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Yesterday, the head of Xbox Games marketing Aaron Greenberg (no relation) tweeted the following:

https://twitter.com/aarongreenberg/status/864239501383684096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gamesradar.com%2Fsurprise-phantom-dust-is-free-to-play-on-xbox-one-and-its-out-now-ish%2F

Wait a minute, today is yesterday’s tomorrow. That means starting today, Xbox One and Windows 10 owners can download and play the game for free. Sweet!

You might wonder what Phantom Dust is and why the game is a big deal, as like I, you neither played nor heard of the game before today. Basically, it’s the most anime name you can imagine, but in all seriousness, Phantom Dust takes place in a post-apocalyptic future; the titular dust renders the Earth’s surface uninhabitable and grants certain people magical powers. Also, every character in the game has amnesia, not just the protagonist. I can’t get into the story any more for fear of spoilers, but from what I’ve read it’s pretty good, if overly anime.

Phantom Dust originally released  on the Xbox back when trading card games (TCG) and collectible card games (CCG) were extremely popular, and several video game developers tried to take advantage of the craze. Games such as Baten Kaitos and Lost Kingdoms 1 and 2 are examples of RPGs that tried to implement CCG mechanics, while Phantom Dust is an example of an action-strategy/third-person shooter CCG. Phantom Dust’s gameplay revolves around creating a deck of spells with “cards” that are used in combat. Players then run around combat arenas to collect Aura (the equivalent of mana in other CCGs) to power these spells and use them to defeat enemies. Spells have different effects and cost different amounts of Aura. The strategy of the game comes from the types of spells a player places in a deck; for example, some players might stick to spells that let them nuke enemies from a distance but cost a lot of Aura, while others would rather unleash a flurry of melee attacks that cost little Aura, and that’s not taking into account the numerous defensive, support, and healing spells. Given the number of cards, players are free to experiment and play any number of ways.

Some people might be tempted to call the re-release a remaster, but that would imply the graphics were improved from the original game. The graphics might look better, but that’s because, according to Microsoft Studios Publishing creative director Adam Isgreen, the textures were compressed to fit on the original Xbox disk. In other words, technology has finally caught up to the original developers’ ambitions, which makes the re-release more like a director’s cut than a remaster. Granted, one could argue the re-release’s 16:9 resolution support and use of Cloud servers technically makes it a remaster, but that’s just splitting hairs since plenty of old games are patched to include those kinds of features.

Since the Phantom Dust re-release is free, Isgreen hopes the game will find a place in the eSports scene. The game certainly has the potential to become the next big eSports hit, but that depends on the game’s staying power.

All you have to do to get my attention is talk about video games, technology, anime, and/or Dungeons & Dragons - also people in spandex fighting rubber suited monsters.

Gaming

Joker’s Free Suicide Squad DLC on PS5

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There hasn’t been much buzz surrounding Suicide Squad since its release in February. Warner Bros. was let down by the game’s underwhelming sales, but they remained committed to turning their live service vision into a reality. An exciting new DLC update has been released, introducing The Crown Prince of Crime to the game.

As the game’s first live season begins, players will have the chance to take on Green Lantern and, in the end, unlock The Joker as a playable character. Which Joker are you referring to? This is quite intricate. Furthermore, players can look forward to the inclusion of a Battle Pass, a variety of new shop items available for purchase, exciting Incursions and Strongholds to partake in, as well as an expanded selection of Infamy Sets and Notorious Gear to amass.

What are your thoughts on this? Does the allure of The Joker entice you to return to Suicide Squad, or have you remained a loyal fan all along? We value your feedback and would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.

 

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Gaming

Documentary Explores the Making of the Highly Praised Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth for PS5

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Square Enix has launched a captivating documentary series that explores the intricate process behind the creation of the highly praised Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. In the first episode, titled “Shaping the World,” the developer delves into the process of reimagining the expansive PS1 map of the original game into a vast sandbox for the PS5. The film includes personal stories shared by directors Naoki Hamaguchi and Tetsuya Nomura, as well as other important members of the team.

This reimagining of the all-time PlayStation classic was truly enjoyable. In our review, we praised Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth for its ability to enhance the already impressive combat system of Remake. The game truly shines in its portrayal of an iconic RPG setting. If you have a deep appreciation for the original PS1 game and found enjoyment in Remake, then Rebirth’s character-focused adventure will surely captivate you from start to finish.

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Gaming

Gran Turismo 7 for the PS5 and PS4 shows continuous improvement

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While Sony may not classify Gran Turismo 7 as a live-service game, the team at Polyphony Digital certainly approaches it with a similar mindset. The game continues to impress with every new update, and although v1.44 may be smaller compared to previous versions, it still manages to enhance the already extensive content of this simulation racer.

The update, now available worldwide, introduces three new cars: the Audi R8 Coupé V10 Plus ’16, the Lamborghini Urus ’18, and the Toyota GT-One (TS020) ’99. Furthermore, it introduces three fresh events to World Circuits, an extra menu to conquer in the GT Café single-player campaign, and a collection of livery stickers inspired by the upcoming Highspeed Étoile anime, set to debut next week in Japan.

If you’re not already acquainted with Highspeed Étoile, you can watch a trailer right here. “Sony has announced that a collection of 26 stickers, consisting of 8 title logos and 18 main character stickers, will be made available for a limited time,” stated Sony on the PS Blog. In addition, Fukushima will be included as a backdrop in the title’s beloved photography mode.

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