Indulge in dishes from across the galaxy with Starfield: The Official Cookbook. Featuring recipes inspired by in-game cuisines like Bart’s Chili and Midnight Delight, it’s an interesting way to bring the Starfield universe into your kitchen. The entire book was designed in collaboration with Bethesda, and its recipes are brought to life with colorful images and step-by-step instructions to help you whip up the perfect meal. Starfield: The Official Cookbook releases on April 29, and preorders are now open.Publisher Insight Editions sent GameSpot an early look at a few of the recipes, which you can check out and try for yourself at the bottom of this story. Starfield: The Official Cookbook $35 | Releases April 29 The hardcover cookbook spans 192 pages, covering everything from quick bites and beverages to intricate meals perfect for an elaborate dinner party. Many of the recipes are manageable regardless of skill level, thanks to instructions that walk you through the entire process, along with quick highlights that tell you how long each meal will take to prep and cook. The cookbook even calls out dietary considerations when necessary--such as when a dish is gluten-free or vegetarian. Preorder at Amazon Created by Cassandra Reeder--author of The Video Game Chef--and Jim Festante--a writer with bylines at Syfy, Comedy Central, and Dark Horse--Starfield: The Official Cookbook has some serious talent behind it. So whether you're an avid foodie or a dedicated member of Constellation, it's bound to be an entertaining read.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

While the genre isn't as prolific as it once was, beat-'em-ups still tend to follow in the mold of Final Fight and Streets of Rage: You're a muscle-bound mayor or a martial arts expert or occasionally a mutated turtle, and you roam the streets left-to-right beating up punks and punching trash cans to find turkey dinners. Absolum, the latest from veteran studios behind Streets of Rage 4, promises a fresh roguelike twist alongside an inventive original fantasy setting, and the result is a remarkable blend of influences and mechanics that left me wanting more.Absolum is the first original franchise from Dotemu and its co-developers, Guard Crush Games and Supamonk, and it's immediately clear that the studios have thought deeply about how to breathe new life into the classic formula. While you do still move from left to right taking on bands of assorted enemies as you go, the newly-coined "rogue 'em up" variation means you're expected to fail out of levels and progressively build up your strength, all while discovering branching paths and quests. Imagine Golden Axe meets Dead Cells. The Golden Axe comparison extends to the setting, which is refreshingly fantastical for this genre. Absolum takes place in the world of Talamh, where a magical catastrophe has led to an imperial crackdown on all sources of magic and wizards who wield it. The Sun King Azra is on a brutal campaign to conquer every magical land and snuff out the practice. You're part of a small band of resistance fighters following a mysterious and ethereal mystic Mother who uses a forbidden form of magic. While many fantasy stories can get bogged down in too many proper nouns, the little I've seen so far strikes just the right balance of introducing a few fantasy concepts to pique curiosity without overwhelming the player with loads of lore.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

If you're a Super Mario Bros. fan, then March 10 is one of the most important dates on the calendar for you. Unofficially known as Mario Day--since MAR10 looks like Mario--Nintendo will celebrate with big discounts on Switch games starring the plumber mascot and his friends, including Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Luigi's Mansion 2 HD, and many more at several online retailers starting March 9 through March 15. Each game will be discounted to $40 or lower. Along with these game deals, there's also special Nintendo Switch OLED bundle deal that includes Super Mario Bros. Wonder for $350. You can check out the full lineup of Mario Day Deals below.Mario Day Switch Deals (March 9 - March 15)Luigi's Mansion 2 HD -- $40 ($60)Mario vs. Donkey Kong -- $30 ($50)Mario Kart 8 Deluxe -- $40 ($60)Princess Peach: Showtime -- $40 ($60)Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury -- $40 ($60)Super Mario Odyssey -- $40 ($60)Super Mario RPG -- $40 ($60) | $37 at WalmartOverall, there are some fantastic games to check out during the Mario Day sale. Super Mario Odyssey was a Switch launch title, but nearly a decade later, it's still one of the greatest Super Mario 3D-platformers of all time with an absurd amount of content. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury shines a light on an underrated Wii U classic and polishes it up for the Switch, plus adds in an entirely new second campaign featuring an open world to freely explore, while Mario Kart 8 Deluxe continues to be one of the best racing games ever produced by Nintendo.Fans of RPGs will want to check out Super Mario RPG, which is a ground-up remake of the SNES turn-based RPG with new graphics and quality-of-life tweaks on Switch. It will be $40 during the Mario Day sale, but those looking for the best deal can grab it for just $37 at Walmart right now. Speaking of the best possible deals, the lowest priced game in the sale is Mario vs. Donkey Kong, which is down to just $30 (was $50), while Luigi's Mansion 2 HD and Princess Peach: Showtime are down to their all-time lowest price of $40 (normally $60).Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Today marks the 25th anniversary of PS2, the best-selling video game console of all time. Sony released the home system in Japan on March 4, 2000, and one Redditor flew over to Tokyo at that time to buy one.On Reddit, user YomReddit shared a post with four pictures showing his adventure to Akihabara in 2000 to pick up a PS2 at launch. The Redditor added that they waited 26 hours in line outside a Tokyo store to grab the Sony system. Previously, YomReddit celebrated the console's 20-year anniversary in a similar manner on Reddit. In the comments, the Redditor noted they were from England and played Japanese games since the PS2 was region-locked.25 years ago I flew to Japan to buy a Playstation 2 on launch day. We queued outside a store in Akihabara for 26 hours. byu/YomReddit ingaming The PS2 was originally unveiled at the Tokyo Game Show in September 1999, according to the PlayStation website. A couple of the first games showcased for the system included Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec (though it wasn't named this at the time) and Eternal Ring, developed by Elden Ring studio From Software.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Capcom's Monster Hunter Wilds launched on February 28 and became a smashing success out of the gate, selling 8 million copies in three days to become Capcom's fastest-selling game ever. The launch hasn't gone entirely smoothly, though, as players have reported a number of issues. The Monster Hunter Wilds website lists off some of what's been fixed so far, and there have been many changes.Some of the issues that have been fixed so far include the fix for the "Grill a Meal" and "Ingredient Center" features not working properly, along with a fix for tutorials being repeatedly shown at the Smithy. Capcom also fixed an issue that could cause the game to force-quit and addressed an issue where the weapon equipment skill would be mistakenly activated when using a mantle. You can see more of the issues in Monster Hunter Wilds that have been addressed so far below.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Ubisoft's Far Cry multiplayer extraction shooter game has reportedly been rebooted as the game--once intended as part of Far Cry 7--has had developers shifted over to the latter game.According to Insider Gaming, Ubisoft moved developers from working on the multiplayer game, called Project Maverick, over to Project Blackbird, which is Far Cry 7. This was reportedly done in December in order to make sure the development of Blackbird stayed on track.The decision to reboot Maverick remains unclear, but it was reportedly due to Ubisoft's recent initiative to streamline development as it deals with its financial issues. Ubisoft Montreal, the studio leading Maverick and Blackbird, will reportedly take the former back to Ubisoft Sherbrooke for more prototyping.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Spring is almost here, but Hello Kitty Island Adventure is kicking things off early via the annual sakura-themed Springtime Celebration. The Springtime Celebration--which is live now on all platforms--allows players to join Kitty White (and her friends) to collect sakura petals, which can be found all over the island.But with winter's chill still in the air, the game has also dropped a new content update for Apple Arcade players: Update 2.4: Snow & Sound. Players on other platforms will have to wait a while before they gain access to this update. The Hello Kitty Island Adventure Springtime Celebration runs through April 7 and allows players to exchange sakura petals--which can be found all over the island--for new outfits and decor items. Tuxedosam's Shop and My Melody's Gift Shop will also be stocked up with unique Spring-themed clothing and furniture for players to peruse and purchase.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Pokemon: Detective Pikachu Limited Edition Steelbook (4K Blu-ray) $28 | Releases April 29 Preorder at Gruv Pokemon fans can now preorder a new Limited Edition Steelbook of Detective Pikachu on 4K UHD Blu-ray. The charming live-action Pokemon movie received a 4K steelbook edition alongside its initial Blu-ray release in 2019, but that Best Buy-exclusive version is long gone. If you missed out and want to add Detective Pikachu to your collection, you can preorder Detective Pikachu's Limited Edition Steelbook at Gruv for $28 ahead of its April 29 release. Pokemon: Detective Pikachu Limited Edition Steelbook (4K Blu-ray) $28 | Releases April 29 This version of the film includes 4K, Blu-ray, and digital copies of Detective Pikachu. The big selling point is the steelbook--adorned with Pikachu’s lovable face (complete with his detective’s hat), it’s a fun way to show off your limited edition set. Inside are two discs (4K and Blu-ray), and a digital code lets you download a copy of the film. Note that this must be redeemed before June 30, 2027.Detective Pikachu earned solid reviews when it hit theaters in 2019, as the live-action spinoff featured a cast of lovable characters, unexpected plot twists, and a roster that moves beyond the original 151 Pokemon.Here’s a look at the bonus features included with the 4K Blu-ray:Alternate openingMY Pokemon AdventureCreating the World of Detective Pikachu featurettesMr. Mime’s Audio CommentaryRyan Reynolds: Outside the Actor’s StudioMusic Video Preorder at Gruv Detective Pikachu Limited Edition SteelbookIf you don’t need the cool steelbook, Detective Pikachu 4K is already available. It’s also quite cheap at just $15. The standard Blu-ray version is even more affordable at $5.56. These even come with the same bonus features as the limited edition launching in April--so unless you need the cool collector’s steelbook, you can save a lot of money by opting for these currently available alternatives.Detective Pikachu played a huge part in changing the perception and expectations for video game adaptations. It also provided a blueprint for live-action adaptations of other storied game franchises with similar cartoonish graphical styles. Until The Super Mario Bros. Movie shattered records in 2023, Detective Pikachu was the highest grossing video game adaptation of all time. It currently sits in the third slot, as the recently released Sonic the Hedgehog 3 also passed it up.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

PlayStation has unveiled a new beta program that will make it easier to access game betas, test out new PS5 and PlayStation App features early, and more.Aptly called the "Beta Program at PlayStation," this new initiative is similar to the Xbox Insider program Microsoft currently runs for its gaming hardware and apps. Sony Interactive Entertainment's Sid Shuman describes this program as "an easy, centralized place for you to register your interest in a range of future PlayStation betas" in a PlayStation Blog post. Essentially, players can now register at the program's official website and be in the loop on future beta initiatives by Sony.The official key art for the Beta Program at PlayStation initiativeBy signing up for the Beta Program at PlayStation, players will essentially be enrolled for a chance to gain beta access to future software betas that Sony holds for PlayStation. The PlayStation Blog post specifically calls out beta tests for PS5 and PC games, new PS5 console and PlayStation App features, and new UI capabilities on PlayStation.com. Companies like Sony need to thoroughly test games and software updates before they release them to the masses. This new program gives Sony a way to involve fans in that process.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Limited Edition Steelbook (4K Blu-ray) $45 | Releases April 15 Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Walmart Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Limited Edition Shadow Steelbook (4K Blu-ray) $45 | Releases April 15, Amazon Exclusive Preorder at Amazon Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Standard Edition (4K Blu-ray) $36 | Releases April 15 Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Walmart Sonic the Hedgehog 3 races onto 4K Blu-ray on April 15 with three different editions, including a pair of Limited Edition Steelbooks. The Amazon-exclusive Shadow the Hedgehog Steelbook has been sold out for weeks, but Amazon just restocked preorders for $45. The Sonic the Hedgehog Steelbook is available at multiple retailers, including Amazon and Walmart, for the same price.If you want to complete your Sonic movie steelbook collection, the Sonic 2-Movie Steelbook Collection as well as standalone 4K Steelbook Editions of the first two films are available to order at Amazon. For the past couple months, 4K editions of the Sonic movies were sold out and unavailable to order. While multiple of these are still sold out, Amazon is now letting customers place orders.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

The next limited-time game mode for Marvel Rivals has been revealed, and if you're tired of never getting to play as the hero that you want to, then Clone Rumble is just for you. The new mode allows players to choose from two heroes as voted on by their team, letting players hit the field as one of them. This means that you can field an entire team of Iron Men or Venoms, and some of the other combinations here are wild. For example, imagine if everyone is playing as the Punisher--a scenario that could let six players hold a point with turrets. Or if the teams vote for Doctor Strange, you could probably melt a PC with all of the portals that'll be opened during a match. If you're feeling evil, you could choose to all play as Moon Knight and unleash a wave of hard-to-escape ultimate attacks, or if you want to be a real monster, you could convince the entire team to choose Jeff the Land Shark.Completing certain tasks will reward players with limited-time items such as the Black Widow: Mrs. Barnes costume, MVP nameplates, sprays, Units, and other loot. NetEase says that there will be no restrictions on the identical heroes that players can vote for, and the event will take place exclusively on the Wakandan map of Birnin T'Challa. Players will need to complete certain mission objectives to claim victory, and the event will be held on the following dates:Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

When it comes down to it, the essence of Dynasty Warriors' longevity is simple: Cleaving through hundreds of enemies like a hot knife through butter feels really good. It's the ultimate power fantasy, with each swing of your weapon sending bodies careening through the air in every conceivable direction as the KO counter ticks up into the thousands. For almost 25 years, this basic formula has remained virtually unchanged, lending the series a fervent albeit niche following. Dynasty Warriors 9 attempted to evolve the formula, but the shift to a lifeless open world was a misstep that didn't mesh with the series' core appeal. Dynasty Warriors: Origins, as the name implies, sees Omega Force returning to its roots, emphasizing the large-scale, hack-and-slash action Dynasty Warriors is known for while implementing a number of clever new additions that achieve what Dynasty Warriors 9 failed to.If you're unfamiliar with the long-running series, Dynasty Warriors is based on Luo Guanzhong's 14th-century novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms--and the ancient history it's based on--loosely adapting the classic Chinese novel by taking some absurd creative liberties along the way. While previous games in the series have typically covered the bulk of the Three Kingdoms period from 184 AD to 280 AD, Origins tightly focuses on the early parts of the story, beginning with the rise of the Yellow Turban Rebellion and culminating in the decisive Battle of Chibi. Unlike the rest of the series, the story is also told from the perspective of an amnesiac warrior who's meeting legendary figures like Guan Yu, Dong Zhuo, and the fearsome Lü Bu for the first time. This setup is clearly designed with newcomers in mind, making the series' enduring legacy and myriad beloved characters much more palatable for new players to dive into for the first time.Still, that doesn't mean returning players will be left wanting. By focusing on the early events of the Three Kingdoms' tapestry, Omega Force has opted to delve into the time period in greater detail than before, with a renewed emphasis on storytelling and character development. Even minor figures are more fleshed out, while pivotal moments are given the gravitas they deserve. This is somewhat of a double-edged sword, however. The writing is generally solid, with defined, charming, and likable characters engaging in moral quandaries and battles of both wit and brawn, but the overabundance of cutscenes sometimes works to its detriment. Too many conversations simply feel derivative, either repeating plot points or adding little of substance to the narrative and your understanding of its ensemble cast of characters. This disrupts the game's pacing, leading to more than a few occasions where you're forced to wait impatiently for the next battle to arrive as you cycle through one superfluous conversation after another.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

After several teases, the remake of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4 has officially been confirmed. It will be launching for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Switch on July 11, and in addition to a standard edition of the game, there'll also be deluxe and collector's editions that offer three days early access. Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3+4 will also be a day-one release on Xbox Game Pass.Developed by Iron Galaxy, the remake will feature all of the skate parks from the original games, as well as a brand-new one called Waterpark. All of the skaters from THPS 3 and 4 will be back, and new faces include Yuto Horigome, Rayssa Leal, Jamie Foy, Chloe Covell, and Zion Wright. Iron Galaxy says that the Create-A-Skater and Create-A-Park modes have been expanded.As for the soundtrack, the playlist hasn't been confirmed yet but the trailer does use Ace of Spades by Motorhead and Amoeba by Adolescents--two songs that were originally used in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Donkey Kong has always been the more brutal, off-putting relative to the affable, approachable Mario brothers. Both Donkey Kong Country and the Super Marios are classic side-scrolling platformers at their core, but DKC has been known less for joyful leaping and more for clenching your jaw. Now as the Nintendo Switch approaches its eighth year and Nintendo is increasingly reaching into its back catalog for ports, DKC Returns is back with a package that combines all the features of the Wii and 3DS versions--including some assists and visual enhancements--but still feels tough-as-nails in a way that could push away more casual platformer fans.DKC Returns HD does retain the tweaks made to the 2013 3DS port, including a Modern mode (originally called New mode in the 3DS version) with additional items in Cranky's shop and an extra pip of health. The items in Cranky's shop are especially tuned to let you selectively tweak the difficulty, since the banana coins currency are so plentiful that you'll almost always have enough to spare on an item or two. Those items range from help finding collectible puzzle pieces to temporary invincibility. You can always opt for the original mode to play with the original Wii difficulty, if that's more your flavor. And it does look nicely polished on Switch, especially on the OLED screen. That said, the character models look relatively simplistic compared to Tropical Freeze, a 2014 Wii U game that was already ported to Switch in 2018.The Modern mode is meant to sand off the edges of the notoriously punishing game and make it more approachable, but make no mistake: This is still a brutally difficult game. Even with three hearts instead of the original two, it's very easy to lose multiple lives (or near the end, tens of lives) in a single stage as you learn its rhythms and assorted traps. And the difficulty in DKC Returns is true to its roots, which centers heavily on memorization. The game frequently introduces threats too quickly to react to the first time, and DK himself feels stiff and heavy compared to the acrobatic Mario. Trickier stages will even give the appearance of one type of obstacle and then frustratingly punish you for reacting to the fake-out.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

During its developer livestream on March 4, Bungie confirmed that Destiny 2's Io location is coming back to the game. It will be the one of the locations where the new Heresy Act 2 activity, Court of Blades, will take place.Io was sunset back in 2020 with the launch of Beyond Light to a critical response from players. In recent years, Bungie has also reprised formerly sunset planets and moons including Mars, which was home to Savathun's Throne World, and Titan, where we rediscovered Sloane. This time around, Io's Remnants of Silver area will be the home of a new activity inspired by the roguelike elements that Bungie has been playing with in recent months.The return of Io's Remnant of Silver areaIo is completely engulfed in Darkness, which Oryx, The Taken King, is desperately seeking out to regain power following his discovery that the Guardians were the ones to kill him. As he heads to Io, players will take part in the new Court of Blades activity and have direct interactions with him for the first time in years.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com