Dragon Quest XI S has a 10-hour Definitive Edition demo on PC, PS4, and Xbox One
If you're in the mood for Dragon Quest XI S and want to get a head-start on December's Definitive Edition release for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, there's a meaty new demo on all three platforms.
The demo spans "the entirety of the opening chapters," according to Square Enix, and apart from being able to transfer your file to the full game, you'll earn three stat-boosting Seed of Skill items as a bonus. It's pretty wild to think about a demo exceeding the length (and quality) of full commercial games.
There's a lot packed into this version of Dragon Quest XI, hence that long-ass name. This improved port of the Nintendo Switch game runs better and has all of the previous niceties like the orchestrated soundtrack, an ultra-fast speed toggle, Japanese VO, and the nostalgia-inducing top-down 2D mode.
Things get a little funky when you look into side-by-side-by-side comparisons of Dragon Quest XI, the Switch edition, and this Definitive Edition release, but I think the pros far outweigh the cons.
Is it just me, or has there been an influx of unusually generous game demos lately? I'm in heaven.
Podtoid starts November by remembering its favorite Treehouse of Horror episodes
There are many great autumn traditions we celebrate in this country. Pumpkin-spiced everything, Thanksgiving, radio stations playing Christmas music way too damn early, but my favorite tradition is taking time to watch the newest "Treehouse of Horror" episode on The Simpsons. Are they are good as they used to be? Nah, but they're still usually better than the rest of the season.
That's just one of the topics on this episode of Podtoid. CJ, Chris, Occams, and Charlotte talk TV, No More Heroes, Duolingo, Silent Hill, and Cruel Jaws. All that, plus we answer some listener questions, on Podtoid Episode 465.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot just added a free card battle mode and I'm getting Triple Triad flashbacks
Final Fantasy VIII. Final Fantasy XIV. The Witcher 3. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. Am I just naming cool RPGs, or games that have card battlers inside of them? Both!
The onslaught of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot DLC and updates continues, as Bandai Namco just recently added the free new mode "Card Warriors," which allows players to build decks and take on opponents...in card form. This joins the Time Machine mechanic (that lets you go back and repeat previous content) and two major DLC packs (one of which is still on the way).
The below video will give you a gist of the game, which should be enough to judge whether or not it's worth booting up or re-installing your copy. In short, you build your deck with 25 character or event cards, as well as five "SP" cards (which are triggered by combinations of event cards). Your job is to defeat your opponent by knocking down their health total (much like Magic or Hearthstone): simple enough! It even uses the Hearthstone "mana" style economy, with the power to "bank" energy once.
As someone who regularly plays a ton of deckbuilders (Marvel Champions, Lord of the Rings LCG, Arkham Horror: The Card game, Magic, Hearthstone), I'm glad that card games are still so prolific in just about every corner of media.
Raw Fury's Kingdom is free on Humble right now
"My kingdom for a horse." King Richard III would've done well to live 500 years later because Kingdom is free and it comes with a horse.
Humble is doing that thing again where it gives away games for keepsies. This time it's Raw Fury's Kingdom, the side-scrolling simulation game where you ride a horse and everyone tries to steal your gold and your crown. Kingdom is good enough that it spawned two highly-regarded sequels.
Anyway, go hit up Humble if you want a no-strings-attached freebie. The promo ends on November 9. I promise to never bastardize the words of Shakespeare like that again. That first paragraph was far more tragedy than comedy.
Kingdom: Classic [Humble]
You have until November 22 to celebrate World of Warcraft's 16th anniversary
Ever since I created my Orc Warlock 16 years ago, I've been playing World of Warcraft annually. That sounds pretty crazy out loud now that I think about it.
Nearly two decades of playing the game same: a sentiment that many have eye-rolled over the years as they waxed poetic about the "good days" of WoW and how they no longer play it (or in the case of several people, have gotten out of games entirely). People change, and so has World of Warcraft.
Blizzard is cashing in on that nostalgia, as they do every year, with a 16th anniversary celebration in-game that lasts until November 22. Check your Azeroth mailbox for a gift package, which includes: 200 Timewarped Badges, an experience and reputation boost item (16% for one hour) and a "Letter from the Timewalkers" questline item. There's also an event that involves WoW trivia if you head to Historian Llore in Stormwind or Historian Ju'pa in Orgrimmar.
Oh, plus "level 30 and above" characters can fight Lord Kazzak, Azuregos and "one of the four Dragons of Nightmare" each day for extra loot and 50 Timewarped Badges. You may recall the former name from one of the first WoW viral videos where he was kited to Stormwind. Ah, back when YouTube videos were harmless and in glorious 240p.
Finally, Alterac Valley has been added as a "throwback battleground" (PVP) in the form of Korrak's Revenge. I can't wait to log back in and mess around with all this stuff before the imminent release of the expansion.
Celebrate 16 Years of World of Warcraft [Battle.net]
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart won't be on PS4, according to Insomniac
Some of the first big PlayStation 5 games we saw this year – Sackboy, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and even Horizon Forbidden West – will also be playable on PlayStation 4. But that should be it, at least as far as Sony-backed titles go. Another big-hitter, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, will only launch on PS5.
It's easy to point to Rift Apart's SSD-dependent dimension-hopping design and shrug off the notion that this game could ever possibly get an inferior PS4 version, but if Horizon Forbidden West can make a dual PS4/PS5 release happen (which I'm curious – and anxious – to see play out), then who's to say?
Well, how about Insomniac itself? The studio reiterated Rift Apart's PS5-only status on Twitter.
It’s a PS5 exclusive
— Insomniac Games (@insomniacgames) November 2, 2020
We weren't led to believe otherwise, but on the off-chance there were any lingering doubts, there you go. (The responses to this tweet, as with all tweets about any conceivable topic, are pretty ridiculous.)
As an aside, as much as the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S are in the spotlight right now, it's nice to consider folks who are sticking with their current consoles that will still have a few more (seemingly) great games to look forward to. The PS4 has had such a strong "final" year – if you even want to call it that.
[Via Eurogamer]
The new Gungrave game is still alive, here's a new brief look at it
In case you missed it, developer Iggymob gave us a detailed look at the new Gungrave game (that's still scheduled to be released on PS4 by the end of this year in Japan). Yes, I said "new Gungrave game."
Despite the misstep with the VR game, Gungrave G.O.R.E is decidedly not a VR title, nor is it a retread. Instead, it's the first mainline release in the series in many years; following the 2002 release of the PS2 original, the 2003 anime, and the 2004 Overdose sequel. It's a monumental moment for fans, like if the Trigun game Planet Gunsmoke was suddenly revived out of the blue. In the tease we get to see Beyond the Grave himself (albeit with his back to us) facing down an Orgman enemy, as well as a new look for the Death Hauler coffin weapon.
But is this thing actually coming out by the end of the year? And what about a potential PS5 release, given that so much has changed since we had our last development update? Well, we still aren't getting more info on that just yet; as the official Twitter account for the game asked people to stay tuned.
Uh, I think I will. Given how little pure character action games are released these days, I'm going to follow it until the end.
Gungrave G.O.R.E [Twitter]
FIFA 21 fends off Watch Dogs: Legion in this week's UK Charts
Despite the launch of three brand new titles, Electronic Arts' football sim FIFA 21 has managed to retain the top spot of this week's UK Charts, at least as it applies to physical sales.
Ubisoft's open-world sequel Watch Dogs: Legion, Nintendo remake Pikmin 3 Deluxe, and Bandai Namco's horror title Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope all debuted in the Top Ten, but failed to secure the number one spot, landing at numbers two, seven, and nine respectively. Of course, with the ever-increasing shift to digital sales, the digital charts may tell a different story.
Next week sees the start of the next generation of video gaming, a generation that will likely see digital sales further supersede physical sales. While there will always be a market for physical games sales, via online retailers and the high street, recent years have seen a constant and undeniable market shift towards digital downloads, which is very unlikely to halt anytime soon.
Orwell's Animal Farm launches December 10 on PC and mobile
The Indie Collective has announced a release date for the video game adaptation of George Orwell's seminal novel Animal Farm. The strategy-based adventure title will launch on PC via Steam, as well as iOS and Android platforms, on December 10.
Developed by Nerial, Orwell's Animal Farm will put players in charge of managing the resources and defense of the notorious Manor Farm, where a menagerie of barnyard animals have overthrown their human owners in an effort to make a better world for themselves. However, under the rule of pompous pig Napoleon, the other species soon come to learn that while some animals are equal, some are more equal than others.
Publisher The Dairymen has released a new teaser trailer, recounting the infamous moment when Napoleon explains to his fellow animals how it would be better for everyone if Napoleon makes all the choices befitting the governing of the farm's affairs, to save them from making "the wrong decisions".
Guild Wars 2 is stalling its Steam release to focus on the new expansion
Earlier this year, we were given a teaser taste of Guild Wars 2's next expansion: which would later come to be known as End of Dragons.
But while we waited for the next chapter of the Guild Wars saga to begin, ArenaNet dished out some juicy news that the game was coming to Steam (sans account transfers). Well, that plan is changing, at least temporarily. According to a short post from ArenaNet, the company has made the decision to "put the Guild Wars 2 Steam release on hold for the time being."
The reason given? Their "number one priority" is focusing on the End of Dragons expansion and the "epic climax" to the current storyline, to deliver "high quality" content. In fact, the first major look at the upcoming Icebrood Saga conclusion is coming this week on November 5.
For those of you who don't play Guild Wars 2, the idea is that the game is part of a "living" world, where storyline changes can come through major or minor patches. Although other MMOs like World of Warcraft have "pre-patches" and the like to facilitate similar story arcs, Guild Wars 2 is built around its narrative at its core.
While it's a bummer that the game isn't coming to Steam anytime soon, I'm sure veterans don't mind as they can't transfer their accounts anyway.
Guild Wars 2 Steam Release News [ArenaNet]
In the 1980s, an abundance of horror movies hit the U.K. shores overnight, all thanks to the affordable invention of the VHS player. The then-British film censor, James Ferman, went on a zero-tolerance crusade against these "video nasties" which Ferman felt were oozing onto his country's shores and slowly corrupting the nation and its youth.
Ferman and the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) swiftly and hysterically drew up a list of on-screen elements that the board should always consider taking the scissors to - should they ever crop up in any film under review. Among the material Ferman was convinced posed a risk to British sanity were sexual titillation mixed with violence, Asian/ninja-style weaponry, and, most importantly, "blood appearing on breasts".
Fortunately for Ferman, D3 Publisher's OneChanbara series would not make its debut until 2004, some years after the censor's retirement and passing. Given the stringent bullet points listed above, I can't help but feel that maybe, just maybe, he would not have looked too kindly upon it.
There's a joke among MMO players that every single release in the same space is dubbed a "WoW Killer."
One of the more popular podcasts on the game is even based around that concept! The reality is that although there are plenty of MMOs that have carved out their own audience over the past decade and change, none of them have actually "killed" World of Warcraft. It still reigns as one of the most popular subscription-based MMOs on the planet, and based on a statement from Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, that train isn't slowing down.
Speaking on a recent earnings call, Kotick noted that the overall subscriber-base "doubled" since the launch of WoW Classic, and the pre-sales of Shadowlands are "the highest we've seen at this stage ahead of any release." Kotick also explains that this is one of the sole franchises that grants Activision "over a billion" in revenue annually: alongside of Call of Duty and Candy Crush.
For as much talk as there was among some of the playerbase that Battle for Azeroth "ruined" WoW, it seems like Classic was there to pick up the slack, and the hype is present yet again for a new expansion. Will WoW ever die? Well, nothing lasts forever! I've been wondering how Blizzard will approach a potential "WoW 2" for ages now, but it seems like the gravy train is going to keep rolling for years to come.
It really begs the question of whether or not Overwatch needed a sequel (hey, remember Overwatch 2 kind of just exists right now?), and has me curious as to how that project will play out. I can see them scrapping it and just incorporating it into the base game.
Conference Call [Activision via PC Gamer]
Where has Goth Marina been all my life?
This weekend saw the Splatoon 2 community take to the ink-stained arenas once again in a replay of another classic splatfest. Entering into the spirit of the season, players battled it out over the most important Halloween question of all: Trick or Treat?
Once the dust had settled, Marina's Team Treat successfully retained the crown, once again securing the victory over Pearl's Team Trick. While Team Trick won 58% of the public vote, Team Treat captured both Normal and Pro play points for the 2 - 1 victory, cementing - once and for all - that Splatoon players are all about getting hold of those sweet treats.
In addition, Nintendo released some fun new artwork showing Marina and Pearl, along with squid sisters Callie and Marie, chilling at the dining table in what appears to be a spooky mansion. To be frank, it doesn't look like our pals are enjoying themselves, I'd hazard a guess that someone "edgy" brought Cards Against Humanity to the shindig. Regardless, we didn't know how much the planet needed Goth Marina until this very moment.
Phantasy Star Online 2 is crossing over with Senran Kagura in Japan
We knew it was coming, but thanks to a recent trailer from Sega, it's more real now.
Phantasy Star Online 2 will be hosting a Senran Kagura crossover this month. Like most of the lighter crossovers that don't involve significant bits of content, this one is mostly cosmetic, offering outfits, emotes, and items. You can get a quick look at the crossover stuff in the first few minutes of the below video. In truth, this month is also a dual-crossover period, featuring scenarios from the kaiju anime SSSS.Gridman.
I kind of love that Sega will go to any lengths to include basically anything even remotely anime related in PSO 2, without letting it completely dominate the tone of the game. These crossovers are generally fleeting, with the exception of having to see some of the more popular out-there outfits regularly in the Ark Ship hub.
But while I'm still enjoying myself, I'm really anxious for Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis next year on Series X. Given that the game is nearly eight years old at this point (and still good!), it'll be nice to catch a complete refresh.
Vampire: The Masquerade battle royale title coming in 2021
In a surprising announcement, Swedish studio Sharkmob has revealed it's currently at work on an all-new battle royale title set within the Vampire: The Masquerade universe. The untitled new project is currently in development for a late-2021 release, although no specific platforms were announced.
"Experience the next thrilling evolution of battle royale multiplayer action games set in the cult classic Vampire: The Masquerade universe where vampire sects are at war across the streets and rooftops of Prague," reads an outline on Sharkmob's website. "Choose your playstyle, go solo or together, battling rivals and the hostile Entity who's hellbent on exterminating all vampires. Use your supernatural powers, weapons, and blood to become stronger in order to hunt, fight, and survive the night."
This odd endeavor is one of a number of titles set in the Gothic tabletop world of Vampire: The Masquerade. Last month saw the launch of the next chapter in Draw Distance's visual novel series Shadows of New York, while 2021 will also see the long-awaited release of Paradox's open-world RPG Bloodlines 2, which was recently pushed back from its initial winter 2020 release date.
You can check out a teaser trailer for Sharkmob's new title below.
Apex Legends boss: 'You're probably going to see the game becoming more than just a battle royale'
Although Apex Legends isn't quite the streaming-chart-destroyer it once was (overtaking League of Legends at one point), it's still very regularly found on the top 10 Twitch stream list.
EA is riding that gamble all the way to the bank, as it remains one of the more popular battle royale titles in a sea of games that were dragged under the tide. Director Chad Grenier thinks it's here to stay too, noting that the game could even evolve to become more than just a battle royale title.
Speaking to Eurogamer, Grenier explains that Respawn has content planned "all the way up to Season 12," which is a full four seasons ahead of Season 8, which isn't due until 2021 (Season 7 hasn't even started yet). Once Season 8 is shipped, the team will start working on Seasons 13 and 14, he says; giving us a vague idea of how far ahead the team works.
He also clarifies that Respawn does "a lot of things to mitigate data mining," claiming that many other future bits of content could have been uncovered if they weren't actively fighting the practice. With that in mind, the director says that it's "fair game," even if the team is "bummed out" when content is spoiled.
Grenier says that "looking into the future, you're probably going to see the game becoming more than just a battle royale game." While that statement could be foreshadowing drastic change, the example Grenier gives in this context is the addition of more limited time modes "as a starting point" for what might come down the line. An arena battle gametype has been datamined, which might be what he's alluding to.
His sentiment makes perfect sense, especially given how quickly the market could shift away from battle royale games. It behooves Respawn to think on their feet, potentially changing Apex Legends into something else, while keeping that massive playerbase and ecosystem.
Apex Legends' newest map was a Titanfall 3 concept [Eurogamer]
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is losing features six years after release
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor was a really strange game that came out of nowhere in 2014.
Although many designers hit considerable roadblocks making big changes to Middle-earth source material, Warner Bros. coasted into massive departures from Tolkien's legendarium with ease; both from a practical and thematic standpoint. It was a weird release, made even stranger by a controversy regarding some content creator's failure to disclose that they couldn't disparage the game in exchange for cash. Whatever the case may have been some people enjoyed it; but come December 31 of this year, future generations may enjoy it a bit less.
An ominous message recently apparated on various digital marketplaces for the game, warning that come that date, several features will be removed from the game (presumably because WB doesn't want to keep paying for online features). Those features include the Nemesis Forge mechanic (read: you can't transfer your nemesis enemies into the sequel) and a lack of Vendetta missions (hunting orcs via your friends list) and leaderboards. WBPlay is also being removed, but as a pity prize you're getting "Orc Hunter" and "Gravewalker" epic runes.
I always felt that the nemesis system was half-baked, but come 2021 it'll be even less appealing. You can find the full rundown of the removed features below. For now, the follow-up release Shadow of War is not impacted.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor [Steam]
Xbox to hold Series X launch live stream on November 10
Can you believe it? We are less than 10 days away from the launch of a brand new generation of gaming. On November 10, Xbox will be first out of the gate with the launch of its Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S hardware, promising power and technology like none we have seen from consoles before.
To mark the momentous occasion, Xbox has announced that it will be holding a special live stream to celebrate the new hardware's release. The stream will feature various "behind-the-scenes" segments, developer interviews, fundraising events, and "Let's Plays" with influencers and members of Team Xbox. Xbox has noted that this is not a "reveal show," and as such will not feature any new announcements. The stream is intended more as an online launch party for the Xbox community.
The action kicks off November 10 at 11:00 PT / 14:00 ET / 20:00 BST. You can watch along via the Xbox YouTube and Twitch channels. For more information about the event, check out the announcement over on the official Xbox blog.
Ubisoft walks back statement that several of their games won't work on PS5
While our eyes are collectively on Assassin's Creed Valhalla, which we knew would work on the PS5, Ubisoft delivered some bad news (in a now-defunct Ubisoft Connect news post) regarding a few legacy titles last week: noting that they would not be compatible with the PS5.
Now, like several publishers in regards to the mystery of PS5 backward compatibility, it wasn't exactly clear what that meant. Would it boot at all? Are there unsupported bugs? Who knows at this point, as Ubisoft has pulled the list entirely.
Following a bevy of inquiries over the weekend regarding this list, Ubisoft has informed The Verge that they have removed it with the following statement: "We have pulled the Ubisoft Connect article and forum post regarding backwards compatibility for the time being as there may be inaccuracies involving the Ubisoft titles that will be playable on PS5." Allegedly, Ubisoft will have a "correct list of games" this week. So...they don't know right now?
This whole situation is very odd and a lot less black and white than it is on the Xbox ecosystem. While Smart Delivery and "500K+ hours of testing" reign on Xbox, Sony had been far more vague in terms of what will work since backward compatibility was announced.
I think what's happening is that a lot of compatibility checks are coming down to the wire on PS5. Developers seem to be scrambling to try and make sense of it, so hopefully we don't have more of these strange blog posts now that we're roughly a week away from the next-gen launch.
Ubisoft detailed which of its PS4 games won't work on PS5, but now it's not sure [The Verge]
(Update) Here's how to get all of the free Ash's Pikachu caps in Pokemon Sword and Shield
[Update: Codes for all eight caps are below!]
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 first 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."
And the eight: "K1NP1KA1855."
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.
What was your favorite moment from Monster Hunter World: Iceborne?
After farming Fatalis, crafting everything I wanted from him, and strolling around SOS signals as a god, I think it's safe to say I've had a hell of a time hunting in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. Now that all that's left is to farm up layered armor, I can look back on this crazy game's life and reminisce on my favorite moments from it. Because even though Fatalis was one hell of a final hunt, there are many other moments and hunts that are unforgettable for franchise veterans like me and those new players who managed to love the brilliance of World enough to want to dive into its expansion pack.
Review: The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope
Supermassive Games is serving up another communal horror adventure just in time for Halloween.
Whether you dug Until Dawn and only Until Dawn, or you also played Man of Medan and thought it was decent cheesy fun, or you're removed from this whole Dark Pictures Anthology saga but are kinda in the mood for a suspenseful, not-too-spooky Halloween game, I have to give Little Hope the thumbs-up.
It's striking at the right place and the right time with the right setup: a town haunted by witch trials.
Cblogs of 10/24 to 10/30/2020: Paradise Killer, Landstalker, and Epic Games Store
Cblogs Recap: Week 44
-Dinoracha shares his "negative" thoughts on Paradise Killer.
-Kerrik52 reviews Amnesia: The Dark Descent as part of his Traveler in Playtime blogging series.
-Humantofu wonders where the Epic Games Store will go from now.
-Christopher Harper shares some tips on playing DOOM Eternal.
-TheBlondeBass continues his discussion on heartfelt games with this blog covering Undertale.
-JohnnyVector is looking for the most obscure Sonic the Hedgehog games.
-Lord Spencer reviews Breath of Fire III as part of his PS1 REVIEWS blogging series.
-Osc continues reporting on the progress of his hobbyist gaming development project.
-Agent9 continues his near-daily journal of this month.
-PhilsPhindings discusses the similarities between the Landstalker soundtrack and some Blues music.
-ChronoLynxx opens up yet another weekly TGIF forum for open community discussion.
Square Enix is partnering with a hardware company for an official Final Fantasy XIV SSD
Final Fantasy XIV has sent ripple effects through the industry ever since its "Reborn" phase roughly seven years ago.
Square Enix proved to the industry that you could truly "save" a game that was in peril: and I say this as someone who witnessed the original incarnation of FFXIV first-hand. It really was a miracle what that team pulled off, recreating XIV into not only one of the best MMOs of all time, but one of the strongest RPG campaigns ever made.
That power has resulted in all sorts of tie-ins and partnerships, which now includes an SSD hardware run. Square Enix has announced that they've collaborated with the manufacturing company I-O Data to provide an "official" Final Fantasy XIV SSD, which is going on sale in Japan on December 2.
It's 500GB in size and is an external SSD via USB 3.2 Gen 1 (without a power adapter requirement). Weirdly, the company even has an app called GigaCrystaPhantom that will allow a quick-transfer of FFXIV from your HDD to the new SSD: which might be helpful to Japanese players who don't want to re-download everything.
It'll run you 11,880 yen (roughly $115 US) if you want it. The price is a little over industry standard (a tad bit more than that figure will get you a 1TB generally), but obviously the license factors in.
There's no way Pikmin 3 came out over seven years ago.
Wait, I'll just check...nah, I don't believe it, it must be a typo. Wait, we reviewed it! That info box looks pretty legit. Maybe it did.
Either way, it's hard to believe it's been that long, as Pikmin 3 has remained a staple of my dusted-off Wii U since. I still head back into the little pint-sized world to blow off some steam from time to time, and the Bingo Battle mode has been a perpetual font of fun for my wife and I.
The Deluxe version on Switch makes things a little easier on us if we want to boot it all back up again, even if it's not a huge upgrade.
Both Mass Effect Commander Shepards will be participating in N7 Day this year
How long has it been since we've been collectively excited for Mass Effect? 2017's Andromeda probably, right? Well some of you were never jazzed about Mass Effect, but y'all don't count.
Well, N7 Day has been happening annually regardless of how much Mass Effect moves the needle now, and it just got a little more exciting for fans. Over the weekend, "Mr. Shepard" himself, Mark Meer, announced that he will be joining the N7 Day stream event taking place on November 7 (as is custom) at 11AM PT. We're told to "stay tuned for the link," in case you're curious.
Meer re-confirms that Jennifer Hale (Mrs. Shepard) will be part of the event, as well as the voice actors for Kaidan Alenko, Liara T'Soni, Jack, Grunt, Ashley Williams, Samantha Traynor, Mordin Solus, and Legion. Of course, there are a few huge names sprinkled into that innocent list, like VA veteran Steve Blum. BioWare developers Karin Weekes (editor) and Patrick Weekes (writer) are in too.
This is billed as a "special" event, but it could clearly just be "special" because of how emotional this cast is; and because of how several of them seem to still keep in touch over the years. Or, we could finally get that Mass Effect remaster announcement we've all been waiting for.
Do I want to replay the trilogy on a next-gen console again, with potentially seamless save-transfer integration? Yes, yes I do.
Mark Meer [Twitter]
Kirby is one of those franchises that kind of sneaks up and surprises you when you least expect it.
Every so often Nintendo will be like "hey, there's a new Kirby game coming out soon, buy it!" It seems to sell well enough to warrant them doing that every few years, whether it's a spinoff, a spinoff of a spinoff, or a mainline entry.
Kirby Fighters 2 is another spinoff in a long line of them; but it doesn't really do anything drastic enough to warrant anyone turning their head.
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.
'90s brawler 64th Street: A Detective Story is this week's Arcade Archives release
Publisher Hamster is getting retro in more ways than one this week, as the next entry in the huge Arcade Archives catalog is not only a classic '90s arcade title, but even also a period piece! Now available to download on Nintendo Switch, Jaleco's 64th Street: A Detective Story is back to brawl.
Originally released in arcades in 1991, 64th Street was one of an absolute tidal wave of scrolling brawlers that hit the market following the success of Capcom's Final Fight. Featuring typical street walking, head-cracking mayhem, 64th Street had the unique gimmick of setting its narrative in a bizarrely mish-mashed time period, which features a 1930s aesthetic alongside 1980s fashions, akin to Walter Hill's rock 'n' roll fable Streets of Fire, which itself was an alleged influence on Final Fight.
Check out the action in the video below, courtesy of YouTuber World of Longplays.
Genshin Impact is killing it financially and it looks like there are no signs of it letting up anytime soon. To that end, developer miHoYo has shared more plans for the upcoming November 11 update (1.1), as well as PS5 compatibility (with "improved graphics and faster load times"). So far, it's all good news.
Although it was a shoo-in already, miHoYo shared publicly that the game will be backward compatible on the PS5: functionality that that will be added in patch 1.1. It'll also kick off the first seasonal event (Unreconciled Stars), as well as provide a new main storyline chapter finale (Liyue), four new characters and a city reputation system.
Since the characters are what matters to a lot of people, you can find artwork of them in the gallery below: but let's also go through them together really quick. Childe (five stars) is a "hydro archer," Zhongli (five stars) will utilize a geo polearm. Xinyan (four stars) and Dioana (four stars) have also been teased. As far as what the Unreconciled Stars event entails, it'll allow people to take on new quests during a two-week period and potentially earn the four-star character Fischl.
It's a massive update. The new story bits should sate casual fans, while the city reputation system and the thrill of event rewards will keep hardcore players logged on: especially if they get to play from the comfort of their new PS5.
What terrific terrors will you be enjoying this Halloween night?
Feel that chill up your spine? Hear that wolf howling at the moon? See that dude in the boiler suit standing among your clean laundry? Indeed, the witching season is upon us, the calendar has... erm... struck October 31, and it's time to do the Monster Mash, (which is a dance, not a song) for today is Halloween.
Horror has always been deeply embedded in our beloved medium, from Exidy's 1986 gorefest Chiller, to grim CD-ROM adventures like Ripper and Phantasmagoria, to modern survival horror classics such as Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and Fatal Frame. It seems that a lot of you sadists can never get enough digital gore, creaking corridors, skin-crawling monsters, and demon-faced jump-scares, with more horror-based video games available today than ever before.
So I thought we'd open up the floor this Halloween and ask all of you, our beloved community, what entertainment you have lined up for your Halloween night. Obviously nightmarish gaming sessions are our main priority here, but we do love a good movie at Destructoid, so if you're having a scary movie marathon instead, then share those plans with us too. We're looking forward to seeing what thrills and chills you all have lined up for this evening.
And remember, if go trick-or-treating, watch out for candy laced with LSD. In fact, if you get some, you best give it all to me for safe eating keeping. Happy Halloween, folks!
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.
This insane Samus Halloween costume looks like an official Metroid promotion
Having been to countless conventions and covered all sorts of anime, gaming and movie news for over a decade, I've seen some really impressive outfits and cosplay. But in recent years, especially when it comes to the Metroid arena, this is easily one of the most impressive Samus costumes I've seen in a while.
Created by Wargaming (World of Tanks) developer Brenden McCormack and his wife Laura, this Samus costume doesn't just look like it came out of a magazine ad for the next Metroid title: it has actual functioning flair. Take a look at the details like the lights all around the costume, as well as the visor that actually "powers up."
The thing that really gets me though, is the [presumably last] Metroid in that tank! Amazingly, I think I actually have that toy; which I bought at a Toys"R"Us as it was going out of business. Now I just need to look into the containment unit, because that's a perfect way to display it.
McCormack says that they are "ready for Halloween parties in 2021." Yeah, I think so! In the meantime, we're ready for any news about Metroid Prime 4, Nintendo.
Brenden McCormack [Twitter via GoNintendo]
Whatcha been playing this week, Destructoid?
Are the nights drawing in faster in your neck of the woods? Here in the U.K. we have put the clock backs, which lead to dark mornings and darker evenings. This can be tough on the old noodle, and I've found myself losing balance on numerous occasions this week. But I have a few good friends - both here on site and in real life - and they have done their best to keep me on an even keel... well, as even as possible.
As we enter November and the dawning of a brand new gaming generation, I hope that you and yours and handling the tail-end of 2020 well. Stay well-fed, warm, hydrated, and entertained, and be sure to engage with friends and loved ones, keeping everyone's spirits high even when the temperatures are getting a little low. Also, wear thermal underwear, like in old cartoons, that should do the trick.
Oh yeah, right, video games. This week I have been playing two titles for review, D3 Publisher's Onee Chanbara Origin, and Ubisoft's Watch Dogs: Legion. Look out for my thoughts on both of these titles soon. But before then, dive into the comments below and fill us in on the games you've been playing this week. This is one of my favourite articles of the week, as well as one of Destructoid's most consistently popular, so let's keep the party going!
Have a safe and pleasant weekend, from all of us at Destructoid.
In today's contest you can win a Cartel Tycoon ultimate prize pack, including a copy of the game, a Razer accessory bundle, and a chance to appear in the game!
Kiddos, we've got a doozy today! Publisher tinyBuild is gearing up for the release of their drug lord simulator Cartel Tycoon, and just dropped a surprise Uncut Earliest Access session on their site. Bold! And what good is a launch without giving away some free stuff on Destructoid?
Well, they really brought it with this one. tinyBuild and developer Moon Moose are offering up not only a copy of the game, but a super sweet Cartel Tycoon prize pack (complete with briefcase and goodies), a Razer accessory bundle (including a keyboard, mouse, and headset), AND a chance for you to appear in the game as an NPC! This is definitely one of the biggest prizes we've had here, so tie a rubber band around your arm and inject this contest into your bloodstream!
Seriously, look how big his head is there. That thing is huge. Is this a bad photoshop, or is his head four feet closer to the camera than the rest of his body? Sorry, this has been the only thing on my mind since yesterday when I bought that Legend of Zelda NES cartridge ornament from Hallmark and saw this movie being advertised on the page. As much as I fantasize about Brandon Routh as a hot fireman -- and I do -- he always has a normal-size head in those fantasies.
Of course, Mr. Brain & Nerve Tonic up there is starring in just one of the many Christmas movies the Hallmark Channel has already begun shotgunning into its viewers' faces. If you're super into these movies like my parents, this is the best time of year because it finally gives you something to watch that probably won't have any commercials telling you to vote, which you know deep down are just commercials telling you to vote for Joe Biden. But if you're like me, you're just in it for the pictures of the dead-eyed white people on the promo page. There's even going to be a gay couple in one of the movies this year, but sadly, there are no pictures up for it yet, robbing us of the opportunity to see the lifeless expression of One Tree Hill's Robert Buckley.
What does any of this have to do with getting some questions for the Podtoid crew? Nothing really. I just love making fun of this shit. But if you have some questions for us, we'd love to see them in the comments below. The more creative the question, the more likely it is we'll ask it on the show.
It's going to be an adjustment moving from Nintendo Switch to PlayStation 5 for Overcooked: All You Can Eat after spending dozens of hours with the former, but having everything from Overcooked 1 and 2 under one roof – including 200+ levels, quicker loads, and 4K/60FPS support – will be such a step up.
Team17 is now planning to get this two-game remaster out in time for the PS5 launch on November 12. (Previously, we were just told "late 2020.") As for the Xbox Series X/S version, it's "coming soon."
The team also announced that an update with cross-platform multiplayer is expected in "early 2021."
I was planning to pick this up sometime after the already-too-busy day-one PS5 rush cooled down, so I'll have to see where All You Can Eat can fit into my November schedule. And yeah, it's true: I already have a second DualSense controller lined up. Look at the silly things you make me do, Overcooked.
Ugh, next-gen racing games look so damn good
During almost any other time, I would not be interested in Dirt 5. I say this confidently because I was not interested in Dirt Rally 2.0 or Dirt 4. There have been seven previous Dirt games (!!) and I did not have a lick of interest in any of them.
Dirt 5 is different though because it looks so goddamn pretty on PS5 and Xbox Series X. That's the way it goes with new hardware. Racing games are a technical showcase because they always end up looking the most impressive. Dirt 5 is the next-gen racing launch game -- Gran Turismo 7 and Forza Motorsport don't have release dates yet -- and it seems like it'll nicely play the role of visual stunner.
The dates are a little staggered over the next two weeks. Dirt 5 first launches on PC, PS4, and Xbox One on November 6. Then it hits both new consoles on their launch days -- Xbox Series X on November 10 and PS5 on November 12. That's where Codemasters is promoting options for 4K resolution and 120fps gameplay. If you want to start early, know that both PlayStation and Xbox offer free next-gen upgrades. Just remember that saves won't transfer over from PS4 to PS5.
I'm already loving the new combat flow in Monster Hunter Rise
Are you ready to surrender your Nintendo Switch to Monster Hunter Rise in March? I sure am. The Great Sword isn't my weapon of choice, but I'm loving this six-minute gameplay demonstration from Capcom.
Between the fast, fluid, and very vertical movement, the more open-ended levels, and the ability to fling yourself onto a monster with the Wirebug (and the ensuing ripple effect that it will have on the flow of combat), Rise is appealing to me as a World fan who only ever dabbled in the old Monster Hunter style.
As the narrator in the video notes, the Wirebug-assisted weapon attacks are powerful in the right hands, but players will need to carefully manage their cooldowns. Efficiency is the name of the game.
I hope we get a highlight reel for every weapon.
Several iconic Zelda locations seem to be in Age of Calamity
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity kind of blew my mind when I finally sat down to play the demo. Wait...time travel is involved? It took Omega Force to fully embrace the insanity of the Zelda timeline. I can't wait to see what madness they create.
Before we all sit down and read timeline debates yet again though, players have been uncovering several iconic locations from past Zelda games and sharing their theories. Here are a few.
Does PS5 or Xbox Series X have the better launch trailer?
We've spent months meticulously breaking down every facet of the PlayStation vs. Xbox argument. It's time to tackle truly the least important of the arguments.
Did Microsoft or Sony put out a better launch trailer? Take three minutes to compare the evidence.
First, the PS5 launch trailer:
The reimagined Demon's Souls soundtrack has 'its own identity'
In a behind-the-scenes feature for Demon's Souls, Sony shared a glimpse of the work that has gone into the remake's soundtrack. If you didn't know – and to be honest, it hadn't fully sunk in for me until just now – the PS5 game is brandishing a "reimagined" score with an orchestra, choir, and pipe organ.
Orchestrator Jim Fowler said that Bloodborne informed the "scale of the sound and the combination of choir and orchestra, although it is important to say this score has its own identity and its own sound."
Like seemingly everything to do with the Demon's Souls remake, some people are going to be ecstatic about these changes, some are going to prefer the way things were for one reason or another, and many players won't be bothered by or even really consider the PS3/PS5 side-by-side comparisons.
Arranger Bill Hemstapat said it's "pretty scary" knowing there are fans who "didn't know this music was being reworked," but he believes the "soul of the music that's in the original game is still there."
Sony also released a preview of the "Flamelurker" track (I can't wait for this horrible fiend to mess me up) and announced that the Demon's Souls soundtrack will have vinyl pre-orders in "early December."
A digital soundtrack release will be available much sooner: November 26.
The Sounds of Boletaria: Grunts, Screams, and Wails [PlayStation Blog]
Japan gets a gorgeous NieR Replicant collector's edition
Among the many things NieR has going for it are its memorable characters, stunning artwork, and beautiful soundtrack. It makes perfect sense that a big fancy collector's edition would lean into all those things.
Square Enix has revealed the NieR Replicant White Snow Edition. It's a PS4 exclusive that seems to only be set to release in Japan. It runs ¥19,800 (about $190).
Here's what's in the White Snow Edition:
Grant Kirkhope is a legend. We know this. Having worked in the industry for nearly three decades, Kirkhope is responsible for scoring or performing a few of your childhood classics, including Banjo-Kazooie and Perfect Dark. Now, the master is back to revisit the former with a few spooky remixes.
"Just in time for Halloween," Kirkhope has tweeted out a link to his "Grunty Returns" remix, a take on the track from the original game. He also reminded us that he has a similarly themed Mad Monster Mansion remix available, dubbed "Mad Monster Mansion Rides Again." These aren't just one-offs though. Kirkhope notes that there is "more to come."
Exactly when will that happen? Well that's the bad news: it's all pretty vague right now in terms of a timeline. The good news is that they have confirmed on Twitter that they are "going to release a remix album of music from [Banjo Kazooie]," they just aren't sure if they'll "get to it all."
Although we don't exactly have a new Banjo game on the horizon (that we know of), the character did get plenty of attention when he was added to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in 2019. There's hope! Either way, plenty of folks like Kirkhope will keep this classic alive.
Grant Kirkhope [Twitter]
WayForward to publish kaiju brawler Dawn of the Monsters
WayForward Games has announced that it will be the publisher for Dawn of the Monsters, a brand new kaiju-fightin' title from indie developer 13AM Games. The city-smasher is currently in development for a multitude of platforms, including PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
"From the moment we laid eyes on Dawn of the Monsters, we knew it had the potential to be something special," said WayForward CEO Voldi Way in a press statement. "13AM Games is a phenomenal developer that has been a great collaborative partner in the past, and we are very excited to help them bring this unique vision to life."
13AM Games' Alex Rushdy also spoke of his excitement with the new partnership. " For many of us this partnership is a dream come true!" said Rushdy. "This is our biggest game to date and we're really happy to have WayForward in our corner. Since they are traditionally a developer, they really understand all the process that goes into making a game, which has made the working relationship smooth and fruitful. We can't wait to share our work on Dawn of the Monsters, we're really pushing a bold, new, visceral vision of what a co-op 2D action game can be."
Though 13AM Games is yet to debut any footage of the new game in action, you can check out the art style and overall vibe of Dawn of the Monsters over on the team's official website. For fans of classic city-stompers such as Midway's Rampage and SNK's King of the Monsters, this new project looks set to scratch that destructive itch when it arrives in late-2021.
Gears POP! will shut down its servers in April 2021
After just over a year of operation, developer Mediatonic is calling time on one of video gaming's oddest crossover titles, Gears POP!. The cutesy Gears of War spin-off will close its servers for good on April 2021, after a little over 18 months of operation.
Gears POP! is a mobile strategy title which features gameplay similar to that of Supercell's Clash Royale, but featuring iconic heroes and villains from the Gears of War franchise stylised as those ungodly Funko POP! toys that you see stacked high in your local comics store. An admittedly interesting experiment, clearly Gears POP! has not proved quite as successful as some of its mobile gaming competitors, resulting in the title's closure.
"Thank you, Gears!" said Mediatonic in a message to the player base. "Together we have taken on countless waves of Horde and vanquished foes on the Versus battlefield but sadly Gears Pop! is closing on April 26, 2021. Until that time, we're bringing back some of our most popular events, increasing Bounty rewards, and upping the drop rates for Legendary Pins. Effective immediately, in-app purchasing has also been disabled. Thank you for your understanding and support."
Given that Mediatonic is also responsible for one of 2020's biggest global gaming phenomenons - Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout - the closure of Gears POP! is unlikely to spell much trouble for the British game studio.
Bethesda gives us a deeper dive into Fallout 76's underground player-created shelters
After a lengthy testing period, Bethesda is nearly ready to unleash its shelter mechanic out into the live version of Fallout 76.
In case you missed it, the idea is that players will be able to build their own bunkers of sorts below ground: via three different, instanced sized areas. It's basically an extension of the C.A.M.P. system, but hopefully less buggy as it involves a completely separate zone that isn't bound by the laws of the open world; and it was tested (whereas C.A.M.P.s launched with the buggy 1.0 edition of the game).
If you're stoked for this particular feature, Bethesda just put out a full 13-minute video rundown that just focuses on shelters. The developers in the clip states that there have been plenty of "bug reports and instances of player feedback" from the testing ground, which should hopefully result in a better experience overall.
The video is fairly extensive, showcasing the entire process from the start of a build to the creation of several neat places. Bethesda is quick to point out that there are murder-maze concepts and "Donkey Kong-like" leveled shelters out in the wild. Again, it's well worth a watch if you're even remotely interested in shelters, as the devs provide a few tips and tricks that might help you out on day one.
When this update hits, it'll be part of the "Steel Dawn" patch, which brings even more free story content into the fray. It'll be a good month for Fallout 76 so long as they can keep the bugs at bay.
Inside the Vault [Bethesda.net]
Cultist Simulator is bringing its sinister mysteries to Nintendo Switch
Publisher Playdigious has revealed that the Lovecraft-inspired card game Cultist Simulator is in the process of being ported to Nintendo Switch, following on from its 2018 release on PC and its transition to iOS and Android platforms last year.
Developed by British studio Weather Factory, Cultist Simulator is an extremely strange and mysterious card game set within a nameless dystopian society. Described by its makers as "a game of apocalypse and yearning" - yep - Players must uncover hidden agendas and realities within this sinister landscape, but may find that their decisions and actions lead to establishing a gathering of ardent followers over the game's extended play time.
Old Maid it ain't.
There are a ton of major Destiny 2 changes on the way, including a Power Cap shift
Destiny 2 is about to shift into a completely different game.
Bungie is vaulting a ton of content, but there's an expansion on the horizon too, which is bringing some significant changes to the game, like an extra skill tree and a new storyline. To help players both new and old acclimate, Bungie provided a rundown of some of the newer developments for the Beyond Light expansion; most notably the power alterations.
When people start trying to max out in Beyond Light, they'll aim for the soft cap of 1200 power. From there, they'll climb (hopefully not in a grindy way) to the hard cap of 1250. Then there's the (please don't be more grindy) pinnacle cap of 1260. That all comes to fruition on November 10: just in case you need to start planning on how to get raid-ready early.
Bungie is also making a welcome change to powerful rewards. In their own words: "We have a change coming that will allow you to have a chance to earn Powerful rewards from strikes, Gambit, Crucible, and from Seasonal drops all the way up until the Hard Cap. It will still be much quicker to continue to complete all the Powerful reward sources each week, but if you just want to play strikes or Crucible matches all day every day, you can continue to earn Powerful rewards."
Uh, yeah that's something that should have always been in the game! Having to grind out individual activities just to even get to the cap was a chore sometimes. In recent years, things have gotten even worse: so hopefully this will allow people to keep playing instead of getting bored with the grind. That said, there's this tradeoff: "Starting next Season, gear received from Collections and turning in tokens will have a lower Power than in previous Seasons. Gear earned through token purchases will be 20 Power below your Power Level and Collection buybacks will be capped at 1050 Power. " Again, I'm waiting to see how grindy all of that will be.
Then there's the economy shift. According to Bungie, "starting in Season 13, Phaseglass Needles, Alkane Dust, Simulation Seeds, and Seraphite will be no longer accepted by vendors." You can head to Spider to exchange all that stuff for Glimmer, or just spend them all before Season 13. As a tradeoff (there always has to be one), Spider isn't going to sell Legendary Shards anymore. Now he'll sell Enhancement Prisms (which go for 400 Legendary Shards per prism and you can only buy three per week).
So that's the big stuff. Bungie also shared a ViDoc (video documentary) on the development process for Beyond Light, as well as the expansion's launch trailer. You can catch those below.
This gory Resident Evil 2 diorama will set you back $2,700
Premium merchandise maker Prime 1 Studio has unveiled a marvelous pair of statues depicting Resident Evil protagonists Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, styled after the dynamic duo's recent appearance in 2019 remake Resident Evil 2.
Each 1/4 scale statue stands roughly 22 inches in height and features the respective heroes caught in the midst of mayhem at the R.C.P.D. - while laying waste to two unfortunate members of Raccoon City's newly-dead city-dwellers. Fine details include the scattering of various supplies, a damaged, ornate staircase, and gruesome wounds on the hapless zombies' rotten bodies. Grisly stuff.
