GamersHeroes Tuesday, December 10, 2024 5:45 PM Tiny Roar, together with rokaplay and Megabit Publishing, are setting their sights on a vibrant Archipelago with the release of their cozy adventure-exploration title Lou's Lagoon. The post Cozy Adventure-Exploration Title Lou's Lagoon Announced appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
Kotaku Tuesday, December 10, 2024 4:40 PM  The PlayStation 5 Pro has been out for a month now but still has some issues, with certain enhanced games like Dragon Age: The Veilgaurd and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor actually looking uglier in various ways due to resolution upscaling. Ubisoft is now the first game maker to announce an option to turn the feature off,… |
Kotaku Tuesday, December 10, 2024 4:32 PM  Marvel Rivals, NetEase's shameless Overwatch-like featuring the heroes and villains that have captivated comic book readers and moviegoers for decades, is already at a crossroads. It's less than a week old, but it's clear even now that the decisions NetEase makes in the coming months will determine if it stays a… |
Kotaku Tuesday, December 10, 2024 3:30 PM  It looks like some more Call of Duty games might be making the leap to Xbox Game Pass, but likely only on PC. |
Kotaku Tuesday, December 10, 2024 2:55 PM  Back in 2022, Epic Games agreed to pay $245 million as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over "dark patterns" that may have tricked players into spending in-game currency on cosmetics, dance emotes, and other items they didn't actually want. Two years later, the first payments are finally… |
Kotaku Tuesday, December 10, 2024 2:45 PM  A hero is nothing without the villains they face, and few rogues' galleries are more compelling than Spider-Man's. The pantheon of baddies who've gone toe-to-toe with the friendly neighborhood webhead is so extensive and memorable that many of them have gone on to star in their own solo comic-book series. Thanks to… |
Kotaku Tuesday, December 10, 2024 2:00 PM  All good things must come to an end, unless it's the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Then, you just throw the actor into the multiverse, and out comes a new beginning. In an unsurprising surprise move by Marvel, The Wrap exclusively reports that Chris Evans is set to make his formal return to the MCU. |
Kotaku Tuesday, December 10, 2024 1:10 PM  Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a lot of fun. The new game from MachineGames and Bethesda lets you step into the (I assume very muddy and warm) boots of the famous adventurer for an exciting new journey around the world. Along the way you solve ancient puzzles and riddles and, of course, fight Nazis. |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 10, 2024 7:06 PM  On paper, the idea of League of Legends' new Exalted skins isn't necessarily a bad one. As Riot Games said itself, it wants to let its developers cook and create high-quality, super-rare, and unique-feeling cosmetic items that can only be obtained through a new, gacha-like mechanic. When you look at so many of the biggest PC games around, such a concept shouldn't be too controversial. However, Riot's first attempt - an Arcane-inspired Exalted Jinx skin - has had a pretty rough reception. You'd think that maybe it would take some time to reflect on this, but no - just a day before Arcane Fractured Jinx is set to join the MOBA, Riot has already revealed another new Exalted LoL skin. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: League of Legends ranks explained, League of Legends Mythic shop rotation, League of Legends tier list |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 10, 2024 5:48 PM  While third-party mods flooded Starfield mere days after it launched last year, official Bethesda-approved mod support and tools only arrived in June - and some of the best ones come at a cost, too. Well, here's a free Starfield Creations mod that absolutely everyone playing the galactic RPG should download, because not only does it give you a suit and weapons based on the iconic Doom series, there's also a dark new quest to go with it. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best old games, Best FPS games, Best zombie games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 10, 2024 5:29 PM  It truly is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Here in Scotland I've seen my first flurries of snow, caught my mandatory Christmas cold, and had my first sip of Bailey's hot chocolate. As the nights grow darker I've been spending most of my free time on Supervive, spiking unsuspecting foes into the abyss and trying my best to dodge those pesky bullet trains as the storm rolls in. In the wake of a successful open beta, the MOBA brawler hybrid's first winter event is here, and it's going to make League of Legends players oh so very envious. Continue reading Supervive unveils winter event, featuring a snowy map and new powers MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MOBAs, Best battle royale games, Best multiplayer games |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 10, 2024 3:13 PM  It's quite a big week for tactical FPS game Ready or Not. First, the SWAT shooter is celebrating the one-year anniversary of its 1.0 launch - a year that's seen it establish a strong community but also find itself at the centre of a couple of controversies. As well as reaching this milestone, a new DLC is arriving today that delivers three "isolated," "maritime" maps and improvements to its AI that will refresh the experience across all of its past maps too. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Ready Or Not system requirements, Best FPS games on PC, Best Co-Op games on PC |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 10, 2024 1:51 PM  Sometimes, if you're lucky, your favorite weapon in a Call of Duty game can become much easier to use in an instant if it gets a sneaky accuracy buff in a big balancing update. Well, everyone's lucky today, because all of Black Ops 6's weapons just received improvements to their handling and accuracy - and the changes will also apply to those using BO6 guns in Call of Duty Warzone, too. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 guns, Black Ops 6 missions, Black Ops 6 loadouts |
PCGamesN Tuesday, December 10, 2024 1:21 PM  2024 has been a good year for RTS and strategy fans, and it just got even better. Veteran developers who previously worked on the Total Annihilation and Command and Conquer series have banded together for an industrious mix of factory-building and planetary warfare. Industrial Annihilation just launched in Steam Early Access after a strong crowdfunding campaign. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RTS games, Best strategy games, Best building games |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, December 10, 2024 3:40 PM  It seems as if every "wholesome" game is either a Stardewlike or a Animal Crossingbut. Little Rocket Lab? Stardewlike. Piece By Piece? Animal Crossingbut. To be more specific, it's Animal Crossing but your chibi fox protagonist is specifically running a shop, mending and painting objects to sell while maintaining cleanliness and the plants outside. If you can't get enough of upcycling in Trash Goblin, here's one more for you. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, December 10, 2024 3:35 PM  Ooh, this feels like the biggest news out of this evening's Wholesome Snack showcase: nourishing photography adventure Toem is getting a sequel, appropriately called Toem 2. It looks to follow much of what made the first so well liked, including its pocket-sized black-and-white worlds in which you wander about, snapping photos and helping the locals. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, December 10, 2024 3:30 PM  Pity the "relaxing" games which set out to blanket their players in a wholesome fog. These minimalist or slight experiences set their stall against the mainstream philosophy of video game design focused on action, rules, clear progression, and often violence. So it is with Naiad, a sometimes pleasant swim down a river in which you sing to make flowers grow and discover poems by interacting with birds, bees, butterflies and other fauna. Yet here's the cause of my pity. All those other games, with their decisive action, systemic consequence, and neck-snapping: I was playing those to relax, too. Why else would I have snapped all those necks? Being shorn of base pleasures does not make Naiad a restorative oasis amid a desert of stressful video games, and it doesn't make it more relaxing than its peers. In fact, it makes for an experience that left me restless, even a little anxious, when it made me feel anything at all. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, December 10, 2024 3:20 PM Little Rocket Lab is a Factorio and Stardew Valley mashup about building a rocketship in a cute town  Stardew Factory? Factory Valley? Whichever it is, Little Rocket Lab is a factory-builder about efficiently placing conveyors and robot arms, and is drawn in the warm, pixel art small-town of a Stardew-like. That sounds like a fitting combination, although it does mean you're building a NASA-sized rocketship on the outskirts of your quaint hometown. That can't be good for noise pollution. There's an announcement trailer below. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, December 10, 2024 3:08 PM  Duck Detective's first case was The Secret Salami, which paired its cosy mystery about stolen lunches with a protagonist whose divorce and destitution were played entirely straight despite his being a duck. The results were seemingly delightful, and here comes a sequel. Duck Detective: The Ghost Of Glamping will offer a further 2-3 hours of mystery-solving and is aiming for release in 2025. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, December 10, 2024 1:05 PM  Marvel Rivals, the free-to-play hero shooter from NetEase, launched late last week and is exceedingly popular. It's currently fourth on the Steam daily most played, right between Path Of Exile 2 and the evergreen Grand Theft Auto 5. I think there are three reasons for this enthusiasm: 1) it's free-to-play with the usual comet's tail of microtransactables 2) it's third-person Overwatch with Marvel characters, a straightforwardly enticing licensing sandwich, and 3) people want to have sex with a larger-than-usual proportion of the cast and especially awful tongue-monster Venom, who has a good butt in this one. No, I'm not going to share pictures. You'll have to google that filth yourself. But perhaps you are a sophisticated soul who has no time for such salacious nonsense. You're more interested in hearing how they're patching the thing. Enough with the butts already, dang it - this is a new multiplayer game so there must, of course, be patches! Fair enough: here's what NetEase are changing or fixing in the first major update, out now. |
Siliconera Tuesday, December 10, 2024 7:45 PM
Weekly Shonen Jump is the renowned shonen manga magazine that appears every single week in Japan. It is through Shonen Jump that we get some of the most impressive, ground-breaking, and popular manga of all time. Many of these manga series have turned into equally popular anime series. Here are the most influential anime series to come from Shonen Jump manga.
Most Influential Shonen Jump Anime: One Piece
Look anywhere in the anime industry and you see the influence of One Piece. Whether you think it's too long or not, there is no denying the nigh-endless reach of this pirate series. One Piece still influences new shonen anime series to this day in terms of tropes, characterizations, and fights. And even beyond shonen, this series even contributes to the passion and desire in new manga and anime creators every day.
Naruto
Naruto isn't too far behind One Piece in terms of influence. It set the standard for a character coming from nothing to become something. It also influenced the idea of teams of main characters that fight together, a dynamic we see even today in other influential series like Jujutsu Kaisen and its core cast.
Dragon Ball
Before there was any other series on this list, there was Dragon Ball. The story of Goku from a young age to becoming a father to saving the world and the universe time and time again is a tale as old as time. The late and great Akira Toriyama is one of the most influential legends in the manga and anime scene, and his legacy will continue to influence new shonen series for many decades to come.
Hunter x Hunter
While I can't answer the question of whether or not Hunter x Hunter will ever finish as a series, what I can say is the influence it has on the industry is undeniable. The action and fight sequences in this series is so unlike any other on this list, and the core characters of Gon, Killua, Leorio, and Hisoka might arguably be my favorite of the four series here. It has some darker edges to it unlike the three above that I would say feels more apparent in its influence of some of the newer shonen series in recent memory.
Other Influential Shonen Jump Series
In addition to the above four Shonen Jump series, there are other influential series worth mentioning. The following are more anime series that adapted various Shonen Jump manga to terrific success and popularity:
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Siliconera Tuesday, December 10, 2024 7:30 PM
Kotobukiya is re-releasing a figure of Natsuno Minami and B.J of 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. The figure will come out in June 2025, and it costs 16,500 JPY ($108.60).
Those who can't order from the Kotobukiya shop can also pre-order this figure from AmiAmi. The 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim Natsuno Minami and BJ figure originally came out in July 2021. It's a 1/8 scale figure that stands at around 250 millimeters, including the stand.
As for the figure itself, it depicts Natsuno on a stand that resembles a destroyed street. BJ is next to her, and the Start panel to activate her Sentinel is in the air next to her. There is some degree of customization to this figure. For example, you can replace Natsuno's hand part with a normal one if you don't want the Start panel. You can also take BJ off the stand if you don't want him there, or if you want to display him separately. There's a joint in BJ's neck, so you can make him look at different things if you want to.
In 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Natsuno is one of the main playable protagonists. She's a cheery and athletic girl who loves sci-fi, and is childhood friends with Yuki. Her discovery of the mysterious talking robot BJ drags her into the plot, and a huge part of her particular story is helping BJ while also finding out what or who he is.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is readily available on the PS4 and Nintendo Switch.
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Siliconera Tuesday, December 10, 2024 7:00 PM
With only a few days of the year remaining, SAFE HAVN STUDIO announced that SAEKO: Giantess Dating Sim will be delayed from 2024 to the first half of 2025. The studio will release more information about a specific release date in the near future.
The announcement of the delay appeared on publisher's Hyper Real X (formerly Twitter) official account, and was also shared on the game's Steam page translated in English. In it, the developers at SAFE HAVN STUDIO explained that they made the decision to delay the title in order to improve the quality of the game. The developers also apologized for the delay and thanked players for their support during the latest Steam Next Fest.
SAEKO: Giantess Dating Sim is a horror adventure game in which the player and other miniature-sized people are trapped in the room of a terrifying giant woman. The gameplay is divided between daytime sections in which players explore the stories of the people trapped in the room alongside them, and nighttime sections where Saeko talks with the protagonist and selecting the wrong choices could lead to fatal consequences.
The game was originally announced in 2023 and showcased at Tokyo Game Show the same year. A demo for SAEKO: Giantess Dating Sim appeared on Steam Next Fest during both 2023 and most recently in October 2024.
SAEKO: Giantess Dating Sim has been delayed from its original 2024 release window and will release sometime in the first half of 2025 for PC.
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Siliconera Tuesday, December 10, 2024 6:30 PM
Pre-orders have opened for Exquisite figures of Joker and Morgana from Persona 5 Royal. The figure will come out in January 2026, and it costs $49.99.
You can pre-order the figure from Entertainment Earth, and the figure is from Hiya Toys. This is a 1/12 scale figure, standing at around 6 inches tall, and it comes with multiple optional hand parts. Since it's a poseable figure, you can make him strike different poses, with the hand parts offering you more range. Morgana is more like a prop in which you can place him next to the Persona 5 Royal Exquisite Joker figure, or use him elsewhere.
While Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal came out years ago at this point, the game remains so popular that many companies are releasing new merchandise and figures for it. For example, earlier this year, Good Smile Company announced that it would make a Nendoroid of Akechi in his school uniform. Good Smile Company also said it would release a new line of GoodSmile Moment Persona 5 Royal goods. However, there aren't any details yet as to when they'll come out and what they'll be.
The Exquisite figures of Joker and Morgana from Persona 5 Royal are open for pre-order via Entertainment Earth. Persona 5 Royal is readily available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC.
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Siliconera Tuesday, December 10, 2024 6:15 PM
As you likely already know, Japanese games are the lifeblood of our site and there were quite a few of them released this year in 2024. As we wind down this year and prepare for the next, it is time to look at the best overall Japanese games released worldwide in 2024. From JRPGs to fighting games and more, these are the best Japanese games of 2024.
Best Japanese Games Released in 2024: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
While this list is generally in no particular order, if I had to pick one Japanese title to win above the others, it would be FFVII Rebirth. This second in the trilogy of JRPG remakes is spectacular with some of the best presentation and quality in the business. The story, combat, and world is phenomenal from start to its awkward finish. It is a near masterpiece if not for the controversial ending.
Tekken 8
Tekken 8 might just be the best entry in the long-running fighting series. The singleplayer content is phenomenal with a surprisingly worthy story worth checking out. Of course, the roster of characters is just enough with the fast, fluid, and accurate fighting techniques we've come to expect from this series. If there is any fighting game worth playing this year, it's this one.
Emio: The Smiling Man - Famicom Detective Club
When it comes to visual novels and point-and-click adventures, this is the title everyone should play this year. The Nintendo Switch exclusive presents a horrifying and twisted mystery about a serial killer. There are some genuinely spooky moments and a payoff that is well worth it. If players stick around all the way through, they'll find one of the most unique and masterful endings in gaming.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
Sure, Metaphor: ReFantazio struggles quite a bit with writing and pacing in the second half, but the first half is incredible. Characters like Heismay rank up there with some of the best characters Atlus has ever made. In addition, this combat and style is arguably the best turn-based combat in the history of RPGs, making it a must-play experience this year.
More of the Best Japanese Games Released in 2024
There are so many other incredible Japanese games that have been released this year. While the above may be the most impressive of the bunch, here are a few more amazing games from Japanese developers and publishers that are well worth your attention:
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Siliconera Tuesday, December 10, 2024 5:30 PM
Goro Majima will sing new karaoke songs from Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii on a new album to be released on February 7, 2025 ahead of the game's release. The "Captain Majima – EP" album will feature 3 songs performed by Goro Majima's Japanese voice actor, Hidenari Ugaki. [Thanks, PR Times!]
The EP costs 1,500 yen (or approximately $9.87) and will be available for sale from the Wave Master Store. The new Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii album includes 3 tracks performed by Goro Majima's Japanese voice actor, Hidenari Ugaki. These are "36.5C°Sun," "Midnight Desire," and "Goro Pirate Crew Theme" ("Goro Kaizokudan no Tema") as well as the instrumental version for each one. The album also includes an original sticker as a bonus gift.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a new spin-off title in the Like a Dragon series formerly known as Yakuza outside of Japan. The game follows Goro Majima, the Mad Dog of Shimano, after he wakes up in a Hawaiian island with amnesia and embarks on a pirate adventure to recover his past as well as discover hidden treasures.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will come out for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam on February 21, 2025. The "Captain Majima – EP" album costs 1,500 yen (~$9.87) and will release on February 7, 2025.
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Siliconera Tuesday, December 10, 2024 5:00 PM
Square Enix has shared some details of the production process of the Emil-shaped porcelain bottle from NieR and NieR: Automata. The bottle is being made as a bonus merchandise item included in some of the ticket options for the NieR Dinner Show.
The "Something Like a NieR Dinner Show 12024" will be held in Tokyo, Japan on December 29, 2024. The bottle imitates Emil's design, with the teethy grinned mask being its most noticeable feature. Additionally, the date of the NieR Dinner Show is engraved on the back. The bottle will not be sold separately, and the only way to acquire it is to attend the NieR Dinner Show event and select any of the ticket options that includes extra goods.
You can check out the NieR Emil porcelain bottle as well as take a brief look at the production process here:
The NieR Dinner Show was originally announced on September 30, 2024. The announcement confirmed the inclusion of the Emil bottle as a bonus, but it was only shown as a prototype image. As reported in November 2024, the dinner event will also include a shop where several merchandise items from the NieR series will be sold.
The NieR Dinner Show will take place on December 29, 2024 in Japan. NieR: Automata is readily available for the PS4, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC. NieR Replicant is available PS4, Xbox One, PC.
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Siliconera Tuesday, December 10, 2024 4:30 PM
Capcom's been offering gameplay videos with insights into different monsters and experiences in Monster Hunter Wilds, and the week of December 9, 2024 is dedicated to Uth Duna. So far two teasers appeared, each one showing what it is like to encounter the Scarlet Forest apex monster in-game.
The first video appeared on December 9, 2024. That one featured a cinematic taken from the Monster Hunter Wilds campaign. In it, after going through the Scarlet Forest, our hunter character finally happens upon a major predator that's been causing issues in the area. While it isn't the rumored creature that is part of the reason we come to the space, it is quite an opponent.
Here's how that video looks:
The second gameplay video gets into a tactic we need to watch out for when fighting Uth Duna in Monster Hunter Wilds. It will be in the watery, river areas in the Scarlet Forest region. In addition to dealing with the tides around you, impeding movement, and the monster taking advantage of that, it shields itself with fluids. In the video, we get to see a hunter attacking the creature's tail. In so doing, it is breaking through that protective coating. There's a visible change when this is done. Also, as expected, the monster's behaviors change when this happens.
Here's the gameplay footage from December 10, 2024.
Monster Hunter Wilds will come to the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on February 28, 2025. People who pre-order get the Guild Knight Set layered armor and Hope Charm.
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Siliconera Tuesday, December 10, 2024 4:00 PM
I've always felt there was a certain kinship between Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Both properties follow unconventional teams of teenaged superheroes who battle weird monsters using their fighting skills, cool weapons, and distinctive vehicles. The roots of both lay earlier than their most popular forms, and both have seen numerous follow-ups and reboots that despite their success haven't managed to bottle lightning in quite the same way. Perhaps most importantly for our purposes today, both are also perfectly suited for video game adaptations.
This is also a point of divergence, however. Where the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are practically woven into the fabric of video gaming history due to Konami's outstanding and wildly successful run of games in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Power Rangers have never been able to fully shake off that "licensed game" feeling. It would be easy to explain if all of the games based on the IP were of dubious quality, but there have been a number of good games featuring the multicolored martial artists. For whatever reason, none of them have had the right combination of elements to hit it truly big.
Enter Digital Eclipse and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind. Following in the footsteps of other successful beat 'em up revivals like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge and Streets of Rage 4, this game sees the original teenagers with attitude taking on a threat from the future. Coming off her villainous turn in 2023's Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always, Robo-Rita has decided that two Ritas are better than one for conquering Earth. She transports herself back in time to 1993 to team up with her younger self and take down the original teenagers with attitude while they're still young and inexperienced. Zordon doesn't miss a bit and has Alpha press the team into action immediately in order to put a stop to this time-bending crisis.
What follows is a few hours of Putty-pummeling, Goldar-grinding, Bulk-bragging action. Everything has been put together here with an eye to pleasing fans of the earlier episodes of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, with every big boss being pulled from those foundational tales. You'll travel through many familiar locations, and the Putties are always dressed for the occasion. You can even hit up the Juice Bar between episodes and listen to Bulk go off about how he was the one who actually saved the day. While not quite up to the sheer excesses of Shredder's Revenge, I think fans are going to be pleased with how the Rangers and their world are represented.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Revenge is so dedicated to making sure all the core elements of the series get their proper due that it takes some very odd swings at times for a co-op brawler. Is it really Power Rangers if the Megazord doesn't awkwardly knock around the monster of the week for a bit before using its Power Sword to finish the job? For better or worse, you're going to get the full Power Rangers experience here. That means that in addition to the standard belt-scrolling punch-ups, there are a few other kinds of stages you'll have to deal with. Two of them play like variants on SEGA's popular Super Scaler games, with one putting you on the back of a motorbike and the other in the cockpit of your very own Zord.
These stages offer a pinch of Space Harrier and a touch of Hang-On, with a few moments of clumsy platforming for the land-bound Zords. Destroying certain objects and enemies will give you some temporary power-ups, but the general rule here is to just keep blasting everything. Avoid attacks where possible, and be very careful not to fall down a pit as it's an instant life lost if you do. While a nice change of pace and a good nod to an aspect of the Power Rangers that tends to get forgotten, these stages run on a bit longer than I feel would be ideal. They're also very repetitive, following the same broad structure each time they appear.
The other oddball gameplay type comes when the Rangers form the Megazord to battle a giant opponent. It plays out a little like a first-person take on Punch-Out!!, with you having to dodge enemy attacks and counter with punches of your own. Your aim here is to fill up the meter charging your Power Sword. Landing hits will fill it, while taking hits will drain it. There are three levels to charge up, and even if you get boxed around a fair bit you can only drop down to the bottom of your current level in the gauge. Once you fill it up, the Power Sword will drop and you can use it to deliver the final button-mashing blow. Very cool stuff, even if it comes off more methodical than I'd prefer by the end.
I think there are two ways to look at these alternate stage types. If we look at Rita's Rewind as a beat 'em up, I think these stages take too long to complete and are too repetitive to work as a palate cleanser for the brawling action. This game loves its phases, and going through the same time-consuming routine with each Megazord boss fight loses its luster after a while. The Super Scaler-style stages are more varied, but they too recycle certain phase-based sequences too often. The worst is if you happen to run out of lives near the end of one of these stages, since continues send you back to the start. This is less of a problem in multiplayer than it is in solo play, but it can be very disheartening.
If we set aside the beat 'em up mindset however, and just look at this as a Mighty Morphin Power Rangers game? These stages seem practically essential to the experience. Sure, we don't see many episodes where the robot T-Rex sprints and hops its way through canyons, blasting everything in its path. But these sections, along with the motorbike bits, are very cool in that Power Rangers way. The Megazord fights might be formulaic to a fault, but how could you possibly dislike boxing a giant monster's face while the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers theme song plays in the background? How can you not be hyped to see the Megazord do his familiar clunky sword retrieval and then use it to blast away the boss? It's utterly Power Rangers. It has to be here.
Let's talk about the beat 'em up mechanics, as you'll spend the bulk of the game playing the brawler stages. You have a melee attack that goes into a combo, and the last hit generally hits behind you as well as in front. You can do an aerial attack, and you had best practice that because you are going to need it. There's a jump kick, a ground pound, and a dash attack. You can perform a backflip that works as a dodge, and you can pose. Posing gives you a little bit of energy for your super gauge, which otherwise simply fills up as you fight. Grabbing Power Coins from smashed objects will also help build your meter. Once it's full, you can call on your Zord for a screen-wide super attack. Aside from Power Coins, you can also pick up health-restoring food and some collectibles by smashing everything. So, you know. Do that.
Apart from light cosmetic differences, all the Rangers have the same set of moves. I can't be fully sure, but I think there might be some mild differences in their speed and power. This is one aspect of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind that disappointed me. The move set is adequate even if it isn't anywhere near the better games in the genre, but the fact that there is so little variability between characters is unfortunate. The characters all have their own style in the show, and that would have been really cool to see expressed here. One of the things that makes games like Shredder's Revenge or Streets of Rage 4 so fun to replay is in how each character feels distinct from the others. In this game, even the unlockable character plays more or less like the rest.
Still, there's a decent flow to the combat. It's closer to the speedy chaos of Shredder's Revenge than anything, and you can zip around the screen taking out multiple opponents with ease once you get the hang of it. Fighting is breezy and fun, and Digital Eclipse has done a great job of taking notes from how the Turtles games create variations on the Foot Soldiers to stretch the Putty forces into a varied bunch. It's rare to fight any basic enemies that aren't Putties, with the Tenga Warriors serving as the other main punching bag baddies. The AI isn't very clever, but I suspect most don't want it to be in this kind of game.
The boss battles by and large lean hard into the phase-based approach. You'll be able to attack them for a bit, then they'll go invincible and do some kind of pattern you'll have to dodge a few times, then back to the vulnerable state, and repeat until dead. I'm not personally a huge fan of this style of boss battle in a beat 'em up, but outside of one extremely annoying portion of the fight with Bones, I didn't find any of these fights terribly egregious. Solo players might find themselves vexed by a couple instances where the battle was clearly designed for multiplayer, however.
Multiplayer is a key component of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind. At this point in time, you can have up to two players online and five in local play, but Digital Eclipse has stated that you'll be able to go online with more players in the near future. At any rate, even one additional player makes a huge difference here. As I said earlier in the review, this game gets a lot better if you take it more as a Power Rangers game than as a beat 'em up. The Power Rangers aren't exactly known for going it solo. It can be a challenge to design a game to work well in both single-player and multiplayer, and this one leans more towards satisfying the latter experience.
Some of the bosses and enemy encounters can be troublesome when you're alone, and it sometimes feels as though your moveset is insufficient to deal with everything being thrown at you. When you're flying solo, it's a lot easier to notice how rote the Scaler stages and Megazord fights are. Even the voice clips seem to assume other players on the field, which comes off weird when you're the only Ranger around. Bring in other players, and you'll have a far better time. It's incredibly chaotic with a full set of five, but you'll not only be able to handle the challenges with greater ease but also will be able to pump each other up when the game starts cooking up its more hyped moments.
The only fly in this multiplayer operation comes in the Megazord fights. There's only one giant robot, after all. You end up passing control to the next player when you take damage or reach a new level of the Power Sword gauge, and it comes off as a clumsy solution for a difficult problem. It at least keeps everyone on their toes, if nothing else. Again, if everyone buys into the premise and is rocking along to the chants of GO GO POWER RANGERS, this isn't going to be a big deal. As a game design element it's somewhat lacking in elegance, but the presentation helps paint over it.
Indeed, the presentation is virtually unassailable in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind. The pixel-art graphics are excellent, both detailed and well-animated. The backgrounds are packed with fun details, and I got a kick out of the different Putty disguises. The Super Scaler-style stages look terrific, and the Megazord fights do an superb job of making you feel like you're in the cockpit. The music rocks in all the right ways. The main theme isn't overused, and the additional tunes fit perfectly. I love that Bulk and Skull's theme is in here despite the pair being not much more than a cameo. The sound effects are great, too. Hits have a nice thwack to them, just like in the show.
You also have access to a really good CRT-style filter, and while I am not normally in love with such things, this one was good enough that I kept it on during most of my playtime. In terms of other options, there are four different difficulty settings including one you'll have to earn. You can also play a speed run mode that times you as you make your way through each stage. In true Digital Eclipse fashion, there are also some unlockable faux-retro games that you can play in the Juice Bar. They're all quite enjoyable, and they'll keep track of your high scores.
At the very least, I can say that Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind is a well-made game with a lot of love put into it. How much farther than that it goes really depends on how you approach it. A solo player looking for the next top-tier beat 'em up is going to find that a lot of annoying design choices were made here. A Power Rangers fan with some friends in tow looking to relive the good old days is going to have an absolute blast. I'm not sure if I would call this the best game to carry the Power Rangers license, but I'm comfortable calling it the best Power Rangers game. Go, go.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind is available for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.
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Siliconera Tuesday, December 10, 2024 3:45 PM
The voice actors in Marvel Rivals stand out as one of the game's most prominent features, showcasing an impressive lineup of accomplished performers. This star-studded cast includes both industry veterans and fan-favorite actors reprising iconic roles.
All Voice Actors in Marvel Rivals
Below is the complete cast:
Marvel Rivals Voice Actor Highlights
Yuri Lowenthal returns to voice Spider-Man. A character he has become synonymous with through his acclaimed performances in Insomniac's Marvel's Spider-Man series. His portrayal continues to bring Peter Parker's wit and determination to life.
Fred Tatasciore's performance as Hulk demonstrates his mastery of vocal intensity. Tatasciore has voiced the Hulk in numerous Marvel projects. Steve Blum and Nolan North reprise their roles as Wolverine and Rocket Raccoon, respectively. Both actors are fan-favorites for these characters, and their seasoned performances bring consistency to Marvel Rivals.
Travis Willingham, known for voicing Thor across various media, also takes on the mantle of Doctor Doom in Marvel Rivals. His ability to balance Thor's heroic charisma with Doom's cold and calculating demeanor showcases his impressive range.
This diverse and talented voice cast brings a fresh energy to Marvel Rivals, while paying homage to established Marvel portrayals. Their work elevates the game, making it a standout experience for fans of the franchise.
Marvel Rivals is available for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
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Siliconera Tuesday, December 10, 2024 3:30 PM
Idol Corp, a US Vtuber agency owned by Brave, announced that performer Roca Rourin is on hiatus following a "severe accident." Roca herself hasn't appeared to issue any statement, with only management sharing an update on her status on social media and then retweeting it on her official account.
The Idol statement vaguely addressed the condition of Roca Rourin and updates on the Vtuber's streams and merchandise. As she is hospitalized, she will not appear online in any capacity. Her merchandise won't be sold for her birthday, which is December 10th. There is no date set for her return as of yet, but the company noted additional updates will be shared when available.
Roca Rourin joined Idol as a Vtuber in June 2023. She's a part of the group Endless, which also includes Coni Confetti, Kai Saikota, Momo Otako, and Poko Rakun. Prior to the accident, she was an active performer with the company. Her last stream prior to the incident was an unarchived karaoke one, which aired on December 8, 2024. Prior to the accident, she had also taken part in a Backshot Roulette collab with Poko, Kai, and Coni.
You can see her singing below:
Roca Rourin is on hiatus, and it is unknown when she will return. Her past streams can be found on her official YouTube channel.
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Siliconera Tuesday, December 10, 2024 3:00 PM
We now not only have a Castlevania Nocturne season 2 release date, but a new trailer prominently featuring Alucard and Richter Belmont in the Netflix anime series. The show returns on January 16, 2025. As we already knew and expected, the recurring cast member from the first adaptation will be back.
The trailer begins with some spoilers of sorts, revealing that the Richter and his allies lost against Erzsebet at the end of the first season. However, Alucard appeared during the cliffhanger of the first Castlevania Nocturne season, joining the Belmont, Maria Renard, and Annette. In the video, we see Richter unite with Alucard and Annette to discuss teaming up. We then get to hear Alucard talk about his cause, how he's always fought alongside Belmonts, reminiscing about Trevor, and referring to members of that family as "irritating."
Here's the latest trailer for the show.
As for season 1 one of the show, that's available now. You can already watch it on Netflix. However, it is also available via another method for those who want permanent access and to not have to rely on a streaming service. On October 8, 2024, the show got a Blu-ray release.
In addition to the Castlevania Nocturne appearance, Alucard featured prominently in the previous anime on Netflix. He was a major character right from the start, debuting in season 1 and acting as an ally to Trevor Belmont.
Castlevania Nocturne is available on Netflix, and the anime will continue on January 16, 2025.
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Siliconera Tuesday, December 10, 2024 2:30 PM
Back on December 3, 2024, Square Enix teased a new Final Fantasy XIV album release in the Pulse series for December 10, 2024, and now Pulse: FFXIV Remix Album Vol 2 (Session 1) is available with five songs from the Endwalker and Dawntrail soundtracks. It is available on places like Amazon, iTunes, and other services. The official site is open, there's a first trailer, and those tracks can be listened to online.
First, here's the Pulse: FFXIV Remix Album Vol 2 (Session 1) track list, with notations mentioning which Final Fantasy XIV soundtrack each song came from. Note that on the site itself, you can compare the original track to the new remix.
We also know the five songs that will be a part of the (Session 2) release and are taken from the soundtrack albums from past expansions. Here's what will be available on January 9, 2025.
Here's the trailer for the songs. It features a brief sample of each track, with a Loporrit DJ often appearing to "play" the remix. Said Loporrit also appears on the cover of both the (Session 1) and (Session 2) albums.
This follows the last remix album. That debuted back in 2020.
The Pulse: FFXIV Remix Album Vol 2 (Session 1) is available digitally now, the (Session 2) soundtrack will appear on January 9, 2025, and presumably we'll see a physical release after that. Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC.
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Siliconera Tuesday, December 10, 2024 2:00 PM
Crunchyroll announced it is adding The Master of Diabolism, the anime adaptation of the Chinese series Mo Dao Zu Shi by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu, to its library. On December 11, 2024, the first and second seasons of the show will be available to stream. It didn't note if this means we'll also eventually see the spin-off The Founder of Diabolism Q as well.
As is common with Crunchyroll, The Master of DIabolism anime won't be available everywhere. The service only has limited distribution rights. So in some regions in Asia, like China, Japan, and Korea, Crunchyroll isn't handling it. It also won't make it available for Russian customers. However, those of us everywhere else will be able to watch the show.
There are 23 episodes total of the Mo Dao Zu Shi anime. The first 15 make up the first season, and the last eight are in season 2. The third season won't be available. That story involved an additional 12 episodes. That final season ended in 2022.
The first and second seasons of The Master of Diabolism anime will air on Crunchyroll worldwide, with a few exceptions, on December 11, 2024. The novel and manga adaptations were handled by Seven Seas Entertainment in English. The live-action adaptation called The Untamed is available on Netflix. There is also a mobile game in China called My Treasure x The Untamed.
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Siliconera Tuesday, December 10, 2024 1:30 PM
Imagineer announced that it will hold a new wave of the Zoids crossover event in Medabots S. The re-run with additional new units will take place for roughly a month from December 12, 2024, then end in January 2025.
The new wave will have three new Medabots inspired by Zoids that did not appear previously. The Zoids in question will be Storm Sworder, Death Stinger, and Gojulas. Each unit will be available to obtain via an exclusive gacha banner.
As a reminder, Imagineer held the first crossover wave in late 2023. It added five new Medabots modeled after the Blade Liger, Shield Liger, Command Wolf, Geno Saurer, and Death Saurer. Players who missed the first event will have another chance to get all of the five returning units in the upcoming re-run.
In addition, Imagineer will add a new costume inspired by Zoids: Chaotic Century's Irvine for the Medabots S character Ikki. The company will also bring back Van's attire for Azuma and Raven's costume for Kohaku that appeared in the first wave.
Imagineer has also published a trailer featuring the crossover event re-run on YouTube:
The new wave of Zoids crossover event in Medabots S, which is available on iOS and Android mobile devices in Japan, will run from December 12, 2024, until January 9, 2025.
The post Medabots S Zoids Crossover Will Return With More Units appeared first on Siliconera. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Tuesday, December 10, 2024 5:00 PM A trailer was also released. The post Chained Echoes 'Ashes of Elrant' DLC Announced appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Tuesday, December 10, 2024 4:33 PM A trailer was also released. The post Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II 'Obelisk' Update Available Now appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Tuesday, December 10, 2024 4:08 PM An overview video was also released. The post Cyberpunk 2077 2.2 Update Announced appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Tuesday, December 10, 2024 3:54 PM Black Myth: Wukong first launched on August 20. The post Black Myth: Wukong Gets New Boss Rush Update appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |