May 08, 20:01


Kotaku Monday, May 8, 2023 7:40 PM
    

In August 2022 we told the very sad story of a serious Nintendo collector who, having thought he'd got hold of some very special old playing cards, had in fact got hold of two hunks of worthless cardboard.

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Kotaku Monday, May 8, 2023 7:15 PM
    

Few game show moments are as great as when a Jeopardy! contestant desperately needs a Daily Double, they find it, get it right, and take the lead. Almost as good: When someone bets big while in the lead and loses. Well, now this iconic part of the show is changing as viewers at home will be told where the Daily Double…

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Kotaku Monday, May 8, 2023 5:55 PM
    

The series hasn't even been released in the U.S. yet, but Pokémon anime fans are already adopting Fuecoco as their favorite son. Sprigatto and Quaxly who?

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Kotaku Monday, May 8, 2023 5:54 PM
    

On the colorful, cartoonish race tracks of Gameloft's free-to-play kart racer, Disney Speedstorm, one monster has become a menace. One monster can't be stopped. That monster is Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc. And while fans want this green little speed ball nerfed, Gameloft has no plans to do so anytime soon.

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Kotaku Monday, May 8, 2023 4:47 PM
    

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 punctuated the ending to arguably one of Marvel's best trilogy films (don't @ me) with an emotionally gratifying final needle drop that had its titular characters, the fans, and even the musician behind the song ugly-crying with happiness. Minor spoilers ahead.

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Kotaku Monday, May 8, 2023 4:20 PM
    

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Kotaku Monday, May 8, 2023 3:15 PM
    

Sometimes I discover a website or app that I know is going to suck up hours or even days of my life and immediately have to close it or else I'll not get any work done. That's exactly what happened when I stumbled upon the new official website that lets you freely explore every Enterprise bridge that has appeared over…

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Kotaku Monday, May 8, 2023 3:00 PM
    

If you attempt to skip past certain story elements in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, the latest Force-powered action-adventure from Respawn Entertainment, you're greeted with a funny little pop-up message warning you that the game may break. That sounds like it could suck, but in actuality, it's pretty cool that the…

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Kotaku Monday, May 8, 2023 2:35 PM
    

Despite Dead Island 2's glamorous outer shell—its sparkling, sprawling vision of L.A., filled with scattered cash and ruined mansions—what makes it compelling is making its many zombies literally spill their guts. As you may have once heard, it's what's on the inside that counts.

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Kotaku Monday, May 8, 2023 2:00 PM
    

Are you ever playing a Pokémon game like Scarlet and Violet, happily running around the open world catching critters and having a good ol' time, when you suddenly remember Game Freak stranded the protagonists of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl in the ancient past with no means of returning to their friends and family in the…

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Kotaku Monday, May 8, 2023 1:10 PM
    

When The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom began leaking online, Nintendo initially fought back with standard copyright takedowns of screenshots, video streams, and entire Discord servers hosting links to pirated versions of the game. Now it appears to be ramping up the offensive, going after some of the emulation…

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Kotaku Monday, May 8, 2023 12:40 PM
    

Recently, a guest on the popular TV series Antiques Roadshow brought on something quite different from the types of things folks usually have appraised by the show's experts: a binder containing all 102 original, base-set Pokémon cards. What makes the segment so interesting is that appraiser Travis Landry takes it…

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PCGamesN Monday, May 8, 2023 1:56 PM
     Half-Life 2 still has a perfect opening, and we can prove it

It's redundant now to declare Half-Life 2 one of the best PC games of all time. It's like saying, "The Godfather; good movie, right?" Two decades on from Half-Life 2's initial release, this remains as true as it ever was.

Replay it in 2023 - the year in which the FPS game itself is set - and you'll be treated to countless iconic, hair-raising moments and set pieces each underlined by the stunning technical achievement of Source engine, freshly unveiled alongside Half-Life 2. Beyond the groundbreaking advancements, visuals, and gameplay is the story, itself expertly crafted as if created by some master of dystopian science fiction.

Amid all this, it's all too easy to forget that Half-Life 2's opening chapter, Point Insertion, was - and is still - perfect. And you don't just need to take our word for it: we have the evidence.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Whatever happened to Half-Life 3?, Best old games, Best FPS games

PCGamesN Monday, May 8, 2023 1:45 PM
    

Being a Black female gamer is no cakewalk. In a realm that, in many spheres, is hyper sensitive towards white women, never mind women of colour, forging your own path can seem destined for failure. Having just completed her work on Forspoken, Square Enix's recent RPG game, PCGamesN caught up with Black Girl Gamers CEO and founder Jay-Ann Lopez to talk about her journey.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Forspoken cast and voice actors, Forspoken map, Forspoken system requirements

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, May 8, 2023 12:26 PM
    

It's funny how some aspects of game design are so ubiquitous that we stop questioning them, or even noticing them. After decades spent playing video games, I know that if I look behind the waterfall, there's likely to be some sort of shiny goodie to collect. If I head left rather than right at the start of a level, I'm bound to find a juicy secret. There are conventions. Traditions. I can't remember a time when games didn't have giant lifts - and yet, I'm not entirely sure why they're there. I'm not talking about the regular kind of lifts that you pile into, usually at the end of a level, to transition from one part of the game to another; those ones have historically been used to hide lengthy loading times, like the interminably long lifts of Mass Effect.

What I mean is the lifts that are essentially tennis-court-sized moving platforms, usually with little more than a flimsy guard rail around the edge to stop elevator enjoyers from plunging down the shaft. Even more specifically, I'm talking about the diagonally moving elevators that trundle slowly into the depths, often to some nefarious laboratory. There's a good example in the Resident Evil 2 remake, where you fight the final boss on an inclined elevator as it slowly, ever so slowly, descends towards the train that will grant your escape. So where did these giant elevators come from? And why do developers keep putting them in their games? I set out to answer both questions, and went somewhere unexpected.

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Twinfinite Monday, May 8, 2023 3:59 PM
     Transfer over to the new system before it's gone.

Twinfinite Monday, May 8, 2023 3:00 PM
     Return to Hyrule!

Siliconera Monday, May 8, 2023 6:15 PM
    

Image via Capcom

Capcom announced its Street Fighter 6 open beta. It will appear between May 19-21, 2023. However, who can play it that weekend is a bit limited. The trial is only for players on the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. Those with a PS4 can't participate.

Capcom clarified that if someone got to be part of the closed beta test two, things will look familiar. People will again be able to go into the battle hub and play online. Chun-Li, Guile, Jamie, Juri, Ken, Kimberly, Luke, and Ryu will be the playable characters. There's also a trailer showing off the various modes and options.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMAao7ooWhY&ab_channel=StreetFighter

Leading up to Street Fighter 6's launch, we've had another way to look at the game. Capcom's been sharing video clips of characters online. The one for May 7, 2023 showed off Dhalsim beating Ryu in a match.


We were also able to see new clips of Marisa and Cammy.

Street Fighter 6 will appear on the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on June 2, 2023, a demo is available now, and the open beta will appear May 19-21, 2023. It will also show up in arcades.

The post Street Fighter 6 Open Beta Appears Next Week appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 8, 2023 4:30 PM
    

How to Find Starskiffs and Notes in Honkai: Star Rail's Fired Mission

The Xianzhou Luofu "Fired" mission in Honkai: Star Rail is one with a lot of moving parts, what with counting starskiffs, finding lost notes, hunting down the starskiff hit-and-run suspect, and trying to convince Luhui to not fire Mei the maid. It's a lot to deal with in the game! It might also leave you wondering "what if," since the Trailblazer can make a lot of dialogue choices.

Editor's Note: There will be Honkai: Star Rail "Fired" mission spoilers below, including details about whether or not Luhui will fire Mei.

Things start out with the Honkai: Star Rail "Fired" mission seeming like a standard observation task, as you'll report to Tantan at Central Starskiff Haven in Xianzhou Luofu. The first part involves counting starskiffs and keeping track of their colors. So the first question just asks, "How many white passenger starskiffs went past?" The correct answer is three. However, when starting the second task, you'll see a blue starskiff come out of nowhere and hit another one.
[caption id="attachment_962172" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Screenshot via Siliconera Screenshot via Siliconera[/caption]

A woman named Mei is injured, and you'll be tasked with contacting her next of kin or someone who knows her. She's more consumed with finding her lost notes, which leads to the next part of the Honkai: Star Rail "Fired" mission. Two of them actually feature the number you need for Luhui, her employer. Fortunately, Tingyun lent you Diting. You can then check the immediate vicinity for the two specific notes. You'll find them at the spots shown in the screenshots below.
[gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="962173,962174,962176,962175" link="file"]

The step after that involves checking in with witnesses to the accident with Tantan. They're the only two people in the highlighted areas who offer an "inquire" prompt when you approach them. You can find them at the positions below.
[gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="962177,962178,962180,962179" link="file"]

All of the other points in this questline direct you to specifically highlighted points. However, as you start to help Tantan end his investigation, there will be a few other questions you'll need to answer. Once you get a photo of the accident, for example, you'll need to tell Tantan that the offending starskiff is "the third one from the left." Also, when you find the hit-and-run driver, you need to submit evidence to prove guilt. I found using the photograph of the scene of the crime worked best.
[caption id="attachment_962181" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Screenshot via Siliconera Screenshot via Siliconera[/caption]

This prompts a fight against an enemy from the area. After which, you'll talk with Luhui and Mei again. Once you see their final talk, you'll get 1 Refined Aetther, 25 Strale, 40 Stellar Jades, 250 Trailblaze EXP, and 15,000 Credits.

As for whether or not the Honkai: Star Rail "Fired" quest ends with Luhui definitively deciding to fire Mei or not, you get a definitive answer the day after finishing it. I chose to select responses that attempted to convince Luhui not to layoff her employee. However, for me the quest ended with her still fired. The next day you open the game however, you'll get a text message from Luhui explaining she decided not to fire Mei.
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[caption id="attachment_962171" align="alignnone" width="1200"]How to Find Starskiffs and Notes in Honkai: Star Rail's 'Fired' Mission Screenshot via Siliconera[/caption]

Honkai: Star Rail is available for PCs and mobile devices, and PS4 and PS5 versions are in development.

The post How to Find Starskiffs and Notes in Honkai: Star Rail's 'Fired' Mission appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 8, 2023 4:00 PM
    

Pokemon Scarlet Violet Chesnaught Tera raid

The strongest Chesnaught will be the next 7-star Tera Raid in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. It'll run from May 12-15, 2023 and May 19-22, 2023. As a note, Chesnaught and its pre-evolutionary forms are not native to Paldea. So this will be our only chance for trainers to catch one this generation unless you trade.

Like other 7-star Tera Raids in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the Chesnaught will come with a Mightiest Mark. It will have a rock Tera Type. In previous games, Rollout was the only rock-type move that the Chespin line could naturally learn. So this Tera Raid Chesnaught might know something like Rock Slide or Stone Edge, which are moves that you would normally need to teach via TM.

Chesnaught, which is the final form of Chespin, debuted in Pokemon X and Y as the Grass-type starter. It's a grass/fighting type and looks like a cross between a giant hedgehog and an armadillo. So far, the only other Kalos starter to appear as a Tera Raid Pokemon is Greninja, which was the Water-type. Delphox is the final form of Fennekin, and it will likely join its compatriots in Paldea later on.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are readily available on the Nintendo Switch. The Chesnaught Tera Raid Battle event will run from May 12-15, 2023 and May 19-22, 2023.

The post Next Pokemon Scarlet, Violet Tera Raid is Chesnaught appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 8, 2023 3:30 PM
    

Best Tingyun Build in Honkai: Star Rail

Honkai: Star Rail is a game where even four-star characters can be the best, and Tingyun is an especially helpful one with the right Relic set and Light Cone build. Like her and Pela are both extraordinarily helpful. Increasing her attack and making great use of her Blessing ability and energy regeneration is key for making sure characters like Seele get to use their Ultimates more often.

What are the best Light Cones for a Tingyun build in Honkai: Star Rail?

The best possible Light Cone for your Tingyun build in Honkai: Star Rail is the five-star But the Battle Isn't Over. This is partially because of its "When the wearer uses their Skill, the next ally taking action (except the wearer) deals 30% more DMG for 1 turn(s)" part of its base ability. Tingyun is all about increasing a target ally's attack and adding Lightning damage to it, and this increases that further. That Light Cone's "Increases the wearer's Energy Regeneration Rate by 10% and regenerates 1 Skill Point when the wearer uses their Ultimate on an ally" part also pairs perfectly with her Ultimate, which also increases the target's energy and damage. Bronya may be on that 'card," but it's basically made for Tingyun.

For three-star ones, I'd say Meshing Cogs or Chorus are great. The former helps her get energy faster, so you can use her Ultimate on an ally sooner. The latter increases everyone's attack by a certain percent, which greatly benefits her Skill.

[caption id="attachment_962162" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Tingyun Builds Can Make Her an Incredible Honkai: Star Rail Supporter Screenshot via Siliconera[/caption]

As for four-stars, there are two I'd recommend. One is Carve the Moon, Weave the Clouds. It will either increase everyone's attack, increase everyone's critical damage, or increase everyone's energy regeneration by a set percent each time Tingyun gets her turn, and all three bonuses work perfectly with her kit. The other is Kites from the Past. That cases the ally acting after she uses her Skill to deal extra damage that turn, which is fantastic if it happens to someone Tingyun just "blessed."

What are the best Relic sets for a Tingyun build in Honkai: Star Rail?

I know for a lot of characters, I've tried to recommend two Relic sets for a character. That isn't going to happen with Tingyun. Her Soothing Melody skill relies too heavily on her attack. You have to go with Musketeer of Wild Wheat. It's "ATK increases by 12%" two-piece bonus and "the wearer's SPD increases by 6% and Basic ATK DMG increases by 10%" four piece are too helpful for what you're going to accomplish with her. Stick with that. Go to the Cavern of Corrosion: Path of Drifting at Jarilo-VI's Corridor of Fading Echoes and try and find her pieces that increase her attack and speed as much as possible.

Honkai: Star Rail is available for PCs and mobile devices, and PS4 and PS5 versions are in development.

The post Tingyun Builds Can Make Her an Incredible Honkai: Star Rail Supporter appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 8, 2023 3:00 PM
    

minato aqua murasaki shion covid-19

VTubers Murasaki Shion and Minato Aqua of Hololive tested positive for COVID-19. The news came from the official Twitter account for the company. The two of them will go on a temporary hiatus in order to recover. The dates of their return will appear on social media.

Shion uploaded a Twitter Voice clip saying that her throat hurts and she feels terrible. She can't speak in a loud voice because of her condition, and she has a fever of about 39 degrees Celsius (102.2 Fahrenheit). She noted that she's barely clinging onto life (hopefully an exaggeration), and that she will return to streaming as soon as she's better.

Minato Aqua also posted several updates on the situation. About ten hours before Cover's announcement, she stated that she's had a fever of 39 degrees Celsius since the day before. She also uploaded a voice clip of herself saying "Yahoo!" twice. We can see her voice sounds very hoarse compared to normal. She stated that she only went out once during Golden Week, which was when she caught the virus.

Both Murasaki Shion and Minato Aqua are on hiatus due to COVID-19. Laplus Darkness, another Hololive VTuber, is also on break due to the virus. More information on the three's return will appear on Cover's social media accounts when they recover.

The post Murasaki Shion and Minato Aqua on Hiatus Due to COVID-19 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 8, 2023 2:00 PM
    

Splatoon Splatfest Virtual Art Gallery Open

As part of the various Splatfest events in the Splatoon series, Nintendo releases official art. So for Splatoon, we'd see the Squid Sisters Callie and Maries engaged in activities for the festival, and so on. Now Nintendo's Japanese branch released a virtual gallery online that shows the imagery created for all three games' special events.

The official site doesn't show the winners for the Splatoon, Splatoon 2, and Splatoon 3 Splatfest events, only the art. Each one shows what the question was for that one, as well as what the two sides were. In the case of situations where there were different topics, there are buttons that you can click to see the different options. For example, the July 2017 Splatoon 2 Splatfest was Rock vs Pop in Japan and Cake vs Ice Cream in North America, Europe, and Oceania. So if you scroll to that event in the virtual gallery, it initially shows Pearl and Marina with the Rock vs Pop art, and clicking the button for other regions shows the Off the Hook members with cake and ice cream.

The gallery also covers art from special collaborations as well. For example, there is the image for the May 2018 Sanrio Splatfests. The Deep Cut The Legend of Zelda Splatfest imagery showed up as well.

Splatoon is available on the Nintendo Wii U, while Splatoon 2 and 3 are on the Switch.

The post Splatoon Splatfest Virtual Art Gallery Open appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 8, 2023 1:30 PM
    

Otaku Lamps Launches Persona 5 Royal Character Acrylic Lamps

There's a new line of Persona 5 Royal character merchandise. Otaku Lamps announced its new collection. There are nine lamps total in the collection. Each one is an acrylic stand based on members of the Phantom Thieves. The normal retail price for each one is $39.99, though they are temporarily on sale for $34.99 each. While they are noted to be based on the updated version of the game, there isn't one for Kasumi "Violet" Yoshizawa.

Eight of the nine Persona 5 Royal character lamps feature members of the Phantom Thieves. You can get Joker, Ryuji "Skull" Sakamoto, Morgana, Ann "Panther" Takamaki, Yusuke "Fox" Kitagawa, Makoto "Queen" Niijima, Futaba "Oracle" Sakura, and Haru "Noir" Okumura. The ninth design features the Phantom Thieves insignia hat with mask, rather than Goro "Crow" Akechi or Violet.

Here's how all of the lamps look both in their packaging and while in use. Each one has 16 different color options when in use. There are also different modes that offer static light or strobe and active effects.
[gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="962127,962128,962129,962130,962131,962133,962132,962134,962135,962136,962137,962138,962139,962142,962140,962143,962141,962144" link="file"]

Persona 5 is available on the PS3 and PS4, while Persona 5 Royal is available on the PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC. The Persona 5 Royal acrylic character lamps are available at Otaku Lamps and ship everywhere except Japan.

The post Otaku Lamps Launches Persona 5 Royal Character Acrylic Lamps appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 8, 2023 1:00 PM
    

Do Retry Joins Shonen Jump Manga Lineup

Shonen Jump added yet another new manga series, with this one being Do Retry. It is a boxing series by Jun Kirarazaka, who previously worked on Bone Collection. It is also a period piece that takes place after World War II. The first chapter is already live on the Manga Plus and Viz Media sites, with additional ones appearing weekly.

Do Retry stars Aozora Okami, the teenage son of a boxer who was sent off to war. After the bombings, him and his younger sister Akari are left as war orphans doing their best to survive. When its discovered Akari has tuberculosis, Aozora ends up going to confront some men who stole from him. It's then that his ability to get back up after taking a punch and right hook are noticed by a woman who thinks he'd be suited to become a boxer.

This series follows two other debuts in April 2023. Shonen Jump added Tenmaku Cinema at the beginning of that month. It follows a high schooler who's "possessed" by a deceased screenwriter who wants him to get his final work made. Kill Blue, a series about an assassin turned into a kid, is the other.

People can see new Shonen Jump Do Retry manga chapters every Sunday. The second chapter will arrive on May 14, 2023.

The post Do Retry Joins Shonen Jump Manga Lineup appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 8, 2023 12:30 PM
    

VShojo IQ999 lore videos.

VShojo released two new videos following the story of a new possible VTuber labeled as a "genius." Each video has been posted both on both the English and Japanese Twitter accounts with respective narration and subtitles. The company has not shared an official name yet, only referring to the project by #IQ999 on each post.

Check out the IQ999 VTuber teaser videos from the VShojo Twitter account in the thread below.

https://twitter.com/VShojo/status/1655407173118164992?s=20

The animated videos tell the story of a child test subject, acknowledged for her impressive intelligence, who escapes from a secret laboratory where she is being held. From what can be seen, she is referred to as "genius." Among her test results appears that she has an IQ of 999.

Many fans have been speculating this could be some sort of preliminary teaser for a new talent joining the agency. It should be noted that VShojo held auditions for new talents back in August 2021, but since then the Japanese branch only consists of Kson and Nazuna Amemiya.

Moreover, in April 2023 three talents Nyanners, Veibae, and Silvervale left the agency after deciding not to renew their contracts. However, these VTubers will still be active and using their own personas but as independent content creators.

So far VShojo released only two videos related to IQ999 in May 2023. However, it is possible that more animations will be released in the coming days possibly prior to the official announcement of a new project.

The post VShojo Teases New VTuber Project "IQ999" With 2 Lore Videos appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 8, 2023 12:00 PM
    

Review: Darkest Dungeon II Is as Stress Inducing as Its Predecessor

Cosmic horrors abound in Darkest Dungeon II, a game is bleak as its predecessor. The stress inducing aspects of Darkest Dungeon are back and more nail-biting than ever. But what the sequel offers is a new way to tackle challenges by adding a wealth of new mechanics that will play into whether you walk away from encounters victorious or at the brink of self-destruction. It doesn't necessarily reinvent what makes Darkest Dungeon so good to begin with, but instead builds upon its core strengths to create something more engaging.

Darkest Dungeon II requires the player to fail in order to progress, which feels almost antithetical to the original by design. Yes, you can trudge on through the game with minimal upgrades or even with the four starter characters. This is entirely possible, but I wouldn't recommend it if you want the full experience. Obtaining candles by completing objectives during your runs, such as tackling certain encounters, will allow you to unlock restorative and curative items, accessories for your carriage, and even other characters like the Flagellant and Vestal.

Failure reaps its own rewards, and it helps create an entirely new attitude when tackling the more roguelike elements of Darkest Dungeon II. Thankfully, the game itself does follow a familiar framework, which won't leave those who enjoyed the original game feeling dissatisfied or alienated. Instead of picking a different "size" of map, players will pick a region and explore a generated path where they can pick routes similar to Slay the Spire. Each of these routes features a specific destination point, which then narrows out into a boss encounter as you reach the end.

[caption id="attachment_962071" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Darkest Dungeon II Screenshot via Siliconera[/caption]

After completing a boss, which can be fairly challenging depending on how your run leading up to the encounter has gone, you then progress to the next chapter of the game. The difficulty only ramps up from here, but there is an item you can affix to your carriage to make the journey less stressful. However, it feels negligible and I didn't feel that using it made the game any easier. But maybe that was because I tend to play these games in the same fashion as I do Souls titles, and that's min-maxing and throwing myself at whatever comes my way until I can simply brute force my way through the game. That doesn't really work in Darkest Dungeon, or Darkest Dungeon II, as you will want to strategize and memorize what kind of status effects and enemies appear in each area.

For example, some locales will have enemies who are more susceptible to blight damage, which is a damage over time poison, or others that will generate more stress or even throw back damage over time effects of their own. These can include bleed, burning, and blight. Items unlocked through the candle system can heal these status effects, or character skills. The Plague Doctor is a premium choice as a party member for this reason, since she can increase resistance to status effects and even remove them while healing a bit of damage. That said, characters do feel more balanced overall. Even as you level up their skills as the game constantly provides a challenge and will require you to think over who to heal and when, or what enemies to prioritize over others.

[caption id="attachment_962072" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Red Hook games Screenshot via Siliconera[/caption]

A new mechanic to the game also gives the interaction between characters a bit more texture. Your party can now forge relationships with one another, and raising their affinity can help reduce stress and even provide temporary stat boosts. In early access, this wasn't clearly telegraphed, and it felt like bonds could deteriorate at the blink of an eye. The full release broadcasts this more clearly, so you can actually help build these relationships in a more concentrated effort. That said, you can easily destroy these bonds just as easily as you can build them. And you can face serious repercussions if two party members end up squabbling in the middle of a fight. My Highwayman at one point refused to be healed by my Vestal because they were often at odds with one another, which left him on death's door more times than I could count. You can try to mend these frayed relationships at an inn with specific items, which helps circumvent characters being locked into hating each other until you've completed your excursion. It feels more fair this time around, and wasn't nearly as aggravating as it was in early access.

Obtaining new skills for the individual characters is done through specific segments during which you can unlock memories for individual characters. These sometimes involve stages where certain objectives must be met, but aren't hard enough to actively fail at. Though you will want to tread carefully, as failure means you'll need to give it another shot at another one of these points should it spawn along your journey. I enjoyed the Graverobber's story the most, even though it was effectively elaborated on in one of the short, one-page comics released for the first game. It was interesting to experience the events first-hand, and receiving a new skill as a result was also a good reward. Not that I needed it, because even as barebones as Darkest Dungeon II's story is, I found myself wholly engrossed in it.

[caption id="attachment_962070" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Darkest Dungeon II Screenshot via Siliconera[/caption]

I love cosmic horror, and Darkest Dungeon II brings what was once isolated to a hamlet located in the middle of nowhere to a greater stretch of the world. You see the repercussions of the events of the first game, and every time you start a new run you are greeted with a sliver of new lore as to how the world spiraled into the state it is. Another interesting thing is seeing characters that were allies in Darkest Dungeon appear as enemies in specific stages. The Antiquarian, for example, is now traveling with bandits, and it was exciting but also sad to have to kill a character I had grown familiar with over the span of a hundred hours spent with the first game.

Overall, Darkest Dungeon II expands on the series in a way that brings a new kind of freshness to the core experience. Those looking for something identical to the first game may feel disappointed with how progression tracks, or a lack of a more diverse roster of characters. That said, it is bound to keep you entertained for hours on end, and has plenty of new mechanics to engage in that allow for more experimentation and min-maxing.

Darkest Dungeon II is immediately available on PC.

The post Review: Darkest Dungeon II Is as Stress Inducing as Its Predecessor appeared first on Siliconera.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, May 8, 2023 7:18 PM
     Best VEL 46 Loadout for Warzone 2 DMZ Season 3The Vel 46 has been a solid choice of SMG since Warzone 2's inception, and best of all, it's available from the start. This weapon is so powerful it actually received a nerf in Season 3. But make no mistake. This pocket-sized powerhouse is as dangerous as ever and remains a potent SMG. With this in mind, let me show you the best VEL 46 Loadout for Warzone 2 DMZ Season 3. Related: Best Kastov 762 Loadout in Warzone 2: Best Attachments and Class Setup Best VEL 46 Loadout for Warzone 2 DMZ Season 3 VEL 46 Attachments Laser – VLK LZR 7MW Stock – Demo RXT Stock Rear Grip – ZLR Combat Grip Barrel – Tango 228 Barrel Magazine – 50 Round Magazine Equipment Lethal – Throwing Knife Tactical – Smoke Grenade Suggested Perks Overkill Fast Hands High Alert Tracker The VEL 46 is a monster up close, and these attachments help the weapon shine in this environment. The Laser gives extra ADS and Sprint to Fire speed as well a...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, May 8, 2023 6:32 PM
     Honkai Star Rail Rarely Affectionate Part 2 Meeting Pascal In Rivet TownIn Honkai: Star Rail, Clara is one of the more kind-hearted characters. She has genuine affection for the robots she works with in the Underground, even when some of them don't seem to deserve it. Her adventure missions explore the matter more deeply than ever. Here is our guide on how to complete Rarely Affectionate (Part 2) in Honkai: Star Rail. Note: We'll have a Honkai: Star Rail guides and features hub soon, so stay tuned. Honkai Star Rail – how to complete Rarely Affectionate (Part 2) As suggested by the title, this is the second major part of a series of missions. You can check our guide on how to complete Rarely Affectionate (Part 1) if you need help with the previous portion. It must be completed first. You also need to reach Trailblaze Level 34, and you must also complete the Sinners Misled, Credence Falsified story mission. To complete Rarely Affectionate (Part 2), you have to gather more robot parts and help Clara make a decision. It do...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, May 8, 2023 6:05 PM
     Bronya Best Team CompsHonkai: Star Rail features a starting roster of seven different 5-star characters that you can pull at any time. These "standard" 5-star characters, however, are nothing to laugh at, and some of these characters are amongst the strongest in the game. This includes Bronya, a 5-star Wind Harmony character that is one of the strongest buffers currently in the game. Bronya has the ability to increase allies' damage in numerous ways, with ATK buffs, Crit DMG buffs, and straight-up flat damage buffs. This makes her an important part of any DPS-heavy hypercarry team, such as with characters' like Seele or Dan Heng. Here's our guide on Bronya's best team comps in Honkai: Star Rail. Bronya is a 5-star Wind character and can be summoned on Character Event Warp banners or the Regular Warp banner. During Character Event Warp banners, when you roll a 5-star, you have a 50% chance of receiving either a featured character or one of the seven "standard" ...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, May 8, 2023 5:17 PM
     How to Get Colors for Exile Outfit in Star Wars Jedi: SurvivorAs you progress through the story and the world of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor you'll come across various crates, filled with many things. From BD-1 parts to lightsabers, there are a lot of hidden items just waiting to be found. Since Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has somewhat of an open-world design to it, you'll need to go out of your way to find these items. However, the more you find the higher degree of customization options you get. But at the same time, are not that hard to acquire. If you want to know how to get colors for Exile Outfit in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, continue reading. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor: How to get the colors for the Exile Outfit. First and foremost, you need the Exile Outft in order to do this. If you haven't found it, this guide will certainly help with that. Now that you have the jacket itself, let's add some design options for you. The first thing you want to do is head to Koboh, once there head to Fogged Expanse. Which is locate...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, May 8, 2023 5:07 PM
     Honkai star rail silver wolf version 1.1HoYoverse is coming fast and hard to dry out our bank accounts, revealing three new characters coming to Honkai: Star Rail in Version 1.1. Version 1.0 has yet to release its second featured 5-star character of the patch, the Electric Erudition character Jing Yuan. That being said, if the General of the Cloud Knights doesn't necessarily interest you, you'll have plenty of time to save for the new characters coming in Version 1.1. These characters are the 5-star Silver Wolf and Luocha and the 4-star character Yukong. Silver Wolf is a 5-star Quantum Nihility character and has the ability to add a weakness to enemy targets of the same type as a random ally. Additionally, Silver Wolf can Entangle enemies, which delays the action of their moves. Meanwhile, Luocha is a 5-star Imaginary Abundance character with the ability to remove enemy buffs and heal allies. This would make Luocha the third primary healer of the game, which makes him a great pick if you do not have two already. ...

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Monday, May 8, 2023 7:00 PM
     Fans of Warcry will be thrilled to hear about the upcoming expansion, Nightmare Quest, which sees the Stormcast Eternals taking on the savage Flesh-eater Courts in the Gnarlwood. This expansion comes with a new set of warbands, including the precision-focused Askurgan Trueblades and the bloodthirsty Claws of Karanak. In other Warhammer news, the Horus Heresy …

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Monday, May 8, 2023 6:00 PM
     A new card game featuring axolotls and axes has hit Kickstarter, and it's quickly gaining popularity among fans of quick, chaotic games. "Axe-A-Lot-L" has already exceeded its funding goal, with over $21,000 pledged by more than 1,200 backers. The game is easy to learn and play, but offers plenty of strategic choices and combos for …

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Monday, May 8, 2023 5:00 PM
     It's a big year for Thorgal fans with the new board game for Portal Games having successfully finished its crowdfunding campaign, and now a new tabletop roleplaying game set in the world of Thorgal is on the horizon. The game, Thorgal: The Roleplaying Game, is a unique combination of fantasy and science-fiction genres, set in …

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Monday, May 8, 2023 4:00 PM
     Epic Battles, a new wargaming rulebook that allows players to relive famous battles from history, is currently on Kickstarter and has raised $13,000 of its $123,000 goal with 41 days remaining. Epic Battles is a unique wargaming experience that covers battles from over five thousand years of history. The game incorporates the development of tactics …

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Monday, May 8, 2023 3:00 PM
     Glass Cannon Unplugged and Genuine Entertainment have announced the full Legend roster and a Kickstarter exclusive for Apex Legends™: The Board Game. The game will allow players to experience the ultimate Apex Legends™ experience, involving opposing teams of Legends battling it out on a 3D arena in multiple game modes, covering a diverse abundance of …

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Monday, May 8, 2023 2:21 PM
     Doctor Who fans and Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts have something to look forward to this October as they celebrate 60 years of the iconic time-traveling hero through the power of Magic. The upcoming release of Magic: The Gathering – Doctor Who will feature four ready-to-play Commander decks that allow fans to relive their favorite moments …

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Monday, May 8, 2023 1:54 PM
     Eventyr Games has launched a Kickstarter campaign for their latest product, the 5E Magic Item Cards. The campaign has already exceeded its initial goal of $1,655 and has reached a total of $23,812, with 491 backers and 11 days to go. The 5E Magic Item Cards are a set of 300 beautifully illustrated card handouts …

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Monday, May 8, 2023 4:48 PM
    

A PC release date trailer was also released. 

The post Metroidvania Elypse Launches May 17 for PC appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Monday, May 8, 2023 4:12 PM
    

A new job listing posted by Bandai Namco was recently spotted on LinkedIn.

The post A New Little Nightmares Game May be in Development appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Monday, May 8, 2023 3:47 PM
    

The trailer confirms that the game will finally have its gameplay reveal

The post Payday 3 Gets New Teaser Trailer, Gameplay to be Revealed Soon appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Monday, May 8, 2023 3:25 PM
    

This coincides with VGC's recent report

The post A PlayStation Showcase Will Reportedly Take Place May 25 appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Level Up Monday, May 8, 2023 12:09 PM
     After years of waiting, fans will finally get their first look at Payday 3's gamplay,…

May 08, 14:00


Kotaku Monday, May 8, 2023 1:10 PM
    

When The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom began leaking online, Nintendo initially fought back with standard copyright takedowns of screenshots, video streams, and entire Discord servers hosting links to pirated versions of the game. Now it appears to be ramping up the offensive, going after some of the emulation…

Read more...


Kotaku Monday, May 8, 2023 12:40 PM
    

Recently, a guest on the popular TV series Antiques Roadshow brought on something quite different from the types of things folks usually have appraised by the show's experts: a binder containing all 102 original, base-set Pokémon cards. What makes the segment so interesting is that appraiser Travis Landry takes it…

Read more...


Kotaku Monday, May 8, 2023 11:40 AM
    

Charles Philip Arthur George, aka Charles III, was officially crowned the King of England on May 6. The coronation, which took place at the Westminster Abbey Anglican church in London, was expectedly gaudy and lavish, overflowing with enough gold and jewels to make you blind with all the incessant sparkling. Never…

Read more...


Kotaku Monday, May 8, 2023 10:24 AM
    

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is only a few more days away. The special edition consoles have shipped. The leaks are out there. And the digital version of the game has begun pre-loading on every Switch. The only thing left? Trying to remember what the hell happened in the first game, Breath of the Wild.

Read more...


PCGamesN Monday, May 8, 2023 1:56 PM
     Half-Life 2 still has a perfect opening, and we can prove it

It's redundant now to declare Half-Life 2 one of the best PC games of all time. It's like saying, "The Godfather; good movie, right?" Two decades on from Half-Life 2's initial release, this remains as true as it ever was.

Replay it in 2023 - the year in which the FPS game itself is set - and you'll be treated to countless iconic, hair-raising moments and set pieces each underlined by the stunning technical achievement of Source engine, freshly unveiled alongside Half-Life 2. Beyond the groundbreaking advancements, visuals, and gameplay is the story, itself expertly crafted as if created by some master of dystopian science fiction.

Amid all this, it's all too easy to forget that Half-Life 2's opening chapter, Point Insertion, was - and is still - perfect. And you don't just need to take our word for it: we have the evidence.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Whatever happened to Half-Life 3?, Best old games, Best FPS games

PCGamesN Monday, May 8, 2023 1:45 PM
    

Being a Black female gamer is no cakewalk. In a realm that, in many spheres, is hyper sensitive towards white women, never mind women of colour, forging your own path can seem destined for failure. Having just completed her work on Forspoken, Square Enix's recent RPG game, PCGamesN caught up with Black Girl Gamers CEO and founder Jay-Ann Lopez to talk about her journey.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Forspoken cast and voice actors, Forspoken map, Forspoken system requirements

PCGamesN Monday, May 8, 2023 7:13 AM
     What is the Destiny 2 Lost Sector today?

Are you looking for Destiny 2 Lost Sector locations for today's daily Legend and Master Lost Sector? Before you can take on Legend Lost Sectors, you need to complete all the normal Lost Sectors first. If you don't, the new Legend Lost Sectors will not appear on the map. Each day, the location, modifiers, and rewards rotate out for something new.

While many Exotics can be bought from Xûr or even in the world loot pool, the Destiny 2 Exotics in these special Lost Sector instances cannot, forcing players to explore these dangerous areas if they want the best equipment available. It's important to remember that exotic drops are not guaranteed after completing these quests, so you may have to run through the same Lost Sector multiple times. You can go through the quests in the free PC game with a fireteam, but your rewards will be reduced to Enhancement Cores only.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Destiny 2 classes, Destiny 2 Lightfall review, Destiny 2 builds

PCGamesN Monday, May 8, 2023 10:22 AM
     Corsair TC100 Relaxed review

Before starting my Corsair TC100 Relaxed review, I couldn't wait to upgrade my gaming chair from the rapidly disintegrating bargain seat I purchased several years ago to something decidedly more premium. Now, having spent the past couple of months sitting in it, it's proven itself to be a veritable throne, and is certainly befitting of its "Relaxed" label.

Continue reading Corsair TC100 Relaxed review
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Corsair HS70 headset review, Corsair K70 RGB Mk2 review, Best gaming keyboard

PCGamesN Monday, May 8, 2023 7:54 AM
     Premier is exactly what competitive Valorant needs right now

Valorant developers are quick to tackle bugs, and I love that. But let's not pretend that ranked is the same as it was a few months ago. The FPS game's increasing popularity comes with a bigger playerbase and more malicious actors, which means more smurfs, cheaters, and trolls. I no longer feel tempted to get up from bed and play Valorant in the middle of the night. That happened a lot back in 2021. But Valorant ranked is just not the same now, in 2023.

Premier, Valorant's new competitive mode, convinced me to log back in, and the experience was absolutely refreshing. It's safe to say that Premier sets a standard that closely aligns with the aspirations of Valorant's ranked players.

"Hell yeah. I cannot even look at ranked anymore. Premier is all I wanna do," one player says in a community discussion.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Valorant Night Market dates, Valorant ranks, Valorant crosshair codes

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, May 8, 2023 12:26 PM
    

It's funny how some aspects of game design are so ubiquitous that we stop questioning them, or even noticing them. After decades spent playing video games, I know that if I look behind the waterfall, there's likely to be some sort of shiny goodie to collect. If I head left rather than right at the start of a level, I'm bound to find a juicy secret. There are conventions. Traditions. I can't remember a time when games didn't have giant lifts - and yet, I'm not entirely sure why they're there. I'm not talking about the regular kind of lifts that you pile into, usually at the end of a level, to transition from one part of the game to another; those ones have historically been used to hide lengthy loading times, like the interminably long lifts of Mass Effect.

What I mean is the lifts that are essentially tennis-court-sized moving platforms, usually with little more than a flimsy guard rail around the edge to stop elevator enjoyers from plunging down the shaft. Even more specifically, I'm talking about the diagonally moving elevators that trundle slowly into the depths, often to some nefarious laboratory. There's a good example in the Resident Evil 2 remake, where you fight the final boss on an inclined elevator as it slowly, ever so slowly, descends towards the train that will grant your escape. So where did these giant elevators come from? And why do developers keep putting them in their games? I set out to answer both questions, and went somewhere unexpected.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, May 8, 2023 7:33 AM
    

Last month Rachel made us aware of a life sim called Grave Seasons, a kind of mash up of perennial favourite Stardew Valley and, er, the half-season serial killer arc of a police procedural TV show. Naturally this turned my head, like Tarantino walking past a ladies shoe store, and I emailed the developers Perfect Garbage to find out a bit more. They describe the game as "fun, campy and spooky" and hint at yet more secrets to be revealed. Appropriate for a game where, every time you start a new run, one of the townsfolk starts killing everyone else.

Read more


Twinfinite Monday, May 8, 2023 9:00 AM
     Once more into the unspeakable horror.

Twinfinite Monday, May 8, 2023 6:45 AM
     Get these codes before they're gone!

Siliconera Monday, May 8, 2023 1:30 PM
    

Otaku Lamps Launches Persona 5 Royal Character Acrylic Lamps

There's a new line of Persona 5 Royal character merchandise. Otaku Lamps announced its new collection. There are nine lamps total in the collection. Each one is an acrylic stand based on members of the Phantom Thieves. The normal retail price for each one is $39.99, though they are temporarily on sale for $34.99 each. While they are noted to be based on the updated version of the game, there isn't one for Kasumi "Violet" Yoshizawa.

Eight of the nine Persona 5 Royal character lamps feature members of the Phantom Thieves. You can get Joker, Ryuji "Skull" Sakamoto, Morgana, Ann "Panther" Takamaki, Yusuke "Fox" Kitagawa, Makoto "Queen" Niijima, Futaba "Oracle" Sakura, and Haru "Noir" Okumura. The ninth design features the Phantom Thieves insignia hat with mask, rather than Goro "Crow" Akechi or Violet.

Here's how all of the lamps look both in their packaging and while in use. Each one has 16 different color options when in use. There are also different modes that offer static light or strobe and active effects.
[gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="962127,962128,962129,962130,962131,962133,962132,962134,962135,962136,962137,962138,962139,962142,962140,962143,962141,962144" link="file"]

Persona 5 is available on the PS3 and PS4, while Persona 5 Royal is available on the PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC. The Persona 5 Royal acrylic character lamps are available at Otaku Lamps and ship everywhere except Japan.

The post Otaku Lamps Launches Persona 5 Royal Character Acrylic Lamps appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 8, 2023 1:00 PM
    

Do Retry Joins Shonen Jump Manga Lineup

Shonen Jump added yet another new manga series, with this one being Do Retry. It is a boxing series by Jun Kirarazaka, who previously worked on Bone Collection. It is also a period piece that takes place after World War II. The first chapter is already live on the Manga Plus and Viz Media sites, with additional ones appearing weekly.

Do Retry stars Aozora Okami, the teenage son of a boxer who was sent off to war. After the bombings, him and his younger sister Akari are left as war orphans doing their best to survive. When its discovered Akari has tuberculosis, Aozora ends up going to confront some men who stole from him. It's then that his ability to get back up after taking a punch and right hook are noticed by a woman who thinks he'd be suited to become a boxer.

This series follows two other debuts in April 2023. Shonen Jump added Tenmaku Cinema at the beginning of that month. It follows a high schooler who's "possessed" by a deceased screenwriter who wants him to get his final work made. Kill Blue, a series about an assassin turned into a kid, is the other.

People can see new Shonen Jump Do Retry manga chapters every Sunday. The second chapter will arrive on May 14, 2023.

The post Do Retry Joins Shonen Jump Manga Lineup appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 8, 2023 12:30 PM
    

VShojo IQ999 lore videos.

VShojo released two new videos following the story of a new possible VTuber labeled as a "genius." Each video has been posted both on both the English and Japanese Twitter accounts with respective narration and subtitles. The company has not shared an official name yet, only referring to the project by #IQ999 on each post.

Check out the IQ999 VTuber teaser videos from the VShojo Twitter account in the thread below.

https://twitter.com/VShojo/status/1655407173118164992?s=20

The animated videos tell the story of a child test subject, acknowledged for her impressive intelligence, who escapes from a secret laboratory where she is being held. From what can be seen, she is referred to as "genius." Among her test results appears that she has an IQ of 999.

Many fans have been speculating this could be some sort of preliminary teaser for a new talent joining the agency. It should be noted that VShojo held auditions for new talents back in August 2021, but since then the Japanese branch only consists of Kson and Nazuna Amemiya.

Moreover, in April 2023 three talents Nyanners, Veibae, and Silvervale left the agency after deciding not to renew their contracts. However, these VTubers will still be active and using their own personas but as independent content creators.

So far VShojo released only two videos related to IQ999 in May 2023. However, it is possible that more animations will be released in the coming days possibly prior to the official announcement of a new project.

The post VShojo Teases New VTuber Project "IQ999" With 2 Lore Videos appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 8, 2023 12:00 PM
    

Review: Darkest Dungeon II Is as Stress Inducing as Its Predecessor

Cosmic horrors abound in Darkest Dungeon II, a game is bleak as its predecessor. The stress inducing aspects of Darkest Dungeon are back and more nail-biting than ever. But what the sequel offers is a new way to tackle challenges by adding a wealth of new mechanics that will play into whether you walk away from encounters victorious or at the brink of self-destruction. It doesn't necessarily reinvent what makes Darkest Dungeon so good to begin with, but instead builds upon its core strengths to create something more engaging.

Darkest Dungeon II requires the player to fail in order to progress, which feels almost antithetical to the original by design. Yes, you can trudge on through the game with minimal upgrades or even with the four starter characters. This is entirely possible, but I wouldn't recommend it if you want the full experience. Obtaining candles by completing objectives during your runs, such as tackling certain encounters, will allow you to unlock restorative and curative items, accessories for your carriage, and even other characters like the Flagellant and Vestal.

Failure reaps its own rewards, and it helps create an entirely new attitude when tackling the more roguelike elements of Darkest Dungeon II. Thankfully, the game itself does follow a familiar framework, which won't leave those who enjoyed the original game feeling dissatisfied or alienated. Instead of picking a different "size" of map, players will pick a region and explore a generated path where they can pick routes similar to Slay the Spire. Each of these routes features a specific destination point, which then narrows out into a boss encounter as you reach the end.

[caption id="attachment_962071" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Darkest Dungeon II Screenshot via Siliconera[/caption]

After completing a boss, which can be fairly challenging depending on how your run leading up to the encounter has gone, you then progress to the next chapter of the game. The difficulty only ramps up from here, but there is an item you can affix to your carriage to make the journey less stressful. However, it feels negligible and I didn't feel that using it made the game any easier. But maybe that was because I tend to play these games in the same fashion as I do Souls titles, and that's min-maxing and throwing myself at whatever comes my way until I can simply brute force my way through the game. That doesn't really work in Darkest Dungeon, or Darkest Dungeon II, as you will want to strategize and memorize what kind of status effects and enemies appear in each area.

For example, some locales will have enemies who are more susceptible to blight damage, which is a damage over time poison, or others that will generate more stress or even throw back damage over time effects of their own. These can include bleed, burning, and blight. Items unlocked through the candle system can heal these status effects, or character skills. The Plague Doctor is a premium choice as a party member for this reason, since she can increase resistance to status effects and even remove them while healing a bit of damage. That said, characters do feel more balanced overall. Even as you level up their skills as the game constantly provides a challenge and will require you to think over who to heal and when, or what enemies to prioritize over others.

[caption id="attachment_962072" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Red Hook games Screenshot via Siliconera[/caption]

A new mechanic to the game also gives the interaction between characters a bit more texture. Your party can now forge relationships with one another, and raising their affinity can help reduce stress and even provide temporary stat boosts. In early access, this wasn't clearly telegraphed, and it felt like bonds could deteriorate at the blink of an eye. The full release broadcasts this more clearly, so you can actually help build these relationships in a more concentrated effort. That said, you can easily destroy these bonds just as easily as you can build them. And you can face serious repercussions if two party members end up squabbling in the middle of a fight. My Highwayman at one point refused to be healed by my Vestal because they were often at odds with one another, which left him on death's door more times than I could count. You can try to mend these frayed relationships at an inn with specific items, which helps circumvent characters being locked into hating each other until you've completed your excursion. It feels more fair this time around, and wasn't nearly as aggravating as it was in early access.

Obtaining new skills for the individual characters is done through specific segments during which you can unlock memories for individual characters. These sometimes involve stages where certain objectives must be met, but aren't hard enough to actively fail at. Though you will want to tread carefully, as failure means you'll need to give it another shot at another one of these points should it spawn along your journey. I enjoyed the Graverobber's story the most, even though it was effectively elaborated on in one of the short, one-page comics released for the first game. It was interesting to experience the events first-hand, and receiving a new skill as a result was also a good reward. Not that I needed it, because even as barebones as Darkest Dungeon II's story is, I found myself wholly engrossed in it.

[caption id="attachment_962070" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Darkest Dungeon II Screenshot via Siliconera[/caption]

I love cosmic horror, and Darkest Dungeon II brings what was once isolated to a hamlet located in the middle of nowhere to a greater stretch of the world. You see the repercussions of the events of the first game, and every time you start a new run you are greeted with a sliver of new lore as to how the world spiraled into the state it is. Another interesting thing is seeing characters that were allies in Darkest Dungeon appear as enemies in specific stages. The Antiquarian, for example, is now traveling with bandits, and it was exciting but also sad to have to kill a character I had grown familiar with over the span of a hundred hours spent with the first game.

Overall, Darkest Dungeon II expands on the series in a way that brings a new kind of freshness to the core experience. Those looking for something identical to the first game may feel disappointed with how progression tracks, or a lack of a more diverse roster of characters. That said, it is bound to keep you entertained for hours on end, and has plenty of new mechanics to engage in that allow for more experimentation and min-maxing.

Darkest Dungeon II is immediately available on PC.

The post Review: Darkest Dungeon II Is as Stress Inducing as Its Predecessor appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 8, 2023 11:31 AM
    

How to Take Part in Genshin Impact The Recollector's Path Event

Yet another Genshin Impact event kicked off, and The Recollector's Path involves the Bloomguard Sorush. Starting on May 8, 2023, we can start going through six stages consisting of Tranquil Trial protection stages, Intrepid Impulse traveling ones, and Reinforced Reminiscence trials that involve creating a Scene of Significance. As usual, rewards include Hero's Wits, Mora, Mystic Enhancement Ores, Primogems, and Weapon Ascension Materials.

What are the Genshin Impact The Recollector's Path event requirements

As usual, there's an Adventure Rank requirement. You must be at AR 20. You also need to have made your way to the Sumeru region, as this involves the Girdle of the Sands. While many quests involve certain Archon Quests to be finished, this one has a Khvarena of Good and Evil mandate due to it involving the Pari Sorush. You need to have started that World Quest and finished "The Splendorous Sky That Day."

There's also a Quick Start option. It involves another quest in that line. If you opt for it, you can avoid finishing "As the Khvarena's Light Shows."

How does the Genshin Impact The Recollector's Path work?

First, here's the schedule for stages.

  • May 8, 2023: Shelter of Fragrance and Lilies
  • May 9, 2023: Withered Vessel, Hollowed Mind
  • May 10, 2023: A Pilgrimage Upon Blade's Edge
  • May 11, 2023: Silenced Percussion
  • May 12, 2023: That Which Lingers
  • May 13, 2023: Cacophony of the Tunigi Catastrophe

In a Tranquil Trail stage, people take part in essentially a tower defense map. Sorush will fly around and be able to use Nirodha Fruits to cause the Curio items like a bonfire that can act as a lure, a flower that can spit fruits like weapons, and exploding barrels.

The Intrepid Impulse part is a flying challenge. Our goal is to help Sorush collect Valiant Corollas. People will fly through an area to collect the items. There will also be Glowing Wreaths. Going through them speeds the Pari up and makes collection easier.

The third type of stage is the Reinforced Reminiscence. Sorush will be flying around a scene. You'll be able to see a few pieces of the view. Your goal is to make sure you match up the parts you know with the actual environmental set pieces at the proper angle. When you do line things up properly, you complete the puzzle.

Genshin Impact is available for the PS4, PS5, PC, and mobile devices, and The Recollector's Path runs until May 22, 2023. We can also participate in the A Parade of Providence event in-game until May 15, 2023.

The post Genshin Impact The Recollector's Path Event Begins appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 8, 2023 11:00 AM
    

Honkai: Star Rail Xianzhou Luofu Inspired by Pre-Qin Dynasty Myth, Golden-era Sci-fi

HoYoVerse took to HoYoLab to detail the inspiration for the Honkai: Star Rail Xianzhou Luofu, citing Golden Age of Science Fiction authors and Chinese architecture, history, and mythology as references for the flagship's design. It referenced details about the people who live on the ship. The goal was to make it feel "retro" and futuristic all at once. The official site's page also showed concept art from the location.

HoYoVerse's announcement noted the goal is to convey the idea of an enduring culture. It specifically noted, "the inspiration for the Xianzhou Luofu comes from the pre-Qin Dynasty myth of 'seeking immortality.'" This influenced the races that appear there, as we see people with long lives, the Foxian race with animalistic traits, and the dragon-like Vidyadhara. It also noted at the end of the article that all designs follow the concept of "In what way would a society completely led by long-living lifeforms express themselves." Authors like Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, and Walter M. Miller, Jr.'s work were all cited when discussing design directions as well. HoYoVerse specifically noted the realism mixed in with their stories' lore.

The Honkai: Star Rail Xianzhou Luofu HoYoLab piece also mentioned the idea of "warmth" alongside "technological development." The developer used elements of Huizhou Architecture to design the different areas of the ships. It also noted the starskiffs people will use to travel between different areas of the larger ship are based on floating rafts in the Jin Dynasty author Zhang Hua's "Floating Rafts in the Eight Month."

Honkai: Star Rail is available for the PC and mobile devices, and PS4 and PS5 versions are on the way.

The post Honkai: Star Rail Xianzhou Luofu Inspired by Pre-Qin Dynasty Myth, Golden-era Sci-fi appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 8, 2023 10:30 AM
    

Splatoon 3 Zelda Splatfest Winner

Nintendo revealed the winner of its The Legend of Zelda Splatfest in Splatoon 3, and Ganondorf won. Team Power swept the board, as the winning team of the Sneak Peek, Open and Pro contests and the Tricolor Battles. This means that the Splatfest ultimately handed a victory to the Gerudo king.

https://twitter.com/SplatoonNA/status/1655396316925644801

The Splatfest took place over the weekend of May 5-7, 2023. It was a crossover event with The Legend of Zelda ahead of the release of Tears of the Kingdom. Players were asked to choose between Power, Wisdom and Courage, representing the three parts of the Triforce. The Tricolor Battle portion of the Splatfest took place on a special Triforce-shaped variant of Scorch Gorge.

Ganondorf and Team Power started strong as the winner of the Splatoon 3 Splatfest Sneak Peek, based on the number of conch shells won by players who'd chosen the team in the week before the event. The half-time results also showed a strong lead for Power, with 34.23% victories over 33.7% for Wisdom and 32.07% for Courage. They also won the Tricolor Battle with 34.47%.

Power also turned out to be the most popular team, with 36.9% of players choosing the team over 32.08% for Wisdom and 31.02% for Courage.

Splatoon 3 is out now for Nintendo Switch. Courage and Wisdom players can console themselves by fighting back against Ganondorf in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom when it releases on May 12, 2023.

The post Ganondorf and Team Power Won Splatoon 3 Legend of Zelda Splatfest appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 8, 2023 10:00 AM
    

VShojo VTubers Ironmouse and Zentreya Getting New Models

VShojo announced Ironmouse and Zentreya will both be getting new VTuber models. For Zentreya, this will be a 2.0 model. That will show up on May 20, 2023. There's no exact time for its first appearance. As for Ironmouse, this is just a new model for her. That will show up first at 12pm PT/3pm ET on May 11, 2023.

It's been quite some time since a new Zentreya model appeared, as the VShojo VTuber's last look showed up in July 2022. That's when she got a 3D cyborg design. Prior to that, she had a 2D version of that look from earlier that year. Some of her past designs involved one where she wore a military uniform and another in which she looked like a dragon.

Here's the first teaser for her new design, which only features her eyes and face.

Meanwhile, Ironmouse gets new models fairly regularly. For example, we saw her new Race Queen model back in February 2023. She's been using it rather regularly since then. Prior to that, she ended up getting a Demon Queen model in November 2022. This new model for her comes not long after she passed 1.5 subscribers on Twitch.

Here's the teaser for the model for VShojo VTuber Ironmouse.

The post VShojo VTubers Ironmouse and Zentreya Getting New Models appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 8, 2023 9:40 AM
    

The Uniqlo The World of CLAMP Cardcaptor Sakura, Magic Knight Rayearth, Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, and xxxHolic shirts arrive in July.

Uniqlo revealed the UT The World of CLAMP t-shirts, showing the ones based on Cardcaptor Sakura, Magic Knight Rayearth, Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, and xxxHolic will look like. They are estimated to arrive in the middle of July 2023. Six designs will be available for ¥1,500 each (~$11). However, only women's sizes will appear. Also, we haven't seen any confirmation from the worldwide branches of the retailer suggesting they'll be sold everywhere.

There's no special event page for the Uniqlo UT The World of CLAMP t-shirts with any official art, as the search page just shows the Cardcaptor Sakura, Magic Knight Rayearth, Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, and xxxHolic designs. The styles will be available in sizes extra small (XS) through three extra large (3XL).

First, here are the two kinds of Cardcaptor Sakura shirts that will appear. They only feature designs on the front.
[gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="962085,962086" link="file"]

There are also two Magic Knight Rayearth shirts at Uniqlo. While the black one only features a design on the front, the white has imagery on the front and back.
[gallery size="full" ids="962088,962089,962090" link="file"]

As for the remaining two shirts in the Uniqlo The World of Clamp UT line, they focus on Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle and xxxHolic. Both feature designs on the front and back.
[gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="962091,962092,962093,962094" link="file"]

The new Uniqlo UT shirts will appear in Japan in the middle of July 2023.

The post The World of CLAMP Uniqlo T-Shirts Arrive in July, Feature Cardcaptor Sakura appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, May 8, 2023 9:15 AM
    

Nintendo Live 2023 Seattle Dates Set and People Can Win Tickets

Nintendo announced more details about Nintendo Live 2023, its Seattle, Washington presentation that will offer a chance to see Switch games and take part in activities. It will be a four day event running September 1-4, 2023. People will need to be at the Seattle Convention Center Arch at 705 Pike in Seattle Washington to attend. Nintendo noted people will need to register to win tickets to attend. This will start on May 31, 2023. Nintendo also confirmed it will run alongside PAX West, but that paying to attend that convention won't get you into its show.

The page to register isn't live yet. Nintendo did note that the period during which people can possibly get free tickets will be May 31, 2023 through June 22, 2023. It only noted that there's a chance people who sign up will get free tickets and didn't say how many will be given away.

The official page for the Nintendo Live 2023 Seattle event hasn't been updated with details about Switch games that will be there yet. It only noticed that "popular" ones will be there. There are also no updates about what the tournaments and live stage events will entail. Everything still looks the same as it did when we first learned about this event back in April 2023.

Nintendo Live 2023 Seattle will take place September 1-4, 2023 at the Seattle Convention Center Arch. Between May 31, 2023 through June 22, 2023, people can register and possibly get free tickets.

The post Nintendo Live 2023 Seattle Dates Set and People Can Win Tickets appeared first on Siliconera.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, May 8, 2023 1:34 PM
     Honkai Star Rail How To Find All Hidden QuestsThroughout your time playing Honkai: Star Rail, you'll rack up quite a few quests in your Missions log. Not all of these quests in this sci-fi strategy RPG are given to you, though. You can only complete some quests and achievements by stumbling upon them randomly. If you're wondering how to find all the hidden quests in Honkai: Star Rail, keep on reading. How to find Honkai: Star Rail hidden quests These hidden quests don't exactly show up in your Missions list, but they are still worthy of completing. They can earn you anything from small rewards, to achievements. Many can be found in every area of Honkai: Star Rail, and more are discoverable as you progress the game. That also means there's definitely more to come in the future! Screenshot by PC Invasion Little flying robots These funky flying robots are in multiple areas around the Herta Space Station. There are six in total, and upon interacting with them, you'll want to force the...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, May 8, 2023 8:00 AM
     Star Wars Jedi Survivor Review Pc Should Buy Worth It PerformanceIf you're anything like me, it's hard to pass up a high quality action adventure chalk full of cinematic sets and engaging fights. These elements define the recipe for Jedi: Survivor, and the last couple of weeks I've spent in the review process confirm it is a great Star Wars game. It's still rough around the edges, and not in line to become the greatest Star Wars game of all time, but Jedi: Survivor is easy to recommend to anyone interested. Well, with some cautions in mind. There's a lot to this game, as the 155 GB file size should tip you off. It's a much larger adventure than the predecessor Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and should take you dozens of hours at least to finish it if you divert from the main story. Even then, it's a satisfying long game with an impressive amount of substance to it. The narrative remains engaging, the locations feel right at home in the Star Wars galaxy, the combat feels excellent, and you don't have to ...

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Monday, May 8, 2023 1:54 PM
     Eventyr Games has launched a Kickstarter campaign for their latest product, the 5E Magic Item Cards. The campaign has already exceeded its initial goal of $1,655 and has reached a total of $23,812, with 491 backers and 11 days to go. The 5E Magic Item Cards are a set of 300 beautifully illustrated card handouts …