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.
Here's your first look at WB Games Montreal's Gotham Knights
DC FanDome is in full swing and, after kicking the event off with a new look at Wonder Woman: 1984, the show gave us our first look at Gotham Knights. Set to release in 2021, the co-op action-adventure game kicks off with the death of Batman and the rise of his wards to be the heroes of Gotham. Playable characters include Batgirl, Robin, Red Hood, and Nightwing. Standing against them are villains like Mr. Freeze and the Court of Owls, but the developers promise the game is so much bigger than just them.
Raise your hand if you still hold water for Battletoads outside of that GameStop meme. I see...a few people in the horizon!
Wait, am I one of the only ones who played all seven games in the series, including the Tiger Electronics handheld release? Who is this 2020 version of Battletoads for? After playing it, I'm even more confused and delighted.
Learn about the sexier side of Skyrim on this episode of Podtoid
I imagine one of the most entertaining parts of building an epic video game is building up the world players will be exploring. There are many different ways to do this, and in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, you can find a lot of information about the inhabitants of this world the old-fashioned way: in a book. You can find out about the history of the land, as well as some saucier little details you might not expect.
That's just one of the topics on this episode of Podtoid. Charlotte, Dan, Occams, and CJ talk Skyrim, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, IKEA furniture, Epic's lawsuits, Galaxy of Terror, and the Xbox Series X launch. All that, plus you shouldn't point a gun at your dick, on Podtoid Episode 455.
Whatcha been playing this week, Destructoid?
Sometimes, I use this spot as an opportunity to talk about my thoughts on all matters gaming. Sometimes, I use it to touch upon world events at large. Sometimes, I don't know what to say and just talk about my infatuation with Z-grade exploitation movies. But this week, I want to take a moment to speak my mind on you, our beloved community.
I worked long and hard, for years, to make it to Destructoid. And I specifically worked to arrive at Destructoid. As a writer, I didn't hope to get a gig "writing on a gaming site," I wrote with the goal of working with Destructoid. I had this goal because I believe in the brand, I believe in the team and, most of all, I believe in you, the readers. I was a member of the community myself for many years and, like many of you, have found genuine comradeship and friendship among the articles, comments and Qposts of our humble abode.
(I'm gonna split this text with Ben Daglish's awesome C64 Cobra theme.)
Since being brought on as staff, I've worked my ass off every single day, resulting in over 5000 articles in a little over three years. It's tireless and sometimes unrewarding work - who likes being shouted at en masse for their opinion? But I get up every day and do what I do because you're worth it. There's occasional falling out, sure, but in general the Destructoid community remains the most personable, friendliest, and most interesting gaming community on the internet. I believed that then and I believe it now. Why am I even getting soppy? 2020 has been a strange and fragile year, and right now I don't think I can predict or take anything about the future for granted, so sometimes it's best to just say things now, rather than putting it off for later.
Thank you for your continued support, your interesting, opinionated, and entertaining voices, your kindness and respect toward the site, the team, and each other. Thank you for sticking with us through the good times and the bad. Oh, and on a personal note, thanks for making this weekly article such a massive success, it sees triple-figure comments each and every week and that's wonderful. I see you.
Have a safe and pleasant weekend, from all of us at Destructoid.
...Oh yeah, I've been playing Kandagawa Jet Girls. What have you been playing?
Contest: Win Pathfinder: Kingmaker Definitive Edition for PS4 or Xbox One
In today's contest you can win classic RPG Pathfinder: Kingmaker - Definitive Edition for PS4 or Xbox One!
Pathfinder: Kingmaker hit Steam a few years ago, and from what I can gather, it was kind of a big deal! I guess y'all really love your classic, tabletop-inspired RPGs.
Well, the Definitive Edition hit PS4 and Xbox One last week, so now console players can get in on the action. Comment below and you could win your own copy of the new port, including all paid DLC!
Fall Guys is bringing its Season 2 reveal trailer to Gamescom
The first season of Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout will end in 45 days. What's next? Another one, of course. We'll get our first look at Fall Guys Season 2 on August 27 at 11:00 a.m. Pacific.
If that date sounds strangely familiar, that's just Gamescom: Opening Night Live. Host Geoff Keighley has promised another one of his trademarked "world premiers" for the game with the flailing beans.
Fall Guys is great and all....but what if I told you there is @FallGuysGame: Season 2! ðŸ'' 😮🤯
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) August 21, 2020
Don't miss the world premiere sneak peek from @Mediatonic during @gamescom Opening Night Live.
Thursday, August 27 at 8 pm CEST / 2 pm ET / 11 am PT at https://t.co/AFycLZXKPd pic.twitter.com/WQB08qadhb
Ever the attention-grabber, Keighley says he "saw a rough trailer yesterday that [Mediatonic] showed me and you will not be disappointed." It's one of the 20+ showings lined up for the two-hour stream.
What can we reasonably expect? New levels, new skins, and variations for existing levels to keep Fall Guys feeling fresh, hopefully. While the developers have a ton of feedback to sort through from the millions of people who are playing this goofy competitive game, and many of those ideas are big-picture additions like split-screen co-op or a level editor, I'm sticking to modest expectations for now.
If all goes well, Fall Guys will remain relevant for years to come. There's plenty of time.
As for me, I've slowed down to a few matches a day but I'm still very into Fall Guys. Just a few more ranks left on the Season 1 battle pass and I can rest easy. Somehow, boredom hasn't set in yet.
On another positive note, the end is well within sight for the summer of gaming streams, and I'm relieved. There were highs, lows, and everything in between. Let's finish this thing already.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2's launch trailer dropped in a little early
The launch trailer for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 is a trip down memory lane. And it makes it all the more unbearable that I can't personally take that stroll yet.
Two weeks before Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 actually launches, Activision has released the game's launch trailer. For those of you who were brought up on these games, it's a sizzle reel flyby of some of the most memorable levels in the series' history. San Francisco ("Streets)! Minneapolis ("Downtown")! The Hoover Dam ("Downhill Jam")! The first Tony Hawk avoided proper named locations like they'd need to be licensed.
Then the camera finally slows down for a second to show Roswell's anguished alien. Hint for all your first-timers: You'll need to find the "ET Grind."
I am going to play the ever-living hell out of this game. My first 100-percented career? You know that goes to my boy Rune.
Here's one last teaser video before Gotham Knights is revealed tomorrow
I am so bad at this. On Monday, I told you "The next Batman game is probably getting revealed tomorrow." Wrong! Just like earlier in August, I assumed that some Call of Duty crates would mean a worldwide announcement was imminent. Mistaken! I should not have underestimated the allure of protracted hype buildups for marketing departments that are stuck at home.
I am, however, confident in this latest headline. Gotham Knights will be announced tomorrow at DC FanDome. This is one last teaser video before that happens. It even has a one-day countdown. I will throw my hands up in exasperation if I'm somehow fooled yet again. I might even make a puzzled bewildered gasp, like an old retired guy when the mail doesn't come at exactly the time he's used to.
If you've somehow avoided the worst-kept secrets in games -- and, frankly, WB hasn't even tried keeping them under wraps -- DC Comics is getting two reveals tomorrow. At 10:30 am Pacific, there's a panel for the new WB Montreal game. That's going to be Gotham Knights. Later, at 5:10 pm Pacific, there's a panel for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. That's Rocksteady's new game.
Anyway, one more day. Probably. Almost certainly. Or else I get really frustrated. You wouldn't like me when I'm really frustrated.
Marvel's Avengers got a screen shake update in time for the last beta weekend
Today is the beginning of the end for the Marvel's Avengers beta, and for many players, it's the first real chance to play this kinda wonky, better-with-friends brawler before its September 4. launch. After a string of restricted events, the Marvel's Avengers open beta is now live on Steam, PS4, and Xbox One.
Many of you have shared your thoughts about Avengers in general and the beta in particular, but there's a reason to return if you participated in the prior tests – Crystal Dynamics updated the game.
A few highlights: there's a Camera Shake Sensitivity option in the Settings, less motion blur "during sprint and flight," matchmaking optimizations, better "vaulting," and less of a delay for loot drops.
On PC specifically, the developers "have seen how some people struggled with severe stutters/lag and irregular performance and we have made several fixes that will solve or at least improve those. A variety of fixes for crashes seen during last weekend have been implemented, which includes certain older systems not being able to launch at all, but also some that occurred rarely during gameplay."
The Dynamic Screen Resolution feature should also be working as intended. It struggled with HBAO+. If you're an ultrawide screen owner – first off, jealous – expect to see "some initial improvements."
The Avengers open beta will be playable through August 23, 2020. Smash your stress away.
Maybe your PC can run Crysis Remastered... but Steam can't
Seventy-five percent of the Crysis Remastered platforms have not yet launched. Following a catastrophic gameplay reveal leak, Crytek pushed back the most performance-intensive platforms in hopes that some changes would keep it from getting shredded to bits. Switch launched though, and it's surprisingly good!
PC, PS4, and Xbox One need another month. Crytek has announced that Crysis Remastered is coming on September 18. It'll be priced at $30.
Aside from the release date, Crytek slid in some more info about the remaster. Somewhere along the line, Epic secured Crysis Remastered as an Epic Games Store exclusive on PC. Crytek, no stranger to being in dire financial straits, probably leapt at the opportunity for Crysis Remastered's development to be automatically profitable.
As for technical capabilities, Crysis Remastered is said to have "high-resolution textures up to 8K, HDR support, temporal anti-aliasing, screen space directional occlusion, global illumination, state-of-the-art depth fields, new light settings, motion blur, parallax occlusion mapping, screen space reflections and shadows, new particle effects, and more." Also, PS4 Pro and Xbox One X players will get console ray tracing. PC supports Nvidia DLSS technology and ray tracing on RTX cards.
It all sounds beefy enough that, yes, your PC will probably have trouble running Crysis if you crank up the settings just to struggle for the sake of nostalgia.
Borderlands 3 adjusts even more weapons, kicks off new Eridium bonus event
Borderlands 3 is racing toward its fourth DLC, which is the last add-on that is currently announced and teased. But if we know Gearbox, they aren't done squeezing every ounce of cash out of the game yet.
But until then, there's more anniversary events. Loot Monster Mayhem just ended yesterday, with Show Me the Eridium kicking off from now through August 27. During the event, you'll get increased Eridium drops and Eridium item discounts. It's basically a repeat of the event from last October: you can check out a recap here.
After that, Mayhem Made Mild (all easy modifiers in mayhem mode) runs from August 27-September 3, with Making it Rain (enemies drop more in-game cash) starting on September 3 and going through September 10.
A hotfix dropped yesterday that not only flicked the switch for Show Me the Eridium, but also adjusted a ton of weapons. Notably, the Lyuda was buffed quite a bit, with a ton of weapons just getting straight-up buffs across the board. You can check out the full list below.
Borderlands 3 Hotfixes [Borderlands]
Contra, Super Cobra, Gradius II and Super Dodge Ball headed to Arcade Archives range
Publisher Hamster has offered retro fans a sneak-peek at some of the future titles headed to its record-breaking Arcade Archives range. This latest batch of titles includes several classic arcade shooters and a rarity from the Kunio-kun sporting side series.
First on the agenda is the original release in Konami's beloved Contra series. Originally released in 1987, Contra sees muscle-bound heroes Bill and Lance fight off swarms of alien invaders in tough, full-blooded, trigger-pumping action. This release will feature both the Japanese and International versions of this all-time classic.
Fallout 76 is adding incentives for PTS players, Bethesda asks more people to join testing periods
Bethesda wants more people to test out Fallout 76. Maybe if they had a lengthy beta period from the start, the whole launch debacle wouldn't have happened! Wakka wakka.
The reality is that we're nearly two years removed from the arrival of Fallout 76, and many aspects of it have improved. A lot of free content has been added amid big quality of life changes, even if a lot of folks see it as too little too late. Of course, those advancements came with the recent sting of the "season pass" system that creates an incentive to grind for content you could otherwise earn in-game. Fallout 76 is cyclical like that.
As for more recent developments, Bethesda says they need more people to playtest Fallout 76. If you're a PC user on the Bethesda launcher with a copy of the game you can access the PTS (public test server) for free, which is now getting certain incentives that will transfer to the main game. In short, more testing is needed for multiplayer Daily Ops sessions, and if you complete eight of them in the PTS you'll earn a PTS pennant reward.
It's small, but it's the sort of thing developers like Bungie do often. If you hit that goal you'll get your reward once Update 22 hits. Your call!
Inside the Vault [Bethesda.net]
If you haven't played either Prinny game yet, here's a good idea of what the series is about
Playing through both Prinny games on PSP was an absolute treat.
Although they aren't for everyone (as folks will soon learn all over again), the pair of PSP platformers ruled in their irreverence and commitment to difficulty. If you aren't familiar with the vibe that these two games give off, the trailer below pretty much provides a crash course on them.
The concept is simple: you have 1000 lives to finish the campaign, which revolves around a mundane task (like making an amazing dessert or obtaining...a stolen article of clothing). You get a sword attack and a butt bump, as well as special abilities from unlockable unique prinnies in the sequel (Asagi/Laharl). As a reminder, the re-releases will have "all bonus stages and special weapons DLC" baked in, and there's a decent chunk of stuff to do in the postgame as-is.
Prinny 1-2: Exploded and Reloaded is available as a package deal on October 13 on Switch, but you can also buy the games piecemeal on the eShop for 20 bucks each.
Wasteland 3's co-op mode will let you share the misery with a friend
We're one short week away from the launch of inXile Entertainment's dystopian RPG, Wasteland 3. Keeping the hype fires stoked, publisher Deep Silver has released a new trailer showcasing the post-apocalyptic sequel's co-op multiplayer elements.
Knowing that a problem shared is a problem halved, even in the mire of nuclear fallout, Wasteland 3's co-op mode will allow two players to squad up to take on a series of brutal and hazardous missions. Use tactical teamwork to overcome the odds in battle, explore enemy encampments, and navigate the harsh and brutal overworld. You might have to share your ill-gotten gains, but it's probably better than ending up face-down in a ditch.
Bungie reminds us that some of Destiny 2's best content is going into the 'vault' later this year
As the developer confirmed earlier this year, Destiny 2 is going to have a lot of content cut out of it come November 10 to "make room" for the new expansion. In short, they're using the Disney Vault method. Bungie took the time this week to further clarify what that means.
When November 10 hits, a ton of stuff is going to be removed from the game completely until a potential mystery date. While the vast majority of the vault deals with entire areas in the PVE portion of the game (including items and gear), even PVP maps and several modes aren't safe. You can find the full list of content that will be erased from Destiny 2 in November below.
Bungie also says that "With some of the core Year 1 destinations entering the Vault, it's true that the free-for-all-players Red War, Curse of Osiris, and Warmind campaigns will no longer be playable." They are "building" a new expanded origin story that will launch in Year 4: the quality of which remains to be seen. If you want more info on vaulting as a whole, you can go here.
This whole concept is a mess, and belies the entire idea of Destiny 2 even being remotely close to an "MMO"; a marketing term I dismissed as early as the original beta for the first Destiny. I get that Bungie wanted to reduce the bloat of the game to make it even easier to manage and make the file size more manageable, but it seems like Activision was able to help them out in ways that they can't muster on their own.
Before Bungie transitioned to self-publishing the game felt like one giant world. Now it's been shifted to a monolithic grind framed around "seasons" like every other shooter: with even less content to play come November. I'll be there to at least check out the Beyond Light expansion, but there's less of a reason to linger now.
This Week at Bungie [Bungie.net]
World of Warcraft is getting an overhauled app for the upcoming Shadowlands expansion
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands is still coming "this fall," and it'll bring hundreds of hours of extra stuff to do. While WoW players are probably champing at the bit to see if the story is any good (knock on wood), for the meantime we can gaze at the new companion app: which is actually looking pretty great.
Come this fall the new mobile app allows you to toggle between each recent expansion (Legion, Battle for Azeroth, Shadowlands) at will, all of which will retain their former app functionality. As far as the new stuff goes you can fiddle with your favorite covenant (Necrolord, Kyrian, Night Fae, Venthyr), wit the previous "adventure" mechanic making an expected comeback.
Just like Final Fantasy Tactics' tavern or the core of Valkyrie Profile, you can still send recruits off to invisible missions to reap rewards. While you can do it in-game, the app makes things much easier as you can micromanage everything on the go, or before bed.
Thankfully the app isn't just being pigeonholed into an adventure screen like it was in the past, as it's also getting a general WoW news section, as well as the ability to look at your character like a mini Armory mechanic. Community and guild chat, as well as the helpful calendar, are also all coming.
It's a straight-up upgrade!
Shadowlands Preview: A New Look for the WoW Companion App [Battle.net]
Sega Astro City Mini coming to Japan in December
The video game industry continues to find new-old hardware to shrink down and re-release, as the "mini" console craze continues. The latest example is this, the Sega Astro City Mini, a scaled-down edition of the classic cabinet that packed out arcades in Japan and elsewhere throughout the '90s and '00s.
The Astro City Mini features the iconic green-and-white design of its older brother, and will come pre-loaded with 36 Sega arcade classics including Shinobi, Shadow Dancer, Golden Axe, ESWAT, and Virtua Fighter. An Astro City stylised controller will also be available to facilitate two-player action, while an adorable little base and stool can be attached to the main unit to truly create that pint-sized coin-op aesthetic. The Astro City Mini is powered via USB and features HDMI output, allowing for connection to a display.
I'd play the hell out of Black Myth: Wu Kong
Black Myth: Wu Kong is a name worth remembering if you're big into action-RPGs.
To a certain extent, this footage – 13 minutes of gameplay from a pre-alpha build that includes a beastly boss fight – speaks for itself. Wu Kong is a From Software-inspired take on Journey to the West with cool character abilities, and that's something I didn't know I wanted asap, but I do. Badly.
The Chinese studio behind the project, Game Science, is aiming for a PC and console release.
According to industry analyst Daniel Ahmad, the team was founded in 2014 by former Tencent Games staff. They have a few titles under their belts, including Art of War: Red Tides, but this is a step up.
I hope it comes together – especially after seeing the montage at the 11-minute mark.
Contest: Win Hellbound, a sleek retro FPS on Steam
In today's contest you can win Hellbound for Steam!
I'm gonna cut straight to the point, here. In the trailer I posted below for Hellbound, there's a quote that says, "No 'Glory-Shits.'" Does anyone know what that means? I consider most shits I take to be quite glorious, so I'm a little confused.
Either way, the game looks like fun! Save some money and come win a copy.
Martha is Dead and someone stole her face
Don't watch this trailer for Martha is Dead unless you're ready to see someone get their face taken off.
You've been warned. This isn't an out-of-focus, not-that-bad Face/Off sorta deal.
Since we last covered LKA's Tuscan psychological horror adventure game – a tale about a murdered twin set against the backdrop of World War II – there's 14 minutes of gameplay footage courtesy of IGN and word that Martha is Dead will release in 2021 for PC (as previously known) and also Xbox Series X.
"This game will shock," according to LKA founder Luca Dalcò. He's not wrong!
Murder-Mystery Horror Martha Is Dead Coming to Xbox Series X and PC in 2021 [IGN]
This video doesn't end with the Battletoads beating up Major Nelson
I wasted 92 seconds watching this animated interview, convinced that Zitz, Pimple, and Rash were gonna beat the living hell out of Xbox's Major Nelson. Through straight-faced questions (a missed opportunity to get weirder with it), Major Nelson asks them if their game is good.
I will spare you the suspense and tell you that Major Nelson does not get his ass kicked. Pimple does not bodyslam him for wondering what kind of game Battletoads is. Rash doesn't huge-foot kick him through the screen for the sheer audacity of asking whether they're worried about the competition from other now-revived franchises.
You, however, may be curious as to what kind of game Battletoads ended up as. It's not a straight beat-em-up like you may think. It's a bizarre collection of mini-games and brawler segments, almost like a bunch of non sequiturs stitched together. It's unexpected but it turned out fine! Check out Chris' review for some insight as to the new Battletoads, or just go pick it up as a part of Xbox Game Pass.
Today's Fall Guys update trimmed the timer in Royal Fumble and Team Tail Tag
Win or lose, the tail-grabbing games in Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout drag on for way too long.
It's gotten to the point where I mindlessly goof around in Team Tail Tag and outright sit still – hands off the controller – in Royal Fumble until the last 40 seconds or so that actually matter. The rest is fluff!
It seems I'm far from the only one who thinks the timers could use a trim. In a Fall Guys update released today "based directly on [community] feedback," Mediatonic shaved a clean 30 seconds off the clock. Team Tail Tag and Royal Fumble will now run for a minute and a half. The other changes are great, too.
Team games – one of the most divisive parts of Fall Guys – will no longer be selected back-to-back. The player count for Fall Mountain (the finale where you run up a hill, dodge rolling balls, and leap to grab a floating crown) is now capped at 15 players. And Valve-inspired costumes are in the PS4 shop.
I don't want to cover this silly game to death, but also, this update rules.
@FallGuysGame [Twitter]
Demon's Souls could be closer than expected if a recent rating is any indication
Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Demon's Souls are all the justification I need to want to pick up a PlayStation 5 on day one (whenever that might be, and for however much that might cost), but what are the odds? We don't know the PS5 launch games or even the full launch-window lineup, for that matter.
Adding more speculative fuel to the fire, Demon's Souls was rated in Korea on August 13, 2020.
As listing spotter Gematsu notes, the other PS5 game with a Korean rating is Miles Morales – and Insomniac is planning a "holiday 2020" release. That's not to say Demon's Souls will be the same story, but the fact that it already has a rating now suggests a quicker timeline than I've been expecting.
Can Japan Studio and Bluepoint Games make the 2020 launch? That would be quite the score.
In the meantime, I'll watch the announcement trailer for the twentieth-or-so time.
[Via Gematsu]
Krieg, the conductor of the Poop Train, is back for the fourth Borderlands 3 expansion
The most psycho of the Psychos is taking an encore. Our conductor's insane, our cargo is pain, Poop Train!
Gearbox has given us a teaser trailer for the upcoming fourth Borderlands 3 DLC. Krieg is doing some zen meditation through anguished screams. Serenity NOW.
This is the last of the Borderlands 3 season pass content, but probably not the end of Borderlands 3's DLC. As Chris said in his Bounty of Blood review, it feels like Gearbox has more up its sleeve after this.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves. This add-on featuring Krieg is getting revealed on Tuesday, August 25. Don't count on Borderlands 3 dialing back the murder in its old age.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim has me breaking out a notepad just to keep track of everything
It's been five years since Atlus and Vanillaware first revealed 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim to the world. After a couple of delays and a dropped platform, it launched last year in Japan to critical success. As a fan of the developer's previous work, I've kept my eye on the title, but I've noticed enthusiasm toward it in the west has been relatively muted.
The images that sprang to mind when we heard "Vanillaware is making a giant mecha vs. kaiju game" became dust in the wind when we actually got a look at what 13 Sentinels would be. Gone was the side-scrolling action gameplay Vanillaware relied upon in titles like Odin Sphere and Muramasa: The Demon Blade. In its place is an experience divided into two very distinct genres: a side-scrolling, text-heavy adventure game that maintains the gorgeous art direction Vanillaware is best known for and an isometric real-time strategy game that looks and plays nothing like the developer has made before.
Nintendo's Share the Fun sale has deals on great multiplayer Switch games
I'm in the not-that-fiscally-responsible habit of checking the Nintendo Switch eShop every weekend for multiplayer games, ports of old favorites, or anything that jumps out at me, really. Sometimes, I'll stumble on a deal. Other times, I won't – but I'll still buy the game I don't actually need anyway.
Don't be like me! Bide your time. Make smart choices.
Instead, take this week's Share the Fun sale on the eShop as your opportunity to get some genuinely fantastic games at decent-enough prices. Between Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 (which everyone who digs classic Castlevania should check out even if they skipped CotM 1), Castle Crashers Remastered, Exit the Gungeon, Huntdown, Luigi's Mansion 3, and Streets of Rage 4, there's a lot to love on this list.
These discounts are as high as 50% off, but some are as low as 15% off. That's life as a Nintendo fan.
- 1-2-Switch ($34.99)
- ARMS ($41.99)
- Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 ($11.99)
- Burnout Paradise Remastered ($34.99)
- Castle Crashers Remastered ($8.99)
- Catherine: Full Body ($39.99)
- Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled ($23.99)
- Cuphead ($15.99)
- Dead by Daylight ($26.39)
- Diablo III: Eternal Collection ($29.99)
- Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition ($34.99)
- Enter the Gungeon ($7.49)
- Exit the Gungeon ($6.99)
- Go Vacation ($34.99)
- Heave Ho ($4.99)
- Huntdown ($13.99)
- Just Dance 2020 ($19.99)
- Luigi's Mansion 3 ($41.99)
- Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 ($39.99)
- Outbuddies DX ($8.99)
- Overwatch: Legendary Edition ($19.99)
- Puyo Puyo Tetris ($17.99)
- River City Girls ($20.99)
- Saints Row IV: Re-Elected ($25.99)
- Shovel Knight Showdown ($6.99)
- Sky Racket ($7.49)
- Star Wars Episode I: Racer ($11.24)
- Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy ($9.99)
- Streets of Rage 4 ($21.24)
- Super Meat Boy ($7.49)
- Swimsanity! ($18.74)
- The Stretchers ($13.99)
- Torchlight II ($11.99)
- Unravel Two ($4.99)
- What the Golf? ($14.99)
Keep in mind, not everything on this list has local co-op. I'm looking at you, Torchlight II.
Nintendo is also running the Share the Fun sale in Europe, and the deals last until August 30.
Now Agent 47 solves murder mysteries too
You wouldn't send a wrecking ball to clean up a rainforest. You wouldn't put out a fire with a flamethrower. I'm not sure why you'd send a killer to solve a murder. Still, that's exactly what Agent 47 is going to do in Hitman 3.
The second Hitman 3 level is part Hitman and part Clue. There's been a murder at the Thornbridge Manor in Dartmoor, England. Among grieving friends and family, one of them has blood on their hands. Agent 47 is on the scene to go eye-for-eye because cloned killing machines really do not care if the whole world is blind.
Presumably, the Thornbridge Mystery tasks you with observing everyone on this English countryside estate, figuring out who committed the crime, and offing them. That's a nice twist on the classic Hitman formula of creatively isolating a predetermined target and offing them. The offing part doesn't really change. It's sorta what Agent 47 does best.
The first level, Dubai, was revealed at the same time Hitman 3 was announced. It's more aligned with standard Hitman fare -- a Mission Impossible-like infiltration followed by some careful (or comically inept) sneaking about. Both settings look great in their own way.
Get yo' Nep on: Hyperdimension Neptunia anime is coming to Steam
It's been a happy 24 hours for The Nep Army. Not only did publisher Compile Heart announce a brand new Hyperdimension Neptunia title for PS5, but it has also been revealed that the Neptunia anime adaptation is headed to, all of places, the Steam platform.
Hitman 3 is an Epic Games Store exclusive
When it comes to Hitman, talks of contracts are usually confined to the contract killings that Agent 47 is tasked with. This time, it's a contract that'll kill off any hopes of the game hitting Steam at launch.
Epic has secured Hitman 3 as the latest Epic Games Store timed exclusive on PC. It likely wasn't a tough decision for newly-independent IO Interactive. Epic guarantees that it'll cover the development costs of its store exclusives, all but eliminating IO's financial risk in the final installment of its well-regarded trilogy.
PC users who haven't yet jumped into IO's free-form assassination simulator can check out the original for free next week. Hitman (2016) will be free on the Epic Games Store from August 27 through September 3. It was Game of the Year caliber four years ago (my, how time flies), so it's well worth checking out.
As for Hitman 3, it's still set for January 2021. It's coming to current- and next-gen consoles, PC via the Epic Games Store, and Google Stadia. If you're the type who holds out for Steam versions, that'll probably arrive in January 2022.
