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Jun 18, 18:00


PCGamesN Sunday, June 18, 2023 11:46 AM
     Beloved Steam city builder knocks price alongside expansive new update

Medieval city-building game Kingdoms and Castles has just received a huge update while the brilliantly reviewed game is also part of a Steam sale, making now the perfect time for you to give it a try if you haven't already. So with the arrival of the Kingdoms and Castles Infrastructure and Industry update and 40% off on the game, there's no time like the present.


Siliconera Sunday, June 18, 2023 3:00 PM
    

Bleach Anime Heroes Ichigo and Renji Figures Are a Good Start

You've probably noticed them when you walk around the electronics or toy sections at Target or Walmart: the Bandai Namco Anime Heroes figure line. These are more affordable and limited versions of iconic characters that cost far less than the SH Figuarts options. They may be a bit basic, but they're more than functional. After looking at the Bleach Anime Heroes Ichigo and Renji figures, I'd even say they're good initial options for a younger fan or someone who is interested in getting into collecting figures, but isn't sure if they want to spend over $40 for one yet.
[caption id="attachment_968606" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Bleach Anime Heroes Ichigo and Renji Figures Are a Good Start Photo by Siliconera[/caption]
To start, there's an adequate range of movement for both Ichigo and Renji, considering they're $20 figures and not more expensive figma. They have ankle, knee leg, wrist, elbow, shoulder, and neck joints, and they can pivot slightly at the waist. Each comes with one spare pair of hands. There is a surprising amount of detail with their hair spikes, and an attempt was made to recreate the tattoos on Renji's forehead and neck. (I was really surprised one even appeared at the hairline.) Each character also comes with their Zanpakuto.

[gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="968607,968608" link="file"]

The paint job also isn't bad on either of the figures! There's no definition around their mouths, which means their expressions get a bit lost. But both of their faces are well painted. Ichigo's eyebrows are easy to see, which could have been difficult given the shade of orange used. And as I mentioned before, Renji's tattoos are there. Their outfits are a bit simple, given that it's based on their earlier appearances. But even then, I've seen a lot of action figures that can get sloppy even with basic outfits, so it's nice to see the care here. There's also pretty standard sizes, standing at about six inches tall. So they will be taller than a Good Smile Company figma, but about the exact same height as a finished Megami Device/Frame Arms Girl/Sousai Shojo Teien model kit character.

However, if you collecting a wide range of figures, especially higher end ones, you'll notice some of the apparent issues with the Anime Heroes line and Bleach Ichigo and Renji ones especially. One of the points of articulation are the ankles, and the combination of the positioning and their hakama meant it was impossible for either of mine to stand without assistance. (Ichigo would always tip forward, while Renji would fall back.) There are no stands and it's so fiddly that'd have preferred that joint be omitted completely. While the upper body build quality feels fine, albeit with stuff joints, the plastic used for the hakama feels far cheaper.

[gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="968604,968605" link="file"]

They're also much more difficult to pose than more expensive figures, as you might expect. While articulated, their range of movement is limited. This is especially true at the elbows and knees. But the worst issue I found related to Ichigo's Zangetsu. Because of the plastic ribbon at the end and the stiffness of the closed grip hands, it is near impossible to pry them open to so he can wield it. I had to basically thread it through both wrists, fake ribbon first, and slide it in. It was an ordeal. He's holding it forever now. That's just how it goes.
[caption id="attachment_968603" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Bleach Anime Heroes Ichigo and Renji Figures Are a Good Start Photo by Siliconera[/caption]
Even so, The Bleach Anime Heroes Ichigo and Renji figures are good starter ones. Like if you aren't sure if you'd want to pay the probably $80 for the SH Figuarts Thousand Year Blood War versions of them, these are fine to pick up and put on a shelf. They'd work well for displays, and you can still get some fun poses out of them.

The Bleach Anime Heroes figures of Ichigo and Renji are available at major retailers for $19.99.

The post Bleach Ichigo and Renji Anime Heroes Are Good Starter Figures appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Sunday, June 18, 2023 12:00 PM
    

To The Rescue!

Working at a dog shelter is one of those jobs that sounds wonderful at first, but is inevitably far more stressful, complicated, and full of poop-scooping than expected. In that way, To The Rescue by Little Rock Games is a surprisingly accurate simulation. While appearing initially comfy with an appealing art style and plenty of dogs, the game can very quickly overwhelm you if you aren't prepared. You only have two hands after all, and there are oh so many dogs to pet.

To The Rescue starts with picking from a selection of set character appearances, choosing a canine companion, and naming them. Once that's done, the game quickly escalates from tending to a lost puppy to starting your first day working at a shelter. There you learn the basics like feeding, cleaning, restocking, and presenting dogs for potential adopters. There's quite a lot to do to keep each dog happy and healthy, and being able to hold only two items at the start means you will be going back and forth a lot. Then, after two whole shifts, the mayor deems you ready to head the town's brand new shelter all on your own. I appreciate a game that doesn't drag its feet, but To The Rescue really throws you in the deep end, especially when you begin managing construction and staffing later on.

[caption id="attachment_968303" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]To The Rescue! Screenshot via Siliconera[/caption]

The dogs themselves come in a lovely array of breeds, with generated names, traits, and preferences. The only trouble is that those types don't really end up affecting things all that much. It's fairly simple to arrange the dogs with similar food preferences together, but keeping difficult or violent dogs separate may be challenging. The actual adoption process is also not especially strict. You simply pick five dogs to display and, if their collective adoptability rating overcomes the visitor's reluctance, then a dog is adopted. Though visitors have their preferences, you can often overpower them with a display of decently clean, well-fed dogs. When you have upwards of 20 dogs to look after, then that simplicity can be a blessing, but it also means you don't have to engage that much with the trait system or the dogs in general. Rather than getting to know all these little friends with their funny little names, you feel incentivized to get them clean, fed, and out the door. Again, probably like a real dog shelter, but it does make it a bit disappointing mechanically.

I also had some issues with poorly explained mechanics and controls indicated by very small icons. I spent a good while unable to pick up any items, because I'd locked myself into leashing mode with an accidental press of the thumb stick and didn't notice the small UI indication as I flailed about trying to take care of all my tasks. The frequency of visitors was also a factor, as I assumed that like other business sim games you would have a limited time to serve them. Not so in To The Rescue, as potential adopters will happily wait in your lobby all day until you are ready to showcase some dogs. Upgrades like extra item slots and more leashed dogs at once helped quite a lot, but honestly it was this revalisation that made the game much more manageable, and it isn't explained.

There are also quite a few bugs and glitches. Beyond things like the game screen popping up before it had properly loaded or being unable to interact with dogs, there were also system errors and crashes. During the tutorial, I was tasked with moving a certain dog to a new kennel, but doing so didn't progress the task. I eventually fixed it by placing a different dog in that kennel, one who happened to have the same name. I also experienced the menu selection plip disappearing several times, only coming back after opening and then closing the start menu.

[caption id="attachment_968304" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]To The Rescue! The building screen can be a little tricky to parse on the Switch's small screen. Screenshot via Siliconera[/caption]

There's definitely satisfaction to be had in keeping on top of the endless influx of visitors, furry friends and the accompanying mess, but the game is mechanically far less sentimental that you might expect. If you like shop management type games then To The Rescue! is a good time with a lovely and pretty novel theme, but those looking for specific focus on the canines might find themselves disappointed.

To The Rescue! is available now on Nintendo Switch and PC or Mac via Steam.

The post To The Rescue Is a Messy and Hectic Dog Shelter Simulator appeared first on Siliconera.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Sunday, June 18, 2023 5:46 PM
     Darkest Dungeon 2 Best Team Comps Featured ImageMuch of the work in a Darkest Dungeon 2 run is completed before the run has even officially begun. The party creation stage, where you choose which four heroes you'll be taking with you, is incredibly important, outweighing most of the individual decisions you'll make out on the road or in battle. It's important to pick the best heroes for the job, of course, but it's equally important to arrange them into a party that makes sense, and has the internal synergy necessary to carry you through to the Mountain. If you want some suggestions on squads that can do just that, then read on for our guide to the best team comps in Darkest Dungeon 2. The best team comps in Darkest Dungeon 2 The ol' reliable Image by PC Invasion This is the team comp you'll see most often in Darkest Dungeon 2, and for good reason: it provides the best, most balanced set of abilities possible, and can get you through runs very consistently. The fact that it's almost entirely composed of...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Sunday, June 18, 2023 3:12 PM
     can't access backpack wallet warzone 2Call of Duty: Warzone 2 constantly updates with new quality-of-life additions and tweaks to the game. Sometimes these work out for the best and produce a more accessible game for all; sometimes, not so much. With an update rolled out with season 4 of Warzone 2, the ability to bring money in and out of the DMZ was added. This has made buying supplies and drops much easier and quicker, provided the function works. The problem some players face is that they can't access their backpacks after the wallet unlock in Warzone 2. How to fix 'Can't access backpack after wallet unlock' in Warzone 2 DMZ The issue exists outside of the game. Once the wallet has been unlocked, it then becomes impossible to access the backpack. Players have reported that the cursor will just become stuck over the wallet and not allow further use of the backpack. The issue only persists on consoles, so PC players are unphased by the wallet and backpack issues. There are a few solutions to the proble...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Sunday, June 18, 2023 2:45 PM
     Where to find Castle Detonator in Warzone 2 DMZSeason 3 of Call of Duty DMZ brought a number of interesting and exciting updates, but none so much as the new location. Vondel is the latest map to hit DMZ, bringing with it a new enemy and challenges. One of these challenges is to find the location of detonators dotted around the map. Each location has a few spawn points for the detonators, and they can be a little tricky to find. Here's how to find the Castle detonator in Warzone 2 DMZ. Where to find Castle Detonator in Warzone 2 DMZ The Castle detonator can spawn in one of two places. I think it is easiest to start at the top of the building and work your way down. This encounters the least amount of enemies and can even be done with no conflict whatsoever. Screenshot by PC Invasion While facing the Castle, jump into the moat to the right of the bridge. Swim towards the Castle walls and look for a climbing rope. Once at the top of the rope, head right down the corridor until you get to the tower. ...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Sunday, June 18, 2023 2:02 PM
     Where To Find Uldur's Cave In Diablo 4 Featured ImageDiablo 4 is, regardless of any faults in other departments, no slouch when it comes to the sheer volume of content it contains. From quests to items to areas on the world map, there's so much to explore that you could easily sink months into fully savoring it all. Dungeons are one such abundance, with over 150 in total dotting the overworld, beckoning greedy travelers in with the promise of loot while preparing to ambush them with a horde of skeletons at the same time. Most of these are easy to stumble upon naturally in your travels, but some take a little extra digging to unearth, such as Uldur's Cave. You'll need to travel deep into the desert to do so, but this guide will show you where to find Uldur's Cave in Diablo 4. How to locate Uldur's Cave in Diablo 4 Reaching Uldur's Cave Screenshots by PC Invasion Uldur's Cave can be found in the Kehjistan region of the overworld map, specifically the Ragged Co...

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Sunday, June 18, 2023 5:43 PM
    

It is a "single-player campaign" and will be "completely new and different."

The post Splatoon 3 DLC To Have 'New and Different' Gameplay appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Sunday, June 18, 2023 4:43 PM
    

The director stated that the movie will replicate the game's visuals and aesthetic

The post The Ghost of Tsushima Movie is Currently "in Heavy Development" appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Sunday, June 18, 2023 4:00 PM
    

And another unspecified Nintendo event sometime in July

The post A Nintendo Direct May be Happening Soon appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.

Jun 18, 12:00


PCGamesN Sunday, June 18, 2023 11:46 AM
     Beloved Steam city builder knocks price alongside expansive new update

Medieval city-building game Kingdoms and Castles has just received a huge update while the brilliantly reviewed game is also part of a Steam sale, making now the perfect time for you to give it a try if you haven't already. So with the arrival of the Kingdoms and Castles Infrastructure and Industry update and 40% off on the game, there's no time like the present.


PCGamesN Sunday, June 18, 2023 9:58 AM
     Diablo 4 wants to avoid the 'Destiny loot cave' problem

Diablo 4 has been out for a few weeks now, and we've already seen the Blizzard RPG game make some pretty big changes, with more to come. Diablo 4 classes have been targeted especially, but that doesn't mean that general balance isn't on the team's mind either. Now, Blizzard has outlined how it wants Diablo 4 to avoid the Destiny loot cave problem.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 builds, Diablo 4 review, Diablo 4 classes

PCGamesN Sunday, June 18, 2023 8:07 AM
     Minecraft meets Blue Planet in Attenborough style documentary

The world of Minecraft is a beautiful one. It can be easy to forget, some twelve years after it first took over to become the best-selling game ever, because we've seen it everywhere for so long, but there's something about Minecraft's art style that just clicks. To celebrate the release of Minecraft 1.20, the Trails and Tales update, developer Mojang is producing a series of David Attenborough-style mini-documentaries to showcase the beauty of the sandbox game.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Minecraft seeds, Minecraft skins, Minecraft mods

PCGamesN Sunday, June 18, 2023 7:42 AM
     Hideo Kojima wants his next game, and himself, to go to space

Death Stranding 2 director and Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima wants to go to space at some point after his upcoming game. The acclaimed game designer says he wants to go beyond Earth to make a game that can only be played in outer space, but he's just got to get through the Death Stranding 2 release date first, at the very least.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Death Stranding 2 revealed, Death Stranding 2 release date speculation, Hideo Kojima's making a VR game

PCGamesN Sunday, June 18, 2023 7:12 AM
     Pixel Piece codes June 2023

June 18, 2023: We added new Pixel Piece codes to our list.

What are the new Pixel Piece codes? If you need to get a leg up on your Roblox pirate adventures, these Pixel Piece codes can help enormously. So long as you don't share them with the people you're trying to race to the level cap, you'll spearhead your progress and blaze through the competition by checking back regularly for new redeem codes before they expire. Here's a long list of currently active and expired codes. And because we're constantly checking them in-game, you can rest easy knowing you don't have to scour the web looking for more.

Pixel Piece is the latest in a long line of Roblox games inspired by the anime and manga franchise One Piece. Like the popular Japanese adventure story, you'll follow in the footsteps of either a pirate or marine, sailing the seas in search of treasure, baddies, and valuable Devil Fruits that can drastically alter your combat abilities. Want to try the classics as well? Check out Blox Fruits codes, King Legacy codes or, if you're into Demon Slayer, we have Project Slayers codes and Slayers Unleashed codes, too.

Continue reading Pixel Piece codes June 2023
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Sunday, June 18, 2023 7:06 AM
     AUT codes June 2023

June 18, 2023: We added another new AUT code to our list.

What are the new AUT codes? If you're trying to get ahead of the competition in A Universal Time, we've collated all the latest codes for free skin crates. We'll also run you through exactly how to redeem all the active A Universal Time codes and where you can find more for the action-packed, anime-themed hit.

A Universal Time has been around for a while, but it's erupted in popularity recently following a major update. If you're searching high and low for further Roblox freebies, we also keep regularly updated lists of Blox Fruits codes, Project Slayers codes, and even Anime Adventures codes. Now, let's run through all the A Universal Time codes and the rewards they'll net you.

Continue reading AUT codes June 2023
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Sunday, June 18, 2023 7:05 AM
     Project Slayers codes June 2023

June 18, 2023: We added three new Project Slayers codes to our list.

What are the new Project Slayers codes? Project Slayers is an action RPG in Roblox where you fight against other martial artists to be the very best in all the land. As with most Roblox games, it's a popular gacha and as such there are plenty of codes available to get clan spins and more.

So if you want to bulk up your warrior and fight against the strongest of foes, you'd be wise to make use of our Project Slayers codes list down below. We'll update it on a regular basis to bring you the latest rewards before they expire, and thus you lose out on some free spins. If you're in the market for further Roblox freebies, we also keep regularly updated lists of the latest Anime Adventures codes, Blox Fruits codes, and All Star Tower Defense codes to bring you the latest freebies.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Sunday, June 18, 2023 6:52 AM
     Diablo 4's most deadly annoyance is

Diablo 4 puts you in a world full of danger, and it's your job to not succumb to it. For the most part, the RPG game makes it pretty obvious when something is bad for your health, but certain effects can get lost among the chaos, especially when playing as certain Diablo 4 classes. One of the most frustrating ways to die in Diablo 4 then is being oblivious to dangerous ground effects but, fortunately, Blizzard's dev team is just as susceptible to them as you are and they're hard at work to change that.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 builds, Diablo 4 review, Diablo 4 classes

PCGamesN Sunday, June 18, 2023 5:47 AM
     Snag The Witcher 3 and the entire series dirt cheap, but be quick

Make no mistake, The Witcher 3 is one of the best RPG games ever made. In fact, the entire fantasy series from CD Projekt Red is worth your time, so if you or anyone you know has missed out on them, there's an incredibly limited-time deal going down as part of a Steam sale for the games right now. If you're waiting on the Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty release date from CDPR as well, there's no better way to bide your time than with The Witcher 3, that's for sure.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The Witcher 3 mods, The Witcher 4 news, Witcher 3 system requirements

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Sunday, June 18, 2023 6:00 AM
    

Sundays are for recovering from jet lag. Before you get up at 3am, let's read this week's best writing about games (and game related things).

Read more


Siliconera Sunday, June 18, 2023 9:00 AM
    

Volcano Princess Improves Upon the Princess Maker Genre

Those of us who like games like Princess Maker are feasting. The original games end up localized and even on platforms like the Switch. We're getting interesting indies like I Was a Teenage Exocolonist. Now we also have Egg Hatcher and Gamera Games' Volcano Princess, another simulation that involves helping your "daughter" grow up happy, healthy, and maybe eventually as royalty.

As is common with the genre, Volcano Princess involves the player being a single parent to a young child. The story picks up when she's a little girl, following the death of your wife. Your goal is to take her through the days, weeks, and months until she becomes an adult and decides if she'll support a noble family, turn to the dark side, or maybe become royalty herself. All of this means managing various stats until they increase, going through learning progress from certain lessons until she masters them, unlocking new classes and abilities, going around town to learn from experiences, fighting monsters, and getting closer to people around her.

[caption id="attachment_968587" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Volcano Princess Improves Upon the Princess Maker Genre Screenshot by Siliconera[/caption]

As someone very familiar with the Princess Maker genre, I especially appreciated how it feels like Volcano Princess lets you be more involved in your child's life. In both games, you can go through the perfunctory, "hey, I'll chat with you at the beginning of the week and that one sentence is our conversation." But unlike Princess Maker, when you go out before the week's schedule, you can take part in activities together. It really feels like a father-daughter outing. You aren't delegating or leaving her in the care of other masters, teachers, or employers. You're taking the time to help be there when she goes to hear a story, grow crops, or paint.

In general, Volcano Princess feels both more interactive and approachable. It borrows from the Story of Seasons series by letting you see clear indicators of how characters feel about your daughter. You have those activity points to watch to help determine extra actions for her to perform outside of her normal schedule. The schedule itself has these learning progress bars, so you're seeing both the stat improvement and the additional insight into how far she's come. You have the ability to send her into the RPG battles. There are the Birdie Festival contests. We're getting to be a more involved parent, and I really like that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPzzhcQBw9s&ab_channel=GameraGames

The only downside to Volcano Princess is its localization. It wasn't handled well. But then, it also seems like the story is rather thin. That part isn't much of an issue, considering how many games inspired by Princess Maker go. You're typically dropped into a role as a parent with little motivation beyond, "you seem like you'd be an okay guardian due to experience/being a hero who killed a lot of monsters," so that isn't an issue. It's that all the dialogue and text can come across as awkward or a bit stilted, which does hamper the experience a bit.

Still, Volcano Princess is an absolutely lovely sort of Princess Maker-like game. There are a lot of schooling and activity options for your new daughter. You get many ways to interact with her and influence her growth. She'll have people to spend time with, developing relationships with her peers. It's very clear about how to help her learn and grow, even if the localization isn't its best. Anyone who enjoys the genre should pick it up.

Volcano Princess is available for PCs via Steam.

The post Volcano Princess Is a Princess Maker-Like That Makes Us More Involved Parents appeared first on Siliconera.

Jun 18, 06:00


PCGamesN Sunday, June 18, 2023 5:47 AM
     Snag The Witcher 3 and the entire series dirt cheap, but be quick

Make no mistake, The Witcher 3 is one of the best RPG games ever made. In fact, the entire fantasy series from CD Projekt Red is worth your time, so if you or anyone you know has missed out on them, there's an incredibly limited-time deal going down as part of a Steam sale for the games right now. If you're waiting on the Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty release date from CDPR as well, there's no better way to bide your time than with The Witcher 3, that's for sure.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The Witcher 3 mods, The Witcher 4 news, Witcher 3 system requirements

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Sunday, June 18, 2023 6:00 AM
    

Sundays are for recovering from jet lag. Before you get up at 3am, let's read this week's best writing about games (and game related things).

Read more