GamersHeroes Monday, February 14, 2022 1:22 AM While questing in Lost Ark you will eventually pick up a treasure map or two to find. Check out this Lost Ark Treasure Map Guide - Waiting Material's Rift map to find the treasures. This way you aren't looking in the wrong area's for the entrances. The post Lost Ark Treasure Map Guide – Waiting Material's Rift appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
Kotaku Monday, February 14, 2022 7:30 AM  Founded in 2012, miHoYo became world-famous with games Genshin Impact and Honkai Impact 3rd. But now, the game studio is being rebranded to make room for the metaverse. |
Kotaku Monday, February 14, 2022 6:30 AM  The common connection for many universes in movies and TV is corporate. So, what joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe is, well, Marvel. Of course, there are exceptions. The latest of which is the newly announced Shin Japan Heroes Universe. |
Kotaku Monday, February 14, 2022 5:30 AM  You might like Japan. But if you are Tommy Lee Jones, you totally *heart* it. Who loves Japan? Why, Tommy Lee Jones, that's who! |
Kotaku Monday, February 14, 2022 3:01 AM |
PCGamesN Monday, February 14, 2022 7:45 AM  2022 is shaping up to be an exciting year in the battle between AMD and Intel for the title of best gaming CPU, with both companies releasing new processors towards the end of the year. While Ryzen 5000 Zen 3 chips continue to perform well in gaming PCs and for AMD, everyone is waiting to see how the company's next generation Ryzen 7000 Zen 4 CPUs will compete with Intel's upcoming Raptor Lake processors. When Zen 4 releases in H2 2022, we will finally see support for PCIe Gen5 and DDR5 gaming RAM on AMD's Ryzen CPUs. This will bring the company's processor offerings in line with Intel, which has supported both technologies since Alder Lake's release in 2021. However, a combination of 3D V-Cache and a 5nm manufacturing process could see team red's chips outclass those from team blue by a significant margin, making Ryzen Zen 4 CPUs the ideal partner to the best graphics cards such as the Nvidia RTX 4000 GPU lineup. RELATED LINKS: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X review, AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT review, Best CPU for gaming |
PCGamesN Monday, February 14, 2022 7:25 AM  Lost Ark is a tad popular, in case you haven't heard. As per SteamDB, the new PC game hit the heights of 1,325,305 concurrent players on Valve's storefront over the weekend, which means the Lost Ark has already beaten Steam peak player records set by CS:GO and Dota 2. Naturally, though, such a high number of players has led to server congestion. Things are particularly stuffy in Lost Ark's European servers, so Amazon Games and Smilegate RPG are setting up an entirely new region of servers to alleviate congestion. "Due to the game's architecture, this is the only way to accommodate more players in Europe, so it's a joint effort between Amazon Games and Smilegate RPG," a statement on Lost Ark's website reads. "Rest assured, we are working 24/7 until it's live. "While we understand lengthy queue times may persist, we will need time to ensure everything is set up to be in top shape to help accommodate all players to get in game. We'll share an update on exact timings as soon as possible." RELATED LINKS: Best MMOS and MMORPGs on PC, Upcoming PC games, Best fantasy games on PC |
PCGamesN Monday, February 14, 2022 7:24 AM  Techland has unveiled the first free DLC coming up for its recently released zombie sandbox game, Dying Light 2. We already know the game's getting at least five years of post-launch support with "new stories, locations, in-game events, and all the fun stuff you love" - and now the first goodies in that pipeline have been revealed with a trailer. The first Dying Light 2 DLC is called The Authority pack, which will come in three separate components, all of it themed around the powerful and authoritarian Peacekeeper faction. The first pack will include some cosmetics - an anorak chest-piece, some joggers, and sneakers - which are a moody, dark grey-blue. Part two follows a similar theme, adding matching mask-type headgear, bracers, and gloves into the mix. Part three, finally, is a new weapon - a hefty great two-handed melee contraption that looks like a crudely bodged-together hammer, with four pipes forming four big bolts on its business end. Safe to say, I'm pretty sure Aiden Caldwell's enemies wouldn't enjoy being on the receiving end of that. RELATED LINKS: Dying Light 2 release date, Dying Light 2 factions, Dying Light 2 trailer reveal |
PCGamesN Monday, February 14, 2022 7:03 AM  If you've downloaded Lost Ark, Amazon Games' new action MMO game, you'll no doubt be wondering where to spend your first few hours in the sprawling open-world. Perhaps you've created a character but don't know where all these cool pets are coming from? Or have a question about questing - either way, this guide is for you. With the fate of several lands resting on your shoulders, you'll want to go into Lost Ark feeling strong, equipped, and ready for the challenges that stand in your way. Battling demons and exploring a vast magical continent may sound like daunting tasks, but with a few expert tips to expedite your journey, you'll be a formidable and respected presence in Arkesia in no time. A few of the key factors in making sure your experience is a good one include picking the right class, keeping an eye on the unfolding story, and mastering the nuances of travel and abilities. Although things may seem complicated at first, once you know what you're doing you'll find yourself richly rewarded. We've compiled this handy guide to help you on your way, giving a quick rundown of all the first steps you'll need to take. RELATED LINKS: Best MMOS and MMORPGs on PC, Upcoming PC games, Best fantasy games on PC |
PCGamesN Monday, February 14, 2022 7:01 AM  There's nothing quite like strapping on one of the best VR headsets like the Oculus Quest 2 and gaming in the transformative world of virtual reality. However, it appears that as the number of people playing the best VR games continues to grow, the instances of damage to players and property are increasing too. According to a report by The Guardian, UK insurance provider Aviva observed a 31% rise in claims involving VR headsets in 2021. Most of these claims involved some of the best TVs meeting an untimely demise, with players unwittingly throwing themselves or their controllers at the display. However, Aviva's UK property claims director, Kelly Whittington, says that VR isn't entirely unique in generating a surge of insurance claims. In fact, the company "has seen similar trends involving consoles with handsets, fitness games and even the likes of rogue fidget spinners." And with Nintendo Switch Sports releasing in April, there's a good chance this number will climb higher. RELATED LINKS: Best VR games, Build yourself a VR-ready PC for $793, How to set up your Oculus Rift |
PCGamesN Monday, February 14, 2022 6:50 AM  Napoleonic-era shooter Holdfast: Nations at War is getting an official DLC conversion that updates its time period to the First World War. The Holdfast: Frontlines DLC is a completely free and entirely official WW1-era total conversion for the multiplayer shooter - and it'll be out this Thursday. Holdfast: Nations at War released back in 2020 but has been around since at least 2017, when it kicked up a storm on Steam Greenlight as a new indie game with possible big appeal for Mount & Blade: Warband fans. Since it came out, developer Anvil Game Studios has been adding regular new DLC expansions entirely for free - such as the Italian faction in April 2021. Holdfast: Frontlines WW1 (thanks, PC Gamer) is possibly the game's biggest DLC yet - five new maps and a complete conversation of all units, weapons, and items to a World War 1-era design, which will be released to all players entirely for free this Thursday, February 17. Producer Andrew Farrugia also confirmed that proximity voice chat, which is a big part of the Holdfast experience, will be available in Frontlines too. "We believe that it's the community that makes the game, and VOIP is one of those things that enable beautiful interactions between players," Farrugia says. |
PCGamesN Monday, February 14, 2022 6:15 AM  Genshin Impact's 2.5 update - titled When the Sakura Bloom, if you're fancy - is nearly here. You're getting a new five-star character called Yae Miko, an exploration event in Ekonomiya with new mechanics, a limited-time bartending mode, and more. Raiden Shogun and Yae Miko are also getting story quests to flesh out their backstories. Now that the Genshin Impact 2.5 release date is nearly here, though, Mihoyo has clarified the exact time you'll be able to play the new update. The Genshin Impact 2.5 release time is 7pm PST / 11pm EST on February 15, and 3am GMT on February 16. Mihoyo explains that maintenance is due to start at 6am UTC+8, which translates to 2pm PST / 5pm EST / 10pm GMT on February 15. The developer expects the downtime to last five hours, so that's why the anime game's new patch should release at the times given. As always, you'll get 300 primogems to make up for the lost time, which translates to 60 primogems every hour. Better yet, you'll still get the total amount if the developer completes maintenance early. RELATED LINKS: Play Genshin Impact for free, Genshin Impact character tier list, Genshin Impact leveling guide |
PCGamesN Monday, February 14, 2022 6:55 AM  Once rare like a legendary loot drop, new MMOs are now more common than ever. And as part of a genre built upon freedom and vast numbers of players coming together, they are among the most ambitious games around. Each one promises a sprawling world, a vibrant community, and enough content to make you blush and go all dizzy. New MMORPGs are full of potential, but they're also precariously close to failure – history is littered with MMOs that have had their moment in the spotlight or never garnered the attention they deserved. In the interest of saving you hours spent in character creation for a game you might not even like, we have compiled a handy list of all the new MMOs that are worth your time. But we have also gone one step further: as the worlds of MMORPGs are ever-changing, we have included games with recent updates, new content drops, and the like, plus new massively multiplayer online games with RPG elements. So, from newly updated sword-and-sorcery classics to emerging action-RPGs, these are the new MMOs you should be paying attention to. RELATED LINKS: Best MMOS and MMORPGs on PC, Upcoming PC games, Best fantasy games on PC |
PCGamesN Monday, February 14, 2022 7:55 AM  When it comes to discussing which company produces the best graphics card for your gaming PC, Intel probably wouldn't even cross your mind, but that could all change in 2022. The company is set to take on both AMD and Nvidia next year, with its first generation Arc Alchemist GPUs. Intel has managed to keep its Alchemist cards mostly under wraps, but this hasn't stopped benchmarks and spec sheets leaking ahead of the official launch date. First revealed in August, team blue was expected to pull back the curtain on its Xe-HPG based graphics cards during CES 2022 but unfortunately didn't share even a crumb of new details. Alchemist GPUs face stiff competition from the likes of Nvidia's RTX 3000 and AMD's RX 6000 cards, but the rumoured 2022 launches of RTX 4000 and RDNA 3 loom large on the horizon. Regardless of how they end up performing, XeSS should help spice up proceedings against competing upscaling technologies like Nvidia DLSS and AMD FSR. RELATED LINKS: Intel Core i9 9900K review, Intel Core i7 9700K review, Best CPU for gaming |
PCGamesN Monday, February 14, 2022 6:54 AM  What is the best MMO RPG on PC in 2022? Is it one with spells to sling and demons to slay? Working your way through the stars as a miner or a corporate bigwig? Solving ancient conspiracies and fighting Lovecraftian horrors? Maybe it's all of them. But, hey, let's not get ahead of ourselves. What's an MMO, anyway? Well, those oft-used letters represent the words Massively Multiplayer Online, and refer to games where hundreds - if not thousands - of players come together in the same world. MMORPG games like World of Warcraft offer new lands to live in, exchanging your regular life for one of adventure, profit, and danger. Here's our list of the top MMORPG games on PC, kicking off with a few of the top free PC MMOs. You're sure to find something that will swallow up entire days at a time - be that the most popular MMORPG in the world, a hidden gem with a dedicated community, or even a MMO based on a popular book series. RELATED LINKS: Best MMOS and MMORPGs on PC, Upcoming PC games, Best fantasy games on PC |
PCGamesN Monday, February 14, 2022 5:33 AM  So you want to know about Lost Ark servers? They say the most stressful decision in any MMO game is deciding which character class to pick first, but really it's choosing which server to jump into. This is especially important when you're planning to play a game with friends - you'll want to make sure you're all playing on the same server. So while you may already know which Lost Ark class you want to try out first, you'll need to nail your server choice. If you are playing with friends, it might be worth sharing the server list with them so you can have a conversation about it. Note that North America is split into two region groupings, and the east coast possesses more server options than the west coast. Europe has the largest selection of servers, and there are a couple of South American server options as well. We've put together this guide so you can see what the current server list is, how to check your server's status, as well as other commonly asked questions such as whether you can change a character's server and which content can be played across servers. Enjoy! RELATED LINKS: Best MMOS and MMORPGs on PC, Upcoming PC games, Best fantasy games on PC |
PCGamesN Monday, February 14, 2022 6:56 AM  Looking for the best free PC game? Whether you're broke or just frugal, free is a price point that appeals to everybody's purse. We've collated the top free games on PC guaranteed to deliver a near endless stream of complementary entertainment. All you need to spend is your time. From military to sci-fi to fantasy, from MMOs to block-builders to card battlers, it turns out that zero can buy you quite a lot in the F2P game world – and that some classics are available at the steepest possible discount. From cultural phenomenons like Fortnite, to all-time classics like Team Fortress 2, there are good games for free that suit literally every type of PC player. To get started in your journey to playing the top free PC games for 2022, you need just look at this very extensive list we've put together. Finding these free download PC games reminded us just how far the world has come; you really can get triple-A quality games without spending a penny. Here are the best free games on PC, in no particular order! RELATED LINKS: Dauntless guide, Dauntless Behemoths, Dauntless Exotic gear |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, February 14, 2022 7:38 AM  Despite Friday's wonky launch, Lost Ark become the second-most-played game on Steam ever over the weekend. The free-to-play action-RPG hit 1.32 million peak concurrent players on Saturday, narrowly pushing it past the all-time peaks of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Dota 2. Well, 1.32m were in-game, but they might not have been playing. Server problems continued after launch with long queues for some. Publishers Amazon say they're working on it, including planning to create a whole new extra European server region. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, February 14, 2022 7:15 AM  The studio behind 10 Second Ninja X have today announced a brand-new first-person stealth RPG called Abermore, a game in which you take on the role of a legendary thief and have 18 days to plan the heist of the century. It's coming to PC on March 29th, and judging by the mix of magic powers and shadow slinking I've seen from its trailer, it could be the ideal chaser for those craving another Arkane-esque immersive sim in their lives. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, February 14, 2022 6:55 AM  Frankly I feel a bit odd writing a post that amounts to "14-year-old rendering tech works better than 20-year-old rendering tech", but Lost Ark – 2022's biggest surprise hit so far – has only recently come around to the benefits of DirectX 11. While it's the default rendering option in the western version that launched last week, the original South Korean version went years with just DirectX 9 to its name, and the press build that I used for performance testing (and Ed is using for his review-in progress) remains locked to DX9. Despite the fact that, as I've confirmed from testing the release build as well, DX11 provides a tidy performance gain over its predecessor. |
Twinfinite Monday, February 14, 2022 6:49 AM Earlier today, developer Soleil and publisher 110 Industries dropped a freshly-cut Valentine's Day trailer for their upcoming high-octane third-person action title, Wanted: Dead. Blending the slick moment-to-moment gameplay of Bayonetta with the limb-slicing mechanics from Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Wanted: Dead promises to be a John Wick-esque experience that's as equally stylish as it is […] The post John Wick-esque Action Game, Wanted: Dead, Gets New Valentine's Day Trailer appeared first on Twinfinite. |
Twinfinite Monday, February 14, 2022 3:01 AM Horizon Forbidden West on PS5 2017's Horizon Zero Dawn ushered in a new era for Sony's first-party studio, Guerrilla Games. Casting aside the linear corridors and orange-eyed Helghast of the Killzone series, the new IP introduced us to an amicable protagonist in Aloy, and a sprawling open-world teeming with animal-like machines roaming the Earth just […] The post Horizon Forbidden West Review: The Best in the West appeared first on Twinfinite. |
Twinfinite Monday, February 14, 2022 1:48 AM Today Capcom opened a teaser website with a seven-day countdown, teasing a reveal of some kind, likely a new game. The post Capcom Teasing a New Reveal Next Week appeared first on Twinfinite. |
Siliconera Monday, February 14, 2022 7:30 AM
Square Enix announced a FFXIV Oceania DC Celebration sale, which has select items, such as Phials of Fantasia, select cosmetic outfits, and a handful of mounts, available to purchase at a discount for a limited time. These items will remain on sale at a discounted price until March 11, 2022. Additionally, Square Enix added items from the Valentione's Day 2021 event to the Final Fantasy XIV Online Store. Outside of Phials of Fantasia, the FFXIV Oceania DC Celebration sale will allow for players to obtain the Cruise Chaser and Lunar Whale mounts at a discount. Both mounts are account wide. The Cruise Chaser mount allows for two people to ride the raid boss mount. The Lunar Whale, on the other hand, allows for up to eight people to ride the mount. The item was previously available at the Final Fantasy XIV 2021 Fan Festival event. The two Valentione's Day 2021 items that players can now buy include the Lovely Moogle Cap and the Deluxe Stuffed Kupka Kupp. These items were available to obtain through an in-game event. Like previous Valentione's Day event items, these items have become available through the Final Fantasy XIV Online Store roughly a year after the event. Final Fantasy XIV is available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC. The post FFXIV Oceania DC Celebration Sale Includes Mounts and Fantasias appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, February 14, 2022 7:00 AM
Genshin Impact and Honkai Impact developer miHoYo announced the creation of a new brand, HoYoVerse. An official statement detailed the creation of HoYoVerse as well as what the company aims to achieve with its new brand. This includes the creation of an "immersive, virtual world" experience through its titles like Genshin Impact and other entertainment services. The statement also mentioned the N0va Desktop application, which contains live wallpapers for miHoYo titles. Co-Founder and CEO of HoYoVerse Haoyu Cai revealed that the company would like to create a "vast and content-driven virtual world that integrates games, anime, and other diverse types of entertainment" for players to immerse themselves in. That said, the company has yet to fully detail any other avenues it intends to pursue. Cai also mentioned that the company will continue to focus on innovation to "ensure that sufficient content is created to meet the expectations of players worldwide." Additionally, the statement revealed that HoYoVerse will expand its content production and publishing through offices in Montreal, Los Angeles, Singapore, Tokyo, and Seoul. The statement ended by saying HoYoVerse is dedicated to providing players with high quality content. Since its release, Genshin Impact has proven to be a financial success for the company. In September 2021, it was reported that the Genshin Impact version 2.1 update made over $151 million for miHoYo. The post Genshin Impact Developer Announces HoYoVerse Brand appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, February 14, 2022 6:30 AM
Capcom opened up a new countdown website, which may be teasing an announcement for later this month. The countdown is set to end in six days, at 2 PM JST on February 21, 2022 (12 AM EST / 5 AM CEST). The official Capcom Twitter account posted a tweet linking to the website just minutes after the countdown passed the six-day mark. The tweet only included two emojis of an hourglass and a pair of eyes. While there are no further details about what the announcement will entail, there are a few notable possibilities. https://twitter.com/capcom_official/status/1493103594807394305?s=20&t=G_sTYG_5I6pOWm5G2Pa-1A Fans were quick to point out similarities between the countdown timer's font and the font used in the Resident Evil Village title. In January 2022, Capcom revealed that it was planning to release new DLC for Village sometime in 2022. Seeing as Capcom announced it was working on DLC for the latest mainline title in June 2021, an official DLC reveal coming next week is not out of the realm of possibility. Another possibility is a Resident Evil 4 remake, following the 2021 release of Resident Evil 4 VR. Rumors and insider reports of a Resident Evil 4 remake have been circulating for years, as it would be a natural progression from 2020's Resident Evil 3 remake. Similarly, those rumors also mentioned a possible 2022 announcement window, though there have not been any official confirmations. The Capcom countdown website will finish on February 21, 2022, at 2 PM JST (12 AM EST / 5 AM CEST). The post Capcom Teases Announcement With Countdown Website appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, February 14, 2022 6:00 AM
Kotobukiya is extending the reach of its Bishoujo series of character goods to Cybertron. The company is developing a new pair of additions to the line, based on none other than the Transformers franchise. The first two Transformers characters to join the Bishoujo line will be Cybertronian Civil War leaders Optimus Prime and Megatron. Concept art for Bishoujo Optimus Prime and Bishoujo Megatron was shown off by the official Kotobukiya Twitter account. The company also released a video showing off the sculpt model for the Optimus Prime figure. You can view it below. https://youtu.be/dXSoBYo5uXw As with other entries in the line, the Bishoujo Transformers statues will see the "Generation 1" incarnations of Optimus Prime and Megatron redesigned as female characters in the style of artist Shunya Yamashita. Bishoujo Optimus Prime wears a red jacket emblazoned with the Autobot logo and sports a pair of goggles that replicate the eye shape and distinctive forehead of the Autobot leader. She also wears blue boots with wheels and carries a wheeled toolbox that resembles Optimus' trailer. The pendant worn around her neck resembles a smaller version of the Matrix of Leadership, a powerful artifact carried by the leader of the Autobots. Meanwhile, Bishoujo Megatron has a more militaristic outfit, with a black garrison hat and lila military coat. Her tie bears the Decepticon logo and she carries a large gun on her shoulder. The gun resembles the cannon that the original Megatron has mounted to his arm in humanoid mode. Bishoujo Transformers statues of Optimus Prime and Megatron are in development, with no release window announced. Another Bishoujo statue based on King of Fighers '98's Mai Shiranui will appear in Japan and North America in mid through late 2022. The post Bishoujo Transformers led by Optimus Prime and Megatron appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, February 14, 2022 5:30 AM
Square Enix will release a tote bag for Kingdom Hearts 3, featuring plushes of Sora and King Mickey on it. Pre-orders are already open. The bag costs 11,000 JPY at the Japanese store and $99.99 at the North American one. It has a release window of June 2022 for Japan and October 2022 for North America. [Thanks, Famitsu!] For those who think the two plushes are too big or worry about them getting dirty, you can remove them from the Kingdom Hearts 3 tote bag. You can also swap them around if you have a certain preference. In addition, the loops used to hang the dolls can double as a place for you to hang items such as water bottles. The outside of the bag has a variety of familiar Kingdom Hearts symbols, and there is a faint heart pattern on the inside. Here are some more pictures of the tote bag: [gallery columns="5" ids="916187,916186,916185,916184,916183" link="file"] Other new pieces of Kingdom Hearts merchandise from the Square Enix e-Store include suitcases of the five main Keyblade wielders. Each trunk case costs $549.99 and will come out in September 2022. However, these trunks are slightly larger than some airlines' carry-on size requirements. So those who wish to travel with them may need to check their airline in advance. The Kingdom Hearts 3 tote bag is available to pre-order from the Square Enix e-Store. It will come out in June 2022 for Japanese customers and October 2022 for North American ones. The post Kingdom Hearts 3 Tote Bag Will Have Sora and Mickey Dolls appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, February 14, 2022 5:00 AM
Kotobukiya announced that it will release three figures of characters from Fate/Grand Order. Figures of Leonardo da Vinci (Rider) and Astolfo (Saber) are still in development. It also showed off an unpainted prototype of its Altria Pendragon (Ruler) figure. While da Vinci and Astolfo will appear in their first ascensions, the Altria figure uses her second. The Altria figure from Kotobukiya will have a removable hat, jacket, and skirt. The "skirt" in reference is tied around her waist and she is wearing her swimsuit underneath. While her first and third ascensions place her in a bunny suit outfit, Altria in a swimsuit and without the decorative cloth is what she looks like in her final ascension. Kotobukiya did not announce a release window for this figure. https://twitter.com/kotobukiya_en/status/1492689734665129985?s=12 As for the da Vinci and Astolfo figures, Kotobukiya shared very little information on when to expect them. As Astolfo is in his first ascension, he is wearing slightly less than when he is in his second ascension, which is the sprite Lasengle usually uses for him in the story. Meanwhile, da Vinci looks the way that she normally does when she appears in the main plot. There are also no release windows for these figures as of yet. https://twitter.com/kotobukiya_en/status/1492690489581182977?s=12 Fate/Grand Order is readily available worldwide on mobile devices. The Fate/Grand Order figures from Kotobukiya will come out some time in the near future. Other figures Kotobukiya recently announced include one of Athena Asamiya from KOF 98. The post Kotobukiya Announces Three New Fate/Grand Order Figures appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, February 14, 2022 3:01 AM
Guerrilla Games' Horizon: Forbidden West is the sort of game that is easy to anticipate. It's big! It's full of interesting stuff to do! Many were sold on the promise of the PlayStation 5 at launch by the prospect of sinking days and weeks into a new Horizon. Thankfully, Forbidden West delivers on that promise in many ways. Horizon: Forbidden West is at its best in the open world. Movement in wide areas feels natural and fun, and you can find a lot of uses for mounts and tools to get around. Gliding and climbing in these more flexible segments just feels good. The map is well-populated, as you'll encounter interesting and varied opportunities at a solid pace. We never felt like we were hitting too many combat encounters in a row, and we didn't find enough "old world ruins" at once to feel worn down by the puzzle solving. Its combat is well-suited for creative problem-solving, too, which helps. Forbidden West continues to build out options for weaponry, offering tweaks aplenty to the base formula of bow and staff fighting. There are advantages to engaging with these systems, of course! Enemies have certain weaknesses, and even the base effects of elements like acid lead to different tactics. We did feel a bit held back at times by the clunky nature of the weapon wheel, though. Especially when we ran out of arrows, as it would often take a few attempts until the stick was responsive and we could select the right ammo to replenish.
But what makes for true freedom is that you can power through with your favorites instead, if you want. The skill tree and gear upgrade systems make specialization viable too. Your Aloy can be a versatile tactician, for sure! But she can also be a melee expert or a sniper. The game's skill trees often focus on increasing options over powering up existing ones, so there's room for players to experiment even if they commit to a style early. Conversely, Forbidden West shows its weakest elements when it's constrained. It just isn't Uncharted, try as it might in these sequences. The game drags when it presents you with a bunch of yellow things to jump between. It's at its most frustrating when it doesn't quite feel so responsive to the narrow windows of traversal prompts, and you fall and start a room over. Or when you're just trying to get up a ledge, but it fails to understand your inputs and jumps you back and forth between handholds. Outside of a few elements, though, you can remedy any weaknesses or frustrations you find through Forbidden West's robust set of accessibility options. Want to explore and be less stressed by combat? There are a lot of settings you can adjust to make that happen. Bothered by camera shake and motion blur? Guerrilla has you covered. All the work is worth it, too! Because there are so many games in the game, and you should be able to have fun with the ones that interest you without one element stonewalling your progress. This sort of thing is good for the grizzled adventurers out there, as well. If only because these controls allow Horizon to do all the things you want it to do in terms of challenge. These settings mean Guerrilla can do that without worrying about alienating more casual players.
Aesthetically, Horizon: Forbidden West is still a joy to behold. It doesn't quite push the tech specs in a way you might want from a next-gen showpiece, but it gets a lot out of colors and texture to make environments feel different. The biggest difference from the first game? That's clearly the desert feel. As the title suggests, you'll move westward in what used to be the United States. Though a lot of ecological events have passed in the interim, there's still a lot of rocks and sand along the way. It's a game that likes high contrast and tests your display's color output. Even in greener areas, Forbidden West's story-crucial red plant infestations make them feel different from the original title. In case our screenshots didn't make it abundantly clear, we're really impressed with the photo mode. Those aesthetic strengths make for a game you want to capture! And there's a wealth of tools to use in a mode that's quickly available at any time. It certainly doesn't hurt that you're doing cool things. Jumping and gliding off tall enemies or doing cool flips makes you want to live longer in the moment. Character expression, often a sticking point with players in the first game, clearly got some work here. Did the main characters receive a lot more of the time and attention? Yeah, for sure. Lesser NPCs feel stiff and occasionally veer into the uncanny valley. But still, generally conversations flow better and look more natural. We still wouldn't call it top of its class, but it's no longer lagging behind the pack.
A cool addition to the game's worldbuilding? Machine Strike, the in-world board game. This collectible miniature combat game simulates conflict between the world's mechanical enemies, with abilities inspired by them. It's round-based, with each player moving two pieces. Stronger pieces cost more of your points to field (and award opponents more upon defeat), so there's good reason to use weaker units even as you collect better ones along the way. Terrain height confers advantages, so it's a game of position. The biggest weakness of Machine Strike? Discerning between pieces. A lot of them look similar from above, and the adherence to the world's environment means they're all largely just the same beige wood and gray metal. You can keep up with them and move the cursor over one for a reminder, but it could be easier to glance. It's still an in-world board game! So it won't fascinate you for hours. Still, we were eager to play a few rounds every time we encountered a new opponent.
While it's far from perfect — its set piece moments could use some work, and its cross-generation release limits some of its ambition — Horizon: Forbidden West does more than enough right to deserve your time and attention. It's a big enough game that you can pick and choose your favorite things to do and have a full experience, and the story it tells compels you to keep going and see more. Horizon: Forbidden West was developed by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It will launch on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 on February 18, 2022. The post Review: Horizon: Forbidden West Is Home Where the Bristlebacks Roam appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Monday, February 14, 2022 5:00 AM The double-edged sword of gaming I have news that is potentially amazing/horrifying and will leave you breathless/miserable — Capcom has... The post Capcom countdown clock points to February 21 reveal appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Monday, February 14, 2022 3:01 AM Access granted It's been five years since Horizon Zero Dawn? It doesn't feel like it! But within the context of the Horizon... The post Review: Horizon Forbidden West appeared first on Destructoid. |
Gamer Empire Monday, February 14, 2022 7:44 AM This post was stolen from https://gamerempire.net/ from the Lost Ark Guides category: https://gamerempire.net/category/lost-ark/. It was written by Tim Stadel Clausen. The original URL of this post is https://gamerempire.net/lost-ark-combat-stats-overview/. The in-depth customization system in Lost Ark allows you to build your character in many different ways, and that includes a range of unique stats. While you play through the game and […] The post Lost Ark – Combat Stats Overview: What Does Each Stat Do appeared first on Gamer Empire. It was written by Tim Stadel Clausen. |
Gamer Empire Monday, February 14, 2022 4:31 AM This post was stolen from https://gamerempire.net/ from the Lost Ark Guides category: https://gamerempire.net/category/lost-ark/. It was written by Tim Stadel Clausen. The original URL of this post is https://gamerempire.net/does-lost-ark-have-raids-and-dungeons/. Lost Ark is an MMORPG, but it's unlike any major game we've seen before because of its top-down view and controls. The unique playstyle and look of Lost Ark have some people […] The post Does Lost Ark Have Raids and Dungeons? appeared first on Gamer Empire. It was written by Tim Stadel Clausen. |
Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Monday, February 14, 2022 4:52 AM Jim Carrey may not have sported the classic Dr. Robotnik look in the first Sonic the Hedgehog film, but he's going all out with the crazy mustache and bald head with Sonic the Hedgehog 2. A new teaser has dropped at the Super Bowl and it tells audiences to "Choose Your Team". Here's the official […] |
Pivotal Gamers Monday, February 14, 2022 7:30 AM What's up folks? gamehag holds a new giveaway for various titles. This is what they say. Get the reward Premium Random CD-Key. To get this key your Steam level must be at least 5. Last minute notes Login with your gamehag account, complete all steps to get your key. So what are you waiting for? Click on the button below to get you started. It's that easy! Want more? a massive list of a... |
Pivotal Gamers Monday, February 14, 2022 3:10 AM Hello all. Giveaway Of The Day is giving you the opportunity to win on Cemetery Warrior. Read on for their offering. Cemetery Warrior is available as a Giveaway of the day!You have limited time to download, install and register it. A few words about Cemetery Warrior Cemetery Warrior – Frightful and dynamic 3D shooter. You have 3 weapons at your disposal – an endless machine gun, rocket... |
Gaming on PC Monday, February 14, 2022 3:53 AM Sifu is a gorgeously presented martial arts beat 'em up that will sometimes manage to get in its own way, but almost always ends up making up for its mistakes with exciting combat and a novel approach to death and failure. Full review after the jump. |