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Here’s everything that happened in the September Nintendo Direct

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For those not in the know, the September Nintendo Direct happened last night, with lots of shiny new Ninty information jam-packed into 45 minutes.

While there was no mention of Animal Crossing (which will disappoint a lot of people on Twitter I expect), there was a lot of new stuff to get excited over. We’ve summarised them all below for your pleasure.

Nintendo Switch stuff

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 finally has a release date

And that date is December 1st, 2017! With gameplay that appears to follow closely to Xenoblade Chronicles, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 offers detailed cutscenes, improved voice acting, and stunning visuals, even if it doesn’t appear to be on a new engine.

With multiple Titans to traverse and each Titan having unique scenery, we got a look at the exploration and combat present in the new game. The game will have a special edition at launch that includes artbook, steelcase and soundtrack. A special Xenoblade Pro Controller will also be available.

Xenoblade Pro Controller

DOOM and Wolfenstein 2: New Colossus on Switch!

Okay so this was definitely a surprise. While everyone knew Skyrim was coming to Switch, no-one expected both Doom and Wolfenstein II. There are no solid release dates yet but if you’re after an FPS fix on Ninty’s new console, Bethesda has got your back.

Doo

Super Mario Odyssey is gonna be huge

The main focus of the evening was obviously Super Mario Odyssey. We saw a lot more gameplay and graphically, this is probably the best looking Mario game ever made. We were introduced to Crazy Capp, a store that allows you to obtain new outfits for Mario and online leaderboards for mini-game scores and time attack modes.

There were also glimpses of wedding-themed Mario Amiibo, if that’s what you’re into.

Mario Wedding Amiibos

Project Octopath Traveller

Another welcome surprise is Project Octopath Traveller, a brand new RPG from Square Enix and a Nintendo Switch exclusive. With a mix of turn-based play and new mechanics called ‘The Boost System’, it features 8 playable protagonists with differing origins, strategies, and goals. From the producers of Bravely Default, it features a mix of CGI and pixel-art to create a unique art style.

A demo is available right now so check it out if you’re pining for more RPG action on the Switch.

Project Octopath Traveller

Dragon Quest Builders

A mashup of Minecraft and Terraria but wearing Dragon Quest clothes. Dragon Quest Builders allows you to rebuild and defend towns in the DQ world, featuring gameplay similar to Minecraft.

Kirby Star Allies

This was shown at E3 and gets a bit more love here. The first Kirby game for Nintendo Switch sees players going on an adventure with up to 3 other allies, mixing abilities to create new powers and going up against a dark force that’s taking over Dreamland.

L.A Noire

With all DLC, special suits with abilities, Joy-Con compatibility and a usable touchscreen, LA Noire is the full package. A welcome return to the Nintendo fold by Rockstar. Now, where’s Red Dead Redemption?

LA Noire Nintendo Switch

Nintendo Arcade Games on Switch

All the fun of the arcade without your nan getting angry at the coin pusher. Arcade Archives are bringing some classic Nintendo arcade games to the Switch including the original Mario Bros. We’ll also see Balloon Fight, Ice Climber, Pinball and Clu Clu Land.

Arena of Valor

One of the more interesting surprises of the Direct event, this is a League of Legends style MOBA for Switch. With up to 30 controllable heroes, you can go head to head in 5v5, 3v3 and 1v1 PVP battles. A free beta is launching this Winter.

Skyrim

It’s Skyrim. It’s portable. It won’t have mod support but it will have a Breath of the Wild outfit. You can be a Stealth Archer.

Splatoon 2 Updates (now with added Kelp Dome)

Nintendo showed off a number of updates to Splatoon 2, including new stage Snapper Canal, a new weapon in the Tenta Brella and the return of fan favourite, the Kelp Dome. Kelp Dome returns this Friday, 9/15.

Rocket League Switch

No solid release date for this yet but we did get a glimpse of some new Nintendo themed vehicles. Mario and Luigi also made an appearance.

Fifa 18 / NBA 2k18 / WWE 2k18

Not much to report on here, just a reminder they’re happening. FIFA 18 will be fully built from the ground up, designed for Switch rather than a direct port and releases September 29. NBA 2K18 is a similar experience to it’s console counterparts, feature complete but running at 30fps rather than 60fps. It releases September 15. No release date for WWE 2K18 unfortunately.

Fifa 18 Switch

Nintendo 3DS/2DS Stuff

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (available November 17)

The stream kicked off with a bunch of 3DS information, including games and hardware. As you’d expect, the two new Pokémon titles were a big focus. Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon will include a bunch of new areas, clothing items and Ultra Beasts as well as a new way of choosing starters. Most importantly, there were whispers of a Pikachu farm which sounds lovely. It’ll also include a new story involving Necrozma, a legendary Pokémon that steals light and has transformed Solgaleo and Lunala from the original games.

Metroid Samus Returns (available September 15)

Samus is back. Metroid Samus Returns features new weapons, abilities and bosses, all in a remastered version of Metroid II which released 16 years ago. It’s joined by a snazzy limited edition 3DS which you can see here.

New 2DS designs!

To coincide with the new Pokemon games, Nintendo are releasing the Poke-Ball edition of the New Nintendo 2DS XL which lands November 3rd. To coincide with (presumably) Fall, they’re also releasing an Orange and White New Nintendo 2DS XL.

Pokemon Edition 2DS

Kirby: Battle Royale (available January 19 2018)

So this is the “3DS Kirby” that no-one knew about. Featuring a single-player story mode, online battles, and a battle arena mode, the game sees Kirby using a variety of abilities to fight versions of himself with the last Kirby standing being crowned the winner. No confirmation of pans or Kirby finding a Kar98k in a Supply Crate just yet.

Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition (available… right now) 

Minecraft continues its quest to be available on every single electronic device available. With five skin packs, 2 texture packs, survival and adventure mode, it’s a surprise but it’s also really not. Look out for Minecraft on your toaster soon.

Mario Party Top 100 on 3DS (available November 10)

For the first time ever, a collection of the best Mario Party games can be played on a hand-held. Featuring the top 100 mini-games from the console series, Mario Party Top 100 supports Download Play. This up to four players can take part as long as one of the players owns the game card, which is pretty great.

Atlus releasing multiple games in 2018

The other big piece of news for the 3DS is Atlus is set to release Etrian Odyssey V, SMT Strange Journey Redux and Radian Historia Perfect Chronology in 2018. There’s not much information to go off but it’s great news for Atlus fans in the West.

As you can see, despite this Nintendo Direct being 45 minutes long it was absolutely jam-packed. This is just a selection of what was shown and you can see the full livestream below.

 

 

 

UK based gaming writer, raised on a diet of Street Fighter and Isometric RPG's. I enjoy playing every game I can get my grubby little hands on.

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Techland Drops the Zombie Game to Focus on the Upcoming Open World Fantasy Epic

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Next up for developer Techland is a big, story-driven fantasy epic. Techland is arguably best known for its popular Dying Light series of open world action role-playing games.

Dying Light 2 was fairly good, with its major issues being that it was extremely hyped up and had a protracted and difficult production cycle. Unfortunately, we don’t have much more information than the image above.

The Polish studio has hired some impressive professionals, including programmers with backgrounds at CD Projekt Red, Ubisoft, and Guerilla Games. The narrative lead on both The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was Karolina Strachya, who is kind of a big deal.

What do you think of this new strategy for Techland the developer?

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Review of Resident Evil 4 (PS5)

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Up until Resident Evil 4 gets a remake, no new console generation feels completely right. The Capcom classic has been ported to every Sony home system since the PS2 version in 2005; at this point, you can’t have one without the other. Expectations are now very different from previous iterations due to the developer’s recent remake efforts with Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3. Capcom has recreated Resident Evil 4 into one of the greatest video games ever while keeping a lot of the elements that made the survival horror phenomenon a masterpiece all those years ago. It’s a truly exceptional, unique experience worth savoring with fresh material, features, and regions.

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By improving and extending almost everything that was there before, the remake maintains fidelity. It follows a pretty similar series of events from the village to the castle and ends on the island. Most of the events that stand out in your memory are present, and some even occur in a different order than you’re used to. Although some compromises have been made, particularly on the island, Resident Evil 4 is still present and correct.

And while the audience will definitely enjoy these amazing scenes, it’s what happens in between that makes the PS5 remake so much better overall.When you move from one plot beat to the next, so much more occurs. Particularly the village and castle are now enormous, open spaces with hidden secrets and optional quests. There are more puzzles to solve, many larger areas to explore, and a great deal more story to learn. The plots are much more fully developed, and some characters get more time on screen. With longtime fans receiving a necessary replay and beginners receiving a genuinely definitive version, the PS2 original is virtually rendered useless.

Fighting has also undergone significant improvements; it is clear that Capcom truly went all out in this area for the sake of style. A brand-new parry mechanic, along with the remake’s furious shooting sequences and flashy melee moves, creates a system that will make you feel like a total badass. Leon’s trademark kicks, swings, and suplexes are back, but this time they’re combined with deadly knife cuts that position opponents for fatal headshots. Because of the time window’s relative generosity, it’s worthwhile to spend money on upgrades to expand your arsenal of Ganado killers.

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Resident Evil 4 has always been a bit more action-oriented than its predecessors, and the remake keeps this distinction by adding nasty, gory combat to its rewarding parries and punch-ups.One-shot kills from the end of a shotgun or magnum feel heavy and nasty thanks to the adjustable triggers of the DualSense controller for the PS5. On the other hand, TMP (a submachine gun) sprays feel lighter but more rickety when the trigger vibrates under your fingertip.

The experience is enhanced just as much by haptic feedback. While Leon explores the Spanish village, the PS5 pad quietly rumbles in time with his pitter-pattering steps. The controller then provides resistance in the form of vibrations that give you the impression that you are struggling to keep balance while the former cop wades through water, which is when it really shines. It works, giving the PS5 version a strong argument for being chosen above other editions.

The updates don’t stop there; you may now move and shoot simultaneously or freely crouch to use some stealth. The revised control scheme offers even more versatility. Resident Evil 4 finally plays like a contemporary video game once more, matching—and in some cases surpassing—what Capcom’s prior remakes have felt and controlled like.

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Most of the time, it appears to be one as well. Every setting, structure, character, and adversary has undergone a thorough redesign to shine in 4K on the PS5. The rescue mission is a much more difficult task, with an even more ominous mood because much of the game now occurs at night. You’ll doubt whether saving the president’s daughter is truly worth it all when slick tentacles shoot out of a Las Plagas-consumed Ganado or the evil Novistadors hide and wait for an attack.

But the only place you might run across a technical bug is in the village. On a few rare occasions, when the game was running with the Day One patch, we noticed a little portion of texture off in the distance. We didn’t run into any issues in the castle or on the island, but they do seem to be a problem in the opening stretch of the title. These are very much blink and you’ll miss it moments. But, there are no further issues, so it is a very tiny blip.

The evocative music that goes along with the lavish graphics makes the evening sequences even more tense. The Ganados who live in the village can be heard from a distance, but the sounds of the monks singing their holy songs can be heard all over the castle. Turning a corner alone adds risk because even one enemy’s suspicions can put the entire region on high alert. Resident Evil 4 has a soundtrack that will send chills down your spine and sound cues that work well with its beautiful graphics.

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All of this, though, wouldn’t matter if Capcom somehow managed to lose the essence of the PS2 classic in the process of creating this PS5 masterpiece. Even with improved fighting, more content options, and better graphics and audio, Resident Evil 4 is still fundamentally the same game we’ve enjoyed for 18 years. It still has its soul, which is what makes it so incredibly unique. Everything just feels perfect as soon as you step out of the police car in the beginning, when safety is assumed. Despite the fact that some locations are brand new to the remake, they immediately give the impression of being there forever. Everything fits together well, and it’s amazing to see a classic developed in a way that just seems so natural.

Leon begins to feel that the village is a strange, unwelcoming home, as there are more things to see and do there. Some structures aren’t accessible until later, while simple side tasks give you a reason to go back to places you’ve already been. It’s interesting to watch how the village has grown, especially with the well-known shopkeeper along for the ride.

The same can be true about the castle and island, both of which contain numerous notable incidents and scenes that you will likely remember. Although the latter environment has experienced a few more cuts than the other two, what is still there feels more unified. No longer can you quickly transition from a horror game to a full-fledged third-person shooter.

Repeat playthroughs will always be a complete pleasure because each region looks and feels so unique. Your first journey will last for more than 20 hours, and while subsequent journeys will significantly shorten that playtime, there is so much replayability that Capcom excels at it. Resident Evil 4 is a game that you might still be playing months from now due to its innovative ways to play, fresh material that can only be found in New Game+, and trophies. We anticipate that this incredibly remarkable reproduction will accomplish the same feat as the original, which remained relevant for 18 years.

Conclusion
Resident Evil 4 is still a classic today, almost 20 years after it first came out. Capcom has authentically remade it by adding new content, great action, and eye-catching graphics to a real classic game. Resident Evil 4 already had the necessary elements to be regarded as one of the all-time greatest video games, but with improved surroundings and outstanding action, it now firmly establishes itself as such in 2023. A truly exceptional experience that will live long in the memories of devoted followers while winning over a brand-new generation of admirers, this is Resident Evil at its ultimate peak.

Pro:

A fantastic game that was improved
Such fresh storylines, lore, and material
Amazing combat
Beautiful pictures
Ambiance audio
Good support for DualSense controllers
A lot of replay value

Cons:

A few very minor graphics errors

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Remnant 2 Is Almost Already the Game of the Year for Puppy Lovers

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Shooty Soulslike Remnant 2 recently cemented its place on many people’s GOTY-year lists by introducing us to the canine-friendly Handler Archetype in probably the most emotionally deceptive trailer we have ever seen.
One such furry friend, who fights with The Handler in battle, will engage and divert those terrifying demonic beings while you dispatch them with a variety of powerful weapons.
Because of how much fun the original Remnant game was, we were already planning to check out the sequel. Still, we have to give Gearbox and Gunfire Games credit for using dog propaganda so well that we bought the game on day one.
There isn’t a specific release date for Remnant 2 on the PS5, but it will happen sometime in 2023. Do you have any opinions about the handler archetype?

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