2018-10-28
My Hero One's Justice is a 3D arena-style fighter based on the popular manga and anime My Hero Academia. Unfortunately, One's Justice offers a bare-bones recreation of My Hero Academia's story, and it doesn't succeed at differentiating its offline modes. The game does have its moments, though, capturing the thrill of grandiose superhuman battles and the distinct fighting styles of the series' main characters.My Hero Academia takes place in a world where most individuals are born with superpowers called Quirks. Izuku Midoriya, the main series' protagonist, is unlucky enough to be born without one. However, when Midoriya's role model, All Might, sees the young boy bravely try and rescue his childhood friend/bully Katsuki Bakugo from a supervillain, the world's number-one hero takes the Quirkless teen under his wing. All Might helps his protege get into U.A. High School, Japan's top school for those who want to be superheroes, where Midoriya ends up in Class 1-A with Bakugo and 18 other first-years who all have powerful Quirks.One's Justice's Story mode briefly touches on this before jumping ahead to My Hero Academia's sixth arc, "Vs. Hero Killer." That's fine if you've been keeping up with the manga or anime, but confusing if you're using this game as your entry point into the franchise or just hoping to understand what's going on at all. Even when you do understand what's happening, there's a lack of any kind of emotional impact, as the story plays off characters' prior relationships with one another without actually telling you what those connections might be. However, the choice of later story arcs does justify the inclusion of certain characters, including the League of Villains.You may also find it tough to follow the story since the whole game is presented in Japanese with English subtitles. The entire Japanese voice cast from the My Hero Academia anime return to voice their respective characters, and each delivers noteworthy performances. However, with no option to play through One's Justice's Story mode with the English dub's voice cast, you'll be fighting your opponents in Story mode while trying to read subtitles at the same time. It's not impossible, but it's not easy.The game's Story mode isn't bad, though. One's Justice's campaign has optional "What If" missions that offer a look at what certain characters might have been doing between the story's major events. Even though these missions aren't canon, they're written well enough to fit the larger plot and it's believable that they really took place. Plus, they further flesh out minor heroes and villains that haven't gotten as much screen time in the anime.One's Justice's other four major modes--Local Match, Online Match, Arcade, and Missions--are where you'll probably be spending most of your time with the game. Local and online matches pit two opponents against each other in a best-of-three fight, with the former allowing you to go up against a computer or a friend in couch co-op and the latter sending you online to try and climb up in the rankings. You can also dress up your characters with new costumes and cosmetic items that you unlock by playing the game and show off your custom outfits in local and online fights. A fighter's wardrobe doesn't provide any in-game benefits, but it is rather fun to dress someone up as one of My Hero Academia's characters that aren't included in the game, like Mei Hatsume or Gunhead.In Arcade, you face off against computer-controlled fighters in a six-tier ladder where opponents get stronger on every rung. There is a slight bump in difficulty compared to Local Match, but it's not enough to make Arcade feel different from playing six consecutive local matches against AI. Missions mode is like Arcade, but with added optional requirements that you can fulfill to earn bonus cosmetic items. Those optional requirements are typically what you're trying to do anyway--such as winning every match or getting a good rank from a well-placed combo--so they don't force you into playing differently from the other modes. All four modes play essentially the same, with the biggest difference being whether you're going up against a computer or another human being.Each of the fighters in One's Justice's roster are unique. Some handle similarly--Tenya Iida, Gran Torino, and Deku: Shoot Style are all speed-based fighters, for example--but no two characters attack the same way, even the ones who have the same Quirk. 19 fighters are available at the outset, with another unlocked by playing the story and two more offered as DLC. Attacking is fairly simplistic, with one button for melee moves and another two for using different aspects of a character's Quirk. That said, each fighter's moveset is varied enough that you can form multiple strategies with a single character. Bakugo's powerful Explosion Quirk, for example, doesn't usually have much range, but he can charge it up to do larger, albeit slower, attacks. His Quirk also has a bit of kickback, so while in the air he can attack to quickly change his trajectory, and even keep himself airborne almost indefinitely for a faster, hit-and-run approach to combat.Each fighter's moveset is varied enough that you can form multiple strategies with a single characterLearning the different fighting styles for a particular character--and then implementing their unique unblockable, grab, counter, and Plus Ultra attacks into your strategy--is key to mastering each one. Once you understand the basics, going up against computer-controlled opponents won't hold much challenge, but it does pave the way for more enjoyable moments in PvP play. When two players who know their respective fighter's strengths and weaknesses go head-to-head, it leads to some tense, yet exciting battles. And with One's Justice's relatively easy learning curve, it's not all too difficult to feel competent with at least a few characters and jump into a ranked Online Match.The small moments of fan service during each fight are a nice touch too. Most Easter eggs come through in the characters' Plus Ultra special attacks, such as Ochaco Uraraka's Meteor Shower, but they show up cosmetically as well. The sleeves on Midoriya's suit will tear and his fingers will break if he uses an all-out Delaware Smash, for example.It's a shame My Hero One's Justice's Story mode doesn't do a good job introducing the world of My Hero Academia, with several important narrative beats either missing or revealed through subtitles while you're busy trying to fight. The offline modes against AI don't do much for the game either. However, One's Justice's combat is both accessible and enjoyable. When two players face off--either online or off--the game captures the adrenaline-pumping feeling of My Hero Academia's most notable fights. Pulling off moves from the manga/anime and outsmarting an opponent with devastating combos feels rewarding, and that's enough to keep the player coming back to the game for more.Info from Gamespot.com
2018-10-28
The release of Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption 2 has come, and the game is out now on PS4 and Xbox One. Before jumping into the game, you should be sure your console is connected to the internet to download the day-one update. It isn't required to play, but Rockstar recommends you install it first, as it includes "a number of last minute tweaks, bugs, and fixes." We've also put together a wide variety of guides and tips to help you better grasp the numerous systems included, and the first cheat codes have been discovered, although there are still more to be uncovered in the days and weeks ahead along with other secrets. Read on for our full Red Dead 2 review.Red Dead Redemption 2 is a game about consequences where you have only the illusion of choice. Yes, there are some decisions to be made, and those decisions will shape your character and the world around you. But some of the most disastrous choices were made for you before the game even begins, leaving you to deal with the fallout. And because it's a prequel to Red Dead Redemption, you also (probably) know how the story ends. All that's left is discovering what happens in between and making the most of it. To that end, you fight against the repetitive nature of missions, frequent moral dilemmas, and the inconvenience of doing what's right. For the most part, the frustration that tension can cause is also what makes the story impactful, and when it all comes together, your effort is not wasted.At the beginning of Red Dead Redemption 2, the Van der Linde gang is already on the decline we know from the previous game is coming. After a heist gone wrong in Blackwater, they're on the run, down a few members, and on the verge of capture, starvation, and succumbing to a snowstorm. There are familiar faces--Red Dead Redemption protagonist John Marston chief among them--as well as new ones. As senior member Arthur Morgan, you're in the privileged position of being Dutch Van der Linde's right hand, privy to his machinations and included in the most important outings. Once the gang escapes the storm and settles into a temporary campsite, you're also put in charge of the camp's finances, meaning you pick out all the upgrades and supplies. If Dutch is the center of the gang, Arthur is adjacent to all its vital parts at once, and that gives you a lot of power.With that power, you're encouraged to do as you see fit and at your own pace. A lengthy series of story missions early on introduces you to some of the ways you can spend your time, including hunting, fishing, horse-rearing, and robbery. There are a lot of systems, and covering the basics takes several hours. While they're not so cleverly disguised as to not feel like tutorials, the actual learning is paced well in its integration with the story, and the missions also acquaint you with the characters and the surrounding area. For example, the fishing "tutorial" has you taking young Jack Marston out for the day, since John is not exactly great at fatherhood. Jack is pure and sweet--and incredibly vulnerable to all the gang's wrongdoings--and the mission is memorable for it.In addition to the mechanics of various activities, you're also presented with a few elements of semi-realism you need to contend with. Mainly, you need to eat to refill your health, stamina, and Dead Eye ability "cores," which deplete over time. Eating too much or too little results in weight changes and stat debuffs. Eating itself isn't a problem, and neither is maintaining cores in general, but eating enough to maintain an average weight is intrusive; despite experimenting with what and how often I ate, I couldn't get Arthur out of the underweight range, and eating any more frequently would be too time-consuming to justify. You don't have to sleep (though you can to pass time and refill your cores), and surviving hot or cold temperatures comes down to choosing the right outfit from your item wheel, so managing your weight sticks out as superfluous rather than conducive to immersion.Limited fast travel options are the better-implemented side of Red Dead 2's realism, perhaps counterintuitively. There's next to no fast travel at the beginning and few methods in general, so you have to rely on your horse to get around. It can be slow, but there's no shortage of things to do and see along the way. Chance encounters are plentiful and frequently interesting; you might find a stranger in need of a ride to town or a snake bite victim who needs someone to suck the venom out of their wound. You can stumble upon a grotesque murder scene that sets you entirely off-track, or you can ignore someone in danger and just keep riding. And just as you can decide to rob or kill most anyone, you'll also run into people who will do the same to you. Even the longest rides aren't wasted time, and it's hard not to feel like you're missing something if you do opt for fast travel.Red Dead Redemption 2's version of America is vast and wide open, stretching from snowy mountains and the Great Plains down to the original game's New Austin in the southwest. Further to the east is the Louisiana-inspired Deep South, which is still feeling the effects of the Civil War after nearly 40 years. There's a distinct shift when traveling from region to region; as grassy hillsides become alligator-filled swamps, Union veterans give way to angry Confederate holdouts, and good intentions and casual racism turn into desperation and outright bigotry. The variety makes the world feel rich, and it both reacts to you and changes independently of your involvement; new buildings will go up as time goes on, and some of the people you talk to will remember you long after you first interacted with them (for better or worse).Incidental moments as you explore make up a large part of the morality system, in which you gain and lose honor based on your actions. "Good" morals are relative--you're a gang member, after all--but generally, it's more honorable to punch up rather than down. Helping an underdog, even if they're an escaped convict and even if you need to kill some cops or robbers to do it, can net you good guy points. In these situations, it's easier to be noble than a true outlaw. Committing a dishonorable crime is hard to do undetected, even in remote locations, and usually requires you to track down and threaten a witness, run and hide from the law, or pay a bounty down the line. While you'll earn money more quickly doing "bad" things, high honor gets you a pretty discount at shops, and you'll make good money either way through story missions.In many ways, you're nudged toward playing a "good" Arthur. The gang members he's closest to from the beginning are the more righteous, principled ones who are motivated by loyalty and a desire to help others, while he insults, argues with, and generally reacts negatively to those who are hot-headed and vicious. The most rotten of them is Micah, who's so easy to hate that it's hard not to follow Arthur's lead and take the higher road. Unlocking camp upgrades like one-way fast travel and better supplies also essentially forces you into being honorable; although everyone donates, you have to invest hundreds of dollars yourself if you want to afford anything, and that automatically gets you a ton of honor points whether you like it or not.One of the best, most understated details in the game is Arthur's journal, in which he recaps big events as well as random people you've met and more mundane, everyday things. He sketches places you go, doodles the plants and animals you find, and writes out thoughts he barely speaks out loud. The journal changes with your level of honor, but at least for a relatively honorable Arthur, the pages are filled with concerns and existential crises--inner turmoil over being either good or evil, for instance--that make you want to see him become a better person.Like any good prequel, there's an incredible amount of tension in knowing what happens without knowing exactly how.It's a lot harder to feel like a good guy when doing the main story missions, though. Arthur, along with nearly everyone else, is loyal to the gang first and foremost. This means following Dutch into trouble, busting friends out of jail, and committing a number of robberies in the interest of getting money for the gang. Even if you're trying your hardest to be good, you'll inevitably slaughter entire towns in mandatory story missions--stealth and non-lethal takedowns aren't always an option, and the snappy auto-lock aim makes shootouts a far easier option anyway. The dissonance is frustrating to play through in the moment, but it's incredibly important to Arthur's arc as well as your understanding of the gang as a whole. To say any more would venture into spoiler territory.That extends to the structure of story missions, which start to get predictable around halfway through the game. It's not that they're boring--the opposite is true, actually, and you see a lot of action from beat to beat. But after a while, a pattern emerges, and it's easy to figure out how any given heist or raid is going to unfold. This too becomes frustrating, partially because you often have no way of significantly affecting the outcome despite any decision-making power you thought you might have had. But your weariness is also Arthur's, and that's crucial. The mid-game drags in service of the narrative, which only becomes apparent much later. There's also enough variety between missions and free-roam exploration to prevent it from dragging to the point of being a chore to play.Like any good prequel, there's an incredible amount of tension in knowing what happens without knowing exactly how. If you played Red Dead Redemption, you know who survives and as a result who probably won't make it to the end of the game. Even during the slower parts, you're waiting for betrayals and injuries and other events you've only vaguely heard mention of before. You're waiting for characters to reveal their true selves, and watching as everything unravels is riveting and heartbreaking if you know what's to come.You can still enjoy the story in its own right without that background knowledge, though. Some of Red Dead Redemption 2's best moments have almost no relation to its predecessor. One mission takes you to a women's suffrage rally, and a painful side mission has you facing a woman whose husband you killed and life you ruined. The new characters are among the best, too; Sadie Adler is a personal favorite for reasons I won't spoil. Another, a young black man in the gang named Lenny, mentions how the Southerners treat him a little differently; Arthur says that he hasn't noticed anything weird, to which Lenny replies, "All respect, Mr. Morgan, you wouldn't notice."Generally, Red Dead 2 tackles pertinent issues of the era with care. Rather than defining any of its characters by the bigotry they may experience, it allows them the room to be well-rounded individuals while still not ignoring that things like racism and sexism exist. One arc focuses squarely on a very serious issue, and here, the lack of real choice in the story's direction--and your resulting involvement in what transpires--will likely make you uncomfortable in a powerful way.While Red Dead Redemption was mostly focused on John Marston's story, Red Dead 2 is about the entire Van der Linde gang--as a community, as an idea, and as the death rattle of the Wild West. It is about Arthur, too, but as the lens through which you view the gang, his very personal, very messy story supports a larger tale. Some frustrating systems and a predictable mission structure end up serving that story well, though it does take patience to get through them and understand why. Red Dead Redemption 2 is an excellent prequel, but it's also an emotional, thought-provoking story in its own right, and it's a world that is hard to leave when it's done.Info from Gamespot.com
2018-10-27
Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige dropped a few minor but key details about the Marvel Cinematic Universe Thursday at a special screening of Black Panther, including the not-quite-news news that a trailer for Avengers 4 will definitely drop before the end of 2018. Feige also confirmed that production on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is still on hold, a fact that came to light after the firing of writer and director James Gunn back in August.The confirmations came from Critics Choice Association journalist Erick Weber, who attended the screening and tweeted Feige's answers to three questions when it was all over. In addition to giving a sense of when fans might finally see a little bit of Avengers 4 before its May 3, 2019 release date, he also mentioned that Marvel Studios hasn't shut the door on bringing Namor the Sub-Mariner into the MCU.OK, here we go, 3 quick questions, answers direct from Kevin Feige's mouth1) AVENGERS 4 trailer "before the end of the year"2) Namor COULD make an appearance, still deciding IF & when3) GUARDIANS 3 status "on hold" — ð—˜ð—ªð—²ð—¯ (@ErickWeber) October 26, 2018The bit about the Avengers trailer isn't too surprising--marketing for the movie will be picking up steam soon as the May release closes in. What a trailer might reveal, however, is the full title of the movie, something Marvel has been holding back up to now. Fans are so ravenous to find out what the sequel to Avengers: Infinity War might be called (and whether that title tidbit could be a spoiler), that they banded together to try to dissect strange photos tweeted by Avengers 4 directors the Russo brothers for hints and clues.In the case of Guardians of the Galaxy, the third movie in the franchise was placed on hold after Gunn's firing, but things have become more heated in the aftermath of that move. The Guardians cast issued an open letter in favor of Gunn and calling for his rehiring, and star Dave Bautista has suggested he might quit the film over Disney's removal of Gunn.As for the Namor tidbit, the question of whether the character could wind up in the MCU comes down to rights issues, with Universal currently holding the rights to the character. Feige's comment at least means the studio is looking into the situation, though, so Namor fans still have some hope.Info from Gamespot.com
2018-10-27
You must have seen this one coming. After not so much as a peep about the potential Boba Fett standalone Star War movie since May, it's time to move on. That project is dead and buried.The news comes from Critics Choice Association journalist Erik Weber, who asked Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy about the film. "Kathleen Kennedy just confirmed to me Boba Fett movie is 100% dead," he writes in a tweet. Instead, Lucasfilm is committing its focus to the upcoming TV series The Mandalorian, which is being written and executive produced by Jon Favreau.Kathleen Kennedy just confirmed to me Boba Fett movie is 100% dead, 100% focusing on THE MANDALORIAN #StarWars — ð—˜ð—ªð—²ð—¯ (@ErickWeber) October 26, 2018It's an unfortunate turn for the now-dead Boba Fett movie, which was reported in May to have signed on Logan helmer James Mangold to direct. Of course, that doesn't mean there still isn't plenty of Star Wars coming to the big screen.Firstly, Episode IX will arrive in theaters in 2019. Beyond that, The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson is developing a trilogy of films, while Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and DB Weiss are writing and producing a series of films. Outside of the next--and possibly final--chapter of the Skywalker saga, no other story details or release dates have been announced.Star Wars: Episode IX hits theaters on December 20, 2019.Info from Gamespot.com
2018-10-27
Titan Comics has announced that the final chapter of Assassin's Creed Uprising is out. Uprising Vol. 3: Finale concludes the Phoenix Project saga, which was first introduced in Assassin's Creed Unity but can be traced all the way back to the original game.The Phoenix Project saga is a present-day Assassin's Creed story that focuses on the return of Juno, the god-like Isu who believes humanity's salvation lies in her ruling over them. In Assassin's Creed III, it was revealed that she had been guiding Desmond Miles towards freeing her from captivity since the first game. Her consciousness returned without a body in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, and when she failed to possess the player's character at the end of the game, her lover--John Standish--went insane and was subsequently killed.Abstergo studied Standish's body and realized he was one of the immortal Sages who is reborn over and over again. In Assassin's Creed Unity, Abstergo started the Phoenix Project, a venture to use what was learned from Standish's DNA to clone an Isu. The present-day Assassins eventually realized Juno was manipulating Abstergo to create her a new, perfect body and set out to stop her--which was Desmond Miles' dying wish. Although the games set this plot line up, and have returned to it several times in recent titles, the story has mostly been told through the Uprising graphic novel. So for fans who only play the Assassin Creed games, it seems like the ramifications of Desmond Miles' storyline have been forgotten. Many of the new present-day characters from Assassin's Creed Odyssey that seemingly came out of nowhere were first introduced in Uprising. The graphic novel is comprised of 12 issues, which have been divided evenly into three volumes. Uprising Vol. 1: Common Ground continues the story of Charlotte de la Cruz--first introduced in Assassin's Creed: Assassins--who's one of the leading members of the modern-day Assassin's Brotherhood.Charlotte discovers what Abstergo is planning with the Phoenix Project in Common Ground, which kicks off the present-day events of Assassin's Creed Unity. Uprising Vol. 2: Inflection Point occurs at the same time as Unity and Syndicate, following Charlotte and her team as they continue to delve into the Phoenix Project and discover there's a third party playing both the Assassins and Abstergo. Uprising Vol. 3: Finale finishes the story, occurring alongside the events of Origins and referenced briefly in Odyssey.Info from Gamespot.com
2018-10-27
At E3 this year, Bethesda made the surprise announcement of two massive games: a brand new sci-fi single-player game called Starfield and the long-awaited The Elder Scrolls VI. Speaking to GameSpot at PAX Australia today, Bethesda marketing boss Pete Hines and ZeniMax Online Studios game director Matt Firor said it'll be a long time before The Elder Scrolls VI comes out--so long that the game might not hit until new console hardware is release."The easiest thing is look at how it was announced; it was Starfield and then [Elder Scrolls 6]," Firor said. "You can go back and count the years between Bethesda Game Studios releases, and you'll get the idea that [The Elder Scrolls 6 is] not coming anytime soon."I asked Firor about The Elder Scrolls VI in regards to how that game's release might affect ZeniMax's MMO The Elder Scrolls Online. Specifically, I was wondering if The Elder Scrolls Online might incorporate the world of The Elder Scrolls VI in some way, following the way in which Morrorwind came to The Elder Scrolls Online by letting players go back to Vvardenfell. Firor said it's too soon to say what will happen as it relates to whatever location The Elder Scrolls VI takes players to."I don't even know what the world is going to be like when it comes out; there will be a different console generation by then, I'm sure," he said. "Who knows. But I know we're free and clear for a long time."Hines, meanwhile, described The Elder Scrolls VI as being "big" and "ambitious," but he wouldn't be drawn into getting into further specifics about director Todd Howard's new game. What Hines did want to stress was that Bethesda announced The Elder Scrolls VI and Starfield so early on to help manage expectations and let fans know that yes, Bethesda hasn't forgotten about The Elder Scrolls."[The Elder Scrolls VI] is big and it's ambitious, but also … the most important thing to underscore is that the timeline between products that you get from BGS is not any different than it has been historically just because we've talked about two games after Fallout 76," Hines said. "I try really hard to manage people's expectations. It's not like 'Fallout 76 this year, Starfield next year, and then TES6 the year after.' The timeline isn't any different. What's different is just trying to be transparent and say, 'Don't freak out, the next thing we're doing is single-player [in Starfield], [and] we are making TES6."Hines stressed that it takes a "really long time" to make huge games like Starfield, which is a single-player only game, and the next Elder Scrolls Games. Bethesda has more people than ever working on its new games and more studios overall, but games like Starfield and The Elder Scrolls VI are massive undertakings that require a lot of time to get right.That being said, Hines said there could have been a nice upside to surprise-announcing Starfield just months before release (as it did with Fallout 4), but he's also enjoying the fact that fans can be at peace knowing that ambitious new games are coming."Would it have been better if it was some years from now and we just go, 'Surprise, we're making a game called Starfield, and it's out X months later?' Yeah. For sure. But at the same time, there is also value in every day between there people aren't freaking out about us making Fallout 76 as an online-only game as a service and this is all they're ever making."There is "way more" value to giving fans the context and knowledge that Bethesda is still committed to making single-player games after Fallout 76."Take a deep breath; you're going to be OK," Hines said he wants to tell fans about its upcoming games. "We're going to make some stuff you're really going to love."Fallout 76 launches in November for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Starfield will follow after that, with The Elder Scrolls VI coming even later. Back at E3, Bethesda boss Todd Howard said Starfield might not be released on the current generation of hardware, so that being the case, it makes sense that The Elder Scrolls VI is also rumoured to not arrive until new hardware comes out.Sony is rumoured to be working on the PlayStation 5, while Microsoft has already confirmed it is working on multiple new consoles. However, it remains to be seen when these consoles will be announced and then released. Keep checking back with GameSpot for the latest.We also chatted to Hines about how "crunch" culture, streaming technology in the gaming industry, Fallout 76 microtransactions, what he's learned in his 19 years with the company, and a lot more. Check back soon for more from our conversation.As for PAX Aus, it runs through Sunday, 28 October. GameSpot's theatre, the GameSpot Dropbear Theatre, will have programming running all weekend. You can see the full programming lineup for the GameSpot Dropbear Theatre here, while a full list of every PAX Aus panel can be seen here.Info from Gamespot.com
2018-10-27
World War 3, an online first-person shooter developed by The Farm 51, released in early access on October 19. The launch was not a smooth one, though, and the game continues to suffer from severe bugs and connectivity issues. The Farm 51 has continued to roll out patches for World War 3 to address its issues, and the developer has provided regular updates on the game's situation via Twitter and Steam."We've taken it upon ourselves to crush every bug you reported, to iron out every single wrinkle on the canvas of our game--all that to satisfy you and make our game stand out from the early access crowd as a polished, well-cared for and properly managed title," The Farm 51 wrote in a Steam blog post. "Unfortunately our ranks are thin. Despite our dedication and resolve some technical issues prevent us from delivering what we want you to experience."According to Rock, Paper, Shotgun, The Farm 51 has implemented numerous patches over the three days following World War 3's launch. The game remains fairly buggy however, and numerous players are still struggling to get into a match without being dropped.World War 3 is a tactics-based shooter that focuses on modern-day, realistic shooter combat. You aren't able to perform near-superhuman feats, and you're at a disadvantage if you choose to fight solo. Operating as a team is crucial for success. Multiplayer matches host up to 64 players at a time, and each team is forced to work together to both defend their position and overwhelm their opponents'. In Warzone mode, you'll fight in massive Battlefield-like battles. Meanwhile, Recon mode is smaller and tasks players with securing "high-value targets in hostile territory."World War 3 is available on PC in early access. The Farm 51 is considering bringing the game to consoles, but the team has not confirmed anything yet.Info from Gamespot.com
2018-10-27
Capcom has announced three fairly expensive Ultra Limited Edition bundles for Devil May Cry 5. For now, all three bundles are scheduled to release exclusively in Japan.The most expensive Ultra Limited Edition, according to Kotaku, costs 972,000 yen. With tax, that's about $8,600 USD / 6,631 GBP. The bundle includes the game, interchangeable box art, and Dante's leather jacket, stylized off what the character's motion actor wore for the game.There's a cheaper version of the Ultra Limited Edition that comes with Nero's jacket instead and costs 810,000 yen, or about $7,176 USD / 5,533 GBP. You can buy the bundle with Nero's jacket undamaged, like in previous games, or slightly ripped up like how it appears in DMC 5. The version of the bundle that comes with V's jacket has the lowest price tag at 648,000 yen. That's about $5,741 USD / 4,427 GBP.If you don't want to import the game from Japan, or simply wish to avoid dropping a few thousand dollars on a video game, Devil May Cry 5 has a cheaper Deluxe Edition. Only costing $70 USD, the Deluxe Edition includes three Devilbreaker weapons, live-action cutscenes, 12 music tracks from Devil May Cry 1-4, the Cavaliere motorcycle weapon for Dante, and other digital content.Devil May Cry 5 is the first mainline game in the series since 2008's Devil May Cry 4. Both Dante and Nero return in DMC 5 as playable characters, and they're joined by a strange newcomer named V. The story takes place several years after the events of DMC 4, with Nero setting up his own demon hunting agency and Dante and V working together to solve mysterious events happening around the world.Devil May Cry 5 releases for Xbox One, PS4, and PC on March 8, 2019.Info from Gamespot.com
2018-10-27
Cellar Door Games has announced that both Rogue Legacy and Full Metal Furies are getting Switch ports. Both games will release on Nintendo's console on November 6.Both of Cellar Door Games' titles are very difficult, but not unfair for players with the right amount of patience. Rogue Legacy is a single-player roguelike that first released in 2013 to critical acclaim. Despite being a multiplayer co-op game, Full Metal Furies is no less challenging, and the 2018 game features a meta narrative that is reminiscent of what's found in games like Doki Doki Literature Club and Nier: Automata.In our Rogue Legacy review, Britton Peele gave the game an 8/10, writing, "It's almost unfair to compare Rogue Legacy to other games that emphasize permanent death. It doesn't have the secrets of Spelunky and it's more predictable than The Binding of Isaac, yet at the end of every game comes a desire to hop right back in, spend your gold on some upgrades and rack up more monster kills, something the game encourages with a challenging new-game-plus option that appears after the credits roll. Whether you play it on your home console or on the go, it's worth exploring Rogue Legacy's castle again and again and again."Full Metal Furies is a four-person co-op game that presents itself as a simple arcade title, but hides a difficult puzzle mechanic. You and up to three friends play as four girls who are on a mission to destroy the massive Titans that have taken over their world. Each girl has unique attacks and abilities, allowing them to take on the roles of a tank, brawler, short-range support, and long-range support. Teamwork is key if you want to discover the game's secrets and hidden ending. Full Metal Furies' story is heart-warming, with both humorous banter and eye-rolling puns.Rogue Legacy is already available on Xbox One, PS4, PS3, PS Vita, and PC. Full Metal Furies is currently available on Xbox One and PC.Info from Gamespot.com
2018-10-27
The story in Marvel's Spider-Man continues in The Heist, the first piece of a three-part DLC expansion called The City That Never Sleeps. The Heist includes several old characters and a few new ones, but primarily focuses on Peter's ex-girlfriend Felicia Hardy, aka Black Cat.The Heist is about three hours long in total, including all story missions and optional side quests and activities. An hour of that time is devoted to the story of Black Cat's return to New York. She's stealing flash drives from members of the prominent crime families in the city, and Peter and Mary Jane work together to both figure out why and discover a way to stop her before she starts a gang war. The first half of the story involves a new type of stealth mission and plenty of chase sequences, while the latter half includes a Mary Jane stealth mission and a powerful new enemy type that utilizes a minigun. Standard combat missions are sprinkled throughout, and enemy base missions are dropped entirely.The remaining two hours of the DLC consist of the The Heist's new side quests, which are mostly variations of what can be found in the base game. Instead of hunting backpacks, for example, you'll be looking for the art that Felicia's father has left hidden around the city. The only new side activity involves using the Spider-Bot to look for bombs under cars. The new Screwball Challenges--which replace the Taskmaster Challenges--will probably take up most of your time. They're similar to what you had to do in the main game's challenges, but you'll also be tasked with capturing your web-slinging or combat moves on camera at the perfect moment to rack up a higher score.Minor spoilers for a new Spider-Man villain introduced in the first 20 minutes of The Heist follow.The Heist truly feels like a first part, ending in a way that implies its story isn't finished, and will continue in later DLC. Although it seems as if Black Cat's piece of the tale is complete at the end of The Heist, her actions bring the Spider-Man villain Hammerhead back into the wall-crawler's life. Insomniac has not confirmed which character will be the focus of Turf Wars, the second part of The City That Never Sleeps, but The Heist makes a good case that we can expect to see Spidey go up against the gangster with a steel skull fairly soon.Marvel's Spider-Man is exclusive to PS4. The City That Never Sleeps continues with Turf Wars in November and Silver Lining in December.Info from Gamespot.com
2018-10-27
Ubisoft has announced a new update for Rainbow Six Siege that changes a few of the game's Operators. The update comes halfway through Siege's Year 3, Season 3--referred to as Operation Grim Sky--and makes adjustments based on the influence of the two newest Operators, Clash and Maverick.The two Operators getting patched in the update are Maestro and Clash. Ubisoft outlined the changes the two would undergo in a blog post on Siege's main website. Both Operators are Defenders. Ubisoft wants to make Maestro less confusing to use, and change Clash so that she performs more in line with the developer's original plans for the Operator.The update changes Maestro's ALDA 5.56 so that its recoil matches that of other LMGs in the game. Currently, the ALDA 5.56 reduces recoil the longer it fires without aiming down the sights, but this has "led to confusion" where players try to aim as if recoil would increase with sustained fire.Clash is getting reduced weapon swapping speed between her shield and sidearm, and the delay before her shield's charge refills will be doubled. Also, Attackers that Clash shocks will regain full mobility after only 0.5 seconds, instead of the existing 1.5 seconds. "Ultimately, we believe that this will further drive the idea that Clash is reliant on teammates, as opposed to an Operator that can exist completely independently," Ubisoft wrote. "She is not intended to be able to hold half of the map by herself, and will now require the proper support from teammates to do so."These changes were calculated as a part of both Operators' Win Delta and Pick Rate. An Operator's Win Delta is the percentage of how often said Operator is a part of a winning team. The Pick Rate is the percentage for how often an Operator is picked, regardless if they're on a team that wins or loses. When graphed on a chart, Ubisoft is able to determine which Operators are over picked and too strong, over picked and too weak, under picked and too strong, or under picked and too weak.Although there are no scheduled changes for any other Operators in this update, Ubisoft wants to patch both Lion and Glaz in the near future. The developer has two possible solutions for Lion, which should fix how "problematic" he is at higher level play. "One adjustment would remove the intel gathering aspect of his gadget, or we may go with the other, which will trigger more of a Jackal style ping," Ubisoft wrote. For Glaz, Ubisoft wants to bring the Operator back to his original role as a sniper in the rear. Currently, Glaz is one of the best "site pushing" Operators who can lead the charge with a high-powered weapon.Ubisoft held a Reddit AMA to address further details about the new update. The full patch notes for the update can be read below.Rainbow Six Siege Y3S3.2 Update Patch NotesOperatorsClashReduced weapon swapping speed between CCE Shield and SidearmDelay before refilling charge after usage ends increased to 2 seconds, from 1 secondAttackers regain full mobility after 0.5 seconds, down from 1.5 seconds, after being shockedMaestroALDA 5.56 recoil aligned with other LMGsWeaponsSMG-11Reducing recoil to improve handlingVectorReducing recoil to improve handlingInfo from Gamespot.com
2018-10-27
Hello Games has announced the next titled update to come out for No Man's Sky. It's called The Abyss, and, according to Hello Games founder Sean Murray, it "focuses on some of the eerier elements of No Man's Sky."In a blog post, Murray revealed that while "most of the team have been busy on weekly updates, a handful have been working on [The Abyss]." Like Next, the major titled update that released before it, The Abyss will be free for all No Man's Sky players. Murray reveals the update is releasing "next week" but didn't confirm a specific day or time. Considering the expansion's name and spooky theme, it's probable The Abyss will release prior to Halloween, or the day of.Hello Games hasn't yet revealed the contents of The Abyss either, although it sounds as if the update won't be as large as Next. Next was No Man's Sky's largest update to date, implementing several huge changes, such as dangerous Xenomorph-like aliens, space pirates, fleet building, a true multiplayer experience, and more. Next also changed No Man's Sky economy, transforming how you use certain materials and changing the value of certain elements. Building a reliable income in No Man's Sky has been a bit harder since the launch of Next, but there are plenty of strategies for making money fast.In our No Man's Sky Next review, Justin Clark gave the update an 8/10, writing, "At its absolute best, No Man's Sky is a measured, gentle experience where you are rarely the agent of change, but a perpetual visitor who's constantly dwarfed by the magnitude of a universe neutral to your presence. It is not your job in these stories to colonize the universe. Your job is to comprehend it. Your job is to recognize the spirituality in it. The primary gimmick of No Man's Sky, since day one, has been awe. The best things about the Next update feed that gimmick. While features like multiplayer and base-building certainly put more proverbial asses in seats, they're also the least memorable additions to an otherwise thoughtful experience."No Man's Sky is available for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.Info from Gamespot.com
2018-10-27
Blizzard has announced a new update is available for testing on the Overwatch Public Test Region (PTR). The PTR is PC only, but the changes that end up working are also made available on Xbox One and PS4 when they go live in the main game.The new update makes several major changes to Mercy, Reaper, Symmetra, and Roadhog. The cost of Mercy's Ultimate is lowered by 15% and her healing per second is increased from 50 to 60, making her a more valuable healer. The spread pattern of Reaper's shotguns has been made more consistent and the amount of health he gains from The Reaping ability has been raised, which increases his offensive potential in head-on fights. Symmetra's primary fire beam charges 20% faster, raising her damage output significantly.Roadhog has the largest changes in the new update. His Chain Hook starts cooling down as soon as it's used and greatly reduces his victim's speed. The spread pattern on Roadhog's Scrap Gun has also been adjusted so both his primary and secondary fire deal more consistent damage. The knockback velocity of Whole Hog has also been increased so that Roadhog now sends enemies flying. All in all, Roadhog will be able to more consistently trap other players, deal massive damage, and clear them out so that he can do it again.The full patch notes for the PTR update can be found on Blizzard's website. We've outlined the major points below. Overwatch is available on Xbox One, PS4, and PC.Overwatch PTR October 23 UpdateGeneral UpdatesAudioAn option to use Windows Spatial Audio is now available. This feature can be found in the Windows Start Menu under Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound > Speaker Device > Spatial SoundHero UpdatesGeneralMade jump height consistent across hero rosterMercyValkyrie Ultimate cost reduced 15%Healing per second increased from 50 to 60ReaperHellfire Shotguns Spread randomization reduced by 50%The Reaping Life steal increased from 20% to 30% of damage dealtRoadhogChain Hook Decreased the delay before pulling a hooked target from 0.5 seconds to 0.3 secondsNow greatly reduces the target’s momentum upon being hookedCooldown now begins immediately, instead of after the target has been pulledScrap Gun Spread pattern adjusted for both primary and secondary fireSpread randomization reduced by 50%Whole Hog Knockback maximum velocity increased by 25% (from 8 to 10 meters per second)Horizontal recoil decreased slightlySymmetraPhoton Projector Primary fire beam charges up 20% fasterBug FixesA.I.Fixed a bug that caused Mei bots to attempt landing headshots on Wrecking Ball while he was immune to them in Roll modeFixed a bug that caused bots to get stuck near Point A on EichenwaldeHeroesBrigitte Fixed a bug that prevented Brigitte's Whip Shot from going on cooldown if it was interrupted before the chain retractedDoomfist Fixed a bug that prevented victims of Doomfist's Rocket Punch from ragdolling if they were eliminated by itFixed a bug that prevented Doomfist's Rising Uppercut from damaging enemiesFixed a bug that prevented Doomist's Seismic Slam from dealing damage if he hit by a knockback ability the moment he landedJunkrat Fixed a bug that caused Junkrat to return to his idle animation if he was stunned while using RIP-TireLúcio Fixed a bug that caused some allied heroes to say their "under attack" voice lines when receiving a friendly Sound BarrierOrisa Fixed bug that prevented Orisa's Fortify from canceling Doomfist's Rising Uppercut air control effectsReinhardt Fixed a bug that allowed Reinhardt's Earthshatter to hit Brigitte when she blocked it with her Barrier Shield if she was strafing during high latency periodsRoadhog Fixed a bug that prevented Chain Hook from going on cooldown if it was interrupted before the chain retractedFixed a bug that prevented Chain Hook from destroying breakable objects when pulling the target backwardFixed a bug that caused Roadhog's Whole Hog visual effects to cover a wider area than the spread of projectilesTorbjörn Fixed a bug that prevented Santaclad Torbjörn's ultimate voice lines from playing when activating Molten CoreFixed a visual issue that prevented Molten Core's magma globules from appearing in the correct place with his Barbarossa or Blackbeard skins equippedFixed an animation issue that caused Torbjörn's claw arm to suddenly appear when Overload and Molten Core were used in quick successionSymmetra Fixed a bug that prevented Symmetra to charge up her primary weapon on enemy ice wallsTracer Fixed an issue that caused Tracer to accelerate slightly slower and decelerate slightly faster than other heroesWrecking Ball Fixed a bug that prevented Wrecking Ball voice lines from playing when previewed after opening a Loot BoxZarya Fixed a bug that allowed heroes to charge through a Graviton Surge without getting trappedHero GalleryGeneralFixed an issue that caused some heroes legs to twitch when viewed in the Hero GalleryFixed a bug that prevented players from rotating heroes in the Hero Gallery while the UI was hiddenSocialFixed a bug that allowed players to hear the voice lines of heroes controlled by players they mutedGame Browser and Custom GamesMapsFixed a bug that prevented the payload from healing attackers if they were damaged while pushing it on Assault/Escort and Escort mapsFixed a lighting issue that caused a skyscraper in Hollywood’s skyline to appear pitch blackInfo from Gamespot.com
2018-10-27
After seven years of development, Fallout: New California--a free mod for the PC version of Fallout: New Vegas--has released. The mod is single-player experience and acts as an unofficial bridge in the Fallout timeline. Amusingly, New California released the same day as the first Fallout 76 beta, offering a more traditional Fallout experience for those disappointed with the series' new multiplayer-focused direction.In New California, you play as an orphan who was raised in the San Bernardino Mountains by the survivors of Vault 18. The story picks up 20 years after Fallout 2, when people are still recovering from the aftermath of the New California Republic-Enclave War. As you play, you'll take part in plot lines that ultimately inspire the events of Fallout 3 and New Vegas. If you have the right mods installed, your story in Fallout: New California can seamlessly transition into New Vegas as part of the same long save.New California's entire campaign can be beaten in six to eight hours, but there's anywhere between 15 and 30 hours of content in each playthrough depending on what you choose to do. The mod has 13 possible endings as well, which are earned depending on the choices you make. Although it's a mod of New Vegas, New California acts as its own separate game. It has its own map--which is about two-thirds the size of the one in New Vegas--and nearly 17,000 lines of spoken dialogue that are all unique to the mod.To play New California, you'll need the PC version of New Vegas. You don't need the Ultimate edition of the game or its DLC, but it will have to be updated with the latest patches. Make sure you have a mod manager downloaded to your PC as well. The folks behind New California recommend Nexus Vortex or Mod Organizer 2. After that, you just need to download New California from the mod's ModDB page, open your mod manager, follow the on-screen prompts, and you're good to go.The official Fallout timeline continues with Fallout 76, which releases on November 14 for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.Info from Gamespot.com
2018-10-27
Fallout 76 had its first beta test on October 23. The test was only four hours long and exclusive to Xbox One, but Bethesda tweeted out that it was an "amazing start" for the game. You can watch GameSpot video publisher Ben Janca and video producer Jean-Luc Seipke play through the Xbox One beta in the video above.All in all, everything went pretty well considering it was a beta test. Ben's game crashed once at the start, and Jean-Luc faced some troublesome issues when trying to join a party. There were some minor performance issues, but that could have been a result of the stream. More worrying were the severe frame rate drops whenever there was more than two players fighting together and the noticeable lag when facing multiple enemies.Prior to the beta's launch, Bethesda released a statement that acknowledged Fallout 76 still has plenty of bug fixes and troubleshooting sessions in its future. "Given what we're doing with 76, we know we're opening everyone up to all new spectacular issues none of us have encountered," Bethesda wrote. "Some we're aware of, such as areas where performance needs to improve with lots of players." The letter also thanked players for their continued support.Another Fallout 76 beta--again for Xbox One--is scheduled for October 27 and there's one for Xbox One, PS4, and PC scheduled for October 30. To be a part of either beta, you'll need to pre-order the game. However, even if you do pre-order Fallout 76, you might not get access to every upcoming test as Bethesda is inviting concentrated chunks of players to different betas. Fallout 76 releases on November 14 for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.Info from Gamespot.com