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  • ✇GAME
  • Easy Guide to Unlocking the Nebula Camo in Black Ops 6 Zombieshotyhs
    Unlocking the Nebula camo in Black Ops 6 Zombies can be a challenging grind, but this guide will walk you through the best strategies, attachments, and augments to make the process smooth. Whether you’re a new player or a veteran, follow these tips to get that Nebula camo faster and more efficiently. Related: How to… Continue reading Easy Guide to Unlocking the Nebula Camo in Black Ops 6 Zombies
     

Easy Guide to Unlocking the Nebula Camo in Black Ops 6 Zombies

Od: hotyhs
7. Listopad 2024 v 09:12
Unlocking the Nebula camo in Black Ops 6 Zombies can be a challenging grind, but this guide will walk you through the best strategies, attachments, and augments to make the process smooth. Whether you’re a new player or a veteran, follow these tips to get that Nebula camo faster and more efficiently. Related: How to… Continue reading Easy Guide to Unlocking the Nebula Camo in Black Ops 6 Zombies
  • ✇NekoJonez's Gaming Blog
  • First Impression: The Legend of Zelda – Echoes of Wisdom (Switch) ~ Renewing the EchoNekoJonez
    Wikipedia – Nintendo Microsite After the release of Tears of the Kingdom, I was afraid that we would never see a new game in the style of the 2D Zelda game. Yet, I have been proven wrong when this game was announced. To be very honest, I didn’t have very high hopes for this game. Especially since this game was announced this summer and released in late September. I felt that this game going to be a game to fill a gap while the developers are working on a much larger game. Now, the game is
     

First Impression: The Legend of Zelda – Echoes of Wisdom (Switch) ~ Renewing the Echo

Od: NekoJonez
20. Říjen 2024 v 13:53

Wikipedia Nintendo Microsite

After the release of Tears of the Kingdom, I was afraid that we would never see a new game in the style of the 2D Zelda game. Yet, I have been proven wrong when this game was announced. To be very honest, I didn’t have very high hopes for this game. Especially since this game was announced this summer and released in late September. I felt that this game going to be a game to fill a gap while the developers are working on a much larger game. Now, the game is released, and I have played through a fair chunk of it. So, what is my opinion on this game? Well, that’s what I’m going to tell you in this first impressions article, while I all invite you to leave a comment of your thoughts and/or opinions in the comment section down below.

Renewing the Echoes

After a short introduction where you play as Link, the main story of this game is introduced. There are all consuming interdimensional rifts appearing all over Hyrule, and it’s eating various people in the kingdom.

Link gets eaten by one of those rifts while freeing Zelda and when Zelda tells her father, the king, about these rifts… A new rift appears and replaces the king with an evil clone of himself. Zelda gets thrown in the dungeon and there she meets a fairy named Tri. This fairy gives Zelda a special staff where she can summon objects into the world using echoes. With those echoes, she escapes the dungeon and sets out on an adventure to save Hyrule from doom before the land is fully consumed by the rifts.

Something I always love about the Zelda games is that there is a different core mechanic at the base of the game. In this game, we get two things. We got the rifts to another dark world, but we also got the magical staff, which we can use to summon various echoes into the world. These echoes mean you can tackle this game in various different ways. But I’ll talk more about that later in this article.

In terms of story, this game is hitting all the same beats as your typical Legend of Zelda game. It might be disappointing, to some, that in this game there is no voice acting anymore apart from the grunts and various emotional noises. Personally, I think it adds to the charm of this game. That’s because the characters in this game are way more expressive. While the story isn’t going to leave you at the edge of your seat of “what’s going to happen next”, it’s still well quite enjoyable, and the more expressive characters add quite a lot to the charm and atmosphere of the game.

Something I really like is how in this game, you are free to explore the world at your own peace. This game isn’t limiting you to go in a certain order. While this game isn’t fully open world like Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom, it’s somewhere in between. You can tackle parts in a different order. Like the first two major dungeons can be done out of order. Each area is its self-contained puzzle, and everything you need can be found in that general area.

In my introduction of this article, I said that I was afraid that was afraid that this game would be a short one where you were able to beat it in a few hours. That it was going to be a game that’s supposed to hold players over for the “next big 3D Zelda title”. To my surprise, this game is rather lengthy for a 2,5D Zelda game. It clocks in at 25 hours of casual playtime, which is, to my knowledge, one of the longest 2,5D Zelda games.

Climbing with beds

Something I find myself doing quite a lot while playing this game was climbing the area with beds. I summoned various beds stacked on top of each other to climb a wall. Since, I wanted to know if the developers hid a secret on that cliff face.

The exploration of this version of Hyrule is a blast to do. While you visit a lot of familiar places and meet your usual suspects like the Zora and the Gerudo, it’s a treat seeing them again. The only thing I missed a bit is showing the impact of the rifts. Something that this game only tells through dialogue was how things got impacted by the rifts. I wish it was shown a bit more visually. Like different animations of the characters before and after. But maybe, Tears of the Kingdom set the bar a bit too high for those expectations where each major area had a certain curse.

In terms of gameplay, this game really leans into the echoes mechanic. It also remembers that Zelda is a princess and didn’t really have combat training. So, you have to use summoned enemies to your advantage to let them fight for you. Now, you do have a sword, but you can only use it when your power meter has charge. I always reserved that for the dungeon bosses or when the situation got pretty dicey. Since recharging that meter is either done with potions or by defeating monsters from the rift world. These enemies aren’t exactly common in the overworld, and the energy bar drains fast.

In general, this game hits the same general gameplay beats as all other Zelda games. You go from dungeon to dungeon, learning a new technique or skill, defeating the boos and moving forward to another dungeon. There are also side quests in this game, that give you a nice reward. In this game, you also have a nice system to keep track of these side quests, like in Tears of the Kingdom. Something they also brought over from that game is the cooking system to a degree.

That’s something I personally feel mixed about. Maybe it’s me, but I feel the ingredients are quite rare to come by and there is no real way to farm certain ingredients like in Breath of the Wild. I have to admit that it adds a certain charm to this game, but I feel it’s a bit under implemented here. Like when you first meet the potion creators Deku shrubs, they talk about recipes… And I had a hard time finding any.

Like in Tears of the Kingdom, you can also eat most of the ingredients without cooking them. While I personally dislike the fact you have to do two clicks to consume an item, I do understand why they did it. To avoid you consuming them too much. Yet, this is a change from the two previous games and I honestly really feel it’s a set backwards. A fine solution would be to give the player an option to switch between both systems.

Grezzo playset

This game was co-developed by Grezzo. Their previous original Zelda game was Tri Force Heroes. But, this game looks very similar in graphical style to the remake of Link’s Awakening on the Nintendo Switch from late 2019.

This game looks like a plastic toy set and it looks amazing. While I was playing this game, I felt amazed at how expressive they were able to make everything without breaking the illusion that this is a toy set brought to live by our imagination. I don’t have a lot of complaints about the visuals and animations. And most of my complaints aren’t that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things.

Just like, I don’t have any complaints about the music and sound design of this game. If you take the music and sound design in a vacuum, you would say that it sounds just like very other Zelda game. It sounds like a remix of the familiar melodies we all know and love from the Zelda games. But, this isn’t a problem, since it sells the illusion that you are a child playing with a sort of Playmobil toy set of Hyrule and trying to recreate the sound effects and music of the game.

In terms of controls, this game plays like a dream. I rarely had problems with the controls and something I really like is the fact that with one press of a stick, you can see a view from on top when you feel the camera is blocking something. Now, there is one thing that I do have some things to criticize about. And that’s about the jumping.

It’s pretty difficult sometimes to judge how high Zelda can jump. I had moments in combat where I wasn’t aware I could jump on a higher ledge until I saw an enemy jumping backwards on that ledge. I also got tripped up several times with how far Zelda can jump. Her jump is shorter than I think, and the amount of times I jumped into a pit misjudging the jump is quite a lot. Something that would have helped is something a small landing shadow when Zelda was coming down. Then again, that must have been a nightmare to implement… So, maybe I should keep her shorter jump just better in mind.

Now, something else. Something I really like is how this game has two difficulty modes. I’m playing through this game on the normal difficulty setting and I have to say, I’m happy that I did. This game can lure you into a false sense of security. I wouldn’t say that this game is hard, but it isn’t a cakewalk either. You really need to keep your wits about you and think fast sometimes.

Being aware of what’s around you is also quite important since this game loves to hide things in little side area’s and using the map system is a must. I love how you can put pins and such on the map. Yet, I have to admit that I still keep notes in my phone like: “treasure in Gerudo dungeon, need to check later”.

The more I play through this game, the more I realize that the critiques I can make about this game are more on the minor side. Like how it feels like a waste of time when you are scrolling through a long list of echoes when you just want to find one. An easy solution would be to give the player an ability to favorite certain echoes. But then again, the sort function in the quick menu has “most used”, “recently learned” … So, it’s kinda that.

Now, you have two save slots in this game. So, you can play through this game and let a friend or a sibling play through a different slot. Now, this game also autosaves for you frequently, in case you forget to save. The game also keeps like several autosaves in case you want to return to an earlier point.

Something I really like is how this game also has a quick travel system. The system works similarly like an owl statue in Majora’s Mask or a water vane in Link Between Worlds. It makes it easy when you feel stumped by a puzzle and want to return later. The fast travel locations are very fairly placed all over the land.

While I went quite critical in this game, the more I played it, the more it won me over. This game is a new 2,5D Zelda adventure game I hope we were going to see again. The last new, non remake 2,5D Zelda game was released almost 11 years ago. And, I’m so happy to see a return to this style. I’d love to see a this style also making an appearance very so often since it’s clear there are still various unique ways to explore Hyrule and tell a story about the Hyrule legend without going fully 3D.

Apart from a few small complaints you read in this article, I honestly don’t have any major complaints about this game. This is a game I’m going to finish for sure, since I’m enjoying my time with this title quite a lot. If you are into the series, I highly recommend this title to you. If you enjoy exploration and playing with unique mechanics, I also think this game is for you. This game is totally worth it’s price tag and it pleasantly surprised me.

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

  • ✇NekoJonez's Gaming Blog
  • Preview: Cave Hikers (PC) ~ Point and DragNekoJonez
    Trailer – Steam store page Today, I want to talk about a new game that’s going to come out later this year. It’s called Cave Hikers. It’s being developed by Porcupine Parkour. This small Croatian based studio reached out to me to review their demo in July. I would have written an article about it before, but I have been suffering from a writing burnout. Thankfully, I’m slowly getting back in the groove. And I’m going to make it up to the developers by publishing an article on their game t
     

Preview: Cave Hikers (PC) ~ Point and Drag

Od: NekoJonez
22. Září 2024 v 15:24

TrailerSteam store page

Today, I want to talk about a new game that’s going to come out later this year. It’s called Cave Hikers. It’s being developed by Porcupine Parkour. This small Croatian based studio reached out to me to review their demo in July. I would have written an article about it before, but I have been suffering from a writing burnout. Thankfully, I’m slowly getting back in the groove. And I’m going to make it up to the developers by publishing an article on their game today. Let’s take a look at the demo together, shall we? And I have a small surprise in store later.

Demo review

In this demo, you get an introduction to the gameplay. If you ever played a game like My Brother Rabbit, you will feel right at home in this game. This is a point and click game where you go from screen to screen. Each screen has a small puzzle or hidden object moment for you to take part in.

This game feels like playing through a children book. The voice of the narrator sounds like a (grand)father telling a story to their children. It’s extremely charming, and the story book art style really helps to sell this story.

Overall, there is no real tutorial in this game. Yet, the gameplay is quite simple. You learn quite quickly that this game is controlled with only the mouse. The menu system exists out of icons that make the game a lot easier to localize.

The demo is rather short but gives a very good impression of the full game. This game looks like it’s something I’m going to play. It’s a charming point-and-click game with hidden objects that feels nostalgic. Since the demo is so short, I don’t have a lot to talk about in terms of feedback.

The art style, voice acting, animation is all pretty well done. I only have a few minor complaints. The first complaint is that clicking to unmute the music or sound effects can’t be done right away. It doesn’t always register right away. And the second complaint is the in some rare spots, like with the red crystal at the end of the demo, the hitbox of placing it in the crusher is too tiny.

So, the game describes itself as:

Cave Hikers is a relaxing and humorous 2D interactive cartoon mockumentary that follows three characters through a cavernous world, on a quest to find the mystical “cave with an infinite ceiling”.

And I think it fits the game pretty well. Like I have been saying, the humor and charm of this game is there, and it’s pretty clear that maybe from some very minor things, this game is going to be an extremely charming game.

Now, how interesting would it be if I asked some questions to the developers of this game? Well, I had a few interesting questions in mind, so I went and asked them. Here are their replies.

Interview with the developers

– What games inspired you take to make this one?

It was mostly HOPA style games, which are usually made by much larger companies with inexpensive artists and a pseudo-realistic and kitsch-y style. So we went more in line with our own kind of art style, with some inspiration from Amanita games.

– What’s your process in creating puzzles?

It’s a strange process. As we started making the game in our free time for fun between odd jobs and more “serious” projects, we made a number of locations, creatures and simple mechanics. First we take a look at what already exists on the screen, then we intertwine the narrative with some clicking and potential puzzle elements. Then we play around with it until we are happy with the amount of “work” the player needs to do before accomplishing the goal.

Sometimes it includes a bit of moon logic. First, we make it clearer through conversation clouds and drawings. Then, whatever is unclear or hard to find for testers, we explain further through the Narrator.

– What are the funniest bugs or whoopies that happened during development?

For a while, we had a splash screen that looked exactly like the main menu, which created a lot of confusion! That was because the engine was upgraded, and also we started working with a much better programmer, we consolidated it into a coherent menu.

As for actually funny bugs, at one point we had Valeriano’s secret twin showing up at the cutscene. It took a while to realize we accidentally put two Valerianos of which one was outside the camera view.

– What engine did you use and why?

It’s Construct 3. At first, we made this project for fun and the Animator wasn’t exactly a programmer, so he used a really simple engine. (Un)fortunately, the project got out of hand and got some funding. Now we have a real programmer, but he had to learn Construct with all its limitations, but it’s also a really simple engine so we can still make a lot of the game without much hassle.

– What are some things you learned during developing this game?

Something that we re-learned time and time again… a game is easier to build if you have the whole team and a proper plan. Because otherwise you leave a lot of work and frustration for “future you”. We also learned that Construct can be a lot stronger than we initially thought… but also that it can be really stubborn in some areas.

– How many people worked on this game?

It first started with Sven the illustrator and Zvonimir the animator. At first, we were building a completely wordless game. But some testers were a bit confused at what the characters are really doing. So we hired Tom Bennet as the narrator and also Lea Konjetić to compose original music for the game. In the last six months, Fabjan the programmer also joined the team and superpowered our development process. All in all, five people, excluding all the translators.

Final thoughts

I’m very happy that games like these are getting more attention. Hidden object games have a strange reputation of being “too casual” or “boring”. Yet, I dare to argue there is something to love in these games. Especially when a game is created with this much passion and love.

I want to apologize to the developers again for taking such a long time in creating and article about the demo. But, I’m happy I did today. Since, if you have any interest in playing this game after reading this article, go and play the demo. Or share this article with somebody you think will enjoy playing this game. The demo takes roughly 15 minutes to finish.

I wish the developers a lot of luck and success with their game and when it’s fully released, I’m going to play this game and most likely review it on my blog. And with that said, I have said everything I wanted to say about this game for now. Thank you so much for reading this article, and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed making it. I hope to welcome you in another article, but until then, have a great rest of your day and take care.

A new demo for physics-based sandbox A Webbing Journey shows you what it's like to be a Spider

Od: Liam Dawe
21. Srpen 2024 v 13:55
A physics-based sandbox game where you play as a cute little spider, A Webbing Journey has a really fun idea and the latest demo is quite impressive.

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Read the full article on GamingOnLinux.

  • ✇Gamecritics.com
  • Super Woden GP II ReviewCj Salcedo
    Almost At The Podium HIGH A solid mix of racing game ideas.  LOW Unnecessarily difficult in some places. WTF We need more homages to Gran Turismo!  I seek out different kinds of racing games, especially when I review here at GameCritis. It’s an important and beloved genre for me, and there’s no shortage of exciting stuff coming out — offerings range from simulators to over-the-top arcade stuff, and anything in between. Of course, most of the titles I play tend to show off cut
     

Super Woden GP II Review

15. Srpen 2024 v 13:00

Almost At The Podium

HIGH A solid mix of racing game ideas. 

LOW Unnecessarily difficult in some places.

WTF We need more homages to Gran Turismo


I seek out different kinds of racing games, especially when I review here at GameCritis. It’s an important and beloved genre for me, and there’s no shortage of exciting stuff coming out — offerings range from simulators to over-the-top arcade stuff, and anything in between. Of course, most of the titles I play tend to show off cutting-edge graphics, real-world cars and massive worlds to drive around in. Super Woden GP II is decidedly not that, but it did lure me in with some welcome ideas. 

Played from an isometric angle, SWGP is an arcade racer with several modes. On the surface, it seems like a deceptively simple experience with visuals and gameplay reminiscent of older arcade titles (think Over Top or Super Drift Out) but the depth becomes apparent thanks to the sheer amount of content. 

The most prominent offering is Career mode, which sees players competing in championships on closed circuits. Each of these competitions revolves around a series of races that net players credits to buy cars that can then be upgraded for more events. Pulling from the likes of the original Gran Turismo (down to the main menu’s design) there’s a great loop of racing, upgrading, and car collecting here that I appreciated.

There are over 100+ cars here, each from different countries and manufacturers. While all fictional, it’s not hard to spot clear homages to the Ford GT or Toyota AE86, and every vehicle has a distinct handling model, with stats that can be upgraded. Similar to the original GT, there’s a special kind of joy in buying a cheap car early on and building it up to compete against the best of the best.

While I appreciated the gameplay loop, I do have to admit the lack of a lot of accessibility options soured the experience overall. Part of this is that I found SWGP quite difficult at first, thanks to my inexperience with isometric racers. Turning corners and keeping up with AI-controlled opponents was rough initially, and the lack of a controller map was odd, not to mention the confusion caused by a lack of any tutorials.

Despite those initial frustrations, I did find myself enjoying it, and play was more manageable once I bumped the difficulty down to easy and practiced on tight corners. I did appreciate the onscreen indicators that told me when to turn or to watch for hazards, but I did wish there were more optional concessions made for newcomers. 

Other modes outside of Career include Time Trials where players can compete for the best times on global leaderboards and the best mode, if you ask me — is rally mode, where players race on various terrain under extreme conditions. Being forced to race a clock that’s winding down and trying hard to hit every checkpoint is not for the faint of heart, but I know with some practice I can get there. 

Overall, Super Woden GP II’s marriage of old-school arcade racing and a modern focus on car collecting is a fairly successful one, as I certainly enjoyed buying cool-looking cars and building them up for the big leagues. While the lack of options and accessibility features can use some fine-tuning, I’m certain those with a love of racing games (and a lot of patience) will get some good mileage out of this one. 

Rating: 7.5 out of 10


Disclosures: This game is published by Eastasiasoft and developed by Vijuda. It is available on PC, PS5, PS4, XBO/S/X and Switch. This copy was obtained via publisher and was reviewed on PS5. Approximately 5 hours were spent in single-player and the game was not completed. There is multiplayer.

Parents: According to the ESRB, this game is rated E10 for Mild Violence and Alcohol Reference. Nothing objectionable here, as it’s just racing. Players can crash but the damage model can be turned off in the main menu.

Colorblind Modes: Colorblind modes are not present in the options menu.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Gamers: There are plenty of visual cues in gameplay, but there are no options to resize any of the text or menus. Even so, I’d say it’s fully accessible.

Remappable Controls: The controls cannot be remapped and there are no diagrams. On PS5, R2 is to accelerate and L2 is brake/reverse. The Left Stick is used to steer.

  • ✇SUPERJUMP
  • My Quest to Find a Specific Demo Disc from 1997Gavin Annand
    27 years ago, I returned home to Australia after two long years living in the USA. I was twelve years old, and my family was re-establishing roots in our old home. One of the first things we did was buy a new computer, with the help of my cousin. My dad only needed something simple for work, but my cousin had priced up a rig with me in mind too. It was a Pentium II 233 MHz, with 128 MB of RAM, a huge 20 GB hard drive, S3 VGA card and a 3dfx Voodoo 3d accelerator.This was the era of demo discs -
     

My Quest to Find a Specific Demo Disc from 1997

12. Srpen 2024 v 17:00
My Quest to Find a Specific Demo Disc from 1997

27 years ago, I returned home to Australia after two long years living in the USA. I was twelve years old, and my family was re-establishing roots in our old home. One of the first things we did was buy a new computer, with the help of my cousin. My dad only needed something simple for work, but my cousin had priced up a rig with me in mind too. It was a Pentium II 233 MHz, with 128 MB of RAM, a huge 20 GB hard drive, S3 VGA card and a 3dfx Voodoo 3d accelerator.

This was the era of demo discs - gaming magazines almost always came with one taped to the front, packed with the latest demos of new and upcoming games. Many retailers, keen to capture a slice of the growing games market of the Dotcom Boom, also released their own software compilations, usually available at the cash register in store. One of the largest home and appliance retailers in Australia then (and still to this day) was Harvey Norman, and for a brief period in 1997, Harvey Norman stores carried "Harvey Norman: The CD-ROM".

My Quest to Find a Specific Demo Disc from 1997
Source: Archive.org.

I don't recall exactly how I came into possession of this CD - it's possible that it came with our new computer, or that my childhood friend down the road had brought it by. I recall that my cousin had installed Civilization II on the computer, but other than that, my only access to games, for a while, was the demos on this disc - and what a selection of demos it was.

My Quest to Find a Specific Demo Disc from 1997
My Quest to Find a Specific Demo Disc from 1997
My Quest to Find a Specific Demo Disc from 1997

Source: Author.

The thing about demo discs that often gets forgotten is how brilliant they were at exposing gamers to a broad variety of games. In the days before digital distribution, social media, YouTube and Twitch, exposure to games and gaming news was mostly limited to a handful of early gaming websites and monthly gaming magazines. There were no Let's Play videos to watch - the only way you knew if you were going to like a game was if you had read a review, played it on a friend's computer, or tried the demo.

The Harvey Norman CD-ROM was a crash course in gaming tastes. Raptor, Death Rally, Need for Speed II, Wipeout 2097, Quake, Blood, MDK, KKND, X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter, Diablo, Fallout - this demo disc perfectly captured the zeitgeist of late 90s PC gaming, and was foundational in broadening my gaming palette and exposing me to genres and games that I would not have otherwise played.

My Quest to Find a Specific Demo Disc from 1997
Source: Author.

Like many others, I voraciously consumed demo discs like this every month, trying out every game I could to see which ones I could ask for at Christmas or my birthday. Shortly after settling back into our old home, I was buying monthly issues of PC PowerPlay magazine and methodically working my way through their demos every month.

While those PC PowerPlay demo discs provided many fond memories and exposed me to a vast cross-section of late 90s and early 2000s gaming, I had always placed the Harvey Norman CD-ROM on a pedestal in my memories. This was my first exposure to Fallout, and my first real foray into RPGs outside of Ultima. This was my first experience of Need for Speed, Quake, Diablo and Blood. Hornet 3.0 and F-22 Lightning II were my first combat flight simulators. Two of my favourite games in my youth had been LucasArts' X-Wing and the incredible sequel, TIE Fighter, and X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter was a big leap forward in fidelity and into the world of multiplayer.

So cherished were my memories of this CD, that I had even falsely attributed it as the source of other beloved demos ("Remembering Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II" and "Remembering Rocket Jockey") - where I found those demos, I'm not sure, but my hazy memories of the era told me that of course it was this Harvey Norman CD.

My Quest to Find a Specific Demo Disc from 1997
Source: Author.

The CD was more than just memories of demos, however. As I have discussed previously, my father was not computer literate, and he didn't really "get" games. But I never stopped trying to share my beloved hobby with him. My dad was an avid golfer, and it was an activity I often joined him on. So, when I saw the demo for Jack Nicklaus 4 on the demo disc, I of course introduced him to the game. Dad had this demo installed on his computer for many years, and he probably played the three-hole demo hundreds of times. Years later, he was still playing it, and the image of him sitting at the computer playing the Jack Nicklaus 4 demo is burned into my brain.

At some point in the early 2000s, the Harvey Norman CD-ROM ended up in a box somewhere, or perhaps went in the bin. I'd long since upgraded my computer and moved on to more modern games. The rise of digital distribution via Steam and rapid growth of the Internet had begun to chip away at the dominance of print media like gaming magazines. I was growing up. I had stopped spending my money on games magazines and started spending it on beer, rent and petrol. I could rely on YouTube to gauge whether I wanted to purchase a game. Before long, the era of demo discs was a distant but cherished memory.

It was about ten years ago, during the rise of indie games and the nostalgia boom of remasters, that I started to pay more heed to these memories. I wanted to find those old demo discs, load them up and relive happy, carefree days. But the Harvey Norman CD-ROM was long gone. In 2013, I got in touch with Harvey Norman customer service to ask whether they had an archive of demo CDs, but to no avail. They had thought I was searching for the actual games themselves, but after clarifying that I was looking for the demo disc, they told me they had no archived copies.

My Quest to Find a Specific Demo Disc from 1997
Source: Author.

I tried again a few years later, this time through various Facebook groups, with no success. Then, again, I tried, about five years ago on the r/Australia subreddit, and two years ago in the r/Melbourne subreddit (Melbourne being my home town). That was the closest I came - one of the responses to my post on the r/Melbourne subreddit directed me to a 1995 Harvey Norman demo CD on the Internet Archive, but this was unfortunately the wrong one. I had all but given up hope. Unless the disc showed up in an old storage container somewhere, I simply had to accept the fact that this would remain nothing more than a memory.

A few weeks ago, I was tinkering with 86box, emulating a Windows 98 PC in order to get some old software running for a SUPERJUMP story. As I tend to do when tinkering with old software and hardware, I soon found myself distracted by nostalgic segues, such as installing After Dark screensavers or playing old games like Hover!. In this nostalgic mindset, I thought once again of the Harvey Norman CD-ROM, and decided to have another try at tracking it down. This time, I'd post on the Whirlpool Forums, a well-known Australian computing forum. If I was going to get my answer anywhere, it would be there.

My Quest to Find a Specific Demo Disc from 1997
Source: Author.

I began writing my post, explaining what I could remember of the demo disc, when and where I had obtained it. I linked a video of the Harvey Norman jingle that would play in the intro video. For clarity, I wanted to provide a link to that other 1995 Harvey Norman demo CD that the r/Melbourne subreddit had sent me to, and specify that this was not the CD I was looking for. So, to find the link, I went to the Internet Archive and searched "Harvey Norman".

But wait. My search had yielded two results.

My Quest to Find a Specific Demo Disc from 1997
Source: Author.

Staring back at me from the Internet Archive search results was that familiar rose-gold disc - Harvey Norman: The CD-ROM. Surely this couldn't be real? Is this the right disc? Where did it come from? When was it uploaded?

Hands shaking, I clicked the link, and saw that the disc image had been uploaded on 25 July 2023. I immediately downloaded the file and fired up my 86box Windows 98 virtual machine. I loaded the disc image. I waited. And then it began. That horrendous Harvey Norman jingle imprinted in my mind. The spinning image of the demo disc. The splash screen with the Fallout power armour and the F/A-18 Hornet firing a missile. I smiled in astonishment at the screen, overcome with joy. Tears welled up in my eyes, and the memories came flooding back. Sitting with my best friend, racing around the Pacifica track in Need for Speed II. Laying sticks of dynamite around the town in Outlaws. Watching a gang member get torn to shreds by the minigun in Fallout. Playing Quake Episode 1 over and over again.

0:00
/0:29

Source: Author.

Nostalgia is a strange thing. In my mind, I had attributed so much importance to this simple little disc. Hours of my life had been dedicated to it, replaying each demo dozens of times. It had fostered my interest in more than a few game series. There was never any possibility that revisiting it in 2024 could live up to the memories I had attributed to it. But, for a brief few moments, 27 years later, I was 12 years old again....

Massively OP Podcast Episode 481: Pre-Gamescom MMO mini podcast

20. Srpen 2024 v 22:00
In this mini episode, Bree runs down Throne & Liberty's delay, New World's Aeternum beta, Guild Wars 2's Janthir Wilds launch, the Richard Garriott Ultima Online rumor, the state of Ultima Online New Legacy, Nightingale's Realms Rebuilt, the record-setting SWG Legends' SOEclipse event, and the approach of Gamescom.

💾

Laniatus-owned Idea Fabrik claims The Repopulation is back online, renews assault on former contractor

20. Srpen 2024 v 16:30
It’s been quite some time since The Repopulation was in our collective radar, but that was because development of the game was ended in January 2023 according to TGS Tech, the dev group contracted by Idea Fabrik to put the sci-fi sandbox together. Of course regular readers know that wasn’t the end of the story, […]

RuneScape-inspired Brighter Shores says it won’t officially be complete until PvP arrives

20. Srpen 2024 v 16:00
With the early access launch of Brighter Shores planned for this fall, one big question’s on the table for this RuneScape-inspired MMO: Will it have PvP? The answer? Yes… but not right away. Developer Andrew Gower said that PvP is being pushed off until the official release to give it more time to bake: “Yes, […]

Embracer Q1 2024: Sales and company debt lower while the LOTR MMO gets a mention

19. Srpen 2024 v 16:30
If you were hoping for some form of revelation for Embracer Group’s slate of MMOs to come out of the company’s April-to-June investor report for 2024, you should probably temper your expectations, as most of what our readers care about appears to be dangled carrots for the investor board instead of hard plans. We’ll start […]

Make My MMO: Ashes of Creation’s alpha 2, Dual Universe’s player hosting

18. Srpen 2024 v 18:00
It’s been an interesting summer for crowdfunded MMOs. Ashes of Creation has hit August running, first with a preview of the Bard class, then with a formal announcement of its paid alpha 2 starting October 25th, which as you can imagine has gamers grumbling. Meanwhile, Star Citizen continued teasing alpha 4, Dual Universe continues its […]
  • ✇PCGamesN
  • FF14 server status and maintenance times - is FFXIV down?Ken Allsop
    Is FF14 down? If you can’t log on to FF14 or access your character, it might be due to ongoing maintenance or server issues. Before worrying about any problems with your game, you’ll want to check the FF14 server status and currently scheduled maintenance times below to see if the MMO is offline. If you can’t log into FF14, it’s typically because of planned maintenance. The critically acclaimed MMORPG occasionally schedules downtime to implement patches, updates, and other hotfixes or t
     

FF14 server status and maintenance times - is FFXIV down?

21. Srpen 2024 v 11:31
FF14 server status and maintenance times - is FFXIV down?

Is FF14 down? If you can’t log on to FF14 or access your character, it might be due to ongoing maintenance or server issues. Before worrying about any problems with your game, you’ll want to check the FF14 server status and currently scheduled maintenance times below to see if the MMO is offline.

If you can’t log into FF14, it’s typically because of planned maintenance. The critically acclaimed MMORPG occasionally schedules downtime to implement patches, updates, and other hotfixes or to perform maintenance on the game’s servers. Developer Square Enix usually announces these well ahead of time, so be sure to read on and see when future maintenance times are planned.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best MMOs, FF14 Dawntrail release date, FF14 Island Sanctuary guide
  • ✇Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed
  • Dune Awakening will burst out of the early access sands in "early 2025"Brendan Caldwell
    Lo, a ripple in the release date sands. Stand still a moment while we study this phenomenon. Yes, yes, it is the unmistakable rumble of a large survival MMO pondering its release date. Dune: Awakening is having a think and has decided "early 2025" is a good non-specific time period to come out in early access. That could mean January or February. Or March, I guess. April? Now don't be silly, that's spring. Not April, surely. This beast seems hungry. It will eat before then. I have foreseen it.
     

Dune Awakening will burst out of the early access sands in "early 2025"

Lo, a ripple in the release date sands. Stand still a moment while we study this phenomenon. Yes, yes, it is the unmistakable rumble of a large survival MMO pondering its release date. Dune: Awakening is having a think and has decided "early 2025" is a good non-specific time period to come out in early access. That could mean January or February. Or March, I guess. April? Now don't be silly, that's spring. Not April, surely. This beast seems hungry. It will eat before then. I have foreseen it. Mostly by watching the trailer that dropped at Gamescom.

Read more

  • ✇PCGamer latest
  • Our most anticipated survival game is coming in early 2025clivingston@pcgamer.com (Christopher Livingston)
    I've been eager to play survival MMO Dune: Awakening since I first saw it back in March. It all looks pretty great so far: the crafting, building, exploring, even the mundane stuff like water gathering and rock breaking looks fun. It's even converted a few of us who aren't normally into this kind of thing. Wes doesn't like survival and Josh doesn't like MMOs, but even they're keen to play it. And now we know roughly when we'll get the chance—on PC, at least. "Fun
     

Our most anticipated survival game is coming in early 2025

I've been eager to play survival MMO Dune: Awakening since I first saw it back in March. It all looks pretty great so far: the crafting, building, exploring, even the mundane stuff like water gathering and rock breaking looks fun

It's even converted a few of us who aren't normally into this kind of thing. Wes doesn't like survival and Josh doesn't like MMOs, but even they're keen to play it. And now we know roughly when we'll get the chance—on PC, at least. 

"Funcom are thrilled to announce that Dune: Awakening, the Open World Survival MMO, will release in early 2025, with the console release planned for a later date," Funcom said today at Gamescom. That's probably not as specific as we'd like, but it's something. The announcement came along with five minutes of new gameplay footage, which you can see below.

The gameplay trailer shows how a rando dumped on Arrakis can become a spice tycoon, building a base, crafting gear and vehicles, and battling other players over spice blows deep in the desert. 

One thing we haven't seen much of yet are knives and swords, something that the Dune fiction is kinda known for. The little we have seen looks mostly like people just whacking each other over the head, rather than the elaborate martial arts we're accustomed to. An MMO probably isn't the environment for a complicated melee system, but I am expecting a little something extra considering the source material.

We'll see more from Dune: Awakening soon: more footage is set to be revealed during Gamescom this week, plus a new Dune: Awakening Direct will take place on August 29.

© Funcom

  • ✇PCGamer latest
  • World of Warcraft: The War Within leveling guide
    If you're looking for a leveling guide for World of Warcraft's new expansion, you're in the right place. Whether you're a zoom-to-max-level MMO player or you like to stop and smell the questing, you can make your journey smoother with a bit of simple preparation.Early access to epic-edition holders of WoW's next expansion launches on August 22, with full TWW access landing August 26. That's not a lot of time if you're just now jumping back into Azeroth, so this W
     

World of Warcraft: The War Within leveling guide

20. Srpen 2024 v 19:00

If you're looking for a leveling guide for World of Warcraft's new expansion, you're in the right place. Whether you're a zoom-to-max-level MMO player or you like to stop and smell the questing, you can make your journey smoother with a bit of simple preparation.

Early access to epic-edition holders of WoW's next expansion launches on August 22, with full TWW access landing August 26. That's not a lot of time if you're just now jumping back into Azeroth, so this War Within leveling guide offers you tips for a speedy journey to level 80. Or if you're not in a hurry, there's plenty here to help make your journey to max level an easy one.

The War Within: leveling tips for speed

If speeding to level 80 is your priority, these tips will help you out. For more general, but in-depth, leveling advice, jump to the section below.  

  • Don't bother killing rares unless they're literally on top of where you're already questing and you see them up. With that said, do make sure they are your level and not level 80. They only give a couple thousand experience in most cases, and can take a while to die. The exception to this are wanted poster quests, which frequently overlap with other quests and respawn very quickly.
  • Don't watch cutscenes unless you want to. Unlike some previous expansions, The War Within won't make you wait the full length of the cut scene to pick up the next quest. Skip it, grab the next quest and go. You can always watch them all on your later toons.
  • Don't pick up Skyriding glyphs—yet. They exist, but as of this point in the beta, they offer no XP and no Skyriding talents–so ignore those tempting pings until later.
  • Don't collect outdoor world treasures. None are specific to leveling, and they don't give XP. Go back for them later.
  • Set your hearth in each area. In each zone, you'll get a "tour X town" quest as part of the campaign. Go ahead and hearth with that innkeeper. You won't have to go anywhere that is a further flight until you leave the zone. At the end of the campaign, you'll get a two-way portal between Azj-Kahet and Dornogal, so you can hearth back at the capital again.
  • Don't do early-zone quests without completing the campaign. Adventure Mode makes all quests everywhere give full XP; until you've unlocked it, going back to early zones when you are at a higher level means the mobs don't scale to your level and the quests give reduced XP.
  • Don't forget to log into your alts to get your next character's rested XP going. Happy leveling!

The War Within leveling guide

The War Within leveling guide

(Image credit: Blizzard)

Are you prepared?

More from Azeroth

Dragonriding

(Image credit: Activision Blizzard)

WoW classes: Pick the right one for you
WoW Trading Post: This month's goodies
Timewalking vendors: Where to find them
WoW addons: Customise your UI
Expansions in order: Blast from the past

Any new expansion has an overwhelming amount of two things: junk and quests. You're going to want to make room for both. Empty your bags of off-spec gear, fun/flavor items or crafting materials, and hotbar everything you do carry so you don't have to search through your overly-laden bags for it.

Consider dropping rarely-used things in your Warbank, and do the questline in Tanaris for the remote-access spell, which you should also put on your bars. Don't forget your Grand Expedition Yak or Traveler's Tundra Mammoth vendor mount and your mailbox toy (Katy's Stampwhistle, Ohuna Perch) if you have them, for a quick way to dump things as you go.

That's your bags sorted, now clear out space in your bank and Warband Bank, including the Reagents tab, as a quick place to drop things as you go—you can worry about evaluating the stuff later.

Next, get rid of absolutely every quest you have. Even though the quest limit was increased to 35, you're still going to run out of room very quickly (and likely end up abandoning quests in every zone in Khaz Algar). If you've already done your pre-patch questing in Silithus, you'll pick up the new quest in Dalaran when you log in on launch day/early access day, so go ahead and log out there.

As for add-ons and the like, use what you're using now–if updated properly, it should most likely work fine in The War Within. If you don't plan on reading quests or watching cut scenes, consider mods like AutoTurnin or QuickQuest to speed up accepting quests, turning them in and choosing rewards. 

What to wear 

The War Within leveling guide

(Image credit: Blizzard)

If you've been keeping yourself up to date in WoW and have near-maxed levels of gear, you're going to absolutely cruise through all of the zones until you hit level 76/77, and you won't get any upgrades worth mentioning. At this moment, tier sets still work until level 80 on beta, so if you have full tier and good gear, you can safely ignore every drop until level 77.

Pick one gear set to level up in and bank everything else; for trinkets, opt for things that do damage or give you continuous, passive stats rather than things that boost you temporarily, since packs die quickly and most of that power will be wasted.

For early levels, speed gear isn't a bad idea (or situational speed trinkets, like the low-level Hunger of the Pack trinket from Halls of Valor, which still works in The War Within beta). For later levels, you'll want to concentrate on power and survivability. If you choose to swap sets, put the set you'll use later at the very top of your bank, and consider changing it when the campaign ends and sends you back to Dornogal, where you'll have bank access.

Finally, if you haven't bothered to collect all the dragon glyphs, do that now. You'll want them when you're leveling, since you can fly immediately in the new zones.

What to take with you 

The War Within leveling guide

(Image credit: Blizzard)

If you have good gear, then things are going to start living longer around level 76, and by level 78, they will actually hurt you. Prepare by packing basic consumables to boost your power/defensives: flasks (especially versatility for later levels), runes/rockets/weapon buffs, and food. For later levels, try and pick up conjured mage food from a friend or someone in Dornogal, as it'll get you back into the fray quickly if you get hurt. Save any leftover potions of power for this period, and pack a good amount of healing potions, as you won't get many as drops. 

Some items you'll use infrequently, such as invisibility potions and gunshoes (engineering crafted items that grant running speed to anyone and are still functional in TWW beta). Remember to craft extra or buy before the expansion if you need them, since you won't have easy access to crafting tables. These are only really useful when you're stuck at the back of a cave; everywhere else, you're going to use Skyriding. If you decide to have these around, toss them in your Warbank and use the Warband Bank Distance Inhibitor ability to snag them when you need them, so they don't clutter up your bags.

Two extra things you will want to keep in your bags: a cloak to take you back to your capital city in a pinch, and guild banners, both available from guild vendors if you have sufficient reputation. Guild banners provide extra experience in a generous radius, and while they trigger a short mutual cooldown when you use one and they don't stack, they don't share a long cooldown, either. This means you should buy and hotbar all three–uncommon, rare and epic quality–or use an add-on to track them. Drop one anytime you're killing things in a quest or bonus area with lots of mobs. 

Keep campaigning 

The War Within leveling guide

(Image credit: Blizzard)

You'll need to complete the core campaign quests, which have distinctive icons on the mini map and above questgivers' heads. They're located at the top of your quest log, and must be done linearly through each of the zones in order.

You'll also want to complete at least a few side quests, particularly those that are in the same areas/overlap. (For planning, you might consider using Ennukee's simple leveling site.) I would not advise doing too many side quests as you go unless you're more-weakly geared and need quest rewards to increase your item level. If you complete the campaign, you'll unlock Adventure Mode, which allows you to do any quests anywhere for the same experience. This will give you the freedom to escape any areas that are frustrating/busy, and also unlock world quests for experience, which may overlap with normal quests you'll end up doing.

Bonus areas are worth doing if they overlap with other quests you're already on. In Isle of Dorn, where bonus areas are worth more than the other zones and poof after you hit higher levels, they're worth taking quests in the area specifically to do as you go.

If you do the main campaign quests plus a bonus area or side quest or two, you'll finish Isle of Dorn at 72, The Ringing Deeps at 74, Hallowfall at roughly 75/76 and Azj-Kahet at about 77. The end of the campaign will take you back to to the capital city of Dornogal, which is a convenient stopping point, since that gives you bank access and marks the point when monsters start getting challenging even if you were at a high gear level to start.

Other ways to get XP 

The War Within leveling guide

(Image credit: Blizzard)

While Delves aren't the best XP, picking up the quest that goes with them (usually in a nearby quest hub) helps for the first run through. If you need better gear for leveling, or if quest areas are super-congested, Delves are a great alternative to quests. Tier 3 Delve gear, the highest that will be available at launch, is roughly equivalent to Normal-difficulty dungeon gear when you hit max level.

Dungeons are also an option if you'd like play with friends and questing is congested, though you're still going to need to complete the campaign at some point to open up full access to zones and world quests. Solo follower dungeons aren't efficient XP, sadly.

© Blizzard

Chilled castle doodling game Tiny Glade releases September 23 and the demo is back

Od: Liam Dawe
16. Srpen 2024 v 13:53
Tiny Glade is a wonderful idea, letting you just chilled out and doodle castles with their fantastic tools and it's now set to launch on September 23.

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Read the full article on GamingOnLinux.

Go capture and breed some Frogs in the Mudborne demo, from the devs of beekeeping sim APICO

Od: Liam Dawe
14. Srpen 2024 v 16:13
Developer ellraiser of TNgineers is back again with another wonderful casual exploration, discovery and breeding sim. While APICO had you do beekeeping, Mudborne has you breed all sorts of Frogs.

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Read the full article on GamingOnLinux.

Battle Train could end up being my next favourite deck-builder

Od: Liam Dawe
13. Srpen 2024 v 16:34
There's just something satisfying about laying down tracks, and then slamming a train into your enemy. Battle Train is an interesting spin on deck-builders and there's a demo out now.

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Read the full article on GamingOnLinux.

Avoid a giant creepy boat stalking you in your kayak in this retro-horror game

Od: Liam Dawe
13. Srpen 2024 v 16:10
For those readers who love the recent wave of retro-horror, Delta Kayak could be another good one to check out with a demo now live. Certainly wins points for some originality and total weirdness here.

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Read the full article on GamingOnLinux.

Try the demo for The Protagonish, an adventure game where you don't control the adventurer

Od: Liam Dawe
9. Srpen 2024 v 17:07
Well, this is a bit more on the unique side isn't it? I know we have plenty of classic adventure game fans in the GOL readership, but what about one where you don't actual control the adventurer? Check out The Protagonish.

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Read the full article on GamingOnLinux.

  • ✇PCGamesN
  • The 34 best Minecraft texture packs August 2024Danielle Rose
    What are the best Minecraft texture packs? These colorful and game-altering texture packs can make your world a new experience. Of course, Minecraft's low-fi charm is part of the draw, but texture packs range from subtle changes to an all-over reskin, so you can choose just how much you want to leave vanilla Minecraft behind. We've scoured and tried a bunch of different packs to be able to recommend the very best. Just like the best Minecraft mods and shaders, texture packs can help giv
     

The 34 best Minecraft texture packs August 2024

6. Srpen 2024 v 11:44
The 34 best Minecraft texture packs August 2024

What are the best Minecraft texture packs? These colorful and game-altering texture packs can make your world a new experience. Of course, Minecraft's low-fi charm is part of the draw, but texture packs range from subtle changes to an all-over reskin, so you can choose just how much you want to leave vanilla Minecraft behind. We've scoured and tried a bunch of different packs to be able to recommend the very best.

Just like the best Minecraft mods and shaders, texture packs can help give an entirely new feel to one of the best PC games of the last decade, and it's just one of many ways of keeping the sandbox game feeling fresh after all these years. While some mods can alter Minecraft gameplay, and shaders change the quality and style of the graphics, texture packs allow you to add a new skin to existing blocks. Included in our list of the best Minecraft texture packs are realistic blocks, cartoonish overhauls, and cute changes to the way Minecraft mobs look.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Minecraft seeds, Minecraft skins, Minecraft mods
  • ✇Eurogamer.net
  • Square Enix sales drop year-on-year, despite release of Final Fantasy 7 RebirthEd Nightingale
    Sales of Square Enix games have dropped compared to last year, despite the high profile release of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. According to its latest earnings report, the company's overall net sales dropped by 18.4 percent year-on-year for the most recent quarter. This is driven in part due to a decline in sales of new games. By comparison, the same quarter in 2023 saw the release of Final Fantasy 16 and the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters. Read more
     

Square Enix sales drop year-on-year, despite release of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

6. Srpen 2024 v 11:48

Sales of Square Enix games have dropped compared to last year, despite the high profile release of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

According to its latest earnings report, the company's overall net sales dropped by 18.4 percent year-on-year for the most recent quarter.

This is driven in part due to a decline in sales of new games. By comparison, the same quarter in 2023 saw the release of Final Fantasy 16 and the Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters.

Read more

  • ✇Game Hitch
  • OSRS – Preparing for The GauntletAmphitrite
    Before you dive into The Gauntlet, you should get ready for what’s to come. If you need a strategy for completing the Gauntlet boss fight, then you’ll want to prepare yourself for battle. You might be parting ways with your OSRS gold to get to where you need to be, but before you go looking for OSRS gold for sale, there are other preparations that you can make. We’ll be checking out the recommended skill levels, getting to the boss, and what to expect from it during the fight itself. Requi
     

OSRS – Preparing for The Gauntlet

13. Prosinec 2021 v 10:06

Before you dive into The Gauntlet, you should get ready for what’s to come.

If you need a strategy for completing the Gauntlet boss fight, then you’ll want to prepare yourself for battle. You might be parting ways with your OSRS gold to get to where you need to be, but before you go looking for OSRS gold for sale, there are other preparations that you can make. We’ll be checking out the recommended skill levels, getting to the boss, and what to expect from it during the fight itself.

Requirements

For starters, it isn’t just going to buy OSRS gold then speeding our way to the skill levels we need to be at. A requirement for taking on this challenge is having to finish Song of the Elves, which is the last quest in the Elf quest series.

As for your combat stats, you should make sure that the majority of them are at level 85 or higher. So get your attack, strength, defense, range, magic, and hitpoints up to at least 85. As for your prayer, it’s recommended that you have it up to at least 77. On the subject of prayer, it would be useful to you to have the Augury and Rigour prayers available. There’s also the Piety prayer that’s handy, which you need to have completed both King’s Ransom and Knight Waves Training Grounds. Rather than finding OSRS items for sale, you can get your cooking, fishing, mining, woodcutting, and farming skills high enough to gather resources really quickly.

Reaching The Gauntlet

We now need to get to the location of the fight. To start off with, use the eternal teleport crystal that will take you to Prifddinas. From here, go to the northwest to get to where the Gauntlet Portal is. Alternatively, you can travel to Prifddinas by charter ship, then head to the east and north to reach the portal that you need. There’s a Prifddinas teleport that will take you just south of the portal as well, or you can use a Spirit Tree to travel to the location.

The Boss Fight

In the fight itself, you’ll find that the boss is located in the middle of the room. This is divided into a 7×7 grid and is next to the room that you start in. The boss is known as the Crystalline Hunllef, which is a level 674 creature that has 600 hit points with it. You will need to beat this boss if you’re going to complete The Gauntlet in its entirety. After you do, you will find yourself in a location where you can claim your reward.

The Gauntlet Tactics

A popular method for completing this task is called the 5:1 technique. This is where you essentially get the boss’ protection prayer to switch so that you can make more of your time with DPS with the aid of tier 3 perfected crystal bow equipped. Use this for the first five attacks before switching to melee and magic. This will prevent the boss from using Protect from Missiles, meaning it is worth pursuing. To ensure that this works, you’ll need a bow and a staff with the attack styles all ready to use.

Another method alongside 5:1 is known as the redemption method. This will help to cut down any tick loss that you get from the boss battle courtesy of the Redemption prayer. To make sure that you can use this method, you need to use the relevant protection prayer to get the attack that is cast, then turn to Redemption prayer as the projectile is in flight. When it’s active, take a quick gulp of your potion then get your prayer ready. Keep in mind also that you’ll need up to eight paddlefish since you can’t rely on Redemption prayer in high-risk situations. When you do find yourself fishing for the raw paddlefish, take vials and get water from the fishing spots. Doing so will save you a few ticks towards the end, meaning that you can complete it faster.

It will be worth your time having enough OSRS GP to help prepare for this run. There are plenty of OSRS items for sale that can be used to good effect, especially when getting those levels up. If you are going to purchase gold, then there’s an element of precaution that you need to be taking.

It isn’t just a case of finding a source that can help you to get cheap OSRS gold. You will want to find the most trusted OSRS gold website as well. Keep an eye on their performance as a site seller, by taking a look at whether or not they offer customer service chat around the clock. This is usually a good indicator of legitimacy.

Have you completed The Gauntlet? Let us know in the comments below!

  • ✇Game Hitch
  • How to Make Money in Elder Scrolls OnlineAmphitrite
    Elder Scrolls Online is a worthy game with unique features. With 18 million lifetime players, It’s gaining popularity as a multi-platform MMORPG worldwide. Elder Scrolls Online has updated its content for the players. They also added quests and new provinces to explore since its launch in 2014. According to the sources, In the year 2020, 3 million new users registered. New players will participate in this magnificent game in the coming times. It’s not the newest MMORPG available, but it’s one
     

How to Make Money in Elder Scrolls Online

2. Prosinec 2021 v 10:29

Elder Scrolls Online is a worthy game with unique features. With 18 million lifetime players, It’s gaining popularity as a multi-platform MMORPG worldwide. Elder Scrolls Online has updated its content for the players. They also added quests and new provinces to explore since its launch in 2014. According to the sources, In the year 2020, 3 million new users registered. New players will participate in this magnificent game in the coming times.

It’s not the newest MMORPG available, but it’s one of the most exciting games you can play in 2021. It has a unique yearly chapter system. It enables the players to explore a large portion of Tamriel. The arrival of blackwood enhanced the new user experience and brought value to the content for solo players. Besides, it’s exclusively a one-time investment and presents its user admittance to dozens of new content. You can buy new cosmetics and accessories in the game using its currency.

ESO Market has a thriving economy. Just like in the real world, you need money to make the world go round, and it’s vital to learn how to earn Eso Gold in the game. You can’t follow any shortcuts. Only proven methods can help you get money in your pockets that’ll help you in the game. There are various means of earning money in Elder Scrolls Online. Some of the relatively accessible and easy ways are given below:

Crafting

Being a freshman player, it is not extremely hard to make money in the game. It solely needs persistence and perseverance. No one starts the game being rich, but you can become wealthy. Crafting is an astounding feature available in Elder Scrolls Online. It empowers the players to earn money conveniently and quickly. A craftsman makes a lot of wealth because he is always in demand. Other players are always searching for crafters in zone chat to make armor, glyphs, and much more every hour. A master craftsman is given a bonus. Thus, he can afford to earn a nice living and even become wealthy. So, If you’re engrossed in crafting, spend your time polishing this skill, and it will help you collect ESO gold.

Stealing

Like any other way, stealing is also a proven method to earn gold in Elder Scrolls Online. With the release of the Justice System, it becomes a more suitable way to sell or fence stolen items for a reasonable and handsome amount of gold. At the start, you cannot get enough money from quests. Stealing is a good way for you if you’re desperate about money. You’re allowed to steal everything you see. It may seem illegal and immoral, but everything is fair in battle. So, if you want to start a thrilling life of crime, there are tons of articles available for you to provide guidance.

Questing

Each quest is unique and has heaps of benefits. Fighter guild, Mages Guild, Dark Brotherhood, a Thieves Guild, and the undaunted guild are five powerful guilds. It is advisable to join all of these guilds. It will render you valuable skills. It also brings opportunities to enter regular guild quests. Undaunted guild requests you to defeat the boss by entering a delve or dungeon, whereas the fighter guild sends you to defeat three dolmens in specific regions of Tamriel. After this task, you will receive a key to unlock a chest. It contains a random amount of food, gold, or weapons. When you finish this quest regularly, you’ll become wealthy.

Dungeons

Joining Dungeons is another means of gaining money in Elder Scrolls Online. It is vital to reach level 10 in this game to join. A solo player can only perform in the public Dungeons. There always needed four players at least for exploring party dungeons. There are numerous quests in the game. You can only get the reward when you kill the main threat. Whenever you complete a Dungeon, it earns you money and loot. The repetition of dungeons is daunting and can earn extra money and points. It will give you all the expensive and worthy items that you missed in the first battle. When you live in the same area where you defeated your enemies, you can earn more loot, coins, experience, and gold because you’re already well aware of the past battle and will have no problem finding them.

Helping your friends

It is possible to play elder scrolls Online solo, but playing with friends or in a group that’s just starting up can benefit you. When you gain exposure to other players, it will become easy to participate and win group Dungeons. You can also use the ESO’s group finder feature, but it’s not an excellent way to take much time. Fighting battles and quests with friends help you become rich quickly as your dungeon’s scale is pushed up to the group leader’s level. It will enable you to fight group Dungeons even if you’re within level 5, and you can pick loot and gold. It’s also a fun way to help your friends get rich.

Verdict:

You can choose the appropriate one for yourself out of several ways of making money in the game. You need to be patient and consistent to get rich and make money in Elder Scrolls Online!

  • ✇NekoJonez's Gaming Blog
  • Preview: Ama’s Lullaby (PC – Steam) ~ Hacking The Point-And-Click GenreNekoJonez
    Itch.io – Steam Back in 2017, a developer from France contacted me about their new point-and-click sci-fi game in the works called Ama’s Lullaby. But, it’s more than a point-and-click game, it’s also a hacking game. Now, this developer works on this game in his free time after his day job and with a small budget. Sometimes these passion projects die due to lack of time, money, motivation and/or just interest. But it looks like Ama’s Lullaby isn’t going to be one of those projects. Earlier
     

Preview: Ama’s Lullaby (PC – Steam) ~ Hacking The Point-And-Click Genre

Od: NekoJonez
20. Květen 2024 v 19:22

Itch.ioSteam

Back in 2017, a developer from France contacted me about their new point-and-click sci-fi game in the works called Ama’s Lullaby. But, it’s more than a point-and-click game, it’s also a hacking game. Now, this developer works on this game in his free time after his day job and with a small budget. Sometimes these passion projects die due to lack of time, money, motivation and/or just interest. But it looks like Ama’s Lullaby isn’t going to be one of those projects. Earlier this year, a demo of the game got released. Now, I asked the developer if he was interested in streaming this demo with us, and he did. Here is a link to part 1 & part 2. Sadly, due to overheating of Klamath’s computer, it had to be cut into two parts and the ending was quite abrupt. Now, this stream is almost a month ago, and I still wanted to write an article about this game. So, what do I think of the demo? Am I still as impressed when I saw it during the livestream, or is my opinion going to change when I’m not back seating and playing it myself? Let’s find out in this article.

Hacking The Point-And-Click Genre

The story of this demo is quite simple. Ama enters the police station and gets new tasks to aid the space colony she is in. Overall, the story is told more naturally compared to other games. Mostly, we get an opening where the main story of the game is teased, but not in this game. During interactions with the others, we get little glimpses into the world and story. Now, this is a tricky thing to pull off, since either you have to force the player to interact with everybody or risk that some players miss potentially important information. On the other hand, info dumping on the player isn’t always the best solution.

Now, in this space colony, there is an AI that makes a lot of decisions. It turns out that Ama and her dad have created that AI and the software to interact with it. She is one of the ambassadors of the human race. But it doesn’t take too long before strange things start to happen, and you notice that not everything is what you think it is.

The dialogues in this game appear above the character’s their head. When it’s cursive, you know it’s a thought. Not only that, you have simple sound effects that appear to put some additional power to the dialogues and to quickly differentiate between thoughts and spoken dialogues. Currently, there are plans to fully voice act this game, but if those plans fall through, I’d recommend to the developer to have different sound effects for the dialogues for different emotions.

Now, the game cold opens with an old school terminal as a main menu. This might be a bit jarring for new players who aren’t used to working with the command line. Personally, as somebody who knows how a command line works, I really love this touch. Since, this interface is also present in a lot of puzzles in the game. It fits the atmosphere and style of the game as a glove. To be honest, I think that with some minor polishing, it would be perfect.

There are a few things I would change. First, I’d get rid of the case-sensitive commands. The main reason is that a lot of people have the default keybinding for the Steam overlay with is… Shift+Tab. Since I love using autocomplete, it got pretty frustrating when I was holding my shift button and tabbed to autocomplete and my Steam overlay popped up.

A second thing I’d change is to allow the user to enlarge the font of terminal. The reason for that is because it doesn’t really scale pretty well with people who are using larger monitors.

Now, since this game is still in development and this is just the demo… I can totally excuse that there are features not present. Like pushing the up arrow to get the last command, or the help feature not always working correctly in all menus. For example, if you are in the options menu and use “QUALITY HELP”, you get information but if you first write “QUALITY” to see the options you can input and then “QUALITY HELP”… It bugs out and doesn’t give you help at all. Another small bug I noticed is that for some reason, the enter button on my numpad didn’t enter but always selected the whole text. But hey, during the stream the developer said that some of these things are on the list to get fixed for the full game.

Cyberpunk Sci-fi

I was impressed with the visuals of the game when we were playing this game on stream. While I haven’t played the Blade Runner games yet, I have seen a lot of people talk about it and know the visual style of the game. This game really mimics that style extremely well. You really feel like you are in a sci-fi world with some older technology than we have compared to our own technology.

Also, something I really love in this demo is that everything is one big space. You don’t really have “screens” in this game, like in a Broken Sword game for example. No, the camera swings and follows Ama as if she was in a movie. This sells the illusion of the area even more. While I’d have loved to see the details the developer put in every scene more up close sometimes, the more zoomed out look gives you a better overview on the scene. It almost feels like you are watching Ama through security camera’s or a drone camera in a way.

The biggest thing that I want to point out in terms of the visuals is Ama herself. The game goes for a more dark and dimly light environment and with a main character that’s wearing black clothes, it’s extremely easy to lose Ama in the scenery. It wouldn’t surprise me if they gave our main character in Blade Runner a brown coat for that reason, so you can more quickly see the main character without breaking the visual style of the game. But, overall, this is almost a nitpick. Since, it didn’t happen a lot that I lost Ama in the scene. It mostly happened when I was replaying parts of the demo while writing this article.

Now, I want to talk about the command line. The tutorial in this game on how a command line works is actually well done. I love how it doesn’t hold the players hands and tries to force them to input the right thing. It really lets you experiment with it and learn how it works. All the while, a small guide on how things work is displayed on the top of your screen.

This whole command line mechanic in this game is a breath of fresh air. It’s impressive how true to reality the whole command line is. While it uses some creative liberties here and there to make it fit into the game world, overall, it might be a real command line interface that’s open in the game.

In this demo, you have a few tasks to complete. Most of these tasks involve fixing various things. One task is highly dependent on the command line. This was quite easy for me since, like I said, I know how to use a command line. Visually, it’s a bit tricky during the tutorials in the network view since it’s not really clear/easy on how you can scroll up or down while in the network view. Using the mouse mostly scrolls around the network map. I think an easier way to scroll up and down in the terminal could be useful there. Also, when you have to input a command that’s longer than the terminal screen, I’d start a second line. Since, that’s how real life works. Or move the whole thing, and not let the username stay.

Final thoughts and future wishes

Overall, the demo is quite short. If you don’t know what you are doing and exploring everything, it will take you mostly two hours to complete. But if you know what to do, you can finish this in 10 minutes. Yet, the impression I got from the stream hasn’t changed. This game has quite a lot of potential but it needs some polish here and there.

There are some minor things like some objects not being solid and Ama being able to run through them, but there are also more major issues. The elevator bug the developer Marc mentioned during the stream, happened to me. Ama didn’t go up with the elevator and she was stuck. I think it was related to another bug I encountered where the head of IT got stuck in an animation loop. Somehow it was like Ama was near him while Ama was walking in other parts of the station. I don’t know what exactly triggered that, and I have replayed the demo trice to try and get it back into that bugged state, but I was unable to find the cause and I was unable to replicate it.

Currently, there is one way to save the game. There are several terminals in this demo where you can save your game. You only have one save slot. There is also no manual saving of the game. So, remember that. You can also only load from the main menu.

Reviewing a demo is always tricky to do. Especially if the game is still in development, since you never know for sure how the final game is going to look like. Yet, this demo is extremely promising. The puzzles where a lot of fun and after playing the demo, I had the same feeling that Klamath had at the end of the stream. I want to play more or similar games like this.

I could start talking about how the sound effects are amazing but there isn’t enough music yet. But, at one hand, the lack of music really sells the atmosphere of the game a lot more but on the other hand, the music during the terminal sections is really enjoyable. But, I’m sure that in the full game we shall see more music.

Just like I’m convinced that when the full game releases and the players find bugs, they will get fixed. While I was talking with Marc during the stream, I really felt the passion for creating this game and how he wants to make it the best experience it can be for his players. So, if you are interested in this game after reading this article in any way shape or form, I highly recommend that you give this game a chance, play the demo for yourself and give the developer feedback via his Discord or any other of his official channels.

I can’t wait to see and play the final game. Various things got revealed and talked about during the stream and I have to say, it was an amazing experience and conversation. I was already interested in seeing this game when it was on KickStarter but now that I have played the demo, I think we are on a winner here. This game will put an interesting twist on the point-and-click genre and will be interesting to anyone who enjoys adventure games with a sci-fi influence or just enjoy more unique puzzle games.

I want to thank Marc for reaching out to me and talking about his unique project. You can be sure that when the full version releases… me and Klamath will play through it and most likely stream it. And I’ll write a more in-depth article on the final product. Since, I might have not talked quite in-depth in this article but I want to hold off my final opinions when the game is fully released.

If you have read my article, played the demo and/or watched our stream, I’m curious, what did you think about this game? Feel free to talk about it in the comments. Am I overhyping the game or overlooking flaws? Or is there something you’d love to see in the full game?

And with that said, I have said everything about the game I want to say 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.

Legends Of Aria Classic, Coming To Steam » Kabalyero

Legends Of Aria Classic, Coming To Steam » Kabalyero

In this video, I went over an email update from Citadel Studios. Legends of Aria Classic is coming back and will launch in Steam with a brand new payment model. (Get Rid of Game Lag » https://www.wtfast.com/?fpr=kabalyero37)

For comments, questions or reactions then please post them in the comments section below. Also, please like the video, share the video, follow the channel and enable notifications.

Thank you for watching!

Links

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PC Specs

• CPU » AMD Ryzen 5 3400G
• GPU » NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050
• RAM » 16 GB Generic Memory

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Life Is Feudal MMO Is Back On Steam » Kabalyero

Life Is Feudal MMO Is Back On Steam » Kabalyero

Life Is Feudal MMO is back on Steam. I don't exactly remember why it was removed from Steam, but it's back now, and it's no longer buy-to-play. Playing Life Is Feudal MMO now requires a monthly subscription fee. Is this change in the payment system a good idea? I'm not sure, especially considering that Life Is Feudal MMO was never popular to begin with..

As a buy-to-play game, Life Is Feudal MMO only peaked at around 5 thousand players in Steam and, currently, Life Is Feudal MMO is sitting on a Very Negative rating in Steam. Gamers are not happy with Life Is Feudal MMO. Was it because of the subscription based payment system?

According to Steam, I played the game for almost 15 hours. Do I remember anything I did in Life Is Feudal MMO during those 15 hours? No, I don't, but I'm sure I would remember some things about the game if I were to play it again.

Unfortunately, I have zero interest in playing Life Is Feudal MMO again right now, but I might give it another try if the game relaunched as free-to-play. Who knows, it might still happen in the future, especially if this subscription-based system doesn't work out as they planned.

Games coming back after they've 'died,' like Life Is Feudal MMO, is not necessarily a bad thing. Everyone deserves a second chance even games but, coming back with a payment model or system that only works if you are a game called World of Warcraft, is not a good idea specially if it cost $20 freaking US dollars a month.

Anyway, that's all I have for you regarding Life Is Feudal MMO. Give them your money or don't give them your money. The power is in your hands, GO GAMERS! If you have any comments, questions or reactions then please post them in the comments section below.


  • ✇Alpha Beta Gamer
  • Throne and Liberty – Open Beta (Steam, Xbox & PlayStation)Calum Fraser
    Throne and Liberty is a massive scale PvPvE MMORPG where players have the ability to transform into creatures that can fight across land, sea and air. In Throne and Liberty you’ll be able to explore a vast, seamless and ever-changing world of Solsium, where the day/night cycle has a significant impact on your abilities and the gameplay. A key factor of the gameplay is your … Read More The post Throne and Liberty – Open Beta (Steam, Xbox & PlayStation) first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.
     

Throne and Liberty – Open Beta (Steam, Xbox & PlayStation)

22. Červenec 2024 v 15:03

Throne and Liberty is a massive scale PvPvE MMORPG where players have the ability to transform into creatures that can fight across land, sea and air.

In Throne and Liberty you’ll be able to explore a vast, seamless and ever-changing world of Solsium, where the day/night cycle has a significant impact on your abilities and the gameplay. A key factor of the gameplay is your … Read More

The post Throne and Liberty – Open Beta (Steam, Xbox & PlayStation) first appeared on Alpha Beta Gamer.

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  • ✇MonsterVine
  • Samurai Warriors 4 DX Review – The Ultimate Musou ExperienceFrank Wood
    Samurai Warriors 4 DX is the “ultimate” version of the original title, previously only released in Japan but is finally seeing a translated release in the States. When I say ultimate, I mean it because this entry in the Musou genre is absolutely packed full of content, with the original release already being content rich, […]
     

Samurai Warriors 4 DX Review – The Ultimate Musou Experience

23. Červenec 2024 v 15:00
Samurai Warriors 4 DX is the “ultimate” version of the original title, previously only released in Japan but is finally seeing a translated release in the States. When I say ultimate, I mean it because this entry in the Musou genre is absolutely packed full of content, with the original release already being content rich, […]

Unofficial SNK vs CAPCOM for the C64/128 gets a pretty impressive update!

There's another awesome news story that's worth a mention here on Indie Retro News, as thanks to both Ethan Knight and Saberman letting us know through Facebook, we've been told that Jon Eggelton and Gianluca Alberico has released a pretty impressive update to their 2023 Commodore 64 and Commodore 128 unofficial hit of 'SNK vs CAPCOM'; a C64 game which was developed using their in

Old School RuneScape starts checking the results of Deadman Armageddon to determine the winners

6. Srpen 2024 v 01:00
The Deadman Armageddon event has ended in Old School RuneScape once again, and that means it’s time to announce the winners, right? Well… no. That means it’s time for the people behind the event to take a look at the event results. Of course, the developers are thrilled to see how many people took part […]

Path of Exile outlines planned change to reduce the overbearing impact of one specific item

5. Srpen 2024 v 22:00
Sometimes balancing an MMO is a matter of twisting a few different knobs and realigning certain metrics, but sometimes balance comes down to changing one specific item. That latter one is the case for Path of Exile, which is going to be making one small adjustment to one little item that could have a significant […]

Drakantos says it is very much an MMORPG, but not exactly like others you’ve played

5. Srpen 2024 v 20:30
Is Drakantos an MMORPG? A co-op OARPG? The answer to that question is the primary subject of Wingeon Game Studios’ June dev blog, which confirms that the title is “an MMORPG at its core,” though it’s also attempting to do things a bit differently from the standard formula of the genre. While Drakantos will have […]

Pax Dei’s next major update will feature prettier crafting materials and crafted goods

5. Srpen 2024 v 19:30
If you had to run down a personal list of things that survivalbox MMORPG Pax Dei needed to work on, what would that list look like? Would it include the thought that crafting things don’t look pretty enough? Well worry not because that problem is one of those being directly addressed by Mainframe Studios for […]

Rumor: Riot Games is working on a Valorant-themed MMOFPS

5. Srpen 2024 v 17:30
For several years now, Riot Games has made noise — and more — about its desire to enter the MMO scene. And while the previous Runeterra-themed project is in a “reset” phase, the studio may be considering a different direction entirely. Behind closed doors, Riot’s been working on another game code-named Project T for at […]

Tencent and Square Enix are reportedly working on a mobile version of Final Fantasy XIV

5. Srpen 2024 v 15:30
How do you put 10 years’ worth of MMORPG like Final Fantasy XIV into a mobile version? We could all be seeing an answer to that question in the coming months, as there are new reports that confirm a mobile Eorzea is in the works, though it looks to be a game that’s only being […]

The MOP Up: EVE Echoes is going to let you drill into the moon

4. Srpen 2024 v 22:00
EVE Echoes — please remember that this still exists — offered up some balance and market adjustments along with a preview of some new corporation tech that will allow players to drill into moons. And this is just the beginning of the rest of the news! Read on for a roundup of other smaller MMO news stories […]

The Stream Team: There’s gnome problem in AdventureQuest 3D

3. Srpen 2024 v 01:55
With a little bit of grinding, Massively OP’s MJ was able to make it high enough to finally enter the newest dungeons in AdventureQuest 3D. But just before she could embark on those adventures, something completely new was tossed in her way. Now she wants to investigate a surprise waiting for her in the daily […]

The Stream Team: Peeking in on the early access multiplayer life RPG Spellfarers

2. Srpen 2024 v 19:55
Cozy huts. Witchy things. Farming. The game Spellfarers seems to tick a lot of boxes for MOP’s Chris. Also, it’s free-to-play. So all told, it’s worth a quick peek! Join him today at 2:00 p.m. EDT as he peers in to this newly released early access multiplayer life sim! What: Spellfarers Who: Chris Neal When: […]

Global Chat: Reporting from the land of Throne and Liberty

2. Srpen 2024 v 19:00
Heartless Gamer put down a whole lot of thoughts about the recent Throne and Liberty global beta, saying that while the MMO has plenty going for it, including graphics and performance, it’s not a slam-dunk by any means. “I can tell you that this beta was nothing like what I got out of New World’s […]

Brighter Shores posts a candy rope timeline of its development, asks players to not try to eat it

2. Srpen 2024 v 18:30
Brighter Shores lead developer Andrew Gower is teasing us. Not with the game’s mechanics itself – that happened last week – but with the fact that he made a piece of candy rope and then told everyone that it’s not edible. The absolute villain. All right, so technically Gower didn’t share fake candy so much […]

Old School RuneScape brings back slayer partners after a four-year absence

2. Srpen 2024 v 17:30
It’s been four years since Old School RuneScape offered a feature called “slayer partners” that lets duos of players team up to grind out tasks for progress and rewards. While this was taken out due to exploits, the studio’s reintroducing it after a rework. “In June 2020, we removed Slayer Partners due to a number […]
  • ✇Attack of the Fanboy
  • 10 Best Pokémon Games Of All TimeAnna Williams
    Pokémon is a franchise with a loaded history that’s managed to stand the test of time with video games, a solid anime adaptation with multiple spin-offs, a manga, a TCG – the list goes on. The heart of this series lies in its games, of course, and while there have been a few misses – there are a plenty of key standouts in the franchise, especially with its spin-off titles, that have helped it stay relevant for so many years. Pokémon Red & Green (1996) It May Seem Cliche, But Red &
     

10 Best Pokémon Games Of All Time

24. Červenec 2024 v 04:13

Pokémon is a franchise with a loaded history that’s managed to stand the test of time with video games, a solid anime adaptation with multiple spin-offs, a manga, a TCG – the list goes on.

The heart of this series lies in its games, of course, and while there have been a few misses – there are a plenty of key standouts in the franchise, especially with its spin-off titles, that have helped it stay relevant for so many years.

Pokémon Red & Green (1996)

It May Seem Cliche, But Red & Green Deserve Recognition For Starting It All

Pokemon-red-and-green-cover-art

While the first game in the Pokémon franchise may be lacking in all the features that have kept the game popular today, it will always and forever be iconic for being the game that started it all. There’s hardly any Pokémon more iconic than the original 151, and many still hold the game in high regard today.

Approachable to young gamers at the time, bugs and glitches that are still talked about today, and still managing to tell compelling environmental stories in the way of Lavender Town, Pokémon Red & Pokémon Green will always and forever be one of the best entries in the franchise.

Pokémon X & Y (2013)

The First 3D Mainline Pokémon Game Introduced New Mechanics & Franchise Staples

Pokemon-X-Y-cover-art-featuring-the-staple-legendaries-of-both-games

The first fully 3D mainline Pokémon title, Gen 6’s X & Y introduced a number of new mechanics, gimmicks, and story beats that are still beloved by modern Pokémon fans a decade later. This batch of mainline games were the first to introduce full character customization, and also included the Mega Evolution mechanic.

While its storytelling isn’t as strong as other mainline titles, X & Y still had a umber of compelling lore implications for the series, tying its main trilogy back to Norse Mythology. Plus, plenty of diehard Pokémon fans interested in the franchise’s greater lore are still waiting to learn more about the mysterious Zygarde.



Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness (2005)

The Heavily Underrated Sequel To Pokémon Colosseum Deserves More Love as One Of the Franchise’s Best Spin-Offs

Pokemon-XD-Gale-of-Darkness-cover-art-featuring-the-shadowy-version-of-Lugia

The heavily underrated sequel to Pokémon Colosseum is an absolute must-play to any Pokémon fan that has access to a GameCube system. Despite the tragedy that the game is doomed to become more obscure than it already is with the passage of time, Gale of Darkness was a unique entry in the franchise and a bold departure to the standard approach to Pokémon‘s formula. Mechanically, the game operates in a similar fashion to other mainlines titles, but allows the player to find wild Pokémon in specific locations, which is a huge improvement on Colosseum‘s gameplay.

Taking place five years after the events of Colosseum, Gale of Darkness opens with the Orre Region’s criminal organization, Cipher, after creating “Shadow Lugia”, a sinister Pokémon immune to purification that’s meant to wreak havoc on the region. You, the player, embark on a journey with your trusty Eevee at your side to purify different Shadow Pokémon around the region and get to the bottom of the Cipher organization’s schemes.

Pokémon Snap (1999)

The original Pokémon Snap Gave Players a Low-Stakes, Adorable Experience With Their Favorite Pokémon

Pokemon-Snap-cover-art-featuring-film-reel-with-Pikachu-Squirtle-Charmander-and-Psyduck

Pokémon Snap holds a fond place in many Pokémon fans’ hearts thanks to its laid back gameplay and adorable snapshot into the normal activities of Pokémon out in the wild. With a completely different gameplay loop compared to what’s in the mainline titles, Pokémon Snap just focuses on the player exploring the world and trying to get the best possible photograph of whatever Pokémon they can stumble across.

That’s not to say it’s that simple, though, as there are specific Pokémon evolutions and encounters that players can only find after triggering specific, timed events in the world as they explore.

Pokémon Emerald (2003)

Gen 3 Introduced a Number of Fan-Favorite Pokémon

Pokemon-Emerald-cover-art-featuring-Rayquaza

The capstone of Gen 3, Pokémon Emerald ties together what makes Ruby & Sapphire so iconic and builds on specific mechanics to improve the overall gameplay. In addition to shaking up the resolution of the game’s main story by showing off the omnipotent Rayquaza, the game also allows players to catch Ruby & Sapphire‘s respective exclusives with no need for trading with friends.

There were also massive redesigns to many of the locations players can access across the Hoenn regions that improves exploration and makes the world feel more alive. As far as battling goes, Emerald built on the double battle mechanic, allowing players the opportunity to re-challenge gym leaders and participate in double battles against them. Gen 3 was a huge turning point in the franchise by introducing massive changes that would effect all of the mainline titles going forward.

Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver (2009)

Gen 2’s Remakes Rival Newer Games In Content & Quality

Pokemon-HeartGold-SoulSilver-Cover-art

Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver were gorgeous reimaginings of Gen 2’s Gold & Silver titles, and combined some elements from Pokémon Crystal as well. Using many of the new core features introduced in Gen 4 and adding beautiful new scenery to iconic locations, HeartGold & SoulSilver stood out as being the first batch of mainline remakes to add just as much as they restored.

Additionally, HeartGold & SoulSilver added the adorably fun overworld mechanic of having whatever Pokémon in the player’s first slot follow them around. This was paired alongside the admittedly gimmicky pedometer called the Pokéwalker that was sold alongside the games to track player’s real-world steps and earn “watts” tht could be exchanged for in-game rewards, and the ability to catch Pokémon.

Pokémon Sun & Moon (2016)

Despite Some Spotty Mechanical Adds, Gen 7 Explored a Deeper Narrative That Hit Close To Home For Many Players

Pokemon-Sun-Moon-cover-art

While Gen 7 sometimes gets a bad rep from disgruntled Pokémon fans, Sun & Moon had a stellar story that dove into surprising depth for a mainline Pokémon game. With Lusamine being a more than compelling villain, especially factoring in the storylines following her two children that become a rival and companion to the player, Sun & Moon has more than enough to keep players entertained, and earns it a high spot amid other titles in the franchise.

While the games does have its misses mechanically, its still incredibly fun, and also shook up the traditional Gym Leader dynamic found in past Pokémon games.

Pokémon Black & White (2010)

Gen 5 Bookends the End Of an Era For the Franchise With One Of Pokémon’s Best Stories

Pokemon-Black-White-official-cover-art-featuring-the-two-main-legendaries-from-each-game

Pokémon Black & White was the final 2D mainline entry in the franchise, and ended that era of Pokémon on an incredible note. While Gen 5 does suffer from a few questionable mechanics that never permanently carried over to other games, it did bring some of the liveliest sprite’s in the franchise’s history, and hands down has the most compelling story in a mainlines Pokémon game.

The game’s villains were also compelling, with the dynamic between N and Ghetsis remaining iconic now, with many players voicing their desire to see more complex antagonists like N in the future. From its character and Pokémon designs, to the infectiously catchy OST, Pokémon Black & White will always be beloved entries in the series.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky (2009)

The Mystery Dungeon Series Is Known For Tear-Jerking Stories, & Explorers of Sky Delivered

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Pokémon Mystery Dungeon is a unique take on the Pokémon franchise that sees players being transported to a world inhabited only by Pokémon as a Pokémon, and going on dungeon crawling adventures as members of a guild trying to discover what caused them to become a Pokémon in the first place. While the gameplay is fun, the storyline of Explorers of Sky is absolutely iconic, and an absolute tear-jerker.

Despite being a spin-off title, Explorers of Sky has some of the best storytelling in the entirety of the franchise, with many fans wishing to see the spin-off series make a comeback after a handful of lackluster entries since Explorers of Sky dropped.

Pokémon Platinum (2006)

The Final Mainline Entry of Gen 4 Gave Pokémon Fans Everything They Want Out of the Franchise

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Pokémon Platinum is hands-down the best Pokémon game. Not only is Gen 4 well-regarded for adding many of the series most iconic Pokémon, including Giratina and Arceus – the literal God of Pokémon – Platinum also introduced a variety of upgrades from Diamond & Pearl that truly made it stand out.

Of these, some of the best additions included the game running faster – Diamond & Pearl chug along far more than players might remember – story improvements, with many of the core themes surrounding creation and time, culminating in Platinum‘s box-art showcase Pokémon, Giratina, representing anti-matter and chaos. Platinum also marks the return of the beloved Battle Frontier, and much like Emerald, allows for a broader Pokédex that’s easier for players to complete.

  • ✇Eurogamer.net
  • Final Fantasy 14 mobile game is approved in ChinaVikki Blake
    China has approved a number of new mobile games for release, most notably Marvel Rivals, Rainbow Six, Dynasty Warriors, and Final Fantasy 14 Mobile.According to Niko Partners, a total of 15 games were approved yesterday (2nd August), including the still-as-yet-unconfirmed Final Fantasy 14 mobile port.The news adds credence to a recent rumour that Final Fantasy developer Square Enix had linked up with Tencent to develop a mobile version of its fan-favourite MMO, Final Fantasy 14. Read more
     

Final Fantasy 14 mobile game is approved in China

3. Srpen 2024 v 17:03

China has approved a number of new mobile games for release, most notably Marvel Rivals, Rainbow Six, Dynasty Warriors, and Final Fantasy 14 Mobile.

According to Niko Partners, a total of 15 games were approved yesterday (2nd August), including the still-as-yet-unconfirmed Final Fantasy 14 mobile port.

The news adds credence to a recent rumour that Final Fantasy developer Square Enix had linked up with Tencent to develop a mobile version of its fan-favourite MMO, Final Fantasy 14.

Read more

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