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Summary FromSoftwarehas been known for a long time as one of the masters of asset reuse, taking things from its previous games, altering them slightly, and using them in future games to shorten development times. It’s a big factor as to how the studio managed to releaseDark Souls 2,Bloodborne, andDark Souls 3within the span of just two years. It seems as though FromSoftware’s knack for asset reuse went even further back than that, and can even be seen in the originalDark Souls....

Last week, we had the opportunity to watch a preview presentation of Blade & Soul NEO, the newly remastered iteration of the classic MMORPG, and to sit with Andrew Long, Senior Producer at NC America. With changes to gameplay elements like revamped Weapons and Skills systems and the removal of the Stamina bar (something that the community has wanted for years), the folks at NC America have been working hard on addressing player feedback....

“The flow of time itself is convoluted; with heroes centuries old phasing in and out. The very fabric wavers, and relations shift and obscure. There’s no telling how much longer your world and mine will remain in contact. But use this to summon one another as spirits, cross the gaps between the worlds, and engage in jolly co-operation!" That’s how co-op was introduced inDark Souls, a cryptic mix of game mechanics and lore spooled out of a random NPC who slams a hefty soapstone into your hands and sends you on your merry way....

Quick Links The leader Attribute Tree is one of the most important - and game-changing - aspects ofCivilization 7. You will progress through the attribute trees of your choosing by picking your mementos at the start of the game, completing narrative quests throughout the game, and earning Legacy Points each age. The Attribute Tree really helps you specialize your leader towards any specific win condition you’re going for. These bonuses grow gradually over time, but the decisions you make in the Antiquity Agewillhave an impact on your chances of winning later in the game....

Marvel Rivalsis a hero shooter with quite an array of combat styles to choose from. Some characters have auto-aim attacks, some are hitscan, others are projectile-based, and some are melee fighters. One might think that being a melee-oriented character in a game with ranged characters may put you at a disadvantage, but Marvel Rivals is great at balancing between the different combat types, and some of the melee fighters are among the strongest in the meta....

Summary Final Fantasy 7doesn’t need a recent or imminent release to remain popular and even now, almost a year on fromRebirth, there’s as much hype around the series as there has ever been. That’s whySquare Enixhas chosen now to make some new additions to its polygon soft vinyl figure line, increasing the number of characters available from one to three in one fell swoop. Until now, Cloud has been the only character to have had a figure created to mimic how he looks in the originalPS1version of Final Fantasy 7....

Grand Theft Hamlet dives headfirst into a topic that is extremely close to my heart: the impact of online gaming during the pandemic. Like many others, I spent months with gaming as my only escape from the daily drudgery and loneliness of the pandemic. I formed closer relationships with my friends and made new ones along the way, playing Minecraft,Grand Theft Auto Online, Golf With Friends, and many other games I haven’t touched since....

Summary Helldivers 2players and the Democratic Space Station didn’t get off to a great start.After weeks of grindingto get the DSS operational,players were left disappointedwith what it eventually turned out to be.Arrowhead took it offline to make some tweaks, and it now seems to be working great. It works so well that the Helldivers 2 community used a brilliant DSS tactic to outmaneuver and eventually crush the Automaton’s dreaded Jet Brigade....

Hitmanmight be the most video-gamey video game ever to video game. When the reboot was shown off for the first time byIO Interactiveat E3 2015 and confirmed to be episodic, doubts swirled about whether this was the right decision. Players wanted a fully-fledged game that offered multiple locations to explore, not a drip feed of locales and inconsistent launch plans. While the latter fear proved true, deciding to offer one map at a time proved to be one of Hitman’s greatest strengths during its early years....

You create a sim that lives out any type of life you want in the world ofThe Sims 2. From taking on various careers to raising an entire family, your sim’s life is entirely in your hands. One part of your sim’s life that you control is the skills they’ll hone. As your sim uses various pieces of equipment or furniture, they may be improving in a particular skill. As they make progress in the skill, it can help in performing more difficult tasks or in getting a higher position at work....

Quick Links TheMonster Hunterseries is all about its monsters. After all, they’re half of the game’s title, with you being the other half; a hunter who goes and kills them. The gameplay revolves around and is defined by its monsters, each with their own unique attack patterns, lore, craftable weapons, and armor. After over 20 years of Monster Hunter games, you may be wondering, which game has the most monsters? Well, we’ve got you covered....

Quick Links Nora’s Lair is one of the earliest locations you’ll get to explore inLost Records: Bloom & Rage. This is the origin point of the band in Tape One and the first time Swann gets to really hang out with Autumn, Nora, and Kat and get to know them. Plus, when you first show up in Nora’s garage, you’ll access the Nora’s Lair memoir. This memoir is relatively streamlined and straightforward, but there are some pieces of bonus footage you can pick up along the way....

Quick Links Ghoul Re is an intense, rogue-likeRobloxgame set in the dark universe inspired by Tokyo Ghoul. Here, survival is key, as you navigate the dangerous streets, either as a Ghoul or a CCG Investigator, each with their own unique abilities and weapons. The game offers thrilling combat, strategic engagements, and immersive role-playing elements, making mastery of controls absolutely essential. Understanding and mastering the controls of Ghoul Re will significantly enhance your gameplay experience....