When I first delved into Astro Bot's immersive galaxy, I was astonished to see how many cameos it packed in. Sure, I suspected a few wo?uld show up, but I would have never guessed to see a whopping 17?3 exclusive cameos.

The future of Astro Bot is even more exciting, with the promise of the DLC expanding the cameo collection. While their identities are shrouded in mystery, we can't help but speculate and eagerly await the next wave of characters. Here are our top picks for the cameos we hope to see next in Astro Bot.

Rayman

Astro Bot's end-credits scene fueled the rumor mill when it hinted at a few titles not shown in the game. ??One of which was Rayman, the boy wonder of PlayStation's hit platformer series. Before? I saw the scene, I had actually been pondering his nonexistence in the game, especially since characters around the same period were available.

Now, it's looking like he'll be a part of the universe in some shape or form. And I just know that Rayman's unique platformer mechanics would be a perfect fit for Astro Bot, setting the stage for a challenging new world.

Assassin's Creed characters

Besides Rayman, the end-credits scene sparked excitement for an Assassin's Creed crossover. The sheer abundance of AC titles makes it hard to pick just one character for Astro Bot. However, ?Ezio seems like a safe bet as ??one of the most-known characters in the franchise.

If it were up to me, I would go for someone slightly more underrated, like Kassandra in Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Whatever the case, I just want to see that tiny Astro Bot in the iconic assassin's hood?ie and maybe an option to free-fall down in a level.

Marvel's Spider-Man's Miles Morales and Peter Parker

Since Astro Bot harnesses several Insomniac Games appearances, why not add a few more with Peter Parker and Miles Morales? Both have already immersed themselves in multiple universes, so having them in Astro Bot isn't too much of a stretch.

It's not like Spider-Man hasn't been in Astro Bot title before, regarding the webified Easter Egg in Astro's Playroom. That also g?ives me an idea of i?ncorporating a new web-slinging ability to diversify the bot's skills.

Cloud Strife (And basically any Final Fantasy character)

The Final Fantasy series is no stranger to gaming collaborations, from Kingdom Hearts to Fall Guys. In light of this, I'm hoping for at least one more crossover with Astro Bot. Given that Rebirth was released in the same year, Cloud Strife would be?? my first pick.

Like Spider-Man, Cloud has an Easter Egg of his own in Astro's Playroom, placing his iconic sword in a spotlight. But if not Cloud, then maybe Team Asobi could go with Final Fantasy's many other characters. They could kick it old school with the original's main protagonists or enter the modern era with FFXVI's Clive Rosfield.

The Prince of Persia

I've been seeing many desires for various Astro Bot cameos, but the one I haven't heard about much is the Prince from Prince of Persia. Since we previously dug into a potential Assassin's Creed collab?, Team Asobi could give some love to Ubisoft's other title to complete the collection.

I can already see it now: a challenging desert level with the Prince awaiting your rescue in a tranquil oasis. You could a??lso add in the Astro Bot's Time Stopper ability to create the ultimate collaboration.

Kingdom Heart's Sora

Even though there are many staples of my childhood in Astro Bot, the Kingdom Hearts series is the only one missing. It totally makes sense for this franchise to be included, mainly since they both share the qualities of featuring cameos. Plus, the Space Galaxy reminds me a lot of Kingdom Heart's worlds with their planet layouts.

Sora would ??be the obvious choice for a VIP bot as the series' main protagonist. Throw on some spiky hair and a keyblade to a character, and voila, you got yourself a robotic Sora. Heck, even just adding a keyblade to the bot would make me happy.

Helldiver

A Helldiver Astro Bot seems like a pretty good idea, given the huge success it has gained over the past year. Not to mention the fact that it is a Sony title, which makes me wonder why it isn't in Astro Bot in the first place.

Astro Bot already features a ton of characters sporting a body suit and helmet look. In fact, I did get some Helldivers' vibes from the Killzone bot's design. It could act as a foundation for the suit if Helldivers ever makes it into Astro Bot.

Sly Cooper's Bentley and Murray

When I first saw Sly Cooper enter the world of Astro Bot, I was ecstatic to see my old childhood icon in the bot??'s adorable get-up. However, I couldn't help but think that Sly looked a bit lonely at the Crash Site. The reason for that lies in Cooper Gang's constant need for togetherness, where Murray and Bentley have (for the most part) stayed at his side.

So, please, Team Asobi??, share some love for Murray and Bentley. They are as much a part of the Cooper gang as S??ly is.

Stellar Blade's EVE

In addition to Rayman and Assassin's Creed, Stellar Blade was another title that could be in the cards. And, if I had to choose a VIP bot for this entry, it would have to (obviously) go to EVE. She has the combat and exploration down, making her the right choice for this platformer g?ame.

I wouldn't mind getting a Stellar Blade-inspired world for a potential level, div?ing us into a dystopian world filled with Na?ytiba-like enemies.

Twisted Metal's Sweet Tooth

To keep us on Astro Bot's nostalgic train?, I would love to see Sweet Tooth cause some mayhem in the galaxy. I know he's a bit more rambunctious than the other characters on this list, but maybe we need a little insanity in this roster.

That way, a new potential racing level could be included in the game, going along with the fast-paced nature of the courses. It'll work out well for the upcoming speedrunning feature, which will be coming to the Astro Bot DLC. I mean, the game does have an area called the "Crash Site," so a Twisted Metal integration does seem highly plausible.

The post 10 cameos we want to see next in Astro Bot appeared first on Destructoid.

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands: The Land of Giants issue #1 in August 2024 and further explored the Borderlands universe through its versions of D&D, Bunkers & Badasses, just as Tiny Tina's titular game did. Now, we ?have five pages from the second issue, which will be released on September 18, 2024, to show you.

In the first issue of Tiny Tina's Wonderlands: The Land of Giants, we were introduced to the colorful cast of characters and? read about their escapades in a brand new story that Tiny Tina's put together for them. After a short side quest, the party finds themselves in Boomstone, where a hill giant named Hilly the Kid has been causing a bit of a ruckus. That's where we left off, and the first five pages of issue 2 pick right ?up from that point. Trust me when I say you're going to want to read about how the party helps Hilly the Kid calm down.

5 exclusive preview pages from Tiny Tina's Wonderlands: The Land of Giants issue #2

Below, I've showcased all five of the pages that Dark Horse Comics provided for us to reveal in this exclusive preview to fans. As I said, take your time to read through them because you'll see how this is a true Borderlands story plucked directly from Tiny Tina's mind.

As you can see, the story takes a pretty wild turn. While the party is trying to figure out what they can do about Hilly the Kid, they get lost in a haircut competition, and everything goes a bit off the rails. This fits the vibe of Tiny Tina's Wonderlands and its quirky twist on Dungeons & Dragons beautifully.

The main quest is never the ??main quest for ?long with Tiny around. The world state can change in an instant, and the party often doesn't have a choice when it comes to the zany side quests because they almost always end up doing whatever Tina wants them to do.

I love that the comic translates the humor of the games so well because, as some people reported when they saw the Borderlands movie, it's not an easy universe to bring into other mediums. If you're eager to read more, head over to Dark Horse Comics and pre-order your copy so you don't miss out.

The post Exclusive preview: 5 fresh pages from Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands: The Land of Giants issue #2 appeared first on Destructoid.

I told myself I wasn’t going to pick up any more games for coverage, and then the key for Star Trucker showed up. Whoops. It’s been one of my most anticipated games this year, alongside Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop and Hollywood Animal. Too bad I can’t keep track of release dates.

So, I jammed Star Trucker into my schedule as best I could, but I was still unable to get to a?? point where I feel confident in fully reviewing it. It should be soon, thou??gh, so I’m going to be real quick with this.

Star Trucker (PC [Reviewed], Xbox Series X|S)
Developer: Monster and Monster
Publisher: Raw Fury
Released: September 3, 2024
MSRP: $24.99

Star Trucker is a game about trucking through the stars. Technically, portions of games like Elite and X4 involve space trucking, but Star Trucker is entirely about that life. To make up for the lack of space combat and mining, the star truck itself is very detailed. You can walk around its interior, organize your space supplies, and do maintenance. You’re not playing as the truck, but rather the eponymous Star Trucker.

Maintenance is very simple. You replace power cores whenever they get depleted, UCCs when they break, and air filters when you can’t breathe. If you hit space debris, it might punch holes in your truck, and you’ll need to spacewalk to fix it. It’s not super deep, but it’s a lot deeper than you commonly get in this genr?e.

You use this star truck to grab delivery jobs, pick up the cargo, and take it where it needs to go. There are varying types of cargo, and new hazards show up, but it’s largely point-to-point. However, there are jobs offered by NPCs that offer a bit more variety and contain what storyline Star Trucker has. There are also hazards like ele?ctrical storms and solar flairs that you need to protect yourself from. Aside from that, it’s what it says on the jar.

Star Trucker has a lot of visual polish, and the dev team seems to have had a strict plan for what they wanted to include and managed to prevent a lot of feature creep. It’s tight. I ran into some ??bugs with the pre-release version, but nothing too obstructive. One dude in a little forklift-like vehicle rammed ??me, which I didn’t appreciate. I appreciated less when someone rear-ended my truck while I was spacewalking, forcing me to fly all the way back to it. The little moments.

The game’s economy has given me some headache??s. An air filter is, like, $3000 (if I recall ac?curately), and, at least into the game’s midpoint, most jobs pay considerably less than that. You have four spots for air filters, so good luck buying enough to fill them. Cores drain rather quickly, even when you have the highest quality. I’ve been able to maintain some level of profitability, so it isn’t completely unreasonable, but it can be vexing when you’re forced to keep jumping into your space suit because your air filter is bust and you can’t find a new one in the store.

I also refuse to take another “Just in Time�job. Those aren’t rush jobs, by the way. They have a threshold that you can’t deliver before, so the delivery can’t be completed early. There is no way to advance time in Star Trucker aside from jumping to a new region, and your truck continues to degrade all its cores and filters and UCCs while you sit there waiting. You can turn off some systems to conserve your parts, but I wouldn’t recommend switching off oxygen. I’m always early. I’m always left waiting on these jobs. Never again.

Star Trucker has been a reasonably good time so far. I’m about 14 hours in, but I want to try and complete some more story mi??ssions before I give a full report. I’m not expecting the narrative to get amazing, but later areas could potentially add some cool gameplay twists.

I will also get a bit more detailed in the full review, which I’m hoping to have done later this week. For now, it’s worth trying out. It takes some of the enjoyable parts of terrestrial trucking games, combines them with space simulators, and adds a bit of depth and character. I’ve enjoyed the time I’ve put into Star Trucker, but I still have to see how it performs on a ??long haul.

The post Review-in-Progress: Star Trucker appeared first on Destructoid.

It's the weekend, and the Milton Ke??ynes CeX store is always packed at these peak hours. Set within a busy city, the line is almost outside the door, and many customers are scurrying over themselves, searching for PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, PS4, and PS5 games.

GameStop in North America is quite the opposite of this, with plenty of Funko POP toys stalking the aisles, some games, and a lack of customers at most hours of the day (at least in my experience). GameStop Retro?? could be a difference maker.

I've lived in both Canada and the UK, and from my experience, shopping for games is quite different in the latter. C??eX is everywhere in my home country and lets you buy retro games as well as the latest and greatest. It sells used games, in addition to movies and tech like p?hones and Bluetooth headsets.

Meanwhile, GAME, the? GameStop of the U.K., is empty, with many locations now stuck in the corners of Sport?s Direct stores across the country. It's even stopped accepting trade-ins. It's bizarre.

On August 28, GameStop announced it was shifting some of its stores to a retro model. According to a video by Spawn Wave, the employees d??idn't have ?much time to prepare for the change.

Despite the snickers from some in the online community, GameStop switching to a retro model could actually save the company ?if it can build a dedicated audience and community like CeX in the UK.

CeX has grown a culture around used games

Time and time again, I see lines build up at CeX stores all across the United Kingdom, especially in more dense cities like Milton Keynes and London. That's because, for the past three decad?es, this store has built a culture around trad??ing your stuff for decent money and getting great technology, movies, or recent video games.

There is a dedicated YouTube community with channels like Retro Ghetto and TVM, which create vlogs about what they find?? in these stores. That's how much of a following CeX gets within the British shores. It's a rush to go to a CeX and see what's available, despite how awkward of a name it is. It seriously calls its free Wi-Fi "Unprot??ected CeX."

In the United States and Canada, finding retro games is far less convenient. While s?ome cities have independent game stores in their community, most ??don't. North Americans have to rely on the steep prices on eBay and Amazon unless they get lucky at a thrift store. On top of that, they may have to pay steep shipping prices.

While I lived in Canada, I barely bothered to build a retro game collection because I could never afford the prices that resellers wanted for their catalog. It would be a blessing if GameStop Retro could take away those frustrations and make retro gaming afford?able li??ke CeX.

It seems like GameStop Retro might h??ave competitive prices against eBay and Amazon, which is a good sign. "The prices [are] not terrible; I've seen much worse on like eBay ?[and] if it's at a convention, good luck, right?" said Spawn Wave, describing his experience at a GameStop Retro location.

By the way, the CeX website is stellar. It tells you how much stock each store has and lets you know immediately how much trade-in credit you'll get. It's always a mystery when yo?u go to a GameStop, so having that front and center would help immensely with its customers.

Ever since coming back to the UK four months ago, I've built an extensive PS3 and PS4 library of titles. For just a few quid (£), I've been able to get games like Alpha Protocol, Final Fantasy XIII, and PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, experiences that are hard to get on modern platforms, and it's honestly addicting. If GameStop Retro can replicate CeX's value for money and decent trade values, it could work for the chain, even if it's hard to support GameStop, however, with what the company did to Game Informer and it??s staff.

The post GameStop Retro could work if it’s inspired by the UK’s CeX appeared first on Destructoid.

Following the D23 trailer and Marvel's 85-year celebration video showing Red Hulk's transformation in glorious HD, hopes remain high for the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World. Marking Captain America's return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Brave New World is poised to introduce more compelling Marvel comic characters and begin laying the foundation for Doomsday and Secret Wars.

Indeed, characters like the Falcon, Sidewinder, and Red Hulk enjoyed comic notoriety long before their upcoming appearances in Brave New World. With that in mind and utilizing decades of comic knowledge, I have expertly selected the best comics to read in preparation for Red Hulk smashing his way into the MCU in Captain America: Brave New World.

Tales to Astonish (1959) #63

'A Titan Rides the Train,' by legendary creators Stan ??Lee and Steve Ditko, gives fans the origin story of Samuel?? Sterns. A high school dropout and lowly plant worker, Sterns yearned for the adoration heaped upon genius until a freak gamma explosion altered his fate. This accident would birth the Leader, a hyper-intelligent, megalomaniacal mastermind.

Yet, unlike Bruce Banner, whose repressed rage manifests into the brutish Hulk, Stern's intense desire to be among the intellectual elite supercharges his brain. Here, the Leader becomes one of the Hulk's longest-tenured and most formidable adversaries, setting the stage for his appearance in Brave New World.

Captain America (1969) #117-119

In a vintage tale from Eisner Hall of Famers, Stan Lee and Gene Colan, the evil Red Skull uses the power of the cosmic cube, swapping bodies with the genre-traversing Captain America and banis??hing him to the Isle o?f the Exiles. Here, the villainous Exiles seek vengeance on Red Skull for marooning them and take the fight to their "enemy".

Marking his first appearance, Sam Wilson comes to Cap's aid with the help of his avian companion, Redwing. In parti?cular, Sam's acute morality and eternal optimism mesh flawlessly with Cap's training and guidance. Ultimately, taking Cap's suggestion and showcasing an original costume that inspires his future sidekick, the Falcon is born.

Hulk (2008) #1-9

Beginning with the brutal murder of the Abomination, Emil Blonksy, Hulk (2008) #1 introduces fans to the mysterious Red Hulk. Designated Rulk by S.H.I.E.L.D., this crimson goliath destroys anything in his path, from the cosmic watcher Uatu to the god of thunder Thor, and proves his power level on par with his?? emerald variant.

Eruditely capitalizing on the 'World War Hulk' gamma hype, the dynamic team of Loeb and McGuiness produce a lauded Hulk run. Undoubtedly, this series puts Rulk on the Marvel map, combining intrigue and various new Gamma characters and yielding an entertaining comic series that qualifies as a best comic read before Brave New World.

Fall of the Hulks Alpha/Gamma (2009)

A pair of informative one-shots narrated by upcoming Brave New World antagonist, the Leader, Fall of the Hulks Alpha and Gamma gives a concise history of the Intel(ligencia) and artistically depicts Redeemer Ross??, one of Hulk's oldest adversaries, death at Rulk's hands as the game of cat and mouse between former allies intensifies.

Formed secretly to establish a New World Order, the Intel information network worked tirelessly over decades, accruing knowledge and data. Perhaps teasing potential plotlines, Alpha/Gamma gives readers vital insight into the cloak-and-dagger, shadow games likely upcoming between the Leader, Cap, and Rulk in Brave New World.

Fall of the Hulks: Red Hulk (2010) #1-4

A fast-paced and informative series, Red Hulk (2010) focuses on Rulk's multi-layered revenge campaign against his villainous creators, the Intelligencia. Consequently, this series fills another vital piece in the Who is Rulk puzzle and s??hows readers Rulk, A-Bomb, and Bruce Banner battling the Leader, M.O.D.O.K, and Cosmic Hul?k.

As Intel enacts its master plan, will Rulk and his former enemies stop the super-powered A.I.Marines in time? Highlighting the ties that bind Rulk and the Leader, Intel, and their New World Order is this comic series that feels right at home in Captain America: Brave New World.

Avengers (2010) #7-12

Following the 'Fall of the Hulks' event, Captain America seeks out Rulk after his sanity returns. Here, Cap offers Rulk a chance at redemption amid the devastation he ?wrought, and, being a soldier who idolized Cap, Rulk joins his cause. Soon after, Rulk is called upon when the Hood seeks out the Infinity Gems to restore his lost powers.

The ensuing battle royale takes Rulk from the depths of Atlantis to the mystic plane, as he utilizes his strength and the Power stone to fight an Infinity-charged Hood. Eventually, Rulk's actions earn the respect of Cap and the Avengers, culminating with his official membership offer in this best Marvel read before Captain America 4.

Captain America (2012) #25

The aptly titled 'Who is the new Captain America?' portrays the aftermath of Arnim Zola's invasion of Earth with his Dimension Z mutates. Despite Captain America being aged and depowered by Iron Nail, the tide turns when Sam Wilson liberates his long-lost love, Sharon Carter, and "son" Nomad. But, when Zola's bomb is accidentally triggered, the Falcon heroically detonates? the bomb in space, saving millions.

Luckily, thanks to Tony Stark, Sam's Doomwar-causing Vibranium equipment absorbs the blast, saving his life. After decades of selflessly fighting beside Cap, Sam's sacrifice stirs something profound within his mentor. Ultimately, this catalytic act culminates with Sam being named Captain America, the role he'll play in Brave New World.

Captain America: Sam Wilson (2015) #1-6

Teen Joaquin Torres debuts in the relevant Captain America: Sam Wilson (2015) comic series when the Sons of the Serpent and their mad scientist, Doctor Karl Malus, capture him. Hoping to create the perfect warrior, Malus experiments on Torres, splicing his genes wi?th Cap's psionic vampiric sidekick, Redw??ing. After acquiring wings, a healing factor, and heightened physical attributes, Torres aids Cap, standing with the heroes.

This defining act of heroism culminates with his official appointment as Sam Cap's sidekick, the Falcon. Thus, with Sidewinder and Torres making their MCU debuts in Brave New World, this comic ru?n checks in as a top read on the cano??nical links between Cap, Falcon Torres, and the Serpent Society.

Avengers (2016) #7-11

A visually striking entry to the best Marvel comics to read before Brave New World, Avengers (2016) #7-11 follows Captain America Sam as he leads the Avengers under the shadow of 'Secret Empire.' For example, when the Avengers and the Infamous Iron Man, Fortnite legend Victor Von Doom, def?end Avengers HQ against a magical Chronosite.

This wonderfully entertaining story arc shows the Avengers and Doom combating a mystic cult and Avenger X. Colorfully showing the power of teamwork, this comic arc concludes with the Avengers in rebuilding mode following the harrowing events of 'Secret Empire.' Hence, while Sam persevered, his mentor's betrayal and subsequent emotional scars led to Sam s?tepping down as Captain America.

Captain America: Symbol of Truth (2022) Vol. 1

Without a doubt, no best comics to read before Captain America: Brave New World list would be complete sans the inclusion of Captain America: Symbol of Truth (2022) #1. Taking place nearly five years after toppling Hydra's Empire and Sam's gut-wrenching dec??ision to step down as Captain America, he picks up the Shield again.

After his stint on the Champions, Falcon Torres reunites with his mentor Sam. Together, they battle, among others, White Wolf, Doctor Doom, and the Black Panther while navigating through a world with two Captain Americas. Lastly, seeing Sam don the Stars and Stripes again leaves a feeling of excitement for what's in store for this duo in Captain America: Brave New World.

The post The 10 Bes??t Marvel Comics to read before Captain America: Brave New World appeared first on Destructoid.

Season 22 introduced a slew of changes to Apex Legends, but unlike many previous seasons, one Legend change has had a huge impact on competitive team compositions. Nowhere is this more prevalent than in the ALGS Split 2 Playoffs 2024, where most of the 40 competing teams had the Legend in ??their roster.

The ALGS (Apex Legends Global Series) is where teams from around the world battle it out to show they're the best and, hopefully, take home a decent chunk of the $1 million prize pool. Compositions are always reflective of what the best teams and players in the world are using, whether professionally or casually in ranked mode. I've never seen Crypto being run in a top-ranked team, and I've only seen him once at an ALGS event. Following his buffs in season 22, though, he's become a viable character who is all but essential for playing Apex Legends at the highest level.

What happened to Crypto?

When the updates in Apex Legends season 22 were revealed, Crypto's changes caught my eye the most. His Surveillance Drone ability's cooldown was reduced from 40 seconds to 30, and it was given a huge buff. Thanks to a new ability called Off The Grid, Crypto becomes cloaked while using his drone, and wh??ile scans can still reveal him, he's hidden from Threat Vision skills.

This is pretty powerful because a player running Crypto can now serve their teammates by popping the Surveillance Drone and checking for all nearby enemies before everyone moves on. In a game like Apex Legends, you want to make sure that if you die, it's becau??se you messed up, not because you didn't notice an enemy team hidden in a corner.

Furthermore, Crypto's drone will show an enemy player for 4 s?econds, giving a team a massive amount of information they can act on immediately. If you catch two or three teams in your area, you can move on them before the drone is finished, getting the jump on those wh?o thought they were safe.

As the match goes on and players level Crypto up, they can increase the drone's scan duration so it lasts for 5+ seconds. The information from those sca??ns can then be improved yet again? by picking the correct perk to reveal enemy players with live tracking for the duration of the scan. In simple terms, Crypto players can upgrade the Legend to the point where the team can spot enemies through walls within a certain radius, see where they move, and how they react to an attack.

Crypto has never been this good in Apex Legends, with the only players using him being those who have trained themselves to be experts in making his abilities and skills work for them. Now, Crypto is essential because a team with the information he provides can preempti??vely move and take out their enemies.

At the top level, Apex Legends is a game about knowledge, not strength, especially at the top level. If you know where the enemy is, what abilities and ultimate they can pull out, and which ones your team has at its disposal, you stand a much better chance of winning than a team that might be able to work out what weapons and skills you've got under your belt,?? but has no idea where you're moving.

The post Crypto is the new hotness in competitive Apex Legends, thanks to ?Season 22 appeared first on Destructoid.

Every time I get lost in the tangles of a lengthy RPG or live service game, I'm quick to look for a casual adventure. Fortunately, the search didn't go on for too long with Studio Tulimo's upcoming adorable doggy journey, Koira.

The studio, itself, is relatively new, as a Belgium independent-led company in Brussels. Koira marks its first-ever game release with Life Is Strange and Jusant publisher Don't Nod. I got the chance to play the entry's demo for a brief sneak peek. Although it lasted less than an hour, it was the most calming part of my day, with the melodic tunes of its peaceful soundtrack and the heartwarming moment??s shared with its dog companion.

Music to my ears

Koira is a hand-drawn 2D casual adventure that begins with the character waking up deep inside a magical snowy forest. But, rather than trudging it alone, you discover a puppy desperately needing your help. Thi??s is no ordinary dog, as it has the power of illumination and song, an ability that ultimately clears away the forest's surrounding darkness. Together, the two of you explore the mystical woodlands to return home, using musical notes to communicate.

Music is, in fact, the only spoken word uttered by the playable character, who remains?? nameless to add to the mystery. So, if you're calling out to the puppy, you'll belt out s?ome "ohhs" and "ahhs" to get its attention. It's an interesting change of pace from the traditional heavy-dialogue games, and it almost felt like I was being put under some kind of spell with its enchanting vocals. Even the creatures and the environment have their own voice, where the subtle touch of a tree branch lets out a euphonious sound.

You'll need the power of music and the cute doggo to solve Koira's many puzzles. The demo occasionally presents them as locked ancient statues that require a compilation of musical notes. One initial challenge prompts a sing-off between the pl??ayer and the puppy, collecting the notes dropped from it. I will say that the puzzles weren't all that difficult, given that the solutions were easy to find. For instance, one of the statues involves the musical rendition of birds, which can all be found conveniently close by. The ??puppy also acts as a guide here to make the gameplay easy to comprehend. Regardless, it was nice not to strain myself with some convoluted objective, adding to the game's calming vibe. 

Dogs are a man's best friend for a reason

Besides finding musical notes, Koira sprinkles some side adventures with the dog that bring out the best moments in the game. One of my favorites plays out like "Do you want to build a snowman???" which has you bunch up snowballs. Then, the cuteness factor takes it up a notch when the puppy grabs a few sticks like the good boy it is. While I was already sold on the snowman ventures, I was willing to put my life (well, my character's life) on the line when the dog initiated a game of hide and seek. 

It may sound as if these minigames are fairly plain, but for me, the simple stuff helped me bond a lot more with Koira's companion. As a dog mom, it also hit a litt??le close to home, where it often reminded me of my little escapades with my own furry companion. These ga?mes are the same ones I do at home, just without the whole mystical forest thing. There are even some interactions where you'll need to comfort the dog when it gets terrified of strange noises and objects. And just like in real life, everything can be resolved once you give them a treat or a gentle pet. 

The puppy only truly indulged in this fear towards the end of the demo when a group of hunters threatened to kidnap it. This element differs from the casual gameplay I experienced initially, and it will likely be explored more with the final version. Though, I don't think Koira will have too many in??tense them??es like this since it heavily emphasizes those cozy vibes and strays away from anything too stressful.

I look forward to seeing the full release to better understand how the rest of Koira goes. However it turns out, I've enjoyed every moment spent with that adorable little puppy, and I'm sure any dog or even pet own??er will fall in love with it, too. Each moment almost always brought a smile to my face with every sweet exchange the two characters shared. 

It could be your new favorite casual adventure game, even if you aren't a pet lover. Koira's perfect for those who want a stress-free experience with puzzles and mechanics that almost any type of player can grasp. The storyline may be subtle, but ho??pefully, more details on this will be touched upon later. 

Koira will be?? available to play on PC on Aug. 17, 2025, and can now be wishlisted on Stea??m. 

The post Hands-on preview: Koira is a whol??esome musical adventure perfect for dog lovers appeared first on Destructoid.

Sega was a big player in the arcade industry during the �0s, but they had trouble breaking into th?e home console market. The Master System was mired in difficulties, but almost through sheer marketing, it was able to mak??e a sizeable dent in the North American market with the Sega Genesis in 1989.

Mine was a Nintendo household growing up. But surprisingly, in my youthful days on the schoolyard, we never really argued about what was the be??tter console between the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. I don?’t know why. It just didn’t matter at my school. Besides, I was spending a lot of time on my cousin’s Genesis right around the corner.

Over the past couple of decades, I’ve grown an affection for Sega’s classic console, help??ed in part by the distinctive tones of its FM Synth sound chip. The Genesis, perhaps more than any other console, projects itself onto its games. There’s an almost definable Genesis feel that can even creep onto games that were ported from other consoles. There’s nothing quite like it, and the following games prove that.

Before we get started, this list omits Sega CD and Sega 32X ga?mes, because I feel those are different topics. I don’t think any would make this list, anyway. I am also only including games that were released in North America for simplicity’s sake. I’m also not going to do honorable mentions because we’d be here all day, but make no mistake that the Genesis has a great library worth exploring beyond these ten gam??es.

10. Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar (1992)

The Genesis presented a terrific selection of scrolling shoot-’em-ups, and, truly, there are a few that I could be putting here instead. Some might swear by M.U.S.H.A. or Truxton. I could have also made a deeper cut to Gley Lancer or Eliminate Down. However, I feel Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar (perhaps better known by its original name Thunder Force IV) is the most Genesis with its energe?tic FM Synth soundtrack and heavy use of detaile??d animations.

This came at a price that wil??l probably make it or break it for some folks: periods of tremendous slowdown. Whether or not a steady framerate is a worthwhile tradeoff for its ambition will depend on perspective. However, for me, it’s worth it just for the stylishness.

9. Jungle Strike (1993)

You can feel free to insert your favorite game from the Strike series here, and a lot of people swear by Desert Strike, but for me, it’s the second game: Jungle Strike. I think that’s mostly because you?? aren’t just looking at sand the whole time. The first level even takes place i??n an oddly sparse Washington, D.C.

The Strike games look like they should be all action, as most of the gameplay take?s place behind the cockpit of a helicopter. But charging into combat will quickly result in getting your wings clipped. Instead, you have to search out and manage resources, carefully pick away at enemy defenses, and find the most efficient way of dealing with your objectives. For me, it’s one of my favorite relaxation games, and I think that’s largely because the soundtrack is so sparse and the droning of the helicopter helps calm my nerv??es.

The Strike games al?so came out on other platforms, but something about playing it on anything but Genesis just feels wrong.

8. Contra: Hard Corps (1994)

Konami didn’t back the Genesis quite as hard as it did the PC-Engine and SNES, but what they did bring to the system was incredible. Contra: Hard Corps is one of its most significant. 

As much as I love the clean rigidity of the (NES version) original, Contra: Hard Corps pushes hard from the start and doesn’t stop pushing. Its ridiculous excess starts at the character select screen which features a sunglasses-wearing werewolf with a chaingun arm. Every level piles onto that with things like a battle while sprinting down the highway or riding on a missil??e. With its ridiculous attitude, it’s a very Genesis take on the series.

It’s also a very difficult one. While the Japanese version was a lot more easy-going �even featuring a life bar instead of the series standard one-hit kills �the North American version gave you a paltry number of lives and continues to reach the end. It’s a tall ord?er, even for veterans of the series.

7. Gunstar Heroes (1993)

The Genesis was the place where legendary developer Treasure first cut its teeth, and it did so with aplomb with Gunstar Heroes. And??, like many of Treasure’s games, it’s difficult to really describe in context with other games.

It’s a run-and-gun �t?hat’s the easy part to describe �but it has throws and kicks, as well as a detailed life gauge. You can pick up two weapons, and while you can select betwee??n them, the real strategy comes from combining effects. Each level shakes up the gameplay, and boss battles are abundant.

It’s also a blast with two players. The weapon combination system allows partners to strategize with what each will carry. It’s also not as demanding as other games in the genre, so while it isn’t an easy game by any mean, it can accommodate players with a range of experience and fa??miliarity.

6. Shining Force 2 (1993)

The Genesis wasn’t a console known for its RPGs, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t have any that were worthwhile. It was, after all, where the Phantasy Star series had its single-player heyday. However, the one that stands head and shoulders above others isn’t even a traditional JRPG, but instead focuses more on turn-based strategy: Shining Force 2. It’s maybe not as deep as Tactics Ogre, but the way it mixes i??n more traditional world exploration gives the game a feeling of added comfort.

While very similar to the original Shining Force (aside from plot), the sequel improves a number of facets, such as better enemy AI and improved UI. It’s not a significant upgrade, since the original was already a great game; but aside from a more awkward pace, Shining Force 2 does just enough to lift it up even higher.

5. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992)

I’m not Sonic’s biggest fan by any stretch of the word, but I was around when he exploded into the wo?rld. Being a kid at the time, I can tell you that he was one of the coolest characters around. I played a lot of the first two game?s on my cousin’s Genesis, and I still have a fondness for the SatAM cartoon.

And, to wit, I still really love Sonic the Hedgehog 2. While the first game was a capable introduction, it wasn’t until the sequel that Sega was truly able to harness the hog. There’s more emphasis on crossing distances at high speed and less on careful platforming and waiting for sa??fe moments to jump. The addition of Tails also means that you can play as someone other than the pesky hedgehog, but the Sonic/Tails mode was used more often to shut up complaining siblings who were begging for a turn. It sucked to be the second player, but?? it was something.

What makes Sonic the Hedgehog 2 endure for me is its in?terplay of music?? and gameplay. I really don’t think I’d love Chemical Plant Zone half as much without Masato Nakamura’s compositions.

4. Castlevania: Bloodlines (1994)

The title of my favorite game in the Castlevania series has long remained with the NES original, and I thought nothing would come close to touching it. However, Castlevania: Bloodlines surprised me when I firs??t played it a few years ago.

I already mentioned Konami’s small but fantastic Genesis contributions, and Bloodlines is the peak of that. Like Hard Corps, it resembles the original, but has some of that Genesis edge. There’s a bit of a �0s comic book grunge to it. It also takes the action out of Wallachia to roam across Europe in 1917, allowing for more diversity in its l?evels.

The limited continues is a pretty frustrating inclusion. Unlike Contra: Hard Corps, reaching the end is a bit more of a reasonable expectation, even if it’s more difficult than it sh?ould be. I’d also argue that the soundtrack isn’t quite up to series standards at the time, but songs like Stage 4’s I??ron Blue Intentions still pop.

3. Streets of Rage (1991)

Streets of Rage is probably the most frequent visitor to my Genesis�(technically 32X’s) cartridge slot. While Nintendo thought it had a home run with the SNES port of Final Fight, Streets of Rage proved you could still create an incredible beat-’em-up without Mike Haggar.

While Streets of Rage follows the Final Fight formula to an almost suspicious degree, it cleans things up to create a more console-focused experience. The combat is just as solid and impactful, but while the levels have the same sense of grit to them, Streets of Rage really s?ells its atmosphere with a neon-infused after-hours look to it.

It helps that Yuzo Koshiro composed one of the best 16-bit soundtracks for it, and that it compliments the gameplay. For me, the soundtrack is just as much a part of the overall experience as the fighting. On top of that, Streets of Rage features the best elevator level in the genre and includes a special attack that summons a police car to clear out the? area with overwhelmingly? excessive force. You just can’t beat these vibes.

2. Streets of Rage 2 (1992)

This was a hard choice. But while I personally prefer to play the original Streets of Rage, that’s mostly a vibes thing. Streets of Rage 2 is a better beat-’em-up overall, ev??en with ?its less interesting elevator level(s) and lack of Constable Howitzer. 

But it’s a bigger and better?? (in most ways) game. Not only did Yuzo Koshiro provide a brand new soundtra??ck, his sister, Ayano Koshiro, handled design. It has more characters with better diversity in how they play (sorry, Adam), better variety with its enemies, and much more detailed graphics.

Whether you prefer Streets of Rage or ?its sequel will depend on your priorities and preferences, but you shouldn't miss either of them.

1. Rocket Knight Adventures (1993)

While most of the hitters from Konami’s contribution to the Genesis catalog were based on existing franchises, it’s Rocket Knight Adventures that stands as the best. Directed and designed by the director of Contra: Hard Corps and Contra III: The Alien Wars, this little platformer starring a jet-powered, armor-clad opossum seems rather unassuming. But benea??th the surface is one of the most inventive games of the era.

Like Contra: Hard Corps, each level alters gameplay wit??h new situations. Things start off rather standard with a grassy field and a burning castle, but there are harrowing minecart rides, an area where you judge your movements based on the reflection you cast on a caustic lake, and a horizontal shoot ’em up sequence through a ?steampunk industrial city.

It’s the tight design in Rocket Knight Adventures that makes it the best the Genesis has to offer. Level after level, it kee?ps twisting itself, but never in a way th??at would alienate the player. Stages like the airship that has you take a detour around the craft’s exterior show a depth of thought that few other games of the era can approach. It’s sometimes overlooked but should never be missed.

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I’m not the kind of person who believes that a game needs to grab your attention within the first X number of minutes to be worth your time. That would exclude a massive number of games with slow build-ups, ??which are just as rewarding. However, I do appreciate it when a game wields its introduction effectively.

From Jake Armitage kicking his way out of a drawer at the morgue in Shadowrun for the SNES, to the death and return of Commander Shepard in Mass Effect 2, these moments can live on in my brain, even if the rest? of the game is a blur.

But if we’re looking for the absolute best introduction to a video game, none can top the unassumingly cruel entrance into Yomawari: Night Alone.

Before I get into what makes the introduction so effective, I’m going to warn you that it’s best if t??he surprise isn’t spoiled.

Yomawari opens with the unnamed protagonist and her dog, Poro, stopping at the entrance of?? a dark traffic tunnel. She wisely decides against explorin??g further and turns back.

Yomawari then runs you throu??gh the basic controls. Press one button to run, press another to tiptoe. You walk along the quiet, empty street and see a shadow quickly pass by. Typical horror tension building. Trite, even.

When a rock comes into view, the tutorial continues by having you pick up a rock. It tells you how to open your inventory, select it, and then, finally throw it. The protagonist gives it a little toss to the other side of the road. Then everything goes to shit in an instant. Poro runs to fetch the rock. Blink, and you’ll miss the truck that abruptly speeds into? view. There’s a yelp, a rustling crunch, and the screen snaps to black.

It takes around eight seconds for it to start fading back in. Eight seconds where you’re left with nothing but silence a??nd a blank screen and nothing to do but take in what just happened. When the scene finally comes back into view, the prota??gonist sits shocked at the edge of the road, still holding the end of the empty leash. There’s a smear of blood on the road that trails over the ledge. You have no control as the girl gets up, takes a brief look around, then runs away.

Feeling strangely ashamed? You should. That’s what Yomawari: Night Alone is about. The next scene has the protagonist returning home to her older sister. The sister asks about Poro, but the protagonist can’t respond. Sh?e doesn’t tell her what happened, so her sister reassures her and sets off into the night to search for the dog?? and doesn’t return.

The game then involves your search. The darkened town is dangerous at night, seemingly swimming with monsters, but you have no choice but to brave them to find your sister because, after all, it’s all your fault. Through its deceitful tutorial, Yomawari makes you complicit in the event that puts ?everything into action.

While Yomawari is largely a?? hide-and-seek horror game, where you avoid the monsters that roam the streets, the narrative is entirely symbolic. It’s a coming-of-age story about learning to deal with your shame and take responsibility for your mistakes, as hard to deal with as they might be.

Each of the Yomawari games has a similar setup in that they make you take part in the horrific events that puts the narrative into motion. However, Midnight Shadows and Lost in the Dark don’t quite have the same effect, even if I think Midnight Shadows has, overall, the best narrative in the bunch.

What unites them, however, is the way they sow doubt about what happens in their opening. During your journey through Yomawari: Night Alone, it’s suggested that Poro might still be alive. Your goal seems to twist into finding not just your sister, but Poro as well. Was what you saw just the monsters in the t??own playing tricks on you? Did the protagonist hurry away from ?the scene too quickly and miss that the dog wasn’t hurt? Or are you just in the bargaining stage of grief?

You can say what you want about the rest of Yomawari: Night Alone. Personally, as much as I love the story it has to tell, I found the gam?eplay to be a chore. So much so that what should be an easy recommendation becomes a lot more guarded.

That’s unfortunate since its introduction is a class of its own. It turns an innocuous tutorial, uses it to trick you into participating in something horrific, and ??then says, “No??w look at what you did.�In order to draw you into the plot, it needs you to feel a certain way, and it knows exactly where your weak spot is.

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If there's one thing that holds true in the Sims universe, it's the saying, "Expect the unexpected." You never know what you're going to get in your next playthrough, whether it be a fire that decimates your entire family or an alien abduction that impregnates your Sim. Things have only gotten weirder with The Sims 4 Lovestruck p?ack, and honestly, it's made gameplay all the?? more better.

I first noticed its weirdness the minute I saw Sims dancing with eggplant costumes in the expansion pack trailers. But if you thought that was bizarre, wait until you finally step into the unusual dating world of Lovestruck. One S??immer got a taste of this after setting up a blind date, where the other party decided to show up in that same eggplant outfit. That's one way to stand out amongst the competition.

What's more, a fellow player in the comments mentions how this eggplant character died of heartbreak shortly after their o?uting. Now I feel bad for making fun of the poor guy.

Another dating story I immensely enjoyed is Reddit user celestialkestrel's date, in which their world was completely rocked. They went on a blind date, only to have their Sims get brutally hit by a meteor. Although the outing didn't go as planned, they stil?l somehow got the ?Gold rating for good measure.

I'm starting to think these dates may be the new Sims 4 death traps, especially since one other player mentioned how they Woohooed their date to death. Now, it sort of feels like we're all sw???apping war stories, and it's become a source of entertainment for me.

I, myself, have gone on several weird but hilarious dates. More specifically, the asking-out process has turned out particularly unusual for me. Once, a presumed stalker asked my Sim out after seeing them "from afar." I would've immediately blocked that number in a normal world, but in The Sims 4 universe, I couldn't help but say yes.

What? I didn't expect was that the stranger would take this date inside my house, as they showed up at my door professing their love for my Sim. It got much worse when they appeared again to try to move in, followed by a marriage proposal all in one day.

But the one dating request that takes the cake for me was when a Wealthy Weirdo asked to set up a date at a particular place and time. I made the mistake of forgetting to meet up with them, which didn't affect me initially. Then, when I tried to see more singles in the Cupid's Corner dating app, the?? game?? informed me that the app was temporarily disabled. It is here I was notified that "someone," aka me, had stood up the Cupid's Corner CEO, and he deactivated the app in retaliation.

Despite it taking away the dating app, I live for this type of content. It makes The Sims 4 so much more fun when these unique situations are waiting for you. Plus, decisions feel much more impactful, no matter how small or big. I wasn't aware that my forgetfulness would lead to the downfall of a dating app. But it's certainly a welcomed surprise that I would love to see more of in The Sims 4.

I'm also glad I'm not the only one getting these bizarre invitations, considering that Simmers have received eerie phone calls since Lovestruck's debut. Reddit user ehavery's situation perfectly exemplifies this, showcasing a supposed romance invite from Season's Father Winter.

Father Winter even tried to entice the player more by offering g?ifts. Hones??tly, I'm not too surprised to see him in the dating field since it's possible to have a baby with him. He's just the gift that keeps on giving.

Given that Sims 4 Lovestruck was released recently, more weird dating stories are bound to come up. I'm already seeing some interesting stuff in the '#LovestruckSingles' category in the Gallery, a hub that allows you to place your own characters in Cupid's Corner. There's even a hilarious number of Shrek creations who are single and ready to mingle. I'm not sure if ogres are my Sim's type, but then I suppose there are more ??layers to the??m.

Other players' creations will undoubtedly bring out more of Lovestruck's strangeness. And it's nice to see that th?e community is just as weird as the game they play (myself ?included). I look forward to catching up on the tea once Simmers dive more into the new expansion pack. I'm sure the talents of modders will stir up the pot more with their unique additions.

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Concord, a hero shooter from developer Firewalk Studios, recently had two betas so that anyone interested in trying the game out ahead of its August 23, 2024 release date could do so?. Aside from one map and a game mode, both betas were the same, with all 16 characters from the roster open for anyone to play as from t??he moment they launched it.

I've seen more than a few content creators and fans out there saying that the world doesn't need another hero shooter and that Concord isn't up to the task of competing with behemoths like Overwatch 2 and Valorant because the concurrent player numbers on Steam weren't that high. Having played a few hours of the game's betas myself, I'm not saying that it can or can't make a dent in the market. But the game feels like it has more perso??????????????????????????nality than every other hero shooter out there because of one key and very fleshed-out component: The characters.

As soon as you initially launch Concord, it puts characters front and center. The game's story is told through weekly cutscenes that play before you jump into matchmaking and playing, meaning you'll never miss them. These show how the ragtag group of characters shown in the opening cuts??cene are doing in their journey to become the greatest Freegunner crew in the galaxy.

Every scene only features a handful of characters, but they feel like the connective tissue between larger plot points that are, ultimately, the matches you play. The scenes everyone in the beta saw were the crew first gaining their Freegunner status. The second expands the universe with a discussion about how the first crew ever became Freegunners and how they made the map, which a??ll crews now use, available for free.

In isolation, this doesn'??t mean much. Together, these scenes help us learn what this universe is about and give context for every match you play. Getting this information right off the bat without needing to search through menus and read through in-game?? documents makes it so much more approachable, and the story will grow in this way each week, meaning it's going to feel like you're working through a narrative as long as you log in and play at least once per week. Of course, you can go back and access all this information through documents if you'd like.

Concord's characters continue to add more personality to the game over time as you play more and more matches. In most game modes, you can pick and change your character with every respawn. This allows you to see them, their abilities, and their cheesy intro lines multiple times in every match. While this gets pretty boring if you'r??e playing a specific character each time, these lines are just the tip of the iceberg.

Every character is unique and really stands out from the crowd through the way they speak, their abilities, and what they wear. Teo might be your average soldier, but his eagerness to jump into battle, rifle ef??fectiveness, and speed tell the tale of a hothead who wants a little more glory from life than guarding stores or working in the military.

1-Off, the giant yellow robot, is obsessed with keeping things neat and tidy. Even his weapon and abilities stick close to this theme. He can hoover enemies up or blast them away, sucking in fire to flavor his weapon if you time things right. He's a ?normally gentle soul, though, and you can feel that through his happy-go-lucky attitude and the way he's really just in a match to have a good time. Ultimately, he's good to go as long as everything's kept clean.

Concord is also one of the few hero shooters that assigns pronouns to its characters. This might seem small and trivial to you, but small elements like this really do matter and help players identify with each hero on a deeper level. It'?s hard to know what gender a mushroom creature and a cleaning robot identify with, and having that on-screen means you can feel a lot closer to these shells that you wear as you jump into various game modes over the course of what might end up being hundreds of hours.

Even in matches, though, every character just feels like an individual as you play as them. Kyps, a pink sec??ret agent android with a silenced pistol, is a fast-paced character with simple abilities. She can deploy surveillance drones to detect enemies across the map, but her real strength is sneaking up and defeating them from the shadows.

Lark is my favorite mushroom alien character who uses spore-based abilities to buff allies and debuff enemies. They can drop mushrooms that create areas that will enhance all allied abilities and speed while also buffing any enemies that move through them. Another mushroom becomes a respawn point they can teleport to in a pinch. Even their weapon, the Razorpod Launcher, is unique in that it fires off spores that will home?? in on enemies for devastating damage.

A character's archetype, Anchor, Ranger, Breacher, Hau??????????????????????????nt, Warden, and Tacticia??n are like guidelines that give you a rough idea of how to play them. But in reality, these characters are all very different from one another, and you won't make the most of them until you've learned and mastered their abilities and hidden strengths by exploring them for a few matches.

Finally, it's not just the way these characters look and what's written about them in-game; it's how they act that sets Concord out as a hero shooter with more personality than most. In matches, you'll hear them fire off a comment when they do pretty much everything. Reloading?, healing, u?sing their abilities, it all comes with a line of dialogue.

The variations on these all say roughly the same thing, but it's the way they're said that deepens your connection with the characters. Some, like Teo, are just barking, but that'??s because he wants to be short and to the point with everything he says in battle. He doesn't have time for frivolity in his sentences when he could be shooting other Freegunners and winning the match.

Emari, on the other hand, is a hulking giant with a unique shield ability. She talks about recharging her batteries when it comes to healing and even chuckles about it. T??hese small details are exactly what? hero shooters need to help differentiate their characters.

Without them, Teo is the soldier, and Emari is the tank with a shield. I think that it's all too easy to fall into the trap of treating characters like they can only be played in a specific way in hero shooters. With this added personality and the way that each character just has to be played to their own strengths and not only to fit a role, I can see Concord adopting a sizeable fan base who has been looking for a shooter wi??th a little more flair than the industry is use??d to.

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Did you play Anthology of the Killer like I told you to? I knew I could count on you, person who replied, “Yes.�As a reward, I’ve got a different game for you to check out. It’s Dashcam, a narrative “experience�about being late f?or a ?parent-teacher conference.

It will take you about 7-ish minutes to play. If you’re like me, it’s much better spent this way. I would have been scrolling for neat games on social media to share with you but instead found myself doom-scrolling unconsciously, only snapping out of it when I realized I was in Hell. Don’t do that. Play Dashcam instead.

You start off driving down a highway at night. You’re late for a parent-teacher conference. Your husband will remind you if you choose to honk to pick up the phone; he’s such a nag. Maybe if you demonstrate enough unreliability, it will take some of the focus off whatever little Stephen ?is doing to disappoint his teachers.

Once there, you’ll drive through the halls of the school to learn about how your ??child is perhaps up to something far m??ore sinister than just cheating on a test. Custom tarot cards about crime, an Angst Hole in the floor of the gym for angst-ing, blackmailing a teacher �the sort of thing that many young teens get up to.

Maybe it would please the teachers if you took corrective action by injecting yourself and your car ??into the little brat to eliminate his “Evil Gene.�But I’m not sure that sort of discipline is the right way to go. It certainly didn’t work when my parents tried it.

Dashcam is a narrative game that reminds me of the Ecto-1 segments of Ghostbusters Doom 2, because I know you understand that reference. There’s a car’s windshield framing your screen, but you still feel like a person. It makes you think, “Why do we bother getting out of our cars? We’re just going to get back in them later.�/p>

I don’t drive, but if you replace the word â€??œcarsâ€?with “beds,â€?then that’s ??what I think every day.

You can play Dashcam for free over on itch.io. It was created for the Pizza Jam #8 by ComputerJames, the perso??n who judges Pizza Jam.

The post Dashcam has you driving to a parent-teacher conference to deal with your child’s evil gene appeared first on Destructoid.

Solo tabletop role-playing games might seem intimidating to some, but Koriko: A Magical Year from Mousehole Press makes it easy and fun to dive into its bewitching world �as long as you can slow down enough to make it through the opening chapters. Blending elegant mechanics with a gentle story focus, Koriko confidently guides new players and experienced solo role-players alike in writing th??eir own witchy tale.

An excellent introduction

Koriko fits very naturally into the genre of cozy solo TTRPGs, telling the story of a teenage witch leaving home for the first time to live in the exciting city of Koriko. It takes its name from the city in Kiki's Delivery Service, inspired heavily by both the Studio Ghibli animated film and the original book by Eiko Kadono. Koriko is steeped in cozy culture, from its sepia-edged pages?? to its gentle tale of a young witch m?aking their way in the world, and would make an excellent game for parents or teachers to play with kids.

Like many solo TTRPGs, Koriko is focused around the process of journaling the player character's experiences, but it also takes the time to eases player into solo creativity. First, it teaches you how to set up your journal step-by-step as you introduce your character, with paragraphs to copy out and customize. Koriko guides the player as they grow in confidence and slowly learn to structure their own journal entries, letters and stories. The opening is reminiscent of Princess With a Cursed Sword by anna anthr?opy, another great introduction to solo journaling RPGs.

Magical mechanics

Gameplay is divided ??into 'volumes' structured around the seasons of the year, with each year providing different opportunities, prompts and dilemmas. At the end of each volume, the player writes a letter home to their witchy mentor.

At its heart, the gameplay loop is simple. Each season, you follow the instructions in the book to form a deck of tarot cards that you shuffle and draw in a random order. Each card you draw represents an experience your character has while in Koriko: either a moment, represented by a card from the minor arcana, or a confidante prompt indicated by a card from the major arcana. If you aren't very familiar with tarot cards, there's a handy explanation early on, and you can use the electronic version of the tarot deck if you don't have access to a physical one. You do not initially include?? certain cards like the Tower and Death, only adding them when certain circumstances bring them into your character's life.

The cards all have a linked prompt in the tables at the back of the book and in addition, each volume has a table of additional prompts called 'twists', some of which are label??led as risky. If you choose a risky twist, you add more dice to your ongoing stack of dice. When that dice stack falls, you check the most frequent number showing among the fallen dice against a table of consequences. I was nervous the first time my dice tower fell, as I'd become quite invested in my little witch, but the consequences table is pleasingly nuanced. The consequences always provoke some sort of change going forward: you might add a lesson to your journal, which means you might need to stack fewer dice in the future, or add one of the special confidantes into your circle so you have the chance to interact with them.

The circle is also an inspired idea: as you draw major arcana cards, you encounter confidantes around the city with their own dilemmas and problems, and you slowly build a 'circle' of characters as a separate deck. The confidante has a set of prompts to use on each occasion you draw them, with a final crossroads story after you have met them four times, in whi??ch you choose whet??her to help them (which carries a degree of risk) or refuse them.

The mechanics are introduced slowly but even so, a fairly significant chunk of the book is dedicated to explaining them. I found it easiest to briefly look through this and get an overview of the sections so I could refer back to them later rather than trying to understand it all at once. A cheat sheet that had the main mechanics and the very helpful flow diagram might be a useful download to support gameplay. Given the number of resources the digital edition provides (including access to an online tarot deck, an alternative starting experience, and a guide to playing Koriko with other peo??ple), it's clear that Mousehole Press has already put a great deal of thought into removing obstacles to play, and this would be a nice addition.

You end up playing a sort of narrative bingo by drawing your card and then choosing which twist to use and every decision you make inspires some sort of narrative change,?? which flows surprisingly well after the first few draws. The act of drawing cards and checking against the book entries (helped enormously by the two ribbon bookmarks in the printed book), crossing out boxes on your twist? table and stacking dice adds a level of physicality to an experience that can otherwise feel a bit ephemeral.

The downside to this is that Koriko has more setup and upkeep requirements than many solo games, with a perilous stack of dice and carefully-assembled card decks that need to be maintained throughout. The book contains guidance on ways you can put these away without l?osing your place or use an alternative to dice stacking, but for many people, the effort of setup each time when they might only have time to write one entry could make this less appealing than more self??-contained games.

Pacing challenges

Fair warning: Koriko’s pacing may not suit everyone. Solo RPGs by their nature require slowing down, writing things out, and creating a space in which to immerse yourself in a story. Initially, the pacing is perhaps a little too slow. I found myself eager to reach Koriko and start to engage with the more complex game mechanics, but each page I turned was another? set of prompts about my journey to and arrival in the city, often with characters and locations I might never be able to interact with again. This is almost certainly going to vary by player, and the intention is clearly for a meditative experience, but for the impatient, the initial immersion into the world can feel achingly slow.

Perhaps if you could use these initial pages to set up a couple of your later Circle of NPCs, the opening section might feel a little less weighed down, but Koriko's mechanics are so delicately set up that any change would probably throw a lot of other elements out. You may just have to bear with those opening pages, but Koriko is also very permissive about changing or even ignoring prompts ?that don't fit well, s?o it isn't much of a stretch to say that you could do one of each departure and travel day rather than two. It is well worth sticking with it, as once you reach the city, things begin to get more exciting.

If you have even a passing interest in cozy solo RPGs with engaging mechanics and creative prompts, Koriko is a great choice. As long as you are able to make time and space for it in your life, it provides a rewarding narrative of community, connection and self-discovery. Pick up Koriko: A Magical Year from Mousehole Press to begin your adventure.

_{This piece is based on a retail copy of the game purchased by the reviewer.}

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I tend to play The Sims as a storyteller. I like to create unique characters and guide them through their lives in the most entertaining way possible, even if I’m the only one benefiting from that entertainment. However, I’ve always ?liked to do so while also utilizing the game’s own events to move things along.

It’s collaborative storytelling with the game itself. Rimworld took this concept in a more literal direction. It’s not just a survival game but also one where stories develop. You, as a player, have a hand in how your colonists react to their environment, but it’s the lack of control that defines it as an experience. I’m obviously not the only one who saw the appeal, since Rimworld has since inspired all kinds of games, including Norland.

Norland is Rimworld meets Game of Thrones meets Crusader Kings. It takes the essential colony mechanics from Rimworld while moving it to a fantasy realm w??here you control a noble family. But someth??ing in that equation is confused.

While Norland takes its inspiration from Rimworld, the two aren’t entirely similar. Norland ties in an addi??tional layer of strategy, as well survival city builder mechanics.

You have direct control of the noble family, and you have to keep not only them happy, but also the peasants under them. You need to build up your kingdom’s infrastructure and production, gather wealth, and deal with the other territories around yo??u.

The key ingredient here, however, is the members of your noble house have some autonomy. They have needs that include food, drink (alcohol), sleep, sex, and faith, as well as desires. If you’re not providing for them, they’ll sometimes go and satisfy their needs themselves. Right now, this mostly manifests in one of your house members paying?? for sex from a peasant, which may result in the birth of a bastard.

There’s also a complex-ish social system. On one hand, it’s straightforward where if you get two characters to spend time with each other, they’ll start to like each other more. But then there’s prejudices and envy. Right now, envy only seems to take the form of wanting more rings than another person, while prejudices seem to be preset involving race. It’s simple enoug??h that you might know what ??a situation needs to be resolved, but complex enough to where it will sometimes piss you off.

Don’t get me wrong?, I like the idea of my characters starting to hate each other. When it works, it’s fun. One situation ??had a lord and his spouse start butting heads in conversation (which seems random) and that led to a sexless marriage. One cheated on the other, which resulted in a bastard, and that led to attempted murder and a huge rift in the family. That’s awesome.

Less awesome is managing their fucking rings. Their rings are a symbol of status. Except they’re expensive and tough to come by and exchange. I get that the royal coffers wouldn’t always be full enough to make every member of the family feel pretty, but considering the characters get bitchy enough about it to completel?y stop ??working and cause a breakdown in your economy which makes everyone, including your peasants, miserable, while you’re waiting for a trader to show up so you can unload enough rutabagas before realizing that you’re unable to buy enough rings for your king to reward them; that’s annoying.

It would be less annoying if everything wasn’t always so pressing. My biggest issue with Norland is that nothing gets to breathe. You are constantly keeping plates spinning: bandits, peasants, cutthroats, other kingdoms, the economy, your family, prisoners, trading, politics, upgrades, production. All the while, you have a finite number of clan members to keep things running, and even balancing their ??social life, their wants, their jobs, and their needs is a full-time job. This is because, as I mentioned, if they get pissy enough, they’ll just stop working and start fucking the peasants, which causes a bigger breakdown.

I tried to get a successful colony going in Norland four times. I'd never quite fail, but I'd get ann?oyed enough to start over. Each time, I’d reassess my priorities and go in looking to be more successful, but each time, I’d get hours in before I realized I just wasn’t having fun, even when things were going well. Everything would happen all at once. I’d take my eyes off the political map, and my neighbors wou??ld get aggressive. I’d focus on keeping the nobles off of the peasants, and peasants would turn into murderous criminals. And no matter what I prioritized, it came at the expense of something that nobody was willing to go without.

Everything was always happening at once. When things went wrong, it gave no time to recover. It never really rewards you, it just gives you more problems. Norland never gave me a mome??nt to just enjoy what was ha??ppening.

Norland is a game with a clear goal and plenty of good ideas. However, it needs a severe change in balancing. Certain systems need to be tweaked, streamlined, or upgraded. It is difficult to know where to start, because the issue i?s in the interplay between all its different facets. It’s not impossible, but if I’m feeling overwhelmed thinking about it as a player, I can only imagine what it would be like as a developer.

Norland is launching into Early Access, which is clearly where it belongs. There’s a lot of game there right now to the point where you could be fooled into thinking it’s essentially a complete product. However, beyond expanding what is there, Long Jaunt will need to collect and address a?? lot of player feedback to turn it into an enjoyable experience. For now, I wouldn’t let it into your bed.

The post Norland will need some serious tweaking to take Rimworld’s crown appeared first on Destructoid.

The Naruto franchise has made a name for itself across the globe. It's one of the biggest anime titles in the industry, and ?it comes as no surprise that it has received numerous adaptations across different media �from light novels to video games. Justifiably so. After all, we're talking about ninjas here.

Among its numerous spinoffs, a number of them come in the form of manga. If you're? wondering what those spinoffs are, read on.

Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring

Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring serves as a prelude to the Boruto: Naruto the Movie. The manga is set 15 years after the Fourth Shinobi World War and follows Uchiha Sarada, Sasuke's daughter. The story revolves around Sarada's existential crisis and her personal mission to discover the truth behind her id??entity. During this, however, she gets entangled with a mysterious enemy connected with Orochimaru and th?e Uchiha Clan.

Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring is one of the very few Naruto spinoffs Masashi Kishimoto wrote and illustrated himself. The min??i series ran from April 27, 2015 to July 6, 2015 a??nd was compiled in a single volume.

Naruto: The Path Lit by the Full Moon

Naruto: The Path Lit by the Full Moon is the other spinoff written and drawn by Kishimoto. Unlike the first one, however, this is a one-shot manga, acting as a prelude to the Boruto manga series. In fact, it's included as additional content for the first volume of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.

As for the story, Mitsuki, the final member of Team Konohamaru, g?ets the spotlight. Similar to Sarada's soul-searching, Mitsuki gets dumped in a head-scratching situation. He wakes up injured and with missing memories, and his only chance to retrieve them is by following Orochimaru's ploy. It gets more complicated as Orochimaru reveals himself to be Mitsuki's parent.

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations and Boruto: Two Blue Vortex

Boruto is both a spinoff and the sequel to the original Naruto series. It follows the story of Naruto's son as he follows his own ninja way. Unlike the original, however, Boruto tackles a more modern approach. It introduces technology and aliens to the beloved world of ninjas. But like Naruto, it features a significant timeskip. Naruto Next Generations is the pre-timeskip narrative, while Two Blue Vortex is the post-timeskip.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is still ongoing and releases updates on a monthly schedule. It's been taken over by Kishimoto's chief assistant, Mikio Ike??moto, and with the help of Ukyo Kodachi.

Naruto: Sasuke’s Story—The Uchiha an??d the He?avenly Stardust

As the title suggests, this spinoff foll??ows Sasuke as he goes on a mission to unravel the mystery of the isolationist land of Redaku. He has to rendezvous and work with his wife, Sakura, as he pretends and mingles with deadly?? criminals. Their goal? To uncover the traces of the Six Paths.

Naruto: Sasuke’s Story—The Uchiha and the ?Heaven??ly Stardust is actually a manga adaptation of the light novel of the same name. It's also been adapted into the Boruto anime �specifically, episode 282. Yes, ??the one where Sas??uke fights a dinosaur.

Naruto: Konoha's Story—The Steam Ninja Scrolls

Unlike the other spinoff manga, Naruto: Konoha's Story—The Steam Ninja Scrolls doesn't follow the ??common Uzumaki or Uchiha character. Instead, it's centered around Sarutobi Mirai, the late Sarutobi Azuma's daughter. Mirai is a fiery character wanting to prove herself as a mighty shinobi. The moment she's assigned on a mission with the veterans Might Guy and Kakashi, the Sixth Hokage, she puts her whole heart into the mission. However, the mission seems to be more like a vacation than a d??anger-filled ninja quest.

Similar to Naruto: Sasuke’s Story—The Uchiha and the Heavenly Stardust, this spinoff is also based on the light novel of the same name. It is also more lighthearted and less action-focused compared to the other spinoff. That is not to sa?y that it doesn't offer some fi?ght scenes, because it does. And it ties well with Mirai's character and lineage.

Rock Lee's Springtime of Youth Full-Power Ninja Chronicles

Like the title suggests, this comedy spinoff tells the whacky adventures of Rock Lee and Team Guy. As you would expect from this kind of title, it doesn't have any serious plot. I?t's all fun shenanigans in chibi form. And it's a big succes??s.

The series ran from January 2013 to September 2014, with seven tankobon volumes. It even received an anime adaptation titled Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals.

Naruto: Chibi Sasuke’s Sharingan Legend

Following the success of Rock Lee's Springtime of Youth Full-Power Ninja Chronicles, Kenji Taira returns with Naruto: Chibi Sasuke’s Sharingan Legend. This time, however, the focus is on the nonchalant Uchiha. It features the chibi forms of Sasuke, the members of Taka, Itachi, and many more. The series ran from November 2014 to April 2017, and the chapters a?re compiled into three volumes.

The post All Naruto spinoff Manga listed and explained appeared first on Destructoid.

It seems like a no-brainer to me to turn many of the really good sci-fi books into video games, not just? your regular old RPGs. There is so much scope for multiple genres pulled from the pages of some of the best-loved science fiction books, with the right direction.

Science fiction books that should be video games

One or two of these may have already inspired video games, either obscurely or directly. However, they usually go in the wrong direction. There really aren't many science fiction n??ovel adaptations to games out there. Not successful ones, anyway.

2001: A Space Odyysey

As a simple concept, the amazing 2001: A Space Odyssey could be turned into a video game by?? simply having the player try to reach their destination, avoiding a murderous HAL. It would play out as a trapped horror, navigating space in which the ship itself is dedicated to murder. Various ways to stay alive would be possible, making each playthrough unique. All you need to do is stay alive long enough to reach that distant planet without HAL getting the better of you. I think Arthur C. Clarke would love to see his sci-fi become a video game.

Altered Carbon

With the idea of Shells and rebirth used in Altered Carbon, the gameplay of this adaptation would make for a good rogue-lite. Akin to the book, a crime must be solved, but what if someone was out?? there trying to get you? Every time you die, a fee must be paid, and progress must be regained. Clues will be gradually collected, and the player will m??ove ever closer to the answer. But every death will result in a loss of items and finances.

Dune

This book has once before been made into a video game, but as a science fiction adaptation, it could do with some updating. In my mind, the Dune books could be combined into one, starting with the Fremen, deep in the desert. While playing top-down, god game style, it is up to the player to collect resources, conserve water, develop the Fremen, welcome in the Al Gaib, and, over time, take over the galaxy. Dune The Video Game would be a resource-collecting empire builder that e??ventually spans the galaxy in a game akin to EVE.

The Dark Tower series

Embracing The Dark Tower series's various worlds, interlinking storylines, and complexity as a game would be hard but not impossible. With the vast struggles of the characters in the book, it would make for a fantastic souls-like, I think. The various, weird worlds would suit the Miyazaki art style.

Travelling backward and forward through time, meeting the various monsters, and knowing death is only one Lobstrosity away would be gripping. The deep and intricate mystical science fiction in these books would make for some beautiful, if not ?challenging, games.

Judge Dredd

Judge Dredd has, of course, featured in at ??least one game I know of. He is shown as Judge Bro in Broforce, with his homing pistol and all. However, I think as a third-person shooter embracing the wicked stories, it would shine much better.

An over-the-shoulder, cover-to-cover style game akin to Gears of War would suit the Judge to a T. Many ??of the long, arching storylines of wars in the Megablocks and evil monsters that live within the post-nuclear city could provide more than enough material for some serious storyline based shooter action.

The infinitely stylish comics, with their high-speed motorcycles and wild weapons, would translate beautifully t?o the screen. Imagine fighting your way up thousands of floors of a Megablock. The cyberpunk art style of the science fiction books would look great, flashing across the screen of a well-made video game.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep

The core of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep? is about capturing rogue androids through a series of questions in the vain hope of being able to afford a real-life animal, and it's the inspiration for Blade Runner. That's a game ready to be made. Think Papers, Please combined with L.A. Noir. It would be up to you to perform the Voigt-Kampff Empathy Test and then decide whether or not to put a bullet between the eyes of the android.? There would be a goal to reach enough money to afford the animal. But, just like in the book, life gets in the way. It is a science fiction indie game waiting to be made with this book.

The Children of Men

The film does the wonderful The Children of Men justice in that it takes the theory of a world with no future and makes it into a fantastic watch. I feel that a successful game would work in much the same way as the film adaptation. An open-world RP?G could be possible for this science fiction book to work as a video game.

As you make your way around a world devoid of hope, rumou??rs of a new birth have been heard. It is up to you, a smuggler, to not only find the child but then transport it across the environment to safety. Factions, new environments, alliances, and wars could be spread across the game, creating a rich and diverse wo??rld. I would love to see the idea of a world devoid of a future plays out in an RPG setting.

The Commonwealth Saga

There are so many ways in which the Commonwealth Saga books could play out as science fiction games. The space opera covers a vast array of action and world building. However, the way I wou??ld like to see it play out is by playing as the Alpha Prime itself. Why not be the bad guy? Why not wipe out the human race?

As the Alpha Prime, it is up to you to spread yourself across the galaxy, terraforming planets and destroying every living thing but yourself. With a worldbuilder-style game, it is up to you to take resources and develop yourself through DNA theft and stolen tech. Over time, you can spread to other planets with ?the sole purpose of being the only living being in the universe.

The Culture Novels

There are plenty of little and large tales you could pull from the incredible worlds of Iain M. Banks's culture novels. However, something I always loved in his books was the Minds and? their habitable spaceships that casually float around the galaxies. These mega minds house millions of inhab?itants in some cases, and others work as planet-crushing war machines.

The many varied Culture spaceships are what this science fiction book-to-game adaptation would focus on. As a player, you could build your own Mind ship, taking part in the economy of the in-game universe. Do you want to focus on building a Fallout Shelter-style habitati?on ship, or do you want to build a scouting ship, ready to explore the depths? Maybe you want to create a moon-sized warship. This game would be a combination of MMORPG economy games mixed with some world-building.

Fahrenheit 451

So, hear me out. It'?s basically a cookie-clicker game, but you're throwing books onto a fire. The more you burn, the better equipment you get in order to burn more books. Subsequently??, the more stuff you get to burn. You can move on to music, then plays, then art, and finally, you get to burn the literate! These are the kind of science fiction books we need to turn into mobile games.

Does this trivialise one of the finest works of science fiction? Absolutely. Does it make a statement about the triviality and dumbing down of the population wit?h moroni??c, endorphins-injecting mobile games, slowly pulling us away from independent, critical thinking? I don't know. What do you think?

The post 10 scien??ce fiction books that would make great games appeared first on Destructoid.

From Bastila Shan to Luke Skywalker, the Jedi of Star Wars have captivated the hearts and minds of fans for decades. Indeed, representing some of the most beloved characters and factions in Star Wars, the Jedi have accrued a plethora of novels ??over time. Sadly, the sheer volume of literature on these galactic guardians often deters the casual Jedi fan, who doesn't wish to waste time cutting through some less engaging offerings.

Enter yours truly, who spent three-plus decades digging into the Star Wars novel mountain, gaining a broad understanding of Star Wars Jedi. Then, equipped with such knowledge that can only be earned between the pages, I compiled a list of the best Star Wars novels for a Jedi enthusiast. My findings below are, in my expert est??imation, the best of the best regarding the storied Jedi.

Master & Apprentice

A must-read Star Wars novel for Jedi enthusiasts, Master & Apprentice by Claudia Grey follows the exploits of Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi as they mediate a conflict on Teth. However, as th?is seemingly routine resolution quickly devolves into an assassination plot, these Jedi must overcome an unseen assailant and their self-doubt to emerge victorious.

Star Wars veteran scribe Claudia Gray pens another superb addition on Jedi faves Jinn and Kenobi, seamlessly articulating the dire circumstances of a lethal revolution with the internal doubt hindering the Master and Apprentice's bond. Simply put, with Gray's storytelling ebb and flow and source knowledge, Master & Apprentice remains one of the best novels on Star Wars Jedi.

Yoda Dark Rendezvous

The spotlight is on Grandmaster Yoda in the highly recommended Star Wars novel, Yoda Dark Rendezvous, by Sean Stewart. Additionally, featuring appearances from Asajj Ventress and Obi-Wan Kenobi, among others, this best of Star Wars Jedi novels sees the duplicitous Count Dooku arrange a clandestine meeting with Yoda, seeking a truce? ending the Clone Wars...or does he?

While remaining one of the most prized Star Wars characters, Yoda surprisingly lacks novels focused on him, marking Rendezvous required reading for fans wishing to learn more about this multi-genre-spanning Jedi. Likewise, Clone Wars fans will feel the?? nostalgia flooding back as Stewart highlights Yod?a's proficiency in the Force and eagerness to end the rising darkness of the Clone Wars.

Shatterpoint

The first in the Clone Wars novel series, Shatterpoint by Matthew Stover, follows the renowned Jedi Mace Windu undertaking a mission of vital importance to the Republic war effort and himself. Set months after the Battle of Genosis, this top Star Wars Jedi novel takes readers on a deadly sci-fi safari, as Mace finds himself in a fight for survival against hostile natives, the dark sid?e, and his 'brother' Kar Vastor.

Scribe Stover eloquently articulates the razor-thin line the Clone Wars Jedi straddled, where Jedi tenants dictated peacekeeping and duties dictated aggressive action. Thus, when tasked with returning balance to his jungle homeworld of Haruun Kal and ascertaining the fate of his former apprentice, Depa Billaba, Mace must confront the ramifications of becoming a soldier in this gripping Star Wars Jedi novel.

Revan

Written by Drew Karpyshyn, of the acclaimed Bane trilogy fame, and filling in critical gaps in the Old Republic timeline, Revan beckons to Jedi enthusiasts. In particular, Revan is a concise, apropos read detailing his role after the popular Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords and giving critical insight into the events of the MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Undoubtedly, since appearing in Knights of the Old Republic, Revan has developed a massive following among Star Wars fans and holds an undeniable place among the best in Star Wars game lore. Moreover, the novel's tempo is perfect, offering the best ratio of quality to time invested and making Revan a top choice among the best Star Wars Jedi novels.

Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void

Taking aficionados of Star Wars Jedi novels on a journey over 25,000 years ago, Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void is a must-add to any Jedi collection. Here, talented writer Tim Lebbon takes readers to the ancient birthplace of the Jedi, Tython, and produces an integral read, artistically blending picturesque flashbacks an?d telling a tale of the Je'da?ii of yore.

Tasked with a mission of planetary significance, Je'daii Ranger Lanoree Brock must engage in the fight of her life to thwart a nefarious villain bent on system-wide annihilation. Flush with historical Jedi context, Into the Void analyzes? the impact of ??the Jedi and the Force within familial structures and deals with the resulting philosophical implications.

Light of the Jedi

Light of the Jedi, by praised writer Charles Soule, provides readers with a definitive picture of the Jedi of the High Republic woven into a tale of exploration and intrigue. Also, introducing Star Wars Jedi fans to a plethora of fascinating characters with a wholly unique plot showing the perils of hyperspace travel, Light of the Jedi has it all.

Unsurprisingly garnering a Best Sci-Fi Novel nomination at the 2021 Goodreads Choice Awards, Light of the Jedi is a splendidly paced introduction to the High Republic Jedi, highlighting it as a best read for Star Wars Jedi enthusiasts. Certainly, wise Disney was when se??lecting Soule ??to introduce readers to the High Republic and the Jedi that lit its path.

I, Jedi

A classic Star Wars Jedi novel from the wonderful Legends universe, I,Jedi follows force-sensitive X-Wing pilot Corran Horn on a journey of self-discovery and adventure. Written concurrently with the events in the lauded Jedi Academy Trilogy, author Michael A. Stackpole takes readers into the relatable Horn's thoughts as he wrestles ?with his Jedi heritage, marauding pirate gangs, and the lure of the da?rk side.

Above all, Stackpole displays an intrinsic understanding of Star Wars Jedi storytelling, concocting this top-notch tale of honor and growth. Adroitly using the internal struggle of Horn as his force powers manifest, Stackpole crafts a novel exhibiting the hallmarks of duty, grit, and love found among Star Wars Jedi.

Ahsoka

A highly-acclaimed novel by E.K. Johnston, Ahsoka expertly fills in gaps in the timeline after Ahsoka Tano's gut-wrenching decision to leave the Jedi Order, leading up to her reemergence as Fulcrum on the Rebels TV series. Since first appearing in the Clone Wars movie, Ahsoka would immediately garner fans a?s Anakin's exuberant yet snarky Padawan learner.

Eruditely capitalizing on Ahsoka's genre-spanning appeal, Johnston takes readers into the depths of her psyche, demonstrating Ahsoka's ever-evolving views of the Force and her place in the galaxy. Most importantly, Ahsoka encapsulates the essence of Snips, like her willingness to help those in need without hesitation, a key reason for its inclusion as one of the best Jedi novels in Star Wars.

The post Best Star Wars novels for a Jedi enthusiast appeared first on Destructoid.

When we look back over author??s telling of the future, the importance of serialisation and the novella must be noted in science fiction. The short-form medium of some of the earliest works of sci-fi helped give the genre the legs it needed to stand on to become the shelf-filling genre it is today.

Humble beginnings

Of course, going back to the earliest days of science fiction, we have complete novels such as Frankenstein. However, when looking at later authors, we see the emergence of science fiction as periodicals and novellas. Both Jules Verne and H.G. Wells released a number?? of their works as either bite-sized weekly installments or short, quick-to-read novellas.

H.G. Wells' magnificent book The War of the Worlds was originally published as a weekly periodical in Cosmopolitan Magazine in ?the US. This wasn't uncommon for many of the nov??els we know today as complete works.

Many writers, like Charles Dickens, released their works over a number of weeks and even months. They were later picked up by publishers to be redrafted as complete novels. Another science fiction classic to be subjected to the serialisation treatment is Jules Vernes' 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Again, this was released fortnightly in the french Magasin d'éducation et de récréation.

When looking at H.G. Wells' enormous repertoire of work, there are many examples of short stories and novellas to choose from. One of his most famous works, eventually published as a novella, is the genre-changing The Time Machine.

Pulp science fiction

In the 20th century, the still relatively new and deve?loping genre of science fiction started ??to emerge via the various pulp fiction presses. These magazines gave an all-important leg up to the new genre, often referred to as 'Gadget Fiction'. Through more serialisation, many of the classics of 20th-century science fiction were picked up and read by thousands of readers.

The real benefits of serializing and publishing science fiction short novellas comes down to accessibility. As an emergent genre, science fiction was understandably tenuous as a guaranteed success in the markets. ??However, by? being released in very cheap and highly accessible pulp magazines, various sci-fi stories could be released with little financial risk.

By being released as periodicals, many of these tales, such as the stories of Edgar Rice Burroughs and even Starship Troopers, could be slowly released and interest gauged. If the uptake wasn't good, the story was dropped for something more successful. Through this method, timeless classics were developed, and the genre began to gain populari?ty.

With the beginnings of Astounding Science Fiction magazine, what is now considered to be the golden age of sci-fi began. The magazine helped the genre move from the pulp publications it was previously in to a much more science-based, serious genre, welcoming such seminal writers as Isaac Asimov.

A golden age of science fiction

With the creation of new dedic?ated science fiction magazines, the genre really began developing. Now that it was becoming widely recognised and publishers were noting the public interest, the authors were able to writ??e with confidence. This didn't mean the end of the short novella and periodical style, though.

When looking at the work of Isaac Asimov, some of his greatest and earliest pieces were published as short stories through various magazines. The remarkably famous I, Robot was originally published as a series in two separate magazines. As a collection, it paved the way for the Foundation works ?and laid out the three laws of robotics we still see used today in many science fiction books?.

However, the golden age of science fiction came to an end after the savagery of two world wars changed the collective psyche forever. Previously, a world of exciting scientific discovery and the journey to utopia was in the minds of creatives. As highlighted by Asimov himself, the dropping of the nuclear bomb called attention to the stark reality of just what the science in their fiction is eventually used for. The beginnings of dystopian literature emerged.

Modern novellas

Despite science fiction's success a??nd prevalence not just on shelves but also in video games, films, and many other arts, it still has a place in the short novella and periodical form. Often a science fiction novella or short story is used to discuss an idea or philosophy. Entire novels are not necessary in these cases, and because of this, some of the greatest science fiction writers of the modern age still produce a wealth of novellas.

I would like to highlight one of my personal favourites of the science fiction genre, Kurt Vonnegut. He was a prolific writer an?d published many short stories. His writing style was very particular, making even his normal stories feel like ??science fiction.

Other notable writers in the modern science fiction novella genre are Ray Bradbury and William Gibson. These two authors changed the face of science fiction forever with their modern t??akes on the world around them and ofte?n fascinatingly accurate predictions of the future.

Both of these writers are known for their ability to observe and accurately theorise the future. Despi?te the success of the science fiction genre when these writers were being published, they still found success in magazines and novellas.

Forever novella

The importance of the novella and short publications to science fiction is one that will probably never fade. Unlike many other fictional genres, science fiction can often be about a single theory or idea wrapped up in a fictional tale. These don't have to span thousands of pages, although space operas often do. Even well-published, novel-writing science fiction authors such as Bradbury, Gibson, and Dick sometimes lik??e to compact their ideas into a quickly readable short story. These can be enjoyed in an hour or so but will keep you ??thinking for days.

The post The importance of the novel??la and serialisation in sc??ience fiction appeared first on Destructoid.

There is an unimaginable wealth of fantasy creatures that go underutilised in the many forms of fantasy media out there. Naturally, there? are the classics th??at get used almost all the time, but I believe the following fantastical beasts need a lot more representation.

Satyr

A Satyr looks like a goat-human hybrid. Imagine a bipe?dal goat, now replace the top half with a very hairy human with horns. Naturally, depictions vary greatly, with some Satyrs being much more human than goat, and vice-versa.

Cen??taurs get a reasonable amount of exposure, so why not their goat counterparts? I find these creatures to be incredibly interesting, especially given that they're sentient being?s with their own culture.

Whether a bustl?ing populus or a dwindled race, we need more Satyrs in our fantasy media.

Peryton

Peryton are essentially the deer version of a Pegasus. T??hinking of a de??er with wings? Yeah that's it.

I personally find these creatures much more enthralling than the Pegasi, especially when imagining them in the light forests, grazing on the grass. Delicate and eloquent, the Peryton are a mystical species that would make such easy and natural inclusion into any fantasy world.

And now that I kn??ow about them, I'm mad that they're not.

Wendigo

The case of the Wendigo is a strange one. Many p??eople know about it, whether they're folklore fans or not, and there have been games about them. However, this is treated largely as one entity that exists in seclusi?on, and is not brought out enough into general fantasy.

It wou??ld be so cool to see a darker fantasy story where Wendigoes are more of a commonplace creature that stalk certain woods. Having such a powerful creature used more commonly, especially with how we currently view them, would make for ?a unique setting.

Wendi??goes should be used much more liberally in?? fantasy media, that's for sure.

Naga

The Naga is another peculiar cas?e, as there are different depi??ctions of them. Generally, a Naga (or Nagi, for females) is a human-serpent hybrid.

In Asian tradition, Nagas are more? commonly depicted as divine beings that have human top halves, with long snake tails where their legs would be. Modern interpretations do go almost completely serpent, however, with a Naga being shown as a much larger race of serpents with arms.

These creatures, no matter how they're represented, should have a much?? larger representation than from the LEGO Ninjago series (although I'm not really complaining about that??, to be honest).

Mishipeshu

Mishipenshu, or the underwater panther, is a collossal creature tha??t is so incredible I can't believe I haven't seen it in? any fantasy media.

It is a large beast that r?esembles an aquatic panther; it has large paws and a feline head and body, but is covered in scales, has a large fish tail, and has monstrous spikes?? and fins that protrude from its spine. This would make a fantastic change to the typical aquatic horrors that we see these days.

If the next fantasy media to come out has a body of water but not a Mishipenshu, I'll be complaining.

Nuckelavee

Nuckelavee are malicious beings that ?resemble a horse with a human torso fused onto its back, which looks as though it has a rider. But they are the same creat?ure.

This rotting and noxious monster is typically depicted with having longer arms, to add to that horrific visage. ?Some artists like to give the Nuckelavee a demonic look, which is accu??rate to their origins. Others, however, prefer to associate them with plague, rot, and sickness. And honestly, both interpretations look incredible.

In any horror or apocalyptic setting, ?the Nuckelavee would make great candidates.

Kelpie

Kelpies are another creature with many interpretations and variations, providing enchanting or haunting creatures. In ess??ence, a Kelpie is an aquatic horse. Typically, you'll see Kelpies drawn as simply that - sodden horses with varying degrees of aquatic features ?(scales, fins, seaweed manes).

But other times, you'll see an insidious creature that lurks by the water side. With a more spectral or dark coloration, with the pale eyes to match. Kelpies can make rather terrifying creatures. T?here is also a popular rendition of Kelpies having large fish tails, replacing?? their rear legs.

With so ma?n??y variations, Kelpies have a lot of potential to be present in any sort of fantasy tale.

Chenoo

The Chenoo is the Yeti's more disturbing cousin. The more I read about this creature, the more terrifying and interesting it became. These abominable, furry monsters were once men who had ??been cursed into their monstrous forms??.

They live in the tundras because their bodies are too hot, another effect of their curse alongside the insatiable hunger. As they become hungrier, they grow larger??. So starved are they that their shoulders and lips have been gnawed and ripped away.

These tragic and terrifying beast??s would make for a much more interesting snow beast than the typical Yetis or other monsters we keep getting these days.

Lamassu

Lamassu are large celestial creatu??res that would fit in perfectly with any cosmic fantasy story. With the heads of a human, the bodies of a bull, and the wings of an eagle, these beings are the protectors of the peo?ple and of royalty.

With some usual fantasy remixing, the Lamassu could make incredible beasts that guard divine beings, or are simply the representation of divinity and cosmic forces themselves. There is a lot of room to play around with these unique beasts, and I ca?n't wait to make use of them myself.

I do love a large creature that's a st??itching of other creatures, and the Lamassu is a great example.

Rokurokubi

The Rokurokubi are a type of Japanese yokai. The special fact?or about the Rokurokubi is that their heads elongate to incredible p??roportions.

There is a subtype of Rokurokubi called Nukekubi who's heads fully detach and float around??. It is suggested that these yokai are harmful spirits who attack at night and feast upon their attackers blood. I suppose they don't need to be depicted maliciously, but with such features, they are pretty scary.

These creatures would make great implementation into darker fantasy ?stories as aggressive spirits who lurk in the night - only seen by a head impossibly high up.

Leprechaun

Leprechauns don't have to be happy-go-lucky cereal masc??ots, you know. In Irish legend, these creatures would grant three wishes to anyone who could catch them, m??aking them the perfect replacement for the done-to-death Genies or Djinn.

There aren't too many wish-granting fantasy creatures, but Leprechauns stand out as one of the most unique. Having to chase these dastardly creatures down to be allowed your wishes is a p?retty funny concept. Also, their small size for such powerful beings is a?? huge subversion on what we've come to expect from wish-granting fantasy creatures.

We? really need to give Ge??nies a break - and Leprechauns fit the bill.

Rakshasa

Rakshasas are malevolent beings that rese?mble anthropomorphic felines (lions, tigers, panthers, etc). Although races of feline people are rather common, the Rakshasa are divine creatures that hunt mercilessly on the flesh of humans.

They can change size at will and can also s?hapeshift into any creature - anything that will allow them to devour their prey quicker. I think we've seen enough races of big cats - it's time to pull out their monstrous cou?nterparts.

Strangely,?? we don't really see many anthropomorphic creatures that aren't just other stand-ins for humans. I'd like to see more of a savage representation of human hunters.

Leucrotta

Leucrottas have varying depictions, which ?vary quite wildly. Strangely, this monster does make appearances in Harry Potter, although has gone mostly unnoticed. Some look like large moose with gaping maws, and others look like a mixture of feliforms.

In the savannas and badlands of any fantasy realm, or deep in the woods or in a glade, a variation of the Leucrotta could be stalking or grazing. Honestly, wi?th how varied the depictions are, any fantasy writer could adapt them to become whatever they want.

A great example of more mundane - yet n?o less fantastical - creatures that fit perfectly in??to fantasy realms.

Chupacabra

Many people know of the Chupacabra - the huge monster that feasts on the blood of livestock. And, if prompted - humans. For the most part, this legendary being is depicted as a hound, although with more monstrous ??components or proportions.

Ultimately, the Chupacabra is shrouded in mystery, and isn't a species of creature - but is one creature. So elusive is this creature that anyone implementing it into their fantasy can do what they wish with it. This makes the name "??Chupacabra" into more of a title that allows for ?a lot of freedom.

Whether it's one beast or ?a pack - I'm waiting for a more mainline implementation of?? the Chupacabra.

Bunyip

To end this list of under-used fantastical creatures, may I present to you the Bunyip. These monsters stalk the swamps and reedy? lakes, waiting for their next meal.

Once again??, images vary, although the most popular depiction is that of a monstrous manatee. S?ome artists like to include legs, to make it an aquatic hound that swims unperturbed, like an amphibious panther. Rarer accounts make the Bunyip look more like a hippopotamus or lizard creature, making the Bunyip truly something of a folklore legend.

Any variation of the Bunyip will do - I s?imply nee?d more unique watery fantasy creatures.

Here's hoping that these fantasy underdogs will get utilised more i??n the reaching realm of fantasy, be it in video games, books, films, or D&D.

The post 15 underrated fantasy creatures we need t??o see more often appeared first on Destructoid.

With the hot summer temperatures and blazing sun comes more time for reading. Vacations are planned, the days are longer, and more people look to pick up a good book to pass the time. Thankfully the publishing calendar is full of promising new fantasy and sci-fi book releases that should keep ?readers busy for? the entirety of the season.

Want to know what to expect over the next months? Here we've got you covered with the best releases coming up soon. Remember that we won't be covering sequels or series here, so please don't get ma?d at me John Gwynne fans. He would deserve it otherwise, I know.

Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky, June 4th

I'm cheating a bit, as this one was released two weeks ago, but it was too good to pass up. Adrian Tchaikovsky is a huge name in the Sci-fi space, with his Children of Time series having won award after award. His latest offering brings us into the mind of ro??bots, and what purpose they may find when humanity is winding down.

Our protagonist is a servant robot, dutifully serving his human master day after day. That is, at least until he murders him. How Tchaikovsky brings our main character to life is fantastic, and I've never been more invested or interested in a robot's path to sentience. The world-building is well done and offers a look at an apocalypse that feels fresh: One not brought on ?by war or famine, but instead by human apathy when we have everything we want. Funny, meaningful, and original, this book is worth picking up.

The Failures by Benjamin Liar, July 2nd

The Failures is a debut work, but signs from those who have received advanced copies and the size of the publisher's push show that this title might end up being one of the best of the summer. While this is Benjamin Liar's first novel, he has spent decades in other artistic fields such as music and game design, so the creative strength is there. Only time will tell if it lives up to the hype, but it's worth paying at??tention t??o for now.

A mechanical planet has been abandoned by its creators, left to de??cay and die as its denizens look on, helpless. An attempt has been made to save the realm already ??but to no avail. Still, there is some hope left, if the previously failed heroes can pick themselves up and try once more.

Gilded Crown by Marianne Gordon, July 2nd

I'm cheating a little bit with this one as well, as the hardcover is already out, and it's the paperback coming out next month, but this is my list, so you're going to deal with it. Gilded Crown is a romantasy that?? asks us what price we would be willing to pay to cheat death on others' behalf.

As a romantasy, a fair amou?nt of the p??lot is dedicated to our two main characters as they escape the looming threat of assassination, or at least the main character Helliver does, resurrecting the princess when necessary. The visuals of bartering with Death are written well, and the banter and relationship of our primary two feel true to life and endearing. Worth reading for those who want a little romance.

Navola by Paolo Bacigalupi, July 9th

For fans of historical fantasy, Navola will be a wonderful book to pick up. Set in a reimagining of Renaissance It??aly, our main character Davico is the heir to a house of powerful and influential house of merchant bankers, obstinately disinvolved in politics, but in reality one of the most powerful players on the world stage.

Renaissance Italy is the perfect setting for a fantasy epic, full of political machinations and murderous intrigue that make for fantastic modern fantasy stories, with room for the writer's interpretations to bring us somewhere new. While not much is known about the deeper intricacies of the setting just yet, this title will still be? one to keep your ?eyes on come July.

The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman, July 16th

Lev Grossman has been away from the mainstream fantasy scene for a while. Ever since he finished his Magicians series back in 2014, he has instead been focusing on a handful of related comic books and children's titles. However, now is heralded his triumphant return, as he is set to release his first adult fantasy book in a decade with The Bright Sword.

Have you ever wondered what happened to the Round Table after King Arthur's passing? What the rest of his cadre of knights did once they lost the??ir leader and their purpose? Grossman explores this land of Arthurian England and its aftermath through the eyes of a group of mismat??ched, lesser-known knights. The Magicians was a darkly comic series, asking deep questions from behind a veil of sarcasm and cynicism, and the Bright Sword is poised to do the same. This may be the most highly anticipated book on this list, and for good reason. Don't skip this one.

The Spice Gate by Prashanth Srivatsa, July 16th

The Spice Gate seems like it could be a true fantasy epic, with a plot that crosses time and spa??ce, and brings in the machinations of both man and Gods, all through the eyes of one character look?ing for change.

Our main character Amir is marked as one able to travel through reality-warping Spice Gates, treated as a slave as he is forced to use the gat??es for transport of spices for the rich. He seeks to change the status quo but finds that he may just?? be a small piece in a much larger conspiracy.

The Dissonance by Shaun Hamill, July 23rd

For fans of horror, The Dissonance will provide a good balance between genres. Three teens were scattered across the U.S. after their tutoring in dark magic went awry. 20 years later they must return to ?Texas to reconcile with their past, as well as fight back a darkness that has?? been called into being today.

Shaun Hamill has a vibrant way of writing settings and scenes, using horror sensibilities to craft thick and moody visuals ??that keep readers interested even when action is lacking. Wrap it in a modern-day fantasy battle of good and evil, sprinkle in some deeper disc?ussions of who we are, and accept the parts of us that we hide from others, and what you're left with is a novel that will keep you up night after night, due to equal measures fright and wonder.

The Mercy of Gods by James Corey, August 6th

The writers of the Expanse series, Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, are back again, now with the first title in a new space opera series they call The Captive's War trilogy. Given the success of both the books?? and TV ser??ies, it should be no surprise that this book ends up on a lot of most anticipated lists.

The Carryx rule the ?universe, destroying or enslaving the races they deem beneath them. Humanity is no exception. Enslaved by the Carryx, the remnants of human civilization must do what they can to help fend off this unknown threat, while also finding ways to escape the clutches of the Carryx. Sci-fi fans of any background should be ready when th??is releases.

Glass Houses by Madeline Ashby, August 13th

Madeline Ashby has been succeeding on the fringes of near-future sci-fi for a bit but is set to really explode onto the scene with Glass Houses. Ashby is an exper?t on new tech, having written nonfiction on our management and experiences in the current age of hypergrowth and scientific development, and Glass Houses is her attempt to take on the g?rowth of A.I., and what parts of life are best left to humans.

An A.I. company CEO, fresh off the sale of their new, emotional prediction A.I. algorithm, is flying home when their plane goes down. After miraculously surviving the crash, the CEO and his entourage find themselves on a deserted island, save for one building: A futuristic house, complete with A.I. integration, though with no contact with the outside world. The group plans to find a way to leave the island; at least, until they begin to disappear, one by one. For fans who like a mystery twist, or want to peer into a dark vi??sion of AI's evolution, read this one ASAP.

Blackheart Man by Nalo Hopkinson, August 20th

A scholar in training becomes embroiled in a political nightmare as a neighboring nation sends a naval force to forcefully open their borders for trade. All the while, an ancient army frozen in tar comes back to life, with a demon called the Blackheart man at its helm. A mixture of history and fantasy, this book will both provide an insightful look into the political struggles of the historical Caribbean, while also introducing beautiful, culturally themed fantasy elements. A must-pick for sure.

The post 10 Biggest Fanta?sy and Sci-fi Books Coming Out this Summer appeared first on Destructoid.

I’ve been laying down cities since the first SimCity. The SNES version, I mean, so a few years late, but I got in deep. Since then, it’s been one of my comfort genres. So, I’m not sure where I stand with Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic, whic?h has just left ?Early Access into full release.

I’m not doing a revi??ew â€?at least not right now â€?because, despite having put around 20 hours into it, I haven’t come close to piercing its shell. I was thinking this as I was ?trying to set up plumbing in my burgeoning city and finding a new complication at every turn. 

“It will all become clear with some exper??imentation and practice,�I told myself. Yeah, when? How many hours do I have to put in to learn this game, and will it be w?orth it?

At some point, I was trying to figure out how to prevent my trains from bumping into each other,  but when I looked for help, the text box I found literally said, “Please find additional guides on the Steam Workshop or the internet about this topic. It is a very complicated topic.â€?That’s, uh, hmâ€?/p>

I don’t doubt that setting up a system of train semaphores (as I learned they’re called) to organize the traffic of your railways is com?plicated, but should it be? ?Yes, it should.

Because there’s someone out there who wants this level of depth. I wouldn’t mind learning the ins and outs of setting up a functional railway system. I just would expect it to be in a railway simulator. In Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic,?? this is one singular component of a massive number of systems, each one with its? own learning curve.

I need to make it clear right here: Workers & Resources has a number of different ways to tweak the experience. You can, for example, turn off power, water, or waste management. When creating a custom game, you can turn features on or off to tweak it to your liking. I hate having to set up my own difficulty because I never know where my skill level is at, and I’d prefer it when a developer has a default setting to tell me where my skill level should be at. The individual settings do have presets like easy, medium, hard, so it might be acceptable to start at easy and work your w??ay up. That is, if yo??u're willing to make multiple cities.

However, even at easy, you need to set up train semaphores. And, even at easy, that is just one facet of a mor??e complicated whole. Setting up a system where I could get coal from a mine to a processor to the train took me a whole lot of bulldozing. I’m not sure I ever got my public transportation functioning properly, because not enough people were using it to get to work. Or maybe I just didn’t have enough population, I’m not entirely sure.

Setting up a distribution chain was something else. I was doing it entirely wrong for a while. Then when I started doing it the way it told me to, it wasn’t working right. I then had to figure out how to adjust the minimum stock level at shops and bars, which was never explained any?where.

Many times when I thought I was doing something correctly, I’d have to add something new to the pile and would find out I had set everything up in a way that felt optimal at the time, bu?t turned out to be completely unworkable in the long ??run. It lets you work in the wrong direction unhindered. At some point, you may have to raze it all to the ground and build upon the ruins.

It’s hard to tell how muc??h unintuitiveness is acceptable for th??e sake of complexity.

It can all be learned, of course. I didn’t know the relationship between residential, commercial, and industrial zoning until I played SimCity. But while that skill carried over to future city builders, I’m not sure train semaphores will. I’m not certain if the treacherously steep learning curve is going t??o be ?worth it.

I finished the first “campaign,�which acts as a tutorial. I moved onto the second, which is another tutorial but at a higher ??difficulty. It has a different focus that I find more enjoyable, but it also feels daunting. The added systems are sprawled out in front of you, and while you’re given the time and money needed to tackle them at your own pace, just the demonstration of how much left there is to l?earn is nearly disheartening.

On top of this, I have further reservations. It uses generative AI for some things. Mostly portraits of characters who give you instruction throughout the campaign. It’s not a pervasive thing, seemingly only shown in the tutorial campaign. However, that kind of makes it worse because it isn’t necessary and could have b??een done by an artist. The digital bodysnatchers don’t need to be h??ere.

The UI is also not up to the task of managing all the complex systems. It tries. In particular, managing the routes of all the varieties of vehicles zooming around my brutalist cities can require digging through multiple windows just to find the one that will allow me to add and remove stops. I don’t even understand some of the displays, ??but I’m sure that would ??come with time.

Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic has a very specific audience, and I’m pretty sure I fit in there somewhere. I just can’t be certain yet, because I haven’t found the bottom. I’m not sure if I’m going to find the bottom with the amount ??of time requi?red to dig that far.

On the other hand, I made some far-out stuff in Kerbal Space Program, so I have an appetite to learn new things o??n some level.

That’s just my warning to you. If you felt that games like Cities: Skylines 2 went too far with abstraction when it came to their urban construction mechanics, then Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic has a lot to dig into. You just need to be aware that it is a tremendous leap from those games. This isn’t the next level o??f city builder, this is quite a few steps above that. You have to have the mind for it. You have to have the time for?? it.

The post Even if you’re a city builder veteran, Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic may stump you appeared first on Destructoid.

It’s hard to keep track of the demos available during Steam Next Fest. I wish Steam would email me about games on my wishlist getting demos, because Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop has been on my wishlist since August 2022. Would have been nice to hear of the demo.

I found it eventually. I don’t remember how, but I’m glad I did because it gave me a taste of what I’ve been looking forward to. A big taste. It pushed my chin back and made sure I had no choice but to guzzle it all down. I had other things to do that evening, but they got shunted aside for three hours of Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop. I don’t regret it.

The philosophy behind Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop is tactile mechanics. In a lot of games, the act of doing basically anything gets distilled down to be intuitive; almost too much. Some games will have you pick a lock with a dice roll or a progress bar, and others give you a mini-game where you jiggle the pins. Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop is all pin jiggling.

A lot of actions get boiled down in games to make thing?s more intuitive or to even out the difficulty curve. Sometimes, it’s so the action just flows better. Other times, designing an entire mini-game around a simple action just isn’t within the game’s scope. However, good use of tactile mechanics will feel extremely satisfying, like when a horror game makes you jiggle pins while a killer is bearing down on you.

Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop has you playing as Wilbur, a hapless mechanic at an interstellar service station. Wilbur has had very little training, but both his life and his livelihood depend on him being able to repair all manner of p?roblems.

Somebody lands with a problem, you flip open the panel, and the?n you discover that you haven’t seen this particular type of fuel module before. Panic creeps up your spine, and you try to soothe your bladder before pee can escape.

The goal is to complete enough jobs �and of high enough complexity �that you can pay your R.E.N.T. after a few days. However, before you have the chance to get i?nto it, a hitman blows Wilbur’s head off. That’s not the end of the demo.

Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop borrows the “run�concept of the roguelite genre. If you can’t pay your rent by the end of the time period, you’re dead. A shadowy figure then greets you and sends you back to the beg??inning of the period to try again. Having Wilbur unceremoniously assassinate?d is the game’s way of introducing you to the concept. After that, however, you’re thrown into the deep end.

The central concept of Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop that I think is going to be make or break with some people is the way it doesn’t teach beyond the core mechanics. New modules keep showing up on visiting spacecraft, and if you haven’t seen them before, you need to bring up your grimoire and find the chapter that covers them. Then, you need to learn how to diagnose and address problems. Being faced with a new module and having to learn it can take up a lot of your day, meaning you won’t be able to finish many jobs and might come up short on rent. This is w?here the roguelite aspect plays well. It give?s you both the opportunity and requirement to improve your skills.

That’s under “Frantic Fixingâ€?difficulty, anyway. There’s also “Focused Fixingâ€?which doesnâ€??™t have you on a time limit but only lets you complete three jobs a day with greater punishment for difficulty. I’m a writer, so I’m used to working under deadlines.

The important part of diagnosis and repair in Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop is that it actually feels like diagnosis and repair. Modules rarely break in just one way. Sometimes, you can see visible damage, and other times, you need to calibrate. The Grimoire is sometimes specific in its information, but more often, you need to try and interpret diagra?ms through trial and error. If you’re not careful, you may break components and need to replace them.

As you play, you gradually become better at these, learning certain modules inside out and backwards. Sometimes, when a new twist shows up, you already have some idea on how to approach it. Because Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop doesn’t hold your hand and respects you enough to assume th??at you’ll be able to figure things out on your own, it’s a rewarding and meaningful game. Sure, maybe replacing the oil pump on a spaceship isn’t going to easily translate into the real world, but I like games that make me feel smart when I’m not.

The day before rent is due, you get a whopper of a spaceship. It has multiple problems to address, some of which you might be seeing for the first time. This ensures that getting to the end of the day with enough money left in your pockets to pay rent will pro?bably require a few runs.

If you pull it off, your reward is a ship that has multiple bombs to defuse. You’re not supposed to survive. That’s the end of the demo. You’ll be told this directly. It??’s an appropriate way to end things.

Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop is planned for November? 2024. I was already interested in the direction that Beard Envy had chosen, but the demo is beyond my hopes for execution. With its tactile gameplay that puts the onus on you to improve your skills and learn new ones, it’s among the most satisfying games I’ve played. When combined with a charmingly bizarre art style and darkly funny script, you wind up with the whole package. ?I’m not looking forward to the chilly weather, but November can’t come soon enough.

The post The Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop demo has me excited to do more manual labor appeared first on Destructoid.

The Throne of Glass fantasy novel series by Sarah J. Maas concluded in 2018, although there's no ?time like the present to join the infamous assassin Celaena Sardothien in her tragic and fantastical story?? in Erelia and beyond.

There are a few ways in which to read the Throne of Glass series, some being more convoluted than others. I'd suggest having a thorough inspection of the foll??owing recommended reading orders before you commit because once you start reading, you won't be able to stop to reconsider.

Every way to read the Throne of Glass series

I have scoured the internet for four different variations - suggested by the Throne of Glass publication and by fans. So have a peruse and c?hoose your favorit??e.

Note that The Assassin's Blade is a series of four novellas and is a sequel to the original entry, "The Throne of Glass." This prequel is what many of the reading orders hinge on - Celaena Sardothien's origins. Although you'll see this entry jump around in order a lot, it is important that you do not read it after Queen of Shadows.

Publication order

The most standard order to read the Throne of Glass series is in the order in which they were published. This is the recommended ?reading e?xperience from Sarah J. Maas and her publication:

• Throne of Glass (2012)
• Crown of Midnight (2013)
• The Assassin’s Blade (2014)
• Heir of Fire (2014)
• Queen of Shadows (2015)
• Empire of Storms (2016)
• Tower of Dawn (2017)
• Kingdom of Ash (2018)

The Assassin's Blade, the sequel story, was written after the second book, Crown of Midnight, and unveils Sardothien's tragic past, something mostly concealed. Unveiling this after getting to know her and her struggles for the first two books makes this an excellent point in which to read The Assassin's Blade, and it'll allow you? to experience the story as it was written.

Note that although Maas reco?mmend?s this reading order, the fans do not.

Chronological order

This is the order in which I read the Throne of Glass series - in line with the chronological order of events. This means that I started with The Assassin's Blade, which is something of a hot take, but? I do have a strong c??ase for this reading order.

• The Assassin’s Blade (2014)
• Throne of Glass (2012)
• Crown of Midnight (2013)
• Heir of Fire (2014)
• Queen of Shadows (2015)
• Empire of Storms (2016)
• Tower of Dawn (2017)
• Kingdom of Ash (2018)

Although the mystery behind?? Sardothien's origins is incredibly compelling, having been with her from the very beginning is an emotional roller coaster in its own right. Knowing the tragedy and the motivation as she goes through the woes and the paces of the first two installments and beyond allows me to share in her regrets and grief as she feels them, not just pine after concealed information.

Whenever she looked back, I looked back, too. Whenever she reflected on a piece of her past, I reflected, too. Personally, I find this makes the first ins??tallments much more emo?tional and personal with the context of why she is the way she is.

However, if you'd rather have an explosion of tragic exposition knowing the weight of what her future holds, then it may be wise to leave The Assassin's Blade until a little later.

Emotional explosion order

This seems to be a very strong fan-favorite reading order. It is on?ly a slight modification of the publicatio?n order, although many fans swear by it:

• Throne of Glass (2012)
• Crown of Midnight (2013)
• Heir of Fire (2014)
• The Assassin’s Blade (2014)
• Queen of Shadows (2015)
• Empire of Storms (2016)
• Tower of Dawn (2017)
• Kingdom of Ash (2018)

Reading The Assassin's Blade after Heir of Fire instead of before, you'll have the pleasant experience ?of getting your heart untimely ripped out of your sobbi??ng chest. I must admit I am envious of not being able to experience the story in this order first-hand, knowing what I now know.

This is likely the best way to read the Throne of Glass series and is broadly the reading order I'd suggest?. Although the emotional weight of this order can't be shrugged off, there is incredible merit in reading the series in chronological order, as previously discussed.

The tandem variation

Interestingly, the Empire of Shadows and Tower of Dawn installments can be read in either order or in ta??ndem. This is less of a new order and more of a variation that you can amend to your chosen reading order.

Both stories happen at the same time, so ultimately, they both lead into the final entry, Kingdom of Ash.

The order in which you read these entries will depend largely on your chosen reading order. You may wish to read Empire of Storms first as that was written first, or you may wish to read Tower of Dawn first to allow for a cleaner transition between Empire of Storms and Kingdom of Ash.

Alternatively, you can read them both at the same time to have a more fleshed-out account of what happens during this time. T.L. Traver has made a wo??nderfully concise PDF to assist you in this reading o?rder.

No matter your reading order, you can adopt one of these ?three variations for the two penultimate entries to make your reading experience your own.

Now that you know all the recommended and best ways to read Sarah J. Maas' Throne of Glass series, all t?hat's left to do is order every single one of them and not leave your room for the foreseeab??le future.

The post What order shou?ld you read the Throne of Glass series? appeared first on Destructoid.

Quite frankly, there are too many fantastic tracks for me to ?put on this list to elevate your reading experience. However, the following recommendations will likely become your go-to tracks for quite a while t??o come. So sit back, get comfy, and get swept away.

I have gathered these tracks from my own extensive personal research, and fr?om very popular recommendations from fellow fantasy readers, making this list rather comprehensive. Certain readers will want specific tracks to compliment the ?genre of fantasy they're reading, so thankfully the following composers and OSTs will have something for everyone.

Best composers and bands for fantasy reading

OSTs get a lot of love when it comes to fantasy music, ??so I'll be starting with some lesser-known - yet excellent - composers. I either listen to these composers myself or keep seeing their names pop up around this discourse. Although there's an unimaginable wealth of fantasy music out there, the following composers are some of the best.

There are some ?names you may expect to see here that I've omitted, as their works wil??l be included in the OST section, so don't worry.

Faun

Faun is a band I've only just come across. Their music ranges from sweet and light fantastical pieces to more somber numbers with lyrics. It sounds not inspired b??y fantasy worlds but as though it were ripped right out of one. Heavier, darker pieces and more upbeat jigs also populate their works.

This is a band I'm going to be listening to more of immediately, as their music seems to fit effortlessly into almost a??ny fantasy setting.

I'd personally recommend their Eden album, although honestly, any will do.

Adrian von Ziegler

Adrian von Ziegler is a composer I had the privilege of stumbling across many yea??rs ago. He? composes mostly Celtic pieces, although he does dabble in a variety of other genres. He has years of musical content to listen to, including collections of his compositions for an uninterrupted and flowing listening experience.

I would strongly suggest the celtic music, not only as there's so much of it, but because it's some of the best upbeat and lively fantasy music out there. As there are no lyrics, I can properly be immersed in the ?ebbs and flows of the music. His pieces immerse themselves into your reading experience fluidly.

I'd personally recommend the Celtic Collection.

Thomas Bergersen

You've likely already heard lots of Thomas Bergersen's music?, or at least music from his production music company Two Steps From Hell. Seriously, open up Spotify or YouTube and search his name. The Invincible album is? full of classic pieces that are instantly recognizable.

For more exciting and act?ion-packed fantasy stories, you can't really go wrong with putting any of Thomas Bergersen's tracks on. They have the power to turn any scene you're reading into something ten times as epic.

I'd personally recommend the Invincible album for dramatic moments and chapters.

Peter Gundry

You have likely? heard of Peter Gundry, for he is a rather popular composer. His music is typically slower, with more sinister or somber undertones for the most part. Each track makes the perfect background noise for darker or tragic fantasy stories.

They will blend in with the words, slowly p??rotruding int??o your mind until they become the backing track of the film playing in your mind. He is truly an excellent composer that I'll certainly be listening to more of.

I'd personally recommend The Edge of Darkness album.

Nest

I kept seeing Nest pop up - and I couldn't resist but ?to give them a listen. The tracks that Nest produces are more mystical and slower pieces, to allow for the story to take center stage in yo??ur mind.

The ?tracks are very lyric-light and tend to meander and weave around?? your mind. They're not particularly exciting, although they're not boring either. Such tracks could prove perfect for those who do not want anything too obnoxious to distract them from their reading.

I'd personally recommend the Trail of the Unwary album for moody and more somber fantasy reading.

Rest Here Traveler ambient music

This isn't a composer, but is one track I thought I'd add as a little bonus. I am unsure why, but I adore this t?rack, and it is my go-to for lots more than just reading. Although it's essentially the same melody repeating with the sound of a b??onfire, I have yet to get bored of it.

This track is a pers??onal recommendation, sure, but I feel so strongly about it that I can't not include it.

I'd personal?ly recommen??d this track for more relaxing reads or to block out background noise.

Best OSTs to listen to for fantasy reading

Most readers who listen to music, myself included, love to listen to OSTs. So popular are these OSTs that you've? likely already used them for your fantasy listening pleasure. If you find one or two that you haven't yet listened to - then save it for later.

Dwarf Fortress OST

Starting off with an OST I simply keep coming back to that's? also criminally underrated, I'd love to introduce you to the Dwarf Fortress OST by Dabu and Simon Swerwer. There is something too rich about this OST that is a struggle to put into words, but I'll try my best.

These tracks, especially the main theme, are brimming with their own stories woven into the mystical notes and melodies. This OST provides you with ominous am?biguity, action, melancholy, and, strangely, hope. I am literally listening to this OST as I write.

I'd personally recommend this OST for melancholic, casual, and deeper fanta??sy stories (and f?or life in general).

The Witcher 3 OST

The Witcher 3 is very renowned for its OST by Marcin Przybyłowicz. Many readers recommend the trac??ks in this OST that resembl?e the White Wolf himself: dark and hopeful, quick and calm, powerful and gentle.

The? world of The Witcher is a very detailed and rich fantasy world, and this OST pays it a huge compliment. These tracks feel native to the continent, and they'll seep into your fantasy worlds effortlessly.

I'd personally recommend this OST for ??casual high-fantas?y reading.

Pirates of the Caribbean OST

The Pirates of the Caribbean has a vast OST i?f you include all five films, which I highly recommend you do. Hans Zimmer, Klaus Badelt, and Geoff Zanelli all contributed to the exciting and incredible scores that make whatever you're doing so much cooler than it already is.

These OSTs hit many different themes expertly. You'll find gloomy and sad pieces, romantic and tragic pieces, and, most importantly, epic action scores. The films are known for their excellent fantastical elements and ac??tion sequences, and none of them would be as good as it is without the music.

I'd personally recommend this OST for ??grand adv??entures or action sequences.

Elder Scrolls OSTs

The Elder Scrolls series is a franchise rich with entries - and with music. The past three installments of the main Elder Scrolls franchise, Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim, have incredible and renowne??d fantasy tracks that inspire all sorts of emotions. Jeremy Soule is the music ??composer for all three titles.

Considering how vast each of these three games is - in theme, locations, story, and setting - the soundtracks from these OSTs are ripe for any fantasy scenario. With such a grand catalog of premium fantasy music, you won't?? be running out of music to listen to any time soon.

Out?? of all the games, I'd personally recommend the Skyrim soundtrack for all sorts of fantasy reading.

The Lord of the Rings OST

Ending this list with an absolute classic? and staple of fantasy culture - The Lord of the Rings OST, by Howard Shore. This collection of tracks really doesn't need an introduction and has become the official soundtrack of fantasy for many.

The pinnacle of fantasy - the books and films - were complimented perfectly by these tracks, so I'm sure they'll transpose your stories into something even more magical. Also, there are loads of remixes and covers out there. I personally enjoy the Lofi versions from Bits & Hits.

I'd recommend this OST for almost any fantasy reading, be ??it dramatic, tragic, adventurous, or romantic.

With t??h??ese excellent music recommendations, your fantasy reading will be elevated to new heights.

The post Top 10 music to listen to whilst reading fantasy appeared first on Destructoid.

The jo??y found in science fiction novels is, of course, entirely subjective. Some love a series that keeps things only galaxy-wide, spanning maybe only a millennia. Others prefer multi-dimensional, m??illion-year space epics. To keep this 'best of' list fair, I have tried to pick some of my favorite all-time science fiction book series that cover all bases.

#10 Wayfarer Series - Becky Chambers

The Wayfarer Series by Becky Chambers is one of the most recently published science fiction series on this list, but it still deserves its place. For anyone new to the genre, it is a fantastic gateway ?into the world of space-base??d drama and adventure.

Becky Chambers brings the notoriously galaxy-spanning stereotype of sci-fi and reduces it? down to three relatively small worlds. Her first book, 'A Long Way to A Small Angry Planet', is based almost entirely on a single spaceship, bringing the reader on a journey to a remote planet destined to set the crew up for life. The first book in the series is a wonderful character study, using the medium of aliens and AI to create some fantastically diverse characters.

The next two books, which are planet-based, follow loosely on from this. Without giving too much away, both of these novels look at the complexity of the human spirit when confronted with people who are out??side of their comfort zone. They dissect love, prejudice, fear, and many other very human emotions, using the science fiction backdrop to really delve deep into what makes us... hu?man?

#9 The Expanse - James S. A. Corey

Earth is a bloated and failing planet, Mars has become a techno??cratic threat, and the asteroid belt hosts a vast population of long-limbed outcasts. James S. A. Corey has created a universe in which he has based a phenomenal nine books delving into the conflicts, relationships, and adventures that revolve around these three populations.

The Expanse books stray away from becoming wildly futuristic, instead focusing on the technology we have now, or maybe in the not too?? distant future. For some, this realism isn't what they're looking for in the best science fiction series, but for others, it gives the series the verisimilitude it requires to truly connect.

The Expanse has everything you need from a magnificent space opera, with space battles, politics, relationships, a looming alien threat, and warring factions. If you're looking for something that may very well take years to read, The Expanse saga won't leave you wanting. However, if you're finished and looking for something similar, we have you covered.

#8 The Forever War Series - Joe Haldeman

Haldeman is a veteran of the Vietnam War, and I feel this trauma and disillusionment come through in his collection of Forever War science fiction narrative very clearly. In this collection of books, interstellar has become possible through 'collapsers'. However, doing so will o?nly take moments for the traveller but years in real time. These are used to transport troops ??across great distances to fight with the alien 'Taurans'.

The first book follows Mandella's path as he goes through his training and is sent to war on a distant pla?net with an enemy he has never met. While only two years pass for him, almost 30 pass on earth. When he returns after his tour of duty, the earth has changed. His disconnection from a world he once remembered leaves him 'travel shocked', and he finds himself completely unable to reassimilate, driving him to sign up for another tour, once again leaving his family and world behind.

The books focus on the way the world moves forward ov??er and over again, leaving Mandella to return to civilizations he no longer recognizes. He is ostracized and outcast despite his many accolades. The books expand on the tragic ways in whi??ch war can change a person. I feel The Forever War has deep elements of Joe Haldeman's personal experience and provide a view into the world of a veteran from a tragic science-fiction perspective.

#7 Enders Game - Orson Scott Card

Depending on how deep you want to get into the monstrous Enders Saga by Orson Scott Card, the story can span five books or 20. Ender's game, or at least the core five Ender's Series books, follows Ender as he first fights a war that leaves him ?in possessi?on of perhaps the last hope of the civilization they wiped out in the form of an egg.

Over the next few books, years pass, opinions on the war change as Ender writes the story of the now-extinct Formics, and humanity spreads itself across the galaxy. The Ender's Universe, even over the first five books, is vast, infinitely complex, and incredibly engaging. Summing it up can't be done in a few brief paragraphs. If you are looking for a science fiction saga that spans generations, planets and includes vast and complex ideas, this is the one to pick up. The Ender's Game saga is magnificently written and infinitely in-depth, rarely not included in any 'best of' science fiction list.

#6 Hitchhikers?? Guide to The Galaxy - Douglas Adams

For something light-hearted yet still written with incredible skill and world-building, there are few science fiction sagas better than The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy. Douglas Adams puts us in the shoes of Arthur Dent, a regular, everyday Englishman who has been robbed of his home planet and left drifting through the universe??.

While the idea of hitchhiking from planet to planet may be many science fiction readers' dream, for Arthur Dent, it is all just a bit an??noying. Douglas Adams wrote this collection of books with the dry humour and satire that is only found in English writers. The worlds and concepts that the books produce are hilarious and incredibly inventive.

Each of the books in the series is a gem in itself, introducing amazing new characters and co??ncepts. Although wildly alien, the world beyond the borders of our atmosphere still suffers from many of the problems we face today. Having Earth turned to rubble for the sole reason of building an 'Intergalactic Highway' is one of my favourite planetary destructions in science fiction of all time.

#5 Commonwealth Saga - Peter F Hamilton

The Commonwealth Saga by Peter F. Hamilton is a monstrous pair of books, but ones tha??t I tore through. These two novels take us through a serious case of 'curiosity almost killing the cat'. When a star mysteriously disappears from the sky, a spaceship is sent to fin?d out why.

A Dyson sphere surrounds the sun, enclosing? it completely. However, when it is approached, it disappears, releasing a genocidal hive-mind alien into the universe, previously trapped for everyone's good. The next few book?s cover the relentless spread and devastation of this all-encompassing life form.

The??se books highlight the futility of war against an alien life form that is phenomenally better suited to genocide than even humans. The sense of fear and dread that Hamilton creates in this science fiction saga is second to none for me. The foul, polluting, planet-devouring parasite that begins its journey to 'The Commonwealth' is truly an alien to fear.

These books create a universe rich in action, relationships, politics, and difficult decisions. Despite their vast length, they?? rarely feel like they drag and will keep you flipping pages cover to cover.

#4 Hyperion Cantos - Dan Simmons

Dan Simmons breaches many topics, from religion ?to sex and everything in between, in his Hyperion Cantos. Although the first two books mostly focus on the lives of the central five cha??racters, as the science fiction saga opens up, so does his universe.

The Hyperion Cantos saga presents us with a universe populated by humans, a seemingly benevolent AI, and other humanoid but friendly aliens. Humanity has spread itself across galaxies, utilising the wormhole technology provided by AI. However, there are factions of aliens who choose to remain separate from AI, and w?ar is breaking out.

O?n the planet of Hyperion, tombs are opening up, moving backward through time, and with them is coming an evil never before witnessed by humanity. As the time tombs start to emerge, alien forces fight over the? control of Hyperion.

The Hyper?ion Cantos explores where this evil is coming from, who created it, and what humanity can do to save itself. Dan Simmons is not afraid to go big when it comes to the events in his science fiction saga, creating some of the best 'Oh Shit' moments of many in this list. The saga spans thousands of years and shakes up everything the foundations of the first books lay out.

#3 Dune - Frank Herbert

Hell, you can't have a 'best of' science fiction saga list without good old Dune on? there, can you? Sandworms, future sight, rebel forces, and interplanetary genocide are always going to be a recipe fo??r a good time. Frank Herbert created six books before his death, and then his son capitalised and wrote three preludes after.

These books t??ake you on a journey based around the production of Spice??, a material only found on the planet of Arrakis. This Spice powers interstellar travel and provides extra sensory perception, making it one of the most treasured resources in the universe.

However, there is a boy prophet. The Dune series covers the rise from a small freedom fighter cell to galactic-wide ge??nocidal warlords of the inhabitants of Arrakis under the guidance of a boy hopped up on huffing interstellar spaceship fu??el. The writing of these certainly tails off after the first three books, but Dune always must be included in any best of science fiction list.

If you're finished with this saga, and looking for something in the same thread, try one of these on for size.

#2 The Foundation Series - Isaac Asimov

Isaac Asimov is widely regarded to be one of the granddaddies of science fiction, and rightfully so. Many will know the film I, Robot, starring Will Smith. This is loosely based on the book of the same name from the Foundation Series produced by Isaac Asimov.

If you want to dig into some of the earliest science fiction novels ever written and witness phenomenal world-building, prediction, and galaxy-spanning writing, I cannot recommend the Foundati??on?? series highly enough. Beyond the wonderful storytelling, the cultural significance and genre-defining work these books hold cannot be ignored.

There are seven books in the saga, but three core ones. Due to their vast reach, reading them all in order isn't essential. The books cover many theories both in technology and psychology of the time, capturing the para??noias and ??fascination of the 1950s.

#1 The Culture Novels - Iain M Banks

As I mentioned at the beginning of this piece, of course, any 'best of' science fiction list is going to be heavily subjective. The Culture Novels by Iain M Banks are, for me, where I have foun?d the most joy in any science fictio??n writing.

The universe Banks creates with his many varied and creative worlds never fails to pull me i??n. The books in his science fiction saga can really be read in any order, with some crossover in characters and planets. Each book is a standalone tale captured within the Culture universe.

These novels take place in a future?? utopia, with everything living in a post-scarcity society. The AI of the planet-sized ships is beyond our understanding of? intelligence but entirely benevolent, seeing humanity as a sweet pet rather than a threat. Humans live how they choose, deciding on the paths they want to take, aided by the ships.

This doesn't mean the universe of T??he Culture Novels isn't without its drama??. Many incredible and beautifully crafted narratives are pulled from this world. Rather than creating stories from struggle and conflict, Banks chooses to take the path of resistance and arm humanity to the hilt but still create adventure and struggle.

The Culture Series has, for me, some of the most interesting concepts and beautiful writing in Science Fiction sagas. The many varied books that have come from it are each inc??redibly individual, with eac??h one digging into a new concept or conflict. Pick any one of these up, and you'll immediately understand why.

The post The 10 best Science-Fiction? Book Series Of All-Time (Ranked) appeared first on Destructoid.

I read the first Harry Potter book when I was eight years old and they quickly became a favorite of mine, remaining so to this day. As such, I’m very excited about the Harry Potter series and the possibilities it brings. 

If you’ve only ever watched the Harry Potter movies, I’m sorry to tell you that you’re missing out on the details which make the wizarding world so popular. There are so many feature??s and subplots in the books that are either altered or entirely omitted from the movies. However, the series does offer a chance for these things to get the spotlight they truly deserve. Hopefully.

Peeves

Peev?es is the resident Poltergeist of Hogwarts and, as a Poltergeist, he gets into all manner of mischief. He’s a comic relief? character who has a complete disregard for authority in all forms, helps to spread gossip among students, but is absolutely loyal to Hogwarts itself. 

He fears the Bloody Baron (another character entirely excluded from the movies), respects Albus Dumbledore (but doesn’t listen to him), and shares a bond with the Weasley twins due to their shared love of pranks and chaos. When Fred and George leave Hogwarts during The Half-Blood Prince, Peeves f??ollows their? instructions to cause problems for Delores Umbridge and actually salutes them in front of the entire school as they leave.

The Weasleys visiting the Dursleys

During The Goblet of Fire, in order to collect Harry and take him to the Quidditch World Cup (which also suffered during the movie adaptation), the Weasleys attempt to arrive at the Dursley’s house via Floo Powder. However, the Dursley’s have blocked u?p their fireplace, leaving the Weasley’s trapped behind a stud wall. 

What follows is a glorious scene where the Dursley’s break through the wall, destroy the pristine living room in 4 Privet Drive, and the twins give Dudley a Ton-Tongue ??Toffee which makes his tongue ?swell to insane proportions, terrifying the Dursleys. 

S.P.E.W.

The Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare was Hermione’s ill-thought attempt to help the House Elves escape servitude. In The Goblet of Fire, Hermione starts her very own club, with the acronym name of? S.P.E.W., makes badges, and tries to recruit members to her cause. 

What ??she failed to take into account, however, was that House Elves actually enjoy serving their wizarding folk, for the most part, and there was even an entire army happily working away in the Hogwarts kitchens. 

Harry and Cho’s disastrous date

Alth?ough we do see a small glimpse of Harry’s ill-fated relationship with Cho Chang during the movies, the best part of the terrible coupling is omitted. 

During The Half-Blood Prince, Harry and Cho have a romantic date at Madam Puddifoot’s in Hogsmeade on Valentine’s Day. Sadly, it’s a disaster and after Harry mentions that he plans to meet up with Hermione afterward, Cho flies of??f the handle and cries b??efore storming off. 

Honestly,?? this whole pairing is just c?ringeworthy, but that doesn’t come across in the movies the same way it does in the books. 

St. Mungos

St. Mungos is a magical hospital based in London and has four floors dedicated to the treatment of magical maladies and injuries, plus another which houses a tea room and gift shop. Sadly, the entire building is removed from the films, despite the fact that we actually visit the hospital during The Order of the Pho??enix, after Arthur Weasley gets attacked by Nagini in the Department of Mysteries. 

It’s also known that both of Neville’s parents, Alice and Frank Longbottom, are long-term residents at St. Mungos due to their extended exposure to the Cruciatus Curse at the hands of Bel??latrix LeStrange. 

However, perhaps the best thing missed in the movies is the fact that Professor Lockhart becomes a long time resident after the events of The Chamber of Secrets, when a memory wiping charm aimed at Ron back??fired and he took the hit himself.?????????????????????????? 

The Gaunt memories

During The Half-Blood Prince movie, a huge part of the backstory is lost due to the omission of the memories of the Gaunts, which are viewed through the pen?sieve in the book. The Ga??unts are the ancestors of Tom Riddle, and the memories tell the story of how Tom Riddle came to be born. 

In short, his mother was a poor woman named Merope Gaunt who used a love spell to trap and marry a wealthy muggle named Tom Riddle. After becoming pregnant, she lifts the spell and Tom Riddle Sr. abandons her, only for her to die shortly after giving? birth to the child who would go on to become Lord Voldemort. 

Winky and the rest of the Hogwarts House Elves

There i?s a whole section of Hogwarts that is never visited during the Harry Potter movies �the kitchens. They’re filled with House Elves who work night and day to prepare the huge amount of food needed to feed ??????????????????????????all the students and staff at Hogwarts. 

One notable House Elf is Winky, who came to Hogwarts after being dismissed by Ludo Bagman during The Goblet of Fire. Feeling depressed a??t being dismissed, she turns to drinking and we end up with what is essentially an alcoholic yet incredibly lovable House Elf. 

Ginny Weasley’s feisty personality

After seeing her portrayal in the Harry Potter movies, fans of the franchise were enraged by how badly Ginny Weasley came across. Her entire personality is lost, with her fading very much into the background despite being a h??uge part of the books. 

She’s supposed to be feisty and very much a miniature version of her mother, Molly. She comes armed with a well refined Bat Bogey Hex, which we never see in the movies, and is loyal to a fault. They really did her dirty in the movies, so I? hope we see more of her actual personality in the series. 

Nearly Headless Nick’s deathday party

I’ve always been angry that Nearly Headless Nick’s entire deathday party is removed from the movies, and I’m ??hoping that we actually get to see it in the seri??es. 

The deathday party is entirely populated by ghosts (except for Harry, Ron and Hermione), with rotten food being available for them to enjoy, an explanation as to why Nearly Headless Nick isn’t named Entirely Headless Nick, and also the whole Head??less Hunt fiasco. Nick deserved so much better, on all fronts.

Interactions with the Muggle Prime Minister

Maybe I’m biased, but I can’t help but find it hilarious to imagine the Prime Minister being accosted by a wizard to discuss the relations between worlds. Imagine the President, sitting in the oval office as a Wizard tries to explain why muggles need to be careful bec?ause a murderer has ?escaped wizarding prison. 

While it isn’t a huge part of the story, it does build a bridge between ??the muggle and wizarding worlds, something which helps to build the world and establish where everything fits.

Percy and his redemption arc

Whi??le Percy’s treachery towards his family is touched on in the movies, it’s very much glossed over with him suddenly being gone and then reappearing later. 

However, in the books, his behaviour is deplorable and he easily becomes a hated character for how he treats his family. He completely blanks th??em in public, humiliates them, and sides with Cornelius Fudge to call them crazy when t?hey back Harry’s announcement that Voldemort is back. 

When he finally does come back, during the Battle of Hogwarts, the family are celebrating when Fred is killed by an expl?osion, never seeing Percy return to the family.

Firenze teaching Divination

In the movies, the most we see of the Centaurs is the strange repeated?? sentence “Mars looks bright tonightâ€? However, at least one Centaur plays a much bigger role in the books. 

During The Half-Blood Prince, after?? the dismissal of P??rofessor Trelawney by Umbridge, Firenze becomes Divination teacher at Hogwarts and remains in the position for two years, teaching students about fortune telling. I’m not sure what else to say about this, except I desperately want more for the Centaurs than the small role they have in the movies.

Charlie Weasley

The Weasleys have seven children, though if you’ve only watched the movie??s, you could be forgiven for thinking one of them doesn’t exist. 

Charlie Weasley is the oldest of those seven children and he works in Romania with Dragons. This is touched upon in the movies, with Ron say??ing as such, but he never appears in person. He’s glimpsed in the holiday photo from Egypt, but despite the fact that he was supposed to come pick ?up Norberta, he never shows his face.

The backstory of the Vanishing Cabinet 

Remember the Vanishing Cabinet which is used by the Death Eaters to gain entry to Hogwarts during the final battle??? That piece of furniture has an entire backstory interwoven through pre??vious books. 

It first appears in The Chamber of Secrets, when Har?ry is accosted by Filch for leaving muddy footprints in ?the freshly cleaned halls. Nearly Headless Nick convinces Peeves to create a distraction, and he breaks the cabinet. 

Then, in The Goblet of Fire, Fred and George Weasley shove a Slytherin called Montague into the Cabinet and he gets stuck between Hogwarts and Borgin and Burke’s. When he escapes, he tells Draco Malfoy what happened, providing D??raco with the idea to repair the Cabinet and get the Dea??th Eaters into the castle.

However, none of this feat??ures in the movies, and this entire subplot is lost.

Harry funding Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes

In return for winning the Tri-Wizard Tournament during The Goblet of Fire, Harry receives 1,000 Galleons. Howev??er, Harry has an entire vault filled with Galleons in Gringotts and has no use for the money. Instead, he hands it over to Fred and George Weasley.

They, in turn, use this money to purchase a shop in Diagon Alley and build their wizarding joke empire, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Without Harry, they would not have been able to start their shop and live out their prankster dreams, albeit? for a short time in Fred’s case.

The post 15 book features I hope actually appear in the Harry ?Potter TV series appeared first on Destructoid.

The birth of science fiction is considered by some to stretch all the way back to the age of Shelly's Frankenstein. Since then, there have been some hugely influential writers in the science ficti?on genre. Here is my personal list, both of the modern age and the old.

Sci Fi writers you need on your bookshelves

Whether you're just delving into the wonderful world of sci-fi or already have shelves straining under Hamilton's epics, there are always a few writers you still need to discover. Take a look through this list to see which writers you may have missed from your collection.

H.G Wells

I may as well get one of the all time greats out of the way, to begin with. H.G. Wells is responsible for some of the greatest works of science fiction literature of all time, with some being adapted for film and radio. His most famous work is no doubt War of The Worlds, but other notable entries include The Invisible Man and The Time Machine.

??He was a prominent futurist who predicted many of the technologies we have today. He foresaw the use of the Atomic Bomb, satellite television, space travel, and many other technologies far beyond his time. The granddaddy of science fiction is, without a doubt, one of the most influential science fiction writers.

Essential reading:

• War of The Worlds
• The Invisible Man
• The Time Machine
• The Island of Doctor Moreau
• The World Set Free

Mary Shelly

Although not the most prolific sci-fi writer of all time, Mary Shelley can certainly be considered among the most influential. Taking a look at Frankenstein, published in 1818, we can clearly see the first elements of science fict??ion in literature. Her opening of the door to fiction, combined with the marvels of science, paved the way for the entire genre.

If you're interested in where it all began, Frankenstein is a wonderful work. I??t is steeped in horror, social observation, fascination with new and barely understood technology, an?d the fear of the unknown.

Philip K. Dick

Whereas some of Philip K. Dick's books are essential reading for anyone looking for influential sci-fi writers, some are reserved for completionists. Dicks various works, such as Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, Scanner Darkly, and The Man in The High Castle, have been adapted into film and TV. Bladerunner, based on Electric Sheep, is widely considered to be one of the best science fiction films of ??all time.

However, Philip K. Dick is a very stylised writer, rarely conforming to traditional narratives or writing styles. This can certainly make some of his lesser-known works a difficult read for the uninitiated. This doesn't mean ???you shouldn't delve into his work, though. Once you get over his bizarre approach to narrative, his books will change your perception of reality.

Essential reading:

• Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep
• Scanner Darkly
• Valis
• A Maze of Death
• The Man in The High Tower

William Gibson

Working through Neuromancer by William Gibson often re??quires the reader to take a quick minute to remember how long ago the novel was published. This runs true for many of ?his varied works. Gibson's ability to predict and expand on the future of technology is uncanny. His understanding of just what the Internet and electronic connections would be and the results of it all are still being unraveled today.

For me, Gibson's writing st?yle is everything I want from a science fiction book. He drops you into a world that is unexplained, into a narrative already well underway, with concepts you have to learn as you go. The depth and ferocity of Gibson's writing result in a narrative that barely gives room to breathe. It's only once you've put the book down that you realize just how much he has fit into the relatively short stories.

Neuromancer is credited with a lot of what made up the theory behind The Matrix films. He accurately described the internet, cyberspace, meta universes, and international ?elec?tronic communication way before it was ever available.

Essential reading:

• Neuromancer
• Count Zero
• Burning Chrome
• Mona Lisa Overdrive
• Archangel (Graphic Novel)

Douglas Adams

When e??verything starts a little too bleak and serious on your science fiction bookshelf, take this influential British writer for a spin. Douglas Adams takes the seriousness, mostly, out of science fiction and yet still paints a wonderfully rich and vibrant world that will scratch the itch of any sci fi fan.

Although the world of Arthur Dent in Hitchikers Guide to The Galaxy isn't one of intergalactic space battles, and multi-planet politics, the 'trilogy of five' is full of amazing concepts and stories. Each book expands upon the universe created by Adams, producing some truly fascinating characters, and some hilarious situations. There are very few writers in the science fiction g??enre who have the dry humour and creativity of Douglas Adams.

Essential reading:

• Just start at the beginning of The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy and go from there.

Jules Verne

Many of t??he books of Jules Verne are read to children as they grow up, or used as educational studies. There is a good reason for that. His works are full of imagination, creativity, and marvel. The worlds of Jules Verne are distinctly of years long passed when science was still more or less only fiction.

Verne wrote some of the most gripping and exciting adventure stories of his time. Even now, they are considered essential reading for most lovers of literature, with most having delved into at least one. He pushed the boundaries of what science was capable ??of at the time, resulting in some truly fascinating works of science fiction.

Essential reading:

• Journey to The Center of The Earth
• Around The World in 80 Days
• Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea
• From The Earth To The Moon + Around The Moon

Isaac Asimov

The reach of Asimov's works in both the Foundation and Robots series goes far beyond the scope of his books. The impact of his theories and ideas are implemented in every?thing? from Hollywood to theoretical papers.

His works are remarkably difficult to adapt to screen due to their complexity of concept and theory. However, I consider them essential reading and Asimov one of the?? most influential science fiction?? writers of all time.

The Foundation series focuses on a universe that has expanded across the Galaxy. It is a society based on predictions made by a socio-scientist eons before. He created the Sheldon Principle, which was able to predict big events and advise on how to deal with them. The many books, both in the Foundation and Robotics series, tackle some huge ?and fascinating issues and subjects. As a writer, he is almost unmatched, and as a social commentator and world builder, he is among the best.

Essential reading:

• Foundation Series
• Robots Series
• Prelude to Foundation

Arthur C. Clark

There are few writers of his era as good at describing the vast nothingness of space as Arthur C. Clark. His world-renowned book, 2001, A Space Odyssey, was lovingly depicted on the big screen by Kubrick, giving imag??e to the amazing science fiction novel written by one of the most influential writers of his time.

Besides this classic, Clark wrote many other novels, often dealing with space travel, alien ships, and first contact. His series of Rama books examines the idea of aliens entering our local space and the implications of their presence. Childhood's End is a fascinating look at the arrival of a seemingly benevolent alien race, positioning themselves above Earth in an attempt?? to media?te international relations.

Arthur C. Clark isn't afraid to write books of vast scale and significance. His narratives can span decades, sometimes resulting in catastrophic changes. This scope is what makes him s??o influential in the science fiction genre.

Essential reading:

• 2001: A Space Odyssey
• Rendezvous with Rama
• Childhoods End
• The Nine Billion Names of God

Margaret Atwood

As an author, she has rooms full of literary awards, and every one of them is well-earned. She can be considered among the best writers in many genres alongside her massive influence in modern science fiction. Some of her most famous works, like the Handmaid's Tale trilogy, have been adapted for TV to huge success, and many of her other world?s sit among the best in the genre.

Margaret Atwood approaches her science fiction in a unique and affecting way in both her Handmaid's Tale and MaddAddam trilogies. The verisimilitude she loves to embrace in her work brings the realism of the situations very close to home. Atwoods various tales are often seen as sociopolitical observations as well as gripping pieces of science fiction. Atwood writes with a ??gravitas and realism that leaves lasting impressions.

Essential reading:

• Handmaids Tale
• The Testaments
• Oryx and Crake
• The Year of The Flood

Iain M. Banks

The Culture Series, written by Iain M. Banks, flexes his impeccable ability to create a vast and complex universe while still keeping the intricacies of human emotion at its very core. Banks never loses sight of what it is to be human or what we consider to be important. Throughout his Culture Series, he tackles everything from possible galactic destruct?ion to gender-swapping ex-lovers entangled in joint pregnancies. Nothing ??is outside the scope of his imagination.

Iain M. Banks is a prime example of what is possible when a creative author is given the freedom of science fiction. Few series of books broach quite as many concepts and get quite as experimental as Banks does. He is, for me, one of the most influential modern science fiction writers out there.

Essential reading:

• Player of Games
• Excession
• Use of Weapons
• The Hydrogen Sonata
• Against a Dark Background

Ursula K. Le Guin

No list would be complete without the multi-award-winning science fiction writer Ursula K. Le Guin and her enormous influential impact on science fiction. Le Guin has written some magnificent pieces of science fiction, delving deep into a number of complex social and political issues. Her seminal work, Left Hand of Darkness, unpacks the issues surrounding sex, identity, and gender. The Dispossessed, anot??her one ?of her essential books, tackles capitalism, the advancement of education, and the values of freedom, among many other issues.

Ursula K. Le Guin is a writer with real weight to her writing. Her books can be a little heavy for first-time science fiction readers, but no fan should be without at least a few of h??er incredibly important works. She?? tackles huge societal issues and paints them over wonderful science fiction backdrops like few others.

Essential reading:

• The Dispossessed
• Left Hand of Darkness
• The Lathe of Heaven

The post 11 most ??influential Science Fiction writers of all time appeared first on Destructoid.

Metal Slug Tactics has been parked on the horizon for what feels like an eternity. First announced back in 2021, it’s perhaps due to my excitement that a few years have felt like an age. It’s almost here, however, and I’ve had the opportunity to try it out and see if a?ll the suffering was worth it.

If you aren’t familiar, Metal Slug Tactics is a s??pin-off of the venerable 1996 arcade classic. As the name implies, Leikir has transplanted the run-and-gun gameplay to the grid-like fields of a turn-based strategy game. And while those two genres are vastly different, there is very little in this world that can’t be improved with the presence of Fiol?ina Germi.

The narrative of Metal Slug Tactics is hardly surprising. Mainstay antagonist, General Mor?den, has escaped and is�bad. The demo doesn’t really suggest any subtext. You play as the good guys, and the rebels are the bad guys. Blow them up. It’s actually kind of annoying how little the dialogue tries to show personality. Leikir’s maybe afraid of straying too far from the source material, but the result?? is just empty.

That’s not terribly important, considering you’ll spend most of your time viewing a battlefield gr??id. However, I have more bad news for (some of) you: It’s?? a roguelite.

You select your three characters in the garage, and then they speed out to a selected region. You’re then set loose to complete a set number of missions before the boss shows up. If you can defeat the boss, y??ou complete the region.

In betwee??n missions, you’re provided with random perks and equipment, which are only available for that ru??n. Likewise, your characters level up, but once the run is complete, they’re back to square one. Permanent progress is made by buying upgrades for the perks you’re given as options.

The framework doesn’t bother me. The luck required to have the best perks show up between missions is the major reservation here, but the roguelite injection?? at least means that the battles depend more on skill than simply leveling up your characters. Your success is based mostly on how deftly you can cut through missions to get their rewards.

And there is a deceptively high skill ceiling. Characters use their skills by spending adrenaline, and adren??aline is built up by traveling to the extremes of their movement range.

Beyond that, however, unit placement is important to utilize sync attacks. Essentia?lly, if one of your characters attacks while that enemy is in another unit’s sights, the stationary unit will add to the attack. If you’re careful and need to take down a particularly hefty e??nemy, you can position three characters so they’ll each join in for one big attack.

There’s no requirement to follow the turn order, either. Sometimes, a character will get a bonus move for performing an action, which allows you to reposition them. If you take advantage of this, they can act in two separate syn??c attacks.

The importance of placement in Metal Slug Tactics means that things keep moving and rarely slow down. There isn’t a lot of importance placed on sync attacks at the beginning, either, so it can make the game feel decept?ively simple.

There’s a variety of missions that pop up which range from escort missions to enemy extermination. Each one?? has a sub-objective which will net you additional bonuses if you can pull them off.

The boss battles are a bit more interesting. The demo only has a single one against Big Shiee, the Yamato-style battle?ship on treads. I was delighted since it’s also my favorite boss from across the series.

The battle is interesting since your soldiers leap across floating cargo containers. Every couple turns, a section of ground will drop into the water, killing anyone atop them. You have to attack Big Shiee in the middle, but you can’t simply ignore the soldiers who pop up with every new clump of junk. This means you have to keep moving and take your shots on the big ship whenever you have an opening. Itâ€?™s pretty enjoyable, though there seems to be some effects missing in the demo.

Speaking of which, the visuals are n??ice but not exactly up to the legendary standards of the original series. It’s pretty difficult to live up to Nazca’s pixel art, but it’s not bad. My biggest issue with the visua??ls is the menus and HUD, which don’t share the pixelated art of the gameplay. Any high-resolution text next to a pixel art backdrop is going to look awful. They might as well use Comics Sans.

After some hesitation, I eventually began enjoying my time with Metal Slug Tactics. It’s a deceptively simple strategy game, not unlike something such as Chroma Squad. Its link with the Metal Slug serie?s feels largely cosmetic, but Leikir is making the most of it by incorporating familiar? bosses and enemies.

I’m not blown away, but I am looking forward to when the full version arrives this Fall. I’d like to see greater enemy variety, most of all. Tanks were mentioned in the demo, but aside from the eponymous Metal Slug, there were none to be seen. Here’s hoping that this small slice of Metal Slug Tactics is just the foundation for something special.

Metal Slug Tactics is releasing on PC and consoles in Fall 2024.

The post The Me??tal Slug Tactics demo shows promise, also Fio appeared first on Destructoid.

Over the last few years, I've grown increasingly fond of playing demos over watching game trailers. Trailers can be fun (as I found myself squealing over the recent Xbox Showcase announcements), but there's noth??ing like playing a small slice of a game and seeing your excitement for a game jump massively.

Steam's Next Fest events are a great source of demos, but the s?heer amount can be daunting to sort through. That's why I've curated a list of game demos that are well worth your time. He??re are the 10 of what I consider the best Steam Next Fest demos of June 2024.

10 must-play Steam Next Fest demos in the June 2024 event

I've listed 10 of my favorite demos from the Fest below, but don't shy away from trying more if you get the chance. For example, GMTK's Mind Over Magnet was very close to making this? list and is still well worth your time. These merely edged out the competition?.

Schim

Shadow-based puzzlers are far from a new thing for the puzzle genre, but something about Schim's use of narrative combined with its novel take on shadow manipulation works very well for me. You play a small shadow frog hopping from shadow to shadow as you try to traverse the world. This includes people moving about as well, and they won't wait for you to make a jump before going about their day. It grounds Schim in this semi-realistic setting that offers a lot of promise for the full release. Schim releases on July 18.

Akimbot

When I went into Akimbot, I was expecting a little platformer where you shoot some enemies and maybe toy around with a few weapons. What I wasn't expecting was a well-put-together Ratchet & Clank-style platformer, equipped with pleasing scenery, weighty movement, and humor that quickly grows on you. It's even got fluid combat that quickly gains depth. Akimbot?? is worth any platforming fan's time and launches on Steam on August 29.

What The Car

I have yet to play the developer's previous game What The Golf, but What The Car makes me want to pick it up ASAP. This little physics-based adventure game sees you run a car around (with actual legs, may I add) to cruise through levels and avoid numerous obstacles. However, each stage puts a unique twist on your car such as more legs or rocket boosters to switch things up. It helps elevate a rather one-note experience into one that constantly adapts to keep things fresh, and I can't wait to see how that's moved further along in the full release. What The Car launches on September 9.

The Operator

The Operator scratches an itch I've had since playing games like Orwell and Hacknet. This detective puzzle game sees you scour a government database to help Federal Department of Intelligence agents solve cases. You'll scan for vehicle details, acquire names & addresses, and even locate discrepancies between witness testimony & real events. Its evidence footage can come across as a bit staged, but it has its heart in the right place and comes with full voice acting along with already challenging puzzles. The Operator is currently planned for a Q3 2024 release.

Wizard of Legend 2

I haven't jumped into the original Wizard of Legend just yet, but as far as I can tell, Wizard of Legend 2 is already doing great to keep that gameplay style while translating it to a 3D space. It even tosses elements of its contemporaries like Hades into the mix to further its appeal. There isn't too much in the demo to go off of, but I can already envision plenty of unique builds centering around the random character buffs. Wizard of Legend 2 currently has no planned release window.

Wild Bastards

Strategy shooters like Ready or Not feel right at home for me in their intensity, realism, and attention to detail. While Wild Bastards is nowhere near as realistic, combining strategy FPS elements and boomer shooters works shockingly well. Throw in a cosmic Wild West theme, unique & compelling characters, and more than enough passives, and you have a roguelike that feels almost created for someone like me. I've had the previous entry Void Bastards in my backlog for a while, and I'm thinking I'll be checking that out sooner rather than later. Wild Bastards shoots its way into launch on September 12.

Kill Knight

From the second I saw Kill Knight at the Triple-i Showcase back in April, I knew I needed to get my hands on it. Having played its demo now, that excitement holds firm. This score-based arena shooter is a bit tough to get the hang of at first, but once you do, you feel like a slaughter symphony, weaving various attacks in between each other to wipe out consistently spawning hordes of foes. With plenty more tools in the full release, and more maps to come, this will easily become a great way to kill time while chatting in Discord calls. Kill Knight releases sometime before the end of 2024.

I Am Your Beast

One of Strange Scaffold's previous games, El Paso Elsewhere, got me lost in its unique and impactful story while leaving much to be desired in its gameplay. Five minutes with I Am Your Beast showed this wouldn't be the same situation. Each level feels like a sandbox waiting to be mastered, with more than enough weapons, explosives, and elevation to manipulate for a better time. It's even got Mario-esque Goomba stomping, and who doesn't want Goomba stomping. With a bombastic soundtrack and solid visuals to boot, I'm excited to see how the team expands on the core ideas with more levels to play with. I Am Your Beast is currently set for an August 15 release.

Tactical Breach Wizards

I went into Tactical Breach Wizards expecting an XCOM-style experience featuring tactical wizards armed with magic .357 ammunition. While what I got was a tactics puzzle game of sorts, I'm still impressed by how satisfying TBW can make setting up and executing a plan. Baiting an enemy into a trap or sending someone flying out of a window is great, and the story-driven aspects are rife with intrigue and some solid banter between characters. If you want to cast a few magic bullet barrages yourself, Tactical Breach Wizards releases on August 22.

Dungeons of Hinterberg

I wasn't sold on Dungeons of Hinterberg from its trailers, primarily for the art style not jiving with me too well. However, that opinion has done a complete 180 now that I've had some time with it. This dungeon-crawler mixes narrative elements with some interesting locales, satisfying combat encounters, and more than enough puzzles. It's even got some fluid movement through its hoverboard and rail-grinding traversal. It all oozes this sense of style that makes it hard to put down. Dungeons of Hinterberg relea?ses on July 18, and is coming to Game Pass?? if you want easier access to it.

The post 10 Steam Next Fest demos you need to play before it’s over appeared first on Destructoid.

One can never truly tell whether a game will become popular, or how it even does so. I imagine it's the bane of many developers' professional lives, moving into uncertain territory in a shaky industry that's prone to fickl?e trends and hard-to-please masses. However, according to recent experience, it seems you can always make headway in the cutthroat world of gaming by appealing to fruit lovers on Steam.

Released in April this year, Banana is one of those things that can come along and just give you brief pause for thought. If you haven't heard of it, don't ?worry; you probably will soon enough (this article notwithstanding).

To give it the most succinct premise: Banana is a game about a banana. It's not about playing as one or being embroiled in a tale about?? banana theft or someth??ing of that ilk. It does, however, feature a banana as its �shall we say �main protagonist.

The aim of the game is to click on the yellow fruit that sits peacefully at the center of the screen. When you click your mouse, a counter will add on a number. One, it will say. Then two, as is usually dictated in these things. And so on. The more you click?, the more numbers.

That's it. That's what you do. You click on the banana, and it will tell you how many times you clicked it. Over 8,900 users have decreed that this game is worthy of a "Very Positive" review score. It's also the fourth most-played game on Steam at the time of writing, ahead of GTA 5, Destiny 2, and Stardew Valley.

Okay, what's going on here? There has to be a bit more to it than what we're seeing on the surface, thought I, so I decided to give Banana a go. Not for science, you understand.

I ate one for breakfast before writing this (true story)

At the very least, the game is free, so it's got that going fo??r it. If, at this point, you're even the tiniest bit intrigued about a game where you seemingly click on a digital banana endlessly, you'll be pleased to know you don't have to pay a penny to do so. Honestly, I think it would be a bit rich of the developers (for there are numerous) to charge money. But more on that later.

Banana is as basic as a game can be. In a similar vein to past click-based releases like Cookie Clicker, our task is simply to press the mouse button down on-screen in order to see the counter ??go up. Is it fun? I wouldn't say so. Although I must admit to getting a slight dopamine rush when I realized I could alternate left and right clicks in quick succession. Whoosh! Up went those numbers, taking me to new planes of video game ecstasy I hadn't felt for, ooh, minutes.

Then there was the moment I received my first achievement. I can't honestly say what exactly I did to earn it, but within a few moments of playing, Steam pinged and up it popped: Click. That's what the achievement is called and also how it's described. I also realized that it's the only achievement in the whole game, so while I'm now a Banana completionist, t?hat realization did bring me crashing back down to earth.

The point being that, on the surface, Banana isn't anything more than a simple game about clicking on a potassium-rich berry. But it's not really about the game itself. There's?? something else going on here that's causing the game to blow up on Steam.

What's the real story?

Honestly, I can't explain it. This feels like a meme that's somehow caught the attention of gamers and everyone's just running with it. It's like a gag I'm not quite in on. The f?act that it should not be a success of any kind might be precisely the point. All I can tell you is what I've seen so far, which is a game about clicking on the aforementioned banana.

But it's got something going for it. There's a reason it keeps smashing its concurrent player record (currently on 301,064 according to SteamDB). In a Forbes feature, they offer a theory about why it's become as popular as it has (so far). In a nutshell: Banana does offer more than just making numbers go up, and it has t?o do with custom skins made by the comm??unity. According to Forbes:

"Apparently you can earn ski??ns in the game every three hours, which mostly cost 3 cents. You get 1 cent by selling them, Valve and the developer get 1 cent each. But some…sell for more. I saw a report that one sold for $400."

The math suggests that, in theory, the developers of Banana could earn a profit from players selling these skins every few ??hours. It could well be in the thousands at this point; enough that it could draw some?? unwanted attention from Steam itself.

It feels less like a game (there's a whole academic subsection dedicated to the discussion of what it means to even "play" a "video game") and more like an experiment. Perhaps a prank that's now become bigger than its original intention. Banana is a whole community. Seriously, check out the Discord channel. Thousands of people are part of this clique, adding? their own skins for others to obtain.

As I look now on Twitch.tv for anyone ?who's currently streaming the game (just searching for "banana" feels like an exercise in futility), I can see that five channels are playing, with just one viewer each. It's clearly, t??herefore, not about any potential entertainment value.

I'll admit, I did not see the appeal (ha!) in playing Banana. Steam clocked me at just seven minutes before I closed the application. I don't really know what's going on here. It could be just a quick way to make some money, or a joke that's gone beyond control. It could be both. It could be neither of those things. I can't even say with confidence that it's the weirdest game out there. It's just an anomaly. An anomaly with zero potas?sium benefit. But an anomaly all the same.

The post So I played the weird Banana game that’s blowing up on Steam appeared first on Destructoid.