News:: Flinthook brings back the grappling hook this April

Lotta release dates to keep track of today, but I don't mind one bit -- not when the game in question is Flinthook, an action-platformer that gives your space pirate a grappling hook and says "Have fun!"

This is the latest project from Tribute Games, who you'll hopefully know from Ninja Senki, Wizorb, or Mercenary Kings. If not, no biggie. It isn't too late to brush up on any of this good stuff or just prepare for what's next. Flinthook is coming to PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on April 18, 2017.

A note on the game's procedural generation, since I know an over-reliance on that type of approach can be a sticking point: "Each level is special, as ships are procedurally built from hundreds of hand-crafted rooms, modified by various variants, filled with extraordinary treasure and populated by random waves of enemies." Based on how everything looks in the trailer, I think I can get along with that.

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News:: Naughty Dog co-president Christophe Balestra to retire

After 15 years with Naughty Dog, co-president Christophe Balestra is stepping away from the studio.

"I am doing it now out of utmost respect for the team and their unwavering dedication to Naughty Dog and our projects," he shared in a message posted today on the company website. "The time has come for me to now spend more time with my family and create a void to see what I can fill it with (which will obviously involve programming)." His last day is set for April 3, 2017.

Balestra also reminisced about his decade and a half with the Uncharted and Last of Us studio. Back in 2002, he came on board as a programmer because he was "excited to join the team that created Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter." The appeal, he says, "was working with the team responsible for games I love to play, ones that also looked stunning and were technically ahead of their time."

"Our 'secret' is and, always will be, the talent and drive of the whole team at Naughty Dog," he explained. "That's why I can step away feeling confident about the future of Naughty Dog — because the team is only losing only one of its many members."

Next up, we've got Uncharted: The Lost Legacy and The Last of Us Part II. After that? I'm dying to know. As for Naughty Dog's fellow co-president, Evan Wells, he's not going anywhere.

A Message from Co-President Christophe Balestra [Naughty Dog]

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News:: Rime hits PC, PS4, and Xbox One in May, with Switch to follow

Following its re-reveal back in January, Rime is now slated for a May 26, 2017 release.

You'll be able to puzzle-adventure your way through the Tequila Works game on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One to start. But, there's something to note: the pricing isn't consistent for every version.

On PC, PS4, and Xbox One, Rime will be $29.99 / €34.99 / £29.99, physically and digitally. Meanwhile, on Switch, the game will cost $39.99 / €44.99 / £39.99 when it releases "shortly afterward."

My personal thinking with the Switch now in my life is that I'll tend toward buying indies and smaller titles where performance won't be a concern or where same-screen multiplayer is a priority; otherwise, PC or other consoles it is. The $10 Switch premium for Rime sure isn't doing it any favors.

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News:: Set aside some time for Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap in April

As if it weren't obvious enough already, it's going to be tough if not impossible to keep up with all the Good Games coming out this year. I mean, yes, it has always been a challenge to give everything that catches your attention even a cursory look, but I typically make it further into the year before the too-many-games realization overwhelms me and I retreat back to my comfort-food favorites.

Not this year, though. 2017 just isn't messing around, and I couldn't be happier.

One game I'm very much looking forward to is the gorgeously drawn Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap and, as of today, we know when to pencil it in for: April 18, 2017. That's when it'll pop up on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. After that, a PC version will follow this spring.

A fun tidbit that you may not have seen: this remake accepts the Sega Master System codes.

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News:: Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix gameplay looks simple and clean in 60 FPS

Not sure about you all, but I've always thought the Kingdom Hearts series was one of the best action series of all time. Kingdom Hearts II was great in motion. By the end, you're pulling off all sorts of cool looking combos. Birth By Sleep later improved on the battle system, and now that they're all coming to the PlayStation 4 in one definitive collection, I'm ready to play through them all over again. 

Square Enix released two gameplay videos -- one featuring 1.5 Remix and the other 2.5 -- at 1080 with 60 FPS and it looks dramatically improved. Load times for Sora's Drive Forms seem pretty much non-existent and Birth By Sleep's Command Style loading times have been thankfully improved from their embarrassing PSP days. 

With four full titles (and two movies), this looks to be the collection to get if you've never played Kingdom Hearts before. And even if you have, at least the collection improves the gameplay. Although it's only a short time away, the wait until its March 28th release is going to be painful. 

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News:: 'Left 4 Dead' character returns to haunt 'Dead by Daylight'

Dead by Daylight, the hit survival-horror game that pits a team of four players against a dangerous killer, is getting a new character as part of the title's free "Left Behind" DLC. Players of Valve's successful Left 4 Dead series of zombie games will recognize Bill, the bearded, loyal-to-a-fault Vietnam vet as a new Dead by Daylight playable character.

Via: Polygon

Source: Dead by Daylight

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News:: Whip confirmed as King of Fighters XIV's first DLC character

King of Fighters XIV gets a bad rap. It's yet another great entry in the franchise even if the new art style makes it seem more stiff than previous entries. I'll admit it was tough for me to get used to at first, but after putting some time in, my girl Athena and I are wrecking the place like before. 

Maybe new DLC characters, like the just announced Whip, will help bring old/new fans into the game? Whip is definitely a fan-favorite, so this is a good step forward (though I'm vying for Yamazaki), and she looks like she fits right in. Her Climax Cancel looks especially fun to pull off, too. Wonder who the other silhouettes belong to? 

Whip will be available April 5th for $4.99 USD. 

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News:: Rain World is ready for a March 28 release on PC and PS4

You know we're getting close to Rain World's launch when Videocult is trading in gifs for a trailer.

Sure enough, the ecosystem-survival platformer is headed to PC and PlayStation 4 on March 28. We'll soon be sneaking and leaping for dear life as a very killable slugcat stuck in a very hostile food chain.

We've tracked Rain World since its Kickstarter in 2014 and boy is it nice to see this one near completion.

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News:: Today's update for No Man's Sky is doozy

Just yesterday I said I'd consider getting back into No Man's Sky with the next update (once I unearth myself from Q1 2017's avalanche of amazing games), and what an update it is.

This introductory video mostly focuses on the new land-based vehicles, but there's so much more to parse through in the full notes for today's Path Finder Update on PC and PlayStation 4.

The things I'm most jazzed about: specializations and classes for ships and multi-tools, upgrades to make handheld and ship-based weaponry feel more unique, photo mode, visual touch-ups including PS4 Pro support, and the ability for players to share their custom-made bases online with others.

There's also a bunch of quality-of-life tweaks -- the stuff that can have a tremendous impact on your enjoyment of a game as the hours tick by -- including being able to rename your possessions and skippable text-based NPC interactions. Lastly, you can own multiple ships now. Better save up!

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News:: Review: Ys Origin

When it comes to ports of older games, I've always been a fan of companies who give more players the opportunity to experience something they missed out on during its early run. While I rarely double-dip on titles, I like the idea of having a classic game available on a current platform, in case my original copy breaks or disappears through some unknown means.

With most of the Ys series being on the Sony handheld systems, the idea of Ys Origin getting ported to the PS4 and Vita served as a nice way for more people to witness the story behind the events that made way for Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished Omen and Ys II: Ancient Ys Vanished The Final Chapter's conflict. Unfortunately, this version isn't as refined as its earlier release.

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News:: There's a $599 Nintendo Switch bundle available online at GameStop

You want the Nintendo Switch, but you've heard the horror stories paying inflated prices on eBay for a console that turns out not to be a console. Walmart, Target, Amazon, Toys"R"Us, Best Buy, and all the major retailers are all sold out online. GameStop is too, but here's the kicker: a new Switch bundle available for "pre-order."

GameStop is calling it the Nintendo Switch Starter Bundle and it's priced at $599.99 - basically double the cost of the console system alone. You can buy it, but you won't get the console delivered until April 16, or more than a month from today. Not exactly an ideal situation, but if you're interested in a new unit that will arrive eventually without having to pay for scalper pricing.

Before you think otherwise, the Starter Bundle is technically not overpriced as all the components GameStop has stuffed in the bundle do add up to $600. The included Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild + expansion pass alone makes up $80 of the $300 extra price tag (probably a game you'd want to buy anyway).

The Starter bundle includes:

• Nintendo Switch with Gray Joy-Con
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild The Complete Official Guide
• Snipperclips
• Just Dance 2017
• Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Charging Dock
• Nintendo Switch Hybrid Cover
• SanDisk Ultra 64GB microSD Card with Adapter
• Power Kit AC-Adapter

This, of course, is a similar tactic GameStop utilized during the PlayStation VR shortage last Fall - and we suspect the April 16 date is when it'll receive its next batch of Nintendo Switch deliveries. While this bundle may seem ridiculous at first glance, when compared to the prices you see on eBay (at $600 for console only), it's a fair proposition all things considered for an in-demand console.

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News:: Final 'Destiny' add-on revives old raids on March 28th

At the end of this month, Bungie will release the last extra content for its shooter MMO Destiny before it moves on to the game's sequel. In a livestream today, the studio's developers and community manager Deej outlined what's coming for players in Age of Triumph: A return to old raids that have been boosted to the current max Light level. Guardians, get ready. Your free "victory lap" re-experiencing legacy content from the first three years of Destiny launches Tuesday, March 28th.

Source: Bungie (Twitch)

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News:: Newest Quake Champions trailer highlights the ghost walking Nyx

Along with its showing at PAX East soon, Bethesda is beginning to roll out all sorts of footage of Quake Champions. The first in a line of trailers highlighting the Champions themselves is for Nyx, a blue-haired gunner with the Active Ability "Ghost Walk," which gives her brief invisibility and invulnerability. But what really gets my attention is her wall jump, which will definitely come in handy in game. 

I don't know if I'm a fan of Quake Champions having characters with abilities, but the gameplay seen here looks appropriately fast and brutal. Besides, the series may just be evolving with the times. Remember to sign up for the closed beta and pray you get in. 

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News:: Dark Souls III: The Ringed City gets darkly gorgeous screenshots

I haven't gotten too far into Dark Souls III myself, because I am terrible, but I am absolutely in love with it. FromSoftware's gothic dread speaks to my aesthetic, but what really holds the Souls series together are its monster designs. Deep blacks highlighted with just a little bit of color and brightness? Awesome. 

Check out the latest batch of screenshots and concept art for Dark Souls III's final DLC, The Ringed City, in the gallery below. Maybe you'll fawn over them as much as I have. The Ringed City releases on March 27th for Steam and March 28th for Xbox One and PlayStation 4. 

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News:: Switch owners will wait longer (and pay more) for 'Rime'

If The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has piqued your interest in whimsical open-world adventure games featuring young men solving puzzles, Rime has you covered. It's coming out on May 26th for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, developer Tequila Words announced in a tweet. But Nintendo Switch owners are going to have to wait -- and pay $10 more.

Via: IGN

Source: Tequila Works (via Twitter)

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News:: Destiny's Age of Triumph will bring all four raids up to current levels

Bungie's first livestream detailing the upcoming Destiny event Age of Triumph happened today, and in it the studio showed off its newest record book. It measures in at 13 pages, dwarfing the previous record books. (Rise of Iron's record book was only five pages.) Included in that book is a page rewarding players who have been playing throughout Destiny's life, a page for completing story missions, a page for running strikes, a page for competitive multiplayer in the Crucible, a page for tackling raids, a page for collecting cosmetic items, a page for pledging allegiance to the various factions, a page for the highest level PvP in Trials of Osiris, and one page for each of the three main classes.

The goal behind the newest record book is to reward individual players depending on what they get out of Destiny. Some people may have never completed a raid, but have spent countless hours exploring the worlds in search of secrets. Some people may count Trials of Osiris as the most important part of the Destiny experience, while others may put more emphasis on owning everything there is to own.

Those who complete a significant portion (but not all, Bungie stressed) of the book will have the opportunity to buy a personalized T-shirt to commemorate the experience, similar to what the studio did with it's Year Two Moments of Triumph.

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News:: 'No Man's Sky' update adds ground vehicles to the mix

When Hello Games teased big things coming with No Man's Sky's Path Finder update, it wasn't joking around. The studio has taken the wraps off the upgrade, and there's a lot more than what was hinted at. For one thing, there are multiple ground vehicles (exocraft in NMS lingo) -- you can travel across vast landscapes in a speedy hovercraft, the previously leaked buggy or a "lumbering" but capacious cargo hauler. You can even participate in custom-built races when you're done exploring.

Source: No Man's Sky, PlayStation Blog

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News:: Nintendo Switch and Zelda storm Japan

At last, we have hard data on opening week sales for the Nintendo Switch and it's launch titles in Japan. The Switch console moved over 329,000 units. That is an improvement over the Wii U, which sold just 311,000 in its first week. Although the Switch didn't match original Wii's 350,000+ sales, this is solid start.

Naturally, Switch games littered the software sales ranking, which The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild predictably topped. which sold well over 200,000 copies if you combine Switch and Wii U version sales. Sadly, a great number of people bought 1-2-Switch whereas Snipperclips didn't even make the list. It is understandable though; ample advertising, a physical release, casual gameplay, and utilization of all the console's promoted features appeals wider audiences than a solid co-operative puzzle game. 

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News:: China bans new South Korean games over a political crisis

China is rather irate that South Korea is starting to install the US' THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) missile defense system to protect against North Korean threats. To that end, it's punishing the South with retaliatory policies... including one that targets video games. Chinese officials have frozen new licenses for games made in South Korea, preventing any more titles from launching in the country.

Via: PocketGamer.biz

Source: Nikkei Asian Review

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News:: 81-year-old Japanese woman learns to code, makes game

In 20 years, those who knows how to code will be floating around Earth 2, space-watering their space-lawns, anticipating the new Game of Thrones book, and going on dates while the rest of us are stuck with cattle prods, forced to run on the treadmills that keep Earth 2 afloat. 81-year-old Japanese woman Masako Wakamiya will not be running on a treadmill.

Wakamiya, a former banker, learned to use a computer at age 60. For her next trick, more recently at the age of 81, she learned how to code with the help of, "a 'young person' living in Sendai, northeast of Tokyo, who taught her Apple's Swift programming language via Skype and Facebook Messenger," according to Mashable. Then, she made an app, Hinadan. Wow! I can't even remember the last person in my family to live to 81, let alone make an app.

"The reason for making this applications is that many smartphone apps are for young people and [there] are almost no apps that the elderly can enjoy," she said. "I [would] encourage [old people] to start having fun experiences using computers." I would as well. Please send all your grandparents over to Destructoid, thanks!

 

81-year-old woman makes iPhone app after only starting to use computers at 60 [Mashable]

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News:: PS4 gets Boost Mode, external drive support on March 9th

After more than a little teasing, Sony's PS4 version 4.50 update is almost here. The sweeping upgrade is now slated to arrive on March 9th, and is now confirmed to include that rumored Boost Mode for PS4 Pro owners. Enable it on the higher-end PlayStation and "select legacy titles" should run faster (or more consistently fast) without needing a Pro-specific patch. They may even load sooner, Sony says. The boost isn't certain to work with every unoptimized game, but it should do more to justify the Pro if you have an extensive game collection.

Source: PlayStation Blog

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News:: Reggie: Nintendo is 'talking to' Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon for video on Switch

Nintendo remained stalwart in their move to launch the Switch without video services or a Virtual Console infrastructure -- a move that's either "focused on gaming" or "rushing to market" depending on the analyst on any given day.

But Reggie spoke to the video focus recently with the Washington Post, and said that moves are being made to make it happen. Speaking on getting video channels to the Switch, he stated, "We're talking to a range of companies about other services, companies like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon — things that will come in time. In our view, these are not differentiators. What differentiates us is the way you play with the Nintendo Switch and what you can play. And that will continue to be our focus into the future as we continue driving this platform."

Most if it is just Nintendo exec marketing speak, but the key takeaway is that they're in talks, and it's not entirely on the backburner. While I have a million other devices that can run video apps already, having another one that's completely portable and can play games would be a plus.

Nintendo’s U.S. chief responds to our biggest gripes about the company’s new console [Washington Post]

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News:: Nintendo sorta cares about getting Netflix on the Switch

Nintendo will bring streaming video services to the Switch, but don't hold your breath, because it'll probably take a while. That's the main takeaway from a Washington Post interview with the company's Reggie Fils-Aime that was published earlier today. When asked why Nintendo didn't have the major names in video on its latest console, the executive said that they would come, "in time."

Via: Verge

Source: Washington Post

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News:: PSA: If you're swapping out your microSD card on the Nintendo Switch, make sure it's not in sleep mode

After learning that you can easily export screenshots from the Nintendo Switch in bulk to the PC with a microSD card (and adapter, which is included in nearly every card these days), I just had to try it out. The thing is, I didn't think to turn the Switch completely off, and obtained an error message that instructed me to never remove the card unless the system was shut off entirely.

For the past few weeks, I've basically never turned my Switch off. I keep it in sleep mode and just pop it out of the dock or detach the Joy-Con and play immediately on the TV. It's convenient, but if you're going to do some aforementioned screenshot dumps, make sure you do it right. Just hit the power button on the top left, then select "Power Options," then shut it off.

It's a small little PSA for sure, but an important one! Once you start accruing more data on your SD card (which should happen fast as the default HDD space is woefully small) it would be a shame to have it corrupted.

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News:: Many of us bought the Nintendo Switch last week

We were lucky enough to get an early look at the Nintendo Switch and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. But now that the console and its killer launch game are finally available to all (if you can find them, at least), we've asked several of our editors about their thoughts on the system. Despite the Switch's limited launch title selection, most of them came away impressed.

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News:: The mystery of the busted Nintendo Switch left Joy-Con has been solved

For the past few weeks now, some Switch reviewers were pointing out problems with the left Joy-Con remote, stating that it would occasionally drop its signal. The right remote didn't seem to suffer the same fate, and to go one step further, a lot of folks (myself included) didn't have any issues with either of them. As it turns out a lot of things can interfere with the left Joy-Con, including anything listed in this official Nintendo breakdown (aquariums!) -- hence the different experiences.

YouTube channel Spawn Wave managed to identify the issue directly though, and has confirmed it is hardware related. Evidently the right Joy-Con has a dedicated antenna that's placed in an are that's free from interference, and the left Joy-Con's placement does not -- it's soldered directly onto the motherboard and can be easily blocked by your hands. If you feel like voiding your warranty (for something that's Nintendo's fault, mind) there's a fix in the video below along with the teardown.

But truthfully, Nintendo should offer a recall for left Joy-Con and provide new, up to snuff units. They probably won't as they're riding high on the Switch launch, and the dedicated crowd that reads consumer report type stories like this are going to be oblivious to the fact that there's a problem.

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News:: Don't press this button in Ghost Recon: Wildlands

Youtube's BUGZ-MAN-FR found a button in Ghost Recon: Wildlands. "Don't press me," it read. He pressed it.

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News:: See how the Switch port of Dragon Quest Heroes 2 measures up to PS4

DigitalFoundry managed to get their hands on Dragon Quest II on multiple platforms, and the comparison test completely favors the PS4 edition.

For the most part, the Switch version looks fine in theory. It keeps up with the PS4 edition and the character models and backgrounds seem like they're part of the current generation. But in combat, the Switch port can dip to an inexcusable 20 FPS while the PS4 consistently sticks from 50-60. Somehow the Vita port is even smoother than the Switch edition.

You can't blame this entirely on the Switch itself, as Koei Tecmo has been known for rocky ports, but with even Zelda dipping at times, the long road of optimization might be just that -- long.

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News:: The Nemesis System is huge in 'Middle-earth: Shadow of War'

The standout feature of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor was the Nemesis System. It added a layer of strategy to an otherwise standard action game, allowing players to see the strengths and weaknesses of specific Uruk soldiers before striding into battle. The Nemesis System was like a game of chess superimposed on top of a rich fantasy world, innovating on the genre and tapping into players' desire to command an army, rather than simply run around Mordor as a doomed man possessed by the spirit of a vengeful Elf.

In Middle-earth: Shadow of War, the Nemesis System is bigger, badder and more robust. Not only will players be able to gather information on the enemy armies -- staffed not only by Uruk anymore, but also by mountain trolls and other beasts true to JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings universe -- but players will also be able to view the strengths, weaknesses and personal history of their own armies as well.

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News:: Middle-earth: Shadow of War really puts the 'more' in Mordor

Shadow of Mordor is getting a sequel. Obviously Shadow of Mordor is getting a sequel. It's a triple-A game based on an incredibly popular property (Lord of the Rings), it was almost universally well-received (except, funnily enough, by this site), and it even won a few end-of-year awards (like Game of the Year at the 2015 GDC Awards). A second Shadow of Mordor was certainly a case of when and not if.

Developer Monolith's ambitions for Middle-earth: Shadow of War are high yet predictable. In a hands-off demo in San Francisco, a representative outlined a bunch of gameplay changes that will define this title. It's the exact same route all big-name sequels take: More, more, more. We can't yet say if it'll be for better or for worse, but we feel comfortable asserting that feature creep is the main attraction.

Shadow of War's intentions aren't masked for long. Within 30 seconds, we're told "We wanted to expand the scale of everything. There are more epic stories and a much more massive world." A setting so massive that there's now a world map because "We have many more regions. They're far larger than they were in the last game, and they also extend beyond Mordor."

We all see exactly where this is going.

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