Nintendo is holding its first event in-game event in Tetris 99 this week. The Maximus Cup kicks off on March 8, and it gives players a chance to earn $10 worth of My Nintendo points.Throughout the Maximus Cup, players will compete to rack up the most first-place wins in Tetris 99. The top 999 players by the end of the event will be rewarded with 999 My Nintendo Gold points. These points can typically only be earned by buying Switch titles, and they can be used toward purchasing games and DLC from the Switch Eshop.The Maximus Cup begins at 5 AM PT on March 8 and ends at 11:59 PT on March 10 (2:59 AM ET on March 11). You can read additional details about the event on Nintendo's website.Tetris 99 is a battle royale-inspired take on the classic puzzle game, pitting 99 players against each other in a competition to be the last one remaining. GameSpot's Peter Brown called it "riveting experience that even at its worst is still a game very much worth playing" in our Tetris 99 review, and other critics have had similar positive things to say about it.Tetris 99 is free to download for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. Memberships cost $4 USD per month, $8 USD for three months, and $20 USD for 12 months. Nintendo also offers a $35 annual Family Membership that can be shared between eight Nintendo Accounts, even across multiple consoles.Another perk you get for subscribing to the Nintendo Switch Online service is access to a catalog of classic NES games, which is updated monthly. This month, Nintendo will be adding Kid Icarus and StarTropics to the library beginning March 13.Info from Gamespot.com

Devil May Cry 5, the first numbered sequel in the franchise since 2008, releases this week. The name sends a clear signal to fans: this is the true successor to Devil May Cry 4.The most significant addition is a completely new playable character, V. While Dante and Nero are known for their acrobatic gunplay, V is a very different fighter. He summons familiars while standing back and floating around the battlefield, letting them do his fighting for him. And of course, Dante and Nero themselves are back, offering the familiar action gameplay fans have come to expect. Capcom has marketed this as a return to form, but is it?"As you send demons flying across the screen in Devil May Cry 5, a strong sense of familiarity will hit you," critic Matt Espineli wrote in GameSpot's review. "It is a brilliant iteration of the series’ best qualities--but it innovates as much as it reiterates, balancing new and old with infectious confidence."Read below for a selection of reviews from around the industry, and check GameSpot sister site Metacritic for even more reviews.Game: Devil May Cry 5Developer / Publisher: CapcomRelease date: March 8Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PCPrice: $60 / £55 / AU $100GameSpot -- 9/10"DMC5 thrives on the stylistic and mechanical prowess of its predecessors. It sticks to tradition above all else, pursuing a few ambitious new ideas along the way, but mostly maintaining the series’ focus on intricate fighting systems and campy bravado. Rarely does the game stumble, consistently leveraging its spectacle and mechanical depth to push aside any small frustrations. All the while, the story exudes a charismatic charm that keeps you constantly intrigued as you’re refining your skills. DMC5 proves the series can still be brilliant and imaginative without compromising its longest-held traditions." -- Matt Espineli [Full review]Guardian -- 5/5"DMC5 is a lot like Dante himself: older, grizzled, more experienced, yet still unapologetically juvenile in the best possible way. It's bloody, spectacular and irresistible, all cheesy one-liners, guns, swords and explosions while guitars scream in the background, and it plays like a dream. Director Hideaki Itsuno and his team have delivered: Devil May Cry is back." -- Patrick Lum [Full review]Telegraph -- 5/5"It's stylish. It's cool. It's supremely fun, fluid and rewarding. Dante's back and he's brought some friends. And with combat flair that makes up the finest pure-action game we have seen in a long time, we hope they stick around." -- Olivia White [Full review]GamesRadar -- 4.5/5"Capcom has done it again, re-energising a classic series like never before, and pushing the genre forward in a fresh way. It looks better than ever, plays better than ever. It's Devil May Cry better than ever." -- Oscar Taylor-Kent [Full review]Push Square -- 9/10"Devil May Cry 5 is quite easily one of the best action games on PS4. Flawless in the execution of its often jaw-dropping combat, it's a masterfully crafted title that begs to be played over and over again. Stunning presentation helps sell some of the coolest cutscenes going, and the story ties the series together with style. Among a sea of uninspired open world outings, Devil May Cry 5 is an explosion of character and laser-focused excellence. Capcom is well and truly back." -- Robert Ramsey [Full review]PC Gamer -- 9/10"I’ve been hitting demons in this game for 19 hours so far, and I can easily see myself putting in 19 more. The setting lacks the flair and imagination of the genre behemoth Bayonetta, and those boss fights make it a slightly more uneven experience, but there’s a greater variety of combat styles and a higher degree of challenge that will will keep me playing until Capcom hopefully releases another one. If you enjoy third-person brawlers DMC5 is a must, and if you've never tried one before, this is a great place to start. What a treat." -- Tom Senior [Full review]Variety -- No Score"It's fun, in the ways that the old games are fun, and, taken out of context, it makes some interesting changes to mix up how you approach its beloved Style. Devil May Cry 5 manages to shake off the rust and remind us why we liked these games before, but you have to work to ignore the fact that some of its moves are just a little bit out of date." -- Mike Epstein [Full review]Info from Gamespot.com

After a long time away, Capcom is bringing the cult favorite Devil May Cry series back to its classic roots. Set to release on March 8, 2019 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One, Devil May Cry 5 is the next major entry in the series, evolving the over-the-top action and style that popularized the series since its debut in 2001. With new weapons systems, multiple playable characters, and an abundance of callbacks to previous games, DMC5 looks to be the game that longtime fans have been waiting for. In our full review, we detailed why the new game in the series is everything long-time fans have been waiting for.There's a lot to take in with DMC5, including its enhanced combat mechanics, and the new co-op mode that was revealed during the trailer at The Game Awards. Ever since its debut at E3 2018, we've got plenty to say about the action game, so we've broken things down to a few key points of interest. Here's everything we know about Capcom's upcoming return to stylish-action with Devil May Cry 5.Table of Contents [hide]What Is Devil May Cry 5?The Full ReviewWhen Does It Release And How Can I Catch Up?Pre-Release Build ImpressionsCan I Start With This Game?The Reveal TrailerWhat's New In DMC5?How Does Nero Play?Where Does DMC5 Fit In The Series Timeline?Is This Related to DmC: Devil May Cry?The Gamescom 2018 TrailerIs There A Demo?How Does Co-Op Play Work?How Does Dante Play?Are There Microtransactions?Will There Be Post-Launch Updates?The TGS 2018 TrailerHow Does V Play?The Game Awards 2018 TrailerIs There A Special Edition?What Is Devil May Cry 5?Devil May Cry 5 is an upcoming action-adventure game. Developed by Capcom, the long-running DMC series has always been about fast, stylish action while using a variety of unique weapons. Over the last 16 years, the series has gone on to inspire a particular brand of action gameplay, where fast-paced action and challenging battles go hand-in-hand. With every game, the stakes and scope of the series has grown, and DMC5 looks to be the most detailed and elaborate entry yet.DMC5 seeks to continue that tradition of stylish action by telling the next major story in the series. With three playable characters--Dante, Nero, and the newcomer V--you'll go through several missions slashing and shooting demons and other monsters. Running on the RE Engine, the same framework powering Resident Evil 7 and the Resident Evil 2 remake, the game will feature the most detailed and richly realized visuals the series has seen yet. According to the developers, DMC5 will be the biggest game in the franchise has seen yet, incorporating a number of new features and innovations into the core gameplay.The Full ReviewIn our full review of Devil May Cry 5, editor Matt Espineli gave it a 9/10, and stated that the series' classic sense of action and thrills are back in full force. Though he gave some criticisms for the game's fan-servicey moments and the unremarkable Cameo System, he praised the game's steadfast focus on offering in-depth and fun gameplay with its trio of playable characters."DMC5 thrives on the stylistic and mechanical prowess of its predecessors. It sticks to tradition above all else, pursuing a few ambitious new ideas along the way, but mostly maintaining the series’ focus on intricate fighting systems and campy bravado. Rarely does the game stumble, consistently leveraging its spectacle and mechanical depth to push aside any small frustrations. All the while, the story exudes a charismatic charm that keeps you constantly intrigued as you’re refining your skills. DMC5 proves the series can still be brilliant and imaginative without compromising its longest-held traditions."When Does It Release And How Can I Catch Up?DMC5's release date on PC, PS4, and Xbox One is set for March 8, 2019. If you want to catch up and play the previous games, you can check out the DMC HD Collection compiling the first three games on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Also, DMC4 Special Edition is available on the same platforms and offers a updated take on original the game, while also adding in three additional characters to play as. DmC: Definitive Edition, an update of Ninja Theory's reboot, is also an excellent entry in the series. If you're interested in checking that out, the Definitive Edition is available on PS4 and Xbox One (no PC release, unfortunately).Pre-Release Build Impressions"After spending a few hours playing Devil May Cry V, the joints in my fingers were aching and my wrist was cramped. These pains should be familiar to Devil May Cry fans; the series always required a high level of dexterity. But in this sorry state, a simple joy washed over me: 'I'm actually playing a new Devil May Cry game, and that's awesome.' But at the same time, another thought prodded my mind: 'Will everyone else want this?'" Read the full preview. Can I Start With This Game?Though this game references storylines and characters from across the 16 year history, it's totally possible to jump straight into DMC5. Just like with previous games, there will be digest material to help you get up to speed. But more importantly, the game will work as a standalone title, and won't require you to know every single character and their relationships. With that said, the game's plot will make more of an impact if you're familiar with the series.The Reveal TrailerAfter years of rumors and speculation, Devil May Cry 5 made its debut during Microsoft's E3 2018 press conference. The trailer began with an enigmatic voice-over talking over widespread carnage and bloodshed, with characters explaining that another demonic invasion has reached Earth. Afterward, we finally saw the return of Nero, riding around in his mobile headquarters with a neon blue Devil May Cry logo on the side. The trailer ended with a tease of Dante riding along on an strange, demonic motorcycle--giving a familiar smirk to the viewer.What's New In DMC5?Though many details about DMC5 are still under wraps, the game focuses on offering the same thrilling moments of action--with some added twists. In addition to new weapons and tweaks to existing characters, and even an online co-op mode, DMC5 will also feature a new training level called the Void mode. In this practice area, which can be pulled up in between missions, you'll be sucked into a space that allows you to experiment with the different moves and weapons you have available for the three playable characters. Pulling from Capcom's wealth of experience from fighting games, you can apply a whole set of options to your sparring partner--adjusting AI, attack damage, and other options--allowing you to get a feel for what your character can do.How Does Nero Play?Returning from DMC4, Nero is one of the main leads in DMC5. However, some things have changed since his first appearance that was quickly apparent from watching the debut trailer. For starters, his primary moveset is largely the same, using his Blue Rose revolver and Red Queen sword in tandem, which can charged up for extra damage. However, the Devil Bringer from the previous game--allowing him to yank and grapple enemies from afar--is gone, and he'll now have to rely on the new Devil Breaker system.Crafted by series newcomer Nico, who works as a shopkeeper in their mobile headquarters, you'll be able to purchase upgrades and new items from her--including new Devil Breakers. Essentially, Devil Breakers are disposable arms that offer Nero different skills and modifiers to his moveset. For instance, the Gerbera arm will allow Nero to fire off projectile lasers, the Tomboy will amplify Nero's sword and gun strength (at the cost of disabling lock-on), and the Buster Arm will function similarly to his original Devil Bringer. However, there is a tradeoff to having these weapons. The prosthetic arms are extremely fragile and will break once you've taken enough damage from enemies or if you want to switch over to another weapon--destroying the equipped arm. However, there are plenty of arms scattered around the levels, allowing to find a new one fairly easily.Where Does DMC5 Fit In The Series Timeline?Devil May Cry 5 is a direct sequel to the events of DMC4, which saw Nero and Dante face off against Sanctus and the Order of Sparda. While the previous games only seldom referenced past events, opting to keep things more in the moment, DMC5 will have some direct callbacks to the other games--even explaining who crafted Dante's iconic weapons. Interestingly enough, Devil May Cry 2 will also play into the canon despite having been largely dismissed by fans and the developers in past years. Here's the current chronological order for the series.Devil May Cry 3Devil May Cry 1Devil May Cry 4Devil May Cry 2Devil May Cry 5Is This Related to DmC: Devil May Cry?DMC5 is a continuation of the story prior to Ninja Theory's reboot. Though DmC: Devil May Cry ended at a point that hinted at a another game, the upcoming DMC title is a direct sequel to 2008's Devil May Cry 4. There are no plans to continue on with Ninja Theory's reboot.The Gamescom 2018 TrailerIn this new trailer, we got to see more of Nero in action--including his time-stopping devil breaker Ragtime--while also getting a peak at Dante's new weapons and moveset. During the debut trailer, we saw Dante riding a motorcycle, which is a constant throughout the series, but this trailer revealed that it also serves a new weapon for him, called the Cavaliere-B. The weaponized motorcycle turns into two large chainsaws, allowing him to combo back and forth into the vehicle and melee forms.Is There A Demo?Yes, the demo for DMC5 is out now on PS4 and Xbox One. This demo is a short mission with Nero fighting his way through the streets, culminating in a boss fight against Goliath. You have access to a few Devil Breakers, so be sure to jump in and give the game a shot!How Does Co-Op Play Work?Revealed during The Game Awards 2018, DMC5 features a new mechanic called the Cameo System, allowing players to team up online. Interestingly enough, this is the second time that co-op has appeared in the series--the first appearance being in Devil May Cry 3 during a particular boss battle. Throughout the campaign, certain stages will allow for players to choose from multiple character to play as. If you're online, then you'll load into the same stage with another player who's picked a different character, allowing you to complete the level together. After the level's completion, you can even rate the style of their performance. If you're offline, then the game's AI will control the other characters instead.How Does Dante Play?The original devil hunter makes a comeback, and he's exactly how you remember him from previous games. With the largest arsenal of weapons, Dante will be able to swap between a variety of swords, gauntlets, and other firearms on the fly--all while taking advantage of different combat styles and his signature devil trigger, which greatly amplifies his core damage and restores any lost health. After defeating major bosses throughout the game, Dante will acquire a new weapon for him to take advantage of, adding another deadly tool to his set.One of the newer innovations for Dante is the option to customize specific loadouts for his melee and firearms. In the pre-mission menu, you can choose which weapons you want to bring with you in mission. If you want to come in fully armed--with up to four melee and firearms each--then you can do so. But if you're feeling more traditional and want to stick with one melee and firearm, you can do that too. Dante will also be able to use his different combat styles--Swordmaster, Gunslinger, Trickster, and Royal Guard--which can open up new moves to use for his weapons.Are There Microtransactions?During TGS 2018, we learned from our demo that DMC5 will feature a form of microtransactions for players to take advantage of. Using a similar method from Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition, these purchases will only allow you access to Red Orbs--DMC's currency--and they won't throw the game's balance out of whack, according to Capcom. Many of the major abilities and upgrades you can find are tied to the story, thus requiring you to earn access to them.Will There Be Post-Launch Updates?During the recent news drop during The Game Awards 2018, Capcom revealed plans to release the game's survival mode Bloody Palace the month after launch. Since DMC2, Bloody Palace has been one of the game's toughest challenges, pushing players to fight through 100 floors of enemies. During certain milestones after completing 10 or so floors, you'll face off against a returning boss from the campaign. At launch, the Bloody Palace won't be available, arriving as a free update in April 2019.The TGS 2018 TrailerAt TGS 2018, Capcom released a new trailer revealing more of Dante and Nero's respective movesets and weapons. The original devil hunter also shows off a brand-new weapon known as the Balrog. This close-range, brawler-focused weapon features two distinct fighting modes channeling punches and kicks. At the end of the trailer, we also got another tease of the elusive third playable character referred to as V.How Does V Play?During the reveal of the new trailer at The Game Awards 2018, we finally saw gameplay of DMC5's new playable character V in action. In a stark contrast from Dante and Nero, V's combat skills focus primarily on his demonic familiars--returning DMC1 monsters Shadow, Griffon, and Nightmare. In the gameplay footage, we saw the character summon demons to fight against, with him staying at a distance as the beasts conjure up spikes, strike at close-range, and fire large energy beams against the enemies.However when it comes down to it, V is still capable of fighting at close-range. With his cane, he can finish off weakened demons and mount some of the larger beasts as well. Also, V is capable of using several fake out teleport attacks to lure enemies in to strike them from behind. This character is certainly a big change from the others, and it'll be interesting to see just how different his moveset becomes when he gains additional moves and abilities.The Game Awards 2018 TrailerDuring The Game Awards, we saw a brand new trailer revealing more of DMC5's plot and trio of characters. Facing off against the big bad--a powerful demon named Urizen--Dante, Nero, Lady, and Trish seemed to have met their match. Dante himself even has his trusty sword, the Rebellion, shattered in the conflict. Throughout the trailer, we got to see plenty of action between the different playable characters--including V, who made his gameplay debut. Throughout the footage, we got to see V's particular combat style in action, focusing more on ranged combat and having his demonic familiars do his bidding. We also saw new footage of Dante's new firearm known as the Faust. Not letting up on the style, this weapon is demonic cowboy hat that uses red orbs as ammo--allowing you to cash in to summon meteors and other dangerous projectiles.Is There A Special Edition?Capcom plans to offer deluxe editions of Devil May Cry 5 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. The Digital Deluxe Edition (priced at $70) comes with the full game, four unique Devil Breakers for Nero--including Mega Man's mega-buster--DLC song packs, and alternate color-schemes for characters and weapons. The US will also get a special Collector's Edition ($150) that comes with the Deluxe version, an artbook, enamel pins, a bumper sticker, and special model of the Nico's motorhome. You can read more about these in our DMC5 pre-order guide.However, if you're looking for the ultimate way to experience Devil May Cry 5, then you may to check out the Japan-only Limited Edition. Cost upwards of $8600, this edition comes with the deluxe edition and a replica leather jacket modeled after Dante's threads in-game. If you're a die-hard fan that won't miss spending several thousand dollars for video-game memorabilia, then you want to invest in this edition of the game.For more on Devil May Cry 5, including guides on how to find all the secret missions and some sweet SSS action gameplay, be sure to check back with us at GameSpot.Info from Gamespot.com

The next episode of Gotham, "The Trial of Jim Gordon," isn't the series finale of the Fox show. However, it is the final installment of the series that was filmed before production wrapped. In the episode, Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie) is near death after being shot and finds himself hallucinating a trial to determine whether or not he deserves to live, taking a deep look at everything Gordon has done since Gotham's pilot, for better or worse.This particular episode also happens to be directed by Erin Richards, who plays Barbara Kean on the series. Having her at the helm for the final scenes filmed for the show created a special environment on-set, as the cast said goodbye to the characters they've embodied for five seasons. "It was the most emotionally satisfying end to this journey that you could possibly imagine," Robin Lord Taylor, who plays Penguin, told GameSpot at the TCA press tour. "To have someone who had been with all of us since the pilot, and to have her be one of us, as the actors, and just her connection to the crew, it was just so warm and beautiful and just super fitting to the family that we had built together over these last couple of years."Additionally, as McKenzie--who wrote the episode--explained, the final scene of the episode was as close to a Gotham family reunion as you could expect. "We shot that in the confines of the set, in our big GCPD set--which is the first one that we built, the one that's lasted for five years--in front of everyone you know," he said. "The principal cast, most of [whom] are in character and some of whom just showed up on the day. The crew and our background players that have been there for five years, many of them. It was really wonderful that Erin was directing. It was a nice way to say goodbye."For Richards, getting to direct her first episode of TV and having it also be the final installment of a series she's spent five years on was a unique experience. "It was like the most creatively inspiring, the funnest, the most challenging. And then just the most perfect way to end the most beautiful story," she said. "I could not ask for anything better. And I was so present for every moment. I don't know if directing does that, but I just felt like I was really experiencing every moment of it, which meant that I wasn't really sad when we finished because I could not have possibly have asked for anything more."And once the final frame of "The Trial of Jim Gordon" has aired, the home stretch begins for Gotham. There will be only three episodes left as the series rockets to its Batman-filled conclusion. Given how often Gotham carves its own path, though, it remains to be seen whether Gordon will actually survive his trial and be around to see it all happen.Gotham airs Thursdays on Fox.Info from Gamespot.com

A new key visual has been revealed for the upcoming Digimon film that celebrates the original 1999 anime's 20th anniversary. The art is the first teaser image released for the new movie, which was first announced in May 2018. It can be seen below.The key visual doesn't showcase much--it's a shot of Taichi (Tai in the English dub) and his partner Digimon, Agumon, holding hands. Taichi has also removed his goggles, an accessory he's worn for most of his partnership with Agumon. The visual was revealed via a tweet by Digimon Adventure Tri character designer Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru, who, according to Siliconera, made the image based on a specific scene from the upcoming movie. The tweet is accompanied by the message to "Please remember Taichi and Agumon this way until the movie releases."【2020年初春】「劇場版デジモンアドベンチャー（仮題）」超ティザービジュアルを公開！！キャラクターデザイン・中鶴勝祥が、映画のある１シーンをイメージして切り取ったイラストです。この太一とアグモンの姿を公開まで覚えていてください。https://t.co/sGVzzzr7yU#デジモン pic.twitter.com/m5JtTPH6Y2— 【公式】劇場版デジモンアドベンチャー（仮題） (@Digi_advntr20th) March 5, 2019Not much information is known about the upcoming movie. According to Crunchyroll, the entire cast of Digimon Adventure Tri is scheduled to reprise their respective roles in the new film. Producer Yosuke Kinoshita wants the movie to be both meaningful for the fans who have been watching Digimon since the 1999 anime, while also making its story accessible for newcomers to understand. Although Digimon Adventure's 20th anniversary is this year (tomorrow, March 7, actually), the movie is scheduled for Spring 2020. However, a new video game that celebrates the anniversary--titled Digimon Survive--is coming out this year.The original Digimon Adventure anime follows the journey and battles of Taichi, Yamato (Matt), Sora, Koshiro (Izzy), Mimi, and Joe, as well as Taichi's younger sister Kari and Yamato's little brother Takeru (T.K.). All eight are elementary school-age kids who become trapped in the Digital World, another universe populated by monsters who can utilize energy to digivolve into more powerful forms. As the DigiDestined, all eight carry devices that can supply their partner Digimon with the necessary energy to digivolve on command.【キャスト公開】「劇場版デジモンアドベンチャー（仮題）」8人の選ばれし子どもたちそして、パートナーデジモンキャストを発表！！22歳の太一は、花江夏樹さんアグモンは、坂本千夏さんみなさん、「tri.」シリーズのキャスト続投です！！HPもチェックです。https://t.co/sGVzzzr7yU pic.twitter.com/AOQW2GsFQL— 【公式】劇場版デジモンアドベンチャー（仮題） (@Digi_advntr20th) March 5, 2019A second season saw most of the cast pass the DigiDestined mantle onto a new team of kids as Taichi, Yamato, Sora, Koshiro, Mimi, and Joe entered middle school. 2015's Digimon Adventure Tri picks up several years later, with the original eight DigiDestined--now in high school--reuniting with their partners. The new, upcoming movie ages the original cast to around 22-years-old.Info from Gamespot.com

Capcom's Devil May Cry 5 is almost here, releasing on March 8 for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. The newest entry to the Devil May Cry franchise further evolves the series' staple over-the-top action and ridiculous style.If you're planning on picking the game up, you don't have to worry about it taking over too much of your life. After playing through Devil May Cry 5, GameSpot editors Matt Espineli and Alessandro Fillari both said it took them about 15 hours to complete the main campaign. So if you want to, it's plausible to finish Capcom's new game in a weekend. For those who want a bit more out of the game, new difficulties unlock in Devil May Cry 5 after you complete it the first time.In our Devil May Cry 5 review, Matt Espineli gave the game a 9/10, writing, "DMC5 thrives on the stylistic and mechanical prowess of its predecessors. It sticks to tradition above all else, pursuing a few ambitious new ideas along the way, but mostly maintaining the series’ focus on intricate fighting systems and campy bravado. Rarely does the game stumble, consistently leveraging its spectacle and mechanical depth to push aside any small frustrations. All the while, the story exudes a charismatic charm that keeps you constantly intrigued as you’re refining your skills. DMC5 proves the series can still be brilliant and imaginative without compromising its longest-held traditions."If you still need some more information before you decide whether you want to pre-order Devil May Cry 5, we've compiled everything there is to know about the game. Pre-ordering Devil May Cry 5 nets you a handful of in-game bonuses which is dependent on which edition you buy. The standard edition comes with five alternative costumes for the game's characters. You'll get those costumes plus 100,000 Red Orbs--Devil May Cry 5's in-game currency that can be earned or bought with microtransactions--with the Deluxe Edition. Regardless of which edition you buy, pre-ordering either one on PS4 gets you a Devil May Cry 5 PS4 theme.Info from Gamespot.com

Civilization VI told a straightforward story of the consequences of your actions. Fail to keep your people happy and they would put down their hammers and raise pitchforks. Be rude to the other leaders and they would soon refuse to deal with you. Beyond that, however, you could go about building your empire mostly unconcerned with any repercussions to your decisions. Last year's Rise and Fall expansion added some complexity to the tale with the introduction of its Loyalty mechanic. Operating in isolation was no longer possible. Settlements on the fringes of an empire could, if they liked what they saw across the border, decide to rebel. Players who took their citizens' loyalty for granted would find themselves leading no one.This kind of accountability is extended in multiple directions with Gathering Storm, the second major expansion for Civ VI. Through the institution of a World Congress, Gathering Storm lets leaders reward and punish each other for certain actions, allow them to pass sweeping resolutions that affect every civilization, and ultimately secure their diplomatic favor. And with its new World Climate system, Gathering Storm makes you accountable to the world itself by hitting you--sometimes painfully hard--with the calamitous consequences of exploiting the map's rich resources.Your path to victory in Civ VI was predictable once you'd established the foundation of your empire by the Modern Era, but the new World Congress and World Climate systems add enough dynamism to keep you working right up to the new Future Era. Gathering Storm encourages you to “play the map," taking advantage of the surrounding resources, and then adapt the repercussions of your decisions reflected on that map. As an expansion focused on consequences, however, it can take some time for the new stuff to make its presence felt.The World Climate system is the most meaningful change, but it doesn't really kick in until you've started extracting strategic resources like coal and oil. Early on you'll encounter floods, hurricanes, blizzards, and endure the odd drought or volcanic eruption. These weather events pass in a couple of turns, potentially reducing your population, injuring units and pillaging improvements, but they can also fertilize tiles to reward you with greater yields in future.But weather is not climate. Once you start burning coal and oil to fuel both the power plants in your industrial districts and the battleships and tanks that comprise your military force, you start pumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. As those emissions rise, tallied by the new World Climate report that tracks the cumulative contributions of each civ and resource, the world will progress through up to seven phases of climate change. Sea levels will rise, at first flooding coastal tiles and eventually leaving many of them completely underwater. Weather events will increase in both frequency and severity, simultaneously desiccating your farmlands through drought and ravaging your cities with tornadoes.The choices you're forced to make here are difficult and meaningful. Resources like coal and oil are powerful and refusing to exploit them will cede an immediate advantage to any rival. Through the Industrial and Modern Eras they fuel the most effective units in your navy and army. Do you really want to rely on defending your homeland with frigates while the enemy has ironclads? Further, consumable fuel resources are the first ways you're able to power your cities. A concept debuting in Gathering Storm, powering a city--say, via a coal power plant--boosts the yields of various districts and buildings. Can you really afford to let your research labs and stock exchanges sit idle while your coal-guzzling neighbor is sprinting ahead in the science race?Later you're able to develop methods of harvesting renewable energy resources such as wind and solar farms, but by the time you're able to deploy them, you may find yourself lagging too far behind a less eco-friendly rival or, worse, suffering the consequences of irreversible damage to the planet. Helping to mitigate such destruction and preserving the natural environment will slow down the effects of climate change. This forces new, perplexing early game decisions. Chopping down that nearby rainforest will give a quick boost to producing a settler, but leaving it untouched may mean future settlers will live to see a world that still has air to breathe. Before Gathering Storm, this wasn't a choice--you chopped for the short-term gain because there were no long-term consequences. Now, every decision is purposeful. Now, every tile in your empire is asking: "Are you sure you want to do that?"The World Congress is slightly less successful at providing new and meaningful choices than the World Climate system. What it does, though, is make you far more aware of what other leaders are up to. Once the congress convenes, from the Medieval Era onwards, you'll find yourself voting on various resolutions every 30 turns. You might be asked to vote on boosting or banning certain types of great people, or whether trade routes to particular civs or city-states should receive bonuses. You don't just get one vote; instead, you can spend a new form of currency called Diplomatic Favor to vote as many times as you can afford. Favors can also be traded with other leaders, just like any resource, meaning diplomatic players will need to give away valuable luxuries or strategic resources in order to fully exert their influence on the World Congress.In theory, these resolutions should enable the diplomatic player to tip the scales in their favor. In practice, though, their effects aren't transformative. You might get an extra trade route here, a slightly slower Great Engineer there, but nothing that feels game-changing. The randomness doesn't help--if you could propose a resolution rather than merely voting on the ones that pop up that would provide a better return on the investment.More compelling are the choices to be made around actually pursuing the new Diplomatic Victory, awarded to the leader who first reaches 10 Diplomatic Victory points. You're still essentially voting your way to the top, but you're also competing with other leaders to send the most aid to another civ recently devastated by floods, for instance, or to generate the most great people points to win the Nobel Prize. Diplomatic Favor is also earned via alliances with other civs and becoming the suzerain of a city-state, so the Diplomatic Victory is genuinely a case of demonstrating you can lead the world.These are the two biggest new features in this add-on, but Gathering Storm also includes countless smaller tweaks that in combination with the above make it an essential purchase for Civ VI fans. There are new World Wonders to build, such as the Great Bath or the University Sankore. There are new Natural Wonders, new military units to fill in the gaps between eras, and nine new leaders, including the series' first-ever dual-nationality leader (Eleanor of Aquitaine can represent either England or France).Thoughtfully, the new leaders are balanced between those that are clearly geared towards Gathering Storm's prominent additions--Kristina of Sweden is all about winning diplomatic favor while the unique abilities of Kupe, the Maori leader, incentivize leaving untouched as much of the natural world as possible--and those who embrace some previously overlooked facet of the game. In the latter camp, Matthias Corvinus heads a Hungarian empire whose military force is best composed of units levied from allied city-states, while in the Inca, lead by Pachacuti, we finally have a civ that wants lots of mountain tiles throughout its lands.Gathering Storm is overall a great expansion, ushering in two significant new systems that work hand in hand to deepen the experience. The embellished diplomatic options extend the range of interactions with other leaders, allowing you to work cooperatively towards common goals or pull the strings to your advantage behind the scenes. While the introduction of climate change delivers new strategic choices whose consequences resonate ever-more-loudly as you advance throughout the eras. It isn't simply more Civ, it's a whole new way to play Civ.Info from Gamespot.com

Despite its initial reluctance to bring its properties to smartphones, Nintendo has been slowly expanding its reach into the mobile market. The company has a couple of new smartphone games on the way this year, including the recently announced Dr. Mario World. But while mobile games will remain a component of Nintendo's business, it seems the company doesn't want players to spend too much on them.According to the Wall Street Journal, Nintendo has had its development partners adjust their mobile games so that players don't spend an excessive amount of money in them. Like many other smartphone titles, most of Nintendo's mobile offerings are free to download and feature optional in-app purchases, but WSJ reports that Nintendo is wary of being perceived as greedy for these microstransactions and potentially tarnishing its brand.Nintendo's most recent smartphone venture is Dragalia Lost, an action RPG co-developed by Granblue Fantasy studio Cygames. The game launched back in September and has proven to be a modest success, surpassing $75 million in revenue worldwide according to Sensor Tower. However, Cygames parent company CyberAgent has had to cut its earnings forecast--the first time it has done so in 17 years--because the title has underperformed.Dragalia Lost features a gacha summoning system, through which players can acquire new characters and other items by exchanging in-game currency, which can most easily be obtained by spending real-world money. After the game's release, however, players complained that it was too difficult to acquire rare characters, prompting Nintendo to approach CyberAgent to adjust the game.While this philosophy is undoubtedly beneficial for consumers, it has affected the bottom line of Nintendo's partners. "Nintendo is not interested in making a large amount of revenue from a single smartphone game," WSJ quotes one CyberAgent official as saying. "If we managed the game alone, we would have made a lot more."Nintendo has two new smartphone games announced for this year. The aforementioned Dr. Mario World, which is co-developed by LINE, is slated to launch early this summer. Meanwhile, Nintendo's mobile Mario Kart game, Mario Kart Tour, was originally scheduled to release in March but has now been delayed to summer.Info from Gamespot.com

One of the recent NXT callups, as well as the current NXT Champion, Tommaso Ciampa has made waves on the main WWE roster, only to have it taken away so quickly.Ciampa will have to undergo neck surgery on March 7, putting him out of action, according to WWE. He has been scheduled for an anterior cervical fusion, which is a surgery to remove a herniated disc from the neck, through the front of the neck, in the throat area. Recovery time for a procedure like this is around three to six months for the patient to return to normal. WWE did not set a timetable for his potential return or how long he could be out.This could explain why the focus on Ciampa and Johnny Gargano as a tag team on Raw quickly switched over to other NXT newcomers Ricochet and Aleister Black, who now have a Raw Tag Team Championship match at Fastlane, this Sunday.With Ciampa out, this throws a few wrenches in WWE's plans. Wrestlemania and NXT Takeover is right around the corner, and Ciampa is the NXT Champion. So what's next? Ciampa for sure won't be at WWE's biggest PPV of the year, and while he may show up to Takeover, he probably won't be competing. It's more than likely we'll see him vacate the NXT Championship, which isn't a huge deal, since he's moving up to the main roster anyway.However, Ciampa undergoing surgery won't affect his role in the upcoming NXT tag team event. Starting on March 6, the Dusty Rhodes Classic kicks off and Ciampa and Gargano have reteamed up for the event. Seeing as it's pre-taped though, fans won't miss anything.It's a bummer for NXT and WWE fans, as Raw was just getting a taste of DIY (Ciampa and Gargano), and they could really have helped put the tag team division there back on top. We wish him a speedy recovery.While DIY won't be competing at Fastlane this Sunday, their NXT peers Aleister Black and Ricochet will be, and we have predictions for that and all the matches for the WWE PPV.Info from Gamespot.com

(Content warning: sexual assault.)Valve has announced it will block the release of a controversial game that was to be distributed through its service. In its statement regarding the decision, it said the game poses "unknown costs and risks" and that the "chosen content matter and a way of representing it" render the distribution platform unable to work with the developer.The game, titled "Rape Day," is a visual novel set during a zombie apocalypse in which the player character can harass other survivors, kill people, and sexually assault women. It has been listed on the Steam marketplace with an impending release date, but Valve has now removed the listing. The company issued a statement through its Valve blog explaining the decision. You can read it in full below."Over the past week you may have heard about a game called 'Rape Day' coming soon to Steam. Today we've decided not to distribute this game on Steam. Given our previous communication around Who Gets To Be On The Steam Store?, we think this decision warrants further explanation."Much of our policy around what we distribute is, and must be, reactionary—we simply have to wait and see what comes to us via Steam Direct. We then have to make a judgement call about any risk it puts to Valve, our developer partners, or our customers. After significant fact-finding and discussion, we think 'Rape Day' poses unknown costs and risks and therefore won't be on Steam."We respect developers’ desire to express themselves, and the purpose of Steam is to help developers find an audience, but this developer has chosen content matter and a way of representing it that makes it very difficult for us to help them do that."The reference to its previous blog entry was one that issued fairly loose policies and a general hands-off approach from Valve regarding what the company would allow on its platform. This led to an open question about whether a game like Rape Day would be allowed to be sold. This statement blocks this particular game but does not offer clarity on what similar types of content would not be allowed in the future.The game had been set for release in April. The developer had informed customers that the approval process was taking longer than usual due to graphic content that was illegal in some countries, but said that it had marked the game as adult and issued thorough content warnings. The studio said that if Valve did prevent release of the game, it would seek out an alternate distribution platform.Info from Gamespot.com

Spoiler alert: At the end of Far Cry 5, the United States gets nuked. Seventeen years later, the region and residents of Hope County have endured and mostly recovered from the devastation anew. The vegetation is more abundant, society has been reshaped, and there is a hell of a lot more duct tape everywhere. Everything feels new and different--well, except for that fact that there's ruthless, tyrannical oppression taking over everything and it's up to you, and basically only you, to stop it. Some things never change. That's Far Cry: New Dawn--despite a few new novelties and a great mechanical twist, New Dawn feels exactly like what it is: a direct continuation of Far Cry 5.That's not inherently a bad thing. New Dawn features the same kind of forward-thinking approach to open-world exploration and progression as Far Cry 5. While main missions are mapped out for you, the discovery of side activities like enemy outposts, treasure hunts (formerly prepper stashes), and companion recruitment missions mostly comes from your own organic exploration. Earning perk points to improve your abilities is tied to your discovery of hidden caches and diversifying the activities you undertake. New Dawn is a more concise game--the map is smaller than Far Cry 5 and there's less curated content to discover this time around--but the emphasis is still on staying out in the world and soaking up the environment.That sense of freedom has been diminished, however. It's not the fact that you're revisiting Hope County, but rather how New Dawn sets up the pins. In Far Cry 5, you began in the middle of the map and were allowed to explore in any direction you wished; New Dawn starts you off in the bottom corner of the map and basically pushes you in a steady, linear sweep north as you slowly reclaim territory, and asks you to regularly bring resources back to your base in that starting area to bolster it.What's to stop you from just darting ahead? Well, damage numbers. New Dawn introduces RPG elements, like damage numbers, into its design for the first time in the series. The game's guns and enemies fall into four different tiered ranks, and getting ahead requires that you go out into the world to scavenge crafting materials to upgrade your base so you can upgrade your weapons workshop and eventually craft better guns to take down the higher rank enemies impeding your progress. Outfits, armor, and defense numbers don't factor in your growth, just weapons. Guns at rank 1 and 2 will do a minimal amount of damage to well-armored rank 3 and elite rank enemies.Early on, this can be annoying if you try to push the limits of the game in a way you're not meant to. Heading too far into the map and needing to use up hundreds of bullets to take down a rank 3 bear you encounter isn't terrifying as much as it is silly, and eventually, the demands of story missions will stop you from going too far.But if you dial down your Far Cry 5-style expectations of freedom and go with the flow, you run into these awkward predicaments far less often. Your guns feel like they do the damage they're supposed to, and enemies feel like they have an acceptable level of resistance. In fact, once you get access to the top-tier arsenal, things will start to swing wildly in your favor--your guns will feel overpowered to the point where even shooting rank 1 enemies in the foot might be enough to take them out--which feels great when you're getting overwhelmed. Played the right way, the game's RPG-style systems basically feel invisible, and you can enjoy Far Cry's style of weighty gunplay and feel like an incredibly competent one-person army. The feeling of eventually being able to overcome New Dawn's elite enemies is good, but you're left wondering why you needed to be held back by artificial gating at all.It doesn't help that there's no tangible sense of growth with weapons and vehicle crafting; New Dawn's selection of guns and cars isn't dramatically different enough between ranks to make the large distinction in damage output believable. Rank 1 weapons are a varied suite of handguns, rifles, and shotguns, and higher-rank arsenals are basically defined by the increasing amount of duct tape and junk on that same suite, as if that stuff has magical properties that makes the guns perform better. There are lots of guns to choose from, but if you've played Far Cry 5 you'll immediately recognize them, duct tape or no.The one nice exception is the new Saw Launcher, which shoots circular saw blades. Higher tier versions of the weapon actually have noticeably different properties, like the ability to shoot saw blades with ricocheting, homing, and boomerang traits. It's the only weapon which truly feels like it was borne out of the post-apocalypse, improvised from scavenged parts. Aerosol cans, pipes, and spray paint might give the other guns and cars a cool look, but it doesn't change how familiar they feel.The same can be said of the world itself. Far Cry 5's Hope County already felt a bit post-apocalyptic--the rural setting was isolated from the world thanks to antagonist Joseph Seed--so even though there are plenty of visible differences to the region, the impact of those changes isn't massive. There are a few key locations that provoke some amusement in their discovery, but the strength of Far Cry 5's Hope County was its natural environments--the forests, lakes, rivers, and mountains. The conceit that the region was re-vegetated by a super bloom after nuclear devastation means that the vibe in New Dawn is basically identical, despite dramatic increases in upended cars and graffiti. It's a pretty post-apocalypse, but it doesn't have the feeling of desperation you might associate with the theme. Scavenging for materials doesn't feel like a drastic necessity, just a way to get ahead. New Dawn doesn't feel like it takes the theme to enough of an extreme to feel meaningful or different.The solid bones of Far Cry's combat are still here, though, and they're still very good. Taking on outposts (within your rank), whether that be via stealth or aggression, is still enjoyable, and the game encourages you to repeat them at increased difficulties to earn more resources. New Dawn also introduces seven self-contained missions called Expeditions. These are large, diverse maps set outside Hope County, and they feature setpieces like a New Orleans amusement park, an aircraft carrier, and even a Splinter Cell-themed plane crash. Expedition environments are a highlight, but the snatch-and-grab objectives mean that you're never really encouraged to stop and appreciate them--you're more concerned with getting the hell out of there as a non-stop stream of enemies comes after you.The concise nature of the game means there's a remarkable lack of time given to the characters and plot, too. A few of the major characters feel like they could be interesting, the twin sister antagonists especially, but the few interactions you have with them are definitely not enough to develop them and make you care. While the performances have gusto, key moments of pathos just feel completely unearned. Something major happened to a key character and I was surprised how little empathy I felt. A detestable deal is made and I was mad at how little time they spent justifying it. Underdeveloped connections to characters also exacerbate the relative mundanity of the story missions compared to the game's side and open-world activities--turret sequences, bland chases, forced melee fights, and even a slow boat ride, all of which go on for way too long.You do get a double jump, though. That is, the ability to jump in mid-air. You also get the ability to basically turn invisible and give yourself super speed and strength. The Far Cry series has always dabbled in the mystic, but yes: In a strange turn of events, New Dawn eventually says "screw it" and gives you access to superhuman powers. And the way it changes how you approach the world is undoubtedly the best thing about the game.These sudden powers let you lean hard into superhero fantasy, allowing you to bound over fences and onto buildings, using your newfound mobility and invisibility to completely terrorize enemies like you're the Predator, or perhaps jumping high into the fray and firing off explosive arrows, pretending you're Hawkeye from The Avengers. Maybe you're more of a Wolverine, activating the berserker ability to rush an outpost at super speed and send heavily armed assailants and bears alike flying with your bare fists. A minor new mechanic lets you temporarily pick up shields from enemies and toss them like you're Captain America (supporting characters even refer to you as "Cap"), and I'm shocked they didn't do more with this--the inability to permanently keep a shield is a big disappointment.The powers are so good that it's almost a shame they come at a point late in the game where you'll likely already be well-equipped to deal with elite rank enemies, since a few scenarios that challenge your ability to use these effectively definitely would have been a welcome addition. But as it stands, they're a fantastic expansion of Far Cry's combat vocabulary. They completely elevate your confidence to rip through everything and everyone, suddenly turning New Dawn's familiar, pedestrian experience into a raucous blast.There's a lot of potential in the ideas seeded in New Dawn, but there isn't enough room for many of them to breathe and feel fully realized. Not the post-apocalyptic theme, not the RPG mechanics, not the weapons, vehicles, plot, or characters. Advancing through the adventure is an enjoyable experience, especially once you get your superhuman powers, but this is largely because Far Cry 5's combat and progression models remain compelling enough to propel you forward. For its part, New Dawn is a palatable but unremarkable spin-off that feels like it could have achieved so much more.Info from Gamespot.com

With the final season of Game of Thrones ready to premiere on HBO, fans are dying to know how the epic series will come to an end. If they're expecting to find out from George RR Martin, author of the A Song of Fire and Ice novels, though, they're out of luck."I haven't read the [final-season] scripts and haven’t been able to visit the set because I've been working on [The Winds of Winter]," he told Entertainment Weekly. "I know some of the things. But there's a lot of minor-character [arcs] they'll be coming up with on their own. And, of course, they passed me several years ago. There may be important discrepancies."As for the show ending as a whole, Martin explained that he has "mixed feelings about that." While the adaptation of his novels has become one of the biggest TV shows of all time, the screen version of the story has gone further than the events of the novels. "Obviously, I wished I finished these books sooner so the show hadn't gotten ahead of me," he said. "I never anticipated that."That said, though, Game of Thrones isn't necessarily ending. As Martin explained, "It's not the end for me. I'm still deeply in it. I better live a long time because I have a lot of work left to do." In addition to The Winds of Winter, a seventh novel--A Promise of Spring--was previously announced. Beyond that, there's also a prequel in the works.And if you're worried that the final season will spoil how the books will end, that shouldn't be much of a concern. "Now that the show is ahead of the books, it seems the show could ruin the books for people," co-showrunner David Benioff said. "So one thing we've talked to George about is that we're not going to tell people what the differences are, so when those books come out people can experience them fresh,"The final season of Game of Thrones premieres Sunday, April 14 on HBO. Make sure to check out the trailer for the new season and our deep dive breakdown into all of the secrets it holds.Info from Gamespot.com

Hello Kitty--the popular cartoon character produced by Japan-based design company Sanrio--has seen a fair share of video game adaptions, with the last one being Hello Kitty Kruisers released in 2014 for iOS (iPhone/iPad), Nintendo Switch, and Wii U. In addition to games, the lovable kitten has been on the big screen, with the last one showing nearly 28 years ago. Now, in a strange turn of events, Hello Kitty is getting the Hollywood treatment once again.Sanrio and Warner Bros. have announced (PDF link) that a Hello Kitty film is baking in the oven. As outlined by Crunchyroll's translation, Warner Bros.' New Line Cinema (Lord of the Rings, Rush Hour) and FlynnPictureCo. (Rampage, Skyscraper) are collaborating on the project. Additionally, Warner Bros. is scheduled to distribute the film worldwide. The film is reported to feature popular characters from Sanrio, including Hello Kitty herself.Prominent film producer Beau Flynn (Battle of the Year, Two Night Stand)--who's worked with wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson on films like Baywatch, the upcoming Jungle Cruise, and more--will spearhead the project as its producer. Wendy Jacobson (Rampage, Skyscraper) will serve as the project's executive producer. Aside from those two attachments, no casting announcements have been made.Hello Kitty was created by Japanese designer Yuko Shimizu and introduced to the world in 1974. A female Gijinka (a human-Japanese Bobtail hybrid), Hello Kitty has traveled the world both physically and digitally, becoming a kawaii staple in Japanese pop culture. Her first appearance in a video game was Hello Kitty no Hanabatake, a children's platformer released on the NES in 1992. Ever since then, she's graced a plethora of home consoles from the PlayStation 2 to the obscure Bemani Pocket--Konami's console effort in the late 90s--and beyond.Details on this film adaption are scarce at the moment. Crunchyroll does report that, while there's no release schedule or further information (Is it live action? CG? Animation? A combination of the three?), the project is in the development stage.Image credit: SanrioInfo from Gamespot.com

There's a blacksmith, toiling away in the markets of the capital of Nava, who thinks making swords is boring. Why create something, she argues, when death is its only use? She'd rather make a kettle any day of the week. So I bought her kettle, and now I can brew all kinds of delicious, and at times mysterious, tea whenever I hole up and camp in the wilderness. And I still haven't found a sword.Eastshade is a non-violent, first-person adventure game set in a rolling open world full of quests. Imagine an Elder Scrolls game was an old boot, and you picked it up, turned it upside down and shook it until all the combat and magic and loot, every orc and dragon and bandit fell out. Then you took a shoehorn and eased a walking simulator inside the wrinkled leather before setting off on a delightful stroll across the countryside. Eastshade is just about the loveliest, prettiest, and just bloody nicest game I've played in years.You play an artist, recently shipwrecked in Eastshade near the small coastal village of Lyndor. After a kind chap finds you on the beach and lets you rest in his cozy cave until you recover, you resume your journey to visit and then paint your just-passed mother's favorite places in Eastshade. It's a simple setup, paying tribute to a lost loved one, and it's indicative of the kind of sincere, touching gestures you'll carry out over the course of the game.The flow of Eastshade will be familiar to anyone who has played an open-world RPG in recent years. You speak to NPCs, at first enquiring about the local history and points of interest before delving into something more personal and finally unlocking a unique quest. A child and aspiring painter asks you to help her acquire some art supplies. A smitten merchant wants some advice on how she should pursue her romantic interest. A park ranger needs your assistance in catching and caring for an injured waterfox. Not everyone has a story to tell--there are plenty of mute, generic NPCs filling the streets--but the ones you do meet almost always open up to you in the sweetest of ways.Most quests involve tracking down the next person in the quest chain or venturing afar to find a particular item. Some, however, require your talents as an artist. Indeed, it seems that once an Eastshadian discovers you can paint, they're quick to realize how much they'd really like some oil on canvas hanging over the fireplace. One keen art-lover asked me to paint him a picture of a chicken, so I made my way over the markets where I'd earlier spied some chickens nestling among the hay, set down my easel and painted the perfect poultry portrait.The act of painting itself isn't simulated in any way. You simply use the mouse to drag a frame across the screen. Anything within that frame is then captured, rendered in a painterly style, and reproduced on the canvas. In essence, you're taking screenshots. As such there's much pleasure to be had in framing your subject, as anyone who has unearthed the joys of a game's photo mode can attest. I was asked by a particularly pompous villager to paint his portrait, and fully capture all his self-described nobility and heroism. He was sitting in a tavern at the time, next to a huge fireplace whose chimney stretched to the double-story ceiling, so I framed him as this tiny figure dwarfed by the imposing stone furnace. He was grateful, of course--I'm sure the game logic merely checks if the required subject is in the frame--but I found it extremely satisfying.At a certain point you will also gain the ability to register with another local artist and begin taking commissions to earn glowstones, the local currency. It functions much like a job board: you check in, accept the gig, then return later with the finished painting and collect your cash. Each commission gives you a description of the type of painting desired and it's up to you to figure out where you need to go and what you need to include in the frame. Some are easy to identify, like a specific request for a windmill, but you may have no idea where to find it. Others are more vague, like a “starry cavern” or a “natural arch.” Either way, it's enjoyable to have your memory of the landscape tested as you struggle to recall elements of the terrain.Sometimes you won't have a spare canvas to paint on, meaning you'll have to obtain the materials necessary to craft a new canvas. Fortunately, there are wooden boards and piles of cloth lying around the various towns and villages, and NPCs don't seem to mind at all if you walk into their homes and grab some. It's a good idea to thoroughly explore every area and collect any such craftable materials as there doesn't seem to be any limit on how much you can carry. I found I typically had enough canvases to complete quest-critical paintings, but if I'd wanted to paint for fun, as it were, I would have had to tediously wait for previously collected materials to respawn or spend my hard-earned glowstones to buy them.Money's tight, you see, and there are other things worth purchasing. This isn't an RPG, so you won't be selling loot to finance your endeavors--though there is a sort of joke merchant who will buy anything off you for the princely sum of one glowstone. However, there are items you will need in order to access new areas of the world. A coat, for example, lets you continue to explore the countryside during the cold nights, while a tent lets you camp outdoors overnight or simply rest for a while if you need to meet someone at a certain time of day.You'll find yourself walking a fine line between securing what you need to complete your current tasks and saving up to afford what you need to unlock new quest possibilities. I remember standing in the markets and agonizing over whether to spend what little money I had on a fishing rod (because one quest wanted me to catch a particular type of fish) or a kettle (because my pockets were already bursting with all different kinds of plants and herbs). It was a genuinely stressful moment in a game otherwise conducted entirely in serene contemplation.Eastshade is a slow game. There's an awful lot of walking, or running once you realize there's the option, and you'll spend almost all your time trekking back and forth between villages or strolling across town from one shop to the next, ferrying this item to that person and hoping to speak to so-and-so about this-and-that. It would quickly grow tiresome were it not for the dinky penny-farthing bicycle you can buy and the presence of craftable fast travel items, and more importantly, the immense natural beauty found in every corner, along every path, and over every crest of the world.Indeed, Eastshade is a slow game that moves at just the right pace. From the warm, golden sunlight filtering through the dense canopy of the Great Tree to the pools of water on the terrace farms that skirt the city glittering in the morning light, you'll constantly find yourself stopping to catch your breath. Even after treading the same cobbled road a dozen or more times, hours later I would still find myself admiring the scenery, expansive vistas and minute details alike.The pace perfectly complements your actions, too. This is a game about taking your time and paying attention to the environment through which you're moving. You have a quest log and a map of the land, but there are no quest markers or waypoints telling you where to go. You have to read the lay of the land and remember details of where you've been. As you travel, the geographical contours of the world gradually become imprinted in your mind until you could paint them almost from memory alone. Almost.By giving you a paintbrush (and a kettle) instead of a sword, Eastshade is a rare first-person open world game that's not about killing but rather about doing good deeds, helping people see the error of their ways, and bringing communities together all through the power of art. It's a breath of fresh Eastshadian air and a genuine, unironic feel-good game. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to put the kettle on.Info from Gamespot.com

NetherRealm has released the official Mortal Kombat 11 reveal trailer for Cassie Cage. Although Cassie was confirmed today to be included in the upcoming Mortal Kombat game, the new trailer offers a more detailed sampling of her moveset. It can be watched in the video above.First seen in Mortal Kombat X, Cassie Cage is the daughter of both Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage, two other Mortal Kombat fan favorites who have also been confirmed for the eleventh entry (along with several other fighters). Like her mother, Cassie has near perfect aim when it comes to using firearms and has a knack for utilizing technology. She also takes after her father, though, utilizing his same superhuman abilities to amplify her speed and strength.Cassie's inclusion in Mortal Kombat 11 was first revealed in a trailer that dropped earlier today. The trailer also includes Erron Black and Jacqui Briggs, two other Mortal Kombat X fighters, and focuses on Kronika and her attempts to fix the rift being caused by Raiden. Her efforts cause multiple realities to be drawn together, which is why Mortal Kombat 11 features so many characters from different time periods.In preparation for Mortal Kombat 11's release, NetherRealm is planning an online stress test for March 15-17. The test will be closed save for a select few, and only available in the US on Xbox One and PS4. There will be a follow-up beta test, though, in case you don't make it in--which will take place from March 28-31. To participate, you'll need to pre-order Mortal Kombat 11. Just know the beta is only available on Xbox One and PS4. Pre-ordering Mortal Kombat 11 also gets you Shao Kahn as a playable character.Mortal Kombat 11 releases April 23 for Xbox One, PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch. You can read more about it in our new Mortal Kombat 11 preview. Info from Gamespot.com