PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 9:38 AM  Wondering when the Soulframe release date is? The upcoming fantasy MMORPG from the creators behind Warframe has been on our minds since it was first announced in 2022. There is still little known about the project, other than that it is a beautiful open-world game est in a natural environment, and revolving around themes of climate change and environmental destruction, so of course we had to find out more. After being hinted at via a trademark filing during the first half of 2022, the MMORPG game was officially announced by during TennoCon 2022. From what we know so far, Soulframe seems to be going in a different direction to Warframe with its setting and gameplay, despite the name suggesting a connection, and we may have seen a hint regarding a potential early release window. With all this in mind, here's everything we know so far about the Soulframe release date and more. Continue reading Soulframe release date speculation, trailers, gameplay, and news MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best MMORPG - top MMOs you should play, The best RPG games on PC 2022, The best fantasy games on PC in 2022 |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 9:39 AM  What are the best FPS games on PC? From the classic physics chaos of Half-Life 2 to Halo Infinite's beautifully rendered worlds, these are the finest FPS games. For more than two decades, FPS games have been the driving force of the PC games industry. They've let us travel from the depths of Hell in Doom to the outer reaches of space in Titanfall 2. Others have taken us on a detour through the likes of Half-Life 2's zombie-infested Ravenholm, while some have embraced futuristic cities. Some of these games are old, others are new, and all are great. Wolfenstein 2's amazing campaign; Rainbow Six Siege's tight tactical multiplayer; Overwatch 2 and its vast array of amazing heroes. No matter what sort of virtual gunplay you're after, the following titles will satisfy your itchy trigger finger. So crack those knuckles, and get ready to make every shot count. These aren't only just the best FPS games, some of these entries are included in our best PC games too. Continue reading The best FPS games on PC 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Titanfall 2 class guide, Titanfall 2 PC port review, Titanfall 2 campaign review |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 9:30 AM  Looking for the best Star Wars games? There's a wide range of different games to choose from, and the quality varies wildly. It's safe to say that Star Wars has produced the most, and perhaps, the highest quality of licensed games, but which is the best? We collate the best Star Wars games from the new to the old so you know what to play when you have a hankering for some space adventures. From the deep, philosophical wrangling of Knights of the Old Republic to the breathless adrenaline rush of podracing in Episode I: Racer, we've managed to whittle down the huge amount of Star Wars games to bring you the best of the best. Even a half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder can appreciate that these are some of the best PC games ever made. Continue reading The best Star Wars games on PC 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order gameplay, Best space games on PC |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 9:20 AM  Looking for the best Warzone 2 shotgun? The short-range weapons might not immediately spring to mind when you think about the sprawling Al Mazrah and its high, long-distance vantage points. Still, you may be surprised about just how well it might serve you. After all, the map is dense with buildings, and you're likely to run into an opponent tucked into the corner of a room eventually. You will also certainly get more up close and personal once the storm circles close in. The best shotgun in Warzone 2 is the KV Broadside. With an exceptional rate of fire, this shotgun can decimate foes at close range in the battle royale game. However, we'd certainly recommend running Overkill so you can accompany your shotgun with one of the best Warzone 2 guns - ideally one with a bit more range. Continue reading Best Warzone 2 shotgun MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Warzone 2 guns, Best Warzone 2 loadout, Warzone 2 map |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 9:05 AM  Looking for the Destiny 2 Lightfall release date? Well, thankfully, it's here at long last, bringing Destiny's first decade closer to its dramatic conclusion - only one expansion, The Final Shape, remains in the Light and Darkness saga. Whether you love the game for the lore, hardcore PvP gameplay, or deep character customization options, the Lightfall expansion has something for every type of Destiny 2 player. The expansion introduced us to a new city on Neptune, a new subclass called Strand, and offered several quality-of-life improvements that both Destiny 2 veterans and New Lights will appreciate. Below, you'll find everything we know about the Destiny 2 Lightfall release date, information about the new subclass, a new planet to explore, new in-game features, and a host of new Destiny 2 Lightfall exotics. There's so much coming with Lightfall, and there's a reason that it's not only one of the best free PC games but one of the best FPS games of all time. Continue reading Destiny 2 Lightfall release date, subclass, and story details MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Destiny 2 classes, Destiny 2 Lightfall review, Destiny 2 builds |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 9:24 AM  The best Steam Deck cases will keep your precious gaming PC safe and sound while traveling, and protect it from scratches and drops. Valve does include an official carrying case with orders of its gaming PC, but this won't necessarily cover all of your needs. That's why we've handpicked a selection of cases for Steam Deck below, using our years of gaming experience to help you find the best choice for your needs. Fortunately, there are plenty of options when shopping for a Steam Deck case. You can start by thinking about where and how you use your handheld. If you value protection over anything else, you'll want a hard carrying case like the JSAUX Carrying Case in our number one spot. If you want to carry your Steam Deck around on the go, tomtoc's Arccos Steam Deck Travel bag is ideal. Although not cases in a traditional sense, we've also included a Steam Deck skin at the bottom of this guide, as these are a low-cost way to protect your device. Remember that bags and hard Steam Deck carrying cases also give you room to store important Steam Deck accessories like the best MicroSD cards in one place. Alternatively, colorful Steam Deck skins wrap around your device to give it some protection and lots of personality. We've tested the best Steam Deck cases available in 2023. While assembling our list, we looked at materials, protection, durability, price, and extra features to determine which Steam Deck case we think is best for any given purpose – be it traveling, extra storage, or saving precious space in your bag. Whatever case you choose, you'll also want the best Steam Deck accessories and the best Steam Deck Dock to get the most out of your handheld gaming PC. Continue reading Best Steam Deck case in 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 9:44 AM  It's no secret that games are bigger than ever, and storage space is at an absolute premium. Sometimes, you've just gotta bite the bullet and upgrade. Now's a good time to join the SSD train as the Seagate Firecuda 520 1TB hits its lowest ever price on Amazon. Continue reading Nab a Seagate Firecuda 520 SSD for cheaper than ever MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 7:46 AM  The Steam Deck is a wonderful if imperfect device, with its screen being one of its most noticeable weak points. Now, a company by the name of DeckHD is promising to improve on Valve's original design with a 1200p screen. While this sounds good on paper, I'm not convinced swapping out the stock option is a good idea. Continue reading Upgrading your Steam Deck screen to 1200p is a bad idea MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 7:40 AM  Looking for the Warzone 2 Season 3 Reloaded release date? The 'Reloaded' series of updates are the mid-season offerings doled out by the Call of Duty developers, and generally continue the initial season theme while adding a host of new content outlined in the initial roadmap. The free PC game was shaken up by the Season 3 changes, with adjustments to movement, the return of the one-shot sniper rifle, and the re-introduction of a classic CoD weapon: the Intervention. The roadmap for Warzone 2 Season 3 was hefty, and there were plenty of items on there that were marked 'in season', making them prime candidates to be included with Warzone 2 Season 3 Reloaded. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Warzone 2 guns, Best Warzone 2 loadout, Warzone 2 map |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 7:31 AM  There is no shortage of controversy when it comes to huge multiplayer games like League of Legends, and the current public reaction to the game's Pride backdrop is no exception. With fans claiming that Riot's support of queer players during League of Legends Pride is somehow being forced onto everyone or is "pushing an agenda," it's no wonder that the devs quickly clapped back at the bigotry. Continue reading League of Legends Pride backlash prompts sharp Riot response MORE FROM PCGAMESN: How much have I spent on League of Legends?, League of Legends patch 13.6, League of Legends tier list |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 7:12 AM  World of Warcraft crests and fragments are certainly here to stay, but for those of us grinding Mythic dungeons for Wyrm's and Aspect's Shadowflame, there's been an ongoing issue. If your World of Warcraft inventory has been filling up throughout the latest MMORPG expansion, and you're hoping for a big change that might give you some more space, Blizzard now says it is reworking the crests and fragments system ready for Dragonflight Season 3. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: WoW Dragonflight tier list, The best WoW addons, WoW Dragonflight review |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 7:29 AM  11-5-2023 The original version of this Diablo 4 battle pass season details guide shared that the Wings of the Creator emote would be included with the Accelerated Battle Pass. However, Blizzard Entertainment has released a statement clarifying that the emote is included only with the Ultimate Edition of the game, and that the Accelerated battle pass will instead grant "a special cosmetic." We've updated the guide accordingly. Need to know all there is to know about the Diablo 4 battle pass? A Diablo 4 battle pass is coming with the game's launch, giving people many reasons to play this awesome-looking, long-awaited sequel. On a recent Blizzard livestream, a team of developers shared what players could expect when the battle pass comes to the game after its launch. Fans of the series have been deeply curious about developer Blizzard Entertainment's plans for monetization. Here's everything we learned about the forthcoming Diablo 4 battle pass, including its various tiers, costs, cosmetics info, opportunities for paid progression, and more in Blizzard's action RPG. Continue reading Diablo 4 battle pass season details, pricing, and more MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 release date, Diablo 4 system requirements, Diablo 4 classes |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 6:45 AM  Are you looking to celebrate Honkai Star Rail birthdays? There are plenty of notable dates that crop up in Hoyoverse's character-driven gacha game, but none could be closer to your heart than the special day of your traveling companions. If you're no stranger to Genshin Impact, you might be wondering where to find these dates, and if you can expect anything from them. Stop your search, because we've got all the answers. Of course, when it comes to Honkai Star Rail birthdays, you can't forget your own. Honkai Star Rail doesn't either, bestowing you with currency to put towards Honkai Star Rail Warps for character or Light Cones – though we'd also recommend checking out our list of active Honkai Star Rail codes if you'd prefer not to wait around for the big day. Here's what you can expect from Honkai Star Rail birthdays. Continue reading Honkai Star Rail birthdays MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Honkai Star Rail review, Honkai Star Rail codes, Honkai Star Rail tier list |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 6:38 AM  Looking for all Diablo 4 Altar of Lilith locations? When you interact with these unholy points of interest, you, and every other character on your account, are awarded a permanent stat boost. These can be minor bumps to your core stats or an increase in your Murmuring Obol storage space. You will also be awarded Renown for discovering an altar. While the boosts to your stats might seem small at first, the sheer number of Altar of Lilith means that you'll soon notice a huge boost to your power. We've scoured every corner of the Diablo 4 map to bring you Altar of Lilith locations, and they're something you really need to add to your ever-growing to-do list if you want to be the best Diablo 4 slayer you can be. Continue reading All Diablo 4 Altar of Lilith locations MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 release date, Diablo 4 system requirements, Diablo 4 classes |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 6:23 AM  Looking for the best Sampo build? Honkai Star Rail's very own 'merc with a mouth' is none other than Sampo, an at-times lovable and shady walker of the Path of Nihility with qualities including a dollop of financial trickery and a Disney-tier rogue-ish nature. When he's not running his mouth, the wind user will find himself amply applying plenty of AoE damage over time effects to your enemies, making him quite the antithesis to Dan Heng's silent type and single target focus. Sampo slots best into quite a number of Honkai Star Rail team comps, excelling with multiple elements at play among each of the characters. While he may only hold one of the humbler positions on our Honkai Star Rail tier list, a little bit of time spent pulling for the mouthy mercenary will be worth it, and made easier with Stellar Jade. Continue reading Best Honkai Star Rail Sampo build MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Honkai Star Rail review, Honkai Star Rail codes, Honkai Star Rail tier list |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 6:14 AM  When the summer skies are clear blue and the sun's shining, what's the first thing on everyone's minds? That's right, graphics cards. At least, in Nvidia's world it is. They're giving away 460 RTX 4060 and RTX 4060 Ti cards this summer for their #RTXOn promotion. Continue reading Nvidia is giving away 460 RTX 4060 family cards MORE FROM PCGAMESN: RTX 4070 review, DLSS explained, Best graphics cards |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 6:01 AM  Each time I see Diablo 4 Lilith screens or artwork, I get a bit of a chill. Blizzard has done a terrific job on the blue-eyed demon queen this time around, and with Diablo 4 now on the horizon, it's little wonder Lilith's creators want to set her loose elsewhere. Starting in June, Lilith is coming to Diablo Immortal, with new quests and a whole-new class also slated for the free RPG game. So, if you thought you were safe from Lilith in Immortal land, think again. Continue reading Diablo 4 Lilith crossover coming to Immortal MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 release date, Diablo 4 system requirements, Diablo 4 classes |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 6:33 AM  Want to get into the Street Fighter 6 beta? At this point, almost everyone does since it's easily one of the most anticipated fighting games. While we know the Street Fighter 6 roster available at launch, only eight of these fighters will be playable in the upcoming beta. The first closed beta took place last October, and the second in December 2022. We now have news that the final open beta will be happening later this month. Moreover, the Street Fighter 6 beta includes crossplay between Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S consoles. No matter where your friends are playing the highly anticipated fighting game, you should be able to match up with them. The game modes on offer include online matches, tournaments, training mode, the new extreme battle mode, and even one or two classic Capcom arcade cabinets. Here are the details on when it starts and which of the sizeable Street Fighter 6 roster will be available to choose from. Continue reading How to access the Street Fighter 6 open beta MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Street Fighter 6 release date, Street Fighter 6 tier list, Street Fighter 6 roster |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 5:58 AM  The budget building battleground is heating up, as a new AMD Radeon RX 7600 specs leak suggests a challenger to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU family is almost here. The graphics card looks to be a decent upgrade versus its predecessor, with higher clock speeds, faster memory, and more. Continue reading AMD Radeon RX 7600 specs leak challenges Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Ryzen 7000 CPUs - everything we know, RDNA 3 GPUs - everything we know, Best gaming CPU |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 5:25 AM  Seeking out the best Genshin Impact Razor build? Abandoned as an infant, Razor was raised by a wolf pack and feels most at home in the wild. Protecting Razor at all times is the Wolf Within, a beast that is able to fight alongside Razor when he finds himself in a particularly difficult situation. As a sword-wielding Electro character, Razor performs well in parties that can help cause Genshin Impact elemental reactions – Cryo, Pyro, and Hydro characters help Razor deal massive amounts of damage. Razor's damaging attack combos make him the ideal candidate as the central DPS role in any party. Razor is highly regarded as one of the best four-star characters in the free PC game, and it's easy to understand why when you see how much damage he's capable of dealing. Here's everything you need to know about how to create the best Genshin Impact Razor build. Continue reading The best Genshin Impact Razor build MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Genshin Impact codes, Genshin Impact character tier list, Genshin Impact leveling guide |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 5:21 AM  Want to learn how to fight as Street Fighter 6 Jamie? Heavily inspired by his expert martial artist cousins, Yun and Yang, Jamie is the self-proclaimed defender of Chinatown. He specializes in the fighting style known as Zui Quan - Chinese drunken fist. Jamie is Street Fighter's first drunken master character, though officially the drink Jamie can be seen sipping on during fights is said to be a 'herbal concoction', not alcohol. Jamie's main rival is Street Fighter 6 Luke - unlike the series' main rivals, Ryu and Ken, these two feature radically different fighting styles. His drunken-fist fighting style can be tricky to understand at first, but if you can find time to take a few sips of his drink during the fight, you can unlock a variety of moves to help you crush your opponent. Jamie is by far one of the most interesting characters on the Street Fighter 6 roster, so here's a breakdown of his moves, combos, and strategy to master this martial artist. Continue reading Street Fighter 6 Jamie guide MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Street Fighter 6 release date, Street Fighter 6 tier list, Street Fighter 6 roster |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 5:17 AM  When is the Hollow Knight Silksong release date? Silksong is the long-awaited sequel to 2017's immensely popular Hollow Knight. We don't use the phrase 'long-awaited' lightly either, since over four years have passed since the game's announcement. Just like its predecessor, Hollow Knight Silksong is a 2D platform game that adopts a non-linear progression system. Set in an underground realm inhabited by bugs, you can expect to explore gloomy grottos and ancient citadels, fight off their quarrelsome occupants, and unlock powerful skills and equipment. Here's everything we know about the Hollow Knight Silksong release date, including gameplay and trailers. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Indie Games, Hollow Knight Silksong release date, Upcoming PC Games |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 5:29 AM  Want to know the Diablo 4 release date and all the latest news? The upcoming entry in the demon-slaying action RPG series has many teasers and trailers. They showcase the various classes we can use to take on the hordes of monsters that block the way between the horned lord of the underworld and, well, us. The roster of playable Diablo 4 classes includes transforming druids, spell-flinging wizards, and somersaulting rogues. Each class has unique combat skills to weave through every shambling zombie, skittering demon, and colossal terror that awaits you in these dank, hallowed halls. So far, so familiar, but that won't upset the series' devoted fans. One thing is for certain; when the RPG does release, it's bound to be making a push for our best PC games list. Join us as we break the seal and delve deeper into the deepest dungeons of Diablo 4, fishing through every chest to salvage everything we know, from the Diablo 4 release date and its story to new gameplay systems. Continue reading Diablo 4 release date, beta, trailers, gameplay, and features MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 release date, Diablo 4 system requirements, Diablo 4 classes |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 4:42 AM  Looking for the best Street Fighter 6 Chun-Li combos and special moves? For beginners, Chun-Li is one of the most complicated characters to learn. It's not just because her best moves have the charge input, but her combos are harder to set up consistently due to her speed. That said, she has some of the best regular moves in the game due to her reach, power, and nimbleness. With more moves per character than previous titles in the long-running fighting game series, Street Fighter 6 Chun-Li will take a long time to master if you aren't used to her gameplay mechanics. We sat down to practice with Chun-Li during the previous Street Fighter 6 beta to try and compile some tips on this potential top ranking character on the Street Fighter 6 tier list, making her special moves easier to pull off consistently and how you can work them into combos. Continue reading Street Fighter 6 Chun-Li guide MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Street Fighter 6 release date, Street Fighter 6 tier list, Street Fighter 6 roster |
PCGamesN Friday, May 19, 2023 5:52 AM  Looking for some of the best tycoon games to add to your collection? Whether you're after classic park management, or taking charge of a complex, nuanced business, there are plenty of great options to choose from right now, across a range of themes. This is a classic genre that's had plenty of love since its early days, with sequels and new blood galore. While there are plenty of classic tycoon games we could talk about - many of which are some of the best PC games available - we've decided to focus on modern highlights, as this is a genre that's constantly getting new releases and new ideas. We've also kept the definition relatively broad, as there are plenty of management games that you may not consider strictly 'tycoon' games, but have strong business or economic themes with the mechanics to back them up. Continue reading The best Tycoon games to play 2023 |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, May 19, 2023 9:24 AM .jpg?width=1920&height=1920&fit=bounds&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp) "Does that pommel horse have a grenade launcher?" is one of many bizarre questions I found myself asking while playing HROT. This Slavic shooter revels in the strange, straddling the line between hyper-bleak Soviet satire and goofy memetic joke factory. This isn't the best thing about HROT, we'll get to that in a couple of paragraphs. But the balancing of these two personality strands is what defines HROT's quality. At the outset, they exist in perfect symbiosis, but the relationship becomes less stable as the game goes on. The year is 1986, and something is seriously wrong in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. What that might be isn't explicitly stated, but given the year, the ambient chatter of Geiger counters, and the soldiers vomiting through their gasmasks as they prowl the abandoned streets, a nuclear disaster at an infamous Ukrainian power plant isn't a vast stretch of the imagination. In any case, anyone who wasn't killed by the fallout is now being hunted by an army of (presumably Russian, but again, it isn't explicated) soldiers. Emerging from a bomb shelter beneath Prague's Kosmonautů Metro Station (now named Háje), you take it upon yourself to defend your glorious homeland from these invaders. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, May 19, 2023 9:02 AM  Take a deep breath! Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengance Of The Slayer is releasing on June 1st with a simultaneous Game Pass drop. It's an old-school shooter set in the same retro-futuristic universe as Hypnospace Outlaw, but this time the focus is on fan-favourite character Zane Lofton, who actually "made" Slayers X in the fiction of the game. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, May 19, 2023 8:00 AM  I've been playing a lot of The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom this week. It's good. Really good. I know you've all been waiting for your favourite PC gaming-focused website to offer their take on it so there you go. It's properly, properly good. The best open-world adventure since Elden Ring, except arguably better because it doesn't pull your trousers down and point out the colour of your underwear every time you dare to explore a forest or watch a sunset. As you've probably seen, the game's biggest new draw is "Ultrahand", which allows Link to pick up loose objects and glue them together. Three logs make a raft. A plank and four wheels make a car. Two stones and a log make a... Ahem. You get the idea. In addition to this are "Zonai Devices", components that give life and movement to your doohickeys. A fan pushes your raft across the lake. A steering stick lets you manoeuvre your little car. It's a marvellous construction system that leverages the pre-existing physics engine seen in the game's predecessor, Breath Of The Wild, to startling results. Does this all sound familiar? |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, May 19, 2023 6:43 AM  Co-op horror prequel The Outlast Trials is out now in early access. Playing under-the-bed peekaboo with brainwashed killers can be an overwhelming ordeal, so now you can drag along a friend and spread out the trauma. This time, those snotty shakycam Blair Witch-type chases are set in a Cold War-era facility where you'll be put through some gruelling experiments. The early access launch trailer below lays out some of the titular trials you can expect. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, May 19, 2023 5:32 AM  Developer Strange Scaffold have announced another genre-blending adventure, Teenage Demon Slayer Society, this time mixing turn-based strategy combat with some character action flare. The game follows teen figurines, who are already struggling with the hellish world of high school crushes when an army of demons invades their world. Demonic invasions and teenage angst are - as we all know - a match made in heaven. Or hell. Either way it looks cool. |
Twinfinite Friday, May 19, 2023 10:00 AM Oh that's right, I can Ascend. |
Siliconera Friday, May 19, 2023 9:01 AM
In roguelike dungeon-crawlers, we often need to worry about characters' energy or stamina, with calorie consumption eventually eating away at their health and ending a run prematurely. Monster Menu: The Scavenger's Cookbook takes a closer look at what warriors in a labyrinth might do to survive when starvation is on the line. When you're trapped and attempting to get out, you need to make do with the resources in front of you. That means your absolutely adorable characters end up either noshing on a corpse that just fell in battle or used their parts to make some horrifying, yet shockingly nutritious food. In Monster Menu, every adventure starts out with a single character. Your avatar, who you can completely customize, headed into the Sealed Lands dungeon. However, it proved more dangerous and intimidating than it seemed, and now you're stuck. After resorting to eating the corpse of a days-old monster to stave off starvation, you wind up in a camp. You can then add between one and three custom allies to your group to increase or decrease the difficulty and attempt to escape. [caption id="attachment_964036" align="alignnone" width="1200"] In many ways, you can feel Monster Menu's "mystery dungeon" roots. Floors are randomized. Depending on the difficulty you choose, you'll have different modifiers adjusting the difficulties. You start from scratch, but some meals improve base stats. Actually facing the Sealed Lands with a party helps with survival. Things like exploring and fighting wear away at characters' Calories and Hydration meters, which you need to refill with foods and drinks. Unlike similar roguelikes, there's no "they only move when you move" element, which means needing to be more alert around enemies. However, while you do return to level one and drop ingredients when you die, you will still keep the equipment you found and recipes you learned. However, there's a much greater focus on food and keeping those basic need bars up, which really makes Monster Menu feel different from its contemporaries. Fighting monsters and gathering items in the dungeon will net you ingredients. These can be cooked to make shockingly realistic and sometimes disgusting dishes with various monster parts. Eating them increases stats and teaches skills a character, though I've found it best to wait and do so when the increases would be permanent. It's also surprisingly complex, as the quality and freshness of the materials you collect, the cooking skills of the character acting as the chef, and the preparation methods all alter the outcome in various ways. This means the variety of recipes can feel a lot larger than it is and offer more options when building up your party. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlxzpKvEPzs&ab_channel=NISAmerica There's also the whole "just eat the enemy you beat" element, which involves "devouring" the foe you just killed, scales, tentacles, fur, and all. Speaking of battles, Monster Menu is unique in that you aren't just taking part in more active fights like in, say, ZHP: Unlosing Ranger vs. Darkdeath Evilman. Upon touching an opponent, it and all enemies in the immediate vicinity all become your foes in a turn-based, tactical battle. Your attacks have various ranges, there's a turn order to follow, you can select various skills, and there are follow-up chain attacks if party members are in range when you land a hit. There's also some degree of "numbers go up" in effect, provided you've eat meals, feasted on fallen foes, and have certain equipment, but it's never as egregious as it is in Disgaea games. It all tends to work well, but also depending on what you find and eat or who shows up, it might not always feel as balanced. (But then, randomization can make that an issue.) However, there are some ways in which the nature of Monster Menu works against it. For example, part of the appeal of a roguelike dungeon-crawler is that it still ends up being relatively fast-paced. This means that even though you may sit for hours playing through run after run as you push further into the depths, it doesn't really feel tedious. Because every battle becomes a turn-based tactical affair, it draws things out a bit, As a result, I felt like the pacing could be a bit off, because early on some of the "weaker" enemy fights might take a lot of time and leave me wanting to take breaks between each dive. [caption id="attachment_964034" align="alignnone" width="1200"] I'd also love to see a Monster Menu sequel that changes how the Devour function works. In a fight, you can immediately feast on your fallen enemy. This can restore your health and temporarily let you "steal" their skill to use against their allies still around you. Except given the nature of the dungeon and elements, it would have been great if this effect held on for at least an entire floor or a bit longer. I'd loved to have seen how it could have complemented builds based on foods. There are certain NIS America games that sometimes end up a bit forgotten compared to other titles, like Cladun or The Guided Fate Paradox, and I really hope Monster Menu: The Scavenger's Cookbook isn't one of them. There are some elements that feel like they aren't quite there yet, like pacing or effect application, but what's here feels really different and innovative. I enjoyed my time with it way more than I expected to, and I would really love to see what could be done in a sequel. Monster Menu: The Scavenger's Cookbook will come to the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 in North America on May 23, 2023, Europe on May 26, 2023, and Australia on June 2, 2023. A demo is available. The post Review: Monster Menu Is Adorably Disgusting appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, May 19, 2023 8:00 AM
Japanese gaming peripheral company Answer is set to release a Neon Genesis Evangelion fight stick soon. The company has partnered with esports brand EVANGELION e:PROJECT for the fight stick, which is styled after Evangelion Unit-01. It will be available to purchase at stores throughout Japan on June 1, 2023, for 32,780 yen (about $236). Pre-orders are available now on Answer's website. The fight stick, which is compatible with Windows 10/11 PCs as well as the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo Switch, is colored black and purple. Its buttons and joystick are green, and the buttons have LEDs in them that can be turned on and off. Evangelion Unit-01 and the EVANGELION e:PROJECT logo are featured on the face plate, and it has a non-slip rubber mat on the bottom. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack. Check out some images of the fight stick below: [gallery columns="4" ids="964045,964046,964047,964048" link="file"] A button on the front of the Evangelion fight stick allows for easy access to the internals, where there are color-coded wires for easy button replacement. Replacement buttons, a button replacement guide, a wire for connecting the fight stick to PCs and consoles, and a Phillips-head screwdriver can also be found inside. Answer and EVANGELION e:PROJECT's Evangelion-themed fight stick releases on June 1, 2023. The Neon Genesis Evangelion anime is streaming now on Netflix. Evangelion: Death(true)2—a summary of the TV anime—and The End of Evangelion are also available on Netflix. The series' soundtrack can be listened to on Spotify. The post An Evangelion Fight Stick Is Coming in June appeared first on Siliconera. |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Friday, May 19, 2023 2:00 AM  In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, there is an entire underground region known as the Depths. This is a hostile environment that can fell even the mightiest warriors, but there are gear and items that make the journey into the unknown a little safer. Here is our guide on how to get and use Dark Clump in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Tears of the Kingdom – how to get and use Dark Clump When you venture into the Depths, you're likely to take damage sooner rather than later. When you do, you will discover that healing works differently beneath the surface. Your favorite dishes, which you previously could rely on to restore your health on the surface, are pretty much useless while you remain in the Depths. An effect called 'gloom' is what makes the difference. It locks your hearts away until you restore them with sunlight, or by activating a Lightroot. The good news is that there are ways to counteract this unwelcome effe... |
Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Friday, May 19, 2023 10:00 AM  Steamforged Games, the UK's leading creator and publisher of licensed tabletop games, has launched a Kickstarter campaign for their latest endeavor: Monster Hunter World Iceborne: The Board Game. Based on the successful video game expansion, this cooperative combat campaign board game already amassed over $868,216, surpassing its initial goal of $186,037, with 5,924 backers and … |
Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Friday, May 19, 2023 9:00 AM  Portal Games has announced a significant expansion to Ignacy Trzewiczek's popular strategy card game, 51st State. The new expansion titled "No Man's Land" brings the intriguing mechanism of area control into play, elevating the strategic depth of the game. The narrative of the game takes a fresh turn, bringing players to a final outpost in … |
Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Friday, May 19, 2023 8:32 AM  Ahotnik a new mech-based, semi-cooperative board game, is now on Kickstarter. Set in a dark future, the game unfolds in a world where nations combat each other and giant demons to gain dominion. As of now, the campaign has accumulated $29,944 in pledges, coming closer to its $37,688 goal, with 160 backers and 18 days … |
Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Friday, May 19, 2023 8:14 AM  Looney Labs recently released its first two releases for 2023: 'Across America Fluxx' and 'Around the World Fluxx.' The firm has also hinted at a third release, the 'Fluxx: The Board Game Compact Edition,' which is expected to hit the retail market on July 7, 2023. In 'Across America Fluxx,' players embark on a virtual … |