By GameSpot Staff on Dec 23, 2017 08:36 am
Upping Your Chances of Survival
Divinity: Original Sin II is one of the best RPGs of all time. It's also one of the most challenging, with a deep and intricate storyline, tons of quests, and tactical combat that demands the most out of players. Click ahead for some expert tips on how to tackle the game's various challenges, as well as details on what you need to do to become a god in the fantasy land of Rivellon. Be aware that there are some spoilers in the following slides, so be careful reading on if you don't want some specific situations revealed to you. And if you're not the most experienced player, you can check out our beginner's guide and tips on picking the right class. For more about the acclaimed RPG, be sure to read our Divinity: Original Sin II review. The game is out now for PC, but it's been in Steam Early Access for almost a year. It's the sequel to our 2014 PC Game of the Year, Divinity: Original Sin, and it netted over $2 million from 40,000 fans on Kickstarter. It features over 1,200 characters, all of them fully voice-acted. For more on how to better play Divinity: Original Sin II, check out our roundup of glass guides, tips, and walkthroughs.
Man's Best Friend
The Pet Pal talent may seem like a waste of time early in the game when you have more important skills to focus on. But don't skip it forever, as it allows you to converse with every animal in the Rivellon. Your interactions with animals provide some of the most memorable moments in the game. Most offer comic relief or provide a little pathos (some of the dogs can break your heart), but some open up quests and even warn you of dangers up ahead.
Rune It Up
One of the more interesting aspects of combat in the game is the use of magical runes to power up weapons, armor, and items. Make the most of these nifty gadgets and be sure that all of your gear with available rune slots are loaded up, as they provide sizable bonuses to damage and defense. Runes are attuned to the various elements in the game as well, so you can use them to specialize in different forms of attacks and better tackle enemies with immunities. Being able to swap out a two-handed sword with air-bonus runes for an axe with water-bonus runes, for instance, comes in handy if you happen to run into goons with heavy air immunities.
Bigger and Better Boost
Bigger and Better is another Talent you should select with all characters as soon as possible. It instantly provides two extra attribute points, which of course can offer a leg up in the early stages of the game and let you buff key stats the like Strength and Constitution. These added points can make all the difference in the opening battles, where success or failure rides on these extra points and how they buff your character's combat effectiveness.
Take Notes and Mark the Map
One of the few flaws in Divinity: Original Sin II is how poorly it tracks quests in the in-game journal. Take a page from old-school roleplayers and keep a notepad alongside the computer to track important points on paper. Also, be sure and regularly check the map when you visit key locations and see if they have been marked. If not, be sure and put down a blue flag and text to clue you in to what can be found there. All this might seem like added fuss and bother, but keeping careful records is critical in a game this long and convoluted. You will thank yourself for those notes and map markers many hours down the road, when you realize that the journal doesn't include enough information about what to do to finish a quest or you can't find something on the map Having to track things manually also adds to the game's charm and buffs its pen-and-paper street cred. And don't whine too much—at one time, RPGers also had to map their progress with hex paper.
If You Don't Succeed at First…
Success or failure often hinges on skill checks in conversations. Turning off an NPC by failing at a persuasion check can lock out quests and make it much more difficult to complete them. Just remember that you can generally try every conversation with all four members of your party. Blow it the first time? Keep going until you've run through the entire party. This little cheat can also let you explore other dialogue options so you can see everything that a character has to say.
Use the Examine Option During Every Combat
Take a moment to right-click on enemies and choose the Examine option at the start of every significant battle, especially in the final third or so of the game. Doing so opens a full description that reveals each foe's detailed statistics, including immunities to physical and magical attacks. One mistake during a single turn in combat can cost you a battle in the later stages of the game. So don't make it any easier for the bad guys by casting something like Fossil Strike on a foe that has full immunity to Earth magic.
Don't Forget About Sneaking
Even though Divinity: Original Sin II is largely about blade-on-blade, fireball-on-fireball battles, sneaking can be incredibly important. Remember to try it during difficult battles to try and gain an edge on the opposition. It can turn a tough fight into a cakewalk. Just ask Doctor Daeva. Sneak an assassin type like Sebille close to this demonic villain before triggering his dialogue and you may just get the initiative in the coming battle. Do it just right and you can actually kill Daeva before he has the chance to morph into his much more powerful demon form. This makes one of the most challenging battles in the entire game a breeze. Sneaking can also let you creep close enough to those creepy Shriekers to take them out with Source Vampirism.
When In Doubt, Cheat
You've gotta do what you've gotta do to escape the brutal fights in Divinity: Original Sin II. So remember to examine your surroundings closely whenever you fail a fight and rearrange or destroy potentially deadly items like oil barrels before engaging in a second go-round. Quite a few battles in the game demand this sort of semi-cheating approach, most notably the crazy fight with the fire Voidwoken during the Blackpit battle to save Gwydian. Careful rearrangement of oil barrels limits the amount of Necrofire that can easily consume your party. Fail to make these changes and you can expect the entire area to explode in this cursed fire. And some well-placed boxes can also fence in Gwydian, whose poor AI makes him stupid enough to kill himself.
Know Your Equipment
Take the time to regularly go through your gear and determine exactly what it does. There is so much cool loot to acquire here that you can easily get overwhelmed by bulging packs loaded with everything from wheels of cheese through magical elven staffs. Set a routine of reviewing your entire inventory after each significant quest so that you can mentally catalogue what you have just acquired and ensure that the party is best equipped for the battles to come. Doing this by a trader is a good idea, too, so that you can cull gear for sale immediately after making adjustments to character load-out and keep your packs (reasonably) lean and mean.
Look Closely at High-Level Gear
Higher level gear requires attention. Some items may have lower base numbers in physical and magical armor, but make up for it in a big way with serious attribute buffs and added magical skills. Watch those buffs, as well. Don't be too quick to sell something that you don't use very often, because the wide variety of enemies in the game mean that you need a wide variety of weapons and gear to best battle them. It's always better to have a useful weapon or piece of armor in your pack during a big battle than a bunch of cash. Gold won't save you, but that magical mace that you're keeping around for a rainy day just might. But if you want to cut to the chase and assess the true worth of an item quickly without a more detailed analysis, look at the sale value at the very bottom of the description box. Don't be fooled by item levels, or by fancy tags like "Unique" and "Legendary." Money talks. Listen to it.
Be Prepared for High Immunity Enemies
Combat later in the game almost always features foes with immunities to different forms of physical and magical attacks. Prepare for this by stocking a wide range of items on each character for various combat situations, such as weapons with attack bonuses linked to each of the game's elemental characteristics. Vary your magical skills as well. You don't want to be stuck with, say, a mage loaded with nothing but fire magic when you encounter creatures with 100% fire resistance. Of course, this is also true for defense. Keep multiple sets of key armor and other defensive items on hand so you can switch to them when necessary during battle, depending on how your opponents are attacking. This can make inventory management something of a chore, but you won't care about how crowded your backpack has become if you always have something in there to help out during battles.
Keep Potions of Strong Will on Every Character
The importance of quick access to healing and armor potions goes without saying, but another one that you will want to have in every character's pack is Strong Will. This handy red concoction prevents party members from being afflicted by most mental spell effects that cause them to be charmed, terrified, cursed, and so forth. Combat in the later parts of the game often features mages and monsters with these effects, so it's vital to be able to counteract them.
Resurrection and Haste
Load every character with as many Resurrection scrolls as you can afford. Being able to quickly bring fallen allies back to life and get them fighting again as soon as possible is a fundamental part of surviving late-game encounters. Many battles can't be won without reviving your dead. Haste is also necessary. Battles with numerous foes spread across the battlefield and on elevated platforms can be made much easier to handle when you can turn your heroes into sprinters and enable them to reach enemies in an expeditious manner. Haste also helps run down enemy spellcasters and those with ranged weapons, as these cowards always choose the better part of valor and flee close-quarters combat.
Be a Morning Person
One of the most valuable talents in the game is Morning Person, which ensures that a resurrected character comes back to life with full health. This ability becomes incredibly important later in the game when you regularly need to resurrect allies during combat, as the standard revival brings heroes back with very little health and sets them up to be killed again in short order. Consider taking Morning Person with every character as soon as possible (although it's particularly vital for your most crucial characters in combat, like your tank fighter and your most powerful mage) when leveling up. It will dramatically increase your options of beating the tougher late-game battles by getting your party members back in the game and ready to fight almost immediately after they're killed.
Keep the Gloves of Teleportation
Even though you acquire these gloves very early in the game and they seem low powered due to their underwhelming value and stats, never let them go. They are essential at many key moments in the campaign, right through to the conclusion. You can use them to take short cuts through quests, most notably the big god one on the Nameless Isle where you have to do things like ascend floating islands, and access areas that are otherwise inaccessible. Gloves of Teleportation are also quite handy during combat, as they allow you to quickly get to enemies in slightly distant or elevated locations. The gloves can also be huge parts of your strategy to take on a number of major battles. They come in particularly useful during the brutal final battle in the Red Prince storyline, for instance. Teleporting party members makes it much easier to destroy the sizable number of black mirrors spread all over the battle arena there to prevent enemies from endlessly respawning.
Use Spirit Vision--A Lot
Never forget about the Spirit Vision skill acquired about midway through the game. The ability to see and converse with otherwise hidden ghosts becomes more and more crucial in the later stages of the game, as these spectral goons often have key information for the successful resolution of quests. Spirit Vision also opens up parts of the game that otherwise go unseen. The dimensional doorway in the garden behind the Lizard Consulate in Arx is one good example here, as it cannot be accessed until you reveal it with Spirit Vision.
Remove What's Underfoot with Terrain Transmutation
Battling environmental issues can be as much of a problem as actual enemies. One good way to get rid of something pesky that's underfoot like some oil, ice, or Necrofire is to use the Terrain Transmutation Polymorph skill and swap the bad stuff with some basic rock or grass nearby. One particular area where it comes in very handy is the burning Lizard Consulate in Arx, as you need to get rid of the Necrofire to prevent the Cursed Revenant enemies from endlessly respawning. Moving it as far away as Terrain Transmutation can reach does the trick.
Boost Your Wits
A high score in the Wits character stat is vital to spotting secret doors, hidden archways, and even buried chests of loot. Make sure at least one party member is regularly adding to this score when leveling up, or you will miss out on quests or key information needed to readily solve the game's many mysteries. Also, remember that the Peace of Mind skill is a huge benefit here, as it dramatically ups the Wits score of the targeted character. Use it if you're stumped. It's most useful when trying to access the underground vaults where the possessed are imprisoned on Bloodmoon Island.
By Matt Espineli on Dec 23, 2017 08:34 am
The Finest Set Pieces
A major highlight of the Uncharted games has always been it's amazing set pieces. From chasing a caravan on horseback across the Rub' al Khali desert to climbing out of a train car hanging off the edge of a snowy cliff, Naughty Dog has captivated us countless times with an assortment of iconic, breathtaking moments. Got a favorite Uncharted set piece that you don't see here? Come share them with us in the comments below. And be sure to check out our Uncharted: The Lost Legacy review and Uncharted 4: A Thief's End review.
9. A German U-Boat in the Jungle--Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
The German U-Boat at the edge of a waterfall in Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is a fundamental stepping-stone that establishes the series' sense of scale. Viewing it from afar, you can't help but be taken aback by the ancient vessel, as you ponder how it even ended up there in the first place. But none of that matters, what's important is the fact you're going to explore it. When you do, you discover dead Nazis, more intrigue, and--unfortunately--a still-active torpedo. The resulting escape and explosion made us feel wonder and awe at the excitement of it all; the first of many moments that made us feel this way in the Uncharted series.
8. The Cargo Plane--Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
As Uncharted fans know, Drake has a penchant for getting himself wrapped up in sticky situations. A moment that captures his terrible luck is the cargo plane set piece from Uncharted 3. It begins with what seems like a stealth sequence through a duct, but it soon spirals out of control, nearly throwing Drake out of the plane. The sequence that follows grows from bad to worse, as a resulting firefight wrecks the plane and causes it to plummet to the ground. The pacing here is tight, carrying the action from one misfortune to the next at a breakneck speed. And once it's over, you'll ask, "How can things possibly get worse?" As the excitement behind the recent events wanes, you realize as Drake hangs off the cargo net that there's nothing but open desert surrounding him. Everywhere you look: hills of scorching, white-hot sand as far as the eye can see. Drake's lost, and more importantly, he's screwed.
7. Drake vs. Tank--Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
This set piece sequence fulfills its namesake, throwing you into a tense battle of cat and mouse with a heavily armored tank. Similar to Resident Evil 3's Nemesis, the tank is relentless and it stops at nothing to pursue you. The action here is top-notch, constantly throwing you in and out of firefights as you sprint to get out of the tank's line of sight. And right when you think you've eluded the tank, it finds a way to get to you by crashing through a wall or blowing up your cover. As you stand there about to panic, you probably can't help but recall Drake's initial comment: "Why would he bring a tank?" For this amazing set piece, that's why.
6. Brawl at the Pub--Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
Compared to other set pieces in the series, the pub fight during the opening moments of Uncharted 3 is scaled down. It doesn't feature Drake escaping a crumbling building or navigating a towering structure. Instead, it has him and Sully exchanging blows with a group of thugs in an old-fashioned bar brawl. It's a straightforward sequence made rich with a wealth of unique environmental attack animations, most of which you wouldn't know existed until replaying it. Attention to detail rings true in this scene, which is why we love it so much.
5. Waking Up in the Tibetan Village--Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
After surviving the war torn streets of Nepal and escaping from a derailed train, the stroll through the small village in Tibet feels well deserved. Compared to other set pieces, it's quiet, tranquil, and soothing. Despite serving as a bridge to the campaign's latter half, the time spent walking through and interacting with the villagers brings a welcome change of pace. You can shake hands with a farmer, pass a soccer ball over to a couple kids, or pet the local livestock. None of these actions are mandatory, but they are small details that coalesce into a heartwarming moment just as memorable as any of the game's bigger set pieces.
4. Young Drake at the Columbian Museum--Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
In the first two entries of the series, Drake's backstory is always made ambiguous. While those games contain dialogue that reveal small details concerning his past, there's never any explicit scenes showing more. At least, not until Uncharted 3 where there's a flashback with a 15-year old Nathan Drake plotting to steal Francis Drake's ring. This moment is a crowd-pleaser of the highest order, providing a brief glimpse of not only a younger Drake, but how the treasure hunter met Sully.
3. Hotel Nepal--Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
The moment Drake sets foot in Nepal is when Uncharted 2 starts to ramp up. The action in this area escalates wildly, as it throws you across the city's war torn streets and ravaged apartment buildings. There's an army of soldiers to fight and a deadly helicopter looms menacingly above, threatening to unleash a barrage of bullets upon you. But the real standout moment is when a hotel you're in starts to crumble in the middle of a firefight. Furniture and office supplies slide and scatter about the room as the whole place starts to come down. Thankfully, a window in the neighboring building is there for you to jump through to safety. The chaos of this scene is only one of many fantastic set pieces in Nepal, but it's one that we still discuss to this day.
2. The Sinking Boat--Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
It isn't often that you get to escape a sinking cruise ship in a game, but Uncharted 3 lets you do just that. The action in this set piece is tremendous, pushing you through sideways corridors as the cruise ship begins to flood with water. It's enough having to take on an army of soldiers, but to have to do so in such an unstable environment creates an incredible sense of tension. This set piece is the film Poseidon come alive in a video game, and it's by far one of the most exciting situations Drake has been thrown into.
1.The Train--Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
No other set piece in the series can replicate the shock and awe of seeing Drake awaken in a train car hanging off a cliff. The disorientation of the initial shot, the desperate climb up the train car that follows, and the road to how Drake got into that mess to begin with is nothing short of brilliant. While it's technically a glorified climbing sequence, the way in which it's framed gives us context of the scale that Uncharted 2 provides. Seeing Drake battered and bruised instantly pulls us in, as the immediate danger in front of us makes it clear the high stakes of the situation. After all these years, it still gives us chills just thinking about it.
By Matt Espineli on Dec 23, 2017 08:19 am
Important Details To Keep In Mind
Assassin's Creed Origins is a dense action-RPG with no shortage of mechanics to master and interesting details within its world that don't make themselves readily apparent. After spending numerous hours with the game, we've learned a fair number of tips that we wish we knew before starting the game. Click ahead to find out what we discovered. If you want a more general look at how to better play the game, check out our beginner's guide covering essential tips and tricks. You can also read our guide highlighting the 12 best abilities. For even more guides, check out our Assassin's Creed Origins guide roundup containing all our tips and walkthroughs. Out now for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, Assassin's Creed Origins is the latest entry in the long-running Assassin's Creed franchise. Unlike past games, which continually pushed the ancestor timeline forward, this entry is a prequel. Set in Egypt, you play as Bayek, a warrior whose struggle against the corrupt forces of the time leads him towards becoming the first Assassin. Check out our Assassin's Creed Origins review, and for more about Assassin's Creed Origins, check out our feature detailing everything you need to know about the game. And if you're looking to get caught up on the series' narrative, read our Assassin's Creed story recap.
You Can Sell Your Junk Instantly
Throughout your journey, you accumulate a ton of loot that actually serves no functional purpose aside from being sold. To quickly offload this junk, simply go to the sell screen of a vendor and hold down on the D-pad to automatically sell everything. No sorting required.
Smash Statues of Ptolemy
You'll often run into statues of the corrupt King Ptolemy XIII throughout Egypt. If you see one, enact Bayek's rage against Ptolemy's reign and smash it. Doing so nets you a quick and easy 150 XP, a fine reward for expressing one's disfavor of the King.
Don't Forget To Upgrade Your Weapons
While it might seem tempting to sell a Legendary weapon once it becomes obsolete, don't. In Assassin's Creed Origins, you can visit a blacksmith to upgrade your weapons, and since Legendary weapons carry valuable perks, it's best to hold onto these in case you need them later on.
Reload Your Quest Objective
While playing, have you ever screwed up in a mission and wanted desperately to restart at the last checkpoint? It's not readily apparent at first, but you can actually do this in AC Origins through what's called the "Reload Quest Objective" option. To access this, press pause, highlight the Quests tab, and then press the triangle/Y button. This comes in handy, especially for all the perfectionists out there who want to do a perfect stealth assassination on a mission's primary target.
Get Dawn & Dusk
Dawn & Dusk is an incredibly useful ability that allows you quickly pass the time of day. It's handy when you want to attack camps at night but don't want to wait for time to pass. In addition, some quests even require you to meet a certain character at a particular time of day, so it's in your best interest to unlock the ability, as it spares you the burden of having to wait around.
Exit The Animus
Similar to earlier AC games, you're free to exit the Animus at any time to play as modern-day protagonist, Layla. To do so, enter the pause screen and simply hold up on the D-Pad. There's not much to explore in the tomb where she has set up shop, but there's a wealth of emails and documents you can read on her laptop. It's worth noting that you don't actually need to approach her computer to access them; simply press pause and read away! This is a must for hardcore fans of the series, as there's plenty of tidbits included in these documents that allude to past games.
Visit The Nomad Bazaar
In your journey, you'll inevitably run into Reda, a young nomadic merchant offering rare items for sale. He's signified on the map as a turquoise camel. Keep in mind, these items aren't cheap, so make sure to have enough money before stopping by. If you have free time to spare, Reda also gives out special real-world daily event quests you can take on that'll reward you with a mystery item upon completion. While the worth of these endeavors is completely up to chance, they're well worth doing just to see what you might get.
Search Camps
Every camp you invade has a specific number of treasures to collect and captains to kill. While fulfilling these tasks might seem superfluous, completing them actually nets you a nice XP bonus. If you're struggling to find a camp's treasure chests, hold up on the D-pad to highlight lootable objects in your vicinity
Unlock Weapon Bearer and Bow Bearer
Both Weapon Bearer and Bow Bearer are abilities that let you swap between two weapons on the fly. This might not seem useful at first, but the ability to cycle between secondary weapons becomes indispensible during unexpected encounters. For example, if a stealthy attempt at killing a guard with your hunter bow suddenly goes south, you can instantly switch to a light bow to quickly murder the now alarmed foe. These abilities also eliminate the need to have to keep going into the menu to switch out weapons.
Auto-Riding Mount
Are you too lazy to ride your mount to your current mission objective? No problem! AC Origins lets you set your mount to automatically follow a path to the next destination. Simply hold the X/A button and relax as your mount does all the work for you.
There's A Photo Mode
It's easy to miss the fact that AC Origins actually has a photo mode. To activate it, simply click both thumb sticks. The mode comes complete with a wealth of filters and adjustable sliders for your photo- editing pleasure. Make sure you take a good photo though, as it actually gets uploaded onto the 'net for other players to see and enjoy when they view the map screen.
By Matt Espineli on Dec 23, 2017 08:16 am
Roaming Dragonborn
The Nintendo Switch port of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim gives longtime fans a chance to explore the world of Tamriel on the go. However, it also provides newcomers the opportunity to experience Skyrim for the first time. The game's world is immense, and at times, the path to success isn't clear. To help equip you with the knowledge needed to survive Skyrim on Switch's early runnings, we've gathered 13 essential beginner's tips. Skyrim is out now on Nintendo Switch. For more on how it fairs on Nintendo's convertible console, you can read our The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on Switch review. Critic Kallie Plagge says it's "one of the best Switch ports currently available." If you're curious the game's Amiibo support, here are all the items that unlock when you scan a Zelda Amiibo. The game was first released in 2011 for PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, before coming to PS4 and Xbox One in October 2016 through the Special Edition. A version of the game for the PS4's PlayStation VR is out now.
Commit And Stick By Your Character Choice
Skyrim's character creation process rewards those who know exactly what they want, so it's important to have an idea about the kind of character you want to play before starting the game. When picking your character's race, make sure to commit to one with the skills, powers, and effects that suit your playstyle and the characteristics you want. For instance, if you want to want to fit the mold of a Thief class, it's best to choose Khajiit, as its base sneaking skill is the highest of all the races.
Freedom Is Fun, But Get To Whiterun First
Skyrim is a massive game that opens up rather quickly; with such freedom right out the gate, it's easy to start running around taking on side quests and doing whatever you please. However, if you're just starting the game, we recommend following the main quest line until you get to Whiterun. This way you'll at least have the "Shout" ability, a place to store your stuff, and a general understanding of your environment.
Accessing Amiibo Functionality
In the Switch version of Skyrim, you can use various Amiibo to get loot chests. These chests contain things like arrows, a random piece of armor, and food. If you use any Zelda Amiibo, you have a chance to get one of three Zelda-themed items: Link's blue tunic from Breath of the Wild, the Master Sword, and the Hylian Shield. To use an Amiibo, go to the Magic menu, then go to Powers. The Amiibo Power will be unlocked from the start. Select the Amiibo power to equip it, then cast it in the world using R. Once you've cast it, tap an Amiibo to the NFC reader to get a chest.
ABS (Always Be Sneaking)
Sneaking is an incredibly valuable skill to develop early on, as it's a useful way to get a preemptive strike on enemies; it also makes difficult missions later on in the game much easier. However, your chances of sneaking successfully is determined by your Sneak skill level, and the only way to improve it is by sneaking as much as possible. We recommend doing so whenever you get the chance, as the higher your proficiency in this skill, the better off you are in most combat encounters and sticky situations.
Not A Thief? Steal Anyway
Stealing may be discouraged in the world of Tamriel, but it's often worth taking whatever you can, as it rewards you potentially valuable items and equipment. Note that even if an item is marked red (indicating that taking it is theft), you still have the chance of stealing it without alerting the attention of nearby guards or hostiles; just make sure you're properly hidden from their sight. And remember: viewing red-marked possessions is not a crime, but taking them is.
Save, Save, Save Often
This might seem incredibly obvious, but it's always in your benefit to save your game as often as possible. Skyrim gives you the power to save anywhere, anytime you want, so make use of it. You never know what might happen when exploring the world or a dungeon; a particularly powerful creature could very well kill you out of nowhere, potentially taking from you hours of progress.
Visit The Guardian Stones Sooner Than Later
The Guardian Stones are special objects found along the road southwest of Riverwood, and northwest of Helgen near the river. There are three stones: the Mage Stone, the Thief Stone, and the Warrior Stone. Each allows you to level up the skills associated with that class 20% faster. It's possible to access the Guardian Stones directly after the game's introduction, so it's recommended you seek them out sooner than later. Be wary; you can only choose to activate one of the Guardian Stones at a time; though, you're allowed to switch between the stones at any time if you're looking to level up or utilize the respective skills each represent.
Remember, Fast Travel is Available From the Start
Like other open world games, Skyrim gives you the ability to fast travel to locations you've visited on the map. But it's worth noting that you can fast travel as soon as the game begins, well before the game tells you that you can do so.
Third-Person View Is More Than Just a Camera Angle
While Skyrim is primarily played from a first-person perspective, you can actually switch it to a third-person view. This can be a useful way to better your awareness of your surroundings, especially in the forest areas early on where wild animals can easily jump you if you're not careful.
It's Good To Sleep In-Game (And In Real Life Too)
As you explore Skyrim's vast world, you'll come across the ability to sleep in a bed. While this advances the passage of time in-game, it also grants you a "Well Rested" buff that increases all skill gains by 10% for eight hours. Keep in mind, this buff can only be triggered if you sleep in a bed you own or a bed at a local Inn.
Horse Thief
Can't afford a horse in the beginning? Just steal one! It won't stay with you, but it's a free and fast means of transportation you can take advantage of until you build up enough money to purchase a horse later on.
Smithing, Enchanting, And Alchemy Exist; Be Mindful Of Them
There are a lot of different optional skills in Skyrim, such as Smithing, Enchanting, and Alchemy. While it isn't mandatory to fully understand or utilize them early on, it's important that you at least pay attention to them. Be mindful of the weapons and items you obtain, and consider keeping certain ones for when you eventually need them to practice these skills. It's certainly worth your time in the long run, as utilizing these skills together can eventually allow you powerful perks, such as Mages casting for 0 magic in any school, Warriors doing massive damage, and Thieves becoming even sneakier.
Buy Training, Get Your Money Back
When you reach Whiterun, you'll find NPC followers who ask to join you in your adventure. Some can help train you in a particular skill as long as you have money to pay for it. For instance, a follower named Faendal can train you in archery. But there's a handy exploit you can use to take advantage of their training. First, pay your follower to train you. After they've done so, ask to take a look at their inventory and simply retrieve the money you gave them. Rinse and repeat this process until you've maxed out the skill.
By GameSpot Staff on Dec 23, 2017 08:09 am
The Spoils Of War
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus does a great job of explaining its game mechanics thanks to a simple tutorial system. While these introductions explain basics like movement, stealth and combat, there are still some things that would be good to know when starting a new game. What difficulty should you choose? Is it worth searching every inch of every level to find all of the game's collectables? And how does that early story choice affect your game going forward? The answers to these questions and more can all be found in this list of 10 things we wish we knew before starting Wolfenstein 2. Be sure to check out our full review of Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, along with our beginner's guide on everything you need to know when diving into the Nazi-killing campaign. For more info on the sequel, head over to our guide on everything you need to know about the game, and along with our video on the History of Wolfenstein.
For more tips and guides on Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, head on over to our dedicated hub for all things treasure hunting and Nazi-slaying.
Choosing A Difficulty
Don't take the choice of difficulty lightly. Wolfenstein II can get difficult even on the medium settings. If things get too intense, you can change the setting up on the fly at any time without penalty. The difficulty only affects the gameplay and doesn't have an impact on the story. There are six difficulty choices with one extra hard option that's added after you complete the game. The "Can I play, Daddy?" is the easiest difficulty and is as easy as it sounds. On this difficulty, you can easily go toe-to-toe with any mechanized Nazi in the game and soak up nearly all the bullets that are sent flying your way. The hardest difficulty, "Mein Leben," is just like the original hardest difficulty, but you only get one life to live. Dying means game over. Choose the best difficulty for you. If you're looking for a challenge that can even be a little frustrating at times, try one of the harder difficulties. If you're more into experiencing the story, go for an easier one. The game doesn't punish or reward you either way other than the trophies or achievements you earn from completing the game.
How The Story Changes Based On Who You Sacrifice In The Beginning
Wolfenstein II doesn't load a previous save from decisions made in Wolfenstein: The New Order, but it does replay a segment from that game. At the beginning, Blazkowicz has the choice to sacrifice Fergus or Wyatt. This will not only change your companions aboard the Evas Hammer between missions, it also changes your weaponry. Wyatt is a zany character who enjoys listening to his music and studying the metaphysical aspects of the world. Fergus is a wisecracking englishman who is in a constant battle with his robotic arm. Both characters add a little something different to Wolfenstein II's narrative. Fergus and his arm are definitely worth conversing with. The big thing to consider is the gun you'll get depending on who you choose. Choosing Fergus gives you the Laserkraftwerk and Wyatt gives you the Dieselkraftwerk. Both of these guns can be recharged throughout most levels with electricity plugs or gas pumps that are located on walls. The Laserkraftwerk is the more practical weapon in most combat situations. It shoots a powerful blast of electricity that vaporizes human targets in a single shot. The Diselkraftwerk works as a grenade launcher. It fires projectiles that can stick to surfaces and be detonated later. The projectiles can also be stuck to patrolling enemies without them knowing, which makes for some interesting strategies.
How The Perks Work
Wolfenstein II has a detailed perk system that rewards the specific way you play. You can check out the perk page from the character screen. There are six perks in each of the three different categories: Stealth, Mayhem, and Tactical. Nearly every kill you perform throughout the game will increase your level for a specific perk. For example, every stealth takedown will increase your mastery of that perk. Performing more of them will increase your speed while crouching. Racking up kills while dual-wielding weapons will increase the amount of ammunition you can carry. No matter your play style, you'll increase your perks making you a stronger, faster Blazkowicz. Stealth and Mayhem are the best categories to strengthen first. You should start every area with a few stealthy kills until you're spotted. Once that happens, it's best to switch to dual-wield weapons for maximum firepower. Being able to carry more ammunition is always a good thing.
What Weapon Should You Upgrade First?
Weapon upgrade kits are scattered around the game world and are for one-time use. There are a couple things to consider when upgrading your weapons. Each gun has three possible upgrades to unlock. Those upgrades can be equipped and unequipped at will from the weapon menu, and can all be equipped at the same time. Weapon upgrade kits cannot be reused, so choose wisely. The pistol suppressor is the best upgrade to choose first. It completely silences all gunfire from this weapon, giving you silent ranged attacks for when you're trying to be stealthy. The Sturmgewehr, or assault rifle, has the Marksman scope upgrade, which is also a good candidate for an early upgrade. This adds a scope and turns the weapon into a single-shot rifle instead of fully automatic. There isn't an upgrade to manage the gun's recoil, so changing it to single shot helps make the Sturmgewehr easier to manage especially when dual-wielding two of them. The best part: you can remove the scope while the weapon is equipped to turn it back to a fully automatic gun if you wish. If you're thorough enough, you'll have more than one upgrade for your favorite weapons by the end of the game. Endgame content also allows you to find more upgrades to further strengthen your arsenal.
Does Being Stealthy Pay Off?
The short answer: yes, being stealthy pays off. As soon as the "signal detected" icon appears at the top of the screen, that means a commander is nearby. That's usually a good indication that you should stay quiet. It's not always easy, or even possible, to stealthily eliminate these threats, but it will make your life much easier if you can. If you're spotted by anyone before eliminating an enemy commander, the commander will trigger an alarm and Nazis will storm your position. If you're able to take out the commander before that happens, you'll have to deal with far fewer enemies. Early on, you'll have a lot of stealthy attacks that you can use to kill Nazis while being hidden in the shadows. You achieve stealth takedowns by sneaking behind your enemies. There's the hatchet throw that counts as an automatic kill if you land it. The Pistole and Maschinenpistole can both be outfitted with silencers that make them completely silent. Be sure to lean around corners to see if an enemy has his back turned. This ensures that you stay hidden without revealing yourself.
Choosing Contraptions
Later in the game, Blazkowicz will be able to choose one of three contraptions without being given much information on them. The stress of choosing just one of these devices may be too much to bear, but fear not, you'll be able to find the other two through side missions later in the game. Set allows you to choose between three contraptions, which include: the Constrictor Harness which allows Blazkowicz to stealthily squeeze into very tight quarters, the Ram Shackles which provide the ability to crash through certain walls, and the Battle Walker that extends his legs like stilts to reach high platforms. What the game doesn't tell you is that these contraptions give you specific perks that aid your playstyle. The Constrictor Harness helps with stealth by making your footsteps completely silent, the Ram Shackles prevent you from being knocked over from explosions, and the Battle Walker grants the Quick Draw and Adrenaline perks--while also slowing time when viewing the weapon wheel, also stopping the loss of overcharged health. These perks are active immediately after equipping one of these contraptions, making them extremely valuable. Choose the contraption that best fits your playstyle.
Are the Collectables Worth Getting?
Like many single-player games, Wolfenstein II is littered with collectables. There are 366 in all, which includes Gold, Starcards, Concepts, Max's Toys, Deathcards and Records. None of them will give you any enjoyable perks, or beef up your arsenal. They're more or less to give you a few nice items to search for so you can say you found the whole collection. To answer the question simply, no, these objects aren't really worth putting in the time it takes to find them. Deathcards are the only ones that can be considered worthy of your time, as they are essentially rewards for killing commanders thus completing smaller side missions after you've completed the game. These missions revisit past events from the story, but have slight changes in the environments and enemies you encounter. Deathcards missions are the majority of the endgame content. Other than that, pick up the items you come across, but don't feel obligated to find everything. Keep in mind that the map in the mission menu shows where to find different collectables. There's no big secret to where everything is, which makes it even more like busy work.
Are The Deathcards Worth Collecting?
The Deathcard missions are fun, small missions toward the end of the game. They take place in areas that you've already visited, but each mission has slight changes to the area that change the gameplay. If you didn't get your fill of killing Nazis during the story, definitely check out the Deathcard missions and kill all the high-ranking captains. Each commander that you kill throughout the game drops an enigma card. These cards can be used at the enigma machine on the Hammer. If this hasn't been introduced to you yet, don't worry. It'll be introduced later in the game. These simple puzzles unlock the location of high ranking Nazi commanders. You can then set a course to their location and take them out. Each of these officials carries a Deathcard that you can collect to cross their name off the list. Be careful. These officials carry powerful grenade launchers that can drop you in one or two shots, so don't take them lightly. Take them out from a distance if you can. Each Deathcard mission has collectables to find, including weapon upgrades. So, if you're looking for stages to strengthen your weapons, check out the Deathcard missions.
Is There a New Game Plus?
There isn't a New Game Plus mode. Do not try to start a new game after completing a game. If you do try to start a new game on the profile with the completed game, it will erase all of your game saves and start a brand new game. Nothing will carry over and statistics will be erased. While there is no way to replay exact missions from the story, you can hunt down remaining Kommandants in the Deathcard missions. Deathcard missions take place in areas from the main storyline, but with new twists. Environments and the enemies encountered are slightly different, making each area feel new again. After the credits, you are transported back to the U-boat where you can set courses for these missions.
By Tamoor Hussain on Dec 23, 2017 08:05 am
It's been 31 years since Mario hopped onto arcade screens in Donkey Kong, and everyone's favourite portly plumber shows no signs of slowing down. His latest adventure, Super Mario Odyssey, brings him to the Nintendo Switch, where--once again--Princess Peach has been kidnapped by Bowser, and little ol' Mario needs to save the day. Unlike the last few Mario games, Odyssey fits into the same gameplay mould as Super Mario 64 and Sunshine. It presents large, open areas and lets players hop, skip, jump, and buttstomp their way around in search of collectibles. The magic of these Mario games is in exploration and experimentation; using your athletic abilities to poke at nooks and crannies to find secrets, and Odyssey is a game that certainly rewards that curiosity. Nintendo has put in subtle little gameplay mechanisms that can help you on your quest to get Power Moons--both obvious and hidden. Some of these systems are explained in-game, but may be easy to miss, while others are left a bit vague. We've put together a collection of tips that'll give you a little leg-up, and get you skipping on your way to rescuing Peach. Check out our full review of Super Mario Odyssey, and for more about the game, check out our roundup article containing features, gameplay videos, and everything you need to know about Super Mario Odyssey. You can also check out our roundup containing tips, guides, and things we wish we knew.
Jump up! Jump up! And Get Down!
This is an incredibly obvious thing to point out, but given how important it can be to success in Odyssey, it's worth stating: when you first get the game, spend some time jumping around. Mario's basic jump is perfect for crossing small gaps and pouncing on enemies, but he has a wide range of tools that are absolutely essential for the game's trickier platforming moments. You'll need to have mastery of all of these abilities to find most of the hidden Moons. Mario's jumps can be modified by jumping repeatedly using specific timing, butt-stomping before a jump, or leaping by crouching before a jump. These moves, and some of his others, are easy to pull off once you're comfortable, but you'll want to practice so executing them is second nature. It's best to do this in a safe space, instead of when you're caught between a Bullet Bill and a perilous fall.
Cappadonna
Cappy, the sentient cap accompanying Mario in Odyssey, is primarily used for taking control of enemies or objects, but can also be used to extend jumps. We suggest learning the hat-throw and leap combo, as it's undoubtedly one of the most useful moves in the game. Jump in the air and throw Cappy, then keep the button held down to have Cappy hover a moment. While the hat is spinning, hit crouch and jump and you'll leap forward and launch back into the air. This can be repeated a second time to gain even more ground. Thankfully, Mario Odyssey features an Action Guide, where all of the advance moves are available for you to read about. On top of that, Cappy will remind you about things you can do when you're travelling between worlds. Practice makes perfect!
Coins Rule Everything Around Mario
Again, another obvious tip worth repeating: Pick up coins. It can be tempting to skip a few coins in the distance when you're running around, but coins have more value than ever before in Odyssey. Instead of using the traditional life system, where each death counts down to a Game Over screen, Odyssey nicks some coins from Marios deep pockets. There's no punishment for dying with zero coins, but it does mean that you'll have less to spend on other goodies. Coins are also used to buy things from various shops scattered around Odyssey's worlds. Each shop usually has a top up of hearts on offer, as well as a Moon. Those looking to get every single Moon in the game will want to be especially diligent about grabbing coins, as more Moons become available to purchase from shops in the later game.
Fashion Killa
Of course, coins are also used to purchase new outfits for Mario, and you have to purchase the hat and jumpsuit portions separately. The price for a hat is usually 50 coins, but suits can range from 100 to 150, and--trust us--you'll want all of them. They don't change the way Mario plays by adding abilities, but it's pretty darn cool to see him dressed up as a cowboy or a race car driver. We won't spoil them here, but there's also quite a few costumes that ignite a wave of nostalgia in longtime fans of Mario, so make sure your balance is high to avoid disappointment. Coins are also used for one other thing, which leads nicely into our next tip…
Man On The Moons
There are multiple ways to find Moons in Odyssey. To fly to new locations your ship needs a certain amount of Moons to power it, and the game denotes the recommended amount of Moons on screen. The simplest way to find these is to just play through each world and keep your eyes peeled for them, as many are visible along the main path. However, if you're going for the full Moon completion, you'll need to explore as they're hidden away behind mini-puzzles. Thankfully, when you complete an area by beating its boss, Hint Toad will appear near the Odyssey. As the name implies, Hint Toad will mark the location of a Moon on your map for 50 coins, which is very useful. You might think this is a bit of a cheat, but it's still quite tricky to get these Moons as the indicators are just a vague hint at where it is, and doesn't pinpoint exactly where they are, or what you need to do to get them.
Snitch
For those that need a little extra guidance, there's Talkatoo, a loose-lipped, wide-jawed parrot that hangs around in the main hub of each area. Chat to Talkatoo and it will tell you the name of the Moon, which usually provides some further insight into where they are or what you need to do to grab them. Bear in mind, there's a limit to how many times you can use Hint Toad and Talkatoo. When you beat the game, you can buy unlimited Moons from the shop, but if you want to do it the natural way, there's a few more subtle ways to find Moons...
Good Vibrations
Moons, and other hidden treats, usually have some other kind of way of making their presence known to you, all you have to do is listen for them and feel them out--literally. Moons make a little twinkling sound when you're close by. On your travels around the world, make sure to keep your ears open as well as your eyes peeled. It can be easy to set your sight on a Moon on the main path and focus on it, but often you'll find that there are extra ones tucked away behind secret walls or placed just out of view. Another way to find hidden Moons or coins is through controller vibrations. This one is much trickier as running around usually makes the controller vibrate just a bit, however, the feedback should be stronger when you're near a secret item. A lot of goodies hidden underground usually have a shaft of colorful light to draw your attention to them, but this isn't always the case.
Snoop, Doggy
A more delightful way of finding hidden items is to let the adorable little Nintendog sniff out treats. You'll find him very early in the game chilling out in a shop in the desert world, but after you complete it he'll venture out. When you see him, he'll excitedly bark at you and run off into the distance, give chase and he'll lead you to something good. The lizards in this area also worth following, as they've got the hookup on coins. Nintendog will appear in other locations during your journey too, so keep an eye out for him. And once he's found something for you, why not show your appreciation and play frisbee with him? Chuck Cappy at the puppy from a distance and he'll grab it in his mouth. It's wonderful.
Mo' Moons, Mo' Problems!
Scattered around each of Odyssey's worlds a little puzzle rooms. These are accessed by finding doors with little hats on them, or by jumping into the iconic green pipes. Each of these rooms will test your mastery of platforming, or ask you to possess an enemy using Cappy, and then use their unique abilities to solve a puzzle or reach areas inaccessible to Mario in his tiny human form. The extra secret with these rooms is they usually have more than one Moon hiding within them. This isn't the case 100 percent of the time, but it pays to go into each one with the mindset that there's more than meets the eye in there. Be extra vigilant when running through them, and take the time to stop frequently and spin the camera around a bit, often you'll find a Moon is only visible if you're looking at it from a specific angle. As previously mentioned, a good way to figure out if a room has more than one Moon hidden in it is to buy a marker off Hint Toad and chat to Talkatoo for an extra clue. Between them, they'll be able to point you in the right direction. If that wasn't enough, keep your eyes out for little rockets. By getting over to these and then throwing Cappy on them, you can blast off into the clouds and into more secret areas where, naturally, even more Moons await. No one would fault you for feeling a little overwhelmed by all these Moons, clues, and hints, but Mario Odyssey's overworld--or overspace--map is a very handy way of keeping track of everything. When you're floating over the planet in Odyssey, you can hit the Y button to bring up stats on each world. This menu has essential information on all the Moons available in each location, making it easy to see what you have and what remains. It's a simple touch that makes getting 100% completion just a bit more manageable.
It's Amii-bo!
Another character that's very useful is Uncle Amiibo, the little roomba-like device hovering around near the Odyssey. If you're a collector of Nintendo's Amiibo figures, they'll come in very useful in Mario Odyssey as they can be used to locate stray Moons. Tap your Amiibo on the NFC reader and Uncle Amiibo will send it out on the hunt, it takes five minutes, but once that time is up he'll let you know where you can find a new Moon. There's a limit on how many times you can use Uncle Amiibo to find Moons, so it's better to use him when you're really struggling. Amiibo are also useful for a little coin injection, if you touch a figure while just out in the world, you could get some coins to add to your purse. This is useful when you're a little short on funds and want to purchase an item from the shop. For maximum efficiency, get Uncle Amiibo to send out three Amiibo to hunt for Moons, then go out and try and get some yourself. When you get back, there will be a few more for you to go and grab. This assumes you have three Amiibo, of course. If you don't, you can just use the same Amiibo over and over. There you have it, all the tips you would-be plumbers need before embarking on an Odyssey. Super Mario Odyssey is a big game and we'll be digging into deeper over the coming days. In the meantime, you can check out our video review, or read our full written Super Mario Odyssey review.
By GameSpot Staff on Dec 23, 2017 08:01 am
Battlegrounds Ready
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds can be an intense multiplayer experience, but the only way to really learn how to play it is to actually jump in. The battle royale-style game pits up to 100 players against each other, with the single goal of being the last player standing. Now that it's on Xbox One in addition to PC, it's a good time to jump in (literally) and try to get the coveted chicken dinner. With no tutorial, single-player mode, or other traditional ways to pick up how the game works, most players just have to spend lots of time getting killed in PUBG in order to learn the ropes. But with a little information about the essentials, you can cut the learning curve significantly. Here are 12 essential tips to get you started in PUBG that'll help you hit the island running.
Speed And Smarts
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds starts with up to 100 players parachuting onto a giant island. The goal is to fight and survive to be the only person left, and in practice, that means you'll need to mix stealth, combat, and situational awareness to take out other players and avoid getting dropped yourself. Right from the beginning of the match, you'll have control in the air as you descend onto the game world. During this time, you can see other players and move your character to avoid them. Part of what makes Battlegrounds so interesting is its scope. The island is huge, allowing you to explore a big chunk of it for weapons, and features varied environments from power plants to houses to forests make for a lot of surprising encounters. But to win, you'll need to be both quick and intelligent. When moving around, sometimes it's best to holster your weapon to pick up speed. Though you will be more vulnerable, sometimes it's more important to move quickly. Pay attention to your surroundings, both indoors and out, and try to anticipate where other players might be waiting for you, especially when you check buildings--even the bathtubs, as they're a common hiding spot. Stay out of the open as much as possible and outsmart players by being patient and, to some degree, cautious. Your only goal is to stay alive, so sometimes, avoiding a fight is better than picking one. You can often get further in a match by letting other players do your dirty work for you and then picking them off when they're vulnerable. Just know that players who do more killing often end up with better gear, which can stack the deck against you as you get into Battlegrounds' later moments.
Learn (And Adjust) The Controls
The first thing you should do out of the gate is spend some time familiarizing yourself with the game's controls, and making any adjustments you desire. There are a lot of inputs to remember, and you'll need all your skills to play effectively. Among the most important is the ability to turn your head by holding down the Alt key (on PC) or the left stick (Xbox One). In third-person view mode, holding Alt or RB allows you to swivel the camera so you can see all the way around you without moving. This is essential, since the island is a huge place, and you constantly need to be on the lookout for other players. Everyone is gunning for you, and only by being more aware of your surroundings than your opponents will you emerge victorious. You'll also want to familiarize yourself with crouching and going prone, which minimize how visible you are and dictate how much sound your character makes while moving. Also, holding the Alt key can reduce the speed of your character, making them more quiet. Other handy controls include the B key or left on the D-pad, which lets you switch your weapons' firing modes, and Tab or Option, which opens your inventory screen and lets you quickly loot nearby bodies within a short distance. Managing your inventory quickly and efficiently is a key part of PUBG, so more on that later. For Xbox users, keep in mind that tapping, not holding, the left trigger will aim down sights. The back button opens the map, and LB boosts when you're driving. To switch from third- to first-person perspective, hit RB.
Be Aware Of The Circle
In PUBG, you can't just wander the island for as long as you want, wherever you want. Eventually, the play area constricts; if you check the in-game map with the M key, you'll see a white circle designating the new play field, with a timer in the bottom-right corner of your display. When the timer runs out, a larger blue circle will begin to close in around the white one. If you're caught outside the white circle when the blue one arrives, you'll start to take damage--and the longer the game goes on, the more quickly the blue forcefield will kill you. So in addition to hunting down and fighting other players (or avoiding them), you need to continually make your way into the white circle to avoid dying. And each smaller circle means there's a better and better chance you'll run into other players. In fact, a big part of every PUBG match is knowing where the circle is and how it'll affect you. Smart players use the circle as part of their strategy, using it to predict other players' movements and to ambush them as they flee its deadly contractions. You'll often see people waiting on bridges and at other choke points where they know other players are forced to pass to keep inside the circle. Thinking about where the circle will force players to go, and anticipating bad situations when you're forced to move, will help you survive.
What To Know About Your Gear
When you first drop onto the island in PUBG, you'll have only the clothes on your back. If you happen to encounter a player immediately, you can punch them, but every drop is a race for the nearest buildings, and with them, guns. You'll find guns and other equipment almost exclusively inside buildings, so most of the time, you'll want to move from structure to structure. Your primary concern at the outset of the game is to get armed, but you also will need more than guns. Gear in PUBG includes body armor, backpacks to lug your stuff, and health items. In every game, you immediately want to seek out a vest and helmet for protection. However, higher tiered gear can protect against the more vulnerable areas of your body, such as tier 3 helmet offering a facemask to protect against head damage. These won't make you invincible, but they allow you to take a lot more damage and use up fewer healing items before dying. Armor items and backpacks come in three tiers, with the third being the rarest and most effective. Most of the game is about checking buildings for better stuff, and you can expect other players to be doing the same. By the later stages of any match, expect your opponents to be pretty well decked out. Always keep an eye out for better gear, whether it's in the buildings you stop by or on the players you kill.
Manage Your Inventory
Even with the biggest backpacks and best gear in Battlegrounds, your ability to carry equipment is limited. You can only cram so many first aid kits, energy drinks, and ammo boxes into your pockets. A lot of PUBG is about knowing what to take and what to leave behind, and setting up your weapons with useful attachments as quickly as possible. You can open your character's inventory screen with the Tab key or Option button, but know that you're vulnerable while you're messing with the menus. On the Inventory screen, you'll see three weapon slots for two rifles or SMGs, a pistol, a melee weapon, and grenades, along with spaces for equippable armor. When you stand near gear you want to pick up, you'll see it arrayed in the top-left corner of the screen, and you can pick items up from there instead of looking at them individually and hitting F or X. From there, you can drag items directly to where they go on your character, which cancels the "pick-up" animation that leaves your character vulnerable for a second or two. Once you get familiar with what gear goes where, this seemingly small consideration might save your life as you grab a gun or ammo in a clutch moment. Knowing how to prioritize stuff in your inventory is extremely important. For instance, you only want to carry ammo for the guns you've got with you. While it's tempting to pick up tons of bandages, they can only heal up to 75% health, and you may be better off keeping only a few on hand and saving space for boosts (which we'll get to later) and medkits or first aid kits. Grenades can be effective, but their uses are pretty limited. As for attachments for weapons you don't have, unless they're very rare and potentially useful if you find the right gun (like suppressors), they're just just dead weight and will clog up inventory space--especially for lower tiered backpacks that hold fewer items. If you do have a Tier 2 or 3 backpack, taking ammo or attachments for coveted weapons, space providing, can help prevent the opposition from getting ahold of important resources. While you want to find as much good gear as quickly as possible in PUBG, you also want to throw away anything you're not getting much use out of. Ammo for your assault rifle is much more important than ammo for your pistol, for instance. And even though your Tier 3 body armor might be damaged, it's still more effective at stopping bullets than a Tier 1 vest.
It's All About Sound
Situational awareness is essential in PUBG. The island is so big that it's possible to go for long periods without seeing any other players, but catching sight of people before they see you is essential to making it all the way to the end. Even more important than sight, though, is sound. Sound carries quite a long way in PUBG. Fire a gun and you'll be heard for a huge distance around you, often drawing more players to your location. Driving a vehicle creates even more sound, announcing your position to everyone in the area. But even at a local level, footsteps make a good amount of noise. You'll often hear players before you see them, and being able to gauge the locations of noisy players and ambush them is an important skill--as is knowing where players might be waiting to do the same to you. It's highly recommended that you play Battlegrounds with a solid pair of headphones, preferably the wrap-around kind that support stereo sound. Your best assets in the game aren't your guns but your ears. Most of the times you'll encounter other players, you'll hear them long before you see them.
Loot And Scoot
In PUBG, it's important to keep moving and to constantly seek out better equipment. Hiding out in a good spot in the middle of the circle might seem like a great idea, but often you'll handicap yourself--you might make it to the Top 10 in a game where you hide out in an attic for 20 minutes, but you'll often be underpowered compared to the players who have been battling it out for the entire match. It's important to balance caution with taking risks, and to learn which situations call for which approach. In general, though, you'll want to check a building as quickly as you can, get everything you need from it, and move on. But be aware of your surroundings. For players just starting out, a good thing to watch for are open doors. All the doors in PUBG are closed by default, so doors standing open were definitely opened by players. But you can also close doors behind you, which is a great way to throw someone off your trail or set up an ambush by making a building look untouched when you're actually hiding inside. If you suspect an enemy might be nearby but the exterior doors on a building are closed, one good strategy is to check the windows. Interior doors are also closed by default, so if you can look into a building from the outside to see open doors on the inside, you might avoid walking into a trap. It's also worth noting that the biggest, most interesting buildings--apartments, the power plant, the military base, the school, and so on--often house the best gear. However, they also attract the most players who have the same idea to trek into large spaces for more valuable gear.
Learn The Good Weapons
There are a ton of guns in PUBG, and they're not all equal. Some are good for different situations--a shotgun can be devastating in close-quarters interior combat but next to useless out in the field. Most guns can also support a number of attachments, from suppressors to better stocks, that change how they handle and can make middling weapons into powerhouses. Your general approach should be to try to find assault rifles like the M16A and the AKM. These guns are reliable in a variety of situations and are great up close or at range, especially when you find scopes for them. Sniper rifles are rare and also worth snagging when you can find them, especially if you have a 4x or 8x scope. As you get better at PUBG, you'll find getting the right guns and the optics to go with them is a big part of outfitting yourself to make it to the late stages of the game. But if you can spend time messing with each gun, preferably in combat, figuring out what weapons you personally like and do well with is better than any generalized advice. Learning the weapons of the game and getting comfortable with them will also make you more adaptive. Know where your strengths lie and play to them, while increasing your skills in areas they don't. A big part of the Battlegrounds experience is learning the ins and outs of the guns so that you can do well, whether you have your favorite weapons or something you found in an emergency.
Healing And Boosting Are Essential
Other key items you'll find in Battlegrounds are first-aid kits, medkits, bandages, painkillers, and energy drinks. These are all healing items, but they don't all work in the same way. Bandages, for instance, will restore 10 percent of your health, but only up to 75 percent of your maximum. First aid kits are the same way; they'll heal you any amount up to the 75 percent threshold. Only rarer medkits and boosting items--painkillers and energy drinks--can fully restore you to 100 percent health. Boosters work differently from straight-up health items. Using an energy drink or a painkiller fills a small bar located above your health bar, which indicates your boost level. At the first level, your character will gradually heal, which means you can use boosters to restore yourself to 100 percent from 75 percent health, but gradually, over several seconds. Using more boosters will give you other benefits, like a slightly increased run speed and quicker gun handling, that can be essential in the late game. But it's important to note that all healing items don't work immediately. You'll have to stay still for several seconds as you deploy them. That means in order to use a first aid kit or drink an energy drink, you'll be vulnerable. Plan accordingly.
Watch Out For The Red Zone
Occasionally, you'll see a bright red circle appear on the map, combined with an on-screen announcement that a Red Zone has started. This is a warning to get to cover if you're in the affected area. After a few seconds, bombs will start to fall and explode randomly across the area for a short period, adding another way you can meet your death in PUBG. Red zones are by no means an instant death sentence, however. If you're running through a red zone and you've got no shelter, you should keep running and hope for the best. If you're in a car, you can often successfully drive through. If you can, get in a house, and stay away from doors and windows to be safe--since bombs can break glass and damage you if you're too close. If you're traveling and see a red zone pop up, avoid it, as it can be deadly at worst and noisy and distracting at best.
Use Cover
When you do eventually get into a fight with another player, knowing where to stand and how to protect yourself is extremely helpful. Bullets never penetrate through trees, making them great cover, but bushes only make you hard to see, not hard to kill. Doors won't stop incoming fire, but walls will. You can also use the Q and E keys to lean left and right, allowing you to peek out from behind cover or around a corner to take shots without exposing your entire body. When you get killed in a fight, try to pay attention to where you were and what you did wrong. Were you standing right in front of a door when an enemy decided to blow it out with their shotgun? Did you strafe the wrong way around a tree? Learn where you're safe and where you aren't, and then use that knowledge to limit the situations in which you're less safe than the enemy.
Play Smarter Than The Competition
All the best guns and gear in PUBG don't hold a candle to your most important weapon: Your brain. PUBG is a game about assessing situations quickly and dealing with them accordingly. That means that just because you hear gunfire in the distance doesn't mean you go charging toward it, and just because you see an enemy 100 yards off doesn't mean you start unloading in their direction in the hope you might rack up a kill. Discretion is the name of the game in PUBG. Knowing when you are an effective fighter and when you're not, and turning the situation to your advantage, is what the game is really about. In practice, that means you usually should avoid firing your gun. Unless you're confident you can take out the other player, opening fire is like unfurling a giant "come kill me" sign above your head. Shooting at someone and failing to kill them risks providing them with the knowledge of your location, giving them a better chance to kill you. And that's to say nothing of the other curious players who might come to investigate the noise. Being smart doesn't necessarily mean being meek, though. For a lot of new players, it's easy to give into the tension of Battlegrounds and to find a place to hole up to wait for the end of the match. Not only is that boring, but it won't teach you anything. It can be useful to drop into some of the busiest locations in PUBG, like the centers of towns or the military bases, and get into some fights. The game currently doesn't include a killcam or any other way of seeing who kills you and from where--so if you hide in an attic all game before being forced to make a run for the circle as it contracts, only to get sniped by some player you never see, you won't learn anything. And learning is how you become better. So don't be afraid to try and fail. The odds are 99 to one that you'll die in a PUBG match. Don't fear death or get frustrated by it; embrace it and let those experiences make you better. PUBG is a game about outsmarting other players, and it takes a lot of losing to learn how best to do that.
By Matt Espineli on Dec 23, 2017 07:59 am
Surviving The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
It's dangerous to go alone in the world of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild; the unwary can perish in a matter of seconds. That's why we've compiled 13 beginner's tips to help you overcome the game's early threats. Breath of the Wild is out now for Nintendo Switch; the game also arrived for Wii U. And even after you finish the game, there's more to play: Nintendo offers $20 DLC Pass for Breath of the Wild. For more details about the game, check out our feature covering everything you need to know about it. Otherwise, you can read all our written coverage and watch every video here. If you need even more Zelda guides, check out our recipe and cooking manual, our beginner's guide, or just our general list of everything you might want help figuring out. And of course you shouldn't miss our official review of Breath of the Wild or our review for its latest DLC, The Champions' Ballad.
Approach Battles Carefully, Think Tactically
Running headfirst into battle isn't always the best way to defeat a pack of enemies; it's often better to take a moment to formulate a plan of action before approaching. For example, if a Bokoblin encampment lies ahead, think about what you can do to eliminate them with as little trouble as possible. You could snipe their archers from a distance with your bow, and then sneak up to the larger group and throw a bomb at them to whittle away their numbers. Or you could even propel a large metal box toward the encampment using the Stasis ability's kinetic force. There are plenty of combat tactics that don't involve wasting your resources that are better than attempting to brute force your way to victory.
Save Powerful Weapons and Equipment For When It Matters
Unlike past Zelda games, almost all of Breath of the Wild's weapons and equipment have a durability mechanic, which causes items to wear down over time and eventually break after extensive use in battle. As you acquire more powerful weapons and equipment, be mindful of when you choose to use them. Save your higher-level equipment for tougher enemies and bosses, as opposed to wasting them against weaker foes that could easily perish against lower-leveled weapons.
It's Okay To Run
Don't think you need to engage in every combat encounter; there's no shame in running away. Your weapon and equipment resources are limited, so it's always in your best interest to avoid encounters if there's no goal in mind. The world is packed with enemies that can easily kill you in one hit. Choose your battles carefully or risk wasting your hard-earned weapons and equipment.
Save Often
As you explore the more hostile territories of Hyrule, be sure to save often. Aside from a handful of autosaves the game creates for you, you're allotted one manual saveslot. Take advantage of this whenever you need a safety cushion for a dangerous area ahead, or if you need to experiment with important quest and equipment choices that could affect your progression path.
How To Perform A Perfect Dodge, Parry, And Charged Attack
Against a tough enemy, there are three advanced and essential combat techniques: Perfect Dodge, Parry, and the Charged Attack. Perfect Dodge allows you to slow down time after a precise dodge and inflict a devastating flurry attack upon an enemy. To execute a Perfect Dodge, jump out of the way of an attack right before it's about to hit you, and then press Y to perform the attack flurry. Parry allows you to use your shield to deflect an enemy's blow, leaving it vulnerable to an immediate counterattack. To Parry, lock onto an enemy and press A right before their attack connects. The Charged Attack allows you to perform a powerful offensive maneuver. Each weapon type sports a different Charged Attack. For instance, the sword has a 360-degree attack that covers you on all sides, while the spear has a flurry of stabs. To use a Charged Attack, simply hold the Y button in combat.
Seek Out Shrines
Shrines offer a nice diversion from prolonged periods of exploration; completing their puzzling challenges nets you Spirit Orbs, which can be used to purchase useful power-ups that expand your health or stamina. But another bonus you receive from beating a Shrine is the ability to unlock its location as a fast travel point. It's important to take time to complete shrines, as doing so benefits not only your health and stamina capacity, but also your ability to traverse Hyrule quickly and efficiently.
Avoid Guardians Like The Plague
Guardians are deadly six-legged foes that you should avoid at all costs (at least in the beginning of the game). Their charged shots can kill you in one hit, so keep your distance from them. If you're going to take a Guardian on (you really shouldn't yet), we suggest coming to the battle on horseback equipped with an arsenal of bomb arrows and elemental arrows. Be sure to slash at its legs to reduce its maneuverability, and aim at its center eye with your arrows to inflict high damage.
Slow-Motion Archer
It's possible to slow down time to shoot an arrow, which is an effective technique for picking off multiple enemies at time. To do so, simply pull out your bow while you're high up in the air (preferably from a glide). Keep in mind, the slow-motion only lasts as long as the amount of stamina you have, so if your stamina fully depletes in air, time will resume as normal.
Cooking Gives You Status Boost Items
Cooking is an essential part to your survival that can help you in myriad ways. To cook, simply choose a few ingredients from your inventory and drop them into a bonfire with a pot on it. Depending on the ingredients you choose, you'll get a dish or elixir that offers you a different status effect. For example, cooking a Raw Bird Drumstick and a Blue Nightshade together makes a dish that grants you a low-level stealth boost for two-and-a-half minutes. You can find out more details about an ingredient's effect on a dish via its inventory explanation. But don't be too greedy with the ingredient types you choose, as using too many cancels out their effects and results in Dubious Food, a dish that only heals one heart. Keep in mind that cooking status-affecting foods is restricted to bonfires with pots on them. An open fire can only roast or slightly cook food items. It's also impossible to cook while it's raining.
Do Not Use Metal Equipment During A Thunderstorm
If a thunderstorm starts to rage through Hyrule, make sure to remove all metal equipment; that includes armor, swords, shields, and bows. If you wear metal during a thunderstorm, you run the risk of being struck by lightning, which can kill you instantly. When you hear your metal equipment flash and flicker during a storm, that's your cue to jump into your inventory and remove it immediately.
Save That Axe: Bombs Can Chop Down Trees
In the southern section of the Great Plateau, you'll find the Old Man attempting to cut down a tree with an axe. He says you need an axe to cut down the tree ahead to clear a path across the cliffside gap. However, it's actually possible to cut down a tree by detonating a bomb near it. Simply place it at the foot of the tree in the direction you want the tree to fall.
Heavy Weapons Knock Away Enemy Shields
An enemy wielding a shield can block your attacks with ease. However, heavy weapons--like an axe or a hammer--can knock the shield out of their hands, making them vulnerable to attack. Utilize this technique whenever you're up against multiple enemies with shields.
You Can Stealth Kill Enemies
If you sneak up directly behind an enemy without them noticing, a prompt appears that allows you to deliver a devastating blow. This is an incredibly useful maneuver, as it nearly kills enemies in one blow, regardless of their level of health and defense.
By Gamespot Staff on Dec 23, 2017 07:36 am
Veterans and New Recruits
For many players, the multiplayer mode of the yearly edition of Call of Duty is a major event. But fans of the series are facing down a lot of changes with the latest entry into the franchise, Call of Duty: WWII, which switches out the science fiction-inspired, near-future warfare of more recent Call of Duty games for a return to the series' roots in World War II. Key multiplayer elements, like how to develop your weapon and ability loadouts, are different in Call of Duty: WWII, and the game also offers some unique challenges with its new "War" game mode. Here's everything you need to know as a new Call of Duty: WWII player to get your boots on the ground and help you win your war. If you're looking for more multiplayer tips focused on War mode, you can check out our Call of Duty: WWII beginner's tips for War mode, our Zombie Mode guide, and our guide covering 11 tips we wish we knew before starting. Call of Duty: WWII is out now for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. For our thoughts about the game, check out our Call of Duty: WWII review. You can also see what other critics are saying about the WWII shooter in our review roundup. And For more on Sledgehammer's huge title, check out our guide on how to get the Tesla Gun in Zombies Mode or take a look at the quest that rewards you for watching other players open loot boxes.
The Key To Your Loadout: Divisions
Past Call of Duty games allowed players to build their own multiplayer "loadouts" of weapons, scorestreaks and perks to customize how their characters played. There's a system like that in Call of Duty: WWII as well, but it's a bit confusing even for veteran players. Instead of classes to choose from that define your character's capabilities and focus, you build your loadout starting with one of five "Divisions." Each one has bonuses that enhance a certain play style and weapon choice, like providing faster sprint speeds or more ammo. Divisions provide you with bonuses that can match your play style, and you can switch between them in-match like previous Call of Duty loadouts. You can also level them up to access even better bonuses over time. Unlock all the Divisions as early as you can so you can get a sense of all of them and start leveling the ones that match your play style.
Basic Training Is Your Perk
The other new element of your loadout is "Basic Training." These are basically the "Perks" of old Call of Duty games, usually conveying you with a slight tactical advantage, like being able to see enemies your teammates have damaged or keeping you hidden on other players' minimaps. You'll unlock additional Basic Trainings as you level up, and the early ones are kind of useless, so keep an eye on them for new ones. A few are pretty useful--Rifleman, for instance, lets you carry two primary weapons into battle, while Instinct can let you know when an enemy you can't see is targeting you. Finding the right Basic Training for your play style can give you a serious advantage, so try as many as you can.
Don't Sleep On Attachments
Call of Duty: WWII has a handy system that makes it really easy to judge how a weapon will work. Each gun has a number of different ratings, like damage dealt and effective range, with a number between 1 and 10 to tell you how strong each of those stats are. That feeds into an overall number to tell you how good the gun is in battle. But you can increase those stats significantly with attachments. Once you've found a gun you like, using it in fights unlocks attachments you can add to increase and decrease its stats. They unlock pretty fast and are very effective in making a so-so gun into your favorite weapon. Like other Call of Duty games, you'll unlock new sights and grips that can increase range and reduce recoil. In the aftermath of battle, make sure you take time to check out any new ones you unlock and add the ones you like to your weapons. They can make you much more effective.
Drop By The Headquarters
Like Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, WWII adds a new space you can hang around in when you're not in a multiplayer battle, called the Headquarters. It's a "social space" where you'll see other players, but mostly it's just a more interesting menu for accessing some of the less-used features of Call of Duty: WWII multiplayer. But you do want to stop by the Headquarters at least once every time you fire up the game. For one, you'll get your "Payroll" every few hours, which gives you in-game currency to purchase cosmetic stuff for your guns. You can also pick up "Orders," which are daily and weekly challenges that can earn you loot boxes. You'll want a fresh crop of orders every day so you can make sure you're earning everything you can as you play.
Practice Scorestreaks (And Learn To Avoid Them)
One handy spot in the Headquarters that's not immediately obvious is the Scorestreak Training tower. You'll find it close to the beachhead. Head there and you can trigger a gameplay scenario in which you stand above the battlefield, watching computer-controlled troops battle each other while you call down any of the game's scorestreaks on top of them. Scorestreaks, Call of Duty players will remember, are bonus abilities unlocked when you earn enough points in a given life. They include calling in a recon plane to reveal enemy positions or dropping bombs on certain parts of the map. You can try all of them in the training tower, which will help you be prepared to use them in the field. But more importantly when you're first starting out, you can use the training tower to see what high-level scorestreaks can do, even if they've never been used on you before. You can bet that when you get onto the battlefield, there will be people facing off with you who play a lot. Avoid getting blindsided with scorestreaks you haven't unlocked or used by testing them out, so you can learn exactly how to avoid letting them kill you.
Take A Team To War
The big new multiplayer mode in Call of Duty: WWII is "War," a multi-stage objective based battle in which one team attacks, trying to complete objectives, and the other team defends those objectives. The mode is the most interesting addition to the game, and requires a lot of coordination between players and, often, some strategic thinking as well as shooter skills. War is less about killing and more about working together to accomplish goals, though. You can play it in quick match like any other game mode, but it's best enjoyed with a team. War is the game mode in which you want to grab a gaming headset and some friends so you can coordinate your efforts, and if you play alone, you won't be enjoying the mode to its full potential. If you find the other players insufferable, you can pull up the roster and quickly silence everybody with a handy "Mute All" button.
Learn Multiple Roles
This is just good advice for shooters like Call of Duty, where different weapons and classes are useful in specific situations, but you'll especially need to do it if you mean to play a lot of War. As you work through the mode, you'll find yourself going from fights in tight trenches and bunkers to long-range battles defending positions or escorting tanks. The different Divisions, Basic Trainings and guns available in WWII make it possible to create loadouts that are great for some of those situations and terrible for others, so you'll need to be flexible. In War, it's not enough to just be good with a M1 Garand or a submachine gun--you'll want to be good with both. On the Normandy map, for instance, getting off the beach can be made easier if you're a solid sniper, but as soon as you're out of the water, you need to climb into a pair of narrow bunkers and other players up close. If you can't handle both parts of the battle, you'll have a tough time. Spend some time with every Division and different types of guns, and pay attention to where on each War map you'll want to switch your role to be most lethal, and most helpful to your teammates.
Take Multiplayer Slower
Call of Duty fans coming off Infinite Warfare are going to find an adjustment period in switching to WWII. It's not just losing the movement-enhancing jetpack from the last few games--movement has been tweaked a bit in WWII and it's going to take a little while to get used to the new reality. For one thing, the time between the end of a sprint and being able to use your gun is probably a touch longer than players remember. You can also get perks to increase your sprint speed and duration, but right out of the gate it's pretty short. In general, it's a better idea to avoid sprinting in multiplayer. It leaves you extremely vulnerable, and on Call of Duty: WWII's fairly tight, twisty maps, you're going to want your gun out for those moments when you round a corner and find an enemy you didn't expect. Slow down and take your time and you're likely to suffer fewer deaths.
Listen To Your Teammates
You'll notice in multiplayer matches that, even with other players muted, there's still a ton of talking going on in matches. That's because all the player characters in every multiplayer match are still very vocal, calling out their situations. Some of their barks are just to create that WWII atmosphere, but others are really useful if you're paying attention. Listen for your teammates' characters to call out what they see, specifically enemy positions. They're usually pretty descriptive, telling you players are coming out of tunnels or hiding behind trucks and ammo boxes. Use that information to your advantage whenever you can.
Loot Boxes Drop Special "Epic" Weapons
You can mostly ignore most of Call of Duty: WWII's loot box system if you want to, as the boxes you'll earn mostly dish out cosmetic rewards like Calling Cards and emotes. But every once in awhile, you'll receive a special weapon of the "Epic" or "Legendary" variety, and to those you'll want to pay attention. Epic and Legendary weapon are mostly just different takes on your regular weapons, but with some nice bonuses. They'll let you earn experience points faster for your character or Division, which means you can more quickly unlock new perks and guns. You don't need to pay attention to loot boxes or find Epic and Legendary weapons to be good at multiplayer, but they can give you a leg up in advancing through your character progression.
By Matt Espineli on Dec 23, 2017 07:32 am
Rise of the Assassin
Assassin's Creed Origins is an immense game packed with an abundance of quests to complete and new systems to experiment with. From the get-go, the game quickly pushes you forward, lightly familiarizing you with its mechanics and expansive skill trees, while putting you on a path towards the numerous regions of its vast world. With so much to do all at once, you're likely to get overwhelmed--or even worse--you're likely to neglect essential information that could be of great help to you. That's why we've put together a beginner's guide focused on helping you through the game's early hours. Put these handy tips into practice and you'll be a master Assassin in no time. If you want a look at some of the cool things you can do in the game, check out our guide detailing tips we wish we knew before starting. You can also read our guide highlighting the 12 best abilities. For even more guides, check out our Assassin's Creed Origins guide roundup containing all our tips and walkthroughs. Assassin's Creed Origins is out now for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. It's the latest entry in the long-running Assassin's Creed franchise. Unlike past games, which continually pushed the ancestor timeline forward, this entry is a prequel. Set in Egypt, you play as Bayek, a warrior whose struggle against the corrupt forces of the time leads him towards becoming the first Assassin. Check out our Assassin's Creed Origins review, and for more about Assassin's Creed Origins, check out our feature detailing everything you need to know about the game. And if you're looking to get caught up on the series' narrative, read our Assassin's Creed story recap.
Approach Enemies Cautiously
AC Origins isn't like past games where you can charge through a fort and easily kill an enemy battalion. Levels determine enemy power and ability now. If you get surrounded, you can be easily killed if you're not properly leveled or equipped with the right weapons and armor. When exploring the world, pay attention to enemy levels. Consider how you can dispatch foes efficiently. Whether it's by stealth killing them one by one or fighting them in a controlled environment, try to be more meticulous in your approach.
Sidequests Are Essential To Progression
As you play, there's often an inclination to keep progressing the story. While you're free to do so, know that story missions recommend you be at a particular level to survive, as they often have enemies and targets that can make short work of you. To prepare yourself for these missions, complete as many side quests as you can for hefty boosts to your XP, and then invest any earned points towards new skills. This may all seem like a given, but the need to keep earning XP to upgrade Bayek's strength is pivotal to your success against the tougher foes you'll find in the game's main missions.
Attack Camps At Night
If you're having a tough time infiltrating camps, try hitting them at night. Most of the guards will be asleep, making for reduced sentry counts and easy assassinations. To make this easier, be sure to acquire the Dawn & Dusk skill to advance time at will--which spares you the trouble of standing around all day while waiting for the game's world to turn to night.
Overpower Is Your Friend
While you might feel inclined to tough out a combat encounter with nothing but the strength of your skill and reflexes, know that every attack you make builds up your adrenaline bar. Once you've got enough stored, you have access to the Overpower ability that--depending on the weapon you're using--can unleash a devastating attack or strength buff that helps turn tough battles in your favor. Be judicious with how you use Overpower. Instead of unleashing it on any unsuspecting foe, try saving it for the highest-level enemy in a group. If you want to upgrade its effectiveness, look into unlocking the other Overpower skills to enhance its strength even further. Overpower Chain Throw is a favorite of ours, as its "two bird with one stone" kill chain is invaluable.
Pay Attention To Guaranteed Damage
When you point your bow at an enemy's head or approach an enemy for a stealth takedown, you'll notice a red indicator fill up their health bar. This represents the amount of damage you're guaranteed to inflict upon them. Keep track of the red indicator, as there will be times when a particular attack won't kill a foe. Always pay attention to this to ensure that you take the best course of action.
Senu: Reconnaissance And Combat Expert
Senu is a valuable tool for infiltration, combat, and objective hunting. She can tag guards for your reference, and if you obtain the Eagle Harass ability, she can distract enemies and even assist you in combat. Use Senu to get a read of what's ahead, as well as to pick up on any important points of interest in the world.
Be A God Of Crafting
The components you obtain from hunting and exploring the world are paramount towards upgrading your gear. Whenever you enter a new region, take control of Senu to find and track whatever animals and components are out in the world. To find out what you need to improve your equipment, simply highlight the piece you wish to upgrade in the crafting section at the bottom of the Gear screen. It's important to take time to gather the necessary materials to upgrade your gear, as you always want to be equipped with best armor possible. If you're really struggling to get what you need, you can resort to dismantling weapons to gain additional materials. Never neglect crafting--lest you purposefully want to be underpowered against stronger foes. If that's a challenge you seek, then you're better off changing the difficulty to Hard.
Loot All Things
New to AC Origins is the introduction of a loot system, which ensures that there's always gold, weapons, armor, and crafting materials to pick up from just about anything you can investigate, from the dead bodies of elite Greek guards to shiny ceramic pots. We cannot overstate this enough: do not forget to loot. It can be easy to get caught up killing guards, thinking you'll get around to it once everyone's dead. But more often than not, the flow of a mission pushes you forward, making it easy to forget about all that loot. If this task is a tough habit for you to build up, try investing in the Assassination Loot or Kill Loot skills, which allow you to automatically pick up loot after dispatching a foe. It helps to alleviate the pain of having to grab everything manually.
Unlock Fast Travel Points
Whenever you enter a new area, make it a goal to unlock all of its fast travel viewpoints. Not only does it make getting across long distances easier, it also grants you 100+ XP and an increase to Senu's perception skills.
By GameSpot Staff on Dec 23, 2017 06:32 am
The Year Was 2007
2007 was a year in gaming that many still remember fondly. With the successful launches of several remarkable franchises--including Mass Effect, Uncharted, The Witcher, Bioshock, and many more--this particular year in gaming was a whirlwind of high-quality games that pushed the medium forward. Further more, many of the games of 2007 expanded the gaming community in a big way, propelling interest in videogames even further to the general masses. GameSpot is taking a look back at some of the more notable games of 2007, and the impact they've had in the ten years since their respective releases. While some of these games became the stepping stones for something greater--and others have since fallen into obscurity--the impression they have had is still undeniable, and are worth recognition for their tenth anniversary. Here's a quick selection of games--in order of their respective releases--that made 2007 a year to remember.
Crackdown -- February 20, 2007
For many, buying Crackdown was a necessary obligation, as Microsoft packaged Halo 3's much-anticipated beta with the game. But the second I saw Crackdown, I was immediately intrigued: here was what appeared to be a novel twist on the open-world game, one that wasn't merely trying to mimic GTA. The end result was flawed--driving was terrible, the story was forgettable--but those issues mattered little. Why would you want to drive when you're a superhero who can run at high speed and jump over buildings (letting you collect orbs, further enhancing your jumping ability and producing one of the all-time great sound effects)? Who needs a story when the ones you'll create will inevitably be far better? Even a decade later, I still have have, crystal-clear memories of two moments showcasing the game's freedom. In a co-op session, my friend wanted to board a tanker full of enemies, but he couldn't yet jump high enough to get on board. We improvised: He got in a car, and I picked it up and threw it onto the ship, letting him go about his business. Another time, a friend and I took part in a race across the city, which involves scaling huge buildings and bounding from one rooftop to the next. My character was outclassed, and as we neared the final checkpoint, I did the only thing I could: I kicked him. Bear in mind, we were high up in the air and I'm playing someone with super strength, so he went flying off the roof, and I casually strolled to victory. Even today, Crackdown remains a fun game to return to, as there is little like it (some imitators, like Saints Row IV, aside). That's only made the wait for the frequently delayed Crackdown 3 all the more difficult to bear. -- Chris Pereira, News Editor
STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl -- March 20, 2007
Even in 2017, the FPS-RPG hybrid S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl is still a shining example of world building. Atmosphere is a nebulous concept when it comes to games, but STALKER nails down the feeling of scraping by in a dangerous, foreboding world. Dynamic weather effects along with smart sound design, especially when it comes to rainfall and thunder, compound the uncertain nature of trekking across a nuclear wasteland. The X-ray graphics engine also featured dynamic lighting and HDR rendering which, to this day, presents a lifelike environment; lamps illuminate rooms realistically and the sun beams between the breaks in the clouds. Character models and animations definitely show their age, but some of STALKER's set pieces stand the test of time. In many ways, STALKER had issues at its foundation with technical performance and difficulty balance. Around its initial release, frequent crashes and unstable framerates hampered the experience, which was cranked up more than you'd expect by the jankiness of a first-person open-world game. NPCs clipping through walls and spawning inside of geometry--sometimes breaking quests--are just a few examples. Difficulty worked in an odd way in that 'easy' meant everyone (including you) deals less damage, forcing you to pump already-scarce ammo into enemies. But underneath the lack of technical refinement is a special game that never held my hand. I created my own approaches to combat; often times I questioned whether or not I should engage at all, akin to an immerse sim. Enemy AI is unpredictable and kept me on my toes, making STALKER suspenseful, but it also threw in survival-horror elements alongside its supernatural themes cohesively. But I found the quieter moments just as valuable, like sitting at a campfire with fellow Stalkers as one of them strummed their acoustic guitar. -- Michael Higham, Tech Editor
Bioshock -- August 21, 2007
Coming from Irrational Games, the creators of the classic PC Action-RPG System Shock 2, the original Bioshock was a throwback in more ways than one. Releasing in August of 2007, it marked the beginning of several high-profile releases for the end of the year period, and this immersive sim ended up being a rather seminal game for console players. For all its action and scenes of grotesque body-horror, this 1950s art-deco inspired romp made a number of surprising and innovation choices when it came to conveying its richly-detailed attempt at a utopia--as imagined by a mid-20th century industrialist--would look like. Truth be told, this ended up being one of my first encounters with an immersive sim game--albeit scaled back a bit compared to the developer's earlier games. I was instantly taken in by the suspenseful and exciting atmosphere of its setting. Added to this were the creative plasmid abilities and the bizarre, jury-rigged weapons scavenged from the environment. It's not often a game lets you shoot bees out of your hand, and follow up with a shot from your ridiculously modified pistol with a drum barrel attachment. But above all, I was blown away by the narrative that tied it all together. From listening in on the various audio-logs--which revealed some rather heartbreaking backstories--to witnessing the mad and horrifying musings of deranged artist Sander Cohen, the city of Rapture featured a lot to uncover. The original game was a solid release, and its follow-ups were even better--so it makes me sad to see that the series is now in a state of limbo due to the game studio's restructure. Still, the effect Bioshock had on me--and it's incredibly subversive twist--is something I'll never forget. -- Alessandro Fillari, Editor
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption -- August 27, 2007
Retro Studios' third take on the Metroid series, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, arrived within the first 10 months of the Wii's lifecycle, and it served as a proof of concept for the motion controlled console. Prior to the system's launch, Nintendo had advertised the Wii Remote as the perfect controller for first-person shooters, but the only notable one to release for it up to that point was Ubisoft's Red Steel, which many fans and critics--myself included--found to be mediocre. As such, Corruption was the first major showcase for the Wii Remote's potential for "hardcore" games, and it brilliantly proved how the unorthodox controller could benefit certain genres when used smartly. As much as I loved the first two Metroid Primes, Corruption was a much snappier experience; you could shoot enemies much more quickly and accurately than before thanks to the Wii Remote's IR pointer. Also, the game made clever use of motion controls by using them to disengage locks on some doors or cast your Grapple Beam and rip shields off of certain enemies. That wasn't the extent of Corruption's innovations. For the first time in the series, players could control Samus's gunship and use it to travel between different planets or call it in to carpet bomb an area via a special visor. The game also featured some of the most visually stunning environments in a Metroid title to date; I'll never forget the awe I felt the first time I stepped into the overgrown briar jungles of Bryyo or the floating steampunk city SkyTown. Corruption's controls were so influential that Nintendo would apply them to both previous Prime games and re-release the entire trilogy in one collection, which still stands as one of my personal favorite game compilations. -- Kevin Knezevic, Associate News Editor
Skate -- September 13, 2007
There isn't a single sports game that captures its respective culture better than Skate has with skateboarding. And as someone who has been obsessed with skateboarding since 1999, I couldn't have fallen harder for it. While Tony Hawk's arcade-y gameplay feels more like what would happen if Superman jumped on a board, Skate introduces players to the actual foundation of skating: the repeated tackling of a specific spot until that elusive trick is finally nailed. Watch any skate video, and you'll see these monstrous feats performed by seemingly ordinary people who make it look easy. Heck, I can't tell you how frustrated seven-year-old me got when I realized I had no idea how to do a Benihana. I'd try my hardest to pull off the simplest trick, attempt after attempt after attempt. And that's what you don't see in those videos: the dozens and dozens of tries it takes to perfect these tricks. Skate puts you into the shoes of an actual skater, pushing you to pull off your most daring trick with nothing but your thumbs. There are no stat upgrades, level ups, or higher-grade boards. You get better the same way real skaters do: practice. Mastering Skate's revolutionary right-analog trick system is something you have to do all on your own and, just like real skateboarding, it's endlessly rewarding to see your hard work pay off. I can't even begin to describe the feeling I have when I learn something new, which is still something I experience from time to time as I continue to play the series. In many ways, it feels like Skate's ideals come from a different era. Many games at the time and even today make you feel like you're getting better by giving you a new, cooler-looking way to kill your enemies. However, being in complete control of your board, and knowing you can do anything with it, feels similar to when you've mastered Mario and memorized all of his levels. The biggest difference is that you can't break any of Mario's bones and get rewarded for doing so. 1-0 Skate. -- Mat Paget, Video Producer
Halo 3 -- September 25, 2007
If Halo 2 sparked the existence of Xbox Live, Halo 3 made it a necessity. Bungie's third game in the revered series was a confluence of seamless matchmaking and remarkable design, and to this date, still one of the best multiplayer titles the medium has produced. Halo 3 took everything that made its predecessor's multiplayer excellent, and expanded upon it in every way. Curated playlists attracted millions of players, ranked matchmaking ensured a balanced experience, and new game modes poured out of the customization options available, creating one of the more vibrant multiplayer communities we've seen. This all ignores the fact that Halo 3's maps were stellar, unfolding across industrial landscapes, urban environments, and alien facilities. Halo 3 became the paragon for the multiplayer games that followed. And while its story is serviceable, it remains one of the series' weakest. It's convoluted and self-indulgent, and relies on the franchise's outside lore far too much. The Master Chief was never the most compelling character to begin with, but in Halo 3, Bungie's writers wandered in circles before settling on a cliffhanger that never felt earned. In terms of gameplay, though, the campaign's level design and momentum make up for any of its blemishes elsewhere. Halo 3's campaign is good, and nothing more. Many developers today seem attracted to the idea of "games as a service," creating platforms rather than games, adding incremental features and attractions to sparse foundations. Bungie itself does so with Destiny 2. But 10 years after its incredibly hyped release, Halo 3 is still alive in the form of its Master Chief Collection re-release. Its playlists hum with the sound of players who remember why they fell in love with Bungie's work to begin with. It's 2017, but Halo 3 is still proof: that the best way for developers to keep players invested is to make an amazing game. -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Portal -- October 9, 2007
When Valve released the Orange Box back in 2007, the addition of Portal seemed like an interesting, experimental extra that was meant to balance the package's otherwise big name titles. And while Team Fortress 2 continues to be an important franchise (albeit just on PC), and the hankering for a conclusion to Half-Life still haunts gamers today, Portal was the true blockbuster standout. Spawning enduring memes, a sequel in Portal 2, and a glut of merchandise (including plushies and mugs), the original Portal holds up today as both a brilliant puzzle game and a hilarious, well-acted comedy. Since it was part of a larger package with other well-known franchises, Portal's relatively short three-hour runtime didn't seem like as much of a detriment as it would if the game had been a standalone release. But in hindsight, the game's length is what makes it such a fine-tuned experience. The game's challenging puzzles ramp up in difficulty, and it provides a satisfying slice of Half-Life side-story while never outstaying its welcome by dragging the experience down with tedious busywork. But the performances of Portal's central character is what make it a modern masterpiece. While you serve as a silent protagonist throughout the game, you're constantly talked to by The AI construct GLaDOS. Over the course of events, GLaDOS slowly reveals its true intent and personality through both witty dialogue and deadpan delivery. And the game's ending credits song, "Still Alive" by Jonathan Coulton, rounds out the experience--like the game itself, it's a humorous earwarm that sticks with you long after you're done with it. Ten years later, Portal has a strange legacy. Few games have tried to imitate it, and none have approached the same level of enduring popularity or pop culture relevance. And Valve itself only followed up Portal with a single sequel before ignoring the Half-Life mythos entirely. Portal stands alone, an example of concise, carefully constructed design that marries puzzle-solving, clever gameplay mechanics, and hilarity in a way that is still unmatched by any other game. -- Justin Haywald, Managing Editor
Team Fortress 2 -- October 10, 2007
What started as a Quake mod (Team Fortress) evolved into the model example of what a class-based competitive FPS should be. Building off of the popular Half-Life mod in Team Fortress Classic, Valve refined the multiplayer shooter with exceptional map design for both symmetrical and asymmetrical gameplay in objective-based game modes. Many of my Summer and Winter days were dedicated to pushing the payload back-and-forth while keeping a watchful eye for Spies at the iconic 2fort map. I'd lead flag capturing as a Scout, hopping across corridors, furiously dodging Soldier rockets and Demoman grenades only to be met by Engineer turrets around the corner. It was a never-ending game of adapting to enemy tactics and team composition. The most striking difference with Team Fortress 2 was in its presentation. Instead of using the Half-Life aesthetic as its foundation, TF2 went for a light-hearted, cartoon art-style that exuded personality and breathed life into characters who would've otherwise just been avatars for a particular class. This visual approach fed into the gameplay; the expressive and colorful nature allowed you to spend more time assessing situations instead of trying to figure out what's even happening. Like many modern multiplayer games that hope to have a long lifespan, changes need to be made aside from balance fixes. Team Fortress 2 went free-to-play in 2011 and introduced microtransactions for cosmetics and equipment. This shift bolstered the player-base and provided major profits for Valve, allowing the game to live on and stay relevant without sacrificing its foundation. Today, Blizzard's Overwatch carries the torch for class-based multiplayer shooters, but the seeds were sowed by Team Fortress 2 which is still going strong considering it has been a decade since its launch. -- Michael Higham, Tech Editor
Half-Life 2: Episode Two -- October 10, 2007
Fact: we've been without a new Half-Life game for ten years. Originally released alongside Team Fortress 2 and Portal, Half-Life 2: Episode Two picked up where the previous part left off, with Gordon and Alyx Vance on the run outside City 17. Since the release of Half-Life 2 in 2004--which was also the first game I played when I purchased a new computer after high-school graduation--it set the bar for storytelling in a single-player FPS, showing that it was possible to balance fast action with a solid and rich narrative. While the concept of the series is simple--a guy in the wrong place at the wrong time being the only hope for humanity--the execution is anything but. Though the Half-Life series is known for its approach to linear storytelling, Episode Two opened things up a bit with more explorable spaces, along with a handy makeshift vehicle that could over great distances in short time. This installment did a lot of interesting things with the familiar set-pieces and battles that its predecessors pushed forward, and with a cliffhanger ending that teased the intersection of storylines from Portal--a sequel in the form of Episode Three or even Half-Life 3 looked to be an exciting thing. But that follow up never came. While fans have made certainly made the best of it with creative mods, along with a full remake of Half-Life 1 in Source--which Valve gave their blessing to--reports in the years that followed Episode Two showed that development on the sequel never gained much traction. The one glimmer of hope we all had recently was former-Valve writer Marc Laidlaw releasing a script for one of the proposed games--which fans promptly turned into a playable mod. Still, we've now been without a Half-Life game even longer than it took Valve to make HL2. Which is a rather depressing thought. -- Alessandro Fillari, Editor
The Witcher -- October 30, 2007
Between titans such as Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and Mass Effect, a small team in Poland developed an ambitious RPG based on a popular polish book series. The developer set out to make a dark, role-playing adventure that took the atmosphere and grit from the source material, and translate it into a game. That game was The Witcher. Rather than giving the player the option to role play as a hero or villain, CD Projekt Red presented the player with morally grey choices that led to unforeseen consequences. There is no good vs evil in The Witcher. Sometimes the "right" decision, could be a fatal one. You navigate this world as the famed Witcher--or monster slayer--Geralt of Rivia. As a Witcher, Geralt isn't supposed to show emotion, intervene in the affairs of humans, elves, and dwarves--and must only keep to himself. But anyone who's played a Witcher game knows that there are multitudes to Geralt's personality. And all of this fed into a twisted, dark fantasy tale that broke conventions and flipped the genre on its head. But more importantly, The Witcher laid the groundwork for CD Projekt Red to continually push their vision and expectations further and further. Now, despite CDPR's humble beginnings, The Witcher series has become the gold standard for an RPG experience. -- Jake Dekker, Video Producer
Super Mario Galaxy -- November 1 (Japan) 12 (US), 2007
Nearly a full 10 years before Mario's first Switch title, Super Mario Odyssey, took players on a globetrotting adventure to some of the strangest locales in the series' history, Mario boldly went where no other plumber had gone before in Super Mario Galaxy. Expectations typically run high with the release of any Mario game, but Galaxy in particular had a lot to prove to me when it debuted back in 2007. Not only was it the first Mario title to launch for what was at the time Nintendo's latest console, the Wii, it was also the plumber's first 3D adventure since Super Mario Sunshine--a fun game that I ultimately thought was disappointing compared to the groundbreaking Super Mario 64. Despite the lofty expectations it faced, Galaxy would quickly become another classic Mario adventure and mark the beginning of a veritable renaissance for the series. Rather than following the sandbox-style approach of Mario 64 and Mario Sunshine, Galaxy pared back its levels to more linear platforming challenges, affording the developers greater control over the pace and flow of the adventure. And they certainly took advantage of it, crafting a breathlessly creative series of challenges that surprised and delighted me at every turn. New Galaxies and objectives would open up at a rapid pace, and the game introduced and discarded gameplay ideas so frequently that it never had a chance to grow stale. The game's sequel, Super Mario Galaxy 2, would arrive three years later and further refine the gameplay ideas it introduced, but the first remains my personal favorite because of how it continually surprised me and laid the foundation for all future 3D Mario games. That traces of it could still be felt in some of Odyssey's levels and challenges further illustrates just how influential Super Mario Galaxy was to the series and why it remains one of the best titles Nintendo has ever released. -- Kevin Knezevic, Associate News Editor
Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare -- November 5, 2007
When it came out in 2007, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare marked the blockbuster series' first foray out of WWII and into a contemporary setting--and the first shooter I'd ever played that took place in the present, inspired by a war that was currently being fought. While the campaign was still bombastic action-movie fare, it had (and still has) some of the most memorable and impactful moments in the series. The opening credits, in which you, the president of an ambiguous Middle Eastern country, witness a coup d'etat as you're driven to your execution was a haunting introduction to the game's conflict. The nuclear explosion in Shock and Awe and the short death sequence in the following mission, Aftermath, took me out of the power fantasy and forced me to face the futility of war. And All Ghillied Up and Mile High Club remain two standout FPS missions for their level design and total change of pace from the rest of the campaign. Modern Warfare also moved multiplayer forward, introducing the now-standard Create-a-Class. Being able to customize a loadout, coupled with the new perks system, redefined multiplayer for the series and inspired many other games to come. -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Crysis -- November 15, 2007
Back in the 2000s, PC Gaming had gone through a significant resurgence. With games like Half-Life 2 and World of Warcraft offering players rich experiences that pushed their genres forward, there were also other titles that put the average PC gamer's rig through its paces. Crysis was released on November 13 2007, and it would eventually go on to become the benchmark for PC performance at the time. In 2007, my PC was mostly built for games like Half-Life 2 (three years old at this point), so seeing videos of Crysis running at max settings was a sight to behold, and it had me wondering if I would be able to experience the game. Crysis is a standard shooter putting you in the shoes of a super-soldier who could single-handedly take down an opposing army and alien invaders. The main setup and story is unremarkable and cliche, but what it did do well was mixing linear storytelling with an open-ended mission design in a lush jungle setting. While the story took itself seriously, the gameplay often revelled in goofy action, allowing you throw chickens with maximum strength, to even strange an enemy soldier with one hand and firing a rifle with the other. Playing Crysis for myself was somewhat of a mixed experienced, as my rig struggled to run it at medium to low settings with several FPS drops throughout. Still, I was blown away by the game, and it still stands out an incredibly solid and varied shooter. While Crysis is no longer the PC benchmark--and its two sequels fell short of matching the original--Crysis is still a solid shooter that manages to impress with its visuals to this day. It also made me more aware of general PC upkeep, which is always important. -- Alessandro Fillari, Editor
Assassin's Creed -- November 16, 2007
I'll always remember the first Assassin's Creed trailer: a mysterious hooded assassin running through a busy crowd and jumping onto an unsuspecting evildoer to stab him with a hidden blade. These elements would go on to define the series, but in that moment in time, it was all so fresh and new. From its distinct setting and time period to its crowd-based stealth mechanics and free-running maneuvers, the first Assassin's Creed exuded a design philosophy that was innovative and different from most contemporary action-adventure games of the time. And the surprises didn't stop. People widely assumed that Assassin's Creed was strictly a period-piece, but when the game first released, it was revealed there was actually a modern-day component to its narrative. As a game, Assassin's Creed was unable to truly live up to the high expectations set by its ambitious ideas. Its overtly bland main protagonist and repetitive mission structure often brought the game down. However, its conspiracy laden plot, its authentic recreation of a historical era, and the allure of the Animus as a device that could explore the memories of a person's ancestors were fascinating elements that still remain with series. While the first Assassin's Creed may not be my favorite in the series, it's difficult to deny how exciting of a beginning it was to the then fledgling franchise. In many ways, Assassin's Creed set the tone for the seventh console generation, pushing the level of interactivity you could have in a game with not only the environment but the characters encounter. To be able to climb any building in the world, evade enemies in plain sight, and explore an era barely touched upon in games was a jaw-dropping experience. Ten years later, the first Assassin's Creed is still an impressive display of creative ambition that's well worth looking back at, despite the stronger execution of its subsequent entries. -- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune -- November 19, 2007
As a PlayStation first party developer making a transition to the PlayStation 3, Naughty Dog left behind the cartoony aesthetic of its PS2-era Jak and Daxter series to a new richer-looking franchise for Sony's third console. Their answer was Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, a Tomb Raider-inspired adventure that strove to package engaging gunplay, exploration, and puzzle solving in one cinematic escapade. While all those elements were seldom delivered in equal measure in the series' 10-year history, it established Uncharted as the best Sony exclusive series of the past decade. Uncharted improved upon early 21st century gaming trends, particularly the rise of cover-based shooting, innovated by Kill.Switch and popularized by Gears of War. This type of combat was well-suited in capturing countless pulse-racing moments its protagonist, Nathan Drake faced. Whether hiding behind a column or a low wall, the player connected to Drake's precarious situations. His less than confident here-goes-nothing approach to harrowing predicaments was emblematic of the late 2000s wave of everyman heroes that dotted the story-driven gaming landscape. Although I had missed Uncharted: Drake's Fortune the year it released, I discovered its greatness in anticipation of the release of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. As a lover of the cinematic qualities of narrative-driven games, I had the strong drive to play each of those games in single sittings. These aren't essential ways to play those games, but such playthroughs allow the player to appreciate the well-crafted and cohesive movie-like flow of Nathan Drake's treasure quests. By the time Uncharted 4 came out, I was content beating that epic adventure in multiple sittings, which you can say speaks to how the series had long since transcended the film medium that so heavily inspired it. -- Miguel Concepcion, Editor
Mass Effect -- November 20, 2007
2017 has been a rough year for the Mass Effect franchise with the disastrous launch of Andromeda being the butt of many jokes. Its initial goal was a noble one, looking to the first game's unique ideas for inspiration. That's why now more than ever, it's important to look back on what the original game did ten years ago. As the introduction to the expansive Mass Effect universe, BioWare created a world filled with loveable characters and plenty of detail. The game's Codex functioned as an in-game encyclopedia letting dedicated players learn everything about the Milky Way's many planets and species. The core of it though is a fun sci-fi adventure, where as Commander Shepard, you get to make meaningful choices that not only affect the story, but the story in future games to follow. This commitment to player choice along with the creation of the now ubiquitous dialogue wheel, is probably Mass Effect's most lasting legacy for many other RPGs and story based games. For BioWare, it represented a new era of cinematic RPGs. The dynamic camera angles and facial detail brought, for the time, an unseen level of quality to the game's presentation. Many aspects of Mass Effect have aged poorly such as the weak combat, and its beautiful but empty collection planets. While its sequels' with their improved combat and design are arguably better games, it's the original's ambitious attempt to create an explorable galaxy that still in many ways hasn't been matched and maybe one day a game will realize that vision. -- Jean-Luc Seipke, Video Producer
Rock Band -- November 20, 2007
In 2007, peripheral-based rhythm games were starting to experience massive success in the West thanks to developer Harmonix's Guitar Hero series. The genre was initially more popular in Japan, but Harmonix's work allowed it to gain a wider reach in Western markets. While the company garnered massive success with Guitar Hero, it wasn't until its work on Rock Band where it reached greatness. On the surface, Rock Band felt like a simple collection of established ideas, copying and pasting the timing-based mechanics of other peripheral-based rhythm games into single cooperative experience. But the way the game elegantly brought together each of its disparate parts made it so much more than what came before. By virtue of its premise, the game was undeniably alluring. After all, who didn't want to feel like they were playing in a rock band? The game allowed you the opportunity to feel like you were in a live band, playing together in (at times) perfect sync. When Rock Band first released, it became the pillar of every party I went to during that year. Hours upon hours were spent jamming out with the game's array of plastic instruments, with eyes transfixed on the incoming notes down instrument lanes. Vocal cords were worn down, as the mic was traded between players from song to song. When Rock Band was in the room, it didn't matter if you played games or not, everyone wanted to be a part of the experience. And with how easy to pick up it was, there were often little boundaries to overcome to get enjoyment out of singing or playing guitar, bass, and drums. Rock Band possessed universal appeal, easily bridging the gap between casual and hardcore players. Unfortunately, the rhythm game phenomenon that spurred from Rock Band's success eventually ended. With the oversaturation of rhythm games in the market, the series declined in popularity not long after the release of its third entry. However, the Rock Band series has since maintained a cult following. In fact, a Rock Band 4 was eventually released in 2015. While its latest entry received lukewarm reception, Harmonix continues to support the community, continually releasing DLC songs to this day. -- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor
By Alessandro Fillari on Dec 23, 2017 06:27 am
The Gaming Twilight Zone
The video game medium and its community are no stranger to weird rumors and stories that can slowly spiral into something more. From the early days of gossip at the arcades to the 24-7 cycle of communication on the internet, certain games have managed to latch onto our collective interest, pulling us into a deeper web of intrigue and suspicion that can blur the lines between fact and fiction. Because of this, several stories--some skeptical, and others entirely fictional--have added a level of scrutiny and mystique to certain games.
With this in mind, GameSpot is taking a look back on the many urban legends that have sprouted out from video game community. While some of these stories are hotly debated, and others have since been admitted to be an elaborate hoax or misunderstanding, the impact of these events have had--and what they've done to the gaming community--still lingers. Here are nine of the most bizarre and strange urban legends in gaming.
The Legend Of The Nude Tomb Raider Code
Starting off with one of the more infamous gaming urban legends, the Lara Croft nude code was a phenomenon that surrounded the original Tomb Raider in 1996 and ended up drawing far more attention to the game than it could on its own. Originating from a nude patch from the developers at Core Design, which was intended for generic character design and programming purposes, gamers on PC caught wind of this and sought ways to produce this for their own games.
Eventually, rumors began to spread online about a secret nude code for console versions of the game. While the developers continually denied the existence of such a code, crafty gamers on PC eventually made their own custom mods that allowed them to create their own "Nude Raider." Most console gamers were unaware of the specifics of PC mods and assumed it was a secret part of the game after searching for images online, adding further mystique and attention to it. Moreover, game cheat devices jumped on the wave of interest, even advertising that their devices would allow access to naked Lara Croft.
It didn't take long for news outlets to pick up the story about a naked female character in a video game, adding more scrutiny to Tomb Raider. Due to the unwanted attention, publisher Eidos took action against websites that hosted mods and access to data on nude mods, resulting in several cease and desist letters from their legal team. Though proving they still had a sense of humor about it, the developer added the rumored nude code in the Tomb Raider sequels, resulting in Lara Croft suffering an instant death from spontaneous combustion. Still, this particular code became infamous due to its unusual nature and how the internet gossip machine turned a simple developer tool into something more than it really was.
The Strange Prank From The Classic Gaming Magazine -- Street Fighter II: Shen Long Unlock
In the pre-internet era, gaming magazines were an invaluable resource for fans to gain knowledge and stay up to date on the latest news, tips, and tricks. But when Electronic Gaming Monthly--one of the premiere video game outlets of the time--took the opportunity to pull a prank on fans of Street Fighter II, it started a lasting and common misconception about an incredibly popular game, which ironically inspired the developers at Capcom to introduce new features to the game.
In Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, there were references to a specific character known as Shen Long, the master of Shoto fighters Ryu and Ken. According to EGM in a 1992 issue, there was a way to battle and unlock the character if players managed to clear the game on a no-damage run with Ryu. When fighting M. Bison, players would have to force the match into a draw by avoiding damage from the Shadaloo leader and without dealing any damage themselves. After several rounds, Shen Long would come onto the scene and engage in a fight to the death. Due to the popularity of the game, there was a large amount of interest in uncovering its secrets, and tips on how to unlock a new character quickly spread around the world. EGM eventually stated it was an elaborate prank in their following issue, but the scrutiny the magazine received from this prank didn't stop the editors from doing it once more in the 1997 April Fool's issue for Street Fighter III.
However, this particular urban legend resulted in a pleasant turn of events that put a surprising end to this myth. Over the years, the developers at Capcom were continually hounded by rumors and references to Shen Long from fans, but were still humbled at the wave of interest that came to the game. This hoax would eventually go on to inspire the demonic antagonist Akuma, who barges into fights in Super Street Fighter II Turbo, and is now an established characters in the series. When the long-awaited Street Fighter IV was finally ready for its release--which was set sometime after the events of SFII--they introduced Gouken to the roster. While similar to Shen Long, Gouken is an original character and separate from the Shen Long referenced in-game, and the game features more advanced versions of Ryu, Ken, and Akuma's fighting styles.
The Most Dangerous Arcade Game: Polybius
As one of the more infamous gaming urban legends, the Polybius arcade cabinet has a reputation for being the most dangerous video game ever made. But of course, the claims and lack of evidence make this one hard to believe. According to myth, an arcade in Portland, Oregon during the early '80s possessed a strange arcade machine named Polybius. It was essentially a top-down shooter with bright and chaotic vector graphics, and you'd have to clear out waves of enemies to make it on the high-score list.
What makes this particular game so unusual was that players who came in contact with it were apparently met with severe nausea, night terrors, panic attacks, and other psychological effects after playing. Eventually, witnesses claimed that several men in black visited the arcade to take data from the machine before carting it off. The game was never seen again after that.
There were never any public records of Polybius, nor any details of the developers or even a publisher. While there have been many instances of players falling ill after long-term gaming from other titles, particularly of the tragic case of a young teen playing several hours of the arcade game Berzerk and suffering a heart attack, Polybius looks to be a tall tale resulting from an amalgamation of true gaming horror stories and government conspiracy theories. Some communities online focusing on retro-gaming have even made mock versions of Polybius based on descriptions found online. Hoax or not, the myth of Polybius continues to live on.
The Curse Of The Madden Cover
Becoming the cover athlete for the annual Madden football series should feel like a high honor, but over the years it's become something that many fans and players dread. Dubbed the "Madden Curse," almost every athlete that has graced the cover of the EA's Madden series over the last twenty years has either performed poorly during the following season or received an injury. As one of the few urban legends with real-world ramifications, this supposed curse has many fans and pro football players nervous. While some cover stars managed to avoid the curse, many were not so lucky, giving this urban legend some added believability.
While there are many years to cover, there are a couple notable standouts for the Madden Curse. On the cover of Madden 2002, Daunte Culpepper of the Minnesota Vikings made a name for himself as a starting quarterback straight out of college. But he soon found himself with a serious knee injury in the following season after making the cover and subsequently missed the rest of the 2001 season. In another, more unusual instance, Madden 2010 featured two cover athletes--Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals and Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers--resulting in further belief of the curse. While Fitzgerald had a largely solid season that year, Polamalu did not, with two injuries that caused him to miss several games.
Currently, Tom Brady of the New England Patriots is the cover athlete for Madden 18. Though his season has been spectacular so far, and he's gone on record to say that the Madden Curse isn't real, though there's still that apprehension from fans who are worried that the curse will strike at the worst possible time.
The Strange Occurrence Of The Voxel Doppelganger: Minecraft
During the early years of Minecraft's dominance of the gaming market, there were many stories of players experiencing bizarre and strange events from the game. Since Minecraft is set in a procedurally generated world, and has many enemies hiding underneath the dense caverns and ruins under the surface, players can encounter all sorts of surprises if they dig long and hard enough. But there have been other instances where players have come into contact with something so unusual and haunting that it would seem like it wasn't supposed to be part of the game.
On an online forum, a player claimed to have encountered a strange, white eyed doppelganger of the hero while exploring. Initially keeping its distance, this character known as Herobrine continually stalked the player, even venturing inside his home. One streamer in particular encountered Herobrine, which was documented on his livestream, but many claim it to be a hoax. Since it came from an online forum, many speculated that it was an elaborate trick to attract interest. Still, that didn't stop players from becoming fascinated by the event, even coming up with their own backstories for the character and where it came from.
Due to the popularity of Herobrine and other scary moments players had in-game, Mojang introduced a number of horror themed updates, including Slenderman-esque creatures known as Endermen, and other creatures that unnerve players while exploring at night, which attracted the interest of horror enthusiasts. Still, Herobrine in particular is an odd case, and while many players believe it to be just an elaborate story, the developers aren't shy about making references to the community legend in their patch notes, continually stating over several updates that Herobrine has been removed from the game.
Ben Drowned: The Haunting In The Legend Of Zelda: Majora's Mask
In another strange case of a cursed video game, Ben Drowned is an infamous urban legend about an elusive and apparently haunted copy of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. While the game on its own is creepy and remarkably bleak, detailing a world on the brink of destruction, the Ben Drowned myth created a far deeper sense of dread. One anonymous user who came across this copy of the game detailed his experiences with the corrupted version Majora's Mask online.
As the story goes, the user found an unmarked copy of Majora's Mask for the N64 and went home to play it on his Nintendo 64. After loading up the game, he entered the menu screen and saw a lone save file with the name "BEN" listed on the page. Ignoring this, he created a new save file, but over the course of his playthrough, characters referred to him as only "BEN". What followed took the user through a nightmarish version of Majora's Mask, with distorted music and visual effects populating the many safe areas, and even an enigmatic statue resembling Link routinely stalking the player throughout his journey--which he detailed with videos and pictures on his personal social media pages.
This story hits many notes found from a popular urban legend, but what is interesting about it was the reaction it got from other players. Many were entranced and disturbed by the journey this particular user went on and followed along with the updates and media that were posted after. Due to its popularity, the urban legend eventually spiralled out into a popular ARG event, with users online trying to figure out what or how the game came to be. Even many years after, the case of Ben Drowned still stands as one of the strangest events to happen online.
The Shadow People of Shiverburn Valley -- Super Mario Galaxy 2
While Super Mario Galaxy 2 is a vibrant and colorful game focusing on Mario's exploits venturing out into a vast universe and that tests your reflexes, there's an odd and unsettling presence in one of the levels that put a number of players on edge. In the Shiverburn Valley level, there's a cluster of dark figures standing atop one of the nearby mountains. While they make no contact with Mario, nor do they ever come down from their cliff, their presence had many players bothered nonetheless.
Some players, not looking to leave this well enough alone, began extracting data from the game's files and uncovered some odd details about the level. According to people that sifted through Super Mario Galaxy 2's data, the file with the image of the shadow people is known is "HellValleySkyTree," giving players the impression that this could be a part of a something hidden in the game. This caused many players to look around the stage for clues and hidden passages, though none were found. Despite many fans strongly believing that this has a connection to an elaborate secret held within the game, the shadow people standing on top of the mountain are never seen again after Shiverburn Valley.
What makes this particular event so unusual is that it often conflicts with the style and visuals set by Super Mario Galaxy, making the Shadow People really stick out. While claims that they're the remnants of a lost level for Galaxy 2 are still common, with clues pointing to "Hell Valley" being a level that's no longer in the game, there's been nothing conclusive. Nintendo unfortunately hasn't been much help, choosing not to comment on the strange presence in the level. With no comments from the developers, this has left fans to come up with their own theories and ideas of who the shadow people are and where they came from.
The Search For The Elusive Bigfoot Of San Andreas -- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
At the time of its release, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was biggest game in the popular open-world series. Featuring three distinct locations, along with deserts, forests, and coastal areas surrounding the main cities, there was a lot of ground to cover. Because of this, players claimed to have seen some rather bizarre sights and oddities while traveling--such as a strange run-down car with no driver and derelict houses with a strange presence inside. But one of these stories sticks out more than others, and that's of the infamous Bigfoot, who many claimed could be found inside one of the game's more dense locations.
San Andreas featured a plethora of easter eggs, secrets, and odd references to real-life events and locations,so it wasn't too hard to believe that there would some secrets that would go a bit further than others. As the legend goes, Bigfoot could be found lurking deep within the woods of Flint County. This rumor began to spread when players noticed the name "Big Foot" in the game manual's Special Thanks section, making players believe that this was in fact a clue that the infamous Sasquatch was in the game. While some players posted videos and pictures of their encounters, the veracity of their evidence came into question. With countless players searching for Bigfoot in the PS2 release of the game, everyone turned up short with little to show for it.
Eventually, San Andreas found its way to PC, resulting in a number of mods adding an actual Bigfoot to the game. Unfortunately, this was more of salve to the urban legend, and didn't actually offer resolution for fans. As the years went on, and other games from Rockstar had come and gone, the developers decided to make some acknowledgements of the myths behind Sasquatch in San Andreas in both Red Dead Redemption and Grand Theft Auto V, which poked fun at the appearances of the fabled creature. While John Marston found himself responsible for the near-extinction of Sasquatch in the Undead Nightmare expansion, GTA V featured a more humourous take on the legend, having Franklin hunt down a Bigfoot impersonator who simply had an unhealthy interest in the creature.
The Curious Case Of Lavender Town Syndrome -- Pokemon Red & Blue
While many Pokemon fans remember the first generation of games fondly, there are a number of morbid and bizarre myths surrounding it. Along with the story of the rare Pokemon Black version--a supposedly hacked version of Pokemon Blue that features only Ghost Pokemon and an increasingly dark plot--one particularly dark urban legend surrounding the original Pokemon unfortunately has some basis in reality.
Known as Lavender Town Syndrome, this urban legend speaks of a strange trance-like feeling players fall into when inside the dark and moody Lavender Town. As one of the more creepy areas of Pokemon, the town featured graves of fallen Pokemon and also housed a number of Ghost Pokemon within its central tower. This gave the setting a somewhat haunted vibe, making it contrast heavily with other more whimsical areas. Adding to this was the music, which was equally eerie also a far cry from the hopeful songs heard in other towns. Because of this, Nintendo made some adjustments to the game's music for its western release--lowering the pitch and frequencies of some beats and notes of the theme--as they felt it would be too off-putting for international audiences.
Around the height of Pokemon's popularity in the '90s, there were several reports in Japan of fans developing an unhealthy interest in the game. During this time, many health experts attributed Pokemon to the wave of deaths among the young population at the time, most of whom were playing the game. Fans online noticed the differences between the songs for Lavender Town in the West and back in Japan, and wondered if there was a connection--which resulted in the Urban Legend of Lavender Town Syndrome. While these theories are purely speculation, this particular urban legend gained popularity over the years as Pokemon caught on in the West.
By GameSpot Staff on Dec 23, 2017 05:36 am
The Power Of X
2017 was a memorable year for gaming, and the Xbox One possessed a fair number of varied and genre defining games that pushed their respective mediums forward. With great games from Western and Japanese studios such as Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Cuphead, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, The Evil Within 2, and What Remains Of Edith Finch, the Xbox One had a fine year. In this gallery, we're taking a look back at Xbox One games that received a score of 8 or higher on GameSpot this year. For the best-reviewed games on other platforms, check out our individual features highlighting the best-reviewed PS4 games, Switch games, and PC games. See our 2017 Xbox One Report Card for even more on the system and any games not listed here, and make sure to check out the rest of our Best of 2017 features. If you want to see our choices for the best games this year, check out our Game of the Year 2017 Top 10 List.
Call Of Duty: WWII -- 9/10
"Seen through the eyes of an American soldier and a few other Allies, this affecting story offers brief glimpses of how the Nazi occupation ravaged Europe and its people, including German civilians. It's emblematic of a game that--along with its multiplayer modes--delivers practically everything that one looks for in a pick-up-and-play shooter set in the Western Front of World War II while also breaking free of Call of Duty's formulaic trappings." [Read the full review] -- Miguel Concepcion, Editor
Dirt 4 -- 9/10
"It might not have the same pomp and circumstance of previous numbered entries in the series, but Dirt 4 maintains the robust depth of Dirt Rally's full-blooded simulation, while smartly opening things up to a wider audience with a heaping of difficulty options. If Dirt Rally's punishing difficulty alienated longtime series fans in any way, this commitment to accessibility should help to bring them back, and the near-infinite possibilities of Your Stage should keep them playing. Dirt 4 is a shining example of Codemasters at their brilliant best." [Read the full review] -- Richard Walkling
Injustice 2 -- 9/10
"With AI battles, online and local versus matches, the diverse and ever-changing Multiverse, and an impressive story mode, Injustice 2 offers numerous ways of engaging with its characters and testing your abilities without feeling repetitive. This variety is further bolstered by gear. Despite the needlessly complex economy tied to item management, the value of customization and expression that comes with gear ultimately makes up for it. And with over 25 characters to explore, it's easy to look forward to watching your next character grow while your understanding of the game continues to expand. NetherRealm has delivered a fighting game that can be enjoyed by new players and pros alike in ways that go beyond pure competition. It's a bar that every fighting game should meet, but one that has up until now seemed out of reach." [Read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Madden NFL 18 -- 9/10
"...Madden 18 marks an unusually large shakeup in a series that, due to its annualized releases, rarely features much more than small, iterative changes. The Frostbite engine allows the game to reach new levels of realism in its visuals, and EA has put a lot of effort into constantly evolving the game to keep it in line with real-world events. But it is the Longshot story mode that defines Madden 18. Some of Longshot is unnecessary spectacle, but its lasting value comes from the humanity that it brings to the game. The moments of vulnerability and sincerity between Devin Wade and Colt Cruise during the story are worthy of celebration and give the overall game a weight that Madden hasn't had before. And if that's not enough to entice you, it's also simply a terrific football game." [Read the full review] -- Alex Newhouse
Sonic Mania -- 9/10
"Sonic Mania methodically uses its sentimental appeal to great effect, but in the process, it heals the wounds inflicted by its most disappointing predecessors and surpasses the series' best with its smart and interpretive design. An excellent 2D platformer, Sonic Mania goes beyond expectations, managing to be not only a proper evolution of the series' iconic formula, but the best Sonic game ever made." [Read the full review] -- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor
Thumper -- 9/10
"It sounds odd to claim that a lack of consistently original music wouldn't be a major problem for a rhythm game, but music isn't the point. Thumper thrives due to the way it marries speed, simple controls, and mesmerizing atmosphere. It's far more convincing in VR, where you're enveloped in the game's space and free of distractions from the outside world, but it shouldn't be ignored by those without the appropriate hardware. Thumper, no matter how you play it, is too good to miss." [Read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Torment: Tides of Numenera -- 9/10
"When you play an RPG, you're shaping the experience as much as the game's developers did. They've authored the text and crafted the structure, but from those pieces, you construct your own adventure. It's a blessing, then, that Torment's pieces are phenomenal. Its environments are rich and detailed, packed with strange creatures and wondrous animated effects. Surreal, atonal music billows from these far-future locales, setting an uneasy tone. Torment's true strength, though, is its writing and the beautiful twists it brings to classic RPG concepts." [Read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
What Remains Of Edith Finch -- 9/10
"Developer Giant Sparrow managed to strike the delicate balance between joy and sorrow in 2012's The Unfinished Swan, but What Remains of Edith Finch transcends even the latent sadness of that game, finding the beauty--even sometimes the fun--in what's always fundamentally a tragedy. It's not often that a game's plot slips past the bitterness of grief to finally get to the acceptance, but that's the triumph in What Remains of Edith Finch. Ultimately, if the game has any resemblance of a moral, it's that the bravest, most beautiful thing every one of us does is choose to keep going, despite knowing what's coming." [Read the full review] -- Justin Clark
Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus -- 9/10
"The New Colossus never lets you forget who and why you're fighting. Nazi brutality is on full display, from the blown-out, irradiated remains of Manhattan to each of the resistance members, who all carry mental scars if not physical ones. You're never given a chance between cutscenes, missions, and even downtime on the U-boat to lose sight of the Reich's cruelty. Wolfenstein's tense gameplay elevates this further by giving you the power to truly resist--and come out of each battle ready for another fight." [Read the full review] -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Cuphead -- 8/10
"Everything you've heard about Cuphead is true. It is a difficult side-scrolling shooter with relentless boss battles that demand rapid-fire actions and reactions. Think for too long, and you won't stand a chance against the game's toughest enemies. Battles may only last three minutes at most, but they feel far longer when you know that you can only absorb three hits before you have to start from scratch. When you are navigating your way around bullets, smaller enemies, and pitfalls, while simultaneously trying to damage your primary target, toppling Cuphead's imposing bosses is both a monumental and rewarding task." [Read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Review Editor
Destiny 2 -- 8/10
"In true Destiny fashion, if you do something once, you'll probably end up doing it many more times. The difference with Destiny 2 is in the variety and accessibility of what's available, which cuts down on a lot of the frustration associated with grinding. And even after you've leveled up, there's still more you can do, from keeping up with daily and weekly challenges to just hanging out with friends. It's a much stronger foundation than the original had and one that's enough on its own to keep people coming back week after week." [Read the full review]
Dishonored: Death Of The Outsider -- 8/10
"Tying up loose ends in a series focused on political intrigue and all things metaphysical can't be easy. In Dishonored: Death Of The Outsider--a stand-alone game capping off the events of Dishonored 2--it covers the exploits of various side-characters on a more personal quest, that doesn't overstay its welcome. Arkane Studios continues its tradition of coming up with an incredibly inventive and cunning game about elusive assassins making their mark on the world around them, while choosing where and when to make the tough choices." [Read the full review] -- Alessandro Fillari, Editor
Forza Motorsport 7 -- 8/10
"The first thing you'll notice about Forza 7 is that it strips away the often amusing glorification and ostentatiousness of motorsport that decorated the series' last few games. Granted, I loved the dulcet voice over of Jeremy Clarkson when he dispensed with insight and trivia on cars and courses. Forza 7 relies less on wooing you with superficial spectacles and instead lets the cars and courses speak for themselves. This break from the ceremonious aspects of motorsport is a welcome one, especially when all you want to do is race." [Read the full review] -- Miguel Concepcion, Editor
Marvel Vs Capcom: Infinite
"...the mechanics underlying Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite make it an outstanding fighting game. Capcom has understood what caused the stagnation of Marvel Vs. Capcom 3's competitive scene and, to some extent, the issues Street Fighter V currently faces. In response it has created a fighting game focused on individuality and expression, with deep systems that reward studious players but also accommodate casuals. As someone who both plays and watches fighting games, I am excited to see what the future holds for Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite." [Read the full review] -- Tamoor Hussain, Editor
Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 -- 8/10
"...when you get onto the pitch, no other football game feels as good as PES 2018. The slower pace is a definite improvement, helping tread the line between realism and fun near-perfectly. There's just something about the players' movement and the kinds of arcs the ball makes in the air that's just so pleasant to control--every pass, header, and shot just feels right. And when it clicks, and you score a thunderous strike from the edge of the area or finish off a slick passing move or even when you launch an ugly long ball forward to grab a last-gasp winner, it's the closest feeling you'll get to being out there scoring yourself." [Read the full review] -- Oscar Dayus, Associate Editor
Resident Evil 7 -- 8/10
"By the end of the campaign, I was ready for the game to be over, but that's okay. RE7 ends just as it starts to outstay its welcome, and after the fact, I felt like I'd survived a truly harrowing journey. The boss fights may be slightly inconsistent and certain sections might drag after a while, but RE7 is still a remarkable success. It has a clear vision and executes it with impressive patience and precision. By returning to horror, Resident Evil has once again become something special." [Read the full review] -- Scott Butterworth, Editor
Sniper Elite 4 -- 8/10
"Sniper Elite 4 feels like a natural progression for this series, as Rebellion continues to refine its systems and put a greater emphasis on the long-range shooting it does so well. Its stealth and action mechanics may be simplistic, but they're functional and regularly enjoyable. And the maps--with their impressive scale, open-ended objectives, and clever level design--coalesce these disparate systems into a creative and fulfilling whole. There are still some issues with AI inconsistency, a bland story, and some dull competitive multiplayer, but it finally feels like this series is living up to its long-standing potential." [Read the full review] -- Richard Walkling
South Park: The Fractured But Whole -- 8/10
"This is South Park through and through, where outrageous and unpredictable plot developments contrast against the day-to-day goings on of seemingly normal suburbanites. There's also the typical smattering of references to recent real-life events, from the Black Lives Matter movement to Morgan Freeman running a taqueria. But the game follows the franchise blueprint of lampooning pop culture and society without in-depth commentary, typified by the non-combat difficulty slider where being black is supposedly the hardest setting, and being white is the easiest. It's an opportunity to present something meaningful left half-realized as a flyby gag." [Read the full review] -- Miguel Concepcion, Editor
Tekken 7 -- 8/10
"Tekken 7 lives up to the series' penchant for tongue-in-cheek shenanigans and generously gives you access to the series' entire back catalog of cutscenes, from the very first Tekken's low-res clips all the way to background movies made specifically for Japanese pachinko machines. There's a lot of Tekken history to unlock, and the collection is a wonderful trip down memory lane." [Read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
The Evil Within 2 -- 8/10
"Innovating within the bounds of horror's familiar tropes and rules is a difficult task, but one that The Evil Within 2 handles with grace. Developer Tango Gameworks cleverly introduces old-school horror design within the confines of a semi-open world that ultimately makes for a refreshing trip into a world of nightmares." [Read the full review] -- Alessandro Fillari, Editor
By Alex Newhouse on Dec 23, 2017 03:03 am
Destiny 2's holiday event, The Dawning, is now live on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and it adds a whole bunch of new stuff for you to check out. From decorations, to snowballs, to armor, to the absurd Mayhem mode in Crucible, there's a lot to do and earn in The Dawning. We've gathered up images of all the items that the event adds and put them in this gallery for quick reference. You'll immediately notice that The Dawning is taking place when you jump into Destiny 2. Winter has come to the Farm and the Tower, where decorations abound and snow covers the ground. At these social spaces, you can take a break by throwing snowballs at your friends. The snow has fallen throughout the rest of the game, too, as you'll notice when you run Strikes. There, the snowballs actually have a use: you can throw them at enemies to stun them and deal damage. In The Crucible, meanwhile, Mayhem is back. The crazy, chaotic game mode gives you a ridiculously fast cooldown timer on your Super attack, and it tasks you with causing as much destruction to the other team as you can. Completing Mayhem matches and Strikes aren't just for fun, either: new Milestones have been added that award a Dawning engram per week. These engrams contain a bunch of new gear, which we've showcased in this gallery. Finally, The Dawning adds a gifting and receiving function to Destiny 2. Unfortunately, you can't give gifts to other players--but you can give them to vendors and receive cool items in return. The Dawning will run for the next few weeks; it's currently scheduled to end on January 9. In other Destiny 2 news, Bungie has recently detailed upcoming changes to both the Three of Coins buff and the Masterworks weapon system.
Giving (Emote)
A History of Starflight (Ship)
Chill of Winter (Sparrow)
Holiday Cheer (Sparrow)
Winterhart Cover (Warlock Helmet)
Winterhart Robes (Warlock Chest)
Winterhart Gloves (Warlock Arms)
Winterhart Boots (Warlock Legs)
Winterhart Helm (Titan Helmet)
Winterhart Plate (Titan Chest)
Winterhart Gauntlets (Titan Arms)
Winterhart Greaves (Titan Legs)
Winterhart Mark (Titan Class Item)
Winterhart Mask (Hunter Helmet)
Winterhart Vest (Hunter Chest)
Winterhart Grips (Hunter Arms)
Winterhart Strides (Hunter Legs)
Winterhart Cloak (Hunter Class Item)
Infinite Hand Ghost Shell
Winter Lotus Ghost Shell
Jasper Dawn Ghost Shell
Dawning Hope Shader
Dawning Warmth Shader
Dawning Festiveness Shader
By GameSpot Staff on Dec 23, 2017 01:20 am
2017 was a fantastic year for Xbox One owners. With the console's latest iteration--the Xbox One X--people have been able to get enhanced versions of this year's biggest games, like Assassin's Creed Origins, Forza Motorsport 7, and Call of Duty: WWII. However, numerous other games have launched in 2017 that you may have missed. Despite that, they are well worth checking out, and you might even be able to do so with the benefit of patches or lower price tags. In this gallery, we've rounded up 13 such games for Xbox One spanning a variety of genres for you to check out in the gallery above. We'll also have recommendations for other platforms in the coming days. What are some of your favorite games this year that you think others might've missed? Let us know in the comments below. And if you're looking for game recommendations you might've missed for specific platforms, you can check out our features focusing on the best Switch games, best PS4 Games, and the best PC games. You can also check out our feature focusing on the best games you might've missed in 2017 in general.
Crypt of the NecroDancer
Roguelikes (or at least roguelike elements) have been one of the most popular trends in gaming over the past handful of years, but few have taken as interesting of an approach to the genre as Crypt of the NecroDancer. Originally released on PC in 2015 before making its way to other platforms, including Xbox One earlier this year, NecroDancer tasks players with navigating a dungeon to the beat of the music. Rather than simply move in the direction you wish or attack the enemy that's in your path, you and your enemies' actions are tied directly to the (always excellent) soundtrack. It's essential that you always be doing something--not taking an action at the next beat resets your combo, meaning you'll earn less gold or deal less damage, depending on the items you've acquired. Particularly as the music becomes more fast-paced, this lends a real sense of tension and excitement to every moment: you need to constantly be considering your next action while accounting for how nearby enemies will react to your movements. It's an experience with few points of comparison, but it's nonetheless one that you'll certainly want to try.
The Disney Afternoon Collection
Licensed games may have a (largely deserved) reputation for being cheaply made and poor quality, but as Capcom proved during the NES era, a talented developer could turn even a TV or film franchise into a gaming classic. Such was the case with the studio's Disney titles. During the late '80s and early '90s, Capcom was the steward of the Disney license, and it produced a number of excellent games based on Disney's most beloved cartoons and movies. The Disney Afternoon Collection compiles six of these, each one based on a popular Disney animated series: DuckTales, DuckTales 2, TaleSpin, Darkwing Duck, Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, and Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers 2. Nearly every game in the collection is still enjoyable to this day, and they've been supplemented with a handful of new features like time trials, save states, and the ability to rewind. That last feature in particular is a welcome addition, as it makes even the more unforgiving titles in this compilation much more manageable. The best thing about the compilation, however, is that it gives players a chance to experience some of Capcom's rarer efforts like DuckTales 2. The Disney Afternoon Collection is a must-have for any retro gaming fan.
Enter the Gungeon
Being a roguelike-style shooter, Enter the Gungeon naturally draws comparisons to games like The Binding of Isaac and Nuclear Throne. And while that does offer a decent starting point for understanding what to expect, Enter the Gungeon manages to rise above being a pale imitator. It feels fantastic, with a dodge-roll ability that allows you to satisfyingly evade damage with a well-timed use. There are ridiculous weapons, such as those that fire bees or a gun that shoots guns which themselves fire bullets. The well-crafted procedurally generated environments help to keep each run feeling fresh, as do the wide variety of items and secrets to uncover along the way. And co-op support makes for an especially fun, chaotic experience (although it's unfortunate that the second player isn't able to play as the different characters that the main player has access to). The entire game is also overflowing with personality and color, making for an experience that is as fun to look at as is to play.
Forza Horizon 3: Hot Wheels DLC
Forza Horizon 3 was already arguably the best racing game of the generation--if not longer--and it's only gotten better since launch with the release of two expansion packs. The first, Blizzard Mountain, went the more obvious route of taking players to a region inundated with snow, which was great, but the Hot Wheels expansion is the stuff of childhood fantasies. Whereas the Forza series has traditionally focused on delivering realism, this DLC allows you to get behind the wheel of classic Hot Wheels cars and drive them around wild courses comprised of loops and huge jumps. Making this all the more delightful is the way these are made from the classic orange Hot Wheels tracks and weave through an otherwise standard island setting that would not have been out of place in Horizon 3. Thanks to the track layout and boost pads, there's a sense of speed you don't get in the standard game, and it's downright exhilarating when you leap across a chasm or go zooming past a giant animatronic dinosaur for the first time.
Little Nightmares
Little Nightmares is a haunting adventure that instantly pulls you into its world of existential conundrums. Having released this past April up against bigger games like Persona 5 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, it's likely this eerie journey passed you by. You play as Six, a nine-year-old girl trapped in The Maw, an underwater resort filled with monstrous, disfigured inhabitants. The background details are never explicitly explained, but it's clear from the beginning that your goal is to escape. It's a simple adventure that displays an enthralling sense of mystery throughout, pushing you from one tense cat-and-mouse-style chase to the next, as you explore the mysterious exteriors of The Maw. Clocking in at around two hours, it's likely you'll finish Little Nightmares in one or two sittings, but its strange world and distorted inhabitants makes it well worth checking out.
The Sexy Brutale
The Sexy Brutale is a quirky little puzzle game co-developed by Tequila Works, the studio behind beautiful adventure game Rime. Its essentially Groundhog Day: The Game--you play through the same day over and over, but with each runthrough you learn more about the creepy mansion you find yourself in. After seeing one character shoot another, you might go and find the gun and prevent the bloody murder by replacing real bullets with blanks. A number of these murders are interconnected--solving one puzzle might prevent one murder, but that could change another branch of time elsewhere in the house. There's no way of preventing every murder in one go, but discovering and tinkering with the different timelines is where the fun lies. We've played it over and over again--groundhog day indeed.
Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment
Shovel Knight is 8-bit gaming not as it was--glitchy and fuzzy--but as we choose to remember it--pixelated, vibrant, and cleverly detailed. The sequel-by-expansion, Specter of Torment, is a similar retro action-platformer that is by all appearances on par with the original. The key difference is that the star, the lead character you control, is a villain from the first game: Specter Knight. His identity obviously plays into a narrative differently than Shovel Knight's did, but more importantly, Specter Knight moves and attacks in new ways, too. This is all to say that Specter of Torment is an excuse to revisit Shovel Knight's wonderfully nostalgic world and undergo a new range of challenges that call upon a unique set of skills. And the reason it's worth playing at all is because developer Yacht Club Games' work rises above the team's inspirations, and ultimately our rose-tinted memories as well. If you see any value at all in classic 2D platformers, Shovel Knight and Specter of Torment will more than likely make your day.
Snake Pass
At first glance, Snake Pass' colorful art style makes it seem reminiscent of classic Rare platformers like Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong 64. However, its mechanics differ wildly from those games; there's no jumping here. You control a snake named Noodle, maneuvering and curling around objects with his serpentine body, navigating intricate obstacles to reach collectibles, and solving a multitude of physics-based puzzles. The challenges you encounter are each meticulously crafted around Noodle's unconventional physicality, demanding you to know the ins and outs of his physics to fully master. It's quite unlike many games out there, which is more than enough reason for you to check it out, if only to discover how charming and different it is.
Thimbleweed Park
Thimbleweed Park is a point-and-click adventure by famed ex-LucasArts duo Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick. It was first revealed via Kickstarter back in 2014, but it finally released this year. The game deals with a murder in the small town of Thimbleweed Park where two FBI agents, Antonio Reyes and Angela Ray, are tasked with investigating the killing. The game rides a thin line between nostalgia and reinvention, balancing its comically written remembrances for the time-honored genre with a sliver of modern design choices. While it sometimes sticks too closely to the point-and-click genre's long-held tenets, Thimbleweed Park is great for experienced adventure game fans eager to experience its whimsical narrative, solve its multitude of puzzles, and uncover its secrets.
Tokyo 42
Micro Tokyo lies in the sky, atop the buildings and skyscrapers that make up its dystopian cyberpunk future. It's vibrant and lively on the surface but creepily sterile and violent as you fight back against unjust authority. Or to distill it further, you shoot, slice up, and blow up hundreds bad guys since they're after you for a murder you didn't commit. Tokyo 42 is an isometric action game that blends elements of top-down shooters with a little stealth in an open world. Its story takes you down the rabbit hole of joining a secret organization of assassins, but it doesn't take itself too seriously. Despite the brutal nature of firefights and the unforgiving (sometimes frustrating) bullet-hell-like enemy encounters, Tokyo 42 still manages to be...cute. It's probably the allure of neon signs and adorable cats.
What Remains of Edith Finch
What Remains of Edith Finch is a game in the same vein as Dear Esther and Gone Home; that is to say, it's a "walking simulator." Some might be turned off by the genre, but it tells a hauntingly beautiful and compelling tale that should not be missed. The premise is that the Finch family carries a supposed curse that leads every family member to die in unexpected and bizarre ways. It's very Final Destination in that aspect. You play as Edith Finch, as you explore the huge, mysterious family manor to unearth how members in your family tree have passed away. This opens the door to creative flashbacks, where you get to play the last strange moments leading to people's deaths. The story is powerful, gripping, and dark like an episode of Black Mirror. It's full of unexpected twists and turns and could only effectively be told through the video game medium. Considering you can beat it in under three hours, you should play it as soon as you can.
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is a game that sets out to bring the retro platforming adventuring series to the present day, while also celebrating its beginnings in the classic era. As a full remake of the original of Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap for the Sega Master System and TurboGrafix-16, it features a brand new artstyle that's lush and vivid, giving off a greater depth in its atmosphere--along with a fully orchestral soundtrack based on the original music. In keeping with its respect for the original, the remake allows you to shift between classic and modern styles of music and graphics on the fly. Feel like playing the original game in HD? You can do that, but if you're feeling crazy, you can mix things up and play with modern graphics along with retro sound and music. It even allows old passwords from the classic game to be used again, just like the old days. Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is a wonderful send-up to the classic era, while showing that retro titles still hold up incredibly well to this day.
Yooka-Laylee
Developer Playtonic Games billed Yooka-Laylee as a "spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie" when it first pitched the game on Kickstarter, and that certainly wasn't an exaggeration. Like the classic N64 platformer, Yooka-Laylee stars an eponymous duo (in this case, a lizard and bat) and has players use their unique abilities to explore expansive, colorful worlds and pick up all manner of collectibles. In fact, Yooka-Laylee channels the spirit of Banjo-Kazooie so well that it genuinely feels like a long-lost N64 platformer, for better and sometimes worse; like many of Rare's titles, the game occasionally succumbs to some frustrating design decisions, and the number of collectibles to find could have been scaled back to make the overall experience tighter. That said, even during its moments of frustration, Yooka-Laylee remains one of the most charming releases of the year thanks to its tongue-in-cheek writing, beautiful art style, and whimsical soundtrack. The game more than succeeds in its mission of reviving the long-dormant genre, and while it may not top Banjo's first two adventures, it certainly sits alongside Rare's N64 output nicely. Anyone who grew up with '90s platformers and has a fondness for Rare games in particular will find a lot to love about Yooka-Laylee.
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