Genshin Impact’s Special Program for Version 4.4 is here, detailing all the new areas, events, characters, and banners coming in the next update. Here’s a summary of all the new content coming to Genshin Impact Version 4.4: Vibrant Harriers Aloft in Spring Breeze!

Version 4.4 is expected to drop on January 31st (or the evening of January 30 for most Americans).

4.4 livestream Primogem codes

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MT88AYHCZ2UR
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Each code grants 100 Primogems and various other materials. Redeem them either in-game or on the official site. They expire about a day from when the Special Program aired, so be quick!

4.4 new characters: Xianyun and Gaming

Xianyun (aka Cloud Retainer) is a 5-star Anemo Catalyst user who buffs plunge damage. Her Burst increases the jump height of your entire party, allowing anyone to become a plunge DPS. She grants buffs to her party’s Plunging Attacks and deals a bit of damage of her own. On top of unlocking a new playstyle for every character, Xianyun’s Burst also offers healing, making her a great potential partner for Furina. Xianyun’s Skill is a unique triple jump that ends with a dive bomb Plunging Attack.

Gaming is a 4-star Pyro Claymore user and a Wushou dancer. He appears to specialize in Plunging Attacks with his Burst and Skill, allowing him to take full advantage of Xianyun’s plunge-oriented kit. His Skill has him rush toward an enemy, then leap into the air, from which he can execute a special Plunging Attack that consumes some of his own HP. Gaming’s Burst summons a little suanni pet that runs some distance from him after using his Skill combo. When the pet runs back to Gaming’s location, his Skill cooldown is reset, allowing him to spam Skills and Plunging Attacks as quickly as he can retrieve his pet.

4.4 banners

The first half of 4.4 will feature the 5-stars Xianyun and Nahida, as well as the 4-star Gaming. The weapon banner will consist of Xianyun’s signature weapon, Crane’s Echoing Call, and probably Nahida’s signature, A Thousand Floating Dreams.

The second half Version 4.4 will feature Xiao and Yae Miko. They will likely be accompanied by their signature weapons: Primordial Jade Winged-Spear and Kagura’s Verity.

New area: Chenyu Vale

A new explorable area is being added to Liyue: Chenyu Vale. Chenyu Vale has been teased as a mystical area known for its high-quality tea production. Baizhu’s lore in particular is tied to Chenyu Vale, as this is Changsheng’s homeland.

Chenyu Vale is a verdant, mountainous landscape with rivers flowing between them. Qiaoying Village and Yilong Wharf are the primary human settlements. The people of Chenyu Vale seem to have a unique culture somewhat distinct from the rest of Liyue. While most of Liyue sees Rex Lapis as the land’s sole ruler in its antiquity, Chenyu Vale’s residents recall a time when other gods and adepti protected their ancestors.

There will also be a new world boss in Chenyu Vale: the Solitary Suanni. It appears to have Anemo and Hydro elemental attacks in its arsenal. Given the new characters coming this patch, I would expect either Xianyun or Gaming to use materials from this boss.

4.4 events

It’s that time of year again, and this year’s Lantern Rite event is called Vibrant Harriers Aloft in Spring Breeze. There will be three minigames as part of this event. Participation will reward you with a free Xingqiu skin and your choice of any 4-star Liyue character. The 4-star character selector includes Gaming, so if you can’t pull on the new banners, you can still obtain Gaming for free!

There will also be a login event where you can claim a total of ten Intertwined Fates. We’ll be receiving an additional three Intertwined Fates via in-game mail.

A cooking event called Receiver of Friends from Afar has Travelers playing minigames to cook meals, then decorating the dishes to serve to our friends.

Journey through Hiligmatic Terrain is a two-part event. One part is a stealth mission where you use a special device to follow hilichurls and infiltrate their camps. The other part is a combat domain where you face off against a giant samachurl boss.

Triumphant Frenzy is a combat event using trial characters only. It looks like we’ll be able to choose two to four trial characters from a randomly selected pool to complete combat challenges.

Finally, Overflowing Mastery makes a return with double drops for Talent books.

New skins for Xingqiu, Ganyu, and Shenhe

Xingqiu, Ganyu, and Shenhe are receiving new skins! Xingqiu looks quite dapper in a more Western-style outfit, while Ganyu and Shenhe are dressed in sleek black outfits.

Xingqiu’s skin can be obtained for free during Version 4.4 by participating in the Lantern Rite event. After the end of Version 4.4, we can expect it to be included in the store for Genesis Crystals for those who missed it.

Ganyu and Shenhe’s skins will be sold in the in-game store for Genesis Crystals. For the duration of Version 4.4, these skins will be discounted.

Other additions in Version 4.4

Genius Invokation TCG is receiving another update, adding cards for Sayu, Thoma, Cryo Hypostasis, and Millennial Pearl Seahorse. 

A fast equip function is being added for artifacts, which we previously covered in detail.

A new collaboration was announced with OnePlus, with a Keqing-themed phone coming in late February. More details will be provided via OnePlus’ official channels.

The second Fontaine OST, “Pelagic Primaevality,” will be released sometime during Version 4.4.

As always, there’s lots to look forward to in Genshin Impact. Best of luck to everyone, and happy Lantern Rite!

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HoYoverse has released a new Developers Discussion previewing some new quality of life changes coming to Genshin Impact Version 4.4. One of these is a new artifact loadout feature that, while exciting at first glance, might not be what players expected.

Not the loadouts we’re looking for

From very soon after the launch of Genshin Impact, players have voiced the need for artifact loadouts. By this, they meant a system similar to Honkai 3rd’s Plans that allows players to save a character’s equipment set, making it easier to switch builds on the go. Genshin Impact characters often have multiple builds or share gear with other characters, so an artifact loadout system has been a common demand within the community for the past three years.

Instead, it looks like the loadouts being implemented in Version 4.4 will consist of artifact recommendations using the artifacts in your inventory. The “quick loadout” recommendations will be based on user data, but you can also customize your criteria to some degree with “custom loadouts.” No matter which method you use to generate your recommended set, there is no mention of being able to save your equipped set or saving multiple sets of gear.

It’s worth noting that Honkai 3rd, another HoYoverse game, has had its Gearing Plans system since April 2019, more than a year before Genshin Impact’s release.

Even if it’s not what veteran players wanted, the quick loadout function could still be useful for casual players. If nothing else, it lets us quickly equip our characters with something usable while using minimal brainpower. I imagine it’ll be nice to have a character fully geared up with one click. 

The custom loadout function looks like it requires a few more brain cells to set up though, and those who really care about min-maxing their artifacts probably already use Genshin Optimizer or other calculators.

Various other quality of life upgrades

Aside from artifact loadouts, it looks like we’ll be getting plenty of other general system upgrades. 

The Encounter Points system was added in Version 4.1, allowing players to bypass daily Commissions. Starting in Version 4.4, you’ll get a reminder alert to talk to Katheryne to claim additional daily rewards. Apparently, many players were forgetting to talk to Katheryne after doing their dailies, myself included.

The number of party slots you can save will be increased from 10 to 15. Additionally, when completing character trials, you can now start the next character’s trial immediately without having to exit back to the overworld. If you’re playing on a PC, there will also be a new setting for borderless windowed mode. 

There will also be a new “Dynamic Character Resolution” function that dynamically changes the details of character models to maximize performance. I can’t see much of a difference between HoYoverse’s example images, but the edges of Aether’s ring-shaped ornament and pauldron do seem a bit smoother after optimization.

Serenitea Pot optimizations

The Serenitea Pot will be receiving some updates too. Certain furnishings will be recategorized for more intuitive searching. After placing a furnishing, your place in scrolling menus will be remembered so that you’re not automatically booted to the start of the list. Companions will show their Friendship Level in the Companions menu. 

There will also be some ordering changes to the images for the furnishing Lingering Moment. This furnishing is a framed photo that showcases each ending for character Hangouts. Starting in Version 4.4, the furnishing will prioritize images from Hangouts you’ve already completed. This part of the Developers Discussion is worded a bit confusingly, so we might have to wait for more details during the Special Program.

When can we expect these updates?

All of these changes are slated to go live in Genshin Impact Version 4.4, which is expected to drop on January 31st. A Special Program has been announced for January 19 at 7:00 AM (UTC-5), which will detail all of the new characters, events, and other content coming in the next version update.

Regardless of their exact implementation, I’m still glad to see the Genshin Impact team continuing to roll out quality of life updates. Who knows? Maybe one day, we’ll have the artifact loadout system we really need.

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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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Foamstars isn't unique, but it does offer a colorful, exciting shooter experience. An announcement trailer has revealed that the game launches on Sony's console's on February 6.

We got a taste of the game last year thanks to the open beta which ran from September 29 until October 1, and it was generally well-receieved. You'd be forgiven for confusing the Square Enix-produced open world beta with Nintendo's Splatoon franchise, as both games feature players making a colorful mess.

However, Foamstars presents itself as a more action-packed party with options to fight solo or team up in 4x4 battles. The foam isn't there for aesthetic reasons alone. You can also use it to slide on, build with it, and much more.

Only time will tell whether this is the iconic shooter Sony has been searching for. As a bonus, PlayStation Plus subscribers will be able to download the game for free from launch until March 4.

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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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Much like Soulsborne titles, PvP/PvE survival games like Rust and DayZ are known for being quite punishing. However, it's this brutality that's evidently one of the reasons they're so popular. Speaking of Rust, it recently turned 10 and the developer has shared some interesting stats about the game.

In a recent post on Steam, Facepunch Studios celebrated Rust passing its first-decade milestone. That's if you include the early access release – which the developer obviously does – as that came out in December 2013. The full version didn't officially drop until 2018.

As for what's occurred in that time, well the studio says that Rust has sold more than 16,000,000 copies in total. That's an astonishing achievement for an indie outfit and is just under half what Zelda: Breath of the Wild sold. On top of that, the game has raised more than $1.7 million for charity, had over 244,000 players at its peak, and has had more than 370 patches.

And the updates keep on coming

The game recently had its first update of 2024, and starting in February, players can look forward to more inventory space. Rust will be getting a backpack implemented, which will be craftable and allow you to carry more items.

The post on Steam also says the developer has a "ton of content currently in development." Some of these include improvements to the world and environment, bringing down memory usage for better performance, a possible revisit of nighttime lighting, plus plenty more.

Here's a quick look at what's coming to Rust, hopefully this year:

• Older monument reworks and improvements
• Continue experimenting and making meta changes to gunplay
• Softcore game mode Improvements
• Hardcore game mode experimenting
• Experimenting with progression
• Improvements to AI
• Improvements to events such as the patrol helicopter, Launch site APC and Cargoship
• World environment
• Underwater exploration
• Missions
• Using our data analytics to identify less commonly used items and balancing
• Experimenting with new ways/events to encourage players to engage with PvP

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Though the studio remains forever secretive, Kojima Productions has been gracious enough to provide fans a sneak peek into two upcoming projects: the Death Stranding sequel and OD. On Twitter, Hideo Kojima recently gave an update on Death Stranding 2's development.

He explains that 2024 entails another year of development for the game which is being produced at the same time as OD. Death Stranding 2 still "has some ADR left" and after that, the studio will focus on doing Japanese voice-overs. There's still no official release date for Death Stranding 2, but with Kojima discussing "another year of development," a 2025 launch wouldn't be out of the question.

A busy year for Kojima Productions

During The Game Awards 2023, Kojima spoke a bit about OD which is described as a title that will defy expectations and expand the medium. He's enlisted the help of movie-maker Jordan Peele, and we've received a cryptic teaser trailer, though we're still stuck without a release date.

Although Kojima intends to limit his business trips this year, he's still busy turning Death Stranding into a movie, collaborating on the Avengers, and working on OD in addition to other video projects. He also mentions a writing project along with the possible revival of Hide Radio and "a special program on 'HideTube'."

It appears it's a busy year ahead for Kojima Productions, but we may see the fruits of the studio's labor soon. Plenty of the upcoming projects intrigue me, but I'm particularly interested to see how Death Stranding's movie adaptation will be handled. Although the game is teeming with lengthy cutscenes, it'll be a tall task to capture the unique atmosphere established by the gameplay.

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Fate/Samurai Remnant, the latest entry in the Fate franchise, will receive the first of three DLCs soon, and it will arrive in February 2024.

Titled Record’s Fragment: Keian Command Championship, details on what to expect are still sparse. The trailer depicts Gilgamesh the King of Heroes announcing that he has seized control of the fates of several characters from the base game. He then announces the start of the Keian Command Championship.

Two more DLCs are on the way, but they've yet to be named or receive a release date, although they are to launch in 2024. Each of the DLCs will bring additional scenarios, new Servants, stages, and more. If you want access to all the extra content, a Season Pass is available which also comes with the Hallowed Relic Sword Mountings bonus.

I enjoyed my time with Fate/Samurai Remnant, so the DLC piques my interest. Perhaps the only downside is that it comes during a time that already promises to be packed with enticing titles like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Persona 3 Reload.

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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.

Drip marketing is here for Version 4.4 of Genshin Impact, introducing a playable version of Cloud Retainer and a brand-new character named Gaming.

Xianyun, aka Cloud Retainer

Xianyun appears to be Cloud Retainer in a human disguise. She has an Anemo Vision, though her weapon is still up in the air. Given her design and popularity, it’s hard to imagine that Cloud Retainer will not be a 5-star character. Her Constellation is listed as Grus Serena, which is Latin for “serene crane.”

It’s unknown why Cloud Retainer has decided to live among the humans, but she seems to be getting along well. The residents of Liyue Harbor only have good things to say about her, describing her as a talented artisan with a kind heart. There are those who know her true identity, such as her fellow adepti and Rex Lapis himself, but they appear to do a good job of helping to maintain her disguise.

Gaming

Yes, his name is Gaming. It’s actually based on the Cantonese pronunciation of a real name: 嘉明, pronounced “gah-ming.” It’s time to take bets on whether the English voiceover will say “gaming” or “gah-ming.”

Gaming has a Pyro Vision at his waist, but his weapon and rarity are unclear. His Constellation is Leo Expergiscens, Latin for “awakening lion.”

Gaming works as an armed guard for the Sword and Strongbox Secure Transport Agency, escorting valuable cargo as it’s transported from place to place. However, he moonlights as a Wushou dancer. Given the little lion mask that holds his Vision and references to suanni, Wushou Dance could be Teyvat’s version of a Lion Dance. This could indicate some interesting martial arts/Lion Dance themed animations, which I’m very excited to see!

When are Cloud Retainer and Gaming coming to Genshin Impact?

Since we’re about to go into Genshin Impact Version 4.3, Cloud Retainer and Gaming should be coming in Version 4.4. If the six-week update schedule holds, Version 4.4 should go live around January 30, just in time for Lunar New Year and Genshin’s annual Lantern Rite celebration. 

Given how past Lantern Rite rewards were structured, we can expect to be given a free Liyue 4-star character of our choice. If either Cloud Retainer or Gaming turn out to be 4-stars, they should be added to the selection pool, letting you pick up a new character for free!

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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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Genshin Impact Version 4.3 is just around the corner, and its special program tells us everything we need to know. In case you missed it, here’s a summary of everything new coming to Version 4.3: Roses and Muskets!

4.3 Livestream Primogem Codes

RS99D5LVTM6V
UBRQC4MCT4PZ
8BQ9CMMVS5PM

Each code grants 100 Primogems and a few other materials. They expire less than a day from when the Special Program premieres, so redeem them now!

4.3 New Characters: Navia and Chevreuse

Navia is a 5-star Geo Claymore character. She appears to be a DPS who takes advantage of Crystallize reactions to increase her damage. Her Skill fires Geo projectiles in an area in front of her, and it appears you can aim it to some degree. The damage depends on the number of Crystallize shards she picks up and how many projectiles hit her enemy. Using her Skill also infuses her Normal Attacks with Geo for a few seconds. Navia’s Burst summons several cannons that create a shower of Geo DMG in an AoE around her.

Chevreuse is a 4-star Pyro Polearm character. Chevreuse looks to be a healer support specializing in Overload teams. Her Skill fires a shot of Pyro damage. After firing her shot, Chevreuse will continuously heal the active character. Her Burst deals one instance of Pyro damage and summons several secondary explosive shells that detonate after a very short delay. If a party member triggers Overload, and her party members consist of only Pyro and Electro teammates, the enemy will have 40% reduced Pyro and Electro RES. This allows Chevreuse to replace a 4pc Viridescent Venerer holder in Overload teams, though she won’t be able to make up for the lack of crowd control.

Chiori made an appearance in a surprise cameo. We don’t know her element or weapon yet, but we do know that she’s from Inazuma and owns a fashion boutique in Fontaine. She designed Navia’s outfit for her, so she clearly knows her way around Fontanian fashion. We didn’t get to see her Vision, but her clothes are primarily yellow, red, and brown, so she might be Pyro or Geo. Chiori won’t be playable in Version 4.3, but she will have a presence in the Version events.

4.3 Banners

The first half of 4.3 will feature the 5-stars Navia and Ayaka. They will likely be accompanied by their signature weapons: Verdict for Navia and Mistsplitter Reforged for Ayaka. Verdict is a new 5-star Claymore that looks like an axe.

The second half will feature Raiden and Yoimiya, as well as 4-star Chevreuse. Raiden’s signature Polearm is Engulfing Lightning, and Yoimiya’s signature Bow is Thundering Pulse. While these weapon reruns aren’t confirmed, I would consider them very likely.

4.3 Events

The flagship event for Version 4.3 is called Roses and Muskets and will involve a series of minigames. These minigames are quite a mixed bag, ranging from a sniper sim, combat trials, herding balloons, and a shoot-your-own-film minigame. Event rewards will include an event-exclusive 4-star Claymore called Ultimate Overlord’s Mega Magic Sword. With a name like that, it must really be something special.

Itto’s beetle-fighting game returns in Arataki Blazing Armor Beetle Battle Boot Camp. Pit your Onikabuto beetle against ever-stronger opponents and see who comes out on top.

Lost Riches is coming to Fontaine with yet another treasure-seeking seelie. Visit various sites around Fontaine and follow the seelie to find treasure! As an added twist, this new seelie can swim underwater with you and is joining the roster of mini-seelie pets you can adopt as part of the event.

Dance of Resolute Will is a combat event. Battle through five stages with various teams. Each stage will confer different buffs that encourage different types of teams. Defeat as many opponents as you can before the time limit for the highest possible score!

Liben will also return for Marvelous Merchandise. Talk to Liben once a day to trade some junk for Primogems and special prizes! We’ll see what lore crumbs he gives us this time.

All the major miscellaneous/quality of life additions from Genshin Impact 4.3

Two new artifact sets are being introduced in Version 4.3: Nighttime Whispers in the Echoing Woods and Song of Days Past. We have yet to see details on set bonuses, so we’ll have to wait for more news to see how they will work.

Here are some other key takeaways from 4.3:

• Several new character and monster cards are being added to Genius Invokation TCG. These include Lyney, Lynette, Thunder Manifestation, Signora, Azhdaha, Dvalin, Layla, Yelan, and Alhaitham.
• Artifact optimizations are being added, like the ability to see artifact recommendations for characters. You’ll also be able to automatically lock artifacts with certain stats as soon as you obtain them. Additionally, artifact filters in the inventory will be optimized, allowing for more precise filters. The process of leveling up artifacts will also be streamlined, speeding up the process and reducing the number of times you need to click.
• Character and weapon leveling are also receiving the same level of polish. The new systems will allow you to auto-add materials and level up more quickly.
• Starting in Version 4.3, challenging a domain again after claiming rewards will spawn the player inside the arena instead of at the domain entrance.
• Certain quests have been optimized, eliminating prerequisites for some Liyue Archon quests.
• When going on Expeditions, you will be able to claim rewards and re-dispatch characters automatically.
• Finally, a new underwater Fontaine-themed realm is being added to the Serenitea pot. Now you can fully immerse yourself in your dream Atlantis-core home.

The post Genshin Impact Version 4.3 Special Program summary and Primogem codes appeared first on Destructoid.

Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion was a pretty weird game when it came out in 2000, and it’s an equally strange pick for a remaster. But it had to be done. Nightdive knew this. They knew that the N64 trilogy (if you exclude the multiplayer-focused Turok: Rage Wars) had to be completed.

It couldn’t have been an easy task. While Turok: Dinosaur Hunter and Turok 2: Seeds of Evil had PC versions they could pluck from, Turok 3 remained exclusive to the N64. Thankfully, Nightdive’s wizardry has only become more potent over the years, and because of their work porting other N64 games like Doom 64 and Quake 2 (64) to their proprietary KEX Engine, they were able to reverse engineer Turok 3 to save it from the suffocating tomb of the console that birthed it.

Still, it’s a damned weird game.

Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion (PC [Review], Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
Developer: Nightdive Studios, Iguana Entertainment
Publisher: Nightdive Studios
Released: November 30, 2023
MSRP: $29.99

Part of what makes Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion so strange is that it’s unfortunately very normal. The first two Turok games were practically their own flavor of first-person shooters. The genre was still in its toddler stage, so the rules weren’t quite yet written. The levels were sprawling and confusing, and while it had a similar formula to the spawns of Wolfenstein 3D, they were anarchic mish-mashes. The punks of the burgeoning FPS genre.

It helped that the people behind Iguana Entertainment were rather adept with the N64’s notoriously difficult hardware. Each of their games has interesting technical flourishes, with Turok 2: Seeds of Evil sometimes being referred to as the best-looking game on the console (at the price of draw distance and framerate). Though they had been transitioned to the more dull corporate moniker of Acclaim Studios Austin, that technical trickery is still present in Turok 3.

However, that punk approach to the FPS formula was completely lost. In 1998, Half-Life rewrote the FPS playbooks, and developers were abandoning Wolfenstein 3D’s key-hunt approach. In its place were much more linear experiences that allowed easier storytelling. Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion wants to be Half-Life so hard you can see the vein bulging from its forehead.

The game kicks off with a rather elaborate cutscene showing the previous Turok, Joshua Fireseed, being killed and passing the mantle on to his siblings, Danielle and Joseph. They’re tasked with defeating Oblivion, which is maybe some malevolent force of evil, but it might also be some sort of alien army. The story stops making sense really quickly. Maybe you need to read the comic books.

While previous Turok games were set exclusively in the Lost Lands, a place where time has no meaning, Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion starts off on Earth. I think. Also, it’s the future, maybe.

You get the choice to play as either Danielle or Joseph, and while the bulk of the game remains the same regardless of the choice you make, their paths diverge in some places to focus on different gameplay. Danielle has a grappling hook, while Joseph is 15 and still hasn’t hit puberty, so he can fit through small paces. Their weapons also vary in some places. It’s not much, but it does make further playthroughs more worthwhile.

But while the first two Turok titles were fast-paced affairs where you blew away hordes of enemies, Turok 3 slows things down so it can tell you a hilariously awful story. The first whiff of Half-Life you get is running into a guy who shows you the way down a completely linear corridor, climbs up a ladder, and gets eaten. The next level is set in some sort of military research facility where the still living scientists opine that all their research is ruined and their colleagues are dead. The second stage is Black Mesa, is what I’m saying. Even the soldier dudes move in similar ways to the Marines in Half-Life.

But it’s the shooting that suffers the most. Rather than constantly swimming upstream against hordes of foes and running at about 50mph, they’re much more sparsely scattered about. They die very easily, perhaps to make up for the inaccuracy of the N64 controller, so you wind up spending a lot of time exploring empty environments. Also, neither Danielle nor Joseph can reach the speeds of Tal’Set’s amazing stride.

It at least stops being a direct attempt at copying Half-Life after the second level. There’s even a section pulled from Turok: Dinosaur Hunter that you walk through as if to say, “Look at how much more lifeless our levels have become after just three years!”

At least the weapons are still as varied and exotic as they’ve ever been. The celebrated cerebral bore is back, and in the later levels, you’re always tripping over ammo for it. It’s a fire-and-forget sort of weapon that launches a drone that drills into the heads of your foes before detonating. It’s injury and insult in one package, a very video game weapon.

I mean, really, I got by with the pistol, rifle, shotgun, rocket launcher, and cerebral bore combination, but that small selection of useful weapons is still more impressive than most. 

If there’s one place Turok 3 improved it’s with storytelling. The characters are lip-synced and have legible facial expressions, which was impressive to see on the N64. However, their faces also sometimes contort in disturbing ways, which hasn’t been helped by the polishing strokes that Nightdive made to their models.

But the story. Gosh, the story. I don’t even know where to begin with it. The bizarre revelation and cliffhanger right at the end is especially going to live with me for a while.

Say what you will about Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion in its original state, Nightdive did right by it. They had to reverse-engineer it by pulling it from its cartridge and extracting everything from the compiled program. Then, they rebuilt it in the KEX Engine. While they were at it, everything got touched up. This went beyond simply improving the models without altering the visual style like they did with the Quake remasters. They also improved the resolution of all the textures.

I’m impressed. I asked Nightdive how they managed to improve the resolution of the textures, as they were no doubt heavily compressed for the N64. “No AI,” I was told. “Artists.” The team found the original source for the textures wherever they could. However, even then, they touched some up by hand and recreated ones that they couldn't find.

Turok 3 doesn’t exactly look new. Not at all. Not even slightly. But it looks less like a ported N64 game and more like a remastered PC game from the early 2000’s. You wouldn’t guess that Nightdive didn’t have access to the source files.

Well, except for the voices. Geez, you can still hear the N64 muffle all over them. Well, except for the opening porch scene.

Some cut content has also been restored, and Nightdive also added environmental props to try and make things seem less lifeless, but they really didn't jump out at me. Probably a good thing.

As much as I’ll always give Turok 3 flak for its eagerness to follow in Half-Life’s shoes, I find a lot of charm in its ineptitude. It was also the only game in the series that I completed in my youth without using cheats. That’s maybe because it’s less than five hours long and could be completed in a rental period, but still, I’ve never hated it.

It’s just amusing to see such a loving remaster of a game that is mediocre in the most charitable of terms. With the attention Nightdive has given it, you would swear it was a classic. And I love that. I wish more publishers and developers had the guts to dredge up the forgotten dregs of the past and not just repackage them but restore them for a new audience. I was prepared for Nightdive to take a pass at remastering Turok 3 because it would be financially unviable. It wasn't the smart thing to do. It was the right thing to do. So, they forged onward and made it happen with their signature flourishes. Respect from top to bottom. Certainly makes it difficult to slap a score on it, though.

Now, what about Turok: Rage Wars?

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

The post Review: Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion (2023) appeared first on Destructoid.

When Horizon Forbidden West launched, Sony embarked on an environmentalist project to match the game's themes. Recently, we got an update concerning what the project has achieved.

Aloy's Forest is part of Sony's commitment to the UN's Playing for the Planet alliance which seeks to plant 1 million trees in conjunction with the gaming industry. The gaming industry has overshot this goal, and by 2022, 2.5 million trees had been planted globally.

As part of the project, Sony challenged Horizon Forbidden West players to unlock the "Reached the Daunt" trophy, and for every player who achieved this, a tree would be planted. So far, over 600,000 trees have been planted thanksseveralr of initiatives Sony has taken part in, including the following:

• Arbor Day Foundation collaboration - this is the aforementioned "Reached the Daunt" trophy challenge, and it has resulted in 288,000 trees being planted. This aids in reforestation projects in California, Wisconsin, and Florida.
• Brazil - there are plans to plant 333,000 trees in the Brazilian Amazon before year-end. The aim is to restore 946 acres of indigenous lands.
• The Eden Project - the project has led to the creation of a wildflower habitat in Morecambe, Lancashire in the United Kingdom.
• Forest & Bird - Sony worked with Forest & Bird to plant 1,000 trees at Bushy Park Tarapuruhi.
• Stiftung "Wir helfen dem Wald" - As part of a project initiated by Schutzgemeinschaft Deutscher Wald in Bavaria, 3,000 trees were planted.
• WWF Canada - proceeds from Horizon Forbidden West were donated to WWF Canada to help restore 1 km² of coastal habitat in British Columbia.
• MyTree - In France, one tree was planted for every five players who unlocked the "Reached the Daunt" trophy. As a result, 10,000 trees were planted.

This isn't the end of Sony's plans, and it intends to continue to work with its partners for environmental causes.

The natural world of Horizon Forbidden West

As part of the announcement, we were also given a peek into how the world of Horizon Forbidden West was formed and what developers used for inspiration. Artists turned to our world which has plenty of natural beauty if you're willing to look.

A lot of inspiration was drawn from the West Coast of the USA which has varied, luscious environments. For vegetation, creators were inspired by real-world plants, with a focus on some of the smaller details that make nature so beautiful.

You see the gorgeous side of nature on display in Horizon Forbidden West and its DLC, Burning Shores which brings you white shorelines, red volcanoes, and green jungles. Jump into Call of the Mountain, and you can drink in the sights in VR.

The post Over 600,000 trees have been planted through Aloy’s Forest project appeared first on Destructoid.

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.

The Genshin Concert came to Los Angeles on Sunday night, attracting thousands of Teyvat's fans from all over. Online gaming communities can have a bit of a reputation for being toxic, and Genshin Impact’s is no exception. In person, though, that shadowy cloud of internet hostility didn't hang over the theater as we congregated around our favorite game and an orchestrated celebration of its music.

Fast Traveler

HoYoverse kindly provided me with a ticket to the concert, so I hurried on over to the Peacock Theater and arrived at the venue about half an hour before the doors opened. This was fairly late, and a sizable crowd had already gathered in a sea of intimidating lines. Some were just here for the merchandise, having waited for hours to buy official concert gear. Many were wearing Genshin-themed clothing or accessories, with some decked out in full cosplay. It may have been a bit chilly, but Yelan fully committed to her cosplay and absolutely rocked it.

I started chatting with the people in front of me in line. They were a group of three, one of whom had traveled all the way from Arizona to be here. They asked me who my main was (Venti), when I started playing (since launch), and whether I was up to date on the Archon Quests (mostly). I overheard similar conversations around me. Concertgoers got to know their neighbors through discussions on favorite characters, events, and other Genshin-related topics.

Once the doors opened, it was a mad dash for two additional merchandise stations set up inside, and the lines filled quickly. Two employees in a sea of cardboard boxes frantically tried to serve as many people as possible before the concert started. I got lucky, barely snagging some merch before I took my seat.

The concert begins

The concert began with pieces from Mondstadt, starting with the main theme and taking us through Dragonspine and Dawn Winery. Scenes from the game flashed on three large screens, punctuated by close-ups of the orchestra as they played. 

After a brief intermission, we moved on to Liyue. The audience yelled when Zhongli appeared on screen for Rex Incognito, a major fan favorite. After another intermission, we heard pieces from Inazuma and Sumeru. Raiden Shogun’s theme was adapted to better suit the orchestra, toning down some of its harsh trap elements but remaining punchy. We didn’t hear much of Sumeru’s music, but the audience roared to life again as Port Ormos’ theme began to play.

Unlike some of the performances in Asia, the Genshin Concert Orchestra didn't feature many ethnic instruments that are integral to creating the unique sounds for each of Genshin Impact's nations. The Genshin Concert Orchestra playing for the American and European leg of the tour appears to be much smaller than Shanghai's orchestra, which featured a full choir and more diverse instrumentation. I did see one woman playing the guzheng and filling in for other instruments as best as she could.

We also appear to have missed out on a few fan-favorite songs that HoYoverse offered in other locations, perhaps because of the limited orchestra. I would have loved to hear more of Sumeru's music in general, even if parts wound up pre-recorded.

Aside from the excited but generally respectful cheers, there were a few disruptive callouts during the songs themselves. One particularly amorous fan screamed, “MY WIFE!” as soon as Ayaka appeared on the big screen. Perhaps they were emboldened by being in a crowd of like-minded people, but come on, guys. We’re better than this.

There were also a few people doing public pulls during the intermissions. They logged into Genshin Impact on their smartphones and held them up so that people in the rows behind them could see the screen. We then watched as they pulled on the current rate-up banners. Judging from the congratulatory cheers that erupted around them, one person appeared to have gotten what they wanted. Another lost his 50/50 to Keqing, and we consoled him for his loss.

A community of like-minded people

This is the best part of gaming communities — despite all the drama and in-fighting, we share an adoration for Genshin that's unifying. Thousands of fans were able to come together in person and enjoy being with others who played the same game. It's hard out there to find friends with similar interests, and the Genshin Concert was a great environment for fans to unabashedly express themselves. Who knew the Genshin community could be so wholesome?

The concert ended with a bit of trolling from the conductor, Eric Roth, who took a bow and walked off-stage as if the show was over. He returned a moment later to play us a few Fontaine songs, and after one final round of applause and cheering, the concert was truly over. It took a moment for most people to realize everything was said and done, but it was. People eventually started making their way outside, laughing and smiling as they started the journey home.

If you weren’t able to make it to the concert, Zy0x posted a completely accurate summary of events on Twitter. I was there, and I can vouch that everything mentioned in the thread is 100% true (it’s not). Okay, but even as something tongue-in-cheek, the thread's tone and spirit are totally indicative of the Genshin Concert crowd experience.

Even if Venti himself didn’t make an appearance, I was absolutely thrilled with my experience at Genshin Concert 2023. With some luck, maybe I’ll see you at Genshin Concert 2024, and we can discuss our favorite characters while braving those endless lines as a community.

The post Genshin Concert Los Angeles highlights the best part of gaming communities appeared first on Destructoid.

Fortnite has just announced its Big Bang event, and there are already reports circulating that Eminem is one of many surprises in store.

According to Fortnite leaker @HYPEX, the upcoming Big Bang event will be the multiplayer game's largest to date, weighing over 1.5 GB. In addition to providing the artwork featuring an animated version of the rapper, the leaker also claims LEGO will make an appearance, and there'll also be a rhythm mode and racing mode.

According to @HYPEX, the rhythm mode will let you play vocals, guitar, drums, and bass. It comes December 9, and you can expect the following artists and songs to be featured:

• Alice Cooper - 'Poison'
• Imagine Dragons - 'Thunder'
• Lady Gaga - 'Pokerface'
• Linkin Park - 'Numb'
• Toto - 'Africa'

Another leaker, @iFireMonkey, revealed two Eminem skins. One has the rapper with his iconic blond hair, while the other has him in the suit and fedora he wears on his Music to be Murdered By album.

As for official details, all we know so far is that Epic has the event planned for Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 2 PM ET. It'll be available in the Battle Royale tile in Discover 30 minutes prior, and it'll support parties of up to four players. It's being described as "a new beginning," which may explain why Fortnite is going all-out.

For those who don't have a dedicated gaming device, you can use NVIDIA GeForce NOW and Amazon Luna services to access the game via cloud gaming.

This won't be the first major music event from Fortnite. Past concerts have featured artists like Travis Scott and Ariane Grande, and the experience has been an interactive one allowing you to enjoy a virtual concert from the comfort of your home.

The post Eminem coming to Fortnite appeared first on Destructoid.

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.

Sony has announced a strong assortment of titles headed to PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers in the Game Catalog this November, including several PlayStation Classics being added with glow-ups included.

The headliners this month, outside of the Classics games, are likely Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen and Teardown. Teardown is a day-and-date release for PlayStation Plus subscribers. The sandbox title launches November 15 and was wonderfully broken down via a recent launch trailer narrated by Owen Wilson himself.

Do your homework ahead of Dragon's Dogma 2

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen is a port of the PlayStation 4 version of the game that earned a 78 on Metacritic. It's a 2016 action RPG from Capcom where you'll explore a large open world with a trio of AI companions. This version also includes all of the previously released DLC.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme vs. Maxi Boost On is another very well-received PlayStation 4 title that's included this month. We lauded the 2020 3D fighter, praising it for a "more properly thought-out offline suite, split-screen support, LAN mode, a deep roster, and an improved netcode all lead to a superior package that can appeal to even non-Gundam fans."

Dead Island: Riptide Definitive Edition is a post-apocalyptic first-person shooter that you can probably skip. The perception puzzler, Superliminal, is on the way later this month. We thought it was "Great" in our November 2019 review.

Also included this month is Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising, a Kickstarter prequel to the upcoming action RPG Eiyuden Chronicle: Hunderd Heroes. We also gave Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising a "Great" review, fueling even more hype toward Hundred Heroes' release in April 2024.

Nobunaga’s Ambition: Taishi is a 2018 turn-based strategy title from Koei Tecmo Games. Its PlayStation 4 version earned a 70 on Metacritic.

Alternate Jake Hunter: Daedalus The Awakening of Golden Jazz is a visual novel with a mouthful of a name. It's an interrogation murder mystery set in New York City that pulls your inner detective out. And River City Melee Mach!! is, as you might expect, a retro-styled 2D beat 'em-up from Arc System Works.

The classics

Finally, there's a quartet of PlayStation Premium Classics games coming our way. Grandia, a legendary PlayStation 1 RPG is coming to the Catalog, complete with up-rendered graphics, a rewind feature, quick save, and custom video filters.

The iconic 1997 PlayStation racer, Jet Moto is getting a makeover as well. It too features up-rendered looks, quick save, rewind, and custom video filters.

Disney Pixar's Up is an inclusion for all the younger players out there. It didn't review very well, but the 2009 adventure game is one your kids may enjoy.

Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series combines the PlayStation 1's Klonoa: Door to Phantomile and PlayStation 2's Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil into one package. The pair's looks have both been upgraded and adjustable difficulty settings were implemented to make the games more accessible. We gave it a 7 when it was released initially in July 2022.

Finally, but perhaps most excitedly for many, is the inclusion of PaRappa the Rapper 2. Originally released on PlayStation 2, the game's graphics have since been upgraded and Trophy support was added to this iconic rapping rhythm title.

Teardown is available for PlayStation Plus subscribers at launch on November 15. Everything else rolls out to those with the subscription service on November 21. Be sure to be thankful for these throwback titles during Thanksgiving break.

The post PlayStation Plus Game Catalog adds Dragon’s Dogma and more this month appeared first on Destructoid.

Naughty Dog has been pretty quiet on the gaming front this year, though the HBO series continues to be popular. According to Production List, filming for season 2 is scheduled to begin on January 7 next year.

Like the prior one, season 2 will be filmed in Canada. Production List has Craig Mazin and Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann returning as producers and writers. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey also return, presumably reprising their roles as Joel and Ellie respectively.

What to expect from season 2 of The Last of Us

The upcoming season will be split into two parts. This makes sense for anyone familiar with The Last of Us Part 2. In a prior interview with Deadline, Mazin also discusses how the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes affected work. When it struck, they were in the middle of scriptwriting, but that had to be put on hold.

They had gotten pretty far already, and Mazin was able to "write and submit the first episode right before the deadline hit." According to Mazin, the next season of The Last of Us is scheduled to air in 2025, though nothing is certain yet. Despite the setback, he still really wants "to try and get this show on the air when it’s supposed to be on the air."

Mazin also gives hope that the series won't end with the second season. There are already ideas being tossed around, and he is adamant that the "show will not end with Season 2 unless people don’t watch it and we’ll get canceled."

Many franchise fans have also been waiting for the multiplayer counterpart of The Last of Us Part 2 to launch. For a while, it seemed like the project had been scrapped but Naughty Dog game director Vinit Agarwal has confirmed he's still working on it.

The post Filming for The Last of Us season 2 begins early 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

10 islands enter, one island wins. The Game Awards' Geoff Keighley has orchestrated an in-game opportunity in which players can now vote on the battle royale title's best user-created island of the year.

The announcement came from Keighley this afternoon. In collaboration with Nighttimes and Studio 568, the partnership has created a hub world that Fortnite players can travel to to vote in-game on what they believe is the best original locale out there.

The in-game experience is something The Game Awards creator, Geoff Keighley, has been excited about for years:

"Ever since I hosted Live From Risky Reels in Fortnite in 2019, I’ve been thinking about ways The Game Awards could bring our celebration inside the games we play every day," said Keighley in a press release. "Our Fortnite island is the first experiment in this direction, and I’m particularly excited to help shine the spotlight on the amazing user-generated community around the world."

The Game Awards Island, located in-game at 0853-1358-8532, features 10 creator-made islands that can be voted on once a day per Epic ID. After players finish voting, they can explore the custom island to find Game Awards statues scattered throughout. If all of the statues are found, players will enjoy a nice XP boost for their efforts.

The Game Awards Vote in Fortnite event begins today and runs until December 6 at 6:00 p.m. PT. The winning island will be revealed the following night, December 7, during The Game Awards live and within The Game Awards Fortnite island. For more The Game Awards coverage, check out all of this year's nominees here.

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Have you ever been unable to decide between playing Genshin Impact and Pokémon? Or maybe you hate killing things in Genshin and want minions to do your dirty work instead? Well, now that Furina is here, I’ve been able to live my dreams of becoming a Pokémon trainer in Genshin Impact.

So, how do you play Pokémon in Genshin? Certain characters, like Fischl, can summon creatures to fight for them. Fischl can summon a crow familiar named Oz, who stays on-field and deals damage. There are others, too, like Kokomi, who summons a jellyfish, and Xiangling, who summons a small bear named Guoba. Combine multiple summons like this, and you end up with a field full of Pokémon ready to do your bidding.

Taking this concept, I tried to fully clear the current Spiral Abyss with Pokémon teams. Here’s how that went.

Pokémon Bloom

This team is made up of Nilou, Furina, Dendro Traveler, and Yaoyao. Furina summons three Salon members: an octopus, a seahorse, and a crab. Yaoyao can summon three to four Yueguis during her Burst. Traveler summons a lamp. It may not be an animal, but we do have a lamp Pokémon already, so I'm going to say it counts. Nilou is just there to buff the Bloom reaction.

I set up Nilou’s Bountiful Bloom passive, dropped down Furina’s and Dendro Traveler’s summons, and then Burst with Yaoyao. Then, I stay on-field with Yaoyao and run around the enemies. I don’t even need to attack. All of my Pokémon do my fighting for me.

The result is chaos. The entire screen turns green and fills with numbers. There are radishes and Bountiful Cores everywhere. Furina’s Salon members are somewhere in there, too. I can’t even see my own character. After a few seconds of green explosions, the enemies are dead, and the “challenge cleared” screen appears. That's a success in my book, even if I couldn't see anything that happened.

Pokémon Vape

Next, I tried Kokomi, Furina, Bennett, and Xiangling. Kokomi’s jellyfish and Xiangling’s Guoba join Furina’s Salon members on-field, creating a menagerie of Pokémon. Bennett doesn’t create any summons, but I need him to buff and provide Energy for Xiangling.

The team works by putting down everyone’s summons and using Kokomi on-field to heal the team. Between her Normal Attacks, the jellyfish, and Furina’s Salon members, there’s plenty of Hydro to let Xiangling Vaporize all her Pyronado hits. My favorite part is that it’s incredibly easy to play.

Did this team do well? Of course it did. Furina and Xiangling are both powerhouses, and Kokomi does a great job at keeping everyone’s HP full. It feels a bit like cheating, though, and not just because this team is so foolproof. Can it really be called a Pokémon team if most of the damage comes from Xiangling’s Burst and not the summons themselves?

Sukokomon

There’s always the OG Pokémon team. The team consists of Sucrose, Kokomi, Fischl, and Xiangling. This team combines Sucrose's wind spirits, Kokomi's jellyfish, Fischl's Oz, and Xiangling's Guoba to chain as many reactions as possible.

This one is a bit trickier to play. Part of it involves using Sucrose’s Skill right when Xiangling’s Guoba is about to breathe fire. This triggers Swirl on Guoba himself, applying Pyro onto surrounding enemies and causing chain reactions. There are detailed videos on how to pull this off, but I don’t think I was able to do it consistently.

Regardless, these elements create a messy soup of reactions that keep chaining into one another. It’s a spicy mix of Swirl, Vaporize, Overload, and Electro-Charged that fills the screen with more numbers than a math test. I don’t know if I got an A, but I did clear the chamber with plenty of time to spare, so I guess that means I passed?

Other Teams

These are far from the only Pokémon teams in Genshin Impact. If you want maximum Pokémon, then try Furina, Yae Miko, Dendro Traveler, and Yaoyao. Between Furina’s three Salon members, Yae’s three fox totems, Traveler’s lamp, and Yaoyao’s Yueguis, you can have up to 11 summons on-field at a time. I don’t have Yae, so I had to make do with Fischl. It’s a little scuffed since Yae and Fischl don’t make the best Hyperbloom triggers, but it works decently. Still, I wouldn’t call this one my favorite.

I got my full clear of Spiral Abyss, but I’m still experimenting with other Pokémon teams as I go. I’m also dying to try other creative Genshin teams, Pokémon-themed or not. It’s always fun to find new ways to enjoy Genshin, and I hope everyone is enjoying Fontaine as much as I am.

The post My favorite Pokémon teams in Genshin Impact appeared first on Destructoid.

Level-5 will be hosting the second Vision 2023 event this year on November 29 at 21:00 JST. You'll be able to watch the show live on YouTube.

As Gematsu reports, the event will run for half an hour, and English subtitles will be available. You can expect to receive plenty of information and release dates for upcoming Level-5 games including Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road, DECAPOLICE, FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time, Megaton Musashi Wired, and Professor Layton and The New World of Steam.

The last Vision 2023 event was held in March and it featured trailers for several titles, including Megaton Musashi Wired. During this month's event, I'll be looking out for the latest entry in the Professor Layton series which will hopefully receive a release date. It appeared at the previous event, giving us a look into what we can expect from the story.

The latest Inazuma Eleven game will also be worth taking a peek at. It was originally slated for a 2018 release, but several delays have pushed it back for years. Hopefully, the long wait is almost over.

The post LEVEL-5 Vision 2023 II scheduled for November 29 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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Air Twister certainly makes an impression coming out of the gate. It’s a weird children’s fever dream involving an alien invasion, floating sky cities, and a Princess that comforts a dying swan. It doesn’t get more comprehensible from there.

Having watched the initial trailer at some point years ago, I felt like Air Twister was a game I needed to experience. Unfortunately, it was released on Apple Arcade. I had let my trial subscription lapse on that service because I simply didn’t use it. I don’t play games on my phone. It’s for checking the comments on my articles and should otherwise be ignored.

Finally, it has arrived on consoles, which is where video games live.

Air Twister (Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, Switch, iOS)
Developer: YS Net
Publisher: Inin Games
Released: November 10, 2023 (Console)
MSRP: $24.99

Air Twister is the latest game from Yu Suzuki and YS Net. Yu Suzuki is a legendary designer behind a lot of well-loved games like Out Run, Shenmue, and Hang-On. That’s just a few. He’s had his fingers in all kinds of great-tasting pies. However, I’m only a fan of one of these pies, and that’s Out Run. Pretty much all the rest of them range from lukewarm to slight dislike.

I still respect the heck out of the guy. Beyond simply being a capable and influential director, designer, and producer, he’s had a lot of influence on video games as a whole. It’s obvious that he’s very passionate about making games, though he reportedly doesn’t really play them.

According to an interview with Gamespot, he’s hesitant to call Air Twister a spiritual successor to one of his most prominent works, 1985’s Space Harrier. So, I’ll do it instead.

Air Twister is a spiritual successor to Space Harrier.

It’s obvious, so I don’t know why he’s coy about it. To give a point of reference, I can only use Space Harrier. To make comparisons, there’s Space Harrier. The strategies you use in Space Harrier work here. There are even direct references to Space Harrier in the game itself. Even though Space Harrier is a game I’m lukewarm on (though I never played it with the original motion cabinet), I still don’t count its direct influence as a bad thing.

You play as swan-loving Princess Arch. I’m not sure if that’s supposed to be pronounced like the structure or the shape. Apparently, she’s trying to save her planet, but it looks like multiple planets, or maybe they’re dimensional pockets. Invaders have come spilling out to wreck things. She’s the only competent person, so she’s got to save everybody.

It’s pretty bizarre. There are flying fish, Moai statues, and giant hostile clocks. To make it even stranger, there is lore to all of it. There’s even lore about Arch’s favorite dish.

If you’re unfamiliar with Space Harrier, it was an early rail shooter. For your quarters, you got to spend a lot of time looking at the protagonist’s butt. The levels were flat and straight, but they had a lot of interesting effects to them, and the game made use of the Super Scaler system to give a sense of depth as the sprites came toward you.

Air Twister is exactly like that, except the levels aren’t straight lines, and the protagonist has a much nicer and more prominently displayed butt. Also, there’s a lock-on system where you fly in front of an enemy and can build up strings of targets.

While the twisting levels add a nice touch to Space Harrier’s gameplay, and the fantasy environments are neat to take in, it really doesn’t change a whole lot. This is still a lot closer to Space Harrier than it is to, say, Star Fox. Very rarely can you make contact with objects in the environment, so the actual motion is rarely utilized for anything fun. I’m assuming this has a lot to do with its mobile origin, but it’s somewhat underwhelming.

The core game is a linear series of 12 levels and two bonus rounds. Each level is capped off with a boss battle, as is tradition. There’s a lot of variety in the boss battles, even if there isn’t in your standard enemies. Otherwise, the game itself is pretty routine.

However, that routine gameplay is supported by an intricate unlock system that serves as a sort of meta-progression. While playing the game, you gain stars which you can then spend to advance further in the unlock structures while gaining new weapons and cosmetics. If anything, this helps support the fact that Air Twister is a rather short game at its core. Having more than just a high score to chase is always a good thing. Getting to dress up Arch in various hairstyles and pants is rather satisfying.

However, that’s all there really is to say about it. I don’t feel that Air Twister is really a game that feels necessary to play multiple times. I finished the main story on maybe my third or fourth attempt, and then it just becomes something that you do to unlock more stuff. There are some challenges that remix the game’s mechanics, many of which you actually have to unlock.

Speaking of not holding up to repetition is the soundtrack. It’s done by Valensia, which Yu Suzuki is a fan of. Aside from the fact that the opening to the first song you hear is extremely evocative of Queen’s Bohemian Rapsody, I really don’t mind the sound. It’s a bit like the result of a torrid love affair between prog rock and a stage musical.

However, while it’s enjoyable on the first listen and fits the aesthetic pretty well, I’m not a fan of being repeatedly beaten over the head with the same tracks. It’s made worse by the fact that they’re lyrical songs, which means I wind up with short snippets of phrases stuck in my head. It makes me extremely uncomfortable. I’m uncomfortable right now.

Air Twister is enjoyable enough. It’s weird and stimulating, as any arcade game should be. The problem is, much like Space Harrier, it’s let down by its simplicity. There’s some support from the upgrade meta-game and the added lore, but it’s really not enough to sustain the game for very long. Something like the branching pathways from Star Fox 64 would probably be beneficial to the longevity of the gameplay. That would at least add some variation to the story mode.

For that matter, the one thing from Air Twister that will probably still stick with me a month from now is the swan death, and that was shown in the first trailer.

Overall, Air Twister is a fine arcade title. It’s initially fun to play, and its trippy fantasy visuals do a decent job of drawing you in. However, once you’ve managed to topple the final boss and are treated to the end cutscene, there really isn’t much to keep you playing or cement the game in memory. The main story mode becomes just what you grind on to afford better butt dressings. I think the fallen swan deserved better.

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

The post Review: Air Twister appeared first on Destructoid.

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.

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Genshin Impact Version 4.2 is on the horizon, and with a new Version comes drip marketing for new characters. This time, we’re getting more details on Navia and the introduction of a brand-new character named Chevreuse!

Navia was first introduced in the Fontaine teaser trailer and has had a presence in the Fontaine Archon Quests. Now it appears she’s making the leap from NPC to playable character. She’s a Geo character with an Ousia Arkhe. From her presence in the teaser trailer, we can reasonably guess that she will be a 5-star character. Other than that though, her character introduction doesn’t include many new details. It looks like we’ll have to wait patiently for the leader of Spina di Rosula to become playable.

Chevreuse is an entirely new character we’ve never seen before, possibly hinting that she’s a 4-star. She has a Pyro Vision, and we can just make out the top of an Ousia Vision shape in the background. She is the Special Security and Surveillance Patrol Captain of Fontaine’s police force, with what appears to be an unorthodox approach to law enforcement.

Are there guns in Genshin Impact?

Interestingly, Chevreuse is depicted holding a rifle. Firearms have been present in Genshin Impact, but never on a playable character, unless you count Clorinde shooting a pistol in the Fontaine teaser trailer. Does this mean Chevreuse will debut an entirely new weapon type in Genshin Impact? Probably not. It’s not uncommon for characters’ art to show them wielding a different weapon from what they have in-game. 

I think it’s more likely that Chevreuse will wield one of the five established categories of weapons. She might pull out her rifle as part of her attack animations, but her primary weapon will probably be something like a Bow, Sword, or Polearm. If there was going to be a new weapon type in Genshin Impact, I would expect more fanfare and an announcement ahead of time. Still, anything can happen in Genshin Impact, and if HoYoverse is consistent about one thing, it’s that they’re willing to break patterns and surprise us.

When are Navia and Chevreuse coming to Genshin Impact?

Navia and Chevreuse can be expected sometime during Version 4.3 of Genshin Impact. If things remain on schedule, we can expect Version 4.3 to drop around December 19.

In the meantime, enjoy the upcoming Version 4.2! It looks like we’ll have a lot of new content to look forward to while we wait.

The post New characters Navia and Chevreuse announced for Genshin Impact appeared first on Destructoid.

November 6 is Stranger Things Day. Canonically, this is the date that season one of the Netflix show opens on. It's a big deal for die hard fans of the show, and Behaviour Interactive figures it's as good a reason as any for another Dead by Daylight and Stranger Things crossover.

It was August 2019 that the first collaboration occurred between Dead by Daylight and Stranger Things. Known a the Stranger Things Chapter, it consisted of two new survivors, a new killer, a new map, and a batch of cosmetics. It quickly became a fan favorite amongst the Dead by Daylight audience. And now, like a horror villain that just won't die, it's back.

The new killer added to the survival game was the infamous, and horrific, Demogorgon. Much like in the show, it was terrifying to see it scurry around the map and lunge at the survivors with its gaping maw and vicious claws. It also has the ability to move around Hawkins National Laboratory via portals which added to both its versatility and potential for jump scares.

The two survivors added to the game were Nancy Wheeler and Steve Harrington. The duo were playable on a new map within the Stranger Things Chapter, the Hawkins National Laboratory: Undergound Complex. As you can see in the above trailer, it has a sinister and ominous feel to its halls. A perfect replication of what fans experience when viewing the show.

In addition to the survivors, killer, and map, all of the prior cosmetics will be making their return to the Dead by Daylight in-game store. The Jonathan Byers outfit is an alternative skin that can be applied. As well as Steve's Scoops Ahoy outfit from season two.

All of the Stranger Things Chapter content is available now in Dead by Daylight. Behaviour Interactive didn't specify how long the DLC would be available. So if you're interested in running through the depths of Hawkins as one of the show's heroes, pick it up while you can.

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It seems like it's well overdue, but Lightning McQueen is finally making his way to Rocket League. The Cars icon will be available for purchase beginning tomorrow, November 7.

Lightning McQueen is a reskinned Dominus body. The character car can be purchased individually or as part of the Lightning McQueen Mega Bundle listed at 2,500 credits. 3,000 credits can be purchased within the in-game store for $24.99.

The Lightning McQueen Mega Bundle is full of items that will make Pixar fans proud. In addition to Lightning McQueen's default 95 Rust-eze decal, there's also the cool blue Dinoco decal and a laid-back Cruisin' decal.

There are three different sets of Lightyear wheels to match each of the available decals. A Lightning McQueen player banner is included in the pack. And, of course, Psyonix implemented a Ka-chow goal explosion and added Rascal Flatts' "Life is a Highway" as a player anthem. The latter two and Lightning's Ruste-eze skin can be purchased individually if you aren't interested in the entire Mega Bundle.

Ka-chow

In watching the trailer, you can see that the character's emotive eyes are incorporated into his Rocket League design. Psyonix notes that the character/car is the first in the game to ever have dynamic expressions, which is a super cool addition.

It's unclear whether we'll get any voice-over lines from Owen Wilson or imitators, but one can hope. However, the aforementioned Ka-chow goal explosion and the inclusion of "Life is a Highway" are nice touches that fans are sure to appreciate.

As with most other licensed cars, there are some limitations in how you can modify Lightning's design. Only the three decals included in the Mega Bundle can be applied to the racecar (Rust-eze, Dinoco, and Cruizin’). Only select toppers, boosts, trails, and goal explosions can be added to Lightning's loadout. And antennas can't placed on top of the vehicle's roof.

The bundle and specific individual items are available for purchase as of tomorrow. Lightning McQueen and the Mega Bundle will remain available for purchase through November 21. You may be more inclined to bolster your garage now that player-to-player trading is set to end next month.

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