Game Informer

Game Informer

Nintendo Has 'No Plans' To Lower Switch Price In U.S. Following European Price Cut

Posted: 14 Sep 2021 03:56 PM PDT

Nintendo recently announced it was permanently reducing the price of the standard Switch model in the UK/Europe £279.99/€329.99 to £259.99/€269.99. That's a nice little drop, the first of its kind since the device launched in 2017, and it led many to hope that a similar price cut was on the way for U.S stores. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case, at least for the foreseeable future. 

Axios reporter Stephen Totilo (as surfaced by Video Games Chronicle) posted a tweet stating that he spoke to Nintendo about the possibility of dropping the Switch price on our shores, with the company saying it has "no plans" to do the same.  

"The trade price adjustment is for the European region only. There are no plans to change the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price for any Nintendo Switch model in the U.S.," reads the statement given to Totilo. 

nintendo switch oled features Nintendo Switch OLED

The Switch launched in March of 2017 at $299.99, and it has maintained that price since. Outside of the rare sale, the best way to get a cheaper Switch is buying the handheld-only Switch Lite, which launched in 2019 and cost $249.99. While some have understandably been annoyed about this stagnant price point, Nintendo has little incentive to change things up. The Switch is one of the best-selling consoles ever and continues to perform well, moving over 89 million total units as of August 2021.   

Nintendo is currently gearing up to launch the $349.99 Switch OLED (pictured above), a new model that features an improved screen and other minor tweaks but runs on the same internal hardware, so it's not a true successor the way many hoped it was prior to its reveal. Nintendo gave a statement to Video Games Chronicle saying the European price cut was done to make way for the OLED, which launches October 8. 

"After carefully weighing up a variety of factors, including currency exchange rates in Europe and the upcoming launch of Nintendo Switch – OLED Model, we decided that now was the appropriate time to change the European trade price of Nintendo Switch." reads the statement.

I'm no economist, but I can only assume the reason the UK/Europe gets a price cut while the U.S. doesn't simply has to do with the difference in markets. The numbers may show little reason to drop the price here yet while Europe's suggest otherwise. Or the company has another reason entirely because Nintendo. If you're an American gamer still holding out on a price cut before finally taking the plunge on a Switch, you'll just have to be patient a while longer. 

[Sources: Stephen Totilo via Video Games Chronicle]

Apple Reveals The Family Of iPhone 13 Devices, Pro Models Include A 120hz Display

Posted: 14 Sep 2021 03:08 PM PDT

Mid-September is typically when Apple trots out on their (now virtual) stage and reveals the new slate of iOS devices set to go on sale. Like clockwork, the company came through on its yearly cell phone refresh with new devices in the predictably named iPhone 13 lineup, hitting stores next week.

Apple's various models of the iPhone 13 look a lot like last year's group of handsets. The baseline products shown today were unsurprisingly the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini. They are all keeping with the sleek design established with the iPhone 12's sharp angles, glass back, and flat sides.

These upgraded models are equipped with a new processor, the A15 Bionic, which Apple boasts as having a six-core CPU and a 4 Core GPU for "enabling more eye-catching visuals and lighting effects." 5G components have also had upgrades to support more cellular frequency bands to work with faster data speeds and on more cellular carriers worldwide. Due to the increased efficiency in many components, Apple claims these new devices have longer battery lives than last year's models.

The advanced "sensor-shift optical image stabilization" is making its way over from the iPhone 12 Pro Max to the iPhone 13 and 13 mini for the standard wide camera sensor. As for taking video, these devices can record at resolutions up to 4K at 60fps. Apple made a point in its presentation to show off the new Cinematic mode for recording video, which uses focusing techniques to give videos a theatrical feel.

At the top end of the product line are the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max, which remain the only devices with three camera lenses (wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto), and both feature a larger battery than the stock iPhone 13. These models also sport an upgraded five-core GPU as an added improvement over the base models. However, the most significant upgrade is the ProMotion display, which allows for variable refresh rates from 10hz to 120hz, doubling the refresh rate of all previous iPhones. This feature has been around on iPad Pro for a few years and really does make a difference while gaming and even looks great when scrolling through web pages.

Pricing for the newly announced phones starts at $699 for the iPhone 13 Mini, $799 for the standard iPhone 13, where the Pro and Pro Max start at $999 and $1099, respectively. Each comes in various storage sizes, which will increase increases the price the higher you go. The different prices and the colors available for each model can be found on Apple's website or your wireless carrier of choice.

iPhone 13 and its entire family of Mini, Pro, and Pro Max models are available for preorder starting September 17 and released on September 24. Apple also slipped the first footage of Star Wars: Hunters, a new game coming to iOS and Switch, into the presentation, which you can find out about here.

Alan Wake Remastered Ditching The In-Game Product Placement

Posted: 14 Sep 2021 02:52 PM PDT

Alan Wake Remastered is polishing up all of the elements that made the supernatural thriller a cult favorite. Still, one thing that won't return is its real-world product placement. The game was semi-infamous for displaying billboard ads for companies like Verizon while players used Energizer batteries to replenish Alan's flashlight, among other forms of branding. That won't be the case anymore. 

Screen Rant reached out to Remedy, who confirmed that fictional brands are replacing the real-world versions. The reason is due to expiring licenses. The original game launched in 2010, so it's been a while. Remedy also confirmed that the songs and TV shows remain intact, however. 

Regardless of whether the trucks say Ford or Furd, Alan Wake Remastered launches on October 5. The package includes a modernized version of the original game alongside its two expansions, The Signal and The Writer. The title's eerie presentation and light-focused gameplay shine even brighter at 4K resolution, while Alan's character model is also updated. For superfans, the game even includes commentary from creative director Sam Lake. You can watch the first footage of the game in action here. 

You can play Alan Wake Remastered on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC as an Epic Store exclusive (due to Epic publishing the remaster). 

Will you miss gawking at Verizon billboards and admiring Alan and Alice's Lincoln MKT? Let us know in the comments! 

[Source: Screen Rant]

Ren & Stimpy Confirmed For Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl

Posted: 14 Sep 2021 01:30 PM PDT

Remember Ren & Stimpy? Of course you do. The totally bizarre and more than a little weird cat and dog combo is coming to Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl this fall. Oddly enough, this makes the second cat and dog combination that make up one playable character, as CatDog is also in the game. Ren and Stimpy are played as one, with the smaller Ren riding on Stimpy.

Their full moveset hasn't been explored yet, but their reveal trailer contains some curious minutia that Ren & Stimpy fans will immediately recognize, including a kitchen arena that features powdered toast. This makes a lot of sense, considering Powdered Toast Man is in the game too. Check out the reveal trailer below.

Click here to watch embedded media

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is slated to land on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and PC. Are you going to main Ren & Stimpy? 

Star Wars: Hunters Gameplay Unveiled During Apple Event

Posted: 14 Sep 2021 12:40 PM PDT

Star Wars: Hunters was first announced for Switch during a Nintendo Direct in February, but it's also coming to Android and iOS. Today's Apple Event provided an unexpected stage to premiere the first look at gameplay for the free-to-play competitive action title. We also got a look at a new cinematic trailer that provides a decent setup for Hunters' premise. 

Let's start with the fancy trailer, which depicts a chaotic free-for-all between a sith warrior, a bounty hunter, a Wookie, a robotic Jedi, Jawas, among others. These hunters compete in team battles within The Arena, located on planet Vespaara. We don't know anything about these characters individually, but Hunters' narrative occurs after the Empire's fall in Return of the Jedi and before The Force Awakens. 

Click here to watch embedded media

While the cinematic is sharp, today's Apple Event provided a brief look at actual gameplay. The short clip, which you can watch in the embedded tweet below, showed the red lightsaber-wielding character engaging in third-person, over-the-shoulder melee combat. This avatar slices through the Wookie opponent (presumably another human player), including throwing her lightsaber. It definitely looks to fit the bill of what you might expect from a free-to-play action game, but we still don't know much about Hunters' multiplayer in terms of modes and progression. 

Star Wars: Hunters is being developed by Zynga and still doesn't have a release date, but it's now scheduled to launch sometime in 2022 after originally being announced for this year. You can pre-register for the game now to unlock exclusive (and unspecified) in-game content. 

What do you think of this brief glimpse of the game in action? Let us know in the comments! 

Toem - New Gameplay Today

Posted: 14 Sep 2021 12:35 PM PDT

Click to watch embedded media

Publisher: Something We Made
Developer: Something We Made
Release:
Platform: PlayStation 5, Switch, PC

Photography games are among my favorite sort of adventure video games. As someone who makes their living working with cameras daily, I feel compelled to play them whenever there's a new release; Toem is the latest entry in this wonderful little subgenre. The hand-drawn indie game releases later this week and features exploration, photo challenges, light puzzle-solving, and a memorable soundtrack that makes it worth playing. Join Jill Grodt, John Carson, and me as we go hands-on with the charming adventure game in this episode of New Gameplay Today!

Something We Made, the studio developing Toem, further describes the activities that players can participate in via the game's official website:

Set off on a delightful expedition and use your photographic eye to uncover the mysteries of the magical TOEM in this hand-drawn adventure game. Chat with quirky characters, solve their problems by snapping neat photos, and make your way through a relaxing landscape! 

If you enjoyed this early look at Toem, be sure to subscribe to the Game Informer YouTube channel so that you don't miss future videos. Interested in seeing the latest footage of upcoming games? Check out other episodes of New Gameplay Today here. As always, leave a comment down below, letting us know if you're excited to play Toem. There are a bunch of other upcoming photography-based games, so read our list of the coolest photo-taking games you can play right now and on the horizon. 

Game Informer's Top Scoring Reviews Of 2021

Posted: 14 Sep 2021 12:10 PM PDT

2021 may have kicked off with a slower-than-usual start thanks to numerous big delays, but that doesn't mean we still haven't been treated to a fair share of quality releases. Whether you're looking to get the most of out of your PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S or still enjoying your PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, or PC, we've evaluated many of 2021's most noteworthy games to help guide you towards the best of the best. What highly anticipated games met our expectations? Which under-the-radar indies deserve your attention? You can find the answers to those questions right here. 

Below you'll find a list of the top scoring games of 2021, beginning with the top scorer and going down. Any game that scores between a 10 and an 8.5 makes the cut. Each entry also features a small blurb and a link to the full review. We'll update the list with eligible titles as the year progresses, so be sure to bookmark this page if you ever need recommendations on what to play next. Have fun!

9.5

Returnal

A deadly alien planet is a playground for your senses and curiosity. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5
Release Date:

9.25

It Takes Two

Hazelight's cooperative adventure is clever, different, and loads of fun. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:

Little Nightmares II

This impressive follow-up builds on its predecessor with emotional gut punches and unnerving visuals that stick with you. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date: February 11, 2021 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC), (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S)

Resident Evil Village

Village doesn't pull any punches when it comes to horror, but a consistent rollout of new weapons and tools makes it hard to walk away from these terrors. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

By bundling one of the best 3D Mario games with an all-new adventure, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury is a compelling package for all fans of the Nintendo mascot. Read review

Platforms: Switch
Release Date:

Tales of Arise

Flashy combat, dynamic characters, and a masterfully realized game world make Tales of Arise one of the best JRPG experiences of the year. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:

Yakuza: Like A Dragon

With the launch of Like A Dragon on PS5, read about how this fantastic turn-based RPG captures the essence of what came before while setting out on its own journey. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: November 10, 2020 (Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC), March 2, 2021 (PlayStation 5)

9

Death's Door

Death's Door marries fine-tuned hack n' slash action with a cool world ripe with secrets to unravel. The result is an entertaining, densely-packed trip to the other side. Read review

Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:

Deathloop

Deathloop is a bloody, chaotic mess. A mess you will fail at over and over until finally, you succeed. And that success – the result of hours of experimentation, iteration, and knowledge – makes for one of the best games of the year. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC
Release Date:

Devotion

Devotion is terrifying experience backed by a compelling narrative that has a new lease on life after spending two years removed from sale. Horror fans would do well not to miss it a second time. Read review

Platforms: PC
Release Date:

Disco Elysium: The Final Cut

The Final Cut opens this strange world up to a wave of new superstar detectives on console, and the additions provide a rewarding return trip for the rest of us.  Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Switch, Stadia, PC
Release Date: March 30, 2021 (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Stadia, PC), 2021 (Xbox Series X/S, Switch)

Dodgeball Academia

This goofy and energetic sports RPG with the soul of a Shonen anime passes with flying colors. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:

Ghosts 'n Goblins: Resurrection

This retro revival is challenging, fun, and worth playing twice. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date: February 25, 2021 (Switch), June 1, 2021 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)

Hitman 3

Every mission in the final arc is a statement, demonstrating a mastery of level design and a willingness to subvert expectations laid out five years ago. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC
Release Date:

Mass Effect Legendary Edition

Even all these years later, Commander Shepard is a powerful force that lives up to their iconic status, and the trilogy is still captivating and worth your time. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:

Outriders

Outriders lived up to every single expectation I had and then some. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:

Psychonauts 2

Double Fine has crafted an artistic journey that impresses at almost every turn in unexpected ways. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Insomniac Games' latest sequel roars with excitement and shows us what PlayStation 5 is capable of. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5
Release Date:

Subnautica: Below Zero

This second dive into an alien sea delivers a continual sense of wonder with huge discoveries backed by a strong story. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:

The Forgotten City

Extensive player choice fuels a mystery that pays off in big ways. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date: July 28, 2021 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC), 2021 (Switch)

8.75

Chicory: A Colorful Tale

Chicory might look like a coloring book, but, at heart, it's a Zelda-inspired adventure full of humorous dialogue. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, Mac
Release Date:

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade

Episode Intermission plays like a dream thanks to Yuffie's high-speed and nuanced combat skills, alluring optional activites, and visual/performance upgrades on PlayStation 5. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5
Release Date:

Griftlands

Klei's fun and challenging card mechanics are backed up by great characters and elaborate worldbuilding. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:

Scarlet Nexus

Bandai Namco constructs a stylish and compelling fantasy that's all about the combat. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:

The Nioh Collection

Experience Nioh and Nioh 2's remastered versions in a complete package on PlayStation 5. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5
Release Date:

Wildermyth

Story, style, and strategy come together in one whimsical package. Read review

Platforms: PC
Release Date:

8.5

Before Your Eyes

Before Your Eyes puts its unique blinking mechanic to great use, offering a novel and fun method of interacting with this memorable, bittersweet tale. Read review

Platforms: PC
Release Date:

Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time

A return to the unique brand of '90s platforming that put Crash Bandicoot on the map. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date: October 2, 2020 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC), March 12, 2021 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch)

Dreamscaper

Explore the depths of your dreams in this engaging roguelike. Read review

Platforms: Switch, PC
Release Date:

Eastward

A spectacular soundtrack and stunning sights await you on this vibrant journey. Read review

Platforms: Switch, PC
Release Date:

Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights

Ender Lilies doesn't break the mold for Metroidvanias, but its engrossing gameplay and eye-catching presentation serves a great example of how to execute them well. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date: June 22, 2021 (Switch, PC), June 28, 2021 (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One), July 20, 2021 (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4)

F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch

This bionic bunny's adventure packs an impressive wallop. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC
Release Date: September 7, 2021 (PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4), TBA (PC)

Hades

Supergiant's excellent roguelike is releasing on new-gen platforms, and if you haven't played it yet, it's the perfect time to take a trip to hell. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date: September 17, 2020 (Switch, PC), August 13, 2021 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One)

Knockout City

With a fun core, approachable gameplay, and intense rubber-ball firefights, Knockout City lets everyone get in on the enjoyable dodgeball action. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:

Life is Strange: True Colors

You'll root for Alex Chen, and feel good about helping shape her path forward. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC
Release Date:

Loop Hero

A roguelite dungeon manager simulation that keeps you coming back for more, Loop Hero makes hours fly by. Read review

Platforms: Switch, PC
Release Date: March 4, 2021 (PC), 2021 (Switch)

MLB The Show 21

Sony's long-running baseball series impress on the diamond yet again, but doesn't deliver many new experiences. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Release Date:

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings Of Ruin

Wings of Ruin is a great entry point to the Monster Hunter series while having plenty of monster fun for veterans to enjoy. Read review

Platforms: Switch, PC
Release Date:

New Pokémon Snap

New Pokémon Snap delivers all the thrills of the original game, but that throwback spirit isn't the only part of the experience that will give you a feeling of déjà vu. Read review

Platforms: Switch
Release Date:

Olija

Tight gameplay, fun exploration, and an alluring atmosphere turn a disastrous voyage into a rewarding expedition. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date:

Persona 5 Strikers

Even if the action of Strikers is very different, the spirit and heart of the mainline series carries into this enjoyable sequel. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Switch, PC
Release Date:

Ratropolis

A satisfying romp as you restore glory to your rodent empire, defend against waves of flavorful foes, and recruit colorful companions. Read review

Platforms: PC
Release Date:

The Artful Escape

The Artful Escape is a gorgeous experience that makes you feel like a star, but challenge-seekers may need to look elsewhere. Read review

Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
Release Date:

Young Souls

Young Souls may not shatter the mold for beat 'em ups, but its well-designed combat and impressive presentation make it a stand-out. Read review

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC
Release Date: August 17, 2021 (Stadia), 2021 (PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)

 

For more of our top reviews from recent years, head to the links below.

Malignant’s Monster Would Be A Great Dead By Daylight Killer

Posted: 14 Sep 2021 11:41 AM PDT

Before we get going here, I want to give a huge spoiler warning. If you haven't seen James Wan's Malignant yet, you probably shouldn't be anywhere near this article. In fact, you should be really far away because it contains big spoilers that would ruin your enjoyment of watching the ultra-campy horror flick. Now that that's out of the way, let's set the table for how Malignant's "monster" Gabriel would be a super cool Dead by Daylight killer – but also really hard to pull off, especially due to external game tools like voice chat ruining the possible implementation. Malignant is currently in theaters and available on HBO MAX.

Click here to watch embedded media

First, let's talk about Gabriel. Gabriel is a super-evil monster that basically lives inside an otherwise normal human, Emily. It's conceptually a tumor taken to the level of a living, breathing, and slightly extrasensory (control of electronic devices and other spooky disruptive skills). In the film, this is revealed as a third-act surprise that pretty much everyone saw coming, but with plenty of "big reveal on an old-timey VHS tape" flair that's highly impactful. So, Gabriel is literally inside and attached to our normal human protagonist and comes out to wreak absolute havoc. It's a really freaky reveal inside the film and feeds into the campy late '80s early '90s horror vibe. While we can argue all day that camp can't be intentionally created, as we did back in film school, but we should probably move on to how awesome this villain could be in Dead by Daylight.

The most obvious implementation would be to have the monster work like a spy – appearing as a survivor as Emily until "Turning into" the creature Gideon coming out of the back of your head. This would be great fun, creating a bit of an Among Us or, more appropriately, The Thing tension right in a DBD game! However, this element would also be an absolute nightmare to work out because voice chat would instantly ruin any chance of fooling a group of friends. Without voice chat, you could easily have "Emily" take on the skin/loadout of any other survivor in the game, making for a really weird and distrusting group when you see two of the same character working on a generator. 

This would actually be especially fun in one of those scenarios where all four survivors decide to use the same skin cosmetics. Again, external voice chat like Discord (often used by teams of survivors) would really ruin this because it would be easy to identify the odd-one-out. You'd also have to deal with how to handle terror radius alerts, though tuning that would be substantially easier as the killer could simply have no terror radius in Emily form and a normal one in Gabriel form. That part is easy and workable. This could create awesome situations, with you working on a generator one second with an ally, and then all of a sudden, you're being attacked, grabbed, and hooked by your so-called friend as they morph into Gabriel.

Gabriel's ability to mess with lights, electronics, and communications translates easily into a perk set involving generator manipulation and more. That's a much easier kit to come up with instead of solving how to handle an unreliable survivor aspect.

Licensed killers in Dead by Daylight have expertly captured the essence of the antagonists and parent film franchises, and this one would be really cool. However, it might be an incredibly difficult killer to implement. What do you think?

The Top 10 Marvel Games Of All Time

Posted: 14 Sep 2021 11:00 AM PDT

In honor of our Marvel's Midnight Suns cover story this month, we wanted to repromote this list from 2019 of the ten best Marvel-themed visio games. If you're itching to jump into the role of one of Marvel's legendary heroes there are a number of great games on the market. We've assembled the ultimate list of Marvel games every comic fan should play.

10. X-Men 2: Clone Wars

Genesis • 1995
The X-Men seemed like the biggest superheroes in the '90s. Young fans around the country dreamed of being one of Marvel's merry mutants, and Headgames' co-op friendly side-scrolling action game helped scratch that itch. Players control Beast, Cyclops, Gambit, Nightcrawler, Psylocke, and Wolverine as they travel across the world on a mission to destroy the Phalanx virus and save everyone from becoming techno-organic slaves. Each hero has their own unique set of powers, which aided them in combat and affects how they traversed the environment, further encouraging replay.

9. Marvel Strike Force

iOS, Android • 2018
As an agent of the Special Tactical Reserve for Interdimensional Key Events (S.T.R.I.K.E.) you are tasked with assembling a squad of heroes to protect the planet from an alien threat. But who are we kidding – we don't love Marvel's turn-based mobile game for its plot. We love amassing an ever-growing roster of some of our favorite heroes (and villains) in the universe. Strike Force's turn-based combat features just the right amount of strategy, and chasing that slow unlock of new characters is incredibly addicting.

8. X-Men Origins: Wolverine

PS3, PS2, Xbox 360, Wii, PC • 2009
Wolverine is one of Marvel's most beloved heroes and for good reason: he's a take-no-nonsense scrapper who can walk off just about any injury. Based on the 2009 film, Raven Software let fans explore Logan's past while tearing through legions of hapless enemies with Wolverine's indestructible claws. Watching his body slowly knit itself back together after an attack is endlessly fascinating, and your lunge attack was incredibly empowering. Not only is X-Men Origins a great Marvel game, it pulled off an incredibly rare trick – it's a game that is actually better than the movie.

7. X-Men

Arcade, PS3, Xbox 360 • 1992
In the '90s, arcades were littered with Konami's addictive side-scrolling beat 'em up. In fact, it seemed as if arcades were required by law to own a version of this game. But we're not complaining; we happily throw a few quarters into one of these machines every time we see it. Sure, some of the X-Men's powers seem misrepresented (Nightcrawler zipped around the screen like the Flash, for example), but we can't resist the thrill of beating up an army of Sentinels before the epic throwdown with Magneto.

6. Lego Marvel Super Heroes

PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, 3DS, Vita, PC • 2013
Lego games are like potato chips – they're comfort food. After a long day, they don't make you feel any pressure to perform; you can just relax and smash objects and enemies into tiny Lego bricks. Hot on the heels of the 2012 Avengers film, Traveller's Tales and TT Fusion's exploration of the Marvel universe was a sheer delight. Not only was the roster of characters absurdly massive, but each hero had their own unique set of powers, and hunting through every level for secrets proved incredibly satisfying.

5. Spider-Man 2

PS2, Xbox, GameCube • 2004
For a long time, Spider-man 2 was considered the best Marvel game – if not the best licensed game around. Based on the Sam Raimi film, Spider-Man struggles to keep his civilian and superhero life in balance while battling foes like The Rhino, Black Cat, and Dr. Octopus. Treyarch's open-world Manhattan was a lot of fun to explore, and the combat was fast and fluid. However, the pièce de résistance is Spider-Man's swing mechanics, which feel so good that they became the swing mechanics by which all other Spider-Man games were judged.

4. The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction

PS2, Xbox, GameCube • 2005
Few games let you feel like an unstoppable rage machine like Radical Entertainment's Ultimate Destruction. Hulk runs straight up walls, fashions cars into brass knuckles, bats missiles away like flies, and generally annihilates anything foolish enough to get in his way. The boss battles with nemeses like Devil Hulk, Mercy, and Abomination feel truly epic. Bruce Banner just wants to while away in secret and research a cure for his condition, but the world doesn't want to leave him alone. We don't want to leave him alone either, because this combat is so much fun.

3. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance

PS4, Xbox One, PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, PSP • 2006
Raven Software's epic smash fest was the Avengers: Endgame of its era. Building on the X-Men Legacy franchise, Ultimate Alliance takes Diablo's basic action/RPG loot fest and throws every major Marvel character into the mix. Up to four friends can watch each other's backs as they engage in some truly wild scenarios, such as protecting a helicarrier from the dragon Fin Fang Foom, freeing the inhabitants of Atlantis from mind-control, and participating in an absurd gameshow on Murderworld. Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 has a lot to live up to.

2. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3

PS4, Xbox One, PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Vita • 2011
The Marvel vs. Capcom series is the only place where you can see Captain America tag team with Captain Commando or Mega Man go toe-to-toe with Iron Man. While we are also partial to Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes, the rerelease of Marvel vs. Capcom 3 struck a perfect balance between combat and its massive roster of characters. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is a good reminder that you don't need a zany story mode when the action is this good.

1. Spider-Man

PS4 • 2018
What else did you expect at the top of this list? Insomniac's masterpiece was a true contender for game of the year when it released, and Insomniac expertly took all of the mechanics that fans loved from previous Spider-Man games and built on them to create something special. Spider-Man's combat and web-swinging is the best it's ever been, and Insomniac tells a gripping story that highlighted Peter Parker's heroics as well as his alter ego. We could do without the simple stealth moments, but those are easy to forget when the rest of the game is running on all cylinders. The wait for a sequel is going to be excruciating, because we want to see what Insomniac does next with our favorite wall-crawler.

Click on the banner below to see our constantly-updating hub of exclusive features on Marvel's Midnight Suns.

Answers To Our Biggest Questions NHL 22 Questions

Posted: 14 Sep 2021 09:30 AM PDT

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Vancouver
Release:
Rating: Everyone 10+
Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

In just about a month's time, hockey will be back in full force, both if you're watching the puck drop on your TV or strapping on the skates in NHL 22. This year, EA Vancouver is calling on its elite talent to be the difference-makers, introducing Superstar X-Factors, which provide special skills and moves to the best of the best. This will impact the game by forcing you to anticipate these players' abilities every time they hit the ice, and they'll be present in every major game mode. To learn more about this feature and how it's taking NHL 22 to new places, we sat down with producer Clement Kwong, who also answered some of our other bigger questions about the latest entry in EA's NHL series.

Some players have reservations about the Superstar X-Factors being overpowered and giving certain teams an edge. For instance, why not just pick the Tampa Bay Lightning every time since they'd be stacked with these abilities? You get an all-star goaltender in Vasilevskiy alongside elite talent in Kucherov, Point, Stamkos, and Hedman. How is EA Vancouver ensuring that the X-Factor abilities are balanced appropriately while remaining fun?

Kwong: There are a couple of things here. One is we're constantly working with our community, with our EA Game Changers group. Since NHL 16, we had started this specific group with different experts, covering gameplay, Be A Pro, and all kinds of different modes. So with X-Factor this year, in addition to it being available in all modes and having integration there, we also have gameplay experts within that group to give us feedback. We are constantly giving them weekly builds, making updates and gameplay changes, tuning the mechanics. There's a fair bit of feedback that we've gotten already from there. 

Second, obviously, is the technical test that just wrapped up. With the competitive balance side of things, what better mode to test it than our CHEL community? If there are any imbalances or exploits, that's where we find out. So those two data points are really informing any kind of balancing, changes, or tuning we may need to do for launch.

How often do X-Factors activate during a game? I know fewer players have the powerful "Zone" X-Factors, and they're for the big superstars, but how many times will I see Auston Matthews' "Shock and Awe" ability hit? Is it every time he goes out on the ice he can do that move, or do you need to do something to activate it?

As opposed to Madden's design model where you have to throw a [certain amount of] yards to completion on a single play, the game of hockey is different in terms of having line changes, the speed of the game, and it doesn't have special teams outside of the penalty kill and power play. We had to take a bit of a different approach where the "Zone" and "Superstar" abilities are always active in the right context.

Take McDavid's Wheels Zone ability, for example. He's known for being the fastest player in the game, with or without the puck. You're not going to have his ability if you are in your own defensive zone or if you're hustling back on a defensive assignment. What you will see, though, is if he has a puck and he's carrying it through the neutral zone and the o-zone, that's where you'll have the ability activated. So depending on the ability, it is contextual. We don't have a specific trigger or event to activate it; it's always active in the right context. And the reason for that goes back to what I said earlier; hockey is such a fast sport with line changes. If we put in place a design where you had to trigger it, you really wouldn't have too many moments. We tested that early on.

It's been said the X-Factors are going to change up the metagame. How have they changed the way that you play the game?

With the challenge of the pace of the game and the team game, really. I'll use the example of the World of CHEL. We're changing up the way we're building our player classes with a lot of feedback from the community. So far, we'll say, 'Hey, this is the go-to [build]'' and then a day later, it's like, 'Actually, no, this is the go-to, here's how you counter it." That, to me, is an interesting exploration. It's not just about min-maxing anymore. Before in CHEL, you tried to stack these abilities, find out different combinations, and which one to give the one extra point. It's no longer about that one extra point, even though that's kind of a secondary layer available. In World of CHEL, it's about your playstyle and the opponents you're up against.

A short example I'll use is truculence, which is kind of a big man ability and you can basically bowl over anyone. I tend to play as a smaller build with shot accuracy, or the ability to stickhandle, and I was playing someone and they just absolutely destroyed me, even though they're [so] much slower. I just could not get around them. So, there have to be different ways to counter those new player classes.

Click here to watch embedded media

So every player class should feel a little bit different and you have to figure out ways to counter these player types? One of my bigger complaints in previous iterations is every player felt too similar. In CHEL, you could tweak some stats, but they never felt like enough and you'd use similar tactics no matter who was on the ice.

Yeah, I would say definitely more thought needs to go into how you are building your player class and how you're building players in your lineup. And for Franchise mode, team chemistry plays such a big role. It's changing the way that you're building and managing your roster lineups. 

Let's bring up the poke check because it was pretty powerful in NHL 21. Has that been tuned any for NHL 22? 

To be honest, that's something we've been hearing a lot during the production of NHL 22 from our Game Changers, who are like, "Hey, where there's an opportunity, let's fix poke checking." That's where stick and physics come in. So both when you look at the ability side where we've separated players defensively, like Victor Hedman or Drew Doughty are much better, much more efficient at poking away pucks without taking penalties. That's one layer.

The second layer is having the stick actually react realistically. It adds more predictability to how we're solving for poke checks, both in terms of the force and power that the defenders or the skaters are poking at, as well as how the stick interacts with the body and with the puck. So, the short answer is yes, absolutely. When you boot up the game and you play this year, we've made some massive improvements in that area.

Be A Pro got a huge upgrade last year, and this year it's said to have multi-season storylines. Can you talk about kind of how that's going to work and what are some of those storylines?

With X-Factors changing the journey in Be A Pro in terms of you wanting to progress and unlock and grow into the most powerful abilities, we needed a way to tell those stories. We wanted to address some of the feedback that we had in terms of, 'Hey, it was great you had this conversation system, but it's kind of repetitive and you don't have multi-season storylines.' Well, this year, we brought X-Factors, we brought new challenges, we brought in new storylines that span multiple seasons. So you have your example of winning multiple divisions, winning multiple awards, all the way to what Pat Maroon did - winning multiple cups in consecutive seasons with different teams. And what the new challengers allow you to do is unlock new X-Factor points so that you can unlock slots for abilities to assign to your created character. 

This is probably a question you get every year, but it's essential to the gameplay. Whether it's on defense, offense, or being able to create better plays, what improvements to the A.I. did the EA Vancouver team really focus on this year? 

A.I. is an area that we have a yearly investment in. I don't think there is a way we can say we're going to fix all our A.I. issues because as our community plays and players play, the A.I. is bound to take some actions that don't make sense to the player. Specifically for defensive A.I. and joining the rush, we've made some improvements and upgrades there, more at the core A.I. level instead of a massive new feature overhaul.

The other piece is how A.I. players support you as a player in HUT or World of CHEL now that you have these new X-Factor abilities. So, with a lot of A.I. players also possessing these abilities, like with passing, for example, they've been upgraded to accommodate what it means to have better team play and pass the puck to you when you have the One-Tee zone ability [which gives you advanced power and accuracy on one-timers]. So, there have been minor updates, but it's something that we chip away at year after year.

From checking to Franchise mode changes, more quick confirmations from Kwong:

  • There won't be any new skill moves like "The Michigan" from last year, but new animations are tied to the new zone and superstar X-Factor abilities. Kwong used the example of a power forward having better strength and balance, showcasing this with an animation to lean in and drive the lane [while still] being able to protect the puck from the opposing defender. 
  • Has checking improved? Kwong says so. "We've definitely updated the models for collisions and stumbles, specifically." However, Kwong says it won't always come down to player size when separating a player from the puck, referencing a player's strength and balance in determining how easily they go down. He used Pavel Datsyuk as an example of a player who was only 5'11 but was still strong on his skates and said this is where the new X-Factor abilities shine for certain player types. 
  • You can expect more realistic stick interactions and psychics this time, with players batting pucks out of the air and disrupting passing lanes more naturally. This also led to him saying that you'll see fewer penalties with poke checks. "In the past, you'd see poke checks through skates, and obviously, that's not realistic when you trip players up, and that's a been a source of frustrations. That's one thing that's fixed now."
  • For Franchise mode fans, finding the right player fit for coaching systems will still be a factor, and the trade deadline minigame (sadly) remains untouched. Kwong also said scouting hasn't changed much, except for the ability to uncover if players have X-Factors. He said to focus on having the best scouts possible because there will be more gems in later rounds. Line chemistry is also a bigger factor in this mode due to the X-Factors. "The really straightforward example I use is you want to make sure that you're supplementing your passing Zone ability player with someone that can also shoot, whether that's [increased] one-timer, slap shot, or wrist shot accuracy," Kwong says. "Putting complementary skill sets together will greatly increase your line chemistry, while [soley] depending on one player [with these special abilities] will only give you a small boost."
  • Kwong confirmed that players can have a max of one Zone ability and up to five Superstar abilities total. 
  • No new scenes were added to Be A Pro, but Kwong said there are hundreds of new conversations that also tie into the mode's new podcast show to support your journey and the branching storylines. He also confirmed you're still picking between "star" or "team" dialogue options to determine which type of teammate you want to be. 
     

Steel Assault Arrives On PC And Switch Later This Month

Posted: 14 Sep 2021 09:00 AM PDT

Looking for some 16-bit platforming action? You won't have to wait too long for Steel Assault, which comes to Switch and PC (Steam) on September 28.  Check out the trailer below for a look at what's in store for Zenovia Interactive's upcoming title that's aiming to deliver an authentic 90's arcade experience. But wait – the games in that era were fairly unforgiving and ate away at people's quarter reserves! Have no fear, as Steel Assault comes with a variety of difficulty options, including "retro hard" for those who really want to experience it in arcade platform glory. Check out the release date trailer right here.

Click here to watch embedded media

While the game was previously announced for PC, it's great to see that it's now launching same day and date on the Nintendo Switch. We didn't have a release date, and now it's going to be here in around two weeks! Are you looking forward to Steel Assault? Is this your first time seeing the game? Let us know in the comments!

Total War: Warhammer III Shows Off In Grand Cathay Trailer

Posted: 14 Sep 2021 08:35 AM PDT

Total War: Warhammer was recently delayed into 2022 from its initial 2021 projected release window. That's not surprising at all these days, given the deluge of delays that the game industry is facing due to multiple factors. Most prominently, COVID-19's impact on production pipelines and almost every aspect of game development is something that the vast majority of industry companies are still dealing with. So, we won't be playing Total War: Warhammer III this year. However, there's a new trailer with plenty of surprises featuring Grand Cathay. You can check it out below and see some really fun/cool stuff coming to the franchise with its third entry.

Click here to watch embedded media

You can also see our reviews for Total War: Warhammer and Total War: Warhammer II right here. While the shift to the fantastical Warhammer franchise for Total War was initially considered a questionable proposition, the exceptional quality of these games has shown that moving things away from the purely historical was an inspired choice for the longstanding PC franchise. What do you think about the Total War: Warhammer games? 

Xbox Game Pass Is Adding 13 Games, Including Sable And Subnautica: Below Zero

Posted: 14 Sep 2021 08:26 AM PDT

If you are a subscriber to Xbox Game Pass, you can look forward to 13 new games arriving on the service between now and the beginning of October. Eight of these games hit Game Pass on the day of their release, including the highly anticipated indie game Sable. Subnautica's excellent continuation, Below Zero, will also be available to download.

Starting tomorrow, Flynn: Son of Crimson is the first game to arrive, and is one of the titles that is making its debut. The other game hitting on day one (in addition to Sable) are I Am Fish, SkateBIRD, Aragami 2, Lemnis Gate, Unsighted, and Astria Ascending. This is an impressive and well rounded lineup of games that people can freely try throughout the month.

The full lineup of games arriving on Game Pass are:

Flynn: Son of Crimson (Cloud, Console, and PC) – September 15
I Am Fish (Cloud, Console, and PC) – September 16
SkateBIRD (Cloud, Console, and PC) – September 16
Superliminal (Cloud, Console, and PC) – September 16
Aragami 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – September 17
Lost Words: Beyond the Page (Cloud, Console, and PC) – September 23
Sable (Cloud, Console, and PC) – September 23
Subnautica: Below Zero (Cloud, Console, and PC) – September 23
Tainted Grail: Conquest (PC) – September 23
Lemnis Gate (Console, PC) – September 28
Astria Ascending (Cloud, Console, and PC) – September 30
Unsighted (Console, PC) – September 30
Phoenix Point (Console) – October 1

Not all of the titles that are added to Game Pass stay there forever. Here are the games that will be leaving the service on September 30.

Drake Hollow (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Ikenfell (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Night in the Woods (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Kathy Rain (PC)
Warhammer: Vermintide II (Cloud, Console)

Are you currently using Game Pass? How often do you use it to check out new games or play through them completely? Let us know in the comments section below!

SSD Expansion And User Experience Changes Headline Tomorrow's PlayStation 5 Firmware Update

Posted: 14 Sep 2021 08:14 AM PDT

PlayStation 5 is about to receive a big firmware update tomorrow with some quality-of-life changes to the user experience. Also coming is the much anticipated enabling of internal storage expansion allowing PS5 owners to install their own SSD to the console. What else in this update? A lot, actually! PlayStation has everything detailed in a blog post, but we'll go over some of the more considerable changes for you here.

We'll get to the juicy storage expansion in a bit, but first, a very welcome change is coming to how games are sorted in your library and quick launch. Cross-generation games will now show as separate titles for their respective PlayStation 5 and 4 versions. A console-appropriate logo will appear next to the game's title, making it clear you have the correct platform. This change is undoubtedly a huge relief to those (like me!) who mistakenly download or launch the PS4 version of a game or fumble through menus to figure out if the correct edition is selected. You'd be surprised how often it happens!

Click here to watch embedded media

Control Center – AKA the menu you use to turn the console off – can now be customized. Players can move the featured icons like power, audio, viewing downloads, and more can shuffle around to your liking. Additionally, icons can be hidden or unhidden to further make the menu your own. Anything to make the Control Center more manageable is a great addition.

Finally coming to the PlayStation 5 console is the option to add more internal storage. Those looking to make more room for upcoming games (or space to always keep your favorites on hand) will have to install an M.2 SSD storage device with the appropriate specifications and a recommended cooling unit or heat sync. Sony has the specifics on what will work in the PS5 here. Make sure to take their recommendations seriously. You don't want to waste money on hardware that won't work, and you certainly don't want to risk damaging your hard-to-come-by console.

Here are some of the other highlighted changes arriving in the firmware update:

  • New controls for Screen Reading functionality
  • 3D audio for built-in TV speakers
  • Preferred resolution selection (720p or 1080p) for PlayStation Now streaming
  • Auto video capture for "personal bests"
  • An enhanced Game Base with new controls for party and chat
  • PS App Remote Play and Screen Sharing updates
  • PS4 users can now view PS5 trophies

We're coming up on a year of having the PlayStation 5 out in the wild, and some pain points are now seeing some resolutions. How does this update look to you? Are you going to install some extra storage to fit more games on your PS5? If so, which SSD will you choose? Which games do you never want to uninstall? Let's talk it out in the comments.

Dying Light 2 Delayed To 2022

Posted: 14 Sep 2021 06:47 AM PDT

Dying Light 2 Stay Human is slated to be a step up from the first game, which we deemed a fantastic open-world, zombie-slaying experience back in 2015. The second game in the franchise got a bevy of gameplay trailers at Gamescom and a constant rollout of updates over the years. Sadly, delays are a natural part of this industry that can be necessary for various reasons. Sure, it's deflating for the player, but often dev teams feel the full brunt of it. Today, Techland announced that Dying Light 2 has been delayed to early 2022. CEO Pawel Marchewka provided some context for the major decision in an emailed statement. 

"The team is steadily progressing with the production, and the game is nearing the finish line," Marchewka states. "The game is complete, and we are currently playtesting it. It is by far the biggest and most ambitious project we've ever done. Unfortunately, we've realized for us to bring the game to the level we envision, we need more time to polish and optimize it...We are sorry to keep you all waiting a little longer, but we want the game to meet your highest expectations on release, and we don't want to compromise on this." You can read the whole statement here:

Marchewka continued, mentioning that next month (October), press and content creators will be given access to PC and console versions of the game as Dying Light 2 preview events become more commonplace leading up to the end of the year. He also expressed gratitude for the support and immense fandom, "In the meantime, we would like to thank all of our fans around the world – without your support and feedback, we would never have come so far on this journey." 

Dying Light 2 Stay Human will now release on February 4 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Are you bummed out about the Dying Light 2 delay, or is the sheer technical immensity of the game making you even more excited? You know the deal – drop your thoughts down below!

Eastward Review – Pixel Paradise

Posted: 14 Sep 2021 06:00 AM PDT

Publisher: Chucklefish
Developer: Pixpil
Release:
Reviewed on: PC
Also on: Switch

Eastward feels like going back to the days of '80s anime on VHS, where you could experience a clandestine and unusual medium that you couldn't find anywhere else. As John and Sam, players must head Eastward (whoa, that's the title!) across a strange and surreal universe. While the characters and lore have a lot of heart and carry this journey to the end with ease, the combat, puzzles, and boss encounters leave a bit to be desired. An excellent score provides an incredible backdrop to pixel-perfect art, creating a whimsical and enchanting atmosphere for this quirky RPG that openly pays homage to titles like Earthbound. In fact, inside Eastward, there's an entire game called Earth Born, complete with its own (in-game currency) gacha system that's a blast to play when you just want to take a break from advancing the main story. 

Click here to watch embedded media

The tale starts simply, with a frying pan weapon to swing furtively about, a Zelda-like structure of acquiring heart containers, finding keys to make your way through dungeons, and swapping between characters on the fly to solve puzzles and handle fights. John takes care of the rough fighting at first and uses ranged weapons and a few types of bombs to break walls and take on bosses. Sam can manipulate the world with energy blasts, and she gains even more powerful energy attacks that must be charged up before unleashing them throughout the journey. The combat remains simplistic throughout the game and isn't really satisfying.

Many dungeons include puzzle segments where the player must control the characters separately, moving them around to interact with the environment to get past elevators, overgrowth, and a multitude of other obstacles. Most of these puzzles are simple to figure out, but a few involve enemies that attack your characters while they are defenseless (forcing you to swap control between them) or involve time trials that overstay their welcome late in the game. Overall, controlling John and Sam both in and out of combat feels alright, but there are only a few truly interesting boss encounters and puzzles, and those are primarily found in the late game.

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Surprisingly, Eastward does not live and die by its combat or puzzles. Eastward builds a world that feels real, heartfelt, and intriguing. Many game worlds are crafted around archetypal building blocks that draw upon established fantasy, sci-fi, and other well-traveled ground. Refreshingly, Eastward goes in a bizarre and quirky direction and took me on a ride where I never knew exactly where things were headed. This journey across the world has you escaping an encroaching and deadly miasma. At times, you also unravel other threads that have you exploring the world of organized crime, concepts of time travel, the pleasures of simple farm life, and making movies with a decidedly unusual crew. 

The locations and characters that fill these environments are memorable, and I wanted to thoroughly explore the town to make sure I talked to every single NPC. I can't remember the last time I did that in an RPG, and it's a testament to what a fine world Pixpil has created. These cozy lore elements probably would have worked with any art style, but Eastward's combination of spectacular music and pixelated look creates an atmosphere that proves you don't need 4K resolution and ray-tracing to make something magical. Some of the coziness seeps into the gameplay with the cooking mechanic, where you can craft some amazing meals that provide potent buffs to help take on the more challenging bosses. While I'd love to elaborate more on this world, the less you know about Eastward going in, the more you'll get out of exploring this enchanting landscape.

While the combat isn't anything special and the puzzles wear out their welcome, Eastward's characters, setting, and sounds craft an unforgettable experience. If you're looking for something quirky, captivating, and somewhat surreal, you've found it.

Score: 8.5

Summary: A spectacular soundtrack and stunning sights await you on this vibrant journey.

Concept: Travel and explore a vast, strange world full of exciting characters, fleeing from a deadly miasma

Graphics: Eastward highlights what you can do with perfect pixel placement, and the art style pulls you into the game and story

Sound: The soundtrack is excellent and helps immensely with immersion, whether you're in a dark cave or a bustling cityscape

Playability: Combat stays simple throughout the entire experience with a few challenging encounters and puzzles – Eastward is well-suited for any puzzle-loving player

Entertainment: Eastward crafts a cozy journey through fascinating and bizarre realms, featuring a memorable cast. While lackluster combat and a few repetitive puzzle styles tarnish the experience, it's still a ride well worth taking

Replay: Moderate

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Eastward | New Gameplay Today

Posted: 14 Sep 2021 06:00 AM PDT

Click to watch embedded media

Publisher: Chucklefish
Developer: Pixpil
Release:
Platform: Switch, PC

Eastward is here, taking players on a journey across a surreal world full of bizarre characters and quirky foes. In the early game, players master the frying pan and escape from the depths of the underground to learn more about a mysterious miasma that destroys everything it comes in contact with. Over the course of the title, players will gain additional hit points (heart counters) from slaying bosses and completing major goals, upgrade a number of ranged weapons to complement the frying pan, cook up glorious boss-busting meals, and bomb countless walls to find bonus chests. 

The currency in this world is salt, and you can spend it on all kinds of upgrades, but I often spent my hard-earned salt on a variety of ingredients so I could be flush with potent food options at all times. The game channels big Earthbound energy, so if you're a fan of the old-school SNES title, Undertale, or other quirky RPGs, you're definitely in the right place. Eastward features a game inside the game for retro RPG enthusiasts, a fully playable title called Earth Born. You're probably going to enjoy it.  Join us in this episode of New Gameplay Today for a look and a discussion regarding Eastward, which releases on September 16 on PC and Switch.

"The locations and characters that fill these environments are memorable, and I wanted to thoroughly explore the town to make sure I talked to every single NPC," I said in my Game Informer review with a score of 8.5. "I can't remember the last time I did that in an RPG, and it's a testament to what a fine world Pixpil has created. These cozy lore elements probably would have worked with any art style, but Eastward's combination of spectacular music and pixelated look creates an atmosphere that proves you don't need 4K resolution and ray-tracing to make something magical."

Breath Of The Wild Spicy Pepper Trick Discovered Years Later

Posted: 14 Sep 2021 05:58 AM PDT

Breath of the Wild has been out for a little over four years. As one of the definitive open-world RPG experiences of the past decade, the latest chapter in the Legend of Zelda series has redefined game immersion and true sandbox autonomy. Even now, players continue to find new mechanical secrets that lie dormant in the physics system and miscellaneous activities. For instance, a bevy of wild trick shots are still being uploaded to Twitter – Guardians being launched in the air and headshot across the map with arrows or lynels taken down with incredible ease. Yesterday, another exploit was discovered. However, instead of weapons, it relies on food items, spicy peppers, to be exact.

Reddit user tetr4_hc posted a clip showing how simply dropping and attacking three spicy peppers can give Link up to three updraft boosts. First, the player procures the peppers from his bag; then, he drops them just by Link's feet. tetr4_hc activates Revali's Gale, which magically manifests an updraft instead of the normal means of gliding over a manufactured fire. When the wind carries Link and the peppers up, the player shoots the spicy items with fire arrows – twice – to gain double the height. Based on the footage, you'll really be able to get to some incredibly high-altitude locations. Maybe some of those impossibly tall Sheikah Towers in the early game will be more accessible. And if three wasn't enough for you, tetr4_hc uploaded a YouTube video where he used 30 spicy peppers! You can watch that below. 

Click here to watch embedded media

The Breath of the Wild sequel got a gameplay trailer during Nintendo's E3 Direct showcase. Link is back, albeit with wavy hair, and a range of new abilities that include slipping through solid structures to get to platforms or other navigable spaces – the highly-anticipated adventure releases in 2022. Until then, check out my argument for why the Princess Deserves Her Own Game and let us know if you're going to try tetr_hc's exploit in the comments section!

[Source: Nintendo Life]
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