Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (PS5) | $35 | Amazon
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (PS4) | $35 | Amazon
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (XBO) | $35 | Amazon
A new console generation usually means a new library of games. That’s not exactly the case with Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, at least not yet. There are few true next-gen exclusives. Instead, several recent Xbox games were released in both last-gen and next-gen versions.
Congratulations! You weathered the queues and were able to nab a PlayStation 5. You’ve somehow finagled the thing into your TV stand and turned it on without issue. So, what comes next? Of all the options at your fingertips, which games deserve your time and energy?
World of Warcraft: Shadowlands doesn’t only straddle the line between life and death – it straddles the line between what was and what could be for Blizzard’s 16-year-old MMO. While it bombards us with familiar characters like Thrall, Jaina Proudmoore, and a few surprise returns in its opening fanfare, it also proceeds to gleefully kick open the doors to new corners of the Warcraft universe and introduce the intimidating Jailer. As the first main bad guy in WoW’s history who didn’t originate in the RTS games in some way, his arrival seems like the start of a whole new chapter of the story. At the same time, Shadowlands tries to turn the page on what max-level activities look like, and it has some success in reinvigorating WoW for yet another year.
World of Warcraft has long felt like two different games to me, especially in more recent expansions: There's the usually exciting, fast-paced, story-dense levelling experience and then the repetitive and ultimately tiresome endgame. Shadowlands does that first part very well, as expected: it plays to WoW's strengths with a plot that kept me hooked for about 20 hours and new zones that are bizarre, distinct, and just wonderful. Revendreth, where the wicked dead go to repent of their sins at the hands of the vampiric Venthyr, is a delightfully gothic sprawl of creepy castles and tangled woods. The ethereal, nocturnal forest of Ardenweald, where creatures of nature are watched over by the dutiful Night Fae until they can be reincarnated into new mortal forms, is downright captivating in its starry luminance.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/29/world-of-warcraft-shadowlands-story-trailer"]
Immortals: Fenyx Rising isn’t the game I was expecting. I was prepared for a big Ubisoft open-world action game filled with colorful vistas, Greek gods, and some elements inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild. It is all of that, but it’s not just Assassin’s Creed: Hyrule. It’s a welcome streamlining of…
I've quietly been stoked to play PixelJunk Eden 2, the sequel to Q-Games' underappreciated atmospheric platformer about zipping through abstract gardenscapes while chill Baiyon tunes work their magic.
After missing its initial summer 2020 window, it seems that PixelJunk Eden 2 is on track for a December 10 launch on the Nintendo Switch eShop. The new release date showed up on a Nintendo UK store page, and while the equivalent listing for North America still says fall 2020, I'm choosing to believe.
[Update: Q-Games confirmed the December 10 launch date for PixelJunk Eden 2. If you buy the game by December 16, you'll get a decent discount – $9.89 instead of the normal $14.99 price tag.]
Gameplay-wise, I'd expect a similar experience – you'll explore "gardens of psychedelic sights and sounds" to collect pollen, expand the flora to reach new heights, and generally melt into your chair.
As the studio puts it, you'll be able to "swing and spin from silk threads, in both single and cooperative play as you and a partner pirouette around one another in brush-strokes of light and color in the world on your journey to collect the all-important 'Spectra,' the source of all life in the world." It's a trip.
"More PixelJunk Eden" would've been fine by me, but co-op? That's the secret word.
UPDATE 2/12/20: Players now report a fix has been pushed live, and came into effect yesterday evening UK time. Ubisoft is yet to acknowledge the fix but, for those affected, it's worth checking if your PS5 upgrade is now available.
UPDATE 1/12/20: We're approaching the two-week anniversary of PlayStation 5's UK launch, but many Ubisoft game owners are still unable to upgrade PS4 titles such as Watch Dogs Legion and Assassin's Creed Valhalla to their shinier PS5 versions.
The problem has been an issue since the console's UK launch, though word picked up around a week back. It's then we highlighted the issue to Ubisoft, and have subsequently heard the company is trying to fix it.
Time and again, media has utilized problematic real-life events and figures to carry its entertainment. Whether for comedic or dramatic purposes, movies, comics, books, and video games have taken recognizable personalities and world events and replicated them to offer a slice of "relatable" authenticity to their pulp fiction.
Hollywood has made a billion-dollar business out of setting fictional narratives against the backdrop of real-world atrocities, while satirical shows from Saturday Night Live to Animaniacs have lampooned political figures on every side of history's global conflicts. Ultimately, truth and fiction will forever collide in the name of entertainment, it is up to us to remain focused on the former, once the dust has settled.
Presented for your consideration: Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, which raised eyebrows with its much-hyped inclusion of the staunchly conservative 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. Those of an age will remember the utter terror of the 1980's Cold War era, where daily obliteration felt a mere button push away. With world leaders such as Reagan, Thatcher, and Brezhnev in power, it was easy for the people – particularly minorities and the working class – to feel that life was dangling by a thread, utter destruction at the hands of both the right-wing media and aggressive, warring world leaders.
[Update: The very same intrepid user who found the logo also noted the "Wumpa League" banner in the background of a new Crash Bandicoot ad. A Crash Battle Royale is suggested as a possible spinoff/outcome from this cute little scavenger hunt. Again, bring on anything Crash. I'll try it once! They could even use the Crash Bash name again.]
So Crash 4: It's About Time is fairly manageable if you're a platforming hound, but if you want to get the full 106% completion rate: good luck!
The extra content and time trial/limited life requirements are among the hardest activities I've played in 2020, and it looks like all those efforts do pay off; to some small degree. Sharing their discovery on Twitter, Kevin Fagaragan managed to uncover a secret logo that appears on the first level's television set.
The kicker is that the logo only appears when you've reached the aforementioned percentage. Like all secrets that pop up out of nowhere the solution was crowdsourced, and it seems like it doesn't work for a mere 100% completion rate: only 106%. It explains why it hasn't been as widely known this far out from launch. It's also a "blink and you'll miss it" moment, as it only appears on the screen for a split-second after you cycle through all of the main entry logos.
So what is it? Well, a tease of a new game, some DLC, or a Super Smash Bros. appearance would all work for me. I'm just happy to see Crash back and actually relevant again with a good game.
The developers of Subverse, one of the most anticipated adult games of all time, thought it would be a great idea to publicise their game via a video with Arch, formerly known as Arch Warhammer, a man who we last saw calling Creative Assembly “cuck beta leftists”.
[Update: Bethesda has posted an "everything you need to know" blowout post following the trailer below. It goes over everything from the main story, to shelters, to potential bundles.]
Microsoft got in on Bethesda at a decent time. Fallout 76 was in the rear-view mirror.
Everyone is abuzz about Ghostwire: Tokyo, Deathloop, Starfield, and the next Elder Scrolls. Right now, they have basically all of the hype behind them and none of Bethesda's failures too fresh in people's minds. I also wouldn't put it past Microsoft to allow Bethesda to delay some of the more broken games and bankroll that extra development time for the sake of their reputation. With a strong lack of exclusives for this new console generation, Microsoft needs that rep more than ever.
But before we get too ahead of ourselves, Bethesda did just launch the already-in-progress Steel Dawn update for Fallout 76; which improves the slightly-better-since-Wastelanders-but-still-partially-barren open world with new questlines. Although the DLC just launched, the below trailer just a decent job of spicing up the world of 76, while reminding us that NPCs do in fact now exist.
The main focus is on Paladin Leah Remini Leila Rahmani, as well as Knight Shin, and Scribe Valdez. Choices will be made! Faction loyalties will be tested! It is a Fallout game after all.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons was released at the start of the year right as the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the whole world, making it the perfect game to sink your time into as everyone was in quarantine. Since its release, the game has received consistent free updates that add more to the game.
We’ve gotten seasonal events, as well as the introduction of new NPCs and items to help keep things fresh. Nintendo of Japan has just dropped a quick 30-second video showing off some of the new additions the game has seen since the start of the year, and you can check it out for yourself down below.
We take a look back at Leif, who sold players shrubs for more natural-looking decorations, as well as Pascal, the adorable otter who gives players mermaid-themed DIY Recipes in exchange for scallops you find from diving underwater. The video also gives us a quick glimpse at other events that are still to come, including the much anticipated Toy Day, which is the game’s spin on Christmas.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is now available exclusively on the Nintendo Switch.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is the latest entry in the annual first-person shooter franchise, and if you’re even remotely familiar with the game’s progression system, you’ll know that there’s always been a bit of a grindy element to it. By playing the game and getting kills, you’ll be able to rack up XP for your equipped weapons and unlock new items like attachments for them.
That being said, since the game’s launch, the XP grind for weapons has certainly felt sluggish, and it looks like Treyarch recognizes that as well. With the release of the latest patch, weapon XP rates have been increased in multiplayer and in the Zombies mode, so you should have a much easier time leveling up your weapons going forward.
In addition to that, the patch also addresses and out-of-bounds glitch that was present in the Nuketown ’84 map, where players were able to exit the map’s boundaries and stay alive that way.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is now available on consoles and PC.
The post New Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Patch Lets You Level Up Weapons Faster appeared first on Twinfinite.
After their critical and commercial success with Divinity: Original Sin, Larian Studios has been entrusted with Baldur’s Gate 3, the latest entry in the beloved DND-inspired series. The game is out now in early access and while we’d still recommend holding off on getting into it until the full release is out, early adopters will be able to follow the game’s development process closely as Larian updates it consistently.
The next major story patch is just around the corner for Baldur’s Gate 3, according to Larian. However, the introduction of the new patch means that your existing save files will no longer work.
That being said, if you’re playing on Steam, it is possible to keep your save files and continue playing on the old build. You’ll need to mess around with the game options and properties through Steam to keep the old build, and once you’re ready to move on, you can switch branches to the new build and start fresh from there. This option won’t be available to players on Google Stadia, however.
It’s certainly a hassle to have to switch branches, but it’s nice to have the option to keep messing around with your saves on the old build if you so choose.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is now available as an early access title.
The post Baldur’s Gate 3’s Next Story Patch Is Coming, Will Render Existing Saves Incompatible appeared first on Twinfinite.
In Greek mythology, Icarus’s ambition led to his literal downfall when he flew too close to the sun and melted his wax wings. So yes, being overly ambitious does have its drawbacks, but so too does a lack of it. Immortals Fenyx Rising, for instance, offers a light and entertaining spin on Greek mythology that’s clearly inspired by a reverence for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Its setting, systems, and story are packed with references to iconic deities and legendary tales, but always with tongue planted firmly enough in cheek that it avoids coming off as self-important. All this flavour makes for a great set-up that’s complemented by fun combat, but the puzzle design across this colourful open world is disappointingly workmanlike. In a game about heavenly gods and fantastical monsters, the puzzles are far too grounded by earthly concerns.
Immortals’ most inventive touch is its storytelling. The journey of Fenyx, a mortal soldier shipwrecked on a mystical island, is presented as a tale told by an imprisoned Prometheus to Zeus, and the dynamic between the two is hilarious. The pair’s bantering narration interjects regularly throughout your roughly 30-hour adventure, helping to further the plot, provide mythological context, or simply crack jokes. And further on, Immortals does an effective job of balancing the focus on humour with story-driven character development.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/10/immortals-fenyx-rising-ps5-gameplay-4k"]
We can all appreciate general system stability improvements that enhance the user’s experience, but tonight’s Nintendo Switch firmware update actually adds some features to the console, like new ways to manage your screenshots.
Hey now, you're an all-star, Super Mario! The next Tetris 99 Maximus Cup event involves the famous plumber. Earn that theme this weekend!
The post Tetris 99 Super Mario All-Stars Event Begins This Weekend appeared first on Siliconera.
What a world we live in, when Microsoft’s next-gen console has better PlayStation backwards compatibility than the PlayStation 5.
The Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One both received a console update that features pre-installing Game Pass games, new options for the dashboard, and more.
The November 2020 console update for all three systems now offers the ability to pre-install games that are scheduled to be added to Xbox Game Pass.
Xbox Game Pass games that allow pre-installing can be found in the “Coming Soon” section of the Game Pass app on the console. Microsoft noted that not all upcoming games will allow it, but the mobile Game Pass app can add it to players’ download queues when it is available to download.
The Xbox Series X|S dashboard received six new dynamic backgrounds that are include “homages to previous generations of Xbox consoles and others based on popular profile themes.” The dynamic backgrounds are a new feature to the Series consoles, and the company said it would continue to explore additional designs.
Also included in the console update are “Optimized for Series X|S” badges displayed in My Games and Apps, an Auto HDR tag shown while playing a game when it is turned on, achievement status in the Game Activity tab of the guide, and adding family member accounts during console setup.
The post Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One Update Offers Pre-Installing Game Pass Games appeared first on Twinfinite.
Thanks to Switch firmware 11.0.0, its easier to transfer screenshots to a PC or phone. You can also check trending games among your friends too.
The post Switch Screenshot Sharing Gets Easier With Firmware 11.0.0 appeared first on Siliconera.
Unbeknownst to me, Yakuza: Like a Dragon somehow left Japan bereft of one key feature: in-battle weakness indicators. But today, almost three weeks after its Western launch, a patch has added this game-changing mechanic to the wacky gangster RPG.
Compared to the lifespan of most games, World of Warcraft is ancient - but it’s hardly a relic. Even today, Blizzard’s MMORPG continues to keep the content flowing for players old and new. Shadowlands is the eighth expansion, and this journey through the afterlife comes with fresh features alongside systems that will be extremely familiar to veterans of the game. At the core, Shadowlands succeeds with powerful world-building fantasy, player identity, and bold gameplay elements.
The Nintendo Switch has just had its firmware updated to version 11.0.0, and there are actually several new features worth checking out.
Most notably, there is now a way to wirelessly transfer screenshots and videos to smart devices using a QR code. Up to 10 screenshots and one video can be transferred through this method at a time.
This can be helpful if you are trying to move your screenshots to your smart device in bulk while saving the image quality, which is a much better method than posting them to social media.
It is also now easier to use a USB cable to connect the Switch to a computer to copy screenshots and videos. This is added through a feature in System Settings called “Copy to a computer via USB connection.”
12 new user icons were added in this firmware update, each of them themed around Super Mario Bros. in order to celebrate his 35th anniversary.
It is now possible to select which download to prioritize, which is helpful for when there are multiple software downloads in progress.
Additionally, you can now rename present button mappings using the change button mapping feature, which was added in firmware update 10.0.0.
Furthermore, a Nintendo Switch Online button was added to the Switch’s home menu screen, and a “trending” section has been added to user pages to check what software friends are playing or have started playing recently.
You can learn more about what was added in firmware version 11.0.0 and how to update your system by visiting Nintendo’s website right here.
Ver.
Ahhh, I really wanted to like this game. But as hard as it tries, and as much fun as it has with the source material, Empire of Sin is a mess of ideas that just isn’t much fun to be around.
The past few months have been full of Mario celebrations for the 35th anniversary, and if you can’t get enough of it, another event is about to occur. The 18th Tetris 99 Maximus Cup will feature Super Mario All-Stars.
If you manage to earn 100 event points in this Maximus Cup, you will unlock a special Super Mario All-Stars in-game theme that can be used while playing Tetris 99.
Points in the Maximus Cup are awarded based on how well players rank in each battle: 1st place receives 100 points, 2nd place receives 50 points, 3rd place receives 30 points, 4th-10th place receives 20 points, 11th-30th place receives 15 points, 31st-50th place receives 10 points, 51st-90th place receives 5 points, and 91st-99th place receives 1 point.
Tetris 99 is a take on the original game of Tetris in which players face off against 98 other opponents and play until only one person remains. You can also attack opponents to make it harder for them to win.
The game Tetris 99 is exclusive to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, so you must have an active online membership in order to download and play the game. The physical copy of the game comes with a 12-month online membership.
The 18th Maximus Cup celebrating Super Mario All-Stars will begin on Dec. 3 at 11:00 p.m. PT and will last until Dec. 7 at 10:59 p.m. PT. As long as you earn 100 points during that timeframe, you will unlock the special in-game theme.
If you’re interested in competing to try and win the theme, you can read about the rules and guidelines on Nintendo’s website.
You can view more information about the upcoming 18th Maximus Cup and see the in-game Super Mario All-Stars theme by watching the official trailer below.
One of Destiny 2’s writers took to Twitter over the weekend to dispel some players’ confusion and confirm that two of the game’s biggest characters are, in fact, gay and in love.
In World of Warcraft: Shadowlands, I’m level 59 and 7/8ths, have completed three of the five new zones, and I still don’t think I’m enjoying myself. In Destiny 2, I’m stumbling around Europa while I clumsily figure out (sometimes embarrassingly late) what the hell all my warlock powers do. Other than a few, fleeting…
A graphics engineer is needed to help maintain, upgrade, and extend our in-house game engine. Your tasks will focus on tools and technology used in our graphics engine. ...
