Game Informer Features

The 2024 Summer Gaming Showcase Schedule

Marcus Stewart — Wed, 08 May 2024 13:09:00 CDT

<img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/03/13/bb5ba9ca/summer_game_fest_2024_youtube_theater_la_header.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="2024 summer gaming showcase schedule" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> With the sun out and the temperature rising, it must be summer. That means it's time to stay cool indoors and watch a litany of gaming showcases airing throughout the season. Highlighted by Summer Game Fest, we've created a schedule listing every notable showcase occurring over the coming months, the date and times they air, and a summary of what they entail. Be sure to bookmark this page, as it will be updated regularly as new events are announced and airdates are confirmed. <h2 class="text-align-center">June 4</h2> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/08/4a4900fc/otkgames2024.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>OTK Games Expo</h4> Start Time: TBA How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@OTKchannel">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/zackrawrr">Twitch</a> What It Is: Hosted by popular streamer Asmongold, the event will provide a stage for over 40 games and includes sitdown interviews with their creators. <h2 class="text-align-center">June 6</h2> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/02/022b6d41/guerilla_collective_2024.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Guerilla Collective Online Showcase </h4> Start Time: 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/guerrillacollective">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/guerrillacollective">Twitch</a> What Is It: Each year, the Guerilla Collective provides a platform for indie and AA games. The event also serves as an umbrella for other showcases taking place over the week. <h2 class="text-align-center">June 7</h2> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/08/b5a7fc97/accessabilityshowcaseart.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Access-Ability Summer Showcase</h4> Start Time: 8 a.m. PT/11 a.m. ET How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@LauraKBuzz">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/LauraKBuzz">Twitch</a> What It Is: Host Laura Kate Dale confirmed late fall that the Access-Ability Summer Showcase will make a return in June. The event highlights accessbility-focused titles and features created by disabled developers. <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/03/13/bb5ba9ca/summer_game_fest_2024_youtube_theater_la_header.jpg" alt="summer game fest 2024 youtube theater los angeles dates tickets may 7 stream live announcements" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Summer Game Fest </h4> Start Time: 2 p.m. PT/5 p.m. ET How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thegameawards">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/thegameawards">Twitch</a> What It Is: The flagship gaming showcase of the summer returns to the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles. Organizer and host Geoff Keighley will take the stage to show off what’s likely to be a litany of world premieres and game updates. <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/07/8fbd339c/dayofthedevs24.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Day of the Devs</h4> Start Time: Immediately following Summer Game Fest How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thegameawards">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/thegameawards">Twitch</a> What It Is: iam8bit and Double Fine's annual showcase offers an entertaining bastion for a litany of the most creative, eye-catching, and, perhaps, bizarre upcoming titles in the industry. <h2 class="text-align-center">June 8</h2> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/08/5db55161/wholesome_direct_2024.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Wholesome Direct </h4> Start Time: 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/WholesomeGames">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/wholesome_games">Twitch</a> What It Is: The coziest presentation of the year highlights over 70 artistic, emotionally resonant titles with one thing in common: they'll give you all the feels. <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/02/9b61904e/fgs.0181_summer_announce1.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Future Games Show</h4> Start Time: TBA How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@FutureGamesShow">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/futuregamesshow">Twitch</a> What It Is: The seasonal event will feature 40 upcoming games in what is being billed as "the most ambitious showcase yet". We don't know what else to expect besides updates on "blockbuster games" and deep dives on in-development titles. <h2 class="text-align-center">June 9</h2> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/07/06c1b98b/xboxgamesshowcase2024.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Xbox Games Showcase/[REDACTED] Direct</h4> Start Time: 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@xbox">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/xbox">Twitch</a> What It Is: Typically Xbox's biggest showcase of the year, it's probably safe to expect several hopefully big announcements coming from the publisher's many first-party studios. Immediately following the Showcase is a not-so-mysterious presentation centered on probably, maybe, almost certainly, the next Call of Duty game. <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/07/0d529f12/pcgs_logo_2024.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>PC Gaming Show</h4> Start Time: 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/pcgamer">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/pcgamer?dm_i=2AEH%2C2068G%2CAD5D59%2C76E7A%2C1">Twitch</a> What It Is: It's the 10th anniversary of the PC Gaming Show, and its celebrating by rolling out over 50 games coming this year and beyond. The batch includes world premieres, exclusive announcements, and more. <h2 class="text-align-center">June 10</h2> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/07/6755533e/ubisoft_forward_2024.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Ubisoft Forward</h4> Start Time: TBA How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Ubisoft">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/ubisoft">Twitch</a> What It Is: Ubisoft hasn't revealed what it has up it's sleeve, but it's tough not to imagine that Assassin's Creed Codename Red won't appear. Other known titles in its upcoming slate that are likely to appear include Star Wars Outlaws, <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/preview/2024/04/10/we-played-the-rogue-lite-prince-of-persia-from-the-co-developer-of-dead-cells">The Rogue Prince of Persia</a>, <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2023/11/29/beyond-good-evil-20th-anniversary-edition-arrives-early-next-year">Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition</a>, and maybe, if we're lucky, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake and/or Beyond Good & Evil 2. <h2 class="text-align-center">Other Confirmed June Showcases Awaiting Dates</h2> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/08/1f37f94f/nintendo-direct-1038x576.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Nintendo Direct</h4> Start Time: TBA How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@NintendoAmerica">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/nintendo">Twitch</a> What It Is: Nintendo has promised to hold a June Direct focused on games launching in the latter half of 2024. The company also confirmed that the presentation will not mention the Switch successor. <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/08/669a93bd/furtureofplaydirectlogo.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Future of Play Direct</h4> Start Time: TBA How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@heyglitch">YouTube</a> What It Is: The anime-themed indie showcase is a summer staple. If previous years are an indication, expect a Vtuber host, musical performances, special guests, and, of course, plenty of game trailers. <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/08/0d57b811/upload_vr_art.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Upload VR Showcase</h4> Start Time: TBA How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqDMvCa1tGak6AmijajiKOw">YouTube</a> What Is It: This event is for virtual reality aficionados by virtual reality aficionados. Expect to see the latest and greatest VR and AR titles racing to headsets. <h2 class="text-align-center">August 2</h2> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/07/3c572164/thqshowcase2024.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>THQ Nordic Digital Showcase</h4> Start Time: 12 p.m. PT/3 p.m. ET How to Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thqnordic">YouTube</a> What Is It: So far, THQ Nordic has confirmed that Gothic 1 Remake and Titan Quest II will appear at its digital showcase. As for speculation, we know it's publishing the remake of Disney Epic Mickey launching this year and the upcoming <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/exclusive-interview/2024/03/05/tmnt-co-creator-kevin-eastman-on-why-the-last-ronin-is-being-made">Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin</a>. We're curious to see what else the publisher has to show.

A Brief Hades II Spoiler-Free Starter Guide

Marcus Stewart — Mon, 06 May 2024 12:55:00 CDT

<img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/06/cf00b426/hades-2-battle.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> Hades II has launched into Steam Early access, and it’s also <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/cover-reveal/2024/05/06/cover-reveal-the-making-of-hades-ii">Game Informer’s next cover story </a>(which launches on May 14). Whether you’re a returning fan or a newcomer, it may take a few runs to get your bearings as Hades II sports new progression systems, resources, and new layers to existing mechanics. It can be a lot to dig into, given the game more or less tosses you into the deep end without context for how things work, at least initially. Instead of spending several runs figuring things out, here’s a short, spoiler-free primer explaining some core new features to get you going on the right foot. <h2>What Are Ashes? </h2> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/06/950cf5d9/hades_2_ashes.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> Ashes are a currency used for unlocking Arcana cards. They serve a similar purpose as Darkness from the first game. They often appear as a reward for completing a room, but you can also purchase more from the Wretched Broker’s shop. <h2>What Are Arcana Cards, Grasp, And Psyche?</h2> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/06/c23638e6/hades_2_grasp1.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> These are unlockable character perks found at the Altar of Ashes, located in The Crossroads. Fans can draw a similarity to the Mirror of Night from Hades 1. Examples of Arcana card effects include gaining two health points every time you exit a location or starting each run with 200 gold. Arcana cards require spending a certain amount of Ashes to obtain (and some require an additional resource). Cards consume portions of your Grasp. Grasp of the Arcana (or just Grasp for short) is a meter dictating how many Arcana cards a player can have active at once. Every Arcana card consumes a certain number of Grasp bars. If the Grasp meter has 10 bars, then equipping cards that consume 5, 3, and 2 bars would max it out. If you’re a Transistor fan, this system is similar to how managing Functions worked in that game. By spending a large amount of Psyche, another currency obtained by completing rooms, you can increase the limit of your Grasp. For example, instead of having only 10 bars, it could have 12 or 16. This way, you can have more cards active or use more powerful cards that consume a larger portion of Grasp. <h2>What Are The Purple Bones?</h2> This is another resource/currency called Ancient Bones. It’s a reward for completing encounters and is primarily used to purchase resources from the Wretched Broker’s shop. <h2>How Do I Mine Ore, Fish, And Compel Shades?</h2> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/06/e36c314f/hades_2_compel_collect.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> During runs, you’ll come across metal ores prompting you to mine. In the first area, Erebus, you’ll find piles of silver crescent moons, for example. Additionally, certain shades prompt you to “compel” them, and you’ll also encounter fishing holes. These situations require one of Hades II’s Gathering Tools. Mining ore requires a pickaxe, fishing holes need a respective rod, and compelling shades require a magical tablet. You gain Gathering Tools at the Cauldron, but you’ll still need to trade specific resources to unlock them fully. <h2>How Does The Cauldron Work? </h2> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/06/3b14fbb2/hades_2_cauldron.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> The Crossroads features a giant cauldron situated in front of Hecate. This is where you’ll bring resources/currencies gathered during runs to perform “incantations,” which are permanent upgrades for The Crossroads and general quality-of-life perks. For example, one incantation summons the Wretched Broker, allowing him to permanently set up shop in the Crossroads. Another unlocks the aforementioned Gathering Tools. One incantation even allows you to view the recipes for other incantations in the menu (before unlocking this, you can only view these recipes at the cauldron itself). One particular incantation is called Fated Intervention; without spoiling, prioritize unlocking this one. It likely won’t have an immediate effect, so be patient. One incantation that becomes available early (that you should unlock as soon as it does) is called Divination of the Elements. It allows Melinoe to perceive the elemental affinities of Olympian boons. <h2>What Are Elemental Affinities?</h2> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/06/418ee3e6/hades_2_elemental_boons_copy.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> Olympian boons now have one of four elemental properties tied to them: fire, water, air, and earth. After unlocking Divination of the Elements, you’ll see small icons indicating each element on every boon you encounter. Demeter’s frost-based boons are generally (but not always) water types, while Hestia’s tend to be fire. The elemental affinity matters because there are now boons that can only be used if you possess enough boons of a certain elemental type. One may require you to have three wind-based boons in exchange for a powerful ability, for example. This adds another layer of strategy to selecting boons, as you’ll be torn between chasing a long-term investment or short-term power gain. Hades II is available now in Early Access on Steam and in the Epic Games Store. Be sure to check out our cover story hub below for exclusive Hades II stories and videos throughout the month.

Cover Reveal – The Making Of Hades II

Marcus Stewart — Mon, 06 May 2024 12:00:00 CDT

<img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/03/358d2b83/366_revealhero.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> This month, Hades II graces Game Informer's cover. After playing several hours of the Early Access build (which is publicaly available as of today), we traveled to Supergiant Games' studio in San Francisco to interview several of the core team members – creative director Greg Kasavin, studio director Amir Rao, art director Jen Zee, composer Darren Korb, and voice actor Logan Cunningham – to get the full story of the game's creation. The cover story reveals why Supergiant decided to create its first sequel, how it chose a new protagonist in Zagreus' sister, Melinoë, along with her mythological origins, and how the team is changing its approach to early access and the content it has planned for the future. It also features an in-depth breakdown of Hades II's new features and our impressions of the game so far. We want our cover story on Hades II to be a celebration of the game and a peek behind the curtain at Supergiant, with the hope that anyone who reads it will have a more exciting and informed experience when they play the much-anticipated sequel. If you're a fan of the original game or this new installment, we suspect you'll read about what we learned and discover even more about what makes the franchise so special. The stunning cover art is an original piece by Supergiant's famed artist, Jen Zee. It depicts Melinoë, princess of the Underworld, as her mentor, Hecate, gazes at the moonlit horizon. <a class="linkoriginal" data-featherlight="image" href=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/2024/05/03/206b9b58/366.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" /> </a> Other features appearing in issue 366 include an interview feature with Digital Eclipse's Chris Kohler about how the studio conceived its Gold Master Series consisting of The Making of Karateka and Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story. Nolan Good discusses the history and continuing legacy of the long-running MMO, Final Fantasy XI. To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons, editor-in-chief Matt Miller visited Wizards of the Coast to preview its upcoming set of new rule books aimed at evolving the tabletop game. Wesley LeBlanc flew across the globe to Seoul, South Korea, to get an in-depth look at Nexon's upcoming free-to-play looter shooter, The First Descendant. For soon-to-be graduating students, cash in that success with your parents using our annual graduation gift guide. In addition, we have previews for titles including Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, The Rogue: Prince of Persia, Monaco 2, and Still Wakes the Deep. Not a print subscriber yet but want this issue? Well, you're in luck! Subscribing today – or within the next few days – will net you a print copy of this issue! You can join the ranks of the Game Informer print subscribers through our new standalone print subscription! Just <a href="https://subscription.gameinformer.com/">head here</a> to sign up for either one or two years at a fraction of the cost of buying the issues individually! You can even gift a print subscription to your favorite gamer! <a class="button-subscribe" href="https://subscription.gameinformer.com/" target="_blank">SUBSCRIBE NOW TO THE PRINT MAGAZINE</a> You can also try to nab a Game Informer Gold version of the issue. Limited to a numbered print run per issue, this premium version of Game Informer isn't available for sale. To learn about places where you might be able to get a copy, check out our official <a href="https://twitter.com/gameinformer">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/officialgameinformer/">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@game_informer">TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gameinformermagazine/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/gameinformer.com">BlueSky</a>, and <a href="https://www.threads.net/@gameinformermagazine">Threads</a> accounts and stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks. Click <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/gold">here</a> to read more about Game Informer Gold. Print subscribers can expect their issues to arrive in the coming weeks. The <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/magazine">digital edition launches on May 14</a> for PC/Mac, iOS, and Google Play. Individual print copies will be <a href="https://www.gamestop.com/search/?q=gi+magazine&lang=default" target="_blank">available for purchase in the coming weeks at GameStop</a>. <section class='type:slideshow'><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/03/1456cac3/366.jpg'></figure><figure><img src='https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/03/01c743fd/366-gold.jpg'></figure></section>

Star Wars [UPDATED]

Jeff Cork — Sat, 04 May 2024 13:00:00 CDT

<img loading="lazy" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/prod-media.gameinformer.com/styles/body_default/s3/2019/12/19/4e5cf396/starwars.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> Star Wars. <img loading="lazy" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/prod-media.gameinformer.com/styles/body_default/s3/2019/12/19/42a5ec5d/starwars2.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> Star Wars. <img loading="lazy" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/prod-media.gameinformer.com/styles/body_default/s3/2019/12/19/07e0c8a0/yorda.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> Star Wars. <img loading="lazy" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/prod-media.gameinformer.com/styles/body_default/s3/2019/04/14/2bcf54c2/ray.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> Star Wars. <img alt="" border="0" class="legacy-img" src="/s3/files/styles/body_default/s3/legacy-images/imagefeed/Star%20Wars%20%5BUPDATED%5D/starwars1215_2D00_610.jpg" /> Star Wars. <img alt="" border="0" class="legacy-img" src="/s3/files/styles/body_default/s3/legacy-images/imagefeed/Star%20Wars%20%5BUPDATED%5D/starwars1215-610.jpg" /> Star Wars. <img alt="" border="0" class="legacy-img" src="/s3/files/styles/body_default/s3/legacy-images/imagefeed/Star%20Wars%20%5BUPDATED%5D/death-star.jpg" /> Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars. Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars. Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars. <img alt="" border="0" class="legacy-img" src="/s3/files/styles/body_default/s3/legacy-images/imagefeed/Star%20Wars%20%5BUPDATED%5D/order-66.jpg" /> Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars. <img alt="" border="0" class="legacy-img" src="/s3/files/styles/body_default/s3/legacy-images/imagefeed/Star%20Wars%20%5BUPDATED%5D/porkins.jpg" /> Star Wars. <img alt="" border="0" class="legacy-img" src="/s3/files/styles/body_default/s3/legacy-images/imagefeed/Star%20Wars%20%5BUPDATED%5D/jar-jar.jpg" /> Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars. <img alt="" border="0" class="legacy-img" src="/s3/files/styles/body_default/s3/legacy-images/imagefeed/Star%20Wars%20%5BUPDATED%5D/r2.jpg" /> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Star Wars-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- <img alt="" border="0" class="legacy-img" src="/s3/files/styles/body_default/s3/legacy-images/imagefeed/Star%20Wars%20%5BUPDATED%5D/youngling1.jpg" /> STAR <img alt="" border="0" class="legacy-img" src="/s3/files/styles/body_default/s3/legacy-images/imagefeed/Star%20Wars%20%5BUPDATED%5D/youngling2.jpg" /> WARS <img alt="" border="0" class="legacy-img" src="/s3/files/styles/body_default/s3/legacy-images/imagefeed/Star%20Wars%20%5BUPDATED%5D/youngling3.jpg" /> STARWARS. <img alt="" border="0" class="legacy-img" src="/s3/files/styles/body_default/s3/legacy-images/imagefeed/Star%20Wars%20%5BUPDATED%5D/youngling%2520cake.jpg" /> starwars <img alt="" border="0" class="legacy-img" src="/s3/files/styles/body_default/s3/legacy-images/imagefeed/Star%20Wars%20%5BUPDATED%5D/taun-taun.jpg" /> Sraw Rats <img alt="" border="0" class="legacy-img" src="/s3/files/styles/body_default/s3/legacy-images/imagefeed/Star%20Wars%20%5BUPDATED%5D/starwarsfalcon.jpg" /> <a href="http://bfy.tw/3ISh" target="_blank" title="Star Wars.">Star Wars.</a> <img alt="" border="0" class="legacy-img" src="/s3/files/styles/body_default/s3/legacy-images/imagefeed/Star%20Wars%20%5BUPDATED%5D/yoda.jpg" /> STAR WARS STAR WARS STAR WARS STAR WARS STAR WARS STAR WARS STAR WARS <img alt="" border="0" class="legacy-img" src="/s3/files/styles/body_default/s3/legacy-images/imagefeed/Star%20Wars%20%5BUPDATED%5D/starwars-pod.jpg" /> STAR WARS <img alt="" border="0" class="legacy-img" src="/s3/files/styles/body_default/s3/legacy-images/imagefeed/Star%20Wars%20%5BUPDATED%5D/ewoks.jpg" /> starwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwarsstarwars <img alt="" border="0" class="legacy-img" src="/s3/files/styles/body_default/s3/legacy-images/imagefeed/Star%20Wars%20%5BUPDATED%5D/hot-feet.jpg" /> Star Wars? Star Wars. <img alt="" border="0" class="legacy-img" src="/s3/files/styles/body_default/s3/legacy-images/imagefeed/Star%20Wars%20%5BUPDATED%5D/dooko.jpg" /> Star Wars. <img alt="" border="0" class="legacy-img" src="/s3/files/styles/body_default/s3/legacy-images/imagefeed/Star%20Wars%20%5BUPDATED%5D/bobafett.jpg" /> ~~Star Wars~~ <img alt="" border="0" class="legacy-img" src="/s3/files/styles/body_default/s3/legacy-images/imagefeed/Star%20Wars%20%5BUPDATED%5D/rancor-cry.jpg" /> <ul><li>Star Wars</li> <li>Star Wars</li> <li>Star Wars</li> <li>Star Wars</li> <li>Star Wars</li> </ul>

Star Wars Outlaws Cover Story – Forging A Strong Reputation

Brian Shea — Sat, 04 May 2024 10:49:00 CDT

<img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/05/01/632dc647/swo_hero.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> When Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope – then simply known as Star Wars – hit theaters in 1977, it changed cinema. The grand scale, eye-popping visuals, and relatable cast of characters made it an instant classic and established the IP as one of the biggest of its time. However, it was its sequel, 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back, that demonstrated that not only was creator George Lucas’ magnum opus more than a one-off fluke, but he had established a universe ripe for expansion. <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/feature/2024/05/01/star-wars-outlaws-cover-story-forging-a-strong-reputation">Read more...</a>

Fallout's Weirdest Vaults And The Games That Should Go With Them

Jacob Geller — Wed, 01 May 2024 17:30:00 CDT

<img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2018/06/07/e52014d4/3392621-fallout76_teaser_vaultsuit_1527685282%2Bcopy.jpg" width="800" height="389" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> This article originally published on June 7, 2018 With the announcement of Fallout 76, fans are scrambling for clues that will shed light on the new game. A few concrete details come from the pre-existing information on Vault 76. Most vaults in Fallout were built for a specific purpose, and according to references in Fallout 3, Vault 76 supposedly held 500 people for exactly 20 years before opening and repopulating the surface. Repopulation is important and all, but is this the most interesting route for a new Fallout? Playing a wastelander on a noble quest is something we’ve already done several times, but a game built around the events of a specific vault is an intriguing proposition. We delve into canon Fallout lore to reveal a bounty of bizarre and disturbing scenarios, any of which could make for an excellent spinoff. <img loading="lazy" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/prod-media.gameinformer.com/styles/body_default/s3/2018/06/06/69ceff1b/Fo1_Necropolis_motel_interior.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h2>Vault 12</h2> Vault-Tec, the company who built the shelters spread across America, is a notoriously unethical corporation in the Fallout universe. In collaboration with the U.S. Government, Vault-Tec built most of its vaults around “social experiments,” testing the effects of isolation and other variables in the tightly controlled underground communities. Vault 12 is one of the most twisted of these experiments. Foregoing the very purpose of a fallout shelter, Vault-Tec intentionally left the door unsealed. Awash in deadly radiation, the survivors of Vault 12 were permanently transformed by Vault-Tec’s negligence. Ghouls are familiar to anyone who’s played a Fallout game. Zombie-like in appearance, their rotting flesh is a product of exposure to massive amounts of radiation. Despite this, they’re often surprisingly empathetic characters, with thoughtful dialogue and a depth of experience taken from their horrifying life experiences. One of the biggest hubs of ghouls is Necropolis, a city players may run across in the original Fallout. The massive population stems from, you guessed it, the residents of Vault 12. Here’s the pitch: Survival horror on a community scale. Players try to maintain life as a resident in the vault while people get sick and decay. You decide who gets Rad-X and who has to bear the brunt of the radiation then manage the dividing populations as people turn to ghouls and lose sympathy for their fellow residents. Imagine a combination of some of the haunted vaults in Fallout 3 and the oppressive wartime decisions of This War of Mine and you’ve got Fallout: Vault 12. <img loading="lazy" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/prod-media.gameinformer.com/styles/body_default/s3/2018/06/06/69ceff1b/Capture1.PNG" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> This, for a whole game. <h2>Vault 29</h2> One criticism of Bethesda’s Fallout games was the removal of the ability to kill children. Although sadistic, the complaint had two main pillars. Firstly, Fallout 1 and 2 had the ability; it benefited the player in no way and made virtually every NPC in the game hostile, but it was technically possible. Secondly, kids in the Fallout games have been historically ... very annoying. Enter Vault 29, population: children. Another perversion of an experiment by Vault-Tec, no one over the age of 15 was allowed into the shelter. The only confirmed survivor, a mutant named Harold, emerged from the vault in 2090 and would go on to become one of the wasteland’s most influential residents. Here’s the pitch: A dark, violent version of Richard Linklater’s Boyhood. Harold entered the vault at age five and experiences his entire adolescence in the underground tunnels, so players would experience his life one year at a time. The early years would be chaos, both from the initial panic of being without adults, but also because we’d experience them as a kindergartner. As time wears on, we’d mature and start to learn about the political structure of the vault. I’m picturing Battle School from Ender’s Game with multiple factions with different leaders and styles, all led by charismatic children. Like Ender’s Game, this game would still have truly bleak themes and conflict without resorting to kids toting firearms. As Harold, we’d come to understand the dynamic of the different factions, and fight to become a part of the most influential groups. <img loading="lazy" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/prod-media.gameinformer.com/styles/body_default/s3/2018/06/07/70e71f3c/asd.PNG" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> This, but ya know. Radioactive. <h2>Vault 43</h2> Twenty Men. Ten Women. One Panther. That’s the idea for Vault 43, a shelter that really calls into question Vault-Tec’s understanding of the word “experiment.” Nothing is known about the outcome of this vault, and that might be for the best. Here’s the pitch: Asymmetrical multiplayer. The men and women work together to try and build a society that’s democratic, charitable, and most importantly, panther-proof. Meanwhile, the panther is slinking in and out of the shadows, testing the defenses and eating anyone who strays too far from the beaten path. The game’s pace could play out similarly to Evolve. In the early rounds, the panther is weak but the residents don’t have access to many resources. As time goes on, the men and women can fortify doors and board up air vents, but they won’t be able to stop the panther from accessing more radioactivity than Dr. Manhattan. Sure, the humans have numbers on their side, but how many people is enough to stop a radioactive, mutant panther? <img loading="lazy" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/prod-media.gameinformer.com/styles/body_default/s3/2018/06/06/69ceff1b/Fo4_Pip-Boy_Mark_IV_system_specs.png" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> This, but it breaks. A lot. <h2>Vault 53</h2> Intended to test the inhabitants’ resilience to everyday inconveniences, appliances in Vault 53 were designed to break every few months. With 1000 residents, this meant a near-constant stream of necessary repairs to maintain basic living conditions. One can only imagine the psychological toll of living inside deliberately faulty infrastructure, especially when that infrastructure is absolutely necessary to keep out the devastation on the surface. Here’s the pitch: A smaller and more intimate take on Fallout, styled after indie titles like Papers, Please. Each day would bring new items to repair and new pressures to consider. For instance, the vault’s quartermaster needs his air circulator fixed. You have the skills to do this, but your family also needs more nutrients than daily rations allow. Do you repair the unit and hope that your good faith sways him, or refuse to give his unit back until he delivers the needed food? Repairs would gradually get more complex, and the needs in the vault would grow more dire. As more systems in the shelter failed, there’d be no way to satisfy everyone. Vault 53 demands you make sacrifices; where those sacrifices come from is up to you. <img loading="lazy" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/prod-media.gameinformer.com/styles/body_default/s3/2018/06/07/075b5753/11903808_fallout-4-mod-support-on-ps4-nixed-because_4994e698_m.png" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h2>Vault 69</h2> Vault 69 begs the question: was anyone at Vault-Tec ever a scientist? The vault had the standard thousand residents, but only one of those residents was a man. Less the product of principled hypotheses and more that of a giggling middle schooler, Vault 69 has virtually no available information. Here’s the pitch: Uhh, no comment on this one <img loading="lazy" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/prod-media.gameinformer.com/styles/body_default/s3/2018/06/07/70e71f3c/MV5BZDNlZWI3NTMtZGEyOS00MjczLWJmYzktZDQ4ZTI3MzhjZWI4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTAyNDQ2NjI%40._V1_.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> This, but not a dog. A puppet. <h2>Vault 77</h2> Although we don’t have the name of the sole resident of Vault 77, we do have a significant amount of information on his circumstances. Locked into the shelter alone, it took more than a year for him to open the crate marked “Government Issue: Puppet Ration.” Once he did, he swiftly descended into a delusional and codependent relationship with the inanimate objects. After developing an intimate bond with one in particular (a puppet sporting a Vault-Tec jumpsuit similar to his own), the man eventually left the vault. Accompanied by the puppet and a tamed giant ant named “Mr. Pinch,” his expedition into the wasteland was an unwilling miasma of violence and death, led by the whims of his puppet. Here’s the pitch: Styled after A Way Out, this linear adventure would be a mandatory co-op experience. I’ll get this out of the way now; yes, the player assigned to the puppet would have to spend the first hour or so in a box. It’s important to the characters’ motivations. Once the two players are united however, it would largely be the puppet’s show. The puppet could tell the human character where to walk, which quests to take, who to kill. Although the human may have locomotion, the puppet ironically holds all the power. <img loading="lazy" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/prod-media.gameinformer.com/styles/body_default/s3/2018/06/07/c2096bdf/Vault_CA1.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> Fallout is a series that embraces both the devastation and the absurdity of post-apocalyptic life. It’d be great to see Bethesda to keep experimenting with the style of games in its unique universe. Just, for the love of god, stay away from Vault 69. <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/review/2024/04/10/the-fallout-tv-show-is-good-season-1-review">Head here</a> to read our review of the first season of the Fallout TV show. And here are <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/01/02/5-life-lessons-you-can-learn-from-fallout-4-and-5-you-should-not.aspx">the lessons</a> someone should (and shouldn't) take from Fallout. For a more serious take, check out our <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/11/06/the-making-of-fallout-4.aspx">exhaustive history</a> on the making of Fallout 4.

Turtle Power: The History Of TMNT In Video Games

Brian Shea — Wed, 01 May 2024 16:41:00 CDT

Sea of Thieves Retrospective - Life At Sea

Kyle Hilliard — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 15:00:00 CDT

Stellar Starter Tips For Stellar Blade

Matt Miller — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 22:00:00 CDT

<img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/1e42b126/sb_demo_pr_roll_screenshots_eidos7_06.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> Stellar Blade is heading into full release, and you can dive into the action-heavy sci-fi adventure for yourself. You can read our <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/review/stellar-blade/more-than-a-pretty-face">full review</a> for more details about how it turned out, or read our <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/interview/2024/04/24/stellar-blade-is-based-on-the-bible-but-dont-take-it-too-seriously">interview with the game's creative director</a> to learn more about how the game came together. Developer Shift Up does a good job of gradually introducing new core systems as you move through the lengthy adventure, but as we played ahead of public launch, our team discovered several things the game doesn’t tell you that can lead to a more enjoyable journey. <h3>Turn On Auto Loot</h3> While the developer made many smart decisions in creating Stellar Blade, we’re a little confused why the default choice for gathering dropped loot requires pressing and holding one of the shoulder buttons. As soon as you start the game, pause and go to Settings > Gameplay and adjust the Auto Loot option to “On,” which is not the default. Eve will begin to pick up items and currency automatically without the need for your input – as long as you get close enough to the items on the ground, they’ll go into your inventory. <h3>Set Hair Length</h3> In that same menu we just pointed you toward (Settings > Gameplay) you’ll find another option to adjust Ponytail Length. This is primarily a cosmetic choice for how you like the main character to look, but we mention it here for functional reasons. Depending on your playstyle, extraneous visual “noise” onscreen can be distracting, especially in a tense encounter. Eve’s extremely long ponytail shows off some cool physics, but if it’s preventing you from having a clear view of enemy actions, consider changing the ponytail length to “Short” <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/0210316b/stellar_blade_10.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h3>Ambush When You Can</h3> Even standard wandering Naytiba enemies in Stellar Blade can lead to some tough and even game-ending battles. Take every advantage you can, including prioritizing an early unlock of the Ambush ability (findable in the Attack section of the Skill Tree). Ambush lets you backstab enemies if you can get close enough before they turn around and see you. It’s generally an instakill, so it’s a good choice for eliminating the most powerful foe in a group before facing off against the less dangerous ones. <h3>Rush To Open</h3> Similar to the Ambush option above, it’s smart to unlock and use the Rush skill early on and use it to open fights where Ambush isn’t an option. This skill lets you close with an enemy instantly, and you can get some hits in before they have a chance to fight back. It’s also an essential skill in more protracted combats, including bosses. After dodging or running out of the way of a dangerous attack, Rush lets you get back into the fray right away. <h3>Guard First, Then Strike Back</h3> More than many action games, guarding is an essential skill that you should practice from the very start. Excessive offensive play without guarding is a recipe for failure. Your guard/shield will diminish with hits taken, but it’s an excellent way to confront the early moments of a fight, when you’re still feeling out an enemy. And while perfect parries and dodges are great, you may need a few strikes to recognize an enemy’s attack patterns, and guarding is the best way to weather those moments, with the exception of unblockable attacks. <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/486ecf6d/stellar_blade_6.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h3>Improve Perfect Dodge And Parry</h3> There’s no more surefire way to succeed in Stellar Blade than getting good at Perfect Dodge and Perfect Parry. It’s absolutely core to the combat system, and success with those skills opens up additional options and abilities. Of course, the most important thing you can do here is observe and improve your timing in nailing these abilities. Much of that is about memorizing the different colored flashes and knowing which color corresponds to the need to dodge or parry. The training modules inside the Skills menu can help a lot with that practice. To find those, go to the Skill Tree Survival section, and tap Square while hovering over the Perfect Dodge or Perfect Parry ability. Seriously, there are no better skills to master. But you can also hedge your bets. There are additional abilities in the skill tree and equipment in the game that make it easier to nail those tight windows for perfect dodges and parries. If you’re having trouble consistently hitting that timing, these are excellent skills and equipment items to focus on. <h3>Scan, scan, scan</h3> A tap of the central touchpad on your DualSense controller will send out a pulse scan of your surrounding area. It’s an easy thing to forget about as you run around slicing through enemies. That would be a mistake. Making a point to scan frequently is a smart move. It reveals enemy locations that may be hiding. And it also shows critical interactable items and individuals, including dead bodies that can sometimes hold precious upgrades, like max health improvements. It costs nothing to tap that scan, so get in the habit of doing it in each new area you arrive in. <h3>Keep up with your sidequests</h3> If you plan to try and mainline the golden path of Stellar Blade, feel free to ignore this tip. But for the rest of the players, you may be wondering what to prioritize in your extracurricular activities. Sidequests provided by actual individuals in the game world are almost always a good bet. They provide more and better experience and rewards than just roaming around taking out monsters. Those character-provided sidequests also tend to be more interesting than the less personal assignments you can pick up from bulletin boards. And, while we don’t want to spoil anything, it’s safe to say that the latter hours of the game turn out differently depending on certain sidequests you might have chosen to complete. Talking with and completing those character-connected side quests is a great place to put your time if you want to expand your time in the world of Stellar Blade. <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/42c87749/sb_matrix_screenshots_01.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h3>Pick up the phone!</h3> It goes without saying that you should enter and use supply camps when you find them in order to rest and get your health and supplies back. But early on, you might not realize that you should also be trying to activate all the payphone locations that you encounter. Phones activate a new fast travel point; you want as many of those as possible. Even if you don’t initially plan to do a lot of fast traveling, later missions sometimes send you back to explore areas you’ve already visited, and having a more comprehensive selection of fast travel points gets you back to the action and the quest completions faster. <h3>Unlock Beta and Burst Wisely</h3> As you play through Stellar Blade, you’ll gradually unlock access to the Beta and Burst skills. Each skill tree adds new abilities that you can bring to bear in a fight by holding down L1 or R1 along with one of the face buttons. These are usually high-powered attacks; you should integrate them into your combat flow. But even knowing that, it’s easy to cast too broad a net and weaken yourself by playing with too many different skills. That’s especially true in the midgame, while there’s still much to unlock. In both the Beta and Burst skill trees, consider unlocking and completing the upgrades for one (or maybe two) of these skills before moving on to the others. Remember, both Beta and Burst skills pull from their own respective meters, so if you use one of the abilities, it will deplete that meter, preventing you from doing another deployment. It’s rare that you’ll be able to spam out multiple abilities that tap into the same meter. As such, it’s best to focus on individual skills that shore up weakpoints in your combat repertoire. For instance, Shield Breaker is the bottom skill (L1+X) on the Beta Skill Tree, and as the name implies, it does a great job of breaking enemy shields. If you’re struggling with the early phases of boss fights when your foe often still has a high shield, this is a great choice. And rather than diversifying into other skills, we recommend unlocking the upgrades to Shieldbreaker before focusing on other skills. Alternately, Triplet (L1+Square) is a solid and consistent damage dealer and a great choice if you’re just looking to bring down standard enemies quickly. Take the time to look through the full suite of Beta and Burst skills, and consider which individual abilities would be the biggest help to your playstyle, then focus on those. <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/daa66709/sb_matrix_screenshots_03.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h3>Follow the Green Dot</h3> As you get started in Stellar Blade, you may encounter many individuals you feel you need to talk to. If that’s your thing, go for it. But if you’d like to focus on the individuals that actually have something to offer, look for the green dot next to an individual; these are actual quest-givers or other meaningful conversations. <h3>Take the Hint</h3> Occasionally, you’re going to encounter panels that demand that you enter a code sequence of symbols. Generally speaking, you need to find a different location that provides that code before you can input it. Don’t bother trying to jot down the symbols. Instead, when you return to the appropriate unlockable panel, tap the “Hint” button to see the code. It’s not cheating. It’s simply showing you the code you already found elsewhere in the game, which matches this particular panel. If the “Hint” option is grayed out, you just don’t have the code yet. <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/f5284981/sb_demo_pr_roll_screenshots_eidos7_03.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h3>Experiment With Story Mode</h3> We always advise that the best difficulty setting is the one that leads to the most fun for you as a player. With that said, Stellar Blade features a tight and rewarding combat system – if you can enjoy the challenge of some tough combat, the default Normal Difficulty is the way to go. It has some hard fights, but with patience, you’ll succeed. With that said, there’s nothing to say you can’t experiment with Story Mode, and doing so can help you prepare for winning a hard fight in Normal (or the eventual Hard mode, which unlocks after you beat the game). In Story Mode, combat prompts pop up and time slows down in critical moments of battle, letting you learn exactly what buttons to press when that vicious boss descends on you. If you’re committed to beating the boss on Normal, but you’re having a hard time, consider bumping the difficulty down to Story Mode to learn the ropes of the fight. Then, before you defeat the boss, switch back to Normal mode, which will reset you to your most recent save point. You can then go into the fight armed with a clear understanding of what buttons to press to react to each attack – but you’ll still have to nail the timing to win. Good luck in your adventures with Eve across the post-apocalyptic wastelands of Stellar Blade!

Send Us Your Questions And Rants For A Chance To Win A Game Informer Gold Copy Of The Star Wars Outlaws Issue

Kyle Hilliard — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 15:00:00 CDT

<img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/25/4ccb5364/swoheader365-gold.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> For every issue of Game Informer magazine, we print a handful of <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/gold">Game Informer Gold editions</a>. These versions sometimes feature alternate art, have a gold embossed logo on the front, are individually numbered, and feature higher-quality paper. They're very nice, and we reserve them for special occasions like charity auctions or, as is the case here, giveaways. For the recent <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/cover-reveal/2024/04/09/cover-reveal-star-wars-outlaws">Star Wars Outlaws</a> issue, we have two Game Informer Gold editions we are prepared to send to readers. For a chance at winning one of these collectible issues, we want to hear from you about what's on your mind about gaming and Game Informer. Send a message to our Replies section for a chance to be featured in our monthly magazine letters column. <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SHQB90Y_mKM" width="640"></iframe> If you fill out the form below before May 26, 2024, you will be entered to win one of two Game Informer Gold copies of our Star Wars Outlaws issue. In terms of the kind of feedback we're looking for, we want thoughtful responses to our content, general thoughts on the video game industry, your criticisms of previously released or upcoming games, or anything else that will make the magazine better. We're flexible! We want to know what's on your mind and potentially share your thoughts and questions with the rest of Game Informer's readers. We're looking forward to your responses and we hope you are looking forward to seeing your responses in the magazine. Good luck! And please enjoy a little necessary legalese before you fill out and submit the form below. Giveaway valid for U.S. addresses only. Responses must reach a baseline level of quality and originality to be considered valid. Winners will be notified through the email address linked to their GameInformer.com account. If response is not received within 5 business days, winners may forfeit their prize. <h2>Submit Your Question or Letter</h2> You must be logged in to use this form.<a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/user/login?destination=/feedback-requested/2024/01/24/send-us-your-questions-and-rants-for-a-chance-to-win-game-informer-gold" class="button">Log in</a>

Stellar Blade Is Based On The Bible, But Don’t Take It Too Seriously

Kyle Hilliard — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:05:00 CDT

<img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/724969be/stellar_blade_1.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> Stellar Blade is out this week and our review, <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/review/stellar-blade/more-than-a-pretty-face">which you can read right here</a>, is positive. We liked the game and were impressed by the depth of its action and world-building. Ahead of its release, but after spending some time with the game, we had a chance to reconnect with Shift Up CEO and Stellar Blade director Hyung-Tae Kim <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2024/03/26/stellar-blade-feature-angel-from-heaven">after speaking with him earlier this year</a>. This time we spoke to him (through a translator) about inspirations for the game beyond Nier Automata (like the Bible and The Matrix), the approach to costumes and how they fit in the lore, and why having no minimaps in the game was a purposeful decision. <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bCQMHjDAJZU" width="640"></iframe> Game Informer: There are multiple endings? Hyung-Tae Kim: There are multiple endings and actually, if you complete certain quests, there is a post-credits clip, as well. Is there an ending you prefer? This all depends on what choices and decisions the player makes throughout the game. There is no particular ending that I prefer. But then there is this hidden stage so I hope that players discover this and play that. If you want, I guess, a little happier ending then you will have to discover that post-credits clip. There's no gameplay reward for unlocking costumes, but they are an important incentive for the player. Why are the costumes so important? I do definitely believe that it is very charming for an iconic character to have this one iconic costume. But my strength is in character concept design. There was so much that I wanted to show to the world and to be able to convey that to the players. I decided that it would be a good idea to include different costumes, that was a good way to show what I wanted to show. And I also wanted the players to be able to go on a journey with the character in a style that they prefer. That's why. What is the process of choosing and creating a costume? It's not one method that is decided when creating the costumes. For example, the body suit – I designed it myself and then the 3D modeler; when they are done with the modeling of the costume, I will come back to it and then add more details and texture and typography and finish it for the game. Or for other costumes, we buy the actual clothes in real life, and then scan them, take the scan data, modify it so it looks more futuristic, and then complete it that way. So, it's very different. This way, you get to meet very diverse costumes in the game. And on top of that, sometimes, when you play the game, you will see some costumes that look like swimming suits. And for those costumes, it's very important to depict the skin texture like how it changes because of pressure and how it's pushed up, or how it folds, how it bends like the body and the flesh and the skin. That's very important when we're trying to detail. So, for this, we actually cast a real-life model and then had the model wear the costumes and scan the model to use the data. <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2021/09/10/8b31ffdf/projecteve02.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> Is there a lore reason why Eve wears so many costumes? Is she interested in fashion? There was some kind of lore behind Eve showing a lot of interest in the costumes that were left behind on the surface of Earth. We did have that concept, and it was part of her character, but then we later decided that this doesn't really have to be shown in the game. We don't have to really make it known in the game, so that got taken out, but that lore still exists. Did you ever consider tying costumes to character upgrades? When making games in the past, I took it very seriously that I didn't connect the stats of the character and the costumes. It was important to me not to make it like that because if that happens, then only certain costumes will be picked by the users because they have better stats than the other outfits. I didn't want that to happen. I just wanted everyone to enjoy all kinds of different costumes that are provided in the game, regardless of the stats. But of course, if you don't wear anything at all, then it would be dangerous on the surface of a desolate Earth. So we did put a little bit of a disadvantage there if you're not wearing anything. Does the team see Eve as a Bayonetta-type figure who embraces her sexuality and uses it as a weapon? I don't think Eve is aware of those charms that she possesses, so she's not that kind of character. So, she won't be able to combine that central attractiveness that the Bayonetta character has and to be able to combine that with their battles. But then it's not fully decided how Eve will evolve in the future, and what kind of realization she'll be met with in the future, so I guess it would depend on the users and what they like and what kind of interest they show towards the game. Maybe Eve will go through some kind of… being more socialized and adjusted, and maybe she will get to have new realizations and become someone different. <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/24/b42ed680/stellar-blade-ps5-review-2024-04-23_11-22-39_135259.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> Cans are an important collectible. Why cans? That may be a personal taste. I personally like different can designs. And also, I thought it'd be more realistic to use cans where the Earth is ruined. As one of the preserved goods, cans would make more sense than other elements. Are they based on real Korean brands? We tried to, but no can brands would partner with us to have a collaboration, so we had to create them all originally in-house. We also consulted someone who is an expert in designing can packaging. We hired that person to come up with designs that would make them look real. In the future, hopefully we'll be able to have a collaboration with a real-life brand. Especially Pepsi, which we are very interested in. Was a minimap ever considered? I would really like one in Xion. If you slide up on the touchpad, you have access to the map in Xion. Oh, but I want a little map that’s always available on the bottom corner of the screen. I wanted to show as little UI design on the screen as possible. That's why I didn't include the minimap on the screen. But then yes, it is pretty necessary in an open-world area. When it's a linear area, of course, there are other hidden paths, but if you use the map, then maybe it'll become too easy in this linear part of the game. That's why I wanted to avoid having the map there for the players to constantly use. But then yes, of course, in Xion, you will want to consult the map more because as things constantly change, you'll be given new quests constantly, so the map does become handy. I do actually recommend using the map there. <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/113e3620/stellar_blade_5.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> In the movie The Matrix, there is the haven city of Zion. In Stellar Blade there is the haven city of Xion. In Stellar Blade there is a location called Matrix 11. The Matrix was co-directed by Lilly Wachowski. In Stellar Blade there is a character named Lily. Are these all coincidences, or is The Matrix a big inspiration for Stellar Blade? The Matrix is, of course, one of the movies that I love, but then rather than any direct inspiration or references that we got from the movie, you should see the Bible as more of a source of those inspirations. But then that doesn't mean this whole story was based on the Bible, heavily. It is more like they share similar lores. That makes sense because The Matrix looks to the Christian Bible, as well. And of course, Adam and Eve are both characters in in Stellar Blade. Is the Bible a primary source of inspiration? In terms of materials that we got for the plot, yes, the Bible, and yes it does have to do with the themes of the plot as well, but then ultimately, at the end of the day, this is an action-adventure game so when the players play this game, they can just take this lightly and just enjoy the game. When people think, “Oh, this was based on the Bible,” then they tend to take it more seriously and expect maybe a heavier, more serious story there. And of course, we're very thankful for that interpretation, but what we wanted to focus on was more the gameplay itself. <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/23/ff2a1f22/stellar_blade_7.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> Why is there a setting to change the length of Eve’s ponytail? I actually personally like the long ponytail that Eve has because it adds more to the movement and the action and I see that as an important element, but then I also realized that this wouldn't be for everyone. Some people might find it annoying, or maybe it obstructs a certain outfit or the screen when moving around, and I thought that could be interrupting or disturbing to some people, so I also wanted to include the shorter ponytail. But then after that, there have been demands about middle-length ponytails or the option to be able to control the length of the ponytail and so on. Stellar Blade is out this year. There's another big game from a South Korean developer, The First Descendent coming out later this year. Does Shift Up feel it is a big year for Korean representation in video games? We do have a hope that, starting with Stellar Blade this year, it will be an outbreak year for South Korean developers. In the past, up until recently, actually, Korean games have been rather isolated from the world because the gaming market in Korea is mostly mobile-centric. For console games, it was hard for them to gain any attention and there wasn't that much of a point where other global users were getting to access these games. There haven't been that many overlapping elements there. But then, starting with Stellar Blade, hopefully, many global users will get to discover more Korean games and actually realize, “Oh, these are actually really good games!” And I'm starting with that; hopefully, other Korean developers will be more well-known. This year will be that year. And in that way, we even have a certain sense of duty there. Are you hoping to make a Stellar Blade sequel next, or does Shift Up want to do something different next? Right now, we’re focusing more on Stellar Blade – the game itself. We're focusing more on what the users will like, what they'll want to see more of, and what kind of additional content we'll be coming up. Hopefully, you'll enjoy the game that's coming out soon. For more on Stellar Blade you can read our previous feature on the game <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/2024/03/26/stellar-blade-feature-angel-from-heaven">here</a>, and read <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/review/stellar-blade/more-than-a-pretty-face">Game Informer's Stellar Blade review here</a>.

Nintendo Switch Online: Every NES, SNES, Game Boy, N64, Sega Genesis, And GBA Game

Wesley LeBlanc — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 07:03:00 CDT

<img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2022/07/01/58afc950/np_file_103789.jpeg" width="800" height="450" alt="Every Nintendo Switch Online Game" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> Nintendo has been slowly beefing up its library of games available to Nintendo Switch Online and Expansion Pack subscribers. What began as a library of just 20 NES games has grown to include dozens more. Plus, Nintendo has since introduced SNES, Nintendo 64, Game Boy, and even Sega Genesis games, giving players a chance to play some fan-favorite classics and some deep cuts, too. It’s hard to predict when new games might arrive as the company has maintained a somewhat inconsistent cadence in doing so, but that’s okay because this list is all you need. As Nintendo adds new titles, we’ll be sure to update this list to include them. If you’re looking for something specific, use this story’s Table of Contents to jump to the different consoles quickly. Here’s every NES, SNES, Game Boy, N64, Genesis, and GBA game added to Nintendo Switch Online. <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2022/07/01/a40ac410/nes.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Added September 19, 2018</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Balloon Fight</li> <li aria-level="1">Baseball</li> <li aria-level="1">Donkey Kong</li> <li aria-level="1">Double Dragon</li> <li aria-level="1">Dr. Mario</li> <li aria-level="1">Excitebike</li> <li aria-level="1">Ghosts ‘n Goblins</li> <li aria-level="1">Gradius</li> <li aria-level="1">Ice Climber</li> <li aria-level="1">Ice Hockey</li> <li aria-level="1">The Legend of Zelda</li> <li aria-level="1">Mario Bros.</li> <li aria-level="1">Pro Wrestling</li> <li aria-level="1">River City Ransom</li> <li aria-level="1">Soccer</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Mario Bros.</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Mario Bros. 3</li> <li aria-level="1">Tecmo Bowl</li> <li aria-level="1">Tennis</li> <li aria-level="1">Yoshi</li> </ul><h4>Added October 10, 2018</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">The Legend of Zelda SP</li> <li aria-level="1">NES Open Tournament Golf</li> <li aria-level="1">Solomon’s Key</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Dodge Ball</li> </ul><h4>Added November 14, 2018</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Gradius SP (Stage 5)</li> <li aria-level="1">Metroid </li> <li aria-level="1">Mighty Bomb Jack</li> <li aria-level="1">NES Open Tournament Golf SP (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">TwinBee</li> </ul><h4>Added December 12, 2018</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Adventures of Lolo</li> <li aria-level="1">Adventures of Lolo 2 (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Dr. Mario SP</li> <li aria-level="1">Metroid SP (Ridley Battle)</li> <li aria-level="1">Ninja Gaiden</li> <li aria-level="1">Wario’s Woods</li> </ul><h4>Added January 16, 2019</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Blaster Master</li> <li aria-level="1">Ghosts ‘n Goblins SP</li> <li aria-level="1">Joy Mech Fight (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Ninja Gaiden SP</li> <li aria-level="1">Zelda II: Adventure of Link</li> </ul><h4>Added February 13, 2019</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Blaster Master SP</li> <li aria-level="1">Kirby’s Adventure</li> <li aria-level="1">Metroid SP (Mother Brain Battle)</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Mario Bros. 2</li> <li aria-level="1">Tsuppari Oozumou (Japan only)</li> </ul><h4>Added March 13, 2019</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Kid Icarus</li> <li aria-level="1">Kirby’s Adventure SP</li> <li aria-level="1">StarTropics</li> <li aria-level="1">Yie Ar Kung-Fu (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Zelda II: The Adventure of Link SP</li> </ul><h4>Added April 10, 2019</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Kid Icarus SP</li> <li aria-level="1">Punch-Out!</li> <li aria-level="1">Star Soldier</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels</li> </ul><h4>Added May 15, 2019</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Clu Clu Land</li> <li aria-level="1">Clu Clu Land: Welcome to New Cluclu Land (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Donkey Kong Jr.</li> <li aria-level="1">Star Soldier SP</li> <li aria-level="1">Vs. Excitebike</li> </ul><h4>June 12, 2019</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">City Connection</li> <li aria-level="1">Double Dragon II: The Revenge</li> <li aria-level="1">TwinBee SP</li> <li aria-level="1">Volleyball</li> </ul><h4>Added July 17, 2019</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Donkey Kong 3</li> <li aria-level="1">Mighty Bomb Jack</li> <li aria-level="1">Wrecking Crew</li> </ul><h4>Added August 21, 2019</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Downtown Nekketsu Koshinkyoku: Soreyuke Daiundokai (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Gradius SP (Second Loop)</li> <li aria-level="1">Kung Fu Heroes</li> <li aria-level="1">Vice: Project Doom</li> </ul><h4>Added December 12, 2019</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Crystallis</li> <li aria-level="1">Famicom Wars (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Journey to Silius</li> <li aria-level="1">Route-16 Turbo (Japan only)</li> </ul><h4>Added February 29, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Atlantis no Nazo (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Eliminator Boat Duel</li> <li aria-level="1">Shadow of the Ninja</li> </ul><h4>Added April 20, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light SP (Medeus Battle) (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light SP (Triangle Attack) (Japan only)</li> </ul><h4>Added May 20, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Rygar </li> </ul><h4>Added July 15, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">The Immortal</li> </ul><h4>Added September 23, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team</li> </ul><h4>Added December 18, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Nightshade</li> <li aria-level="1">Smash Ping Pong (Japan only)</li> </ul><h4>Added February 17, 2021</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Fire ‘n Ice</li> </ul><h4>Added May 26, 2021</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Ninja JaJaMaru-kun</li> </ul><h4>Added July 28, 2021</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Super Mario Bros. 3 SP</li> </ul><h4>Added February 9, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">EarthBound Beginnings</li> </ul><h4>Added March 30, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Dig Dug II</li> <li aria-level="1">Mappy-Land</li> </ul><h4>Added May 26, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Pinball</li> </ul><h4>Added July 22, 2022</h4> <ul><li>Daiva Story 6 Imperial of Nirsartia</li> </ul><h4>Added March 16, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Xevious </li> </ul><h4>Added June 6, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Mystery Tower</li> </ul><h4>Added September 5, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Joy Mech Fight</li> <li>Downtown Nekketsu March Super-Awesome Field Day!</li> </ul><h4>Added October 31, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Devil World</li> <li>The Mysterious Murasame Castle</li> </ul><h4>Added February 21, 2024</h4> <ul><li>R.C. Pro-Am</li> <li>Snake Rattle 'N' Roll</li> </ul> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2022/07/01/53fa8cc2/snes.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Added September 5, 2019</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Brawl Brothers</li> <li aria-level="1">Breath of Fire</li> <li aria-level="1">Demon’s Crest</li> <li aria-level="1">F-Zero</li> <li aria-level="1">Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics</li> <li aria-level="1">Kirby’s Dream Course</li> <li aria-level="1">Kirby’s Dream Land 3</li> <li aria-level="1">The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past</li> <li aria-level="1">Pilotwings</li> <li aria-level="1">Smash Tennis</li> <li aria-level="1">Star Fox</li> <li aria-level="1">Stunt Race FX</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Earth Defense Force</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Mario Kart</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Mario World</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Metroid</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Puyo Puyo 2</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Soccer</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Tennis</li> </ul><h4>Added December 12, 2019</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Breath of Fire II</li> <li aria-level="1">Kirby Super Star</li> <li aria-level="1">Star Fox 2</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Punch-Out!</li> </ul><h4>Added February 19, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Pop’n TwinBee</li> </ul><h4>Added May 20, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Operation Logic Bomb</li> <li aria-level="1">Panel de Pon</li> <li aria-level="1">Wild guns</li> </ul><h4>Added July 15, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Donkey Kong Country</li> <li aria-level="1">Natsume Championship Wrestling</li> <li aria-level="1">Shin Megami Tensei (Japan only)</li> </ul><h4>Added September 3, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Super Mario All-Stars</li> </ul><h4>Added September 23, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong’s Quest</li> <li aria-level="1">Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Mario’s Super Picross</li> <li aria-level="1">The Peace Keepers</li> </ul><h4>Added December 18, 2020</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble!</li> <li aria-level="1">The Ignition FActor</li> <li aria-level="1">Kunio-kun no Dodgeball da yo Zen’in Shugo (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Sugoi Hebereke (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Valis IV</li> <li aria-level="1">Tuff E Nuff</li> </ul><h4>Added February 17, 2021</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Doomsday Warrior</li> <li aria-level="1">Prehistorik Man</li> <li aria-level="1">Psycho Dream</li> <li aria-level="1">Shin Megami Tensei II (Japan only)</li> </ul><h4>Added May 26, 2021</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Joe & Mac</li> <li aria-level="1">Magical Drop II</li> <li aria-level="1">Spanky’s Quest</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Baseball Simulator 1.000</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Mario Kart SP</li> </ul><h4>Added July 28, 2021</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Bombuzal</li> <li aria-level="1">Claymates</li> <li aria-level="1">Jelly Boy</li> <li aria-level="1">Shin Megami Tensei If… (Japan only)</li> </ul><h4>Added February 9, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">EarthBound</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Metroid SP</li> </ul><h4>Added March 30, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Earthworm Jim 2</li> <li aria-level="1">Harvest Moon</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Mario World SP</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Punch-Out! SP</li> </ul><h4>Added May 26, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Congo’s Caper</li> <li aria-level="1">Rival Turf!</li> <li aria-level="1">Umihara Kawase (Japan only)</li> </ul><h4>Added June 9, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Kirby Super Star SP</li> <li aria-level="1">Kirby’s Dream Course SP</li> <li aria-level="1">Kirby’s Dream Land 3 SP</li> </ul><h4>Added July 22, 2022</h4> <ul><li>Fighter's History</li> <li>Kirby's Avalanche</li> </ul><h4>Added March 16, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Side Pocket</li> </ul><h4>Added June 6, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Harvest Moon</li> </ul><h4>Added September 5, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Kirby's Star Stacker</li> </ul><h4>Added February 21, 2024</h4> <ul><li>Battletoads in Battlemaniacs</li> <li>Killer Instinct</li> </ul><h4>Added April 12, 2024</h4> <ul><li>Amazing Hebereke</li> <li>Super R-Type</li> <li>Wrecking Crew '98</li> </ul> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2023/02/09/6d06d466/game_boy_nso.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Added February 8, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare</li> <li>Game & Watch Gallery 3</li> <li>Gargoyle's Quest</li> <li>Kirby's Dream Land</li> <li>The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX</li> <li>Metroid II: Return of Samus</li> <li>Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins</li> <li>Tetris</li> <li>Wario Land 3</li> </ul><h4>Added March 16, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Kirby's Dream Land 2</li> <li>BurgerTime Deluxe</li> </ul><h4>Added June 6, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Kirby Tilt 'N' Tumble</li> <li>Blaster Master: Enemy Below</li> </ul><h4>Added July 26, 2023</h4> <ul><li>The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages</li> <li>The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons</li> </ul><h4>Added August 8, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Pokémon Trading Card Game</li> </ul><h4>Added September 5, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Quest for Camelot</li> </ul><h4>Added October 31, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Castlevania Legends</li> </ul><h4>Added March 12, 2024</h4> <ul><li>Dr. Mario</li> <li>Mario Golf</li> <li>Mario Tennis</li> </ul> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2022/07/01/a46d67a0/n64.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Added October 25, 2021</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Dr. Mario 64</li> <li aria-level="1">The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time</li> <li aria-level="1">Mario Kart 64</li> <li aria-level="1">Mario Tennis</li> <li aria-level="1">Sin and Punishment</li> <li aria-level="1">Star Fox 64</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Mario 64</li> <li aria-level="1">WinBack</li> <li aria-level="1">Yoshi’s Story</li> </ul><h4>Added December 10, 2021</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Paper Mario</li> </ul><h4>Added January 20, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Banjo-Kazooie</li> </ul><h4>Added February 25, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask</li> </ul><h4>Added March 11, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">F-Zero X</li> </ul><h4>Added April 15, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Mario Golf</li> </ul><h4>Added May 20, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Kirby 64, The Crystal Shards</li> </ul><h4>Added June 24, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Pokémon Snap</li> </ul><h4>Added July 15, 2022</h4> <ul><li>Pokémon Puzzle League</li> </ul><h4>Added August 15, 2022</h4> <ul><li>Wave Racer 64</li> </ul><h4>Added October 12, 2022</h4> <ul><li>Pilotwings 64</li> </ul><h4>Added November 2, 2022</h4> <ul><li>Mario Party</li> <li>Mario Party 2</li> </ul><h4>Added January 27, 2023</h4> <ul><li>GoldenEye 007</li> </ul><h4>Added April 12, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Pokémon Stadium</li> </ul><h4>Added August 8, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Pokémon Stadium 2</li> </ul><h4>Added August 30, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Excitebike 64</li> </ul><h4>Added October 27, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Mario Party 3</li> </ul><h4>Added December 7, 2023</h4> <ul><li>1080° Snowboarding</li> <li>Harvest Moon 64</li> <li>Jet Force Gemini</li> </ul><h4>Added February 21, 2024</h4> <ul><li>Blast Corps</li> </ul><h4>Added April 24, 2024</h4> <ul><li>Extreme G</li> <li>Iggy's Reckin' Balls</li> </ul> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2022/07/01/fa6405b6/genesis.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Added October 25, 2021</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Castlevania: Bloodlines</li> <li aria-level="1">Contra: Hard Corps</li> <li aria-level="1">Dro. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine</li> <li aria-level="1">Ecco the Dolphin</li> <li aria-level="1">Golden Axe</li> <li aria-level="1">Gunstar Heroes</li> <li aria-level="1">MUSHA</li> <li aria-level="1">Phantasy Star IV</li> <li aria-level="1">Puyo Puyo (Japan only)</li> <li aria-level="1">Ristar</li> <li aria-level="1">Shining Force</li> <li aria-level="1">Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master</li> <li aria-level="1">Sonic the Hedgehog 2</li> <li aria-level="1">Streets of Rage 2</li> <li aria-level="1">Strider</li> </ul><h4>Added December 16, 2021</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Altered Beast</li> <li aria-level="1">Dynamite Headdy</li> <li aria-level="1">Sword of Vermillion</li> <li aria-level="1">Thunder Force II</li> <li aria-level="1">ToeJam & Earl</li> </ul><h4>Added March 16, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Alien Soldier </li> <li aria-level="1">Light Crusader</li> <li aria-level="1">Super Fantasy Zone</li> </ul><h4>Added April 21, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Shining Force II</li> <li aria-level="1">Sonic Spinball</li> <li aria-level="1">Space Harrier II</li> </ul><h4>Added June 30, 2022</h4> <ul><li aria-level="1">Comix Zone</li> <li aria-level="1">Mega Man: The Wily Wars</li> <li aria-level="1">Target Earth</li> <li aria-level="1">Zero Wing</li> </ul><h4>Added September 15, 2022</h4> <ul><li>Alisia Dragoon</li> <li>Beyond Oasis</li> <li>Earthworm Jim</li> </ul><h4>Added December 12, 2022</h4> <ul><li>Alien Storm</li> <li>Columns</li> <li>Golden Axe II</li> <li>Virtua Fighter 2</li> </ul><h4>Added April 19, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Flicky</li> <li>Kid Chameleon</li> <li>Pulseman</li> <li>Street Fighter II': Special Champion Edition</li> </ul><h4>Added June 27, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Ghouls 'n Ghosts</li> <li>Crusader of Centy</li> <li>Landstalker</li> <li>The Revenge of Shinobi</li> </ul> <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2023/02/09/d2fb042d/gba_nso_expansion.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> <h4>Added February 8, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Kuru Kuru Kururin</li> <li>The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap</li> <li>Mario Kart: Super Circuit</li> <li>Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga</li> <li>Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3</li> <li>WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames</li> </ul><h4>Added March 8, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Metroid Fusion</li> </ul><h4>Added May 26, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Super Mario Advance</li> <li>Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2</li> <li>Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3</li> </ul><h4>Added June 23, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Fire Emblem </li> </ul><h4>Added September 22, 2023</h4> <ul><li>Kirby & The Amazing Mirror</li> </ul><h4>Added January 17, 2024</h4> <ul><li>Golden Sun</li> <li>Golden Sun: The Lost Age</li> </ul><h4>Added March 29, 2024</h4> <ul><li>F-Zero Maximum Velocity</li> </ul>Be sure to check back monthly to see if Nintendo’s dropped any new games onto Nintendo Switch Online.

Knuckles Show Review – A Low-Stakes Climb

Brian Shea — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 02:00:00 CDT

<img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/666371a8/knuckles_103_0005_rt.jpg" width="800" height="332" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> The live-action Sonic the Hedgehog movie series that started in 2020 has delivered entertaining adventures starring everybody's favorite Blue Blur and his ever-growing stable of friends. One of the highlights of <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="b8e707f7-abc2-407a-bbc7-4bcf237b8c0a" href="https://www.gameinformer.com/movie-review/2022/05/24/sonic-the-hedgehog-2-movie-review-full-speed-ahead">Sonic the Hedgehog 2</a> was Knuckles, voiced by Idris Elba. The fish-out-of-water gags and his strict adherence to the echidna warrior code, which is in stark contrast to Sonic's fun-loving personality, made for an enjoyable dynamic within the cast of characters. Knuckles, the new six-episode streaming show on Paramount Plus, tries to carry forward that dynamic. However, thanks to low stakes, a palpable disconnect from the larger Sonic story, and too much emphasis on the human characters in the world, it falls short of the heights reached by the two theatrical films. Warning: While I try to remain as spoiler-free as possible, some aspects of the narrative and characters are mentioned throughout this article. This spin-off series follows Knuckles as he trains Wade Whipple (Adam Pally), the goofy police officer from the first two Sonic films, in the way of the echidna warrior. Though Wade is fine as comic relief in the films, I often struggled with placing so many of the emotional stakes at the feet of this character. This becomes particularly true once his family joins the show. The weakest parts of the Sonic movies are the scenes featuring the human characters. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 appeared to learn that lesson, as it sent many of the main humans away on a trip, but the inverse is true in Knuckles; on multiple occasions, I wondered why we were focusing so much on the family drama of Wade instead of what Knuckles was up to off-screen. <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/fef828e1/knuckles_103_0002_rt.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> The family storyline that consumes much of the latter portions of the show can be compelling in bursts, but it almost feels like an entirely different show altogether. The show does very little to inform viewers why we should care about these characters aside from the fact that they're related to Wade. The mother character (Stockard Channing) is the most likable of the bunch, particularly when the other major players feel like cartoonish caricatures of sitcom archetypes – even more so than in the movies. Thankfully, when the titular character is on screen, it's another strong performance by Elba. I'm also happy that much of the CGI of the Knuckles character looks great, particularly when in fights. The action sequences of Knuckles are the highlight. One scene, in particular, takes place in a kitchen and benefits from crafty camera work and a simulated single-take effect. The action scenes are well-paced throughout the six-episode season, but they do shine a light on one of the most significant shortcomings the Sonic franchise must overcome if it hopes to expand out in spin-off series such as this: Sonic's gallery of enemies just isn't that deep. Having the main antagonists of Knuckles be two rogue agents of GUN and a guy who used to work for Dr. Robotnik demonstrates this in irreconcilable ways. Sure, we're promised Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, and we could still get the introduction of characters like Metal Sonic or Chaos in future media, but this series shows that the pool is pretty shallow. <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/85c9a69e/knuckles_101_0019_rt.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> Installing low-profile villains for the franchise's first streaming series could be forgiven if they made their mark, but they feel like retreads of what Dr. Robotnik was trying to accomplish in the first movie; their entire motivation is to capture Knuckles to steal his power. Ellie Taylor and Kid Cudi deliver fine performances as the rogue GUN agents, but the characters rarely serve as anything more than plot devices for the characters to progress on their personal journeys and foils in fight scenes. We do learn of their motivation later in the show, but at that point, I only cared about them because when they showed up, it usually meant an action scene was coming. When you aren't watching a fight sequence play out, you're usually enduring a joke shotgun blast with a relatively low hit rate. The seasoned comedic delivery of actors like Adam Pally, Paul Scheer, and Cary Elwes do wonders for some of the jokes on offer in Knuckles, but it's often not enough to keep the momentum up and running. Instead, in the times when Knuckles wasn't on screen, I was more enthralled by the heartfelt moments, which, much like the humor, have a relatively low success ratio. Much of the family dynamics are framed around an absurd bowling tournament that apes the vibe and storyline of Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story a little too closely, making it difficult to connect to the characters or the overarching narrative. Knuckles feels noncommittal when it comes to the tone it's going for. While it's not impossible to be an action-comedy series with sentimental moments, it's a trickier line to walk than Knuckles can accomplish. <img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2024/04/19/4c9900ca/knuckles_104_0005_rt.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" alt="" class="image-style-body-default" /> And it would all be forgiven if the story felt essential – or even consequential – to the world of the Sonic series. But instead, having not yet seen Sonic the Hedgehog 3, I can't help but feel that Knuckles has that sitcom quality where everything ends up right where it started. Sure, there's a journey with some sentimentality, minor character development, funny gags, small Easter eggs, and enjoyable action scenes, but if someone asked if they needed to watch Knuckles before going to see Sonic the Hedgehog 3 when it arrives in theaters this December, I'd be hard pressed to find a narrative reason to answer them in the affirmative. That's perhaps Knuckles' biggest flaw: Despite its sometimes fun and heartfelt moments, it feels entirely inessential. Video game adaptations have an outdated reputation for being bad. Knuckles isn't outright bad, but when compared to its contemporaries like Fallout, The Last of Us, Twisted Metal, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and even Sonic the Hedgehog 2, it feels like a video game adaptation from a bygone era. 6 <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/scoring">About Game Informer's review system</a>

Every Villain In Insomniac's Spider-Man Universe

Brian Shea — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 14:21:00 CDT

<img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2023/10/19/9417627d/spidey.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /> With 2018's <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/review/spider-man/spinning-an-amazing-web">Marvel's Spider-Man</a>, Insomniac Games began building one of the richest video game interpretations of the Marvel Universe that we've seen to date. The studio nailed the tone of Peter, Miles, and their supporting cast, but it was the care put into the rest of the universe that makes Insomniac's universe stand apart. Yes, the Easter eggs and references to heroes like Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Black Panther, and more make this feel like an established universe full of superheroes, but Insomniac took things to the next level with its rogues' gallery.  As a longtime Spider-Man and Marvel fan, I've delighted in watching my favorite villains – and those I rarely think of – pop up throughout the multi-game journey. Check out all the villains in Insomniac's Spider-Man universe below, and let us know which ones you got most excited to see appear in the game. Warning: This list contains spoilers for Marvel's Spider-Man, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Marvel's Spider-Man 2.