GamersHeroes Thursday, February 27, 2025 9:25 PM Championing the creative power of developers of color by offering a platform for sharing knowledge, showcasing work, and forging lasting industry connections, the Game Devs of Color Expo will run online from September 16 to 19. The post Game Devs of Color Expo Returning September 16 appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Thursday, February 27, 2025 6:23 PM NetEase Games, together with Bad Guitar Studio, have released a new preview trailer for FragPunk that shows what's to come in Wild Dawn on March 6. The post FragPunk Season 1: Wild Dawn Launch Trailer Released appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Thursday, February 27, 2025 5:39 PM Brendan "PLAYERUNKNOWN" Greene, together with PLAYERUNKNOWN Productions, have released the first gameplay trailer at IGN Fan Fest for their upcoming single-player open-world survival game Prologue: Go Wayback! The post PLAYERUNKNOWN Productions "Prologue: Go Wayback!" Trailer Released appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Thursday, February 27, 2025 4:49 PM The glory of battle awaits with the release of Cortopia, Free Lives, and Devolver Digital's outrageous VR gladiator sim GORN 2 this year. The post VR Gladiator Simulator Sequel GORN 2 Launching This Year appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Thursday, February 27, 2025 4:07 PM Based on the anime and manga series Hitori No Shita: The Outcast, the Pre-Alpha for Tencent and Morefun Studios' 3D action-fighter The Hidden Ones will kick off today. The post The Hidden Ones Pre-Alpha Playtest Beginning Today appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Thursday, February 27, 2025 3:43 PM The team at 1047 Games has kicked off the open alpha for their portal-jumping FPS Splitgate 2. The post Splitgate 2 Open Alpha Live appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Thursday, February 27, 2025 3:02 PM Set to begin March 6, Square Enix is celebrating 1.5 years of FINAL FANTASY VII EVER CRISIS with new event story moments, Gear, rewards, and new abilities. The post FINAL FANTASY VII EVER CRISIS 1.5 Year Anniversary Happening March 6 appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
Kotaku Thursday, February 27, 2025 3:35 PM  Over 300 indie creators have pooled their games to create the California Fire Relief Bundle on itch.io to get funds into the hands of survivors of the recent devastating wildfires in Southern California. You can help a great cause and play some incredible games for just $10. |
Kotaku Thursday, February 27, 2025 3:25 PM  Forza Horizon 5, which launched over four years ago on Xbox and PC, is making the leap to PlayStation 5 soon, but because it's 2025, the game will lock "early access" to Xbox's open-world driving sim behind a pricey special edition. It's the next evolution in publishers holding games hostage for extra money. |
Kotaku Thursday, February 27, 2025 3:10 PM  After a year of waiting, we finally got our first look at Pokémon Legends: Z-A during the annual Pokémon Presents showcase. The Switch game seems like a significant departure from the untamed open zones of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which is exciting because we don't know what to expect. The stream gave us a trailer as… |
PCGamesN Thursday, February 27, 2025 6:40 PM  He said he'd be back, and he is. 34 years after Terminator 2 hit movie screens, one indie developer has traveled back in time to give us Terminator 2D: No Fate, an action side-scroller based on James Cameron's blockbuster sequel. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best retro games, Best robot games, Best indie games |
PCGamesN Thursday, February 27, 2025 5:23 PM  Diablo 4 can be a hell of a lot of fun, but with so many monsters to slaughter, characters tend to end up with an awful lot of loot. That's why players have taken to requesting that developer Blizzard add a loot filtering option, as in Path of Exile. Now, Blizzard has finally given fans an answer. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 builds, Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred review, Diablo 4 classes |
PCGamesN Thursday, February 27, 2025 4:09 PM  Ready to go back to Rome with Anno 117: Pax Romana? You might want to bring your waterproof toga because you're being sent to one of the soggier parts of the Roman Empire, gloomy old Albion. The good news is that you can customize your own ships. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best city building games, Best strategy games, Best simulation games |
PCGamesN Thursday, February 27, 2025 3:30 PM  There's nothing new about games letting you craft your own weapons, but Blades of Fire, an upcoming hack and slash dropping this May, throws in a neat twist; you're the only person in the human world who can forge weapons. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best hack and slash games, Best RPGs, Best new PC games |
Siliconera Thursday, February 27, 2025 8:00 PM
Sanrio and Sega Plaza announced the release of three new Cinnamoroll plushes that turn the beloved mascot into sushi dishes. The soft toys will appear as arcade center and crane game prizes in Japan from March 7, 2025.
All 3 of the new Cinnamoroll sushi plushes come in a single set. The first of the toys features Cinnamoroll with a neutral, happy expression while wrapped inside a shrimp. The second plush has the character wrapped around nori seaweed and rice like a makizushi roll, while calmly sleeping.
The final plush has Cinnamoroll smiling with his mouth open and attached to what seems to be a piece of tamagoyaki, or Japanese omelette. From the images that Sega has shown, it appears like the Cinnamoroll plushes themselves can be detached from the food parts acting as wrapping.
You can check out the new Cinnamoroll plushes soon to be available at arcades in Japan here:
Cinnamoroll appeared in a recently announced plush collaboration with Hatsune Miku as well as other Vocaloid and Sanrio characters, also from Sega Plaza, that is coming to Japan on March 14, 2025.
The new Cinnamoroll sushi plush set will appear as prizes at select game centers and arcades throughout Japan on March 7, 2025.
The post Cinnamoroll Becomes Sushi in New Merchandise appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, February 27, 2025 7:30 PM
Good Smile Company has opened up pre-orders for its Nendoroids of Lenalee and Allen from D.Gray-Man. Both pre-orders will close on April 9, 2025. As a note, the Allen Nendoroid is a re-release.
The Allen Nendoroid costs 5900 JPY on the Japanese site, or $42.99 on the North American one. He'll come out in July 2025 for Japan and Q4 2025 for North America. Meanwhile, Lenalee will cost a bit more. The Lenalee Nendoroid on the Japanese site costs 6900 JPY, whereas on the North American site, she costs $49.99. She'll also come out a bit later. In Japan, people will receive her around August 2025. North American customers will see her in Q1 2026.
Like most Nendoroids, both the D.Gray-Man Allen and Lenalee figures will have three face plates. Lenalee will have a smiling face, an angry face, and a battle one. She'll also have optional parts like her Dark Boots, a clipboard, and Komui's cup. The re-release of the Allen Nendoroid will have the same face plates and optional parts as his original run in December 2021. He has a standard expression, an eating expression, and a smiling expression. Optional parts include dango, playing cards, and Timcampy.
The D.Gray-Man Nendoroids of Lenalee and Allen are open for pre-order until April 9, 2025. Other Nendoroids you can get right now include Asuna from Sword Art Online and the Jollibee mascot.
The post D.Gray-Man Nendoroids Star Lenalee And Allen appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, February 27, 2025 7:00 PM
Rabbit and Bear and 505 Games promised the Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes The Chapter of Marisa expansion would debut on February 27, 2025, and the developer and publisher met that promise and shared a DLC launch trailer. The video spends over a minute setting the stage for this additional story and introducing the characters who feature prominently in it.
As this is a DLC prequel to the events of the main game, everything in The Chapter of Marisa doesn't actually directly affect any save file you have for Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. However, a number of characters we can recruit in the main campaign appear alongside Marisa. So we get more context about who she is and their motivations.
Things begin with Marisa exploring ruins. She meets Nil, who joins her party. We also see Lilwn being kidnapped at one point, as well as combat footage of Marisa fighting alongside Nil and Nowa's sister Leena. Alwe also comes up as a supporting ally at points. The masked antagonist Gausshastur is shown as a major opponent for this tale.
Here's the full launch trailer:
We actually do have exact dates for the rest of the add-ons for the title too. The Chapter of Seign will go over his story starting on March 13, 2025. That will be followed by The Chapter of Markus. That one was voted on via a poll that tasked supporters of the crowdfunding efforts to decide which other characters' stories would be told via an expansion.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is available on the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC, and The Chapter of Marisa DLC is out now.
The post Eiyuden Chronicle Marisa Expansion Showcased in DLC Trailer appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, February 27, 2025 6:30 PM
Ahead of the release of Monster Hunter Wilds, Capcom has shared a new video which highlights the story and focuses on Nata — a mysterious young boy who accompanies the player character on their journey. The new video doesn't have any story spoilers, but further outlines the importance of this character. So rest assured, checking this out won't impact your enjoyment of Wilds.
You can watch the Monster Hunter Wilds story video featuring Nata below:
Additionally, Capcom shared a video featuring Monster Hunter Wilds Producer Ryozo Tsujimoto and Director Yuya Tokuda. In the video they share their excitement and nervousness for the release of the hotly anticipated title, and that they, along with other core members of the team, will be playing Monster Hunter Wilds all day. Which means players could theoretically run into the development team.
You can watch the video below:
Monster Hunter Wilds, a follow-up to Monster Hunter World, expands upon systems in previous Monster Hunter games. Like Monster Hunter Rise, Wilds features a mount, and features an expansive new map with environmental hazards similar to World and Iceborne. Capcom has slowly trickled out information on new monsters, and returning ones like the Gore Magala.
Monster Hunter Wilds will release for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X on February 28, 2025.
The post New Monster Hunter Wilds Video Introduces Nata and the Story appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, February 27, 2025 6:00 PM
Japanese cosmetics brand Libroaria is set to release a new line of perfume inspired by Nana and Hachi from Nana. Pre-orders for both perfumes will open on March 5, 2025, with deliveries expected to arrive sometime in April 2025. Each bottle of perfume will cost 14,300 yen individually (or $95) but can be purchased as a set for 28,600 yen (or around $190).
Because this product contains flammable liquid, this item cannot be shipped internationally. Which means the Nana perfumes based on Nana and Hachi are an item exclusive to Japan. These perfumes can also be purchased at a total of five different pop-up locations starting on April 2, 2025.
You can take a look at the perfumes below:
Each perfume bottle will come with an accompanying charm of the respective character, and a key to Room 707. The perfumes themselves are infused with glitter, which may be something to keep in mind when applying it It will also come in a themed box.
In February 2024, it was announced that Nana would receive a Nendoroid.
The Nana perfumes are available to pre-order through the Libroaria website starting on March 5, 2025, and will ship sometime in April 2025. However, they can be purchased at pop-up store locations in Japan starting in April 2025 as well.
The post Nana Perfume Based on Nana and Hachi From the Manga and Anime appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, February 27, 2025 5:30 PM
Good Smile Company is set to release a Pop Up Parade Persona 5 Arsene figure. Noted as being "special," this figure will cost 13,000 yen, or $90 if purchased from the Good Smile Company United States storefront. Pre-orders for the Good Smile Company Pop Up Parade Persona 5 Arsene figure will remain open March 26, 2025. The item will ship sometime in September 2025 for Japanese consumers, and will appear in early 2026 for other regions.
You can take a look at the figure below:
Keep in mind that if you are ordering from the Good Smile Company United States storefront, purchased will be limited to consumers in Canada and the United States. Additionally, only three of these figures can be purchased per person. As to what makes Persona 5 Arsene figure "special," well, Good Smile Company states that it's in the details.
Other Persona 5 Good Smile Company produced merchandise has included Nendoroids, more specifically one featuring the protagonist character of this specific Persona game.
Pre-orders for the Arsene figure will remain open until March 26, 2025. The figure will ship sometime in September 2025 for Japanese consumers, and in the first quarter of 2026 for other regions. 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 Persona 5 Arsene Pop Up Parade Figure Is 'Special' appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, February 27, 2025 5:00 PM
Sanrio posted a picture promoting a collaboration between My Melody and Strawberry Shortcake for National Strawberry Day. The promotional image uses the original design for Strawberry Shortcake, and the two have a matching strawberry pattern on their headwear.
Apparel and accessories using the collaboration design are on the websites of stores like Forever 21 and Target. However, Sanrio did not mention them in the post. It's possible that more items featuring the two will appear in the future, though we will need to wait for Sanrio to announce more information about it in the future.
Items that are part of this line include a fanny pack, which costs $24.99 at Target. You can also get clothing items like a pullover and a pajama set at Forever 21. All of the items feature the retro design of Strawberry Shortcake posing with My Melody, with plenty of strawberries around them as part of the frame and overall pattern.
2025 marks the 50th anniversary of My Melody (and Kuromi), with Sanrio releasing collaboration merchandise like a Squishmallow pillow and CASETiFY phone accessories. As for Strawberry Shortcake, she's a cartoon character who first appeared on greeting cards before becoming a franchise, complete with dolls and animations. Strawberry Shortcake first appeared in 1972, which means she's around the same age as My Melody.
More information on the My Melody and Strawberry Shortcake collaboration may appear in the future, if Sanrio plans to do more than release clothes and accessories.
The post My Melody Being Paired Up With Strawberry Shortcake appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, February 27, 2025 4:30 PM
Capcom and Baskin Robbins are holding a collaboration with Monster Hunter Wilds in Japan to celebrate the release of the new hunting action title. The collaboration will feature ice cream sets, in-game charms, and original merchandise.
Those wishing to obtain the in-game charm will need to use the Baskin Robbins mobile app (or 31Clup app, as it is known in Japan) to order the Monster Hunter Wilds ice cream set that includes eight flavors. The smaller size of the two ice cream sets costs 2,700 yen (~$18), while the regular size costs 3,400 yen (~$23.)
The code includes three different Palico charms, with a chocolate mint version, a caramel one, and a strawberry one available. The code for the charm will only be available for PlayStation 5 users. Meanwhile, the merchandise goods included with the set are a Palico original spoon and an acrylic keychain of the Palico mint chocolate charm.
You can check out the in-game charms and the merchandise below:
Pre-orders for the collaboration started back in February 15, 2025 in Japan, with an additional pre-order period available between February 28 and March 31, 2025. Those who pre-ordered the ice cream set early will receive it throughout March, while people ordering during this second batch might have to wait to receive their orders between April 10-20, 2025.
Monster Hunter Wilds will come out for PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on February 28, 2025, and a Benchmark Tool is available now for PC via Steam.
The post Baskin Robbins Monster Hunter Wilds Collaboration Debuts in Japan appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, February 27, 2025 4:00 PM
Consumers can pre-order a Hsien-Ko Bishoujo Darkstalkers figure. It can be purchased from the Kotobukiya Online Shop, and will cost 25,300 yen, or around $168. The item is expected to ship in September 2025. Additionally, if you purchase the Hsien-Ko Bishoujo Darkstalkers figure directly from the Kotobukiya Online Stop, you will receive an additional face plate.
You can take a look at the figure below:
As mentioned previously, if purchased from the Kotobukiya Online Store, or any participating Kotobukiya location, consumers will receive an additional face plate. This features a more "fierce" expression for Hsien-Ko. The website does mention that the images shown are of a prototype, and that the final product could look slightly different. Once again, pre-orders are now open, and the figure will ship in September 2025.
This figure is one of several Darkstalkers Bishoujo figures. Previous releases have included Morrigan, which was announced in August 2021, and Felicia, which received a recolor in 2023. The original release of Felicia, which included her standard colors, appeared in 2022. Lilith also received a Bishoujo figure.
The Hsien-Ko Bishoujo Darkstalkers figure is immediately available to pre-order. It costs 25,300 yen, or around $168, and will release sometime in September 2025.
The post Hsien-Ko Joins Bishoujo Darkstalkers Figure Collection appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Thursday, February 27, 2025 6:01 PM
While YA books nowadays cover every premise conceivable — what we've come to refer to in the community as "checklist fiction" — the genre has entertained a host of great works back when it was just on the verge of becoming mainstream and commericalized.
One of these was Sarah J. Maas' Throne of Glass series. One of the most popular and best-selling books in the scene and a great gateway into the genre, it is also a perfect primer for those who want to dip their toes into speculative fantasy.
The story of Throne of Glass follows a young assassin freed from a brutal labor camp by the crown prince of Adarlan to compete in a deadly tournament. The winner of the tournament gets to become the king's champion, a personal assassin to do his bidding. Our fearless heroine, going by the name of Celaena Sardothien at the beginning of the story, has to navigate this deadly trial, deal with the intrigue of the king's court, and uncover her part in the grand scheme.
As the Throne of Glass series picks up steam, the narrative gets more complex and the characters more layered—which, combined with the author's intricate worldbuilding, turns this into one of the best fantasy books you could come across.
Of course, much like any other fantasy series with multiple installments, Throne of Glass also had its ups and downs. So whether you are a long-time fan of Sarah J. Moss or just starting to get into her work, here is a definitive ranking of every book in her first major series from worst to best, to give you a general idea of what each novel is about and how well it was received in the community.
8. Crown of Midnight (book 2)
One of the great things about Sarah J. Maas as an author is that she can always be relied upon to write better sequels. So while the first book, the titular Throne of Glass, was an amazing start to the series, many fans consider Crown of Midnight even better; it is perfectly paced, much darker, and with higher stakes, even though the tournament is over.
Our protagonist finds herself deeply entangled with the undercurrent of the king's courts, fighting on one side to perform her job as his personal assassin and struggling to undermine his tyrannical rule on the other. There is intrigue, betrayal, and a ton of unexpected twists, with Sarah J. Maas really taking her time to further establish this fictional world, detail its magic system, and set up the larger threat that is about to be unleashed across the land.
On top of all of this, Crown of Midnight takes the series from its adventure roots and thrusts it into the world of epic fantasy. But all of that said, I can't help but notice that despite its strengths, Crown of Midnight is one of the weaker entries in the series, if for nothing besides the fact that all the sequels succeeding it push the envelope in noticeable ways.
7. Tower of Dawn (book 6)
The sixth novel in the Throne of Glass series takes a detour by focusing on our favorite Captain of the Guard, Chaol Westfall. J. Maas originally intended to write his story as a novella, but she loved the project so much that she ultimately expanded it into a full-length novel and had it take place concurrently with the fifth book, Empire of Storms.
I would say the reason people hate Tower of Dawn so much is that they never cared for Westfall to begin with — and that's true in its own right — but the biggest gripe was that you were dealing with the second-longest entry in the series, and it was only a spinoff.
What's worse, despite Aelin and the main story having little to do with this penultimate entry, the events surrounding Chaol's own adventures heavily tie into the final book, Kingdom of Ash, so skipping it is not an option. Unless, of course, you wish to read the final book completely oblivious to certain plot points and try to wrap your head around them as you push forward, even though there is little to no previous context explaining any of it.
6. The Assassin's Blade (prequel)
Reading The Assassin's Blade is an absolute joy. Consisting of a collection of five stories set before the events of the main books, The Assassin's Blade centers around our main heroine and follows her adventures when she roamed Erilea with Sam for company. These five stories, preceding her arrest, include The Assassin and the Pirate Lord, The Assassin and the Desert, The Assassin and the Underworld, The Assassin and the Empire, and The Assassin and the Healer, all previously published in e-book format.
There is a lot of debate in the fandom about whether new readers should start by delving into The Assassin's Blade first. I think reading about Aelin before she was forced into the tournament can make you sympathize with her in a way that wasn't possible before The Assassin's Blade, but that doesn't mean Throne of Glass can't stand on its own two feet as a narrative. Some even prefer to go in blind and suggest not going anywhere near The Assassin's Blade until after reading the third or fourth books.
At any rate, you can't skip this prequel, as it contains some of Aelin's most badass scenes before she picked up the mantle of leader and became the savior of the world.
5. Throne of Glass (book 1)
I don't know what it is with Sarah J. Maas and her insistence to include a deadly trial in her first books, where the protagonist has to fight for their lives in a series of increasingly difficult tests, but in that particular regard, both Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses eerily parallel each other.
And just as Feyre had to navigate a love triangle in A Court of Thorns and Roses with Tamlin and Rhysand, so does Celaena find herself being yanked between Prince Dorian, who saved her from the prison and got her into the competition, and Captain Chaol, who is a dear friend of Dorian's and trains Celaena to face the tournament. Dorian is kind and playful, while Chaol is aloof and emotionally detached, and as Celaena finds herself fighting to stay alive and decide the fate of the realm, she learns that there must be more to love than a willing heart.
From those very first pages, Throne of Glass introduces readers to a compelling protagonist who can be witty and vulnerable as well as competent and deadly. The book is fast-paced, and the world-building is done with meticulous care, neither bombarding the reader with too many details and exposition nor completely forsaking the nuances of the larger world in favor of its action-packed plot. And sure, there are many clichés to be found, namely the generic love triangle and the tonal inconsistencies that plague every debut novel. But ultimately, Throne of Glass hits the ground running and serves as the perfect setup for the rest of the series.
4. Heir of Fire (book 3)
Everything comes to a head in this third book from the Throne of Glass series. Celaena is traveling to Wendlyn on a mission to kill the royal family there, but she has no intention of serving her own court any longer. Meanwhile, back in Rifthold, Westfall grapples with the truth about our heroine's identity and struggles with himself over his loyalty to the crown and his feelings towards Celaena.
As Dorian comes to terms with his powers and responsibilities, Celaena meets Rowan, a powerful Fae warrior who helps her master her abilities and confront her past. The two slowly form a deep bond, one that transcends everything she had with either Dorian or Chaol. The novel ends with Celaena mastering her fire abilities and deciding to go back to Adarlan to overthrow its tyrant king.
While Heir of Fire is an important book in terms of character development for our main heroine, the book can feel convoluted at times, with multiple points of view all vying for the reader's attention at the same time. The introduction of Rowan and his evolution from an antagonist to a beloved side character is the highlight of the book, and the final cliffhanger involving Dorian will have you lunging for the next entry just to see what happens to everyone's favorite misunderstood princeling.
Now going by her true name, Aelin Galathynius, our protagonist returns to Adarlan to confront the king. Dorian is still imprisoned via the Wyrdstone collar, his powers dampened and insignificant, while Chaol leads a resistance against the king from the shadows.
3. Queen of Shadows (book 4)
Aelin wishes to free her cousin Aedion, but the resistance struggles to gain a foothold against the king. The book ultimately ends with Aelin freeing Aedion and then infiltrating the castle to rescue Dorian. She unleashes her full powers, but here, Sarah J. Maas does a classic rug-pulling turnabout by revealing that the person we thought was the story's big bad is nothing but a puppet himself. Aelin reclaims her throne, knowing all too well that the fight for Terrasen and Erilea has only just begun.
Queen of Shadows will keep you at the edge of your seat throughout its almost 700-page narrative, and the biggest surprise is when you reach those last pages and realize this felt much, much shorter to read than all the other previous installments in the series despite its length.
2. Empire of Storms (book 5)
The fifth book in the Throne of Glass series picks up the story immediately after Queen of Shadows, with Aelin now racing through the continent looking for allies, having accepted her fate as the rightful queen of Terrasen.
If there's one word with which I could perfectly capture the vibe of reading Empire of Storms, it would be "cathartic." The Throne of Glass series may not be long by high fantasy standards, but when you reach this fourth book, you feel as though our characters have already been on one hell of a journey, and that it wouldn't be such a terrible idea to shake things up a bit and take the plot down an uncertain path.
The author understood this perfectly and wrote Empire of Storms in a way that slowly builds up to an epic climax and then delivers on that promise with emotional payoff after emotional payoff. There is also a bit of overlap again with the Court of Thorns and Roses, by which I mean Aelin finally learns the truth about Rowan: the fact that they are Fae mates, a bond more powerful than anything in the Sarah J. Maas shared universe. (Wait, is that a thing?)
1. Kingdom of Ash (book 7)
The final battle for Erilea is taking place across the continent, but the queen is not there to lead the forces of light against Erawan's demons. As Aelin's friends launch a desperate rescue attempt to free her from the coffin prison, other characters go through their respective journeys and prepare for the last battle.
In a world-shaking clash, which will arguably feel like some of the best fantasy fight scenes you'll ever read, Aelin and her court square off against Erawan to decide the fate of the world, bringing the series to a mostly satisfying conclusion in the seventh and final book, Kingdom of Ash.
When it comes to epic stories of any scale, the ideas are not as important as their execution. We have practically seen every story we could ever come up with retold over and over again, so what ultimately makes some of these stories stand out is the compelling execution. Sarah J. Maas, for all her pandering to clichés and tired tropes of the fantasy genre, knows how to execute an idea in a way that makes it work. And this is perhaps the highest praise I could give the series.
The post All 8 Throne of Glass books, ranked appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Thursday, February 27, 2025 5:58 PM
Thousands of competition ideas exist in the universe. In Disney Dreamlight Valley, we're all about building sandcastles to decide our character's fates. The 'A Sandy Competition' quest will have you crafting a beach key using Dazzle Beach's materials while challenging someone to a castle-building competition.
A Sandy Competition quest walkthrough
You'll begin the 'A Sandy Competition' quest after reaching level four friendship with Jasmine. Following the events of The Enchanted Flower, she'll tell you about the information she learned from the Secret Journal, mentioning that you need to find a key to it. She mentions the key recipe involving Sea Sand Sparks and suggests you visit Moana for more details.
Crafting a Sea Sand Torch
Once you visit Moana and explain the situation, she reveals you need to collect sparks from a magical Sea Sand Torch. You'll receive the torch's recipe and a task to obtain the following materials:
These materials are readily available in early-game areas like the Plaza, Peaceful Meadow, and Dazzle Beach. Once you have each item, bring them to Moana to receive a Sea Sand Torch in return that you can place anywhere on Dazzle Beach.
Obtaining a Special Starfish
After placing the torch, chat with Jasmine before running to the beach with her. She'll grab the spark and give it to you, revealing that you also need a "Special starfish." Fortunately, we have a knowledgeable demigod, Maui, who is conveniently familiar with this creature. He's caught it before and will give it to you if you beat him in a competition.
Building a sandcastle
Following this peculiar revelation, talk to Jasmine about potential competition ideas. She'll tell you about sandcastle competitions in Agrabah, which your character will quickly agree to before advancing the quest. Jasmine will approach Maui about it, but you'll need to make your own sandcastle kit. You'll need to collect the following items:
Sand and seaweed are available in Dazzle Beach, while clay appears in the Glade of Trust, Sunlit Plateau, and the Forgotten Lands. Use these materials to make the following sandcastle parts:
Once you have each material, you'll find all three options under Furniture in your crafting station. With everything assembled, talk to Jasmine again to receive an Agrabah-styled centerpiece. Now, you're free to place everything on the beach in a way that resembles a sandcastle. Each piece is divided into walls, a door, towers, and the centerpiece, which you can individually place to express creativity.
Crafting a Beach Key
After a quick chat with Maui, he and Jasmine will talk about the competition. He's very impressed with your efforts and admits he built his sandcastle too close to the water, causing it to wash away into the ocean. He'll give you both the starfish. Everyone had fun, and you now have everything you need to make the Beach Key. You'll find the Beach Key under Functional Items in your crafting table.
Once you make the Beach Key using your newly-acquired starfish and Sea Sand Sparkles, return to Aladdin and Jasmine's home before unlocking the Secret Journal. You'll learn a shocking discovery about it, making you and Jasmine more intrigued to uncover its mysteries and unlock its second lock. This conversation wraps up Disney Dreamlight Valley's 'A Sandy Competition' quest, with the next mission available once Jasmine reaches level seven friendship.
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Destructoid Thursday, February 27, 2025 4:32 PM
As part of the Tales of Agrabah update, Disney Dreamlight Valley introduced Aladdin and Jasmine into the fold of Villagers who can move into the Valley. Alongside this, the Oasis Retreat Star Path has kicked off, including a bunch of Arabian-themed rewards.
Before you can start unlocking the Oasis Retreat Star Path rewards for yourself, you will need to earn those Tranquil Totems. To do that, you'll need to complete some event-specific tasks.
There are a total of 107 tasks that can come up in the rotation, and you'll be able to earn 1,755 Tranquil Tokens if you manage to complete them all, but that's way more than you need, even if you want to buy everything on the Star Path.
Some of the tasks will appear multiple times with slightly different names. Don't worry—you aren't going mad or experiencing a particularly repetitive bout of déjà vu. You really do need to serve up meals in the restaurants or enter Boutique Challenges repeatedly during this event.
All Oasis Retreat Star Path duties
Here are all 107 of the Oasis Retreat duties, how to complete them, and how many Tranquil Tokens you'll earn for doing so:
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Destructoid Thursday, February 27, 2025 4:05 PM
Monolith, the legendary studio behind all-timers such as Blood, Shadow Of Mordor, Condemned, and Alien Versus Predator 2 was recently shut down by the overlords at Warner Brothers. Many people lost jobs, but GOG is trying to at least save the studio's games as part of its preservation initiative.
The CD Projekt Red-owned platform has already announced it'll add F.E.A.R. and its two expansions to its game preservation program, and, as of right now, you can get the GOTY winner for just one dollar. GOG has also disclosed the plans to save as much of Monolith's catalog as possible, which is awesome, but one title threatens to remain impossible to get.
I'm talking about The Operative: No One Lives Forever, an FPS that rocked the world of shooters in 2000 with its fantastic gameplay and story, but that has since become unavailable for purchase.
Think of a mix between Perfect Dark and a '60s 007 James Bond throwback — so, like a serious and equally awesome version of Austin Powers. If you're lucky enough to have played it upon release, you might think this is Monolith's crowning achievement. Still, you'd have a hard time making others believe so because, first off, nobody knows what you're talking about, and second, no way that a studio or publisher would allow for a highly profitable game to no longer be put on sale for reasons no one understands, right? Wrong.
Because it turns out that the reason why you were never able to purchase No One Lives Forever digitally is that seemingly nobody knows who owns the rights to it, and untangling the thread would simply prove too much of a hassle.
For the longest time, fans and even Nightdive Studios, known for its high-quality remakes of beloved classics, have been trying to rescue NOLF from the endless copyright limbo it has resided in for the past many years, but to no avail so far.
Here's hoping GOG finds out how to finally bring back this classic that so many would certainly love to experience for the first time.
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Destructoid Thursday, February 27, 2025 3:56 PM
If you're familiar with Aladdin in Disney Dreamlight Valley and his movies, you'll know he has a history of thievery to survive. Although our Valley village is safe, Scrooge McDuck plans to install a store security system and recruits you and Aladdin to test it during the Good as Gold quest.
Good as Gold quest walkthrough
You'll begin the Good as Gold quest after reaching level two friendship with Aladdin and introducing Jasmine to your village. He'll tell you that Scrooge McDuck recently installed a security system in his shop and recruited Aladdin to test it. What better way to do this than to try robbing the store? Aladdin asks you to join him, prompting you to begin Disney Dreamlight Valley's first-ever stealth mission.
Talk to Scrooge McDuck
Before you jump into Scrooge McDuck's store and rob it blind, you'll first need to talk to him about the situation. He'll tell you more about his security system, advising you to take pictures of his store. You'll need to take photos of the following places:
In this case, you want to take pictures of yourself in front of the shop's vault, stairs, and windows. You can quickly knock out this task if you can fit all three in just a few photos. Otherwise, get some fun angles before talking to Aladdin again.
Put on Sporty clothes
After talking to Aladdin about the plan, you'll need to wear inconspicuous clothes to make it easier to sneak into the shop. The easiest way to do this is to open your Wardrove, filter by "Sporty" and "Black," and equip a bunch of items from the list. You can also buy clothes from Scrooge if needed.
There's also an optional objective to wait until it reaches 6 p.m. or later in your local time zone to complete the quest. While you're not required to do this, my advice below will come from my experience playing this late at night.
Navigate Scrooge McDuck's security system
Now that you have the right outfit on, you can press the big red button on Scrooge McDuck's store wall to start the stealth mission. You and Aladdin will teleport to the top floor, where he will explain the mechanics and provide a tutorial detailing it further. For now, you can run straight forward and activate the button on the table to turn off some of the top-floor lights.
As you continue through these floors, you'll have to run around and press each button to move and deactivate lights. Stepping into one teleports you to the beginning, so you want to be careful not to reset your progress.
Here's every light you need to activate on the top floor of Scrooge McDuck's store:
After completing all five steps, you'll have direct access to the bottom floor, giving you more lights to navigate. Fortunately, these are relatively straightforward, as detailed below:
Now that you've solved the security system's testing phase, you'll "break into" Scrooge McDuck's vault, causing several magical flying coins to appear. Run around and catch them before talking to Aladdin about the experience.
Catch enchanted flying coins
When you walk outside Scrooge McDuck's shop, you'll quickly learn that the magic coins are now flying around Dreamlight Valley. They'll mostly cluster in the Plaza and Peaceful Meadow, letting you stay in these areas and grab most of them. They go pretty fast, so having extra stamina for sprinting will help.
Once you catch all nine coins, return to Aladdin and take a picture of the gold pile the two of you gathered. Aladdin is so thrilled over the experience that he'll run out to discuss it with Scrooge McDuck, letting them talk about the security system and our stellar performance. Listening to this conversation will wrap up Disney Dreamlight Valley's Good as Gold quest, bringing you one step closer to completing Aladdin's friendship missions.
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