Monday, November 30, 2020

AC Valhalla: How to Defeat the Daughters of Lerion

Three epic bosses are guarding legendary gear in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, see how you can find and defeat them all.

source https://www.ign.com/wikis/assassins-creed-valhalla/Daughters_of_Lerion_-_Locations_and_Battle_Tips

AC Valhalla: How to Defeat the Daughters of Lerion

Three epic bosses are guarding legendary gear in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, see how you can find and defeat them all.

source https://www.ign.com/wikis/assassins-creed-valhalla/Daughters_of_Lerion_-_Locations_and_Battle_Tips

You Can Finally Transfer Nintendo Switch Screenshots Directly to a Computer

A new Nintendo Switch firmware update has gone live and Ver. 11.0.0 adds several quality-of-life improvements that are actually meaningful. Features like finally being able to transfer videos and screenshots to a computer. Firmware 11.0.0 was pushed live today, and a big focus of today’s update involves getting your screenshots and gameplay capture off of the Switch and onto another device directly, either through a USB cable or wireless transfer. To access this, users can connect their Switch to a computer using a USB cable, go to System Settings, then Data Management, and finally to Manage Screenshots and Videos. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-top-25-switch-games-fall-2020-update&captions=true"] There is now also a feature that will automatically download saved data backed up on the cloud to multiple Switch consoles, granted the same Nintendo Account is linked to each device. However, the save data must already exist on each console, so you’ll still need to manually download the save data onto a second device first before being able to utilize this feature. Here are the full patch notes for Nintendo Switch Firmware 11.0.0 (via Nintendo’s website) [poilib element="accentDivider"]

Ver. 11.0.0 (Released November 30, 2020) Nintendo Switch Online was added to the HOME Menu.

  • Access all Nintendo Switch Online services, from getting the latest information to checking your membership status. *This feature is not available in some countries/regions.

A new feature that automatically downloads backed up save data was added to the Save Data Cloud.

  • When using software with the same Nintendo Account linked to multiple systems, save data backed up from one console will automatically be downloaded to your other system(s).
  • *To use this feature, it must be enabled under System Settings > Data Management > Save Data Cloud.
  • *Save data will not be downloaded automatically unless save data for that software exists on the console. The first time only, users must download the save data manually.
  • *A Nintendo Switch Online membership is required to use the Save Data Cloud service.

A new Trending feature was added to the User Page.

  • Users can check what software their friends are playing or have started playing recently.
  • Information will not be displayed for friends who have their online status set to display to no one.

Users can now transfer screenshots and videos from Album to their smart devices.

  • Users can wirelessly connect their smart devices to Nintendo Switch to transfer the screenshots and videos saved within their Album.
  • For screenshots, users can transfer a maximum of 10 screenshots and 1 video capture at once.
  • *To connect, users must use their smart device to scan the QR Code displayed on the Nintendo Switch screen.
  • For more information, please refer to the Nintendo Support website.
  • *“QR Code” is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED.

A new Copy to a Computer via USB Connection feature was added under System Settings > Data Management > Manage Screenshots and Videos.

  • Users can use a USB cable to connect Nintendo Switch to their computers to copy the screenshots and videos saved under Album.
  • * A USB charging cable [model HAC-010] or a USB-IF certified USB cable that supports data transfer is required to connect to a computer.
  • For more information, please refer to the Nintendo Support website.
  • * Connection via the Nintendo Switch dock is not supported. Please connect the Nintendo Switch system directly to the computer.

Users can now select what download to prioritize when there are multiple downloads in progress.

  • When there are multiple software, update data, or downloadable content downloads in progress, users can now select which they want to download first.
  • You can set this under Download Options by selecting the icon for the software you want to download first on the HOME Menu.

User icons were added.

  • 12 user icons that commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Super Mario Bros. series were added.

Users can now name preset button mappings with the Change Button Mapping feature. Brazilian Portuguese was added as a supported language.

  • When users set their region to the Americas and their language to Português, the language used on the HOME Menu and in certain software will be displayed in Brazilian Portuguese.

Several issues were fixed, and usability and stability were improved.

[poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

source https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-switch-firmware-11-screenshot-computer-transfer

AC Valhalla: How to Complete the Legendary Hunts

From monstrous wolves to mighty bears, see where and how to defeat the strongest animals of Norway and England in Assassin's Creed Valhalla.

source https://www.ign.com/wikis/assassins-creed-valhalla/Legendary_Hunts

Fortnite Galactus Event: When It Starts and What To Expect

Ever since Fortnite and Marvel teamed up, everyone expected some sort of game-altering occurrence – that Season 4 would offer more than just a battle pass filled with icon skins. And considering that Galactus’ body recently appeared in the ocean (just west of Sweaty Sands), it was apparent that he’d be the cause of whatever calamity is on the horizon. This coming live event will send shock waves through the Fortnite universe. At least, that’s the sentiment shared by Epic; the company wants as many people as possible to join the fight tomorrow. Given the magnitude of Galactus’ appearance, we’ve compiled the necessary information in our guide below to help you do just that.

What is The Fortnite Galactus Event?

The Fortnite Galactus event is a special, one-time-only event where players will (assumedly) battle Galactus. Epic hasn’t spilled the beans on just what that will actually entail. The only thing they’ve said is that players will be “joining the fight”. Will Fortnite players actually go toe-to-giant boot with Galactus though? We're not sure. What we do know is that this is supposed to be some sort of battle. Whether we afforded a front-row seat or actually get to participate in the fight is still up in the air. What we can say for certain is that Galactus will descend upon the island before all hell breaks loose.

What Time is The Fortnite Galactus Event?

Fortnite's Galactus live event will take place tomorrow, December 1st, 2020 at 1 AM PST (4 PM EST) in-game. Similarly, to other live Fortnite events, players will want to log-in an hour early. There should be a prompt letting you know that the event is happening soon. That’s when you hit the battle royale launcher (you’ll wait at the menu screen until that point). Again, try to be early. The last thing you want is to be stuck waiting in a queue while everyone else is participating in the Galactus event. fortnite-galactus-event-screen

How to Watch The Fortnite Galactus Event?

The entire event will take place in-game. Hopefully, if you log-in early enough, you’ll be able to participate. Don’t worry if you can’t though. While this is a one-time occurrence – as opposed to say, the Travis Scott concert – it will be possible to catch a VoD of sorts. IGN plans to capture this live event so you can definitely check back here to watch it. Epic will also allow content creators to share highlights of the event via YouTube. Note: Be sure to check with Epic if you plan on monetizing the event. Only Support-A-Creator (SAC) members will be able to monetize by linking their YouTube and SAC accounts. Even then, they’ll only be able to do so for 90 days. Epic said that they won’t issue takedowns or anything. Still, it’s always better to be safe rather than sorry. As for the where (once things get going), I’d expect for Galactus to be seen regardless of your position on the map. He’s a giant God-like being after all. He’s going to be hard to miss. That said, he is rising out of the water near the west side of the map. You can’t go wrong by heading in that direction upon logging in. Fortnite-battle-bus-galactus-screen

Fortnite Battle Bus Galactus Glitch

Another interesting development, besides the major event, is a Fortnite Bus glitch. Apparently, players can “hijack” the bus and ride it towards Galactus for…reasons. Discovered by YouTuber Glitch King, this glitch will give players the ability to take a closer look at a still submerged Galactus. To pull this off, you first have to make sure that the battle bus is headed in his direction. After that, you have to disconnect your internet a few seconds before you’d normally be kicked off the bus. If done correctly, you’ll continue to fly towards Galactus, eventually seeing what looks like purple energy waves. This glitch doesn’t tell us anything new about Galactus or the coming live event. It does, however, seem to tie into a cryptic tweet from Fortnite. Was Epic just being cheeky/celebrating the glitch? Most likely. Still, it’s always fun to speculate about these things; that’s what these vague announcements are made for. That’s all we know about the Fortnite Galactus Event (so far). Be sure to check back here for more as things progress.

source https://www.ign.com/articles/fortnite-galactus-event-start-time-what-to-expect-battle-bus-glitch

World Of Warcraft: Shadowlands Review – Old Ghosts And Bold Beginnings

Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Release:
Reviewed on: PC

Compared to the lifespan of most games, World of Warcraft is ancient - but it’s hardly a relic. Even today, Blizzard’s MMORPG continues to keep the content flowing for players old and new. Shadowlands is the eighth expansion, and this journey through the afterlife comes with fresh features alongside systems that will be extremely familiar to veterans of the game. At the core, Shadowlands succeeds with powerful world-building fantasy, player identity, and bold gameplay elements.

Click here to watch embedded media

Shadowlands’ premise is simple and straightforward. You invade the many realms of the afterlife to foil the plans of a mysterious arch-enemy called the Jailer. He is exceptionally boring as a villain right now, and takes a backseat to the true all-stars of the afterlife: the four distinct factions that the player explores and eventually aligns with as they reach the level cap. Making the choice to side with one of the realms comes with a ton of flavor and personality. 

I aligned myself with the crushed-velvet, soul-sucking, vampiric aristocracy of Revendreth. Its gothic horror trappings, magic mirrors, and giant bats gave me a different perspective of the world than players who sided with other factions. I even got to host VIP parties to try sucking up to nobles to get big payoffs. However, my nature-loving friend sided with the gorgeous ethereal forests of Ardenweald, where they put on plays in the woods and tend gardens. Whatever your decision, it feels more like you’re becoming part of these soul societies and not just jumping on an endgame progression treadmill. There’s flavor behind the functionality, and it counts for a lot, even if you are still roaming from zone to zone completing world quests. Each dungeon has elements that can be interacted with from a faction standpoint as well; discovering I could tame the gargoyles in a Venthyr dungeon to help defeat enemies was a nice surprise.

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Each zone in the afterlife is beautifully constructed and sells the fantasy well. While the sacred fields of Bastion and its angelic warriors bored me, it’s a necessary realm to serve as a foil to the darkness of Revendreth. All of the zones are impressive to view from above, and they look incredible considering how old the core of World of Warcraft is. Each zone is markedly different from the others in terms of aesthetics, personality, and feel. Blizzard takes advantage of being able to tap into heroes and villains of ages past; as this is the afterlife, it’s a great chance to bring the greatest hits from across WoW history into the spotlight. Great attention has been paid to bring forth major characters, obscure single-quest references from a decade ago, and popular newcomers like Battle for Azeroth’s Bwonsamdi.

Shadowlands serves up many staples of what is now understood to be the norm. While world quests, dungeons, war tables, and other endgame progression features are all still around with a sparkling coat of faction flavor, they don’t really alter anything in a fundamental way. Many of the quests on the way to level cap feel like stale and tired filler fare, like collecting acorns or killing fifteen cultists, with some interesting larger scale beats scattered in. However, new systems within an incredibly dangerous zone the Maw (It’s supposed to be hell) and a roguelike run experience known as Torghast make Shadowlands stand out. 

The Maw is an incredibly hazardous realm that offers risk-reward balance as you hang out in the Jailer’s backyard, battling lethal monsters without any real safety net to speak of. You may even have to run back to where you die to recover some lost resources. The Maw adds some pressure and challenge to an open-zone environment, which is absolutely refreshing in a game in which it’s all too easy to end up on autopilot world quest mode while watching Netflix. Participating in Maw activities raises the ire of the Jailer, who focuses on you like the Eye of Sauron in Mordor as you slay his fiends. While it’s functionally just another way to gate how much you can do in The Maw every day, it’s again the colorful packaging that makes the difference here.

The pinnacle of Shadowlands content is Torghast. Take the variance and unpredictability of roguelike runs and do them on your WoW character, alone or with friends, in a damned dungeon tower that’s different every time. After doing a decade of dungeon runs that never change, Torghast is a beyond welcome addition. Even the greatest curated dungeons lose their luster after completing them a dozen times, so the prospect of something new each dive is tantalizing. Each run is another opportunity to try out different builds and strategies as your powerups and situations change constantly. One run may turn you into an overpowered god stacking multiple scaling sources of damage to annihilate everything in sight or accumulating enough regeneration to handle anything. Complete puzzles to open caches, rescue some companions you can take back to your hideout, run into a mimic, or slay a rare miniboss that confers special powers. The Torghast climb is great fun and quite replayable – I found myself going back in even after I had capped my rewards for the week just to explore, experiment, and enjoy.

Click here to watch embedded media

It’s worth mentioning that the new leveling experience that rolled out with Shadowlands is excellent, allowing you to get a character leveled, geared, and into the new content in a fraction of the time it would have taken before, so you have time to learn your class easily before hitting the Shadowlands. This allows players to level up through any of WoW’s old expansions at a rapid pace, tempting adventurers to enjoy the old content whilst keeping it relevant in a new era. I leveled several characters for fun just to explore the old expansions, and it felt great to have a few more options in my stable to explore Shadowlands with.

Shadowlands plays it safe with numerous takes on established systems and structures, but lets players enjoy those features with a plethora of personality via the covenant factions and themed zones. Shadowlands also takes chances with a deadly zone that promotes teamwork and careful play alongside a fantastic roguelike run tower that’s full of surprises. Shadowlands is a satisfying addition to the annals of World of Warcraft expansions, and with a robust and revamped leveling experience rolling out with it, it’s a great time to come back to the MMORPG that made the genre mainstream
 

Score: 8.75

Summary: Venture to the great beyond in World of Warcraft's latest adventure.

Concept: Save the world by entering various realms in the afterlife, meeting old friends and enemies along the way

Graphics: Breathtaking and striking environments make it hard to imagine that the game is 16 years old

Sound: The core sounds of World of Warcraft haven’t changed much, but there are always unit barks and meme-worthy boss quips to enjoy

Playability: A revamped and customizable levelling process makes Shadowlands a great time for new or returning players to join in

Entertainment: Shadowlands adds some daring elements into the mix while also retaining many of the same hooks that have kept the MMO going over the years

Replay: High

Click to Purchase

Animal Crossing: It's Your Last Chance to Catch These November Critters

A new month is on the horizon. Don't forget to catch these critters before they leave!

source https://www.ign.com/wikis/animal-crossing-new-horizons/All_Bugs,_Fish,_and_Sea_Creatures_Leaving_in_November

This Electronic Poké Ball Replica May Be The Best, Like No Other Ever Was

If you’re a Pokémon fan, I bet you’ve always dreamed of owning and/or throwing a real-life Poké Ball. Now you can live out that fantasy in style with these premium Poké Ball replicas coming next year. You probably don’t want to actually toss these at your collection of Bulbasaur plushies, though; they’re very nice collectibles. 

The Pokémon Company has teamed up with high-end replica manufacturer The Wand Company to produce a line of die-cast metal Poké Ball replicas set to launch throughout 2021. That would be Pokémon’s 25th anniversary, in case you haven’t been keeping count. In addition to recreating the classic red and white ball, expect to see replicas of the Great Ball, Ultra Ball, and Premier Ball in the coming months.

Click here to watch embedded media

Not only do these models resemble the genuine article, but they also have glowing buttons that light up via motion and touch sensing. Pressing the button changes the color of the lights or plays what the Pokémon Company describes as a “Pokémon-catching illumination sequence”. If that’s not swanky enough, the Poké Balls come in a presentation case that also lights up upon opening (with a touch-sensitive plaque to control the lights). Cases include a stainless steel ring for both protection and display purposes, as well as a uniquely numbered hologram of authenticity. 

The classic Poké Ball will be the first to go on sale for $99.99 and can be pre-ordered now via Amazon and other participating retailers. Additionally, a special Poké Ball will be available exclusively through the Pokémon Center store website. but orders are expected to arrive February 27, 2021 AKA Pokémon Day. These replicas seem like a fun way to celebrate the historic milestone, not to mention would look darn good on a shelf. Let us know if you’ll be picking one up in the comments!

Rainbow Six Siege Hibana Statue Revealed In Incredible Detail

If you're a Hibana fan, this Rainbow Six Siege statue is a must-have, but it's going to cost you more than just a pretty penny. Whether you're an avid collector or looking for a nice gift for the gamer in your life, this collectible is a fine addition from PureArts Studio. 

The 1:4 scale Hibana Elite statue seen below will set you back $500 dollars, which is a pretty standard price point for a statue of this size made with polyresin. It features alternate weapons for her, including her Kyudo Japanese bow and the X-KAIROS 40 mm caliber launcher. 

The statue offers two unique poses for each weapon type, making her an interchangeable addition to any collection. It's also good for those that love the idea of the bow and not the bow itself. 

Click here to watch embedded media

For those collectors that may be interested, here is what you need to know about the above Hibana statue from Rainbow Six Siege: 

Equipment

  • Unique Abilities: The X-KAIROS - a 40 mm caliber launcher and its pellets that can be displayed held in her hands.
  • Secondary Weapon: The BEARING 9 - a machine pistol that magnetically attaches to the waist holder.
  • The Kyūdō - Her emblematic weapon, the Kyūdō is a Japanese bow that you can display ready to shoot.

Accessories:

  • Japanese lantern including an LED lighting system, can be displayed anywhere on the base.
  • Dynamic and realistic sculpted clothes
  • 2 arm poses
  • 1 bag of pink fabric cherry-blossom petals

 PRODUCT DETAILS:

  • AVAILABLE IN NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA ONLY
  • Licensed by: Ubisoft
  • Scale: 1/4
  • Material: Polyresin
  • Regular Price: $499
  • Estimated Delivery: Q3 2021
  • Limitation: 999
  • Batteries not included: 3 x LR44

Coming in at just under $500, the Rainbow Six Siege Hibana Elite Skin statue is now available to order right here through the PureArts website. 

What do you think about the latest Rainbow Six Siege statue to be revealed? What other operator would you like to see get the collectible treatment next? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! 

Immortals Fenyx Rising Review

In Greek mythology, Icarus’s ambition led to his literal downfall when he flew too close to the sun and melted his wax wings. So yes, being overly ambitious does have its drawbacks, but so too does a lack of it. Immortals Fenyx Rising, for instance, offers a light and entertaining spin on Greek mythology that’s clearly inspired by a reverence for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Its setting, systems, and story are packed with references to iconic deities and legendary tales, but always with tongue planted firmly enough in cheek that it avoids coming off as self-important. All this flavour makes for a great set-up that’s complemented by fun combat, but the puzzle design across this colourful open world is disappointingly workmanlike. In a game about heavenly gods and fantastical monsters, the puzzles are far too grounded by earthly concerns.

Immortals’ most inventive touch is its storytelling. The journey of Fenyx, a mortal soldier shipwrecked on a mystical island, is presented as a tale told by an imprisoned Prometheus to Zeus, and the dynamic between the two is hilarious. The pair’s bantering narration interjects regularly throughout your roughly 30-hour adventure, helping to further the plot, provide mythological context, or simply crack jokes. And further on, Immortals does an effective job of balancing the focus on humour with story-driven character development.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/10/immortals-fenyx-rising-ps5-gameplay-4k"]

The overarching story revolves around the hulking monstrosity Typhon, once imprisoned by Zeus, now free and determined to destroy the Gods forever. Typhon also interjects regularly as you travel across the Golden Isle setting, as he’s none too happy that you’re helping out the four gods this beast has transformed – Aphrodite, Hephaistos, Ares and Athena. And when I say transformed, I'm not embellishing. The God of War, for instance, is now a rather handsome rooster. The emphasis here is very much on humour, while also giving us insight into the backstories of Aphrodite, Hephaistos, Ares, and Athena within the pantheon.

[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=These%20iconic%20gods'%20stories%20are%20full%20of%20fun%20moments%20and%20amusing%20dialogue."]I really enjoyed seeing how the development team chose to play with each of these iconic gods, and their stories are full of fun moments and amusing dialogue. Each of the areas they’re based in also feels radically different. The green hills, lush forests, azure streams and picturesque islands of Aphrodite’s Valley of Eternal Spring couldn’t be more different from the scorched, arid terrain and towering fortifications of Ares’ War’s Den.

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Hermes – emissary of the gods and all-round trickster – is also great value, popping up unexpectedly during missions, and always available at the Hall of the Gods, Immortals’ hub for upgrades and crafting. These are by no means the only characters of myth and legend covered by Immortals. Many of the puzzles, whether they're about restoring a Constellation or completing a Fresco are also references to classic fables, alongside other nods throughout the world.[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=The%20dynamic%20between%20Zeus%20and%20Promethus%20is%20hilarious."]

Obviously the more intimately you know these myths and mythical beings the more you’ll get out of the references and the ways in which Immortals deals with them. I enjoyed the fact that the lives of the Gods are basically presented as a cosmic soap opera, but at the same time, a lot of it washed over me as I’m just not familiar enough with the underlying mythology. It would have been nice if Immortals had some supplemental information for players like myself that could help fill in the gaps along the way.

The Gods are far from the only sources of humour in Immortals. Fenyx is treated quite playfully too, ensuring that even routine things like opening treasure chests or upgrading an attribute brought a smile to my face.

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Far Slight

The Golden Isle is a pretty alluring destination. Immortals’ painterly presentation can be quite striking as you gallop through lush meadows or take in the sights from a clifftop, while the day/night cycle ensures the tone of the landscape is always evolving. Fenyx is very capable within this world too; like Link in Breath of the Wild, he or she (you can choose) is able to climb basically any obstacle given enough stamina, then glide towards whatever destination you’ve picked out using the Wings of Daedalus.

Exploration, though, is where Immortals stumbles a bit relative to its obvious inspiration. Fenyx’s Far Sight ability diminishes the joy of discovery somewhat, reducing it to a mechanical process of climbing to a vista, scanning the world, and marking out collectables and challenges – whether they’re visible or not. This takes a lot of the mystery out of the world.[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=Immortals%E2%80%99%20painterly%20presentation%20can%20be%20quite%20striking%20as%20you%20gallop%20through%20lush%20meadows%20or%20take%20in%20the%20sights%20from%20a%20clifftop..."]

It’s one thing, after all, to climb a peak and spot something in the distance, then drop a pin on it to remind yourself to go and see what it is. It’s quite another to be able to systematically work your way across the entire map waiting for controller vibrations, then mark exactly what’s in that spot – be it a treasure chest, Vault of Tartaros or one of the numerous challenge archetypes. Every time I used Far Sight I’d typically add ten or more new destinations on my map with next to no effort.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/7-things-to-know-about-immortals-fenyx-rising"]

To be honest, I’d much prefer not to know what’s in that deep chasm before I jump down to explore it. And likewise, I want to climb a craggy cliff jutting out of the sea just to see if there’s something up there, not because I know for a fact a shimmering nugget of Ambrosia is waiting.

[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=The%20Golden%20Isle%20is%20fun%20to%20roam%20around%2C%20with%20plenty%20of%20optional%20combat%20and%20some%20truly%20impressive%20vistas."]Of course, I don’t have to use the functionality, but to me the fact that it’s included at all says that Immortals is more concerned with the destination than the journey, and that was largely borne out in my time with it. While Immortals does use a stamina system for gliding and climbing, my plentiful supply of easily crafted stamina potions ensured that I could still quite easily get to wherever I wanted. As such, the environment itself wasn’t much of a puzzle, which is a real shame for an open-world game.

Despite this, The Golden Isle is still fun to roam around, with basic collectables to gather and discover, plenty of optional combat, and some truly impressive vistas.

Old’s Cool?

Regardless, many of the destinations in Immortals aren’t what I’d describe as riveting once you reach them. It’s not that these challenges are bad – they just have no ambition whatsoever. That murky chasm I mentioned earlier? Turns out its deep secret was a puzzle where I had to shoot flaming arrows into three braziers to open a door. Then, 20 metres further along, I had to find three switches to open another door. Then a bit on from that, there was a puzzle where I had to find three weights to put on three pressure plates to open yet another door. I’m not even kidding.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/immortals-fenyx-rising-ps5-quality-vs-performance-mode-gameplay"]

A large percentage of the puzzles in Immortals revolve around cookie-cutter gameplay like this. Immortals is grounded in pushing, pulling, lifting, stacking and throwing blocks… most of the time to trigger switches on the ground. That school of puzzle design is so old-school it makes the Greek myths feel practically contemporary.

[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=That%20school%20of%20puzzle%20design%20is%20so%20old-school%20it%20makes%20the%20Greek%20myths%20feel%20practically%20contemporary."]It’s not just blocks and crates, either. I also had more than my fill of puzzles where I had to roll balls through mazes, guide flaming arrows into braziers or find the missing object to put on a plinth. One moment it’s an apple, the next a cabbage, but functionally it’s all the same. The puzzles in this game, whether in the overworld or within the Vaults of Tartaros, really do feel like they’re all just variations on a handful of basic concepts over and over again.

[caption id="attachment_2445825" align="alignnone" width="1920"]Don't forget sliding block puzzles. Don't forget sliding block puzzles.[/caption]

To be clear, none of these are badly designed, and I didn’t actively dislike doing them. I just wasn’t excited by them, nor did they really test me or surprise me. Less would most definitely have been more in Immortals. Coming back to that chasm again, imagine if instead of three obvious and functionally similar puzzles there was just one that really rewarded observation and understanding its systems? I’d much prefer one satisfying puzzle that demands invention and lateral thinking than three utterly bland solutions. Instead, it feels as though the puzzles are largely there to fill the map, not to engage us.

[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=None%20of%20these%20puzzles%20are%20badly%20designed%2C%20I%20just%20wasn%E2%80%99t%20excited%20by%20them."]Immortals’ puzzles are ultimately a means to an end – they’re a source of gear and loot that can be used to gain more stamina, unlock new abilities, upgrade potions and so on. And in this capacity they at least help ensure Immortals’ fast-paced combat stays engaging throughout.

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Hammer Time

Combat is absolutely a strength in Immortals, and the world map is positively littered with foes to fight, so any time I felt like letting off steam, some stylish hacking, slashing and wielding the powers of the Gods was never far away. I loved swapping my armour and weapons around to use their perks, as well as unlocking new abilities to give me more options in combat.

[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=Wielding%20the%20powers%20of%20the%20Gods%20was%20never%20far%20away."]Taking a look at the skill trees, I largely focused on upgrading Fenyx’s ability to dodge in the air and on the ground, and then follow-up attack out of dodges. As is the way in video games, dodging as an enemy attacks slows time, and I took advantage of that by extending her sword and axe combos too. Alternatively, I could have focused on counters out of parries, or running attacks, or ways to do damage while airborne. I could even have ignored the skills altogether and gone all in on the Godly Powers.

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Instead of doing that, I chose to complement my chosen skills by giving my bird sidekick Phosphoros the ability to swoop down to damage and stun a target repeatedly, which was great for big threats. I also upgraded Hephaistos’ Hammer to give it a shockwave for crowd control in addition to burst damage. Whatever way you like to fight, Immortals will likely have something for you.

[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=Whatever%20way%20you%20like%20to%20fight%2C%20Immortals%20will%20likely%20have%20something%20for%20you."]And as you help out the Gods you’ll also unlock their Blessings, each of which is a unique perk. Aphrodite’s Embrace, for instance, is essentially Mipha’s Grace from Breath of the Wild, bringing you back after losing all your health. Not that you really need it outside boss battles – there’s almost no penalty for dying on normal difficulty.

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The combat is certainly fun, but it’s not particularly hard unless you decide to try and take on a legendary encounter before gearing up enough. For normal encounters it didn’t take me long to suss out each enemy’s attack patterns, as well as learning that if an enemy flashes red, I should get ready to dodge out of the way. Immortals has some good systems in place to help in combat too, such as icons showing when attacks are coming from off-screen. Again, get ready to dodge. Annoyingly, I found it impossible to consistently stay locked on to my priority target, so in the end opted not to use that functionality at all.

[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=The%20combat%20is%20certainly%20fun%2C%20but%20it%E2%80%99s%20not%20particularly%20hard."]Fights could use a bit more variety, too. Sure, you’ll often be attacked by a motley assortment of enemies at once – a minotaur or cyclops here, a couple of ethereal soldiers there, a Gorgon slothing up behind, some Harpies in the sky, and so on. The problem is they don’t have a great deal of personality beyond their attacks, and aside from obvious counters like using heavy attacks against shielded enemies or aerial combos against flying creatures, you can use a pretty basic strategy against most foes – hit them until an attack is coming in then dodge. Rinse and repeat.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/immortals-fenyx-rising-full-quest-gameplay"]

Another element that makes the combat feel easier than it might otherwise have been is the fact that your health bar doesn’t really mean much. If you spend any time gathering collectable plants in the environment, you’ll always be able to cook up enough health, stamina, attack boost and defense boost potions that you can spend them very freely. Only Immortals’ final boss had me down to zero health potions and legitimately sweating. For everything else I was able to dose up as needed.

Even so, I’m not opposed to combat that isn’t overtly challenging if it’s still fun, and Immortals’ combat is very much that. Fenyx is responsive to control and felt more and more powerful as I progressed. And after clocking Immortals, I was pretty tempted to either go back to my pre-final boss save or to start a New Game+ and try to max out all Fenyx’s gear and abilities… but then I remembered the gameplay in between the combat and the exploration.



source https://www.ign.com/articles/immortals-fenyx-rising-review

Immortals Fenyx Rising Review – Divine Inspiration

Click here to watch embedded media
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Quebec
Release:
Rating: Teen
Reviewed on: Xbox Series X/S
Also on: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC

When a powerful titan defeats the Greek gods and scatters them across the Golden Isle, an unproven shield-bearer named Fenyx washes up on shore. More of a storyteller than a soldier, Fenyx must now write a legend of their own, reuniting the gods and challenging the evil force known as Typhon in an ultimate underdog story. Much like its protagonist, Immortals Fenyx Rising strives to be more than a game that just repeats the glories of others; it adds its own mythical flair on top of developer Ubisoft Quebec’s previous work on Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. The result is an exciting and unique open-world adventure worthy of a place in the gaming pantheon.

Exploring the Golden Isle is a joyous experience. Rich visuals (inspired by Studio Ghibli’s films) create lush and diverse biomes, and your traversal abilities make it simple to navigate the world. Fenyx (who can be male or female) can climb nearly any surface as long as they have the stamina, or jump off a mountain or statue and glide across long distances with ease. Even when I had fast-travel options to reach my destination quicker, I typically opted to make the journey manually. Every corner I turned or nook I explored rewarded me with puzzles to solve or enemies to battle for gear, resources, and other rewards.

Click here to watch embedded media

As Fenyx progresses, Immortals fulfills a terrific power fantasy. At first, the combat system emphasizes basic attacks, parries, and dodges, but that run-of-the-mill repertoire quickly builds to one that allows you to chain together awesome, godlike powers. You can command your bird companion to rain death from above while you summon a cluster of spears from beneath the ground, then finish the combo with a devastating swing of a giant hammer. Immortals consistently delivers stylish action that encourages you to build your combos and optimize your gear to suit your playstyle. Unfortunately, the enemy types get repetitive; by the end of the journey, I was tired of battling the usual cyclopes and griffins, which is why I actively sought out the unique optional bosses.

When I wanted a tough fight, I took on the corrupted forms of legendary heroes like Achilles and Odysseus, or tracked down Mythical forms of monsters like Medusa or Ozomene. Though you grow rapidly in power as you continue Fenyx’s adventure, these optional fights provide distinct, edge-of-your-seat battles that test your skills and strategy – and reward you with unique gear.

Outside of the challenging fights, my favorite tasks to undertake in Immortals are the often-outstanding Vaults of Tartaros. Much like the Shrines in the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, these large, themed rooms throw distinct puzzles your way, with a different tactic required for each one. I enjoyed the innovative ways Immortals forced me to wrack my brain. One tasked me with activating gusts of wind to blow over obstacles, while another had me figuring out how to move boxes to pressure switches without getting destroyed by lasers. These Vaults feature such careful and intentional design that I always appreciated how clever the solutions were when I finally saw the big picture. Standard Vaults are often short and sweet, but God Vaults, which usually take place at the end of main storylines, are long, involved rooms that can take up to an hour to complete. Not only did I love working through these longer Vaults, but they serve as the perfect way to put a bow on the story arcs featuring some of Greek mythology’s most iconic characters, as voice lines play as you progress through the Vault, giving additional insight into the true nature and motivations of that god.

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With a narrative that involves a world-reshaping beast alongside the mightiest warriors, gods, and monsters of Greek mythology, you may think Immortals Fenyx Rising takes itself seriously. However, its high stakes and dark premise are punctuated by comedy, providing a lighthearted tone full of endearing moments with many of its characters. While the jokes don’t always land, I appreciated the strong mix of sarcasm, self-deprecation, and fourth-wall breaking. While an out-of-nowhere joke has the potential to take you out of the action-packed story, the writing is done in a masterful way that keeps the tone consistent throughout, making neither the serious moments or the comedic ones feel out of place.

Immortals contains all the ingredients I want from an epic, open-world adventure steeped in mythology. With empowering combat, rewarding exploration, and a story that shines a spotlight on its characters through humor, Immortals Fenyx Rising leverages its myriad inspirations to discover its own identity and deliver an outstanding open-world experience.

Score: 9

Summary: Immortals Fenyx Rising draws inspiration from movies and other games to create a unique and exciting mythological journey worth embarking on.

Concept: A humorous, action-packed adventure in which players explore a massive island brimming with prominent figures and creatures of Greek mythology

Graphics: The characters may look like strange puppets, but the world they populate is utterly gorgeous

Sound: An appropriately heroic score accompanies your feats, and the funny narration (by Zeus and Prometheus) hits the mark more than it misses

Playability: Though some of the environmental puzzles are poorly executed, the challenge-room Vaults are often clever, creative, and fun

Entertainment: Rewarding exploration, satisfying combat, and imaginative puzzles converge with endearing storytelling and well-executed humor to provide an excellent open-world experience

Replay: Moderate

Click to Purchase

Doom Eternal Switch Release Date Revealed

Bethesda has revealed when Doom Eternal is finally coming to Nintendo Switch: December 8. The Switch version of Doom Eternal has been created in partnership with Panic Button, the studio who previously helped bring Doom 2016, Wolfenstein 2, and Wolfenstein: Young Blood to Switch. Available only as a digital download - no physical edition is being produced or planned - the game will take up 18.8GB of storage space on Switch. It will be available on the eShop from midnight Eastern Time. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/30/doom-eternal-nintendo-switch-release-date-trailer"] This release is essentially the same version as released on PC and console earlier this year, including the 2v1 Battlemode multiplayer suite as well as the main single player campaign. While those remain unchanged, the Switch version does support gyroscopic motion controls. DLC for Doom Eternal - The Ancients Gods: Part 1 - is already available on PC and console, but will arrive later on Switch. Early purchasers up to December 22 will get a digital download code for Doom 64 and the ‘Rip & Tear’ content pack, which contains skins and a remixed version of the Cultist Base Master campaign level. Not sure if you should dive in? Check out our Doom Eternal review from earlier in the year, and our thoughts on the Switch version of Doom 2016. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.

source https://www.ign.com/articles/doom-eternal-switch-release-date-revealed

Doom Eternal Comes To Nintendo Switch In December

Doom Eternal joined some of this year's most stellar gaming experiences in The Game Awards' Game of the Year category. Despite FPS experiences being one of the most popular genres on a yearly basis, Doom Eternal added to the formula with intense, satisfying, and fast-paced gunplay. Now that same acclaimed title is coming to Nintendo Switch next month. 

We loved Doom Eternal. Andrew Reiner said, "From a combat standpoint, you couldn’t ask for much more...It roars with excitement, and just keeps getting bigger and better as it goes." Now that Doom Eternal is coming to Switch, a new populous of players will have the opportunity to dive into the game's bloody hellscape and cut down the hordes of demons standing in their way. Additionally, veterans of the game will get the chance to do all of this and more on the go.

According to GameSpot, Doom Eternal on Switch won't have a physical edition. The Ancient Gods story DLC is slated for a 2021 release, and if you've pre-ordered a physical copy (back when that was an option), you'll have until December 23 to redeem your game code and claim the pre-order bonuses. Doom Eternal launches for Nintendo Switch on December 8. 

[Source: GameSpot]

eBay Condemns PS5 Photo Scammers, Is Taking Action Against Sellers

Auction site eBay has condemned scammers listing photographs of PlayStation 5 consoles, and has vowed to take action against the sellers and to remove listings. In a statement to Eurogamer, eBay said: "We condemn these opportunistic sellers who are attempting to mislead other users. We are in the process of removing all listings for photos of PS5s from our marketplace and will be taking appropriate action against the sellers.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/06/playstation-5-review"] These sellers are creating listings that look like they are for PlayStation 5 consoles, but are actually just for printed photographs of a PS5. Listings feature titles like “Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition 1TB Console - White (PHOTO)” and so - while actually disclaiming they are selling a photograph - the bulk of the name appears like a console listing. At time of writing, there are dozens of these listings across UK and US eBay sites. There are listings being actively bid on, with some current bids being in the multiple hundreds of dollars/pounds. These may be inflated by the scammers themselves in order to look more ‘legitimate’ and fool buyers, or simply be genuine bids by fooled buyers. "For any purchase, but especially highly priced or in-demand items, buyers should exercise caution and thoroughly read the listing description,” said eBay’s statement. "Buyers who receive an item which is not as described are entitled to a refund via our eBay Money Back Guarantee, provided they completed the transaction on the eBay platform." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-playstation-5-games&captions=true"] These sellers clearly know the rules of “item must be as described” since every listing has “photo”, “picture”, or “image only” in their description, and often a line in the listing saying that purchasers will only receive a printed picture. So while these listings do ‘technically’ abide by eBay’s rules, it’s good to see eBay planning to take action. The statement is unclear on if those who fall victim can be compensated, but the line stating “an item which is not as described are entitled to a refund” suggests not, as all these listings do state they are photographs. PS5 scams and scalpers have been a major issue since the console launched. For more, take a look at our investigation into how sneaker culture predicted next-gen console scalpers. If you do already have one, be sure to check out our PS5 console guide and 8 hidden PS5 features and settings. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

source https://www.ign.com/articles/ebay-ps5-photo-scam

The Children In Assassin's Creed Valhalla Are Terrifying

Assassin's Creed Valhalla offers a stunning open-world for players to live out those Viking fantasies in. It even houses some pretty stellar references, including a Dungeons & Dragons game. That being said, there is one aspect that is far from beauty and grace, and it's these children that OH MY GOD WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEIR FACE?! 

Look, we're not here to judge. All children are beautiful in the eyes of yada yada yada, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that these kids have officially out-uglied the boat people of Marvel's Spider-Man when it first launched on the PS4. 

One Reddit user made a horrifying compilation showing off some of the best (?) of the best (again, ?) and really, this is not the content we should be sharing with you but we're doing it anyway. Sorry: 

Reddit @KrutToppen

Some of them aren't that bad, but the one in the middle looks like it's trying to suck my soul out through my monitor and I'm not OK with that. The one of the bottom left looks like he's seen some things and the feller mid-left looks like he should be a fully grown shopkeeper, not a young child. 

The good news is that they're tiny, so you can just...overlook them. Or, you can make another compilation, because who needs sleep? 

In all fairness, there is so much in Valhalla to enjoy and the kids of this world aren't really a focus. With so many other things to enjoy, this nightmare fuel is a small price to pay to be the Viking you were always meant to be. 

Interested in learning more about Assassin's Creed Valhalla, including how to get Thor's armor? Check out our game hub here to learn more about Ubisoft's latest adventure. 

Also, please don't take this article too seriously. It's early, we've been tanking way more time into this game than is probably wise, and it gave us a good chuckle. 

These Legend Of Zelda Makeup Brushes Are Perfect For The Holidays

The holidays are just around the corner and many are looking for the perfect stocking stuffers for gamers. For anyone looking for a unique gift (or just a cool fandom buy), there is a new set of Legend of Zelda makeup brushes that are pretty darn perfect for fans of the Nintendo franchise. 

Maybe the magic of Legend of Zelda will make me miraculously better at makeup. Probably not. 

From the shop Panashe-Essence (not affiliated with Game Informer or its parent company), the latest gaming crossover is none other than that of Legend of Zelda. This same company has offered other gaming goods, including a Pokemon set, but how could I resist writing up about a makeup option that offers the Hyrulian shield? 

Panashe-Essence

The above set comes with a powder brush, a smudge brush, an eyebrow brush, an eyeshadow brush, and a silkworm brush. The listing also states that the handles are made of metal for a heftier feel, but honestly? They just look really cool. 

If you're looking to scoop these up for the holidays, there is one thing you should know: handling can take up to three business days with 1-2 weeks for shipping. That should be enough time for Christmas pending no delays, but the good news is that the site also states that it has a 100% money back guarantee. 

For those that might be interested in this Legend of Zelda makeup take, you can grab a set right here for $33.99 at the time the article was written. That may be a Cyber Monday-only deal, given that the original price listed is $69.99. 

While obviously makeup brushes aren't for everyone, this is a unique self-buy or a cool gift idea. The holidays have crept up on us all, it's time to start keeping a peep out for thoughtful gifts for those celebrating the holidays in the month of December. 

Thoughts on the Legend of Zelda makeup brush set? What other game franchise would you like to see get this same fandom treatment? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! 

New Phasmophobia Prison Level Beta Is Live

Phasmophobia is a campy co-op horror game that is terrifying and hilarious (due to the graphics and its resulting comedic glitches). Due to its ghost-hunting nature and scary as all hell levels, this experience quickly skyrocketed to streaming fame and for good reason. Now joining levels like the High School and the asylum, the new prison level teased earlier this month is now available in the beta build of the game. 

I haven't had a chance to check out the new level myself quite yet, but as soon as that work timer counts down, I plan on screaming my head off the same as always just in a brand-new location. 

With the beta build, the devs behind Phasmophobia can test out some of the lingering bugs and implement fixes. Even though it's just launched, new issues have already been found, and tackled, with an additional patch specific to the beta build: 

The list of fixes includes a bug where the Fuse Box spawns inside of the wall, making it unreachable (been there with a similar bug with asylum), ghost door sound improvements, incorrect textures with things like fingerprints, and more. The team also fixed the issue where players were colliding with cabinet doors, which is also a fairly common issue across levels. 

Phasmophobia is charming for several reasons, and reasons we couldn't get enough of. The co-op angle obviously is a huge win for a game like this, but also the janky graphics inspire some pretty hilarious animations. The biggest one can be seen on a recent Game Informer Phasmophobia stream that if you bend over even slightly, or look up, your body basically breaks in half. Is it supposed to do that? We don't think so, but we hope they don't ever fix it because frankly? It's part of the experience at this point. 

The new Phasmophobia prison level is now available in the beta build of the game. Simply go to your Steam library, hit right-click on the game and go to properties, click the beta tab, and go ham. 

Have you had a chance to check out the new prison level yet? Sound off with your impressions in the comments below! 

Assassin's Creed Valhalla Has A Cool Dungeons & Dragons Nod

Assassin's Creed Valhalla is a massive game that has so much more than just its incredible main story to enjoy. Strategic building, meaningful romance, hilarious and intriguing sidequests; the new game has it all. It also has a pretty nifty Dungeons & Dragons reference, though not by that name. 

As spotted by @PlayWithJambo, there is a part in Valhalla at the Foris Turre viewpoint in Wessex that players can see the clever D&D nod with Prisons & Pyewackets character sheets and DM notes: 

While not an active game that Eivor can participate in, it is more than a passing reference. If you look closely, you can see detailed characters sheets and the Dungeon Master's (DM) notes on the ongoing game. There is even a dice tray that can be seen in the short clip above. 

There are many hidden references found within the massive world of Valhalla, but as a massive D&D fan, this kind of made me tear up a little bit. Dungeons & Dragons has brought friends together for so long and in recent years, that community has expanded immensely with the help of engaging shows like Critical Role. As more and more discover the magic that Dungeons & Dragons has to offer, it's pretty awesome to see it included in Ubisoft's latest Assassin's Creed adventure. 

What other cool references have you found with your time in Assassin's Creed Valhalla? Share your nifty finds in the comment section below! You can also scope out what we thought of the latest journey as a Viking with our full review here alongside a small excerpt below: 

"The content and design of Valhalla are the best the series has seen in years, but the technical frustrations are disappointingly familiar," reads our own Joe Juba's review. "I encountered several companion A.I. bugs, creepy child NPCs who were adult-sized, and quest-givers who wouldn't talk to me – all alongside other graphical and audio glitches. Objectively, I can't deny these problems are jarring and inconvenient. But on a practical level, none of them are severe enough to significantly dampen my enjoyment; the consequences usually aren't any worse than reloading an autosave and losing a few minutes of progress. I'd rather not deal with those issues, but the failures are light when weighed against the heft of Valhalla's successes."

SaGa Frontier Remastered Is The Latest Remaster From Square Enix

Square Enix has another remaster on the way, this time with SaGa Frontier Remastered. While we don't have a release date quite yet, we do have a trailer showing off the latest nostalgia play from the studio. 

The below announcement trailer offers a glimpse at what the remaster will have to offer fans of the original, an experience that made its debut back in 1997. 

Click here to watch embedded media

“The team of eight have returned – now with Fuse added as a playable character,"  reads the official reveal made by Square Enix. "Choose your favourite character and embark on your own unique journey. Each of the eight characters have different goals and endings. Your choices will affect how events unfold using the Free-Form Scenario System. This in-depth system will allow you to manipulate and expand a story all your own.

"Challenge yourself in nail-biting battles by using ‘glimmer’ as well as learning new skills such as the ability to fire consecutive special attacks from multiple team members. With beautiful graphics, as well as the addition of new events and features, SaGa Frontier Remastered is an experience not to be missed!”

Combo-ing the perfect attack, talking to a plethora of intriguing characters, SaGa Frontier is a massively beloved experience, so seeing a fresher take on this game is great for longtime fans, even better for newcomers.

While we don't have an exact release date, Square Enix did confirm that the SaGa Frontier Remastered game will be launching sometime in Summer of 2021. This blast from the past will be available on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PC, Android, and iOS devices. 

Super Nintendo World Opens In February And It Looks Awesome

When we first learned of the Super Nintendo World coming to Universal Studios in Japan, immediately my inner-child screeched in excitement with millions of others. Since then, every new look had that delight escalating further, and now? Now we've got a grand opening date as well as a new sneak peek at what the park will have to offer Nintendo fans. 

Originally slated for a Summer opening earlier this, COVID-19 had other plans and the delay was called for safety concerns. While the pandemic continues to escalate in some areas, Osaka, Japan is ready to harness its inner Mario on February 4. Currently, the only park to be opening its Nintendo-themed doors is in Japan, but more parks are in the works to expand that fandom love even further with United States and Singapore locations on the way. 

The Nintendo park will be filled to the brim with interactive choices for attendees to engage in, including a wristband that will interact with a special phone app that will unlock activities like collecting character stamps and coins. 

We'll be seeing even more about Super Nintendo World in the coming months with the grand opening just around the corner, but from what's been seen so far? It looks like a fan dream come true

What do you think about the new shots of Super Nintendo World? When travel is safer, are you going to splurge on a trip to Osaka, or are you going to wait until new locations open up? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! 

Monster Hunter Movie Crossover Revealed In New Trailer For Monster Hunter World: Iceborne

The upcoming Monster Hunter live-action movie starring Milla Jovovich is almost ready to launch and to celebrate, Capcom is bringing the film's influence into the Monster Hunter World: Iceborne with a new crossover. 

The latest crossover event will kick off this week on December 3 and will include two of the leading characters. A playable version of Milla Jovovich's character will be among the added characters with Artemis. While it's not the Capcom venture she's known for, it is a neat little mashup for those excited for the film following the most recent Palico-driven trailer

Click here to watch embedded media

The new event kicks off on December 3 at 4 PM PST and will include two new limited-time only Event Quests with a two-part single-player story starring Artemis herself. Jovovich will be voicing her in-game counterpart with the added NPCs speaking in "Monster Hunter language." Capcom even added a cheeky little winking face following the latter part of the reveal. 

As with previous event quests, completion will offer exclusive themed rewards to celebrate the upcoming release of the Monster Hunter movie. Regarding what the two new quests will have to offer, Capcom had this to say: 

The first Event Quest on the menu is called “The New World” pits Artemis against a fierce Black Diablos in the Wildspire Waste. Once you clear this one, you’ll get materials to craft the Artemis α+ armor set, from the “Monster Hunter” movie.

As proof your victory over Black Diablos, the armor set features handy skills to help in future Diablos hunts, such as Earplugs, Health Boost, Stun Resistance and the set bonus skills Hasten Recovery (usually found on the Nergigante armor) and Great Luck.

The second Event Quest, “To Our World” will show up after you clear “The New World” and will provide a much bigger challenge… a Rathalos!

The new event hails before the arrival of the Monster Hunter movie, which is slated for a December 25th release in theaters. 

What do you think about the latest crossover to become available in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne? What do you think of what we've seen from the upcoming movie thus far? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below. Do it for the Palicoes

PS5 Users Are Being Banned Due To PS Plus Collection Abuse

PS Plus is a membership service that unlocks online play for PlayStation players while also awarding free games each month in addition to special sales on certain titles. The PS Plus Collection awards a total of 20 PS4 classics to PS5 PS Plus libraries, but it looks like some members are abusing that deal. With PS5 players now getting in on the free game action, a growing number of PS5 gamers are reportedly being banned due to a misuse of the service across generations.

With stellar titles like Batman Arkham Knight, God of War, Bloodborne, and more, the desire to utilize the PS Plus Collection is high. So many of these games set the tone for PS4's success, but it looks like more than a few accounts were using a loophole that awarded this collection to PS4 players and Sony immediately sought to rectify that. 

According to the above Twitter user, “Most of accounts will be unplayable for the next two months, including the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s holidays. Worse, some PS5 consoles get banned. Gamers call it SIE Thanksgiving Day Massacre. PlayStation HK has not responded to the issue at this time.”

PlayStation players have been taking to other forums, such as Reddit, to report their accounts being banned as well, but the good news is that the bans aren't widespread, instead they seem to be mainly occurring in Hong Kong. While we've seen a few reports of UK users also being banned, we've yet to be able to verify those bans ourselves. We've reached out to Sony for comment. 

As for what the ban affects, the reported amount of time for this exclusion is set for two months. During that period, network access and PS Plus perks will be completely unavailable. 

What do you think about the loophole found and the resulting bans? Weigh in with your PS Plus Collection thoughts in the comment section below. 


[Source: Twitter via DFTG)

Sunday, November 29, 2020

Japan's Super Nintendo World Theme Park Area Gets an Official Opening Date

Universal Studios Japan today announced that its long-awaited Super Nintendo World area will finally open to the public on February 4, 2021. IGN Japan was on hand for a sneak peek at one section of the new world; the very first time members of the press have been invited inside – check out our gallery below.

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Bowser’s Castle (or Koopa’s Castle in Japan) is an immense reconstruction of the iconic location from the games. Visitors will be able to climb a sweeping grand staircase, at the top of which is an imposing life-size bronze statue of Bowser himself. The scale is seriously impressive.

The walls of the castle’s corridors are lined with huge portrait paintings of Bowser, along with bright and colourful emblems from the Mario Kart games. Huge faux brass knockers adorn the doors, while Bowser’s face in menacing silhouette peers down from the top of the door frames.

We also saw where guests will line up for one of the park’s most anticipated new attractions, Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge, which promises to put visitors in the driving seat for a ride that includes AR and projection mapping effects to bring courses from the Mario Kart games to life. This is realized through a special headset styled on Mario’s hat with a built-in AR screen.

The attraction is the result of a six-year collaboration with the creative team at Nintendo, including input from Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto.[poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=Mario%20Kart%3A%20Koopa%E2%80%99s%20Challenge%20promises%20to%20put%20visitors%20in%20the%20driving%20seat%20for%20a%20ride%20that%20includes%20AR%20and%20projection%20mapping%20effects%20to%20bring%20courses%20from%20the%20Mario%20Kart%20games%20to%20life."]

Mario Kart Station is where visitors will board the ride. Each kart has four seats, with a steering wheel and AR headset for each rider. Warp Pipes hang down from the ceiling of the station departure hall, while chunky metal chains and massive gears decorate the room. The facade of a Lemmy’s Tire Service repair shop and other details can be seen above.

We also walked through a Trophy Room where guests can pose for photos alongside artefacts inspired by the games, including familiar trophies and one bearing the USJ logo, as well as a handwritten note from Bowser laying down a karting challenge.

Speaking to the assembled media, Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge attraction executive producer Thomas Geraghty showed off the new headset and Power Up Band. He noted that this will be the first ever Mario Kart theme park ride. “We will bring the story to life with Nintendo’s very compelling characters – Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach – and we will immerse our guests into the world of Nintendo with this augmented reality headset,” he said. “Guests will join their favourite characters immersed in augmented reality, steering their way through the Mushroom Kingdom, throwing shells at Koopalings, as they race to the finish.” He said that there will be win and lose states in the game, so victory is not guaranteed.

Geraghty said the headsets will be sanitised after every use, along with other social distancing measures.

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Super Nintendo World was originally intended to open ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics this summer, but this was postponed in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Even so, in October, a Mario-themed cafe and store opened inside USJ did open, separate from the Super Nintendo World area. The final area promises to include some pretty cool gamified elements, such as interactive attractions where visitors link their Power Up Bands to a mobile app to collect digital coins and unlock achievements.

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Universal Studios Japan is located in Osaka, Japan, and at the time of writing, Japan’s borders are closed to foreign tourists, though permanent foreign residents and business visitors from some countries are permitted to enter. The government is reportedly planning to fully reopen to tourists in spring 2021.

In addition to the USJ Super Nintendo World attraction, future locations are also being considered at other Universal Studios parks around the world.

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Daniel Robson is Chief Editor at IGN Japan – follow him on Twitter here



source https://www.ign.com/articles/japans-super-nintendo-world-theme-park-area-gets-an-official-opening-date

All Kappa Locations in Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Find all the kappa in Yakuza: Like a Dragon with this guide.

source https://www.ign.com/wikis/yakuza-like-a-dragon/Kapture_The_Kappa

AC Valhalla: Find Wealth and Mysteries With Our Exclusive Interactive Map

Locate collectibles, side quests, resources and more with our exclusive interactive map of England in Assassin's Creed Valhalla.

source https://www.ign.com/maps/assassins-creed-valhalla/england

Get Every Tune With This Animal Crossing K.K. Slider Music List

Use this checklist to get every K.K. Slider tune in Animal Crossing.

source https://www.ign.com/wikis/animal-crossing-new-horizons/K.K._Slider_Song_List_and_Requests_Guide

Hyrule Warriors: How to Find all 160 Korok Seeds

The korok seed hunt continues in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

source https://www.ign.com/wikis/hyrule-warriors-age-of-calamity/Korok_Locations

Control May Be Coming to Xbox Game Pass in December 2020

A new tease could be hinting that Control or Control Ultimate Edition may be heading to Xbox Game Pass in December 2020. Xbox Game Pass' Twitter shared an e-mail from the fictitious Melissa McGamepass, the Executive Senior VP Lieutenant of General Video Game Communications at Microsoft, and her words very much make it seem like Control or some other game with "sinister red light" is coming to Xbox Game Pass next month. En-dkWFVEAEhmDc "But guess what? We're not slowing down for December," McGamepass wrote. "EA Play is coming to PC and we have a ton of games slated on top of that! We even included REDACTED, which our fans won't stop mentioning (That's why I sent you that .gif with the sinister red light)." The color red, and the word redacted for that matter, play a big part in Control's marketing and gameplay, and while it could be a fakeout and mean another game is on its way, Xbox Game Pass members may soon be able to play IGN's Game of the Year for 2019. Furthermore, Xbox head Phil Spencer had previously stated in 2019 that he was "glad to see that [Control was] coming into Game Pass so that more people will play it." Remedy would not confirm it back then, but maybe the timing is perfect now. If this mystery game ends up being Control, it will be interesting to see whether it is the Ultimate Edition or not. Earlier this year, it was revealed that the Control Ultimate Edition will be the only way to get free upgrades to next-gen. If you purchased the base game and even all the DLC, you still are not entitled to a free next-gen upgrade. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/10/why-control-is-igns-game-of-the-year-for-2019"] Control's publisher 505 Games explained the decision, and stated that "as we are only doing additional development on Control Ultimate Edition on the next gen platforms, we are unfortunately unable to offer an upgrade path to all existing Control players." The PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of Control were scheduled to be released by the end of 2020, but they were recently delayed to early 2021, which would time nicely if this reveal ends up being what it seems. Control appearing on Xbox Game Pass would follow the announcement that Control is also now playable on the Nintendo Switch via the cloud. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-xbox-one-games-fall-2020-update&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

source https://www.ign.com/articles/control-may-be-coming-to-xbox-game-pass-in-december-2020

Get Yakuza: Like A Dragon for $39 in Amazon's Early Cyber Monday Sale

Cyber Monday is nearly here, and there are already some great deals to take advantage of. Picking up new games is fun, and that's especially true when the games are as zany as Yakuza: Like A Dragon. Right now you can pick up the "Day Ichi Edition" on Amazon for just $39.99 on PS4 and Xbox. For more of the best deals, check out our Cyber Monday round-up, which includes tons of deals from across the internet.

Yakuza: Like A Dragon 'Day Ichi Edition' Deal

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Brian Barnett writes wiki guides, deals posts, features, and much more for IGN. You can get your fix of Brian's antics on Twitter (@Ribnax).

source https://www.ign.com/articles/get-yakuza-like-a-dragon-for-39-in-amazons-early-cyber-monday-sale

Animal Crossing Turnip Guide

Here's everything you need to know about ACNH turnips.

source https://www.ign.com/wikis/animal-crossing-new-horizons/Daisy_Mae_-_Turnip_Guide