Kotaku Thursday, November 28, 2024 9:40 AM  Back in October, Microsoft announced that come November, it would be able to finally start selling Xbox games via its app on Android devices. This, as The Verge points out, has not yet happened. Now Xbox president Sarah Bond has taken to social media to lay the blame for this delay squarely at Google's feet. |
Kotaku Thursday, November 28, 2024 9:00 AM  Whether you're preparing to deep-fry a turkey or hiding from family and friends in the bathroom and looking for Black Friday deals, you could probably use something to watch this Thanksgiving Day break. Fortunately, we have plenty of recommendations, from tried-and-true favorites to off-the-beaten path picks. |
Kotaku Thursday, November 28, 2024 8:30 AM  Christopher Nolan is in the rarified air of directors like Steven Spielberg and James Cameron where his name alone is enough to get audiences to theaters. |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 9:52 AM  What are the best Witcher 3 mods? With a next-gen update overhauling visuals, as well as game mechanics, there has never been a better time to get into The Witcher 3. With mods, you can customize and enhance your experience even further. The best Witcher 3 mods refresh the gameplay for you and, for veterans of the series, can inspire another playthrough of one of the best RPG games of all time. Modding is now a fairly simple process and can be done with ease once you know how. As always, exercise caution when downloading and installing anything on your computer. Continue reading The best Witcher 3 mods 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The Witcher 3 mods, The Witcher 4 news, Witcher 3 system requirements |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 9:45 AM  Want a complete list of all the Delta Force weapons and guns? We've had a chance to catch up with the latest weapons available in the Steam Next Fest demo for Delta Force, giving us the opportunity to write up a list of every gun we've seen so far. There's not long to wait until the Delta Force release date, and for an FPS game that's been a long time coming, we were excited to get our hands on the weapons available across the different modes. The standouts for the best Delta Force weapons so far are the AK-12 assault rifle for range and recoil, and the SCAR battle rifle for powerful shots that pack a punch. But if you're looking forward to trying out all the guns in Delta Force, here are the weapons we've seen so far from the first and second playtests, and current demo. Continue reading All Delta Force game weapons and guns MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Delta Force guns, Delta Force operators, Delta Force loadouts |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 9:26 AM  If I was to describe Supervive in one word, it'd be relentless. Sure, that relates to the gameplay itself - frenetic top-down action that thrusts you into the jungle head-first - but it also describes its meteoric rise to prominence throughout 2024. Fully unveiled back in June, the game has gone from a relative nobody to an internet sensation, taking over X (formerly Twitter) and shattering its own records left, right, and center. While people will tag Palworld or Helldivers 2 as this year's biggest success stories, Supervive is easily the game that will live in my memory as 2024's biggest winner. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MOBAs, Best battle royale games, Best multiplayer games |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 9:28 AM  What is the best Path of Exile 2 Mercenary build? The Mercenary takes advantage of the new moving while attacking combat mechanic and leans into a range of powerful skills that makes this class feel more like a shooter, and less like a ranger. If you're looking forward to the Path of Exile 2 release date, but you're having trouble choosing out of the 12 classes coming to the RPG game this year, you might want to consider the brand-new Mercenary. This class type uses a crossbow, and unlike the Path of Exile 2's Ranger's bow, crossbows fire instantly instead of needing to be drawn back. We've gone through all the weapons and ammo types we've seen so far to create a promising Mercenary build for when Path of Exile 2 arrives. Continue reading Path of Exile 2 Mercenary class guide MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Path of Exile 2 Witch class guide, Path of Exile 2 preview, Path of Exile 2 release date |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 9:03 AM  Yet another chip has been knocked off the price of the Lenovo Legion Go gaming handheld, taking it to its lowest ever price. Listed for just $479.97 right now, the Legion Go is selling for just under a third of its original recommended retail price, adding more fuel to the fire of those rumors that Lenovo is planning to release a new update very soon. It's a tough ol' game out there for the best gaming handheld PCs, and Lenovo has faced stiff competition from other big players. Despite that, the Lenovo Legion Go has made its mark thanks to its big screen and detachable controller design. It's a fantastic option for gamers who need the versatility, with specs that easily beat the original Steam Deck and give the Asus ROG Ally a run for its money. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 8:54 AM  If you've been looking to grab some bargains with the best Black Friday SSD deals, you're in luck. As the shopping event of the year comes and goes, plenty of excellent SSDs will be going on sale - some with very deep discounts that I recommend picking up. Whether you prefer the faster data access that an internal SSD solution offers, or you think the best external SSD for gaming might be better for you because of limited storage space or for any other reason, I'll source a selection of deals that cover all the best SSDs, covering both options. Continue reading Best Black Friday SSD deals for 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 8:04 AM  What are the new Genshin Impact codes? Gathering Primogems and Mora in Genshin Impact can be quite the grind. Fortunately, developer Hoyoverse occasionally sends out gifts in the form of Genshin redeem codes. Most codes only work for a limited time, so it's best to redeem them as soon as possible to avoid missing out. Genshin Impact codes are released periodically, frequently appearing in Hoyoverse special programs: regular video updates detailing future updates to the free PC game. Redeem codes can also drop to celebrate milestones or to coincide with new Genshin Impact events. You can find all the active Genshin codes for November 2024 below, and we also detail what they get you, how to redeem them, and where you can look for more. Continue reading Genshin Impact codes November 2024 and how to redeem MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Genshin Impact codes, Genshin Impact character tier list, Genshin Impact leveling guide |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 7:32 AM  It can often be tough to capture the essence of a pre-existing property in videogame form, but the Mad Max game is one that squarely and repeatedly strikes the nail on the head. It's a raucous open-world game packed with explosive car battles, high-speed races, and brutal combat encounters. Fantastic at launch nine years ago, it's still a blast today, boasting an impressive 91% positive rating from nearly 50,000 reviews, and if you missed it at the time the autumn Steam sale is the perfect chance to try it - for less than $2. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Mad Max system requirements, Survival games, Open-world games |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 7:30 AM  A really cheap laptop with decent gaming specs is pretty hard to find these days, but this gaming laptop deal from Best Buy is certainly worth a look. With a $699.99 price tag, this Lenovo LOQ packs in an Nvidia GeForce RTX GPU, along with an AMD Ryzen CPU and 16GB of RAM, to give you a huge $300 saving on the original price. While this isn't the single best gaming laptop you can buy, this bargain Lenovo machine still has some decent chops for gamers. The main draw is certainly the Nvidia GPU, with the laptop version of the GeForce RTX 4060 having no trouble with most modern games, thanks in part to its support of DLSS 3 frame generatino that can bring a big boost in frame rate. The eight-core AMD Ryzen 7 7435HS CPU, meanwhile, provides a solid foundation for most gaming and general purpose computing needs. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 7:23 AM  We talk a lot in videogames about ownership. It's that especially fancy kill in Counter-Strike, that perfect character build in Diablo 4, the weird and wacky thing that happened only to you in Fallout. This is what survival games capture so well. Everything is so hard earned and personal - you've struggled and strived to make a house, scrounge a meal, or win a battle, and now you can bask in your individual achievements. Combining the RPG world of Kingdom Come Deliverance, the brutal systems of The Forest, and a little of Age of Empires' resource gathering and building, Medieval Dynasty remains one of the best-loved games of its type on Steam, and now, thanks to a transformative update, it's even better. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Upcoming PC games, Best RPG games |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 8:03 AM  What is coming in Delta Force Season 1? The new free-to-play large-scale multiplayer shooter is looking to take the crown of Battlefield, and with even the most cursory glance at interest after Steam Next Fest, the numbers suggest that Delta Force might be able to pull it off. Ongoing support is key to the success of a game like this, with new seasons and content drops keeping the experience fresh and engaging. The Delta Force release date may be a bit of a mystery right now, but the Delta Force open beta is right around the corner, and that's where many journeys will begin in earnest. The multiplayer game plans to open its doors with a bang and start its seasonal content drops simultaneously. Here's the latest on when Delta Force Season 1 begins and what you can expect from the seasonal content. Continue reading Delta Force Season 1 breakdown MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Delta Force guns, Delta Force operators, Delta Force loadouts |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 7:03 AM  What are the latest Roblox music codes? Thousands of popular songs are available to listen to in Roblox simply by entering music ID codes into your boombox or the radio. You can even play your favorite TikTok songs in games with your friends using song IDs. So, how do you play music in Roblox? The method varies depending on which game you want to blast your tunes in. Some games allow free access to the boombox — equip and press it to bring up a text box to enter a song ID code. Catalog Heaven is a great place to test the Roblox music codes you find, as it allows you to equip any boombox in the shop and try it out. Continue reading Roblox music codes November 2024 - the best song IDs MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 6:47 AM  What are the best Silent Hill 2 remake mods? It never takes long after a new PC game comes out for the modding community game to hit us with the best, and weird, mods. Whether you're finished with the vanilla Silent Hill 2 experience, or you're looking for ways to enhance your horror game playthrough, we have you covered. There's a lot of potential to mod the single-player game with some great additions - and the community did not disappoint. Take a look at our best Silent Hill 2 remake modes list to find Thomas the Tank Engine, a sunnier Silent Hills, and much more. Continue reading The best Silent Hill 2 remake mods MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Silent Hill 2 remake system requirements, The best horror games, Silent Hill 2 remake review |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 6:48 AM  November 28, 2024: We have checked for new Anime Reborn codes What are the new Anime Reborn codes? Anime Reborn is a hit new Roblox game featuring some of your favorite anime characters. Your goal is to pack out your party with the best units, give them the top traits, and work to keep yourself and your friends alive against waves of increasingly challenging enemies. To get as many draws as possible for the latest Units, upgrade your current party, and even increase your chances of pulling shiny Units, you're going to need as many gems and keys as possible, and that's where Anime Reborn codes come in. We've got the latest codes below, as well as step-by-step instructions on how to redeem them in the anime game. If you're in the market for extra Roblox freebies, we also keep regularly updated lists of the latest Blox Fruits codes and King Legacy codes. Continue reading Anime Reborn codes November 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 6:46 AM  November 28, 2024: We checked and added two new Fisch codes. What are the new Fisch codes? Promising the pinnacle of exploration and progression of what Roblox fishing experiences have to offer, Fisch gets even better when you use the latest working codes to get free rewards. After launching in early 2024, the Stardew-inspired fishing game by WoozyNate has seen millions of visits, meaning even more players just like you can benefit from the bonuses on offer. Just like when using Fishing Simulator codes, getting extra items or currency will make the Roblox angling experience far easier since you'll be able to access or buy upgrades much faster. That's even the case when trying out Meme Sea codes too. This quick and easy Fisch guide will tell you about all the free rewards you can get so far. Continue reading Fisch codes November 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 6:33 AM  For me, Arcane Season 2 rates a solid eight out of ten. While Act 1 begins with a bang and ends with the high-stakes Jinx versus Vi moment we'd all been waiting for, Act 2 loses the momentum a little, and Act 3 feels rushed. My concern coming out of Episode 6 was that it felt like there wasn't enough time to wrap up all of Act 2's loose threads, and while Act 3 largely does so, it feels a little scattered. Rumors have swirled that the original cut of the finale clocked in at an hour and a half long, sparking disappointment as players consider, to borrow Sting's words, what could have been. Riot, however, has responded to those claims. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: League of Legends ranks explained, League of Legends Mythic shop rotation, League of Legends tier list |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 6:42 AM  November 28, 2024: We have checked for new Pets Go codes. What are the new Pets Go codes? This is the latest spinoff from BIG Games Pets' series of Pet-themed Roblox experiences. This one lets you fulfill your dreams of collecting cube-shaped critters. When codes for free items or boosts are thrown into the mix, though, the experience for Pets Go will get even better. Just like when using Pet Simulator 99 codes or Pet Catchers codes, the opportunity to grab free rewards for Go should add even more fun to the pet-tapping RNG experience. For Roblox players searching for the latest Pets Go codes, this is the guide for you. Continue reading Pets Go codes November 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 6:41 AM  November 28, 2024: We have checked and added two Anime Vanguards codes. What are the new Anime Vanguards codes? In a Roblox game where the universes of multiple anime have started colliding, you can pick from many units in a tower defense title featuring tons of your favorite characters. To have the most powerful warrior around, the rewards from using the latest codes can give you just what you need. Like when using Special Anime Defense codes or Anime Royale codes, redeeming these extra rewards can give you an edge over other players. These can include currencies used for special banner units or crafting important items. To help you be the best in this Roblox adventure, the free codes in this guide will have you covered. Continue reading Anime Vanguards codes November 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 6:38 AM  November 28, 2024: We checked and added two new Dandy's World codes. What are the new Dandy's World codes? Horror games on Roblox always make for a unique and eerie experience, but make for an even better time when there are some rewards to redeem. Thankfully, Dandy's World players can rejoice at the latest codes to use for a better chance at surviving the killer mascots that come after you. Like bonuses that can be earned in other Roblox horror games, such as when using Pressure codes or Ro Ghoul codes, having a guide like this is handy to increase your odds. As you team up with other Toons and complete machines to research what shadows lurk below, having helpful extra bonuses like these is a must. Continue reading Dandy's World codes November 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 6:24 AM  It's been a good year for Hooded Horse, the publisher behind Against The Storm, Cataclismo, Norland, and dozens of others. The biggest cause for celebration is no doubt Manor Lords - once the most wishlisted game on all of Steam, with each subsequent update, the early-access version attracts more players and plaudits. But there's also Breachway, the sci-fi strategy game with flashes of FTL, Workers and Resources, which hit 1.0 this year, and the Command and Conquer-inflected (except with ants, rather than people) RTS Empires of the Undergrowth. In commemoration of a bumper 2024, the studio has put all of its biggest and best city builders and strategy sims on sale, knocking some of the genres' heaviest hitters down to the lowest price ever. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Manor Lords early access review, Best strategy games, Manor Lords system requirements |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 6:33 AM  November 28, 2024: We have checked for new Anime Ascendants codes. What are the new Anime Ascendants codes? Another fun anime-themed Roblox game, Anime Special Defense stands out with its colorful neon aesthetics and character drops. By redeeming codes in the game, you can instantly enjoy a whole bunch of helpful rewards even if it's your first time diving in. Just like using the latest Anime Defenders codes or Blox Fruits codes, getting free rewards in Anime Special Defense makes the Roblox experience even more of a great time. Let's get into all of the active bonuses available to redeem right now. Continue reading Anime Ascendants codes November 2024 |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 6:31 AM  November 28, 2024: We have checked for new YBA codes. What are the new YBA codes? Your Bizarre Adventure is an MMORPG that lets Roblox players use unique powers to brawl to their heart's content, and the rewards from using free codes only add to the fun. Inspired by the hit JoJo's Bizarre Adventure manga and anime series, YBA lets Roblox fans live out their Stand-wielding dreams. Like when using the latest Type Soul codes or Fruit Battleground codes, free rewards in YBA can include epic items and power-ups to give you an edge as you play. Continue reading YBA codes November 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 6:29 AM  November 28, 2024: We've checked and added one new Gym League code. What are the new Gym League codes? If you want to get buff to unlock new bodies and gyms where you can show off your impeccable physique, chances are you're looking for a shortcut or two to get ahead of the competition. If so, then you've come to the right place. What, steroids? Of course not! That's scandalous. No, no, we're talking about free codes here. If you're just starting this Roblox experience, we have plenty of Gym League codes to supplement your training regime, providing you with access to potions, cash, and other power-ups. If you want to shape up in other similar games, we have Arm Wrestle Simulator codes and Strongman Simulator codes, while Roller Skate Simulator codes can help if you prefer racing on wheeled shoes. Continue reading Gym League codes November 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 6:27 AM  November 28, 2024 We have checked and added one new Attack on Titan Revolution code. What are the new Attack on Titan Revolution codes? There are many anime games on Roblox based on One Piece and Dragon Ball, but we rarely get anything for the mega-popular Attack on Titan universe. This game aims to be a faithful action-packed adventure that takes inspiration from the aerial combat shown on the show, and with AoT Revolution codes to redeem for even more fun. We've checked our guide and it's all ready to go with [update 2] Attack on Titan Revolution codes and the Halloween giveawys. Continue reading Attack on Titan Revolution codes November 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Thursday, November 28, 2024 6:17 AM  A new Palworld update is coming in December that will introduce its biggest island yet. Despite an ongoing legal dispute with Nintendo and The Pokemon Company, Palworld maker Pocketpair is still hard at work bolstering one of 2024's biggest games with new features. As we near a year since its early access launch, the survival crafting game reveals that its next region will be dramatically larger than the previous free update. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Palworld bosses, Palworld map, Palworld settings |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, November 28, 2024 9:19 AM  We're now just one day out from Black Friday, so the savings are starting to seriously ramp up. You can grab our favourite Steam Deck dock in the sale for just $23.99 this year. That's a full $16 off the usual price. The 6-in-1 option is also on sale and 20% off at Amazon today. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, November 28, 2024 7:00 AM  The genre of 'Action RPG' is supremely annoying to write about, because the term can mean different things to different people, but here's how I see it: Diablo 4 and similar games, such as Path Of Exile, are 'ARPGs'. Which stands for 'Action RPG'. But Zelda games are 'Action RPGs', which is a totally different genre that you could, if you felt like it, also shorten to 'ARPG'. So, to summarise: ARPGs and ARPGs are two different things, and both are Action RPGs. Got it? Great. It's because of this kerfuffle that I'm not exactly mad at Diablo boss Rod Fergusson recently suggesting that we just call games that are similar to Diablo 'Diablo-likes'. I just find it very funny that he's the one saying it, in a bold faced act of admittedly very inconsequential linguistic colonialism that carries the unspoken connotation that something is "like the game I make, but a bit crap". |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, November 28, 2024 6:28 AM  Back in January I wrote a (supporters only) post about how tired I am of all survival games starting off the same. Here's the gist of it: I've had enough of gathering rocks and sticks to make a crafting bench, from which I'm forced to build a hut and so on. I'm sure for some this is riveting, but for me, it's something I tire of within seconds. And so it's with a heavy heart I say that Towers Of Aghasba suffers from the same starting gamut of sticks and stones. There's a hint of some interesting ecosystem stuff springing up a bit later, and judging by the trailers, an ability to clamber on massive flying creatures made of what looks like elephant skin and hair. Still, I just can't do it. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, November 28, 2024 6:14 AM  I've gone on record as not being a huge fan of the artstyle choices used in the new Warcraft I & II remasters. It's crisp and readable, sure, but I'm never exactly thrilled to see all the roughness of older sprites completely done away with, especially when I always felt some of that ruggedness was the point. The tendency of remasters to treat every characterful oddity as a blemish is a wider topic than the scope of this article, but one day, Bluepoint will remaster Bloodborne, and the world will feel my pain. Anyway. Nowadays, I'd say Blizzard - or, World Of Warcraft, at least - is pretty much synomous with a softer, more colorful approach to fantasy worlds. While I don't pine for a return to the more boobily ridiculous elements of Frank Frazetta's style, I do often wish that some of the more expressive, pained, and physically grounded elements of classic Sword And Sorcery art was a bit more common. I'm no art scholar, and there's undoubtedly a bit of tunnel vision of my part to this assertion, but as far as as pop culture goes: I see the Blizzard version of fantasy more than I see the Frazetta version, and I don't exactly love it. Same goes for the older, punkier, less uniform sci-fi art from things like 2000 AD and Warhammer 40,000. Edwin touched on some of this in his excellent Space Marine piece. Anyway, a valued RPS community member on the Discord shared an older bit of art by Blizzard's Chris Metzen, from the original Starcraft manual. I figured a few of you might enjoy seeing these older pieces, considering how much the overall look of their games has changed over the years. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, November 28, 2024 5:27 AM  The Cabin Factory is described as a horror game but it's sort of about deciding whether you are, in fact, playing a horror game. There is indeed a factory and it does indeed produce cabins - jolly, Center Parcs-style affairs made of big, merry logs, which roll up fully constructed on a conveyor belt. Your job is to enter and inspect them in first-person. What are you inspecting them for? Ghosts. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, November 28, 2024 5:02 AM  Picking things up. Putting the things in boxes. Setting prices. Managing employees. Wiping the sweat from your creased brow and knowing, even if your meagre salary doesn't get you very far, at least you put in an honest day's graft to acquire it. All things done by pathetic fools that don't realise the true CEO grindset actually involves no-wifing Diablo 4 all day and subsisting entirely off the the Lucozade-bottled urine of overworked drivers forced to make the agonising decision between self respect and continued employment. I might be conflating billionaires here. Also, coincidentally, all things you can do in the demo for Beff Jezos Simulator. Now, work simulation games aren't my absolute favourite. But, hey, I do love a good fantasy game. And what spellbinding vision of a farflung reality could be more fantastical than a game in which a billionaire actually does some work? |
Twinfinite Thursday, November 28, 2024 5:10 AM  |
Siliconera Thursday, November 28, 2024 9:00 AM
Garden of the Sea aims to be a cosy life-sim, where the central hook involves farming crops, building structures, befriending animals, and exploring nearby islands. The title was initially released in 2022 as a VR game. I think this is important to point out because, although there are some enduring aspects that work well outside of the VR experience, it does not translate well to the Switch.
If you've ever played Budget Cuts, Neat Corporation's previous title, you might expect Garden of the Sea to incorporate frantic, over-the-top gameplay, but this game features a far more tranquil tone. You find yourself on a deserted island inhabited only by local animals. There is no dialogue. You only find signs indicating which items you need to craft. To say the plot feels minimal and quite basic would be an understatement. The first few episodes of the TV series Lost offer more in-depth reasons why the characters ended up on an island, which is saying something.
Once you begin exploring, you'll undergo a brief tutorial introducing the basic controls and showing you how to grow crops. Planting and harvesting are relatively straightforward. You can grow crops like carrots and radishes by placing seeds, watering them, and waiting for them to grow. When they are ready, you pick them up from the ground. If you don't get to it in time, the plants wither away and you will have to water them again to revive them. After completing the tutorial, you'll get the freedom to choose how you spend your time, with minimal guidance provided. You could go sightseeing and bond with animals like penguins or make progress and attempt to fulfill the specific tasks illustrated on the signs. The entire atmosphere feels like going on a glamping trip, as everything feels so relaxed.
Within the environment, you will often find scraps of paper with vague drawings of items like flowers or rocks, indicating what components are needed for specific buildings. It's almost like a game of Pictureka. Sadly, the Garden of the Sea building process is unsatisfying and somewhat ambiguous. An excellent example of this occurs at the beginning of the game. I need edto make several fences, one of many items required to create some buildings. First, I needed to gather several pieces of wood using a hand axe to break down a large log. Afterwards, I had to put these pieces of wood into a crafting bubble to turn them into a fence. However, the game never explained how to do so, which meant stumbling into it.
Now, you might think that the above process does not sound too bad! It might even seem like some head-scratching puzzles. However, an issue amplifies this tedious process and even hurts the laid-back tone. You can only carry a handful of items at one given time, which makes perfect sense. But if you drop items on the ground, they can disappear and never return. This made me very reluctant to switch between jobs, which goes against the freestyle nature of the game and forces you to stick with a particular task.
One problem I ran into involved building a boat, which is needed to explore nearby islands. To obtain the steering wheel for the boat, you will need to feed the sea creature known as the Manateecow three turnips. The problem is that I did this action without knowing it was tied to the boat construction task. I naively dropped the steering wheel, thinking I could return to it later, but it disappeared. Luckily, I recently saved, so I kept the wheel in my inventory until I had the other necessary parts. But hypothetically, if I hadn't just saved minutes prior, I would have been forced into restarting my entire game from scratch. Otherwise, I would have had no other way of getting off the home island. This led to me always strategically planning what building I think I could potentially do rather than allowing me to engage in trial and error.
On a technical level, the graphics might not be the most elaborate, but I really liked the aesthetic design of Garden of the Sea. It is packed with bright and colorful colors, making some of the environmental spaces you traverse through more engaging. One of the islands is a bamboo outback, and another is constantly shrouded by night. So they all have a distinctive feel to them. The creatures are also adorable and were hands down my favorite aspect of exploring all the islands. The animals range from birds to flying catfish and even a whale. Many of them are humorously oversized, and you can build up your friendship with these creatures by feeding and petting them. Later down the line, you can take polaroid photos of the animals with your camera and even breed them in the many stables you can build.
Garden of the Sea attempts to be a laid-back life simulator as you roam around a deserted island. But, the absence of structured tasks or rewarding objectives may lessen its appeal over time. This is further not helped by gameplay bugs, which make some of these tasks more bothersome than they should be. Ultimately, I don't know why you would choose to play this title in its current state over hard hitters in the genre, like Stardew Valley.
Garden of the Sea is now available on the PS5, PC, and Switch, as well as VR headsets like the Meta Quest.
The post Review: Garden of the Sea Is Underwhelming on the Switch appeared first on Siliconera. |
