Returnal's Time Loop Mechanic Gets Breakdown Explanation
Next week will see the release of Returnal. The game is the next from Housemarque and is both a major departure for the developer as they craft a more narrative-based experience than ever before, as well as familiar with its incredible "bullet-hell" style action. As you may also know at this point, the game has elements of roguelite, as it involves a woman stuck in a time loop where she must start over after each death. How exactly does it work, though? Well, now we have a simple breakdown.
Thanks to the good folks at IGN, we have a pretty straightforward explanation of how the time loop mechanic actually works. The game does take many elements from the roguelite genre, when you do die, you do start over, and when you do so, you do so completely fresh with only your sidearm. You have to fight through each biome and find weapons and upgrades again, though some major upgrades will carry over. One key way in which it differs from the usual genre far is that once you clear a biome and go onto a next one, you do not have to start completely over, and you won't have to kill bosses more than once. Instead, you will be able to go straight into the next biome with a new item. You can check out the full video and explanation below.
Returnal will release on April 30th for PlayStation 5. The game's preload is up now, and you can check out the first 45 minutes through here.
Outriders Developer Has Acquired Phosphor Games
People Can Fly has been a developer that's been around for quite sometime. In fact, you may be surprised at how big they are since they have somewhat flew under the radar in major game releases in the last few years. Not only that, they are also growing, it seems, and today we got word on some of that growth.
As announced by both companies, People Can Fly has acquired Phosphor Games. The developer was behind such games as The Brookhaven Experiment, Heroes Reborn: Gemini and Nether. With this acquisition, the studio will be renamed to People Can Fly Chicago, and brings the total staff of PCF up to 320 across several worldwide locations, with this being the third in America.
People Can Fly recently worked with Square Enix to release Outriders, and we know they are working on at least two unannounced titles, one of which is set to be released by Take-Two Interactive, and the other being another collaboration with Square Enix. There is no word yet on other projects.
Returnal's Preload Is Live Now At 56 GB
Next week we will see the next PS5-only exclusive with Returnal. The game is the next from Sony and Housemarque, and is looking pretty good (both in the sense of being a fun game and just…looking good). It looks to be a very unique title, maybe one of the most unique ones we've seen in recent memory, and for those who are ready to jump into the mysterious world headfirst, you can preload now.
Preload for the game is now up for those on PS5. It's not the biggest game we've seen, but it's got some heft. The preload amount equals out to 56 GB as of now. Keep in mind, this could change depending on things like day 1 patching that could increase or reduce the size. Either way, though, you can preload now.
Returnal will release only on PlayStation 5 on April 30th. You can check out the full first 45 minutes of the game through here.
MLB The Show 21 Runs Slightly Better on PS5 than Xbox Series X, According to Digital Foundry
As odd as it is, MLB The Show 21 is on Xbox consoles and available on Xbox Game Pass. And with multi-platform releases, especially those for former exclusives, the question always becomes: which version is better? Well, the experts at Digital Foundry have the answer, and the winner in MLB The Show's case is the PS5 – but just barely.
Both the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 render the game at 2160p, and barring an odd bug that affects water on the Series X version, they're basically identical. Both version are basically locked at 60 FPS during gameplay, though the Xbox Series X version is slightly less stable. The real difference is during the game's cutscenes, or "presentations." Both systems struggle here, but the Series X version drops around 9-11 more frames in intense sequences. The Xbox Series S runs the game at 1080p, and runs about 2-3 frames slower than the Series X.
On last generation machines, the Xbox One X runs about 5-7 frames faster than PS4 Pro at 1440p. Dropping the resolution to 1080p makes both machines run more closely to the Xbox Series S. The current gen machines do not feature resolution options. The only other major difference is that the PS5 supports the DualSense and loads about 4 seconds faster.
In all, Digital Foundry found the ports to be pretty impressive and both versions worth playing, noting that the difference here was likely due to the engine being developed on PlayStation systems, San Diego Studio's general inexperience with Xbox hardware, and the difference in developer tools available at this point in the generation.
Many will no doubt use the PS5's slight advantages here to fuel the never-ending console wars, but the main takeaway here is that MLB The Show 21 runs well on every platform. And that's good for everyone, because it's a good game. You can watch a more detailed version of Digital Foundry's findings below.
Yoko Taro Doesn't Think NieR Replicant Will Sell Very Well, Calls NieR: Automata Sales a "Fluke"
Yoko Taro doesn't seem to think NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… is going to sell very well. At least, that's what he's said in a new message posted to series fans on Square Enix's website. The message was originally shared with critics who would be reviewing the game.
In the message, Taro reminds fans that NieR Replicant is a "version upgrade" of the original 2010 game, not a remake of a remaster. He also predicted the game wouldn't sell very well, because aside from NieR: Automata, none of his games ever do.
"In recent years, when I have been around Square Enix, they always give off this palpable aura of enthusiasm as if to say "Look! NieR:Automata (the previous thing I made) did well, so NieR Replicant will also sell now,"" Taro said. "I would like to take this opportunity to tell Square Enix to take a good hard look at reality. Only the names are similar and the content of the two games is completely different, so it's not really going to sell all that well now, is it lads?
"I mean, come on, I made it! Automata selling was a fluke, and all my other stuff has hardly sold anything worthy of note. If you really do go ahead and manufacture all these discs and then store them in a big pile in a warehouse somewhere, the only thing we can do with that will be to have a good game of frisbee. Although, I mean… that does sound like fun and all…"
It's a little unusual for a creative director to say things like this about his own game, but Taro is pretty well known for being outspoken and being kind of a weird guy, so it makes sense. Producer Yosuke Saito, on the other had, was a little more optimistic about the game's prospects.
"We are calling it a "version upgrade", but regardless of what Mr. YOKO says, I personally believe that moniker doesn't do justice to the level of quality that the team has achieved!" Saito said.
"Having said that, NieR: Automata's big success was honestly somewhat of a miracle, so I don't think we will be selling quite that much… However, if we don't shift a certain amount then Mr. YOKO and myself will be forced to travel the world, selling the game out the back of a van. Ah, and Mr. Okabe will have to come along too!"
Saito ended his message by asking fans to continue supporting the series, finishing by saying, "Please, anything but the van…"
The whole thing is very tongue-in-cheek and pretty funny, but Taro is correct that, outside of Automata, his games haven't sold very well. Personally, we've enjoyed Taro's previous titles. We liked Drakengard 3, loved NieR: Automata, and enjoyed Replicant. Still, if you're a fan of the series, it might be a good idea to pick Replicant up, if only to keep Taro and Saito out of the dreaded van. The game is out now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Earthbound-inspired Oddventure Coming to PC, Switch in Q3 2022
Today, developer Infamous Rabbit and publisher Pineapple Works announced that they will release Oddventure, an RPG inspired by Earthbound and Undertale, on Switch and PC via Steam in the third quarter of 2022. A Kickstarter campaign to fund the game's development will launch May 6th. Interested players can check out the game's demo on Steam.
Here's some more details on the game, straight from Pineapple Works:
Oddventure is a JRPG where you play as Charlie—a nihilistic and rebellious teenage girl with anger issues and social awkwardness. Your search for troublesome younger brother Bonzo is also looking for a way back home. The setting for Charlie's misadventures is the Kingdom of Luxia, a land taken straight out of original Grimm Brothers' fairy tales with a dark, Nietzschean twist.
Key Features
- Meaningful choices – EVERY decision matters, sometimes in the most unpredictable ways.
- The friendly JRPG where nobody has to die… but can. In a horrible way.
- Countless hidden secrets reference to pop culture and fairy tales.
- Bitter-sweet comedy mixed with some coziness and dark humor.
- Frog milk as a currency.
- A life-changing gaming experience.
The game looks very charming and feature gorgeous pixel art, and the playable demo is a nice touch. Hopefully, it manages to honor the legacy of both Undertale and Earthbound while managing to find its own road. You can check out a trailer of the game below, courtesy of Infamous Rabbit.
Scarlet Nexus Videos Showcase Combat in Museum and Hospital Stages
Two new gameplay videos have been released for Bandai Namco's Scarlet Nexus, one for each of its protagonists. While Kasane is shown running through the Museum stage while Yuito battles in the Hospital. The videos also serve to highlight the differences in both characters' play-styles. Check them out below.
Kasane's style seeks her utilizing telekinesis and quickly overwhelming any Other foes. Yuito is capable of scanning foes with Clairvoyance, which helps for spotting them and discerning their abilities. Both characters can utilize the abilities of their teammates and the enemies may demand different strategies. For example, Slippy Chinery secrets oil so utilizing Pyrokinesis means you deal more damage to it.
Scarlet Nexus is currently slated to release on June 25th worldwide for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC. On Xbox Series X and PS5, it will target 4K resolution and 60 FPS. Head here to learn more about its PC requirements or here for additional gameplay footage.
Abzu Gets a Special Physical Edition on Switch From Super Rare Games
Abzu, Giant Squid's gorgeous 2016 diving and exploration game, is getting a limited edition thanks to a partnership between 505 Games and Super Rare Games. Only 5,000 copies will eve be printed, and the game will go on sale at Super Rare's website on April 29th at 10 AM PST and 1 PM EST.
Two editions of the game will be released. Both releases include a cartridge containing all of the game's content, a full-color manual, interior artwork, an exclusive sticker, and three trading cards. In addition, 2,000 of the 5,000 available copies will come with a SteelBook case and a slipcover. Customers are limited to two copies per person.
Abzu received somewhat mixed reviews at release. While we had mixed feelings about the game in our review, it received positive reviews overall, averaging around an 80 on MetaCritic. Abzu is also available on the PS4, Xbox One, PC, and digitally on Switch.
The Konami Code Celebrates Its 35th Anniversary with Special Album of Lo-Fi Gradius Tracks
It's been a banner year for anniversaries in video games. Zelda turned 35 in February, Pokemon turned 25, Street Fighter II turned 30, Halo is about to turn 20, the list goes on. But on April 25th, another video game legend celebrates its anniversary. It's the Konami Code, probably the most well-known cheat code ever, which turns 35 this year.
To celebrate the code (and Gradius, which is where it initially appeared), Konami has released several remixed "lo-fi" tracks, complete with a cool animation of a pilot playing Gradius in space. While most folks probably associate the Konami Code with 1987's Contra, where it would give you 30 extra lives, it actually got its start in the home release of Gradius in 1986, where it would unlock just about every power up in the game.
The story behind the code is that Kazuhisa Hashimoto, who worked on the Famicom port of Gradius, which was originally an arcade title, found the game so hard to test that he added the code to help him beat the game. Konami didn't learn about the code until after the game came out, but they decided to leave it in instead of removing it and potentially messing up other sections of the game's code.
Unfortunately, Hashimoto died last year, but his legacy lives on every time someone inputs Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start.
You can check out the lo-fi Gradius remixes below, courtesy of Konami.
Ubisoft Knows Recent Updates to Assassin's Creed Valhalla "May Not Have Met Player's Expectations"
Assassin's Creed Valhalla's last few patches have been disappointing. Ubisoft is well aware of this, and have promised to do better on the company's development blog. Going forward, the company shifting from a four week title update release cycle to a five week one "to allow for more thorough testing and development." This is part of the reason the next title update, Wrath of the Druids, from April 27th to May 13th.
"Our community is at the heart of everything we do, and we always strive to provide you with great experiences," Ubisoft wrote. "That said, we recognize that some of our recent title updates may not have met your expectations or been up to our standards. We have made several changes to production pipelines and tools so that we can deliver more robust updates."
To helps users understand the reasoning behind the change, Ubisoft also detailed the differences between a title update and a hotfix, and shared its title update roadmap "for the foreseeable future," which covers updates planned through late spring. After launching Wrath of the Druids, the next updates will be title update 1.2.2 and the free mastery challenge game mode. Ubisoft also offered timelines for fixing several know issues and explained "why it has taken so much time to address them."
For more information on upcoming fixes, title updates, and everything else Ubisoft addressed, check out their blog post.