Category: Gaming

Everything We Know: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

In less than a month The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is set to hit shelves for both the Wii U, and for the launch of the Nintendo Switch and here is everything we know.

In less than a month The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is set to hit shelves for both the Wii U, and for the launch of the Nintendo Switch and here is everything we know.

The Legend of Zelda series has been a longstanding staple of the Nintendo repertoire since its launch on the Famicom back in 1986. Link has grown up, shrunk down, cell-shaded, and time traveled throughout our many years together. However, Breath of the Wild seeks to take our journey with Link one step further, into the vast open space of true sandbox gameplay.

After multiple delays since 2013, the title will seemingly give us the experience of Zelda we’ve been after for years: adventure, story, and beautiful environments which rival the best of The Elder Scrolls. With a newly developed physics engine, open-world environment, and voice acting, Breath of the Wild seems much more like a Skyrim-meets-Studio-Ghibli than a traditional Zelda game–and we love it.

Play through dungeons in any order, as you are thrown headfirst into this new take on Hyrule. Rather than being guided along by a rail story, players will be able to explore the lush fields and forests at their own pace. Additionally, a large number of cut scenes help to develop the game’s narrative and were the primary motivation for developers including voice acting for the first time in the series’ history.

Breath of the Wild showcases an entirely breathtaking take on Hyrule.

The Story

Some 100 years after a great societal collapse in Hyrule, Link awakens in an amnesiac state. Guided by a mysterious voice, Link’s first steps are shakily taken in a world all too familiar, and yet strange. While these initial steps and memory fog are par for the course in many Zelda games, where Breath of the Wild takes us after that, is entirely new territory.

Set after the events of Ocarina of Time, players will return to Hyrule and see the world left behind through the same strange veil Link awakens within. Not fully removed from the previous stories, and yet not fully aware of the narrative they’re in, Breath of the Wild wants to give players an entirely new Legend of Zelda experience.

Redefining what it means to be a Zelda title.

Gameplay

While some things are new, others are simply redesigned. Even as early as Ocarina of Time, players were used to items being more than what they seemed. For example, sticks could be used not only as torches but also as weapons. Additionally, the methods you killed an enemy, could result in different loot options, i.e. shells or sticks. Breath of the Wild takes this one step further and ups the ante on its inventory and crafting system. Tree branches could be used not only as weapons, or torches, but also for sliding on snow-ridden paths, or as shields.

Various goods can also be used for clothing, food, or weaponry. There will also be a rune system which will allow for increased crafting abilities and the manipulation of combat mechanics. Alongside inventory improvements, this title will feature a proper quest log, allowing for players to follow their progress on the main storylines, as well as side missions.

The game also features Amiibo integration, allowing for players to bring in sidekicks, and unlock alternative story paths when certain conditions are met.

As a Switch launch title, the game will feature improved graphics on the new console, over the Wii U version.

DLC

Nintendo announced that players could purchase an Expansion Pass for Breath of the Wild that would include two DLC packages. The first of which will be released this summer and includes the “Cave of Trials” challenge, a new hard mode and an update for the in-game map. The second will launch in the winter and include a new dungeon and new story content. The pass will cost $19.99 USD and is available for both the Wii U version and the Switch.

Launch Details

Breath of the Wild will launch simultaneously on March 3rd for the WiiU and Nintendo Switch for $59.99 USD. The Switch launch version of Breath of the Wild will also come in “Special” and “Master” edition bundles, for $99.99 and $129.99 USD respectively. Both feature a Sheikah Eye coin, a Calamity Ganon tapestry and world map, a soundtrack disc, and a themed carry-case for the console, while only the “Master” edition comes with a bonus figurine of the Master Sword.

Finally, there will be some minor graphic quality changes between the last first-party title version for the Wii U, and the launch title version for the Nintendo Switch. The Wii U version will run at 720p and 30FPS, while the Switch will feature 900p and 30FPS when docked to a television. While in standalone embedded-display the Switch will also run at 720p.

It’s time to return to Hyrule. Are you hyped for Breath of the Wild? Let us know in the comments or by tweeting us on our Twitter or visiting our Facebook page!

Images © Nintendo

Resident Evil Moves Forward by Going Back to Basics

Returning to its roots, Resident Evil has reclaimed its rightful place among the top horror games with Biohazard.

Returning to its roots, Resident Evil has reclaimed its rightful place among the top horror games with Biohazard.

Resident Evil has been a longstanding household name in video game horror. After the introduction of the first title in 1996, the series has had a continual presence within the genre. While Resident Evil was there at the beginning, not all of their moves have been historically well received.

When Resident Evil 6  was released in 2012, it moved the series away from a more traditional survival horror genre and into the action-adventure territory. As third person shooter, RE6 had players battling from an entirely new perspective. Players and critics alike met the game with mixed reviews and divided opinions on the game’s shift from the series’ tone and gameplay style. Capcom themselves labeled the title as a “dramatic horror” rather than “survival horror”, and while it was a commercial success, RE6 left many players wanting.

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Resident Evil 6 Gameplay

After listening to player responses to RE6, Capcom rethought the gameplay, environment, and the immersion experience, help to bring Biohazard away from its predecessor’s pitfalls and into a new world for Resident Evil games. Enter Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, a true return to form. Capcom has taken great lengths to bring the series to its survival horror roots in this RE6 sequel, and it shows in the reviews. The hero of RE7 is not some well armed super soldier, he is a regular guy trapped in a terrifying situation. RE7 is brilliantly designed to balance atmospheric tension and jump scares with compelling storytelling. That terror is ever present in this game; in every room, down every hallway, around every tight corner. Yet, despite that, the story coaxes players through the games plantation labyrinth.

Much like the original title, RE7 not only returns players to the survival horror style of the series but also helps to shake up horror gaming more broadly, urging gamers to think on their feet and under pressure, in order to survive. Unlike past RE games and other survival horror titles, Biohazard gives players very little room to stop and smell the roses. The game’s puzzles are designed so that they require keen observation of the world around you, all while being chased around by murderous baddies, of course. While exploring the eerie and decrepit Baker house, you must think while you act, making decisions on the fly which often seem counter to your instinctual reaction.

Players are encouraged to think for themselves, there are no easy answers or special abilities to hack your way through. Even when you are given a gun you may realize that even though you may have bullets left, sometimes no amount of shooting will help you. In RE7, sometimes the only solution there is, is to run. Stacking the odds against the player makes everything more tense. The everyday kind of protagonist leaves you feeling vulnerable while the games grimy environments and uneasy atmosphere make you feel uncomfortable. It is all tied together to create a terrifying immersive experience.

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The encounters in Resident Evil 7 are smaller and more intimate, but that only makes it more terrifying.

The harrowing ambiance in Biohazard is only intensified if you play using VR, exclusively for PlayStation VR (at least for the first year). Even without the VR component, the quick thinking and camera action required by players can leave sensitive stomachs reaching for the pause button. With the addition of VR, the Biohazard installment helps to bring players truly into fear-inducing situations. Tensions already run high when playing RE7, making it difficult to solve its puzzles under pressure; however, with VR, players are one step closer to actually experiencing those situations and brings the term immersive gameplay to a whole new level.

With well-developed storylines, ambiance, puzzles, graphics, and new tech integration, Capcom has gone well beyond the needs of a successful sequel in Biohazard. Hopefully, RE7 will not only help to shape future Resident Evil games, but also pave the way for further immersive VR use outside of the series.

Do you think Capcom has saved Resident Evil’s future? Jump in the comments below or talk to us on Facebook, Twitter, or on our forums!

Images © Capcom

Famine & Flood: The State of World of Warcraft

Whether you’re raiding, PVPing, or pet battling, Legion offers a lot to do. But is it too much?

Whether you’re raiding, PVPing, or pet battling, Legion offers a lot to do. But is it too much? If you’ve been playing World of Warcraft for a long time, you’ve experienced the content ebbs and flows of Blizzard’s patches. With Legion’s most recent Patch 7.1.5 drop, it’s hard not to feel a little overwhelmed with the amount of content flowing in.

Warlords of Draenor was not a great expansion for content releases. Much of the content originally planned was either scrapped or drastically changed in order to meet ever condensed release schedules. It’s predecessor Mists of Pandaria however boasted a great start to the expansion, dropping content patches like hotcakes. Unfortunately for MoP, content stretched to a famine after the release of the Siege of Orgrimmar raid, a patch which left players wanting for over a year before Warlords finally dropped.

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So far Legion appears to be following a similar release schedule to MoP. From the outset of Legion’s release, there has been a steady flow of content for players to indulge in… perhaps a little too much content. For hardcore players, at the release of the expansion, it was nearly impossible to even consider focusing on anything but your main character. Between world quests, reputation grinds, and professions, there was a near overwhelming amount of things to keep oneself occupied. As raids opened up, arena seasons started, and new storylines were released, Blizzard has kept the river flowing. While the content may not necessarily be up to your speed, the fact remains that there is a lot to do.

Might there just be a little too much going on? While Blizzard has made efforts to try and help alts and new players catch up to current content levels, it can at times feel like there’s too much to do. However, it might just be in how you look at things. In past expansions, at max level, you pretty much logged in just for raids, dailies, or even your daily dungeon and that was it. Now for many players there is a greater variety of things to do. World quests have given a breath of fresh air to the old daily structure, allowing the freedom to not log in every day with only a minor loss to progression, as emissaries last for up to three days. Weekly events and micro holidays help players interact with the world in new ways, and change up the face of the game. Even if you don’t like what’s going on this week, usually something will be coming along soon to carry you away.

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In looking at how much Legion has to offer, it is hard not to draw parallels to MoP. We were fanned with content during Mists, and we were left with a drought in the end. Had Blizzard have paced their content releases a bit more steadily throughout Mists, the content drought would not have lasted nearly as long and might have left people feeling better about the expansion when transitioning into Warlords (which was effectively another drought). It is not surprising then that many fear that Blizzard’s content releases may run out of steam before the next expansion drops, leaving us caught in the content desert as we wait for new things to do.

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While an inter-expansion lull is always expected, one would hope that Blizzard has learned a thing or two about helping ease the transition. While the time between expansions is often a good time to catch up on things you might have let slide (pet battles, Brawler’s Guild, or transmog collections), these are often not the things which keep people subscribed. Legion doesn’t appear to be singing its final swan song anytime soon, and it’s current content trajectory appears to be solid. While players may feel a little overwhelmed with what’s currently on their plates, and the impending menu Blizzard has in store, we can hope that our Warcraft overlords have learned proper content pacing techniques. Not too fast, not too slow, but just right: the Goldilocks schedule. Something we’ll hopefully get to see after our coming trip to Argus.

How do you feel about Blizzard’s content releases so far in Legion? Do you think things are happening too fast? Are you bored already? How did you handle past expansion droughts? Let us know below, or join in the conversation on social media!

For Honor: What We Know

Who hasn’t wanted to pit the classic warrior classes together? Ubisoft will give us all the chance this year…which will you lead to ultimate glory?

Who hasn’t wanted to pit the classic warrior classes together? Ubisoft will give us all the chance this year. Which will you lead to ultimate glory?

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The Factions

Announced at 2015’s E3, Ubisoft Montreal’s hack-and-slash For Honor is set to release on February 17, 2017. The title takes place in a medieval period fantasy setting, where players get to choose from three different factions, “The Legion”, “The Chosen”, and “The Warborn”. These factions are made up of knights, samurais, and Vikings, respectively.

Like any good hack-and-slash, each faction has four class types: Assassins, Heavies, Vanguards, and Hybrids. These names should evoke a familiar understanding what each role will entail: assassins are quick and nimble, adept at dueling, but lacking on burst damage. Heavies, like tanks, are good for capturing points but are slow to attack. Vanguards offer a relatively balanced toolkit, split between offense and defense. Hybrids, much like the name suggests, are a combination of the other classes, with their own unique spin. While all factions share the same class types, each brings its own flare to the role, with sub-class names like Kensei, Warden, or Berserker.

Gameplay

While there is a well-developed single-player campaign to look forward to, a lot of the bells and whistles surrounding the title will feature multiplayer combat and rankings. Originally, the title was going to be released with an offline component. However, it was revealed that the title would be required to be online at all times of play, independent of whether or not players are undertaking the single player campaign or multiplayer gameplay. This reveal has left a degree of dissent for those waiting for the title, as it had been previously touted that the title would not be online-only.

Pre-launch complaints aside, hack-and-slash fans should look beyond what For Honor will not be offering, and instead look to the unique package Ubisoft Montreal is offering. In addition to pitting samurais, medieval knights, and Vikings against one another in epic clashes of steel, both the single player and multiplayer formats offer a tactical “Art of Battle” system, which enables players to duel grand foes. Duelling allows players to position their class-based weapons in order to exploit enemy weaknesses and counter attacks. The strength and grace of your own attacks can also be customized via this system, adding a new layer to the traditional hack-and-slash style gameplay. Rather than clicking or mashing your way through the field of battle, players of For Honor will require further finesse and skill in order to take on foes–AI and multiplayer alike.

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Multiplayer

Every ten weeks, For Honor’s multiplayer Faction War, will track the performance of players within each faction, and dole out rewards according to player’s ranks. The war resets at the end of this period, followed by an inter-season break before the next war erupts. Multiplayer gameplay, will consist of five different modes to conquer: Dominion, Brawl, Duel, Skirmish, and Elimination. Dominion is a 4v4 capture-and-defend mode, where players gain points for holding specific zones on a battlefield. Once a predetermined point cap has been hit, the winning team must defeat the other team in order to win the match. Brawl is a 2v2 encounter, much like Arena in World of Warcraft. Simple rules, the last team to survive wins. Duel, as the name would suggest, is a 1v1 mode, through which a player must successfully defeat their opponent to be declared victorious. Skirmish is another 4v4, where players gain points by killing enemies. The team that scores the highest within a set amount of time will be declared the winner. Finally, in Elimination, teams must successfully fully annihilate their opposition in a 4v4 mode. Whichever team has remaining players will automatically win the match.

Its release is scheduled for February 14, 2017 on the PS4, Xbox One, and PC but some players will participate in a closed beta this January, bringing the worlds of Valkenheim, Myre, and Ashfield to life before the game officially goes live. Additionally, a pre-launch event “War of the Factions” will occur, which will track all multiplayer activity across all platforms in order to declare a beta victor. Participants and members of the winning faction will receive respective rewards based on this event.

When in doubt about your Valentine’s Day plans, consider picking up For Honor for yourself, or your significant other. Nothing says love like a river running red with the blood of your enemies, right?

Vikings over knights? Samurai over all? Which faction will reign supreme? Let us know your thoughts about For Honor in below or talk to us on Facebook, Twitter, or on our forums!

What Comes After Legion’s Success?

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With the success of World of Warcrat newest expansion, what should Blizzard do next?

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5 IPs That Should Be MMOs

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Recently, The Elder Scrolls made its transition from single-player campaign to a full MMO experience but there are plenty other franchises could be successful online communities. 

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Storming Suramar and the Reunification of the Elven People

The storming of Suramar is the culmination of centuries of devision and magical evolution within World of Warcraft lore.

With Nighthold’s release coming ever closer, the storyline continues to grow to epic proportions in Suramar. Beyond getting new phat-lewts and encounters, there’s a lot of interesting things lore-wise taking place with what Blizzard’s lining up. Join us as we continue to explore the story of the Nightborne.

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Titan-felled & Misfired Release Dates

EA fumbles the releases of Titanfall 2 and Battlefield 1

The fumble cost a severe loss in revenue for the company, as they’re competing against Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare.

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A Blizzcon Post-Mortem: Exploring the Experience

Whether by virtual ticket, in person, or via news outlets, many of us experienced Blizzcon in our own way. In the social media craze which surrounds events like Blizzcon, can Blizzard do more to include individuals left outside of its hallowed halls?

Snapchat, Instagram, & Live Streams from the show floor are giving fans unprecedented accessibility to conventions.

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Odyn’s Conflicting History, and the Trial of Valor

Today, November 8, marks the release of the next mini-raid “Trial of Valor”. Whether the you’ve ferverously read World of Warcraft Chronicle: Volume 1, simply experienced the Stormheim questline, or are genuinely curious as to why Odyn has us fighting to prove ourselves, yet again, this post’s for you.

Odyn is kind of a jerk. Actually, Odyn is an egotistical jerk. So why are we insistent on helping him? It all lies in his origins, his history, and the legacy of the Titans.

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