Persona 4 has a treasured soundtrack with many great tunes that'll get you pumped for battle or grinning from ear to ear as you hear the Junes Theme playing. It also helps establish the season as the school year passes, like "Snowflakes," which plays during the final months of the game. While you're in battle, on the other hand, the rocking beat of "Reach Out To The Truth" keeps you focused on every attack. I am thou, thou art I, here are the best Persona 4 songs, ranked!

Note: This list includes Persona 4 and Persona 4 Golden tracks, no spin-off titles.

10. "Specialist"

https://open.spotify.com/track/0nAeo4gKT75vw5QmkZLdHB?si=da8e4145411d4e78

There are very few shopping video game themes that are cooler than this. This piece has a pleasant, chill melody highlighted by a jazzy piano and an awesome percussion beat that will put on a smile on your face. You can't help yourself while you bob your head up and down to the rhythm.

9. "Reverie"

https://open.spotify.com/track/28AYf50QPbB8AhC4OYU7uQ?si=2a4960c3020c43c7

Honestly, there's not much to say about this piece. "Reverie" plays when Yu and the gang reflect on what just happened. The piano plays a beautiful tune while whirring instrumentals that float above the piece give a melancholy vibe. It's a striking song that perfectly reflects the situation the team is in whenever it plays.

8. "Never More"

https://open.spotify.com/track/7wsNi1SE40YS9YYCj44EQ4?si=b3462e0c7a264256

This ending credits song is a wonderful track that establishes the strong bonds between Yu and the friends he's made along the way. The vocals are lovely as Shihoko Hirata sings about the memories the investigation team has made over the past year. The piano in the track also gives a neat reference to "A Corner of Memories" from the beginning of the game. As Persona 4 is such a long game, it actually feels nostalgic in a sense as you've known these characters for weeks, maybe months.

7. "Your Affection"

https://open.spotify.com/track/6idKSeBnFz49htgvyWoMro?si=44ac27cc45d54733

Rolling through Inaba, it was always a delight to listen to "Your Affection." It's a happy-go-lucky song as it encourages you to turn "your misery into meaningfulness" and take "pride from fear." This song is the levity we need after going through all the dungeons during the Midnight hour. During sunny days, it matches perfectly with the colorful visuals of this lovely small town.

6. "The Almighty"

https://open.spotify.com/track/2SzaLThldhzZgZBOLJoYuK?si=9ca468f6c8db4e3b

This song is steeped with so much drama. The strings and heavy bass at the beginning illustrate a great tension, and then the gripping main melody from the guitar seeps in. About a minute in, the percussion goes faster, adding stakes to the boss battle. You then get a soothing, echoed piano and guitar taking over the piece, likely showcasing who you're fighting for, like Nanako and all the residents of Inaba. Later on, the main guitar and the soothing section collide in an epic clash that somehow works together. It's a unique take on a boss battle theme as it switches between the two styles constantly; it's like a tug of war about who's winning the fight.

5. "Signs of Love"

https://open.spotify.com/track/32NyN0Tby1YpKObfd8nrzN?si=3554fce9e1514dfc

"Signs of Love" has everything I love about the Persona 4 soundtrack: a funky beat, charming lyrics, and some entertaining jazzy overtones that keep the track riveting. There are also strings in the background that reflect the slight tension that befalls the teenage protagonist. It's a great track that I'm happy to listen to over and over again as each in-game day passes.

4. "Reach Out To The Truth"

https://open.spotify.com/track/7JR73H8enwnGiYFS2I6eWW?si=183dea8a012f4691

"Reach Out To The Truth" is a fantastic battle theme. The rocking guitar gives tasty jams, while the jazzy keyboard provides more character to the piece. The drums also keep up the intensity while the Hirata nails her performance. It does get more repetitive than the other battle themes on the list, but it's still an exciting piece for many Persona 4 players.

3. "Snowflakes"

https://open.spotify.com/track/3Ybug08EbRV4RZfcw8WZMk?si=7f97b3f31c7e4ce9

Persona 4 Golden adds a beautiful track called "Snowflakes" that establishes the journey is almost over. It's a sad, yet calming track that fits into the winter season. It talks about the "friendship that is built to last" and the "laughter from this treasured place" that will stay in each character's memories. Similar to "Never More," it gives us a nostalgic feeling, reflecting on the past year, similar to thinking back on the past year during New Year's Eve. The tune from the piano, vocals, and beats are also stunning to listen to.

2. "Time to Make History"

https://open.spotify.com/track/3fHtkMIsiv9kC0Tv2iSS3h?si=f25f817629ac422b

Goodness, I love this song! The bass absolutely slaps as the delightful vocals get us hyped to "step on up to the plate" and "time to make history." It's an absolute jam.  It's fun how all of the instruments ramp up together during the chorus, and the drums once again make their presence known in the best way. When I played Persona 4 Golden, I was always more excited to hear this number over "Reach Out To The Truth."

1. "I’ll Face Myself (Reincarnation)"

https://open.spotify.com/track/1PraA0CrjHLo16lwUw6NSq?si=814328a804dd47bd

Drama. Intensity. High stakes. This is what "I'll Face Myself (Reincarnation)" brings to Persona 4. You have a slow unassuming beginning that ramps up quickly to an intense battle theme. The emotional strings play well with the intense drums. The flow also keeps changing, giving you unexpected twists and turns in this epic boss battle music. Composer Shoji Meguro wasn't afraid to include slower pieces to this boss battle theme, adding an emotional element to the track. He went all out with the ebb and flow of this piece. It's remarkable and is one of the best Persona 4 songs, absolutely.

The post Best Persona 4 songs, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

NetherRealm's Mortal Kombat franchise will be receiving a reboot with the upcoming title, Mortal Kombat 1. It is set to hit shelves on September 19 on PC and current-gen consoles, and in the lead-up, some of the characters and gameplay have been revealed.

The roster will feature plenty of classic characters such as Liu Kang and Johnny Cage, as well as cameos from DC heroes, including Omni-Man who will be voiced by J.K. Simmons.

[caption id="attachment_393385" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

Mortal Kombat 1's Kombat Pack

Like other games in the franchise, Mortal Kombat 1 will be receiving post-launch content, and the first DLC pack will add comic book characters such as The Boys' Homelander and DC's Peacemaker, and Omni-Man. This should be good news for Omni-Man fans, as Invincible's second season is set to premiere on November 3. In an interview that took place during this year's San Diego Comic-Con, NetherRealm's Ed Boon revealed that Omni-Man will be voiced by Simmons, who also voices the character in the Amazon Prime animated series Invincible.

It isn't the first time Simmons has lent his voice-acting talents to video games, and he has also voiced Cave Johnson in Portal 2, as well as J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man 2: The Video Game and Spider-Man 3: The Video Game, to name a few of his roles.

Other confirmed voice actors include Andrew Bowen who is voicing Johnny Cage, Kari Wahlgreen who voices Kitana, and Sunil Malhotra who is the voice behind Kung Lao.

[caption id="attachment_393384" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

Mortal Kombat 1 is on the way

Plenty of features from past titles in the series will be making a comeback. This includes Quitalities to annoy players who try to spare themselves the shame of a Fatality. The Air Kombos from Mortal Kombat: Armageddon will also be making a return, though they have been refined.

Though Mortal Kombat 1 will contain plenty of features from the franchise's past, it will also be introducing new elements. This includes the Kameo Fighters feature, which will allow characters to assist in fights. Confirmed Kameo Fighters include Sonya Blade and Kano.

If you're interested in sprucing up your roster, keep your eyes on the Premium Edition which includes the base game along with the Kombat Pack, 1250 Dragon Krystals (the in-game currency), and early access from September 15. Alternatively, consider the Kollector's Edition which features all the Premium Edition's content as well as a steel book, three exclusive art prints, an inspired Liu Kang in-game character skin, a total of 2700 Dragon Krystals, and a 16.5-inch Liu Kang sculpture designed by COARSE.

The post Mortal Kombat 1’s Omni-Man will be voiced by J.K. Simmons appeared first on Destructoid.

I like being bad. It makes me happy.

This year's San Diego Comic-Con may be scaled down from years past with the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, but that doesn't mean there won't be any news out of the show. With television shows and movies taking a backseat this year, that means the spotlight can finally return to the one thing that lives at the heart of SDCC. I am of course talking about Marvel's Spider-Man 2. The upcoming action-adventure game is just a couple of months away, and today at SDCC, we got a brand new story trailer that gives us a good look at perennial favorite Venom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgqGdIoa52s

This wasn't the only big Spidey announcement today. Sony also revealed it's releasing a Marvel's Spider-Man 2-themed PlayStation 5 console bundle, complete with a custom controller and custom console covers. The bundle will also include a voucher for the digital version of the game even though this limited edition PS5 is fully capable of playing discs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM9ICVdZLuQ

A far younger version of me would be pretty stoked to put something like this up in my apartment. Current me would rather all of his furniture match.

If already own a PS5 and would like to upgrade to the Spider-Man console covers, Sony will be selling them separately for both the standard PS5 and the Digital Edition. The same goes for the Spider-Man 2 DualSense controller. Pre-orders begin July 28 on the PlayStation website and at select retailers. The console bundle, covers, and DualSense controller will release on September 1. If you do order the full bundle, know that it comes with a couple of in-game perks, including early access to two suits and an early unlock of the Web Grabber gadget.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 releases exclusively for PlayStation 5 on October 20, 2023.

The post New Spider-Man 2 SDCC trailer gives us our first full look at Venom appeared first on Destructoid.

A hot season starting to cool down

This year's summer has been chock-a-block with incredible games from Final Fantasy XVI to Street Fighter 6, but things are starting to cool down with the August 2023 games lineup. There are still some great games like Sea of Stars and Baldur's Gate 3 on the horizon. However, we can take a bit of a breather as most of these anticipated titles are fairly niche. Here's everything you can expect from the August 2023 games release schedule.

[caption id="attachment_392530" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via From Software and Bandai Namco[/caption]

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Publisher: From Software and Bandai Namco
Developer: From Software
Price: $59.99
Release Date: August 25
Trailer
Our Preview

The legendary studio behind Dark Souls and Elden Ring (From Software) is bringing back a mech favorite with Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon.  The Steam page claims it's bringing the developer's "signature action gameplay" into the mix with "fast-paced, omni-directional battles." Each fight will be set in "massive stages," and now with better graphical fidelity, the action will look even more intense and stunning. While there isn't any Souls-like combat from this sequel, you can deeply customize your mech just how you'd like it.

Your judgment will impact your mech's movement and even its battle style. The Steam page claims that "each mission can be approached with a unique mech strategy." Something you'd expect from From Software is boss battles; this game comes with them in spades. Hopefully, this game lives up to the extremely high expectations of the developer's huge fanbase after its 2022 magnum opus Elden Ring. From the pedigree alone, this is one of the most anticipated August 2023 games.

[caption id="attachment_392533" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Larian Studios[/caption]

Baldur's Gate 3 (PC)

Publisher: Larian Studios
Developer: Larian Studios
Price: $59.99
Release Date: August 3 (PC) and September 6 (PS5)
Trailer

RPG fans, rejoice! Baldur's Gate 3 is finally leaving early access on August 3. There is deep customization in the game, allowing you to pick from 12 classes (with 46 subclasses) and 11 races (including 31 subraces) for your hero/heroine. Larian Studios also claims your decisions will leave an impact on the storyline. "Every choice you make drives your story forward, each decision leaving your mark on the world," says Larian on the game's Steam page. "Define your legacy, nurture relationships and create enemies, and solve problems your way."

We'll see how grandiose the story is when the game fully releases, but it certainly sounds promising. As the game is set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, it will be based on the 5e ruleset. You'll be rolling the dice for your actions during combat and can interact with the environment in unique ways. Oh, and you can have romantic relations with a bear...if that's your thing.

[caption id="attachment_392534" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via EA[/caption]

Immortals of Aveum (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Publisher: EA
Developer: Ascendent Studios
Price: $59.99
Release Date: August 21
Trailer

If you're tired of guns and want a bit of a change-up, there's Immortals of Aveum with magic instead of ammo. You'll be blasting away all sorts of foes with 25 different spells at your disposal. There are also 80 talents to learn in this FPS single player campaign. As one of the battle mages, you're tasked to save the world from villains who plan to send it to the abyss.

The game looks exciting with plenty of intriguing enemies to fight and a sense of verticality within its level design. The graphics look pristine as well with gorgeous visual effects and grand environments.  It's one of the more intriguing August 2023 games on this list.

[caption id="attachment_392536" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via EA[/caption]

Madden NFL 24 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Publisher: EA
Developer: EA Sports
Price: $69.99
Release Date: August 17
Trailer

EA has a busy month in store because Madden NFL 24 is also dropping in August. Instead of slinging spells, you'll be throwing footballs and handling them better with an improved version of FieldSENSE. EA claims on the game's Steam page that it's "giving you greater control and delivering realism to all the ways you play." Additionally, there's a new feature called the SAPIEN technology. Apparently, it adds more realism to the body definition and variation of the athletes' physiques. EA claims this results in "realistic player movement."

EA also says that your teammates' ratings and situational awareness have improved since the last game with better AI. Thankfully, Madden NFL 24 will include crossplay, allowing you to play with your friends on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. While this is not my particular cup of tea (soccer should be called football, damn it), this year's Madden seems to be a big step up. It might be worth waiting for it to come to Xbox Game Pass, however, like Madden NFL 23.

[caption id="attachment_392538" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Sabotage Studio[/caption]

Sea of Stars (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC)

Publisher: Sabotage Studio
Developer: Sabotage Studio
Price: $34.99
Release Date: August 29
Trailer

Sea of Stars is the standout indie out of the August 2023 games list. Sporting wonderful 16-bit inspired graphics, Sea of Stars will wrap you up in some good ol' JRPG goodness. It's seemingly inspired by classics like Chrono Trigger and Super Mario RPG. There's a turn-based combat system that relies on timed button presses. If you time them correctly, your damage will increase. As the game proceeds, each combo will progress in difficulty.

The animations are absolutely gorgeous within the art style, adding even more of a nostalgic rush to the game. The game does feel modernized, however, with no random encounters and no grinding to speak of. Go at your own pace and stop The Fleshmancer performing their evil doings. To keep you entertained, there are other activities in Sea of Stars, such as fishing, cooking, and a tabletop game called Wheels.

[caption id="attachment_392540" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Fireplace Games[/caption]

Honorable Mentions

• Thronefall (PC) - August 2
• Flutter Away (PC, Switch) - August 3
• Atlas Fallen (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - August 10
• Moving Out 2 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC)  - August 15
• En Garde! (PC) - August 16
• Marble It Up! Ultra (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) - August 17
• Bomb Rush Cyberfunk (PC, Switch) - August 18
• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
• Ride 5 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - August 24
• Goodbye Volcano High (PS4, PS5, PC) - August 29
• Samba de Amigo: Party Central (Switch) - August 29
• Under the Waves (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - August 29
• The Shape of Things (Switch) - August 31

The post Most anticipated game releases – August 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

A step forward in almost every way

The souls-like genre has become extremely prevalent in recent years. Despite the increased popularity, few games have been able to pull off the formula and stand toe-to-toe with Demon Souls, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne. Remnant: From the Ashes had a rather modest launch back in 2019, but in the years following acquired somewhat of a cult following. I loved the original, but definitely felt it had room for improvement. Thankfully, Remnant 2 improves on what made Remnant so much fun, while also fixing some of the more glaring flaws.

Oh yeah, and also like the original, Remnant 2 is hard.

[caption id="attachment_392524" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Remnant 2 (PC [reviewed], PS5, Xbox Series X|S)
Developer: Gunfire Games
Publisher: Gearbox Publishing
Release: July 25, 2023
MSRP: $49.99

After creating a character and going through a brief tutorial, Remnant 2 introduces you to a hub called Ward 13. You'll be spending a lot of time here crafting mods, upgrading weapons, and stocking up on consumables. Here you will also encounter the first Red Crystal. These act as your checkpoints to heal, replenish ammo, and teleport between worlds. If you've played Dark Souls, this is essentially your bonfire. After exploring Ward 13 it's time to visit your first world.

[caption id="attachment_392520" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Welcome to The Labyrinth

Almost everything in Remnant 2 is randomized. I made the mistake of choosing Hunter as the archetype for my first character. Don't get me wrong, Hunter isn't bad, but as a first-choice solo option, there are definitely better picks.

I'll admit, I struggled a bit. I created a new character with the much more solo-friendly Challenger archetype and chose to skip the tutorial since I had already done it. To my surprise, the first and only world I could access from the Red Crystal was different than where I went with my Hunter.  Each world is host to several intricate zones laden with checkpoints and mini-bosses, a familiarity to this genre. At the end of each world is also a final boss that you must defeat in order to complete the world, get some coveted loot, and move on to the next.

After completing your first world you will unlock the labyrinth, an intricate maze of enemies and loot that may hold some answers as to what is going on in the world of Remnant 2. Ironically, despite the name, the Labyrinth is a non-randomized area that connects all of the worlds. As you defeat the final boss of each world you will go back to the Labyrinth and progress the main story and access other worlds.

[caption id="attachment_392521" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Many ways to customize your build

Like the original, Remnant 2 doesn't want you to just complete a world one time and be done with it. You'll want to run them again to farm better loot, while also continuing to level your character. Leveling up unlocks skills and perks specific to your archetype. You'll also receive trait points which can be used to further progress your character.

At the start, you only have a handful of traits to put your points into such as Vigor to increase your health, Endurance to increase your stamina, and Expertise to reduce your skill cooldown. But as you progress you will also unlock new traits that allow you to further specialize your build. A brand new character will look similar to those of the same archetype; with the same skill, starting weapons, and traits. However, once you're hours in, two characters of the same build will look drastically different.

Alongside the traits, you also have equipment slots to help create the build you want. This includes four different armor types, a primary, secondary, and melee weapon, an amulet, and four rings. Obviously weapons are important, but your amulet and rings can really change up your playstyle based on what you find. You can also find and customize new relics which act as your healing potion with some added effects.

Of course, what you acquire to build around will be random. This can be both a pro and a con in my opinion. It's an added difficulty to adapt to what the game gives you. But on the downside, it can really cause some tedium when you're trying to build your character a certain way but simply aren't getting the drops that resonate accordingly.

[caption id="attachment_392523" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Still better with a friend

If you played Remnant: From the Ashes you'll probably agree that as fun as the game is solo, it's infinitely better co-op. Remnant 2 makes the solo experience a lot more interesting—and possible, for that matter—but the multiplayer is still where the game shines. Any time you are at a Red Crystal you can join a multiplayer session. There's even a quick match option to get you right into the action.

Even though the gunplay in Remnant 2 is fair for the most part, there are definitely encounters and even areas that feel tuned for a co-op setting. The game certainly doesn't require you to play with others, but it definitely makes it easier and usually even more fun! I can't tell you how many times I just got surrounded due to a horde of enemies beelining me before I could thin their numbers a bit.

Some archetypes even specialize in co-op gameplay. For example, the Hunter can be a powerhouse in terms of damage if given the ability to sit at a range and lineup shots. As you can imagine, this is much easier to do when playing with others. But if you're all alone like I was with my first character, it's almost a guarantee you're going to find yourself overwhelmed and unable to take advantage of your strengths.

[caption id="attachment_392526" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Incredible world(s) design and score

As much as I enjoyed the cinematography and scope of the world design in Remnant: From the Ashes, the team really knocked it out of the park with Remnant 2. There are multiple worlds you'll find yourself progressing through, each with a unique setting and story that really immersed me.

My personal favorite is probably N'Erud. A technologically advanced species called the Drzyr mastered time and space and constructed N'Erud as part home and part spacefaring craft. However, before finding other sentient life they encountered the center of the universe. Here they found a supermassive black hole. Determined that the secrets to the universe lie on the other side, the Drzyr entered the black hole only to find their civilization destroyed immediately. Only Tal'Ratha the Astropath survived the event and helps guide you through the now derelict N'Erud as you try to salvage what's left.

Throughout Remnant 2 you will also encounter a few familiar worlds including Yaesha, home of the Root invasion. While the Root definitely plays a role in Remnant 2, it isn't the only sinister force at play. The storytelling in Remnant 2 shines brightest when focusing on the individual happenings in each world. The overarching main storyline, unfortunately, does not hold up as well. It moves along at a snail's pace and due to the systematic structure of replaying worlds to progress, the main story quickly feels like it's not going anywhere.

Also, I just want to point out how awesome the music is in Remnant 2. Each world has its own sort of underlying musical theme, and the intense battle music often got me pumped for battle. Even the main menu music is top-notch. I accidentally left the game open while working on this review and kept it that way just to enjoy the epic track.

[caption id="attachment_392528" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Overall, Remnant 2 is a sequel done right

As I said, Remnant 2 does have some flaws. The main story feels very lackluster, and the randomization can very easily lead to a not-so-fun experience. But these are essentially the same flaws that Remnant: From the Ashes had on a lesser scale. Gunfire Games took the highlights from the original game—the gunplay, the boss fights, the build variety—and amplified them.

I can honestly say I can't wait to jump in with friends and work together to try and optimize each other's builds as a coherent team.

If you were a fan of Remnant: From the Ashes, chances are you already planned to pick up Remnant 2. If you haven't played the original but are a fan of souls-like games, or even rogue-likes like Risk of Rain 2 or Returnal, this will be right up your alley. At times it can be an extremely challenging experience, even on the easiest difficulty. But that's also what makes it so rewarding when you finally kill that boss and obtain its loot. Even if, as is likely, it's not something you plan on using.

The post Review: Remnant 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Borderlands 3 is getting the boot too

PlayStation Plus giveth, and taketh away. Like any other running "subscription" service, every game cannot stay up indefinitely. While Sega won't be taking tax-writeoffs and erasing Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, and Yakuza Kiwami 2 from existence; that trio is leaving PlayStation Plus on August 15.

The news comes straight out of the PS5's UI, which notes that a selection of games (listed below, in the order they appear on the storefront) are in their "last chance to play" phase. That gives you less than a month to either play through them or eventually pony up and buy them outright.

The full list of games leaving PlayStation Plus on August 15

• Borderlands 3
• Nidhogg 
• DCL (Drone Champions League): The Game
• Yakuza 0
• Yakuza Kiwami
• Yakuza Kiwami 2 
• Grip
• Crew 2
• 8-Bit Armies
• Carmageddon: Max Damage

Beyond the Yakuza games and Borderlands 3, this looks like a pretty standard list of games to remove from the service.  Losing three Yakuza games feels like a punch in the face, but something like DCL - Drone Champions League is fated to cycle around different services at will.

As for recommendations, Borderlands 3 is a great game to run through for free, especially if you're the type of person who likes to just see things through until the end of the story and stop there. Nidhogg is still a great party game/weekend bit of fun, and of course, nearly every Yakuza release is worth playing in some capacity.

Plan accordingly!

The post PSA: Three Yakuza games are leaving PlayStation Plus, amid a few other titles appeared first on Destructoid.

PlayStation's accessibility answer

The PS5 Access Controller has finally gotten a release date. The circular controller launches on December 6, 2023. Pre-orders will become available for the controller starting on July 21.

[caption id="attachment_391877" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image by Sony[/caption]

PS5's New Access Controller to Launch on December 6

The controller is going for a price of $89.99 and features 8 onboard buttons for its disc-shaped design. The control stick, which can be replaced with a joystick design, sits on the side. The controller allows for up to 30 control profiles, as well as toggleable commands. The controller also supports four 3.5mm expansion ports that allow for external devices to issue commands as well.

The Access controller is also able to adjust its control stick length, as well as including attachments for an AMPS Pattern mount. The Access controller can also be used in conjunction with the DualSense, to allow for more customization options. Up to two access controllers can be used in conjunction with a single DualSense.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KUmHFU51NU

Each cap on the controller can also be switched out, changing their form factor, and the icon on the cap. This allows for buttons to match the on-screen display without a need for marking the device or purchasing third-party replacements. Each cap has multiple textures as well, as described on the controller's page.

This is a massive jump in accessibility for PlayStation. Combining this with the accessibility options in their first-party titles, Sony opens the door for more players to experience games on its platforms. Xbox has a similar device in its adaptive controller, which has received awards for its design. These tools make it easier for everyone to engage with games, removing barriers and making this hobby more accessible in the process.

The post PS5’s Access controller launches on December 6 appeared first on Destructoid.

Neon White gets physical

The indie hit Neon White earned itself a cult following after it launched in 2022. The developer, Angel Matrix, recently announced that the game will be receiving a physical release soon. Depending on what version you buy, you can also expect a few extras.

[caption id="attachment_391922" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

What you get with Neon White's physical edition

The physical editions for the PS5 and Nintendo Switch launch on September 12 this year. If you grab it at retail stores, you'll receive a bonus 11 by 17 inches poster by Rebecca Ryan. It launches with a $39.99 price tag.

Pre-orders for exclusive iam8bit versions are available for preorder. Both the Switch and PS5 versions include a physical copy of the game along with five anime-style "character peeker" stickers, music by Machine Girl, and a cover sheet by Rebecca Ryan. Both versions of the iam8bit exclusive cost $44.99, and they will be available in this year's fourth quarter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmofCFI3JuQ

Xbox players shouldn't despair, as it appears a port is on the way. Eagle-eyed fans have spotted an ESRB rating for Neon White that includes the Xbox Series X/S, suggesting that developers haven't forgotten about the platform.

For gamers looking for a unique FPS, Neon White is a critically acclaimed title worth checking out. This physical release comes at a time when studios are opting to not include physical versions of titles. This is the case with Remedy Entertainment which currently has no plans to release physical editions of Alan Wake 2.

The post Neon White is getting a physical edition appeared first on Destructoid.

Sales are good, right?

It can be quite exhausting keeping up with all the different sales. In an effort to compete with Prime Day, Best Buy has launched a "Black Friday in July" sale. A lot of the discounts pertaining to video games are paltry to say the least, but there are a few decent sales to be found.

The sale ends on Wednesday. Some of the sales are exclusive to My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total members, which are apparently memberships. Thankfully, most of the good discounts I found did not require either of them.

Best Buy Black Friday in July deals

First, you can get a $25 gift card when you purchase a non-OLED Nintendo Switch. This certainly isn't anything special, but is the only real console-related deal.

Here are some of the hardware deals worth checking out:

PS5 Compatible Samsung 980 PRO 2TB SSD — $99.99 ($100 off)

Xbox Series X|S Seagate Internal 1TB SSD — $139.99 ($80 off)

Xbox Series X|S Seagate Internal 2TB SSD — $279.99 ($120 off)

PS5 Compatible WD Black 1TB SSD — $89.99 ($150 off)

Seagate PlayStation 4TB External Hard Drive — $104.99 ($20 off)

Seagate Playstation 2TB External Hard Drive — $69.99 (22.50 off)

Astro Gaming A50 Wireless Headset — $249.99 ($50 off)

Of course, there are also some quality software deals as well. Oddly enough some of the games listed under the specific sale page don't appear to be on sale, so they might go in affect later today or tomorrow.

Here are some that stick out to me:

Soul Hackers 2 (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X) — $14.99 ($45 off)

Persona 5 Royal (Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X) — $29.99 ($30 off)

Shin Megami Tensei V (Switch) — $19.99 ($40 off)

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster (PS4) — $22.99 ($27 off)

FIFA 23 (PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S) — $29.99 ($20 off)

Sonic Frontiers (Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X) — $34.99 ($25 off)

Demon Slayer - Kimetsu no Yaiba (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X) — $29.99 ($30 off)

Red Dead Redemption 2 (PS5, PS4, Xbox One) — $19.99 ($40 off)

There are some other good-value items available with the sale if you're not specifically looking for gaming-related products. You can view the entire Black Friday in July sale here.

The post Best Buy has a few decent game sales right now appeared first on Destructoid.

Humbug!

It certainly isn't a "Silent Night" while playing Ebenezer and the Invisible World. Instead of three French hens and four calling birds, your relatives will hear a ruckus as you scream at the game. There's a lot to like, but the combat needs to be refined before this Metroidvania's release. The visuals call back to those old Christmas specials you watch as a kid, but other than that, there's a lot to be fixed in this holiday-themed game. Here's a preview of the stunning, yet currently flawed Ebenezer and the Invisible World.

[caption id="attachment_389609" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Ten lords a-leaping for a great art style

Set after the events of the Christmas Carol storyline, Ebenezer Scrooge is now fighting for the city's people with the help of the spirits he meets along the way. While the demo doesn't particularly show an intriguing storyline, the environments truly stand out with the premise. You see a prosperous holiday version of London with gorgeous architecture, lighting, and seemingly hand-drawn characters across the city. It really pops on the screen and the art style reminds you of straight-to-video/TV animated movies like Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer and The Snowman.

During the main boss battle of the demo, you can see the shimmer of the ice below while Big Ben is beaming in the distance. Buildings around the area are also adorned with greenery and garlands. The way the game uses the forefront is also striking; for example, the lantern on the bottom left of the picture above adds depth to the scene. It's almost like a painting.

While the visuals look fantastic, it does make me wonder if the London area may get dull after a while. The observatory at the end of the demo and the sewers show that there may be other major environments to find in the game.

[caption id="attachment_389615" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The disappointing combat is certainly a Grinch

While the graphics are certainly promising, Ebenezer and the Invisible World's combat certainly isn't. The biggest issue is how your enemies aren't impacted by your strikes. Like Buddy the Elf jumping through crowds for Santa, your attacks do not stagger your foes during their animations. You can't stun them with your strikes, and that befuddled me so many times. As a larger enemy begins to swing its heavy sword, your strikes should interrupt or slow their movement; however, they still carry on with the heavy thud of their weapon. A dodge feature or a way to counter the incoming strike would be appreciated.

Additionally, there's a frustrating foe that throws grenades at Ebenezer. They're hard to avoid and tough to attack. However, there's one spirit that can provide a diagonal attack, which helps greatly. There is a magic meter, on the other hand, so they might not be able to perform the action. You'll have to conserve your magic, like Scott Calvin in The Santa Clause 2. Other foes have annoying patterns that should be addressed during development. For example, there's a flying lantern that sends fire towards Ebenezer. It's just outside of the old man's reach so you need to jump, and if you come into contact with it, you'll take unnecessary damage.

More checkpoints would be a "Joy to the World."

These issues are compounded by a checkpoint system that is too far apart, and the time it takes to run through empty spaces to get to where I was can be supremely irritating. The light platforming, with the help of a friendly spirit, can be entertaining enough to keep you going. With the new abilities you gain along the way, I expect it will be satisfying to revisit previously inaccessible areas.

Despite this demo featuring 30 minutes to an hour of gameplay, I already witnessed a copied battle stance from one enemy to the next. They slam the hammer toward you and have it stuck to the ground; this happens with two different foes so far. Hopefully, there's more variety in the full game like Bloodstained. 

Please change the music

Christmas movies often have catchy songs and imaginative music that captures your heart. Think of The Polar Express' "Spirit of the Season" and the North Pole theme from the Santa Clause movies. Unfortunately, Ebenezer and the Invisible World lacks that holiday spirit in its soundtrack. There are depressing 30-second loops that have some elements of jingle bells, but the overall composition is such a downer. During my playthrough of the demo, I had to turn off the game's music and put on some Castlevania tracks. It was a much better experience after that.

If it wanted to go for a dark take on the Christmas season, it would be intriguing to hear the composer's creepy takes on classic Christmas tunes like "Silent Night" or "Jingle Bells." Perhaps, it could also take inspiration from Danny Elfman's Scrooged movie score, which has a darker edge than most holiday flicks.

The elves have a lot of work to do

There is so much potential in Ebenezer and the Invisible World. It has a unique holiday-themed world to explore, and the spirits may provide fun Metroidvania elements to the game. The combat system needs to be refined heavily, though, for me to not regift this title.

The post Preview: Ebenezer and The Invisible World doesn’t have a lot of holiday cheer appeared first on Destructoid.

PS5 players get a mild delay

Baldur's Gate 3 is moving up its launch date by almost a month for PC players. Larian Studios announced that Baldur's Gate 3 will come to PC on August 3 now, while the PlayStation 5 version will launch a week later than expected on September 6.

Originally, Baldur's Gate 3 was set for August 31 on both PC and PS5. However, with an increasingly busy late-summer launch window, it looks like Larian isn't holding onto Baldur's Gate 3 for longer than it needs to.

"Reaching a technical bar that matches our design ambitions felt like the right move, while holding back the PC version when we knew we’d be ready felt like the wrong move in such a busy launch period," said Michael Douse, director of publishing.

PlayStation 5, meanwhile, is looking solid according to Larian's metrics. It's reaching 60 FPS for the console port. Larian also shared a few more metrics about the upcoming RPG, including a script that has more dialogue than "three times all three Lord of the Rings books combined" and "over 170 hours of cinematics."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgTFtD2sHdE

Importantly, this also means 7 playable characters at launch, alongside the custom character option. For said character creator, there will be 11 playable races, 31 subraces, 12 classes and 46 subclasses, and over 600 spells and actions (excluding upcasts). That is, well, a lot. More info about Baldur's Gate 3 will arrive on July 7, during Larian's Panel From Hell: Release Showcase.

A big year for role-playing

This moves the PC version of Baldur's Gate 3 back a bit, towards the start of August, while putting its PS5 version directly against the Xbox and PC RPG Starfield, which goes live on September 6.

It feels a bit like counter-programming, as PS5 owners may be looking for a new RPG to put up against all the fancy new Starfield owners. For PC players, especially those who have owned and been waiting for Baldur's Gate 3, it's an exciting announcement. It's also a massive date shift, one of the more notable ones in recent memory. We'll see how Larian's confidence pays off in August.

The post Baldur’s Gate 3 launch is moving up almost a month for PC owners appeared first on Destructoid.

Take a breather

Gaming hasn't slowed down since 2023 began. Hit after hit after hit has ensured that cash has been frequently relinquished from our wallets. Fortunately, the industry is cooling down a little with these July 2023 games.

[caption id="attachment_387557" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Disney Interactive[/caption]

Disney Illusion Island (Switch)

Publisher: Disney Interactive
Developer: Dlala Studios
Price: $29.99
Release Date: July 28
Trailer

Mickey Mouse is a keyblade wielder, a mascot at Disney's theme parks, and a part of the Funhouse Friends, but he hasn't been in a platformer for a long time. Thankfully, he and his pals are featured in an all-new 2D adventure on the Nintendo Switch. Developed by Dlala Studios (Battletoads), Disney Illusion Island's visuals are brimming with color. In fact, the Nintendo eShop listing states that you can "be a part of an authentic Mickey cartoon." With four-player co-op, you can bring friends and family to an island that has running, swimming, swinging, and jumping platform action along with bosses to defeat and puzzles to solve. There are also "hidden secrets" to find along the way.

[caption id="attachment_387560" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Capcom[/caption]

Exoprimal (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Price: $59.99
Release Date: July 13
Trailer

Sometimes it's cool to mix two unlikely things together. Pineapple and pizza, carrots and peanut butter, and fries with gravy are all examples of this. That's also the case with Exoprimal as it features mechs fighting massive waves of dinosaurs. The mixture perhaps shouldn't work, but the intense action of gunfire and high maneuverability of the mechs seem to work well against the rampaging dinos. There are three classes to consider as well, adding more depth to the seemingly simple gameplay. The game's coming to Xbox Game Pass, so hopefully, you can team up with your Xbox buddies and succeed.

[caption id="attachment_387675" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Netflix[/caption]

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals (Switch, PS4, PS5, PC, Netflix)

Publisher: Netflix
Developer: Night School Studio
Price: $19.99
Release Date: July 12
Trailer

One of the most anticipated July 2023 games in the indie scene is Oxenfree II: Lost Signals. In this sci-fi follow-up, you will meet and shape the stories of those around the protagonist Riley. "Your choices impact who Riley becomes, your relationships, and the story options available to you at every turn," says Netflix on the game's Steam page.

Thankfully, for myself and others, you don't need to play the original to understand the sequel. However, Netflix suggests you'll be able to "dive deeper by playing the original." You'll explore the town of Camena, will discover the strange source of radio signal disturbances, and will try to thwart the Parentage from making a new portal. It sounds like an exciting, narrative adventure full of danger and mystery.

[caption id="attachment_387677" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

Pikmin 4 (Switch)

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Price: $59.99
Release Date: July 21
Trailer

The long-awaited Pikmin 4 finally touches down on Switch systems next month. In this adventure, you'll be creating your own explorer and, with the help of the Pikmin, rescue others like yourself. The unique spin on this sequel sees players explore a world of huge household items. Plants, benches, binoculars, you name it. You'll be collecting treasures and taking them to your ship as you solve environmental puzzles and have the Pikmin escort your objects safety.

The new ice Pikmin freeze enemies and immobilize them quickly. There's also a space dog named Oatchi who can take out obstacles in your way. It's not my personal cup of tea, but hopefully, the long wait for Pikmin 4 will be worth it for fans. Let's gather in the "Forest of Hope."

[caption id="attachment_387678" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Gearbox Publishing[/caption]

Remnant 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Publisher: Gunfire Games
Developer: Gearbox Publishing
Price: $49.99
Release Date: July 25
Trailer

Remnant: From the Ashes kicked ass when it released in 2019. The follow-up is hoping to continue the excellent third-person shooting gameplay. Each biome requires different gear and weapons as you approach "cunning enemies and large-scale boss battles," according to the game's Steam page. The sequel touts "endless replayability" as there are branching quest lines, lots of crafting options, and like many other live service titles, awesome loot. Gearbox Publishing says that "playthroughs will feel challenging, varied, and rewarding as players succeed against unrelenting odds." Hopefully, it will live up to the fantastic first game when it releases in July.

[caption id="attachment_387679" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Thunderful Publishing[/caption]

Honorable Mentions

• Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg (PS4, PS5, Switch, PC) - July 13
• Jagged Alliance 3 (PC) - July 14
• My Friendly Neighborhood (PC) - July 18
• Viewfinder (PS4, PS5, PC) - July 18
• Punch Club 2: Fast Forward (PS3, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC)  - July 20
• The Expanse: A Telltale Series Episode 1 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC via Epic Games Store) - July 27

The post Most anticipated game releases – July 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

Devil May Clive

There’s been quite a bit of talk around the release of Final Fantasy XVI, mostly about what a Final Fantasy game is. Depending on the era you started playing games and the consoles you played them on, that answer can vary wildly. And with Final Fantasy XVI breaking new ground for the series, this debate has carried on for a while.

After rolling credits on Final Fantasy XVI, I can verify it is a Final Fantasy game. It’s about crystals and magic, ancient beings of incredible power, and swords clashing over ideals that could shape the fate of the world. Plus, there’s chocobos and moogles. If nothing else, those are absolute signifiers.

Credentials aside, Final Fantasy XVI feels like a big step in a new direction. It might not be the classic style some long-time fans had hoped for. But it’s a step that’s confident, exploring a new world of possibilities while carrying forward good chunks of its past. It’s a Final Fantasy, and a good one at that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eciI3eMPj7M&ab_channel=Destructoid

Final Fantasy XVI (PS5)
Developer: Square Enix Creative Business Unit III
Publisher: Square Enix
Released: June 22, 2023
MSRP: $69.99

Final Fantasy XVI follows the journey of Clive Rosfield, through three distinct eras of his life. Starting in his teens, where Clive is the Shield of his younger brother and heir to the throne Joshua, it later jumps forward to a more tumultuous and traumatic time for Clive, and further on as the story develops. I’m working to keep this review largely spoiler-free, as there are quite a few twists and turns along the way.

There are many nations, names, and proper nouns to remember, so the Active Time Lore feature helps a ton. Square Enix has done a surprising amount of work cataloguing all the character relationships, political intrigue, and the evolving landscape of Valisthea over the course of the story.

Throughout this adventure, Clive also slowly builds up a band of companions. His childhood friend Jill, who happens to be the Dominant of Shiva; Cidolfus, or Cid, the Dominant of Ramuh; the cheerful and crafty scout Gav, rambunctious Mid, and various other characters who work together as part of Cid’s organization, attempting to right the wrongs of the world. Clive starts out as a bit of lone wolf, on a quest to solve his own troubles. Soon after, he gets caught up in the larger issues at hand.

Tales of loss and fire and faith

And oh boy, are there some wrongs to be righted. Final Fantasy XVI goes for a dark fantasy setting that feels very, very Game of Thrones at times. Schemers plot and thwart each other. Armies fight and die for control of the Mothercrystals, massive crystalline structures thought to hold off the advance of the destructive Blight that’s destroying the world of Valisthea. And yes, Final Fantasy says “fuck” now.

Those born with magic are seen as lesser people, are branded as Bearers. They’re bought, sold, and expended like a commodity, as their use of magic gradually drains the life force from their body until they’re spent. Dominants are the most powerful of these, as users that have control of an Eikon, one of Final Fantasy’s classic summons like Bahamut, Titan, or Shiva. Though, depending on where the Dominant resides, they may be treated as royalty, weapon, or just another Bearer to control.

[caption id="attachment_387650" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Square Enix tackles a lot of this headfirst, and how it lands can vary. Some early plot beats around Bearers and their struggles land well, while others don’t. Final Fantasy XVI’s highest plot points really, really hit, in the way a super-produced Final Fantasy cutscene can. Seeing giant Eikons clash against each other, the devastation they wreak, and the impressive scenes of battle are a sight to see.

That’s not to undersell the individual, more intimate performances though. Ben Starr holds it down as Clive, and Ralph Ineson’s performance as Cidolfus (a.k.a. Cid) is particularly memorable. Special shout-outs to Stewart Clarke, who puts in great work as Bahamut’s Dominant Dio Lesage too, as well as some others I can’t spoil here. Suffice to say, the core English VA crew does a great job, and the impressive renderings of the characters add a lot to XVI’s emotional highs.

[caption id="attachment_387656" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The supporting crew is solid too, but gets a little less to work with. It’s an overall mild problem, but there were times where story beats or ideas would be set up and then immediately shuffled out of the main plot’s path. Some characters feel like they flit in and out of the limelight, and I would’ve liked to see them get a little more to do than stand on the sidelines of the big fights and plot beats.

These story beats and side characters usually get more fleshed out in the side quests, which contain bits of expanded lore or more time with a specific character. Those rewards are good too, as the side quests themselves are often pretty mundane. Frequently, they would task me with a “go here, do thing, return” structure that would feel a little too routine. Hunts, at least, are a bit more involved; these are special encounters, with unique enemies that you have to actually find and locate in the world using the description on the Hunt Board. It’s a really engaging set-up, and makes good use of Final Fantasy XVI’s zone-based world.

Flames unyielding

It also highlights the combat of XVI, which I will just say is flat-out good. Easy comparisons can be made to other third-person character action games, ranging from God of War to Devil May Cry. But while it captures the spirit of those, it doesn’t lose all of its RPG heart, either.

Clive can have up to three Eikonic forms equipped at any time, which he can swap between like stances. He can also swing his sword and fire off bolts of magic, holding either down to charge it up, as well as dodge and take to the air. At any given time, there are a lot of options available to Clive.

[caption id="attachment_387654" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Each Eikon brings its own power and style to the fight. Phoenix, your first form, is a jack-of-all-trades. But swap to Garuda, and now you have Stagger-inducing swipes and a pull ability to bring enemies close. On Titan, you can armor through enemy attacks for big damage and counter foes with your massive bulwark. As Clive gains the power of various Eikons, his moveset keeps expanding, and each one adds a distinct and interesting new way to fight.

Where the RPG seeps in is how the player gets to determine their playstyle. Abilities can be upgraded and eventually mastered, which frees them up from being attached to their respective Eikon. So if you master a Phoenix move, for example, you can equip it to your Shiva or Bahamut loadout. Endgame builds get really interesting, as you start to mix the Eikon forms and signature moves you want, like Phoenix’s dash or Titan’s counter, with the individual Eikon abilities you favor. A playstyle that feels like your own can start to emerge.

[caption id="attachment_387649" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

My frustration, then, is that it takes quite a while to get to that point. A good chunk of the early game is spent with a handful of Eikons and abilities. Combat opens up once Clive can swap through three different power sets, and as abilities begin to evolve and grow. It makes some early, standard-fare fights feel a bit repetitive, but thankfully, that gets better as Clive learns more skills. Equipment can also augment this, but aside from a few different accessories, they largely help boost your resilience, damage, and ability to Stagger enemies into a state where you can really wallop on them.

On Timely Accessories

Final Fantasy XVI has a set of accessories called Timely Accessories, which can assist with a lot of the more action-y aspects of the game. Some are low impact, like an accessory which controls Clive’s faithful companion Torgal for you, while others can make dodging easier or let you auto-combo. I messed around with them enough to make sure they work like they should. For those who enjoy action combat, I don’t think you’ll want or need to fall back on these; but for those who want a little help, they’re nice for getting through trickier fights.

Bosses are where Final Fantasy XVI’s combat really gets to shine. Whether in main story fights or the higher-rank Hunts, bosses bring new sets of engaging challenges to deal with. Bosses will start out slow, but gradually start throwing the kitchen sink at you. Barrages of abilities can feel like I’m playing a more action-driven Final Fantasy XIV raid encounter, as I’m reading AoE indicators and timing dodges while trying to unleash all my moves.

It makes sense, then, that Square Enix has included so much extra stuff to do in this game. I’ve already mentioned the side quests and Hunt Board. There’s no shortage of those, but on top of that, you can also replay certain stages or encounters, and there’s an Arcade Mode for leaderboard chasing against specific boss fights. These are bosses that aren't just fun to fight once, but over and over.

[caption id="attachment_387657" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

On top of that, there is a New Game+ option that bumps up the level cap, swaps up encounters, and seems to generally expand on the entire campaign. Getting through Final Fantasy XVI once was already no small task, as I rolled credits at about 55 hours and still had plenty of side activities left over. But it seems like if you want more Final Fantasy XVI to play after credits roll, there will be plenty still waiting for you.

The final fantasy

Even just getting words on the page about what this action-RPG is feels like a huge task. Final Fantasy has entries that can feel monolithic in size and importance, standing out as these big system-driving role-playing games. Final Fantasy XVI is no exception.

Where Final Fantasy XVI succeeds for me is its confidence in what it is. It doesn’t half-step into its newfound drive for action combat. It goes hard into its M-rated dark fantasy world. Yet it doesn’t leave behind crystals, chocobos, or moogles.

XVI’s overall message is one of free will and choice, and the resolution to determine your own destiny. Breaking the chains of fate certainly isn’t new for RPGs, but it feels apt for a series trying to break new ground, and in a numbered entry at that.

[caption id="attachment_387653" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

There are some stumbles and falters, a few places where quests can drag on or story beats fall flat. At certain points, I started breezing through or running by overworld battles. And there were certainly characters I wish had seen a bit more time to flourish.

When it comes to the big moments, the titanic clashes of ideals and reason, with gods trading blows over scorched battlefields, few do it like Final Fantasy does. Final Fantasy XVI absolutely delivers on the action front, has a compelling story with engaging twists and big payoffs, an excellent soundtrack, and a memorable cast.

It’s difficult to judge a Final Fantasy against the crystalline legacy of its predecessors. But Final Fantasy XVI takes a confident step into new territory and doesn’t slip. And for those who want an impressive, electrifying, enjoyable action RPG to sink hours upon hours into, you’d be very hard pressed to find a better option than Final Fantasy XVI.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Final Fantasy XVI appeared first on Destructoid.

Back to the Little Tail Bronx

It felt like we weren’t going to see a sequel to 2021’s Fuga: Melodies of Steel. For starters, it ended rather conclusively. It also only sold modestly, and it feels like Cyberconnect has been trying unsuccessfully to get the Little Tail Bronx series to take off since Tail Concerto in 1998. Yet, here we are, with Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2.

I couldn’t be happier. The original Fuga was a surprisingly well-executed design that got a lot of mileage from what could be considered very simple mechanics. So, how do you expand on that? What can you do to improve what has already been polished to such a gloss?

Not much, I guess.

[caption id="attachment_387012" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Fuga: Melodies of Steel (PC, PS4, PS5 [Reviewed], Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch)
Developer: CyberConnect2
Publisher: CyberConnect2
Released: May 11, 2023
MSRP: $39.99

Taking place one year after the events of the first game, Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 sees the children reunite. However, before they even have time to catch up with one another, an ancient evil is re-awakened, a friend of theirs is killed, and they’re left chasing a new foe. Surprisingly, even though the kids still find themselves at the wheel of the giant Metal Slug-like Taranis, the plot manages to be mostly different.

In particular, I like the way Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 improves on its cast. While the children are all still children, one year is an eternity when you’re pre-teen. They’ve all grown from their experiences during the war and now have new strengths and insecurities. Characters who I maybe didn’t love in the first game, like Jin and Wappa, are given the chance to shine anew. Likewise, two boss characters from the previous title make their way aboard the Taranis, and in the new light of their diminished status, they add a nice flavor to the happenings on the tank.

That said, the narrative still has some of the same problems as the first game. The overarching plot seems to be stretched out to accommodate character growth. This time, it has trouble focusing on any significant event. Something happens to shake things up, and then it’s quickly resolved, and we move on. It’s definitely not terrible, but it’s not as interesting as the previous story, and that one was already not spectacular, to begin with.

https://youtu.be/hydneoxIkJ0

That's a big metal slug

The gameplay is more-or-less remixed rather than changed. Each of the characters has been gutted of their old skills, and they get an entirely new set of them. Once again, they commandeer either a machine gun, grenade launch, or cannon on the Taranis, and they may have something different this time around.

There are more widespread changes. The grenade launcher, for example, is where you’d commonly find the attacks that hit multiple targets in the first game. In Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2, these are spread out across the machine guns and cannons. The changes don’t make the game dramatically different, but they do mean that you’ll need to adopt new strategies to succeed.

The enemies have also been tweaked. While the enemy was defeated in the previous title, you still largely fight their tanks. This (along with many other questions raised at the beginning of the game) isn’t initially addressed, but you eventually do find out why you’re fighting zombie tanks. But while they’re the same old machines of war, various mutations within them mean that they have a lot of new tricks up their sleeve. Overall, there’s more variety here, even if some of the units are quite familiar.

[caption id="attachment_387013" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Powered by a forsaken child

Perhaps the most harrowing difference is with the Soul Cannon. In Fuga: Melodies of Steel, you could chamber a child in this massive metal appendage and destroy anything in your path with a single blast of terminated innocence. However, doing so would net you one of the less satisfactory conclusions to the game. Less tragically, it would kill the child.

That wouldn’t cut it for Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2. You’ve already had one game to build up your skills, and it’s less likely you’ll need to lean on a “get out of failure-free” card. Now, if you find yourself on a losing trajectory – say, your health drops below 50% in a boss battle – the Taranis will select a child at random to load into the cannon. You then have 20 turns to finish the battle, or that child gets a one-way ticket to the other side of your opponent.

To offset this, the Taranis also has access to the Managarm, which uses children as ammunition. However, the Managarm only leaves the child injured and isn’t a guaranteed win like the Soul Cannon. It also means you don’t get experience points from the battle you used it in, but it might be better than having to scrap unrealized potential off the wall.

[caption id="attachment_387014" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Unconventional ammunition

You’ve probably figured this out already, but it’s best if you play Fuga: Melodies of Steel before moving on to the sequel. There’s a recap available if you want to know what happened in the first game, but Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 works more as a continuation of the story rather than a completely new entry in the series.

To that extent, Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 might be a bit too conservative when it comes to advancing forward. Many of the assets are completely recycled, which I don’t usually count as a bad thing, but they’re not repurposed, just reused. So, many of the stages take place in the same areas of the first game, and the backgrounds feel mostly unchanged. Aspects of the game have been touched up but otherwise left the same. I feel like the intermissions and the plumbing of ruins for loot could have been completely revamped just to give players something fresh to do, but they weren’t. They feel the same.

To be fair, I played the two games back to back and didn’t really feel bored or underwhelmed. There’s an extreme sense of deja vu in Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2, but the core gameplay still proves to have longevity beyond its simple mechanics.

I have mixed feelings about how similar it is to the previous game. For one thing, the $39.99 asking price – while reasonable when you consider the length and quality of the game – feels like a lot when held up to its contemporaries in the small-budget space. On the other hand, if cutting corners was needed just to allow the series to continue, then I’m all for it.

[caption id="attachment_387016" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Old friends

That’s the most important thing to keep in mind: Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 is a continuation of the first game. While it remixes a lot of things to give you a fresh experience, nothing has been overhauled or upgraded to give you something new. If you wanted more Fuga – and who could blame you? – then that’s what you’re getting here. However, if you didn’t enjoy the first title, then there’s no hope for you here.

Yoann Gueritot, one of the directors who has now moved on to Platinum Games, has stated that Fuga is planned as a trilogy. I’m definitely on board with that, but I also kind of wish the series was doing more to earn that. A cohesive series of games is fine, but I prefer to see things evolve, expand, and reach for perfection as CyberConnect2 soldiers on. Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 is complacent. It’s great, but we’ve already seen its greatness. Eventually, it’s going to need to load something new into its cannon if it wants to get its dazzle back.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Strange worlds still await

The first Remnant: From the Ashes felt like a surprise. Its strange mix of Souls-like framing, Eldritch horrors, and third-person action-shooter made for something a bit different that kept players going back for more. Gunfire Games is trying to do more of the same with Remnant 2, and from what I've played, it's working.

If you've played the first Remnant, then Remnant 2 will feel very familiar. It's still a third-person shooter set in strange worlds, inhabited by aggressive horrors. You can run it solo or with a friend, and randomization keeps things fresh. In my demo at Summer Game Fest 2023, I got a little cocky; some of the early areas felt easy, compared to what I'd played of the first Remnant. As a solo runner, I blasted through them. Boy, did I get treated to a hearty helping of hubris.

Remnant 2 maintains the gradual tick-up of difficulty, rewarding smart use of abilities and resources, and punishing over-confident players (I'm the problem, it's me). It's still the punishing survival-horror experience I remember. But there are some nice things built up and over that framework that will make Remnant 2 worth digging into.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2_Ha4BHdJQ

Archetypal hero

Archetypes are here again in Remnant 2, and they felt a bit more emphasized than I remember from the first. In my demo, I had a few options to choose from, but obviously chose the pet class called the Handler. As a Handler, I got a little dog pal that follows me around, barking to warn when enemies are near and assisting me in fights. It can even pick downed people back up, if that player still has a healing item on them. A truly good pup.

[caption id="attachment_387141" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Gunfire Games[/caption]

Other fighters included the Hunter, Challenger, and Gunslinger, who bring some more standard gunplay to the mix. There are more archetypes planned, Gunfire tells me, that you'll be able to unlock in the story. All of them seem neat, but they did not have a puppy pal, so my choice was clear.

As for the actual archetypes themselves, builds can diversify as you acquire new abilities. According to others who got to check out the game, characters will also apparently be able to multi-class archetypes, which sounds rad.

Move and shoot

As I got into the actual areas I was set to fight through in the demo, I was really impressed by how Remnant 2 looks. It's a gorgeous game, and Gunfire sets the tone early. Gnarled branches and alien flora made me feel like I was in some surreal, dangerous world. Creatures of the void hounded me. It was clearly a place that did not want me there.

[caption id="attachment_387138" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Gunfire Games[/caption]

That's not to say there aren't fun things to find in the horrors of other worlds, though. A highlight was finding a tree where an ancient fae-like entity asked me a series of hypotheticals. After answering all of them, and there were quite a few, the entity determined I had answered correctly enough for a boon. The writing was clever, and it was a fun side diversion with a valuable reward.

Over time, I built up in power and loadout. I eventually went back to the ward, where I could chat with NPCs and shopkeepers to upgrade my equipment and prepare for the next leg of my journey. A Gunfire rep told me they tried to smooth out the process of returning to town and getting back to your run, and it was noticeable.

[caption id="attachment_387142" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Gunfire Games[/caption]

Falling, flailing

This is where I have to admit: I didn't get to the end of my demo. My headfirst brazen-ness meant I kept running into battles I shouldn't, and I ran out of time to keep beating my head against the proverbial wall. Even my very good pup couldn't keep me on my feet, as I constantly bit off more enemies in an encounter than I could chew. I like chaos, alright?

That said, what I saw was very impressive. I've got fond memories of playing the first Remnant in co-op with friends, exploring the horrors together. And while I only played solo for my demo, I can easily see this becoming another go-to co-op pick-up.

[caption id="attachment_387140" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Gunfire Games[/caption]

It's not just that there isn't much else like Remnant out there. It's that Remnant 2 feels like it's making very smart, calculated choices about what it fine-tunes and what it keeps familiar. Like the old saying, Remnant 2 doesn't fix what isn't broken about its original pitch, and instead just builds and refines. And that could make for quite a good experience, for fans of the randomized horror-action experience.

Remnant 2 arrives on July 25 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

The post Remnant 2 builds on its strengths, and adds a very good dog appeared first on Destructoid.

In my armor-plated womb

The Phantom Limb from Venture Bros. explained to someone that “The Mona Lisa isn’t a better painting, merely a more famous painting.” It’s a quote that is an effectively concise way of explaining that something being mainstream is not necessarily an indicator of its quality. In the realm of video games, it is particularly useful, as the hyper-commercialized nature of it ensures that the cream doesn’t always rise to the top. Year after year, my favorite games are rarely the ones that are considered the period’s “big releases,” and that isn’t because I’m a snob. Sorry, I mean, that isn’t solely because I’m a snob.

2021’s Fuga: Melodies of Steel is an example of that. I personally overlooked the game for a couple of reasons. The first is that it didn’t get a whole lot of press, and the second is that, at $39.99, it has a high price tag compared to the games it appears to be competing against. Largely, the latter reason is a combination of me not having any money and small-budget games having been undervalued by a race to the bottom in mobile, PC, and XBLIG markets.

If my meandering around the point hasn’t made it clear, I think that’s a shame. Fuga: Melodies of Steel is a wonderful RPG experiment that shouldn’t be missed.

[caption id="attachment_386955" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Fuga: Melodies of Steel (PC, PS4, PS5 [Reviewed], Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch)
Developer: CyberConnect2
Publisher: CyberConnect2
Released: July 28, 2021
MSRP: $39.99

Fuga: Melodies of Steel takes place in the Little Tail Bronx (Tail Concerto, Solatorobo: Red the Hunter) universe’s world of floating continents and furries. Unconnected to the previous games in the setting, Fuga: Melodies of Steel is a thinly veiled parallel to World War 2. The country of Gasco is suddenly invaded by the Berman Empire (I’m serious), who go to work rounding people up for unknown reasons. A group of children, narrowly escaping capture, find a massive abandoned tank – the Taranis – in a cave and set out with it to save their families.

Between this and Blaster Master on NES, video games really make it seem easy to just come across buried tanks. I feel like this is a widespread childhood experience that I’m angry I missed out on.

It may sound somewhat trite, but the mix of storybook whimsy and harsh reality is one of the things that makes Fuga: Melodies of Steel so interesting. Early on, you’re presented with a mechanic that allows you to load one of the children into a cannon that allows you to instantly kill any enemy at the expense of the child. Literally, and according to lore, someone developed a giant cannon that specifically uses children as ammunition. Finally, a way to make children useful.

I can make it sound as amusing as I want, but the soul cannon, as a concept, is dark as heck. Forget a good/bad morality system, Fuga: Melodies of Steel just allows you to sacrifice a character to prevent losing progress. It’s made somewhat obvious that by using the cannon, you’re setting yourself up for a less desirable ending, but there’s always new game plus.

https://youtu.be/CbjXMMH0JzI

Rhythms of Iron

Despite setting itself up as a narrative-focused game, Fuga: Melodies of Steel isn’t super heavy with exposition. There are plenty of cutscene interruptions, but most of them are quite brief. It makes the smart choice of spreading the tale out across the entire experience so it doesn’t get too bogged down.

The gameplay itself is quite unique. You build up a cast of 12 children, field 6 of them at a time, but only three are active in battle at a time. The other three you have in the immediate wings are there as emotional support, building up a gauge based on their relationship with the current gunner ahead of them, allowing you to unleash powerful attacks based on your combination once the gauge is full.

Each child commandeers one of three types of weapon: machine gun, grenade launcher, and cannon. While these are largely stacked in the order you’d expect – machine gun is light and accurate, cannon hits hard but is less reliable, and grenade launch is an all-arounder – that’s only part of the story. Enemies all have icons on them that denote a specific weakness, but they don’t take more damage from the indicated weapon. Instead, if they have three blue icons on them, for example, hitting them three times with a machine gun delays their next attack.

It’s a lot to get into, with the children’s skills, additional ammunition types, statuses, and good old-fashioned luck playing a role. The end result, however, is a deceptively engaging layer of strategy. In RPGs, I’m used to just leaning against a few moves and largely brute-forcing everything. In Fuga: Melodies of Steel, that isn’t really an option. I had to think ahead and consider my moves. Otherwise, I’d be firing children out of a cannon.

[caption id="attachment_386956" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Juvenile artillery

Each chapter has your tank lumbering along a set path, and you simply choose which direction you take whenever it branches. Again, this is deceptively simple. Tracks are clearly labeled as “Safe, Normal, and Dangerous.” Dangerous paths will put more enemies in your way, but you’ll also collect more loot for upgrading your tank. If your tank has gone through the wringer, it might be better to choose a safer path, but it’s always tempting to embrace the danger when it means it might make things easier later on.

Fuga: Melodies of Steel’s greatest strength is making the most out of very little. You alternate between upgrading your tank and keeping the children’s spirits up, making choices on the world map, plumbing ruins for loot, and being in combat, and that’s about it from start to finish. However, because it’s so highly polished, it feels like more than enough to carry it through its 20-or-so-hour length.

Its only real vulnerabilities are in a couple of areas. The first is that the narrative isn’t that great. It’s told with care for its characters and love of its settings, but the overarching plot isn’t anything special. It’s not bad, but it’s a lot of being led from location to location with nothing substantial happening.

It also has really specific criteria for reaching the best ending. It’s something that you’re given little heads up on, and unless you’re trying to achieve it, you’ll probably miss it. Originally, this almost necessitated going through again in new game plus, but a later update relaxed this a bit. Now, if you get the worst ending, you can start again from where you’re required to start working toward a better conclusion. It’s not exactly the most heinous sin committed by a game, and I’m not sure them blatantly telling you what the requirement is would be a better solution; but if you’re set on not getting a bad ending, you may want to look up the criteria beforehand.

[caption id="attachment_386957" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

King Tiger

Fuga: Melodies of Steel is a masterclass of efficient design. A lot of breadth in gaming is achieved through padding, and a lot of depth is created through the layering of mechanics. It’s rare to see a game that achieves so much simply by polishing its core to an absolutely lustrous shine. It manages to earn its considerable longevity despite having a very tight loop. I can't help but find it admirable.

That’s not to say it’s going to appeal to everyone. Its deceptively simple gameplay won’t likely appeal to a more action-oriented and straightforward mindset. Likewise, the cute animal children might be a difficult taste to swallow for those who prefer their drama to be between hairless bags of flesh and chemicals. However, there’s a thoughtful earnestness to Fuga: Melodies of Steel that should really connect with anyone whose soul hasn’t been used as ammunition.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game purchased by the reviewer.]}

The post Review: Fuga: Melodies of Steel appeared first on Destructoid.

Wake the dog up

It's been quite a while since the last Armored Core. FromSoftware has been steadily working on successful Souls and Souls-like games, but the first Armored Core is one of its oldest titles. And now, years later, FromSoftware is returning to mech action with Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon. And the series is certainly back.

We were invited to view a hands-off demo of a stage in Armored Core VI, where the player's mercenary needs to infiltrate and take command of a catapult held by a hostile faction. This means flying in and doing a whole lot of blasting. The progression still looks to be very Armored Core: it opens with a briefing, with lots of intel and screens, and then you're into the thick of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlSfr6Wa5sc

Bridging the gap

It's going to be very easy to draw comparisons between Armored Core and Souls. As I noted above, it's been a long time since the last Armored Core game—a decade, to be exact—and the Souls series has reached astronomical heights in its absence. While there are plenty of AC fanatics familiar with the form factor of this series, I imagine there will also be people coming into Armored Core VI with a different set of expectations.

The reassuring thing is, even with that split in mind, Armored Core VI looks like it could bridge the gap. Sure, you're piloting a mech rather than guiding a wandering swordsman or robed mage. But the weight and heft, the ballet of movement, is still here.

[caption id="attachment_386756" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Bandai Namco[/caption]

It was driven home when I saw just how Armored Core's mechs move. Boost options have been retained, including a blazing forward boost that feels like a charge maneuver. Small jets lining the mech can fire to create omnidirectional movement options, something the studio emphasized in our briefing. But when those rockets fire, there's a moment of thrust and take-off; when the mech lands, there's a thud and skid, especially if it came in at high speeds. There is a feeling that, even if your mech feels normally sized on-screen, it is hulking and heavy in the world.

Taking up arms

Weapons carry a similar tangibility. Missiles fire in big plumes of smoke and detonate with resonance. Guns spray empty shell casings out the side, and you can see your ammo count start to dwindle as the mission carries on.

Yet there's also a definite speed to the action. Our demo driver was boosting around, dodging to the side, and then blasting headfirst into the enemy with a sword attack. At one point, they slammed an enemy off an edge and let gravity do the work for them. There is a stagger meter that can build up over time, leading to big damage opportunities against enemies vulnerable to this style.

[caption id="attachment_386754" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Bandai Namco[/caption]

The mission layout will feel familiar to Armored Core fans, as the mech dives deeper and deeper into the complex. A voice over the radio taunts along the way, commenting that it seems like no ordinary merc has shown up today. This ends in a big boss battle with a cleaner unit, which I feel needs to be described as a Roomba-like tank with massive arms. It rules and is a kind of spectacle I can really get into. We didn't get to see much of it, but "armored Doom-Roomba with grinder arms" is intriguing enough as-is.

[caption id="attachment_386755" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Bandai Namco[/caption]

Building for war

Of course, the really good stuff was found in the menus. Part of Armored Core's appeal is its almost Gran Turismo-like approach to customization and design. As our demo player opened the menu, we could see tons of options, ranging from parts and weapons to aesthetics. The mech garage is accessible, too. In our demo, the player was able to head back to the assembly, reconfigure, and then start back from a checkpoint after death.

The draw for this, and what I think will rope many new players in, is all the options they can use here. Both the build-crafting of Souls and the recent inventiveness of Tears of the Kingdom players have me thinking that the general game-playing populace is ready for this level of customization.

And as someone who played a good deal of Armored Core in its PS2 era, I'm quite happy too. It's hard to get a definite gauge on just how it all feels from a hands-off demo, but seeing Armored Core VI in action, it felt like seeing a polished and modernized version of the mech battles I'd envisioned as a kid. The garage full of parts and customization options, for fine-tuning the perfect mech for every situation, feels like it will be a Lego bucket of possibilities.

Suffice it to say, I'm very into Armored Core VI, and think this is the perfect chance for FromSoftware to parlay all of its Souls success into a classic, dormant franchise. But even if this just ends up being a labor of love for the Armored Core faithful, I'm still very glad we're seeing it come together and come together well at that.

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon arrives on August 25, 2023 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

The post Armored Core 6 looks ready to make mech sickos of us all appeared first on Destructoid.

But don't mark your calendars just yet

No doubt, plenty of you horror fans have been anticipating Bloober Team's upcoming remake of Silent Hill 2. Some of you will be excited, while some of you may be holding back judgment. In any case, it's on a lot of people's lips, and the game may have its release date already.

As spotted by Twitter user ResiEvilCentral, Australian website Gaming Gorilla has made Silent Hill 2 available for pre-order, at a cost of $89 AUS (about $60 US). However, the most interesting part about this listing is that it says the "expected release date" for the remake down as September 29, 2023.

Now, given that neither Konami nor the developer has said when it's likely to launch, where Gaming Gorilla got this information is definitely interesting. Last we heard, Bloober Team denied SH2 was ready for release. The fact that both Steam and the PlayStation Store also do not list a release date means this could well have been in error.

https://twitter.com/resievilcentral/status/1668311447212785692

Either that or someone somewhere has access to information the rest of aren't privy to. As of this moment, there is no official release date for the game, so it's entirely likely that this is just a rumor or someone has made a mistake. At the time of writing, the "leaked" release date is still on the retailer's website. However, it's best not to get your hopes up until the studio/publisher either confirm or deny these latest developments.

Silent Hill enjoys a pretty solid legacy, though it's been lying dormant for too long. The second installment, released in 2001, has gone down as one of the most important survival horror games of all time. Given this, it's not surprising that so many are looking forward to the remake. Whether Bloober Team can pull it off remains to be seen at this stage.

The post Retailer may have leaked Silent Hill 2 launch date appeared first on Destructoid.

Who Goes There?

During yesterday's Xbox Games Showcase, publisher Secret Mode released a creepy teaser trailer for a new horror title, Still Wakes the Deep, which is currently in development for PC and Gen9 consoles.

Developed by The Chinese Room in Unreal 5, Still Wakes the Deep sees an offshore oil rig in the North Sea under siege by a mysterious and terrifying entity. It's 1975, a storm is raging, and something has come aboard the Beira D rig. With lines of communication severed and escape seemingly impossible, there may be no other option than to face terror itself if you are to survive this horrific incident.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI74BV20B7g

The teaser trailer offers little in the way of gameplay and concept, but we do get to see some very impressive visuals, as well as catch a glimpse of the foreboding, isolating atmosphere of the title. It all feels very The Thing, which is obviously a more than suitable comparison for '70s isolation horror. The Chinese Room is no stranger to horror, having developed titles such as Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, and Dear Esther, and with the power of Unreal 5 in its hands, Still Wakes the Deep could eventually prove to be the studio's magnum opus.

Still Wakes the Deep is currently in development for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X.

The post Still Wakes the Deep brings ’70s horror to an offshore oil rig appeared first on Destructoid.

Prepare to stay up late or wake up early

Square Enix announced the highly anticipated demo for Final Fantasy XVI will launch worldwide tomorrow on the PlayStation Store. A listing for the demo had appeared on the Store earlier this month for some users, but it was not available for download. While this news may confirm what some already knew, it's still incredibly exciting for those looking forward to Square Enix's hotly anticipated RPG.

The announcement states the demo will release worldwide on June 12th at 4:00 AM EDT. Here's a nifty map they posted to show what time the demo will be available for you.

[caption id="attachment_386067" align="alignnone" width="675"] Image via Square Enix[/caption]

Yes, your demo progress carries over to the full game

As part of the Final Fantasy XVI Pre-Launch Celebration Stream, producer Naoki Yoshida confirmed some details about the demo. It will start at the beginning of the game and take you through the prologue. It's over two hours long, and your progress will carry over to the full game on launch.

In terms of what to expect gameplay-wise, Yoshida admitted that the prologue is very cutscene-heavy. It will focus on setting the stage for the story as well as introducing you to the world of Valisthea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaJ4VVFGIa8

Another demo will unlock after the prologue

If you're concerned about the new action-focused combat system in the game, don't worry. Once you have completed the prologue, you can access a second part of the demo appropriately named "Special Combat Demo."

This will focus on the battle system as protagonist Clive Rosfield. According to a post on the PlayStation Blog, the Special Combat Demo will "let you test out the fuller range of combat options by way of numerous unlocked abilities and accessories." Progress will not carry over from this portion of the demo, but players can retry it as much as they'd like.

I don't know about you, but I'm ready to live in Valisthea. With Final Fantasy XVI releasing June 22 on PlayStation 5 and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth launching early next year, it's a good time to be a Final Fantasy fan.

The post Final Fantasy XVI demo available worldwide on June 12 appeared first on Destructoid.

Three, two, one, go!

I was a Nintendo fangirl right through the GameCube. But in 2005, I needed a PlayStation 2. How could I resist? That year saw Shadow of the Colossus, Guitar Hero, God of War, and We Love Katamari. All of them were platform exclusives, and I couldn’t pass up any. I didn’t actually like God of War, but the rest of them? Those were the halcyon days.

We Love Katamari was my introduction to the series. I had wanted to play Katamari Damacy, but again, I was a GameCube jockey. It was also at a time when I was just learning that Japan is a place that exists. My frame of reference at that time was an anime called Sexy Commando, so it would take me about a decade to realize that Japan isn’t just this isolated land from space.

What am I getting at? I don’t know. It’s probably that We Love Katamari is awesome. It took Katamari Damacy’s relatively simple concept to its terminal location, which it would continue to spin on for each subsequent game. I mean, I love Katamari Forever, but the series definitely hit its peak at We Love Katamari because it couldn’t really go anywhere new from there. So, with that, the best version of a legendary series is here in We Love Katamari Reroll+ Royal Reverie.

[caption id="attachment_385667" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

We Love Katamari Reroll+ Royal Reverie (PC, PS4, PS5 [Reviewed], Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch)
Developer: MONKEYCRAFT Co. Ltd.
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Released: June 2, 2023
MSRP: $29.99

You could just tell me that Bandai Namco was doing an HD re-release of We Love Katamari, and I’d take it. What’s the price? Doesn’t matter. Gimme.

To be clear, We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie is mostly just that. Very little about it is remade, and it succeeds mostly in giving We Love Katamari some modern comforts. There is some new content in the form of levels where you play as the King of All Cosmos back when he was just a prince. However, these are largely just remixes of stages from the main game with some cosmetic differences.

More disappointingly, however, is the fact the King of All Cosmos levels don’t count for much. You don’t even get some sassy comment saying how well you did, which makes them feel unsatisfying. The King just sits there. They’re not bad, but the complete lack of feedback makes them feel tacked on.

https://youtu.be/3L1HE7qYipM

Hop on. We're going to space!

Meanwhile, the main content is still there, and it’s still great. We Love Katamari’s greatest strength was its tangible progression. As you advance through the levels, it teases you by letting you build bigger and bigger katamari. This is drawn out by stages where you focus on soaking up fireflies, but eventually, you make your way to amassing Katamari of epic proportions. It’s all fed at such a pace that it feels earned.

This is all set against a backdrop of oppressive strangeness. Are you new to Katamari and wondering what Katamari is all about? It’s about Katamari. The narrative is literally about that. Katamari Damacy was really popular, so everyone is asking the King of All Cosmos to give them more.

So, as usual, he sends his son to give the people what they want.

This is actually a slight step down from the previous game’s story, in which the King of All Cosmos gets drunk and destroys the universe. To make up for this, we’re occasionally given vignettes of the King of All Cosmos growing up. His rebellious phase, his first romance, and even his relationship with his abusive father. It’s, uh, more charming than it sounds.

[caption id="attachment_385668" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Weaponized garbage

The game itself involves rolling a ball over garbage. As you amass trash, your ball of filth grows, allowing you to suck up more refuse. There are different objectives to this, such as trying to amass fireflies.

The absolute best is one stage where you roll a sumo wrestler over food until he’s heavy enough to defeat his opponent. Humans and animals don’t count as food, but just try and tell me that it won’t become your priority to get your sumo-man big enough to absorb people. Truly, the real appeal of Katamari is to amass a wad of catastrophe to devastate the world with.

We Love Katamari Reroll+ is definitely the best way to do this. But not by a lot.

It’s in higher definition, and it runs real well. It’s less blurry. Weirdly, though, smaller objects still pop in, which is just more noticeable in high definition. I don’t know how to illustrate this anymore clearly. This is absolutely the same game. The extra content is just kind of there.

But you know what? That’s a win. We Love Katamari is still a timeless and terrific game. A spit shine is really all that it needed to get me excited to play it again. If you’ve never played it before, you definitely should. If you have, it’s everything you loved about the PS2 release but less blurry. It’s one of the few games that allows you to weaponize a sumo wrestler to absorb bystanders on the street, and that's very important.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: We Love Katamari Reroll+ Royal Reverie appeared first on Destructoid.

I ain't fibbing

As part of this afternoon's Summer Game Fest event, publisher Neowiz Games launched a surprise demo for its upcoming Gothic fairy tale, Lies of P — The grim-looking soulslike — an adaptation of the Pinocchio fable — can be checked out right now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPOdeLE6d6I

Lies of P will put players in the mechanical mantle of android boy Pinocchio, who must battle his way through the Belle Epoque city of Krat in order to reach his creator Geppetto, who has gone missing amid the darkness that is enveloping the town. Equipped with all manner of weaponry and a penchant for bending the truth, Pinocchio will face an army of nightmarish contraptions on his odyssey to find his "father" and gain true humanity.

The new demo, which is available to download right now will give interested players a chance to check out the first two chapters of the game. This will include introductions to several main characters, a feel for the general gameplay and intense combat, and a face-to-face with a few challenging bosses.

Lies of P will launch September 19 on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X.

The post Lies of P demo available now on PC and consoles appeared first on Destructoid.

An impressive sight

A Street Fighter 6 treadmill streamer has impressed fighting game enthusiasts worldwide on social media. Twitter user @thatMarcWithaC uploaded video Monday of the streamer, known as TalesofMrE, playing SF6 online while walking on a treadmill with his fight stick.

The British streamer has straps around his shoulders to keep it in place as he walks forward. What makes this even more impressive is that TalesofMrE achieved a Perfect K.O. while playing Zangief in this setup.

[caption id="attachment_384792" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot via TalesofMrE's Twitch channel[/caption]

Playing with a Street Fighter 6 treadmill setup

With almost 1,000 followers on Twitch, TalesOfMrE took his treadmill setup online in pursuit of the prestigious Diamond rank. He said he "almost tripped" during his June 5 stream but the streamer still managed to defeat his opponent, accompanied by an evil laugh. While the wire of his fight stick looks hazardously close, TalesofMrE notes that "the perspective of the camera makes it look a lot closer to [his] legs than in reality."

https://twitter.com/thatMarcWithaC/status/1665807673093242881

TalesofMrE eventually achieved Diamond rank, one of the highest ranks you can get in Street Fighter 6, sitting just under Master. Getting a decent workout and playing a superb Street Fighter experience sounds like a lot of fun. Still, succeeding in fighting games at that level requires plenty of concentration and precision, making this feat even more impressive.

When not fighting it out online with bizarre control setups, TalesofMrE also works in the FGC as a community manager at Square Enix!

The post Street Fighter 6 streamer defeats opponents while on a treadmill appeared first on Destructoid.

Plus a Trek to Yomi

The PlayStation Plus monthly game lineup for June 2023 is out, and it's got a strange mix of titles. Sports fans, archaeologists, and sword aficionados will all have something to look forward to in June, at the least.

For June 2023 PlayStation Plus is getting NBA 2K23, the most recent entry in the basketball series, for PlayStation 4 and PS5. Reviews on this particular entry seem medium-warm, though I'll admit, I haven't played some virtual hoops in quite a while. My go-to is NBA Street, personally. But if you want to play the modern-day, professional basketball, this a cheap way to try it out.

Otherwise, if you're a bit more keen on dinosaurs, Jurassic World Evolution 2 is also on this month's docket. These dinos (probably) can't play basketball, but they can cause havoc for you and your parkgoers. Ever think you could run Jurassic Park and have it not turn into a terrifying mess? Well, this is your shot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g76Zx7zydXQ

If you just want a cinematically inclined, action-driven story about a swordsman, Trek to Yomi can cover that. Following Hiroki, a blademaster who fails in his vow to protect the people he cares for, you can expect a lot of slicing and dicing in this 2D action-adventure game.

Of course, a new month means we see some old games depart. If they look appealing, make sure to get them before they're gone. Here's everything coming and going on the PlayStation Plus monthly lineup in June 2023. You've got until June 6 to lock them onto your account.

Coming to PlayStation Plus monthly games in June 2023

• NBA 2K23 (PS4, Ps5)
• Jurassic World Evolution 2 (PS4, PS5)
• Trek to Yomi (PS4, PS5)

Leaving the PlayStation Plus monthly games on June 6

• GRID Legends
• Chivalry 2
• Descenders

The post June PlayStation Plus lineup includes includes basketball and dinosaurs appeared first on Destructoid.

A bowl! I got a bowl! Good for me!

I did an escape room once as an after-work company activity. I didn’t do too badly, but I wouldn’t say I was great. At least I wasn’t like the guy who was such a poor team player that he was fired, like, the last week. What I’m saying is don’t go to an escape room with your employer. It might actually reflect on your job performance.

Playing escape room video games is a lot safer. You (probably) won’t be fired if you do poorly.

Thankfully, there are a few of those. Last year, I played Madison and Escape Academy. But you know what neither of those had? Horror. Oh, no, wait. Madison was a horror game.

Anyway, here’s The Tartarus Key.

[caption id="attachment_383067" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The Tartarus Key (PC [Reviewed], PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch)
Developer: Vertical Reach
Publisher: Armor Games Studios
Release: May 31, 2023
MSRP: $19.99

The Tartarus Key is the classic story of waking up one day in a mansion with no memory of the preceding events. It’s happened to all of us at one point or another. However, this mansion doesn’t just have a pool full of discarded alcoholic vessels, it also has a lot of strange locks on its doors that require you to solve geography problems.

You control Alex Young, the only competent person in the room. All signs point to murder, so you don’t want any part of that. Your job is to try and thwart these puzzle-creating freaks and save everyone.

https://youtu.be/gOfpEme2xMI

Lock your doors

If there’s one thing to know about The Tartarus Key, it’s exactly what I’ve already told you. It’s an escape room game. It is such an escape room game that each escape room actually only consists of a room. Maybe two rooms, but the rooms will probably be joined in some way.

It’s actually a pretty smart design choice. Some games of the puzzle-heavy adventure genre will have you collecting random items like bowls that have no immediate function, which leads to moments where you’re rubbing everything against everything, trying to find the solution. In The Tartarus Key, your inventory only exists in the one room you’re in, and everything that you can fit in your pockets has a function. It doesn’t make The Tartarus Key any easier, but it does mean that you won't waste your time with backtracking.

In terms of puzzle design, The Tartarus Key is decent, leaning on the side of good. However, it does have an edge over other games of its sub-genre: death. As you journey through the death house, you meet other characters who need help with their puzzles. If you screw up, they might lose their lives. You don’t know these people. At least one of them actively sucks. But boy does The Tartarus Key turn the pressure on.

As you approach the final solution, you’ll get messages asking, “Are you sure about this? Like, really certain? ‘Cause this character is dead if you messed up.” That’s a pretty cruel thing to ask me because I have the self-confidence of a sparrow. I will readily doubt myself if you show the slightest hint of skepticism. So, while I’m not usually jazzed about having any added stress, I must say it’s an effective way of getting drawn in.

[caption id="attachment_383066" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Death house

I’m not sure what happens if you flub the puzzles. It never happened to me since I’m just so competent at everything I do. I’m guessing you don’t get to see the true ending, but that’s maybe not so bad. I have no information on whether or not I got the actual true ending, but I’m not sure what I could have possibly done wrong. It’s just such a bizarre way to close a game like this. I’m still reeling.

On the other hand, the characters are all pretty likable. Even the guy who completely sucks is enjoyable enough.

You won't find much reason to help these characters, either. They don’t actually help, leaving Alex to solve everyone’s problems. She gives her motivations in dialogue, so it’s not completely a mystery. But you, the player, don’t really wind up with much attachment.

This is all set under some lo-fi PS1-style graphics. These are rather well executed, as The Tartarus Key conveys all its necessary information with minimal clutter. However, the one thing that bothers me is the texture and model warping effect. I normally like this little curiosity from the days when 3D images went unfiltered, but it gets a little overwhelming in The Tartarus Key. The cinematics have a habit of slowly trolleying in on characters, and their edges start flipping out like they’re pasted over eels. You can turn this effect off, so it’s sort of a non-issue, but I just wish it was done a bit more sparingly.

[caption id="attachment_383068" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

What it's supposed to be

The best thing I have to say about The Tartarus Key is that it does what it says it does. Very little about it is new or unique, but it’s well-executed, and that’s an accomplishment in its own right. It’s maybe about 4-6 hours long, which means it doesn’t drag out. Unless you get stuck on a puzzle, but that’s your problem.

Really, I think I’m going to have mostly forgotten The Tartarus Key in a few months. It just doesn’t do enough to lock itself in my memories.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: The Tartarus Key appeared first on Destructoid.

The Man who Laughs

Bandai Namco has revealed yet another veteran fighter headed to the roster of its upcoming sequel, Tekken 8 — And following on from the fun 'n' games of Lili Rochefort and Asuka Kazama, this newest trailer brings a whole lot more darkness, fear, and pain, with the return of psychopathic mercenary Bryan Fury!

Making his debut in 1997's Tekken 3, Bryan Fury is a former Hong Kong Interpol agent who was killed in a shootout, also involving celebrated detective Lei Wu-Long. Fury's corpse was rushed to the laboratory of the moral-free Dr. Abel, who wished to experiment on reanimated bodies for the purpose of future warfare. Now essentially a reanimated half-cyborg, Bryan's mind is all but completely lost, creating a sociopathic weapon capable of incredible destruction without as much as a raised eyebrow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA0cwK2V4og

Fury's new trailer reveals that our favourite zombie's hard-hunting punches and trademark backfists are in full effect, along with his capabilities for superhuman feats of strength, defying the power of his Actually Alive brethren. Of course, Fury's penchant for maniacal laughter rings through the entire trailer, because if you can't have a good ol' chuckle when you're dead, when can you?

Bryan Fury's trailer was, unfortunately, leaked a little ahead of schedule, upsetting Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada. But the preview finally got its official debut at the climax of this weekend's Combo Breaker tournament in Illinois, where the madman's return was welcome by the Tekken faithful.

Tekken 8 is currently in development for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X. It is tentatively expected to launch late in 2023 or early 2024. Be sure to check out the previous trailers for  Jin Kazama, Marshall Law, Nina Williams, King, Paul Phoenix, Jack-8, Lars Alexandersson, Kazuya Mishima, Jun Kazama, Ling Xiayou, Asuka Kazama, Leroy Smith, Lili Rochefort, and Hwoarang.

The post The maniacal Bryan Fury is next to join the Tekken 8 roster appeared first on Destructoid.

Time for Kombat!

Fans will be able to get a headstart on the gory glory with NetherRealm's Mortal Kombat 1 Stress Test soon. However, it won't be available to all-komers, nor will you won't be able to download it straight away.

How to gain access to the Mortal Kombat 1 Stress Test

[caption id="attachment_382319" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Interested parties cannot sign up for the Stress Test via their PlayStation or Xbox consoles. Instead, you'll need to go to WB Games' website on your PC to perform this task. Log in to your WB Games Account or create a new one. After signing in, you'll be given the opportunity to select an Xbox Series X/S or PS5 code. If you're selected, a code should be emailed to you.

Yes, the beta will not be available on PC or the Nintendo Switch. It makes sense as both of these versions are being developed by separate studios QLOC, Shiver Entertainment, and Saber Interactive. Thankfully, you won't need a PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold subscription in order to take part in the test.

Is the Mortal Kombat 1 Stress Test a beta?

Publisher WB Games has said this stress test shouldn't be considered a beta. "The purpose is to deliberately stress our online infrastructure and identify potential issues ahead of the game’s launch," said WB Games in an official Q&A. "The test is also unrelated to the Mortal Kombat 1 Pre-Order Beta that has been announced for August 2023."

If you don't want to play Mortal Kombat 1 until it's fully released, you'll have to wait until September 19. You can test your might on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store). A PS4 and Xbox One release is not currently scheduled. If you want to get back into Mortal Kombat earlier than that, the prior entry is available on Xbox Game Pass

The post How to sign up for Mortal Kombat 1 Stress Test appeared first on Destructoid.

A match made in Hell

The DualSense is my favorite current-generation default controller. I am a huge fan of handheld gaming. By rights, Sony's just-announced Project Q, a handheld console that appears to have all the same features as the DualSense, should be right at the top of my hardware wishlist. And yet I feel no warmth towards that little machine at all.

[caption id="attachment_362124" align="alignnone" width="640"] Images via EA, Koei Tecmo, and Valve[/caption]

That's because Project Q is not actually a handheld console. It's the latest and worst in a long line of "kinda handhelds," a trend that I feel pretty lukewarm towards that started with the Nintendo Switch. These are "handheld consoles" that primarily or exclusively exist to play home console games. They're neat. I love my Nintendo Switch. I'm sure I would love my Steam Deck if I owned one. But they don't fill the same space as real handhelds in my mind. And Project Q is the worst offender yet.

Portable, kinda

Project Q is a streaming-only handheld. Out of the box, it will use the PS5's remote play feature to stream games. In case you haven't caught on to the problem yet, it's this: the Project Q is being developed not as a console but as an accessory for the PS5. And it's not even an especially useful accessory.

Because PS5 remote play requires a constant internet connection, its away-from-home applications are pretty limited. Sure, you could bust it out at the coffee shop for some quick Returnal sessions, but if you're looking for something to leave in your bag and grab whenever you've got some downtime in your day, you're probably out of luck. You will also look like a massive dork using it anywhere outside of your own home because of its garish and gamerly DualSense handles (I like them, but they do not scream "things I want other people to see me using"). Beyond that, there's also the apparent 8-inch screen, which is a full inch larger than the Nintendo Switch OLED and Steam Deck. Those devices are both already stretching the definition of "portable" considerably, so Project Q may as well have left it behind entirely.

[caption id="attachment_382060" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Apple[/caption]

The largest elephant in the room here is that a PS5 remote play handheld already exists. A whole bunch of them exist, actually, and there's a non-zero chance that you're reading this on one of them right now. Yes, of course smartphones already have PS5 remote play. And it's quite good! There are also already a ton of mobile-ready controllers - as a matter of fact, the DualSense is compatible with iOS and Android devices. It's hard to figure out who the target audience for Project Q actually is, even before considering the still-secret price point.

Why should I care?

To be clear, I'm not a Sony shareholder. The good folks at Sony can make whatever bad business decisions they want. But I am someone who desperately misses the halcyon days of portable handhelds. If Sony insists on dedicating tons of resources to products that general consumers aren't really clamoring for, then I'd really prefer if they made a new Vita.

[caption id="attachment_372560" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via That Retro Video Gamer's YouTube Channel and IGN[/caption]

Frankly, I just miss real handheld games. Consoles that actually fit in pockets and games that are designed to be played on the go. I know those games are still out there - in the time since I last wrote on the topic, I've come to appreciate that there really are quite a few 3DS-ish games on the Switch and Switch Lite, and that the App Store is not as much of a wasteland as I had assumed. But at this point, handhelds that exist to put home games in your "pocket" (or, more realistically, your purse or backpack) are so popular that even the worst version of that concept takes priority over a new dedicated handheld. It bums me out!

I don't really like the idea of Project Q. I don't see the point of it. But more than that, I don't like what it represents. Hardware companies have been hammering home the idea that the dedicated handheld is dead for more than half a decade, and it feels like Sony is finally putting the last nail in that coffin. In the place of the PSP or PS Vita, we now have a tablet for nobody designed to play the exact games you can already play at home, but worse. Instead of honing handheld design philosophy, it feels like the industry at large just wants to get rid of it.

I am into the PlayStation earbuds though. I'll wear those.

The post Sony’s Project Q is the wrong handheld for the wrong time appeared first on Destructoid.

What a week for Warhammer fans

If you thought a Warhammer 40,000-themed DLC for PowerWash Simulator or a brand new Warhammer MMO would be the only new game reveals from the Warhammer Skulls 2023 event, think again. Frontier Developments announced Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin, a brand new real-time strategy game developed in partnership with Games Workshop.

The game is set in the Age of Sigmar and brings the popular era of Warhammer to PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Alongside this reveal the studio also released a pretty epic announcement trailer.

https://youtu.be/LFs5h-sgpFM

Conquer the Mortal Realms in the Age of Sigmar

According to the press release, Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin takes place in the violent and savage Realm of Beasts known as Ghur. The single-player campaign's Age of Sigmar narrative is co-written by legendary Black Library author Gavin Thorpe. I personally find the Age of Sigmar to be the most detailed and fleshed-out era of the fantasy period of Warhammer, so I'm excited to see what direction the story takes. The single-player campaign also features a wide range of mission types and modes as well as four distinct playable factions.

Although the history of RTS games on console has been rather hit-or-miss, Frontier Developments claims to have an innovative new RTS-interface called DirectStep™ to specifically enhance the experience with a controller. They claim the technology allows you to quickly cycle through squads and issue orders with the analogue sticks and a few simple button presses. PC players can of course play using keyboard and mouse controls.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin also has a "quickfire and exciting" multiplayer mode with matches designed to last 30 minutes or less. The multiplayer sounds very similar to Company of Heroes as you will need to hold more Arcane Conduits than your opponent to drain their points faster than they can yours.

[caption id="attachment_381980" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Frontier Developments[/caption]

There's no release date yet for Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin but Frontier Developments says it will be coming soon. They have announced two multiplayer betas will be held soon across all platforms. You can register for them on the official website. According to the press release the first gameplay trailer is coming in June.

The post Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin announced with reveal trailer appeared first on Destructoid.

Take a free tour before you commit

THQ Nordic and Pieces Interactive have locked in a date for their remake, or reimagining, of Alone in the Dark. The return to Derceto Manor will arrive on October 25, 2023 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Announced during a spotlight on the game, Alone in the Dark will go for $59.99. And if you want to check it out before you put that cash down, there's also a free playable prologue going live tonight. It's up on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox.

THQ Nordic says that this prologue doesn't have spoilers for the main story, but will let you experience what this reimagining of an old classic has to offer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJekekI4Vkg

Star power

Additionally, THQ Nordic has announced that Alone in the Dark will feature two recognizable likenesses for its leads. Pieces Interactive is working with David Harbour (Stranger Things) and Jodie Comer (Killing Eve) for their portrayals of Edward Carnby and Emily Hartwood, respectively.

The actors are lending their voice, appearance, and acting to the protagonists. Each is a selectable character, and depending on who you play as, you'll get a different view of the Alone in the Dark story. And this marks another game crossover for Harbour, who's also set to star in the upcoming Gran Turismo movie. They aren't directly connected, but in my own head-canon, I like to think they are.

For those who like a little bit of scares around the Halloween season, October is starting to look stacked. Alongside Alone in the Dark, we also recently got an October release date for Alan Wake 2.

As for Alone in the Dark, this reboot of the Infogrames classic certainly has a long legacy to live up to. The team is calling it a love letter to the '90s classic, so we'll see if it captures the magic again in October.

The post Alone in the Dark remake arrives in October, and a playable prologue is out now appeared first on Destructoid.