Kotaku Friday, December 22, 2023 9:15 AM  Happy holidays! Hopefully you'll be able to take a break from the upcoming festivities to enjoy some gaming. Should you find yourself at a loss of what to play, we've got a few recs. |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 9:52 AM  What are the best free Steam games in 2023? If you are bored and penniless, you don't need to fear a gaming drought. Steam is loaded with games to play without spending a dime. What's more, many of them are very good indeed: games that are just as much fun to play as their full-price, wallet-destroying siblings. In recent years, free Steam games have become the norm, with some even overtaking paid-for triple-A tiles as the leaders of the PC gaming hobby. Take a quick look at the platform's most-played list and, from FPS games to MMORPGs, you'll see that a significant proportion of the most popular and best PC games on the platform happen to be free-to-play. So, because we desperately care about the health of your bank account - and honestly worry about how much money you're spending on your nasty gaming habit - we want to help you find all the best free PC games worth your time. Continue reading Best free Steam games 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best free Steam games, Tank games, Best WW2 games |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 9:52 AM  December 22, 2023: A new Tower Defense X code has arrived for the Railgunner update. What are the new Tower Defense X codes? Promising all out tower warfare unlike anything the various other Roblox TD games released over the years can offer, using codes is a sure-fire way to stay ahead of the curve in this new strategy experience. And be sure to redeem them quickly. Roblox codes don't last forever. Without them, you risk falling behind in record speed. The bite-sized nature of Roblox experiences means it's entirely possible (and common) to master a few favourites at the same time. To help with the biggest out there, check out these Shinobi Life 2 codes for ninja adventures, Blade Ball codes to cut through the competition, and Blox Fruits codes to be the best pirate you can be. Continue reading Tower Defense X codes December 2023 – free in-game cash MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 9:49 AM  December 22, 2023: We're down in the tanks looking for new Toilet Tower Defense codes for the latest update. What are the new Toilet Tower Defense codes? A sweeping success when it comes to on-trend releases on the Roblox platform, one of the best ways to keep up (or get started) in this massively popular TD game is to keep on top of the various codes that come and go. Awarding valuable coins and other items, they're a great way to pull and upgrade the best units without spending a buck. Known to bring in over 100k visitors even on the quietest of mid-week mornings, this Roblox game is only second to a few others. If you want to check out the competition, Blade Ball codes can help you cut through the rabble, Blox Fruits codes can get you the Beli you need for powerful fruits, and Tower Defense X codes can jumpstart your efforts in the newest trendy TD game. Continue reading Toilet Tower Defense codes December 2023 – free coins and more MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 9:48 AM  December 22, 2023: New Untitled Boxing Game codes are in for the Freedom update. What are the new Untitled Boxing Game codes? These freebies will light your fists on fire with tons of extra spins. This relatively secretive Roblox brawler is gearing up for a big release, and its dynamic camera and fancy footwork already have it feeling like a beat-'em-up poised for the big leagues. Climb into the ring and fight fair. Just use a few codes beforehand. Nobody needs to know. Untitled Boxing Game certainly looks like it's very early into development, but the core functionality is all there. And it's a riot. Ready your fists and challenge anyone in the area to a punching match. Stand your ground, stay on your toes, and keep your head in the game. And if you can't quite cut it, we have plenty of Shinobi Life 2 codes for you to use instead, with Blox Fruits codes and King Legacy codes available if you're more of a pirate than a ninja. Continue reading Untitled Boxing Game codes December 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 9:57 AM  What are the best Cities Skylines mods? Colossal Order's city builder is a prospective civil engineer's dream come true. It's been a staple of the genre for many years, and the modding community has flourished in that time. Today, there are literally thousands of Cities Skylines mods available on the game's Steam Workshop page, which makes it understandably daunting to find the best ones. Luckily, you have us. We've gone ahead and handpicked a suite of the best Cities Skylines mods that are guaranteed to breathe new life into the building game. No matter if you're a casual builder or a hardcore city planner, you're sure to find something to tickle your fancy, so without further ado, here are the best mods for Cities Skylines. Continue reading Cities Skylines mods – the best mods and maps MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Cities Skylines mods, Cities Skylines 2 release date, The best city-building games |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 9:44 AM  December 22, 2023: We're up high on the towers looking for new Tower Defense Simulator codes for the Winter update. What are the new Tower Defense Simulator codes? And oldie but a goodie, this particular Roblox experience has been kicking around for years now. A mix of two very popular genres, even in the face of fierce competition, it keeps us coming back with big new updates, features, units, and seasonal events. And it's showing no signs of slowing down. Assuming you're not sticking to just one Roblox game, you can find more freebies on our Blade Ball codes page. That's the latest experience to make it big on the platform. For more classics, Blox Fruits codes and Legends of Speed codes are both worth checking out, too. It's like taking a crash course in the history of the platform's greatest hits. Continue reading Tower Defense Simulator codes December 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 9:40 AM  December 22, 2023: We're out on the field searching for new Super League Soccer codes. What are the new Super League Soccer codes? This new footy game on the Roblox platform lets you take up any role on the field, be it a goalkeeper, a striker, a midfielder, or any other position on the 7v7 lineup your team might be lacking. And it isn't without style, either. If you can master the technique, bicycle kick goals aren't out of the question, with the below codes giving you the coins you'll need to stay ahead of the opposing team. Need even more Roblox games to add to your rotation? For some of the most popular and long-lasting titles right now, check out these Multiverse Defenders codes, Project Slayers codes, and Blox Fruits codes. If you'd prefer to escape the anime hold, Arm Wrestle Simulator codes, Doors codes, and Brookhaven codes might be more your speed. Continue reading Super League Soccer codes December 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 9:37 AM  December 22, 2023 We're speeding across the lands looking for new Southwest Florida codes. What are the current Southwest Florida codes? In this RPG, you can become whoever you want to be. More often than not, though, the goal is to earn enough cash to buy the best ride that money can buy. Some codes will give you more than enough to afford a brand new car, while others will put you ever closer to buying your dream vehicle. To afford this lifestyle, you'll need cold, hard cash, and with these Southwest Florida codes, you'll have plenty to spend on nice cars in this Roblox experience. Of course, there are other similar games available, so if you'd rather take to the crime-filled streets, we have all the current Da Hood codes and Pet Simulator 99 codes. Or if you prefer something a little more chill, then these Berry Avenue codes may help you get the best outfit. Continue reading Southwest Florida codes December 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 9:38 AM  December 22, 2023: We keep lifting in the hopes that we'll uncover new Strongman Simulator codes. What are the current Strongman Simulator codes? If you want to pump some iron and need that little extra boost, then you've come to the right place. Here we have all the current rewards that temporarily buff your movement speed, the energy you accrue, and workout gains for exercising at dumbbells. Of course, we also have codes for other macho sports-based Roblox games, including Muscle Legends codes, Punch Wall codes, and Legends of Speed codes. For now, though, if you want to get strong specifically in Strongman Simulator, here are some bonuses you can gain to maximize your workout. Continue reading Strongman Simulator codes December 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 9:35 AM  December 22, 2023: We're darting around looking for new Shinobi Life 2 codes. What are the new Shinobi Life 2 codes? Shinobi Life 2, which was formerly known as Shindo Life, is among the most popular gacha games on the Roblox platform thanks to its lightning-fast action, wealth of unlockables, and Naruto-like vibes. Developer RellGames is also an extremely active creator, delivering a tight weekly update schedule and serving up regular codes for rellcoins, spins, double XP, and more. If you want to stay ahead of the competition, you'd be wise to make use of our codes list down below, which we update regularly to bring you the latest rewards before they're gone. We'll also explain how to redeem Roblox Shinobi Life 2 codes (it's like redeeming Shindo Life codes), as well as when you can expect new codes to arrive. If you need more freebies, we also keep updated lists of new Blox Fruits codes, Pet Simulator 99 codes, and All Star Tower Defense codes. Continue reading Shinobi Life 2 codes December 2023 |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 9:25 AM  2023 has been an exceptional year for new games, so much so that over 50 releases were considered for a place on this top ten list of the best PC games of 2023. Outside of the sheer quality of the year's lineup, we must also celebrate the variety on offer, from sprawling turn-based RPGs and life-devouring live-service action games to comedy-horror shenanigans with friends. Five independently produced games made it into our top ten this year, with every passing month bringing something fresh and exciting to consider. It was the year we finally saw the launch of three of the most highly anticipated games of the past decade: Diablo 4, Baldur's Gate 3, and Starfield. 2023 was also filled with consistent surprise hits, from Dave the Diver to Lethal Company. I wonder which - if any - made the cut. Continue reading PC games of the year 2023: PCGamesN's top ten picks MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 builds, BG3 mods, Baldur's Gate 3 classes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 9:31 AM  December 22, 2023: We're looking out for new Sakura Stand codes. What are the newest Sakura Stand codes? Revamped from an old game of the same name, Sakura Stand is a JoJo's Bizarre Adventure-inspired anime Roblox game with gameplay that matches similar fighting and farming experiences. Like many Roblox games, this one has a bunch of codes you can redeem to get more chances to receive tokens and experience boosts. It's far from the only anime game out there, especially when it comes to Roblox games, so while you're here, check out the latest Anime Champions Simulator codes, Blox Fruits codes, and Fruit Battlegrounds codes for some more freebies. Continue reading Sakura Stand codes December 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 9:26 AM  December 22, 2023: We're on the hunt for new Ro-Ghoul codes for the holidays. What are the Roblox Ro Ghoul codes? Despite still being in beta, Ro Ghoul, inspired by Tokyo Ghoul, is one of the most popular Roblox games at the moment. The developer, Sushi Walrus, celebrates this regularly with some great in-game redemption codes, and we've tested all the latest ones. In Ro Ghoul, you take on the role of either an investigator or a ghoul as you try and defeat the other group and stay alive. The great thing about Ro Ghoul is that you can change your role each time you load into a new server to try both out. If you're after some bonus in-game currency, we've got all the latest Ro Ghoul codes you need, but if you're here, then you're a Roblox fan, so you should also take a look at the latest Roblox music codes and all the most up-to-date Roblox promo codes. Continue reading Ro Ghoul codes December 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 9:22 AM  With the holidays just around the corner, you may be waiting to open a Meta Quest 3 headset on Christmas morning. Fortunately, this list of the best free Meta Quest 3 games has plenty of titles to ensure you're never short of gaming options. Some of these games absolutely highlight what is the best VR headset currently, despite the fact they're free. After spending some time with the latest headset from Meta during our Meta Quest 3 review, we've got the best free games that you need to try out, especially if you've already played the best VR games on PC. Continue reading Best free Meta Quest 3 games MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 9:20 AM  December 22, 2023: We're sprinting around searching for new Race Clicker codes. What are the new Race Clicker codes? We've compiled a list of all the new Race Clicker codes for free wins and boosts in this click-to-win Roblox game. The codes can be redeemed in-game, providing many competitive advantages to help you win the clicking frenzy. The game is simple, the faster you click, the faster you go. Some of the codes offer free auto clicks and pets, while you can get boosts and luck for a limited time. If you're looking for further Roblox freebies, we regularly update our lists of the latest Anime Adventures codes, Blox Fruits codes, and All Star Tower Defense codes. Continue reading Race Clicker codes December 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 9:09 AM  What are The Last of Us system requirements? It's been a whirlwind adventure for The Last of Us with sequels, remasters, and TV shows turning it into a global phenomenon. But how does the original stack up when it comes to more modern game requirements? The original version of the classic PlayStation action-adventure game may be over 10 years old now but don't expect to run it on similarly old hardware. In fact, this remaster of The Last of Us is fairly demanding on PC. Continue reading The Last of Us system requirements MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 9:07 AM  December 22, 2023: We're keeping our eyes peeled for Pet Simulator 99 codes that could arrive for this Saturday's Christmas update. What are the new Pet Simulator 99 codes? If you're extremely lucky (and timely), getting a bunch of free gems in Big Games' latest pet collecting game can be as easy as typing a few letters into a box. As time goes on, though, we expect PS99 codes to become increasingly rare, perhaps even being tied solely to physical merch like plushies, lucky bags, and playsets. We've seen it happen before. Pet Simulator 99 is the third Pet Simulator Roblox game Preston and his team have put out. Though it isn't out to replace Pet Simulator X codes directly, it will be the one getting the big updates from now on. If leaving your old collection behind doesn't sound fun to you, consider checking out Blade Ball codes or Blox Fruits codes instead. Continue reading Pet Simulator 99 codes December 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 9:11 AM  December 22, 2023: We're still out here looking and begging for new Pls Donate codes. What are the new PLS Donate codes? This donation simulator is a big hit on the Roblox platform, chiefly because it's one of the few games where you're in with a real chance to earn free Robux. Setting up a donation stand is simple enough, but standing out from the crowd is essential if you want to entice big donors. That's where PLS Donate codes come in handy. Our up-to-date list of PLS Donate codes includes the Giftbux you need to customize your donation stand and a few items to trade in return for a donation. PLS Donate is one of the best Roblox games if you're looking to stock up on Robux, so be sure to get ahead of the economic curve and redeem these PLS Donate codes. We've also got a collection of Roblox promo codes, as well as the best Roblox music codes if you fancy firing up some tunes while working your stand. Continue reading PLS Donate codes December 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 9:05 AM  December 22, 2023: A bunch of new Peroxide codes have landed with another due soon. What are the new Peroxide codes? If you're trying to get ahead of the competition in Peroxide, we've collated all the latest codes for free product essences. We'll also run you through how to redeem the active Peroxide codes and where you can expect to find more for the Bleach-inspired anime fighter. Peroxide is an established Roblox game that's erupted in popularity recently following an update. If you're searching for further Roblox freebies, we've also got regularly updated lists of Blox Fruits codes, Project Slayers codes, and AUT codes. Let's run through the Peroxide codes and the rewards they'll get you. Continue reading Peroxide codes December 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 8:59 AM  December 22, 2023: We're on the hunt for new Christmas update Murder Mystery 2 codes. What are the newest Murder Mystery codes? Roblox games rarely throw up an intense experience as is offered by MM2, a game where you could be saddled with one of three roles; the murderer, a bystander, or the sheriff. The murderer has to, well, murder. The bystanders have to avoid the wrath of said murderer, and the sheriff has to figure out, and eliminate, the bad person. Sound familiar? This Roblox game is more cerebral than most, which means that while you'll rely on your wits most of the time. Still, it never hurts to have a helping hand in the form of some freebies via MM2 codes. If you're after other gifts, Blade Ball codes shouldn't go ignored. We also have Project Mugetsu codes and Blox Fruits codes that can help you grind those long-tail adventure games. Continue reading Murder Mystery 2 codes December 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 8:56 AM  December 22, 2023: We're still out here searching for new King Legacy codes for the holidays. Looking for new King Legacy codes? The Roblox gacha game is one of the most popular on the platform right now. The developer, Venture Lagoons, is great at handing out new codes with a new update, and they even hide the occasional secret code in the world. We've gone exploring, and have all the latest codes, including the newest secret code, listed below to make the search easier on yourself. You can just focus on the grind instead. King Legacy codes can give you anything from in-game currency and gems to a full stat refund, so you can respec your character from scratch if you wish to do so. If you don't, be careful not to enter those codes. And if these aren't enough Roblox freebies for you, take a look at our Roblox promo codes guide, or maybe discover some of the other best Roblox games right now. Continue reading King Legacy codes December 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 8:58 AM  December 22, 2023: We're running around looking for new Legends of Speed codes. What are the new Legends of Speed codes? Legends of Speed challenges you to become the fastest runner by competing in races across several different maps. It's one of the most popular games on the Roblox platform, so you may find it difficult to outrun the competition. Thankfully, our Legends of Speed codes can level the playing field and transform you into a speed demon. Our up-to-date list of active Legends of Speed codes includes bonus Steps, so you can hit the ground running in one of the best Roblox games. Want something different to add to your Roblox rotation? Check out these Blade Ball codes And before you speed ahead of your competition, check out the best Roblox music codes to get you pumped ahead of your next race. Without further ado, here are the latest Legends of Speed codes. Continue reading Legends of Speed codes December 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 8:55 AM  December 22, 2023: We're still out on the high seas looking for new Haze Piece codes. What are the new Haze Piece codes? Like many Roblox experiences, Haze Piece is inspired by the popular One Piece anime. If you aspire to become the king of the pirates, then you can get a head start by typing in some codes for free race spins, gems, and even some stat refunds if you fancy changing things up a bit. There are several other anime-inspired Roblox games out there, with the most popular ones at the moment giving away loads of free stuff via codes. We have regularly updated lists for Blade Ball codes, Blox Fruits codes, and Project Slayers codes, among many others. For now, though, let's run through the Haze Piece codes and the rewards on offer. Continue reading Haze Piece codes December 2023 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 8:50 AM  22 December, 2023: Updated the LoL Arena tier list to show the current top ten team comps. What are the best team comps in the League of Legends Arena mode? Arena is a 2v2v2v2 competition, pitting four teams of two champions against each other in increasingly deadly rounds until only one remains. It's all-action, and frankly, a ton of fun, but it can be extremely tough if you don't know what team compositions work well, as what works on the Rift doesn't necessarily work in the Arena. The free PC game doesn't add new game modes very often, and what they did have (Twisted Treeline) was removed a long time ago to consolidate the playlists. Arena mode, however, gained huge support with its initial limited release, with peons like us, creators, and even pros testing their combat prowess in League of Legends' frenetic mode. If you plan on stepping into the Arena, you're going to want to know what kind of team composition works best, as choosing ineffectual champions will mean an early exit for you and your partner. Here's our opinion on what League of Legends team comps work best in Arena, as well as an exclusive from the devs at Riot. Continue reading LoL Arena tier list – best team comps according to Riot and us MORE FROM PCGAMESN: League of Legends Season 14, League of Legends patch 13.23, League of Legends tier list |
PCGamesN Friday, December 22, 2023 8:49 AM  What are the best The Finals weapons? Grab the cash, bank the cash, and get out of Dodge - that's the plan. A lot easier said than done, though, especially when you factor in the other squads trying to do the same. While your objective in The Finals may be centered around banking money, there is always the inevitable threat of a fight, and when it does kick off, it pays to know the best The Finals weapons so you always come out on top. With The Finals release date here, players are starting to formulate plans on how to achieve complete dominance. One thing that you'll always need to succeed is a powerful weapon or two. From our experience playing The Finals, we have compiled a list of the best weapons, a lot of which find themselves in our best The Finals loadouts guide. Continue reading Best The Finals weapons and guns, ranked MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The Finals settings, The Finals servers, The Finals classes |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, December 22, 2023 10:00 AM The Black Parade is a Thief mod from a team including a dev at Arkane and an original Thief designer  Hear ye! This month marked the 25th birthday of Thief: The Dark Project. While not as infinitely mutable as other 90's icons like Doom (which just turned 30, and can be played on a pregnancy test), stealth gaming's grandpappy has maintained an enduring appeal and influence, especially for those more inclined to sneaking than slaughter. Buckets of digital ink have already been spilt examining this legacy, so I won't dive into the weeds of a hagiography. What I want to highlight is a major event that marked the 25th anniversary – one that makes today as great a time as any to explore Thief's still-thriving mod scene. Notable: After a quarter-century, stealth fans were gifted a new, 10-mission Thief campaign called The Black Parade. Pitched as a prequel to the first game, it features a new protagonist, new story, and new heists, built by some of the most lauded modders on the scene. More notable still: The team lead is Romain Barrilliot, a fan-turned-pro designer at Arkane, where he, alongside other former Thief acolytes, iterates the immersive sim tenets in their patented im-sim laboratory. Mostest notablest? One of Thief's original designers, Daniel Thron, joined The Black Parade's team – and simultaneously released a new Thief short film, featuring the original game's voice actors. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, December 22, 2023 9:54 AM  The Day Before, once Steam's most wishlisted game before experiencing a bizarre journey through multiple delays, accusations of being a scam, apparent legal disputes and a catastrophic Early Access launch, will shut down its servers in one month. The effective end to the game will accompany refunds for anyone who brought it on Steam. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, December 22, 2023 8:17 AM  Chinese regulators have announced far-reaching curbs on monetisation and reward systems for online games, in a move that has wiped almost $80 billion from the market value of the world's biggest videogame publisher Tencent and their rival NetEase. Under the new government restrictions, which are pending final approval, online games in China will be banned from giving players rewards for logging in every day, spending money within the game for the first time, or spending money several times consecutively. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, December 22, 2023 8:00 AM  Welcome to door 22 of the RPS Advent Calendar. To enter, you must prove your identity by answering a simple question. Who are you? A human... or a puppet? |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, December 22, 2023 7:46 AM  The existence of the Upper Lunch Hut implies the existence of a Lower Lunch Hut, but as far as I can tell, no such building exists. It's one of many mysteries that surround the edifice, which I discovered during a holiday in the Cairngorms this August, while everybody else at RPS was writing about some tyrannous entity called Gamescom. First, the approach: having exited a vast pine forest of primeval aspect and supernatural disposition, with distant, daylit clearings leading the eye deeper and deeper into the undergrowth, till it feels at last as though your gaze has become tangibly enmeshed with clutching root and lowering branch - having finally escaped from that terrible, terrible forest, with its single, mournful stream crossed by a bridge of predatory bareness that is surely a haven for trolls, you set out across a grey and purple oblivion of reed and heather, a moorland rising to the border between glens, broken only by the stark red stain of a door. Nearing this otherworldly aberration, this scarlet phantasm, you realise that there is a house constructed around it, a sloping excrescence of withered planks and flaking plaster. What fell secrets could it harbour? Let us go and make our visit. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, December 22, 2023 6:00 AM  Like a circus strongman's barbells, 2023's year in VR has been heavily weighted toward either end. The last twelve months were bookended with the launch of two excellent VR headsets (although only one is truly relevant to us PC gamers) and a whole bunch of great VR titles. The summer, however, was the quietest I've known for a long time, to the point where I ended up playing two VR minigolf games in the absence of anything better to do. Fortunately, the last few months have made up for it, providing enough fantastic VR games to feed us well into next year. So it's an unevenly weighted set of barbells, the kind that would give our moustachioed muscleman a slipped disk. |
Twinfinite Friday, December 22, 2023 10:00 AM  |
Twinfinite Friday, December 22, 2023 9:00 AM  |
Twinfinite Friday, December 22, 2023 7:19 AM  |
Twinfinite Friday, December 22, 2023 7:07 AM  |
Twinfinite Friday, December 22, 2023 7:01 AM  |
Twinfinite Friday, December 22, 2023 6:38 AM  |
Twinfinite Friday, December 22, 2023 6:32 AM  |
Twinfinite Friday, December 22, 2023 6:23 AM  |
Twinfinite Friday, December 22, 2023 5:59 AM  |
Siliconera Friday, December 22, 2023 9:00 AM
I was skeptical knowing that Capcom was going to attempt to help create a mobile game set in the Devil May Cry universe with NebulaJoy. I wouldn't really call this part of the franchise, since it's more or less just a spin-off with a very loose story featuring key members from the Devil May Cry series. But given Capcom's previous foray into the mobile genre with Sengoku Basara: Battle Party, my hopes weren't exactly high on whatever it was Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat was potentially going to deliver. While there is some good in this portable action game, the entire experience is bogged down in over-complicated systems that encourage players to dip into their wallets was early as the first mission.
Over the years, I've come to the realization that I'm a real hound for Capcom games. Resident Evil. Sengoku Basara. Devil May Cry. Haunting Ground. If it happened to come out during the PlayStation 2 and GameCube generation, I probably played it. Mostly because I just really liked what Capcom was dishing out. So naturally, given my propensity for the company's games and my love for all things Devil May Cry (even the Japan-exclusive stage play that was really just OK), that I'd be down to eat up what Peak of Combat was selling. Unfortunately, the game itself is really inconsistent in several ways that dragged down whatever good was left in it.
The translations and voice acting are all over the place. In-game cutscenes are rarely voiced, and when they are the voice acting is flat and sounds like middling to bad attempts at impersonating the core cast of Devil May Cry. It could be a case of bad direction, but it's very uneven when you realize that the voice actors for Peak of Combat didn't even end up voicing the barks and battle noises for the characters when you do play the game. While Lady has an entirely new voice actress throughout, but Johnny Yong Bosch, Ruben Langdon, and Dan Southworth's performances in previous Devil May Cry games seemed to have been reused. So it's really jarring when you jump from a cutscene into gameplay and Dante, Vergil, and Nero just sound, well, right. In relation to the translations, there are loads of grammatical errors and sentences that are in sore need of localization. Some of it seems machine translated, or not cleaned up in a way to make character descriptions or tutorials sound natural. Going through the early segment of the game I had to double-take when Lady asked me to "Use potion to level up character."
Character designs have remained mostly the same throughout, with players able to obtain new cosmetic options by obtaining weapons from the gacha. The gacha, which also shares materials, means that your Epic level drop could be a catalyst for upgrading a weapon and not the weapon itself. Now, one of the first things the game allows you to do is to perform ten x10 pulls to celebrate the (eventual) release of the game, with the option to pick one of those x10 pulls at the end. But there's a catch.
You need to pay $60 to keep that x10 pull.
What seems like a generous offer and is pretty standard with a lot of modern mobile games is actually just a way to get you to spend money. Same with obtaining a "better" version of Vergil, as you can pay a total of $10 for to push him up to S-Rank (because everything functions on Devil May Cry's style ranks). This offer is given to you immediately after the game lets you try him out in one boss encounter. Boosting characters doesn't even make a significant difference, because there are so many systems layered on that wants you to use Red Orbs to level things up.
You can use Red Orbs to unlock more combos for characters and even level up attacks, which is admittedly really cool because that's stock and standard for Devil May Cry. But Red Orbs are also used to level up Cards, which increase passive stats, level up your character, level up your weapons, and so forth. The currency that seems bountiful in Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 ends up getting drained pretty quickly. I would generally say it isn't worth investing in lower rarity weapons, but because Peak of Combat x10 pulls are so expensive that you may as well just make what you're given work for you.
Concerning gameplay, the game actually has that cool factor Devil May Cry is known for. Attacks are tied to whatever weapon the character has equipped, which changes how they play and is important for your party composition. You can take a total of three characters onto the field with you, that you can switch between almost-freely bar a few second delay. It felt awesome chaining combos between Dante, Lady, and Nero, getting that SSS Rank, which isn't super hard to do, but still makes you feel cool. Which plays into the design philosophy around Devil May Cry, so in that Peak of Combat absolutely nailed it. Everything else? Not so much.
The game gives you way too much to do outside of going through the main story to rank up your own personal office to unlock more quests. This becomes an issue because the game functions on a stamina. Thankfully this doesn't include the main story, so you can just keep chugging along there until you hit a hard block. But you grind out materials and Red Orbs this way through several different game play systems that seems kind of overwrought. It's just too much of a not-good-thing, when there's so much potential for this to genuinely just be awesome there.
Devil May Cry: The Peak of Combat is a cool game dragged down by the need to make more and more money every year. It has all of the hallmarks of a game that desperately wants you to spend something on it. Be it the three-tiered Battle Pass, weapon pulls, character upgrades, stamina refills, whatever. It's hard not to be cynical about it, but I've seen the way Sengoku Basara: Battle Party went with it's VIP levels and upgrade systems. But maybe Peak of Combat will have a longer lifespan due to it's fun combat, perhaps even drawing players who want a more active experience in. It's just hard not to see getting worse from here.
Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat is available in early access for Android and iOS.
The post Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat Follows the Same Egregious Monetization appeared first on Siliconera. |
WGB, Home of AWESOME Reviews Friday, December 22, 2023 8:17 AM The Day Before developer Fntastic has made what may very well be its final official statement before completely shutting down. In it, they reveal when the servers will be shutting down and provide an update in regard to refunds. |
iDev Games Feed Friday, December 22, 2023 6:27 AM Help Santa collect the missing presents - before it's too late! You've got 60 seconds to find all the missing presents and get back to your sleigh. Good luck!... |