Until Dawn was my favorite game from last year. It had a rocky development history, though, starting as a first-person PlayStation 3 game that used the Move motion controller pretty extensively. And now, footage from an early prototype has surfaced online, showing off just what the game looked like as a motion-controlled PS3 title.
Via: VG 24/7
Source: PtoPOnline (YouTube)
Just last week, Capcom announced that the six classic Mega Man titles would be coming to both iOS and Android on the 6th of January in Japan. When they were first revealed, these ports -- which will be sold in piecemeal rather than as one full bundle and are set to contain additional cheat code-like features such as the ability to fire weapons automatically -- were not confirmed for release outside of that one territory. This is to say that the possibility of a North American or European release was still up in the air.
Well, Capcom has now confirmed that yes, mobile gamers in Western territories will be able to play the first six Mega Man games on their phones come early January. As of this moment, there has been no mention of a more specific or concrete release date for the ports in North America and Europe.
If I'm going to be completely forward; I'm not exactly sure who these ports are for. Platformers such as the Mega Man franchise aren’t really suited for mobile gaming, unless of course you make significant concessions in order to better accommodate to both the limited number of inputs and the less precise controls that are often associated with the platform.
While both iOS and Android do support third-party controllers, if you want to make use of these, it means having to lug around an additional peripheral with you just for those occasions when you do want to play Mega Man or other mobile titles that allow for it.
At that point, you might as well just buy the Mega Man Legacy Collection for 3DS and be done with it. Although I guess not everyone has a 3DS, so it's always possible that these ports may cater to the portion of the market that uses mobile as their primary handheld gaming platform.
At least Capcom is acknowledging Mega Man’s existence.
One of the early highlights of the PlayStation VR lineup has come to HTC Vive and Oculus Rift.
As of today, Drool's unrelenting space-beetle rhythm game Thumper is now (optionally) playable on the three major virtual reality headsets. Which is great, because the game itself is great. I'd recommend it with or without VR, though the latter works its dark magic to further draw you into the hellscape.
The studio has also enabled "basic support" for the Vive and Oculus Touch controllers, if you have those and want to make the most out of them. It's wonderful to see multiplatform support for a title like this.
[Coming to you a little late, what a busy week it's been! This was a special week for me too, as I proposed to community member Madoka Malika (yes...she said yes) ~ Stephen]
Okay, we all know what year it really is. How could we forget 2016: the year that murdered everybody? But if we were to look only at recent game releases like Owlboy, Final Fantasy XV, and The Last Guardian, you'd think it was at least 2010 right now. Soak it in, people! This is probably the closest we'll ever get to traveling though time.
It's cheap Rocket League, Warhammer Vermintide, and more in Round Two of GMG's 2016 PC Gaming Winter Sale. Today the PC gaming retailer launched a sale on 477 titles of which we've analyzed here (and listed the top picks below). Gamers interested in multiplayer titles are in for a treat this week with some significant savings.
Today also marks the beginning of Bundle Stars' new 2016 Winter Sale. Like GMG, dozens of titles are up to 90% off with a stacking 10% off coupon code to apply at checkout for additional savings. We've found new low prices on Mad Max, The Secret World, Battlefleet Gothic: Armada, and plenty more goodies.
Best of GMG Round Two Winter Sale
Use Voucher Code: WINTER10
Best of GMG Round 1 Winter Sale
Use Voucher Code: WINTER10
Best of Bundle Stars 2016 Winter Sale
Use Code: WINTERSALE10
All deals listed above will run through December 22, which is also the day Steam Store will launch its 2016 Winter Sale. These prices are expected to match Steam + have a 10% off coupon for additional savings.
For the past five years, the folks over at HalfEmpty E-Tank have ran a lovely little charity based around one of the best premises of all -- playing a ton of Mega Man games at MAGFest.
The gist is that amidst live music and special guests, the organization will run a multi-day marathon event that plays through most of the series, complete with prizes for attendees, and all of the money going to charity. It kicks off at noon ET on January 5, and runs through January 8, so if you're attending MAGFest, go check it out!
MAGFest is being held on those same days over at National Harbor, MD, and tons of Destructoid community members are in attendance. If you're not going this year, hit up the cblogs and connect with some people so you can grab a hotel room before it sells out next year.
High on top of Steam's "popular new releases" list today is Resident Evil 7's PC demo, which if you didn't know was finally made available earlier this morning. PC gamers can check out what the console bros have been experiencing with Capcom's latest.
If you enjoyed the half-hour demo and you're a big time Resident Evil fan (who still likes to believe certain installments didn't happen), digital retailer GMG is trying to capitalize on the hype by offering the pre-order of Resident Evil 7 at 26% off by way of comboing the Winter Sale 10% off coupon. This brings the standard edition down to $44.36 and the Deluxe Edition to $66.41.
Resident Evil 7 PC Pre-Order Deal
Use voucher code: WINTER10
Developed and published by Capcom, Resident Evil 7 will arrive worldwide on January 24 on the PC, Xbox One, and PS4. Interestingly enough, the Japanese release is two days later on January 26.
The deals above should last through December 29 but they can always end early (e.g., the coupon stops working on the game or the instant savings are lowered).
Just how powerful is Nintendo's next game console? We won't know for sure until January, but if the latest report from Eurogamer pans out, the answer could be kind of complicated. According to specifications provided to developers, the Nintendo Switch performance changes depending on how you use it: in its docked, TV-mode or as a gaming portable.
Source: Eurogamer
If you couldn't tell by the deluge of Reaper headers that I've snuck into Overwatch headers this past seven months or so, he's the character I gravitate towards the most. His outflanking close-combat style really appeals to me, and he's remained a pretty balanced and competitive character since launch (typically appearing as a mid-tier character on lists if you're into that sort of thing).
As it turns out ZaziNombies, master LEGO crafter, is a fan as well, and created his Hellfire Shotguns in real life with around 1,100 pieces. They clock in at roughly one pound each, and for extra authenticity, he made the mask too -- oh, and the shotguns have dart launchers in them.
It's insane to see how inspired people have been from this series not even a year into its lifetime. I've seen so many Overwatch cosplays at random events, and pretty much all of them are created with love.
This might be the most upbeat graphical comparison video I've ever seen. Alongside the happy-go-lucky tune, we're shown how next year's PlayStation 4 version of Digimon World: Next Order sizes up against the original PlayStation Vita release. In the side-by-sides, the differences are staggering.
Rainbows are wider. Smoke exists. Scenes that had hazy or otherwise ill-defined backgrounds on PS Vita are now far more detailed. In some cases, like the fortified bridge area shown above or the spooky church with a gargantuan moon shown in the video (at 1:06), the world feels more fleshed out across the board. While there are new textures and other minor but appreciated visual upgrades as well, these sweeping environmental changes are what really help sell the sense of place and atmosphere.
Next Order is out for PS4 on January 27 in Europe and January 31 in North America.
Naughty Dog's holding up its end of the bargain. PlayStation's list of flagship franchise candidates looks something like this: Uncharted, God of War, The Last of Us (as of this month), and maybe inFamous. Half of those are entrusted to Naughty Dog, and, ignoring how some people feel about Drake's Deception, the studio never really falters.
This year's Uncharted 4: A Thief's End was a particularly important entry into the Uncharted series. In a broad sense, all of these flagship candidates are important because they don't come along all that often; Sony undoubtedly wants to make the most of every opportunity. From a business perspective, this was the first Uncharted on PlayStation 4 which almost guarantees high sales -- both of the game and the console. A new Uncharted surely caused some holdouts to cave.
But, the most significant impact (at least for us resolution-loving types) was that it ended Nathan Drake's story arc. It took everything that we've come to expect from an Uncharted game -- all the set pieces and action and exposition -- and it did all of that very well. But it also had the dignity and self-respect to just stop when it was time to stop. Entertainment has a tough time making this call because wrapping things up means the money quits rolling in. Good on Naughty Dog and Sony for definitively putting a bow on Drake's narrative.
Our contribution to Drake's sendoff is the most fitting one we can think of. The man spent a large chunk of his life chasing treasure and fortune. We're adding one last piece of hardware to his collection: Destructoid's award for Best PlayStation 4 Game of 2016. He earned it.
In a year full of worthy nominees, Naughty Dog proved again why it's PlayStation's finest and most consistent developer. Uncharted 4 excels in so many areas that you wouldn't necessarily expect. The action's fine, sure, but it's the relationships, the attention to detail, the animations -- that's the stuff that makes Uncharted 4 the best of the year. To take the last phrase from Steven's review: A thief couldn't ask for a better end. Something tells me Drake would approve of me stealing from Steven.
Before Supermassive Games shifted its teen horror adventure game Until Dawn to PlayStation 4, it was being designed for PlayStation 3 with the PlayStation Move controller in mind. It's one thing to remember that piece of history, and another to see an extended look at the game as it once was.
Aside from the snowy lodge setting and some basic plot points, this is at times unrecognizable from the Until Dawn we ultimately got. It's first-person, with PlayStation Move quick-time events and more hands-on puzzle-solving and world interaction. That design might sound questionable on paper, but watching this footage, there's clearly something cool here. It's not flat-out inferior to the finished Until Dawn so much as it's just... different. Like an alternate-universe version of a game many of us dig.
Definitely set aside some time to watch this. After a short introduction, the video is just gameplay.
Until Dawn | PS3 Prototype [PtoPOnline]
The original Legend of Zelda just has one of those iconic maps. Among the thousands of "It's Dangerous to Go Alone" t-shirts out there, the map itself has been remade and re-tooled for future iterations multiple times officially and unofficially. And this 3D printed map is definitely unofficial, but I still want one!
According to Retro Gaming Mag, the creator spent six months building a Zelda map in Minecraft, then 3D printed it for 24 hours based on that map file. It was then auctioned off on a Facebook group called Trade Sell Collect Retro & New Video Games & Toys, allegedly for $100.
I've used packed-in maps before while I'm playing an open world game, but how cool would it be to go back to the original Zelda with this beauty right in front of you?
Mike Matei [Twitter via Retro Gaming Mag]
They Shall Not Pass, the first expansion pack for Battlefield 1, will drop in March 2017.
This is the one with the playable French Army (an unfortunate omission from the base game), as well as more maps and weapons, as you'd expect. DICE isn't showing the maps as they'll appear in-game yet, but the studio does have some "concept exploration" images that can clue us in to what's ahead.
The VR platform has given us so many games that aren't otherwise possible on standard platforms. Whether it's moving around like Neo from The Matrix in Superhot VR while dual wielding shotguns, or dodging, dipping, diving, ducking, and dodging in The Unspoken, developers really know how to make an impression.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is another one of those games that sticks with you. The gist is that one person needs to disarm a comically elaborate bomb, but requires the help of several other real-life players who have separate manuals. Cue the hilarity and communication breakdowns, and you have Keep Talking.
Although it was released in 2015 on PC, 2016 marked the arrival of the VR port, and thus, a renewed interest in this fantastic concept. The thrill of figuring out not only the different rulesets of each bomb module, but figuring out how to speak to other players while there's only seconds left to go is why this release is so special, and why it took the crown of best VR game of 2016.
One of my favorite things about the Nintendo Wii was all the weird games it got. Stuff like Elebits, WarioWare: Smooth Moves, The Dog Island, and Opoona. Opoona was especially odd in that its big gimmick was you could play the entire game using just the nunchuck. It was a curious design choice, and it mostly worked even if I didn't find it to be the most comfortable set-up. The game itself was an absolute delight brimming with charm. I know the game didn't exactly blow up the sales charts, but thankfully Koei Tecmo hasn't forgotten about their little Weeble because he's just been added to Musou Stars.
You can catch Nintendo's big information dump event on January 12 for the Switch, where they'll likely divulge the price and specs, but there's something extra if you happen to live in six major cities afterward.
Starting from January 13 until March 5, folks can catch a special Switch road tour of sorts where they can try out the system, similar to what they did for the Wii U. You can find the full dates below, just keep in mind that the first two days of any given city's event are invite-only, but the third day will be public, barring any capacity issues.
More details will come later so you don't make a trip out there and come back empty handed, but just keep those basics in mind for now. If it's anything like the Wii U one they'll have a marquee game to show off (for the Wii U it was New Super Mario Bros. U, this time it'll likely be Zelda), and at least five or six others from third parties.
Just a reminder; the last Pokémon distribution for 2016 is set to end this Friday, December 24. This month's Pokémon is Meloetta, and if you miss this opportunity you probably won't have another one for quite some time.
Meloetta is unique among Pokémon for being able to change its form and typing while still in battle. By using its signature move Relic Song, it can switch its subtype from Psychic to Fighting and back again. If you'd like to have Meloetta learn Relic Song, take it to Snowbelle City in Pokémon X or Y, or to Mauville City in Omega Ruby or Alpha Sapphire.
If you haven't downloaded Meloetta to your copy of Pokémon X, Y, Omega Ruby or Alpha Sapphire, it's not too late. First, select Mystery Gift from the main menu. Choose Receive Gift, open the communication channel, and then select Get Via Internet. You'll need your 3DS connected to the internet to redeem it, and each copy can only receive one Meloetta. When you've done that, you'll be able to pick up Meloetta in any Pokémon center.
Meloetta closes out a great year for Pokémon fans. Here's hoping the downloads continue in 2017 now that Pokémon Sun and Moon have taken center stage.
Dragon Quest has always been one of the most traditionally popular franchises in Japan. There's even an unspoken holiday for each release, a running joke that's made it's way overseas and into pop culture.
So it makes sense then that Square Enix is partnering up with Universal Studios Japan to bring a special attraction into the mix. It's called the "Real Battle Attraction," and will involve "getting weapons, going into dungeons, and battling monsters." The General producer of the series, Ryuutarou Ichimura will be on hand to ensure that it's "authentic."
That's good enough for me! Now to just find a way to get to Japan whenever this is finished. I wonder if it'll be anything like Wizard Quest (which I've never been to, and only heard about).
Dragon Quest news (Dec. 19): DQ Monsters Joker 3 Pro / Dragon Quest x Univeral Studios Japan [Perfectly Nintendo]
A big part of Mincraft's success is how the game is available on basically every platform you can think of. Today, that list got one longer: Minecraft is now available on the Apple TV. As usual, it's the Minecraft experience you know and perhaps love, but with a few things missing. Namely, the multiplayer Minecraft Realms and Xbox Live support, though the developers say those features will be added in the "near future." The $19.99 entry price gets you the game as well as seven DLC packs: the Holiday 2015, Town Folk and City Folk skin packs as well as the Plastic, Natural, Cartoon, and Festive 2016 "mash-ups."
Source: Minecraft
Ever since Overwatch's winter event started last week, unfrozen Chinese cryogeneticist Mei has been the center of attention. Her first new skin since the game launched turned out to be a bit of a disappointment for some folks, though the winter themed brawl that features 12 Meis firing snowballs at one another has been pretty popular.
That brawl features some great new voice lines from both Mei and Soldier: 76, and every time a Mei pauses to reload a snowball, one of the new lines has a chance to play. One line in particular stood out to Devin Ryan, who coded up a quick website to show it off. It's reminiscent of some older websites like Nyan Cat, where the viewer is challenged to see how long they can stay on the page without wondering if there's something better they could be doing with the precious gift of life. How long can you stand the cold?
Since that's not much of an article, please enjoy some A-Mei-zing drawings collected from Deviantart. Happy Mei day, Qposters.
[Thanks to Aaron for the tip!]
This was supposed to be the year of virtual reality, but barely had 2016 started when Microsoft threw a spanner in the works with the announcement of HoloLens. Rather than taking us to a virtual world, Microsoft's headset pulls virtual objects into our own. Microsoft calls these objects Holograms, much to the chagrin of hologram enthusiasts, but most people know them as tenets of mixed, or augmented, reality. It's already being touted as the next next big thing.
Of course, 2016 was full of VR. With spring came the retail launch of the Oculus Rift and HTC's Valve-endorsed Vive. Both require two things: a lot of cash and a lot of power. The Rift costs $599 while the Vive is $799 (including controllers and tracking accoutrements). But then you need to factor in the price of a PC that can support the high-fidelity, high-speed visuals VR requires. A typical all-in price started from $1,500, putting it out of the range of all but the most ardent of gamers. That price has dropped and will continue to drop as cheaper, better graphics cards are released.
You're going to be seeing a lot more of Final Fantasy XII in this next year. In addition to the PS4 remaster of the International Edition of the game "sometime in 2017," there's also going to be a new level added to the arcade version of Dissidia on December 22.
It's none other than the royal city of Rabanastre in the land of Ivalice, the core hub of the game. As a reminder Dissidia is only still locked as an arcade exclusive in Japan, though it's expected to arrive at some point on PS4 in that region, with a possible localization in the cards. Right now Square is still hard at work adding more characters into the mix, attempting to double the roster from launch.
That expansion could include Noctis from Final Fantasy XV. Months ago Square said that they would only add him if XV took off, so only time will tell if they're happy with the overall sales of the game. They shipped around five million worldwide the first week, and they're aiming for 10 million sold in total, so let's see if that initial shipment fully sells through.
Two Dots is a unique, beautiful and meditative puzzle game that exudes a level of polish rarely found in mobile games. So it was a bit of a surprise to see its developer, Dots, announce that it was partnering with the recently launched Sparcade to release a competitive version of Two Dots -- one in which players can wager real money. Would the fairly chill gameplay of Two Dots make any sense in a competitive environment?
Source: Sparcade
The saga of Pokemon Go on the Apple Watch has been messy.
Earlier this year, Niantic showed off the Watch port during Apple's iPhone 7 keynote, eventually stating that it would be out before the end of the year. Well, they have two weeks left, and we haven't heard much about it at all for months on end. Recently a rumor even started up that Niantic had canned the port, leading people to believe that they showed a mock-up of a project that had no intention of seeing a wide release just to help boost Apple's cachet. This has been going on for months, but in true Niantic fashion, they released a two sentence statement that's vague as hell -- "Pokemon Go for Apple Watch is coming soon. Stay tuned!" -- over the weekend.
Maybe it was a side project all along, but now that they're getting called out on it, they're devoting extra resources to it? Either way, where are all of the millions earned from Go going? We've barely had any substantial updates in months, just quality of life type stuff that should have been in from the start.
Pokemon Go [Twitter]
