Apex Legends Out on November 4th for Steam, Switch Version Delayed
Respawn Entertainment has some good news and bad news for Apex Legends. First, the good – the free-to-play battle royale shooter is set to arrive on November 4th for Steam. This will coincide with the launch of Season 7, which introduces a new Legend and Battle Pass into the mix.
Those currently on Origin can retain progression and unlocks on Steam or switch between the two platforms as desired. If you are playing on Steam at any time during Season 7, then you expect some exclusive gun charms based on Half-Life and Portal. Whether Steam and Origin players can group together is unknown though.
The bad news is that the Switch version has been delayed to next year. In a recent statement on the same, game director Chad Genier stated, "We're still hard at work on the port, but in order to do justice to the game and make it into the great experience Switch players deserve, our team needs more time. This year has brought on unexpected new challenges, to put it mildly, and we don't want to rush anything out."
Genier did confirm that the Switch version would launch with cross-platform play supported. One can also expect it to have full feature parity with other versions, which includes new seasonal content. Apex Legends is currently available for Xbox One, PS4 and PC via Origin. Stay tuned for more details on Season 7 in the coming days.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 4 Review – To the Future
I've had the pleasure of playing through almost all of the Trails games in The Legend of Heroes series over the past year. Seeing Rean Schwarzer emerge from a train in Trista, venturing into the great unknown to stop a civil war, or becoming an instructor to foster a new Class VII – despite how fresh all of these memories still are, it's incredible how far the Cold Steel saga has come. And thus we arrive at The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 4, the end of the Erebonia arc, the climactic finale to a journey that began in 2013 on the PS3 and Vita.
"It definitely takes some time for the story to get rolling as the trio is eventually reunited with Ash and Musse, learns more about their current predicament and picks up traces of Rean's location."
After the cliffhanger ending of Cold Steel 3, Cold Steel 4 picks up two weeks after. Erebonia is readying for war and Class VII is left to pick up the pieces with Juna, Kurt and Altina forging a path forward. Though old Class VII members will accompany them from time to time, the first Act is more about getting the new Class VII up to speed on how Erebonia has changed. Wandering around and engaging with various civilians, whether it's a family trying to spend their last few days together or the nobility preparing for the worst, can be compelling in its own right.
Even while retreading a lot of areas from Cold Steel 3, it's still incredible to see different NPCs going through their own trials. The history of Erebonia is dense and seeing the core story advanced while threads from previous titles and even other arcs are weaved in makes for an enjoyable narrative.
However, it definitely takes some time for the story to get rolling as the trio is eventually reunited with Ash and Musse, learns more about their current predicament and picks up traces of Rean's location. Despite how even-paced the first 10 hours or so can be, it still serves a purpose. Class VII is literally picking itself back up and battling despair, along with personal tragedies, for the sake of moving forward.
You'll still encounter some old allies, including other students from Thor's Branch Campus, while engaging in some fun battles. But everything that happens after that is even more compelling, delivering some incredible character moments, boss fights and revelations. I'm loath to give specific examples because, well, spoilers but there's just so much to see here.
"Another great change allows everyone to equip any Mastery Quartz as their secondary, which means more freedom in assigning specific bonuses."
The structure will be familiar to those who have played previous Trails of Cold Steel titles as you'll fulfill requests on the side, engage in Bonding Events and progress through the main story. You'll still partake in mini-games like fishing and Vantage Masters while also jumping into new ones like Pom Pom Party!, the series' take on tile-matching puzzlers. Taking landscape photos, reporting battle progress and discovering various books on the world's stories also return as do mech battles.
The battle system is also fairly established with its Crafts and Arts, with some slight changes over the previous game. Depleting an enemy's break meter is tougher, requiring even more buffs and building towards break damage. Orders have also been revamped, being slightly weaker from the outset but upgradeable down the line.
To compensate for this, you can now store up to seven Bravery Points, allowing for Orders to be doled out more often. This, combined with the Break meter change, makes you consider whether it's better to Rush or Burst a foe and break them, or save that BP for a longer battle. It does encourage more careful deployment of Orders and usage of Arts than Cold Steel 3, which is a nice change of pace.
Another great change allows everyone to equip any Mastery Quartz as their secondary, which means more freedom in assigning specific bonuses. Want to have two party members benefiting from Minotauros, delivering more damage with Crafts at the expense of longer delays? How about specifically gearing your entire party towards break damage? You can do all of that and more.
"Though I would have liked some more exposure for certain party members in the main story, it's to the credit of Falcom's writing team that everyone is integrated near-seamlessly as one's journey continues. "
I'd have loved some more new additions, especially in the Quartz department, though Lost Arts make a much-needed return and new Class VII's Panzer Soldats can be summoned in battles, making for some interesting new strategies. You also receive upgrades for existing Crafts, along with a very interesting mechanic that further mixes up battles in the middle-game. The large party roster negates the need for lots of new Crafts while new Class VII receives some new S-Crafts so there is still plenty of variety to be had.
Overall, Cold Steel 4's battle system is top-notch and there's a good mix of enemies, ranging from established fiends and monsters to new threats, to keep you occupied. The story bosses are very entertaining throughout, each bringing something interesting to the table while offering their own challenges (save for one or two which can be slightly easier than they appear). The optional bosses are where you'll really cut your teeth, utilizing Orders, buffs, different combinations of party members and so on to succeed.
At the end of the day, the game would be nothing without its characters and thankfully, there's an ample amount of time devoted to making them shine. The Bonding Events provide a wealth of great scenarios for each character, providing some manner of closure to past events, examining their current state of mind or setting up a future relationship.
It speaks to the quality of writing in the Events experienced thus far that only one really stuck out as being overtly contrived. Though I would have liked some more exposure for certain party members in the main story, it's to the credit of Falcom's writing team that everyone is integrated near-seamlessly as one's journey continues. This pertains both to the various plot points as well banter on the field and during select scenes.
"Written dialogue still falls prey to some redundant lines here and there, especially when it comes to reminding the player of objectives, and some scenes could use a bit of trimming."
You also have Quests which provide all kinds of interesting tasks. Some may seem like your run-of-the-mill errands like collecting items and exterminating monsters. But they all provide plenty of development for the game's endearing cast of NPCs, either bringing you up to speed on their current affairs or setting up future events. Even the monster exterminations provide their own interesting challenges (with a pushover or two here and there).
Of course, there is plenty to nitpick. Managing such a large roster can be daunting, especially in the early going but this shifts to being more manageable later thanks to a larger influx of resources. Environmental design, cutscene presentation and animation are handled well throughout, though it's not a huge leap in quality over the previous game (which is likely due to Falcom's PhyreEngine reaching its limits).
Performance also suffers at times, especially in more detailed battle fields with several enemies and effects going off at once. The depth-of-field utilized in some instances can also be annoying but fortunately, it wasn't too heavy-handed. Also, while there are plenty of new areas added, a good chunk of the game still revolves around revisiting locations from Cold Steel 3. It isn't a negative per say, given the overall changes to the world's inhabitants, but it's still worth noting.
In terms of English localization, I was quite satisfied with the overall work done. Written dialogue still falls prey to some redundant lines here and there, especially when it comes to reminding the player of objectives, and some scenes could use a bit of trimming. There are also a few awkward lines here and there with some performances lacking that extra bit of oomph compared to previous games. A lot of the post-battle interactions that occur from between two characters are also kind of weak. That being said, there are still plenty of lines and scenes that range from very good to excellent, and are on point when it matters the most.
"For fans of the series, there are definitely some bumps to manage here and there, especially when starting out. However, Trails of Cold Steel 4 is an excellent sequel overall and a fitting way to end the Erebonia saga."
Given the overall size and scale of the project, the sheer number of talent on-board and the range of interactions, I still feel that the localization is pretty good as a whole. Similarly for the music, which features several great new tracks along with a rocking main theme and the return of iconic songs from the previous games. While some tracks are an acquired taste (like the more techno-oriented Synchronicity #23), there's a lot of good stuff here that adds to the overall atmosphere, especially the battle themes.
Despite its various issues, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 4 is a very good RPG with memorable characters, fun battles, a compelling story and tons of great side content to engage with. Those who know nothing about the series are encouraged to start with the first game to get the maximum amount of enjoyment out of the story. There is an excellent in-game encyclopedia that brings you up to speed on events thus far but experiencing them first-hand is well worth it. For fans of the series, there are definitely some bumps to manage here and there, especially when starting out. However, Trails of Cold Steel 4 is an excellent sequel overall and a fitting way to end the Erebonia saga.
This game was reviewed on PS4.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War – PlayStation-Exclusive Zombies Onslaught Mode Revealed
Activision has always had some measure of exclusive Call of Duty content with PlayStation over the years and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is no exception. A new co-op mode has been revealed for Zombies which sees two players teaming together to battle the undead. Check out Zombies Onslaught below.
As detailed on the PlayStation Blog, Zombies Onslaught will take place in locations based on maps from multiplayer. Along with taking one's own custom loadouts into the mix, there are some unique mechanics at play. A Dark Aether Orb will protect players from damage emanating outside – killing zombies will "power" it and cause the Orb to move. More difficult zombies, like Elites, will enter the fray as time goes by.
Taking down Elites will add to one's ranking, which can range from Bronze to Gold. Each rank offers different rewards with new maps and rewards introduced each season. As for the exclusivity period, Zombies Onslaught will be available until November 1st 2021 for PS4 and PS5 players alone.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is out on November 13th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC.
Little Nightmares 2 – Halloween Trailer Released, "Stay Tuned" Bundle Announced
Even though it's not releasing next week, Tarsier Studios' Little Nightmares 2 has received a new trailer to celebrate Halloween. It's full of frights, from all kinds of creepy entities to a variety of traps and nightmarish settings to traverse. Check it out below, if you dare.
Along with the new trailer, publisher Bandai Namco has also announced the "Stay Tuned" bundle. It contains figurine of Mono and Six along with an art book, soundtrack, sticker set and Steelbook case. PS4 and Xbox One players can pre-order it for $49.99 while Switch users have to pay $59.99.
Little Nightmares 2 is currently slated to release on February 11th 2021 for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch. PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions will arrive later next year, though current-gen owners can avail of free upgrades. Stay tuned for more details and gameplay in the coming months. You can also check out our review of the original game here.
Nintendo Switch – Single Joy-Con Price Slashed to $40 in North America
If there's been one black spot on the Nintendo Switch's nearly flawless success story since the console launched, it has to be its Joy-Con controllers- most notably, their analog sticks, which have been called out for drifting issues since pretty much the day the console came out, and have even been the subject of a full-fledged class action lawsuit against Nintendo.
There's no telling when or if there will be any resolution to that issue in particular, but there's some good news on the Joy-Con front nonetheless. Nintendo have announced through Twitter that they are reducing the price of a single Joy-Con controller purchase to $39.99, down from $49.99. This price reduction is applicable in North America, following a similar reduction in Joy-Con prices in Japan not too long ago.
Of course, the total price of two single Joy-Con purchases will still equal the price of a set of two controllers, which means the price cut doesn't really mean as much in the grand scheme of things… but hey, it's something.
Hopefully, similar price drops will follow in other regions as well, but for now, there's no word from Nintendo on whether that'll happen.
Meanwhile, a recent patent may indicate that Nintendo is looking into manufacturing and selling new standalone Joy-Con controllers. Read more on that through here.
Starting on 11/9, single #NintendoSwitch Joy-Con controllers will be available for purchase for $39.99. Choose from the left Joy-Con controller in Neon Blue, and the right Joy-Con controller in Neon Red. pic.twitter.com/wXW8BEssS7
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) October 23, 2020
Xbox Series X/S VR Mention Possibly Found in Microsoft Flight Simulator Files
VR as a technology might only have managed to carve out a niche audience for itself so far, but there's enough potential here that its fans want to see it grow and evolve over the years, which would entail it becoming available more widely, across more ecosystems. Xbox has been a holdout from the VR space even though its competitor, PlayStation, has been investing in the area- but Microsoft might possibly be toying with the idea after all.
Mentions Xbox VR might have been discovered in Microsoft Flight Simulator's game files by a user on the game's official forums (as spotted by Windows Central). More specifically, there are references to "PC_VR" and "Scarlett_VR". Scarlett, of course, is the codename that Microsoft gave to the entire next-gen Xbox family internally, while the former doesn't need much of an explanation, since VR support for the game's PC version is already confirmed.
Of course, just because something is in a game's files doesn't mean there's any concrete proof. If nothing else, it does at least tell us that VR is in the back of Microsoft's mind.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is currently available on PC. It is due out for consoles as well, and will, according to the developers, be as good on Xbox as it is on PC.
You can learn more about the game, its development, and its post-launch plans through our interview with the developers through here.
Destiny 2: Beyond Light – Mountaintop, Falling Guillotine, Ruinous Effigy Nerfs Coming
Bungie's next big expansion for Destiny 2, Beyond Light, is just a few weeks away. The developer has been outlining numerous changes that are incoming, from revamps to armor and mods to new subclass customization. This week it's talking about sandbox changes for weapons, which sadly means plenty of nerfs.
Pinnacle grenade launcher Mountaintop is getting severely toned down with 33 percent reduction to splash damage and a reduction to its projectile velocity multiplier. In-air accuracy has also been reduced. Falling Guillotine, the beloved sword introduced in Season of Arrivals, is also getting nerfed with its heavy attack damage seeing a 24 percent reduction. Ruinous Effigy is also getting adjusted with the damage caused by aerial melee attacks from Transmutation Spheres reduced by 25 percent.
Several changes are also being made to handcannons, like increasing the rate of fire for Aggressive frame variants to 120, shifting Lightweight handcannons into the Adaptive category (thus making them 140 ROF weapons) and much more. It's well worth checking out all of the changes here. Destiny 2: Beyond Light is slated to release on November 10th for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Google Stadia.
Mountaintop
- Reduced splash damage by 33 percent, increased impact damage such that total damage is 5 percent lower than before.
- Reduced projectile velocity multiplier from the Micro-Missile perk from 1.4 to 1.2. (i.e., now 20 percent faster than other breech Grenade Launchers instead of 40 percent).
- Reduced in-air accuracy. Now has significant projectile error while in-air (around 7 degrees without the Icarus Grip mod, substantially less with).
Falling Guillotine
- Reduced heavy attack damage by ~24 percent to bring in line with other Swords.
- Note: Falling Guillotine will continue to be slightly above average, just not to the extent that it is now.
Ruinous Effigy
Transmutation Spheres
- Reduced the damage of the aerial melee attack by 25%
- Significantly reduced the damage of the drain effect on enemy combatants
Microsoft Flight Simulator Highlights Beauty Of North America In Latest Trailer
Microsoft seems to have brought back their once popular Flight Simulator series at the perfect time. The 2020 edition of the franchise has already sold very well for itself and said to be a hit on Xbox Game Pass. There's a lot of notable things about it, with maybe its biggest being its incredible recreation of beautiful landscapes and today we get a look at North America.
There's been a series of trailer that highlight the world as seen via Flight Simulator, such as Asia, the Middle East and Oceania. Now it's North America's turn as you see the sights of the region with a focus on the United States and Canada. There's a lot you can say about Flight Simulator, but it's hard to deny just how gorgeous it is. You can check out the trailer below.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is available now on PC. The game has also been announced to be coming at some point to Xbox consoles, but as of now, there has been no official time frame of when to expect them.
Halo 5 Won't be Optimized for Xbox Series X/S, But Will Have Higher Resolution, Faster Load Times
Microsoft recently announced that Halo: The Master Chief Collection would be getting a dedicated Xbox Series X/S optimization on November 17, adding 4K support on Xbox Series X, 120 FPS support in campaign and multiplayer, split-screen improvements, and more. With many major Microsoft first part games getting similar enhancements on the upcoming consoles, many have been wondering- should we expect similar treatment for Halo 5: Guardians as well?
343 Industries recently addressed that question in an update on Halo Waypoint. The developer confirms that while there won't be a dedicated next-gen optimized release for Halo 5, the game will, thanks to the Xbox Series X/S' system-level backward compatibility features, benefit from things such as faster load times and higher resolution gameplay.
"After we announced the enhancements that MCC would be getting on the Xbox Series X|S, we did see questions rolling in about how Halo 5 would play on the new consoles," the developer wrote. "While Halo 5 is not getting the same optimizations for Xbox Series X and Series S as MCC, owners of the next-gen hardware are still going to see the benefits of faster load times and consistently higher resolution gameplay. We're excited for you all to jump on and give it a go with that extra power"
We also know that Halo 5 will have HDR on the Xbox Series X, thanks to the console's auto-HDR feature.
Halo 5 is currently available only on Xbox One. 343 Industries recently re-iterated that the game won't be added to The Master Chief Collection.
Romance Of The Three Kingdoms 14: Diplomacy And Strategy Comes Westward February 11, 2021
Some tales, whether fictional or historical or a mixture of both, prove to be timeless. The Chinese epic, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, has proven to be such a tale as it's been retold many times and is the basis for several properties. One of the original, and most popular, is the strategy game of the same name that has just seen its fourteenth installment, with more to come next year for those of us in the west.
The expansion for the game, Diplomacy and Strategy, was announced at TGS 2020 and includes more content and scenarios to play through, which you can read more details about through here. The game is set to come to Japan in December, but those of us in the west will have to wait a tad until February before we can play it as confirmed in a press release by the publisher. You'll also be able to get a bonus scenario, "The Fall of Shu Han," for free for the first two weeks.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms 14: Diplomacy and Strategy will release on February 11th, 2021. It will release as both a standalone product and expansion to the original release for PlayStation 4 and PC and only as a brand new singular release on the Switch. You can check out our take on the base game, which is available on PS4 and PC now, through here.