‘Tis the season to be spooky, and publisher Focus Home Interactive and developer Cyanide Studio are doing just that with the release of Call of Cthulhu. Originally a short story written by H.P. Lovecraft and adapted into several other forms of entertainment over the years, we’re now here with a new video game adaptation to sink our teeth into.
Cyanide Studio managed to deliver a solid game here, even if it’s obvious that it doesn’t quite have the budget or polish to bring it into the ranks of horror classics.
Call of Cthulhu is an RPG-investigation game that puts you in the role of Private Investigator Edward Pierce, a WWI vet who is now a little too friendly with the bottle. Pierce is sent in to investigate the mysterious death of the Hawkins family that took place in their mansion on Darkwater Island, which is located just off the shores of Boston. What initially appears as a tragic accident quickly reveals itself to be much more than that, with shady characters getting into even shadier dealings with the occult.
It’s a setup that is certainly good enough to hook you into the game, and the developers did a fantastic job of delivering a dark and twisted atmosphere. Wandering through the Hawkins mansion, Darkwater island and the cosmic horrors that lie beyond all bring a constant feeling of tension, with the gloomy visuals, rundown and sometimes downright freakish locales never letting you forget that you are not in a nice place.
What’s even more impressive about this is the fact that there isn’t a whole lot of actual danger to be had in the game, with the majority of it focused on you searching for clues and uncovering the truth behind the Hawkins family murders. There are occasional bits where you’ll have to hide from guards in a mental ward or shoot zombies in a simple late-game sequence, but for the most part you can wander the game’s world without too much of an issue.
And this is something that I actually really enjoyed about the game! The game’s characters and setting are so strong that I wanted to soak in everything that I possibly could, snooping around every nook and cranny to learn more about Darkwater Island and its various inhabitants. The voice acting here is typically very strong, but unfortunately the character animations aren’t able to hold up their end of the bargain. Bad lip syncing and awkward hand gestures are a common occurrence, which definitely take you out of the experience a little.
Despite a lack of overall danger for the most part, that isn’t to say that the game doesn’t have challenges and character progression to keep things interesting. Pierce has several different skills that he’ll be able to upgrade by progressing through the game, such as allowing him to be able to persuade people easier or perform better in physical situations. Certain skills will also improve his knowledge of certain relevant case details, including medicine and occultism. Keeping these skills low will mean that Pierce will only have a basic understanding of these relevant items when he comes across them, whereas upgrading them will allow him to glean more from them.
As you investigate various areas you will regularly come across points where you need to utilize your detective abilities to uncover what really happened. You’ll essentially initiate a super detective mode where you’ll be able to sniff out relevant objects, which will then reveal ghostly images of what actually happened in the scenario. It’s a mechanic that has been used in loads of other games, but the scenarios are strong enough here that the feature doesn’t feel tacked on and actually adds to the game’s sense of mystery.
Your choices also impact your relationship with the various characters that you come across throughout the game, which will lead to certain scenarios playing out differently. This includes things like getting help with certain segments, while also including more serious scenarios like choosing the fate of certain characters. While this choice mechanic might not be as deep as some other narrative-heavy games out there and doesn’t result in dramatic narrative shifts, it still makes the game’s world feel more alive.
Overall, Call of Cthulhu is a solid choice for those looking for some atmospheric and unsettling horror gaming. There are certainly some rough edges with character animations, and the few action segments that do pop up aren’t all that great. Still, if you’re fine with a game that is more about atmosphere and story than it is about action-heavy gameplay, then this latest Call of Cthulhu adaptation should scratch that itch for you.
Helldivers 2 proved to be a surprising success, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the gaming industry. As per Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, it currently ranks as Sony’s seventh highest grossing game in the United States to date, trailing behind a trio of Spider-Man titles, a couple of God of War games, and Ghost of Tsushima. It’s only been on the market for less than three months and is not even being sold at full price.
According to Piscatella, a significant factor contributing to the game’s success is its release on PC. He mentioned that, based on Circana’s Player Engagement Tracker, the game has consistently ranked first in terms of active users on Steam in the US since its launch, including April. The release of Helldivers 2 on both PlayStation and PC has been an extraordinary triumph.
He stated that Helldivers 2 has already become the seventh highest-grossing Sony-published game in history. Without a PC, it would not currently be considered one of the top 20 games. While I’m emphasizing the success of the PC SKU, it’s important to note that I’m not disregarding the success of the PlayStation SKU. I just wanted to clarify that. This launch has proven to be incredibly successful.
Prior to the release of Helldivers 2, Sony made it clear that they would be launching their live service-style titles simultaneously on both the PS5 and PC. The success of this approach will undoubtedly strengthen their strategic vision. It will be intriguing to witness if the company reveals official sales figures in the near future, as the title appears to be one of the platform holder’s most successful sellers to date.
Gaming
The developer of Stellar Blade for the PS5 Expressing gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support amidst a recent controversy surrounding censorship
Shift Up, the Korean developer, seems to be reconsidering its contentious alterations to the Stellar Blade outfit. In a message to fans, they have urged everyone to stay tuned for updates and expressed gratitude for the passionate feedback from players. For those who may not be aware, a petition gained significant attention over the weekend when gamers discovered changes made to a few of the game’s costumes through a day-one patch.
The launch day update includes a fantastic New Game + mode, but some players were disappointed by the changes made to protagonist Eve’s outfit. These alterations sparked debates about censorship. Director Hyung-Tae Kim later clarified that this was the studio’s original vision, but he acknowledged that it may require further persuasion to win over users. Internal discussions were also underway to address any concerns.
Thanks to all our Stellar Blade fans for your passion & feedback. Stay tuned for updates🤍 pic.twitter.com/jCRzM4OQBS
— StellarBlade (@StellarBlade) May 1, 2024
There is no definitive confirmation regarding the reversal of the outfits, but considering the language used in the statement and the widespread controversy surrounding the alterations, it is highly likely that a future patch will restore the original costumes. If you want to get a sneak peek at all of Eve’s different outfits and learn how to unlock them, be sure to take a look at our comprehensive guide, All Outfits and How to Get Them.
It’s quite possible. Fans all over the world are interested in Shift Up’s highly anticipated action-adventure game, Stellar Blade. With its captivating post-apocalyptic setting reminiscent of Nier and a compelling protagonist named Eve, it’s no wonder the game has generated such widespread attention.
The game consistently impresses with its stunning visuals and high-octane action, leaving players in awe with each new trailer.
Yet, just like other noteworthy second-party and third-party game releases, fans are pondering: Will Stellar Blade be available on PC?
In this article, we delve into the details to determine the platform availability of the highly anticipated title.
Will Stellar Blade be available on PC? Allow me to provide you with the answer.
Unfortunately, Stellar Blade will not be available on PC, at least not initially. Currently, the game is only available on PlayStation 5 starting on April 26, 2024.
Regrettably, it appears that there is no indication of a potential PC release for Stellar Blade in the future. In most cases, trailers for PlayStation timed-exclusive titles conclude with a disclaimer that specifies the duration of their exclusivity.
In the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth launch trailer, it is explicitly stated that the game will only be accessible on other platforms starting on May 29, 2024.
Regrettably, when it comes to the stellar blade, there is no indication of such.
It’s important to note that Sony Entertainment Interactive published Stellar Blade, unlike Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. This means that the chances of it being released on PC or other platforms in the near future are even slimmer.
However, it is worth noting that there is a chance the game might be released on PC in the future, given PlayStation’s track record of bringing their exclusive titles to the platform. However, it could be a while before this comes to fruition.
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