Kotaku Tuesday, November 19, 2024 6:40 AM  Reuters is reporting that Sony is in talks to buy Kadokawa Corporation, the company that owns FromSoftware, Spike Chunsoft and many other Japanese businesses. If successful, it would be a big move for Sony, gaining names as big as Elden Ring, Dark Souls, and Danganronpa, and be a strike back against Microsoft's recent… |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 7:39 AM  There's nothing better than finding a new roguelike to play and endlessly completing runs until your fingers go numb. 2024 has brought us some of the best in genre, with Hades 2 and Balatro leading the way alongside updates to Dead Cells, The Binding of Isaac, and Cult of the Lamb. But as the year draws to a close, another hidden gem deserves your attention. Available right now for a mere one dollar, make sure you check out Dreamscaper. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best roguelikes, Best indie games, Best survival games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 7:46 AM  What is the best Model L loadout for Black Ops 6 and Warzone? Looking at the Model L you'd be forgiven for thinking there isn't anything special there; a no-frills assault rifle, it looks like it may have outlived its usefulness, even in a game set in the 90s. Well, think again. The Model L - especially with our loadout - is a fast-firing mid-range demon, and can take entire teams out in the blink of an eye. Quickly finding itself on our Black Ops 6 best loadouts list, the Model L should be an instrument in everyone's locker, especially in Black Ops 6 maps with mid-range sight lines and long corridors. We've opted to completely kit out the assault rifle with the Gunfighter Wildcard - both in multiplayer and Warzone - creating a Black Ops 6 weapon that can take on all comers. Continue reading Best Model L loadout for BO6 and Warzone MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 guns, Black Ops 6 missions, Black Ops 6 loadouts |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 7:28 AM  The prices of the fastest SSDs are finally crashing down to reality, and we love to see it. In this latest gaming SSD deal, you can grab a super-fast Crucial T705 PCIe 5.0 SSD for just $119.99, which is half its MSRP, saving you a massive $120. This isn't just any SSD either, the 2TB version is the fastest drive we've ever tested, and the 1TB version on offer here can read at up to 13,600MB/s, which is an incredible speed for this price. You can read all about how this drive performs in our full Crucial T705 review, where we said that its "read and write speeds set a new yardstick by which other drives will be measured." At the time, we also criticized its high price, but that issue is more than addressed by this offer, which halves the price. The 1TB Crucial drive in this deal isn't quite as quick as the 2TB drive we reviewed, with the latter able to read at up to 14,500MB/s, but it's still massively quicker than any PCIe 4.0 SSD. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Crucial MX500 review, Best SSDs for gaming |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 7:30 AM  November 19, 2024: We have checked for new PLS Donate codes . What are the new PLS Donate codes? This donation simulator is a big hit on the Roblox platform, chiefly because it's one of the few games where you're in with a real chance to earn free Robux. Setting up a donation stand is simple enough, but standing out from the crowd is essential if you want to entice big donors. That's where PLS Donate codes come in handy. Our up-to-date list of PLS Donate codes includes the Giftbux you need to customize your donation stand and a few items to trade in return for a donation. PLS Donate is one of the best Roblox games, so be sure to get ahead of the economic curve and redeem these PLS Donate codes. We also have a collection of Roblox promo codes and Roblox music codes if you fancy firing up some tunes while working your stand. Continue reading PLS Donate codes November 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 7:17 AM  November 19, 2024: We've checked for new Pet Simulator 99 codes. What are the new Pet Simulator 99 codes? If you're extremely lucky (and timely), getting a bunch of free gems in Big Games' latest pet collecting game can be as easy as typing a few letters into a box. As time goes on, though, we expect PS99 codes to become increasingly rare, perhaps even being tied solely to physical merch like plushies, lucky bags, and playsets. We've seen it happen before. Pet Simulator 99 is the third Pet Simulator Roblox game Preston and his team have put out. Though it isn't out to replace Pet Simulator X codes directly, it will be the one getting the big updates from now on. If leaving your old collection behind doesn't sound fun to you, consider checking out Blade Ball codes or Blox Fruits codes instead. Continue reading Pet Simulator 99 codes November 2024 |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 7:16 AM  November 19, 2024: We've checked for new Murder Mystery 2 codes. What are the newest Murder Mystery codes? Roblox games rarely throw up an intense experience as is offered by MM2, a game where you could be saddled with one of three roles; the murderer, a bystander, or the sheriff. The murderer has to, well, murder. The bystanders have to avoid the wrath of said murderer, and the sheriff has to figure out, and eliminate, the bad person. Sound familiar? This Roblox game is more cerebral than most, which means you'll rely on your wits most of the time. Still, having a helping hand in the form of some freebies via MM2 codes never hurts. Blade Ball codes shouldn't be ignored if you're after other gifts. We also have Project Mugetsu codes and Blox Fruits codes that can help you grind those long-tail adventure games. Continue reading Murder Mystery 2 codes November 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 7:13 AM  November 19, 2024: We checked and added one new King Legacy code to our list. Looking for new King Legacy codes? The Roblox gacha game is one of the most popular on the platform right now. The developer, Venture Lagoons, is great at handing out new codes with a new update, and they even hide the occasional secret code in the world. We've sailed the oceans for the latest codes and listed them below to make the search easier on yourself. King Legacy codes can give you anything from in-game currency and gems to a full stat refund, so you can respec your character from scratch if you wish to do so. And if these aren't enough Roblox freebies for you, take a look at our Roblox promo codes guide, or maybe discover some of the other best Roblox games right now. Blade Ball codes come to mind. Continue reading King Legacy codes November 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 7:08 AM  November 19, 2024: We've checked for new Haze Piece codes. What are the new Haze Piece codes? Like many Roblox experiences, Haze Piece is inspired by the popular One Piece anime. If you aspire to become the king of the pirates, then you can get a head start by typing in some codes for free race spins, gems, and even some stat refunds if you fancy changing things up a bit. There are several other anime-inspired Roblox games out there, with the most popular ones at the moment giving away loads of free stuff via codes. We have regularly updated lists for Blade Ball codes, Blox Fruits codes, and Project Slayers codes, among many others. For now, though, let's run through the Haze Piece codes and the rewards on offer. Continue reading Haze Piece codes November 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 6:58 AM  The next Homeworld 3 update, which overhauls combat and the pace of the campaign in the space RTS game, will also be the last, as developer Blackbird says it is time to "close this chapter." Originally released in May, Homeworld 3 revives the beloved strategy series, which once ranked alongside Total Annihilation and Command and Conquer as one of the best on PC. Currently, however, the game has 'mostly negative' reviews on Steam and an average concurrent player base of less than 50. Nevertheless, the upcoming 1.3 version will represent Homeworld 3's "last major content update." MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Homeworld 3 review, Best strategy games, Homeworld 3 system requirements |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 7:06 AM  November 19, 2024: We have checked and added one new GPO code. What are the new GPO codes? We've got the lot! Often topping the charts when it comes to anime-inspired Roblox adventures, Grand Piece Online codes are becoming increasingly rare, making them all the more valuable with each new update. They're a great way to keep ahead of the competition or, if you're new, make an immediate dent in the world. They're also good for getting secondary characters over the starting hurdles. But they expire fast. Released in 2021, Grand Piece Online sees hundreds of thousands of eager Roblox pirates and marines flock to its shores every day. Inspired by the One Piece anime and manga, this one still closely competes with Blox Fruits codes, King Legacy codes, and Fruit Battlegrounds codes. They're some of the biggest, most well-known Pirate-faring adventures on the platform right now, and a great way to understand how this one looks to change things up. Continue reading GPO codes November 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 6:39 AM  Intel's new Arc GPU range, codenamed Battlemage, could launch as soon as December this year, potentially before the Nvidia RTX 5000 lineup is launched. The new Intel GPU boxes have been listed as being prepped for shipping, indicating that the hardware is almost ready for release. The first Intel dedicated graphics cards, which we tested in our Intel Arc A770 review, launched back in 2022, hitting the mid to low-end sector of the market. While offering a cheaper alternative to AMD and Nvidia's GPUs, Intel's first offerings were inundated with issues and needed constant driver patches to improve performance. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Core i5 14600K review, Best gaming CPU, Core i9 14900K review |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 6:31 AM  I've been playing a lot of excellent roguelikes in 2024. Game of the Year nominee Balatro has taken over my life, while the launch of Hades 2 and the last update for Dead Cells have kept me coming back as well. Between all of these games, though, I've been waiting for The Binding of Isaac to debut its online co-op update, and I'm more than happy to report that it's here. Isaac is one of the roguelike genre's most formative games, and now the free Repentance+ update makes it even better. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best roguelike games, What is the Binding of Issac multiplayer password?, The best PC games 2023 |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 6:39 AM  When is the Mouse P.I For Hire release date? We love an FPS here at PCGamesN, and there's nothing we like more than something new and unique. Mouse ticks all our boxes, then, with black-and-white, 1930s cartoon style graphics in a noir-themed boomer shooter, in which you play as a badass mouse PI. Set to be one of the best upcoming indie games, Mouse takes what we love about FPS games - gratifying guns, satisfying head pops, and characterful enemies - and gives them a Popeye-meets-Cuphead twist. Of course we want to know how soon we can get our hands on it, and we're sure you do too, so here's everything we know about the Mouse PI For Hire release date and what it brings. Continue reading Mouse PI For Hire - Mouse release date estimate, trailers, and news MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games, Best old games, Best indie games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 6:16 AM  Who are the latest Fortnite NPCs? NPC locations change with every new Fortnite season, much like everything else, and more are added during the season as well. This makes it difficult to keep track of the latest NPC locations. That's where we come in. There are a few reasons you might want to find a Fortnite NPC location in the battle royale game, from hiring some help or buying one of the new Fortnite weapons, to generating a rift from out of nowhere. There are often new hostile NPCs to defeat too, but if you're looking for someone a little more friendly, we have every NPC location marked on the Fortnite map, as well as a list of all of the special items or services you can buy in Chapter 5 Season 5. Continue reading All Fortnite NPCs, locations, and items MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Fortnite map, Fortnite skins, Fortnite weapons |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 6:09 AM  Are you looking for the best Elden Ring mods? The beauty of mods is that they're highly versatile tools that allow players to tweak their experience. In the case of Elden Ring, you might wonder why anyone would want to mod a game that's so well-received. Well, if you find Soulslikes difficult, the Easy Mode mod is a surefire way to tone things down a notch. Some players might consider this goes too far, so why not remove the death mechanic, which stops you from losing your Runes instead? What makes the best Elden Ring mods stand out is that they have the power to drastically improve someone's experience of the open-world game. Whether you want to change the way ranged weapons work, or you want the option to pause Elden Ring, we've got the mods for you. Here's everything you need to try out the best Elden Ring mods, including seamless co-op, the Convergence overhaul mod, and more. Continue reading The best Elden Ring mods MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Elden Ring builds, Elden Ring bosses, Elden Ring weapons |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 6:09 AM  When is The Outer Worlds 2 release date? It's been a while since Obsidian Entertainment's first space venture, but it had much of the same DNA as the Fallout series. This isn't necessarily surprising, as the creators of the Fallout series, Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky, were the game's directors. The Outer Worlds 2 was announced a few years back, leaving us to wonder when it will launch. As a result, the first in Obsidian's space adventure series was an enjoyable RPG game, perhaps hampered by the studio's upcoming Microsoft acquisition. Sadly, though we know The Outer Worlds 2 is in active development, there's little else to go on. So let's get into the details about speculating what The Outer Worlds 2 release date could be and any further information or trailers about the upcoming space game sequel. Continue reading The Outer Worlds 2 release date estimate, trailer, and latest news MORE FROM PCGAMESN: RPG games, The Outer Worlds 2 release date, Space games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 6:08 AM  November 19, 2024: We've checked for new Death Ball codes. What are the new Death Ball codes? If you're looking for some free gems to afford the anime-inspired skin of your dreams or the best blades and skills you need to keep up with the competition, then you've come to the right place as we're here with some codes to help you win a round of Death Ball. Of course, this is a very similar game to one of the most popular Roblox experiences out there, but with an anime twist. Incidentally, we have all the latest freebies in one place if you're looking for the latest Blade Ball codes, and if you prefer anime gems, these some Haze Piece codes, Fruits Battlegrounds codes, or Anime Champions Simulator codes will get you free stuff there too. Continue reading Death Ball codes November 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 6:06 AM  November 19, 2024: We have checked and added three new Da Hood codes. What are the new Da Hood codes? You need tons of cash to equip yourself with the best weapons on these mean streets, whether you're a criminal ransacking banks and shops across the city or a cop trying to stop this crime spree in its tracks. No matter if you decide to side with the robbers or cops, you'll find that having lots of cash can help you take advantage. Da Hood is a third-person shooter game you can play on the Roblox platform, and you can earn cash by either robbing places or catching criminals in the act. If you need further freebies, we've also got the latest Blox Fruits codes, Anime Adventures codes, and Shindo Life codes to redeem. Continue reading Da Hood codes November 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 5:58 AM  November 19, 2024: We've checked for new Combat Warriors codes. What are the active Combat Warriors codes? In this fighting game where you can wield ranged and melee weapons, it's a brutal brawl to the death. In order to survive, it's important to find the best gear and the knowledge to use them. To get ahead, you need the help of Combat Warriors codes to get bonus experience and the money needed to buy your next weapon. The codes situation is a bit bleak, but we've still found some ways that you can get some freebies and will be on the lookout for more codes as and when they arrive. If you want more codes for Roblox games, check out the list of Arsenal codes, as well as some for adventure games like Treasure Quest codes. Continue reading Combat Warriors codes November 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 5:34 AM  What are all the active Destiny 2 codes? Emblems are essential to authentic Guardian flair. They offer an opportunity for expression among your fireteam, the random Guardians you encounter in the tower, and your opponents in activities such as Crucible. Each emblem has a specific meaning, some being ubiquitous seasonal emblems and others so rare that only a fraction of a percent of players own them. Whether you're a hardcore collector or someone who appreciates the opportunity to express yourself through your Guardian in the FPS game, there's never a good reason to say no to a free Destiny 2 emblem or shader. We've compiled all the active Destiny 2 codes in a list that we'll update periodically as Bungie makes more emblems available. Continue reading Destiny 2 codes for free emblems and shaders MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Destiny 2 classes, Destiny 2 The Final Shape review, Destiny 2 builds |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 5:26 AM  Who are the best Dead By Daylight killers? Seven years in, the Dead by Daylight character roster is bigger than ever, boasting a massive 37 killers and 44 survivors at the time of writing. Thanks to that huge list of names, and regular changes to perks and add-ons, it's certainly difficult to keep track of who you should main. Among the best PC games out there, the joy of asymmetrical horror games has always been the ability to be the bad guy. While there's certainly something thrilling fighting for your life in survival games (there must be a reason we all wonder how we'd do in a zombie apocalypse, right?), nothing gets the heart racing like shirking the lawful-good responsibilities of real life and taking on the role of a blood-thirsty killer. Every one of the following DBD killers has their own terrifying unique power, from ranged axe throws, to infectious bile and close-range chainsaw attacks. But which is best? Find out with our tier list of all Dead by Daylight killers. Continue reading Dead by Daylight killer tier list: all 37 deadly DBD killers ranked MORE FROM PCGAMESN: DBD killer tier list, Best horror games, DBD codes |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 5:11 AM  November 19, 2024: The FF14 server status has been checked and updated. Is FF14 down? It might be due to ongoing maintenance or server issues if you can't log on to FF14 or access your character. Before worrying about any problems with your game, you'll want to check the FF14 server status and currently scheduled maintenance times below to see if the MMO is offline. If you can't log into FF14, it's typically because of planned maintenance. The critically acclaimed MMORPG occasionally schedules downtime to implement patches, updates, and other hotfixes or to perform maintenance on the game's servers. Developer Square Enix usually announces these well beforehand, so read on and see when future maintenance times are planned. Continue reading FF14 server status and maintenance times - is FFXIV down? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best MMOs, FF14 Dawntrail release date, FF14 Island Sanctuary guide |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 5:10 AM  What is the next Monopoly Go event? With so many limited-time events in Monopoly Go, it can be hard to keep track of the rewards you can get your hands on. Monopoly Go events can last anywhere from a few hours to a week, so bookmark this page as we'll keep it regularly updated with the next events and their start and end dates. Monopoly Go is the latest online board game sweeping the globe, but completing all of these events won't be easy without some free Monopoly Go dice links, so check out our daily updated guide for some freebies and rewards before you get started on the next Monopoly Go tournament. Continue reading All Monopoly Go events, tournaments, dates, and rewards MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best board games, Monopoly Go events, Monopoly Go dice |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 5:32 AM  November 19, 2024: We added new BDO codes. What are the new Black Desert Online codes? Since its graphical overhaul, BDO has seen a new lease of life. Not only does it have one of the best character creators for an MMO, its fantasy world is a thrill to explore, and it's full of complex mechanics for combat, trading, and diplomacy. This can be intimidating for new players, but there's a way to get a head start. If you want helpful rewards for Black Desert Online, one of the longest-running MMO games, then you've come to the right place. These BDO codes give rewards such as Memory Fragments, Cron Stones, Enhancement Kits, and more. All of these items are handy for your next session, so we've also detailed ways you can redeem them without being logged into the game. Continue reading BDO codes November 2024 - all active Black Desert Online codes MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Desert Online guide, Best MMORPGs, Free MMOs |
PCGamesN Tuesday, November 19, 2024 5:05 AM  November 19, 2024: We've added the latest new Monopoly Go dice links 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 November 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best board games, Monopoly Go events, Monopoly Go dice |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, November 19, 2024 5:09 AM  I am a very casual enjoyer of Metal Slug games. I've never actually paid for one of these side-scrolling shoot 'em ups, except for all the countless coins I happily pumped into arcade machines as a child. To this day, if I see a rare glittering cabinet running one of these crunchy shmups, I will go ham for twenty or thirty minutes, and walk away satisfied that I have seen a lot of very good pixels. These games, I am convinced, were never really designed to be completed, but to be played exactly like this, as a coin-gobbling invitation to become a bandana-wearing sisyphus, a tiny Rambo pushing a bouncy, juddering tank up a hill occupied by cartoon nazis. You die a bunch and say: "ah, that was good." So what happens when you rearrange the molecules of this run and/or gun 'em up into an isometric turn-based strategy game? You get Metal Slug Tactics, an off-kilter nod to Into The Breach and other grid-based turn-takers, but secretly housing the aggressive notions of an unhinged pyromaniac. You still die a lot. And you still walk away feeling fairly happy about it. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, November 19, 2024 4:04 AM  Good morning, how about a nice big bowl of your favourite breakfast cereal: Corporate Consolidation? Sony are in talks to buy Kadokawa, the parent company of Elden Ring developer From Software. Sony is eyeing up the company as a hefty snack because they want the various manga and anime owned by Kadokawa, according to a report by Reuters. But also because they want all the tasty games owned by them too, such as the Danganronpa series, the Octopath Traveler games, and the biggest corn flake of them all, the Dark Souls series. |
Twinfinite Tuesday, November 19, 2024 5:27 AM  |
Siliconera Tuesday, November 19, 2024 3:00 AM
Great God Grove is, at its core, one big fetch quest. One person needs something, you go get it and bring it to them, and repeat that pattern for the entire run of the game. This has the potential to be tedious drudgery, and yet this concept was turned into something thoroughly compelling instead.
Great God Grove puts you in the shoes of a nameless godpoke. You are like a cowpoke, but your job is wrangling gods. You are sent to an island populated by the world's various gods with the task of fixing a serious problem. A rift is opening in the sky, but the gods are too busy arguing with each other to do anything about it. You need to get them talking again so the world can be saved.
You are aided in your task with the Megapon, a lip-shaped megaphone that doubles as a vacuum cleaner. You suck in the words of characters you talk to, then blast them at other characters who need to hear those words. That's the entire game. You're a cosmic mediator who bluntly forces everyone to listen to what they need to hear.
Let me give you an example of how Great God Grove works. At the start of the game, you find yourself in an area that's constantly raining due to the tears of the local god who's sad at the disappearance of your predecessor, King. So now you must speak to the locals and get them to say something encouraging that he would have said, suck those words up and shoot them at the crying god to reassure her.
While most of the game involves figuring out the correct words to progress, there are also plenty of useless joke phrases that exist simply to spark some goofy interactions. Like sucking up a speech bubble saying "Boo!" and using it to terrify everyone in the vicinity or shooting random compliments at whoever you feel needs one.
It's a simple concept but Great God Grove is incredibly creative in how it approaches it. The game is broken into a series of areas, each with their own squabbling deities, and each of these areas presents a unique challenge to crack. And they are genuine challenges, with many sections making me circle around several times until I was able to piece together what words I needed to throw around to progress.
This is where Great God Grove shines. Quite often the words you need to combine are less obvious than you'd expect. In one area, I had to wake someone who was blocking my way, and despite my efforts of throwing various shouted phrases at them, they wouldn't wake up. It wasn't until I realised that I could swipe the metaphorical phrase "open your eyes" uttered by another character and turn it literal. There are so many moments like this, where you'll beat your head against the desk for a while until suddenly that "aha!" moment kicks in and you realize that seemingly useless phrase in your inventory is the key to everything.
The inventory is also an inspired move, as it restricts you to five items total. Not just phrases, anything you suck up with the vacuum goes here, including beach balls, pumpkins or planks of wood. This means you can't brute force these puzzles by sucking up every phrase in the area and throwing them until something sticks. You have to pay attention, keep note of everyone's needs and wants, and actively seek out what might make sense and tossing out anything that doesn't.
It helps that the world of Great God Grove is full of bizarre characters. This is not a game that takes itself seriously. This is most obvious in how much of your time is spent hanging out with the local detective force, the Bizzyboys. These boys are incompetent, often chasing the most useless leads or bickering amongst themselves while you do the actual work. They are also responsible for the chaotic live-action puppet shows that crop up in each area. While their purpose is to explain the world's lore, they mostly left me confused. That's a compliment, by the way, as the manic energy is what makes Great God Grove so appealing.
This extends to most of the cast, who are a misfit bunch of weirdos across the board. Almost everyone has odd speech quirks, boisterous personalities or have strong reactions to everything you say. And yet, despite all this, their problems remain relatable. Even at their silliest, there's a logic to their complaints. In a game where puzzle-solving and comedy are both key elements, it's easy to let one side get in the way of the other but Great God Grove keeps its puzzles grounded while layering jokes on top. There are no LucasArts-style "monkey wrench" puzzles here.
The art style helps the vibes. It's similar to Paper Mario, where cutout-style 2D sprites are layered in a pseudo-3D top-down view. Character designs look like they've been lifted out of a turn-of-the-century Saturday morning cartoon, where asymmetry and exaggerated features rule. Your character is especially notable in their weirdness, with their hair covering almost their entire face apart from a persistent perma-grin. Meanwhile, every single visit to a god sees them shoving their ridiculous faces in your view with theatrical flair with every word they speak.
That said, while I did enjoy what Great God Grove had to offer, sometimes it can be a bit much. Most of its tone is intensely in-your-face and it rarely lets up. Most of the time I was happy to go along with it, but there were times when I had to turn the game off for a while until I was in the right mood for it. Some character speech quirks were also a little grating at times, and in a few rare occasions, made it harder to understand what was being said. Its humor is definitely an acquired taste, and it's likely that some players won't click with it at all.
The only other major complaint I had about the game was how unwieldy managing all the speech bubbles could be at times. Sucking up words takes a couple of seconds, and if you're trying out different words in different places, it can be tedious to shoot the speech bubble and spend time sucking it back up before it disappears. Quite often this could also result in an active conversation happening while your inventory is open and a discarded speech bubble is on screen, which caused the screen to get cluttered and almost unreadable.
In addition, the limited inventory space sometimes causes problems for puzzles that require multiple speech bubbles to solve. A song you have to assemble at one point in the game requires four lines, so it becomes much harder to engage with other characters when all but one of your inventory slots are blocked up.
Ultimately, Great God Grove is a great romp about the importance of good communication. If you enjoy puzzle games, the works of Double Fine, or Undertale, you'll find a lot to love here.
Great God Grove is available on the PC, Switch and Xbox Series X/S.
The post Review: Great God Grove Is a Great, Goofy Game appeared first on Siliconera. |
WGB Tuesday, November 19, 2024 7:20 AM Sony is reportedly nearing a deal to acquire Kadokawa, which would significantly increase its stake in FromSoftware, enhancing its influence in both gaming and anime industries. |