Sunday, 30 April 2017

How A Set Of Golf Clubs Captured Some Of Call of Duty: WWII’s Best Sounds

This article was originally published on April 26.

Assembling and capturing the sound effects for battles on the scale of World War II is a daunting task, one that Sledgehammer Games’ audio director Dave Swenson and his team are taking on for Call of Duty: WWII. From camping out to capture sloshing water in rivers to bashing up bits of trees and timber, Swenson’s hunt for the perfect auditory sensations takes him to interesting places.

One of the more interesting captures for Call of Duty: WWII happened on a golf course.

“One of the cool things I did… I love planes. Especially WWII planes, they sound really great. They’re hard to get though – not everyone has a WWII bomber that’s functioning and flying around,” says Swenson.  “So I was reading the newspaper and there was a day where a whole bunch of WWII bombers were flying in and going to be doing a lot of takeoffs and landings at the airport." 

"I called the FAA and they wouldn’t let me on the airport grounds because it was too dangerous, so I checked out Google maps. I saw at the end of the runway there was a golf course, so I went and bought a round of golf. I stuck my recorders in my golf bag and camouflaged them, and went out to the third hole and played it all day long – it was right at the end of the runway. So when a bomber took off, I got amazing bomber flybys and recordings, I did that all day.”

While the team could use sounds from captured footage, every effort is made to capture the sounds in the wild from their natural sources, from tank engines to blistering bark.

Check out everything we know so far about Call of Duty: WWII here!



from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/04/30/how-a-set-of-golf-clubs-captured-some-of-call-of-duty-wwii-s-best-sounds.aspx

Did You Know Gaming Unveils Animal Crossing's Secrets

YouTube show Did You Know Gaming's newest video takes a deeper look at Nintendo's Animal Crossing series, which has players living in an animal-filled town. These simulation games have a multitude of secrets in them, and Did You Know Gaming brings several to light.

Some of these lesser known facts include that in Animal Crossing: New Leaf, a message from aliens appear on your television at a specific hour and a picture of the previous mayor can be found on a computer when unlocking the camera from its fixed view. The video also covers stories from the series' development, including how several features and references to Japanese culture were tweaked or removed when localized for the West.

Check out the video below to learn more, including how insulting Resetti can result in some amusing ways in the original Animal Crossing.  

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You can check out other videos from the Did You Know Gaming channel covering Super Smash Bros.Deus ExShadow of the ColossusElder Scrolls IV: OblivionSuper Mario GalaxyDark SoulsMetal Gear Solid 3Super Mario RPGMetal Gear Solid 2Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom PainWarioConker's Bad Fur DayBatman: Arkham Asylum, the history of the Wii UNESPlayStation 2Nintendo 64, the 3DSDS, and two covering the Game Boy by hitting the links.



from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/04/30/did-you-know-gaming-unveils-animal-crossings-secrets.aspx

PSA: Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 Free Demo Launches Tomorrow For PlayStation Plus Subscribers

Fighting game fans will be pleased to know that Arc System Works' Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 will soon be playable through a demo. As of tomorrow, May 1, PlayStation Plus subscribers can download it to play a portion of the game.

According to publisher Aksys Games, this demo will feature two new characters, Baiken and Answer, as well as include new stages and moves. You will be able to play with a friend through Versus Mode, which includes a roster of 25 characters and re-balanced abilities, or you can perfect your combos through Training Mode on your own.

Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 releases on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 on May 26.

[Source: Aksys Games]



from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/04/30/psa-guilty-gear-xrd-rev-2-free-demo-launches-tomorrow-for-playstation-plus-subscribers.aspx

Nioh's Dragon Of The North DLC Releases On May 2

Nioh's upcoming DLC, Dragon of the North, is arriving soon. According to a post from PlayStation Blog, this new content hits on May 2.

Dragon of the North is a new chapter that has you face off against the powerful ruler of the Sendai feudal domain in the Keicho Era, Lord Masamune Date. Set in the Oshu region, these events take place following William's victory in restoring Japan's peace.

This DLC will feature new Yokai, enemies, armor, weapons, and more. PvP will be added as well for those with a PlayStation Plus subscription.

Nioh released on PlayStation 4 in February. For more, read our tips on how to play and check out our review.

[Source: PlayStation Blog]



from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/04/30/niohs-dragon-of-the-north-dlc-releases-on-may-2.aspx

Saturday, 29 April 2017

Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn Is Coming To Switch

The legend of Shaq Fu seems to have faded as of recently. We last saw the kickstarter-funded Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn at the 2016 Game Awards show, which showed some gameplay of the kung-fu inspired sidescroller featuring Shaquille O'Neal.

Since then, the team's been mostly silent. However, in a recent interview with Nintendo Everything, publisher Saber Interactive CEO Matthew Karch confirmed the game is coming the Switch (along with a number of the publisher's other titles, including NBA Playgrounds and a four-player co-op shooter). So rumors of the game being dead should subside, for now.

If you need a refresher on Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn, you can find a trailer for the game below.

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from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/04/29/shaq-fu-a-legend-reborn-is-coming-to-switch.aspx

Reader Discussion – What Gaming Crossover Would You Like To See?

Earlier this week, we unveiled some of the nitty-gritty details of Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite's system and characters. The crossover between the two universes is one of the most enduring in gaming, but in my opinion, crossovers don't happen often enough. So: What gaming crossover would like to see happen?

Being a fighting game fan, I'd still flip my lid if Capcom and Warner Bros. ever announced a Street Fighter Vs. Mortal Kombat game. These are the two series in fighting games, and to see Ryu and Scorpion go at it would be a dream come true. A lot of hang-ups make this hard to imagine: How would they deal with the level of violence in Mortal Kombat, which seems core to one series but antithetical to the other? Would it be Capcom or Netherrealm at the helm, since both are skilled fighting game studios? Would it be two crossover games like Capcom Vs. SNK/ SVC Chaos and Street Fighter X Tekken / Tekken X Street Fighter, even though those partnerships end up doing poorly for at least one (or both) companies involved? Despite the hurdles, I'd still like to see it happen someday.

So what gaming characters would like to see meet each other? Fancy a Mario Vs. Yooka-Laylee at the Olympic Games? A heartfelt story bringing together Joel from The Last of Us and Nathan Drake from Uncharted? Valve Vs. The Number 3? Let us know in the comments.



from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/04/29/reader-discussion-what-gaming-crossover-would-you-like-to-see.aspx

The Persona 5 Soundtrack Will Soon Be Available On Vinyl For $175

Among the many stylish bits that make Persona 5 one of the best games of the year is its soundtrack, which does a great job of both planting you firmly its world and making hanging out with someone at the arcade (or church, or gun shop, or mall) seem way cooler than it actually is. If you've ever wanted to have that soundtrack follow you around but are too cool to just put it in your MP3 player, Iam8bit has you covered.

The company is releasing the game's entire soundtrack on vinyl, which will include 4 or 6-LPs (depending on whether you pay $100 to $175), "quality box sets," and an MP3 download. Iam8bit is also documenting the entire process of creating the soundtrack and mastering, such as re-mastering the audio to make it fit for vinyl, how vinyls get stamped, and how the details of making a package like this came about. After all of these steps are done, the team plans to release the soundtrack near the end of the year "in time for the holidays."

If that sounds like something you're interested in, you can pre-order the vinyl here.



from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/04/29/the-persona-5-soundtrack-will-soon-be-available-on-vinyl-for-175.aspx

Latest Injustice 2 Trailers Reveal Joker, Multiverse Mode

This week brings us two Injustice trailers, one showing off a new character everyone's been dying to see, and another showing off a mode we've been curious to learn more about.

The first trailer reveals the Joker, who looks quite different this time around. Rather than take cues from the look he had in Batman: The Animated Series, Injustice 2's iteration of the character looks more like Jared Leto's take on the character in the recent Suicide Squad film. Still, he looks like a properly sadistic and fun character. The move where the fake "BANG!" flag that pops out of his gun turns into a real bullet is pretty clever.

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IGN also has extensive gameplay of Injustice 2's new Multiverse, which seems to be the game's equivalent to Mortal Kombat X's Living Towers mode, which offered players a way to keep playing against computer opponents and earn rewards. This time around, players select missions that have them engage in short storylines across multiple fights, with each fight building up a character's experience and gear. You can watch a rundown of how the mode will work below.

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from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/games/injustice_2/b/playstation4/archive/2017/04/29/latest-trailers-reveal-joker-multiverse-mode.aspx

What To Watch This Weekend: Dota 2, League of Legends, And Street Fighter V

Lots of major events are going down this weekend in the world of esports. League's Mid-Season Invitational is finally upon us, the Kiev Major is sure to deliver a bevy of great moments, and Dreamhack Austin has something for just about anyone.

Dota 2's big Kiev Major will be wrapping up this weekend. Between the excellent, fiasco-free production, incredible matches, and huge upsets, this has been one of the game's best majors so far. (Stream / Schedule)

Meanwhile, League of Legends is having its big Mid-Season Invitational this weekend, this time in Brazil. Watch as top teams who competed in the Spring Split make their mark on the 2017 season in this short, action-packed event. (Stream / Schedule)

Dreamhack is visiting Austin this weekend, and a number of major games are attending the party. The event will be streaming tournaments for:

  • Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (Stream)
  • Hearthstone (Stream)
  • Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. For Wii U (Stream)
  • StarCraft II (Stream)
  • Street Fighter V (Stream)

For a full schedule of events at Dreamhack Austin, head to the (Schedule).

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare's Global Pro League is also this weekend, and has a ton of big-name teams like Evil Geniuses, FaZe Clan, and Fnatic fighting in a Round Robin format. (Stream and Schedule

Smite's Master tournament pits the game's right best teams (with two additional teams fighting for a spot in the main bracket) against each other, and should have you covered for the weekend. (Stream)

You can also catch some quick Tekken 7 action in Manchester, England as part of the Tekken Championship Series. (Stream)

Finally, if you're looking for some non-esports event to watch the Tribeca Games Festival, which will feature talks from Hideo Kojima, Ken Levine, and more. (Stream / Schedule)

That's it for this weekend! Let us know if we missed anything in the comments below, or if there's a scene you'd like us to cover!



from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/04/29/what-to-watch-this-weekend-dota-2-league-of-legends-and-street-fighter-v.aspx

Friday, 28 April 2017

Replay Season Finale – God Of War

A new God of War game is on the way, and we'll likely learn more about it at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo. Before that day arrives, why not bone up on the history of the series? In this episode of Replay, we take a look at Kratos bloody origins in the enhanced version of God of War for PlayStation 3.

We discuss the impact this title has had on the action genre, whether it's worthy of the "greatest ever" discussion, and recap the series as a whole, including the PSP titles. We then shift gears to a less violent game that we think you'll agree is one of the most ambitious games to date. Strange things happen during this segment.

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For more episodes of Replay, check out our Replay hub, or click on the banner below to watch episodes on YouTube.



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Reader Discussion – What Improvement Would Make You Return To An Abandoned Game?

We’ve all had it happen. There’s a game you can’t wait to play, and it finally releases. You pay your money, launch your game, and dive into the action, only to find that there’s that one infuriating feature that turns you off. Sometimes it’s a bug or a broken aspect of the game, and sometimes it’s just an aspect of play, progression, or presentation that you wish would work a different way.

Tell us your story. Did you want to love For Honor, but you couldn’t handle getting dropped from matches? Maybe you wanted to explore a BioWare game like Mass Effect or Dragon Age, but some aspect of the characters and story turned you away? Did you start playing Overwatch, but get frustrated at the repeated drops from loot boxes? Or maybe some older classic game drove you crazy with a particularly difficult or frustrating section, like Battletoads’ infamous tunnel sequence?

We want to know about the game you hated to abandon, but left you too annoyed to continue. And how could that game change to bring you back into the fold? 

Share your thoughts in the comments below.  



from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/04/28/reader-discussion-what-improvement-would-make-you-return-to-an-abandoned-game.aspx

Never Played Shenmue II? Watch Us Play The First 23 Hours

Bethesda Hints At Two New Reveals At E3

Around this time every year, publishers beginning sending out invites to their E3 press conferences and other events. Bethesda is once again joining the party, with a showcase planned for June 11th in downtown Los Angeles. 

While this year’s invite included the expected request for an RSVP, it also included a curious picture. Within, the artist has drawn homages to several familiar Bethesda-produced series, including Doom, Fallout, Dishonored, Elder Scrolls, Quake, and Prey. In addition, you can see that two areas of “Bethesdaland” remained under construction, suggesting that we may be hearing about some new projects on that Sunday event. 

Alternately, it’s certainly possible that the two unidentifiable areas are simply artistic license, to illustrate Bethesda’s nebulous future plans. To be honest, that seems less likely. 

Make up your own mind; check out the full invite image below.

What do you think? What projects are you hoping Bethesda has on deck beyond their existing slate of projects?

 

Our Take
Bethesda recently stepped up into the sphere of hosting its own annual E3 show. Their first attempts to do so illustrated strong slates of games. The pressure is on in 2017 for the publisher to show they can maintain a strong presence year after year, and two new announcements would go a long way to help make the point. 



from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/04/28/bethesda-hints-at-two-new-reveals-at-e3.aspx

Top Of The Table – Blood Rage

A few weeks back, I looked at Flick ‘em Up, one of my favorite casual games to play with family and friends, thanks to its simple rules and rewarding dexterity-based gameplay. If you’re more of a classic strategy gamer, this week’s spotlight should be right up your alley. Blood Rage is hands-down one of my favorite strategy board games of recent years. Challenging tactical decisions and a richly imagined Viking mythology theme drive the gameplay, accentuated by some awesome miniatures and excellent art by Adrian Smith. But it’s the briskly moving turn structure, intricate balance, understandable rules, and quick play times that help to distinguish Blood Rage from many of its competitors in the genre of area control war games; it’s a standout example of the way modern board-game design can be accessible and deep at the same time. 

Blood Rage puts each of two to four players in charge of a Viking clan as the world marches toward its own destruction. The only thing to do is to venture forth into battle, winning as much glory as possible before Ragnarok sweeps the Earth clear. Battles unfold on a gorgeous map board that echoes classic Norse mythology; a center locale of the World Tree Yggdrassil is surrounded by provinces like Utgard and Muspelheim, and bounded on the outside by ocean and fjords, where clan ships can support your invasions. Villages lay scattered across the realms, ready to be conquered and pillaged, but only if you can defeat your fellow players who also seek to gain the upgrades that come with holding an area. As the game marches forward over a set period of three Ages, the world slowly crumbles apart; entire provinces tumble away into oblivion as all existence teeters comes closer to ruin. All the while, your warriors fight, die, go to Valhalla, and return to battle once again, all in the pursuit of glory, and aided by the machinations of gods like Loki, Thor, and Heimdall. 

Designer Eric M. Lang crafted an elegant game flow that borrows liberally from popular recent successful board-game mechanics, but the emerging experience feels unique and strategically complex. While the war is fought on the big game board, for most players the focus of attention is your own clan sheet. Here, you can track your stats, upgrades, and available actions on each turn. Build up your Rage stat, and you can take more actions. Focus instead on your Axes stat, and you gain more glory for each battle. Or gain a higher Horns stat, and be able to field more troops. Your decisions and rewards during the game dictate the way each statistic changes; while every player begins with their clan equal to the others, the later Ages of a given game session tend to have vastly different statistics for each player. 

In each Age, players complete a card draft, taking a single card from a group, and then pass the remaining cards to the next player. Your chosen cards dictate the focus of your strategy in the action phase that follows, from quest cards that reward glory for a secret objective, to cards that will aid you in battle. Each card is tied to a particular deity, and each provides their own suggested path to victory. Focus on Loki cards, and your gameplay is all about revenge and engineering your own defeat in battle. Far-seeing Heimdall grants boons all about foresight and surprising your foes. By focusing on cards from a couple of gods and their related strategies, you gain an advantage. However, focus too much on one god, and your opponents will quickly learn how to get the upper hand. 

With cards in hand, turn order goes around the table, letting you invade villages, march deployed troops to new locales, upgrade your clan, recruit monsters to your cause (represented by their own awesome minis), commit to a quest, or pillage a province. In that final situation, battles break out between any nearby clans, all vying for both the reward of that province, and the glory of defeating enemies in battle. 

It’s here in these battles that Blood Rage shines brightest, as the goals are different than in most war games. Usually, in games of this sort, competing players are simply looking to outwit their opponents and win the fight. But when part of the victory condition might be a card that provides glory for defeat, or glory for soldiers killed and sent to Valhalla, the dynamic changes. Over-committing to a battle can often play right into your opponent’s hands, as you sacrifice cards to add strength to your attack, even as they are happy to take the loss. And to add yet another layer, the greatest glory comes to Viking warriors who die as a province comes crashing down around them at the end of the Age, providing the incentive to marshal your troops into a doomed region, and holding it against aggressors. 

Blood Rage has a rich array of strategic choices at every step of the way through an evening of gaming, but its limited player count and smartly presented rules keep play times around two hours, in my experience, or even less with experienced players. The dramatic scope of the Norse mythology is realized with aplomb, from the detailed unpainted minis to the attention spent on reflecting the whims of the different gods; everything reinforces the Viking dynamic. Add to that the Ragnarok mechanic, and there’s a desperation and thrill to every turn, as the world keeps shrinking and battles grow fiercer. 

Blood Rage has been out for a couple of years now – I highlighted its original release as one of my favorite tabletop games of 2015. In the time since, even as the core game offers a phenomenal standalone gaming experience, players have also been able to expand their game in several ways. A fifth player expansion can be snagged if you need to support a slightly larger gaming group. The Mystics of Midgard pack adds new mystical units to each clan, and their powers grow over the course of the game to reshape your strategic options. And the Gods of Asgard expansion actually sees some of the mighty deities descend into the fray, occupying provinces and creating both dramatic obstacles and opportunities for canny strategists. 

If you’ve been longing for a deeper strategy war game for your group, but you’ve been unsure about where to start, you can hardly go wrong with Blood Rage. While it’s a recommendation I’d happily pass along to even longtime veteran players, it’s the ease of play and learning that I most appreciate about Blood Rage, making it an ideal fit for groups that are ready to graduate to this kind of deeper experience. And let’s be honest; Viking warriors battling for a place in Valhalla is an engaging concept in the first place. 

If grand Norse wars aren’t exactly what you’re looking for, you may wish to peruse some of the other recent games in our Top of the Table hub, which you can reach by clicking on the banner below. For a curated list of some of the best recent releases, consider checking out picks for the best tabletop games of 2016. And if you’d just like some personal recommendations, drop me a line via email or Twitter. Thanks for reading!



from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/04/28/top-of-the-table-blood-rage.aspx

Conan O’Brien Faces The Horror Of Wilson’s Heart In Latest Clueless Gamer

Conan O’Brien’s continues his unschooled journey through the latest in interactive entertainment, this time trying out the Oculus Rift, its Touch controllers, and the narrative game Wilson’s Heart. It’s safe to say that the game doesn’t exactly match his expectations for what he’d most like to see from the VR experience. 

Wilson’s Heart is now available exclusively for Oculus Rift and its Touch controllers on PC. 

Check out the full segment below. 

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from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/04/28/conan-o-brien-faces-the-horror-of-wilson-s-heart-in-latest-clueless-gamer.aspx

Scanner Sombre Review – Lighting Up the Darkness

You wake up. The cave is dark. You don’t know how long you’ve been unconscious or why you’re here, but you just know you’ve got to get out. Before you is a LIDAR mapping scanner and a headset. You put on the headset, flip on the scanner, and then venture out into the dark, woefully unprepared to meet what’s ahead.

Scanner Sombre is a different kind of horror game. You’re not conserving supplies to use against monsters or hiding in shadowy corners to avoid them. Instead, this first-person adventure game mostly relies on its tense atmosphere and setting to sell its unnerving tone. Early on, you spend your time navigating while reading single-sentence thoughts from the narrator as they come across the screen and graphing your surroundings with the LIDAR scanner as a technological paintbrush to map out everything around you in colorful dots. However, later on you come across structures like temples and prisons. Something bad happened in this place; people died, and you’ll join them if you’re not careful.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Using the LIDAR to forge the path ahead is genuinely exciting, as the colorful dotted environments you create not only look lovely but are also essential in helping you solve puzzles. For example, early on you come across four bridges. Painting them with the LIDAR letd you see which bridge has gaps that you can jump over, while the others are broken or unnavigable. While these puzzles are never challenging, they help sell the fantasy that you are someone spelunking into mysterious caves filled with dangers – and not all of the dangers are environmental, either. There are enemies capable of killing you. To go into how they move or interact with you would dive too deep into spoiler territory, but I will say that I found these encounters to be incredibly tense and frightening.

Perhaps what’s most impressive to me is how effectively lean Scanner Sombre is. The entire game is only three hours. Mechanically speaking there isn’t much you do outside of using the scanner to solve puzzles, find your way, and outwit foes. However, the foreboding atmosphere and where its plot ultimately leads is satisfying enough that its gameplay and storytelling are compelling. Whether you’re coming across a new upgrade for your LIDAR or slowly mapping out a spooky tunnel and inching toward danger, Scanner Sombre is a consistently spooky and somber game that’s worthwhile for those who want to scratch that horror-adventure itch.



from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/games/scanner_sombre/b/pc/archive/2017/04/28/lighting-up-the-darkness.aspx

Overwatch Touts 30 Million Player Threshold

Anyone plugged into gaming these days knows Overwatch is doing quite well, but lest you forget just how well it’s doing, Blizzard passed along a tweet today declaring that the game has crossed the 30 million player line, and it’s continuing to grow. 

Blizzard posted a message of thanks on its official Overwatch twitter account, declaring: “More than 30 million players have charged into Overwatch! Thanks for grouping up with us, heroes. We couldn’t ask for a better team.” The tweet came along with a gif of Reinhart in full-on charge mode.  

[Source: Overwatch on Twitter]

 

Our Take
Overwatch is a great base game, but it's Blizzard's continued commitments to updates, additions, and improvements that help the game continue to grow.



from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/04/28/overwatch-touts-30-million-player-threshold.aspx

A Look At The Second Wave Of Pokémon Gallery Figures

Earlier this year, Pokémon fans were able to grab new premium figures of Pikachu, Mew, Eevee, and Magikarp as a part of a new line called Gallery Figures from the Pokémon Center. Now, a new wave featuring four more of the series' most popular creatures is available.

Just like with the first wave, this second line of figures features the Pokémon performing signature moves from the games. Vulpix is performing a fire spin attack, Cubone is using bone club, Psyduck is performing confusion, and Jigglypuff is, of course, using sing.

The company sent us all of the figures to check out for ourselves. Each character features a high level of detail and cool move effects surrounding them. This time around, Jigglypuff and Vulpix are the tallest thanks to their move effects, with Cubone being the shortest of the four figures. You can see all of them and their packaging below. The figures are currently available on PokémonCenter.com and retail for $16.99.

For a photo gallery of the first wave of figures starring Pikachu, Mew, Eevee, and Magikarp, head here.



from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/04/28/a-look-at-the-second-wave-of-pokemon-gallery-figures.aspx

Game Informer's Top Scoring Game Reviews Of 2017

Game Informer reviews tons of games every year, but only a select few are able to obtain special commendations reserved for the highest scoring titles. Games that earn an 8.5 or 8.75 obtain a Game Informer Silver award, while a score ranging from 9 to 9.5 earns that game a Game Informer Gold award. While most of the best games of the year fall into that range, the most elite titles ascend to the next level to earn a Game Informer Platinum award (9.75 or 10 score).

To help you keep track of the best of the best, we've compiled all of the top scoring games of 2017 here. Check out the games we've thought are the best of the year so far, and if you want to learn more, you can read the full review with a simple click-through. Also, be sure to save this page so you can check back each month to see which new games we think should be added to your "must-play" list.

For more of our favorite games from recent years, head to the links below.

Top Scoring Games of 2016
Top Scoring Games of 2015
Top Scoring Games of 2014

Nav: SILVER | GOLD | PLATINUM

Be sure to click on the blue game titles to jump to the full review text.

The Walking Dead: A New Frontier Episode 4 – Thicker Than Water
PS4, Xbox One, PC, iOS, Android

"Thicker than Water is the best episode this season. It offers a great blend between relationship building and intense reveals. I hesitated before making my big decisions and was blindsided by what followed. I'm more excited than ever to see how it all shakes out." – Kimberley Wallace

Cities: Skylines Xbox Edition
Xbox One

"Outside of the lack of the more recent PC expansions and the simulation speed options, Cities: Skylines - Xbox One Edition is every bit as good as its PC counterpart. The mayoral planning fantasy is still intact with this version, and now easier than ever to get into. Simply put, if you're an Xbox One owner who is a fan of city-building simulation games, you need to check out Cities: Skylines."  – Brian Shea

Thimbleweed Park
PS4, Xbox One, PC, iOS, Android

"Thimbleweed Park revels in its humor, and succeeds in its efforts toward better puzzle design. The narrative takes some twists and turns that didn’t always hit home with me, but I enjoyed the whimsical journey nonetheless." – Elise Favis

Torment: Tides of Numenera
PS4, Xbox One, PC

"Cerebral and often disturbing, Torment is a rabbit hole of significant depth, where you can get lost in improbable imaginings of warped realities and existential angst. If you can wrap your head around a non-linear narrative all about consciousness, identity, and memory, Torment is a riveting departure from expectation." – Matt Miller

Poochy And Yoshi's Woolly World
3DS

"If you skipped Woolly World on Wii U, Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World offers what is essentially a straight port. It doesn’t feel downgraded, even if the visuals aren’t quite as sharp. Exchanging co-op for the dedicated Poochy auto-run levels and a better mellow mode is a worthy trade. Woolly World is still the best Yoshi’s Island game since the original, even on this less-powerful platform." – Kyle Hilliard

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
PS4, Xbox One, PC

"Capcom has successfully reinvented Resident Evil in the past, the most notable deviation being the brilliant Resident Evil 4. This new vision doesn’t reach the same heights of spectacle and gameplay innovation as that breakthrough release, but is a welcome addition to the series (both in terms of gameplay and lore), and a nice entry point for newcomers." – Andrew Reiner

Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue
PS4

"Final Chapter Prologue is a solid collection that I enjoyed playing, and got me more excited for Kingdom Hearts III due to how it sets up everything so wonderfully. I wish I were playing Kingdom Hearts III instead of another remaster, but this is the best collection for getting you prepped for what's ahead." – Kimberly Wallace

What Remains of Edith Finch
PS4, PC

"The Finches’ final moments are diverse and sometimes disconnected, but they have a thematic consistency running through them, so the tale builds on itself and delivers a compact and memorable experience. Juggling multiple perspectives and thoughtful reflections, What Remains of Edith Finch is an excellent example of what makes games unique as a storytelling medium." – Joe Juba

Robo Recall
Rift

"Robo Recall doesn’t feel like a tech demo or minuscule offering of a promising concept. It’s the only VR game I’ve walked away from thinking I was satisfied with the amount and variety of content available. Its brand of action is unique and entertaining, and I haven’t played anything like it before. Robo Recall isn’t just a great VR game. It’s a great action game, period." – Javy Gwaltney

Night in the Woods
PS4, PC

"Night in the Woods is a strange tale with an even stranger cast of characters, but it revels in its oddities. The excellent writing pulls off a realistic sense of cynicism, childlike wonder, and comradery between friends. With its careful balance between adult themes and youth, it captures a stage of life that is confusing, frightening, and thrilling. The sluggish pacing can drag, but players fill the time by building friendships and understanding the grim secrets of a town they once again call home." – Elise Favis

Horizon Zero Dawn
PS4

"None of Horizon's faults stopped me from sinking 55 hours into the game, or walking away supremely satisfied with the experience. Horizon may not be a revolution for the open-world genre, but it is a highly polished and compelling adventure that proves Guerrilla is more than a single franchise." – Jeff Marchiafava

Nav: SILVER | GOLD | PLATINUM



from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/04/28/game-informer-39-s-top-scoring-game-reviews-of-2017.aspx

Watch Us Discuss Mass Effect Andromeda's Ending

We've been playing all of Mass Effect Andromeda alongside the community and we want to thank everybody that contributed a great email. If you're not familiar with the GI Game Club format, we break up a game into multiple chunks and then discuss each segment in detail on The Game Informer Show podcast while reading off emails from the community that are sent in to podcast@gameinformer.com. Now that we've finished the game, check out the full archive of our discussions below.

Check out the video below for the first third of the discussion, covering everything in the priority missions up until the end of the planet Havarl.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

And here's the second installment, where we talk about the game's villain, loyalty missions, and everything in the main story path up through the "Hunting the Archon" quest.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

In the final video below, we talk about the culmination of our romances and why the game stumbles as it tries to wrap itself up.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

To get caught up on previous GI Game Clubs, click through the links to hear us discuss the following games in exhaustive detail: Final Fantasy VIIUncharted 4: A Thief's EndDeus Ex: Human Revolution, BioShock, and Pokémon Sun and Moon.



from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/04/28/get-ready-for-our-mass-effect-andromeda-gi-game-club.aspx

Han Shoots First In Contra-Inspired Star Wars: Force Collection Minigame

Two years ago, Star Wars: Force Collection players got to check out a little Contra-inspired gameplay in their trading-card game. The mode is back, though it's a little different. Instead of terrorizing stormtroopers as Chewbacca, players can blast their way through four stages as Han Solo.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Operation: Going Solo is in the game for a limited time, which not so coincidentally is near Star Wars Day (May 4). You can earn in-game rewards by playing the game, including some 5-star light or dark side cards. Other cards are coming in the next few weeks, including Finn, Captain Phasma, Lor San Tekka, and a flametrooper. 

Star Wars: Force Collection is available for iOS and Android devices.

 

Our Take
I don't remember Han Solo being this spry, but maybe I just wasn't paying attention.



from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/04/28/han-shoots-first-in-contra-inspired-star-wars-force-collection-minigame.aspx

Thursday, 27 April 2017

Nintendo Announces The New Nintendo 2DS XL Handheld

Nintendo has announced the 2DS XL system for $149.99, and it's available on July 28.

As the handheld's name and form factor show, this upcoming system has the same screen size as the New 3DS XL (although it's lighter) but it does not have the 3D effect. It plays all 3DS/New 3DS and "most" DS titles and has built-in Amiibo functionality.

Currently there is only one color option – the black and turquoise scheme above.

The 3DS XL sells for $199.99 with the regular 2DS going for $79.99.

For more, check out the hype video below.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

 

Our Take
I personally never cared about the 3DS' 3D functionality, so in my opinion this is effectively a price drop for a system that has plenty of great titles.



from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/04/27/nintendo-announces-the-new-nintendo-2ds-xl-handheld.aspx

GI Show – Mario Kart, COD: WWII, Mass Effect Game Club Finale

Welcome back to The Game Informer Show podcast. We have a radical split in this week's show: the dark side and the light. First up, we have the upbeat Jeff Marchiafava, Brian Shea, and Suriel Vazquez to optimistically talk about their time playing Puyo Puyo Tetris and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Switch, Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite, and many more colorful games. Then the sun sets and Elise Favis, Joe Juba, and Dan Tack crawl out from the darkness to talk about Little Nightmares, the ever-present death within What Remains of Edith Finch, the scares of Outlast 2, and Call of Duty's gritty return to World War II. It's a good time! After some great community emails, we finish off our epic discussion on all of Mass Effect Andromeda with the final installment of our GI Game Club.

You can watch the video below, subscribe and listen to the audio on iTunes or Google Play, or listen to episode 345 on SoundCloud. Also, be sure to send your questions to podcast@gameinformer.com for a chance to have them answered on the show and win a prize by becoming Email of the Week!

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Our thanks to the talented Super Marcato Bros. for The Game Informer Show's intro song. You can hear more of their original tunes and awesome video game music podcast at their website.

To jump to a particular point in the discussion, check out the time stamps below...

1:30 - Puyo Puyo Tetris
8:50 - Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
15:00 - Cities: Skylines on Xbox One
16:30 - Rock Band VR
19:15 - Deformers
24:15 - Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite
30:10 - Outlast 2
36:30 - Call of Duty: WWII
48:40 - Little Nightmares
52:10 - What Remains of Edith Finch
1:02:55 - Heroes of the Storm 2.0
1:05:15 - Community emails
1:33:15 - Mass Effect Andromeda Game Club Finale 
2:30:10 - Kyle Hilliard's Dumb Review Minute
 


from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/podcasts/archive/2017/04/27/gi-show-mario-kart-deluxe-cod-wwii-andromeda-game-club-finale.aspx

The Silver Case Review – A Case For The Curious

Before earning a cult following with over-the-top action games like Killer7, No More Heroes, and Shadows of the Damned, Goichi Suda and Grasshopper Manufacture made more subdued (but still strange) adventure games. The Silver Case was the first of those, and it delivers on what fans waiting for a translation of the game for 18 years have wanted. It has a strong, unique look, intriguing characters and dialogue, and a story as engaging as it is confusing. The Silver Case has trouble pulling all of the threads together, but it still has the surreal atmosphere and unique storytelling that are Suda’s signatures.

The Silver Case is a visual novel that tells the story of Kamui Uehara, a previously detained serial killer who has broken out of a psychiatric ward and begun murder several innocent women. The story is split into two scenarios; one follows the detectives hunting Kamui, and the other is about a former journalist gathering info on him.

As you learn more about Kamui’s motivations, the plot unfurls into a mix of political intrigue, slice-of-life anime, cyberpunk, and horror over several chapters that feel like side stories with tangential connections to the main plot. One chapter delves into a conflict between residents and a corporation slowly destroying their town, while another centers on a child looking for his lost playmate from within a makeshift base of operations beneath his apartment building. I loved the way the game was able to touch on these disparate topics while keeping a consistent tone.

Although most of the story is delivered via text, the interface often plays into the story. Character portraits, scenes, and text all appear in different parts of the screen at different times. Live-action or anime videos occasionally punctuate key plot developments or serve as context, such as a news segment in which local residents are interviewed about what they think of Kamui. Some play out within frames of the interface, while others fill the screen. First-person adventure segments are interspersed with dialogue and exposition, but the 3D spaces you explore are bland and devoid of life, making the few times you are forced to explore them a chore. Still, the kinetic interface helps liven up the story, making important moments more impactful and making every chapter distinct.

 

While individual moments shine, the overall plot can be hard to follow. I frequently found myself wondering what had just happened after a long explainer, and which pieces of information were significant. Even at the end, after a lengthy series of reveals, I wasn’t quite sure what had happened. I encountered multiple scenes promising to reveal the truth, only for another scene to upend the plot again. Several scenes also drag on by reiterating obvious plot points while skimming over more pressing questions or waxing philosophical for a bit too long.

The remaster includes two new chapters (one for each scenario), firmly establishing the game as part of a Suda’s larger “Kill The Past” thematic series. The new chapters fit in nicely with the rest of the game and provide some interesting details to the story, but they don’t resolve the cliffhanger ending or convey a sense of closure.

 

While the main plot left a lot of questions to answer, I enjoyed most of the time I spent with its characters. The journalist’s frequent interactions with a pet turtle Red and daily affirmation emails are great, and the interactions and clashing ideals of the detectives mix well with random pontificating about life and conspiracy theories during a stakeout. Not every character is likable, but they were developed enough that I could sympathize with them on some level. The writing oscillates between purple prose and loose colloquialisms, but this feels like an intentional way to make characters feel layered. Some sentences had me wondering whether their weird structure was on purpose or translation issue, while others were just plain offensive.

(Please visit the site to view this media)

I have a hard time putting together what exactly happened in the The Silver Case, but it’s a testament to the writing, characters, and mood that I want to figure it out. Portions are often slow, dense, and overbearing. However, the relatable character moments, intriguing short stories, and strong visual style eventually won me over, even if I had to wade through some rough edges to get to them.



from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/games/the_silver_case/b/playstation4/archive/2017/04/27/the-silver-case-review.aspx

Microsoft's Gaming Division Increases Revenue In Third Quarter

Microsoft has reported its financials on the third quarter (January 1, 2017-March 31) of its fiscal year 2017, showing a revenue increase for its gaming division.

The company's gaming business showed a four-percent increase in revenue compared to the same period last year (to $1.928 billion), and Xbox software and services showed a seven-percent increase, "driven by continued adoption of digital distribution and a strong game lineup," according to Microsoft.

[Source: Microsoft, VentureBeat]

 

Our Take
There's not much to report here, and Microsoft's highlighting of active users sounds familiar to last quarter's report, although it's actually down slightly this quarter.



from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2017/04/27/microsofts-gaming-division-increases-revenue-in-third-quarter.aspx

The Top 10 Games On Wii U

Since its debut in 2012, the Nintendo Wii U has seen both rough seas and smooth sailing. From the third-party developer exodus that occurred shortly after the system hit the market to the outstanding releases that only Nintendo can deliver, the waters of the Wii U can be tricky to navigate.

Whether you’re just now grabbing Nintendo’s most recent home console or you’re just looking to expand your existing library, this continually changing list represents the games you should play on your Wii U.

Here are Game Informer’s current picks for the Top 10 games on Wii U.

10. Axiom Verge
"I heartily applaud Tom Happ’s first solo effort. It’s incredible that he was able to nail every component of game creation in one package. I’ll wait as long as it takes for him to build a follow-up. When everything works this well, why let someone else get in there and screw it up?" – Joe Juba

To read the full review and learn more, click here.

9. Splatoon
“Splatoon has all the trappings of something fans have wanted from Nintendo for a long time: a unique IP that shows Nintendo can still dream up new experiences. As entertaining as it is fast-paced, Splatoon is a strong addition to the Wii U lineup.” – Brian Shea

To read the full review and learn more, click here (though the game has gotten significantly better with updates).


8. Bayonetta 2
“Creating a sequel to an already-polished game is a challenge, but Platinum Games’ approach ultimately succeeds. Bayonetta 2 is rooted in its past while taking steps (but not strides) toward the future. Though I was disappointed by some of the familiarity, I was usually having too much fun to care.” – Joe Juba

To read the full review and learn more, click here.

7. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD
“Every change Nintendo has made to this game is smart and serves a purpose, and I envy anyone that gets to experience The Wind Waker for the first time via this remake. It takes everything that made the original a classic and greatly improves on its visuals and quality of play. If you’re a fan of classic remakes, you can’t ask for much more.” – Dan Ryckert

To read the full review and learn more, click here.

6. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
“Even though there are fewer total levels this time around, the individual stages are longer than an average level from the previous game. In the end, I’d rather have a slightly smaller collection of Retro Studios’ best levels than one bloated up with lesser-quality stages in order to hit an arbitrary number. That finely cultivated assortment is exactly what you get with Tropical Freeze.” – Bryan Vore

To read the full review and learn more, click here.

On the next page: Our top 5 games for Wii U. 



from www.GameInformer.com - The Feed http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/04/27/the-top-10-best-games-on-nintendo-wii-u.aspx