Ultra Age Review – Old is New Again… Well, Sort of
At first glance, Ultra Age might not make the most compelling impression. It's a straight up hack 'n slash game with a small budget look among a flurry of other straight up hack 'n slash games with small budgets, so you couldn't be blamed for overlooking it due to its apparent lack of any obvious major hooks that might upgrade its curb appeal. Even when you get into it and get your arms around its small handful of very familiar mechanics and systems, it still probably won't be knocking anybody's socks off with its concepts. On the other hand, while it never seems particularly interested in expanding upon the fundamentals of its genre, it does reap many rewards from an intense focus on – and execution of – those essential elements.
Like I said, Ultra Age's first impression isn't great and it just happens to look exactly like a launch Xbox 360 title in most ways. Whether this was a conscious decision to make sure it runs well on the Switch or if it was merely due to budget constraints, regardless, it's hard to ignore at first. Character models are fairly flat, lighting and coloring often seems to lack depth and modern sheen, and many areas and enemies end up looking more similar than I would have liked. The entire game seems a bit desaturated as well and, while that may very well be a deliberate stylistic choice, it also made my eyes glaze over at times. All of that said, other than introducing a bit of monotony every so often, the lackluster visuals ultimately do very little to fundamentally harm the overall experience. It's not a game that needs to rely on AAA graphics the way so many AAA games do. The bread and butter of Ultra Age lives beneath the skin anyway. But to its credit there are some nice effects and cool animations here and there; mostly reserved for the big finishing moves and boss battles. It also helps that the game runs extremely well on PS5 and PS4 pro. No real stuttering or tearing to report. At the end of the day, I'll take a well-optimized action game over any degree of the opposite.
The gameplay ends up more than benefitting from Ultra Age's back-to-basics approach. Age is fast and responsive to control and will immediately feel familiar to veterans of the hack 'n slash genre. He also has several weapons that all serve their purposes and we are introduced to them pretty quickly. The katana is fast and highly preferable when you need to sneak a few quick strikes in short windows of time while doing a good amount of damage on organic enemies, the claymore does considerable damage to most enemies with slow, massive blows, the lightning sword disables shields while also stunning enemies after a few successful slashes, and the basic sword is your well-rounded weapon that can get you through most situations if need be. Each weapon has a similar move set that has you stringing light attacks together and punctuating them with a heavy attack at a moment of your choosing that creates a different ending to the combo depending on where you do it.
"While Ultra Age never seems particularly interested in expanding upon the fundamentals of its genre, it does reap many rewards from an intense focus on – and execution of – those essential elements."
Each of Age's swords also have a lifespan to them of sorts that requires you to always be on the lookout for corresponding energy to keep them in use. If you use any one of them too much and run out of energy for that sword, it'll be out of commission until you find more – which, usually won't be very long. This incentivizes you to keep switching things up and getting familiar with each weapon. Thankfully they're all fun to use and well-balanced, so you'll enjoy switching around between them anyway. Ultra Age also comes complete with a obligatory rage mode that fills up over time and can help you cut down enemies more efficiently, which is fine, but I wish I could turn it off and save what's left when I was done with it instead of having to use 100% of it each time.
Speaking of enemies, the variety of foes throughout the game definitely leaves a bit to be desired. If you're not fighting some version of the bi-pedal robots, then you're probably fighting some version of the animalistic tiger-esque creatures. We do see some variation of these things with coloration, size, and being imbued with different elements, but it doesn't go as far to break up the repetition as I was hoping for. Still, the effort that is made with these variants is acceptable for the price tag and goes well with playing the game in short bursts. Ultra Age's combat, overall, has just enough of a twist on the fast-paced multi-weapon melee systems that we've seen a million times from similar games that keep it from feeling overly derivative while still smartly benefiting from it's familiarity. When you couple the game's ability to walk that tightrope with a time-shifting mechanic that allows you to jump forward in time to when crystals have regenerated, you end up with a surprisingly well-executed hack 'n slash system that stays fun for most of its short stay. Well played, Ultra Age. Well played.
You might be wondering why I haven't mentioned the story yet and that's largely because there isn't a whole lot to mention, other than the fact that the story is probably the game's weakest point, yet also it's least relevant. Ultra Age seems to go out of its way to have an uninteresting story and tell it poorly. Most of the dialogue is comically trite and generally useless to advancing any sort of coherent plot. Age himself has some of the worst voice acting I've heard since the early 90's when voice acting was, itself, still just a novelty. There's no way around it; if you come into Ultra Age expecting to invest in dynamic characters or a captivating story, you will almost certainly be disappointed. That said, it does sort of have a pulpy "so bad it's good" quality to it that some might find enjoyable in its own way.
"Ultra Age seems to go out of its way to have an uninteresting story and tell it poorly."
The music and sound effects in Ultra Age are somewhere between the quality of its gameplay and its story; Not bad, but not great. The music mostly stays in the background and generally supports the game's action-heavy moments while also sliding some basic but appropriate subtle tracks underneath the game's calmer sections between battles. It's not a soundtrack you're going to want to add to your collection but it does get the job done. Sound effects are also equally serviceable with appropriately unique slashes, slices and booms assigned to each of Age's weapons, but can sometimes feel a bit lacking in the "oomph" department.
While other games are trying to get ahead in the rat race of being the most innovative or unique action game of their time, Ultra Age hangs back and delivers a refreshingly stripped-down experience that delivers the goods in their purest form. It pays a price for its dated graphics and inconsequential story, but ultimately makes good on its promise of satisfying, engaging combat that fills out its short runtime. Ultra Age successfully pays homage to the handful of game's it's so clearly inspired by while redefining just enough of their rules to feel like its own thing. It might not win any awards for this approach but it does confirm that the age-old hack 'n slash fundamentals from over a decade ago can still be fun. They just need to be done right.
The PlayStation 4 version of this game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5 via backward compatibility.
Activision Blizzard is Now Being Investigated by the SEC
Activision Blizzard has been under a lot of fire over the last couple of months, owing to the company being sued by the DEFH in California on the grounds of widespread sexual harassment against and discrimination of employees. Obviously, there have been consequences, with many high-level employees either having to resign, or being let go, and unsurprisingly, there are going to continue to be more consequences.
As The Wall Street Journal reports, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has now launched a separate investigation into Activision Blizzard, with sexual misconduct and discrimination being the primary concerns of the investigations. Activision Blizzard was recently hit by a second lawsuit, with investors claiming that they'd been misled by the company when it failed to report its internal issues, so it doesn't come as a surprise to see the SEC stepping in for its own investigation.
The SEC has subpoenaed Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, among other members of the leadership team at the company, and has also demanded documentation from board meetings as far back as 2019, as well as separation agreements and personnel files related to various former employees. An investigation such as this one could potentially result in hefty fines or settlement payments, if evidence of wrongdoing should be discovered.
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has previously said that the company is taking measures to address its systemic issues, and that those found guilty of the alleged actions or of impeding justice will be held to account. Meanwhile, the company has also taken other steps, though some might argue that those are more performative than anything else. Here's hoping they actually bear fruit.
NEO: The World Ends with You Launches September 28th for PC
According to Square Enix's official website, NEO: The World Ends with You will be releasing on September 28th for PC via the Epic Games Store. Pre-orders should be available as soon as the store listing goes live.
NEO: The World Ends with You originally released on July 27th for PS4 and Nintendo Switch, and serves as the long-awaited sequel to the 2007 cult-classic. The story focuses on a new cast of characters, namely Rindo, as he leads the Wicked Twisters to survive Reapers' Game in the Shibuya Underground. New mechanics include Remind for prompting NPCs to remember vital details and Rewind for going back to previous times in the day.
Combat is also fully 3D as players swap between different characters (each having their own assigned button and Pin) to string together combos. Build enough Groove by successfully stringing together combos and you can use powerful Mashups to decimate foes. Check out our official review for the game here and stay tuned for more details on its PC release.
Sea of Thieves Season Four Brings Siren Shrines, Treasures, Cosmetics, and More
Sea of Thieves is trucking along stronger than ever, and with all of this momentum carrying the game forward, Rare isn't going to take its foot off the gas anytime soon. Season four of the open world pirate utopia launches in just a couple of days, and Rare has released a meaty video to give us a lowdown of what to expect from it.
Sea of Thieves' season four will, as teased earlier, take players beneath the waves in search of treasure, with underwater dungeons known as Siren Shrines serving as your primary new challenges, each rewarding you with treasures. These shrines can be tracked either through maps, or by actually observing the world and noticing shimmers emanating from underwater with your own eyes.
There will also be wave-based activities similar to forts known as Siren Treasures, which will put a much greater emphasis on underwater foes, while you can also look for coral messages in bottles for another new activity with its own unique rewards. There will, of course, also be new cosmetics, a new battle pass, and more. Check out the full details in the video below.
Sea of Thieves is available on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC. Season four kicks off in a couple of days, on September 23.
Gran Turismo 7 Digital Deluxe and 25th Anniversary Editions Revealed
Sony and Polyphony Digital have provided new details on Gran Turismo 7's special editions, namely the Digital Deluxe Edition and 25th Anniversary Edition, along with pre-order bonuses. Pre-ordering the title will net you three in-game vehicles – the Toyota Castrol TOM'S Supra, Mazda RX-VISION GT3 Concept (Stealth) and Porsche 917K Living Legend – along with 100,000 in-game Credit or CR.
The limited 25th Anniversary Edition will be available at retail for PS4 and PS5, retailing for $90 and including a SteelBook case. Along with a physical PS5 disc (and PS4 game voucher), it includes 1,100,000 CR, 30 Manufacturer/Partner avatars, the aforementioned three pre-order vehicles, the Toyota GR Yaris with a country specific livery and the official soundtrack.
As for the Digital Deluxe Edition, it also retails for $90 and includes Dual PS4 + PS5 Entitlement, 1,600,000 CR and all of the content from the 25th Anniversary Edition. Both editions are currently available to pre-order. The Standard Edition on PS4 can be upgraded to the PS5 version for $10, as previously announced by Sony. Gran Turismo 7 is slated to release on March 4th 2022 for PS5 and PS4. For more details on what to expect, head here.
Genshin Impact – Sangonomiya Kokomi's Skills and Passives Showcased in New Video
A new character banner is live today in miHoYo Games' Genshin Impact, adding Watatsumi's very own Sangonomiya Kokomi. The 5-star Hydro wielder employs a Catalyst to attack enemies at range but serves as a very capable healer for one's party. A new "Collected Miscellany" trailer has been released which showcases her abilities and passives in action.
Kokomi's exploration passive sees less stamina being consumed while swimming. As for her combat passives, the first sees the final normal attack in her combo while wearing the Ceremonial Garment from Nereid's Ascension dealing 30 percent of her maximum health as Hydro damage. The third will increase Nereid's Ascension by three levels while the fifth increases Kurage's Oath by three levels.
While Kokomi promises a good amount of damage and healing, she may be tough to obtain and fully upgrade (since duplicate pulls are necessary to unlock Constellation passives). For more details on her kit, head here. Genshin Impact is currently available for PS5, PS4, PC, iOS and Android – check out our review here.
Steam Next Fest Announced for October 1st to 7th With "Hundreds" of Demos
Valve has confirmed that its second Steam Next Fest will take place at 10 AM PDT on October 1st to 7th. This time around, there will be "hundreds" of demos to check out and though a schedule hasn't been released yet, there will be livestreams and interviews with developers as well.
Some of the games that will be featured were teased in a new trailer. Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer's Legacy, Anno: Mutationem, Biwar Legend of Dragon Slayer, Mahokenshi, Inscryption (which was announced at the recent Devolver Direct), the long-in-development Tunic and more. Given the range of genres and releases that have been offered in the last Steam Next Fest, not to mention the number of indie releases in the future, expect plenty of choice this time around as well.
Originally launching alongside The Game Awards in 2019 to promote indie games, the Steam Next Fest has had several follow-ups before its eventual renaming. Stay tuned for more details when it returns in the coming weeks.
Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate – Orca Confirmed as Co-Developer
Square Enix's Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate is going to be fairly big, at least according to series creator Yuji Horii. It was already revealed that HexaDrive (The 3rd Birthday, Rez Infinite) would be helping with development but Orca, which co-developed Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age and Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, is also onboard.
The developer revealed that it's recruiting for Unreal Engine 5 development staff to work on the role-playing game along with unannounced UE-developed game content. Available positions include Character Artist, Animator, Rendering Programmer, User Interface Artist and much more. While the extent of Orca's involvement is unknown, this at least indicates that the title will be on a larger scale than its predecessor.
Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate is currently slated to launch worldwide but doesn't have a release date or confirmed platforms at this point. Its battle system has been "completely renewed" though and the story is already finished, though the developer will take some time to implement it. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months.
Forza Horizon 5 Multiplayer Gameplay Showcases The Eliminator, Horizon Open and More
In its latest episode of "Forza Horizon 5 Let's ¡Go!", Playground Games showcased the upcoming open world racer's multiplayer modes and features. As revealed earlier, Team Adventure is out and Horizon Open is in, offering a litany of different racing activities to partake in. Check it out below.
In Horizon Open, payers can choose from options like Open Racing and Open Drifting to The Eliminator, Forza Horizon's take on battle royale, among other modes. Those seeking a more laid-back experience can partake in Horizon Tour which supports co-op races for up to six players. One of the newer features added to multiplayer is Horizon Arcade, which offers several mini-games to partake in like popping pinatas.
Forza Horizon 5 is out on November 9th for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC along with launching day one on Xbox Game Pass. For single-player fans, there's quite a lot to sink one's teeth into from Horizon Adventure and Accolades to over 400 cars to collect. Stay tuned for more details en route to its launch.
Halo Infinite – Next Tech Preview Dates Revealed, Includes Big Team Battle
343 Industries has finally announced the dates for Halo Infinite's next set of multiplayer tech previews. The first weekend focuses on Arena mode and goes live on September 23rd. Matchmaking will be available on September 24th to September 26th at 10 AM to 2 PM PT and 5 PM to 9 PM PT. Access will close on September 27th at 10 AM PT.
The second tech preview goes live on September 30th and will be available from October 1st to October 3rd at the same times. Surveys will be sent out at 9 PM PT on October 3rd while flight access closes on October 4th at 10 AM PT. The Halo Support site will subsequently close on October 6th at 10 AM PT. All Halo Insiders who are eligible as of September will be invited for the previews with the goal of bug testing and feedback.
Some interesting content to look forward to include objective modes and a new map in Social Arena on September 26th, objective modes for Bot Arena, Training Mode, Weapon Drills, the Battle Pass and Customization. Additional details are coming tomorrow in a new blog and live-stream so stay tuned.
Halo Infinite is out on December 8th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.