So, Heroes of the Storm, which Blizzard is woefully supporting, has a speedrunning community
How do you speedrun a MOBA?! Well, I'll tell you!
Amazingly, there is a cottage industry of speedrunners for Heroes of the Storm. Spotted on Reddit, these brave souls apparently go solo, fight no enemies, and try to take down the opposing core as quickly as possible.
Given that you need to destroy at least one end line structure to get to the core, you can't just rush it; you have to work your way there as quickly as possible. Right now Raynor holds the record as the fastest hero to clear out the core in 12 minutes and 13 seconds, piloted by the player Wardeh. You can get a quick look at how these runs typically go with the video below.
The gist is that merc camps are often crucial to the success of these runs. Braxis Holdout is also a popular map for these sorts of runs, as players can capture the Zerg-pen objectives, and unleash the horde on one lane of the enemy side, creating a tidal wave effect. Raynor is perfect for this because of his safe range and ability to sustain himself via healing without having to "back" to base.
As an aside, it's crazy how much Blizzard has been disrespecting Heroes of the Storm even as of late. There was zero presence at BlizzConline, and there hasn't been a lot of buzz for the game from any arm of Blizzard in months.
I get that we don't have access to the books, but Heroes is in a fantastic state, and in some ways, firing on all cylinders. It deserves another chance and a second look from the MOBA community at large. Every time another MOBA falters and people swear off of it, that's Blizzard's time to strike.
Heroes of the Storm [Speedrun.com via Reddit]
Remedy's Control demake for April Fools' is rad
Today is April 1, also known as April Fools' Day. Some companies make fake game announcements, others make real ones, and every piece of information is treated with incredible scrutiny.
The fake game announcement has been a classic in the games industry, and today, Remedy Entertainment joined in the fun by posting a trailer for a theoretical PlayStation demake of its 2019 game Control. These are fairly common, but Control is a really interesting game to choose—with lots of unique physics concepts to get around, and a style that's still fairly recognizable, even at the low poly-count.
I'd definitely play this version of Control for at least a little while; PlayStation aesthetic nostalgia aside, it's really neat to see the spaces of Control reimagined in this old look. Even without the ray tracing, the brutalist architecture of the Oldest House is imposing, and the idea of Jesse's supernatural powers like telekinetic tossing and flight in an older engine is pretty novel.
That's actually maybe the most bizarre part of this, is noticing some of the modern gameplay conventions that have evolved after the PlayStation's lifespan, demade into this era's visual space. The camera zooming in when the player aims down the sights, for example, or even just how the twin-stick aiming feels so different from other third-person shooters at the time. Watching this side-by-side with Syphon Filter or WinBack is wild.
Anyways, it's a nice, fun, not-mean April Fools' Day video. Remedy, if you're not too busy working on some other projects, I'd definitely play this version of Control.
What time period should the next Assassin's Creed take place in?
Look, with Tenchu basically dead, I'm coming in hot here. HOT.
The next Assassin's Creed should be set in Japan right? So we're agreed.
Wait, you want Assassin's Creed Revelations 2? That retreads on the same locations you've been to before? You want another Rome game? We have different priorities, friend!
Hades turned me into a hack-and-slash machine
Hades was love at first sight for me. It has the bright and stylized art that I love, roguelikes are one of my favorite gameplay genres, and I was one of those Greek mythology kids who was obsessed with the Percy Jackson series growing up. Check, check, and check. My immediate enthusiasm for the game may have been predictable, but the fact that I'm still playing it over 250 hours and 200 runs later? Not so much.
Developer Supergiant Games released three games prior to Hades, and each one was an indie darling. The studio has racked up dozens, if not hundreds, of awards since their debut in 2011, and they've also been lauded for promoting a healthy work-life balance for their employees, something that's not very common in the games industry.
You can unlock this free freaky World of Warcraft monkey charity pet now
Look into the eyes of that monkey. He totally wants to eat your player character after you sit down to take a nap. But he's a charity item! So it's probably wholesome. Still...I'm watching you.
Wait where were we! Oh yeah, talking about World of Warcraft freebies. As part of a drive for Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), a monkey pet named Bananas is now free for everyone. They were part of the $500,000 goal, with a further stretch goal of $1 million.
At the moment, the drive is sitting at just under $700,000 at publication, so it'll probably take a bit more time to finish out. Note that the Daisy pet can ride on your back though, it seems, so I'm a little more interested in that perk. Oh, and it doesn't look like it wants to murder you.
You can grab Bananas here from the Battle.net Blizzard Shop, in the pets section of World of Warcraft. It's right there at the top, for free, and listed first. The next stop on the charity train is Daisy the sloth at the $1 mil mark. Eventually, that should get unlocked through the same means and will be available in the Blizzard Shop.
Bananas Unlocked! Claim Yours Today and Donate to Unlock Daisy [Battle.net]
Twin Peaks-inspired classic Mizzurna Falls gets new fan translation patch
For fans of obscure PlayStation games and the TV series Twin Peaks, the 1998 PlayStation adventure Mizzurna Falls has been a bit of a white whale. Several translation efforts have been released over the years, but a new patch doesn't just translate it—it also fits the game back onto a disc.
An update on the ROMhacking site details the history of the translation, including the most notable effort involving translator Resident Evie and PlayStation hacker Gemini. While the project did eventually manage to fully translate the game's script, it fizzled out because of one problem: it was too large to fit onto a PlayStation disc.
A new effort from two other developers, nikita600 and Cirosan, uses Evie's script as a base to create a working translation patch. Nikita created a new compression algorithm to fit more text on the disc than was previously possible, and Cirosan—with Evie's blessing—did a fundamental rewrite and edit of Evie's script that was able to fit. So, after months of work on this specific patch and even longer overall, Mizzurna Falls can now be patched to run on a PlayStation disc.
Mizzurna Falls, if you're unfamiliar, is an adventure game from Clock Tower developer Human Entertainment that follows high-school student Matthew Williams' search for his missing friend in the fictional town of Mizzurna Falls. It was notable not just for the Twin Peaks influence worn on its shoulder, but for its real-time NPC schedule and open-world gameplay that was fairly ambitious for the time.
It's easy to respect the dedication that went into making this 1998 cult classic playable on a PlayStation in English; it's a very specific niche, but in terms of preservation, it can hopefully let one of the earlier precursors to games like Deadly Premonition live on a little longer.
Someone rounded up all of the Switch's top-scoring games that you can beat in four hours or less
Anyone remember when the Switch came out?
Those initial eShop flood gates? Who could forget...Vroom in the Night Sky, arguably an early low point? Or Kamiko? An amazing high point? Well, there's been a lot of games since that initial period, and Redditor yuxbni76 managed to wrangle up a very choice selection of them.
Cleverly, yuxbni76 hand-picked 144 games with a "75+ Metacritic score that you can beat in four hours." It's simple and elegant. And informative! If you're looking for a rainy day weekend game, these sorts of things can be perfect to just grab and go with.
There's a ton of gems in there, some old, some new. Check out the below list for a starting place, and a good idea of what this missive has to offer.
Top scoring Switch games [Google Sheets via Reddit]
The Pokemon Company just sent this bizarre Bidoof email to everyone with a Pokemon account
It's April Fools', which means I should be laughing and smiling more. But I'm not!
The "holiday" has become somewhat of a farce in recent years, with publishers trying to get in on the "fun" by marketing real games that end up disappointing or fake games that would be amazing but never get made. "Fun!"
But sometimes, a company kind of knocks it out of the park. And when I got a very spammy looking email from The Pokemon Company just titled "Bidoof," I knew I just had to click on it, even if it was leeching my bank account info in real time.
Sure enough, the email contains a gif of a pack of Bidoofs, and by clicking the only link (titled Bidoof), you'll be whisked away to the below music video...featuring the many faces of Bidoof.
This is some "Sonic Twitter" style harmless wholesome fun. I'm so into it. Bidoof.
Fighting EX Layer's Switch edition, Another Dash, is headed west April 15
You might remember, back in February, Arika announced an adapted Nintendo Switch edition of its cult fighting title Fighting EX Layer, with the promise of further news on April 1. Well, it seems that "further news" is the game's actual release - at least in Japan - as Fighting EX Layer: Another Dash is now available on the Japanese iteration of the Nintendo eShop, with a western release to follow on April 15.
Fighting EX Layer: Another Dash is a free-to-play "stripped down" edition of the 2017 fighter, which features an overhauled control scheme, as well as the removal, or replacement of certain mechanics within FEXL's "Gougi" system. The free-to-play edition of Another Dash includes four characters - D.Dark, Darun, Kairi, and Shirase - while a paid DLC pack adds all remaining members of the FEXL roster, as well as online play. This will be the same delivery system for the western release, with the paid edition retailing for around $25.
Fighting EX Layer struggled to find its place in the crowded fighting game market, and while it has never really taken off as much as Arika might have been hoping, it's a solid little fighter, with am old-school cast of characters and solid and generous support from its developer. Perhaps this new Switch edition will help the game to find a new audience in handheld form.
Here's how to get five new Magic: Arena Strixhaven sleeves for free
Magic: The Gathering Arena is getting ready to host the Strixhaven expansion very soon, and it seems like it's going to shake up the meta pretty hard.
I mean at that point you'll have to deal with seven different sets in standard, including Strixhaven itself. Deckbuilding is going to be interesting! Or people will continue to use a lot of busted Eldraine and Ikoria cards in standard. Such is life! But before that happens on April 15 in Arena, there's card sleeves for the set that are already live.
In short, each sleeve represents the accompanying school for Strixhaven, and includes an image of one of their followers, as well as the seal of said school. As a reminder, you can input them inside of the game itself in the store.
Wondering where these are from? They're part of the official BuzzFeedy "what school are you" quiz on the official Wizards of the Coast site. But given that it asks for your personal info, you can just input the codes below and wash your hands of it all.
5 new sleeves already on MTGA [Reddit]
Dead by Daylight's BTS collaborated K-pop killer is cutting more than records
The newest chapter is now live in Behavior Interactive's asymmetrical survival horror title Dead by Daylight. The "All-Kill" event brings with it a new survivor, record producer Yun-Jin Lee, and the psychopathic, mass-murdering K-Pop megastar Ji-Woon, better known by his stage pseudonym of "Trickster."
Recounting the backstory from our previous report, Ji-Woon was part of a super-successful boy band, who were indirectly killed on account of his actions. Finding a taste for death gave him an appetite for art, Ji-Woon began abducting and murdering fans and industry pundits, recording their death throes as samples to be worked into the young star's music. Swiftly abandoned by his record label, Mightee-One, the now-reinvented "Trickster" is out at large and out for revenge.
Someone found the source of the background art for all of those classic Pokemon cards
If you played the Pokemon Trading Card Game as a kid, you remember those classic backgrounds. You know, the plains, or the trees? The things that looked like they were straight out of Digital Blasphemy? Well, they kind of were! Or at least, something like it.
Twitter user Fanamel recently put out an incredible video that details their hunt for Pokemon card background art, and the results are astounding. According to them, the art comes from a series called "Datacraft Sozaijiten," which is allegedly "used in a lot of Japanese media and Nintendo games." It all just sort of came together over time: finding them on a stock photo site.
The comparisons are obvious, and even if you look directly at just the background out, Pokemon first edition fans will recognize them instantly. This is not only a blast from the past, but still extremely relevant! Pokemon cards are doing better than ever, as Wizards of the Coast just had their best financial report recently. The trading card market is really taking off due to the state of the world in the past year, and Pokemon is booming.
I'm always looking for more people to play kitchen table matches with! Hopefully Wizards of the Coast eventually gives this game the proper Magic: Arena treatment, with a modernization of the UI.
Fanamel [Twitter]
Resident Evil movie delayed to November 24
Sony Pictures has announced that its upcoming big-screen adaptation of Capcom's Resident Evil will no longer meet its September 3 release date. The clunkily titled Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is now expected to launch in theaters on November 24.
While no reason was given for the movie's delay, the original release date would see the survival horror flick collide with Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. It would stand to reason that Sony is uncomfortable going up against any major comic-book movie, particularly after such an extended drought of MCU films. The new date does, however, mean that Resident Evil will miss the thematic Halloween season.
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is a reboot of sorts, and is expected to follow the narrative, characters, and locations featured in the classic video game series a little closer than previous Resident Evil movies. Fans will see iconic heroes such as Chris & Claire Redfield, Jill Valentine, and Leon S. Kennedy in action, along with appearances from femme fatale Ada Wong, doomsday scientist William Birkin, Raccoon City police chief Brian Irons, and the series' long-time antagonist Albert Wesker.
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City premieres in theaters November 24.
Bethesda's Fallout 76 AMA reveals more hope for the future
Fallout 76 is still happening, and it will be happening through at least the end of 2021. As a reminder Bethesda posted a road map, and there's plenty of things on the horizon. The recent AMA reconfirms it.
So what's new? Well, the development team explains that Expeditions are indeed "slipping" out of the roadmap for 2021, which soft confirms more work to be done in 2022: far longer than I ever expected this game to be supported. Expeditions are a new mechanic that allow players to "go outside of the current map," and the team is "very committed" to making them.
Another big takeaway is that mod support is being talked about for private servers in the fall. A "hint" involves server setting options and toggles, but this is "just the beginning." Unfortunately, it seems to be staying a "Fallout 1st" (subscription service) feature. New allies are coming too, as are new pets (different dogs at first, then cats, then they'll "go from there").
If you're keen for more PVP elements, "Q3" will have additional concessions for it, as well as "hardcore survival elements" on the aforementioned private servers. The alien threat later this year is reconfirmed (the Zetans), as are more shelter styles, more ceiling wallpapers (though those are "farther out"), and expanded social features. For the latter, "guilds, clans, text chat, and mail systems" were all specifically asked about in the AMA, and the team says "we're going to add new functionality." So maybe a mixture of that?
Either way, the info about private servers is huge, and could potentially change the game. If mods are truly allowed, the community may have the ability to fix Bethesda's sandbox for them. And it's at that point, a few years removed from launch, some people might be interested finally.
Developer AMA [Bethesda.net]
Nintendo Download: Star Wars: Republic Commando
It's that time again.
We had a good run with a few brand new games, but now it's back to re-releases. Well, this one isn't quite the same! It's not a port of a six-month-old title that was released on every platform but Switch. No, it's Star Wars: Republic Commando, the 2005 classic; and one of many, many Star Wars re-releases. The force is strong with the brand, they'll never stop until the husk that is LucasArts (Lucasfilm Games) has a real-life money bin.
Alas, you can download it on April 6! And Breathedge is coming too to Switch on that same date. And a bunch of other stuff! You can read all about them below. You really have to give it to a title like "Press A to Party." I mean, I followed it to the listing! And that concept sounds pretty fun on Switch.
Sol Cresta, Platinum's April Fools' Day joke from 2020, is apparently now in development
"There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee - that says, 'Fool me once, shame on... shame on you. Fool me... you can't get fooled again.'"
- George W. Bush.
PlatinumGames has announced that Sol Cresta, its April Fools' Day shmup from last year, is now actually in development for PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch, and will launch at some point later in 2021 as the first release in the publisher's new "Neo-Classic Arcade" range.
Sol Cresta was revealed on April 1, 2020 as one of the Japanese developer's "Platinum4" announcements. Ostensibly a sequel to both 1980's Moon Cresta and 1985's Terra Cresta, Sol Cresta was supposedly a joint production between Platinum and the retro-loving Hamster corporation, before the former ultimately revealed that the title was merely a cute gag made in the spirit of the season.
Man, wind bombing is so fun in Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Going back to Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a treat. As is learning all the lingo that the community comes up with.
It was crazy playing it pre-launch in a complete bubble, talking to no one. Slowly but surely, after that embargo lifted, I saw people doing a lot of the same things I did. And very quickly, and completely unexpectedly, folks started sharing some crazy clips.
By the time the makeshift boat and airship clips hit, I was completely hooked at delving into the unknown oddities of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. I don't just like chronicling them, I like trying them out for myself. This one, shared by Independent_Regular8 on Reddit, explains why.
The clip itself can be quickly summed up: a player glides through the air and shoots an explosive at a cave to uncover a shrine. But the term "wind bombing" is key here in terms of how great this video is. Did you know about it? The practice of leaping up into the air, selecting a bomb really quick, blasting yourself off into space, then gliding?
A lot of people are going to go "I know this already!" And some of you are going to have your minds blown.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Console Enhanced launches June 8 on PS5 and Xbox Series X
Publisher Bethesda Softworks has announced that the next-gen console edition of The Elder Scrolls Online will launch on June 8, offering an enhanced edition of the fantasy MMO for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S players. This new edition will be offered as a free update within the same console family to anybody who currently owns ESO.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Console Enhanced will remain the same title from a gameplay standpoint, but will be gifted a wide selection of visual and technical updates. These include full 60 FPS gameplay while in "performance mode," higher resolution textures, improved anti-aliasing, improved shadow and reflective effects, an increased draw distance, more realistic Ambient Occlusion, and improved load times across the board. All of these visual upgrades will allow Tamriel to shine better than ever before, offering console players a smoother and more immersive experience.
PSA: When you're playing Outriders, don't forget to mess with the World Tier whenever you want
The time has finally come for Outriders' launch, and all of us can stop farming gear in the demo and jump into the real thing.
It's been...interesting so far! While some of the core loop has the potential to get stale, it's fun jumping into games with random people and seeing how class synergy works. The moment to moment gunplay is fun, and I'm actually experimenting with different builds without feeling overwhelmed. Oh, and the lack of live service nonsense or loot boxes helps. It has a baked-in season pass type system to ramp up and unlock cosmetics, but it is not monetized. Praise be.
One big thing I've been messing with during my playthrough is the world tier system, and I think a lot of people are going to like it. In short, it's a sliding difficulty scale that also dictates the quality of your loot. Now, this isn't new. Even the term is old hat. But typically, a lot of games ask you to set your world tier before you do a mission, or in certain zones. Outriders lets you do it whenever.
Remember that! You can pause the game whenever you want, solo, and set your tier. The game even clearly and cleverly labels their difficulty, starting with "story," then ramping to "easy, normal, hard, expert, master, legend..." and so on.
The thing is, the penalties for ramping down aren't that massive early on (the difference between loot rarity is only 10 percentage points in the first three levels), and you can dynamically swap as needed. Having trouble with a boss? Roll down and best them. You won't get as good of a loot table, but hey, you won't be banging your head against the wall for an hour straight.
Likewise, do you have an area down and want to reap the rewards? Roll it up. It's flexible like that and should accommodate a wide variety of players, from casual fans who just want to stroll through the story to veteran loot-heads who want all of the legendary drops possible. It's there. Use it! No matter what side of the fence you're on.
Nintendo is releasing some Monster Hunter Rise wallpapers to celebrate its launch
Monster Hunter Rise wallpapers? Don't mind if I do!
In classic My Nintendo fashion, the site has put up a very small, all-digital promo for Monster Hunter Rise. Although some games have gotten the physical item treatment, other big titles kind of come and go without it.
I mean, we could get a physical Rise reward at some point! But for now, there's digital wallpapers. Just head on over to the My Nintendo landing page for them, and you can download three wallpapers that fit both a PC desktop and a mobile device. As a heads-up, you can find all of the resolutions you'll get below.
Weird promo aside, I love these, especially the first two that employ a unique chibi style (the third uses the same classic Ukiyo-e motif that the game employs for monster images).
The catch is they're 50 Platinum Points each, if you're down for that. If you need some scratch, you can head to our ultimate guide for My Nintendo points and you'll be good to go in minutes.
[Update: They meant it! If you try and look for Mario 3D All-Stars on the official site, it leads to a 404 when you attempt to buy it digitally. The Super Mario 35 page redirects to the main site and does not exist anymore. Welp! Maybe it'll come back on the next anniversary! Good night, sweet plumber prince!]
The time has come.
We've been talking about it for ages. We knew it was coming! Mario is dead tomorrow. At least, several newish games about him are.
As re-iterated multiple times, Nintendo is putting an end to several Mario titles on March 31. That includes physical and digital sales for Mario 3D All-Stars and physical Game & Watch devices being pulled from sale. Yep, they're even shutting down physical sales and aren't shipping more copies to stores. Savage.
You basically have today to make your peace with it. If you've been wanting to buy All-Stars via the eShop, do it now. If you want to get some final (?) games in with Super Mario 35, do it today. If you're on the fence for a new Game & Watch device, consider it before the eBay prices jump.
Or skip it all and don't play into Nintendo's hand. I can't tell you what to do!
Maneater: Truth Quest DLC brings conspiracy theories to the shark-'em-up this summer
Tripwire Interactive has released the first details for the previously announced DLC expansion to crazy, bloodthirsty "shaRkPG," Manteater. Coming at some point this summer, Maneater: Truth Quest will return to the waves for more over-the-top boat-chomping action.
Following on from the events of the 2020 Shark-'em-up, Truth Quest will venture into the realm of internet conspiracies, as roving reporter Trip Westhaven investigates the growing rumors and theories surrounding the Naval Wildlife Organization. (4 life). Supported by an army of ViewTube followers - or "Questers" - Westhaven embarks upon a boat-rocking journey (literally) to uncover the clandestine government reports of armored, toxic, and electrically powered sharks lurking in the deep blue.
Demon's Souls remake director Gavin Moore leaves Sony Japan Studio
Today is the day Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan begins its restructuring process, dialing back on both its production and workforce as it refocuses its resources toward Astro's Playroom developer Team ASOBI. As reported by VGC, and in news that is unlikely to be coincidental, Demon's Souls PS5 director Gavin Moore has confirmed that he has left the studio.
"After 24 years at Sony and 18 of those in Japan, yesterday was my last day at [Sony Japan Studio]," said Moore in an emotional goodbye on Twitter. "I will miss the great creative spirit and camaraderie of the studio that was a huge part of my life. Time to seek out new and exciting opportunities!!"
Moore relocated to Japan almost two decades ago to work with Sony Japan Studio, a career which has seen him involved in the development of titles such as Puppeteer, Siren, and The Getaway as an animator, producer, and director. Moore headed up the development of 2020's Demon's Souls remake, arguably one of, if not the best title currently available on PlayStation 5 hardware. Moore intends to continue working in video game development.
Moore is just the latest in a line of highly talented Sony Japan alumni to leave the studio in the past year. Bloodborne alumni Masaaki Yamagiwa and Teruyuki Toriyama both left the studio in 2020, as did Gravity Rush producer Keiichiro Toyama, who has since founded Bokeh Game Studio. Just yesterday, it was revealed that Gravity Rush character designer Shinsuke Saito had taken his leave of SIE Japan, as had long-time developer Kentaro Motomura.
All of these are major names who have contributed greatly to the success of Sony Japan's output in recent years. And while I'm not intending to write these updates as some kind of scaremongering doomsday vulture, it's unarguably a very unhappy scene to watch all of these brilliant creators simultaneously hit the bricks, undoubtedly with good cause to do so. Here's hoping Sony Japan Studio isn't left looking back on this period of change with serious regret in the near future.
Demon's Souls PS5 director confirms Sony exit [VGC]
Suspicious NieR Replicant trailer turns the remaster into a Stardew Valley-style life sim
April Fools' Day. My Favourite. When your job is writing news, and the annual day of w-w-w-wackiness rolls around, it's frankly a pain in the ass. This is especially true of recent years, when companies have taken to revealing very real products while relishing the idea that the public might not believe them. Let's see if I get through today unscathed.
Still, I'm not without humor, and as such wanted to start the day sharing this fun trailer for Square Enix's upcoming remaster NieR Replicant, which re-purposes the hack 'n' slash adventure as a "slow life sim" in the vein of titles such as Stardew Valley and Harvest Moon. The video sees protagonists Nier and Grimoire Weiss indulging in a spot of crop-growing and animal-rearing, while eavesdropping on the neighbors and enjoying some obligatory fishing. Frankly, I'm all for it, and would gladly take respite from all the slicing 'n' dicing to just spend all my time growing a pumpkin patch. Any marriage options?
You can check out the most cyberpunk farming sim ever made in the video below. Meanwhile, back in pseudo-reality, NieR Replicant will launch on PS4, PC, and Xbox One April 23. And that's no foolin'
Here's how Borderlands 3's Diamond Keys and Vault Cards work
Borderlands 3 is still trucking along, with that patented string of Gearbox DLC and monetization.
It's crazy to think that it actually came out in 2019, but here we are, still getting paid add-ons for it. The Director's Cut is on the way, and will add a ton of content like more story missions and a new raid boss. But beyond that, it's also bringing in vault cards and diamond keys.
The former are basically talismans that add loot and XP bonuses, and are granted via owning the Director's Cut add-on, which is still slated for April 8. "Three" cards are slated for launch "by the end of 2021," and you get the first one day one. Basically, you level up the cards for rewards, just like the system in Marvel's Avengers.
Diamond keys are like a new evolution of golden keys. Billed as a "full room of loot" (not just a chest, like how the golden keys interact with the game), you'll access the "diamond armory" to use them (which has been added to the hub below the bridge). Once you open a chest, you have a specific amount of time to grab one item from it. Then you get a guaranteed piece of legendary gear.
It's all sort of confusing and very skinner box-like: just like Gearbox wants it to be. But at least we know how it works ahead of time.
Vault Cards and Diamond Keys Quick Guide [Borderlands]
Analogue Pocket shipments delayed to October
The Analogue Pocket, a new machine that can play a breadth of portable games, is delaying shipments due to a shortage of necessary components.
Analogue confirmed in an announcement that the current global state of affairs has created supply chain challenges outside the company's control. The new shipping window for the Pocket is set for Oct. 2021.
"There have been sudden and severe electrical component shortages as well as logistical issues leading to a domino effect of challenges for nearly everyone in the industry," the blog says. It also backlinks two news stories, including one about the Ever Given, the boat that was stuck in the Suez Canal.
Analogue says it is working to get the Pocket out as fast as possible, and that those who pre-ordered and would like to cancel for a full refund should reach out to Analogue Support.
The Pocket was revealed in 2019 as a multi-video-game-system portable handheld. It's set to be able to play Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games out of the box, and adapters will allow it to play other systems' games, including the Game Gear and Neo Geo Pocket Color.
It's also set to have the ability to dock and connect to an HDTV, and on the console itself, it will have a 615ppi LCD with 1600x1440 resolution. Basically, a super-powered Game Boy.
Analogue also noted on Twitter that its Super Nt will be restocked in April, while the Mega Sg and DAC will follow shortly after.
This year's Tokyo Game Show will return to an online format
Tokyo Game Show is the latest in a growing crowd of industry events that will once again be held online in 2021. As COVID-19 continues to render mass gatherings unsafe environments, the decision was made by organizers CESA, Dentsu, and Nikkei BP to return to an online format similar to that used for the previous TGS event, held back in September 2020.
TGS 2021 will still offer up news and previews of a catalog of upcoming releases, and will offer online interviews between developers and press. The organizers are looking into ways to roll out demos online, and will also host a small, socially distanced, in-person event to allow members of the gaming press to try out games and hardware. Viewers at home will be able to check out all of the action through various social media outlets.
This year will see the Tokyo Game Show celebrate its 25th anniversary, and will run TGS 2021 under the banner theme of "We'll Always Have Games." It's a shame that this marked occasion will have to be held in an online capacity, but it's definitely the right thing to do given the ongoing uncertainty of the current global climate.
Tokyo Game Show 2021 will take place between Thursday, September 30 and Sunday, October 3.
Tokyo Game Show will be online-only in 2021 [Gematsu]
Clever girl: Fortnite just added raptors
Dr. Grant was right...those "six-foot turkeys" are ferocious.
Going along with the "Primal" theme of this new season, Fornite just added raptors into the mix. Cleverly, they set the whole thing up with eggs littered about the map beforehand, then decided to hatch them via an update. That very same update that added extra stability for the Switch version of the game.
Raptors will roam the map in pairs and add another wrinkle into the survival mix for the main battle royale mode. They're joined by the existing wildlife of wolves, boars, chickens, and frogs: which all can make up various questlines in Fornite that task players with picking up animal bones and taming them for experience.
It took some time for the primal theme to grow on me, but the spire in the middle really adds a lot of character into the mix. I dearly miss a few locations from the last season (the colosseum especially), but it's always good to shake things up.
And raptors randomly roaming around is a shakeup!
Back in January, I wrote up an impressions piece for my hands-on with the Balan Wonderworld demo, saying it was saving its best bits for the final game. That statement wasn't really supported by any concrete evidence, it was more wishful thinking based on my memories of the wonderfully imaginative reveal trailer from last summer.
Now that I've played through the full game, I'm happy to say that I was right. Balan Wonderworld did indeed save its best levels, costumes, and ideas for the final game. However, if you hated that demo — and I know a lot of people did — nothing here is going to change your opinion of it. In fact, there's a good chance you'll actually end up hating it a whole lot more.
It's okay to fail in Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium opens with you on the floor. Your character, whoever they are or whatever might be left of them, is face-down in a nondescript hotel room. You are surfacing, breaching the plane between the void and the living only to find yourself harboring the grand-daddy of all hangovers.
This is the introduction to the character you'll inhabit through Disco Elysium. They are many things, and can become even more: calculating, feeling, thinking, judging, determined or remorseful. But in this moment, you are at a low, possibly the lowest of low.
Moments later, you can die trying to get your tie off the ceiling fan. The headline reads "Cop Suffers Final Heart Attack," and boy, does the word "Final" do a lot of work.
Kingdom Hearts' pricey PC ports now available on Epic Games Store
Well, it's taken a spell, but the Kingdom Hearts series, (or at least its mainline entries) are now available for purchase on PC. Square Enix released the holy trinity of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8: Final Chapter Prologue, and Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind on Epic Games Store yesterday, alongside rhythm-action spin-off Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory.
It's a fairly contentious release - I believe y'all call it a "Monkey's Paw" - in that while fans have been clamoring for the iconic crossover franchise to make its PC debut for some time, the Epic Games Store exclusivity is making it a bitter pill for some. Not helping are the unsurprising price-tags, with each title running between $50-$60. It's undeniably great to see these excellent adventures finally available on the PC platform but, at full price, you're looking at the best part of $200 for the complete set. Gawrsh.
Regardless, Square Enix is very pleased with the EGS debut of one of its finest franchises. Series producer Ichiro Hazama released a brief message speaking of his happiness that the legendary series could now be experienced by new audiences, adding to the thousands upon thousands of fans who have enjoyed Sora, Donald, and Goofy's adventures through the magical universes of both Walt Disney and Final Fantasy. They're great games, and absolutely worth checking out. But perhaps leave the EGS iterations to Scrooge McDuck.
After hundreds of hours of Stardew Valley, I just learned there's an easier way to greet animals
Whether it's a game I've played for five minutes or five-hundred hours, I always love hearing about no-brainer tips that are easily overlooked – the kind that are small but impactful over time, and make you do a double-take for failing to notice them. For my fellow Stardew Valley fanatics, here's a big one.
You know how you need to greet/pet your farmyard animals each day to get a little heart and grow your bond so they produce the highest-quality goods? Well, for many of us – especially those of us with more goats, chickens, cows, and pigs than we probably need – the morning ritual can be fussy. The animals can get all bunched-up in close quarters, and it's a little pesky to greet them once (and only once!) so that you don't accidentally bring up their friendship rating menu when you tend to them.
I have painstakingly greeted my animals one by one throughout my hundreds of hours in Stardew Valley. As it turns out, you can just hold the pet/interact button and run up to them – it'll work perfectly. You'll get friendship points with every animal and you won't pull up the dreaded menu.
Here's a demonstration of the trick on PC from Reddit user Boiled_potato8:
Took me ages to realize you could just click and hold the mouse to pet all of the animals from r/StardewValley
How did I not know about this? I could've been more efficient this whole dang time!
My girlfriend mentioned the pro tip in passing – we aren't sure where she saw it – but it blew my mind. And now that I've looked around, it's definitely a common realization in the Stardew community.
I'm pretty sure my farmer just got a few more gray hairs.
Summer Games Done Quick Online will return in July
The Games Done Quick team has announced that it will once again be hosting its sunny speedrunning event Summer Games Done Quick in July. The event will bring together some of the fastest and... furiousest players from across the globe to compete in a week-long extravaganza of speedrun challenges, tool-assisted chicanery, and fascinating longplays.
As the world remains rocked by the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this year's SGDQ will once again be an online affair, with hosts and runners streaming directly from the comfort and safety of their own homes. While GDQ fans are most certainly missing the camaraderie of the event's traditional hotel gathering, the online GDQ events have been no less entertaining and enjoyable in terms of content.
The online setting and difficult world circumstances have also had seemingly no effect on the generosity of the gaming community, who last year donated an amazing $2.3 million USD to non-profit charity Medecins Sans Frontieres. The GDQ team is yet to confirm who will be the beneficiary of SGDQ 2021, but I wouldn't be surprised if they don't return to the global medical and healthcare initiative, as has been the case for several years now.
As I've made it known many, many times before, Summer Games Done Quick is one of my favorite times of the year. Chilling in the sun with good drinks and good games, all for a good cause. I haven't missed it in years, and I don't intend to in 2021. You can check out all of the action yourself when SGDQ 2021 kicks off Sunday, July 4, live on the official GDQ Twitch channel.
We'll be sure to keep you informed once this year's schedule is announced.
PlayStation Plus really wants us to play Days Gone in April
Sony is back with three games for PlayStation Plus in April, and it's an interesting lot.
Some people – notably, PlayStation 5 owners – are probably going to feel short-changed by Sony's decision to double-dip. From April 6 until May 3, PlayStation Plus subscribers will be able to claim Oddworld: Soulstorm (PS5 only), Days Gone, and Zombie Army 4: Dead War for their library.
In a vacuum, I like this lineup, but for anyone who got a "free" copy of Days Gone with their PS5 through the PlayStation Plus Collection promo, it's a retread. Of course, there's a lot to like with this open-world romp – more than people were initially thinking – and it's a meaty game. As a freebie, it's a solid pick.
We already knew about Oddworld: Soulstorm's inclusion after a recent State of Play (what felt like the sixth time we've seen this long-time-coming game appear on a stream), so that's not a surprise. Are you curious? It's worth reiterating that even though Soulstorm is launching on PS4 as well, you can only claim the PS5 version through PS Plus – although you don't need to own the console yet to do so.
As for Zombie Army 4, I've never fooled around and fallen in love with this wild series, but I'm weirdly open to the idea. I'm back on the Resident Evil 4 train and have been going hard with Mercenaries. When I've done all that I can with the full crew, I'll be in the mood for more frantic head-popping mayhem.
On the off-chance you haven't done this already, don't forget to grab Ratchet & Clank for free (the deadline is March 31) and the rest of the Play At Home 2021 games as well (you have until April 22). Unlike the PlayStation Plus titles for April, anyone can redeem this stuff with a free account.
Melty Blood: Type Lumina teaser trailer gives fans a brief glimpse of gameplay
I'm sure I wasn't the only fight-fan left both surprised and delighted at last week's news that the cult fighting game series Melty Blood was getting set to make its return. After all, it has been many years since the schoolyard sluggers last stepped into the ring. But it's true, the anime fighting franchise is returning in 2021, with the release of Melty Blood: Type Lumina.
Developer French-Bread has followed up its announcement with a brand new teaser trailer, giving us our first look at the sequel in action. There's a lot of filler here, and unfortunately the heightened presentation style hides much of the action, but we can see Melty Blood's trademark 2D anime visuals, as well as some pretty slick animation and special effects. It's just a start, but it's an encouraging one.
No Man's Sky adds a seasonal Expeditions mode
No Man's Sky just keeps growing, with no sign of stopping. Developer Hello Games announced a new update today called the Expeditions update, which brings a set of challenges in a seasonal format to the space exploration sim.
Update 3.3 brings Expeditions to No Man's Sky, which are a new way to start out a journey in a different mode from a regular save file. Every Expedition starts players on a fixed point in the universe, to complete a series of Milestones and goals to win rewards. It also seems like Expeditions are intended to be fairly social events, with players starting on similar planets and specific "Rendezvous Planets" established along the route to create hubs of activity.
Milestones are open-ended and, according to Hello Games, intended to give players a chance to explore different aspects of No Man's Sky. Several Milestones make up each Phase on the Expedition map, with each Phase finished offering a prize, and finishing an entire Expedition yields an additional reward.
These Expeditions are limited-time only, and Hello Games plans on adding new Expeditions regularly. At the end of the Expedition, rewards will no longer be earned and the save will convert to a Normal mode save. Any rewards earned in this mode can be redeemed for free on other saves in any game mode though, so that sick golden spaceship can carry over to your main game.
There are also several more quality-of-life updates including a new HUD, updated bases and improved cross-platform play, rebalanced recipe costs, and a new mission board. Really, the breadth of the updates that are still coming to this game is staggering—the Companions update was just last month, and last year Hello Games launched the massive Origins update. No Man's Sky is going a bit above and beyond a redemption story, and at this point, I'm wondering where the limit is for future additions.
Dead or Alive director Yohei Shimbori has left Koei Tecmo
Yohei Shimbori has left Koei Tecmo. Shimbori has headed up the 3D fighting franchise Dead or Alive for a lengthy 16 years, but has decided to take his leave of the developer/publisher.
"As of today, I have left Koei Tecmo Games," said Shimbori on Twitter (as translated by Gematsu). "I worked on Dead or Alive for 16 years, and while there were times I was pleased, there were also times I was unable to live up to expectations. I would like to take this opportunity to express my utmost gratitude to the many people who have supported and taken care of me. Thank you very much."
It's an honest and candid farewell message from Shimbori, who started with the Dead or Alive franchise as a designer for 2004's Dead or Alive Ultimate, and ends his time with the franchise as the producer/director of 2019's Dead or Alive 6. While I've always been a fan of the pacey, technical, and satisfying fighting mechanics of Dead or Alive, the series has steadily declined into repetition, with DoA 6 going all-in on the shopping cart mechanics.
But, despite the cash-cowing of the franchise, Dead or Alive has always been solid once it comes to The Fight itself; Dead or Alive 5 Last Round being a brilliant entry in particular. It will be interesting to see what direction Koei Tecmo takes with DoA going forward - whether the series returns to its roots, is offered a full redesign, or is simply put to one side for the foreseeable future.
Marvel's Avengers is getting MCU costumes, 'for purchase with credits'
Ah man, looking at how different publishers handle different Marvel games is night and day.
Some are probably more beholden to the license and answer to the Mouse. Others likely are given more creative freedom. Marvel's Avengers from Square Enix seems to be in a really weird spot, sandwiched between the whims of the MCU and deals with Sony for their Spider-Man exclusive. The game suffered for it, in any case.
Take these two Marvel promotions for instance. Spider-Man just got a free suit this week. Meanwhile, Marvel's Avengers is teasing "new MCU costumes" that you have to pay credits for. Credits that can be earned or purchased outright with real money.
In any case, "nameplates, outfits inspired by the MCU, and a deadly HARM Room hacked by Yelena Belova (that's Florence Pugh's character in the upcoming MCU Black Widow film)" are coming to the game "this spring." It's another in a string of glacial pace updates that a lot of people are tired of waiting for.
On top of the confusing PlayStation upgrade process, it hasn't been a good month for the game. It arguably hasn't been a good year for it.
Marvel's Avengers [Twitter]
505 Games purchases Ghostrunner IP for a little under $6 million
505 Games has announced that it now owns the cybernetic slice 'n' dice franchise Ghostrunner, having purchased the new IP from publisher All-In! Games for a mighty €5 million, roughly $5.9 million USD.
The Italian publisher worked alongside All-In! on the initial release of Ghostrunner back in the summer of 2020, but was apparently unwilling to outright purchase the IP for its own catalog. Unsurprisingly, a change of heart came about following Ghostrunner's release, which saw the tower-climbing title recover its production costs in a single day, before going on to shift over 500,000 copies by the end of the year.
Oh hey look, a free new suit for Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Insomniac has done a pretty good job of handling the Spider-Man franchise.
I mean, the first game made some waves, but it doesn't get enough credit for how breezy its open world is. It's the kind of sandbox you can finish in the time it takes to fully complete some other bloated open world romps, and that sort of restraint should be commended.
While some lament the fact that Spider-Man: Miles Morales was shorter, I celebrated it. Once again I found myself hitting that 100% completion mark and not stressing it. The injection of free DLC costumes doesn't hurt either.
As of now, you can grab a new update for Miles Morales, which includes the classic free costume add-on. In this case it's the Advanced Tech Suit, amid "various fixes" for the game itself. Insomniac also flaunts "realistic muscle deformation for select suits," which is a PS5 exclusive feature.
Remember when Microsoft kept touting "the power of the cloud" for basically every presentation? Well, now we just have the power of new consoles to fuel things like realistic muscles.
Insomniac Games [Twitter]
Mortal Kombat movie pushed back a week, will premiere on April 23
Warner Bros. has announced that its upcoming adaptation of NetherRealm Studios' Mortal Kombat has had its release date pushed back by one week. The martial-arts action-adventure will now launch in theaters and on paid streaming service HBO Max on April 23.
As reported by Variety, Warner Bros. has rearranged the date in order to provide breathing room between MK and kaiju-smasher Godzilla vs. Kong, which hits both big and little screens today. Variety also suggests that Warner Bros. is holding off in anticipation of California relaxing lockdown laws in the coming weeks, which could see an allowance of increased capacity in cinemas. If you fancy cramming yourself into a crowded room with a gaggle of complete strangers at the very earliest opportunity possible, good luck to ya.
It has been a long road to fruition for the Simon McQuoid-directed video game adaptation, which has pushed through production and scheduling woes - as well as COVID-19 pandemic restrictions - to make it to next month's release. While fans were left waiting an extraordinarily long time to see the movie's first trailer, it left many in the kommunity feeling cautiously optimistic that Mortal Kombat will deliver a relatively good time. I don't think anyone's expecting The Dark Knight here, but as long as the action is solid and the journey is fun, then the wait will have been more than worth it.
Yep, Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster still looks great
Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster is set to debut on May 25 on PC, PS4, and Switch.
It's great, because these sorts of things can sometimes only hit one platform: and at that point, a wide variety of people (basically everyone) can experience it. And you should! Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne is an absolute classic, and bolstered the RPG genre far more than the "Dante from the Devil May Cry series" memes.
You can get a look at a new primer today too, as Atlus just debuted a new trailer called "The World's Rebirth." It helps ease players into the idea of a hellscape Tokyo, and reminds us that the "easier difficulty level of Merciful" is free DLC for all, and that it has suspended save options (anywhere) and Japanese and English voiceovers.
It's a small miracle that SMT III is returning like this, as the treasured PS2 release is something I talk about a lot with folks, but never really get to show them in earnest. At this point Atlus could basically remaster every SMT game and people would eat it up. Persona is the darling, but SMT deserves its day again.
Genshin Impact's long-awaited PS5 version is coming real soon, here's a look
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!
The Binding of Isaac: Repentance comes crawlin' n' cryin' onto PC today
It's a very important day for those who worship at the altar of Isaac. Today sees the long-awaited release of The Binding of Isaac: Repentance, the "final" chapter in the grim, gross, and skin-crawling twin-stick series that has been entertaining freaks 'n' geeks since the franchise' inception back in 2011.
Described by creator Ed McMillen as "the best version" of the unholy roguelike, The Binding of Isaac: Repentance sees the title fine-tuned to as close to perfection as the series can get. Repentance is jam-packed with content, adding new playable characters, paths, and chapters alongside, over 100 new enemies, a new final boss, seven extra challenges, four-player co-op support, and "an impossible number" of gameplay tweaks, mechanic adjustments, and visual improvements.
Here's how to get a free Tomb Raider reward in Fortnite
Earlier this week, Fortnite was running a special "Mystery in Croft Manor" playlist.
The gist is that you'd dive into Lara Croft's crib (who made her Fortnite debut this season) to investigate a mysterious set of artifacts, and end up doing a little puzzle action platformer test in the process. It was short and sweet, but now it's out of the usual playlist rotation as of today.
And that's fine! Because you can still redeem the reward: a Lara Croft spray item. After finishing the questline you're granted access to a code. The code you get is not unique, so you can use now: even after the map is out of the main menu (I just tested it this morning!).
Just head to this page and redeem this code: Z4A33-NLKR2-V9X34-G3682.
Two more Sony Japan veterans leave studio ahead of restructure
Two more veterans from Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan have taken their leave of the company, just one day before the developer/publisher begins its restructure process - which will see the studio shrink its workforce and dial down production, shifting focus to Astro's Playroom developer Team ASOBI.
Shinsuke Saito announced his departure from SIE Japan in a very succinct message on Twitter earlier this morning. Saito is an artist, animator, and character designer, responsible for the creation of popular protagonists such as Kat from the world-bending 2012 Gravity Rush. Saito was also art director for 2017 sequel Gravity Rush 2.
Also leaving SIE Japan is Kentaro Motomura, who has had the prestige and good fortune to be involved with the development of titles such as Bloodborne, Wild Arms, Dark Cloud, and Everybody's Golf. While Motomura did not note any specific plans, he intends on continuing in the field of game development.
The two former employees join a constantly growing list of long-time SIE Japan associates who have left for pastures new in the past year. The exile has seen the Sony Japan studio lose Bloodborne alumni Masaaki Yamagiwa and Teruyuki Toriyama, as well as Gravity Rush producer Keiichiro Toyama, who has since founded Bokeh Game Studio, which itself employs two further ex-Sony Japan devs in Junya Okura and Kazunobu Sato.
The Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan restructure process begins tomorrow, April 1.
Gravity Rush designer Shinsuke Saito leaves SIE Japan [Gematsu]
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt next-gen edition will launch in the second half of 2021
Fans of mythic RPG series The Witcher were understandably stoked when they heard that the 2015 release The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt would be making the jump to next-gen platforms. But it seems that hype should be quelled for the time being, as developer CD Projekt RED isn't expecting the port to hit the market until later in 2021.
As clarified by CDPR's PR manager Radek Grabowski, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is confirmed for "the second half of 2021," when the epic adventure will be released as both a standalone purchase for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X, and as a free upgrade for those who already own the original release. (So maybe it grab it on the cheap before then, if you haven't purchased it already.)
The next-gen edition of The Witcher 3 will not only include all previously released DLC content, but it will also come enhanced with ray-traced graphics, significantly reduced load times, and various other technical and aesthetic improvements. While Witcher 3 was a best-seller, and has been played by more than its fair share of monster slayers, this new edition will probably make it worth saddling up for another jaunt through The Continent.
Classic cel-shaded shooter XIII is free to kick off GOG's spring sale
It's getting to be that time in the northern hemisphere. The sun angle is higher, the days are getting longer, baseballs are starting to sprout in the many outfields of America, it's spring! To celebrate surviving the (hopefully only) full Covid winter, GOG is kicking off a spring sale on many of its DRM-free games.
As is usual with these sales, the kick-off comes with a free giveaway, and this time around it's the classic comic-book-based shooter, XIII. From now until Thursday at 9 AM EDT, you can claim the game to keep forever, DRM-free, and forget about that remake that was released last year.
For those with a few coins to spare, there is a flash sale going on to start the sale that will last the length of the giveaway. Included in the flash sale is Moonlighter coming in at a dirt-cheap five dollars.
Some other highlights from the sale:
- The Witcher 3: Game of the Year Edition - $9.99
- Disco Elysium The Final Cut - $31.99
- Planescape Torment: Enhanced Edition - $4.99
- Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice - $7.49
- Stranglehold - $2.49
- Victoria II - $9.99
Okay maybe that last one isn't the best sale price but I need to hold out hope for Viccy3.
The spring sale will run through April 5 with no indication of further flash sales being implemented.
CrossCode gets one last content update
One more update is coming to indie RPG CrossCode today, as a final send-off for the game. Developer Radical Fish Games announced today that one more small update, included as part of the A New Home DLC, will be the final piece of content coming to the game.
Version 1.4.1 will have three new quests, a couple of arena cups, and new Trade Offers in Rhombus Square. It will also be the final content addition, and the team plans further releases only to fix any remaining bugs or issues. But while this marks the end of over nine years of development on CrossCode, there's still more on the horizon for Radical Fish.
The team confirmed that it is currently prototyping its next game, currently called Project Terra. While it will be an action-RPG with a "gameplay mix similar to CrossCode," it will be in a new setting and story.
Here's a WIP sneak peak of @RadicalFishGame's #ProjectThatNeedsAHashtag's aesthetic and rendering. 2,5D is working excellent here I think.#gamedev #indiedev #pixelart pic.twitter.com/4RKRF2LJhh
— Thomas Fröse (@ThomasFroese) March 30, 2021
Though a cutscene in A New Home stoked hopes, the studio says there are no plans for a sequel. "We definitely had a great time working on this title and [seeing] the world and its characters grow," the blog reads. "But after nine whole years, we are ready to work on something new."
Radical Fish says it will be talking more about Project Terra within the next few months, and if you're eager to get some early glimpses, the announcement blog has some embedded tweets with early looks that have gone up. The studio also confirmed that it will be receiving financial support from the state of Germany for the development of Project Terra.
So while it's sad to see a chapter come to an end, after almost a decade in development, it'll be exciting to see what Project Terra holds for Radical Fish. CrossCode, meanwhile, is out on PC and consoles, if you're eager to see what the fuss has been about.
Amnesia: Rebirth has an alternate Adventure Mode with 'a few bonus puzzles'
In a free update out today on PC and coming in a few weeks to PlayStation 4, Amnesia: Rebirth has an alternate game mode for anyone who wants a lighter, less deadly horror-adventure experience.
Similar to SOMA's Safe Mode, Amnesia: Rebirth's Adventure Mode will let you soak in the "narrative, atmosphere, story, and theme, without having to worry about monsters attacking." Going a step further, Frictional has also "brightened up" the darkest environments for navigation and mood reasons.
Here's a lighting comparison for the two modes straight from Frictional Games:
That's not to say so you can't get in your own head and freak yourself out anyway – the vibe is still described as "unnerving," and the monsters still exist – but it'll be more tolerable. On that note, Adventure Mode strips out the fear mechanic, so you can even take your time in poorly-lit areas. That said, don't get too bold – monsters won't let you "attack or annoy them" without repercussions.
Amnesia: Rebirth as it originally existed will continue to be playable in a so-called Original Mode.
I'm a big proponent of horror games that go out of their way to lighten the mood if you so choose, whether that's through multiple difficulty options out of the gate, side modes, or ridiculously OP unlockables. Having a full-on alternate mode that embraces a wider audience is a beautiful thing. (I know it's even more work to implement, but while I'm rattling off requests, more randomizers, please!)
Last we heard from Frictional, Rebirth had cleared 100,000 sales and it was nearing profitability "in the not too distant future." The studio really believes in long-tail success bolstered by word of mouth.
I need to get into Rebirth, and while I'll likely go for the original vision, Adventure Mode is intriguing.
