By Anonymous on Apr 23, 2015 12:23 am
Earlier today, the official Microsoft Xbox YouTube channel published an impressive new video for CD Projekt Red's upcoming role-playing game The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Since the video was published to the Xbox channel, some might have thought the gameplay was captured on the Xbox One edition of the game. However, it's now been discovered by Kotaku that the footage of the game shown in the video is from the PC edition, not the Xbox One version, despite the Xbox logo being featured prominently. Microsoft has since apologized for the confusion (more on that later).  Microsoft never explicitly stated that the footage was not captured on Xbox One, but--just a few hours after the video went up--the company added a disclaimer to the video to say the footage was "captured on a PC." One major giveaway that the footage was captured on PC and not Xbox One is that the gameplay video plays at 1080p/60fps. The Xbox One version of The Witcher 3, however, outputs at 900p/30fps, which raised some red flags--the video's comments are overflowing with people pointing out the difference. In a statement sent to GameSpot this afternoon, a Microsoft representative said it never intended to misrepresent the visual fidelity of the Xbox One version of The Witcher 3, and apologized for any confusion caused by the video. "This morning we posted a new trailer for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to our YouTube channels featuring footage provided by CD Projekt Red that was captured from the PC version of the game and may not be reflective of final Xbox One gameplay," the spokesperson said. "This was in no way intended to misrepresent the title on Xbox One. We have updated the description of the asset to make clear the source and platform of this footage. We apologize for any confusion and look forward to the game arriving on both Xbox One and PC on May 19, 2015." Whatever the case, The Witcher 3 looks quite nice across all platforms: PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. But the PC version, like so many other games, is likely to look the best, as it will run at 60fps (if your computer can run it). The Witcher 3 launches on May 19, and you can learn lots more about it through GameSpot's in-depth video series.
By Anonymous on Apr 22, 2015 11:39 pm
An updated version of Halo 3: ODST's campaign and a reimagined version of the Halo 2 multiplayer map Relic should be added to Halo: The Master Chief Collection next month, developer 343 Industries has announced. "We're excited about the progress of the Relic multiplayer map remake and the Campaign for Halo 3: ODST, both of which are on track to release within Halo: The Master Chief Collection next month with our next content update," 343 Industries said in an update to Halo Waypoint. "Look for more details next month, including the final map name for the Relic remake, release date, and more."     As Microsoft previously announced, if you played Halo: The Master Chief Collection between launch (November 11) and December 19, you'll get it for free as an apology for the game's troubled launch, which suffered from severe matchmaking issues. The Halo Waypoint update also details a long list of improvements and bug fixes included in the most recent content update, which you can read in full here. For more on The Master Chief Collection, check out GameSpot's review and previous coverage.
By Anonymous on Apr 22, 2015 11:32 pm
[UPDATE] The stream has now ended! Did you enjoy what you saw? Let us know in the comments. The original story is below. Bungie will hold a special livestream event today starting at 11 AM PDT / 2 PM EDT where it is expected to reveal new information about Destiny's upcoming House of Wolves expansion. Specifically, developers will be on-hand to talk about the add-on's new social space, The Reef, as well as the planned level cap hike. What other surprises might be in store? Tune in to find out.
By Anonymous on Apr 22, 2015 10:30 pm
 Kevin tells us all about his review of Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China, as we discuss the waning legacy of this once groundbreaking series and our hopes for it's future.
By Anonymous on Apr 22, 2015 09:30 pm
 The world of The Witcher is huge, but what is there to do? In the final part of our series, we explore the wild variety of quests and activities in Wild Hunt. It's level-based quest system, branching story-lines and hilariously deep card-collecting game.
By Anonymous on Apr 22, 2015 09:12 pm
Total War: Warhammer, which was originally leaked in January and then teased in March, has been officially announced. Sega and The Creative Assembly on Wednesday released a cinematic announcement trailer for the turn-based strategy game, which teases "our rules have changed," referencing that this is the first high fantasy game in the series. The video is narrated by British actor Steven Berkoff (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, A Clockwork Orange). What we do see is all manner of fantasy elements, including flying beasts, men wielding magic, orcs, dwarfs, goblins, and more. The game is in development at The Creative Assembly (Total War: Attila, Alien: Isolation) by way of a partnership with Warhammer license-holder Games Workshop. In a press release, Sega said Total War: Warhammer will deliver "hundreds of hours" of gameplay--and two additional expansions will follow. Total War: Warhammer is the first in a three-part trilogy, Sega said, noting that two standalone installments--as well as further DLC packs--will be released later. This all combines for the "single largest Total War experience ever," Sega said. No release date for Total War: Warhammer has been announced, but the video ends by teasing that the game is "coming soon." Platforms have not been revealed, but PC is a safe bet given the franchise's long history on that platform. Other new Total War games in development include Total War: Battles Kingdom and Total War: Arena.
By Anonymous on Apr 22, 2015 08:45 pm
In a post on the Xbox Wire today, Microsoft outlined the numerous new features coming to the PC Xbox app for Windows 10, which is currently available to anyone in the Microsoft Insider program. Provided you're in that program, the features listed here will be available when you update to version 4.4.9014.0. The Xbox app on Windows 10The new features include Game DVR and screenshot functionality, two items already available on Xbox One. Also included in the April update is a new Avatar app where you can customize your avatar's appearance, along with updates to User Profile settings and an option to show your real name (also already available on Xbox One). In addition, the new Xbox app on Windows 10 has been updated to support live-streaming TV if you already have an Xbox One with a digital TV tuner. What's more, Xbox One controller drivers are now baked into Windows 10, so you won't have to download them separately. The full version of Windows 10 is due to launch sometime this summer, possibly in July. In the same blog post, Microsoft also revealed some of the new Xbox One and SmartGlass updates now available to people in the Preview program. Among these features are voice messages (which were originally set to arrive in March), a new power-saving prompt, and the ability to power on and off your console using the SmartGlass app. All the new Xbox Windows 10 and Xbox One features are listed below, with official descriptions courtesy of Microsoft. You can also see a video of these new features in action on the Xbox Wire. WINDOWS 10:- Game DVR for PC games – The Game bar lets you record game clips of your favorite Windows games. With an upcoming Windows Insider update (build 10061 or higher), you will be able to record game clips for Windows PC games using the new Game bar available on Windows 10. To bring up the Game bar, press Windows + G. Click the "Record that" button to save the last 30 seconds of gameplay, or just press Windows + Alt + G. Additionally, you can manually start and stop recording a game clip by clicking on the "Record" button on the Game bar or pressing Windows + Alt + R.
The length of a recording, including the maximum length, can be changed in Settings >Game DVR in the Xbox app. There are also a few key settings within the Game bar itself. Get started by turning on "Record game clips and screenshots" in the Xbox app. Once enabled, there are options for background recording, video and audio quality. After enabling game DVR, you may need to sign out of Windows 10 and back in for the Game bar to appear. - Screenshots – Take screenshots of Windows PC games by pressing Windows + Alt + PrtScr. Just as with Game DVR, you can also do this by clicking the "Screenshot" button on the Game bar.
- Live Tiles – The Xbox tile on your Windows 10 start menu can now welcomes you back, showing off your gamerpic and letting you know when you have new messages and activity alerts. To turn this on, go to Settings > General > Live tile.
- Avatar app – A new app is available in the Windows Store to customize your Xbox avatar's appearance and outfit your avatar with a vast collection of items. In the Xbox app, click the icon for your profile or your friends' profiles to see their Xbox avatar. You can download the Avatar app from the Store on Windows 10. Also, there is a new Avatar sub-forum on the Xbox Feedback site, here.
- User profile – You can see another gamer's bio, location, reputation, tenure, and other information in the more info page, including their animated avatar. You can also view their showcase items, including favorite achievements or game clips they added to their profile on their Xbox One.
- Real name sharing – Similar to the features we brought you in the March update on Xbox One, you can now choose to share your real name on the Xbox app with all of your friends or with everybody. Click on the "…" at the top of your profile page, then choose Name sharing settings to view and update these settings
- Xbox One Now Playing and media controls – The games and apps you've used most recently on your Xbox One are now displayed when you connect the Xbox app to your console. You can also use the Xbox app to pause, fast forward and rewind.
- Live TV streaming and PIP (picture in picture) support – For preview members with an Xbox One Digital TV Tuner (in 16 European countries and Australia) or a Hauppauge 955Q TV Tuner (available in the U.S. or Canada) attached to their Xbox One, you can now stream live TV within your home from your Xbox One to Windows 10 PC running the Xbox app. This feature is also available in Xbox One SmartGlass on Windows 8 PCs, Windows Phone 8, iOS, and Android devices. The OneGuide on mobile devices now also provides PIP (picture in picture) support, so you can continue to stream and watch TV while you are using the OneGuide.
- Xbox controller drivers – The drivers for Xbox controllers are now included with Windows 10, so you no longer have to download and install controller drivers on Windows 10.
XBOX ONE AND SMARTGLASS:- Over-the-air TV for the U.S. and Canada – Earlier this month, we announced the preview for an Over-the-Air Tuner for the U.S. and Canada. With this preview update to Xbox One, a new screen has been added after the initial channel scan to show a sorted list of channels and channel logos so you can tell what channels you receive. You can also choose to scan again from this screen, if you want to move your antenna and give it another try.
- Power on and off from Xbox One SmartGlass – The beta versions of the Xbox One SmartGlass apps for Windows, Windows Phone, and Android will be updated to let you turn your Xbox One on and off. (Your device does need to be on the same home network as your console.) This feature request has more than 4,000 votes on the Xbox Feedback site. The beta versions can be found in the respective stores by searching for "Xbox One SmartGlass Beta."
- Wireless Display app – With more than 2,000 votes, Miracast support will be enabled on Xbox One for preview participants later this week, so you can mirror the experiences on Windows PCs (for example, Surface 2, 3, or 3 Pro; Lenovo X1 carbon; Dell Venue 8), Windows Phone 8, and some Android devices (e.g. Samsung S5, Nexus 7, Motorola Droid) that support non-protected Miracast connections. Try the Wireless Display app to cast photos stored on your phone to your Xbox One, or to stream non-protected video content from your PC to your Xbox.
- User-selectable power mode – The team here at Xbox is also altering the initial setup experience on Xbox One worldwide to enable you to select your preferred power mode. Instant-on enables you to use the "Xbox on" voice command and receive background updates to console, game, and app updates. Energy-saving mode is a low power state that requires you to press the Xbox button on your console to start up your Xbox One. For additional information, see this post on Xbox Wire.
- Voice messages – The ability to send and receive voice messages from the Xbox One messages app continues in preview this month. Also, the ability to create a voice message while in a party chat will be enabled and support will be added for third-party headsets.
By Anonymous on Apr 22, 2015 08:09 pm
Ahead of The Elder Scrolls Online's release for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in June, Bethesda will hold a beta on both current-generation platforms starting tomorrow, the developer has announced. The beta is described as "limited," and you'll need to receive an invitation to take part. if you've been accepted, you'll receive an email (check your spam!) with instructions for how to get started.  Bethesda warns that not everyone who signed up for the game's beta will be invited. It's unclear what criteria the developer is using to determine who gets in and who doesn't. If you do get in, it's recommended that you start your download right away due to the game's massive file size (more on that below). The Elder Scrolls Online console beta begins Thursday, April 23, at 10 AM EDT and comes to a close on Monday, April 27, at 10 AM EDT. Bethesda has also published a detailed FAQ about the beta. In it, the developer explains that there is no non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for the trial period; in fact, the studio said it encourages users to share screenshots and livestream their gameplay as much as they'd like. The FAQ also mentions that any progress you make in the Elder Scrolls Online console beta will not carry forward to the full version when it arrives on June 9. It also points out that the console beta does not support cross-platform play and that the version of The Elder Scrolls Online included in the beta is the full game and nothing less. Check out the full FAQ for more. Bethesda also released a handful of new screenshots today from the console versions of The Elder Scrolls Online. You can see those images in the gallery at the bottom of this post. In addition, Bethesda today announced that the console version of The Elder Scrolls Online will be a massive download, weighing in at potentially more than 65 GB. "The Elder Scrolls Online is an incredibly massive game, both in terms of sheer scope and the data required to bring you this truly enormous experience," the developer said. "At the moment, the client will exceed a 50 GB Blu-ray disc which means there will also be a large day-one patch that is somewhere in the region of 15 GB." The Elder Scrolls Online was originally released for PC in April 2014. The console versions were at one point expected to launch that year, but were later delayed to 2015. In January, Bethesda announced that it was doing away with the game's mandatory monthly subscription fee, rebranding the game The Elder Scrolls Online Tamriel Unlimited. Bethesda is also offering a nice discount plan for people who already bought the PC/Mac edition and are looking to pick up the console version; you'll need to meet a few requirements, however.       
By Anonymous on Apr 22, 2015 04:51 am
For all of its chummy quips and hordes of orcs battling My-Little-Pony-esque unicorns, Dungeons 2 comes off as slightly cynical. The first entry tried to revive Dungeon Keeper in 2011 (well ahead of EA's free-to-play debacle last year), and it valiantly attempted to make the franchise its own by giving you direct control of the Keeper and focusing the gameplay on luring heroes in and entertaining them before harvesting their souls. It didn't turn out too well, but developer Realmforge Studios has resolved to give us what it thinks we want. The core dungeon game is almost lifted straight from Dungeon Keeper, the narrator reflects on your actions in a bemused British accent, and dungeon maintenance is paired with an overworld real-time strategy element that closely resembles Warcraft III. Sales figures and reviews have proven that we like these things, yes, but too much gets lost in an ambitious attempt to mash them all together. "You wanted Dungeon Keeper," Realmforge seems to say, "so here you have it." There's little to none of the original Dungeons' innovations here. Happily, this means that veterans of Peter Molyneux's 1997 game will find much that's familiar, whether it's the throne room and the hole from which you summon minions or the surrounding dungeon that's packed with gold veins and potential tunnels just waiting to be dug out. Should one of the "little snots" who do your bidding stop to break the fourth wall and wave at the camera, you can slap them around with the giant, disembodied hand you use to guide progress and set minions to new adventures and tasks. Dig out a square or rectangular space and slap down, say, a brewery to attract orcs to hack and slash for you. The production process is slow at times and the AI is responsible for making the little snots work, but this is Dungeon Keeper in all but name. The humor extends beyond the narration to little touches such as 666 and 1337 values for the Prime Evil's attacks in the intro.It's kept from being a straight clone by a new overworld RTS mode that sends you and your minions off to the world above to mess stuff up and occasionally nab MacGuffins from other, smaller dungeons. The world certainly looks good, and there's a pleasing visual element to the whole affair in that the landscape shifts from grassy and sunny to hellish and reddish as your hordes move through it. "Horde" is an appropriate word--the game itself calls them that, and it sends you off to fight the forces of the "Alliance," right down to the familiar blue-and-white fortifications from the Warcraft series. Alas, Dungeons 2's RTS element is undercooked. Regardless of which stage of the campaign you're on, the basic strategy never deviates far from amassing a swarm of orcs, goblins, trolls, and snaky naga in the dungeon to attack the Alliance, and you accomplish this most effectively by selecting the whole pile and right-clicking on units to attack. There's some fun involved in watching the world change as you pillage and plunder (even if my GTX 780's performance dragged when too many enemies were on the screen), but the act of guiding your army is complicated by an awkward shift in control schemes from the underground. Deep in your dungeon, you can't control minions directly, which led to some frustration when I realized my little snots were just loitering around because I hadn't dug out a room large enough for my intended project. In the overworld, you can control your units, although singling out the few minions that have special powers involves trying to pinpoint them from the swarm with your mouse and selecting them independently. It's goofy stuff, but a lot of work was put into providing a backstory for the action.The chief surprise I encountered while playing Dungeons 2 was that I enjoyed it despite these downsides. I suspect a lot of that has to do with the near-constant humorous narration, voiced by Kevan Brighting. It sounds like he's playing the exact same role that won him such acclaim in The Stanley Parable. Brighting's voice work never fails to hit the proper notes here, even if the script pours on the self-awareness too thick (at one point, your overworld minions encounter and slaughter a bear, and you're told that it was pointless because bear meat isn't used for anything in the game). Sometimes, it feels as though Realmforge is trying too hard, although the narrator's always good when he's used as a tutorial of sorts to correct the Ultimate Evil--as the main character's called--when he goes in the wrong direction. All of this might be much more fun when you take advantage of the LAN and online multiplayer content, which gives up to four players their own dungeons and lets them fight over a shared overworld. Unfortunately, this review arrives prior to the game's full release, so other players are as hard to find as original, sealed copies of Dungeon Keeper from 1997. Its directions are sometimes muddled, and the whole affair feels like it was oversimplified to cut down on micromanagement, but the beauty of Dungeons 2 is that it never fails to let us take some glee in sowing discord. It's not quite a keeper, but it's an improvement over the original.
By Anonymous on Apr 22, 2015 03:51 am
Revisiting the past.
A whole bunch of HD remasters of older games have been announced this year. With the list constantly growing each month, it's certainly difficult to stay on top of it all. Here's a complete list of all the HD remasters that have been released or announced for 2015, as well as details on what has changed since their original releases!
Borderlands: The Handsome Collection
A compilation of Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel with upgraded graphical fidelity, four-player local multiplayer, and all previously released DLC. Also, it lets you transfer save games from last-gen versions to current-gen versions of the same console family. (Release Date: Out Now for PS4, Xbox One)
Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D
An enhanced remake of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask for the 3DS that is decked out with graphical upgrades, stereoscopic 3D capabilities, touchscreen features, and a variety of gameplay tweaks that improve the original's core experience. (Release Date: Out Now for 3DS)
God of War III Remastered
This remastered version of the third main installment of the God of War series features an upped resolution and frame rate. It also includes a Photo mode where players can capture screenshots mid-game. (Release Date: July 2015 for PS4)
Journey
The remastered version of Journey for the PS4 runs at 60fps and displays in 1080p. (Release Date: Summer 2015 for PS4)
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin is a graphically enhanced version of Dark Souls II that sports reworked overall difficulty, new NPCs, an expanded storyline, an increase in the maximum players online in a single session, new enemies, and new item descriptions. All three previously released DLC packs are also included. (Release Date: Out Now for PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Saints Row IV: Re-Elected
Saints Row IV has been upgraded to run at 60fps and display in 1080p. It also includes all single-player DLC expansions for the game. If you purchase the two-pack version of the game, it also comes with the stand-alone Gat Out of Hell DLC. (Release Date: Out Now for PS4 and Xbox One)
Resident Evil: HD Remaster
This remaster of the GameCube version of Resident Evil (which was itself a remaster of the original Resident Evil on PlayStation) features 1080p resolution, remastered 5.1 surround sound, and new options for controls and a widescreen ratio. (Release Date: Out Now for PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC)
DmC Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition
DmC Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition pushes the original game's frame rate up to 60fps and displays the game at 1080p resolution. Gameplay has also been rebalanced along with the addition of new modes, all previous DLC, and leaderboards for all the new content. (Release Date: Out Now for PS4, Xbox One)
Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition
On top of all the content from the original Devil May Cry 4, this remastered version of the game adds three new playable characters, new cutscenes, new modes, and sports improvements to the game's tempo and balancing. (Release Date: Summer 2015 for PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Final Fantasy Type-0 HD
Final Fantasy Type-0 HD is a remastered version of a PSP Final Fantasy game originally only released in Japan. While there are no new additions to its core gameplay, the remaster does feature upgraded graphics and a new lower difficulty setting. (Release Date: Out Now for PS4, Xbox One)
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster
This is a PS4 version of the Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster originally released on PS3. While much of the remaster remains the same, it does sport slight graphical upgrades over the last-gen version, as well as cross-save transfer support from the PS3 and PS Vita versions to the PS4. (Release Date: May 12 for PS4)
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is a 3DS remake of the Wii RPG of the same name. Outside of being a full-on port onto the 3DS, the game also features StreetPass functionality and Amiibo support with the Shulk Amiibo figure. (Release Date: Out Now for 3DS)
Homeworld Remastered
Homeworld Remastered is a collection that includes both the remastered and original versions of Homeworld and Homeworld 2. Along with updated graphics, each game's playable races have been merged across the remastered versions, while an online multiplayer component has also been added. (Release Date: Out Now for PC)
State of Decay Year One Survival Edition
Year One Survival Edition improves on the original game's visuals, includes its two previous DLC packs, and introduces added gameplay elements from previous DLC packs to the core game. (Release Date: April 28 for Xbox One)
Grim Fandango Remastered
Grim Fandango Remastered is a remake of the 1998 cult-classic LucasArts point-and-click adventure game. It features upgraded graphics, new analog control scheme, an orchestral soundtrack, and developer commentary. (Release Date: Out Now for PS4, PS Vita, PC, Mac, Linux)
Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy Remastered
Heavy Rain developer Quantic Dream's remastered version of Indigo Prophecy features new HD textures, controller support for computer versions, and the ability to swap between the old and new visuals at the press of a button. (Release Date: Out Now for PC, Linux, OS X, iOS)
Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty
A from-the-ground-up remake of PS1 cult-classic Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee. It sports new graphics, a revamped control scheme, and brand new areas to explore. (Release Date: Out Now for PS4, PS3, Xbox One, PC, Mac)
Sayonara Umihara Kawase+
Sayonara Umihara Kawase+ is a remastered version of the third game in the Umihara Kawase series, which is a series of grapple hook platformers in Japan. Originally released on the 3DS, the PS Vita remaster runs the game at 60fps, includes new stages and leaderboards, four playable characters, and a port of the 1994 original Famicom game. (Release Date: Out Now for PS Vita)
Heroes of Might and Magic III: HD Version
This HD version of the critically acclaimed third main entry in the Heroes of Might and Magic series features updated graphics and widescreen compatibility. (Release Date: Out Now for PC)
Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition
Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition is a remastered compilation that includes enhanced versions of Duke Nukem 3D: Atomic Edition and three expansion packs that feature upgraded graphics, Steam Achievements, and Steam Cloud support. The original version of Duke Nukem 3D is also included. (Release Date: Out Now for PC, Mac, Linux)
By Anonymous on Apr 22, 2015 03:48 am
Harold is a cleverly crafted, personality-packed infinite-runner platformer with visual style to spare. Its title character, however, is an awkward athlete and a bit of a loser, both literally and figuratively. Despite Harold's unwavering determination and enduring spirit, he does dumb things, like getting stuck in frozen dog pee and high-fiving a cactus. Thankfully, you don't assume the role of this doomed underdog, but of his equally-determined guardian angel Gabe. As this anime Zac Efron lookalike with wings, you help Harold complete a series of increasingly hazardous, side-scrolling races by manipulating environmental objects, messing with competitors, and giving the slow-moving marathoner an occasional speed boost. The monkey wrench in this race is that you have no direct control over the perpetual runner, so clearing and altering his path via divine intervention is the key to ensuring that the lanky, bespectacled competitor finishes in at least third place. Earning the bronze is no simple feat, though, as Harold is an intentionally difficult game, one that ultimately has hardcore completionists and seasoned speed runners in mind.   The courses sport the usual platforming elements and obstacles, from moving blocks and slippery surfaces to spiky walls and bottomless pits, but Harold goes beyond the tried-and-true template with some especially inspired touches; Using an ethereal mallet to transform a chomping crocodile into a belly-up bridge and flinging Harold forward with a sling-shotting noose trap never gets old. Interacting with these hazards involves using the left analog stick in a variety of ways: a single level could see you pushing, pulling, flicking, and rotating the stick over the course of just a few seconds. Given how you also cycle through obstacles by squeezing the triggers, Harold puts your nimble fingers through the paces. It feels fantastic when you're in the zone--circumventing traps, swinging on ropes, and hitting the ground running with a speed boost--but getting to that point takes some serious practice. While playing guardian angel for Harold usually involves protecting or helping him, you can also harness your heavenly powers to hinder the more seasoned speedsters. In addition to shifting platforms beneath their swift feet to ensure that they jump to their deaths, you can cut ropes just before they grab them, raise ramps they're about to ascend, and generally make their lives a living hell. If you've ever envied Lucy's habit of pulling that football from poor Charlie Brown's path, you'll have as much fun tricking these clueless humans as you do helping Harold.  As satisfying--and sadistic--as it may be to pull the rug out from under the competition, they sometimes spawn right where they left off or, worse, further ahead of Harold. This odd design choice doesn't affect the races' pace unfairly, as Harold enjoys this benefit as often as his competitors do. Still, it would be more visually satisfying to see your targets consistently trailing Harold after falling victim to your well-timed traps. In addition to altering the world to keep Harold on the quickest, safest route, you must carefully monitor and manage puff power. This collectible gift from the gods not only fuels Harold's speed boost--via a swift lightning bolt to the backside--but it also grants extra lives. I found myself using it more for the former, as it's the most effective way to put the pokey protagonist in the lead. Plus, the punishment for dying isn't so severe that bonus lives are a big deal; quick respawns and restarts ensure that you're never out of the race for long. Regardless of how you decide to use puff power, though, managing the scarce resource quickly becomes as important as ensuring that Harold doesn't get a face full of spikes. Harold's gameplay is complemented by a hand-drawn art style that wouldn't look out of place in a 90s era Disney film. Seriously, swap the runners--during the jungle races--with the cast of The Lion King, and the action wouldn't miss a visual beat. The pop-off-the-screen art style isn't limited to static backgrounds, either; characters animate in amazing, cartoony detail, and gameplay elements, like rope bridge planks that can be popped to persuade Harold to pick up the pace, bring the pretty presentation to life. Sadly, Harold's steep difficulty doesn't leave you with any time to ogle the gorgeous surroundings like a first time tourist. As aesthetically pleasing as the presentation is, only the most skilled players will enjoy having their eyes and reflexes engaged simultaneously.  Harold is at its fleet-footed best when everything clicks; when your divine guidance not only propels the protagonist to victory, but also leaves his cocky competition on the wrong end of a devious trap. But these momentum-fueled moments will be experienced by only the most dedicated players. And even genre enthusiasts will occasionally be let down by the gamepad-only controls; the inputs are generally spot-on, but the mouse-and-keyboard crowd might miss the precision of their preferred set-ups when they're called upon to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Although this genre's been done to death, Harold's inspired levels, imaginative mechanics, eye-popping presentation, endless charm, and steep challenge separate it from the pack. It's only that latter element that crosses the line, sometimes making Harold more frustrating than fun. This game's reflex-taxing level of difficulty isn't for the faint of heart. However, if you're not afraid of a few laps on the trial-and-error treadmill, Harold might just become your next endless-runner fixation.
By Anonymous on Apr 22, 2015 01:22 am
My faction's commander gave me a special weapon for destroying alien hives in a single shot, but it wouldn't fit in my ship. I left it in my inventory for later use, but at some point in my travels, it disappeared (perhaps I sold it by mistake?), and I could not find a way to retrieve a new one. The contact that had given it to me had nothing more to say, and none of the stations I visited sold such a weapon. So I was left to my own devices, slowly whittling down hives while accompanied by a useless companion that could fend off attacking aliens and space pirates, but could do no damage to the hive itself. I spent a half-dozen hours hammering away at these things, laboriously zooming back and forth between alien systems and bases where I could refuel and refill ammunition. After a while, I could finally afford a better hull, and I presumed my path to victory--a path without the disappearing superweapon--would be clearer. Instead, my new fighter made things worse by allowing me to only equip weapon types with limited ammo reserves. I wasted precious minutes flying to a base seven systems away so that I could reload, only to return to the alien system and find the hive had gained back all of its health. It was here that VoidExpanse and I parted ways after 25 hours of spacefaring tedium and shallow questing, and I can't say I'll miss repeating the same four side missions over and over again. Well, there's one bounty earned. It didn't have to be this way; it never does. VoidExpanse is built from a proven foundation, recalling every space sim in which you crisscross the galaxy, buying low and selling high. In VoidExpanse's case, this all occurs on a 2D plane upon which you zoom from one space station to another, mining minerals from asteroids and shooting down space pirates along the way. With each accomplishment, you earn not only money but experience, which you then apply to skills that improve your flight agility, open access to new weapons, and enhance your financial standing. 2D plane aside, this is Freelancer, or DarkStar One, or X3: Reunion, a game that encourages you to find your inner Han Solo, gaining funds by performing odd jobs, aligning yourself with a faction, and destroying whatever enemies stand in your way. Those games built adventures around these basic systems; VoidExpanse, on the other hand, rarely expounds upon the fundamentals. You do odd jobs for your chosen faction so that you can join its ranks, and at least those tasks mix things up a little. You even get choices to make, potentially befriending or alienating a contact depending on how successful you are at hacking a terminal, or convincing a pesky pirate to leave his enemy alone instead of firing on him at first glance. Here's a space station. There's not really more to say.The rare story-based diversion is not enough to brighten up the dreary pace that soon develops, however. VoidExpanse recycles the same few missions over and over again: Mine some minerals, deliver this package, kill this pirate, rescue these survivors. This is the steady diet of quests you feast upon if you have any hope for forward progress, unless you prefer to ferry supplies and the spoils of random enemy encounters from one system to another, seeking the highest possible prices. Trading is a common activity in space exploration games, but the lack of visual variety squashes exploration flat. Backdrops are generically pretty displays of green and purple nebulae stretching across starfields, and space vessels lack the drama of pop culture's most iconic craft; They are built for function, apparently, and not for form. But it is form that such a repetitive game needs to thrive, and what starts as a fun but formulaic adventure grows tiresome. Combat is functional, at least, and supports two different control schemes, one of which allows you to drive the ship with the mouse, and the other of which separates aiming and movement. It is the latter scheme that affords finer control, and there is inherent appeal at hovering your targeting reticule over a pirate or an alien pod, launching missiles at it, and watching it explode. Alien ships are particularly mobile, so while most encounters aren't demanding unless you wander into systems you shouldn't be exploring yet, some battles keep you circling and reward precise aiming.  The skill tree is easy to understand. The main reason to press forward is to earn more currency and more experience, leaving behind your paltry vessel and starter gadgets for a more powerful and roomy ship. There are slots for weapons, shields, engines, and so forth, along with places to equip consumables (good for a resupply of hull strength, for instance) and boosters (good for, say, improving your defenses or supporting your energy supply). But all the incremental improvements represented by ship advancement and skill choices are at the service of repetitive sights, repetitive travel, and repetitive actions. In time, the few spots of joy are overwhelmed by the annoyances, such as the suicidal way the companion you later earn keeps ramming into alien hives until he explodes, and an autopilot that sometimes steers around obstacles, and other times bounces your ship against asteroids and space stations. Galaxies are procedurally generated--and you can join other players' galaxies in online play--but those options bring little diversity to VoidExpanse. In the case of galaxies, the variables have too little effect on the pace of exploration to be meaningful; In the case of online play, the community is too small to make multiplayer worth investigating. Going online means following the same path you would if you played on your own, except you might encounter another player to shoot or ignore. In fact, VoidExpanse is toothless in general, lacking the mystery and suspense that could have propelled it through the universe.
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