A number of new PS4 games are now available in the PlayStation Store. This week sees several notable titles added to the service, including Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, the debut episode in Telltale's new Batman: The Enemy Within series, the multiplayer shooter LawBreakers, and a handful of other games worth players' attention.
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is the latest effort from developer Ninja Theory, the studio behind Heavenly Sword and DmC: Devil May Cry. The game retails for $30 and puts players in the role of the eponymous Senua, a "tormented celtic warrior on a twisted vision quest to rescue the soul of her lover." Hellblade was developed in collaboration with neuroscientists and combines elements of Celtic and Norse mythology into one nightmarish journey through Senua's psyche. GameSpot found the title to be a gripping look at mental illness and awarded it an 8/10 in our review.
Telltale kicks off the second season of its Batman series with The Enigma. This chapter sees Bruce Wayne and his alter ego Batman both "forced into precarious new roles" as the caped crusader attempts to thwart his nemeses, The Riddler and The Joker. Critical response to The Enigma have been very positive; GameSpot awarded the episode an 8/10 in our review and called it "a successful opening chapter to a Batman story that's shaping up to be more ambitious than anything Telltale attempted in the first season."
There are a number of other noteworthy games in the PlayStation Store this week, including the side-scrolling action game Icey, the retro compilation Mega Man Legacy Collection 2, and the acclaimed shoot-'em-up Sine Mora EX. You can find the full list of this week's PS4 releases below.
PlayStation 4 players in North America who are planning to pick up a physical copy of Level-5's next major RPG, Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom, will have a few different options to choose from. Alongside the standard release, Bandai Namco announced today that the game will also be available in limited-quantity Premium and Collector's Editions.
Regardless of which package you choose, you'll get a bonus item along with the title. The standard "day one" edition comes with a copy of the game and the Special Sword Set DLC, which includes five rare weapons. Meanwhile, the Premium Edition, which retails for $80, includes the aforementioned DLC pack, as well as a 3D papercraft kit, an exclusive DLC sword called the Dragon's Tooth, and a soundtrack CD, all of which is housed in a special steelbook case.
The most extravagant option, however, is the Collector's Edition. This package retails for $200 and includes all of the contents from the Premium Edition, along with a Ni no Kuni II art book, a chibi mechanical diorama, a Lofty plush, a "making of" documentary Blu-ray, a 3D papercraft display case, and the game's newly announced season pass. You can see a shot of each edition and its contents below.
The Ni no Kuni II season pass can be purchased individually for $20. It includes two as-yet unannounced "large DLC releases," as well as a supply kit that contains an assortment of helpful items for players to use. Bandai Namco will announce more details about the game's two DLC expansions at a later date.
European players, meanwhile, will have their own special edition packages to choose from. The physical Prince's Edition for PS4 retails for £85 and comes with a making-of Blu-ray, the game's season pass, and a steelbook case, while the digital Prince Edition is available for both PS4/PC and contains the title and its season pass for £70. The PS4 King's Edition costs £140 and includes the contents of the Prince Edition in addition to a Ni no Kuni II vinyl record, a diorama figure, a music box that plays the game's main theme, and an art book (the PC King's Edition also includes all of the aforementioned items but with a digital copy of the game for £130). Everyone who pre-orders the title will receive the Special Sword DLC set as a bonus. You can see images of the Prince and King editions below.
Ni No Kuni II arrives on PS4 and PC on January 19. The game was originally scheduled to release this year, on November 10, but Bandai Namco ultimately pushed it back to 2018 in order to "deliver the full Ni no Kuni II experience." We got to go hands-on with the game at E3 2017 this past June and enjoyed the dramatic changes Level-5 made to the series' battle system.
There's a new trailer showing off Destiny 2's competitive multiplayer, and we're getting a look at the total carnage that erupts in the game's 4v4 battles.
"Enter the Crucible to fight, to conquer, to crush...Don't be captured, show your enemy what a real fight looks like," says the trailer's narrator, Lord Shaxx, as the game's three central classes--Hunter, Titan, and Warlock--and their abilities are showcased. Check out the new trailer below.
In May, developer Bungie announced it would be overhauling the series' multiplayer in Destiny 2. The game will limit competitive multiplayer to 4v4, focusing on battles between smaller teams. Game director Luke Smith said the changes are caused by Bungie's desire to rethink "the Crucible from first principles."
Last month, Square Enix announced that it will hold a closed beta for its upcoming Final Fantasy fighting game, Dissidia Final Fantasy NT. Today, the publisher announced more details regarding the online test, including when it will begin.
From August 25 until September 3, select players will be able to try out the arcade fighter early. Registration is currently going on now, and those who'd like to sign up for a chance to participate have until August 20 to do so. However, as is the case with most closed betas, not everyone who registers will be chosen. North and Latin American players can sign up for the beta here, while those in PAL regions can register at this site.
Dissidia Final Fantasy NT is the third installment in the spinoff series, which began on PSP back in 2009. The game features a roster of heroes and villains taken from throughout the Final Fantasy series' 30-year history, including Cloud, Lightning, Kefka, and many others. Today, Square Enix announced one more character who'll appear in the game: the Blitzball legend Jecht from Final Fantasy X. However, the publisher confirmed that Jecht will not be one of the characters available to use during the game's closed beta.
Dissidia Final Fantasy NT launches exclusively for PlayStation 4 in early 2018. The title is a home console port of the Japanese arcade game that released in 2015. It features a three-on-three battle system, over 20 playable characters, and a number of iconic Final Fantasy Summons that can be called in during battle.
NBA 2K18 is coming up soon, but until now 2K hasn't shown the game in action at all. Today, the company released a new trailer that gives a first look at what you can expect from NBA 2K18's gameplay.
The video highlights the game's art style, with developers explaining how the look of the players has changed since last year's release. The team has redone the body system, rebuilt faces "from scratch," and added small details like scars and faded tattoos. Check it out below.
Apparently, the studio went to some extreme lengths to be as accurate as possible. For example, developers were sent to the NBA headquarters to "laser scan" all uniforms and 200 different pairs of shoes.
2K also announced that it's bringing back the Prelude mode that originally appeared alongside NBA 2K17. The Prelude is a free download that is meant to begin your career mode in the full game. The Prelude launches on September 8.
NBA 2K18 will be released on September 19 for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. However, if you pre-order the game, you'll get to play it four days early, starting on September 15. In addition, you'll receive the following content:
Overwatch's next seasonal event is now live. Much like last year, Summer Games features new cosmetic items that are only available for a limited time, as well as the return of the special Brawl mode LucioBall.
The cosmetics will be the highlight of the event for many, and they include new skins for Sombra, Widowmaker, Reaper, and Junkrat, among others. These are less Olympics-centric than those offered last year; Soldier 76 gets one that puts him in cargo shorts and a Hawaiian shirt and replaces his assault rifle with one that features the words "A Salt Rifle."
Summer Games 2017 also introduces a new map for LucioBall, the soccer/Rocket League-esque mode that has teams of Lucios try to knock a ball through the opposing team's goal. You also have another chance to get your hands on last year's skins, which are available at a discounted price, as laid out below.
Sony has added another handful of PS4 games to its PlayStation Now streaming service in North America. This month's batch consists of 19 titles, including Tearaway Unfolded, Lego Batman 3, OlliOlli2, and more.
Those interested in signing up for the service can still take advantage of Sony's promotional pricing. For a limited time, players can purchase a 12-month subscription for $100, while a single month will run you $10. A seven-day free trial is also available, though once that concludes it will transition into the standard $20 monthly subscription.
This is the last week PS3 and Vita players will be able to access PS Now; on August 15, Sony will discontinue the service for those and other platforms such as PlayStation TV, select Sony Bravia TVs, all Sony Blu-ray players, and all Samsung TVs. Following that date, PS Now will only be available on PS4 and PC.
" style="word-wrap: break-word;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #6DC6DD;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;">four more games]
The Xbox One's backwards compatibility feature, introduced in November 2015, lets you play Xbox 360 games on the new console. But what games are available? We've now rounded them all up--and we'll continue to update this post as new games are made available.
Xbox One Backwards Compatibility Lineup (As of August 8, 2017):
New titles are bolded
3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures
A Kingdom for Keflings
A World of Keflings
Aegis Wing
Age of Booty
Alan Wake
Alan Wake's American Nightmare
Alice: Madness Returns
Alien Hominid HD
Altered Beast
Anomaly Warzone Earth
Arkanoid Live
Army of Two
Assassin's Creed
Assassin's Creed II
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (added June 27)
Assassin's Creed III
Assassin's Creed Revelations
Assassin's Creed Rogue
Assault Heroes 2
Asteroids & Deluxe
AstroPop
Aqua
Babel Rising
Band of Bugs
Banjo Kazooie: Nuts n Bolts
Banjo Tooie
Banjo Kazooie
Batman: Arkham Origins (disc only -- added August 8)
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Battlefield 3
BattleBlock Theater
Battlestations: Midway
Bayonetta
Beat'n Groovy
Bejeweled 2
Bejeweled 3
Bellator: MMA Onslaught
Beyond Good & Evil HD
Bionic Commando Rearmed 2
BioShock
BioShock 2
BioShock Infinite
Bloodforge
Blood Knights
Blood of the Werewolf
BloodRayne: Betrayal
Blue Dragon
Bomberman Live: Battlefest
Boom Boom Rocket
Borderlands
Borderlands 2
Bound by Flame
Braid
Brain Challenge
Bullet Soul
Bullet Soul: Infinite Burst
Bully: Scholarship Edition
Burnout Paradise
Cabela's Alaskan Adventures
Cabela's Dangerous Hunts 2013
Cabela's Hunting Expeditions
Cabela's Survival: Shadows of Katmai
Call of Duty 2
Call of Duty 3
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Call of Duty: Ghosts (added June 29)
Call of Duty: World at War
Call of Juarez Gunslinger
Capcom Arcade Cabinet
Carcassonne
Cars 2
Castle Crashers
Castlestorm
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Catherine
The Cave
Centipede & Millipede
Civilization: Revolution
Clannad
Commanders: Attack of the Genos
Comic Jumper
Comix Zone
Condemned
Contra
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Crazy Taxi
Crystal Quest
Crystal Defenders
Dark Souls
Dark Void
Darksiders
Darksiders II
Daytona USA
de Blob 2
Dead Rising 2: Case West
Dead Rising 2: Case Zero
Dead Space
Dead Space 2
Dead Space 3
Dead Space Ignition
Deadliest Warrior: Legends
Deadliest Warrior: The Game (added August 8)
Deathspank: Thongs of Virtue
Defense Grid
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut
Dig Dug
Dirt 3
Dirt Showdown
Discs of Tron
Disney Bolt (added August 8)
Disney Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two (added August 3)
Domino Master
Doom
Doom II
Doom 3: BFG Edition
Doritos Crash Course
Double Dragon: Neon
Dragon Age: Origins
Dragon's Lair
DuckTales Remastered
Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project
Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara
Dungeon Siege III
E4: Every Extend Extra Extreme
Earthworm Jim HD
Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon (added July 12)
Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Encleverment Experiment
Escape Dead Island
F1 2014 (added July 12)
Fable II
Fable III
Faery: Legends of Avalon
Fallout 3
Fallout: New Vegas
Far Cry 3
Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon
Feeding Frenzy
Feeding Frenzy 2
Fighting Vipers (added August 8)
Final Fight: Double Impact
Flashback
Flock
Forza Horizon
Fret Nice
Frogger
Frogger 2
FunTown Mahjong
Galaga
Galaga Legions
Galaga Legions DX
Garou: Mark of the Wolves
Gatling Gears
Gears of War
Gears of War 2
Gears of War 3
Gears of War: Judgment
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions
Ghostbusters
Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime
Gin Rummy
Golden Axe
Go! Go! Break Steady
Golf: Tee It Up
Grand Theft Auto IV
Grid 2
Gripshift
Guardian Heroes
Gunstar Heroes
Guwange
Gyromancer
Gyruss (added July 25)
Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax
Halo: Reach
Halo: Spartan Assault
Halo Wars
Hard Corps: Uprising
Hardwood Backgammon
Hardwood Hearts
Hardwood Spades
Harms Way
Haunted House
Heavy Weapon
Hexic 2
Hexic HD
Hitman: Absolution
Hydro Thunder
I Am Alive
Ikaruga
Ilomilo
Injustice: Gods Among Us + disc-only Ultimate Edition
Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet
Interpol: The Trail of Dr. Chaos
Iron Brigade
Jeremy McGrath's Offroad
Jet Set Radio
Jetpac Refuelled
Joe Danger Special Edition
Joe Danger 2: The Movie
Joust
Joy Ride Turbo
Juju
Jurassic Park: The Game
Just Cause 2
Kameo
Kane & Lynch 2
Killer Is Dead
The King of Fighters '98
The King of Fighters 2002
Lazy Raiders
Left 4 Dead
Left 4 Dead 2
Lego Batman
Lego Indiana Jones
Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Limbo
Lode Runner
Lost Odyssey
Lumines Live!
Luxor 2
Mad Tracks
Magic: The Gathering 2012
Mars: War Logs
Mass Effect
Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 3
Matt Hazard: Blood, Bath, and Beyond
The Maw
Medal of Honor: Airborne
Meet the Robinsons
Mega Man 9
Mega Man 10
Metal Slug 3
Metal Slug XX
Midway Arcade Origins
Might & Magic Clash of Heroes
Military Madness
Mirror's Edge
Missile Command
Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine
Monday Night Combat
Monkey Island: SE
Monkey Island 2: SE
Moon Diver
Motocross Madness
Ms. Splosion Man
Ms Pac-Man
Mutant Blobs Attack
Mutant Storm Empire
MX vs. ATV Reflex
N+
NBA Jam: On Fire Edition
Neogeo Battle Coliseum
Nights Into Dreams
Of Orcs and Men
Omega Five
Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising
Operation Flashpoint: Red River
The Orange Box
Outland
Pac-Man
Pac-Man C.E
Pac-Man CE DX+
Pac-Man Museum
Peggle
Perfect Dark
Perfect Dark Zero
Phantasy Star II
Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds
Pinball FX
Planets Under Attack
Plants vs. Zombies
Poker Smash
Portal: Still Alive
Portal 2
Prince of Persia
Pure
Putty Squad
Puzzle Quest
Puzzle Quest 2
Puzzle Quest: Galactrix
QIX++ Puzzlegeddon
Rage
Raiden IV (added July 25)
Raskulls
Rayman 3 HD
Rayman Legends
Rayman Origins
Red Dead Redemption
Red Faction: Armageddon (added July 25)
Red Faction: Battlegrounds
RoboBlitz
Rocket Knight
R-Type Dimensions
Runner 2
Sacred 3
Sacred Citadel
Saints Row IV
Sam & Max: Beyond Time & Space
Sam & Max Save the World
Samurai Shodown II
Scarygirl
Scrap Metal
Sega Vintage Collection: Alex Kidd & Co.
Sega Vintage Collection: Monster World
Sega Vintage Collection: Streets of Rage
Sega Vintage Collection: ToeJam & Earl (added August 3)
Shadow Assault/Tenchu
Shadow Complex
Shadowrun
Shadows of the Damned
Shank 2
Shinobi
Shred Nebula
Shotest Shogi
Silent Hill: Downpour
Skate 3
Skullgirls
Skydive
Small Arms
Soltrio Solitaire
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
Sonic & Knuckles
Sonic CD
Sonic The Fighters
Sonic The Hedgehog
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Sonic The Hedgehog 3
Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode 1
Sonic The Hedgehog 4: Episode II
Soulcalibur
Soulcalibur II
South Park: The Stick of Truth
Space Ark
Space Giraffe
Space Invaders Infinity Gene
Spelunky
The Splatters
Splosion Man
SSX
Stacking
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II
Steins; Gate 比翼恋理のだーりん (Japan only)
Steins; Gate (オリジナル版) (Japan only)
Steins; Gate 線形拘束のフェノグラム (Japan-only, requires game disc)
Strania
Street Fighter IV
Stuntman: Ignition
Super Meat Boy
Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition (added July 13)
The number of Xbox 360 games you can play on Xbox One has grown once again. Microsoft has announced the addition of four more games to the backwards compatibility library.
For games you already own digitally, you'll find them in your Xbox One's Ready to Download list. Physical games (like Arkham Origins, which you can't download from the Xbox Store) can simply be popped into the disc drive and will be playable following a download.
Rick and Morty Season 3 episode 3, "Pickle Rick," saw Rick transform himself into a pickle and use cockroach and rat body parts to become an unstoppable action movie killing machine. And that was just the episode's subplot--"Pickle Rick" was really about the Smith family's trip to therapy.
And although guest star Susan Sarandon's deadpan delivery of lines like "If you have any friends or family that eat poop and would like to stop, give them my number" made the whole thing worth it, most viewers probably don't tune into Rick and Morty for the family drama as much as for the absurdly over-the-top sci-fi comedy.
Rick and Morty normally uses sentimentality wisely, but part of that wisdom has also been that the show employs it sparingly. In Season 3 episode 2, when Morty and Summer took advantage of their time in a Mad Max-style irradiated wasteland to work through their parents' separation, it felt like a smart and necessary follow-up to the family's break-up in the premiere. Now we're three episodes into a 10-episode season, and the Smiths dealing with their familial dysfunction is still the main narrative through-line. This stronger focus on family might wind up eroding one of the things that makes Rick and Morty so great: How fun it always is, even when things get dark.
Where are the alien races that make you question the fabric of reality--the intergalactic assassins, the universes contained inside car batteries, the infinite timelines where Rick and Morty blow up the world or turn everyone into mutant bug people? When was the last time Rick even asked Morty to shove a strange seed up his butt so they could make it through interdimensional customs?
It's no secret that Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland had a more-than-normal amount of trouble writing Rick and Morty season 3, which is why it took so long for it to come out. It's too early to call the season's start a rut, especially since Rick taking on the Council of Ricks in the premiere was so spectacularly good. But it's easy to imagine what Harmon and Roiland struggled with while creating the rest of season 3, because they've written themselves into a corner with Rick's character.
Does Rick really care about being the family patriarch, or does he just want that sweet McDonald's szechuan sauce? Why did he work so hard to oust Jerry if he really doesn't care about anything? Does Rick crave power, or does he love his family and want the best for them--which means getting rid of Jerry? Is he just messing with us all?
There are infinite Ricks, and each one is special. But our Rick really can't embody both motivations--love for his family, and utter nihilism. Yes, he's an extremely complex character, which is one of the reasons Rick and Morty is so great. But the two philosophies are, by their very nature, mutually exclusive.
Rick himself attempts to explain it in this episode. "To the extent that love is an expression of familiarity over time, my access to infinite timeliness precludes the necessity of attachment," he tells Jaguar. "In fact, I even abandoned one of my infinite daughters in an alternate version of earth that was taken over by mutants." Sure, he ultimately shows up to family therapy, but you can definitely argue that it's only because Beth has the anti-pickle serum in her purse.
But didn't his apology on the ride home seem genuine?
Rick and Morty has, in some respects, reached new heights in the ways it uses its ridiculous sci-fi to explore the characters' personal relationships. Rick transforms himself into a briny killing machine to avoid his obligations to his family, and Morty and Summer dedicate themselves to a life of radioactive scavenging to avoid processing their parents' divorce. So far, Season 3 has been incredibly well written, especially considering how many fart and dick jokes they manage to squeeze in anyway. It's just that at some point, it would be nice if that stuff became the subplot, and Rick and Morty started to feel fun again.
Chapter 96 of the Attack on Titan manga arrives this week, and it contains some pretty cool Game of Thrones cameos.
The author, Hajime Isayama, is known for being a Game of Thrones fan; last year, he did a 60-hour binge-watch of the hugely popular show. Now, Reddit user 420Ash has found several Titans in the manga's latest chapter that resemble popular Game of Thrones characters. Check them out below.
Isayama is known for putting memes and other pop culture references in Attack on Titan, including using this Japan-specific meme as inspiration for the Chapter 96 cover.
The second season of the Attack on Titan anime recently aired, four years after the first season became a global hit. The third season is set to air in 2018.
In the gallery below, you'll find every Knights of the Frozen Throne card that's on the way. These include cards with a new keyword, Lifesteal, which heals players based on the damage that it does. There are also Legendary Hero cards, which replace your character with a modified Death Knight version when played; these come with a new ability and look.
In addition to new cards, Knights of the Frozen Throne includes new single-player content--something the most recent expansion, Journey to Un'Goro, did not. Earlier this year, Blizzard made changes to how new expansions and single-player Adventures are rolled out. Knights of the Frozen Throne's single-player component is different than those in the past, as it comes with a set of free missions, including a prologue, two wings of three boss fights each, and a final battle against the Lich King. Completing the prologue will net you a random Legendary Hero card, while finishing each wing will also get you a card from the expansion. If you make your way through everything, you'll also obtain a card pack.
A special, one-time pre-order offer is available for Knights of the Frozen Throne, allowing you to buy 50 card packs for $50. Doing so also gets you a special card back, pictured above along with some new artwork.
Rockstar Games has released the latest update for Grand Theft Auto V. And although it isn't a major new expansion, there is some worthwhile new content for players to check out in Grand Theft Auto Online.
That includes a new Adversary mode called Overtime Shootout. This is a modified version of Overtime Rumble and still involves driving a vehicle down a ramp and trying to land it on a designated target. Rather than everyone doing this at the same time, however, each player has their own opportunity to do so without worrying about other players. From now through August 14, the mode will pay out double RP and GTA$.
Also new in this update is the HVY Nightshark vehicle. This is a version of the existing Nightshark that features even more armor (now resembling the Kuruma) and--most importantly--a pair of front-facing machine guns. While this may not have the flexibility of a gun mounted on top of the vehicle, this may be a safer, more convenient option for those wanting to unleash some havoc with their vehicle.
In terms of discounts, the Mobile Operations Center is 25%, as is the Vehicle Workshop and renovations for the MOC. Weaponized vehicles can be customized for 25% off, too, while all new Mk 11 ammo and the Dewbauchee Vagner enjoy the same discount. As for bonuses, salaries for bodyguards and associates are doubled. All of this applies for now through August 14.
Finally, this week's Premium Race is Mountain Drop, with bikes as the only vehicle option, and the Time Trial is Maze Bank Arena. Premium Races pay out triple RP to everyone and big GTA$ rewards to those who finish in the top three, while the Time Trial offers GTA$ and RP rewards for those who beat the target time.
The news channel will allow players to obtain in-game items, though it's currently unclear what those items might be. Nintendo says certain items may not be available, "depending on your game progress and location." The channel will be accessible through the the News tab in the Switch's Home menu from August 9.
Breath of the Wild's Wii U version has also been updated, and the patch includes "various fixes to improve gameplay." The update has also fixed an issue in the first DLC expansion, The Master Trials, in which defeating certain enemies would not count toward your completion rate. Check out the full patch notes, via Nintendo, at the bottom of this article.
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Version 1.3.1 Patch Notes
We have fixed the issue in Pack 1: The Master Trials of the Expansion Pass, in which defeating certain enemies for Kilton was not counted toward completion when playing in Master Mode.
Various fixes to improve gameplay.
[Nintendo Switch only] In-game items can now be obtained from launching the software from certain articles distributed through a new News channel ("The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Tips from the Wild") which can be accessed through News on the Home menu.
This channel is expected to open on 8/9/2017.
Depending on your game progress and location, certain items may not be obtainable.
GameSpot critic Alessandro Fillari praised the game's "handling of an incredibly sensitive subject matter within an engaging and well-crafted action/adventure game," and said players could "come away with a better understanding of a piece of something that many people in the world struggle with." Read more in our full Hellblade review.
Other reviews have started to emerge, and we've collated some of them below. For a wider look at the game's critical reception meanwhile, head over to GameSpot's sister site Metacritic.
Game: Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Developer / Publisher: Ninja Theory
Platforms: PS4, PC
Release: Out now
Price: US $30 / £25 / AU $45
GameSpot -- 8/10
"Hellblade's most notable achievement is the handling of an incredibly sensitive subject matter within an engaging and well-crafted action/adventure game. At its heart, the story is about Senua's struggle to come to terms with her illness. In the process, she learns to find the strength within herself to endure, and to make peace with her past. And in a profound and physical way, we go through those same struggles with her, and come away with a better understanding of a piece of something that many people in the world struggle with." -- Alessandro Fillari " style="word-wrap: break-word;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #6DC6DD;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;">Full review]
IGN -- 9.0/10
"Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is a masterclass of atmosphere, storytelling, and the marriage of mechanical and conceptual design. While there are moments that feel shoehorned in to remind us we're playing a videogame, the care and attention Ninja Theory has clearly poured into Senua and her story has created something amazing. This is a game everyone should play, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to have lived inside the mind of Senua, however briefly." -- Brandin Tyrrel " style="word-wrap: break-word;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #6DC6DD;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;">Full review]
Destructoid -- 7.5/10
"Slowly but surely Ninja Theory has moved into film territory, but they can't let go of their need to shove action mechanics into everything they do. With the increased focus and acceptance of so-called "walking simulators" there's a huge market they can tap into, and I hope they end up doing that in the future. I enjoyed pretty much every facet of Hellblade that didn't involve combat, which unfortunately pops up a little too often on top of the aforementioned technical problems--just enough to grate." -- Chris Carter " style="word-wrap: break-word;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #6DC6DD;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;">Full review]
Game Informer -- 8.0/10
"Psychosis in video games is often used to justify a villain's world-destroying ambitions, or as a vehicle to present gameplay gimmicks. Hellblade goes beyond those conventions, using Senua's mental illness as the core from which the entire tale radiates. That approach results in some phenomenal and unsettling narrative moments that knock you off-balance. However, in pursuit of that achievement, Hellblade weaponizes the real-world frustration it causes in exploration and combat. That's where it falters as a game, even while it captivates as a piece of interactive art." -- Joe Juba " style="word-wrap: break-word;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #6DC6DD;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;">Full review]
Nintendo's Eshop is getting the critically-acclaimed hack-and-slash adventure game Severed today. Nintendo Switch players in North America and Europe will be able to pick up the game for US $15 / £13.49.
Severed is a first-person dungeon crawler that came out last year, first on PS Vita and then on Wii U, 3DS, and iOS devices. At its core is the touch-screen interface and colorful art, both of which are in full display in the game's new Nintendo Switch trailer below.
Severed puts you in command of Sasha, a one-armed warrior who wields a living sword as she travels through a nightmare world to find her family. The game uses touch controls to let you solve puzzles, uncover secrets, and do battle by hacking and slashing with your fingers and performing defensive moves. There are also many RPG elements, including the ability to unlock new abilities via a skill tree, along with a dark story set in a "surreal, non-linear world."
When it debuted on Vita, GameSpot reviewer Jason D'Aprile called the game deceptively simple with gameplay that got deeper as the game went on. "The weird, old-school scrolling method and touch-based interactions hide a remarkably deep and involving mix of action, adventure, and role-playing," he said.
"The more hours you pour into Severed, the more complex it becomes and the darker the story gets. It takes a while to grasp, but once the game picks up steam, it becomes an intriguing experience." You can read our full Severed review here, and check out the latest new releases on the Switch Eshop.
With only five episode of the current season of cult TV show Twin Peaks left, there has been much speculation about whether creators David Lynch and Mark Frost will make any more. Showtime boss David Nevins has now commented on the matter, and it doesn't sound too hopeful.
Nevins was asked if he thought there could be a fourth season of Twin Peaks during the Television Critics Association's summer press tour in Los Angeles. "I don't think so, but it's not impossible," he said, via The Hollywood Reporter. "We are both avoiding the conversation for a while; we want to let the story coalesce and see how people feel at the end."
Nevertheless, Nevins did state that the network was very happy with the show's performance, implying that it would be Lynch's decision whether it returned for another season. While live viewing figures haven't been that high, Nevins explained that the value of the show has been in driving subscription numbers to the network.
"I'm really happy with the performance," he said. "It drove our business in a way that almost nothing else could. It's been interesting and maybe it's a blinding glimpse of how Netflix looks at the world, but [it had] a palpable effect on subscribers even though its overall numbers are not as big as our biggest shows. It's had a very palpable effect on subscribers for multiple months now."
The current season of Twin Peaks is the first for 26 years--the show was cancelled after Season 2 in 1991. Lynch himself has not commented on the possibility of another season of Twin Peaks, but in May he did suggest that he was finished making movies. Frost published the book The Secret History of Twin Peaks last year, and another titled Twin Peaks: The Final Dossier will be released in October.
Disclosure: Showtime is a division of CBS, which is GameSpot's parent company.
LawBreakers, the new arena shooter from Boss Key Studios and Gears of War designer Cliff Bleszinski, is now available for both PC and PS4. While the PC version appears to be in good shape--and is good fun, as you'd expect from a game with lasers you can shoot out of your boots as you retreat--the PS4 version has been encountering some troubles on launch day.
Numerous players have reported issues of hitching when playing the console version of LawBreakers; during gameplay things will freeze for a fraction of a second. It's not a huge amount of time, but it's nonetheless more than enough to be an annoyance, not to mention a real hindrance in a fast-paced competitive shooter.
Boss Key Studios and publisher Nexon have already acknowledged that they are aware of the problem and looking to fix it. A tweet from Boss Key suggests the problem is limited to "when players change roles/leave match." Many players report this happening mid-match when they're doing neither of those things, though perhaps other players doing so is what triggers the issue.
Boss Key COO Arjan Brussee remarked on Twitter, "Here's my official statement on this issue: %]?!*$&@;\><?•=. Fnck. Fixing now." Prior to that, he responded to a question about the problem by saying, "We broke something (showed only after we unlocked everything) and thought we fixed it. Accelerating hotfix patch process."
LawBreakers is the debut game from Boss Key, which was founded by Brussee and Bleszinski back in 2014. It's a class-based first-person shooter that is multiplayer-only--and, as such, carries a $30/£25/AU$45 price tag.
Orwell, the narrative-driven PC game where you play as Big Brother basically, is getting a second season and it sounds like it's taking inspiration fake news and alternative facts. Season 2, which is called Ignorance is Strength, is focusing on "power and democracy in a post-truth world." The first teaser trailer for the second season includes real-world commentary from people like Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Kellyanne Conway, and others in the political and media industries.
Just like the first season, Ignorance is Strength casts players as a member of the government who must make difficult decisions to decide the course of the country, in this case a fictitious place called The Nation.
"A political crisis has arisen across borders, threatening to plunge The Nation and Parges into violent civil unrest. Given the power to both uncover and fabricate 'the truth,' the player must decide for themselves how far they will go in the service of their country and whether the truth is sacred or ignorance is strength," reads a line from the game's official description.
In Orwell's first season, Keeping an Eye on You, you played as Big Brother and had to investigate people to try to stop terrorist attacks. The first season picked up a nomination for the IGF Excellence in Narrative and an Honorable mention for the IGD Seamus McNally grand prize.
According to Osmotic, Ignorance is Stength has a "darker done." And in terms of gameplay features, you'll have "more control" over the investigation. Players can also "influence public opinion directly," which sounds scary and fun, in the context of a game.
Ignorance is Strength is scheduled to launch "soon" as a weekly episodic series for PC, Mac, and Linux.
Season 2's first episode is called The Enigma, and it focuses on a couple of old foes. Both The Riddler and The Joker loom over Batman at the start of this story, and they'll test the caped crusader's wits and morals in equal measure.
The episode launches today for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and so far we think it's much improved over Season 1: "The Enigma is a successful opening chapter to a Batman story that's shaping up to be more ambitious than anything Telltale attempted in the first season," wrote critic Tamoor Hussain. You can read more in our full Batman - The Enemy Within Episode 1 review.
Other reviews have started to emerge, and we've collated some of them below. For a wider look at the game's critical reception, head over to GameSpot's sister site Metacritic.
Game: Telltale's Batman: The Enemy Within Episode 1 - The Enigma
Developer / Publisher: Telltale Games
Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC, mobile
Release: August 8 (PS4/Xbox One/PC), later in 2017 (mobile)
Price: US $25 / £25 / AU $45 (PS4/Xbox One), US $25 / £19 (PC). Prices apply to the season pass, incorporating five episodes in total.
GameSpot -- 8/10
"Without the need to retell the origin story and unburdened by that baggage, Season 2 of Telltale's Batman series has started strongly with a variety of well-realized new characters. There are a number of tough decision-making moments that will give the you pause and invite you to consider the impact your choices could have. While gameplay is not markedly different, combat is tweaked just enough to make it an improvement over its previous iteration. Overall, The Enigma is a successful opening chapter to a Batman story that's shaping up to be more ambitious than anything Telltale attempted in the first season." -- Tamoor Hussain " style="word-wrap: break-word;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #6DC6DD;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;">Full review]
IGN -- 8.2/10
"I wish I'd been given the chance to actually solve more of The Riddler's puzzles on my own--adventure games are traditionally all about that, after all--but the tension and drama that permeate The Enemy Within's first episode make it a winner. This strong start also leaves me very excited to see how John Doe's inevitable transformation into The Joker plays out, and morbidly fascinated to see what scars this version of Gotham City will leave behind on its inhabitants." -- Ryan McCaffrey " style="word-wrap: break-word;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #6DC6DD;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;">Full review]
VentureBeat -- 60/100
"The Enemy Within has some great action sequences, but it leans too much on the wider Batman universe as a crutch. It doesn't put in the effort to make you care about the characters or the situations, and because of that, none of the choices feel meaningful." -- Stephanie Chan " style="word-wrap: break-word;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #6DC6DD;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;">Full review]
God Is A Geek -- 9.0/10
"There's a great balance of puzzles, investigations, combat, and story progression. I wasn't bored for a second playing Episode 1 of The Enemy Within, and I'm really happy about the direction they've gone in. Telltale Games make fantastic adventures, but it's been a while since I've been blown away by them. This is just what the series needed if it's to be successful, and after an exciting reveal at the end, I can't wait to see what happens next." -- Chris White " style="word-wrap: break-word;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;color: #6DC6DD;font-weight: normal;text-decoration: underline;">Full review]
Today during a new Injustice 2 Watchtower livestream event, developer NetherRealm showed off more of the DLC character Starfire, who comes to the game beginning tomorrow.
The developers made it clear that Starfire is a beginner character who has a smaller moveset compared to others, and her moves are described as being more straightforward. She floats above the ground and can create weapons and projectiles out of green energy, in addition to her basic jab and spin attacks.
Check out the video above to get a rundown of her moves. The video also covers some of Starfire's shaders, one of which looks like it basically transforms her into her sister, Blackfire, complete with the appropriately different hair and fire colours.
In addition to being sold on her own, Starfire will be available for people who own Injustice 2's Deluxe or Ultimate Editions, as well as those who purchase Fighter Pack 1. A total of at least nine characters, including the three in Fighter Pack 1, will be released as DLC for Injustice 2.
During its SDCC livestream, NetherRealm's Ed Boon teased the next fighter pack, saying that the announcement video is coming soon. "Of all the characters we're going to reveal, we'll have the biggest 'wow' for the last one we're going to show," he said.
Are you looking forward to the release of Starfire for Injustice 2? Let us know in the comments below!
Bandai Namco's arcade-style Gundam game, Gundam Versus, launches in North America and Europe on September 29. Ahead of its release, PlayStation 4 players will have a chance to sample the mech fighting game during its open beta, which is scheduled to begin early next month.
The online test kicks off at 12 AM PT/3 AM ET on September 2 and runs until the same time on September 4. All PS4 players will be able to participate in the beta, even those who don't have a PS Plus subscription; however, players will need to subscribe to the service in order to play the game online after its release. The beta will be available to pre-load beginning on August 29.
The Gundam Versus open beta will feature "94 Mobile Suits, all Striker units, and a variety of online and offline modes," according to a press release. While Bandai Namco didn't specify which of the game's modes will be available to try, the publisher released an extensive trailer last month that gave fans an overview of all the different options that await in the final game.
Gundam Versus is launching exclusively for PS4. The game is the first home console Gundam title to see a release outside of Japan in over a decade. It features over 90 Mobile Suits taken from 17 different Gundam series and allows up to six players to compete against each other online.
On the eve of the release of Gears of War designer Cliff Bleszinski's new game, LawBreakers, a new trailer for the shooter has arrived. Titled "Skilled AF," the trailer begins by asking, "Are you skilled AF?" The video then launches into a lot of intense action that shows off some of the crazy things you can do in LawBreakers, such as flying through the air and blasting your enemies and a lot more. Take a look above.
The PC and PS4 editions of LawBreakers are priced at $30. Developer Boss Key originally was looking at a free-to-play model but later switched to a paid system.
The arena-based shooter features various classes, low-gravity areas, and the ability to fire shots behind you over your shoulder. Some of this is shown off in the new trailer.
LawBreakers will only be available for PC and PS4 at launch, though Bleszinski told IGN that he has ruled out an Xbox One version. In other news, Bleszinski tweeted about the impending launch, saying he believes in the game and that it's a "f**kin blast."
TFW the last three years of your life come down to this Tuesday.
The latest Legendary Pokemon has begun appearing in Pokemon Go. Beginning today, players around the globe will have a chance to battle and capture Team Instinct's mascot Pokemon, Zapdos.
As was the case with the previous three Legendaries, the Electric-type bird will only appear at Gyms in Raid Battles for a limited time. Before players can add it to their teams, they'll need to team up with other trainers to take down the powerful Pokemon. Only once it's defeated will they have a chance to add Zapdos to their collection.
Zapdos is the last of the Legendary Pokemon that have been confirmed for the game thus far. The first two, Lugia and Articuno, were released following the Pokemon Go Fest event in Chicago, while Moltres was available in Raid Battles last week. Zapdos will only be available until August 14, so players will need to act fast if they hope to add the Electric-type to their team. The final Legendary bird, Ho-Oh, is also rumored to arrive sometime in the near future, though Niantic hasn't officially confirmed when it will appear in the game.
To coincide with the release of Metroid: Samus Returns, Nintendo is releasing a new Metroid-themed New Nintendo 3DS XL--and it looks pretty sweet. The limited-edition system comes in Samus's colors and has the image of Samus on its front and back, while the Screwattack logo is on the back.
The system, which does not come with a copy of Metroid: Samus Returns, is priced at $200 in the United States. It launches on September 15, the same day as the game.
Samus Returns is a reimagining of the 1991 Game Boy game Metroid II: Return of Samus. The new version features updated visuals, 3D support (though it can be turned off), and new features such as the ability for Samus to aim with 360 degrees of freedom.
A big part of the new version is the melee counter system; Samus can counter enemies' attacks, and this plays a big role in boss battles. Additionally, Samus now has Aeion abilities, for example, which give her new sets of powers. Scan Pulse, for example, shows players where to go next on the map, avoiding the traditional Metroid task of reexaming your route when you hit a dead end.
For more on Samus Returns, check out GameSpot's new gameplay video embedded above.
Mother! is the latest film from acclaimed director Darren Aronofsky, and an unsettling first trailer has landed. It's billed as a "psychological horror film," and the star-studded cast includes Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games), Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men, Skyfall), and Ed Harris (Westworld). Check out the trailer below:
A synopsis for the movie reads: "A young woman's tranquil life with her husband at their remote country home is challenged by a mysterious couple who arrive and lodge with them." The trailer certainly delivers plenty of chilling imagery, from spooky basements and creepy dinner parties to blood-filled lightbulbs and what looks like a sinister cult advancing on the house.
Aronofsky is known for the similarly dark, Oscar-winning thriller Black Swan, as well as such movies as The Wrestler, Noah, and Requiem for a Dream. The cast for Mother! also includes Michelle Pfeiffer (Dark Shadows), Kristen Wiig (Ghostbusters), and Domhnall Gleeson (Star Wars: The Force Awakens).
At Japan Expo in Paris last month, Legend of Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma held a masterclass panel called The Art of Zelda with the series' artistic director, Satoru Takizawa, and illustrator, Yusuke Nakano. The presentation, which discussed the artistic choices behind Nintendo's storied franchise, was previously only available in Japanese and French, but now English-speaking fans can follow along with the panel thanks to a new translation by Nintendo UK.
The Art of Zelda masterclass focuses primarily of the art design of the series' most renowned installments, Ocarina of Time, The Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, and its most recent chapter, Breath of the Wild. The entire panel runs for approximately 50 minutes and reveals some interesting behind-the-scenes information on the development of those titles, such as preliminary sketches of a "middle-aged" Link for Twilight Princess. You can watch the entire masterclass below.
Nintendo also gave fans their first look at Breath of the Wild's next DLC pack, The Champions' Ballad, during the Art of Zelda masterclass. While brief, the footage that the company showcased during the panel revealed some important details about the upcoming add-on, namely that players will again assume the role of Link and will learn much more about Princess Zelda during the course of the DLC. Nintendo also announced at the panel that a Breath of the Wild art book is in the works.
The Champions' Ballad is scheduled to launch "holiday 2017." It will feature a new dungeon and story that revolves around the four champions from Link's era. It will also introduce new gear, one piece of which is based on the lobster shirt that Link wears in The Wind Waker. Players can only purchase The Champions' Ballad as part of Breath of the Wild's $20 Expansion Pass, which also includes the recently released Master Trials DLC pack.
In order to participate in the next beta, you'll still need to meet the previous requirements: own a copy of the game and its season pass and be an Xbox Live Gold/PlayStation Plus subscriber. But you'll also need to ensure you have the Closed Online Test downloaded by tomorrow, August 8--it won't actually be available to download once this second test begins.
Prior to the start of this beta, Square Enix will release an update that's intended to resolve matchmaking issues. These have plagued the first test, which concludes tomorrow and was originally intended to be the only beta.
Comrades is a cooperative multiplayer expansion for Final Fantasy XV, which until now had been single-player-only. Players create a character of their own to take online and partner with other players to explore the world and complete quests. Only a select amount of content is included in the beta, but there will be a variety of new weapons, gear, and attack styles in the full DLC. Noctis and company will eventually be made available as playable characters.
Square Enix has not yet provided a release date for Comrades, and it's unclear if its time table will be affected by the outcome of the upcoming beta. Whenever it does launch, Comrades will be available both on its own and as part of the season pass.
Following last week's first image of Domino in Deadpool 2, we have another picture of one of the upcoming sequel's new characters. This time it's Cable, the hulking cybernetic warrior played by Josh Brolin. Check it out below, via Brolin's Instagram account:
Cable's creators Rob Liefeld and Louise Simonson previously described the character as "the opposite of Deadpool: a man who is a leader and used to being obeyed, who is very controlled but with an aura of simmering violence." X-Men fans also know him as the son of Cyclops; he first appeared in a 1990 issue of The New Mutants.
In related news, it was announced in May that an adult animated Deadpool show is on the way. The currently untitled series will be overseen by Atlanta star and creator Donald Glover with his brother Stephen, who will both act as showrunners, producers, and writers. It is being developed for FXX, the sister channel to FX, and the 10-part first season will premiere next year.
Fidget Spinner Simulator, an absurd $1 Steam game that lets you virtually experience the joys of fidget spinners, has added a new piece of DLC that is 30 times more expensive than the game itself.
The "Premium Member DLC," as it's called unlocks the "Premium Member" achievement and gives you a "Premium Gold Plated" fidget spinner and a gold plated vape pen. Here's what those items look like in the game (via NeoGAF):
In the comments of the DLC announcement post, a developer responded to criticism of the content, saying, "Why? It's easy not to buy the DLC right? Nobody is forcing anybody." A emoticon of President Donald Trump's face was attached to the comment.
The Premium Member DLC is listed at $30 after a price drop from $50. In announcing the DLC, the developer said, "Ayyyy lmao," with a pepe the frog emoticon.
In Fidget Spinner Simulator, you use the arrow keys or W A S D to move around on a hoverboard. Pressing the Space bar activates/deactivates the fidget spinner.
Fidget Spinner Simulator was released at the end of July. It has a "Mostly Positive" critical reception on Steam after more than 240 reviews. For more, head to the game's Steam page here.
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