Feb 24, 08:00


PCGamesN Friday, February 24, 2023 7:59 AM
     Next Dark and Darker playtest date set for hit Steam dungeon crawler

The next Dark and Darker playtest date is announced for April by developer Ironmace, as the team plans to follow up on its huge Steam success with "pretty substantial additions" for its next test period. The dungeon-crawling fantasy RPG game smashed expectations by pulling in over 100,000 concurrent Dark and Darker players consistently during the Steam Next Fest demo period, and developer Ironmace looks to build on its breakout hit.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Dark and Darker release date, Dark and Darker system requirements, Dark and Darker classes guide

PCGamesN Friday, February 24, 2023 7:51 AM
     How to recruit Virginia in Sons of the Forest

If you want to know how to recruit Virginia in Sons of the Forest, you'll need to know how to put your weapons away and tread carefully or you can scare her away. We know that you can frighten off, ignore, or befriend the three-legged lady, and if we're being honest, the latter is going to be your best choice as you'll have an extra pair of hands on your side against the hordes of cannibals.

Befriend Virginia in Sons of the Forest, and you can give her a gun and put her to use in combat, just like your other AI companion Kelvin. Neither of these NPCs is completely forced on you in the survival game, though, so you can go it alone if you want. If you could do with the help, then recruiting the three-legged lady to help you protect Kelvin is a great idea, as Kelvin can die in Sons of the Forest. Here are the steps you need to know to answer the question of how to recruit Virginia in Sons of the Forest without scaring her away.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Sons of the Forest system requirements, Sons of the Forest release date, Best horror games

PCGamesN Friday, February 24, 2023 7:54 AM
     Baldur's Gate 3 system requirements change ahead of launch

What are the Baldur's Gate 3 system requirements? The long-awaited RPG game is finally due to leave early access, but it will be more difficult to run than previously thought. Thankfully, you've got plenty of time to upgrade your gaming PC before Baldur's Gate 3 arrives.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best SSD for gaming, How to build a gaming PC, Best gaming CPU

PCGamesN Friday, February 24, 2023 7:52 AM
     Fastest VPN for maximum performance 2023

When seeking to protect your privacy on the internet, it is reasonable to ask the question 'Which is the fastest VPN?' After all, while VPNs can help you to speed up your connection speeds by stopping your internet service providers from limiting your bandwidth, that benefit is rather nullified if the VPN itself has particularly slow download speeds.

So which is the fastest VPN? Well, to answer that question, it's best to look at the download speeds of the major VPN providers. This can be most easily quantified in megabits per second (Mbit/s). Then, to give a level playing-field, they can then be tested through the OpenVPN protocol.

However, one problem that we face in determining the fastest VPN is that, by their very nature, VPNs use a huge number of different servers, and different servers can be faster or slower than one another. Two people using the same VPN provider, for example, might experience different connection speeds because one of them uses a server in Japan, while another uses a server in Argentina. This happens with even the best VPN services, but rest assured that the speeds of the providers in this guide will put them among the best gaming VPNs.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best SSD for gaming, How to build a gaming PC, Best gaming CPU

PCGamesN Friday, February 24, 2023 7:32 AM
     Sons of the Forest shovel location

You must find the Sons of the Forest shovel location at all costs if you want to dig up precious items you need to survive, such as the all-important keycards. The shovel is an essential tool for the Sons of the Forest's all-new digging mechanic, so whether you've played The Forest or not, ploughing through dirt for treasure will be a new experience.

In order to be sure you're not missing too much as you explore Sons of the Forest, you should try and find the shovel as early as possible. You can only find it inside a specific cave on the Sons of the Forest map, so it could take you a while to find this new item in the survival game unless you know where to look. You'll also need to have obtained the Sons of the Forest rebreather first, so once you have that, here's the Sons of the Forest shovel location you need to head towards.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Sons of the Forest system requirements, Sons of the Forest release date, Best horror games

PCGamesN Friday, February 24, 2023 7:57 AM
     Sons of the Forest system requirements

What are the Sons of the Forest system requirements? Suggestions provided by Endnight Games for the horror survival game aren't that gruelling, but a setup with limited gaming RAM and older storage may fall short. Still, your PC should still be able to run Sons of the Forest, even if it's a few years old.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best SSD for gaming, How to build a gaming PC, Best gaming CPU

PCGamesN Friday, February 24, 2023 7:27 AM
     Hell Let Loose dev leaves WW2 game for

Black Matter, the developer behind Hell Let Loose, is leaving the beloved WW2 game to begin work on its "next project." Fans of the Steam multiplayer FPS needn't panic, however, as further Hell Let Loose updates are in the works, and a fresh team is being assembled to oversee the 2023 roadmap.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Review, Carentan feels like 'Band of Brothers', Post-launch roadmap

PCGamesN Friday, February 24, 2023 7:24 AM
     Overwatch 2 Cassidy

As Blizzard mulls over its Overwatch 2 Cassidy rework, the development team shares one potential idea targeted at the most tyrannical, divisive hero to ever grace the FPS game. Few Overwatch 2 characters split the hero shooter's user base quite like the frosty face of Mei, and Blizzard has given her haters a glimpse of a more peaceful world thanks to a perfect Mei counter that's as hilarious as it is ridiculous.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: All Overwatch 2 characters, Best Overwatch 2 settings, Overwatch 2 tier list

PCGamesN Friday, February 24, 2023 7:12 AM
     This 2TB Samsung SSD is better than half price right now on Amazon

Having a high capacity storage device inside your gaming PC is practically essential in this age of ever-growing game install sizes. While big, speedy, drives normally carry a premium price, you can bag a 2TB Samsung SSD for better than half price on Amazon.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Samsung 970 EVO 1TB review, Best SSD for gaming, Best gaming monitor

PCGamesN Friday, February 24, 2023 7:10 AM
     Dark and Darker release date window, trailers, and gameplay

The Dark and Darker release date is some way into the future, but that hasn't stopped the RPG game becoming the stand-out hit of the latest Steam Next Fest. During its latest playtest in February, the difficult dungeon-crawling fantasy game catapulted to the top of the Steam charts - despite only having a release date window so far.

Whether you have played any of the Dark and Darker playtests or not, you might be intrigued to find out more about the action-RPG game, and when it might be arriving in its full form. If you like challenging PvPvE, fantasy, and dungeon crawling, Dark and Darker is definitely for you, as you and your friends trawl through terrifyingly dark dungeons searching for treasure, battling monsters, and surviving against - or taking out - other teams. Survive long enough, and you'll be able to extract with your loot. Die and you lose it all. Having dabbled in the beta ourselves, here's everything you need to know about this unique fantasy RPG, the Dark and Darker release date, trailers, classes, perks, and more.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Dark and Darker release date, Dark and Darker system requirements, Dark and Darker classes guide

PCGamesN Friday, February 24, 2023 6:43 AM
     How to climb the battlements in Hogwarts Legacy The High Keep

If you need to climb the battlements in Hogwarts Legacy to complete The High Keep quest, you've come to the right place. This is a quest that comes at around the midpoint of the story, and it has players stumped.

The quest begins when you meet Natty near Falbarton Castle on the Hogwarts Legacy map. She asks for your help in retrieving a letter from the Dark Wizards. As the main gate is locked, you become separated from Natty, meaning you need to climb the walls of the battlements to enter the Gatehouse. It's the first objective in The High Keep quest in Hogwarts Legacy, so here's how to do it.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hogwarts Legacy mods, All Hogwarts Legacy spells, Hogwarts Legacy system requirements

PCGamesN Friday, February 24, 2023 6:23 AM
     Wo Long Fallen Dynasty demo out now on Steam, and it's already flying

Team Ninja's Wo Long Fallen Dynasty demo is out now on Steam and the Microsoft Store, and it's already barrelling its way up the Steam charts as players flock to play the dark fantasy, Three Kingdoms, Soulslike RPG game from the Nioh team. While we're just a week away from the Wo Long Fallen Dynasty release date, plenty of people are taking the opportunity to try it ahead of time.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty demo impression, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is The Witcher meets Sekiro, Best RPG games

PCGamesN Friday, February 24, 2023 6:17 AM
     Hogwarts Legacy A Bird in the Hand door puzzle solution

Want to solve the Hogwarts Legacy A Bird in the Hand door puzzle? This one stumped us for quite some time before we got the logic behind it, as it's not immediately obvious what you're supposed to do to open it. Instead, you find this door next to some pillars and a pedestal where you can place the Moonstone.

While it's evident that moving the lamps requires one of the more basic Hogwarts Legacy spells - Accio - it's not clear what the solution you're looking for is for this most fiendish of open-world game puzzles. However, upon closer examination of the clues before you, it should become a little clearer what to do; if not, we have the solution to the puzzle.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hogwarts Legacy mods, All Hogwarts Legacy spells, Hogwarts Legacy system requirements

PCGamesN Friday, February 24, 2023 6:27 AM
     Sons of the Forest is already more popular on Steam than Rust or Siege

The Sons of the Forest Steam launch seems to have gone well for developer Endnight, as the new survival game surges up the charts on Valve's storefront, already beating Rust, No Man's Sky, Rainbow Six Siege, and other multiplayer stalwarts after just one day. Whether you've crash-landed into the jungle already, or you and your pals are still sharpening your stone axes, preparing to survive, you certainly won't be alone, as Sons of the Forest amasses hundreds of thousands of players in its first 24 hours.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Sons of the Forest system requirements, Sons of the Forest release date, Best horror games

PCGamesN Friday, February 24, 2023 6:11 AM
     All Hogwarts Legacy landing platforms locations

Want to know where the Hogwarts Legacy landing platforms are? With so many hard-to-find collectibles in the game, it's perhaps hard to imagine that there is one relatively simple challenge out there. However, all you need to do to finish this one is to land on top of some platforms while riding a broom or a magical creature.

The only slightly tricky part to consider is that there are 20 Hogwarts Legacy landing platforms to find in the open-world game. Your reward for landing on all of them is a Quidditch set, which you can redeem inside the Hogwarts Legacy challenges menu. Luckily, you can track which ones you've visited simply by looking at your Hogwarts Legacy map and seeing which regions still have landing platforms to visit. We highly recommend you use Floo Flames to get around the map quickly, and yes, all you need to do to mark it off is to land on the platform and wait for the flames around it to ignite. It's as simple as that!

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hogwarts Legacy mods, All Hogwarts Legacy spells, Hogwarts Legacy system requirements

PCGamesN Friday, February 24, 2023 6:19 AM
     Sons of the Forest map size and locations

The Sons of the Forest map includes a lot of the same features as the first game, including caves, woodland, and water. However, developer Endnight Games has revealed that the sequel's map is four times the size of the first game, which - if you consider overground landscapes and the underground cave system - has the potential to be eight times bigger.

Exploring the open-world expanse of The Forest takes some time now that the map has been expanded upon since its initial release, and traversing the wilderness following your plane crash is part of what makes the survival game that much more terrifying. Now imagine that being four times bigger, and have a pretty daunting experience in Sons of the Forest (in a good way). That said, you might still want some cartographic help before your adventure begins, so here's everything we know about the Sons of the Forest map so far - including spoilers, so tread carefully if you want to go into the sequel without knowing anything.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Sons of the Forest system requirements, Sons of the Forest release date, Best horror games

PCGamesN Friday, February 24, 2023 5:51 AM
     Hogwarts Legacy Diricawl locations and where to find dens

Struggling to find Hogwarts Legacy Diricawls? You need this flighty bird to complete an assignment from Professor Howin to obtain the powerful Bombarda spell, but as they can be slightly aloof, here's where to find Diricawl dens quickly.

Diricawls are one of the many Hogwarts Legacy beasts in the open-world game, and can be used to make money in Hogwarts Legacy or to complete quests. You can also house them in the Room of Requirements once you unlock the Vivarium in Hogwarts Legacy, but you need to catch them first. Here's where you can find the Hogwarts Legacy Diricawl locations.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hogwarts Legacy mods, All Hogwarts Legacy spells, Hogwarts Legacy system requirements

PCGamesN Friday, February 24, 2023 5:29 AM
     Hogwarts Legacy Merlin Trials locations and solutions

Want to know how to solve the Hogwarts Legacy Merlin Trials? If you're fretting about inventory space, you definitely haven't solved enough Merlin Trials. These mini-challenges appear after you save Nora Treadwell in Lower Hogsfield from some nefarious Ashwinders who are giving her a hard time. After all, they are looking for you, so it only makes sense to help.

It turns out that Nora is a historian and archaeologist specialising in Merlin's work. She was exploring the highlands to find what she calls 'The Trials of Merlin'. They're essentially Hogwarts Legacy puzzles designed to test what students have learned in class, giving more inventory space for completing these open-world game tasks. There are a whopping 95 Merlin Trials to find, so grab your Hogwarts Legacy map and crack on finding all of them.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hogwarts Legacy mods, All Hogwarts Legacy spells, Hogwarts Legacy system requirements

PCGamesN Friday, February 24, 2023 5:19 AM
     Hogwarts Legacy Ghost of our Love floating candles map location

The Hogwarts Legacy Ghost of Our Love quest can be incredibly confusing, especially if you aren't keeping track of your side quests. The treasure map with the floating candles can be acquired after 'The Hunt for the Missing Pages' quest without the player realising what they've just picked up. Fortunately, we're going to explain exactly what's going on, show you what you're looking for, and how to solve this mystery.

Once you have the Hogwarts Legacy treasure map in your inventory, you will unlock the Ghost of Our Love quest. The map shows a drawing of the Forbidden Forest with an additional drawing of a bridge and some floating candles. You do need access to Lumos - one of the Hogwarts Legacy spells - to continue the quest, but there's a good chance you have it by the time you've reached this point in the RPG game.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hogwarts Legacy mods, All Hogwarts Legacy spells, Hogwarts Legacy system requirements

PCGamesN Friday, February 24, 2023 4:24 AM
     Destiny 2 Lightfall launch trailer reveals the Traveler's true power

A new Destiny 2 Lightfall trailer shows how the FPS game's Year 6 story will unfold, showing the Vanguard's willingness to stand up against the game's biggest villain yet. A slowed-down cover of Radiohead's "Karma Police" plays the background of an action-packed trailer that introduces the Cloudstriders, the city of Neomuna, and the Destiny 2 Strand subclass into a compelling narrative that players will see in full force as of the Destiny 2 Lightfall release date.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Destiny 2 classes, Destiny 2 exotics, Destiny 2 builds

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, February 24, 2023 7:26 AM
    

"A better Alien game than any official Alien game" is how our Brendy described 2016's Duskers, the latest game that's going free for keepsies on the Epic Games Store. Duskers is a roguelikelike sci-fi horror survival game about salvaging supplies from derelict spaceships using drones, seeing through their sensor readouts and issuing commands by typing into a console. Oh, by the way, there's a reason why all these spaceships are now empty. Well, mostly empty.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, February 24, 2023 7:25 AM
    

I know it's only February, but my God do I feel like I need a holiday. Somewhere nice and warm away from the UK's gross rain and seemingly never-ending winter. Looks like I won't have to wait that long, because Awaceb's Tchia looks exactly like the kind of break I need, and it's out March 21st. We got the news, and a new trailer, at last night's State Of Play showcase,

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, February 24, 2023 7:03 AM
    

The difference between game and film reveals has always been funny to me. Game announcements are accompanied by million-dollar trailers, teased with reveals of reveals, and some fans tiptoe online to avoid the spoilers of a debut trailer. Meanwhile, films are often first revealed haphazardly through an excel sheet five years before they hit, or mentioned casually in an earnings call - which is exactly how Warner Bros. Discovery announced the existence of Mortal Kombat 12.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, February 24, 2023 6:31 AM
    

According to a report by Bloomberg, Activision may have switched up their plans so this year's Call Of Duty release will pivot from being a paid expansion to another new Modern Warfare game developed by Sledgehammer Games. It's said to continue Modern Warfare 2's story and carry over bits and pieces from its multiplayer, too.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, February 24, 2023 6:30 AM
    

I was excited to play The Settlers: New Allies. Not so much because it's the first Settlers game in thirteen years, but because the last game by developer Ubisoft Blue Byte was Anno 1800, the best city-builder this side of Cities: Skylines. With an evocative depiction of its simulated industrial revolution, including some delightfully chewy production-line wrangling, Anno 1800 was a treat, and I was keen to see what the Dusseldorf-based studio would cook up next.

The answer, unfortunately, is a big bowl of strategy gruel. I'm not sure what has gone wrong in the last five years, but Blue Byte clearly left whatever magic Anno 1800 had in the nineteenth century. The Settlers: New Allies is a dismal strategy affair, confused, anaemic, and achingly dull.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, February 24, 2023 6:00 AM
    

The Resident Evil 4 Remake is only a mere month away, but I still had plenty of questions about what's in the action horror revival. Can I wrestle old ladies? Roundhouse kick a clergy of priests? Shoot grenades at the Spanish Amish? Capcom's newest trailer reveals all and it looks like Leon Kennedy's dance moves are still intact.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, February 24, 2023 5:45 AM
    

I am extremely sympathetic to professionals complaining about celebritites horning in on their turf, but I will make an exception in the case of J.K. Simmons voicing video game villains. Portal's Cave Johnson remains one of the greatest turns in video game voice acting history, and we can now look forwards to Simmons playing a well evil, invincible necromancer in Larian Studios' RPG Baldur's Gate 3 - which, incidentally, is releasing into 1.0 form on August 31st. Fair play to 'em: they said August, and August it is. A new trailer featuring Simmons' character Kehteric Thorm, and the release date, was showcased at Sony's State Of Play event last night.

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Siliconera Friday, February 24, 2023 7:00 AM
    

Street Fighter 6 Cammy, Lily, and Zangief Voice Actors Revealed

Following the Street Fighter 6 State of Play February 2023 character reveal, the English and Japanese voice actors for Cammy, Lily, and Zangief were announced. Two are returning. As expected, Lily's is entirely new.

Here's the full list of Street Fighter 6 voice actors for Cammy, Lily, and Zangief in English.

  • Cammy: Caitlin Glass
  • Lily: Tiana Camacho
  • Zangief: Peter Beckman

And here's who plays who in Japanese.

  • Cammy: Miyuki Sawashiro
  • Lily: Rie Kugimiya
  • Zangief: Kenta Miyake

Both Camacho and Glass took to Twitter to make statements about the casting following confirming they are the voice actors for Lily and Cammy, respectively, in Street Fighter 6.

Camacho may sound familiar. In addition to playing Lily, she also is Ermes Costello in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean, Bea in the Pokemon anime, and Nessa in Pokemon Masters. Meanwhile, prior to playing Lily, Kugimiya portrayed Kiana Kaslana in Honkai Impact 3rd, Rise Kujikawa in Persona 4, Noire in Fire Emblem Awakening, Taiga Aisaka in Toradora, and Alfonse Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist.

Street Fighter 6 will come to the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam on June 2, 2023. It will also appear in arcades.

The post Street Fighter 6 Cammy, Lily, and Zangief Voice Actors Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 24, 2023 6:00 AM
    

Fullmetal Alchemist Masterline

The Fullmetal Alchemist anime celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. To capitalize on the occasion, Square Enix unveiled a new, ultra-premium Fullmetal Alchemist Masterline statue figure. Like other Masterline sculptures sold by the company, it's also large and quite pricey. Pre-orders for it via the Square Enix Online Store start at 264,000 Yen (about $1,967 USD).

Square Enix also released a video preview of the Fullmetal Alchemist Masterline Statue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJq6YTBzxe4

Created by Prime1 Studio, the figure is based on an illustration released for the Fullmetal Alchemist manga's 20th anniversary in 2021. It shows the Elric brothers Edward and Alphonse standing together and preparing a transmutation. Ed stands up front, with his trademark red coat billowing out and his hands in their iconic transmutation pose. Al, who inhabits a suit of armor, stands behind Ed. The piece utilizes LED lighting and many transparent effect parts to simulate the lightning and buffeting wind that accompany Ed's transmuations. The base of the Fullmetal Alchemist Masterline statue are also decorated with the brothers' symbol, the Flamel. The sculpting emphasizes the textures on Alphonse's metal armor and Ed's clothing. The whole statue is at 1/4th scale and stands about 60cm tall (about 2 feet).

The statue also comes with additional parts. Alphonse's hands can be replaced with fists, and Ed's right arm can be replaced with a different part that shows his exposed auto-mail prosthetic. Ed's face can also be changed from a smirk to a wider grin, changing the atmosphere of the scene somewhat.

The Square Enix Fullmetal Alchemist Masterline statue figure is available for pre-orders, with deliveries expected in late December 2023. Prime1 Studio is also working on a NieR Automata 2B Masterline.

The post Fullmetal Alchemist Masterline Statue is Nearly $2,000 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 24, 2023 4:50 AM
    

How to Solve 'The Baby's Coming' in Octopath Traveler 2

Quite a few of the side stories in Octopath Traveler 2, like "The Baby's Coming," involve using an ally's ability to recruit an NPC to bring them to a certain place. This means you need someone like Ochette or Temenos to "Befriend" or "Guide" someone where they need to be. That's how you get a midwife from Flamechurch to Cape Cold.

To kick off "The Baby's Coming" in Octopath Traveler 2, you need to head to Cape Cold first. The expectant father will be right near the entrance to town, panicking. He'll note that the midwife who will deliver the baby is in Flamechurch, but his wife is in labor now.

How to Solve 'The Baby's Coming' in Octopath Traveler 2

From there, head south to Flamechurch. If you go to the hotel, you'll find the midwife there. She's a three-strength character. It shouldn't be too difficult for Temenos to guide her, so long as he's past level 12. (She agreed to come with him right away when I asked.) After she's joined as an summonable NPC, teleport to Cape Cold.

Finally, talk to the father. The midwife will do her thing, the baby will be delivered safely, and all will be well. "The Baby's Coming" Octopath Traveler 2 side story will be done, and you'll get 3,000 leaves and a Nourishing Nut.

Octopath Traveler 2 is available for the Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC. A demo is available.

The post How to Solve 'The Baby's Coming' in Octopath Traveler 2 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 24, 2023 4:40 AM
    

How to Solve the Pilgrim Protection Octopath Traveler 2 Side Story

Side stories can pop up frequently as you complete chapters and journey around Octopath Traveler's world. Some are incredibly straightforward. However, others can be much easier or even require a certain person around. For example, the Octopath Traveler 2 Pilgrim Protection side story is best tackled when Throne is around to help collect the Sacred Flame Candles.

In order to complete this quest, you need three Sacred Flame Candles. If Throne is in your party, this is easy enough to complete. When it is daytime you can steal these from the two clerics at the small church in Flamechurch and one cleric at Flamechurch: Cathedral. (In Flamechurch proper, one inside the church has one and one outside has the other.

Now, there's an 80% chance of success when trying to steal the Sacred Flame Candles needed to complete Pilgrim Protection in Octopath Traveler. When Throne was at level 14 and in my party, she passed the checks all three times and took them with no trouble. However, you do get a "grace" period of five failures before your reputation drops in a town.

  How to Solve the Octopath Traveler 2 Pilgrim Protection Side Story

Once you get all three Sacred Flame Candles, return to the elder outside the church in Flamechurch to complete the Octopath Traveler Pilgrim Protection side story. In return, you'll get 5,000 leaves, a Fortifying Nut, and a Tough Nut.

Octopath Traveler 2 is available for the Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC. A demo is available.

The post How to Solve the Octopath Traveler 2 'Pilgrim Protection' Side Story appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 24, 2023 4:30 AM
    

How to Retrieve The Traveler Al's Bag in Octopath Traveler 2

If you're just starting out Octopath Traveler 2 as Throne, you will happen across a man named Al when you leave New Delsta. He warns about the thieves on the Highroad. He's a victim of their activities. He quickly explains how they stole from him and he can't continue on his way. This The Traveler's Bag side quest serves not only as a Side Stories tutorial, but also one about changing the time from day to night in Octopath Traveler 2.

To find the Traveler Al's bag in Octopath Traveler 2, you need to press the shoulder button to toggle from day to night. Then, head north at the crossing heading to Winterlands. There's a small alcove with a fire, and you should see a bandit there. (There is also a covered wagon and some boxes, which are present regardless of the time of day.) Talking to him causes him to talk about his "score" ended up not being everything you fought. It is then possible to opt to take the bag back.

How to Retrieve The Traveler Al's Bag in Octopath Traveler 2

This will trigger a short fight. Throne should be at level 5 by this point, if you started with her. Also, this bandit is weak against daggers. Attacking as normal, boosting when you can, should get you through it. Completing this will get you the traveler's bag back, and all you need to do is head south to the crossing and return it to Al to complete your first Octopath Traveler 2 Side Story.

Octopath Traveler 2 is available for the Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC. A demo is available.

The post How to Retrieve The Traveler Al's Bag in Octopath Traveler 2 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 24, 2023 4:20 AM
    

How to Solve 'A Gambling Man' in Octopath Traveler 2

The "A Gambling Man" side story is one you might happen upon early in Octopath Traveler 2, especially if you have Throne in your party. However, it is one you can't solve unless you have another ally in your party who's good at investigating. You need someone capable of getting information to help keep the New Delsta gambling addict husband from losing more of his wife's money.

After you meet the couple south of gambling parlor in New Delsta, you'll need to head north to the gambling parlor itself. In the back room, you'll see the Dealer NPC. If you have someone on-hand who can get information, you can find out what you need to save that marriage. I used Osvald and had him Scrutinize the Dealer. (He'll have fairly good odds of succeeding at level 15 or higher.) You'll get "The Truth of the Game Parlor" for your efforts.

How to Solve 'A Gambling Man' in Octopath Traveler 2

From there, head back to the couple in New Delsta. You can then talk to the wife and provide her with the truth about the Game Parlor. Once you do, the husband will realize his mistake. As thanks for completing "A Gambling Man" in Octopath Traveler 2, you'll get a Victory Ring and an Energizing Pomegranate.

Octopath Traveler 2 is available for the Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC. A demo is available.

The post How to Solve 'A Gambling Man' in Octopath Traveler 2 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 24, 2023 4:10 AM
    

How to Solve 'The Late Riser' in Octopath Traveler 2

"The Late Riser" side story in Octopath Traveler 2 is one of those tricky ones, because it seems like it should have an easy solution! Help a guy get to sleep, so he can get to work on time! However, the key to actually completing it involves ensuring he's put to bed at a time which involves him actually waking up when he needs to.

Once you first walk into Tropu'hopu, you'll see a Master Fisherman talking to a Sleepy Fisherman. The Sleepy one can't get up on time, and your goal is to do something to make sure he will for the next day. Now, you'd be tempted to think, "Okay, I'll have Throne "ambush" him at night."

While that will trigger a sequence of events in "The Late Riser" in Octopath Traveler 2 and you'll be thanked for putting him to sleep, it won't work. The story segment will she he's still asleep when it comes time to set off.

What you need to do is have someone who can knock him out during the day do so. In my case, I ended up having Ochette "Provoke" him. (He's vulnerable to bow and sword damage. Use Akala and you'll be fine.)

How to Solve 'The Late Riser' in Octopath Traveler 2

Since he fell asleep during the day, during the ensuing sequence he'll arrive right on time for work. You'll then get 4,800 leaves and a Slippery Nut (M) for finishing "The Late Riser" in Octopath Traveler 2.

Octopath Traveler 2 is available for the Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC. A demo is available.

The post How to Solve 'The Late Riser' in Octopath Traveler 2 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 24, 2023 4:00 AM
    

There are sometimes more than one way to solve side stories in Octopath Traveler 2, but the sidequest "The Sword in the Stone" has one fairly simple solution. Especially if you have Throne around and are going through her storyline. The key is to stop by Oresrush to "borrow" a critical miner's tool before heading to Winterbloom.

How to Solve 'The Sword in the Stone' in Octopath Traveler 2
This is a great side story for Throne, due to the fact that her chapter two story quests involving Mother and Father take part in both places. Chasing down Mother in Oresrush is a level 7 recommended quest. After first entering town, head to the building in the northeast corner in town. There, you'll find a Retired Miner with a Sturdy Pickaxe in his inventory. When I stopped by with a level 20 Throne, it had a 15% chance of being stolen successfully. This meant I did fail a few times, but heading next door to the Inn lets you restore your reputation so you can try again.

Once you have the Sturdy Pickaxe, head to Winterbloom to finish the Octopath Traveler 2 "The Sword in the Stone" quest. Head as far east as possible, and you'll happen upon a townsperson in front of a sword trapped in a stone. Offer her the pickaxe. She'll then use it to free the sword. Since it is "useless," you'll get 7,000 leaves, a Revitalizing Jam, and a Rusty Sword.

Octopath Traveler 2 is available for the Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC. A demo is available.

The post How to Solve 'The Sword in the Stone' in Octopath Traveler 2 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 24, 2023 3:50 AM
    

Should Ochette Befriend the Malamaowl or Lajackal in Octopath Traveler 2

The story of the hunter Ochette in Octopath Traveler 2 begins with a difficult questions, which is whether she should befriend a malamaowl or lajackal as her first animal. Juvah, her mentor and the beastling village and island guardian, offers her a choice between the two. This ally will then stick by her side as a character she can summon with Provoke at any time in battle, and it proves quite helpful! But which one do you choose?

Should Ochette Befriend the Malamaowl or Lajackal in Octopath Traveler 2

What are the benefits of deciding to befriend either the malamaowl or lajackal for Ochette in Octopath Traveler 2?

Essentially, each animal is a "safety" animal. When you summon a creature with Provoke in a fight as Ochette, you'll see in the list what type of damage they'll deal. It could be single-target or multi-target AOE. It could deal physical, weapon-type damage or elemental magical damage.

The malamaowl and lajackal in Octopath Traveler 2 cover two bases for Ochette. The lajackal, who ends up being named Akala, deals weapon damage. It is guaranteed to hit one of a single opponent's weapon weak points. This serves to both reveal one of the foe's weaknesses and to always deal one damage to their shield. Meanwhile, the malamaowl deals a magical attack to one foe to an element it is weak against. Again, this reveals a weakness and knocks off one shield point.

Should Ochette Befriend the Malamaowl or Lajackal in Octopath Traveler 2

So which animal should I have Ochette befriend in Octopath Traveler 2?

Okay. So, I picked Akala. I thought the character was cute, I figured it'd be more useful to me to get a guaranteed weapon weakness reveal, since all of the characters can use weapons, but not everyone will always be guaranteed magic users, and it seemed like I was encountering a lot of enemies who had lots of weapon weaknesses, but few elemental ones.

And it did work for me! Especially since a lot of the monsters Ochette can end up capturing during the game deal AOE magical elemental damage. (Getting a great magic ability for no MP cost is a godsend.)

However, after spending so much time with Octopath Traveler 2, I'd say deciding to have Ochette befriend Mahina the malamaowl would be the wiser choice. Magic can get expensive, and it's a free, guaranteed break magical attack.

But again, both allies are very good, cute animals, and each one will serve Ochette well as a BFF as you play.

Octopath Traveler 2 is available for the Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC. A demo is available.

The post Should Ochette Befriend the Malamaowl or Lajackal in Octopath Traveler 2 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 24, 2023 3:40 AM
    

Is There a Limit to Ochette's Monster Captures in Octopath Traveler 2?

In each Octopath Traveler game, there is a Hunter capable of capturing monsters. They can then use the Provoke ability to send them out to attack opponents. There also tends to be a limit as to how many "friends" they can have on-hand. In Octopath Traveler 2 that Hunter is Ochette, and the limit for monster captures for her is six.

However, this doesn't mean Ochette has only six monsters with her at all times. She actually can have up to seven with her. This is because Akala, the creature she starts out her story with, is considered special and exempt from that count. So while the limit to Ochette's monster captures in Octopath Traveler 2 is six, she will have seven she can use at any time in-game.

So what happens if you hit Ochette's monster captures limit while in a battle in Octopath Traveler 2? Well, that's fairly easy. The game will offer a prompt asking if you want to "prepare" one of the beasts you already have on hand to make room for the new one. It will then show you the brief list of beasts you could turn into food, also noting their strength and the type of damage they'd deal. You can then choose to prepare one of them or give up on acquiring the new captured monster.

Octopath Traveler 2 is available for the Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC. A demo is available.

The post Is There a Limit to Ochette's Monster Captures in Octopath Traveler 2? appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 24, 2023 3:30 AM
    

How to Get a Secondary Job in Octopath Traveler 2

In Octopath Traveler 2, each main character is capable of equipping a main and secondary job. However, you can't immediately pick one up. The additional class requires you to first visit certain locations around the world in order to get the license for it. However, once you do, you can then add that extra job as a character's secondary job.

We'll use the Scholar secondary job as an example in Octopath Traveler 2. It is Osvald's primary job. However, in the upper left corner of the Western Winterbloom Snows map, you can find the building that grants the license for the Scholar secondary job. Once you get that, a character who is in the party and doesn't hold that primary job can equip it as an additional job.

So if this is given to Temenos, who is normally a Cleric, he will then gain that role and its abilities. He can then put the Job Points he's earned either toward his primary role or that additional one. Those additional skills from that secondary job will be available to the person when that role is also equipped. However, the Support Skills you get as a bonus for learning abilities from jobs carry over and are present even when the job you earned them from isn't equipped.

Octopath Traveler 2 is available for the Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC. A demo is available.

The post How to Get a Secondary Job in Octopath Traveler 2 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 24, 2023 3:20 AM
    

How to Fast Travel in Octopath Traveler 2

It's easy to get around in Octopath Traveler 2, especially since fast travel unlocks in the game so swiftly. As every place is connected by actual roads and areas, rather than there being a more traditional JRPG world map, it could be a long time to get from one place to the other without it. In short, all you ever need to do is reach a place once.

How to Fast Travel in Octopath Traveler 2

How Do You Fast Travel in Octopath Traveler 2?

Let's use Throne as an example. Her story starts in New Delsta. This means that right away, it is unlocked as a fast travel point. One of the next nearest cities is the town of Flamechurch. If you head north to it, it will unlock as one of these points as well. So then someone could bring up the main menu, choose "World Map," and then select New Delsta as a place to teleport to.

Keep in mind that this only works for cities. You can't teleport to dungeons or other, smaller areas. However, even if a town is small or abandoned, as long as there is an inn there, it seems to be a place you can quickly hop to in the game.

Octopath Traveler 2 is available for the Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC. A demo is available.

The post How to Fast Travel in Octopath Traveler 2 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 24, 2023 3:15 AM
    

How to Unlock Merry Magoland in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe

Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe isn't just a traditional Kirby adventure, as it is also a party game with its Merry Magoland "amusement park." This is a space with ten minigames you can play alone or with others. However, you can't immediately access it. You need to first unlock it, then also unlock its Magoland Tour and Samurai Kirby 100 options.

How Do I Unlock Merry Magoland in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe?

Getting access to Merry Magoland is incredibly easy. Start the Story Mode. When you reach Stage 2 in Level 1: Cookie Country, you'll unlock the mode. You can then access it from the Story Mode by pressing the X button. It can also be reached via the main menu.

Once this mode is open, you'll have access to the following 10 Subgame minigames.

  • Bomb Rally
  • Booming Blasters
  • Checkerboard Chase
  • Crackity Hack
  • Egg Catcher
  • Kirby on the Draw
  • Magolor's Tome Trackers
  • Ninja Dojo
  • Samurai Kirby
  • Smash Ride

How Do I Unlock Magoland Tour in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe?

When you first get access to this new area, you can only play the Subgame minigames one at a time. In order to unlock the Magoland Tour option, which lets you select one of three difficulty levels and play four random minigames one after another, you need to play four different subgames. After you do, a stand will open next to Magolor at the park, which lets you go on a tour alone or with other players.

How Do I Unlock Samurai Kirby 100 in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe?

This is also an easy one. Once you get to Merry Magoland, play the Samurai Kirby subgame. This will unlock Samurai Kirby 100 in the park's square. Go up to it and practice once. After that, you can participate once per day.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe is available for the Nintendo Switch. A demo is available.

The post How to Unlock Merry Magoland in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 24, 2023 3:10 AM
    

When starting out Octopath Traveler 2, picking your first character is easy, but may leave you wondering how to get a new one or change to a different story. The game doesn't immediately explain it, so it could be a bit confusing. However, the sequel works exactly like the original. Once you want to add to your roster or pursue another path, you need to head to a town where someone else is nearby. Prompts will let you choose whether to start someone's story chapter when you walk into a town, when applicable. Also, if you missed some story segments or want to change your party, you can head to any inn in any town to swap your party or see another story.

Let's use Throne as an example. After completing chapter one of her story in New Delsta, you gain access to the world map. Chapter two of her story is set in Winterbloom and has a recommended level of 16. If you check the map, you'll see Temenos is right nearby to the northeast at Flamechurch. If you go there and speak to him, you can complete his chapter one, thus unlocking him and adding him to the party. From there, Osvald is to the northwest above him in the Winterlands Southern Cape Cold Snows. You could also head south and detour to Ochette's story in Toto'haha's Beasting Village to the southwest, though that does take you further away from Throne's next destination.

How to Get New Characters and Change Stories in Octopath Traveler 2  2

So say I send Throne to Flamechurch. Immediately upon entering the town, a story scene will trigger with an insurgent calling out a cleric. Temenos will then appear and ask if the player's active character will offer assistance. Saying yes kicks off his prequel and adds him to the party. Once Temenos' introduction is done, you have both characters in your roster.

As for how to change characters in your party or stories in Octopath Traveler 2, that involves a visit to a town. If you head to a tavern, you can change party. This lets you swap active allies with idle characters. If there are chapters you haven't seen or additional stories in a town, you can see that there as well.

Octopath Traveler 2 is available for the Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC. A demo is available.

The post How to Get New Characters and Change Stories in Octopath Traveler 2 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, February 24, 2023 3:05 AM
    

Wondering how many players can take part in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe's modes? Here's the answer.

Here's the thing about Kirby games. Not all of them are designed for a lot of people to join in at once. Some are designed to be solo experiences. Both options are great, to be clear. I'm as big of a fan of a solo ones a multiplayer opportunity. However, some may say it can be better for group gameplay sessions or families when a more approachable series like this can include additional people. So if you're wondering how many players can join in a Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe session, you're in luck. There's enough room for four people.

Wondering how many players can take part in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe's modes? Here's the answer.

How Many Players Can Join in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe Campaign?

Just like the original Kirby's Return to Dream Land on the Wii, up to four people can drop in and out at any time when playing Deluxe. This doesn't mean a person playing alone will have any troubles. I found the difficulty is typical for a Kirby title. Just there is the option for up to three other people to also come along as Bandana Waddle Dee, King Dedede, and Meta Knight.

Wondering how many players can take part in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe's modes? Here's the answer.

How Many Players Can Join in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe Magoland Mode?

This is the party game mode! It features an array of 10 minigames, called subgames, for people to go through alone or with up to three other people. Both standard controls and Joy-Con motion controls are available. While Kirby, Bandana Waddle Dee, King Dedede, and Meta Knight are the four character options, you can put masks on them that make them resemble other allies and enemies who showed up throughout the series. These minigames can also be enjoyed piecemeal or you can set up a "tour" with Magolor where you go through four subgames one after the other.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe is available for the Nintendo Switch. A demo is available.

The post How Many Players Can Join in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe? appeared first on Siliconera.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Friday, February 24, 2023 7:50 AM
     Sons Of The Forest RebreatherSons of the Forest has several tools that you need to obtain if you wish to progress further in its survival sandbox campaign. One of these is the Rebreather, the only item that allows you to dive and navigate underwater areas. You're going to need it if you want to discover more secrets. Here's our guide to help you get the Rebreather in Sons of the Forest. Note: For more information, check out our Sons of the Forest guides and features hub. How to get the Rebreather in Sons of the Forest To get the Rebreather in Sons of the Forest, you'll have to go to a cave along the coastline. Let's say you're at the helicopter crash site and the mountains are to the west. That means there's a cave further to the south. Make your way there and look for a tunnel opening near the beach. Don't forget to bring the Flashlight to improve visibility in the dark, too. Related: You'll also find the Stun Gun in this cave system. Sc...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Friday, February 24, 2023 7:45 AM
     Sons Of The Forest Stun GunSons of the Forest has several tools that aid you in both exploration and combat. One of these is the Stun Gun, which can incapacitate your foes. However, trying to obtain it can be quite a harrowing experience. Here's our guide to help you get the Stun Gun in Sons of the Forest. Note: For more information, check out our Sons of the Forest guides and features hub. How to get the Stun Gun in Sons of the Forest To get the Stun Gun in Sons of the Forest, you'll likely what to bring the Flashlight with you. While the UV Lighter is still viable, the Flashlight's beam is brighter, which is really helpful due to the enemies in this area. In any case, you'll want to head to one of the island's coastlines. Let's say you're at the helicopter crash site, with the mountains to the west. The beach you'll want to go to is to the south (as seen in the image below). Follow the coastline as it winds around the cove and you should see the entrance to a cav...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Friday, February 24, 2023 6:10 AM
     Sons Of The Forest Ziplines Rope GunSons of the Forest has several caverns for you to explore, but some areas are inaccessible since you can't cross gaps. You'll probably notice Ziplines, too, but you won't be able to do anything with those at the start. Thankfully, you'll acquire an important item soon enough. Here's our guide to help you use Ziplines in Sons of the Forest by getting the Rope Gun. Note: For more information, check out our Sons of the Forest guides and features hub. How to use the Rope Gun and Ziplines in Sons of the Forest To get the Rope Gun for the Ziplines in Sons of the Forest, you'll want to make sure that you have the Flashlight. That's because you'll enter a dingy cavern, and the Flashlight will help you see in the dark, while letting you use your main hand weapon. Screenshot by PC Invasion Anyway, the location that you'll go to is slightly further away from the helicopter crash site. Let's assume that the mountains are to the north and ...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Friday, February 24, 2023 5:50 AM
     Sons Of The Forest FlashlightSons of the Forest has several tools that you need to obtain if you wish to progress further in its survival sandbox campaign. One of these is the Flashlight, which will become integral due to several caverns that you need to explore. Here's our guide to help you get the Flashlight in Sons of the Forest. Note: For more information, check out our Sons of the Forest guides and features hub. How to get the Flashlight in Sons of the Forest To get the Flashlight in Sons of the Forest, you'll need to look for a purple marker that's fairly close to the helicopter crash site. Let's assume, just for the sake of the next couple of screenshots, that the mountains are to the south and the coast is to the north. If you look at your GPS, you'll see a cave that's slightly to the north of the crash site. This is where you can pick up the Slingshot. Next, look due east of that, and you'll see the purple marker. Make your way to the location and you'll he...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Friday, February 24, 2023 5:40 AM
     Sons Of The Forest SlingshotSons of the Forest has several weapons that you can use to keep baddies at bay. One of these is the Slingshot, which you can acquire fairly early in your run. Here's our guide to help you get the Slingshot in Sons of the Forest. Note: For more information, check out our Sons of the Forest guides and features hub. How to get the Slingshot in Sons of the Forest To get the Slingshot in Sons of the Forest, you'll need to head to a cave that's fairly close to the helicopter crash site. Let's assume that you're at the crash site, with the mountains to the west and the beaches to the east. From that spot, you'll want to follow the river as it winds downhill going to the coast. Halfway there, you'll see a cave that has a peculiar sight right in front of it: three dead soldiers impaled on stakes (as seen in the image below). Screenshot by PC Invasion One of these soldiers has the Slingshot, so go ahead and pick it up. The weapon is somewhat decent since...

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