Gaming
Devil May Cry 5 Hands-On Xbox One Demo Impressions: I’m All In
It’s still hard to believe that we have a new Devil May Cry game release on the horizon, and one being developed by Capcom at that. It wasn’t too long ago when the series’ future was in serious doubt, with Capcom themselves handing over development duties to Ninja Theory for the 2013 DmC reboot. Seeing as that game was divisive at best, it seemed like the series was gearing up for a permanent vacation.
However, Capcom has been experiencing something of a rebirth lately, with their most cherished IPs coming back and in fine form. Devil May Cry 5 is the latest to take a swing at a big comeback, and if the Xbox One exclusive demo is indicative of the full experience, then I’m all in.
The demo doesn’t beat around the bush in terms of getting you right into the action, as you’re dropped into an area called Red Grave City and are in combat in no time. The gameplay here is focused solely on Nero, who returns from Devil May Cry 4 but has some new tricks up his sleeves. The biggest one is the addition of the new Devil Breaker system, which essentially gives him access to numerous robotic arms that all come with their own abilities.
The Devil Breakers are actually items that you’ll acquire as you progress through the level, and they’ll break upon use. The ones accessible here are Overture and Gerbera, and each comes with its own regular and charged attack. Gerbera was a personal favorite, considering that it allows for greater mobility with a dodge maneuver while also sporting a fantastic AoE charged attack that shoots a massive energy beam that you can spray at numerous enemies. Overture has its uses, as well, as it’s better suited as a finisher against regular enemies or to just knock them back with a shockwave.
Outside of the new Devil Breakers, the moment-to-moment gameplay is exactly how you would want it to be in a Devil May Cry game. The combat is frantic and slick, and it’s all running at a smooth 60fps. While the demo obviously doesn’t allow for some of the more intricate combos that you’ll typically get deeper into a DMC game, being able to swap between Nero’s Red Queen sword and Blue Rose double-barreled revolver on the fly feels great. Mix those in with the Devil Breakers and I’m already excited about the potential combos that will be possible in the full release.
Seeing as this is a demo, it’s kind of hard to gauge how enemy variety will end up going. The enemies here are your basic demonic grunts that aren’t too much of a pain to deal with, but can still cause big damage if you end up getting swarmed. There are a couple of scenarios where you find yourself stuck in a small area with groups of them, requiring you to juggle between them as you dish out your stylish damage. The series’ tried and true style grading system is alive and well here, rewarding you for switching things up with your attacks and avoiding damage while punishing you if you get stale with your moves.
Thankfully, the curtain doesn’t close before we can get a taste of one of the game’s boss fights, and this one certainly didn’t disappoint. Players are tasked with taking on a monstrous ogre called Goliath, who moves slowly but deals some serious damage if his hits land. The most memorable thing about this boss fight is that it ends up taking place in three different locations, starting off on the roof of a building, then to the room below when the floor collapses, and then finally out into the much more open streets. It kept the encounter exciting as you slowly pick away at the monster’s big health bar, while also allowing for different combat options.
While I was initially a little disappointed that we’re focusing on Nero here rather than Dante, Capcom has definitely improved upon the character a lot since Devil May Cry 4. He is able to stand on his own more here, and the snarky dialogue that he delivers throughout the demo was very entertaining. He even has a new hairdo that is more akin to Dante’s from DmC: Devil May Cry, which is a big improvement in my opinion. Dante is also set to be playable in the full game along with new character V, so there’s really nothing to complain about in the grand scheme of things.
The whole ordeal is over in about 20 minutes, but once my brief time with the demo concluded I left with a big smile on my face. Capcom is setting the stage for what should be a fantastic return to form for the series with Devil May Cry 5, and suddenly the wait for the full release in March 2019 has become that much harder to endure.
Gaming
ReFantazio Takes a Different Approach to Romance, Setting Itself Apart from the Persona Games
Atlus’ highly anticipated RPG, Metaphor: ReFantazio, appears to incorporate familiar systems reminiscent of the developer’s acclaimed Persona series. The game features turn-based battles that heavily rely on exploiting enemy weaknesses. Additionally, players have the ability to summon warrior spirits during combat. However, the most significant aspect of this game, which will be discussed in this article, is the bonding system. Through this system, players can spend time with important characters and gain deeper insights into their personalities and stories.
In contrast to the Persona games, the bonding system ends at that point. Unfortunately, players will be unable to pursue romantic relationships with their beloved waifus, which may come as a disappointment to those who have developed strong feelings for Hulkenberg, the party’s charismatic red-haired elven knight.
According to Siliconera, the absence of romance came up during a recent question and answer session. Atlus emphasized the continued opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with your allies while also introducing additional narratives through substories. In addition, familiarizing yourself with the supporting characters will grant you access to new archetypes, which serve as the game’s character classes.
In the Persona games, romance is not obligatory; rather, it serves as a means to customize your playthrough. However, it is quite unexpected that Metaphor has chosen not to pursue such a venture, considering the significant amount of discussion it typically generates!
Were you anticipating any romantic elements in Metaphor? If you’re not satisfied with your pre-order, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Gaming
Shift Up unveils the intriguing details behind the physical packaging of Stellar Blade for the PS5
It appears that many
are eagerly anticipating the launch of the highly anticipated PS5 exclusive, Stellar Blade. Shift Up, the developer, has shared a lengthy video showcasing the “secrets” found in the physical box of the game for PS5. From what we can gather, these secrets include a reversible cover/dust jacket and a download code for cosmetic items.
We must clarify that while we do appreciate the variant cover, it may be more appealing than the game’s standard art. However, it is not something we would typically classify as a “secret.”. However, what’s interesting is that Shift Up has confirmed through the comments section that this will be the case in all regions. Additionally, the visually striking action RPG will remain uncensored worldwide.
「Stellar Blade」 Physical Package Secrets⚠️#StellarBlade #PS5 #Disc pic.twitter.com/WQSzKUSDQ4
— StellarBlade (@StellarBlade) April 22, 2024
It’s refreshing to witness a developer going the extra mile for physical collectors, and it’s evident that the developer is determined to leave a favorable mark in the console realm. Stellar Blade is set to make its highly anticipated debut this Friday, April 26th, exclusively on the PS5.
Gaming
Here are all the patch notes for the new PS5 firmware update that adds the community game help feature
Sony has recently launched the newest PS5 system software update, which is always an exciting occasion for avid PlayStation fans. With a size of slightly over 1GB, you can download and install it right away. As always, the question remains: What exactly does the update bring to the table?
According to the official patch notes, there have been some notable improvements, particularly in the area of game help. We are introducing an exciting addition to our platform: the Community Game Help feature. This feature enhances the PS5’s Game Help system by providing you with gameplay videos from fellow players. Players have the option to choose whether or not they want their gameplay videos to be shared using this feature.
If you’re concerned about it, you can now hide your Remote Play connection status as well.
Presenting the complete patch notes:
- Game Help has been enhanced with the addition of Community Game Help features
- Within Game Help, players can find Community Game Help hints in supported games. These cues come from gameplay videos that other players have shared.
- If you’re up for it, you have the option to contribute to Community Game Help by giving permission for your gameplay video to be automatically recorded and included in the feature after it’s been reviewed
- If you want to join in, navigate to Settings, then Captures & Broadcasts, followed by Captures, Auto Captures, and finally Community Game Help. From there, simply choose the option to participate. Users have the option to unsubscribe whenever they choose
- During Remote Play, players now have the option to hide the persistent message “Remote Play connected.” that appears on their game screen. To ensure a seamless gaming experience, navigate to the Settings menu, then proceed to the System section. From there, locate the Remote Play option and activate the Hide Remote Play Connection Status feature
- The system’s software performance and stability have been significantly enhanced
- The messages and usability on some screens have been enhanced
While not the most groundbreaking update, the Community Game Help feature has the potential to be intriguing, contingent upon the number of games that offer support for it. What are your thoughts on the latest update? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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