December 2021

A collection of crisp, imaginative brutality

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Pick up all three of the Crystal Dynamics Tomb Raider games before Jan. 6

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A seemingly simple mechanic told impactful stories

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The MCU’s Peter Parker is like no other: completely alone

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Join us on this bursting episode of The Game Informer Show as we celebrate making it to 2022 and look ahead to our most anticipated games of the new year. The Alexes are joined by Dan Tack and Jay Guisao to break down all the big hitters from Elden Ring, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, and so much more in one of our longest and zaniest episodes yet.

Programming note: Due to the massive volume of titles next year, we're giving the News, Playlist, and Listener Questions segment a well-deserved rest this week. All your favorites will be back in 2022!

Follow the crew on Twitter: Alex Stadnik (@Studnik76), Alex Van Aken (@itsVanAken), Dan Tack (@dantack), and Jay Guisao (@Jason_Guisao)

The Tomb Raider reboot trilogy is available for free on the Epic Games Store right now. Between now and January 6, 2022, you'll be able to grab the Game of the Year Edition of 2013's Tomb Raider, 2015's Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration, and the 2018 definitive edition of Shadow of the Tomb Raider.  

While the Tomb Raider trilogy is the biggest name in Epic's free library right now, there are several games currently being sold for up to half-off during the storefront's holiday sale. This includes Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Red Dead Redemption 2, Far Cry 6, and Cyberpunk 2077. 

If you're on the fence about whether or not you should pick up the new Tomb Raider games, check out our reviews. Here are handy links for Tomb Raider, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. 

It’s easy to take a look at existing MMORPGs and applaud how they’re continuing to push forward with amazing expansions and new content like Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, but breaking into the MMORPG sphere is ridiculously tough. In the olden days, we’d have new MMOs hitting all the time. Today, the lines are blurred where many games now take features and aspects that were once relegated to the genre proper, and few new offerings in the classic space ever appear. New World was awesome in a few ways here. Not only did it seek to break into a space that’s ruled by titans that have been around for eons, but it did so with a good deal of gusto, willing to explore features and mechanics that are anything but safe. Read more...

‘OK I think I got it…nope!’ Frame-perfect puzzles are so hit and miss! Sometimes they can be exhilarating if done...

The post I totally missed this annoying Zelda: Breath of the Wild treasure chest appeared first on Destructoid.

Set off on a Tomb Raider adventure for free The new adventures of Lara Croft are on a pretty good...

The post The Tomb Raider reboot trilogy is the latest Epic freebie appeared first on Destructoid.

Happy new year! Go rest 2021 has been a tiring year. Maybe 2022 will be better? Ha! I don’t want...

The post Nintendo Download: Only three games! appeared first on Destructoid.

This is what you can order off the secret menu It’s sort of my role here at Destructoid to look...

The post Six awesome games you might have missed in 2021 appeared first on Destructoid.

I’ll take it over a few of the 3D mainline games Sega has done its best to bury some of Sonic‘s...

The post The full intro for the forgotten Sonic Chronicles slaps appeared first on Destructoid.

‘The Panda Controller’ If you backed the Kickstarter for the new GameCube controller, you may want to check your email:...

The post That nearly two million dollar Kickstarter for a new GameCube controller was canceled appeared first on Destructoid.

Rest! Masahiro Sakurai has earned his rest. And that’s likely what’s he’s going to be doing for a while: resting....

The post Sakurai is laying low for a while, and I hope he lives his best life appeared first on Destructoid.

Nintendo hardware joins the shrinkage party Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has warned that Switch hardware could be in short supply...

The post Nintendo president warns of potential Switch shortage in 2022 appeared first on Destructoid.

2021 was packed for the Nintendo Switch, in quantity and quality. There are too many worthy Switch releases to honor! But we’ll do our best.

The post Siliconera’s Nintendo Switch Game of the Year 2021 appeared first on Siliconera.

Monster Hunter Rise will soon be released for PC, and among other things, it’ll support resolution up to 4K.

Today we get to see a character wearing the classic Kamura armor on PC, showing the level of detail players can expect for the port as long as they have a rig and a monitor able to support the highest resolution.

You can take a look below. You can also take a look at Rathalos and Magnamalo.

If you’re unfamiliar with Monster Hunter Rise, you can read an official description below. It’s currently available on Nintendo Switch and launches on PC via Steam on January 12, 2022.

The video game industry went on a shopping spree in 2021. Throughout the year, a handful of larger companies consistently bought up a boatload of smaller ones, at a rate where it seemed a new acquisition was announced every few weeks.

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If you’ve been on Twitter recently, you may have noticed people posting a bunch of differently colored squares. No, this is not a psy-op you are being unfairly excluded from, rather it’s the Twitter manifestation of Wordle, a daily word-guessing game that is currently picking up steam in the world of Online.

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2021 was a year, wasn’t it? The pandemic is still causing unnecessary disruptions despite the widespread availability of vaccines. The semiconductor shortage is whipping the economy’s ass. Black and queer people are still dying. It was hard playing games this year, especially when I didn’t have a PS5 or Xbox Series…

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Legendary NFL coach John Madden died on the morning of Tuesday, December 28. While many took the occasion of his passing to celebrate the man’s coaching, broadcasting, and video game legacy, others used it as an opportunity to call Madden out for his part in turning “brain injuries into a video game.” The takes were…

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For a while in the late 2000s, developers at Rockstar New England thought they were working on the next big Rockstar game.

They were excited to push the company’s tech and to bring a cult hit into Rockstar’s vision for the future. They were excited for the chance to prove themselves as a Rockstar studio, having recently been purchased by the company. They were excited to lead development on Bully 2, the sequel to Rockstar’s critically acclaimed open-world adventure about life in a private school.

But things don’t always go as planned, and other obligations on a release schedule get in the way of passion projects. Rockstar New England’s Bully 2 was shelved in favor of other, more troubled projects in development, like Max Payne 3 and Red Dead Redemption.

“[Rockstar New England] wanted to be sort of the golden child in the Rockstar thing, but it’s really hard when Rockstar North was the one that was producing all the golden eggs at that time,” one developer says. “Living in the shadows of someone who casts a big shadow like Rockstar North, and trying to usurp that role, it’s really difficult and nearly impossible. But man, did they try. Oh, did they try.”

Games rooted in abstract systems or that see you controlling vast armies of faceless soldiers can be great, but sometimes you want something that feels a little more intimate and human. Something where the characters are so lively, playing the game almost feels like hanging out with friends, or maybe an experience…

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Third-party developers have released new Microsoft Flight Simulator add-ons and features for existing ones, while the Twin Otter was showcased extensively in video.

Aerosoft’s de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter was at the center of a livestream by Twitch user BaxterChico, who provided an extensive look at both the wheeled and floats variants.

You can watch the full livestream here. Of course, the aircraft still isn’t complete, but it certainly looks very promising.

Next comes a clarification from Iris Simulation. The F22 Raptor they showcased yesterday will be simply called “Iris Advanced Tactical Fighter” as it lacks the official license from Lockheed Martin. We learn that it’ll be released in January.

Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developer: From Software
Release: May 25, 2018
Rating: Mature

Demon’s Souls started it all. Sure, folks will argue that the concepts that would go on to become the modern-day Soulslike started even earlier in From Software’s history with games like Shadow Tower or the King’s Field games. But the modern incarnations feature challenging action/RPGs that offer battles with larger-than-life bosses, risk/reward offerings, mysteries to explore, and tight combat mechanics that force the player to commit to their choices.

It's the end of the year, and Steam is running down the games the most people played in 2021. To check out the entire expansive list, click the link here. Read below for some of the most surprising games Steam players invested their time into. 

Cobra Kai returns to Netflix for a fourth season tomorrow. The runaway hit show is based on The Karate Kid films of yesteryear, and even rekindles the feud between Daniel LaRusso (played by Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka). We recently had the chance to play a mildly amusing Cobra Kai video game from developer Flux, and now we can show our love for the show with new skins in Fortnite.

Sadly none of the characters from the Netflix show are represented in likeness, but their schools are. This means you can suit up as generic characters in the styles of Cobra Kai, Eagle Fang, and Miyagi-Do. Each character you purchase for 800 V-Bucks can change to any of the three schools. You have a variety to pick from, such as Shuto Striker, Mat Master, Keri Commander, Kata Captain, Dojo Defender, and more. You can get five styles in the Karate Ko Bundle, and another five in the Dojo Showdown Bundle. Both sell for 2,000 V-Bucks.

Strike first. Strike hard. No mercy.

Rep your favorite Cobra Kai Dojo with the new Cobra Kai Set! pic.twitter.com/4YHsbpnyan

Today NIS America released a new trailer of the Nintendo Switch version of the upcoming JRPG Crystar.

The clip showcases Nanana, another of the characters who appear in the game, including her English voice. She’s defined as “Fun-loving, quirky, and shrouded with mystery.”

You can check her out below.

Here’s how the developer describes Crystar, which will release for Nintendo Switch on March 29, 2022. (following the Japanese release on Feb. 23). It’s already available for PS4 and PC, originally published by Spike Chunsoft.

“I’m sorry Mirai, I’m going to take responsibility for killing you…I will bring you Revival.”

Today THQ Nordic and Logic Artists released another trailer of their upcoming turn-based tactical RPG Expeditions: Rome.

The new trailer focuses on the music composed by Thomas Farnon, giving insight on how it was created and on the philosophy behind its composition.

You can check it out below. You can also see the previous trailer focusing on Africa and Gaul, and another showcasing combat.

Expeditions: Rome releases on January 20 exclusively for PC.

Here’s what you can expect from the game, directly from the developer.

“About Expeditions: Rome

The future of Rome is in your hands: what will your legacy be?

Mihoyo shared the run dates for the Shenhe banner and Ganyu, Xiao, and Zhongli rerun banners in Genshin Impact. Shenhe and Xiao appear first.

The post Shenhe, Zhongli, Ganyu, and Xiao Banner Dates Shared appeared first on Siliconera.

The Steam version of Koei Tecmo’s free-to-play PC game Dead or Alive Xtreme: Venus Vacation finally added another girl to its roster.

The new entry is the noble-born Lobelia, who is acquainted with Fiona and has come to the island to pursue her own mischievous plans, and now it’s the owner’s turn to deal with her.

That being said, don’t expect to be able to unlock her for free for a while, because as usual, her gacha is paid-only.

If you want her without needing to test your luck in a paid gacha with abysmal SSR chances, you’ll need to wait several months until the next girl gets rolled in. Lobelia was introduced in December 2020 in Japan, and she wasn’t offered within a free gacha until June.

If you’re unfamiliar with the game, the Steam version of Dead or Alive Xtreme: Venus Vacation comes with English support, but it has been released a long while after the Japanese version, resulting in a gap in content of about a year.

This means that if you want to play with Lobelia without needing to spend a fortune right now, you can always check out the Japanese version, even if you’ll need to give up the possibility to play in English. Accounts are completely separate between the versions.

In the meanwhile, you can enjoy a trailer introducing the new heroine. 

If you’re unfamiliar with the game, Dead or Alive Xtreme: Venus Vacation is a free-to-play version of Dead or Alive Xtreme, available only for PC.

Every year our clone forms degrade, and Katharine spends the winter break copying each consciousness into a new body. Don't worry: we can't feel a thing! Since our new forms are still coming online from their time spent in the primordial flesh soup vat of the RPS Treehouse, we can't post over Christmas, so we've prepared some Christmas Cracker jokes instead! You can help fund the research into longer-lasting clone bodies with the RPS supporter program.

Now, time to enjoy your nice joke!

Q: What roguelite takes place solely within the confines of a French archipelago in the Caribbean?

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From baking sourdough bread and working out, people have kept themselves busy in a variety of ways during the pandemic. Manga piracy, it seems, is also one of them.

An organization called ABJ (Authorized Books of Japan) was created to raise awareness regarding manga piracy. According to Jiji Press, the group put…

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2021 has been another extremely unusual year, so hopefully it's a bit of a treat to end it in our usual way - with the top fifty games of the last twelve months, as chosen by you.

What we said: "Chalk this one up as another slightly botched Battlefield launch - only at least this time it's been botched in new and interesting ways."

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Developer and publisher Aeternum Game Studios has announced that its 2D Blasphemous-esque Metroidvania, Aeterna Noctis, will be getting a large patch that helps to make the game more accessible for less experienced players, while adding a handful of quality-of-life improvements and bug fixes as well.

Specifically, the Spanish team has added a brand new game mode dubbed Aeterna, which is less challenging and features slightly easier combat than the standard mode. In fact, Aeterna mode instead emphasizes the title’s exploration, and has even had some levels retroactively re-designed to make it a smoother experience for newcomers.

Furthermore, bosses’ HP has been slightly dialled down, and players will now have the option to switch between difficulty modes on the fly.

Finally, the new update will also bring with it a handful of bug fixes, while adding some new thrones to the map, which was a highly requested feature from the Aeterna Noctis community.

For more information about Aeterna Noctis, here’s a brief overview courtesy of a press release we received recently:

Aeterna Noctis is a challenging 2D hand-drawn action platformer, a Metroidvania with thrilling combat that will keep you on the edge of your seat and heart-stopping platform sections that will put your skills to the test. Become the King of Darkness in an epic journey through 16 connected areas.

KEY FEATURES

– Experience a metroidvania with a challenging difficulty. Easy to learn, but hard to master as you gain experience and unlock new skills.

Riot Games’ Joe Ziegler is saying goodbye to his role as Valorant’s game director to work on something new at the studio.

This news comes by way of a new post made by Ziegler on the official Riot website, in which he discusses his last eight years there. He reveals that Valorant, which was officially released last year, is something he’s been working on for eight years as the game director and that now, it’s time for him to move on. 

“It is with a heart full of gratitude and deep excitement that I come to you today with news,” Ziegler writes. “After eight years working on Valorant, building it from the ground up with a team of dedicated and passionate developers who’ve worked tirelessly to serve you all with the respect and admiration that you deserve, I am giving up the mantle of game director of the Valorant tac-shooter to my good friend, Andy Ho [senior director of game direction at Riot].”