17 Random Thoughts About the Nintendo Switch (and its Launch Lineup)

Posted on March 9, 2017 by John Scalzo

It’s much too early to say for sure, but it looks like Nintendo is off to a great start with the Switch. The Wii U had bit of a hot start as well, but something feels different this time. Perhaps it’s the near-universal acclaim that Breath of the Wild has received. Or maybe it’s the interesting selection of exclusive launch titles that you can only get on the Switch.

Whatever the reason, after a week with the Switch, I’m enjoying it very much. And that’s not the only thought that popped into my head over the last seven days…

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Posted in Opinions, Switch, Top Story | Tagged , , , ,

A new trailer confirms World to the West will be released on May 5

Posted on March 9, 2017 by Brittney Williams

World to the West publisher Soedesco announced today that the game will be released on May 5 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U, and PC. The company also revealed that World to the West will be available in a special Retail Edition for all platforms except the Wii U.

World to the West is a top-down action-adventure with cartoonish visuals and four unique playable characters. Set in the same universe as Teslagrad, players will meet a few familiar faces from its critically-acclaimed predecessor, along with a multitude of characters with their own helpful (and sometimes, detrimental) agendas.

Each of the game’s four characters are native to different nations, while possessing different skill sets and motivations… but all of them seek to escape the outcome of an evil prophecy. Each character sports a unique style, allowing players to use a combination of force, stealth, and their skills of persuasion to deal with potential enemies.

Another key component of World to the West is exploration, necessary in order to uncover the many mysteries of the in-game world, which will take players to frozen tundras, colonies, and jungle settings. Additionally, World to the West’s will boast diversified gameplay with a seamless transition between puzzle-solving and intense combat.

In the meantime, why not check out World to the West’s brand new trailer above…

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First Middle-Earth: Shadow of War gameplay walkthrough introduces improved Nemesis System

Posted on March 9, 2017 by John Scalzo

As foretold in last week’s announcement, WB Games and Monolith Productions have released the first gameplay walkthrough for Middle-Earth: Shadow of War.

The 16-minute video features a raid on a fortress in the mountain valley of Seregost, and reintroduces players to the Nemesis System. We also get our first look at Shadow of War’s personalized Orc army and how players can recruit followers to wage war against Sauron and his Overlords:

Witness firsthand the next generation of the innovative Nemesis System… featuring the addition of Nemesis Fortresses… where players must utilize different strategies to conquer dynamic strongholds and forge their personalized Orc army. In this video, Talion and Celebrimbor have used the power of the New Ring to recruit Followers in their assault on a fortress in the mountain valley of Seregost. This is just one of the millions of possibilities that players will experience in Middle-Earth: Shadow of War.

Middle-Earth: Shadow of War is currently in development for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One, and will be released on August 22.

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Tribute Games will release Flinthook on April 18

Posted on March 9, 2017 by John Scalzo

Tribute Games has announced they’ll release Flinthook for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on April 18. Like their name implies, Tribute frequently looks to the past for inspiration, which has allowed them to create a procedurally-generated side-scroller where players take control of a zippy little space pirate with a blaster and a grapple gun:

In a galaxy filled with scoundrels and miscreants, everyone seeks treasure and riches! But when a malevolent treasure hunter hatches a sinister plan to unleash an ancient evil threatening the cosmos itself, Flinthook, the galaxy’s smallest but toughest pirate zips into action! Be ready to jump, zip and blast around the meanest fleets the galaxy has to offer! Whether using time-slowing powers or his trusty blasma pistol, Flinthook is ready to take on all pirates, steal treasure and save the galaxy itself!

A new trailer for Flinthook has been embedded above, and if you’re attending this year’s PAX East convention (which begins tomorrow in Boston), you’ll be able to play Flinthook on the show floor at Tribute’s booth (#17116).

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

Daily Scoop: March 8, 2017 – Devolver Week at the Humble Store

Posted on March 8, 2017 by Nicole Kline

Today is my birthday, woo! I was hoping to get some gaming in but it’s all work, homework, and packing for PAX East. We leave tomorrow! We are having a quick celebratory dinner tonight, but other than that, it’s just all business. I mean, that’s not really fair to say – I’ve been treated well today, with a cookie cake, ice cream, and gifts, as well as loads of hugs. So I can’t complain!

Anyway, let’s check out today’s deals! There are some great sales happening at the Humble Store for their Devolver Week! Get tons of great games, including Enter the Gungeon for $7.49, Titan Souls Special Edition for $4.99, Broforce for $3.74, Luftrausers for $2.49, and Heavy Bullets for $1.99.

Over at Steam, the Midweek Madness is Crusader Kings II, which you can get for $9.99. The Daily Deal is Dead Space, one of my personal favorites. Get the game for just $4.99!

Hit the jump to check out all of today’s shirts!

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Posted in Daily Scoop |

Xbox Store Today: Ghost Recon Wildlands, Marvel Vs Capcom 3, Lego Worlds, more

Posted on March 8, 2017 by John Scalzo

After a five-year hiatus, Ubisoft brought back the Ghost Recon series this week, and in today’s Xbox Games Store update, Xbox One owners will now be able to download Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands. Leaving behind the futuristic setting of the Advanced Warfighter/Future Soldier games, Wildlands follows a team of Ghosts into Bolivia as they attempt to take down the Santa Blanca cartel.

Also available to download for the Xbox One today is Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3, a re-release of the fan-favorite fighting game that all comes packed with 1080p graphics, all the previously-released DLC characters, and a digital recreation of Marvel Vs Capcom: Official Complete Works.

Finally today, Xbox One owners will be able to download Lego Worlds, a new game that let’s you create Lego models in a procedurally-generated world.

More information about these three games (and a few other new releases) can be found after the break.

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Posted in News, Xbox One | Tagged , ,

Nier: Automata, Ghost Recon: Wildlands, Lego Worlds, more added to PS Store

Posted on March 8, 2017 by John Scalzo

Big guns and big worlds lead the way in this week’s PlayStation Store update…

First up is Nier: Automata, an action RPG from Square Enix that was developed by Platinum Games. Available to download now for the PS4, Nier: Automata is a sequel to 2010’s Nier, and features a squad of androids attempting to take back Earth from an alien invaders.

Also available this week is Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands, which follows the titular special forces squad into Bolivia for a fight against the Santa Blanca cartel. Giving players the option to undertake any mission at any time, the PS4 shooter will offer a huge open world to go along with a series of visually-impressive gunfights.

And speaking of open world games, WB Games and TT Games have teamed up again to bring the huge toybox of Lego Worlds to the PS4. Players will be able to create anything they desire in Lego Worlds thanks to the game’s procedurally-generated universe that’s made entirely of Lego Bricks.

Finally this week, Koei Tecmo and Gust continue the Atelier series of RPGs on the PS4 and Vita with Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey. Like many RPGs, Atelier Firis follows a pair of sisters who are in search of crystals that are both mysterious and magical.

You can learn more about all of these games (and a few other new releases) after the break.

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Posted in News, PS4, Vita | Tagged , ,

Activision will release Variety Map Pack for CoD: Modern Warfare Remastered on PS4 on March 21

Posted on March 8, 2017 by John Scalzo

Activision has announced plans to expand Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered with four additional multiplayer maps later this month. Available to download for the PS4 on March 21, the Variety Map Pack will be priced at $14.99 and also include 10 Rare Supply Drops. PC and Xbox One owners interested in the Variety Map Pack will likely get a chance to download it beginning sometime next month.

If the previous nine years have dulled your memories of the Variety Map Pack, don’t worry, Activision revealed a few more details about the expansion’s four multiplayer maps on the Activision Games Blog:

Multiplayer Maps in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered’s Variety Map Pack

  • Broadcast: Based on the TV station from the campaign mission “Charlie Don’t Surf”, this map provides a unique blend of confined corridors and wide-open spaces. Outside the station, the parking lot contains long sightlines, but once inside, cramped hallways and a computer-cluttered broadcast room provide ample close-range combat opportunities.

  • Chinatown: Set in a foggy downtown district, this nighttime map is lit up by flickering neon signs and a full moon. A re-imagining of the original Call of Duty multiplayer map “Carentan”, players will need to be careful on these streets, as almost every building in the map can be occupied, providing perfect cover for enemies waiting for a chance to line you up in their sights.

  • Creek: Set in a wide-open village ravaged by combat where concealment is the difference between life and death, a gaping ravine divides this map into two. Open clearings with sheer cliff faces and ample forested cover make this map ideal for snipers and long-range firefights.

  • Killhouse: A small training warehouse filled with various building mock ups that feature soft and hard cover points. Expect fast-paced and fierce firefights for maximum close-quarters chaos.

Access to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered was included as a bonus in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare‘s Legacy Edition, and it remains to be seen if Activision will ever release the remake as a standalone game in the future.

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