Three friends playing a giant game of tag across Europe is my idea of a good time. The hosts of "Jet Lag" have done this before, and it always makes great television. From a single starting point the three have their own equidistant destination, and 72 hours to get there. If they don't make it all the way to their…
August 31, 2024: We added new Special Anime Defense codes to our list.
What are the new Special Anime Defense codes? Another fun anime-themed Roblox game, Anime Special Defense stands out with its colorful neon aesthetics and character drops. By redeeming codes in the game, you can instantly enjoy a whole bunch of helpful rewards even if it's your first time diving in.
Just like using the latest Anime Defenders codes or Blox Fruits codes, getting free rewards in Anime Special Defense makes the Roblox experience even more of a great time. Let's get into all of the active bonuses available to redeem right now.
If you love games like Diablo, you're spoiled for choice nowadays. Last Epoch's 1.0 launch arrived to great success, the Path of Exile 2 beta is on the horizon as its predecessor marches on unabated, and Blizzard's own Diablo 4 has found its feet as it looks towards the Vessel of Hatred DLC. But there's at least one more notable ARPG on my radar right now, and Titan Quest 2 avoids the live service structure of its contenders in favor of a complete game that's packed with replayability. I sat down with the Grimlore Games team at Gamescom 2024, and came away excited by how TQ2 is building on the best parts of the original.
After splitting from Gearbox Publishing earlier this year, Relic Hunters Legend developer Rogue Snail is removing all monetization from the full launch and turning it into a premium game. After launching in Steam Early Access in 2023 with plans to turn free-to-play with 1.0, the game will instead now retail at $20, as Rogue Snail doesn't "want to implement predatory monetization features." Relic Hunters Legend isn't the first indie game to make this pivot over the last year, with many developers currently making free-to-play games likely weighing up the decision as well.
Like many survival horror fans, I'm still quietly lamenting the lack of a Dino Crisis remake. Often overlooked next to the likes of Resident Evil, Capcom's dinosaur series remains something I'll always hold dear - at least for those first two entries. While it's playing in a slightly different style, then, I'm very entranced by Athanasia, a new retro-futuristic FPS and immersive sim featuring a mysterious facility filled with prehistoric problems. If that sounds intriguing, you can try it for yourself right now, as Momentum Games launches a Kickstarter to support development.
Capcom has confirmed that Monster Hunter Wilds will not change the current microtransaction system used in the series upon release. You can still make extra purchases for special layered armor and the like, but spending more money on the game will not net you any pay-to-win style bonuses after launch. So if you're an avid hunter looking forward to finding the best weapon switch combo, you don't need to worry about in-game purchases giving someone else the advantage.
August 31, 2024: We've added the latest new Monopoly Go dice links for free dice rolls.
How can I get Monopoly Go free dice links? The household favorite board game has been reimagined as a free-to-play app on smartphones, allowing everyone to experience the thrills of Monopoly on practically any device. Everything that makes the board game special is here in Monopoly Go, so you'll be collecting properties and building hotels as you go around the board, and there are a variety of multiplayer minigames to get through along the way.
You're going to need to get your hands on Monopoly dice rolls, but they are difficult to come by no matter how far you are into the board game. There are ways to earn additional dice rolls, including logging into the game every day to collect daily bonuses, progressing further in the game, and inviting friends to try Monopoly Go. While you can also spend real money to unlock more dice rolls, you may want to give our list of Monopoly Go dice links a try instead, especially if you're waiting for the next Monopoly Go Golden Blitz event. Take a look at all the currently active Monopoly Go free dice links for today.
If you're looking for a new FPS to lose your afternoons to, look no further than Selaco. Built on the Doom engine and inspired by FEAR, Selaco remembers what made classic boomer shooters so great. It's punchy, fast, and already filled to the brim despite being in Steam Early Access. Ever since Titanfall 2's excellent campaign trimmed the fat and showed modern shooters how it's done, I've been waiting for the next best thing, and Selaco is it. With a 20% discount and a colossal update mere months after launch, now's the time to get involved.
Videogame remakes are a tricky subject. While they bring classics to present-day hardware with modern design sensibilities, each one rolls the dice on the outcome. For every Resident Evil 2, there's a GTA Trilogy, and up until release it's nigh impossible to predict which we'll get. The upcoming Silent Hill 2 remake from Bloober Team is one such game, and while you could wait for the ground-up remake to experience the innermost workings of James Sunderland's mind, there is another option. If you own a copy of SH2 and want to play it with improvements in 2024, the now-complete Enhanced Edition is the way to go.
Against The Storm already contains a zoo's-worth of animal-people to order around as you attempt to build a town that can survive the perma-rain of the Blightstorm. That doesn't stop new expansion Keepers Of The Stone from adding one more. Come September 26th, you'll be able to welcome the frog people as you venture into a new biome.
Todd Howard recently said that he wanted people to experience Fallout 1 and 2 as they were, rather than remake them. Well, this'll make things easier: both games are currently free to keep as part of the Fallout Classic Collection over on the Epic Games Store.
Fallout Tactics is free, too, but I don't know whether Todd's cruel enough to want people to experience that one as it was.
Banished from the Hero's Party, I Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside ended up being pretty popular! There was a light novel, manga, and anime adaptation. It also resulted in a Princess Rizlet "Rit" Loggervia spin-off manga called Rejected by the Hero's Party, a Princess Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside, which Yen Press picked up. What's really great about this manga is how it offers fantastic insight into a major character from the main series, while also showing the practical reasoning behind her choices, rejection, and exile.
Editor's Note: There will be no Banished from the Hero's Party or Rejected by the Hero's Party spin-off manga spoilers below.
Since this is a story focused entirely on the former princess Rit, don't expect any talk about Red here. We do see Zoltan, which she heads to on a whim following her exile, but this is truly an origin spin-off manga focused entirely on what led to her eventually being involved in Banished from the Hero's Party. Frankly, I feel it makes it all more compelling.
Things begin with Rit at home in Loggervia. However, she isn't really acting in what you'd expect would be a royal capacity. Instead, she's engaged in rebuilding efforts and clean-up following the Demon Lord Taraxon's defeat. She's dealing with remnants of the army, facing miscreants who are taking advantage of the lingering chaos, and helping rebuild by assisting in towns and aiding orphanages. However, this is making her exceedingly popular, and her father the king already decided her brother Prince Ian will succeed him as the next ruler. Because of that popularity, she's exiled so people won't try to overthrow Ian or rebel against her father to put her on the throne.
Image via Yen Press
It really makes a lot of sense, while also making Rejected by the Hero's Party work as a standalone piece as well as a Banished from the Hero's Party spin-off. Right away, Zappon provided a lot of character background and development for Rit, establishes her as someone we want to support and root for, and makes her stand out as the protagonist. To be honest, I like the story and introduction for this tale better than the original series'. She comes across as such a strong, capable, and caring person, and the way she handles her exile and embraces the opportunity to live freely makes it even more compelling.
From there, we get to see Rit start to establish herself in Zoltan, and it works even better as a character piece. Her initial meeting with Edith, a C-rank adventurer, that leads to her joining the Adventurer's Guild in the town helps highlight what an impressive figure she is. After all, she's able to pick out and assess which of the posted requests on the board is most suspicious, dangerous, and in need of addressing. When she heads out on that mission, she makes these wise decisions when dealing with the individuals and situations. As she solves it, we also see her take into account other factors to ensure it is properly handled. Zappon is constantly giving us tangible examples and showing us why Rit is such a capable adventurer and good person, which helps the Rejected by the Hero's Party manga stand strong on its own and feel like more than just a Banished from the Hero's Party spin-off.
Rit really feels like such a compelling character in Rejected by the Hero's Party, a Princess Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside. So much so that I came away from the Banished from the Hero's Party spin-off liking her more than I did in the original tale and feeling like this story is an even stronger one. She's very well realized, and it's a fun read even if you aren't familiar with the source material.
Volume 1 of Rejected by the Hero's Party, a Princess Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside will be available on August 20, 2024, and Yen Press didn't announce when volume 2 of the manga will appear.
The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise is among the largest and most successful properties in the world. It dominates everything from physical goods to anime to movies and much more. However, while there are plenty of Gundam video games, not all of them are great. So, what is the best overall Mobile Suit Gundam game of all time?
With the recent release of Gundam Breaker 4, some of our Siliconera staff members gathered together to reminiscent about what we think are the best Mobile Suit Gundam games of all time.
Image via Bandai Namco
Siliconera Speaks Up: What Is the Best Mobile Suit Gundam Game of All Time?
For me, the best Gundam game is Gundam Breaker 3. Combine action combat that lets you do incredibly wacky combos with beam sabers, fists, axes and other classic armaments with customization options that would make an Armored Core game blush, both in the combinations of parts and the granular stat builds you can tailor your perfect custom Mobile Suit towards, and you have the recipe for one of the most fun Gundam experiences I've ever had. It also helps that the sheer amount of Mobile Suits at your disposal to customize and combine is almost overwhelming. -- John
While the Gundam anime series are almost always a hit for me, the games don't often have the same level of quality, in my opinion. It is so hard to nail down the right gameplay feel in these titles, which is why I usually prefer the more unique games. My personal favorite is the turn-based JRPG from PS2, MS Saga: A New Dawn. This heavily underrated entry in the series has solid turn-based combat, impressively deep mech customization, and a fun enough fairly standalone storyline. I really hope we get to see a traditional non-SD Gundam turn-based game like this again someday. -- Cody
Gundam Breaker 4 is now available for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC.
Skylar Dash AKA Dashing Adventure, a Texas-based attorney and professional Dungeon Master, has initiated a Kickstarter campaign titled "Infernal Marches," touching upon intellectual property rights issues stemming from professional Dungeon Masters using Dungeons & Dragons Intellectual Property to deliver paid performances to private audiences. Dash has been pushing for clarification on the topic since starting...
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Saturday, August 31, 2024 12:35 PM
We had a veritable cornucopia of hands-on previews land this past week, kicking things off with a look at Obsidian's upcoming first-person RPG Avowed. We also spent four hours with the promising Metaphor: ReFantazio, a new RPG from the folks behind the Persona series, put Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade…
This week, we got a Nintendo Direct that was one part Indie World, one part partner showcase. We've got a roundup of every game featured in the 40-minute presentation. Also, new leaks suggest that an official announcement of Sony's PS5 Pro is imminent, the hottest incarnation of Indy ever (Temple of Doom Indy, of…
Competitive eating legends Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi are set to face each other for the first time in 15 years live on Netflix. Apparently, the streaming giant would rather spend money on this instead of [insert your favorite Netflix show that was canceled too soon here].
It's called Labor Day Weekend, but the only work you should be doing is flipping burgers on the grill and deciding which college football game you'll be watching as the season fully kicks off this week. Or you could fire up College Football 25 instead and see if you're a better coach than the knucklehead who just went…
Like many survival horror fans, I'm still quietly lamenting the lack of a Dino Crisis remake. Often overlooked next to the likes of Resident Evil, Capcom's dinosaur series remains something I'll always hold dear - at least for those first two entries. While it's playing in a slightly different style, then, I'm very entranced by Athanasia, a new retro-futuristic FPS and immersive sim featuring a mysterious facility filled with prehistoric problems. If that sounds intriguing, you can try it for yourself right now, as Momentum Games launches a Kickstarter to support development.
Capcom has confirmed that Monster Hunter Wilds will not change the current microtransaction system used in the series upon release. You can still make extra purchases for special layered armor and the like, but spending more money on the game will not net you any pay-to-win style bonuses after launch. So if you're an avid hunter looking forward to finding the best weapon switch combo, you don't need to worry about in-game purchases giving someone else the advantage.
August 31, 2024: We've added the latest new Monopoly Go dice links for free dice rolls.
How can I get Monopoly Go free dice links? The household favorite board game has been reimagined as a free-to-play app on smartphones, allowing everyone to experience the thrills of Monopoly on practically any device. Everything that makes the board game special is here in Monopoly Go, so you'll be collecting properties and building hotels as you go around the board, and there are a variety of multiplayer minigames to get through along the way.
You're going to need to get your hands on Monopoly dice rolls, but they are difficult to come by no matter how far you are into the board game. There are ways to earn additional dice rolls, including logging into the game every day to collect daily bonuses, progressing further in the game, and inviting friends to try Monopoly Go. While you can also spend real money to unlock more dice rolls, you may want to give our list of Monopoly Go dice links a try instead, especially if you're waiting for the next Monopoly Go Golden Blitz event. Take a look at all the currently active Monopoly Go free dice links for today.
If you're looking for a new FPS to lose your afternoons to, look no further than Selaco. Built on the Doom engine and inspired by FEAR, Selaco remembers what made classic boomer shooters so great. It's punchy, fast, and already filled to the brim despite being in Steam Early Access. Ever since Titanfall 2's excellent campaign trimmed the fat and showed modern shooters how it's done, I've been waiting for the next best thing, and Selaco is it. With a 20% discount and a colossal update mere months after launch, now's the time to get involved.
First announced in 2016 and originally slated for a 2020 launch, it's fair to say that Ashes of Creation is a game many have been waiting a long time to get their hands on. The ambitious sandbox MMORPG from Intrepid Studios is currently shaping up for its first phase of the much anticipated Ashes of Creation Alpha 2, and the team now delivers us a lengthy look at an eight-person encounter, along with a large-scale dragon raid boss featuring 40 players at once.
Dragon's Dogma 2 and Devil May Cry 5 director Hideaki Itsuno has left Capcom after over three decades at the studio. Itsuno hasn't revealed where he'll be going next, but says he hopes to create "games that are as memorable" as what he's made so far. With credits on Capcom vs. SNK, Power Stone, and Street Fighter, Itsuno has both directed and developed a number of Capcom's biggest and best games.
Fans of ARPGs are eating well right now, with Diablo 4 Season 5 proving a lot of fun and the Path of Exile Settlers of Kalguur league putting a city-building spin on the beloved free Steam game. 2024's newest upstart on the scene, Last Epoch, is deep into its second seasonal 'cycle' right now, and now developer Eleventh Hour Games announces its first major event. Alongside it, however, the team has made the bold decision to deploy a "full cycle refresh" that will see everyone get a fresh start, as it attempts to resolve its damaged in-game economy.
Videogame remakes are a tricky subject. While they bring classics to present-day hardware with modern design sensibilities, each one rolls the dice on the outcome. For every Resident Evil 2, there's a GTA Trilogy, and up until release it's nigh impossible to predict which we'll get. The upcoming Silent Hill 2 remake from Bloober Team is one such game, and while you could wait for the ground-up remake to experience the innermost workings of James Sunderland's mind, there is another option. If you own a copy of SH2 and want to play it with improvements in 2024, the now-complete Enhanced Edition is the way to go.
What are the Zenless Zone Zero events? HoYoverse's latest live service gacha game has plenty of content to keep you occupied, whether that's charging through the twists and turns of the main storyline or picking up side commissions. If you're looking for a change of pace that can net you additional rewards like Master Tapes, Boopons, and Polychrome, then look no further than the latest events.
Just like Zenless Zone Zero banners, the current ZZZ events are only available for a limited time, so remember to complete them before they end. HoYoverse often gives us notice about upcoming events ahead of time via Zenless Zone Zero livestreams and social media, so check back regularly to find out what's coming up in the ZZZ next update. In the meantime, here are all the events in Zenless Zone Zero to sink your teeth, sword, or whatever else into.
Have you ever wanted to see a toy cat become sentient, hit more tricks on its hoverboard than Tony Hawk, while relentlessly slashing through enemies, leaving nothing but a pile of blood and fur in its wake? No? Well, me neither, but Gori: Cuddly Carnage does just that, and, guess what, I love it.
When I saw Dragon Ball Project: Multiannounced in August 2024, I wasn't entirely sure what to think about the title. Of course, the prospect of a new free-to-play Dragon Ball game is enticing. But with the MOBA market being highly saturated at this point, would it be able to offer a captivating and sophisticated experience that could hold my attention? Nevertheless, I dived into the beta with an open mind. Though the game is by no means perfect, within an hour or two the high-octane gameplay loop got me hooked and I kept reiterating the elusive, "just one more game" to myself.
Image via Siliconera
Dragon Ball Project: Multi nailed the cat-and-mouse framework which has made the MOBA genre so renowned and, as a result, every battle feels like an enthralling and frantic rollercoaster. It is a top-down, 4v4, real-time strategy game where your team aims to grab the opposing team's Dragon Ball. To do this, you will have to destroy the enemy's God of Destruction barriers while simultaneously protecting your own. You're on the right track if you envision the gameplay format as a traditional tower defense game.
The first minute or two of each battle will probably start out slow as you defeat NPCs across the map or strategically attempt to assassinate opposing side members to level up. But at a certain point of the match, you will have the opportunity to attack the God of Destruction barriers, and that's when the action really ramps up. Absolute carnage can ensue within moments as you either madly dash to attack or protect those walls. You will often have a cluster of eight players unleashing hellish attacks on one another. Sometimes, you have no idea which team will win the match until some of the last moments.
Image via Siliconera
Akin to Pokemon Unite, you will also have bosses appear on the map at specific times during the battle. When a team lands the killing blow, the opposing one's God of Destruction barriers receive damage. Obviously, you will want to take out these bosses before the other side, but they are pretty powerful, so you must ensure you're at a reasonable level before attempting to take one on. If not, they can easily take you out, which will put your whole team at a disadvantage. This substantially spices up the dynamic, as you're not just endlessly flying from one side of the map to another.
Other minor features within the battle mechanics help the overall game. For instance, you can equip a helper at the beginning of each match, allowing you to perform an AoE (Area of Effect) move. Some will speed up characters in the affected space, whereas others will try to block incoming aggression from the opposing side. After using the attack, there will be a brief cool-down period before you can use the helper's ability again. This makes it so you always have to be aware of your surroundings, and it encourages players to think about their next move rather than mindlessly pressing input commands.
Image via Siliconera
Admittedly, the gameplay template laid out here has been done before, but that is not Dragon Ball Project: Multi star quality. It's utilizing the fantastic characters from the Dragon Ball universe and their iconic attacks to brutalize foes. Considering that Dragon Ball storytelling is heavily based on friendship, using the IP for a team-oriented game makes a lot of sense. I know it's a bad ongoing joke that everyone Goku fights becomes his friend, but it's more accurate than we would like to admit.
The beta has ten playable characters, ranging from the usual suspects, like Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan, to some less obvious ones, like Cooler and Zamasu. Each character has a healthy move pool, as they have all three standard skills attacks, one super attack, and one passive technique. It's satisfying to use Goku's Kamehameha Wave to try and kill an opponent attempting to run away or unleash Vegeta's devastating Big Bang Attack to obliterate as many rivals as possible. Even using Majin Boo's Candy Ray attack to turn the opponent into a candy bar never failed to get a smile out of me. These moments make the conflicts stand out, as it feels like you're playing out convoluted scenarios from the series.
Image via Siliconera
Each character falls into one of three roles: damage, tank and technical. Right now, tank characters are stupidly overpowered compared to every other role in the game, with the standout being Zamasu, as his passive ability allows him to regenerate health. I won five games in a row and was also MVP for each match using Vegeta, a tank character. That said, during the matches, I made sure to stick to the role's strengths of eating up attacks from the enemy. The technical role is worse by a mile, with Gohan being the weakest character in the beta. It is strange to see Gohan being a fragile character in a Dragon Ball game. Hopefully, they will be able to make some of the characters more even later down the line.
There are also small details here that add to the overall atmosphere. A good example of this is the map is partitioned into two parts. One side represents the more rural terrains you would expect to see in the series, whereas the other harbours the aesthetic of West City. One thing I didn't like was the skin customization options. Many of them are the same outfit but with different default colors. This is a beta, after all, so this may change, but the more exciting outfits were behind special capsules, which are very hard to attain. Something tells me this feature won't change with the full release.
Image via Siliconera
I've been playing on PC, and the game runs pretty well. On rare occasions, it would take a few moments to load up a match, but nothing too long, and this is probably the type of issue they are (hopefully) on the lookout for to make the experience more seamless on launch. You can also play with a controller, and it feels smooth to control characters this way. I actually preferred playing with the controller. I can't comment on what the experience is like on mobile, but if it translates on mobile devices, I imagine this would be fun to play on the go, as matches usually last 20 minutes.
I was hesitant that this game might emulate Dragon Ball: The Breakers, an interesting idea with no substance. But I had an absolute blast playing Dragon Ball Project: Multi, and I could easily see myself investing considerable hours in the game when it comes out. My only fear and reservation is that the format could become stale if the game does not receive regular updates, like new maps or characters. I would also like to see a bigger range of customizations, but it's not too strange for a beta to have limited options. Dragon Ball Project: Multi is worth putting on your radar (pun intended), and I think it has a chance to garner a dedicated fan base, as the main fundamental ingredients are here.
The Dragon Ball Project: Multi beta is now available on PC and mobile devices in certain regions.
As the Jujutsu Kaisen ends in September 2024, now is the best time to buy figures to add to your collection to celebrate the series. Good Smile Company produced a plethora of Jujutsu Kaisen Nendoroidsto choose from over the years. To help alleviate the burden of choice, here are some of the best Jujutsu Kaisen Nendoroids you can buy or pre-order in 2024
Images via Good Smile Company
Maki Zen'in Nendoroid
Whether you like Jujutsu Kaisen 0 prequel or the original series, Maki stands out. The Nendoroid based on her comes with three face plates, a crushed can, kunai, polearm, and the Playful Cloud weapon. She can be posed ready for battle or general fun. If you use the kunai, you can make it seem like the Nendoroid is actually throwing it. The Maki Zen'in Nendoroid goes for $55.99.
Images via Good Smile Company
Satoru Gojo Nendoroid
Speaking of that Jujutsu Kaisen 0 prequel, there is a Nendoroid of Satoru Gojo inspired by his look back then. You can tell because of the white bandages over his eyes, rather than his sunglasses from his school days or mask from his Jujutsu Kaisen era. This figure comes with three face plates, a blindfold, hair up and down pieces, shades, and twisted knife accessories. This Gojo Nendoroid costs $86.99.
Images via Good Smile Company
Ryomen Sukuna Nendoroid
Listen, I know we all have thoughts about Sukuna after the Shinjuku Showdown Arc. So maybe that's why you want him around? The Sukuna Nendoroid features three face plates, a Malevolent Shrine poster, and a cow skull. One of the main reasons this figure is worth the $54.99 price tag is due to the details on the face plates. The markings are extremely detailed. There is even a face plate that has Sukuna's second pair of eyes opening.
Images via Good Smile Company
Panda Nendoroid
Instead of featuring three face plates like other Nendoroids, this Panda is only bundled with two. One features him growling, and another is his typical smiling face. To make up for that, it comes with an additional figure depicting him as a baby. You also get an armband, balloon, and a "Panda" sign. The cuteness of the Nendoroid figures lend well to Panda! The main reason to pick this up is it essentially comes with two figures in one package. The Panda Nendoroid is well worth the $60.99 price.
Images via Good Smile Company
Yuji Itadori Nendoroid
You can't have a list like this without the hero of the series himself. The Yuji Itadori Nendoroid includes three face plates, Sukuna's Finger, and the Divergent Fist. While Divergent Fist doesn't glow like the anime, the grooves are molded in such a way that it looks like ghostly fire is attached to the hands of the figure. The Yuji Itadori Nendoroid usually goes for $51.99.
Images via Good Smile Company
Satoru Gojo Nendoroid (Tokyo Jujutsu High School Ver.)
Even though he is not the main protagonist of Jujutsu Kaisen, Satoru Gojo's popularity makes him a prime target for merchandise. This Nendoroid has four face plates, a cell phone, sunglasses, and detachable pockets. The detachable pockets are the main reason this figure is so fun. You can really put together some fun, carefree, and maybe even arrogant poses. The re-run of this Satoru Gojo Nendoroid is currently up for preorder ahead of a March 31, 2025 release at $46.99.
As my first hour with Pearl Abyss's new action game Crimson Desert at Gamescom 2024 came to a close, I wasn't sure how to feel. A large chunk of my time was spent in frustration, hammering the respawn button as I tried to wrap my head around its distinctive control system. Yet between those moments were glimmering sparks of potential, and so I did the only reasonable thing; I booked one of my only remaining free hours at the show to come back for more. As my demo ran out for the second time, my mind was much clearer - Crimson Desert has the potential to be one of the most exciting games I've played in a while, but it's not quite there yet.
Time to set the record straight! I wasn't too busy playing Black Myth: Wukong to write up last weekend's Playing This Weekend. I'd never fail you all thus! Instead, I had one of the worst flu illnesses I've ever had, followed by a nice bout of tonsillitis, for which I'm still on antibiotics. Thankfully, I can now look at a monitor screen for more than an hour before feeling sick, so gaming is no longer out of the question for this weekend. Let's see what we're all going to be clicking on!
In a twist that sounds like something from the Battle City arc of Yu-Gi-Oh: Duel Monsters, Zayn Malik of One Direction was revealed on August 29, 2024 that he was the inaugural Shadow Duelist in the Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel tournament. During the event itself, he took on the persona of Nocturne, hiding his face underneath a horned mask.
Zayn's participation in the tournament had nothing to do with his surname sounding like the first name of Marik Ishtar, who was one of the main antagonists of Battle City. He's actually a huge Yu-Gi-Oh fan himself and talked about his passion for the game after the unmasking. Zayn shared his binder of cards, as well as the fact that his favorite card is the Shooting Star Dragon, which is also one of his best cards. The winner of the Master Duel tournament, Fictinium, won a signed copy of the Nocturne mask as part of the prize package.
Zayn Malik was part of One Direction, a very big and popular boy band from the early 2010s. He left the group in 2015 to begin a solo career. His lead single was "Pillowtalk," which was one of the clues that the tournament organizers dropped when teasing the true identity of the mysterious duelist Nocturne.
Last year, Remedy released the survival horror title Alan Wake 2, a sequel effectively 13 years in the making and the next step in the studio's universe of connected games. Among them is Control, a brilliant and utterly weird third-person shooter focusing on the character Jesse Faden and her exploits with the Federal…
As far as games, September looks to be just as fruitful as August, with the month that was owned by Black Myth: Wukong and Star Wars Outlaws being followed by yet another hyped release in Astro Bot. And for those who can't resist looking even further ahead, you may be in for a treat. It seems Team Asobi, the developer…
Diablo 4's next big update arrives in October as part of the game's next season, which is also coming at the same time as its first paid expansion. This new update, which is going to be tested by players in September, is changing quite a lot of things, including the level cap, how monsters scale, the paragon system,…
Reports of a game set in the universe of Matt Reeves' The Batman are, apparently, greatly exaggerated. The internet was swirling with rumors of such a game's existence on the morning of August 30, with many hoping that such a project was real. However, none other than James Gunn, the head of DC films, weighed in to…
Ubisoft's big Call of Duty-like FPS, XDefiant, might only have until Season 3 to turn things around, increase its player count, and start making more money or the publisher could end post-launch updates and effectively kill the FPS.
Don't ask me how many times I've watched the first trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, the third entry in Paramount's live-action adaptation of the life and times of Sega's speedy mascot. Don't ask me if I just watched it again after typing that sentence. While the wait was excruciating, fans' reactions to the first…
Destiny 2's third act of Episode 1 is now well underway, and its brand new Exotic is causing quite a stir. The new Destiny 2 Choir of One assault rifle is an absolute monster, but Bungie has admitted it's more powerful than it should be due to a couple of bugs. However, it has no plans on fixing those bugs just yet "so you can have a fun time."
The thrill of grinding for top-tier loot or the satisfaction of coming across rare or valuable items is a core aspect of many MMOs and RPGs. However, whether you're stuffing your postmaster full of junk in Destiny 2, constantly getting over-encumbered in Fallout, or hoarding gear for builds you'll never actually make in Baldur's Gate 3, loot can be a nuisance. Well, here's a game that turns endless inventory management into a core mechanic. Meet Megaloot, which just launched on Steam.
There aren't enough dinosaur games. Sure, last year gave us co-op shooter Exoprimal and its waves of vicious raptors, and there's Ark: Survival Evolved and Jurassic World Evolution 2 to go back to, but the prospect of spending time with prehistoric creatures is such a good fit for videogames that it's puzzling there aren't more options starring them. Fortunately, a new game called Kyoryu has just been announced, and it's looking to fill the dinosaur-shaped hole in our lives with a portrayal of a young T-Rex navigating a post-apocalyptic Tokyo.
It's a years-long debate at this point, but it's one that shows no signs of slowing down. I am of course talking about the feud between mouse and keyboard and controller players in FPS games. Aim assist is usually a big talking point within this fiery debate, and Call of Duty Black Ops 6 is stoking up the embers. In order to "get everyone on a level playing field," the new CoD game has made a sweeping change to controller aim assist.
The first Darkest Dungeon is one of the best roguelike games to date. It combines the turn-based tactics of Baldur's Gate 3 and XCOM 2 with the Lovecraftian horror of Dredge, Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth, and The Shrouded Isle, all brought together with a distinctive comic book art style. Its sequel, Darkest Dungeon 2, continues to build on its predecessor in new and interesting ways, the most impressive of which is the upcoming Kingdoms DLC, which has just been further detailed by the game's creator, Red Hook Studios.
It's been quite a while now since games like Surviving Mars and Anno 2070 and 2205 came out, bringing with them a take on the city building genre that incorporates science fiction visions of the future into a style of design more typically centered on recreating civilizations of the past and present. Now, though, a newcomer called Possible One: Lunar Industries has just been announced that plans to offer fans of building games a new sci fi setting to explore, with a greater emphasis on realism than the projects mentioned above.
Warcana includes a bit of everything. It's a fantasy strategy game in the vein of Against the Storm or Endless Legend. It's also a deckbuilder similar to Slay the Spire or Hearthstone. On top of this, it includes the massive, screen filling enemy waves of Vampire Survivors and, in its multiplayer mode, takes inspiration from battle royale games like Apex Legends or PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. This wealth of inspiration seems to work well when put together - Warcana only launched yesterday but it's already garnering acclaim from players on Steam.
Reviewing an MMO expansion like WoW: The War Within is a difficult proposition. Two things are working against you - the first is knowing any look at the game is only a snapshot, a moment frozen in amber, with future updates twisting and changing it beyond recognition. The second is the weight of 20 years of history pressing against you, with the current game being a gestalt entity formed through a series of decisions running back two decades.
Starfield Shattered Space is not far away now, and the first DLC for Bethesda's space RPG will take us to the homeworld of the mysterious Va'Ruun. However, ahead of it dropping in a few weeks' time, some new achievements for the game have been uploaded to Steam, and judging from their contents, Shattered Space is going to be a lot bigger than I anticipated.
Civilization 7, the next entry to the long running strategy series from Marvel's Midnight Suns, XCOM 2, and Civilization 6 creator Firaxis Games, is set to come out next February. It looks to be a solid iteration on the classic historical strategy design that's made Civ so successful for decades now. However, it may launch with the inclusion of controversial anti-piracy and anti-tampering software Denuvo, as evidenced by updates in Steam's back end recorded by SteamDB.
In a twist that sounds like something from the Battle City arc of Yu-Gi-Oh: Duel Monsters, Zayn Malik of One Direction was revealed on August 29, 2024 that he was the inaugural Shadow Duelist in the Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel tournament. During the event itself, he took on the persona of Nocturne, hiding his face underneath a horned mask.
Zayn's participation in the tournament had nothing to do with his surname sounding like the first name of Marik Ishtar, who was one of the main antagonists of Battle City. He's actually a huge Yu-Gi-Oh fan himself and talked about his passion for the game after the unmasking. Zayn shared his binder of cards, as well as the fact that his favorite card is the Shooting Star Dragon, which is also one of his best cards. The winner of the Master Duel tournament, Fictinium, won a signed copy of the Nocturne mask as part of the prize package.
Zayn Malik was part of One Direction, a very big and popular boy band from the early 2010s. He left the group in 2015 to begin a solo career. His lead single was "Pillowtalk," which was one of the clues that the tournament organizers dropped when teasing the true identity of the mysterious duelist Nocturne.
GU has announced a new collaboration with the Kirby of the Stars series, which is set to launch in Japan on September 13, 2024. This new apparel line is themed around a journey to Dream Land, featuring designs inspired by levels, characters, and elements from the Kirby games. Some of these include locations like the Fountain of Dreams and enemies like Whispy Woods. [Thanks, 4Gamer!]
The collection will include a variety of items fit for the autumn season. Among the offerings are cardigans, sweatshirts, and pajamas, all adorned with Kirby-themed designs. Additionally, the collaboration will feature pouches with images of Kirby and Waddle Dee, ideal for those looking to carry a piece of the game with them in their day to day travel.
Image via GU
Image via GU
Image via GU
Image via GU
Image via GU
This new apparel collection comes shortly after the announcement of a new lineup of Kirby figures by Medicom Toys. The Ultra Detail Figure (UDF) series includes six new Kirby figures, each representing various stages of the Kirby franchise. These figures, which involve different looks and styles for Kirby, are available for pre-order and are scheduled to release in February 2025.
The Kirby GU collection will be available for purchase in-store and online starting on September 13, 2024.
The Steam page for Civilization VII has revealed that the upcoming strategy game will incorporate Denuvo Anti-tamper DRM. According to the information provided on the page, this third-party digital rights management (DRM) software will be included as part of the game's security measures.
The page notes that players will be subject to a machine activation limit, specifically allowing only five activations within a 24-hour period. These restrictions on Civilization VII is in line with the typical limitations imposed by Denuvo to prevent unauthorized copying and sharing of the game. In addition to the DRM details, the Steam page mentions that players will need a 2K account for online interactions. However, this third-party account is not required for offline play, offering some flexibility for those who prefer to play without connecting to the internet.
In related news, 2K and Firaxis have provided more details about Civilization VII at gamescom 2024, including its release date and gameplay mechanics. During the event, a new trailer was shown, featuring in-engine footage that highlighted buildings and units from various civilizations.
Sid Meier's Civilization VII will be available for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One on February 11, 2025.
The next two Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream character trailers are here, and they feature SAO antagonist Oberon and Yui, who comes to see Kirito and Asuna as her parents. Oberon is a Mage, while Yui is a Support.
Yui's trailer begins with her flat out referring to Kirito and Asuna as her papa and mama. Her character model here starts out using her Sword Art Online appearance, but she can transform to her appearance from the SAO ALfheim Online arc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTNCDfuqUso
Next, here's the Oberon trailer. It doesn't feature any spoilers for his storyline in the ALfheim Online arc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdfk8kO8iRg
You'll be able to go hands-on with Oberon very soon, as the Sword Art Online antagonist will be a part of the SAO Fractured Daydream Open Network Test. That starts on September 20, 2024. He's one of the nine characters people can use. However, Yui is not.
Since we're keeping track, here are all of the SAO Fractured Daydream character trailers that appeared before the ones for Sword Art Online staples like Yui and Oberon.
Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream will come to the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC on October 4, 2024. Pre-orders are open. The Open Network Test will run September 20-22, 2024.
Sega has announced a new collaboration between the "MJ" network Mahjong game app and the Pachinko Neon Genesis Evangelion: Roar of the Future machine. This crossover is designed to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the anime series. The collaboration will kick off with the SEGA SAMMY PHOENIX MJ Championship, which will be running from September 1-21, 2024. [Thanks, Game Watch!]
We can view the official announcement video on YouTube below:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=GCbTEXoj8Uo
Players can participate in preliminary rounds to accumulate points and win exclusive prizes, including special in-game performances featuring voices and desk mats tied to the Evangelion theme. Additionally, a Pachinko x Evangelion Gacha will be available, allowing players to collect items featuring characters like Shinji Ikari and Rei Ayanami, along with background music from the Evangelion series, including tracks like Cruel Angel's Thesis.
Images via Sega
In related news, a unique collaboration between Godzilla and Evangelion resulted in the creation of a special pachinko machine and a collectible figure. The pachinko game, titled P Godzilla vs Evangelion G Cell Awakening, was first introduced in 2022 as a result of a collaboration between Khara, Toho, Bisty, and Fields. This crossover event featured a physical model, based on the fusion of Evangelion Unit 01 with Godzilla, leading to the design of the "Burning G Awakening Form" figure.
The MJ Mahjong app is available on mobile devices in Japan.
Hololive Vtuber Usada Pekora recently visited the Kojima Productions studio offices, and Hideo Kojima shared a post on his Japanese social media account. The tweet included a picture of himself and the model of the virtual YouTuber, both posing alongside the studio's insignia Ludens statue.
In return to the post from Hideo Kojima, Usada Pekora thanked the developers at Kojima Productions for the opportunity to visit the studio and for the precious experience. In recent years, many celebrities and popular media figures have visited Kojima Productions. Among the many visitors, some of them have ended up as cameo appearances in the studio's first title, Death Stranding.
With Usada Pekora's recent visit to the studio, there's a non-zero possibility that the Hololive Vtuber might appear as one such cameo in the upcoming sequel. In fact, this would not be the first time that Pekora appears as a cameo character in a game, as she voiced and appeared as a unique Killing Machine monster in Dragon Quest Treasures.
As a reminder, Kojima Productions is currently working on various titles including Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, a sequel to the 2019 game, the new horror game OD developed in collaboration with filmmaker Jordan Peele for Xbox consoles, and Physint, a new action espionage title published by Sony Interactive Entertainment.
In addition, Kojima Productions recently announced that the studio will have a presence at Tokyo Game Show 2024 on September 29 with a special panel discussion about the upcoming game Death Stranding 2.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is currently in development for the PlayStation 5 and will appear in 2025.
The BB Dubai banner in Fate/Grand Order has sent the application rocketing to the top of the weekly sales rankings. It went up five places, as it had been the sixth highest ranking game of the week just a day prior. [Thanks, Game Biz!]
The increase in sales very likely has to do with the new banner for Archetype Inception. In this one, you'll have the chance to pull the SSR Moon Cancer BB Dubai, the SR Moon Cancer Tenochtitlan, and the SR Foreigner Mysterious Heroine XX Alter. The Ciel banner from earlier this month is ongoing as well, but it's unlikely that people are pulling on that one out of the blue right after BB Dubai dropped in the game.
Here are the Noble Phantasms for BB Dubai, Tenochtitlan, and Mysterious Heroine XX Alter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUVzyZdZT10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVEHzFvv5uU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAhaMEyi0gg
As a reminder, the Ciel banner is active until October 2, 2024. Meanwhile, you'll have until October 9, 2024 to pull BB Dubai. So even if you don't have enough Saint Quartz (or money) right now for them, you still have about a month to do so.
Fate/Grand Order is readily available on mobile devices. The BB Dubai banner is only live in the Japanese server of Fate/Grand Order right now, and it'll appear for the global server in a few years.
Devolver Digital and Massive Monster announced there will be two actual Cult of the Lamb themed wedding ceremonies held at PAX Australia on October 13, 2024. This will be a real wedding, and people who go to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre's Handheld Lounge and Main Theatre area can attend and bear witness, even if they don't have tickets to the event.
The Cult of the Lamb Wedding Ritual is one of the options present in-game. People can perform it with a Follower to get a new option to increase their Loyalty and earn more Faith, provided you have 75 Bones to pay for it. To maintain that atmosphere at PAX Australia, the publisher and developer will actually have decorations and elements designed to resemble the Ritual in the game, complete with a build of the Temple in it. Said structure is apparently a 1:1 recreation.
These will not be a joint ceremony. There will be two separate ones. The first Cult of the Lamb wedding will take place at PAX Australia at 11am AEST on October 13, 2024. The Lamb will be in attendance, but the companies didn't specify if the character will also be the officiant. The second wedding is at 3pm AEST that same day. Anyone interested in attending is invited to show up.
Atlus released a new Metaphor: ReFantazio hands-on interview video featuring NieR series creator Yoko Taro. In the new video, the game creator gave his impressions of the upcoming RPG and expressed excitement to play the full version of the game.
Tomomi Isomura, the Japanese voice actress for Lina in Metaphor: ReFantazio conducted the interview. The new video starts by revisiting an old video that Atlus made in collaboration with Yoko Taro back in December 2016, a few months before the release of NieR: Automata. In it, the developer jokes about the possible catastrophic fate of the NieR series since Atlus is trying to dive into a fantasy RPG similar to NieR with, at the time, Project Re:Fantasy.
After a few skits, Yoko Taro and Isomura reflect on the passage of time, NieR: Automata's release and how the game is currently receiving an anime adaptation. The chat itself had plenty of lighthearted jokes, with Yoko Taro claiming that the game's UI was so flashy and impressive that he almost wet himself.
Yoko Taro continued praising what he has been able to play and see of Metaphor: ReFantazio , and the developer was particularly impressed by the mix of action and turn-based elements, stating that it feels like a game with quite the budget. The developer also reflected on his past comments about an Atlus fantasy game possibly overlapping with NieR, and added that Metaphor: ReFantazio has a very distinct and unique Atlus style that clearly distinguishes itself from NieR.
Here's the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I2T2fk6yGQ
Metaphor: ReFantazio will come out worldwide on October 11, 2024 for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam.
Taito announced the release of several collaboration plush sets of popular Vocaloid character Hatsune Miku and Sanrio's Cinnamoroll. The plushes are now available as prizes from a selection of Taito physical and online crane games.
The first batch includes a plush of Hatsune Miku wearing an outfit inspired by the popular Sanrio character, a plush of Cinnamoroll, and a plush of Cinnamoroll's friend Milk. All three plushes feature various similar ribbons and hair accessories.
Meanwhile, the second batch includes four new plushes. The first two are of Miku and Cinnamoroll wearing matching white and yellow idol performance costumes, with the final two featuring the characters cosplaying one another. Hatsune Miku is wearing a Cinnamoroll kigurumi, while Cinnamoroll is wearing the Vocaloid's classic outfit and hair accessories.
You can check out the new Hatsune Miku x Cinnamoroll collaboration plushes here:
Image via Taito
Image via Taito
The Hatsune Miku and Cinnamoroll pairing is very popular in Japan, with a plethora of merchandise items having been released in the past. One such includes a Nendoroid set featuring both characters that released in Japan on January 18, 2024. In addition, a collaboration featuring acrylic items, charms, leg covers, socks, tote bags, and other items appeared in Japan on August 2023, with another line of merchandise released later in September 2023.
The new Hatsune Miku x Cinnamoroll plushes are now available as prizes from various physical and online Taito crane games.
Arc System Works announced there will be a Nintendo Switch version of Guilty Gear Strive, and it will include all 28 characters from the base roster and DLC fighters from Season Passes 1-3. It will launch on January 23, 2025, and Arc System Works Gear storefront is already taking pre-orders for the $59.99 physical copies.
A first trailer went over what we can expect from this release. All of the main modes will be there, such as Story, Mission, and Online Battle. The Digital Figures for dioramas will return.
Here's the trailer for the Guilty Gear Strive Switch version of the game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByP0f5Y08fk
These are all of the Guilty Gear Strive characters we'll see included in the base version of the port:
A.B.A.
Anji Mito
Asuka R. Kreutz
Axl Low
Baiken
Bedman?
Bridget
Chipp Zanuff
Elphelt Valentine
Faust
Giovanna
Goldlewis Dickinson
Happy Chaos
I-No
Jack-O
Johnny
Ky Kiske
Leo Whitefang
May
Millia Rage
Nagoriyuki
Potemkin
Ramlethal Valentine
Sin Kiske
Slayer
Sol Badguy
Testament
Zato-1
People who pick up this version will need to pay extra for the Season Pass 4 additions as they debut. Dizzy will already be available by then. Venom comes out in early 2025, Unika debuts in Spring 2025, and Cyberpunk Edgerunners' Lucy shows up in Summer 2025.
Guilty Gear Strive will be available on the Nintendo Switch on January 23, 2025. It is on the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC now.
The Japanese voice actor for Joshua Bright in The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky shared on social media that she didn't know about the newly announced remake. Mitsuki Saiga voiced Joshua in the Trails in the Sky FC Evolution port released in Japan on June 2015 for the PS Vita.
In a recent X (formerly Twitter) post made by the voice actor of Joshua, Mitsuki Saiga seems to have learned about the recently revealed Trails in the Skythe 1st remake at the same time as everyone else. The post itself is written in Japanese and it roughly translates to "It's Joshua! A full remake of Trails in the Sky is being made, huh? Wow...!" in English.
At the time of writing, it is unclear whether Nihon Falcom will reuse the voice acting for the PS Vita Evolution ports or if the studio will replace the Japanese voice cast with a different one. More information will appear in the future. The Trails in the Sky remake was recently announced on August 27, 2024 as part of the latest Nintendo Direct partner showcase. Additionally, Nihon Falcom opened the official Japanese website for the remake project.
Mitsuki Saiga is also known for her roles as Morag in the Japanese dub of Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Bravely Default protagonist Tiz Arrior, Rossiu in the original Japanese dub of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, and Maria Ross in the 2003 Fullmetal Alchemist anime adaptation.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Skythe 1st remake will come out on the Nintendo Switch in 2025.
So, if your mom dies of a strange, seemingly supernatural disease, then your wife does as well, maybe experimenting with fickle, dangerous entities to revive one of them isn't a good idea? That isn't what happens in My Lovely Empress. His uncle and kingdom's grand duke decides that the grieving Emperor Hong can have a little necromancy, as a treat. The result is we, as players, attempt to help a kingdom thrive and survive so we can be monsters who sacrifice everything for a cause that absolutely, totally, definitely could maybe, probably turn out okay.
My Lovely Empress begins with a kingdom in the throes of multiple crises. Emperor Hong's mother, the beloved Empress Dowager Wang, died of a strange disease. Within days, he discovers his pregnant wife Xiang is facing the same affliction. There is a potential treatment that could help, but it comes as a supernatural storm bears down on the capital. Whether you prioritize the natural disaster or search for medicine doesn't matter when it comes to her survival. Empress Xiang dies, and for months the Crimson Empire falls into disrepair. It is then that Grand Duke Chen, who was also Xiang's uncle, reveals the Crimson Empire family secret… Yaoguai.
Screenshot by Siliconera
His father Great Emperor Khan used them to make the kingdom rise. …And then they killed him, due to him doing things wrong. Empress Dowager Wang apparently perfected the technique and ritual, using Yaoguai properly and in the hopes of reviving Khan. But she stopped for some reason and dismissed them. Now Emperor Hong is taking up the family trade to summon characters that basically are hand grenades with the pins pulled, in the hopes they can fix his country and help him get the innocent souls needed to restore the recovered Empress Xiang's soul and revive her.
My Lovely Empress is a balancing act, to be sure. Your goal is to help the kingdom thrive, summon and strengthen Yaoguai, manage diplomatic relations with other regions… and also probably kill millions of innocent human people or some of the very Yaogui you've come to rely upon to resurrect Xiang. Part of this involves keeping the various factions that make up the city's population happy, to encourage population growth and income.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YytRM-oW0M
These groups you need to balance are the army, citizens, nobles, and traders. As time ticks down each day and season, events will come up across the map and remain for a number of days. In the case of ones Emperor Hong can handle, it means clicking on it to make a choice that will likely anger some and please others. You can send a Yaogui with stamina to investigate the result. However, I noticed these events start to repeat a lot very early on, so that's usually a waste of their energy. Other events specifically require a Yaoguai's intervention and have no negatives when performed. In some cases, a neighboring ruler might even like you more for it.
Since there's always too much to do and not enough time to do it, the Yaoguai become critical agents. You start with one, a nine-tail fox named Gumiho. However, quickly you'll learn that heading on expeditions to areas to unlock new resource items and performing rituals to summon more will make your life more manageable. These characters have different specialties for certain situations, and being able to tap into that and improve them helps significantly.
Screenshot by Siliconera
As for the empress part of My Lovely Empress, that's where the necromancy comes into play. Once you get what's left of Xiang's soul via Gumiho, it is constantly degrading. You'll need to make sacrifices to make that happen. Someone could sacrifice the Yaoguai called into Emperor Hong's service. However, Gumiho points out that a substantial number of human lives, those of the Crimson Empire's subjects, could be used to repair it as well. While investing in the kingdom to increase its size, acquiring materials, and building up Yaoguai forces is important, so to is deciding what choices to make. This comes into play both from the earliest moments, when you handle the medicine search and storm, to when you decide what sorts of sacrifices to make for Xiang.
As I mentioned earlier though, My Lovely Empress can get repetitive. You'll be going through many of the same actions or events repeatedly. Not to mention that while it is a challenge, if you manage to summon enough Yaoguai and never sacrifice any of them, it might get to be a little easy. If you get invested enough, it doesn't seem as noticeable. However, given that there are multiple endings, I expect it'd be a bit of a challenge to get through repeated runs in succession.
Screenshot by Siliconera
It's also important to note that people going in expecting to be able to date the Yaoguai will be disappointed. There is romance here! However, those endings are tied to the rulers of neighboring countries and decisions made while interacting with them. You can learn more about the Yaoguai themselves by talking with them and build up relationships, but there's no romance associated with them. Which is a shame, because the designs and background for them are often really fun. GameChanger Studio and Neon Doctrine drew from supernatural beings and mythology for their designs, and it would have been fun to see more.
I was absolutely fascinated by My Lovely Empress during my first run, when I tried to avoid as much bloodshed as possible and search for a healthy ending. I was shocked the second time around when things got much darker. It can be intriguing, even when it starts to get repetitive, and I appreciated the new approach GameChanger Studio took with the My Lovely series this time around.
My Lovely Empress is available on the Switch, Xbox Series X, and PC.
There are new Zenless Zone Zero videos for Jane Doe, and the "Under Arrest" character trailer shows how flirty the rat Thiren can be. While her Agent Combat Intel focuses on gameplay footage with minimal cinematics, the other teaser focuses on less lethal interactions with another individual.
"Under Arrest" begins with Jane Doe in disguise in the backseat of a Public Security vehicle. She's seemingly been captured, and we can see her using her tail to grab a snack and pick the locks on her handcuffs. We then meet the officer assigned to retrieve her, a new character named Tomiya who appears to be either a mouse or rat Thiren. Jane then teases and flirts with the straight-laced agent, smearing her lipstick. She then completely changes her clothes while in the backseat of the car, much to Tomiya's shock and surprise, and uses her tail to reach around and turn off all of Tomiya's cameras while complimenting her.
Here's the "Under Arrest" teaser:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmX29U4V8Gk
Meanwhile, here's the other video HoYoVerse shared with us that focused on her gameplay.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8GwFd3rSSU
As a reminder, Jane Doe will become playable on September 4, 2024, even though we can already see her in the game's story now. Her banner will also include the A-Rank characters Anby and Seth, marking Seth's debut in Zenless Zone Zero as well. Her signature Sharpened Stinger W-Engine will also debut at that time.
Zenless Zone Zero is available for the PS5, PC, and mobile devices, and the Jane Doe banner begins on September 4, 2024.
