Long-time UK games retailer GAME won't be accepting trade-ins when February 16 rolls around, according to Eurogamer. GAME's parent company Frasers Group has officially confirmed its plans to remove the trade-in program to BBC News on Tuesday.

"As part of the integration of GAME, we will be phasing out the trade-in, pre-owned and Game Elite offerings in the UK over the coming months," said a spokesperson of Frasers Group to BBC News. This effectively hands off mainstream game trading to CEX, a popular used media retailer in the British Isles.

The remaining pre-owned stock that GAME has acquired will be available on store shelves while they last. It will be curious to see how long copies of disappointing titles like Anthem and old sports games will remain in GAME before it throws them out. Frasers Group hasn't given an official reason for this decision, but it's likely due to lacking sales in the used game market.

"PlayStation and Xbox were not as big a part of the sales as they were [due to supply constraints]," said GAME CEO Nick Arran to GamesIndustry.biz in 2023. "But our toy business really came into its own, with staggering numbers at Christmas."

GAME could be switching gears to toys and other similar goods like Pokemon cards instead of its video game titles as gamers look towards an all-digital future. Ars Technica reported in 2022 a 30% drop in available physical games from 321 in 2018 to 226 in 2021. It was also leaked that the next Xbox Series X refresh called Brooklin might be digital only.

Perhaps GAME sees the writing on the wall as the gaming industry slowly moves past a used game model, which used to have 100 million titles traded in every year in the US alone.

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The holidays are a wonderful time to spend with family, but when I'm not sipping on that sweet hot cocoa or playing charades like a bumbling buffoon, I'm catching up on my excessive backlog of video games. This year, I decided to finish my trip to Hogwarts.

Note: There are spoilers ahead for Sebastian Sallow's storyline in Hogwarts Legacy.

Going back to Hogwarts

Hogwarts Legacy has been a touchy subject for many, and honestly, it's put me off playing the game throughout 2023. The criticisms of the universe's creator, J.K. Rowling, are well-founded. I'm bisexual and part of the LGBTQ+ community, but to me, the Harry Potter series is more important than her; it was a huge part of my childhood. The holidays are also a time when my parents watch the movies, so it's always something in the back of my mind during that time of year.

After a year of heavy guide writing, I decided to return to the Scottish highlands and finish my fifth year at Hogwarts. The game's visuals and storytelling entranced my family. However, it wasn't what they expected as they witnessed the end of Sebastian's dark storyline. Oh, and it was also fun to flip over a cow.

Did you finish a backlog game during the holidays?

With so many 2023 releases like Starfield or Baldur's Gate 3, games will fall by the wayside, especially if you have Xbox Game Pass. We all have busy schedules, so getting one or two weeks off is a blessing. That's why it's so fascinating there are trophy and achievement hunters out there who finish a game to completion.

The patience and the reluctance to buy new games are something to be admired. However, as a guide writer who has to stay current, I move on from games I love, which can be heartbreaking. It's part of the job, especially as a freelancer.

Have you conquered a backlog game over the holidays? Were you able to defeat the Mongols in Ghost of Tsushima or finally finish every world in Super Mario Odyssey to completion? Let us know in the comments below.

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It's the beginning of a new year, and despite being a weaker month usually for releases, there's a selection of highly anticipated January 2024 games to look forward to. From intense fights in Tekken 8 to the calmer, puzzle-based Another Code: Recollection, there's something for everyone.

Another Code: Recollection (Switch)

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Price: $59.99
Release Date: January 19
Trailer

It's a delight when a lesser-known game gets another chance on a newer platform. Another Code: Recollection includes two DS and Wii puzzle games (one never released in North America) about Ashley, a 13-year-old girl looking for answers. She's uncovering the truth about her parents as you solve puzzles on the stunning remote Blood Edward Island. There's new voice acting, visuals, and music to make the game feel more modern on the Nintendo Switch.

The Last of Us Part II Remastered (PS5)

Publisher: PlayStation
Developer: Naughty Dog
Price: $49.99 (or $9.99 for the PS4-PS5 upgrade)
Release Date: January 19
Trailer

Naughty Dog, whether you like it or not, is releasing a new remastered version of the PS4 game The Last of Us Part II. Thankfully, it won't be full price. If you have the PS4 game already, the upgrade only costs $9.99.

Despite the apprehension, this game does have a bunch of new features. First and foremost there's the roguelike survival mode called No Return. There will be plenty of enemies in your path, and a return to some familiar settings throughout the series so far. It will be all randomized.

We'll also gain access to the Lost Levels that lets us play early development workings from the game cut from the final product. Another impressive feat is that the game outputs 4K in Fidelity mode, adding higher quality visuals on-screen. Despite it being a remaster, it's arguably one of the most anticipated January 2024 games, due to the series' prestige alone. It's a shame the multiplayer game was canceled, however.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Publisher: Sega
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Price: $69.99
Release Date: January 26
Trailer

The turn-based RPG antics of Ichiban and his friends return in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. He'll be exploring Hawaii, battling thugs, and starting up a new village in a new Animal Crossing-inspired side mode. It has also been teased that this could be Kazuma Kiryu's farewell to the series as he's battling cancer. Get the tissues ready if you play this game.

As always, expect some drama and some bombastic comedic moments in Infinite Wealth just like past Yakuza and Like a Dragon games. If you play the last entry The Man Who Erased His Name, you can play a demo right now.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC)

Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft
Price: $49.99
Release Date: January 18
Trailer

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is looking like a promising revival of a beloved Ubisoft franchise. This one's taking a 2D Metroidvania route with astonishing bosses, plenty of time powers to unlock, and exhilarating platforming from what the trailers have shown so far. "The combat system in The Lost Crown is extremely fluid and fast-paced," said our preview. Sargon has a quick light attack, a heavy attack that takes longer to perform but deals more damage, a block, and a dash-style evade."

The combat looks fast and deadly with combos that have you soaring across the sky and crushing your foes to the ground. Hopefully, this game will live up to its potential when it releases on January 18.

Tekken 8 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developer: Bandai Namco
Price: $69.99
Release Date: January 26
Trailer

The epic fighting game series returns for this generation with Tekken 8. The visuals are enhanced, the stages are destructible, and the new Heat system will heighten each battle greatly. There will be 32 characters at launch.

Tekken 8 looks incredible. "The environments are filled to the brim with detail," said our preview. "The puddles in the New York stage reflect the lights from Times Square’s advertisements, and the lighting from the neon signs stands out sharply on screen."

Unlike many other fighting games at launch, Tekken 8 is packed with content from day one. The story continues six months after the events of Tekken 7 as Jin and Kazuya fight it out in an awe-inspiring clash. There's also the all-new Arcade Quest, which has you playing as your own avatar and unfolding a narrative as we battle it out among a series of arcades. It sounds like a great way to learn the game for newcomers to the series.

Honorable mentions

There are even more January 2024 games to expect, including another fighting game and a new Tamagotchi game exclusive to iOS platforms.

• Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom (iOS) - January 4
• Laika: Aged Through Blood (Switch) - January 11
• Sovereign Syndicate (PC) - January 15
• Bulletstorm VR (PS5, PC, Meta Quest 2) - January 18
• Turnip Boy Robs a Bank (Switch, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S) - January 18
• Enshrouded (PC) - January 24
• Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) - January 25
• Under Night In-Birth 2 [Sys:Celes] (PS4, PS5, PC, Switch) - January 25
• Rugby 24 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - January 30
• Palworld (PC) - January

The post Most anticipated games – January 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

A Hunter x Hunter fighting game is officially in development, as announced by publisher Bushiroad at Jump Festa 2024. It's being worked on by DNF Duel and Tatsunoko vs Capcom developer Eighting.

According to Gematsu, more details will be shared at Bushiroad New Year Grand Presentation 2024, which occurs on January 6. The announcement was made at the publisher's booth in Jump Festa 2024 on Friday. No gameplay or even screenshots has been shown as of the time of writing. No platforms have been announced either.

Bushiroad has games based on other anime properties, including Goblin Slayer, Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, and Shin Chan. This Hunter x Hunter game seems to be the publisher's first fighting title on consoles, but it has released a mobile wrestling game in the past based on NJPW.

There's also a Macross game from this company heading to consoles and PCs on January 25 called Macross Shooting Insight.

The last Hunter x Hunter console game takes us back decades

The last Hunter x Hunter console game takes us all the way back to 2001. It's called Hunter x Hunter: The Stolen Aura Stone. It never received a North American release, sadly.

Developed by Konami, The Stolen Aura Stone is a card game RPG that has your character try to get back the Aura Stone from the Phantom Troupe. The battle system revolves around a rock, paper, scissors style with three different types of moves: regular, special, and counter. It also revolves around your character's Nen type and power, like the anime.

In a 2019 review, YouTube channel Gaming Through The Ages says the battle system "has the potential to seem quite convoluted and fairly unapproachable until its idiosyncracies are understood."

Given the critical success of DNF Duel and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, hopefully that means Eighting can make a stellar Hunter x Hunter game after all these years.

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Get your wallets ready because the soon-to-be "Dearly Beloved" Sora amiibo is on its way. The latest Super Smash Bros. amiibo arrives on February 16.

Pre-orders have started to pop up at retailers, though it already seems like folks are clamoring to get their own Sora. It will likely be available at usual retailers, though. Sora marks the last Super Smash Bros. character to get an amiibo.

Better summon your bank account for this Sora amiibo

The Sora amiibo clocks in at the standard $15.99 that other Super Smash Bros. Ultimate amiibo have cost. If you aren't able to pre-order Sora, you'll likely have to face the wrath of the second-hand market.

Just like the rest of the Smash Bros series, Sora takes on the same pose as his appearance in the character select screen in Ultimate. He's giving a big smile as he holds the keyblade over his shoulder. His attire is based on Sora's original costume from the first game. It's one of his best looks, but that might be my nostalgia talking.

The amiibo can be used in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and will learn from your attacks as it levels up. You can use it in amiibo battles online and in regular Smash matches. It would be cool if it had some integration with Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, but right now, there's no other usage announced.

Something else you should know about Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory

You may have forgotten this, but if you have a Melody of Memory save file on your Switch, you'll unlock a new song in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It's the "Dearly Beloved" theme from the rhythm game's main menu. It's an upbeat, jazzy take on the track that works well in battles within Ultimate.

_{This story has been updated to reflect pre-orders and pricing going live at some retailers.}

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With The Game Awards just around the corner, Sega has teased a new game announcement at the event. Sending teaser letters to fighting game content creators, it points towards a Virtua Fighter 6 reveal at Geoff Keighley's show.

On social media, content creators like Curiousjoi and Maximillian Dood have been posting images of said a press mailer they've received, a postcard that reads "New Era New Energy. Make sure to tune in to The Game Awards December 7th."

Maximillian Dood says on his Twitter post, "Curious, have these gone out to others that are NOT huge fighting game creators?"

One of the replies from Brodoof shows a screenshot from one of the Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown trailers. It has the same exact font, but the color is red instead of blue. This has led many to speculate the press mailing is setting the stage for something new in the Virtua Fighter franchise.

Sega could be planning a new Virtua Fighter with rollback netcode

One of the most important aspects of a modern fighting game is having a great rollback netcode. It lets players around the world battle it out and participate in tournaments online.

"I believe that implementing rollback will be absolutely necessary when developing future titles," said Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate Showdown producer Seiji Aoki when interviewed by Gamer Braves.

"While it’s important to create content for fighting game fans, I think it’s important to also create content that viewers or newcomers to the fighting genre can enjoy," Aoki said in the same interview when asked about how to keep the game interesting for both new and returning fans and how they're approaching the eSports aspect of the industry. "For example, I can’t play soccer, but I love watching soccer."

It's just a waiting game now for eager fans to learn if Sega will revive the beloved Virtua Fighter franchise at The Game Awards.

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Adjust your watches, because Deathloop is joining the Prime Gaming service on December 7.

You can redeem an Epic Games Store code from Amazon's website on that date. You will need to be a Prime Gaming subscriber to pick this up, alongside the other games headed to the service.

The December Prime Gaming lineup isn't that bad

Deathloop isn't the only game being given out for Prime Gaming subscribers in December. There will also be the following:

December 14

• Akka Arrh
• Aground
• SeaOrama: World of Shipping

December 21

• Kombinera (through the Epic Games Store)

December 28

• A Tiny Sticker Sale
• Asteroids: Recharged (through the Epic Games Store)

Every game other than Deathloop, Kombinera, and Asteroids: Recharged will be available through the Amazon Games app. Asteroids: Recharged, in particular, seems to be an intriguing modern twist on the classic Atari game with co-op functionality and visual upgrades.

Deathloop is worth checking out

Before the mediocrity that was Redfall, developer Arkane Studios created a unique FPS called Deathloop, which revolves around time. Like Groundhog Day, you're repeating the same day over and over, but as you explore the game's world, you'll find out more about the characters and the environments you inhabit. One plus is that you don't have to be hounded by Ned Ryerson every day.

You're also gathering intel on each of your targets while chased down by a (sometimes player-controlled) rival. There's a lot going on in Deathloop, but it's an intriguing take on the tired genre.

Deathloop won multiple Game of the Year awards in 2021 from outlets such as GameSpot and the Critic's Choice award from Golden Joystick. "Deathloop combines a classic Arkane stealthy-shooty foundation with a genuinely interesting and fun premise to aplomb," our review said.

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Once-popular mobile title Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia is closing down its servers on February 29, 2024. Currently, it's uncertain if you can play the game offline or not, but it seems unlikely.

"To our loyal players, It is with deep regret that we inform you that Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia will end service on Feb. 29, 2024 UC," said Square Enix on the game's official Twitter page. "We would like to thank you for your many years of support, and hope you can enjoy playing for a little while longer."

There are still events coming up

Upcoming events are still occurring until that unfortunate date. The Cactuar Cacophony is still running from now until February 29. You'll also be getting the following:

• Dare to Defy Astraeus (Now until February 29)
• Dusk to Dawn: Evil Gazes at Dusk (Now until January 1)
• Dare to Defy Nyx (January 1 to February 29)
• Dusk to Dawn: Ogres Parade the Night (January 1 - February 1)
• 6th Anniversary Special 50+1 Draw (January 31 - February 29)
• Dare to Defy Eos (February 1 -February 29)

Replies to this news are predictably disappointed in the closure. Several note how this was a well-received game, and still has potential for more.

This is part of a string of Final Fantasy titles that have been pulled down from mobile devices. Battle royale Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier is also shutting down in January 2023, only lasting just over a year.

Square Enix also cancelled Mobius: Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy Record Keeper. With these closures, can't blame fans for considering stopping their investment in Square Enix mobile titles.

Despite so many shutdowns, Square Enix still plans to release Kingdom Hearts: Missing Link in 2024. It's also still supporting Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis, a game with gacha elements that retells the storyline of the VII series and its spin-offs.

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It's not time to barrel roll; instead, you should be celebrating by eating a Swiss roll as Nintendo Switch Online has added a bunch of adorable Holiday profile icons. You can use your silver coins on the service's dedicated app to get them.

The Happy Holidays section of the Missions & Rewards tab has a bunch of festive Mario icons, as well as characters like Link, Isabelle, a Splatoon Inkling, and Pikmin for 10 Platinum Points each. Icons aren't the only gifts available on this tab. You can get some lovely holiday backgrounds with festive colors and patterns.

You'll want to be quick, however. These seasonal rewards will only last until December 25 at 4:59 p.m. Pacific. Make sure you get on the Nintendo Switch Online app and redeem them before it's too late.

Take advantage of the Switch eShop holiday sale, too

Beyond these holiday profile icons, there's also a winter sale going on in the Nintendo eShop. Until December 3, you can get a 33% discount on games like Luigi's Mansion 3 and Super Mario Odyssey. Bayonetta 3's 30% off too. One of my favorite Nintendo games of the year Fire Emblem Engage (yes, it did come out in 2023!) has a 30% discount as well.

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The December 2023 games lineup involves us turning into blue aliens and harnessing the powers of a flour golem. We'll also be helping our favorite Disney characters with farming and other tasks.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, Amazon Luna

Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Massive Entertainment
Price: $69.99
Release Date: December 7
Trailer

The Division developer Massive Entertainment is behind the open world of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. You'll be exploring the beautiful Western Frontier, a new area inspired by James Cameron's box office breaking movie series. Available on December 7, this FPS has us playing as a Na'vi raised to be a warrior for the RDA but freed after 15 years. We'll be fighting back as we "reconnect with [our] lost heritage," according to the game's official website.

"It’s clear this is an open-world Ubisoft game, but there’s enough different there to make it feel like a fresh experience as well," writes our own Steven Mills in a preview of the new Ubisoft title.

This game seems similar to the Far Cry series as you craft your own gear, gain access to a variety of weapons like shotguns and assault rifles, and take over outposts. Hopefully the game will be more interesting than the first movie's Unobtanium storyline.

Born of Bread - PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC

Publisher: Dear Villagers
Developer: WildArts Studio Inc.
Price: $24.99
Release Date: December 5
Trailer

Getting anxious for the Paper Mario: The Thousand Door remake? You'll want to check out Born of Bread while you wait. It has a vibrant art style, a similar turn-based combat system, and a story that seems just as silly. "Born of Bread puts a twist on turn-based combat tropes with a fun interaction system that will test your reflexes," says the game's Steam page. "This interactive system also features a weaknesss and resistance system that makes battles more strategic."

The RPG seems memorable, as evidenced by our preview from PAX East earlier this year.

The combat system reacts to the timing of your button presses like the Paper Mario games that many enjoy. You'll also be solving puzzles with each character's abilities as you explore this world. It releases on December 5.

Disney Dreamlight Valley (1.0 release) - PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC

Publisher: Gameloft
Developer: Gameloft
Price: $39.99 and higher
Release Date: December 5
Trailer

The 1.0 release of Disney Dreamlight Valley and the expansion A Rift In Time is finally arriving on December 5. This game is similar to Animal Crossing, in which you're befriending Disney characters, harvesting crops, and finishing side quests along the way like making dishes for Ratatouille's Remy. You're also upgrading shops and other resources available to you. Somehow, there's an intriguing storyline that meshes all of these Disney icons together and have it make sense.

It's a relaxing adventure, especially for those who love almost every Disney movie like me. You may want to get the Gold Edition, which comes with the DLC A Rift In Time and 5,000 Moonstones, one of the game's currencies. And yes, it won't be free-to-play, unfortunately. I guess it's something else Eeyore can complain about.

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince - Switch

Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix
Price: $59.99
Release Date: December 1
Trailer

Heading to the Switch exclusively is Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince, the next entry in the long-running JRPG series. Similar to the Pokemon series, you'll be collecting monsters and training them. As the story proceeds, the game's environments will change from Spring to Summer and so on.

Synthesizing two monsters to make more powerful allies returns, too. "Players can experiment and eventually unlock over 500 monsters, including franchise favourites, dark lords, and completely new creatures," says Square Enix in a press release. The game's also online, so you can compete against your friends and foes throughout the world. I'm excited, but man, I'll skip over the Overture theme if it plays after it playing in so many trailers. Nevertheless Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince releases on December 1.

Sonic Dream Team - iOS, Mac, Apple Arcade

Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega Hardlight
Price: Free with Apple Arcade subscription
Release Date: December 5
Trailer

Last up is the Blue Blur himself, Sonic the Hedgehog in Sonic Dream Team. This time, you can play as six different characters, including Sonic, Amy, Tails, Cheese, Knuckles, and Rouge. In this 3D platformer, you're trying to jump and spindash your way through Eggman's nightmare dreamscapes.

From the trailers and screenshots, it looks like a solid 3D entry, despite being exclusive to Apple Arcade. It's far more interesting than Sonic Superstars, that's for sure. It will be available on the subscription service on December 5. Hopefully this game heads to consoles soon after.

Honorable mentions

This month isn't just some RPG goodness and the lightning quick speed of Sonic and his friends. There's far more than that. Who knows? There might be some shadowdrop surprises at The Game Awards. The honorable mentions include:

• Batman: Arkham Trilogy (Switch) - December 1
• SteamWorld Build (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, Switch)- December 1
• A Highland Song (Switch, PC) - December 5
• Enclave HD (PS5) - December 5
• Arizona Sunshine II (PC, PSVR2) - December 7
• House Flipper 2 (PC) - December 13
• Bulletstorm VR (PC, PSVR2) - December 14
• Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising (PS4, PS5, PC) - December 14
• Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero (Switch) - December 14
• Raccoo Venture (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC) - December 14
• Paranoid (PC) - December 14
• Trinity Fusion (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC) - December 15
• Resident Evil 4 (iOS) - December 20

The post Most anticipated games – December 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

Tekken 8 is just around the corner, and Bandai Namco released a glimpse of Leo's glorious combos and eccentric personality in a trailer Wednesday. Their stylish red and white jacket shines as they show off their impressive new counter.

The German fighter Leo Kliesen is back in Tekken 8 with their Baji Quan fighting style. With their hatred of the main antagonist Kazuya Michima, it makes sense if they make an appearance in the story mode. With the codename "Seeker of Truth," they'd likely join the battle to find out more about their murdered mother and missing father.

We didn't get many details in Tekken 7 as they were sidetracked by a love-stricken Yoshimitsu, but in Tekken 6, we learned that their mother worked for the Mishima Zaibatsu and G Corporation.

Leo is looking sharp

Not much seems to have changed with Leo's moveset, except for the previously mentioned counter. They'll still stomp their foes' toes and have an elaborate combo set up with their punches and kicks. It's been a few years since I've stepped into the shoes of Leo but one new move seems to be an impactful swirling kick in the air, which is shown in the trailer.

They also has a new grappling hook that's used for Leo's Rage Art. Perhaps this will be used in combos too, but we haven't seen it implemented yet.

The trailer also shows their adorable carefree personality as they're surprised by the Coffee Queen's name. They stagger back like an anime character as shown in the screenshot above.

We'll be able to play as the German blonde Leo when Tekken 8 releases on January 26, just a few months away. They'll be fighting against many combatants, like the first French fighter in Tekken Victor Chevalier and a mysterious Heihachi-like character named Reina, and the rest of the healthy launch roster for the new Tekken.

The post Tekken 8’s Leo punches their way to victory in new trailer appeared first on Destructoid.

The World Ends With You fan artist @caehum on Twitter has showcased what Neku would look like in an HD remake or possibly Kingdom Hearts 4 through an immaculate 3D render. Since its publishing on Monday, it has received over 2,500 likes.

The 3D model looks like it's ripped straight from a modern Kingdom Hearts game, and has plenty of detail around the face and the odd jacket that Neku wears. The more realistic take on Neku is quite different from the most recent game NEO: The World Ends With You, which takes on a graphic novel art style instead.

The World Remade With You

It would be cool to see a realistic take on the original DS game through a remake in the future. It has been re-released on Switch with a Final Remix version, however, to mixed results.

"Final Remix‘s failure to utilize the extent of the Switch hardware shows a lack of understanding as to why so many people consider the Nintendo DS original to be the masterpiece it is," said our review.

Neku is expected to appear in Kingdom Hearts 4 by some fans. In Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance, Neku and Sora promise to see each other in Shibuya. After the events of KH3, Sora actually ends up in an area inspired by the real-life location. We could see Neku in a model like this, in an official capacity.

If you don't know where Neku comes from, he's the main character of a cult classic JRPG called The World Ends With You. It's one of the highest-rated DS games at an 88 Metacritic score. There was then a follow-up sequel called NEO: The World Ends With You featuring a new character named Rindo.

"NEO: The World Ends with You is a sequel worth waiting for," said our 8/10 review. "It brings together many of the best concepts from the DS original but in a more approachable and accessible experience."

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Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is indefinitely an improvement over the original. Like Aang learning all four of the elements, developer Fair Play Labs has created a more comprehensive package for this game.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 (PS4, PS5 [reviewed], Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, Nintendo Switch)
Developer: Fair Play Labs
Publisher: GameMill Entertainment
Released: November 7
MSRP: $49.99

Fun Smash-like gameplay, elevated from the first

Every character's moveset has been recreated from scratch (except for a handful of moves sticking around). That effort from the developer has paid off. While the gameplay isn't as refined as its contemporaries, each special attack feels more suited to the platform fighter genre. Both Korra and Aang use all of the elements rather than just one as well.

The new characters also bring some entertaining elements to the game. Azula unleashes her lightning and flame-focused attacks in an acrobatic fashion. Meanwhile, Jimmy Neutron's moveset revolves around his gadgets and his pet robot dog, Goddard.

Despite many positives, the game still feels somewhat awkward. Jumping in the air still feels floaty, and the impact of some moves feels too muted. What does help the gameplay, though, is the addition of the dodge roll and shield. They add more strategy to the overall flow and fit right in. Each character's shield looks different, as opposed to the Super Smash Bros. series. Garfield, in this instance, hugs a pillow.

Unfortunately, while playing the Arcade mode, the AI can be dumb. It jumps off the stage and accidentally falls to K.O. itself. This has happened around three to five times during my time with Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2.

A graphical upgrade

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 looks far better than the first game. The characters are more expressive, and the lighting upgrade is gorgeous. For example, SpongeBob grins when he lifts his two hands up for an upward attack. Aang also looks angry whenever he charges an earth attack.

I love fighting on Jellyfish Fields because it's so vibrant and brighter than the original. You can see the sunlight glimmering within the water. Additionally, you'll notice Bikini Bottom in the background. This amount of detail wasn't in the original. The graveyard stage also looks stunning with a darker atmosphere and a hint of light from a lamppost.

However, there are still some issues to address. Most "Final Smash" attacks that have been added to the sequel seem rushed and don't have the animation quality of the overall game. Aang's Final Smash attack, for example, lacks the impact of the four elements fusing into an almighty beam. On the other hand, there are some funny final smash attacks, like Ren blowing up the entire planet and Reptar rampaging through a burning city.

While the overall game looks much better than the first, there are some technical issues. In one instance, the victory screen didn't show the character, and I had to restart the game to get back to the menus. Some of the hitboxes are also too big, leading to less exciting and frustrating matches.

New modes in Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2

There's a single-player story mode that features rogue-like gameplay. Danny Phantom villain Vlad Plasmius has corrupted characters across the Nick universe. To save them, you'll need to defeat them in combat. Each run lets you purchase upgrades with the currency you gain. These are fun as you gain a damage percentage and use buffs.

Part of what makes buying upgrades fun is the interaction between characters. For example, the Cabbage Merchant gets freaked out by Aang and Azula showing up. If you've watched the show, you'd know the Last Airbender ruined this poor guy's shop (by accident) while getting chased by the Firebenders.

The bosses are a bit of a mixed bag. They can be fairly tough and have certain interesting patterns to avoid. However, I found that too many of them stood still for a long time, letting me take out a quarter or even a half of their health before they activated another attack. As a result, I didn't feel satisfied after taking out the bosses.

However, it is funny to see Aang commenting that he's unhappy about taking out a spirit like SpongeBob SquarePants' Flying Dutchman.

Overall, this mode had me playing the game for hours in one sitting. I loved getting new characters for this campaign and evil costumes for the roster.

Finally! A good platform fighter that has great online!

I've played Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 with a friend of mine from the other side of the continent. I live in Western Canada, and my mate is from an Eastern U.S. state. Thankfully, while playing this game, it was as if he was playing next to me. The connection is flawless, and I'm so happy to play a platform fighter with him. He refuses to play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate with me due to the sloppy connection.

Unlike the last game, this sequel supports cross-play. This means someone on the PS5 can check out the game with a PC player. You'll need to copy a password down, and then you can join your pal in a lobby. It works well, but you have to make sure that crossplay is on. For some reason, my Eastern American friend had the crossplay feature off by default.

There's full voice acting, but man, the music's just okay

One of the major complaints of the original game, when it was released, was that it lacked voice acting. It was later added in an update, but the second game received this feature from day one. Most of the actors, like Rob Paulsen and Billy West, reprise their roles, and they sound fantastic. There are some unique voice lines in the campaign as well, which is a neat touch.

Unfortunately, the so-so music doesn't match up to the outstanding voice acting. While it gets the general gist of the atmosphere around the stages, most of the tracks bore me. There are some standouts, though, like the Jellyfish Fields and Campaign themes. The second is grand and epic, while the first maintains the charming vibes of the SpongeBob SquarePants show. I also like the mariachi-fueled "Miracle City Volcano."

It would be neat if the next game could get the official music from each of the series rather than making original tracks that fail to meet the mark.

Perhaps GameMill Entertainment could hire composers to remix memorable songs like Avatar: The Last Airbender's "Peace Excerpt" or SpongeBob SquarePants' theme music like Nintendo does with Super Smash Bros.

Is Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 worth playing?

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is worth trying out. The new movesets make this game more exciting than the original, and the online netcode is surprisingly stellar. If you want to check out All-Star Brawl 2 alone, the campaign mode is compelling enough to play it for hours. While the music is disappointing to listen to, the new voice acting does add so much to the game.

[The publisher provided one PS5 code and one PC code to the writer]

The post Review: Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

[Update: The full song has been released! You can find it on YouTube as part of this Game Changer album playlist, as well as via the embedded video below. The album can be found on iTunes and BandCamp.]

The Grammy award-winning The 8-Bit Big Band and Lawrence are releasing a new cover of the Marvel vs Capcom 2 song "I Wanna Take You for a Ride." It's been covered many times by the VGM community, but in this instance, new verses and a bridge accompany the admittedly repetitive tune.

Marvel vs Capcom 2 jam gets taken for a ride

Despite the original release from Marvel vs Capcom 2 repeating the same line over and over again, it's one with a special place in fan memories with a funky beat too delicious to ignore. Thankfully, The 8-Bit Big Band and Lawrence bring their own vision to the bop with a full song based on the loop. This version adds new lyrics, verses, and a bridge next month on November 10.

The 45 seconds released on social media from The 8-Bit Big Band has an outstanding suite of brass instruments and thrilling vocals. Almost time for MAHVEL, baby.

Last year, the 8-Bit Big Band (and Button Basher) won a "Best Arrangement - Instrumental or A Capella" Grammy for its cover of "Meta Knight's Revenge" from Kirby Super Star. Since its release in 2021, the theme received over 1 million views on YouTube.

Perhaps with this upcoming Marvel vs Capcom 2 cover, they'll get another Grammy. Nevertheless, The 8-Bit Big Band has an upcoming show in New York on December 15. Its fourth album, "Game Changer," accompanies the Marvel jam on November 10.

The post The 8-Bit Big Band and Lawrence transform popular Marvel vs Capcom 2 song (Update) appeared first on Destructoid.

With Kratos' vicious past, you wouldn't expect a God of War Ragnarok Lo-Fi video to surface. However, PlayStation and a few musicians, including Alex Moukala, have released such a thing, and it's relaxing AF.

Chilling out with Atreus

Atreus, in this video published Thursday, takes the place of the kid studying. As the chill music is playing, he's writing in his journal. The Lo-Fi beats in the background are from popular musician and composer Alex Moukala and Pokari.

"Earlier this year, Sony asked me to create some God of War: Ragnarok Lo-Fi remixes for them," Moukala on social media. "As a massive Bear McCreary fan I was overjoyed and simply couldn't say no!" The composer later said "the whole process made [him] appreciate God of War's soundtrack even more than [he] already did."

The three McCreary songs both Moukala and Polari remixed are: "Huldra Brothers," "Memories of Mother," and the God of War Ragnarök theme. They sound fantastic and are currently powering me through this news story. The animation is also expressive and slightly changes over the span of the 32-minute video. It was drawn and animated by Spud Gun Studios.

Moukala has been busy over the past few years. He's behind the soundtrack for the fan-based Final Fantasy IX: Memoria Project and interviewed the Yakuza game composers on his YouTube channel. In the past, he's also turned the macabre Bloodborne music into a dazzling Mario Kart track.

God of War: Ragnarok celebrates its one-year anniversary this week. When it was first released, it received critical praise across the board.

"God of War Ragnarok is a fantastic showcase of what this series has to offer, and a sterling example of how it still has life left in it," said our review. "While not everything lands with the sequel from a story perspective, the core of the original is preserved, with some new twists and turns still to go."

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I'm just as surprised as you, but DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing is actually quite entertaining. It even brings its own unique mechanics to the overpopulated scene, iterating on a genre with loaded expectations.

It's no Mario Kart or Crash Team Racing, sure, but that's not what I'm asking for. The Dreamworks racer manages to capture plenty of lovely little details I love about its worlds, and they're worth a highlight.

It's the little things

More often than not, these tie-in games read like a cheap cash grab, leading to a disappointing result: Garfield Kart, anyone?

However, DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing really plays like it has some love behind it. Each kart is decorated with references to the movies these characters come from. Race tracks are quite charming and take place in locations you remember from the flicks, like Far Far Away from Shrek 2 or Berk from How To Train Your Dragon.

Funnily enough, the DreamWorks mascot even rescues drivers with his fishing rod when falling off the stage. Developer Bamtang Games clearly took cues from beloved implementations of other kart racers, but less so in the typical ways that feel like cheapened crossover soup.

However, what's most important is how the driving feels, and I'm happy to report it's mostly smooth. Drifting around a corner at the end of the race gave me the boost I needed to win. It's also thrilling to pull off while you're in narrower sections of a track.

Admittedly, it does feel a bit slower than other kart racers in the market, but it still manages to deliver a rush of speed as you zip through a piano-like boost pad and edge out the win.

DreamWorks Kart Racing travels down a magic pathway

DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing surprised me. It could have just been a run-in-the-mill kart racer, but it folds in a few interesting quirks to the gameplay. Among my favorites were the magic pathways.

Similar to mechanics in F-Zero 99, you can form a rainbow path above the typical track. Navigating the path perfectly makes it an effective shortcut. However, others can jump on the magic pathway, too, and it comes with hazards as paths fade over time. There's a risk/reward system that's captivating on the track.

The track design is inventive, too. In one track, you're trying to avoid perilous dragon flames while twisting and turning through a castle, and another has you bouncing up and down in a trampoline room. There's good variety in the mix, shaking things up between the typical stretches of road.

You'll see all manner of sights and sounds, shaping up to something surprisingly spectacular as you see familiar dragons from the franchise flying in the sky. There's also a starry Rainbow Road-like track inspired by the intro that plays before every DreamWorks film. It's complete with a glowing moon and bouncy purple clouds, making it my go-to pick.

While the items are a little lackluster, there are references to Dreamworks movies, like Shrek's onions. That was one of my bigger qualms with Disney Speedstorm, as it lacks those touches and uses generic items instead.

All-Stars get a little chatty, too

Prior GameMill Entertainment tie-ins like Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl and Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2 lacked voice acting at launch. However, DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing takes advantage of this feature. You'll hear Shrek calling out Tigress on the track. Some even have some witty banter between them, and there are even references to famous lines in the movies. While Shrek's voice actor sounds like he's never visited Scotland in his life, most of the performances are decent.

Overall, I've enjoyed my time with DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing. While it's certainly not as polished or fun as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled, I'd still recommend this to any kid or DreamWorks Animation fan. Now, where's the Rise of the Guardians DLC?

[A review code was provided by the publisher to the writer]

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PlayStation has announced its Twitter / X integration for photo and video sharing on PS4 and PS5 ends on November 13.

PlayStation Twitter support ends soon

"As of November 13, 2023, integration with X (formerly known as Twitter) will no longer function on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 consoles," says PlayStation on its official website. "This includes the ability to view any content published on X on PS5/PS4, and the ability to post and view content, trophies, and other gameplay-related activities on X directly from PS5/PS4 (or link an X account to do so)."

This means it won't be quite so easy to post photos of Spider-Man swinging across New York or Kratos taking out a giant foe in God of War Ragnarok. You can still do post shots on the platform, but only through the PlayStation App or by offloading and uploading photos manually.

PlayStation has not provided further reason for this decision. Changes have been rolling out for the API, and Sony isn't the only one that's shut down its direct integration—Microsoft turned off its Xbox-to-Twitter sharing earlier this year.

To make matters worse, the X CEO posted shoddy, blurry gameplay footage of Diablo 4 with an off-screen camera on the same day as this announcement. It shows him defeating Lillith in the worst way possible. Perhaps using the Share function would be a better way to share this epic moment.

The post PlayStation is losing its Twitter / X integration later this month appeared first on Destructoid.

There's no Batman, Luke Skywalker, or Jack Skellington in Fortnite's new OG Season. However, Fortnite has received its busiest day ever, receiving over 44.7 million players on Saturday, November 4, blowing the development team away.

Players spent a lot of time in Fortnite last weekend

"We're blown away by the response to #FortniteOG," said the game's official Twitter page. "Yesterday was the biggest day in Fortnite’s history with over 44.7 MILLION players jumping in and 102 MILLION hours of play."

The new OG season takes players back to the beginning of the battle royale mode. It brings back beloved locations like Tilted Towers, Greasy Grove, and Snobby Shores into the experience. This has obviously attracted fans to return to the game.

The classic Assault Rifle, Pump Shotgun, and Hunting Rifle are back. In addition, you can use the Damage Trap, Grappler, and Boogie Bomb. The latter is my personal favorite, as it forces your opponents to dance if they get hit by the grenade. You can also ride around in a Shopping Kart or an All Terrain Kart.'

If you're a regular Fortnite player, you can utilize the Reboot Rally. This is an incentive to get returning friends into the action. If you finish certain goals with them, you can get the Skerran Glider and more rewards.

Fans have reacted strongly

Fortnite news social media account HYPEX reposted a funny video with the returning shopping kart that has received 17.4 million views. It says, "NAH FORTNITE IS SO BACK." It has a hilarious laugh that doesn't fail to make you smile as the shopping kart single-handedly takes out two party members. Popular streamer Ninja has retweeted the post as well, likely bringing in more players to the battle royale.

Meanwhile, streamer Nick Eh 30 shared an impressive feat in-game. The clip has received over one million views. "I have missed the OG season, let me tell you," Nick said with a laugh, decimating two enemies simultaneously. "I love it."

On social media and around the world, there is a buzz around Epic Games' battle royale now more than ever.

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The Tekken series is getting its first French fighter, as Victor Chevalier is joining the Tekken 8 roster alongside a new Paris-themed stage.

Announced on Thursday, game director and chief producer Katsuhiro Harada added context for the character on social media.

"Victor is actually the first French fighter for the TEKKEN franchise," said Harada. "I have had the idea of a French character in my mind for a long time and it finally came to fruition. Thanks to Vincent Cassel for inspiring me and for voicing him. And the stage is Paris itself, where I took my first Seine River cruise over 20 years ago."

Oui, oui, oui!

As Harada noted, Chevalier is voiced by French actor Vincent Cassel (Black Swan, La Haine). Victor Chevalier uses a blade, knife, and pistol as his weaponry. He also teleports across the screen as he slashes his opponents. Bandai Namco knows how to make older men look badass (remember Leroy Smith?).

The trailer also points out that Victor has a history with Raven, saying to him, "You've gotten pretty good, Raven."

A new stage set in Paris for the Tekken 8 Victor character

In this new Tekken 8 trailer, we see the action taking place on a boat moving across the river Seine. Harada said he took his first Seine River cruise over 20 years ago, inspiring this stage to come to life in game.

As you fight with Victor and other Tekken 8 fighters on the Paris stage, you'll see the sights like the Eifel Tower in the background. Hopefully, there's a nighttime section for the final round, in which it sparkles in gold lights—though there wasn't a hint towards that in the trailer.

It's interesting that Tekken 8 has a Paris-themed level because Street Fighter 6 has one too, set closer to the Eiffel Tower during a festival. It must be a good time for virtual brawling in France. Nevertheless, Tekken 8 releases on January 26 for the PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.

The post Tekken 8 gets the series’ first French fighter in Victor Chevalier appeared first on Destructoid.

Part of what makes our friendly neighborhood Spidey so special is his care and compassion for community. In Spider-Man 2, side quests reinforce some of the series' guiding ideals: heroism isn't always about taking down larger-than-life villains, like The Sandman. Sometimes, your challenges require a more thoughtful touch.

It's the city, personified

Peter and Miles often face an onslaught of action in New York, but Spider-Man 2 side quests offer moments of respite. They're opportunities to truly live in the Big Apple, listening to citizens' stories, and enjoying an extra puzzle or two.

A few truly stand out to me, like when Miles tries to help a classmate ask his boyfriend out to prom. It's simple and straightforward, but the perspective is sweet as Vijay prepares to ask his beau out in a grand fashion. The TV Vijay plans on using won't connect to the power, so Miles tries to reroute electricity to the shoddy screen. Spider-man 2's simplistic, rewarding puzzles connect one node to the next, guiding the love story as you go. The whole sequence offers an adorable, thoughtful touch. As someone who's bisexual, it's one of those intimate details I just appreciate.

Saving the day

Another mission sends Miles to find the mascot for his school. It's been locked away by a rival school, hidden behind more difficult puzzles this time. The cheeky writing and the puzzles use reflecting lights between mirrors, the tone more than makes up for any moments of frustration in finding a solution. You also get neat interactions between Miles' crush, Hailey, and our hero as they try to figure out each clue presented. It demonstrates their comradery, as Spider-Man's side quests add brilliant layers of context and background to Miles Morales.

Then there's a favorite — a touching moment as you search for a lost grandfather. Without spoiling too much, he shares a moment with Spider-Man on a bench, offering a solemn, thoughtful scene without over-dramatizing. It's the quietest, most sincere cutscene I'll probably witness in a game this year.

Finding all of the collectibles also pays off in the overall narrative. For example, if you find all the Prowler Stash locations, you'll find out more about the future of Miles' uncle. It's the tiny details like this that truly made the experience for me. Even the smallest moments of tenderness snowball into something bigger than an individual.

Spider-Man is just Some Guy

While none of these quests are revolutionary, they all show the human side of both Spider-Men. They're not gallivanting off to Wakanda like The Avengers or saving the galaxy, like Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. They're just the down-to-earth, friendly neighborhood hero we all know and love. The movies may not have the luxury of time to show life's milestones and private challenges, but the community is its own character here. Spider-Man 2's side quests play to the medium's strengths, offering another look at the heroes that truly earn them the title.

The post PSA: Don’t skip the Spider-Man 2 side quests appeared first on Destructoid.

The Tekken series is renowned across the world, and Tekken Tag Tournament is one of the most memorable titles in the series.

Why is it so special? Well, you can switch characters mid-combo, giving the 3D fighting formula a nice kick in the pants; but funnily enough, it only took Namco two months to develop the game (according to Tekken steward Katsuhiro Harada).

“The project took 5 minutes to plan and only 2 months to develop (arcade version)," said Harada recently on social media. Harada says the game "made a considerable profit" because the cost was low. To add more context, Tekken 3 was completed, and then management at Namco "ordered [Harada] to release" a 3.5 version "within six months." At the time, the team was working on a prototype for Tekken 4, which was eventually released on the PS2.

Harada is now the Chief Producer of fighters at the company, and the General Manager of the Original IP games projects at Bandai Namco.

The PS2 development of Tekken Tag Tournament got weird

As for the PS2 version, Harada notes: "The port to the console version had to be done in time for the launch of the PS2 due to the lack of memory on the [PS1,]" Harada said. "The PS2's specs at the time had too much room for drawing processing, and the 3D modelers were baffled by the number of polygons, which was even more than enough to place many mobs in the battle stages, so they elaborately created even the teeth in the characters' mouths."

Tekken Tag Tournament, as a result, had characters rarely opening their mouths because of a resolution problem. The PS2 fighting game is now 23 years old and released to glowing reviews. According to Metacritic, GameSpot gave a 96/100 score. "Graphically, the game has taken a very large leap, and the arcade version of the game looks downright ugly by comparison," said the reviewer.

Looking forward, Bandai Namco will be releasing Tekken 8 early next year. It's the beginning of a new era without Heihachi in the picture. It will also include a new Arcade Quest mode.

-

The post Tekken Tag Tournament was developed in just two months, Harada says appeared first on Destructoid.

As food prices rise around the world, it's more important than ever to save money on games. There are a few things you may not consider, which we'll dive into right now.

Check your local library

This might be a shock to you, but there are libraries that let you rent out video games for free. While I was living in Edmonton, I used the library so much because of this. While it took a long time to get new releases (around a month typically), I was able to catch up on franchises like Resident Evil and Fire Emblem because of the library near me.

Look at the deal-searching websites and Reddit groups

If you want to find the best video game deals, you should check out the information available on websites like Cheap Ass Gamer and Game Deals Canada. They can compile great gaming deals for you, especially during Black Friday. There are some Reddit groups, including r/Game Deals and r/NintendoSwitchDeals that provide up-to-date sales info as well.

Facebook Marketplace is fantastic for saving money

You can find some awesome deals on Facebook Marketplace if you're fast enough. New releases can be cheaper used from regular people rather than GameStop. For example, I found Final Fantasy XVI and Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon for $60 Canadian ($45 US) each from one seller a few months after release.

Game bundles can be fantastic

PC gamers might be familiar with Humble Bundle, a retailer that packs a bunch of games together and allows you to save money on awesome games, often while supporting a good cause. During October 2023, there was the Laugh Till You Die: Multiplayer Mayhem charity bundle, including popular games like PlateUp! and Ultimate Chicken Horse in a pack of seven. It also costs around $10; PlateUp! alone costs $19.99 USD usually.

Fanatical is another great option. It offers cheap bundles, and for some, you can actually select what you want. For example, the Build Your Own Play As You Go bundle in October had Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus, Doom, The Walking Dead: The TellTale Series The Final Season, and The Ascent, among other high quality games. If you bought three, it would be around $10, but if you get 7, it would total about $20, saving you cash.

Ask a friend to lend you a game

The best way to save money on games is to ask a friend to lend their titles. If you want to check out Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 and see a friend who has it playing Diablo 4 instead, perhaps ask if you could borrow their copy of the latest COD. They might say yes. Just make sure you schedule a time to return the game with your pal.

Check out the thrift stores and pawn shops

Pawn shops are a fantastic way to get modern titles. For example, I saw the often expensive Mario Tennis Aces for $35 CAD ($25 USD) at a pawn shop the other week. If you're lucky, you can also find some retro gems in thrift stores. I found a few rare PS2 games available, including the valuable PS2 port of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Read the flyers and check the deals pages

Try to read the weekly flyers when you can. They offer some surprising deals at times. In Canada, they're still around often, but I found them difficult to find with some American brands, at least online.

Thankfully, you can check the deals sections of these retailers. For example, on Walmart, I found that Yoshi's Crafted World was $10 off, and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening was $20 off on a random October night.

Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Extra are the best ways to save money on games

Both subscription services Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Extra offer a wealth of titles to check out for less than $20 a month. Xbox Game Pass is arguably the better of the two with new games like Starfield and Lies of P launching on the platform day one. You can also play the entirety of the Halo and Gears of War series on the service. There are some other standouts like Disney Dreamlight Valley and indies such as Celeste and Inside on Xbox Game Pass.

However, PlayStation Plus Extra has an impressive suite of titles too, such as Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart, Demon's Souls (PS5), and Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales. You can catch up on the games you've missed as well. For example, I never caught up with NieR Replicant, and now it's available on PlayStation Plus Extra.

Use Bing to get gift cards on Xbox

This might sound like a joke to you, but I use Bing for the majority of my searches rather than Google. Why? Because I can get points towards gift cards on Xbox and other rewards. After a month of searches, this number can increase dramatically, letting you redeem them for a $5 gift card code. You can also answer fun quizzes to get some points. If you're an Overwatch or League of Legends fan, you can get in-game currency with your points too. It's been very helpful for me, and I've probably saved $50 or more with this method.

PlayStation Stars offers up money too

PlayStation Stars can also get you some cash on the PlayStation Store. You'll get points back from your purchases and finishing tasks on the PlayStation App. You can then redeem them for digital gift cards or actual games like Cuphead. Some of these tasks include playing games from the PlayStation Plus lineup that month or checking out new titles in the Store.

The Nintendo eShop also gives you back some cash on your purchases too in the form of gold coins. You'll typically get $4 back on every $80 game you buy, according to My Nintendo. However, there are no additional tasks you complete for more currency.

The post 10 ways to save money on games appeared first on Destructoid.

The best Disney games honor the source material and are exciting to play for all ages. From kart racing, to farming, to platforming, there's a surprising amount of variety. Here are the best Disney games you can play in 2023.

[Note: I'm including games you can easily access on modern platforms. Unfortunately, it's quite difficult to get a copy of Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure in 2023. Otherwise, I'd put it on the list!]

Cars 3: Driven to Win

Cars 3: Driven to Win takes the Mario Kart approach and makes for a surprisingly good Disney racing game. You're driving through locations from the film, and trying to triumph in the race, items included. There's a wide variety of characters to drive as, including Lightning, Cruz Ramirez, and even the unconventional Mater.

There's also a decent drifting and boosting system in place in the game, making it feel high-speed.

Disney’s Aladdin

Disney's Aladdin took "one jump ahead" to the platforming genre with fun platforming levels, groundbreaking 2D roto-scoping animation, and a great recreation of the desert city Agrabah in game form. This game's tough, however, so I'd recommend getting the Disney Classic Games Collection.

It has the function to rewind and even does a perfect playthrough for you. For the latter feature, you can also jump into the game whenever you'd like. The collection can switch between the Genesis and Super Nintendo versions of the game too.

Disney Dreamlight Valley

Disney Dreamlight Valley is an absolute joy for any fan of the House of Mouse. In this relaxing Animal Crossing-like experience, you're rebuilding a town, as well as bringing back old and new Disney characters to the settlement. It's quite satisfying when the town gets busier and busier.

You'll also be cooking a bunch of recipes from the ingredients you grow and collect from around the world. You'll need to have some patience too in this game with the farming elements!

Disney Infinity on Steam

What once was a toys-to-life game (remember those?), Disney Infinity has become a comprehensive package on Steam. You can get all the characters and campaigns through the Gold Collection on Valve's client. You won't need a figure. Within the game are some charming levels, simple Lego-like beat-em-up sections you can play with your family, and great production values all around. For example, in Disney Infinity 1.0, you can explore the Caribbean on a pirate ship.

You can't share your creations online, but there's a pretty awesome toolset for making your own levels as well.

Disney Speedstorm

Disney Princesses don't have to wait for their "prince to come." Instead, they can race around all manner of landmarks throughout the animation studio's history. From Mulan's Great Walls of China to Aladdin's Agrabah, there are exciting places to explore on your kart.

The action's intense, the driving's surprisingly smooth for a tie-in game like this, and the graphics are top-notch. I personally love that each item you use has a second ability from holding down the corresponding button.

The problem is that it's free-to-play and has a lot of barriers in place to unlock your favorite characters. Still, the game itself is thrilling to play; it's worth the headaches. Read my review for more information.

DuckTales

Available through The Disney Afternoon Collection, you can play this platforming classic in 2023. You're using Scrooge's cane as a pogo stick, bumping enemies. The level design is immaculate.

The music is also phenomenal, especially the Moon level's theme, which cover artists still love to highlight to this day. Like Aladdin's port to modern systems, you can rewind the game as well, making this game more accessible to modern players. It might be an NES game, but you might go quackers over it.

"Borrowing a page from Mega Man with its freeing world selection system, the maps themselves are full of twists, turns, alternate paths, and secret areas," Chris Carter says in his Destructoid review for The Disney Afternoon Collection. "Like most of the Afternoon Collection, it stands on its own two feet, free of the shackles of nostalgia."

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX

If you know me, this selection isn't a surprise at all. Kingdom Hearts is near and dear to my heart. The characters are relatable, the storyline is surprisingly deep, and the action RPG combat system keeps me coming back over and over. I've always found it wonderful how the magical worlds of Disney blend with the Final Fantasy-esque storyline and combat.

Mickey flips around like Star Wars' Yoda and uses a golden keyblade, while Final Fantasy X's tough Auron takes on Hercules' Cerberus in the Underworld alongside our heroes Sora, Donald, and Goofy. Kingdom Hearts is bonkers, and I'm here for it. The combat's also top of the line with some stunning abilities at Sora's disposal like Sonic Blade and Ragnarok. The bosses, for the most part, are also well-designed and will challenge you.

It's been said many times, but the fusion of Disney and Square Enix properties shouldn't work. And yet, it's a perfect match. Please get on the gummi ship and take a journey into the wacky chaos, which is the Kingdom Hearts series.

The post 7 best Disney games you can easily play in 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

We've had 10 years of The Jackbox Party Pack, and the tenth entry does show signs of the series' rickety age. The Jackbox Party Pack 10 has some solid games in its arsenal, like the time-based trivia game Timejinx and Tee K.O. 2, but there are more misses than hits.

It hurts me to say, as I'm a huge fan of the developer. FixyText felt pointless within my group and brought back memories of Word Spud, and then they were confused by Hypnotorious.

The Jackbox Party Pack 10 (PC [reviewed], PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch)
Developer: Jackbox Games, Inc.
Publisher: Jackbox Games, Inc.
Released: October 19, 2023
MSRP: $34.99

Timejinx is by far the best game in The Jackbox Party Pack 10

I love trivia, and Jackbox Games are masters of making the fun-fact genre of party games weird. In Timejinx, you're tasked with identifying the exact timeframe of historical events. The further out you are, the more points you gain. That's usually a good thing, but in this instance, you actually want to get the least out of the group to win.

While Timejinx does last a little too long for my liking, the questions are creative, and the rounds change up the formula. For example, you'll have two different copies of a famous historical figure. You'll need to guess which one is telling the truth (correct answer). One question asks how many novels Jane Austen has written; the first answer says four, and the other states 12. The former answer is correct.

The graphics behind Timejinx are awesome, too, as you dive deep into a time machine and see all the bits and bobs flying in the air. For example, there's a flying robot that looks like a Tamogatchi.

However, one issue came up with Timejinx when I had a small group of people playing. You see, later on in the game, the players with fewer points receive hints on what date they should pick for the matching event. They're way too obvious, and time after time, I pulled away the victory against my sister in Timejinx because of these massive hints. They helped gain me a 15-20 point advantage, frustrating my poor sibling. With a bigger group, however, this shouldn't be a problem.

Tee K.O. 2 brings back the fan-favorite game

This sequel is an evolution of the Tee K.O. format. We now have shirts, jackets, and vests to utilize, in addition to multiple text fonts. We can get more creative with our designs, and if you make a mistake, you can actually undo your drawing step-by-step.

It's still hilarious. Each player makes three different drawings, and then every group member picks their favorite design. The players also create funny catchphrases and words to attach to that image. The result is usually laughter as everyone votes on their favorite

It specifically makes me cackle as I love the absurd humor this lets you play with. Tee K.O. 2 still hits and is even better than the original, thanks to its new functionality. It also lets you choose the drawing you want to alter from a bigger selection for the second round.

The Jackbox Party Pack 10 has more misses than hits

I'm a big fan of Jackbox's work. This studio gave me many memories of making jokes with my university friends. Unfortunately, The Jackbox Party Pack 10 may show signs of the format growing stale.

FixyTest is kind of a mess. The idea is that you're writing an email that can't be edited or backspaced. Then, four players on each team make up words on the fly. As my friend group played this, they were so confused and didn't know what the point of the game was. It feels as directionless as Word Spud from the original Party Pack 10 years ago. It does show some signs of promise, however.

Other players can actually edit what you've written and completely turn the conversation in a different direction. The words you type can also be relatively amusing if you put them in wrong.

At the end of a round, the other team of four picks their favorite (funniest) words from the letter written. It is also read out loud by an AI voice. The one-note gameplay mechanics and humor fell flat most of the time, and it was generally boring to play. My group moved on from the game quickly.

Hypnotorious is also confounding

Another odd game in The Jackbox Party Pack 10 is Hypnotorious. This one features a psychic confusing you to become another object like bacon and eggs. You then are asked several prompts that require you to answer in character. The scenarios the game presents, however, are frankly strange with inanimate objects, animals, and other beings mentioned. You need to have a creative group to make this work.

The aim of the game is to spot which player matches with you. For example, at the diner, you find a grill alongside bacon and eggs. They are matching.

At the end of the game, there's a twist. You'll need to point out who is the outlier. There is one player that isn't matched with anyone in terms of the topic. For example, in Stumpt's first time with Hypnotorious, there were three fast animals and one slow animal. The latter is the person you need to spot. If the outlier doesn't get caught, they practically win the game with the amount of points they gain.

Generally, this game confused my group, due to the absurdity of the prompts, and we were left wanting to go back to Timejinx and Tee K.O. 2.

However, when I played with another group the next day, Hypnotorious got interesting. One of the players was trying to skew their answers to better match the others.

There's an element of strategy that makes the game far more interesting than I initially thought before. For example, someone got the Grinch and tried to make us believe the topic was about us being winter-themed rather than it being blue characters and green characters.

Dodo Re Mi is something new for Jackbox Games

Lastly, there's Dodo Re Mi. It's a new music-rhythm game from Jackbox Games that has you forming a band with friends. The quirky side of the Chicago-based studio comes in with the eccentric instruments you can play. You can have an oboe playing alongside gargling sounds and constant screaming. It's surprising what the end result could be.

If you get the timing settings correct at the beginning of the song, you'll have a decent music-rhythm experience. It plays a lot like Guitar Hero, but if you struggle with having five different threads on-screen at once, you can choose an easier difficulty instrumental with just one thread. For example, the Constant Screaming has only three threads to master.

Once the song is complete, you'll watch as the birds perform your work in front of a carnivorous monster. If you succeed, you're spared. If you fail, your group will be eaten. A cool aspect of the game is that you can download an MP3 of the song after.

My main issue is getting the timing right. The beat is sometimes inaccurate if it's set wrong. It can be easy to do. The touch screen personally didn't feel as tactile as a Guitar Hero button, and the timing sometimes felt slightly off. I had fun, but Dodo Re Mi isn't something I envision playing with my friends all too much. It seems like a hassle playing the game over Discord, Twitch, or Skype, as a music game needs precise inputs.

Closing thoughts

The Jackbox Party Pack 10 is a mixed bag. Two of the games are confusing, one is a welcomed return, and Time Jinx is the absolute star in this pack for being a creative trivia title. The format's starting to get stale, unfortunately, and the novelty of connecting to the game with your phone has worn off.

My friends and I also had regular disconnects from games, and it can be frustrating as these experiences can last 10-20 minutes at a time. My sister also had issues connecting to Jackbox.TV at first due to having a VPN on, which could be a hassle for many. Additionally, questions popped up multiple times, and I had to give the answer to my friends playing with me to keep it fair

Hopefully, the series continues with a new pep in its step next year.

[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]

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Platform fighter Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 has been delayed both digitally and physically, publisher GameMill Entertainment announced on Tuesday. The digital release has been pushed to November 7, while the physical version is going all the way back to December 1.

"Our release date will be moving slightly as the team looks to put the finishing touches on Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2," said GameMill Entertainment. No further detail was provided on what finishing touches they're adding to the game.

A fighting game needs to be pinpoint accurate. Otherwise, it will fail to land with its audience. For example, Street Fighter V had what felt like a rushed launch. The roster was lacking in characters, and there wasn't a classic Arcade Mode on day one, either. It didn't impress long-time fans.

Those who buy the digital version between November 7-14 get a bonus Patrick's Elastic Waistband costume, says the official X/Twitter account. The publisher has also confirmed in a reply that the Switch version will only have a code inside, not a cartridge.

Making the finishing touches

Despite the Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 delay, the game is releasing with new characters in the sequel, including Squidward and Jimmy Neutron. Some veterans are returning too, like SpongeBob SquarePants and Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender.

The returning characters receive an overhaul with new abilities at their disposal. There are also super attacks within the combat and an all-new roguelike campaign mode to sink your teeth into. Hopefully, the sequel will improve upon the initial game's issues.

"Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is obviously in no position to take the platform fighter throne right now, but I think the teams at Ludosity and Fair Play Labs have created a very good blueprint for what could be a very great franchise," said our 7/10 review for the original game. "If Super Smash Bros. is a celebration of all things Nintendo, I don’t see why an All-Star Brawl 2 couldn’t be a celebration of all things Nickelodeon."

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I'm the type of guy that loves JRPGs, especially the Kingdom Hearts games. I also love 3D platformers like Super Mario Odyssey and Rayman Legends, so it was a journey for me to play something as horrific and nerve-wracking as Resident Evil 7 with my buddies.

Hunched up in the darkness, I was terrified, but getting past the possessed zombie-like Southerners, I pushed through its scariest moments for the story and a need to share with my friends. That's why Resident Evil 7 is the perfect gateway for my introduction to horror games; if the fear factor has you cowering, the need to know propels you through.

Find a friend

Accompanied by my friend Jeric and his brother, I was coerced into playing my first horror game. I briefly tried out Resident Evil 5's demo before but chickened out from the man with a chainsaw. I never was willing to get spooked for a thrill, but with my friends by my side, I was more willing to go head first.

Part of what makes the Resident Evil series so outstanding is how the gameplay is entrenched in the horror. What made Resident Evil 7 so special to me was having a buddy guide my way through puzzles and how the series works. It was so refreshing at the time — a makeshift co-op experience for a new genre I hadn't tested myself with before. Rather than shooting hundreds of rounds of bullets, you have to conserve.

Your fear grows as you run out of ammo. You're listening for enemies around you, and you shouldn't feel like a badass. Ethan Winters was certainly a more relatable protagonist. He isn't as beefy as Chris Redfield. He is just as scared as us as he is forced to fight his possessed wife. Hitting and shooting at his wife and looking at the tortured souls of the family you're with is extremely effective in first person. I can't even imagine what it's like in VR.

The Resident Evil 7 storyline seemed hokey - until it wasn't

The Baker family dinner scene genuinely creeped me out when I played it at first. I remember my friends laughing while I was gritting my teeth. The dinner table is filled with all manner of nasty food, rotten to the core. You see the father and the son Lucas arguing with each other and then the former slicing the son's hand off. I cringed backward, looking away from the screen.

They then get angry with you for not eating the worm that is fed to you. The mother shouts her head off, offended and screaming, "He's not eating it!" Witnessing heretics like this on-screen shocked me, entrancing me further into the horror genre.

The father is also very threatening as he resorts to violence, cutting your mouth with his knife. This scene illustrates the danger your protagonist is in, setting the mood for the rest of the game. My friends brought me back to reality, trying to get me back into the game.

From this point onward, I was extremely vigilant and felt weak in comparison to the crazies in the house. I now understand that's exactly what a horror game should do. Resident Evil 7, like other entries in the series, sets up the tension perfectly from the confusing beginning all the way to the action-packed conclusion.

I'm now invested in the Resident Evil and the horror genre

Toward the end of the game, the plot engaged me. I wanted to know how this happened to the Baker family, who is the culprit, and how the overall narrative is going to end. The experience made me invested in the Resident Evil series as I've played the remakes and the follow-up Resident Evil Village. It's become one of my favorite franchises now; it's up there with Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy for me.

The horror genre isn't just jump scares. There can be more to the tale. Resident Evil has some stellar action and character moments, especially in the most recent entries. Additionally, other horror games like The Evil Within do an outstanding job of putting you in a surrealistic place and not knowing what to expect next. There's also Dead by Daylight, which has elevated the asymmetrical multiplayer genre. I'm now invested. I can't wait to play the likes of Alan Wake 2 and whatever future Resident Evil games lie in wait.

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On paper, The Thaumaturge sounds like a delight. The unique setting of 20th Century Warsaw? Check. A turn-based RPG combat system that changes based on the spirit you use? Check. In practice, everything comes together in a confusing fashion. Let's dig into it.

A slow start to The Thaumaturge's story

The beginning of the demo for The Thaumaturge is as flat as it gets. You're not given an aspiring introduction, telling you why you should care. The background of the world just flies past your ears into a solace wall behind you. You're left with a protagonist that isn't relatable, and voice acting that's uninteresting across the board. The game's dialogue isn't particularly personality-filled and the performances come off as wooden more often than not. To add insult to injury, the story didn't click with me until perhaps near the end of the demo. While I wasn't interested in the protagonist's narrative, it may be fascinating to find out the backstory of these spirits called Saluters and how you acquire their powers. It's kinda similar to Persona as you can gain their powers in combat after defeating them.

The Thaumaturge combat system is surprisingly cinematic

Speaking of the combat system in The Thaumaturge, I was surprised by how cinematic the game is. You get unique angles on some attacks that look deadly. The main character only punches his way so far in this early point of the game. Eventually, we'll be able to "use the unique set of their skills to gain an advantage while exploring the world and when bringing your adversaries to their knees," said publisher 11 bit studios on the game's Steam page. I'm anxious to see it play out.

The boss was tough but...

When I faced the boss in the demo, I started to turn against the combat system. I thought the only way to heal normally was through the ability Eerie Intoxication, which restores half of what you've lost in a round during the attack. Through multiple attempts, the amount of damage incurred on your character makes his healing ineffective at a certain point of the battle. I fell to it three times.

However, I discovered a big mechanic that the developer Fool's Theory needs to make way more obvious. You can upgrade your attacks with added quirks if you drag and drop certain arrows into place, but the UI is so odd it's hard to spot. For example, you can get a 60% chance of doubling the strength of one of your attacks. This is massive and changes the complexity of the battle. These essential upgrades are hidden within menus, and the UI should show how important they are.

Additionally, the protagonist has an additional ability called Not of this World, which causes a chunk of damage AND heals your character by half of their health. It unlocks later down the line of battle after you've staggered a foe into its breakdown state. You'll need to eliminate all of their focus to do this. It's interesting, but poorly setup.

Investigating the area

You won't just be battling foes in The Thaumaturge. You'll be exploring locations, picking up items, and trying to figure out what exactly happened before you arrived. There's a Perception mechanic, that lets you scan the area around you. It's not as intuitive as I'd like, and at one point in the game, I was running around not knowing where to go next. Sometimes, you may need to head to the other sub-quest to actually complete the one you're on; keep that in mind.

An aspect of the game that seems to have promise is the dialogue choices. It seems like what you decide will actually make an impact on the narrative. For example, the game teases whether or not you should trust Rasputin on this adventure. The Steam page says the game "allows you to alternate your choices and make you deal with the aftermath." Hopefully, the developer will pull off that promise.

An early showing of Unreal Engine 5

The Thaumaturge, like Immortals of Aveum, runs on Unreal Engine 5. The environments look pretty with some great Lumen and Volumetric lighting all around. The quality of the monsters' renders is super detailed as well. Unfortunately, I'm taking an all-expenses paid trip to the Uncanny Valley with the characters. The expressions of the likes of Rasputin and other personalities in the game creeped me out a little. The eyes kinda look dead inside as well. Something just rubbed me the wrong way.

Despite the character models, however, The Thamaturge looks fantastic on my monitor on Epic settings. I can't wait to see the game's interpretation of Warsaw in the full title. It will be released on December 5 for PC systems. A PS5 and Xbox Series X/S release is also scheduled sometime in early 2024.

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Assassin's Creed Mirage is now the biggest new-gen launch for Ubisoft, according to the official Assassin's Creed X account on Wednesday. The French publisher shared its Assassin's Creed Mirage sales news, noting figures include PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Ubisoft also provided some fun stats about our playtime.

Initial Assassin's Creed Mirage sales numbers seem impressive

"We are proud to [..] share that Assassin's Creed Mirage is the biggest New Gen launch in terms of units sales to date at Ubisoft (PS5, Xbox Series X-S)," said Ubisoft in a social media post thanking its audience. "A big congratulations to the Bordeaux Studio and all its partners in the project for this accomplishment."

Ubisoft did not give specific numbers as to how Assassin's Creed Mirage has sold. However, we now know it has initially sold better in its first week than the likes of Watch Dogs: Legion, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and Immortals: Fenyx Rising.

Some of the stats celebrated the occasion are kind of fun, too. So far, players have spent 479 collective years parkouring the rooftops of Baghdad. Assassins also took 60 million Leaps of Faith. Then there's the most important, we've pet 1.2 million street cats.

Assassin's Creed Mirage is a stroll away from the massive open-world formula of recent titles like Valhalla and Odyssey. It's in a smaller space in Baghdad with a focus on the core stealth gameplay. Perhaps this approach appeals to lapsed fans of the series. It is also at a cheaper price point of $49.99.

"For the most part, Mirage achieves its goal of returning to its assassin ways," says our review. "But in some ways, it also shows me why Ubisoft made the decision to take the franchise in a new direction in the first place."

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The kart racing genre is known for many mediocre franchise tie-in titles. NASCAR, DreamWorks, and even Garfield have entered the party with varying results. Sonic and Crash are arguably the only two that can somewhat rival Mario and his friends. Disney Speedstorm is on the cusp of that.

Disney Speedstorm hits and adds some new mechanics and twists to the genre. While the overall game is impressive, it will be hard for many to ignore the microtransactions that poison the sweet apple that's this game (expect many Disney references, you have been warned).

Disney Speedstorm (PC, PS5 [Reviewed], PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch [Reviewed], iOS, Android)
Developer: Gameloft
Publisher: Gameloft
Released: September 28, 2023
MSRP: Free to play

"One Jump Ahead" of Mario Kart, in some ways

Disney Speedstorm is a refreshing addition to the kart racing genre. It brings all of these beloved Disney characters together, like Aladdin and Jack Sparrow, but also adds some awesome gameplay mechanics to the format. The Disney characters aren't the only attraction, unlike other tie-in games that live off the property's name and do the bare minimum.

One of the thrilling mechanics is the charged skill system. When you pick up an item, there are two variations of moves you can pull off. For example, with a mine, you can throw it in front of you or hold the item button to create an explosion in your near vicinity. This adds more of an element of strategy to the game. I hope Nintendo takes notes as I find the items in the Mario Kart series, like the banana and bombs, a bit repetitive and old.

There's also a slight tang of the Burnout series in Disney Speedstorm, as you can ram other players into the walls. I'm surprised such a violent move can be found in a game inspired by the House of Mouse. Additionally, you can use a nitro boost to speed yourself up, like in Team Sonic Racing and Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled.

These mechanics truly add to the kart racing experience. "For the First Time in Forever," we're actually seeing some innovation within a tired genre.

A great start to the action but...

With Gameloft's experience with the Asphalt series, it's no surprise that Disney Speedstorm feels great to control. While the kart does move a little slower than I'd like, drifting around is a dream. Boosting also feels powerful as you work your way through the hills of the Steamboat Willie-inspired The Silver Screen track and around the halls of Monster's Inc.'s Factory.

I personally love that each character has their own unique item as well. Donald lays out fists around him as he gets angry, while Aladdin rides his magic carpet across the stage. Jafar also bursts fire from his scepter. It makes each character unique and makes me want to try out everyone on the roster.

I'm happy to report that the game runs smoothly on both the PS5 and Nintendo Switch. The tracks look gorgeous on Sony's latest system, and while the Nintendo Switch does have a few rare hiccups here and there, Disney Speedstorm does run well on the hybrid system. It's also cross-play and cross-save compatible, so you can take the game anywhere you'd like to go and play it with anyone you'd like.

Leveling up your character...

My main issue is that your characters need to be leveled up for better stats. For offline play, thankfully, this isn't a big issue. However, your success in the single-player Season Tour mode depends on your character's top speed, acceleration, handling, boost, and combat. You won't be on an equal playing field at points. Mulan might be too slow to finish a race in the first place.

You'll need to get upgrade parts to level up your characters. Most of the time, I've been able to get them easily through unlocking them in the Season Tour mode and Starter Circuit. However, there have been points where I've had to grind for upgrade parts to proceed. It can be frustrating, and this is where the microtransactions rear their ugly head.

The good thing is that everyone is on a level playing field when you play the multiplayer mode. Your characters are automatically at Level 30, which is the regulated level of Regulated Multiplayer. The Ranked mode, however, does depend on your character's stats, so keep that in mind. It does feel pay-to-win in this instance.

There are so many microtransactions!

Like The Goofy Movie with Goofy and Max, you'll need to be "I2I" with the micro-transactions in this game. There are so many to keep count of that it can be overwhelming. Here's an explanation of each of them:

• Tokens - This is the main currency used towards character tokens, vehicle parts, crew members, etc.
• Multiplayer Coins - These are gained through finishing leaderboard events and doing well in ranked multiplayer. This is used for costumes and multiplayer boxes (loot boxes that give you random rewards).
• Season Coins - This is the most common currency you'll earn through finishing races in the Season Tour and Starter Circuit modes.
• Box Credits - These are credits that can be used for opening specifically marked boxes in the Shop.

Gameloft should have streamlined the microtransaction process to make the process clearer. There's also the Golden Pass and Collections level system to keep track of, which gives you character tokens, crew shards, and even mottos. It's a lot to take in and initially turned me off the game at first. With a family title like this, I bet kids are even more confused. Families would wish they'd have a "Friend Like Me" explaining this while playing Disney Speedstorm, I'm certain.

It can be irritating to miss out on your favorite characters like Stitch and Woody as well due to missing each season. You can get them from the Universal Box, but it's ridiculously difficult to get them. For example, to get Angel from Lilo & Stitch at the time of writing, there's a 0.98% chance of getting 1-3 racer shards from the Universal Box. You'll need ten racer shards to get her.

Disney Speedstorm has so much potential though

It's so irritating that there's a bad micro-transaction system in Disney Speedstorm because I genuinely love this game. If it was released at $39.99 and had all of the characters, tracks, and content, it would be marked as one of the best kart racing games out there.

There's a deep love of Disney behind each track design. You're maneuvering around plumes of fire in the Cave of Wonders before the lion opens its mouth, letting you out. Disney Speedstorm has a track based on Mulan that has you racing on the Great Walls of China Wipeout style, with the rockets from the avalanche scene becoming an obstacle later on.

In the Hercules stage, you're drifting around a gorgeous depiction of Mount Olympus as you're listening to a banging electronic remix of the film's opening song, "The Gospel Truth."

The tracks are also laid with fun obstacles and beautiful scenery inspired by the films we know and love. I especially like seeing the colorful and summer vibes of the Hawaii stage from Lilo & Stitch. It's just a shame that the game gets a little repetitive with a small selection of tracks currently.

If you're a Disney fan, you're going to see a lot of references. The music is a bit of a mixed bag with some fantastic remixes of tracks we've grown up with and then others that go overboard with the dubstep and techno beats.

Disney Speedstorm "Goes the Distance" and makes a rough landing

Disney Speedstorm is certainly "on a roll" with its electrifying stages and game design, but it's certainly not "undefeated." The confusing microtransactions pull it down and become an annoying distraction to what's great in this kart racer. While a love for the Disney product is certainly present in Disney Speedstorm, there are a few annoying aspects of the game to be mindful of.

Thankfully, you can play the game offline with all the characters unlocked. You can participate in the multiplayer modes, too, with a rotating selection of guest racers. As the game proceeds, we'll be getting new tracks and characters every two months, so there will be a regular stream of content incoming for Disney Speedstorm.

[This review is based on the Ultimate Founder’s Pack of the game provided by the publisher.]

The post Review: Disney Speedstorm appeared first on Destructoid.

Next month, the holiday season will be in full swing, and there are many November 2023 games to look out for. From a classic returning to a new Call of Duty approaching physical and digital stores, you better prepare your wallet.

After a busy September and October, I wonder if we'll get a chance to check out any of these titles. Nevertheless, here are all of the most anticipated November 2023 games.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) - PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC

Publisher: Activision
Developer: Sledgehammer Games, Treyarch, Infinity Ward, Beenox, Raven Software, High Moon Studios, Demonware
Price: $69.99
Release Date: November 10
Trailer

Likely the last game in the series solely under Activision, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 lets us play as Captain Price and the rest of Task Force 141 seeking Vladimir Makarov. All of the maps from 2009's Modern Warfare 2 have been modernized for this game, and there are some new maps to explore as well. There are 12 6v6 maps to tackle too.

Hopefully, with so many developers behind the game's belt, we'll have a unique vision behind this installment. There should be some standout maps that land like Call of Duty Black Ops' Nuketown and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2's Terminal with so much talent behind this title.

The zombies mode lets you team up with other squads for the first time. The Steam listing says the game will have the "largest Call of Duty zombies map ever." We'll see if bigger means better when the game releases on November 10.

Persona 5 Tactica - PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC

Publisher: Atlus
Developer: P-Studio
Price: $59.99
Release Date: November 16
Trailer

The Persona 5 spinoffs continue, and this time it's a strategy RPG with an all-new storyline in the series. There's also a strange new ally called Erina who helps you take down the Legionnaires. In this new realm, you must learn the strategy RPG mechanics of the game and survive.

It would be cool if Persona 5 Tactica reaches the incredible heights of the strategy-RPG Fire Emblem: Three Houses. That Nintendo game has an impactful story, engaging game design, and loveable characters. We've known the Phantom Thieves for a very long time, so it will be interesting to see how they grow.

This new take on the series might be daunting, but if you're an Xbox Game Pass subscriber, you can check this game out at no extra cost on day one of its release. I can't wait to "Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There" for one of the most anticipated November 2023 games.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R - PS4, PS5, PC, Switch

Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix and Gemdrops
Price: $49.99
Release Date: November 2
Trailer

Square Enix continues to blend stunning 2D pixel art into colorful 3D environments in this remaster of Star Ocean: The Second Story R. The 2.5D aesthetic from past games like Octopath Traveler 2 is back in Star Ocean: The Second Story R. Only this time, it's in an action-RPG format.

The visuals look pretty. You'll see the pixel art lit up in some stunning lighting, and there are unique settings they'll explore. The story's intriguing as there are two protagonists. Depending on who you choose, the story and party members will change. There's also a relationship system and various endings to find.

If you want to find out more, there's a demo you can try out now on PC, PS4, PS5, and Switch.

Super Mario RPG - Switch

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Price: $59.99
Release Date: November 17
Trailer

A Super Mario RPG remake is finally on the way for the Nintendo Switch. It will feature long-beloved characters like Geno and Mallow in the game as we're reunited with this classic RPG.

The visuals truly pop on screen. It brings that classic look but revitalizes it for a 2023 audience. There are also spectacular Triple Moves that have all three members of the team working together in one attack. The turn-based combat returns in full force, but the game will need you to land the hits with your button presses. It will be a "Happy Adventure, Delightful Adventure" indeed.

It will feature newly remastered music by the game's original composer Yoko Shimomura. However, you can switch back to the old version of the soundtrack at any time.

The game also lets you battle the bosses once more with a much harder difficulty. I can't wait to "Beware the Forest's Mushrooms" and play this cherished RPG for the first time!

WarioWare: Move It! - Switch

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Price: $49.99
Release Date: November 3
Trailer

One of the most memorable Wii games, at least for me, is WarioWare: Smooth Moves, and Move It feels like it is a successor to that. With the motion controls of the Joy-con, we'll be following 200 whacky mini-games that last a matter of seconds. You'll have to complete a chain of them to be successful. Of course, you'll be going through motions like wiggling out of rope and shaking a dog's hand.

The IR sensor, which tracks your hand movements for a few mini-games, is also present. It will show your hand on-screen, and you'll have to point out a certain number of fingers to succeed.

These mini-games, including a reference to Super Mario 64's iconic slide level, seem thrilling to play and will keep us on our toes. There's also going to be two-player co-op and a four-player Party Mode. It's one of the most anticipated November 2023 games just from how entertaining and wild the game looks.

Honorable Mentions

• PowerWash Simulator VR (Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3) – November 2
• RoboCop: Rogue City (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 2
• The Talos Principle 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 2
• Thirsty Suitors (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) - November 2
• EA Sports WRC (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 3
• Ebenezer and the Invisible World (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) - November 3
• Warcraft Rumble (Android, iOS) - November 3
• Football Manager 2024 (PC, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) - November 6
• The Invincible (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 6
• Typecast (PC) - November 7
• Beyond Sunset (PC) - November 8
• While The Iron's Hot (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 8
• Cuisineer (PC) - November 9
• Dungeons 4 (PC) - November 9
• Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 9
• Spells & Secrets (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 9
• Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 9
• Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 14
• Assassin's Creed Nexus VR (Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3) - November 16
• Flashback 2 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 16
• Bluey: The Videogame (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 17
• Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 17
• Tiger Blade (PSVR 2) - November 17
• Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
• Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising (PS4, PS5, PC) - November 30

The post Most anticipated games – November 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.