News:: Review in Progress: Forza Motorsport 7

The Forza Motorsport series has somehow become Microsoft’s flagship franchise for the Xbox brand. Regardless of how Halo launched the console into prominence in 2001 or how Gears of War blazed a whole new trail of third-person, cover-based shooters, Forza is the game that has stuck around for three consecutive generations while other attempts to galvanize the Xbox brand have come and gone.

When the Xbox One launched back in 2013, people were expecting the next-generation version of Forza to be a real treat, but it mostly came out undercooked. Lacking features and cars that the phenomenal Forza Motorsport 4 contained, 5 felt like a rushed effort to meet a launch for a console that was rushed to combat Sony’s impending launch of the PS4.

It wasn’t until Forza Horizon 2 that Turn 10 nailed what a next-gen entry in the seminal series should look and play like. Thankfully, Forza 7 gets basically everything right, including its PC port.

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News:: Hugh Hefner was that old dude with hot girls and a dope jacket

The world lost an icon this week with the passing of Hugh Hefner, Playboy founder and lifestyle embodiment. Icon is perhaps the most appropriate way to describe the man. While he was famous for embodying fame, a spirit of lavish luxury, and sexual liberation, he is not without the requisite controversies that follow anyone with a modicum of fame, and especially when attached to someone whose work is so intrinsically tied to human sexuality. 

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News:: Sometimes, the enemy makes the game

_{[There are not many feelings in this world, besides sex, that are as satisfying as besting an enemy that genuinely tests your skill. When you come out on top, you feel like a total badass. Not because it was easy but because it wasn’t. Mah dude, Dango, totally gets it. Rip and tear, fart and swear, lose and glare, but keep on trying because the challenge is there. The rewards are a weight lifted off your shoulders. You beat that chump, and you’ve earned that victory. For like, five whole seconds, you’re a total rock star. Then you realize that there are more of them. In fact, the whole level is filled with them… Mixed feelings of terror and lust lead to a crooked smile. This is going to be fun. – Kevin]}

Soldiers. Zombies. Aliens. Worms with cheese hats. Little Medusa heads that fly up and down in an inconvenient pattern. Mushrooms with faces and feet who will continue walking in one direction until they touch a wall or walk off a cliff.

If you've been gaming for a while, chances are that you've been up against a lot of weird shit. Enemies are a significant part of several video game genres, and they come in every flavour from mundane to surreal. Lots of them have become iconic, a crucial part of a series' identity, because we can't help but love them (despite what we do to them, and what they do to us). Unlike the climactic boss fights, regular enemies are usually more comfortable to deal with because we fight several of them and quickly learn their behaviour. Some of them are pushovers, that only exist to allow us to feel powerful.

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News:: Ni No Kuni II plays better than the first, but commits some sins

Boy, I sure found some pretty images didn't I? I wish I played those Spirited Away-looking sections, but I guess you don't show your best hand in preview demos. Or wait, shouldn't you? In any case, Ni No Kuni II looks every bit as beautiful as the first, even if the section I played wasn't particularly picturesque.

The sequel seems to follow the same structure as the first: run around a city, get side quests, do the main story, and fight random encounters in the field. Sounds like standard fare for role-playing games, but Ghibli's beautiful art and music gives this series something special.

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News:: Why I am genuinely rooting for the Bubsy reboot

In what seems like the most bizarre announcement in recent memory, Bubsy is back. This idea was met with basically the entire Internet exclaiming "Really? who asked for this?" Our own Joel Peterson wrote many words explaining why the game better suck, or else! The announcement video even has over 500 thumbs down votes.

Well, I for one am fully behind this new Bubsy game. I'll explain why, but be forewarned that it gets a little personal.

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News:: YouTube Live playthroughs are now a no-no for Nintendo Creators

Nintendo has updated its Creators Program's rules to add a new entry: members can no longer broadcast on YouTube Live. The gaming titan has long been extra protective of its properties and regularly issues takedown notices for videos that use its games. It launched the initiative in 2015 as a sort of a compromise with YouTubers who feature its IPs. The program gives streamers a way to get part of their Nintendo videos' ad revenue, but it looks like the company doesn't want people earning money for livestreaming their playthroughs.

Via: Gamasutra

Source: Nintendo Creators Program

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News:: I'm excited to watch Hidden Agenda

At E3 2017, Until Dawn developer Supermassive Games seemingly simultaneously announced Bravo Team, Inpatient, and Hidden Agenda. We didn't cover Hidden Agenda much, so to catch you up it's a story driven game with choices and quick-time events much like Until Dawn. The catch is that up to four players can vote on choices in the game using their smartphones, or take control with limited and obtainable cards while trying to solve a serial murder case.

Until Dawn was absolutely fantastic, so of course I'm interested in Supermassive Games's next new project. Me and two others sat down with a Sony dude to play an early section of the game with provided smartphones. 

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News:: PSA: A quick rundown of the released, missing, and leaked DLC for Gundam Versus

Gundam Versus released on Friday and, as was partly expected, Namco also released part of the DLC without a word. To make matters worse, each DLC page only uses generic terms to describe what each downloadable suit comes with, and in some cases is wrong about what content is exclusive to which character. For the sake of your wallet and time, we'll be going through exactly what each mobile suit comes with, along with showing the two leaked ones.

Keep your wallet secured, as we have a lot of DLC to go through.

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News:: City Shrouded in Shadow seems a fun ride even if light on gameplay

I've never played the Disaster Report games, whose naming conventions often confuse me like Final Fantasy I-VI, but they have a place on my backlog as something to check out eventually. To my knowledge they are pretty straightforward in tone and gameplay, playing like I Am Alive (at least in my head, possibly completely wrong), but City Shrouded in Shadow looks like the spin the genre needs.

Of course running around a Japanese metropolis from Godzilla, Ultraman, and Evangelion units while being an asshole to people would appeal to me. So it was at the top of my to-play list for Tokyo Game Show 2017. Of the 250,000 visitors, 240,000 of them were in line for Monster Hunter World, so I didn't have long to wait.

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News:: GameStop running huge "Buy 2, Get 1 Free" pre-owned sale

Feel like reliving the Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo 64 era once more? You're in luck this weekend as GameStop is running a huge "Buy 2, Get 1 Free" pre-owned sale with everything from old pre-owned games such as Goldeneye 007 for the N64 to Uncharted 4: A Thief's End for the PS4 (guess which one is the more expensive one?).

In fact, while used console systems don't qualify for the B2G1 offer, GameStop does have the Nintendo 64, Gamecube, and Sega Dreamcast systems on sale for $60 and under.

Personally we think the best deals in the mix are used Nintendo Switch games (which are discounted only by $5). When combined with this offer, you can now pick up three Nintendo Switch Triple-A titles for only around $109 pre-tax. If you're a Nintendo gamer, you'll probably agree with us that this is a pretty good deal.

GameStop Pre-Owned Sale

Use coupon: FREESHIPPING

Games

• Used Nintendo Switch Games (almost all recent Switch titles available)
• Used PS4/PS3, Xbox One/360 Games (Mostly 6th and 7th gen platform titles)
• Used "Retro" Games (Everything from N64 to Dreamcast and Gamecube)

Hardware

• Used Accessories <- qualifies for B2G1
• Nintendo 64 System (Pre-owned) — $59.99
• Sega Dreamcast System (Pre-owned) — $44.99
• Nintendo Gamecube System Silver or Black (Pre-owned) — $49.99

For most people, using GameStop promo code FREESHIPPING during checkout will qualify them for free shipping (the terms says select customers so we're assuming some unlucky soul won't qualify).

The promotion runs through Sunday, October 1st so we'll suggest acting sooner rather than later if you want to bulk up your gaming library or revisit some classics.

Game deals from Dealzon. Sales help support Destructoid.

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News:: Ask Engadget returns (and you should send us your questions)!

A long time ago in a far-away land called 2013, we used to run a feature called "Ask Engadget" where you -- our readers, fans, followers and critics -- could ask us for our advice, opinions and recommendations on everything from cheap laptops and starter cameras to routers and email clients. You would write into ask@engadget.com with all the pertinent details about your issue, and like your favorite trusted oracle, we would gather all our knowledge and experience into a reply (and let the community weigh in as well).

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News:: Watch a speedrunner beat Dishonored: Death of the Outsider in the blink of an eye

My first Dishonored: Death of the Outsider playthrough took around eight hours. I poked my head in places off the beaten path and scoured levels for extra bonecharms. Even still, I thought I was moving through the game at a quick pace. That is until I watched Bjurnie's speedrun. The Dutch streamer can finish the game in under ten minutes. Considering the expansion released two weeks ago, that's some serious optimization in a short amount of time.

Speedrunners are no strangers to in-game glitches and exploits. Bjurnie uses a technique the Dishonored speedrun community refers to as a "leap glitch." Basically, by canceling Billie Lurk's climbing animation and using a free scrolling mouse wheel to rebind the jump key, speedrunners can zoom across huge portions of the map in the blink of an eye.

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News:: Check out some of the delightful Cosplay from EGX 2017

I'm a big fan of cosplay. I'd take part myself if I was younger, better-looking, more-talented, creative, more proactive... umm... anyway, I get a real kick out of cosplayers and their great outfits. I really enjoy the public performance aspect of it.

Playing a character is obviously something close to my heart, post-wrasslin', and I enjoy seeing people show off their wonderful creations.

So, here's a gallery of some of the guys and gals who turned up to EGX in Birmingham last week in the guise of some of fantasy's finest. Unfortunately, as I've mentioned in other write-ups, The NEC was horrendously lit, a stark contrast of pitch black and blazing spotlights, so I apologise in advance for some of my sub-par photography.

Hope you too enjoy some of the epic guys and gals I encountered over the weekend. Sincere thanks to everyone pictured here, you all looked great and brightened up both the show and my day.

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News:: School Girl/Zombie Hunter has a full wardrobe of fashionable underwear for you this November

Set in the Onechanbara universe, School Girl/Zombie Hunter is exactly what it's name says it is: a game where you hunt zombies as a school girl. It's got sexual aspects that are more amusing than they are arousing, such as having a dedicated "remove clothes" button and being able to distract zombies by throwing your underwear around.

Publisher Aksys Games announced it will hit North America on PlayStation 4 this November 17, 2017. Just in time for Thanksgiving so you can play with your family! They also released some new screenshots in English and described the game a fighting zombies with "overwhelming firepower, surprisingly specialized skills, and a wardrobe full of fashionable underwear!"

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News:: Recommended Reading: Streaming is changing the sound of music

Uncovering How Streaming Is Changing the Sound of Pop
Marc Hogan,
Pitchfork

You don't have to look far to find evidence of how streaming services have dramatically changed the way we listen to music. But it's not just the consumption that's been affected, it's the creation too. Pitchfork takes a look at how services like Spotify have impacted music trends and why things like globalization, collaborations and slower tempos have taken over the pop sound.

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News:: Yes, Code Vein is a Dark Souls clone, but it's missing something

It's Dark Souls. There, I said it. It's out of the way. You have stamina that affects your movement and attacks, weapons control differently, enemies are relatively tough compared to most games, you drop experience juice when you die, that can be recollected, and you save at bonfire-like things. You already know whether or not that appeals to you, so good night!

OK fine. Code Vein looks incredibly stunning visually. Dark Souls, Demon's Souls, Bloodborne, etc all have the dark, brooding, gothic atmosphere so it's not terribly unique here, but the vampire angle and glowing red stuff, along with a more anime style, separates it enough from the others to feel fresh. The game also ran beautifully at 1080 and 60fps (or maybe it was higher, I didn't exactly count pixels), which is necessary when each move you make matters.

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News:: Elgato's Cam Link turns your DSLR into a souped-up webcam

Most of the time, I buy cameras for specific purposes. My DSLR exists to capture vacation photos and product shots for Engadget reviews. When I go on hikes or long bike rides, I pull out a GoPro Hero4. For some reason, however, I just can't bring myself to buy a dedicated webcam for Twitch streaming or YouTube vlogs. I already have a handful of great consumer cameras -- shouldn't I be able to use one of those? In reality, that's easier said than done: Most cameras simply aren't designed to push a live feed out to a PC. It's a problem I've spent hours trying to solve, but never did. Then, I heard about the Elgato Cam Link, a USB capture device that can turn any camera with HDMI output into a functional webcam.

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News:: Bootleg Star Fox 2 SNES carts already up for sale online

Hope you're all enjoying your SNES Classics, that I'm not-at-all jealous and bitter of. I wonder how many of you right now have leapt straight into the unreleased flying-furry sequel, Star Fox 2?

Well, several folk have not only leapt straight into it, but they have already succeeded in ripping the ROM and burning it to original SNES carts, before sticking them up for purchase on auction sites and elsewhere on the Information Superhighway.

I'm not even sure why a collector would want a bootleg of said game. It obviously doesn't come with replicated packaging to look snazzy on your bookshelf. Many ROM hustlers would gladly just have the ripped game sitting in their SNES emulation folder. But, for around $60, you can have an unauthentic version of the sci-fi adventure that never was.

I'm sure The Big N have zero problem with this practice, and in no way will be coming down on anyone engaging in selling the of the SNES Classic's rarest ROM, less than 24 hours from its frenzy-inducing store release.

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News:: The Morning After: Weekend Edition

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Welcome to the weekend. After Apple and Amazon, it's Google's turn to reveal some new hardware next week. We have all the information you'll need to prepare, plus some of the big stories from this past week like our SNES Classic Edition review and Twitter's controversial change.

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