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:
The Overwatch Summer Games are back, and along with a slightly revamped version of Lucioball, we've also received a new set of fun-in-the-sun costumes. This gallery shows off the initial batch of vanity shots, but we'll continue adding to it now that the event is live with a closer look at every new and returning costume.
While you'll be able to earn these rewards from the limited-time Sumer Games-themed Loot Boxes, you can also purchase all of the new skins. The prices are below:
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.
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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.
Opening Lootboxes and Scoring Goals in Lucioball in Overwatch's Summer Event with Joey and Nick.
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