Gaming
Indie Gaming First Impressions: Titan Souls
Sitting down with ACID NERVE’s Titan Souls is an experience I can only describe as nostalgic. Reminiscent to huddling under my bedside-table lamp in a struggle to get as much light as possible onto the screen of my Game Boy Colour. Stepping into its quaintly retro world with nothing but a bow and a single boomerang-like arrow feels like a charming return to the simplicity of the past. This simplicity seems to be the core from which Titan Souls’ gameplay draws from, with only two buttons to sprint, roll and fire your arrow, alongside fully 3D controls with the analog stick or D-pad.
Basics out of the way, I set about heading up the lonely path towards a creepy door adorned with a pulsating eyeball. Naturally, I shot it, and proceeded through the open archway. Standing at the bottom of a huge structure, I was met with what sounded eerily like rhythmic basketball dribbling. You can imagine my disappointment when it was in fact not basketball legend Dikembe Mutombo who greeted me, but a weird, dodgy looking mass of bouncy green slime that proceeded to squish me repeatedly till I learned to kill it. Welcome to Titan Souls, eh?
However! My tentative first steps were not for nothing. From this simple, albeit fun and well-designed fight, I was given insight into how the mechanics of the game work and would continue to work throughout. I learned that my character would die if hit once. I learned that after using my arrow to expose the weak-point of a boss, they too could only handle one hit. My first fight also taught me to be observant and I quickly discovered an interesting theme that linked together the game’s introductory bosses.
Bosses, which similarly to the first, were designed in a way that quietly and sub-consciously teaches players how to deal with the progressively more difficult challenges that fighting these Titan Souls present. Over the course of the next twenty or so minutes, I had defeated the game’s tutorial bosses and opened a gate to the larger world beyond.
It is in this larger world that Titan Souls really becomes quite lovely. A subtle nod to classics of the past like Shadow of the Colossus, I was given complete freedom to roam about wherever I pleased, albeit without my chirpy horse companion. Regardless, I found myself quite taken by the atmosphere of mystery and isolation. The game’s accompanying soundtrack wafts a similar simplicity but remains beautifully orchestrated, fitting each individual environment like a glove.
And that’s that really. My experience thus far with Titan Souls has been rather lovely. Coming off the back of recent heavy hitters like Bloodborne and Battlefield: Hardline, it’s nice to be able to just sit down, chill out and not have the constant threat of painful death loom over my head like a big green slime monster… wait a minute!
Gaming
Sony is reportedly engaged in discussions to form a partnership for a potential bid on Paramount
There hasn’t been much buzz lately about any new acquisitions in the world of video game intellectual property. According to a recent report, Sony is currently engaged in discussions with a well-funded partner to potentially acquire the renowned film studio Paramount, along with all the exciting possibilities that come with such a merger.
As reported in the New York Times (thanks, ResetEra), Sony Picture Entertainment is reportedly in discussions with Apollo Global Management, an investment firm, as per two sources familiar with the matter. In the past, Apollo had made an offer to acquire Paramount for a minimum of $26 billion, but their bid was ultimately turned down.
The terms of the joint bid are currently under discussion, and there is a chance that the two parties may decide against making a formal offer. Unnamed sources have revealed that Paramount is currently in exclusive discussions with Skydance, preventing any official offer from being made at this time. Investor opposition to the recent deal that Skydance brought seems to have been significant.
Sony Pictures Entertainment and Apollo Global Management, an investment firm, have been in discussions about teaming up for a joint bid to acquire Paramount, people familiar with the situation said Thursday. https://t.co/qN86H4y7Va
— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 18, 2024
The potential impact of such an acquisition is immense. First and foremost, it would introduce adaptations of Sonic and Halo into the expanding media empire of the PlayStation platform holder. Following the announcement, Paramount’s stock experienced a significant 11% surge in after-hours trading.
What are your thoughts on the news? Is there a possibility of Sony acquiring Paramount? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
In the ongoing conflict against the Automaton invasion fleet, the Helldivers 2 players have successfully halted their advance. However, the situation has now reached a tiresome stalemate. Yet again, the machines refuse to take a break from their relentless pursuit of progress, with reports emerging of the Factory Striders being deployed in record-breaking quantities.
There have been reports of alleged machines that were supposedly encountered during Operation Swift Disassembly, which was just the beginning of a larger campaign. However, these accounts should be taken with a grain of salt, as they are unverified and seem to be more on the imaginative side. Factory Striders have gained a reputation as formidable weapons platforms that can produce more Automatons while enduring significant damage. If the machines are able to withstand such a relentless assault, it will be necessary to develop innovative strategies.
Factory Striders have made a resurgence on the Automaton front. These imposing, massive support dreadnoughts now threaten freedom and democracy throughout the galactic rim. pic.twitter.com/XRTPU7k71s
— HELLDIVERS™ 2 (@helldivers2) April 16, 2024
Have you come across groups of Factory Striders in Helldivers 2? Which strategies are proving to be the most effective in taking down these armored brutes? The Orbital Railcannon Strike will prove to be a valuable asset in the comments section below.
The recent release of Amazon’s adaptation of Fallout has ignited a renewed interest in the series and brought attention to the captivating alternate history that forms its foundation. Fans have expressed concern that the TV show’s events might be at odds with the plot of the Obsidian Entertainment video game New Vegas. Warning: Spoilers ahead for New Vegas and Amazon’s show!
Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard and Fallout TV executive producer Jonathan Nolan recently sat down with IGN to discuss the timeline. Howard was taken aback when showrunners Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet presented him with the surprising concept of obliterating Shady Sands, the bustling capital of the New California Republic, in the aftermath of the events in New Vegas. Howard eventually warmed up to the idea: “After discussing it, we realized that this could be a significant story moment that many things hinge upon.”
It seems that they had to make some tough decisions to ensure everything fell into place, but Howard emphasizes the importance of preserving the integrity of the Fallout timeline: “We take great care with the timeline. There seems to be some confusion in certain areas. However, all the events from the previous games, including New Vegas, did occur. We take great caution in that matter. We’re really pushing the limits here, but the explosions occur right after the events of New Vegas.
What are your thoughts on this? Is it up to par? Even though it may not have a significant impact on the overall quality of the games or show, it is comforting to know that those in charge are paying attention. We value your feedback and would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.
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