News:: Exploring Hyrule and gender identity

_{[Seymour embarks on a journey of swords, discovery, the desert, and cross-dressing. I really hope the comments turn out alright but I liked seeing this unique view of one of the year's biggest games. ~Strider]}

Breath of the Wild became a very special game for me over the course of my first 30-40 hours. It wasn't just the high-quality open world design or delightful quests, but one unexpectedly engaging facet. A facet that was brought on to me via a short strand of these aforementioned quests within the desert wastes.

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News:: I'm not sure what to make of this new NIS game

Nippon Ichi Software's new title seems to borrow from Minecraft and 3D Dot Game Heroes.

The teaser starts off calmly enough, with characters constructing a nice little house, but then it quickly escalates into an invader (?) leaping up into the sky and hurtling back down to obliterate blocks. While the aesthetic looks familiar, I'm not quite so sure how this as-yet-unnamed game will play.

The fact that this is coming out of NIS at least has me curious.

New Title [NIS]

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News:: Would you click a headline about Tim Schafer and his mystery box?

The answer to that question is obviously "yes" because you're here wondering what the heck all this mystery box talk is about. We don't know! That's why it's a mystery box and not a box with plans laid bare.

Here's a tweet from Tim Schafer:

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News:: Lego City Undercover's retail Switch port may require an install

One of the benefits of the Switch is that going retail means you won't need to download or install anything. Since Nintendo went back to cartridges (albeit proprietary ones), load times are fast enough to not make installations necessary. The only problem would be when a game starts ballooning in file size, since Switch cartridges have a max capacity of 32 gb.

Color me surprised, but apparently Lego City Undercover is going to be the first retail Switch title to require an install. While this hasn't been confirmed and could just be a misunderstanding, some leaked photos from the retail box show a warning that reads, "Up to 13 GB storage required for game download." Um, what?

This could be for a bunch of various reasons. My initial guess would be a day one patch,  but the front of the game box does mention that an internet connection is required. More likely is that WB Games cheapened out on cartridge size and is forcing users to download necessary files.

Either way, this is going to be a huge problem moving forward. Since Nintendo decided on going with proprietary cards, developers end up needing to shell out more to produce retail releases. This is the reason a lot of Switch ports have costed more money (despite being a newer console). WB seems to be giving the finger to Nintendo in retaliation, but the end user is the one who is going to suffer.

Thankfully one can expand the memory of the system, but forcing users to buy more storage seems tawdry.

LEGO City Undercover retail packaging says internet connection required, 13GB required for "game download" [Go Nintendo]

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News:: Zelda player finds way to glide for almost 5 miles in Breath of the Wild

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the rare game with so many unique little idiosyncrasies that it feels possible to constantly find new ways to achieve the unthinkable. The obvious end to this is that players are using them to one-up how they challenge each other. It's partially why the speedrun record is already under 50 minutes.

A new feat is considerably more cathartic than speedrunning. Players are seeing how far they can glide off the top of Ridgeland Tower. The trend rose to prominence on reddit recently with a 6,578 meter flight. That was bested shortly thereafter with a 7,615.8 meter attempt (embedded at the top of the page).

The nearly 5 mile paraglide was accomplished through crafty reliance on the wind and liberal use of bomb arrows to create updrafts. Also, there's constant use of potions to replenish Link's stamina. The 22-minute flight comes to an end with a final descent across the water.

This is the best effort thus far, but don't expect it to hold up. This is the type of challenge that feels like it could be bested over and over again. Something tells me that the future holds further flights and longer videos.

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News:: Review: Hollow Knight

I got my Nintendo Switch day one and I've put around 10 hours into The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the latest game from my favorite series. Not because I don't love it, but because I've been obsessed with Hollow Knight. It is that damned good.

In a year that has been absolutely filled to the brim with great games, I can say Hollow Knight is hands down without a doubt in my mind my favorite and surely an early contender for game of the year.

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News:: This is the final week for the Nintendo DSi Shop

As of Friday, March 31, you'll no longer be able to access the Nintendo DSi Shop. It's shutting down.

"If you have Nintendo DSi Points to spend, Nintendo DSiWare you want to re-download or Nintendo DSiWare you'd like to transfer from a Nintendo DSi/Nintendo DSi XL system to a Nintendo 3DS family system, you may want to do so at your earliest convenience, while the service is still available," warns the company. After the closure, you won't be able to redownload your previously bought content.

Nintendo announced its plan to sunset the DSi Shop last year, but these dates have a way of sneaking up on us. Hopefully this reminder catches you in time. I managed to completely miss the DSi, but as a refresher, here's a list of games and apps (not all of which are supported on the 3DS eShop).

[Via Siliconera]

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News:: Here's how Lara Croft looks in the new Tomb Raider movie

This time next year, we're getting a "very different" film adaptation of Tomb Raider.

As director Roar Uthaug tells GQ, "We drew a lot of inspiration and reference from the game and the entire Tomb Raider canon to develop our world, and I believe fans will recognize that. At the same time, this is a completely different theatrical approach to Lara Croft that will offer something new in the origin and development of the character. It's a story that not only highlights her incredible physical accomplishments but delves deeper into her humanity."

If these photos of Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina) as Lara look familiar, you're right on the mark. "[Tomb Raider (2013)] was certainly part of what inspired our film," said Uthaug. "I think fans will be delighted to discover many touchstones from the game throughout the story. At the same time, this is not the kind of video game adaptation you often see, with a lot of CGI and effects. Our movie takes a more realistic, grounded approach. Lara Croft is a hero and a champion but she is not a superhero."

With these photos out, the movie can now exist in my mind as a Sure Thing That's Happening. I'm also reminded that I saw the Angelina Jolie-led Lara Croft: Tomb Raider at a drive-in, of all places.

Exclusive: Here's Your First Look at the Tomb Raider Reboot [GQ]

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News:: Valkyria Revolution release date announced, no pre-order pin for Europeans

As promised, Valkyria Revolution will hit the west in Q2 this year for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PS Vita. At $39.99, it'll land in America first on June 27 and then on June 30, 2017 in Europe.

Waiting at the end of the new trailer is the Vanargand Edition, a free pre-order bonus, which includes a 12-track OST and pin featuring the Vanargand's coat of arms. Oh wait, sorry, the pin is only for Americans. But don't fret, the press release hypes up the box as "stunning" and "beautiful." 

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News:: The PS4 Pro will never support 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, but it has 4K media support today

The PS4 Pro already allowed users to stream 4K video from various media providers like Netflix, but now you can use your own media on the system in 4K.

As of today, the media app will be updated for Pro owners to accomodate 4K videos in mp4 format on a USB stick or by way of a server -- this will also impact the quality of VR videos. It's another welcome addition from Sony, who has been giving us some heavy-hitting updates recently -- most notably (late) external HDD support.

As a reminder, the PS4 Pro does not have a 4K/Ultra HD Blu-ray drive, so it won't play physical discs at 4K. The Xbox One S on the other hand, can -- which is still weird to me #mce_temp_url#having witnessed the great HD-DVD versus Blu-ray battle years ago.

Media Player Updated Today to Support 4K Video on PS4 Pro [PS Blog]

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News:: Final Fantasy XV's infamous Chapter 13 has been updated today

Square Enix continues to update and tweak Final Fantasy XV, to the point where it's going to be one hell of an on-disc GOTY edition at some point. This one has been teased for months now, primarily dealing with Chapter 13 -- one of the most contentious chapters in the game -- which now has an extra Verse.

Based on the trailer for Verse 2, story-wise, it basically explains what the gang is doing while Noctis is going on his Chapter 13 solo romp. The update also contains photo contest winners, some magic enhancements for Chapter 13, and a setup for the Gladiolus DLC coming tomorrow. If you're going for a wait and see approach for XV, it's already paying off, even if the base game is already fantastic.

In other news, this is the second time today I get to use the "shonen stares at a magic ring" picture as a header. It's a good ass day!

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News:: Destiny 2 announced more officially than those other confirmations

Destiny 2 is a game that's in production and will launch in the relatively-near future. That's important news because Destiny has been one of the biggest names in gaming for the past three years. Here's the simple but sweet tweet where the plans are confirmed:

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News:: Mirage: Arcane Warfare gets a release date, Chivalry: Medieval Warfare free for two days

The fantasy based follow up to Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, Mirage: Arcane Warfare, has just been given a release date; May 23, 2017. Along with that comes some beta gameplay footage and the chance to get in on the upcoming beta. If you pre-order the game starting today, you'll get immediate access to the closed beta. The servers for that will run until the game launches.

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News:: Guilty Gear Xrd is probably the best fighter out now, here's Rev 2's intro

Over time I warmed up to Guilty Gear Xrd even more than I already did at launch.

I mean, the huge Revelator update really helped in terms of character variety, but the strong base and incredible art style were there all along. A ton of other people have taken to it worldwide as well, as it often dominates tournaments and nabbed a coveted spot at EVO 2017.

Rev 2, its second semi-sequel/expansion, is due in Japanese arcades this week and on consoles in May. It'll bring two characters along with it (newcomer Answer and fan favorite Baiken), as well as a full cast rebalance, improvements to online play, and additional story bits. It's brief, but developer Arc System Works has posted the game's intro, which you can watch below.

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News:: Before Dark Souls there was Eternal Ring, and it might be coming to PS4

The PS2 had one of the best debuts in videogame history (Armored Core 2, Dynasty Warriors 2, Gungriffon Blaze, SSX, Tekken Tag Tournament, Unreal Tournament, TimeSplitters, among many others) -- oh, and it also launched with Eternal Ring.

Before From Software was the Kadokawa-backed juggernaut it's known as today, they created a handful of respectable franchises like King's Field and Armored Core. Eternal Ring, released in 2000, was an attempt to recreate the hardcore dungeon crawling magic of the former, but it didn't come together quite so smoothly. Even so, I have fond memories of exploring its haunting and unforgiving world, and frequently go back to it on my original PS2.

I might have to go through considerably less strife though based on a recent PS4 trophy listing for it. Nothing has been formally announced yet, but based on the multitude of PS2 re-releases, the fact that it's a launch lineup game, and that Kadokawa might want to pull a Capcom and just make as much money as they can from From Software's treasure trove, I can see it happening.

Even though I wouldn't recommend Eternal Ring, I feel like I'm the only person on Earth who remotely cares about it. This re-release should change that, even if the conversations gravitate towards its shortcomings.

Eternal Ring [Exophase]

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News:: PS4 Pro plays your 4K video files

So far, watching 4K video on a PS4 Pro has meant streaming from the likes of Netflix and YouTube. But what about all the 4K footage you shot on your phone? You should be covered after today. Sony is rolling out an update to the PS4 Pro's Media Player app that will let you play locally-stored 4K videos. They'll have to be encoded as MP4 files, but you can play them either from a USB drive or from a media server on your home network. And if you happen to own both a PlayStation VR headset and a Pro, you'll see support for 4K VR videos.

Source: PlayStation Blog

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News:: Etrian Mystery Dungeon 2 is real and coming this year

A little over 10 years ago, Atlus released one of the defining RPGs for the Nintendo DS with Etrian Odyssey. Overwhelmed by role-playing games on the system, I skipped the series until The Drowned City and realized I had been missing one of the best things to come out of Japan in some time.

Two years ago, Atlus crossed Etrian Odyssey with one of my favorite series on the planet, Spike Chunsoft's Mystery Dungeon, creating Etrain Mystery Dungeon. That game, one of my personal favorites for the 3DS, is getting a sequel this summer.

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News:: New images surface from one of Half-Life 2's cancelled episodes

Before vanishing into the ether and becoming gaming's longest running gag, Half-Life 2 was actually supposed to get more than just one final episode. While we've only ever known the name of Arcane Studios Return to Ravenholm, some new images have surfaced from a project that Junction Point Studios was working on. While there is no official title, these screenshots show a snow covered Ravenholm. In other words, Alyx lied to you when she said, "We don't go to Ravenholm."

As for what these images pertain to, the head of Junction Point, Warren Spector (Deus Ex, Epic Mickey), has briefly spoken about this before. In an interview with Game Informer a few years ago, Spector detailed how his team was working on a new weapon called the Magnet Gun. The reason their episode never got finished was due to Junction Point striking a deal with Disney, a studio Spector always wanted to work with.

"So we were trying to flesh out a specific part of the world of Half-Life and we created a new tool. A thing we elegantly called the Magnet Gun, which I still wish they would do something with," Spector states in his interview. "We came up with so many cool ways to use a magnet gun that were completely different from anything [Valve] had done and was really freeform in its use. I still think it'd be cool, but when the deal with Disney really started to bear fruit, I just couldn't say no to Disney. I'd always wanted to work there, so we never completed the work with Valve."

Due to the wonders of the internet, you can actually tinker around with the prototype map files. As posted on ValveTime.net, you can read through a thread that explains what each map contains and how it may have pieced together to create a final product. If nothing else, I hope some prospective modder takes these files and glues them together. It would be neat to play what could have been, much like you can with the leaked Half-Life 2 beta.

Images of Junction Point's cancelled Half-Life 2 episode reveal a snowy Ravenholm [Eurogamer]

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News:: Review: Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2

For the last couple of months, my fingers have been spoiled by using the Razer Ornata Chroma. The low-profile keycaps and satisfying tactility led to it being my keyboard of choice. But now Razer has released the BlackWidow Chroma V2, the next iteration in their popular BlackWidow line, so I had to tear my 'tips away from the Ornata and try this one for review.

A lack of new features make it a less exciting endeavor for Razer's flagship keyboard, but that doesn't mean it isn't as dependable and as comfortable as the word flagship implies. It's definitely BlackWidow: The Sequel, and if you know you like this style of keyboard, you'll probably be happy with it.

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News:: 'Wilson's Heart': Inside Oculus' new psychological thriller

You come to as thunder crashes overhead. Streaks of lightning illuminate the room through gaping holes in the building's blown-out facade as you begin to take in your surroundings. But before you move on to the more pressing matters of why you're waking up in a sanitarium and why the building looks as though it survived an artillery bombardment, you'll first have to figure out how to remove the wrist restraints tethering you to this wall. The worst part is, this may well be the sanest part of your night.

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News:: Guide: Find the secret boss in the Dark Souls III: The Ringed City DLC

Dark Souls III: The Ringed City is a little more involved than several of the other add-ons in the history of the series.

Without direct spoilers (read: screens or a description of the fight), here's a quick rundown of how to access the hidden boss.

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News:: Here's how to access Dark Souls III's The Ringed City DLC

Unlike the Ashes of Ariandel DLC access method, Dark Souls III's The Ringed City is foolproof. Instead of relying on an NPC appearing at a specific area, you merely need to touch one of two bonfires to enter the new zone.

Yep, one of two, as either one will do the trick. Just head to the Kiln of the Fire Flame (read: right near the final bonfire), turn around, and touch the new inconspicuous checkpoint to teleport to the DLC. Or, if you've already finished Ariandel and bested its final boss, there's a bonfire in that room that will get you to the same location. You just need to ensure that you've talked to the painter in the attic first.

That's it!

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News:: Review: Dark Souls III: The Ringed City

Well, it looks like this is it.

Although From Software is billing it as the "close of the age of fire," Dark Souls III: The Ringed City could be the last taste of Souls for a long while. It's a journey that's lasted over eight years, and it's only fitting that it would top Ashes of Ariandel.

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News:: The Morning After: Monday, March 27th 2017

Hey, good morning!

Hello from Monday morning. Over the weekend, we welcome the return of a 1998 gaming classic, toured the fanciest toilet showroom you'll ever see, and reported on a self-driving Uber crash. Oh, and in case you forgot, we will finally get to see Samsung's next flagship smartphone later this week.

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