Game Informer

Game Informer

The Next Metroid Should Take Inspirations From Indie Games

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 03:00 PM PDT

In 2009, Chair Entertainment and Epic Games released Shadow Complex, a side-scrolling platforming adventure about a man named Jason who explores a massive underground complex, slowly acquiring high-tech gear that turns him into a one-man army. I was absolutely stoked to get my hands on the title because of one word the developers used when talking about their inspirations. That word: Metroid.

At the time, Shadow Complex felt like something fresh and new because, in 2009, games in the vein of Metroid were a rarity. That is no longer the case. In 2021 alone, we've seen titles like Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights, Grime, Greak: Memories of Azur, Narita Boy, Astalon: Tears of the Earth, F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch, and Axiom Verge 2, all of which take some inspiration from Nintendo's classic series. And – oh yeah – Nintendo is releasing Metroid Dread in October. It's nearly impossible to keep up with all the games that cite Metroid as an inspiration.

This colossal influx of Metroid-like games is an incredible boon for fans, but I worry about what this means for the franchise that started it all. The indie boom over the last decade has allowed designers and small teams to create rich and inventive spins on Metroid's formula, but can Nintendo keep up with the innovation?

Let's rewind. The original Metroid deserves a lot of credit for expanding on the traditional action/platformer. That title dropped players into an eerie, alien world and put a big focus on exploration and permanent upgrades that allowed you to access new areas. With Super Metroid, Nintendo nailed this formula. Super Metroid was the perfect blend of exploration and rewarding pickups that facilitated deeper exploration. Combine all that with a helpful map, moody atmosphere, and killer soundtrack, and it's easy to see why Super Metroid set the template for so many games today.

And there are a lot of studios that have taken off running with that template. Drinkbox Studios' Guacamelee series took brawling elements and turned upgrade pickups into attack combos. Moon Studio's Ori series blended mind-numbingly beautiful worlds with heartfelt narratives and pixel-perfect platforming. Villa Gorilla's Yoku's Island Express combined Metroid's exploration with pinball mechanics to create an entirely joyful experience. And, Motion Twin's Dead Cells did the same thing with roguelite elements, which finally convinced me that maybe I do like roguelites.

Super Metroid was the perfect blend of exploration and rewarding pickups that facilitated deeper exploration

I could go on and on and talk about games like SteamWorld Dig 2, Hollow Knight, and of course, Castlevania. But I probably don't have to, because even if you don't play these kinds of games, you've undoubtedly noticed the explosion of Metroid-likes in the last several years. In many ways, it's never been a better time to be a fan of games like Metroid. At the same time, it almost feels like Metroid itself doesn't have anything left to explore.

To be clear, I'm not worried about the future of the genre. I think indie developers will continue to crank out new and inventive takes on this unique sub-genre, which we all know and love. However, I am worried about the future of the Metroid series. I'm concerned Nintendo's classic series is beginning to feel a bit old hat in the current market of ideas.

Super Metroid is still a blast to play today, but Nintendo hasn't overhauled that formula in almost 30 years (setting aside Metroid's foray into 3D gaming). Since 1994, Nintendo has only released three 2D Metroid titles: Metroid Fusion, Metroid: Zero Mission, and Metroid: Samus Returns. All three titles are fun. But that's because they hold close to the established pattern. Sure, Fusion introduced the ability to grab ledges and climb ladders, Zero Mission briefly took Samus out of her suit, and Samus Returns added close-quarters attacks that spiced up the action, but these are minor tweaks. By and large, all three games feel like the same basic design slipped into a new environment.

I'd love for the Metroid series to take more wild chances, like many of the indie games mentioned above. What if Nintendo introduced some RPG systems à la Castlevania? Or, what if it took a page from Breath of the Wild and gave you all your tools at the beginning of the game so you could tackle objectives in any order? And, what if Metroid explored co-op, or contained a branching narrative, or had a portal gun? Everything is better with a portal gun, right?

Are all of those ideas great for Metroid? Probably not. But exciting discoveries often come from unexpected places. If Metroid is going to stay with us for another 30-plus years then it needs to grow – it needs to start thinking outside its beloved box.

I'm not trying to complain that Metroid's design is too derivative. I still enjoy Metroid's tricks, but the thrill I felt playing Super Metroid for the first time is fading. Metroid Dread releases on October 9, and I'm looking forward to playing it. I'm sure Nintendo has found a few new bells and whistles to put on this tried-and-true formula – maybe it will even change up the formula in unexpected ways.

But if it doesn't, Nintendo, I hope you think more like an indie developer and try something genuinely innovative next time.

Fallout TV Show Details Teased, "It's Just A Gonzo, Crazy, Funny Adventure"

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 02:51 PM PDT

We're living in the age of gaming adaptations, and Bethesda's Fallout is no exception. With a new Fallout TV show in the works, the producer teased a few details about what fans of the Wasteland can expect from the upcoming "mindf***" that lies ahead. 

The upcoming Fallout tribute is currently in production over at Amazon, and Lucy Joy, co-creator alongside fellow Westworld extraordinaire Jonathan Nolan, recently sat down with the folks over at Collider to tease a small inside look at what's in store. While Joy couldn't give any details, for obvious reasons, she did promise that it will offer an experience that no one will expect. 

"It is just a gonzo, crazy, funny, adventure and a mindf*** like none you've ever seen before," she told the site, adding that she thinks it's "pretty cool" and that it's a project she's passionate about. As a massive Hunter S. Thompson fan, I appreciate her use of the word "gonzo," and I will admit, her work on Westworld has me intrigued. The two properties aren't quite as separated as people might think, especially with the doom aspect featuring in, but I am interested in seeing how she'll put her creative spin on the Bethesda RPG. 

Fallout has seen numerous tales through the years. Some grim, others too weird to take seriously, and pretty much everything in between. It sounds like humor will play a big role and that the team is aiming to shock veterans of the franchise with something new. What that will entail remains to be seen, but she has our attention. 

Unfortunately, we don't know what the Fallout TV show will center on: a new story altogether and adaptation of Fallout 3, perhaps? 4? New Vegas? We don't know, but for now, at least we have "gonzo." 

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[Source: Collider via ComicBook]

Using EA Sports UFC 4 To Predict How UFC Tournaments Would Play Out In 2021

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 01:46 PM PDT

In 1993, the Ultimate Fighting Championship burst onto the scene, pitting masters of different martial arts disciplines against one another in a bracket-style tournament. The UFC has evolved and grown in a multitude of ways in the nearly three decades since that first event in Denver. Still, with other major promotions like Bellator and the Professional Fighters League experimenting with bracket-style tournaments, many fans wonder what would happen if UFC returned to its roots and hosted its own. We decided to find out for ourselves, using the best tool at our disposal: EA Sports UFC 4.

Using the current official UFC rankings found on the promotion's website, I constructed eight-person tournament brackets featuring the highest-ranked fighters of each weight class (aside from women's featherweight, since there are no official rankings and EA Sports UFC 4 only has two active fighters from that division). The seeding is based on current ranking, though for some high-profile fighters who are in the process of changing weight classes (like Jon Jones or Cody Garbrandt), I had to plug them in where it made the most sense. I then watched every fight as the A.I.-controlled combatants duked it out. Each fight was scheduled for three rounds, except for the championship fight at the end, which could go five rounds.

EA Sports UFC 4

As the nearly 80 bouts played out, it quickly became apparent that EA Sports UFC 4 skews heavily in favor of third-round knockouts or technical knockouts. In fact, even with grappling specialists, I was shocked at how few submission attempts succeeded. It certainly wasn't for lack of trying because sometimes even the most striking-focused fighters jumped guard to attempt guillotines in these simulations. Still, very few submissions were successful, perhaps a testament to the A.I. submission defense.

However, regardless of the outcome, I noticed that very few fights were completely one-sided. This is likely an indication that developer EA Canada balanced the fighters to create more competitive bouts even with each fighter featuring different attributes and tendencies. While this is a good idea in theory, when you're simulating fights to see how the game predicts they'd play out in real life, it results in some quite surprising upsets.

Without any further ado, let's get to the results of these tournaments.

Click any bracket image to see its larger version.

Strawweight

Current Real-Life Champion: Rose Namajunas
EA Sports UFC 4 Prediction: Rose Namajunas
Fight of the Tournament: Namajunas vs. Weili

The strawweight division is undoubtedly the most exciting women's division in the UFC, with the belt changing hands rapidly following Joanna Jędrzejczyk's loss to Rose Namajunas in 2017. In the time since, Namajunas, Jessica Andrade (who has since moved up in weight), and Zhang Weili have all held the belt. According to this simulation, the four former champions of the 115-pound division (Namajunas, Jędrzejczyk, Weili, and inaugural champ Carla Esparza) advanced past their opening-round matchups. Weili vs. Jędrzejczyk was one of the greatest fights of all time, so a rematch was exciting. Still, the best fight in this tournament came from Namajunas vs. Weili in the finals, with Namajunas securing the victory thanks to a third-round armbar submission.

Flyweight (W)

Current Real-Life Champion: Valentina Shevchenko
EA Sports UFC 4 Prediction: Katlyn Chookagian
Fight of the Tournament: Andrade vs. Calderwood

In contrast to the strawweight division, a single champion has dominated women's flyweight pretty much since its inception. Following inaugural champion Nicco Montaño's unceremonious relinquishing of the title in 2018, Valentina Shevchenko has reigned supreme, facing little hardship in her five title defenses. As such, she is one of just four fighters to achieve a five-star overall rating in EA Sports UFC 4, making her the runaway favorite to win this tournament.

However, the video game had other plans, as Lauren Murphy (who, interestingly enough, is scheduled to be Shevchenko's next title defense in September) pulled off the big upset in the semifinals. Unfortunately, Murphy could not carry that momentum into the championship fight, and longtime contender Katlyn Chookagian took her out with a fourth-round KO.

Bantamweight (W)

Current Real-Life Champion: Amanda Nunes
EA Sports UFC 4 Prediction: Germaine de Randamie
Fight of the Tournament: De Randamie vs. Holm

As dominant as Shevchenko is in the flyweight division, Amanda Nunes has been even more ruthless. The greatest female fighter of all time has ruled the bantamweight division with an iron fist ever since taking the belt from Miesha Tate in 2016. As such, she's another member of the elite five-star overall rating club in EA Sports UFC 4. And just like Shevchenko before her, Nunes did not come out on top in this simulation. Instead, Germaine de Randamie overcame a wild, back-and-forth fight against Holly Holm before toppling Nunes in the championship bout. 

Flyweight (M)

Current Real-Life Champion: Brandon Moreno
EA Sports UFC 4 Prediction: Cody Garbrandt
Fight of the Tournament: Askarov vs. Benavidez

Former bantamweight champ Cody Garbrandt has had his sights set on flyweight for a while now. While his original plan of dropping down to face then-champion Deiveson Figueiredo fell through due to health complications, Garbrandt is now scheduled to face Kai Kara-France later this year. Kara-France isn't in EA Sports UFC 4, so I plugged Garbrandt into the tournament where Kara-France would have been based on the UFC rankings – which just so happened to line him up against Figueiredo.

When current champ Brandon Moreno lost in shocking fashion to Tim Elliott in the first round, the stage seemed all but set for the once-dominant champion Figueiredo to reclaim his belt, but he also lost in the first round. After winning the original fight he wanted in the first round, Garbrandt went on to put on arguably the most dominant string of performances of any tournament I simulated, brutally knocking out former title challengers Joseph Benavidez and Alex Perez to claim the championship belt.

Bantamweight (M)

Current Real-Life Champion: Aljamain Sterling
EA Sports UFC 4 Prediction: Petr Yan
Fight of the Tournament: Sandhagen vs. Font

The men's bantamweight division is as exciting as ever but also as muddied as ever. After Petr Yan lost his belt to Aljamain Sterling earlier this year thanks to a disqualification stemming from an illegal knee, the queue of contenders has grown out of control, with the likes of TJ Dillashaw, Cory Sandhagen, and Rob Font waiting to see how the rematch between Sterling and Yan will play out. This makes the tournament format a perfect fit for the division. No matter how you match up these combatants, you're guaranteed to get some amazing fights. Even following the UFC rankings, I still got some absolute bangers in the tournament's first round. However, the semifinals consisted of killers only, with Yan taking out Dillashaw, and Sandhagen avenging his 2020 loss to Sterling. At the end of the day, Yan emerged victorious in the final.

Featherweight (M)

Current Real-Life Champion: Alexander Volkanovski
EA Sports UFC 4 Prediction: Alexander Volkanovski
Fight of the Tournament: Rodríguez vs. Jung

Sometimes, EA Sports UFC 4's predictions go how many people think they might. While several people still consider Max Holloway the best fighter at featherweight, Alexander Volkanovski once again showed why he's the one who holds the belt at 145. Volkanovski defeated Holloway for what would be a third time. Featherweight is another division stacked from top to bottom, with Brian Ortega, Yair Rodríguez, Calvin Kattar, and Chan Sung Jung filling the field. Still, as we've seen time and time again, Volkanovski and Holloway are just on another level.

Lightweight

Current Real-Life Champion: Charles Oliveira
EA Sports UFC 4 Prediction: Michael Chandler
Fight of the Tournament: Gaethje vs. Chandler

As great as men's bantamweight and featherweight are, in all likelihood, lightweight is the best division in the UFC. The historically deep division is in transition due to the abrupt retirement of dominant, undefeated champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2020. Thanks to this, I was perhaps most excited to see this tournament in action. With newly crowned champion Charles Oliveira taking the top seed and killers like Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje (before you ask, the ninth-ranked Conor McGregor barely missed the cut for inclusion) on the other side of the bracket, this tournament guaranteed awesome fights and surprising results. And boy, did it deliver on both fronts.

Though Oliveira was able to take care of business in the first round, the real-life champ lost his rematch against former Bellator champ and recent UFC convert Michael Chandler. That first fight, which took place at UFC 262 earlier this year, was a back-and-forth, Fight of the Year contender, so the change in the result isn't that surprising in this digital rematch. However, the biggest surprise came on the other side of the bracket when Rafael Dos Anjos won a close decision against Dustin Poirier. Dos Anjos is a former champion, but many consider Poirier the best fighter at 155. Still, the division is stacked; it's hard to argue against any results. The championship came down to Gaethje and Chandler, who delivered arguably the best fight of any tournament I simulated. This absurdly paced matchup didn't last long, but it was non-stop action until Chandler landed an uppercut from hell while Gaethje tried to land one of his own. Watching it play out in EA Sports UFC 4 made me all the more excited for the real-life match-up between these two, which is targeted for UFC 268 in November.

Welterweight

Current Real-Life Champion: Kamaru Usman
EA Sports UFC 4 Prediction: Vicente Luque
Fight of the Tournament: Edwards vs. Luque

Welterweight is the home of perhaps the most dominant men's champion today in Kamaru Usman, so naturally, he was the favorite going in. However, the division is also one of the deeper ones in the UFC, so when you see the all-action Vicente Luque take out the streaking Leon Edwards in his first fight, topple Usman in the semifinals, then beat Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson in the finals, it's difficult to be too upset. Thompson getting past Burns might be the most criticizable outcome of this tournament since we just saw how Burns handled Thompson in July, but this game seems to favor strikers over grapplers when the A.I. faces itself. Interestingly, using my seeding methodology, the first round gave fans a long-awaited grudge match in Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal.

Middleweight

Current Real-Life Champion: Israel Adesanya
EA Sports UFC 4 Prediction: Israel Adesanya
Fight of the Tournament: Adesanya vs. Till

If welterweight Kamaru Usman isn't the most dominant men's champion, it's certainly middleweight Israel Adesanya. The former kickboxing champ blasted his way through the middleweight ranks and has defeated nearly every contender along the way. Everyone thinks they have the solution to the Adesanya puzzle, but no middleweight fighter has been able to execute so far.

After a tiny scare in the first round against Darren Till, Adesanya cruised in his second rematch against Marvin Vettori, knocking him out in the first round, then taking on the man from whom he took the middleweight belt in the first place: Robert Whittaker. While Adesanya vs. Whittaker featured a ton of action and was fairly evenly matched, Adesanya once again finished Whittaker to confirm his coronation through this EA Sports UFC 4 tournament.

Light Heavyweight

Current Real-Life Champion: Jan Błachowicz
EA Sports UFC 4 Prediction: Jan Błachowicz
Fight of the Tournament: Błachowicz vs. Teixeira

After Jon Jones left to go to heavyweight, the light heavyweight division became more interesting. Though Dominick Reyes felt like the uncrowned champ when he fought for the vacant title last year, Jan Błachowicz emerged with the belt. Though Błachowicz has been on an absolute tear, winning nine of his last ten fights, including a win over middleweight champ Israel Adesanya earlier this year, many are still waiting to see if he's the kind of fighter who can hold the belt for an extended period of time. According to EA Sports UFC 4, he very well might be. While it was surprising to see Reyes defeat Jiří Procházka in a rematch of their fight from earlier this year, the rest of the bracket played out realistically, with the two fighters in the championship fight – Błachowicz and Glover Teixeira – serving as the next real-life title fight in the division. If the real fight between those two is anything like EA Sports UFC 4's prediction, we're in for a treat when it occurs in October. 

Heavyweight

Current Real-Life Champion: Francis Ngannou
EA Sports UFC 4 Prediction: Derrick Lewis
Fight of the Tournament: Ngannou vs. Rozenstruik

The heavyweight division is in an odd place, with recently crowned champion Francis Ngannou having his throne challenged by new interim champ Cyril Gane. Meanwhile, one of the greatest fighters of all time lurks in Jon Jones, and the longest-reigning heavyweight champ in UFC history, Stipe Miocic, can never be counted out. After watching all of these fights play out across the different divisions, heavyweight's results were the ones that shocked me the most. Seeing Derrick Lewis knock out Jones in the first round was a big surprise, but maybe not as big of an upset as Jairzinho Rozenstruik knocking out Ngannou in a rematch of a fight that very much went a different way in real life. The right side of the bracket went about as most people would predict. However, the championship fight between Lewis and Gane was perhaps the biggest upset of the entire tournament, as we just saw how dominant Gane was when he fought Lewis two weeks ago. I have a feeling Lewis would vastly prefer this result to the one he actually got this month.

For more on EA Sports UFC 4, check out our review here. 

Halo Infinite Will Not Have Campaign Co-Op Or Forge At Launch, Confirms 343 Industries

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 12:25 PM PDT

Click to watch embedded media

343 Industries has been hard at work trying to ensure that Halo Infinite sees a 2021 release and after the positive reception of the first Flight Test beta period, it's easy to see why so many Halo fans are getting excited for the holidays. That being said, the studio has confirmed some news regarding the Halo Infinite launch, namely that the latest Master Chief adventure will not feature campaign co-op or Forge right at launch. The good news is that this shouldn't result in a delay, the team added that they are still targeting a holiday window. 

In the latest video update from 343 Industries, creative head Joseph Staten provided the recent news about Halo Infinite's launch status. While the exclusion of these two features at launch is disappointing, he was quick to affirm that the team is "100 percent committed" to the holiday timeframe, with or without campaign co-op. "Unfortunately, as we focused the team for shut down, and really focused on a quality experience for launch, we made the really tough decision to delay shipping campaign co-op for launch," said Staten when reflecting back on the past two years, especially with COVID-19's impact on work culture. He added, "And we also made the tough call to delay shipping Forge past launch as well."

"On the co-op side, we have the opportunity to play the campaign all the time, it's this wonderful, open, non-linear take on the Halo campaign," Staten continued. "It's going to offer so much more flexibility to take down Banished bases from all different angles, to progress through the game in your own way. At the same time though, that's complicated. When you think about save systems and all the technology that needs to drive this more non-linear experience, and in the co-op experience that's even more complicated." Hence the delay.

In the video at the top of the article, Staten did confirm that while Forge and campaign co-op are delayed, 343 is adapting a seasonal launch timeline for both. So then what does Halo Infinite release with, you may be asking? It will come with the single-player story and the first season of multiplayer, which you can learn more about here. 

Halo Infinite is expected to release sometime this holiday season. To learn more, check out our dedicated game hub here. Do it for Craig the Brute, don't leave him hanging. 

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Inside The Mind Of PlayStation Studios' Hermen Hulst

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 11:45 AM PDT

Hermen Hulst hasn't been head of PlayStation Studios for long, only taking over the position from gaming industry veteran Shuhei Yoshida about a year and a half ago. However, in that time, he's had to contend with a console launch, the complications of COVID-19 on game development, and helping studios launch some of Sony's most successful and inventive games, such as The Last of Us Part II, Returnal, and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.

PlayStation Studios is an international network of development studios creating gaming experiences. Hulst is tasked with leading the 12 internal studios under the banner and ensuring the developers have the resources and support they need. The list of talent includes industry juggernauts, such as Insomniac Games (Ratchet and Clank), Guerrilla Games (Horizon Zero Dawn), Sucker Punch (Ghost of Tsushima), Naughty Dog (Uncharted, The Last of Us), Santa Monica Studios (God of War), and Media Molecule (Dreams), to name a few.

Hulst lets his guard down at the Days Gone PSX booth

Before taking the position at PlayStation Studios, Hulst was no stranger to the trials and tribulations of game development and what it takes for a studio to be successful. He was previously managing director of Guerrilla Games, playing a key role in shaping the Killzone series and supporting the studio's shift to its new flagship IP, Horizon Zero Dawn. But who is the new man leading the charge at PlayStation Studios? We sat down with Hulst to learn more about his life, gaming philosophies, and the path he sees forward to keep PlayStation Studios at the top of its game.

Finding Gaming

Hulst grew up in the Netherlands, which wasn't exactly a hot spot for video games, but he still found a way to the hobby thanks to his mom's toy store. "I actually grew up in the Bible Belt, where there weren't any arcades," Hulst says. "Luckily for me, [my mom's toy store] had a Vectrex [game console] that had Mine Storm pre-installed. I must have been about nine or ten and I was pretty competitive, but I loved playing." Hulst would watch the older, more seasoned players, then after the store closed for the day, he would sneak in after dinner to work on getting his initials on the high-score list. Hulst recalls just loving "the intensity" and losing himself for hours on end until it was bedtime.

Hulst cut his teeth playing arcade games, but soon expanded his horizons and now considers himself a jack-of-all trades – not being attached to any genre or series. "I play different things," he says. "I am not a gamer that can be pigeonholed in one particular area." Hulst often finds himself playing whatever aligns with his current area of focus in game development. "As a gamer now, it's really hard to not be a game designer or a game maker when you do what I do," he explains. "I've gone through phases where I've played a ton of shooters, and there, I'm thinking about the concept of the power fantasy and the theater of war that you're in. Then I went through that whole phase where everything became about freedom of choice and agency and exploration when we moved with my old studio at Guerrilla Games from the Killzone days to the Horizon days."

Hulst says he thinks about things very conceptually concerning designers' intentions when he plays games, but he also gets those nostalgic feelings from his gaming childhood, too. He points to Housemarque's Returnal as a recent game that gave him the best of both worlds. "When I pick up Returnal, I go straight back to that old experience on the Vectrex," he says. "But then, I think, 'Wow, so this is a very arcadey experience, but somehow we found a way to get a layered story on top of that."

In Hulst's eyes, what makes a good, interesting game is in line with what PlayStation excels at. "I say this as the head of PlayStation Studios, and that's kind of the games we're known for – a very meticulously crafted, beautifully directed story that takes place in a world that is really inviting to spend time in," he says. "That's some of the most joy I've had in games. That definitely speaks to that single-player, narrative-driven, character-based experience that I've worked on a lot myself, that I now work on with a lot of the great studios at PlayStation Studios."

He's as calm as Aloy! Hulst enjoys a walk with Horizon Zero Dawn's infamous Watcher

The Road To PlayStation Studios

Just like how Hulst didn't have a lot of access to video games growing up in the Netherlands, neither were there opportunities to pursue a career in gaming. "I come from the Netherlands, and the games industry wasn't necessarily, in the mid-'90s, considered to be a proper career," he says. "There wasn't actually such a thing as game development or game publishing for that matter that you could get into." When it came time to decide on his career path, Hulst pursued mechanical engineering and business management degrees at the University of Twente in Enschede, Netherlands, and later pursued a degree in philosophy at the University of Amsterdam. But once again, gaming would find him.

While completing his studies, he did an exchange program that landed him in California, and serendipity had its way as he met some people at Ubisoft, which led to him interning at the Ubisoft office in Sausalito. At the time, Hulst says there were only seven or eight people working out of that office and its members were primarily focused on Rayman and racing games. "I kind of worked as a researcher," he says. "These days we have entire PhD-filled teams on user testing and consumer insights, but that was the job I had." Hulst said his main area of research was platformers and racing games, and he would go to schools and recruit people to answer questions like, "What is the magic behind Mario Kart?"

Hulst's job was to essentially "unpack what made a game great," and he instantly fell in love with it. It allowed him to not only think about the appeal of games and what worked about them, but also hear from other people's insights. Because the team was so small at the time, Hulst also worked a bit on the marketing side, most notably helping with the marketing plan in North America for Rayman.

It was a fun time in Hulst's life, which he still looks back on fondly. Unfortunately, once he returned to the Netherlands, the gaming opportunities still weren't there, so he worked as a strategy consultant until about 2000 when things started to take shape in what would become Guerrilla Games, the studio he co-founded and would stay at for 18 years. Even back then, his ambitions were big: "We decided, 'Let's go build this thing out. Let's try to become the best studio in Europe.'" The rest is history. Guerrilla Games made a name for itself with the Killzone series, then surprised many by taking a chance on a new IP and genre with Horizon Zero Dawn, which catapulted the studio to new heights.

Leading The Best And Brightest

Hulst's role as head of PlayStation Studios was announced in November of 2019. He wears many hats, mainly working on long-term plans for Sony's games, including new IP and long-established franchises. When he's not acquiring new developers and keeping an eye toward innovation, he works with various studio heads on the company culture [see sidebar]. As Sony makes the move to turn more of its video game franchises into multimedia entities, he's also a key voice in their adaptations. And this is only scratching the surface of his responsibilities.

In many ways, Hulst considers Guerrilla Games a great primer for his role, which has him constantly interacting with developers and striving for ways to inspire and help them do their jobs better. "I think it's very helpful to have been a very active developer, and to understand all the intricacies of what it takes to make games," he says.

"[Hermen's] a philosopher and approaches decision-making through a process of curation, study, and analysis," says Guerrilla Games' studio and art director Jan-Bart van Beek. "He takes great care to find a wide and diverse set of viewpoints, arguments, and opinions in order to craft a bigger framework that allows him to make the best possible decision. It's a very 'Dutch' management style – inclusive, transparent, level-headed and carefully considered."

It's clear Hulst is passionate about games and thinking about how they work, but he's also just as passionate about risk-taking and making bold decisions. Shifting from the Killzone series to Horizon Zero Dawn was a significant learning experience for Hulst, and he takes the lessons from it into how he leads at PlayStation Studios. "I encourage our teams to be fiercely daring in their choices, and they are, but it also means that I have to back them," he says. "I think that our teams have been really brave, and that that's not just with entire franchise pivots, but it's also going into Norse mythology on God of War, it's The Last of Us Part II's narrative structure and creating an experience that is incredibly compelling but not necessarily comfortable for the player at all times. I back that; I want us to push the envelope and seek the boundaries of our medium and the state of the art of storytelling. I think that is why we do what we do with PlayStation."

The PlayStation Way

PlayStation Studios houses a global network of developers, and there is a wide variety of staff in each studio and how they approach things is unique from place to place. "We're a bunch of uniquely different creators," Hulst says. "All studios have their own name; they all often have their own technology. They have their own style, which I nurture. I like that diversity. And at the same time, I do think that our studios are better together. We share a lot of ideas, sometimes we share technology with each other. We try to make each other better and strive for making the best possible games and upping the quality at all times."

Now in a new console generation, leveraging the PS5 tech is essential, and Hulst is constantly having conversations with developers about how to use this new power to their advantage. Team Asobi, which created Astro's Playroom, really helped set a precedent for what's possible with the PlayStation 5. "Technology sharing is not always engine sharings, it's often also ideas on implementations," Hulst says. "A really good example is what Team Asobi did. They made, I believe, 80 prototypes, and many of those ended up in Astro's Playroom. But in those early prototypes, that team was kind enough to evangelize and pretty much do a roadshow for other teams, in this case, particularly showcasing the DualSense controller." Hulst says it's very inspirational for teams to see this success early on, and also spoke to Housemarque's great work using the 3D audio in Returnal, setting a standard going forward.

Posing with predecessor Shuhei Yoshida at PlayStation Productions

Hulst recently revealed that PlayStation Studios currently has 25 titles in development, with over half being new IP. "I want us to develop a wide variety of games," he says. "We're a truly global organization, developing [games] in Japan, Europe, and America. I want the games to be both bigger and smaller and in different genres." Hulst says the PS5 launch lineup showcased this variety with a mix of internal and external developers of different team sizes creating widely different experiences, such as a triple-A juggernaut Insomniac launching Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales to a smaller studio like Team Asobi creating a family-friendly 3D platformer introducing the PS5's capabilities.

Horizon Forbidden West, the God of War sequel, and Gran Turismo 7 are all currently in development, but Hulst also teased some new projects. "There's a lot more that we've got in store that's still unannounced," he notes. "We have discussed a new partnership with Jade Raymond's new Haven studio. I met with her and some of her team and I'm really excited about what they are working on now."

As Hulst looks into the future, he still sees Sony's exclusives as a big part of it, so don't expect core franchises to jump ship to Xbox Series X/S. However, there is a chance for some titles to appear on PC sometime later, like we saw with Horizon Zero Dawn and Days Gone. "The one exception to the rule, that was MLB The Show; I think what people have to realize is that it's actually [MLB Advanced Media] that's the publisher on Xbox, so it's not us," he explains. "I honestly can't see us doing that with one of the platform-defining experiences that we're making at PlayStation Studios."

Hulst says that while PlayStation games have had great success on PC, the console versions still are the priority and games will hit there first. "Typically, there have been about two years between the release on our platform and the PC platform," he says. "But you can rely on us to continue to create platform-defining exclusive content for PlayStation – that's part of the reason why we exist. It's really important for us to squeeze the maximum out of the platform, to build showcases for the platform, and really let the audience see what these great features are contributing to the overall experience."

Sony has been able to stay at the top of its game, and Hulst wants to keep that momentum going. "We are growing PlayStation Studios," he says. "We are investing in the amazing teams we have. We are signing up new developers. We continue to focus on quality. We continue to focus on experiences that in my mind are experiences that matter – that sometimes only could have been created by us. That's what I stand for. And I will ensure that we're going to carry on making those."

This article originally appeared in Issue 337 of Game Informer.

Monster Train And Its DLC Are Now Available On Switch

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 10:38 AM PDT

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In case you missed it, the stellar deck-builder Monster Train has made its way to Switch. Even better, it comes in a spiffy new edition called First Class that includes The Last Divinity DLC. Switch is an ideal platform for deck-builders, and Monster Train fans can finally enjoy the game on the go or while lounging in bed.

Monster Train First Class runs for $29.99 and also includes every bonus card and gameplay update released up to this point. The game's competitive Hell Rush mode, with pits up to eight players against each other online, supports cross-play with the PC and Xbox versions. 

Are you a fan of the genre but haven't played Monster Train? Much like Slay the Spire, the game is a deck-building roguelike, but this time you're on a multi-story train heading for the underworld that's being attacked by invading monsters. The goal is to prevent enemies from ascending to the top of the train, so you'll need to concoct monster and spell combos to keep foes at bay as well as keep your train on the tracks. 

We scored the game a 9 out of 10 when it first hit PC in May 2020, with Game Informer PC editor Dan Tack summing up the experience in his review by saying, "Monster Train is a pleasant, mind-blowingly addictive exercise that's well worth your time, especially if you're a fan of roguelikes, card games, and deck-building fare. Hours of entertainment await, often chained back-to-back like a crazy card combo." To learn about how Monster Train stands out in an increasingly crowded pack, be sure to read the full review here. 

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Netflix's The Witcher Showrunner Signs Massive Partnership Deal, "A Formidable Talent"

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 10:10 AM PDT

Lauren S. Hissrich has been leading The Witcher charge over at Netflix, including Geralt's live-action tale, a prequel series, and the new animated spin-off centering around a younger Vesemir. With Netflix's The Witcher season 2 dropping later this year, it looks like she is about to become even busier than before because she has just signed a massive partnership deal with the streaming company. 

Hissrich took to her social media to share the good news about the multi-year deal, saying, "I am so thrilled to have found my home at Netflix, and can't wait to continue what's been an incredibly fulfilling creative partnership. While my heart belongs to The Witcher franchise, I equally look forward to digging in on other exciting projects for their global audience in the years to come."

She won't just be working on The Witcher, but other projects, as well. We don't know what those are at the moment, but we do know that she has stated in the past that she has multiple seasons' worth of content planned for Geralt of Rivia. 

"Lauren is a formidable talent with a strong creative vision and diverse skill-set that she brings to every project she touches," added Bela Bajaria, global head of TV for Netflix. "Lauren's work on 'The Witcher' has firmly established her as both a preeminent creator and showrunner, and we're excited to continue working with her on future projects."

For those mainly interested in her fantasy takes, The Witcher season 2 is set to arrive on December 17, making it the perfect show to binge-watch during the holidays. You can also check out the latest casting choices revealed for The Witcher: Blood Origin, which is yet another prequel tale on the horizon over at Netflix. 

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[Source: Variety]

Saints Row Looks To Be "Rebooting" At Gamescom Opening Night Live

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 09:58 AM PDT

With the summer game season in full swing, the game industry is looking to Gamescom next week to provide the next big announcements from studios. A newer tradition of the show traditionally held in Germany is Geoff Keighley's Opening Night Live event that kicks off the Gamescom with all kinds of new trailers and reveals. Keighley took to Twitter this morning to give a tease from his event, and this one may excite some fans of a certain galaxy-hopping crime organization.

Keighley's tweet (see below) features a short video of a brick wall covered in graffiti with the word "rebooting" at the center of the shot. Directly next to that word is a fleur-de-lis, an icon synonymous with the 3rd Street Saints, the titular gang at the center of the Saints Row franchise. It's no surprise that we found Saints Row's Twitter account has also been changed to show this image as its banner.

Let's not struggle to connect the dots here: it looks like we're going to see a new Saints Row adventure next week, and it's very likely this entry will be a reboot. The last time we saw the Saints, they were tussling with aliens and toying with the idea of messing with time travel; certainly not the weirdest thing Volition has ever done. Not to mention Johnny Gat and his dealings with the forces of Heaven and Hell. So, while we have a lot of questions as to whether this will continue that timeline in some way, or be a full reboot, we'll have to wait until next week to start getting those answers.

Opening Night Live starts on Wednesday, August 25 at 1 p.m. Central to kick off this year's Gamescom. Keep an eye on Game Informer to check out our coverage of the biggest reveals of the show!

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Genshin Impact’s Next Big Inazuma Update Arrives September 1

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 09:52 AM PDT

Are you ready to explore even more of Inazuma? The lush purple horizons, cherry blossoms, and electrical energy are about to get even wilder. Free-to-play Genshin Impact gets the next major update soon on September 1, which is adding a ton of content to the most recent area to come to the game. Yep, there are new playable characters coming, and everyone is going to be trying to add Raiden Shogun to their ranks. I hope you've been stockpiling those primogems away. 

New bosses? New minigames? Sure, they're all coming too! While the majority of the new activities in 2.1 take place in Inazuma, players can head back to Liyue to participate in less stressful endeavors. Cooking, treasure hunting, and that kind of revelry are going on in Liyue while the action is happening in Inazuma.  There's a lot going on in this content patch, check out a trailer below for a taste.

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For PlayStation players that reach adventure rank 20 or above, they can add Aloy to their ranks. Yes, the character from Horizon Zero Dawn. She's in Genshin Impact now! What a collaboration, hunh? Not on PlayStation? That's okay, you can get Aloy when 2.2 hits, but for now she's basically an early access option for PlayStation players.

Perhaps the most interesting addition for those that want to really chill inside Teyvat is fishing. That's right, you can catch all kinds of fish in 2.1 and even bring them back to your player housing and set them up in a Pool of Sapphire Grace for viewing and meditation. There may even be super rare fish (and something bigger!) out there to discover for those that take the route to become expert anglers. Would someone really just stop everything and focus on upgrading their fishing skills to catch.

Are you enjoying Genshin Impact? Is Aloy going to bring you into the game or back? How about fishing? Let us know in the comments, when they are available again!

How Life Is Strange Inspired Tales Of Arise

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 09:15 AM PDT

This month, Game Informer's RPG issue featured Tales of Arise on the cover, and we were able to sit down with Bandai Namco to discover how it was reinventing the long-running franchise for a modern audience. It led to some interesting tidbits, from putting more strategy into combat to make players feel more in the action to having better puzzle implementation in dungeons. Bandai Namco never shied from discussing the importance of this entry.

"This is a huge revival after 25 years of the Tales series, and we really wanted to bring a Tales title to the next level,"  producer Yusuke Tomizawa told us at the time. "We wanted to elevate and push the envelope. [To do that,] we wanted to focus on really brushing up the quality, making sure it's polished. And also, for the game concept, we want it to be really exciting for both new players and for existing fans, preserving what everybody has loved about Tales but also appealing to a new audience."

With various enhancements to the formula, we were curious about the games and media that inspired the team as they created this brand-new entry in the beloved franchise. Director Hirokazu Kagawa couldn't point to any one thing in particular but did say he was playing a lot of Dark Souls in his free time. While art director and character designer Minoru Iwamoto said he looked at art from all around the world and referenced various media such as manga, US cartoons, and other RPGs for inspiration. 

Tomizawa took the opportunity to mention Life is Strange and the impact it had on him. "We started developing Tales of Arise all the way back in 2016," he recalled. "Initially, when we were considering what sort of art style and direction that we wanted to take this game, at the time, I was playing Life is Strange a lot. I was a big fan due to the art direction, which was a very good balance between photorealism and [animation]. It was very impactful. And Life is Strange is an adventure game with a very beautiful story, and that story really inspired me to deliver that same level of beauty and quality into the Tales of Arise story. So I would have to say Life is Strange was a very big influence and inspiration in planning and developing Tales of Arise."

One of the first things fans noticed when Tales of Arise was revealed was its more mature style, which had more of a balance between the series' classic anime style and photorealistic artwork. Although realism was a larger focus, Iwamoto said the team worked hard to still "preserve the signature Tales look," referring to its popular 3D anime art style. It's not hard to see how Life is Strange might have come into the conversation here, but it also made us remember another place where it may have had some influence.

Later in our interview, Tomizawa brought up how Tales of Arise takes the characters in a more mature direction. "We wanted to make the characters feel very real and very human," he said. "One thing that changed from the previous Tales Of titles is that sort of realness, the human aspect of [Tales of Arise]. We try to accomplish that by really digging into how [characters] speak, their mannerisms, and how they react to certain situations … That is pretty much the difference between the past Tales [entries] and [Tales of Arise]. The characters are a little bit more human, more real, and they're a little bit more mature in terms of the design of the characters and how we portray them." 

Tales of Arise launches on September 10 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Be sure to click on our hub below to find out more info on the game!

Super Replay - Demon's Souls

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 09:10 AM PDT

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The action continues with Episode 3, featuring fiery wings and big bosses! Come join us for another exciting episode of Super Replay today at 2 CST!

In 2009, From Software changed everything with Demon's Souls on the PlayStation 3. The challenging action RPG would go on to lead the way for a critical subgenre with the Souls games and Bloodborne. With the PS5, Demon's Souls found a new home with Bluepoint's remake of the original title. Once upon a time, we began a Demon's Souls journey that didn't last long. This time, we're going through it all. Today, Super Replay returns to its frenzied Friday slot with a new adventure featuring a full playthrough of Demon's Souls. This Super Replay is sure to be extra hot!

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Join Andrew Reiner, Dan Tack, and Marcus Stewart for a blazing run through this classic game. Marcus's first full playthrough is sure to be full of thrills, chills, and fire. Yes, fire. We're gonna be munching on all kinds of ridiculously fiery treats during the playthrough to really up the stakes. Everyone dies numerous times in Souls games, but what if you put the added pressure of some scorching zingers on top?

When our fearless champion perishes, the action gets amped up to new levels as we consume some of the hottest fare commercially available. How far will the crew go into hot challenge land as they travel through Boletaria and beyond? It's going to be spicy, and you don't want to miss it! 

The action begins at 2 PM CST today, with a 2-hour block of delicious Demon's Souls. Will Marcus fall prey to the twists and turns of the game's opening? Demon's Souls doesn't mess around, and the levels can often be more maddening and dangerous than the bosses that would later come to be the highlights of From Software experiences.

Can you imagine the sheer terror as Marcus enters the Valley of Defilement for the first time? We might not make it out of this one, gang. This is sure to be one of the most epic Super Replays of all time, so come join us on Twitch for all the action. Can't make an episode? No problem – the episodes will be up on our YouTube page and easy to browse a day or so after we're live.

Here’s Your First Look At Edge In WWE 2K22

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 08:59 AM PDT

You think you know him? We would be referring to WWE Hall of Famer Edge, who is one of the first superstars fans get to see in WWE 2K22. With the SummerSlam pay-per-view airing this weekend, 2K Games dropped a pair of screenshots yesterday showing off the Rated R Superstar in all of his glory, providing a sneak peek into 2K22's presentation. 

WWE 2K22 was announced during Wrestlemania 37, but 2K has been mostly quiet about the project since then other than sharing behind-the-scenes content. The two screenshots of the 11-time world champion serve as one of the few in-game looks at the upcoming wrestling sim. Other than this, fans have only gotten to see Rey Mysterio and Cesaro in the game's debut trailer. Edge is looking pretty darn good and, in this writer's opinion, significantly better in the face than he did in 2K20. But since wrestling fans love to scrutinize, apply your critical eye to the images below and see if developer Visual Concepts hit the mark.

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2K22 has a lot of hopes and dreams riding on it, given it's the first entry since the famously botched WWE 2K20. 2K and Visual Concepts have said they've taken that game's negative feedback to heart, which should hopefully mean a dramatic overhaul for the series. The franchise took a year off for the first time in 2020 to give this latest entry some extra love and attention, but it remains to be seen what that extra time in the oven has resulted in. Hopefully, this recent update means we're getting close to finding out. For now, WWE 2K22 still has no release window or confirmed platforms. 

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Destiny 2 Season 15 Called Season Of The Lost, Queen Mara Sov's Return Confirmed With Osiris Teaser

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 08:01 AM PDT

On August 24, Bungie is fully unveiling what season 15 will have to offer but following a Razer ad that accidentally leaked the new season's name, the studio went with the flow with their own teaser. With a new image, Bungie confirms Queen Mara Sov's return alongside a conspicuous Osiris in the background. You know, the guy I've been saying has been suspicious all season of the Splicer and I'm convinced is Savathun in disguise? Yeah, that guy. 

Bungie's teaser drops the name, Season of the Lost, in an image showing Mara Sov with Osiris in the background. If you read our previous deep dive into the epilogue of Season of the Splicer, then you'll remember that Osiris, the romantic partner of Saint, left his better half behind. Saint-14 was then left to fight alongside Minthrax in order to protect the Fallen against Lakshmi-2 and the Vex. Osiris, completely uncaring about the danger Saint-14 was in, stood by and witnessed it all following Lakshmi's proclamation that Osiris helped her rally the Fallen for slaughter. Earlier this season, it was confirmed that Savathun has taken the disguise of someone in the city, but Bungie never said who. Given how Osiris has been acting following the closure of Season of the Chosen, I have been convinced that it's him. The Splicer's ending only made me feel more secure in that theory, and this image? Yeah, come on ... Osiris is Savathun: 

We already knew that Mara Sov was coming back in some capacity given the audio of her from the previous season teasing her return, but it looks like her return is coming sooner than we thought. With her entrance into Season of the Lost, it's safe to say that what's next will heavily center around the Dreaming City with Mara searching for a way to break the curse placed on this area. 

What's interesting to me is the naming of the newest season. While some have speculated that this could mean Mara Sov is lost, which would make sense, I think it could be referring to Osiris. Is there hope that Osiris, if he is taken over by Savathun, is locked away somewhere? Is he alive, can we help him? Or am I completely wrong and he's fine and dandy, looking to aid Mara in her possible search to cure the city? We don't know, but one thing is for sure: I can't wait to find out! 

We'll be learning more about Season of the Lost on August 24, are you ready? 

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Atari Shuts Down Rapper Soulja Boy's Claims That He Owns The Company

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 06:48 AM PDT

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The rapper Soulja Boy has an "interesting" past with gaming, including making his own bootleg consoles that never saw public release. Now, he's making a new bold claim, this time alleging that he owns Atari. It didn't take long before the company effectively shut down his boasts with a short but to-the-point statement. Oh, Soulja Boy... when will you learn?

After his first attempt at breaking into the gaming industry as a console manufacturer was ripped apart, the rapper continued to try to find his entry point. The first attempt at making his own console began in 2019 when he tried to peddle a "new design." Immediately, he was met with cease and desist notifications from major companies in the business. Previously, the rapper took potshots at former Nintendo president Reggie Fils-Aime when he said he "made him retire." After numerous jokes and utter silence, it looks like Soulja Boy is ready to crank the gaming market once more, though once more, it doesn't really make a whole lot of sense. 

In a new video (seen at the top of the article), Soulja Boy can be heard claiming that Atari was wowed by the "success" of his bootleg systems, and upon seeing his line flourishing, they offered him the company for $140 million. So he's putting numbers on this claim, which is interesting, while also stating that he has signed not one but two deals with Atari. After his claims of being the "first rapper to own a video game company," Atari quickly shot out the following small message: "We know that CEO of Atari is a dream job, but that honor belongs to Wade Rosen."

So there's that.

It is clear that Soulja Boy will never leave the monetary opportunities that the gaming industry has to offer given his past social media encounters, his streaming presence, and his launched esports organization, but claiming to be the owner of Atari? That's a bold choice. He even asked Tony Hawk if the pro skater would like to help make a new video game. Given his responses to critique and other companies showing direct comparisons to already available products, this launch seems likely to face issues similar to his attempt. 

To be fair: Go after your goals, don't let your dreams be dreams, yadda yadda yadda. If that's what you want to do, don't let those ambitions get ground down into dust. That being said, let's make sure that the "made from scratch" console isn't made from other consoles already out on the market or that you're not claiming to be the CEO of a highly recognized and established company, hm? 

 

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New Metroid Dread Trailer Highlights Samus' Abilities

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 06:13 AM PDT

A new Metroid Dread trailer is here and comes with it a new blog post from Nintendo diving a little deeper into Samus Aran's abilities. The 2D Metroid adventure is dropping soon on the Nintendo Switch this October and to get fans excited, a new video shows off more about what players can expect from the latest game. 

In the trailer below, we see a closer look at our protagonist in full action, showing the bounty hunter's lack of fear in the face of danger. So what does the galaxy's most powerful bounty hunter do with the power that's just "within arm's reach"? She straight-up murders, that's what: 

Click here to watch embedded media

In addition to the new trailer, Nintendo also supplied a new blog post giving some additional insight into the upcoming game. "Samus is a true professional who takes a quiet and calm approach to her work. Because of this, you might think that she's a cold-hearted person—but you'd be mistaken," says the dev team. "In actuality, Samus is a woman with a very kind heart, as evidenced by her show of mercy to a Metroid hatchling while on a mission to eradicate the enigmatic species. Perhaps the hatchling sensed a nurturing nature within Samus when it imprinted on her."

The post continues by talking a little bit about her arm cannon and the difference between her missiles and the rapid-fire beam attacks. Because the arm cannon is such an intricate part of who she is, it's easy for her to toggle between the two different weapon types with ease.

Her abilities are also impressive, which any fan of the franchise will note, including her powerful melee counter that allows her to stun enemies, and her famous morph ball that provides an interesting means of travel. Her special, mystical Aeion abilities are also something to be excited about, such as her Phantom Cloak that allows her to become invisible for a short time. 

To learn more about Samus and her powerful suit, immunity to the X parasite, and more, check out the full blog post right here. 

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WarioWare: Get It Together Preview – Microgame Marathons Return

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 06:00 AM PDT

WarioWare: Get It Together!

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Intelligent Systems, Nintendo
Release:
Rating: Everyone 10+
Platform: Switch

The news that WarioWare was returning and making its debut on the Nintendo Switch was met with enthusiasm from fans of the series' zany pedigree of "microgames." The franchise's long-running gimmick of throwing marathons of these simple games that take less than a few seconds to complete has resonated with players since its Game Boy Advance debut in 2003. Now, Wario and his friends are back with more microgames for players to complete and several interesting twists to the WarioWare formula.

When you load into WarioWare: Get It Together's main menu, you see options for Story, Variety Pack, Play-o-pedia, Wario Cup, Crew, Missions, and Local Wireless. From the onset, it seems like this WarioWare has a good amount of meat on its bones, and as soon as my demoist dives into the myriad menu options, my impressions are confirmed.

WarioWare: Get It Together!

My demo starts in Story mode, which delivers the traditional WarioWare experience. Here, you follow Wario and his crew after they release their latest game. Unfortunately, something goes wrong, and they all get sucked into their own game. As you play through Story, you encounter different characters from Wario's team as they play through the game's themes. For example, Dribble and Spitz's theme is fantasy.

Story mode can be enjoyed by one or two players. When you enter Story mode, you select a character to play as, plus a party of characters. Depending on the theme, you get the opportunity to use this party in certain circumstances. For example, in the demo released on the Nintendo eShop last night, you rotate through the characters as you play through the microgames. Once you start going through a Story sequence, it's the same WarioWare players know and love: The game throws tons of bite-sized microgames at you with minimal time to react to the instructions that flash on the screen, figure out how to play the microgame, and complete the objective. If you're playing cooperatively, you have the added chaos of figuring out which character you're controlling, how that specific character controls, and how to best use your character's specific abilities to solve the microgame. 

WarioWare: Get It Together!

While all the microgames I saw in Story mode are housed in one section, the diverse collection and wild material fit right in with WarioWare's history. In one game, the players have to lure an octopus into a cage, then close the door behind it, while in another, the players need to give a floating plant man a high-five. The Story section culminates with a boss stage; in this case, you need to protect a character from tentacles long enough to earn a key, then use the key to open the gate and push the character into the escape area. It's a strange concept, made even more unique by introducing the various characters' special abilities. With more than 200 microgames included in the WarioWare: Get It Together package, I'm excited to see just how unique they get.

After the boss stage, we back out of Story mode and jump into Variety Pack. This mode serves as a hub for party-style minigames. These games operate as longer-form explorations of WarioWare: Get It Together's mechanics. In Daily Grind, which supports one to four players, you traverse through side-scrolling stages with obstacles, enemies, and collectibles using the game's various characters. Each time you get a power-up, you change to a new character, keeping the experience fresh and earning bonus points. Because the characters have unique abilities, you never know what you will get when you swap to a new one. For example, Dribble can blast enemies so they don't hit him, while Dr. Crygor can swim and charge through the air. If one player gets KO'd, they don't finish the day or deposit their points, but they respawn at the start of the next level.

WarioWare: Get It Together!

The other Variety Pack game I see in action is Puck 'er Up. This game, which is made for two to four players, is a twisted version of air hockey that incorporates WarioWare's microgames each time someone scores. If you manage to get the puck in a goal using your character's abilities and moves, you are transported into a microgame while the other players do their best to disrupt you from outside the game. Though the scoring player is the only one in the microgame, the other players can attack the smaller screen you're on by shaking, rotating, or squishing it. The disruptions are almost too effective, sometimes making the microgame impossible to see, but it's definitely in line with the over-the-top nature of the rest of the package.

While I don't necessarily go to WarioWare for longer-form gameplay like Variety Pack, the games all feel in line with the original WarioWare spirit. I'm excited to try these games for myself, but for now, they look super fun, even if I anticipate spending more time with the standard WarioWare modes.

WarioWare: Get It Together!

In Play-o-pedia, you can access information on all the microgames you've encountered, as well as get hints on where to go to find new ones. You can also replay them in rapid-fire fashion. My demoist selects High Tech, a microgame where the two players must navigate a short platforming maze to reach the roof and escape in a helicopter. When you choose your character, the game tells you how suited for that specific microgame the character's abilities are. Then, once you enter the mode, you repeatedly play the same microgame to see how fast and difficult the game can get before failing. This mode seems like a lot of fun and a great way to master microgames you struggle with.

In Crew, you can see and interact with all the characters on the WarioWare roster. You can enter practice courses with each character to better learn their movements and abilities and customize your favorites with cosmetic colors. This mode also lets you gift presents, which are purchased using earned Wario Coins, to characters. If you give the right character a present they like, they can become more powerful.

WarioWare: Get It Together!

WarioWare: Get It Together rounds out with Wario Cup and Missions. Wario Cup lets you play competitively to get the highest score possible, then upload your highest score to a leaderboard via a ranked mode. Once in the leaderboard, you can compare your score globally or against friends. I didn't learn too much about Missions, other than they are another way to earn the in-game Wario Coin currency, so while I think they are side goals that you complete while you play, I can only speculate at this point.

While I didn't have a chance to play WarioWare: Get It Together, seeing it in action made me recall all the fond memories of playing my favorite games in the series like Mega Microgame$, Touched, and Smooth Moves. I can't wait to see just how chaotic the multiplayer can truly get when WarioWare: Get It Together releases for Switch on September 10. 

Here's An Exclusive Look At Serial Cleaners' Tech-Savvy Vip3r

Posted: 20 Aug 2021 06:00 AM PDT

Click here to watch embedded media

Serial Cleaners is the upcoming sequel to 2017's Serial Cleaner. Whereas in the first game, you played a single cleaner, as in a person paid to clean up crime scenes, this time you control four of them. It's slated to arrive in early 2022, and we have an exclusive trailer showing off the youngest member of your crew. Meet Erin Reed, AKA Vip3r. 

The four cleaners are unique in both personality and skill-set. That said, Serial Cleaners remains a single-player experience, and you'll alternate between characters to relieve grisly murder scenes of their evidence. The squad includes Bob C. Leaner, a well-rounded character ideal for those who prefer a sneaky, methodical approach. Lati is a nimble cleaner adept at limbing, jumping, and sliding out of danger. Psycho Haldor "Hal" Boen takes a more in-your-face approach by knocking out guards and slicing up dead bodies using his trusty chainsaw. Finally, there's our girl Vip3r. 

Vip3r may not be the most physically imposing member of her squad of cleaners, but her high intellect and tech-savvy prowess make up for it. She's able to hack into computer terminals and short circuit electrical devices across long distances, adding a high-tech edge to a dirty profession. Get to know her by watching the trailer above. 

The first game was all about stealthily mopping up bloody floors and removing bodies while avoiding guards and other hazards. Serial Cleaners ups the ante with more open-ended map designs, non-linear storytelling complete with dialogue choices (and consequences). Serial Cleaners also drops its setting 20 years into the future, taking place in 1999 New York City on New Year's Eve. 

Serial Cleaners comes to PC and unspecified consoles early next year.

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