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Feb 10, 16:00


Kotaku Friday, February 10, 2023 3:30 PM
    

If you, like me, are a big fan of the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars series, then I've got some very good news to share. As first seen in a new gameplay video released earlier this week, a load of classic Clone Wars-era droids are featured in EA and Respawn's upcoming Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

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Kotaku Friday, February 10, 2023 3:25 PM
    

Today, Sega revealed the trailer for its new mobile game collaboration with Nier and Drakengard series creator Yoko Taro. As is tradition for any collaboration with Taro, this game's elevator pitch trades in the bizarre twists only Taro's mind can concoct: a gacha game that transforms Sega classics into waifus set in…

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Kotaku Friday, February 10, 2023 1:45 PM
    

While not every Harry Potter fan is a transphobe like J.K. Rowling, the new open-world RPG Hogwarts Legacy seems to bring out the most dedicated bigots out in full force. As of the pre-launch period, the game's discussion forums on Steam, the leading PC platform, are filled with hateful, transphobic posts from people…

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Kotaku Friday, February 10, 2023 1:40 PM
    

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Kotaku Friday, February 10, 2023 1:22 PM
    

The Division 2 was recently due to get its season 11 update. Instead, the entire game ground to a halt after the tool the development team relies on to issue updates went completely offline. The damage is now being repaired, with "compensation" planned as players wait for the promised update. How did it happen?…

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Kotaku Friday, February 10, 2023 12:55 PM
    

I'm walking around the dark, creepy corridors of the large spaceship Ishimura in Dead Space. Suddenly, I turn a corner and see two large boxes filled with possible goodies. I could shoot them open or use my telekinesis module to grab and slam them into a nearby wall. But that's not nearly as fun as what I end up…

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Kotaku Friday, February 10, 2023 12:50 PM
    

British luxury shoemaker Jimmy Choo, which has spent the past 40-ish years slipping handmade heels on anyone from Princess Diana to new brides, recently announced a collaboration with Sailor Moon creator Naoko Takeuchi. The capsule collection follows up Jimmy Choo's 2022 collaboration with Takeuchi—a pair of $15,000

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Kotaku Friday, February 10, 2023 11:50 AM
    

Honey, hurry, they're going to nerf The Witcher 3 vaginas. (NSFW warning.)

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Kotaku Friday, February 10, 2023 11:04 AM
    

Never count Nintendo out. Or for it to do the most obvious and sensible thing. With the Switch entering its sixth year after becoming the third best selling console ever, you'd think it would be the perfect time for a successor. But there's still no Switch 2 or Switch Pro in sight, and Nintendo is telling investors…

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Kotaku Friday, February 10, 2023 10:15 AM
    

Hold up there, Mass Effect fan. I know you walked in here ready and eager to see where your favorite BioWare beau ranked on a list of best boyfriends, but let's make sure we're all clear on the criteria here

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Kotaku Friday, February 10, 2023 10:00 AM
    

Nintendo's 2023 Switch games lineup is looking somewhat light at the moment outside of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Pikmin 4. Naturally, one of the ways it's plugging the holes is an onslaught of new and old JRPGs. Golden Sun is back! So is Baten Kaitos! Nintendo is digging deep into the back catalog…

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PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 2:57 PM
     The Dying Light 2 weapon stash is now five times bigger

There's a new Dying Light 2 hotfix that launched pretty quietly February 9, but it has an important impact: your weapon stash is now bigger - a lot bigger. Player 'stashes,' where additional items, weapons, and outfits are kept, can now hold up to 250 weapons, up from 50 when the zombie game first launched.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Dying Light 2 review, Dying Light 2 factions, Best zombie games

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 1:10 PM
     Destiny 2 resonant elements, deepsight attunement to be discontinued

Destiny 2 resonant elements and deepsight attunement will be removed as in-game elements in the popular FPS game come the Destiny 2 Lightfall release date, according to a recent post in the game's This Week at Bungie series. Destiny 2 introduced weapon crafting into the game with The Witch Queen expansion. However, even with several quests throughout the past year designed to help train players on how to craft and reshape their favourite weapons, the process of distinguishing weapons with resonant elements, deepsight resonance, and extractable weapon patterns was still pretty confusing. It was also difficult for players to track as they embarked on their favourite activities.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Destiny 2 classes, Destiny 2 exotics, Destiny 2 builds

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 1:01 PM
     Genshin Impact devs respond to Tighnari VA sexual misconduct situation

The Genshin Impact devs have put out a response to the sexual misconduct allegations surrounding their anime game's English voice actor for Tighnari, Elliot Gindi. The voice actor has been accused of grooming, emotional abuse, blackmail, and having inappropriate relationships with fans, some of whom were allegedly underage at the time.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Genshin Impact codes, Genshin Impact character tier list, Genshin Impact leveling guide

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 12:54 PM
     New DBD killer could be the Terminator – Hasta la vista, baby

A new Dead By Daylight killer arrives in the horror game some time in March, and a new teaser trailer has suggested that you might just be able to go around killing people after all as, well, the Terminator. After all, there's little else to assume when you're shown a robotic skull with a red, glowing eye, right?

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: DBD killer tier list, Best horror games, Hooked on You: A DBD Dating Sim gameplay review

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 12:51 PM
     Dead by Daylight Red Forest map is getting a makeover

Another one of the maps in Dead by Daylight is getting the Realm Beyond treatment in the next major update. The Red Forest, which is home to the Plague and the Huntress, is getting its big facelift in the horror game's next update, and developer Behaviour Interactive has shared some nice-looking screenshots of the rework. The update will also include some changes to perks and will prevent maps from repeating several times in a row.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: DBD killer tier list, Best horror games, Hooked on You: A DBD Dating Sim gameplay review

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 12:42 PM
     Metal Gear Solid 5's Quiet is back, but not as you'd expect

Metal Gear Solid 5's Quiet will go down in history as one of the coolest female protagonists out there. Joosten, Quiet's model and voice actor, has etched herself into history with that performance, and is looking to do the same in new soulslike RPG game Wanted: Dead - but that doesn't mean she's forgotten her roots.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best upcoming PC games, Best detective games, Best action-adventure games

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 2:03 PM
     Overwatch 2 bug nerfs Symmetra, leaving her without turrets

A serious Overwatch 2 bug seems to have caused an unintentional but significant Symmetra nerf in the Blizzard multiplayer game. The DPS hero has gone through many dramatic overhauls and reworks over the years, but her latest iteration seems to be accidentally broken in several different and rather unfortunate ways that might make her borderline unplayable in Overwatch 2 season 3 until rectified.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: All Overwatch 2 characters, Best Overwatch 2 settings, Overwatch 2 tier list

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 12:36 PM
     Destiny 2 loadouts explained

What are Destiny 2 loadouts? Coming with Lightfall, loadouts let players rapidly transition between character builds. It can be tedious to change between subclasses only to have to equip specific mods, weapons, and perks that complement that particular subclass or character objective. And, with the addition of Aspects and Fragments over the past few years, the game's buildcrafting systems have only become more complex.

That's why Bungie is introducing loadouts to Destiny 2, which allow you to rapidly switch between your best Destiny 2 Hunter builds, Warlock builds, and Titan builds. Here's everything you need to know about Destiny 2 loadouts, coming to the popular FPS game with the Destiny 2 Lightfall release date and introduction of the Strand subclass.

Continue reading Destiny 2 loadouts explained
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Destiny 2 classes, Destiny 2 exotics, Destiny 2 builds

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 12:34 PM
     Best Hogwarts Legacy tips and tricks for beginners

You're going to need our Hogwarts Legacy tips as a brand-new fifth-year student to get ahead of your class. From advice on how to gather every collectible, to combat tips and tricks to ensure you win every fight, our guide can turn you into one of Hogwarts' best students.

As you start to make some progress in the RPG game, it's important to note you don't have access to a Hogwarts Legacy respec mechanic so you need to spend your talent points carefully. There's a Hogwarts Legacy max level to keep in mind, forcing you to consider how you construct your build - read our talents guide to find out what skills are worth investing in. With that information out of the way, here's our Hogwarts Legacy tips guide to get you going.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hogwarts Legacy release date, All Hogwarts Legacy spells, Hogwarts Legacy system requirements

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 12:28 PM
     How to get a Hogwarts Legacy Mandrake

The Hogwarts Legacy Mandrake is just as you would expect if you're familiar with the lore of the wizarding world - or the real plant's own muggle world properties. An iconic plant baby with an ear-splitting shriek, the Mandrake is needed to complete assignments set by Herbology Professor Garlick, but can also be used in combative defence. But how do you get one, or where do you find a Mandrake?

Much the same as other plants and fruits in Hogwarts Legacy, the Mandrake can be grown in the Room of Requirement, so you can always have one ready when you need them. Unlike other natural resources, though, the Mandrake isn't used in Hogwarts Legacy potions - that would be cruel - and can instead be equipped to your potion wheel itself and taken into battle, where its mind-blowing scream can be used to disarm opponents in the action-adventure game. If that's a weapon you'd like in your magical arsenal, here's where to find and how to get your own Hogwarts Legacy Mandrake.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hogwarts Legacy release date, All Hogwarts Legacy spells, Hogwarts Legacy system requirements

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 12:21 PM
     Hogwarts Legacy bridge puzzle guide

The Hogwarts Legacy bridge puzzle is just one of the many secrets you can uncover in the school of witchcraft and wizardry. It's also very easy to overlook, given that it's an environmental puzzle that demands you keep an eye out for esoteric clues as you explore.

The Hogwarts Legacy bridge puzzle is found in the Viaduct Courtyard that connects the Great Hall and Library Annex, which you can locate on the Hogwarts Legacy map. It's a fairly innocuous area at first glance, but look closer and you'll see the hallmarks of a puzzle in the open-world game. What's more, solving it will net you a legendary item – you don't even need to know how to open Hogwarts Legacy locks in order to access it. Here's how to solve the Hogwarts Legacy bridge puzzle.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hogwarts Legacy release date, All Hogwarts Legacy spells, Hogwarts Legacy system requirements

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 11:45 AM
     Is Sons of the Forest multiplayer?

Sons of the Forest multiplayer will enable you to survive the cannibals and mutants of the horror game's ever-changing island with a friend, making the experience slightly less scary. The Sons of the Forest predecessor, The Forest, had its own multiplayer mode that was, and still is, a fan-favourite experience, so will multiplayer be coming to The Forest 2?

We already know that the survival game will provide you with an AI companion, Kelvin, even in single-player, and that you can befriend the gorgeous, three-legged mutant Virginia. That said, there's nothing quite like teaming up with a real-life friend when faced with the harsh surroundings awaiting you in the caves and wilderness of Sons of the Forest.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Sons of the Forest system requirements, Sons of the Forest release date, Best horror games

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 11:45 AM
     Sons of the Forest map size and locations

The Sons of the Forest map will include a lot of the same features as the first game, including caves, woodland, and water. However, developer Endnight Games has revealed that the sequel's map will be four times the size of the first game, which - if you consider overground landscapes and the underground cave system - has the potential to be eight times bigger.

Exploring the open-world expanse of The Forest takes some time now that the map has been expanded upon since its initial release, and traversing the wilderness following your plane crash is part of what makes the survival game that much more terrifying. Now imagine that being four times bigger, and we can expect a pretty daunting experience for Sons of the Forest (in a good way). That said, you might still want some cartographic help before your adventure begins, so here's everything we know about the Sons of the Forest map so far - including spoilers, so tread carefully if you want to go into the sequel without knowing anything.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Sons of the Forest system requirements, Sons of the Forest release date, Best horror games

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 12:08 PM
     How to get Hogwarts Legacy Fluxweed stem

Hogwarts Legacy Fluxweed stem is part of a magical plant in the RPG game, and is an ingredient in various potions. Once you know where to get hold of the plant, you can pick it up easily, or even grow your own infinitely renewable Fluxweed stems.

There are, of course, masses of intriguing magical potions at your disposal in Hogwarts Legacy, but you need the ingredients and the recipe in order to make them first. The Hogwarts Legacy Fluxweed stem is an essential ingredient in several potion recipes, as well as completing assignments to unlock Hogwarts Legacy spells. Here's where to get Hogwarts Legacy Fluxweed, its seeds, and how to grow and use it.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hogwarts Legacy release date, All Hogwarts Legacy spells, Hogwarts Legacy system requirements

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 11:46 AM
     Hogwarts Legacy Ghost of our Love floating candles map location

The Hogwarts Legacy Ghost of Our Love quest can be incredibly confusing, especially if you aren't keeping track of your side quests. The treasure map with the floating candles can be acquired after 'The Hunt for the Missing Pages' quest without the player realising what they've just picked up.

Once you have the Hogwarts Legacy treasure map in your inventory, you will unlock the Ghost of Our Love quest. The map shows a drawing of the Forbidden Forest with an additional drawing of a bridge and some floating candles. You do need access to certain Hogwarts Legacy spells to continue the quest, but there's a good chance you have them by the time you've reached this point in the RPG game.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hogwarts Legacy release date, All Hogwarts Legacy spells, Hogwarts Legacy system requirements

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 12:29 PM
     Destiny 2 Lightfall Content Vault reveals everything leaving in year 6

With the Destiny Lightfall expansion just weeks away now, Bungie has announced the Destiny 2 year 6 Content Vault, revealing everything leaving in season 20 of its space FPS game. In an attempt to keep activities busy and prevent overloading players with too many active destinations at once, Bungie cycles certain older destinations and content out of Destiny 2 each year, though emphasises that these can always return in future updates.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Destiny 2 classes, Destiny 2 exotics, Destiny 2 builds

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 11:29 AM
     Hi-Fi Rush secret hints at possible The Evil Within 3

After making a big splash on Game Pass, it turns out rhythm game Hi-Fi Rush contains a very hidden easter egg, pointing to the possibility of The Evil Within 3. With The Evil Within 2 almost six years old, a return to the survival horror series would definitely be welcome, especially coming from Tango Gameworks, the studio founded by Resident Evil maestro Shinji Mikami.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The Evil Within Requirements

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 11:31 AM
     Valorant skins that please everyone are

As an avid collector of Valorant skins, I too have failed to gel with any of the FPS game's recent thematics - but then again, I'm pretty picky. Following the release of the VCT Lock In capsule and the gorgeous Misericórdia knife, though, I asked Riot how they've taken player feedback and used it to spice up the new melee weapon.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Valorant Night Market dates, Valorant ranks order, distribution, and ranking system explained, Valorant crosshair codes

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 11:21 AM
     Wild Hearts has adorable rabbits, but there's a dark twist

Not all the Wild Hearts monsters you meet are gigantic, terrifying mythical beasts. Some of the wildlife you'll find in Wild Hearts are adorable little white bunnies. These 'Rockfoil Rabbits' may follow you on your adventures, or possibly be content to make patterns in the snow with their tracks - but since this is a co-op game about hunting massive monsters, they have some grislier uses, too.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best PC RPGs, Best co-op games on PC, Best games like Monster Hunter

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 11:39 AM
     Hogwarts Legacy challenges explained

Want to know more about Hogwarts Legacy challenges? As if there wasn't enough to do in your first year as a student at the famed school for Witchcraft and Wizardry, you also have a whole bunch of tasks you can complete. The challenges menu is where you can find all of the side quests, as well as field pages, exploration and combat tasks, and quests that need the Room of Requirement to finish.

These Hogwarts Legacy challenges make up a significant part of the RPG game's completion criteria. If you're wondering how long Hogwarts Legacy is and how close you are to finishing everything, this menu will be a good indicator of how far you have to go. There are five different challenge types throughout Hogwarts Legacy, each requiring you to specialise in various activities. Some are combat-focused, while others ask you to travel across the Scottish highlands.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hogwarts Legacy release date, All Hogwarts Legacy spells, Hogwarts Legacy system requirements

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 11:01 AM
     Best cheap VPN 2023

Looking for a cheap VPN? Well, don't you worry. Hush now, sweet child. There are affordable options available. It may feel like there's nothing you can do to stop your post private pieces of internet data being carved up and fed to the highest bidder, but we have a number of recommendations for you.

Some cheap VPN services come from slightly less well-known providers or ones that have only been around for a few years, while others come from large, familiar brands who like to provide affordable alternatives for their customers.

We've picked out four cheap VPN providers for you (including a free VPN). Each of them offers a unique service that each cater to different needs and despite their lower price tag, they could all be considered among the best VPN services overall.

Continue reading Best cheap VPN 2023
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best SSD for gaming, How to build a gaming PC, Best gaming CPU

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 11:06 AM
     Hogwarts Legacy Magic Neep location

The Hogwarts Legacy Magic Neep location is a bit tricky to locate, but you'll need to visit the greengrocer for all your magical neep and tatty needs - I mean, to complete the Welcome to Hogsmeade task at the start of your story. You'll even get some free supplies for your efforts.

The Magic Neep is a bit out of the way and isn't located near other shops in the area, so if you're struggling to find the shop selling plants and seeds on the vast Hogwarts Legacy map, we've highlighted it for you below. The Magic Neep and your first trip to Hogsmeade in Hogwarts Legacy just marks the beginning of your massive magical journey. If you want to know how long Hogwarts Legacy is, we've got a separate guide for that, but for now let's concentrate on navigating Hogsmeade and finding The Magic Neep.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hogwarts Legacy release date, All Hogwarts Legacy spells, Hogwarts Legacy system requirements

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 11:07 AM
     How to import your house and wand in Hogwarts Legacy

Want to know how to import your house and wand to Hogwarts Legacy? It's not surprising - our house is important to us witches and wizards, and we don't want to risk getting placed into the wrong one.

So how do you determine your house before even loading up the open-world game? First, you need to have a Wizarding World account, and you must have completed your house sorting over there (though if you're not happy with it, you can pick the best Hogwarts Legacy house when you're in-game - same goes for the best wand). Once you've done that, you can link your Wizarding World account to Hogwarts Legacy for a predetermined house and wand, and even an exclusive customisation option.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hogwarts Legacy release date, All Hogwarts Legacy spells, Hogwarts Legacy system requirements

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 11:05 AM
     How to change appearance in Hogwarts Legacy

If you're wondering how to change appearance in Hogwarts Legacy, wonder no more. There's plenty of opportunity to refresh your wardrobe to ensure you're flaunting the best stats and style, but when it comes to changing your character itself, there's only one place to go.

After so many hours spent in the RPG game, it may be time to change appearance in Hogwarts Legacy to better reflect your character as they develop during their time at Hogwarts with their companions. Having the freedom to change your appearance in a sprawling open-world game is a foregone conclusion, and you don't have to stray far from Hogwarts to make it happen.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hogwarts Legacy release date, All Hogwarts Legacy spells, Hogwarts Legacy system requirements

PCGamesN Friday, February 10, 2023 10:31 AM
     Hogwarts Legacy Floo Flame locations and how to fast travel

Finding the Hogwarts Legacy Floo Flame locations is essential to make your life easier as you travel around the huge magical world. Sticking true to wizarding world lore, Floo Flames allow magic-users to travel between locations, though it looks like they won't be restricted to classic fireplaces.

The open-world game boasts a massive map, so fast travel in Hogwarts Legacy will help you get around quicker. Of course, you need to manually travel to each Floo Flame location before you unlock it, but once you've seen them all, you can dart between the Hogwarts Legacy common rooms and Hogsmeade, from the Crossed Wands duelling club to the Forbidden Forest, or between individual Daedalian Keys and Demiguise Statues in no time.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hogwarts Legacy release date, All Hogwarts Legacy spells, Hogwarts Legacy system requirements

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, February 10, 2023 2:17 PM
    

The makers of Warhammer 40,000: Darktide have laid out their plans to improve the co-op shooter's shopping and crafting systems. The gear system changes, due to arrive in the next patch, do sound like improvements to the current state of things. These plans do not sound better than entirely ending the tedious grinds of random rolls and making numbers bigger. Why improve when it would be better to remove?

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, February 10, 2023 1:00 PM
    

For three hours, Re:Call was high on my list of surprise recent indie hits. It has a great premise, for starters - change history by meddling with your memories and playing out different versions of events to arrive at the 'correct' solution - and executes it brilliantly. Its GBA-style visuals and larger-than-life character portraits give it a real sense of charm and personality, and its mystery story of murder and corporate conspiracy had hooked me in real good.

Then it abandoned its cool premise halfway through and became a different game entirely for its remaining run-time. I was heartbroken.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, February 10, 2023 11:47 AM
    

Maybe it's because I've been bouncing between a lot of weighty games lately, but I've found a great diversion in The True Slime King, a simple three button platformer that recently left early access.

Speaking pedantically, this isn't "as simple as it gets", but you'll get what I mean if I describe it that way anyway. You move and jump, dodging spikes and lasers and ISO 13370 compliant death pits, and ideally collecting all the hard to reach thingies along the way. These are far from my favourite genre, but I've played enough to realise I'm partial to a good one, and this is a great one.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, February 10, 2023 11:44 AM
    

The Division 2 has enjoyed a long life since its 2019 release, but it seems like the looter shooter has finally tripped. Just last week, Ubisoft delayed the game's imminent Season 11 launch due to localisation issues that had been "impacting the experience for many players." But in the process of fixing that issue, Ubisoft had accidentally "brought down the build generation system," meaning that no updates were possible until the system was rebuilt. At least they're being honest.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, February 10, 2023 10:33 AM
    

I imagine Industries Of Titan started out as an ambitious concept. A hybrid of a factory layout/logistics sim, integrated into a city builder, combined with an RTS, all wrapped up in a satirical dystopia encouraging you to be the most appalling villainous hypercapitalist possible.

All of those parts are present, and as a bonus it's incredibly gorgeous, with strong voice acting and a distinctive soundtrack that will haunt my head for weeks. Most of its parts are made to a high standard, it's tragic that its final design just doesn't work at all.

Of all things, IOT reminds me of Fragile Allegiance. You're a 'founder', sent to an already colonised and abandoned Titan to build a new city at the behest of the Council. You're a 'founder', sent to an already colonised and abandoned Titan to build a new city at the behest of the Council. First, by salvaging its ruined buildings for minerals and isotopes, then mining for surface deposits, all of which goes back into your building resources. Curiously, you never combine two resources to produce a third, you can only upgrade minerals through a tier system. Higher tier resources are more potent, meaning, for exmaple, a building site will accept 100 raw minerals or four higher tier units. It's a bit strange, but it mostly works. Double clicking on your starting buildings summons an interior view, where you lay out machinery, little modules for workers and storage, power pylons and so on.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, February 10, 2023 10:04 AM
    

Honkai: Star Rail is the first turn-based RPG in the Honkai / Genshin Impact universe, and its final beta started earlier today on PC and mobile. Pre-registration has now closed, but you might be able to gain access through the game's FAQ page. While HoYoverse haven't announced a release date for their cosmic fantasy adventure, eagle-eyed fans have spotted a potential April date on the IOS App Store.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, February 10, 2023 9:45 AM
    

If you don't know that I like puzzle games by now then hello, welcome to the first post of mine that you've ever read. Recently I've been searching for jigsaw puzzle-y things to add to Jigsaw Puzzle Dreams and Glass Masquerade 2, but I also really like cute diorama things like Tiny Lands. Wouldn't it be ideal if there was a game that kind of combined both of thos th- BAH GAWD! That's Harmony's Odyssey's music!

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Twinfinite Friday, February 10, 2023 3:39 PM
     It's a pretty glaring hint.

Twinfinite Friday, February 10, 2023 3:02 PM
     Hogwarts has its hands full.

Twinfinite Friday, February 10, 2023 1:55 PM
     One week away from release!

Twinfinite Friday, February 10, 2023 12:27 PM
     Should we celebrate?

Twinfinite Friday, February 10, 2023 11:39 AM
     The debate rages on.

Twinfinite Friday, February 10, 2023 11:00 AM
     These anime boys prove why drip culture is the latest fad.

Twinfinite Friday, February 10, 2023 10:50 AM
     Who should play the Viltrumite extraterrestrial humanoid and powerful father of Invincible in the live-action movie?

Siliconera Friday, February 10, 2023 3:00 PM
    

Best Winter 2023 Anime Shows to Consider Watching

We're right in the midst of the Winter 2023 anime series, and there are some fantastic shows to watch. Old ones keep running, like My Hero Academia and One Piece. New ones pop up. But which new Winter 2023 anime shows do you consider the best? What ones are you telling people, "You need to watch this?" Let's go through some selections together.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVsII3dLbWc&ab_channel=CrunchyrollCollection
I was really looking forward to the Winter 2023 line-up, because it had so many good and interesting shows. First of all, before I reveal my favorite from the season, I would like to give a shout-out to Buddy Daddies, Trigun Stampede, and Play it Cool, Guys. They're all really fun shows (please watch Play It Cool, Guys, oh my goodness) but the most fun I have is when I watch Blue Lock.

Yeah, it infuriates me at times, but I love everything from the animation to the music to the characters. They're all really funny, and it's such a fun and ridiculous premise that it's super easy to binge. The pacing of the show is good, too, so it never feels like you're watching a single game for weeks on end (like Haikyu or Kuroko's Basketball). I highly recommend watching Blue Lock with a friend because I felt like I was about to explode when I watched it alone. -- Stephanie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jrKwkYjhCE&t=2s&ab_channel=CrunchyrollCollection
I'm still in the process of clearing my Fall season backlog, but Trigun Stampede is my highlight of the season so far. For as much affection as I have for the original show, Orange's production feels like a genuinely fresh take on the character, filled with some of the best you could ask for when it comes to the polarizing subject of CG anime.

Buddy Daddies has also been a treat. Sure, it's basically Spy x Family, but I do support the prospect of every demographic eventually getting their own version of Spy x Family. -- Josh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgmHhWqoU54&ab_channel=CrunchyrollCollection
I mean, of course I also have to say, "Watch Trigun Stampede." It is stunning and so much fun. Especially now that Wolfwood is around. I keep meaning to watch A Herbivorous Dragon of 5,000 Years Gets Unfairly Villainized too. But I'm really enjoying The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague. I've been hoping for a fun shoujo/josei series to follow after only being so-so on I'm the Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss, and this fits the bill. The magical realism element is quite fun, especially with the way Himuro's special abilities influence the world around him. It can sometimes feel like a slice-of-life series too. -- Jenni

The post Best Winter 2023 Anime Shows to Consider Watching appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 10, 2023 2:30 PM
    

Holocure Game Update Adds 1st and 2nd Hololive Generation Members

The Vtuber agency Hololive's 1st and 2nd generations have landed in a update for Holocure, the fan-made Vampire Survivors-like game by Kay Yu. Holocure pits Hololive idols against hordes of mind-controlled fans in a 2D pixel action game inspired by Vampire Survivors and Magic Survival. It originally released in June 2022, with its first major update arriving in September that year.

The new update adds the Japanese branch 1st generation consisting of Natsuiro Matsuri, Aki Rosenthal, Akai Haato and Yozora Mel as well as the 2nd generation consisting of Murasaki Shion, Yuzuki Choco, Oozora Subaru, Nakiri Ayame and Minato Aqua. The game now boasts 24 characters, each with their own unique weapon and abilities, with an in-game screen teasing the inclusion of Hololive's Indonesian branch in the next update.

Holocure Game Update Adds 1st and 2nd Hololive Generation Members

Though the game is not affiliated with Cover Corp. and Hololive, the lead developer Kay Yu worked with the agency before, such as on the animated music video for the song "Q" by Hololive's Gawr Gura and Calliope Mori, with music from DECO* 27. The video reached the milestone of 20 million views earlier this year.

Holocure is immediately available on PC for free over on Itch.io, and its new update is live. For more details check out the game's Twitter account.

The post Holocure Game Update Adds 1st and 2nd Hololive Generation Members appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 10, 2023 2:00 PM
    

Chainsaw Man Himeno and Kobeni Pop Up Parade Figures Look Ready to Work

Good Smile Company announced it was working on an array of Chainsaw Man figures, and now two more Pop Up Parade ones of Himeno and Kobeni are on the way. Both are dressed professionally in their Public Safety Devil Hunter suits. Kobeni will appear first, debuting in Japan in June 2023 and North America in August 2023. Himeno will appear shortly after, coming to Japan in August 2023 and North America in October 2023. Each one will cost ¥4,800/$35.99.

As is usual for Pop Up Parade figures, these versions of Himeno and Kobeni are non-standard size. That means they are each about six and a half inches tall. While each one is designed to look professional, they also have a casual air. As such, Himeno is pushing her hair back and Kobeni is throwing up peace signs.

Here's a closer look at Himeno.
[gallery size="full" ids="950566,950567,950568" link="file"]

And here's Kobeni.
[gallery size="full" ids="950569,950570,950571" link="file"]

In the past, Chainsaw Man Pop Up Parade figures of Denji, Power, and Makima also appeared.

The Chainsaw Man Kobeni Pop Up Parade figure will appear in Japan in June 2023, with the Himeno one following in August 2023. Himeno will appear in North America in August 2023, while Himeno will launch in October 2023. Pre-orders for both are available until March 9, 2023. Viz Media is handling the localization of Chainsaw Man manga volumes. The anime is streaming on Crunchyroll.

The post Chainsaw Man Himeno and Kobeni Pop Up Parade Figures Look Ready to Work appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 10, 2023 1:30 PM
    

Splatoon 3 Splatsville DLC Adds Shelly and Donny, Brings Back Annie and Moe

Nintendo revealed some of the Splatoon 3 Splatsville DLC characters, which include new twins Shelly and Donny and returning shopkeeper Annie with Moe. It offered screenshots of all characters in their Inkopolis shops, as well as went over what they'll offer in their locations.

First, here are Shelly and Donny. They are triops. Like Timmy and Tommy to Nook in Animal Crossing, they work for and are learning from Sheldon. As such, they also run the Splatsville branch of Ammo Knights for him.

In Japan, people noticed the similarity between Shelly and Donny in Splatoon 3 and Timmy and Tommy in Animal Crossing. In Japanese, their names are Mamebukichi and Tsbubukichi, and in Japanese Timmy and Tommy are Mamekichi and Tsubukichi. You can see people referencing the twin tanuki in the replies on Twitter.

Next are the Splatoon 3 versions of Annie and Moe. Annie was technically already "around," as you can buy items from her in the SplatNet app. While she has a different look, she'll still run the Cooler Heads headgear store.

Splatoon 3 is available for the Nintendo Switch, and the first DLC will arrive in Spring 2023.

The post Splatoon 3 Splatsville DLC Adds Shelly and Donny, Brings Back Annie and Moe appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 10, 2023 1:00 PM
    

Here Are the Octopath Traveler 2 Voice Actors

Now that the Octopath Traveler 2 demo is live, people might realize some of those voice actors sound familiar. Both the Japanese and English websites are live, each revealing the main cast. Many of them are quite established actors, who people might recall from other games or anime they've watched.

First, here are all the English voice actors for Octopath Traveler 2, as listed on the English website.

  • Ochette: Suzie Yeung
  • Castti Florenz: Sarah Wiedenheft
  • Temenos Mistral: Jordan Dash Cruz
  • Osvald V. Vanstein: Alejandro Saab
  • Partitio Yellowil: Jas Patrick
  • Agnea Bristani: Xanthe Huynh
  • Throne Anguis: Erica Mendez
  • Hikari Ku: Howard Yang

Here's the English demo trailer, which allows you to hear all of their voices.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoQ-VpcXDZg&ab_channel=SquareEnix

Next, here are all the Japanese voice actors for the cast from the Japanese site.

  • Ochette: Aya Hirano
  • Castti Florenz: Michiko Neya
  • Temenos Mistral: Akira Ishida
  • Osvald V. Vanstein: Joji Nakata
  • Partitio Yellowil: Kazuya Nakai
  • Agnea Bristani: Inori Minase
  • Throne Anguis: Rie Tanaka
  • Hikari Ku: Yoji Matsuda

And here's the Japanese trailer so you can hear all of them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lly5iEcLx5U&t=1s&ab_channel=%E3%82%B9%E3%82%AF%E3%82%A6%E3%82%A7%E3%82%A2%E3%83%BB%E3%82%A8%E3%83%8B%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B9

Octopath Traveler 2 will appear on February 24, 2023 for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC, and a demo is available with save data that carries over to the full game.

The post Hear the Octopath Traveler 2 English and Japanese Voice Actors appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 10, 2023 12:30 PM
    

Demon Slayer: To the Swordsmith Village Theater Tickets Available

Back in December 2022, a Demon Slayer: To the Swordsmith Village world tour that would pave the way for season 3 by bringing the anime to theaters was announced, and now tickets are on sale in North America. This presentation gives people a chance to see the last two episodes of season 2 and the first episode of season 3 on the big screen. While the Los Angeles, California showing is on February 18, 2023, people can now reserve a spot for the March 3, 2023 showings.

A special website is now open to buy tickets to see Demon Slayer: To the Swordsmith Village in theaters. It notes this is a one-day event. Visiting lets you pull up to see which locations near you will have showtimes. This is a limited presentation, so not every theater will have it. Also, it is possible there might only be one showing. However, some theaters will offer more than one option. For example, the Cinemark at Antelope Valley Mall in California will play it at 11:30am PT, 2:15pm PT, 5pm PT, 7:45pm PT, and 10:30pm PT. Ticket prices vary, depending on location.

Demon Slayer Season 3: Swordsmith Village will air in April 2023. Demon Slayer: To the Swordsmith Village will debut in Los Angeles, California as part of the world tour on February 18, 2023.

The post Demon Slayer: To the Swordsmith Village Theater Tickets Available appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 10, 2023 12:00 PM
    

Here Are the Fire Emblem Engage Hector DLC Skills

Okay! So, we already went over the Fire Emblem Engage DLC unlock and skills details for Camilla and Soren, so naturally we're looking at Hector too. Like the other two add-on Emblem Bracelets in wave 2 of the Expansion Pass, Hector is fairly straightforward to unlock. He also brings with him some strong skills to inherit. So, here's how you get, then start learning new abilities from, Hector.

Here Are the Fire Emblem Engage Hector DLC Skills

How Do You Unlock the Fire Emblem Engage Hector DLC?

If you already got Camilla or Soren, you know what you're doing here. If not, unlocking the Hector Emblem Bracelet in Fire Emblem Engage doesn't take too long. First, you need to progress in the main story until you finished the Bandit Hideout Paralogue. That's where you recruited Anna. After that, you can travel on the World Map to the Divine Paralogues area. From there, you need to defeat the Divine Paralogue: Dragon Temple to unlock Tiki. Once that's done, the other DLC Divine Paralogue maps show up. Divine Paralogue: Berserker's Hollow is Hector's map.

Here Are the Fire Emblem Engage Hector DLC Skills

What Skills Can You Inherit from the Fire Emblem Engage Camilla DLC?

After equipping a character with the Hector Emblem Bracelet in Fire Emblem Engage and hitting bond level 5, you can start inheriting skills from him. A lot of his are focused on dealing or taking damage, which can be helpful if you want to build a tank.

  • Quick Riposte: If unit's HP is 80% or more and foe initiates combat, unit will always follow up (if weapon allows) - 2,000 SP, bond level 5 required
  • Str/Def+1 - 700 SP, bond level 5 required
  • Adaptability: When hit by a foe's attack, grants Def+2 for a physical attack or Res+2 for a magical attack after combat. Lasts until end of battle, or until activated again. - 350 SP, bond level 5 required
  • Axe Guard: If foe is equipped with an axe, unit takes 1 less damage during combat. - 200 SP, bond level 5 required
  • Str/Def+2 - 1,600 SP, bond level 7 required
  • Heavy Attack: When making a physical attack, if an equipped weapon's Wt exceeds unit's Bld, adds excess as damage. (Max +5) - 3,000 SP, bond level 8 required
  • Axe Guard 2: If foe is equipped with an axe, unit takes 2 less damage during combat. - 400 SP, bond level 9 required
  • Str/Def+3 - 4,200 SP, bond level 12 required
  • Axe Guard 3: If foe is equipped with an axe, unit takes 3 less damage during combat. - 600 SP, bond level 13 required
  • Str/Def+4 - 6,000 SP, bond level 14 required
  • Quick Riposte+: If unit's HP is 60% or more and foe initiates combat, unit will always follow up (if weapon allows) - 3,000 SP, bond level 16 required
  • Axe Guard 4: If foe is equipped with an axe, unit takes 4 less damage during combat. - 800 SP, bond level 17 required
  • Str/Def+5 - 8,400 SP, bond level 18 required
  • Adaptability+: When hit by a foe's attack, grants Def+3 for a physical attack or Res+3 for a magical attack after combat. Lasts until end of battle, or until activated again. - 700 SP, bond level 19 required
  • Axe Guard 5: If foe is equipped with an axe, unit takes 5 less damage during combat. - 1,000 SP, bond level 19 required

Fire Emblem Engage is available for the Nintendo Switch, and the Hector DLC is available now.

The post Here Are the Fire Emblem Engage Hector DLC Skills appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 10, 2023 11:30 AM
    

Listen to the FFVII Remake Intermission Happy Turtle Ad Campaign Song Jingle

In the FFVII Remake Intermission DLC episode, people can take part in a Happy Turtle Ad Campaign quest with a distinctive song. The Japanese Twitter account for the game shared both the Japanese and English versions of the jingle. The goal was to offer an opportunity for people to compare the two and hear something upbeat heading into the weekend.

First, here's the Japanese version of "The Happy Turtle Jingle."

Next, here's the Global, English version of "The Happy Turtle Jingle" you can hear in FFVII Remake Intermission. The tweet for it noted that people with the Japanese version can hear it by switching to the English voice acting option. (Likewise, this applies to the Japanese version of the song.)

As a reminder, FFVII Remake Intermission's Happy Turtle Ad Campaign quest involves getting six flyers for the Wutaian bar in the Sector 7 Slums of Midgar. It references a sidequest from the original game. Completing it gets someone the Magnify materia, which lets a spell go from a single-target one to an AOE one.

Final Fantasy VII Remake is available for the PS4, PS5, and PC. The Intermission DLC is an extra episode starring Yuffie.

The post Listen to the FFVII Remake Intermission Happy Turtle Ad Campaign Song appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 10, 2023 11:00 AM
    

Honkai Star Rail Bailu Character Trailer Shows Off the Dragon-like Healer

Alongside the launch of the Honkai Star Rail final closed beta, HoYoVerse released a character trailer for Bailu. This continues the company's trend of introducing Xianzhou Luofu members ahead of the latest trial phase. While her path hasn't been confirmed yet, she will be a five-star healer and Lightning-type character.

Bailu has dragon-like characteristics. This is due to her being a Vidyadhara. This is one of the many races on the ship. For example, another person there is the Foxian Tingyun, a merchant with fox-like ears and a tail. She's an alchemist whose specialty is healing. Her official statements noted that she carries candies to put her patients at ease

Here's the Honkai Star Rail Bailu character trailer. It features her English voice actor, Su Ling Chan. In Japanese, she's voiced by Emiri Kato. It begins with her relaxing, however that doesn't last long. She's soon chased by people, leading to her using her lightning abilities to attack.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2ciwy6nxTY&ab_channel=Honkai%3AStarRail

This marks the fourth person tied to the Xianzhou Luofu to be revealed over the last few weeks. First, the company showed off the "navigator" Fu Xuan. After that, Tingyun and Yanqing were discussed.

Honkai Star Rail is coming soon for PCs and mobile devices. Pre-registration is open. Its final closed beta is live now.

The post Honkai Star Rail Bailu Character Trailer Shows Off the Dragon-like Healer appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 10, 2023 10:30 AM
    

The Honkai Impact 3rd Version Kiana update will close out volume 1 of the game and add new Herrscher battlesuits for Kiana and Mei.

An ending and a beginning are coming to Honkai Impact 3rd. The next update will close out the first "volume" of the storyline. HoYoVerse announced that on February 16, 2023, the Honkai Impact 3rd Version Kiana update will be live worldwide. This brings Story Chapter XXXV to the game to finish out the current arc of the story. It also means Kiana Kaslana's Herrscher of Finality and Raiden Mei's Herrscher of Origin battlesuits will be added and playable. There will also be a Special Program held on February 10, 2023 to go over everything.

Spoilers aside, Story Chapter XXXV will involve facing the major antagonist in the Cocoon of Finality. All of the Valkyries will tackle and end the threat. In so doing, they'll also learn more about Project Stigma and perhaps a hint at things to come. HoYoVerse only noted this is part one of the story arc, but didn't mention how many future volumes people can expect.

A less serious event will also be around. People will be able to take part in Bustling Holiday Symphony :||. This brings in characters from Golden Courtyard and St. Freya for a more lighthearted event with minigames and rewards.

Here's the new trailer for Honkai Impact 3rd Version Kiana. Note that there are story spoilers if you haven't gotten to that point in the game yet. It mainly focuses on Kiana and Mei and their new battlesuits.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTIZ7i8TG64&ab_channel=HonkaiImpact3rd

As a reminder, Herrscher of Finality and Herrscher of Origin are new playable, S-rank battlesuits. Both are IMG types, but they deal different kinds of damage. HoYoVerse already showed off their movesets.

In addition to the details available now, more are on the way. HoYoVerse will hold a 5th Anniversary Special Program on February 10, 2023. People can tune in and watch at 5:45pm PT/8:45pm ET.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52mVSWo7aLE&ab_channel=HonkaiImpact3rd

The Honkai Impact 3rd Version Kiana update will arrive on February 16, 2023. The game is available on PCs and both Android and Apple iOS devices.

The post Play the Honkai Impact 3rd Version Kiana Update Next Week appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 10, 2023 10:00 AM
    

Honkai Star Rail Pre-Registration Opens, 20 Gacha Pulls Can Be Earned

Genshin Impact and Honkai Impact 3rd creator HoYoverse kicked off Honkai Star Rail pre-registration. This is its newest PC and mobile game featuring a gacha with new characters. Unlike the other two, it is a turn-based RPG and is set among the stars. The company also confirmed the various tiers of rewards people can unlock by pre-registering. If met, new players will start off with 20 opportunities to pull on the gacha in-game.

Here's HoYoVerse's announcement, with a link that takes people to the Honkai Star Rail pre-registration page.

Here's the full list of tiers. People can check the current pre-registration status on the official homepage. As of 9am ET on February 10, 2023, over 1,751,000 people registered. This means people are guaranteed 50,000 Credits and three Star Rail Passes to pull on the gacha.

  • 500,000 Pre-registrations: 50,000 Credits
  • 1,000,000 Pre-registrations: 3 Star Rail Passes for gacha pulls
  • 2,000,000 Pre-registrations: Trailblazer Welcome player avatar
  • 3,500,000 Pre-registrations: Free four-star character Serval (Erudition Path, Lightning Type)
  • 5,000,000 Pre-registrations: 15 Star Rail Passes for gacha pulls

While those pre-registration rewards only add up to 18 gacha pulls, everyone can earn two more and an additional 50,000 Credits if the social media accounts for the game cumulatively hit 2,500,000 followers.

Right now, some people are already playing Honkai Star Rail via the final closed beta. That kicked off on PCs and mobile devices on February 10, 2023. If you applied to take part but still haven't gotten any email about it, it is possible to check if you can take part. There's an official site where you can check in on your status.

Honkai Star Rail is coming soon to PCs and mobile devices, with pre-registration open now. The final closed beta began on February 10, 2023.

The post Honkai Star Rail Pre-Registration Opens, 20 Gacha Pulls Can Be Earned appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 10, 2023 9:30 AM
    

Fate/Grand Order Valentine's Day 2023

A new special guest from across the Fate franchise will join Fate/Grand Order's playable roster. The Fate/Grand Order 2023 Valentine's Day event will bring with it the expected array of ways to gather up chocolate. It'll also add Caren C. Hortensia of Fate/Hollow Ataraxia to the playable roster. The event kicks off in the English edition of FGO on February 13, 2023, and runs through February 26, 2023.

The Fate/Grand Order 2023 Valentine's event is formally titled Saint Valentino! Chaldea Bitter Valentine's 2023. It'll have the Masters of Chaldea beating back an invasion of Shadow Servants into Chaldea, and gathering "God Love Points" for their trouble. Netting more God Love Points grants escalating rewards, including character progression materials and Command Codes. They'll also earn Valentine's Chocolate they can redeem to get gifts from their female Servants. Trading in a Valentine's Chocolate will trigger a special, fully-voiced cutscene showing a female Servant gifting their Master with a unique Craft Essence for Valentine's Day.

The premium Summoning banner will add Caren C. Hortensia to the roster as a limited-availability 5-Star Ruler-class Servant. In gameplay, Caren emphasizes the Quick element, and specializes in supporting the party, while also doing damage with her Noble Phantasm. Caren first appeared as the heroine character in Fate/Hollow Ataraxia, a sequel to Fate/Stay night released in 2005. Set months after the conclusion of Fate/Stay Night, the story of Hollow Ataraxia favored a lighter tone, focusing on daily life scenes featuring Shirou and the core Fate/Stay Night cast. It also debuted characters like Bazett, Caren, and the first Avenger-class Servant in the franchise (who appears in Fate/Grand Order as Anra Mainiiu).

Check out Caren's Noble Phantasm below.

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

Besides Caren, the summoning banners for the Fate/Grand Order 2023 Valentine's event will rotate through certain female and select non-binary Servants. These include Lancer Altria, Quetzalcoatl, Sitonai, Enkidu, the Dioscuri, and more.

Fate/Grand Order is available on iOS and Android devices. The event will run from February 13-26, 2023.

The post Fate/Grand Order 2023 Valentine's Day Event Adds Caren appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 10, 2023 9:00 AM
    

Labyrinth of Galleria Review

Nippon Ichi Software knows how to twist the formula of a genre, no matter if it's an SRPG or a first person dungeon crawler. It established this with Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk in 2018. The game completely flew under the radar when it came out, for myself included. It would be a real shame if the same happened with its sequel, Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society, as the game features truly interesting twists on the first person dungeon crawler formula.

Labyrinth of Galleria follows Eureka de Soleil, a cheerful girl who accepted a job at Galleria Manor. Eureka is tasked by Count Bismont, the owner of the manor, in assisting Madame Marta, a witch under her employment. Eureka and Marta summon Fantie, a spirit attached to the Lanterne de Fantasmagorie, and the role the player fills. Your mission as Fantie is to collect the nine Curios d'art from the labyrinth below Galleria Manor, which are nine extremely rare magical artifacts. This is where the twist comes in. Humans can't go into the Labyrinth, as the entrance is a Man-eating Wardrobe that kills anyone that dares to try to leave. The solution is simple. Create magical puppet soldiers, called Manania, that will explore and fight for you.

Character creation can be as easy or as complex as you want it to be. The game initially offers six different classes or Facets, such as Aster Crow, Shinomashira, Theatrical Star, Peer Fortress, Wonder Corsair, or Rapid Venator, but these options expand as you play. Each Facet fulfills a particular role as DPS, stunner, support, tank, or jack of all trades. You can only create three characters at the beginning, and you'll be stuck with a max party of five for roughly the first ten hours of gameplay. Having your choices limited early on can can feel intimidating! However, the game does a great job of introducing plenty of important tutorials that can be revisited from the pause menu. I found this very accommodating, as the early hours of the game can be tough if you go where you're not supposed to, something very likely to happen due to the open nature of the labyrinth.

On the topic of exploration, the labyrinth and its subsections work as you would expect, with corridors, rooms, and branching paths that can lead to either treasure or ambushes, and eventually progressing further down. You will sometimes encounter a particular area with a gimmick, such as unbreakable walls, or underwater sections where you need to manage your oxygen to keep your party from drowning. Enemies appear in the labyrinth as floating orbs that you can make contact with to initiate combat.

Combat can be hit or miss, as you will often be defaulting to simple attack or auto-battle for regular encounters. Bosses are the main highlight. A balanced party and the use of Donums, this game's equivalent to magic or skills, is key to solve these encounters. At around the 10-hour mark, the game introduces Pacts. These are particular formations that allow for more than one party member to join a Coven, with a maximum of five Coven slots. This means that you can eventually have a party of up to fifteen characters, three per Coven. However, to achieve a balanced party, the average team will be of around ten characters in different roles and different Pacts.

Labyrinth of Galleria Review

Donum are an interesting twist to a magic or skill system. They are not very straightforward, as far as skills go, as these depend on the Pact a Coven is using. This means that you have to be extra careful in putting your magic users in a Pact with its corresponding magic Donum, and your tanks in a Pact with Donum that increase defense and create aggro. Eventually, you will be able to transfer Donums between Pacts, adding a lot more of decision making to the mix. Liberation skills are special Donum that unleash a special ability unique to the Pact, and they can really save your neck when you really need them.

However, if you want to avoid fighting the same HP-sponge enemies, or are revisiting areas for goodies, there are easy ways to avoid combat. The game offers plenty of tools to deal with both enemies and the environment in the form of Fantiebilities, from lures and traps to bait enemies, to skills that let you break walls or disperse illusions. I particularly enjoyed the Fog Veil ability that allows you to become invisible to combat encounters. This is especially useful when dealing with strong enemies that will pursue you relentlessly.

The labyrinth is an amazing playground full of treasures. Shortly after unlocking the Wall Breaker ability, I was eager to explore all the new possibilities the game offers. Other notable traversal skills include Long Jump, and High Jump, which can be tricky! The spots where you can use them are not obvious unless you use Shine Light to see the usable spots in the map.

Labyrinth of Galleria Review

It was at this point that I felt like the game was a little bit bloated with systems and mechanics. At times, Labyrinth of Galleria became too concerned with teaching me new systems that I never had time to fully utilize or learn. Instead of committing to a handful of these and exploring their full potential, the game keeps throwing new stuff at you, which adds a lot of nuance in decision-making in combat and exploration, but can be distracting. I had a particularly difficult time trying to progress through the main story immediately after I was introduced to High Jump, as I forgot that I could use Shine Light to see which parts of the map had opened.

After hitting certain roadblocks or when completing important objectives, the game will offer a short interlude that progresses the plot. The story is told through short visual novel sections. These are very light and easy to follow, and a nice way to intersperse exploring and fighting in the labyrinth with building its characters, world, and unraveling the mystery of Galleria Manor. The character sprites come from the hand of Takehito Harada, well known for his work illustrating the Disgaea series, and along with the gorgeous background illustrations offers the perfect atmosphere for these interludes. There are plenty of great quality of life options during these sections, too. Arrows indicating which on screen character is talking, one-button voice replays, a text log, and skip options are some of these additions.

Labyrinth of Galleria Review

In terms of accessibility, the game offers a robust and exhaustive settings menu with plenty of options. These range from plenty of audio options, from the regular BGM, sound effects, to activate or deactivate puppet soldier voices, combat speed options, and settings for the visual novel sections. Both the Japanese and the English voiceover are great, but I found the English voice direction particularly charming. Eureka is really sweet and full of pep, while Madame Marta is a cunning and charming witch with a lot of sass, and Count Bismont is a very standoffish and unlikeable noble.

Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society scratches a particular itch I've had for a while. While the game starts as standard fare for the genre, it quickly shows that there are a lot of tricks under its sleeves, mainly in exploration and how to tackle diving into the labyrinth. There were times I felt I was playing a puzzle game while I explored the labyrinth, just to suddenly be reminded that this was an RPG with a deep combat system, all surrounded and neatly wrapped by a whimsical and at times scary story, not unlike that of classical fables.

Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society will come out on February 14, 2023 in North America and February 17 in Europe for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC via Steam.

The post Review: Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society Is a Bonafide Dungeon Crawler appeared first on Siliconera.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Friday, February 10, 2023 3:30 PM
     Hi-Fi Rush Evil Within easter egg Creature Encounter featThose who have played Hi-Fi Rush no doubt already know that the developer behind it, Tango Gameworks, previously worked on The Evil Within franchise. Naturally, Hi-Fi Rush contains a few nods that directly reference the survival horror franchise. One such reference comes in the form of a recurring robot HR investigator character that immediately brings The Evil Within protagonist Sebastian to mind. Players knew about many of these secrets since the game's launch. But one proved so well-hidden that GamesRadar first reported on it only about a day ago. Even more interestingly, this elusive Hi-Fi Rush Easter egg could serve as a teaser for what may be The Evil Within 3. First found by an anonymous reader of GamesRadar, this Easter egg hides away at the very beginning of Track 11. Note that Track 11 functions as the second-to-last stage in the game, so those who wish to avoid light spoilers should tread carefully. Hi-Fi Rush hides an elusive Easter egg for The Evil Within Th...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Friday, February 10, 2023 3:25 PM
     Hogwarts Legacy Thestral How To Tame Capture Thestral GuideThere are several Beasts that you can encounter in Hogwarts Legacy. One of these is the Thestral, a strange and creepy animal that resembles a winged skeletal horse. It's said that the only people that can see them are those who've also seen death with their own eyes. Here's our guide to help you capture and tame a Thestral in Hogwarts Legacy so you can place it in your Vivarium. Note: For more information, check out our Hogwarts Legacy guides and features hub. Hogwarts Legacy guide: How to capture and tame a Thestral Beast The Hogwarts Legacy Thestral Beast can be found in a location that's all the way to the northeastern edge of the map. It's not advisable to go there due to the distance, so it's better if you just fly using your broom. The closest fast travel point is East North Ford Bog, though you can also use San Bakar's Tower or others nearby. Now, that's if you only want to see where their den. If you do want to capture and tame a...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Friday, February 10, 2023 3:15 PM
     How to use trophies in Valheim bonemassA hero deserves their rewards. In the hit indie game Valheim, trophies are awarded to the player on kills of enemies and can be used as a way to show off particularly difficult foes. The big bosses also drop trophies, and these have a much more important purpose. Knowing how to use trophies in Valheim can provide power-ups for a distinct advantage in the afterlife. Check out guides on how to get ahead in Valheim. How to use regular trophies in Valheim So you have killed your first troll, cut off its head, and somehow lugged it back to your homestead. Obviously, you want to show it off — it's the head of a troll. You can mount trophies of your fallen foe on the walls in your banquet hall or over the head of your bed with a simple Item Stand. Screenshot via PC Invasion You will need 1 x Bronze Nail and 4 x Fine wood for an Item Stand. A Bronze Axe will be needed to fell the birch trees for the fine wood, and a forge is required for the nails. Flexing on your teammates is always w...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Friday, February 10, 2023 2:45 PM
     Valheim: How to defeat the Abomination meadowsThe Abomination is a disgusting swamp-based creature that mostly comes out at night (mostly). It consists of four huge roots and can pound you into an indistinguishable pile of swamp goo very quickly. That is, unless you know how to defeat the Abomination in Valheim. Being prepared for this monster before you enter the biome will make the encounter much easier. Make sure to check our guides and features hub for everything you need to know. How to defeat the Abomination in Valheim Screenshot by PC Invasion Due to the monster's weakness, it is advisable to kite it around while using fire arrows. The Abomination telegraphs its attacks, making it quite easy to dodge. Due to the nature of the swamp biome, and the size of the beast, trees and foliage will slow it down as it tries to pursue you. You should be able to dodge between obstacles to keep a distance, picking away at its health until it returns to the ooze from whence it came. Another effective way to defeat the Abomination in ...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Friday, February 10, 2023 2:45 PM
     Hogwarts Legacy Charles Rookwood's Trial Puzzles GuideCharles Rookwood's Trial is a main quest in Hogwarts Legacy. It represents the transition to the late-game stage of the campaign, and there are also several puzzles that you need to solve. Here's our Hogwarts Legacy Charles Rookwood's Trial puzzle guide to help you complete all your tasks here so you can finish the quest. Note: For more information, check out our Hogwarts Legacy guides and features hub. Hogwarts Legacy guide – How to solve Charles Rookwood's Trial puzzles in Hogwarts Legacy The Charles Rookwood's Trial puzzles and quest in Hogwarts Legacy become available after finishing several tasks, including The Helm of Urtkot, The Caretaker's Lunar Lament, In the Shadow of the Estate (which eventually leads to the Crucio spell unlock), and a few odds and ends. Once you've done all the objectives, talk to Professor Fig in the Map Chamber, and he'll meet you in front of Rookwood Castle (make sure you're tracking the quest):...

Gamer Empire Friday, February 10, 2023 12:57 PM
     There are thousands of counties in Crusader Kings 3, and most of them are unique in their own way. Some counties stand out due to […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Friday, February 10, 2023 1:00 PM
     Kifflom! To all of Michael's problems. Michael is no stranger to scams and sketchy organizations. So when he gets tangled with the Epsilon Program, he does whatever the organization wants him to do to find out exactly what the organization is about. Michael delivers a Velum aircraft to the Sandy Shores Airfield in Delivering the […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Friday, February 10, 2023 12:00 PM
     Viper shows her post-plant chops in VALORANT's newest map. Last year, Riot Games nerfed most of Viper's abilities through multiple updates, which took away some of the Controller/Sentinel hybrid's 'bite' in-game. The most obvious change has been directed towards Viper's Fuel Gauge usage, which drains twice as fast when both Toxic Screen and Poison Cloud […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Friday, February 10, 2023 11:00 AM
     In the new open-world video game Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the player enrolls as a transfer student at a big school in the Paldea Region. Only the player in the game is free to pursue any objective, whether it be to uncover the new Titan Pokemon, battle every Pokemon Gym, become the champion and be […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Friday, February 10, 2023 10:00 AM
     The Metroidvania action-adventure game Hollow Knight, developed by Team Cherry, recounts the travels of an unnamed warrior known as the Knight across Hallownest. This kingdom is now in ruins because of a terrible infection. The Knight can pick up new items, abilities, spells, and charms as he progresses through Hallownest, enabling the Knight to solve […]

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, February 10, 2023 3:27 PM
    

He also noted that Alan Wake Remastered had failed to provide royalties

The post Alan Wake 2 is Reportedly Now Playable from Start to Finish appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, February 10, 2023 12:00 PM
    

Horizon Is Well Suited For Multiplayer

The post Horizon Multiplayer May Work and Here's Why appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


MonsterVine Friday, February 10, 2023 12:00 PM
     When I heard that both Persona 3 and Persona 4, I was ecstatic. Both are some of the greatest examples of how a spin-off can become its own incredible thing, as these were the peak of the entire Persona franchise. For the most part, these remasters are completely sufficient ways to play these two JRPG […]