Game Informer |
- The Big Con Is A '90s Soaked Road Trip About Being A Teenage Con Artist
- The Top 10 Xbox Series X Games
- All Destiny 2: Season Of The Splicer Exotics, New And Returning
- Ubisoft Isn't Abandoning Its AAA Franchises With New Free-To-Play Initiative
- Why You Should Play FemShep In Mass Effect Legendary Edition
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s Wrath Of The Druids Expansion Arrives Tomorrow
- Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade Yuffie DLC Needs To Be Downloaded Separately
- Destiny 2 Crossplay Activated Early Accidentally During Season Of The Splicer Launch
- Scarlet Nexus – New Gameplay Today
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart – New Gameplay Today (4K)
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart: Insomniac On Rivet's Origins, Weapons, And More
- An Hour With Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart – The Best Looking Next-Gen Game Yet
- Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart: Checking Out The Opening With Insomniac Games (4K)
- Xbox Series X Update Includes Better Quick Resume, Dynamic Themes, And Audio Tweaks
- Twin Suns Corp Working On A New AAA Cross Platform Title
| The Big Con Is A '90s Soaked Road Trip About Being A Teenage Con Artist Posted: 12 May 2021 03:19 PM PDT When I reminisce about the '90s, I think about the rise of boy bands, the Nickelodeon Super Toy Run, and being such a rebellious scamp that regularly conned people into giving me everything I wanted. Okay, only those first two memories are real, but The Big Con will at least give me an idea of what it's like to relieve hapless folks of their hard-earned money. As a con artist with a heart of gold (maybe), you'll swipe, swindle, and steal whatever it takes to save a family business from ruin. You control Ali, a, shall we say, resourceful teenager oozing '90s 'tude on cross-country quest to save her mom's video store from shady loan sharks. Ali is a con artist and must employ every dirty trick up her sleeve to raise as much cash as possible alongside her criminal buddy, Ted. The Big Con is a comedic narrative adventure game filled with puzzles and mechanics revolving around pickpocketing, donning disguises, sneaking, and other dubious tactics. If stealing the old fashioned way doesn't work, you can use Ali's power of persuasion to talk your way into getting what you want. Sure, you could also choose to help people, but that doesn't sound nearly as satisfying. I might have a problem. Click here to watch embedded mediaThe Big Con comes from developer Mighty Yell and is being published by Skybound Games, who recently published the very good Before Your Eyes. It's already making some noise as one of the eight upcoming games selected as part of the Tribeca Film Festival's first Official Selection for games. With its unique hook and fluorescent color palette that bleeds the 1990s (the different skin tones reminds me of Nickelodeon's Doug), it's easy to see why The Big Con would stand out. If you like putting those sticky fingers to use and are up to embark on a totally rad road trip, be sure to keep your eye on The Big Con when it comes to Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC this summer.
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| The Top 10 Xbox Series X Games Posted: 12 May 2021 02:52 PM PDT So you got your hands on an Xbox Series X? Congratulations! As you've probably noticed by now, the hardware allows for lightning fast gaming when compared to previous generations, and the Quick Resume feature that allows you to seamlessly change games is, well, a game-changer. While the feature set of the Xbox Series X is impressive (not to mention its stellar backward compatibility library), you probably want some games to play on that beast of a console. The team at Game Informer worked together to compile a list of the 10 games we think are the best on Xbox Series X/S. As more games come out, we'll update this list with the latest releases that we feel deserve to crack the top 10. Please note that while the list below contains 10 entries, we aren't ranking them. If a game has made it this far (and managed to stay here), it's a must-play, period. As such, we'll be listing entries in reverse chronological order. Also, with future updates, you'll find a rundown of previous entries at the bottom of the list. While those titles have gotten bumped over time, they are still all great games in their own right and worth exploring if you're already caught up on the latest hits. Here are Game Informer's picks for the top 10 games on Xbox Series X/S:  |
| All Destiny 2: Season Of The Splicer Exotics, New And Returning Posted: 12 May 2021 12:17 PM PDT Destiny 2: Season of the Splicer is here and while it had the usual server issues with Guardians trying to get into the game, the team at Bungie continues to push through to get everything back in working order. Just like with every other season, there are new instances to enjoy, more lore to be learned, and new gear to be won. For those interested in getting started on those seasonal challenges and new matchmade events, here is the gear you can look forward to for Guardians itching for more Exotics. All Destiny 2: Season Of The Splicer Exotics, New And ReturningThe first drop that Guardians will get is the new Cryosthesia 77K sidearm. It's a new weapon that is available with the Season Pass right from the get-go. For those that don't have the Season Pass, that's OK! You can still earn this bad boy, you're just going to need to reach Season level 35 first. Here's a breakdown: Cryosthesia 77K
Star-Eater Scales Legs - Hunter
Path of Burning Steps Legs - Titan
Boots of the Assembler Legs - Warlock
Hidden Exotic Weapon - Vex Mythoclast, Fusion Rifle
If you're like me and are excited by Mythoclast's return, the Light.gg database sheds some more light on what the weapon's return has to offer regarding any tweaks. There will be two Exotic perks for its Destiny 2 arrival. Here's what you need to know:
 There is also a Catalyst tied to this weapon's return that adds the Calculated Balance park, which stacks Overcharge to improve stability. It's probable that we'll see new Exotic additions as the Season continues on. There are quite a few Legendary rewards added as well, in addition to a ton of other gear drops that players can look forward to. To learn more about Destiny 2: Season of the Splicer, check out the reveal trailer here.
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| Ubisoft Isn't Abandoning Its AAA Franchises With New Free-To-Play Initiative Posted: 12 May 2021 10:18 AM PDT Ubisoft provided an update for its game release schedule during a recent earnings call, including information regarding Skull & Bones, but there was also talk of the company's new initiative going forward: free-to-play games. With the announcement that Tom Clancy's universe is expanding with two new F2P adventures, many have been concerned about what this means for single-player staples under the Ubi umbrella such as Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and more. In the earnings call, it was revealed that a big focus shift is currently in the works, making the move towards more free-to-play expansions on beloved universes and new IPs, as well. In a small statement provided to Game Informer, a Ubisoft representative had this to say: "Our intention is to deliver a diverse line-up of games that players will love - across all platforms. We are excited to be investing more in free-to-play experiences, however we want to clarify that this does not mean reducing our AAA offering. Our aim is to continue to deliver premium experiences to players such as Far Cry 6, Rainbow Six Quarantine, Riders Republic and Skull & Bones to name a few while also expanding our free-to-play portfolio and strengthening our brands to reach even more players." Ubisoft's Frederick Dugeuet mentioned during the financial presentation that the change had to do with moving away from the annual release model that the studio became infamous for. By pulling away from that yearly release schedule for games like Assassin's Creed, the quality of those mainstay franchises soared in a massively positive direction, proving that the annual model was no longer working. With that shift, there is a little more freedom to explore other avenues of expansion, including the F2P model and mobile ventures. The long and short of it is that yes, Ubisoft is going to be focusing on free-to-play experiences, but that does not mean that it is abandoning what it is known for. Now, we've just got to wait patiently for some dang Beyond Good & Evil 2 news... What would you like to see Ubisoft focus on in the future? Are you worried by the F2P push, or are you excited for these teams to have avenues to explore more gaming options? Sound off with your hot takes in the comment section below!
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| Why You Should Play FemShep In Mass Effect Legendary Edition Posted: 12 May 2021 08:46 AM PDT The Mass Effect Legendary Edition is just two days away and while we've already broken down why you should give it a shot anyway (regardless if you're a returning fan or new player), we've got one more case to make. Please, for the love of all things Garrus Vakarian, please give FemShep (Jane Shepard) a shot. When you boot up the trilogy, there is an option to play as Male Shepard (John Shepard) or Female Shepard (Also referred to as FemShep with Jane Shepard). Mark Meer is the voice behind the former, with Jennifer Hale taking Shepard to new heights with the latter. With over 30 playthroughs under my belt, I can promise you that I've played every which way you can imagine: every romance - including the one night stands, John versus Jane, Renegade versus Paragon, all three endings, and all of the little different variances that often get overlooked. I definitely enjoy my time with John Shepard, especially when looking at the Tali, Jack, and Cortez romances, but there is something uniquely special about Hale's portrayal of this character. When I play RPGs, I tend to go for the male characters. I'm not sure why, but that's kind of always where I leaned. My first playthrough of Mass Effect was as John and I thought at that time This is my Commander Shepard. But then I played as Jane for my second run, and my entire world changed regarding this franchise. There is a reason why you'll find Hale among the voice talent of many of your favorite games: she offers incredible talent when it comes to bringing different characters to life. She knows any character she portrays inside and out, making it an impressive sight to see when she uses that knowledge to add her own voice to a vast array of gaming icons. With Shepard, though, her deeper voice commands respect in a way that is believable and enjoyable to witness. This is doubly so for those that are opting into the ruthless route by going Renegade. Her inflection is detailed to the very last syllable, her passionate and motivating speeches are made even more impactful by her voice control. To me, despite playing John Shepard almost as many times as I've played Jane, FemShep is the ideal way to play the trilogy. It's a shame that the original trilogy was focused on John so much during the marketing period, but the Legendary Edition seems to be giving Hale her time to shine. If you're playing for the first time, don't discount her when looking at your usual play choice. If you're jumping in again and have only played as John, I can't recommend stepping out of your comfort zone enough. Hale's performance is so worth it. I'm Commander Shepard and she is my favorite voice on the Citadel. Ahead of the game's May 14 release, BioWare is also giving away a ton of free content, so don't miss out! You can look at what's up for grabs right here. Interested in learning more about Mass Effect Legendary Edition? Check out our exclusive game hub too. From no multiplayer game modes to lost code that can never be recovered, we made sure to ask about everything. So tell me about YOUR Shepard? This is obviously just one person's opinion, I want to hear from you! Tell me what your Shepard is like: what's their life path, romance, philosophy? Sound off in the comment section below!
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| Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s Wrath Of The Druids Expansion Arrives Tomorrow Posted: 12 May 2021 08:38 AM PDT Assassin's Creed Valhalla's first major expansion, Wrath of the Druids, goes live tomorrow, May 13. The DLC was previously delayed from its April 29 release to allow the team more time to polish up the experience. Wrath of the Druids sees Eivor travel to Ireland where they're tasked with uniting the island's warring factions to combat the druidic cult, the Children of Danu. The expansion offers a new thematic spin by diving headfirst into Gaelic myths and folklore. You'll explore the city of Dublin along with three new provinces dotted with historical landmarks such as Giant's Causeway, Black Pig's Dyke, and Tara Hill. For an idea of what to expect, take a look at the launch trailer below: Click here to watch embedded mediaThroughout the adventure, you'll explore haunted forests and battle mythical creatures with new weapons such as the sickle, smoke bomb arrows, and the Irish Hound Summoning ability. You can also conquer Irish Ring Forts and shape Dublin's economy by forming alliances to establish trade routes. By trading rare, sought-after goods with other nations, you can build the city into a bustling center of commerce. If you're still playing Valhalla's main campaign but can't wait to dive into Wrath of the Druids, you're in luck. You don't need to finish the story in order to start the expansion. As long as you've reached England and have completed either the Grantebridgescire or Ledecestrescire arcs, you're good to go. Wrath of the Druids is included in the Assassin's Creed Valhalla season pass and can be purchased standalone for $24.99. Remember that the expansion is just the beginning of a longer roadmap of post-launch content. To see what else is coming in the future, check out this breakdown of what's to come here. Just keep in mind that some dates could change due to Wrath of the Druids' delay. So Valhalla fans, are you looking forward to setting sail once more with Wrath of the Druids? Let us know in the comments. You can also read our review of Assassin's Creed Valhalla's base game here.
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| Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade Yuffie DLC Needs To Be Downloaded Separately Posted: 12 May 2021 07:59 AM PDT Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade offers an even more enhanced experience for a new generation of gaming as well as the new Yuffie DLC called Intermission. For those excited to see the new boss fights, returning characters, and a branching narrative that comes with Yuffie and the gang, just know that the Intermission DLC will be a separate download no matter the version purchased. Whether physical or digital, the Intermission DLC is a separate entity from Intergrade for those making hard drive space. The Intermission DLC for Final Fantasy VII Remake adds two new chapters for players to enjoy as Yuffie Kisaragi begins her assault against Shinra within the city of Midgar. For PlayStation 4 players, there will be an Intergrade upgrade for free (though not for the version that was previously gifted as a PS Plus title), but the Yuffie DLC will not be available for PS4 players that do not have a PS5 console. For PlayStation 5 players, however, Intergrade will include Intermission at no additional cost, though the download will still be a separate digital item. Click here to watch embedded mediaFor those that purchase a physical copy of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, the Intermission DLC is included but as a separate code as well. At this time, there is no way to play the Intermission storyline without having two separate downloads (via Twisted Voxel). For those interested in learning even more about the PlayStation 5-specific take on the first part of the Final Fantasy VII Remake and the Yuffie episode, you can check out our game hub right here. Players will see all of the new features that Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade has on PS5 when the game releases on June 10. What are your thoughts on the Yuffie episode and what she brings to the Remake? Are you excited to see more from the first part of Final Fantasy VII Remake, or are you purely focused on getting your hands on part 2? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below.
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| Destiny 2 Crossplay Activated Early Accidentally During Season Of The Splicer Launch Posted: 12 May 2021 07:24 AM PDT Destiny 2: Season of the Splicer is officially live and brings with it adorable baby Fallen, an attempt to hack the Vex network, and a chance to see a different side to a race that has been an enemy for far too long. While Destiny 2 crossplay is also on the horizon for the shooter's roadmap, it wasn't meant to debut so soon. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened when Bungie accidentally turned on this feature ahead of schedule. I noticed this last night when running the new seasonal challenges but honestly didn't think too much of it at the time. It didn't even register for me that this was too soon, but The Verge's Tom Warren had no such thoughts and shared a video clip showing Stadia and PC players taking to Crucible against one another:
Bungie also confirmed the crossplay mishap when Cozmo shared an update about the accidental toggle:
In case the above embed is not showing up for you on mobile, Cozmo had this to say: "We are seeing reports that some players are able to get a sneak peek at crossplay. This isn't meant to be live yet and is not representative of the full experience. We will be implementing a fix to remove public access later this week, but in the meantime feel free to partake." It looks like it's still available until Bungie issues a fix, so if you're curious about how the PvP experience changes with things like Crucible and Gambit (with the latter being a hybrid of PvP and PvE), hop in. The proverbial waters are fine* *Chaotic, but we love it. As for Destiny 2: Season of the Splicer, the latest step for the story of Destiny 2 is available now. It comes with a new six-player activity, new rewards, new challenges, and returning weapons that we all know and love. Vault of Glass is also making its raid return from the first game, you can learn more about that here.
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| Scarlet Nexus – New Gameplay Today Posted: 12 May 2021 07:00 AM PDT  Click to watch embedded media Scarlet Nexus is landing on June 25, coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. While I was mildly interested in the game before, a recent hands-on session has me counting down the days to release. After experiencing the combat for myself, I am definitely curious to see what Scarlet Nexus brings to the table as an action RPG. Oh, if you like anime, I guess that's probably a big plus too. I had a chance to play through the early part of the game, unlocking different combat techniques that sync up with psionic powers, and it forms a fairly compelling visual treat as well as testing your timing and prowess. The story and dialogue are true-to-form anime JRPG fare, and while that didn't really have me raving from the rafters, the combat was enough to carry things along, and splendidly so. Join us in this episode of New Gameplay Today to get a sense of the various mechanics involved in Scarlet Nexus. You can choose to play as one of two protagonists, and you recruit other various characters to your party. These side characters offer powerful augmentations to your combat style, like being able to slow down time so you can crush your opponents, adding fire elements to your attacks to burn your enemies, and more. Character abilities grow in strength as you work up your relationships with them, similar to building up rapport in a Persona game. However, weaving in traditional ARPG combat with its dodging, jumping, and comboing alongside psionic powers is where the game shines. Kicking off a combo with a few attacks and then flinging a car into your enemy is fun, but it gets even better as you tear apart large objects in the air and pull them together into your opponent, using the thumbsticks to mimic the movement of the debris. It's a creative combat system that has you constantly scouring the environment for your next play, even as you continue to keep an eye on incoming dangers and continue to strike with your standard skills. It all comes together as you time your psychic abilities with your triggered sidekick skills, creating (when you do it right!) an intense vacuum of carnage for your helpless opponents. Are you looking forward to Scarlet Nexus? Let us know in the comments!
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| Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart – New Gameplay Today (4K) Posted: 12 May 2021 07:00 AM PDT  Click here to watch embedded media When people think back to the heyday of the mascot platformer, Ratchet and Clank stand on equal footing with the bandicoots and purple dragons of the world. Just as the former had its day in the sun last year with Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, developer Insomniac Games is bringing back these icons in a big way. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is less than a month away but we're giving you a brief look at the game on this episode of New Gameplay Today! In this special 4K video, we're not only giving you a look at actual gameplay from Ratchet's point of view but from the perspective of his new female counterpart as well. Rivet, a mysterious new lombax, is fierce with her own abilities to wield the wild weapons Insomniac and the series are known for. It's up to her to help rescue Clank and figure out Dr. Nefarious's evil schemes while also reuniting him with his furry friend. On top of all that, we also give you a look at the game's goofy yet deadly enemies and the updated traversal system that will have players flying around each new planet. Join Blake Hester, Ben Reeves, and me as we show you an early look at the latest game from Insomniac and discuss the updated weapons, gorgeous scenery, and inspirations for Ratchet and Clank's newest adventure. The fun doesn't stop here though. If you can't wait for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart's exclusive PlayStation 5 launch on June 11, Game Informer has you covered. Be sure to check out this look at the beginning of the game with Marcus Smith, creative director at Insomniac, our interview with game director Mike Daly on the origins of the game and Rivet, and Andrew Reiner's extensive preview of the fast-approaching new entry in the iconic series.
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| Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart: Insomniac On Rivet's Origins, Weapons, And More Posted: 12 May 2021 07:00 AM PDT  Click here to watch embedded media When Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart was first announced in June of last year, the world was instantly taken with the mysterious white lombax and what her role would be in the newest venture from the studio behind Sunset Overdrive and Marvel's Spider-Man. Flash forward to today and we finally have some answers. Rivet, who's voiced by the one and only Jennifer Hale, is joining the fray alongside our two familiar heroes and will play a huge role in developer Insomniac Games' latest adventure. But what else do we know about her or the rest of the game for that matter? In addition to the latest Sony State of Play, we were able to dive deeper into the new PlayStation 5 exclusive during our latest interview with Mike Daly, the game's director. Kicking off our video, we discuss the origins of Rivet and how she'll fit in alongside two of the video game industry's most recognizable icons. We also chat about how Rift Apart was always going to be a PlayStation 5 game and how it utilizes the many next-gen features of the next-gen hardware. But that's not all. We also talk about the game's wild array of unique and exhilarating weapons and what players can expect from the stylish armor sets the development team showed off in the aforementioned Sony digital event. The Ratchet and Clank fun is just beginning. If you enjoyed this look at Rift Apart, be sure to check out Andrew Reiner's written preview on Insomniac's latest entry in the stellar platforming series, our latest episode of New Gameplay Today, and a look at the opening of the game. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart will be arriving exclusively on the PlayStation 5 on June 11, 2021. Thank you so much for watching. Be sure to let us know what you think of the video in the comments below!
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| An Hour With Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart – The Best Looking Next-Gen Game Yet Posted: 12 May 2021 07:00 AM PDT Publisher: PlayStation Studios Developer: Insomniac Games Release: Platform: PlayStation 5 Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is exactly what it needs to be: a direct continuation of the beloved series doubling as a showpiece of new-generation technology. I recently saw roughly an hour of Rift Apart in action, and almost every second of play screams of nostalgia while also dazzling with a scale and speed that hasn't been attainable for the series until PlayStation 5. In the decades we've spent journeying with Ratchet and Clank, we've watched them battle against alien armadas and save the universe time and time again. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed. One thankful civilization on a distant world is finally honoring our brave heroes with an extravagant parade. In the opening shot, we see Ratchet and Clank emerge to a sea of roaring fans seated in airborne bleachers that overlook massive balloon representations of the heroes. This single moment has so much to see, including a detailed alien cityscape on the ground far beneath the festive parade. For the opening shot, developer Insomniac Games leans into the power of PlayStation 5 to drop jaws and establish the scale players can expect as this adventure unfolds.  Ratchet and Clank are introduced as the parade's grand marshals by none other than Captain Qwark, the megalomaniac who always seems to find a camera and microphone to sing of his own praises. In this particular moment, Qwark is narrating one of Ratchet and Clank's adventures, which the player gets to play through on a movie-like set of an alien world set on a float. This begins the tutorial, bringing the classic Ratchet and Clank gameplay roaring back into view. We also hear the soundtrack intensify; heroic melodies from composer Mark Mothersbaugh that draw loose inspiration from his work on the motion picture Thor: Ragnarok. Insomniac Games targeted this film as the type of soundtrack it wanted, and as luck would have it, they were able to hire the man behind it. When Ratchet's wrench slams into a stack of boxes, the thundering score gives way to the familiar clanging of bolts, as well as age-old movements from the character, and the assistance of his friend strapped to his back. Although Ratchet is just demonstrating the moves he used in battle for the crowd, something is amiss. He's not just taking on cardboard standees. The Blarg are here, and more are arriving in dropships. This isn't part of the parade. A huge battle unfolds, sending the duo hurtling across different floats and even within the skyscrapers of the city itself. Ratchet rail grinds, flips through the air, and unloads hell from a firearm called the Burst Pistol. Creative weapon designs have always been one of the key pillars of this game series, and that remains the case in Rift Apart. The one big difference now is that they will all feel significantly better, thanks to the DualSense controller's unique functionality.  Most weapons take advantage of the controller's adaptive triggers. With the Burst Pistol, the player can easily tap into two different firing modes. Pulling in the right trigger slightly unloads slow but accurate fire. Pulling the trigger full-bore creates a faster chamber rotation, but reduces accuracy. The next gun we see is the Enforcer, which appears to be Rift Apart's equivalent of the shotgun. The lighter pull fires one barrel and the click-through fires both of them. A nice touch on this gun is two lights on its stock, which turn green when it's ready to fire and red when it's not (one chamber can be red, one can be green). While these two guns are similar in usage, the Negaton Collider shows off the DualSense's unique features when used for a charged weapon. To generate a shot, the player pulls the trigger until they feel resistance, then, when ready, pulling through will fire the beam. This method delivers the tactical choice to instantly fire with a little more effort or outright cancel the beam by releasing the trigger. I saw six weapons in play. Along with the three aforementioned, Ratchet can equip a Shatterbomb Glove to, well, throw bombs; the Ricochet Gun that works as you would expect, and last and certainly not least, is an armament with the strange name of the Topiary Sprinkler. When this weapon connects with an enemy, a plant instantly sprouts and climbs up their body, rendering them immobile for a few seconds, and making them look like a topiary in front of a mansion.  I even see how this weapon works on a lumbering robot boss named "Wee" Roger. He too can be caught up in the vines, giving Ratchet the chance to unload hell into him. Once he's defeated, a more powerful version of this robot appears with the upgraded name "Not-So-Wee" Roger. The bosses have health meters that are easy to read. Fans of the series will also see an ammo bar has been added above every weapon Ratchet wields, allowing you to keep better tabs on your arsenal. New depth of field has also been implemented to better frame the target you have in your sights. The attack on the parade comes from long-time series villain Dr. Nefarious, who is here to steal the Dimensionator that Clank was planning to gift to Ratchet. Clank fixed this dangerous device so Ratchet could finally visit the dimension where all of his Lombax species reside; Ratchet is the only one in this reality. Dr. Nefarious, who is continually suffering defeat, wants to use the Dimensionator to reach a dimension where he always wins. The raytracing effects on the Doctor's helmet look fantastic, a small but noticeable touch. The chase to secure this universe-changing tool brings an epic war to this peaceful planet. The parade's floats and balloons are torn asunder, sometimes with Ratchet and Clank on them, creating unstable footing with platforms rocking back and forth, making firing straight tricky.  I didn't get to see what happens at the end of this stage, and was instead whisked away to a level much later in the game. This stage is seen through the eyes of Rivet, a new playable character, who is also a Lombax. Her dimension is at war, and she is part of the resistance. She has a purplish/pinkish fur and one of her arms is mechanical. Instead of wielding a wrench, she proudly swings a hammer. We meet Rivet on a dusty, industrial planet that looks like it has poor air quality. Here, she bounds up cliffs, battling robotic pirate forces, and eventually squares off against a Godzilla-sized robot, which actually becomes intertwined with the platforming. She dashes across falling structures, onto the robot's shoulders, and then onto a dangerous rail sequence that has cranes hastily laying tracks in front of her. The action looks every bit as fervent and cinematic as an Uncharted game, with everything crumbling around our hero. Insomniac also takes a cue from the Spider-Man games by intertwining story sequences right into the action. Rivet's move set is exactly like Ratchet's. She can strafe (which can now be set to auto, so you don't have to hold down the trigger), acrobatically flip through the air, and also use the series' classic Hover Boots to gain incredible speed. Ratchet and Rivet can both perform a new move called the Phantom Dash, which phases them in and out of reality, granting them partial invincibility. This supposedly adds dimensions to combat and traversal, as it can be executed from any move. Although Rivet has been alone her entire life, she'll eventually have Clank at her side as well through an unknown story twist.  The story and worlds determine who you play as at any given time. Clank once again gets in on this action through a new platforming minigame that has the player trying to draw power from one dimension to the next. These puzzles push the player to bounce across platforms and avoid obstacles to create a through-line for the power. Another minigame puts the player in command of a digital spider-tank called the Glitch. It can scurry up walls and ceilings and is used to take down viruses within a program. On top of these diversions, Insomniac says two mountable beasts are in the game, one of which is a giant dragon that soars through the sky on an alien world. Click here to watch embedded mediaInsomniac confirms that this Ratchet adventure is still level-based, but the technology behind it is more akin to an open world that constantly streams content in front of the player. It streams so fast, allowing Insomniac to load in textures in the blink of an eye. Load times are lightning quick as well. Within a second's time, Ratchet could hop from one side of the galaxy to the next. The rifts load seamlessly too, allowing gameplay to move from one location to the next without skipping a beat. Ratchet and Rivet will eventually travel to places Insomniac calls Sync planets, which show off two versions of the same place for their respective realities. To switch to them, the player just has to hit a lever. In that time, the screen flashes white and the other version of the planet appears, looking dramatically different, yet with some clear similarities. I can't wait to see what kind of puzzle solving awaits in these alternate worlds. The two realities also mean you'll see two versions of the same characters. The lovely named character Skid McMarx is the lowlife stoner in the reality we know, but in the alternate dimension, he goes by the name Phantom, and is an expert hack and inventor for the resistance. Rift Apart's feature suite sounds extensive, giving players a photo mode, a wealth of accessibility options building upon Insomniac's work from Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales (including the ability to map a slow-motion function to the d-pad), and also the ability to customize armor, right down to its color. Armors are often the rewards delivered for completing side content. Insomniac has been on a roll with the Spider-Man games, and Rift Apart looks every bit as epic and fun. It's one of the few early PlayStation 5 exclusives we've seen, and it looks like the team at Insomniac is taking this new hardware for a serious ride.
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| Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart: Checking Out The Opening With Insomniac Games (4K) Posted: 12 May 2021 07:00 AM PDT  Click here to watch embedded media If you asked the lucky few who own a PlayStation 5 what one of their most anticipated games of the year is, I'd be willing to bet Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart ranks pretty high on their list. For good reason too. Developer Insomniac Games has been hard at work to utilize the next-gen features of the PS5 to deliver an experience filled with spectacle and the chaotic fun the series is known for. But after five years spent on developing titles such as Marvel's Spider-Man, where will the developer be kicking off the iconic duo's latest adventure? We're happy you asked. In this special 4K look at Rift Apart, we're joined by Marcus Smith, creative director at Insomniac, to set the scene for where players can expect Rift Apart to begin. The game starts with our two titular heroes being honored for their courageous acts of saving the universe on multiple occasions. Clank also wants to make this is a special day and offers Ratchet a device that would allow him to hop dimensions and aid him in his quest to find his kin. But of course, Dr. Nefarious has to make the day about him, stealing the device and causing mayhem the world over. Ratchet and Clank give chase, pursuing the ne'er-do-well through the city in the first of many gorgeous setpieces Rift Apart has to offer. That's just a taste of the fun players can expect from Insomniac's latest adventure, but if you're wanting to know more, we have you covered. We have a huge preview blowout for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on our website and YouTube page, including a special 4K edition of New Gameplay Today, a chat with Insomniac's game director on the origins of Rivet, and Andrew Reiner's written impressions of his early look at the new PS5 exclusive. Thanks for watching!
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| Xbox Series X Update Includes Better Quick Resume, Dynamic Themes, And Audio Tweaks Posted: 12 May 2021 06:00 AM PDT While not everyone that wants one has an Xbox Series X, in large part due to shortages, the experience continues to improve with each new update. The Xbox May update includes Quick Resume improvements, multiplayer tweaks for children, audio enhancements, and so much more. Let's dive into what's the latest with Team Xbox. Quick Resume, What's New?Quick Resume is a feature of this generation that utilizes the innovative Xbox Velocity to push tech to its limit. The ability to go back and forth between numerous games is a huge boon for players, and now it's becoming even better with more reliability and even faster load times. The Xbox crew is also making it a little easier to detect which games are compatible with the Quick Resume feature thanks to a new tag. You can even group them together to make it easier to know which ones are eligible for flawless transition. Audio ImprovementsPassthrough audio is a means to stream Xbox media apps (like Netflix, Disney+, Vudu, etc) in order to make the sound quality even more profound. Microsoft details that players can start using this by going General > Volume & Audio Output > Advanced > Allow Passthrough. Click the box to mark it as allowed and experience even better sound going forward. Dynamic ThemesDynamic themes were a huge hit on PlayStation but Sony opted out of them (for now) on the PS5. Now, Xbox Series X/S has this more interactive background experience since launch, with a new Motes theme available now as this month's pattern. Simply go to Settings > General > Personalization > My Background > Dynamic Background to get started. Parents And MultiplayerFor those gaming parents out there with a new system, Microsoft released an Xbox Family Settings app on iOS and Android last year. Beginning this month, parents/guardians can now approve multiplayer games directly from the console or the app. This also allows for guardians to tweak multiplayer mode settings for certain games, including allowing approved titles to bypass family settings. Don't worry about your kids using this to cheat the system, each change will alert the app via notification. To learn more about what's in the Xbox May update, you can learn more right here.
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| Twin Suns Corp Working On A New AAA Cross Platform Title Posted: 12 May 2021 06:00 AM PDT Twin Suns Corp is a new Seattle-based game studio with plenty of serious industry clout behind it. Tim Longo Jr., Forest Swartout Large, and Jeff Morris are the founders, with fifteen other veterans also onboard with experience on numerous titles from Tomb Raider to Elder Scrolls. While the rest of the team isn't known yet, the founders themselves have significant experience. Tim Longo Jr. is well known for work on Halo and Tomb Raider, Large on Hitman and Tomb Raider, and Morris on Gears of War and Unreal Tournament - and that's just a small abridged summary of their careers. With many other veterans also joining the team, they're sure to be working on something interesting. Go ahead and start the speculation! Tim Longo, Co-Founder and CEO of Twin Suns Corp, said in a release "Forming this company and team is about bringing incredible people together to collaborate and make uniquely creative and amazing action games. Twin Suns Corp is literally a dream team of expert talent from across the planet and I can't wait to work with all of them again." Hiro Capital, which is a venture capital fund for creators, is investing 6.4 million dollars across Twin Suns Corp and another game platform, FRVR. According to their reveal, Twin Suns Corp is building a next-gen AAA cross-platform title that is launching a new IP and franchise. That's a hell of a task, but it looks like Twin Suns Corp is assembling the resources to make it happen. Hiro Capital partner Ian Livingstone said in a press release "I had the pleasure of working with Tim Longo on the Tomb Raider reboot before he went on to become Creative Director at 343 Industries to develop Halo 5. Tim is hugely talented and has assembled a fantastic team at Twin Suns. We are delighted to be partnering with Tim and his team and are incredibly excited by the potential of their creative vision and their ability to develop groundbreaking new titles in the AAA space." What do you think Twin Suns Corp is going to come up with in terms of genre or game style? Are you intrigued by the new company? Let us know in the comments!
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