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Publisher: 2K GamesDeveloper: Gearbox SoftwareRelease: September 13, 2019Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PCThe final trailer for the last of the four new Vault Hunters has arrived, and FL4K the Beastmaster and his three loyal and fearsome pets are ready to kill. Meet the pack in the newest character trailer.
FL4K has three pets of different varieties, each with its own abilities. First is a Spiderant in the Hunter skill tree with a drill for a leg and a penchant for killing. The Jabber, of the Stalker skill tree, is eager to please. The Skag, in the Master skill tree, is a deadly beast who just wants to have fun. On top of these three pets, FL4K can also summon Rakks to fly into battle after expanding the Hunter tree.
FL4K, a marksman, is an emergent A.I. on a never-ending hunt. What exactly is he hunting for? You'll have to wait for Borderlands 3 to find out. Borderlands 3 is coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on September 13. For the other hunter trailers follow the links for Zane, Amara, and Moze.
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Publisher: SEGADeveloper: SEGARelease: October 29, 2019Rating: Everyone 10+Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Super Monkey Ball for modern consoles was announced last month, but the teaser trailer didn't actually show any gameplay – just footage from cutscenes. The latest trailer for the game shows off a decent amount of gameplay and promises you will be able to, "roll around with fun arcade style music."
Banana Blitz HD is an HD re-release of the Monkey Ball game that released for Wii. Players were generally underwhelmed by it when it released citing the motion controls as the primary complaint. Considering the game's new platforms (only a few of which offer motion controls) and the gameplay seen in the trailer, it looks like Banana Blitz HD will offer traditional Monkey Ball gameplay controls.
For more on Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz HD, head here. The game launches October 29 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch. A PC version is coming at a later date.
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Publisher: ModusDeveloper: FrozenbyteRelease: October 8, 2019Rating: Rating PendingPlatform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
The Trine series has also offered a reliably fun cooperative platforming experience in a beautiful fantasy setting. The fourth Trine game, Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince is coming later this year and the latest trailer reveals exactly when.
Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince is coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC on October 8. Also available on all those platforms on the same day in the Trine Ultimate Collection, which will have all four games gathered together in one package.
For our review of the first Trine sequel, Trine 2, head here. For more on Trine 4, head here.
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Publisher: 505 GamesDeveloper: Lab Zero GamesRating: Rating PendingPlatform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Indivisible has been in development for a long time, but the game finally has a release date – on most of its platforms. The game is coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on October 8, but the Switch version has the vague "coming soon" release date assigned to it.
Indivisible comes from Lab Zero, the studio behind the visually impressive fighting game, Skullgirls. Indivisible is a platformer RPG firmly placing it a different genre, but it retains the impressive hand-drawn visuals the studio is now known for.
Click image thumbnails to view larger version
For more on Indivisible, you can watch us play the game in a recent episode of New Gameplay Today.
Our Take
Indivisble has not been delayed on Switch, per se, as the game's release date was kind of vague to begin with, but it is still disappointing to see it pushed out a bit for Nintendo's platform. Lab Zero may be concerned about another Bloodstained situation, where the Switch version of a game is clearly the weakest version. In any case, I am excited the game finally has a finish line. We've been looking forward to it for some time. -
Publisher: 2K SportsDeveloper: Visual ConceptsRelease: September 6, 2019Rating: Everyone 10+Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
A couple of years after the WNBA first came to the NBA Live series, the biggest basketball franchise in video games is adding the female professional league to its ranks as well. NBA 2K20 brings all 12 WNBA teams and their players into the fold.
Authenticity is one of the guiding pillars of the 2K series, so the development team at Visual Concepts took all the necessary measures to make sure the WNBA players look and act like their real-world counterparts. This meant capturing thousands of new animations with the help of WNBA stars like Candace Parker and Breanna Stewart, creating new hairstyles, advancing their hair simulation technology, and adding face scans and new body types. You can see them on display in this gameplay trailer:
Click here to watch embedded mediaVisual Concepts also added specific WNBA A.I., playbooks, and defensive schemes for each of the 12 teams. For the inaugural season, you can play with WNBA teams in two modes – Play Now and Season.
NBA 2K20 releases on September 6 for PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC. You can play the demo starting August 21 on all platforms besides PC. To learn more about the game, read our preview of the changes coming to MyGM and MyLeague, as well as the innovations driving the on-court action.
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Hello hybridial,
Welcome to UnityHQ Nolfseries Community. Please feel free to browse around and get to know the others. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.
hybridial joined on the 08/08/2019.
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Hello benox50,
Welcome to UnityHQ Nolfseries Community. Please feel free to browse around and get to know the others. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.
benox50 joined on the 08/07/2019.
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Apex Legends’ map is full of different places to land in and loot. In the early days, there was no real strategy except going with your gut and hoping for the best. But that’s changed now that countless matches have taken place and players are paying more attention. One player-made program collecting data on thousands…
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Publisher: 505 GamesDeveloper: Remedy EntertainmentRelease: August 27, 2019Rating: Rating PendingPlatform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Remedy is slowly but surely revealing more and more about its upcoming title Control. But don't get your hopes up too much, the studio is still reveling in the mystery. Up on the Twitter account for Control, the developer is releasing a series of small teasers for the game.
"The Enemy within" is the second video from our selection of short and spoiler-free Control related videos which aim to quickly introduce players to the game. This time it's about the Hiss. Pre-order Control today
— Control (@ControlRemedy) August 7, 2019
https://t.co/lZrRstrbrB #ControlRemedy pic.twitter.com/Be0hUH18yFAs we get closer to the release date of August 27, Remedy is going all in on building up the hype. If you're still confused about what's going on in this teaser, be sure to check out our gameplay footage for more. You can also learn all about Control's development through exclusive features and videos in our online coverage hub.
[Source: Control on Twitter]
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Publisher: EA SportsDeveloper: EA CanadaRelease: September 27, 2019Rating: Rating PendingPlatform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Fans of FIFA's career mode haven't gotten a lot of love in recent years, but FIFA 20 series developer EA Vancouver is trying to give fans something to look forward to.
One of the main areas for this year in the mode is the subject of morale, which influences players' attributes. Pre- and post-match manager press conferences (now with actual manager models), as well as one-on-one dialogs with players, affect team and player morale. These interactions take place via a left-analog controlled dialog system similar to the one used in transfer dealings.
The mode generates player storylines based on their performance that require your response as a manager. How you respond affects not only the player involved but also your standing as a manager.
As you'll be more front and center as the skipper, thankfully you can customize your manager's avatar to a much greater degree than in previous games, including being a woman. The customization options not only include more detailed facial features, but also different outfits you can change at any time.
FIFA 20's career mode changes also include:
- Improved fixture congestion
- Player potential affected by performance
- Increased initial wage budget allocation
- Better A.I. starting elevens
- Increased transfer market value for defensive players
- New transfer-negotiation settings
For more on the game's career mode, check out the game's full Pitch Notes blog.
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Click here to watch embedded mediaPublisher: The Pokemon Company, NintendoDeveloper: Game FreakRelease: November 15, 2019Platform: Switch
Much like Sun and Moon's Alolan region-specific version of classic Pokémon, Sun & Moon's Galarian region will also be receiving exclusive versions of familiar Pokémon. The trailer (seen above) shows off Galarian Weezing (a poison/fairy type), Galarian Zigzagoon (a dark/normal type), and Galarian Linoone (another dark/normal type), which can evolve into Obstagoon.
The trailer also revealed Sword & Shield's rival team, Team Yell. Team Yell looks a bit like punk rock soccer hooligans who are apparently big fans of a trainer named Marnie. The trailer also showed a rival named Bede, but it's unclear what Marnie's relationship is too Marnie and Team Yell.
A new Pokémon was also shown. Morpeko is a hamster-inspired Pokémon who can change forms between the cute full belly mode and the scary and evil hangry mode.
Pokémon Sword & Shield is coming to Switch on November 15. For more in the game, head here.
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Publisher: AtlusDeveloper: AtlusRelease: 2020Platform: PlayStation 4
It was a common complaint about Persona 5. You finish your day, you're single and ready to mingle, but THAT CAT is blocking the bedroom door out. You want to play video games, "Aren't you tired?" You want to lift weights, "Maybe you should go to sleep." The voice actress even made fun of it. It was kind of a frustrating problem because putting that decision on another character felt like it took away agency from your character as a little cat ordered you to get under those sheets with no other options.
Thankfully, that appears to be changing with Persona 5 Royal.
Atlus has been using their Twitter account to host something called "Ask Morgana Anything," where people write in questions to the cat that hates late nights to get answers about the upcoming Persona 5 revision. This time, someone asked a popular question: "I know you’ll reprimand me, Morgana, but can we go out more at night?"
Atlus replied in character, saying that there would be a lot more activities in Persona 5 Royal, like reading, watching DVDs with Morgana, studying, or what have you. Be warned, though, you still will have to call it an early night when the story demands it. It should just theoretically demand it less.
Persona 5 Royal is scheduled to hit the PlayStation 4 in America in 2020.
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Publisher: Easy Day StudiosDeveloper: Easy Day StudiosPlatform: PC
Skater XL by Easy Day Studios is still in Early Access on PC, but the title continues to work on its craft, moving forward with more features and a flexible animation-based approach to skating.
The studio held a mo-cap session with Old Friends pro Walker Ryan and explained how the footage was the first building block toward how it wants to replicate skating movements in the title. This isn't anything new for video games, but Easy Day built a new system from scratch to synthesize the information and make it instantly accessible as players perform tricks in the game. The goal is to give users the freedom to come up with whatever tricks they can muster and have the game respond realistically, both visually and for the sport.
Click here to watch embedded mediaThe studio has also done other scanning sessions for the game's customizable character and the gear players can utilize, such as clothing and accessories. The character and their clothing come together via photogrammetry to make it all look and behave as realistically as possible.
The results – which haven't even incorporated some of the new animations captured in the Walker Ryan session – can be glimpsed below, and they look like they might reveal a new location for the title, adding to the previous L.A. Civic Center spot.
You'll be able to make your own clips like these in the final game thanks to the instant-replay editor, which modders have already been using to make their own video edits, highlight reels, and mashups in a continuation of the skating tradition of homemade videos. Players can place camera waypoints to get the vantage point they desire and even set a specific path for the camera to follow for that skate-along view.
For more on the game, check out its Steam Early Access page and take a look at our hands-on with the title in this New Gameplay Today episode taken from a much earlier version.
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Publisher: Jupiter CorporationDeveloper: Jupiter CorporationRelease: July 25, 2019Rating: TeenReviewed on: Switch
Picross has quietly become a staple of Nintendo’s handheld platforms that is consistently fun, but rarely strays too far from its comfort zone. Lord of the Nazarick tries something new and changes up the formula, but only slightly, by partnering with the anime and novel property, Overlord, to deliver a picross experience that has a little bit of storytelling. The main draw still remains picross, though, even if the occasional cutscene appears.
Picross is a number-based, picture-drawing style of puzzle that has more in common with Sudoku than something like Tetris. Looking at a grid lined with numbers, you have to use logic to figure out which squares to fill in and which ones to mark with an X. After filling in all the appropriate squares you are left with a pixelated image. Tapping away at a grid to ultimately create a picture is always a rewarding finish line to a puzzle. This element of picross has mostly been the same since the puzzle’s inception, but Nazarick adds a few wrinkles, some welcome quality-of-life options, and a narrative.
Click image thumbnails to view larger version
The story, which is the element that separates this picross from the games before it, is minor. The Overlord anime (and novels) follows Ainz, a player obsessed with an online video game called Yggdrasil. At the start of the story, Yggdrasil’s servers are shutting down, but Ainz stays online anyway, and he is transported to a new reality based on the game making him an ultra-powerful overlord in a fantasy world. The idea behind Lord of the Nazarick is Ainz is trying to restore documents (by solving picross puzzles) in order to figure out what has been going on in the world prior to his arrival. If you’re familiar with the source material, you get a chance to see conversations between Ainz and familiar characters, but newcomers will likely be confused about what is happening; it doesn’t do a very good job even setting up the base plot. The story elements end up being middling, but on the plus side, the character interactions are short, and I liked even having a small conceit for completing puzzles. Usually in picross you’re just handed a long list of puzzles and that’s it.
To see the full story you only need to complete the standard picross puzzles, but a number of optional additional puzzle types are available. Color Picross is a new type of puzzle that plays by picross’ normal rules, but adds color. Color Picross forces you to rethink your normal picross tactics and rewards you with a more interesting picture. I initially struggled with Color Picross, but came to enjoy it once I wrapped my head around it.
Click here to watch embedded mediaClip Picross isn’t new to Nazarick, but is a welcome addition. These puzzles are made of smaller picross puzzles that eventually come together to create one large picture, which is a lot of fun and always has been. Mega Picross puzzles, which change the way numbers are displayed on the grid, are also available, but they’re totally optional (and even somewhat hidden in the menu), which I am thankful for because I have never enjoyed this style of puzzle.
When it comes to solving any of the puzzles, you can now hold down the R button to help you count out squares. While this admittedly sounds like a small addition, it makes the whole process of solving puzzles more convenient and accurate and if it does not appear in future picross games, I will sorely miss it.
Combining picross with a relatively obscure anime (and not even using the anime’s name in the title) is a weird choice, but if you’re looking for more picross, you can’t go wrong here. The quality-of-life improvements are good, the Color Picross mode is fun, and having a little bit of story is a nice change of pace, even if the plot doesn’t have much to it.
Score: 7.5
Summary: Combining picross with a relatively obscure anime (and not even using the anime’s name in the title) is a weird choice, but if you’re looking for more picross, you can’t go wrong here.
Concept: Loosely tie a large collection of picross puzzles to the anime Overlord
Graphics: The art from the anime looks sharp as do the menus housing various picross puzzles, but nothing stands out as being visually exceptional or noteworthy
Sound: The quiet music, subtle sound effects, and lack of voice acting means playing this game on mute is a viable option
Playability: The typical, functional picross controls all exist here, but a new option to hold down the R button to help you count squares is incredibly helpful
Entertainment: Having even a little bit of story context for why you’re solving picross puzzles is nice, but the main draw here is more picross puzzles, Color Picross puzzles, and some added control options
Replay: Moderately high
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Publisher: Electronic ArtsDeveloper: BioWareRelease: February 22, 2019Rating: TeenPlatform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Anthem players have something new to dive into today, with the launch of its long-awaited (and delayed) Cataclysm update. BioWare and EA have released a new trailer that outlines just some of what it brings, too, if you haven't been keeping up.
In short, the Cataclysm event pits players against time itself, as they race against the clock for higher scores. It takes place in a new location, with eight different arenas. Perform well as a team and maximize your 15 minutes, and you can unlock crystals to purchase new gear for your Javelin.
The update is available now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
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Click here to watch embedded mediaDeveloper: Vertigo GamesRelease: early access 2020Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox, PC
Watching this trailer is definitely not a good idea to do when you're hungry. The Cook, Serve, Delicious! franchise is back and ready to solidify its trilogy for the Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and Nintendo Switch. With early access coming in 2020, we'll have plenty of time to decipher what new elements were revealed in the trailer above.
This time around, it seems players are going to be serving up food in a food truck driving around a post-apocalyptic world with robot assistants. This is a big transition from the previous installments, which just involved a regular present-day restaurant-sim scenario. Despite the new additions, players are still able to cook up some delicious-looking meals in a fast-paced environment.
Feeling a little hungry after this article? Well go ahead and check out Jacob Geller's feature on some of video games' most mouth-watering pixels.
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Publisher: ActivisionDeveloper: Infinity WardRelease: October 25, 2019Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Last week, we revealed our September 2019 cover story as Infinity Ward’s reimagining of its flagship subseries: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. While we’ll have exclusive interviews and impressions throughout the month, we wanted to lead with the most important detail: You can equip your character with a digital pet that is known as a Tamagunchi.
This oddball idea was born from art director Joel Emslie’s passion for watches. “We put in a watch pretty early on; one of our coders got really excited about it and over a weekend synced up a dev kit to have the actual time on the watch, so it actually tells the real time from your kit,” multiplayer design director Geoff Smith says.
Once they saw a working wristwatch (shown above) was possible, they began brainstorming what else was possible. They started with things like stat tracking and functionality you might find in a modern smartwatch or fitness tracker. “Then that just kind of kept growing into more and more madness.” Smith says.
Eventually, the team decided to implement a digital pet, inspired by the Tamagotchi craze of the ‘90s, which you can choose to equip to your character in multiplayer and the co-op Spec Ops mode. Think of the Tamagunchi as a pet you need to feed and care for, but instead of food, you nurture it with kills. Go on a wild killstreak? It’ll chirp with delight as you rack up the points. Hit a dry spell? It’ll get angry and demand you do better.
“This little thing on your wrist, every time you get a string of kills, it goes, ‘Ya-ta!’ and it makes a little noise, then you look at it, and it evolved out of an egg,” Emslie says. “Tamagunchis are fed by the player’s performance in multiplayer. It’s just this little active wristwatch thing.”
The Tamagunchi evolves from an egg and reacts to your performance. It doesn’t poop (yet), but it does need to be cared for, or else it’ll face a grim fate. “If you don’t take care of your Tamagunchi, it will rot and die,” Emslie says.
Obviously, if you don’t want to equip a Tamagunchi to your character, you don’t have to. However, for those seeking a little bit of levity and zaniness amidst a shooter that promises to explore heavy subjects in single-player and feature intense firefights across every mode, the Tamagunchi might be just the thing you’re looking for when Call of Duty: Modern Warfare hits PS4, Xbox One, and PC on October 25.
Click on the banner below to reach our hub for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. We'll be adding content all month examining how Infinity Ward is breathing new life into the longstanding series, with articles, interviews, videos, and more.
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Publisher: Electronic ArtsDeveloper: Respawn EntertainmentRelease: February 4, 2019Rating: TeenPlatform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Since release, Apex Legends has pit players against each other in battle royales in teams of three. You fall to the battlegrounds together, you win together, and you lose together. Not everyone is keen on that kind of multiplayer however and many fans have requested that Apex Legends at least offer a mode for single players, much like other battle royale games. Traditionally, Respawn and EA haven't been keen on doing this, but a new time-limited event will give those fans a taste of what they've been asking for.
Respawn has announced that, as part of the upcoming Iron Crown Collection event, players can do solo matches for the first time. The announcing tweet was accompanied by a video of Apex Legends heroes standing in teams as their teammates fade away.
https://twitter.com/PlayApex/status/1158784910594674688While this is a time-limited mode that likely only takes place during the Iron Crown Collection event, Respawn has added modes that proved popular to the main game before. Ranked mode, which was a side-activity during Bloodhound's event in June, was then added to the game when the second season rolled around. Should solos work out, I expect the new mode will follow suit.
Apex Legends is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Respawn's Star Wars game, Jedi: Fallen Order, releases this November, while the studio is also set to reveal a VR game at Oculus Connect next month.
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Publisher: Perfect WorldDeveloper: Gunfire GamesRelease: August 20, 2019Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Remnant: From the Ashes is the latest from Gunfire Games, the studio behind Darksiders III and the Oculus Rift launch title, Chronos. Remnant is not a sequel to Chronos, but it takes place in the same post-apocalyptic world. In the newest trailer for the game (seen above), we get a look at Corsus Swamp, which looks a lot different than the dilapidated cities and deserts we've seen from the game so far.
Remnant: From the Ashes is coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on August 20. For more on Remnant: From the Ashes, head here to learn four things to keep an eye on for the upcoming game. You can also watch us play the game here with with design director John Pearl. And finally, you can check out an in-depth written preview for the game, including hands-on impressions of Corsus Swamp, in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare issue of the magazine.
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Publisher: UbisoftDeveloper: Ubisoft ParisRelease: October 4, 2019Rating: MaturePlatform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Ubisoft threw longtime Ghost Recon fans a major curveball when it announced the latest game in the series wouldn’t be set in a real country. Instead of heading to the latest region embroiled in a global showdown, Ghost Recon Breakpoint instead transports players to a fictitious archipelago known as Auroa. The decision wasn’t made lightly, but Ubisoft is confident that its new playground will feel just as alive and realistic as its predecessor.
Creating its own setting solved one of the major problems that developer Ubisoft Paris faced when transitioning from Wildlands to Breakpoint – finding another location on Earth with the sweeping vistas and diverse biomes that made Bolivia such a standout setting. “We were quite happy with this idea of completely controlling the design of the game, including the landscape, and not just sticking to reality and trying to recreate existing vistas,” says lead artist and technical art director Benoit Martinez.
Click image thumbnails to view larger version
Players can expect to traverse snowy mountain tops, sweeping grasslands, gorgeous fiordland with waterfalls descending into the rivers, and salt marshes.Building Auroa from scratch allowed Martinez and his team to pick and choose the geographic elements of the archipelago, and the results are stunning. Players can expect to traverse snowy mountain tops, sweeping grasslands, gorgeous fiordland with waterfalls descending into the rivers, and salt marshes. Each biome has its own distinct flora and fauna, which can be harvested for crafting purposes. These regions come to life thanks to the improved technology developed by Ubisoft Paris, including a new lighting system, new weather mechanics, and denser vegetation.
The sweeping vistas may steal the show, but Ubisoft also put in work to make it feel like Auroa has been inhabited for years. Skell Technology may have taken over the island and littered it with state-of-the-art technology sites, but the island has a rich history that includes ruins from an ancient civilization called The Forgotten, dilapidated Cold War facilities used by the United States during the height of its tensions with the Soviet Union, and small villages inhabited by islanders who have called Auroa home for decades.
Click here to watch embedded media Ubisoft brings Auroa to life with a new lighting system, new weather mechanics, and denser vegetation.Touring the islands, you can tell Ubisoft did its homework to make this place feel real. The large, state-of-the-art research facilities may look like something out of a near-future sci-fi show, but everything that’s necessary to make Auroa a self-sustaining entity is visible as well. Drones harvest the farmlands, waste facilities clean up after the population, industrial sites harvest the necessary materials for the drone constructions, and Silicon Valley-style dwellings house the talented engineers and scientists who call this archipelago home.
Don’t expect to see those citizens cruising around the island, however. The island is on lockdown due to security threats, and the private military contractors providing overwatch don’t let the population roam free. They are essentially indentured servants by the time the Ghosts arrive, so any vehicles or humans you see in the wilderness are likely armed and dangerous. Security checkpoints and drone patrols ensure the Ghosts won’t be taking too many carefree joyrides through Auroa. Based on our early play sessions the seconds-to-conflict feels much tighter than Wildlands; threats are around every corner.
Click image thumbnails to view larger version
This concept art shows off some of the futuristic designs for the various Skell Technology facilities scattered around Auroa.As a longtime fan, I was initially disappointed by Ghost Recon Breakpoint’s plan to abandon real-world settings. But after our fly-by, Auroa has me intrigued. I’m curious what secrets those archaeological sites and Cold War bunkers may hold, and eager to explore the rest of the gorgeous island as well.
Ghost Recon Breakpoint releases October 4 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. You can get your hands on the game in advance during the beta that kicks off September 5. To learn more about the game, read our previous coverage:
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Hello emdragon,
Welcome to UnityHQ Nolfseries Community. Please feel free to browse around and get to know the others. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.
emdragon joined on the 08/05/2019.
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Publisher: Electronic ArtsDeveloper: EA TiburonRelease: August 2, 2019Rating: Rating PendingReviewed on: PlayStation 4Also on: Xbox One, PC
No team starts the season thinking they’re going to be average. Coaches and GMs believe they can get the most out of their players. Incoming free agents and rookies improve the roster. Coaches try to out-think the competition with new plays. It all works on paper until it doesn’t. Madden 20 claims to improve aspects of its core gameplay. It adds mid-season scenarios in hopes of bolstering both a new career mode and the stagnant franchise mode, and Madden Ultimate Team continues to be one of the best fantasy card modes around. It’s a sound game plan, but it doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.
Madden 20’s gameplay makes a decent first impression. Controlling players in the running game and out in the open feels nice. Both smaller movements with the left stick and gregarious special moves let you weave around and assert your authority. You’ll still see animations not sync properly (like when receivers go up for the ball), awkwardly sped up animations, wonky ball and player physics, and oblivious blockers, but for the most part it’s satisfying to grab the ball and take control. Users must adjust their pursuit angles and tackles to account for stick skill pros, and the new command to pull down the ball in the pocket increases the threat of mobile QBs. Super-jumping linebackers snagging interceptions has even been fixed.
Click here to watch embedded mediaThis year’s X-Factor players and superstar abilities integrate well with the overall feel of the gameplay, making you account for special players on both sides of the ball. I like having to release the ball quicker knowing Khalil Mack is coming, just like it’s fun to knockdown passes and people with Bobby Wagner. Thankfully, they’re not so powerful they overtake the game. X-Factors don’t occur super often since they require meeting specific goals before they’re activated, and they turn off when the player scores a TD or gets tackled for a loss, for instance.
The superstar abilities, which more players have than the X-Factors, are arguably more dangerous since they are always on. For example, they bestow QBs more accuracy, WRs better catching in specific situations, and defenders surer tackles. But on any given play, there are enough variables so an X-Factor or superstar ability isn’t working in isolation. Todd Gurley might be able to stiff arm one defender out of the way, but if you’ve called the right defense and are swarming to the ball, he can’t get past everyone. These new abilities help give the game a big-play feel that mimics what we like about the NFL, and since they can be swapped in and out of players in Ultimate Team, they add value and new strategic opportunities to the mode.
These abilities translate to the new QB1 Face of the Franchise career mode where you star as a starting QB, but the mode doesn’t make for an illustrious career. The scenario engine that generates conversations with coaches, teammates, and other players doesn’t create an interesting story for your character. For instance, the cinematic cutscenes that help give you a backdrop stop after the beginning of the mode. QB1 also doesn’t capture the drama and pressure of the NFL. It’s simply a mechanism to feed you XP to grow your player. The mode is caught in the middle of trying to tell an interesting story and being a full-blown player career like NBA 2K’s MyCareer mode, and it succeeds at neither. Furthermore, on the field, your QB has to rely on not-so-smart A.I. teammates who often don’t pick the right hole in the line or catch type for passes.
Click image thumbnails to view larger version
The scenarios and the XP they generate are cross over into the regular Franchise mode (as do the abilities), but these additions don’t transform the areas that have needed updating for years. Free agency and the draft are boring. The sim engine can’t tabulate realistic game or season stats or trade intelligently. The teams and the league as a whole are void of the intrigue and machinations that fans love. Contracts’ total dollar amounts are more realistic, but with simple signing mechanisms and A.I. that can’t manage its own rosters correctly, this is a minor improvement.
The one positive facet of Franchise mode is that scouting is more interesting due to a stretch in player ratings (meaning even players rated in the 70s are useful) and the fact that players can develop into superstars and X-Factors with appropriate abilities. These players’ development trait is hidden during the draft, and since the A.I. scouts more in line with users’ own tendencies, there’s more competition for the good players.
I like aspects of Madden 20 like the addictiveness and slightly easier progression of Ultimate Team, the way players feel, and the new abilities. But too much remains stagnant and unchanged. It’s like expecting a few free agents to change the course of an entire organization when there are key areas the franchise needs to have addressed yesterday. Instead, its roster has gotten old fast and the problems are mounting.
Score: 7.5
Summary: New features can only do so much for a series that needs work in multiple areas.
Concept: EA adds to the series’ gameplay and modes, but it all feels too similar to make a significant progress
Graphics: The players and their uniform details look good on the field, but some of the player models in the career and franchise modes have strange, oversized melons
Sound: The commentary is a mix of good contextual lines referring events that happened earlier in the game or even the previous week, but lines predictably repeat as well
Playability: The new in-pocket QB controls, TE block-and-release function, and pump fake are useful and easy to execute
Entertainment: The football is fun – helped by gameplay improvements and the X-Factor and superstar abilities. Unfortunately, the limited nature and lack of progress in the franchise and career modes is very clear
Replay: Moderately High
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Click here to watch embedded media
Wayforward released a new trailer for its upcoming game, River City Girls, giving a more in-depth look into one of the two main heroines: the energetic and tough Misako.
River City Girls is a beat-'em-up by Wayforward set within the River City franchise, with a few twists. For one, the installment shakes up River City's visual style, integrating more color and detailed environments than 2016's more traditional River City: Tokyo Rumble. The other twist: River City protagonists Kunio and Riki have been kidnapped, so it's up to their girlfriends, Misako and Kyoko, to save them.
You can see the original teaser trailer for River City Girls here. The game launches on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC on September 5.
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MrT800 joined on the 08/05/2019.
Children Of Morta Launches In Mid-October
in Game Previews
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Children of Morta, the roguelike RPG that was originally supposed to release in 2018, finally has a much firmer release date. Fans have been looking forward to the dark, story-driven roguelike that puts you in the role of a mother looking for a sacrificed child, but the release date has been floating for most of the year. The game will find its footing on multiple consoles very soon on October 15.
You can check out the release date trailer below.
Click here to watch embedded mediaThe game releases on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC on October 15. You can read our most recent impressions here.
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