Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Activision Has Banned Over 50,000 Call of Duty: Warzone Cheaters
Activision has confirmed over 50,000 accounts have been permanently banned from Call of Duty: Warzone for cheating. The publisher revealed the figure in a new post on the Activision Games Blog. “There’s no place for cheating in games,” the company stated. “Warzone has zero tolerance for cheaters.” Activision stressed that cracking down on cheating is something it has been heavily focused on but conceded that “it isn’t always something we discuss publicly.” According to Activision, security teams monitor Call of Duty: Warzone “24/7” to investigate and identify cheating, and that “[p]lans are underway to streamline the UI for a more seamless reporting experience.” “We recognize that there’s no single solution for combating cheaters, it’s a constant enforcement every day, 24/7,” continued the statement. “Rest assured, we’re committed to ensuring a fun and fair experience for everyone.” [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://ift.tt/3bAJBey] IGN’s review called Call of Duty: Warzone thoroughly enjoyable in spite of the serious concessions to depth made in the name of instant gratification, but there is one element unique to its design that may be somewhat troubling to experienced fans of existing battles royale. In other Call of Duty news, the long-rumoured Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Remastered is official and out right now, but it’s exclusive to PS4 for 30 days (and doesn’t include multiplayer). [poilib element="accentDivider"] Luke is Games Editor at IGN's Sydney office. You can find him on Twitter every few days @MrLukeReilly.
Panzer Dragoon: Remake Review
Any Sega Saturn heads in the house? You kind of have to be to carry a torch for Panzer Dragoon, a 25-year-old cult classic 3D shoot-em-up series where people ride dragons like fighter jets, dodging and weaving past giant creatures and shooting down airships. That context is important when looking at Panzer Dragoon: Remake, the new visually heightened version of the 1995 original with modernized control options and reimagined environments that bring the world to life in new ways. The shooting, flying, and the enemies you face remain mostly preserved, though, which means Panzer Dragoon: Remake feels like an experience rooted in 1995, including the limitations and old-school frustrations native to the time. Panzer Dragoon’s story is window dressing. You play as a man who, by chance, finds himself creating a psychic link with a blue dragon and chasing down another guy riding a black dragon. If you read a wiki or find some story related-materials from when Sega originally put out there’s a lot of lore about the world and what’s going on, but very little of it actually makes its way on screen. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=top-25-nintendo-switch-games&captions=true"] It’s not really needed, though, because Panzer Dragoon is a 3D on-rails shooter campaign that lasts for less than two hours. You control the dragon, dodging and weaving around the screen to avoid projectiles, while shooting enemies with your laser, which has you fire rapidly or pressing and holding shoot to lock onto multiple targets. Both weapons are important: Lock-on shots make it easy to grab and take down a few targets at once, but you can’t use it to shoot down enemy projectiles. Finding the rhythm of switching between offensive and defensive shooting creates a rapidly rising and falling tension as waves of enemies ebb and flow. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=The%20rhythm%20of%20switching%20between%20offensive%20and%20defensive%20shooting%20creates%20tension."]Plus, while you automatically fly forward, you need to keep your head on a swivel – almost literally, because you have to manually turn the camera. You have a radar, which will let you know when enemies get within attack range as they approach from four directions, but they will get the drop on you if you aren’t vigilant. While very few enemies can do significant damage off a single blow it is very easy to get overwhelmed by multiple attackers if you miss a few shots or take too long clearing the screen. It can get a little frustrating, especially if, like me, your first instinct is to dodge an oncoming attack rather than shoot it. Missing a shot leads to taking a hit, but a wrong move can have larger consequences, especially when you’re surrounded. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/panzer-dragoon-launch-trailer"] You’ll want to look around though, especially if you played the original Saturn version and want to appreciate the improvements. Panzer Dragoon: Remake completely reimagines all seven levels, building out the environments and adding lots and lots of additional detail. In the original 1995 version, the first level features scattered stone columns sticking out of otherwise undisturbed water to symbolize a flooded ruin. In Remake, the flooded ruin has been fully realized, with broken buildings jutting out of craggy rocks. Every crack and crevice of all seven levels has received similar treatment, expanding upon the environments the Saturn could produce to create a series of fully formed spaces. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=The%20action%20itself%20is%20all%20true%20to%20the%20original%20Panzer%20Dragoon."]While the levels look much different, the action itself is all true to the original Panzer Dragoon. Key moments, like the building crashing down on you before the first boss are still here, and feel more like the impressive events they were probably supposed to be. If you have strong memories of specific points from the original Panzer Dragoon, I imagine it’ll be a kick to see them play out on the screen in a way you had to imagine in 1995. That said, I don’t want to overstate things. It’s really cool how much has changed and how those changes feel organic, but the art itself isn’t especially impressive. The designs of the dragons and enemies are detailed and interesting but feel generic without enough story to anchor them. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="legacyId=20098156&captions=true"] Also, while the gameplay remains unchanged for the most part, there is at least one new mechanical feature: a modern control scheme option. The original controls are still the default in Remake, but they sync moving and shooting on the left analog stick. With these controls, it can take a long time to push the dragon to a far corner of the screen, which can make it difficult to dodge attacks. The new control option separates aiming and shooting, which increases your mobility and may feel more like a modern game, I found that it didn’t help my maneuverability as much as I’d hoped when it comes to dodging incoming fire. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=Yes%2C%20I%20did%20say%20it%E2%80%99s%20less%20than%20two%20hours%20long."]But yes, I did say it’s less than two hours long. Closer to one, in fact. That’s because even though Panzer Dragoon was made for the Sega Saturn it’s built like an arcade game: you have two shots to fly and shoot your way through its seven levels. You can earn extra lives or “credits” at the end of each level, depending on your performance; specifically, your accuracy, how many enemies you shot down, and how many got away. There’s no mid-level checkpointing, but if you have a credit you can restart the level you died on. If you don’t, it’s game over and you’re back to the beginning. The campaign is short – I finished my first run on normal difficulty in about 70 minutes – but that doesn’t take the sting out of getting to the last level and losing all your progress. Then again, once you do finish it, there isn’t much more to do except replay it on hard mode, which is more taxing but not necessarily more satisfying. Without a leaderboard or any means of memorializing your best runs, there’s little reason to go back more than once or twice. [poilib element="poll" parameters="id=5e221fa0-3a85-497c-b84a-8be84dc32944"]
Astro Gaming Working With Microsoft to Make Existing Headsets Compatible With Xbox Series X
It was recently revealed that the Xbox Series X will not feature an S/PDIF optical audio out port, which has raised concern for many about how they'll be able to utilize existing headsets. Astro Gaming, known for its high-end gaming headsets, revealed via Twitter that it is working closely with Microsoft to update the firmware for MixAmp Pro TR, A50 + Base Station, and A20 headsets prior to the launch of Xbox Series X later this year. Astro claims this update will "include the ability to deliver game surround sound & voice chat via USB" bypassing the need for an optical audio port. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=9-new-xbox-series-x-images&captions=true"] The firmware updates will be available across the current lineup of Astro headsets, as well as the previous generation A50 headset. Astro also confirmed that an update to the A50 Gen 2 headset is "not planned at this time" meaning those with older headsets appear to be out of luck.
Without a proper optical audio out port, Xbox Series X will instead deliver audio through HDMI 2.1 which has increased bandwidth to carry up to 8K visuals and Dolby Atmos audio through a single cable. Since HDMI has become the standard for most audio equipment and televisions it's not surprising that Microsoft opted to remove the optical audio port this time around. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/20/ps5-vs-xbox-series-x-full-spec-analysis-next-gen-console-watch"] When asked about plans for headset support on PS5, Astro said on Twitter it is waiting for additional information from Sony and will "make a separate compatibility statement" once that information becomes available. Currently, the PS4 does include an optical audio out port, so it will be interesting to see if Sony omits this on PS5. Xbox Series X and PS5 are both expected to launch this holiday season, although both consoles may be in limited supply due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Still not sure which console you're going to get? Check out our chart breaking down the key differences. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matthew Adler is a News and Features writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter and watch him stream on Twitch.We are working with our partners at Microsoft to roll out a firmware update for MixAmp Pro TR, A50 + Base Station and A20 headsets by launch of Xbox Series X. This update will include the ability to deliver game surround sound & voice chat via USB. Stay tuned for future updates. pic.twitter.com/W65AXflRvk
— ASTRO Gaming (@ASTROGaming) March 31, 2020
Gloomhaven Sequel Frosthaven Revealed, Hits $3 Million on Kickstarter in Hours
Frosthaven, the sequel to the hit 2017 board game, and makeshift doorstop, Gloomhaven, has raised close to $4 million in hours on Kickstarter. Frosthaven is a stand-alone campaign set in the Gloomhaven world. Characters from the original Gloomhaven and its expansions — Forgotten Circles and the upcoming Jaws of the Lion — are compatible with the sequel campaign, though Frosthaven will be adding 16 new characters which are, in turn, backward compatible. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=frosthaven-new-classes-and-icons&captions=true"] Like the original Gloomhaven, players can expect a massive box for Frosthaven full of map boards, scenario books, and hundreds of game pieces. Gameplay in Frosthaven will be similar to anyone familiar with Gloomhaven. Players form parties and explore a vast world where players’ choices dictate the scenario in permanent and lasting ways. Some new mechanics in Frosthaven include loot tokens as gold is not as valuable in the sequel and frozen north. There are also buildings in which players can build up using resources for new chance opportunities. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=frosthaven-enemy-artwork-and-mini-sculpts&captions=true"] There’s also a new puzzle mechanic where players must solve a puzzle book that will reveal the history of the Northern Coast. The developers warn that the puzzles can only be solved after digging through the entire game. Finally, the campaign will cycle through two seasons: Summer and Winter. While summer months will make the campaign similar to Gloomhaven, winter will make the game and world more dangerous. Frosthaven already smashed its $500,000 Kickstarter campaign goal, but there’s still a whole month to check out the project if you’re interested. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.
Call of Duty MW2: Keep Track of All Intel Collectibles With This Guide
Don't miss a piece of Intel in Modern Warfare 2.
Persona 5 Royal Review
Persona 5 Royal is a living master class in how to take an already amazing game and amp it up to the next level. It’s not just a standard “game of the year” edition with some extra content thrown in on the side. Just about everything in Atuls’ 2016 (2017 in the US) JRPG magnum opus has been honed, polished, and expanded in some meaningful and positive way. Across more than 130 hours of adventuring through urban Tokyo and the surreal realms of the human mind, the amount of love and attention to detail hiding around each old and new twist in the story left me in awe.
As someone who’s played through the original version of Persona 5 twice, the most immediately noticeable and impactful of Royal’s changes come in the realm of combat. It’s hard to keep old-school, four-person, turn-based battles interesting in this day and age, but nobody in the business does it better than Atlus. In addition to some spot-on rebalancing of abilities and enemies across the board, the role guns play in your arsenal has been totally reimagined. Bullets now refresh after each battle instead of only at the beginning of an infiltration, with the trade-off of being able to hold less ammo overall. This feels almost game-breakingly powerful in earlier areas, but as time goes on it allows guns to settle in as a much more versatile and dependable tool rather than something you hoard only for really tough enemies. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=I%E2%80%99ll%20never%20get%20tired%20of%20watching%20Makoto%20and%20Haru%20double%20elbow-drop%20a%20harbinger%20of%20the%20apocalypse."]Showtime attacks are another excellent addition, in which two members of your party team up for a devastating super finisher. The animations are deliciously clever and over the top, and they stylishly highlight your party members’ personalities and relationships. I’ll never get tired of watching Makoto and Haru double elbow-drop a harbinger of the apocalypse in a flashy, hilarious nod to pro wrestling. Showtimes trigger randomly, but are more likely to happen when your party is in big trouble or when you’re just about to finish off an enemy. That adds an extra layer of drama and unpredictability to especially intense battles at just the right moments. [poilib element="poll" parameters="id=baad4981-5a42-47c9-9591-3bd4d7cd0770"] There are also some new encounter types, including a volatile variant of certain enemies. They’re more powerful than the normal form and launch a devastating counterattack for every hit they take that doesn’t finish them off – but they also explode and deal massive damage to all of their allies once defeated, often ending the battle in one blow. This serves to spice up areas where you might have to fight a lot of similar enemies in a row, and encourages you to change up your usual tactics. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=The%20risk%20and%20reward%20aspect%20makes%20fusion%20a%20lot%20more%20exciting."]Even the Velvet Room has been enhanced. Every time you complete a normal encounter, there’s a chance it will trigger a fusion alarm in Igor’s sanctum. Any personas you fuse while it’s active will come out more powerful than would be possible under normal circumstances and may even have their abilities replaced with more potent versions… but if you overuse the gallows during an alarm you might get unexpected results. I decided to press my luck and ended up with a copy of Phoenix that had a full card of extremely powerful passive skills… but no attack, support, or healing moves, rendering it hilariously almost useless. The risk and reward aspect makes fusion a lot more exciting, and I found myself using the Velvet Room a lot more often than I would otherwise with the incentive of powered-up personas. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-modern-ign-1010-and-where-to-play-them&captions=true"] The combination of all of these new battle and progression options can make certain areas feel a lot easier than they were in the original version, at least if you’re a Persona 5 veteran. But rest assured, the new and enhanced boss fights still offer a significant challenge even on Normal difficulty. And you may remember our old friend The Reaper, the semi-secret enemy who is supposed to be Joker’s ultimate challenge? In Royal, he’s immune to the Despair debuff, so you can’t kill him the cheesy way by fighting him on specific days. This means taking him down is truly the toughest task available to undertake, and it felt absolutely amazing once I finally pulled it off. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=Taking%20down%20The%20Reaper%20is%20truly%20the%20toughest%20task%20available%20to%20undertake%2C%20and%20it%20felt%20absolutely%20amazing."]The fantastic story has been majorly expanded with a third semester featuring one new palace, a new area in the Mementos mega-dungeon, and a new heart to steal. It’s a bit longer overall than the previous palace story arcs, but not by a lot. And there’s not a whole lot else I can say about the new storyline without risking major spoilers, other than that it pits our team of Phantom Thieves against a really fascinating new antagonist with very, very different goals, motives, and ideals from anyone they’ve faced before. Persona’s deep, thematic exploration of human society and the perils of the psyche continues to ask challenging and relevant questions about justice and suffering that left me rethinking my own convictions – and it’s when a game isn’t afraid to go to those places that it really becomes a work of higher art. It all culminates in an epic, action-drenched, multi-phase boss fight that will put all of your skills to the test and serve as an appropriately climactic capstone to everything that brought you this far. The third semester is only one part of the expanded story, though. The main campaign has also been significantly beefed up with two new confidants joining the already rich cast: bubbly, aspiring gymnast Kasumi Yoshizawa and calming but dorky school counselor Takuto Maruki. Each has a dauntingly deep, tragic backstory filled with its own impactful twists and turns that were both painful and compelling to uncover. And one of the returning confidants from the original Persona 5 has had their role in the story significantly tweaked and expanded – but I won’t spoil who. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-ps4-games-2020-update&captions=true"] To balance out the extra time it will take to max out your relationships with these new characters, Royal has quite a few new ways to spend your free time optimally, like a random chance to have a dream that gives stat or relationship points every night that you go to bed without doing anything else in the evening. And focusing on fresh faces is really rewarding in palaces, not just outside of them. Kasumi and Maruki can permanently increase your HP and SP, respectively. Kasumi can also give you a new way to use your grappling hook to ambush enemies from a distance and inflict them with harmful status effects, which is pretty game-changing against some tougher groups. One of my only disappointments is that Kasumi can’t join you as a permanent party member until the third semester, but you’ll see quite a lot of her and get to test out her skills a couple of times before then. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=The%20fact%20that%20Atlus%20has%20made%20Mementos%20feel%20so%20much%20more%20alive%20is%20a%20massive%20improvement%20by%20itself."]Aside from the new area that opens up in semester three, the whole of Mementos has been brilliantly fleshed out with new collectibles and unlockables courtesy of the mysterious Jose. He can sell you powerful items in exchange for flowers that spawn in the depths, and unlock perks like increased experience points once you find enough hidden stars. Mementos often felt like a slog in the original version – it was definitely my least favorite part of the adventure. The fact that Atlus has made it feel so much more alive, adding new rewards for exploration and a healthy dose of personality, is a massive improvement by itself considering how much time you spend there. It’s also implemented a mercy-kill rule where you can run straight over monsters that are several levels below you instead of having to fight out a foregone conclusion – but you still get experience, money, and item drops. The amount this cuts down on the feeling of endless grinding is nothing less than a godsend, and I spent much more of the 130 hours of this playthrough doing interesting and engaging things instead. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/thieves-den-and-tycoon-gameplay-persona-5-royal-4k"] I could practically fill a TV documentary with the long list of other small and medium-sized improvements found in Persona 5 Royal, but here are a few of my favorites: The Thieves’ Den is a new hangout area that will follow you across multiple playthroughs. Here, you can decorate with statues of personas you’ve unlocked, listen to the absolutely superb new and returning music, and rewatch any cutscene. Those new tracks are just as awesome as the classics, adding variety and fitting in perfectly with the energetic acid jazz that is such a huge and memorable part of Persona 5’s identity. If you were finally getting tired of the catchy “Last Surprise” – and let’s face it, after two playthroughs of the original version it’s hard not to be a little bit over it – there’s even a great new battle theme that plays during ambush encounters. Which is to say, you’ll be hearing it during most battles if you’re playing optimally, relegating Last Surprise to being a welcome, every-once-in-a-while nostalgic treat. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=There%E2%80%99s%20always%20something%20new%20to%20see%20even%20in%20familiar%20scenes."]Incredibly, every single level of every single social link has been expanded with new dialogue, so there’s always something new to see even in familiar scenes. There’s an entirely new free-roaming district of Tokyo to explore: Kichijoji, which includes a jazz nightclub and the ability to level up your party members’ powerful Baton Pass ability with a fun, skill-based darts minigame. All of the classic palaces have been expanded with new hidden areas and new collectibles to find. Every major boss fight has been rebalanced and had new, interesting, and challenging mechanics added. It’s almost daunting how much extra cool stuff Atlus was able to pack in here. Put together, it’s probably at least another full game’s worth of content. [poilib element="poll" parameters="id=be8d3182-c3a7-4261-aa54-de0b7dade50b"]
Why Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered Doesn't Include Multiplayer
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered is out now on PlayStation 4 (as a 30-day console exclusive), but players can only access the single-player campaign. That’s because Activision and Infinity Ward are trying to keep the full Call of Duty multiplayer experience within last year’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/31/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-2-campaign-remastered-official-trailer"] In a blog post explaining their decision to only release the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 single-player campaign, Activision explained that “the focus has been to bring players together seamlessly in one unified online multiplayer playground,” meaning Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2019. Activision says that last year’s Call of Duty already saw the return of classic maps like Rust, Shipment, Crash, and Vacant, as well as past locations in Warzone like Gulag and Boneyard. The company seems to be hinting that this is the strategy for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 maps going forward as well. “Rather than release a separate, multiplayer experience as a standalone pack, Activision and Infinity Ward are looking to bring more classic map experiences to new life within the Modern Warfare universe as it continues to grown and build over time,” Activision said. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=ranking-every-call-of-duty-single-player-campaign&captions=true"] Potentially, this could mean special playlists in Modern Warfare or Warzone that add classic multiplayer maps from older Modern Warfare games. While IGN checks out Modern Warfare 2 Remastered, you can read our original Modern Warfare 2 review, or check out IGN’s review of last year’s new Modern Warfare and Warzone. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.
Animal Crossing QR Codes and How to Download Them
Here's how to download Animal Crossing: New Horizons QR codes.
Ubisoft Announces Month of Free Games, Game Trials to Include Assassin's Creed, Rayman, and More
Ubisoft announced it will provide a month-long series of free game trials, discounts, and other offers to support people staying at home during the COVID-19 outbreak. The promotion begins with Rayman Legends, which is available to download and keep for free beginning today, March 31, until April 3. The game is free through Uplay, and is available to download with no cost on PC. Ubisoft said that offers from other popular franchises, such as Just Dance and Assassin's Creed, will be announced later in April on Ubisoft's website. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2013/08/26/rayman-legends-video-review"] As for free trials, Ubisoft is currently offering trials for Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, Trials Rising, The Crew 2, Ghost Recon: Wildlands, and The Division, with many of the trials available on consoles in addition to PC. A representative from Ubisoft said that they hope the free games and trials encourage people to play their part and stay home during the COVID-19 outbreak. The company also participated in Twitch Stream Aid last weekend. If you're considering playing Rayman Legends, you can check out IGN's Rayman Legends review, where we said, "Rayman Legends is a fantastic example of why platformers will never stop being fun." Finally, IGN is encouraging safety and positivity for all of our readers during this pandemic. Read our tips on how to help, and stay safe, during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/25/will-you-go-all-digital-during-the-covid-quarantine"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Logan Plant is a news writer for IGN, and the Production Assistant for Nintendo Voice Chat, IGN's weekly Nintendo show. You can find him on Twitter at @LoganJPlant.
Minecraft Dungeons Release Date Announced
Mojang has announced the official release date for Minecraft Dungeons, a new dungeon crawler set in the Minecraft universe. The new spinoff will be available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Game Pass on May 26. Minecraft Dungeons is a spinoff of Mojang’s popular online crafting game. Instead of building whatever your imagination comes up with, Minecraft Dungeons is an action-adventure game where players explore partially procedurally generated dungeons and take on monsters and puzzles while hunting for treasure. Developers were initially targeting an April release date, but due to the recent outbreak of COVID-19, the final release date came a bit later in May. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=2020-platform-exclusives&captions=true"] Unlike RPG dungeon crawlers, Minecraft Dungeons doesn’t have a class system. So players can use any item or equipment regardless of their chosen profession. Minecraft Dungeons also supports both local and online co-op for up to four players. Mojang says there will be additional content coming down the pipeline, including two upcoming DLC packs which are included in the Hero Edition, and potential cross-platform co-op between Xbox One and other consoles. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/09/29/minecraft-dungeons-announce-trailer"] Minecraft Dungeons is just one spinoff of Minecraft, the other being Minecraft Earth, an AR mobile game currently available in Early Access. For more, check out IGN’s review of Minecraft, or our Minecraft wiki for our full coverage and walkthroughs. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.
Xbox Games With Gold for April 2020 Announced
The April 2020 Xbox Games with Gold free games lineup has been announced, with Project CARS 2 and Fable Anniversary leading the way. CARS 2 and Fable will be available on Wednesday, April 1, while the Knights of Pen and Paper Bundle and Toybox Turbos will be free to download starting April 16. Revealed by Xbox, all of the above games will be free to download during the month of April with an active Xbox Live subscription. To download, simply look for the Games with Gold tab on your Xbox homepage. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=igns-top-25-xbox-one-games&captions=true"] Project CARS 2 was first released in 2017 and features 189 vehicles, 140 tracks, and 60 different locations to race through. In our Project CARS 2 review, we said, "The handling has been tuned to a T, the content is excellently curated, and the amount of variety and racing available in it is delightfully daunting." Project CARS 2 will be available to download from April 1 to 30 on Xbox One. Fable Anniversary is the 2014 remaster of the original 2004 Fable: The Lost Chapter and is complete with new textures, models, and lighting. In our Fable Anniversary review, we said, "The strange and beautiful world of Albion, with all its weird idiosyncrasies and wildly varied accents, is as absorbing and lovably, peculiarly British as it ever was." Fable Anniversary is available for download from April 1 to 15 on Xbox One and 360. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/19/28-big-xbox-games-coming-in-2020"] The Knights of Pen and Paper Bundle can be downloaded from April 16 to May 15 on Xbox One and includes both the original game and it's sequel. If you're not familiar with the series, it's a turn-based RPG that originally released on mobile devices and was later ported to consoles. Closing out the April 2020 Xbox Games with Gold lineup is Toybox Turbos, available from April 16 to 30 on Xbox One and 360. Complete with 35 customizable vehicles and 18 crazy tacks, you'll be able to experience tabletop racing like never before. If you haven't already, be sure to download any games from Games With Gold from last month before it's too late. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Andrew Smith is a freelance contributor with IGN. Follow him on Twitter @_andrewtsmith.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered Is Official and Out Now
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered is no longer just a (badly kept) secret; it’s out now on PS4, and yes: No Russian is still in it. Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered has an exclusivity period on PS4, and will launch on PC and Xbox One 30 days later on April 30, although you can pre-purchase now. The remaster has been handled by Beenox, and supports up to 4K resolution in HDR. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/31/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-2-campaign-remastered-official-trailer"] Activision announced the game today at the moment of its official launch. The game remasters the whole Modern Warfare 2 story campaign, including the infamous No Russian mission, as well as other fan favourites such as Takedown. As the title implies, this is a remaster of just the campaign, and there are no multiplayer modes included. Purchases of MW2 Remastered also unlock a free Underwater Demo Team Classic Ghost bundle for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, which provides the UDT Ghost Operator skin, two weapon blueprints, a weapon charm, new finishing move, voice quip, animated calling card, emblem and two Battle Pass tier skips. The official launch comes after a couple of days of leaks and problems, most notably in Germany. A trailer was leaked due to a listing for the game going live on the German PlayStation Store. Furthermore, it looks like the short duration the listing was live may also have allowed some players to purchase and download the game, as the past 24 hours have seen a few streamers playing Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered on Twitch. Streams of the game have all seemingly been isolated to German users, and footage of the entire game has been available online. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=call-of-duty-modern-warfare-2-campaign-remastered-screenshots&captions=true"] Rumours of Modern Warfare 2 Remastered run further back than just the last couple of days. Recent reports began due to a datamine of Modern Warfare (2019), which revealed then-unknown details about Warzone and an MW2 remaster. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter.
Wasteland 3 Delayed to August
Wasteland 3 has been delayed to August 28, as developer inXile faces the "new logistical challenges" of working from home amid the coronavirus pandemic. The RPG was previously scheduled to be released on May 19. In a letter posted to Twitter, inXile studio head Brian Fargo explained the staff began working from home "some weeks ago," and the challenges of operating in that new environment ultimately led to the delay. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-big-xbox-games-coming-in-2020&captions=true"] The three extra months of development time will be spent on addressing beta feedback, as well as general "optimization, polishing and refinements, and making sure we have an awesome co-op experience," according to Fargo. Wasteland 3 was announced in 2016 alongside a Fig-hosted crowdfunding campaign, which was completed in just three days. During development, inXile was acquired by Microsoft, though Wasteland 3 will still be released on PlayStation 4, in addition to Xbox One and PC. For more on the turn-based RPG, check out IGN's recently published Wasteland 3 preview. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/26/wastelands-3-preview-surviving-the-frozen-apocalypse"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan is a freelance writer for IGN.
Every Major IGN Mario Review Ever
Since 1985's Super Mario Bros., Mario has had many adventures and has entertained millions around the world. With the report that Nintendo is planning on re-releasing most of Mario's 35-year back catalogue this year on Nintendo Switch, we thought we'd look back at every main Mario game that IGN has reviewed. IGN has given the Mario franchise three 10s, 13 scores above 9, and has never scored a main Mario game below a 7. Check out each and every review in the slideshow below. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-super-mario-review-ever&captions=true"] Let us know which game has been your favorite in the comment section below! [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.
Red Dead Online: Take on the Name Your Weapon Showdown Series This Week
This week in RDO, participate in the new Name Your Weapon Showdown Series, and claim bonuses for Collecting and Bounty Hunting.
Resident Evil Resistance Beta Hits PS4 and Steam
After a short delay, the Resident Evil Resistance beta is now live on PlayStation 4 and Steam. The beta was originally supposed to release on March 27 across all platforms but was unexpectedly postponed on all platforms except for Xbox. Capcom has not elaborated on why the beta was delayed on PS4 and Steam, except saying on Twitter that there were "technical issues" that came up, and that the team was "working to resolve the issue" as soon as possible. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=resident-evil-3&captions=true"] The Resistance beta will be live until April 3, when the Resident Evil 3 Remake is set to launch worldwide. While everything seems to be mostly on track for the worldwide release, Capcom has announced that physical editions of RE3 could be delayed in Europe. If you're not familiar with Resistance, it's a 4 vs 1 multiplayer mode, where four players try to survive against a "Mastermind." If you're one of the four survivors, your goal is simple – survive. If you're the Mastermind, your objective is to set various traps and obstacles to try and prevent survival. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/27/resident-evil-3-jill-valentine-trailer"] So far, Capcom has confirmed there will be four Masterminds playable at launch: Daniel Fabron, Annette Birkin, Alex Wesker, and Ozwell E. Spencer, each with their own unique set of abilities. Additionally, there will be two playable maps, one set in a casino and another in prison. While you're waiting for release day, be sure to check out everything we know about the Resident Evil 3 Remake and our single-player review, where we said, "With a sublimely detailed world and breakneck survival-horror gameplay, Resident Evil 3 is just as good as its 2019 predecessor." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Andrew Smith is a freelance contributor with IGN. Follow him on Twitter @_andrewtsmith.
The Outer Worlds Will Release On Switch This June
Obsidian Entertainment has announced that its latest space-faring RPG, The Outer Worlds, will launch on Nintendo Switch on June 5. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/07/30/the-outer-worlds-nintendo-switch-announcement-trailer"] The Switch version of the game will be available both digitally and physically. Obsidian revealed on its website that the cartridge version will require a day one patch to optimise gameplay, provide higher resolution textures, and a number of other fixes. The patch size is yet to be finalised, but it's expected to be up to 6GB, so Switch players will require that free space to play. Publisher Private Division was forced to delay the release of The Outer Worlds on Switch due to the impact of COVID-19. Originally it was due to release on March 6, meaning it has experienced a three month delay. This puts the Switch release eight months later than its console and PC counterpart. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="legacyId=20091934&captions=true"] The wait will hopefully be worth it, though. Our The Outer Worlds review praised the game, with particular emphasis placed on its characters and skills. Provided it runs well on the Switch, then it'll be a great addition to the console's RPG library. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter.
Animal Crossing Fan Creates Helpful Database For Custom Designs
An entrepreneurial Animal Crossing fan has made a database for sharing fan-made custom designs. The news arrives thanks to a post from Reddit user plump_tomato who posted a video of their website in action to the Animal Crossing subreddit. The website's creator then followed up with a link to what is currently known as Nookpedia, a growing database of custom designs made by players in Animal Crossing. You can check out the website here and search by title for certain designs, like this excellent Psyduck hat. You can also filter your searches depending on what clothing item you're looking for if you want to create a custom ensemble. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/16/animal-crossing-new-horizons-review"] If you'd like to upload a design yourself, you'll have to unlock the Able Sisters tailoring shop in New Horizons. For more information on how to do that, check out our handy guide. Once you've got Able and Sable in your town, you can use the Pro Design tool (redeem some Nook Miles for it!) to create a piece and then use the kiosk at the back of the Able Sisters shop to download and upload your designs. Simply enter the code above each image on Nookpedia to drag that design into your game. "I figured that now would be a good time to post this as everyone is starting to unlock the Able Sisters," the website's creator explained on Reddit. It's been noted that the site is experiencing issues due to all the traffic, but give it some time and you should be able to dig into the database full of incredible custom art. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-animal-crossing-game-review&captions=true"] For more on Animal Crossing, check out our review of New Horizons, which we called an "expanded, polished, next-generation reboot" of the franchise. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.
Pong Quest Exclusive Gameplay Trailer
If you ever wonder what one of the paddles in Pong would be like if they were the hero of an adventure game, well, Atari has an answer for you. Pong Quest is an RPG that stars a pong paddle who ventures through dungeons based on Atari classics to save Pong World from a mysterious threat. Check out the exclusive debut gameplay trailer below. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/31/pong-quest-exclusive-gameplay-trailer"] As you can see from the trailer, the boring old Pong paddle has been given a bit of a design upgrade. No longer a blank, white vertical block, the Pong paddle now sports a more friendly design and it can change its appearance through upgrades and cosmetics. While there are elements of the classic Pong gameplay where players move up or down to deflect an incoming projectile, there are some interesting remixes. Each dungeon looks to feature some unique gameplay quirk inspired by classic Atari games like Centipede or Asteroids. There will also be a multiplayer mode where up to three players can play against one another using specialized PONG balls with unique abilities. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=atari-vcs&captions=true"] “PONG as an RPG is something completely unexpected, but wonderful in execution,” Atari’s COO Jean-Marcel Nicolai said in a statement. “We are thrilled to bring PONG Quest to life to honor the classic IP and bring the beloved gameplay to a new generation of players and RPG fans.” PONG Quest will be available on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. Aside from PONG Quest, Atari is working on a new console called the Atari VCS. Atari also announced a line of gaming-themed hotels. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.
Rumored Paper Mario Game Will Reportedly Return To Series' Roots
Further details have emerged about Nintendo's big 2020 Mario plans, including suggestion that the new Paper Mario game will return to its N64 and Gamecube roots.
Ghost Recon: Breakpoint's Friend Pass Lets You Invite A Friend To Play For Free
Owners of Ghost Recon: Breakpoint can invite their friends to play co-op with them for free, as part of a new Friend Pass promotion for the game. The news was revealed in a blog post from Ubisoft, which went into further detail about the scheme and revealed that the game will also be receiving a free trial. "If you've purchased any edition of the game, the Friend Pass allows you to invite up to three friends at a time who don't own the game to join your session and play co-op with you for free," the blog post reads. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/10/10/ghost-recon-breakpoint-review"] Breakpoint's Friend Pass will be available to those who own the game on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, with the promotion running until the 16th of June. Prospective players who don't own Ghost Recon: Breakpoint will need PS Plus or Xbox Live Gold to play with the host, as well as the trial version of the game which is available now on the Microsoft Store, PlayStation Store, Ubisoft Store and Epic Games Store. The trial entitles players to six hours of playtime, but won't tick down if you're playing in co-op and utilizing the Friend Pass system. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/09/06/tom-clancys-ghost-recon-breakpoint-what-is-breakpoint-gameplay-trailer"] Those who took advantage of the game's free weekend that kicked off on March 26th will have to be invited using the Friend Pass system and won't be entitled to the trial version of Ghost Recon: Breakpoint if they played for the aforementioned six hours during the promotional free weekend. However, you can progress further past this point in the new trial if you purchase the game or use the Friend Pass system - your progression saves will be kept regardless. For more on Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, check out this video on all the changes that have arrived as part of the Immersive Mode update. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.
Atlus tunes up the next amazing entry in the Persona franchise
Partner Content By Atlus
[poilib element="accentDivider"] If you missed out on Persona 5 the first time around, it mixes striking visuals, bizarre dungeon exploration, occult themes, teenage hangouts, and a high-school social simulation into about as strange and stylish a blend as you can imagine. You play the down-and-out, misunderstood juvenile delinquent known by the Phantom Thief name Joker, drawn by a series of unlikely events into the Metaverse, a fantastical world between dreams and reality. Dubbing their Metaverse alter egos the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, Joker and his pals swear to challenge and change their corrupt society by donning masked disguises and delving into the hearts of Tokyo's criminals, represented by dream-like "Palaces" containing aspects of the criminals' twisted psyches, to change them for the better. Or at least make them confess their crimes in dramatic anime fashion. That's enough to keep any would-be hero busy, but in Persona 5 Royal the Phantom Thieves must juggle their nighttime exploits with attending school, building relationships, and hangin' out around Tokyo, including in a brand-new entertainment district called Kichijōji. This latest installment looks to really flesh out these parts of the game, with new characters, new Confidants (folks you can build relationships with to unlock new battle abilities), new music, and, perhaps the biggest addition, even a whole new semester of school life, leading to a variety of possible new endings. (And if you're a veteran of P5, you'll be relieved to hear Persona 5 Royal gives you a lot more time to partake in all of the above activities, lessening the time crunch that made the first game feel a little too busy at times.) The Palaces got some love too. The Phantom Thieves now have a fancy new grappling hook that lets them access new shortcuts and treasure-filled areas, and an entirely new Palace will introduce you to yet another no-good lowlife who could really stand to experience some vigilante justice of the heart. So to speak. Oh, and speaking of the Thieves, prepare to welcome new face Kasumi Yoshizawa to the team. This mysterious girl is a skilled gymnast but there might be something… strange lurking in her past. Hmm. Heck of a fighter in the Metaverse, though. In fact, all the Thieves are a little stronger in battle now, with new, third-tier transformations for their Personas (personal demons, of a sort) and new duo attacks called Showtimes, which let them pair up with another party member to demolish Metaverse foes in spectacular fashion. Rounding out Persona 5 Royal is the inclusion of all the original P5 DLC, along with a new "Thieves Den" you can access anytime to check out any media you've collected during your exploits. Simply put: One of the most popular JRPGs on the PlayStation 4 is about to get polished to a sparkling sheen, making Persona 5 Royal. You can join the Phantom Thieves come March 31st, when Persona 5 Royal makes its undoubtedly stylish debut. Read more about IGN’s policies in our Standards and Practices.
[poilib element="accentDivider"] If you missed out on Persona 5 the first time around, it mixes striking visuals, bizarre dungeon exploration, occult themes, teenage hangouts, and a high-school social simulation into about as strange and stylish a blend as you can imagine. You play the down-and-out, misunderstood juvenile delinquent known by the Phantom Thief name Joker, drawn by a series of unlikely events into the Metaverse, a fantastical world between dreams and reality. Dubbing their Metaverse alter egos the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, Joker and his pals swear to challenge and change their corrupt society by donning masked disguises and delving into the hearts of Tokyo's criminals, represented by dream-like "Palaces" containing aspects of the criminals' twisted psyches, to change them for the better. Or at least make them confess their crimes in dramatic anime fashion. That's enough to keep any would-be hero busy, but in Persona 5 Royal the Phantom Thieves must juggle their nighttime exploits with attending school, building relationships, and hangin' out around Tokyo, including in a brand-new entertainment district called Kichijōji. This latest installment looks to really flesh out these parts of the game, with new characters, new Confidants (folks you can build relationships with to unlock new battle abilities), new music, and, perhaps the biggest addition, even a whole new semester of school life, leading to a variety of possible new endings. (And if you're a veteran of P5, you'll be relieved to hear Persona 5 Royal gives you a lot more time to partake in all of the above activities, lessening the time crunch that made the first game feel a little too busy at times.) The Palaces got some love too. The Phantom Thieves now have a fancy new grappling hook that lets them access new shortcuts and treasure-filled areas, and an entirely new Palace will introduce you to yet another no-good lowlife who could really stand to experience some vigilante justice of the heart. So to speak. Oh, and speaking of the Thieves, prepare to welcome new face Kasumi Yoshizawa to the team. This mysterious girl is a skilled gymnast but there might be something… strange lurking in her past. Hmm. Heck of a fighter in the Metaverse, though. In fact, all the Thieves are a little stronger in battle now, with new, third-tier transformations for their Personas (personal demons, of a sort) and new duo attacks called Showtimes, which let them pair up with another party member to demolish Metaverse foes in spectacular fashion. Rounding out Persona 5 Royal is the inclusion of all the original P5 DLC, along with a new "Thieves Den" you can access anytime to check out any media you've collected during your exploits. Simply put: One of the most popular JRPGs on the PlayStation 4 is about to get polished to a sparkling sheen, making Persona 5 Royal. You can join the Phantom Thieves come March 31st, when Persona 5 Royal makes its undoubtedly stylish debut. Read more about IGN’s policies in our Standards and Practices.
Monday, March 30, 2020
How to use Animal Crossing Amiibo to Get More Villagers in ACNH
Here's how to use your Animal Crossing Amiibo and Amiibo Cards to get more villagers in ACNH.
Here Are the Best Places to Land in Fortnite Chapter 2
We've identified a few of the best places to land in Fortnite Chapter 2 which will hopefully ensure a victory royale!
Animal Crossing: How to Catch Rare and Valuable Stringfish
The stringfish is incredibly lucrative, but also hard to catch. Here's how to catch the stringfish in ACNH.
PS5, Xbox Series X Could Face Launch Shortages
Despite the various delays the movie and TV industries have seen in both major releases and production due to the novel coronavirus COVID-19, the gaming industry hasn’t shown much sign of slowing down just yet. In fact, one of this year’s biggest games, Cyberpunk 2077, is confirmed to still be on track for its September release date despite CD Projekt Red now working from home. All the same, one question has loomed over the industry given how massive of a year 2020 is meant to be — will the coronavirus impact the production of the next-gen consoles, and could the PS5 and Xbox Series X even be delayed beyond their planned holiday releases? As far as any launch delays go, the answer remains as uncertain as the extent of COVID-19’s impact on the world, and given how far out these consoles are meant to launch. But with the recent Xbox Series X and PS5 tech reveals, both companies have not announced adjusted releases and seem bullish on hitting their holiday 2020 launches. However, as the reality of the coronavirus’ impact spreads across all industries and around the world, analysts have spoken to IGN about the possibility that the next generation could at the very least see shortages. Six analysts and analyst firms spoke with IGN about the possibility of these consoles seeing possible delays. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/27/ps5-xbox-series-x-no-delay-concerns-yet-next-gen-console-watch"]
“At some point, if product is limited or price of components becomes too high, Sony and Microsoft will have to make a tough decision about whether to launch in very short supply or delay launch until the supply chain is comfortably running. We do not expect this decision to be made in the short-term.” Echoing those sentiments, Wedbush Securities’ managing director of equity research, Michael Pachter, isn’t expecting a delay either. “It’s highly likely that we will be well past the curve of the virus in most areas where manufacturing takes place by the time manufacturing must commence in June,” Pachter told IGN via email. “That suggests that both consoles will be in stock by November, so I don’t expect a delay in their respective launches.”
Spiketrap’s data, viewable in the graph above, saw only about 1,300 online engagements around the idea of a delay, specifically after DFC Intelligence’s thoughts on the possibility were first published. The relevant conversation has largely been around either COVID-19 or AMD, the manufacturers behind chipsets in both the PS5 and Xbox Series X. However, the conversation has remained minimal online, with only one day in March peaking above 300 engagements on the topic. That said, we’d still like to hear from you all directly: are you concerned about console scarcity and possible delays? Specifically, would you be willing to purchase a re-sold console online if you can’t get one at launch, or would you be willing to wait for new consoles at a later date? Cast your vote in the poll below, which, as of press time, sees nearly 90% of voters willing to wait until consoles are available rather than buying a higher-priced resell on eBay or a similar site. [poilib element="poll" parameters="id=0b3e594c-eec7-4b02-b6af-101b2b4c6b64"] We discussed these analysts’ insights in the last episode of our weekly show Next-Gen Console Watch, which you can catch with new episodes on IGN on Fridays at 6 am PT and 9 am PT. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, a panelist on Next-Gen Console Watch, and host of Podcast Beyond! Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.
Could Next-Gen Consoles Be Delayed to 2021?
Speaking to IGN via email, several analysts agreed on one thing — the coronavirus is likely to have some effect on the production of the new consoles, the extent of which remains unknown. DFC Intelligence noted that the sheer amount of uncertainty that hangs over this new console generation makes the short term ramifications hard to predict. “The current amount of uncertainty is unprecedented. We expect that demand will be greater than supply, probably by a significant margin. The only certainty is uncertainty and anyone who says otherwise has a crystal ball we don't have access to,” DFC said. The gaming industry overall has certainly seen the effects an increase in demand as countries adopt shelter-in-place orders. Steam just had its highest day of concurrent players ever — just around 20 million players online simultaneously. PlayStation, meanwhile, has decided to limit game download speeds in major markets like North America and Europe. It’s worth noting that Sony is also home to the fourth-best-selling home console of all time with 100 million PS4s in homes across the world. YouTube has adopted a similar policy to Sony’s, defaulting to standard quality playback worldwide for at least a month. Everyone’s feeling the strain on their networks as more people access online entertainment from their homes simultaneously across the globe. “At some point, if product is limited or price of components becomes too high, Sony and Microsoft will have to make a tough decision about whether to launch in very short supply or delay launch until the supply chain is comfortably running. We do not expect this decision to be made in the short-term.” Echoing those sentiments, Wedbush Securities’ managing director of equity research, Michael Pachter, isn’t expecting a delay either. “It’s highly likely that we will be well past the curve of the virus in most areas where manufacturing takes place by the time manufacturing must commence in June,” Pachter told IGN via email. “That suggests that both consoles will be in stock by November, so I don’t expect a delay in their respective launches.”
A Delay May Not Be Likely, But What About Limited Availability?
Both Sony and Microsoft have recently issued comments around COVID-19’s impact on the production of their respective consoles, and neither indicates any need for long-term concern. Even retailers like Gamestop have said they see “no indication” of outright PS5 and Series X delays on the way. Despite reassurances from the companies themselves that all will be fine, the very uncertain nature COVID-19’s curve in each country across the world means so much is still up in the air. With the situations in majorly impacted regions like North America, China, and more changing by the day, many analysts do see at least some impact on the console launches — perhaps in the form of a constrained launch. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=9-sequels-that-would-make-ps5-a-force-to-reckon-with&captions=true"] In a statement provided to IGN that was also sent to Niko’s clients, senior Niko analyst Daniel Ahmad says he sees the situation as very dependent on the next few months. The company also noted that the reality of so many factories producing parts for these consoles means any definitive prognostication is unclear at this time. “The closure of factories since the Lunar New Year and the slow return to work for many will result in minor global console shortages in Q2 2020 and beyond. We do not expect significant shortages in Q2 as console sales are seasonal and most sell-through takes place towards the end of the year.” “If the coronavirus outbreak is contained within the next month or two then we would expect console manufacturers to be able to meet demand for the holiday quarter, both for current gen consoles and next gen console launches,” Niko’s statement reads. “If manufacturers are unable to operate at full capacity before the end of Q2 2020 we could see an impact on the launch of next gen console launches, with either limited supply or delayed releases becoming the likely outcomes.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=xbox-series-x-reveal-images&captions=true"] That’s ultimately the biggest factor in how launches might be impacted — when COVID-19 can be contained enough to allow production and work to resume at a normal pace. While the curve of China’s number of infected cases has flattened in comparison to other countries and, according to the New York Times, the nation claims to be significantly halting the spread of COVID-19, there are also serious concerns about its reported numbers. The Times reports that, as China is starting to lift lockdowns, its number of cases is reportedly not counting those testing positive for COVID-19 without symptoms, which could indicate a larger, undocumented spread. Meanwhile, Japan initially suspended the Olympic 2020 games, with the event now set to take place a year later in July 2021. And America has now become the country with the highest number of COVID-19 cases worldwide, with more than 86,000 confirmed cases. The Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluations predicts a continued rapid rise of cases in the US through at least May, with a peak in April, followed by a steady, smaller stream of new COVID-19 cases through to August, where its projections end. The range of manufacturing may not take place in the most impacted countries, but parent and wider companies themselves may still feel that impact. Head of Xbox Game Studios Matt Booty has said, “Each studio is facing unique challenges and constraints depending on its particular location, and many of our external development partners around the world are similarly affected.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/20/ps5-vs-xbox-series-x-full-spec-analysis-next-gen-console-watch"] Dr. Serkan Toto of Kantan Games, who had initially spoken to IGN about a possible console launch delay, saw the strong showings of Series X and PS5 tech as a relieving sign that both companies will push through to a holiday release. “I was skeptical about the PS5 release schedule because of Sony's silence at first,” Toto said. “But as Microsoft already reconfirmed ‘Holidays 2020’ as the launch date, there is no other way for Sony than to keep up. “They will not watch their top competitor gobble up holiday sales while they sit on the sidelines with the PS4.” Even if there are issues in manufacturing, Toto believes Microsoft will remain on course. “At least for Microsoft and at least for now, the coronavirus-related dents to the supply chain seem to be manageable as far as the next-gen roll-out goes,” he said.How Worried Are Consumers?
Speaking with IGN via email, Spiketrap, an analyst firm co-founded by former X-Play host Adam Sessler that tracks online social sentiment, took a snapshot of online discourse and found that, at least through the first few weeks of March, fans don’t seem particularly worried about console delays. Spiketrap’s data, viewable in the graph above, saw only about 1,300 online engagements around the idea of a delay, specifically after DFC Intelligence’s thoughts on the possibility were first published. The relevant conversation has largely been around either COVID-19 or AMD, the manufacturers behind chipsets in both the PS5 and Xbox Series X. However, the conversation has remained minimal online, with only one day in March peaking above 300 engagements on the topic. That said, we’d still like to hear from you all directly: are you concerned about console scarcity and possible delays? Specifically, would you be willing to purchase a re-sold console online if you can’t get one at launch, or would you be willing to wait for new consoles at a later date? Cast your vote in the poll below, which, as of press time, sees nearly 90% of voters willing to wait until consoles are available rather than buying a higher-priced resell on eBay or a similar site. [poilib element="poll" parameters="id=0b3e594c-eec7-4b02-b6af-101b2b4c6b64"] We discussed these analysts’ insights in the last episode of our weekly show Next-Gen Console Watch, which you can catch with new episodes on IGN on Fridays at 6 am PT and 9 am PT. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, a panelist on Next-Gen Console Watch, and host of Podcast Beyond! Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.
Artifact 2.0 Beta Gameplay Changes Detailed, Valve Will No Longer Sell Cards
With Half-Life: Alyx out the door, Valve is ready to talk about Artifact again, including details about the upcoming Beta 2.0. While details are still sparse, Valve revealed some key early details including how Artifact cards and packs will no longer be sold but instead earned through gameplay. Despite a relatively positive reception upon launch, Artifact’s player count soon crumbled. One of the key complaints about Valve’s Dota 2 card game was around the controversial marketplace which attempted to digitize the card-buying experience. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-valve-game-review&captions=true"] Valve soon announced there were “deep-rooted issues” with Artifact that required a drastic overhaul instead of incremental updates. Valve founder Gabe Newell even told IGN that Artifact was a “giant disappointment” for the company. Another gameplay change coming to Artifact is giving players access to all three lanes at once. Like in Dota 2, Artifact utilizes a lane mechanic that’s reminiscent of the MOBA. However, players were only able to access one lane at a time. This will apparently no longer be the case. There will also be a Hero Draft mode that will let players experiment with deck constructions without the pressure of having to worry about the ranked ladder. Valve says invites will be prioritized to players who purchased the first Artifact, and selection into the Beta will then be given out randomly. Decks from the original version will no longer be valid due to some individual cards being either changed, removed, or brand new. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/11/28/artifact-launch-trailer"] There will also be some kind of microtransaction for Artifact 2.0, but Valve says “none of them are cards/packs,” so it could be something related to cosmetics. Valve recently released Half-Life: Alyx, a VR-prequel to Half-Life 2 that IGN awarded a perfect score, calling it a benchmark for VR gaming. Check out IGN’s full coverage, including an in-depth interview with Newell. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Fruit Guide
Everything you need to know about fruit in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Guide
IGN's Animal Crossing: New Horizons strategy guide includes everything you need to know about crafting, gaining Nook Miles, and earning money (bells) so you can expand your house, unlock everything, upgrade facilities/shops, and get more residents (villagers) to join your island.
This ACNH guide will help you get the most out of grinding for resources, filling your critterpedia with all the bugs and fish you can find while designing, customizing, and shopping to make this island everything you want it to be.
Whether you're a beginner - making this your first-ever Animal Crossing game - or you're a veteran who has their island all planned out: we have important info, tips and tricks, and fun cheats and secrets to enhance your island getaway!
Become the best island Resident Tom Nook has ever seen with these tips and tricks!
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/20/essential-tips-and-tricks-to-get-started-in-animal-crossing-new-horizons"]
Share in our discoveries and check out our cheats and secrets page for powerful exploits, fun tricks, and interesting details you may have overlooked - including how to make millions of bells by time-traveling and how to cheat the stalk market and make easy millions off turnips.[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/27/animal-crossing-new-horizons-cheat-massive-bells-from-turnips-and-time-travel"]
Beginner's Guide
Here's how to start your ACNH adventure off right including a walkthrough for your first few days.
- How to Restart or Reroll Your Island
- All Potential Starting Villagers
- Beginner's Guide and Tips
- What to Do on Your First Days (Walkthrough)
- Difference Between Miles and Bells
How to Play Multiplayer
It takes a village to turn an island into a community! Here's how to play 2-4 player local couch co-op (aka Party Play), how to play local wireless and online, how to play with friends, how to add people to your best-friends list, and how to message and talk to friends. Plus a detailed break down on how the Call Islander and Best-Friends List NookPhone apps work alongside the real-life Nintendo Switch Online App (aka NookLink). [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/25/how-multiplayer-works-in-animal-crossing-new-horizons"]Tips and Tricks
Ultimate Unlocks and Upgrades Guide
Here's how to make progress in ACNH by unlocking more tools, buildings, and facilities and upgrading what you already have. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/24/animal-crossing-new-horizons-how-to-get-the-able-sisters-shop"]- How to Unlock Every Tool, Ladder, and Vaulting Pole
- How to Unlock Nook's Cranny
- How to Upgrade Resident Services
- How to Get More Villagers
- How to Unlock K.K. Slider
- How to Unlock Terraforming (Permits for Cliffs and Water)
Money Making Guide (Get Bells Fast)
Bells rule everything around you in ACNH. Here's how make a lot of them quickly. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/25/animal-crossing-new-horizons-how-to-make-big-bells-from-a-money-tree"]- Money Guide
- How to Plant a Money Tree
- How to Create Spider Island (Tarantual Farming)
- Daisy Mae - Turnip Guide
Cheats and Secrets
The Uphill Battle to Fix An Obscure Bug in Control
This is a guest column from Juha Vainio, an Executive Producer at Remedy Entertainment, the development team behind our 2019 Game of the Year, Control. [poilib element="accentDivider"]
I've never been one to chase achievements or trophies in games. I usually play the main storyline, some side quests, and that's it. Prior to launching Control, I had zero Platinum trophies on PS4. But, Control being my game, I decided well in advance that Control will be the first game I platinum - to. collect all the trophies.
So I got to it and played the game diligently, finished the main storyline, all the side quests and started hunting all the trophies. CONTROL is not the hardest game to platinum so the progress was decent. I believe it was October 2019 when I got all the trophies but one, the "Master Parautilitarian", awarded for unlocking all of Jesse’s abilities.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/the-first-17-minutes-of-control-the-foundation-dlc"]
I had still a few powers missing, so I went on getting them and was pretty excited when I was enabling my final ability, supposedly triggering the trophy. But... the trophy didn't trigger – meaning neither did the Platinum.
Clearly a bug, I asked our QA if they had bumped into anything similar. They hadn't. I then went to our community management and asked if they had noticed anyone complaining about something similar - they hadn't, either. So it must have been quite a rare bug.
Finally, I approached our programmers and asked how this could happen. At first, they denied it could even happen at all. Then, with minor pushing, they checked the code and confirmed there's no chance that could happen. When I presented them with visual evidence, they said, in that voice that only programmers can do, "Interesting".
After a few days, the programmers came up with a possible cause: they had made some fundamental changes to how abilities were counted just before launch. Apparently, I had played the pre-release build and some of my abilities were counted using the old system, the rest with the new. So the system thought I didn't have enough abilities for the trophy, even though I did. I asked the team how long would it take to fix this so that I could get my trophy but without anybody else getting screwed. "Too long," they said.
Of course, as the Executive Producer of Control, I'm responsible for the bug priorities, so this naturally went straight to the top of the to-do pile! That is, until the team asked, "do you want us fixing this, or do you want us working on The Foundation expansion?". As much as it pained me, The Foundation was more important, so the bug was left unfixed.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/26/control-the-foundation-dlc-review"]
That didn't mean I gave up, though. As a trusted Sony developer, I had access to the developer support portal. I went and explained the situation to Sony’s support team and subtly asked if they could just flip the switch on the back-end and unlock the trophy for me. "No", they said. "All the trophies need to be unlocked from within gameplay". Which makes lots of sense, but didn't make me any happier.
I continued harassing our programmers every once in a while, but they didn't budge. But suddenly, as an inadvertent answer to my prayers, one of our designers came up with the idea of being able to reset all the ability points. Unaware of my particular predicament – he was trying to solve another issue with it – the idea got my full support. The programmers and I weren't actually sure if that would fix my problem or not, but it was our best shot, so I took it.
For weeks and weeks, I held my breath and waited, in pain, to see if it would work or not. The feature was part of the March 25 Control Update, and on that day I anxiously sat beside my PS4 while the update loaded. I launched the game. I went to a Control Point to access my ability tree. ... and noticed I needed to farm 30.000 Source to be able to reset the Ability Tree!
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=control-the-foundation-screenshots&captions=true"]
After about 30 minutes I had collected enough Source to be able to reset the tree. So, once again, I again located a Control Point, accessed the ability tree, and reset everything. Then I proceeded, with shaky hands, to enable the abilities one by one. I almost couldn't finish, I was so afraid that it wouldn't work. I was almost sure it wouldn't.
But it did! I got my "Master Parautilitarian", followed closely by my First Platinum Trophy ever!
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Mount and Blade 2 Devs Remind Players That Console Ports Aren't Coming Anytime Soon
Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord is finally available on PC via Steam Early Access. But players hoping to check out TaleWorlds Entertainment’s siege-action strategy RPG on consoles will have to wait. “Sorry, but we have been saying in dev blogs and interviews for years that [console versions] will come further down the road, as PCs are our primary platform,” developer TaleWorlds Entertainment explained in a Tweet response to one user who asked whether a console version of the Mount and Blade 2 early access was coming.
Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord is a prequel to 2010’s Mount and Blade: Warband. Set in the waning days of the Calradic Empire, Players control warriors from European-inspired tribes as they engage in siege warfare with rival factions. Players can utilize strategy elements and control large armies and siege weapons, but can also engage in 1-on-1 combat, which puts players in the heart of the action during warfare. Mount and Blade 2 has been in development since 2012, but TaleWorlds delivered weekly developer blog updates since 2017 and rarely mentioned anything about a console version of Bannerlord. It should also be noted that it took six years for Mount and Blade: Warband to be ported from PC to the PS4 and Xbox One. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/30/mount-blade-ii-bannerlord-first-19-minutes-of-gameplay"] IGN will continue to cover Mount and Blade 2, so check back for more updates on Bannerlord soon. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.Sorry, but we have been saying in dev blogs and interviews for years that consoles will come further down the road, as PCs are our primary platform.
— Mount & Blade (@Mount_and_Blade) March 30, 2020
Valorant Closed Beta Begins In April
Riot Games has announced that it is running a closed beta for Valorant, the upcoming PvP FPS from the League of Legends studio. Valorant’s closed beta will operate in Europe, Canada, the United States, Russia, and Turkey, and may roll out into further territories depending on current developments based on the COVID-19 pandemic. It will begin on April 7. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/19/valorant-sova-reveal-trailer"] Riot is running Valorant’s closed beta in collaboration with Twitch, and you’ll need both a Riot account and Twitch account to take part. You’ll need to link your accounts, and when the closed beta goes live you’ll need to watch Valorant streams highlighted by Twitch. Watching these provides “the opportunity to be entitled for Closed Beta access” according to a press release from Riot. It appears that watching the streams is not a guarantee of access to the beta. So far there is no word on when or if the beta will transition from a closed to an open format, but many games open up their betas in the weeks or months leading up to full release. Riot intends to launch Valorant this summer, so there is not too long to wait. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/05/valorant-phoenix-agent-reveal"] If you’ve not been keeping up with Valorant, it’s a 5v5 character-based shooter from the creators of League of Legends. Set in a new universe based on Earth, it features Counter-Strike style gun play with hero abilities similar to the likes of Overwatch. It will be free-to-play when it launches, and will feature ten different Agents to play as to begin with. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter.
Here's Why the Xbox Series X Controller Still Uses AA Batteries
Microsoft has explained its decision to once again use AA batteries to power the Xbox Series X controller, saying it provides "flexibility" for players. According to Microsoft's Jason Ronald (via Eurogamer), both fan and internal feedback was split on the issue, with half preferring AAs and half preferring a rechargeable internal battery, like those found in Sony's DualShock controllers. Ronald says the decision to stick with AAs as the default power supply ultimately provides players "flexibility," as they can use those or purchase a rechargeable battery pack. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=xbox-series-x-controller-6-new-images&captions=true"] Those in the AA camp generally favor the option for its provided longevity, in terms of both battery and controller life. Fans of internal batteries argue for its convenience — simply plug in and play with no additional cost. In speaking to Eurogamer, Microsoft also explained its decision to largely keep with the Xbox One controller design, noting players are both happy with and used to it. Though there aren't many cosmetic differences, the company highlighted a number of changes it made in service to accessibility and performance: the Series X controller is slightly smaller to accommodate more hand sizes, a dedicated button was added to enable convenient game capturing and sharing, and bumpers and triggers now sport a matte finish for improved grip. It also features enhanced Bluetooth capabilities and a more intuitive d-pad. For more on Microsoft's next-gen console — including specs, features, and confirmed games — check out IGN's Xbox Series X wiki. You can also read up on why Xbox Series X looks like a fridge. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/16/microsoft-reveals-full-xbox-series-x-tech-specs"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan is a freelance writer for IGN.
Microsoft Explains Why the Xbox Series X Looks Like a Fridge
The Xbox Series X hasn’t broken the ‘pizza box’ style console form factor just to stand out from the crowd. The new, tall design is actually fundamental to delivering the extra power of the console. In a new report from Eurogamer’s Digital Foundry, Microsoft explains that the tall dimensions of the Xbox Series X, likened by many online to a fridge, are actually dictated by several factors. One of the most important of these is airflow; powerful components need to get very hot, and so dispelling air upwards is vital. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/16/microsoft-reveals-full-xbox-series-x-tech-specs"] “The ODD [optical disc drive] sets one dimension, the volume of the heat sink sets the other dimension,” explained Chris Kujawski, principal designer at Microsoft. “The height is set by airflow and throughout this kind of complex negotiation of figuring out how this stuff comes together, we landed on a square form factor which we love." The tall case has a powerful fan at the top, which reportedly helps draw 70% more airflow through the console than the previous generation Xbox. The heatsink attached to the main board inside also achieves 20% more airflow. Further contributing to the design is that instead of one large rectangular board, the motherboard has been split into two and mounted either side of a metal chassis block that helps cool the hottest components in the console. This split also helps keep the footprint of the console smaller despite the added height. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=9-new-xbox-series-x-images&captions=true"] The Xbox Series X is still slated for a Holiday 2020 release, and there are no delay concerns yet. It will sport a slightly redesigned controller and that all important 12 teraflops GPU. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter.
Nintedo Reportedly Planning Mario Remasters For Switch
In celebration of Super Mario Bros.' 35th anniversary, Nintendo is said to be planning a big celebration that will include "plans to re-release most of Super Mario's 35-year back catalogue this year." As reported by VGC, multiple sources have confirmed this news that also states a new installment in the Paper Mario series will be arriving on Nintendo Switch in 2020. These games are set to be revealed alongside new details on both the Super Nintendo World theme park and the animated Super Mario movie, projects that Nintendo is working on Universal with. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/15/mario-dominates-your-favorite-franchises"] One part of the celebration, according to VGC, was the special interactive LEGO Mario set that slightly blurs the line between a toy and a video game. The Super Mario...party was set to be revealed during E3 2020, which has since been canceled. Nintendo is now said to be reviewing its plans and deciding how it will hold the event in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Eurogamer has also confirmed parts of VGC's report, and its sources have indicated that Super Mario Galaxy is "indeed one of the games being readied for a remaster, alongside a couple of other 3D Mario favourites." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-super-mario-review-ever&captions=true"] Eurogamer also states that new Paper Mario is in fact "in the works" and that a deluxe edition of the Wii U's Super Mario 3D World will arrive on Switch with "an array of new levels." Gematsu has also "heard similar reports," and adds in that Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine will also be brought to Nintendo Switch. If these reports are accurate, and assuming the games will not be delayed due to COVID-19 or other factors, Nintendo Switch owners will be able to look forward to the following Mario titles in 2020:
- Super Mario 64 (N64 - 1996)
- Super Mario Sunshine (Gamecube - 2002)
- Super Mario Galaxy (Wii - 2007)
- Super Mario 3D World (Wii U - 2013)
- A new Paper Mario game
- Other "3D Mario" titles
Resident Evil 3 Review
As the credits rolled on Resident Evil 3’s campaign, I immediately started playing it over again. Not because I felt like I missed anything the first time around – I was as fastidious as developer Capcom encouraged me to be – but because my journey through Raccoon City was so consistently packed with tense monster moments and breakneck-paced fun, and it was so challenging throughout its six-odd hours, that I wanted to jump in and do it all over again with sharper skills and knowledge. My undying enthusiasm for it speaks volumes of the polish seen in this remake, and the finesse with which it manages to tread the tightrope between a confident modern horror and a tonal callback to the original Resident Evil trilogy.
Resident Evil 3 takes place nearly concurrently with the events of the equally accomplished Resident Evil 2, and follows different characters. The endearingly practical Jill Valentine – last seen in the original Resident Evil and its Director’s Cut – is called upon by a roguish Umbrella Corp mercenary by the name of Carlos Oliviera to help save the remaining inhabitants of a demolished Raccoon City from the carnage spawned by the T-Virus outbreak. Of course, nothing goes to plan, and Jill finds herself in a wonderfully labyrinthine, zombie-studded playground where she – and your nerves – must also contend with the threat of an invulnerable monster called Nemesis. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-resident-evil-game-review-ever&captions=true"] It’s a very classic Resident Evil set up, but then, this is a remake of a classic, goofily fun Resident Evil story -- the original 1999 game. The major story events from the original Resident Evil 3 are all there, albeit rearranged, and the cheesiness the early trilogy is known for is delivered in a charmingly self-knowing way. “How is it no one in the hospital ever noticed all this?” Jill wonders aloud after discovering a massive underground base that isn’t particularly well hidden. Resident Evil 3 is also, fortunately, very efficient in its storytelling; the villain is perfectly villainous, the heroes are all selfless and charming, and cutscenes are lean yet efficiently deliver big dramatic moments. It carries the gameplay swiftly along, in other words, and never gets bogged down in unnecessary exposition. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=Capcom%20has%20done%20an%20incredible%20job%20in%20the%20small%20details%20here."]The chaotic, ruined Raccoon City goes a long way toward bringing Resident Evil’s story and the broader universe to life. Once again working within the RE Engine that powered both last year’s Resident Evil 2 and 2017’s Resident Evil 7, Capcom has done an incredible job in the small details here; from the in-universe advertising (“No Spares in This Game!” reads the tagline for a movie called “Sudden Death Bowling”) to the detritus left by citizens who had to escape in a hurry, to Resident Evil 2-related Easter eggs (“Now here’s a weird f****ing door!” Carlos says upon encountering the Spade Door, which is so significant in Resident Evil 2’s police station) and genuinely compelling in-game notes and journals that give background context to some poor guy’s tragic death and/or reveal a code to open a safe. These are spaces that feel realistically inhabited and then abandoned, full of the sort of detail that had me poring every inch of a room after I’d killed everything in it. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-resident-evil-bosses&captions=true"] This detail and polish extend to Resident Evil 3’s broader environments, which are stunning. Smashed cars are piled up outside of flickering neon signs, fires lick their way across kitschy storefronts, and broad industrial spaces are eerily empty. Although you can’t interact much with the world unless you are specifically instructed to (this is still a Resident Evil game and is thus inhospitably rigid with its options for touching things) the atmosphere around you is always pulling out all the stops to make you feel vulnerable and small. Not to lean too much into cliches, but I literally jumped at my own in-game shadow more than once. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=At%20the%20very%20least%2C%20every%20room%20has%20useful%20items%20or%20a%20secret."]Like its predecessor, and indeed, every decent Resident Evil game before it, every part of Resident Evil 3’s world feels deliberately put together. No enemy is thrown in for the sake of it, no room is there ‘just because’; at the very least, every room has useful items or a secret. Areas house problems to solve or clues that lead you to other areas and then back again; a fire obstructs one route, for example, and must be extinguished with the help of a part hidden in a nearby building – a building which also houses a weapon that can't be accessed without the use of a tool that's located past the area obstructed by fire. [poilib element="poll" parameters="id=cbc7a642-d09e-48d1-9e7b-ab39ecdccd89"] These tasks might sound video-gamey (and they are), but solving them is never a chore thanks to elegant, interlocking level design that makes backtracking easy. When I say “easy,” I don’t mean “safe,” though, because that corpse on the floor in that building you were in 30 minutes ago, for example, may not be a corpse any longer. Thankfully, the Resident Evil 2 Remake map screen returns, dutifully logging exactly where you saw that locked safe and highlighting if you’ve missed any items after exploring a room. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=As%20long%20as%20you%E2%80%99re%20careful%20you%20won%E2%80%99t%20feel%20like%20you%E2%80%99re%20being%20punished."]Item micromanagement is where Resident Evil 3 leans hardest into its old-school survival horror lineage. Like the original (and in RE2), items are your lifeline and inventory is limited, and running back and forth between storage chests to make sure nothing is wasted and certain items are combined in smart ways is a must if you want to survive for long. I rarely ran out of bullets and health – at least during my first run on Standard mode – but this was due to diligent scavenging rather than items being plentiful. As long as you’re careful in Resident Evil 3, you won’t feel like you’re being punished, and that’s the mark of any good classic survival horror game. [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://ift.tt/3auIfSz] A sense of dread as you navigate Resident Evil 3’s puzzle box of a world is not unfounded, as you can be easily caught unawares by a number of deadly nasties. There’s plenty of variety in enemy design here to keep things fresh, such as the spider-like Drain Deimos who will poison Jill with parasites (the cure is to eat a green herb and then throw up), Pale Heads (first seen in the Resident Evil 2 DLC) who can only be downed by a very accurate blow to the head with your most extreme weaponry, and more things trying to eat your brains beyond your garden variety zombie. Even the latter can prove deadly, especially because they feel faster and more erratic in their movements than their predecessors in Resident Evil 2 and can show up in big enough numbers to really overwhelm you. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=There%E2%80%99s%20plenty%20of%20variety%20in%20enemies%20to%20keep%20things%20fresh."]Fortunately, Jill is a lot nimbler on her feet than Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield, which gives Resident Evil 3 a more frantic, action-oriented feel than its predecessor (though it’s not all-out-action like Resident Evil 5 or 6, don’t worry). Jill has a quick step move that allows her to sidestep an incoming attack, and when timed just right it earns you a slight slow-motion effect to help you escape. It’s a move I used regularly and compulsively, and it proved as important to the minute-to-minute combat as Jill’s handgun. Some of its best moments involved me getting a jump scare from an unexpected zombie and dodging out of its way via pure muscle memory before lining up a headshot with my shotgun. [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://ift.tt/33XtxRA] Of course, Jill isn’t limited to a single gun; she gradually unlocks the classic Resident Evil arsenal (handgun, shotgun, grenade launcher, etc.), and each weapon feels satisfyingly weighty to shoot. More importantly, I used every gun right up until the end, thanks to upgrades to basic weapons that extend their shelf-life significantly. My original shotgun, for example, was upgraded with a Shell Holder, Tactical Stock, and a Semi-Auto Barrel, which made it far more efficient against Resi 3’s tougher enemies in the latter part of the campaign. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=I%20faced%20one%20of%20RE3%E2%80%99s%20most%20delightfully%20difficult%20challenges%20as%20Carlos."]To shake up the pace, Resident Evil 3 intermittently switches you to Carlos’ perspective; our merc is a little less scrappy and nimble and a little more action-forward than Jill, equipped with a powerful assault rifle that can clear a room from the get-go, at the cost of precious ammunition. That doesn’t mean it’s easier – I faced one of Resident Evil 3’s most delightfully difficult challenges as Carlos, which involved plowing down wave after wave after wave of enemies in a very confined space. It was, not to put too fine a point on it, a blast. [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://ift.tt/2vVZsFk] But this is primarily Jill’s show, and she needs everything at her disposal. Resident Evil 3’s central antagonist, Nemesis, is powerful and fast, moving like a giant, horribly disfigured cat stalking and pouncing on its prey across a series of exhilarating boss fights. These battles see you face off against him in sprawling arenas; it’s just you and your arsenal against whatever horrific form he’s evolved into. Executing a perfect dodge as he leaps at you from afar is a wonderful feeling, as is blowing him off the side of a building with a mine grenade. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=Nemesis%20is%20powerful%20and%20fast%2C%20moving%20like%20a%20giant%2C%20horribly%20disfigured%20cat."]It’s a shame, then, that he doesn’t show up more often. Mr. X in Resident Evil 2 is so frightening because his presence felt unexpected, which led to a feeling that you were never safe even if you were in areas you thought you could be. Nemesis apes this pattern in Resident Evil 3’s first couple of hours – there’s a brilliantly climactic showdown with him that involves you desperately trying to escape through a vent as he pursues you – but he soon gets relegated to big, pre-programmed boss fights. Once that happens, that sense of the looming pursuer operating under his own AI is lost. [poilib element="poll" parameters="id=bf8bce16-66f9-48d4-83f4-291575056b48"] There is no New Game Plus after Resident Evil 3’s campaign, but completing in-game challenges – such as collecting all bobbleheads, knocking X number of hats off a zombie, X number of kills with a certain weapon, etc – unlock a shop where you can cash in your points on useful items to be used in a second or third playthrough. These items, such as coins that make your attacks more powerful or weapons with infinite ammo, made my next playthrough on Resident Evil 3’s hard mode a lot more...manageable.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
-
Don't miss any of those sneaky stars hiding in Princess Peach's Castle in Super Mario 64.
-
Playing Super Mario 3D All-Stars? Don't miss these classic secret stars in Super Mario 64.
-
Watcher of Realms is a next-gen fantasy RPG with a big focus on collecting and upgrading heroes that will take to the battleground and fig...
