Sep 05, 12:00


Kotaku Thursday, September 5, 2024 11:50 AM
    

The first official trailer for the live-action Minecraft movie—which is annoyingly titled A Minecraft Movie—has finally been released. On September 4, Warner Bros. posted what it called a teaser for the movie to social media and the film distributor's YouTube channel. Starring Jack Black and Jason Momoa, the film is…

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Kotaku Thursday, September 5, 2024 11:40 AM
    

Balatro, one of the best games released this year, is finally making the leap to mobile devices. The popular poker roguelike will be available on Android and iOS devices on September 26.

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Kotaku Thursday, September 5, 2024 11:30 AM
    

If you purchased the Chapter 5, Season 4 battle pass, you can now unlock the Doom skin. But you'll need to complete a series of quests before you can rock it around the island. Read on to learn every detail you'll need to know about unlocking the elusive Doom skin.

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Kotaku Thursday, September 5, 2024 10:51 AM
    

After months of teases, Baldur's Gate 3's seventh big patch is finally live. As developer Larian Studios already announced, it brings expanded endings to the evil routes, official mod support, and some tweaks to party member interactions. However, the patch is only available on PC for the moment, as the team has laid…

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Kotaku Thursday, September 5, 2024 10:30 AM
    

Getting into a brand-new genre is challenging, especially one as complex as a 4X strategy game. You're not solely controlling a handful of troops as they march on capture points across the map; you run an entire empire, including its diplomatic, martial, and economic wings, to guide a faction to prosperity. It's often…

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Kotaku Thursday, September 5, 2024 10:20 AM
    

Nintendo Switch owners have been waiting for upgraded hardware for years. They might finally get a glimpse of that later this month, as rumors continue pouring in about an imminent reveal of a Switch 2 console in September, including that it will boast backwards compatibility so that fans' vast game collections can…

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Kotaku Thursday, September 5, 2024 10:10 AM
    

As the Minecraft movie trailer broke yesterday afternoon, the internet was immediately abuzz with cynicism and disappointment, as adults across the world simultaneously expressed one thought: "Who is this film even for?" What almost every single one of them forgot is that they're not nine-year-olds.

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Kotaku Thursday, September 5, 2024 10:00 AM
    

Recently, Sony announced that its next big live-service shooter, Concord, was closing up and the servers were being turned off. It was a surprising and unprecedented move. Usually, AAA live-service games are given more time to turn things around.

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Kotaku Thursday, September 5, 2024 9:30 AM
    

Fortnite's latest weekly quest batch is here for Chapter 5, Season 4, Week 3. As per usual, the latest group of quests introduces five challenges for players to complete. Each one is worth 20k XP, meaning that you can earn up to 100,000 XP upon completing them all. This guide will detail everything you need to know…

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Kotaku Thursday, September 5, 2024 9:30 AM
    

Remember when we all played Astro's Playroom, which came pre-installed on every PlayStation 5, and enjoyed a collective nostalgia trip through Sony's video game history, coupled with a great deal of hope for the future of our shiny new consoles? The platformer pays tribute to PlayStation's past with cute little robot…

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Kotaku Thursday, September 5, 2024 9:00 AM
    

Despite its faults, The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power remains a treasure trove of Tolkien lore for superfans of the fantasy franchise—and season two episode four succinctly showcases the Amazon Prime series' love for its source material. From the debut of a fan-favorite character to a series of delightfully…

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Kotaku Thursday, September 5, 2024 8:00 AM
    

I cried at the end of Astro Bot. I recognize this isn't indicative of much beyond my sentimentality, but I thought it was a crucial tidbit to underscore something else, something important about PlayStation's excellent new platformer. It really is, more than anything else, a celebration of the consoles and games that…

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Kotaku Thursday, September 5, 2024 7:30 AM
    

The Beloved Stardust Talisman is only found in Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. This can be an exciting accessory for Sorcery builds, as it will shorten your cast time significantly. However, it comes at a cost that you'll want to consider before equipping it to your character.

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PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 11:56 AM
     Best Minecraft cities

What are the best Minecraft cities? Minecraft is full of jaw-dropping builds, it's one of the best building games there is, and it seems that its community's creativity knows no bounds. Lots of Minecraft cities have been popping up, available for anyone to download and explore.

Creators have brought their favorite shows, games, and films to life through incredible creations for one of the best PC games. There has been a Minecraft Hogwarts map, The Titanic, and even a recreation of Lord of the Rings' Middle-earth. It's no wonder some of the best Minecraft cities are based on iconic locations, such as Gotham and King's Landing, and are now available to explore in the crafting game, alongside those inspired by bustling real-life destinations like Sydney and Seattle.

Continue reading Best Minecraft cities
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Minecraft seeds, Minecraft skins, Minecraft mods

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 11:43 AM
     Best Space Marine 2 weapons - all guns and melee weapons

What are the Space Marine 2 weapons? As you'd expect from genetically modified supersoldiers waging war against a ceaseless hivemind, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is home to a wide variety of firepower. From heavy assault rifles too large for a standard human all the way to superheated shotguns, slaying Tyranids has never been so brutal - or satisfying.

Although Warhammer 40: Space Marine 2 has a large arsenal of weapons, you won't have the full selection available right away. You will unlock more as you progress through the Space Marine 2 missions as part of the campaign, and the separate PvP and co-op game modes both feature six unique classes that restrict what weapons you can use.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Space Marine 2 review, Space Marine 2 system requirements , Best Warhammer 40k games

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 11:42 AM
     Acer just demoed a new 600Hz gaming monitor with one big problem

Acer has just unveiled its fastest gaming monitor yet, and one of the first gaming monitors to hit the ludicrous marker of having a 600Hz refresh rate. We had the chance to get eyes and hands on with the new Acer Nitro XV240 F6 at the IFA trade show, where the display was unveiled, but Acer made one heck of a silly mistake with its demo.

The problem was that while this best gaming monitor contender can claim to have the speedy specification necessary for incredible competitive gaming experiences, Acer had hooked it up to a gaming laptop that could only output 240Hz.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best gaming monitor

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 11:35 AM
     MSI Claw 8 AI+ hands on: Intel Steam Deck rivals are getting good

The MSI Claw 8 AI+ just went official, and we got hands on with the new gaming handheld to see how it compares to MSI's first attempt. The good news is that it's a big step up all round, but there are still reasons to wait for final reviews before putting in that pre-order.

The original MSI Claw remains the first and only major player in the best handheld gaming PC space to be powered by Intel hardware, and while that held back the first unit, the use of a new Intel Lunar Lake chip sets up the MSI Claw 8 AI+ to at least stand a chance against its AMD-powered rivals.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon AC review, MSI GTX 1080 Ti Gaming X Trio review, Best gaming motherboard

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 11:02 AM
     Grab $121 worth of classic Elder Scrolls games for 84% off

RPG fans will be happy to hear that there's a new Elder Scrolls bundle over on Fanatical. From more recent entries like The Elder Scrolls Online and Skyrim to classics like Morrowind and Oblivion, this bundle gets you a vast chunk of the series' history in one affordable $22.49 / £20.99 package.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Skyrim mods, Elder Scrolls 6 release date, Games like Skyrim

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 10:53 AM
     Helldivers 2 dev is aware of bad Steam reviews, planning big rebalance

I don't think we should forget just how good Helldivers 2 still is. Arrowhead's co-op shooter has been a victim of its own success - when it first arrived, it felt like a revelation, one of the most enjoyable, compelling, and inventive new co-op games of the last five years. Yes, cracks have started to appear. Arrowhead has been back and forth over Helldivers 2 so many times that all the fun feels like it's been flattened out. And yes, there's still a sour taste from the PSN debacle. But HD2 is still HD2, and the foundation remains strong. As the long-awaited Illuminate faction breaks cover, Arrowhead says it's aware of the drop in positive sentiment, and has a big rebalancing plan inbound.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Helldivers 2 weapons, Helldivers 2 stratagems, Helldivers 2 system requirements

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 10:53 AM
     Baldur's Gate 3 patch 7 is finally here, and it's got mod tools

It's been a long time coming, but the Baldur's Gate 3 patch 7 release date has finally arrived. Larian Studios has been hard at work on what's expected to be the final major update for its masterful Dungeons and Dragons RPG. The best game of 2023 by almost any metric you care to check, BG3 has continued to grow and improve in the year since it launched out of early access. Among the key features on show here are more evil ending cinematics, improvements to Honor Mode, and a comprehensive mod manager along with official BG3 mod tools.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 builds, BG3 mods, Baldur's Gate 3 classes

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 10:47 AM
     This is, by far, the most sensible way to buy Space Marine 2

If you're planning on buying Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, then you should get it through Humble Bundle. Why? Well, because if you become a Humble Choice subscriber, then you'll be given a special voucher that gets you 20% off the RRP, which means that you get the game and a Humble Choice subscription for the same price as just getting the game ($60 / £55).

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Space Marine 2 review, Space Marine 2 system requirements , Best Warhammer 40k games

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 10:45 AM
     Intel won't be making its new Arrow Lake gaming CPUs itself any more

In a surprise announcement, Intel has revealed that it won't be making most of the silicon for its new range of desktop gaming CPUs itself. Instead, the forthcoming Intel Arrow Lake lineup will be manufactured by third parties, such as TSMC and Samsung, with Intel Foundry only stepping in at the packaging stage. This is a huge U-turn from the company, which has previously produced its desktop x86 CPUs in house.

The statement comes as Intel attempts to turn around its fortunes after disappointing financial results in the last quarter. Intel's new Arrow Lake CPUs are expected to be released by the end of 2024, when they're likely to go head-to-head with AMD's new Ryzen 9000X3D chips in the battle to make the best gaming CPU.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Core i5 14600K review, Best gaming CPU, Core i9 14900K review

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 10:30 AM
     Intel is apparently running out of gaming CPUs to replace broken chips

Intel might have a fix out now for its stability issues on 13th and 14th-gen Intel CPU models, but that doesn't mean the company is out of the woods yet. A post on Reddit is pointing at customer dissatisfaction with the Intel RMA process, with multiple customers sharing messages from Intel's team showing delays in replacing faulty Intel gaming CPUs.

Intel isn't making any public statements about RMA delays so far. However, a number of complaints from users in the Intel subreddit show that the company is already facing delays in shipping out replacement Intel CPUs, whether it's an exact or like-for-like replacement. The experience of Towel4, a user on Reddit, also points to specific stock issues with Intel's best gaming CPU, the Core i9 14900K, and the previous-gen Core i9 13900K.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Core i5 14600K review, Best gaming CPU, Core i9 14900K review

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 10:03 AM
     Baldur's Gate 3 system requirements

What are the Baldur's Gate 3 system requirements? Big updates are on the horizon for Baldur's Gate 3, but more than a year on from its initial release, the PC components you need to run the game have remained unchanged.

Having the best graphics card will allow you to view Baldur's Gate 3 in all its splendor with settings cranked up to the max. It is not, however, a requirement, and the D&D adventure will still run fine on GPUs that are a decade old.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 10:00 AM
     When is the next Monopoly Go Golden Blitz event?

When is the next Monopoly Go Golden Blitz? This special, limited-time event allows players to trade the usually locked golden stickers up to five times a day. This is an ideal solution for grabbing elusive missing stickers and completing albums quickly. While you can trade these up to five times a day, each event is limited to two specific stickers, set by Scopely.

There's no official schedule for Monopoly Go's Golden Blitz event, so a lot of sites that confirm dates are actually speculating based on the current Monopoly Go events. While you're waiting for the next Golden Blitz, make sure to keep on top of other freebies with our free Monopoly Go dice links guide, which is updated several times a day with the newest links.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best board games, Monopoly Go events, Monopoly Go dice

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 9:54 AM
     Free Monopoly Go dice links September 2024

September 5, 2024: We've added a new Monopoly Go dice link 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.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best board games, Monopoly Go events, Monopoly Go dice

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 9:50 AM
     Is EA FC 25 coming to Game Pass?

Is EA FC 25 coming to Game Pass? It's another year and another EA FC soccer game installment is on the way. While, historically, the series has never launched on Microsoft's Game Pass service, there's hope every year that the gaming giant will somehow strike a deal with the developer-publisher before deadline day to bring EA FC to the carpet.

The EA FC 25 release date is just around the corner, and this year's game looks to be making the same sort of iterative tweaks as the sports games of yesteryear, albeit with a couple of new headline features. Unsurprisingly, then, there's hope that the winds of change will also blow over to Game Pass, bringing EA FC 25 onto the service on day one for the first time. To find out the latest on EA FC 25 Game Pass, read on.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: EA FC 25 release date, All EA FC 25 heroes, EA FC 25 custom tactics codes

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 9:39 AM
     Roguelike ARPG Ravenswatch adds a fantastic new character for launch

As a big fan of Hades and roguelike games in general, Ravenswatch is one I've had my eye on for a while. While the roots of Passtech Games' excellent Curse of the Dead Gods can still be seen, Ravenswatch steps more dramatically away from the Hades structure to offer a freeform open-world ARPG - but one that nevertheless retains all those delicious roguelike hooks. Ahead of its upcoming 1.0 launch in late September, I got hands-on with the game and tried the newest character Carmilla at Gamescom 2024, and I'm already eager to spend more time with her.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best co-op games, Best RPG games, Best roguelike games

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 10:01 AM
     EA FC 25 release date, cover, editions, trailers, and more

When is the EA FC 25 release date? Now heading into the second year of the EA FC era, the legendary soccer game series is going to have to continue building on the foundations to remain the top dog. After all, with games like UFL and FIFA's new enterprise set to challenge its premiership, EA may have solid competition on the pitch.

While EA FC 24 did introduce its Hypermotion motion capture tech and a shinier iteration of the Frostbite Engine, these iterative upgrades to one of the best soccer games were expected. We're hoping to see bigger and better things from EA FC 25 as the multiplayer game continues to evolve. Here's what you can expect from EA FC 25, which is definitely not just FIFA 25 in a new package, including the latest on the release date, the cover star, and much more.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: EA FC 25 release date, All EA FC 25 heroes, EA FC 25 custom tactics codes

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 9:53 AM
     Cyberpunk 2077 system requirements

What are the Cyberpunk 2077 system requirements? CD Projekt Red's massive RPG has come a long way since its rocky release. The system requirements for the game have also seen some change, but there's nothing to fear as long as you're gaming PC isn't more than a decade old.

You won't need the best graphics card to run Cyberpunk 2077, but if you're aiming for those 4K ray tracing specs, your entire build will likely need an upgrade. The Phantom Liberty DLC introduced the requirements for an SSD

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty review, Best Cyberpunk 2077 mods, Buy Cyberpunk 2077

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 9:10 AM
     Once Human codes and how to redeem

What are the latest Once Human codes? There are times in all of our gaming lives when we need a little bit of help. Call it a handout, call it a freebie, call it whatever you like, but receiving a gift from time to time is lovely - and vital when there are eldritch abominations around each corner, wanting to turn you into their next meal.

Whether you're just starting off in Nalcott or working towards the last of the Once Human bosses, you could always use a little help. As with many free PC games, Once Human offers redemption codes to give you a boost, and the Once Human codes below can help you fill your coffers without having to spend hours collecting resources and risking your life outside of your cozy home base.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best sandbox games, Best open-world games, Best survival games

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 9:43 AM
     Best Zenless Zone Zero Jane Doe build

What is the best ZZZ Jane Doe build? Most characters in HoYoverse's gacha game make no effort to hide their allegiances, but Jane Doe is a striking exception. As her name suggests, Jane's identity is a big question mark, so you might be looking for a ZZZ Jane Doe build to shed some light on this mystery agent.

Jane Doe is the second S-Rank Anomaly character to arrive in Zenless Zone Zero. She's a Physical DPS unit that attacks enemies to stack Passion Stream and enter the Passion State, unleashing a sequence of rapid attacks to trigger Anomalies. This powerful combination of high-mobile movement and critical strikes sends her straight to the top of our Zenless Zone Zero tier list, and we've got a ZZZ Jane build for the gacha game's resident fan favorite.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Zenless Zone Zero review, Zenless Zone Zero codes, Zenless Zone Zero banners

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 8:40 AM
     Space Marine 2 length and how long to beat

How long is Space Marine 2? It's not common to see many blockbuster shooter campaigns these days, especially one that's a sequel over a decade after its predecessor. Nevertheless, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 offers just that and more, with a cinematic campaign and fully-fleshed out PvE and PvP modes to sink your teeth into.

Naturally, many are curious about the Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 length as a result. Don't worry, you'll be pleased to know that the co-op game offers a lot of brutal and bloodthirsty gameplay for you, even after you get hooked and beat all the Space Marine 2 missions.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Space Marine 2 review, Space Marine 2 system requirements , Best Warhammer 40k games

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 8:39 AM
     All Space Marine 2 missions in campaign and co-op modes

What are the Space Marine 2 missions? Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 might not have the longest campaign ever, but its missions are a blast whether you're playing by yourself or with two friendly supersoldiers by your side. Plus, there's also the great Operations co-op mode, which although it features its own missions, ties directly into the main campaign.

Warhammer 40: Space Marine 2 is a remarkably jam-packed co-op game, from an action-packed story reminiscent of the best FPS game campaigns of yesteryear, to a co-op mode and even a dedicated PvP mode, much to the delight of Space Marine 1 veterans. So, here's everything that's on offer in the PvE modes.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Space Marine 2 review, Space Marine 2 system requirements , Best Warhammer 40k games

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 9:04 AM
     Soulframe release date window, trailers, gameplay, and news

When is the Soulframe release date? The upcoming fantasy MMORPG from the creators behind Warframe has been on our minds since it was first announced in 2022. More recently, developer Digital Extremes has revealed story details and gameplay trailers that give us an idea of what to expect from Soulframe's beautiful open world that establish its themes of climate change and environmental destruction.

Soulframe certainly looks and feels very different from its sci-fi sister, Warframe, with an echo of our favorite fantasy games. However, there are plenty of parallels to delight long-time Warframe fans and new players alike once the MMORPG arrives. Until then, here's everything we know so far, including all the latest news surrounding the Soulframe release date and the upcoming Preludes playtests.

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 Thursday, September 5, 2024 8:00 AM
     Genshin Impact codes for September 2024 and how to redeem codes

September 5, 2024: We checked for new Genshin Impact codes

What are the new Genshin Impact codes? Gathering Primogems and Mora in Genshin Impact can be quite the grind. Fortunately, developer HoYoverse occasionally sends out gifts in the form of Genshin redeem codes. Most codes only work for a limited time, so it's best to redeem them as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

Genshin Impact codes are released periodically, frequently appearing in Hoyoverse special programs: regular video updates detailing future updates to the free PC game. Redeem codes can also drop to celebrate milestones or to coincide with new Genshin Impact events. You can find all the active Genshin codes for August 2024 below, and we also detail what they get you, how to redeem them, and where you can look for more.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Genshin Impact codes, Genshin Impact character tier list, Genshin Impact leveling guide

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 7:49 AM
     A Black Myth Wukong expansion is already being developed, report says

Overwhelmingly positive user reviews. Almost 2.5 million concurrent players. A mainstay on the Steam sales charts even weeks after it was released. It's safe to say that Black Myth Wukong, the ambitious fantasy RPG by Game Science, is one of 2024's biggest hits. But according to a new report, the developer is far from finished. The first Black Myth Wukong expansion is apparently already in the works, as one of the game's principal investors discusses its runaway success so far.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Myth Wukong bosses, Black Myth Wukong abilities, Black Myth Wukong weapons

PCGamesN Thursday, September 5, 2024 7:49 AM
     Despite controversy, new RTS Age of Mythology is doing seriously well

I sometimes worry that good games, even great games, live or die depending on a single badly received update. Yes, this is the era of the comeback - Cyberpunk 2077 and No Man's Sky serving as prime examples - but with so many new games and so much choice, it's also much easier than ever for players to just move onto something new - I'm not sure that Helldivers 2 will ever recover from the PSN account linking snafu. Thankfully, though, despite the (arguably deserved) ire directed towards Age of Mythology's first DLC, the full release of the RTS game, built by Age of Empires devs, seems to be going exceptionally well - the strategy reimagining is surging on Steam.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RTS games, Best strategy games, Best PC games

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, September 5, 2024 11:25 AM
    

Did you forget about Baldur's Gate 3? Because Baldur's Gate 3 did not forget about you. Specifically, it did not forget about the incorrigible evil-doers amongst you who've been gunning for some additional plot catharsis. Larian's very bestest RPG has been biding its time in the shadows while you've been busy with other games. It has lingered silently while you occupy yourself heisting on Tatooine or messing up Golden-Eyed Beasts, waiting and waiting for the perfect moment - and now, it has finally struck with an unholy new patch, which adds 13 new Evil Endings, revamped splitscreen and an official modding toolkit. Foolish summer child! It is too late to flee.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, September 5, 2024 11:06 AM
    

"Do not forget to turn the system off before touching anything," says my astronaut colleague over the radio. I grab the faulty power transformer without listening, and am immediately electrocuted. Worse still, I have to hammer a quick-time button to recover. This is what it is like to be Jerry, the janitor of a cheap and poorly maintained space station. Jerry is being tasked with repair work beyond his job description, learning the ins and outs of an escape pod's machinery from his co-worker via radio. This may come in handy, as the station is about to explode. Tin Can is not a new game (it came out in 2022) but it is on sale as part of Steam's space exploration fest. And I enjoy a space game that makes me panic while alarms go off everywhere.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, September 5, 2024 11:00 AM
    

Pssst. You into hardcore 2D platformers? And do you like lil' green guys, just like, gooby wooby lookin' orbs of green? Then I present to you Gimmick! 2, which has an unexpected exclamation point before the "2" and all of the above. It's out now and will no doubt please fans who've been waiting years for a sequel to the original Gimmick!, and possibly other platform enthusiasts who are after a decidedly different style of gap-hopper.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, September 5, 2024 10:28 AM
    

Not very shockingly for a game that set Steam records within hours of release, Black Myth: Wukong is getting DLC, the first in a series of follow-up projects that continue the action epic's explorations of Chinese mythology.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, September 5, 2024 10:00 AM
    

Full disclosure: I hadn't heard of Bakeru until Graham mentioned it to me. Graham always has his hands on the video game pulse, gliding them over Xwitter or Steam or wherever and waiting for that "ker kun, ker kun" of a new Cool Thing. And that cool thing is Bakeru, described by its Steam page as "Japan-esque", but is in actual fact, very Japanese. I mean, you travel around 47 Japanese prefectures as a metamorphing tanuki who bashes evilness with his taiko drum sticks. Come on.

What I hadn't suspected was Bakeru's chops not only as a platformer, but as a means to increase your chances at success in pub quizzes. The game is a certified trivia Tardis, where you'll learn all sorts about Japanese culture as well as just like, the colour sepia being a genus of cuttlefish.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, September 5, 2024 9:27 AM
    

I've already said my piece on the hulking bugstomper in our Space Marine 2 review, but I'd like to celebrate one more thing about it - the photo mode. This is a fairly standard feature for a lot of blockbuster games, but in the world of Warhammer 40K there are so many mega-scale battles with pitch-perfect composition that I found it hard to resist hitting pause and taking a handful of snaps every few minutes. With a keen eye (and a beefy PC) you can capture some wonderfully violent moments.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, September 5, 2024 6:44 AM
    

Helldivers 2's third enemy faction is maybe definitely possibly probably almost certainly about to be released, as players report sightings of the mysterious menace on the game's Galactic War map. Development studio Arrowhead, aka the glorious government of Super Earth, are downplaying the rumours as usual. They're claiming (via in-game broadcast) that the fleeting appearance of a weird purple blob on the map screen is actually the result of fluids leaking from the corpse of a long-dead comms technician, stranded on a server farm somewhere. Who to believe? Ah, if only we had some means of shedding light on the reports. Some way of Illuminating the situation.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, September 5, 2024 5:30 AM
    

Bear with me on this, but I adore how swordfighting works in Dune. Ubiquitous wearable sci-fi shields repel any attack that comes in too fast, so everyone has to learn this unique, overtly dance-like form of close-quarters combat where every thrust and parry is necessarily slow and considered. Picture it: careful judgments of your movements, weighing up the right time to strike, every measured jab part of a wider strategy that culminates in the kill.

MOBAs are like that. Both in the fights themselves, sort of, where probing lunges lead up to bursts of lethality, but more broadly in each match as a whole. They're map-wide knife fights, where a thrust is a well-judged lane push and a parry a savvy item buy. At first, playing Smite 2 felt akin to watching on helplessly as my opponents repeatedly shoved their crysknives through my ribs. After 30 hours, it often still feels like that - but I am enjoying myself. Mostly. Despite Valve's third-person elephant in the lane.

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Twinfinite Thursday, September 5, 2024 11:51 AM
    
Putting together a championship package.

Twinfinite Thursday, September 5, 2024 8:00 AM
    
A magical adventure

Siliconera Thursday, September 5, 2024 11:30 AM
    

The latest Black Myth: Wukong Daniel Wu interview confirmed a new sales milestone and a DLC expansion for the game.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Hero Game Founder Daniel Wu stated Game Science is working on a Black Myth: Wukong DLC expansion. However, no further details about the product came up. [Thanks, Bloomberg!]

When Wu talked with Bloomberg, it came up that a Black Myth: Wukong expansion is in the works. This came up when the outlet discussed a sequel. There was no word about when it could appear or how far along in development that additional project is.

We've already seen one bit of Black Myth: Wukong DLC appear so far. There is a Deluxe Edition upgrade that gives people an additional Bronzecloud Staff, Folk Opera equipment consisting of armor, bracers, buskins, and a mask, and a Wind Chimes curio. That comes with a digital copy of the game's soundtrack for $9.99, if someone didn't already immediately purchase that version of the game.

The announcement also went over the latest sales figure update for Black Myth: Wukong. Between August 20, 2024, which is when the game launched, and September 2, 2024, 18 million copies were sold. This was the second major hallmark, as Game Science announced 10 million copies were sold as of August 23, 2024.

Black Myth: Wukong is available for the PS5 and PC.

The post Black Myth: Wukong DLC Expansion Teased appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, September 5, 2024 11:00 AM
    

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Kuji Cloud and Tifa Figures Sold Outside Japan

Back in February 2024, a Final Fantasy VII Rebirth kuji merchandise lottery appeared in Japan and offered Cloud and Tifa Limit Break figures as the two top prizes. Now Square Enix announced it will sell them for $72.99 each worldwide in April 2025.

The Cloud and Tifa Final Fantasy VII Rebirth figures are based on their Limit Breaks from the latest entry in the remake trilogy. In the case of Cloud, he is performing the Ascension attack designed to hit one enemy. Meanwhile, the Tifa one is Dolphin Flurry, which is the latest take on the Dolphin Blow attack that debuted in the original FFVII. Each figure has effects on the base to show the action being depicted. The Tifa one is just under 10 inches tall, while the Cloud one stands at about a foot tall.

Here's how both of those will look:

When the kuji appeared in Japan, people would buy 880 yen ($5.85) tickets for a chance to get certain prizes. The Cloud figure was the top "A" prize. Meanwhile, the Tifa one was the "last" one, which meant the person who bought the very last ticket in the lottery would get her. Other items that came up in that particular merchandise lottery included mini figures based on characters' PS1 appearances, towers with mascots on them, keychains, and a chiptune arrangement CD. Those polygon figures are also available on the Square Enix store for people to pre-order ahead of a 2025 release.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is available on the PS5, and the Cloud and Tifa Limit Break figures will release worldwide in April 2025. The first entry in the Final Fantasy VII series of remakes is out on the PS4, PS5, and PC. The third entry is in development, but has no release window yet.

The post Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Kuji Cloud and Tifa Figures Sold Outside Japan appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, September 5, 2024 10:35 AM
    

Full Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 7 Notes Discuss Mod Manager, Endings

Larian announced the promised Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 7, which adds a mod manager, new endings, split-screen multiplayer, and other features and fixes, is now available on PCs and shared patch notes. There's no console release window yet. The announcement also teased photo mode and crossplay are still coming in the future.

Before getting into the nitty gritty Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 7 notes, Larian highlighted the biggest changes. 13 ending cinematics appeared in the update, all of them designed to go with evil playthroughs. For those who want to see those, but perhaps also may be streaming, playing in front of others, or don't want to see more mature content, the Show Cinematic Nudity option is now Show Sexual and Violent Cinematics following the change. In keeping with the darker additions, there are also seven Honour Mode Legendary Action additions. 

As for the Baldur's Gate 3 in-game mod manager and toolkit, Larian started out the announcement by noting that some existing mods might not immediately work after the update. It recommended uninstalling them. It also noted that the official Toolkit mods can be browsed, accessed, enabled, and disabled in-game. It also said the Toolkit can be downloaded, so we can use Larian's Osiris language to make them and upload them from the new app.

Here are the highlights from the full Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 7 notes that Larian shared on its official site. Note that you need 160GB of free space before you download the 11.6GB update. 

Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 7 Notes Highlights

  • Introducing 'Evil Endings': Brand new cinematic endings for the truly villainous playthroughs.
  • Added our very own Mod Manager, which lets you browse, install, and use mods created by the community.
  • Revamped split screen gameplay: When playing on split screen, the two halves of the screen will now dynamically merge together when player characters come close to each other in-game, and dynamically split back up when the characters move apart. This revamp comes alongside many other improvements and polishes to improve the overall split screen experience.

Honour Mode Combat

  • If Dror Ragzlin finds himself inside the spider pit, he'll try his best to befriend the spiders residing there with a new spell called Arachnid Compulsion so they can band together to fight the real enemy - you.
  • The Bulette has a new condition called Diamond Scales and a new Legendary Action called Shredding Scales.
  • Malus Thorm has a new Legendary Action called Grasping Appendage.
  • Added a new aura and spell for Spectators: Panicked Sentinel and Ocular Nightmare, respectively.
  • Ch'r'ai Tska'an, the leader of the githyanki ambush in Act II, has a new Legendary Action called Soul Sacrifice.
  • Ch'r'ai Har'rak, the githyanki leader at the Knights of the Shield Hideout, has a new Legendary Action called Tu'narath's Embrace.
  • Ptaris has a new Legendary Action called Ptarian Dogma.

UI

  • Revised and reorganised the in-game video options to be more logical and robust. You now have an Upscaling Type drop-down, an Upscaling Mode drop-down, and an Upscaling Sharpness slider, followed immediately by the options that are affected by them.
  • Updated the Reactions UI so that you only have to toggle the Reactions you want to use and then confirm them. (This saves you from having to select 'Do not react' multiple times!)
  • Added a new Equipment Options menu to the Character Sheet on controller.
  • The panel that opens to 'Donate' magic items to Gale will now also show items in your Traveller's Chest. It also now indicates which items are currently equipped.
  • We noticed some of you hiccoughing bubbles, so the action for washing yourself with soap and sponges is now called 'Use' instead of 'Consume'.
  • Fixed your player character's name getting reverted to 'Custom' during Character Creation if you moved on to create your Dream Guardian and then went back to edit the player character again.
  • Fixed the wrong spell Ability showing up when selecting a Feat during Level Up.

Art

  • Added a new loading screen in Act III, showing the busy streets of Baldur's Gate.
  • Fixed the skirt part of the Adamantine Splint Armour missing for female dwarves.
  • Fixed the Adamantine Scale Mail clipping on large male characters.

Gameplay

  • You can now start Custom Mode games using Honour Mode mechanics when starting a new playthrough. You'll be able to do this via the 'Ruleset' dropdown.
  • The kuo-toa that promised to build you an army will now support you in the final battle. Unless they all died in Act I.
  • The help that the Gondians promised for the final battle will now arrive in the form of a friendly Steel Watcher. Apologies from Zanner Toobin for the delay.
  • The hair colour options in Character Creation will now remain accessible after you choose the bald hairstyle, so that you can continue fiddling around with eyebrow colours.
  • Overhead dialogues that support multiple player characters can now involve characters assigned to different players. (They were limited to characters controlled by a single player until now.) This means that there will be more banter among player characters in multiplayer games.
  • Group Hide will no longer affect summons that aren't linked to the group in the Party Line.
  • Changed the behaviour for selecting camp supplies for a Long Rest. When selecting camp supplies that are stacked, the game now only takes what it needs from the stack.
  • You can no longer cheese the Leap of Faith trial at the Gauntlet of Shar by just clicking the final platform and letting your character pathfind their way there. Shar threatened to smite us if we didn't fix this one.
  • Fixed a bug where resurrecting Lae'zel on the beach in Act I would cause her to appear in the Party Line but not in the world, preventing you from leaving Act I.
  • Patched up some savegames where Gale still had his Necrotic Aura when he shouldn't on load.
  • Fixed Minthara's body sometimes turning invisible on the Level Up screen. (We sorta liked the floating-head-and-hands look, but hey.)

Animation

  • Astarion now has idle animations at camp that aren't just him reading a book.
  • Added a new idle animation for Minsc at camp - Boo may or may not have taught him some tai chi.
  • Karlach will no longer brush the shaved side of her head.
  • Polished the appearance of neck kisses in lovey-dovey scenes with Shadowheart on the Sharran path for characters with large body types and dragonborn characters.

Writing and Flow

  • Dotted some dialogue options and voiced lines into a handful of dialogues across the game, particularly to account for edge-case flows. These changes are described in more detail in the main patch notes below.
  • Added three new Narrator lines for Dark Urge characters to add a bit more reactivity across the game. These additions are described in more detail in the main patch notes below.
  • Resolved an issue that had been rendering some romance party banters inaccessible while adventuring.
  • Fixed a flow issue where Avatar Lae'zel did not have the option to leave and ascend or stay on Faerûn after the Netherbrain is defeated.
  • Added a dialogue option asking for a kiss in more paths of Wyll's epilogue dialogue.
  • If you're in holographic form in the epilogue, Wyll won't automatically assume he's talking to Lae'zel.
  • A bug that had been preventing Wyll's romance greeting from triggering has now been fixed, so players in Act III who have a stable, loving, and committed relationship with Wyll will now see his romance greeting triggering correctly.
  • Fixed priorities on Wyll's greetings so that low approval greetings will now trigger accordingly for players with low approval. 
  • Companions should now be more sympathetic to Astarion fleeing from the sun.
  • Added a new dialogue in which Karlach will react to Dammon if she finds him dead after he told her that he can help her.
  • In Act II, Minthara will now react to you having knocked her out in Act I.

Scripting

  • Fixed several issues (related to resurrecting characters via Withers, restructuring the party at night, and automatic camp night scenes) that would trap you in an eternal slumber, unable to end a Long Rest.
  • Fixed a bug causing Shadowheart to keep repeating one line when you talk to her after she's resurrected by Withers from the Shadowfell.
  • Fixed a small flow issue preventing you from commenting on Gale's last name.
  • Fixed several occurrences of Wyll still having an exclamation mark above his head when he already told you everything he had to say. 
  • When playing as the Dark Urge, Minthara will no longer act as though you accepted Bhaal when you've been stripped of his influence.
  • Fixed a broken kissing scene after you gave Shadowheart the Idol of Shar.
  • Fixed an issue where Jaheira would stop following the party after spending a night outside of the party.
  • Fixed the rune tablets on the nautiloid sometimes not triggering the Narrator's lines.
  • Clerics of Lathander should now recognise his symbol on a Lathanderian amulet.
  • Ensured the avatar is prioritised as the main speaker in dialogues related to the hag's Act I surrender.
  • Minthara does, in fact, now have something to say about Orin after you kill her.
  • Made the romance scene at night with Wyll in Act III unskippable if it triggers to avoid accidentally skipping it and not being able to finish the romance arc.
  • If Avatar Karlach and Wyll are partners and go to the Hells together, he'll now act accordingly during the epilogue.
  • Fixed Karlach's scene in Avernus not playing if you decided to go with her when playing as Wyll.
  • A bug has been fixed so that Wyll will now talk to his father if Ansur is defeated after the pact with Mizora is broken but Ravengard is saved from the Iron Throne despite this, to decide on his title. 
  • Lae'zel will now wait a little longer for you at the site of her recruitment if you tell her you'll be back.
  • Improved Lae'zel's idle camp behaviours to align a bit better with the other companions'.
  • Fixed the fade-to-black after Karlach's scene in Avernus at the end of the game, which would give you a very brief glimpse of Game Developer Land.
  • Breaking up with Karlach by speaking with another companion you're dating the morning after her romance scene won't block her dialogue anymore.
  • Reinstated Gale's last line in his detailed explanation of ceremorphosis and tweaked a dialogue option to react to it.
  • Now that you can give Gale magic items from the Traveller's Chest, he will leave again if you refuse to do so.
  • Patched up some savegames that had a bug that would prevent the dialogue between Gale and Mystra at the end of the game from triggering.
  • Fixed a bug that let you kiss Gale even if he was in a disguised form before confronting the Netherbrain.. Also fixed this dialogue with him cutting off before you could give him a smooch.
  • Reworked the script that determines whether a character is too busy to talk. This will prevent bugs like Minthara's dialogue not triggering at Moonrise Towers after you rescue her, and knock-on effects as a result of this, like not being able to rest or fast travel.

Performance

  • Continued to make performance and stability optimisations across the game and implemented many under-the-hood code fixes.
  • Optimised performance. This will have a more noticeable impact in areas with large numbers of NPCs (like the Lower City) and will reduce peak memory usage when loading levels for the first time. It will also be noticeable when managing lots of loot (e.g. when transferring everything from a camp chest to a character's inventory).

Cinematics

  • Reworked and revamped the cutscene that plays when you interact with Ansur's bones in the Wyrmway.
  • Polished facial expressions and emotions across companion dialogues, including to the facial animations of your character during some kissing cinematics, including with the Vampire Lord Astarion.

Baldur's Gate 3 is available on the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and Patch 7 is out on Windows and Macs on September 5, 2024.

The post Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 7 Notes Discuss Mod Manager, Endings appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, September 5, 2024 10:30 AM
    

Spider-Zoids - Zoids and Spider-Man crossover action figures by Takara Tomy Synergenex

Takara Tomy revealed via its official Zoids X account that it has opened pre-orders for the Spider-Zoids Synergenex action figures. The company will release the crossover toys featuring Zoids and Spider-Man in April 2025.

The new action figure will appear in two color variants. The first one will sport Spider-Man's regular red-and-blue palette, and the other will be mostly black. With a scale of 1/35, the Spider-Man figure will be around 50 mm (~1.97 inches) tall when he stands up by himself. Meanwhile, the Spider-Zoids will have an overall length of around 115 mm (~4.53 inches).

The company did not specify a website in its announcement tweet. However, pre-orders for the action figures are available on web stores like AmiAmi. Both the regular and black variants have the same MSRP of 4,400 yen (~$30.79), but AmiAmi is offering discounts so people can order each of them at just 3,520 yen (~$24.49) apiece.

Spider-Zoids was one of the numerous products Takara Tomy announced when it revealed its new crossover toy brand Synergenex in late August 2024. The company will release crossover action figures between Zoids and Transformers, along with many more external franchises, such as Godzilla, Macross, and Monster Hunter.

Takara Tomy will release the Zoids - Spider-Man crossover Synergenex action figures Spider-Zoids in late April 2025.

The post Spider-Man Zoids Synergenex Action Figure Pre-Orders Open appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, September 5, 2024 10:00 AM
    

Bokujo Monogatari Mobile Life and Love - Harvest Moon Story of Seasons feature phone game ported to Switch and PC

G-Mode has released ports of Bokujo Monogatari Mobile: Live & Love in Japan. The entry, which is part of Marvelous' game series now known in English as Story of Seasons, originally appeared for feature phones in 2007. The new ports are now available digitally on Nintendo Switch via the Japanese eShop and PC via Steam.

Even though the Steam page also has an English description, the port is only available in Japanese. This feature phone game has the same protagonists who appeared in titles like Harvest Moon: Back to Nature and Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town. While the player can choose either gender version of the avatar, the game has a different set of characters who are available as marriage candidates.

In addition, this game also features the protagonist's mother who will live with them in their house. The player can have the mother cook a meal for the protagonist, and they can also ask her about the relationship levels with available marriage candidates.

G-Mode has also uploaded a trailer showcasing Bokujo Monogatari Mobile: Live & Love on its YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yDehpBeBiQ

G-Mode has been gradually porting its classic feature phone games to the Switch and PC. The company was recently known for porting mobile games featuring side stories of Atlus titles like Megami Tensei in 2022, Revelations: Persona in 2023, and Persona 3 in 2024.

The ports of Bokujo Monogatari Mobile: Life & Love are now available in Japanese on Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam.

The post Story of Seasons Feature Phone Game Ported to Switch and PC appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, September 5, 2024 9:30 AM
    

Shirakami Fubuki in Hololive indie pinball game Holo Pop

A new holo indie game has appeared on Steam. The game's title is Holo Pop, and it is a Peggle and pinball-like game that features Hololive Vtubers.

This game primarily features three Japanese Vtubers from the group. They are Sakura Miko, Shirakami Fubuki, and Oozora Subaru. After choosing a Vtuber, the player will have to aim and shoot a finite amount of balls from above to hit as many objects as possible with ricochet effects.

Some of the stages in Holo Pop will have special gimmicks that reward more points when hit. The Vtubers will also have specific skills that improve their gameplay, such as shooting five balls in one go. The game's development studio HappyHoppyHappy is also holding a temporary leaderboard for players to compete with their high scores from the game's launch until December 5, 2024.

The new indie PC game is available worldwide with a price tag of $3.99 in the US. Even though the Steam Page has a description of the game in English, the actual game only supports Japanese text at launch.

Cover has been helping indie developers release Hololive-themed indie games on Steam via its holo indie brand. It released DUEHOLO and Miko Sniper in June 2024, as well as Hololive Treasure Mountain in August 2024.

Holo Pop is now available on PCs worldwide via Steam.

The post Holo Pop Is a New Hololive Indie Game Like Peggle appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, September 5, 2024 9:00 AM
    

persona 5 royal curry blend

Jade City Foods has some more Persona 5 Royal food items available, with Sojiro and his signature curry taking center stage this time. You'll be able to recreate the Leblanc curry recipe using either the signature sauce or the secret spice blend.

Here are the prices for everything:

The Persona 5 Royal curry combo comes with both the sauce and the spice blend. As a note, the curry sauce has a heat level of 10, so it sounds like something that would be a bit spicier than what you'd eat at a kissaten in Japan. If you want to use the curry spice blend to make the curry at home, then you can check out the "official" Leblanc curry recipe via the Japanese PlayStation X (formerly known as Twitter) account.

Previously, Jade City Foods released a series of hot sauces and coffee that were based on the Persona 5 Royal characters. They're all still available via its website. The sauces took inspiration from the Royal trio (Joker, Kasumi, and Akechi), as well as Ann and her default Persona Carmen. Ann and Carmen likely appeared due to their affinity with Agi (fire).

Persona 5 Royal is readily available on the PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC.

The post Persona 5 Royal Curry Sauce and Spice Blend Lets You Recreate Taste of Leblanc appeared first on Siliconera.


MonsterVine Thursday, September 5, 2024 11:00 AM
     Second Dinner, the team behind the card game Marvel Snap, recently released its latest season. This time, the latest season is tied to Spider-Man instead of taking inspiration from the Young Avengers. The cards and new locations further reflect this with the newly introduced Symbiote Spider-Man, which introduces a new ability to the game. As […]

MonsterVine Thursday, September 5, 2024 9:36 AM
     The MonsterVine crew makes their way to Seattle for another PAX showcase, and it's an important one as we're celebrating the 20th anniversary of PAX! What the Car? Similarly to how its predecessor, What the Golf, was a golf game that wasn't really a golf game, What the Car is a racing game that's not […]

MonsterVine Thursday, September 5, 2024 9:03 AM
     It's been well over ten years since we last saw Captain Titus of the Ultramarines face off against the Orks and Chaos, so it's comforting to finally get to continue his story after so long of wondering if we'd ever get a sequel to that original game. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is finally here, […]

MonsterVine Thursday, September 5, 2024 9:00 AM
     I generally find genre mash-ups to be a fun way of breaking up the monotony that is sure to come from a genre getting a hit game. Even in the past few years, the amount of Slay the Spire clones I've just reviewed is high, not to mention how many are sent to me for […]

MonsterVine Thursday, September 5, 2024 7:00 AM
     I've got a little experience with the SaGa series, so I was looking forward to trying out Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven at PAX West this past weekend. I had heard that the game being remade here is particularly great, which heightened my anticipation. I was incredibly impressed with what I played, as […]