Thursday, March 30, 2017

News:: Titanfall 2's multiplayer is free for the weekend

You'll be able to put your parkour-shooter skills to the test in Titanfall 2 with another free weekend event. Respawn is running a trial (PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One) now through Monday, April 3.

Besides packing in the full multiplayer experience, the trial also includes the Training Gauntlet and one of the campaign missions, The Beacon (the latter of which will "remain free to play in perpetuity"). It's enough of a taster to figure out if Titanfall 2 is for you or not, assuming you have the time.

As nice as it always is to see these free events pop up, the timing on this one is extra thoughtful -- the game just got its Colony Reborn update today with a new map, weapon, and execution.

Titanfall 2's multiplayer is free for the weekend screenshot



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News:: Get tangled up in the first Guardians of the Galaxy trailer from Telltale

We first saw Telltale's take on Guardians of the Galaxy in early-ish March when a handful of screenshots were revealed ahead of PAX East. Now we get to see the crew in action, as Telltale has released a trailer for the series.

Although, "in action" is a bit of a nebulous concept here. Relatively few shots are of anything combative. The majority of the trailer is dedicated to the gang crackin' wise and a very slow descent down an elevator.

The more exciting stuff is just around the corner, though. Telltale recently announced that the first episode of Guardians of the Galaxy, titled Tangled Up in Blue, will release on April 18 for $5. We don't know much about this story's conflict, so this chapter is where we'll likely get to the (G)root of the problem. Despite what the name might imply, Bob Dylan is unfortunately not the villain, probably.

Get tangled up in the first Guardians of the Galaxy trailer from Telltale screenshot



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News:: What was the first thing you did in Breath of the Wild?

The thing I like to take away from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is all the different emergent stories. Everyone has their own experience with certain elements in the game, whether it's how you approach combat, travel across the land, or even solve puzzles.

You'd think puzzles, of all things, would lead to binary solutions for an intelligently designed obstacle. But no, look online for Breath of the Wild shenanigans and you'll see people solving problems in ways that were clearly unintended but still allowed within the game's logic -- things like completing an electrical circuit with a collection of metal weapons or using the propulsion of a bomb's shockwave to boost over a wall.

What was the first thing you did in Breath of the Wild? screenshot

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News:: Review: Digimon World: Next Order

I’ve been jokingly crediting the original Digimon World as my all-time favorite game for years, all the while secretly hoping that someone would agree with me and reminisce. There was something uniquely charming about the first entry in Digimon World series that the decade and a half of Digimon role-playing games, cart racers, and arena fighters that followed couldn’t match.

And while Japan has had a steady flow of Digimon titles, western fans have had to endure nearly a decade without a single new RPG. Last year’s Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth offered a taste of what a modern game in the series could look like but the dual PlayStation 4 and Vita title felt like a Persona game rather than the distinctly Digimon experience I had been hoping for.

One year later, Digimon World: Next Order was localized and suddenly all of my prayers were answered.

Review: Digimon World: Next Order screenshot

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News:: Far Cry 3 joins the Xbox One backward compatible list

If you've been looking to relive the terrors of the Rook Islands, but no longer have an Xbox 360, Microsoft has got you covered! As announced by the official Xbox Twitter, Far Cry 3 is now available on Xbox One via backward compatibility. I'm sure everyone with a copy is grinning at the chance to see Vaas (one of the most underutilized villains of last generation) again.

Far Cry 3 joins the Xbox One backward compatible list screenshot

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News:: Persona 5 has a hard block on screenshot and video capture

Easy-to-use, baked-in game capture functionality is one of the best aspects of this console generation. Taking screens and video or even streaming a game can be a mere button press away, and I've grown so accustomed to the feature on PS4, Xbox One, and now Switch that its rare absence hits hard.

Certain games prohibit players from capturing key moments -- story-crucial cutscenes are often the main offenders -- but restrictions on screenshot taking and video recording can extend even further. Such is the disappointing case with our dear sweet Persona 5, which drops next week in North America.

In a statement to Polygon, an Atlus spokesperson confirmed the restriction for the localized version of the game: "This being a Japanese title with solely a single-playthrough story means Japan is very wary about it. Sharing is currently blocked through the native PS4 UI."

So, full stop, we won't be using the Share button with Persona 5. It's going to take more time and effort than usual to show your clutch "Throbbing King of Desire" capture to the world whether you use external equipment or resort to taking a less-than-ideal phone pic. That's just unfortunate.

Persona 5's PS4 share features are disabled [Polygon]

Persona 5 has a hard block on screenshot and video capture screenshot



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News:: Facebook and Palmer Luckey are parting ways

Come April 1, Oculus VR co-founder Palmer Luckey will no longer be a part of the business he helped create. Parent company Facebook has confirmed that this is Luckey's last week at both Facebook and Oculus.

The story was broke by UploadVR, which was given this quote from Oculus about Luckey: "Palmer will be dearly missed. Palmer's legacy extends far beyond Oculus. His inventive spirit helped kickstart the modern VR revolution and helped build an industry. We're thankful for everything he did for Oculus and VR, and we wish him all the best."

That quote only tells one side of the story, though. Yes, Luckey did play a major role in the advent of virtual reality. He was also a public relations nightmare after it came to light that he anonymously bankrolled a right-wing meme-fueled anti-Hillary Clinton movement. The backlash was immediate and forceful; several developers vowed to cancel Oculus support for their games until Luckey resigned from his position.

Luckey has laid low in the half-year since that happened. Facebook obviously hasn't gone on record to say that it told Luckey to "shut the fuck up and don't open your fucking mouth again until we say you can" but the silence is telling. He quickly went from the poster child and mouthpiece of an entire technological field to a relative recluse.

Facebook wouldn't confirm if Luckey's departure was voluntary or not, citing a policy to not discuss internal matters. The move likely wasn't based around fiscal timing, as Facebook's year lines up with the calendar year; many companies' fourth quarter ends on March 31, but Facebook's ends on December 31. Regardless, it'd take tremendous naivety to think there wasn't any internal pressure to oust him.

Luckey is only 24 years old and is worth something like three-quarters of a billion dollars. He has a lot of life ahead of him, and this is almost certainly not the last time we'll hear his name. But, for now at least, his legacy will be that of an important pioneer of virtual reality and also a giant black eye on the technology he helped bring to prominence.

Oculus Co-Founder and Rift Creator Palmer Luckey Departs Facebook [UploadVR]

Facebook and Palmer Luckey are parting ways screenshot



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News:: World of Warcraft producer: 'We've been quite happy with how players have responded to Demon Hunters'

Now that World of Warcraft's Legion expansion has two massive patches under its belt, I figured I'd check back in with Blizzard to see how things were going. On the outside this expansion, as a whole, is working out swimmingly compared to the duller Warlords, and you could argue that they've already surpassed it in under a year.

To get down the bottom of what's worked and what hasn't, I had a chat with Travis Day, Senior Producer for World of Warcraft.

World of Warcraft producer: 'We've been quite happy with how players have responded to Demon Hunters' screenshot

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News:: WipEout Omega Collection gets physical edition, releases this June

Sorry, I can't bring myself to use catchy game-related words in the headline like "WipEout Omega Collection boosts into your living room this June." Makes me cringe as much as how every ad says "slam dunk" during the NCAA basketball tournament. No, it "releases" on June 6 in America and June 7 in Europe, 2017 both digitally and physically. Seems like every release date I've reported on lately releases in America first by a day or two...weird.

As someone who still has more contact with Pyongyang than a Vita, this is a chance for me to catch up on WipEout 2048 finally.

WipEout Omega Collection gets physical edition, releases this June screenshot

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News:: Review: Night in the Woods

I'm not sure how to describe Night in the Woods. Even after playing through the game twice, every attempt at defining it feels wrong. I want to say it's a silly 2D platformer almost as much as I think it's a soulful adventure game. Other times, I'm convinced that I should just declare that it's a slice-of-life game with a supernatural tint -- whatever that means.

But my difficulty summing up Night in the Woods doesn't mean I don't have a lot to say about it. Despite being a relatively short game, it's packed with moments that have rattled around in my head for the last month. What begins as a basic coming-of-age story about a twenty-year-old cat lady (in the anthropomorphic sense, not the depressing neighbor kind), builds and builds into something larger, all while taking place in a single, sleepy little town. Night in the Woods is intimate and charming, whimsical and occasionally heartbreaking. It's also one of the most enjoyable games I've played in a long time.

Review: Night in the Woods screenshot

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News:: PSA: Nintendo Switch back in stock on Amazon

Still need a Nintendo Switch? Have an Amazon Prime membership? Don't want the neon abomination?

Prime members can order a Switch with gray Joy-Con for a not-gouged $300, though they won't be in stock until April 2 -- April 4, just in the time I took to write this. Act now.

PSA: Nintendo Switch back in stock on Amazon screenshot



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News:: Don't email my wife, unless you're sending Podtoid questions

We took a lot of your questions on last week's Podtoid after criticizing Brett for his choice to save space Hitler and other Mass Effect: Andromeda chat. So our reserves are low and we'll need something to fill time this week what with none of us having played Persona 5.

So, comrades, we need your questions, otherwise we'll just talk about sports and why Mike Pence calls his wife "Mother" and won't dine with women besides his wife or go to any event that has alcohol unless Mother is present. Well, I'm probably not going to be able to not talk about that regardless. Please understand.

Leave questions in the comments or send them to podtoid[at]destructoid.com.

Don't email my wife, unless you're sending Podtoid questions screenshot



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News:: Shovel Knight's new expansion gets dated on other platforms, Switch updated

When Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment came out earlier this month it was a timed Switch exclusive. But that's the key -- timed -- and it's about that point where it's hitting other platforms. Yacht Club Games has announced that it will hit Wii U, 3DS (in Japan), and PC on April 5. With "to be determined" dates in April, Wii U and 3DS in the west will follow, as well as PS4, PS3, Vita, Xbox One, and the Amazon Fire TV.

In other news a new Switch update just hit that involves a number of fixes, but most notably allows the game to be displayed in 1080p when docked. It's really interesting to me that so many Switch games have had patches to implement basic features.

Take a look at Blaster Master Zero, which didn't have Pro Controller support until after launch -- it's probably not going to be a trend, but it's indicative of how quickly some developers were flying by the seat of their pants when it came to pushing out Switch launch software.

Shovel Knight [Kickstarter]

Shovel Knight's new expansion gets dated on other platforms, Switch updated screenshot

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News:: Review: Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight

I'm pretty disappointed in myself for not noticing the Momodora series before. The fourth title in the series, Reverie Under the Moonlight, has been out on PC for a year now but has made its way onto PlayStation 4. Instantly catching my attention for its 16-bit inspired visuals and, if I'm being honest with myself, cute woman with horns adorning the main art, I had to jump in to see its world with my own eyes. 

I've never been much of a metroidvania genre player, as my terrible memory means I often forget where I'm going and get lost, but when I found out I'd be playing as a young priestess fighting tough women with a maple leaf I had to give it shot. 

Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight is like maple syrup. As long as you put just the right amount, you're eating a damn good stack of hotcakes. 

Review: Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight screenshot

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News:: Surely the new God Eater project is a video game...right?

Bandai Namco released a new trailer for the new God Eater project that it originally announced back in September, 2016. The existence of English trailers essentially confirms a western release for the console title. Which consoles specifically, we don't know yet. 

Bandai Namco producing a "God Eater project" on consoles with the 3D modeling seen in these trailers likely translates to "video game," but something about the way they avoid the term "game" is slightly suspicious.

Surely the new God Eater project is a video game...right? screenshot

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News:: 'Destiny 2' brings the interstellar MMO grind to PC in September

Destiny 2 will hit PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on September 8th, much to the delight of wannabe space hunters worldwide. The original Destiny was console-only, leaving PC players in the lurch, but pre-orders for the sequel went live today and confirmed the new game is coming to desktop.



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News:: Gwent is coming to the PS4 in beta form

If you've been staring at the PC and Xbox One editions of the Gwent beta, longingly hoping for a PS4 round, you're in luck.

CD Projekt Red has confirmed that the PS4 will be getting a technical beta this weekend, you just have to find it on the PSN. The event will kick off on March 31 at 1PM ET until April 3 at 2AM ET. They've clarified that you don't need PlayStation Plus to play, but all of your progress will be deleted by the time the beta period ends.

I still have yet to dig into this or the Elder Scrolls card game in earnest. But with so many people vowing to try something other than Hearthstone it's only a matter of time until I find someone to play with.

Gwent Closed Beta Status Update [Gwent]

Gwent is coming to the PS4 in beta form screenshot



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News:: Destiny 2 is set to arrive on September 8, PC confirmed, new trailer

Destiny 2 is set to arrive on September 8, PC confirmed, new trailer screenshot

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News:: Scarecrow, Captain Cold, and Bane strike fear into newest Injustice 2 trailer

I've gone back and forth over Injustice 2's roster. Some characters have impressed, others much less so, but if we absolutely need to have a ton of Batman villains again I don't mind this version of Scarecrow. 

The latest reveal trailer, "It's Good to be Bad" (lol), shows off Gorilla Grodd again, a bit more of Bane, some much need Captain Cold gameplay (who first appeared for a second in one of the story trailers), and Scarecrow. I'm digging Scarecrow's gangly vibe and design, and his sickle and chain will be tough to deal with for sure. Captain Cold also impresses as he seems a lot more of an up close fighter than I presumed. I also don't think I've had the chance to talk about Gorilla Grodd and Bane here, but suffice to say they're looking mighty fine.

Too bad about those Source Crystals though. 

Injustice 2 is out on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One May 16th. 

Scarecrow, Captain Cold, and Bane strike fear into newest Injustice 2 trailer screenshot



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News:: 'Rock Band VR' is the dorkiest game ever and I love it

Rock Band VR will make you feel like a rock star. But from the outside, you'll look like a crazy person with an Oculus Rift on your head and a plastic guitar in your hands, strumming along in silence. Basically, you'll look like a huge dork while playing it. But the embarrassment is worth it: Rock Band VR successfully captures the feeling of actually playing music in front of a crowd. Even though it's Harmonix's first stab at virtual reality, the end result is immersive and ,most importantly, fun.



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News:: Review: Toukiden 2

Games of the hunting genre, often referred to as “Monster Hunter clones”, are still among those foreign video game curiosities that just can't seem to grab western audiences the way it has in Japan.

One of the main reasons why it has not attained the same level of success in the west is that most hunting games have stubbornly clung onto dated conventions set by Monster Hunter back in 2004 and still carry on today.

Well, it's 2017 and we need something more— modern.

Review: Toukiden 2 screenshot

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News:: Nintendo Download: Pikmin 2 on Wii U

The Switch is sort of getting games at a regular cadence, and this week it's Snake Pass as well as ACA Neogeo Metal Slug. On 3DS you'll find Four Bombs, SubaraCity, Kung Fu Fight, Brave Dungeon, and Miko Mole.  Wii U is getting Cube Life: Pixel Action Heroes as well as Pikmin 2.

What's next for the Switch? Mr. Shifty, Shakedown Hawaii, Lego City Undercover, Graceful Explosion Machine, Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap, Puyo Puyo Tetris, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe are all slated for April.

Nintendo Download: Pikmin 2 on Wii U screenshot

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News:: Review: Thimbleweed Park

Thimbleweed Park was Kickstarted back in 2014 and promised a brand new game in an old genre, a return to the classic point-and-click adventure titles produced by LucasArts in the late 80's and early 90's. The title has an impeccable pedigree since both Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick made their names working on one of the first adventure titles ever made, Maniac Mansion. In fact, Gilbert is credited with introducing the concept of cutscenes to video games as a way of transitioning between two action sequences. 

Thirty years have passed since Maniac Mansion's release, and the genre it exemplified has died, been reborn, and relapsed into a coma. You don't see too many point and click adventure titles these days, as story-driven games don't need to rely on the old adventure formulas to get their message across anymore. It's been nearly two and a half years since the Kickstarter closed, and the game is finally releasing today. It's already been a great month for games, so how does Thimbleweed Park stack up?

Review: Thimbleweed Park screenshot

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News:: New Senran Kagura Peach Beach Splash DLC trailer is softcore porn

By this point I shouldn't be surprised. The latest Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash trailer for the Dead or Alive DLC shows Marie, Honoka, and Ayane in suggestive positions getting squirted. There's some shooting gameplay as well.

If you're the kind of guy that covers his eyes during segments like the JAV videos in Yakuza, this game is clearly not for you. On the other end of the spectrum, this kind of sexualization is so over the top it becomes camp. Although I'd wager the developers' intent is to arouse players, the only bone this tickles is my funny bone.

New Senran Kagura Peach Beach Splash DLC trailer is softcore porn screenshot



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News:: Bethesda showcases new Quake Champions character, announces beta start date

For anyone still interested in the different "champions" in the upcoming Quake Champions, Bethesda has released a new trailer that goes over Anarki's abilities. Anarki was actually in Quake III Arena, so he should be familiar to any old-school fans.

Bethesda showcases new Quake Champions character, announces beta start date screenshot

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News:: If you play the Peacekeeper in For Honor, MLG just banned him temporarily

I love keeping up with the individual meta of any given game. While there are usually tier lists that can be defied by any given player, you cannot defy a ban that's put in place by TOs or organizations. That's what's happening now in For Honor, as MLG has just temporarily banned the Peacekeeper class.

The main problem seems to be his super-powered light attack, which can be spammed to great success, a tactic you can see in the video below -- I've heard similar complaints online having played it myself. Due to a multitude of threads about it from the official forums, to MLG's forums, to reddit, MLG officials will run their next tournament with the Peacekeeper banned, and then poll the community after. If most of them agree with the ban, barring a pre-release balance patch, it'll stay that way.

Seems fair to me! While moves like this are always up for debate, if the overwhelming majority of players want a change, so be it. Many competitive games (MOBAs in particular) already have a built-in ban system to adjust for situations like this anyway.

The Shadow [MLG]

If you play the Peacekeeper in For Honor, MLG just banned him temporarily screenshot

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