Sep 25, 10:00


Kotaku Wednesday, September 25, 2024 9:40 AM
    

When he's not busy appearing for a cameo on Deadpool & Wolverine, noted nerd Henry Cavill has often been spotted painting Warhammer 40,000 miniatures or playing on his PC gaming rig. Recently, the movie star combined both hobbies and sat down to play Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2. His verdict? "This game is the…

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Kotaku Wednesday, September 25, 2024 9:32 AM
    

Who's ready to capture some Pokémon-looking creatures and force them into labor camps to manufacture assault rifles? As announced in the new State of Play, PlayStation 5 players can now join in the Palworld fun with a port out on Sony's platform just a week after maker Pocketpair was sued by Nintendo for alleged…

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PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 9:50 AM
     2023 cyberpunk hit, Ghostrunner 2, is 70% off in Humble sale

Humble Bundle is running a dedicated 505 Games sale, and the Deluxe Edition of Ghostrunner 2 is included at a 70% discount. Last year's sequel to 2020's hack-and-slash extravaganza improves on the original in almost every way, offering a deeper story, vehicular combat, and a more open approach to level design. If you've yet to add it to your Steam library, now would be a great time to do so.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Ghostrunner 2 review, Best cyberpunk games, Best RPG games

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 9:36 AM
     The Forever Winter launch sees plenty of players, but reviews are struggling

It's been a big year for survival games, from the early highs of Palworld to the likes of Once Human, Soulmask, Enshrouded, and Nightingale all contending with established favorites such as Rust, Valheim, and Ark. The latest contender on the scene, The Forever Winter, blends that desperate struggle to stay alive with a co-op extraction shooter format inspired by games like Escape From Tarkov and Gray Zone Warfare, and it's just arrived in early access on Steam. While initial impressions of its world and setting are strong, early issues have caused reviews to struggle - but a promising player count means it has plenty of room to grow.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best horror games, Best co-op games, Best survival games

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 9:55 AM
     Dragon Age The Veilguard release date, trailers, and gameplay

When is the Dragon Age The Veilguard release date? Formerly known as Dragon Age 4: Dreadwolf, the fourth installment in developer BioWare's fantasy series was renamed to Dragon Age The Veilguard in a reveal trailer during Microsoft's Xbox Showcase 2024.

After spending several years in development, we finally have solid details about the Dragon Age The Veilguard and its release date. BioWare's latest RPG game takes players on a journey across Thedas to stop ancient elven gods from taking over the world. As the Veilguard takes shape, you must master unique class abilities and make difficult decisions to pull Thedas back from the brink of destruction.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPGs, Dragon Age The Veilguard companions, Dragon Age The Veilguard release date

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 9:14 AM
     MSI's new gaming motherboard BIOS just changed the game on EFI design

MSI is overhauling the BIOS interface for its new Intel and AMD gaming motherboard designs, and the first preview screenshots look much cleaner and smarter than the company's previous efforts. The new interface takes over from MSI's previous Click BIOS 5 layout, and is called MSI Click BIOS X because, as we all know, an X always makes your product look cooler, even if it's numerically wrong.

The new EFI from MSI will be included with the company's new X870 boards for both AMD's Socket AM5 platform, as well as Z890 boards for the forthcoming new Intel Arrow Lake CPUs. Both chipsets are due to launch in the near future, when all the big players will be competing to make the best gaming motherboard in a variety of categories.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Ryzen 7 7800X3D review, Best gaming CPU, Radeon RX 7800 XT review

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 9:12 AM
     Zenless Zone Zero events - all current and upcoming events

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.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 9:05 AM
     InZOI release date window, trailers, gameplay, and latest news

When is the InZOI release date? The 'next-gen' life sim is the latest in Krafton's stable, and it's got the life sim community all a-flutter. While the South Korean company is most known for the likes of PUBG Battlegrounds and Dark and Darker, this time around, it's got a potential successor to The Sims series on its hands.

InZOI joins Sims 4 competitors Life by You and Paralives in their efforts to unseat EA's genre-defining giant from its throne, though it appears to be striking in a very different direction from its peers. Instead of limitless customization or a stylized dream house, InZOI aims to turn heads with photorealistic visuals – a real first for life games. Do we have a Sims rival on our hands? That remains to be seen – for now, here's everything we know about the InZOI release date, including the latest trailers and gameplay footage.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: InZoi release date, Best simulation games, InZoi system requirements

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 8:18 AM
     Zenless Zone Zero banners - next, current, and 1.3 banners

What are the Zenless Zone Zero banners? If you're looking to expand your roster of playable agents, then wishing on banners is your best bet. These digital gacha machines form the basis of developer HoYoverse's monetization strategy, and they should be instantly familiar to anyone who's dipped into Genshin Impact or Honkai Star Rail.

Zenless Zone Zero includes several event banners that offer the chance to pull characters, weapons, and Bangboo. Banners rotate regularly, so it's important to think strategically about whether to spend your ZZZ Polychrome on the current banner, or hold off until the next one. The ZZZ 1.2 banners include brand-new agents that can shake-up your Zenless Zone Zero team comps, so get set to start spending in HoYoverse's urban gacha game. Here's who you can pull in Zenless Zone Zero banners.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 7:54 AM
     Dragon Age The Veilguard's world

My first steps in Treviso, the Antivan port city, leave me in awe. Shimmering canals wind through Mediterranean-style streets. Merchants peddle everything from colorful fruit and vegetables to bulky gear for the modern adventurer. I've been waiting for years to see Antiva, and it doesn't disappoint. But, like every OG Dragon Age player, I had a vision of it in my mind, as I do with the likes of Rivain. While Treviso matched my high expectations, I ask Dragon Age: The Veilguard's art director Matt Rhodes and level design director Francois Chaput about the pressure of creating cityscapes that we've been dreaming of for decades.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPGs, Dragon Age The Veilguard companions, Dragon Age The Veilguard release date

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 7:28 AM
     Throne and Liberty's Siege the Day event postponed by network woes

A special pre-launch Throne and Liberty event showing off its large-scale multiplayer has been hampered by network troubles. The new NCSoft and Amazon Games MMORPG is hyping players up for early access by inviting top creators and guilds to duke it out in the Throne and Liberty Siege the Day spectacle, showing off its PvP arenas, conquest battles, and massive castle sieges. Unfortunately, its first day was cut dramatically short.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MMORPGs, Throne and Liberty codes, Throne and Liberty weapons

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 7:20 AM
     Supervive release date window, trailers, and latest news

When is Supervive released? Billed as a top-down hero shooter, Supervive plays like a MOBA with the ruleset of a battle royale. You'll fight for supremacy in an ever-shrinking arena, visiting shops to increase your power, and - inevitably - buy your teammates back from their time in the afterlife.

There have been a handful of Supervive playtests, where players have had a chance to get to grips with the novel battle royale game, and taken the Supervive characters out for a spin. The MOBA game might still be a little ways away, but we have the Supervive release date window and all of the trailers released so far.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MOBAs, Best battle royale games, Best multiplayer games

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 7:01 AM
     All Star Wars Outlaws characters

Who are all the Star Wars Outlaws characters? The story takes place between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, so expect cameos from Jabba the Hutt, Lando Calrissian, and even Han Solo frozen in carbonite, as well as a host of new characters.

The Star Wars Outlaws release date is here, and we had the chance to delve into the new open-world game ahead of time and discover the Star Wars Outlaws characters you'll meet along the way as well as all the key Star Wars Outlaws planets and locations, including when Star Wars Outlaws takes place.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Star Wars games, Star Wars Outlaws review, Star Wars Outlaws blaster

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 6:56 AM
     Halls of Torment 1.0 is a huge success, and the player count proves it

Any game worth its salt will ensure its players are kept well-fed with substantial updates, and Halls of Torment has certainly delivered on that front. The 1.0 patch has arrived, bringing with it a new final stage, new items and abilities, and the standard system improvements, too. Judging by the huge increase in its player count, HoT fans are enjoying the fresh content.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best indie games, Best survival games, Best action-adventure games

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 6:55 AM
     The 21 best The Sims 4 mods

What are the best Sims 4 mods? The Sims became a must-have simulation game on the PC when it was first released in 2000, and over 20 years later, the series is still going strong with a new Sims game on the horizon. You only need to look at the game's strong library of user-generated content to see where all this success coming from.

The Sims 4 modding scene is thriving, with plenty of weird and wonderful additions to one of the best PC games for living your alternate virtual life. If you're looking to shake things up before the Sims 5 release date, the mods below all offer varying degrees of change. We've compiled a list of just some of the best Sims 4 mods, accompanied with links to all the download pages. Be sure to read the install instructions for each mod.

Continue reading The 21 best The Sims 4 mods
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Sims 4 mods, Best Sims 4 sex mods, The Sims 4 cheats

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 6:50 AM
     All Infinite Craft recipes and combos list

What are all the Infinite Craft recipes and combos? We've been addictively playing this since we learned about it, and as a result, there are hundreds of combinations and recipes now known. Here's our guide on all of them, including some of the most obscure suggestions.

Infinite Craft is a browser game that's recently been taking the web by storm, with endless possibilities and some that'll give you quite a giggle. Think of it as a puzzle game by ways of god; it's a great game to open if you want to while away an hour or two figuring out all of the combinations.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Browser games, Puzzle games, Upcoming games

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 6:47 AM
     A list of all The Sims 4 cheats for free money, max skills, and more

What are all of The Sims 4 cheats? Whether you're after that all-important Sims 4 money cheat for some extra Simoleons, we've listed heaps of handy shortcuts to make the lives of your virtual family more manageable. In this guide, we'll let you know all of the Sims 4 cheats, and more importantly, how to use them.

Cheats are by no means new to The Sims 4, and EA even actively encourages their use. Still, it can be hard to keep track of all The Sims cheats, so we've put them all in one handy place - including those all so important Sims 4 money cheats. Our list is perfect if you've never played past entries in one of the best PC games, or are wondering if all those old cheats still work, and we even add new cheats for new DLCs and expansion packs.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Sims 4 mods, Best Sims 4 sex mods, The Sims 4 cheats

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 6:47 AM
     Best puzzle games on PC 2024

What are the best puzzle games on PC? Puzzle games can contain a variety of brainteasers, from classic head-scratchers to frustration-fueled problems. Whether you're looking for clever dialogue, moving narratives from rich stories, or a healthy dose of laughter with your conundrums, puzzle games are versatile enough to find a way to do it all.

This vast genre covers everything from point-and-clicks to tetromino trickery and quantum physics capers, and those we've listed below are so good they were even considered for our list of the best PC games. Our comprehensive list outlines the best puzzle games, including relaxing games, co-op games, and even pirate games — and a few very familiar faces.

Continue reading Best puzzle games on PC 2024
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Return to Monkey Island system requirements, Return to Monkey Island difficulty modes, Return to Monkey Island mop guide

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 6:41 AM
     This 27-inch Asus gaming monitor has an amazing price right now

We've seen quite a few 24-inch screens going for surprisingly low prices lately, but this latest Amazon gaming monitor deal brings a big-brand 27-inch monitor down to a rock-bottom price, enabling you to pick up a decent-size screen for just $139. It's not just a basic monitor either. This Asus TUF Gaming display not only has a 165Hz refresh rate, but it also supports the company's Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB) tech to reduce image ghosting.

The Asus TUF Gaming VG27VH1B usually costs $179, which is already a generous price for a 27-inch screen from a big brand, so it's great to be able to save a further 22% on it. This gaming monitor also shares some key specs in common with some of the best gaming monitor options you can buy right now, including the aforementioned ELMB tech.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ review, Asus ROG Raikiri review, Best gaming motherboard

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 7:18 AM
     Monster Hunter Wilds release date, trailers, and latest news

When is the Monster Hunter Wilds release date? With the recent resurgence of Monster Hunter World and Rise in late 2023, there's naturally a bit of a buzz regarding the first sixth-generation Monster Hunter.

We've already seen some of the big changes coming to the RPG game series with Monster Hunter Wilds, including unprecedented mount mobility and all-new mechanics. Thanks to the power of next-gen consoles, Wilds is shaping up to be a stunning open-world game, as Ken's Monster Hunter Wilds Gamescom preview can attest. Now you're suitably buzzing, here is everything we know about the Monster Hunter Wilds release date and all the new features shown off in the latest trailers.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best games like Monster Hunter, Best open-world games, Best RPG games

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 6:17 AM
     The Sims 4 has free items for you, and a new Grim Reaper story

As we get into the spooky season, free The Sims 4 rewards are here to help you get into the mood. EA might not be making The Sims 5 any time soon, as it commits to focusing on its existing game alongside the experimental Project Rene, but there are still lots of reasons to jump back into the free game and keep playing, starting with a special Halloween event. If you're worried that The Sims 5 is dead, The Grim Reaper themselves is here to comfort you.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Sims 4 mods, Best Sims 4 sex mods, The Sims 4 cheats

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 6:18 AM
     What is the current and next Genshin Impact banner?

Genshin Impact banners rotate every few weeks on a precise schedule, and we always know what to expect thanks to regular updates from Hoyoverse. The developer of the anime game always keeps its fans in the loop with regular livestreams and social media updates, so you can plan where you want to spend your hard-earned primogems.

With a two to three-week turnaround for banners, the roster of Genshin Impact characters is constantly changing, and the free PC game regularly introduces two new characters to wish for. Every limited-time character banner, or event wish, contains a five-star character and three four-star characters with increased drop rates. There's also a Genshin Impact weapon banner, which runs alongside each character banner and changes weapons every update.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 6:06 AM
     New Metaphor Refantazio demo lets you start the 100-hour JRPG early

I simply can't wait for Persona 6. Atlus' series of school JRPGs where you end up killing god is unlike anything else I've ever played, and they all have some of the most inventive mechanics I've ever seen. I used to be indifferent to turn-based games, but Persona 5 turned me around on the genre. I can easily say the same for the medieval setting, which often doesn't hook me like I'd hope. Metaphor: ReFantazio, the upcoming JRPG from Atlus, looks to change that. Best of all, we can all bide our time to launch with a brand-new demo.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Metaphor Refantazio release date, Best RPG games, Best JRPGs

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 6:09 AM
     Best cross platform games 2024

What are the best cross platform games? Crossplay games really are the holy grail of gaming, and they weren't particularly all that common until a few years ago. Nowadays, there are plenty of online experiences you can jump into with friends, regardless of what platform you're playing on.

The great thing about the best PC games featuring crossplay is that there's a lot less organization involved. We've all experienced how difficult it can be to wrangle a group of friends together to try out a new game, so this way, you won't have to worry about who's playing on what platform. Here are our picks for the best crossplay games on PC in 2024. We've included horror gamesFPS games, and other genres for the definitive list of the very best games that you can play with your friends on other platforms.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPGs, Diablo 4 review, Diablo 4 classes

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 6:03 AM
     Five Nights TD codes September 2024

September 25, 2024: We have added eight new Five Nights TD codes to this list.

What are the newest Five Nights TD codes? The latest list of working Nights TD codes we've put together in this guide has been fully tested and is ready to grant you helpful rewards like in-game currency and other essentials.

Inspired by the original Five Nights at Freddy's games, this Roblox take on the iconic horror franchise has been immensely popular with thousands of active players. If it's other horror games you're after, be sure to try out the current Descent codes or Murder Mystery 2 codes. To make it through the night in Five Nights TD though, you'll need the rewards from the codes listed below for the best chance of survival.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 5:56 AM
     Dynasty Warriors Origins release date, trailer, and news

When is the Dynasty Warriors Origins release date? Since the PlayStation 2 era, Dynasty Warriors has focused on two key concepts: having more playable characters than a typical fighting game, and battering through thousands of enemies. The newest entry in this long-running series focuses on a single protagonist, but they're still slaying tons of foes at once on their journey through the alt-history of the Three Kingdoms conflict.

While we don't yet know how this nameless hero affects the story in Koei Tecmo's action game, we'll likely get to make key decisions that affect the war. In Dynasty Warriors Origins, you may discover the consequences of pursuing Lu Bu at Hulao Gate and preventing Guan Yu from reuniting with Liu Bei. Perhaps you'll even determine the new Emperor of China. Whatever awaits, here's what we know about the Dynasty Warriors Origins release date so far.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Dynasty Warriors Origins release date, Best action games, Best war games

PCGamesN Wednesday, September 25, 2024 5:56 AM
     Blox Fruits update 24 release date estimate

When is the new Blox Fruit update? Whether you're waiting for the right moment to start or need some new content to conquer, it can be hard to understand when a new Blox Fruits patch is on the horizon. This large-scale Roblox MMORPG, unofficially based on the famous One Piece franchise, has welcomed pirates and marines alike for years and is showing no signs of slowing down. Time your sessions around updates, and you're more likely to score some helpful freebies to boost you on your way to the top.

And if we just so happen to be in a bit of a Blox Fruits content drought with nothing new expected for a little while, there's still plenty more to play across the Roblox platform. For a familiar experience, King Legacy codes are always available to use. If you just like anime in general, Anime Champions Simulator codes are worth checking out and Anime Adventures codes can offer another convincing MMO experience for you to lose many more hours in this popular experience.

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

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, September 25, 2024 7:07 AM
    

There is an absolute carkfest of a headline to be written here involving the words "head" "not" "enough" and "giving", but I am a journalist of grace and discretion, and will resist. Treyarch, Raven Software and Activision have popped up a note-to-players covering a range of improvements they're making to Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 in the aftermath of August's beta. Specifically, they're tweaking the damage from bullets to the cranium, while trying to ensure that bullets to the cranium don't "significantly affect the consistency of time to kill".

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, September 25, 2024 5:19 AM
    

If you're a nerd of a certain age, I apologise - that headline has probably caused you to rupture something in the wizened meat of your lower back, or the swampy catacombs of your cerebellum. If you aren't, let me explain: Zachtronics are or were a US-based video game developer founded in 2000 by Zach Barth, who put the studio on ice in 2022 and now works at Coincidence Games, a "flexible business framework" involving many former Zachtronics devs. Zachtronics have thrown together all kinds of things - Infiniminer, a block-builder from 2009, is probably the single greatest individual influence on Minecraft, while Eliza is a tremendous visual novel about AI chatbots and labour politics. But if there's a type of game they're known for, it's engineering puzzles and factory games.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, September 25, 2024 5:14 AM
    

Hey, remember Lost In Random? I reviewed it way back when and thought its Burtonesque setting and story were top notch, but it felt a bit reliant on samey fights. Moonhood Studios, founded by the creators of LIR, just announced The Midnight Walk at last night's PlayStation State Of Play showcase. And it looks to continue their appreciation of the dark and the strange. Case in point: it's a first-person adventure where you play as The Burnt One, who must steer a hideous pot creature through a twisted universe.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, September 25, 2024 5:10 AM
    

When you stare into the PlayStation Showcase, it stares also into you. Open world samurai action game Ghost Of Tsushima is getting a follow-up called Ghost Of Yotei, developers Sucker Punch have announced (or Ghost Of Yōtei, to include the technically-correct-but-annoying-to-reproduce-on-UK-keyboards diacritic that I will hereby drop to secure our sanity). It looks very picturesque and, like its predecessor, inspired by the Kurosawa showdowns of old. You can see for yourself in the trailer that acted as the finale of Sony's marketing show.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, September 25, 2024 5:03 AM
    

Last year we reported horror game Alan Wake 2 would be getting a couple of expansions. We've already had one of these in the form of Night Springs. And Edwin noted that the other would probably be a crossover with Remedy's other big game, Control, featuring secret government agency, the Federal Bureau of Control. He was right, judging by the trailer shown at yesterday's PlayStation Showcase.

The Lake House DLC is due out in October, and does indeed feature a facility run by the shady organisation whose job it is to keep powerful "altered items" from running amok. But it looks like somebody let a messed-up oil painting out of its cage.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, September 25, 2024 4:20 AM
    

We don't usually cover Kickstarter projects here at chez Shotgun. Horace got burnt by a dodgy coffee maker once, had to regrow a few limbs, it's a whole thing, the bear doesn't like talking about it, etc. Anyway, rules are like Horace's arms: they're meant to be stretched, and also made of bear. MÖRK BORG Heresy Supreme is a grotty cheese dream of a 2D action game based on the popular tabletop RPG MÖRK BORG - a book so nice to just have on your shelf that I'm not even mad I accidentally bought a copy in Swedish. It's fine. Makes it more metal.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, September 25, 2024 4:16 AM
    

Something magical occurred to me this morning: fit-flaying RPG Monster Hunter Wilds will be the first time I get to play a Monster Hunter game while also being a cat dad. It's going to great! "What's that, eh?!" I'll say, pointing to a Doshaguma in a manner that might foolishly suggest I expect her to give a damn. "Mraow", she'll reply, knock over my coffee, then go back to sleep. "It's you!" I'll exclaim, pointing to the Palico I've spent six hours making look just like her. "That looks nothing like me, you odorous lummox," she'll insinuate with a cocked eyebrow, then go shout at an ant for a bit.

Ah well, at least I have videogames - this one is out on the 28th of Febwar, 2025. Here's a trailer from last night's Sony-me-doo:

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Twinfinite Wednesday, September 25, 2024 8:00 AM
    
Zelda brings the magic

Twinfinite Wednesday, September 25, 2024 7:32 AM
    
Always tip your landlord.

Siliconera Wednesday, September 25, 2024 9:30 AM
    

Metaphor ReFantazio - Gallica figure and Protagonist Nendoroid prototypes

Characters from Atlus' Metaphor: ReFantazio will have figures made by multiple companies, and some of them have published unpainted prototypes of the figures. The upcoming figures will include a regular figure of Gallica by Kotobukiya and the Protagonist's Nendoroid by Good Smile Company. Bandai Namco is also working on SH Figuarts figures of the hero too.

Gallica will be the first Metaphor: ReFantazio character to have a scaled figure made by Kotobukiya. The company had also announced plans to produce another figure featuring Hulkenberg in June 2024.

Kotobukiya has shared a sample image for the unpainted prototype of Gallica's figure on its X account. The company will also bring the prototype to multiple events across Japan, such as Tokyo Game Show 2024 at Makuhari Messe on September 26-29, 2024, and MegaHobby Expo in Akihabara on September 28, 2024.

https://twitter.com/kotobukiyas/status/1838760487468831229

Good Smile Company has also separately published an unpainted prototype for the basic version of the Metaphor: ReFantazio Protagonist Nendoroid at exactly the same time. Unlike the above regular scaled figure, this Nendoroid will depict the character in chibi proportions with a large head and small body.

https://twitter.com/GoodSmile_US/status/1838760366504894618

Finally, here's Bandai Namco's samples. These will be posable SH Figuarts figures with additional parts for posing.

https://twitter.com/stud_zero/status/1838910364102373647

Atlus will release Metaphor: ReFantazio for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PCs worldwide on October 11, 2024. The figures based on the game's characters like Gallica and the Protagonist will be available later on.

The post Metaphor: ReFantazio Hero and Gallica Figure Prototypes Shown appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, September 25, 2024 9:00 AM
    

Persona 4 Golden Melody Clock

Atlus has revealed a new wall clock that will be able to play songs from Persona 4 Golden. The company is working with Square Enix to release this clock, as pre-orders for the item opened on the latter's Japanese e-Store. The Persona 4 Golden Melody Clock will be available in February 2025 with a price tag of 16,280 yen (~$112.75).

This clock will come with the ability to play a song every hour when the minute hand reaches the 12 o'clock mark. However, it will also have a light sensor to determine whether it can play the song or not. If the room gets dark, the clock will not play the song to not disturb people sleeping, for example.

Here is the full list of 12 songs that Atlus will feature in this clock:

  1. Pursuing My True Self
  2. Signs Of Love
  3. Your Affection
  4. Heartbeat, Heartbreak
  5. Reach Out To The Truth
  6. I'll Face Myself -Battle-
  7. Shadow World
  8. Time To Make History
  9. Heaven
  10. The Fog
  11. The Poem for Everyone's Souls
  12. Never More

While most of the Persona 4 merchandise features character plushes and Persona figures, there has also been other unique merchandise revealed earlier. An example of this was the sake bottle featuring Teddie which appeared in 2023.

Square Enix will release Atlus' Persona 4 Golden Melody Clock in Japan on February 1, 2025.

The post Persona 4 Golden Melody Clock Can Play a Song Every Hour appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, September 25, 2024 8:01 AM
    

Review: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Is Innovative

It isn't that we haven't seen Zelda in an active role in The Legend of Zelda series or games before. She's an accomplished fighter in the Hyrule Warriors titles. The iteration of her in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom is a researcher and scholar who explores the world. She's strong in and out of disguise in Ocarina of Time. She's a fearless leader in The Wind Waker. But she's never the primary star of the show. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom gives her that opportunity, and it's an incredibly strong game with a delightful story, plenty of solutions to problems, and makes it feel like handling every situation is like solving a puzzle. 

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom starts by throwing us off a bit. We know that this is the "Zelda" game. However, it starts with Link going to rescue the captured princess. Things go awry. While the young man saves her, he ends up captured in her place. She returns home with new insight into the rifts. However, circumstances lead to her becoming a fugitive. Fortunately, she also has a new ally in the form of Tri, a being who gives her the ability to enter the Still World within rifts to fix them make echoes of certain items and enemies with the Tri Rod to fight foes and solve puzzles. It is now up to her to save Link and the kingdom.

Review: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Is Innovative
Image via Nintendo

While the opening of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is fairly linear, sending you through a tutorial and setup, it quickly opens up. So much so, that it feels like an open-world adventure along the lines of Breath of the Wild with a Link's Awakening art direction. It is incredibly easy, early on, to acquire combinations of echoes that will help you explore essentially the whole map. There are certain monster echoes I acquired in the first three hours that I was still using frequently through the endgame. Additional major rifts open up as the campaign progresses and you complete the dungeons within past ones, with players able to choose the order in which opened ones are tackled. Likewise, you can choose which Swordfighter form upgrades you upgrade. (Someone could opt to skip them, for a greater challenge.) Sidequests continue to appear as the story advances, meaning you can find extra experiences and rewards as you proceed.

Given Zelda is known for "wisdom," the bulk of the game revolves around the usage of echoes. This makes The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom feel more like a puzzle adventure or real-time strategy game at times, even though you can switch to Swordfighter form when you have the energy to for traditional action-RPG moments. There are often multiple solutions to problems posed by campaign quests or side missions. For example, I ended up turning to a trusty "old bed staircase" for many platforming problems. Reach new heights and occasionally take a nap in the sky to restore health!

Review: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Is Innovative
Image via Nintendo

As for fighting, it can become about picking the right echo for the current situation. You may be facing opponents who are in the air, and thus difficult to reach with Swordfighter form or otherwise. Summoning airborne enemy echoes takes care of that issue. There are some foes who are very fast and constantly move around. Picking equally swift or evasive echoes is necessary. Electricity can be more dangerous in rain, and water can prevent fire enemies from being of any use. As Tri levels up, you gain access to new echo abilities, can summon more, or may find some cost less than the originally did. So you need to work within the confines of your ability and the situation at any moment. 

Of course, this does bring me to a downside. In fact, it might just be the only issue I have with The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. You can't "favorite" echoes. There are sorting options, to be clear. You can choose to go through them with a click of a trigger by cost, most recently learned, most used, and most recently used. These are fine, but I absolutely had about 10-20 echoes I called upon most frequently for my needs. Some of them didn't come up enough to appear in most used or were too situational for most recently used. So it would be frustrating to have to pull up the notebook or go through all of the things I'd copied to my collection to get what I needed. This ends up being more of a passing annoyance and relates to specific situations. If it happens in one of the rifts you enter, odds are it is then in "most recently used" and will come up often in there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01onjjAUnOQ&ab_channel=NintendoofAmerica

Speaking of which, the dungeons in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom are expertly handled. While I feel this does feel like more of an adventure filled with puzzles, they still feel true to traditional dungeon design for the series. There can be different solutions in some situations, which is fun, since you can rely upon your favorite echoes to succeed. Each one fits the theme for the region well and implements novel ideas. I also appreciated how the bosses feel like they play well with Zelda's new abilities. So we're using all of the tricks from Tri to tackle these bigger baddies. It feels really satisfying and different from more traditional The Legend of Zelda games, while also somehow feeling the same. 

I suppose this sort of applies to the whole nature of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. The sidequests are great fun, and there's quite a bit of diversity. The solution isn't going to always be "summon this echo you already found somewhere." You might need to explore, go through some puzzles, or even find yourself searching for Tri's friends to repair a smaller rift. They feel different, but fall in line with everything we expect from the series. It has the same fantastic graphical approach as The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, building on that to make it feel even more like a diorama made of unique materials. But everything is recognizable and ties together with past entries in the series. 

Image via Nintendo

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom features all of the amazing hallmarks of the series, yet feels completely innovative, unique, and fresh. I absolutely loved the idea of summoning echoes to solve all of my problems, and the range of options available gives someone playing the freedom to do tackle situations in different ways. It feels open as well, with people able to approach the campaign and explore at their leisure. It's a really special entry, and I'm so pleased Zelda's turn at being the star and hero worked out so perfectly.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom will launch on the Nintendo Switch on September 26, 2024. 

The post Review: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Is Innovative appeared first on Siliconera.


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