Report: Resident Evil Series Coming To Netflix
With only hours until Resident Evil 2 releases, it seems like there might be more Resident Evil news in the pipeline already. In what appears to be a very nascent deal, Deadline reports that Capcom has begun discussing details with Netflix for a Resident Evil series on the streaming service.
According to Deadline, the series isn't going to just be a retelling of the story of the video games, but rather an expansion of the universe outside of the usual group of bioweapon-killing near-superhumans that the series has been focusing on for years. Instead, it will look more at things like the Umbrella Corporation and the creation of its various genetic experiments.
It is not clear yet whether the series is animated or live action. While there have been successful animated adaptation of video games on Netflix, like Konami's Castlevania, the live-action Resident Evil movies by Paul W.S. Anderson were fairly large successes, each turning a profit.
What form would you want a Resident Evil show to take?
[Source: Deadline]
Lower hardware requirements means more players can play a game. PUBG Corporation and Bluehole are hoping a new lite version of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds will bring new PC players into the fold. Work on this version began in October, and it's now available in a beta test. Interestingly, this version is entirely free, whereas the standard version is still $29.99 on Steam.
As of now, the amount of content in the test is considerably less than the core offering. More content will be offered over time (including exclusive things not found in the other versions), but if you jump into the test, you'll only find one map, Erangel, with solo, duo, and squad avenues of play. PUBG Corporation's Lite Team seems pleased with the progress so far, saying "We have made the game to be playable even on low specification requirements like computers and laptops with integrated graphics."
The minimum and required specifications are listed below:
While the Lite version has only been publicly announced for Thailand, it does appear to support other regions already. Official launches and support for non-Thailand regions will be coming at a later date.
Click here to watch embedded media Earlier this week I had the chance to play several hours of Anthem at a preview event, which put into focus its larger structure. While I'm not able to talk about everything I saw right now I thought I'd sit down with Matt Miller to chat about some of the early missions I've encountered, and chat about some of the differences between classes, how the game is structured early on, and flying.
Few board games are more popular or prolific than Carcassonne, the family-friendly tile-laying classic from 2000 that tasks players with building a communal countryside, one colorful square at a time. While not officially related, Isle of Skye feels like an evolution of Carcassonne's theme and mechanics, giving players a meatier experience that’s loaded with replayability and perfectly suited for mobile gaming.
Digital Board Game Spotlight is an ongoing series that highlights my favorite digital translations of modern board games. Unlike most modern mobile games, these selections feature traditional up-front pricing, without any time-gates, premium currencies, or ads to ruin the fun. If you're looking for your next mobile fix, look no further.
Isle of Skye
Publisher: Asmodee Digital, Developer: Digidiced
Multiplayer: Online (Asynchronous and Real-time), Pass & Play
Available on: Android, iOS, PC
As with Carcassonne, your goal in Isle of Skye is to build a kingdom by laying down tiles comprised of different regions – in this case, the lakes, mountains, and grassy plains that make up the real Scottish island. Each tile you place must match up with the regions of its orthogonal neighbors, and may contain a variety of different livestock, buildings, and ships that factor into Isle of Skye’s unique scoring system. Barrel symbols are a notable exception, and will grant you more gold each turn – but only if they lead back to your city via an uninterrupted road. Unlike Carcassonne, each player is building their own kingdom in Isle of Skye, but there’s still plenty of interaction thanks to how tiles are chosen in the first place.
At the beginning of every round, each player receives three landscape tiles, and will secretly choose one to discard, and place bids on the other two. Those bids set the prices that other players can buy them for on their turn – you can purchase exactly one tile from another opponent. If no one wants to pay the prices you set, you’re on the hook for them yourself, and pay the money you set aside for the bid in the first place.
All of these discard and pricing decisions are made secretly and introduce a wealth of interesting choices. Do you set a high price on a valuable tile in hopes of retaining it for yourself? Or push your luck with a lower price and hope no one takes it? Do you discard a tile that would be beneficial to an opponent, or set a high price in hopes of scoring some extra money, which you can in turn use to buy more valuable tiles from your competitors? But what if that tile you're eyeing is the one your opponent is planning to discard anyway?
Ultimately, the value of any given tile comes down to its scoring potential, and that’s where Isle of Skye really gets interesting. At the beginning of the game, four scoring tiles are randomly chosen out of a pool of 16 options. These will award points for a variety of different criteria, like one VP for every sheep in your kingdom, or five VP for the person with the most ships, or two VP for every completed mountain area. Each score tile is triggered exactly three times during the game, but their timing is staggered throughout each of the six rounds; only tile A scores in the first round, but B and D score together in the fourth round, and A, C, and D all score in the fifth round, etc.
Besides adding a boatload of variety and replayability to Isle of Skye, this scoring format also introduces interesting pressures that twist your strategy from turn to turn – “If I get one more ship tile I’ll have the majority, but I need to get it NOW before it scores. Or maybe I’ll focus on those two cow tiles instead – I don’t have a road tile to connect them back to my kingdom, but I’ve got another round before their score tile comes up to figure that out…” Devising a way to capitalize on the natural ebb and flow of the score tiles and rake in a massive pile of points at the right time is supremely satisfying.
Finally, some land tiles offer their own bonus scoring opportunities that only trigger at the end of the game. Not only do these tiles add one last dash of variability to every game, they also ensure an exciting finale as you tally up the endgame points. Whether Isle of Skye will have the lasting popularity of Carcassonne remains to be seen, but it certainly has enough depth and variety to keep matches feeling fresh for years to come.
Like all of the games highlighted in this series, Isle of Skye greatly benefits from its transition to the digital table. In addition to a shorter playing time, A.I. opponents, and automated scoring, the digital version also boasts a wonderful aesthetic improvement over the physical game; when you rotate a tile to fit into your kingdom, its symbols automatically realign themselves – no longer will your ships be sailing upside-down or your sheep be standing sideways like some strange M.C. Escher landscape. Like Digidiced’s other titles, a humorous tutorial explains the ins and outs of the rules, and detailed explanations of scoring tiles are always a tap away. The touch controls make moving and rotating tiles and setting your bids a cinch, and the end-turn prompt ensures you always have the opportunity to undo potential mistakes anyway.
Isle of Skye’s multiplayer offerings are also consistent with Digidiced’s other titles, in that they provide a wealth of options that are all underused by the community. The local pass-and-play option seems viable for two players as there’s not a ton of hidden information to worry about in the game, but any more human players would simply be cumbersome. You won’t find many opponents for the asynchronous or real-time multiplayer modes, so wrangling your own friends up for online play is still your best bet.
While, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed thinking my way through Isle of Skye’s strategic tile-laying action, if you’re looking for something easier and breezier, you may want to check out its spiritual predecessor. Asmodee Digital’s topnotch Android port of Carcassonne features exceptional visuals, streamlined play, and a number of extra expansions for purchase if you find yourself enamored with the base game. It’s also one of the few digital board games with an active player base on Android, if you’re hankering for some human competition. A word of warning that a different developer owns the rights to Carcassonne on iOS, however, so Apple owners are out of luck – but Switch and PC versions are also available.
For more digital board games that are worth your time, check out my write-up of the fast and fun card trading of Jaipur, and the streamlined but strategic auctions of Stockpile. For physical board game recommendations, check out Matt Miller's bi-weekly column, Top of the Table.
Update: We spoke briefly with a Ubisoft representative about the tweaks being made. The changes don't take place during the final story beat of the Shadow Heritage DLC, and as such, we have updated our headline to more accurately reflect the nature of this upcoming patch.
The original article is as follows:
Earlier this month, Assassin's Creed Odyssey's second premium DLC release, Shadow Heritage, prompted Game Informer senior reviews editor Joe Juba to recommend players steer clear from the entire arc. While one of the points is that it doesn't add cool or meaningful content, another major reason is an odd turn the story takes. This sentiment was shared by enough in the community to prompt Ubisoft to apologize. Now, the developer has announced it's working on a revision to Shadow Heritage.
According to the post on the Ubisoft forums, the developers are making, "changes to a cutscene and some dialogue in Shadow Heritage to better reflect the nature of the relationship for players selecting a non-romantic storyline." The changes will also include altering the name of one trophy.
Ubisoft says the changes are being made now and will be implemented in a future patch. The team is also looking at how the choices made in Shadow Heritage can affect the next DLC release, Bloodline, to ensure narrative consistency.
[Source: Ubisoft]
Each year, the Game Developers Conference serves as one of the biggest meetings of the minds for creators in the video game industry. While we're still about two months off, the conference shared its seventh annual State of the Game Industry survey results. The survey polled nearly 4,000 video game developers on a variety of topics including work hours, Steam, and projects they are working on.
One of the most interesting tidbits is that 18 percent of the 4,000 developers surveyed are working on games for unannounced platforms. However, only 2 percent of respondents say that project is exclusive to next-gen games; the other 16 percent say their projects are cross-generational. On that same question, 46 percent say they are developing exclusively for existing hardware.
In addition, one of the topics touched on was how the developers surveyed were planning on monetizing their "next completed game." 50 percent responded that it would be traditional "Pay to Download," while 41 percent said "Free to Download." However, only 9 percent of total respondents said their games would include paid loot boxes, while 22 percent and 24 percent said they would support the game through paid in-game currency and paid in-game items respectively.
Steam remains the most popular PC/Mac platform for developers to sell their games on, with 47 of developers using the Valve-owned storefront, but only 6 percent of developers feel Steam earns its 30 percent cut of the game revenue. For contrast, only 32 percent feel Steam does not earn its cut, while 27 percent say it "probably" doesn't. While this could indicate future problems for Valve's storefront, 55 percent of developers say that 75 percent or more of their sales come from Steam, which is significantly more than any other digital storefront at this time.
On the topic of work hours, 44 percent spend more than 40 hours a week working on games. The most popular reason for this, however, isn't management pressure (10 percent) or peer pressure (10 percent). Instead, the most common reason for overtime among respondents is self-pressure (33 percent). On the topic of maintaining favorable work conditions, 47 percent said they think workers in the industry should unionize, but only 21 percent are optimistic about that happening.
In response to which gender the developers surveyed identified as, 77 percent said "Male," while only19 percent said "Female." This is a slight increase from last year's survey, when that same question yielded an 80/17 split.
Other interesting results include 24 percent saying their multiplatform games have sold best on Switch, and that 45 percent of developers consider Switch a platform that most interests them (compared to 38 percent for PS4, 28 percent for Xbox One, and 60 percent for PC).
This year's Game Developers Conference runs from March 18 to March 22 in San Francisco, California.
Days Gone developer Sony Bend started a series of videos focused on the bleak world featured in the game and what you'll have to do to survive in it. Today, the studio released the latest in its "World Series" of videos. This time, the focus shifts toward Deacon St. John's trusty motorcycle.
His drifter bike is much more than a means to travel. Sure, the bike can get him from point-A to point-B, but it is also his lifeline for when an area gets a little too hot. In addition, if you die in Days Gone, you respawn at your bike. You can learn more about that in the latest video released by Sony Bend, as well as ways you can expect to upgrade the bike and how fast travel works.
Click here to watch embedded mediaDays Gone hits PlayStation 4 on April 26. To learn more, check out the previous world-focused video released by Sony Bend, or head to our coverage hub for tons of details about the upcoming post-apocalyptic title.
Video games have changed over the years from the one-and-done packages of the early console heyday. Now games almost have more in common with television, as many operate as a service, consistently updating the original release with new content and tweaks to improve the original version. While this shift to the serialization has many drawbacks (chief among them players' dissatisfaction with developers releasing "unfinished" games), it's hard to deny that many games have benefited from a digital model that allows them to receive content packages and quality of life improvements months, sometimes even years after their original release.
From hero-oriented multiplayer shooters to epic adventures, here are the games that have improved the most through free updates.
Assassin's Creed: Origins/ Assassin's Creed: Odyssey
Release: November 2017/November 2018
Ubisoft just doesn't want you to run out of things to do in Egypt and Greece. Despite launching two open-world games packed to the brim with activities to do and an engaging storyline, the content has just kept coming since, including limited time events that pit the players against various gods and new quests. An educational Discovery Tour mode is also available in Origins and is on the way for Odyssey.
Diablo III
Original Release: May 2012
Blizzard has found myriad ways to give players a reason to return to the third outing of its popular hack & slash RPG series. Most importantly, Blizzard listened to player feedback and cut out elements that just don't work, like the much-hated auction house in the original release. In the years following its releases on PC and console, Blizzard has continued to support the game with a season structure, offering time-limited quests, cosmetic items, and goodies like The Darkening of Tristam, a free yearly event that lets players go through a recreated version of the original Diablo.
Call Of Duty: Black Ops 4
Original Release: October 2018
Sure Black Ops 4 has only been out since October but since then the game's premiere battle Royale mode has gone through some considerable shifts — all of them for the better. Treyarch added its own take on Fortnite’s battle pass tiers, which showers players in cosmetics, tags, and even weapons for simply playing the game regardless of win or losses. The mode has also received custom game options as well as limited-time game modes like Down and Out that vary things up. The amount of unlockable costumes, weapon skins, and game variety is frankly staggering and will likely keep players coming back for a long time.
Dishonored 2
Original Release: November 2016
Dishonored 2 made its mark as one of the best modern games tailored to player choice, and its updates have only emphasized this. From expanded difficulty options to New Game Plus modes and the ability to give both protagonists access to the whole suite of powers, Dishonored 2 continues to be one of the most beautiful and twisted playgrounds for inventive players. In December 2018, over two years after its release, Arkane also added a classy looking black & white mode and an overdue but appreciated mission select option.
For more on Dishonored 2, read our review of the original release here.
The Division
Original Release: March 2016
The Division and its wintry, post-apocalyptic take on Manhattan was a robust title at launch thanks to its balanced leveling system, fun combat, and the seedy allure of the Dark Zone, where players could betray and deceive one another for top-notch loot. In the months following release, The Division grew in audience and content offered, with free updates adding new areas, global events, and endgame content for solo, co-op, and PVP play.
You can read our review of the launch version of the game here.
The Elder Scrolls Online
Original Release: May 3 2012
Despite a rocky launch, The Elder Scrolls Online has done a fascinating 180 by going free-to-play and giving its players a bevy of content and things to do in order to get them to pay for the numerous expansions that have been released over the years. Given how well the game has done since, it's hard to argue with the process.
The Evil Within 2
Original release: October 2017
The Evil Within 2 might not have lit the world on fire when it came out, and it might not have had that many updates. However, it did add a free update that lets you play the entire game in first-person, dramatically boosting the already significant scare factor and making the world more immersive. That's pretty impressive and the sort of post-release content we'd love to see more.
You can read our review for The Evil Within 2 here.
Final Fantasy XV
Original release: November 2016
Back in 2016, you probably wouldn't have expected Final Fantasy XV to be a game that's radically shifted due to content drops, and yet here we are. From basic tweaks that improve driving mechanics to constant quest drops, added minigames, crossover events (including a festival centered around Assassin's Creed!?), Final Fantasy XV continues to be a strange, vibrant road trip with no end in sight, and we couldn't be more thankful for that.
For more on how far Final Fantasy XV has come since release, you can check out Kim Wallace's great article about the state of the game a year after its release here.
For Honor
Original Release: February 2017
For Honor launched early last year with plenty to offer: a decent story mode, fantastic and meaty close-quarters combat, and engaging multiplayer modes and event. However, the game struggled to find a thriving multiplayer community due to Ubisoft's Achillies heel: server issues at launch. However, For Honor has slowly managed to crawl back up with tweaks that have made servers much more stable as well as map editions and new heroes.
An expansion announced for later this year shows that Ubisoft isn't giving up on the game and will likely support it throughout the year with more free content updates as well.
For more on For Honor, you can read our review of the original release here.
Fortnite
Original Release: July 2017
As the biggest game in the word, Fortnite hardly needs any introduction. However, part of the reason the game manages to stay in the spotlight is because of its changing landscape. A season structure means that the game is constantly shifting and introducing limited time events, like the Thanos event that coincided with the release of Infinity War. Whatever you may think of Fortnite, Epic keeps it relevant thanks to constant content updates, a trend that's unlikely to stop as the developer will soon have to contend with Call of Duty and Battlefield both entering the battle royale realm come fall.
For more on Fortnite, be sure to read our review.
Ghost Recon Wildlands
Original Release: March 2017
Ghost Recon Wildlands was massive on release, encompassing more than 50 hours of gameplay if you only did a little bit more than the critical path, and yet since release Ubisoft has added a buffet line of content including PvP modes, difficulty options, reworked helicopter controls, nifty tweaks like the ability to customize your A.I. teammates' clothes, and missions featuring Splinter Cell's Sam Fisher, Rainbow Six operators, and even The Predator. Now, if only you could make those A.I. teammates shut the hell up.
You can read our review of Ghost Recon: Wildlands right here.
Grand Theft Auto Online
Original Release: October 2013
Grand Theft Auto V was already a success when it launched multiplayer-free in September 2013, selling countless copies and earning its reputation as one of the greatest open-world games ever made. The online component came a month later, letting players roam Los Santos with their friends and teaming up to hold up liquor stores, race cars, and complete missions. For the past nearly five years, Rockstar has constantly updated its online world, making it much more stable and dropping a huge amount of content for free, including weapons, houses, heists, and a ridiculous amount of things to do. GTAO has grown by leaps and bounds since its release and even years later offers an alluring world that's easy to lose hours, if not days and months, to exploring.
For more on Grand Theft Auto Online, be sure to check out our feature on the game's past, present, and future.
Kirby Star Allies
Original Release: March 2018
We weren’t in love with the pink puff’s latest adventure. As fellow editor Kyle Hilliard wrote in his review, “Star Allies demands so little from the player that it sometimes feels like you're barely involved at all.” However, since then the game’s received a load of free content additions since its launch that have ironed out a lot of the difficulty issues. Heroes In Another Dimension, the last DLC update for Star Allies, is essentially a sub campaign that challenges even the most talented Kirby experts. Not bad as far as rebounds go.
Monster Hunter: World
Original Release: January 2018
One of 2018's best co-op multiplayer experiences, Capcom hasn't stopped the producing content for its monster-slaying experience. Outside of a constant flow of limited events (including a permanent crossover with Final Fantasy) and monsters, the game even had some free content featuring everyone's favorite monster hunter from Rivia.
No Man's Sky
Original Release: August 2016
One of the most controversial games of its (or perhaps any) time, No Man's Sky launched with a lot of ambition and hype, and questionable execution. Players en masse accused developer Hello Games lying, even filing false advertising complaints with agencies in the United Kingdom (the developer was eventually cleared of such allegations). Through all the drama, Hello Games has provided major updates that have added questlines, base-building mechanics, sandbox mode, and now, at long last, proper multiplayer. Sure, the game might still suffer from tiresome resource management and aggravate focused players with its aimlessness, but there's no denying No Man's Sky is a much a better game now than when it initially launched.
For more on No Man's Sky's improvements, check out this journal I kept as I played through all the improvements over the course of a week.
Overwatch
Original Release: May 2016
Overwatch launched strong, earning a Game Of The Year nod from us, and has only gotten better since. A seemingly never-ending line of limited time events, cosmetics, new characters, maps, and controversial tweaks makes Blizzard's hero-oriented shooter one of the most talked about games in the world for both hobby players as well as those deeply tuned into the Overwatch League scene.
For more on Overwatch's changes, check out Brian's piece on the 10 biggest changes that have hit the game since launch.
Path Of Exile
Original Release: October 2013
An action-roleplaying game that makes no bones about showing its love for Diablo, the free-to-play Path Of Exile has excelled since its launch in 2013 with consistent quality content drops. The game has millions of registered players and enjoys a healthy community on both console and PC thanks to the support from developer Grinding Gears Games, which has released seven expansion packs for the game that introduce a plethora of gear, story content, missions, and more. The game's five-year growth from enjoyable, solid homage to an epic in its own right is frankly astonishing.
For more on Path of Exile, check our Cork's review.
Rainbow Six Siege
Original Release: December 2015
The king of the comeback, Rainbow Six Siege launched with a plethora of server-related issues and a dearth of content. However, the game now has a strong community that appreciates the game's hardcore tactical combat thanks to Ubisoft consistently introducing new maps, heroes, and limited modes. Ubisoft has also added numerous tweaks for server stability and management tools for player toxicity. The result is a title that's built a sizeable following and continues to chart on the NPD's top 20 nearly three years after its release.
To see how far Siege has come, check out our feature on how Ubisoft improved the game over the years.
Rocket League
Original Release: July 2015
Three years in and Rocket League is still going strong. While its appeal is rooted in the strength of its combination of straightforward soccer with goofy racing kart mechanics, it doesn't hurt that Rocket League has enjoyed a number of brand relationships that have decked out the cosmetic parts of the game. Add the arenas and tweaks that have been put in since launch (as well as a lively tournament scene) and you have a quality family friendly game that's only gotten better since release.
You can read our review for Rocket League here.
Splatoon 2
Original Release: July 2017
Splatoon was one of the most promising new IPs for Nintendo's flagging Wii U. However, the game didn't reach its potential until it became a series, with a sequel launching on the Switch. Since release, Nintendo has supported the game with a flow of costumes, weapons, and live events that force players to pick a side in a goofy battle (like ketchup vs mustard). If Nintendo keeps supporting its multiplayer shooter with content like it has, we imagine Switch players will keep painting it up for quite a while.
For more on Splatoon 2, check out our review of the game's recent Octo Expansion here.
Warframe
Original Release: March 2013
Once upon a time Warframe was probably best known as "Oh yeah, that free-to-play game you can play on your new PS4." However, it's been a long time since 2013 and the game's improved quite a bit since then. Constant updates, including free expansions, and a steady drip of content and quality of life upgrades has made Warframe one of the most popular multiplayer free-to-play games out there.
For more on Warframe's popularity, you can read about how its latest expansion broke records for the game here.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Original Release: May 2015
CD Projekt Red has long been ahead of the game with keeping a community happy with incremental quality-of-life updates. Back in 2009, the developer rereleased the Witcher "Enhanced Edition" that added over 200 modifications and tweaks to fix the original release. The update was free of charge for owners of the original as well, and earned the developer a huge amount of goodwill and respect from its growing fanbase. Since then, CD Projekt Red has kept the free content train going, releasing an enhanced edition for The Witcher II and a frankly ridiculous amount of updates for The Witcher 3.
Not only has Wild Hunt received free quests and costumes, but the game's also nabbed countless quality-of-life updates over the years including UI tweaks, New Game Plus, hairstyles for Geralt, extended finishing animations, and visual enhancements for PS4 Pro/Xbox One X. It's clear that keeping their fans not just happy but ecstatic has become part of CD Projekt Red's legacy, and it's something we'll likely see with the developer's games going forward.
For more on The Witcher 3, you can read our Virtual Life on the game's interesting take on violence.
Update 2 (1/24/19): We've added Black Ops 4, Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, Monster Hunter: World, Kirby Star Allies, The Elder Scrolls Online, and more content to Dishonored 2's entry.
Update 1 (8/7/18): We added Grand Theft Auto Online to our list due to Rockstar's constant support of its enthralling online version of Los Santos.
With a new year comes new beginnings, but it also means new Overwatch events and thus new costumes. Overwatch's third iteration of the Lunar New Year event, Year of the Pig, is no exception, bringing new costumes, poses, and other cosmetics with it again this year. The event is now live, letting us get a good look at the new content and, more importantly, how much gold it will run you if lootbox luck isn't on your side.
This year, the costume theme is based around the historic warriors of China. So if you're a history buff or a Dynasty Warriors fans, you'll find some familiar names to enjoy in these new costumes.
Brigitte – General (750)
Reinhardt – Guan Yu (3,000)
Zenyatta – Zhuge Liang (3,000)
Hanzo – Huang Zhong (3,000)
Torbjorn – Zhang Fei (3,000)
Orisa – Sanye (750)
Reaper – Lu Bu (3,000)
Tracer – Hong Gildong (3,000)
In addition, costumes from last year's Lunar New Year event have been discounted from their initial 3000 gold introductory price down to 750 gold now, so you don't need as much gold to catch up on the skins you want.
The Year of the Pig Lunar New Year seasonal event runs until February 18.
Every year, we publish Game Informer's game of the year awards, but alongside those awards, comes the list of every editor's personal top 10 games of the year. Below you will find my personal top 10s starting with 2011, the year I started working here.
2011
Portal 2
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Dead Space 2
Batman: Arkham City
Infamous 2
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Shadows of the Damned
Ms. Splosion Man
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
Super Mario 3D Land
2012
Fez
Halo 4
Journey
Dishonored
Sound Shapes
Mass Effect 3
Darksiders II
Assassin's Creed III
10000000
Gravity Rush
2013
Tomb Raider
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Grand Theft Auto V
The Last of Us
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Rayman Legends
Super Mario 3D World
Guacamelee
BioShock Infinite
Picross e2
2014
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Infamous Second Son
Super Smash Bros.
Dark Souls II
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Mario Kart 8
Far Cry 4
Sunset Overdrive
South Park: The Stick of Truth
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
2015
Batman: Arkham Knight
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Rise of the Tomb Raider
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D
You Must Build a Boat
Ori and the Blind Forest
Broken Age
Until Dawn
Just Cause 3
Yoshi's Woolly World
2016
Inside
Hyper Light Drifter
Pokémon Go
The Last Guardian
Picross 3D Round 2
Titanfall 2
Dark Souls III
The Witness
Final Fantasy XV
Overwatch
2017
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Super Mario Odyssey
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Metroid: Samus Returns
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Horizon Zero Dawn
Hollow Knight
What Remains of Edith Finch
Heat Signature
Little Nightmares
2018
Red Dead Redemption II
God of War
Spider-Man
Iconoclasts
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Shadow of the Colossus
Beat Saber
Astro Bot Rescue Mission
Mega Man 11
Minit
Welcome to the first great week for video games in 2019! On this week's episode of The Game Informer Show podcast, we talk about Kingdom Hearts III and the incredible remake of Resident Evil 2. We also cover Ace Combat 7 and the new strategy game from the designer of Civilization V called At the Gates. Before we get to some great community emails, we kick off the second round of our funky challenge Every Game Is Interesting. Then the back half of the show is a brutal round of game trivia with Back of the Box Trivia. Compete alongside us, and don't forget to send in your submission for the Every Game Is Interesting challenge to podcast@gameinformer.com.
You can watch the video below, subscribe and listen to the audio on iTunes or Google Play, listen to episode 434 on SoundCloud, stream it on Spotify, or download the MP3 by clicking here. Also, be sure to send your questions to podcast@gameinformer.com for a chance to have them answered on the show.
Click here to watch embedded mediaOur thanks to the talented Super Marcato Bros. for The Game Informer Show's intro song. You can hear more of their original tunes and awesome video game music podcast at their website.
To jump to a particular point in the discussion, check out the time stamps below...
6:30 - Kingdom Hearts III
28:50 - Resident Evil 2
43:00 - Ace Combat 7
50:25 - Every Game is Interesting
57:00 - At The Gates
1:04:35 - Community emails
2:01:15 - Back of the Box Trivia
In its latest developer diary, Sea of Thieves’ executive producer Joe Neate acknowledged the game’s growing following on platforms like Twitch.
“It’s been amazing to see the continued momentum and interest around Sea of Thieves since the Shrouded Spoils release,” Neate said. “Throughout December we’ve seen loads of streaming... Just loads of people coming in and playing Sea of Thieves. To see that continue through January, to see new streamers... has been incredible.”
Click here to watch embedded mediaIt’s a true reversal in perception from when the game launched to middling reviews last year. In our own review, we described the game as “shallow” with good ideas but not enough content. Rare’s since proven its commitment to filling its swashbuckling, pirate sandbox with four free, sizeable expansion packs, including December’s Shrouded Spoils — and if Twitch is any indication of public perception (it usually is), their efforts are paying off.
Kotaku reported that Sea of Thieves sat at No. 2 on Twitch Monday night with 102,000 viewers. It’s since slipped back down to 17,600 viewers at the time of this writing, but it’s clear that interest in the game is gaining the momentum Neate described in the video.
The next patch coming to Sea of Thieves will launch on February 6 and will add primarily focus on tweaking the game’s combat mechanics.
After over a decade since the last numbered Kingdom Hearts game, anticipation is high for Kingdom Hearts III and Tetsuya Nomura's latest directed game. However, due to being shipped to retailers early, Kingdom Hearts III leaked out of a store in America two months ago, leading to entire playthroughs online months before the game officially releases. While certain scenes weren't on the disc to be patched later, it was still a lot of the game out there, and Nomura thinks the worldwide release is to blame.
Speaking to Japanese magazine Famitsu, translated by KHInsider, Nomura explained that he is reconsidering whether worldwide releases are something he will do in the future.
"I had expected to be able to relax, but I haven't been able to take a single break and I've been on my toes the entire time," Nomura joked with the interviewer. "We even had some trouble when someone overseas obtained a ROM through dishonest means."
Famitsu asked if Nomura had any comment about that incident.
"The situation has left our hands now, and I can't speak in much detail about it, but… false information was going around and people were thinking that a large number of copies were circulating from many leak sources," Nomura said. "In fact, we confirmed that it was limited to four copies, and there was only one leak source who was scattering information to make it seem as though there were many. I say it was only one, but thanks to that one, many people who were looking forward to KH3 were caused distress. It is a humongous shame. This incident proved that worldwide simultaneous releases are highly risky, and I feel obligated to reconsider them for any titles I am involved with in the future, at least for physical editions."
Previous Kingdom Hearts games have had localization delays of months before they released outside of Japan, which it seems like Square Enix is eager to get back to. Nomura's belief appears to be that this leak would not have occurred had Kingdom Hearts III been released exclusively in Japan at first, though the logic doesn't quite follow, as it would be more likely for western fans to be spoiled if they had to wait months later. Though it seems Nomura is less concerned about that.
Kingdom Hearts III releases on January 29 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. You can find our review of the game here and see what Kim Wallace thought about the culmination of years of waiting and story.
[Source: Famitsu via KH Insider]
As we explain in our latest cover story on Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, From Software is hoping to craft a smoother onboarding experience for players in the hope that they won't be frustrated by the game's eventual challenges. While visiting the studio, we spoke with lead game designer Masaru Yamamura about the delicate balance of not turning off From Software's fans but also letting people know how to play the upcoming game. Watch the interview above and let us know what you think in the comments below.
Click on the banner below to learn even more about Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice throughout the month.
As we go into a surprisingly packed time for video game releases, Metro Exodus is hoping to surprised and delight players when it releases in a few weeks. In an ongoing series about the development of the game, developers 4A Games talk about the actual artistry of creating the broken and cold world of Metro, including how it acknowledges and celebrates Slavic culture.
You can check out the second episode of the documentary series below.
Click here to watch embedded mediaIt's always interesting to get insight from the people who create games like this that go to great lengths to be immersive, especially when you can genuinely feel their passion for doing so. You can see the latest weapons trailer for the game here to get a sense of how Metro Exodus is shaping up its post-apocalyptic arsenal.
Metro Exodus releases on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on February 15.
Click here to watch embedded media It's hard to believe, but Kingdom Hearts III is actually coming out. Ahead of release on January 29th, we streamed the first two hours of the game, skipping cutscenes for embargo reasons and to avoid spoilers.
Join us for the tearful reunion of Sora, Donald, Goofy and more, with Kingdom Hearts expert Kim Wallace and Sandwich Experts Ben Reeves and I providing commentary and questions from chat. And don't forget to follow us on YouTube or Twitch to be notified when we go live next!
Anthem is still several weeks away, but Bioware is already trying to be reactive to feedback based on the closed alpha and, presumably, the upcoming demos. In response to players saying they want to be able to hang out with the game's NPCs and their friends between missions, Bioware is going to be adding a social hub into Anthem to do exactly that.
The news comes from Anthem's lead producer Michael Gamble on Twitter, who says you can head back to Tarsis or the launch bay after a mission, closing the tweet with "We listened to you."
After a mission, you can head back to Tarsis and catch up with some of the amazing characters we've created for you...OR...head back to the brand new Launch Bay, hang out with your friends, use the forge, reload and grab a new contract. Yeah, we listened to you... details soon! pic.twitter.com/m5sp96IpDh
— Michael Gamble (@GambleMike) January 23, 2019The launch bay is the big new addition, as the alpha simply didn't have any real interaction between players outside of missions. This meant that your cool armor or emotes could only be displayed within the heat of battle and not in a virtual area to chat, pose, and do whatever else you wanted to do common in other MMO-style games like Destiny or The Division. When players brought this up to Gamble on Twitter, he remarked that he has heard the complaints.
The Anthem demo comes to EA Access subscribers and preorders on January 25 through January 27. A public demo will be available a few days later from February 1 to February 3. Bioware has warned that the demo was locked over a month ago and isn't completely accurate to the quality of the game, but it should give you a small taste of what to expect. If nothing else, it's clear that giving feedback from the demo can affect change in the game itself.
Anthem releases on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on February 22.
A new Dark Souls III statue joins a massive repertoire of Gecco Direct collectibles. For $100, fans can receive a ⅙ scale (210 mm high) LED bonfire with a miniature sword. The sword, once inserted into the flames, activates the fire-red lights.
The bonfire, of course, has been a well-known staple in the Dark Souls series. Serving as a resting spot for the battered and weary, players can choose to restock their inventory, reinforce their stats in the first game, or upgrade their equipment (amid a plethora of other options).
The statue, while already available for pre-order at this link, will not be released until the summer. In the meantime, don’t miss out on From Software’s latest title Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and the ways in which it improves upon and diverges from the Dark Souls formula. You can find the full hub of all our Sekiro information right here.
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If you’ve been itching for EA to bring back the dormant Command & Conquer series, and the recent competitive mobile game doesn’t quite scratch that itch, then Microsoft is stepping in to alleviate that problem. Sort of. In addition to the recent announcement that EA will be remastering several classic PC Command & Conquer titles, starting today, you can play four of Command & Conquer's Xbox 360 games as part of Xbox One’s backward compatibility program.
The four games are:
Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars Command & Conquer 3 Kane’s Wrath Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 Commander’s ChallengeXbox’s Larry Hryb announced the news on Twitter, and it’s at least a good omen for anyone pining for the glory days of the popular franchise. For those who missed it, though, you can check out Command & Conquers Rivals when it got announced at E3 2018 here.
https://twitter.com/majornelson/status/1088481741210247168[Source: Major Neslon]
Microsoft has been releasing games onto its backward compatibility list at a steady clip since they launched the program in 2015, and it’s an initiative that has only served to bolster their bullet points after a rocky system launch. With an ever-growing list of games to play from previous generations and the wide array of games to choose from in their new Game Pass program, Xbox is making quite a strong argument for their platform.
The Rise of the Combiners expansion for the Transformers Trading Card Game lands on March 1, with many new features. One of the new mechanics are the combiners, which allow cards to come together to form one ultimate unit of immense power (Remember Exodia?). While the set features many other interesting abilities, combining steals the show. Today, we're excited to reveal one of these titanic entities - Menasor, Menacing Colossus!
Using 5 cards together, you can create this giant transformer and turn your opponents to scrap. Assembly may be challenging, but the end result is worth it. In addition to these huge monsters, the expansion also introduces Brave (which "taunts" making characters forced to attack it if able) and Stealth (which can't be attacked unless it is the only option). The expansion also features triple changers with multiple modes you can swap to and more!
Rise of the Combiners hits on Match 1st.
If you're wondering what games are coming up in 2019, we've put them all in one convenient location. This list will be continually updated to act as a living, breathing schedule as new dates are announced, titles are delayed, and big reveals happen. This should help you plan out your next several months in gaming and beyond.
New additions or changes to the list will be in bold.
As the gaming calendar is constantly changing, we highly recommend you bookmark this page. You'll likely find yourself coming back to this to find out the most recent release schedule for the most anticipated games across PC, consoles, handhelds, and mobile devices. If you notice that we've missed something, feel free to let us know! Please note that games will not get assigned to a month until they have confirmed release dates.
Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition
January
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (3DS) – January 11
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe (Switch) – January 11
Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – January 11
Onimusha: Warlords (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – January 15
The Walking Dead: The Final Season Episode 3, Broken Toys (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – January 15
YIIK: A Postmodern RPG (PS4, Switch, PC) – January 17
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (PS4, Xbox One) – January 18
Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes (Switch) – January 18
At the Gates (PC) – January 23
Life is Strange 2 Episode 2: Rules (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – January 24
Resident Evil 2 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – January 25
Genesis Alpha One (PS4, Xbox One, PC ) – January 29
Kingdom Hearts III (PS4, Xbox One) – January 29
Penguin Wars (PS4) – January 29
Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy (Switch) – January 29
Metro Exodus
February
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (PC) – February 1
Wargroove (Switch) – February 1
Etrian Odyssey: Nexus (3DS) – February 5
The Occupation (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – February 5
BlazBlue: Central Fiction (Switch) – February 7
God Eater 3 (PS4, PC) – February 8
Monster Energy Supercross 2 (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – February 8
The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince (PS4, Switch) – February 12
Trials Rising (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – February 12
Civilization VI: Gathering Storm (PC) – February 14
Crackdown 3 (Xbox One, PC) – February 15
Metro Exodus (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – February 15
Far Cry: New Dawn (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – February 15
Jump Force (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – February 15
Yakuza Kiwami (PC) – February 19
Anthem (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – February 22
Anno 1800 (PC) – February 26
Dirt Rally 2.0 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – February 26
The Lego Movie 2 (PS4, Switch, Xbox One ) – February 26
Stellaris: Console Edition (PS4, Xbox One) – February 26
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
March
Dead or Alive 6 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – March 1
Left Alive (PS4, PC) – March 5
Total War: Three Kingdoms (PC) – March 7
Devil May Cry 5 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – March 8
Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn (3DS) – March 8
The Caligula Effect: Overdose (PS4, Switch, PC) - March 12
The Division 2 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – March 15
One Piece: World Seeker (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – March 16
American Ninja Warrior Challenge (PS4, Xbox One, Switch) – March 19
The Sinking City (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – March 21
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – March 22
The Princess Guide (PS4, Switch) – March 26
Danganronpa Trilogy (PS4) – March 26
Yoshi's Crafted World (Switch) – March 29
Tropico 6 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – March 29
Days Gone
April
Mortal Kombat 11 (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – April 23
Days Gone (PS4) – April 26
Team Sonic Racing
May
A Plague Tale: Innocence (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – May 14
Rage 2 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) – May 14
Team Sonic Racing (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC ) – May 21
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled
June
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled (PS4, Xbox One, Switch) – June 21
July
Shenmue III
August
Shenmue III (PS4, PC) – August 27
Gears 5
2019 Without Confirmed Dates
Ace Attorney Trilogy (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)
Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Animal Crossing (Switch)
Babylon's Fall (PS4, PC)
Battletoads (Xbox One, PC)
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)
Catherine: Full Body (PS4)
Code Vein (PS4, Xbox One)
Concrete Genie (PS4)
Control (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Daemon x Machina (Switch)
Digimon Survive (PS4, Switch)
Dragon Quest XI S (Switch)
Dragon Quest Builders 2 (Switch, PS4)
Dreams (PS4)
Final Fantasy VII (Xbox One, Switch)
Final Fantasy IX (Xbox One, Switch)
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster (Xbox One, Switch)
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age (Xbox One, Switch)
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Remastered (PS4, Switch)
Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Switch)
Gears 5 (Xbox One, PC)
Indivisible (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)
Judgment (PS4)
Journey to the Savage Planet (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Lapis x Labyrinth (PS4, Switch)
Luigi's Mansion 3 (Switch)
Man of Medan (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Mario Kart Tour (iOS, Android)
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order (Switch)
MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries (PC)
MediEvil (PS4)
Minecraft: Dungeons (PC)
Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Xbox One, PC)
The Outer Worlds (PS4, Xox One, PC)
Pokémon (Switch)
Psychonauts 2 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
RPG Maker MV (PS4, Xbox One, Switch)
Samurai Shodown (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Skull & Bones (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order (Unknown)
The Surge 2 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Town (Switch)
Twin Mirror (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Two Worlds III (Unknown)
Untitled Goose Game (Switch, PC)
Wolfenstein: Young Blood (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox (PS4)
Set in 14th century France, A Plague Tale: Innocence follows two siblings' fight for survival against the army of the Inquisition and rats carrying Black Death. This story is seen through the eyes of a teenage girl named Amicia, who is tasked to keep a watchful eye on her brother. The gameplay pushes the player to keep the dangers at bay however possible, and to duck into the shadows for stealth when the odds are overwhelming. Developer Asobo Studio today announced that this dark journey arrives on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on May 14.
Along with the release date, Asobo launched the first episode of a new webseries that provides developer insight into the creation of this unique title and what players can expect from it. This first episode shows you just how serious of a threat the rats are as they consume a pig in no time flat.
Click here to watch embedded media
Click here to watch embedded media Saving the world is no small feat, and in action/RPG God Eater 3 you're going to need some help. The latest trailer for the title (coming out on February 8 for PS4 and PC) showcases your transformable weapons, teammates, and the boss encounters that help give this game its own flavor.
For more on the game's multiplayer in particular, check out our hands-on impressions.
Click here to watch embedded media On the eve of Kingdom Hearts III's release on January 29, Square Enix has released a gameplay overview of the title, going over new keyblade features, ship customization, the title's minigames, and more.
Of course, to get the definitive take on the game, check out Kim's glowing review.
Generation Zero was one of our most anticipated games of E3 2018 thanks to its blend of Swedish sparse sci-fi horror and promising co-op gameplay. Today, THQ Nordic (who's handling the physical distribution) and Avalanche revealed the date for when you can go toe-to-toe with Sweden's robotic menace.
The game will be released on March 26. It will be available for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
For more on Generation Zero, head here to check out us playing the game and offering our thoughts.
If Disney has taught us anything, it’s to believe in magic. The company’s partnership with Square Enix may have seemed unlikely 17 years ago, but Kingdom Hearts became a phenomenon with a dedicated fanbase that remained invested in a sprawling story spanning eight entries and multiple consoles. Now, Kingdom Hearts III finally takes the next major step in that journey, giving fans what we’ve been waiting for: resolution. The new installment addresses threads that have been left hanging for years, and it does so by leveraging the Disney magic that seems to make anything possible. The result is the series at its strongest, and most importantly, it provides satisfying answers to the biggest question marks.
The story is a dream come true for devoted fans. Kingdom Hearts III explores plot points that wind through 358/2 Days, Birth by Sleep, Re:coded, and more; the narrative picks up where Dream Drop Distance left off, with Sora attempting to regain and enhance his lost power to stand a chance against Xehanort. So much has happened to so many different characters in the franchise, and spotting these familiar faces in Kingdom Hearts III and learning what they’ve been up to is exciting and makes the years of investment feel worthwhile. Like many fans, I’ve been wondering the fate of beloved characters, such as Aqua, Roxas, and Naminé. Kingdom Hearts III takes these arcs in intriguing and surprising directions, while also providing some closure. Let’s just say there are some cool scenes that still stick out in my mind, especially after waiting nearly a decade to see if Birth by Sleep’s Aqua, Ventus, and Terra would ever be reunited.
As much as I enjoyed the tale, newcomers (and even old fans who have just missed a few entries) will probably have a hard time following many portions. A memory archive in the menu provides short videos to get you up to speed or refresh your memory, but they’re not comprehensive. As a result, this is not a good place to jump into the series, but it remains rewarding for those who are already invested.
In terms of gameplay, everything that worked in previous entries is on display here. The action-packed combat is fast and fluid, testing your twitch skills and ability to recognize attack patterns. The battlefields are chaotic, which can be overwhelming, but the arsenal of options you have to eliminate foes is staggering. Chaining combos becomes extremely rewarding with keyblade transformations, which let your weapon turn into various implements, including everything from dual pistols to yo-yos. Do enough damage and attack an enemy when a green indicator flashes, and you can use iconic Disney attractions, like the mad tea cups and pirate ship, to take down enemies in a jiffy. This doesn’t even tap into the special attacks you can do with your party members, such as flinging Goofy at enemies or riding a rocket with Buzz and Woody to ram your enemies. Incidentally, after being away from Donald and Goofy for the last few entries, having them at your side again feels great.
Click here to watch embedded mediaYour ability to move through the world is impressive, especially with the increased verticality. Expect to climb up plenty of walls. Flowmotion still lets you swing around poles and air slide off walls for bursts of speed to damage enemies and Shotlock also returns, allowing you to lock-on to multiple baddies and stream projectiles. Using all the special ways to attack in concert makes you feel powerful. The only thing missing was a sense of growing power from the new abilities gained by leveling up. In the past, a new magic, attack, or counter would make a significant difference. That’s mostly tied to the keyblades now, as you upgrade them and open up more advanced transformations, so Sora’s personal progression feels less impactful.
Visiting popular Disney worlds and interacting with these iconic characters has been a signature aspect of the series, and this entry does not disappoint. Each world incorporates new elements that feel distinctly different. In the Toy Story world, you can jump into toy mechs, using your robot arms to punch and shoot lasers at foes. The Pirates of the Caribbean world lets you engage in ship battles (similar to certain Assassin’s Creed games) where you must brace for impact and fire off cannons to take down ships in the distance. For the majority of Big Hero Six, you’re traversing high buildings and battling in the air. That was all fun, but not every world is a winner. I wasn’t a big fan of Tangled and its repetitive forests and silly dancing minigame. I also hated when I was forced to go on silly little fetch quests, like collecting 300 crabs for Jack Sparrow, or searching for all of Olaf’s hidden body parts in Frozen. But even with those frustrations, the expanded size and scope of the worlds in Kingdom Hearts III makes this the best and most varied collection of destinations in the franchise. Even the graphics are impressive for how close they mimic the films, right down to Pixar’s clear and exaggerated style to the live-action realism of the Pirates of the Caribbean.
The Gummi Ship is also back as your main transportation between worlds. If you’ve played the series, you probably already know how you feel about it. It’s polarizing, and Kingdom Hearts III does nothing to change your mind. You can customize the ship more than ever before (my favorite part) and have greater flexibility in going off the beaten path for treasure spheres and other discoveries. However, it still feels like busywork – an obstacle you have to get through to get to the main attraction.
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Kingdom Hearts III does have some minor disappointments. The extra content is of uneven quality, like minigames sometimes being too simplistic for their own good. I also wasn’t fond of the repetitive boss battles toward the end, since repeatedly facing similar foes is a tedious way to drag out the finale. Also, though I had fun spotting nods to Final Fantasy littered throughout the worlds, that popular franchise’s presence has been reduced to a very minor role. The lessening of Final Fantasy cameos didn’t impact my enjoyment, but the characters don’t play a role in the main story. That doesn’t mean they won’t show up in some of the optional content, but the days of fighting alongside heroes like Aerith and Auron appear to be over.
While not perfect, Kingdom Hearts III is the game I’ve been waiting for. After finishing it, I was delighted by how satisfied I was with the journey. I traversed worlds with some of my favorite Disney characters, persevered through challenging boss battles, and saw a triumphant finale that only makes me more excited for the future. The series still has a lot of heart, and that’s what makes it so endearing.
Summary: The latest entry isn’t afraid to go big, but it also doesn’t forget what made fans fall in love in the first place.
Concept: Visit Disney worlds with Sora and company to put a stop to antagonist Xehanort’s evil deeds
Graphics: With detailed environments and character models, the series looks better than ever. The Disney worlds are especially impressive, matching the movies they represent wonderfully
Sound: Main composer Yoko Shimomura's ability to capture Kingdom Hearts' emotional essence shines here yet again. The classic Disney music helps bring each world to life, and watching Sora explore Frozen while "Let It Go" plays makes me grin
Playability: The action-based combat is easy to learn, but has enough depth to keep you engaged. Multiple difficulty levels let players of all skill levels get into the action, but the previous story threads aren’t as easy to follow
Entertainment: With higher stakes, Kingdom Hearts III is a lot of spectacle in the best way possible. It isn’t afraid to go big, but it also doesn’t forget what made fans fall in love in the first place
Replay: Moderate
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