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Dec 29, 22:00


GamersHeroes Thursday, December 29, 2022 3:48 PM
    

The team at GSC Game World ends a tumultuous year with a new S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl trailer.

The post S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Come to Me Trailer Released appeared first on GamersHeroes.


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, December 29, 2022 5:23 PM
    

AMD's Ryzen 5600X was a favourite of value-oriented gamers when it debuted in late 2020 - to say nothing of RPS head big honcho Katharine - so unsurprisingly AMD followed it up with an even cheaper model, the 5600, about a year later. This non-X variant performs more or less identically, with a slightly low rated boost clock that translates into one or two percent worse performance in CPU-limited scenarios. Given the fact that the 5600 is £13 cheaper on Amazon right now, we'd recommend it over the X any time.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, December 29, 2022 5:11 PM
    

Sabrent's Rocket PCIe 4.0 SSD is one of best cheap PCIe 4.0 SSDs that doesn't cut corners in terms of NAND type (it's TLC, rather than the cheaper QLC) and cache (it's got a DRAM cache). This makes it a good performer even in sustained write scenarios, as you might encounter in video editing and the like, while its good random read/write speeds are good for gaming. Sabrent has discounted the drive to £77.99 on Amazon UK, which is a good price for this level of performance.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, December 29, 2022 4:22 PM
    

Last week, developer David Moralejo Sánchez released Outpath: First Journey, a free "prologue chapter" for a first-person mix of clicker and crafting due in 2023. As of right now, it has an "overwhelmingly positive" rating on Steam and over 700 reviews.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, December 29, 2022 3:47 PM
    

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 development has continued even during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where developers GSC Game World are based. Now there's a new trailer which shows combat against humans and mutants, scavenging in the Zone, comforting inventory management, and dialogue from several high-strung NPCs.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, December 29, 2022 3:17 PM
    

Staff at another Activision Blizzard studio have formed a union. Proletariat, the developers of Spellbreak, was bought by Blizzard in June and put to work on World Of Warcraft: Dragonflight. Now staff have formed a union with the Communication Workers Of America (CWA) and are asking Activision Blizzard to voluntarily recognise it.

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Twinfinite Thursday, December 29, 2022 8:12 PM
     Rian Johnson described Among Us to a very patient Angela Lansbury for her cameo in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.

Twinfinite Thursday, December 29, 2022 5:41 PM
     Sean Astin was the right choice.

Twinfinite Thursday, December 29, 2022 4:13 PM
     The Na'vi have surpassed these juggernauts in the box office.

Twinfinite Thursday, December 29, 2022 3:25 PM
     Will this new series be a strike?

Siliconera Thursday, December 29, 2022 5:00 PM
    

Tetsuya Nomura Artnia 10th Anniversary Art Features Zack from FFVII Kingdom Hearts

To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Artnia, Square Enix's café and merchandise store, Tetsuya Nomura designed special art depicting Zack from Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Jack Garland from Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, and Brain from Kingdom Hearts Union Cross. The company announced that the illustration would be on display starting on December 29, 2022. [Thank you, sanagiSO!]

Along with the store's 10th Anniversary, Tetsuya Nomura celebrated in his art the 20th Anniversary of Kingdom Hearts, with Brain as the chosen representative, the 25th Anniversary of Final Fantasy VII with Zack Fair, and the 35th Anniversary of the entire Final Fantasy franchise with Jack Garland.

Artist Kazuko Shibuya, who worked on the original Final Fantasy game for the Super Famicom, also contributed to the occasion with an illustration of the classic White Mage and Dark Mage designs from the original Final Fantasy. Toshiyuki Itahana, responsible for the designs in the Chocobo series, joined them with a piece of art depicting the titular protagonist, accompanied by a miniature version of the robot Omega and a Moogle.

You can see the special illustrations in the following tweet by user sanagiSO:

https://twitter.com/sanagiSO/status/1608310330286809088

Zack being chosen as representative for Final Fantasy VII is particularly relevant, as the recent release of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion brings him back into the spotlight. This happened alongside declarations from his Japanese voice actor hinting to Zack as a key character in the upcoming second part of FFVII Remake, titled Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is available on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Windows PC. FFVII Rebirth will appear on the PS5 in Winter 2023 and might include references to Zack Fair.

The post Tetsuya Nomura Artnia 10th Anniversary Art Features Zack from FFVII appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, December 29, 2022 4:00 PM
    

How to Catch Up with Demon Slayer Arcs Ahead of Season 3

More of the Demon Slayer anime adaptation is on the way, with season 3 poised to pick up with the Swordsmith Village Arc. However, that might mean someone would want to catch up with the story before jumping in when it begins in April 2023. To help folks catch up, here's a list of all of the arcs present in the manga, anime, and game, so you can best determine how to follow along or read ahead.

How Many Demon Slayer Manga Arcs Exist?

Since the manga ended, this is an easy one! There are 11 arcs in the story, though somebody could also try and argue that there are 12. This is because the last one, the Final Battle Arc, is divided into the 47 chapter Infinity Castle Arc and 22 chapter Sunrise Countdown Arc.

Here's the full list of ones that are available, as well as the chapters they cover and manga volumes you can find them in, should you decide to stock up on books.

  1. Final Selection Arc: Chapters 1-9, which can be found in volumes 1 and 2.
  2. Kidnapper's Bog Arc: Chapters 10-13, which can be found in volume 2.
  3. Asakusa Arc: Chapters 14-19, which can be found in volumes 2-3.
  4. Tsuzumi Mansion Arc: Chapters 20-27, which can be found in volumes 3-4.
  5. Mount Natagumo Arc: Chapters 28-44, which can be found in volumes 4-6.
  6. Rehabilitation Training Arc: Chapters 45-53, which can be found in volumes 6-7.
  7. Mugen Train Arc: Chapters 54-69, which can be found in volumes 7-8.
  8. Entertainment District Arc: Chapters 70-97, which can be found in volumes 8-11.
  9. Swordsmith Village Arc: Chapters 98-127, which can be found in volumes 12-15.
  10. Hashira Training Arc: Chapters 128-136, which can be found in volumes 15-16.
  11. Final Battle Arc: The Infinity Castle Arc covers Chapters 137-183, which can be found in volumes 16-21. Its Sunrise Countdown Arc covers Chapters 184-205, which can be found in volumes 21-23

How Many Demon Slayer Anime Arcs Exist?

There are eight covered as of season 2 of the show. However, once season 3 starts in 2023, it will pick up with the ninth Swordsmith Village arc. Season one of the anime covers the Final Selection, Kidnapper's Bog, Asakusa, Tsuzumi Mansion, Mount Natagumo, and Rehabilitation Training arcs. The Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train film covers the Mugen Train arc. Season 2 of the anime also covers the Mugen Train and Entertainment District arcs.

Which Demon Slayer Arcs Does The Hinokami Chronicles Game Cover?

The PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC fighting game Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles also features a storyline that covers events of various arcs! It begins right when the manga and anime do with the Final Selection Arc, and its story mode goes on to follow the story all the way through the Mugen Train arc.

The post How to Catch Up with Demon Slayer Arcs Ahead of Season 3 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, December 29, 2022 3:00 PM
    

siliconera nintendo switch game of the year 2022

Whether they were testing the limits of the hardware or focusing on gameplay over tech, our Nintendo Switch Game of the Year 2022 selections all stand out through fun and mechanical polish. Check out which games made the cut below.

These awards represent the consensus of the Siliconera staff. For more of the year's award selections, check out our Game of the Year 2022 archive.

siliconera nintendo switch game of the year 2022 xenoblade chronicles 3

Winner: Xenoblade Chronicles 3

The phrase "fans of the genre" can be something of a punchline these days. Xenoblade Chronicles 3, though? It really seems to embrace the concept. The game delivers so much JRPG fans want, almost as if it's making a list and checking it twice. And done right? That can be just fine. It gives Xenoblade 3 a unified focus that keeps things fun for players. Also, when we're talking about JRPGs? "Fans of the genre" is basically everyone reading this right now.

triangle strategy

Triangle Strategy

It's been such a good year for both tactical RPGs and pixel-art revivals, and Triangle Strategy is a shining example of both. It can take some time to get going, and it needs you to care about its world to get through its text-heavy storytelling. But once you're in? There aren't many games that can match its depth.

gotta protectors cart of darkness

Gotta Protectors: Cart of Darkness

It certainly took its sweet time making it out of Japan, but Gotta Protectors: Cart of Darkness meshes the RPG-style depth of the 3DS release with the same-screen fun of the Xbox 360 original. And the localization? It's legitimately funny, and that's so hard to do even without language complications. If you missed it when it launched earlier this year, you owe it to yourself to rectify that now.

What are your Nintendo Switch Game of the Year 2022 selections? Let us know in the comments! And stay tuned for more of Siliconera's GotY 2022 awards.

The post Siliconera's Nintendo Switch Game of the Year 2022 appeared first on Siliconera.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, December 29, 2022 6:30 PM
     Stalker 2 Heart Of Chornobyl Trailer Gun HelicopterUkrainian developer GSC Game World has had a difficult year, to put it lightly. The ongoing war in Ukraine has forced the studio to halt the development of Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl and relocate to stay safe. Despite this harrowing situation, however, GSC continued development on the game back in May. Judging by the recent upload of a new trailer for Stalker 2, it seems that the studio's hard work and persistence amidst a difficult time have resulted in a miraculous amount of progress so far. This new Stalker 2 trailer, dubbed "Come to Me," features nearly three minutes' worth of cinematics and gameplay footage. For those unfamiliar with Stalker 2, it mixes first-person shooter, immersive sim, and horror elements together into a cohesive whole. The game takes place in an area near the nuclear power plant in Chornobyl dubbed "The Zone." This dangerous area contains radiation along with a whole host of mutants and anomalies, and this attracts ple...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, December 29, 2022 4:30 PM
     Featured How To Play All The Pathfinder Games In OrderPathfinder is an isometric CRPG video game series that takes inspiration from the likes of Pillars of Eternity and Baldur's Gate. The game franchise was adopted from the tabletop RPG of the same name, which was based on Dungeons & Dragons. Pathfinder has two main games. But between the two games, which one should you play first? Both games have different stories and characters, all completely unrelated, besides a couple of mentions in the first game's events. Considering that both games do not correlate with one another, we will tackle the best way to play all of the Pathfinder games — and their DLC — in order. How to play all the Pathfinder games in order Should I choose Kingmaker or Wrath of the Righteous first? Image via Deep Silver We highly recommend doing Pathfinder: Kingmaker first, along with its DLC. Kingmaker has fewer mechanics to learn and will adequately introduce you to the universe of Pathfinder. Pathfinder: Kingmaker also came out before Wrath of...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, December 29, 2022 3:15 PM
     Dishonored Epic Games Store Definitive Edition Supernatural PowersNow that the free giveaways of Severed Steel and Mortal Shell have both come to a close, the Epic Games Store has chosen to host one more before the end of the year. Starting today, Epic Games Store players can claim both Dishonored – Definitive Edition and Eximius: Seize the Frontline for free. Fortunately, you won't have to worry about taking advantage of this giveaway within a single day this time. Today's offer functions exactly like most of the Epic Games Store's other giveaways, which gave players a full week to claim their respective games. This one will conclude on January 5 at 11 AM ET. Many players likely already have at least a basic idea of what Dishonored is about. But in case you need a quick rundown, Dishonored functions as a stealth action game that has players control a vengeful assassin with supernatural abilities. By using these abilities alongside weapons, gadgets, and general creative thinking, players can take down their targets ...

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, December 29, 2022 5:46 PM
    

The trailer showcases cutscenes, voice lines and gameplay

The post S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Gets New 'Come to Me' Gameplay Trailer appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, December 29, 2022 4:49 PM
    

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members will also have access to these games.

The post Xbox Live Gold January 2023 Games Lineup Revealed appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Pivotal Gamers Thursday, December 29, 2022 3:15 PM
     What's up folks? gamehag is giving all the opportunity to win on various games. Their message follows. To get: 2000 KD, 1500 KD, 1000 KD, 850 KD, 700 KD, 500 KD, 250 KD, 200 KD, 100 KD, 50 KD, 25 KD, 10 KD To get this key your Steam level must be at least 2. Last minute notes Login with your gamehag account, complete all steps to get your key. Isn't that great news or what? Just click ...

Dec 29, 14:00


Kotaku Thursday, December 29, 2022 1:00 PM
    

Hasan Piker is many things. He's a hardcore himbo, an amateur gamer, and frequent heated moment haver. He speaks to legions of young men, women, and enbys on the internet almost every day via his wildly popular Twitch channel, and feeds their parasocial bond via his other social media accounts. Even though he spends…

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Kotaku Thursday, December 29, 2022 12:00 PM
    

The decision-makers behind Sony's console juggernaut spent a lot of 2022 putting down railway for 2023 and beyond, dumping money and time into growing the PlayStation brand beyond the funky-looking device in your entertainment center. The company wants the PlayStation name to be ubiquitous, and that has meant…

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Kotaku Thursday, December 29, 2022 11:00 AM
    

Steam Deck, Valve's mega-powerful mini-PC, only arrived this year, and while there are many reasons to check out one of the most exciting pieces of gaming hardware available today, the amount of great, hassle-free games available on the device is proof enough of its success.

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Kotaku Thursday, December 29, 2022 10:00 AM
    

Congratulations, you got a next-gen console. It's hard to believe that two years after the launch of the Xbox Series X/S, it's still hard to find one. But you did it. Or someone who really loves you did and gifted it to you for the holidays. How nice of them! Either way, now that you got a new Xbox, you might be…

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PCGamesN Thursday, December 29, 2022 1:28 PM
     Modern Warfare 2 longshots turn Call of Duty camo grind into camp fest

Modern Warfare 2 longshots are a critical part of the Call of Duty camo grind for the latest multiplayer game from Infinity Ward and Activision. They require players to get kills with each of the best Modern Warfare 2 guns at ranges outside their optimal distance. However, this process - and the time at which it tends to arrive in the progression towards the high-end Platinum, Polyatomic, and Orion MW2 mastery camos - means that many matches are devolving into camp fests where players ping at each other endlessly from across the map.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Modern Warfare 2 guns, Best loadouts in Modern Warfare 2, Modern Warfare 2 maps

PCGamesN Thursday, December 29, 2022 1:00 PM
     Terraria's Steam success is the fruit of unmatched long-term support

It's been quite the year for Terraria developer Re-Logic, as Terraria's Steam successes keep stacking up. The 2011 game closed out last year by netting the 'Labor of Love' prize in the 2021 Steam Awards for its continued support, inspiring the team behind one of the best sandbox games on PC to create a community-driven quality of life overhaul that would go on to become the Terraria 1.4.4 update, appropriately titled Labor of Love.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best Terraria mods, Terraria happiness guide, Terraria bosses guide

PCGamesN Thursday, December 29, 2022 12:17 PM
     GTA Online weekly update rings in new year with free gifts, new bike

It's the final GTA Online weekly update for 2022, and Rockstar is helping you ring in the new year in style with a special free gift bundle for its Grand Theft Auto 5 online multiplayer game. There's also a new motorbike available, the all-electric Western Powersurge, which arrives as part of the rollout of vehicles from the recent GTA Online Los Santos Drug Wars update. There's also all the usual boosts and rewards you'd expect, so read on for details!

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: GTA 5 mods, GTA 6, Buy GTA V

PCGamesN Thursday, December 29, 2022 11:26 AM
     Epic Games Store giving away daily free games – here's what they are

The Epic Games Store is running a free games giveaway over the festive season, with a new game being given away to all every day for a 15-day period. You don't have long then to get each game you want, so we're putting together a list of what's currently free to help you keep track of what you can pick up during the Christmas period.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best SSD for gaming, How to build a gaming PC, Best gaming CPU

PCGamesN Thursday, December 29, 2022 7:35 AM
     Disney Dreamlight Valley house colours coming in next update

Customising your Disney Dreamlight Valley house offers a wonderful aspiration aspect to the delightful life sim game, and developer Gameloft has shown a sneak peak at new coloured house skins coming as part of Dreamlight Valley update 3. The next Disney Dreamlight Valley update doesn't yet have a set date but is expected to arrive in mid-January, with Beauty and the Beast being hinted at as a possible theme for the expansion.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Disney games, What's the next Dreamlight Valley update?, Disney Dreamlight Valley guide

PCGamesN Thursday, December 29, 2022 7:00 AM
     The Steam Deck 2 should be modular

The mighty Steam Deck has changed the gaming PC landscape, but despite its success it also feels like a missed opportunity. Don't get me wrong, I love the portable powerhouse, and I've got no real qualms with its overall design. Yet being able to transform the handheld's hardware inside and out on a whim would be a true game changer, and Valve could dominate this market indefinitely by making its next handheld modular.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best SSD for gaming, How to build a gaming PC, Best gaming CPU

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, December 29, 2022 12:00 PM
    

Katharine asked me to do a quick little round-up of my favourite features that we've run over the past year (to go with the other section round-ups, which you can read here) so I said "No problemo, Katharino!". Off I went to make a list, running down the published pieces and clicking whichever ones I thought were good. Then I looked at my list and said "Oh, no!", because it was extremely long. I cut it down by about half to get what we have here, a collection of interviews and thinky pieces and silly pieces and wonderful pieces from 2022.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, December 29, 2022 11:00 AM
    

It's a well-documented fact here at RPS that I love a good spreadsheet. Specifically, my spreadsheet that lists all the lovely games I manage to play each year. I've been looking at that spreadsheet a lot in recent weeks, and I'm pleased to report that most of my top game picks from this year have successfully made their way into the RPS Advent Calendar. There were plenty that didn't, of course (pouring one out for you, Dorfromantik, Flat Eye, Dome Keeper and Lost In Play), but such is the way of things when your current list of completed games for the year is teetering on the verge of 50.

No word of a lie, I would probably be here all day if I laid out my entire long list of honourable mentions for 2022 (additional shoutouts to Railbound, Cursed To Golf, God Of War, Weird West, Jack Move, Hard West 2 and The Kids We Were), but for the sake of all involved (and poor Alice Bee's editing pencil), I've narrowed it down to a shortlist of three. (Do still go and check out those other games, though. They're all absolutely rad).

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, December 29, 2022 9:00 AM
    

Sequels are often contentious, but I feel like video games can get away with being a part of a long-running series – and, crucially, still be good while they're at it, well past the point where a book or movie franchise would have outstayed its welcome.

The thing is, though, when it comes to GOTY lists like our Advent Calendar, it's a much bigger task to convince your fellow voters of the merits of your new favourite game when it's the third, fourth, or maybe even sixteenth in its series. I'm adamant that those games deserve their share of recognition at the end of the year, which is why my honourable mentions celebrate 2022's new entries into some of my favourite ongoing series.

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Twinfinite Thursday, December 29, 2022 12:11 PM
     Let's explore some strange places.

Twinfinite Thursday, December 29, 2022 12:06 PM
     These titles represent the future of gaming.

Twinfinite Thursday, December 29, 2022 11:59 AM
     Life finds a way?

Twinfinite Thursday, December 29, 2022 11:45 AM
     Excelsior!

Twinfinite Thursday, December 29, 2022 11:00 AM
     Plenty of Final Fantasy coming in 2023.

Twinfinite Thursday, December 29, 2022 10:30 AM
     We want to see these titles finally see the light of day!

Twinfinite Thursday, December 29, 2022 10:18 AM
     Here's the top 10 Best Tom Cruise movies ranked.

Twinfinite Thursday, December 29, 2022 10:09 AM
     It's in your nature.

Twinfinite Thursday, December 29, 2022 10:00 AM
     The war for polygonal supremacy raged on in 2022.

Siliconera Thursday, December 29, 2022 2:00 PM
    

Makima Chainsaw Man Q Posket Figure Will Come Out in August

There's an update on the Chainsaw Man Q Posket figure line, and it means Makima is on the way. Bandai confirmed people will be able to find it in stores in August 2023. It also noted that various storefronts should already be taking pre-orders for her.

The Q Posket line features rather standard, static figures. Each one features a specific style with large eyes and heads. They all tend to be about five and a half inches tall. Each one is considered a budget one, as they typically cost between $20 and $30. Makima is no exception, and she's wearing her Public Safety Devil Hunter uniform for this one.

While Bandai didn't list stores selling her yet, a few already offer it. Both Big Bad Toy Store and Tokyo Otaku Mode for $26.99. The release window estimates for both differ from Bandai's. Big Bad Toy Store suggests it could be in stock by July 2023, while Tokyo Otaku Mode offered an October 2023 release window.

Some Q Posket Chainsaw Man figures are already available. For example, even though she isn't the "main" character, the Power one appeared in October 2022. The Denji one debuted in December 2022 in Japan.

The Chainsaw Man Makima Q Posket figure will debut in August 2023. The first season of the anime adaptation can be found on Crunchyroll and Hulu. People can read the localized manga via Viz Media.

The post Makima Chainsaw Man Q Posket Figure Will Come Out in August appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, December 29, 2022 1:00 PM
    

The Punchuin is a Puzzle Game That Calls Back to Wario's Woods

Match-3 titles are incredibly popular and prevalent when it comes to puzzle games. It's a simple mechanic, but one that can be iterated upon to become more complex or engaging. The Punchuin, Shin'en's latest Switch shadowdrop, attempts to punch up the genre by adding platforming to the mix. It's an idea that makes sense and calls to mind games like Wario's Woods. But at the same time, it is the punching and platforming mechanics that could lead to someone really taking a beating.

The concept in The Punchuin is rather simple. You're a penguin in search of treasure, and you're going to get it via punching your way through pits. Each level puts you in a pit that may or may not have unique mechanics. For example, area two stages tend to have pools of water, which you can hit blocks into to permanently remove them from the field. These colored blocks and ice blocks with coins or power ups drop from the top of each stage in The Punchuin, just like in Wario's Woods. To eliminate them, you typically need to match three of the same color blocks or punch an ice block until it is destroyed. You don't "win" a level until you clear the certain number of sets of blocks shown on the right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFAV5b2HOxE&ab_channel=ShinenGames

However, the big difference between Wario's Woods and The Punchuin are the platforming elements. In both games, your avatar needs to move about the field to ensure the blocks get in the right spots to be cleared. There's more activity in The Punchuin, however, due to being able to jump, slide down walls or the sides of block towers to jump off of them, and punch. This also imparts an increased sense of intensity! Blocks drop swiftly! You might need to do some tricky jumping to reach the exact row and start punching through.

However, the nature of using punching to move blocks about means The Punchuin lacks something Wario's Woods offers: precision. In Wario's Woods, you are in full control of what you grab and where you place it. With The Punchuin, you need to account for the drift that comes when you punch a block. You might accidentally get it out of place, or perhaps even into a gap that causes a block you need to be gone forever, with a single hit. This can work to your advantage, however. With a block you can't access easily, due to its position, you can punch and use the recoil to isolate it and ideally get it into a better position for matching purposes. You also get power ups, like one that lets you use bombs to eliminate blocks or increases your verticality.

The Punchuin is a Puzzle Game That Calls Back to Wario's Woods

It's a different sort of flow! One that can take some getting used to, mind you, if you're coming to The Punchuin and immediately making a Wario's Woods connection. I found the best way to get out of it was to start unlocking the challenge levels. When these come up, you'll find yourself with a set arrangement of blocks. Your goal will be to eliminate all of them. However, losing one of the blocks or failing to match them up means failure. Given the lack of stress, since no blocks are falling, it is a controlled environment to get acquainted with the game. However, these come up rarely, as they are more of a bonus you unlock with in-game coins on the map rather than regularly encountered stages.

Still, while it might not always be exactly like other puzzle games, The Punchuin feels like a great title for people who did like Wario's Woods and more active match-3 titles. There's a lot you can do here! You need to factor in momentum! Blocks constantly fall! It is charming in its way, though there's a certain level of care and platforming skill needed for success.

The Punchuin is now available for the Nintendo Switch.

The post The Punchuin is a Puzzle Game That Feels Like Wario's Woods appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, December 29, 2022 12:00 PM
    

katsugeki/touken ranbu movie

Ufotable released two teaser trailers and key visuals for the Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu movie in development. They feature Izuminokami Kanesada and Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki. The other main characters from the show, such as Horikawa Kunihiro and Tsurumaru Kuninaga, will likely get their own key visuals in the near future. [Thanks, Dengeki Online!]

The beginning of the both teaser trailers are the same. They use short clips of the six main characters from the Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu show, and then show off the key visual. The official Twitter account for Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu has also posted them.

Here are the tweets of the key visuals:

https://twitter.com/katsugekitouken/status/1475994978623102982

https://twitter.com/katsugekitouken/status/1608266552800940034

 

Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu ran from July to September 2017. At the time, the show concluded with the news that a movie adaptation was in development. However, there have not been a lot of updates since then. This is likely due to the majority of ufotable's resources and manpower going into Demon Slayer, which was its next production. Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu is an anime series based on the Touken Ranbu video game. Unlike the more episodic Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru, Katsugeki had a plot and focused on a core group of sword boys.

The Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu movie is in development and more news on its release date will appear in the future. The show is available on streaming services such as Crunchyroll.

The post Two Key Visuals Released For Katsugeki/Touken Ranbu Movie appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, December 29, 2022 11:00 AM
    

Watch Suikoden I & II HD Remaster's Bright Shield Rune and Black Sword Rune

Once again, Konami turned to the whims of the internet to determine which new clip from the Suikoden remasters would be shared online. This time, the winner ended up involving two of the most important runes in the second game. People can now see a clip of Riou and Jowy using the Bright Shield and Black Sword True Runes in Suikoden I & II HD Remaster.

Here's a look at the two major characters from Suikoden I & II HD Remaster using the Bright Shield and Black Sword True Runes. First, we see Riou selecting the Bright Shield Shining Light attack that deals 130 AOE damage to every opponent. After that, Jowy selects the Black Sword Piercing One attack that deals 700 damage. Once both are selected, we see Jowy's attack land, then Riou's.

The Bright Shield and Black Sword were among four possible options to see in Konami's latest Suikoden I & II HD Remaster Twitter poll. The other possible options would have offered a chance to see footage of the Pale Gate Rune, Thunder Rune, and Resurrection Rune. All three are ones that appeared in multiple entries. The last poll involved Unite Attack footage, and Pretty Boy Attack Unite Attack won.

In the Suikoden series, Runes are items characters equip to use magic and special abilities. There are also 27 True Runes, which are the strongest in the world and can be a cause of conflict.

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 Watch Suikoden I & II HD Remaster's Bright Shield and Black Sword Runes appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, December 29, 2022 10:00 AM
    

fate/grand order iskandar hokusai

It's almost the New Year, and the North American server for Fate/Grand Order has started its New Year's 2023 Countdown Pickup Summon banner. For this year, you will have a chance to obtain Iskandar (Rider) and Katsushika Hokusai (Foreigner) in Fate/Grand Order. The banner will run from December 27 to 31, 2022.

As a reminder, both of these characters are only available for a limited time. This means that if you miss your chance to get them while they are on the banner, then you will not be able to obtain them until Lasengle runs them again in the future. Iskandar is a Buster-oriented Servant with a highly offensive kit and a Noble Phantasm that can hit all enemies. Meanwhile, Katsushika Hokusai is an Arts Servant who can also hit all enemies with her Noble Phantasm.

The schedule for the banners are a little bit different. Technically speaking, Iskandar will only run until December 29. Hokusai, on the other hand, will be available from the 28th until the 31st. These two characters will likely be available in the GSSR (Guaranteed SSR) banners that will appear after the New Year. However, you cannot pull on the GSSR banners unless you use paid Saint Quartz.

Fate/Grand Order is available on mobile devices, and the Iskandar and Hokusai banners are only on the North American server.

The post Fate/Grand Order NA Iskandar and Hokusai Rerun Banners Show Up appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, December 29, 2022 9:00 AM
    

inazuma eleven victory road of heroes trailer

A new trailer for Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road of Heroes shows off how you can control your team in matches. The full details of the development process is on the Level-5 blog. Part of the reason for the lack of updates was due to difficulties in developing how matches would play without a touch pen.

Because Inazuma Eleven players are more familiar with using a touch pen (since the series originated on the Nintendo DS) they had to figure out a good way to bring that same experience onto consoles. Though the team tried to create a control system similar to existing soccer games, it was not the answer they were looking for.

If players had always played with a touch pen, then why not just keep it that way? So with that thought in mind, they created the current control system. The team then continued development from there. You can use a touch pen, your finger, or the D-pad and analog stick to freely move in any direction.

This was the biggest wall in the development of the game. You can view the new trailer showing off matches in Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road of Heroes here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMvU571uSWc

As you can see in the video, passing and shooting all use one button. You can choose which hissatsu moves you want to use. The video shows tons of characters from the previous series, but none of the new ones.

Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road of Heroes is in development and will come out on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, and mobile devices in Japan. More information on the game (including the story, characters, and other game mechanics) will appear in February 2023.

The post Here is a New Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road of Heroes Match Trailer appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, December 29, 2022 8:00 AM
    

Best Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion Materia 1

Listen, all of the materia in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion can be the "best" materia for you. Zack is a really versatile character! There will be instances that mean certain magic materias will be more helpful or even worthless due to opponents' strengths and weaknesses. You might find yourself loving the command materia more than magical spells. So when it comes down to it, "best" is objective. However, there are a bunch of materia that are super helpful when accomplishing goals regardless of what mission you might be taking. So here are some essential ones to pick up as you play.

Best Materia for Keeping Zack Alive:

Well, you start off the game with Cure for Zack. Which is great, because you definitely need it. However, as soon as possible you'll want to try and get your hands on a Cura or Curaga. Curaga is the absolute best healing materia in Crisis Core. It heals a lot of health, you can use Dualcast with it, and it only costs 26 MP compared to the 64 MP Full Cure.

It is also pretty easy to get. If you use materia fusion, you can combine a Fire and a Regen to get one. As noted by our other Crisis Core expert Kazuma, keeping the Fire materia you start with and running Training Mission M1-1 until its mastered can help prepare it for this fusion. For Regen, you can get it for 5,000 Gil from the Happy Turtle or get it as a mission reward.

Best Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion Materia

Best Materia for Helping Zack Get More Materia:

If you plan to engage in a lot of materia fusion or just want to collect a lot of them in Crisis Core, then you want to have Steal or Mug on hand. Neither one can be bought.

Steal is one you'll be able to get as a reward from both Mission 7-4-1 and 8-3-6. Meanwhile, Mug, the upgraded version that also damages an enemy, appears in Mission 1-1-6. You can also "steal" Steal from a Gremlin or Mug from a Lesser Demon… but that means you need to have the materia in the first place to get it.

You'll also want the Brigand's Gloves accessory for Zack to guarantee you'll always get an item when you rob them. I ended up getting it after Mission 7-4-2.

Best Materia for a People Who Want Zack to Be a Mage:

Dualcast is a special materia in Crisis Core, and boy is it "special." When used, Zack can cast (most) magic twice in row. You're paying MP for each one, mind you, but it's a fast way to quickly do damage or swiftly heal up with Cure/Cura/Curaga. Certain spells don't work with it, like Ultima, but it's generally quite helpful.

There are two ways to get this materia. One is to go on Mission 9-4-1. The other is to go on Mission 9-5-4 to unlock Shop Shade, so you can pay 30,000 Gil to buy it.

Oh, and if you do go the method of unlocking the store to buy it, make sure you grab the Costly Punch materia while on Mission 9-5-4. That command material lets Zack sacrifice some of his health to deal major damage to an enemy that can't be stopped by its defense.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion is available for the PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC. The original game appeared on the PSP.

The post Best Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion Materia appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, December 29, 2022 7:00 AM
    

Banner key art for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, depicting its core cast

Sony is kickstarting 2023 with the addition of the next three games for the PlayStation Plus service. From January 3, 2023, subscribers will be able to download Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Fallout 76, and Axiom Verge 2. PS4 owners will be able to benefit from all titles added in January 2023, while PS5-specific versions of Jedi: Fallen Order and Axiom Verge 2 will also be available.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was first released on November 15, 2019. Developed by Respawn Entertainment, the title is a third-person action-adventure in the Star Wars universe featuring what many have described as "Soulslike" combat. Its standard price is $39.99.

Fallout 76 is the Bethesda-developed-and-published MMORPG set in the Fallout universe. Released in October 23, 2018, it has seen numerous controversies throughout its years, but continues to see persistent support. Its standard price is $39.99, and is also currently available for free for PlayStation Plus Extra subscribers.

Axiom Verge 2 is the sequel to the highly-regarded indie Metroidvania. It showed up on the PS4 in August 2021 and PS5 in August 2022. Developed by Thomas Happ, it is a prequel to the first title, chronicling the exploits of Indra Chaudhari in a retro-styled 2D exploration-platformer. It normally costs $19.99.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (PS4/PS5), Fallout 76 (PS4), and Axiom Verge 2 (PS4/PS5) will be added to PlayStation Plus on January 3, 2023. The December 2022 titles – Mass Effect Legendary Edition (PS4). Divine Knockout: Founder's Edition (PS4/PS5), and Biomutant (PS4/PS5) – are available to download until January 2, 2023.

<<PlayStation Plus December 2022 games

The post January 2023 PlayStation Plus Games Lineup Includes Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order appeared first on Siliconera.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, December 29, 2022 1:04 PM
     Featured Best Multiplayer Vr Games Of All TimeVirtual reality (VR) gaming has come a long way. You can now fully immerse yourself at home with the power of VR systems. They look as enveloping as we once envisioned. You can now almost entirely control your character in VR with body movements with the help of specialized controllers that send infrared LEDs to the cameras on your headset. What better way to sink into VR than playing with your friends and feeling like you're in a single room? In that spirit, we put together a list of what we believe are the best multiplayer VR games of all time. The best multiplayer VR games of all time Cook Out: A Sandwich Tale Image via Resolution Games If you're a massive fan of Overcook, then you're looking at its VR counterpart. Cook Out: A Sandwich Tale entices its players to play it with communication and full attention. Each player has a set of ingredients you will need to create the customer's order, which heavily implies that you must work together to get past the level. You and your...

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, December 29, 2022 2:00 PM
     VALORANT on Game Pass brings a ton of value. VALORANT is Riot Games' unique take on a fast-paced low-time-to-kill tactical shooting game, where players choose to play as Agents with a unique set of abilities. If you're just getting started in VALORANT, these Agents will be locked and won't be available for play immediately. To […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, December 29, 2022 1:00 PM
     Pokemon Legends: Arceus is set in olden times in the Pokemon world when it was rare to find harmony between people and Pokemon. Set in Hisui, modern-day Sinnoh, you will join the Galaxy Expedition Team (Galaxy Team for short) as a member of the Survey Corps stationed in Jubilife Village. You will be tasked to […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, December 29, 2022 12:00 PM
     Pokemon Legends: Arceus is set in olden times in the Pokemon world when it was rare to find harmony between people and Pokemon. Set in Hisui, modern-day Sinnoh, you will join the Galaxy Expedition Team (Galaxy Team for short) as a member of the Survey Corps stationed in Jubilife Village. You will be tasked to […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, December 29, 2022 11:00 AM
     Pokemon Legends: Arceus is set in olden times in the Pokemon world when it was rare to find harmony between people and Pokemon. Set in Hisui, modern-day Sinnoh, you will join the Galaxy Expedition Team (Galaxy Team for short) as a member of the Survey Corps stationed in Jubilife Village. You will be tasked to […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Thursday, December 29, 2022 10:00 AM
     Pokemon Legends: Arceus is set in olden times in the Pokemon world when it was rare to find harmony between people and Pokemon. Set in Hisui, modern-day Sinnoh, you will join the Galaxy Expedition Team (or just Galaxy Team for short) as a member of the Survey Corps stationed in Jubilife Village. You will be […]

Pivotal Gamers Thursday, December 29, 2022 1:50 PM
     What's up all? We have another excellent offer from Giveaway.su for multiple titles. Let's hear them out. Hey there, we start a new giveaway! At this time we are giving away 3500 Steam keys for random games. There are keys for 3 different games in this giveaway: "Inexperienced Driver" and "DreamBig 3". Just complete several easy tasks on social media and you wil...

Level Up Thursday, December 29, 2022 11:33 AM
     Two of the year's biggest open-world games, Elden Ring and Pokémon Scarlet have been Frankensteined…