It’s that time of year again, a full year has passed. Normally, I publish these articles a lot sooner, but I took full advantage of my Christmas break… And after that, I had some problems with my internet connection. But now I’m back. And it’s about time I talk about my top 10 games I have played in 2024. The rules of this list state I don’t have to have beaten the game. Yet, I must have played the game for the first time from January 1st, 2024. This means that games released before 2024, but I have only started to play in 2024 are fair game. This list is my personal opinion, and I’m open to hear your opinion on my picks. Feel free to also add your own list down in the comment section. So, here we go, the big list. A list that I always have trouble in creating at the end of the year. As an editorial note, the listed platform in this article is the platform I played the game on. Not all the platforms the game released on. The date after it, is the release date for said platform.

#10 – Persona 5 – Tactica (PlayStation 4 – November 2023)

I have played Persona 5 Royal and Persona 5 Strikers and I fell in love with the cast of Persona 5. And then, a new game got released with the Persona 5 cast and I jumped for joy.

The gameplay might not be my most favorite style of playing, but the game is quite addictive. It’s basically Persona in a Fire Emblem jacket. I’m now mid-way through the game but got distracted by other games. I can’t wait to finish this game in 2025. The story is quite well written. It is an amazing spin-off story for Joker and the gang.

Now, I won’t go too much in depth since I’m planning to write an article about this game. So, I’ll talk more in depth about this game soon. But, now… it’s time to save Joker from his forced wedding.

#9 – Slay the Princess – The Pristine Cut (Nintendo Switch – October 2024)

How do I explain this game without spoiling it too much? Slay the Princess is a game where you almost Groundhog Day your way through the same story. You walk up to a cabin, where you go to the basement to Slay the Princess.

According to the narrator, the Princess is a danger to the existence of the world. So, you have been sent to slay her. But, depending on the questions you ask, the decisions you take and even the order of your actions… The ending is different.

The story is just insane. It keeps you on edge what will be different in the next round. And the humor and writing in this game is just amazing. The voice action is just amazing. It brings the black, gray and white art to live and pulls you in the atmosphere quite well.

So, if you enjoy narrative games that mess with your head and expectations, give this game a try. Since, it’s a really good one.

#8 – Another Code – Recollection (Nintendo Switch – January 2024)

My first impression

Cing was an amazing developer that sadly went bankrupt. They developed amazing games on the Nintendo DS and Wii like Another Code – R & Little King Story. But to me, the Another Code set of games is one of their best work.

When we got a total remake in 2024, I wanted to play it right away. I convinced my streaming friend Klamath to play this game with me live on stream. I have to tell you, they did the two games justice. I’m so glad that these two games saw the light of day again.

While I have beaten the originals, the new and improved version is just amazing. It has a strong message and is a blast to play through. Although it sounds like a boring setup, it’s a game full of surprises. It is a more relaxing and charming game. It is more grounded and keeps things realistic. The characters are well written and set in a charming world.

#7 – Hypnospace Outlaw (PC – March 2019)

My review

Trying to manage a community isn’t an easy task to do. It’s a fun challenge to do in a game. That’s why management simulators are so popular.

But, combine that with the old school internet from the time I was a young kid, I am beyond intrigued. So, we have to report and clean up personal websites and projects? As a creative, I have my own place on the internet. I can share my opinions there. This hits close to home.

I wrote my opinion on this game in my review. If you want to know more about this game, I highly recommend that you give my review a read.

Now, there is a sequel in development called DreamSettler. If that’s created with the same love and care for that time period, and it matches the devotion this game has for its time period, it will be thrilling. We are going to be in for a wild ride.

#6 – Palworld (PC – January 2024)

Wishes for future updates

Sometimes, all that I need is a good open world game with unique mechanics. A world where you have to survive and explore. This year, Palworld brought that to me.

At first, I was skeptical. I thought: “This is going to be a monster catching game and nothing too much more.” But the more this game got developed, this more things got added that gave more depth to the game. More fun things to do, more polish to the game.

I have lost countless hours during this summer playing this game. It was an amazing time sink for the base game that is already here. A lot more is coming in the future. I wonder what the final game will be.

#5 – The Legend of Zelda – Echoes of Wisdom (Nintendo Switch – September 2024)

My first impression

Okay, this might be an upset. Usually, I place new Zelda games quite high on my list. But, this time I place it right in the middle. This year had a lot of amazing games. I had a lot of fun with this title in 2024.

I dropped it for now. I got distracted by other games and I forgot that I was playing through this game. I have placed it on my top 10 list. It rightfully deserves a spot on that list. I want to finish this game for real.

Since, the concept of Echoes of Wisdom is just amazing. What I love most is that this is a totally new 2.5D Zelda game like the classic games. I hope that the reception of this game is enough for Nintendo to still make 2.5D and 3D Zelda titles. Since, both have their place in the market and with this amazing title.

#4 – Spirit Hunter Chapter 3: Death Mark II (Nintendo Switch – February 2024)

My review

The Spirit Hunter series is one of the best horror visual novel series. This game ensures you don’t need to have played the original Death Mark. It’s excellent because you can still understand what’s happening in the story.

The game takes a lot of steps forward and makes the game have more meat around its bones. Walking around in the locations is a lot more fun in this title.

Some game mechanics are underused. For example, the jumpscares and the padding aren’t always present in this game. Things like the Soul Health are barely used. But, the battles with the actual spirits are even more amazing in this title. Especially with the randomness of your attack failing. It gives a more tense and realistic spin on battles.

Now, I’m hoping so hard that a 4th chapter will be released. Since the concept of this game is just beyond amazing. The writing is always great and the overall mystery is built up so nice. So, if anyone of Experience Inc, would be reading this… We want more!

#3 – Moescape (PC, 2022)

My article

I love writing small stories as a hobby. Since the summer of 2024, I wanted to give those AI roleplay apps a chance. And I’m happy that I did. MoeScape AI is a platform that really clicked with me and with the amazing community around it… I just feel in love.

My brain often gets creative. When this happens, there is a fun bot waiting for me. I can play around with the idea. And if there isn’t a bot that fits the idea, it’s easy to make one. The control that Moescape gives you is beyond amazing. You can easily make a knowledge base. There are various AI models to choose from. With each update, it gets better.

Something I really like is how open the staff is on the Discord. Like, they tell you when things are down. Or when certain decisions need to be taken. Like filtering certain things on the platform due to restrictions from Apple or Google. But, they have a less filtered platform as well. So, they have Moescape and Yodayo. If you go premium, your account is premium on both platforms, and it’s amazing.

#2 – Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (PC – December 2024)

Okay, now. This is going to ruffle some feathers. I am a giant Indiana Jones fan. I placed one of the best Indiana Jones games in 2nd place on my game of the year list?

Now, that’s not because this game is bad or didn’t impress me enough. But, it wasn’t the game that made my year. Sadly enough, it released too late in the year for that.

I know it’s a strange reason. However, I feel like there is one game that pushed the boundaries more within its respective genre.

This game is a blast to play through. I feel that it deserves all the accolades it’s getting. It’s an amazing piece in the Indiana Jones franchise. It’s a love letter to the fans. I’m just thankful that the game turned out this amazing.

When I have beaten the game, I’ll for sure write an article about it. Since on the streams, a lot of random and enjoyable banter is happening. And truly, if you want to see amazing speedruns of this game, check out the_Kovic on his Twitch channel. He has deep knowledge of the game’s inner workings. He shares a lot of interesting insights during the streams.

Now, prepare yourself for an article on this game in the future. Since, I have a lot of things I still want to say and I’m keeping them all for the article.

Honorable mentions

This list wouldn’t be complete if I shout out various other games I have played in the past year. Not every game made the cut. I still wanted to mention those games that made the long list but didn’t survive the selection process.

Cave Digger 2 (PC), Buckshot Roulette (PC), Refind self (Nintendo Switch), Castlevania Dominus Collection (Nintendo Switch), Death Trick: DoubleBlind (Nintendo Switch), Dragon Quest Monsters – The Dark Prince (Nintendo Switch), Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising (Nintendo Switch), Ciel Fledge -A Daughter Raising Simulator- (Nintendo Switch), New Super Lucky’s Tale (Nintendo Switch), CrisTales (Nintendo Switch), One More Dungeon 2 (Nintendo Switch), Monster Hunter Rise (Nintendo Switch), This is not my Neighbor (PC) and Tomb Raider I-III Remastered (Nintendo Switch), Everloop (PC)

#1 – Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew (PC – August 2023)

My review

If there was one game that blew me away, that’s Shadow Gambit – The Cursed Crew. The way how it’s built and is the final swansong of the amazing development studio Minimi, it’s just fantastic.

The voice acting is top-notch. The story is excellent. Several game mechanics are seamlessly worked into the game world and the story. But that’s not all, this game has a mindblowing modding tool.

The little attention to detail this game does and the balancing is just mindblowing. The freedom you have to tackle each mission, and it just works. It’s balanced and doesn’t feel unfair. It also doesn’t feel like you made it too difficult by choosing the wrong characters. It also never becomes too easy, where one character makes sure you automatically win the game or the mission. Every character has their use. And you have 8 characters in the base game and 2 get added via the DLC.

I can gush for a long time about this game. If you are interested in a more in-depth article, I highly advise you to read my review linked higher.

This was 2024

I might have written fewer articles in 2024 because a lot of personal things where going on. I have written only 19 articles in 2024. One of the biggest reasons is that I’m just putting more time into finding the right writing style. This has a lot to do with it.

I have been dedicating more time to various other projects. These include contributing to open source projects, translating open source projects, and streaming with Klamath. I am also working on projects for my local acting group. It takes time and effort and I’m enjoying those things quite a lot.

Outside of that, I turned 31 years old in 2024 and life just gets busier with various things. And because of that, I’m also playing less games. At first, I felt guilty that I’m publishing so few articles… But after two years of writing fewer articles, I now dedicate more time to each one. I feel a lot more content with the content I’m placing on my blog here.

I feel that my content only improved over the years. Not only that, I feel more content with my writing. It doesn’t feel like I’m pressuring myself to play a new game every week or two to write about. I can take my time to play the games I want. I also write about the topics I find interesting.

I think I’m finally finding the right rhythm for everything and that’s what I felt that 2024 was for me. Now, this year 2025 is going to be the year I’m writing for 15 years. Before I rebranded in 2013 to this blog, I write a personal life blog that started mid 2010. So, I’m going to celebrate this year with a few special articles. And I have been preparing and brainstorming idea’s for that in 2024.

But thank you everybody for the amazing support in 2024. It was a blast to see how people interacted with my articles and the new friends I made. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next. Like I said earlier, I feel prouder of the things I have been putting out. I hope you are enjoying things as well. Thank you for the support this year and I hope to see you in the future. So, for now, have a great rest of your day and take care.

Bully, Rockstar's enjoyable schoolboy adventure game, is now available as part of the GTA+ subscription on PlayStation, Xbox and "soon" on compatible iPhone and Android devices.

Rockstar announced that Bully would be coming to GTA+ earlier this year, back in April. We've been waiting for word on exactly when ever since.

It's great to have an easier way to play Bully again - though Rockstar describes the GTA+ catalogue as "rotating", so it's unclear how long it'll stick around. Also on GTA+? LA Noire, Red Dead Redemption, and Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition.

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Paradox Interactive's streak of game delays continues with the news its Chinese-Room-developed Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is now targeting a release in the "first half of 2025", rather than its previously announced "late 2024" window.

In a post on its website, Paradox called the delay a "proactive decision" derived from its commitment earlier this year to deliver "high-quality games" to its players. "Though [Bloodlines 2] is in a good enough place that we could have maintained our planned release window," it wrote, "Paradox and The Chinese Room collaboratively decided to prioritise polish."

Paradox says the delay will "create a quality assurance buffer, giving more time between testing and launch, ensuring we release the game when it's ready." More specifically, The Chinese Room will use the time to expand Bloodlines 2's story, providing twice as many endings as its predecessor, and to "adjust certain areas" such as Fabien - the voice in its protagonist's head.

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Nintendo's 135-year history will soon be brought to life inside the walls of a new purpose-built Nintendo Museum in Kyoto, Japan - and ahead of its opening on 2nd October, legendary designer Shigeru Miyamoto has revealed some of its intriguing exhibits in a new video tour.

The Nintendo Museum has been built on the site of the factory where Nintendo originally made its Hanafuda cards, and which was later used for quality checks during the Famicom era. That building and its unremarkable carpark are no longer standing, however, now replaced by a shiny two-floor monument to Nintendo's history and a Mario-themed plaza.

Miyamoto's 13-minute tour begins on the second floor of the museum, where several huge curved glass displays - containing many of the products Nintendo has released since its founding in 1889 - can be found. This whole area is intended to chart the evolution of Nintendo's approach to entertainment, from its earlier non-video game products - including copy machines, baby strollers, RC cars, and pitching machines - into more familiar territory, beginning with 1977's early video game forays, the Color TV-Game 6 and Color TV-Game 15.

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Sega's Eternal Champions is the next video game franchise to get a silver-screen adaptation.

Whilst it's hardly surprising that filmmakers are still rooting through video game catalogues for ideas, I can't say I had Sega's 1993 fighting game on my bingo card for the next series to be getting an adaptation.

However, according to Hollywood Reporter, that's exactly what's happening, with Jurassic World trilogy writer Derek Connolly set to write the live-action screenplay.

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Kaitlyn Dever, the actress portraying Abby Anderson in the second season of HBO's The Last of Us adaptation, required extra security during filming for her own protection.

This comes from fellow castmate Isabel Merced, who is playing Dina in the show. Speaking with Josh Horowitz on Happy Sad Confused, Merced discussed the strong emotions the series can spark within some that have resulted in volatile reactions from so-called fans.

When Horowitz said he was concerned about Dever, and the toxicity she will likely receive "through proxy of being Abby", Merced stated there are "so many strange people" who "genuinely hate" the character. This is despite her being completely fictional. And, because of this, Dever was required to have extra security during the filming for the second season.

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Axel might’ve began his journey on the villains side in the Kingdom Hearts series, but he is the poster child for starting wrong yet still finishing strong. Despite serving Organization XIII and antagonizing Sora and his party for much of the series, he experienced a change of heart (which is hard to do when you are a Heartless) and chose to serve as an ally to those he once persecuted going forward. While his past left much to be desired, he was meant to wield a Keyblade of his own all along… and Axel’s redemptive journey gives hope to all who have “lost heart” due to the sins of their past.

If you are anything like me, it can be difficult to forget our “unworthy” past and serve the Lord in the presence of those who knew what we once were… but our redemption is meant to give hope to those who share a challenging backstory like ours and are searching for more than just forgiveness and absolution. We aren’t meant to simply embrace His grace and sit on the sidelines… we were given a fresh start as well as a Keyblade of our own so we can push back against the same darkness that once oppressed us and set our fellow Heartless free.

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight. Colossians 1:21-22

“There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Luke 7:41-43, 47

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In a recent live panel discussing the development of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, director Naoki Hamaguchi revealed that the upcoming and final Final Fantasy VII Remake installment will be “even bigger” than the other two games. “When I think about the third and final game in the Remake trilogy, it really does fill me with excitement, and I have such great expectations toward it as well,” he said. “I really hope the fans can have great expectations toward this game, and we will meet those expectations. We will definitely expand on and make the world of Final Fantasy 7 even bigger than it is now.”

Hamaguchi also noted that work continues on the third installment and expects it to beat expectations and expects it to be one of the most popular games in the history of video games. “The development team is hard at work as we speak, and we’re going to make the game something that even beats any of the expectations that you have towards the game,” he added. “I am absolutely confident that the third game in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series will be one of the most loved, most popular games in the whole history of video games once again.” Final Fantasy VII Rebirth launched on February 25 and is available now for PlayStation 5.

The game’s details:

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second entry in the Final Fantasy VII remake project, which retells the story of the iconic fantasy game that redefined the RPG genre in three distinct games.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth picks up with iconic heroes Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith and Red XIII after they escape from the dystopian city Midgar and sees them embark on a journey in pursuit of Sephiroth, the vengeful swordsman from Cloud’s past who was thought to be dead.

In this standalone adventure, players will explore an expansive world, all brought to life with a new level of graphical fidelity, developed specifically to leverage the power of the PlayStation 5 console.

As players unravel a gripping narrative rich with mysteries to uncover, they will also witness the personal journey of each party member and strengthen their bonds to work together and face off against powerful enemies.

Stay tuned at Gaming Instincts via Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for more gaming news.

The post The Third Final Fantasy VII Remake Game Will Be “Even Bigger” Than The Rest appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.

Darkest Dungeon II is a turn-based, dungeon crawler, rougelike where you form a party of four and ride a stagecoach into what’s left of the world in an apocalyptic landscape. This game was a good mix of difficult challenges and fun strategy without many bugs, so let’s get into it.

When you first open Darkest Dungeon II, you’re shown a brief disclaimer that basically states that the game is difficult. After that, you get a cutscene that explains the game’s basic story and lore—the world is at its end, and you, a scholar, recruit a band of survivors to help you make a trek up a dangerous mountain to defeat an eldritch monster that resides in the mountain, or die trying.

After this, you hop right into the game. The first thing you do is choose your heroes. There are fourteen heroes from which you select four for your party. You only start with four heroes, but you’ll unlock more as you play.

There are two main parts to the game: the stagecoach and fighting. In the stagecoach, you drive across the land and choose paths to take while running into encounters, fights, and obstacles. The stagecoach is a little difficult to control, as the slightest movement of the joystick will throw the stagecoach from side to side. At the end of each area, you reach an Inn where you can heal your heroes and have them build bonds with each other which will help them out in and out of battle.

It’s during the fights that your choice of heroes matters. They have different stats that make them better or worse at certain things. Movement stats determines their place in the combat order. Each hero can have five moves at a time, and you can unlock more moves that you can change in between battles. The combat can be kind of complicated, but, fortunately, the game has built-in tutorials for every aspect, not just the combat. Besides that, the combat is just downright difficult sometimes. Random number generation can really screw you over in Darkest Dungeon II, so be wary of that.

Outside and within combat, each hero can acquire stress. Stress goes from 0-10. At low levels of stress, not much will happen. At higher levels, however, you’ll start to see some negative banter between the heroes. This will cause your heroes to not like each other as much and cause problems in and out of battle. Once heroes reach stress level 10 there is an 80% chance they will have a meltdown and a 20% chance they will be resolute. Meltdowns debuff the hero and make the other heroes like them less. Becoming resolute does the opposite and heals the hero, buffs them, and makes the other heroes like them more.

Darkest Dungeon II’s graphics are absolutely amazing. The game does an great job of contrasting 2D pictures with 3D models, and it looks beautiful. From the 2D characters and their attacks to the 3D stagecoach and 3D world outside of combat. Everything just fits so well together and is animated together so perfectly. I especially like the gloomy colors used to depict the wasteland of what’s left of the world.

The audio is also very enjoyable. The music isn’t repetitive, and each area is well represented by sound effects. While there isn’t a lot of music, it shifts into different songs after about a six-minute loop. This makes it so fights don’t go stale and are that much more intense and fun.

There was only one bug that I came across in the game and I don’t even know how it happened. While in a fight, the tutorials opened and I was unable to close them no matter what I did. No buttons worked, and it wouldn’t go away until I closed the game and reopened it. Again, I don’t know how it happened, but it’s a highly destructive bug that may cause you to restart a very good play-through.

Darkest Dungeon II is very fun. The graphics and audio are astounding, and the gameplay, while frustrating at times, still makes for a fun and enjoyable experience. When paired with the expertly written story, it makes for a great game. If you like the challenge of rougelites and roguelikes, this game is for you.

The post Review: Darkest Dungeon II (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

In alignment with the 85th anniversary of the German invasion of Poland, which marked the beginning of the Second World War, a new RPG sourcebook titled “Setting Europe Ablaze: The SOE Sourcebook” is set to be released. This book allows role-playing game enthusiasts to simulate the operations of the Special Operations Executive (SOE), a covert British organization active during WWII.

Developed by military history and RPG author Russell Phillips, the sourcebook provides a flexible, system-neutral framework that caters to various role-playing systems. It focuses on the espionage and sabotage missions carried out by the SOE behind enemy lines, offering players a different perspective on WWII scenarios.

The title of the book, inspired by Winston Churchill’s directive to the SOE to “set Europe ablaze,” highlights the risky and impactful nature of the missions undertaken by SOE agents. These missions ranged from supporting civilian resistance groups to facilitating the escape of Allied servicemen.

Funding for the book’s publication was secured through a successful Kickstarter campaign, which exceeded its financial goal by 272%. Backers of the project gained early access to the sourcebook among other rewards.

The sourcebook “Setting Europe Ablaze” is now available for pre-order on major platforms like Amazon and Waterstones and will be released on DriveThruRPG starting September 1. Further details can be found on the author’s official website.

2K and Firaxis have revealed more information about Sid Meier's Civilization VII at gamescom 2024. After first publishing a teaser trailer at Summer Game Fest 2024, the companies revealed the release date and gameplay details for the new game at the European gaming event.

A new trailer for Civilization VII appeared first during the gamescom 2024 Opening Night Live stream. It showed a quick montage of in-engine footage, including buildings from various civilizations and units from different ages. The main highlight of this trailer was the release date announcement.

The new game will be available on February 11, 2025. While prior entries used to appear first on PCs with consoles like Nintendo Switch getting them later on, this trailer's ending segment hints that Civilization VII will be available simultaneously on not only PCs but also the PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox platforms.

Soon after that, Firaxis held an official gameplay showcase stream dedicated to the game on the series' official YouTube channel. The new game will have civilizations tied to each of the three different eras, and the leader character the player chooses is no longer tied to their original civilization.

For example, while Hatshepsut is originally related to Egypt, the player can choose to have her lead the Aksum civilization instead in the Antiquity Age. As the game progresses in age, the player will have to choose a different civilization for Hatshepsut to lead, such as Songhai or Mongolia in the Exploration Age, and Buganda in the Modern Age.

2K has also updated the game's Steam page with additional bonus editions that provide both in-game content at launch and post-launch DLC that 2K will release in the future. People who have pre-purchased any edition of the game—including the standard version before release—can get the native American civilization Shawnee and Tecumseh as a playable leader.

Sid Meier's Civilization VII will be available for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One on February 11, 2025.

The post Civilization VII Release Date and Gameplay Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is all set to immerse players in the medieval machinations of warring kings and lords all over again, when it comes out on 11th February 2025.

We’ve played a few hours of the game, experiencing its opening narrative twists, as well as leaping ahead to the big city of Kuttenberg and the broader historical RPG action – you can read all about that here – but we also got to sit down with Warhorse figurehead and PR Manager Tobias Stolz-Zwilling to talk about a game that’s been a whole console generation in the making.

TSA: It’s going to have been 7 years almost exactly between games, which is basically a full console generation which is a lot of time in terms of tech, gaming and people’s attitudes. As a developer, has your approach for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 changed compared to the original, beyond the studio simply getting so much bigger?

Tobias Stolz-Zwilling: Yes and no. No, it’s still very much the same kind of game, so we’re trying to stay true to Warhorse, stay true to KCD, and deliver what we believe is a true, authentic medieval experience, but then again, now with more people and the cushion of a successful KCD1, we can make things bigger – everyone always says it’s going to be bigger and better, but in our case we do have more people, we have the financial funding that can support the development, but we also have the technology and the skills now to bring stuff into the game that we couldn’t afford before.

For example, we and [Director] Daniel Vávra always wanted to have a city in the game, and in KCD1 they’re teasing and talking about how in Kuttenberg something is happening, but we simply couldn’t [go there], because we weren’t able to have more than a few people on screen, the task of building a huge medieval city was too big, and so in KCD1 we basically have a bunch of villages and one overblown village, which is Rattay. Compare Ratai to KCD2 and it’s like one street in Kuttenberg. Now we are confident to tackle bigger things and that is what I think has changed most.

TSA: You’ve almost already answered my next question, which is what ways KCD2 has changed from the original? The scope, of course, but are you sticking with the alchemy system, the style of combat and things like that?

Tobi: Yes, the scope is the easy answer, but pretty much every element from KCD1 is being tweaked, fine tuned and upgraded. Even the dice minigame will be deeper and there will be some badges you can earn.

I think the most prominent example is with the combat […] We said of KCD1 that combat was easy to learn but hard to master, and I think the hard to master we nailed, but the easy to learn, not so much. Many people liked it, but some struggled, so the idea now is to have different animators come to the studio so that they all feel different, but they ca also offer different playstyle. So if you want to play the intricate combat system, then you can take a sword and do all the combos and moves, but if you’re a character that doesn’t want to combat at all or want a more straightforward style, then there’s weapons like the mace where you pretty much just whack the opponent on the head!

Then in the UI there are less attacking zones, it’s a bit more straightforward, the combos are not so difficult, and so on. It’s also stayed true to each weapon historically and what it was used for – of course the crossbow was easier than a bow, that’s why they invented them, and of course a pole weapon is easier that fencing, that’s why they used them. The intent is for a more entertaining game that offers you this choice.

TSA: You mentioned hitting enemies on the head, and video game developers have got a rich tradition of exploding watermelons. Usually it’s for first person shooters, I think, but did you get through many watermelons during development?

Tobi: [laughs] I don’t want to spoil too much, but many watermelons were harmed!

TSA: It also feels like you’re taking a step forward in the storytelling and the cinematic stylings. Perhaps a lot of that is from experiencing the opening hours and getting people into the setting, but does that continue as the open world is exposed to you?

Tobi: Daniel Vávra is a huge cinematics fan, and one day wants to shoot a film himself, so of course you can see this in his games – you can also see this in Mafia and Mafia 2, his earlier products. He has this hand for dramatic scenes and sequences, and KCD 2 especially is not different.

In the beginning of the game, it’s a little bit more hands on and we bring you up to speed with the video sequences to introduce you to the game and the surroundings. This will be less through the rest of the game, however, I think we have 4, 5 or 6 hours of cinematics in the game, and they’re extremely powerful and important for us to deliver the story. We have a 100 hour game, after all, and it’s a story driven game first, and an action RPG and the fighting and so on, so therefore the cinematics are very important.

TSA: I like that you can really put Henry and Sir Hans together as two characters that have a lot of growing up to do in this game.

Tobi: And that’s what makes them so lovely! Hans Capon in the first game, if you check on Reddit and so on, most people are saying the same: “I hated this dude in the beginning, but then he became my most loved character!”

He had this interest arc in KCD where he became a friend to Henry, but still there’s the difference where he is a noble and Henry is a Squire, a bastard. This is still present, but KCD2 will focus strongly on the bromance between those two, as they face terrible situations through the game where they’re on the edge of surviving (maybe even further), and that’s a dramatic part that we have a big focus on.

Henry, in KCD1, pretty much solved everything by himself, but in KCD2 that will not be the case. He will find out very quickly that he needs friends and he needs other misfits to get things done.

TSA: I get the feeling that Hans would like Henry to still sort everything out for them! [laughs]

How important is that you kept Mutt in the game? Was that a day one addition to the plan?

Tobi: Yes, and you can finally pet him! That was a big thing and even our own guys said we have to have a pettable dog, and to go one further, we have a petable horse as well, which is great.

Some of the perks and stats we are taking over to KCD 2, like the dog for instance or Henry being able to read – it doesn’t make sense to make him learn to read all over again – however, things like combat and other intricate things, he has to rediscover.

I like to say it’s like he’s the champion of a Sunday league, but now he’s going to the Premier League, so he will suck at most things in comparison. However, he now knows how to play soccer, but now needs to step up the game to deal with armies, knights, lords, nobility and so on. It’s not like he forgot everything, it’s more like he needs to refine his skills.

TSA: He didn’t just take a mace to the head and forget stuff.

Tobi: Exactly.

TSA: There’s obviously still areas that you might still be able to improve and add in future, so you talked about not having jousting in the game, which I’m sure a lot of people would be nagging you to do. Is that the main thing that is still on the wish list?

Tobi: Honestly, I think everything that’s in the game and everything that’s not in the game is exactly as intended by Warhorse – this is how we do it, this is what we wanted to deliver, and we are looking forward to getting this out.

Jousting and these things are coming from fans that are very often used to Hollywood scenes, like A Knight’s Tale. Yes, jousting was a thing in the Middle Ages, but it definitely wasn’t as present as people might think…

TSA: Also, it was probably just for the rich folks.

Tobi: For the very rich folks. For the nobility mainly, and even then, when they were participating, it was a problem because you were actually hurting a nobleman!

But there will be tournaments: swordfighting tournaments, archery tournaments, horse tournaments and so on and so on. There will be cool stuff in there, but jousting would be a bit like a Quidditch game for Harry Potter. Of course everyone wanted Quidditch in there, but…

TSA: I mean, jousting you can understand, but Quidditch is impossible to figure out how to make into a workable game!

Tobi: Just catch the golden ball! [laughs]

TSA: Lastly, I was wondering about big picture for Kingdom Come. Obviously you will tell a story of its own in KCD2, but is there still another chapter in a grander saga? I’m not sure you’re allowed to say right now…

Tobi: I’m allowed to say anything! KCD1 ended with a cliffhanger, and KCD2 will end a story, but I don’t tell you which story. What the future brings, we don’t know yet.

In our history at Warhorse, we had two sink or swim situations. One was the Kickstarter, and the other was the release of KCD, because even then we weren’t sure if it would be a success or not. it’s not a sink or swim situation anymore, knocking on wood, but we have to wait and see how KCD2 performs. I am positive, I think the game is great and in very good shape already.

I can tell you already that Warhorse tries to aim to get bigger. We want more people, have bigger studios and again tackle bigger challenges.

Our hands on time and chat with Tobi with Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 came thanks to a press trip to Kutná Hora, the modern day Kuttenberg, with travel and accommodation provided by Warhorse and Plaion.

May 31: Little Nightmares III has been delayed, and will not be making it out this year as originally planned. Bandai Namco now intends to publish the title in 2025. Little Nightmares III was first unveiled at Gamescom last August. It’s a notable shift for the series as the first two titles were made by Tarsier Studios. This one is...

The post Little Nightmares III delayed to 2025 appeared first on Nintendo Everything.

Following its announcement in June, we now have a release date and proper look at Civilization VII with a fresh gameplay trailer. The video just debuted at Gamescom: Opening Night Live 2024. Civilization VII now has a release date of February 11, 2025. The game will come in the form of a standard version and Deluxe Edition – if you...

The post Civilization VII release date set for February, first gameplay trailer appeared first on Nintendo Everything.

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2K and Firaxis have revealed more information about Sid Meier's Civilization VII at gamescom 2024. After first publishing a teaser trailer at Summer Game Fest 2024, the companies revealed the release date and gameplay details for the new game at the European gaming event.

A new trailer for Civilization VII appeared first during the gamescom 2024 Opening Night Live stream. It showed a quick montage of in-engine footage, including buildings from various civilizations and units from different ages. The main highlight of this trailer was the release date announcement.

The new game will be available on February 11, 2025. While prior entries used to appear first on PCs with consoles like Nintendo Switch getting them later on, this trailer's ending segment hints that Civilization VII will be available simultaneously on not only PCs but also the PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox platforms.

Soon after that, Firaxis held an official gameplay showcase stream dedicated to the game on the series' official YouTube channel. The new game will have civilizations tied to each of the three different eras, and the leader character the player chooses is no longer tied to their original civilization.

For example, while Hatshepsut is originally related to Egypt, the player can choose to have her lead the Aksum civilization instead in the Antiquity Age. As the game progresses in age, the player will have to choose a different civilization for Hatshepsut to lead, such as Songhai or Mongolia in the Exploration Age, and Buganda in the Modern Age.

2K has also updated the game's Steam page with additional bonus editions that provide both in-game content at launch and post-launch DLC that 2K will release in the future. People who have pre-purchased any edition of the game—including the standard version before release—can get the native American civilization Shawnee and Tecumseh as a playable leader.

Sid Meier's Civilization VII will be available for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, and Xbox One on February 11, 2025.

The post Civilization VII Release Date and Gameplay Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.

There's nothing quite like the moment right before sitting down to see a new Civilization game for the first time – particularly since this is the longest we've ever had to wait for a new one – and I'm happy to say I came away with a pretty positive outlook …

Secret Level is an anthology series coming to Amazon Prime Video, and it brings several games to animated form to tell new short stories for those games. The series was finally revealed with a teaser trailer during Gamescom 2024's Opening Night Live showcase. It comes from Blur Studio, the …

If you’re reading this preview, it’s likely that you already know what Civilization is on some level. A 4X game encompassing the entirety of human history may sound like a bit of a stretch, but that’s exactly what Sid Meier and the rest of the team aimed for when creating the first - and every subsequent - Civilization game. I think it’s fair to say they’ve done a decent job at it.

It was only a short while ago that we got our first glimpse of Civilization 7, the much anticipated latest entry to the long running series. As with any fresh instalment to classics from the strategy genre—games like Homeworld 3, Company of Heroes 3, Total War: Pharaoh, or Age of Empires 4—there's a lot of excitement surrounding the next Civilization, especially regarding when it's set to come out. Gamescom's Opening Night Live has just revealed that date, and, fortunately, it's much sooner than many might have anticipated.

Enlarge / Firaxis has upped the ante on presentation for the cities. It's still a bit abstract and removed, but they have more vibrancy, detail, and movement than before. (credit: 2K Games)

2K Games provided a flight from Chicago to Baltimore and accommodation for two nights so that Ars could participate in the preview opportunity for Civilization VII. Ars does not accept paid editorial content.

From squares to hexes, from tech trees to civic trees, over its more than 30 years across seven mainline entries, the Civilization franchise continues to evolve.

Firaxis, the studio that has developed the Civilization games for many years, has a mantra when making a sequel: 33 percent of the game stays the same, 33 percent gets updated, and 33 percent is brand new.

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Firaxis and 2K Games have slapped a release date on Civilization 7, the latest in the obscenely venerable empire management series. It's out 11th February 2025. Find a new trailer with a quick-and-dirty montage of units, buildings and posturing historical celebs below. Don't worry, it still has hexagons.

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Oh, hey, would you look at that? Total War: Warhammer 3's patch 5.2.0 (arriving later today) has some new orcs and goblins in it.

Look at 'em! They've got swords and shields now!

Read more

Any gags I could make about an update that lets Total War: Warhammer 3’s dawi play tall are far too obvious for the discerning comedic palette that brought you such bangers as that time I just wrote “(penis)” a bunch so the Overkill’s Walking Dead page wouldn’t quote me out of context, so let’s just dive right in to the details. The strategy game’s 5.2 update is on the horizon, and tagging along with it are the first of the “extra bits” the team teased in June. I’m very excited about them. They sit somewhere between the usual patch fare of stat tweaks and errata, and the weightier faction facelifts that come alongside paid DLC. They’re also focused right where Immortal Empires needs them the most: depth, rather than width. In the dawi’s case, quite literally.

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Firaxis and 2K Games have slapped a release date on Civilization 7, the latest in the obscenely venerable empire management series. It's out 11th February 2025. Find a new trailer with a quick-and-dirty montage of units, buildings and posturing historical celebs below. Don't worry, it still has hexagons.

Read more

Oh, hey, would you look at that? Total War: Warhammer 3's patch 5.2.0 (arriving later today) has some new orcs and goblins in it.

Look at 'em! They've got swords and shields now!

Read more

Any gags I could make about an update that lets Total War: Warhammer 3’s dawi play tall are far too obvious for the discerning comedic palette that brought you such bangers as that time I just wrote “(penis)” a bunch so the Overkill’s Walking Dead page wouldn’t quote me out of context, so let’s just dive right in to the details. The strategy game’s 5.2 update is on the horizon, and tagging along with it are the first of the “extra bits” the team teased in June. I’m very excited about them. They sit somewhere between the usual patch fare of stat tweaks and errata, and the weightier faction facelifts that come alongside paid DLC. They’re also focused right where Immortal Empires needs them the most: depth, rather than width. In the dawi’s case, quite literally.

Read more

It’s time for Gamescom, friendos. Geoff Keighley is back to host another big video game showcase, and this time it’s the Opening Night Live presentation before Gamescom. The German event is taking place from August 21 to 25 in Cologne, but before fans, press, and developers explore the showfloor, we get to see a big…

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Today, during Gamescom Opening Night Live, 2K Games and Hangar 13 announced Mafia: The Old Country, the next main entry in the long-running open-world series about gangsters.

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In Little Nightmares III, players follow the journey of Low & Alone, two best friends looking for a way out of the Nowhere.

Trapped within the Spiral, a cluster of distorted areas within the Nowhere, they will have to work together to survive in a dangerous world full of delusions and escape the grasp of an even greater threat lurking in the shadows.

Little Nightmares III returns to Gamescom with a brand-new trailer, highlighting the synergies between the two characters and teasing new environments to explore!

Play Video

Co-operative features and new puzzle-solving mechanics

Little Nightmares III is the first game in the franchise to feature 2 players online co-operation. The latest trailer shows some of the co-operative gameplay mechanics that will be useful when players play together in co-op, or solo with the other character controlled by AI. 

Low and Alone, the two playable characters, are both best friends and very complementary. They each have an iconic item: the bow for Low and the wrench for Alone. 

Working together will be key to progress in the game. For example, in the trailer we see that Low can bring down smaller enemies with his bow, while Alone has to finish them off on the ground with her wrench. 

You can also see Low put his bow to good use at the end of the trailer, saving Alone from the petrifying glare of Monster Baby. 

However, teamwork isn’t only about using items. It is also about clearing the way for your partner so they can help you move forward in turn. You’ll need to be proactive and take initiative for both of you to make it through. 

“The relationship between the two characters is very strong, and we were keen to explore that bond in the game. It is even more relevant when we see them working together to escape the many threats that make up the Nowhere”, mentioned Wayne Garland, Little Nightmares III Game Director at Supermassive Games.

New settings, faithful to Little Nightmares’ atmosphere

Teamwork is at the heart of the trailer, but it’s not the only new thing players will experience as they play through the game’s compelling story. By including co-op, we wanted to offer something fresh for the players, unique to Little Nightmares III, while retaining the beautifully disturbing atmosphere of the series. 

You’ll feel it in the new environments, which are full of mysteries and revelations. You’ll also find the same tension and suspense as these two charming new characters face even greater risks than before, searching for a glimmer of hope in a world filled with darkness.

Necropolis is a good example of a new type of location in the game. In spite of its abandoned state and warm desert colors, the city feels eerie and unsettling. Don’t be fooled by this windswept, brightly lit environment. Danger is everywhere, and Monster Baby is easily roused when new toys tumble into her crib… 

In the trailer, you can also spot a variety of other regions of the Nowhere, each one more unsettling than the last. Some of them might be reminiscent of places you might have explored in previous Little Nightmares games, like dank and gloomy vents and the gears and pistons of pitiless machinery. Some are more unfamiliar, like a rickety Ferris wheel, a shadowy circus tent, or a massive, complex clockwork mechanism. 

You’ll have to be patient before we can tell you more about these places and their inhabitants! More news about Little Nightmares III will be revealed in the near future, so stay together, little ones.

Little Nightmares III will be released in 2025 on PS5 and PS4.

It’s now possible to quickly and easily play the original 1997 Diablo on your PC or phone via a simple website. Just load it up on your browser and you can start killing demons and skeletons like it’s the ‘90s all over again.

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Video game release dates are more a suggestion than a promise these days, and understandably so. Making games is hard and audiences have never been busier and more fickle. Still, it’s disappointing when you find out that sci-fi shooter or fantasy adventure you’ve been waiting for won’t be out any time soon, and a lot…

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In Little Nightmares III, players follow the journey of Low & Alone, two best friends looking for a way out of the Nowhere.

Trapped within the Spiral, a cluster of distorted areas within the Nowhere, they will have to work together to survive in a dangerous world full of delusions and escape the grasp of an even greater threat lurking in the shadows.

Little Nightmares III returns to Gamescom with a brand-new trailer, highlighting the synergies between the two characters and teasing new environments to explore!

Play Video

Co-operative features and new puzzle-solving mechanics

Little Nightmares III is the first game in the franchise to feature 2 players online co-operation. The latest trailer shows some of the co-operative gameplay mechanics that will be useful when players play together in co-op, or solo with the other character controlled by AI. 

Low and Alone, the two playable characters, are both best friends and very complementary. They each have an iconic item: the bow for Low and the wrench for Alone. 

Working together will be key to progress in the game. For example, in the trailer we see that Low can bring down smaller enemies with his bow, while Alone has to finish them off on the ground with her wrench. 

You can also see Low put his bow to good use at the end of the trailer, saving Alone from the petrifying glare of Monster Baby. 

However, teamwork isn’t only about using items. It is also about clearing the way for your partner so they can help you move forward in turn. You’ll need to be proactive and take initiative for both of you to make it through. 

“The relationship between the two characters is very strong, and we were keen to explore that bond in the game. It is even more relevant when we see them working together to escape the many threats that make up the Nowhere”, mentioned Wayne Garland, Little Nightmares III Game Director at Supermassive Games.

New settings, faithful to Little Nightmares’ atmosphere

Teamwork is at the heart of the trailer, but it’s not the only new thing players will experience as they play through the game’s compelling story. By including co-op, we wanted to offer something fresh for the players, unique to Little Nightmares III, while retaining the beautifully disturbing atmosphere of the series. 

You’ll feel it in the new environments, which are full of mysteries and revelations. You’ll also find the same tension and suspense as these two charming new characters face even greater risks than before, searching for a glimmer of hope in a world filled with darkness.

Necropolis is a good example of a new type of location in the game. In spite of its abandoned state and warm desert colors, the city feels eerie and unsettling. Don’t be fooled by this windswept, brightly lit environment. Danger is everywhere, and Monster Baby is easily roused when new toys tumble into her crib… 

In the trailer, you can also spot a variety of other regions of the Nowhere, each one more unsettling than the last. Some of them might be reminiscent of places you might have explored in previous Little Nightmares games, like dank and gloomy vents and the gears and pistons of pitiless machinery. Some are more unfamiliar, like a rickety Ferris wheel, a shadowy circus tent, or a massive, complex clockwork mechanism. 

You’ll have to be patient before we can tell you more about these places and their inhabitants! More news about Little Nightmares III will be revealed in the near future, so stay together, little ones.

Little Nightmares III will be released in 2025 on PS5 and PS4.

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I'm not sure how funny Buster Keaton movies are these days - I assume there are moments that still work as pure gags. But these films of his remain wonderful, because Keaton was kind of the Tom Cruise of his age - or rather Cruise, who namechecks Keaton often in interviews - is the closest thing we have to the original. Keaton's gags were almost always stunts, dangerous, brilliant, clearly visual stunts that moved the action forward while giving audiences something to gasp at. There's nothing on the surface to make me think of the World of Goo games, and yet I think of Keaton constantly when I play.

Keaton's world moves. I think that's it. Its physics are dependable - and predictable, which is important for gags and for games - but the ground itself cannot be trusted. If Keaton's sat on a steamboat's wheel and he thinks he's safe, we know that wheel's going to start turning. If he's climbing a ladder, we know that the ladder itself will start sinking into the mud. What then? Keaton has to vamp - to make the moment work. He has to over-engineer things to create a sense of new stability. That's where you get the gag, where you get the fun.

This is everywhere in World of Goo. At the heart of the first game, which helped usher in the Indie era, and at the heart of the second, which has just arrived, bringing with it both new ideas and a lot of fond memories - at the heart of both you're dealing with treacherous foundations. These games are bridge builders at their simplest. (Granted, they never stay simple for very long.) You have a pile of black goo lumps, and you can extend the lumps outwards to create rudimentary frames. The goal for each level is a pipe you have to reach, which will suck in any remaining goo balls. So build upwards in a tower to a pipe that's lurking above you! Build outward as a bridge across a nasty gap.

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Both Remnant: From the Ashes and its sequel Remnant 2 offer thrilling boss encounters that require intricate strategy for success, cementing their place among gaming excellence in this genre. Bosses with unique movesets and abilities offer encounters full of variety; Remnant 1/Remnant: From the Ashes, who also has more varied bosses, stands out in particular by encouraging multiple tactics against each adversary precisely because they are varied. so you have to adapt to each situation.

Soulslike Combat

Remnant (both its predecessor and sequel) presents players with captivating and unforgettable combat experiences through its boss battles, marked by individual traits, detailed backstories and visually arresting displays of aggression. It's time to explore and buy PS5 games that have as their model the celebrated Demon Souls but are at the same time different and innovative enough to be worth playing: Remnant is one of those. Souls-esque games provide formidable challenges while providing profound depth that allows players to decipher animations, anticipate attacks and ultimately emerge victorious without succumbing to damage; an extremely satisfying feat!

Examples of Boss Fights in Remnant: From the Ashes and Remnant II

Here are some examples of boss fights from each game:

Remnant 1

• Gorefist: A large, lumbering beast that attacks with melee and ranged attacks.
• Shroud: A shadowy figure that teleports around the arena and attacks with a variety of projectiles.
• The Mangler: A grotesque creature that uses its long tongue to grab and pull players towards it.
• Brabus: A heavily armored knight that wields a large greatsword.
• The Ent: A massive tree creature that attacks with its roots and branches.
• Singe: A fire-based boss that uses a variety of fire-based attacks.

Remnant 2

• Obryk: A towering warrior who wields a massive shield and hammer.
• Erfor: A cunning assassin that uses stealth and poison attacks.
• Tian: A skilled archer that attacks from a distance.
• Ikro: A powerful ice mage that controls the elements.
• Brudvaak: A skilled horseman who fights alongside his war dog.
• Harsgaard: A powerful sorcerer that wields a variety of arcane magic.

Do not be deceived by its dull introduction! At first, Remnant: From the Ashes may appear unassuming with characters seeming interchangeable and an ineluctable narrative producing no thrills or spillover. Don't fall prey to its subpar opening sequence though! You will soon be hooked! But once you begin shooting at demons, the atmosphere changes significantly: clicking of reloads and hits are instantly familiar, reminding us of horror shooter classics such as Clive Barker's Undying or recalling Left 4 Dead's hectic atmosphere.

Conclusion

Gunfire Games stands out among recent attempts such as Immortal: Unchained in its ability to bring Dark Souls' framework into a shooter context with satisfying results, especially through shotguns and hunting rifles that deliver a satisfying punch. Solo experiences often fall short in meeting challenges posed by difficult bosses compared to teamplay dynamics enjoyed by three players or more. Bosses that come accompanied by dangerous mobs make solo play an unpredictable cat-and-mouse game that puts even experienced gamers to shame! I was convinced to buy Remnant: From the Ashes by other players and reviews who compared it with Demon Souls. I liked other Souls-like games too... Nioh may lack Bloodborne's captivating game world and characters, yet its extensive long-term content trumps this fact; nevertheless, it offers an enjoyable, stimulating, and intelligently orchestrated journey similar to what can be found within Souls games.

Publisher THQ Nordic and developer Grimlore Games recently released a new trailer for the upcoming action RPG Titan Quest II. The trailer showcases several abilities, locations, enemies, and more. Titan Quest II will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam. A release date has yet to be announced. In Titan Quest II, players “return to the classic mythology-inspired setting of Titan Quest and go toe-to-toe with the legendary monsters”.

The game’s details via the publisher:

Return to the classic mythology-inspired setting of Titan Quest and go toe-to-toe with legendary monsters as you journey across a fantastical reimagining of ancient Greece.

Nemesis, Goddess of Retribution, is out of control. She is corrupting the Threads of Fate and condemning all those who oppose her to eternal punishment—including you. Take up your weapon, fight alongside gods, and change fate itself in order to stop Nemesis, free those she’s punished, and weave your own epic tale.

From the creators of SpellForce III comes a handcrafted action RPG for a new generation of mythical heroes.

Key Features

Flexible Character System – In Titan Quest II, you are in control of you own fate. Customize your hero, then form your own class by combining two masteries. Build your character around the strengths and weakness of both masteries, exploring different combinations of skill modifiers, attributes, and items to create your own hybrid class and find your favorite playstyle. Grow your powers from those of a young mortal to a hero to rival the gods themselves!

Meaningful Loot – Every item serves a function, and every character class has many options when it comes to finding the perfect equipment. Even the most common spear can be upgraded via affix crafting, and with the right ingredients, you may even forge it into a unique item spoken of only in legend!

Challenging Action RPG Combat – Enemies form factions and work together, combining their unique skills and abilities to keep you on your toes. Use the deep character build system and access every skill at your disposal to vanquish them in this unique action RPG experience.

A Beautiful, Handcrafted World Rooted in Greek Myth – Encounter stunning vistas and deep caverns, and traverse the world with your divine mount, Areion. Use the powers of the gods to uncover secret locations and explore lovingly designed levels full of verticality.

Online Multiplayer – Join up with friends to take on the Goddess of Retribution. Like Jason and the Argonauts, sometimes you need a group of heroes for your journey.
Rich and Immersive Sound – An atmospheric soundtrack blends traditional Greek music with modern orchestral elements to create epic, memorable themes, drawing you into Titan Quest II‘s unique world.

Stay tuned at Gaming Instincts via Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for more gaming news.

The post Titan Quest II Gets New Gameplay Trailer appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.

Front(line) Mission

HIGH Good tools enrich the solid gameplay.

LOW The controls and interface are a bit clunky.

WTF Excuse me, just going to drive this Sherman through a building now…

Despite World War II ending nearly 80 years ago, gamers seem no less interested in the subject, and Headquarters: World War II allows them to relive legendary battles via an incredibly well-built strategy framework that captures the spirit of commanding troops in some of the conflict’s most pitched encounters.

Headquarters: World War II is a turn-based strategy game, where players’ troops start at a predetermined area of the map, and must capture objectives. Each side has access to a limited number of units, such as tanks, ground infantry, artillery groups, and more.

The main campaign features three factions for players to choose from — the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Each of the campaigns features iconic and legendary battles, such as the Omaha Beach landing, Operation Good Wood, and Operation Tillich. Each features a difficulty selection, alongside a custom difficulty setting with adjustable sliders for accuracy and damage, both for the player and enemy.

Every unit’s ‘health’ consists not of hit points, but instead, how many men are left in a particular unit. As each unit is damaged (loses men) its combat effectiveness is diminished. For example, an infantry unit may not be as accurate when firing, or a tank may not be able to drive as far in a turn. Each troop is visually depicted on the battlefield and in the status screen of the unit.

Ally and enemy squads also have morale, which will cause teams to run away if depleted — helpful in herding retreating enemies to a position where a trap has been laid. In one skirmish, I was able to drive an enemy away from hard cover and into the open once they lost their nerve, at which point the rest of the unit was dispatched. Morale affects allied units too, though, so the player’s morale should be kept as high as possible. This really made me think about which units to send ahead, and which to have fall back.

When attacking, each combatant is subject to fire from the other side. Terrain, cover, and manpower determine how accurate each group will be. There are also some units impervious to specific types of fire. For example, an infantry squad is unable to destroy a tank under any circumstances, but I could use recon units to spot tanks so my artillerymen could blast them from afar — it never failed to make me feel accomplished in my strategy.

In addition to this, units also have unique abilities. Recon troops can spot enemies from farther away than others can. Transport trucks can move troops around without any action cost to the unit they’re moving, mobile artillery can deliver long-distance pain to faraway enemies, and so on.

There are also some special abilities that take a few turns to recharge after using them. The most helpful was the “reinforcement” command, which allowed one unit to completely replenish its troops, allowing them a chance to recover ranks (essentially healing the unit) every three turns. There are also spy planes which allowed me to see units I hadn’t spotted yet, as well as extra artillery and naval gunfire, which could soften or destroy targets, but had a longer cooldown.

These were all incredibly nice to have, as they provided me with some extra options that I didn’t normally have on hand, or had in short supply. These helpful resources made the playthrough more enjoyable, not because it gave me an unfair advantage, but because I had to be judicious with their usage.

There is also a player vs. AI skirmish mode, which allows players to set up a random battle on a predetermined map, or make their own. This adds replayability, as it offers a lot of control on the mechanics of this mode, so players who’ve beaten the campaigns can create their own battles.

The whole package is pretty extensive, and I had a great time going through each map, each with its own goals and objectives that tasked me to rescue allies or capturing convoy materials, for example. I was challenged with using all the tools given to me to attain victory, and I never felt like any of the missions were impossible. With a good understanding of the toolkit, there were no roadblocks to progress — every mistake was my own, and I made sure to learn from them.

While the majority of Headquarters: World War II is aces, one issue I had was with the UI – it gets very crowded with information at times!

While it was nice to have plenty of info, it made things a bit hard to read for me. It did become a little tricky to see units with how cluttered the screen was, and removing some elements (like completed objectives) would have freed up some of the real estate. Related, some elements were simply hard to see, not due to crowding, but because of the fonts and colors. Stats about my currently selected unit, the mini map, the available forces I had, and combat predictions were muddy and tough to parse as they were displayed on a brown background, with the text being only slightly brighter. Leaving the text white would have alleviated this issue.

Headquarters: World War II is an excellent game for WWII enthusiasts and strategy aficionados alike. It provides a great amount of tools for players to use on the battlefield, in addition to plenty of options to tailor the experience to their needs. Some UI and interface issues diminish the experience a bit, it will still provide many hours of enjoyable warfare for fans of the material.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Disclosures: This game is developed by Starni Games and published by Slitherine Ltd. It is currently available on PC. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher, and reviewed on PC. Approximately 6 hours was devoted to the game, and it was not completed. There is an online multiplayer mode for up to four players.

Parents: This game is not rated by the ESRB rating. This game is set in World War II, and allied and enemy units can be killed in a variety of ways, including gunfire, flamethrowers, artillery, and so on. However, the deaths are never gory or violent. Troops will simply collapse as they are dispatched, and machines and tanks will explode. There is some dated language and insults, such as use of the phrase “Kraut” when the German military is discussed by American troops.

Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind options.

Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: The game does offer subtitles, but cannot be resized. (See examples above and below.) All voiced dialogue is accompanied by subtitles. The text can be a tad difficult to read, and therefore this game is not accessible.

Remarkable Controls: No, this game’s controls are not remappable.

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice by developer Ninja Theory caught people by surprise way back in 2017. Widely acclaimed as a touching story of grief and regarded as a pillar of mental health representation, it won the Game Awards prize for Best Performance, Audio Design, and Games for Impact. Seven years later, the long-awaited sequel was quietly released to the public. Senua's Saga: Hellblade II was first announced in 2019, but due to the pandemic and presumably other reasons, it took longer than anybody expected. So, is it worth the wait?

Lacking in mechanical innovation and gameplay diversity, Senua's Saga still maintains a spectacular story and bone-chilling audio design comparable to its predecessor, enough to give anybody goosebumps. Thanks to its use of Unreal Engine 5, the game flaunts breathtaking visuals and atmosphere, with well-realized Icelandic landscapes and hybrid Norse-Celtic attire. A relatively short romp compared to contemporary AAA titles, it follows the trend of indie games, carrying heavy stories of emotional depth in six hours or under.

The Sacrifice

Set in the late 8th century, Senua's story starts with her struggle dealing with inherited psychosis that came from her mother, the mental illness that caused people around her to see her as a curse and blight to the land. She hears voices inside her head, ones that confirm her self-doubt, yet also at her darkest moments, become her only friends. Because of this, her mother died at the hands of Senua's own father, burning her on a stake as a sacrifice for the gods.

This act traumatized her so much that she had to repress the memory and imagine her mother's death as suicide. Other than her mother, the only one who saw her as she was and wholly accepted her was her lover, and the first game depicted her grief over his death as well. For that, she blamed herself, just as her father taught her. Being used to alienation, she accepted that she was to blame for every death and misfortune that befell everyone she ever loved. People around her saw her as a curse, and that narrative burrowed into her heart, becoming what she truly believed.

The game ended with Senua fighting through hell for her lover's soul, the singular thing keeping her going, without realizing that it was herself who held it in place. In a metaphysical battle against the hordes of hell and its goddess, the voices in her head pushed her to the realization that she had to let go, that the alternative was an endless unwinnable battle, and that the real hell was holding on. So she listened. By moving on, she accepted all the deaths in her past, her part in them, but also her innocence. Her odyssey made her welcome her supposed curse and introduced her to a new way of seeing.

"Never forget what it is like to see the world as a child, Senua: where every autumn leaf is a work of art; every rolling cloud, a moving picture; every day a new story. We too emerge from this magic, like a wave from the ocean, only to return back to the sea. Do not mourn the waves, the leaves and the clouds. Because even in darkness the wonder and beauty of the world never leaves. It's always there, just waiting to be seen again."

The morning after

The sequel asks the question of what happens after acceptance, and the responsibility that comes with it. Senua has made peace with the loss of her lover and the psychosis she carries. But peace does not mean forgetting, and she carries the memories of her lost ones still. Now, her challenge and struggle lie in what she has to do with just the memories that remain, and what to make of peace. Without the clear direction and purpose of anger, without the emotional drive of grief, she must find her own way, and carve a path that makes sense for her. Senua has sacrificed her innocence by remembering the truth about her mother's death and her father's part in it, yet she has also reclaimed her innocence by not blaming herself for her lover's death. Now, she must make both losses worth it.

So she went to the source, the first blade that took her love away, the reason blood was shed. The second game starts with her pretending to be a slave and getting taken away by the Northmen who once came into her village and gutted her lover. While the predecessor showed Senua's personal journey of self-acceptance, the sequel shows Senua's journey in attempting to understand her worst enemy and despite their bad blood, empathize. Maybe she could make them see what she saw, and her journey need not benefit herself only. By healing herself, she could start to heal others who are similarly wounded by the world they all share.

In the course of the story, she shows mercy to the slaver who killed so many, and in the process learns about three giants that plague the land. These giants are the reason her village was raided, slaves were taken, and her lover butchered, all done as sacrifices for them. But as her psychosis is not the bane that many saw it to be, these giants are also not as they first seem. They are not as typically imposing as their name implies. The giants of Senua don't even stand up, instead, they crawl like newborns in pain.

The way Senua defeats them is also atypical. She first has to learn their names. Once known, she can begin to relate with them and figure out their pain. Senua sees through the giants' imposing size and booming cries, to the little hurt soul cradled inside. Through her eyes, they can accept their mistakes and injustices. Having them be seen and understood by an outsider, they do not have to be alone ever again. Through Senua's acceptance of them, the giants can claim peace. Like ghosts tethered to reality by guilt and grief, the presence of someone living to remember their life cuts them loose.

However, not everyone is willing to open themselves up to new perspectives. The final giant couldn't see it, he didn't want to. It is revealed at the end that the last most powerful giant is in fact the slaver's father, the tyrant who sacrifices slaves from other lands proclaiming it was to keep his people safe. As it turns out, it was all a ploy to keep himself in power and keep his people obedient. Once Senua comes to challenge his rule and show people another way of living, one of compassion, the tyrant rejects her.

She sees her own father in this tyrant, the one who also weaponized lies and fear to diminish others. Coming out of the first game, Senua could now see past the lies of narcissistic men. She saw the motive, the original sin that took everything from her, how cruelty can come from fear, and evil from control. All of it is based on a lie that is only beneficial to its teller. Even in his absence, her father still gives voice to her doubts. Once gaining cult-like followers by soothsaying, her father had used his believers to gain control and murder Senua's mother. The true giant is the lie fed to us that we believe over our own truth, the one we must learn the name of to dispel it of its power.

Only after Senua redeems the slaver by making him oppose his father, that she frees herself of the fear of becoming her own father. By seeing another inspired by her and resisting their doomed destinies, she is inspired in return, instilled with the hope that she does not have to experience the same fate as her mother or father.

While the first game is more internal, dealing with Senua and her past and the voices in her head, the second game focuses a lot more on other people. She hears their voices, how they contradict or concur with her inner voices, and how their perceptions of Senua repair her broken self-image, an image cracked from trauma and grief haphazardly corrected by a shaking hand, needing outside perspectives to keep it from being fixed crooked. Other people's belief in Senua breaks her disbelief in herself. They are the tether to her reality. They make her realize that the burden of acceptance doesn't have to be carried alone, and that her grief and psychosis mean something good when turned into a helping hand.

Living with a different way of seeing

Both Sacrifice and Saga play with what's real and what's not, juggling the inner reality of Senua's mind with the objective outer world. It makes us question if the giants are real or just metaphors. But maybe they are real to her, and that's all that matters. Senua's Saga is partly about perspective, and by seeing the world through Senua's eyes, it does not matter much if a lie looks like a giant; all that matters is the problem takes shape in whatever way people see it. Maybe through seeing things in a new light, new solutions are born; maybe tyrants do not have to exist to replace each other' maybe none of us are our mothers or fathers.

There's a part in the game where Senua disarms herself, leaving herself vulnerable, to arm her future self. She passes on her trusted blade, her only defense, to a voice in need, and that voice is her own. By answering the call to help others, she is helping herself. She learns to take the leap of faith in helping others, despite her inner voices disputing her decision, despite her fear.

Where in her younger years she is condemned for hearing voices and being different, here she is seen as special, as blessed with the ability to perceive a better path. Her compassion redeems a son not become his cruel father, ending a cycle of unnecessary violence. Monstrous giants see her as kin, recognizing the burden she carries on her shoulders, and how she was once like them. Senua uses what she has learned from her sacrifice to help others, to help those who are going through what she has gone through. The giants could not move on for one reason or another like she couldn't. So she helps them like she helped herself.

Monsters are just names we call things we fear, that we don’t understand. But through these names, we can see flawed things in a different light, as vile and dangerous. Names tell us how to see, so perhaps we need to believe in a world with kinder names, for a better way of seeing.

"All monsters were once men."

The story of Senua is twofold, about coping with her illness and what it does to the people around her, but also about being responsible with her newfound perspective, using it to show other people facing similar issues what she has learned. As she was once lost, now she leads the lost. It is about choice and agency, regaining control of your narrative, from your parents, from your illness, and your doubts. It is about the name you are given, and the one you choose for yourself.

Maybe the more dangerous and invisible darkness inside someone is not the voices you hear in your head, but the lies you remember, the abuse you bore all your life, and how that is also a responsibility you carry, to change. Senua is not her father's sins, her mother's psychosis, or the voices inside her head. She is all of this, and so much more.