Kotaku Saturday, November 16, 2024 10:30 AM  This week saw the classic shootersUnreal and Unreal Tournament, with publisher Epic's blessing, made permanently free and accessible via the Internet Archive. Meanwhile, Blizzard held a stream celebrating the 30th anniversary of Warcraft, at which it revealed that the first two games in the RTS series have been… |
PCGamesN Saturday, November 16, 2024 12:37 PM  There aren't many videogame studios with the RPG pedigree of Obsidian Entertainment. In the last twenty years, the team has given us Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2, Neverwinter Nights 2, Fallout New Vegas, The Outer Worlds, and Alpha Protocol to name but a few. Next up from Obsidian is Avowed, a Skyrim-style fantasy adventure filled with branching narratives, vibrant landscapes, and a huge open world to explore, but we've still got a few months to wait before we can play it. So if you want to explore some of the studio's older games before trying its newest, there's no better place to start than this Steam sale, and I heartily recommend you try Pillars of Eternity for that fantasy flavor. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Pillars of Eternity review, Best RPGs, Best old games |
PCGamesN Saturday, November 16, 2024 12:17 PM  Once upon a time, I gave Diablo 4 a much-coveted 10/10 - one of only two I've handed out in my entire career. Then, I gave Vessel of Hatred a 9/10, calling it "Diablo 2, but even better." Setting the stage for a grisly new chapter in Sanctuary's ongoing saga, the DLC has kickstarted a narrative that feels like it'll be filled with twists and turns. As a result, it leaves questions about the longevity of its mobile-focused sister title, Diablo Immortal, which outwardly appears to have fallen behind in the wake of Diablo 4's launch. In an exclusive interview with PCGamesN, I ask lead content designer Scott Burgess and senior game designer Nan Jiang about their plans to keep Diablo Immortal, well, immortal. Continue reading Diablo Immortal is in a "healthy" state, Blizzard says MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo Immortal tier list, Diablo Immortal system requirements, Best Diablo Immortal builds |
PCGamesN Saturday, November 16, 2024 11:26 AM  When a videogame series has so many mainline entries and spinoffs, it can be difficult to choose where to start. Individual numbered Final Fantasy games aren't linked, so they're easy enough to recommend, but tackling a decades-old series can be a daunting task. This is where the brand new Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake comes in, as not only is it the start of an incredible trilogy, but it's also a beloved RPG. Now, 36 years after the original DQ3 launched, a new Square Enix remake is here and soaring on Steam. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best fantasy games, Best RPGs, Best old games |
PCGamesN Saturday, November 16, 2024 11:00 AM  For most gamers looking to build a new PC, the choice is simple – black or white, with maybe a bit of RGB on top to spice up the look. There's nothing wrong with that, but if you're looking for something that breaks out from the standard PC case duopoly, then what about a walnut themed wood gaming PC build? This impressive DIY case manages to look stylish while fitting a pretty decent, budget-friendly PC inside. This case comes straight from our ever-growing PC builds and setups Facebook page, where fine-looking machines such as this one can be jealously coveted from afar. This particular walnut build gives some of the best PC case designs a run for their money. The striped design is very reminiscent of the Fractal Design Torrent, but it's far more elaborate, especially compared to some of Fractal's own wooden cases, including the Fractal Design North XL. Continue reading Check out this absolutely stunning DIY walnut wood gaming PC build MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Saturday, November 16, 2024 10:02 AM  Throne and Liberty publisher Amazon Games is warning players about an unintended strategy in Castle Siege events, before the PvP mode has even been added to the MMO. These colossal server-wide showdowns will pit guilds against each other in long conflicts, and they're supposed to incentivize working with your teammates to emerge with control of the game's castles. That said, it looks like the attackers are going to start with an advantage, so Amazon hopes sharing their strategy ahead of time can help defenders properly prepare. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MMORPGs, Throne and Liberty codes, Throne and Liberty weapons |
Siliconera Saturday, November 16, 2024 3:00 PM
The Hyte Y70 Silver Wolf edition PC tower is a behemoth of a machine and it's perfect for any Silver Wolf or Honkai: Star Rail fan. Though I don't place my PC tower on my table, it's beautiful enough that I would consider permanently changing my set-up in the future to accommodate for it. However, know that it demands quite a bit of real estate from those who'd want to purchase it.
To start with, the box that the Silver Wolf Y70 from Hyte comes in is adorable. There's a delightfully retro design that's similar to the Pixel World occurrence from Simulated Universe, and I felt really excited when unboxing it due to both this design and its sheer size. It felt like Christmas came early. The box that it came in was such a tight fit that I needed to flip the PC over, and the hallway I decided to do this in was so narrow that I did smack my leg up a few times. So make sure you unbox this PC tower in a wide open space.
First impressions? Wonderful! It's unabashedly nerdy and I love it for that. Everywhere I look, I see Silver Wolf. Even the back of the machine has a chibi v version of her, meaning that you won't miss her no matter how you set this thing up. When a design is this busy, it risks looking gaudy. Under my definition of the word, it manages to avoid that due to how each surface only has one particular design on it. It's not as if this is a collage, per se, and if you went out of your way to purchase this, you obviously wanted it for the Silver Wolf artwork.
My favorite part of this is the grate, which is a lovely blue-and-purple color. It's a color scheme I personally really enjoy, and I look forward to when and if Hyte ever decides to make a March 7th version. Yes, my favorite characters are Dan Heng and Blade, but March's color scheme is right up my alley. This PC also comes with fan shrouds. For those like me who don't know what fan shrouds are, they're more for aesthetics than functionality nowadays. There's also a keychain that's a pre-order bonus, and the design resembles a USB. It's pretty discreet in that it doesn't look like Star Rail merchandise at first glance, which is unfortunately a negative for me.
The one thing that might give people pause before purchasing the Silver Wolf Y70 from Hyte is the size. My PC tower and my desk in my current set-up is a Hyte Y40 and the Mittzon electric desk from Ikea. This desk is pretty large, and there's an outlet for easy cord access. However, because of the little items and organizers on my desk, I can't actually place the Y40 on it, let alone the Y70.
Here is a size comparison between the two (note my Y40) is on a stand, as well as pictures of the extras the PC comes with:
It's pretty big, isn't it? I do believe that if you're the type who keeps a pretty minimalist desk (as in, you don't have random organizers, lights, dolls, or a diffuser), it's not a big deal. If you're going to buy a gaming PC tower, you most likely have a large desk anyway. The size isn't even really a bad thing, as this means you don't have to worry about your graphics card and such fitting inside.
It really is too bad that I outsourced my PC build, which means that I'm not familiar with the ins and outs of my own machine. That was what made me too scared to take it apart and put everything in the Silver Wolf PC, and I couldn't get a timely appointment with my store. In the future, when I move what's inside of my current PC over to the Silver Wolf one, I'll definitely reorganize the desk so that I can admire it like Hyte intended me to.
Honkai: Star Rail is readily available on the PS5, Windows PC, and mobile devices. The Hyte Y70 (Silver Wolf edition) is available on the website, and you can also pre-order the keycap and desk pad bundle.
The post The Hyte Y70 Silver Wolf PC Is Large and Beautiful appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Saturday, November 16, 2024 1:30 PM
In an interview from Shueisha, mangaka Aka Akasaka stated that he planned the ending for Oshi no Ko from the start of serialization. Unfortunately, fans have not been too happy about how the hit manga series ended.
Akasaka stated that while he had thought of the ending for Oshi no Ko when he started drawing it, he also "allowed" for the characters to breathe. He stated that his experience on Love Is War changed him. Instead of planning out everything, he occasionally changed the story to incorporate new subplots or make certain characters more important. Mem-cho, for example, was supposed to be far less important than she ended up being.
Akasaka considers these unexpected changes part of the character's personality, and he wanted to become an author who could love and appreciate that. So while he decided on how Oshi no Ko would end, he wanted to draw the manga as a series that treats the characters well. Writers may be familiar with this sensation of a story or characters seemingly taking on a life of their own.
There are many reasons as to why online reactions to the Oshi no Ko ending has been largely negative. Some have stated that it feels rushed and that a lot of plot threads were just abandoned. This second criticism might stem from Akasaka sticking to a planned ending after pantsing character-driven subplots. Others have stated that the ending doesn't seem congruent with established themes and characterizations, especially revolving around Ruby.
Now that he's done with Oshi no Ko, Akasaka plans on taking a brief break and focusing on his life. He mentioned that he wants to work on a farm for a bit. His new manga will be a fantasy manga in Weekly Young Jump and it'll start serialization in Spring 2025.
The post Aka Akasaka Planned Oshi no Ko Ending From the Start appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Saturday, November 16, 2024 12:00 PM
One of the most beautiful parts about Stardew Valley is that it is available pretty much everywhere in the gaming world. Don't have a gaming PC? Not a problem, as you can play it on console. Don't have a dedicated game console, either? You can play on a mobile device. But if you want the best platform to play Stardew Valley, I feel the Nintendo Switch version still stands tall at the top.
Right off the bat, one of my favorite features of the Switch version of this beloved indie farming sim is its price. It is already pretty darn cheap at only $14.99, which is more than a bargain. Stardew Valley has more high-quality content than many full retail AAA games I've played. Better yet, it is the same price on Switch as everywhere else, at least in North America.
The consistent price might sound like an odd benefit, but there are a fair number of indie games that are slightly more expensive on Switch than Steam. Plus, there are occasionally sales as well on this game. Beyond that, there are no performance or visual sacrifices you have to make playing this game on Switch.
The game is older than Switch and in 2D, so it runs perfectly on there. If you happen to have a Nintendo Switch OLED version, it is even better. The crisp, colorful, and bright visuals look the most stunning on the OLED screen than any other platform. But, more importantly than that, there is the matter of the Switch's hybrid nature.
Unlike the other consoles, PC, and even mobile, you have immediate access to the most play options on Switch. You can, of course, play in handheld mode if you want and take the farming experience anywhere you like in the entire world. But you can also slide the Switch in the dock and instantly start playing on your TV at home in any room you want.
The other platforms may offer that, such as PlayStation Remote Play, or hooking up a Steam Deck to a monitor or TV, but they all have various constraints or loops to go through. The Switch version just works without any problems. And then there is the matter of presumed backwards compatibility with the unannounced Nintendo Switch 2.
We know the Switch 2 will be backwards compatible with the original Switch's games. This will include Stardew Valley. So you could can enjoy the farming sim right now on the original Switch, then benefit from the power of the console's successor in the future as well. It is clear to me that if you want to play the base Stardew Valley, the best platform is always Switch.
However, there is one downside to the Switch version: the inability to use mods. Mods are such a massive part of this farming sim title. It lets you customize how characters look, add new content, and change your farm. The mod community for Stardew Valley is one of the best in all of PC gaming. As such, there is a clear runner-up for the best platform to play Stardew Valley.
That runner-up is none other than the Steam Deck. It plays this game beautifully, even with its less-than-impressive power. In addition, it is simple enough to use mods with the likes of Nexus Mods. Plus, it can hook up to an external TV or monitor if you have the right equipment. That said, it is a pricey and sometimes frustrating way to play. As such, if you don't care about mods, Nintendo Switch is the way to go.
In the end, Nintendo Switch feels like the Stardew Valley. It plays flawlessly, looks the most graphically impressive on the OLED screen, and, best of all, you can play it anywhere. At home, on the couch, laying in bed, at the coffee shop, on the plane, at school, and so on. If you want the easiest and best platform to play Stardew Valley, it is hands down Nintendo Switch.
Stardew Valley is available right now for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC, and mobile devices. It also appeared on the Vita.
The post The Best Way to Play Stardew Valley Is on the Switch appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Saturday, November 16, 2024 10:30 AM
Over a month since the game came out in early October 2024, Atlus released a second story trailer for Metaphor: ReFantazio. The trailer includes content from the second act of the game, but no spoilers.
You can watch the second Metaphor: ReFantazio trailer here:
This trailer shows characters like Junah, Basilio, and Fidelio. It also shows maps like Brilehaven, as well as how combat works when you're on the Gauntlet Runner. In other words, this second trailer focuses a lot more on the story and characters, whereas videos prior to the game's official release were a bit more vague on what it's about.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is the latest entry from the creators of Persona 3 to 5. Taking place in a high fantasy world rather than one that's similar to our own, it follows the nameless Protagonist, a traveling boy who's part of the persecuted Elda tribe. He and his fairy companion Gallica are on a mission to save his friend, the prince, from a curse that left him in a coma, and part of this mission involves stopping Archmage Louis, whose dark ambitions spell trouble for the country.
At launch, Metaphor: ReFantazio received critical acclaim. It also sold over a million copies on its very first day—a milestone that combines physical and digital copies, as well as across all of the game's available platforms. You can read our review of the game here.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is readily available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and Windows PC.
The post New Metaphor: ReFantazio Story Trailer Comes Out a Month After Game's Release appeared first on Siliconera. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Saturday, November 16, 2024 3:49 PM The update adds a slew of patches and much more. The post Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 2.0 Update Released appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |