PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 1:41 PM |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 1:15 PM  Want to know what this week's Destiny 2 Nightfall weapon is? Each week you've got a chance at a different weapon for completing Nightfall Strikes, and ever since Season of the Lost, fan-favourite legacy weapons from the original Destiny have been added to the rotation. New seasons often introduce new weapons into the rotation, so it's more important than ever to know in advance the Nightfall weapon schedule. In case you don't know what the Destiny 2 Nightfall weapon means, Nightfall: The Ordeal is a playlist available in the Vanguard menu, alongside the basic Strike playlist. Each week, a different Strike is chosen as the Nightfall, and offered in five escalating difficulties, with harder enemies, challenging modifiers, and enemy power levels cranking up. The coveted Nightfall weapons have a chance to drop from any Nightfall Strike difficulty, but it's far more likely at higher levels. Your best bet for farming each week's Nightfall weapon is to set the Strike to Master difficulty, according to YouTuber Aztecross. You should also note that there's no automatic matchmaking above Hero difficulty, however, so you'll need to get a squad together. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Destiny 2 classes, Destiny 2 exotics, Destiny 2 builds |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 12:41 PM  The Fallout 76 holiday event has arrived in Appalachia, which means the MMORPG's countless vault dwellers can get into the seasonal spirit of giving - and blowing gnarly mutants away. The Holiday Scorched Event features mutant scorched wearing fur-trimmed Santa outfits carrying holiday gifts for you to collect after introducing them to your arsenal of post-nuclear weapons. The event runs December 20 - January 2. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Fallout 76 Mutations, Fallout 76 Perk Cards, Buy Fallout 76 |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 12:22 PM  Looking for the best Genshin Impact TCG decks? If you've been enjoying the new trading card game in Genshin Impact, here are the best decks to fit your playstyle, whether you're playing against friends or NPCs. This new mode in the free PC game is purely for fun, and luckily you won't need to sink any primogems into the card game to win. Like the rest of the game, you probably have a preferred battle style and favourite elemental reactions. So, here are the best Genshin Impact TCG decks, but if you want to know more about the card game, our Genshin Impact TCG guide can help you out. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Genshin Impact codes, Genshin Impact character tier list, Genshin Impact leveling guide |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 12:20 PM  Turn-based strategy games bring out the more cerebral undertones of the genre – the break afforded by 'turns' allows us to think, ponder and plan our moves with as much expert precision as we can muster. Witnessing that mater plan unfold can create untold levels of satisfaction, and suddenly you fancy yourself the master tactician. This genre is also home to the 'one more turn' trope - that feeling of near-addiction that compels you to click the 'End Turn' button just one more time to see what happens. Maybe you're waiting to see the outcome of a daring attack, maybe you're just trying to click through some downtime. We also have the best strategy games on PC if you're looking to expand beyond petty concepts like 'turns'. This is a living list, in the sense that there are many worthy candidates and not enough room to fit them all in. Every so often (especially as new games come out), we'll give this article a refresh and an update to bring give other titles their turn in the spotlight. Also, don't be alarmed that games like Civ 6 aren't on the list: You can check out our guide to the best 4X games to see our thoughts on that particular niche. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: XCOM 2 Tips, XCOM 2 DLC guide, Play XCOM 2 |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 12:12 PM  If you're looking for the next Marvel Snap season release date, we've got you covered. Each month, a new Marvel Snap season begins, and with a new season comes new cards, a unique theme, and a host of new locations. December's Marvel Snap theme was the Power Cosmic; which introduced the Silver Surfer and had people relying on the Infinaut to pound their opponents into retreat. What is January's Marvel Snap season release date, and who can we expect to see front and centre in the battle pass? Knowing the upcoming meta can help turn the tides early for you when new cards are added to the pool, as you'll already have a pre-built deck ready to go in one of the best PC games this year. Crafting the best Marvel Snap decks for a given season also requires some knowledge of what locations you're likely to see, with certain styles of play being more suited to a specific location set. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best card games on PC, The best superhero games, The best multiplayer games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 12:24 PM  It can be surprisingly difficult to find the best free MMOs to suit your gaming taste. There's been an explosion of free-to-play options in recent years, especially in the massively multiplayer online space. From sprawling war zones to story-driven RPGs, there is something for everyone out there. Even if your wallet is gathering cobwebs and your bank account is best friends with the number zero, our list of the best free MMOs currently available on PC is here to help. So without further ado, let's take a look at some of the best free PC games that are available to play without breaking the bank. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Play RIFT for free, Free MMO list, New MMOs |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 11:59 AM |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 11:41 AM  FM23 Wonderkids aren't your average young player, they're the best of the best. While still younger than 21, they often have the current ability to compete with the average top-division player and have a potential so high that it would make any Champions League team blush. However, because of this, they can often cost you tens of millions, although if you're smart you might be able to pick yourself up a bargain. If you're looking to build a team for the future and don't mind developing these players, then you might bag yourself a future club legend. Whether you're looking for a goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, winger, or striker, we've got you covered. Each position is by potential ability (PA) from highest to lowest. Some players have a fixed PA, while others have a dynamic PA, meaning their potential differs between every save, so their potential in your save could be higher or lower than we have here. We've marked every player with a dynamic potential with an asterisk to make it clearer. Here is a list of the best wonderkids in Football Manager 23, an absolute must if you plan on creating a dynasty in one of the best PC games this year. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Football Manager 2023 wonderkids, Best teams to manage in Football Manager 2023, Football Manager 2023 review |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 12:20 PM  Want to know what cards are inside every Marvel Snap pool? Cards in Marvel Snap are divided into series, though the community prefers to use the term pools. Players unlock cards by reaching higher tiers on the collection level track, though the cards you unlock are randomised within that pool. If you desperately need one specific card to create one of the best Marvel Snap decks, you can either cross your fingers every time you unlock a new mystery card or collector's cache, or save up collector's tokens and pay close attention to the rotating stock in the shop. Our guide breaks down what cards are featured in each pool to help you keep track of what cards you may unlock next. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best card games on PC, The best superhero games, The best multiplayer games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 11:42 AM  Warzone 2 loadout drops at buy stations are finally a reality as the Call of Duty battle royale game gets a fresh update from Infinity Ward and Activision co-creator Raven Software, bringing a fan-favourite feature from Warzone 1 – or rather, Warzone Caldera – back to the shooter, while Modern Warfare 2 season 1 Reloaded also sees new features. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Warzone 2 guns, Best Warzone 2 loadout, Warzone 2 map |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 11:27 AM  A new Genshin Impact leak has just given us a good look at Alhaitham's signature weapon ahead of the anime game's version 3.4 update. When it comes to five-star characters, HoYoverse usually introduces them alongside a five-star weapon that serves as their best-in-slot choice for an optimal build. It appears that the new sword, Light of Foliar Sanction, will be Alhaitham's go-to weapon. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Genshin Impact codes, Genshin Impact character tier list, Genshin Impact leveling guide |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 11:41 AM  When is the Minecraft Legends release date? This is a new action strategy game from Blackbird Interactive set within the world of Minecraft. Minecraft Legends sees the player take on the role of a legendary hero whose destiny is to unite the factions of the Overworld. If the Overworld doesn't unite in time, they won't be able to defend their homes against the Nether's Piglin army. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Minecraft Legends release date, The best strategy games on PC, The best crafting games on PC |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 10:57 AM |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 10:30 AM  Final Fantasy 16, the next RPG game from Square Enix's sweeping open-world series, has been officially rated M by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board, meaning that it is recommended for consumers over the age of 17 in Canada and the United States. The game allegedly contains nudity, some very mature themes, gore, and bad language, possibly making it a more explicit FF than we might have seen in the past. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best RPG games on PC 2022, The best JRPGs on PC in 2022, Best Final Fantasy games on PC |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 11:19 AM  The best Marvel Snap decks aren't available to you right away, but fear not, because alongside some of the meta decks in this superhero-themed card game, we also have the best decks for beginners too. So whether you're still making your way through Pool 1 and 2, or you're reaching the end of Pool 3 and gearing up to unlock the ultra-rare Pool 4 and 5 cards, we've got options for you. The meta in Marvel Snap is constantly changing, and it means the best Marvel Snap deck at the moment is either Seracle or Baero. Decklists for those can be found down below, but both include Marvel Snap pool four and five cards, so you may need to use some alternative options if you're not at that stage of the collection path yet. So without further ado, here are the best Marvel Snap decks for beginners, followed by a plethora of options for those of you with more fleshed out collections in one of the best free PC games. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best card games on PC, The best superhero games, The best multiplayer games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 10:34 AM  What are the best racing games on PC? Whether mastering muddy tracks in Dirt Rally 2.0 or embracing Forza Horizon 5's magnificent Mexico, these are the best racers around. Picking the very best racing games on PC is no easy task. So many elements contribute: the genre's not only about graphical fidelity and hair-raising sound design - though both certainly help - it's also about pulling you into the action as if you're there in the driver's seat, eyes strained as the asphalt whips past at 240kph. From honing your timing for a perfect gear shift to kicking out the back-end for a sublime drift, a quality racing game just feels right. Don't go asking, "How could you forget about Grand Prix Legends! Where's Geoff Crammond?!" When versions of those games surface on Steam or GOG, we'll be the first in line to play them again… and inevitably find they haven't aged as well as we hoped. So for those of you who are just looking to hop in and fire up the engine of a superb racer, whether that's an intricate sim or an arcade thriller, we've got some breakneck PC racers for you. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Play DiRT Rally 2, DiRT Rally 2 review |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 9:34 AM  If you're after the best Warzone 2 settings, you're in the right place. Configuring your settings not only changes how the game looks, but more importantly, it can improve how it performs. A higher performance level in a match could give you the advantage over an enemy who's struggling with a low FPS count or one that has a low FOV. Of course, it's worth checking if your PC can actually run the battle royale game by quickly scanning the Warzone 2 system requirements. As long as you're hitting the minimum requirements, the settings can be tweaked so you get the absolute best performance possible. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Warzone 2 guns, Best Warzone 2 loadout, Warzone 2 map |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 9:26 AM  The Meta Quest Pro isn't your standard VR headset. Targeting business users with a price point to match, this hasn't stopped developers from taking advantage. Thanks to several features not on Meta Quest 2 (formerly Oculus Quest 2) like colour passthrough or eye and facial tracking, we're seeing studios getting creative. Between Blaston, Cubism, and Demeo, more games are delivering mixed reality (MR) experiences, merging VR with augmented reality (AR) to merge virtual gameplay with the real world. Spatial Ops by Resolution Games might be MR's most convincing case yet. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best SSD for gaming, How to build a gaming PC, Best gaming CPU |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 9:25 AM  I'm as excited as the next person for the Starfield release date, but there's a more urgent deadline on the horizon for those of you subscribed to Microsoft's PC Game Pass service. Outer Wilds, one of the best space games of all time (and certainly one of the most important, in my humble opinion), is leaving the subscription service on January 1. If you haven't played it yet, don't worry - that's still more than enough time to experience the wonder for yourself. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPG games, Best space games, Best action-adventure games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 9:29 AM  What are the best Roblox games? Games aren't just better than ever for kids, the means of creating them are, too. The best example of that is Roblox: a massively multiplayer online game creation platform and, since it is so easy to make something fun, there are millions of Roblox games to enjoy. User-generated creations allow you to weather the existential threat of a natural disaster, try your hand as a pizza maker, and take a break away from it all with a spot of peaceful scuba diving. From sims to RPGs and adventure titles, we've highlighted the best Roblox games to enjoy with over 100 million other pals in online games. Think of it like Minecraft and LittleBigPlanet smooshed together and forged into an entire platform. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 9:15 AM  20/12/2022 - Since the publication of this story, the Marvel Snap news article detailing the Winterverse event has been taken down, we'll update this story if/when it comes back up. Original story continues below. You read that right, you can get a signed Samuel L. Jackson Marvel Snap card for simply playing the multiplayer game over the festive period. The superhero deck builder quickly became one of the best card games on PC this year, so it's nice to see plenty of free rewards available for consistent players; even if this one is slightly strange. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best card games on PC, The best superhero games, The best multiplayer games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 7:39 AM  Warzone 2 loadouts are now officially half-price, with the latest Call of Duty update making personalised primary weapons available for $2,500 CoD dollars rather than $5,000. This, combined with the broader Modern Warfare 2 season one changes, which introduce even more buy stations, means getting your own, crafted guns is now a lot easier in the battle royale game. But does this help or hinder the new Call of Duty experience? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Warzone 2 guns, Best Warzone 2 loadout, Warzone 2 map |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 7:35 AM |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 20, 2022 9:27 AM  Minecraft mobs are the living entities in Minecraft - short for mobile, these sometimes adorable, sometimes you can find aggressive creatures roaming the many biomes of the blocky universe. They will interact and respond to you, other players, and other mobs, whether that's a creeper knocking at your door, or a pig in the pen in your back garden. Minecraft mobs are susceptible to the same physics and environmental changes that affect players, such as catching fire or drowning. They can be attacked and killed with weapons, and when killed drop resources and experience points, with hostile mobs dropping rarer items on occasion. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Minecraft seeds, Minecraft skins, Minecraft mods |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, December 20, 2022 12:30 PM  Larian's now-traditional Panel From Hell method of update delivery dumped some important Baldur's Gate 3 news last week. The weighty Dungeons & Dragons fantasy RPG has been in early access for a couple of years, but it's now scheduled for a 1.0 release in August next year. As well as that, BG3 got its ninth update, the last significant one before release, which raises the level cap to 5 and adds Paladin as a playable class. I caught up with Larian's founder and director Swen Vincke (this time sans full suit of armour) and he told me that, despite Update 9 being a big one, there's still a lot to come. Read more |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, December 20, 2022 12:00 PM  If I were only allowed to give a single, solitary reason for trying Control, I'd probably settle on this: it has the most satisfying "throw desk at face" interaction I've experienced in a game. Yes, even more so than Half-Life 2. Maybe it's the slower flying speed of the desk, giving you more time to anticipate the blow. Maybe it's the recoil of the face. Or maybe it's just how the desk, or whichever piece of office fixture you're telekinetically hurling, impacts in a hilarious explosion of shards and scraps. Read more |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, December 20, 2022 11:35 AM  Martial art fest Sifu will make its way to Steam in March 2023 together with a new free update, devs Sloclap have revealed. From the snippets Sloclap have shown, the update will have a new arenas mode that seems to be similar to combat challenge maps from the Arkham series. A new patch, 1.16, has also gone live for Sifu today to duff up some pesky crashes and bugs, although patch notes haven't been released yet. You can watch the teaser for the arenas mode update below. Read more |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, December 20, 2022 10:53 AM  The Winter Sale continues over on GOG, and they're giving away Revolution Software's classic point-and-click Broken Sword for free until Thursday. It's the Director's Cut too, which adds some more stuff for nosey American tourist George 'Goat-wrangler' Stobbart and French journalist Nico 'Curtains' Collard to investigate. Good grief, I can't even remember the last time I played a Broken Sword. The first one is a classic adventure game from a time when they were beginning to fade from PC, goat puzzle notwithstanding. Read more |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, December 20, 2022 9:14 AM  Shipmas arrives in Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 tomorrow, with the game's Christmas update for multiplayer. The reimagined version of the classic Shipment map - introduced with last week's Season 01 Reloaded midseason update - will be festooned with decorations, along with the bodies of your enemies. COD now has its own Santa, too, and I wouldn't want to tangle with him. You can see what I mean, and catch a glimpse of the holiday version of Shipment, by watching the trailer below. Read more |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, December 20, 2022 9:03 AM  The skeleton-smashing and lock-picking action of first-person dungeon-crawlers combines with the PvPvE tension of Escape From Tarkov in Dark And Darker, which currently has a free alpha playtest running. Alone or with a party of pals, you head into dungeons to mash AI-controlled monsters and fill your pockets with loot. Other players are out there doing the same, and might come to claim your goodies, especially as you're all competing for the limited escape portals that let you keep your shinies. It's an interesting one, and doing well on both Steam and Twitch. Read more |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, December 20, 2022 8:00 AM  Exercise caution when opening door number 20 on the RPS Advent Calendar, because it's an uncaring world of manual labour in space out there. If you open the door wrong you could cause a huge explosion that kills you - but to mitigate that risk you can spend money buying an Official Safe Door Opener. Don't worry, you can just work more to pay it off. Read more |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, December 20, 2022 7:20 AM  It's okay everyone, call off the search. I've found my Christmas game. LucasArts shooter Star Wars: Dark Forces has been given a modern makeover by The Force Engine project, and they've just released version 1.0 to the public after three years' work. During that time, the team's reverse engineered Dark Forces and added a whole bunch of mod-cons, such as support for modern high resolutions and mouse-look. The project even has a trailer, which you can watch below. Read more |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, December 20, 2022 7:17 AM  Hello, yes, I know this is our fourth post on the subject but it's mostly good news – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's next-gen update is now considerably less of a technical muddle. After applying yesterday's PC hotfix, performance with the new ray tracing settings is majorly improved, and if you don't (or can't) use those, The Witcher 3 no longer runs slower than it did before the next-gen update hobbled it. That's judging by some tests I've run using the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070, on which overall stability seems to have improved as well. I'm still having trouble with AMD graphics cards, however, with FSR upscaling being a particularly reliable source of crashes. Read more |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, December 20, 2022 7:04 AM  "Do not be afraid to die." That's the advice of Haemimont Games' CEO Bisser Dyankov when it comes to playing their new open world survival sim Stranded: Alien Dawn. Having launched into early access in mid-October, the latest game from the Surviving Mars devs has just recently doubled in size to include a brand-new desert biome in its Dunes And Moons update, adding harsh temperature extremes to deal with, new alien lifeforms to observe, and, you know, just the odd Chaos Moon to endure while you're at it. The world of Desertum is certainly a marked change from Stranded's initial mountainous forest planet, Sobrius, but after a few weeks of trying (and inevitably failing) to stay alive in them, I do feel like I've settled on a couple of vital dos and don'ts now. For example, Do: invest in defences early on. Don't: eat that weird alien zebra camel until you know whether it's going to give you gut rot. The list goes on, and has only grown larger with the addition of Desertum, which was deliberately designed to "challenge players to plan better and not rely on their previous knowledge," Dyankov tells me. "Our aim here has been to find a balance between the familiar and unfamiliar within the Desertum Biome, to ensure it's a challenging place to build your base, but is also enjoyable." I'll try to remember that the next time horned dinosaurs are gnawing my survivors' legs off. Read more |
Siliconera Tuesday, December 20, 2022 1:00 PM 
Starting on December 19, 2022, Nintendo is releasing a Switch House of Indies presentation each day looking at upcoming and new games. The December 20, 2022 one featured a familiar face. Risk of Rain is coming back as Risk of Rain Returns. While it showed up in the Nintendo presentation alongside three other new titles, it will also head to PCs via Steam in 2023. The other three games are The Gecko Gods, The Captain, and Punchuin, with the last two being immediately available as shadowdrops. Risk of Rain Returns is a remaster of the indie game. It will apparently be influenced by Risk of Rain 2. The multiplayer will be updated. New Survivors will also appear. However, exact details on many additions aren't yet available. Here is the full "Inside the House of Indies: Holiday Event Day 2" video looking at Switch games. The Gecko Gods will appear in 2023. The Captain is $19.99. The Punchuin costs $14.99.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qXjO6eQm34&ab_channel=NintendoofAmerica
The first day of announcements also included two shadowdrops and two teases of things to come. Floppy Knights and Mortal Shell: Complete Edition both appeared on the eShop on December 19, 2022. Pupperazzi and Roman Sands Re:Build are both on the way to the system. Risk of Rain Returns will come to the Switch and PC in 2023. The post Risk of Rain Returns Appeared Among Switch House of Indies Games appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, December 20, 2022 12:30 PM 
Ahead of the holidays, people will be able to tune in to a Devolver Public Access Holiday Special 2022. It will be a brief presentation held on December 22, 2023 at 10am PT/1pm ET/7pm CET. Both existing and upcoming games will show up. Among them will be Cult of the Lamb. Here's the embed video for the Devolver Public Access Holiday Special 2022. It listed five specific games that will show up. One is Cult of the Lamb, available now on the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC. The others are 2023 titles like Anger Foot (PC), Skate Story (PC), and Stick it to the Stickman (PC). Terra Nil (PC and mobile) will also appear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHnc8adH_sQ&ab_channel=DevolverDigital This could involve some sort of holiday event in-game in Cult of the Lamb. Back in October 2022, the Blood Moon Festival appeared. That was a Halloween-themed activity. It involved pumpkins, a new ritual, a chance to capture the spirits of fallen Followers, and new cosmetic items. The Devolver Public Access Holiday Special 2022 will appear at 10am PT/1pm ET/7pm CET on December 22, 2023. The post Cult of the Lamb Will Appear in Devolver Digital Public Access Holiday Special 2022 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, December 20, 2022 12:00 PM 
The Chainsaw Man Bloodline: The Last Royal Vampire Event is here. People who head into the mobile game to recruit characters from the anime and manga series. Only three members of the cast will be playable. People get a chance to pick up Aki, Denji, and Power. Aki, Denji, and Power all appear as five-star units in this Chainsaw Man event. Aki is a Water-type unit. Denji is a Thunder-type. Power is a Dark-type character. Their skills weren't detailed in the announcement. However, the teaser trailer shows how their character "cards" look.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ixWBAOfNe4&ab_channel=CrunchyrollCollection In addition to the playable characters who can join your party for the 2D RPG, there are a number of cosmetic items from Chainsaw Man being added. Denji has his standard look or an additional outfit. You can also get player portraits, frames, and character images for your profile. A login event is also in place doling out in-game currency. Bloodline: The Last Royal Vampire is available on Android and Apple iOS devices, and the Chainsaw Man event is live until January 2023. People can watch Chainsaw Man on Crunchyroll. It will appear on Blu-ray and DVD in Japan. The manga is being released outside of Japan by Viz Media, with new chapters available after launch online. The post Chainsaw Man Bloodline: The Last Royal Vampire Event Begins appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, December 20, 2022 12:00 PM 
It's weird to think of a game as a Breath of the Wild like when there's no real combat, stakes aren't terribly high, and the wide open spaces aren't necessary large. Not to mention when playing this game also feels like heading into an entirely new A Short Hike story. Yet when it comes to Lil Gator Game, it is impossible to talk about it without also citing the developer's affection for both A Short Hike and BOTW, as gameplay cues from both keep popping up. Lil Gator and their sister share a love of… a certain game series with a young person in a floppy hat with a sword and shield. The affection is so great that years ago, the sister "created" the game in the real world when her younger sibling was desperate to play the next entry. Years later, said sister is back from college visiting, and the Lil Gator is with her at the same park from their original escapade. They even recruited a group of their friends to recreate the game on a larger scale. However, real life obligations and time caused a divide between the siblings, and it is up to Lil Gator to go through the game in the hopes of reminding her of its magic and enticing her to play again. Does it eventually feel like something a good heart-to-heart would fix? (Yes, and some characters even note this.) Still, it takes the long way around to come to a satisfying resolution. 
Ahead of launch, MegaWobble cited A Short Hike, Night in the Woods, and The Legend of Zelda as inspirations, and this is very clear in many ways. For example, the narrative calls to mind the charm and coziness of both A Short Hike and Night in the Woods. Characters are charming and personable, even if you only spend a few minutes with them. It feels like coming home to a small town filled with childhood friends. Exploration is encouraged, with extra "monsters" to defeat for more recyclable materials hiding in extra niches. Not to mention, you're on two islands that wouldn't look out of place in A Short Hike's forest. With the gameplay, both The Legend of Zelda and A Short Hike's tendencies come through in Lil Gator Game. A stamina system is in play, though here you're collecting bracelets instead of feathers to scale slopes. You get a glider, though it's really an old t-shirt. There's a shield, but odds are you're using it as a sled. All monsters are made of cardboard, but you'll still be using a "sword" to "slay" them. Also, there are lots of pots filled with, yes, more recyclable materials for crafting. 
There's also a bit of "snap to" for some elements, which makes potential platforming moments a little easier. For example, if Lil Gator climbs a tree, then they will automatically "perch" on the very top. If you jump onto a wire, you'll automatically land on it and be able to walk across without worrying about balancing. Before you start getting more bracelets to build up stamina, there's usually a good jump left in you at the end, so you can perhaps reach the tops of hills or cliffs that might otherwise seem intimidating. I also didn't have any trouble with the "ranged" attacks on "flying" enemies or when trying to get some from a distance. I'd almost say that the result makes Lil Gator Game feel like if A Short Hike was both longer and more motivation to take off on tangents. At times I felt more incentive to continue to explore the world, try and find additional side quests, and earn unlockables. These are purely cosmetic, so all of those extra excursions are optional. But also, much like A Short Hike, a part of the joy comes from avoiding the straightforward path to meet all of these additional characters. 
Given how often I've said "A Short Hike" in this Lil Gator Game review, someone might wonder that could work against it. Could it crossover over from homage and lovingly inspired by to plagiarism? Fortunately, no! I felt that even if there is any thematic overlap, it isn't too egregious. I reveled in the game and enjoyed it for what it is, even if after a half-hour I did find myself going to double check to see if adamgryu was involved somehow. There is a similar wooded island structure, character designs, and general atmosphere. When so much of a thing's identity is tied to others, there is always the fear of it having an identity crisis. But this is a situation in which if someone enjoys one, they will like the other. Lil' Gator Game sets itself apart the more you play it. Lil Gator Game is an adventure that ambles along, taking elements from games its developer loved and implementing them along the way. In a way, that might also keep some players from connecting with it. But even so, it is generally a charming and cozy way to spend some afternoons. Lil Gator Game is available for the Nintendo Switch and PC. The post Review: Lil' Gator Game is a Love Letter to A Short Hike and BOTW appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, December 20, 2022 11:30 AM 
Just ahead of the holidays, there's a new NieR: Automata 2B mod for the PC version of the game that gives her a Santa outfit. EM4V2 uploaded the new option to NexusMods. When applied, it changes two of her dresses into more festive ones. Two outfits are covered in this mod. Her standard black dress ends up red with white fur lining and a black belt. The one based on Kaine's look from NieR Replicant is red with white fur lining and black ribbons. To install it, people need to download it from Nexus Mods, then place it in their data folder. Here's a closer look at EM4V2's XMAS 2B NieR: Automata outfit mod, via screenshots taken by the creator.
[gallery columns="4" ids="944300,944301,944302,944303" link="file"] This isn't the only Santa-related outfit for 2B available for the PC version of NieR: Automata. Eraser3000 released 2C - a 2B's Christmas Retexture back in December 2019. That recolors her base outfit in red and white. DevolasRevenge shared Christmas Hat 2B in December 2020. That leaves 2B's outfit the same, but gives her a Santa hat to wear. There are an array of mods for the game out there. Many involve the characters. For example, one changes A2 into Tifa. NieR: Automata is available for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC. The post NieR Automata 2B Mod Gives Her a Santa Outfit appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, December 20, 2022 11:00 AM 
People can start reading an official Arknights manga online. Yostar announced that it is localizing Rhodes Kitchen - Tidbits. This is a series of shorts showing different Operators working in the kitchen. So far, only the first chapter is available. The first chapter of the Arknights Rhodes Kitchen Tidbits manga stars Amiya, the Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals leader and essentially the series' mascot character, and Nathra. It establishes Nathra as a newcomer who used to run her own restaurant before joining Rhodes Island. However, it soon becomes clear Nathra is dealing with issues from her past. Amiya and her work together in the kitchen, and it seems there could be progress made as a result. The end of the manga also includes a few recipes. It mentions the "Lankleg Fowlbeast Kofta Kebab" recipe, as well as recipes for salsa, garlic yogurt sauce, and pickled red cabbage that can be eaten with it. There is another way to keep up with additional Arknights stories. There is the Arknights: Prelude to Dawn anime, with the follow-up Arknights: Perish in Frost in development. Arknights is available on Android and Apple iOS devices, and the official Rhodes Kitchen - Tidbits manga chapters will update on the game's website. The post Arknights Rhodes Kitchen – Tidbits Manga Localized appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, December 20, 2022 10:30 AM 
Yet another Chainsaw Man Power figure is on the way. This time, it's a budget one from Good Smile Company's Pop Up Parade line. This collection is filled with figures that come in at around $40 and are non-standard sizes. Power will show up in May 2023 in Japan. After that, she'll appear in July 2023 in North America. It will cost ¥4,800/$33.99. Power is her usual disheveled self for this Pop Up Parade figure. She's wearing her typical uniform, complete with high tops. She's pointing at her head for the pose. She'll stand at just over six and a half inches tall. Here's a closer look at the Chainsaw Man Power Pop Up Parade figure, courtesy of Good Smile Company official photos.
[gallery ids="944290,944292,944291" link="file"] This marks yet another Pop Up Parade figure inspired by the series. The first ones to appear were of Denji. People could get him in his human or Chainsaw Man forms. More are planned. At WonHobby G 2022 Autumn, Aki, Himeno, Kobeni, and Makima ones were teased alongside the Power one that will appear next year. The Chainsaw Man Power Pop Up Parade Figure will appear in Japan in May 2023 and in North America in July 2023. Pre-orders are open until January 19, 2023. The anime is available to stream on Crunchyroll. Viz Media is localizing the manga. The post Chainsaw Man Power Pop Up Parade Figure Strolls Up in May appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, December 20, 2022 10:00 AM 
When Octopath Traveler 2 comes out in February 2023, people won't need to wait too long to also get its official soundtrack. Square Enix announced it will release it outside Japan. In March 2023, the compilation will appear. The set of six CDs will cost $54.99. Pre-orders are already open via the company's official storefront. There's no track listing for the Octopath Traveler 2 soundtrack yet. However, the company did confirm it will include a booklet with commentary from members of the development team. In addition to notes from Composer Yasunori Nishiki, both Director Keisuke Miyauchi and Producer Masashi Takahashi contributed to it. As a reminder, all three also worked on the first game in the same roles. The full album cover art was shared. It features the main Octopath Traveler 2 characters together. From left to right, Castti, Ochette, Osvald, Partitio, Agnea, Temenos, Throne, and Hikari appear. Naoki Ikushima, who is the character designer for this entry, created the art for it.
 This isn't the first bit of Octopath Traveler 2-related merchandise to appear. Square Enix is also selling a lantern inspired by the game. The pre-order for it is open in Japan. Octopath Traveler 2 will appear on the Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC via Steam on February 24, 2023. The post Octopath Traveler 2 Soundtrack Spans 6 CDs appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, December 20, 2022 9:30 AM 
Even if people missed the Final Fantasy XIV Eorzean Symphony 2022, they can hear it next year with the FFXIV Orchestral Album Vol 3 Blu-ray in 2023. Square Enix announced it will begin selling a Blu-ray of the performance in April 2023. Pre-orders are open in its online store for $64.99. It will debut on April 26, 2023, though the storefront says to expect it in May 2023. The Final Fantasy XIV Orchestra Concert 2022 Eorzean Symphony Vol 3 Blu-ray consists of two parts. One involves the album in stereo or 5.0 surround sound, so you can listen to the game's soundtrack. The other is the full Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra concert performance from the show. It didn't note which one of the two shows it was taken from. (The concert was held December 17-18, 2022 at the Tokyo Garden Theater, with two shows appearing each day.) There are also some bonuses. People get an MP3 download with their copy, as well as a code for an in-game item. Square Enix didn't say what that item will be yet. Also, people get a sticker as an early purchase bonus. Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, and PC. The FFXIV Starlight Celebration is going on in-game until December 31, 2022. The Furnishing Design Contest is running until January 19, 2023. The post Final Fantasy XIV Eorzean Symphony 2022 Orchestral Album Blu-ray Dated appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, December 20, 2022 9:00 AM 
Not long after January 2023 begins, Niantic will hold the first Pokemon GO Community Day of the new year. This time, it is kicking things off with a starter. Between 2pm-5pm local time on January 7, 2023, people will see Chespin more often in Pokemon GO. Also, as usual, there will be a higher than normal chance of finding one that is "shiny." The announcement also explained what will happen with Chespin's evolved forms of Quilladin and Chesnaught in Pokemon GO. People will see Quilladin in four-star raids from 5pm-10pm local time on January 7, 2022. (You can't use a Remote Raid Pass to fight in this raid.) There is a chance the Quilladin could be shiny. Once the fight is beaten, Chespin will spawn around the gym for 30 minutes. As for Chasnaught, if you evolve a Quilladin into one during that day, it will know the Frenzy Plant Charged Attack. It takes 25 candies to evolve Chespin to Quilladin, then another 100 to evolve Quilladin to its final form. Other staples will appear during the event too. There will be a $1 Special Research story called Quality Quills. You'll get twice as much candy as usual. Incense and Lures activated during the Community Day period will last for three hours. People will also get to make two Special Trades that day, rather than one, and all trades cost 50% less Stardust to make. You can also hatch eggs faster, as the distance will be 1/4th if one is placed during the event. As a reminder, the December 2022 Community Day event was a mash-up. It ran over two days and featured past featured Pokemon from throughout the year. Pokemon GO is available on Android and Apple iOS devices, and the next Community Day will be held on January 7, 2023. The post Pokemon GO Community Day for January 2023 Stars Chespin appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, December 20, 2022 8:30 AM 
On the official Japanese Twitter account, Konami held a poll asking people which Suikoden I & II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars Unite Attack from the game they'd like to see most. The results are in. Because Pretty Boy Attack won with 43.3% of the popular vote, the Suikoden II Unite Attack was shown in the rerelease. [Thanks, Gematsu!] Pretty Boy Attack is a recurring Unite Attack in the Suikoden series, found in both of the games in the remaster, the fifth entry, and even the DS spin-off Suikoden Tierkreis. Each time, three "attractive" party members team up to attack opponents. For the Suikoden II version shown below, that means Futch, Luc, and Sasuke team up for a stronger than usual attack. The original Suikoden I & II HD Remaster poll was held back on December 15, 2022. 5 Squirrel Attack, a Unite Attack that features the five squirrels Makumaku, Mekumeku, Mikumiku, Mokumoku, and Mukumuku came in second. Beauty Attack, the Pretty Boy Attack counterpart that features three "beautiful women" in the game and is also a recurring Unite Attack, came in four with 9.8% of the vote. The Suikoden version of it involved Cleo, Eileen, and either Sonya or Valeria. The Suikoden II one required three characters, with Kasumi, Karen, Lorelai, and Rina as the four possible options. Suikoden I & II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars will release on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC via Steam in 2023. The post See Suikoden I & II HD Remaster's Pretty Boy Attack Unite Attack appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Tuesday, December 20, 2022 7:00 AM 
Chainsaw Man apparel inspired by characters is coming to Japanese retailer Zozotown soon. A total of 16 different types of clothing and accessories will go up for pre-order on December 21, 2022, at noon JST. Pre-orders will be available through January 11, 2023 and are planned to ship in April 2023. [Thanks, Comic Natalie!] Products available as part of the Chainsaw Man lineup include 2 T-shirts, 6 long-sleeve shirts, and 5 hoodies, all in either black or white. A tote bag, a pouch, and a sticker set will also be part of the collection. Each features an original illustration of one of the series' major characters: human Denji, Chainsaw Denji, Pochita, Makima, Power, and Aki. The sticker set will have 6 different stickers, one for each of the featured characters. Prices for the goods have not yet been announced. Check out some images of the merchandise below: [gallery ids="944213,944214,944215,944216,944217,944218" link="file"] This is far from the first Chainsaw Man merchandise line inspired by its characters. SuperGroupies released accessories inspired by the series' characters in August 2022. Several different figures have also been announced and released, as has a jewelry collection. Additionally, a Chainsaw Man pop-up store is open until February 15, 2023, in Tokyo. Chainsaw Man is a manga series about a young Devil Hunter named Denji. After making a deal with his pet, the Chainsaw Devil he named Pochita, just before he dies, Denji is reborn as the Chainsaw Man. An anime adaptation is currently airing and can be watched worldwide on Crunchyroll. Zozotown's Chainsaw Man line of apparel will be available for pre-order from December 21, 2022, to January 11, 2023. The Chainsaw Man anime is currently streaming on Crunchyroll in both English subbed and multiple dubbed versions. The post Zozotown Chainsaw Man Apparel Features 6 Popular Characters appeared first on Siliconera. |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, December 20, 2022 2:00 PM  Valheim is a brutal survival game that lets you live your days like a Viking — hunting, fighting, and crafting in order to survive and thrive. While the base game itself is already good on its own, the gaming community has created mods allowing you to tweak the game and enjoy it to its fullest. Listed below are some of the best mods you can use for Valheim. Each does something unique to the game. The best Valheim mods you should try Valheim Plus Image via Valheim Plus Team on NexusMods As the name implies, this mod lets you change certain aspects of the game to your liking. You can tweak production rates, stop the weather from destroying what you build, and even change weight values so you can carry more items. You can also change the maximum number of players a server allows, and share your map and position in it with other players when you play together. Pull From Containers Image via aedenthorn on NexusMods Resource hunting can be a tedious task, especially when you have to rummag... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, December 20, 2022 1:30 PM  After the release of the third title update for Sifu on December 8, it seemed safe to assume that we would have to wait a few more months before the next update. As it turns out, however, developer Sloclap had one more surprise for us this month — technically two. First, Sifu will get a Steam release next year at last, so PC players no longer have to buy it exclusively on the Epic Games Store. But for those who already own the game, the second surprise will undoubtedly be more significant. This surprise comes in the form of a new mode called Arenas in which players can further sharpen their skills. Alongside this double announcement, Sloclap shared a teaser trailer that briefly shows the Arenas mode in action. It depicts the protagonist fighting in all sorts of areas not found in the main game, such as a completely darkened hallway, a large green void, and a helipad. As of right now, Sloclap has not explained the exact rules of this new mode. However, we can safely conclude th... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, December 20, 2022 12:51 PM  The Goomy evolution line has become a fan favorite ever since its introduction in Generation 6. It follows the Magikarp and Feebas design philosophy of transforming a weak Pokémon to an exceptionally strong one. In Goomy and Sliggoo's case, they start out as the weakest Dragon Types of all only to become one of the strongest. Here's our guide on how to evolve Sliggoo in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Note: For more information about the game, check out our Pokemon Scarlet and Violet guides and features hub. How to evolve Sliggoo in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet To obtain a Sliggoo in the first place, you can either catch a Sliggoo or evolve a Goomy. If you choose the latter approach, then Goomy evolves into Sliggoo at Level 40. Goomy can be encountered early on at the bottom of South Province (Area Four). Meanwhile, Sliggoo can only be found in the northwest of Paldea just south of Casseroya Lake. Once you've obtained a Sliggoo, you'll want to evolve it. To ... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, December 20, 2022 12:30 PM  Destiny 2 has several exotic weapons players want to get their hands on since these weapons can define how somebody plays. However, few are as old and powerful as the exotic fusion rifle known as Merciless. After Merciless' main perk, Conserve Momentum, received a buff, some within the community say the weapon deserves a revisit. Here is how to get Merciless exotic fusion rifle in Destiny 2. Introduced at the beginning of Destiny 2, Merciless immediately became a must-have within the Destiny 2 community. Merciless was a PvE machine, melting bosses left and right. Some even compared it to Destiny's Gjallarhorn. However, like all good exotics, the weapon fizzled out for better ones. The Merciless returned possibly better than ever thanks to a buff. Merciless' main perk, Conserve Momentum, reads, "non-lethal hits with projectiles make this weapon charge faster until its wielder gets a kill." The buff makes the weapon's charge not reset after getting a... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, December 20, 2022 12:00 PM  Ever heard the phrase, "You cannot please everybody?" This is generally true even for big games such as Genshin Impact. It's not for everyone, and sometimes players want to delete their accounts permanently. If you're quitting the game and want to delete your account for good, don't worry. In this article, you'll learn how to delete your Genshin Impact account. Ways to delete your Genshin Impact account Image via PC Invasion How to delete your account through miHoYo's Website Players can manually delete their accounts through miHoYo's website. You have to do is follow these steps: Go to Genshin Impact's official website. At the top left portion of the website, you'll see 'Login.' Click on it. Enter your credentials or click your linked social media account. Once logged in, click on your 'Name,' which can be seen on the left side of the header. Click on the 'Account' button. You'll be redirected to the miHoYo website. Log in to ... |
Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Tuesday, December 20, 2022 2:00 PM You're getting less XP in Tomb of Fahir but quite a bit more loot. Tomb of Fahir is the third dungeon you can unlock in Diablo Immortal. Here you'll find tons of loot from chests scattered around the dungeon, as well as a few more bosses than you're probably used to seeing coming from previous […] |
Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Tuesday, December 20, 2022 1:00 PM Team Cherry's Metroidvania action-adventure game, Hollow Knight, follows the journey of a nameless warrior called the Knight as he travels through Hallownest which is now a kingdom in ruins because of a supernatural disease. As the Knight journeys through Hallownest, he will encounter various characters that will help fully unravel the story in the game. […] |
Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Tuesday, December 20, 2022 12:00 PM Find all lost Cemetery Guards to get free rewards. Ashwold Cemetery features various Achievements that you can complete to get a small but reliable stream of Hilts whereas other Achievements are more extensive and will require you to scour the map for various camps or altars and slay a specific number of enemies to complete […] |
Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Tuesday, December 20, 2022 11:28 AM A lot of fans are excited for the premiere of The Last of Us on HBO Max next year, but even if a lot of people are familiar with the story of Joel and Ellie, we should expect something new when it comes to the upcoming drama. In an interview with Empire, showrunner Craig Mazin […] |
Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Tuesday, December 20, 2022 11:18 AM For all the months we've had a look at Forspoken, each preview has only given us a look at the main character Frey and the magical world of Athia. Only recently did we get a look at the game's villains the Tantas, and now we have the reveal for all three Tanta Saila, Tanta Prav, […] |
Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Tuesday, December 20, 2022 11:00 AM Pokemon Legends: Arceus is set in the old times in the Pokemon world when it was rare to find harmony between people and Pokemon. Set in the land of the Hisui region, known as the Sinnoh region in modern times, you'll join the Galaxy Expedition Team (or just Galaxy Team for short) as a member […] |
Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Tuesday, December 20, 2022 10:57 AM Callisto Protocol may not have been the new Dead Space it was hoping to be, but a literally new Dead Space is releasing next year that promises to fully remake the original hit survival horror game. Just in, IGN has dropped a new featurette giving a look at the upcoming remake and it takes a […] |
Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Tuesday, December 20, 2022 10:00 AM How to Play Tartaglia in Genshin Impact Tartaglia is a name that is highly feared on the battlefield. He is the Number 11 of the Fatui's Harbingers, also known as "Childe." Despite being the youngest among the Harbingers and having a cheerful and confident appearance, Tartaglia is among the most dangerous. That said, Childe does […] |
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have plenty of hidden-away secrets within the Paldea region's open world. This includes Watchtowers that are the home for Gimmighoul, the coin chest Pokémon. The Pokémon community has been speculating how many of these Watchtowers exist, where they are, and how they correlate to Gimmighoul. Well, we can help you out. Here are all the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Watchtower locations. Note: For more information about the game, check out our Pokemon Scarlet and Violet guides and features hub. All Watchtower locations – Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Gimmighoul is a tiny little Pokémon that hides with a chest. They were introduced right before the release of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet as a catchable Pokémon in Pokémon Go. In Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Gimmighoul is also catchable at any 14 Watchtowers. Once caught or defeated, the player will receive Gimmighoul coins, which are needed to evolve Gimmighoul into Gholdengo. All 14 watchtower l... 
