Jul 20, 20:00


GamersHeroes Saturday, July 20, 2024 7:47 PM
    

The latest trailer for SEGA's Sonic X Shadow Generations takes a closer look at the new visuals and surprises from iconic stages in Sonic - and Shadow's - rich history of games.

The post Sonic X Shadow Generations "Generations of Stages" Trailer Released appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Saturday, July 20, 2024 6:08 PM
    

The Radiant Integrity Knight Alice Zuberg will make her way to Bandai Namco's Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream - see her in action with the latest trailer for the title.

The post Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream Alice Zuberg Trailer Released appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Saturday, July 20, 2024 5:47 PM
    

Announced at EVO 2024, the latest characters to shatter all expectations in SNK's The King of Fighters XV are Vice and Mature.

The post Vice and Mature Coming to The King of Fighters XV This December appeared first on GamersHeroes.


PCGamesN Saturday, July 20, 2024 5:43 PM
     Time-hopping Warframe 1999 now has a release window

The '90s were a breathtaking time to be alive. Full of change, the promise of a new millennium, and loads of fear about the computerized end of all things which was only narrowly avoided by a ton of hard work by programmers. If you want to go back there, or never experienced that decade at all, upcoming Warframe: 1999 quest will give you a taste of the last century, and Digital Extremes has just announced its release window.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Warframe on Steam Deck, Warframe builds, Warframe system requirements

PCGamesN Saturday, July 20, 2024 5:28 PM
     The best multiplayer games, to play with friends online in 2024

What are the best multiplayer games? Intricate gameplay and glistening visuals only go so far; humans often provide the biggest surprises with schemes that transform even the most average game into an unforgettable experience you'll be talking about until the end of time.

Fast and frantic or tense and calculated, the best multiplayer games come in all shapes and sizes. Whether it's vying for control of the payload in an FPS game or fighting for survival in a co-op game with your friends, these experiences wouldn't be the same without a bunch of real people. We've curated a list of the best PC games with multiplayer functionality so you can go around killing, maiming, or, occasionally, helping random people on the internet.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Left 4 Dead 2 Requirements

PCGamesN Saturday, July 20, 2024 5:18 PM
     Warframe is getting two huge updates, and a much-needed rework

Aesthetically, Warframe has been killing it in 2024. Marrying its unique, futuristic style with traditional Eastern influences in Jade Shadows, then adding more Metal Gear Solid-style grit for 1999, for me, this is easily the most exciting time to be a Tenno. Digital Extremes is continuing that Eastern thematic in the newly announced Lotus Eaters, which bridges the gap between Whispers in the Walls and 1999. But, in the wake of that, there's another unnamed update set for later this year, and while the full reveal will take place during the Tokyo Game Show, we know that one beloved yet under-used frame will be getting a full rework.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Warframe on Steam Deck, Warframe builds, Warframe system requirements

PCGamesN Saturday, July 20, 2024 5:27 PM
     New Soulframe Ancestor Verminia is a potion-brewing Rat Witch

As TennoCon 2024 sees the first Soulframe devstream from Digital Extremes, the fantasy game counterpart to Warframe reveals another of its Ancestors, the wonderfully named Verminia the Rat Witch. The long-awaited MMORPG also gives us a bit more of a look at what we can expect as we step into the shoes of an Envoy tasked with healing the curse of the conquering Ode.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best MMORPG - top MMOs you should play, The best RPG games on PC 2022, The best fantasy games on PC in 2022

PCGamesN Saturday, July 20, 2024 12:26 PM
     Open-world strategy RPG Wartales is cheap right now, and worth a shot

Whether you're a Dungeons and Dragons diehard or got your first taste of the format with Baldur's Gate 3, medieval RPG Wartales is a game that should be on your radar. A blend of open-world adventure, turn-based combat, and management sim, it lets you lead a band of like-minded mercenaries in the pursuit of fame and fortune. Playable as both a solo journey or in co-op with friends, Wartales is an oft-overlooked gem, and you can snag it cheap right now thanks to the ongoing Tacticon Steam sale.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best tactical rpgs on PC, The best turn-based strategy games on PC

PCGamesN Saturday, July 20, 2024 12:10 PM
     Dead by Daylight dev promises

Dead by Daylight has a UI problem. Developer Behaviour Interactive has made sweeping changes to the UI's layout in DBD patch 8.1.0, and player outcry has become so deafening that the team says it will make "some adjustments" based on feedback, but I'm not sure it'll be enough. The game's UI has, in many respects, just got worse, and players are calling on Behaviour to fully reverse it, and only time will tell if it does.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: DBD killer tier list, Best horror games, DBD codes

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Saturday, July 20, 2024 5:17 PM
    

Microsoft have responded to the US Federal Trade Commission's assertion that the tech giant are now offering a "degraded" Game Pass experience, posing "exactly the sort of consumer harm" the FTC warned was possible in advance of the Activision Blizzard acquisition.

Nuh-uh, say Microsoft, who call the FTC's letter "a misleading, extra-record account of the facts".

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Saturday, July 20, 2024 4:38 PM
    

I like my car combat to be focused on collisions not guns, and for the vehicular argy-bargy to be an additional layer of excitement and strategy upon a racing core. FlatOut, then. A series of bumper car racing which managed to impress with its crumple zones long before the era of Wreckfest or BeamNG.

Now FlatOut, FlatOut 2 and FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage have all received an update on Steam to add Workshop support, Steam Deck verified status, improved performance, and in the case of FlatOut 2, re-enabled online multiplayer.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Saturday, July 20, 2024 1:42 PM
    

Station wagon survival 'em up Pacific Drive has received a summer update which adds a photomode, new upgrades for garage machinery, a new sideways dodge manouver for the car, and a piece of paid cosmetic DLC. This is the first of a new roadmap of post-release updates still to come.

Read more


Siliconera Saturday, July 20, 2024 6:00 PM
    

Yoshi-P Talks About Pictomancer in FFXIV Dawntrail, Krile Job Change

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail continues the age-old tradition of introducing multiple new jobs (usually two per expansion with the exception of Heavensward) for players to check out. In the case of the fifth expansion, the new FFXIV jobs are Pictomancer and Viper. While certainly different from one another, if I had to pick one as the better job, I would go with Pictomancer every time.

To be clear, both jobs are actually quite good and fill some necessary niches in FFXIV. But I understand that not every player is going to want to take the time to level up both jobs over 20 levels each (40 in total) to max them out. Plus, that doesn't take into account the time it takes to master each job, which is a tall order since they start at level 80. With that in mind, if I had to pick one of these new FFXIV jobs to recommend to most players, I would go with Pictomancer. I believe it is the slightly better and stronger job.

How to unlock Pictomancer in FFXIV Dawntrail
Screenshot by Siliconera

To be clear, I started out as an Arcanist and eventually Summoner/Scholar main in this game when it first came out, but my secondary job for the longest time was Ninja. As such, there are some fascinating parallels between Pictomancer and Viper for me. The former is the latest ranged magical DPS job. Meanwhile, Viper is the long-awaited armor companion to Ninja and a fellow dual wielder. Both jobs also have some similarities to existing ones, so they are pretty even in that regard.

As such, Pictomancer narrowly beats Viper due to how much more it stands out. I would describe Pictomancer as a fascinating mix of Black Mage and Ninja in some regards, under an artistic perspective. It has the usual elemental magic Black Mage owns and some similar spells, but it also has its canvas to paint on. This reminds me of Ninja in a way. You can queue up spells and unleash them in certain orders. These will result in different moves in the process.

On the other hand, Viper is also similar to Ninja. It is a dual wielder and it focuses a lot on combos as well. The difference is it relies too much on combos. It is actually unbelievable how many different combo options exist with Viper. There are different branching options depending on the scenario and skills are constantly turning into other ones.

Screenshot by Siliconera

If you don't like combos, Viper is certainly not the FFXIV job for you. In addition, it can be a bit overwhelming to jump into at first. But the main issue with Viper comes from once you actually learn it. I find that Viper ends up a little boring and almost too repetitive once you get the hang of the role. Meanwhile, the Pictomancer never stops being fun with instantly drawing outside of battle and buffing the party.

Overall, I would almost say Viper is a bit one-note. However, to its credit, the diversity in combos leads to some of the best visual effects for a job. I would even say it is possibly the flashiest job in the game currently. But it doesn't stand out as much as it could, nor is it as necessary in the meta as Pictomancer.

If you are a skilled Pictomancer, you can almost deal too much damage in FFXIV these days. There are times I have full-on pulled and seen others pull aggro from a skilled, not amateur tank, especially in lower-level content. Any other job and that wouldn't have happened. Beyond the damage, Pictomancer also has some excellent buffs late-game with Starry Muse and Tempera Grassa. It isn't quite the true support job hybrid I was hoping for, but it comes close enough.

How to get the Chocobo Brush for Pictomancer in FFXIV Dawntrail
Screenshot by Siliconera

In the end, both Viper and Pictomancer are excellent job additions in FFXIV Dawntrail. That said, if I have to recommend one as the "better" job, I would go with Pictomancer. It isn't quite as one-note as Viper can be, while also almost filling a neat niche for the meta. I expect Pictomancer to only gain in popularity and success as time goes on, barring any nerfs, so if you're looking for a new one to spend your time with, this is what I recommend.

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is available right now for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

The post FFXIV Dawntrail's Pictomancer Stands Out More Than Viper appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Saturday, July 20, 2024 3:00 PM
    

A Street Cat's Tale 2: Outside Is Dangerous Feels Less Harsh

I can't count how many times I accidentally let the poor, stray kitten die in the original A Street Cat's Tale game. It was a lot. I felt really bad! I was genuinely terrified the same thing would happen in A Street Cat's Tale 2: Outside is Dangerous. (That ominous subtitle wasn't helping!) While it is still very perilous for a formerly indoor cat on their own, I found various quality of life adjustments made it easier for Cinnamon (and me) to adjust to life on the streets.

A big part of this involves how A Street Cat's Tale 2: Outside is Dangerous gets started, as it offers an opportunity to enjoy more exposition and ease into the game. Much like a certain little kitty in a big city, this cat named Cinnamon accidentally ends up outside. After his owner Hazel moves, he inadvertently naps in a box that is taken away. When he wakes up, he's alone. It's then that he realizes he was taken far from home, and some street cats help him adjust to his new life in the big city as he finds his way and perhaps gets back to Hazel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbTgFHB97BE&ab_channel=CFKOfficialChannel

This initial accommodation is so helpful, both narratively and in terms of gameplay. We get an introduction to Cinnamon, first of all, and a means of better connecting with the character. The first game had a strong start! However, at that point it was more about identifying with a poor baby who lost its mother. Here, the character is better established from the outset. However, it's even more useful because of the other elements of this execution. After seeing Cinnamon spirited away, we also get a chance to safely practice solving sokoban box-pushing puzzles and learn survival techniques like hunting, scavenging, and sharing with other cats in a safe, controlled environment. This continues with some early quests that also help ease us into the world.

Those are the most obvious quality of life changes! There are so many others in A Street Cat's Tale 2: Outside is Dangerous that make the game better and more enjoyable to play. For example, you don't have to pick up items one at a time. This is a godsend for survivability and befriending other cats. You can actually hold on to some and carry them with you. An actual inventory? In a game? What a novel idea! Introducing the cats who will matter to you upfront, as well as some important humans, is also a boon. You aren't wandering around, trying to find out who people (well, felines) are and where. It's better structured with its chapters and missions. I felt like I fumbled much more often with the original game, and it isn't an issue this time around.

Image via feemodev and CFK

Perhaps most importantly, the tone is so much better in A Street Cat's Tale 2: Outside is Dangerous compared to the original game. I very much felt like in each run, I was nearly guaranteed to flail or fail. It ended up being such a daunting endeavor. Yes, Cinnamon still gets hungry at a fairly steady place and there's a lot to do here. However, I always felt more optimistic about his odds whenever I played, and the tone of Cinnamon and the other cats also felt more positive than in the original game. 

It's such a big change that I'd almost say go ahead and play A Street Cat's Tale 2: Outside is Dangerous first and consider, well, not playing the original game. This is coming from someone who enjoyed it, as perilous as it could be. This new entry ends up feeling so much stronger! Granted, there are connections to characters from A Street Cat's Tale, so that bonus exists for people who do take a chance on both. However, this one ended up being so much more fun and, given there's a demo for the PC version on Steam, a lot easier to even see if it vibes with a player.

A Street Cat's Tale 2: Outside is Dangerous is available on the Nintendo Switch and PC

The post A Street Cat's Tale 2: Outside Is Dangerous Feels Less Harsh appeared first on Siliconera.


WGB Saturday, July 20, 2024 7:52 PM
     Concord's open beta isn't doing much better than the closed beta that took place recently.

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Saturday, July 20, 2024 6:20 PM

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Saturday, July 20, 2024 5:32 PM
    

It showcases several new details for the upcoming game.

The post Soulframe Gets New Tennocon 2024 Gameplay Showcase Video appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Saturday, July 20, 2024 4:30 PM
    

It has fully unionized under the Communication Workers of America.

The post Bethesda Workers Become First Microsoft Studio to Unionize appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


MonsterVine Saturday, July 20, 2024 6:00 PM
     Digital Extremes, the team behind the popular space shooter Warframe, recently showcased various new features in its upcoming project Warframe: 1999. As the name suggests, it'll take place in 1999 instead of the far feature in which the base game is set. Although Warframe: 1999 doesn't have a release date, it's scheduled to be released […]

MonsterVine Saturday, July 20, 2024 6:00 PM
     During Tennocon 2024, MonsterVine got a hands-off demo of Digital Extremes' latest expansion for Warframe—Warframe: 1999. Instead of taking place in space and fighting on exotic planets, you'll be on Earth with the task of killing Dr. Entrati before the new year starts. Even though Digital Extremes is heavily pushing 1999, new players cannot jump […]

MonsterVine Saturday, July 20, 2024 1:00 PM
     I wish visiting dystopian hellholes was more enjoyable but with the ever looming threat of becoming one dangling over our heads, the fantasy is a bit hollow. Even with that threat dangling over my head, I still had a pretty good time playing Nobody Wants to Die, a noir mystery adventure game from Polish studio […]