Frog Fractions is out now on Steam, and it's free
Frog Fractions: Game of the Decade Edition is available on Steam right now for the low price of zero dollars. If you've somehow managed to never get around to checking it out, especially if you still don't know what it actually is, I highly urge you to stop reading, put everything else in your life on hold, and play it immediately. Even if you end up regretting it, I can guarantee you've never played anything else quite like Frog Fractions. There's a reason people still talk about it to this day.
Just remember: if you're ever feeling frustrated and down while playing, especially near the beginning, there are always further depths in which you can sink. There's something really beautiful about the way Frog Fractions fully tackles and inhabits that mantra. It knows what it is and embraces it completely.
PlayStation's next State of Play stream to take place Thursday
Are you still hungry for live streams? Have you not eaten enough live streams this season? If not, then be sure to tune in Thursday, August 6, as PlayStation will be hosting its newest State of Play event, looking at some upcoming releases on the PS4 and PSVR platforms.
In a message recently posted on its official Twitter account PlayStation announced that the stream will "focus on upcoming PS4 and PSVR games", as well as "quick check-ins on third-party and indie games from June's PS5 showcase". The tweet does specifically note, however, that there will be "No big PS5 announcements".
The State of Play stream goes live Thursday, August 6 at 13:00 PT / 16:00 ET / 21:00 BST. You can check out the stream over on the official PlayStation Twitch and YouTube channels. You can find the full announcement over on the PlayStation blog.
Sony clarifies which PS4 accessories will and will not work on PS5
Here we go ladies and gentlemen: the next generation! Ready? Wait, we don't have pricing and even date info yet? Not even a month-based window? Okay fine, here's some info on how accessories will work.
As detailed today on the PlayStation Blog, Sony is ready to talk about what hardware will transfer to the PlayStation 5. Let's start with what will work from PS4-to-PS5: Specialty peripherals, such as officially licensed racing wheels, arcade sticks, and flight stick, the Platinum and Gold wireless headsets, the PlayStation camera, PS Move and PS Aim Controllers (wow I'm surprised they acknowledged it exists!) and the DualShock 4 for supported PS4 games.
That list bit is very important. Although it seems like "speciality peripherals" are going to work with the new generation, the PS4 DualShock is a very special case. Sony clarifies that while the PS4 controller will technically work on the PS5 for "supported PS4 games," as a whole, it cannot be used on PS5 games, which are being buil with the DualSense in mind.
As a bit of extra clarification, Sony says that "not all" peripherals will work (that much is obvious but may as well get it out of the way), and that the PlayStation Camera will be supported by way of a PlayStation Camera adapter, which "will be provided at no additional cost to PS VR users." That info is coming "at a later date."
Is that the same "later date" we're getting pricing and PS5 release info?
PlayStation 5: Answering your questions on compatible PS4 peripherals & accessories [PlayStation Blog]
343 acknowledges Halo Infinite's visual concerns, while Phil Spencer has fun with it
In case you missed it, the recent Xbox Games Showcase set the internet ablaze with questions about Halo Infinite. Microsoft finally showed it off, but all anyone could talk about was the visual style and Craig the Brute: the newly minted meme of the week.
Taking to Halo Waypoint, 343 Industries created a blog on the subject, gathering up all of the big-picture concerns about Infinite and putting them into one place. The most notable subsection is easily the visuals portion though, which 343 addresses plainly. The move, they say, is deliberate, as the company "decided to shift back towards the legacy aesthetics that defined the original trilogy."
Calling it a "classic" art style, they propose that the final game will have a more "vibrant palette," that will still be detailed. In regards to the actual quality of that style, 343 says "we do have work to do to address some of these areas and raise the level of fidelity and overall presentation for the final game." 343 also states that the build we saw was already outdated.
Individual snafus and memes aside, it's something I actually dug about the reveal: that Halo was going back to a more stylized look and not the ultra-realistic visuals of recent games. The environments seem expansive, and will probably be a lot of fun to explore.
In other news, Phil Spencer, Xbox boss, openly acknowledged the Craig meme with a playful tweet, noting: "Our new official Xbox mascot :-) love the community and their ability to just take something fun and run with it." It's an obvious attempt to be diplomatic, but Spencer (who is more open than any other executive in recent memory) is a nice change of pace from the usual stuffiness from major publishers.
Infinite Inquiries [Halo Waypoint]
Here's a new look at the Pokemon Unite MOBA, which might launch next spring
Just a few months ago, The Pokemon Company made a big deal about a special stream that would showcase an upcoming project, that a lot of people thought would involve the next generation of Pokemon or a remake of a beloved entry. Instead, it was the announcement of a Pokemon MOBA in collaboration with Tencent.
Yes, Pokemon Unite was one of the first big disappointments of the summer, a streak Nintendo would continue by hyping up a Bakugan Switch game from WayForward. But it is coming, and thanks to new images and info from Chinese social media (gathered by ResetEra), we may have our first real info dump since the May reveal.
In addition to several new screenshots (that showcase additional characters like Drednaw), evidently reports point to an internal test in August, with a lengthy development cycle that will continue throughout spring 2021: when the game will eventually be released. Details like a (no doubt heavily monetized) cosmetic system for your trainer have also leaked.
As a reminder, Pokemon Unite will arrive on Android, iOS and Switch at some point in the future.
Pokemon Unite [ResetEra]
No More Heroes for Switch pops up on Taiwanese ratings board
Everyone's favourite hot scoop news outlet, the Taiwan Digital Game Rating Committee, is at it again. The latest release to mysteriously appear on the governing body's website is none other than a Switch port of Suda 51's groundbreaking action-RPG No More Heroes.
Originally released for the Wii in 2007, No More Heroes shook up the action genre with its wild, highly stylised aesthetic, over-the-top action, and painfully cool/uncool characters. Eventually ported to PS3 and Xbox 360 as Heroes' Paradise, the series would receive a sequel - Desperate Struggle - in 2010 and a spin-off title - Travis Strikes Again - in 2019. A third mainline entry is currently in development.
This new rating seems to suggest that Travis Touchdown's original adventure will be headed to Switch at some point in the near future. Given that No More Heroes III has a tentative release date of 2020, it would be snug to assume that the original game will be arriving alongside this new sequel. We will update you should any new info be forthcoming.
No More Heroes rated for Switch in Taiwan [Gematsu]
Konami hilariously tweets about Silent Hill, then apologizes for riling people up
This is the sort of thing you can only imagine happening on the official Konami Twitter account. Amazingly, a saga unfolded this past weekend involving Silent Hill, and it happened in three acts.
Act one: Konami tweets an audio clip of Silent Hill 2's siren, telling people "close your eyes...always scary." In this era of constant summer announcements, folks understandably assumed that this was a tease for something Silent Hill related. But after a bevy of tweets from fans, the account quickly walked back any hope of a tease.
Act two: Konami tweets "easy there, internet." Evidently the social team was "watching streams of Dead by Daylight" and "thought [they] would share the noise and feel of being hunted." Doubling down, they tweeted out that they "won't take the tweet down and backpedal." Well, that solves that!
Act three: the account changes its tone and apologizes, saying that are "sorry [they] got people fired up." The tweet follows up by saying that "anything official would come from the Silent Hill Twitter or an event," rather than the official Konami Twitter account (what).
While stuff like this happens, whoever was in charge of the account at the time probably wasn't aware of the baggage that Konami is still carrying with P.T. and the unceremonious firing of Kojima. While expectations should always be kept in check, social media can be a testy place, especially right now!
Konami [Twitter]
Wargroove will get cross-play on PS4 after a year long public battle with Sony
For over a year now Wargroove has been lacking cross-play on PS4, but that's going to change this week. Chuckle Fish has confirmed to Destructoid that Wargroove's Double Trouble DLC will be coming to PS4 tomorrow, with cross-play.
Why is that last part such a big deal? Well, if you recall, Sony was the last major holdout for cross-platform play, as a Sony exec called "PlayStation the best place to play," implying that you didn't need cross-play. Ironically PS4 was the worst place to play Wargroove, as PC, Xbox One and even Switch owners could all enjoy the benefits of playing together and sharing maps as one giant community, while the PS4 edition was left out of the party for over a year now.
Strangely, by the time Wargroove launched on PS4 last July, Sony's PS4 cross-play program was in "beta," and the CEO of Chucklefish (Finn Brice) decided to call them out on it, saying that Sony was playing favorites with the program: prominently featuring games like Rocket League and Fortnite without focusing on indies.
Brice called them out publicly hard, saying that he made "many requests for cross-play," but Sony did not budge. Obviously it behooves Chucklefish to make that happen, and oddly, Sony was maintaining the stance that the program was available to anyone who wanted it. Where the truth lies is probably buried within heaps of NDAs somewhere, but the good news is that after being the last holdout, Sony is finally playing ball.
Let's hope cross-play and cross-buy are as prolific in the next generation as they are now. Microsoft seems committed to making that happen, at least.
It's always exciting to guess what Platinum is working on at any given moment, but for now, it seems like a sequel to Wonderful 101 is not in the cards. GameXPlain had the chance to speak to Platinum head Atsushi Inaba and the infamous director/producer Hideki Kamiya on a few recent developments, as well as where the future is headed.
After clarifying that Platinum was "nervous that no one would show up" for the Wonderful 101 remaster Kickstarter, Inaba says that a sequel is constantly on his mind. The problem is that it would need to be "bigger and better," and that it would be a huge challenge if Platinum decided to go forward with it.
Clarifying further, Kamiya uses a "volume" analogy, saying that one he starts to create a game it begins at a "10," and then slowly goes up from there. With a Wonderful 101 sequel, he's afraid of how much he'd have to top himself and "pass that original hurdle" for the franchise.
To me, Bayonetta is a much harder hurdle to pass, but Platinum is going for it with Bayonetta 3. While we haven't heard much about it these past few years, Kamiya gave his standard answer of "fine," when asked about it again. You can tell he's kind of over being asked about it (and he clarified as much this past May), but one day we will get some sort of actual update on it: whether that's through a Nintendo Direct or Platinum directly.
GameXplain [YouTube]
Cblogs of 7/25 to 7/31/2020: Dark Souls, Virtua Fighter 5, and visual novels
Cblogs Recap: Week 31
-Toothpick2600 reports on Nintendo restocking their supply of NES Mini and SNES Mini consoles.
-Black Red Gaming reviews Destroy All Humans! on the PC.
-Dinoracha shares his thoughts on playing DOOM: Eternal.
-Rabid Walrus thinks we can learn much from even the worst Dark Souls boss.
-PocketCiabatta wonders what is the Tetris-like game in each genre.
-LaTerry responds to this month's Band of Bloggers prompt by looking at the water levels in Spyro.
-Virtua Kazuma discusses the legacy of Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown.
-Julc3 is thinking of getting the Xbox Series X in the coming round of console wars.
-Black Red Gaming shares his thoughts on his most anticipated games to be released in August 2020.
-Exber discusses how a game, Galerians, really got him into writing about games.
-EricWeichhart reveals some more community shirts that you can order.
A girl with fungus growing out of her face?
Let's hope she doesn't come across Ellie or Joel.
Review: Nioh 2: The Tengu's Disciple
After spending an absurd amount of time with Nioh 2 this year in pursuit of the platinum trophy, New Game+, and incrementally better character builds, I wasn't sure if I was ready to return so soon. It's a testament to this game – and Team Ninja's general update and DLC strategy – that I'm not burned out.
The Tengu's Disciple is the first of three story expansions, but it feels pretty self-contained. If you aren't holding out for the (hopefully inevitable) PC version of Nioh 2, it's time to travel back in time to 1185.
BurgerTime is this week's Arcade Archives release
After a string of intriguing and obscure shmups, Hamster has pulled out one of the all-time classics for this week's Arcade Archives release: Data East's BurgerTime, now available to download on Nintendo Switch.
Chances are if you're reading this here website, you probably don't need a heads-up on legendary title. Released in arcades back in 1982, BurgerTime is a single-screen platformer which sees players in control of chef Peter Pepper, scurrying up and down ladders in an effort to complete an order of hamburgers which - for unexplained reasons - are three times the size of our protagonist. Attempting to hinder Peter's progress are a selection of living foodstuffs, such as sausages and eggs, which Peter can stun with a quick dash of pepper.
You can check out the culinary chaos in the video below, courtesy of World of Longplays.
All of my favorite survival games tend to have an unspeakable horror to keep me on my toes, and Grounded – a shrunken-down solo/co-op adventure from RPG powerhouse Obsidian – is no exception.
Even if you're the kind of person who refuses to squish spiders and goes out of their way to carefully capture and release them outdoors, you aren't ready for these towering eight-legged freaks.
Some of them hide in creepy tunnels. Others prowl in the open, bending tree-sized blades of grass off in the distance. They scurry. They can take you out in just a strike or two. And they must be stopped.
Obsidian included an Arachnophobia Safe Mode for a reason.
Dragon Ball FighterZ news coming in August live stream
Yesterday's Japan Fighting Game Publisher Roundtable stream might have offered fans new info pertaining to Tekken, Samurai Shodown, Guilty Gear, and Soulcalibur, but it was a little slim on reveals for great tag-team slugfest Dragon Ball FighterZ.
Never fear, Goku fans, as publisher Bandai Namco has announced that it does have plans for DBFZ, plans that will be revealed in a special live stream later this month. Unfortunately that's all the info you're getting for now - an announcement of an announcement - but at least fans can take heart knowing that their favourite fighter is likely to see support into the new year and beyond.
We will keep you informed as and when a date is announced for the live stream. Dragon Ball FighterZ is available now on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
I am, admittedly, a sucker for unique art styles. Sure, I enjoy lush graphics, beautiful pixel art, or stylish cel-shading, but they don't grab my attention in the same way as something that forges a path in a different direction. I get excited around the styles that Bernband, Burrito Galaxy, or even the simple papercraft worlds of Brendan Chung's Citizen Abel games pull off. Heck, I'll admit to being fascinated by Paper Mario.
That's what drew me into Hotel Sowls. I was instantly charmed by its blobby, lo-fi art style. It's something I haven't really seen before in a video game. It seems to wear its personality on its sleeve. That's only the start, though. Now it's time to get it up on the autopsy table, peel back its skin, and see if there's any of that personality seeped into the meat itself.
The Heart of Deimos is going to make for one hell of an introduction for players new to the Warframe experience, but for those who have been playing since the beginning, a new feature coming soon to your Orbiter may allow you to customize your playing experience even more. When Heart of Deimos launches at the end of August, your infirmary will have a new occupant. Say hello to Audrey II Helminth.
Gender-neutral Xaku is the 44th Warframe
Earlier this year, Digital Extremes asked Tenno around the world to submit their ideas for a new Warframe in the fantastically popular free-to-play looter shooter. Plenty of ideas were submitted, but the most popular entry by far was from a user named 'eaterofstorms" who pushed the idea of a Broken Warframe, one that is, "obviously not put together correctly and it's pretty much the epitome of making a bug a feature."
An absolutely dope idea that finally has a dope design. Say hello to Xaku, a gender-neutral Warframe coming to the game with the launch of the Heart of Deimos.
Warframe's Heart of Deimos is an infested open-world you can explore in a mech
Last year at TennoCon, Digital Extremes teased a new open-world area known as the Duviri Paradox. That update for Warframe is currently on hold. Instead, more than 50 million players around the world will get access to a new open-world later this month called the Heart of Deimos.
Deimos is the second moon of Mars that holds the origin to the Infested. As players complete quests across the satellite, they'll uncover the mysteries of the nauseating creatures and how they came to be. During a pre-TennoCon presentation, we were given a look at this fleshy world overrun with some of the most gruesome creatures Warframe has ever seen.
How well do you know the sexual side of Nintendo?
The Super Mario series turns 35 this September, so chances are that if you read this game blog, the franchise has been in your life for as long as you remember. I'm old enough to recall the first time I played the original game. I was 10 years old, and it was at a demo kiosk in Toys R Us. I'll forever associate the series with that point in my childhood.
Of course, I've grown up a lot since then, and so has Nintendo. When they first started releasing their own home consoles, their sole focus was catering to children, but now that many of those '80s kids have kids (or even grandkids) of their own, they've branched out to create games that appeal to all ages. That sometimes means throwing in a cheeky reference now and again, intended for adults to understand but kids to avoid or ignore.
There is just such a reference in a recently released Nintendo game, and the only thing I found surprising about it was fans' reactions. Specifically, a lot of fans denied that there was anything sexual about it, seemingly unwilling to admit to themselves that yes, sometimes Nintendo does dick jokes. I'm not going to spoil it here, because it's actually related to one of the quiz questions below, but please, if you were one of the folks who doesn't believe that Nintendo ever gets "inappropriate," you have a lot to learn. With any luck, this fun quiz will teach you a thing or two about the birdos and the bees.
Destroy All Humans is the kind of game that's a perfect subject for getting the remake treatment. Originally released in 2005 by the now-defunct Pandemic Studios (I'll never forget the controversy around The Saboteur's launch DLC that enabled nudity), Destroy All Humans is spirited but doesn't hold up to modern gameplay conventions. Go watch some YouTube videos. It hasn't aged gracefully.
Developer Black Forest Games has tackled a beat-by-beat remake 15 years later. It's extremely competent, and every bit as lively and spunky as the original. This just feels like a franchise that means a lot to some people. Still, we're left wishing more creative liberty had been taken.
Podtoid has all the right answers, but do you have the right questions?
I don't know where you all stand on this whole "Should we even have E3 anymore?" debate, but after getting through the last two months, I'm more than ready to welcome back a week of hell in Downtown LA. It has been an exhausting couple of months, and now that it's August, the Podtoid team is looking to kick back and relax a bit.
Help us start the month off right by asking us a question in the comments below. The more creative and original the question, the more likely it is to be asked on air.
As someone who played the hell out of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles back in the day, it came as a shock that the upcoming remaster would not support local play. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this remaster could work perfectly well for a new generation; not to mention the fact that it deserves to be preserved.
I sat down with the game's director, Ryoma Araki, to find out how he got involved with the project and why local multiplayer was cut.
Will the massive Nintendo asset leak have negative repercussions for the industry?
The big story of the weekend has been the massive dump of assets and source codes for a decade's worth of Nintendo games. Where some companies are a bit too carefree with how they store their history, Nintendo doesn't appear to throw anything out. We've seen strange early versions of Yoshi, never-before-seen Zelda enemies, and the source codes to some of the greatest games on the SNES just dumped on the internet. It's fascinating, but could leaks like this and the gargantuan The Last of Us: Part II leak from a few months ago have a negative ripple effect for the people who work in and around the gaming industry?
That's just one of the topics discussed on this episode of Podtoid. CJ, Charlotte, and Occams are on hand to talk asset leaks, Ghost of Tsushima, Void Terrarium, Assassin's Creed: Syndicate, and our favorite titles from last week's Xbox Games Showcase. All that, plus the idea that games starring women don't sell is bullshit, on Podtoid Episode 452.
Star Trek Online's forecast signals a summer event on the horizon
This year hasn't been especially conducive to tourism, to say the least, but no amount of international travel restrictions can stop you from logging into Star Trek Online's 25th-century timeline this August. The Cryptic Studios-developed free-to-play MMO is kicking off its yearly summer celebration event on August 4, 2020, and any players who start a character and complete the initial tutorial will be welcome on the shores of Risa, the classic "pleasure planet" of Star Trek Lore.
As with other summer events, players can partake of a variety of summer activities, including jetpack tours, hoverboard races, sand castle builds, and dance contests. They can even go on a scavenger hunt for Risian horga'hn statues, though sadly no jamaharon is on offer (unless you know the right chat channels to join, I suppose). Participating a little bit each day will earn progress towards the event's grand prize: A premium playable starship.
There's a new Pokemon trading card set that's aimed at beginners and lapsed fans
I play a lot of card games. Competitive, cooperative: I'll try them all. That's partially why I've dipped in and out of the Pokemon Trading Card Game since 1998. While I'm generally not down with blind box collectible packs, starter sets like the newly announced Battle Academy box do a decent job of pulling me back in to relearn games and acquire that sweet, sweet new keyword knowledge.
In short, trading card games periodically release pre-built decks of cards so that you know exactly what you're getting. Fantasy Flight Games bases their entire "LCG" model around it to avoid gambling, which is why I gravitate toward their games so often. With other companies, the idea is to suck you in with the pre-set starter boxes: then get you to whale-up and buy tons of packs to get cooler cards. Jokes on you: I stop there!
In this particular "Battle Academy" kit for Pokemon, you'll get three decks (Pikachu, Charizard, Mewtwo), along with three rulebooks and a game board (no mat? Way to cheap out). The idea is that you start with the former two, then work your way up to Mewtwo. It's not a new concept, but it's a new box, so lapsed Pokemon card game fans could give it a shot with a family member during quarantine.
It's out as of yesterday worldwide, and will run you 20 bucks.
Battle Academy [Pokemon]
Whatcha been playing this week, Destructoid?
Though I've played fighting games for more than half my entire lifespan, I can't deny that lately I'm struggling to hold the devotion. As my eyes, fingers, and senses dull with age, I can't help but feel with each new generation of fighters I get less and less capable at holding my Mad Skillz together. The Struggle, my friends.
Don't get me wrong, I still love the genre - many of its better entries remain among my favourite and most played games of all time. But with a year without tournaments I had intended to attend, the (rightful) cancellation of EVO, and several disappointing moves from some solid franchises, I can't help but feel I might be losing the love. Maybe it's just been a particularly bad year for the genre, maybe I'm just in a funk, or maybe the death threat I received this week was the last straw. I guess time will tell - but either way, 29 years is one helluva fucking run. To paraphrase easily pleased pro-wrestling fans, I still intend to Fight For-ev-er.
But while I meander through that frankly unimportant part of my brain, why don't you drop us a note below and fill us in on what's been keeping you entertained this week. Just like the early-'90s UFC boasted: THERE ARE NO RULES!* So whatever you're playing, old or new, good fun or bad times, join in the discourse below and share with us your current gaming obsessions.
Have a safe and pleasant weekend, from all of us at Destructoid.
*Even though there were, in fact, some rules.
Guilty Gear Strive coming to PS5 and PC, Leo Whitefang and Nagoriyuki revealed
The biggest news from this morning's Japan Fighting Game Publisher Roundtable was definitely reserved for Arc System Works and its lovely-looking anime fighter Guilty Gear Strive. Not only did the developer reveal classic and brand new roster additions, but it also announced that GG Strive will be launching spring 2021 on PS4, PS5, PC, and in arcades.
Returning to the fight is the domineering form of political heavyweight Leo Whitefang. Debuting in Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-, Whitefang is one of the three Allied Kings of Illyan, and holds governance over Europe, Oceania, and The Middle East. As dangerous on the battlefield as he is in parliament, Whitefang lays waste to his opponents with two heavy-duty gauntlet swords, raining down blows via meaty left-right hook combinations. Incidentally, Whitefang also possesses the greatest coat known to man.
The deadly Setsuka to return in Soulcalibur VI next week
Another blood-spiller is sharpening their blade and preparing to make their vengeful return in Bandai Namco's Soulcalibur VI. As revealed during this morning's Japan Fighting Game Publisher Roundtable event, Setsuka is making her long-awaited return to the steel-clashing franchise, as the third character of Season Pass 2.
Originally debuting in 2005's Soulcalibur III, Setsuka is an unassuming but deadly swordswoman, originally offering the appearance of a courtesan in order to track the legendary samurai Mitsurugi, whom she holds personally responsible for the death of her mentor, Kokonoe. Able to pass through towns and countryside as a demure, beautiful woman, the ever-alert Setsuka is able to take her foes with sudden surprise, unsheathing her blade from her parasol and making short, violent work of any would-be opponents.
Tekken 7 announces Season 4, new moves, and online features
At this morning's Japan Fighting Game Publisher Roundtable event, Bandai Namco announced that a fourth season of DLC content will be coming to its popular fighter Tekken 7 this fall.
No specific characters were revealed during the stream, but a trailer advertising the new season ends with an image of a sunset over Mt. Fuji, with the silhouette of a ninja-type figure resting on a pagoda rooftop. While Tekken is fairly slight on shinobi - save for Kunimitsu - the accompanying message "WHAT?!" seems to suggest that this could also be another surprising crossover character.
Samurai Shodown will get a third season of DLC content
During this morning's Japanese Fighting Game Publisher's Roundtable stream, developer SNK announced that a third season of content is headed to its meticulous fighting title Samurai Shodown.
No further information was released outside of this simple statement, but from experience we can expect several new characters will be headed to the SamSho roster. Whether these characters will be newcomers such as Darli Dagger, returning stars such as Iroha, or more strange cross over selections like The Warden and the recently revealed Gongsun Li remains to be seen.
Samurai Shodown, now readily available on PC and consoles, has certainly succeeded in making a name for itself among modern audiences. Even if the footsie-heavy fighter isn't quite as popular as the Street Fighters and Tekkens of the world, it holds its own with a large and colourful cast of characters, an attractive period aesthetic, and a unique, almost balletic fighting style.
Samurai Shodown is available now on PS4, PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Stadia.
Contest: Win an EPOS GSX 300 External Sound Card
In today's contest, spoil your ears and win an EPOS GSX 300 External Sound Card!
My ears are weirdly sensitive, but I'm also oddly deaf. It's a really, really stupid combo that doesn't make any sense. I can feel bass in my eardrums from miles away and detect the smallest change in audio atmosphere like a big, white bat, but have to ask my wife to repeat herself several times because I can't hear her. I don't understand it at all.
So when EPOS gave me a few units of their GSX 300 External Sound Card, I didn't really know what to do with them. I thought about trading them on the black market for adult diapers, but figured I'd just give them away, instead.
There's a monster climbing up the sales charts. The more we feed it, the bigger he gets.
Devolver Digital has revealed that reverse horror game Carrion has nearly crossed the 200,000 sales barrier. That's certainly a notable number for an indie game with an experimental bent. In his review, Jordan described Carrion as a trim, novel, and enjoyable experience that gets in and out before the sheen wears off.
Right about now, you're likely thinking "200,000 in the first week, mostly from Xbox Game Pass...that's pretty decent." Nope, the 200,000 sales are actual sales. Devolver says there are "hundreds of thousands [more] players on Xbox Game Pass." We're probably looking at close to a half mil creepy blob monsters.
Ah, "creepy blob monster" is an unfair characterization (and only one letter away from the staff here who are creepy blog monsters). In this new behind-the-scenes Carrion video, you'll learn a little more about what makes the antagonist-turned-antihero (-turned-regular-hero depending on your views on humanity) tick. He really likes his no-calorie half-caffeine caramel lattes hotter than the flames that sometimes burn him up.
This week's Humble Bundle has a lot of Double Fine's best games for only $9
Sometimes you don't have to choose between quality and quantity. Sometimes you get both. And, when the stars align just right and fortune's on your side, all that quality and quantity comes very cheap.
That's the case with this week's newest Humble Bundle. In celebration of Double Fine's 20th anniversary (time flies), there are 19 of the studio's games packaged together for $9 total. Plus, you'll get four documentaries thrown in too.
It sounds like a lot, but it isn't everything Double Fine has done. There's a bunch that's missing, probably because of publisher-specific deals or that it just wasn't included. Costume Quest 2, The Cave, Stacking, and Trenched are a few notable omissions that stick out. Also, the higher tier is mostly a lot of Double Fine-published games rather than ones the studio actually developed. Going back to that first sentence in the paragraph: It isn't everything Double Fine has done, but Everything is included.
Here's what's in the Humble Double Fine 20th Anniversary Bundle:
We aren't petting enough foxes in Ghost of Tsushima
How are you spending your time in Ghost of Tsushima? What are you prioritizing?
Sony shared some in-game activity stats for the open-world samurai adventure, and I regret to inform you that we simply aren't petting enough foxes. In the first ten days since Ghost of Tsushima launched, we've taken 15.5 million photos, written 14.2 million haikus, and have only petted 8.8 million foxes.
Players have honored 37.5 million Inari Shrines (the places foxes guide us to) in that same time frame.
You've all been busy! Stats from the first 10 days of #GhostofTsushima
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) July 31, 2020
âš"ï¸ 57.5 million duels
🦊 8.8 million foxes petted
🎠810 years on horseback
ðŸ"¸ 15.5 million photos taken
And more: pic.twitter.com/5LFSxvSjbC
I'm part of the problem, for sure.
In my never-ending obsession to uncover every bit of world-map fog and play as much of this great game as I can with the little time I have right now, I've cut some corners. The first few shrines? You better believe I gave those foxes a friendly pat on the head. But the habit quickly broke. I feel cold hard guilt every time I race from a fox den to a shrine and selfishly insta-fast-travel right out of there.
It's not too late. From this point on – every shrine in the second region and beyond – I'll pet them all.
[Image credit: @elliotsda3m0ns]
This Zelda: Breath of the Wild style video is a double whammy for this Guardian
You thought I'd ever get tired of Zelda: Breath of the Wild stunt videos? Nah.
This new one is coming at you from Reddit user ceadmilefailte, who gives us a two-fold taste of style in this short clip. Basically, they not only nail a very long and meticulous shot from the top of a mountain, sniping a nearby Guardian: but they also follow it up seamlessly with a laser shot shield deflection.
The title is just so great: "Never thought I would be one of the people posting something like this." Reddit user ceadmilefailte probably saw all of the cool videos that folks have shared for the past several years and assumed that they couldn't rise to the occasion. Well, welcome to the club. You did it! This is one I had to watch a few times just to really take it in.
For those of you who are wondering how they did it: it was with a royal bow with ancient arrows. Now, go forth into the world and make your own version of it.
(Update) There's a rumor going around that Halo Infinite's multiplayer will be free-to-play
Update: Microsoft and 343 Industries have confirmed that Halo Infinite's multiplayer component will be free to play.
DIRT 5's Stampede track is a butte-bumping experience
Codemasters has released another work-in-progress trailer for its upcoming off-road racer Dirt 5. Following on from its previous Path Finder premiere, this new video offers an early look at the rock-solid, jarring surfaces that make up new circuit "Stampede."
Located between the iconic Arizona buttes, Stampede is a hard-wearing track - ploughed into the rock and offering very little give or suspension. Mastery of acceleration and inertia will be required when taking on this twisty, unforgiving course. And if the raceway looks a little roomy in the video below, just imagine the fender-bending chaos when up to 12 rugged vehicles are all jockeying for position simultaneously.
Leon and Claire are back in Resident Evil Resistance...in cosmetic outfit form
Resident Evil 3 has been one of the more fun releases in 2020 thus far, and it's also been a blast to go back and play.
Resident Evil Resistance, the multiplayer component that came bundled with it? Not so much. That's due in part to the lack of iconic cast representation, but that's changing...kinda. Sadly, you will still have to deal with the base cast's broke ass haircuts, because Leon isn't actually arriving in the game: just his costume. It's two costumes actually, as both Leon and Claire will represent their RE2 looks by way of paid DLC, because of course it's paid.
More importantly (in theory, at least), Capcom also announced something for Resident Evil 3, but it's not great. Remember that "cheat code DLC" that EA popularized a long time ago with series like Skate? Well it's back, as Capcom is bringing "all-in-game rewards unlock DLC" to core RE3 at some point.
For reference, Resident Evil 2 remake got this in April of 2019 and it was priced at $4.99. Paying for cheat codes that used to be simple button combinations or free in-game passwords! It's still a wild thing, folks.
Resident Evil [Twitter]
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind launches August 20 on PC and consoles
Curve Digital has announced that its Commandos-style stealth puzzler Peaky Blinders: Mastermind will launch on PS4, PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch on August 20.
"It's an honour to be trusted with the Peaky Blinders license," said game director James Marsden in a press release. "Our team has created a game that reflects the heart of what makes the show compelling: Tommy Shelby's ability to manipulate friends, family and foes in pursuit of his master plan."
Bungie is rolling out a patch next week to clean up some recent Destiny 2 bugs
If you've been playing Destiny 2 you may have noticed some lingering issues in specific activities, but Bungie is squashing those issues next Tuesday. No, it's not as catastrophic as the bug from February, but some recent Nightfall runs and a few quests might have been more annoying than they should have.
As announced on their official blog, Bungie is cleaning up the Lake of Shadows and Festering Core Nightfalls: by fixing an accessibility issue in the former and making the latter much tougher (the Director level-select system said it required 1080 Power, but it's actually set at a breezier 750 - oops!). The Means to an End quest progression bug is also getting fixed, as well as a problem with Ruinous Eggify and Umbral engrams.
Sadly, a reward nerf is coming too, as XP, Glimmer and "chances toward Exotic or Bright engrams" are now back to a weekly lockout setting: directly after they opened them up. It's kind of baffling as XP and glimmer gains are kind of a non-issue so long as players are actually having fun, and with sunsetting content coming soon, Bungie is giving players less of a reason to run existing content before it goes away. It's classic Bungie.
The studio intends on beefing up the hotfix a bit with final patch notes next week, but before then you can check out the preview below.
This Week at Bungie [Bungie.net]
UFC 4 Career Mode puts you in control of body, brand, and beatdowns
Electronic Arts has released a new trailer for its MMA sim UFC 4. The new preview is entirely focused on the upcoming fighter's Career Mode, which will see players take their own custom fighter into the hard-training, hard-hitting, and surprisingly social-media-savvy world of The Octagon.
The UFC 4 career mode has been revamped to offer "the most in-depth, authentic experience yet". Create your own MMA superstar from scratch, before embarking on a storied fighting career under the guidance of in-game trainer Coach Davis. Hybrid your fighting style from a number of selected disciplines, and use Evolution Points earned in fights and training mini-games to fine-tune nuances such as striking power, to leg strength, takedown momentum, head movement and much more.
Diablo Immortal has a new trailer for ChinaJoy 2020
It hadn't struck me until just now that Diablo Immortal – that not-quite-right, built-for-mobile take on Diablo that we first heard about in 2018 – is still unreleased. I figured it had already slipped by.
The latest footage comes from ChinaJoy 2020, and if nothing else, you've gotta see the Necromancer's fleshy warriors. (For what it's worth, they looked like skeletons in the BlizzCon 2019 trailer.) The other returning classes – the Barbarian, Demon Hunter, Wizard, Crusader, and Monk – aren't as jarring. Otherwise? Immortal is the same multiplayer-focused demon-mashing experience you remember.
Someone will play this and enjoy it for what it is, but I am not that person. Watching the Demon Hunter do her thing makes me want to reinstall Heroes of the Storm, though. Chris planted the seed.
Please be good, Diablo IV. We're counting on you.
[Via MMO Culture]
Fallout 76's next big patch hits Tuesday, alongside of a huge community-wide event
Fallout 76 is still trucking, and Bethesda isn't shying away from delivering rather big patches from time to time for it. Next Tuesday, Patch 21 is set to shake things up a bit, and hopefully fix some of the bugs from Patch 20 (and maybe introduce some new ones!).
As revealed by the publisher, Patch 21 will arrive next week and will bring with it a community-wide event called Fortifying ATLAS. Basically, you're beefing up the ATLAS (Atmospheric Terraforming Laser Accelerator System,) Observatory location with supplies, which is an extremely MMO-like event.
On August 4 you can join in with the community to build ATLAS up in the "Project Alpha" stage, which will grant you in-game rewards like Brotherhood of Steel outfits and extra experience. You can find the full reward table below, which will grant you roughly two weeks to finish it all. At that point "Project Bravo" will kick off on August 27, which will run through September 10.
Bethesda is also doing some QuakeCon at home events for the game, including streams from August 7 through August 9. You can check out the full schedule here.
Inside the Vault [Bethesda.net]
QuakeCon at Home 2020 reveals live streaming schedule
Bethesda Softworks has released the live streaming schedule for its annual QuakeCon event which, as previously reported, will be going all-digital this year for the first time ever - another industry staple forced to switch things up due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Running from August 7-9, QuakeCon at Home 2020 looks to bring fans all the news, interviews, and live gaming action they expect from the yearly event, but this time in a safe, socially-distanced capacity. There will be panels and chats with a host of producers, community leaders, and voice actors from popular titles such as The Elder Scrolls, DOOM, Fallout, The Evil Within, and Prey, along with competitive tournaments and a slew of contests and competitions.
Exclusive merchandise will be available throughout the weekend, and viewers will be able to donate during streaming events, with proceeds going to numerous organisations including Direct Relief, UNICEF, The NAACP Legal Defense Fund, and The Trevor Project. The entire weekend will be readily available to watch on Bethesda's Twitch channel.
While undoubtedly there are many fans left disappointed that QuakeCon has had to change plans for its long-running annual gathering, it remains important that we all try to stem the tide of COVID-19. With a packed schedule and hopefully a few surprises, QuakeCon at Home 2020 will still provide fans with a weekend of fun events and interesting behind-the-scenes chatter. You can check out the full schedule for the weekend right here.
QuakeCon at Home 2020 takes place August 7-9.
Bright Memory: Infinite trailer showcases Shelia's full-auto firepower
Fledgling studio FYQD has released a new trailer for its action-hybrid title Bright Memory: Infinite. The fast-paced shooter is one of a number of games showcased in this weekend's ChinaJOY 2020 digital entertainment expo.
Bright Memory: Infinite is the final-form follow-up to paid PC demo Bright Memory, currently available to purchase on Steam. It tells the story of an expertly trained special agent named Shelia, who is dispatched by her clandestine organisation, SRO, to scenes of hazardous physical phenomena. After a violent storm rages across the planet, causing the manifestation of time and dimension-hopping apparitions. Shelia is assigned to investigate the cataclysmic event.
Nintendo shows us how to create some real Paper Mario: Origami King art
In Paper Mario: Origami King, the evil Olly transforms nearly all of the Toads in the Kingdom into various objects or creatures: it's your job to save them. Or, forgo that optional collect-a-thon entirely and just save your loved ones. That might be more preferable.
Either way, the Toads exist and are very much in peril, but Nintendo, at the very least, is giving them a second thought with this new origami folding tutorial. What's amazing about this particular video is how meticulous it is. The demonstrator is actually taking a paper Toad, similar to the ones in the game, and folding it into an object that exists in the game.
While people are quick to dismiss the new Paper Mario formula, I think this goes to show that there's still quite a bit of thought that goes into building these worlds. Color Splash was the same way. It'll be very interesting to see if Nintendo and Intelligent Systems have any gas in the tank left for a new gimmick, having already done stickers, color and origami: the latter of which is the best theme yet.
Maybe this release date trailer will sell you on Battletoads
This is bound to be divisive no matter which way you slice it.
Battletoads finally has a release date. Microsoft teased a revival for years before formally unveiling a new Battletoads at E3 2018. Jordan went hands-on with a demo at E3 2019 and reported back with the broad (but understandable) takeaway of "it's too early to call [it]."
We'll find out one way or another on August 20. That's when Battletoads launches on PC (via Windows Store and Steam) and Xbox One.
It'll be love-it-or-hate-it and no one can really be blamed for whichever side of the fence they land on. The art direction is a major sticking point for most people. It just looks so, I don't know, sanitized compared to Battletoads of old.
Regardless of your opinion now, I'd implore you to watch this new release date trailer. It does a much better job selling the game than the E3 2019 trailer did. I'm not in love with the tone of the Cartoon Network-seeming cutscene stuff but the gameplay looks on-point for a brawler. Dating back to the original, I can't get enough of their fists and feet getting big when there's a finishing blow. That's such a good effect. Also, if this trailer is properly representative, there seems to be a ton of variation in level types.
Anyway, most people don't really need to be "sold" on Battletoads per se because it's coming to Xbox Game Pass. Anyone with a subscription and even the slightest curiosity can just download it and see what's up. If it's your jam, that's another Game Pass success story. If you're not vibing with it, uninstall and move on. Nostalgia is king except for when it's not.
Oh yeah, there's a Magic: The Gathering dungeon crawler
I totally forgot Magic: Legends exists!
While a lot of folks were clamoring for a Magic: The Gathering MMO, we got this instead at The Game Awards last year. It's Magic by way of Diablo, which could be all sorts of great if developer Cryptic Studios can clean up the gameplay a bit.
Today we're getting a look at the new Sanctifier class: one of the five starters in Legends. They'll focus on celestial light, and surprise: white (plains)-based mana abilities. They can sling spells and heals, but also utilize latent powers to regenerate their own health, as well as the health of their summons. They can also periodically bring out an angel, who will grant them lifelink.
While the game hasn't wowed me yet, the deep lore of the world of Magic: The Gathering could win out.
Revealing the Sanctifier [Arc]
Yet another battle royale enters the arena soon with the launch of Hyper Scape
A battle royale meets Ready Player One: what could go wrong? Make sure you drive backward during your first race! It's a pro-tip only a true unflawed Ernest Cline stand-in could understand.
Yes, Ubisoft's Hyper Scape is out and about thanks to a very messy and quick reveal campaign, but it's actually going to be out, out on August 11. The news comes by way of this season one announcement trailer below, which showcases some gameplay and reminds us of the inevitable 100-tier battle pass.
Cringey setting aside, I'll give Hyper Scape a try because battle royales aren't inherently bad; so long as the studio isn't slapping it together to make a quick buck.
