Game Informer

Stellar Blade Is Based On The Bible, But Don’t Take It Too Seriously

Kyle Hilliard — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:05:00 CDT

<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/724969be/stellar_blade_1.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>Stellar Blade is out this week and our review, <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/review/stellar-blade/more-than-a-pretty-face">which you can read right here</a>, is positive. We liked the game and were impressed by the depth of its action and world-building. Ahead of its release, but after spending some time with the game, we had a chance to reconnect with Shift Up CEO and Stellar Blade director Hyung-Tae Kim <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2024/03/26/stellar-blade-feature-angel-from-heaven">after speaking with him earlier this year</a>. This time we spoke to him (through a translator) about inspirations for the game beyond Nier Automata (like the <em>Bible</em> and The Matrix), the approach to costumes and how they fit in the lore, and why having no minimaps in the game was a purposeful decision.</p> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bCQMHjDAJZU" width="640"></iframe> <p>Game Informer: There are multiple endings?</p> <p>Hyung-Tae Kim: There are multiple endings and actually, if you complete certain quests, there is a post-credits clip, as well.</p> <p>Is there an ending you prefer?</p> <p>This all depends on what choices and decisions the player makes throughout the game. There is no particular ending that I prefer. But then there is this hidden stage so I hope that players discover this and play that. If you want, I guess, a little happier ending then you will have to discover that post-credits clip.</p> <p>There's no gameplay reward for unlocking costumes, but they are an important incentive for the player. Why are the costumes so important?</p> <p>I do definitely believe that it is very charming for an iconic character to have this one iconic costume. But my strength is in character concept design. There was so much that I wanted to show to the world and to be able to convey that to the players. I decided that it would be a good idea to include different costumes, that was a good way to show what I wanted to show. And I also wanted the players to be able to go on a journey with the character in a style that they prefer. That's why.</p> <p>What is the process of choosing and creating a costume?</p> <p>It's not one method that is decided when creating the costumes. For example, the body suit – I designed it myself and then the 3D modeler; when they are done with the modeling of the costume, I will come back to it and then add more details and texture and typography and finish it for the game. Or for other costumes, we buy the actual clothes in real life, and then scan them, take the scan data, modify it so it looks more futuristic, and then complete it that way. So, it's very different. This way, you get to meet very diverse costumes in the game.</p> <p>And on top of that, sometimes, when you play the game, you will see some costumes that look like swimming suits. And for those costumes, it's very important to depict the skin texture like how it changes because of pressure and how it's pushed up, or how it folds, how it bends like the body and the flesh and the skin. That's very important when we're trying to detail. So, for this, we actually cast a real-life model and then had the model wear the costumes and scan the model to use the data.</p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2021/09/10/8b31ffdf/projecteve02.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>Is there a lore reason why Eve wears so many costumes? Is she interested in fashion?</p> <p>There was some kind of lore behind Eve showing a lot of interest in the costumes that were left behind on the surface of Earth. We did have that concept, and it was part of her character, but then we later decided that this doesn't really have to be shown in the game. We don't have to really make it known in the game, so that got taken out, but that lore still exists.</p> <p>Did you ever consider tying costumes to character upgrades?</p> <p>When making games in the past, I took it very seriously that I didn't connect the stats of the character and the costumes. It was important to me not to make it like that because if that happens, then only certain costumes will be picked by the users because they have better stats than the other outfits. I didn't want that to happen. I just wanted everyone to enjoy all kinds of different costumes that are provided in the game, regardless of the stats.</p> <p>But of course, if you don't wear anything at all, then it would be dangerous on the surface of a desolate Earth. So we did put a little bit of a disadvantage there if you're not wearing anything.</p> <p>Does the team see Eve as a Bayonetta-type figure who embraces her sexuality and uses it as a weapon?</p> <p>I don't think Eve is aware of those charms that she possesses, so she's not that kind of character. So, she won't be able to combine that central attractiveness that the Bayonetta character has and to be able to combine that with their battles. But then it's not fully decided how Eve will evolve in the future, and what kind of realization she'll be met with in the future, so I guess it would depend on the users and what they like and what kind of interest they show towards the game. Maybe Eve will go through some kind of… being more socialized and adjusted, and maybe she will get to have new realizations and become someone different.</p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/24/b42ed680/stellar-blade-ps5-review-2024-04-23_11-22-39_135259.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>Cans are an important collectible. Why cans?</p> <p>That may be a personal taste. I personally like different can designs. And also, I thought it'd be more realistic to use cans where the Earth is ruined. As one of the preserved goods, cans would make more sense than other elements. </p> <p>Are they based on real Korean brands?</p> <p>We tried to, but no can brands would partner with us to have a collaboration, so we had to create them all originally in-house. We also consulted someone who is an expert in designing can packaging. We hired that person to come up with designs that would make them look real. In the future, hopefully we'll be able to have a collaboration with a real-life brand. Especially Pepsi, which we are very interested in.</p> <p>Was a minimap ever considered? I would really like one in Xion.</p> <p>If you slide up on the touchpad, you have access to the map in Xion.</p> <p>Oh, but I want a little map that’s always available on the bottom corner of the screen.</p> <p>I wanted to show as little UI design on the screen as possible. That's why I didn't include the minimap on the screen. But then yes, it is pretty necessary in an open-world area. When it's a linear area, of course, there are other hidden paths, but if you use the map, then maybe it'll become too easy in this linear part of the game. That's why I wanted to avoid having the map there for the players to constantly use. But then yes, of course, in Xion, you will want to consult the map more because as things constantly change, you'll be given new quests constantly, so the map does become handy. I do actually recommend using the map there.</p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/113e3620/stellar_blade_5.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>In the movie The Matrix, there is the haven city of Zion. In Stellar Blade there is the haven city of Xion. In Stellar Blade there is a location called Matrix 11. The Matrix was co-directed by Lilly Wachowski. In Stellar Blade there is a character named Lily. Are these all coincidences, or is The Matrix a big inspiration for Stellar Blade?</p> <p>The Matrix is, of course, one of the movies that I love, but then rather than any direct inspiration or references that we got from the movie, you should see the <em>Bible</em> as more of a source of those inspirations. But then that doesn't mean this whole story was based on the <em>Bible</em>, heavily. It is more like they share similar lores.</p> <p>That makes sense because <em>The Matrix</em> looks to the Christian <em>Bible</em>, as well. And of course, Adam and Eve are both characters in in Stellar Blade. Is the <em>Bible</em> a primary source of inspiration?</p> <p>In terms of materials that we got for the plot, yes, the <em>Bible</em>, and yes it does have to do with the themes of the plot as well, but then ultimately, at the end of the day, this is an action-adventure game so when the players play this game, they can just take this lightly and just enjoy the game.</p> <p>When people think, “Oh, this was based on the <em>Bible</em>,” then they tend to take it more seriously and expect maybe a heavier, more serious story there. And of course, we're very thankful for that interpretation, but what we wanted to focus on was more the gameplay itself.</p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/ff2a1f22/stellar_blade_7.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>Why is there a setting to change the length of Eve’s ponytail?</p> <p>I actually personally like the long ponytail that Eve has because it adds more to the movement and the action and I see that as an important element, but then I also realized that this wouldn't be for everyone. Some people might find it annoying, or maybe it obstructs a certain outfit or the screen when moving around, and I thought that could be interrupting or disturbing to some people, so I also wanted to include the shorter ponytail. But then after that, there have been demands about middle-length ponytails or the option to be able to control the length of the ponytail and so on.</p> <p>Stellar Blade is out this year. There's another big game from a South Korean developer, The First Descendent coming out later this year. Does Shift Up feel it is a big year for Korean representation in video games?</p> <p>We do have a hope that, starting with Stellar Blade this year, it will be an outbreak year for South Korean developers. In the past, up until recently, actually, Korean games have been rather isolated from the world because the gaming market in Korea is mostly mobile-centric. For console games, it was hard for them to gain any attention and there wasn't that much of a point where other global users were getting to access these games. There haven't been that many overlapping elements there.</p> <p>But then, starting with Stellar Blade, hopefully, many global users will get to discover more Korean games and actually realize, “Oh, these are actually really good games!” And I'm starting with that; hopefully, other Korean developers will be more well-known. This year will be that year. And in that way, we even have a certain sense of duty there.</p> <p>Are you hoping to make a Stellar Blade sequel next, or does Shift Up want to do something different next?</p> <p>Right now, we’re focusing more on Stellar Blade – the game itself. We're focusing more on what the users will like, what they'll want to see more of, and what kind of additional content we'll be coming up. Hopefully, you'll enjoy the game that's coming out soon.</p> <p><em>For more on Stellar Blade you can read our previous feature on the game <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2024/03/26/stellar-blade-feature-angel-from-heaven">here</a>, and read <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/review/stellar-blade/more-than-a-pretty-face">Game Informer's Stellar Blade review here</a>.</em></p>

Another Crab's Treasure Review - Undercooked Adventure

Wesley LeBlanc — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:00:01 CDT

Reviewed on: PC
Platform: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Publisher: Aggro Crab
Developer: Aggro Crab
Release: <time datetime="2024-04-25T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">April 25, 2024</time>
Rating: Teen

<p>Another Crab's Treasure, as the name suggests, is a humorous and pun-filled world where the sea is your Soulslike oyster. A fork acts as your defacto sword, while various other remnants from above, like shot glasses, soda cans, and more, serve as your shield. With fork in hand and can on back, Kril, a shy but easygoing hermit crab, sets out into the aquatic kingdom to find his favorite shell, stolen from him by a loan shark tax collector. What follows is an adventure that excels at being an amusing and bright reprieve from the otherwise dark and terror-filled Soulslike genre. However, the action doesn’t hit the same highs; while unique and expansive in some ways, it feels too floaty, too imprecise, and too annoying too often, polluting an otherwise fun 15-hour jaunt through a trash-filled ocean. </p> <p>Developer Aggro Crab smartly leans into the game's premise, and the results often had me chuckling. Whether it was in-world jokes, pokes at real-world and human-made problems with the ocean, or simple wordplay (words like shuck, carp, cod, and more replace similar-sounding real-world curse words), I was constantly smiling while interacting with the various creatures of the ocean. Solid voice acting and design also make each NPC and boss a treat. </p> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EjGoS9rOSYw" width="640"></iframe> <p>This lean into the premise extends to the game's action, too, but it's less successful. To Aggro Crab's credit, the combat progresses meaningfully with distinct, eccentric mechanics and abilities. Instead of a standard weapon-based parry, you must hide in your shell and pop out of it right before an enemy strikes to parry properly; defeating a large crustacean boss grants you a special hammer claw-like ability for large sweeping strikes; "Umami" magic within each shell manifests in interesting ways, like a shot glass that splits into shards when attacked, a bowling ball-like roll within a tennis ball shell, or homing carbonation bubbles that shoot out of a soda can. </p> <p>Most of my joy in combat came from seeing the "new" – the special Umami magic in a new shell, the new ability gained after defeating a major boss, or the new stowaway attachment that increases my vitality or defense, for example. There's no shortage of quirkiness in the combat, and there's a respectable amount of departure that works from what I typically expect in a Soulslike. </p> <section class='type:slideshow'><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/22/760fe9b2/another_crabs_treasure2.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/22/3ce2c5d5/another_crabs_treasure4.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/22/9daae53d/another_crabs_treasure6.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/22/e04086f0/another_crabs_treasure7.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/22/8108e5f4/another_crabs_treasure8.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/22/51e60173/another_crabs_treasure9.jpg'></figure></section> <p>That's why it's a shame the foundation of the combat is so shaky. It's floaty, likely on purpose, considering Kril's adventure largely takes place underwater, but the tradeoff for that feel is impreciseness that doesn't work with such challenging gameplay. The camera is finicky, too, leaving me to fight various enemies at once who cornered me against a wall giving me no real view of what's happening. Critically, when I died in combat, it usually felt less like something I could personally improve on – an important aspect of the genre – and more like the game had cheated me into death. </p> <p>All of this is exacerbated by a story that starts strong before meandering into a rushed finale, with my least favorite area and a slew of bosses that each felt like they could have been the final in the game. It doesn't help that various game crashes and bugs in the final hours slowed my progression forward here. </p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/22/68560c02/another_crabs_treasure5.jpg" alt="another crab's treasure review game informer 7 10 aggro crab soulslike cartoon" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>Though the combat, which falls between serviceable and irritating, threatened my enjoyment, I still found delight in the currents of Another Crab's Treasure. Kril's reluctance to become a hero and his subsequent journey, messaging surrounding the dangers corporations pose to our oceans, and clever twists on the Soulslike formula deliver a satisfying, albeit uneven and flawed, wade through uncharted waters.</p> Encouraged by Aggro Crab to try the game out on Steam Deck, I was impressed with how well Another Crab’s Treasure performs on the handheld PC device. Its visuals popped on the smaller screen, and the performance rarely dipped below 30 FPS, often climbing higher, even to 60 FPS at some points. Locking the Steam Deck’s FPS to 40 ultimately made for the smoothest experience, and Steam’s cloud saving worked flawlessly, making Another Crab’s Treasure an easy game to play at a desktop or on the couch, Steam Deck in hand.

Score: 7

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Sand Land Review - Devil’s In The Details

Kyle Hilliard — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 10:00:00 CDT

Reviewed on: Xbox Series X/S
Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PC
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developer: Ilca
Release: <time datetime="2024-04-26T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">April 26, 2024</time>
Rating: Teen

<p>Sand Land is experiencing an oddly timed resurgence. Its creator, Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball), recently passed away unexpectedly, effectively pointing a spotlight on his 24-year-old creation just as it was being adapted to film, anime, and video game. The video game has been my entry point into this world with characters, vehicles, and architecture that all resemble Dragon Ball beyond even just an art style, and I enjoyed the opportunity to live in a brand new Toriyama world and story. Other elements of the game, like its animation and performances, vacillate between high and low quality, but ultimately, Sand Land is the kind of experience I want from adaptation – the opportunity to spend time in a big, realized world with a story that pulls you all the way through.</p> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uLN9qrJ8ESs" width="640"></iframe> <p>The Sand Land video game functions as both a retelling and a sequel to the 2000 manga. For franchise newcomers like myself, this is a fantastic entry point, but there is a jarring line in the narrative between old and wholly new. Moving beyond the borders of the Sand Land region, on a basic level, doesn’t make sense considering the world built up to that point. But, overall, I like the plot and was locked in to see where it was going early on, even if the characters lack depth. Outside of the overt bad guys, no one learns much in Sand Land, and its characters are basically fully defined from their first line of dialogue. Rao, however, stands out as a smart and committed do-gooder who is quickly accepting of everyone despite their differences – a rare character trait for someone whose accurate, uncreative nickname is “old man.”</p> <p>As Beelzebub, son of the demon king Lucifer, you decide to assist a human in bringing water back to a dehydrated world. This entails exploring large, open worlds with a collection of vehicles that you can call at any time. Swapping between a tank for skirmishes and a motorcycle to speed across the dunes is a quick process, but you do it so often that I admit getting frustrated with the slightly cumbersome swapping system. I also didn’t love that swapping between vehicles basically requires a full stop. It may sound like nitpicking, but every encounter in the game requires frequent vehicle swapping.</p> <p>Fighting enemies using your collection of vehicles is a highlight and, understandably, the focus of the game. Despite the focus on vehicle combat, the action feels closer to a third-person shooter and does a good job painting control styles between disparate vehicles. I favored the tank with its powerful guns and strong armor, but the jumping tank used to leap up mountains and the mech used to punch other robots are fun in their own way. Upgrading and customizing them is a slow process, and I rarely felt I was making big, impactful improvements by leveling up or swapping out vehicle parts, but I was always eager to check the garage and see what I could do to inch up my stats.</p> <section class='type:slideshow'><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/a5f2029a/5._geji_dragon.jpeg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/673198ac/6._run_away_from_geji_dragon.jpeg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/b063d26e/7._tank.jpeg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/a549faca/_01_c296.jpeg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/3d96be03/8._tank_battle.jpeg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/6867fc18/_02_125b_2.jpeg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/a1e10eb2/are.jpeg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/8bb0f0db/02_037.jpeg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/abc992d7/beelzebub_crew_2.jpeg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/f05da2b4/02_125b_1_r.jpeg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/7b03a173/beelzebub_crew.jpeg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/28f79c30/1._fiends_and_village.jpeg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/02e11c3d/lucifer.jpeg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/82e48272/2._beelzebub.jpeg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/efe3101a/rao.jpeg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/f095c1bf/3.satan_.jpeg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/18555b86/tank_circus.jpeg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/2258b186/4.rao_.jpeg'></figure></section>   <p>The process of upgrading the town of Spino is similarly rewarding as completing sidequests (many featuring genuinely interesting little stories and characters) brings new people to the growing town. Saving a painter in the middle of the desert, for example, opens up a shop where you can paint and decal your vehicles. You can even decorate the town with furniture, but I admit little interest in that aspect since all of my resources went into improving my vehicles.</p> <p>Sometimes, Beelzebub progresses without a vehicle, and these sections are generally annoying without ever being too difficult, thankfully. Beelzebub is a powerful demon with a literal garage of armored weapons in his back pocket but insists on occasionally sneaking around for interminable stealth sections. These parts of the game feel like they're from a different era of video games that we have left behind. The hand-to-hand combat scenarios aren’t as bad, but I was always eager to be back in a tank.</p> <p>Sand Land has its shortcomings and feels a little overlong despite seeing credits around the reasonable 20-hour mark, but it maintains a charm throughout. Toriyama’s fun sense of humor is front and center with Beelzebub taking on the adventure primarily so his dad will give him an extra hour of video game time every day. I may not have had strong connections with most of the cast and was annoyed with a number of specific sections, but I liked spending time in Sand Land (and beyond) and seeing my garage upgrade and grow.</p>

Score: 7.75

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Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble Preview - Getting Things Rolling Again

Brian Shea — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 09:00:00 CDT

Platform: PlayStation 5
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer: ShiftUp
Release: <time datetime="2024-04-26T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">April 26, 2024</time>

<p>After a long absence, the Super Monkey Ball series returned in 2019 and 2021 with <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="1f63411a-5f67-4548-b0b8-3a6453dffdcd" href="https://www.gameinformer.com/preview/2021/09/15/super-monkey-ball-banana-mania-new-gameplay-today">remasters and remakes of previous games</a>, but it's been over a decade since fans received an all-new Super Monkey Ball title. That changes in June, as Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is poised to deliver the continuation longtime players pine for. But with some recent mixed results, massive changes in game design best practices in the time since the series' heyday, and likely a whole lot of cobwebs to shake off for developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, I was skeptical about the viability of a new Super Monkey Ball in 2024. Thankfully, after spending an hour playing Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble, those fears have subsided almost entirely.</p> <p>Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble brings a ton of content and changes to the series while still remaining definitively Monkey Ball. Banana Rumble apes its freshest new move from Sega's flagship franchise, Sonic the Hedgehog. In previous Super Monkey Ball games, you could jump, but that ability is replaced by a Spin Dash, a technique in Sonic's moveset since Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in 1992. At first, I was unsure of this change, but as soon as I got my hands on it through the tutorial, all my concerns were dashed away.</p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/22/95745fb4/smb2.jpg" alt="Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble" title="Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>The Spin Dash fits incredibly well into the Super Monkey Ball formula, giving you a better flow through the levels but also letting you peel out and blast off ramps and lips to find shortcuts. During my hands-on session, my most thrilling moments came when I lined up and blasted through a level using the Spin Dash. It's useful for cutting corners in the stages, but it's essential for hitting the missions each level gives you, particularly when combined with the refreshed physics that make the series feel better than ever.</p> <p>As you play through the 200 all-new levels in Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble's Adventure mode, you can simply make it your goal to reach the end of the stage. However, if you want to be a completionist, each level has three side missions: One for collecting a set number of bananas, one for grabbing the Golden Banana, and one for completing the stage in a set amount of time. You don't have to get all of them in one go, but I still strived to do so during my demo. It quickly became apparent that I could complete the banana-centric missions during a normal playthrough of the level, I'd have to get crafty to finish some of the levels under the time target. That's where the Spin Dash and creative thinking come into play.</p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/d2269473/super_monkey_ball_banana_rumble_race.jpg" alt="Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble" title="Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>On one level, I waited for a moving platform to lift up, giving me enough airtime if I Spin Dashed into it at the right time to send me flying over the other platforms and into the goal. On another, I had to drop down at just the right point in the stage to skip huge swaths of the level and reach the goal faster, harkening back to games like Super Mario 64 in the best possible way. I loved tackling these head-scratching stages, and having only played through the first two worlds, I can't wait to see how the challenges escalate in the levels still to come. If you end up stuck on any level, you can turn on various assist options, including ghosts that show you optimal routes and checkpoints that let you continue the level if you fall off the platforms. As you complete these worlds, you earn trophies to display on your island, as well as in-game currency to purchase cosmetics in the shop.</p> <p>Outside of Adventure mode, I had a chance to participate in the Battle modes, which allow for up to 16 players online or 2 players locally. Since the game isn't out yet, I play against 15 bots, which will be an option in the final game if you want to fill out with up to 16 total competitors mixed in with your actual players.</p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/208080ef/super_monkey_ball_banana_rumble_ba-boom.jpg" alt="Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble" title="Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>The Battle modes give me a lot of hope for the multiplayer aspect of Banana Rumble. Whether it's the Mario Kart-style Race game, the collectathon Banana Hunt, or the fun risk/reward game of Goal Rush, where you players roll down a hill at high speeds to try and go through the highest scoring goals to contribute to your team's total, Banana Rumble delivers a diverse array of experiences within this suite. However, my two favorites are Ba-Boom, which is basically a game of tag where you need to pass off a bomb before the timer reaches zero and eliminates those with bombs, and Robot Smash, where you use momentum and the Spin Dash to blast into robots in the arena and rack up points for your team. I can't wait to actually get into these modes with real-world players, as they feel like they hold a surprising amount of depth for side modes.</p> <p>And that was my main takeaway from my time with Banana Rumble in general: I came away impressed by how the game feels like far more than surface delights and lighthearted fun. The puzzle-solving fan inside of me can't wait to figure out the best paths through the various Adventure mode levels, while the party-game lover is itching to play more rounds of the Battle mode titles. </p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/ef6641ed/super_monkey_ball_banana_rumble_robot_smash.jpg" alt="Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble" title="Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>I had an absolute blast during my time with Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble, and what I played was just a sampling of the content that awaits players. Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble arrives exclusively on Switch on June 25.</p> Purchase

Nintendo Switch Online: Every NES, SNES, Game Boy, N64, Sega Genesis, And GBA Game

Wesley LeBlanc — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 07:03:00 CDT

<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2022/07/01/58afc950/np_file_103789.jpeg" width="800" height="450" alt="Every Nintendo Switch Online Game" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>Nintendo has been slowly beefing up its library of games available to Nintendo Switch Online and Expansion Pack subscribers. </p> <p>What began as a library of just 20 NES games has grown to include dozens more. Plus, Nintendo has since introduced SNES, Nintendo 64, Game Boy, and even Sega Genesis games, giving players a chance to play some fan-favorite classics and some deep cuts, too. It’s hard to predict when new games might arrive as the company has maintained a somewhat inconsistent cadence in doing so, but that’s okay because this list is all you need. </p> <p>As Nintendo adds new titles, we’ll be sure to update this list to include them. If you’re looking for something specific, use this story’s Table of Contents to jump to the different consoles quickly. Here’s every NES, SNES, Game Boy, N64, Genesis, and GBA game added to Nintendo Switch Online. </p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2022/07/01/a40ac410/nes.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Added September 19, 2018</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Balloon Fight</li> <li aria-level="1">Baseball</li> <li aria-level="1">Donkey Kong</li> <li aria-level="1">Double Dragon</li> <li aria-level="1">Dr. Mario</li> <li aria-level="1">Excitebike</li> <li aria-level="1">Ghosts ‘n Goblins</li> <li aria-level="1">Gradius</li> <li aria-level="1">Ice Climber</li> <li aria-level="1">Ice Hockey</li> <li aria-level="1">The Legend of Zelda</li> <li aria-level="1">Mario Bros.</li> <li aria-level="1">Pro Wrestling</li> <li aria-level="1">River City Ransom</li> <li aria-level="1">Soccer</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Mario Bros.</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Mario Bros. 3</li> <li aria-level="1">Tecmo Bowl</li> <li aria-level="1">Tennis</li> <li aria-level="1">Yoshi</li> </ul><h4>Added October 10, 2018</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">The Legend of Zelda SP</li> <li aria-level="1">NES Open Tournament Golf</li> <li aria-level="1">Solomon’s Key</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Dodge Ball</li> </ul><h4>Added November 14, 2018</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Gradius SP (Stage 5)</li> <li aria-level="1">Metroid </li> <li aria-level="1">Mighty Bomb Jack</li> <li aria-level="1">NES Open Tournament Golf SP (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">TwinBee</li> </ul><h4>Added December 12, 2018</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Adventures of Lolo</li> <li aria-level="1">Adventures of Lolo 2 (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Dr. Mario SP</li> <li aria-level="1">Metroid SP (Ridley Battle)</li> <li aria-level="1">Ninja Gaiden</li> <li aria-level="1">Wario’s Woods</li> </ul><h4>Added January 16, 2019</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Blaster Master</li> <li aria-level="1">Ghosts ‘n Goblins SP</li> <li aria-level="1">Joy Mech Fight (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Ninja Gaiden SP</li> <li aria-level="1">Zelda II: Adventure of Link</li> </ul><h4>Added February 13, 2019</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Blaster Master SP</li> <li aria-level="1">Kirby’s Adventure</li> <li aria-level="1">Metroid SP (Mother Brain Battle)</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Mario Bros. 2</li> <li aria-level="1">Tsuppari Oozumou (Japan only)</li> </ul><h4>Added March 13, 2019</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Kid Icarus</li> <li aria-level="1">Kirby’s Adventure SP</li> <li aria-level="1">StarTropics</li> <li aria-level="1">Yie Ar Kung-Fu (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Zelda II: The Adventure of Link SP</li> </ul><h4>Added April 10, 2019</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Kid Icarus SP</li> <li aria-level="1">Punch-Out!</li> <li aria-level="1">Star Soldier</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels</li> </ul><h4>Added May 15, 2019</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Clu Clu Land</li> <li aria-level="1">Clu Clu Land: Welcome to New Cluclu Land (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Donkey Kong Jr.</li> <li aria-level="1">Star Soldier SP</li> <li aria-level="1">Vs. Excitebike</li> </ul><h4>June 12, 2019</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">City Connection</li> <li aria-level="1">Double Dragon II: The Revenge</li> <li aria-level="1">TwinBee SP</li> <li aria-level="1">Volleyball</li> </ul><h4>Added July 17, 2019</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Donkey Kong 3</li> <li aria-level="1">Mighty Bomb Jack</li> <li aria-level="1">Wrecking Crew</li> </ul><h4>Added August 21, 2019</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Downtown Nekketsu Koshinkyoku: Soreyuke Daiundokai (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Gradius SP (Second Loop)</li> <li aria-level="1">Kung Fu Heroes</li> <li aria-level="1">Vice: Project Doom</li> </ul><h4>Added December 12, 2019</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Crystallis</li> <li aria-level="1">Famicom Wars (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Journey to Silius</li> <li aria-level="1">Route-16 Turbo (Japan only)</li> </ul><h4>Added February 29, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Atlantis no Nazo (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Eliminator Boat Duel</li> <li aria-level="1">Shadow of the Ninja</li> </ul><h4>Added April 20, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light SP (Medeus Battle) (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light SP (Triangle Attack) (Japan only)</li> </ul><h4>Added May 20, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Rygar </li> </ul><h4>Added July 15, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">The Immortal</li> </ul><h4>Added September 23, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team</li> </ul><h4>Added December 18, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Nightshade</li> <li aria-level="1">Smash Ping Pong (Japan only)</li> </ul><h4>Added February 17, 2021</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Fire ‘n Ice</li> </ul><h4>Added May 26, 2021</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Ninja JaJaMaru-kun</li> </ul><h4>Added July 28, 2021</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Super Mario Bros. 3 SP</li> </ul><h4>Added February 9, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">EarthBound Beginnings</li> </ul><h4>Added March 30, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Dig Dug II</li> <li aria-level="1">Mappy-Land</li> </ul><h4>Added May 26, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Pinball</li> </ul><h4>Added July 22, 2022</h4> <ul><li>Daiva Story 6 Imperial of Nirsartia</li> </ul><h4>Added March 16, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Xevious </li> </ul><h4>Added June 6, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Mystery Tower</li> </ul><h4>Added September 5, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Joy Mech Fight</li> <li>Downtown Nekketsu March Super-Awesome Field Day!</li> </ul><h4>Added October 31, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Devil World</li> <li>The Mysterious Murasame Castle</li> </ul><h4>Added February 21, 2024</h4> <ul><li>R.C. Pro-Am</li> <li>Snake Rattle 'N' Roll</li> </ul> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2022/07/01/53fa8cc2/snes.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Added September 5, 2019</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Brawl Brothers</li> <li aria-level="1">Breath of Fire</li> <li aria-level="1">Demon’s Crest</li> <li aria-level="1">F-Zero</li> <li aria-level="1">Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics</li> <li aria-level="1">Kirby’s Dream Course</li> <li aria-level="1">Kirby’s Dream Land 3</li> <li aria-level="1">The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past</li> <li aria-level="1">Pilotwings</li> <li aria-level="1">Smash Tennis</li> <li aria-level="1">Star Fox</li> <li aria-level="1">Stunt Race FX</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Earth Defense Force</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Mario Kart</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Mario World</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Metroid</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Puyo Puyo 2</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Soccer</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Tennis</li> </ul><h4>Added December 12, 2019</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Breath of Fire II</li> <li aria-level="1">Kirby Super Star</li> <li aria-level="1">Star Fox 2</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Punch-Out!</li> </ul><h4>Added February 19, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Pop’n TwinBee</li> </ul><h4>Added May 20, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Operation Logic Bomb</li> <li aria-level="1">Panel de Pon</li> <li aria-level="1">Wild guns</li> </ul><h4>Added July 15, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Donkey Kong Country</li> <li aria-level="1">Natsume Championship Wrestling</li> <li aria-level="1">Shin Megami Tensei (Japan only)</li> </ul><h4>Added September 3, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Super Mario All-Stars</li> </ul><h4>Added September 23, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong’s Quest</li> <li aria-level="1">Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Mario’s Super Picross</li> <li aria-level="1">The Peace Keepers</li> </ul><h4>Added December 18, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble!</li> <li aria-level="1">The Ignition FActor</li> <li aria-level="1">Kunio-kun no Dodgeball da yo Zen’in Shugo (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Sugoi Hebereke (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Valis IV</li> <li aria-level="1">Tuff E Nuff</li> </ul><h4>Added February 17, 2021</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Doomsday Warrior</li> <li aria-level="1">Prehistorik Man</li> <li aria-level="1">Psycho Dream</li> <li aria-level="1">Shin Megami Tensei II (Japan only)</li> </ul><h4>Added May 26, 2021</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Joe & Mac</li> <li aria-level="1">Magical Drop II</li> <li aria-level="1">Spanky’s Quest</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Baseball Simulator 1.000</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Mario Kart SP</li> </ul><h4>Added July 28, 2021</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Bombuzal</li> <li aria-level="1">Claymates</li> <li aria-level="1">Jelly Boy</li> <li aria-level="1">Shin Megami Tensei If… (Japan only)</li> </ul><h4>Added February 9, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">EarthBound</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Metroid SP</li> </ul><h4>Added March 30, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Earthworm Jim 2</li> <li aria-level="1">Harvest Moon</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Mario World SP</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Punch-Out! SP</li> </ul><h4>Added May 26, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Congo’s Caper</li> <li aria-level="1">Rival Turf!</li> <li aria-level="1">Umihara Kawase (Japan only)</li> </ul><h4>Added June 9, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Kirby Super Star SP</li> <li aria-level="1">Kirby’s Dream Course SP</li> <li aria-level="1">Kirby’s Dream Land 3 SP</li> </ul><h4>Added July 22, 2022</h4> <ul><li>Fighter's History</li> <li>Kirby's Avalanche</li> </ul><h4>Added March 16, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Side Pocket</li> </ul><h4>Added June 6, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Harvest Moon</li> </ul><h4>Added September 5, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Kirby's Star Stacker</li> </ul><h4>Added February 21, 2024</h4> <ul><li>Battletoads in Battlemaniacs</li> <li>Killer Instinct</li> </ul><h4>Added April 12, 2024</h4> <ul><li>Amazing Hebereke</li> <li>Super R-Type</li> <li>Wrecking Crew '98</li> </ul> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2023/02/09/6d06d466/game_boy_nso.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Added February 8, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare</li> <li>Game & Watch Gallery 3</li> <li>Gargoyle's Quest</li> <li>Kirby's Dream Land</li> <li>The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX</li> <li>Metroid II: Return of Samus</li> <li>Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins</li> <li>Tetris</li> <li>Wario Land 3</li> </ul><h4>Added March 16, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Kirby's Dream Land 2</li> <li>BurgerTime Deluxe</li> </ul><h4>Added June 6, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Kirby Tilt 'N' Tumble</li> <li>Blaster Master: Enemy Below</li> </ul><h4>Added July 26, 2023</h4> <ul><li>The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages</li> <li>The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons</li> </ul><h4>Added August 8, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Pokémon Trading Card Game</li> </ul><h4>Added September 5, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Quest for Camelot</li> </ul><h4>Added October 31, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Castlevania Legends</li> </ul><h4>Added March 12, 2024</h4> <ul><li>Dr. Mario</li> <li>Mario Golf</li> <li>Mario Tennis</li> </ul> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2022/07/01/a46d67a0/n64.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Added October 25, 2021</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Dr. Mario 64</li> <li aria-level="1">The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time</li> <li aria-level="1">Mario Kart 64</li> <li aria-level="1">Mario Tennis</li> <li aria-level="1">Sin and Punishment</li> <li aria-level="1">Star Fox 64</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Mario 64</li> <li aria-level="1">WinBack</li> <li aria-level="1">Yoshi’s Story</li> </ul><h4>Added December 10, 2021</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Paper Mario</li> </ul><h4>Added January 20, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Banjo-Kazooie</li> </ul><h4>Added February 25, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask</li> </ul><h4>Added March 11, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">F-Zero X</li> </ul><h4>Added April 15, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Mario Golf</li> </ul><h4>Added May 20, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Kirby 64, The Crystal Shards</li> </ul><h4>Added June 24, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Pokémon Snap</li> </ul><h4>Added July 15, 2022</h4> <ul><li>Pokémon Puzzle League</li> </ul><h4>Added August 15, 2022</h4> <ul><li>Wave Racer 64</li> </ul><h4>Added October 12, 2022</h4> <ul><li>Pilotwings 64</li> </ul><h4>Added November 2, 2022</h4> <ul><li>Mario Party</li> <li>Mario Party 2</li> </ul><h4>Added January 27, 2023</h4> <ul><li>GoldenEye 007</li> </ul><h4>Added April 12, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Pokémon Stadium</li> </ul><h4>Added August 8, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Pokémon Stadium 2</li> </ul><h4>Added August 30, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Excitebike 64</li> </ul><h4>Added October 27, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Mario Party 3</li> </ul><h4>Added December 7, 2023</h4> <ul><li>1080° Snowboarding</li> <li>Harvest Moon 64</li> <li>Jet Force Gemini</li> </ul><h4>Added February 21, 2024</h4> <ul><li>Blast Corps</li> </ul><h4>Added April 24, 2024</h4> <ul><li>Extreme G</li> <li>Iggy's Reckin' Balls</li> </ul> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2022/07/01/fa6405b6/genesis.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Added October 25, 2021</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Castlevania: Bloodlines</li> <li aria-level="1">Contra: Hard Corps</li> <li aria-level="1">Dro. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine</li> <li aria-level="1">Ecco the Dolphin</li> <li aria-level="1">Golden Axe</li> <li aria-level="1">Gunstar Heroes</li> <li aria-level="1">MUSHA</li> <li aria-level="1">Phantasy Star IV</li> <li aria-level="1">Puyo Puyo (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Ristar</li> <li aria-level="1">Shining Force</li> <li aria-level="1">Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master</li> <li aria-level="1">Sonic the Hedgehog 2</li> <li aria-level="1">Streets of Rage 2</li> <li aria-level="1">Strider</li> </ul><h4>Added December 16, 2021</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Altered Beast</li> <li aria-level="1">Dynamite Headdy</li> <li aria-level="1">Sword of Vermillion</li> <li aria-level="1">Thunder Force II</li> <li aria-level="1">ToeJam & Earl</li> </ul><h4>Added March 16, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Alien Soldier </li> <li aria-level="1">Light Crusader</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Fantasy Zone</li> </ul><h4>Added April 21, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Shining Force II</li> <li aria-level="1">Sonic Spinball</li> <li aria-level="1">Space Harrier II</li> </ul><h4>Added June 30, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Comix Zone</li> <li aria-level="1">Mega Man: The Wily Wars</li> <li aria-level="1">Target Earth</li> <li aria-level="1">Zero Wing</li> </ul><h4>Added September 15, 2022</h4> <ul><li>Alisia Dragoon</li> <li>Beyond Oasis</li> <li>Earthworm Jim</li> </ul><h4>Added December 12, 2022</h4> <ul><li>Alien Storm</li> <li>Columns</li> <li>Golden Axe II</li> <li>Virtua Fighter 2</li> </ul><h4>Added April 19, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Flicky</li> <li>Kid Chameleon</li> <li>Pulseman</li> <li>Street Fighter II': Special Champion Edition</li> </ul><h4>Added June 27, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Ghouls 'n Ghosts</li> <li>Crusader of Centy</li> <li>Landstalker</li> <li>The Revenge of Shinobi</li> </ul> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2023/02/09/d2fb042d/gba_nso_expansion.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Added February 8, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Kuru Kuru Kururin</li> <li>The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap</li> <li>Mario Kart: Super Circuit</li> <li>Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga</li> <li>Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3</li> <li>WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames</li> </ul><h4>Added March 8, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Metroid Fusion</li> </ul><h4>Added May 26, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Super Mario Advance</li> <li>Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2</li> <li>Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3</li> </ul><h4>Added June 23, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Fire Emblem </li> </ul><h4>Added September 22, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Kirby & The Amazing Mirror</li> </ul><h4>Added January 17, 2024</h4> <ul><li>Golden Sun</li> <li>Golden Sun: The Lost Age</li> </ul><h4>Added March 29, 2024</h4> <ul><li>F-Zero Maximum Velocity</li> </ul><p><em>Be sure to check back monthly to see if Nintendo’s dropped any new games onto Nintendo Switch Online. </em></p>

Everything We Know About ND-5, Kay's Droid Companion In Star Wars Outlaws

Brian Shea — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 14:00:00 CDT

Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Massive Entertainment
Release: <time datetime="2024-08-30T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">August 30, 2024</time>

<p>The June 2023 reveal of Star Wars Outlaws gave us our first glimpse of <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="3c5ccbc1-8bbb-4097-86f7-9738dad6e891" href="https://www.gameinformer.com/preview/2024/04/15/meet-kay-and-nix">Kay Vess and Nix</a>, the two protagonists of the game. From talking with Massive Entertainment during our recent trip out to Sweden to get our hands on Star Wars Outlaws, it sounds as though their bond will be special. However, they aren't on this journey alone, as they are joined by a trenchcoat-wearing BX-commando droid named ND-5. Though Kay and Nix were greater points of emphasis during our studio visit, we had to ask the developers about the internet-popular droid that joins the Star Wars Outlaws adventure.</p> <p>ND-5 joins Kay Vess in her trip around the Outer Rim and beyond, but he has a long history in the Star Wars galaxy prior to meeting up with Kay. "He is a BX-commando droid – a veteran of the Clone Wars – and he works as an enforcer droid for a character named Jaylen," associate narrative director John Björling says. "ND-5 is there to make sure that Kay follows through with the heist job, but together, they're going to face some big challenges and really get to know one another."</p> <p>The job that Björling refers to is referenced in the latest story trailer (see below). At the start of her adventure, Kay crosses Sliro, the leader of the Zerek Besh criminal syndicate, resulting in him putting a bounty on her head. Jaylen Vrax and ND-5 drop in on Kay to offer her a path forward. The only way she sees out of it is to pull off the ultimate heist to earn her freedom.</p> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tcdKEy-aJ6o" width="640"></iframe> <p>Since Kay meets ND-5 early on, he plays a crucial role in the story, as well as Kay's mission to pull off this heist. Because he has experience in the Clone Wars and the criminal underworld, he's a valuable asset to her. "He comes from the Clone Wars and he is wearing a lot of emotional kind of baggage from that," Björling says. "He's an enforcer droid and he's seen a lot and he has a lot of experience in the underworld. Matching him up with Kay, it feels like the perfect kind of combination because she's new to that world; she doesn't know the key syndicates and the major players, but ND-5 is there to guide her and support her as they are moving towards the mark."</p> <p>The reveal of ND-5 <a href="https://kotaku.com/star-wars-outlaws-release-date-commando-droid-nd5-1850534004">inspired a lot of <em>excitement</em></a>, with much social media attention put on his design. "First of all, I was very excited to see the fans' reactions to ND-5's design; it was really great to have all these reactions, and I think it really added to his character," associate art director Marthe Jonkers says with a smile. "For his design, we really had a similar approach as we did to all the other characters in really trying to show his background story in his look. So, of course, he's a BX-commando droid. He was made by separatists during the Clone Wars. He's been through a lot; you see that – he has a scar on his chest, but he tries to hide that with his jacket. You will find out more about him in the game, so I'm not going to spoil too much, but you know, he's walking a bit [lumbering]. He's usually sitting hunched over. And, you know, we tried to put a lot of personality into this droid by using these kinds of elements. I'm really happy that people really picked up on them and he became very popular. I think he's a super interesting character and I'm looking forward to people playing the game and finding out more about him."</p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/22/250f4fff/swokey.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> ND-5 graces the box and key art of Star Wars Outlaws, all but guaranteeing he's a major player in the game <p>Star Wars Outlaws arrives on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on August 30. For more exclusive information about Star Wars Outlaws, be sure to visit our exclusive coverage hub at the banner below.</p> Purchase

The Latest Minecraft Update Adds Wolf Armor, Wolf Breeds, And Armadillos

Charles Harte — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 10:08:57 CDT

<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/6737a623/armored-paws-header.jpg" width="800" height="337" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>Taming a wolf in Minecraft is one of the game's simplest joys, and no matter how many times I start a new world, I always hoard bones in case I encounter one. But once you've adopted a canine companion, you probably hide them away in a house for safe-keeping, shielding them from the horrors of the game's hostile mobs. Today, Minecraft is adding a way to make them a little stronger – wolf armor.</p> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UKF91_m_B2Q" width="640"></iframe> <p>Like leather armor, wolf armor can be colored using dyes in-game, so if you've got multiple adopted animals, it'll still be easy to tell them apart. This variation is separate from the collar colors as well, creating plenty of possibilities. Even better, the game is also adding wolf fur variants for the first time, bringing eight new patterns for a total of nine. Each variant (Pale, Woods, Ashen, Black, chestnut, Rusty, Spotted, Striped, and Snowy) spawns in a specific biome. You can take a look at all the new breeds in the gallery below.</p> <section class='type:slideshow'><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/c53305fb/snowy_wolfarticle_image_1280x720.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/fdb5e87f/spotted_wolfarticle_image_1280x720.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/339a4fd2/striped_wolfarticle_image_1280x720.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/1c102aa0/woods_wolfarticle_image_1280x720.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/9f20665f/ashen_wolf_with_puparticle_image_1280x720.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/d0aee770/black_wolfarticle_image_1280x720.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/98e9be24/chestnut_wolfarticle_image_1280x720.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/3a3dc46a/pale_wolfarticle_image_1280x720.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/1750129a/rusty_wolfarticle_image_1280x720.jpg'></figure></section>   <p>Of course, players will need to be able to craft this wolf armor as well, which is where the new mob, the armadillo, comes in. These armored relatives of anteaters can be found in savannah or badland biomes, where they can be seen strolling around and curling into a defensive ball when certain enemies come near. Armadillos drop armadillo scutes, which are used to make the wolf armor, but the developers have reassured players that they can be brushed rather than defeated, so you won't have to go on an armadillo massacre to protect your pets. Armadillos can also be used to scare away spiders since they eat insects and arachnids in real life, and spider eyes can be used to breed them if you want to make your own armadillo farm.</p> <p><a href="https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/minecraft-java-edition-1-20-5">You can read the rest of the notes for the 1.20.5 update right here.</a></p>

Fortnite Adds New Setting To Hide 'Confrontational Emotes'

Wesley LeBlanc — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 08:41:04 CDT

<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/ac646ee6/fortnite_take_the_l_emote_change.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="fornite confrontational emotes setting fortnite take the l" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>Epic Games has revealed a new setting for Fortnite that allows players to hide emotes the company considers "confrontational." This doesn't outright ban these emotes from the game and those with them can still use them, but if someone has this new setting turned off, they won't see others use them. </p> <p>Called "See Confrontational Emotes," players can choose whether they want to see emotes like "Laugh It Up," "Take the L," "Whipcrack," and "Make It Plantain" from anyone, from friends in a party, or never. Epic <a href="https://www.fortnite.com/news/new-see-confrontational-emotes-setting-in-fortnite">says</a> players who have these emotes hidden with this new setting will see a player using the emote standing still, with no emote sound. </p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/4b2c83bd/fortnite_menu_change.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>This new setting can be found under "Social Privacy" in the Fortnite settings and it defaults to only show these confrontational emotes from friends in your party. Epic stresses that this setting does not change a player's ability to use any emotes. It is now live in-game. </p> <p>For more about Fortnite, <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2024/04/09/avatar-the-last-airbender-skins-now-available-in-fortnite">check out these <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender </em>skins now available in the game</a>, and then read about how <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2024/04/15/fortnites-next-star-wars-crossover-will-span-lego-festival-and-battle-royale-modes">Fortnite's next Star Wars crossover will span Lego, Fortnite Festival, and Battle Royale</a>. After that, read about how <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2024/04/22/billie-eilish-is-headlining-fortnite-festival-season-3">Billie Eilish is headlining Fortnite Festival Season 3</a>. </p> <p><em>How do you feel about this new emote setting? Let us know in the comments below!</em></p>

Metaphor: ReFantazio Gets October Release Date In New Gameplay Trailer

Wesley LeBlanc — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 07:47:45 CDT

<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/19bbc971/metaphor_refantazio_header.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="Metaphor: ReFantazio gameplay trailer release date october 11 2024" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>Publisher Atlus and developer Studio Zero have released a new trailer for the upcoming fantasy RPG, <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/product/metaphor-refantazio">Metaphor: ReFantazio</a>, and it features plenty of new gameplay. It also reveals Metaphor: ReFantazio will hit PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on October 11. </p> <p>Dubbed "The King's Trial," this new trailer sets up a bit of the Metaphor: ReFantazio's world more, highlighting a tournament for the king's throne at the center of the narrative. It seems our protagonist and the friends and allies they encounter along the way are vying for a crown that others are also after. In order to claim it, players must complete trials across the lands, proving their worth. </p> <p><strong>Check it out for yourself in the Metaphor: ReFantazio gameplay trailer below</strong>: </p> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zmMz9QjUHmA" width="640"></iframe> <p>As you can see, Metaphor: ReFantazio continues to look excellent, with its Persona inspirations on full display. That's not surprising, though, considering Studio Zero is composed of various leads from Atlus' popular Persona series, including the latest in the franchise, <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/games/persona_5/b/playstation4/archive/2017/03/29/persona-5-review-game-informer.aspx">Persona 5</a>. </p> <p>If you've played <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/review/persona-5-royal/persona-5-royal-review-revealing-its-true-form">Persona 5 Royal</a>, or even the recently released <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/review/persona-3-reload/into-the-light">Persona 3 Reload</a>, then you know we're likely in for a treat when it comes to a few things: combat, narrative, and art. And if this new look at the game's menu are any indication, the Persona team has been cooking something special for Metaphor: ReFantazio. </p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/ec41a0b9/metaphor_refantazio_menu.jpg" alt="Metaphor: ReFantazio gameplay trailer release date october 11 2024" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>The trailer also reveals Metaphor: ReFantazio will get a special Collector's Edition for $149.99. The game's standard release will cost $69.99.</p> <p><strong>Here's what the Collector's Edition looks like</strong>: </p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/02729ac8/metaphor_refantazio_collectors_edition.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>Metaphor: ReFantazio hits PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on October 11, 2024. </p> <p>For more about the game, <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/xbox-games-showcase/2023/06/11/persona-makers-announce-metaphor-refantazio">watch the Metaphor: ReFantazio reveal trailer.</a> Read <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/review/persona-5-royal/persona-5-royal-review-revealing-its-true-form"><em>Game Informer's </em>Persona 5 Royal review</a>, and then read <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/review/persona-5-tactica/one-more-uprising"><em>Game Informer's </em>Persona 5 Tactica review</a> after that. </p> <p><em>Are you picking up Metaphor: ReFantazio on day one? Let us know in the comments below!</em></p>

Billie Eilish Is Headlining Fortnite Festival Season 3

Charles Harte — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 11:03:54 CDT

<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/22/1f79ec6c/billie-eilish-fortnite-large.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>With the introduction of Fortnite Festival, Epic's rhythm game within the chart-topping Battle Royale, there's more incentive than ever for musicians to have their likenesses added to the game. The latest of these artists is Billie Eilish, who announced her collaboration with the game <a href="https://x.com/billieeilish/status/1782439458216042970">on social media earlier today</a>.</p> <blockquote class="tw-align-center twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">Fortnite Festival Main Stage: 4.23.24 <a href="https://t.co/dxaQBsqD4A">pic.twitter.com/dxaQBsqD4A</a></p> — billie eilish (@billieeilish) <a href="https://twitter.com/billieeilish/status/1782439458216042970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <p>Eilish is not just getting a skin added to the game (like <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="532b57f2-62c6-43c4-9680-d594b69b4b9d" href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2023/11/22/eminem-is-coming-to-fortnite" style="font-size: 1.7rem;">Eminem</a>, for example), she's the next headliner for Fortnite Festival's main stage event, which will start tomorrow, April 23. This includes a set of artist-specific rotating songs players can compete for high scores in, as well as unlockable skins, songs, instruments, and other cosmetics, though unlocking all of these requires the purchase of the pricey 1,800 V-Buck Festival Pass. Previous headliners were <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="a0a3f08a-d3a8-4932-9580-955c3d2b3ff3" href="https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2023/12/11/fortnite-festival-season-1-is-live-epic-confirms-rock-band-controller-support" style="font-size: 1.7rem;">The Weeknd</a> and <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="8bfcc084-7394-49bc-87ad-83b345a2f921" href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2024/02/20/lady-gaga-is-coming-to-fortnite" style="font-size: 1.7rem;">Lady Gaga</a>.</p> <p>Eilish recently made headlines for winning a Grammy, Golden Globe, and Oscar for "What Was I Made For" from the Barbie movie, which is a task she's now accomplished twice. Even more recently, she announced her upcoming album Hit Me Hard And Soft, which is likely her main marketing incentive for appearing in the game. For more Fortnite, check out the current <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="f5b5da80-dc07-4895-9626-9cdca5c3d817" href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2024/04/09/avatar-the-last-airbender-skins-now-available-in-fortnite">Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover</a> and read about <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2024/04/15/fortnites-next-star-wars-crossover-will-span-lego-festival-and-battle-royale-modes">the upcoming Star Wars event</a>.</p> <p><em>Will you be buying Eilish's festival pass? Which artist do you want to see in Fortnite next? Let us know in the comments!</em></p>

Tales Of The Shire's First Trailer Reveals It Is Middle-Earth Animal Crossing With Hobbits

Wesley LeBlanc — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 11:00:01 CDT

<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/22/442cc0d7/tales_of_the_shire_heder.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="the lord of the rings tales of the shire first trailer screenshots gameplay animal crossing middle earth hobbits" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>Developer Wētā Workshop and publisher Private Division have released the first trailer for <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/product/tales-of-the-shire">Tales of the Shire</a>, and it showcases what looks like a Middle-earth Animal Crossing game with hobbits and a cozy place to call home. This trailer arrives <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2024/04/10/were-getting-our-first-tales-of-the-shire-trailer-later-this-month">after the companies teased releasing the first Tales of the Shire trailer this month</a>, following <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2023/09/22/tales-of-the-shire-is-a-cozy-lord-of-the-rings-game-coming-next-year">the game's reveal last year</a>. </p> <p>In Tales of the Shire, players will create their own Hobbit before setting forth into Bywater, the shire setting of the game. Here, players can forage fruits and herbs, tend to gardens, fish, trade with townsfolk, and more, all while working to help Bywater, which has not yet been established as an official village in Hobbiton, flourish. </p> <p>"Greet comfort at the door as you deocrate your own Hobbit hole, tend to your garden, fish at the clear ponds, forage wild fruits and herbs, or trade with townsfolk, " a press release reads. "Prepare homemade meals to share with fellow Hobbits and foster relationships. With much to see and lots more to eat, enjoy days of splendor in the picturesque forests, lakes, and pastures."</p> <p><strong>Check out the first official Tales of the Shire trailer for yourself below</strong>: </p> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Kzb87t6FksY" width="640"></iframe> <p>Tales of the Shire's Hobbit hole customization features grid-free placement, allowing players to put furniture and home decor anywhere they want, however they want. You can harvest seasonal crops and flowers as time passes in your homestead, and stock your Hobbit hole pantry afterward. Plus, you can cook using unique recipes, partake in second breakfast, and even host dinner parties with other Hobbits in Bywater. Sharing meals with guests will create new relationships to cultivate as the seasons go by. </p> <p>Wētā Workshop says ever-changing weather will affect daily routines and bring seasonal surprises to Bywater. You can obtain rewards through story progression all while meeting familiar and iconic characters, too. You can trade with them for upgrades to skills, clothes, your home, and more, and joining clubs and completing missions and daily activities will further Bywater's status as an official village. </p> <p><strong>Here are some screenshots from Tales of the Shire</strong>: </p> <section class='type:slideshow'><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/22/606e17fc/tots_screenshot_announce_01-3840x2160.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/22/7a9e2b94/tots_screenshot_announce_02-3840x2160.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/22/d2843155/tots_screenshot_announce_03-3840x2160.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/22/60be9147/tots_screenshot_announce_04-3840x2160.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/22/0c7f87e3/tots_screenshot_announce_05-3840x2160.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/22/83c772f2/tots_screenshot_announce_06-3840x2160.jpg'></figure></section>   <p>For more about the game, head to <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/product/tales-of-the-shire"><em>Game Informer's </em>Tales of the Shire hub</a>. </p> <p><em>Are you excited for Tales of the Shire? Let us know in the comments below!</em></p>

ID@Xbox Digital Showcase Announced For Next Week

Charles Harte — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 10:10:40 CDT

<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/22/4e8fb3ad/idatxbox-promo_blogroll-01_jpg-1dd5b5f6d71a35f9cb71.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>Summer Game Fest is just a few months away, but that's not stopping Xbox from hosting its own indie event next week. Partnering with IGN, the ID@Xbox Digital Showcase will air live next Monday, April 29, at 10 AM PT/ 1 PM ET. The event will feature "epic trailers, fresh gameplay, and new reveals," <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/04/22/ign-x-idxbox-digital-showcase-returns/">according to the announcement blog</a>.</p> <blockquote class="tw-align-center twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en" xml:lang="en">This announcement is brought to you by great indie games 📣<br /><br /> Tune in to the ID@Xbox x IGN Showcase on April 29 at 10am PT: <a href="https://t.co/ODYWGtHqzB">https://t.co/ODYWGtHqzB</a> <a href="https://t.co/KdkACE03Ri">pic.twitter.com/KdkACE03Ri</a></p> — Xbox (@Xbox) <a href="https://twitter.com/Xbox/status/1782425383847010615?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <p>They've also given a heads-up on some games we can expect to see. Vampire Survivors, <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/goty-2022/2022/12/23/game-informers-top-10-games-of-2022">which cracked our top ten games of the year back in 2022</a>, has been on the platform for some time now, but recently <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2024/04/10/vampire-survivors-is-getting-contra-dlc-next-month-ps5-release-this-summer">announced a new expansion featuring weapons and characters from the Contra series</a>. Dungeons of Hinterberg is an action-adventure title announced at SGF last year <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/preview/2023/09/04/not-your-typical-idyllic-countryside">that we got a chance to preview</a>. The showcase will also spotlight co-op roguelike <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="03458b05-3a85-4e38-b354-f41283b245b3" href="https://www.gameinformer.com/product/33-immortals">33 Immortals</a> and Don't Nod's upcoming adventure title, <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="48357755-d2af-4e53-8716-80295c246c16" href="https://www.gameinformer.com/product/lost-records-bloom-rage">Lost Records: Bloom & Rage</a>.</p> <p>For more context, last year's version of this event <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2023/07/11/ign-id-xbox-games-list-recap/">included over 20 games</a>, including <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="aff082be-a677-44ab-9c06-d3ba74dc698c" href="https://www.gameinformer.com/theindieissue">Sea of Stars</a>, <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="c27cb9ab-48eb-4d49-97a8-06fa617a8b83" href="https://www.gameinformer.com/games/karateka/b/ps3/archive/2012/11/13/karateka-review-throwback-arcade-fun-with-a-modern-sheen.aspx">Karateka</a>, and Vampire Survivors again, somehow. Regardless of whether or not it appears, you can bet the comment section will be flooded with Hollow Knight: Silksong fans clamoring for the game, which we haven't seen since the <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="f78e9a18-c309-4fa1-8457-b5b57c5e205d" href="https://www.gameinformer.com/xbox-games-showcase/2022/06/12/play-hollow-knight-silksong-on-day-one-with-xbox-game-pass">Xbox summer showcase in 2022</a> when it was announced the game would come to Game Pass on day one.</p> <p>You can watch the showcase next week <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKy1dAqELo0zrOtPkf0eTMw">on IGN's YouTube channel</a>. The showcase will also be <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwojiONuVDU">available in American Sign Language</a>.</p> <p><em>What are you hoping to see from the showcase? Let us know in the comments!</em></p>

Tales of Kenzera: Zau Review - Spirit Over Substance

Charles Harte — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 09:00:00 CDT

Reviewed on: PlayStation 5
Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC
Publisher: EA Originals
Developer: Surgent Studios
Release: <time datetime="2024-04-23T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">April 23, 2024</time>
Rating: Everyone 10+

<p>In Tales of Kenzera: Zau, the debut game from Surgent Studios, the use of the word "Tales" is more literal than it initially seems. To kick off the events of the game, protagonist Zuberi reads a book written by his late father about a place called Kenzera. He uses fiction to cope with his grief, just as the player might do with the plot of the game, and as the studio founder, who lost his father as well, did when creating the story to begin with. While combat and map design in Tales of Kenzera falters at times, this strong, emotional core was what pulled me through to the credits.</p> <p style="margin-top:13px; margin-bottom:13px">Zau is the protagonist of Zuberi's book, and he's who the player controls for the vast majority of the roughly eight-hour game. After his father's passing, he goes to Kalunga, the god of death, to perform a risky exchange: defeating three great spirits to bring his father back to life. Kalunga, who simply appears as an older human man, accompanies Zau throughout his journey, providing wisdom and guidance to level Zau's often reckless behavior. It is a stellar dynamic, and I enjoyed watching them butt heads as they struggled to deal with the other grieving characters of the game.</p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/18/2416027a/img_1333.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p style="margin-top:13px; margin-bottom:13px">Zau battles his way through the world of Kenzera using the Masks of the Sun and Moon, relics gifted to him when his father passed. The Mask of the Moon has more ranged options with ice abilities, while the Mask of the Sun is melee-focused with fire abilities, and both are fun to use. Because you can flip between them at the drop of a hat, combat feels creative, giving the player the opportunity to flip to whichever stance fits them best at that moment. That said, later encounters with large crowds of enemies with regenerating health bars sometimes tested my love of the combat, with late-game combat encounters feeling like a chore purely based on how long they took. </p> <p style="margin-top:13px; margin-bottom:13px">The game is also rife with platforming challenges that make use of all your abilities gained up until that point in the story, but since you start with a double jump and a mid-air dash, movement is a blast from the start. Many challenges involve instant-kill spikes, which can be irritating, but quick respawn times generally keep me from pulling my hair out. This is not the case in certain challenge sections and some chase sequences in story missions, which require you to make it all the way through with only a handful of checkpoints. They're not insurmountable, though, and allow the game to test player platforming skills as well as combat skills during boss sequences.</p> <p style="margin-top:13px; margin-bottom:13px">Tales of Kenzera's main flaw is its map and world designs, which turn a pretty good game into one that's uninteresting and unintuitive to explore. While most games obscure sections of the map until players explore them, Tales of Kenzera opens up an entire zone as soon as you enter a biome. It's a minor convenience for navigating through the main plot but a nightmare for figuring out where you have and haven't been. There's no way to mark the map or see where you've previously visited, save for icons that mark collected items, so in some cases, it's actually more difficult to backtrack to find secrets.</p> <p style="margin-top:13px; margin-bottom:13px">Even then, areas are pretty linear, thanks to objective markers making sure the player always knows where to go, so most secrets are just a quick little branch into a room to the left or an alternate path to the right. On top of that, most secrets only reward a small chunk of experience points, which is useful but not particularly exciting to discover and doesn't do much to incentivize further exploration. However, there are also meditation trees that increase your maximum health and platforming challenges to unlock stat-boosting trinkets, so it's still worth heading down the occasional side path.</p> <p style="margin-top:13px; margin-bottom:13px">However, the most frustrating element here is a specific set of secrets: Spirit Trials. Unlike most hidden elements, these combat challenges require the player to backtrack significantly and open an ability-gated area to proceed. I enjoy secrets, but there are only three Spirit Trials in the whole game, and they are the only way to upgrade your spirit bar and trinket slots, which are vital to Zau's abilities. It's a baffling choice to funnel both upgrades into one area and even more puzzling to hide them away like this, especially when their existence is not mentioned until you find one. If the map allowed you to mark certain areas to revisit or had a traditional un-fogging system to see where you haven't explored, it would be one thing, and if it were the norm for other secrets to require a little more work to find, it would be another. But when the player is neither implicitly nor explicitly incentivized to search for major upgrades, it creates a balance issue.</p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/18/a9e4603c/349ifkda.jpeg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p style="margin-top:13px; margin-bottom:13px">Despite my gripes with Spirit Trials and the map, I have a lot of respect for Tales of Kenzera: Zau, particularly in how it handles grief and self-reflection – it is one of the most thematically cohesive games I've ever played. Every element of gameplay and story is tied back into the dual struggle Zau and Zuberi face in coping with the loss of their respective fathers. Health upgrades come from points of meditation and the processing of emotion. Each character you encounter deals with loss in their own way, which grants perspective to Zau's situation. Even combat upgrades represent Zau's path to get closer to his father – if he can't spend time with the man himself, he'll spend time with the legacy his father left behind.</p> <p style="margin-top:13px; margin-bottom:13px">Tales of Kenzera: Zau conveys its somber themes with nuance and passion. It's just a shame the gameplay doesn't always match those highs, especially in a genre flooded with quality indies, because Zau's journey – and Zuberi's parallel journey – are stories I'll be thinking about for quite some time</p> <section class='type:slideshow'><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/18/89e2888e/img_1329.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/18/e2c4c9db/img_1330.jpg'></figure></section>

Score: 7.5

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Embracer Group To Split Into Three Companies, Including One Called 'Middle-earth Enterprises & Friends'

Wesley LeBlanc — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 08:23:26 CDT

<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/22/bfef5d30/embracer-group.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="embracer group three entities split up company middle-earth enterprises and friends coffee stain asmodee" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>Embracer Group, the company that recently <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2024/03/15/embracer-reportedly-set-to-sell-star-wars-kotor-remake-dev-saber-interactive-in-500">sold Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake developer Saber Interactive for $500 million</a>, has announced its plans to split into three individual, publicly traded companies. As such, Embracer Group as we know it will be no more; instead, it will largely consist of Asmodee, Coffee Stain & Friends, and Middle-earth Enterprises & Friends. </p> <p>Each of these companies will be run individually and traded publicly in the market, with IP and franchises under the Embracer Group umbrella spread across them. This separation follows a rocky period for Embracer Group, which is behind layoffs at companies like<a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2024/01/25/destroy-all-humans-remake-developer-black-forest-games-reportedly-lays-off-50"> Black Forest Games</a> and <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2024/01/29/embracer-group-cancels-new-deus-ex-game-in-development-at-eidos-montreal-lays-off">Eidos-Montréal</a> after a planned $2 billion deal with Saudi Arabia-backed Savvy Games Group fell through in 2023. </p> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xap47IbByoU" width="640"></iframe> <p>"During the past years, the Group has made significant investments in acquisitions and into a strategy of accelerated organic growth. To further realize the untapped potential in Embracer Group and better optimize the use of its resources, Embracer Group announced a restructuring program in June 2023 divided into different phases lasting until March 2024," the company writes in a <a href="https://embracer.com/releases/embracer-group-announces-its-intention-to-transform-into-three-standalone-publicly-listed-entities-at-nasdaq-stockholm/">press release</a>. "Focus of the program has been cost savings, capital allocation, efficiency and consolidation, while also divesting selected studios.</p> <p>Following a careful and thorough review, it is the assessment of the Board of Directors that the current Group structure does not create optimal conditions for future value creation both for Embracer Group's shareholders and other stakeholders. To continue the transformation of Embracer Group into the future for the benefit of all employees, gamers and shareholders, the Board of Directors and the executive management have therefore decided to propose a separation of Embracer Group, creating three separate publicly listed entities: 'Asmodee,' 'Coffee Stain & Friends,' and 'Middle-earth Enterprises & Friends.'"</p> <p>Embracer Group says each of these entities will have its own balance sheet, financial targets and structure, and allocation strategy. In short, each of these companies will be essentially independent of each other, even if they're formed from the same umbrella. </p> <h3>Middle-earth Enterprises & Friends</h3> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PDehcsJNyl0" width="640"></iframe> <p>After this new split, Middle-earth Enterprises & Friends is "intended to remain a creative powerhouse in AAA game development and publishing for PC/console," a press release reads. It will remain the stewards of The Lord of the Rings and Tomb Raider IPs, with its main focus being the former.</p> <p>It will consist of studios like Crystal Dynamics, Dambuster Studios, Eidos-Montréal, Flying Wild Hog Studios, Tripwire, Vertigo Games, Warhorse Studios, 4A Games, and more, with IPs including Dead Island, Killing Floor, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, The Lord of the Rings, Metro, and Tomb Raider.</p> <h3>Coffee Stain & Friends</h3> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2wkTsOoxqQc" width="640"></iframe> <p>Embracer Group says this company "is intended to consist of leading publishers and developers focused on a variety of games for PC, console, and mobile, including community-driven free-to-play games, LiveOps games, and indie/AA games." It will operate under two segments, according to the company: Premium and Free-To-Play. </p> <p>Its "Premium" operations include studios like Coffee Stain, Ghost Ship, Tarsier, Tuxedo Labs, THQ Nordic, and Amplifier Game Invest. Its IPs include Deep Rock Galactic, Goat Simulator, Satisfactory, Wreckfest, Teardown, Valheim, and more than 200 others. </p> <p>Its "Free-To-Play" operations include studios like Easybrain, Deca, CrazyLabs, and Cryptic, with IPs in its wheelhouse including Soduku.com, Blockudoku, Jigsaw Puzzle, Star Trek Online, D&D Neverwinter Online, and more. </p> <h3>Asmodee</h3> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zGkdzec6-tY" width="640"></iframe> <p>Asmodee consists of 23 fully owned studios and more than 300 IPs and consists of the tabletop games section of Embracer Group. It will continue focusing on tabletop properties while collaborating in transmedia partnerships for IPs like The Lord of the Rings and others in the Embracer wheelhouse. "As a global leader in board and trading card games, with a proven track-record of profitable growth, Asmodee is well-positioned to build on its strategy and continue to prosper as a standalone entity." </p> <p>Its IPs include Ticket to Ride, 7 Wonders, Azul, Catan, Dobble, Exploding Kittens, and other board games based on The Lord of the Rings, Marvel, Game of Thrones, Netflix, Lego, and Star Wars. </p> <p>"This transformation is an important step in unlocking shareholder value," chair of the Embracer Group board Kicki Wallje-Lund writes in a press release. "With this new structure, the three entities will be able to focus on executing their core strategies and leveraging their own strengths, providing more differentiated and distinct equity stories to both existing and new shareholders." </p> <p>Embracer Group co-founder and CEO Lars Wingefors adds, "This is the start of a new chapter, a chapter that I intend to remain part of as an active, committed, and supportive shareholder of all three new entities, with an evergreen horizon. This move toward three independent companies reinforces Embracer's vision of backing entrepreneurs and creators with a long-term mindset, allowing them to continue to deliver unforgettable experiences for gamers and fans across the globe." </p> <p>Middle-earth Enterprises & Friends will remain within the current publicly listed Embracer Group, which itself will eventually be renamed. Asmodee and Coffee Stain & Friends will hit the market as separate companies within 12 months, during the 2025 calendar year. </p> <p><i>How do you feel about this split in Embracer Group? Let us know in the comments below!</i></p>

Knuckles Show Review – A Low-Stakes Climb

Brian Shea — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 02:00:00 CDT

<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/666371a8/knuckles_103_0005_rt.jpg" width="800" height="332" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>The live-action Sonic the Hedgehog movie series that started in 2020 has delivered entertaining adventures starring everybody's favorite Blue Blur and his ever-growing stable of friends. One of the highlights of <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="b8e707f7-abc2-407a-bbc7-4bcf237b8c0a" href="https://www.gameinformer.com/movie-review/2022/05/24/sonic-the-hedgehog-2-movie-review-full-speed-ahead"><em>Sonic the Hedgehog 2</em></a> was Knuckles, voiced by Idris Elba. The fish-out-of-water gags and his strict adherence to the echidna warrior code, which is in stark contrast to Sonic's fun-loving personality, made for an enjoyable dynamic within the cast of characters. <em>Knuckles</em>, the new six-episode streaming show on Paramount Plus, tries to carry forward that dynamic. However, thanks to low stakes, a palpable disconnect from the larger Sonic story, and too much emphasis on the human characters in the world, it falls short of the heights reached by the two theatrical films.</p> <p><strong>Warning: </strong><em>While I try to remain as spoiler-free as possible, some aspects of the narrative and characters are mentioned throughout this article.</em></p> <p>This spin-off series follows Knuckles as he trains Wade Whipple (Adam Pally), the goofy police officer from the first two Sonic films, in the way of the echidna warrior. Though Wade is fine as comic relief in the films, I often struggled with placing so many of the emotional stakes at the feet of this character. This becomes particularly true once his family joins the show. The weakest parts of the Sonic movies are the scenes featuring the human characters. <em>Sonic the Hedgehog 2 </em>appeared to learn that lesson, as it sent many of the main humans away on a trip, but the inverse is true in <em>Knuckles</em>; on multiple occasions, I wondered why we were focusing so much on the family drama of Wade instead of what Knuckles was up to off-screen.</p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/fef828e1/knuckles_103_0002_rt.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>The family storyline that consumes much of the latter portions of the show can be compelling in bursts, but it almost feels like an entirely different show altogether. The show does very little to inform viewers why we should care about these characters aside from the fact that they're related to Wade. The mother character (Stockard Channing) is the most likable of the bunch, particularly when the other major players feel like cartoonish caricatures of sitcom archetypes – even more so than in the movies. Thankfully, when the titular character is on screen, it's another strong performance by Elba. I'm also happy that much of the CGI of the Knuckles character looks great, particularly when in fights.</p> <p>The action sequences of <em>Knuckles</em> are the highlight. One scene, in particular, takes place in a kitchen and benefits from crafty camera work and a simulated single-take effect. The action scenes are well-paced throughout the six-episode season, but they do shine a light on one of the most significant shortcomings the Sonic franchise must overcome if it hopes to expand out in spin-off series such as this: Sonic's gallery of enemies just isn't that deep. Having the main antagonists of <em>Knuckles </em>be two rogue agents of GUN and a guy who used to work for Dr. Robotnik demonstrates this in irreconcilable ways. Sure, we're promised Shadow in <em>Sonic the Hedgehog 3</em>, and we could still get the introduction of characters like Metal Sonic or Chaos in future media, but this series shows that the pool is pretty shallow.</p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/85c9a69e/knuckles_101_0019_rt.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>Installing low-profile villains for the franchise's first streaming series could be forgiven if they made their mark, but they feel like retreads of what Dr. Robotnik was trying to accomplish in the first movie; their entire motivation is to capture Knuckles to steal his power. Ellie Taylor and Kid Cudi deliver fine performances as the rogue GUN agents, but the characters rarely serve as anything more than plot devices for the characters to progress on their personal journeys and foils in fight scenes. We do learn of their motivation later in the show, but at that point, I only cared about them because when they showed up, it usually meant an action scene was coming.</p> <p>When you aren't watching a fight sequence play out, you're usually enduring a joke shotgun blast with a relatively low hit rate. The seasoned comedic delivery of actors like Adam Pally, Paul Scheer, and Cary Elwes do wonders for some of the jokes on offer in <em>Knuckles</em>, but it's often not enough to keep the momentum up and running. Instead, in the times when Knuckles wasn't on screen, I was more enthralled by the heartfelt moments, which, much like the humor, have a relatively low success ratio. Much of the family dynamics are framed around an absurd bowling tournament that apes the vibe and storyline of <em>Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story</em> a little too closely, making it difficult to connect to the characters or the overarching narrative. <em>Knuckles </em>feels noncommittal when it comes to the tone it's going for. While it's not impossible to be an action-comedy series with sentimental moments, it's a trickier line to walk than <em>Knuckles </em>can accomplish.</p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/4c9900ca/knuckles_104_0005_rt.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>And it would all be forgiven if the story felt essential – or even consequential – to the world of the Sonic series. But instead, having not yet seen <em>Sonic the Hedgehog 3</em>, I can't help but feel that <em>Knuckles </em>has that sitcom quality where everything ends up right where it started. Sure, there's a journey with some sentimentality, minor character development, funny gags, small Easter eggs, and enjoyable action scenes, but if someone asked if they needed to watch <em>Knuckles </em>before going to see <em>Sonic the Hedgehog 3</em> when it arrives in theaters this December, I'd be hard pressed to find a narrative reason to answer them in the affirmative.</p> <p>That's perhaps <em>Knuckles</em>' biggest flaw: Despite its sometimes fun and heartfelt moments, it feels entirely inessential. Video game adaptations have an outdated reputation for being bad. <em>Knuckles</em> isn't outright bad, but when compared to its contemporaries like <em>Fallout</em>, <em>The Last of Us</em>, <em>Twisted Metal</em>, <em>The Super Mario Bros. Movie</em>, and even <em>Sonic the Hedgehog 2</em>, it feels like a video game adaptation from a bygone era.</p> 6 <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/scoring">About Game Informer's review system</a>

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Review - An Old Star Rises

Josh Broadwell — Sun, 21 Apr 2024 10:00:00 CDT

Reviewed on: PC
Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
Publisher: 505 Games
Developer: Rabbit and Bear Studios
Release: <time datetime="2024-04-23T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">April 23, 2024</time>
Rating: Everyone 10+

<p>“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” A small child dressed as legally distinct Sailor Moon chirped this trite little phrase at me about an hour into Rabbit and Bear’s Suikoden successor Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. I’m not sure when I realized the adage applies to Hundred Heroes itself as much as it did to whatever the child was talking about. It might’ve been after I met a cleric whose vices included violence and foul language; but whenever it was, it encouraged me to overlook the misgivings Hundred Heroes’ poor first impressions raised in me, and there were plenty. Hundred Heroes adheres a bit too closely to outdated design conventions, but the strength of its writing and characters makes up for its short-sightedness.</p> <p>Rabbit and Bear were serious when they promised a modern Suikoden-like. You play as Nowa, a member of the Eltisweiss Watch mercenary corps devoted to keeping the peace. What starts as a piddling series of errands for nearby villages soon turns into something more serious as Nowa and the Watch get drawn into conflicts that threaten their beliefs and the entire world. Also, like Suikoden, Hundred Heroes divides its time between world exploration, where you pick up quests and new characters, battles, and dungeon crawling, the latter of which is basically an excuse for more battles.</p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/34813cf8/echh_prelaunch_05.jpg" alt="Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes" title="Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>Hundred Heroes also sticks pretty close to Suikoden 2’s combat with a few refreshing expansions. Your team includes up to six active characters with skills you can augment with runes, which grant different abilities and buffs, and each character gets several rune slots that allow for extensive customization. The system is satisfying in itself but comes into its own once you start linking character attacks and forming unique combos.</p> <p>As the name suggests, recruiting the game’s 100-plus heroes plays a big role. Some join automatically, but the more interesting ones have a quest associated with them that gives a bit more insight into their personality and place in the world. They often play a minor role in the story after that, but their detailed sprite animations and voiced lines still make them feel like part of the story and not an afterthought.</p> <p>The setup sounds too familiar, but despite writer Yoshitaka Murayama drawing clear inspiration from his previous works, Hundred Heroes never feels derivative and eventually surpasses its source material. It owes much of its personality to that strong cast of brilliantly written characters and a willingness to embrace humor and the ridiculous as a way to cut deeper with its serious themes of autonomy and equity.</p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/04378c42/echh_prelaunch_03.jpg" alt="Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes" title="Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>They also save Hundred Heroes from itself. Slow traversal, an empty world map, and tedious dungeons make Hundred Heroes more frustrating than it should be, but the promise of a new character vignette or more plot advancement was always enough to keep me pressing forward.</p> <p>Hundred Heroes expands Suikoden’s base-building feature with new guilds and groups for your party members to form. At a glance, that seems like busywork, and it is. But it also represents something deeper. Your castle is a microcosm of Hundred Heroes’ themes, a small society of people who look, act, and think nothing alike but who respect each other and fight for the right to live freely, without hate.</p> <p>In battle, a robust AI system lets you program commands and let your party deal with weaker enemies based on how you’ve customized their runes. Boss fights are just complex enough that they demand your full attention, though, thanks in some part to the gimmick feature. These live up to their name, for better and worse, such as making you guess where an enemy will move or forcing you to attack a specific object. They’re a nice change of pace at first but quickly outstay their welcome.</p> <section class='type:slideshow'><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/7cbb440f/echh_prelaunch_01.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/74ee7c72/echh_prelaunch_02.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/703ed583/echh_prelaunch_04.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/44c42c26/echh_prelaunch_06.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/597a3b60/echh_prelaunch_08.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/f73b644a/echh_prelaunch_09.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/cb9c70ee/echh_prelaunch_10.jpg'></figure></section> <p>Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a good reminder of why the RPG genre left some parts of its Golden Age behind. It’s also a testimony to what makes the genre special and the power of good storytelling to move and inspire. Admittedly, rigid adherence to archaic structures makes those first impressions tough to look past, but a creative battle system, extensive party customization, and top-notch writing make up for the retro jank.</p>

Score: 8

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Star Wars Outlaws Preview – Venturing Into Space

Brian Shea — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 14:00:00 CDT

Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Massive Entertainment
Release: <time datetime="2024-08-30T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">August 30, 2024</time>

<p>While visiting Massive Entertainment to <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/preview/2024/04/10/exclusive-hands-on-impressions">be among the first to get my hands on Star Wars Outlaws</a>, I enjoyed playing through stealth sequences, shootouts, conversations, and open-world speeder gameplay. However, one piece of the Star Wars Outlaws puzzle I did not get a chance to experience firsthand is the space gameplay. Thankfully, in addition to playing a chunk of Star Wars Outlaws during my time in Malmö, Sweden, I also had a chance to ask the developers how the game works once you jump into your ship and leave the planet or moon.</p> <p>In Star Wars Outlaws, you play Kay Vess and her companion Nix as they travel around the galaxy to locales both familiar and new. Players can land on and explore planets and moons like Tatooine, Kijimi, Akiva, and Toshara, but when Kay enters her ship, the <em>Trailblazer</em>, she can enter orbit and explore. The <em>Trailblazer </em>was created in close collaboration with Lucasfilm Games to ensure it feels like it fits into the Star Wars galaxy. Elements like silhouettes, realism, and personality were all considered to make something believable within the galaxy.</p> <p>For the Star Wars Outlaws team, having the basis of the game be about crafting a scoundrel adventure meant that space gameplay was a must to complement the on-world element. "What we were trying to work out is, 'How do we create a gameplay experience with a multitude of different possibilities?' because we always knew we wanted to do a huge open-world game and have space travel, hyperdriving, several planets, several locations to explore," creative director Julian Gerighty says. "I think that's the play of fancy for the outlaw. It really is when you think of, 'What would I like to do as an outlaw in Star Wars?' It is stealth. It is combat. It is fisticuffs. It is hanging out at the cantina and having choices – meaningful choices – as a scoundrel, as an outlaw. It is flying. It is jumping on your speeder and going from one settlement to another. It's all of those things. So, it was important for us to have that ambition and push not just the technology but also the design team to have all of those things at the highest possible quality level."</p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/03/c0ef99c2/swo_screenshots_jumpintothepilotseat_wide_120623_815pmcest.jpg" alt="Star Wars Outlaws" title="Star Wars Outlaws" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>Much of my gameplay session was spent exploring the underworld of Toshara within the city walls of Mirogana in particular. However, near the end, I had the opportunity to venture outside the walls on Kay's speeder. "There is a huge element of exploration – the openness, the vibrancy, the boldness of landscapes, visuals, and all these elements that you get from it just going with your speeder outside to find locations and exploring bits of the world," art and world director Benedikt Podlesnigg says. "And from this, you also have among the stars. We take our ship flying to space, which is vast but also very risky. It's wondrous, it's lucrative, but also there's a lot of unknown about it."</p> <p>Though I don't get to see it, Podlesnigg describes how one of his recent gameplay sessions went. After exploring Toshara, he jumps into the <em>Trailblazer</em> and takes it out into orbit because he heard some intel that somebody in a space station was looking for an item he had in his possession. As Gerighty explains to me, planets and moons have an orbit around them that serves as an explorable area for Kay while aboard the <em>Trailblazer</em>. Once you reach the edge of the explorable area surrounding the planet or moon, you hyperdrive into the orbit of your destination. </p> <p>"This is problem-solving for video games, basically," Gerighty says. "We wanted to have an orbit around it with lots of different points of interest, things to do, battles to get in, places to explore. So, the orbits for each one of the moons or planets that we created had to be populated with lots of different things, and we didn't want to create endless space, so you hyperdrive from the orbit of a planet to the orbit of a planet. So, all of the space areas that we have are full of things to do."</p> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tcdKEy-aJ6o" width="640"></iframe> <p>As Podlesnigg arrived in space during his playthrough, he received an emergency signal that a freighter was being attacked, so he hurried to their location to help them fight off the attackers. Finally, he landed on a space station. While he can't go too deep into how big these space stations are, there are things to do, including vendors for trades and potentially some side-quests.</p> <p>I don't get to touch a controller while Kay is piloting the <em>Trailblazer</em>, but the team hopes to appeal to a wide range of players by creating approachable gameplay for spaceflight. "We wanted to make spaceflight as accessible, fun, and action-packed as possible," Gerighty says. "The controls are extremely easy to get into. There's always something to do. It's fast to travel; you can hyperdrive at any moment, and there's combat, of course, both on an intimate dogfight scale but also on an epic scale too. And there's exploration. There's a lot of things to do in space."</p> <p>I assume we'll eventually get our hands on the space gameplay before the release of Star Wars Outlaws, and outside of <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="f15b61ba-8bf0-4d08-8ff7-c4e9d9308575" href="https://www.gameinformer.com/preview/2024/04/17/how-the-reputation-and-wanted-systems-work">the intricate Reputation System</a>, this element is one of my most intriguing parts of the game right now. Star Wars Outlaws arrives on August 30 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. For more exclusive information on Massive Entertainment's upcoming scoundrel adventure, visit our coverage hub at the banner below!</p> Purchase

The Legend Of Zelda: Majora's Mask Part 12 | Super Replay

Marcus Stewart — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 12:58:00 CDT

<p><iframe frameborder='0' width='560' height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/MRaa0482JeI?si=uB8A19n1hEaMIzWf'/></iframe></p> <p><iframe frameborder='0' width='560' height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/9xTtmhNhI38?si=6PpWgRFtogKnmsFL'/></iframe></p> <p><iframe frameborder='0' width='560' height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/QfOV8gSi-gc'/></iframe></p> <p><iframe frameborder='0' width='560' height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/rEHptaeVp0Q?si=eYhQ2-h82BLxSNWj'/></iframe></p> <p><iframe frameborder='0' width='560' height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Iawo5gp6f8c?si=2Ys70hQ0lj5hf6OU'/></iframe></p> <p><iframe frameborder='0' width='560' height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/tm5ay4RN47k'/></iframe></p> <p><iframe frameborder='0' width='560' height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/rJ4XddSaZeQ?si=3XNmunoUq9pPheqM'/></iframe></p> <p><iframe frameborder='0' width='560' height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/yei3Nzp468Q?si=QryFGvoEK8KEPaft'/></iframe></p> <p><iframe frameborder='0' width='560' height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/gglyxL4tqIo'/></iframe></p> <p><iframe frameborder='0' width='560' height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/rE4aG4F_VE8?si=3urS5vRHO4YCrWLW'/></iframe></p> <p><iframe frameborder='0' width='560' height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ox44Anepdg4?si=fMTKHQAd_bGktUW7'/></iframe></p> <p><iframe frameborder='0' width='560' height='315' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/BnvjDEoOaF8?si=Kt9HQX1uwkhj2h8u'/></iframe></p> <p>After The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time reinvented the series in 3D and became its new gold standard, Nintendo followed up with a surreal sequel in Majora's Mask. Set two months after the events of Ocarina, Link finds himself transported to an alternate version of Hyrule called Termina and must prevent a very angry moon from crashing into the Earth over the course of three constantly repeating days. Majora's Mask's unique structure and bizarre tone have earned it legions of passionate defenders and detractors, and one long-time Zelda fan is going to experience it for the first time to see where he lands on that spectrum.</p> <p>Join Marcus Stewart and Kyle Hilliard <strong>today and each Friday on Twitch at 2 p.m. CT </strong>as they gradually work their way through the entire game until Termina is saved. Archived episodes will be uploaded each Saturday on our second YouTube channel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@gameinformershows">Game Informer Shows</a>, which you can watch both above and by clicking the links below. </p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRaa0482JeI&lc=UgzXaA5QC4B5O1CikwB4AaABAg">Part 1 - Plenty of Time</a><br /> <a href="https://youtu.be/9xTtmhNhI38?si=6PpWgRFtogKnmsFL">Part 2 - The Bear</a><br /> <a href="https://youtu.be/QfOV8gSi-gc">Part 3 - Deku Ball Z</a><br /> <a href="https://youtu.be/rEHptaeVp0Q?si=eYhQ2-h82BLxSNWj">Part 4 - Pig Out</a><br /> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iawo5gp6f8c">Part 5 - The Was a Bad Choice!</a><br /> <a href="https://youtu.be/tm5ay4RN47k">Part 6 - Ray Darmani</a><br /> <a href="https://youtu.be/rJ4XddSaZeQ?si=3XNmunoUq9pPheqM">Part 7 - Curl and Pound</a><br /> <a href="https://youtu.be/yei3Nzp468Q">Part 8 - Almost a Flamethrower</a><br /> <a href="https://youtu.be/gglyxL4tqIo">Part 9 - Take Me Higher</a><br /> <a href="https://youtu.be/rE4aG4F_VE8?si=3urS5vRHO4YCrWLW">Part 10 - Time Juice</a><br /> <a href="https://youtu.be/Ox44Anepdg4?si=fMTKHQAd_bGktUW7">Part 11 - The One About Joey</a><br /> <a href="https://youtu.be/BnvjDEoOaF8?si=Kt9HQX1uwkhj2h8u">Part 12 - Ugly Country</a></p> <p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.twitch.tv/gameinformer"><strong>Watch on Twitch!</strong></a></p> <p>If you enjoy our livestreams but haven’t subscribed to our Twitch channel, know that doing so not only gives you notifications and access to special emotes. You’ll also be granted entry to the official <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/psa/2021/07/23/the-official-game-informer-community-discord-is-now-open" target="_blank"><em>Game Informer</em> Discord channel</a>, where our welcoming community members, moderators, and staff gather to talk games, entertainment, food, and organize hangouts! Be sure to also follow our second YouTube channel, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfDadbzDm5UnKwh7_XWrDPw" target="_blank"><em>Game Informer</em> Shows</a>, to watch other Replay episodes as well as Twitch archives of GI Live and more. </p>

Telltale Games Releases New Screenshots Of The Wolf Among Us 2 Alongside Development Update

Wesley LeBlanc — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 08:17:19 CDT

<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/2ec4a968/twau3.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="the wolf among us 2 telltale games development update new screenshots" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>The Fabletown gang will be back, developer Telltale Games has promised in a new development update for The Wolf Among Us 2, <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/the-game-awards-2019/2019/12/12/telltale-returns-with-the-wolf-among-us-2">its sequel to The Wolf Among Us it announced in 2019</a>. This update, which reveals the studio is still hard at work on the game, arrives after <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2023/10/05/telltale-games-confirms-layoffs-in-development-games-remain-in-production#:~:text=Telltale%20has%20now%20confirmed%20to,he's%20received%20a%20severance%20package.">an unspecified number of layoffs hit Telltale Games last October</a>. </p> <p>"We've been quiet because we've been heads down, focusing on the promise of [The Wolf Among Us 2]," the <a href="https://community.telltale.com/discussion/124817/twau-2-work-in-progress#latest">update</a> reads. "While we can't give a big update yet, here's a little something for you: in-progress shots from the current build. The work continues. The Fabletown gang will be back. Thanks for being fans." </p> <p>The four in-progress shots from the current build of The Wolf Among Us 2 can be viewed below: </p> <section class='type:slideshow'><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/664f4124/twau4.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/820ffa0d/twau1.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/f1062437/twau2.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/2ec4a968/twau3.jpg'></figure></section>   <p>The Wolf Among Us 2 was originally due out last year but was <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2023/03/01/the-wolf-among-us-2-has-been-delayed-out-of-2023">delayed out of 2023</a> in a March update from the studio. </p> <p>For more about the game, <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/02/09/the-wolf-among-us-2-gets-first-trailer-and-2023-launch-window">watch The Wolf Among Us 2's official trailer</a>, and then read about how <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2022/03/24/the-wolf-among-us-2-episode-one-will-catch-you-up-to-speed-if-you-didnt-play-the-first">the game's first episode will catch you up on what happened in the first game</a>. </p> <p><em>Are you still excited for The Wolf Among Us 2? Let us know in the comments below!</em></p>

PlayStation And K-Pop Singer NakedBibi Team Up For Stellar Blade Music Video

Wesley LeBlanc — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 08:01:35 CDT

<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/9f9214c9/stellar-blade-nakedbibi-eve-music-video.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="Stellar Blade music video Eve nakedbibi kpop " typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>PlayStation and K-Pop singer NakedBibi, or Bibi for short, have teamed up to create a new song and music video inspired by <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/product/stellar-blade">Stellar Blade</a>, the upcoming action game from developer ShiftUp. Stellar Blade hits PlayStation 5 exclusively next week on April 26 so this new track, appropriately titled "Eve," is coming at a perfect time to keep excitement for the game going. </p> <p>The song itself is pretty great, too, and the music video visuals are very reminiscent of Stellar Blade itself. If you're excited about the game, or a fan of NakedBibi, it's definitely worth your time. </p> <p><strong>Check out the "Eve" Stellar Blade music video by NakedBibi for yourself below</strong>: </p> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pVTauvn4uz8" width="640"></iframe> <p>If you haven't yet checked it out, <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2024/03/25/stellar-blade-gets-a-free-demo-this-friday">there's a free Stellar Blade demo available right now on PS5</a> to give you a taste of what's in the final release. For more about the game, read <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2024/03/26/stellar-blade-feature-angel-from-heaven"><em>Game Informer's </em>exclusive interview with Stellar Blade's director</a> for behind-the-scene details and more. After that, read about how <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2024/04/04/stellar-blade-director-reveals-new-game-plus-mode-says-no-microtransactions-with">Stellar Blade will have no microtransactions, with one exception</a>. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/product/stellar-blade">Stellar Blade</a> hits PS5 on April 26, 2024. </p> <p><em>What do you think of this song? Let us know in the comments below!</em></p>

Amazon's Fallout TV Series Renewed For Season 2

Wesley LeBlanc — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 07:44:39 CDT

<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/3cdfd137/fallout-amazon-prime-video-tv-show-season-2-confirmed-renewal.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="fallout amazon prime video tv show series season 1 2 confirmation renewal" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>Amazon Prime Video has renewed its <em>Fallout </em>television show for another season, confirming that Season 2 is in the works following an <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/gamer-culture/2024/04/08/amazons-fallout-series-primed-for-second-season-ahead-of-premiere">earlier report</a>. This news arrives just over a week after the series' release on April 10, <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2024/04/09/all-8-episodes-of-amazons-fallout-tv-series-now-dropping-one-day-earlier#:~:text=Amazon%20Studios'%20Fallout%20TV%20series,new%20look%20at%20the%20show.">which premiered two days earlier than expected</a> to rave reviews from both fans and critics. </p> <p>We loved <em>Fallout </em>Season 1, and you can read about why in <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/review/2024/04/10/the-fallout-tv-show-is-good-season-1-review"><em>Game Informer's </em>Fallout review</a>, so we're excited to revisit the wasteland with Lucy, Ghoul, Maximus, and others. As for when to expect Season 2 of <em>Fallout</em>, that remains unknown. The announcement simply confirms another season is coming with no details on Season 2's production. </p> <blockquote class="tw-align-center twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Wouldn't want to keep you on the edge of your seat, now, would we?<br /> <br /> See you back in the Wasteland for SEASON 2. <a href="https://t.co/ULs6DEPHDW">pic.twitter.com/ULs6DEPHDW</a></p> — FALLOUT⚡️ (@falloutonprime) <a href="https://twitter.com/falloutonprime/status/1781095366315888903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <p><em>Fallout </em>joins a string of other hit Amazon Prime Video series currently airing on the streamer service, like <em>The Boys </em>(with a new season dropping June 13) and <em>Invincible</em>, which just had its second season wrap up. It also joins a string of other successful video game adaptations, like <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2024/01/09/kaitlyn-dever-joins-the-last-of-us-tv-show-as-abby">HBO's <em>The Last of Us</em></a>, <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2023/11/03/hbos-the-last-of-us-season-2-set-to-premiere-in-2025">which is getting a Season 2 next year</a>, Peacock's <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2023/07/26/a-twisted-reinvention-how-peacocks-twisted-metal-renewed-my-love-of-the-franchise"><em>Twisted Metal</em></a>, Netflix's <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/gamer-culture/2023/11/10/season-2-of-netflixs-arcane-league-of-legends-series-drops-next-november"><i>Arcane</i></a>, and Netflix's <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/gamer-culture/2022/09/06/cyberpunk-edgerunners-check-out-the-english-dub-in-new-gory-trailer"><em>Cyberpunk: Edgerunners</em></a>. </p> <p><em>Fallout </em>Season 1 is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video. </p> <p><em>Did you enjoy Season 1 of Fallout? Let us know in the comments below!</em></p>

The Countdown To Summer Game Fest Begins | GI Show

Alex Van Aken — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 15:32:16 CDT

<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/18/bbaf0110/thegishow_703alt_web.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="summer game fest" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>In this week's episode of <em>The Game Informer Show, </em>the crew looks ahead at the current slate of <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2024/04/03/ubisoft-forward-confirmed-for-june-same-week-as-summer-game-fest">publisher showcases</a> happening around <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2024/03/13/this-years-summer-game-fest-streams-live-on-june-7">Summer Game Fest</a> and subsequent announcements we'd like to see. We chat about <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/gamer-culture/2024/04/08/amazons-fallout-series-primed-for-second-season-ahead-of-premiere">Amazon's Fallout show,</a> rewatching the original X-Men animated series, and A24's Civil War before remembering this is a video game podcast. Afterward, Alex shares his <em>very</em> early impressions of World of Warcraft: The War Within's first alpha test, and Charles discusses his time playing Dragon's Dogma 2. </p> <h2>Episode 703 - The Countdown To Summer Game Fest Begins:</h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lTgT6mwSn9g" width="640"></iframe> <p>Follow us on social media: Alex Van Aken (<a href="https://twitter.com/itsvanaken">@itsVanAken</a>), Marcus Stewart (<a href="https://twitter.com/marcusstewart7">@MarcusStewart7</a>), Charles Harte (<a href="https://twitter.com/chuckduck365">@ChuckDuck365</a>)</p> <p><em>The Game Informer Show</em> is a weekly gaming podcast covering the latest video game news, industry topics, exclusive reveals, and reviews. Join host <a href="https://twitter.com/itsVanAken" target="_blank">Alex Van Aken</a> every Thursday to chat about your favorite games – past and present – with <em>Game Informer</em> staff, developers, and special guests from around the industry. Listen on<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-game-informer-show/id335246945" target="_blank"> Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2EWTEHrbZpNRAboYLimAhu" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, or your favorite podcast app.</p> <a href="https://www.djstormageddon.com/" target="_blank">Matt Storm,</a> the freelance audio editor for <em>The Game Informer Show</em>, edited this episode<em>. </em>Matt is an experienced podcast host and producer who's been speaking into a microphone for over a decade. You should listen to Matt's shows like the <a href="https://funandgames.libsyn.com/" target="_blank"><em>"Fun" And Games Podcast</em></a> and <a href="https://reignitepod.libsyn.com/" target="_blank"><em>Reignite</em></a>, a BioWare-focused podcast.  <strong>The Game Informer Show – Podcast Timestamps:</strong> <p>00:00:00 - Intro</p> <p>00:02:58 - Amazon's Fallout, X-Men, and A24's Civil War</p> <p>00:17:57 - Summer Game Fest Countdown</p> <p>00:50:39 - World of Warcraft: The War Within Alpha</p> <p>01:06:46 - Dragon's Dogma 2</p> <p>01:20:34 - Housekeeping and Listener Questions</p>

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Preview - Here Comes The Kingdom

Charles Harte — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 13:15:00 CDT

Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Publisher: Deep Silver
Developer: Warhorse Studios
Release: 2024
Rating: Mature

<p>Kingdom Come: Deliverance faced a rocky launch in 2018, with outlets (<a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/games/kingdom_come_deliverance/b/xboxone/archive/2018/02/28/kingdom-come-deliverance-review-game-informer.aspx">including <em>Game Informer</em></a>) criticizing its widespread bugs and general lack of polish, but it found success regardless, going on to sell two million copies and release a slate of DLC and updates. Six years later, Warhorse Studios is getting ready to launch a sequel and invited <em>Game Informer</em> to take a look at some early footage and trailers. While it's too early to speak to any performance issues, it's clear Warhorse has greatly expanded its work on the first game, and fans of the medieval ages may be in for a treat.</p> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R48DEEjyS5k" width="640"></iframe> <p>The Kingdom Come series is an action RPG set in the early thirteenth century, and while its plot is fictional, the games strive for historical accuracy wherever possible. The sequel follows the continued journey of Henry of Skalitz, a man who set out on a quest for revenge after his village was raided and destroyed. Squire to the carefree Sir Hans, he aims to take down Sigismund the Red Fox, the king of Hungary. With five hours of cutscenes (compared to the prior title's three), this story is a big focus for the game. While the narrative is a direct continuation of the events of the first entry, Warhorse Studios says newcomers should feel free to hop in at the newest entry.</p> <p>The series plans to expand on more than just its story. For one, the world map is double the size of its predecessor. This includes the massive medieval city of Kuttenberg ("Too big," says creative director Daniel Vávra), which Warhorse claims to be its greatest challenge during the game's development. The urban area is contrasted by the natural wilderness of an area called Bohemian Paradise, a lush green space full of unique rock formations. This diversity of environment and color was particularly important for the game's visuals, according to art director Viktor Höschl, who wants to express that the era wasn't all mud and famine. Lead character artist Anna Pačesová adds to this sentiment, saying, "It was really colorful. It wasn't dark at all."</p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/18/a61a6f51/kcd2_announce_vista.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>In addition to the world, gameplay has been expanded in several ways. The series offers first-person swordplay, but the sequel adds new ranged options as well. In addition to the inclusion of crossbows, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II features early firearms, which look like short-range handheld fireworks. The developers also emphasize the series' focus on player freedom and choice, adding new ways for the player to interact with the world’s many characters and new ways for those NPCs to respond. If the player wanders around drunk and naked, for example, townsfolk will verbalize their discomfort, and the player is free to apologize or taunt right back at them.</p> <p>Our preview ends with a performance of a song from the game's soundtrack. Composer Jan Valta returns with a period-appropriate score, conducting an ensemble of instruments and a choir performing a piece that harkens back to the religious compositions of the 1400s. </p> <p>Kingdom Come: Deliverance II will be released sometime later this year, and it simply looks better than its predecessor in every significant way. When Warhorse was founded 10 years ago, it was only 11 members strong; now, it's up to 250. It's no surprise, then, when creative director Daniel Vávra, seated in a dramatically lit Kuttenberg cathedral for the video presentation, says, "What we are making now is what it was supposed to be in the beginning, but we were not able to do it because we didn't have enough resources and experience and all that stuff. We've proven that the concept works, and now we can take it to another level."</p> Purchase

Jack Black All But Confirms He’s Steve In The Minecraft Movie

Marcus Stewart — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 10:13:00 CDT

<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/prod-media.gameinformer.com/styles/body_default/s3/2019/03/27/56fd743c/minecraft.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="Minecraft movie Jack Black" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>Jack Black seems to have more or less confirmed his rumored role as Steve in the upcoming Minecraft movie. </p> <p>The actor took to Instagram on Tuesday to post a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5yyqluSQpc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link">short video</a> of himself on a film lot observing a rainbow before entering a trailer labeled “Steve, Minecraft.” The interior features promotional art of Steve as the actor smiles at the camera. </p> <p>A <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/gamer-culture/2024/01/03/jack-black-joins-live-action-minecraft-movie-reportedly-as-steve">report in January</a> stated Black would be voicing Minecraft’s mascot but had not been officially confirmed by the film’s production companies, Warner Bros. and Legendary. Although this <em>technically</em> isn’t an official announcement either, I'd say there's roughly a 99.99 percent chance that Black is involved.</p> <p>The Minecraft movie, which has been in development in some form or another since 2014, is directed by <em>Nacho Libre</em> director Jared Hess. The cast includes Jason Momoa (<em>Aquaman, Game of Thrones</em>), Danielle Brooks (<em>The Color Purple</em>), Jennifer Coolidge (<em>The White Lotus, American Pie</em>), and Emma Myers (<em>Wednesday</em>). <em>Minecraft</em> is scheduled to hit theaters on April 4, 2025. </p> <p>Jack Black is obviously no stranger to video game movies. He voiced Bowser in <em>The Super Mario Bros. Movie</em> and portrays Claptrap in the upcoming <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/gamer-culture/2024/02/21/the-borderlands-movies-first-trailer-looks-as-ridiculous-as-the-games"><em>Borderlands</em></a>. </p>

How Star Wars Outlaws' Reputation And Wanted Systems Work

Brian Shea — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 14:00:00 CDT

Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Massive Entertainment
Release: <time datetime="2024-08-30T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">August 30, 2024</time>

<p>As Kay Vess, the main protagonist in Star Wars Outlaws, you must work within the thriving underworld to accomplish your goals. Because Kay's adventure takes place between <em>The Empire Strikes Back</em> and <em>Return of the Jedi</em>, the underworld is thriving. The Empire is focusing its efforts on finishing off the retreating Rebel Alliance. While many of the moons and planets are under Imperial occupation, its primary focus is finding Rebels. Kay must take advantage of the criminal underworld, which led developer Massive Entertainment to create the Reputation System, a reflection of her standing with the criminal organizations she interacts with.</p> <p>After Sliro of Zerek Besh puts a bounty on her, Kay must work towards the goal of pulling off the ultimate heist to attain freedom for her and her companion Nix. Navigating the Star Wars underworld, Kay interacts with four syndicates, each with its own leader. Jabba the Hutt is the most iconic as the leader of the Hutt Cartel, but Kay also crosses paths with Lady Qi'ra (who many know from Emilia Clarke's portrayal in <em>Solo: A Star Wars Story</em>) of Crimson Dawn, Queen Ashiga of the Ashiga Clan (a new syndicate created in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games), and Gorak of the Pyke Syndicate.</p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/03/ba582eb5/gi_qira.jpg" alt="Star Wars Outlaws" title="Star Wars Outlaws" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>Massive Entertainment wanted to create a game in which you must navigate an underworld where, as a scoundrel, you live and die by your reputation. You can improve your standing with the syndicates by taking on jobs, performing tasks, and making choices in favor of the various criminal organizations. If you have a good relationship with one syndicate, your life will be easier when interacting with them or when you're in their territory. </p> <p>"Very early on, we knew that we wanted to do a scoundrel story and we knew we wanted the game to be about choice and consequences," lead systems designer Matthieu Delisle says. "So pretty naturally, reputation came as the medium for the player to interact with the game. That's the foundation for the game and then we built the game around that. So, all the features in the game are, one way or another, connected to reputation."</p> <p>Through having a good relationship with a syndicate, you get access to more jobs to take on, better deals and special stock at shops, high-stakes Sabacc tables, intel, rumors, and more access to that syndicate's territory. Not only that but if you get into trouble with another syndicate and find yourself in a chase, a syndicate with whom you have a good relationship might jump in and help you get away. But it's never so simple; Massive assures me that as a scoundrel, you will get into trouble.</p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/03/5f715efb/gi_action_pyke.jpg" alt="Star Wars Outlaws" title="Star Wars Outlaws" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>While I don't get a sense of just how challenging the balancing act is, an example that emerged <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="161722c3-6680-4362-a65f-0201a7937262" href="https://www.gameinformer.com/preview/2024/04/10/exclusive-hands-on-impressions">during my hands-on demo</a> demonstrated that sometimes your choices will force you to take sides. During my demo, I found a sensitive video file that showed a member of the Pyke Syndicate looking to overthrow Gorak. Kay's original plan was to take it to the Pyke Syndicate leader to fetch a pretty penny and improve her standing, but when she turns in the job she was doing when she uncovered the evidence, the client is revealed as a member of Crimson Dawn. Kay thinks that they might have a keen interest in that sensitive data, so the player is given a choice of who they want to hand the video file over to, with Kay's reputation with that syndicate getting a bump with Crimson Dawn. Because of this newfound standing with Crimson Dawn, my next mission is a bit easier as the Crimson Dawn guards let me walk right into their territory.</p> <p>"It's really about choosing whichever syndicate benefits her in the moment," senior systems designer Alice Rendell says. "It's really up to the player to decide how they want to balance their reputations throughout the game. You can go all in with one syndicate, but obviously at the risk of displeasing others, or you can try and play the underworld a bit more and try to find something a bit more balanced."</p> <p>But reputations are designed to ebb and flow. Your reputation with a syndicate can take a hit from making a decision against the syndicate or through your actions. For example, if I go into a part of a syndicate's territory where I'm not supposed to be and get spotted, Kay's reputation will take a hit. Similarly, if you're spotted on a security camera or you raise an alarm, your reputation takes a hit. In one sequence, I alerted the Pyke Syndicate to my presence and began piling up bodies; I didn't get to experiment too much more with my reputation with the Pyke Syndicate, but I imagine I'd have some work to do to repair that relationship.</p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/03/50d84e11/gi_ashiga_hive.jpg" alt="Star Wars Outlaws" title="Star Wars Outlaws" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>Still, even with that transgression against the Pyke Syndicate in their own territory, you're never entirely cut off from any of the factions. After all, you're dealing with criminal organizations who are primarily concerned with how you can benefit them. If they think you're the right person for the job, they'll still let you do work for them. </p> <p>"The way that people in the world react to Kay will vary depending on the reputation, but it is very transactional," Rendell says. "These aren't friendships, so it's still very, 'Okay, can Kay help you out in this moment?'"</p> <p>But Kay doesn't just have to manage her reputation with the Hutt Cartel, the Pyke Syndicate, Crimson Dawn, and the Ashiga Clan. While they're all key players in the criminal underworld, in this period between <em>The Empire Strikes Back</em> and <em>Return of the Jedi</em>, the Galactic Empire is arguably at the peak of its power. While they are largely distracted in their relentless hunt for members of the Rebel Alliance, if you get in the way or break their rules, they won't ignore you for long.</p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/03/19400806/gi_imperial_station.jpg" alt="Star Wars Outlaws" title="Star Wars Outlaws" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>Because the Empire holds such power, you don't have a reputation meter with them. Instead, the Empire reacts to you based on your wanted level. If you break enough rules, your wanted level rises. The more wanted you are, the worse the Empire makes your life. </p> <p>More imperial troops join the hunt for you as your wanted level goes up, with the maximum level summoning elite enemies to hunt you down. You can try to hide to decrease your wanted level, but the higher your wanted level, the longer it takes the Empire to call off the search. You can also meet with corrupt Imperial officers who might take a bribe or, in the worst-case scenario, participate in a challenging in-world event at the maximum wanted level to get the Empire off your back. </p> <p>I didn't get a chance to experiment with the Wanted System at all, nor did I get a chance to truly push the Reputation System beyond the standard interactions and botched stealth sequences of my demo, but I did get a feel for it in action. I'm excited to see how the system reacts to player choices, particularly since when I ask creative director Julian Gerighty if there's a way to max out all syndicates' reputation meters, he says, "Not that I've been able to find." </p> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/03/9938e250/swo_screenshots_buildyourreputation_wide_120623_815pmcest.jpg" alt="Star Wars Outlaws" title="Star Wars Outlaws" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> <p>The Reputation System feels like an essential piece of the scoundrel video game puzzle, and if it can deliver in all the ways Massive touts it to, it's the element of Star Wars Outlaws I'm most excited to play around with. If it can, indeed, provide the level of player agency and systems flexibility an adventure like this all but necessitates, we should be in for an incredible adventure when Star Wars Outlaws arrives on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on August 30.</p> Purchase

Children of the Sun Review - Spot On

Diego Nicolás Argüello — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 12:00:00 CDT

Reviewed on: PC
Platform: PC
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Developer: René Rother
Release: <time datetime="2024-04-09T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">April 9, 2024</time>

<p>Children of the Sun is hellbent on occupying your mind. During the six hours it took me to hit credits, I was engrossed in mastering its simple, yet wonderfully executed central mechanic. At first, taking down dozens of cultists with just one bullet was a fun gimmick to tinker with. As time passed, I became obsessed with pushing the tools at my disposal to their limits, repeatedly using people as target practice until I had concocted a satisfactory murder plan.</p> <p>Introduced as a puzzle shooter, Children of the Sun has you incarnating a young woman who lost her family after getting involved with the eerie namesake cult. Using just one bullet of your sniper rifle, you plunge through over 20 levels by connecting kills until you take everybody down in one swift sequence. As you make progress, the foundation gains complexity with special foes that require different strategies, as well as a handful of abilities around the bullet itself.</p> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qmcZSftDvoA" width="640"></iframe> <p>It's easy to see the influences from the likes of Killer7, Sniper Elite, and the latter Hitman games. But there are echoes of Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective as well, infusing inanimate objects with a paranormal force to interact with the environment, and people's bodies, to your advantage.</p> <p>At the start of a level, you only get a narrow view of the whole map, so to speak. Ideally, you want to tag every single cultist before pulling the trigger, so you can plan ahead of time – similar to scanning a room in Hotline Miami before kicking down the door. More often than not, you first need to kill a few of them just to tag others or get a better view at the far end of an area. It makes for a compelling exploratory phase that doesn't frustrate but rather encourages you to fail until you've gathered all the visual information you need.</p> <p>Time slows down when you're moving the bullet. It also completely stops once you hit a target. This gives you some breathing room, and a chance to gain a different perspective. You can shoot birds to gain altitude or gas tanks to find an angle that allows you to continue chaining down targets, for example. Yet, you're rewarded via a scoring system for executing a killing with style and aggressiveness. It works as the perfect contrast to the exploratory phase, forcing you to see whether your plan can be executed swiftly or if you need another strategy. There's a leaderboard at the end of each level that incentivizes you to push for this cruel finesse, as well as vague clues for challenges to uncover.</p> <section class='type:slideshow'><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/17/d89aa990/20240415014326_1.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/17/840193f1/20240415153059_1.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/17/39b2021b/20240415154444_1.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/17/ba7607a0/20240415180902_1.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/17/c64079e5/20240415181604_1.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/17/5b6836f6/20240412030309_1.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/17/eecbeb31/header20240415021921_1.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/17/f75e3278/20240412030538_1.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/17/ae42dfc0/20240415013134_1.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/17/9074e703/20240415020007_1.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/17/3d364487/20240415021818_1.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/17/114b2be1/20240415022140_1.jpg'></figure></section>   <p>The macabre tone of Children of the Sun pairs well with its human gamification. Shooting an arm gives you 25 points. Shooting a groin rewards 50 points instead. The over-the-top violence turns gratuitous after seeing the words "I Just Killed a Man, Now I'm Horny" before playing a Pac-Man-style minigame during a special level. The abrasive tone never comes off as mere window dressing for the sake of shock value but rather thrives in its repulsiveness.</p> <p>Both the visual and sound design work make for a haunting sensorial stimulation. There were times when I felt underwater, zip-zapping from one corner of an ocean to the next as the bullet pierced head after head, like waves colliding against each other. The effect of a late-game ability, which allows you to increase the speed of a shot, sounds like an electric guitar distorted to the brim with effect pedals.</p> <p>Children of the Sun is a prime example of an experience born from a straightforward premise and then iterated for the right amount of time before it loses its charm. On occasion, the central mechanic can't keep up with itself – I missed more than a few finicky shots that should have landed, forcing a retry. But once you successfully execute a strategy and finish a level, the satisfaction is unmatched. You then seek to replicate the feeling during subsequent hunts, completely alienated from the messiness of your actions as you chase a higher score.</p>

Score: 9

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Everything Announced During The April 2024 Nintendo Indie World

Marcus Stewart — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 10:33:00 CDT

<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/17/3a0215ce/swheist2screen1.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="Nintendo Indie World April 2024" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>Today's Nintendo Indie World featured 20 minutes of new indie game reveals and updates to anticipated titles. If you missed the event, we've gathered each announcement here for a cursory glance at what showed up. </p> <h2>Little Kitty, Big City - May 9 </h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LWUdu2q88K4" width="640"></iframe> <p>As the title suggests, you control a small cat in a mini-open world set within a bustling, Japanese-inspired metropolis. Your goal is to find a way home, but plenty of distractions and opportunities to help fellow animal friends or cause chaos will likely delay your departure. </p> <h2>Yars Rising - Late 2024</h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IPLapjFwSKo" width="640"></iframe> <p>Wayforward and Atari are teaming up for a 2D Metroidvania spin-off of the 1982 classic Yars’ Revenge. This side-scrolling platformer stars Emi Kimura, a young hacker (using the handle of Yar) who gets embroiled in an intergalactic conspiracy centered around a corrupt corporation. Yar can blast robots, climb platforms, sneak through vents, hide in doorways, and more. </p> <h2>Refind Self: The Personality Test Game - Summer 2024 </h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QHoWSjUrhhM" width="640"></iframe> <p>This 2023 choice-driven adventure stars an android whose creator has passed away. Unaware of its purpose, you’ll piece together your past by interacting with characters and making decisions to determine what the doctor had in mind for you. Decisions mold the android into one of 23 personality types. Are you a hero, researcher, artisan, or gambler? Whichever the case, Refind Self encourages multiple playthroughs, and you can share results and compare choices and personality results with other players. </p> <h2>Sticky Business - Today</h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7kveCJz9y3k" width="640"></iframe> <p>First arriving last summer, this cozy shop simulator is now available on Switch. Players run a sticker shop where you’ll use over 400 elements and effects, such as sparkles and glitter, to fulfill specific customer requests. Giving customers their desired stickers causes them to open up to players and share their individual stories. The Plan with Me DLC adds new sticker elements and customer stories, and a bundle containing the DLC and the base game is also available. </p> <h2>Antonblast - November 12</h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6nnjueEx8Gw" width="640"></iframe> <p>As Dynamite Anton or Annie, smash through levels to reach Satan himself, who stole your prized spirit collection. Levels begin by setting bombs, then use your powerful hammer to smash enemies through destructible environments Reaching the end triggers a timer where you must race back to the start before the entire level detonates. A demo will be available later today, and Antonblast will launch as a timed console exclusive when it releases. </p> <h2>Valley Peaks - 2024</h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iP2zieFUrwA" width="640"></iframe> <p>As a mountain-climbing frog, use your tongue to swing across mountain peaks to place radio towers and reestablish communications with fellow climbers. Each mountain presents its own platforming puzzle, challenging players to find the correct path. Along the way you’ll find equipment to ease climbing, play minigames, and take on side quests from other froggy climbers</p> <h2>Lorelei and the Laser Eyes - May 16</h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SreQDMyQNHE" width="640"></iframe> <p>This Annapurna-published non-linear puzzle game finally hits next month. Created by the team behind Sayonara Wild Hearts, players control a woman invited to take part in a project set in an old European hotel. Her journey becomes a nightmarish and surreal adventure sporting over 100 puzzles with shifting mechanics and perspectives. </p> <h2>Europa - 2024</h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CTj1ndTPknY" width="640"></iframe> <p>This vibrant sci-fi fantasy game could be mistaken for a Studio Ghibli joint. Players control an android boy with a jetpack-like device who explores a picturesque alien moon. Soar through levels to uncover the secrets of a lost civilization. A free demo is available later today. </p> <h2>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate - July 2024</h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/75aZnLv0h3k" width="640"></iframe> <p>Originally an Apple Arcade exclusive, this roguelike adventure sees the Turtles traveling through reality-bending portals to find a kidnapped Master Splinter. Each turtle has their own abilities to take down the Foot Clan and other familiar foes, with every room granting new powers and upgrades. Spending earned currency at the sewer base unlocks permanent upgrades, and you can play alongside three other players in drop-in/drop-out co-op. TMNT: Splinter Fate is launching on Switch as a timed console exclusive. </p> <h2>Cat Quest III - August 8</h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K5TQm1N8vuM" width="640"></iframe> <p>Sail the seven seas as an adorable feline pirate to engage in navel combat alone or with a friend in co-op. When you’re not sailing the waves, you're blasting enemies in dungeons using a refined combat system with tighter combos and new weapon swapping. </p> <h2>Stitch - Today</h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OfU7pXpWZKs" width="640"></iframe> <p>Embroidery fans rejoice! Apply those skills (sort of) to complete over 180 Picross-esque puzzles, called Hoops, to bring embroidery patterns to life. Completed hoops can be replayed endlessly in free play mode where you can recolor them as you wish. Limited daily puzzles offer tougher challenges, and weekly hoops are themed after holidays and other real events. First released on Apple Arcade, Stich is a console exclusive on Switch. </p> <h2>SteamWorld Heist II - August 8</h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QfGfBMxhtT4" width="640"></iframe> <p>The sequel to SteamWorld’s 2015 turn-based strategy game takes to the seas. New features include the ability to perform trick shots to ricochet enemies off each other, a revamped job system, and an interactive world map with real-time naval combat. You can befriend new steambots to join your crew and your actions impact their lives. </p> <h2>Quick Release Date Updates</h2> <p><strong>Bzzzt </strong>- Summer 2024</p> <p><strong>Schim</strong> - July 18</p> <p><strong>Animal Well</strong> - May 9</p> <p><strong>Duck Detective: The Secret Salami</strong> - May 23</p> <p><strong>Another Crab’s Treasure</strong> - April 25</p> <p><em>Which announcement interested you the most? Let us know in the comments!</em></p>

Every Villain In Insomniac's Spider-Man Universe

Brian Shea — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 14:21:00 CDT

<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2023/10/19/9417627d/spidey.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>With 2018's <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/review/spider-man/spinning-an-amazing-web">Marvel's Spider-Man</a>, Insomniac Games began building one of the richest video game interpretations of the Marvel Universe that we've seen to date. The studio nailed the tone of Peter, Miles, and their supporting cast, but it was the care put into the rest of the universe that makes Insomniac's universe stand apart. Yes, the Easter eggs and references to heroes like Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Black Panther, and more make this feel like an established universe full of superheroes, but Insomniac took things to the next level with its rogues' gallery. </p> <p>As a longtime Spider-Man and Marvel fan, I've delighted in watching my favorite villains – and those I rarely think of – pop up throughout the multi-game journey. Check out all the villains in Insomniac's Spider-Man universe below, and let us know which ones you got most excited to see appear in the game.</p> <p><strong>Warning:</strong> <em>This list contains <strong>spoilers</strong> for Marvel's Spider-Man, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Marvel's Spider-Man 2.</em></p>