Kotaku Tuesday, May 21, 2024 4:00 AM  I'm on a path to find reprieve from the suffering around me. But as I turn the next corner of clouding darkness, a bright red light paralyzes me as the forceful and commanding voice of my father tells me that not only am I doomed to fail in my struggles, but that I am actively causing the very harm I am seeking to… |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 7:57 AM  I had a lot to look forward to with Starfield, but primarily - more than the ships, the combat, and the quests - I was anticipating finding a nice homestead on a quiet little planet, and raising my own crops. This was always the dream in Skyrim, to one day retire the sword and shield and settle into a calm, picturesque pastoral lifestyle. Inspired by Stardew Valley but with a healthy dose of sci-fi, and landmark launches like No Man's Sky, a new farming game has just hit Steam, and you can even try it for free. Continue reading Gorgeous new Steam farming game is like Stardew Valley in space MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best farming games, Best RPGs, Best games like Stardew Valley |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 7:52 AM  What are the best Hellblade 2 settings for PC? With a capped frame rate on consoles, it looked as though Hellblade 2 might also be challenging to run on PC. Luckily this isn't the case, and most modern GPUs should achieve high frame rates in this game. You won't need the best graphics card to get Hellblade 2 running on PC, but the game packs in some intense visuals that help immerse you in the story. The good news is that the Hellblade 2 system requirements show us that the game is capable of running on later Nvidia GTX GPUs. Continue reading Best Hellblade 2 settings for max fps MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 7:35 AM  As a live game, Helldivers 2 constantly sees new content Warbonds drop while developer Arrowhead also delivers periodic fixes and updates. This is a hard balance to strike at the best of times, but the game's colossal success and comparatively small team keep butting heads. The relationship between consistent monthly Warbonds and patches that fix ongoing issues or change weapon stats is an ongoing one, and now Arrowhead is exploring spacing out how often future patches are, with hopefully beneficial results. Continue reading Helldivers 2 may sacrifice more patches for better quality updates MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Helldivers 2 weapons, Helldivers 2 servers, Helldivers 2 system requirements |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 7:19 AM  When is the Windblown release date? This delightful action roguelike from the creators of Dead Cells was announced at The Game Awards 2023, and immediately stole our attention with its fast-paced combat and colorful cartoon violence. We already know a fair bit about what to expect, so let's dig into all the latest news and trailers. For those unfamiliar with Dead Cells, Windblown takes on a similar vibrant aesthetic - but instead of a 2D platform game, Windblown is a 3D top-down action roguelike that still features the satisfying combat and lightning-fast action that we loved in Dead Cells. If that all sounds right up your alley, here's the latest news surrounding the Windblown early access release date. Continue reading Windblown release date estimate, trailers, and latest news MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best roguelike games, All upcoming games in 2024, The best action games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 7:19 AM  What are the best battle royale games? Each one of these multiplayer games revolves around one core idea: lots of players go in, and only one leaves. Battle royale is a violent, unpredictable, and frenzied multiplayer mode where the only goal is to endure until you're the sole survivor. All tactics and styles of play are equally viable in the best battle royale games. You can win by hiding in bushes and waiting for the herd to thin out, or scavenge a weapon and start reducing the numbers yourself. With the explosion of free PC games like Fortnite, Warzone, and Apex Legends, you would be forgiven for thinking there are only three battle royales out there, but there are now numerous other contenders to challenge them, each with its own spin on the established formula. Whether you're after a battle royale FPS game or an inventive new twist on the formula, there's something out there for everyone. So, to help you broaden your horizons, we have assembled this handy guide to the best battle royale games on PC. Continue reading Best battle royale games on PC 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Warzone 2 guns, Best Warzone 2 loadout, Warzone 2 map |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 7:08 AM  When is XDefiant coming out? If you're looking to dive headfirst into Ubisoft's newest shooter, we have a rundown of all of the PC launch times for your region, as well as details on preloads. Continue reading When is XDefiant coming out? PC release times MORE FROM PCGAMESN: XDefiant release date, Best multiplayer games , Best FPS games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 7:07 AM  If you'll allow me to labor a metaphor, the jagged fault lines and yawning chasms that opened across Azeroth with the launch of Cataclysm reflected, also, a division in the World of Warcraft fandom. For some, the 2010 expansion delivered a badly needed remake and revitalization of the map. For others, the new raids were too tough at launch, and fresh material for Cataclysm didn't arrive fast enough. And they also didn't like the new map. 14 years later, Cataclysm has finally returned via World of Warcraft Classic. Is the history of WoW's most controversial expansion about to be rewritten? Continue reading WoW's most controversial expansion is back, but better than before MORE FROM PCGAMESN: WoW The War Within beta sign up, WoW The War Within release date, The best WoW addons |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 7:05 AM  When is the next Steam sale? It feels like one Steam sale has just ended when the next one begins, but with some events offering better discounts than others and genre-specific sales, it's a good idea to keep these dates to hand. Fortunately, Valve has released the entire Steam sale dates that are happening soon, thus enabling you to plan your wishlist. Whether you're looking for new PC games to sink your teeth into or simply the best PC games of all time, there's something for everyone on Steam. Smaller publisher sales can introduce you to new favorites if you get to the bargains in time, while seasonal sales are much bigger and last one to two weeks, with more games, DLC, and bundles available with chunkier discounts. Continue reading When is the next Steam sale? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Steam FAQ, Steam family sharing, Steam in-home streaming |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 7:00 AM  How long is Hellblade 2? Ninja Theory and Senua return with a sequel that pushes both the studio and the character to new heights. Senua's Sacrifice was a relatively short experience, so you might be curious if the sequel's greater scope extends to its total playtime. We've braved the horror and beauty of Senua's journey across Iceland to find out how long it takes to beat. Hellblade 2 is a linear story game, so there's limited opportunity to extend the length of your playtime beyond the circumstances of the plot. Check out our Hellblade 2 review to discover what awaits you in Senua's Saga – or stay in the dark and read on to find out the total playtime for Hellblade 2. Continue reading How long is Hellblade 2? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hellblade 2 review, Hellblade 2 lore stone locations, Hellblade 2 face locations |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 6:53 AM  Is FF14 down? It might be because of ongoing maintenance or server issues if you can't log on to FF14 or access your character. Before worrying about any problems with your game, you'll want to check the FF14 server status and currently scheduled maintenance times below to see if the MMO is offline. If you can't log into FF14, it's typically because of planned maintenance. The critically acclaimed MMORPG occasionally schedules downtime to implement patches, updates, and other hotfixes or to perform maintenance on the game's servers. Developer Square Enix usually announces these well ahead of time, so be sure to read on and see when future maintenance times are planned. Continue reading FF14 server status and maintenance times - is FFXIV down? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best MMOs, FF14 Dawntrail release date, FF14 Island Sanctuary guide |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 6:30 AM  The latest Humble Bundle gets you seven iconic beat 'em ups for just $20 (£15.93) or just $2.87 (£2.28) each. This is a gold mine for fans of the genre, as it features a delightful mixture of old and new games including Battletoads, River City Girls, and Double Dragon. Continue reading Get seven iconic beat 'em ups for less than $3 each |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 6:27 AM  Is Hades 2 on Game Pass? Fans can now play the highly anticipated sequel to one of the best roguelike games ever created. However, even though the early access period is here, chances are that it's not being considered for Game Pass just yet. While it's likely we'll have a long time to wait until Hades 2 appears on our list of the best Game Pass games, we can at least predict if and when we'll see it on the service. We may not get any confirmation either way until after the Hades 2 release date, but below are our thoughts on when you could expect to see the roguelike game on Game Pass. Continue reading Is Hades 2 on Game Pass? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best roguelike games, Hades 2 boons, Hades 2 Gods |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 6:24 AM  What are the best Warhammer 40K games? Games Workshop's grimdark futuristic universe, where everything is at war with each other, is an ideal setting for plenty of games. While the miniature war game company's licensing history has seen plenty of digital adaptations, the fact of the matter is that some have been hit or miss. It should come as no surprise to fans that plenty of the best Warhammer 40K games ever made are from eons ago, but more recently, we've seen some excellent and unique adaptations. Genre variety is a big thing here as we're also being treated to space games and even action-adventure RPGs. We're not here to highlight our ancient battle brothers of 40K games of yore - they've had their time in the sun. Instead, we want to highlight the best Warhammer 40K games that have been released in more recent times. Continue reading Best Warhammer 40K games on PC 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best FPS games, Best Warhammer games, Best Warhammer 40k games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 6:22 AM  What's on sale in the League of Legends Mythic shop? New skins for LoL are released all the time, with a new event arriving on the Rift every few weeks, but what happens if you missed the boat with that awesome KD/A Evelynn skin, or if you've seen a Hextech skin in a game of Summoner's and want to bag it for yourself? The Mythic shop is a special storefront in the free PC game that stocks rare skins, wards, chromas, and essence. These cosmetic items aren't available for real-world money, either, as they can only be purchased with Mythic Essence, so no more worrying about how much you've spent in League of Legends. The stock held in this store is rotated regularly, with some skins becoming unavailable for months, so it's best to keep up to date on what's on sale in the League of Legends Mythic store. Continue reading League of Legends Mythic shop May - what's on sale? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: League of Legends ranks explained, League of Legends patch 14.10, League of Legends tier list |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 6:08 AM  Intel has shared some details of its upcoming new CPUs, revealing that it believes its Arrow Lake desktop gaming CPUs are "on track" to arrive in the last quarter of this year and that its Lunar Lake mobile chips will be arriving even sooner, in Q3 2024. That means your next Intel CPU upgrade could be available well in time for the holiday season. The reveal of these new Intel CPU timelines means we can expect the battle for the best gaming CPU to really hot up in a few months. That's especially true, as we are also expecting new AMD Zen 5 CPUs to be arriving around that time, bringing us a complete overhaul of the CPU market over the course of perhaps just a few weeks. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Core i5 14600K review, Best gaming CPU, Core i9 14900K review |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 6:32 AM  Which League of Legends skins are currently on sale in the store? LoL is a free-to-play game in the truest sense - you can enjoy everything the MOBA offers for absolutely nothing. Now if you were to ask a seasoned League player if that were true, they'd probably have to stifle a few tears as they check how much their bank account has suffered buying skins since they started battling on the Rift. Riot rotates a series of skins in the store, with the savviest of us holding out until the cosmetic they want ends up in the discount section store or even the League of Legends Mythic shop. The shiny new cosmetics are only available briefly, so act fast if you want to snag the new hotness. Here is every League of Legends skin on sale right now if you want to know what's in the store without booting up the client. Continue reading Which League of Legends skins are currently on sale? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: League of Legends ranks explained, League of Legends patch 14.10, League of Legends tier list |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 6:03 AM  What are the best Roblox games? Games aren't just better than ever for kids; the means of creating them are, too. The best example of that is Roblox: a massively multiplayer online game creation platform, and since it's so easy to make something fun, there are millions of Roblox games to enjoy. User-generated creations allow you to weather the existential threat of a natural disaster, try your hand as a pizza maker, and take a break from it all with a spot of peaceful scuba diving. From sims and RPGs to tower defense and adventure titles, we've highlighted the best Roblox games to enjoy with over 100 million other pals in online games. Think of it like Minecraft and LittleBigPlanet smooshed together and forged into an entire platform to create one of the best free PC games available. Below, you can find the best Roblox games and more about this exciting platform. If you're looking for some Roblox freebies, you can check these guides for working, new Skibiverse codes, and Fruit Battlegrounds codes to gain an advantage in your games. Continue reading The best Roblox games in 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 5:50 AM  I expect we all know this by now, but it's worth repeating: if you're playing a game and there's a friendly artificial intelligence or a sentient computer program that's helping you on your journey, it will, eventually, try to kill you. We saw it in System Shock 2. We saw it in Halo. It's the premise of the entire Portal series. A new horror game, which also takes cues from the intensely frightening intro of Silent Hill 3, is yet another lesson in computerized companion caution. Boasting a huge 95% rating on Steam, you can also play right now completely free. Continue reading New horror game with 95% positive reviews is also completely free MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best horror games, Best indie games, Best FPS games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 5:42 AM  May 20, 2024: All the new details regarding Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 3's release date, theme, and upcoming collabs explained. When is the Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 3 release date? Since the start of the fifth chapter, we've seen the island, now known as Helios, take shape after the reality-bending Big Bang event. However, the island also contained a secret known as Pandora's Box, and upon its opening by the loopers, the entire Greek Pantheon was unleashed, transforming the island into a mythological battleground. Ever since the defeat of Zeus, a sandstorm has been brewing near the southern part of the island, with the Oracle revealing that The Wanderer is approaching, and with them comes disaster. It seems we're in for some significant changes to Fortnite in the new season, including a reworked Fortnite map and various new Fortnite weapons. We already know the theme and at least one collaboration thanks to some teases in-game, and via various dataminers who have been busy unraveling the strings. As we venture into the battle royale game's latest season, let's see what's been confirmed, including the all-important next Fortnite season date, and if this affects Fortnite Festival and Lego Fortnite in any way. Continue reading Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 3 release date and latest news MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Fortnite map - key locations, Fortnite skins, All Fortnite Chapter 4 weapons |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 5:30 AM  Farming games require a lot of dedication, and it seems a new one is released every week thanks to the popularity of Stardew Valley, Satisfactory, Dreamlight Valley, and more. If you're a fan of the genre, it might be hard to keep on top of the best upcoming farming games, but we can point you in the right direction - perhaps towards Southfield, which we're giving away 5,000 Steam beta keys for. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best farming games, Best building games, Best management games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 5:37 AM  Is Hellblade 2 Steam Deck comaptible? While opinions on the definition of a playable gaming frame rate may differ, it's widely agreed that the bare minimum requirement is 30fps, and Helllblade 2 barely passes this figure on Steam Deck. However, future updates could improve this situation. Having tested Hellblade 2 on the Steam Deck OLED, I recommend sticking to playing this title on a gaming PC for now. Despite being the best handheld gaming PC, the Steam Deck struggles to handle Senua's latest adventure, and the compromises needed to get the game running at 30fps aren't worth making. Continue reading Is Hellblade 2 Steam Deck compatible? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 5:10 AM  Want to know what Genshin Impact outfits are available? The outfits system was introduced in the Genshin Impact 1.6 update, following months of pleading from the community. These outfits give you the chance to dress your favourite characters in brand-new clothes. As Genshin Impact characters are locked behind gacha mechanics in the free PC game, players were initially worried that skins may be sold using the same system. However, there are actually two methods to unlock skins: purchase the skin for 1,680 Genesis Crystals, or complete specific Genshin Impact events to unlock the skin for free. If you're unlucky enough to miss the event, free skins will make their way to the Character Outfit Shop in the future. Here's a list of every outfit available in Genshin Impact right now and how to get them all for yourself. Continue reading Genshin Impact outfits - available skins and costumes MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Genshin Impact codes, Genshin Impact character tier list, Genshin Impact leveling guide |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 5:04 AM  When is the Life by You release date? If you're a fan of The Sims, Second Life, and all things simulation, then Rod Humble's latest crack at the life sim genre should be music to your ears. Unveiled during the Paradox Interactive 2023 showcase, Life by You feature all the best life game hallmarks, including a variety of locations to explore, character interactions, and a wealth of build and design tools to play with. Here's all the latest news on the the Life by You release date, along with the latest trailers and gameplay for what could potentially be one of the best PC games for life sim lovers. Continue reading Life by You release date, early access, news, and trailers MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Life by You release date, Games like The Sims, Best life games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 4:46 AM  What is the next Monopoly Go event? With so many limited-time events in Monopoly Go, it can be hard to keep track of the rewards you can get your hands on. Monopoly Go events can last anywhere from a few hours to a week, so bookmark this page as we'll keep it regularly updated with the next events and their start and end dates. Monopoly Go is the latest online board game sweeping the globe, but completing all of these events won't be easy without some Monopoly Go free dice links, so check out our daily updated guide for some freebies and rewards before you get started on the next Monopoly Go tournament. Continue reading All Monopoly Go events, tournaments, dates, and rewards MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best board games, Free PC games, Monopoly Go dice |
PCGamesN Tuesday, May 21, 2024 4:01 AM  Where are the Hellblade 2 Lorestangir locations? Senua's Saga might take her to the distant shores of Iceland, but it'll take more than that to get rid of our old buddy Druth. Hellblade 2 Lorestangir are the equivalent of Lorestones from Senua's Sacrifice. These collectible totems contain a fragment of the skáldic verse of Grettir the Strong, narrated by Druth. There are 18 Lorestangir in Hellblade 2 in total, and they can be located in chapters one through five. You can activate the Lorestangir using your Focus ability, just like Hellblade 2 faces. Once activated, the rune displayed turns red and Druth narrates the relevant fragment of the skald's verse. Like the Norse tales told during Senua's descent into Hel in Senua's Sacrifice, Grettir's verse offers a new way of interpreting the events of Senua's Saga. Here's where to find the Hellblade 2 Lorestangir locations in the story game, so you can hear Druth's story for yourself and reap the rewards. Continue reading All Hellblade 2 Lorestangir locations MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hellblade 2 review, Hellblade 2 lore stone locations, Hellblade 2 face locations |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, May 21, 2024 6:39 AM  The music in haunting 2D adventure Norco was so good it's one of the few soundtracks I've actually bought on Steam, so I'm deeply intrigued to learn that developer Geography of Robots are putting music - and dancing - front and center in the new demo for their next project, Silenus. You can bop your way between screens, reader! |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, May 21, 2024 6:32 AM  I could pretend I understand Square Enix's action-RPG series Kingdom Hearts, but I don't need to, 'cos what I do understand is how popular it is. Until fairly recently the nearly 15-game-strong series, where Disney characters cross over with Final Fantasy and go to war alongside a child wielding a key (I said I don't properly understand it), wasn't on PC. After some games arrived on the Epic Games Store in 2021, Squeenix have confirmed that multiple Kingdom Hearts games are coming to Steam next month, on June 13th. Unlucky for some, maybe, but not Donald Duck and Goofy, two of the main characters. Long has Goofy been seen as just a joke character in the minds of people people who didn't watch A Goofy Movie. Hopefully this brings his heroism to a wider audience. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, May 21, 2024 6:00 AM  Risk Of Rain 2 is one of my fave action roguelikes, as it's a good time with pals and has all the hallmarks of things I enjoy most in my games: shooting and looting. That's why the latest free update excites me so, as it introduces an artifact that makes chests malicious and another that lets you hatch angry lizard companions. Oh, and there's a new map, too. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, May 21, 2024 5:46 AM  The neighbourhood citizens of Life By You are positioning themselves as bright-eyed pretenders to The Sims. But in this ultimate game of keeping-up-with-the-Jones, the life sim from Paradox has slipped on a wet kitchen tile. The game has been delayed for a third time, and the developers are reluctant to set a new date for the planned release into early access. "[We] believe it is more prudent to hold off while we plan ahead," said Mattias Lilja of Paradox Interactive, "rather than committing to a new date that we cannot be certain to meet." |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, May 21, 2024 5:35 AM  To borrow a tired Xitterism: The Venn diagram between 'games that have reference points outside of other games' and 'games I'm likely to get excited about' is a circle. For the benefit of people who've discovered the one weird trick that therapists hate and improved their mental health tenfold by deleting the bad place, here's an incredibly cool thread I stumbled upon this morning where indie developers share non-game influences on their projects. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, May 21, 2024 4:00 AM  Three questions before we start: 1) Do you like Robert Eggers' film The Northman? 2) Do you like games that mainly involve pressing 'forward' and not much else? 3) Do you like rocks? |
Twinfinite Tuesday, May 21, 2024 5:17 AM  |
Twinfinite Tuesday, May 21, 2024 5:10 AM  |
Twinfinite Tuesday, May 21, 2024 5:02 AM  |
Twinfinite Tuesday, May 21, 2024 4:00 AM  |
Siliconera Tuesday, May 21, 2024 4:01 AM
In 2017, Ninja Theory surprised everyone after following up their work on DmC: Devil May Cry with the masterful Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. The action-adventure title set a new bar for independent releases with its cinematic graphics and thought-provoking portrayal of mental health. After being acquired by Microsoft Studios, Ninja Theory spent nearly seven years working on a sequel to the project. Thankfully, it was worth the wait, as Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is a cinematic masterpiece. However, the game's short length and heavy focus on narrative might not be for everyone.
I want to get two things out of the way. Like the first title, Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is a very short game. It took me around ten hours to beat it, and I'm an extremely slow player. In comparison, I know a few colleagues who were able to complete the game in between 7-8 hours, which is around the same length as Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. So, if you were hoping for the sequel to have a larger campaign, you will not find that here. Secondly, this is very much a narrative-driven adventure. So, if you are expecting things like skill trees or leveling up, you will not get that here either. Basically, if you enjoyed the original game, then you are likely going to love Senua's Saga: Hellblade II.
With that out of the way, I'm going to be honest and say I initially forgot the plot of Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. (I played it way back in 2017!) Although the game's opening offers a quick summary of previous events, I felt a bit lost when it came to lore and references to her journey during the first hour of Senua's Saga: Hellblade II. The sequel fortunately works well as a standalone narrative once you get two hours into the story. Without getting into major spoilers, the game opens up with Senua setting out to rescue her people who have become enslaved. However, she soon finds herself stranded on a mysterious island locked in a powder keg conflict about to explode.
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II's story is both thrilling and horrifying. There were times that it reminded me of Attack on Titan, as this sequel touches on similar themes about humanity and what people are willing to do to survive in the face of a devastating threat. Just like the first game, Ninja Theory uses audio exceptionally. It's so important that I think wearing headphones while playing Senua's Saga: Hellblade II should be mandatory. As key plot moments unravel, you are given instant insight into what Senua is thinking and feeling. It really enhances the narrative in a big way. For example, there was a moment when I was clawing through a dark cave, and the voices inside Senua's head observed how panic-inducing the situation was. I actually felt my own anxiety rising, as it felt like my trek through the claustrophobic environment was getting tighter and tighter and would never end.
However, the audio isn't just for character-building in Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, as Ninja Theory actually finds some pretty groundbreaking ways to use during gameplay. Unlike most modern AAA projects that have waypoints or visual cues, I felt Ninja Theory wanted me to feel every moment as if I was living the story. So instead of a marker on the ground showing me where to go, I heard the sound of a person screaming from a distance out of one side of my speaker. The game's 3D binaural audio is incredible, and there were numerous occasions where I was able to figure out where I needed to go and how to progress just by listening to my environment.
Another thing I really loved about Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is that the voices inside Senua's head will sometimes make a comment about a puzzle. However, they won't outright tell you what to do. They'll instead make an observation or criticize Senua in a way that makes sense within the game's story, which can then push you in the right direction. It all comes together in a really seamless and natural way and truly made this one of the most immersive gaming experiences I've had in years.
Speaking of puzzles, Ninja Theory really expanded on gameplay in Senua's Saga: Hellblade II by including tasking sections. Some of these challenges involve pretty mind-bending stuff. It actually reminded me a lot of Alan Wake 2's "flashlight" mechanic, which let you rearrange the game's world in real time with the click of a button. Similarly, there are puzzles in Senua's Saga: Hellblade II that let you play with perception to warp and twist your environment. I not only found these challenging brain teasers, but they were also a visual spectacle that further expanded on the game's themes about mental health.
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II does involve some combat, but I imagine the sections might leave some divided depending on their expectations. If you want quick hack-and-slash action like Ninja Theory is known for in previous works like DmC: Devil May Cry, you will be let down. Instead, Senua's Saga: Hellblade II features heavy combat that can feel sluggish at times. This didn't bother me personally because I thought the game's battle mechanics had a lot of weight to them. What I mean is that you truly feel every blade slash that hits Senua. Combat is violent and brutal. And from a cinematic point of view, I think this combat style works effectively. Just don't go into the game expecting to throw out flashy combos and counters. The game does have the standard block, parry, and dodge. And you also unlock new mechanics as the story progresses that can aid you in battle.
But overall, combat is more of a slowed-down visceral experience that is there to serve the narrative. As far as the rest of the gameplay goes, most of Senua's Saga: Hellblade II largely centers around you exploring the island. While this isn't an open-world map, I still found the game to be constantly engaging. Even though most of the chapters are broken up into linear sections, you often have to figure out how to navigate through these multi-layered areas. For example, instead of just walking through the middle of an abandoned village, you will have to crawl under huts, climb ladders, and find hidden passageways to make it to the other side. Overall, I think Ninja Theory did a really good job balancing the game's exploration sections with puzzles and narrative moments, where Senua is fighting with her internal voices, so that every segment of the story feels engaging.
Truly, Senua's Saga: Hellblade II's cinematic presentation stands out. I know there have been many games with the so-called "best graphics." But I really do think there is an argument here that Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is one of the best-looking games ever made. The level of effort Ninja Theory went through to bring the sweeping lands of Iceland to life in this game is just breathtaking. Senua's Saga also manages to avoid the mistakes that other narrative-driven games, such as The Order: 1886, make in that it doesn't feel like a movie that you are just passively watching. Whether it's the 3D Audio that had me interacting with the environment and story in unique ways or the incredible motion-capture performance of Senua actor Melina Juergens - I truly felt connected to every moment of this story.
Ninja Theory does not shy away from this being a movie-like experience. With the game clocking in at around ten hours, the campaign is unabashedly narrative-focused. With all that said, I can't help but be blown away by the passion that went into telling Senua's story or the fact that Hellblade II was developed by a team of 80 people. What really makes this game stand out is how much detail Ninja Theory put into the project. From working with a Cambridge Professor to explore the game's themes about mental health to spending 69 days doing extensive motion capture - Senua's Saga is truly one of the most narratively engrossing games I've experienced in years. Fans of the first game will also be pleased with Hellblade 2's story, as it further dives into the harrowing struggles of Senua with a really unique plot. The sequel also expands beyond the beloved protagonist and features a cast of interesting side characters with their own emotional stories.
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is a cinematic masterpiece that raises the bar of narrative games. From its groundbreaking use of 3D Audio to its incredible graphics that bring sweeping Icelandic vistas to life, Ninja Theory's sequel is a must-play narrative. More importantly, Senua's Saga continues to tackle mental health in a deeply meaningful way, with an emotional story that will have you on the edge of your seat until the credits roll.
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is now available on Xbox Series X / S and PC.
The post Review: Senua's Saga: Hellblade II Is a Cinematic Masterpiece appeared first on Siliconera. |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, May 21, 2024 7:11 AM  The main way to get new resonators in Wuthering Waves is through the gacha system, although the available resonators will change over time. Upon launch, the 1.0 banners will have some exciting characters to pull from. How do banners work in Wuthering Waves? We have a lot of information about how the banners will work in Wuthering Waves. It will cost one Radiant Tide to pull from the Convene Banners, which will let players pull for limited-time resonators. Naturally, getting these characters will be incredibly rare, and so there is a failsafe at 80 pulls, which will trigger the pity system. You can pull ten times at once for a 20% discount, costing you only eight Radiant Tides for ten pulls. Each Convene Banner will consist of four resonators – one of which will be 5-star rarity and will be the hardest to get. The 5-star resonator will likely not be as available from any other banner, so you'll have a limited time to get your hands on them if you really want t... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, May 21, 2024 4:45 AM  This walkthrough will cover Chapter 3 of Senua's Saga Hellblade 2 so you can figure out all the sphere puzzle solutions. Chapter 3 includes quite a few interesting and difficult puzzles involving placing spheres onto pedestals. How to escape the dark forestSphere puzzle 1Sphere puzzle 2Sphere puzzle 3Sphere puzzle 4 How to escape the dark forest in Hellblade 2 Chapter 3 After rescuing and meeting Fargrimr during Chapter 2, alongside freeing Thorgestr the slave master, you three set off to eventually take down Illtauga the giant. The beginning of this Chapter is mostly linear walking, dialogue, and cutscenes as you come face-to-face with the terrifying Illtauga for the first time. Screenshot: PC Invasion After the three of you escape, Senua falls back into her mind and finds herself lost in a dark forest, attempting to ignore the voice of her father taunting her. The first place I got stuck as was the torch, which you must pick up by interacting with it. I for some... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, May 21, 2024 4:30 AM  This Chapter 2 walkthrough for Senua's Saga Hellblade 2 will review how you get through the draugar settlement, complete the three symbols puzzle, and free the stranger tied up as a sacrifice. How to solve the three symbols puzzleHow to use the mirrorHow to find the hidden faceHow to free the stranger How to solve the three symbols puzzle in Hellblade 2 Chapter 2 Screenshot: PC Invasion After walking the slave master to the village where the draugar were in Chapter 1, Senua ties him up and you're free to head inside on your own. Upon walking through the main road in the village you'll get stopped and the three symbols puzzle begins. Middle symbol Screenshot: PC Invasion This symbol is the easiest to spot and is the cross-shaped symbol in the middle. Simply turn back around and walk down the main path in the village. You'll eventually come across a dead-end with a red cross, the symbol you're looking for. Focus on it, and then head to ... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, May 21, 2024 4:30 AM  Some of the more annoying enemies to fight off are the enemies that like to blow fire at Senua. I had a tough time not catching on fire, so how can you avoid the blowing fire in Senua's Saga Hellblade 2? Senua's Saga Hellblade 2: How to avoid the blowing fire If you catch on fire too many times during combat, Senua will die, forcing you to restart combat. Whenever I attempted to dodge it, I would still get hit anyway, so what are you supposed to do? You can avoid getting hit by the blowing fire in Senua's Saga Hellblade 2 by dodge-rolling left. During Chapter 2, you'll encounter a version of these enemies that'll only blow fire out in a straight line, allowing you to dodge left or right with ease. But later on, you'll meet them again and they'll start to blow fire from left to right. Dodging right only causes you to get caught in the crossfire. Make sure to always dodge left when you notice them begin the attack. Screenshot: PC Inv... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, May 21, 2024 4:15 AM  Senua's Saga Hellblade 2 is the long-awaited sequel to the hit Ninja Theory game, but is this sequel compatible with the Steam Deck? Not only must you wonder if Valve has Verified it, but can your Steam Deck even handle this Unreal Engine 5 game? Can you play Senua's Saga Hellblade 2 on the Steam Deck? Unfortunately, at this time, we don't know if Senua's Saga Hellblade 2 is Steam Deck compatible. Once this Ninja Theory game drops on May 21, players will get the chance to see what Valve has rated Hellblade 2 on its Verification scale. Games on the Steam Deck can have four Verification levels: Verified, Playable, Unsupported, and Unknown. My guess is that Hellblade 2 will either be Playable or Verified on launch. If it ends up being Playable, you can expect this game to eventually get Verified due to the fact that Hellblade Senua's Sacrifice is Verified. Image: Ninja Theory Senua's Saga Hellblade 2 Steam Deck performance, explained T... |