GamersHeroes Wednesday, July 31, 2024 6:19 PM The team at Creepy Jar announced that the world of Green Hell will make its way to both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on August 14. The post Green Hell Coming to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S August 14 appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Wednesday, July 31, 2024 1:32 PM Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition gives a number of Nintendo classics a new lease on life, but the overall package is a bit light on content. The post Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition Review appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Wednesday, July 31, 2024 12:15 PM The latest video for EA Orlando's Madden NFL 25 takes a Deep Dive into all the new features and updates coming to its Franchise Mode. The post Madden NFL 25 Franchise and Presentation Deep Dive Released appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 31, 2024 5:35 PM  A new report featuring quotes from anonymous developers who have worked with Apple Arcade claims the subscription gaming service has no real goals, barely communicates with studios, and treats teams poorly, making them jump through hoops and wait for months to get paid. One developer even claimed that working with… |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 31, 2024 5:11 PM  Nvidia started as a humble graphics card maker. Now it's riding the tech industry's AI obsession to absurd new heights. The company added $329 billion to its market cap on Wall Street today after a record-breaking day of stock trading, Bloomberg reports. |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 31, 2024 4:55 PM  The Elden Ring speedrunning community is hungry for new exploits to crack the open-world FromSoftware game wide open and it might've just discovered one. As part of an ongoing $10,000 tournament, someone has found a way to displace the player character just enough to allow them to walk on air and skip huge chunks of… |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 31, 2024 3:40 PM  Sound the alarms! Some of Nintendo's first-party digital Switch games are on sale for a limited time. If you've been wanting to play Mario Golf, Kirby Star Allies, or Nintendo Switch Sports this is the best chance to snag these (and other) games for less than normal. |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 31, 2024 3:30 PM  Earlier this week, Microsoft shut down the Xbox 360's digital store, effectively putting the final nail in the beloved console's coffin. While it's a shame that the nearly 20-year-old console's marketplace is gone, it doesn't take away from the Xbox 360's legacy as a popular, innovative, and weird machine that paved… |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 31, 2024 3:20 PM  Sony purchased Bungie, the original studio behind Halo and the maker of Destiny 2, for a whopping $3.6 billion in 2022. Following the sale, Bungie CEO Pete Parsons purchased over 20 classic cars in online auctions costing millions of dollars, according to his account on the website Bring A Trailer. He continued buying… |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 31, 2024 3:00 PM  This week I received a surprise gift from a friend. It was a single card for the Final Fantasy Trading Card Game. Specifically it is for Ysayle, my favorite character from Final Fantasy XIV. Before receiving it I knew the Final Fantasy Trading Card Game existed, but never really gave it any thought, now I've fallen… |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 31, 2024 2:15 PM  Today, Bungie announced that it was laying off 220 employees, or approximately 17 percent of its workforce. The news, which comes on the heels of a successful expansion launch with Destiny 2: The Final Shape in June and another round of layoffs late last year, has prompted former employees and players alike to… |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 31, 2024 12:30 PM  Popular streamer Guy "Dr Disrespect" Beahm has returned to the public eye a little over a month after admitting he sent "inappropriate" messages to a minor on Twitch. The controversial character, who was permanently banned from the platform on June 26, 2020, admitted in a lengthy post on X (formerly Twitter) on June… |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 31, 2024 12:05 PM  Yesterday, July 30, Final Fantasy XIV received its first big patch since the release of the Dawntrail expansion. While the introduction of the new Savage raids is a source of excitement for the community, the biggest point of contention is the long list of changes the Viper job has received in patch 7.05. As one of… |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 6:41 PM  There are many jobs I feel unqualified to do. One of them would be to work as an air traffic controller - I simply couldn't be trusted with keeping thousands of lives safe as they sail through the skies in metal tubes. Thankfully there are ways to try out this job without having to actually put people in danger, and new minimalist sim Mini Airways certainly fits the bill. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best management games, Best roguelike games, Best simulation games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 4:36 PM  Success is a fickle thing in gaming. It can strike quickly and without warning and can disappear as easily. For some games like Outpost: Infinity Siege, it can even strike twice. At launch back in March, it hit a solid player base but that quickly dwindled, leaving it with only a few hundred players at any one time. Now, things might be turning around for the game thanks to a huge patch that has added some new stuff and changed up plenty more. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games, Best building games, Best tower defense games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 2:45 PM  Diablo 4 Season 5 is the final big update ahead of the ARPG's first expansion, Vessel of Hatred. With the fifth season set to be a little shorter than previous installments in order to line up its schedule for the DLC, you might be considering skipping out on this season. Speaking to PCGamesN, Blizzard developers agree that taking time away can be a great idea - but hint that you won't want to miss what it has in store this time around. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 builds, Diablo 4 review, Diablo 4 classes |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 2:25 PM  Any popular MMO will be afflicted with a similar cry at some point in its lifespan. The call will go up from the community, asking, demanding, and begging for a particular new feature to be added. It's always player housing, as adventurers crave somewhere to hang their hats after a day out battling dragons or despoiling corpses. Games like Lord of the Rings Online, Rift, ESO, Final Fantasy XIV, and Phantasy Star 2: New Genesis, all have robust player housing systems that act as compelling reasons to continue playing and show off your stuff - and now Guild Wars 2 is joining their ranks. Continue reading Guild Wars 2 dev details how player housing works in next expansion MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best MMOs on PC, Guild Wars 2 system requirements, Guild Wars 2 expansion |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 2:03 PM  August is already looking packed for incredible new indie games, and this intriguing, solo dev roguelike has just joined the party. Feed the Deep, which is heavily inspired by the likes of Spelunky, tasks you with diving down to the ocean floor to gather resources, uncover secrets, and ultimately feed a sea monster that threatens a floating city above. It's a cool premise, and you won't have to wait very long at all before you can play it on Steam for yourself. Continue reading Solo dev roguelike Feed the Deep is dropping on Steam very soon MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best roguelike games, Best indie games, Best PC games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 1:24 PM  Getting to the top of a mountain isn't done in one giant stride - you have to take each individual step to get there. That's the feeling I get looking at the latest set of Once Human patch notes. It's not a colossal update which will make drastic changes to the game, but instead it's a series of incremental fixes that nevertheless add up to something large. This new patch is chock-full of tweaks and fixes, and it should make almost every aspect of the game a little more enjoyable. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best sandbox games, Best open-world games, Best survival games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 12:20 PM  It's been a disheartening almost 16 years since Metal Slug 7, the last mainline entry in the iconic run 'n' gun series. Sure, there have been mobile games, ports, and remasters, but there's a void where a fresh new entry should be. This is to Gelato Games' benefit, which has just revealed Guns of Fury. This retro-inspired action platformer makes a beautiful concoction of Metal Slug and Metroidvanias, and it's out this year. Continue reading Gorgeous pixel co-op shooter feels like a brand-new Metal Slug game MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Metroidvania games, Best indie games, Best PC games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 12:14 PM  Despite Destiny 2's climactic The Final Shape expansion going down a storm with fans, Bungie is making another sizable round of layoffs to its workforce, the studio has announced. 220 roles will be eliminated in order for Bungie to solely focus on supporting Destiny 2 and developing its upcoming extraction shooter Marathon. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Destiny 2 classes, Destiny 2 The Final Shape review, Destiny 2 builds |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 12:13 PM  Incredibly well reviewed with a 93% Steam rating and yet still somehow overlooked, Paradise Killer is one of the coolest and most interesting detective games on Steam. Following its impressive debut, developer Kaizen Game Works gives us a deep-dive look at its new game, where an exiled member of the yakuza runs a mascot agency as he investigates the mystery that led to his downfall. This is Promise Mascot Agency, and you need to see it for yourself. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best indie games, Best management games, Best open-world games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 12:13 PM  Logitech is apparently working on a mouse that's so packed with premium features, the company thinks you'll pay a subscription to access its miraculous wonders. The revelation of a subscription Logitech mouse was made by the company's CEO Hanneke Faber in a recent interview with The Verge, where Faber revealed that the "forever mouse" isn't "super far away." The crux of the reason why buyers might want a subscription to a Logitech mouse seems to be that it will have premium software features, with regular updates constantly opening up new possibilities. However, given how little most gamers actually change the settings of their best gaming mouse, it seems unlikely a mouse could ever provide enough constant extra utility to justify a subscription. Continue reading Logitech wants to make a "forever mouse" that needs a subscription MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Logitech G Pro Superlight 2, Logitech G Pro X TKL Lightspeed review, Best gaming mouse |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 12:13 PM  Intel has finally revealed the exact date that its new Lunar Lake laptop CPUs will be unleashed into the world, with the Intel Lunar Lake series arriving in shops on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. The new Core Ultra 200V chips contain more powerful AI processing parts compared to Intel's current Meteor Lake/Core Ultra 100 chips, and they're expected to provide improved battery life too, although they have at least one notable downside. The new contenders to power the best gaming laptops of the world, come at a tumultuous time for Intel, with rumors that it's set to lay off 10,000 employees, while its desktop chips are being heavily criticized for instability in games. If Lunar Lake can provide a big boost in battery life and plenty of power, it could be one positive step in the company's recovery. Continue reading Intel's Lunar Lake laptops launch next month, with big battery boost MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Core i5 14600K review, Best gaming CPU, Core i9 14900K review |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 12:03 PM  Dead Cells is coming to an end. Update 35 marks the last-ever patch to one of the best roguelikes on the market, and we finally have a release date. While I'm sad to see Dead Cells end its updates, I have no doubt in my mind that Evil Empire will send it out with a bang, cementing The Beheaded as a true modern videogame icon. The end is near people, so it's time to get prepared. Continue reading The last Dead Cells update finally has a release date MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best roguelike games, Best indie games on PC, Best soulslikes |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 31, 2024 3:20 PM  I'm hooked on Dune Imperium, a deckbuilder and worker placement digital board game I'm only just beginning to get my head around. Here comes some news to send my head spinning again: the Rise Of Ix expansion is out now, which adds three new factions, six new leaders, a new mode and much more. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 31, 2024 2:34 PM  BioWare have said that Dragon Age: The Veilguard is due for release sometime this autumn, causing many to predict it would arrive in September. That seems unlikely now, as EA say the RPG is due to launch in their financial third quarter which begins October 1st. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 31, 2024 1:35 PM  Braid: Anniversary Edition "sold like dog shit" according to creator Jonathan Blow. Blow discussed the remasters sales performance across several Twitch streams since its release back in May, going so far as to suggest that the studio's "future is uncertain" as a result of low sales. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 31, 2024 12:59 PM  Destiny and Marathon developers Bungie are laying off 220 people - around 17% of their total workforce - as studio heads try to offset a financial crisis brought on by "overly ambitious" expansion, individual project "misfires", and a wider economic downturn in 2023. Bungie are also transferring a further 155 roles to parent company Sony Interactive Entertainment, and are spinning out an untitled incubation project - an "action game set in a brand-new science-fantasy universe" - to form a new PlayStation studio. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 31, 2024 7:00 PM
During the 40th anniversary event of Dragon Ball, you'll be able to catch the first ever episode of the new anime series Dragon Ball Daima. The late Akira Toriyama was the one who worked on the story and character design of Dragon Ball Daima, which will be a brand new tale in the franchise.
The new show will start airing some time in October 2024. But if you go to the 40th anniversary Dragon Ball festival on October 6, 2024, you'll be able to watch it before anyone else can. There will only be three premieres, with the cast (including Masako Nozawa who plays Goku and his kids), appearing to greet the audience during the first two.
Aside from showing off Dragon Ball Daima, the 40th anniversary event will also have announcements about new games. You'll be able to play their demos, as well as purchase event-exclusive merchandise. Demos will include that of Sparking Zero and Super Divers. Though the event itself is free, the tickets are only available via lottery. You can try for a ticket via the official website.
The Dragon Ball 40th anniversary event will be on October 6, 2024. North America will also be able to check out the show in November 2024.
The post Dragon Ball Daima Episode 1 to Appear at 40th Anniversary Event appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 31, 2024 6:30 PM
Square Enix has released a new line of Dragon Quest bath bombs called the "Slime Colorful Collection." These bath bombs, shaped like the slimes from the Dragon Quest series, dissolve in water to reveal included collectible figures. The "Slime Colorful Collection" bath bombs can be purchased through the Square Enix e-Store.
The collection includes eight different types of figures, each with a distinct soda scent. For collectors, a box set containing all 12 bath bombs is also available. The individual bath bombs are priced at 550 yen each (approximately $4 USD), while the box set is priced at 6,600 yen (approximately $44 USD).
You can view the official announcement post below:
In related news, a series of events in Japan are set to feature the Dragon Quest III HD-2D remake. Following its reveal at the June 2024 Nintendo Direct, Square Enix is holding the Dragon Quest Carnival in Yokohama, from July 20, 2024, to August 18, 2024. Additionally, the Nijigen no Mori amusement park on Awaji Island has extended its Dragon Quest Island attraction event until today July 31, 2024, to celebrate the remake.
The HD-2D remake of Dragon Quest III will be available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC simultaneously worldwide on November 14, 2024.
The post Dragon Quest Slime Bath Bombs Include Figures appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 31, 2024 6:00 PM
Oginoya, a kamameshi store in Japan, has announced a collaboration with HoYoVerse to celebrate the release of new Honkai: Star Rail characters Yunli and Jiaoqiu. They'll only be available in certain stores and through online orders.
You'll be able to start purchasing the Honkai: Star Rail kamameshi from August 9, 2024 and the collaboration will end on September 8, 2024. That's likely when this patch will end and around when the next one will start. If you want to, you can also pre-order a bowl (which will come with special merchandise), from August 5, 2024. When you order a bowl, you can get a wall scroll of the character in question, as well as a random postcard. If you order both at once, you can get coasters of Jiaoqiu and Yunli.
There are two flavors to choose from. The Yunli kamameshi has large slices of kakuni pork in it, which is great for people who are really hungry or can eat a lot. As for the Jiaoqiu bowl, the poster doesn't actually say what ingredients are inside. But it uses ingredients you might find in Chinese food therapy with a mala kick to it. Each bowl costs 2200 JPY ($14.65).
Honkai: Star Rail is readily available on the PS5, Windows PC, and mobile devices. You can find these Honkai: Star Rail kamameshi bowls in Oginoya stores in Ginza and Roppongi, as well as via online order.
The post Honkai: Star Rail Kamameshi Stars Yunli and Jiaoqiu appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 31, 2024 6:00 PM
Square Enix opened pre-orders for a new Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail 2025 calendar featuring concept art and renders from the game that can be reused as posters. The calendar costs 3,000 yen (or approximately $19.88) and will release in Japan on September 26, 2024.
The Square Enix e-store page for the calendar has only revealed the artworks on display for the months of February, April, and July 2025. These include a CG render of the Warrior of Light in his Viper job outfit standing on a cliff overseeing the city of Tuliyollal, a concept art of the new Pictomancer job, and a dual artwork of a street of Tuliyollal and the Nexus Arcade area of Solution Nine, respectively.
The pages in the new FFXIV Dawntrail calendar are B4-size, and each one includes a perforated line dividing the artwork and the dates for each month, which allows for the calendar to be reused as a hanging wall poster collection. You can check out the artworks and CG renders revealed so far in the upcoming FFXIV Dawntrail 2025 calendar below.
The Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail 2025 calendar costs 3,000 yen (~$19.88) and will release on September 26, 2025. Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. You can read the latest 7.05 patch notes here.
The post Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail 2025 Calendar Lets You Reuse Its Art appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 31, 2024 5:30 PM
Nippon Columbia has released the original soundtrack for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in Japan. This extensive 9-CD set includes a total of 344 tracks, featuring the game's background music and sound effects. The release offers both a standard edition and a limited first edition.
You can view the official announcement post below:
The standard edition provides all 344 tracks spread across the 9 CDs, capturing the game's rich and immersive audio experience. The limited first edition offers additional exclusive content, including a Master Sword-shaped USB drive containing 15 high-resolution tracks.
This soundtrack release follows The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom winning multiple prestigious awards at the Famitsu Dengeki Game Awards 2023, including Game of the Year and Best Action-Adventure Game. The development team also won the MVC award for best game developer or studio.
In related news, a line of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom men's t-shirts was released at Uniqlo stores in Japan on April 26, 2024. These shirts feature characters and motifs from the game and are available both online and in physical stores.
The soundtrack is available to purchase via the Nintendo Japan store. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is currently available for the Nintendo Switch.
The post Tears of the Kingdom Soundtrack released in Japan appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 31, 2024 5:00 PM
There will be a one-hour special for the anime adaptation of Undead Unluck to coincide with its 2025 debut. Announced via the official social media account, the special episode will further explore the adventures of the protagonists Andy and Fuuko.
A teaser trailer for the special appeared on the TMS Anime Official Channel, offering a glimpse of what we can expect. The trailer features Unjustice's weapon and shows it being used in a dramatic snowstorm setting.
Here is the latest trailer:
Undead Unluck, based on the manga by Yoshifumi Tozuka, follows the story of Fuuko Izumo. She brings bad luck to anyone she touches. She ends up meeting Andy, an immortal seeking true death. Together, they face various adversaries, including a mysterious organization targeting individuals with unique abilities. The manga itself debuted in 2020 and quickly garnered attention, winning first in the Next Manga Awards for the same year.
Previously, DeNa released a new MOBA game titled JUMP: Assemble on June 25, 2024. This game features characters from Weekly Shonen Jump titles, including Undead Unluck, and is available on iOS and Android devices.
VIZ Media publishes an official English version of the Undead Unluck manga, and the anime airs on Disney+ and Hulu.
The post Undead Unluck One Hour Special Episode Announced appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 31, 2024 4:30 PM
On July 31, 2024, Bungie CEO Pete Parsons announced layoffs occurred at the studio responsible for Destiny, Destiny 2, and the upcoming Marathon extraction shooter. Roughly 220 roles, accounting for 17% of the workforce, will be eliminated.
The full statement, released on the official company news site, detailed that Bungie will shift the remaining work force entirely to focus on Destiny 2 and Marathon development. In addition, Parsons stated that a sizable portion of the team would be more deeply integrated into Sony Interactive Entertainment. Approximately 155 Bungie roles will be moved to Sony Interactive Entertainment directly over the next few quarters.
These new layoffs hit members of Bungie staff both in upper levels and lower levels of the company. Robert Brookes, a senior narrative designer who worked on Destiny 2 for five years and covered releases from 2020's Season of the Hunt to 2024's The Final Shape is one of the 220 individuals affected. The reason for the dismissals, according to Parsons, is that the company overstretched financial safety margins associated with spreading talent too thin and the "quality miss" of Destiny 2: Lightfall.
This announcement arrived midway through the newest Destiny 2 story chapter called Echoes, which followed The Final Shape. Parsons noted in the statement that 850 team members remain. This is the second round of layoffs in recent memory at Bungie, with the other occurring in October of 2023.
No statements were made as to what this means for the current plans for Destiny 2's future content. Parsons said, "There will be a time to talk about our goals and projects, but today is not that day."
Destiny 2 is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.
The post Bungie Announces New Round of Layoffs appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 31, 2024 4:00 PM
Icrea announced that a Kickstarter campaign for a new Shin Megami Tensei board game will launch on September 11, 2024. The new board game will aim to recreate iconic mechanics from the franchise and will include a variety of demon figures and other components. [Thanks, PR Times!]
The upcoming SMT board game is being advertised with a provisional generic name, and it will seemingly include 72 demon figures. Mechanics like the Demon Conversations and Demon Fusion will also be recreated in a tabletop format. The board game will allow between 2 to 4 players, and a game can be expected to last between 3 to 4 hours per player.
Other components teased in the announcement Kickstarter post include the board for the game, as well as various cards and tokens used for gameplay. Additionally, Icrea will be showcasing an in-development version of the SMT board game at Gen Con 2024, which will be held between August 1-4, 2024 in Indianapolis.
As a reminder, Premium Bandai re-released the original Japanese Shin Megami Tensei Monument of Reincarnation Trading Card Game in both Japan and North America, and it appeared in August 2023.
The Shin Megami Tensei board game will receive a Kickstarter campaign on September 11, 2024.
The post Shin Megami Tensei Board Game Seeking Funding on Kickstarter appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 31, 2024 3:30 PM
A Persona art book book is on the way, as Udon is publishing the Atlus and Shigenori Soejima Persona 5 + Persona 5 Royal: Official Design Works outside Japan. Pre-orders are now already open on Amazon ahead of its November 26, 2024, with the hardcover book costing $73.40.
As the title notes, this art book covers both Persona 5 and the updated Royal release. The product listing noted that concept art and other types of illustrations of characters, enemies, and other game elements will be present. There will also be an interview with Soejima, the character designer for the entry.
Here's how the English cover art will look for this Official Design Works art book will look:
Udon's been behind a number of Persona 5 book releases. It released three Persona 5: Mementos Mission manga volumes. It also handled the localization and publication duties for Persona 5: Comic a la Carte outside Japan. Its been behind some merchandise like pin sets too. Other entries in the series' manga lines also are handled by the company, such as ones based on Persona 3 and 4.
The Persona 5 + Persona 5 Royal: Official Design Works art book will launch on November 26, 2024, according to the Amazon listing. Persona 5 is on the PS3 and PS4, while Royal is on the PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.
The post Udon Persona 5 + Persona 5 Royal: Official Design Works Art Book Orders Open appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 31, 2024 3:00 PM
In most dating sim games I've played, I'm used to a slow burn, "will they, won't they" romance, with the eventual love confession and relationship being the final reward of the game. With The Quintessential Quintuplets: Five Memories Spent With You however, the game starts you after you're already in a relationship. This is an interesting approach to dating sims, as it's not often that you get to actually witness your protagonist and romance option learning the steps to make the relationship succeed.
The game takes place six months after the school festival where protagonist Futaro Uesugi confessed his love to one of the Nakano sisters. Futaro, his sister Raiha, and the five Nakano sisters Ichika, Nino, Miku, Yotsuba, and Itsuki take a final trip to Okinawa together to celebrate the sisters graduating high school. In game, the player selects the character that Futaro confesses to at the festival during the very beginning. In practical terms, this means you're choosing the route for your current playthrough from the start, instead of locking it during gameplay. The main strength of this method is the number of unique routes and scenarios available with each of the five Nakano girls as Futaro's girlfriend.
By making the most appropriate dialogue choices for your partner, you obtain "Futaro Points." Depending on the number of points obtained by the end, you can get a Normal or Good Ending for each girl, and after watching any of the endings for the five girls you unlock a final "All Route." Because of how The Quintessential Quintuplets: Five Memories Spent With You works and the position it takes in the overarching narrative of the series, this game feels as a sort of epilogue, with the beginning of the game —the confession— acting as what would be the ending for any other dating sim game. Since this game was localized and released alongside The Quintessential Quintuplets: Memories of a Quintessential Summer it fits nicely as a sequel to it.
Perhaps the most interesting factor of starting with the confession is that the game jumps straight into developing the relationship, with the focus of the stories present being Futaro and his partner learning to coexist in this new partnership. However, this also means that you need to have a familiarity with the series prior to playing the game, or you might be choosing a romance path with no context other than how the character looks and the vibe you get from them. At the same time, the game really seems to want the player to consider playing each confession route and eventually get to the "All Route." In a way, this game feels like a "what if" scenario for the original manga and anime series, which in itself is a creative way of writing more material for the fun and well fleshed out cast of characters.
The five Nakano sisters are really fun characters, and together they form quite a formidable and hectic team. It's always fun seeing the sisters on sync and seeing Futaro struggle to keep up with their antics. Considering that they are the main cast of characters you will be interacting I appreciate that they're more than one note characters and you get to see different sides of them in different routes. I chose Miku as my first route and I was quite happy to see how her experience with relationship expectations, anxiety, and communication was handled.
I realy enjoyed Futaro as a protagonist. I think that having the main point of view character have a marked personality is a great choice, as it makes it feel more about the romance between the two characters, rather than have him be as a stand in for the player. Futaro is very outspoken and his personality allowed me to enjoy the characters bouncing off of each other. He's also a dork and really endearing at that. The only caveat I have about him is that, after the tutorial, Futaro's voice actor stops voicing lines. I would have much rather have him continue to speak, like it happens with the rest of the cast of characters.
While The Quintessential Quintuplets: Five Memories Spent With You is a follow-up to Memories of a Quintessential Summer, the game doesn't contain the stat management and tutoring elements of the latter. While this makes sense due to the game taking place during a holiday trip, this also means that this game is mechanically less interesting than its predecessor and a more straightforward visual novel. At the same time, if you play them in a row, Five Memories Spent With You can be a rewarding experience as an epilogue and a window into the future of Futaro and the Nakano sisters.
I found the localization to be pretty spotty. Some sentences can read a bit awkward and too literal, and at times I heard some voice lines in Japanese that didn't match the translated English lines. In addition, the UI for the PC version of the game is a mixed bag. Considering that the game is a visual novel I played with mouse and keyboard. However, the game will sometimes show controller prompts even when playing with mouse and keyboard. Additionally, the mouse cursor will disappear when using the arrow keys, which the game seems very intent being used.
Furthermore, I wasn't able to make my controller work with the game when I tried, which left me a bit puzzled. I eventually got around the odd control scheme, but not after tampering with it for a bit. The text formatting quirks also remain from the previous game Five Memories Spent With You. While the UI elements can get a pass, the localization problems remained throughout my playthrough and tainted my experience with the game a bit.
The Quintessential Quintuplets: Five Memories Spent With You is a nice cherry on top of the cake for fans of the series. It is very rewarding being able to play a Quintessential Quintuplets story that focuses on seeing the relationship between Futaro and the chosen Nakano sister flourish. While the game doesn't present original mechanics or ideas like its predecessor does, there is a lot to enjoy here, and a lot of content and attention given to each character.
The Quintessential Quintuplets: Five Memories Spent With You is available for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PC via Steam.
The post Review: Quintessential Quintuplets: Five Memories Spent With You Feels Like a Sweet Epilogue appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 31, 2024 2:30 PM
Square Enix announced its FFXIV PAX West 2024 plans, which include a UI panel, a Dawntrail Valigarmanda Challenge, and things like photo ops, experiences, and merchandise. It will be at the entire event starting on August 30, 2024, and the panel will be held on August 31, 2024.
The panel is called "Putting the 'U' in UI: Tailoring the Final Fantasy XIV Experience," and it will be held at 11am PT/2pm ET/8pm CET on August 31, 2024. People actually at PAX West can attend in-person if they go to the Blue Dragon Theatre. They will also get a Dawntrail mini poster. However, it will also be streamed on the FFXIV Twitch and PAX West Twitch channels as well. Lead UI Designer Kei Odagiri will host the presentation. In addition to UI, menus, and general development, the panel will discuss the Group Pose photo option.
The FFXIV Valigarmanda Challenge will involve the Trial boss from Dawntrail. Square Enix noted people attending will be able to team up to get a Dawntrail tote bag with a Tour Tural design. As a reminder, the Worqor Lar Dor (Extreme) Trial appeared alongside the expansion and is an eight person fight.
The other elements of the FFXIV booth experience involve typical convention affair. There will be photo ops, including cosplay gatherings. People new to the game can try it out and win a FFXIV Online Starter Edition PC copy for beating Garuda, Ifrit, or Titan. FFXIV Dawntrail bucket hats and lanyards will be given away, and there will be merchandise on hand too.
Here are the two photos Square Enix shared with us to show the Urianger photo spot and Valigarmanda Challenge tote bag that will be at the FFXIV PAX West 2024 booth.
Final Fantasy XIV and the Dawntrail expansion are available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. PAX West 2024 will run August 30, 2024 through September 2, 2024.
The post FFXIV PAX West 2024 Plans Include Panel, Valigarmanda appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 31, 2024 2:00 PM
The first update for The First Descendant is live. It brings new characters, a new boss fight and new equipment, along with fixes and other improvements.
The highlight of the first update is the introduction of two new characters for The First Descendant. The first of these is Luna, a Support character whose weapon utilises rhythm game mechanics, allowing her to deal damage by shooting in time with the music. Her musical accompaniment also provides bonuses for teammates, increasing their Skill Power and MP Recovery and decreasing cooldowns. A full character trailer for her has also been released.
The other new character addition is Ultimate Valby, a version of the game's aquatic environmentalist Valby, with boosted stats and a new look. She also gains two unique Modification Modules.
The first update also adds a new Void Intercept Battle to The First Descendant. This sees players going up against Gluttony, a giant mech. Defeating it rewards players with the Hungry Sonic External Components Set and a blueprint for the new Ultimate Weapon, Peace Maker. This new weapon comes with an effect that allows for burst shots while aiming.
The update has also had a huge list of improvements, the full details of which can be viewed on the official site. In addition, director Minseok Joo discussed plans for future updates. These include balance changes to allow for a wider diversity of character builds, plus improvements to drop rates. The team is also working on a method to dispose of unwanted items in response to community criticism.
The First Descendant is available now for PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
The post The First Descendant First Update Adds New Character Luna appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 31, 2024 1:30 PM
Square Enix announced that 15 FFXI Summertime Adventurer Support Campaign events will begin on August 14, 2024. Similar sorts of activities have run in the past, with one of the most comparable ones being the Summer of Adventure Campaign that ran in June 2023.
Basically, the different events going on during the Summertime Adventurer Support Campaign all provide bonuses for activities people would already engage in while playing FFXI. Some of the bonuses include extra experience, extra capacity points, increased drop rates, increased aura light values, Alter Ego buffs, and other bonuses.
Here is a list of events taking effect in-game on August 14, 2024, with explanations taken from the announcement Square Enix shared.
Here is the Macrocosmic Orb Campaign grid going over applicable battlefields:
There is also an Abyssea Campaign element that gives people a Lunar Abyssite, 100,000 Cruor, and 11 types of Atma. It's found at Port Jeuno (H-8) in a blue chest. However, if you already claimed it during a past run of this event, you can't get it a second time.
There is also a High-Tier Mission Battlefield Campaign in effect. That has two bonuses tied to it. One involves getting one more drop than usual. The other means a guarantee of a certain type of reward. People could get a beitetsu box, beitetsu case, beitetsu chunk, a boulder box, a boulder case, a pluton, a pluton box, a pluton case, or a riftborn boulder. However, only these battlefields are where that can hapen.
The latest campaign active in FFXI is Return to Absolute Virtue. It's available until August 8, 2024.
Final Fantasy XI is available on PCs, and the FFXI Summertime Adventurer Support Campaign events will run August 14, 2024 through September 3, 2024.
The post FFXI Summertime Adventurer Support Campaign Events Return appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 31, 2024 1:00 PM
Koei Tecmo and Gust released new information about Fairy Tail 2, including new story elements that take place after the Alvarez Empire Arc events in the manga. New images taken from these new events have been released through social media.
The game will mainly focus on the manga's Alvarez Empire Arc, with players taking control of Natsu and his friends as they take on Emperor Zeref and the Spriggan 12. Fairy Tail 2 will also feature a new story, The Key to the Unknown, which takes place after the events of the main arc from the manga. This story is an original creation for the game, although few details are available about it at the time of writing.
Fairy Tail 2 was announced during the June 2024 Nintendo Direct, where it was confirmed to be releasing for the Switch in late 2024. Releases for PC, PS4 and PS5 were also announced. It will act as a sequel to the 2020 Fairy Tail game, which mainly focused on the Grand Magic Games and Eclipse arcs of the anime and manga.
The game will feature real-time battles built around three-character parties. Characters will be able to combine their abilities to unleash devastating attacks, the effects of which will change based on the combination.
Fairy Tail 2 will come out on the PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC in Winter 2024. The anime is streaming on Crunchyroll. Kodansha handles the manga.
The post Fairy Tale 2 Game Adds an Epilogue After Alvarez Empire Arc appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 31, 2024 12:30 PM
Japanese voice actor agency Intention announced that FFVII Zack Fair voice actor Kenichi Suzumura will resume working. The agency previously announced that Suzumura would take a break from his activities due to his declining health and to take time to recover.
The company also announced that the actor will gradually return to voice acting while taking into consideration his health. This could mean that it will take a while until the actor is capable of fully returning to work, or that other breaks from work might happen in the future.
The actor has been on a hiatus from his voice acting work for a little bit over 2 months. Intention originally announced this break on May 16, 2024. The company thanked fans for their support of Suzumura, and apologized for the possibility of any inconveniences caused for the hiatus.
Kenichi Suzumura is well known for his work voicing Zack Fair in the original Japanese dub of the FFVII franchise, as well as voicing Demyx in the Kingdom Hearts series, Shinn Asuka in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom, and most recently Bravern in the Brave Bang Bravern! 2024 anime series.
Kenichi Suzumura will resume his voice acting work activities gradually.
The post FFVII Zack Fair Voice Actor Kenichi Suzumura Resumes Work appeared first on Siliconera. |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, July 31, 2024 5:21 PM  At last, you've made it to Hogwarts. Where will the Sorting Hat place you? Hogwarts Legacy lets you join Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin. If Slytherin is your true calling, join them by completing a quiz. Here's how to get Slytherin in Hogwarts Legacy using the Wizarding World quiz. Hogwarts Legacy: How to get Slytherin in Wizarding World – All answers There are only a couple steps to getting Slytherin in Hogwarts Legacy using the Wizarding World quiz. Create an account at the official website. You can choose not to get email updates, if you prefer. After signing up, click on the button in your profile above "HOUSE." Next, click on "Get Sorted Now," and away you go. Hogwarts Legacy Wizarding World: Slytherin- This or that? Left or Right? – Left. Dawn or Dusk? – Dusk. White or Black? – Black. Heads or Tails? – Tails. Stars or Moon? – Moon. River or Forest? – River. ... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, July 31, 2024 2:59 PM  Pony Town offers players a unique community experience you can't easily find elsewhere. That said, if you're looking for something new, here are our picks for the 10 best games like Pony Town. Table of contentsSelection CriteriaThe best games like Pony TownRobloxFinal Fantasy 14 (FFXIV)Guild Wars 2MinecraftStardew ValleyHouse Flipper 2Core KeeperLEGO FortniteTerrariaAshes Town Selection Criteria One thing I quickly realized while researching titles for this list is there aren't many games like Pony Town. There are several Pony Town "clones," but they vary massively in quality and moderation. With this in mind, I've picked a selection of games that fill at least two of the following criteria where Pony Town shines: Robust character creation. Decorating and building. Collectibles, including limited-time seasonal items. Options for Role Playing (RP). Social features. Finally, I'd love to recommend more games where you ... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, July 31, 2024 12:59 PM  Development Traits are an important factor to consider when recruiting players in EA College Football 25. This guide has everything you need to know about Development Traits in NCAA 25 including the best traits, how they work, and how to unlock them. Table of contentsWhat are Development Traits in NCAA 25?All Development Traits in NCAA 25Best Development Traits in NCAA 25How to unlock Development Traits in NCAA 25 What are Development Traits in NCAA 25? Image: EA A Development Trait in NCAA 25 is a player's characteristic that determines how quickly that player progresses in the offseason for Dynasty Mode. If a player has a Development Trait on the lower tier, then their progression in the offseason will be worse compared to the more valuable Development Traits. The next section discusses each Development Trait and provides their description. All Development Traits in NCAA 25 There are four Development Traits in College Football 25 Dynasty Mode. The bullet point... |
WGB Wednesday, July 31, 2024 3:32 PM Bungie is facing another round of layoffs, this time hitting 17% of its workforce. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, July 31, 2024 4:46 PM Games include ENDER LILIES. The post PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup for August 2024 Announced appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, July 31, 2024 4:16 PM Confirming a recent leak. The post Mafia: Definitive Edition Coming to Game Pass This Month appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, July 31, 2024 3:57 PM The game has gone gold. The post Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II Has No Couch-Co Op and No Pre-download appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, July 31, 2024 3:36 PM "This change is a result of "rising costs of development" The post Bungie Will Lay Off 220 Staff Members appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |