A new key visual has been revealed for the upcoming Digimon film that celebrates the original 1999 anime's 20th anniversary. The art is the first teaser image released for the new movie, which was first announced in May 2018. It can be seen below.
The key visual doesn't showcase much--it's a shot of Taichi (Tai in the English dub) and his partner Digimon, Agumon, holding hands. Taichi has also removed his goggles, an accessory he's worn for most of his partnership with Agumon. The visual was revealed via a tweet by Digimon Adventure Tri character designer Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru, who, according to Siliconera, made the image based on a specific scene from the upcoming movie. The tweet is accompanied by the message to "Please remember Taichi and Agumon this way until the movie releases."
— 【公式】劇場版デジモンアドベンチャー（仮題） (@Digi_advntr20th) March 5, 2019
Not much information is known about the upcoming movie. According to Crunchyroll, the entire cast of Digimon Adventure Tri is scheduled to reprise their respective roles in the new film. Producer Yosuke Kinoshita wants the movie to be both meaningful for the fans who have been watching Digimon since the 1999 anime, while also making its story accessible for newcomers to understand. Although Digimon Adventure's 20th anniversary is this year (tomorrow, March 7, actually), the movie is scheduled for Spring 2020. However, a new video game that celebrates the anniversary--titled Digimon Survive--is coming out this year.
The original Digimon Adventure anime follows the journey and battles of Taichi, Yamato (Matt), Sora, Koshiro (Izzy), Mimi, and Joe, as well as Taichi's younger sister Kari and Yamato's little brother Takeru (T.K.). All eight are elementary school-age kids who become trapped in the Digital World, another universe populated by monsters who can utilize energy to digivolve into more powerful forms. As the DigiDestined, all eight carry devices that can supply their partner Digimon with the necessary energy to digivolve on command.
— 【公式】劇場版デジモンアドベンチャー（仮題） (@Digi_advntr20th) March 5, 2019
A second season saw most of the cast pass the DigiDestined mantle onto a new team of kids as Taichi, Yamato, Sora, Koshiro, Mimi, and Joe entered middle school. 2015's Digimon Adventure Tri picks up several years later, with the original eight DigiDestined--now in high school--reuniting with their partners. The new, upcoming movie ages the original cast to around 22-years-old.
The next episode of Gotham, "The Trial of Jim Gordon," isn't the series finale of the Fox show. However, it is the final installment of the series that was filmed before production wrapped. In the episode, Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie) is near death after being shot and finds himself hallucinating a trial to determine whether or not he deserves to live, taking a deep look at everything Gordon has done since Gotham's pilot, for better or worse.
This particular episode also happens to be directed by Erin Richards, who plays Barbara Kean on the series. Having her at the helm for the final scenes filmed for the show created a special environment on-set, as the cast said goodbye to the characters they've embodied for five seasons. "It was the most emotionally satisfying end to this journey that you could possibly imagine," Robin Lord Taylor, who plays Penguin, told GameSpot at the TCA press tour. "To have someone who had been with all of us since the pilot, and to have her be one of us, as the actors, and just her connection to the crew, it was just so warm and beautiful and just super fitting to the family that we had built together over these last couple of years."
Additionally, as McKenzie--who wrote the episode--explained, the final scene of the episode was as close to a Gotham family reunion as you could expect. "We shot that in the confines of the set, in our big GCPD set--which is the first one that we built, the one that's lasted for five years--in front of everyone you know," he said. "The principal cast, most of [whom] are in character and some of whom just showed up on the day. The crew and our background players that have been there for five years, many of them. It was really wonderful that Erin was directing. It was a nice way to say goodbye."
For Richards, getting to direct her first episode of TV and having it also be the final installment of a series she's spent five years on was a unique experience. "It was like the most creatively inspiring, the funnest, the most challenging. And then just the most perfect way to end the most beautiful story," she said. "I could not ask for anything better. And I was so present for every moment. I don't know if directing does that, but I just felt like I was really experiencing every moment of it, which meant that I wasn't really sad when we finished because I could not have possibly have asked for anything more."
And once the final frame of "The Trial of Jim Gordon" has aired, the home stretch begins for Gotham. There will be only three episodes left as the series rockets to its Batman-filled conclusion. Given how often Gotham carves its own path, though, it remains to be seen whether Gordon will actually survive his trial and be around to see it all happen.
By Anonymous on Mar 06, 2019 11:30 pm Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse is getting a sequel! Here's what we know, what we think will happen, and the spider-heroes and villains we hope to see in Spider-Verse 2.
After a long time away, Capcom is bringing the cult favorite Devil May Cry series back to its classic roots. Set to release on March 8, 2019 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One, Devil May Cry 5 is the next major entry in the series, evolving the over-the-top action and style that popularized the series since its debut in 2001. With new weapons systems, multiple playable characters, and an abundance of callbacks to previous games, DMC5 looks to be the game that longtime fans have been waiting for. In our full review, we detailed why the new game in the series is everything long-time fans have been waiting for.
There's a lot to take in with DMC5, including its enhanced combat mechanics, and the new co-op mode that was revealed during the trailer at The Game Awards. Ever since its debut at E3 2018, we've got plenty to say about the action game, so we've broken things down to a few key points of interest. Here's everything we know about Capcom's upcoming return to stylish-action with Devil May Cry 5.
Devil May Cry 5 is an upcoming action-adventure game. Developed by Capcom, the long-running DMC series has always been about fast, stylish action while using a variety of unique weapons. Over the last 16 years, the series has gone on to inspire a particular brand of action gameplay, where fast-paced action and challenging battles go hand-in-hand. With every game, the stakes and scope of the series has grown, and DMC5 looks to be the most detailed and elaborate entry yet.
DMC5 seeks to continue that tradition of stylish action by telling the next major story in the series. With three playable characters--Dante, Nero, and the newcomer V--you'll go through several missions slashing and shooting demons and other monsters. Running on the RE Engine, the same framework powering Resident Evil 7 and the Resident Evil 2 remake, the game will feature the most detailed and richly realized visuals the series has seen yet. According to the developers, DMC5 will be the biggest game in the franchise has seen yet, incorporating a number of new features and innovations into the core gameplay.
The Full Review
In our full review of Devil May Cry 5, editor Matt Espineli gave it a 9/10, and stated that the series' classic sense of action and thrills are back in full force. Though he gave some criticisms for the game's fan-servicey moments and the unremarkable Cameo System, he praised the game's steadfast focus on offering in-depth and fun gameplay with its trio of playable characters.
"DMC5 thrives on the stylistic and mechanical prowess of its predecessors. It sticks to tradition above all else, pursuing a few ambitious new ideas along the way, but mostly maintaining the series' focus on intricate fighting systems and campy bravado. Rarely does the game stumble, consistently leveraging its spectacle and mechanical depth to push aside any small frustrations. All the while, the story exudes a charismatic charm that keeps you constantly intrigued as you're refining your skills. DMC5 proves the series can still be brilliant and imaginative without compromising its longest-held traditions."
When Does It Release And How Can I Catch Up?
DMC5's release date on PC, PS4, and Xbox One is set for March 8, 2019. If you want to catch up and play the previous games, you can check out the DMC HD Collection compiling the first three games on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Also, DMC4 Special Edition is available on the same platforms and offers a updated take on original the game, while also adding in three additional characters to play as. DmC: Definitive Edition, an update of Ninja Theory's reboot, is also an excellent entry in the series. If you're interested in checking that out, the Definitive Edition is available on PS4 and Xbox One (no PC release, unfortunately).
Pre-Release Build Impressions
"After spending a few hours playing Devil May Cry V, the joints in my fingers were aching and my wrist was cramped. These pains should be familiar to Devil May Cry fans; the series always required a high level of dexterity. But in this sorry state, a simple joy washed over me: 'I'm actually playing a new Devil May Cry game, and that's awesome.' But at the same time, another thought prodded my mind: 'Will everyone else want this?'" Read the full preview.
Can I Start With This Game?
Though this game references storylines and characters from across the 16 year history, it's totally possible to jump straight into DMC5. Just like with previous games, there will be digest material to help you get up to speed. But more importantly, the game will work as a standalone title, and won't require you to know every single character and their relationships. With that said, the game's plot will make more of an impact if you're familiar with the series.
The Reveal Trailer
After years of rumors and speculation, Devil May Cry 5 made its debut during Microsoft's E3 2018 press conference. The trailer began with an enigmatic voice-over talking over widespread carnage and bloodshed, with characters explaining that another demonic invasion has reached Earth. Afterward, we finally saw the return of Nero, riding around in his mobile headquarters with a neon blue Devil May Cry logo on the side. The trailer ended with a tease of Dante riding along on an strange, demonic motorcycle--giving a familiar smirk to the viewer.
What's New In DMC5?
Though many details about DMC5 are still under wraps, the game focuses on offering the same thrilling moments of action--with some added twists. In addition to new weapons and tweaks to existing characters, and even an online co-op mode, DMC5 will also feature a new training level called the Void mode. In this practice area, which can be pulled up in between missions, you'll be sucked into a space that allows you to experiment with the different moves and weapons you have available for the three playable characters. Pulling from Capcom's wealth of experience from fighting games, you can apply a whole set of options to your sparring partner--adjusting AI, attack damage, and other options--allowing you to get a feel for what your character can do.
How Does Nero Play?
Returning from DMC4, Nero is one of the main leads in DMC5. However, some things have changed since his first appearance that was quickly apparent from watching the debut trailer. For starters, his primary moveset is largely the same, using his Blue Rose revolver and Red Queen sword in tandem, which can charged up for extra damage. However, the Devil Bringer from the previous game--allowing him to yank and grapple enemies from afar--is gone, and he'll now have to rely on the new Devil Breaker system.
Crafted by series newcomer Nico, who works as a shopkeeper in their mobile headquarters, you'll be able to purchase upgrades and new items from her--including new Devil Breakers. Essentially, Devil Breakers are disposable arms that offer Nero different skills and modifiers to his moveset. For instance, the Gerbera arm will allow Nero to fire off projectile lasers, the Tomboy will amplify Nero's sword and gun strength (at the cost of disabling lock-on), and the Buster Arm will function similarly to his original Devil Bringer. However, there is a tradeoff to having these weapons. The prosthetic arms are extremely fragile and will break once you've taken enough damage from enemies or if you want to switch over to another weapon--destroying the equipped arm. However, there are plenty of arms scattered around the levels, allowing to find a new one fairly easily.
Where Does DMC5 Fit In The Series Timeline?
Devil May Cry 5 is a direct sequel to the events of DMC4, which saw Nero and Dante face off against Sanctus and the Order of Sparda. While the previous games only seldom referenced past events, opting to keep things more in the moment, DMC5 will have some direct callbacks to the other games--even explaining who crafted Dante's iconic weapons. Interestingly enough, Devil May Cry 2 will also play into the canon despite having been largely dismissed by fans and the developers in past years. Here's the current chronological order for the series.
DMC5 is a continuation of the story prior to Ninja Theory's reboot. Though DmC: Devil May Cry ended at a point that hinted at a another game, the upcoming DMC title is a direct sequel to 2008's Devil May Cry 4. There are no plans to continue on with Ninja Theory's reboot.
The Gamescom 2018 Trailer
In this new trailer, we got to see more of Nero in action--including his time-stopping devil breaker Ragtime--while also getting a peak at Dante's new weapons and moveset. During the debut trailer, we saw Dante riding a motorcycle, which is a constant throughout the series, but this trailer revealed that it also serves a new weapon for him, called the Cavaliere-B. The weaponized motorcycle turns into two large chainsaws, allowing him to combo back and forth into the vehicle and melee forms.
Is There A Demo?
Yes, the demo for DMC5 is out now on PS4 and Xbox One. This demo is a short mission with Nero fighting his way through the streets, culminating in a boss fight against Goliath. You have access to a few Devil Breakers, so be sure to jump in and give the game a shot!
How Does Co-Op Play Work?
Revealed during The Game Awards 2018, DMC5 features a new mechanic called the Cameo System, allowing players to team up online. Interestingly enough, this is the second time that co-op has appeared in the series--the first appearance being in Devil May Cry 3 during a particular boss battle. Throughout the campaign, certain stages will allow for players to choose from multiple character to play as. If you're online, then you'll load into the same stage with another player who's picked a different character, allowing you to complete the level together. After the level's completion, you can even rate the style of their performance. If you're offline, then the game's AI will control the other characters instead.
How Does Dante Play?
The original devil hunter makes a comeback, and he's exactly how you remember him from previous games. With the largest arsenal of weapons, Dante will be able to swap between a variety of swords, gauntlets, and other firearms on the fly--all while taking advantage of different combat styles and his signature devil trigger, which greatly amplifies his core damage and restores any lost health. After defeating major bosses throughout the game, Dante will acquire a new weapon for him to take advantage of, adding another deadly tool to his set.
One of the newer innovations for Dante is the option to customize specific loadouts for his melee and firearms. In the pre-mission menu, you can choose which weapons you want to bring with you in mission. If you want to come in fully armed--with up to four melee and firearms each--then you can do so. But if you're feeling more traditional and want to stick with one melee and firearm, you can do that too. Dante will also be able to use his different combat styles--Swordmaster, Gunslinger, Trickster, and Royal Guard--which can open up new moves to use for his weapons.
Are There Microtransactions?
During TGS 2018, we learned from our demo that DMC5 will feature a form of microtransactions for players to take advantage of. Using a similar method from Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition, these purchases will only allow you access to Red Orbs--DMC's currency--and they won't throw the game's balance out of whack, according to Capcom. Many of the major abilities and upgrades you can find are tied to the story, thus requiring you to earn access to them.
Will There Be Post-Launch Updates?
During the recent news drop during The Game Awards 2018, Capcom revealed plans to release the game's survival mode Bloody Palace the month after launch. Since DMC2, Bloody Palace has been one of the game's toughest challenges, pushing players to fight through 100 floors of enemies. During certain milestones after completing 10 or so floors, you'll face off against a returning boss from the campaign. At launch, the Bloody Palace won't be available, arriving as a free update in April 2019.
The TGS 2018 Trailer
At TGS 2018, Capcom released a new trailer revealing more of Dante and Nero's respective movesets and weapons. The original devil hunter also shows off a brand-new weapon known as the Balrog. This close-range, brawler-focused weapon features two distinct fighting modes channeling punches and kicks. At the end of the trailer, we also got another tease of the elusive third playable character referred to as V.
How Does V Play?
During the reveal of the new trailer at The Game Awards 2018, we finally saw gameplay of DMC5's new playable character V in action. In a stark contrast from Dante and Nero, V's combat skills focus primarily on his demonic familiars--returning DMC1 monsters Shadow, Griffon, and Nightmare. In the gameplay footage, we saw the character summon demons to fight against, with him staying at a distance as the beasts conjure up spikes, strike at close-range, and fire large energy beams against the enemies.
However when it comes down to it, V is still capable of fighting at close-range. With his cane, he can finish off weakened demons and mount some of the larger beasts as well. Also, V is capable of using several fake out teleport attacks to lure enemies in to strike them from behind. This character is certainly a big change from the others, and it'll be interesting to see just how different his moveset becomes when he gains additional moves and abilities.
The Game Awards 2018 Trailer
During The Game Awards, we saw a brand new trailer revealing more of DMC5's plot and trio of characters. Facing off against the big bad--a powerful demon named Urizen--Dante, Nero, Lady, and Trish seemed to have met their match. Dante himself even has his trusty sword, the Rebellion, shattered in the conflict. Throughout the trailer, we got to see plenty of action between the different playable characters--including V, who made his gameplay debut. Throughout the footage, we got to see V's particular combat style in action, focusing more on ranged combat and having his demonic familiars do his bidding. We also saw new footage of Dante's new firearm known as the Faust. Not letting up on the style, this weapon is demonic cowboy hat that uses red orbs as ammo--allowing you to cash in to summon meteors and other dangerous projectiles.
Is There A Special Edition?
Capcom plans to offer deluxe editions of Devil May Cry 5 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. The Digital Deluxe Edition (priced at $70) comes with the full game, four unique Devil Breakers for Nero--including Mega Man's mega-buster--DLC song packs, and alternate color-schemes for characters and weapons. The US will also get a special Collector's Edition ($150) that comes with the Deluxe version, an artbook, enamel pins, a bumper sticker, and special model of the Nico's motorhome. You can read more about these in our DMC5 pre-order guide.
However, if you're looking for the ultimate way to experience Devil May Cry 5, then you may to check out the Japan-only Limited Edition. Cost upwards of $8600, this edition comes with the deluxe edition and a replica leather jacket modeled after Dante's threads in-game. If you're a die-hard fan that won't miss spending several thousand dollars for video-game memorabilia, then you want to invest in this edition of the game.
For more on Devil May Cry 5, including guides on how to find all the secret missions and some sweet SSS action gameplay, be sure to check back with us at GameSpot.
Devil May Cry 5, the first numbered sequel in the franchise since 2008, releases this week. The name sends a clear signal to fans: this is the true successor to Devil May Cry 4.
The most significant addition is a completely new playable character, V. While Dante and Nero are known for their acrobatic gunplay, V is a very different fighter. He summons familiars while standing back and floating around the battlefield, letting them do his fighting for him. And of course, Dante and Nero themselves are back, offering the familiar action gameplay fans have come to expect. Capcom has marketed this as a return to form, but is it?
"As you send demons flying across the screen in Devil May Cry 5, a strong sense of familiarity will hit you," critic Matt Espineli wrote in GameSpot's review. "It is a brilliant iteration of the series' best qualities--but it innovates as much as it reiterates, balancing new and old with infectious confidence."
Read below for a selection of reviews from around the industry, and check GameSpot sister site Metacritic for even more reviews.
Game: Devil May Cry 5
Developer / Publisher: Capcom
Release date: March 8
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Price: $60 / £55 / AU $100
GameSpot -- 9/10
"DMC5 thrives on the stylistic and mechanical prowess of its predecessors. It sticks to tradition above all else, pursuing a few ambitious new ideas along the way, but mostly maintaining the series' focus on intricate fighting systems and campy bravado. Rarely does the game stumble, consistently leveraging its spectacle and mechanical depth to push aside any small frustrations. All the while, the story exudes a charismatic charm that keeps you constantly intrigued as you're refining your skills. DMC5 proves the series can still be brilliant and imaginative without compromising its longest-held traditions." -- Matt Espineli [Full review]
Guardian -- 5/5
"DMC5 is a lot like Dante himself: older, grizzled, more experienced, yet still unapologetically juvenile in the best possible way. It's bloody, spectacular and irresistible, all cheesy one-liners, guns, swords and explosions while guitars scream in the background, and it plays like a dream. Director Hideaki Itsuno and his team have delivered: Devil May Cry is back." -- Patrick Lum [Full review]
Telegraph -- 5/5
"It's stylish. It's cool. It's supremely fun, fluid and rewarding. Dante's back and he's brought some friends. And with combat flair that makes up the finest pure-action game we have seen in a long time, we hope they stick around." -- Olivia White [Full review]
GamesRadar -- 4.5/5
"Capcom has done it again, re-energising a classic series like never before, and pushing the genre forward in a fresh way. It looks better than ever, plays better than ever. It's Devil May Cry better than ever." -- Oscar Taylor-Kent [Full review]
Push Square -- 9/10
"Devil May Cry 5 is quite easily one of the best action games on PS4. Flawless in the execution of its often jaw-dropping combat, it's a masterfully crafted title that begs to be played over and over again. Stunning presentation helps sell some of the coolest cutscenes going, and the story ties the series together with style. Among a sea of uninspired open world outings, Devil May Cry 5 is an explosion of character and laser-focused excellence. Capcom is well and truly back." -- Robert Ramsey [Full review]
PC Gamer -- 9/10
"I've been hitting demons in this game for 19 hours so far, and I can easily see myself putting in 19 more. The setting lacks the flair and imagination of the genre behemoth Bayonetta, and those boss fights make it a slightly more uneven experience, but there's a greater variety of combat styles and a higher degree of challenge that will will keep me playing until Capcom hopefully releases another one. If you enjoy third-person brawlers DMC5 is a must, and if you've never tried one before, this is a great place to start. What a treat." -- Tom Senior [Full review]
Variety -- No Score
"It's fun, in the ways that the old games are fun, and, taken out of context, it makes some interesting changes to mix up how you approach its beloved Style. Devil May Cry 5 manages to shake off the rust and remind us why we liked these games before, but you have to work to ignore the fact that some of its moves are just a little bit out of date." -- Mike Epstein [Full review]
Nintendo is holding its first event in-game event in Tetris 99 this week. The Maximus Cup kicks off on March 8, and it gives players a chance to earn $10 worth of My Nintendo points.
Throughout the Maximus Cup, players will compete to rack up the most first-place wins in Tetris 99. The top 999 players by the end of the event will be rewarded with 999 My Nintendo Gold points. These points can typically only be earned by buying Switch titles, and they can be used toward purchasing games and DLC from the Switch Eshop.
The Maximus Cup begins at 5 AM PT on March 8 and ends at 11:59 PT on March 10 (2:59 AM ET on March 11). You can read additional details about the event on Nintendo's website.
Tetris 99 is a battle royale-inspired take on the classic puzzle game, pitting 99 players against each other in a competition to be the last one remaining. GameSpot's Peter Brown called it "riveting experience that even at its worst is still a game very much worth playing" in our Tetris 99 review, and other critics have had similar positive things to say about it.
Tetris 99 is free to download for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. Memberships cost $4 USD per month, $8 USD for three months, and $20 USD for 12 months. Nintendo also offers a $35 annual Family Membership that can be shared between eight Nintendo Accounts, even across multiple consoles.
Another perk you get for subscribing to the Nintendo Switch Online service is access to a catalog of classic NES games, which is updated monthly. This month, Nintendo will be adding Kid Icarus and StarTropics to the library beginning March 13.
Rainbow Six Siege's new DLC drop, Operation Burnt Horizon, is now available. The expansion has been rolling out for PS4, Xbox One, and PC over the course of March 6, signaling the start of a new Siege season and year.
Year 4, Season 1 brings two new Operators, Mozzie and Gridlock, as well as a new map named Outback. Gridlock is a 3 armor, 1 speed attacker who comes equipped with three Trax Stingers--throwable, expanding spike clusters that slow and damage enemies who walk on them. Think of them as attacking versions of razor wire that cause damage--and make a similar amount of noise. Gridlock is therefore seen as an anti-roaming Operator. Her weapons include the F90 assault rifle or M249 LMG, as well as the Super Shorty sawed-off shotgun.
Mozzie, meanwhile, is a 2 armor, 2 speed defender who wields three deployable Pest devices, which will automatically hack and take over any enemy drone that enters a small radius. The drone is then fully under the command of the defending team; a small blue light is the only indicator to attackers that their drone is no longer under their control. Mozzie can use an AR9 assault rifle or the R10 Ronie machine pistol, as well as the same Super Shorty as Gridlock.
Outback is the accompanying Australian-themed map to Operation Burnt Horizon. Its restaurant, hotel, and fuel station form a relatively small L-shape arena that offers ample opportunity for close quarters combat. Outback is free for all players, while Gridlock and Mozzie can be unlocked with in-game Renown or by buying the Year 4 pass--though it's worth noting those without the pass will need to wait until March 13 to buy the knew Operators.
Additionally, a bunch of Operators are being tweaked for Year 4. Dokkaebi's phone will auto-hang up after a 12 second ring, for example, while the planned changes to Capitao's crossbow bolts will no longer go ahead. Ubisoft had planned to increase the bolts' area of effect, but the developer now says it needs more time to evaluate data from the test server.
Other changes include a decrease in the amount of health you'll possess when revived--you'll now get back to your feet with 20 HP, rather than 50, while Ubisoft is also tweaking how leaning works to help combat lean spamming. The camera will come from the center of your Operator's head, rather than the side you were leaning to, as was the case before.
For more on Rainbow Six Siege, you can check out the new season's trailer above or read more about Gridlock, Mozzie, and Outback here. You can also read Operation Burnt Horizon's full patch notes on the Ubisoft blog.
By Anonymous on Mar 06, 2019 09:30 pm In Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, death isn't the end of your journey. Check out this gameplay clip of us destroying our enemies in the Senpou Temple with some interesting combat mechanics to add into the mix. Captured on PS4 Pro.
The Shinobi known as the Wolf, the protagonist of From Software's Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, is at a serious disadvantage. As he ventures through the hostile territory of the grounds of the castle where his master, the young Divine Heir, is being held prisoner, he constantly faces overwhelming odds and foes as deadly as any found in the Dark Souls games. Combat is difficult and punishing--and death comes frequently.
Players' relationship with death has been central to many of From Software's games, from Demon's Souls and Dark Souls to Bloodborne. In those games, death carries a massive penalty, costing you your ability to strengthen your character, and causing every decision in combat to become one of risk versus reward. Should you fight that enemy that could kill you to gain a massive payday in power-increasing souls, or avoid the gamble? Should you press the attack for a risky win, or stay conservative and wait for a better opening but prolonging the fight inviting potential disaster?
Sekiro deals in a lot of the same sorts of situations, with enemies that are exceptionally deadly and combat that's unforgiving; you're going to die--a lot. The difference is that Sekiro handles death differently than other recent From Software games, turning it into a tool in your arsenal, while also making it even more punishing. GameSpot recently had a chance to spend a few hours playing Sekiro, which included its opening area. What was most striking was how the omnipresence of death colors the experience in a new way compared to From Software's other games, creating new strategies and new pressures. In Sekiro, death doesn't just have combat and progression consequences--it alters the game's story.
That story begins with the Wolf, essentially, dying. After an attempt to rescue the Divine Heir in a short tutorial section, the Wolf is defeated by the Heir's captor, losing an arm in the process. The Wolf awakens sometime later, having survived thanks to a strange power. Coming to in a dilapidated shrine on the castle grounds where the Heir is being held, the Wolf finds that a strange sculptor has fitted him with a prosthetic arm called the Shinobi Prosthetic. It's equipped with a grappling hook, and upgrading the arm over time is one way you'll progress your character in Sekiro. The prosthetic can be fitted with various weapons; we tried a flamethrower and an attachment that threw stunning fireworks in the faces of enemies. Other attachments include blades, and switching between your weapon options quickly makes the Shinobi Prosthetic function a bit like the trick weapons of Bloodborne.
After meeting a few other people hanging around the shrine to help out, including a nurse who won't say who her master is and a samurai who lets you practice on him because he can't seem to die, Sekiro starts to advance like any other Souls game, in which you strike out and explore the world around you. Sekiro's grapple means you can reach high areas like rooftops, from which you can scope things out and plan your route and your combat options, and you can even sneak up on enemies or descend on them from above to kill them without a fight. That's good, because fighting enemies is tough, especially when there's more than one of them; your ability to grapple out of danger, even briefly, is going to keep you alive.
Staying alive is important, but death in Sekiro is more nuanced than in Souls games. If you're killed in battle, the Wolf can use his strange power to resurrect himself. In fact, you can use death as a tool-- enemies will often wander away from you after you fall, allowing you to resurrect and sneak up behind them to deal huge blows.
The caveat is, you only get two chances to revive yourself, and after that, the consequences are dire. Like Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne, you lose a huge amount of progress if you die and can't be resurrected. As you fight and kill enemies, you gain points you can use in progression trees to buy new skills and abilities for the Wolf to make him stronger; if you die, you lose half of all the points you've accumulated (but not the skills you've already acquired). The same goes for money, which is what you use to upgrade the Shinobi Prosthetic. Unplanned deaths seriously hamper your progression, and unlike the Souls games, you can't return to your own corpse to reclaim what you've lost.
What's more, death has further-reaching consequences than just slowing your ability to make yourself stronger. The more you die, the more a sickness called Dragon Rot grows in the world around you, and it can begin to afflict the people you've interacted with in the game. When a character you've met in Sekiro gets sick with the Dragon Rot, it'll change the ways they interact with you, possibly even stopping them from talking to you (or helping you, or selling you things, as the case may be). The sickness is represented by an item called Essence of Rot in your inventory, and you'll get one for each infected character. We didn't see what those characters' ultimate fates might be--Activision developers on-hand wouldn't reveal whether they could die in the name of holding back spoilers, but did say you'll be able to search for a cure to the disease to potentially the sick.
Though dying can be a huge setback in Sekiro, there is a chance you won't suffer the full pain of losing half of what you've earned every time. Sometimes when you die, a mechanic called Unseen Aid will kick in. This is basically a chance for divine intervention from the gods and Buddha, allowing you to keep all your experience points despite going to your grave. Unseen Aid has a relatively low chance of kicking in, though, and the more Essence of Rot you're carrying around, the lower the chance of receiving Unseen Aid becomes. The more you die, the tougher on you Sekiro can be.
So even with the revive system, death is a big consequence in Sekiro. Making sure you can avoid death's penalties has a big impact on how you'll play. You get two revive charges, but once you use them, each has a different requirement to restore them. One you get back from resting at one of the many idol statues in Sekiro, which are equivalent to the Souls games' bonfires, complete with the mechanic of restoring enemies you've already defeated to surrounding areas. The second charge comes from actually killing enemies--which means that you'll need to be aggressive when you return to the fight, or retreat to an idol (and respawn any defeated enemies) to protect yourself. Even if you just have the idol charge, you'll need to kill an enemy in order to be able to use it, though; you can't reclaim your own life without swapping one in return.
Despite death being an ever-present consideration, our time in Sekiro demonstrated how important being aggressive can be. Not only is it essential to make kills in order to restore your revives to deal with bad situations, but aggression baked into all of Sekiro's combat much more than in From's previous games, thanks to the Posture system. Posture refers to an enemy's ability to deal with your attacks; as you strike them or parry their blows, their Posture is lowered, and once it's completely emptied, they're staggered. That lets you get in close for a deathblow strike to do massive damage. While you can do damage with attacks when you parry a blow or break an enemy's guard, deathblows from breaking Posture and stealth attacks are the real way you win fights in Sekiro. Getting them generally requires getting right in enemies' faces, though, because Posture is both about deflecting enemy attacks and landing your own--and it's a constant balance between maintaining your own Posture and breaking your opponent's. It makes for tough, up-close fights where pressing the attack is rewarded, and the hit-and-run, conservative tactics of avoiding damage in Bloodborne and Dark Souls are much less effective.
Though Sekiro offers more combat options thanks to the addition of stealth mechanics like sneaking through bushes to ambush enemies, and the grapple that lets you zip away from enemies or onto rooftops to reposition, it definitely carries From Software's signature difficulty. The systems surrounding death and combat in the game make for a fresh take on what Souls fans are used to, but with effects that might be even more crushing than before.
What's interesting is the way Sekiro is using ideas similar to what fans are familiar with to create fresh experiences--whether it's combining the assassination opportunities of stealth that even work on some bosses, with more aggressive combat; or thinking about ways to both use and avoid death. Sekiro's different spin on From Software's formula creates a new, interesting relationship with video game death for players, while continuing to be just as crushing as fans expect.
As you send demons flying across the screen in Devil May Cry 5, a strong sense of familiarity will hit you. This is "old school" Devil May Cry, a simplistic network of hallways and arenas where you humiliate demons with absurd weaponry as a thumping battle theme fuels the bliss of every well-executed combo. DMC5 marks a return to the previous series continuity, and everything you remember about how those games played has been resurrected and improved. It is a brilliant iteration of the series' best qualities--but it innovates as much as it reiterates, balancing new and old with infectious confidence.
The majority of your time in DMC5 is spent killing demons. With an array of melee and projectile attacks, you inflict complex combo strings while performing split-second dodges to evade incoming attacks. An in-game ranking system continually judges your style, encouraging you to better your performance. Protagonists Nero, Dante, and newcomer V each offer their own unique playstyles that makes the simple objective of clearing rooms of enemies continually exhilarating. Combat is where the game most expresses itself, showcasing the nuances of its mechanical depth in a variety of creative ways.
Nero is where new and old ideas come together. Replacing his lone Devil Bringer from DMC4 are new prosthetic arms called Devil Breakers. With them, you can pull enemies towards you, as well as tap into an assortment of special abilities depending on which Devil Breaker model you have equipped. For example, Overture can deliver a wide shock attack, while Punch Line shoots a rocket-powered fist that continuously damages enemies. Devil Breakers significantly evolve Nero's playstyle by expanding his attacks, but what's most curious is how switching between them requires you to discard your current one in order to equip the next down the line. At first, this seems like an arbitrary way to access each arm's unique abilities--not to mention there's little done to justify this rule in-game other than asserting that they're simply "fragile."
However, this limitation introduces a thrilling spontaneity to combat that encourages you to be industrious and adaptable. You're initially compelled to be frugal with Devil Breakers, but as you expand the number you can carry, you start hitting a rhythm expending them with strategic grace, flowing from one stylish combo to the next. But even with the best reflexes, an enemy can shatter a Devil Breaker mid-combo, which forces you to adjust your strategy on the fly. A persistent tension underlies using Nero's Devil Breakers, melding high-consequence tactics with impulsive creativity. The gratifying free-flowing strategies that Devil Breakers inspire makes it easy to overlook any initial frustrations. They present a brilliant dichotomy that strengthens and amplifies the idiosyncrasies of Nero's more accessible playstyle.
Where Nero brings new flair to classic mechanics, V is fresh and unexpected. Unlike his sword-touting brethren, V damages enemies from afar with his two familiars: a shape-shifting panther named Shadow and a demonic bird named Griffon (DMC1 fans should instantly recognize these creatures). The former inflicts melee attacks, while the latter shoots projectiles. Each have their own regenerating health bar and can be taken out of combat temporarily if you're not careful. V also has a third familiar named Nightmare. This giant golem acts as more as a Devil Trigger-like last resort who can inflict ridiculous damage all on his own for a short duration. In addition, it can be commandeered to inflict more direct assaults on enemies. An enemy cannot be killed by a familiar's attacks alone, though; V himself must inflict the final blow. V requires a patience that goes against your general instinct to be confrontational. As a result, his more deliberate pace can be occasionally irritating, especially when your familiars have trouble focusing on the proper target during a hectic fight. It's a bit disorienting due to the lack of feedback from hitting enemies with your familiars.
Despite this, V's emphasis on space management and calculated movement is a fantastic change of pace. Cunningly avoiding attacks as you command your familiars to deliver complex juggles is a satisfying thrill. And it's made all the more rewarding by the impact of a final blow alongside V's brief poetic soliloquies. V demands restraint, a quality that defies the offensive strategies of previous characters. His abilities may not seem like much, but he reframes the way DMC is played, demonstrating that there's still room for original and refreshing ideas in combat. V's inventive playstyle is a superb addition that feels right at home alongside Nero and Dante.
Old-timer Dante most maintains traditional mechanics, but he's also where combat is most creative. Like his DMC4 counterpart, he's able to seamlessly switch between four different fighting styles, each with their own unique maneuvers and setups. This time, though, he can equip up to four weapons and four guns. It's a joy to perform combos with Dante's extensive arsenal; you're capable of rush-stabbing a demon, break-dance-fighting them while they're down, and then propelling them into the air with a demonic motorcycle chainsaw.
While part of the fun is taking in the spectacle of a fight, playing as Dante is really about expressing yourself. There are so many attack combinations available that you can't help but get sucked into learning the nuances of his every ability to achieve your desired style and flair. DMC historically excels when it's continually motivating you to not only master its systems, but to execute upon them as elegantly and creatively as possible. Eventually, you get into a kind of flow with Dante, where combat is less about thinking than it is about feeling your way through it. Each character in DMC5 exemplifies this depth and intensity, but it's with Dante's open-ended combos where it feels most liberating and rewarding.
With an abundance of fighting systems to learn, it helps that you're gradually weaned into them. The campaign's pacing is deliberate, starting you with the more accessible Nero, then switching you to strategic spacing of V before opening up combat entirely with Dante. But even as you grow accustomed to how everyone plays, new mechanics are constantly introduced, keeping you thoroughly engaged in the highs of DMC5's stylish combat.
There are plenty of foes that test your abilities, too. Bosses in particular offer the most rewarding trials, with different challenges to suit each character's playstyle. For instance, one pushes Dante's ability to maintain quick and effective damage, where another is tailored specifically to V's vulnerability at close-range, forcing you to frequently manage your spacing while keeping your familiars in play. There are a couple bosses tied to relatively anticlimactic set pieces, but these are few and far between. The challenges are kept consistent, supplying riveting duels and new layers of complexity that inspire you to improve. And even with repeated deaths, a lenient continue system keeps the action and drama moving.
Speaking of drama, DMC5's story is an engrossing, albeit predictable, saga with plenty of extravagant action to keep you thoroughly entertained. It has a non-linear structure that has you switching perspectives to get the full picture, which lends variety to the events unfolding before you. Set in the duration of a single day, you're notified of the passing of time at the start of every mission. The narrative benefits from this approach to storytelling, keeping you invested in what each mission has to contribute to your understanding of the timeline.
The return to familiar characters is perhaps the story's most endearing quality. In fact, there are several loving nods to many of the series' most iconic moments scattered throughout-- a particular instance involving Dante and a hat is a hilarious acknowledgement to the character's history. While some characters, like fan-favorites Trish and Lady, don't have much to contribute, their presence at least brings a sense of camaraderie. However, a couple of nude scenes involving them come across as tasteless; with so many pleasing callbacks and references, moments like this awkwardly stand out. They feel cheap and unnecessary, hurting Trish and Lady's already minimal characterizations. It stands in stark contrast to the always delightful gunsmith Nico, who's established as headstrong, intelligent, and the reason why Nero is able to make short work of demons in the first place.
The story ties a nice bow on the classic continuity's unanswered questions, allowing for satisfying conclusions for its major protagonists.
In spite of its more ambitious scale, DMC5's story leaves room for meaningful character development. It's by no means a nuanced study of its protagonists that digs deep into what makes them tick. But their motivations are always made abundantly clear, making for compelling melodrama whenever they clash against one another. You grow attached to their impassioned, if a bit simplistic, plights--if only to see how they'll overcome the harrowing challenges set before them. Ultimately, the story ties a nice bow on the classic continuity's unanswered questions, allowing for satisfying conclusions for its major protagonists.
There is an effort to pull DMC5's more grandiose moments together on a mechanical level with the Cameo System, which adds a subtle online cooperative element to the formula. Some missions often include the presence of another character exploring a nearby area or even acting alongside you. By default these characters are AI controlled, but through the Cameo System they're controlled either by other players online or their respective ghost data. A cool concept on paper, the feature is largely underutilized with only one particularly exciting instance where you actually get to fight alongside another player. That said, seeing another player from afar does add a novel yet fleeting solidarity to your journey.
DMC5 thrives on the stylistic and mechanical prowess of its predecessors. It sticks to tradition above all else, pursuing a few ambitious new ideas along the way, but mostly maintaining the series' focus on intricate fighting systems and campy bravado. Rarely does the game stumble, consistently leveraging its spectacle and mechanical depth to push aside any small frustrations. All the while, the story exudes a charismatic charm that keeps you constantly intrigued as you're refining your skills. DMC5 proves the series can still be brilliant and imaginative without compromising its longest-held traditions.
Mortal Kombat 11 has already featured a ton of recognizable faces from the breadth of the entire series, and more returning characters have appeared. Erron Black, Cassie Cage, and Jacqui Briggs--all characters who made their first appearances in Mortal Kombat X--feature prominently in a new story trailer and have been confirmed as playable fighters.
The trailer focuses on Kronika and her attempts to fix the rift being caused by Raiden by drawing together multiple realities in order to reset the timeline. That brings in some recognizable characters we know from the series like Johnny Cage, along with newer additions that just appeared for the first time in the last game. The trailer shows each of the newly announced characters in story sequences, as well as brief snippets of what would appear to be their fatalities.
Cassie Cage is the daughter of Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage, while Jacqui Briggs is the daughter of Jax. Erron Black is an Outworld gunslinger and mercenary. Cassie will be shown in more detail during the Kombat Kast on March 6 at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET. For now you can watch the story trailer above.
NetherRealm is planning an online stress test for March 15-17. That test will be closed and only available to select players in the US, and only for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions. Another beta test will be coming from March 28-31, which will be open for Xbox One and PS4 pre-orders. Pre-ordering also gets you Shao Kahn as a playable character. Once the full game releases on April 23, it will come to those platforms along with PC and Nintendo Switch.
By Anonymous on Mar 06, 2019 08:48 pm Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaimen's best selling novel is coming to life in this brand new series from Amazon Prime, starring Michael Sheen, David Tennant, and Jon Hamm.
Microsoft has announced another handful of games coming to Xbox Game Pass throughout the first half of March. You can prepare for spring by hoarding up the latest in an open-world action franchise, racing across the finish line, building a super-team, and exploring the wasteland.
The first two games, Just Cause 4 and Lego Batman 2, are coming on March 6. Just Cause 4 is the most recent release on the list, having just come out in December. It's the latest in the series starring professional dictator-overthrower Rico Rodriguez, letting you cause wanton destruction amid new extreme weather events like snowstorms and tornadoes. Lego Batman 2 brings back the Dark Knight alongside a host of other famous DC crimefighters to save Gotham City from the blocky schemes of Lex Luthor and the Joker.
Then on March 14, the service will add F1 2018 and Fallout 4. F1 is the official game of the globally popular racing series, and features media interviews and other events to help shape your reputation as a racer. It also brings the French and German Grand Prix back to the racing calendar. Fallout 4 is the latest traditional installment in the RPG series, sending you out on a quest among the wastes to locate your missing son.
The listing ends there, midway through the month, so we're likely to see another announcement covering the second half of March sometime later. Microsoft similarly split February.
Xbox Game Pass is an all-you-can-eat subscription service, offering dozens of full games to download for a monthly fee of $9.99 / £8. Microsoft is including first-party games at launch to sweeten the deal, and in February that gave players access to Crackdown 3. You can check out the line-up of Game Pass games here.
By Anonymous on Mar 06, 2019 07:30 pm Kano is back in Mortal Kombat 11 and has some new tricks (or knives) up his sleeve. Check him out in action in this gameplay clip captured on PS4 Pro.
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