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Game: World of Warships

If you’re a fan of naval combat games or have always wanted to dive into the world of strategic maritime warfare, now’s the perfect time to set sail! The Epic Games Store offers the “World of Warships – Starter Pack: Albany” free until August 23, 2023, at 11:00 AM ET. This limited-time offer provides new and returning players a fantastic opportunity to bolster their fleets with valuable in-game items at no cost.

What’s Included in the Starter Pack: Albany?

The “World of Warships – Starter Pack: Albany” is a great way to kickstart your naval journey or add firepower to your existing collection. The pack typically sells for €22.50 outside of this promotion, so grabbing it for free is a significant deal. Here’s what you can expect to receive in this starter pack:

American Tier II Premium Cruiser Albany: The highlight of this pack is the Albany, a protected cruiser that serves as a solid introduction to the game’s cruiser class. As a low-tier ship, it’s ideal for beginners looking to learn the basics of naval combat.

Port Slot: Every ship needs a place to dock! The included port slot ensures you have room to accommodate your new Albany cruiser without needing to make space in your fleet.

Mission Reward: Complete 15 battles to receive your choice of one of the following researchable ships:

• Japanese Tier IV destroyer Isokaze
• American Tier IV cruiser Phoenix
• German Tier IV battleship Moltke
• British Tier IV aircraft carrier Hermes
  
• 1,500,000 Credits: A generous sum to help you upgrade and maintain your fleet.
• Epic Patch: A particular patch to showcase your achievements.
• Expendable Economic Bonuses:
• 12x “Credits +40%” bonuses
• 12x “Ship XP +200%” bonuses
• 12x “Commander XP +200%” bonuses
• 12x “Free XP +600%” bonuses
• Signal Flags:
• 10x Juliet Charlie signals (reduce detonation chance)
• 10x Victor Lima signals (increased chance of fire and flooding)
• 10x India X-Ray signals (increase fire chance)
• 10x Sierra Mike signals (increase ship speed)
• 10x November Foxtrot signals (reduce cooldown time for consumables)

How to Claim the Offer

To claim the “World of Warships – Starter Pack: Albany” for free, head to the Epic Games Store before August 22, 2023, and add the pack to your account. Once claimed, the pack will be yours to keep forever. You can also follow this link to the direct promotion page. If you miss this deadline (August 22), the pack will revert to its regular price of €22.50, so don’t wait too long!

Conclusion

Whether you’re a seasoned veteran of the high seas or a newcomer looking to dive into naval warfare, the “World of Warships – Starter Pack: Albany” is an excellent freebie that offers real value. With a solid ship, mission rewards, premium currency, valuable economic bonuses, and signal flags included, this pack provides a strong start or a great addition to your fleet.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity — set sail with the Albany and dominate the seas!

Keep an eye on the discounts section of our page for more content like this!

The post Freebie Alert: World of Warships – Starter Pack: Albany Available for Free on Epic Games Store appeared first on WePlayGames.net: Home for Top Gamers.

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Shadow of the Erdtree continues FromSoftware's tradition of intricate narratives with its DLC offering. While Shadow of the Erdtree remains grounded in Elden Ring's world, there are tantalizing connections to FromSoftware's rich legacy that may surprise players of Elden Ring and Soulsborne alike. You might spot subtle references, familiar themes, and possibly even returning elements that will send chills down any experienced Soulsborne veteran's spine - these nods to the past are handled subtly so as not to give away too much and reward players who pay close attention with moments of profound recognition from FromSoftware!

Shadow of the Erdtree: Delve Deeper into the Lands Between

Shadow of the Erdtree has been received with resounding acclaim and fan enthusiasm and with good reason, so if you're looking to buy PS5 games that are worthy of your time and money (and I have to say that this DLC is also carefully placed and packed with the game or available alone for a discounted price), you must buy this one.

The Question of New Content

The expansion has successfully delivered on its promise of new weapons, armor, and spells for Tarnished characters to use; their arsenal has significantly been expanded and can meet a range of playstyles. Yet there remains something familiar in their design, which creates an atmosphere of progression while leaving room for truly groundbreaking innovations to arrive in future updates. FromSoftware has long delivered substantial endgame DLCs such as The Old Hunters for Bloodborne; expectations were, therefore, high when Shadow of the Erdtree arrived.

What Players and Critics Think about Shadow of the Erdtree?

ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree was met with widespread praise both from critics and players, so here are a few quotes that reflect that sentiment:

• "Shadow of the Erdtree is an impressive expansion design effort from FromSoftware that should please fans of Soulsborne-related games," IGN calls Shadow of the Erdtree an impressive expansion and Game Informer states:
• "Shadow of the Erdtree stands as a testament to FromSoftware's dedication to quality and craftsmanship" - PC Gamer

Fans have also expressed their enthusiasm and shared it across various forms of media; with social media posts and message forums being particularly telling examples.

• "This DLC was everything and more! I feel as if a whole new game has opened up!"
• "The boss fight was incredible - I'm still recovering!"
• "Shadow of the Erdtree is truly breathtaking work from FromSoftware that exceeds their previous work."
• "Skylanders fans everywhere agree: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC is pure addiction!"

Contrasting It With Other DLCs

Shadow of the Erdtree stands apart from FromSoftware's previous DLC offerings as something special; while its scale certainly outshines Ashes of Ariandel or The Old Hunters expansions, Shadow's horizontal nature means more expansion is happening within Elden Ring rather than focused lore exploration; which adds another aspect that feels incomplete yet ambitiously executed by FromSoftware's Shadow. Ultimately, its ultimate measure will depend on how it shapes future Elden Ring communities as well as whether FromSoftware pursues additional DLC releases after this one has taken hold and transformed FromSoftware's approach toward them.

Conclusion: Echoes from the Past

Shadow of the Erdtree DLC offers an engaging challenge that promises a rewarding outcome: among the expected rewards is a treasure chest of weapons and armor sets with spells that expand build options and gameplay strategies! You will miss a great game if you do not buy Shadow of the Erdtree, and you do not want that, especially if you have Elden Ring (but if you have Elden Ring... you are probably a fan who does not need convincing!) Shadow of the Erdtree has quickly established Elden Ring as one of the greatest games of this generation.

Wikipedia page – Official site – Official microsite

I love how the store credit system works on the Nintendo eShop. When you purchase games, you get golden coins that you can use as a discount for other games. If you have enough coins, you can even buy the game outright. One of the games I have bought with this system is Trinity Trigger. From the description, it sounded like an interesting and unique action JRPG, and I’m always interested to play new and unique games. Especially since key staff on this game worked on amazing games like Chrono Cross and the Mana series. Now, is it any good and should you pick up this game, or is it a game that you should skip? Well, in this first impression I have after playing 1/4th of the game, I want to tell you my opinion so far. I’m also curious to hear your opinion on the game and/or the content of this article in the comment section down below. And with that said, let’s dive right into Trinity Trigger.

Just A Bit More

In this game, we take on the role of Cyan. Cyan is an average boy from a small village. He is also a treasure hunter that one day learns he is chosen by the God of Chaos as his Warrior of Chaos.

In the fantasy world of Trinitia, there are two main Gods. The God of Order and the God of Chaos. In ancient times, they used to wage war for control of the lands. Now, they chose a warrior each to represent them and fight the other warrior to the death for dominance. Cyan doesn’t know what that even means, but it might explain why he has amnesia, those weird dreams and that special glowing mark in his eye. In search for answers, he sets out on a journey, and that’s how this game starts.

When this game was originally teased, the main setup for this game was to create a game and story that was nostalgic to those who played old school JRPG’s. A lot of talent who worked on other big titles like Xenoblade, Pokémon and Bravely Default II were working on this game as well. I always find it dangerous to mention these things, since it might set the expectations of players way too high. What if this isn’t going to work out or when the story just doesn’t hit the mark?

You can never predict how the chemistry is between people, and it’s possible that they are unable to work together. But, it’s also possible they hit it off big and make something extremely unique and special. I remember how a game like World’s End Club could have been so much more with two amazing directors behind it, Kazutake Kodaka from Danganronpa fame and Kotaro Uchikoshi from the Zero Escape fame. Yet, that game was decent but could have been so much more if it had more depth and polish.

If I’m honest with myself, Trinity Trigger falls into the same boat then World’s End Club. Take the story, for example. When I started playing this game, an amazing world was being setup and I started to get interested and immersed in this new world. But, it didn’t take long before I noticed that this game hits all the familiar story beats you expect from a JRPG. But the biggest issue in this story is that it doesn’t do anything special during its journey. I have already visited a couple of towns and each time it’s the exact same basic premise that happens.

The best way I can describe the story is that it’s unoffensively bland. It does what it’s supposed to do, but nothing more. It’s a shame, since the amazing voice cast behind this game brought this game to live so much. I have nothing to critique there. The only thing that can be a bit annoying is hearing the same grunts over and over again while you are fighting in the dungeons, but that’s part of the course in JRPG’s.

Playing it safe

For some people, having a bland story in a JRPG’s is a dealbreaker. But, I can handle that if the main gameplay loop is enjoyable. In this game, you go from town to town and explore the town dungeon to become stronger and get new unique abilities.

The battles in this game aren’t turn based like in other JRPG’s. This is an action JRPG, after all, so you have to dodge and time your attacks well. You can even choose to ignore battles if you want to, apart from scripted fights or boss battles, that is. The combat system is decent and does the job. The only complaint I have is that your stamina drains a bit too fast, making your attacks quite weak against enemies. So, you have to use other mechanics like having better damage when you dodge roll an attack in time.

After each dungeon, you unlock a new weapon that has a slightly different playstyle. You can choose between which weapon you use on the fly with a weapon wheel. It works quite well, and it’s fun to figure out which enemies are weak against which weapons. Especially the bosses, since hitting them with the right weapon creates even more damage.

During your exploration, you can find hidden chests with items. Underneath the mini-map, you can find a counter with how many hidden treasures are still left in the area. I find it quite enjoyable to explore the whole map to find these hidden treasures. Some of the hidden passages are hidden away extremely well, and finding them was a blast.

Something I also really enjoy is that you can easily choose between which character you control. Some characters have unique skills and being able to quickly switch between them is amazing. Since, some enemies have a long range attack, and then it’s a blast being able to switch to a character that can use a bow to take them out more easily.

Enemies also drop various items that you can use to craft items in shops or at special stations. And crafting these items actually cost in game money. The amount you have to spend for crafting is a lot lower, but this is a mechanic I’m hesitant about. It would have been quite a lot of fun to be able to craft healing items during your exploration. Maybe these healing items were less effective than the potions you can buy in the shops. But then again, it might break the balance of the game and make you a bit overpowered.

You can only carry so many potions and to be very honest, I never really had problems with a boss battle or a dungeon when I was stocked up on potions. When you don’t do anything crazy and keep your stock high and manage your stat boosting items well, this game becomes quite easy. So easy in fact that boss battles become an endurance test and extremely repetitive.

Each boss battle has the same basic premise. You have to dodge their attacks and use the right weapon to break the shield of the boss. In most cases, this is the newly unlocked weapon. After you have broken the shield, you can damage the boss. If you have broken the shield 4 to 5 times, and kept hitting the boss, you have beaten the fight.

Now, the dungeons play like your typical The Legend of Zelda dungeon to a degree. There is one main theme and puzzle mechanic for you to solve. Once you reached the final room of the dungeon, you fight a final boss and progress in the game. When I think about it, the structure of this game resembles 2D Zelda games here and there. And maybe, the structure of a Zelda game would have fit the game better than an action JRPG. Since, I wouldn’t be surprised if players drop this game and call it repetitive. Since, it really is. I tried to play this game in longer sessions, but I started to feel bored after playing it for an hour or two. Yet, I kept enjoying myself with the game while playing it on my 30-minute train ride from and to work.

Middle of the Road

The more I play this game, the more I feel like this game could have been so much more. The basic foundation of this game is rock solid, and I barely have anything to critique there. Like the controls and the UI for example. The controls are extremely responsive and a blast to work with.

Now, the other characters are AI controlled. Overall, the AI does an okay job following you and aiding you in combat, but it can do some brain-dead actions as well. One of the dungeons where it frustrated me to no end was the ice dungeon, where your AI allies slid into the spikes every single time.

Visually, this game looks pretty decent. There is quite a lot of detail put into this world and the underused area exclusive mechanics are quite a lot of fun to play with. For example, I love how in the forest area the mushrooms can have different effects depending on the color. Especially the one that allows you to light up the area.

But then you have moments where some textures are bland and look like they are from an earlier generation, creating a mismatch. And on top of that, some battle animations can’t be canceled. And the final attack of the bow is just silly. Yet, if a certain attack is in progress, you can’t switch weapons. This is something that annoyed me quite a lot as well.

The soundtrack of this game is quite enjoyable. It fits the atmosphere of the game like a glove. Overall, this orchestral soundtrack is a joy to listen too. But, there are some tracks that are a bit too short and the rather repetitive melody isn’t it doing any favors. Thankfully, these tracks don’t appear to often so I don’t mind it too hard.

The sound effects are pretty good too. I’d recommend that you use the option menu to tweak the sound balancing to your liking, since the basic sound balancing is a bit off when it comes to the balance between sound effects and music. I had to lower the music a little bit so I could hear the important sound effects better during battles.

This game really feels like it’s walking the middle of the road here. My biggest complaint with this game is that it lacks depth in almost every aspect of the game. And it’s just that lack of depth that’s hurting this game. This game has a lot of great idea’s like how easy to read the UI is, but it barely does anything with the stat boosting items.

The game also has local co-op, but I don’t see a reason why to play this game in co-op. There aren’t enough elements to justify for me to have a friend over and play this game. It’s just too bland for that. It’s a shame, since if the combat system was more in depth, it would have been an amazing feature. Now, it’s just another ticked box of features this game has.

Just like how some of the monster design is amazing and sometimes even looks somewhat creepy. They also telegraph their attacks quite well, so you can easily dodge them. Dodging attacks in time is quite important, since you can do special attacks or even more damage. Now, you also have your typical enemies like your slimes and bees, but they look unique and fit their setting quite well.

To be honest, this game is the perfect entry game for young childern to get into roleplaying games. I think that if you have played other more expansive JRPG’s, you will notice the cracks this game has and feel mixed about the game like the whole reception is for this game.

This brings me to the price. To be honest, I wouldn’t pay the full price for this game. The asking price for this game is 40€. And if you want all the DLC, it’s even more. Around 50€. Now, I don’t recommend buying all the DLC apart from the one that comes with the Deluxe edition. The other DLC is just a one time booster pack you can buy to make the game even easier than it already is.

The asking price is too high for this game and it’s length. This game can be beaten in 15 hours and it doesn’t really have replay value. I personally feel that 25€ would have been a better price for the base game and Deluxe edition should have been 40€. If you are interested by this game, I’d buy it if it were on sale. While this game isn’t doing anything new or innovate, it still manages to be enjoyable.

I’m happy that I gave this game a chance. While I expected a lot more from it, I don’t think it’s a bad game. I can totally understand why people don’t like this game or drop it. Since, it’s a very basic middle of the road JRPG that could do something unique but doesn’t. Now, the Japanese publishers of this game FuRyu have developed a game that became the basis for another larger game (The Legend of Legacy feels like the basis for The Alliance Alive). Maybe this game is creating the basis for another larger and better game.

If that’s the case, I’d love to see more unique puzzles in the dungeons for a start. The dungeons were so easy to beat and didn’t provide too much challenge. Maybe some puzzles were only the unique dungeon weapon has to be used to progress or even exit the dungeon.

I’d also love to see more expansion on the armor and stat items. I felt they barely had any impact in this game and I often forgot you could change the stones in your equipement to increase the damage output in certain cases or decrease the taken damage in certain cases.

The biggest thing I’d love to see improved is more depth in the game. Develop the town more and make them more memorable, instead of just a stop to stock up on supplies to go to the next dungeon. The side quests were introduced too late into the game.

I could go on for a while giving examples of what they can expand or improve, but I want to avoid that you get the impression that this game is bad. This game is decent, but not great. That’s the best way to describe this game. I’d recommend it to younger players who want to give an action JRPG a try. If you are in love with the action JRPG games, I’d highly advice you to lower your expecations. I’d compare to that animated summer blockbuster movie that everybody forgets about in a few months. It didn’t do anything memorable but it a fun time while it lasted. It’s a great snack inbetween games for me and I’m curious to see what the developer does next. Since, the potential is there.

With that said, I have said everything I wanted to say about the game for now. I want to thank you for reading this article and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I hope to be able to welcome you in another article, but until then have a great rest of your day and take care.

Nintendo.com microsite – Official website – Wikipedia page

When you purchase games on the Nintendo eShop, you earn store credit. I usually save up a lot of my credit and purchase a smaller title with it. One of these titles I purchased a few months ago is named Little Noah – Scion of Paradise. After playing it for a bit, I was surprised that it was the perfect game to play on my commute to and from work. I played it on a few train rides, and I think I’m ready to share my opinion on this game. This game is something unique and now that I have beaten it once, I really want to talk about it. Wait, beaten it once? What do I actually mean? Let’s talk about it in this article, while I invite you to leave a comment with your thoughts and/or opinions on this game and/or the content of this article in the comment section down below.

Zipping Kitty Attempts

In this game, we play as an alchemist called Little Noah. She is in a long journey to reunite with her father. While she is looking for her father, her airship gets caught in a storm, and she crashes near a mysterious ruin.

In that ruin, she meets an amnesiac cat named Zipper. Well, she names it Zipper. Together, they start to explore this ruin because they encountered a dark wizard named Greigh, who wants to enable a powerful machine which is dormant in the ruin.

Now, if you are looking for a deep story… I’m going to have to disappoint you. The story of this game isn’t the main focus of this game. The story in this game is fine for what it is and does its job, but there is nothing more to it. Personally, I don’t think it’s a negative for this game. Because the story takes a backseat, the gameplay loop is a lot more polished. Also, I don’t think it was the intention to have a very in depth story.

The voice actors in this game did an amazing job and brought the characters and the world of this game to live. The amount of personality they brought to their characters is really well done and really fits the atmosphere of this game like a glove. The amazing voice acting is one of the main reasons why I didn’t mind the “To be continued” at the end of the game at all. This small title really feels like the developers are testing the water if people who be interested in a larger game set in the world of Little Noah.

So, what do I mean by “small title”? Well, this game can be beaten in an afternoon. Now, the game has quite a lot of replay value in my opinion. The gameplay loop of this game is quite enjoyable. It has quite the potential to grow into something unique that I don’t often see in these rouge lite games. But, I’ll talk more about the gameplay later.

According to various sources online, this game has been worked on by a small team of 30 people. Even by some industry legends like Yukio Futatsugi, who had his hand on another title I played in the past called World’s End Club. The amount of love and care put into this title is quite impressive and gets a thumbs up from me. I know that this game is based upon an earlier mobile game from the same developers called Battle Champs. Yet, I think it’s great to see the developers repurpose the assets after the shutdown of that game and make something new about it.

If you have ever played a game like Rouge Legacy, you’ll feel right at home in this game. In this game, you have to explore a dungeon and fight bosses. During your exploration run, you gain various special items that give you all sorts of buffs.

In terms of difficulty, this game is very balanced. While you can get lucky and get amazing items and buffs to make it quite far in the game, with enough skill and understanding of the game… you can even outplay the game if you get bad items and not good buffs. Now, I’m reading mixed things about the hard difficulty online, but I have been playing through this game on normal difficulty and I found it pretty fair and balanced. So, let’s do one more dive to explain how this game works.

One More Dive

I want to talk about the unique mechanic in this game. The combat system in this game is something I wanted to play for a long while. In this game, you are accompanied by Lilliputs. These are special creatures who attack for you. You start each run with three basic Lilliputs. During your run, you can find other Lilliputs and make yourself stronger.

Each Lilliput is very different in terms of strength, element, attack, and unique attack. You can only have five Lilliputs for your main attacks, and you have two special attack slots where you can place one Lilliput in each. So, you really need to balance your Lilliputs well. The order is also quite important, you don’t want a whole row of slow attacking Lilliputs in an area with a lot of range attacking enemies. Also, you don’t want to use a weak element compared to the enemies you are facing. If you are focusing on wind, you will have trouble with fire enemies.

It’s extremely important to understand your Lilliputs. Since, once you started an attack, you are somewhat locked into that attack. You can’t start another attack while an attack is in progress, excluding the special attacks that is. So, if the enemy moves to the other side of your attack, though luck. This game is a whole balancing and time act, and it’s a lot of fun. The randomness in this whole game makes each run unique, and you can never predict how far you’ll be able to go.

Now, dying in this game isn’t the worst thing. All your items and Lilliputs get converted into mana, which you can use to repair your airship. The more you repair your airship, the more advantages and buffs you can unlock to make even better runs. You can also use special treasure chests you can pick up in your run to either increase the strength of your unlocked Lilliputs or give to Zipper for a special bonus for your next run.

So, how does a run go? Well, allow me to compare it to a crusade in Cult of the Lamb to a degree. In that game, you go into a dungeon, and you have to go from room to room, defeating every enemy in that room before you can progress to the next room. Unlike Cult of the Lamb, some rooms give you a special challenge. These challenges are reaching a certain amount of chained damage or hits, not being hit or defeating all the enemies in a limited amount of time. When you complete this challenge, you receive an additional bonus when you defeat the room.

There are also special rooms that can spawn. A shop where you can spend the gold you earn during a run, platform challenges with a strong treasure chest at the end, (combat) challenge rooms and rooms where you can get special buffs from a crystal and a room where you can get Lilliputs or a buff item. All of these special rooms have a special icon on the map. The map also shows little icons when there is still something you can pick up in the room.

Complete exploration of a dungeon is a very risk/reward thing. You do risk your health to go into an additional room to get additional buffs, or do you want to save your health for the next (mid)boss level? In order to beat this game, you have to beat three worlds. Each world works like this: level – level – midboss – level – boss. Be warned, you can only replenish your health potions at the start of a level. During (mid)boss fights, you can’t replenish your health potions, so keep that in mind when you are deciding if it’s worth the risk to go into that challenge platforming room.

Overall, the gameplay in the dungeon is quite addictive and the fast-paced decision-making you have to make is something that got me hooked. I don’t spend a lot of time on my airship, outside repairing it and setting up the right buffs for my next run. I always want to do one more dive and try and beat the game again. Now, the airship itself is build quite well. You can also re-read the tutorial boxes in case you want to refresh your memory on certain mechanics.

Repetition of Diving

Something that really impressed me is how smooth this game actually runs. The optimization of this game is incredible. I didn’t have any frame rate issues or slowdowns at all. Even when I’m preforming my ultimate attack, which causes a lot of visual flair and effects on the screen.

The controls are extremely responsive as well. Very rarely I felt like I wasn’t in control, and I think some of these moments might even have been a false positive where I was trying to blame my mistake on the game. In terms of the controls, there are only a few nitpicks I can give. The first is the decision to place “R” as the interaction button. This feels quite unnatural and took me some getting used to. Also, I think a left-handed mode would have been welcome since I think left-handed people who appreciate the “L” button then for interactions.

Why am I placing so much attention on this? Well, because you don’t pick up items or Lilliputs automatically. You have to stand next to them and interact with their medal or crystal. But items like health drops or burst gauges are picked up automatically.

The other nitpick I have is that when you start your dive, you get a fixed amount of mana from the first dungeon. Why can’t we skip this little cutscene that plays every time? It breaks the flow of the start of a run. Since you are stopped in your tracks every time.

Another nitpick I have with the controls is how the Lilliput attack order can be decided. The problem comes when I just want to swap two Lilliputs of their place. This is something you can’t do. Unless you swap them from your inventory to the main line OR from the main line to a special attack slot and vice versa. Swapping two Lilliputs in the main line is somewhat clunky to do and feels unpolished.

Visually, this game is extremely colorful and charming. While this is a side view game, like a 2D Mario game, the backgrounds are also incredible. The team that worked on the visual presentation of this game did an amazing job. I only have one nitpick about it and that’s somewhat shared with a nitpick I have with the audio design.

I feel like the frozen status isn’t communicated clearly enough to the player. Several times I was unable to move Noah and I couldn’t figure out why. It took me sometime to realize that she was frozen and that’s the reason why I couldn’t preform an action. Either a more exaggerated visual of a frozen Noah could solve this or more sound effects when you try to do something while frozen.

Apart from that, I don’t have any complaints about the visuals. The animation feels amazing, and you feel the impact of the attacks of your Lilliputs and it feels so rewarding, adding more immersion to the gameplay loop. This game is something where I felt: “One more dive” after each time I died and returned to the airship. Each time I wanted to go and explore the amazing caverns. While I was afraid that this game would suffer from long play sessions, I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t the case for me. At the end of a long play session, I have to admit that the game felt a bit repetitive… But I don’t mind repetitive gameplay too much when the core gameplay loop and level design is fun.

The only negative I have about the level design is that you very quickly see all the possible room lay-outs there are in this game. While the dungeon is randomized each run, it doesn’t take long before you see similar rooms. A couple of times, I even had the same room back-to-back. This isn’t a huge problem perse, but I felt that the developers could mask this a bit better with different decorations or minor changes like one of the platforms having a possibility of crumbling or not.

The music and sound effects in this game are really catchy. I would love to add it to my playlist. Sadly, I can’t really find a way to listen to the soundtrack or even buy it. The tracks in this game are charming when they need to be but are also quite action-packed during fight scenes. The sound effects and visuals inform you quite well when an enemy is going to attack.

Now, I have said everything I wanted to say about this game for now. I think it’s high time for my conclusion of this game. Let’s dive into the summary and my final thoughts of this game.

Summary

The bad:

– Some minor nitpicks with the controls.
– Story is fine, but lacks some depth and is predictable.

The good:

+ Very addictive gameplay loop with high replay value.
+ Amazing voice acting.
+ Breath taking visuals.
+ Extremely optimized gameplay.
+ …

Final thoughts:

This game is a small indie title created from the remains of an old gotcha game. It’s only 15€ on the Nintendo eShop and it’s totally worth it’s price in gold. While the game lacks some depth and is quite short, the replay value this game has is something that’ll make you replay this game just one more time.

While playing this game, I felt that this game was an experiment. The developers were testing the waters if the gameplay would work or not. This game feels like a prequel to a much larger game and if I’m right, I can’t wait to see what the full game or the sequel is going to be like.

Even when this game is going to be a standalone game, I don’t really mind if that’s the case. This game is a game I can highly recommend if you enjoy games like Rouge Legacy or Cult of the Lamb. While it doesn’t have a lot of, if any, base building… It’s another amazing title in the genre.

While outside of the combat mechanics, it doesn’t do a lot of things you haven’t seen (a lot) before in other similar games. But, that isn’t a bad thing. Since, sometimes a game where all the good ideas from other games come together into one title can be a lot of fun as well.

I’d love to see another game in this universe where there are a bit more stakes in using your Lilliputs. What if certain Lilliputs get weaker when you pick up items of their opposite element? Or Lilliputs that can do a special attack with another Lilliput present…

There is so much more you can do with this combat system and I think that if the developers expanded on the core mechanics, this game sequel could reach quite far. Since, the game we already got placed an amazing foundation for an amazing series. I love this game to bits and I’m so glad I gave this game a chance, since it was an amazing pleasant surprise to playthrough. It comes highly recommend from me. After I finished the game once, I let me hunger for more. I wanted to play it even more. And the fact that I barely have any complaints about this game apart from a weak story and some nitpicks… This game just has a lot of care and lot put in by the developers and everything works and fits together so well.

With that said, I have said everything I wanted to say about this game for now. I want to thank you for reading this article and I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. I hope to be able to welcome you in another article, but until then, have a great rest of your day and take care.

Score: 90/100

Looking for a new hunting ground? It's time to stalk the Scandinavian wilderness with the new Lintukoto Reserve in Way of the Hunter. 

The post Embark on a Nordic Adventure: Hunt Majestic Creatures in Way of the Hunter’s New DLC appeared first on TheXboxHub.

Cult of the Lamb is gearing up for the release of new content, and the Pilgrim Pack was just revealed. The DLC will be live on all platforms, including Switch, on August 12, 2024. On the same day, the previously-announced Unholy Alliance update will be available featuring local co-op and more – read about it here. According to the description,...

The post Cult of the Lamb reveals Pilgrim Pack appeared first on Nintendo Everything.

12 years after it first arrived on Steam, and 16 years after it debuted on Xbox Live Arcade, Castle Crashers is getting new DLC.

Premium DLC Painter Boss Paradise not only includes new player and weapon artwork for all official characters and new character Paint Junior, but it also adds Steam workshop functionality, so players can create and share their own skins "with the world".

Although Castle Crashers debuted on Xbox and is still available on Sony consoles and Nintendo Switch, the DLC is only coming to Steam.

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12 years after it first arrived on Steam, and 16 years after it debuted on Xbox Live Arcade, Castle Crashers is getting new DLC.

Premium DLC Painter Boss Paradise not only includes new player and weapon artwork for all official characters and new character Paint Junior, but it also adds Steam workshop functionality, so players can create and share their own skins "with the world".

Although Castle Crashers debuted on Xbox and is still available on Sony consoles and Nintendo Switch, the DLC is only coming to Steam.

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Hey, Minion Masters fans! July 2024 brings an awesome freebie your way. Until August 1st 6PM, you can snag the “Power UP Limited Free Promotional Package” DLC. This pack is loaded with exclusive goodies to give you an edge in battle, whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out.

What’s in the Box?

The Power UP pack is packed with cool stuff to beef up your game:

• 3x Feng the Wanderer (Legendary card)
• Feng the Enlightened (Avatar)
• 20x Rapid Response Reserves (Supreme card)
• 20x Future Present
• 40x Assassin
• 40x Defenso Chopper
• 5x Power Tokens (Get 5 extra random surprises)
• 3x Season Pass Tiers

You never know what might happen during the course of a battle. And now the enemy has even more tools at their disposal to vex you. This DLC with its focus on highly adaptable and reactive cards will allow you to react to anything your opponent can throw at you! Tailoring your strategy to match any challenge is a guaranteed recipe for success!
How to Get It:

Grabbing your free DLC is a breeze:

1. Hit up the Minion Masters page on Steam
2. Find the Power UP Promotional Package in the DLC section
3. Click “Add to Account” and you’re set!

Don’t drag your feet – this offer is only good for July 2024!

Why You Want This:

Minion Masters is all about outsmarting your opponents. The Power UP pack gives you fresh tools to shake up your strategy and catch enemies off guard. Plus, who doesn’t love exclusive content? You’ll have bragging rights with unique minions and cosmetics that not everyone will have.

The Bottom Line:

Don’t miss out on this sweet deal. The Power UP Limited Free Promotional Package is your ticket to stepping up your Minion Masters game. It’s free, it’s loaded with good stuff, and it’s only here for a short time. Grab it now and start dominating!https://store.steampowered.com/

Keep an eye on our page for more Minion Masters news and deals. Now get out there and show ’em what you’ve got! Game on!

The post Boost Your Minion Masters Game with the Power-Up Promo Pack! appeared first on WePlayGames.net: Home for Top Gamers.

Pirates of the Caribbean is coming to Fortnite next month.

Last week's update to Fortnite included characters and content set to be part of the crossover, and initially an event pass featuring Captain Jack Sparrow was made available to buy. Dataminers quickly discovered other characters set to arrive as well, solidifying rumours that emerged several months back when Fortnite's 2024 roadmap first leaked.

Now, acknowledging the event pass' early sale, developer Epic Games has confirmed the crossover's official release: 19th July.

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• Category: Games

June 20, 2024

Tips, Tricks, and Shortcuts for Unlocking Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC

• Will Tuttle

The day is nearly upon us, Tarnished: Elden Ring’s largest and, sadly, final expansion launches on June 21. With tons of new locations, weapons, armor, and bosses spanning dozens of hours, Shadow of the Erdtree is everything Elden Ring fans could have hoped for. There’s just one caveat: you need to have progressed far enough into the base game to actually play it.

Since Shadow of the Erdtree fits neatly into the existing Elden Ring lore (and adeptly expands upon it while still leaving a hint of mystery), lowly Tarnished are required to meet and defeat a couple of the key players, Starscourge Radahn and Mohg, Lord of Blood, before venturing into the Shadow Realm. We’ll give you some pointers to getting to them as quickly as possible, but it’ll still be up to you to beat them. (Need help defeating Elden Ring bosses? Hit up KingTut33 on Xbox Live and I’ll happily add you to my list of satisfied Tarnished.)

Starscourge Radahn (Normal Method)  

Although you can technically fight these two bosses in whichever order you want, it make sense to start with Radahn. Radahn is a tough boss that is ultimately located in Redmane Castle in southeastern Caelid (yes, the red rot area), but only after you unlock the Radahn Festival. There are a number of methods to doing this. The most straightforward method involves playing through the story as the developers intended, beginning with battling through Stormveil Castle and defeating Godrick the Grafted.

After he’s down, continue on to the Liurnia of the Lakes region, specifically the Raya Lucaria Academy towering above it in the center of the map. Here, you’ll need to fight your way through magic-wielders galore (this is a wizarding school, after all) and platform your way up some massive lifts to gradually make your way to the boss awaiting you at the top. Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon isn’t the most challenging fight in Elden Ring, but it’s certainly one of the most memorable.

Once you’ve beaten both Godrick and Rennala, you can make your way to Redmane Castle in Caelid to begin the Radahn Festival and take on this tough boss with or without the help of the many summons available to you. What would you expect at a festival dedicated to defeating a powerful boss?  

Starscourge Radahn (Fast and Easy Method)

Don’t feel like taking your time and making your way through the game’s golden path naturally? Try this shortcut, which cuts about 20 hours of play down to about two hours.

The Festival of Radahn is triggered by doing certain things in the game. Defeating Godrick and Rennala is the way most players will be able to access it, but you can also activate any Site of Grace in the amber fields of Altus Plateau after getting the right and left halves of the Dectus Medallion and taking the Dectus lift up. So where do you get those, you might ask?

The first (left) side of the medallion is found in Fort Haight in the starting area of Limgrave, only a few minutes ride from your first site of grace. Even better, you don’t actually need to fight any of the enemies! You can run right in, grab the medallion half, and run right out (or die and respawn). Best of all, you can do the same thing when you’re grabbing the right half of the medallion, which is located in Fort Faroth in northern Caelid.

After you’ve grabbed both halves, just head to the Dectus Lift at the north end of Liurnia (on Bellum Highway) and follow the “hoist medallion” prompt. When you’re at the top, ride straight north for a moment and you’ll find a site of grace.

Now it’s on to Radahn!

Mohg, Lord of Blood (Normal Method)

Here’s where things get a little trickier. Even the “normal” method for accessing Mohg is a bit of a challenge and is pretty far into the game (before I dive into the details, there is one important note: This boss is not the same as Mohg, The Blood Omen, who is located in the sewers of Leyndell). To get to Mohg’s home, Mohgwyn Dynasty Mausoleum, you’ll need to play through a good chunk of the game. Following the so-called golden path of the story, you’ll need to defeat all of the main bosses through Morgott, the Omen King, who is located in the city of Leyndell.

Once Morgott has been downed, you’ll be able to access the Grand Lift of Rold, which will take you up to the snow-covered area called the Forbidden Lands. There’s one twist here: the western part of the Forbidden Lands, called the Consecrated Snowfields, is hidden and requires another special, split medallion. The first part of the medallion is found at Castle Sol in the northern area of the Forbidden Lands and requires you to beat the tough Commander Niall boss to get it.

The other half of the medallion can be found back in southwest Liurnia in an area called Village of the Albinaurics. This can be a little tough to spot at first, as it’s under a massive overhang in the dark (it’s not quite a cave, but it’s not not a cave either). As you work your way through the Village, you’ll hear some moaning coming from a large jar. Roll through it to meet Albus, who gives you the other half of the medallion.

Now that you’ve got both halves, head back to the Grand Lift of Rold. There’s now a second option when you hit the lift that says, “hoist secret medallion”. When you’re standing on the lift platform, press right on the D-pad to see the secret medallion option. Now that you’re up in the Consecrated Showfields, find a site of grace and make your way to the southwest part of the area.

After defeating a bleed-inflicting Sanguine Noble and exploring through the ruins, you’ll find a blood-soaked portal that will take you to Mohg’s area. You’ll still need to fight through his mausoleum to get to Mohg, but it’s not too tough given the level you’ll probably be at.

Mohg, Lord of Blood (Fast-ish and Easy-ish Method)

Don’t feel like playing through 40+ hours to make your way to Mohg’s secret palace the more straightforward (yet still quite labyrinthine) way? There’s another method that you can do right from the start. The first NPC you meet when you come up the elevator to Limgrave, White Mask Varre, is the key to this method.

After you talk to Varre the first time, you’ll need to play the game as normal and defeat Godrick. Once he’s down, Varre will move to the Rose Church in Liurnia, which is on a small island in the western part of the lake. Speaking to Varre there will give you the option to answer that something seems off with the Two Fingers. Doing so will cause Varre to give you several Festering Bloody Fingers, which you can (and should) use to invade other players’ games. You only need to invade their game, not beat or even fight them. Once you invade, just use the Finger Severer to leave and return to your world.

Once you’ve gotten the three invasions done, speak to Varre again and he will reveal himself to be a servant of Mohg and invite you to join the Knights of Luminary Mohg. Respond with the “Anoint me” options and he’ll then give you the Lord of Blood’s Favor item, which you’ll need to soak in the blood of a maiden.

The easiest place to find an already-dead maiden is in The Church of Inhibition. This is located in the northeast corner of Liurnia above the Frenzied Flame Village. Just stroll up to the maiden and select the prompt to soak the Lord of Blood’s Favor. (Note that you can also kill Hyetta, who you’ll meet right next to the first site of grace in Liurnia after clearing Stormveil Castle. However, since she’s also a quest and item giver, it’s not recommended that you do this.)

Whichever source of blood you decide on, you’ll need to return to Varre yet again to give him the blood-soaked Favor. He finally inducts you into the Order and take your finger for good measure, leaving you with the Pureblood Knight’s Medal. Finally! You can now use this item to be teleported to Mohgwyn’s Palace. You can either sprint or fight your way through any enemies you encounter to finally make it to the Dynasty Mausoleum Midpoint site of grace, where you can prep for your battle with Mohg.

Touch the Withered Arm

After you’ve defeated both Radahn and Mohg, either in a 3-4 hours using the “quick” methods listed above or in 40+ hours using the longer methods, all you need to do to access the Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC content is touch the withered arm hanging out of the cocoon in the area in which you defeated Mohg. Best of luck in the Shadow Realm, Tarnished!

(Once again, if you’re having any trouble defeating Radahn, Mohg, or any of the other dozens of bosses in Elden Ring OR Shadow of the Erdtree, drop KingTut33 a line on Xbox Live and I’ll do my best to help!)

ELDEN RING

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆ 2017

★★★★★

$59.99

Get it now

THE NEW FANTASY ACTION RPG. Rise, Tarnished, and be guided by grace to brandish the power of the Elden Ring and become an Elden Lord in the Lands Between. • A Vast World Full of Excitement A vast world where open fields with a variety of situations and huge dungeons with complex and three-dimensional designs are seamlessly connected. As you explore, the joy of discovering unknown and overwhelming threats await you, leading to a high sense of accomplishment. • Create your Own Character In addition to customizing the appearance of your character, you can freely combine the weapons, armor, and magic that you equip. You can develop your character according to your play style, such as increasing your muscle strength to become a strong warrior, or mastering magic. • An Epic Drama Born from a Myth A multilayered story told in fragments. An epic drama in which the various thoughts of the characters intersect in the Lands Between. • Unique Online Play that Loosely Connects You to Others In addition to multiplayer, where you can directly connect with other players and travel together, the game supports a unique asynchronous online element that allows you to feel the presence of others.

ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree Edition

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆ 2358

★★★★★

Get it now

Purchase now and get the following bonus content for the expansion: – ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree Bonus Gesture This is a Gesture that can be used in-game for Shadow of the Erdtree content. *Bonus content will be available in-game when the expansion releases. *The player can also unlock this later in the expansion. ELDEN RING can be played immediately. The Shadow of the Erdtree Edition includes: • ELDEN RING • ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree expansion Winner of hundreds of accolades including The Game Awards Game of the Year and Golden Joystick Awards Ultimate Game of the Year, ELDEN RING is the acclaimed action RPG epic set in a vast, dark fantasy world. Players embark on an epic quest with the freedom to explore and adventure at their own pace. The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion features an all-new story set in the Land of Shadow imbued with mystery, perilous dungeons, and new enemies, weapons and equipment. Discover uncharted territories, face formidable adversaries, and revel in the satisfying triumph of victory. Dive into the riveting interplay of characters, where drama and intrigue intertwine, that create an immersive experience to savor and enjoy. *Shadow of the Erdtree content requires the base game product. *Other editions are also available. Be careful of duplicate purchases.

ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree Premium Bundle Pre-Order

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆ 32

★★★★★

Get it now

Pre-order now and get the following bonus content for the expansion: – ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree Bonus Gesture This is a Gesture that can be used in-game for Shadow of the Erdtree content. *Bonus content will be available in-game when the expansion releases. *The player can also unlock this later in the expansion. The Premium Bundle includes the following content: • ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree expansion • ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree Artbook & Soundtrack Winner of hundreds of accolades including The Game Awards Game of the Year and Golden Joystick Awards Ultimate Game of the Year, ELDEN RING is the acclaimed action RPG epic set in a vast, dark fantasy world. Players embark on an epic quest with the freedom to explore and adventure at their own pace. The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion features an all-new story set in the Land of Shadow imbued with mystery, perilous dungeons, and new enemies, weapons and equipment. Discover uncharted territories, face formidable adversaries, and revel in the satisfying triumph of victory. Dive into the riveting interplay of characters, where drama and intrigue intertwine, that create an immersive experience to savor and enjoy. *Shadow of the Erdtree content will be available when the expansion releases. *Shadow of the Erdtree content requires the base game product. *Other editions are also available. Be careful of duplicate purchases.

The post Tips, Tricks, and Shortcuts for Unlocking Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC appeared first on Xbox Wire.

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Developer Black Salt Games has confirmed that Dredge's highly anticipated second DLC, The Iron Rig, will release on 15th August, 2024.

The indie fishing adventure will, ahem, "lure players back in" with new fish, new boat upgrades and gadgets, and a brand-new storyline.

Playable at any time in your Dredge adventure, The Iron Rig sees you join the Ironhaven Corporation to "collect resources to build a formidable base of operations, unlocking new tiers of equipment, abilities, gadgets, and consumables". And as part of the adventure, you'll get to "revisit every area from the base game with renewed purpose".

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The rumours were true: Bandai Namco has confirmed that Dragon Ball Sparking Zero will indeed release in October – 11th October, to be exact – and it will feature a day one season pass.

Bandai Namco also took the opportunity to announce four different editions – standard, digital-only deluxe, ultimate, and premium. While all will give you the base game, you'll need to purchase a deluxe, ultimate, or premium edition to get the three-day early-access period, season pass, and season pass bonus of Summon Shenron.

The season pass includes the first three DLC packs, which appear to include over 20 additional characters. There's also the now-prerequisite sweetener for anyone looking to pre-order the game ahead of its October street date.

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Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis - The Answer will release on 10th September, 2024.

The news came as part of the Persona Live Tour 2024 concert in Yokohama, during which developer Atlus confirmed when the "final set of content for the Expansion Pass" will be available across all platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and last-gen consoles. It'll also be available for no extra cost to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, too.

Here's a new – if disappointingly brief – teaser to mark the occasion:

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Croteam has announced a three-part DLC for The Talos Principle 2, Road to Elysium.

Described as a "three-part coda that allows you to dive deeper into the world of The Talos Principle 2", Road to Elysium will put your puzzle-solving skills to the test when it releases across all platforms on 14th June, 2024.

Consisting of Orpheus Ascending, Isle of the Blessed, and Into the Abyss, the DLC will "reunite you with beloved characters through a series of thought-provoking new stories".

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FromSoft has dropped a new tease about the "fearsome foes of unfathomable power" that await us when Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree drops next month.

The image – which is about as hard to describe as the creature will inevitably be to beat – shows a muscular being with horned, uh, tendril things, a cracked golden mask for a face, and long grey hair flowing out of its right eye socket.

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Fan-favourite WWE fighter CM Punk is returning to WWE 2K24 for the first time in a decade.

Punk marks his return as part of the ECW Punk Pack alongside Terry Funk, Sandman, and The Dudley Boyz, Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley.

Players can also expect MyFaction Content which includes an ECW Paul Heyman Manager Card and unspecified MyFaction Superstar Cards when the pack drops on 15th May for all platforms.

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Fan-favourite WWE fighter CM Punk is returning to WWE 2K24 for the first time in a decade.

Punk marks his return as part of the ECW Punk Pack alongside Terry Funk, Sandman, and The Dudley Boyz, Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley.

Players can also expect MyFaction Content which includes an ECW Paul Heyman Manager Card and unspecified MyFaction Superstar Cards when the pack drops on 15th May for all platforms.

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Wales Interactive has confirmed two free content updates are on the way for Maid of Sker spin-off, Sker Ritual in its latest roadmap overview.

The round-based co-op survival FPS released as an early access title back in October 2022, and as a full 1.0 game just last month on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Now, in an update to players, developer Wales Interactive says there's a new map on the way, along with a new "special weapon", perks, and a "new Hardcore Easter Egg and Easter Egg music".

"We are committed to continually improving all areas of the game including: optimisation, bug fixes, balancing and networking," the team says, but admits that the release dates of PS4 and Xbox One ports of the game remain "TBC at the moment".

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Wales Interactive has confirmed two free content updates are on the way for Maid of Sker spin-off, Sker Ritual in its latest roadmap overview.

The round-based co-op survival FPS released as an early access title back in October 2022, and as a full 1.0 game just last month on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Now, in an update to players, developer Wales Interactive says there's a new map on the way, along with a new "special weapon", perks, and a "new Hardcore Easter Egg and Easter Egg music".

"We are committed to continually improving all areas of the game including: optimisation, bug fixes, balancing and networking," the team says, but admits that the release dates of PS4 and Xbox One ports of the game remain "TBC at the moment".

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Wales Interactive has confirmed two free content updates are on the way for Maid of Sker spin-off, Sker Ritual in its latest roadmap overview.

The round-based co-op survival FPS released as an early access title back in October 2022, and as a full 1.0 game just last month on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Now, in an update to players, developer Wales Interactive says there's a new map on the way, along with a new "special weapon", perks, and a "new Hardcore Easter Egg and Easter Egg music".

"We are committed to continually improving all areas of the game including: optimisation, bug fixes, balancing and networking," the team says, but admits that the release dates of PS4 and Xbox One ports of the game remain "TBC at the moment".

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Escape from Tarkov developer Battlestate has released a second statement after it u-turned on a decision to lock an "exclusive" PvE mode to its €300 Unheard Edition following player feedback, saying it is "very sorry that fans and the game community in general are experiencing these feelings".

In the statement posted to Reddit, COO Nikita Buyanov said that they "somehow did not foresee the fact of such a reaction" and has now "decided to just open [the controversial PvE mode] for EoD owners for free".

On Friday (26th April), Matt reported that Escape from Tarkov developer Battlestate had drawn fan ire after unveiling a €250 (€300 after tax) special edition that, alongside some controversial special advantages, contains an exclusive co-op PvE mode that won't be made available to those that bought a previous edition.

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Escape from Tarkov developer Battlestate has u-turned on a decision to lock an "exclusive" PvE mode to its €300 Unheard Edition following player feedback, but insists it is not reneging on its promise to give End of Darkness edition owners "all subsequent DLCs" because "PvE gamemode is not DLC".

Late yesterday (26th April), Matt reported that Escape from Tarkov developer Battlestate had drawn fan ire after unveiling a €250 (€300 after tax) special edition that, alongside special advantages some are calling pay-to-win, contains an exclusive co-op PvE mode that won't be made available to those that bought a previous edition.

As we reported at the time, it's this inclusion of an exclusive new co-op PvE mode that's caused the most consternation as Tarkov's previous Edge of Darkness Edition - now discontinued - promised purchasers would get "free access to all subsequent DLCs".

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Enlarge / A big erdtree casts a big shadow. (credit: Namco Bandai)

The good news for Elden Ring fans is that the two-plus-year wait for the game's first DLC, "Shadow of the Erdtree," will end in just a couple of months. The bad news is that "Shadow of the Erdtree" will also be the last bit of DLC for FromSoftware's multimillion-selling action RPG.

In a wide-ranging interview with Chinese site Zhihu (machine translation), Elden Ring producer Hidetaka Miyazaki said "Shadow of the Erdtree" contains a lot of existing lore and content that was created for the original game but couldn't fit into the final package. Miyazaki said the team decided to release all of that unused content as one large DLC expansion, rather than multiple smaller bits, because "if they were sold separately, the freedom of exploration and sense of adventure would be reduced."

As for just how big the DLC will be, Miyazaki balked when the interviewer asked how long it would take players to complete. Miyazaki brought up memories of being called a liar after estimating in an earlier interview that the original game would only take about 30 hours of play to complete—crowdsourced game-length database HowLongToBeat puts the "main story" estimate closer to 60 hours.

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Enlarge / Like the Beach Properties DLC itself, this property looks a bit unfinished and in need of some focus. (credit: Paradox Interactive)

Perhaps the first clue that something was not quite right about Beach Properties, the first $10 DLC "expansion" for the already off-kilter city-building sim Cities: Skylines 2, was that it did not contain a real beach house, which one might consider a key beach property. The oversight seemed indicative of a content pack that lacked for content.

C:S2's developers and publisher now agree and have published a letter to Cities fans, in which they offer apologies, updates, and refunds. Beach Properties is now a free add-on, individual buyers will be refunded (with details at a FAQ page), and Ultimate Edition owners will receive additional Creator Packs and Radio Stations, since partial refunds are tricky across different game stores.

"We thought we could make up for the shortcomings of the game in a timeframe that was unrealistic, and rushed out a DLC that should not have been published in its current form. For all this, we are truly sorry," reads the letter, signed by the CEOs of developer Colossal Order and publisher Paradox Interactive. "When we’ve made statements like this one before, it’s included a pledge to keep making improvements, and while we are working on these updates, they haven’t happened at a speed or magnitude that is acceptable, and it pains us that we've now lost the trust of many of you. We want to do better."

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According to SteamDB, Starfield's Steam listing was recently updated, adding an "unknown app" to the Steam backend that's widely speculated to be the Shattered Space DLC.

Whilst there's been no formal word that the new content – which was bundled in with premium editions of the game – is coming any time soon, similar "unknown apps" were added to prior Bethesda games like Fallout 4, which later turned out to be expansions like Nuka-World and Valut-tec Workshop.

No, this is not definitive proof that any DLC is coming, let alone Shattered Space, but it's our strongest hint yet that additional content is on the way for Starfield fans. So watch this space, eh?

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By this headline, I really don't mean that Warhammer 40k is rubbish. But if you have no idea what it is apart from "thing Henry Cavill got made fun of for enjoying on the Graham Norton Show" or "reason I walk past a bunch of beardy lads taking a vape break outside a small shop with steamed up windows every time I go down Lower Glanmire Road", PowerWash Simulator's latest officially licensed IP tie-in DLC could act like a sort of gateway drug. A first step on the path to buying a bunch of miniatures. It's out now, for £6.50/$8/€8 on Steam, and it's very fun.

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The post Watch the Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Gameplay Reveal Trailer appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Enlarge / There's a lot of meaning in this image for studied fans of Elden Ring, but confirmation will have to wait until June. (credit: Bandai Namco)

A gameplay reveal trailer for a heavily anticipated expansion to Elden Ring has arrived, and it suggests that more of the big bosses, cryptic but epic-scale storytelling, and brutal combat fans have come to expect will be available in the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. The downloadable content arrives June 21, 2024, and costs $40; preorders are available now (Steam, PlayStation, Xbox).

Shadow of the Erdtree takes place in "The Land of Shadow," seemingly a kind of prequel setting to the main Elden Ring, potentially inside a deity's dreams. You can never be too sure, but the presence of certain characters, and the suggestion that you will access the new content by touching the arm of a major but previously unexplored character, suggests you will be traveling through their memories, their dreams, or some combination thereof. The very first image you see is of a player character riding up to a cliff and seeing a flaming tree—perhaps not the Erdtree central to the main game, but a precursor of it that is hinted at in the game's lore.

Gameplay-wise, there are many new things to notice, including hand-to-hand combat, far more powerful crossbows, new spells and weapons, and a whole host of large, epically detailed, seemingly unfair boss battles.

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My experience with Warhams isn't flat zero - I had some minifigs when I was a teenager and played a few of the Dawn Of War video games - but I haven't actively checked in on it for a while. I know enough to make "[x] for the [x] throne!" jokes, basically. My experience with cleaning-stuff-sim PowerWash Simulator is extensive, though, and I was excited when the crossover with Warhammer 40K was teased a while back. Last night we got a full trailer and release date of Frebruary 27th - next week! - and I'm now earnestly very excited. The trailer is both very funny and shows off massive things to clean. Win win, innit.

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