearsome dragon, leaving him to wander the world as an "Arisen," living in a perpetual limbo state between life and death. Ethan, along with comrade Hannah and other allies, must battle an army of vicious dragons - representing the Seven Deadly Sins - if he is to confront his nemesis and find his eternal peace.
Destructoid's So You Think You Can Stream finale is tonight! Tune in at 8:30PM ET
Update: Head on over to our Twitch channel at 8:30PM EST to watch all of the action!
Back in June, we hosted our first ever So You Think You Can Stream contest, sponsored by G-Fuel and Luminosity. We got to see a lot of talented individuals, and a couple of impeccably sexy faces from the Destructoid community, compete to win $5,000. Not only was it a huge success, but it was also just a genuinely fun time for a lot of the folks involved.
Well, as soon as that contest drew to a close, we decided that we should make an even bigger and better one happen in the very near future. Starting on August 2, that contest will be underway, and we hope to see as many folks from the Destructoid community check it out!
After listening to a lot of audience and streamer feedback, we've decided to make a few changes to the format for our second contest.
During the initial So You Think You Can Stream contest, entrants had twenty minutes to demonstrate their talents as Twitch streamers to the Destructoid community and Dreezy, one of our two resident streamers. They were then ranked both on skill and style points – essentially, how good they were at the game, and how entertaining they were.
From there, the top three, and a personality voted for by the community, battled it out for that top spot.
Here's a few of the changes that we've made for our second contest:
First off, we're cutting out the skill points category for voting. Folks will now be ranked entirely on how stylish they are. What counts as stylish, you might be asking? That's simple! It's a measure of how entertaining you are. Are you adept at coming up with amusing puns on the spot? Do you have a kickass lighting setup? Are you just downright fun to chat with? These could all count towards those sweet, sweet style points.
Then there's a couple of changes to the tournament structure, itself.
For the first round in this tournament, entrants will have ten minutes to impress us (and Dreezy) with their personalities while they play any game of their choosing. Heck, even Old School RuneScape would be valid here. The one caveat is that the game must be appropriate to stream on Twitch. Apologies to anyone who wanted to stream Nekopara, but this means that you'll need to uninstall that 18+ patch.
During the second round, there'll be three judges selected by Destructoid instead of just Dreezy. Only the top twelve contestants from round one will move over to this stage of the competition.
During both of these rounds, community members will still be able to vote alongside Dreezy and the other judges and, like the initial tournament, results will be pooled to determine who moves on to the next round.
Community picks, too, will still be totally in effect. And neither Dreezy nor any other non-audience judge will be able to impact who moves on to that final round.
Oh, and I guess there is the most obvious change: the prize is now $10,000 instead of $5,000.
Alongside this wonderful cash prize, the winner will be fast-tracked to the top 32 during Luminosity Gaming's upcoming Rising Stars tournament, where they can battle it out to win $100,000 and a one-year contract with these esports titans! This opportunity would have been offered as a prize to the winner of our previous So You Think You Can Stream contest, RockyNoHands, but his performance was just so impressive that he was signed up with the organisation pretty much immediately.
Contest: Win an EPOS GSP 601 or 602 Pro Gaming Headset
In today's contest you can win an EPOS | SENNHEISER GSP 601 or 602 Pro Gaming Headset, courtesy of EPOS!
Here at Dtoid we're all about giving things away, and let me tell ya, folks -- today we have a doozy!
EPOS just launched a new line of their GSP Pro Gaming Headset series, the 601 and 602. These babies retail for $219 USD, but we've got you covered by giving away one of each for free!
Wholesome Snack indie game showcase set for August 25
With far too many streaming presentations competing for our limited attention this summer and many of them falling short of expectations, it's been tiring, but I have to give props to the team behind the Wholesome Direct. The crew pulled off a pretty darn good event, especially for a first-time effort.
They're highlighting even more good-natured indie games at 10:00 a.m. Pacific on August 25, 2020.
This next showcase is a mini version of the Direct called a Wholesome Snack. How darling!
Keeping expectations in check – a must for any showcase – the team says it'll share a "bite-sized look at some of the most exciting wholesome indie games, including two brand new game announcements."
If you missed the first Wholesome stream in May, it's not too late. The games are still relevant today.
@_wholesomegames [Twitter]
Fall Guys now has inverted camera controls and evenly split team games
Careful camera control can be the difference between life and death* in Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout, especially in rounds like Roll Out, Jump Club, and Slime Climb where visibility is everything.
If you're the kind of person who prefers inverted controls, you're in luck. Update 1.06 added camera sensitivity options and an invert setting, both of which are in the far-right tab on the main menu. Our own Darren Nakamura complained about this omission on PS4; around 20 of you backed him up.
Here are the other bullet points in the 1.1GB update:
- Tweaked round selection algorithm to select a Team game only if the team sizes can be equal. [Update: it's coming tomorrow instead]
- Slime Climb: players can no longer grab some of the moving obstacles.
- Jump Showdown: changed geometry to prevent a gameplay exploit.
- Jump Showdown: fixed camera auto-panning.
- Improved in-game Store purchase dialog to avoid accidental selections.
- Addressed the top five most frequent crashes.
- Visual fixes to some of the outfits.
- [PS4 Only] Improved UI performance on non-Pro PS4 models.
- Added option to change the Jump button binding for Japan.
- Trophy/Achievement names and descriptions are now correctly displayed in all supported languages.
- Removed move speed nerf from Yellow Team (Don't post this one)
Another planned feature – prioritizing Party members over randos when you're kicked to the spectator mode – is waiting until the next update, but it's coming. Brett brought this mild annoyance to my attention after we played a few rounds together and I haven't been able to shake it since. Good stuff.
I did that thing again where I let crowns burn a hole in my pocket. I can't afford the Peabody outfit.
*Do the beans die when they plummet off the map? Is this a Valhalla sorta deal? What does the slime taste like?
I can't wait to play as Batgirl in Gotham Knights
DC FanDome was quite the fun showcase of all things DC Comics despite being just a glorified Zoom call. There were a lot of great trailers for upcoming movies, some exciting comic book news, and the reveals of what will hopefully be two awesome games. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League may have the pedigree behind it with its developer but Gotham Knights is giving something I've wanted for a very long time: a massive action-adventure game where I can play as my main squeeze Batgirl.
That's just one of the topics on this episode of Podtoid. Charlotte, Chris, Dan, CJ, and Occams are here to talk superhero games, The Batman, delicious snowfall, Bury Me, My Love, 13 Sentinels, and Fast & Furious: Crossroads. All that, plus CJ fails basic high school Spanish, in Podtoid Episode 456.
Gollum is a stealth parkour game that's (mostly) non-combat
No real surprise here but Daedalic's Lord of the Rings: Gollum game isn't going to end with Sméagol sitting atop a pile of bodies. Video games often skew toward power fantasies, but Daedalic's being respectful of Tolkien's lore. The feeble, frail Gollum isn't going to murder every orc in Middle-earth in pursuit of his precious.
IGN talked with Daedalic recently about exactly what kind of game Gollum aims to be. Lead designer Martin Wilkes says "The game mixes stealth with vertical climbing parkour." For a point of reference, Wilkes likened it to Prince of Persia but without the combat. Gollum has the ability to stealthily dispose of enemies but it sounds like his underwhelming stature will come into play. Wilkes emphasizes that engaging any enemy will "always come with big risks."
As for the structure of Gollum, Daedalic has landed on something that's best described as a series of levels and hubs. Gollum will arrive in a new area, and then it's up to the player to eventually open up all the locations within the new level. It's a lot of puzzle-solving and pathfinding, and sometimes there are multiple ways to accomplish the same goal.
That's half the game. The other half is narrative-focused and has the player making decisions between the opposing Sméagol and Gollum personalities. The developer states the obvious by saying the two sides have conflicting goals, but was unwilling to talk about how choices affect what plays out.
Lord of the Rings: Gollum is scheduled to arrive on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X next year but we're yet to see any gameplay. Although the revelation it's a vertical platformer with cinematic emphasis on Middle-earth's vistas has me more interested than before.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum Is a 'Prince of Persia-Like' Stealth Game With a Branching Narrative [IGN]
Serious Sam: The First Encounter is free to keep on GOG
While next month's Serious Sam 4 is potentially on your mind, it's worth popping over to GOG to claim a free copy of the original 2001 FPS. You'll find a giveaway banner near the middle of the main page.
Serious Sam: The First Encounter is dated in a lot of ways, but there's a certain everlasting charm to a game like this, especially if you're only looking to breeze through a few levels for old times' sake. Get in, blast the monstrous hordes to bits, and get out – it doesn't have to be any more complicated than that.
The freebie is part of a wider Harvest sale on GOG. It's being offered until August 26 at 6:00 a.m. Pacific.
While we're in the circle-strafing mood, it's worth watching Ars Technica's War Stories video on Serious Sam with Croteam founder Davor Hunski. It's such a digestible format for a behind-the-scenes show.
Marvel's Avengers assemble for final launch trailer
We are a little over a week away from the launch of Square Enix's squad-based superhero showdown, Marvel's Avengers. The publisher has released one final story trailer in efforts to stoke the hype fires ahead of the game's September 4 launch.
In the short, one-minute preview, we are given a brief overview of the story, which sees The Avengers disbanded after the catastrophic events of "A-Day" which saw a devastating super-villain attack lay waste to San Francisco. With the city now under the rule of A.I.M., and all superheroes outlawed, it is up to plucky inhuman Kamala Khan to reassemble Earth's Mightiest Heroes to take on the oppressive ruling body of A.I.M. and uncover the truth behind that fateful day.
Ooblets roadmap points to a new region in September
A lot of people have run into a content wall in Ooblets. The Early Access launch was a fine first taste -- an introduction to all the farming, collecting, socializing, and dancing that awaits us. It didn't last terribly long though, as most players exhaust all the tasks around the dozen-hour mark. Unless you're meticulously hunting for gleamies or flipping lurge lattys, there's not much left to do.
Developer Glumberland has given us an idea of when we can expect major content additions. Ooblets has a roadmap now, and the nearest thing on the horizon is the introduction of Nullwhere in September. Nullwhere is the spooky-themed area where Ooblets like Glanter and Marshling are found. It'll be the first opportunity to get another piece of the Oobnet up and running.
Looking further out, Glumberland says we can expect a full 1.0 launch in mid- to late 2021. The Wildlands area is targeting a December 2020 window, the Port Forward area is aiming for early 2021, and then there are two unannounced regions and some meta story stuff that will be included in mid-2021.
The timeline is kind of hazy and subject to change, but for good reason. Glumberland is a two-person team, and they're expecting a baby in the very near future. Family life might mildly affect the pacing of future updates, which is certainly understandable. They're bringing on some extra development help to hopefully stick as close to the roadmap as possible. The Oobcoop is about to get a little more crowded.
Roadmap [Ooblets]
Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World already put a smile on my face
The happy-go-lucky Wonder Boy games have long been a bright spot, and that sentiment unquestionably goes for the newer entries, too. If you played through Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap or Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom, you probably loved them – or at least really, really liked them.
More of these cheery vibes are on the way. As covered by IGN ahead of a Gamescom Awesome Indies showcase on August 29, a new game – Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World – is in the works.
The two main points worth stressing: Asha in Monster World is coming to Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in 2021, and several people with strong ties to Wonder Boy are returning to work on the new title with Studio Artdink and Inin Games. That list includes creator Ryuichi Nishizawa, composer Shinichi Sakamoto, character designer Maki ÅŒzora, and creative manager Takanori Kurihara.
Before the on-stream gameplay reveal, there's a piece of artwork with Asha and friends.
I didn't grow up with Monster World IV like some of you, but I discovered it years back with the re-releases on the Wii Virtual Console, Xbox Live Arcade, and PlayStation Network. I dug it! It's worth checking out, even now. These games are classics in a way that still holds up to newer audiences.
Wonder Boy - Asha in Monster World Announced, Led By Series Creator [IGN]
Iron Man VR got a gigantic update that adds more content and '20-30 second decreased load times'
Iron Man VR was fun, but I had some complaints. For one, the load times were laughably lengthy: an issue that is being addressed in the latest 1.06 patch that just dropped this past week.
According to a post on the PlayStation Blog, developer Camoflaj has gotten the load times down "across the board," which includes a 20-30 second decrease in load times for Shanghai missions. That's...pretty significant. Several missions that could be seen as training wheels type deals are now fully skippable, and you can skip cutscenes ahead of time: cutting down on more loading.
As far as content goes the big draw is a New Game+ mode, which will allow you to retain your research points and progress after game completion. An "ultimate" difficulty is now available, as well as a host of new weapons, armor decorations and challenges. It's a hefty update!
Free patch update for Marvel's Iron Man VR including New Game+ [PlayStation Blog]
Rare Fire Emblem Satellaview title receives English fan-translation
One of the rarest and most unique entries in legendary RPG franchise Fire Emblem has finally seen an English translation, courtesy of a dedicated FE fan, some 23 years after its Japan-only release
BS Fire Emblem: Archanea War Chronicles originally launched in 1997 exclusively on the Nintendo Satellaview service. As a quick refresher, the experimental concept allowed players in Japan to stream broadcasts, magazines, and games directly to their Super Famicom via a paid radio satellite subscription. The service would feature several titles that never saw the light of day on any other platform, or even outside of its native Japan.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons atop the UK Charts once again
Isabelle has won her rematch against Electronic Arts' UFC 4, with Nintendo's Animal Crossing: New Horizons regaining the number one spot of the UK Charts, after being usurped by the MMA simulator last week.
Sticking with the sports theme, 2K Games' golf sim PGA Tour 2K21 also had a successful physical launch, making an impressive debut at number three. The rest of Top Ten saw the summer mainstays jostling for position, as Nintendo's Ring Fit Adventure, Minecraft, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Sony open-world epics Ghost of Tsushima and Marvel's Spider-Man.
As we reach the tail end of August, September will see the new release schedule pick up, with the launch of titles such as Square Enix superhero throwdown Marvel's Avengers, Activision's retro-remake Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 & 2, 2K Games' WWE 2K Battlegrounds, and inXile's Wasteland 3, paving the way for the 2020 holiday season.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is still planned for consoles
Microsoft Flight Simulator came out just recently on PC on August 18.
But what about consoles? Well, that's still in the works. Although Microsoft has previously confirmed that Flight Simulator 2020 was coming to Xbox One and Series X, there's no timeline in mind. Though, a recent stream from Major Nelson confirmed that it is still indeed in the works.
Speaking on the stream, Jorg Neumann (head of Microsoft Flight Simulator) issued the following statement: "we are dedicated to come to Xbox, and we are working really hard to make this happen. We don't have a timeline quite yet, but we're working full speed." Nelson also reminded us that the game is already compatible with an Xbox controller; and Neumann says that the game is "totally doable" on a traditional controller.
For reference, the Microsoft Flight Simulator bit starts at roughly 29 minutes in, and the "Xbox question" happens right around the 48 minute mark.
Sonic the Hedgehog x Ninjala collaboration to be revealed this week
GungHo Online Entertainment has announced that its bubble gum-flavoured battle royale title Ninjala will be crossing over with one of the most recognisable gaming brands of all time: Sonic the Hedgehog.
Speaking in a new Developer Diary video, GungHo announced that the first season of Ninjala is coming to a close, with season two starting almost immediately thereafter. The new season will bring with it a new stage, four new Gum weapons, and the aforementioned Sonic collaboration, the details of which are expected to be revealed later this week.
It looks like we're getting a Sonic double-pack on Switch because why not
Sega loves to bundle all their games together from time to time: bonus points of a bunch of Sonic titles are headlining it!
While I miss the days of rampant economical collections (sometimes we still get them!), double-packs are alive and well, as evidenced by a new Amazon listing from Sega. Simply titled Sonic Mania + Team Sonic Racing Double Pack, the Switch bundle is a physical release for both of the aforementioned games in one SKU. The retail price? $39.99.
As a note: this isn't a horrible deal, especially for hardcore collectors. Sonic Mania and Team Sonic Racing will run you around $35 each for new physical copies on Switch. Digitally, Sonic Mania is $19.99 on the eShop, with Team Sonic Racing clocking in at $39.99. At the worst, this bundle could drive the physical prices down for each game. We've reached out to Sega to see exactly what version of Sonic Mania is included here.
Sonic Mania + Team Sonic Racing Double Pack [Amazon] Thanks Jeff!
(Update) Game Freak is giving away a free Porygon2 this weekend for Pokemon Sword and Shield
[Update: And here you go! The code is: "PKMNPLAYERSCUP." Enter it under the Mystery Gift portion of Sword or Shield.]
Following that free Amoonguss distribution by way of the Korean Trainer's Cup event, Game Freak and The Pokemon Company are holding another freebie giveaway this weekend.
Announced on the official Pokemon website, you'll be able to grab a free Porygon2 for Pokemon Sword and Shield if you watch the broadcast this weekend. Those times are actually August 22 and August 23 at 11AM PT, and at some point a code will flash on the screen that can be entered as a mystery gift to claim the character. Of course, that code will be available on all of the usual places the minute after it airs.
As a note, Porygon2 is already available in the DLC (you can just take it from the dojo and evolve it): but this one is a bit different. The Pokemon Company is calling it a "battle-ready" creature, with Trick Room strategies "just as you might have seen in the Pokemon Player's Cup battles."
If you don't watch the event live, don't sweat, as the code distribution is going to be more forgiving than the Korean promo. This time you have until August 31 to claim your Porygon2.
Receive a Battle-Ready Porygon2 Celebrating the Pokemon Players Cup [Pokemon.com]
Summer Games Done Quick 2020 raises $2.3 million for charity
Against all of the odds, and despite all of the hurdles 2020 has put in place, the annual Summer Games Done Quick speedrun marathon has delivered once again. As the curtain fell on this year's event, SGDQ 2020 succeeded in raising an amazing $2.3 million USD for charity.
Typically held every August at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel in Minnesota, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic forced the GDQ team to move their annual summer extravaganza to an online-only format, with an army of speedrunners showcasing their skills from the comfort and safety of their own homes.
As a week of awesome gaming action closed with a five-hour speedrun of Nintendo's Pokemon Shield, a grand total of $2,309,530 had been raised by a home audience watching along on Twitch. The money raised will be donated directly to international charity Medecins Sans Frontieres, a global network of medical professionals who provide relief, medicine and care wherever it is needed worldwide, regardless of race, creed or political persuasion.
Yakuza: Like a Dragon is out on November 13, will arrive on Xbox Series X 'day one of its release'
We are about to enter new territory when it comes to the Yakuza series, and we're all going to be doing it together: On November 13.
Today, Sega has announced that Yakuza: Like a Dragon will be available on PC, Xbox One and PS4 on that very date, with vague promises of when the next-generation versions will hit. Sega has clarified, and say it with me now, that the Xbox Series X edition will be available "on day one of its release," with the PS5 port coming "at a later date."
Sega is celebrating the news with a trailer titled "How Will You Rise," which showcases more RPG elements of the game and our hero Ichiban Kasuga. This is a very rapid-fire clip, showcasing "20+ unique jobs" and some of the wackier elements of Like a Dragon in just under two minutes.
It's entirely possible that the Xbox Series X is actually out on November 13, and "day one of its release" is just third party PR talk for "Microsoft is the one that gets to announce its console release date."
Early Access Review: Rogue Legacy 2
We've been spoiled by all of the great roguelike games over the past few years, but for some people's money, there's no topping Rogue Legacy, a platformer spanning generations of would-be heroes.
Seven years later, Cellar Door Games is back with Rogue Legacy 2 – a smoother, prettier, all-around more refined take on the castle-crashing formula. It isn't close to done yet, but it's already fantastic.
If all goes well, I could easily see it surpassing the original.
Rhythm Heaven lives on in this massive fan animation
I was driving in the car yesterday and much to my surprise, the Wii's Mii Channel music came on the radio, sending me on an unexpected, much-appreciated nostalgia trip. Actually, nostalgia may not be the right word, as it implies wistfulness for a time when I was a younger, happier person. The truth is, I wasn't. It was the world that was better back then, while I was pretty much the same (for better or worse).
I mean, just look at how much Nintendo has changed since then, especially when it comes to their relationship with music. Back in the late 2000s and early 2010s, all their online shops and various apps used to come built in with their own unique theme songs, and you'd scarcely go more than a year or two without the company releasing something from the Ouendan/Elite Beat Agents, Wii Music, Jam with the Band, or of course, Rhythm Heaven franchises. Last I heard, all those franchises are asleep or dead, and nothing that anyone has said since has done much to reassure me otherwise.
Thankfully, fans of the series are more active than ever. Case in point, this nearly 20 minute long animation that essentially works as an updated, video version of the classic Rhythm Heaven zine from a few years back. Other than a few cameos from otherwise copywritten characters like Aku from Samurai Jack, Doom's Cacodemon, and the main character from Minit, the art here is relatively indistinguishable from something you may see from Nintendo proper, leading many to confuse it with actual gameplay.
Hey Nintendo, if you can lend the Zelda license to fine folks are Brace Yourself Games, could you consider loaning Rhythm Heaven to these kids for an indie Switch revival?
Review: A Total War Saga: Troy
It took some time (about a hundred turns, give or take), but the mighty walls of Troy finally fell. Embarrassingly, they didn't fall by the hand of mighty Achilles and his giants (he got some giants on an island after convincing its king to join his faction), or the siege towers the other Greeks were working on. Instead, Troy's walls succumbed to the ire of the god Poseidon, crumbling from a devastating earthquake.
After that, poor Paris -- the bloodied victor of a power struggle with his brother Hector over the throne of Troy -- was ground up under the wheels of Achilles' war chariot as the Greek armies under Achilles poured through the gaps torn by the quake. All that was left to do to claim the jewel of the Mediterranean was to stand on the control point for a couple of minutes while the flag changed hands.
Konami shmup Trigon/Lightning Fighters returns on PS4 and Switch
Retro publisher Hamster has added another classic coin-op to its expansive Arcade Archives range. Now available to download on PS4 and Nintendo Switch, Konami's great shmup Lightning Fighters is ready to entertain a whole new generation of players.
Originally released in 1990, Lightning Fighters (known in Japan as Trigon) is a sci-fi themed vertically scrolling shmup - very similar in style and gameplay to Tecmo's Raiden, which launched the same year. One or two players take off to battle waves of aliens over nine stages of non-stop action. As is typical of the genre, multiple power-ups and weapons can be gathered in battle to help even the odds. The titular "Trigon" refers to a rotational orb that can be added to the player's vessel to provide extra firepower.
Check out the action in the video below, courtesy of YouTuber World of Longplays:
Review: Peaky Blinders: Mastermind
I'm actually quite surprised it's taken this long for a Peaky Blinders video game to hit the market. Given that Steven Knight's smash hit period drama hit the BBC way back in 2013, and is already five seasons and 30 episodes deep, it would seem that the violent and conniving shenanigans of The Shelby Family would have made their digital transition long before now.
Perhaps the problem was a lack of ideas. How do you convert a talky period drama into a deeply interactive format while still keeping the overall atmosphere and style aesthetic of the show? Developer FuturLab has taken a stab (no pun intended) at this difficult task with Peaky Blinders: Mastermind, a strategy/puzzle title that attempts to capture the razor-sharp wit and instinct of the charismatic-yet-dangerous Tommy Shelby and convert that to a playable gaming experience.
It seems, however, that some brands will always struggle with the leap into the realm of video games, and while Peaky Blinders: Mastermind is certainly inventive, even somewhat stylish, it ironically fast loses connection with both its excellent source material and the player because of its very efforts to become... well... a video game.
Review: Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time
Samurai Jack rules.
It ruled in 2001 and it ruled in 2017 when it came back. Genndy Tartakovsky is frankly still an underrated talent in terms of being one of the most prolific storytellers of the past 20 years; a title partially obscured by the boat loads of cash he got from the Hotel Transylvania series.
While Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time tries to capitalize on the resurgent popularity of the show's latest season, it doesn't really succeed as an action game or a Samurai Jack adaptation.
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link was a massive departure from the original title. More linear, carefully metered progress, and with more RPG elements. It bore few similarities to its predecessor with its unique mix of top-down overworld exploration and side-scrolling action.
I hated it. But don't tell boss Niero I said that. I'm pretty sure that making disparaging comments about Zelda II is a fireable offense at Destructoid.
It wasn't the game's formula that left a bad taste in my mouth, however. On the contrary, it was an interesting mix of play styles. Despite this, the formula didn't catch on to a wide extent. Few games have followed its lead, with even the Zelda series neglecting its mechanics as the franchise widened.
Phoenotopia Awakening seems to have latched onto that misunderstood title and squeezed it for all it was worth. It wears its Zelda influences on its sleeve, but also layers on its own fantastic personality. The result is something that is markedly different than Zelda II, even if you can easily see its foundation, and I couldn't be happier for that.
Rocksteady's Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League looks like a GaaS GaaS GaaS
Harley Quinn, King Shark, Captain Boomerang, and Deadshot are teaming up to take down Superman in Rocksteady's Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. During the DC FanDome stream, it was confirmed the game is a continuation of the Arkham universe.
You'll be able to play the game solo with three A.I. partners that you can take control of at any time. The entire story will also be playable in online co-op with up to four players teaming up to take down Superman and other members of the Justice League. Each character will have their own unique movesets, as well as customizable weapons and skills.
The game will be set in an open-world Metropolis that is seen in the trailer above. Described as an "action-adventure shooter," Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is set for release in 2022 for Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Review: Fast & Furious Crossroads
In a post-Arkham Asylum world, it's easy to forget how Batman was the victim of decades of poor-quality video games. While Gotham City, a rogues' gallery of great villains, cool gadgets, and the Batmobile seemed custom-designed for gaming, fans suffered through years of abominable titles starring The Dark Knight before Rocksteady finally captured the essence of the DC Comics universe, ultimately delivering one of the greatest games of all-time.
The Fast & Furious franchise has a similar curse. The billion-dollar film series seems like a "can't miss" prospect for interactive entertainment. With wild, ridiculous action, caricatured stud-muffin dudes in open shirts, hot women having Krav Maga throwdowns, crashing jet-planes, submarines, and all the excesses of a bombastic franchise that's thrown reality to the curb, it seems almost impossible not to sculpt this action series into a massively entertaining adventure.
And yet, like Batman before it, the adventures of Dominic Toretto and his "family" just haven't been able to make the transition into a quality video game title. Unfortunately, with the release of Bandai Namco's Fast & Furious Crossroads, it seems this series' "Arkham Asylum moment" is still a long, long way away.
Cblogs of 8/15 to 8/21/2020: Sekiro, Sly Cooper, and video game music
Cblogs Recap: Week 34
-Queen of Philosophy shares her first impression of the Marvel's Avengers beta test.
-Falloutdogmeat wonders if Sly Cooper should be remastered.
-Caius RV reviews Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
-Black Red Gaming ranks the Saints Row series with this blog focusing on Saints Row 4.
-Jeremy Comans shares his collection of favorite video game music.
-ChronoLynxx opens up another TGIF community forum to discuss gaming related things.
As the gray hairs have slowly replaced the brown ones on my temples, I've become quite fond of shorter games. I don't mind diving into something meaty that takes me two weeks or more to complete, but with the color of my hair reminding me of how little sand I have left in the hourglass, I'm gravitating more and more toward bite-sized adventures.
But just because a game is short doesn't mean it can't be memorable. In fact, some of my favorite titles of the past few generations have been those I can complete in 10 hours or less. And while Giraffe and Annika doesn't quite measure up to those short adventures that came before it, its endless charm has me appreciating the experience anyway, warts and all.
