These fan-made Zelda: Breath of the Wild amiibo go nicely with the official figure
It's always amazing to witness how much raw talent the Zelda community brings to the table. I see it on a regular basis! But this duo of fan-made Guardian amiibo really stands out in this crowded month of great fan creations.
MarkelangeloStudios says that the figures were 3D-printed and hand-painted: by way of a Photon S SLA printer (which will run you roughly $380 MSRP) and Zbrush. The bases on the newer Guardians are custom, with little etchings from the Zelda franchise embossed on them. They even went the extra mile and embedded backup NFC chips inside of the fan-creations, based off of the original Guardian style.
For reference, the middle figure is the Guardian Skywatcher: a flying (and very annoying) variant of the Guardian machine. The left-most figure is the Guardian Turret. The original amiibo mirrors the Stalker line.
MarkelangeloStudios is musing on the idea of crafting tutorial videos: if that ever happens, I'll try and track them down!
I made some custom guardian amiibo [Reddit]
It's hard to believe this walk in the park was made in Dreams
It's a treat to watch the Dreams community settle into the tools and flex its creative and technical muscles. In some cases, without the little "Made in Dreams" watermark (and the ability to actually play this stuff), it would be easy to doubt that what we're watching was created on a PlayStation 4.
That's how I feel about "Walk in the Park," the latest video from creator BadRobo82.
Pulling off this kind of complexity and realism within the confines of Dreams is staggering, especially for those of us who have slapped something together and run up against the very finite thermometer. If you dig in and inspect every single element, you'll notice repetition, but the effect is still convincing.
As lovely as everything looks, the creator says "it can still be done better." It's early days.
This nature walk isn't available from the Dreamiverse, but you can check out BadRobo82's progress in Dreams on Twitter and watch other equally impressive exploration scenes on their YouTube channel.
[Via ResetEra]
Horizon Zero Dawn PC's new patch fixes...more bugs
As the quest to improve Horizon Zero Dawn on PC continues, Guerrilla has dropped its third major patch since the August 7 launch.
It's yet another lengthy patch with some provisos: alongside of the bug fixes is the implicit statement from the development team that there is more work to do. The currently known major issues are still very much on their radar (most notably the specific GPU/hardware optimization problems), and some crash fixes are already implemented as of today.
Two major GPU bugs (a resource leak and a hang) should shore up the general instability of the game, as well as at least four crashes that would trigger off of specific instances. The DLC area is also a little smoother (snow particles were giving players trouble in the past), as is the operation of 4K scaling (no need to go back to the menu to swap this back every time after booting it up).
There's more work to be done, but a lot of the legwork is done already. You can find recaps of 1.01 and 1.02 at the preceding links.
Horizon Zero Dawn 1.03 [Reddit]
Grime is a surreal creature-absorbing action-RPG
We've seen a fair few soulslikes, and plenty of metroidvanias, but it's not every day that a game can lean in both directions and still stand out in the crowd with an unmistakable look. Grime is getting there. It's aiming for a 2021 release on Steam courtesy of Clover Bite and publisher Akupara Games.
Apart from a surreal world with "weeping caves," "face-covered deserts," and nasty "living weapons," I'm most intrigued by the way you gain skills in Grime – you can absorb enemies and "use their traits against them." That goes for bosses, too. The big lugs can teach you combat and traversal abilities.
According to Akupara, "other platforms" will be announced later, so there's hope for console players.
I don't think I've ever played a game with a centipede whip before.
MrBeast, Ninja, G2, and Aim Lab win Fall Guys' charity auction with a $1 million bid
By their bank accounts combined, four sets of deep pockets chipped in together to win Fall Guys' "Battle of the Brands" charity auction. That's bending the rules a bit, but no one's gonna cry foul when a cool mil is going to a good cause.
YouTuber MrBeast, streamer Ninja, esports org G2, and FPS training software Aim Lab came up with a collaborative bid of $1 million for charity. Fall Guys developer Mediatonic chose UK-based Special Effect as the recipient of the proceeds. Special Effect is dedicated to making gaming accessible for people with physical disabilities.
ScourgeBringer, an air-dashing roguelite, comes to PC, Switch, and Xbox One on October 21
Not only is ScourgeBringer leaving Steam Early Access on October 21, the roguelite action game's launch plan will also include same-day Nintendo Switch and Xbox One versions (and PC Game Pass support).
"After 130 weeks of development, 30 weeks of Steam Early Access, 4 updates, and 150 pizzas, we can hardly believe the date is almost upon us," Flying Oak Games said in a message to Early Access players. "We couldn't have done it without the support of our amazing community."
I put a few hours into the unfinished version this year, and while it was light on lasting appeal, the aerial combat felt fluid, and I liked the pace of progression during my average dungeon runs. ScourgeBringer isn't going to win over folks with serious roguelike fatigue, but it'll click with some of you for sure.
What's new for launch? The 1.0 release will have a new zone called The Beyond, tweaks to the item and weapon mod systems, new shops and NPCs, mini-bosses and other content to help freshen up the older areas, secret rooms, and Chaos Roots, "a new post-game mode with a bunch of run modifiers."
I'd recommend using Game Pass for PC if you can. Otherwise, the Switch port sounds fab.
Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One has an elephant going to the gallows
In a bizarre twist, Sherlock Holmes finds himself fighting for justice for an elephant. That's just one of the weird cases waiting in Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One. An elephant (who is presumably innocent or at least misunderstood) is sentenced to death by hanging from a crane.
Eccentric and horrific, right? That's some shit they used to do! I didn't want to start my week by researching pachyderm capital punishment but it happened on accident. I'll spare you the details but it's easy enough to find if you want. The world sucks now, but it also sucked like 100 years ago and 200 years ago and basically for all of time.
Anyway, Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One's "Mediterranean paradise" also sucks because this island is overrun with crime and Final Fantasy XV-ass haircuts. Get a load of the revenge pillars where someone does something violent and then sticks a knife in the pillar. There are so many knives!
Unannounced Mass Effect trilogy remaster might slip out of its unannounced October release date
There's going to be a Mass Effect trilogy remaster in the next six months or so. That's a drum that GamesBeat's Jeff Grubb has been banging for a while now. Grubb has knowledge of EA's plans to get the Shepard Trilogy remastered and released by the end of the fiscal year (March 31, 2021).
On a recent GamesBeat podcast (embedded above), Grubb says that EA may have been forced to push the Mass Effect remaster back from a planned October launch (as reported by Video Games Chronicle). "Up until like this last week, I know the plan for sure was to announce it in early October, release in later in October," he states. However, Grubb goes on to say that his sources think maybe COVID-related issues will put a temporary damper on those plans.
Grubb adds "I think they were planning to have this Mass Effect trilogy be the other big thing for $60 this holiday [alongside Star Wars Squadrons], so that's why I'm still pretty confident it will make it out. But with everything else falling apart, like across the board, I could see them also wanting to just delay."
Here are some potential targets. It could launch in October as intended. It could slip to November 7, a/k/a N7 Day (which is a Saturday and not a traditionally good day to launch video games). However, EA might want to steer clear of getting current-gen remasters on shelves that close to new consoles. That's why it might just move into 2021 altogether.
As for PS5 and Xbox Series X taking the wind out of the remaster's sails, it shouldn't be too much of an issue. Both next-gen machines will run the previous console's games, meaning that these Mass Effects will be automatically backward compatible so to speak.
Mass Effect trilogy remaster 'scheduled for October release but could slip,' journalist claims [Video Games Chronicle]
Cris Tales shows its charms with new gamescom trailer
During this weekend's Future Games Show publisher Modus Games released another trailer for its delightful-looking fantasy adventure Cris Tales, which is currently in development at both Dreams Unincorporated and SYCK for PC - as well as current and next-gen consoles.
Cris Tales is a chrono-chaotic adventure about a young time mage, Crisbell, who is sent on a quest across the four kingdoms of Crystallis in order to stop the machinations of the diabolical Time Empress, who has seized power and now rules a tyrannical empire. Along the way, Crisbell will party up with a cast of talented allies, while making decisions that will have far-reaching consequences for herself, her new friends, and maybe even time itself.
Bushiden brings its Strider stylings to PC and consoles in 2021
Humble Games has announced that it has secured the rights to publish upcoming retro arcade-action title Bushiden, which is currently in development for PC, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.
Developed by Pixel Arc Studios, Bushiden is a callback to the heady coin-op titles of the late-'80s and early-'90s, and sees a "cybergenetic" ninja on a do-or-die mission to rescue his missing sister, seemingly abducted by the diabolic Gaoh and his cyberised army of martial-arts masters. Our hero must pick his way through a stylised sci-fi universe, carving a swathe through a wide variety of villains and bosses is his to get to the bottom of his sister's disappearance.
You can check out a new trailer below, courtesy of Gamespot.
Wizards of the Coast needs to revamp Magic: Arena's battle pass philosophy
Ah battle passes: the "natural evolution" of the loot box.
But it's not so natural for a lot of studios, who saw the legislative writing on the wall for loot boxes and decided to give their playerbase another rat race to run. While several big companies are surprisingly doing right by the system, Magic: Arena still has a long ways to go, even after a number of course corrections.
PS5 is skipping backward compatibility for PS1, PS2, and PS3, according to Ubisoft
Don't pack up your original PlayStation 3 just yet if you're invested in PS3 games or backward compatibility with PS1 and PS2. If anything, superglue that sucker in place – it's not going anywhere.
While Sony hasn't divulged the full details on how extensive backward compatibility will be on PlayStation 5, reading the room, it's looking like support for the "overwhelming majority" of PS4 games is our best bet on the new console and everything else – PS1, PS2, and PS3 – is wishful thinking.
While this isn't the be-all and end-all on the subject (and it sure would be nice to have clarity from Sony), according to a Ubisoft support page, backward compatibility "will be available for supported PlayStation 4 titles, but will not be possible for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, or PlayStation games."
[Update: After widespread circulation, Ubisoft removed that sentence from the support page.]
The meaning behind that wording could be interpreted in a few different ways, so for comparison's sake, it's worth looking at the equivalent support page for Xbox Series X. As Ubisoft puts it, backward compatibility "will be available for supported Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Xbox titles" on Xbox Series X.
It's a stark contrast. I get that BC support isn't a priority for Sony and many players, but for those of us who do care about it – enough to dig up a Ubisoft support page for details – it's such a big deal.
Mentally, I'm at the point where I just hope all of my PS4 games work on PS5. The bar is that low.
Transitioning PlayStation 4 titles to next-gen versions [Ubisoft via @Nibellion]
Heroes of the Storm is eliminating Brawl and making ARAM an official mode
Once again, huge changes are coming to the very much alive Heroes of the Storm.
Amid reworks for D.va and Gazlowe, the game is also eliminating Heroes Brawl (RIP and replacing it with ARAM (All Random All Middle). In case you forgot, Heroes of the Storm introduced "Brawl" (in the same vein as Hearthstone) several years ago. While it was decently received at first it never really stuck, as Blizzard seemingly ran out of resources to support it; over time, it stopped producing new Brawls and just recycled old ones.
ARAM, on the other hand, has been thriving. Up until this month it hasn't been an official mode, so folks have either been waiting for it to randomly arrive in that week's Brawl or play it unofficially via private games, using Discord servers to meet up. Now all you need to do is click a mode and go: just like several other high-profile MOBAs.
The game itself is also getting a huge mechanical shakeup with the Nexus Anomaly "Gladiator's Medallion." Taken from the classic WoW item nomenclature, the idea is that everyone (except Deathwing and Gall) now have a baseline item that can be activated to provide unstoppable (a self-cleanse): countering things like roots and stuns. This powerful ability will run on a 300 second cooldown for balance purposes.
The ripple of this anomaly will be felt throughout the game. Players have been complaining for a long while that certain supports don't have a cleanse and that the game is too stun/crowd-control (CC) heavy; but the jury is out on whether or not this is a long, or even short-term solution.
You can take a look at the full patch notes for the alterations below. In other balance news, Alarak is getting a small buff, Cassia is getting a small level seven talent nerf, Chromie is getting a small nerf, Deckard's Ruby ability is being toned down (the cooldown is now 20 seconds), Stitches will gain a small buff for slam (10% more bonus damage to minions and mercenaries) and E.T.C., Imperius, Orphea, Tassadar and Yrel are all getting small nerfs. You can find those changes here.
Here's a look at Heroes of the Storms' D.va and Gazlowe reworks
Overwatch's D.va was introduced to Heroes of the Storm in mid-2017 to a mixed welcome.
Although there are D.va fans out there and folks who can make her work, she's slowly lost favor with the general playerbase due to a mixed-flavor kit that's frankly outdated. A "D.va rework" has been in the cards for some time as a response, and now it's hitting the game today in PTR (until "the week of September 7"), alongside of a surprise Gazlowe rework and some other changes.
D.va has become more of a "traditional bruiser" in the words of Blizzard, with an expansive talent selection that has some of her more important aspects baked directly into her kit. On paper, she should be a lot more formidable and fun to play (Big Shot now being available baseline is a huge change). We'll see once she's in the hands of players.
Gazlowe, one of the first-ever heroes to enter the fray, is also getting a much-needed second pass. The little turret-laying goblin now uses scrap instead of his mana bar: drastically changing his playstyle and allowing him to become more uniquely flavorful and thematic. Turrets are now less powerful overall but his other basic abilities (Deth Lazor, Xplodium Charge) no longer have any cost associated with him.
His Robo-Goblin Heroic (the old favorite) also has an unstoppable activation built into it, with Grav-O-Bomb seeing a reduced cooldown of 60 seconds. Even if those were the only changes he'd feel different, but Blizzard has now allowed him to embrace a more frontline role: which should hopefully result in more engaging teamfights and less "Gazlowe is playing his own game by himself" situations.
Oh, and the underutilized Brawl mode is now officially ARAM (no more private games via Discord servers!) and the new Nexus Anomaly is designed to combat hard stuns. You can find more info on that facet of the game here.
Paper Mario: The Origami King came out very recently, and while a lot of people seemed to dig it; a lot of folks still did not appreciate the fact that that it was settling further into the "new" action-centric Paper style and less in the vein of the RPG classic entries. That's fine!
Nintendo even explained that this shift was because Mario & Luigi served as the "RPG" companion to the "new Paper Mario" style: but with the former seemingly out of commission for now, who knows what the future might bring. Series producer Kensuke Tanabe is seemingly in the same boat.
Speaking to Eurogamer Germany (as translated by Nintendo Everything), Tanabe says that although the goal was to completely move away from the RPG genre with Sticker Star, it is possible that the series could go back to its roots, stating: "Even though we've stuck to that decision so far [of being an adventure game with a focus on solving puzzles], we haven't decided yet whether or not we will keep doing so in the future. Personally speaking, I want to keep developing Paper Mario games that are both innovative and unique."
Tanabe says that he isn't "opposed" to listening to fans on the matter, but subscribes to Shigeru Miyamoto's brand of game development, which puts "innovative and unique gameplay systems" at the forefront. This explains why all of the last three Paper Mario games have felt different, right or wrong, and Tanabe wants to keep "surprising" fans, even if there's "no guarantee" that they'll succeed.
No matter how people feel about the shift, I admire Tanabe for being so candid about this series: at least, more so than a lot of other Nintendo developers. I liked Color Splash and Origami King just fine, but I also wouldn't say no to a true sequel to say, The Thousand-Year Door.
Paper Mario [Eurogamer.de via Nintendo Everything]
I'm ready for the controlled chaos of Bright Memory: Infinite
As part of the Future Games Show, held this weekend as part of the gamescom festivities, developer FYQD-Studio and publisher Playism released a new trailer for the upcoming hybrid action title Bright Memory: Infinite.
The new video sees special agent Shelia receive a new mission from her agency, SRO, before tooling up and heading out of her apartment, ready to face off against another realm-breaking phenomenon. Arriving at the mission location in the midst of a violent electrical storm, Shelia grapples, slices, and shoots her way through a squad of enemies, before finally facing off against a frightening samurai-like villain - but where, (or when), did this ferocious opponent come from?
The Blair Witch Switch trailer has a hidden code for an Animal Crossing costume
That Blair Witch game arrived on Switch a few months ago, but it contained a little secret that the studio is just now revealing: a hidden code for an Animal Crossing hoodie in the Blair Witch style.
That very video is located above, so you can hunt for it if you wish (or just grab the solution below). Here's a tip: you can pause a YouTube video and press "," or "." (comma or period) to advance each frame. You can also opt for a slower playback setting by clicking the gear below the video. The code pops up very early on, so don't hunt for the full minute and a half for it.
Review: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition
Previously, on this review of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition, my Clavat caravaner completed his fourth year of travels, meeting some new friends and enemies along the way. And while his caravan is capable of holding three other adventurers, he completed his journeys alone. But riding solo on the road can get lonely, so for the second half of his quest to rid the world of miasma, he wanted to find a friend he could travel with.
Oh, if only it were that simple.
Square Enix details how the cosmetic system works in Marvel's Avengers, right before it launches
Ah Square Enix and Marvel: teaming up for a live service game based on some of your favorite characters. What could go wrong? We'll find out when Marvel's Avengers hits later this week.
Although the previous beta periods of the game gave us a taste of what's to come in terms of the additional cosmetic purchase layer, a new blog by Square Enix this past week gives us some further insight, right as the game is prepped for launch later tonight. Here's the good news: characters will be free for the foreseeable future. But if you want to dress them up, it'll cost ya.
Cosmetics in Avengers consist of outfits (Square Enix says they are aesthetic in nature only, and do not provide gameplay benefits), emotes, takedowns and nameplates. Vendors (just like Destiny, they even look like Destiny characters) will provide access to said cosmetics, as well as the marketplace from the beta. The final credit-to-real-money ratio is 500 credits to $5, so it's a simple conversion.
You can use those credits to buy cosmetics outright or opt in for the Battle Passes, which are dubbed "hero challenge cards." These will run 40 tiers (with free and premium rewards), and you can progress through the cards by completing daily and weekly challenges. Thankfully "all six starting heroes" will get a premium card for free, but you'll need to pay 1000 credits each ($10) for future heroes. Just like many passes, you can earn back your 1,000 credit cost (plus bonuses) if you complete it, or buy "skips" if you're impatient (bleh).
This is a convoluted mess for a comic book game about punching giant robots, but hey, if that's the tradeoff for getting more characters for free, it can work...in theory.
Marvel's Avengers: Everything you need to know about gear and cosmetics [Square Enix]
Animal Crossing: New Horizons retains No.1 spot of a static UK Charts
It was a quiet one for physical releases last week. As such, there has been very little movement in the UK Charts, with only Electronic Arts' annual football release Madden NFL '21 breaking the Top Ten.
Nintendo Switch social sim Animal Crossing: New Horizons currently holds the number one spot, having popped in and out of the premier position since its initial release back in March (Yes, March. Can you believe it?). The remainder of the Top Ten is rounded out with Nintendo regulars such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Ring Fit Adventure, and Minecraft, alongside sporting titles such as Electronic Arts' UFC 4, FIFA 20 and 2K Games' PGA 2K21.
This is merely a calm before the storm of the holiday release period. Next week sees the launch of Square Enix' Marvel's Avengers, 2K Games' NBA 2K21, and Activision's much-desired Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 & 2, kicking off what is to be several months of guaranteed high-street sellers.
Corrin is the newest Legendary warrior in Fire Emblem Heroes
Nintendo has released the latest Legendary hero to the summoning system of its popular mobile battle Fire Emblem Heroes. The new character, added to the mix by the time you read this, is one of Fire Emblem's most popular protagonists, Corrin.
Corrin, (who appears in this new event in her female form), is the star of 2015 Nintendo 3DS release, Fire Emblem Fates. The regal hero is descended from both the Hoshido and Nohr nobility and as such is a key figure in the war between the two kingdoms. As the conflict escalates between the two nations, Corrin is forced to make a choice between the kingdom of birth and that with which they were raised - albeit by questionable means
Highly skilled in battle and possessing a loyal and tactical mindset, Corrin is fearsome in physical combat thanks to their expert sword skills. However, when situations get particularly tough, Corrin is also capable of unlocking their true potential, taking the fearsome form of an otherworldly creature.
Here's a super detailed look at the new Outer Worlds DLC, which is out soon
The Outer Worlds came out nearly a year ago, but it's revving up and almost ready to deliver its first major DLC in just a few weeks.
Peril on Gorgon is nearly here, but before it hits you can check out this lengthy and informative clip from Obsidian; complete with developer commentary. It walks you through the basic gist of the DLC, the new setting and the RPG choices that await you. If you're planning on going in completely blind, you should skip this one as it dives into some story bits.
In case you forgot, here's a brief recap: "A severed arm and a mysterious message lead the crew of the Unreliable to the Gorgon Asteroid, formerly the site of one of Halcyon's most ambitious and disastrous scientific undertakings, now a lawless den of monsters and marauders. Wealthy recluse Minnie Ambrose tasks the crew with finding answers about Dr. Olivia Ambrose, her mother and the doomed project's disgraced director, but they are soon ensnared in an intrigue that will change the colony forever."
As a note, Peril on Gorgon is out on September 9 on everything but the Switch (PC, PS4, Xbox One). This expansion will run you $14.99 as a standalone purchase, or $24.99 as part of the season pass that includes another content drop: Murder on Eridanos. If you have Xbox Game Pass you can net 10% off the DLC.
As always, wait and see on the first bit before you commit to both.
Ubisoft's Gods & Monsters seems to have been renamed to the edgier 'Immortals: Fenyx Rising'
Remember E3? I remember.
It was a hectic time, but it was our hectic time together. A time when we could all come together, potentially take off work (well, not me!) and chill for a few days (not months) and talk about games nonstop instead of bursts. Back in June of 2019, Ubisoft talked Gods & Monsters, billed as a full-on cartoony Assassin's Creed that was centered around mythological beasts.
A lot of people weren't into it, but I was intrigued. Fast-forward to mid-2020 and we still don't have any real info about it, but that might change soon. Discovered by Gematsu, the Taiwanese rating board has seemingly outed a new name for the game: Immortals: Fenyx Rising. The PC, PS4, Xbox One and Switch platforms fall under that rating.
The prevailing thought is that following a Stadia preview snafu (which we can likely add to the list of platforms), the game will launch sometime in 2021. To me, this seems like an obvious candidate to re-introduce to the world during the next Ubisoft Forward stream, which is happening at some point in the future.
Immortals Fenyx Rising [Gamerating.org via Gematsu]
Sony Interactive Entertainment looking to port more first-party titles to PC
Sony Interactive Entertainment has released its 2020 corporate report, outlining the industry giant's plans and targets as it heads towards an incredibly important year for the gaming industry. Not only can SIE be expected to put its full weight behind the launch of its new PlayStation 5 hardware, but the report states that SIE has plans to port some of its exclusive first-party titles to the PC platform.
"SIE aims to achieve robust revenue growth by accelerating the virtuous cycle that has been established for the PlayStation Platform," reads a section of the report. "This entails increasing active users and play time, enhancing network services and reinforcing content IP so that consumers select PlayStation as their platform of choice. Targeted outcomes include growth in active users, stronger retention and a shorter cash conversion cycle, from which expanded cash flow can be expected. We will explore expanding our first-party titles to the PC platform, in order to promote further growth in our profitability."
Reliable insider says that a new Monster Hunter Switch is coming
Monster Hunter has been around since 2004, but it's been rather slow-going for the series.
Capcom generally does what Capcom does: support games with enhanced or "super-like" versions over time, and only on a few platforms. Originally Monster Hunter was a PS2-bound series, but eventually moved on to other systems, like the Wii and 3DS. But what about the Switch? Surely it deserves more than Generations, right? Well, that might be in the cards eventually.
Capcom insider Dusk Golem, who correctly provided many details ahead of time for Resident Evil 8, is at it again. This time they are reporting that "Monster Hunter Switch is being revealed soon," and that it will be running on a "Switch compatible version of the RE Engine." Note that this is the same engine that RE7/RE8, the RE2/3 remakes and Devil May Cry 5 is running on. I hope it's something new entirely and not a revival of an existing Monster Hunter!
Dusk Golem also says that "RE4 [the remake] is in a bit of a worrying position right now," that "[the new] Silent Hill is still in [development," that "something Shenmue related will be revealed in 1-2 weeks" and that there's a "PS5 event in the first half of September." Bring all of it on, especially the potential news on the pricing of the next generation a mere few months before it allegedly launches.
Dusk Golem [Twitter]
Contest: Win an EPOS GSP 601 or 602 Pro Gaming Headset
In today's contest you can win an EPOS | SENNHEISER GSP 601 or 602 Pro Gaming Headset, courtesy of EPOS!
Here at Dtoid we're all about giving things away, and let me tell ya, folks -- today we have a doozy!
EPOS just launched a new line of their GSP Pro Gaming Headset series, the 601 and 602. These babies retail for $219 USD, but we've got you covered by giving away one of each for free!
[Manasteel88 is here to tell you about their recent excursions into game development, and it looks like they brought their kid along for the ride too! In fact, they've even been kind enough to share some links to the cool stuff that both they and their kid created, so be a pal, check them out, and let them know what you think!
If you head on over to the community blogs, slap some good words and images together, and post it for all to see, you too could find your work on the front page of Destructoid! It's a thing that happens! These exclamation marks are free, and I'm never going to stop using them! Please, understand! - Kevin]
For the last couple of months, dating sims have been my jam. It was only a matter of time before I stepped up to the plate for Destructoid and gave one a proper scrutinizing. Best Friend Forever is the game being pitched in my direction, and it's one with an interesting twist. It bills itself as part dating sim and part virtual pet. Not only are you attempting to woo the single of your choice, but you also get a dog to take care of and train.
However, for the purpose of dating sims, I find the single score system of Destructoid's reviews to be inadequate. Instead, I'm putting into place a more robust system specifically to critique this most sacred of sub-genres. The game will be rated under five categories important to a successful dating sim, summarized -- but not aggregated -- by the overall score. They are Prospects, Enjoyability, Novelty, Intensity, and Sexiness. I christen this ingenious new method: the P.E.N.I.S. rating system.
So, let's see how Best Friend Forever measures up.
Windbound isn't the sailing-focused spin on Zelda: Breath of the Wild that some trailers suggested, but it's not entirely removed from those comparisons, either. Its best asset is its sense of adventure.
As Kara, a shipwrecked warrior, you'll hunt for resources, craft tools like a bow and a glider, and try your best to work with – not against – the wind to explore procedurally-generated archipelago world maps.
I adore that premise, and if you're into the sound of a boat game that's about sailing instead of combat, you'll like it too. I just wish some of the edges weren't so rough and the structure felt more engaging.
Super Dodge Ball is this week's Arcade Archives Switch release
It's time to combine brawlin' and... ballin'... erm... with this week's Arcade Archives release, as retro publisher Hamster brings Kunio-kun sporting spin-off Super Dodge Ball to Nintendo Switch.
Released by Technos Japan in 1987, Super Dodge Ball was the first sequel to street brawler Nekketsu KÅha Kunio-kun (Renegade), and sees the hot-blooded high-school kid buddy up with some friends, literally half his size, for an inter-school dodge ball tournament - a natural career progression from fighting local biker gangs down by the docks.
Players must eliminate the opposing team members by blasting them with the ball, while avoiding any return throws. Of note, any players who are struck by the ball turn into angels, somewhat suggesting that the impact has KILLED THEM. This is why sports are dangerous and you shouldn't play them.
Review: Tom Clancy's Elite Squad
When it was announced Ubisoft would be bringing its Tom Clancy series to mobile for the first time, I immediately thought back to the oft-forgotten Nintendo 3DS launch title Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars. As a turn-based tactical shooter, a title like that reworked for smartphones would be a wonderful way to introduce the Tom Clancy universe to mobile audiences.
Instead, we get this.
If there's one thing that anime has proven most adept at, it's gathering together a gaggle of doe-eyed, sexually-charged women and tossing them into a mixer with a random sport, occupation, or hobby, usually creating a successful multi-media franchise in the process. Kandagawa Jet Girls is no exception.
Launching as a TNK-produced anime series in the fall of 2019, Kandagawa Jet Girls is a brand still very much in its infancy, having not yet quite developed the full range of movies, toys, OVAs, manga, and body pillows that often spawn from such franchises. It does have its first video game, however, which launched in Japan in January, courtesy of Senran Kagura publisher Marvelous.
Still, the appeal of anime is not strictly limited to the borders of Japan, and so Xseed Games has taken upon itself to localise this all-women's jet-ski extravaganza for cheesecake fans over on the western shores. So slap on some sunscreen, put on your best swimsuit, and let's dive into the action.
Oh, and a warning to the first four rows: You Will Get Wet.
Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster Land reveals gameplay in new gamescom trailer
As part of this weekend's ongoing gamescom festivities, publisher ININ Games has released the first gameplay video of its upcoming retro remake Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World, a ground-up recreation of Sega Genesis classic Monster World IV.
The video features slight footage of hero Asha as she fights her way through a bright fantasy world, filled with monster-chopping, platform-hopping action. Alongside a full recreation of the original adventure, Asha in Monster World will include new voice-acting and a selection of all-new side-modes. Developer Artdink Games are working alongside original members of the Monster World IV development team, including director Ryuichi Nishizawa and character designer Maki Ozora
You can check out the gameplay in the video below, courtesy of IGN.
Cblogs of 8/22 to 8/28/2020: Dead Space 3, Alundra, and the 2020 hellscape
Cblogs Recap: Week 22
-Spinnerweb discusses games that undercut their own playability with a focus on Dead Space 3.
-Lord Spencer reviews Alundra as part of his PlayStation 1 REVIEWS blogging series.
-Sam ven der Meer is not impressed by DOOM 3.
-Osc continues journaling his progress in his hobby game.
-ChronoLynxx continues the weekly tradition of an open discussion forum, check it out.
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.
Spellbreak launches on PC and consoles September 3
During Thursday's gamescom Opening Night Live presentation, developer Proletariat offered up an impressive trailer for its free-to-play magic melee title Spellbreak, which launches September 3 on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
The hybrid cinematic/gameplay trailer featured a cast of mysterious magic-weavers, battling it out with an array of mystic attacks, substituting the typical gun-and-grenade play of such battle arena titles with an altogether more ethereal arsenal of spells, hexes, and curses.
I feel obligated to approach this review from two angles. First and foremost, it's a review of a Control expansion. That's the obvious angle. You're here to find out how this DLC serves as a supplemental story to Control.
But, let's be real, you want to know about the Alan Wake stuff. You want to know how Remedy brought Bright Falls to The Oldest House, and you want to know if this is the triumphant return of everyone's favorite tortured writer after he had gone AFK for the better part of a decade. You've been building it up in your head for so long, and you just want to know if AWE makes good on the mental buildup.
AWE doesn't fully deliver on either front. It's a bit of a mishmash of ideas -- albeit an understandable one -- that prevents this expansion from being what everyone wants it to be. It's still pretty incredible, though.
I can't wait to play as Batgirl in Gotham Knights
DC FanDome was quite the fun showcase of all things DC Comics despite being just a glorified Zoom call. There were a lot of great trailers for upcoming movies, some exciting comic book news, and the reveals of what will hopefully be two awesome games. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League may have the pedigree behind it with its developer but Gotham Knights is giving something I've wanted for a very long time: a massive action-adventure game where I can play as my main squeeze Batgirl.
That's just one of the topics on this episode of Podtoid. Charlotte, Chris, Dan, CJ, and Occams are here to talk superhero games, The Batman, delicious snowfall, Bury Me, My Love, 13 Sentinels, and Fast & Furious: Crossroads. All that, plus CJ fails basic high school Spanish, in Podtoid Episode 456.
Ride the all-new 'Popemobile' to glory in Serious Sam 4
Devolver Digital has dropped another absolutely wild trailer for its upcoming shooter sequel Serious Sam 4. The new preview sees our chunkhead hero visit, of all places, Vatican City in Italy, where he takes possession of a rather... erm... abstract interpretation of the "Papamobile," or "Popemobile."
Whatcha been playing this week, Destructoid?
So yeah, last week's "Whatcha Been Playin'?" was a little deep and I really appreciate the kind comments I received in return. The simple fact of the matter is that it's important to me that y'all know you're important. I don't dally about and I certainly don't bullshit anybody. Sometimes you just gotta let people know they matter. Life's too short - and currently far too unpredictable - so be sure to pass it on and let those that you care about know that they matter.
I've been really busy this week, which has put paid to a lot of my gaming opportunities. I've spent most evenings squeezing in sessions on Easy Trigger Games' Huntdown, which remains a solid contender for my favourite game of 2020. I'm currently trying to 100% the game on Hard, which is understandably a pretty wild ride. But with that soundtrack, those visuals, and a cameo appearance from Snake Plisskin, it's easy to keep walking the mean streets. If you haven't checked it out yet, don't sleep on it.
You know the score by now, we're just as interested in hearing what you've been playing lately. So whether you're rocking recent releases such as Ghost of Tsushima, PGA Tour 2K21, or Battletoads, or whether you're just jamming away at your backlog or replaying an old favourite, jump into the comments and share your gaming escapades with us.
Have a safe and pleasant weekend, from all of us at Destructoid.
Contest: Win an MSI GTX 1660 graphics card, courtesy of Milky Way Prince - The Vampire Star
In today's contest you can win an MSI GTX 1660 graphics card and a Steam copy of Milky Way Prince - The Vampire Star!
Is your computer in need of a graphical overhaul? Dtoid has ya covered: Milky Way Prince - The Vampire Star hit Steam a few weeks ago, and we're giving away the game and an MSI GTX 1660 graphics card! Think of all the graphics you'll be able to look at. Just imagine.
Grounded's roadmap has me excited about the next few months
The future looks bright and bug-filled for Grounded. When the game was first announced, I liked the idea of a shrunken survival game well enough, but it wasn't until I played it that I appreciated just how much potential there is. Obsidian could flesh out Grounded for years to come and I'd be stoked about it.
After update 0.2.0 with the bird, there's plenty to look forward to in monthly content updates, but what about bigger-picture stuff? The developers have started outlining their plans with a roadmap.
"As a caveat, we are still in active development, and this board is subject to change based on your feedback, the state of development, what's best for the game, the unknown, and our future plans. Nothing is set in stone and features could be moved up, pushed back, or unfortunately removed."
Here's the rundown as of August 2020:
Coming Soon (approximately a few months off)
- New Building: Zipline
- Koi Pond Environment
- Equipped Items Don't Use Backpack Space
- Hedge Environment
- Password Protected Games
- Friend Invites
- New Hostile Creature: Mosquito
- Localization: French, German, Italian, Spanish
- New Neutral Creature: Bee
- New Items: Water Themed Equipment
- Additional Quality of Life Improvements
- Signs / Stickers Base Decorations
- Inventory Management Improvements
- Additional Crafting Stations
- Additional BURG.L Quest Types
- Storage Management Improvements
Planned
- New Creature: Firefly
- New Creature: Roly Poly
- Story: Act 1
- Graphics Option Improvements
- Full Completable Story
- Insect Pets Phase 1: Aphids
- Ant Pheromone Control
- New Creature: Ant Queen
- Sandbox Environment
- Haze Environment
- Localization: Additional Languages
- Higher Tier Armor / Tools / Weapons
- Additional Ant Hills
- Insect Pet Enhancements
- Bird Improvements / Additional Interactions
For the future
- Additional Backyard Environments
- Additional Creatures and Insects
- Weather
- Backyard Changing Events
- Additional Crafting Materials
- Base Blueprints: Powered Buildings
- More Control over World Options / Settings
- Base Blueprints: Defenses
- Base Blueprints: Framework for player generated gameplay
- Base Blueprints: Higher Tier Structures
- Base Blueprints: Decorations
Future considerations (we are looking into it)
- Dedicated Server
Ever since I heard that someone found a koi fish in the files, I've been dreaming about the possibilities for future updates. Best-case scenario, Obsidian will keep plugging away and end up with a meaningful story, but even if the campaign never truly comes together, I'll still cherish this memorable game world.
I hope "weather" means what I think it means.
Grounded Feature Board [Obsidian]
Left 4 Dead 2 is getting one last update
Left 4 Dead 2 has survived longer than anyone thought it would. The 2009 cooperative zombie shooter is still kickin' around, proving that it has the mettle to not die quite yet. It's even getting an update sometime soon.
The Left 4 Dead community is hard at work on a fan-made L4D2 update called "The Last Stand." This isn't your usual effort from a handful of modders, though. The Last Stand has gotten the blessing from Valve, as the official Left 4 Dead site uses its blog section to link to the teaser trailer.
The name refers to the "Last Stand" map that was available in the original Left 4 Dead in Survival Mode. It's also the only map from Left 4 Dead that wasn't eventually included in the sequel. This update will seemingly rectify that.
Here's the official description of The Last Stand: "It has been many years since the infection first hit. Radio silence, no sign of life, nothing but lingering hopes... CEDA is not going to save us. But there is hope! A few brave souls have continued the fight against all odds, and soon we can all benefit from their resilience."
This isn't the first time Valve has lent a hand in the Left 4 Dead community's efforts. Back in 2012, Valve helped the modder-made campaign Cold Stream launch on PC and the Xbox 360 marketplace. After The Last Stand is finished, Valve can help us yet again by getting around to making Left 4 Dead 3.
Coming Soon: The Last Stand [Left 4 Dead]
This Pikmin 3 Deluxe video will get you up to speed with cute illustrations
Nintendo of Japan released a new gameplay overview video for Pikmin 3 Deluxe this week, and while it's not the most substantial update for folks who have played the original version on Wii U (another exclusive bites the dust), if for no other reason, you should watch it to see some super cute illustrations.
I wasn't so sure I'd want to pay sixty bucks for Pikmin 3 again with the Deluxe version on Nintendo Switch, but the closer we get to its October 30 launch, the more this double-dip feels inevitable.
Even if the price stings, the inclusion of two-player co-op in the main story mode and not having to unpack my Wii U to revisit this game means I'll probably get it on Switch – and knowing how much I love Pikmin and how much Nintendo hates putting its games on sale, I'll probably show up day one.
I can't be helped. I'm that much of a sucker for split-screen co-op games.
Here's a look at the new Ni no Kuni game
There's a brand new Ni no Kuni game in the works, and it puts an interesting spin on the acclaimed anime RPG series. Titled Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds, this is an MMORPG. And it's releasing on mobile devices. And it's only in Japan.
Hey, where are you going?!
Despite all those caveats -- caveats that ensure the vast majority of you will never play this -- Cross Worlds has an intriguing approach. According to this translation from Gematsu, this Ni no Kuni puts you in the role of a beta tester on a VR game. You discover that the real world and Ni no Kuni's world are connected, and you have to travel between the two to rebuild the kingdom. If you're successful, you'll save both realms from ruin.
None of that really speaks to how Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds is an MMO though. It also doesn't really offer any explanation as to how the game works. It sure looks nice, though.
Ni no Kuni's mobile efforts actually outpace the PC/console games now. This will be the third Ni no Kuni title for smartphones in Japan. However, it's the first to try something as ambitious as an MMORPG bent.
Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds is being developed by Netmarble and published by Level-5. It'll launch on iOS and Android devices in Japan sometime in 2020. If that goes successfully enough, maybe it'll find its way west at some point.
Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds official website opened [Gematsu]
Pharaoh: A New Era is a 2021 remake of the old city-builder
Have any room in your life for a city-builder? What about a modern take on an old classic? Dotemu and Triskell Interactive are bringing back Impressions Games' 1999 Egypt builder Pharaoh in 2021.
The announcement trailer is light on gameplay – stick around until the final seconds for a glimpse – but we've got a pair of screenshots for Pharaoh: A New Era in the gallery below that you can pick apart.
This "Ultra HD remake" was created with "all-new code" and it's also promising a revamped UI and "improved mechanics." Content-wise, Pharaoh: A New Era covers the base game and the Cleopatra: Queen of the Nile expansion, so it's going to be a huge time-sink with 50-plus missions.
Some of these late-'90s PC remakes have a way of feeling slightly "off," for lack of a better word. There isn't much to go on yet for Pharaoh, and I'm hopeful it won't fall into that same trap – I dig the 2D art.
Do any of you have a soft spot for the original? I always meant to try Zeus.
Pharaoh: A New Era [Steam]
This Fall Guys video is the wholesome Friday content with the feel-good vibes to start your weekend
There are good people out there. This isn't the most selfless act imaginable and it's not a grand sacrifice. But, it's a good reminder that some people will go out of their way to help a stranger in need.
We have a bean who doesn't yet know how to climb. That will change. Just watch.
Modern Warfare has a Summer Games event that includes a Mirrors Edge-like parkour course
You're going for the gold in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare this weekend. That's a deviation from the norm, because usually you're just out for blood. It'll be nice to add some conventional trophies to your collection to go along with the creepy necklace you made from fingers of people you killed.
Modern Warfare's Games of Summer event kicks off today, and it's an Olympics-style challenge with a Call of Duty twist. Every day brings a new challenge where players try to earn gold medals. Here's the rundown of events:
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart has a performance mode that's causing a rift in next-gen expectations
As the capstone finale to yesterday's gamescom: Opening Night Live, Insomniac Games shared an extended gameplay trailer of the PS5's Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart. It was a delightful little look at all the nuts and bolts of this interdimensional mechanical shooter. Later, Insomniac confirmed that Rift Apart is squared away as a "PS5 launch window" title, assuring everyone it'll be one of the first(ish) games you can play on new hardware.
Today, through an interview with Japanese publication Famitsu, Insomniac revealed a new tech target for Ratchet & Clank. It'll have a dedicated performance mode that ups the framerate from 30fps to 60fps:
Rogue Company needs a heaping scoop of personality if it wants to stand out
Rogue Company is a difficult game to write about. When I sit down at my computer to type, its bland and basic world begins to fade from my mind, and I struggle to think of anything meaningful to say about it. Despite its diverse cast of characters, fast-paced shooting action, and sufficiently smooth gameplay on my Switch, it just doesn't leave a lasting impact. The experience scuttles from my mind, and the only thought I can muster about it amounts to no more than an admission that I did indeed just play an online shooter.
Maybe that's because nothing about Rogue Company is original. This is a checklist of a game, cribbing features and modes from other popular titles and stitching them together in this third-person, squad-based shooter. There are dancing emotes, the ping system from Apex Legends, sprays, characters with their own unique abilities, a between-match weapons upgrade system, and modes recycled from games that came before it. You've seen this all before, and chances are, you've seen it done better than it is here.
