Tag: Xbox One

‘Scribblenauts Showdown’ Changes Up The Party Game Formula!

by The_acz

One of the most inventive games to come out in the past decade would have to be the Scribblenauts series. Created in 2009 for the DS by Jeremiah Slaczka and 5th Cell, the game was a breakout hit for WB Games and spawned 3 sequels, one of which included the ability to summon anyone from the DC universe. 

Ever since 2013, the series has been on a bit of a hiatus, but it looks like that’s finally over. This morning WB Games announced Scribblenauts Showdown for Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PS4 with a release date of March 6th. While the game isn’t a traditional adventure, it still retains what makes Scribblenauts such a unique series. throughout the 25+ mini-games in the package, players will still have access to the over 35,000-word library that fans have come to know and love. Also featured in the game is a character creator and a Sandbox mode more reminiscent of the original games. 

Even if it’s not a main series title, it’s still great to see that Scribblenauts hasn’t been forgotten and just tossed into a bin of abandoned IP’S. What do you think of Scribblenauts Showdown? Are you interested in trying it out, or are you holding out for a more traditional game in the series? Check out the announcement trailer below.

 

Nintendo Direct Mini: ‘Dark Souls Remastered’ Finally Reveals Itself For The Switch!

by The_acz

A remastering of Dark Souls for the Nintendo Switch has been one of the worst-kept secrets in about the last year of gaming.

As early as the original announcement trailer for the console, rumors started that From Software had their hands on early dev kits for the console and were very impressed at how well their games could run on the system. Flash forward finally to this month with Nintendo’s mini direct, and the cat has finally been let out of the bag. Dark Souls Remastered is officially making its way to the Xbox One, PS4, PC, and of course, the Nintendo Switch on May 25th. The game will run at 720P undocked, and 1080P docked. Both modes will also include a 30FPS as well. Well worth a couple of frames shaved off to have a souls game on a portable console essentially.  Are you excited to pick up Dark Souls Remastered on the Switch?  Tell us in the comments below, and check out the teaser trailer to help entice you until the release.

 

 

‘Sea Of Thieves’ Closed Beta Sails Towards January 24th!!

by The_acz

Right off of the heels of their recent progression video and release date, Rare’s Sea of Thieves will finally be sailing the rocky waters of the closed beta in anticipation for the games’ March 20th release date.

Players who enrolled in the Technical Alpha program before its closure back in December have been guaranteed a spot in the games’ closed beta, and so have customers who have pre-purchased the game on the Xbox or Windows store. The best part is that players of the beta have free reign for streaming the game! That’s right, no more NDA’s. Rare wants you to share your best pirate moments with the world now.

With March slowly looming over the horizon, Microsft and many people are hoping for Sea of Thieves to be a breakout hit for Microsoft, as they’ve sadly been lacking major 1st party titles in comparison to Sony’s monster PS4 line-up that’s been growing rapidly for the past 2 years. Here’s hoping Rare delivers an open world experience that no one will soon forget.

‘Sea of Thieves’ Sails Towards Release Date + Progression Update!

by The_acz

It’s been a busy 2 weeks for Rare and the crew making Sea of Thieves. Last week during The Game Awards, Rare revealed that the highly anticipate open word adventure will be hitting Xbox One and Windows 10 on March 20th, 2018. While the game hasn’t made a public appearance outside of E3 2017 and Comic Con 2016, Players have slowly been chipping away at the game’s technical alpha for the past year now consistently playing the game and giving their feedback directly to Rare themselves.  This week also seems to be big for Rare as they’ve detailed a bit more on what you can expect to see in the full game.

The short 7-minute progress video seems to give off a personal and warm vibe, similar to a Nintendo Direct. Design Director Mike Chapman takes fans through some of the meatier features of the game such as creating alliances with certain guilds and the variety of mission structures. Check out the full video below for more info, and also check out our 2016 SDCC interview with Executive Producer Joe Neate. Sea of Thieves will be releasing for Xbox One and Windows 10.

 

Megaman 30th Anniversary News: Capcom Announces ‘Megaman 11’, ‘Megaman X’ 1-8, & More!

by The_acz

Yesterday was a big day for Capcom.

Monday, December 4, 2017, marked a special 30th-anniversary stream for the Megaman where Capcom dropped some big bombs about the future of our beloved robot hero. The first news was that all 8 Megaman X games are coming to current-gen consoles, PC, and even the Nintendo Switch. The second piece of news was that the recent Megaman Legacy games will finally be arriving on the Switch with Amiibo support sometime in 2018. No exact date was given, but it can be safely assumed that it’ll release sometime in the first half of the year.

The last big bombshell of the celebration stream was none other than the announcement that Megaman 11 is real and is officially in development for all current-gen consoles and PC. The game is expected sometime late 2018. With the announcement also came with a pretty sweet trailer that gives us a taste of what the art and gameplay will look like. The game is what you’d traditionally expect out of the first 10 games, but the art style is a bit different. instead of using pixel art, the game instead is trying something new and using a more 3D hand-drawn style for the game. Check out the trailer below and enjoy the reunion.

Geekscape Games Reviews: ‘The Jackbox Party pack 4’!

by The_acz

Reviewed On: Xbox One
Also Available For: Nintendo Switch, PS4, AppleTV (4th Gen), PC, Mac, Amazon Fire TV, Android, 

MSRP: $24.99

Review Copy Provided By Publisher 

The Jackbox Party Pack 4 is the 4th installment in what has become the yearly Jackbox series. This time around, Jackbox Games has brought only 1 familiar game, and 4 brand new ones revealed over the course of this summer, and while they all aren’t perfect, There are still plenty of great laughs and moments to be had with the game 4 iterations in.

Fibbage 3 is the first and only returning veteran game this time around. Nothing has changed other than new questions and the removal of the deFIBrillator.  The best new addition to Fibbage 3 comes in a new mode titled Fibbage: Enough About You. This mode is where you write out truths about yourself and see if you’re closest friends can get them right. It can be incredibly satisfying when you’ve perfectly guessed one of your friends, and even more surprising when you find out things you never knew about them.  

Survive the Internet is the first new game of the pack and is also a contender for one of the pack’s best offerings. Players are asked pretty tame and tepid questions about their thoughts on medial and trivial things. Afterwards, those words are given to another player and are told to twist them into something vile and untrue in order to slander their reputation. Much like Quiplash before it, this game is not for the faint of heart, but you’ll find plenty of gut-busting and chuckle-worthy moments that make the game worth coming back to constantly.

Monster Seeking Monster is a mystery dating game where you play the role of a monster in disguise trying to date other monsters. Each of you has a hidden ability that’s only revealed if you are the highest placing player. You must attempt to date and gain hearts for 6 nights while trying to avoid having your ability revealed. It can take at least 1 full game to really understand the game which goes against the easy pick-up-and-play nature of Jackbox, but it can be very rewarding the second time around, as play styles can slightly change depending on which monster you are. The only thing weighing the game down a bit is that the usual 8th spot in the game is exclusively reserved for the audience this time around. It can be fun to watch it choose random pickup lines in hopes of dating someone, but it would have been nice to have an option to turn them off and replace them with a proper 8th person.

The 4th game on the list is Bracketeering, this pack’s answer to Quiplash. Players answer one prompt and duke it out in a tournament sized bracket to see who’s answer is the best. Players can also bet on which answer they think will make it out on top before, and during the start of a new bracket for extra points.The big draw of the game is the ability to play with up to 16 people at once, but sadly this ends up hurting the game in the long run. There are no options to readjust brackets for games with less than 16 people, so the game automatically fills in answers. The computer prompts aren’t especially enticing or fun, and more often than not, just draw the game out too long. There’s also the fact that ties are settled by quickly tapping the answer you want to win. In a group f 16+ this probably wouldn’t be a big problem, but when you have a group of 6-8 people, it can become unbalanced if someone is faster at tapping than others. While a great idea on paper, Bracketeering is ultimately undone by its ambitious scope.  

The 5th and final game is Civic Doodle. In the game, the mayor of Doodle Valley tasks you with drawing murals and pictures of citizens in order to make the town a nicer place. Players will take turns competing against each other as they draw different murals on the same wall. Once a winning mural is chosen, the next players will be tasked to modify or add more to the drawing. once everyone has had 2 turns to draw, everyone must name the mural. Much like Survive the Internet, Civic Doodle is one of the top contenders for this year’s pack. It’s tons of fun seeing odd and hilarious modifications being made to previous paintings. the only downside is that 2 rounds in an 8 player game can drag out just a bit as 8 phases to one round is already a lot. 

Overall, The Jackbox Party Pack 4 is still a great time with friends on or off the internet.  Expanded audience features are nice, such as being able to choose a collective lie for Fibbage 3, but others such as being the only 8th player in Monster Seeking Monster impede on some of the local aspects of the game.

FINAL VERDICT: ★★★★☆ 

‘The Jackbox Party Pack 4’ Consumes Your Life On October 17th!!

by The_acz

The Jackbox Party Pack 4 is on its way to steal your social life!

Earlier this week, Jackbox Games announced that their upcoming addictive party game will be stealing your life on October 17th, just a couple of weeks away from Halloween. Even if you are told that you’re too old for trick or treating you can scare up a good time. A couple of weeks ago, we compiled a list of all the games in this year’s pack. Check it out right here to catch up on any of the announcements you may have missed.

So grab your family and friends and play a rousing game of Monster Seeking Monster or Fibbage 3. No need to worry about it not coming to your favorite console, the game will be landing on  PS4 on October 17th, followed by followed by 4th generation Apple TV, with Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC finally landing on October 19th. What’s your most anticipated game for the pack? Tell us in the comments below!

 

‘L.A. Noire’ Gets Next Gen Release This November Including Nintendo Switch & VR!

by The_acz

One of the most unique games to grace the 7th generation of game consoles was Rockstar Games and Team Bondi’s L.A. Noire. The game became infamous for having one of the craziest development cycles, as well as shutting down the developer Team Bondi 5 months after release. Aside from the controversy, the game was pretty much universally praised by critics and fans alike.

Now, the game is getting another chance to shine. This morning, Rockstar announced that the game will be heading to next gen platforms November 14th. This includes your usual suspects like PS4 and Xbox One, but the big bombshell is that the game will also be heading to the Nintendo Switch the same day as the other 2!

This is big news as there hasn’t been a Rockstar game on a Nintendo system since 2009’s Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for Nintendo DS.  Aside from that, they also announced L.A. Noire The VR Case Files for the HTC Vive. Are you excited to play L.A. Noire wherever you go? Do you want to see the series make a comeback? Tell us in the comments below!

‘Overwatch’ Officially Adding A Deathmatch Mode, And It’s Availble Now On PC!!

by The_acz

Gear up! It’s finally happening!

This morning Jeff Kaplan from the Overwatch team made a big announcement that the game will finally be receiving a Deathmatch mode via the Arcade. The mode will be split into 2 modes. Regular Deathmatch (up to 20 points) and Team Deathmatch (up to 30 points). Maps in the mode have been tweaked from their original versions to properly fit in, and there’ll even be a new map based off of Widowmaker titled Chateau Guillard.

Also being added are token points. These are usually rewarded to the top 4 players in the match and will help count towards earning your weekly Lootboxes in Arcade. The best part? The mode is available on the PTR for PC right now! Get the rest of the info as well as a more in depth talk about the game tokens in the video below!

 

‘Sonic Mania’ Shows Off Special & Bonus Stages In New Gameplay Trailer!

by The_acz

About a week ago, I discussed the Sonic Mania Panel that was held this year at Comic-Con.

During the showcase, Sega showed us the first screenshot and music for the brand new special stages. Now we finally have gameplay of the aforementioned stages as well as a peak at the returning orb stages from Sonic 3 & Knuckles!  It only seems like the hype is rising as Sonic Mania is only about 2 weeks away from release. Check out the trailer below! Sonic Mania releases for Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PS4, and PC on August 15th.

SDCC 2017: A Blast From The Past! ‘Sonic Mania’ Panel Recap!

by The_acz

Even though 2016 marked Sonic’s 25th anniversary, it’s 2017 that’s really the year of Sonic.

We’re not only getting one, but TWO Sonic games this year. One of them is the next 3D entry titled Sonic Forces, but the other has much more people talking. It’s a brand new 2D pixel art tribute to the blue blur’s early days. I’m of course talking about Sonic Mania. I got the chance to play Mania at E3 this year and really enjoyed. Now just 3 weeks out from release, Sonic Mania is speeding toward the finish line with one final stop to make in the form of San Diego Comic-Con. I was lucky enough to get invited to the panel, and it didn’t disappoint. 

Moderated by everyone’s favorite video game Social Media, Aaron Webber took to the stage to introduce the panel for the evening which included Takashi Iizuka (Head of Sonic Team), Christian Whitehead (Lead Dev & Programmer), Tee Lopes (Composer), Tom Fry (Art Director), and Simon Thomley (Programmer). After everyone was introduced, they went on to talk about the origins of the game. Sonic Mania began development in early 2016 and was code-named Sonic Discovery.

They were very nervous about initially presenting the game to Iizuka, but after they showed him Studiopolis Zone, Iizuka absolutely  loved it. He had always wanted to make another 2D Sonic game, and after seeing what was presented to him, he had great faith that the team would do it justice. He even went as far as to pull out a whiteboard and write it’s name right besides the original 3, and Knuckles. And so, Sonic Mania was born!

Next, the team moved onto programming. They talked about how they loved chronicling their favorite glitches as they made the game. They started making a top 10 list, but that quickly expanded to 20, and then 30, etc. They even showcased some of them. One was of Tails stuck in the ground, and another one called to mind the infinite Knuckles jump from Sonic Boom. Then Webber presented his favorite of all the glitches, and that was this.

 Next, Tom and Tee talked for a bit about their contributions and history with Sonic. Tom talked about how Mania was his first time spiriting for a game. He stated that even though the game is meant to be a send-up to the Genesis era of Sonic, the game is a bit beefier than that and would need something more along the lines of the Sega Saturn to run it. Tom had always wanted a Sonic game for the Saturn, and said that the designs for the characters are what he’d think they’d look like on that console.

Tee also commented about how he wanted the Saturn, but had to keep his good grades in school according to his dad. He ended up maintaining the grades, but found out that his dad accidentally bought him a Sega Master System instead. No need for disappointment, this sparked his love for the hedgehog! 

Finally, they decided to end the panel with 3 big bangs! The first was our first look at the special stages! No longer will fans have to suffer through the dreaded half pipe, but instead a revised version of the UFO from Sonic CD. There’s now only one UFO, and to catch him, you must collect blue orbs to increase your speed. Once you reach Mach 3, you’ll be able to catch him. Rings are also very important as they extend the time that you can be in the area. 

The next 2 things were also big surprises for fans. Remember that awesome Pre-order trailer  a couple of months back? Turns out that the same guy who made that trailer also made an intro for the game in the same Sonic CD style! Finally, the 3rd and final reveal was that the dev crew created a special introduction manual for the game, and everyone at the panel got a copy of it! What a great way to celebrate 26 years of everyone’s favorite blue Hedgehog. The best part is that this is only a pit stop. We’re still 3 weeks out from the main course. Sonic Mania will release on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PS4, and PC on August 15th.

SDCC 2017: Smashing Through ‘Rivals Of Aether’!

by The_acz

Out of all the games shown at Comic-Con this year, it wasn’t Super Mario Odyssey, Sonic Mania, or Marvel Vs. Capcom Infinite that captured my attention, but Rivals of Aether that did.

Located at The Behemoth booth and Made by a group of 9 people, Rivals of Aether is Smash Bros if the entire roster was filled with killer animals, and it’s just as amazing as it sounds. There are currently 8 playable characters with 2 guest characters scheduled for release. One of them has already been announced as Ori and Sein from the Xbox One hit Ori and the Blind Forest, and the other to be announced at Super Smash Con, which runs from August 10th-13th. 

 

Going back to gameplay, it plays exactly how you’d expect a Smash Bros. like game to play. All characters have their own A and B moves that differ depending on where you tilt the left stick when you attack. You can charge up attacks by using the C stick and even dodge roll. The game doesn’t seem to have any sort of Ultimate or Smash Ball move, but that’s not a problem as all the characters are incredibly fun to play. Each character has a different feel and weight to them so no one feels like just a re-skin of another character. My favorite character had to be Ori, and while he isn’t officially out, this was his first public playable appearance. 

One area that I think Rivals of Aether excels at better than Smash Bros, is in the diverse and fun stages. Of course the stages in Smash are fun and diverse, but all too often a lot of them are created with annoying hazards that end up ruining the entire stage *COUGH Magicant COUGH*. Aether finds a great middle ground where all the stages can be enjoyed from both a competitive and casual perspective. It’s nice being able to play through a wide variety of stages knowing that a lot of these are still viable if you decide to pick up the game competitively.

Overall, Rivals of Aether is a highly addicting fighting game that both casual and competitive fans of the genre enjoy. The game is fully available on Steam for $15, and can also be purchase on Xbox One game preview for the same price. If you’re a fan of the Smash series and are looking for something new, this is defintley a game to RIVAL that.

 

 

Seth Rollins Celebrates Being The ‘WWE 2K18’ Cover Athlete By Destroying Stuff For Some Reason

by Josh Jackson

This morning, 2K announced that The Kingslayer himself, Seth Rollins, will be the cover athlete for WWE 2K18. As the first full time performer to grace the cover in three years, Rollins joins the likes of John Cena, CM Punk, The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin as the featured star for the annual wrestling simulation game.

Seth is appropriate pick considering how the rising star had the biggest win of his career earlier this year when he defeated Triple H with one leg at this year’s Wrestlemania. Following the slogan “Be Like No One”, the former Architect of The Shield takes things a little too far, deciding to destroy some legendary memorabilia. Because that’s what you do when you make the cover of a video game.

Eagle eyed wrestling fans can spot plenty of easter eggs as they get smashed to pieces by the masked Rollins. From Ric Flair’s robe to The Undertaker’s gear that he left behind at his retirement, nothing is sacred when you want to sell a game. But why did you have to smash Brutus Beefcake’s scissors? It’s not like he has much of his glory days to hold onto lately. There wasn’t a barber shop window that Seth could have fled through instead?

While we don’t get to see any game play, we do know when and how we’ll be playing it. Releasing on PS4 and Xbox One on October 17, the game will be released with three different versions. The Standard Edition, the Deluxe Edition, which will give players four days of early access, and the Collector’s Edition, which will include everything the Deluxe Edition contains, plus physical rewards that will be revealed at a later date. Past versions had some pretty great stuff, so fans might want to jump on the preorder button once the announcement is made.

Watch the trailer below and tell us what other artifacts of wrestling’s past you can spot. Are you planning on picking up this year’s iteration? And what do you think of Rollins on the cover? Let us know in the comments!

E3 2017: Blast Processing Through ‘Sonic Mania’!

by The_acz

After a delay or 2, Sega’s highly anticipated Sonic Mania will finally be releasing on August 15th, 2017.

Developed by a highly respected Sonic fan game community member Christian Whitehead, the game is a celebration of everything Classic Sonic. This week at E3 I got the chance to play the game and can easily say that this game has shot up my most anticipated list for 2017. Not only is this a great tribute and celebration to Classic Sonic, but just Sonic as a character in general. Let’s quit stalling and get into it!

The demo allows you to choose any of the 3 characters in the game: Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. You also get the choice between Green Hill Zone Act 2 and the new Mirage Saloon Zone Act 2. I was able to try out both levels and loved both of them! The characters feel exactly how they felt in Sonic 3 + Knuckles. It’s as if they were ripped right out of the classic genesis games and placed directly into this new iteration. Of course the sprite work and animation for the characters look better than ever!

 

Mirage Saloon is the new zone in the demo and is really fun. You’ll be racing through sand loops that disintegrate when you run over them, jumping off swivel chairs in bar that propel you across the screen, and get shot out of a gun at high speed. There’s tons of alternate routes to take, and there are even some references cameos that are sprinkled throughout the level that reference some forgotten Sonic characters (see image above). Green Hill Zone 2 is also a great stage.

You don’t expect much since by now people have played through Green Hill Zone, but the difference here is that the layout is completely different! This is not the same Green Hill Zone from the Original Sonic. It’s completely different  and feels great to re-experience an old zone with new life.  even the music is different. The theme has a bit more synthetic/techno feel to it now and sounds wonderful still. The zone ends with a boss fight against Dr. Eggman in the Death Egg Robot. All you need to do is hit the top of the robot a couple of times, but it’s not exactly a walk in the park. Not only do you need to hit the top of his head, but you only have limited space to run away. Once you reach the ledge, you better hope you have one hit left because you might die the first couple of times trying to take him down.

At the end of the day, I can’t recommend Sonic Mania enough. This is the Sonic game that fans were hoping they’d get when Sonic 4 was originally announced. Everything from the physics, to the speed, and the sprites just feel right. both Modern and classic fans will find a good challenge with this game. Hopefully the game does well enough that maybe we can get a sequel? Only time will tell.

The Xbox Game Pass Will Add At Least Five New Games Per Month

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: At $10 per month, the recently debuted Xbox Game Pass is a fantastic value for gamers new to Xbox. The service launched just last month, and already features over 100 Xbox 360 and Xbox One games, including Halo 5: Guardians, Payday 2, NBA 2K16, LEGO Batman, and a ton more.

For gamers who have been around a little longer, the initial offerings of the Xbox Game Pass leaves us desiring a little more for our hard earned $10. A lot of the games currently being offered are pretty freaking old, or were so popular that unless you’re new to the platform you’ve likely already given them a play through.

During a recent Xbox Daily video, senior product manager Dennis Ceccarelli revealed a few choice tidbits about the service, noting that “On the first of every month, you’re going to see at least five new games enter the Game Pass catalogue — every single month…”

The other pressing question that all of us who just began actually paying for the service have: is this shit going to disappear? How long are these games going to stay around for?

It really sounds like, similar to Netflix, it’s going to depend on the title itself. Ceccarelli noted that some of the earliest games will leave the service starting in November, while the rest of the games will stick around for at least a little longer.

Hopefully, also like Netflix, we’ll get some sort of warning when a title is about to leave the service. This would allow us to know just how long we had to finish a title, or make alternate arrangements (rent, buy, borrow) to continue with the game once it disappears from game pass.

Are you currently subscribed to the service? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!

E3 2017: Switch Version Of ‘Rocket League’ Plays At 60FPS, 720P

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: I’m freaking stoked that Rocket League is coming to the Nintendo Switch.

During the hours and hours and hours that I spent with the title, there have been numerous places that I’ve wished that I could keep on playing, but simply couldn’t for logistical reasons. These include (but are not limited to):

-On the toilet
-On the train to work
-At work
-On a plane
-In a hotel
-In bed
-In the living room while my fiancé is watching Gilmore Girls on Netflix

I knew that the Nintendo Switch version would become the definitive version of the game for me once I saw those sweet, sweet Mario and Luigi hats, and I became even more excited once I realized all of the new locales where I’d now be able to hone my skills (see above).

One thing that I was curious about, however, was just how well this version of the game would perform. What would the framerate be like? Would it include split screen multiplayer?

Gamespot learned all of the answers earlier today at E3. In both docked and undocked modes, the Switch version of Rocket League will run at 720P at a silky smooth 60FPS. It sounds as though they’re aiming to retain this framerate for the game’s two player undocked mode, as well as a four-player on TV split screen.

Psyonix VP Jeremy Dunham did note that the Switch version of the game will see some graphical compromises in order to hit those numbers (while the upcoming Xbox One X version will play in 4K HDR, for instance), but this version is also freaking portable and has Mario hats, so who cares, am I right?

As previously announced, the Switch version will also see cross platform multiplayer with PC and Xbox gamers. Sony, unfortunately, gave a pretty bogus reason on why they’re sitting this one out.

Are you looking forward to the Switch version of the game? Be sure to sound out in the comments below!

E3 2017: Xbox One Backwards Compatibility Expands To Original Xbox Titles!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: We can’t exactly file this one under ‘total surprise’, but it’s still a cool piece of news from Microsoft’s just-concluded E3 conference.

Yep. After making nearly 400 Xbox 360 titles backwards compatible with Xbox One, Microsoft has announced that original Xbox titles are next in line for the backwards compatibility treatment.

Details on the program itself are scarce as of now, but Xbox head Phil Spencer notes that “OG games will look better and play better across the Xbox One family,” while noting that fans can expect the first backwards compatible titles to be available later this year (with one of his favourites, Crimson Skies, being among the first few).

As someone who largely missed out on the first generation Microsoft console, this came as pretty exciting news to me. Which games would you like to see added to the list? What was the best part of the Microsoft presentation? Sound out below!

The ‘Tekken’ Retro Recap Reaches Its Conclusion

by Josh Jackson

Last week, Namco Bandai released a concise, (and oddly hilarious), recap taking us through the events of Tekken 1-3 in 8-bit form. Now that the game has released, the company has debuted the conclusion of its Retro Recap, highlighting all the Mishima family drama highlighted in games four through six.

Focusing on Jin’s transition to the brooding anti-hero we know him as now, learn how Kazuya came back to life, how Heihachi died, (but not really), and how some guy named Lars and his waifu robot highjacked the series for a little bit. It’s as confusing as it is hilarious, and I love how both videos have embraced how wild the story has gotten over time. Oh, and props to whoever decided to use the “CHICKEN!” voice line from Tekken 3. You’re a true hero.

Share your thoughts with us on the Tekken series below, and let us know what you think of Tekken 7 so far!

Kid Ink And ‘Tekken 7’ Team Up To Record ‘Now It’s Personal’

by Josh Jackson

Tekken has been a fighting game mainstay for over a decade, so it’s no surprise that people from all walks of life have landed a punch or two in Namco Bandai’s brawler. One such fan is platinum selling artist, Kid Ink, who put his fandom to work while recording Now It’s Personal, a new track inspired by the upcoming Tekken 7.

Giving us a glimpse at the recording process while learning about the artist’s history with the series, the track is inspired by the final showdown between Heihachi and Kazuya, the father and son who are set to fight to the death in the game’s story mode. But in between all of the music mumbo jumbo is some insightful advice for would-be fighters who are hoping to step in the ring. Namely, it’s important to master the game itself before trying to stick with one or two characters, leading to more versatility between the entire cast. Not bad!

Take a step into the studio and watch the making of video below. What do you think of the collaboration? Would you want to see other artists get involved in the fighting game scene? Let us know in the comments!

Tekken 7 will release for the PS4, Xbox One and Steam on June 2.

Catch Up With The ‘Tekken’ Saga With This 8-Bit Recap

by Josh Jackson

Tekken 7 is right around the corner, which promises to resolve their 23 year feud in its expanded story mode. Are you thinking about checking the game out, but don’t have the time to delve in two decades worth of confusing material? Then fear not! Learn all you need to know about the first three games in the first Tekken Retro Recap!

Following a classic father-son story where the father dumps his son off of a cliff, the son gets possessed by the devil after murdering his father out of revenge, and the son in turn gets tossed into a volcano, the only events that make any sense involve the head of a global organization walking out on his pregnant mistress. Nonetheless, this insanity has kept fans like myself clamoring for the next big twist, wondering how all of this will reach its conclusion.

Check out the video below and share your thoughts with us on Tekken‘s long history, then learn about the game itself with our hands-on preview from E3 last year.

‘Sonic Forces’: The Newest Playable Character Is. . . .YOU!

by The_acz

About a month ago in the most recent Nintendo Direct, the highly anticipated Sonic Forces was teased as having a 3rd playable character.

This set off many theories as to who else you’d be able to play as. Guesses ranged everywhere from Fang the Sniper to Bubsy the Bobcat (yes, really, people guessed that.) Today, Sega has finally peeled back the curtain to reveal this character, and it couldn’t be more amazing if they tried.The third playable character joining the roster for the game is YOUR original character! That’s right! I hope you kept that picture of your Sonic OC from when you were in the 3rd grade because it’s now going to come in handy. 

As of right now, there are 7 different animals to choose from, each having their own ability. Here’s how they’re broken down:

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

 

Aside from a custom ability for each type of animal, there’ll also be custom items that only the created character can use. One example used in the trailer is some sort of grappling hook and a flamethrower (hey, it’s still pretty cool. Check out the trailer below and get excited!

 

‘Phantom Dust HD’ Heads To Xbox One & Windows 10 Tomorrow FOR FREE!!

by The_acz

Ever since the infamous reveal of Phantom Dust back at Microsoft’s 2014 press conference, the series has stayed in this perpetual limbo.

While we continue to wait for new info on a new game for the series however, Microsoft has decided to apologize fans of the series with a special treat. This morning head of Xbox marketing Aaron Greenberg revealed that an HD update of Phantom Dust will be heading to Xbox One and Windows 10 as soon as tomorrow! The best part? The game will be FREE and support Xbox Play Anywhere! This is a great way to bring new fans into the fold and show them exactly why the original is so beloved by many people. It also helps re build enthusiasm for a potential sequel or reboot on the horizon. What do you think? Are you going to download Phantom Dust HD tomorrow? Tell us in the comments below!

Fury Rises! Darksiders 3 Has Been Announced!

by The_acz

5 years ago THQ released Darksiders 2, and shortly after closed their doors for good. It was a sad time not only for THQ, but for fans of the Darksiders series. Now THQ has risen from the ashes, and along with that, so has Darksiders. This morning, IGN exclusively revealed that the newly formed Gunfire Games which is mostly made up of Vigil Games employees, will be releasing Darksiders 3 with the help of the also newly formed THQ Nordic. The story centers on Fury and her quest to kill the seven deadly sins. The game is set for a 2018 release on Xbox One, PS4, and PC. Check out the trailer below, and get ready to rise again!

Xbox Games With Gold Get’s Twisted In May!

by The_acz

As we head into May, Games with gold shows no signs of slowing down. Coming up, Xbox One and 360 users will be able to enjoy a nice sampling of different games. These include Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, and Even Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and Lego Star Wars.  Check out the video below to find out when you’ll be able to download these. Which game are you most interested in trying? Tell us in the comments below!

‘Halo Wars: Definitive Edition’ Is Getting A Standalone Release Next Week!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: While it began as a sweet, sweet bonus for fans who purchased the Ultimate Edition of Halo Wars 2, as expected, it won’t be long now before the enhanced edition of the Xbox 360 classic becomes available to anyone with an Xbox One or Windows computer.

Brian Jarrard, Community Manager at 343 Industries revealed today via Xbox Wire that the title will become available on April 20 for Xbox, Windows 10 PC and Steam, reminding us that this version runs natively on Xbox One and Windows, featuring improved graphics, additional Achievements and includes all of the DLC created for the classic real-time strategy game.

As someone who has never played Halo Wars in any capacity at this point, for the cool $19.99 asking price of this Definitive Edition, I certainly can’t wait to give it a shot. The game is also a Play Anywhere title, meaning that a digital purchase of the game on either platform will provide the other version at no additional cost.

You can watch the Halo Wars: Definitive Edition trailer below, and let us know if you plan to play!

Miss ‘NBA Jam’? Check Out ‘NBA Playgrounds’!!

by The_acz

It seems like within the past couple of years that sports games have become more popular.

While there are still fun sports games like the NBA 2K series and FIFA, it all but seems like the more light hearted days of arcade sports games like NBA Jam and NFL Blitz. There was a brief resurgence of these games in the early 2010’s, but they were more toned down from their original versions (except NBA Jam for Wii. That was pretty faithful.) Enter NBA Playgrounds. What seems a pseudo spiritual successor to the jam series. There’s not much to the trailer, but the game will be launching in May for Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PS4, and PC for $20. Check out the trailer below and tell us in the comments what your favorite arcade style sports game is!

Xbox Games With Gold Goes To War In April!

by The_acz

Another month brings another round of Xbox’s Games with Gold. Last Month’s selection of games were very much overshadowed by PS  Plus and the looming release of the Nintendo Switch, but now they seem to have some pretty concrete releases. The two big stand outs are Assassins Creed: Revelations for Xbox 360 and One users, and one of the Xbox Ones first launch titles, RYSE: Son of Rome.  Check out the other games and their releases below and get excited. Which one are you planning on trying first?

‘Bloodstained: Ritual Of The Night’ Canceled For Wii U. Coming To Switch Instead.

by The_acz

2 years ago, a disgruntled Koji Igarashi left Konami to make the Castlevania game of his dreams that Konami didn’t want to make. He launched the mega popular Kickstarter for Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, and has been hard at work on the game ever since then. They hit tons of stretch goals, including one that would get the game on the Wii U. Well, we all know that the Wii U essentially kicked the bucket back in late 2015, and with the recent success of the Nintendo Switch, there have been some major changes.

Just like Yooka Laylee a couple of months back, Igarashi announced today in the newest update that Bloodstained is no longer coming out for Nintendo’s red headed gamepad forcing step child. Instead, the game will launch on the Switch, and backers who once backed the Wii U version can now change to the Switch with ease, as well as other platforms. While sad for Wii U owners, this is another great game heading to the Switch via 3rd party support, and we couldn’t be happier for it.

What do you think? Which version of Bloodstained will you be getting? Check out the announcement right here.

 

 

Capcom Announces The Disney Afternoon Collection!

by The_acz

Back in the late 80’s/early 90’s, Capcom used to be the king when it came to making licensed video games. More specifically, games based off of the insanely popular Disney Afternoon. 4 years ago we were treated to a great DuckTales remake, but since then, not much else has happened with those beloved classics.

This morning, Capcom has announced that they’ll be keeping the classics alive as they’ll be releasing The Disney Afternoon Collection later this year. The game will release for $20 on April 18th, and will include both DuckTales,  both Chip and Dale: Rescue Rangers, Tailspin, and Darkwing Duck, but there’s more to the collection than just the initial 6 games. Much akin to 2015’s Rare Replay, the collection will add additional features such as behind the scenes art, a rewind feature, and snapshot challenges including time attacks and boss rushes.

As of right now, the collections biggest downside is that it will not be releasing on the Nintendo Switch. It’s quite a head scratcher seeing as how all of these games originated on the NES. Perhaps if demand is high enough, then Capcom might consider a Switch release. Check out the trailer below, and bask in the glorious Disney nostalgia!

 

Return To Middle-Earth!: ‘Middle-Earth: Shadow Of War’ Announced!

by The_acz

Potentially leaked just a couple of days ago, today, WB Games has announced that they are indeed working on a sequel to the 2014 hit Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor.

Titled Middle-earth: Shadow of War, Not much has been said or revealed about the game, but the trailer shows the ring of power being crafted and a great war for Mordor about to begin. No specific systems have been named, but we can assume it’ll be on PC, Xbox One, and PS4 (and maybe Switch.) The game will release on August 22nd 2017, with a gameplay reveal coming March 8th which is next week! What did you think about the original Middle-earth game? Tell us in the comments below!