Most Recent: Switch

New Retail Releases: Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Doom VFR, Resident Evil Revelations Collection, More

Posted on November 27, 2017 by John Scalzo

Today is Cyber Monday, so your wallet should prepare for DOOM as stores hurl their best discounts in your direction. But your PS4 should also prepare for Doom, as Bethesda and id Software will launch Doom VFR for the platform this week. Because the game requires the PlayStation VR attachment, Sony has teamed up with Bethesda to also offer a special PlayStation VR + Doom VFR Bundle.

Blasting away at monsters on Mars never goes out of style, and neither does Capcom’s Resident Evil franchise, which makes the leap to the Nintendo Switch this week. Fans will be able to blast away at monsters on a cruise ship in the Resident Evil Revelations Collection, which includes both Resident Evil Revelations and Resident Evil Revelations 2.

And speaking of the Switch, Nintendo themselves will launch Xenoblade Chronicles 2, the third game in the well-loved Xenoblade saga, this week.

Finally this week, the New 3DS XL: Super NES Edition will be available for fans who like it when their handheld has a neat connection to the past.

A complete look at this week’s new retail releases can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One | Tagged , , ,

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, Resident Evil Revelations 1 + 2, Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, more coming to Nintendo eShop this week

Posted on November 23, 2017 by John Scalzo

Nintendo rests for no holiday! Because it’s Thursday, the consolemaker just dropped a massive update on the Nintendo eShop.

This week, iOS and Android users will be able to download Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, Nintendo’s “free-to-start” entry in the whimsical life simulation series.

But Nintendo fans should be extra thankful for Capcom this week. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, which was originally released for the DS in 2008, will receive a 3DS re-release. And Resident Evil Revelations and Resident Evil Revelations 2 will make their Switch debut this Tuesday, November 28.

You can learn more about all of this week’s additions to the Nintendo eShop (including a few Wii U games) after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, Mobile, News, Switch, Wii U | Tagged , ,

Nintendo will add a ton of new features and options to Splatoon 2 in upcoming updates

Posted on November 21, 2017 by John Scalzo

Nintendo has big plans for Splatoon 2, and several upcoming updates will add a wide variety of new features to the game.

Beginning November 23, players will be able to unlock new Gear and new Hairstyles for their Inkling. They’ll also be able to reach an even higher level cap and change gear between online battles (which was definitely a much-requested feature). Nintendo also plans to add four new battle stages to the game over the next few weeks.

A full rundown of the November 23 Update can be found right here:

November 23 Update

  • Four New Battle Stages: While four new battle stages are coming to Splatoon 2, they won’t all be available immediately after downloading the update. Like with previous additions, the stages will roll out over the subsequent weeks, giving players new surprises as they play throughout the holiday season and beyond. The first new battle stage, MakoMart, will be available to play on Black Friday, November 24, with Shellendorf Institute, Walleye Warehouse and Arowana Mall coming soon. The new MakoMart stage is a giant superstore-style stage, so what better time to play than on Black Friday! Shellendorf Institute is new to the series, while Walleye Warehouse and Arowana Mall are popular stages returning from the original Splatoon game.
  • New Salmon Run Stage: Fan-favorite multiplayer mode Salmon Run is getting a new stage. After downloading the update, Salmonid Smokeyard will be added to the stage rotation. In Salmonid Smokeyard, a wide gap on the beach divides two upper platforms, with fan lifts being the quickest way to traverse the two platforms. Teamwork is required to use the fan lifts effectively.
  • New Gear: Approximately 140 pieces of gear are being added to Splatoon 2. These include shoes, headgear and clothes, like a motocross mask, and additional winter clothing (perfect for the cold weather!), as well as returning items from the original Splatoon game.
  • New Battle Music: Two new bands have been gaining popularity in Inkopolis! The punk-flavored Bottom Feeders and classically trained avant-garde-style Ink Theory are contributing new songs to the already music-rich game.
  • New Hairstyles: When customizing an Inkling, four new hairstyles will be available to choose from – two each for female and male characters.
  • Higher Level Caps: Currently, players are maxed out at Level 50. After downloading the update, the new maximum level will be raised to 99. If players talk to Judd when they reach Level 99, they’ll have the option to reset their level display to Level ★1 so they can continue raising their level.
  • New Amiibo Functionality: Tapping a compatible Amiibo figure after the update will let players take and share in-game photos in preset locations in Battle Stages, in addition to being able to take photos in Inkopolis Square. Players can also add fun filters to their images.
  • Convenient Gear Swapping: Players that want to change gear between battles in Regular Battle, Ranked Battle, and Splatfest Battle (Solo) won’t have to exit to the lobby anymore! After downloading the update, gear can be swapped out without leaving the match room, making it quicker to get back to splatting. For Regular Battle, this also means players can play the next battle with the same players.

Nintendo will also roll out another major update in mid-December, which will add a new Ranked Battle mode to Splatoon 2:

Clam Blitz: In Clam Blitz, competing Inklings are tasked with collecting clams scattered around the stage. After one is picked up, the clam follows the player. The objective is to throw the clam into the basket near the opponent’s base. The first team to score 100 points wins! But, of course, this being the fiercely competitive world of Splatoon 2, things are not as easy as they seem. The baskets are protected by a barrier, which much be destroyed first. After collecting 10 clams, the player will earn a Power Clam. These super-powered clams are the key to breaking the barrier, so strategy will definitely be involved in which clams are used to destroy the barrier and which are used to earn points. Not to mention the extra-satisfying opportunity to steal opponents’ clams by splatting them…

You can catch a glimpse at all the additions coming to Splatoon 2 in the brand new trailer that’s been embedded above.

Posted in News, Switch | Tagged

New Retail Releases: Axiom Verge, Rime, River City Rival Showdown, More

Posted on November 20, 2017 by John Scalzo

The smell of stuffing, cranberries, and turkey is in the air… and that means most game publishers have taken the week off. But not to worry! Several interesting will make their retail debut this week.

That includes games like Axiom Verge, the “MetroidVania” from Thomas Happ that previously found fame on digital storefronts for multiple platforms. This week, the game will receive a special retail release, the Multiverse Edition, for the PS4, Switch, and Vita. Other Switch games making the jump from the eShop to the retail shelf this week include Tequila Works’s Rime and Inti Creates’s Azure Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack.

A full list of new releases can be found right here:

New Releases: Week of November 20, 2017

3DS

PlayStation 4

Switch

Vita

Posted in 3DS, News, PS4, Switch, Vita | Tagged ,

Valkyria Chronicles 4 will be released for PS4, Xbox One, and Switch in 2018

Posted on November 20, 2017 by John Scalzo

Sega has announced they’re bringing back the Valkyria Chronicles series with the launch of Valkyria Chronicles 4 for the PS4, Xbox One, and Switch next year. The franchise’s “familiar-yet-refined tactical RPG battle system” will return, alongside a brand new art style inspired by watercolors compositions and a story that takes place during an alternate World War II:

It is the year 1935 EC…
The continent of Europa is engulfed in the flames of the Second Europan War between the Atlantic Federation and the Autocratic Eastern Imperial Alliance. Although the Federation struggles valiantly against the Empire’s forces, the relentless imperial military machine threatens to consume them. With victory slipping away, the Federation executes Operation Northern Cross: a last-ditch attempt to capture the imperial capital and end the war.

Commander Claude Wallace and his loyal childhood friends in Squad E are sent to fight for the desperate operation’s success, but they will have to endure harsh bone-chilling elements, waves of imperial soldiers, and the terrifying Valkyria… and unravel a grave truth that will shake them to the core.

In addition to detailing the story, Sega also unveiled a deeper look at Valkyria Chronicles 4’s feature set and a debut trailer (which has been embedded above):

Features

  • A Coming-of-Age Story in a Time of War – Valkyria Chronicles 4 takes place in the same timeframe as the original Valkyria Chronicles, but focuses on a whole new cast of main characters. Players will take command of the eager, young Commander Claude Wallace, engineer/heavy weapons extraordinaire Riley Miller, hotheaded Darcsen Raz, ice-cold ace sniper Kai Schulen, and more. Together, they will experience the painful realities of war–but will the bonds of Squad E’s friendships survive the frozen battlefield?
  • The Next Generation “BLiTZ” Battle System – The part overhead turn-based strategy, part RPG, and part real-time 3rd person shooter “BLiTZ” battle system returns to the field. New features include an explosive new class called the Grenadier, numerous offensive/defensive battleship support options, chances for a unit to have a “Last Stand” action before death, and more. Plus, fight the imperial threat with more units on larger-scale maps than ever before.
  • CANVAS Aesthetics – The series’ signature hand-drawn visual style is back and overhauled for the newest generation. Inspired by watercolor compositions, the CANVAS Graphics Engine blends visual elements of reality and imagination to create an expressive world filled with colorful emotions. Watch the journey of Squad E unfold like an interactive painting!
  • The Return of a Legendary Composer – The illustrious Hitoshi Sakimoto, original composer of the Valkyria Chronicles series and countless other emotional epics, returns to provide a sweeping orchestral soundtrack for the game.

Finally, fans can peruse the game’s official website, which went online this morning.

Posted in News, PS4, Switch, Xbox One | Tagged

Middle-Earth: Shadow of War, Assassin’s Creed Origins, and Super Mario Odyssey are October 2017’s best-selling games

Posted on November 16, 2017 by John Scalzo

A northeastern cold snap proves that Fall is all… as does the massive number of new releases that cracked The NPD Group’s list of best-selling games from October 2017. WB Games’s Middle-Earth: Shadow of War lead the way at #1, but it was closely followed by Assassin’s Creed Origins at #2, Super Mario Odyssey at #3, and South Park: The Fractured But Whole at #4.

Nintendo actually had a huge month, placing four titles in the Top 20 (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (#15), Mario Kart 8 (#16), and Fire Emblem Warriors (#17) were the others), as well as owning the top two hardware platforms. However, GamesIndustry.biz is reporting that overall industry sales still dropped 11% versus October 2016 to $825 million:

With interest in the Switch and the Super NES Classic still sky-high, Nintendo hardware managed to account for two-thirds of the hardware sales generated. That being said, NPD noted that Sony’s PlayStation 4 is still the best-selling hardware platform year-to-date. Furthermore, in the accessories category, the black DualShock 4 wireless controller was both the best-selling accessory of October, and the best-selling accessory year-to-date.

The complete Top 20 from October 2017 can be found after the break. (more…)

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Koei Tecmo will release Atelier Lydie & Suelle: The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings on March 27, 2018

Posted on November 16, 2017 by John Scalzo

Koei Tecmo and Gust will bring the Atelier franchise’s Mysterious saga to an end in 2018 with Atelier Lydie & Suelle: The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings. Earlier this week, the publisher confirmed the RPG will launch for the PC, PS4, and Switch on March 27:

And in case you missed it, Koei Tecmo also released a new trailer for Atelier Lydie & Suelle (embedded above) in September, alongside a short overview of the story:

The gripping conclusion to the Mysterious series marks the 20th Anniversary for the Atelier franchise, following the tale of the alchemist twins – the reserved but caring Lydie Marlen, and the eccentric and carefree Suelle Marlen. The young twins work alongside their father at the family atelier, but due to his inexperience in alchemy they rarely see any customers. While working hard to hone their skills, the duo uncovers a mysterious-looking painting, and as they reach out to investigate the girls are drawn inside a world bountiful with rare materials… perfect for Alchemy! This fateful discovery is just the beginning of the twin’s adventure leading them to their joint goal… to run the best atelier in the country.

Atelier Lydie & Suelle: Alchemists of the Mysterious Painting will be the 19th entry in Atelier’s mainline series, and it doesn’t look like Koei Tecmo has any plans to slow down.

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Switch | Tagged

Version 4.0 update for Arms is now available and includes a new fighter named Misango

Posted on November 16, 2017 by John Scalzo

Nintendo has launched Version 4.0 of Arms, and also unveiled the game’s latest fighter, a South American mystic known as Misango:

Misango is a spiritual man devoted to his homeland and his fellow Misangans. You can find him practicing in his legendary Temple Grounds stage, a majestic place with much history. Misango is also different from other fighters because charging up with his mysterious entity grants him special effects such as protection from flinching and increased speed.

According to the game’s official website, Misango’s punching prowess is powered by a trio of poison-tipped Arms (Scorpio, Glusher, and Skully), but the update also makes them available to other characters through the Get Arms mode.

A new trailer featuring Misango has been embedded above.

Posted in News, Switch | Tagged