Contest: Win Fallback, a unique 2.5D roguelike platformer, on Steam
In today's contest you can win a Steam copy of highly-acclaimed roguelike Fallback!
If you're into high-rated indie titles, massive content updates, and not paying for video games, then today's your lucky day! The kind folks over at Microids have given us copies of the Very Positively Steam rated roguelike Fallback, which means you can win a copy for yourself!
The Baby Yoda Xbox controller looks cool but probably costs more than you want to pay
I suppose, if we're being pedantic and letting semantics get in the way, this isn't explicitly a Baby Yoda controller. It's a Mandalorian controller. But, something tells me people will just call it "The Baby Yoda controller" so let's get formalities out of the way.
Controller Gear, who makes officially licensed accessories, has a new Xbox controller for The Mandalorian. It's a gunmetal gray with the Mandalorian clan insignia on it. Most importantly, Baby Yoda is etched across the back.
This controller comes with a charging stand, which features Mando's helmet across the front. Here's what the whole package looks like:
A million people played the Battletoads reboot and the response was 'nice'
The 2020 revival of Battletoads is interesting on multiple fronts – not just as an out-of-nowhere reboot of the dormant beat-'em-up series, but also as a capital-n New take on Rash, Zitz, and Pimple.
As Chris said in his review, it's a "polarizing" game, one that juggles a lot of different elements with varying degrees of success. Will Battletoads travel further down this path, or is it a one-time deal? In the current Xbox Game Pass-fueled landscape, it feels like almost anything has green-light potential.
For what it's worth, over a million players have checked out Battletoads.
As Battletoads bounces past a million players, we've swiped some staggering in-game stats since launch! Poor Chet and his turbo bikes, we'll be surprised if he's still in business. Read the post for the lowdown and take a swing at the game today: https://t.co/ZNlGjdzGt0 pic.twitter.com/e1W3PHZGDW
— Rare Ltd. (@RareLtd) October 26, 2020
Rare tweeted out that figure and a few other silly statistics (you know the kind), including the number of Turbo Bike crashes (42.5 million) and how many collectibles players have picked up so far (8.6 million). Also worth noting: Rash is the crowd favorite. Zitz, meanwhile, is the tragic dead-last choice.
Adding more context to the million-player milestone, in a recent interview with Kotaku, Xbox head Phil Spencer said the "response to Battletoads was nice" and "Dlala did a good job with the game."
I don't feel strongly about the revival either way, but I'd like to see this team get another crack at Battletoads knowing what it now knows. I'm open to seeing the grand vision come to fruition beyond a single game, to say nothing of the potential to smooth out rough edges and incorporate online co-op.
Sad news about Zitz, though.
@RareLtd [Twitter]
Microsoft finally puts all its cards on the table with a full overview of the Xbox Series X
This next-gen console reveal cycle has been excruciatingly patchwork. Both Microsoft and Sony have slowly unveiled bits and pieces about their new machines, never collecting all the information we want in one place. We're left to go back to old information, apply it to the new details, hope we're interpreting it correctly, and assume that some unspoken-of details aren't mucking it all up. I guess that's how marketing beats go but it can be so frustrating from a consumer's perspective.
Finally, about two weeks away from next-gen's launch, Microsoft has completely shown its hand. This Xbox Series X video gives a full overview of all the things it does well, and it's all in one place just as you'd use the console. Xbox's principal program manager Linus Tech Tips Harrison Hoffman walks you through the entire demo.
Let's bullet-point the takeaways:
Podtoid asks: Is Ghost of Tsushima the most beautiful game on the PS4?
We're just weeks away from a new console generation and with it will come more beautifully imagined and realized worlds that will only be possible with better hardware. But as we've seen over the past few years, our current consoles are still powering some of the most jaw-dropping titles ever created. The PlayStation 4 in particular has been killing it with gorgeous games like The Last of Us: Part II, God of War, and Ghost of Tsushima, the latter of which just might be the most beautiful game found on the hardware.
That's just one of the topics of conversation for this episode of Podtoid. CJ, Chris, and Charlotte are on hand to talk open-world games, Just Dance, Street Fighter V, stupid ads in sports games, and measuring consoles in cats. All that, plus a huge announcement about a streaming deal, on Podtoid Episode 464.
Phil Spencer makes it perfectly clear that Xbox can't influence the direction of Bethesda quite yet
Ever since the morning where Microsoft dropped a bigger bombshell than the nukes in Fallout's lore, everyone has made a singular sweeping statement: Xbox acquired Bethesda.
That's not technically true yet. Microsoft and ZeniMax have completed negotiations and agreed upon terms. However, a sale isn't finalized until regulatory agencies that oversee mergers and acquisitions (likely the Securities and Exchanges Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and/or the Department of Justice) approve the deal.
In a recent interview with GameReactor, Xbox head Phil Spencer explains that he cannot yet start to direct Bethesda from a creative or business standpoint. Doing so would be illegal. "We haven't acquired ZeniMax," Spencer says. "We have announced our intention to acquire ZeniMax. It is going through regulatory approval and we don't see any issues there. We expect early in 2021 the deal will close."
He continues "I want people to know, I'm not sitting down with Todd Howard and Robert Altman and planning their future. Because I'm currently not allowed to do that, that would be illegal... But I get a lot of questions right now: 'is this game exclusive? Is this game exclusive?' And right now, that is not my job in regards to ZeniMax. My job is not to sit down and go through their portfolio and dictate what happens."
This is the exact arc Double Fine went through following the announced Microsoft acquisition at E3 2019. A few months later, we interviewed Double Fine founder Tim Schafer and he likened the process to the studio being in escrow. "The deal was agreed upon but there's this due diligence period. It's like we're in escrow," Schafer explained. "It's gonna be finalized later [in September 2019] and then we'll find out what it's really like. Right now, there's still a lot of business stuff to do to wrap it up. To officially stitch the companies together."
Soon enough Phil Spencer will be able to mandate that Elder Scrolls VII take place on the moon or that Arkane open five more studios because it's such a good developer. Or that Fallout 76 be officially renamed Fallout: This One Didn't Count. But until the deal actually closes, he'd be breaking the law if he started influencing Bethesda's direction.
Phil Spencer on exclusivity, monetisation, and game development [GameReactor]
Apex Legends Season 7's 'Stories from the Outlands' is a tearjerker
Apex Legends is gearing up for its seventh season on November 4, and at this point we know what to expect in general. Each season introduces a new playable character, and in the week before launch, we learn all of the juicy details. Today's entry in the "Stories from the Outlands" series sets the stage for the next legend, Horizon, though it doesn't make clear how she'll handle in the battle royale.
She was also teased in-game a couple weeks ago, with a small quest called "A Wee Experiment," which had the Scottish scientist leading players to newly installed gravity lifts across both the Kings Canyon and World's Edge maps. Given other in-game teases (Octane's jump pads, Rampart's paintball mod), it's pretty likely that the gravity lift will be a part of her kit. Other than that, we don't know, but we should learn more over the next week.
What today's video does let us know is her origin story. She was a mom who went looking for a new energy source for society, but was betrayed at the last moment and left to drift near a black hole. Relativity doing what it does, she escapes a fate of starvation, but while she only spends a short time in limbo, 87 years have passed for the rest of the universe. She returns to look for her son, to fulfill the promise that she would come back for him, though much later than originally expected. Presumably, she could also be harboring a grudge for the corporation that left her out in space to die, which may lead to her entry into the Apex Games.
We have some additional information about Season 7 via the official Apex Legends website. There will be a third map set on Olympus, and some sort of vehicle called the Trident. If past seasons are any indication, we can expect a couple more videos leading up to the start of the season. We should be in for a gameplay trailer showing off the new map and the Trident, a battle pass trailer exhibiting the new cosmetics, and finally a character introduction video focused on Horizon's abilities.
As I sat down to begin playing Ghostrunner for review, I started explaining the basics of the game to my significant other. When I got to the point about it featuring a one-hit kill mechanic, I was questioned why I would play a game that has such a potential to frustrate me. I didn't have a good answer other than the fact that when you win, the good feelings wash away all the anger and there's something cathartic in that.
Ghostunner absolutely put me through my strides and tested the limits of my willpower, but the joy of victory was worth it all in the end in this high-paced sci-fi ninja romp.
Someone added drums to the Luigi's Mansion 3 Egad theme and it absolutely rules
Every so often I get the itch to jump back into Luigi's Mansion 3. Sure the multiplayer could be better: but the story is such a breezy thing to replay that it's easy to get sucked in. This video from Coryeavesap makes it very easy to explain why.
Noting that they "got Luigi's Mansion 3 for Christmas last year," they held onto the game for all of 2020 to save it for this spooky October month (neat idea!); and have been "vibing super hard" on Egad's ringtone. I know the feeling! It's one of my favorite little musical bits of the past year.
Coryeavesap decided to take it to the next level though, putting a drum beat to the ringtone. The result is a very impressive solo that you can listen to below. Since Egad's theme changes with each iteration, I wouldn't mind a new take on it similar to this in the fourth game.
I mean, we are getting a fourth Luigi's Mansion at some point, right? It would be cruel not to! Plus, given the insane (and ever-rising) install base of the Switch, it would behoove Nintendo to pump out a few sequels to some successful games before the next system.
Star Wars: Squadrons' free Mandalorian DLC has a Baby Yoda bobblehead
"Star Wars: Squadrons won't have any post-launch content" is a headline we wrote earlier this month. Less than three weeks later, we find out that isn't explicitly true.
Ahead of The Mandalorian's second season debuting on Disney+, Star Wars: Squadrons is getting some Mandalorian-themed cosmetics. It's a free set of eight unlockable items -- some universal, and some exclusive to New Republic and Imperial ships.
Here are some of the items in the Mandalorian DLC:
Dragon Marked for Death Ver. 3.1.3 features a monster list of adjustments
Inti Creates has released a huge update for its platform adventure Dragon Marked for Death. Available to download right now on all platforms, Version 3.1.3 brings a huge list of adjustments, bug fixes, and balance tweaks to the multiplayer title on PC, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.
First and foremost, 20 new quests have been added for Level 120 players, offering increased XP, rewards, and a higher percentage of rare loot for top-tier adventurers. All of the player characters have been tweaked across the board, with Empress, Warrior, Shinobi, Witch, and other classes having gone through an intricate re-balance. For the most part, all characters have been left in a better position than they were before.
The huge catalog of weapons, gear, and accessories has also been re-balanced, with changes made to the stats and effects attached to both Dragon Marked for Death's arsenal of death-dealers and its sharp wardrobe. In addition, several nagging bugs and issues have finally been corrected. There are far too many individual changes to list here, but hardy adventurers can check out the full patch notes over on the official website.
Are you going to replay God of War on PS5? With 60fps support and New Game+, I definitely will
Aside from playing actual PlayStation 5 games, one of the first things I want to do with the console is revisit old PS4 favorites – especially games with uncapped frame rates that stand to benefit the most.
One such release is 2018's God of War, which will be even better on a PS5. As Sony Santa Monica tweeted this morning, God of War will run at 60 frames per second (with the Favor Performance option selected), your PS4 save file will transfer (this is a backward-compatible game, after all!), and New Game+ is still an enticing opportunity for those of us who never made time for a second playthrough.
Whether you’re picking up the game for the first time or looking to finish that NG+ save, God of War (2018) on the #PS5 will offer:
— Santa Monica Studio Is Hiring (@SonySantaMonica) October 26, 2020
ðŸŽžï¸ Up to 60 FPS using the ‘Favor Performance’ video option
🎮 Save Transfers â€" start right where you left off on the PS4!
This summary might not come as a surprise – the original PS4 game already had visual/performance options (that you probably messed around with if you played on a PS4 Pro), so it makes sense that it would fare even better on PS5 without needing a significant update – but it's worth reiterating.
It's also interesting that this is how Sony is handling (at least two of its) high-profile PS4 games on PS5. God of War will just work on the new console – that's it! Nothing wild. Don't expect bells and whistles. If you were really hoping for 4K and 60fps, it doesn't sound like that's in the cards (barring an update).
Sony Santa Monica also noted that God of War III Remastered save files will transfer to PS5, which, 1) any takers? and 2) I didn't know that needed to be clarified. (Maybe it's more of a PSA than anything.)
With Ragnarok seemingly still coming in 2021, I can't procrastinate much longer.
@SonySantaMonica [Twitter]
Nintendo still dominates the UK Charts ahead of November's major releases
Another very quiet release week has seen Electronic Arts' football simulator FIFA 21 retain the top spot of the UK Charts, despite a huge week-on-week drop in physical sales of around 50%.
A lack of major launches - along with the continued slump in physical sales across the board - results in a stagnant chart listing, which sees Square Enix's Marvel's Avengers, Take 2's Grand Theft Auto V, and Activision's Crash Bandicoot 4 jostle for position against a string of Nintendo Switch mainstays, including Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Ring Fit Adventure, and Super Mario 3D All-Stars.
Next month will most definitely switch things up, as the gaming industry launches an entirely new generation of hardware. Accompanying that will also be a run of major releases, including Ubisoft's Watch Dogs: Legion, Activision's Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and Nintendo's Pikmin 3 Switch port, among others. With the holiday season approaching, the stage is set for a major chart shakeup.
The new Destiny 2 Twitch Prime (sorry, Prime Gaming) drop includes three exotic items
Man it's going to take me the rest of the year to get that right. "Prime Gaming."
In case you missed it, Twitch Prime is no more. Oh no! Wait, there's more. It's "Prime Gaming" now, and everything you redeemed in the past is still linked to your account. In passing, I still refer to it as Twitch Prime: especially in the context of Destiny 2, which has had a number of loot drops under the old name.
But alas Amazon is moving forward with Prime Gaming, so we need to get with the times! This month's Prime Gaming drop includes three exotics (Cryptomnesia Sparrow, Ada-1's Lone Wolf Ship, Peerless Precision Ghost Shell) and one legendary emote (Flare Gun). The Ada-1 ship will probably be the most enticing drop for lore nuts, but the Ghost Shell is pretty cool looking as well.
As a reminder, you can grab all of these in the hangar in The Tower via Amanda Holliday. They won't be delivered to your mailbox. Now is a fairly good time to stock up, as Bungie is driving headfirst into a new expansion next month, as well as a next-gen upgrade with drastic visual overhauls.
I remember when Destiny first made the leap from PS3/Xbox 360 to PS4/Xbox One! It feels like it was yesterday.
This Week at Bungie [Bungie.net]
Rainbow Six Siege crew transform into unnerving puppets for 'Sugar Fright' Halloween event
Every Halloween, Ubisoft's multiplayer shooter Rainbow Six Siege likes to get into the spirit of the season with strange and usually horrific in-game events. But seeing as 2020 is a truly maniacal year, Siege's new event, "Sugar Fright," is taking a particularly weird turn.
Beginning tomorrow, October 27, Sugar Fright is set within the head of Canadian operator Frost, as her subconscious whisks the R6 trapper away to a dream-scape world of "candy and death." Here, four operators battle it out in new a Deathmatch-style mode, "Candy War" which includes re-spawn abilities (a first for the notoriously punishing shooter), and the caramel-coated goal of gathering as much candy as possible before the time limit expires.
Oh, and also, everyone is now a freaky-ass bug-eyed puppet.
Yes, for a little added weirdness, a selection of operators - including Ela, Castle, Pulse, I.Q. Goyo, Zofia, and Frost herself are now stylized with Muppet-style heads, a nightmarish vision that has to be seen to be believed. These looks, along with new, candy-based weapon skins, can be unlocked in limited-time Sugar Fright packs - which are earned in-game or purchased at a cost of 300 R6 Credits/125,000 Renown each.
The Sugar Fright event will end on November 10, so be sure to satisfy that sweet tooth while you can.
I'm putting the kettle on, fancy a cup of Persona 5 Royal tea?
We're only at the halfway mark on Monday and, frankly, I might already be out of gas for the week. But still, there's many a way to reinvigorate a tired drive and a lousy brain - a pleasant walk, a quick round of Huntdown, clawing at your scalp while ugly crying (my personal favorite), or settling down with a nice cup of tea.
And what tea could be more perfect for the video game fan in your life than this all-new Persona 5 tea, which is headed to Japan stores in December courtesy of blend specialists Tea Salon of Ginza. Each member of the Phantom Thieves has been given their own specific blend, offering bespoke flavors for Joker, Lady Ann, Morgana, Futaba, and even Persona 5 Royal newcomer, Kasumi. Each blend is attuned to the character's personality, which is a neat idea. I bet Goro Akechi's tastes of piss and betrayal.
A small tin of Persona 5 tea will retail for ¥1,800, or roughly $17 USD. A cheaper option offers the tea in paper packaging for ¥1,250, or about $12 USD. You can check out the full range of flavors on the official Tea Salon website. You can also find full translations for each blend over at Persona Central.
Which is your favorite? I'd personally go for the sharp tang of Makoto's Ginger and Caramel. Sounds delicious, as befitting a brew fit for a Queen.
Persona 5 Royal tea blends to be released in December 2020 [Persona Central]
We'll get our first look at Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 soon
It's kind of amazing how far the Azure Striker Gunvolt series has come.
I've talked about it quite a bit over the past few years, but multiple core iterations and several spinoffs: that's quite the win for Inti Creates, who has managed to craft multiple new IPs and revivals in recent years. They're really killing it year after year; and hopefully Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 will continue that trend.
Due out on Switch at some point next year, Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 brings back the titular Gunvolt after Copen took the spotlight away with his spinoff, as well as the sword-wielding newcomer Kirin. As is tradition it was announced at BitSummit earlier this year, but since then we've been waiting for any real news beyond the basics. It won't be much longer now, though.
Inti Create says that we'll get to peek behind the curtain soon enough, as the game will be shown to the public for the first time ever at the Akihabara UDX digital games expo on November 29. The studio says that "playable demos will be on-hand" as well. That's a little over a month! I'm beyond excited, as I'm pumped to see how Kirin plays. Hopefully she does the old school melee style justice: I know Inti Creates is capable of it.
Inti Creates [Twitter]
New Science Adventure entry Steins;???? announced
Japanese publisher MAGES has announced a new entry in the Science Adventure series of visual novels. The title was announced during a MAGES live stream that took place this weekend.
Details are incredibly slim, but the new Science Adventure project currently exists under the tentative title of Steins;????, with the latter word expected to be revealed at a later date. MAGES president Chiyomaru Shikura has revealed that the new game should be considered a sequel, rather than an expansion, and while it will be a property in and of itself, fans can expect characters from Steins;Gate to put in an appearance.
Neither platforms nor a release date were confirmed.
New Science Adventure game Steins;???? announced [Gematsu / GamesTalk]
One of the few next-gen exclusives, PS5's Destruction AllStars, has been delayed into 2021
Delays are happening in 2020. It's just the reality of things. And sometimes those delays come down to the wire. Destruction AllStars is the latest casualty of this crazy year.
In case you forgot, Destruction AllStars was revealed earlier this year and is one of the few true launch PS5 exclusives (generational exclusives, really), along with Demon's Souls and Astro's Playroom (the rest are also being released on either PC or PS4). Today, Sony director of product development Pete Smith broke the news that Destruction AllStars would indeed be missing the next-gen launch, and has been pushed back to February 2021.
There is good news, though. When it does arrive, it'll be a PlayStation Plus title (and as such, is one of the first-ever confirmed PS5 Plus perks). Smith notes that there will be more news for the game next week, which is great; as we know very little about it. He also confirms that if you already pre-ordered it you will be refunded: whether it's digitally or at retail.
For reference, Destruction AllStars was previously a $70 game. Perhaps Sony wasn't happy with the pre-order numbers and decided to make it a Plus perk. It's a smart move in multiple ways, as it'll allow this multiplayer-centric game to thrive with a bigger playerbase out of the gate. Everyone wins with this.
Destruction AllStars coming to PlayStation Plus in February [PlayStation Blog]
(Update) Here's how to get your free Ash's Pikachu in Pokemon Sword and Shield
Today during this morning's special Pokémon stream, The Pokémon Company unveiled a new promo for Sword and Shield. Naturally, it involves Pikachu.
From here on out, special Pikachu will be distributed for Sword and Shield, tailored around the idea of it being "Ash's Pikachu" with eight different hats. The first one is available today, with more coming later "through various means." If history is anything to go by, codes doled out during tournament streams and the like are a safe bet.
To get the initial rat, enter "P1KACHUGET" into your copy of the game.
To unlock the second version, use: "1CH00SEY0U."
A third version has been released: "P1KAADVANCE."
As well as a fourth version: "V0LTTACKLEP1KA."
And the fifth version: "P1KABESTW1SH."
And the sixth: "KAL0SP1KA."
Here's the seventh: "ULTRAP1KA."
There's even going to be a full website for it! It's not live at the time of publication, but The Pokémon Company says more info will be available here. You can also take a look at the array of hats below.
My Time at Portia sequel My Time at Sandrock announced for PC and consoles
Fans of life-sim RPG My Time at Portia will be waking up to the delightful news that developer Pathea Games is hard at work on an all-new sequel. Expected to launch in Early Access in the spring of 2021, My Time at Sandrock is currently in development for PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch.
My Time at Sandrock hopes to expand upon 2019's Portia in every way, with an overhauled engine, updated visuals and sound, and a wide variety of locations, tasks, and NPCs, all set within a beautiful "Miyazaki-style" world. Set in the titular city, located deep within the Eufaula Desert, players will be charged with gathering resources, scavenging for relics, and working to create a functioning town and economy for Sandrock's civilians and merchants.
The new sequel hopes to include a new multiplayer mode, as well as an improved battle system, more relationship options, and a slew of back-breaking tasks related to building, farming, and cultivating crops and products for the townsfolk. A new storyline promises "heroes and villains" alongside "comedy and tragedy".
To this end, Pathea Games has opened a Kickstarter campaign, in order to raise additional funds to help with the scale of the new title. The developer has set a target of $100,000 USD, to help with staffing costs and to secure self-publishing rights. You can find out more about the back rewards, alongside further detail on the sequel itself, over on Kickstarter.
Xbox Game Pass is a good mix of new and old in late October and November
The time has come for more info on what the rest of October brings for Xbox Game Pass, and it's looking good. Oh! And a little preview of November isn't half bad either.
Old school adventure games are absolutely dominating the rest of the month, including the spooky Day of the Tentacle Remastered, which is joined by Grim Fandango Remastered and Full Throttle Remastered. Never in my youth, did I ever think that these games would live on beyond the joy I experienced playing them at my uncle's house. They always felt like such niche little things, so seeing them still around, decades later, is a sight.
The rest of October will also be populated by some newer titles, including Carto, Five Nights at Freddy's, PUBG, ScourgeBringer and Unruly Heroes. Well, newer in comparison to when the aforementioned adventure games originally came out: sans "remastered" versions.
November is looking good too, with Celeste, Comanche, Deep Rock Galactic, Eastshade and Knights and Bikes hitting on November 5. After that, ARK: Survival Evolved Explorer's Edition arrives on November 17. Celeste makes everything better and instantly legitimizes that month. Remember that by the time November 17 rolls around, the Xbox Series X will have been released.
Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass [Xbox Wire]
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is headed to mobile platforms 'soon'
Koji Igarashi's lavish adventure title Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is coming to iOS and Android. According to mobile publisher NetEase and developer ArtPlay, the dangerous and labyrinthine quest of Shardbinder Miriam will be arriving on the mobile platforms "soon."
Released for PC and consoles in 2019, following a long and somewhat troubled development period, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is Igarashi's first post-Castlevania release, and features the opulent surroundings, grim monsters, great music, and exploration elements that cemented the auteur's previous releases among the all-time classics. Players guide Miriam through a huge castle and its surrounding grounds, equipping new weapons, skills, and spells while defeating an army of hellish enemies en route to a showdown with the vengeful Gebel.
Giveaway: Transformers: Battlegrounds (NA- XB1, Steam, NSW)
Welcome folks! It's been awhile since I've popped my face up on the ole front page. Wes really needed a night off (he works hard for y'all), so I'm here to bring you some Transformers action (strategy)! We have a copy for Xbox One, Steam, and Nintendo Switch to giveaway (sorry PS4 folk), so let's rollout and see what Transformers: Battlegrounds is all about:
Review: Pokemon Sword and Shield: The Crown Tundra
The last time we checked in with Pokemon Sword and Shield, it was hosting its first major DLC: The Isle of Armor.
It was small, but it wasn't bad! The new locale was a breath of fresh air, especially given that Game Freak was doubling down on the Wild Area mechanic, allowing the entire DLC to make use of the feature.
But given Sword and Shield's latent shortcomings, it wasn't enough for everyone. The Crown Tundra aims to turn that all around as the second half of the season pass.
Review: G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout
When "movable fighting man" G.I. Joe first made his way to British shores in the 1960s, he was renamed as the less nation-specific "Action Man." Despite this amusingly bland new moniker, Action Man was still a smash success with British kids, going on to sell thousands of dolls, ("It's an action figure, mum!"), in the ensuing decades.
The plastic military man and his kung-fu grip became so huge here in Britain, that when the super-popular G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero animated series made the leap overseas, it also needed to be renamed, to keep marketing in line with the toy range. So do you know what we got? Action Force. ACTION FORCE. The Brits are nothing if not great at poorly localizing American properties. That and making abysmal political decisions.
Nice history lesson, Moyse, but what does this have to do with G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout, GameMill Entertainment's new video game adaptation of the aforementioned Saturday morning show? Honestly, not all that much. But what's important is that now you know, and knowing is half the battle.
There was a brief time in my childhood where I was obsessed with the Iditarod. The allure of that type of competition, just a guy and his dogs traveling the snowy wilds of Alaska, was enticing to a more youthful version of me. My obsession with it resulted in Iron Will finding its way into my family's VCR on an almost weekly basis.
Like most of the things I fancied in my youth, the call of the wild eventually stopped speaking to me. I outgrew the childish notions of becoming a world-famous dog sled racer and settled for more realistic goals, like becoming a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. I'd even forgotten how often I watched that movie in the '90s until a little trailer for The Red Lantern popped up on my YouTube feed and reminded me that, oh yeah, I'm still kind of obsessed with this.
You could win a PlayStation 5 from Daily Esports GG
[Just a friendly reminder we're giving away a brand new PlayStation 5 -- just participate in the Daily Esports forums for your chance to qualify to win!]
Well, this is a pretty big one.
The next console generation is nearly upon us, which means it'll soon be time for folks to trade up to some brand new hardware. However, the cost of entry for the next console generation is going to be considerably lower for one lucky individual.
www.DailyEsports.gg is giving away a free PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. We launched some brand new forums and comments software and want people kicking the tires on it. If core esports aren't your thing, they also frequently cover Pokemon trade codes and various game guides, so please consider adding it to your feed.
Our family of websites have committed to purchasing the console for a member of the site's forums. To win it, all you need to do is head on over to the Daily Esports forums and start chatting! It's really that easy. Destructoid founder Papa Niero is also the invisible hand there, along with editor-in-chief and chief of all beards, Taha Zaidi. Go say hi!
On November 24th, we'll pick out one member of the forums and pre-order the console to be shipped directly to them. Or, if they're not in North America, give them the equivalent cost of the console in US Dollars via bank transfer, Paypal, or Amazon gift card.
Head on over to the Daily Esports forums for more details. Good luck!
Holloween. Ichabod Lame. Pumpkin spice blahtte.
These are all subheaders I was itching to use in the event that Pumpkin Jack turned out bad. Unfortunate for my anticipatory pun production, Pumpkin Jack isn't bad. It's not great, but it's definitely more treats than tricks.
Contest: Win The Jackbox Party Pack 7 for PC or consoles
In today's contest you can win The Jackbox Party Pack 7 for Switch, PS4, Xbox One, or Steam!
Do you know Jack? I haven't known a Jack since middle school, and I'd like to keep it that way. But Jackbox? Yeah, that's fun! Who doesn't like fun party games?
The Jackbox Party Pack 7 just rolled out last week, so why not win yourself a free copy?
Cblogs of 10/17 to 10/23/2020: Hades, Stadia, and Disco Resident Evil
Cblogs Recap: Week 43
-Kerrik52 reviews MediEvil: Resurrection as part of his Traveler in Playtime review blogs.
-Somniferous thinks that the next gen games and Google Stadia are made for each other.
-Black Red Gaming shares his thoughts on the rogue-like game, Before Liftoff: Roboquest.
-NarcosGalactico reviews Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
-Sam van der Meer remembers a wonderful strategy guide to Shadow of the Colossus.
-BRAVO F1VE reviews Hades which he thinks makes repetition fun.
-Humantofu looks back at Far Cry.
-Virtua Kazama is excited about the upcoming Sonic Hacking Contest.
-Agent9 continues his daily journals in October for another week.
-ChronoLynxx opens yet another TGIF thread for the community to chat in.
Review: Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods - Part One
For Doom, hope springs eternal.
I know it seems counterintuitive for a game based around the powers of hell, but even if the series starts to slip and falter, eventually, someone will make a new Doom and it will, in all likelihood, hit the mark. It has a better track record than a lot of other shooter franchises; namely due to the respect the pedigree demands.
Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal managed to keep the good times rolling. Now, it's time for DLC.
Review: The Jackbox Party Pack 7
Ah, here we are with another installment of The Jackbox Party Pack, the insanely popular virtual party game enterprise that takes every nerd's house by storm each year - although perhaps it's now more mainstream, as my parents are starting to take part and there are now explicitly family-friendly settings and options!
So, without further ado, I present this year's games.
Vs. Soccer is this week's Arcade Archives release
Sometimes, it can be tough to recommend the weekly Arcade Archive release. For every re-run on Sunset Riders, or Garou: Mark of the Wolves, Hamster gives us a truly antiquated title such as Front Line or, in this week's case, Vs. Soccer, now available to download on Nintendo Switch.
Originally released for the NES in 1985, Soccer is one of the earliest, and thus most rudimentary digital examples of "The Beautiful Game." One or two players face off on the field in very basic soccer action, choosing from a selection of seven world squads and playing in 15-45 minute halfs (in-game time, of course). Not only was Soccer the first football title to be played from a horizontal view, but it even features cheerleaders!
You can check out the action in the video below, courtesy of YouTuber Retro MGV.
Now don't get me wrong, I love all of these old-school games, they're titles I grew up with and shaped my formative years. It remains a hard ask to encourage customers to spend $8 on a download of Vs. Soccer for their Nintendo Switch. There are obviously far better titles, for the same price tag, within Hamster's own Arcade Archive range, let alone on the eShop. Thus titles such as Vs. Soccer are recommended for old-school completionists only.
Can Marvel's Avengers pull a No Man's Sky and totally redeem itself?
It's no secret that Marvel's Avengers isn't in the best of places right now. Yes, it sold big in September, enough to top Super Mario 3D All-Stars as the month's top title on the NPD charts, but it's struggling, and with new consoles and several massive titles on the horizon, things are not going to get easier for Crystal Dynamics. But just because it's down now doesn't mean it's out. As we've seen with No Man's Sky, developers can pull their games back from the brink.
That's just one of the topics on this episode of Podtoid. CJ, Charlotte, Occams, and Dan chat about Marvel's Avengers, Ring Fit Adventure, Dragon Quest Tact, and Spooky Encounters. All that, plus you shouldn't rap about real crimes you're committing, on Podtoid Episode 463.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice GOTY update launches October 28
Activision has announced an official release date for the Game of the Year edition for its intense medieval adventure Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The free update will arrive on October 28, adding a selection of fresh new features to FromSoft's highly acclaimed title.
Alongside a run of bug fixes and balance tweaks, the update will add the all-new "boss rush" modes Reflection of Strength and Gauntlet of Strength, which will put the skills hardened players have learned thus far to the ultimate test. Also featured is the new "Remnants" mechanic, which allows players to record some of their coolest and most memorable in-game moments to showcase for the rest of the Sekiro community.
Whatcha been playing this week, Destructoid?
Hello again, folks, and welcome to the weekend. As if this was exceedingly possible, we are already at the end of October. This means many things. Winter is approaching, annual gaming releases are on the horizon, a new console generation is upon us, and many are starting to gear up for the holiday season. But this year is no ordinary year, and who knows how the holiday season will play out in 2020. One thing's for certain though, it's almost my birthday, and at the end of the day, isn't that what really matters?
I've bounced between a few titles this week. I rounded up my time with Gamemill's G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout, and I leapt in the claret-swishing, boob-bouncing world of the Onee Chanbara Origin remake for PS4. Double-A Moyse. That's what they call me in the staff room... If anyone talked to me. Look out for my thoughts on the insane anime hack 'n' slash title soon. Oh, and also some major release set in London.
But let's hear your thoughts. That's what we're here for. Whether you're playing games old or new, bad or good, a new experience or a familiar favorite, take a few minutes to jump into the comments below and share your time-killers with us - especially if you are actually playing Time Killers. Thanks for always being a part of this weekly discourse, I love you for it. Oh, and if you haven't, maybe take a gander at our forums.
Have a safe and pleasant weekend, from all of us at Destructoid.
Contest: Win Pumpkin Jack for Switch, Steam, or Xbox One
In today's contest you can win Halloweeny action game Pumpkin Jack for Switch, Steam, or Xbox One!
You know what really sucks? Nobody makes seasonal 3D mascot action-platformers anymore! They used to be a dime a dozen, but then every game needed to sell eight million copies or it was deemed a disappointment, so now nobody makes them anymore. Thank God Pumpkin Jack exists!
Win a copy for Switch, Steam, or Xbox One and celebrate Halloween with a nice retro mascot platformer.
This Halloween trailer for Little Nightmares II got me to pick up the first game
Where would you rank Little Nightmares among horror-tinged platformers?
I've been contemplating cracking it open while the fall mood is in full effect, and this Halloween trailer for Little Nightmares II is nudging me in that direction. I don't want to jump straight into the sequel for lore reasons, and... what's that? It's on sale for five bucks on the PlayStation Store? Okay fine, I'm in.
In an ideal world, Little Nightmares II would be out this month for maximum spookiness, but Tarsier is holding off until February 11, at which point the sequel will launch on all of the current consoles, including the Nintendo Switch. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X editions won't show up until later in 2021, and when they do, Bandai Namco will have a free upgrade path for PS4 and Xbox One players.
Also, it's interesting to see Little Nightmares II get such an extravagant collector's edition – I didn't necessarily realize people were that into this series. The Mokujin mask collectible is cute and creepy.
I'm rooting for this one (and also Little Hope). The trailer is hitting the right notes for me.
Gears 5 is getting a story add-on in December
Gears 5 isn't dead. Well, technically, no one thought it was. Developer The Coalition has been steadily supporting the multiplayer side, as Gears continues to make a push to be an esport game. But, in a surprising move, Gears 5 is getting some post-launch content that no game in the series has gotten since Gears of War 3: Story DLC.
In an interview with IGN, The Coalition confirms that Gears 5 is getting an add-on in December that's called Hivebusters. It features Keegan, Lahni, and Mac, which is the trio of protagonists in the Escape mode. It's not a giant piece of content, as it's estimated to take three or four hours to play through. It's also coming to PC, Xbox Series S/X, and Xbox One, along with optimizations for new consoles. No other details were given, including a story overview or whether this is a free or paid-for add-on.
Zombies Onslaught is a PlayStation exclusive in Black Ops Cold War until November 2021
PlayStation has another timed-exclusive mode squared away for Call of Duty (like last year's Special Ops Survival), and this time it's the Zombies Onslaught mode in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.
Before you do a spit-take, heads-up: this is not the traditional Zombies mode (which everyone can play regardless of their platform). Instead, Zombies Onslaught is its own rank-based activity where two co-op buddies fend off zombie hordes from within a protective Dark Aether Orb that moves around.
"By achieving a specific rank, you will unlock useful rewards for use across Zombies and Multiplayer," said Activision. "Each season, new maps and rewards will be introduced for PS4 and PS5 players."
This looks like precisely the sort of thing Activision would be willing to lock some of its audience out of for a full year. Literally! Onslaught won't be playable on "other platforms" until November 1, 2021.
A closer look at Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Zombies Onslaught mode [PlayStation Blog]
Here's the Brotherhood of Steel in action in Fallout 76
Big lugs lumbering around in their Power Armor, toting their laser beam-shooting gatling guns. That can mean only one thing. The Brotherhood of Steel is here to impose its will with a gruff attitude and self-righteous ideologies. And with big guns.
Fallout 76's Bombs Drop Day is here (along with a whole in-game event), and it comes with the first official trailer for the upcoming Steel Dawn expansion. That's the update that finally brings the Brotherhood of Steel to Appalachia. Fallout's most familiar faces (err, helmets) have nearly arrived.
It's not just the big guys who are new in Steel Dawn. Bethesda says the expansion will also add: "new NPCs, new locations, and new gear to the game. It will also add features, like C.A.M.P. Shelters, a host of rewards, including weapons, armor, and C.A.M.P. Plans, the return of the Holiday Scorched Seasonal Event, and a variety of additional gameplay improvements."
Anyone who's playing on the test server doesn't have to rely on a trailer to see the Brotherhood. Some Steel Dawn quests are available on the PTS, which is open for all Bethesda.net users. If you're unwilling or unable to hit the PTS, the Steel Dawn update is currently scheduled for December.
Fallout 76: Inside the Vault -- Steel Dawn Trailer, Bombs Drop Events & More! [Bethesda]
If I haven't seen it, it's new to me!
Given that I'm in the middle of a Zelda: Breath of the Wild replay now, it's amazing to see fresh videos and revelations pop up to this day. We're coming up on the fourth anniversary of Breath of the Wild in early 2021 and things are still surprising me. This time, for instance, I actually watched live as the Tarrey Town map was filled in: knowing what I know now. Going forward, I'm also going to listen to the SOS signals from Divine Beasts.
Although it was discovered back in 2017 by several players, I never really caught on to the fact that the theme song for each Divine Beast contains an "SOS" morse code signal. This caught my eye thanks to a ResetEra post, which pretty much blew my mind. I always felt like something was going on with the themes there, but never put two and two together.
Like many Breath of the Wild fan theories, there's a lot to unpack here. ResetEra user Jadow suggests that each SOS is conveyed in turn with the urgency of each Champion (a theory blogger Liquid-Geodes surmised in 2019): like Revali's signal coming in late as a result of his boisterous and prideful personality. The thought of all of these characters dying horrible deaths from Ganon's Scourges and trying to call for help makes the context that much more horrifying.
So you are telling me there is a SOS distress signal hidden in music for each Divine Beast? [ResetEra]
Apex Legends slips to 2021 on Nintendo Switch as the Steam edition locks in a November launch
In an effort to not "rush anything out," Respawn Entertainment is delaying the Nintendo Switch version of Apex Legends into 2021. At the same time, they're feeling confident about the Steam release – it's set for November 4, 2020. If you're migrating from Origin, everything you've unlocked will "carry over."
In a blog post, game director Chad Grenier said the team working on Apex's Switch port needs more time to "do justice to the game and make it into the great experience Switch players deserve."
He also reiterated that Apex Legends on Switch will have cross-platform multiplayer and, crucially, it will be up to date on the seasonal schedule and have "full feature parity with the other versions."
In terms of a wider cross-platform progression system, the developers are "passionate" about finding a solution and they're "looking at our options available," Grenier commented on Reddit. "Much harder post-launch since users may have multiple accounts to merge or use," he explained. "Easier with Steam because it's at launch. We'll give an update when we have something to talk about."
As for the Steam edition, it's out the same day as Season 7. Don't forget about that Headcrab charm.
Launch Updates: Apex Legends on Steam and Nintendo Switch [EA]
Xbox seems likely to bundle TV streaming sticks with Game Pass
Xbox wasn't kidding about bringing Game Pass and game streaming to every possible device. They're available -- either as a single service or a duo thing -- on consoles, PC, and Android phones and tablets. Game streaming is coming to PC and web browsers sometime in the near future. There's very likely an unforeseen platform jumping in the mix.
In an interview with Stratechery (behind a paywall but reported on by The Verge), Xbox head Phil Spencer discussed a possible strategy for getting Game Pass on televisions. Spencer said "I think you're going to see lower priced hardware as part of our ecosystem when you think about streaming sticks and other things that somebody might want to just go plug into their TV and go play via xCloud."
It's Xbox by way of the Amazon Fire stick or Google Chromecast. However, Spencer envisions a way to completely tie it into Xbox Game Pass. "You could imagine us even having something that we just included in the Game Pass subscription that gave you an ability to stream xCloud games to your television and buying the controller," he elaborated.
This would fill an important void in the Xbox family. It'd allow users to essentially play Xbox games without owning any Xbox hardware beyond the TV stick. It'd feel like the traditional game-playing experience -- much moreso than playing on your phone with a mount -- and in the easiest way to buy into the Xbox ecosystem. The cloud has opened up a world of possibilities for Microsoft's gaming division.
An Interview with Microsoft Executive Vice-President of Gaming Phil Spencer [Stratechery via The Verge]
R-Type Final 2 headed west in spring 2021, courtesy of NIS America
Publisher NIS America has officially announced that it will be bringing a localization of Granzella's R-Type Final 2 to the west next year. The pseudo-sequel/remake will launch in North America and Europe on PS4, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch in spring 2021.
Designed as a love letter to Irem's genre-defining shmup series, R-Type Final 2 features all of the high-intensity intergalactic action of the classic titles but spruced up with modern-day visuals and powerful sound. Players can choose from one of a selection of vessels taken from the series' storied history, before taking to the stars in a new mission against the evil Bydo empire.
R-Type Final 2 went into development in the summer of 2019, after a massively successful Kickstarter campaign that saw fans raise double the targeted $400,000 in less than a week. Various stretch goal targets have been met, which adds new ships and customization options, as well as side-modes such as Ghost and Time Attack. It's all shaping up to be a great release, and a must-have for fans of classic arcade action.
The Outer Worlds and its expansions arrive on Steam and GOG
From the moment the initial trailer of The Outer Worlds dropped, where it brazenly declared that it was from the developers of "The original" Fallout and Fallout: New Vegas, it was a game that I knew I needed in my life. Then the inevitable happened when Epic Games Store snapped it up as a timed exclusive, which I can't blame Obsidian for since the game uses Unreal Engine 4 and there are a lot of incentives in place to cozy up to Epics storefront for games that use their engine.
While I've not been overly vocal about it, I've not been happy with how Epic has been handing their attempt to carve out a niche in the PC storefront market. Being the stubborn Jersey boy that I am though, I decided my enjoyment was able to be put on hold for a year all in the name of the greater good. Despite it being my most anticipated game of 2019, I settled in for the long slumber as I prepared to wait a year for The Outer Worlds to come to another storefront.
I awake today from my slumber to see that The Outer Worlds has escaped its bounds on the Epic Games Store (and Xbox Games Pass for PC) and is now available on both Steam and GOG. The Peril on Gorgon expansion is also being released day one which means if one so chooses you can get it all with no need to wait.
While the game is launching at full price despite the year since the initial release, there is a hefty sale going on for the Steam release through November 6 to the tune of 50% off the base game. Those wanting the expansion pass will still have to pay full price though. The sale on the base game is also present on GOG but there is no indication of when that sale will end.
I know at least a handful of people like me who waited this incredibly long year (remember when Covid-19 wasn't a thing?) to play what was eventually named Destructoid's Game of the Year. To those people I will quote the great Alton Brown: "Your patience has been rewarded."
The Outer Worlds [Steam]
Blade Runner: Enhanced Edition delayed for the foreseeable future
Nightdive Studios has announced that its remaster of Westwood's 1997 point-and-click adventure Blade Runner will no longer meet its 2020 release date, with no replacement date offered in its stead.
In an in-depth interview with Eurogamer, Nightdive Studios CEO Stephen Kick explained that the team had found the production of the remaster difficult, with numerous hurdles thrown up due to the nature of the original title's production and struggles in locating elements of the adventure's original source code. It's a fascinating article, candidly explaining the difficulties experienced in the process of remastering the decades-old and relatively cult PC release.
In September, Nightdive Studios released a comparison video showcasing the original Blade Runner cinematics in their new and remastered form. This unfortunately did not go over too well with some fans, who felt the upscale was too "clean," losing some of the grit and atmosphere of the original game. It seems that Nightdive still has some work to go before Blade Runner: Enhanced Edition's completion, but hopefully the project will see the light of day at some point in the future.
Replicating Blade Runner: why the adventure game is so tough to remaster [Eurogamer]
Final Fantasy XIV just got another huge patch with 5.35
For most MMOs, a "middle patch" typically isn't that huge. But Final Fantasy XIV is not most MMOs. Although Patch 5.3 gave us the goods with a gigantic storyline injection and several major encounters (including more NieR raid!), this week, 5.35 is filling in some of the cracks.
5.35's big claim to fame is a series of sidequests, which involve the Blades of Gunnhildr, as well as another questline called Skysteel Tools. The former is a lengthy one, worthy of logging back into the game if you're the type of person who likes to partake in those sorts of non MSQ (main story quest) goings-on.
For everyone else, the New Game+ mode got a few upgrades. Now chapters are unlocked from the Realm Reborn portion (read: the 2.0 edition from 2013), which allows you to replay content individually. Note, however, that when you replay stuff, it will "not include main scenario quests as they appeared prior to revisions made in 5.3." In other words, it's using the revised streamlined framework.
The really cool thing about all this is that you can replay Chapter 1 and skip all of the tutorials: like you just re-rolled a new character, but without some of the fluff. New Game+ can also be unlocked a little earlier with the "Ultimate Weapon" quest. Oh, and new wards have been added to each residential district (read: more houses), new Triple Triad cards are in, as well as the Bozjan southern front (Shadowbringers' version of the "relic" questline), PVP adjustments and more.
Like I said, it's a big one! The Final Fantasy XIV team never stops.
Patch 5.35 [Square Enix]
Magic: Arena adds a Black Lotus pet
Magic: The Gathering Arena just hosted its new Zendikar Rising set alongside of the paper version of Magic, and things are going...better now, following a huge set of bans.
Yes, much to the chagrin of players everywhere Wizards only banned one powerful card (Uro) weeks ago near the beginning of the set and decided to "monitor" the rest of the landscape. That landscape ended up being absolutely dominated by one card (Omnath, one of the characters on many key art pieces of the set): so Wizards nuked it from existence as well as the next powerful archetype that would rise in its place.
For many reasons it's a wild time to be playing Magic, but for the most part, the meta has settled and there are a number of viable decks out there. I'm currently climbing Diamond now with Mono-Red: and not having all of my creatures double-stomped by a Lucky Clover setup is great, let me tell you.
But in-between sets Arena is still getting updated, like this new one that just dropped this week. It fixes a few bugs like infinite (or near infinite) loops and makes it easier to block Menace creatures (cards that must be blocked by two or more creatures). It also adds the (actually) iconic Black Lotus to the game as a pet, which will run you 3,000 gems or 20,000 gold to buy outright; lest you pick up the limited-time bundle that is packaged with the lotus card back.
A bunch of events are also coming to Magic: Arena, which you can view below: those are starting now with quick draft and will run through November 12. Oh, and a bunch of old school lands are available on the store now as skins for your existing lands. It's a modest little patch!
Game Update Highlights [Wizards of the Coast]
