By Chris Pereira on Jan 27, 2018 06:58 pm
Thanks to a variety of factors, Monster Hunter World is likely to be many people's first experience with the franchise. New gear is desirable in any RPG, but it's especially important in Monster Hunter, where your progression is tied not to experience points, but the new armor and weapons you're able to acquire and craft. Much of that gear is unattainable until you've sunk a significant number of hours into the game, honing your skills, taking down challenging enemies, and amassing the necessary resources for crafting. To give you an idea of what kind of armor sets you'll be able to use once you've progressed far enough in the game, we've compiled the gallery above. You'll find images of high-end armor for both your own character (if you're playing a male, as we were), as well as gear for your Palico companion. Monster Hunter World releases on January 26 for Xbox One and PS4, with a PC release to come later in the year. That's notable, as recent entries were limited to 3DS. The additional horsepower has allowed for a game with much larger, more beautiful environments to play in. It also does a better job of introducing newcomers to the flow of playing a Monster Hunter game. You can read more about what to expect in our Monster Hunter World review. Those playing on PS4 will be able to get their hands on some exclusive gear based on Horizon: Zero Dawn. We also know that new Mega Man-themed items are on the way, and if past games are any indications, that won't be the last crossover content that Capcom releases.
By Chris Pereira on Jan 27, 2018 06:37 pm
Overwatch's big new cosmetic update has launched on all platforms. That means there's a ton of new skins and items to get your hands on--and no time limit rushing you to get them all right away. These new cosmetics work differently than those we typically see added as part of an event with a limited-time loot box. This update adds more than 100 new items to the base loot box. In other words, these can all be unlocked at any time by playing, or you can purchase them directly through the Hero Gallery with Credits. Among the new items are 17 new skins: 12 Legendaries, and five Epics. Some of these were revealed in the lead up to the update's release, but now we've gotten a look at them all--you can check them out in the gallery above, along with all the new sprays. The update also introduces new player icons, emotes, highlight intros, and more, spanning all 26 characters in the game. Just be aware that these may be harder to get from a loot box than the typical event-specific items. Aside from the cosmetic side of things, the new update introduces a new map called Blizzard World. This is an amusement park based on Blizzard's other, non-Overwatch franchises, such as Warcraft, Diablo, and StarCraft. It's a hybrid map where teams fight to push or defend a payload through the park. On a related note, some of the new skins are actually based on characters from other franchises, such as Zarya's Barbarian outfit based on Diablo III and Widowmaker's Nova from StarCraft II. The free cosmetic update is out now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. A new Overwatch hero is currently in testing, though we don't know how soon it will be released. Blizzard also has plans for a Lunar New Year event and will bring back the Uprising and Anniversary events in the coming months.
Blackhand Doomfist
Black Cat D.Va
Kabuki Hanzo
Caution Junkrat
Capoeira Lúcio
Royal McCree
Ecopoint: Antarctica Mei
Immortal Orisa
Asp Pharah
Hellfire Reaper
Crusader Reinhardt
Butcher Roadhog
Peacock Symmetra
Carbon Fiber Zenyatta
Magni Torbjörn
Nova Widowmaker
Barbarian Zarya
By Kevin Wong on Jan 27, 2018 05:47 am
Every WWE fan loves the unexpected. There are still several entrant slots open for the 2018 Royal Rumble. And although most of those slots will be filled by Sunday afternoon, WWE always leaves a few open for surprise guests, which we have a few guesses on too. Thanks to social media, however, it's getting harder and harder to trick fans. All it takes is one guy with a camera outside the Sheraton, and the big surprise is ruined. That's not what this gallery is about; none of the wrestlers on this list have been confirmed, neither officially nor unofficially. These are the rumored entrants that have been circulating the dirt sheets for the past couple of weeks. If you want to see all the confirmed entrants for this year's event, click here. Have a happy Rumble weekend!
Kharma
Kharma has made it publicly known that she is available and hopeful about participating in the Rumble match. She also notes, however, that WWE hasn't contacted her. But WWE still has 12 slots available for the women's Rumble. Perhaps there's still room for her. Kharma--more widely known as Awesome Kong, from her TNA days--never got her due in WWE. She was brought on board in 2011, and she participated in only one match: the 2012 Royal Rumble, where she eliminated Hunico before being eliminated herself. Most recently, she's been starring on Netflix's GLOW, but it would be a treat to see her squash the latest crop of women wrestlers this Sunday.
Batista
Even though he's now a Marvel superhero, Batista has publicly expressed his desire to return to WWE for one more run--not just to make a one-off appearance, but to work a full-time schedule. What better way to kick it off than entering the Royal Rumble? The last time Batista was in WWE, he left with a genuine sense of disappointment. He thought he would be hailed as a returning hero, but instead, all the fans turned on him because he wasn't Daniel Bryan. If he returned to WWE, he might get the victory lap he deserves.
Ricochet
The NJPW superstar signed with WWE this year, and he is currently training at the WWE Performance Center. WWE has made it clear that going forward, any newly signed, full-time talent must go through the NXT system before moving to the main roster; AJ Styles was the final, notable exception. But Ricochet is no rookie; he's been an active competitor in the business for over a decade. And since the Royal Rumble crowd usually has a high percentage of die-hard fans, he'll get a tremendous reaction if he so much as shows his face.
Ethan Carter III
The Top Man has been Heavyweight champion several times over on the indie circuit. And he almost made it to WWE's main roster years ago; he bounced from Ohio Valley Wrestling to Florida Championship Wrestling to NXT, but he was released from his developmental contract in 2013. EC3 recently cancelled his scheduled appearance with Renegade Wrestling Revolution in Houston on January 28. The promotion states that it is due to a personal, family matter. But since the event is on the same day as the Rumble, it's caused some obvious speculation.
Michelle McCool
It's been confirmed that former Divas and Women's Champion Michelle McCool is in talks with WWE about a Royal Rumble appearance, but nothing has been agreed upon, one way or the other. But she did appear at the Raw 25th anniversary show. And because she's married to The Undertaker, WWE has a big incentive to keep her happy. LayCool was one of the best heel acts in the pre-Women's Revolution era, and even though she won't win the whole Rumble, she'll create a perfect opportunity for a nostalgic confrontation. It's almost certain that Mickie James--or as Laycool once called her, 'Piggie James'--has some scores to settle.
Ronda Rousey
This has been speculated since at least 2015, when the former UFC champion made a cameo appearance at WrestleMania 31 and threatened to break Stephanie McMahon's arm. Recent Rousey appearances--at the Mae Young Women's Classic, and at dinner with Triple H in Los Angeles--have only increased the buzz. Rousey threw some cold water on the rumor this week, noting that she's in Colombia to finish filming her role in Mile 22. Still, she could catch a red eye flight—WWE has done far more extreme things to surprise fans in the past.
Daniel Bryan
This is unlikely but nevertheless, has been discussed backstage as a possibility. Bryan retired in 2016 due to concussion-related issues, but Bryan has continually pushed back against those diagnoses, noting that non-WWE doctors have said that he is fit to compete, and that his reflexes, though diminished, still fall within the normal range. Should Bryan enter the Rumble, he would almost certainly have to win it. He wouldn't even need to spend too long in the ring to win it, especially if he entered at No. 30.
By Mat Elfring on Jan 27, 2018 05:40 am
Since 1989, The Simpsons has been a staple on the Fox network. With 29 seasons, one movie, and over 600 episodes under its belt, the animated series has done it all, including predicting the future on several occasions. Although most of these predictions are gags, it's strange to see so many news headlines and pieces of technology originate on an episode of The Simpsons. Obviously, The Simpsons has been on the air almost three decades, so a few things are bound to have come true, but many moments from the show hit the nail on the head. Searching through the series, we narrowed down 10 of the most important and eerily accurate predictions the show made over the years.
Smartwatch (Season 6, Episode 19)
Predicted: 1995 Came True: 2014 When Lisa meets a fortune teller, she is presented with one possible future where she's engaged to a man named Hugh. During one moment, Hugh talks into his watch to order someone around. While smartwatches aren't a household item yet, many people have been using the device since they were made available in 2014.
Faulty Voting Machines (Season 20, Episode 4)
Predicted: 2008 Came True: 2012 Homer steps into an electronic voting booth and tries to vote for Barack Obama. However, each time he presses the touchscreen, a vote registers for John McCain. Something eerily similar happening in 2012 at a voting booth, which wasn't calibrated correctly. Every time the person tried to vote for Obama, it registered one for Mitt Romney.
President Trump (Season 11, Episode 17)
Predicted: 2000 Came True: 2017 Bart takes a glimpse into the future in this 2000 episode, where his sister, Lisa, is President of the United States. She mentions to her Cabinet that they've inherited a budget crunch from President Trump. On January 20, 2017, Donald Trump was sworn into office as President of the United States.
NSA Spying On Civilians (The Simpsons Movie)
Predicted: 2007 Came True/Revealed To The Public: 2013 The Simpson family was on the run during the family's 2007 film, after Homer is caught polluting the lake by the EPA. While escaping on a bus, the NSA spies on their conversation through the bus driver, who was apparently a robot. In 2013, NSA employee Edward Snowden revealed documents to the public that the government agency has been spying on the public.
Bengt R Holstrom Winning The Nobel Prize (Season 22, Episode 1)
Predicted: 2010 Came True: 2016 Lisa, Martin, Database, and Milhouse had a betting pool for the Nobel Prize in this 2010 episode. If you look to the right of the red circle, you'll notice Milhouse picked Bengt R Holstrom to win the prize for Economics. In 2016, Holstrom actually won that prize.
FIFA Corruption (Season 25, Episode 16)
Predicted: 2014 Came True: 2015 Lisa gives a speech about her father being a hero, which goes viral. Because of this, Homer is asked to referee games at the World Cup in Brazil. Homer refuses bribes to fix games, as corruption seems to be rampant at the World Cup. In 2015, it was revealed that certain bodies within FIFA were involved in bribery, fraud, and money laundering.
Mass Of Higgs Boson (Season 10, Episode 2)
Predicted: 1998 Came True: 2012 It's no secret that there are math geeks writing episodes of The Simpsons. In an episode from 1998, Homer wants to be an inventor and in doing so, writes a complicated problem on a chalk board. What's crazy about this is that the equation in question actually predicts the mass of the Higgs Boson--or God particle--which was realized in 2012.
Greece's Debt Default (Season 23, Episode 10)
Predicted: 2012 Came True: 2015 Homer Simpson is invited to be a guest on the TV show Headbutt, and during the episode, the lower ticker has a gag that reads "Europe puts Greece on eBay." It's a throwaway gag about the country's debt. However, in 2015, Greece defaulted on its debt, and the country is still having financial troubles.
Roy Horn Attacked By His Tiger (Season 5, Episode 10)
Predicted: 1993 Came True: 2003 Mr. Burns opens up his own casino in this 1993 episode, complete with its own magic show starring Gunter and Ernst, a Siegfried and Roy parody. During their show, one of the men is attacked by their tiger. In 2003, Roy was attacked by his tiger Montecore, and there injuries were so severe that Roy couldn't walk or talk for a couple of years. Even though he was attacked, Roy made sure no harm came to the tiger, which later died of an illness in 2014.
Disney Owns Fox (Season 10, Episode 5)
Predicted: 1998 Came True: 2017 During an episode in 1998, Ron Howard was pitching a script Homer wrote to 20th Century Fox, and in what seems like a throwaway joke, an establishing shot of the Fox building features a sign that reads "A Division Of Walt Disney Co." At the end of 2017, 21st Century Fox was acquired by Disney for $52 billion.
By Matt Espineli on Jan 27, 2018 05:31 am
A Growing Library Of Exclusives
In 2017, Microsoft managed to enhance its latest and a few pre-existing games with upgraded visuals thanks to the release of Xbox One X. However, the publisher's roster of exclusives last year was small. Fortunately, Microsoft is kicking off this year with a solid array of exclusive triple-A and independent games. With so many great-looking games coming to the console that you won't find anywhere else, we've compiled a list of all the exclusive games coming to Xbox One in the coming months. Make sure to check back often, as we'll continue to update our entries with specific dates and info when new announcements are made. If you're curious about other platforms, you can check out our features on PS4 exclusives, PC exclusives, and Switch exclusives. It's worth noting that there are a few games in this gallery that are also on PC. Given Microsoft's Play Anywhere program and the company's hand in both console and PC gaming, these games have been included. There's also a wealth of exciting games coming out in 2018 that aren't necessarily exclusive to one platform or another, so be sure to check out our individual features highlighting the most anticipated PS4 games, Xbox One games, PC games, and Switch games for a broader look at the year ahead.
Sea of Thieves
Sea of Thieves is the first original, non-Kinect game by iconic developer Rare in years. It's a first-person multiplayer action-adventure game that allows you to live out the life of a pirate with your friends. You'll be able to work together to navigate the sea by ship while hunting down treasure and fending off competing players. Developer: Rare | Release Date: March 20 | Watch the Trailer
Ashen
Ashen is an action-RPG where you play a wanderer in search of a place to settle. However, the game's hostile world filled with malicious scavengers and deadly creatures ensures you won't stay in one place for long. Ashen challenges you to explore the world, create settlements, and seek out other adventurers to join you and improve your chances of survival. Developer: Aurora44 | Release Date: TBA 2018 | Watch the Trailer
Black Desert Online
The incredibly popular PC MMORPG Black Desert Online is making its way onto Xbox One this year as a timed-exclusive. Thanks to the power of the Xbox One X, the upcoming console port can be played in 4K. Developer: Pearl Abyss | Release Date: Early 2018 | Watch the Trailer
Crackdown 3
Crackdown 3 is an open-world action-adventure game that has you stopping crime in a futuristic city where everything is destructible. Its main protagonist is voiced by famous actor, Terry Crews (White Chicks, Idiocracy, Brooklyn Nine-Nine). Developer: Sumo Digital, Reagent Games, Ruffian Games, and Cloudgine | Release Date: TBA 2018 | Watch the Trailer
Deep Rock Galactic
Deep Rock Galactic is a first-person cooperative sci-fi shooter where up to four players explore procedurally generated, destructible environments to complete a variety of missions. As a team of Dwarven space miners, you work together to blow up cave walls and mow down enemies. Developer: Ghost Ship Games | Release Date: TBA 2018 | Watch the Trailer
The Darwin Project
The Darwin Project is a third-person competitive multiplayer battle royale game with an emphasis on survival. In order to win, you must endure extreme weather conditions, while tracking opponents and setting up traps. Developer: Scavenger Studio | Release Date: TBA 2018
The Last Night
The Last Night is a 2.5D cinematic platformer where you play as Charlie, a lower-class citizen in a society where computers and machinery have taken over menial work. You explore the city, talk with its various inhabitants, and discover its secrets. Developer: Odd Tales | Release Date: TBA 2018 | Watch the Trailer
State of Decay 2
State of Decay 2 is a multiplayer zombie survival game featuring an open-world environment and co-op gameplay with up to three other players. Unlike the original, the game allows you to control anyone in your crew of survivors, who each have their own unique strengths and weaknesses. Developer: Undead Labs | Release Date: TBA 2018 | Watch the Trailer
By Matt Espineli on Jan 27, 2018 05:30 am
This Year's Exclusives.exe
There's an abundance of great-looking games coming exclusively to PC this year. To help you keep track of everything, we've compiled a list of all the exclusive titles coming to PC this year. Be sure to check back often, as we'll continue to update our placeholder entries with confirmed release dates and information when new announcements are made. Thanks to all the independent developers set to launch their projects, PC platforms like Steam and GOG are set to receive hundreds of exclusive games this year. Since rounding them up would prove unwieldy, we've narrowed the field down to this list of some of the most high-profile exclusives. If you're curious about other platforms, you can check out our features on PS4 exclusives, Switch exclusives, and Xbox One exclusives. There's also a wealth of exciting games coming out in 2018 that aren't necessarily exclusive to one platform or another, so be sure to check out our individual features highlighting the most anticipated PS4 games, Xbox One games, PC games, and Switch games for a broader look at the year ahead.
Age of Empires: Definitive Edition
Age of Empires: Definitive Edition is a remaster of the iconic history-based real-time strategy game from 1997. Developer: Forgotten Empires | Release Date: February 20
Long Gone Days
Long Gone Days is a 2D RPG that follows the adventures of Rourke, a soldier who decides to abandon his post, which leads him on a journey where he'll collaborate with allies from different parts of the world to overcome the peril of an inescapable war. While a traditional RPG at its core, the game also features elements from visual novels, puzzlers, and shooters. Developer: BURA | Release Date: March 2018 (Early Access)
Agony
Agony is a first-person horror game that forces you to survive the depths of Hell. Developer: Madmind Studio | Release Date: March 30
Chuchel
Chuchel is a puzzle game developed by Jaromir Plachy & Amanita Design, the creators of Botanicula, Machinarium, and Samorost. Developer: Amanita Design | Release Date: Early 2018
Griftlands
Griftlands is the latest game by developer Klei Entertainment, the studio behind Don't Starve and Mark of the Ninja. Unlike its previous efforts, Griftlands is an action-RPG that emphasizes player choice and charting your own journey through an in-depth negotiation system. Developer: Klei Entertainment | Release Date: Early 2018
Dauntless
Dauntless is a free-to-play action-RPG that plays similarly to Capcom's popular Monster Hunter series. It takes place in a world where a cataclysmic event has torn the world apart, releasing monster-like Behemoths that prey on the surviving humans. You play as a Slayer, a special warrior tasked with taking down the Behemoths. Developer: Phoenix Labs | Release Date: Q1-Q2 2018 | Watch the Trailer
Total War: Three Kingdoms
Total War: Three Kingdoms takes developer Creative Assembly's long-running real-time strategy series to the turbulent Three Kingdoms period in Chinese history. Developer: Creative Assembly | Release Date: Fall 2018
MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries
MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries is the first numbered mainline entry in the once popular mech-sim series to be released in nearly 16 years. In keeping with MechWarrior tradition, you customize and pilot your own personal BattleMech across a new conflict set within the universe of the popular BattleTech franchise. Developer: Piranha Games | Release Date: December 2018 | Watch the Trailer
Anno 1800
Anno 1800 is the latest entry in the long-running real-time strategy Anno series. It takes the series back to the past, allowing you to build and manage metropolises during the industrial revolution. Developer: Ubisoft Blue Byte | Release Date: Winter 2018
Aquanox: Deep Descent
Aquanox: Deep Descent is a first-person shooter where you control a submarine through undersea caverns in the dystopian world of Aqua. Developer: Digital Arrow | Release Date: TBA 2018
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
Pillars of Eternity II is the successor to the critically acclaimed 2015 original. It features an expansive multiclassing system, which allows players to build unique characters that tie both into personal playstyles and stories. It also gives you access to a ship that you can sail across the game's world and continually upgrade to better survive perilous encounters. Developer: Obsidian Entertainment | Release Date: TBA 2018 | Watch the Trailer
Quake Champions
Quake Champions revives the classic Quake style of arena shooter gameplay but with a new character/class system. While not a major factor, these characters do feature their own distinct movement speeds, health pools, and a special ability. Developer: id Software | Release Date: TBA 2018 | Watch the Trailer
Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia
Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia is the latest spin-off game in the popular Total War franchise. In contrast to the mainline games, Thrones of Britannia is a turn-based strategy game that takes place in the aftermath of the Viking invasion of Britain. Developer: Creative Assembly | Release Date: TBA 2018
Underworld Ascendant
Underworld Ascendant is an action-RPG made by developers that worked on the Ultima Underworld series. Like those games, it focuses on player choice while taking you on a journey across a fantasy realm packed with danger and intrigue. Developer: Otherside Entertainment | Release Date: TBA 2018
Xenonauts 2
Xenonauts 2 is a strategy game where you command a multinational organization defending Cold War-era Earth from an alien invasion. Developer: Goldhawk Interactive | Release Date: TBA 2018
By Peter Brown on Jan 27, 2018 05:30 am
Only on PlayStation
Last year was an amazing year to be a PlayStation 4 owner. On top of an well-rounded selection of multi-platform games like Nier: Automata, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, and What Remains of Edith Finch, you also had access fantastic exclusives like Persona 5, Yakuza 0, and Horizon: Zero Dawn. And for those with any interest in virtual reality, the release of PlayStation VR was the icing on the cake. Looking ahead to 2018, there are plenty of new PlayStation 4 exclusives on the way that are well worth getting excited about. We've compiled every one we know of so far here, and will continue to update this gallery with new games as they get announced. Be sure to check back often as we update this gallery with more exclusives, and if you're curious about other platforms, you can check out our features on Xbox One exclusives, PC exclusives, and Switch exclusives. Of course, there's a wealth of exciting games coming out in 2018 that aren't necessarily exclusive to one platform or another, so be sure to check out our individual features highlighting the most anticipated PS4 games, Xbox One games, PC games, and Switch games for a broader look at the year ahead.
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth - Hacker's Memory
The latest game in the long-running Digimon series presents the mysterious backstory to the events that transpired in the first Cyber Sleuth game, and features 320 Digimon from the animated series. Developer: Media.Vision | Release Date: January 19
The Inpatient
The Inpatient is an unlikely prequel to Supermassive Games' 2015 horror gem, Until Dawn. It's a PSVR experience set 60 years prior to the first game, inside the foreboding halls of Blackwood Sanatorium. Developer: Supermassive Games | Release Date: January 23 | Watch the Latest News
Dissidia: Final Fantasy NT
The Dissidia games found a lot of fans back during the PSP's heyday, and more recently in Japanese arcades. The latest in the series is coming to PlayStation 4 courtesy of Team Ninja, and promises wild mid-air battles between Final Fantasy's most beloved and infamous characters. Developer: Team Ninja | Release Date: January 30 | Watch the Trailer
Shadow of the Colossus
The magical PS2 game Shadow of the Colossus has been given a new lease on life, and the upcoming PS4 remake looks to be in good hands at Bluepoint Games, a team known for top-notch ports and remasters. Developer: Bluepoint Games | Release Date: February 6 | Watch the Trailer
Moss
Moss is a fetching adventure in a magical world starring a daring and capable mouse named Quill. Early footage shows a game with a lot of heart, and its storybook whims can only be experienced through a PSVR headset. Developer: Polyarc | Release Date: February 2018 | Watch the Trailer
Frantics
Frantics hopes to entertain you and a few of your closest friends with 15 oddball mini-games. Designed for PlayLink support, you use your smartphone, rather than a DualShock, to participate. Developer: NapNok Games | Release Date: March 6
Bravo Team
Supermassive's other PSVR game is a tactical shooter designed for two-player co-op, either locally or online; teamwork and communication will be key to your success. Developer: Supermassive Games | Release Date: March 6 | Watch the Trailer
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life
Sega's serious-meets-slapstick open-world series continues its onslaught on the West with Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. It's also the first game to take advantage of the new Dragon Engine, which helps the game's lifelike renditions of Tokyo and famous Japanese actors look more convincing than ever. Developer: Ryu ga Gotoku Studios | Release Date: March 20 | Watch the Trailer
MLB The Show 18
The next game in Sony's annual baseball series is on the way, and this year's cover features the formidable New York Yankee, Aaron Judge. Developer: Sony San Diego Studio | Release Date: March 27
God of War
With the pantheon of Greek gods behind him, Kratos' latest adventure takes him to the frozen Norse wilds. Though the series' familiar action appears to remain intact, Kratos must now also care for his son, Atreus, as the two work together to overcome brutal obstacles and new opponents. Developer: Sony Santa Monica Studio | Release Date: April 20 | Watch the Trailer
Dragon's Crown Pro
The sumptuously illustrated beat-em-up from Vanillaware is making a comeback, and the Pro version of the game will feature new support for 4K (on PS4 Pro) and a newly recorded orchestrated soundtrack. Developer: Vanillaware | Release Date: April 24 | Watch the Trailer
Detroit: Become Human
The next game from David Cage (Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls) aims to examine the potential complications that may arise if artificial lifeforms advance far enough to not just appear human, but to convince us they feel human as well. Expect incredible production values and multiple outcomes based on choices made during calm and heated scenes alike. Developer: Quantic Dream | Release Date: Spring 2018 | Watch the Trailer
Megadimension Neptunia VIIR
Megadimension Neptunia VIIR is essentially a rerelease of Megadimension Neptunia VII, but the new version comes with special-made PSVR sections created in an entirely new engine for VIIR. Developer: Compile Heart | Release Date: Spring 2018 | Watch the Trailer
Days Gone
Days Gone is a sandbox survival game set during a zombie-infested post-apocalypse. Players will have to be resourceful and use clever problem-solving skills to overcome not just zombie-like Freakers, but other ruthless survivors trying to make it in the beautiful-turned-dangerous Pacific Northwest. Developer: Sony Bend Studio | Release Date: TBA 2018 | Watch the Trailer
Star Child
Star Child is a dreamy, narrative-driven platformer from a team of self-admitted sci-fi junkies that's coming to PSVR sometime later this year. Developer Playful Corp. is best known for the two Lucky's Tale games: Lucky's Tale for Oculus Rift and Super Lucky's Tale, an early Xbox One X game. Developer: Playful Corp. | Release Date: TBA 2018 | Watch the Trailer
Spider-Man
Based on its previous projects, Insomniac Games seems like a perfect fit for a new Spider-Man game. Early footage has shown the upcoming PS4 game to be both great looking and action packed, but we'll have to wait until later this year to see if the experience at large delivers the Spider-Man experience Marvel's biggest fans are waiting for. Developer: Insomniac Games | Release Date: TBA 2018 | Watch the Trailer
Golem
Golem is a PSVR game that will give you the power to create and control creatures made of stone. At first, you will be limited to the confines of your virtual bedroom, but as you grow more familiar with your powers you will eventually end up in the middle of an ancient abandoned city controlling massive, 15-foot giants. Developer: Highwire Games | Release Date: TBA 2018 | Watch the Trailer
Blood and Truth
Blood and Truth is a PSVR game poised to build on The London Heist portion of Sony's PlayStation VR Worlds, with more immersive environments and massive shootouts. Developer: Sony London Studios | Release Date: TBA 2018 | Watch the Trailer
Dreams
Like Little Big Planet before it, Dreams aims to give you the power to create worlds with ease and share them with other players. Media Molecule claims that players, rather than the developers, will define what Dreams ultimately becomes. Developer: Media Molecule | Release Date: TBA 2018 | Watch the Trailer
By GameSpot Staff on Jan 27, 2018 05:27 am
Nintendo's Newest
After failing to make people fall in love with Wii U, Nintendo is back and Switch is a household name--not to mention the fastest selling console in US history. In 2017, games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey proved that Nintendo understands the strengths of its franchises and the importance of taking risks, but they are only two of the many games that have kept Switch owners entertained since the system's March launch. Already, 2018 looks like another promising year for Switch owners, and there are some great-looking games coming to the system that you won't find anywhere else. But for an overview of all the Switch games we reviewed last year, head over to our Switch review page. We've compiled a list of all the exclusive games coming to Switch in the coming months, and as new announcements are made, we will continue to update our entries with specific dates and info. If you're curious about other platforms, you can check out our features on PS4 exclusives, Xbox One exclusives, and PC exclusives. There's also a wealth of exciting games coming out in 2018 that aren't necessarily exclusive to one platform or another, so be sure to check out our individual features highlighting the most anticipated PS4 games, Xbox One games, PC games, and Switch games for a broader look at the year ahead.
Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2
At the same time that Nintendo revealed Bayonetta 3 at The Game Awards, it also confirmed a popular rumor: Bayonetta 2 and the original Bayonetta are on their way to Switch. The two games are coming early in the year on February 16. The sequel will headline the physical copy of the game, but every copy of Bayonetta 2 will include a download code for the original. Developer: PlatinumGames | Release Date: February 16 | Watch the Trailer
Kirby Star Allies
Kirby's Switch debut is a multiplayer twist on traditional Kirby action, allowing four players to party up and tackle platforming stages and boss battles using powers absorbed from lesser enemies. The game was announced at E3 2017, and was further discussed in a September 2017 Nintendo Direct. It's currently scheduled to release sometime in 2018. Developer: HAL Laboratory | Release Date: March 16 | Watch the Trailer
Runner3
The Bit.Trip games from developer Choice Provisions rank among some of the best throwback experiences of the past decade. Later this year, Nintendo Switch owners will have exclusive access to the series' newest game, Runner3, which continues the tradition of linking rhythmic timing and platforming, with plenty of new tricks promised to surprise returning players. Developer: Choice Provisions | Release Date: April 24 | Watch the Trailer
Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze
Continuing the tradition of updated Wii U games that get Switch ports like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Pokken Tournament DX, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is due out for Switch on May 4. The game will add a new playable character, Funky Kong, who introduces his own unique twist on the original's platforming gameplay. Developer: Retro Studios, Monster Games | Release Date: May 4
Nintendo Labo
Nintendo Labo is a series of kits that include cardboard cut-outs and other materials that are assembled in combination with the Switch and its Joy-Cons to be played with special game software and vice versa. The series' first two kits--the Variety Kit and the Robo Kit--are set to release in April. Developer: Nintendo | Release Date: April 20
Light Fingers
Light Fingers is a turn-based multiplayer board game where your goal is to gather loot and progress across the board, all while your opponents play cards and manipulate mechanical obstacles in an effort to trip you up. The game is coming to Switch sometime early in 2018. Developer: Numizmatic | Release Date: Early 2018
Mario Tennis Aces
A new Mario Tennis game from developer Camelot--the team behind the GBA game Golden Sun as well as numerous other Mario sports titles--is heading to Switch this spring. It will be the first Mario Tennis game to include a story mode Mario Tennis: Power Tour on GBA. Developer: Camelot | Release Date: Spring 2018 | Watch the Trailer
Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition
The revamped version of Hyrule Warriors for Switch comes with all of the maps, missions, characters, and DLC from both the original Wii U release and the expanded 3DS version, including Yuga and Ravio from A Link Between Worlds. It also introduces some new content in the form of Breath of the Wild-themed costumes for Link and Zelda. Developer: Omega Force | Release Date: Q2 2018
Fire Emblem for Nintendo Switch (working title)
Fire Emblem was born on Nintendo's first console (in Japan) in 1990. But in recent years, it's been an exclusively handheld series (barring Fire Emblem Warriors) since Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn landed on Nintendo Wii almost a decade ago. Nintendo announced that a new Fire Emblem game is in the works for Switch, though little else is known beyond its broad "2018" release date. Developer: Intelligent Systems | Release Date: TBA 2018
Project Octopath Traveler (working title)
Square Enix and developer Acquire are in the home stretch of development on Project Octopath Traveler, a retro RPG that mixes 2D and 3D graphics in an effort to bridge the gap between 16-bit and HD graphics. A demo was released on the Nintendo eShop earlier this year, but the release date is still listed as "2018." Developer: Square Enix, Acquire | Release Date: TBA 2018 | Watch the Trailer
No More Heroes: Travis Strikes Again
The third game in the No More Heroes series from infamous developer, Goichi "SUDA 51" Suda, is scheduled to land on Switch later this year. The debut trailer presents a revenge tale against frontman Travis, who finds himself confronted by Badman, father of Travis' first assassination target, Bad Girl. Before they get into a scuffle, both characters are drawn into a video game system. From within, they will have to confront a handful of fictional video games, supposedly inspired by real-world hits like Hotline Miami. Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture | Release Date: TBA 2018 | Watch the Trailer
Yoshi for Nintendo Switch (working title)
Yoshi's debut standalone adventure on Switch is another platformer, but Nintendo is utilizing a new art style to define the game's distinct gameplay twist. With each stage appearing similar to a diorama, you can view stages from the "front," or look behind the scenes from a new perspective to reveal the inner workings of seemingly one-sided buildings and environments. The new Yoshi game will also support two-player local co-op. Developer: Good-Feel | Release Date: TBA 2018 | Watch the Trailer
Dragon Marked For Death
The latest game from the team behind Mega Man Zero, Mega Man 9 and 10, and Azure Striker Gunvolt is coming exclusively to Switch this year. Dragon Marked for Death looks like another action-packed 2D side-scroller with intricate sprites, but Inti Creates is experimenting by adding in four-player local co-op and progression systems that give the game an action-RPG feel. Developer: Inti Creates | Release Date: TBA 2018
The World Ends With You - Final Remix
The hi-res version of Square Enix's The World Ends With You is coming to Switch, along with a "sizable" new story scenario. It was announced during January's Nintendo Direct Mini, and is due sometime in 2018. Developer: Square-Enix | Release Date: TBA 2018
SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy
This new brawler from NIS is heavy on fan service, but should also please fans of the classic SNK fighting series. Battles will focus entirely on the female fighters from SNK's various fighting game series. Developer: NIS/SNK | Release Date: TBA 2018
By Jimmy Thang on Jan 27, 2018 04:13 am
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.
High/Variable Refresh Rate Ultrawide Gaming Monitor
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.
Fast Graphics Card
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. Hard mousepads like SteelSeries' 4HD Professional Gaming Mouse Pad are tuned for sliding, whereas mousepads like the Ripper Gamer Mouse Pad offer more grip. What you choose should depend on your playstyle and what type of games you play.
Gaming Keyboard With Fast Switches And Macro Keys
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.
By Justin Haywald on Jan 27, 2018 02:32 am
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. And if you want learn even about what the game has in store, we're currently exploring everything you can do in the endgame, collecting all of the Monster Hunter armor sets we can find, and testing out strategies with each of the game's 14 weapons. Check out this link for all of our most important Monster Hunter content, including our Monster Hunter World review. Monster Hunter World will have a day one patch at launch as a requirement for accessing online content, but Capcom plans on delivering several other updates throughout the year. So far, the PS4-exclusive Horizon: Zero Dawn crossover armor has been confirmed, as well as a Mega Man outfit for your Palico. And coming this spring will be a free content update that introduces a new fearsome monster to hunt, so once you master the basics, there'll be a lot more game to explore.
Find the right weapon
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.
By Kallie Plagge on Jan 27, 2018 01:35 am
From Dragon Ball A To Dragon Ball Z
Even for the most passionate of Dragon Ball fans, there's a lot to keep track of. Outside of the manga and the anime and Funimation re-dubs and knowing what's canon, there are more video games based on Dragon Ball than most die-hard fans can probably even play. The upcoming Dragon Ball FighterZ is by Arc System Works, for example, but did you know that the developer made a few other Dragon Ball fighting games in the past? The original Dragon Ball manga began in 1984, and though the series wouldn't become popular in the West until the late 1990s, a few Dragon Ball games made their way outside Japan in the meantime. By the time the 2000s hit, Dragon Ball games came from every direction, sometimes multiple per year. This is the history of every Dragon Ball game released in the West in English. For more on Dragon Ball FighterZ, check out the full list of every confirmed fighter and the characters we hope to see come to the roster. Dragon Ball FighterZ releases for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on January 26. If you picked up Dragon Ball FighterZ, be sure to check out our beginner's guide to help you grasp the game's fundamentals. You can also check out the video version with the best tips to know before starting. And for specifics on how to unlock some of the game's secret characters, check out our guide detailing how to unlock Android 21, SSGSS Goku, and SSGSS Vegeta. Though, if you'd rather see all the cool references the game makes to the series, you can view our gallery highlighting all of the game's Easter eggs and references. Otherwise, check out our Dragon Ball FighterZ review and our in-depth feature containing gameplay videos, essential news, and everything else you need to know.
That's Not Goku!
Dragon Power (NES, 1988) The first Dragon Ball game released in North America came out in 1988, though you probably wouldn't know it. Looking at the cover, you'd think Dragon Power is a generic kung fu-inspired game, but it's really a stripped-down version of the Japanese action-adventure game Dragon Ball: Shenron no Nazo. The characters' names as well as the music were changed for the NA release, and certain sexual references--mostly ones about panties, in keeping with the original Dragon Ball style of humor--were censored. While the original game loosely covered the first few volumes of the manga, in Dragon Power, the levels with the Kung-fu Tournament (the Tenkaichi Budokai) were removed. Unsurprisingly, the game was not very well-received. Every other Dragon Ball game made in the '80s was Japan-only, though not because of Dragon Power's missteps; it would be another decade before the West really began to care about Dragon Ball.
The Early 1990s Arrive...Decades Later
Dragon Ball Z: Super Butoden 2 (SNES, 1993; released in NA on 3DS Virtual Console in 2015) Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Battle 22 (PlayStation, 1995; released in NA in 2003) Skipping forward to the early '90s, Dragon Ball still hadn't made its way westward. Only two games from the first half of the decade, both fighting games, were localized in the West--albeit years later. Dragon Ball Z: Super Butoden 2 was originally released on the Super Famicom in 1993 and came to the North American 3DS Virtual Console 22 years later, in 2015. Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Battle 22 released on PlayStation in 1995 and arrived in NA in 2003.
Dragon Ball's Rise In North America
Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout (PlayStation, 1997) The first 3D Dragon Ball game, Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout, came out in 1997. It was also the last game based on the franchise to be released on the PlayStation. Every other Dragon Ball game from the '90s was either Japan-only or came to France and Spain, but not to the West in English (aside from the late releases mentioned earlier). In 1997, the Dragon Ball franchise was still relatively new to North America. The original Dragon Ball anime based on the earlier chapters of the manga had a few failed runs--an original "Lost Dub" in '89 and another dub in '95, both of which were canceled due to low popularity--before Funimation's re-dubbed version began airing in 2001. The first run of Dragon Ball Z, which was more popular and covers the later manga chapters, premiered on American TV in '96, came to Toonami in '98, and was re-dubbed by Funimation in 2005. Strangely, GT, the non-canon series on which Final Bout is based, didn't air in NA until 2003. After Final Bout, there wouldn't be another Dragon Ball game released on consoles until 2002. Since then, there has been at least one new Dragon Ball game every single year except for 2013.
Budokai Series Part 1
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai (PlayStation 2, 2002; GameCube, 2003) Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 (PlayStation 2, 2003; GameCube, 2004) Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 (PlayStation 2, 2004) Dragon Ball Z: Budokai HD Collection (PS3 and Xbox 360, 2012) Dragon Ball Z: Budokai released on PS2 in 2002, marking the beginning of an avalanche of Dragon Ball games. The Budokai fighting games are typical 3D fighters and follow the general Dragon Ball Z story. They include the ability to shoot Ki Blasts, and 3 introduced "Beam Struggles" (clashes of energy, like with a Kamehameha) between two characters. An HD collection including Budokai 1 and 3, but not 2, was released in 2012. The developer, Dimps, later worked on the Dragon Ball Xenoverse series.
The Legacy of Goku Series And More
Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku (Game Boy Advance, 2002) Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku II (Game Boy Advance, 2003) Dragon Ball Z: Taiketsu (Game Boy Advance, 2003) Dragon Ball Z: Buu's Fury (Game Boy Advance, 2004) Dragon Ball GT: Transformation (Game Boy Advance, 2005) Around the same time as the debut of the Budokai series, developer Webfoot Technologies came out with Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku on Game Boy Advance. The action-RPG series, which also includes The Legacy of Goku 2 and Buu's Fury, received lukewarm reviews. Webfoot also made the fighting game Dragon Ball Z: Taiketsu and beat-'em-up Dragon Ball GT: Transformation, which was later bundled with Buu's Fury on the same cartridge.
Non-Fighting Handheld Games Part 1: GBC and GBA
Dragon Ball Z: Collectible Card Game (Game Boy Advance, 2002) Dragon Ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors (Game Boy Color, 2002) Dragon Ball: Advanced Adventure (Game Boy Advance, 2006) While console was dominated by the Budokai fighter series, the early 2000s saw an assortment of non-fighting Dragon Ball games on handheld. On top of The Legacy of Goku games, there was a version of the Dragon Ball CCG on the Game Boy Advance in 2002 (and of course there was a Dragon Ball CCG in 2002, when Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh cards were really taking off). There was also the turn-based Dragon Ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors on Game Boy Color in 2002, which used in-game cards for attacks and items, and Dragon Ball: Advanced Adventure, a beat-'em-up, in 2006.
Arc System Works' Supersonic Warriors Series
Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors (Game Boy Advance, 2003) Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors 2 (DS, 2005) Arc System Works, best known for BlazBlue and Guilty Gear (and now Dragon Ball FighterZ), first made Dragon Ball fighting games in the early 2000s. Like Arc System Works' other games, the Supersonic Warriors series are 2D fighters, and they were received relatively well when they launched. In the games' story modes, you can play through individual characters' general story arcs from DBZ as well as what-if scenarios. Like Dragon Ball FighterZ, Supersonic Warriors features team fighting, where you can swap between two or three characters with their own health bars during the course of a fight.
The First American-Made Dragon Ball Game
Dragon Ball Z: Sagas (PS2, Xbox, and GameCube, 2005) In 2005, Dragon Ball Z: Sagas became the first and only Dragon Ball game to be released on the original Xbox. It was also the first American-made Dragon Ball game. Unfortunately, critics didn't particularly like it; GameSpot's review calls it "a short, ugly, slightly buggy, and brain-dead beat-'em-up that all but nullifies the good work of the Budokai games." Oops.
Super Dragon Ball Z
Super Dragon Ball Z (PlayStation 2, 2006) A year later, Super Dragon Ball Z released on PS2. Not to be confused with Dragon Ball Super, Super Dragon Ball Z is a cel-shaded 2.5D fighter that draws more heavily from the manga in its art direction. It was better received than Sagas and plays more like a '90s Capcom fighter than the Budokai series.
Budokai Tenkaichi Series Part 1
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi (PlayStation 2, 2005) Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 (PlayStation 2 and Wii, 2006) Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 (PlayStation 2 and Wii, 2007) Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi released on PS2 in 2005, but the name is a bit misleading. The Budokai Tenkaichi series of fighting games is actually very different from the Budokai series; it uses a completely different engine and an over-the-shoulder camera perspective, and different forms (Super Saiyan versus Super Saiyan 2, for example) are treated as separate characters with distinct stats and movesets. And while the Budokai games were developed by Dimps, the Budokai Tenkaichi games are by Spike Chunsoft. The name "Budokai Tenkaichi" is a rearranged version of "Tenkaichi Budokai," a martial arts tournament in the Dragon Ball series. For some reason, they switched around "Tenkaichi Budokai" as if it were a Japanese name, even though it's not a name. It roughly translates to "Strongest Under the Heavens Martial Arts Tournament." In Japan, the series is called Dragon Ball Z: Sparking. The first Budokai Tenkaichi game is now a Greatest Hits title for PlayStation. Budokai Tenkaichi 2 and 3 are two of only three Dragon Ball games released on the Wii in North America.
Budokai Series Part 2
Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai (PSP, 2006) Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai - Another Road (PSP, 2007) Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit (PS3 and Xbox 360, 2008) Dragon Ball Z: Infinite World (PlayStation 2, 2008) The Budokai series continued into the late 2000s. It made its way to handheld for the first time with Shin Budokai and Shin Budokai - Another Road. Burst Limit dropped the Beam Struggles mechanic introduced in Budokai 3, and Infinite World included Dragon Ball GT characters, since GT had been fully localized and released in North America for a few years. Infinite World was also the last Dragon Ball game released on the PS2.
Non-Fighting Handheld Games Part 2: DS
Dragon Ball Z: Harukanaru Densetsu (DS, 2007) Dragon Ball: Origins (DS, 2008) Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans (DS, 2009) Dragon Ball: Origins 2 (DS, 2010) Continuing the trend of the early 2000s, while Dragon Ball fighting games dominated consoles, the Nintendo DS had some genre variety. Harukanaru Densetsu and Attack of the Saiyans are RPGs, while the Origins games are action-adventures. Most notably, the Origins series is based on the early manga chapters and Dragon Ball anime, whereas most Dragon Ball games in the West adhere more closely to Dragon Ball Z.
Dragonball Evolution
Dragonball Evolution (PSP, 2009) Dragonball Evolution, a 2009 PSP game based on the widely disliked live-action film, is technically part of the Budokai series. Like the movie, the game was universally panned; GameSpot's review calls it "a cheap cash-in attempt that does a disservice to Dragon Ball fans everywhere." On the bright side, it's also the first Dragon Ball game to offer Bulma as a playable character.
Budokai Tenkaichi Series Part 2
Dragon Ball: Raging Blast (PS3 and Xbox 360, 2009) Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 (PS3 and Xbox 360, 2010) Dragon Ball Z: Tenkaichi Tag Team (PSP, 2010) Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi (PS3 and Xbox 360, 2011) Spike Chunsoft continued its Budokai Tenkaichi series into the early 2010s, though with different (and probably less confusing) titles. The Raging Blast games, which include Ultimate Tenkaichi (okay, so this is still kind of confusing) were the first on the seventh-generation consoles. It was around this time, however, that the Dragon Ball fighting game fatigue really set in; GameSpot's review of Tenkaichi Tag Team quips, "This fighting system is almost as tired as references to 'It's over 9000!'"
The Only Wii-Exclusive One
Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo (Wii, 2009) The only Wii-exclusive Dragon Ball game, Revenge of King Piccolo, is an arcade-style beat-'em-up and platformer. It retells the Red Ribbon Army and early Piccolo Daimao story arcs from the kid-Goku era of the manga, and it was considered a kids' game with little to offer outside of an introduction to Dragon Ball and beat-'em-up basics.
RIP Kinect
Dragon Ball Z: For Kinect (Xbox 360, 2012) Just as Dragonball Evolution was a sour note on the Budokai series, Dragon Ball Z: For Kinect was a poor addition to the Budokai Tenkaichi series. Specifically, GameSpot's review notes the "sheer mind-numbing repetitiveness of the game" and "erratic motion sensing." RIP Kinect.
Battle of the Gods Promotion
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z (PS3, Xbox 360, and Vita, 2014) Action game Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z released in 2014 as a tie-in with the film Battle of the Gods. It marked the first video game appearance of Goku's Super Saiyan God form as well as the characters Beerus and Whis. And, like quite a few Dragon Ball games in the early 2010s, Battle of Z was critically panned. GameSpot's review is particularly negative: "Every moment in Battle of Z is a struggle--not to overcome challenges, but simply to enjoy the game."
Dragon Ball...On Mobile!
Dragon Ball Z: Dokkan Battle (Mobile, 2015) While Japan got quite a few Dragon Ball games on mobile, North America got only one: Dragon Ball Z: Dokkan Battle. It's a free-to-play, card-based puzzle fighter that reached 15 million downloads in three months in Japan alone.
Xenoverse Series
Dragon Ball Xenoverse (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC, 2015) Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 (PS4, Xbox One, and PC, 2016; Switch, 2017) After the Budokai series, developer Dimps worked on the Xenoverse games. While Xenoverse didn't get the highest review scores, GameSpot's review calls it "the most interesting and involved Dragon Ball game in years." Maybe that was a low bar in 2015, but it was also a turning point for Dragon Ball games leading into the next few years, and in 2016 our Xenoverse 2 review said it it is "among the best games to emerge from this beloved franchise." (It was rated "good" on GameSpot's scale.)
Arc System Works' Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden
Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden (3DS, 2015) Arc System Works returned to the Dragon Ball fighting game scene in 2015 with Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden on 3DS. It coincided with the 3DS Virtual Console release of 1993's Super Butoden 2 and otherwise isn't that notable.
Dragon Ball Fusions
Dragon Ball Fusions (3DS, 2016) Unlike a lot of Dragon Ball games, 2016 RPG Dragon Ball Fusions follows a customizable protagonist. Like many of the games before it, Fusions received mixed-to-average reviews. GameSpot's review says: "If the progression felt a bit less stilted and fights weren't drawn out, repetitive affairs, this would be one of the strongest Dragon Ball games out there. Alas, just like Hercule in the series, Dragon Ball Fusions postures and promises more than it actually delivers."
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Dragon Ball FighterZ (PS4, Xbox One, and PC, 2018) 44 games later, the next Dragon Ball game is almost here: Arc System Works' Dragon Ball FighterZ. The 2D fighter follows a 3v3 format similar to more recent Marvel vs. Capcom games. It will feature a new story mode that seems to take place sometime after the Universe 6 Saga, and it also introduces a brand new character, Android 21.
By Matt Espineli on Jan 27, 2018 01:27 am
Let The BattleZ Begin
The recently released 2D fighter Dragon Ball FighterZ sports dynamic, fast-paced action with visuals that looks to capture the over-the-top aesthetic of the iconic anime series. But as a fighting game, the big question is: "Who's in it exactly?" Series favorites like Goku, Vegeta, and Trunks are in the game, but there are a wealth of others too. To help keep you up to speed on the latest roster updates and future DLC characters, we've compiled all the characters that have been confirmed so far. For more on how to play the game, check out our Dragon Ball FighterZ beginner's guide to help you grasp the fundamentals. You can also check out the video version with the best tips to know before starting. And for specifics on how to unlock some of the game's secret characters, check out our guide detailing how to unlock Android 21, SSGSS Goku, and SSGSS Vegeta. Though, if you'd rather see all the cool references the game makes to the series, you can view our gallery highlighting all of the game's Easter eggs and references. Otherwise, check out our Dragon Ball FighterZ review and our in-depth feature containing gameplay videos, essential news, and everything else you need to know. Dragon Ball FighterZ is developed by Arc System Works (Guilty Gear, Blazblue). The game played on a 2D plane, but its characters are rendered in full-3D. It follows a 3v3 format similar to later entries of the Marvel vs. Capcom series. The game is out now for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Android 16
Android 16 is the sixteenth iteration of Dr. Gero's powerful series of advanced artificial humans. Unlike his more hostile siblings, he demonstrates deep compassion towards all living things. Despite his gentle demeanor, Android 16 is willing to do whatever it takes to protect his siblings from danger.
Android 18
Android 18 is the eighteenth iteration of Dr. Gero's powerful series of advanced artificial humans. When she's first introduced, she follows Gero's orders to kill Goku. However, her rebellious attitude causes her to deviate from this plan, inevitably leading to her and her brother, Android 17, murdering Gero in cold blood. Regardless, Android 18 eventually joins the Z Fighters due to the kindness and compassion they exhibit towards her at the end of the Cell saga.
Android 21
Android 21, a new character designed by Akira Toriyama, is a central figure in Dragon Ball FighterZ's story mode. She's a scientist with an intellect similar to Dr. Gero. While she wears a white lab coat and has a human-like appearance in the game's cutscenes, her playable form sees her with long white hair and pink skin similar to iconic villain Majin Buu.
Beerus
Beerus is the God of Destruction of Universe 7. As a God, he sleeps several years to several decades straight, and once he awakens, he destroys planets in his administrative zone.
Captain Ginyu
Captain Ginyu is the leader of the eponymous Ginyu Force, a squadron of elite mercenaries working for Frieza to conquer planets. He's a strict, yet compassionate leader who legitimately cares about the wellbeing of his teammates. As one of the few men who reveres Frieza, he is very loyal and follows any order he gives him.
Cell
Cell is one of the primary antagonists of the Androids arc, the third major saga in Dragon Ball Z. A mad scientist named Dr. Gero designed him to be the ultimate fighter by giving him numerous advantageous genetic traits and abilities.
Future Trunks
Future Trunks is Vegeta's and Bulma's son from an alternate timeline. While the couple eventually gave birth to him in the main timeline, this version of the character comes from an alternate era where the world was devastated by the Androids. Future Trunks first appeared in the aftermath of the Frieza Saga, having travelled back in time to warn the Z Fighters about the oncoming threat of the Androids, as well as to deliver medicine to Goku that would cure him of the heart disease he died from in the alternate timeline.
Frieza (Final Form)
Frieza is the emperor of the universe who's responsible for obliterating nearly the entire Saiyan race, which in turn caused the myriad conflicts present in Dragon Ball's earlier arcs. Frieza has a massive ego, believing that he is the most powerful life form in the universe.
Gohan
Gohan is the elder son of series protagonist Goku and his wife Chichi. While he shares his father's strength and courageous spirit, he tends to pull away from fighting and only resorts to it as a means of defending his family and friends.
Gohan (Adult)
Like his younger self, adult Gohan is a courageous warrior with a strong sense of justice. Years after he defeated Perfect Cell, he would protect the citizens of Satan City under the identity of Great Saiyaman and would go on to become an even more powerful warrior when his potential was unlocked by the Old Kai.
Goku
Goku is the main protagonist of the entire Dragon Ball series. He's a Saiyan that was originally sent to Earth as an infant with a mission to destroy it. However, he ended up losing his memory not long after landing, which caused him to grow pure-hearted. Goku constantly trains hard to become a powerful fighter, which often results in him saving the universe in the process.
Goku (Super Saiyan Blue)
Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan (SSGSS) form, also known as Super Saiyan Blue, is an incredibly powerful form introduced in Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F. Goku describes it as occurring when a "Saiyan with the power of a Super Saiyan God further transforms himself into a Super Saiyan."
Goku Black
Goku Black is secretly a Supreme Kai apprentice Zamasu, who used the Super Dragon Balls to steal the body of Goku. He uses the power that he inherited from Goku's body to rid the universe of all mortals.
Gotenks
Gotenks is the brash and headstrong fusion of Goten and Trunks. Despite his youth, he's an immensely powerful fighter, though his impulsiveness tends to cause him to blindly rush into a battle.
Hit
Hit aka "Hit the Infallible" is a legendary assassin from Universe 6. He's considered the strongest member of Team Universe 6, a group of the most formidable warriors in Universe 6 assembled to participate in the Tournament of Destroyers.
Innocent Buu
Innocent Buu is the first and the least evil of Majin Buu's forms. He's the result of Kid Buu (the original and pure form of Majin Buu) absorbing the Grand Supreme Kai.
Kid Buu
Kid Buu is the original and pure form of Majin Buu, reverting back to this state after Goku and Vegeta removed Innocent Buu and all of the other fighters he absorbed. Kid Buu's erratic nature and unpredictability makes him the monster's most dangerous form.
Krillin
Krillin is the best friend and ally of Goku. He is known as one of the most talented human martial artists on Earth. While he is often overpowered by many of the series' antagonists, he remains a courageous and loyal fighter that rarely backs down from a fierce battle.
Nappa
Nappa is an elite Saiyan warrior and comrade of Vegeta. He was once a general of the Saiyan Army, but after his race's demise, he began working for Frieza. This would eventually lead him on a mission to defeat Goku. Despite putting his all into assisting Vegeta to accomplish that task, he was inevitably killed by the young prince for his incompetence and failure.
Piccolo
Piccolo, otherwise known as Piccolo Jr., is a Namekian and also the final child and reincarnation of the Demon King Piccolo. He was once an enemy of Goku, but after forming a close bond with Gohan in Goku's absence during the Saiyan Saga, he changes his ways and becomes a permanent member of the Z-fighters.
Vegeta
Vegeta is the crown prince of the fallen Saiyan race. He first appeared as a villain, who worked alongside Frieza and his minions. However, he turned against the villainous emperor in favor of fighting alongside the Z fighters, all while striving to become the most powerful fighter in the universe.
Vegeta (Super Saiyan Blue)
Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan (SSGSS) form, also known as Super Saiyan Blue, is an incredibly powerful form introduced in Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F. Vegeta achieves Super Saiyan Blue form through ki control in Dragon Ball Super.
Tien
Tien is a disciplined and reclusive martial artist, and one of the strongest fighters on Earth next to Krillin and Yamcha. He's a descendent of an ancient race known as the Three-Eyed People. When he's not supporting his allies in their efforts to defeat powerful foes threatening Earth, he's usually spending time training with his lifelong best friend, Chiaotzu.
Yamcha
A former desert bandit, Yamcha was once an enemy of Goku, but quickly reformed and became his ally. He's a brave and talented martial artist who often assists the Z-fighters whenever trouble arrives; though, this begins to vary as the series goes on and more powerful foes are introduced.
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