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Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 Review — Second Time's The Charm

Puyo Puyo Tetris, Sega, Nintendo Switch

I have a confession to make: as big of a Tetris fan as I am, I never owned the first Puyo Puyo Tetris. That's not to say that I've never played it though; I never picked it up is because of how big its demo was. In fact, its demo was infamous in the early days of the Switch for how content-complete it was. I remember coming over to a friend's house and playing that demo for hours on end even though Mario Kart 8 Deluxe had just come out.

Of course, I'm sure that old player data taught Sega not to put out such a robust demo this time. However, I would gladly play Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 for hours on end just like the last one, even if it only included the stock Puyo Puyo and Tetris modes. The iterations of those classic game types they've included in this package are just that strong.


Obviously, it's not the same transcendent experience offered in Tetris Effect Connected. However, it offers a clean, arcade-y, and robust experience that's equally important in games like Tetris and Puyo Puyo. Sure, most of the game is effectively the same as the last with only a few small balance and quality-of-life upgrades and a new story for the Adventure Mode to differentiate the two releases. That said, I can't stop playing.

Booting up the game can feel a little daunting at first because of just how much it offers to you from the start. You have a story mode multiplayer modes, single-player modes, tutorials, and an online mode. And all of those give way to even more menus that, while occasionally busy and overcomplicated, help to show just how many modes are available in this game.

In fact, I took some time to try out all the different single-player and multiplayer modes the game had to offer. It took me hours to try one game of each mode alone. So, for those looking for new spins and iterations on these two puzzle classics, there's plenty to check out across a ton of interesting and varied modes, each with their own uniquely compelling spin on each game's formula. Heck, some even merge the two.

A few of these modes have been added or changed in some way to introduce new mechanics to the game. However, a majority of the modes offered are things you'll find in the last version of Puyo Puyo Tetris or in other Tetris games, like Tetris 99 or Tetris Effect Connected. A couple of my favorites, though, are the modes that find ways to mix Puyo Puyo and Tetris gameplay together.

For example, there's the 'Swap' mode, which gives each player two wells, one for Puyo Puyo and one for Tetris, to play with. Another mode that accomplishes this blend of the two puzzle titans is the 'Fusion' mode, which will randomly send Puyos and Tetrominos at each player. It lends a kind of frantic chaos as the two seamlessly switch.

Some might find themselves a little overwhelmed by the sheer number of options and modes available to them. Or maybe they're just looking for a good introduction to different modes or gameplay styles. For them, I highly recommend the game's adventure mode. Comprised of short dialog sequences interspersed with Puyo Puyo and Tetris gameplay, the adventure mode throws most of the modes found in Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 at you within the first hour or so.

It's certainly nothing on the caliber of a Last of Us, or any game one might see being recognized for its voice acting or narrative. The said, the voiceover for just about all the characters is genuinely too good for what the mode actually is, aside from the occasionally annoying anime-style yelling that sometimes happens during the actual gameplay.

While I think it would be good to offer more specific and clear details about how some of the more obscure modes that the adventure mode throws at players, I'm also glad it doesn't make you sit around and play through a basic Tetris tutorial for 20 minutes. Instead, any tips or tricks for players to learn are tucked away in the 'Lessons' section on the menu. There, players will find varying degrees and levels of tutorial for all the different skill levels.

And if you're going to try out online play, I highly recommend checking out some of the higher-level tutorials at the very least. After about an hour online of getting absolutely destroyed across a bunch of the modes that this game had to offer, I don't think I won a single round. And no, it wasn't close. That's not to say that I'm a Tetris slouch, either, but I encountered a skill gap in Puyo Puyo Tetris 2's online modes, unlike any other online game I've ever played.

Puyo Puyo Tetris, Nintendo Switch

While Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is largely derivative of the first one, every change and addition made is an overall improvement. The difference between the two games feels most comparable to the difference between the original Splatoon and Splatoon 2. Just about every change made to the overall game is for the better. Sega has provided new updates to balance and gameplay, while also introducing a few new modes and options that sweeten the deal overall.

Between Puyo Puyo Tetris 2, Tetris 99, and Tetris Effect Connected, one thing is clear; we are in a golden age for Tetris fans. Each major offering gives players something different. Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 gives players an unparalleled slate of local multiplayer content that elevates both Puyo Puyo and Tetris from just addictive, hypnotic puzzle games to fun, bombastic, colorful party games.

The post Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 Review — Second Time's The Charm by Charlie Wacholz appeared first on DualShockers.

Win a Copy of This War of Mine: Complete Edition for Nintendo Switch!

This War of Mine Nintendo Switch Giveaway New

With the Holidays around the corner, what better way to celebrate than a massive code giveaway? Thankfully — to celebrate a massive update that is a capstone to This War of Mine: Complete Edition — developer 11 Bit Studios has partnered with us to give out 100 codes for Nintendo Switch.

If you somehow haven't heard of This War of Mine since its release on PC in 2014, the game is one of the most powerful pieces of gaming media — getting critical acclaim across the board for breathing life into the horrors and unseen victims of war. The game is so impactful, it is the only video game that makes a country-wide 'reading' list (looking at you, Poland). Now, with all the updates finally on Nintendo Switch, you can experience the game in full on the go.

Check out the video and giveaway link below for more info on how to enter!

How to Enter

Entering this giveaway very easy! Following @DualShockers on Twitter is mandatory for entry, as we will be contacting the winners via Twitter Direct Message. Please make sure that you don't unfollow us before the end of the competition, as that will invalidate your win.

Other than that, the ways to enter can be found down in the giveaway box below. Most of these qualifications to enter require you to follow us on various social media platforms or check out what 11 Bit Studios has going on. The more ways you enter, the more likely you'll then be chosen as the winner for This War of Mine: Complete Edition for Nintendo Switch.

Win a Nintendo Switch Code for This War of Mine!

Giveaway Process/Requirements

To make this clear, we've got a hundred This War of Mine: Complete Edition codes that will be given away. Submissions for entry will also close next week on December 20th at 11:59 pm EST. With that said, the code is for North America accounts — make sure you have access to one of those, and that you are 17 (or older) to win a copy of the game.

This War of Mine News & Updates

This War of Mine has been floating around the indiedev scene since the beginning of last generations, so there's been a ton of news and updates over time. In case you missed it, here are some of the recent stories:

Best of luck if you enter! We'll officially reach out to the winner next week on December 21st, 2020.

The post Win a Copy of This War of Mine: Complete Edition for Nintendo Switch! by Lou Contaldi appeared first on DualShockers.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Takes Vermintide Gameplay to Space

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, Fatshark

The Game Awards was filled with big announcements last week. One of those is that Fatshark currently has its next Warhammer game in development for next year. The studio that gave us the two Vermintide games is going back to that well one more time. Except this go-around, players will take the first-person action combat to space. Warhammer 40,000: Darktide lets up to four players group together to fight off the Admonition that is taking over Atoma Prime. Check out the first slice of gameplay below.

With this first glance, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide doesn't appear to stray too far away from Vermintide. Of course, there will likely be a few notable changes that we'll learn about before the game launches. However, for now, it just looks like more of the same. Considering how popular the previous games were, it makes sense not to change things too much. If the team can just build on Vermintide 2's melee combat, they'll be well on their way to a solid video game.

The biggest change is the setting. With how popular Warhammer 40,000 is, it was only a matter of time before the team took the gameplay to this setting. Personally, I've always preferred the Warhammer Fantasy setting, but I know there are plenty of fans who lean the other way. So, it's great to see Fatshark taking care of both sides with Darktide.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is set to launch sometime in 2021. Currently, the game is only announced for PC and Xbox Series X. However, Vermintide 2 came to PS4 eight months after its initial release. I would be very surprised to not see the same happen with Darktide.

The post Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Takes Vermintide Gameplay to Space by Ricky Frech appeared first on DualShockers.

FIFA 21 — How to Complete the Jose Gaya Player SBC

FIFA 21, EA Sports

FIFA 21 is continuing the string of fun player SBCs to celebrate the ongoing FUT Freeze promo. Today's player comes from LaLiga and provides the most striking position change we've seen so far. You can now unlock a striker version of Jose Gaya, who, in the real world, plays left back. The move means Gaya is getting a total change of his stats to turn him into a useable attacker. Check him out.

Personally, I was really hoping to see Sergio Ramos take this spot in a throwback to FUT Birthday card in FIFA 19. It would've been fun to have a big player to throw some coins into. That said, I do like that EA isn't just reusing the same players, so I can't get too grumpy.

Gaya does seem like a weird inclusion as someone who never uses LaLiga players. It seems like everyone and their nan is using Joao Felix's Player of the Month card these days, so I'm not sure how many people will complete this. Of course, he looks to be coming in at right around 60,000 coins, making him much cheaper than Felix. If you need a solution, see the one I tossed together below for some inspiration.

As you can see, the key here is to grab a few cheap 85-rated players from your club and then fill it out with mostly 83s. The SBC does have a relatively high chemistry requirement, so try to stick to one league to make it easier. You also likely already have an untradeable inform in your club. Now, is a great time to use them.

There's another puzzle SBC up as well. It's pretty cheap, so I would recommend testing your luck. My advice is to grab some Libatadores players to get your rating up and then fill the squad out with silvers. It shouldn't be too hard or expensive.

If you really want to test your luck, there is a repeatable Base Icon SBC available for the next 30 days. Out of principle, I never complete these. It's just too many coins for what will almost assuredly be a disappointment. But, they're your coins. If you want to give it a whirl, you have plenty of time to come up with the coins to fund one.

FIFA 21 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. Make sure to check back tomorrow to see which Manchester United player gets a FUT Freeze SBC. My guess is Fred is moving to one of the fullbacks.

The post FIFA 21 — How to Complete the Jose Gaya Player SBC by Ricky Frech appeared first on DualShockers.

F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch Is Now Coming to PS5

F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch, F.I.S.T., PS5

As part of The Game Awards, we got yet another look at F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch. The action-platformer brings heaps of style to the table. I mean, it's hard to get better than an angry bunny rabbit who has a massive robotic arm on his back. Only time will tell if this is a Bionic Commando situation and the rabbit and arm are linked in unexpected ways. Regardless, the new trailer shows a game that is shaping up well. Give it a look below.

In F.I.S.T., you star as Rayton, a battle-hardened rabbit who wants to rescue his chums from the Machine Legion. To do so, you'll engage in over-the-top arcade-like combat using Rayton's three main weapons: the fist, a drill, and a whip. The battle system is built around using all three to create visually-enticing combo chains. Of course, it's hard to know if the system will be satisfying without getting hands-on. That said, everything looks good, at least. Only time will tell if the gameplay can match.

Regardless, I'm something of a sucker for anthropomorphic animals in media. It's probably all that Star Fox I played as a kid. The style in F.I.S.T. reminds me of Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden. That game was my Game of the Year in 2018, so I'll always pay attention when something uses similar visuals. Obviously, these are very different games, but I've been sold on giving this one a try.

F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch is set to launch sometime in spring 2021. When it does release, the game will come to PC, PS4, and PS5.

The post F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch Is Now Coming to PS5 by Ricky Frech appeared first on DualShockers.

Cyberpunk 2077 — The Best Bars to Visit in Night City

Cyberpunk 2077 Best Bars

Night City of Cyberpunk 2077 is a busy metropolis with many places tucked away from main roads, elegant marketplaces with dildos, crowded plazas with trash, and urban hideaways that seep with sex. It's a place where you can grab a bite to eat, grab some new clothes, get laid, and more. But there's a range of bars that are marked on the map, so I decided to venture off and get a drink at each one, soaking the atmosphere of Cyberpunk 2077 in and ranking these bars from worst to best.

The list of bars below are ones that were highlighted on the map of Night City. So while there are hidden bars, such as one I found at the Jig-Jig Market with a load of Joytoys, or the one with an exhausted bloke who sells you dark chocolate, those aren't included. So if you're wondering which of the bars were the best in Cyberpunk 2077 based on my personal opinions of them, then get reading. Be prepared for mentions of wine snobbery, an accidental golden shower, and more. It's Night City, after all, it's not a "pretty" place.

Hometown Deli

By far the worst bar I visited on my journey through Cyberpunk 2077's city was Hometown Deli that can be found near the Reconciliation Park. The oddly named venue from the outside gives itself the impression that you're going to walk into some type of dystopian Subway. However, when you do walk in, there's an immediate sense of confusion in what atmosphere this little place wants to convey. One half seems to want to be warm and homey, but the other half feels cold and off-putting, like that pizza I found on top of some dumpsters in my apartment complex.

The bar comes with its own pretentious personality as well. The bartender spoke to me, a streetkid, as if I wouldn't have the knowledge of what a good wine in the city is even called. Sure enough, they may be right, but it's still a snobby attitude that made me turn my nose up at even browsing the menu. I can guarantee you though, you'll likely find a range of fine wines that will cost you a fair bit. Maybe some cheese.

Cyberpunk 2077

What's more, the venue has two toilets, but the doors are locked for some reason. Given the response from the bartender and the formal-feeling of the decor —at least in the warm areas— I wouldn't be surprised if these toilets required a membership to even use the facilities. I was too afraid of asking the bloke jumping up and down, shouting at the TV so had to go outside and relieve myself in the bushes.

What struck me as odd is the layout of the bar is remarkably similar to a much better, Yagami bar found all the way over by Lele Park. It's an almost exact copy in terms of layout, except that the furniture feels posh and the column in the middle sets the room apart. The people also seem to be mostly Corpo folk that have wandered down from the plaza.

Afterlife

Cyberpunk 2077

You'll recognize this venue in Little China as the one you visit with Jackie early on in Cyberpunk 2077's story as the build-up to The Heist. It's also the venue where he orders his Jackie Welles special; a shot of vodka on the rocks, lime juice, ginger beer, and a splash of love. A drink that he hopes would be named after him in the future — there's a spoiler here but I'm not saying it. It's also a place of life which is ironic given it used to be a morgue, but you can expect to see a lot of people enjoying themselves here.

The Afterlife boasts a green hue mostly, a large bar, and plenty of booths for hanging with friends. The music pounds through the corridors which give it that club vibe, but there's not really a place to party. Instead, it seems to be more of a place to kick back with a drink, talk, and watch the naked dancers in large tubes filled with water. It's certainly a unique touch, but one I'm not entirely sure I understand the meaning behind. Maybe there is no meaning.

The trouble with Afterlife is that it's probably too big, with its main areas being nothing more than cluttered and cold corridors. There's also a lot of backrooms to explore, but they're relatively dull and empty, mostly there for you to explore and pick up some extra junk to sell or dismantle.

Even the toilets looked awful, puddles across the floor and a general unkempt feel to them, as if the cleaner got lost in the maze of corridors. There's a pool table though at least. Regardless of the rubbish toilets and overall vibe, I didn't enjoy my time in Afterlife, but it's no doubt the popular place for Streetkid's to be. Chilling with a Jackie Welles as you listen out for opportunities to grab hold of.

Riot

Riot is an exclusive club in Cyberpunk 2077, and one you'll need to gain access to by earning your way in. For me though, with my street smarts, I simply waited for the door to open as a partygoer left. The moment the doors opened I was able to walk in as if I belonged. Not even the two bouncers outside the building tried to stop me. In an instant, I felt like an exclusive member of society. This bar can be found in Little China down the road from Afterlife.

It became immediately obvious that this place is clearly for the Corpo nightlife, for those who want to let it all out with fancy shiny clothes to dazzle everyone else on the dancefloor. That's right, there's a massive dancefloor that you can physically dance on, and there's a stage that's blocked off from public access, but features a DJ smashing some buttons and getting the crowd going crazy.

There's a bar as you walk into the actual building, but it's an uninteresting sight. It wasn't until I went upstairs to the next floor that I saw the larger, blue-tinted bar with a bartender who's sick of listening to the music that I actually felt compelled to purchase a few drinks. I got tipsy as I watched the people below me waving their cybernetic arms around. But then I saw the third floor, but a floor I couldn't seem to access due to all doors being locked.

I felt like Riot felt overly exclusive, and an experience I was only part of because I had to sneak in. I couldn't even get to the top floor to see what's up there. Furthermore, the dancefloor itself is incredibly boring. Sure, the music and ability to dance is a winner, but there's no fancy light show or light up floor to really keep the retinas awake after a few vodkas. So while sneaking in was exciting, afterward, the payoff was a massive letdown.

Lizzie's Bar

Cyberpunk 2077

You'll notice Lizzie's Bar in an instant. The recognizable logo, the baseball bat-wielding guards in revealing clothes, and the stench of sex emerging from the backrooms near the dancefloor. It's also the place where people come to tap into braindance devices and sit down in a glass booth to get cybernetically pleasured. It's certainly a place for adults, but it's a place that left me feeling dirty rather than entertained.

The lighting boasts a pink theme that's present for the main dancefloor area, and the music is pretty enjoyable. But you can't even go and dance on the floor, meaning that your time at Lizzie's Bar is going to be spectating. Seeing as the Corpo lifepath has you conducting business with Jackie very early on in Cyberpunk 2077, and then there's the mission where you meet Judy in the story, this place feels more like a business meeting place fronting as a club.

And that's upsetting for me. I'd still want to come in and have fun, but instead, I found myself getting tipsy, watching people dance, then I got bored and went to watch some guy spank someone in a braindance, and then watched some digital stripteases before feeling like it was time for me to leave.

The staff was incredibly friendly though, although at the same time somewhat flirtatious. I'm also surprised that I couldn't spend my money on a Joytoy like I could on the other side of the city in Jig-Jig Market. But that was something I liked about Lizzie's Bar, was that it felt more focused on pleasuring through non-physical means, and less like a seedy marketplace for sex.

Yagami Market

Right look, this was a surprising bar that felt incredibly simple but was also wonderful to be part of. It's found quite a way below the Wild Blue Hotel and Spa which is right next to Lele Park. Such a prestigious hotel location in Cyberpunk 2077 means that its surroundings must be of similar quality, and this was especially true for Yagami Market. Everything outside of this bar is basically a Corpo's dream area, with spectacular looking trees, fancy outdoor bars, a nearby fancy-pants clothes store, and more.

But for the bar itself, you walk in and feel immediately important. The blue hues give the decore that sleek feel with a pretty wall with some form of art deco lighting going on around a large advertisement. There's a nice seating area and everyone seems to be there on their own. As if escaping from the frantic world outside.

Everything about this place bleeds style and cool. But there's not a lot to do. You can go and chat with the bartender, order drinks, and get drunk, but outside of that I found myself mostly just standing and watching. But I felt cool and isolated.

The bar even has toilets that let you in. As you may recall from the earlier Hometown Deli bar, it has a similar layout, but it's presented in such a way that makes it really stand out, and the staff was not pretentious towards me. If you're looking to unwind in the corporate world of Cyberpunk 2077, this is likely the best place to come and visit.

El Coyote Cojo

The bar that holds a special place in the role of a Cyberpunk 2077 Streetkid. You start your game here, at Heywood, The Glen, fixing your broken nose…if you choose to do that, you help Mama Welles with some tasks which I'll not mention, and you stop people from fighting at one point. It's a place that feels welcoming, and it's a place that makes you feel like you're part of a family. And that's understandable given those who frequent this bar seem to live vicarious lives outside, similar to a coyote. Pack animals that often hunt alone but live as a group.

The bar sports a nice little area to sit and drink, but also has a range of entertainment such as arcade machines and a pool table. Annoyingly, none of which you can physically interact with. It has an upstairs area with booths for eating and relaxing away from the general hubbub downstairs as well.

There's not much you can do here but soak in the atmosphere, but as a Streetkid it holds a special place in you, even more so given the fallout of a specific mission. Admittedly, this bar isn't marked on the map, at least not from what I could see. But it's one that has such a prominent role that it deserves to be included, and it's one that I always stop off at when I'm driving nearby. I also think I'm reminiscing the very start of my Cyberpunk 2077 playthrough because the atmosphere resonated with me instantly.

Totentanz

This was a surprising bar that felt fit for Nomads. From the outside, the building bears no hints as to the excitement that lies within. This unattractive, almost derelict-looking building made me question whether my GPS was working properly. When I entered the building, things started to gradually change. A large hellish skull greeted me, with some punks sitting underneath having a smoke.

After timidly wandering around the grounds —which were strewn with fallen rubble, trash, and pieces of God-knows-what— I eventually found an elevator that had two stops. Security, and Totentanz. Thinking Totentanz was part of a quest, I opted for security first, which is nothing more than boring hallways with some armed punks chilling out. I could hear the music though, I just couldn't figure out where it was coming from. And the locked door made me wonder if I was at another exclusive club.

Cyberpunk 2077

Turns out you just go to the top floor via elevator, and you're greeted to a mass of orange and red flashing lights, perhaps some of the best out of all of the bars I'd visited. the music is heavy and incredibly my jam, and the dance floor was immensely popular and felt a lot more alive than Riot. The bar had a sarky bartender, and there was a constant fear of pissing one of the armed people off who were also dancing.

But I was having a great time, and there were areas to go and chill upstairs above the dance floor. The sense of danger only seemed to increase my enjoyment. And then there was a massive bathroom of which I didn't check out properly when I entered because of the large window that caught me by surprise, overlooking Night City.

I turned around and started looking at the dirty flooring, crouching my way across the wall in disgust until I stopped by a toilet. I had a look at how dirty it was but could hear a trickling sound, turned around and there was a bloke, about a foot away from the toilet urinating directly on me and the floor. I remained crouched as he urinated on me for the following 2 minutes.

Totentanz feels incredibly unwelcoming and dirty, but it also feels like the place I got the most enjoyment. The sense of danger was prominent, especially after seeing the range of grenades on the security floor. I enjoyed the music, and I enjoyed the light show, but I didn't like how trapped I felt if things went south.

Red Dirt

Red Dirt is a special kind of bar. It's situated a fair way outside of Cyberpunk 2077's main city areas in Santa Domingo, Arroyo, and is kind of hidden amongst warehouses and the like. But the large neon sign made me feel instantly aware I was going to walk into some form of a rock bar.

Turns out I was right in feeling that way because this is the very bar that Samurai, the band fronted by Johnny Silverhand, got its first gig. Apparently causing a ruckus during a live show, finding people banned from entering with no clothes on, and more. I did try going in naked and it seems those rules are now no longer in place.

Cyberpunk 2077

Red Dirt feels special inside, and that's because it doesn't feel like every other bar in Night City, automated or digital. It has the live stage set up that fans going to local gigs will be incredibly familiar with. It has the community that flock there to listen to bands perform live, and it has the warm, wooden vibe you get from a pub.

It may be small, but it certainly feels like it's full of life and stories that span a number of years. And it's one that I want to keep going back to. It's just a shame there's not much interactivity to get lost in. Perhaps more rock bands performing on different nights would really set it apart. And as such, it's my favorite bar in the entire city at the moment, and as such, the best on the list.

Notable Mention: Konpeki Plaza

This bar isn't wonderful, I'm not going to lie. But it's worth noting for the cameo appearance in Cyberpunk 2077 from Hideo Kojima himself. the video game developer can be found in this fairly large, exclusive-looking, business-orientated bar early on. He's in the middle of some sort of business meeting when you meet him though, but it's still a cool moment. the bar itself is similar to the Yagami Market bar in terms of feeling sleek. But its exclusivity to hotel guests means you're kinda shut away from it.

So there you have it. My ranking of the best bars in Cyberpunk 2077's Night City from worst to best. If you're planning to do your own digital bar crawl of sorts then be sure to give all those streets a good look. You never know what you may find tucked away.

The post Cyberpunk 2077 — The Best Bars to Visit in Night City by Ben Bayliss appeared first on DualShockers.

Nintendo Announces Indie World Showcase

indie world showcase

Nintendo was surprisingly absent from this year's Game Awards with few announcements or updates other than a handful of Switch ports and Sephiroth joining Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. They did, however, have a quick ad slot celebrating the many indie games that are on their platform. Today, it was announced that we're due for another Indie World Showcase before the end of the year.

A tweet from the official Nintendo of America Twitter account says that we can expect a new Indie World Showcase on Tuesday, December 15 at 9 a.m. PT. The tweet goes on to say that the showcase will last roughly 15 minutes and will feature new independent games headed to the Switch from Nintendo's global partners.

This will be the third Indie Showcase of the year, the other two happened in March and August. While this might not be the Nintendo Direct that many fans are craving, Indie Showcases from earlier in the year have previewed excellent, game of the year nominated titles such as Hades, Spiritfarer, and I Am Dead.

Nintendo recently won some awards at the 2020 Game Awards. In addition to being nominated for Most Anticipated Game with the highly anticipated Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel, Animal Crossing: New Horizons won Best Family Game and was nominated for Best Multiplayer Game and Game of the Year. For a full breakdown of what games won which awards, make sure to check out our writeup of the event right here.

You can watch the official Indie World Showcase right here:

For more on Nintendo's Indie World Showcases, make sure to check out our tag to keep up to date with all the most recent indie game news. If you're excited for Sephiroth to be in Smash, you can also look at this great fan art of what Kirby might look like after absorbing Sephiroth's powers.

The post Nintendo Announces Indie World Showcase by Peter Hunt Szpytek appeared first on DualShockers.

Orwell's Animal Farm Review — Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely

animal farm

As soon as I heard that a game was being made about George Orwell's allegorical 1945 novel Animal Farm I thought it was an extremely bizarre idea. A novel about an animal society striving for autonomy as it descends into a communist dictatorship isn't exactly begging for gamification. But now that I've gotten to play it, I can say that it's a surprisingly enjoyable hybrid of visual novel, choose your own adventure story, and farm management simulation. Sure, it may not be the deepest game available in terms of its gameplay mechanics or freedom of choice. However, developer Nerial's Animal Farm makes up for that by being a very respectful adaptation of the influential novel.

If you're not familiar with the original story, Animal Farm follows a group of farm animals who rebel against their human owners to start a society of their own with a pig aptly named Napoleon in charge. What starts off as an exercise in earning your keep in exchange for labor within the farm, quickly turns into a totalitarian regime that favors those in power.

George Orwell was not shy about his politics. He was staunchly opposed to communism and totalitarianism. So Animal Farm is a very blatant allegory about the political climate of 1945. It makes plain Orwell's disdain for Stalin and fascist regimes of the time. Even with that unorthodox setup for a video game, it's a surprisingly well-realized and entertaining experience from start to finish that manages to keep that spirit alive and well.

The bulk of the gameplay finds you overlooking your farm and making various decisions about how it's operation. There are a lot of moving parts to manage. Harvesting food before the winter months roll around is crucial. Then, deciding how that food is distributed is equally important because it could mean the animals on your farm will lack the strength to work or even potentially die. And on more than one occasion you'll be hit with the moral quandary of whether the food stored will be carefully rationed or redistributed amongst the farm's inhabitants. Animal Farm doesn't make these decisions feel black and white either. Whatever characters are ignored or catered to will influence certain outcomes leading to one of eight possible endings.

Those endings can often range from full-on death of your farm to a relinquishing of powers or even the strengthening of essentially the totalitarian communism that the novel warned about. Even knowing those potential options, it is often difficult to determine where your story will end up. Unless, of course, you're making a conscious decision to reach a certain conclusion. For instance, in my first run, I found myself reaching an extremely dark and bleak ending that almost felt like it came out of left field. The illusion of choice is often an issue in Telltale-style games and it feels at times that Animal Farm does fall prey to that.

One of the other mechanics that are at play is some very light building management. And when I say light I mean it. Throughout the game's yearlong cycle, you'll occasionally have to repair your barns after various events like snow or rainfall hit. Of course, if you're familiar with the novel, you'll recognize the option for the creation of a windmill to be a major plot point that can have positive or negative consequences depending on how you try to go about it. Unfortunately, there isn't a whole lot of depth to it.  Really, it all amounts to just deciding if it should be handled or not. Yes, your inaction could very well lead to your hardworking horses or your milk-producing cows getting sick or possibly dying. That said, I continually found myself wishing there was a bit more to it.

old major animal farm

There is also a very bare-bones combat system. You'll see this when either your animals are on the offensive against other neighboring farms or you're defending against the farmers that you forced out previously. There isn't much here though, and it's probably the weakest aspect of the game. Your animals have commands that you can select, but I have never come across any consequences from simply attacking. Further, I never found myself in danger of losing any battles. Whether from a lack of units or from being overwhelmed, the threat just isn't really there. I understand the combat isn't necessarily the main focus of the game. That said, some depth would have been better than none at all.

I was curious about how Animal Farm would translate to a video game medium from the moment I heard it was in development. It may not be the deepest or most-groundbreaking game of its type. And a lot of the mechanics may not have much to really dive into. However, it mostly sticks the landing. This is a better adaptation than I expected it to be. The devs even allow for at least some choice and deviation from Orwell's source material. It's also very commendable for a game these days to be blatantly political in a time where a lot of AAA studios won't even touch something close to this.

Animal Farm, like the novel it's based on, has a very clear stance. It doesn't shy away from the themes of anti-fascism and totalitarianism. Games as a medium have the opportunity to tell a wealth of stories. Political ones like this should always be welcomed no matter what the current state of affairs may be in the real world.

The post Orwell's Animal Farm Review — Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely by Camilo Olmedo appeared first on DualShockers.

Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights – New Trailer For The Beautiful 2D Metroidvania Reveals January Steam Early Access Launch

ender lilies steam early access release date feature

On December 14, Binary Haze Interactive announced with a trailer that Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights will be launching on Steam Early Access on January 21, 2021. With a $19.99 price tag. Three areas will be playable. Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights will ultimately release on PC via Steam, PS4, PS5 via backward compatibility, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X, in Q2 2021. The final game will include at least eight areas.

Ender Lilies is a dark fantasy themed metroidvania. Long story short, amnesic protagonist Lily tries to save the world from a rain which turns people into the undead. She can unlock new skills and weapons after defeating bosses, purifying and recruiting them. As a priestess, Lily will also experience visions expanding the story. We detailed more of the story and gameplay of Ender Lilies in our past coverage.

The new gameplay trailer showcases several exploration segments and boss fights. In particular, we can identify a pretty cool dodging mechanic, and what seems like a Just Guard like mechanic: Looks like guarding enemies' attacks right when they connect will nullify them.

The Ender Lilies soundtrack, heard in the trailer, was handled by Japanese indie group Mili, who recently did an opening theme song for the Goblin Slayer anime adaptations and songs for Deemo. Keiichi Sugiyama, who worked on Skies of Arcadia and Rez, is handling the sound effects.

Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights Steam Early Access Announcement Gameplay Trailer

Ender Lilies is developed by international but Japanese at heart company Binary Haze Interactive (the publisher) and its sister companies Live Wire and Adglobe. Binary Haze Interactive was founded in June 2020. the director and story writer of Ender Lilies is Keisuke Okabe. You can easily tell Ender Lilies will be a typical Japanese game: through the gameplay seen in the trailer, or the chara design of protagonist Lily.

Adglobe is a Shibuya-based company working on game, web design, and mobile game development. Live Wire was made of 25 employees as of March 2020, and was founded by Adglobe in February 2018. Most notably, the president is Makoto Takada, who used to be the president of Neverland, which closed down in 2013. Neverland was the developer of the Estpolis (Lufia) JRPG series on SNES, and the Rune Factory series on Nintendo DS, 3DS, PS3 and Wii.

Moreover, it's important to note Ender Lilies was scheduled to release before 2020 ends but now got delayed. Binary Haze Interactive also teased it's working on two more games which will be revealed in 2021.

Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights will support the following languages: English, Japanese, French, German, Spanish (Spain), Korean, Chinese (Simplified and Traditionnal), Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), and Russian.

Lastly, several screenshots were published and can be found further below.

Personally speaking, I'm very excited to see how the game will fare. Moreover, this is a full 2D Japanese game, something pretty rare nowadays, as only 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim immediately comes to mind. You can be sure we'll share our thoughts on the early access.

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The post Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights – New Trailer For The Beautiful 2D Metroidvania Reveals January Steam Early Access Launch by Iyane Agossah appeared first on DualShockers.

Resident Evil 8: Village Plot Has Been Reportedly Leaked Online, Be Aware of Spoilers

Resident Evil 8: Village

A few months earlier, hackers pulled a lot of important data out of Capcom's servers, and every now and then, they leak some new details about the future projects of the company. Recently, the hackers have apparently leaked the whole plot of Resident Evil 8: Village online.

You are not going to find any piece of spoilers about Resident Evil 8: Village in this post, and we ask you kindly not to mention anything spoil-y about the plot of the game in the comments section.

Apparently, the leaked plot of the game includes the ending as well, which makes it much worse for the fans of the series. The game is due out sometime next year, so Capcom may find some time to change some plot points or ending at least. However, it's easier said than done, and the plot might have some irreplaceable sections, so, the best way is to keep yourself away from the spoilers.

Unfortunately, the plot-leak happens every now and then around the industry for big games. Earlier this year, The Last of Us Part 2 dealt with a huge plot leak before its launch that spoiled some key moments of the story and probably ruined the fresh and exciting experience of the game for some true fans of it.

The recent data leak of Capcom i`s assumed to be a big one, and there might be more leaks on the way from the company's future projects. Recently, hackers leaked a timeline of Capcom's next projects, including some new Resident Evil titles that might be released after Resident Evil 8: Village.

As a cross-gen title coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC, Resident Evil 8: Village targets a 2021 release if the latest leak wouldn't change anything in the development process.

The post Resident Evil 8: Village Plot Has Been Reportedly Leaked Online, Be Aware of Spoilers by Mehrdad Khayyat appeared first on DualShockers.