Twinfinite

Starfield on PC

There’s the call to adventure, the introduction of supernatural elements, and the congregation of like-minded individuals and mentors who help shape our protagonist into who they need to be to complete their mission. There are the challenges and temptations, an incredible and unbelievable revelation, the gradual realization of what must be done, the redemption arc, before everything comes full circle and our protagonist is right back where they started — just older and wiser.

In many ways, Starfield doesn’t really do anything new. It’s an open-world game with a tried and true story structure that’s been overused across all forms of media. Truly, the hero’s journey might be the most tiresome and overused narrative formula in TV and movies — and make no mistake, Starfield leans into it pretty hard. This should come as no surprise, considering that the hero’s journey serves as the backbone of most other Bethesda open-world games. And yet, despite Starfield’s unapologetic reuse of narrative tropes and open-world trappings, Bethesda has somehow managed to create something genuinely special here.

Although Starfield was only officially announced back in 2018, the subreddit was already in motion as leaks and rumors surrounded Bethesda’s then-mysterious game. Since then, the community has continued to grow, with many seeing a tremendous jump in numbers due to the highly-anticipated Early Access launch.

So, now that the game is finally set in motion, Starfield’s director, Todd Howard, made his way over to the popular subreddit to thank the fans for their support that has inspired the team over the years. He also believes that Bethesda has “gaming’s smartest fans,” given their dedication and willingness to bring out new ideas on the forum.

The excitement for Starfield is very, very real, with Bethesda’s space opera set to launch on September 1 for those Xbox and PC players who’ve secured early access. Otherwise, it’s September 6. However, if you’re on Steam, one player has shared an important PSA.

Shared to Reddit by user ComManDerBG on August 30, it’s based on how Steam activates pre-loaded titles once they’re unlocked and are available to play. The platform does not unlock games and make them instantly playable. Instead, it has to decrypt the compressed game files it has downloaded. This means that when Starfield goes live, players will have to wait for their Steam to decrypt the game. The speed at which this occurs is based on the drive it’s been installed on.

Sea of Stars has had an extremely successful release, with plenty of players praising the game for its simplistic yet cute story revolving around friendship and heroism, gorgeous 2D pixel art graphics, and endearing and lovable main characters. However, while the magical Solstice Warriors Zale and Valere are brilliant key protagonists, there is one character who steals the show from these two, despite having no powers himself.

This, of course, is none other than Valere and Zale’s best friend from childhood, Garl. He may not be gifted with any magical powers, but he’s certainly just as much — and at times even more — of a hero than his two friends. Unfortunately, for the most part, Garl seems to just slip under the radar as the humorous, lovable Cook despite being so much more.

Ahh, the Nintendo Entertainment System (or NES, for short). The console that changed the course of gaming history and brought the US gaming market back from the brink of extinction. It established Nintendo as a household name and introduced players to some of the most iconic franchises and titles the medium has ever seen.

What it also did was have a lot of rare games. Owing to its age and the fact that the landscape of gaming was vastly different back in the 1980s, finding affordable copies of these games is going to be incredibly hard (if you can find the games at all since many have probably been lost to the sands of time). Here are 10 of the rarest and most expensive NES games that might also require your arm and your leg if you want to purchase them.

Are you a fan of the iconic Mario series? Are you on the hunt for the absolute best games to play on your beloved Nintendo Switch? Look no further, as I have got you covered! The Mario franchise boasts a rich history of delivering unparalleled fun and captivating gameplay experiences. From timeless side-scrolling adventures to cutting-edge 3D platformers, this beloved series truly offers something for everyone.

From the critically acclaimed masterpiece that is Super Mario Odyssey to the endlessly addictive Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, this dazzling selection of games encompasses a wide range of gameplay styles and mind-blowing experiences. So, without further ado, let’s dive straight into the best Mario games for Switch!

Fallout 2

Fallout 2 isn’t a bad game, in fact, none of the main games in this franchise are. It’s got what you’d expect from the previous game: black humor, non linear gameplay, a nicely sized world with plenty to do. But at the end of it all, the sequel doesn’t do much to elevate so much as it does just stand in the same vicinity as the game that came before it.

Don’t get us wrong, the gameplay here is still pretty fun and works just as well as it did before. The turn based combat works perfectly fine, even if enemies will ignore your AI buddies in favor of dogpiling on you and only you just for the hell of it. The writing is still as solid as the first one, though the plot of this one is basically a retread of the original Fallout. Hell, even the interface is basically the same, warts and all. Sadly, the game just never entirely takes off entirely like it should; it feels more of an expansion pack than New Vegas did, and the bugs and lock ups can take you out of the engrossing world. It’s not a bad game to play, but the issues may be more toxic than the radiation.

Starfield is nearly upon us after a wait filled with much anticipation. PC and Xbox users will get to experience the immersive space oriented title on September 6, and seemingly this will go for Samsung TV owners as well? Let’s take a look at why this is.

Starfield Will Be on Samsung TVs Before PS5

The short and sweet version of the answer is that Samsung and Bethesda have made a deal to make Starfield available on a service called the Samsung Gaming Hub. This is Samsung’s game streaming service, and with a Game Pass subscription you will be able to gain access to, and play Starfield.

In preparation for the highly-anticipated release of Starfield, the game’s director, Todd Howard, geared up for its launch during the 2023 Gamescom event, featuring new and updated gameplay footage. Fans quickly noticed a significant change in the graphics, specifically with an older elevator scene that has been completely revamped.

Reddit user MartinTheTrue was able to show the differences between the official gameplay reveal in 2022 and the newest version at the convention. While the previous snippet depicts a slightly darker ambiance, the Gamescom footage brings more life into the scene through its illuminated lighting and realistic facial expressions.

The Starfield is hype is real. With the game’s launch rapidly approaching, we’re seeing future players gearing up for the release in insane and creative and insanely creative ways.

We’ve already seen mock up Starfield Crocs that — full disclosure — we really want. Now, amid the ongoing bonanza that is Gamescom, a Starfield themed gaming setup has emerged that’s the perfect setting for any soon to be Constellation explorer.

The Amazon Prime Fallout TV series has received yet another teaser to keep the hype train going, depicting the famous Vault Boy in the picturesque scenery of Los Angeles. But if we know anything about the games, not everything is as it seems, where even the most breathtaking places could all crumble down.

Based on the franchise’s history, it’s no surprise to see southern California as the show’s primary location. The TV series will likely follow the old-timey style the series is known for, mixed with the modernistic side of the dystopian future.

Earlier this year in May, Sony Interactive Entertainment teased its upcoming remote play device, the PlayStation Portal, but now the company is sharing more information on the product. It’s set to launch later this year for $199.99 USD, but no information has been given as to when pre-orders will begin.

The remote play device features an 8-inch LCD display capable of 1080p at 60 FPS, along with the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers of the DualSense controller. These features should allow for the same smooth, fluid gameplay that you can expect from the PS5, now over your Wi-Fi connection.

At long last, The Final Shape DLC showcase has been revealed for Destiny 2. Needless to say, but an abundance of announcements were made throughout the livestream, so we’re going to break down all of it. This is everything announced during Destiny 2’s Final Shape Showcase.

Immortals of Aveum on PS5

There’s undoubtedly potential for greatness in Immortals of Aveum. It’s a unique combination of cinematic fantasy and FPS fluidity, often rendered beautifully and throwing players headfirst into immersive and rewarding combat. Unfortunately, it’s often the cause of its own mortality, struggling to balance story, lore, humor, and characters. The result is a decidedly mixed bag, a game that captivates and frustrates in equal measure. 

Players are thrown into Aveum, a world that’s wounded and splintered – quite literally. Five kingdoms have collapsed into two warring superpowers, the tyrannical Rasharn and the barely surviving Lucium. Magic is at the center of these worlds, with three different types: Green, Red, and Blue. Most are confined to wielding one type but, in the case of a rare few known as Unforeseen, all can be controlled. 

Marvel Snap variants can get pretty pricey, so whenever the opportunity to get one for free presents itself, you just gotta take it. Second Dinner has just announced that by tuning into Gamescom Opening Night Live 2023 this week, you’ll be able to get the Spider-Man Max Grecke variant for free.

All you have to do is link your Twitch and Marvel Snap accounts, then watch the main stream on the Game Awards Twitch channel or any of the supported co-stream events on Aug. 22, 11 a.m. PT for 30 minutes to unlock the following rewards:

The last time we had a seriously botched card launch in Marvel Snap, it was with High Evolutionary. The card shop didn’t rotate correctly, and players ended up having to wait a couple days before they could buy him. The time before that, we had Kitty Pryde, who basically broke the entire game with how her bounce back mechanic worked. She was taken out of the game, reworked, then redistributed to all players for free.

This week, it’s no secret that X-23 is easily the most highly anticipated new card release of the Big in Japan season. She’s a 1-cost card that gives you one extra Energy the next turn when destroyed, and seriously opens up a lot of combos and possibilities for the destroy archetype that were much harder to pull off previously. And, of course, as if on cue, the Marvel Snap servers have gone down just as X-23 has rotated into this week’s Spotlight Cache selection.

The Sims franchise continues to build on the art of storytelling within video games, establishing your virtual family’s legacy based on your decisions alone. While some installments brought something new to the table, others didn’t gain as much success due to their gameplay limitations or outdated graphics. So, to commemorate the series as a whole, here’s our ranking of all Sims games, including spin-offs and the four core installments.

Despite being targeted toward a younger demographic, the gameplay systems of Pokemon are rich and deep enough to allow various levels of commitment from the player.

At its simplest, you can merely attempt to get from start to finish, clearing the Gym Leaders and beating the Champion. Roll credits, you’re done. Head to your local GameStop and trade it in for a tidy $3 in your pocket (while they resell it for $40). If you want to take things up a notch, you can try to track down all of the monsters in the region and complete the Pokedex. Game Freak have even made it easier than ever by removing most of your favorites. Thanks for that!

If you traveled back to 2017 and told yourself that Epic Games’ shy battle royale would become one of the highest-grossing games in the industry in less than five years, would you believe it? Because I wouldn’t. Of course, a big part of its success relies on the licensed collaborations Fortnite has been making in the past few years, practically reinventing itself by becoming a genre on its own when it comes to unusual crossovers and anticipated collabs. But they don’t just feed the community with characters from movies and games; celebrities from every media are also available for us to play with. In this list, we will rank celebrity skins that stand out the most and actually resemble their real-life counterpart.

Madden 24 on PS5

When August rolls around, that means it’s officially time to dust off those playbooks, shamelessly fixate over your favorite NFL team in public once again, and return to the virtual gridiron for the latest entry into the long-running EA Sports Madden franchise. We are creatures of habit, after all. If there is a Madden title to play, we are going to play it. But should we? As in, should we even have that option every year around this time? Or is it time for a break?

Now contrary to what you may be thinking, I don’t pose these questions simply to shoot down this latest installment. It is not some sort of elaborate setup to dunk on a game that I can only describe as remarkably adequate. But it is something I’ve been thinking about a lot while experiencing all Madden 24 has to offer this past week.

Ever since the announcement of the two-part Haikyuu film, many fans have been waiting to see what happens next for the dynamic Karasuno team after the exciting cliffhanger of Season 4. But, of course, there’s a ton of more content to cover from the manga that will undoubtedly make you say, “One more!” with each thrilling match and training arc. So, if you want to start prepping for the kill, we’ll go over 10 moments we can’t wait to see in the Haikyuu finale. 

Before we go any further, it should be noted that there will be major spoilers for the Haikyuu manga, including upcoming showdowns and unexpected friendships. 

At long last, the Destiny 2 Final Shape DLC showcase is less than a week away. Bungie has announced this will be the final DLC of the “Light and Darkness Saga” for the game, however, Destiny 2 will still continue into a new Saga. With the excitement at an all-time high, there’s no better time to discuss the top 10 things we want to see from the Final Shape showcase.

PSA: This list is in no particular order.

Baldur’s Gate 3 has made a name for itself by giving players the creative freedom to essentially do whatever they want (and whoever they want.) As a result, many fans have found themselves in a bizarre situation in one way or another, leaning towards the game’s crude humor and overly provocative elements. So, if you want to sneak peek into these wild adventures, we’ll show you the weirdest/funniest things you can do in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Before we get into these whimsical interactions, it should be noted that there are minor spoilers for the game regarding specific choices for various side quests.

There are plenty of powerful cards in Marvel Snap. Zabu, Silver Surfer, Darkhawk, the list goes on. There are also a whole ton of truly awful and borderline unplayable cards in the game. Lady Deathstrike may very well be the newest addition to this list, which already includes the likes of Shanna and Crystal, both of which have gotten slight buffs in this week’s OTA update alongside Forge.

Here are the balance changes:

Splatoon 3’s one year anniversary is coming up in the beginning of September, and it comes with a pretty substantial free update to the game. In the coming weeks, you will notice some changes in the game as a new season, Drizzle Season 2023, starts. Since the update is so big, you might not have heard or seen everything that it includes. Here is everything new in the Splatoon 3 one-year anniversary update for you to enjoy.

New Stages

The new season of Splatoon 3 adds two new stages that will appear in rotation for Turf War and Anarchy Battle modes. Both are brand new stages that have never appeared in previous Splatoon games.

While it’s hard to say if this year has been above or below average for video game release date delays, there have definitely been quite a few. This can be attributed to many factors, but it still stings when a game you look forward to gets pushed back. It can also be difficult to keep track of the many game delays we have had, so we have created a list to help you keep track.

Blasphemous 2 on PC

If I could describe Blasphemous 2 in only a few words, it would have to be steady progress.

Though the changes made to the general design of the original might seem minimal, every tweak feels necessary and worthwhile. They come together to make the sequel that little bit better than the original, and ensure it can keep the franchise as a whole on an upward trend toward greater heights.

Baldur’s Gate 3 on PC

By the time I finished my playthrough of Baldur’s Gate 3, an insane sequence of events had taken place.

Characters both minor and integral to the plot had died in a variety of ways. Entire landscapes had been altered by my choices, and different factions of characters viewed me with both admiration and disdain after grueling battles. Some quests had been finished with the best outcomes possible, while others had ended without me ever realizing they needed my attention in the first place.

Baldur’s Gate 3 has been a massive hit since the RPG finally left Early Access a couple weeks ago. It hasn’t been without its flaws though, as players have reported quite a few bugs and errors that have plagued the game, including sporadic crashes and clipping. Most of these small issues have been address through various hotfixes released in the past couple weeks, but Larian Studios has a huge first patch planned for the game, which will address many more issues that have popped up since launch.

According to Larian Studios’ founder and CEO Swen Vincke, their current roadmap includes a fourth hotfix, followed by the game’s first patch, which will include 1,000 fixes and tweaks. Following that, we’ll get a second patch, which will incorporate features that players have been asking for.

While I’ve never been heavily invested in TTRPGs, I found myself persuaded into giving DND 5e a go with a group of friends, and have played through a few campaigns and one-shot stories over the last couple of years. Along the way, I’ve found myself favoring stealthy melee classes, the Rogue and Fighter in particular – often multiclassing them together in my favorite melee-magic combination of Arcane Trickster + Eldritch Knight.

Because I’m set in my ways, this is the build I immediately decided to recreate with my Mephistopheles Tiefling girl in Baldur’s Gate 3, kicking off with Rogue levels, and later taking a dip into Fighter. Upon selecting my build, I was excited to reach Level 3 and pick my first Spells and Cantrips, as I tend to have a few favorites from 5e that I was already planning to use and was eager to see how they had been edited to work efficiently in BG3.

It’s just another day mowing down hordes of otherworldly monstrosities as I hop from one post-apocalyptic dimension to the next. I’ve got my faithful doggo by my side and a full clip of ammo in my Blackmaw assault rifle. Things are looking peachy as I bring down several hulking bosses and put them in their virtual graves. But, wait! Why has Remnant 2 suddenly booted me back to the Xbox dashboard? That’s… odd.

Nothing to worry about, folks! Just need to load up my save and… OH! Why am I having major déjà vu vibes right now… isn’t this the place I was at, like, SIX HOURS AGO? Maybe those awesome rings and relics I found are still in my invent— nope, they’re gone, too. Oh, bummer.

Dungeons & Dragons is widely known for being popular amongst fans of fantasy and role-playing games, but for the average consumer, it might be a little bit intimidating to try to get into for the first time. There are a lot of mechanics that players need to pay attention to, and everyone plays the game so differently that it can be hard to offer a road map for those who don’t fully know how to play.

For those D&D noobs out there, you’ve no need to fear. If you’ve been looking to get into the game but felt that there were too many reasons keeping you out, then Baldur’s Gate 3 might just be the perfect stepping stone for you to begin your journey. From the game doing a lot of the work for you to being able to properly visualize the playing field, here’s 6 reasons D&D noobs should check out BG3.

The long-awaited Remnant 2 patch for Xbox Series X|S and PS5 users has finally arrived, bringing in a ton of new updates that improve the overall experience substantially.

The frame rate has seemingly been revamped after many fans noted its low quality during its launch. Any crashes you may have encountered have also been looked over, as Gunfire Games resolves problems with reported bugs.

Video game remasters are no rarity these days. They come along seemingly every other week, filling the void between bigger releases while reminding us of the “good ol’ days” everyone always clings to. In many instances, though, these “remasters” are lazy, half-hearted attempts to string a bit more cash out of a property while barely satiating the desires of fans who have wanted legacy games to be more readily available for years. This, however, is no such example.

Just under two years after Bethesda announced and subsequently shadow-dropped a remaster of the first Quake game at their QuakeCon event, the publisher has done it again, but this time with Quake II. It was inevitable that this would happen — especially given numerous leaks and ratings boards mentioning the game — but it’s nice to see it finally receive an official announcement. It was already wonderful to see the amount of love that went into the first Quake remaster, and once again, Nightdive Studios has gone above and beyond with this Quake II re-release. So much so, in fact, that the industry should be taking some notes.

Dungeons have been a staple PvE experience in Destiny 2 for quite some time now. As of the Lightfall DLC and Season of the Deep, seven have been added to the game since the Forsaken DLC, where they were first introduced. Ghosts of the Deep was the latest Dungeon added to the mix, and we won’t receive another until Season 23. With that in mind, there’s no better time to go over where each Dungeon stands on the tier list. So today, we’re going over the top 7 Dungeons in Destiny 2 ranked from worst to best.

With Modern Warfare 3 revealed by Activision and leaks about the upcoming installment stacking up, we’re taking a dive into three reasons to be excited for MW3… and three reasons to be worried it might not be a standout Call of Duty. With the positives first, let’s dive in.

If there’s one thing to know about Dungeons & Dragons both in its tabletop form or as a CRPG in the form of Baldur’s Gate 3, there’s a lot of lore. Everywhere you look, there’s something waiting to catch your eye, trap you with fascination and lure you into learning more about the world around you. BG3 holds to this trend better than I could have expected, with environmental details and conversations throughout the game that build the world from the inside out and keep you coming back for more.

Whether it be the sheer amount of variety in the spells you can choose from, the history of the world that all the characters know better than the player does, or the conflicts between races, there’s something to distract you from your main story quest at just about every step of the way. As someone with the attention span of an Owlbear, here’s five D&D rabbit holes that you can get sucked down in BG3.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is finally out of Early Access, and yeah, it’s been a total hit so far. It’s been lauded as one of the best and most immersive role-playing experiences since the release of Divinity: Original Sin 2, and for good reason. The DND-like RPG allows you to create a truly unique character, complete with fascinating background stories, traits, and side quests that are genuinely compelling.

There’s just one tiny little problem though: once you create your character, you can’t change their appearance after that. This is pretty much the bane of every gamer’s existence. Spend hours on character creation only to realize you may have messed up a little detail, and that’s just too bad. You’re stuck with it forever.

It may be hard to believe, but 2023 will mark 25 years since the Pokemon anime first premiered in the west. That’s a quarter century of battles, exploration, and boneheaded decisions by Ash Ketchum.

To commemorate this momentous landmark, we’re taking a look back by rewatching the earliest days of Pallet Town and beyond. Join us on this most marvellous trip down memory lane, and remember to stock up on Super Potions for the journey ahead!

The August Splatfest in Splatoon 3 is now over, and Team Money has been declared the winner. This weekend’s Splatfest set out to decide what is most important in life: money, fame, or love.

The five categories that decided the winner were a sneak peak round, popularity, open battles, pro battles, and tricolor battles.