If you were looking for something to do this weekend, look no further. You can now play the full version of Borderlands GOTY Enhanced until Sunday! The free period is available on both Xbox and PC through Steam.
In Borderlands, you take on the role of one of four classes and adventure through the world of Pandora. There are many dangerous creatures and humans you will face. You must use the tools at your disposable in order the fend these monsters off and open the Vault, a room potentially full of treasure. Along the way, you’ll meet many new faces along with acquire millions of new items to help your questing. If you’ve ever wanted to dip your toe into the series, now is likely your best chances to do so.
Along with the game being temporarily free, you can also pick up the full game at a discount. It is currently available at 50% off, which is the lowest price the game has been since the Enhanced update.
Borderlands GOTY Enhanced is available for PS4 and Xbox One, with the PC version available on Steam. If you try out the game this weekend, let us know what you think of it!
The Wii U did have some great games on it like Wonderful 101 and Bayonetta 2 but the RPG department sucked horribly. The two RPGs on the system that were physically published were Xenoblade Chronicles X and Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE. The reason why I mention this is because these games are polar opposites in RPG style, look, and feel. And the main reason why I prefer TMS#FE over Xenoblade X is one thing: The Company.
Do not get me wrong. Monolith Soft made one of my favorite games of all time with Xenoblade Chronicles but Atlus has been doing the same thing for MUCH longer. Both games have their flaws and the reason why I say this is because one is a Turn-Based JRPG and the other is an Action-Based JRPG. Both are very different in their fundamentals but have one driving force that is the same: Keeping the player interested. If your game cannot do that, then what is the point? Both games are at least 60 hours long give or take, so they should keep you interested in both story and gameplay right? That is what ruins Xenoblade X for me.
The story sucked. The gameplay was okay but there was so much to learn through. There are so many systems that it tried implementing but they did not coexist, making the gameplay seem incoherent. Nothing meshed together and you didn’t even get all of the abilities shown off in previews until about 45 hours in.
That is where TMS#FE strives. The Story may seem stupid from an outsider’s standpoint but if you lived in Japan, where the game is based, it would make all the sense. The story of TMS#FE is one of the most creative ideas I have seen implemented into an RPG in quite awhile. What other game would have you play as Teens who became idols and sang songs and fought demons who terrorized people into not enjoying life because of music? None. That is why I love TMS#FE. It isn’t afraid to be different from other RPGs. Xenoblade X had a generic story with you crashing on an uninhabited planet and having to survive while having internal conflicts with characters around you. If you have a post-apocalyptic world to explore, at least do something creative with it. Point goes to TMS#FE.
The next thing that both of these games had was breaks in-between each major section of the game. Xenoblade X had requirements you had to complete before heading forward in the main story. TMS#FE had Intermission. Intermission was a time when you could explore dungeons, grow closer to other characters in your party and have them learn new skills and attacks. Giving me something that will help me later on in dungeons is super helpful. Point Goes to TMS#FE.
Next, Characters. Both games had good characters but the ones in Xenoblade X were much blander and very predictable. You had a character who was very buff but was scared of hurting anyone. You had a character who was mysterious and seemed like an antihero then became the main villain. HOW PREDICTABLE!
TMS#FE had vibrant characters, not to mention had characters from Fire Emblem. Yeah, Fire Emblem. THAT FIRE EMBLEM. The Fire Emblem characters seemed much more generic to me but that is okay since they were not a major part of the game. Why TMS#FE strived in character development is because it had the same team behind Social Links in P3 and P4 doing the Side-Gigs with the main party. It showed how vulnerable the characters were as they were still just teens who still had so much to learn. The youngest character you play as is 11. 11 years old and is having to make decisions that are difficult for even me to decide. So, Point goes to TMS#FE.
I know you feel like I’m crapping on Xenoblade X but it has some things in its favor. The World is huge. That is one thing Monolith does well. Making a huge coherent world is not as simple as you think. If you can see it, you can explore it. Also, Xenoblade X has a huge variety of enemies. Most of the enemies in TMS#FE were recoloring of enemies we had already seen. The variety of enemies is what works so well in Xenoblade X. Also, Xenoblade X had the best thing ever in any open-world game: A GIANT ROBOT THAT CAN TRAVERSE OVER ANYTHING. You only get it halfway through the game but it rules! It is so cool and it makes the gameplay vary so much. 3 points go to Xenoblade X.
So that brings us to a conclusion. Both games have their flaws but they also have their strong suits. I prefer TMS#FE over Xenoblade because I am an Atlus Fanboy until I die. But that is not the reason why I made this article. I want to know what you think.
Which one is more superior in your opinion? Comment down below!
The PS2 boasts one of the widest, most iconic libraries out of any console. With legendary titles like Ratchet and Clank, Jak and Daxter, GTA San Andreas and so many more; it’s not hard to see why. However, with so many amazing groundbreaking titles and series, there are so many games that don’t get the recognition they deserve. The games that have a niche fanbase, a cult classic or are barely known by anybody. These are our Top 10 Most Underrated PS2 games. Some you’ll probably have heard of, or maybe they’ll be brand new to you and you’ll be awoken to a new hidden gem.
Magic Pengel
I think I know about 10 people who have actually heard of this game, let alone played it. Magic Pengel is a turn-based Pokémon-Esque RPG that has you create your own monsters; letting your imagination bring your favorite designs to life. You sketch out the different appendages, the body, head, etc and depending on how much magic ink was used, it would be given different stats. The combat system worked like a rock-paper-scissors system except with additional abilities and the ability to repeat any move you’ve used prior. This game really is one of a kind, and with a beautiful cel-shaded art style; it will stand as one of the most creative and unique RPGs to ever be created.
Dark Cloud 2
It is criminal at how underappreciated Dark Cloud 2 is. The sequel to the eventually critically acclaimed Dark Cloud, it improved on nearly every aspect its predecessor had. Developed by Level-5, the studio that brought you games such as Professor Layton, Dragon Quest VIII, and Yo-Kai Watch, this title was lauded by critics as revolutionary. A real-time combat RPG with building mechanics that shaped the world you resided in, this is the definition of a cult-classic. There is so much to do in this game, it’s even got the tried and true RPG favorite, fishing. How can you not love an RPG with real-time combat, a building mode called “georama” AND fishing? A beloved classic that should be beloved by so, so many more.
God Hand
This game is absurd, and that’s why I love it so much. It’s so hard to put into words what exactly God Hand is, aside by a complicated rewarding action 3D Beat ‘Em Up. A game that was a commercial failure and has found its place as an underrated masterpiece because of it. The main character is Gene, who wields something called the God Hand. The power of God in your hands really can be felt if you master this needlessly complicated combat system. You have your base combos, punching, kicking and uh, spanking? Yeah, it’s that kind of game, but on top of that, you have combo modifiers and combo modifiers for those combo modifiers. You can customize your combat system to your heart’s content and you still haven’t even scratched the surface and because of that, this game is brutal. This game is not for the faint of heart, and that’s one of the many reasons it’s scared the casual consumer away. A game specifically for skilled gamers, if you’re an elite at beat ’em ups and love the wacky presentation, you’ll love this one.
Destroy All Humans!
Have you ever wanted to play as an alien, abducting cows and vaporizing humans? Destroy All Humans has that, and so much more. You play as Crypto, a foul mouth raunchy relentless alien in search of human brain stems. His race, the Furon, needs these as they are the key to stopping them from cloning themselves into extinction. If the summary didn’t set the tone enough, the gameplay surely will. You fly around nuclear America completing missions given to you by Pox, the emperor of the Furon empire and mad scientist. You really can do just about anything you want, including destroying entire cities with your UFO, scanning the brains of cows and humans, and of course, zapping the daylights out of poor unsuspecting humans. I really don’t know how this game isn’t more popular, but it remains a cult classic among third-person shooters.
Katamari Damacy
Now before I get into this wonderful gem of a game, please put this on as I describe to you the premise of this game. Ready? Okay, you play as the prince of the cosmos tasked by the king of the cosmos to recreate the stars and constellations as the king’s late-night drinking spree had him accidentally erase, just about everything. He sends you to earth and with your trusty giant spinning sticky ball of something, you roll around different environments collecting all kinds of objects, increasing the ball of mass. You eventually will be rolling up cars, buildings, airplanes, and even sea monsters. These giant clumps of… things become the new stars and planets! I really don’t have to say anything else, if you haven’t played this game you need to. It is one of my all-time favorite games to just, casually roll giant things up into a ball.
Ico
Before Shadow of the Colossus, Team Ico, and SCE Japan Studio made Ico. A platformer/puzzle-solving adventure combined with beautiful graphics and a majestic score to boot. The entire game is an escort mission, BUT WAIT, it’s a good escort mission? Yes, the AI of the princess you’re escorting can be annoying but for the most part, if you fail, it’s your fault. There isn’t really any combat, more like enemy encounters that you must outsmart or escape from. The environments look stunning even by today’s standards and the story is one that beloved by all who have played this game. It’s emotional, frustrating and beautiful when people say video games are art, this is one that will always come to mind.
Beyond Good and Evil
Beyond Good and Evil is one of THE most underrated Platformer/Zelda/Metroidvania/Action RPGs ever. You play as Jade, a reporter who is on a mission to uncover the secrets of an alien war conspiracy. You have your melee weapons and attacks, stealth sections, puzzle-solving and areas of the map that can only be accessed after obtaining a specific item or NPC to help out. This is honestly a blessed amalgam of so many different genres and they all work so well together. You have so many options as well as how to progress in the game; sidequests, the main quest and optional areas all at your fingertips. An amazing experience from start to finish, if the gameplay doesn’t fully satisfy you, the story definitely will.
Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil
When you think of platformers, what are the first ones to come to mind? Mario, Crash, or maybe.. Klonoa? One of the most criminally underrated platformers and overall videogames ever, Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil is the sequel to the original PS1 platformer Klonoa: Door to Phantomile. There really isn’t anything like Klonoa, you play as a self-described “cabbit” with an interesting move set. You wield the “wind bullet”, a magical jewel at the end of Klonoa’s ring he carries. You blast enemies with it and they inflate where you can then carry them, placing them to traverse obstacles or just throw them around for fun. The ability to use the enemies along with everything else in the environment is really what makes Klonoa 2 so fun. The puzzles you have to solve and levels to traverse are almost entirely based around using your enemies as leverage. You also have these beautiful three-dimensional backgrounds with two-dimensional artwork and character design. This only adds to the variety of gameplay as you can go into the foreground and background in levels, and even some boss fights. The level design, the music, the gameplay, the story and everything else in between makes for an unforgettable experience. If you like platformers and haven’t played this yet, please, please do yourself a favor and experience the beauty firsthand.
Okami
Okami is art, plain and simple. The main gameplay mechanic is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before and the paper art style is one of a kind. Based on Japanese mythology, you control Amaterasu, a goddess that assumes the form of a white wolf. Using your “celestial brush” you can do a plethora of things such as create different types of objects, use gusts of wind, make things grow and so much more all contributing to restoring life to the land the Demon, Arochi, has tainted. The gameplay is heavily inspired by Zelda with dungeons, an open world, sidequests, and incredible boss fights. The formula may not be brand new but the way it’s innovated in this game is breathtaking. It may not be the hardest game you’ll play, but the difficulty won’t really be an issue when you’re immersed in the beautiful environments, being whisked away by the soothing score all the while painting a world of wonder.
Psychonauts
What is Psychonauts? On the surface, it’s a fun cartoonish 3D platformer; but it’s so much more than that. You play as Raz, a psychic-in-training at a summer camp for others like him. Training to be a “Psychonaut”, Raz must complete his training while interacting with all the different kids and counselors at the camp. It not only has a very unique art style with its character design, but the writing in this game is also quite exclusive. The deadpan writing mixed with the wacky world design makes for a dynamite combination. Of course, the gameplay isn’t just your typical run and jump adventure, it combines the elements of platforming with different telekinetic abilities you can use to traverse each environment. What are the environments you may ask? The main HUB world is a summer camp, but what makes up the bulk of the levels and worlds are, the inside of people’s minds! They’re called Mental Worlds and they can be just about anything, so lack of variety is never really an issue. The story is always engaging, with tons of twists and turns, and the characters are so unique and lovable, you’ll never get tired of all the banter between them all. The main progression is always at the forefront, but there are so many optional things to collect you’ll never run out of things to do. Psychonauts is an adventure unlike any other and will keep you interested well after the credits have rolled. This wonderful entry also has a sequel in development, slated to release in 2020. A cult classic, it’s a shame this game didn’t get the love it deserved, otherwise we wouldn’t have had to crowdfund the sequel.
Since its inception, the Entertainment Software Ratings Board has assessed the content of games released in the United States. While created in response to concerns of extreme violence in games, it serves to provide a comprehensive rating that consumers can reference. The ESRB uses six general ratings, which are from the most to least accessible:
Everyone (suitable for all ages)
Everyone 10+ (suitable for anyone at least 10 years old)
Teen (suitable for anyone at least 13 years old)
Mature (suitable for anyone at least 17 years old)
Adults Only (suitable for anyone at least 18 years old)
Rating Pending
In order to be sold at most retailers, an ESRB rating is required to be listed on the box with content descriptions. From a consumer standpoint, the ESRB rating is most relevant when a game has a “Mature” or “Adults Only” rating. This is because one must have a valid photo I.D. to purchase it. The justification lies within the idea that it will prevent minors from obtaining access to games with content that is considered too mature for them to experience, although several loopholes exist for children to access games with higher ratings.
But what constitutes a game that is too “mature” for younger audiences today? More people are becoming exposed to mature content much earlier than past generations, aided by the accessibility of the Internet. Be it graphic content or suggestive material, younger generations are developing a greater awareness of ideas that were either not discussed, or extremely hard to obtain information about. I venture that most know someone under the age of seventeen that has played the latest Call of Duty game.
The Underlying Issue
While this highlights the difficulty in strictly implementing the ESRB, it also exposes a major issue with the standards of the board. Namely, there is a disconnect between the content standards of consumers and the ESRB. And this directly impacts the creative integrity of games localized for the United States.
Take Fire Emblem Fates for example. The game was first released in Japan in 2015, and localized for other territories the following year. Upon its release, the game experienced significant alterations to its content considered too mature for the target demographic. The biggest feature changed from Japan to the United States was “skinship”, resulting in fan outcry. The actual justification for the change never got confirmed, but one could assume the ESRB rating was a major factor. Perhaps if the feature remained uncompromised, it would receive a “Mature” rating?
A Comparison with CERO
Consider the following information: Fire Emblem Fates received a “C” rating from the Japanese rating board from CERO. To quickly summarize, CERO assigns ratings with a letter grade from A to Z. A “C” indicates that a game’s content is suitable for people ages 15 and over. The rating falls in between the “B” and “D” ratings, which provide thresholds of 12 years and 17 years respectively.
In comparison, the ESRB has “Teen” and “Mature” ratings, but nothing in between. This is problematic because it assumes the transition from teenager to adulthood is abrupt in terms of education and exposure. Most are in the late term of middle school when they turn thirteen, and in the late term of high school when they turn seventeen. No rating accounts for this, yet a distinction between “Everyone” and “Everyone 10+” exists. One could even argue that “Everyone 10+” is an unnecessary rating; Super Mario Odyssey has an “Everyone 10+” rating but the game is arguably suitable for younger audiences.
A Potential Solution
On a personal level, I would prefer a rehaul of the ESRB to reflect the changing conditions of society. And as a self-regulatory board, implementing these changes is a much smoother process. The current ratings need optimization to accurately portray the gaming audience. The ESRB removed the “Childhood” rating when it was irrelevant, and I believe the “Everyone 10+” rating should be next on the chopping board.
In its place, I would introduce a streamlined version of ratings that appeared along these lines:
Everyone (suitable for all ages)
Everyone 12+ (suitable for anyone at least 12 years old)
Everyone 15+ (suitable for anyone at least 15 years old)
Mature (suitable for anyone at least 17 years old)
Adults Only (suitable for anyone at least 18 years old)
Rating Pending
Gone is the “Teen” rating. This would be to erase the vagueness of the rating in favor of specific age thresholds that consumers can reference. Additionally, the “Everyone” tag would indicate that regardless of content suitability, anyone can purchase the game. “Everyone 10+” is altered to become “Everyone 12+”, and “Everyone 15+” would designate titles aimed at older teenagers. Games like Call of Duty, Battlefield, and Resident Evil could feasibly fall under the “Everyone 15+” rating. In addition, it would destigmatize the content that is considered appropriate.
This also benefits companies like Nintendo that want to maintain a family-friendly image. Presumably, they want to avoid a “Mature” rating to avoid compromising that perception. However, a game with an “Everyone 15+” rating might open the door to explore stories that are inherently more mature. In reference to before, a series like Fire Emblem could incorporate more violent or suggestive content without earning a “Mature” rating.
Conclusion
Most would agree that the ESRB maintains relevance within the video game industry. Without a ratings board, questionable content might find itself within the hands of children unequipped to witness it. But the ESRB is antiquated in its current state. With some adjustments to the ratings criteria, it could serve to benefit a greater proportion of consumers. And perhaps there are other aspects of the ESRB that require adjustments (including the content descriptors). Regardless, gradual change will result in a ratings board that better reflects the shifts in society pertaining to violent and sexual content.
The Nintendo Switch topped the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One for June, and it also is the only console showing year on year growth. This is the 6th month in a row with the Nintendo Switch on top.
The Nintendo Switch is due many more exclusives this year, which surely will continue the growth and sales of the console. Fire Emblem: Three Houses launches on July 26th, Astral Chain launches on August 30th, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening launches on September 20th, and Luigi’s Mansion 3 launches on October 31st, 2019. Also, the Nintendo Switch Lite will be launching on September 20th, which will open up the Switch to a brand new market.
What do you think of the Nintendo Switch dominating the sales charts once again? Let us know in the comments below!
The U.S. NPD Group has revealed the best selling games for the month of June! Below you can take a look at the list.
Super Mario Maker 2 was the best selling title of the month across all platforms, also setting a new record for launch month sales for a Super Mario Maker game. Crash Team Racing: Nitro Fueled came in second for the month of June, and also had sales that were the highest in launch month for any game in the Crash Bandicoot series. Mortal Kombat 11 took third for June, and it is also the best selling game of 2019 so far. It is also now the third best selling game in franchise history. Here are the best selling games of the year so far.
What do you think about Super Mario Maker 2 being the best selling game of June in 2 days? Let us know in the comments!
At San Diego Comic Con today, Marvel announced the first expansion for Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 would be Marvel Knights. The characters announced to be coming are Moon Knight, Blade, Punisher, and Morbius. The first expansion comes this Fall.
Also announced were Colossus and Cyclops coming soon as free playable DLC characters. The Trickster God Loki was also confirmed as playable in the base game!
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 releases tomorrow, July 19th, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. The expansion pass is also available for $19.99 and includes the Marvel Knights expansion, and expansions for X-Men and Fantastic Four.
What are your thoughts on Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Get ready to gamble your sorrows away in the city of Los Santos. The GTA Online Diamond Casino and Resort update now has the release date of July 23rd in its sights. This update arrives roughly seven months since the last content update of the Arena War DLC.
In the Diamond Casino and Resort, you’ll finally be able to run your own Casino within Los Santos. You’ll have the ability to fully customize the Casino to your liking, including things like hot tubs and new lighting. This also includes upgrading the new gambling machines, likely allowing you to play different games. The trailer shows the ability to play different card games, slot machines, and even horse races.
As is the GTA style though, getting the casino won’t just involve paying money. Multiple scenes show you destroying casino luxury and other locations which should make getting the casino a process. Thankfully a new host of vehicles along with a combat helicopter should help to speed up the takeover. If you’d like to see the trailer for yourself, you can find it here.
GTA Online is the online portion of GTA V, an action-adventure game by Rockstar Games. If you’re interested in running your own casino and much more, the game is available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Happy gambling!
Chucklefish has announced that Wargroove will finally be heading to PS4 on July 23rd. It will support many language options such as English, French, Italian, Spanish and Japanese among others. Wargroove first released on February 1st for Xbox One, Switch and PC. The PS4 version will not support cross-play however. Players on PS4 can still download community map designs and content between all listed platforms though.
Here’s a basic overview of content packed into this indie hit strategy game:
A 20hr+ story campaign told through dynamic cut-scenes
An Arcade mode where you’ll take on a series of opponents in quick succession
Puzzle mode challenges you’ll need to solve in just one turn
A robust map, cut-scene and campaign editor, where you can even change the rules of the game without any mods or external tools
Both local and online play with competitive and co-op play, as well as complete rule customisation
Secrets and unlockables, including a fact-filled Codex, Jukebox and Gallery
For more information, visit the official dev blog post here!
I’d like to take a pause from our usual news posting to honor those affected by the horrific fire at Kyoto Animation. They were responsible for some of the most beloved anime. Including the 1986 anime film Super Mario Bros: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach.
I’m writing this not because I need to put article out of spite but rather I wanted to share my deepest condolences. Please consider donating to the GoFundMe to help Kyoto get back on its feet.
sense. The story of TMS#FE is one of the most creative ideas I have seen implemented into an RPG in quite awhile. What other game would have you play as Teens who became idols and sang songs and fought demons who terrorized people into not enjoying life because of music? None. That is why I love TMS#FE. It isn’t afraid to be different from other RPGs. Xenoblade X had a generic story with you crashing on an uninhabited planet and having to survive while having internal conflicts with characters around you. If you have a post-apocalyptic world to explore, at least do something creative with it. Point goes to TMS#FE.
I know you feel like I’m crapping on Xenoblade X but it has some things in its favor. The World is huge. That is one thing Monolith does well. Making a huge coherent world is not as simple as you think. If you can see it, you can explore it. Also, Xenoblade X has a huge variety of enemies. Most of the enemies in TMS#FE were recoloring of enemies we had already seen. The variety of enemies is what works so well in Xenoblade X. Also, Xenoblade X had the best thing ever in any open-world game: A GIANT ROBOT THAT CAN TRAVERSE OVER ANYTHING. You only get it halfway through the game but it rules! It is so cool and it makes the gameplay vary so much. 3 points go to Xenoblade X.
