Kotaku Sunday, October 6, 2024 9:35 AM  Happy Sunday, gang! The weekend's half-gone (or half-full, depending on how much you're dreading Monday). We've got our Sunday mental workout ready for you, and then you can head off and get your gaming grind on. (We've got the new Assassin's Creed teed up this weekend.) |
Kotaku Sunday, October 6, 2024 9:15 AM  Update: With his fourth-round defeat of Khalil Rountree via TKO at UFC 307, Alex Pereira completed step one of my eight-part plan for him to capture a third UFC title and become a combat sports GOAT. But that's not all he set in motion. He also answered questions about deficiencies in his game that caused me to doubt… |
Kotaku Sunday, October 6, 2024 9:00 AM  It's been a week, guys.From new DLC releases, to a new PS5 feature getting frustrating real fast, there was a lot to cover in this first week of October. We covered Astro Bot devs acknowledging the lack of FF7 characters in its PlayStation love letter, Microsoft asking devs why they're skipping Xbox, Nintendo killing… |
PCGamesN Sunday, October 6, 2024 2:38 PM  October 6, 2024: We've added one 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. Continue reading Free Monopoly Go dice links October 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best board games, Monopoly Go events, Monopoly Go dice |
PCGamesN Sunday, October 6, 2024 11:34 AM  Remakes are risky business. Not only do nostalgia goggles often cloud how we feel about the original material, but old hardware limitations frequently help create the experiences we're so fond of in the first place. The odds are stacked against remakes from the start, but we've still seen some bold, recent successes. Capcom's Resident Evil 2 is beloved and set the mold for more reimaginings going forward. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is the ultimate way to experience that iconic party of characters. Even the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 3 remake shows promise. Bloober Team's Silent Hill 2 was a different story. Initial footage had us all doubting the quality and authenticity of James Sunderland's waking nightmare, but now that it's finally here, we're looking at a bonafide modern classic. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Silent Hill 2 remake system requirements, The best horror games, Silent Hill 2 remake review |
PCGamesN Sunday, October 6, 2024 10:36 AM  Whether you've already plowed your way through Hades 2 early access or, like me, are waiting for Supergiant's full 1.0 release, there are plenty of action roguelikes to keep you busy. One that's caught my eye this week is Cursebane, which combines that familiar control style with more open-ended environments, challenging enemy duels, beautifully animated pixel art designs, and a wealth of more RPG style decision making. Even better, you can try it right now thanks to a free Steam demo that's being actively updated. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best roguelikes, Best indie games, Best action games |
PCGamesN Sunday, October 6, 2024 10:30 AM  I'll admit it - I'm a Starfield fan. The space RPG has its problems but despite them I've managed to plow tons of hours into it and enjoyed the vast majority of my time. Part of that is a willingness to switch off my brain and simply enjoy the kind of quest-based games Bethesda now produces, and Starfield gives plenty of that. The recently released Shattered Space DLC promised to do something different, however, with its design director directly referencing my favorite game, Morrowind, as inspiration. Unfortunately what's been released seems to have taken the wrong lessons from the best game in the Elder Scrolls series, and shows a lack of understanding about Bethesda's own legacy. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Starfield mods, Best RPGs, Best space games |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Sunday, October 6, 2024 11:00 AM  Hello reader who is also a reader, and welcome back to Booked For The Week - our regular Sunday chat with a selection of cool industry folks about books! It's a double feature this week - Zach Barths and Matthew Burns of former Zachtronics fame! (Do read Edwin's interview with Zach on their unrealised 40K factory game). Cheers Zach and Matthew! Mind if we have a nose at your bookshelves? |
Twinfinite Sunday, October 6, 2024 12:28 PM  |
Siliconera Sunday, October 6, 2024 3:00 PM
Atlus is one of the best Japanese publishers and developers today. From Persona to Shin Megami Tensei to even the new Metaphor Re:Fantazio, this is a team that knows how to make and release some of the best JRPGs and Japanese games. But what is the most underrated Atlus game of all time? Here is our staff members' picks for the games you need to play.
Siliconera Speaks Up: Most Underrated Atlus Game
I mean, of course Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker should be brought up here. This spin-off, tactical series is fantastic. But I'm really going to cite Princess Crown. This is a VanillaWare game that is a precursor to games like Odin Sphere and Muramasa: The Demon Blade, and it's just so much fun. There are multiple viewpoints. You see how it influenced more recent releases. It's wonderful. -- Jenni
One of my favorite Atlus games and most underrated series in their catalogue is the Trauma Center games, especially the sequel to the original Nintendo DS game. I fondly remember the mix of hospital drama visual novel elements with the frantic gameplay and outlandish bioterrorism plots that seemed appropriate for a Resident Evil game. Unfortunately, as an European, I never got to play Trauma Team, which means that Atlus personally owes me for not bringing the game to PAL regions and it now has to develop a new one to make up for it. That's how this works, right? -- Daniel B
In terms of games that aren't the obvious choices in the mainline Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series, I have to say that Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology is the most underrated game from Atlus. This JRPG holds a special place in my heart as the first 10/10 I gave a game, of which there aren't many. The time travel storyline leads to so many unexpected twists and heartbreaking moments. You spend so much time with the cast and come to care for them in a signature Atlus way. What I truly love, though, is how this game feels like Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward — one of my favorite games of all time — in its branching paths structure and a classic Atlus JRPG mashed together into a masterpiece creation. -- Cody
The post What's the Most Underrated Atlus Game of All Time? appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Sunday, October 6, 2024 12:00 PM
Over 20 years ago, an seemingly unassuming manga titled Fullmetal Alchemist started serialization in Enix's (at the time) Monthly Shonen Gangan. Since then, it's become a classic in the anime and manga sphere, between its well-written characters and plot, cohesive themes, and cool battle sequences. To this day, companies are still releasing merchandise of it! And for good reason too. Fullmetal Alchemist remains, in my opinion, one of the best anime and manga series, and if you've been looking for an excuse to reread or rewatch it, well, here it is.
Fullmetal Alchemist, for the uninitiated, takes place in the fictional Germany-inspired Amestris. In Amestris, people can learn how to use alchemy to transmute a material into another through the Law of Equivalent Exchange. If you're a particularly good alchemist, then you can even work for the government and receive the title of State Alchemist. There are a few hard rules of alchemy though, and one of the biggest taboos is transmuting people.
Protagonists Edward and Alphonse Elric are brothers who are very talented in the art of alchemy, and Edward in particular even achieved the title of State Alchemist. However, they have a secret: Edward lost his arm and leg, and Alphonse lost his entire body because when they were children, they attempted to use alchemy to bring their mother back to life. Now, their goal is to retrieve what they've lost—not their mother, but their bodies. In order to accomplish that, they need the Philosopher's Stone.
As a note, I personally haven't rewatched the 2003 anime since it came out, so I can't really remember how the anime-original characters were in that. So everything I talk about here is in regards to the manga and Brotherhood. The story of Fullmetal Alchemist on the surface level is really interesting. The premise allows for Edward to journey pretty much everywhere he wants to, and author Hiromu Arakawa excels at writing well-rounded characters. I particularly like the way that she writes women and children. With the latter, it's so easy to write children as either ridiculously obnoxious or unrealistically innocent. As for women, well, I'm sure most people have seen discussions about how some authors under-utilize their female characters, leading to no real development or strong personality. Arakawa doesn't really have that issue.
By strong here, I don't mean the MCU type where a woman's fighting strength is the be-all and end-all. Winry, for example, takes on a support role in the series thanks to her job as Edward's mechanic. While I don't have any real attachment to the pair's romance (and thus I have no real thoughts on Winry as a love interest), Winry on her own is an interesting character between her personality, dynamic with the Elric brothers, and her history with Scar. The real "Wow, I love this queen" characters are, of course, Izumi, Hawkeye, and Olivier. They're not just smart or strong, but they also have their own vulnerable and emotional sides that make them feel like actual living people rather than a "girl power" icon.
It's really too bad that Lust's backstory with Scar's brother was entirely a creation of the original 2003 anime. The conflict between her Homunculus persona and her human memories made her so much more compelling. While all the other Homunculi had rather poignant or ironic deaths and revelations in regards to their namesake, Lust felt underutilized in comparison. This isn't a knock on her death scene or who killed her, but more that I wish she had a bit more going on. However, I understand that too much attention on Lust, who's a side character at most, would've been detrimental on the overall pacing.
Aside from the characters and story, I loved how Arakawa depicted the themes and messages that she wanted to convey through the story. Even though the military characters like Armstrong, Mustang, and Hawkeye are likable, neither they nor the story ever shy away from the fact that these people are, indeed, war criminals. Yet how they choose to carry that burden and how it shapes their ambitions to better the world, especially in contrast to characters like Kimbly, make them sympathetic and compelling.
Considering the current fandom climate when it comes to depictions of "problematic" material, I'm pretty sure that if Fullmetal Alchemist aired today, certain fans would be cancelling the military characters left and right without any critical though as to why Arakawa wrote them this way. Ironically, in an old interview about how she created the series, Arakawa discussed this sort of thinking, in a way. After mentioning that her ancestors displaced the Ainu despite some of her relatives having Ainu blood, as well as the cognitive dissonance in Scar killing State Alchemists while using alchemy, she stated, "I think the truly serious problems in this world are when people don't make any effort to learn about these everyday situations, when they turn away from them or view them from only a single perspective." That message still resonates today.
There's a lot going on in Fullmetal Alchemist and I won't say that the story is a short one. The storytelling is tight, while still leaving enough room for levity so the characters (and readers) can breathe. But the true triumph of Fullmetal Alchemist is in the ending. Arakawa told the story she wanted to tell and it was pretty clear from the way the story concluded. Sure, you can say it's a babies-ever-after ending. But remember that the Elrics' goal, from the very beginning, had been to return to normalcy. And you can't get more normal (albeit in a rather heteronormative way) than settling down with someone after a thrill of an adventure. The kids deserve some R&R!
Fullmetal Alchemist remains one of my favorite shonen anime and manga series for its strong writing, and I love how you can feel how much care Arakawa put into every aspect of its characters and worldbuilding. Now more than ever, I feel like it's a story that people should experience or re-experience, and it's not just because October 3 was Fullmetal-Alchemist-and-Mean-Girls Day. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly implore you to do so, whether it's Brotherhood or the first anime adaptation. Just don't forget the tissues!
You can watch Fullmetal Alchemist on Crunchyroll (only Brotherhood though). The manga is available in English via either Yen Press or Viz Media.
The post Fullmetal Alchemist Remains a Triumph of Storytelling appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Sunday, October 6, 2024 9:00 AM
It's amazing how many Touhou Project games end up localized or released worldwide. We're getting easy access to mainline entries, spin-off projects, and even indies inspired by the series. One of the most notable recent ones is Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost, which is a rhythm game that features traditional and shoot'em up inspired stages. It's definitely worth trying, but certain elements might leave those unfamiliar with the series feeling left out.
I'm talking about the story, first and foremost. In Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost, you go through a campaign to find out what's gone wrong in the setting of Gensokyo this time and unlock new rhythm stages. The whole region is something of a wasteland, dilapidated and desolate. Reimu Hakurei, our ever present recurring heroine, is there to hopefully set things right. However, she completely lost her memories. So in addition to restoring things around her, she needs to rediscover her own identity. This means finding the Fragment of Memory Mitama Cards and perform the Reigen Kaisei prayer.
This is the only part of Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost that doesn't feel "right." The execution of the story isn't great. The localization is fine enough, but you can tell the original script might not have perfectly articulated things. It makes assumptions about the player's familiarity with the series. The pacing is bad. It's just not well done. And since you are forced into it, it's a bit disappointing.
At least it doesn't matter that the story isn't anything special. The Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost gameplay is fantastic and not held back by it. You go through incredible songs from throughout the Touhou Project series. Passing them means advancing, succeeding, and unlocking more tracks and cards. The library of songs is vast! They're fantastic even if you are entirely new to them! It's just wonderful. The optional extra missions, which can involve getting certain combo lengths, are manageable. I also liked how there are stage gimmicks that can make a run feel more fun in the campaign.
The gameplay is also great since the execution for the stages are honestly super sound. Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost is a rhythm game with both a traditional approach and one that adds in a shoot'em up feel. The Kagura stages are the more typical ones. There are six lanes, each tied to a different button. Notes drop, and you press the keys in time with standard or held notes. But what really gets neat is when a Danmaku stage comes up. When this comes up, there are between two and four lanes, based on difficulty, with two on either side of the main screen. You then also move back and forth to avoid the bullets from the enemy and "fight" by shooting, occasionally also moving back and forth on-screen when arrow indicators appear to help you dodge. It's really innovative and fresh! The downside is, movement is pretty slow when going back and forth, which might be an issue in certain songs and on certain difficulties.
The only thing I'd really recommend doing is customizing your controls. The initial inputs threw me off a little bit. Not because they're bad! They rely on the face buttons and are both comfortable and responsive. Just depending on your familiarity with other rhythm games, you might feel more comfortable assigning those lanes to six different buttons. Which is really easy to do, as custom key binding is an option here. It's especially helpful when the danmaku battle comes up, since then you know right away what inputs you need.
I really appreciate the chances that Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost takes, in terms of gameplay, because it is a solid rhythm game! The track listing is fantastic. It's drawing from all the amazing Touhou Project music we love. I just wish the story was either handled better or more approachable for those who aren't familiar with the series, as that's going to be quite a barrier for most people to overcome if they give it a chance. Knowing you need to go through that to even unlock your songs is a lot.
Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost is available on the Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam.
The post Review: Touhou Danmaku Kagura Phantasia Lost Is at Its Best in Rhythm Game Stages appeared first on Siliconera. |
TGN – Tabletop Gaming News Sunday, October 6, 2024 3:35 PM SweaterBear Games has launched its latest board game, Camping Season, on Kickstarter. The game, designed for 1 to 4 players, invites players to build, design, and manage their own campground. Over six seasons, players will compete to create the ultimate camping experience by attracting guests and optimizing profits. The player with the most points at... |
TGN – Tabletop Gaming News Sunday, October 6, 2024 3:24 PM Penguin Random House has announced the upcoming release of Dungeons & Dragons Pocket Expert, a compact guide filled with essential facts and lore from the Dungeons & Dragons universe. Written by Stacy King, this pocket-sized book aims to make readers instant experts on all things D&D. The Pocket Expert explores common questions such as the... |
TGN – Tabletop Gaming News Sunday, October 6, 2024 2:51 PM Twisted Cryptids, a new game from the creators of Here to Slay and Casting Shadows, has launched on Kickstarter. In the game, players take on the roles of Cryptids, mythological creatures trying to build their reputation among humans and other Cryptids to achieve legendary status. The gameplay revolves around navigating encounters with humans, including hunters,... |
TGN – Tabletop Gaming News Sunday, October 6, 2024 2:35 PM The Fall 2024 issue of Casual Game Insider is now available for download. This issue spotlights Chronicles of Light: Darkness Falls (Disney Edition) by Ravensburger, where an all-star cast of Disney heroines bands together to defeat dark forces and restore balance to the kingdom. In addition to this feature, readers can explore highlights from the... |