Let's relive the unspeakable horrors of high school with Mary-Kate and Ashley: Crush Course
There's a method to my madness when picking kusoge. A lot of the time, I go by reputation. I may not have played Carmageddon 64 or BMX XXX until I chose them as subjects for articles, but they're generally understood to be crap games. This helps in two ways; the first is that I'm not going to be stepping all over someone's favorite game, and the second is that more people will recognize it off the hop.
But I'm not always going to do that, and this is one of those times.
This is a time where I'm going to look at a game because it's an easy target. Its relevance is long past stale, I'm not even in the same area code as its target audience, and I'm completely detached from its source material. It's a game that I'm completely divorced from, and I know I'm going to hate it, so let's dive into Mary-Kate and Ashley: Crush Course.
Frisky Tom is laying pipe in this week's Arcade Archives release
One of the most amusing aspects of old-school game development is the WGAF? mentality when it came to naming video games. While today's publishers pour hours and hours into titling their wares - wringing hands over the amount of words or letters used, and holding focus groups over where the chosen title plays in multiple territories - gaming's formative publishers seemingly slapped a name on the design document, then broke for lunch.
Case in point, Nichibutsu's 1981 release, Frisky Tom, now available to download on PS4 and Nintendo Switch as this week's Arcade Archives release. The bizarrely named puzzle-platformer put players in the role of a bowler hat-sporting plumber, who must dash along a fragile piping system fixing joins, repairing punctures, and staying one step ahead of a gang of mischievous mice who attempt to thwart his efforts by literally bombing his fine work.
Should Tom succeed in his efforts to keep the drainage system flowing smoothly, then he - and we - get to ogle a bodacious 8-bit babe taking a simultaneous bath and shower... I guess this scene is supposed to represent the "Frisky" part of "Frisky Tom"... maybe? Obviously dated today, Frisky Tom is a fun enough title, and while it would never see home release (aside from a mostly forgotten Game Boy port in 1995), it would inspire an array of suspiciously similar titles, such as the C64 classic Super Pipeline.
Check out the action in the video below, courtesy of YouTuber Old Classic Retro Gaming.
As Apex Legends surpasses 100 million players, have you given it a shot yet?
Cblogs of 4/10 to 4/6/2021
-Siflox Gaming reviews Apex Legends in its current 2021 form.
-Aurachad shares their thoughts on Assassin's Creed: Valhalla.
-Lord Spencer reviews SaGa Frontier 2 as part of his PS1 REVIEWS blogging series.
-Exber reviews all the games they played in the first quarter of 2021.
-Siflox Gaming reviews Rouge Company.
-Gamingnerd rants on Sony and the future of gaming.
-Black Red Gaming reviews Ghost of Tsushima on the PS4.
-TheBlondeBass's Awards now have their [Epilogue].
-Boxed Swine discusses the Netflix show, Disenchantment.
-Spazzzh20 shares their thoughts on how to fix Evangelion 3.0+1.0.
-Taterchimp will do a charity stream of Final Fantasy VI, so check it out.
-ChronoLynxx opens this week's TGIF open community forum.
Path of Exile: Ultimatum's launch marred because of...page sizes?
As any avid Path of Exile player can now tell you, yesterday sucked. We are used to some day-one server issues, as all online-only playerbases are, but holy cow was yesterday an absolute mess. After a very slow-moving player queue, Path of Exile finally let people in only to be disconnected five minutes later. Maybe this would have been more tolerable if it also didn't come with rollbacks, essentially wiping the last 1-3 minutes of progress off the board.
I must have hit level 13 about four times before I eventually gave up for the day. The Path of Exile Twitter account recognized these issues, but provided little comfort to those anticipating a fix, even updating late at night (on the east coast of the US) simply to mention that they have no new information.
Eventually, the developers put up an official announcement detailing everything to the users. While they avoid getting too technical, they do a good job of explaining their moves behind the scenes that caused a lot of the issues. As of now, the servers seem to be running mostly fine, and the only real information they have mentioned is for other developers to "be careful with your database page sizes," whatever that means!
This behind-the-scenes look at Fantasian shows how part of its world was pieced together
Fantasian has really proven itself to be an Apple Arcade title worth paying attention to. Not only is it a blast to play with a few great twists on the JRPG formula, but it employs an art direction we really haven't seen in the industry. The 150 dioramas created for the title look absolutely spectacular, and in the video below, you can see a small sample of just how much work went into putting this world together.
Limited Run Games to release physical edition of Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1
Purveyor of fine physical media, Limited Run Games, has announced that it will be releasing a hard copy of SNK's upcoming Nintendo Switch compendium Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1.
The compilation of handheld classics from the early '00s handheld will be available to pre-order in a limited four-week window, which opens on Thursday, April 22. Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 will be available in standard boxed cartridge form, while a special edition will feature steelbook casing, a double-sided poster, and a short retrospective booklet taking a look at every game in the compilation, housed in NGPC-style reproduction packaging. A price was not announced.
Whatcha been playing this week, Destructoid?
Hello folks and welcome to the weekend. This week was a crazy fast one for me, accelerated by a lot of work and legitimate efforts to have earlier nights. I'm getting old and I need the extra strength - although whether I get 11 hours or four, I wake up with the same level of exhaustion regardless. I think we're all feeling a little extra exhaustion at the moment. For many of us diet and exercise have taken a bit of a backseat lately. But these remain strange days, and as such we should all cut ourselves a bit of break. At least until things return to a sense of normalcy... Boy, that's some quality enabling. You're welcome.
I bounced between a bunch of games this week. I made sure to get my quota of having the tar kicked out of me on a variety of fighting games, before making myself feel like a Big Man by rat-a-tat-tatting through Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. I also finally got around to putting a few more hours into the PC edition of Persona 4 Golden - a title I am still yet to complete despite having owned it on multiple platforms. There's only so many hours in the day, right? and Persona 4 eats up a hell of a lot of them. JU-NE-SU.
I'm not sure how all of you manage to squeeze in all of your gaming, but I'm nevertheless consistently impressed by the number of games, old and new, that you report back on each and every week. I hope it's been a good week of gaming for all of you, (as well as a fine week in general). Be sure to jump into the comments and let us know what you've either been playing, or have lined up for the weekend. This article continues to hit staggering numbers of comments each week, and I love y'all for it. Thank you.
Have a wonderful weekend, from all of us at Destructoid.
Destructoid community stream night is live on Twitch
Hi everyone! I'm Anabela, your weekly super duper variety streamer extraordinaire! Tonight I'm streaming Magic: The Gathering Arena on Destructoid's Twitch channel starting at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
With the release of Strixhaven (Magic: The Gathering's Harry Potter-esque themed set), we have a lot of new cards and a brand new evolving meta to experience. I used to play only standard ranked, but lately I've gotten into drafting and learning new cards on the fly, which is incredibly fun — it adds spice to the gameplay which standard so often lacks.
Today I'll be unpacking 90 Strixhaven booster packs in MTG: Arena and I hope you'll join me in what I find! Can't wait to craft both standard and limited decks! PS: Limited players beware of the Golgari.
*****
A bit about me: As I was growing up, my older brother shaped my interests in games and fantasy culture. We were obsessed with dragons, fantasy books, world and creature building, you name it. Most of our time was spent hanging out and chattily imagining things. We dipped into Pokémon when I was six with trading cards, figurines, and books, but even our very first video games on our Dad's computer were split right down to the controls; he would do movements and I'd do action buttons. Over time we tried dozens of games, however RuneScape, D&D, and Pokémon always stuck with me the most.
It's been almost two years since I first started streaming. I tend to stream all sorts of games now, but my favorite genres came to be RPGs, puzzles, adventure, and strategy -- bonus if it's fantasy-themed or an MMO that I can play with my friends and an instant favorite if the atmosphere is just right! Alongside trying new games together, my heart is in our bubbly banter while we all talk it up in chat. I'm so happy to have met people who have the same passion as I do for all these games and cool hobbies.
But how did I get here? A while back, Destructoid hosted its "So You Think You Can Stream?" contest. It was my first time entering any type of serious contest, but I still wanted to shoot my shot and really get out there. Although I didn't win, I was elated to hear that my audition stood out and there was an opportunity for me to come on board to stream alongside Dreezy on the Dtoid channel.
Come catch me live at Destructoid's Twitch channel every Friday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern! Let's chat it up about anything and everything while playing cool games! I hope to meet you there. :)
Animal Crossing fans, this one's for you.
Social media nostalgia trip Emily is Away <3 is out today
The Emily is Away series has been two-for-two for both resurfacing fond memories of long-gone messenger days and also tugging directly on my heartstrings. Today, the third game arrives on Steam and Itch to, presumably, attempt the same.
Emily is Away <3 is a brand-new story, once again set purely online. The difference now is, rather than the old faux AOL Instant Messenger application, Emily is Away <3 takes place in the halcyon days of Facebook (excuse me, Facenook), circa 2008.
You can still chat of course, only it's over the Facenook messenger interface. There are also wall posts, tagged photos, and poke fights. It is, much like previous Emily is Away games, a concentrated blast of aught-nostalgia.
And of course, there are branching paths and conversation choices that will result in different endings. Will the conversations you hold online reinforce real-life relationships, or burn them to the ground? Will you, true to real-life, start a fight over answering an event invite with a "Maybe" instead of Yes or No? God, I hope so.
While these games are definitely a laser-targeted, heart-rending nostalgia blast for a certain generation (read: mine), Emily is Away <3 is probably worth a look for anyone who enjoys narrative storytelling done in unique interfaces. It's not like many stories are told in Facenook messenger, y'know. You can find it on Steam and Itch.io.
PlayStation 3 games sure have gotten expensive
PlayStation 3 games have gotten expensive lately — as have a lot of other old games that are either rare, genuinely desirable as something an adult would play and enjoy in 2021, or heaven forbid, both.
I'm not about to sell off anything, but it's to the point where I've found myself re-checking all of my collections in astonishment after seeing the prices games are fetching right now. In some cases, especially my DS library, these are titles I haven't touched (much less thought about touching) in years. I know myself well enough to know that ditching them would end in eventual regret, but it's tempting.
It's a similar story on other consoles, including my bestie, the GameCube, and while it's not necessarily a new trend — the pandemic has done a number on retro game prices — the PS3 is worth watching.
In the wake of Sony announcing its plan to remove the ability to purchase digital PS3, Vita, and PSP games later this year, I've been on a mad dash to catalog my existing purchases, figure out my longstanding gaps, and begin buying up digital copies (so far mostly PS1 Classics) before the store shutdown in July. I was so fixated on this initial goal that I hadn't looked that much into stocking up on physical copies of PS3 games. In retrospect, that was a mistake. It's probably too late for me.
I'll never get tired of Bloodborne players destroying Micolash before he can run away
I'm in the "not actively playing but still watching clips" phase of Bloodborne, and it's a beautiful place to be. I get to feel all of the highs and none of the lows. I'll return, of course, but I'm chilling for now.
This clip of a player putting Micolash out of his misery sure is a fun one — they stop him before he can run circles in his nightmarish maze and endlessly spout off his numerous grating-as-hell lines.
When you're sick of Micolash's shit from r/bloodborne
It's heartwarming to watch such a pesky boss get bodied with a calculated setup.
Reddit user godoflemmings had just enough ammo for their Augur of Ebrietas to catch Micolash in an endless cycle, which is the perfect taste of his own medicine. The clip is made even better with an impromptu HP-refueling "One of your notes was rated 'fine'" pop-up message during the fight.
Boss-stomping clips have become my go-to way to fondly remember tricky action-RPGs. Between Souls, Bloodborne, and Nioh, there's an endless supply. People can't seem to put these games down. After having my fill of all three — for the time being, anyway — I'm happy to cheer from the sidelines.
On that note, I also love the sheer disrespect of dodging Micolash's bullshit while emoting.
Travel to the 32th zone in Sunsoft's Atlantis no Nazo
Part of what draws me to Famicom games is the fact that I missed out entirely on the culture around it. Not only am I of an age that would have given the Super Famicom more significance, but -- and this may shock you -- I'm not Japanese.
One of my biggest windows into the Famicom culture is Game Center CX, a Japanese show that involves a guy, Shinya Arino, in an office playing video games for hours at a time in an attempt to beat them. There are segments that celebrate the games of yore and explore the many arcades that still exist scattered across the country, and bit by bit, you're given insight into the Japanese perspective.
Among the things I've learned is that there was a period in the mid-'80s where players seemed to be obsessed with "secrets." This would sometimes merely be the presence of a warp zone, a concept that was grasped by Western audiences as well. Other times it would be a cameo appearance by characters from another game. But developers would occasionally go overboard. The most high-profile example of this in the West is probably Milon's Secret Castle or Super Pitfall, impenetrable games that are almost impossible to topple without some sort of guide. We'd also be spared from the true Super Mario Bros. 2, which equally enjoyed screwing with the player unless they knew what they were doing.
Dig deep enough, and you'll find quite a few examples of this, but one of my favorites is the absolutely stupid Atlantis no Nazo.
Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai: A Hero's Bonds is as beautiful as it is formulaic
If you've never heard of Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai, I wouldn't blame you. The manga series started in the pages of Weekly ShÅnen Jump back in 1989, following the exploits of the titular Dai and his friends as they embarked on a quest for revenge in a world full of humans, demons, and the classic monsters of the Dragon Quest series. The comic ran until 1996 and was also adapted into an anime, as well as a few theatrical films, back in the '90s.
After lying dormant for a few decades, Square Enix has revived the property with a new manga series, a new anime adaptation of the original manga, and a trio of games that were announced last spring. A Hero's Bonds is the first of those games to make it outside of Japan. It's a free-to-play RPG developed by DeNA and published by Square Enix. DeNA is a developer you probably most associate with Nintendo's mobile output, but it's worked with Square Enix before on the hit title Final Fantasy: Record Keeper.
A Hero's Bonds represents the developer's first crack at the Dragon Quest franchise, but rather than doing something bold with it to make the title stand out in a ruthlessly competitive field, DeNA has chosen to play it disappointingly safe.
Netflix's Castlevania airs its final season next month, but new series could be coming
Netflix's Castlevania series is set to air its next season in May, and it will also be its finale. One report indicates that it might not be the end for the Castlevania universe on the service, however.
Following a promo art reveal, Netflix posted a new trailer on Twitter, saying the final season of Castlevania will arrive on May 13.
This is where it all started. The final season of Castlevania arrives May 13. pic.twitter.com/sLqWjJxjoA
— NX (@NXOnNetflix) April 16, 2021
Though the story of Trevor Belmont, Sypha Belnades, and Alucard may be coming to a close, Netflix may not be done with Castlevania as a whole. Deadline reports that it hears Netflix is eyeing a "new series set in the same Castlevania universe with an entirely new cast of characters."
There's certainly no shortage of Belmonts to pull from, or even other games in the series without a Belmont in the lead. (Soma Cruz, anyone?) Hopefully this report means Castlevania will continue on in some manner, though. The series has been pretty great so far, and as Netflix continues to pick up more video game adaptations like The Witcher, Dota: Dragon's Blood, and Resident Evil, it'd be nice to still see one of the series that laid the groundwork keep going.
For now though, I just hope the heroic trio of Castlevania protagonists gets a happy ending. After what happened to Alucard at the end of season three, he could use a reprieve.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition will have a photo mode
Mass Effect is getting a number of tweaks, both in gameplay and graphics, with the Legendary Edition. That's not the end of the list though, as a tweet from project director Mac Walters confirmed the addition of a photo mode.
On Twitter, Walters posted a screenshot of Mass Effect Legendary Edition's photo mode, replete with tabs and options like Focal Length and Tilt. Further details are scarce for now, though technical design director Brenon Holmes confirmed in the replies that this photo mode will work across all three games and is accessible through the mission computer, so it's available any time you can pause.
We were just calibrating, but #MassEffect Legendary Edition will have a photo mode. https://t.co/QghTqwS4Ah pic.twitter.com/tfNKcgyplu
— Mac Walters (@macwalterslives) April 15, 2021
Tuning the gameplay of Mass Effect and refreshing textures can all help to modernize, but the photo mode has swiftly become one of my most anticipated features. Getting to explore the cosmos and spend that time snapping pics with pals like Garrus, Liara, Tali, and Wrex sounds fantastic. I am absolutely going to try and get a selfie with a Reaper, strike a pose next to a flipped-over Mako, and fill my camera roll with cool pics of the Normandy crew.
Hopefully there are plenty of knobs and dials to turn, too. Seeing the Milky Way in a whole new light is exactly the sort of thing that gets me even more excited to play back through this trilogy again. It won't be long, either, as Mass Effect Legendary Edition will launch for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One (with forward compatibility for newer consoles) on May 14.
Resident Evil x Dead by Daylight event coming this June
As part of the myriad news dropped by Capcom during yesterday's Resident Evil Showcase, the publisher announced that it would be partnering with Behavior Interactive to develop a Resi-themed chapter for the latter's asymmetrical horror title, Dead by Daylight.
"We are excited to be working with the legendary studio Capcom to create the next Dead by Daylight chapter," said Behavior's creative director Dave Richard. It is an honor and an absolute joy to welcome the original survival horror game Resident Evil in The Entity's universe. The result is fantastic and will surprise new players and veterans alike. Players can expect a chapter packed with iconic content and novel ways to sacrifice or survive inspired by the renowned franchise."
A short teaser trailer sees a hapless survivor hooked onto a tree in classic Dead by Daylight style, with a blood-spattered Umbrella Corp. symbol hitting the damp forest floor. We do not see who the killer is, but the Resident Evil franchise has more than its fair share of professional hunters. Could it be Mr. X? Maybe, I'm thinking it might be Resident Evil 3's Nemesis - his mutated visage would fit well within The Entity.
It's like that Dead by Daylight players can also expect a new survivor to join the roster as part of this crossover event. I wouldn't be surprised if it were Jill Valentine, who is basically Resident Evil's crossover queen at this point. If it were up to me, it would be that reporter with the lame ponytail in Resident Evil 2, but then, I have a lot of growing up to do.
If the beta is any indication, FFXIV on PS5 is going to be a big upgrade
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is going to be a tri-platform game again.
Well, it kind of already is now! The PS5 beta just launched and everyone who owns the full version of the PS4 edition has access If you own a PS5, get in on this and grab the upgrade now from the PlayStation Store.
The new Strixhaven set is out in Magic: Arena, and you can get three free packs now
Magic: The Gathering Arena is back with another set, which is kinda sorta in early access form in Arena before it hits stores.
The entire theme of Strixhaven is "magical schools," including factions that resurrect life to study it, or essentially rap battle to showcase their wit. And naturally, a ton of new cards are coming with it. It's not just a mechanical change though, as Wizards is now altering how the mastery (season) pass works.
Track rewards are mostly the same as before, but mastery rewards (given out periodically) also offer avatars on top of card styles. It's a very small change in the context of card mechanics, but rather large when it comes to the cosmetic layer of the game. I hope it sticks around.
You can benefit from the new launch with a classic free pack promo. To get the three free packs, just enter the code "PLAYSTRIXHAVEN."
Also, don't forget the free Strixhaven-themed sleeves. You can find the codes below.
Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection will be creeping onto PS4, PC, and Xbox One
Amidst a day of news regarding Resident Evil, Capcom took a brief moment to address another horror-heavy title from its portfolio, Ghosts 'n Goblins. The publisher confirmed that Ghost 'n Goblins Resurrection will indeed be making the double jump onto PS4, PC, and Xbox One.
Launching on Nintendo Switch back in February, Ghost 'n Goblins Resurrection is a new take on the hard-as-nails 1985 arcade classic, and sees hero Sir Arthur battling through a variety of grisly environments and gruesome monsters on a quest to rescue the fair Princess Prin-Prin from dapper demon Astaroth.
Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection features the twitchy platforming action of the original title, but adds new weapons and skills, a selection of alternate difficulty settings, cute storybook-esque visuals, redesigned boss characters, and several new foes - joining a rogues' gallery that includes Red Arremer, Woody Pig and, best of all, "Skeleton Murderer". Fortunately, Arthur doesn't have to go it alone, as a (frankly weird) co-op mode will let a friend aid the brave knight with a variety of special abilities, such as bridge building and shield generation.
No release date was offered for the new console and PC ports, but we'll be sure to bring you up to speed when that info is available. In the meantime, Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection is available now on Nintendo Switch, and you can check out Chris Carter's review right here.
Resident Evil Village demo confirms odd 45 FPS framerate with ray tracing on PS5 and Series X
Did you catch the Resident Evil Village stream yesterday? If not, Jordan has you covered.
The gist is that a 60-minute demo is coming on May 1, and Mercenaries is coming back.
But shortly after the presentation, Capcom updated the game's official site, adding in a bit of framerate reference for the various versions of the game. Ready? At a base, at the top-end, PS5 and Series X players are looking at 4K HDR at 60 FPS. Good! That's pretty much what Capcom promised when the game was first announced. Once you turn on ray tracing through it'll drop to 45 FPS on the same platforms though. The Series S can run 1440p HDR/45 FPS, dropping to 30 FPS with ray tracing on.
Also, the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X can run the game at 1080p/60 FPS, or 4K HDR at 30 FPS. The PS4 runs at 900p/45 FPS, and the Xbox One is clocking in at 900p/30 FPS. I ran through the generations backward for you! Oh, and Stadians you are in luck: 1080p 60 FPS or 4K 60 FPS are options.
Phew!
You can find the full chart below, as well as at the site under the heading "Output Resolution and Expected Framerate." I hope your platform and setting of choice is up to your expectations!
I'm just going to crank ray tracing off and sail at 60 FPS on the current consoles.
(Update) Genshin Impact's long-awaited PS5 version is coming real soon, here's a look
[Update: The PlayStation Blog had the honor of showcasing more PS5 port news this morning, and we know have a firm date: April 28. As previously announced it will support 4K visuals and enhanced textures, as well as the typical PS5 bells and whistles like faster loading via SSD.]
Genshin Impact. The name has become a new titan in the gaming industry.
It completely took hold of its free-to-play gacha scheme and made bank across the PC, PS4, and mobile platforms: and now it's adding another feather to its cap. We knew the PlayStation 5 version was coming eventually, and now we have confirmation that it's nearly ready to go.
This morning developer miHoYo announced that the PlayStation 5 port of Genshin Impact is "coming soon," and gave us a quick look at it with the trailer below. Here's a summation of the improvements: "The PlayStation 5 version aims to deliver an even richer and more immersive open-world experience. Running in razor-sharp 4K resolution with enhanced textures across every part of the game, the world of Teyvat will look more detailed and vibrant than ever before, while faster loading times will allow players to enjoy a more seamless experience as they travel between the diverse and beautiful in-game environments."
As a reminder, the game does currently run on PS4, but you can tell it's not a native version. The enhanced visuals and load times will do wonders in terms of shoring up some of the busywork and open world stability problems. The studio also confirms that you can use the same save/account and the PS5 version is still free, so the upgrade will be seamless.
I've actually been holding off from playing it as much as I normally do because of the promise of the PS5 version!
Legendary ex-Nintendo designer says that F-Zero isn't dead, it just needs a 'grand new idea'
Every few months the specter of F-Zero rises again.
It's been a really long time (around 16 years)! And I'm kind of shocked that Nintendo hasn't dug up its corpse to shamble it along as a mobile game of some sort with a subscription service, microtransactions, and loot boxes for outfits. Damn! I think I just gave an executive the ammo he needed to make this a reality.
Remember (now ex-Nintendo employee) Takaya Imamura? Well, he worked on a ton of different games at Nintendo over the years, including Star Fox, and served as the lead artist on the original F-Zero. Imamura thinks that this series isn't quite dead yet (it's just resting!), and that Nintendo could bring it back to life if they really wanted.
So what's the holdup? Speaking to IGN, Imamura states: "Of course, I've thought about it many times, but without a grand new idea, it's hard to bring it back." He also followed up with the outlet noting that even though he's no longer with the company, F-Zero is not "dead," and that someone could pick up the torch in the future.
So we know that the series overall isn't blacklisted or anything; Nintendo proudly showcases it in projects like Smash Ultimate. But they really are waiting for the right moment to bring it back aren't they? They're taking their sweet old time!
The Man Who Invented Majora's Mask Reflects on 30 Years at Nintendo [IGN]
What do you think of the new trailer for Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness?
Capcom has released a brand new trailer for the upcoming CGI series Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness, which will be streaming exclusively on Netflix in July.
The short but atmospheric preview reunites two of Resident Evil's most beloved protagonists, Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield, as the zombie-fighting duo coincidentally encounters one another in, of all places, the White House. Of course, as if destined by fate, it isn't long before things get a bit on the sticky side, as the intrepid duo find themselves amidst an army of undead horrors that are suddenly swarming into Pennsylvania Avenue.
Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness will tell a brand new, original story within the survival horror series' universe. While the new series CGI styling recalls that of 2008's Resident Evil: Degeneration, technology has come on in leaps and bounds since those halcyon days, and as such Infinite Darkness hopes to capture the terror, tension, and gore of Capcom's franchise while bringing a fresh (rotten?) storyline to the Resident Evil canon.
I'm amused by the way that both characters look more distinctly matured from their Resident Evil 2 days, yet Kennedy still has the thick, luscious locks of a 20-year-old, with not a strand of grey in sight. I'm always down for Leon/Claire team-ups, so here's hoping that the new series will deliver.
Square Enix shuts down reports that it is looking to sell
Square Enix has released a statement denying that it is in the process of negotiating a sale. Square Enix Japan made the rebuttal in response to a recent Bloomberg report that suggested the developer/publisher was in talks with numerous "interested parties" in regards to a possible purchase.
"Bloomberg has reported today that there is interest from several buyers to acquire Square Enix," addressed the Final Fantasy publisher. "However, this report is not based on any announcement by Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. We do not consider selling off the company or any part of its businesses, nor have we received any offer from any third party to acquire the company or any part of its businesses."
As reported by Kantan Games' Dr. Serkan Toto, the publishing of Bloomberg's story would see Square Enix Japan's stock rise significantly, hitting an almost 14% increase by Japan's midday trading period. But it seems, at least according to Square itself, that it's still business-as-usual for the legendary RPG developer.
I guess I'll just tear up this statement of intent that I spent the whole morning drafting.
New Super Monkey Ball title 'Banana Mania' rated in Australia
The Australian Classification board dropped a leak for what appears to be a new title in Sega's infuriating but compelling inertia puzzle series Super Monkey Ball. In a listing since removed from the board's website, the governing body approved "Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania" on April 15.
Of course, there are absolutely zero details pertaining to this new title, but the leak ties in with increasing loud whispers from both fans and even SMB's own voice actors that a new Super Monkey Ball was on the horizon. In regards to information about the new entry's gameplay, platforms, or release date, we'll just have to wait until Sega decides to show its hand.
Imagine if it's a VR game. Yikes...
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania rated in Australia [Gematsu]
Giveaway: Take an exclusive Crusader Armor Pack for Magic: Legends
In today's giveaway you can take an exclusive Crusader Armor Pack for Magic: Legends!
So get this: Magic: Legends is in open beta, and it's totally free to play and check out. Exciting! I'd play it, but I was banned from participating in magic, and Magic, due to my particular brand of sorcery being too erotic. Different folks, different strokes, I guess.
Anywho, we've got some exclusive content you can't buy in-game, so just take one, already!
Picross S6 is coming to Switch next week
The Nintendo Switch has had no shortage of Picross options, and Jupiter's shown no signs of slowing down. Picross S6 has been announced, coming to the Switch eShop on April 22, 2021.
This marks the sixth game in the Picross S series to arrive, stretching back to the first in 2017. Picross S6 will have 300 Picross and Mega Picross puzzles, 150 Clip Picross, 30 Color Picross, and five Extra puzzles, for a total of 485 Picross puzzles to solve.
That's a whole lot of Picross, and it's true, there's a lot of it on the system. Alongside Jupiter's Picross S series, there have been some newcomers to the puzzle format, like story-driven murder-mystery Murder by Numbers. I do miss Picross 3D a bit too, and hope there's still some potential for that in the future.
But Picross is my chill game. It is what I play when I need to just relax. This trailer has actually made me a bit nostalgic; when I used to travel a bit more often for conventions pre-pandemic, the Picross S series became a go-to for light bouts of puzzle solving. It's a little sad I won't be plugging away at some Clip Picross on a plane anytime soon.
That said, Jupiter is filling the grid-shaped hole in my heart, one box at a time. There's even a new quality-of-life feature in this one, to help track box numbers on large Picross puzzles. There are a lot of games on the horizon, but I know I'll probably make some time for some logic-based box puzzles.
Capcom listened and The Mercenaries is back for Resident Evil Village
Resident Evil Village has the bonus mode a lot of us have been wanting, and we got our first glimpse at it during this afternoon's Resident Evil Showcase. That's right, The Mercenaries is back. If you prefer PvE to PvP when it comes to the Resident Evil series, I'm right there with you. We finally got our wish.
Like before, Village's take on The Mercenaries is an arcade-style mode that's all about clearing enemies as quickly as possible with the highest combos while, uh, making it out alive. (I always forget about that last part until it's too late.) That said, it seems like a mix of the prior Mercenaries with the newer wacky alternate modes of Resident Evil 7. There are ability pickups, and, curiously, enemies have health bars.
Between areas, you can hit up the Duke's shop to buy healing items, weapons, or upgrades. So unlike, say, Resident Evil 4's Mercenaries mode, this one has more long-term loadout planning to consider.
According to Capcom, The Mercenaries will be unlocked after you complete the main campaign.
The developer also teased that the "final stages become extremely difficult, but you'll be rewarded when you complete each stage." That incremental power fantasy is what I'm here for!
Sign me the hell up for Resident Evil 4 VR
Resident Evil 4 is once again being "enhanced for a modern audience." While remake talk will have to wait for another day, Capcom did announce a VR version of the endlessly replayable horror-action romp.
Resident Evil 4 VR is a collaboration between Capcom, Oculus Studios, and Armature Studio for the Oculus Quest 2. The early footage looks promising and pretty fleshed-out — Leon is shown dual-wielding a pistol and knife, he fully interacts with a typewriter one key at a time, and the inventory management screen isn't just a flat menu. I'm super hopeful about this conversion to VR.
The footage shown so far looked fun enough, but what about those quick-time events? We'll see.
Apart from these screengrabs, you can also see Resident Evil 4 VR in action at this time stamp.
More info will be shared on April 21 at 3:00 p.m. Pacific at the Oculus Gaming Showcase. For now, the official line is "Oculus Quest 2" — no mention of other platforms or even the original Quest model.
Here's when you can play the Resident Evil Village demo
During this afternoon's Resident Evil Showcase, Capcom shed light on the next Resident Evil Village demo — and it's a little complicated when you break down who's getting what and when.
All of Village's platforms (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Steam, and Stadia) are getting a "time-limited demo" on May 1 with up to 60 minutes of playtime, and it includes the village and castle. As explained on the stream, you can spend your time exhaustively exploring one area or try them both.
There's also something for (no surprise) PlayStation users. PS4 and PS5 owners are getting early access to this content: a 30-minute "village demo" on April 17 and a 30-minute "castle demo" on April 24.
Capcom said that PlayStation pre-loading will open up today at 4:00 p.m. Pacific (click those links above), and the multiplatform pre-loading phase will start on April 29 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific.
Here are the exact dates and times for the convoluted demo rollout:
Resident Evil's April showcase starts soon so let's watch it together
The first Resident Evil Showcase went over pretty well, and so long as we get the next demo soon — one that's indicative of the full game and not tied to a single platform — today's stream should be a similar story. The April showcase is airing soon, so get comfy. The show starts at 3:00 p.m. Pacific.
Officially, we can expect "a new trailer and gameplay for Resident Evil Village, and much more Resident Evil news." We don't know how long this showcase will be, but the last one was around 17 minutes.
The more I see of Village, the more I feel like I'm looking at a Resident Evil 4 successor through a modern Capcom lens. My recent revisit of RE4 on PS4 has only heightened my interest in this game and these vibes. I had a blast re-learning the routes for every character and stage in Mercenaries mode, and after messing around with the Handcannon, I'm ready to get to work with one last Professional run send-off.
I'm trying to keep my expectations in check for the rest of this year (reminder: it's the 25th anniversary of Resident Evil), but it's tough. I hope Capcom is just waiting for Village to launch before it goes all-out.
Puzzle Bobble VR: Vacation Odyssey looks better than expected
Maybe it's just a matter of having no real expectations for a VR adaptation of Puzzle Bobble, but I've gotta say, Puzzle Bobble VR: Vacation Odyssey looks... surprisingly pleasant! It's coming to Oculus Quest and Quest 2 on May 20 from Survios, the studio behind Raw Data and Creed: Rise to Glory.
This new first-person bubble-bursting puzzle game seems like it's making decent use of the VR format with physical interactions — you load your launcher before firing, and can spend coins on power-ups, one of which involves turning an orb-like tool by hand to strategically adjust the bubble array.
According to the team, there are 100 levels in Story Mode, each with three-star ranks to earn. There's also a score-chasing Infinite Mode with relentless bubbles and Online Duel Mode with 1v1 bouts.
"VR allows us to deliver a new approach to bubble-popping, allowing long-time fans and new players to experience Puzzle Bobble like never before and just in time for Bubble Bobble's 35th anniversary," said Taito president Tetsu Yamada. Decades later, Bub and Bob are still doing their thing. I love that legacy.
Double Fine is getting a feature-length game jam documentary on April 29
I love a good Double Fine behind-the-scenes video, and so far, they've all been good! Over the years, 2 Player Productions' documentaries, in particular, have been entertaining and insightful looks into how multiple disciplines can come together to imagine a video game and then somehow make it real.
One of the recurring themes is a two-week internal game jam called Amnesia Fortnight, although admittedly, it's been a while; the last event, in 2017, led to prototypes like Kiln, a pottery game where you sculpt makeshift armor, and The Gods Must Be Hungry, a cooking adventure with giant ingredients.
The goal of Amnesia Fortnight is to give staff a chance to pitch something wild and refuel their creative energy for longer-term and far more consequential projects. For us at home, it's fun to watch along. I rarely play the four winning entries that make it through the game-jam gauntlet, but I always tune in.
In 2019, during the making of Psychonauts 2, Double Fine hosted another Amnesia Fortnight. The whole process was captured as a full-length documentary — The Amnesia Fortnight Movie — and it'll debut on YouTube on April 29, 2021. You can even just come back to this exact spot for the premiere:
Apart from the trailer up top, there's also a hint from Xbox Wire about the featured games, all of which sound conceptually on-brand for a studio like Double Fine: "madcap puppet theater, devious journeys into the underworld, a sinister puzzle game, and grand battles on the back of giant slugs."
The key sound bite? "You take a little bit of terror every day, it's like poison: you get immune to it."
Apex Legends hits 100 million player milestone
Tech-loving battle royale title Apex Legends has hit a mega milestone. As reported by developer Respawn Entertainment, the free-to-play shooter has reached a total of 100 million players across PS4, PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and mobile platforms. That's a helluva lot of royalin'.
Apex Legends has been consistently popular since its initial launch back in the spring of 2019. Electronic Arts' take on the battle royale genre has had eight successful seasons, dropping new characters, weapons, and locations on a semi-regular basis. Season 9 on Apex Legends is on the way and is expected to be particularly popular, given that it will cross over with Respawn's excellent mech-shooter franchise Titanfall.
Alongside the milestone announcement, Respawn released a short video featuring a teasing date of April 19, so perhaps we'll be seeing some of the new content come Monday. In the meantime, Apex Legends' "War Games" event continues, introducing a series of unique, limited-time modes that will continue to arrive in rotation until April 27.
The Epic Games Store is giving out three free games, and Alien: Isolation is up next
I'll be frank here: you might not want to play all three of the free games this week on the Epic Games Store. It's not that they're bad, or should be skipped over, it's just that they aren't as high-profile as we've come to expect from these giveaways, and they aren't particularly fresh, either, so you might've already tried them elsewhere. That said, if you're in the free-game-hoarding habit, claim 'em all.
Today through April 22, you can grab three freebies: The First Tree (a super pretty nature adventure game starring a fox), Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth (a 12th century England point-and-click adventure adaptation of the novel), and Deponia: The Complete Journey (a comedic adventure series).
The First Tree
The Pillars of the Earth
Deponia
Of these three, I've always meant to check out The First Tree — I'm all about games that let me play as an animal, and the scenery looks fantastic — yet I'm most intrigued by The Pillars of the Earth, which I've never seen before. Even if it's a bit outside my usual interests, it's got a great look to it with full-on hand-painted backgrounds and some eye-catching character designs. The story sounds dark.
I'm sure we've got readers who have played some or all of these and can speak to them better. There's no reason not to claim the games, but are they worth investing time in? That's always the question.
Next week, from April 22 to April 29, the Epic Games Store will offer up Alien: Isolation and Hand of Fate 2 — one of the all-time most nerve-wracking horror games and a cool deck-builder with real-time third-person fights. I honestly "missed" the last few weeks of giveaways, but I'm back in.
The evocative Sky: Children of the Light is coming to Switch in June
Eclectic developer thatgamecompany has announced that its free-to-play mobile title Sky: Children of the Light will be winging its way onto Switch in June, bringing its dreamlike realms and harmonious social nature to Nintendo's hybrid platform.
The Switch edition of the 2019 release will retain its free-to-play nature, and will also feature cross-play with its iOS and Android brethren, allowing players to meet up, connect with, and journey alongside an already established community of hundreds of thousands of players. As the titular "Children of the Light," players venture through seven distinct worlds, spreading hope, joy, and happiness in efforts to restore the desolate lands.
Winning numerous awards - particularly for its ethereal soundtrack and calming sound design - Sky: Children of the Light was critically praised for its relaxing social nature and spirit of community and camaraderie, recalling that of thatgamecompany's most celebrated release, Journey. This new Switch port will likely see thousands of new players added to the fold - and at a time where we could all use a little R'n'R, its arrival can't come a moment too soon.
You can check out CJ Andriessen's review of the mobile release right here.
Ubisoft locks in next Forward for E3 2021
A second year of digital press conferences look like they're on their way, and Ubisoft is confirming its date already. Today, Ubisoft announced that its next Forward press conference will be on June 12, 2021 at 12 p.m. PT.
This Ubisoft Forward will be part of E3 2021, which is back this year from June 12 through 15. The show already has commitments from Nintendo, Xbox, Capcom, Konami, Take-Two Interactive, Warner Bros. Games, and Koch Media, as well as Ubisoft.
Announcing the next #UbiForward ðŸ"¥ Part of #E32021
— Ubisoft (@Ubisoft) April 15, 2021
ðŸ'‰ https://t.co/wadfUzS9PM pic.twitter.com/YrE3o6NHyB
Ubisoft isn't saying more about its lineup at the moment, other than it will include announcements from the company's teams around the world.
In terms of games that cold appear, there's the mysterious new Rainbow Six game that's rumored to be undergoing a name change, and any sign of life for Skull & Bones would be nice. Ubisoft also spent its summer last year addressing reports of toxic company culture, so hopefully there are some signs of positive change as well.
Following a canceled E3 2020, seeing how publishers handle a purely digital E3 this year will be interesting to see, as the ESA has insisted it won't be paywalling anything for its online event. Given last year, I'm still waiting for the summer games mess to throw some curveballs.
Eustace arrives in Granblue Fantasy: Versus April 20 and is it hot in here or...?
CyGames has announced a release date for the next fighter headed to its stylish one-on-one slugfest Granblue Fantasy: Versus. As teased back in early March, literal lone wolf Eustace will be joining GF:V's stupidly stylish roster of fighters on April 20.
Master marksman Eustace patrols Skydom as a wandering vigilante, delivering judgment to the wicked via the business end of his ornate custom rifle "Flamek Thunder" and a handful of explosive devices. Afforded heightened senses thanks to his raw... animalistic... untamed... wolf-like nature, Eustace is a fearsome opponent, equally dangerous at both long-range and in close proximity.
As with all previous Granblue Fantasy: Versus DLC characters, Eustace comes complete with a custom lobby avatar, star character icon, and RPG quest chapter. Be sure to check out the Japanese GF:V Twitter account for a selection of short videos showing off Eustace's moveset as we see our fuzzy boy locked, cocked, and ready to unload... Ok, I'm calling this article right now.
[Update: The PS3 community is starting to discover that some games are getting patches back, mysteriously, as of this week. Alien: Isolation, Battlefield 4, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Dante's Inferno, Dark Void, Dead Nation, Dungeon Siege III, Ghostbusters: The Video Game, Gran Turismo 5, Jet Set Radio HD, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle, Just Cause 2, LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga, LEGO Lord of the Rings, LittleBigPlanet: GOTY, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, Mortal Kombat, Need for Speed Shift/The Run, Resogun, SoulCalibur IV, Sports Champions 2, Street Fighter III 3rd Strike Online Edition, Tekken Tag 2, Twisted Metal, WRC FIA World Rally Championship, and Zombie Tycoon 2 have been patched.
However, since our first report, a ton of games have also been added to the list and do not have patches. 48 games (that we know about) are still impacted to some degree, including some bigger games or exclusives like White Knight Chronicles and LittleBigPlanet 2.]
Just recently, we were talking about how great it was that Microsoft actually valued game preservation.
The ripples of their efforts to actually allow people to play their old games have been felt for some time, especially when it comes to preserving games as old as the original Xbox platform. But on the flipside, Sony is shutting down entire marketplaces for multiple devices, and now it seems like the PSN's backend is shoddier than we thought.
According to myriad users on the forum PSN Profiles, a handful of games no longer patch at all. The games range from Dante's Inferno to Castlevania: Lords of Shadow to Street Fighter III 3rd Strike, all of which currently cannot obtain patches from the PSN. There's 35 known games in all, with a living list that grows by the day. In a few cases this process can lock folks out of DLC they've purchased without the new version to authenticate.
It all falls back to the warning signs of digital many years ago. Some companies were tying a lot of content solely to digital releases, and folks were asking constantly "physical edition when?" You've probably seen the chant before and rolled your eyes at it, but if this is the fate of the legacy PSN, it just goes to show you how important preservation really is. This is partly why people praised the idea of putting Witcher III, and all of its DLC, on one self-contained Switch cart.
You can find the full list below, compliments of DeidaraTV on PSN Profiles. We've reached out to Sony for clarification on why this may have happened.
No Patches for some PS3 games [PSN Profiles] Thanks John!
Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis is running a beta program next month
Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis is still somewhat shrouded in mystery, but the veil is being peeled back in just a month.
Sega has announced that they're running a global beta period for New Genesis: you read that right, it is not limited to Japan. It'll take place from May 14 through May 16, which will be a fairly narrow window for sure, but a way to play the game regardless. Registration starts on April 21 at 1PM ET, and you'll be able to do it on the Xbox Insider Hub app.
You can find all of the exact times below. The gist is that it's only for Windows 10 PCs via the Microsoft Store. That's going to be a deal breaker for some! Honestly, I can just wait for the "later in 2021" date to play it myself. But it'll be fun to see more open info on New Genesis in any case.
Just know that Sega says this test "will have a limited number of applicants who can register at a first come, first served basis." So once that 1PM ET April 21 registration hits, slam that opt in button!
PSO2:NGS Global Closed Beta Test [PSO2]
Gothic schoolgal dungeon crawler Lost Ruins launches on PC May 13
Dangen Entertainment, in association with developer Altari Games has announced that its crowdfunded anime horror adventure, Lost Ruins, will launch on PC May 13. The studios have released a brand new trailer showing the pixelated monster-masher in action.
Nintendo Download: Fez (What year is it?)
Well, the Nintendo Indie World showcase sure showed us!
We thought that the Switch wouldn't get too many new indies this week, but Fez is here with a surprise launch. And if you're on the fence: it absolutely still holds up and should keep you busy well throughout the weekend.
Also coming to Switch this week is the hand-drawn The Longing, alongside of There is No Game: Wrong Dimension, Saga Frontier Remastered, Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark, and Godstrike. It's a great mix of puzzlers, point and click adventure games, JRPGs, and action.
Oh, and all this stuff too! There's a lot to choose from this week.
Wasteland 3 takes the battle to Steeltown in June
The Colorado of Wasteland 3 is pretty rough, and to survive it, you're going to need some steel. The Battle of Steeltown, Wasteland 3's first narrative expansion, is headed to the titular Steeltown to resolve an internal conflict so the flow of arms and armor can keep rolling on June 3, 2021.
After deliveries from Steeltown start going awry, the player's team of Rangers is sent in to figure out what's up. Turns out bandits have been raiding, the gates are sealed shut, and the workers are starting to revolt against Steeltown head Abigail Markham.
Alongside a new narrative with choices to make, there are also some new mechanics being introduced and expanded into the base game. Non-lethal weapons, elemental shields, stacking status effects, and telegraphed attacks are all shifting battles up, along with new weapons and armor. The Battle of Steeltown can be played solo or co-op, and it will also scale to your level depending on how far you've progressed.
Add in some more original music and post-apocalypse inspired covers from Wasteland 3's music supervisor Mary Ramos and composer Mark Morgan, and sounds like this is a big chunk of RPG for Wasteland 3 fans to dig into. The Battle of Steeltown comes to both consoles and PC on June 3, 2021.
No more endless Mega Man merch: the Capcom Store is closing on May 1
It's a sad day for merch. Pour one out for hats and shoes.
Capcom is a character factory. It's what it does best! And it's not afraid to lend those characters out to any number of crazy crossovers, or even make entire crossover games. Capcom arguably has one of the most respectable rosters in all of the industry, which is why they capitalize so much on it in the form of merch.
If you want merch from pretty much any Capcom franchise, you can find it. Mega Man? You can literally find any Mega Man knick-knack you want. Same with Ryu. It's just a fact of life. I Googled "Mega Man Shoes" just now and it came up with a hit. Good ol' Capcom.
However, the world has been changing this past year and some things are going away: and that includes an easy access way to get official Capcom merch. The publisher has announced this week that the Capcom Store is closing down, and the last day to place an order is May 1, 2021.
After that point pre-orders and the like will be fulfilled, but the store itself will be shutting down, possibly forever. Capcom warns that "supplies are limited" during this transition period. Goodnight, sweet prince! Buy that last bit of Mega Man shaving cream before it's gone forever.
Capcom Store USA [Twitter]
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge confirmed for Switch with new trailer
As part of yesterday's Nintendo Indie World live stream, publisher Dotemu confirmed that it would be bringing its cool-looking brawler Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge to the Switch platform. The announcement was accompanied by a new trailer giving us a quick look at our half-shell heroes in action.
Days Gone will come riding onto PC May 18
Sony Bend Studio has announced that its apocalyptic, open-world adventure Days Gone is coming to PC next month. The new port of the 2019 wilderness survival adventure will hit both Steam and Epic Games Store on May 18, priced at $49.99.
Days Gone tells the story of bad-times-biker Deacon St. John, as he rides through post-apocalyptic Oregon in the wake of a global pandemic that has left much of the populace in a feral, cannibalistic state. Days Gone blends third-person action-adventure with heavy crafting mechanics as Deacon attempts to thrive, or merely survive, in a nightmarish new era.
The PC edition of Days Gone will feature the original single-player campaign alongside the alternate Survival and Challenge modes. Several new bike skins will also offer alternate looks for Deacon's trusty bike. PC options will include support for ultra-wide monitors, mouse & keyboard control options, unlocked frame rates, and various graphical sliders that will allow for increased detail, longer draw distance, and multiple field of view options.
Check out these features in the new trailer below.
(Update) Nintendo low key lets it slip that the next Mario Maker 2 Ninji speedrun event is the last
[Update: Well the time has come for one major element of Mario Maker 2 to die as well. After noting that the Ninji Speedrun event was coming to a close last month, that era is upon us. Nintendo confirms that the final Ninji Speedrun is Bowser's Castle themed, and is "packed with tricky gimmicks" worthy of a last event.
It'll run through April 27 at 7PM PT, at which point a major online component of Mario Maker 2 will cease to exist. Like Mario Maker 1, you can expect Nintendo to shut off online support at some point too.]
Nintendo is killing Mario Maker 1 online support at the end of the month (don't forget!), but it seems like they're going to be stopping support for Mario Maker 2 soon too, in some form or another.
In this innocuous tweet, Nintendo reminds us that the "Cap Mario Master" Ninji Speedrun Course is out now, which tasks players with collecting 100 coins amid the Super Mario World theme. Fine, right?
Well, in the next tweet reply, which is a little more sly and sans a marquee accompanying image or hashtag, Nintendo also notes that another Ninji speedrun event is "planned to launch on April 14." That's fine too, right? Read the fine print: "The volume of this 20th and final Ninji Speedrun will be bigger than usual and last for 2 weeks. Please be sure to keep an eye out!"
Wait, what? Yep, if you're still enjoying those Ninji speedruns, keep in mind that they seem to be ending in roughly a month. Also, note that Nintendo is willing to drop Mario Maker support like a sack of potatoes, so it stands to reason that in a few more years, Mario Maker 2 could be shut down like its predecessor.
Especially if there's a Mario Maker 3 in the works, with 3D support. I kind of want it, but I also don't want it to be inevitably shut down. Catch-22!
Nintendo of America [Twitter]
Returnal shows Housemarque hasn't forgotten its shmup roots
When Housemarque first announced that it simply felt it had no choice but to leave the shmup scene behind, the Finnish developer's fans were understandably a little disappointed, fearing that the developer would lose its unique style among a suffocating market of third-and-first person shooters. But with the studio's upcoming PS5 release Returnal, it seems that Housemarque is working hard to find a comfortable middle-ground.
As demonstrated in its new "Hostiles" trailer, Housemarque is attempting to blend its colorful, visually splendid aesthetic with a more conventionally popular third-person action approach, while also maintaining the twitchy, pulse-pounding bullet-hell action of the studio's former releases, such as Super Stardust HD, Resogun, and Nex Machina.
While I'd love to have seen Housemarque continue its twin-stick ways, the studio's survival simply required that it step away from its comfort zone and toward mainstream genre gaming at large. This is why it's heartening, at the very least, to see the studio work hard to maintain its unique visual signature, pushing to stand out with a recognizable style - in both visuals and gameplay - as it attempts to break into the cookie-cutter world of AAA gaming.
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Anniversary Edition will be getting stabby on iOS and Android
Last year was pretty special for fans of Kazutaka Kodaka's bizarre series Danganronpa. The morbid franchise celebrated 10 full years of murder and mayhem in style, offering up new merchandise, crossover events, a brand new website, and a run of fascinating "behind-the-scenes" interview shows in the form of web series "Dangan TV".
While the anniversary festivities may have come to an end, Danganronpa's deadly party is set to continue into 2021, with the coming of Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Anniversary Edition, which is currently in development for iOS and Android platforms.
Originally released in 2017 on PS4, PS Vita and PC, Killing Harmony follows Danganronpa's tried-and-tested formula of challenging players to unmask a serial killer lurking among a group of specialized students, each an expert in his or her own field. By exploring the environment, interrogating suspects, and successfully negotiating Killing Harmony's "Class Trial" segments, players will see justice done, whilst keeping their own name off of that great class register in the sky.
