After being announced back in June of 2019, Genshin Impact finally arrives. Is this free to play adventure worth checking out, or should you stick with something else? Check out our review and find out.
Genshin Impact Review
Genshin Impact starts with two twins fighting a mysterious god. You pick one of the twins (either male or female) while the god captures the other one. You are teleported to a different world where you travel with your companion Paimon. Upon reaching one of the first major towns, you find out a dragon is rampaging in the area. You join up with the Knights of Favonius to help restore stability to the area. This inevitably leads to a confrontation with the dragon Stormterror. After beating the dragon, you are sent north to find out more about where your sibling may be.
The story isn't anything extraordinary, but it is interesting enough to keep you engaged. The big problem is that the game is currently not finished, and the story abruptly ends right when it feels like you are about to get some answers. The other problem is that a lot of the main story quests are locked behind your adventure rank. If you don't like the idea of grinding, you won't be seeing the end of this adventure. Even with the unfinished story, you'll easily get 20-30 hours out of the game's central quest.
Genshin Impact is an entirely free to play action RPG that wears its inspirations on its sleeve. Think it looks like Breath of the Wild? Well, it plays a lot like Breath of the Wild. You can climb almost anywhere, do environmental puzzles, find and clear shrines, and Paimon might as well be your Navi. I know that isn't from Breath of the Wild, but still. I'm not saying this is a bad thing; the game does enough of its own thing to make it stand out. However, the combat is different, and you also don't have to worry about weapons breaking.
Admittedly, combat starts out pretty straightforward and bland. Once you have a full team of four people, however, things begin to take off. While a lot of the fighting is spamming both the attack and the elemental attack, combing all the effects from your team can make you feel like a god yourself. Dropping a lighting bird, into a freeze, into a knock-up, into Diluc's flaming falcon is an incredible sight to behold, and will clear almost any enemy camp. It is quick, fluid, and engaging combat that hasn't worn out its welcome some 100 hours later.
Let's talk about the Gacha element of the game. Yes, you can spend real money to buy rolls on new characters. Most games like this shove it in your face and remind you constantly that the store is there. However, Genshin Impact does it once and then leaves you alone. You can earn the currency in the game by doing quests, opening chests, doing achievements, and just grinding in general. I don't play many Gacha games, but this one is about as unintrusive as it can be while still having the system in place. The biggest downside to it is the extremely low rate of 5-star characters. 0.7% is simply too low, even in this type of game.
In an industry where games are becoming easier and easier, with more and more crap on maps, Genshin Impact says no. There are a few things on your maps – warp points, shrines, and towns – but the rest is up to you. Exploring the world is very rewards because around every corner is another puzzle, chest, camp to clear, something extraordinary to see, or a hidden quest. It is invigorating to be rewarded for your ability to search through nooks and crannies. When everything is on the map, it feels like a chore, something many developers don't understand. Genshin Impact gives you a bit of direction, but for the most part tells you to do your own thing, and it works well.
If everything sounds good so far, let me tell you a little about the grind. While you will make leaps and bounds in terms of upgrades in the first 20 or so hours of the game, it becomes a slog past that. There are not enough quests in the game currently to support how far the main quest goes. You will often find yourself two or three ranks below the main story's requirement with no quests to be found. This isn't a problem for someone who likes to explore and find secrets. I didn't really hit a severe wall until about rank 35, and that was because I've cleared most of the areas out. That is also about 100 hours deep, so I got plenty of time in.
One huge problem in the game currently is the Resin system. Resin is a currency you use to get rewards from dungeons and to do other end game stuff like world bosses. Is restores slowly, costs way too much for less than stellar rewards, and the primary world bosses (of which there are currently only two) respawn weekly. There are items that restore some Resin, but it never fully restores it. A quick and simple fix would be to have your Fragile Resin items fully restore your Resin. It isn't a long term solution, but it would currently give end game players more to do in the game.
I waited to do this review until the first "new" event occurred, which has recently dropped. This is a co-op event where you grind enemies and deliver orbs to a pillar. It's basic, but it is a nice addition for players looking for more to do. The event has shown me just how weak the co-op is in this game, though. It is always laggy, literally 100% of the time. The event will bug from time to time, and you have to leave and reset. That means you load in, and it bugs, you load out, you have to load in again and hope it doesn't bug again. It is still early days, but co-op desperately needs a boost to be viable long term.
Worst-case scenario, Genshin Impact will cost you a few hours of your life. Best-case scenario, it will be your surprise hit of the year. There are zero reasons not to at least try this title if you are a fan of action RPGs.
After being announced back in June of 2019, Genshin Impact finally arrives. Is this free to play adventure worth checking out, or should you stick with something else? Check out our review and find
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Assassin's Creed Valhalla Gets Deep Dive Trailer
Ahead of its release next month, learn everything you need to know about Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Valhalla with the deep dive trailer for the game.
Players will be able to carve their own path to glory in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, utilizing a number of RPG mechanics to shape the growth of their character. These mechanics will also factor into political alliances, combat strategy, dialogue, and gear progression. Each Viking raider is unique, and can be shared online with friends for their own raids.
Combat also plays a major role in the game, with players being able to dual wield weapons like swords, axes, and shields. Making use of the fighting style made famous by Viking warriors, players will be able to decapitate foes, assassinate topics, and take them down from afar.
As players explore Norway and England, they'll be able to construct and upgrade buildings. Buildings include barracks, blacksmiths, tattoo parlors, and more. Fishing, hunting, drinking games, and more will also make an appearance in each of these locales.
Learn more with the trailer below:
Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Deep Dive Trailer | Ubisoft [NA]
The game will come out for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PC (via the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Store), and Google Stadia on November 10, 2020. The game will also come out for the PlayStation 5 when that console launches on November 12, 2020.
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Cosplay Wednesday – G.I. Joe's Ripper
Based on the IDW comic series, G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout brings the time-honored series to a new generation of consoles. As players take on the role of Duke, Snake Eyes, and the Cobra Commander, Gamers Heroes takes a look at a spot-on cosplay of Ripper.
As a huge fan of the series, negativedreamer's cosplay of G.I. Joe was a bit surreal for him when this cosplay made its appearance at Megacon 2012 and 2013. As he mentioned, having a mohawk for the first time in his life took a bit of getting used to.
G.I. Joe Ripper Cosplay
Credit goes to Nathan Carter and stillreflection for the photos.
You can find negativedreamer on DeviantArt here and on Facebook here.
Do you enjoy a bit of gaming cosplay? Or maybe you're passionate enough to do it full time. Drop me a line at casey@gamersheroes.com and we'll feature some of your cosplay.
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Xbox Series S Gets Backward Compatibility Framerate Demo
Curious as to how the Xbox Series S will handle backwards compatibility? Microsoft has released a new technical demo that shows Fallout 4's performance in action.
In this technical demo, the team shows how they have effectively doubled the framerate of Fallout 4 from 30 frames per second to 60 frames per second on the Xbox Series S.
You can watch the video below:
Xbox Series S Backward Compatibility Frame Rate Technical Demo – Fallout 4
To prepare for the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X's backwards compatibility, more than 500,000 hours of gameplay testing across four generations of Xbox were performed. Note that backward compatible games will run natively on both the Xbox Series X and S, utilizing the full power of the CPU, GPU and SSD.
Each title will also see significant reductions in load times through the use of the system's custom NVME SSD. A new feature named Auto HDR, which adds HDR enhancements to games shipped with SDR, will also be included for these titles.Finally, the Xbox Series S and the Xbox Series X will feature 16x anisotropic filtering for nearly all backward compatible titles.
Both the Xbox Series S and the Xbox Series X will launch in North America on November 10, 2020.
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A short interactive tale, Far Few Giants and De Fault The Night Fisherman tells of a fisherman, an Englishman, and a seascape draped in twilight. Should players climb aboard, or does this tale not hold water?
The Night Fisherman Review
As one would expect from the title, players take control of the fisherman Mr. Gardiner on a small boat. Sailing the seas in search of his next catch, he is soon visited by Churchill of the English Protection Group. Striking up a conversation with this armed man, he discusses his vocation, the state of the world, and what he is currently doing out this time of night.
However, one quickly learns that things are not what they seem. Churchill is known as the kidfisher, and he is on a mission to stop the smuggling of immigrants into England. There's just one problem – you currently have an immigrant hidden onboard. Needless to say, things get very tense very quickly, and you quickly learn how diabolical this visitor really is.
This premise sets the stage for a standoff between the two, but The Night Fisherman just doesn't take things far enough. Set up like a visual novel, the only control players are given is between two different options at key points of the story. Some choices, like which type of bait to use, have little impact on the world. However, one would expect heavier decisions dealing with compliance to matter more.
No matter which option players choose, the story remains largely the same. We played through the title multiple times and saw little chance between each option. The average playthrough clocks in at around 15 minutes depending on how fast one reads the dialog, so hypothetically players can see every single outcome in around a half hour. There is the option to see the world from different perspectives, but it's insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Note that there are no achievements in this title, though the development team did leave a message at the end that future short stories are planned in the coming months.
With this short length, there's just not enough runway to actively convey a long form story. It dangles an interesting premise in front of the player, then forgets to do anything with it. The illusion of choice also hurts the game as well – with a lack of variety between playthroughs and little input from the player, The Night Fisherman could have just as well worked as a short film, as opposed to a video game.
The presentation of this title is commendable though. Though it is low poly and dark by nature, it still manages to stand out with its own unique style. Sound design is somewhat limited, mostly relegated to crashing waves and the occasional sound effect, but it does set the eerie and ominous mood of the game quite well.
The narrative of The Night Fisherman sets the stage for something great, but the short length and illusion of choice lacks the follow-through to really make an impact.
After being announced back in June of 2019, Genshin Impact finally arrives. Is this free to play adventure worth checking out, or should you stick with something else? Check out our review and find
A short interactive tale, Far Few Giants and De Fault The Night Fisherman tells of a fisherman, an Englishman, and a seascape draped in twilight. Should players climb aboard, or does this tale not
Seventeen years after the last Rogue Squadron, Star Wars: Squadrons flies in to fill the void. Was the wait worth it, or should we hold out for remasters of the Rogue Squadron series? Check out our
OlegM, using Namco's 1985 title Battle City as inspiration, has created the new tank battler Tank Battle. Tasking players with protecting their homeland from advancing enemy forces, should players
The post The Night Fisherman Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.
Prinny 1•2: Exploded and Reloaded Gets Launch Trailer
To mark its launch on the Nintendo Switch today, NIS America has released a new trailer for their challenging platform combo pack Prinny 1•2: Exploded and Reloaded.
In the original title, players will slash, jump, and combo their way through different stages of the Netherworld. A number of bosses stand in this Prinny's way to get the ultimate dessert, and both new and familiar faces will make their appearance.
The sequel will have players making use of the Combo Gauge to unleash moves like the Prinny Cyclone and Prinnykaze. A bonus story with the other Disgaea protagonist has also been included.
This collection features newly remastered graphics, along with all of the DLC that made its way to the original releases.
Learn more with the launch trailer below:
Prinny 1•2: Exploded and Reloaded – Launch Trailer (Nintendo Switch)
Note that both games in Prinny 1•2: Exploded and Reloaded are bundled together through the physical Just Desserts Limited Edition. For those who would rather go digital, Prinny 1: Can I Really Be The Hero and Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood! Can be purchased separately on the Nintendo eShop.
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Legendary Ruddy Moose Sighting Mission This Week in Red Dead Online
The imposing (and elusive) Legendary Ruddy Moose has made its way to Rockstar Games' Red Dead Online this week.
Spotted within the wood and foliage of Tall Trees, the Legendary Ruddy Moose can be studied or hunted this week. Kick things off by going to Harriet to launch this Sighting Mission. Those that bring its hide to Gus Macmillan's Trapper Store will be able to get themselves an imposing coat and cowl. Note that Gus will also pay 50% extra on all Bear Pelt Sales over the next week. To aid in the hunt, baits are half off and all Shotguns and the Elephant Rifle are 40% off at Gunsmiths.
A range of new locations are now available for Shootout in this week's Featured Series. Free for all and team variations include Blackwater, The Manor, Bolger Glade's historic battlefield, the docks of Saint Denis, and the frontier outpost of Tumbleweed.
This is the final week for the latest iteration of the Wheeler Rawson & Co. Club and The Outlaw Pass No. 3. Make sure to nab the Golden Spirit Buckle or the Bandit Mask up to October 19.
All this week, Outlaw Pass No. 3 owners will also receive 10 Special Health Cures, 5 pieces of Lost Jewelry and 200 rounds of Sedative Ammo. Those past Rank 50 will receive a select colorway version of the Griffith Chaps and the Caffyns Hat.
All those that play Red Dead Online now through October 19 will net a Reward for 5 Blending Tonics and 50 rounds of Nitro Express Ammo. Those that Hunt or Sedate the Legendary Ruddy Moose will be able to get themselves a free Off-hand Holster (Rank 70 or below).
Finally, Red Dead Online players that have connected their Rockstar Games Social Club account to their Prime Gaming account will receive Rewards for the following:
- 5 Free Legendary Animal Pheromones
- 6,000 Naturalist XP
- A free Wilderness Camp
- A Free Katata Coat crafted from the Legendary Katata Elk hide
Those connected to Prime Gaming before October 19 will receive an Accessory or Emote of their choice, a Reward for a free Bar Theme and Outfit, 6,000 Club XP and 10X each of Gin, Brandy, Rum, Baked Beans and Jolly Jack's.
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Watch Dogs: Legion Gets "Reclaim Your Future" Trailer
Discover how players will be able to join the Resistance with the latest trailer for Ubisoft's Watch Dogs: Legion.
In this title, players will rise up as they infiltrate, hack, and fight their way to a liberated London. To achieve this goal, players will be able to recruit an entire population of potential allies, and can make use of the city's technology.
Learn more with the trailer below:
Watch Dogs: Legion – Reclaim Your Future Trailer
The sequel to Watch Dogs 2 (you can read our review of that title here), Watch Dogs: Legion puts the spotlight on the London branch of hacker group DedSec. All of the landmarks, boroughs, and cultural styles of London are present and accounted for, and players will be able to navigate the city through parkour moves, a number of different vehicles, and through the city's many Underground stations. For those looking to fight, combat focuses on a mixture of hand-to-hand battles and the use of lethal and non-lethal firearms.
The game will come out on October 29, 2020 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Google Stadia. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X versions of the game will launch when those respective systems release. Those that pre-order now can get the Golden King pack.
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Kin'emon Coming to One Piece Pirate Warriors 4
As the first character in One Piece Pirate Warriors 4's Character Pack 3, "Foxfire" Kin'emon will make his way to Bandai Namco's game soon.
A samurai from Wano Country and the leader of the Nine Red Scabbards, Kin'emon is one of the central allies of the Straw Hats during both the Four Emperors and the Dressrosa Sagas. He makes use of a pair of katana that have identical flame-patterned sheaths on them.
YouTuber AlexSwagS has compiled all of the screenshots to date of this character in one convenient video below:
One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 Kin'emon Gameplay Screenshots (DLC Pack 3)
Now available for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam, One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 makes some alterations to the unfinished Wano arc. Four new multiplayer modes (Giant Boss Battle, Total Bounty Battle, Timed Defense Battle, and Territory Battle) have also been included, along with a new game mode called "Titan Mode." 43 characters in all are playable in this hack-and-slash.
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Guilty Gear -Strive- Coming April 6, 2021
Described as a fresh start for the series by the development team at Arc System Works, the latest trailer for Guilty Gear -Strive- confirmed that the game will come out on April 6, 2021 for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Steam.
Much like the Guilty Gear Xrd releases (you can read our review of REV 2 here), Guilty Gear -Strive- will feature cutting edge 3D anime-style graphics, a fully animated story, and deep combat.
New mechanics to the game include the wall-stick hit-state (which can have players break the wall), revised Dust attacks and Roman Cancels, tweaks to the Gatling system, and different recovery motions.
Learn more with the trailer below:
Guilty Gear -Strive- Release Date Announcement Trailer [English]
Note that the Deluxe and Ultimate Edition of the game will launch on April 6, 2021, while the Standard Edition of the game will launch on April 9, 2021. For those looking to get ahead of the game, pre-orders for the title are now open, with special colors for Sol Badguy and Ky Kiske available as an early purchase bonus.
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