Wednesday, March 30, 2016

New Games

New Games


Final Fantasy XV's whimsical Platinum Demo reminds me even more of Kingdom Hearts

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 03:30 PM PDT

During tonight's Final Fantasy XV Uncovered event, Square Enix revealed what it is calling the Platinum Demo, which is a side story that explores a young Noctis' dreamscape. In keeping with the rumors Chris reported on this morning, you can download it right now on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live, if the servers aren't getting smashed into oblivion by hungry would-be players.

It starts with Noctis following his "friend," a small carbuncle, through a forest. Since dreams are weird, he shrinks to action figure size and runs around environments like desks and up stairs made of books. There are also transformations, allowing Noctis to turn into what looks like a weird Elk/Giraffe/Tiger Thing or a Crocodile Thing. You can also drive a teensy tiny car!

When I asked Hajime Tabata if there was more of a Kingdom Hearts influence in the demo than the game proper, he said "Though some of the team that made Kingdom Hearts is working on this, we are going for more of a Disney influence for the Platinum Demo."

This demo serves both to acclimate players to the main game's battle system and to give a taste of the final, high graphic quality. Noctis will use toy swords and squeaky hammers to fight enemies, and it looks stunning, with a much more stable framerate than Episode Duscae.

If you want to go in blind, I recommend stopping here.

I played through the Platinum Demo earlier today at a media event. Despite what Tabata said, I found heavy Kingdom Hearts influences in this demo. Following the carbuncle around (which you unlock for Final Fantasy XV upon completion) and battling little goblin enemies in a large open area reminded me more of fighting the Heartless than anything. This also brings our first chance to use magic. Since Noctis is young, he has fireworks instead of a full-on fire spell. It occupies a weapon slot and it's similar to throwing a grenade in a third-person shooter. There's more of a focus on traversal, which we already knew, but it feels more apparent when there's the option to turn into an Elk and roam around a small section of a city or drive a tiny car across a shining hardwood floor.

My biggest takeaway though is that this is more a tech demo than Episode Duscae, which felt like a chunk of the game proper. By platforming to obtain crystals or defeating enemies, I was able to use panels that were spread across the environments to change the weather or time of day, better allowing me to ooh and ahh at the world, which now has a much more stable framerate. It's also very short. I finished it in about thirty minutes or so.

Most of the fights err on the side of too simple, but towards the end of the demo, I was able to play as present-day Noctis and one of the panels I stepped on summoned a more difficult Giant for me to take on. This battle was more challenging and gives me hope that as the game progresses, it'll have more to do than holding the circle button and dodging occasionally. 

By the way, the carbuncle communicates with Noctis using text messages complete with Final Fantasy emoji, such as a sad chocobo. It's about as as bizarre as it sounds.

Final Fantasy XV will release on September 30, 2016. It's finally happening!

Final Fantasy XV's whimsical Platinum Demo reminds me even more of Kingdom Hearts screenshot

Yep, Final Fantasy XV launches September 30

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 03:29 PM PDT

No, GameSpot wasn't blowing smoke up your ass. Final Fantasy XV is indeed launching on September 30. Go crazy, folks. Go crazy! Soon enough we'll all be riding Chocobos, boats, and flying cars!

If you're the collecting sort, there will be a "Deluxe Edition" that comes with a Steelbook case, in-game items, and Final Fantasy XV: Kingsglaive, a feature-length CGI film. There will also be an "Ultimate Collector's Edition" that comes packed with a 192-page hardcover art book, Steelbook case, Kingsglaive, soundtrack, more in-game items, and a Noctis figurine. 

There will only be 30,000 Ultimate Collector's Editions printed worldwide, all of which we be available exclusively through Square Enix's online store starting later this evening.

A new "Platinum" demo is also now available to download on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network.

Yep, Final Fantasy XV launches September 30 screenshot

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There's gonna be a goddamn Final Fantasy XV pinball game

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 02:51 PM PDT

I know what you've wondering about Final Fantasy XV ever since it was announced way back when as Final Fantasy Versus XIII. Is it going to have a tie-in pinball game for mobile platforms?

Well, buddy, let me just tell you something. You bet your sweet ass there is!

Tonight at the new role-playing game's special "Uncovered" event in Los Angeles, Square Enix announced Justice Monsters Five, a tie-in mobile game based on the pinball machine in Final Fantasy XV.

Justice Monsters Five will be available before Final Fantasy XV's launch. Pre-registration begins tonight.

There's gonna be a goddamn Final Fantasy XV pinball game screenshot

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Final Fantasy XV anime, CGI movie announced

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 02:35 PM PDT

Tonight at Square Enix's "Uncovered" event, the publisher announced a Final Fantasy XV-themed animated series, Final Fantasy XV: Brotherhood, and a CGI movie, Final Fantasy XV: Kingsglaive.

Brotherhood is a free five-part series that comes from Tokyo-based anime studio A-1 Pictures, the first episode of which is already available online. The other four will air prior to the release of Final Fantasy XV. As a whole, the series will explore the relationships of the four main characters, specifically showing how the protagonists became friends and got to know one another from childhood to adulthood.

Meanwhile, Kingsglaive is a feature-length film with an all-star cast of voice actors that includes Sean Bean, Lena Heady, and Aaron Paul. It will be released sometime later this year.

Final Fantasy XV anime, CGI movie announced screenshot

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See Dugtrio in all his muscular, 3D-rendered glory

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 02:00 PM PDT

Destructoid is no stranger to stupid sexy Pokémon. If you've been among us for ten years or ten minutes, you know this by now. You've seen things. Strange, confusing, sweaty things. Here's another!

You can take your retro .jpg of Dugtrio's full body, print it out, and toss it straight in the garbage. You won't need it any more now that you have this 3D render courtesy of artist Lan Sei.

[Daily Sculpt] Human muscle anatomy study with Dugtiro [Lan Sei via Tiny Cartridge]

See Dugtrio in all his muscular, 3D-rendered glory screenshot

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Get ready to get physical, get physical with Hover Junkers

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 01:30 PM PDT

Players will scout the wasteland for loot while hovering and fighting off other junkers in what looks to be the first multiplayer FPS made for virtual reality, Hover Junkers. It's launching alongside the HTC Vive next week on April 5.

The ships you can select in-game will depend on the size of your room in real life as some have larger areas to move around in, while others are much smaller. You'll fire guns at other junkers while ducking and dodging for real to keep from getting shot. Maybe Hover Junkers is a bit too physical for some, but anything that encourages me to burn a few extra calories while having fun can't be a bad thing.

Get ready to watch my junk hover when Hover Junkers releases next week! Now, if only we can get a The Pirates of Dark Water VR game.

Get ready to get physical, get physical with Hover Junkers screenshot

Shadow of the Beast is reminiscent of the PS1 era

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 01:00 PM PDT

The PlayStation 4 exclusive remake of Shadow of the Beast finally has a release date: May 17, 2016.

It looks to be a side-scrolling brawler which somehow manages to be oddly reminiscent of such classic PlayStation games as Wild 9 and Oddworld; I can't quite put my finger on why, exactly, but maybe it is the camera angle or animation? 

Either way, it looks like the game could be a beastly good time for old-school fans.

Shadow of the Beast is reminiscent of the PS1 era screenshot

RollerCoaster Tycoon World hits Steam Early Access

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 12:30 PM PDT

RollerCoaster Tycoon World has been a long time coming, and it's still not here yet -- not fully. After multiple delays and even some development studio switching on publisher Atari's end, the game released today on Steam Early Access with a campaign, sandbox mode, a few scenarios, the spline-based track editor, and support for user-made content. It's $49.99 for the standard edition.

"The Early Access release of RCTW contains the core features and content of the game," says developer Nvizzio Creations. "Your purchase includes these, along with our roadmap of future content updates and tweaks. All features, like the Coaster builder, the simulation and the overall user experience will be optimized, improved and refined as the game evolves -- not only during Early Access, but throughout the life of the game ... Throughout Early Access and beyond we will be adding further content, including piece-by-piece custom-built structures, scenario editor, mini-rides and dark rides, additional scenarios, transport rides and more."

Based on user reviews, it's probably best to wait until this is further along, both in terms of content and performance (and also to continue keeping an eye on World's biggest competitor, Planet Coaster).

RCTW - Early Access dev blog #1 - The Park Has Opened! [Steam]

RollerCoaster Tycoon World hits Steam Early Access screenshot

Curiosity drives us forward in The Gallery: Call of the Starseed

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 12:00 PM PDT

The Oculus Rift launched this week, but the virtual reality train is just getting started as the Valve-backed HTC Vive headset launches on April 5, 2016. Releasing alongside the Vive is The Gallery: Call of the Starseed, an episodic, built-for-VR game inspired by '80s fantasy films. You set out looking for your missing sister on a mysterious adventure with bizarre characters and a cosmic machine full of dark secrets. 

Developer Cloudhead Games has a lot of talent on board that previously worked for BioWare, Relic, Riot, and EA, so I think it is safe to say I'm pumped for this one. The sudden throwbacks to the 1980s across all forms of media are hitting all the right spots for me, and The Gallery looks to continue that trend.

I can't wait to literally get my hands on this with the HTC Vive's innovative controllers and room-scale virtual reality. Keeping that in mind and watching the trailer above gives you an idea of the kind of gameplay to expect considering the in-game hands move in real time with your own hands. The future is here, guys. Get pumped?

The Gallery will also support the Oculus Rift once the Oculus Touch controllers are out later this year.

Curiosity drives us forward in The Gallery: Call of the Starseed screenshot

#PleaseBeExcited

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 11:30 AM PDT

Square Enix is very excited about Final Fantasy XV and tonight's big "Uncovered" event. With good reason, too. Final Fantasy XV is a huge upcoming game, and the publisher spent a lot of money putting together this worldwide hootenanny.

Then people went and fucked everything up.

The first leaks came by way of a Chinese ad. Then, GameSpot (a publication that's almost certainly under strict NDA about all of this) went and blew the roof off the rest of it.

Square Enix, doing its best to not seem discouraged (alternate mood: pissed off as all goddamn hell), sent out this tweet:

#PleaseBeExcited screenshot

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I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want (It's Podtoid questions)

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 11:01 AM PDT

The weeks go by too fast, man. It seems like just hours ago that I had to talk to these jabronis for a little thing called "Podtoid," and here we are, ready to record again. Just let me and my new mouse pad be!

Luckily, solace comes in two forms this week. First and foremost, Steven and Zack aren't going to be on this episode. They're both in the City of Angels for some Final Fantasy something-or-other. Probably not important. The point is, I don't have to deal with them, and that is infinitely relieving.

Second, you're going to ask questions for Kyle, Darren, Patrick, and myself to answer. Make 'em good. You screw this up and you're on probation. Screw it up again and you have to hang out with Steven for a week. Gross.

I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want (It's Podtoid questions) screenshot

Here are Destiny's newly-updated Exotics

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 11:00 AM PDT

To promote Destiny's upcoming April 12 update, Bungie held a livestream to give players some indication of what's included. It's a fair amount of what you might expect -- new activities, missions, items, etc.

However, Bungie also took to Instagram to showcase some of the update's Exotics. They're all embedded below. All of the Exotics shown here seem to be from year one, presumably revamped for year two power levels.

Sometime later this year, Activision has said that another large Destiny expansion will release. Then, if all goes according to plan, a proper sequel will launch in 2017.

Here are Destiny's newly-updated Exotics screenshot

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Starfy is coming to Super Mario Maker

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 10:30 AM PDT

Starfy is a lesser-known character from the Nintendo universe, but that might be because he's not wholly owned by Nintendo. In fact, he's co-owned by Tose, creators of the Game & Watch franchise, as the Legend of Starfy games were only published by the Big N.

While only one Starfy game was released in the west, that isn't stopping them from putting the character in Super Mario Maker as an event costume reward. Hopefully this leads to more visibility in the future, as the last Starfy title was released in 2008.

Starfy is coming to Super Mario Maker screenshot

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Far Cry Primal is adding Survivor mode (and 4K textures on PC)

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 10:00 AM PDT

Aside from a few specific animal encounters that went real south, I didn't find Far Cry Primal to be a challenging game. By the end of it, with all of the skills unlocked, I might as well have had a metal endoskeleton buried underneath my cave-man flesh. I was near-indestructible.

Ubisoft is preparing a new challenge for players, Survivor mode, due out as a free patch on April 12, 2016. As an added bonus for PC players, it'll also add higher-resolution textures.

The mode is playable on any difficulty setting and alters a number of Primal's mechanics to be more "realistic." In practice, that means (optional) permanent death, stamina concerns, less-powerful beast companions, lowered map visibility, and not quite as many wild animals and humans roaming around. Also, you can "no longer rain remote-control death on foes using [your] owl."

Upon hearing the news, Brett was quick to express elation over the fact that there are no new Achievements or Trophies tied to Survivor mode, and I'm right there with him. We both played this game probably too much. There will, however, be a "special reward" for folks who clear Primal on the hardest difficulty with Survivor mode and permadeath enabled. Good luck with that!

Free Survivor Mode Coming to Far Cry Primal [Ubisoft]

Far Cry Primal is adding Survivor mode (and 4K textures on PC) screenshot

Tokyo 42 is a damn cool take on Syndicate and classic GTA

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 09:30 AM PDT

As a modern take on the original Grand Theft Auto and Syndicate with some lovely pops of color, Tokyo 42 makes a great first impression. It's an open-world isometric game about an up-and-coming assassin "embroiled in all sorts of cyber-shenanigans." There's stealth. And multiplayer. And the music is so good, I went back to rewatch the trailer twice. Okay, actually, make that thrice.

This in development at SMAC Games, a team made up of "debut game developers (and brothers) Maciek Strychalski and Sean Wright," with Mode 7 (Frozen Synapse) on publisher duties.

Visually, it's a lot to take in all at once, but I'm really feeling the overall tone.

Tokyo 42 is a damn cool take on Syndicate and classic GTA screenshot

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Japan gets Pokemon Snap on Wii U next week

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 09:15 AM PDT

Make-believe animal voyeur simulator Pokémon Snap is coming to Wii U next week, at least in Japan.

While you can already play the 1999 Nintendo 64 classic on the console through the Wii portal, this version adds support for the Wii U GamePad and Wii U Pro Controller.

Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to go daydream about a full-on Pokémon Snap sequel that uses the GamePad as a camera lens à la sniping in ZombiU. Why the hell doesn't that exist already?

ポケモンスナップ [Nintendo via Game Informer]

Japan gets Pokemon Snap on Wii U next week screenshot

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Review: Roccat Nyth modular MMO gaming mouse

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 09:00 AM PDT

You’d be forgiven for thinking MMO mice are a daft idea. Taking a perfectly good mouse and ramming in a load of tiny buttons right where your thumb sits sounds like it would be a recipe for disaster.

At least, that’s what I thought until I got my hands on the Roccat Nyth modular gaming mouse. This thing’s great.

Review: Roccat Nyth modular MMO gaming mouse screenshot

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Review: Smashing the Battle

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 08:30 AM PDT

Having dabbled in every launch title for the Oculus Rift, I've been relatively impressed with the lot of them. They either have something unique to offer to gaming in general, or are retrofitted with a VR perspective in a way that doesn't feel forced.

The same can't really be said of Smashing the Battle.

Review: Smashing the Battle screenshot

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Star Ocean 5 gets June 28 release date

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 08:15 AM PDT

Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is coming to PlayStation 4 in North America on June 28.

The good word comes from Square Enix's online store, where a special "Day One" edition of the game (which includes a smattering of digital bonus content) is now available for pre-order.

Square Enix is releasing the PlayStation 4 version of Tri-Ace's new role-playing game in Japan tomorrow. Or today, actually. Because it's already tomorrow over there. Time zones are weird.

A PlayStation 3 port, which isn't coming to western shores, will launch in Japan on April 28. Square Enix has yet to announce release information for the title's European and Australasian debuts.

For more on Star Ocean 5, you can check out our interview with producer Shuichi Kobayashi.

Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness [Square Enix Online Store]

Star Ocean 5 gets June 28 release date screenshot

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April's PlayStation Plus lineup is underwhelming

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 08:00 AM PDT

Word got out early that Dead Star, a top-down multiplayer space shooter from Armature Studios, would be among the games offered to PlayStation Plus subscribers in April. Some of you weren't feeling it based on the trailer, but I wanted to try it (which isn't something I can say for everything on PS Plus).

Looking over the full list now, Dead Star is actually the one I'm most interested in. Rough month.

PlayStation 4

PlayStation 3

PlayStation Vita

I'll probably also wind up downloading Zombi, though I can't imagine it's as good without the Wii U GamePad functionality (this is an altered version of Ubisoft's 2012 survival horror title ZombiU).

PlayStation Plus: Free Games for April 2016 [PlayStation Blog]

April's PlayStation Plus lineup is underwhelming screenshot

Eli Roth directed a twisted Dark Souls animated short

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 07:45 AM PDT

Eli Roth, the director of Thanksgiving (NSFW link) and also some other movies, put his directing acumen to good use recently and helped create a Dark Souls animated short. It's rife with disturbing imagery, Macbeth-ian witches, and a raven that's a real jerk. 

Pecked faces, plucked eyeballs, pulled teeth -- it's all very reliable torture stuff. However, Dark Souls III plans on torturing you in a different way when it releases worldwide two weeks from now.

Eli Roth directed a twisted Dark Souls animated short screenshot

'Lost,' a film by ex-Pixar execs, is one you'll want to watch standing up

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 07:30 AM PDT

As I stated in my review, the Oculus Rift is launching with more than just 30 games. It has 360-degree travel opportunities, as well as a few short films made exclusively for Oculus VR. Henry, a cute little animated movie about a hedgehog who longs for a friend, was fantastic, as is Lost, an atmospheric adventure of sorts, both from the same source -- an animation outfit called Oculus Story Studio.

While I don't know if I want to watch feature-length pictures or even play most games standing up, I can put up with it for a few minutes at a time for something like Lost. I won't give away details, but suffice to say it deals with an encounter of sorts in the woods, which is equal parts haunting and charming.

I also had an epiphany during my second viewing that showcased how impactful VR films can be. The first time I watched it, I was freaked out by a bird that flew right over my shoulder, with an appropriately loud directional flapping noise booming out of the speakers of the Rift. But by the next run, I was ready for it, and saw it coming by looking behind me. This type of experience has the potential to impact everyone differently, as opposed to watching a movie on a static traditional screen.

I'm not going to act like these launch videos change the face of tech forever as they're only several minutes in length, but much like the rest of the Oculus Rift lineup, I'm impressed. Three more shorts are on the way from Story Studio, and I can't wait to see them.

'Lost,' a film by ex-Pixar execs, is one you'll want to watch standing up screenshot

Street Fighter V DLC character Alex out today

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 07:15 AM PDT

Alex may be inspired by Hulk Hogan, but he isn't making headlines today by trying to destroy a gossip rag for leaking his sex tape. No, the man, the myth, the legend is now playable in Street Fighter V.

The beefy grappler, who you might remember from Street Fighter III, Capcom Fighting Evolution, and Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, is the first DLC character to join the new fighting game's roster.

Also launching today is the title's in-game shop, which allows players to spend "Fight Money" earned from playing the game on things like new characters (100K FM) and story mode costumes (40K FM).

However, if you don't want to purchase Alex with your hard-earned Fight Money, you can currently play him for free, as Capcom is allowing players to test out DLC characters during a trial period until its real-life money shop gets up and running.  Whenever that happens, you'll need to spend some Fight Money, Zenny, or actual cash on the season pass to use Alex and the rest of the DLC character crew.

We'll have some Alex impressions from our man with a plan Patrick Hancock sometime soonish.

Street Fighter V DLC character Alex out today screenshot

Xbox One's summer update has three big features, including turning all consoles into dev kits

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 07:00 AM PDT

As a part of its plans for the anniversary of Windows 10's launch, Microsoft intends to enhance the Xbox One. After all, it is a Windows 10 product. The tech giant took some time today to outline three significant features that are coming to Xbox One this summer, including one that's long-awaited.

At today's Microsoft Build conference keynote in San Francisco, it was revealed that the next large system update would turn all Xbox Ones into developer kits. This would allow more people to more easily create games and apps for the platform, which, in theory, is a great thing.

There's no indication exactly how it'll work, but this is the first time Microsoft has spoken about it in approximately a year. Xbox head Phil Spencer is set to talk at Microsoft Build later in the week, which means that maybe he'll have some more insight as to the program.

The other two announced features are more geared toward the average consumer. Microsoft's Siri-like voice-activated assistant Cortana will be implemented on the Xbox One. Obviously, Kinect will have to be plugged in for Cortana to work. Microsoft walked back on Kinect being integral to the Xbox One experience sometime in 2014, meaning that a good chunk of the user base is without the peripheral.

However, the last feature is more universal. Microsoft's adding the ability to play background music on Xbox One. PlayStation 4 already has this by way of Spotify; it's not clear if Microsoft has a first-party solution for this or if it's partnering up too.

These are three substantial additions to the Xbox One system, although different users will find them of varying levels of usefulness. It might not be all Microsoft has in store, though. It has already been teased that more features will be announced. We'll keep an eye on Microsoft Build for any more worthwhile gaming news.

Xbox One's summer update has three big features, including turning all consoles into dev kits screenshot

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter makes a great case for VR when it's not disorienting

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 06:30 AM PDT

I have yet to finish The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, which I picked up during its launch back in 2014, so I figured hopping into the brand new Oculus Rift version would be a good way to accomplish that. Barring some discomfort, it managed to draw me into the world a little more than the original release.

For those who aren't aware, Ethan Carter is a walking simulator of sorts that features a mysterious rural area called Red Valley, with plenty of occult themes in tow. It's an engrossing setup all on its own, but being able to see the world around you adds to the atmospheric experience. Looking down at a broken bridge into the pit below, or looking up at a daunting mountain is almost indescribable in nature, and Red Valley is more alive because of it. The tone is also near perfect, maintaining a simultaneously serene and melancholy feeling throughout that is enhanced with a headset.

But there's one major hangup that impacted my playthrough, and that's the camera. Much like Windlands, looking around and moving felt great, but any interaction with the right analog stick put a lot of strain on my eyes. I started to realize that if I slowly used the stick to turn it wasn't as stressful, but the fact that this happens at all highlights a common issue with VR gaming in general.

I was able to play a multitude of titles without discomfort, but with Carter, I had to change my playstyle to account for it. I'm interested in hearing if others have had similar experiences, but for now, consider this a warning. Ethan Carter is priced at $29.99 on Oculus VR -- it is currently $19.99 on Steam, the latter of which does not have VR support at the moment.

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter makes a great case for VR when it's not disorienting screenshot

Info from the Final Fantasy XV event allegedly leaks (Update: possible release date)

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 06:06 AM PDT

[Spoilers for the Final Fantasy XV Uncovered event below.]

Drip, drip, drip. Do you hear that? Leaks, baby!

According to multiple sources who have obtained information by way of China (Uncovered is an event taking place all over the world, not just LA today), there will be another Final Fantasy XV demo, and it will be released tonight for free. These reports claim that it will deal with Noctis' childhood, and will not be playable in the core game. You can watch video evidence of the demo here, and here. There's also a Chinese ad for the game here.

There's even some drama going on at NeoGAF right now (a location that prominently features leaks), stemming from a mod named Falk, who allegedly used to work with Square Enix in some capacity (which has been since addressed here for clarity). He's been deleting spoiler threads and posts, leading to a discussion among members regarding the authenticity of the leaks. The event will take place tonight at 10PM ET, so we'll know more then.

We have reached out to Square Enix to comment, but given the fanfare and cash put into this event we don't expect them to answer.

Info from the Final Fantasy XV event allegedly leaks (Update: possible release date) screenshot

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Blizzard's HQ is just as over the top as you'd expect

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 06:00 AM PDT

I had the chance to visit Blizzard's headquarters in Irvine, California last week for an Overwatch event, which has basically been a lifelong dream of mine since I first played The Lost Vikings on the SNES. It didn't disappoint either, and our group was able to get a full tour of the campus, barring some top-secret areas that housed projects in development.

In short, it's everything you probably think it is. There's goofy posters up everywhere, plenty of mascot representation, and killer giant statues, as well as lots of pinned-up artwork from fans. I learned a few fun tidbits about the company too, like the fact that employees get a bonus if they walk 5,000 steps a day (every new hire gets a Fitbit), and that whenever the team moves the Tyrael statue, they put a tiny figure in the roped-off section to honor his memory. Oh, and those statues have a full-time employee dedicated to their upkeep, mind.

I also was able to witness the giant statue out front that developers always reference ("gameplay first") in their patch notes, as well as various bonuses that crew members get after sticking it out with the company for a certain amount of years, including the Arthas-inspired "Crown of Dedication" for two decades of service.

Blizzard's HQ is just as over the top as you'd expect screenshot

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Dead Space is now backward compatible on Xbox One

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 05:30 AM PDT

The original Dead Space, a game most of you probably owned at some point, is now backwards compatible on the Xbox One, Major Nelson has announced. If you already have it the game will show up in your library automatically. If you don't, as a result of a recent update, prospective buyers can also purchase the game directly from the Xbox One interface.

As a reminder, here is the full updated list of backward compatible games, which is updated as new additions arise. I wasn't all that crazy about the first Dead Space, all told, and the same goes for the third iteration -- I mainly just liked Dead Space 2.

Larry Hryb [Twitter]

Dead Space is now backward compatible on Xbox One screenshot

Hopefully Mirror's Edge Catalyst has a better story than the first

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 05:00 AM PDT

Like everyone else, I was disappointed with the narrative of Mirror's Edge, but it absolutely didn't break the game for me. I had fun treating it like a puzzle game, and saw the campaign as a massive tutorial for the real meat, the time trials mode. The DLC, in fact, was the best part of the game for me.

But still, it would be nice if Catalyst had a good story to enhance the package overall, and this new developer video gives us some hope -- though it still looks by-the-numbers, and a few characters look cringe-worthy ("Don't get lost!").

I also cringed at the developer's comments that Faith has an "edgy" look.

Hopefully Mirror's Edge Catalyst has a better story than the first screenshot

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That Contra reboot game just looks...ugh

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 04:30 AM PDT

So you may have heard of Tencent, that company seemingly bent on global domination of multiple industries, including your vidjas (want to know something crazy? It owns 48% of Epic Games!).

Since Konami loves money, it has partnered up with the company, bringing Contra Mobile to a device near you! Wait, what? Yeah, I said Contra Mobile, a fully dedicated passion project that reboots the original game in a total loving and not manipulative way.*

*Who am I kidding. It's a cash grab and will probably feature microtransactions. Stay tuned for the Pachinko machine line! 

That Contra reboot game just looks...ugh screenshot

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MMO News

MMO News


Metal Assault – Refresher: It’s back, better than ever???

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 04:43 PM PDT

Metal Assault – Refresher: It’s back, but is it better than ever???

BakermanBrad takes a crack at the recently resurrected 2D side-scroller shoot’em up known as Metal Assault!

Shutdown by Aeria Games in 2012, Warpportal is thrilled to bring back GNISoft’s fantastically fun game Metal Assault! Reviving this 2D side-scroller brings back Carl, Ai, Marie and Burton! Fan Favorites like Co-Op vs. Zombies, Zombie Infection and Death Match return along with Player vs. Player, Mission Mode, and Cooperative challenges! Players can create companies and work together to complete objectives, or go solo for the glory!

Metal Assault arrives back in North American and English speaking territories! It will be available on the Steam platform and through Warpportal download. Warpportal is really excited to get involved with the Metal Assault community that has been hungering for the resurgence of this title for years!

The only thing is, for now the game is infested with bugs… hopefully Warpportal can turn the relaunch into something more like what Neople did with DFO!

The post Metal Assault – Refresher: It’s back, better than ever??? appeared first on MMOHuts.

Pox Nora Spirits Beyond Expansion now live

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 03:28 PM PDT

Grand story plots and new tactical play are awaiting people in Pox Nora, the online tactical turn-based strategy game with elements of collectible card games and fantasy RPGs, from Desert Owl Games (DOG).  DOG is excited to announce the release of the 28th expansion for Pox Nora, "Spirits Beyond".
Spirits Beyond adds 51 all new Runes, along with over 20 new abilities and mechanics to the game.  The ongoing story arc of Pox Nora sheds light upon the mysterious ruins of a once forgotten city and its history.  These revelations along with the incursion of the spirit elemental, known as the Arroyo, makes this one of the most surprising and epic times in the lands of Poxanthuru.
The big new addition in Spirits Beyond is the long awaited Hand of Death campaign.  This challenging 5 mission story arc follows a band of Protectorate heros as they discover and ultimately face one of Pox Nora's most powerful antagonists.  This campaign reveals some of the larger events that have occurred in Pox Nora over the past expansions.  The Hand of Death campaign is available for both paid and free-to-play currencies on the Pox Nora Marketplace.  Completing this brand new campaign on Legendary will award the Glimpse of Death limited edition rune!  This is the only way for player to acquire this one of a kind rune.
Features of Spirits Beyond Include:

  • New League Rewards
  • New Story Chapter and Campaign
  • New map rotation and layout for PvE and PvP maps
  • Visions of Amareth expansion added to the Rune Forge and available for gold (currency)
  • 48 new runes (Cards that represent Champions, Spells, Relics, and Equipment)
  • 20+ new abilities (Special behaviors, powers, and effects)
  • 3 new Limited Edition Runes
  • Rune Forge weekly limit on crafting Exotic and Legendary runes has been increased
  • Heroic Achievements no longer count against the daily gold limit

With the release of Expansion 28 for a limited time, there will be a Spirits Beyond Megabox available on the Pox Nora Marketplace.  This box contains 300 Spirits Beyond runes, 1500 Shards, 35 Platinum tokens, and a special bonus Limited Edition (Valdaci Emerald or Valdaci Shield) rune.  Spirits Beyond will be available at 1PM PDT (4PM EDT, 8PM UTC) on March 30th.

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Taichi Panda: Heroes Closed Beta Trailer

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 02:45 PM PDT

Snail Games announces Taichi Panda: Heroes, a follow up to the mobile RPG Taichi Panda.

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Paladins CB20 Preview Teases Ying

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 02:06 PM PDT

Paladins offered a glimpse at the work in progress upcoming illusion focused hero, Ying. Building off of trashed concepts from previous hero Evie, Ying offers a kit ideal for a tactical mastermind to straight out mind**** their foes by always staying one step ahead. Let’s look at what we know on her kit.

Her Q is the basis for the rest of the kit. She summons illusions of herself that are seemingly indistinguishable from herself outside of leaving a tombstone upon being destroyed. Ying can spawn 2 illusions, and they can’t move, though they will attack akin to turrets.

Her F, Dimensional Link, allows Ying to teleport to her illusions, or their persistent graves. She can teleport around for a 4 second duration after activating.

Dimensional Link ties in well with her alternative attack, Shatter, which turns her illusions into suicide bombers that will rush at the nearest enemy for 2.5 seconds before exploding. By throwing yourself in harm’s way, you can activate shatter and then swap places with a clone just before it explodes, leaving your foe caught entirely off guard.

Her standard attack is a channeled beam with 6 clips, 5 shots per clip. Pretty standard stuff compared to the rest of the kit.

A solid facepalm was had by all when Drybear revealed the ultimate, Illusionary Rift, wasn’t finished for preview yet. It seems related to illusions, maybe multiple, and likely is some super version of Shatter. But for now that’s all speculation and could even change as testing and balancing continues.

Closed Beta update 20 is expected to be massive, including a huge Horde Mode, though nothing was shown in this week’s Livestream related to this. But with April expected to be the biggest month of updates in Paladin’s testing so far, there’s never been a more exciting time to jump into closed beta and try it for yourself. Grab a beta key from our giveaway page while supplies last!

Credit for Ying screenshots to schadstoff of the Paladins Subreddit community.

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The Skies Early Access Announcement Trailer

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 02:01 PM PDT

The Skies announces it will be available via Steam Early Access on April 16, 2016.

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Webzen Soft Launches MU Origin

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 01:41 PM PDT

WEBZEN, a global developer and publisher of free-to-play games, soft-launched one of its upcoming mobile games called MU Origin on iOS and Android in Canada and Ireland today, getting the game ready for its western release soon.

MU Origin is a stunning real-time MMORPG that lets players embark on an epic fantasy journey, successfully transferred full 3D PC MMORPG MU ONLINE’s enormous amount of contents and applied the latest mobile game trends: the game system and user interface which are optimized to mobile devices, and the splendid graphics.

MU Origin offers the full 3D epic MMORPG experience, featuring fast paced easy levelling, endless levels and contents. Players can meet friends, create parties, and gear up to fight against the evil on a vast open world to bring back tranquillity.

Starting from today, players will be able to download MU Origin from the Google Play and App Store in select regions. Player across iOS and Android can join forces with powerful players and conquer enemies in the immersive world of MU Origin, while supporting cross-platform multiplayer.

MU Origin is only available in English, but players can enjoy many dungeon raids, in-game events according to their time zones, including PST, EST, and UTC.

To celebrate this soft launch, a lot of exciting events and giveaways will be running throughout the launch. Players can get free items while playing the game during the happy hour, and other events will be delivered to the official MU Origin community, including Facebook and Forum.

Full launch of the game is currently scheduled for spring 2016 in many other territories of Europe, North and South America.

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Paladins Closed Beta Key Giveaway

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 01:32 PM PDT

MMOHuts has partnered with Hirez Studios to celebrate the latest revealed Paladins hero, Ying, with a closed beta key giveaway!

Paladins: Champions of the Realm is a F2P FPS developed by Hi-Rez Studios. Focused on team-based strategy, Paladins combines FPS combat with RPG elements and a collectible card system that allows players to amplify and augment their characters with different abilities.

To Use Your Key In-Game:

  • Visit the Paladins website and sign-up for a Hirez account.
  • Download Paladins. Once installed, click “I have a beta key.”
  • Log into your Hirez Account and enjoy Paladins!

The post Paladins Closed Beta Key Giveaway appeared first on MMOHuts.

The Kindred Alpha Impressions

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 01:10 PM PDT

When I first saw previews of The Kindred I made the mistake that many others made, since the game looks, from a perspective, like Minecraft. I thought I was going to play another one of those voxel clones that is similar, yet with a slight tweak overemphasized as a selling point. But when I actually started playing, I was flabbergasted by the mistake I had made. Though visually matching the voxel craze, Kindred is an entire genre apart. This time around you get to steer characters to make them survive the harsh world you put them in. But before you make huge buildings and monuments to respect yourself as a god, you have to ensure your Kin can survive long enough to build them.

The Kindred Alpha Impressions

Don't judge this game by the cover!

The characters that will work for you are called Kin, and at the start of the game you can give each Kin their respectable job and the tools required to do them. You can change this at any time but its best to do it straight away before you start playing. The Kindred is a very peaceful game; right from the moment you hear the music through your speakers, you get this relaxing vibe and know that this game hasn’t got any sudden dangers that you will have to deal with. But before you get to the real ‘problems’ you first have to give your Kin a home, a place to sleep with a resource of food so that they will not die of hunger.

There are plenty of ways to feed your Kin. You can either plant crops and wait for those to grow so you can harvest them, or you can wait for the trees to grow fruits. But Kin are omnivores so hunting sheep, cows, or breeding chickens are more active options. Having a steady supply of meat makes survival and the game in general a lot easier, so focusing on setting up your reliable source of food first is a must. This is where your Kin specialization comes into play, as assigning them where they are best becomes the micromanagement main game. This can be a bit overwhelming for new players thrown into the mix, so take advantage of the slow down time option to get a grasp of the situation.

The Kindred Alpha Impressions

The devs seem to have plenty of plans for rewarding keeping your Kin comfortable.

Once survival and security is out of the way, The Kindred gets to its core voxel concept – crafting. You start off with decent enough stone tools to get you by for a while, but without crafting you won't get far. From a simple crafting bench you can begin pushing out a massive variety of items, enough to build a full village for your Kin to style in. Now like Rome, don't expect to build a full village in a day. The Kindred does a great job of balancing out projects and micromanagement though so you never feel tedium as you slowly construct the necessary items to create your dream village. See your civilization rise from the dust is satisfying, and the pacing is ideal for a casual sandbox title. As you advance further though, The Kindred will throw some new challenges your way to make sure you don't get too comfortable.

Deadly surprises are waiting around every corner to punish Kindred gods that get too complacent. Viral disease, heat exhaustion, and especially being unprepared for freezing winters are the main factors that will seek to throw your civilization into anarchy. I won't spoil my secrets for overcoming these events, but it should be clear that crafting and specialization of Kin holds the answers to anything that stands in your way.

The Kindred Alpha Impressions

Progress pacing is nicely done, but there's currently only so much you can do before you run out of content.

Right now The Kindred is still in Early Access and obviously that means that the game isn’t finished yet. Bugs and incomplete features are bound to be present. I unfortunately experienced a few of those that hindered my progress, such as building a gate that wouldn't connect to a fence, trapping my Kin inside. The community is active and supportive of the trial and error phase The Kindred is currently going through, but there is always the risk of investing in a lesser known developer. But I'm getting good vibes off Persistent Studios so far and think they have real passion to make The Kindred into a finished product.

State of the Beta: Good

If you were to ask me the same question: "is the game in its current state worth investing into," I’d say yes, but only if you aren't tight on spending money. The game is definitely a lot of fun, it put me straight into a relaxing vibe, and has enough features existing to keep you entertained for at least a few hours. The pacing is slow and not for everyone though, and made slower with occasional game breaking bugs forcing you to reset some progress. AI pathing currently can make you facepalm from your godly throne. Still I'd drop the $15 of support and pop in once a month to see The Kindred turn into something truly original and engaging.

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Elsword Elysion Update Announced

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 12:50 PM PDT

Elsword has announced that a new area, the town of Elysion, is arriving in an upcoming update.

In preparation, players can participate in the “To the Edge of Elrios” event, running from today through April 5. Players can get log-in rewards, earn Sage’s Scrolls, and complete a new epic quest. More details are available here.

Today also marks the start of PvP Season 4. Get ready for the intense competition with this breakdown.

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Luna Online Reborn Begins Closed Beta

Posted: 30 Mar 2016 12:20 PM PDT

Suba Games will begin the closed beta for Luna Online: Reborn, its relaunch of the classic anime MMORPG Luna Online, today.

At 7pm Eastern on March 30, players will be able to log into the game and create characters to begin their new adventures in Luna Online. Players can get a head start by having the client downloaded and installed.

More information is available on the Luna Online welcome page.

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