Monster Hunter World is out now, and to celebrate developer Capcom has announced three crossover costumes for another of its games, Street Fighter V: Arcade Edition for PS4 and PC. The costumes are based on three armor sets you can get in Monster Hunter.
The costumes will be available for Ken, R. Mika, and Ibuki, and are obtainable in Street Fighter V's Extra Battle Mode over the next three months. Each fighter gets a costume based on a particular monster's armor set in Monster Hunter.
Ken gets the Rathalos Armor Crossover Costume. In Monster Hunter, Rathalos is a flying wyvern, and the costume channels his poisonous talons, fiery projectiles, and a clubbed tail. R. Mika's costume is also based on a wyvern. She gets the Zinogre Armor Crossover Costume, based on Zinogre's canine features and ability to charge up and unleash electrical attacks. Lastly, Ibuki gets the Kirin Armor Crossover Costume. In Monster Hunter, Kirin is an Elder Dragon with a sharp horn and lightning-fast reflexes.
The Crossover Costumes will be available in Extra Battle Mode. To get the costume, players need to complete a series of four challenges over four weeks (one challenge per week). Each challenge costs 2,500 Fight Money. Once you complete the four challenges, you get the costume. The first challenge, for the Rathalos costume, starts on February 27. Check out the full schedule on Capcom's website.
Heighten your skill level with cutting edge gaming hardware and peripherals.
When it comes to online play, nothing gives you the competitive edge more than a combination of raw skill and practice. As the adage goes, "get good." But when you're faced with opponents equally skilled as you, having the right equipment can eliminate variables that may hold you back from performing your best. From high refresh rate monitors to pinpoint accurate mice, we've outlined all the gaming hardware and peripherals that will help give you that slight competitive advantage.
When it comes into investing in a gaming monitor that will give you an edge, there are a lot of features to look out for. You'll want a panel that can produce a high, variable refresh rate. Most monitors features a 60Hz refresh rate, but for competitive play, you'll want something higher. For instance, having a monitor that scales up to 120Hz means that the screen can produce up to 120 frames per second; though you'll need a system powerful enough to render at that frame rate (more on that later). This will provide you with more frame granularity to pick your shots. The gaming monitor with the highest refresh rate we've seen is Alienware's 25-inch 240Hz AW2518H.
You'll also want a monitor that offers a variable refresh rate. On AMD's side, there's FreeSync; on Nvidia's side, there's G-Sync. These display technologies allow your GPU to control your monitor's refresh rate, which allows you to get the quick response time of disabling V-Sync without the annoying screen tearing.
Your gaming monitor should also feature a quick response time. We're talking four milliseconds or fewer. This ensures that there will be minimal delay between your inputs and on-screen actions.
The last, and arguably most important, aspect that your competitive gaming monitor should have is an ultrawide aspect ratio. While most monitors feature a 16:9 aspect ratio, an ultrawide 21:9 screen could potentially provide you a wider field of view to display more of your surroundings at any given moment. For instance, in PUBG, it could allow you to spot enemies that might otherwise be outside your peripheral vision. Do keep in mind that not all games support 21:9, however.
One good monitor option with many of these technologies is the 35-inch Asus ROG Strix XG35VQ. Not only does this 3440x1440p curved monitor feature a 21:9 aspect ratio, but it has a 100Hz panel and supports FreeSync. It also features a quick four millisecond response time.
To properly fuel a high refresh rate gaming monitor, you're going to need a powerful graphics card. On AMD's side, the best GPU is the RX Vega 64, which is fast enough to produce high framerates in most games at 1440p.
AMD's GPUs also support a wide variety of features that help ensure smooth performance. Radeon Chill, for instance, is designed to save on GPU power consumption, but it can also reduce VRAM buffering, which can result in a more responsive gaming experience.
In addition to supporting the FreeSync variable refresh rate standard, AMD graphics cards also support what the company calls Enhanced Sync, which skirts around V-Sync issues that cause random frame rate dips on non-FreeSync monitors. It does this by sampling frame rate at the GPU level. This means that even if you're using a 60Hz display without FreeSync, your keyboard and mouse are able to sample the latest frame rate data that your GPU provides. This can make the game feel more responsive.
On Nvidia's side, the company employs Turbo Sync and uses Nvidia G-Sync as its variable refresh rate standard. G-Sync is the company's proprietary technology that's actually built into the monitor. G-Sync monitors typically cost more than their FreeSync counterparts as a result. Nvidia's fastest gaming GPU at the moment is the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, but the company's high-end GTX 1080 and GTX 1070 Ti are also great cards at pushing high frame rates. It's important to highlight that all modern gaming GPUs are really expensive right now due to the recent boom in cryptocurrency mining.
Fast, Multi-core CPU
The most important component of a gaming PC should be the GPU, but if your CPU isn't fast enough, it can bottleneck performance. We recommend at least a quad-core CPU, since many games are beginning to be optimized to utilize quad-core processors. For gaming, CPU speed also plays an important role in maintaining a high framerate. Going off PUBG's recommended system specifications, which is one of the more competitive games with steep system requirements, it suggests that you have at least an AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or Intel Core i5-7600K. These processors carry boost clock speeds of 3.6GHz and 4.2GHz, respectively.
Fast, Plentiful RAM
For gaming, we recommend having at least 8GB of RAM. For most people, 16GB is really the sweet spot as it provides some overhead in case you have multiple programs or tabs running in the background while you're gaming. When it comes to RAM for gaming, more isn't necessarily better; having a ton of RAM won't boost your gaming performance, but if you don't have enough of it, performance will suffer.
In terms of RAM speed, you won't generally need more than 2666MHz, though some games like For Honor are optimized to take advantage of RAM speeds that hit 3200MHz. Beyond that for gaming, you won't notice much gains, however.
Gaming Mouse With Fast, Accurate Sensor And Necessary Buttons
While you can game with any freebie or cheap mouse, getting an ergonomically comfortable one with a fast, accurate sensor coupled with the necessary buttons that suit your particular playstyle can provide you superior control.
If you're big into MMOs or MOBAs, a mouse like Razer's Naga Hex V2 with its 14 programmable buttons can be of great assistance when you want to quickly fire off abilities. If you're big into shooters, having a mouse like Logitech's G502 with its fast and accurate PMW3366 optical sensor can help you land the best shot possible. Any decent gaming mouse will have a DPI button to change sensitivity on the fly; the G502 allows you to scale from 200 to 12,000 DPI, for example. Features like these could allow you to more easily fine tune your shots when you're sniping.
Mousepad
Even though most modern mice will track on the surface of your table, high-end gaming mice are often tuned specifically to work with mousepads.
There are a wide variety of mousepads that encompass hardtops vs cloth pads, but getting one that allows you to glide or provides more grip are the two main factors you'll want to consider when purchasing one. A mousepad that offers more grip will provide more control and allow you to be more precise, but a mousepad that prioritizes gliding will feel smoother and faster.
If you're going to get a gaming keyboard, make sure it's mechanical. The tactile feedback mechanical switches provide ensures consistent keystrokes and mitigates second guessing whether or not you pressed a key.
Innovations are also happening when it comes to mechanical switches. For instance, you can get Corsair's K95 RGB Platinum keyboard with Cherry MX Speed switches, which have a 1.2mm actuation distance, shorter than the more common 2mm in many other switches. While Speed switches feel a bit too sensitive to type on as a result, they offer quicker keystrokes. The K95 Platinum also features six programmable macro keys and an optional wrist rest, which could come in handy (pardon the pun) for long gaming sessions.
An emerging tech to look out for involves the advent of optical switches, which use light to record input rather than a traditional mechanical solutions. While these switches largely still use the same mechanical parts as something you would see in a Cherry MX equivalent, namely components like the stem and spring, the send-and-receive signals to and from the keyboard theoretically feature a much faster response time.
For gaming, you'll also want to consider a keyboard that features macro keys, which will allow you to program a string of button commands to a single key.
An Elite Controller
As great as the keyboard and mouse are, some competitive games are just better suited for a controller. A top notch one is Microsoft's Xbox Elite controller. It's made of high-end rubber material coupled with aluminum alloy components, but it also has a bevy of other useful features that help separate it from the competition.
Overall, it provides a lot of customization options. The controller comes with a mixture of concave and convex sticks, which also include a pair of taller convex sticks. You can mix and match these as you please. The Elite controller also comes with an option to swap out the traditional D-pad with the included eight-way disc-like one that's tailor-made for pulling off sophisticated moves in fighting games.
Whereas the bumpers on the original Xbox One controller required a lot of actuation force, the bumpers on the Xbox One Elite controller are much easier on the index fingers and feel much more tactile than its predecessor. The Elite controller also allows you to adjust the travel distance on the triggers, so they can actuate more quickly. You can also use Microsoft's software to tweak the dead zones on the control sticks so that they are tailored to your needs.
Finally, there are four optional paddles on the back, which can be programmed to be whatever button you want them to be. This can come in handy when you're playing a game and don't want to lift your thumbs off the sticks to press a face button.
Quality Gaming Headphones
Different games incorporate varying implementations of positional audio, but a good gaming headset helps ensure that you won't miss important audio cues. While there are many gaming headsets that offer virtual 7.1 surround sound, games like Overwatch implement Dolby Atmos software for more accurate positional audio and suggests that you turn virtual surround off. As a result, an important thing to look for when purchasing gaming headphones is good stereo imaging, so that left and right audio drivers blend accurately with each other. HyperX's Cloud Revolver does this well and it also offers good sound isolation with its large over-the-ear design that lets you focus on the game.
When you're purchasing headphones, it's also important to get one with a good mic so that you can communicate clearly and effectively with your teammates.
Last, but certainly not least, you can't overlook ergonomics. Poorly-made headphones can be painful to wear after an hour or so. Again, the HyperX Cloud Revolver does a good job here with its flexible, self adjusting headband coupled with comfortable ear cups that let you play for long periods without much discomfort.
Computer Eyewear
Gaming glasses won't make you a better gamer, but computer eyewear like Gunnar glasses with their yellow tint can mitigate eye strain from the blue light that monitors give off. Considering practice makes perfect, computer eyewear can potentially come in handy if you're constantly cramming multi-hour long gaming sessions.
If you don't feel like wearing glasses, you can get a similar effect by downloading a program like F.lux, which can limit your monitor's blue light by pushing more yellowish hues.
Fast, Wired Internet Connection
The last piece of the puzzle to ensure that you're playing with optimal performance is a speedy Internet connection to mitigate lag spikes. For serious competitive online play, you'll want a low ping rate so you can get a quick response time. We're talking 20 milliseconds of ping or less. Considering it's difficult to pay for service that offers a specific ping rate range, however, one guideline we recommend is to use a wired Ethernet connection on an internet subscription that offers at least 6Mbps down.
Monster Hunter has always been an intimidating series to jump into for a variety of reasons. It's challenging for anyone, and traditionally it hasn't done a great job of explaining its various mechanics, leaving players to seek outside help. Monster Hunter World at least partially tries to address those problems, and in many ways, it succeeds.
In addition to providing more explanation to players in the early stages, players have what's called a Handler, who dispenses tips until you've made enough progress. There are also quality-of-life improvements like scoutflies that reduce the hassle of tracking a monster--something that's particularly helpful given World's larger environments.
In the video above, we chat about what it's been like to play World from both the standpoint of a series veteran and someone with less Monster Hunter experience. It should give you a sense of what to expect from World regardless of your experience level.
Following an outage earlier this week, the PlayStation Network is again experiencing issues for users on PS4 and PS3. This affects a wide variety of areas of the service, including the ability to log in. That will impede your ability to play games online--including the newly released Monster Hunter World and Dragon Ball FighterZ--and any number of other things.
Sony's PlayStation support account confirmed the sign-in issues on Twitter, saying only that it is investigating them. The PSN status page paints a grim picture, with all areas (except for PlayStation Vue) experiencing issues. Some aspects of the service are reportedly working--the ability to create an account is apparently unaffected, though you likely won't be able to sign in or launch certain games and apps.
There's not yet any word on how soon the problem will be fixed and PSN will be back online. Earlier this week, the problems extended for several hours, though that has no bearing on how long the latest batch of errors will take to resolve.
By Anonymous on Jan 26, 2018 11:50 pm Join us as we check out some arcade mode, maybe some story, some local battles, and hopefully some online battles in Dragon Ball FighterZ.
The latest Marvel movie is Black Panther, and it hits theaters in less than a month. There's been plenty of promotional activity for the movie over the past few weeks including this trailer and the first clip, which was revealed earlier this week. A new TV spot titled "War" has now landed.
There are a load of new shots in the latest promo, including extra footage of Wakanda and more of the confrontation between T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) and the villainous Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan). And following the news that Kendrick Lamar has produced the soundtrack, there's another chance to hear some of the music. Check it out below:
Black Panther is directed by Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Creed). The cast also includes Lupita Nyong'o, Martin Freeman, Angela Bassett, Andy Serkis, and Forest Whitaker. It hits theaters on February 12, 2018.
In a recent interview with Collider, Boseman spoke about how his approach to the character evolved from his Marvel debut in 2015's Captain America: Civil War. "Not to say that there wasn't a deep understanding [of the character], but some of the things that we came to an understanding of, we couldn't show in the last one," he said. "It gives it a chance to marinate. And those certain things that we were unsure about, we're now 100 percent sure about, even down to accent, and how you walk, or what his sense of humor is, which actually develops more in this movie.
"In the last movie, he was pretty focused on what he had to do, so there was no time to make any jokes. But in this one, you're seeing him in his more natural environment and around people that he knows."
For Honor's fifth season of added content will begin on February 15, Ubisoft has announced. The new season is called Age of Wolves, and as well as bringing "major" hero updates and lots more, it will also finally mark the introduction of dedicated servers to the medieval fighting game on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
The new server setup won't arrive immediately, however. "Dedicated server infrastructure will be implemented in For Honor during Season 5," Ubisoft stated in a press release. "This implementation will remove the resyncing, session migrations, and NAT requirements that players currently have and deliver stable connectivity on all platforms. The exact timing of the implementation will be communicated at a later date."
Included in the new season itself will be updates to five existing heroes. Kensei, Conqueror, Highlander, Berserker, and Nobushi will all receive "major gameplay updates in order to re-balance the available roster." In particular, Kensei and Conqueror will receive new movesets, while Highlander, Berserker, and Nobushi will merely get "meaningful balancing updates." After Season 5 ends, five more For Honor characters will receive similar updates, and the game will also add three new training modes over the course of the season.
Few other specifics have been revealed about the upcoming season, which begins a year after the game first launched, though Ubisoft says its focus is on the game's "quality of life." To that end, it says Season 5 will include a new reputation level cap, a new gear progression system, the shift of the 4v4 Ranked Mode from Dominion to Tribute, and a new item that boosts XP in exchange for Salvage. Plenty more is coming to the game in 2018, as the company plans another full year of content updates.
After the series' six-year hibernation since Soul Calibur V's 2012 release, the developers at Bandai Namco have been eager to show off the next entry in the weapon-based fighting game franchise since its late-2017 reveal. Recently, Bandai Namco put out a trailer showcasing the new arrivals to Soul Calibur VI's roster, which includes returning characters Kilik, Xianghua, Nightmare, and the newcomer Groh. As the developers stated, Soul Calibur VI plans to take things back to the beginning of the Calibur saga, while also adding a sense of renewed style and refinement to the core gameplay.
We got to go hands-on with the upcoming fighter at a recent Bandai Namco event, where we took in a number of matches and saw just how much the series has grown during its six-year hiatus. In the video above, you can check out some matches from our session featuring the returning cast, along with the enigmatic Groh.
From the debut trailer at The Game Awards, many fans noticed that the two returning fighters, Mitsurugi and Sophitia, were looking younger than their appearances in previous Soul Calibur titles. And there's a good reason for that as it turns out. Serving as a bit of a hybrid between prequel and simultaneous reimagining of the original Soul Calibur, the sixth game covers much of the grey area in the story after the events of Soul Edge, while also laying the groundwork for something brand new. In doing so, some rather interesting choices have been made to revitalize its core mechanics and returning characters.
In addition to the returning cast of characters, which includes the samurai Mitsurugi, the greek warrior Sophitia, the young warrior Xianghua, the Soul Edge construct Nightmare, and the cursed monk Kilik, we also have the reveal of a new fighter named Groh. Wielding a double-sided sword--which detaches during his more complex combos attacks--the mysterious Groh channels dark energy in ways that deal massive damage to his opponent. During his special powered-up state, activated after achieving energy from his soul meter, he's able to swing his blade across the stage and attack his opponents from afar during special attacks. After playing a few matches with Groh, we were able to get accustomed to his playstyle and moveset fairly quickly, and he'll likely be a solid pick for newcomers to the series.
In addition to sharper and more detailed visuals--powered by Unreal Engine 4--the core combat focusing on well-timed weapon strikes and parries also has some new tricks up its sleeve. Soul Calibur VI's new mechanic called the Reversal Edge adds more cinematic and tense moments to fights. When activated, players will face off in a rock-paper-scissors style game of wits, where you'll have to strike at an opening in your opponent's defenses. While these can end in a stalemate, with either both players matching strikes or one dodging them outright, landing a hit can deal significant damage to your opponent--which can result in an armor break on your foe. Along with this new mechanic, many of the core system from the series--such as Guard Impacts, counters, and the return of the over the top Critical Edge--have also seen some upgrades.
Although it was only just announced late last year, Soul Calibur VI is in very solid shape. One of the strengths of the the series is balancing accessible gameplay with the mechanics that fighting game vets love, and Soul Calibur VI continues that tradition in some fun ways. It'll be interesting to see how the core story will be presented in-game, given its focus on reimagining the events of the original Soul Calibur. While the story throughout the series has mostly been background dressing, it does as a solid context for what players can expect from the roster.
Still on track for a 2018 release, and with it being playable at EVO Japan 2018, we'll likely be hearing more from Soul Calibur VI throughout the year. And while it's great to see some familiar faces return, the one thing we're all wondering is what sort of guest characters will find their way into this game? It's hard to top Star Wars' Yoda and Darth Vadar, but we're sure that Bandai Namco will try its best to.
The Royal Rumble is just days away, coming to the WWE Network and PPV on Sunday, January 28. For the first time in the event's history, there will be a women's Royal Rumble match in addition to the men's one. Because of this, the card for this show looks a little light. However, both Rumble matches will likely take up a majority of the night.
This year's event will take place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA with a start time of 7 PM ET/4 PM PT. A Kickoff show will presumably take place one to two hours prior--at the time of this writing, a Kickoff Show had not been announced. The evening will consist of six matches, including both the Universal and WWE Championship matches. So what matches are on the card and who do we think is going to win?
Make sure to come back to GameSpot on Sunday for live coverage of the event.
Kalisto, Lince Dorado, & Gran Metalik vs. TJP, Gentleman Jack Gallagher, & Drew Gulak (KICKOFF SHOW)
Considering the Cruiserweight Championship match was removed from the card after Enzo Amore was released from WWE, there has been a hole in the PPV that needs to be filled with some 205 Live stars. This six-man tag match should be fast-paced and high-flying and a solid way to kick off the show. I'm giving the win to Team Drew Gulak simply because he's one of my favorites on 205 Live right now, and because this match has no stakes.
Our prediction: Drew Gulak and company wins
Secondary prediction: The WWE Universe is treated to an awesome Powerpoint presentation
Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. The Revival (KICKOFF SHOW)
Raw 25 had a really weird moment where the Good Brothers teamed up with DX to squash The Revival. This completely lowered the stock of Revival and made them look weak. As much as I hated that moment, the Royal Rumble will be a great time to give Dash and Dawson a big push and put them back on the right track.
Our prediction: The Revival wins
Bobby Roode's United States Open Challenge (KICKOFF SHOW)
After Dolph Ziggler vacated the US title, Bobby Roode came out on top after a tournament on Smackdown, and now, he'll be having an open challenge to anyone on Smackdown's roster. Since former champion Ziggler has been absent from television, I'm thinking he's going to reappear at the Rumble and beat Roode again. Whether or not he vacates the title again or not is the real question.
Our prediction: Dolph Ziggler wins
The Usos (c) vs. Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin (2-out-of-3-falls match)
(For the Smackdown Tag Team Championships)
Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin really want to #FreeTheTagTitles after a controversial call by a referee last month during their match against the Usos. They'll get their chance at a rematch during the Rumble in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match, which will undoubtedly end with a 2-1 score. I'm throwing the win to The Usos. They've done well as the tag team champs, and I don't think their reign is over yet.
Our prediction: The Usos win after some "Twin Magic"
Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan (c) vs. The Bar
(For the Raw Tag Team Championships)
The pairing of Seth Rollins and Jason Jordan--Kurt Angle's whiny, entitled son--is bizarre and kind of wonderful. The fact that they are tag champs is a tad dumbfounding, but it works. The Bar will get a shot to get reclaim the Raw Tag titles, but I think their title reign is over for now. Rollins and Jordan have been fun, and they're not going anywhere. I may be getting ahead of myself, but Rollins and Jordan may be placeholders for a while until some NXT call-ups like Authors of Pain or Sanity make their way to the roster and destroy the Monday night show's tag division.
Our prediction: Rollins and Jordan win
Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman vs. Kane
(For the Universal Championship)
Raw's big title match is a bummer, as it seems more than likely it's all just a setup for Lesnar to continue his dominance over the locker room. As much as I love everything that's going on with Braun Strowman, a match with him against the Royal Rumble match winner doesn't seem like the best draw for Wrestlemania. Lesnar is that draw, and hopefully, he'll finally drop the title at the big show in April.
Our prediction: Lesnar wins
AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (2-on-1 Handicap Match)
(For the WWE Championship)
The storyline involving AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Shane McMahon, and Daniel Bryan has been nothing short of phenomenal--pun intended. As fantastic as the booking is for this match--where if Owens or Zayn win they become co-champions--I don't think WWE will pull the trigger on having two champions leading into Wrestlemania. As much as I want that duo to win, I'm giving the win to Styles.
Our prediction: Styles wins
Women's Royal Rumble
2018 is a landmark year for WWE, as it is the first time there will be a women's Royal Rumble match. We asked the wrestling fans at GameSpot who they think will win the match, and here are their answers.
Rousey will likely make an appearance at the Rumble this Sunday. As every minute passes, betting odds are running towards a surprise Rousey upset. The WWE seems to want Rousey as the Brock Lensar in the woman ranks, and this would be an interesting scenario with Asuka as the clear favorite for the women's Rumble. Hell, you can argue that Asuka is the best wrestler in the company today, period. Hear me out, I predict everyone will team up to throw Asuka out of the Rumble early, then Rousey comes in as the final entrant and win. Look into your hearts friends, Rousey is going to be thrown into main events sooner than we think.
Asuka
Prediction by Chris Hayner
Nobody is ready for Asuka, not even the 29 other women that will participate in the Royal Rumble. WWE should add a Rumble win to her undefeated streak and keep the most exciting female wrestler going full-steam ahead to winning her first Women's Championship at WrestleMania.
Nikki Cross
Prediction by Mat Elfring
While my pick for the men's Rumble--which you'll see a little later--is incredibly safe and ultimately, regrettable, I'm going out on a limb for the women's Rumble and picking Sanity member and NXT star Nikki Cross. Yes, Asuka is favored to win, as well as insanely tough and undefeated in singles competition, but we all know from past Rumble matches that the bigger and tougher you are, the bigger the target you'll have on your back. Cross will come in under the radar and ultimately win as she won't hold back because she teeters on insanity.
Men's Royal Rumble
Don't expect too many big surprises in the men's Royal Rumble match this year (even though we have a few we'd like to see). The men's roster is pretty deep, since this match combines both Raw and Smackdown talent. Here are who GameSpot's wrestling fans think is going to win the Rumble.
This is a stretch, and to be very clear, I hope this doesn't happen. Yet, I can't help but wonder what crazy ideas are running through Vince McMahon's mind as we approach the massive PPV. I believe Lesnar will be in the main event at WrestleMania 34 regardless of the outcome on Sunday night, but there's a slight chance he could drop the title to Braun Strowman without getting pinned. Strowman could pin Kane, and a pissed-off Lesnar could run into the Rumble at the last minute to win it.
Shinsuke Nakamura
Prediction by Chris Hayner
Roman Reigns going to WrestleMania to fight for the Universal Championship seems practically guaranteed at this point, whether fans want it or not. He doesn't need the Rumble win, but Shinsuke Nakamura sure does. A win would legitimize him as a main event player in WWE, and sending him to WrestleMania to challenge AJ Styles for the WWE Championship would be perfection.
Roman Reigns
Prediction by Mat Elfring
It pains me to write this, as I'd much rather see pretty much anyone else win the Rumble over Roman Reigns. However, it's hard not to think Reigns will get the win, especially after losing the Intercontinental Championship to The Miz on Raw 25. Furthermore, there are a ton of rumors flying around that the main event will be Reigns/Lesnar at this year's Wrestlemania. As much as I'd love to see newer talent get a push, everything is pointing to Reigns for me. I'm sorry. I don't like it either.
Let us know who you think is going to win at the Rumble in the comment section below!
Monster Hunter World may be the most approachable entry in Capcom's long-running franchise yet, but it can still be a difficult game to get used to for the uninitiated. Whether you're a returning adventurer who wants a quick recap of how to jump in, or a beginner who wants to know how to get started, this guide will help you prepare for Monster Hunter World's opening hours.
Unlike other games, you're not stuck in a specific class that dictates your playstyle in Monster Hunt World. Instead there's an assortment of 14 weapons that let you choose how to approach your hunt. Every weapon is a viable option, although some are much easier for beginners than others.
Whether or not this is your first game, it's a good idea to spend time in the game's training room to gain familiarity with the full range of weapons and see which one you like most. For your first adventure, the best choices are either the sword and shield or the dual blades. Both weapons provide the best trade-off between attack speed and recovery. They may not deal crazy damage, but they're the most forgiving when getting used to the controls and monsters you'll be fighting.
The next level up includes the great sword, long sword, and hammer. Slower, but more powerful weapons, the combos for those weapons are still easy to learn, but if you miss an attack, you're left vulnerable for much longer than the starting blades.
But the only way to really understand the different weapons is to try them. And keep in mind that if you go into a zone with the wrong equipment, you can always head to your tent at the campsite to swap it out for something more appropriate.
Find some friends to adventure with
Monster Hunter World is tuned for both single- and multiplayer action, but if you're new to the series, playing with friends is the best way to experience everything offered. Even if you don't have a pre-arranged group of buddies who are already in the game, be sure to take advantage of the online matchmaking system: the options let you specify what type and rank of hunters you want to group up with so you can be sure to find the right dynamic for your particular skill level.
And if you do decide to go it alone, don't be afraid to take advantage of the SOS flares. In this version of Monster Hunter, you're able to call for help at a moment's notice when the situation gets dire.
Get ready before the hunt
While you have access to your inventory--and even the canteen--after accepting a mission, you shouldn't waste time preparing after you've already set out. Instead, take care of these three mission prep steps before you start a hunt:
Eat: Make sure to get a good meal with a focus on whatever stat you think will help you get through the next fight. If it's a strong monster and your armor's so-so, get a defense boost. If they use a lot of elemental attacks, get an elemental boost. And if you're confident and you want to try to knock out your enemy as quickly as possible, opt for the attack boost.
Empty your personal storage: Do you have leftover items from your last quest? Get them out of your pockets and into your inventory box!
Stock up: Get the items you'll need for your next quest. Early on, you should be good with some potions, herbs (to make more potions), antidotes, nulberries, and honey. That list will expand as your hunter rank goes up, but it's important to establish a beginning setup that covers the major contingencies.
But where do you get all those preparatory items...?
Grab everything
When you're out in the field, if you see something shiny, just grab it. Bugs, plants, mushrooms--eventually you'll learn what each item is, and maybe you'll ignore the stuff you use less of, but it's good to get in the habit of stocking up and staying at capacity.
If you're on a quest that you know will be easy, feel free to leave things like Nulberries and Herbs back in your camp inventory so you can collect more out in the field. And if ever run low on supplies, you can scope out specific items by looking at the gathering locations on your map.
Eventually, you'll unlock the ability to farm multiple items from one of researchers in Astera. You'll have to complete quests to stock that mini-supply, but that leads to the next point...
Regularly check-in with Astera's NPCs
The game doesn't always make this explicit, but after every hunt you'll want to run a social circuit around Astera. Visit the old man in the Ecological Research Center to update your Monster Field Guide--you'll get prompted to do this on the results screen after a successful hunt if you've found enough new information.
Check in with the Resource Center to turn in any completed bounties and to register new ones. These are the main way you obtain Armor Spheres, which are necessary for keeping raising the effectiveness of your older armor.
Collect your harvest from the Botanical Research Center before it gets full. And if you don't have anything specific you want to cultivate, go with Honey. You'll always need mega potions.
And check in every so often with the Tailraider Safari, once you unlock it (you can access this from your room back in Astera).
Collect wildlife
A Monster Hunter's life may mostly be about felling impossibly large beasts, but that net in your inventory lets you capture the smaller denizens of the world. If you're not sure if you can catch it, just try! The smaller creatures you catch with your net will be made available as pets back in your room.
The wishlist is a great way to keep track of what you need to collect
Hunting down monsters so you can make some sweet pants is the primary driver in Monster Hunter, so be sure to take advantage of the wishlist feature. The wishlist will break down exactly what materials you need and even help you find what you're looking for. You'll get handy notifications when you've found the material for a piece of gear you're tracking, which saves you the trouble of checking in at the smith every time you return from a hunt.
Search for more campsites
With each area in the game, you start with one camp, and through the story you'll get access to a second. However, there are a total of four in each area and it's up to you to find the rest. You can search yourself or you can just join a quest with another player who already found one to save a little time. After that, you'll get a special delivery you need to complete, and then the camp is yours.
Make sure to do the Optional Quests and Investigations
While you might be inclined to get through the main story quests as quickly as possible (and that's the fastest path to getting the best armor and weapons), you don't want to ignore the other items on your quest list. Optional Quests have the potential to unlock powerful upgrades, and they're also the way that you'll expand your cantina. If you want to make sure to get the most benefit from your pre-hunt meals, you'll need to complete the chef's gathering quests.
And unlike Bounties, the Resource Center's investigations aren't completed automatically when you meet those requirements on a hunt. Investigation quests are a separate category, and completing them nets you bonus rewards on the hunt. When you need "just one more" monster part, investigations are the best way to try and farm rarer crafting components.
Don't forget to upgrade your Palico
Your Palico is your constant companion on the hunt, but don't forget that they have their own armor to upgrade as well! The system is a bit simpler, but whenever you're crafting new armor for yourself, check and see if there's anything better for the little guy as well.
Use the environment
If you keep facing a monster head-on and failing, take a step back and look for some environmental help. When looking at your map, scroll over to the "Traps/Environmental" section to find things like Vine Traps, which can incapacitate your prey, as well as plants that can inflict poison and stun. Taking advantage of what's already available on the map can make taking down even seemingly unbeatable foes a little more manageable.
Don't give up!
Monster Hunter can be a challenging game, but it's an experience that rewards you the more you put into it. If a hunt fails, don't look at it as wasted time, but think about what you learned about that monster's patterns.
And if all else fails, upgrade your armor. Going back to finish lower tier sets (or pouring a few armor upgrade orbs into your current equipment), can give you just the defensive boost you need to take on your next quest. If it feels like you're doing everything right, but you're still taking a beating, boosting your defense might be all you need!
And if you really need a break, search for the Poogie in your camp and give him a pet. There's no better stress relief than petting your new best piggie friend.
The new entry in the Monster Hunter series, Monster Hunter World, has arrived on Xbox One and PS4, with a PC release still to come. Being made for more powerful hardware--as opposed to 3DS, like recent entries in the series--has allowed it to be bigger and better-looking than previous Monster Hunters. That's especially true when playing on the upgraded versions of the two consoles, and right now, you can pick one up in a nicely discounted bundle.
Aside from the separate PS4 Pro bundle that gets you Monster Hunter World and Titanfall 2 for free, Newegg has a deal on the Xbox One X. On its website (via Wario64), the retailer is selling the system for its regular price of $500 but with a free copy of Monster Hunter World tossed in. Given the game launches today and is priced at $60 on its own, that's a nice incentive to pick one up.
The system and game are new and unused, although shipping is not free. This offer is available from now through Thursday, February 1 (unless it sells out before then). If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, there is also the aforementioned PS4 Pro deal that sells for $100 less. On either that system or Xbox One X, you'll be able to leverage the additional horsepower to improve the experience. A setting allows you to prioritize framerate, resolution, or other visual effects, which you can't do on a standard PS4 or Xbox One.
Monster Hunter World is now available worldwide on PS4 and Xbox One, and alongside it, Capcom has released an important day-one patch for the game. Not only will you need to install the update if you'd like to play online with other players, it's required in order to receive any of Monster Hunter World's downloadable content, including the bonus items Capcom offered with pre-orders.
After installing the day-one patch, which weighs in at approximately 815 MB, you'll be able to claim rewards from the Housekeeper in your room in Astera. If you pre-ordered the title digitally, you'll have to download your bonus items (the Origin set and Fair Wind Charm) from the PlayStation or Xbox Stores. Once the items have been downloaded, launch Monster Hunter World and talk to your Housekeeper. Select the "Claim Bonuses" option and the items will appear in your Equipment Box.
Those who purchased the Monster Hunter World Digital Deluxe edition will receive their items automatically, while the Collector's edition includes a download code for its bonus content. If you missed out on either but would still like to get your hands on their bonuses, you can purchase the Deluxe Kit, which contains the same items as the Deluxe edition (excluding its Weapon avatars), from your console's respective digital store and follow the above process to claim them.
Those who participated in the PS4-exclusive Monster Hunter World beta tests and completed each mission can also claim a special Camouflage Face Paint and Commendations Packs as a reward. To receive the items, launch Monster Hunter World with the same PSN ID you used during the beta, then speak to the Housekeeper and claim your bonuses. The Commendations Packs will be added to your Item Box, while the Camouflage Face Paint will appear as a new option in the Change Appearance menu in your Equipment Box. Additionally, PS4 players will need to install the day-one update to take on the exclusive quest to get Horizon Zero Dawn DLC armor.
Sony may have recently announced some new PS4 bundles featuring Monster Hunter World, but if you're simply looking for the best possible deal, that's not the way to go. Instead, a new offer for those in the United States throws in two free games with the purchase of the system, making it an ideal way to jump in.
Retailer Newegg's store on Ebay is currently selling the PS4 Pro at its regular price of $399 with two freebies. The first of these is Monster Hunter World, the acclaimed RPG which was just released today, January 26, and sells for $60 on its own. The other free game is a bit older (and thus cheaper) but is nonetheless an excellent one in Titanfall 2.
These items are all new and unused, and a free shipping option is available; the only caveat is that it's only available in the US. Obviously, you won't be getting your hands on it for release day, so patience is also required. But if you're willing to wait for it to be delivered, this might be your best option for picking up a PS4 Pro and Monster Hunter around launch. The offer is available until Friday, February 2.
If you're willing to spend a bit more, there's also an official Monster Hunter World PS4 Pro bundle that includes a copy of the game and a specially designed system (and controller) for $450/£380. It's out now, but supplies are "very limited," and in the US, it's a GameStop-exclusive, so it may not be easy to get your hands on.
Sea of Thieves' Xbox One and PC beta has experienced some problems since it started earlier this week, with some players unable to access the trial at all until very recently. In response, developer Rare has now extended the game's beta by two days; the test period will now end on Wednesday, January 31 at midnight PT / 3 AM ET / 8 AM GMT / 6 PM AEST.
Regarding the issues themselves--which have seen some users met with a "too early" message, denying them entry to the beta--Rare says it has deployed a fix that is "unfortunately taking longer than anticipated to reach all affected players." The company has apologized for the delay and says it is still working on returning normal service to all players.
For those who manage to take part in the beta, Rare says it has crafted a tailored experience for the trial "that offers a true taste of the pirate life," rather than simply featuring a portion of the full game. Like the Sea of Thieves technical alpha that took place back in December, the closed beta is only available to those who either joined the Sea of Thieves Insider Program prior to December 1, 2017 or pre-ordered the game. Players who fell into the latter camp received the beta automatically if they pre-ordered Sea of Thieves digitally, while those who reserved the title at retail had to redeem a code in order to install the beta.
Join us as we check out some arcade mode, maybe some story, some local battles, and hopefully some online battles in Dragon Ball FighterZ.
Is Netflix's upcoming sci-fi show worth watching? Find out in our spoiler-free review!
No comments:
Post a Comment