Oct 25, 10:00


Kotaku Friday, October 25, 2024 9:30 AM
    

Capcom has been knocking it out of the park with its horror remakes in recent years (perhaps with the exception of Resident Evil 3, though I still enjoyed that one immensely). If you look at titles such as Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 2, they clearly know how to modernize famous franchises for today's audiences,…

Read more...


Kotaku Friday, October 25, 2024 8:30 AM
    

Diablo IV has eight levels of difficulty, but the highest four are locked when you begin the game. If you are jumping into Diablo because of Vessel Of Hatred, and wondering how you'res supposed to access this higher tier, here is how you unlock Torment difficulty, where the endgame begins.

Read more...


PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 9:36 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 Friday, October 25, 2024 9:29 AM
     All Black Ops 6 campaign rewards

How do you get Black Ops 6 campaign rewards? Coming off the back of what might be considered the worst Call of Duty campaign of all time in Modern Warfare 3, Black Ops 6 appears to be pulling out all the stops with its single-player story. Black Ops campaigns are always pretty good, but BO6 is already looking extremely promising.

To make the deal even sweeter, Treyarch has revealed a mountain of rewards that you can earn for playing through the Black Ops 6 campaign. While freebies for clearing each mission is nothing new, having an enticing set of rewards is more important than usual for this year's top FPS game. From weapon blueprints to operator skins, these BO6 mission rewards are for use in multiplayer and Zombies. It's worth clearing the story as soon as possible before going out to decimate your opponents in your favorite BO6 modes and multiplayer maps.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 release date, Best FPS games, Best Black Ops 6 loadouts

PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 9:21 AM
     Genshin Impact maintenance time and rewards

Want to know about the Genshin Impact maintenance schedule? Before every major Genshin Impact update, Hoyoverse takes the popular anime game down for maintenance, which tends to last a few hours while the team applies all the new content.

These major patches bring everything, from all-new Genshin Impact banners and Genshin Impact events to completely new regions, like Sumeru and Natlan. Just like some of the best new MMOs, the Genshin Impact maintenance period happens at the same time for everyone across the globe. We'll keep this guide updated with the latest information on any planned maintenance, as well as when we expect the game servers to come back online in one of the best PC games for lovers of evolving single-player experience.

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

PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 9:17 AM
     Throne and Liberty server status and maintenance times

October 25, 2024: We've updated the Throne and Liberty server status.

What's the Throne and Liberty server status? Launching a new MMO is always a challenge, and Throne and Liberty has had to overcome its fair share of them server side. Fortunately, developer NCSoft and publisher Amazon Games have been quick to act, making great strides in improving the player experience.

If you can't currently log into the game, there's a good chance Throne and Liberty maintenance is currently underway. Typically, this process takes several hours, meaning you'll just have to find another great MMO game to play until Throne and Liberty is back online. The T&L team usually announces maintenance ahead of time, so we'll be sure to keep this guide updated with the latest developments.

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

PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 9:14 AM
     The 27 best mods for 7 Days to Die 2024

What are the best 7 Days to Die mods? Over the last decade, 7 Days to Die has made a name for itself as one of the best survival games out there, but there's always some room for improvement. That's where mods come in, user-created creations designed to enhance the gameplay for hardcore fans.

That said, if you've been playing since day one, you might be looking for ways to change up your 7 Days to Die experience. Thankfully, inventive new 7 Days to Die mods continue to flood in thick and fast from the community, and they're showing no signs of slowing down. Amplify your survival game experience with these top 7 Days to Die mods, all compatible with 1.1.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: 7 Days to Die System Requirements, 7 Days to Die mods, Best zombie games

PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 9:11 AM
     Best Black Ops 6 loadouts

What are the best Black Ops 6 loadouts? In theory, you're on a level playing field with everyone you come across in Call of Duty Black Ops 6; you all have access to the same weapons, attachments, and perks. It might not always feel that way, though, with weapons flowing in and out of the meta with each new patch. We've done the research, put in the hard yards, and figured out the best Black Ops 6 loadouts.

A new entry in the CoD series brings with it new Black Ops 6 weapons and also a revamped movement system in Black Ops 6 Omnimovement. Skill expression has never been more prevalent in the FPS game, and while movement can be king, the best loadouts will put you in great stead to dominate every match you enter.

Continue reading Best Black Ops 6 loadouts
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 release date, Best FPS games, Best Black Ops 6 loadouts

PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 9:45 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 Friday, October 25, 2024 9:04 AM
     How long is Black Ops 6?

How long is Black Ops 6? If you've been reeling from the sting of short CoD campaigns - we're looking at you, Modern Warfare 3 - it's unsurprising that you'd want to make sure you're getting a solid session in with the series' latest installment. By the sounds of things, you won't be disappointed.

Promising blockbuster action at every turn, the pressure was on the Black Ops 6 developers to not only deliver a thrilling FPS game campaign but to keep you coming back to unlock all the Black Ops 6 campaign rewards. How long is the Black Ops 6 campaign?

Continue reading How long is Black Ops 6?
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 release date, Best FPS games, Best Black Ops 6 loadouts

PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 9:14 AM
     Black Ops 6 equipment - all items and unlock levels

What is Black Ops 6 equipment? While your primary method of combat in Call of Duty games will always be the gun you wield, the equipment in your back pocket shouldn't be overlooked. Grenades, remote-controlled cars, and even throwing knives can play their part on the battlefield. Knowing what to use in each situation can be the key to success.

Long-time fans may recognize some returning gadgets and should be excited by the prospect of new ways of dispatching their enemies in the multiplayer game, and we all know that shooting things isn't always the best way to go about things. Sometimes you need a tactical advantage if you want to decimate the opposition and build up your Black Ops 6 prestige level.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 release date, Best FPS games, Best Black Ops 6 loadouts

PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 8:55 AM
     Best Black Ops 6 Tanto .22 loadout

What is the best Black Ops 6 Tanto .22 loadout? When it comes to picking SMGs, the differentiating factors between weapons in this category are usually down to fire rate and mobility. In the case of the Tanto .22, this is one of the slowest SMGs we've ever used, but when paired with the right attachments, this gun can shred through enemies like nothing else.

While the C9 is the go-to SMG in Black Ops 6, the Tanto .22 is a low-investment alternative that can do plenty of damage. It might not have a spot on our best Black Ops 6 loadouts list yet, but you're going to have plenty of fun with this build.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 release date, Best FPS games, Best Black Ops 6 loadouts

PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 8:21 AM
     Shadows of the Damned Hella Remastered review - should have stayed dead

Shadows of the Damned Hella Remastered brings us back to the heady days of 2011. US forces eliminated Osama Bin Laden, Britain had its second-warmest year on record, and we got to meet supposed legendary demon hunter, Garcia Hotspur. 13 years later, we're unlucky enough to bump into him again, only this time, the entire thing looks marginally better.


PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 8:55 AM
     Best Black Ops 6 C9 loadout

What is the best Black Ops 6 C9 loadout? SMGs are a fantastic gun class in Call of Duty multiplayer; compact frames and high rates of fire make them a CQB powerhouse, with not many alternatives coming close to being as effective. We have the best Black Ops 6 C9 loadout so you can take the fight to your enemies.

The C9 became the go-to Black Ops 6 beta weapon after the Jackal PDW got nerfed into the ground. With excellent recoil control and a fast TTK, you can't go far wrong with this SMG. Breezing its way into our best Black Ops 6 loadouts list, here is the best C9 loadout.

Continue reading Best Black Ops 6 C9 loadout
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 release date, Best FPS games, Best Black Ops 6 loadouts

PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 8:01 AM
     How to pull out your knife in Black Ops 6

Want to pull out your knife in Black Ops 6? This latest iteration of Call of Duty makes some drastic changes to the gameplay, especially for returning players who have dealt with two years of the Modern Warfare series. One of the minor changes we've seen is the way knives are handled this year, now everyone is forced to have one.

Melee weapons used to be an option as a secondary pick in the FPS game, giving players access to a lightweight weapon instead of a standard pistol. Knives are required in Call of Duty Black Ops 6, with all the best Black Ops 6 loadouts taking advantage of this new addition. The only problem is that not everyone knows how to pull out the knife in Black Ops 6, but we've got the solution for you.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 release date, Best FPS games, Best Black Ops 6 loadouts

PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 7:45 AM
     Gray Zone Warfare Night Ops update enhances realism and tackles trolls

While its realistic tactical FPS framing places Gray Zone Warfare in a similar bracket to the likes of Escape From Tarkov and Delta Force, the open-world hardcore shooter is very much its own beast, focused on a more persistent in-map experience. With its next update, Night Ops, Gray Zone Warfare is introducing a complete day and night cycle that will dramatically alter how you play. In a new developer blog, Madfinger explains how this is just the beginning of the ways Night Ops will change the game, with new weapons and anti-griefing tools also inbound.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games, Gray Zone Warfare System Requirements, Best survival games

PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 7:38 AM
     All Black Ops 6 multiplayer maps

What are the Black Ops 6 maps? The multiplayer experience, especially in Call of Duty, hinges on a few key factors: the feel of the guns, the quality of the movement, and how good the maps are. The maps on offer with each CoD release can turn it from a dud to an instant classic, with several old-school maps finding their way into each release due to their popularity.

That's why they're always one of the most important aspects of any new mainline Call of Duty game. In Black Ops 6, we want that nostalgia, those Easter eggs, but also those brand new arenas in which to test out our best Black Ops 6 loadouts. These BO6 maps don't disappoint, and, as always, there's more to come. As of right now, here are all maps in current Black Ops 6 multiplayer game playlists.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 release date, Best FPS games, Best Black Ops 6 loadouts

PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 7:34 AM
     The Call of Duty Black Ops 6 campaign is doing well, but crashes are a problem

The Call of Duty Black Ops 6 campaign has already picked up some favorable responses from players, and is definitely an improvement on last year's Modern Warfare 3. Where the 2023 edition of CoD felt like a single-player extension of Warzone, with minimal story, no decent set pieces, and a lot of rushed or reused levels, Black Ops 6 potentially ranks alongside Cold War and Ghosts (yes) as one of the most cohesive campaigns in the series' recent history. But, despite the Black Ops 6 Steam reviews, some PC players report problems with crashes, or even say that they cannot get the FPS to launch.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 release date, Best FPS games, Best Black Ops 6 loadouts

PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 7:33 AM
     Corsair just teased some new 10GHz DDR5 gaming RAM, with gorgeous mirror finish

Corsair has just announced that it has some astonishingly quick DDR5 gaming RAM in the works, with a new line of modules it says can run at up to 10,000MT/s. The new Corsair Vengeance DDR5 sticks make use of the new CUDIMM tech, which is supported by some of the latest motherboards for both Intel and AMD CPUs.

To put those figures into context, the current sweet spot for the best gaming RAM is around 6,000MT/s, with even the top premium Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5 modules topping out at 7,800MT/s, and costing a lot of money. However, by using CUDIMMs, which feature a separate chip to regenerate the clock signal that's used by the memory chips, Corsair is able to stably run its RAM at much higher clock speeds.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Corsair HS80 Max headset review, Corsair M75 Air mouse review, Best gaming keyboard

PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 7:46 AM
     Black Ops 6 Twitch drops and how to claim

How do you get Black Ops 6 Twitch drops? We love chilling out watching others game when we've had our fill of being behind the keyboard for the day. Twitch drops make supporting our favorite streamers even more rewarding by gifting in-game items for watching live Twitch streams.

Any FPS game is all about how you handle your weapons, but it still doesn't hurt to make sure they look the part - the least you can do is ensure the last thing your opponent sees is something nice. There are plenty of Black Ops 6 camos for this, but you can also get stickers and weapon charms, as well as emblems, loading screens, and even blueprints with these Black Ops 6 Twitch drops.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 release date, Best FPS games, Best Black Ops 6 loadouts

PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 7:51 AM
     ZZZ codes October 2024 and how to redeem

October 25: 2024: We added new ZZZ codes from the 1.3 livestream.

What are the new Zenless Zone Zero codes? We love a freebie. Whether it's free Polychrome, Investigator Logs, or Bangboo Algorithm Modules, the latest in-game redemption codes are the fastest, cheapest, and easiest way to get free items while also skipping the gacha grind.  With that in mind, we've collected all the latest codes available to redeem right now.

HoYoverse periodically release ZZZ codes for their gacha games that coincide with major updates and livestreams, but the developer also loves to stealth drop codes, too. Now that Zenless Zone Zero is finally here, there are a ton of redeem codes waiting for you to scoop up. As our Zenless Zone Zero review attests, there's a lot of currency and materials to gather in the free PC game, so here are all the Zenless Zone Zero codes to get ahead in the latest update.

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

PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 6:59 AM
     Alienware Pro Wireless review - a surprise package in the best way

If you had told me at the beginning of 2024 that one of my favorite PC peripherals would come from the Alienware brand, I may have actually laughed out loud. That's not to say that the quality of Alienware's peripherals isn't up to scratch, but it never felt like a leading brand in the space. This all changes with the Alienware Pro Wireless gaming headset.

In what has become one of the best gaming headsets in recent memory, the Alienware Pro Wireless gaming headset is the most finely balanced product I've tested since the Astro A50 X. Granted, the Alienware Pro doesn't have the same cross-platform capabilities, but what it does have is incredible sound quality, first-rate active noise cancellations, and a design that doesn't limit it to just being a gaming headset.


PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 6:51 AM
     How to open the Liberty Falls vault in Black Ops 6 Zombies

How do you open the BO6 Liberty Falls vault? It's a classic trait of all Call of Duty Zombies that there are secrets and Easter eggs hidden in each map, and they're yours for the taking if you can keep the undead off your back for long enough. If you've picked up a Black Ops 6 safe deposit key in Zombies, you might be wondering what on earth you're supposed to do with it and how to open the vault in the Liberty Falls map, and we've got the answer.

You can unlock the Black Ops 6 bank vault with or without a safe deposit key in your hand - as long as you have the BO6 Liberty Falls vault code. Finding the code is fairly simple but involves looking in some rather unexpected places, and that's never going to be your priority when you're running from a train of monsters in the zombie game. We've done the hard work for you though, so read on to find out exactly where you need to go and how to boost your best BO6 loadout in BO6 Zombies for free.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 release date, Best FPS games, Best Black Ops 6 loadouts

PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 6:42 AM
     Diablo 4 dev asks players if broken Spiritborn builds should be fixed yet

If you're playing Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred, there's a very high chance you've picked up the new Spiritborn class. Not only is it fresh and shiny, making it more appealing than the options we've had for the past year of the base RPG, but it also boasts the strongest builds in Season 6 right now. As we near the midseason update, Blizzard stalwart and Diablo general manager Rod Fergusson asks whether some of its more broken aspects should be brought back in line, or if everyone is enjoying themselves too much to stop.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 builds, Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred review, Diablo 4 classes

PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 6:41 AM
     How to inspect weapons in Black Ops 6

Want to inspect your weapons in Black Ops 6? There are moments in every battle where you won't have much to do. Whether that's because you've already killed everyone in a heated encounter, or you were the first person to get taken out in combat, these moments occur more often than you might think. During this time, you might want to take a moment to appreciate your fancy guns by inspecting your weapons.

You've put in all the hard work to earn those Black Ops 6 camos, and now it's time to reap the benefits in the FPS game. Not only should your opponents see your weapon skins, but using the Call of Duty Black Ops 6 inspect weapon feature, you too can bask in the glory of your shiny camos.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 release date, Best FPS games, Best Black Ops 6 loadouts

PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 6:33 AM
     BO6 campaign missions list - All Black Ops 6 missions in order

What are all the Black Ops 6 missions in order? Naturally, Black Ops 6 launches into an ongoing story that started way back in 1961 in Call of Duty Black Ops. In the last two decades, Frank Woods has been deceived, maimed, and even tricked into killing one of his own.

Now it's 1991, Woods is in charge of a team of new faces, and still looking for revenge. That's where you come in. The Black Ops 6 campaign kicks off as Sargent Woods sends you to Kuwait for the first of 11 missions. As you work through them, don't forget there's a collection of Black Ops 6 campaign rewards for completing each mission in the single-player game, and even more for completing specific challenges.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 release date, Best FPS games, Best Black Ops 6 loadouts

PCGamesN Friday, October 25, 2024 8:55 AM
     Best Black Ops 6 DM-10 loadout

What is the best Black Ops 6 DM-10 loadout? It's easy to focus on assault rifles and SMGs when you're trying to level up in Black Ops 6 as these weapons are easy to use, but you could be missing out on a different gun that suits you better.

The semi-auto DM-10 marksman rifle in Black Ops 6 certainly won't be for every type of player due to its heavy weight and slow fire rate. That said, if you enjoy blasting enemies away from range in only a couple of clicks, you won't find many Black Ops 6 weapons better than the DM-10. The DM-10 could eventually find a place on our best Black Ops 6 loadouts list - it's really that good when you get to grips with it.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 release date, Best FPS games, Best Black Ops 6 loadouts

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, October 25, 2024 9:11 AM
    

Rebecca Jones (RPS in peace) really liked 10 Dead Doves when she wrote about it back in 2022, saying it reminded her of why she "loves weird low-budget spooks so much". Discovering such an interesting project speaks to curiosity and taste on her part, but me? I am simply a pun enjoying buffon who got an email promising that "Dovecraftian horrors await". The thrust of said electronic mail was that the game now has a release date of this December, but it looked neat, so I doved right in. I coo-dn't resist. I too love weird low-budget horror. I have been pigeonholed.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, October 25, 2024 8:44 AM
    

Complete Factorio's Space Age DLC and - feelings of acute megalomania aside - you will be able to upload a snapshot of your game to the "Galaxy of Fame", this being a digital night sky from which your cataclysmic industrial exploits shall gaze down eternally, for the instruction and/or disillusionment of tomorrow's factory builders.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, October 25, 2024 8:00 AM
    

Look up major events in 2011 and there's some world-changing stuff... and some not so world-changing stuff. Shadows Of The Damned's Xbox 360/PS3 release may slip into either camp, depending on whether you liked it back in the day or not. It's a third-person action adventure where two famous video game folks joined forces: No More Heroes' Suda51 and Resident Evil's Shinji Mikami. And to my knowledge, it's considered a bit of a cult classic.

So, having played Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered after never experiencing the original, do I think it's any good? If you were a fan of the OG, there's no doubt you'll like it. If you're coming in as a newbie, I think it's refreshing in the sense it's a trim throwback with some interesting ideas and middling-to-good execution. But its whole schtick isn't only a product of its time - it's actually downright yucky.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, October 25, 2024 7:59 AM
    

The creators of "beautifully designed yet imprecise platforming adventure" Tales Of Kenzera: Zau are working on an Afrofuturist gothic-horror RPG with isometric visuals and a body-sharing dual character premise. Currently known as Project Uso - the Swahili word for 'face', 'appearance' or 'surface' - it'll take place in the same world as Kenzera, and will take inspiration from Surgent Studio founder Abubakar Salim's experiences of parenthood. Providing, that is, the developers can find enough money to make it.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, October 25, 2024 6:51 AM
    

Real ones know that the only XCOM spin off worth its salt is Hasbro's 1999 play-by-mail banger First Alien Invasion, although that didn't stop System Shock 2 studio Irrational from getting to work on an FPS set in the strategy series' universe after being acquired by 2K in 2006. If your sentiments are anything like I remember a lot of the internet feeling at the time, you may get nightmarish flashbacks to the trailer below, first shown at E3 2010. The project was eventually canceled and adapted into 2013's The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, but Irrational co-founder and current Wild Bastards studio Blue Manchu founder Jon Chey has shed some light on the FPS's development, and it sounds like it was once a far more ambitious project. Kaiju ambitious.

Read more


Twinfinite Friday, October 25, 2024 5:43 AM
    
Just when I was short on rolls!

Siliconera Friday, October 25, 2024 9:01 AM
    

pokemon tcg surging sparks review

The newest Pokemon Trading Card Game set, Scarlet & Violet: Surging Sparks, has a centerpiece to match the company's holiday sales ambitions, but with internal competition making its debut, the stakes are pretty high for this expansion. So does it have what it takes to keep the game charging forward?

The cover star for Surging Sparks is Pikachu, a reliable standby that seems ever-present, but hasn't actually fronted a TCG expansion since Celebrations three years ago. It's here in its Tera form, making for a card that looks cool if not particularly viable for decks.

It brings with it a batch of Lightning-assisting prints! Tapu Koko searches for Pokemon, Magneton explodes itself to hyper-charge your energy acceleration and Clemont's Quick Wit offers mass healing. We suppose you could use these with Pikachu, but there are likely better centerpieces to use all these boosts. For example, the new Kilowattrel ex! Any attack that just gets stronger with every energy has a lot to offer.

Taking more of a center stage in the set itself is an offering of Dragon-types. Though some appear in their off-type, like Archaludon and Latias, actual TCG Dragons like Alolan Exeggutor and Tatsugiri benefit from a Tera-type version. It makes sense that we'd see them and they'd potentially be good! After all, dragons in the card game have already been relying on multiple energy types, so the jump to three for a Tera attack isn't that huge.

xerneas wo-chien registeel ho-oh
Photo by Siliconera

We've said it before and we hope to keep saying it: getting some high-powered legends at uncommon rarity is just good! This time, we've got Registeel, Xerneas, Latios, Ho-Oh, Victini and Wo-Chien. We also get a bit more for the Ancient and Future factions. Gouging Fire, Flutter Mane and Koraidon join the Ancient lineup, while Iron Crown and more Iron Bundle and Miraidon variants add to Future. Nothing about them looks particularly game-changing for them, but after being burned so many times in the past by types that come and go quickly, it's fun to see some sustainability for once.

After a few years of generally trying to get people to play more evolutions, Surging Sparks offers some reinforcement to a Basic-based strategy. Lively Stadium boosts HP totals for them, while Gravity Mountain decreases HP for Stage 2s. Perhaps most importantly, Latias ex has an ability that removes retreat cost from all Basics. Old-heads like us have fuzzy feelings thinking about rotating around Scythers in those OG Haymaker builds, and the prospect of doing that again with all sorts of modern strategies just hits our nostalgia.

Given the theme, it's also sort of expected to see a boost for Tera Pokemon. The non-ex Terapagos is handy, as a colorless Basic with a one-energy attack to search for three different energies and load up a fighter all at once. New Trainers help quickly search for them and retrieve bulk energy of different types. Still, it feels like the design team still wants those three-energy attacks to be a high barrier to justify the powerful effects.

pokemon tcg surging sparks review
Photo by Siliconera

As Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket preps for its global launch in a few days, we're intensely curious about the future of the original game. The flash of Surging Sparks, with its much-loved cover star, will probably do quite well this holiday. But what about after that? Stay tuned, we suppose!


The latest Pokemon Trading Card Game expansion, Scarlet & Violet: Surging Sparks, releases November 8, 2024. For more information about the TCG, check out our archive.

The post Pokemon TCG Surging Sparks Expansion Is More Than Just Pikachu appeared first on Siliconera.


TGN – Tabletop Gaming News Friday, October 25, 2024 8:11 AM
     Geoff Gray, known as KytinousG, has launched Tales of the Kytin Age on Kickstarter, an immersive fantasy RPG set in Earth's distant future. Gray has been developing the game and world for over 35 years, Tales of the Kytin Age takes players into a world where towering fungi, mutant insects, and a changed humanity populate...

Level Up Friday, October 25, 2024 9:49 AM
     Curve Games Partners with Patattie Games to Publish Wax Heads 1Curve Games, a leading publisher in the video game industry, is excited to announce a new partnership with Patattie Games for their highly anticipated title, Wax Heads.

Level Up Friday, October 25, 2024 9:29 AM
     New Fitness Boxing 3 Arrives Dec. 5 on Switch – Pre-Order Now! 6Ready to bring the gym to your living room? Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer…