New trailer shows how players can customize their own character and in Sonic Forces

Posted on May 16, 2017 by John Scalzo

Classic Sonic and Modern Sonic will be receiving some help in this Fall’s Sonic Forces. Sega has announced that players will also be able to dash through the game’s levels as their own “powerful gadget touting” customizable character.

Players will be equipping their custom Hero Character with one of a variety of powerful unique gadgets called Wispons. Wispons are an evolution of the Color Powers from Sonic Colors and double as both offensive abilities and as a way to platform through levels quickly. Along with the Wispon, the Hero Character will have a grappling hook they can utilize to quickly traverse across zones. Players can also customize the Hero Character’s looks by choosing and swapping between hundreds of accessories and outfit options to change the character’s appearance as they play through the game.

In addition to changing their look, players can also choose the species of their Hero Character:

Animal Types in Sonic Forces

  • Wolf – Automatically draws in rings when near them
  • Rabbit – Has longer invincible time after receiving damage
  • Cat – Keeps one ring after being hit
  • Dog – Restarts with five rings after the player dies
  • Bear – Blows away enemies with a homing attack
  • Bird – Flies high with double jump abilities
  • Hedgehog – Collects rings when getting damaged

And in case you were worried, Hero Characters won’t be walled off in special areas of the game. According to Sega, they’ll be “a key part of the story” and appear alongside Sonic in cutscenes and throughout his adventure.

Sonic Forces will be available for the PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One this Fall. A new gameplay trailer featuring a customizable character with a grappling hook and fired-based Wispon can be found after the break.

Press Start to Continue →

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

Daily Scoop: May 16, 2017 – Big Backwards Compatibility Sale at the Xbox Games Store

Posted on May 16, 2017 by Holly Scalzo

Hey folks! So I am still here subbing in for the distinguished Ms. Kline. I’m starting to get a bit more used to it, but alas, not so for everyone. New reader mail today, and as I have no fresh news on Nicole, I will share it.

“Dear Scoop Sub, you are a disgrace to the English language! Many a Scoop I have read where you ended sentences with prepositions! I won’t stand for it! Mayhap you should better learn your grammar rules besides. Love, Ethel.”

Dear Ethel, I understand your concern, but may I point out that you, too, ended a sentence with a preposition? Thanks for writing in. And now, the sales.

Several good Xbox One deals today in the Xbox Games Store for Xbox Gold members, including 67% off Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst, and 60% off Plants Vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 (both Standard and Deluxe Editions). Also this week, for 40% off the regular price, you can snag Final Fantasy XV or the Final Fantasy XV Digital Premium Edition. They also have Destiny: The Collection and Destiny: The Taken King for 35% and 40% off respectively.

On the public side of the Xbox Games Store, everyone will be able to take 25% off of Flinthook, and 10% off Forza Horizon 3 and the Forza Horizon 3 Expansion Pass Bundle this week.

Microsoft has also kicked off a huge “Backwards Compatibility Sale” with tons of Xbox 360 games at really great discounts. Here are just a few of their offerings: Alien Hominid HD at 75% off, Battleblock Theater 75% off, Banjo Kazooie as well as Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts both 75% off, a few Assassin’s Creed titles 67-75% off, Fallout 3 is 67% off, and Far Cry 3 is 60% off. Going on (because it is a big sale) they also have BioShock titles for 50-65% off, Gears of War titles for 75% off, and Lego Indiana Jones and Lego Pirates of the Caribbean, both for 75% off. Lego Batman is also available for 50% off its original price. Borderlands and Borderlands 2 are both 50% off, as are Doom and Doom II. There are several Call of Duty titles ranging from 40 to 60% off, and Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved and Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 at 75% and 50% off respectively.

Okay, and now we’re in the homestretch! Grand Theft Auto IV is 50% off, as well as 75% off for Mass Effect, 67% off Mirror’s Edge, 50% off Plants Vs Zombies as well as Peggle, and Wolfenstein 3D, and finally, 75% off Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. And many, many more! Sale prices are good until May 22nd.

Not as many shirts today as yesterday, but still good ones!

Press Start to Continue →

Posted in Daily Scoop |

Sega’s future plans include a focus on PC development and “revival of major IPs”

Posted on May 16, 2017 by John Scalzo

Sega fans have been on a wild roller coaster ride since the company’s early 90s heyday. Every time Sega hits it out of the park, they seem to crash back down to Earth in short order. But the publisher has started to turn things around lately, especially after their merger with Atlus.

Fresh off the launch of Persona 5, Sega has issued a “Road to 2020” report as part of a presentation to investors. In addition to disclosing financial details, the report talks about short-term goals (such as “aim for big hits”), as well as longer-term plans on how to keep this recent bit of momentum going.

The first part of Sega’s plan involves expanding their reach on the PC by developing more titles based on existing properties and obtaining new properties in deals with outside developers. The publisher has already begun to follow through with this promise by re-launching Bayonetta and Vanquish through Steam.

But Sega also wants to bring back some of their classic game franchises and are planning a “Revival of major IPs” in the future. The report didn’t delve into which properties Sega is looking to revive, but the company’s back catalog offers a nearly unrivaled selection of characters to choose from. Personally, I’d love to see another chapter in the House of the Dead saga.

Hopefully, we’ll learn more about Sega’s plans for the future soon.

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

Phantom Dust re-release will be available for free beginning tomorrow, May 16

Posted on May 15, 2017 by John Scalzo

Well this is a surpise.

Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg has announced (via Twitter) that Phantom Dust will be available for the Xbox One and Windows 10 on May 16… also known as tomorrow. Best of all, the re-release will be free to download on both platforms as a thank you to fans.

Phantom Dust was originally released for the Xbox in 2004 as part of a push to help the console appeal to Japanese gamers. It’s card-based combination of strategy and action eventually lead to it becoming something of a cult classic. The 2017 re-release will offer improved resolutions, better framerates, and slightly tweaked gameplay.

Microsoft is keen to bring back the Phantom Dust franchise and even announced a sequel/reboot in 2014. However, it was plagued by development difficulties and was put on hiatus in 2015. Perhaps a successful launch for the re-release will bring it back to life…

Posted in News, PC, Xbox One | Tagged

Bandai Namco and 8-Bit Cinema are retelling Tekken’s story with a retro twist

Posted on May 15, 2017 by John Scalzo

Tekken 7 will make its PC, PS4, and Xbox One debut in just a few short weeks, but in the meantime, Bandai Namco has teamed up with 8-Bit Cinema to create a “Tekken Retro Recap” of the franchise’s story so far.

The Tekken franchise makes the stories behind Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter look tame by comparison, and its recurring theme of demonically-possessed fathers is on full display in this retro retelling of events from Tekken, Tekken 2, and Tekken 3. Oh, and so much child abuse. Can’t forget that.

Tekken 7 will be released on June 2, but expect to receive a “Tekken Retro Recap Part 2” video before then.

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

Redout will race onto the PS4 and Xbox One this Summer

Posted on May 15, 2017 by John Scalzo

Previously announced for the Switch during Nintendo’s console unveiling back in January, 505 Games and 34BigThings have confirmed that Redout will also be released for the PS4 and Xbox One this Summer.

In addition to an appearance on the PlayStation Store and the Xbox Games Store, Redout will also make its console debut as a full-fledged retail release. You can get a sneak peek at the racing action in the new trailer embedded above, or read up on what makes Redout unique with this description straight from 505 Games:

Redout is a tribute to the old racing monsters such as F-Zero, Wipeout, Rollcage, and POD. It is designed to be an uncompromising, fast, tough and satisfying driving experience, soaked in that vertigo that stands at the core of the arcade racing genre.

The floating system and driving models are based on physics: each turn, slope, hard braking, acceleration, each turn and twist of the track will apply a unique force to the ship. A sharp low-polygon style blends meshes and terrains with the latest state-of-the-art shading and lighting effects provided by the Unreal Engine 4, creating beautiful and instantly recognizable aesthetics. Breezy coastlines, eerie frozen landscapes, vast desert plains: the melancholic, dystopian atmosphere of a semi abandoned Earth is the background for the most high-speed, tense and beautiful futuristic racing clashes.

Redout will be published by Nicalis on the Switch, and its expected to be released for Nintendo’s new console in July.

Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

NetherRealm Studios delivers the Launch Trailer for Injustice 2

Posted on May 15, 2017 by John Scalzo

With the game’s launch less than one day away, NetherRealm Studios has delivered one final trailer for Injustice 2… its Launch Trailer.

In addition to scenes of Batman and Superman going toe-to-toe with Brainiac, the Injustice 2 Launch Trailer also features an all new Steve Aoki remix of “Jungle” by X Ambassadors. Over the last few months, NetherRealm has created dozens of trailers for Injustice 2 that include hours of gameplay footage. I recommend starting with the “Everything You Need to Know” trailer and going backwards from there.

Injustice 2 will be available for the PS4 and Xbox One on May 16.

Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

Massive “May Madness” sale underway at Bundle Stars

Posted on May 15, 2017 by Brittney Williams

In the spirit of Spring, Bundle Stars is currently offering big discounts on hundreds of games as part of their “May Madness” sale. For the frugal PC gamer, this is a sale that you won’t want to miss.

Select titles such as Alan Wake (which is disappearing from digital storefronts after today), and Explodemon have been marked down by 90%. Other games have also seen significant price cuts, with Mafia II, BioShock, Borderlands 2, and Mad Max (among others) all receiving a discount of at least 75%. Interestingly enough, The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind, which has yet to be released, has also been marked down by 12% as part of “May Madness.” It’s not a huge discount, but if you pre-order the game now, you’ll save a little bit more than $7 on your purchase. The recently-released Prey has also been discounted by 12%, and Sega’s Bayonetta has been marked down by 16%.

All of these deals are time-sensitive, and most will end this Friday, May 20. So if you’re looking to snag a good deal, you’ll want to do so sooner rather than later.

More games will be added to the sale throughout the week, so you’ll want to check back frequently, in case the game you’re looking for is not currently listed. However with more than 400 games currently on sale, there’s bound to be something that catches your interest.

Posted in News, PC |