With the release of Warframe's Koumei & the Five Fates, several old and outdated weapons received brand new Incarnon forms, bringing them back into the limelight. If you're interested in t??hese old favorites and want to pick them up for your use, here's ho?w you can do so.

Every new Incarnon and how to get them in Warframe: Koumei & the Five Fates

In total, five new Incarnons were added with the update's release, and the weapons that received them have effectively been brought back into relevancy. Before I get into them, if you're not sure what an Incarnon weapon is, it is a system introduced into Warframe several updates ago designed to greatly empower ??old weapons so that they become viable once more.

Typically, when weapons receive Incarnon forms, they become some of the strongest weapons in the game, often gaining significant new mechanics on top of all the buffs that come with them. That said,?? let's jump into which weapons received the polish this time around.

Dera (Base, Vandal)

Both the Base and Vandal versions of the Dera have become eligible for Incanron empowerment. The Incarnon form of the Dera allows it to fire high-powered beams and gain base access to Magnetic damage typing. Note that the Dera can still be used as a standard laser rifle, and to gain access to the beams, it needs to Incarnon Transform first.

Like all Incarnon weapons, you first need to build up its Incarnon Gauge before it can transform. This is done by scoring headshots with the base weapon. When you have enough Incarnon Gauge (it doesn't need to be full), pressing the Alternative Fire button will transform it.

Some key notes about the Dera's Incanron Form:

• Uses a separate magazine from the standard
• Beams grant increased Punch Through, Damage, Critical Chance, and Critical Multiplier
• Reduced Status Chance and Fire Rate
• Gains Magnetic Damage

To install the Incarnon on the Dera, you will need to use a Dera Incarnon Genesis, which is purchased for 120 Platninum from Cavalero in the Chrysalith. You will also need th?e following ma??terials for the process:

• 20x Path Clamps
• 80x Eevani
• 70x Ueymag

Sybaris (Base, Prime, Dex)

All three obta?inable versions of the Sybaris have received Incarnon empowerment for this update. The Incarnon form allows the Sybaris to fi??re in four-round bursts and gain access to the Blast Status effect. To access this improved burst mode and the Blast Damage, the Sybaris needs to be in Incarnon Form after being charged up through headshots.

Key notes about the Incarnon Form:

• Uses a separate magazine from the standard
• Gains Blast Damage and Blast Status is guaranteed on Hit
• Increases Damage, Critical Multiplier, and Status Chance
• Reduces Critical Chance

To install the Incarnon transformation onto the Sybaris, you will need to use a Sybaris Incarnation Genesis, which can be purchased for 120 Platninum from Cavelero. You will also need the following material?s for t??he process:

• 20x Path Clamps
• 150x Saggen Peral
• 70x Ueymag

Cestra

The Incarnon Form of the Cestra sidearm allows it to gradually increase its Critical Chance the longer it is fired, uninterrupted. Unlike the previous mentions Incarnons, it does not gain any new status effects. Even so, this mechanic is a massive boost to the Cestra's damage thanks to how Criticals scale in Warframe. To gain this mechanic, the Cestra must be in its Incarnon Form, which is ??charged up by landing headshots.

Key notes about the Incarnon Form:

• Uses a separate magazine from the standard
• Critical Chance is increased the longer it is fired
• Innately increases base Critical Chance, Critical Multiplier, Damage, and Status Chance
• Fire Rate is reduced

Installing the Incarnon Form onto the Cestra will require using a Cestra Incarnon Genesis, obtained by purchasing it from Cavelero for 120 Plati?num. You will also need the following materials:

• 20x Pathos Clamps
• 150x Saggen Pearl
• 80x Kovnik

Sicarus (Base, Prime)

The Incarnon Form of the Sicarus (both types) allows the weapon's bullets to ricochet when fired. This ricochet is not random, as the ricochet will hit targets close to the main one. To gain access to this, the Sicarus must be in its Incarn??on Form, which is charged up by land?ing headshots.

Key notes about the Incarnon Form:

• Uses a separate magazine from the standard
• Bullets will ricochet to one additional target
• Ricochets have innate Punch Through
• Increased Damage, Critical Chance, and Critical Multiplier

Installing the Incarnon Form for t?he Sicarus will require using a Sicarus Incarnon Genesis, purchased by Cavelero for 120 Platinum. Additionally, you will need the following materials:

• 20x Pathos Clamps
• 100x Nacreous Pebble
• 150x Aggristone

Okina (Base, Prime)

My personal favorite of the bunch, the Incarnon Form of the Okina (both versions), causes kills with the weapon to generate spectral daggers that seek out enemies, applying maximum Cold Status stacks to them. Since the Okina is a melee weapon, it does not rely on headshots to charge its Incarnon Gauge. Instead, you must reach a Melee Combo Multiplier of 6x to activate its Incarnon Form.

Key notes about the Incarnon Form:

• Kills create a single dagger that flies off toward an enemy
• One Dagger applies 10 Cold Stacks
• Daggers have an explosive radius, applying 1 Cold Stack to nearby enemies
• Incarnon Form lasts for 180 seconds

To apply the Incarnon Form to the Okina, you will need to use a Okina Incarnon Genesis, which ??is obtainable from Cavelero for 120 Platinum. You will also need the following m??aterials to complete the process:

• 20x Pathos Clmaps
• 20x Maw Fangs
• 80x Lamentus

How to unlock the Incarnon System in Warframe

In order to use any Incarnon weapon, you must unlock the abilit??y to purchase them first. Unfortunately, this is not an easy task, as the Incarnon System ??was designed for veteran players first and foremost. The process of unlocking requires several important criteria to be met.

• Complete The Duviari Paradox questline
• Complete the Angels of the Zariman questline
• Unlock The Steel Path

The easiest of this bunch is the completion of The Duviari Paradox because new players can choose to begin their life in Warframe from this qu?est. Simply following the questline and its objectives will allow you to complete this part pretty easily. The Duviari Paradox is also rather short.

The Angels of the Zariman, on the other hand, will require the completion of several major prerequisite questlines that lead directly into this one's story. The Angels of the Zariman is required be??cause Cavelero is an NPC located on the Zariman itself, which means you cannot purchase from him if this questline is not finished.

Unlocking The Steel Path is by far the most difficult portion of the unlocking process, as it requires you to complete all of the main mission nodes on every planet in the Solar System. The Steel Path mode significantly boosts the difficulty of a majority of Warframe's miss?ions, requiring you to have extremely solid builds, well-built gear (Warframes and weapons), and a degree of skill to handle the much more powerful enemies present.

Warframe - Incarnon Evolutions, explained

All Incarnon weapons have access to an Incarnon Form, which allows them to transform into a much more powerful version of themse??lves for a limited time. However??, the power of Incarnon does not stop here, as all Incarnon weapons also have access to Evolutions to further boost their power.

Incarnon Evolutions give Incarnon weapons permanent buffs in their base and Incarnon forms. Most Incarnon weapons have four or five Evolutions available to them, with the first one always being the ability to use the Incarnon Form they have. Further Evolutions require you to complete weapon-specific challenges that allow them to Evolve into their next state. Success with one of these challenges will ?allow your Incarnon weapon to evolve, letting you select between one to three perks t??o boost the weapon's power.

The Felerax Incarnon weapon, for example, requires you to com??pl?ete a Solo Mission with an Incarnon weapon in every gear slot to reach its fifth and final Evolution. As the final Evolution, the reward is the ability to pick between three different perks that dramatically boost the power of the Felerax.

The post All new Incarnons in t??he Warframe: Koumei & the Five Fates appeared first on Destructoid.

Since Helldivers 2 was first released, players have been trying to put together the perfect stealth build that will let them sneak through the thick jungles like futuristic sci-fi stealth operatives on planets such as Malevelon Creek. Now that we have the Viper Commandos Warbond, one player has gotten us one step closer to making this d?ream a reality.

While it's been possible to put together certain pieces of gear in Helldivers 2 to create a build that looks like it should be stealthy, nothing has actually worked in practice until very recently. Over on the Helldivers 2 subreddit, user CalypsoThePython has crafted a build that hides your character from enemies even when right up close to them. While there are limitations, they've included a video showing just how well the build works against bu?gs and bots.

Now you too can hide in plain sight from Terminids or Automatons in Helldivers 2 and quietly spread managed democracy

This build consists of the Ballistic Shield Backpack Stratagem, which you'll need to call down at the start of a mission, and the K-2 Throwing Knife from the Viper Commandos Warbond in Helldivers 2. As you can see, the shield makes you pretty much invisible to enemi?es. You can walk up ??to Automatons without them noticing you.

Even if the bots do? see you, there's a tiny window of time in which you can pull up your shield to hide your Helldiver and make them forget they saw anything. Of course, all this hiding makes it hard to kill anything, which is where the new silent grenade alternative comes in.

The K-2 Throwing Knife might not be the most powerful weapon in Helldivers 2, but it packs enough of a punch? when hitting an enemy in the right location that it'll make short work of them. In the video demonstration, we can see automatons being downed before they have a chance to react.

However, Terminids are a slightly different matter. You can kill one of them, but it'll alert the other bugs nearby and probably bring a swarm down on your position. However, this doesn't make the build useless because it's still a great way to sneak past bug patrols. I can't help but think of how many more kids the community could have saved if we'd had this build sooner.

The key to this almost perfect stealth build is always keeping your shield up and your eyes on your enemies. It's one step closer to active camouflage, which I hope we get in the future. Sneaking their way through hordes of enemies instead of fail??ing to shoot their way through them should help players struggling on higher difficulties survive for longer.

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Since it was released in February 2024, I've played dozens of hours of Helldivers 2 alongside its phenomenal community. The gameplay feels fantastic and, thanks to regular updates and Major Orders, is improving all the time as its story grows more intriguing. The only problem is that it really only has one gre??at song, and it's a little overdone.

Recently, while I was annihilating hundreds of Terminids in the name of managed democracy, I thought to myself how many other games ??have variations on their main themes or just different songs that are played at specific moments or randomized to keep hub areas interesting. ??More than that, music is actually a tool in some games to help indicate whether you should feel safe or prepare for an attack.

Music prepares you for battle (or safety)

My favorite example is the save room in the Resident Evil fra??nchise. Most, if not all, of those games have different music, usually calm and somewhat warming, in their save rooms to help you calm down and feel safe because enemies can't get inside of them. Well, most of the time.

Mass Effect's galaxy map is another great one because it features the best music in the game. It helps you reflect on what you've done and consider where to go next. That's exactly what Helldivers 2 is missing. You have the epic theme ??song, A Cup Of Liber-Tea, that plays as you're extracting from a mission, but we need more variety.

I'm a sucker for retro soundtracks, and I think I'd lose my mind if I called an extraction in Helldivers 2 and this 16-bit version of the theme started playing. It's quite fitting because so much of the game is a callback to that early era of video games. The suburban dream that Super Earth colonies mimic, the senseless, almost aimless violence against aliens that we never questioned in games like Space Invaders, and, of course, everything Starship Troopers.

Surprisingly, we can go back even further with this 8-bit cover. I think this might fit better as a song we can play in our Superdestroyer on a jukebox. This blazing in the background as you pick your loadout or buy items from the current Warbond would just hit differently. Not that there's anything wrong with the current music in place for Helldrop prep. But I think variety would make all the difference, especially when you're playing? with a bunch of like-minded fans who all get extremely pumped whenever an 8-bit song drops.

Metal and orchestral covers would get Helldivers in the mood

It can't all be silly retro songs, though, which is where this metal cover comes into play. Once again, I think it could help you to get pumped up for your next mission if you could play it in your Superde?stroyer, but it could a??lso save a failing mission.

Imagine the scene. You and your fellow Helldivers are down to one or two reinforcements on a high-difficulty mission, and you've just called in the extraction. Suddenly, swarms of Terminids appear everywhere, overwhelming your minefields and quickly sucking up your a??mm?o as you pump bullet after bullet into the hordes.

But you keep on fighting. In fact, you feel like you're winning. You hit impossible shots, get a Stratagem off before blasting a bug in the face just as it launches at yours, an??d dive away from an incoming Charger to have it crushed by that Stratagem you just called down. All this becomes possible because you're filled with energy from this amazing metal cover of A Cuper Of Liber-Tea, and you feel like you could fight on for hours.

Everything I've said about the metal cover applies to this epic orchestral version of the Helldivers 2 main theme, too. It is exquisite, ascending what was already an amazing tune to new heights where it can rain down explosive fire on your enemies and make ??you feel awesome.

I think you could have a lot of fun with this song on your Superdes?troyer as well. It's almost too epic for that period of downtime between missions, but I can imagine some great moments and memes being created organically, thanks to l?ittle more than the song playing while fans discuss their strategies and the next mission.

Relax to folk music on the way to manage democracy

This last song, the folk cover version of A Cup Of Liber-Tea, is the best I've found. It hits on two levels. First, it's got that energy you need at the end of a mission, but I also think it would work well if played right after your initial drop. The intensity fades away after a minute or so, which is about when you've fought off the worst threats you've landed on and are finally heading toward yo??ur objectives.

The other time this song would work well is on your Superdestroyer. I actually traveled to the Meridia Black Hole and played all of ??these songs just to see if they would work for the introspective, quiet moments on your ship while you play a few solo missions or just wait for your ??friends.

This s??ong is almost there, but not quite. We need a slow, acoustic song to play while in our Superdestroyer so we can look back at what we've done, remember our fallen Helldivers?, and fight on. Arrowhead Game Studios is doing a great job of improving gameplay and listening to fans. But I think it also needs to give us more variety in the game's music so we're less exhausted by the main theme and have the chance to appreciate every second we spend playing, not just missions on alien planets.

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With the Viper Commandos Warbond announcement for Helldivers 2, developer Arrowhead Game Studios explained that future W??arbonds would be more focused on a theme. Of course, what this community heard is ??that a medieval knight Warbond would be amazing, and now it's all it can talk about.

I have to say, I was also pretty thrilled when the developer confirmed it would be tightening the theme of Warbonds. all the ones leading up to Viper Commandos have felt like the?y've had armor that matches the theme, but everything else was kind of thrown into them randomly from whatever new items were working. I can't even find a fault with the idea of a medieval knight Warbond because the suggestions fans have made for items?? are fantastic.

Helldivers 2 fans have already figured out what you should get in a medieval knight Warbond

Fans on the Helldivers 2 subreddit have been discussing the potential for a medieval knight-based Warbond in great detail. It has suggestions for armor parts, weapons, and even some themed new items that could be added to the game, just like h??ow Viper Commandos adds the Throwing Knife.

User JamesMcEdwards' suggestion, "Like the Blood Dragon armour from Mass Effect?" is genius. This is an exclusive set of armor for Mass Effect you could get as DLC for having the right bonus pack for Dragon: Age Origins. Based on the image below, I think you'll agree it fits right into the Helldivers 2 universe.

User Doomedtundra put forward a great idea. "Arc longsword." I imagine this to be a pretty meaty melee weapon that sl?ows and electrocutes enemies. It?? would likely cut through the hordes of Automatons in the galaxy like a hot knife through butter.

This type of Warbond would also open the door for something Helldivers 2 fans have been asking for since day one. As user SpeedyAzi requests, "All I need is a Laser Calvary Sword and a Robot Horse. Then give me a flag banner as a stratagem." I've never known this community to ask for anything more than a flag banner Stratagem, and seeing it finally enter the game, regardless of the Warbond theme, would be glorious. It also nails the need for more Stratagems.

User Iwlis666 makes a very se??nsible recommendation for how this Warbond could interact with items already in the game. "Great sword as primary that breaks to a sword and shield for secondary with a skin for GL as crossbow or a musket skin for railgun." The Viper Commando Warbond will add vehicle customizations for the first time, so it makes sense that we could have weapon customizations. However, we'd also need some additional functionality for a few in-game items to make a shield work.

The conversation descends into comparisons to Warhammer 40K quite a lot, but that makes sense. After all, Game Workshop's universe is filled with sci-fi knights who wield futuristic versions of the same melee weapons knights were using hundreds of years ago. With the addition of firearms and lasers and a pretty grim leadership model, Helldivers 2 does bear a lot of resemblance to the Grimdark.

I love that the Helldivers 2 community has taken the changes Arrowhead Game Studios wants to make to Warbonds so seriously, even if it has resulted in the craziest idea for a Warbond I've ever seen. I think it bodes well for the community's reaction to fu?ture Warbonds and shows players are open to pretty much anything as long as it's well thought out.

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Some of the most menacing enemies in Fallout games are small critters scaled up to human-sized proportions. A disturbing example of this are the Gulpers of Fallout 76 who were once cute salamanders until the Great War mutated them into six-foot-tall predators of the Wasteland. Fl?ies and other insects aren’t enough to sate their appetite anymore so Gulpers have adapted to ambushing players around the Mire and Cranberry Bog. 

If you’re looking to defeat Gulpers for Seasonal Challenges or harvest their meat to make delicious pepperoni rolls, you’ll want to know all of the locations Gulpers are found within Fallout 76. 

All Gulper locations in Fallout 76 

The Gulper Lagoon is named appropriately. Whether it’s for challenges or for making pepperoni rolls, this POI is the best Gulper farming location. Wit??h 4 guaranteed spawns, it’s perfect for players who don’t mind world-hopping to reset the spawns. 

While not guaranteed to be available at all times, the Moonshine Jamboree event found at Sunday Brothersâ€?Cabin contains the highest volume of Gulpers in all of Fallout 76. Whenev?er this event is active, make sure to prioritize this over the Gulper Lagoon since it is a much more efficient farming method. 

All Gulper variants in Fallout 76 

As with most enemies that players can encounter across Appalachia, Gulpers have many variants. At higher levels, Gulpers become much more durable and have different damage types depending on their variant type. Here are all of the different Gulper variants found in Fallout 76.

• Gulper Newt
• Gulper
• Gulper Devourer
• Glowing Gulper
• Scorched Gulper
• Acidic Gulper

The swamps of Fallout 76 are filled with enemies who are keen to spread their diseases and other status effects to unprepared players. While Gulpers don’t inflict such status effects, their deadly insect neighbors ??do. Pack a disease cure or two and don’t let the resilient salamanders distrac??t you from the other threats in the area. 

The post Where to find Gulpers in Fallout 76 appeared first on Destructoid.

Of all of the daily quests that players can acquire in Fallout 76, hacking a terminal is the most loathed of them all. The hacking minigame isn’t as exc??iting as exterminating pests or hunting down creatures for their materials. Plus, perks are required to attempt to hack most of the terminals found in the game. 

But hacking terminals doesn’t have to be so tedious. Unlike slaying creatures, players don’t have to worry about spawns or interference from others. Ter?minals are found in fixed locations and are alwa?ys the same level, so besides the minigame itself, they can be the most straightforward daily quest to complete. 

How to hack terminals in Fallout 76 

There are four levels of terminals found across Appalachia that range from zero to three. Level zero terminals can be hacked by any player since they don’t require any perks. Terminal levels one thr??ough three require having the Hacker, Expert Hacker, and Master Hacker perk cards respectively in order to hack them. 

Different levels of terminals will provide vary??ing rewards and any level terminal will fulfill most quest or achievement requirements (besides Tadpole challenges which ment?ion particular levels).

While the screen filled with characters might ?be? intimidating at first, hacking terminals is fairly simple. 

• You begin with four attempts to guess the correct password.

  • The level of the terminal determines the number of possible passwords shown along with the number of characters.

• When selecting a password, keep track of the “Likenessâ€?rating given to each password you’ve chosen. Use the process of elimination to avoid any words that don’t have the same number of matching characters.
• Try to select a word that has similar characters to other options in the terminal. This would make it easier to narrow down which characters are correct.
• Selecting clusters of symbols that are enclosed by â€?)â€? “{}â€? “[]â€? or â€?lt;>â€?will grant either additional attempts or will remove any false passwords from the terminal. (Example shown below)

Hacking terminals in Fallout 76 is much more forgiving than in the other Fallout games. In previous installments, failing the minigame would lock the player out of the terminal for the rest of the game. In Fallout 76, the terminal ??will eject the player after a failure and then allow them to try again after a few seconds. 

Level 0 terminal locations in Fallout 76

Level 1 terminal locations in Fallout 76

Level 2 terminal locations in Fallout 76

Level 3 terminal locations in Fallout 76

There are many more terminals found within Fallout 76, most of which require key items, quest completions, or reputation levels to access them. Certainly, more will be added with the upcoming Skyline Valley map expansion. If any hackabl??e terminals are added that are more accessible than the ones on these lists, w?e’ll be sure to update them. 

The post Ev???ery Fallout 76 hackable terminal, locations and levels appeared first on Destructoid.

Some folks would have you believe that adding a focus on vehicles somehow makes this chapter of Fortnite the worst yet. There's a lot of talk that Epic has forgotten what Fortnite is, but that couldn't be further from the truth. It's some fans, I think, that have forgotten what Fortnite is supposed to be. Wrecked has been, by far, the best Fortnit??e I've played to ??date.

Not everyone wants cars to be nerfed

Did Ninja quit the game again this season? Well, don't worry! He'll flip a coin to decide if he's back next season or not. Sure, the sweatiest players on Twitch might be complaining about changes. The rest of us seem to understand that this season rules. This is a game about change, and its the job of pla??yers to adapt. You'll see tons of replies like this on post??s that don't even have anything to do with the vehicles.

How to deal with enemy cars

The fact is, every season of Fortnite has a theme, and that always means big changes. This is a game about having an open toybox to play with. That means new toys are coming and going all the time. Fewer cars have killed me so far this season than Water bending in any given pl??ay session last season. Cars aren't broken, far from it. There are several strategies when dealing with them, and if people were more patient, they'd find that out.

The Nitro-powered rocket fists are perhaps the best weapon for dealing with cars. Not only can they knock a car off track, or even flip it into the air, but they're great for maneuvering. A lot ?of people complain about Nitro boosting cars, but they seem to forget that they can also boost themselves. Doing so gives you a hell of a speed ?and endurance buff to make dodging cars and their weapons an absolute breeze. Combine those two, and you're a car-smashing, air-dashing machine. Can you honestly tell me that anything about that sounds "unfun?"

Nevermind that cars have been in Fortnite forever. When I started back in Chapter 3, cars had parts you could equip to them. The only thing missing were the weapons. In reality, those vehicle weapons aren't much better than having your teammates gun out the window anyway. But after Chapter 3, vehicles became boring. Even just the week before this chapter, I was talking to my squad about how much we missed throwing off-road wheels and cattle-catchers to cars. We missed the chance for customization and? taking ownership of vehicles. It was a ton of fun in Chapter 3, and I'm so, so glad it's back and better in Chapter 5.

If you want some more ideas on how to counter this new car meta, allow me to lend a few ??ideas. Are you running solo? If so, that means other solo people in a car need someone to operate their turrets. My experience is that hopping into an enemy car makes for fun bedfellows. Nobody seems to mind me helping take the gun to mow down our mutual enemies on the island.

Cars are the best distraction

I've found that, more often than not, cars are a better distraction than a weapon. One of my squadmates loves hopping?? out of a vehicle and taking a good vantage poi??nt. While I drive around to catch enemy fire, he picks them off from a short distance. In the screenshot here, you can see me pulling up in my sweet boss-car that I stole. While the bus's owner was firing a heavy turret at me driving, my squadmate snuck up from behind. A couple magnum rounds later, and we have a new bus to add to our collection. (Then our other squadmate accidentally blew it up by hitting it with his car! Chaos!)

Dealing with cars is better with certain guns. The Huntress DMR is ideal for sniping drivers. The Magnum is a good tool for busting tires an?d doing massive damage to the vehicle. The rocket-bow is the best weapon for doing a great amount of damage and throwing cars off course. Again, all of that combined with Nitro works great. I would like to, again, recommend having a set of Nitro fists on hand at all times.

Epic Games did announce that they're un-vaulting Boogie Bombs, which should he?lp in the meantime. I'm curious if an unintended side effect will be boogie-bombing people to limit their movement and then hitting them with your car. It sounds like the EMP grenades from previous seasons will also be showing up soon, which will probably do a lot to ruin the car meta altogether. It'll be a shame that Epic listens to the sweaty players who can't adapt to change. So many of ??us are having a great time running into one another at full speed, then rocket-punching each other into oblivion.

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Helldivers 2 has inspired players from launch day with its incredible visuals and gameplay that makes you want to drop into just one more mission all through the night. Fans have created all sorts of artwork that bring its gritty battles to life, but oil and canvas might be the perfect medium for depicting what is now The Second Galactic War.

Since Helldivers 2 was initially launched in February 2024, I've seen players make some incredible fan art. From the ?gritty film that port??rays the tension of being inside a Hellpod before deployment onto the battlefield to Terminid miniatures that would look at home in Warhammer 40,000. Reddit user WriterSafe9019 has set a new standard for incredible Helldivers 2 art ??with their oil on canvas series that brings to life the elation and fe??ar of spreading managed democracy around the galaxy.

Helldivers 2 oil on canvas paintings breathe new life into the game's hellish, war-torn landscapes

The four oil on canvas paitings by Reddit user WriterSafe9019 were posted on the Helldivers 2 subreddit, where they've recieved understandable praise. While there's the usual collection of democratic Officer-approved responses and references to these being painted with oil produced from dead Terminids and Automatons, there's also genuine appreciation for the ?work.

User ALargeTuna commented that, "These are great! love the feel of 1 and 3 the most. great scenes and mood." I agree with the first image being one that stands out, but I prefer the last one over the third because it's reminiscent of the Anchorage Memorial ion Fallout 3, as well a??s real statues dotted around the world that memorialize wartime events.

In fact, I'd go so far as saying they make Helldivers 2's chaotic battlefront look beautiful. From these images alone, you wouldn't know that Helldivers blast down from ships in orbi?t and step out into swarms of giant bugs and metal monstrosities that want to tear them limb from limb.

They all make Helldivers look heroic, which is absolutely how the game makes you feel while playing. They also dodge the mayhem that e??nsues when several Dropships start bombarding your squad or the crushing sadness of watching a Pelican fly away with your team just as you were diving toward the open door to join them.

I think the whole series is the perfect translation of real wartime paintings we have in museums like the UK's Imperial War Museum today. Artists of the time captured moments they saw both in t??he heat of the moment during terrifyin?g air raids and long after certain events because of the images etched in their minds.

While Helldivers 2's warfare is obviously restricted to our screens, some battles have been pretty damn harrowing. Y??ou only need to mention Malevelon Creek to get some players to shudder with fear, but even in those ??horrible moments there is beauty to be found and isolated within canvases like these.

The post Oil on canvas Helldivers 2 paintings manage ?to romaticize the absolute hell that is spreading managed democracy appeared first on Destructoid.

Some of the best things in life can come from folks working together. It seems that may be the plan with Johan Pilestedt, the newly crowned Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of Arrowhead Games. Pilestedt hit the ground running, asking the Helldivers 2 community for their best Eagle Stratagem ideas.

Pilestedt sent out the request for ideas from the community on Twitter. "Ok," he wrote, "give me your best @helldivers2 eagle stratagem ideas!" Naturally, the community was quick to respond to the post,?? which has more than 4,600 replies at the time of writing.

You can suggest ideas for new Helldivers 2 Eagle Stratagems on Twitter

I suppose that's one way to kick off your new position. Pilestedt dropped his role of CEO just this week to be more hands-on with the development of Helldivers 2. It's good that he won't be focused only on balance patches. On that note, Pilestedt, I have a request: Please bring back my Eruptor. Things just haven't been the same.

I've been scrolling through the replies, and some are quite good. I'm fond of the bomb with an attached Helldiver, an idea straight out of the movie Dr. Strangelove. And it seems Pilestedt, too, is a fan.

Another ??player suggested something like the Fulton surface-to-air recovery system. Pilestedt suggested it could be an id??eal way to recover samples without the hassle.

"So many great ideas," Pilestedt wrote in a follow-up message. "Keep them coming! Also, this is way more fun than a conference room brainstorming. Let's? see if any gets picked up."

Whether some of the ideas end up in Helldivers 2 is up to the new CCO. But hopefully we'll see the best ones show up as new Eagle Stratagems someday. I'm particularly fond of the Fulton idea since I can't count how many times I lost samples on some hopeless, fire-tornado-infested rock or another. A few other great ideas I spotted include a fuel-air bomb, a magnet bomb (it's like throwing Magneto at Automatons, I love it), an aerial recon, and one that allows the delisted countries to purchase and play the game again.

If you also?? have an idea, now's a good time to get the CCO's attention.

The post Helldivers 2’s newest CCO is taking fan ideas for Eagle Stratagems appeared first on Destructoid.

Over the last few years, the Call of Duty franchise has seen plenty of peaks and valleys when it comes to cheating. It's a bad time for everyone, and that's why Acti??vision developed Ricochet Anti-Cheat, which was supposed to be the answer to the CoD community's problems.

After years of holding off on using an anti-cheat to create their own, Ricochet has been better, but not great. Now, cheating seems to be on the uptick again across Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer and Warzone.

New Call of Duty cheats are getting out of hand

Cheating in Call of Duty is bad right now. Especially if you're a highly-ranked player, it feels like the killjoys are in nearly every multiplayer or Warzone match. And it isn't just aim botters and wallhackers anymore, either. Cheaters have created new and outrageous ways to win, ones that even a backpack full of stun grenades can't prevent. For example, this person is literally flying around Fortune's Keep i?n Resurgence.

It doesn't stop there though. Another popular Warzone streamer posted a clip of getting killed by a cheater using a fully automatic rocket launcher. Dealing with cheaters was never easy in the past, but this is getting out of c??ontrol. These new and seemingly improved versions of cheating have made it downright impossible for a regular player to win. When streamers and professionals who play all day for a living are struggling, how is an average person supposed to have any fun?

Cheat creators say Ricochet Anti-Cheat is disabled

According to some cheat creators for Call of Duty, Activision's Ricochet Anti-Cheat is currently disabled. That would explain the massive uptick in cheaters recently, and the new and creative ways they're doing so. Take this information with a grain of salt, as the cheat creators making a claim over Discord are thos?e reporti??ng its tweak, but given the timing, it sure feels plausible.

It would explain a lot, however. Since Ricochet Anti-Cheat was implemented a while back, cheaters have been far less of a problem. They've never disappeared entirely, and they have t??heir moments of making their rounds into matches in between ban waves, but they've been far less of an issue nonetheless. However, many players have reported constant cheating in their lobbies recently. So much so that many are recommended not even playing the game rig?ht now.

When some of the best Call of Duty players in the world don't want to play ranked multiplayer, we've got a big problem. As a member of the professional Call of Duty League team Atlanta FaZe, you'd think aBeZy would dominate ranked multiplayer. Instead, he's avoiding it because there are che??aters in every match. And he's certainly not alone.

The post Call of Duty cheating is getting worse… again appeared first on Destructoid.

Since the launch of season two and ranked Resurgence in Call of Duty Warzone, the community has had a few complaints. None were more common than the way SR is distributed when players earn kills. Developer Treyarch announced via X (Twitter) on Wednesd?ay that a future update will fix the many issues it received complaints about.

Ranked Warzone kill and assist SR awards are changing

Treyarch announced it will "adjust how Kill and Assist SR is awarded when engaging with downed enemies to mitigate 'tap' gameplay and increase competitive integrity of the? SR system." in?? an upcoming patch. More specifically, this will prevent players from doing little to no work in earning a kill but getting SR for it. Additionally, it will prevent players who do most of the damage to an enemy player from going unrewarded or under-rewarded.

After the update is in place, only the following players will receive kill and assist SR when an enemy pl??ayer is? eliminated:

• The player who downed the enemy player.
• Players who damaged the eliminated player shortly before they were downed.

Fortunately, Squadmate Kill SR is still in place. T?his means every time your teammates get kills, you'll still earn a little SR, though it will be much less. Damaging a player who escapes without being downed, and then is killed by your teammate a while later will no longer award assist SR. To receive assist SR for any elimination, players must deal their damage to the enemy player just before they are downed.

Additionally, if you're dead and your teammate is getting kills, you don'?t currently g??et any credit. The same update will make it so Squadmate SR is awarded regardless of whether you're dead or alive.

What's wrong with kill and assist SR in Warzone?

The short answer to why this chan??ge is necessary is because of tapping. Currently, players can see a downed enemy and finish them ??off, getting tons of SR as their reward. It goes without saying that these players didn't do anything to earn the points they're getting toward their ranking. Whoever downed the enemy player should get the majority of the SR, as they're the ones who won the gunfight and earned the points.

Moreover, the developer says this update will make gameplay "feel just as rewarding and much smoother." This is a welcomed update with a quick turnaround after receiving player feedback since the first season two update. These changes should be positive for all ranked Warzone players, e??specially those playing with random squadmates.

The post Warzone update wi?ll bring major changes to Kill and Assist SR awards in Ranked Mode appeared first on Destructoid.

Another week, another game-changing Call of Duty update. This week's patch notes include plenty of welcomed fixes, changes, and content shifts. However, the big change to ranked Modern Warfare 3 game modes is the removal of all snipers.

This is one of only two ranked-specific changes from th??e patch notes, the other being Sub Base Hardpoint has been tempo?rarily removed from the ranked map pool.

Why are snipers banned in Modern Warfare 3 ranked play?

When it comes to Call of Duty, and it doesn't matter which version we're talking about, the developers can't seem to please everyone. Snipers were banned from the Call of Duty League and ranked multiplayer playlists, and everyone complained. Then snipers were allowed in both, and players still complained. Some want snipers in ranked and pro play and some don't, but why does i?t make su?ch a difference?

One significant reason to ban snipers is spawn killing. On some maps, like Highrise, players are notorious for firing a sniper bullet into the other team's spawn point as soon as the game starts, getting one or more kills instantly. While it looks cool and it's great to get a few kills that way sometimes, it isn't exactly a balanced, competitive experience. Highrise has been around since the original Modern Warfare 2, and if ??you don't know the sniper spots by now, you haven't played very much.

This strategy is particularly overpowered and frustrating in Search and Destroy. Having only one life and losing it the second you step out of?? your spawn isn't very fun.

Not to mentio?n, many players don't use snipers for, well, sniping. Developers often think of sniping as a long-range option, where the player stands still and finds targets in the distance. As we all know, quick scoping means running around the map and getting free one-shot-kills. Additionally, players can add a small scope—like a 1x—to their sniper, making it even easier to use at close range.

The Call of Duty community is divided

Some players, including notable Modern Warfare 3 streamers hate the sniper bans in ranked play. Some claim it's skill-based, so players who don't like getting killed by the weapon type should simply get better at the game. The opposition believes it to be a good thing because snip??ers are an overpowered wea??pon type giving an unfair advantage.

Snipers aren't allowed in the CDL anymore, and that says it all. The CDL has done well over the years to remove all weapons, equipment, perks, and other items that ruin competitive integrity. There's a reason professionals are only allowed to use a single assault? rifle (the MCW) right now.

The post Call of D?uty Modern Warfare 3 update bans all snipers in ranked modes appeared first on Destructoid.

Ubisoft's recent investor meeting revealed unannounced information about the arrival of XDefiant. The shooter is slated to release sometime during the company's fiscal fourth quarter, which ranges from January to March 2024. As a result, the new?? shooter could be available sooner than most may have anticipated.

When is the XDefiant release date?

According to Ubisoft's recent third-quarter sales update, XDefiant will be available sometime before March 31. Listed along with nine other Ubisoft titles ?as an upcoming digital release for the current quarter, this is the first we've seen of a release window for the shooter. It's listed as "XDefiant: Season 0," which tells us it could be considered early access.

The update says XDefiant will come to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Other titles coming from Ubisoft during the same window include Skull and Bones season one, plus new seasons of The Divison 2, Rainbow Six Siege, and The Crew.

Is XDefiant a true Call of Duty competitor?

XDefiant is a free-to-play multiplayer first-person shooter. Using the Snowdrop engine, many view it as a direct competitor to Call of Duty multiplayer. An open ??beta for the upc??oming game took place in June 2023 on all three platforms. It received mostly positive feedback, with the obvious changes required you'd expect of an early access beta.

Primarily, the game is focused on playing the way most competitive Call of Duty players wa?nt it to play. That means more competitive game modes, maps built for competitive play, and fewer unbalanced items (mines, rockets, etc.). The beta didn't accomplish anything other arcade shooters haven't in the past, but it did everything it needed to pretty well. Even the map pool, which included 14 unique maps back in June, is massive for modern games.

Additionally, developer Ubisoft San Francisco may have an ace up its sleeve. Former Call of Duty League professional player "ACHES" is a consultant on the project. Call of Duty developers almost never listen to pro player feedback ?or ??take competitive gameplay into account.

Focusing on the bigger picture, casual players, who are the vast majority to buy yearly COD installments, are the primary target. As such, ACHES may be the secret sauce Ubisoft SF needs to make XDefiant the competitive Call of Duty game many have wanted for years.

The post XDefiant full release date is before Mar??ch 31, Ubisoft sales update reveals appeared first on Destructoid.

Next month, the holiday season will be in full swing, and there are many November 2023 games to look out for. From a classic returning to a new Call of Duty approaching physical and digital stores, you better pre??pare your wallet.

After a busy September and October, I wonder if we'll get a chance to check out any of these titles. Nevertheless, here are all of the most anticipated November?? 2023 ??games.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) - PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC

Publisher: Activision
Developer: Sledgehammer Games, Treyarch, Infinity Ward, Beenox, Raven Software, High Moon Studios, Demonware
Price: $69.99
Release Date: November 10
Trailer

Likely the last game in the series solely under Activision, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 lets us play as Captain Price and the rest of Task Force 141 seeking Vladimir Makarov. All of the maps from 2009's Modern Warfare 2 have been modernized for this game, and there are some new maps to explore as well. There are ??12 6v6 maps to tackle too.

Hopefully, with so many developers behind the game's belt, we'll have a unique vision behind this installment. There should be some standout maps that land like Call of Duty Black Ops' Nuketown and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2's Terminal with so much talent behind th??is title.

The zombies mode lets you team up with other squads for the first time. The Steam listing says the game will have the "largest Call of Duty zombies map ever." We'll see if bigger means better when the game release??s on November 10.

Persona 5 Tactica - PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC

Publisher: Atlus
Developer: P-Studio
Price: $59.99
Release Date: November 16
Trailer

The Persona 5 spinoffs continue, and this time it's a strategy RPG with an all-new storyline in the series. There's also a strange new ally called Erina who helps you ?take down the Legionnaires. In this new realm, you must learn the strategy RPG mechanics of the ?game and survive.

It would be cool if Persona 5 Tactica reaches the incredible heights of the strategy-RPG Fire Emblem: Three Houses. That Nintendo game has an impactful story, engaging game desig?n, and loveable characters. We've known the Phantom Thieves for a very long time, so it will be interesting to see how they grow.

This new take on the series might be daunting, but if you're an Xbox Game Pass subscriber, you can check this game out at no extra cost on day one of its release. I can't wait to "Wake Up, Get Up, Get Out There" for one of the most ??anticipated November 2023 games.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R - PS4, PS5, PC, Switch

Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix and Gemdrops
Price: $49.99
Release Date: November 2
Trailer

Square Enix continues to blend stunning 2D pixel art into colorful 3D environments in this remaster of Star Ocean: The Second Story R. The 2.5D aesthetic from past games like Octopath Traveler 2 is back in Star Ocean: The Second Story R. Only this time, it's in an action-RPG format.

The visuals look pretty. You'll see the pixel art lit up in some stunning lighting, and there are unique settings they'll explore. The story's intriguing as there are two protagonist?s. Depending on?? who you choose, the story and party members will change. There's also a relationship system and various endings to find.

If you want to find out more, there's a demo you can try out?? now on PC, PS4, PS5, and Switch.

Super Mario RPG - Switch

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Price: $59.99
Release Date: November 17
Trailer

A Super Mario RPG remake is finally on the way for the Nintendo Switch. It will feature long-beloved characters like Geno and Mallo?w in the game as we're reunited with this classic RPG.

The visuals truly pop on screen. It brings that classic look but revitalizes it for a 2023 audience. There are also spectacular Triple Moves that have all three members of the team working together in one attack. The turn-based combat returns in full force, but th?e game will need you to land the hits with your button presses. It will be a "Happy Adventure, Delightful Adventure" indeed.

It will feature newly remastered music by the game's original composer Yoko Shimomura. However, you can switch back to the old version of the soundtrack at any time.

The game also lets you battle the bosses once more with a much harder difficulty. I can't wait to "Bewar??e the Forest's Mushrooms" and play this cherished RPG for the first time!

WarioWare: Move It! - Switch

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Price: $49.99
Release Date: November 3
Trailer

One of the most memorable Wii games, at least for me, is WarioWare: Smooth Moves, and Move It feels like it is a successor to that. With the motion controls of the Joy-con, we'll be following 200 whacky mini-games that last a matter of seconds. You'll have to complete a chain of them to be successful. Of course, you'll be going through motions l?ike wiggling out of rope and shaking a dog'??s hand.

The IR sensor, which tracks your hand movements? for a few mini-games, is also present. It will show your hand on-screen, and you'll have to point out a certain number of fi??????????????????????????ngers to succeed.

These mini-games, including a reference to Super Mario 64's iconic slide level, seem thrilling to play and will keep us on our toes. There's also going to be two-player co-op and a four-player Party Mod??e. It's o?ne of the most anticipated November 2023 games just from how entertaining and wild the game looks.

Honorable Mentions

• PowerWash Simulator VR (Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3) â€?nbsp;November 2
• RoboCop: Rogue City (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 2
• The Talos Principle 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 2
• Thirsty Suitors (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) - November 2
• EA Sports WRC (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 3
• Ebenezer and the Invisible World (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) - November 3
• Warcraft Rumble (Android, iOS) - November 3
• Football Manager 2024 (PC, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) - November 6
• The Invincible (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 6
• Typecast (PC) - November 7
• Beyond Sunset (PC) - November 8
• While The Iron's Hot (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 8
• Cuisineer (PC) - November 9
• Dungeons 4 (PC) - November 9
• Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 9
• Spells & Secrets (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 9
• Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 9
• Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 14
• Assassin's Creed Nexus VR (Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3) - November 16
• Flashback 2 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 16
• Bluey: The Videogame (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 17
• Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch) - November 17
• Tiger Blade (PSVR 2) - November 17
• Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
• Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising (PS4, PS5, PC) - November 30

The post Most anticipated games – November 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

How to beat down the dinos better

Capcom's new team-based competitive shooter Exoprimal is out, and well, it's a bit of an oddball. It's got guns, mechs, and it's all about whittling down the dino horde. And while it's still early on in this game's lifespan, we have a few tips for making life in Exoprimal easier.

Keep in mind, Exoprimal is a relatively full price ($59.99)  game, with additional progression and add-ons for extra cash. I don't personally recommend dumping that kind of cash unless you just want to fast-track through the suits. Some of the early suits you get will tide you over well to the later ones, and most of Exoprimal is about efficiency in PvE, though you will have to fight a player from time to time. (It's worth noting that Exoprimal is on Game Pass too, which makes a difference if you're looking to save some cash w??hile testing the waters.)

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWJeqGJEPsM

With that in mind, we're keeping our tips oriented towards the basics: what little tips and bits of advice we'd give to a brand-new player, in order to g??et an edge over the other rookies.

Make sure to set your favorite suit

I've seen many players spawn into a match as Deadeye, the default Exosuit, and then start swapping around to others. Not only does this create confusion, as everyone ??tries to orient the team composition around the sudden swarm of Deadeyes, but it gets awkward when everyone swaps off, and then back, and then back again... It's a hassle.

Head to the hangar and you can hit a special button (Square on PlayStation) to "favorite" a suit, making it the one you always spawn into a match ??as. Bam! No more awkward Deadeye conventions.

Check out your rig options

While you're digging around in the Exosuit options, take a look at the rig options too. Rigs are a special piece of equipment, mounted on your shoulder, that can persist across suits. (Default button is Triangle on PlayStation.) You start out with a cannon, which is gre??at for knocking Pteranodons out of the sky.

But, if you need some different options, there are some good ones you'll unlock as you level up. The small healing field can be great for tanks that like to hunker down, like Krieger. Or the catapult option can help a mele??e-focused Exosuit like Zephyr get into the air, away from danger, or into the face of an enemy.

[caption id="attachment_391870" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Equip some modules

One last thing to look at in the h?angar is modul??es, and these are surprisingly important. Modules are pieces of equipment that you level up with BikCoin, the awkwardly named currency you accrue through matches and levelling up. After you open a module up in the hanger, you'll need to spend BikCoin to enable it, and more to level it up.

These bonuses are worth it in a lot of ways. The universal ones offer some great buffs, like extra movement sp?eed when your health is low. These little bits of help can make a tangible differe?nce in the field. And that goes doubly-so for Exosuit-specific modules.

Main some suits to unlock specific modules

Some modules are designated just for their respect?ive Exosuits, powering up their abilities. These range from helpful utility to extremely useful, amping up the skills and abilities of Exosuits to make them take down dinos even better.

You get these Exosuit-specific modules by levellin??g up the individual suit, which you can do by playing matches as said suit. Play the Exosuit you like, get things to make it better. Simple, right? If you want some direction, I particularly like Deadeye's module that upgrades consecutive Ravager damage, as it helps the Soldier 76-esque character chew through larg??er, tougher enemies.

[caption id="attachment_391871" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Don't be afraid to switch it up

You might want to create a team composition and stick to it, but in my experience, it's worth swapping out Exosuits if you feel a specific one just isn't working. Exoprimal is surprisingly lenient in this regard, letting you get out of one Exosuit and into another in the middl??e of a match rather t?han waiting for a respawn or sticking it out.

Of course, this does mean playing as? your lone pilot for a short moment, which can feel like an eternity if a wave of Raptors is bearing down on you. I recommend doing your swa??ps while waiting for some dinosaur portals to open at a Watcher's waypoint. A helpful note: in my experience at least, it seems like you don't lose charge on your ultimate ability when you swap suits. So feel free to mix it up!

Create chokepoints

If you've played any horde defense games before, you know all about good chokepoints. They're a way to funnel the overwhelming numbers of the enemy down to a manageable size, and Exoprimal gives you some good methods for doing so. Walls?, tank shields, and even the terrain itself all lend well to make concentrated areas of attack.

Clumping up ene?mies also helps you pull off some good combos, so if you notice your Roadblock is taunting and gathering up dinos, get ready with some AOE attacks. Working togethe??r is how you clear dinosaurs faster, and that's one step closer to the next phase, and beating the enemy team.

[caption id="attachment_391818" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

It's all about the data

If you wind up in the data cube PvP final mission, which involves escorting a data cube from one end of the map to the other, I'll repeat what hundreds of Overwatch players have been screaming into their m?icrophones since 2??016: push the payload.

But seriously, the payload (data cube) of Exoprimal is pretty crucial. In addition to being your win condition, this payload is a bit more fragile than most; damage, from dinosaurs or enemy players, can temporarily halt its advance, forcing the team to hunker down and? revive the data cube to progress forward.

There are other objective-based modes in Exoprimal too, some we've played and some we've only heard about from others digging into the game on day one. But the saying remains the same, whether Exoprimal, Overwatch, Battlefield, or anything else: play the objective. And if you're an invading dinosaur, taking out the enemy pay??load can be a surprisingly helpfu?l use of your limited Dominator time.

The post 7 beginner tips for starting Exoprimal appeared first on Destructoid.

Dino-mite

Exoprimal seemed to drift on and off my radar leading up to its launch. It was the game that would show up on a stream, I'd gleefully take in all the cheesiness of a mech-powered dino-horde defense shooter, and move on. Even after playing the beta, Exoprimal didn't leave too much of a lasting impression.

So maybe that's why, as I spend today playing the launch version of Exoprimal, I'm a bit surprised by how much I'm enjoying the experience. It's not taking my breath away, but it's not boring either. Exoprimal is pretty okay?. And yes, part of that is because it's a game about piloting a mech suit against a horde of otherworldly dinosa??urs. It's fun for a squad, but it's got an asterisk or two on it.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWJeqGJEPsM

If you're unaware of the pitch, Exoprimal is a new shooter from Capcom where mech suit (Exosuit) pilots team up in virtual wargames to take on hordes of dinosaurs that spawn from interdimensional portals. Using a variety of powerful Exosuits—with apparently quite shapely posteriors—you fend off the prehistoric threa??t alongside your te??am.

Prehistoric payload

The actual cadence of Exoprimal is bizarre, to say the least. A??fter booting up the game, you watch a few fake commercials for Aibius. They're the sort of overly produced and polished, cheerful corpo-messages you'd expect to see at the start of a zombie outbreak film. Rather than the walking dead, it's dinos. And Aibius dispatches willing volunteers, your own create-a-character named Ace included, to deal with the literal torrential dino downpours.

It's nonsensical. But, it also feels like Capcom knows just how bizarre its premise is, and leans into it. Some of the line deliveries and gags gave me immediate Wanted: Dead vibes. The very premise of being trapped on an island, after some catastrophic events transpire, and forced to participate in war games by a seemingly rog?ue AI is already bonkers. Then, add dinosaurs.

[caption id="attachment_391817" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

I still don't really know why the dinosaurs are in Exoprimal, to be honest. That's part of the appeal; as you complete multiplayer matches, you unlock lost data. This feeds into a literal mystery circle, where you unlock text entries, static briefings, and eventually story cutscenes delving into the island's mysteries. It would feel more like Lost, if Lost also had robot suits and dinosaurs.

It works, though! Seriously, it does, if only in a cheesy, not-at-all-serious manner. I'm weirdly curious about how Capcom is going to string this all together. Already, some of the strange early t?wists have given me a chuckle, if nothing else. But that's the bizarre, strange story that will take many, many multiplayer matches to see through. Let's talk about the combat itself.

Past vs. future

Each match will roughly play out the same. In the first phase, your team of five races against a paired enemy team to move around a map, taking out waves of dinosaurs. The different varieties require different tactics; Raptors are easy enough to mow through and act as cannon fodder, while soaring Pteranodons or charging Pachycephalosaur spawns require some positioning and awareness. Also, Exoprimal does do a few common colloquia??lisms like "raptor" and "T-rex", but I dig that it will still use full names for something like a Carnotaurus.

While it's a horde game, much of the first phase felt like dealing with effective and efficient crowd removal rather than "survival." You can certainly drop down to a big-enough pack of Raptors if you're by yourself, but the real tension is in efficacy; you're trying to complete objectives faster than the other team, as you mo??ve towards phase 2.

[caption id="attachment_391821" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Phase 2 will either see you tackle more PvE content, or enter the PvP mode, which will feel familiar to those who like to push payloads. The team has to escort a data cube to the end point of a map and upload it before the other team. The twist? Rather than ethereal ghosts in each other's realms, now the pla??yer teams can fight each other as both payloads approach the same endpoint. Add in the Dominator, which lets a player hamper the enemy team as a special dino, and it can feel a bit chaotic.

This follow-the-light, shoot-the-targets set-up can start to feel a bit routine at times, so I'm curious to see what obstacles and new challenges Exoprimal throws at me over time. I do wish there was a more PvE-focused mode, though. Even in the PvE section, you're still racing another team. If Exoprimal had an option to just drop into a map and wipe out hordes of dinosaurs on various difficulties, it might scratch that EDF itch. For now, t?here always seems to be some competition, and I'd like to see? that competition have some variety.

[caption id="attachment_391818" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Jurassic combat

The actual shooting and moving feel solid, if not spectacular. It is exactly what it needs to be, and some of the abilities do feel great to land just right, like the sniper suit's freeze or Deadeye's frag grenade. Exoprimal really ??feels like it's about the mass carnage, almost like a multipla??yer dino-mech musou.

It's really important to note, though, that Exoprimal is a live service multiplayer game, in a day and age where live service multiplayer games come and go pretty fast. This is also a $59.99 game, with a free-or-premium battle pass too, and that's frequently reason enough for some to stay away. On top ?of that, if you don't pitch in for the extras, suits have to be unlocked; we received a deluxe copy for coverage consideration, but have also been looking into what progression looks like for the base game, and it seems "OK" is the consensus.

Game Pass obviously makes the prospect a bit less daunting, if you have that. In fact, Exoprimal really feels most at home there, as a service-y free-to-pla??y game where you can hop in and see if it's for you. Makes it easier to rope some friends in too, and like a lot of multiplaye??r experiences, that's where I feel it shines. Randoms can be hit-or-miss, like any game, but a leaver means a bot will take their place, and that's not always ideal.

Overall, Exoprimal is a bit more interesting than I'd thou??ght it be. It's not anything to shout from the rooftops about, but it's got a l?ittle more charm and more enjoyable combat than I was expecting. But that's just day one. The big question now is, does it have more to offer, or are the 20th and 30th hours going to feel a lot like the first? And does its strange monetization hold back its better ideas? We'll find out as we frag some more dinos, I guess.

The post Exoprimal makes a decent first impression, if you’ve got a squad for it appeared first on Destructoid.

Bubbly fun

Foamstars feels a bit out of left field for Square Enix. A multiplayer shooter may not be all that strange; after all, the publisher did make a battle royale based on Final Fantasy VII. But this isn't a straightforward shooter. Foamstars features stylish fighters rather than grizzl??ed warriors and suds instead o?f bullets.

We had a chance to play Foamstars at Summer Game Fest 2023, getting in a decent number of matches. The easiest comparison point for the game is Splatoon, and not just due to the vicious, viscous warfare waged on each of their battlefields. Both game?s look at territory as an important facto?r in winning the day and see the firepower you employ as both utility and knockout power. That said, some similarities are a little obvious.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD_XuyEgfOY

Characters have primary weapons that can dispense foam in different methods. The foam? builds up and spreads out across the empty arena, creating avenues of ingress for teams to move around in by holding the left trigger to "surf" on t??he bubbles. Surfing is how you KO enemies that have their health depleted and pick allies back up after they've been knocked down. And much like Nintendo's squid splatfest, you can move quickly across your own foam but get bogged down and sluggish in the enemy bubbles.

The knockout system is already an interesting twist on this style of shooter. By adding this Kill Confirmed-style method of taking out an enemy, it encourages risk. Foamstars wants you to push? a bit farther, err away from caution, and get yourself into scramble situations.

House of suds

Where the foam differs from the ink is how it piles up. The bubbles don't paint surfaces. They stick to them and build up. You can build walls and new avenues of attack, lending a Z??-axis to the movem??ent and action.

Characters' special skills emphasize these attacks. Some can quickly build lanes for attacking or put up a wall for blocking the other tea?m off. Having "hero characters" lets each of them operate a little differently and focus on certain goals. I had a blast playing the short-range fighter who was mobile and wielded a bubble shotgun.

[caption id="attachment_385783" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Square Enix[/caption]

But other characters can launch shots over walls, or hit from long range, helping to deal with strategic foam emplacements. Finding ways to attack or escape feels rewarding, and even when the pile of suds can sometimes feel a little hard to read, Foamstars feels ??like it pushes players to move toward each oth?er and fight.

These little moments of interplay, where teams are trying to strike and defend in equal measure, feel tense. Rather than holding down territory, KOs are the focus—the mode we played, Smash the Star, tasked eac?h team with securing 7 knockouts, then knocking out the Star (best player) on the enemy team for the win. So while securing the battlefield wasn't required to win, it did make a ?big difference when my team was trying to defend our Star or attack the enemy's, or both at the same time.

[caption id="attachment_385782" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Square Enix[/caption]

Popping the bubble

While the makeshift foam arena feels interesting, the actual battlefield we played on was sparse. I'm unsure if that's on purpose, too. It definitely encourages Foamstars players to build up and out, but it makes the actual map?? less memorable. Outside of some elevation jutting out in some areas, our field was pretty much just a big, open circle.

My big hesitancy isn't with the arenas, though, but with the model itself. I asked, but didn't get a clear answer, on whether Foamstars will be free-to-play or premium. During our presentation, there was a mention of single-player content, but Square Enix wasn't talking about that just yet. There are also modes we didn't get to see, aside from the Smash the Sta??r option.

[caption id="attachment_385779" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Square Enix[/caption]

All that is to say, I think there's an interesting idea here. It doesn't feel like?????????????????????????? Square Enix is directly lifting the territory-control shooter model but putting its own spin on it with a building-and-battling twist. The characters are colorful and interesting, and there's a good variety of firing types and skills to make the combat fee?l varied in each encounter.

It's the big picture I'm curious about. Foamstars could be something worth dipping into and adding to the slate of Weekend Games with a squad of friends, but I think a lot of that will depend on what more the team has in store beyond the one mode and map I played at Summer Game Fest 2?023.

The post Square Enix’s sudsy shooter Foamstars could be onto something appeared first on Destructoid.

Foam rules everything around me

Square Enix showed up twice for today's PlayStation Showcase. Once, for the anticipated RPG Final Fantasy XVI. And the other time, for the reveal of something a little different: a sudsy new shooter called Foamstars.

Foamstars is a new 4v4 shooter whe?re players fight it out using foam. It looks bright and colorful, with some energetic vibes behind it all. Here's the trailer from today's PlayStation Showcase:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD_XuyEgfOY

As producer Kosuke Okatani explains on the PlayStation Blog, foam is used as both a projectile and a piece of terrain. Foam seems to stick?? in place, creating walls that can also be used for movement.

Splatoon comparisons seem easy enough to make. But where Splatoon paints the level, the foam of  Foamstars seems to build up and form new terrain all its own. The same kind of territory control-focused party s??hooter, but with a ?different angle on it.

Don't pop the bubble

Not many more details were shared today, other than Foamstars is currently planned for both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. More information is expected s?ometime in the future, ??and no release date was confirmed today.

I'm curious to see what Square Enix will do, even if I tend to have a bit of skepticism and concern when it comes to any new game that looks like a live-service project these days. It's rough out there for a new shooter, but at least Foamstars looks a bit d?ifferent compared to the m?ore bullets-and-explosions blasters you might see elsewhere.

We'll see how the Foamstars rise or fall as Square Enix shares more info about the ?new game.

The post Foamstars is Square Enix’s bubbly new party shooter appeared first on Destructoid.

We've got wizard boots on the ground

Ascendant Studios has a release date for its debut game. Immortals of Aveum is a ??story-driven, single-player game about battlemages and spell-based warfare arriving for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on July 20.

First revealed at The Game Awards 2022, Immortals of Aveum is the first game from Ascendant Studios, a new development house made up of several video game veterans, including former Dead Space developer Bret Robbins. Immortals is getting published under Electronic Arts' EA Originals la??bel, too.

As for what Immortals of Aveum is? Well, it's a bit different. We attended a briefing in which Ascendant described it as a "magic shooter." It is a first-person game where you use magic as your bullets. Different types of magic, quite literally described as red, blue, or green, act as both weapons and elements for abilities. You ca get a good look at the magic below in today's reveal trailer:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNP3ztvNBFI

I've got the magic in me

During our briefing, we were told how the idea spawned from playing Call of Duty and imagining that chaotic battlefield in a fantasy setting. Dragons instead of helicopters, wizards instead of infantry, etc. Honestly, Immortals of Aveum nails that vibe.

There's a strange mix of military and magic that's just alien enough to pique my curiosity, like if The Eternals fell into Battlefield. T??hat said, the actual gameplay mixes "bullets"—gauntlet skills that fire like a shotgun or machinegun would—and full-on spells that can enact some real chaos on the f?ield.

Immortals of Aveum is also a single-player, story-driven game. Picking up Aveum won't add another battle pass to your life. It's also, however, a full-priced game: $59.99 on PC, and $69.99 ?for consoles. There's also a Deluxe Edition for $10 extra on both platforms, with a unique sigil and some gear.

It's a little strange, but definitely different than what it could have been. Color me curious to see just how Immortals of Aveum comes toget?her for its July 20 release date on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and ??PC via Steam and Epic.

The post Immortals of Aveum is a single-player ‘magic shooter’ set for July appeared first on Destructoid.

PC and other platforms to continue

Hi-Rez Studios has announced that it will be ending service for the Nintendo Switch version of free-to-play shooter Rogue Company this summer. The First Watch-developed multiplayer title will hit the lights on June 20, 2023. As of today, all in-gam?e stores have been closed.

"After a lot of discussion, thought, and conversations across our team, we’ve made the difficult decision for Rogue Company to end support for our Nintendo Switch version, with our final date of support being June 20," wrote the developer in a statement. "This choice wasn’t made easily or without concern for our community, ??however we realized that the performance of our Switch port was not up to our standards, and we were unable to provide the level of support our player?s deserved."

"We understand the impact this decision may have on our community and would like to assure you that we have worked diligently to find workarounds for various Switch-specific issues in the past. Unfortunately, significant technical and process challenges prevent us from continuing support for this platform, and we believe this is the best choice for Rogue Company."

Hi-Rez notes that it intends to fully focus its efforts on the PlayStation, PC, and Xbox versions of Rogue Company going forward. The studio suggests that Switch players utilize the Hi-Rez account linking/cross-progression service in order to c?ontinue playing on another platform with all of the content and statistics from their Swit??ch edition.

Rogue Company launched in open beta in late 2020, before finally r??eceiving an official release in May 2022. It is a??vailable now on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms, with tentative plans for a mobile port.

The post Rogue Company ends service ?on Nintendo Switch June 20 appeared first on Destructoid.

Swing for the fences

Rusted Moss will finally swing onto PC very soon. Developers faxdoc, happyquared, sunnydaze, and publisher Playism have confirmed that Rusted Moss will land on PC via Steam on April 12.

This twin-stick, side-scrolling shooter has some definite Metroid vibe?s. With the same sort of grid-based map and world to explore, it feels a bit f?amiliar. But its own unique quality lies in the grappling hook.

One of Rusted Moss' core features is a grapple, letting the protagonist Fern hook and swing across the world. That, plus? big guns, makes for a pretty fast and active side-scrolling shooter.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=iteSJWwSaAg

It's a full-on twin-stick shooter too, so no limits on what direction ??you can point. Add in some big, chaotic boss fights, and this feels like a se??arch-action game made for folks who want a little more adrenaline in their secret hunting.

The hook brings you back

I've played the demo for Rusted Moss a few times, at PAX and through events like Steam demo festivals. Heck, the demo for Rusted Moss has stayed live and is playable right now if you head over to the store page.

Each time, I've really enjoyed the mix of movement and shooting that feels like it's got shades of Titanfall or Spider-Man.? It's punishing in a good way, though I definitely recommend tinkering with th??e grapple options to find the playstyle that suits you best.

With April looking a little light compared to the heavy-hitters of May and June, it might be a good time to check out a smaller title like Rusted Moss. The demo's there ??either way, and if it hooks you in, the full game hits on April 12.

The post Grapple-swinging sho??oter Rusted Moss arr?ives on Steam in April appeared first on Destructoid.

There are better vacation destinations...

Bethesda Softworks has released a new trailer for Redfall, the cooperative monster masher currently in the works at Arka?ne Studios. The new preview spotlights the titular Massachusetts town, which is currently under?? siege from a frightening plague of deadly vampiric beings.

This particular trailer is mostly action-free, instead focusing on the many locales wherein our sassy band of monster hunters will ply their explosive trade. From the high street to the local school, movie theaters to woodland ar??eas, museums to farmland �There is no part of the once-beautiful town that has not become awash with the undead and its hapless victims. They say the only way out is through, and Redfall is gonna get a whole lot messier before it gets better.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6B5IH?YvI9M&t=?158s&ab_channel=BethesdaSoftworks

Redfall will see parties of up to four players gather together their weaponry, gear, and unique abilities in order to outrun and outgun the bloodsuckers. Protagonists Layla Ellison, Devinder Crousley, Jacob Boyer, and Remi de la Rosa are themselves equipped with distinct skills �from incredible feats of engineering to powerful p??sychokinetic abilities �all of which will no doubt c?ome in handy as they ransack Redfall in a serious bout of exorcism, all conducted at the business end of a barrel. Players will be encouraged to adapt their loadout to best synergize their squad against the nightmare horrors that await them.

Following its unfortunate delay, Redfall remains in development for PC and Xbox and is now expected?? to launch on both platforms May 2.

The post Visit t?he scenic, and somewhat crimson, town of Redfall appeared first on Destructoid.

Back in the U.S.S.R.

Yesterday, my Review in Progress for Atomic Heart went live, focusing on a few of my thoughts covering the fir??st ten hours of the game. When I submitted my draft for edits, I honestly didn't know where I stood with the game.

There were elements I liked about it, mostly centered around its art direction, as well as some design choices that didn't necessarily sit well with me. With a lot of games, ten hours is more than enough time to draw a clear conclusion about how you feel about it. With Atomic Heart, I needed to see it through to the end.

And then I ne??eded to see it ?through to its other end.

[caption id="attachment_364428" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Atomic Heart (PC, PS4, PS5 [reviewed], Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
Developer: Mundfish
Publisher: Focus Entertainment
Released: February 21, 2023
MSRP: $69.99 ($59.99 on Steam)

The opening moments of Atomic Heart can best be described as a Stalinist's wet dream with how it depicts its idealized vision of the Soviet Union. A city, floating in the clouds, with people?? lining its streets and waterways conversing about how great life is under communist rule as they prepare to learn about the future of their empire. Dmitry Sechenov, arguably the most famous scientist in all of the Soviet Union, is set to unveil Kollectiv 2.0, a neural network that will connect all Soviets using a small invention known as the THOUGHT.

Its full launch is imminent, but before it can be brought online, some matters need handling. Back on the surfa?ce world, an area known as Facility 3826 is no longer operational. Robots, built with a substance known as Polymer that has been the backbone of the Soviet's successes, have lost control and killed most of the workers at the facility. To mitigate th??is disaster, Sechenov employs Major P-3, who, along with his Polymer-powered talking glove, CHAR-les, sets out to get to the bottom of this robot rampage.

The early hours of P-3's journey across Facility 3826 are easily the most troublesome he'll face. With just a melee axe and a gun at his disposal, players will have to adapt quickly to Atomic Heart's combat system lest they fall victim to the many robots that are out for blood. P-3 will have three different attacks at his disposal, including guns, melee wea??pons, and glove skills. As he kills robots and the other cr??eatures that have ravaged this once-picturesque land, he'll collect Polymer and materials he can use to craft and upgrade his skills and weapons. The first glove skill he unlocks is Shok, which lets him cast out an electrical charge that can stun enemies for a very brief time.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQOeZPLHook

Other glove skills include a frost attack and shield, but Atomic Heart's choice of control scheme really limits a player's ability to use their full suite of skills. While Shok is always equipped via the triangle button, P-3 can only equip two of his other glove skills at once, and only one of those can be used at a time. You can switch between these two skills by hitting up on the D-Pad, but I didn't find it to be an intuitive system when trying to survive an onslaught of robots. Switching between weapons is just as cumbersome on a controller as you scroll through them pushing left or right on the D-Pad. Given that most of Atomic Heart's menus p??oint to a game that was primarily optimized for a mouse and keyboard rather than a controller,?? the controls on the PlayStation 5 leave something to be desired.

That's not to say I struggled with the game. In the early buildings of Facility 3826, I did encounter the Game Over screen more than I would have liked to, but it wasn't an issue with the controls. Part of that was me getting into the rhythm of the combat. But it was also due to just how quiet these robots can be. You really have to be aware of your surroundings in this game because these robots enjoyed trying to take me from behind. And it wasn't unusual to face off against several robots at once and have one or two try to sneak their way around me when I was distracted by other enemies. It's a sound tactic, one I was able to counter once I gathered enough Polymer to improve P-3's speed and dodge capabilities. Once I did that, I was able to peel back the curtain on Atomic Heart's combat and realized it was rather elementary.

Certain enemies do have elemental weaknesses that you can learn via scanning, but if you don't have any weapons boosts that can exploit said weaknesses, then all you can do is hit them with a combination of dodges, melee attacks, gunshots, and whatever glove skills you have equipped at the time. While that combination might sound ripe for experimentation, the anemic nature of the glove skills can be a real letdown. Shok was the only consistent glove skill in my arsenal, though I got a good amount of use out of a skill that hangs your enemies in the air, letting you swing at them like pinatas. That's pretty?? much how I spent all my Polymer beyond upgrading P-3 himself, and honestly, it was all I needed.

The game does attempt to amp up its difficulty by hitting you? with clusters of enemy types, but as long as you stay on top of up?grading P-3's capabilities, once you get out into the open area of Facility 3826, you probably won't face too much trouble.

[caption id="attachment_364441" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

What you may have trouble with, however, is caring about Atomic Heart's story. It's a rather basic tale of people in power trying to tighten their control of the world with P-3 standing in the middle. Social commentary is kept to a minimum, though various audio logs, emails, and audio attachments within emails do add some flavor to the world and show that life in the Soviet Union isn't as glorious as they would like you to think it is. As for P-3, the secret to his backstory is largely predictable given that several early bits of dialogue tell you exactly who he is. Speaking of the dialogue, it's atrocious in English, so you're better off turning on subtitles and switching the language option over to Russian. Just know that, because Atomic Heart i?s heavy on the conversational dialogue between P-3 and CHAR-les, you might miss a great deal of exposition when trying to read the tiny subtitles during the heat of battle.

I was h?oping the story would actually have something new to say, but there's nothing here that hasn't already been said countless times before. While the narrative threads do touch on some interesting topics, such as how Russian robots are changing l??ife for workers in America, it ultimately plays it rather safe with two equally unsatisfying endings. When looking at P-3, he doesn't venture far from his initial view of the Soviet Union. He comes into this journey as Communism Fanboy #1 and rarely ever bends.

I actually become frustrated by his lack of growth given the many conversations he has that should have been the catalyst for some introspec??tion. Not that I'm arguing his adventure should have ended with him getting a massive erection for western capitalism, but this dude straight-up waffles on basically every piece of information he gets. I thought perhaps the developers were molding him to be a dumb hero who just doesn't absorb anything he's told, but he'?s not dumb. He just chooses to ignore most of it because it clashes with the beliefs he already has.

If I were being generous, I would say th??at P-3 was Mundfish's way of critiquing those who refuse to ??change their points of view despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, but that might be giving the developers too much credit.

[caption id="attachment_364426" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

What I can say is Atomic Heart's narrative does not do its setting justice. Facility 3826 is a monumental achievement of design, with an outstanding representation of Stalinist Architecture and Socialist Realism. From the propaganda posters to the statues that tower over the land, Mundfish has crafted a Soviet Union that, outside of the floating cities and advanced robotics, feels like something Stalin and Lenin could have achieved if they weren't so busy murdering their own people. There are so many breathtaking sights that I would often stop playing just to soak it all in. Credit where credit is due, the environmental artists and programmers who brought this world to life did an outstand??ing job.

It's a shame, then, that the gameplay does this world a disservice by filling it with so much bloat. In the? early hours, the bloat can be seen by all the keys you need to fetch to open doors. P-3 even comments on how he's a magnet for shitty door-locking mechanisms. Once you get outside and into the fresh air, you can feel the developer padding the game time again with an open world that connects all the different stations that make up Facil?ity 3826.

On paper, a sandbox open world sounds like a good idea. Why not connect all these intricate locations with the actual land and houses the workers of this facility call home? In practice, however, it's mostly just a lot of open space. You can take your time and hoof it from place to place on foot, fighting robots and avoiding sensors along the way, b??ut the game will supply you with poorly-controlled jalopies that hasten travel time. Though, given that most roads are littered with disabled vehicles and robots for you to crash into, you're going to have to walk through these sections more than you might plan to.

[caption id="attachment_364425" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

If there is anything that makes these long treks across the land worth it, it's the outstanding music you'll hear along the way. Admittedly, the game is a bit overeager to explain why so much music that would never exist in 1955 Soviet Russia can be heard here, but that really doesn't matter when the soundtrack is this good. Composers Mick Gordon, Geoffrey Day, and Andrey Bugrov did an outstandin?g job scoring this game, whether it's music that sounds like it was ripped from an old Russian propaganda film or the ear-shattering metal that accompanies some of its fight sequences.

While you can wrap up Atomic Heart in about 15 hours, there are ways to extend your stay in Facility 3826, including puzzle-based training facilities that unlock upgrades for the weapons you can craft. After publishing my Review-in-Progress, the game was updated with a patch that added a way to return to the grounds of the facility after beating the game, allowing me to go back and finish up any tasks I may have missed. It's a nice addition, but I honestly don't have much reason to return to Atomic Heart other than to gawk at its architecture.

And really, unless an extensive photo mode is added in a future update, I don't see myself ever booting up Atomic Heart again. I admire the gusto with which Mundfish approached its debut game because it's created one hell of a world to explore. But beyond its pristine setting and ass-kicking soundtrack, it's largely forgettable. Maybe if the gameplay evolved beyond its basic beginnings or if the story was �I don't know, good �I might be willing to give it another go. However, given how unlikely such a monumental change like that would be, Atomic Heart is?? destined to be a one-and?-done type of experience.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Atomic Heart appeared first on Destructoid.

For the motherland

Before I get into this Review in Progress, I should probably discuss the elephant in the room. Atomic Heart is the debut title from developer Mundfish, who, in recent weeks, has come under pressure to be more transparent over its ties to Russia. According to a Eurogamer article, which goes into far more detail on the matter than I will here, Mundfish's investor is t?he Russian firm GEM Capital, which is run by Anatoliy Paliy, who used to work for the state-owned Gazprom. The developer bills itself as a multinational developer with team members in 10 different countries, including Poland, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates. However, the original development team was based in Russia, and Russian-state media has referred to the studio as Russian in reports on the game.

Without more concrete answers from the developer on its ties with Russia, it's all still kind of up in the air. What we do know for sure is composer Mick Gordon, best known for his work on games like Killer Instinct and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, has donated his fee from the game to Red Cross Australia's Ukraine Crisis Appeal. I'm not going to lecture anyone on whether they should buy this game or not, as there ar??e plenty of people online who are ready to do that. But, I will say, maybe take a peek at that Euroga??mer piece before dropping $60 on something that, so far, feels like it's better suited for a rental than a purchase.

[caption id="attachment_364167" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Atomic Heart (PC, PS4, PS5 [reviewed], Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
Developer: Mundfish
Publisher: Focus Entertainment
Released: February 21, 2023
MSRP: $69.99 ($59.99 on Steam)

Atomic Heart takes place in an alternate version of the Soviet Union in 1955. The country has experienced a tremendous amount of growth and prosperity thanks to its discovery of Polymer, a substance that paved the way for the advanced robotics that have allowed the nation to flourish. You play as Major P-3, a hardscrabble sort of guy who descends from the city in the clouds to Facility 3826 on a top-secret mission. A terrible atrocity has taken place in this wide-open facility that serves as the birthplace of the Soviet's robotics empire. Blood stains the streets, and robots that were once considered peaceful are now killing everyone in their path. With the impending launch of the neural network known as t??he "Kollectiv" that'll allow people to control robots with their minds, P-3 is dispatched to the facility to find the source of the tragedy before word leaks out.

And these robots are not willing to go down without a fight. As I do with all games I review for Destructoid, I started my time with Atomic Heart on the "normal" difficulty, thinking that it wouldn't cause me too much trouble. But I quickly realized these robots are built Tonka tough when I emp??tied a clip into a mustachioed humanoid bot only for it to still come ??after me like it was the fucking T-1000. It went down with a couple of whacks from my fire axe, and it was then I knew I couldn't just run and gun my way through place. I would have to be more methodical about it, switching between P-3's firearms, melee weapons, and assorted glove skills.

Nestled snuggly on his left hand is CHAR-les, a highly adaptive talking glove that can shoot lightning from his hand while dropping some exposition. As you slaughter robots and other creatures at Facility 3826, you'll collect Polymer and other ingredients you can use to upgrade P-3's arsenal. With Polymer, you can unlock new skills for CHAR-les, including an electrical shock attack, a freeze attack, and a Polymer shield that protects you from damage. You can also use Polymer to improve P-3's basic abilities, and I? highly suggest you unlock his faster movement speed and double dodge as soon as you can.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=WplTw-DSGYc

You'll need those skills unlocked because this game ain't playing around. Even on "normal," I constantly found myself surrounded and in unwinnable situations. Part of the problem is these robots are awfully light on their feet, and it can be difficult to hear t?hem creeping up behind you. It doesn't take that many hits from them to completely drain your health bar, and when you get three or four robots all attacking you at once, you can be finished off in seconds. The other problem is, as I said above, these robots often require a lot of damage before they're put down. On the one hand, that can make for some exhilarating fights for survival. On the other hand, in the early hours at least, you can see these encounters quickly drain you of all your ammunition, leaving you with less-than-ideal first-person melee combat.

Unfortunately, most of the fights I've encountered so far �including the several bosses I've faced —haven't really reached a level I'd call? "exhilarating." Most of them have been pretty rote in their execution, and they become more pedestrian as I continue to upgrade my arsenal. So far, the game's best strategy has been to swarm me with several enemies at once. In the early hours, that was pretty effective as I had several encounters where all I could do is shock, dodge, and swing as I didn't bring enough ammo to get any use out of my guns. But now that I've unlocked so many skills and upgrades, the game is going to need to think of a new trick if it wants to keep me feeling challenged.

It also needs to start doing a bit more with its story. Right now, it's all pretty elementary, with P-3 caught in the middle of a mystery where he doesn't completely know who he can trust. Nothing too unpredictable has happened yet, and the game is starting to foreshadow some pretty obvious twists. For anyone who watched a trailer for this game and thought it was nothing more than "Soviet Bioshock," that's pretty much all it's been so far, right down to the audio logs and some of the game's chosen settings. There is still plenty of time for Atomic Heart to forge its own path, one that doesn't immediately draw comparisons to Ken Levine's creations, and I'll let?? you know if it does in the full review.

[caption id="attachment_364166" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Before I wrap up, I want to touch on the dialog and voice acting. I've been playing in English for most of the game, and it's been less than stellar. Nobody seems to have a Russian accent, P-3 talks like he's living in our modern era and not in 1955, when the game takes place, and it's clear the developers are trying to make his catchphrase �"Crispy Critters" �a "thing." There is a Russian voice-over option, which is ho??w I think this? game should be played.

However, Atomic Heart's dialog is conversation and banter heavy, with? P-3 and CHAR-les pretty much talking throughout the adventure. In English, it's easy to follow alon??g. When I switch to Russian, I have to rely on the way-too-small subtitles that will be ignored if they're chatting it up while I'm in the heat of battle. That's not to say that every word they say is gold, but a lot of important exposition has reared its head while I was busy dodging robot lasers.

I'm going to try not to miss any more conversations as I continue to work my way toward the heart of Atomic Heart. Ten hours in, I still don't know where I stand with it. It's big and beautiful with plenty of potential. And there is someth?ing quite captivating about this version of the Soviet Union that Mundfish has created. All that said, the gameplay hasn't yet shown itself to be anything more than a standard shooter, and the story has a long way to go to get out from under the shadow of the franchise it so clearly wants to replicate?.

_{[This review in progress is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review in Progress: Atomic Heart appeared first on Destructoid.

I'm hungry, let's get a taco

Publisher Prime Matter, in association with developers Starbreeze Studios and Overkill Software, have started off their 2023 with a bang �a block of C4, to be precise �with an update on the long-awaited multiplayer sequel Payday 3, which will be donn?ing mask??????????????????????????s and raiding vaults later in 2023.

The studios released a short teaser video, debuting the shooter sequel's logo but sadly devoid of any actual in-game footage. Regardless, it was announced that Payday 3 would be launching on PC (via Steam) and unspecified console platforms later this year, in news that will no doubt cause a lot of itchy trigger fingers among veteran heisters. A new FAQ reveals that the tit??le will be set in New York, and will see the return of gang members Dallas, Hoxton, Chains, and Wolf.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugBDsaEIYog&?ab_channel=OVERKILLSoftware

"There probably are a lot of questions about Payday 3 that you want to ask, and while we can’t answer all of them (yet!) we want to share a space where the community can talk about anything Payday 3 as we get closer to launch," said Starbreeze brand d??irector Almir Listo in a new statement. "On that note, we’ve opened up the Steam Community Hub, so we can start using? its discussion board. If you have a question you’ve been wondering about, ask it there and we’ll do our best to answer!"

"If you are new to Payday and the art of robbing banks and getting paid, we wish you a very special welcome! Any questions you might have, feel free to ask any of the veteran Payday heisters in the community or speak to us developers [...] it’s time to bring your old crew back together, and dust off your finest masks �because this is the year of Payday 3!"

It has been a long and turbulent road to the series' second sequel, hindered by a slew of financial and legal issues at Starbreeze Studios. A huge cash injection by Koch Media would ultimately allow production to continue, and this coming year will finally see Payday 3 hit the streets after its extremely troubled development cycle. It's hard not to see the title as a do-or-die situation for Starbreeze, so here's hoping t??hat the final releas??e will, ultimately, break the bank.

Payday 3 will launch in 2023 on PC (via Steam) and u?nspecified console platforms.

The post Payday 3 launches in 2023, and they’re getting the gang back together appeared first on Destructoid.

Scavenge the last hours before December

The free-to-play PvPvE survival shooter Scavengers is closing its doors. Studio Improbable confirms it will shut down Scavengers on December 16, 2022.

In an announcement, the team notes that it's been a while since its latest update. The reason for the closure looks to be a slowly dwindling pla?ye?r base for the shooter.

"The last few months have seen a decline in the playerbase, and whilst we explored many options to reinvigorate server population while the game ?is in early access, it became clear tha?t it was unsustainable to continue development and live service," the statement reads. "We’re all proud of what we accomplished, and are grateful to every player who took the time to play, even if it was just for a short while."

The stu?dio says it plans to celebrate the next few weeks, leading up to the shutdown.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=glYYdCz237o

A jagged, gorgeous winter

Shown off at the 2018 Game Awards, Scavengers was originally in development at Midwinter Entertainment. The team was bought by Improbable in 2019, and Scavengers launched into an early access in 2021.

In May, Improbable sold Midwinter to Behaviour Interactive, where the team is now working on an unannounced project. A small team was left to keep Scavengers running, ??while the console versions were scrapped. Improbable said i?n a statement at the time that the cut was to help the company's announced focus on the metaverse.

It's a shame to see for the remaining Scavengers fans. Hopefully those who held out hope will see something they like in Midwinter's new pr??oject at Behavi??our.

The post Multiplayer survival shooter Scavengers is closing?? down appeared first on Destructoid.

All in the family

Something delightfully novel for this week's Arcade Archives entry as Hamster pulls '80s alien blaster Baraduke out of its big bag of Namco games and gives it a fresh rele?ase?? on PS4 and Nintendo Switch.

Originally released to the coin-op market in 1985, Baraduke, (aka Alien Sector), sees intrepid space explorer Toby "Kissy" Masuo picking her way through a series of claustrophobic interplanetary caverns, taking on an army of gooey aliens and gathering up cute, cycloptic creatures known as "Paccets". Once all of the stage's enemies are destroyed, our hero ventures down a large connecting pipe to confron?t one of a number of boss guardians, before heading on to the next zone.

Check out the action in the video below, courtesy of YouTuber Retro Hawk.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3zzKZkNdsc

Fascinatingly, despite its relative obscurity, Baraduke predates Nintendo's legendary release Metroid by a full year, though it contains several similarities to the classic NES title. Not only does Baraduke feature a labyrinth of alien-created caverns, linked by a series of metal tubes, but the Namco game also reveals its woman protagonist as a "surprise" at the game's climax, much like the coming of Metroid's Samus Aran.

Baraduke would be followed up by little-known sequel Bakutotsu Kijūtei in 1988, before the franchise effectively ended. Hilariously, in deep Namco lore, it is said that Baraduke protagonist "Kissy" eventually married and divorced Dig Dug protagonist Taizo Hori, with one of the pairing's children being Susumu Hori of Mr. Driller fame! Someone call Kevin Fiege, I w??ant to see a Namco Cinematic Universe!

Baraduke is available to download now on PS4 and Nintendo ?Switch, priced at around $8.

The post Mr. Driller’s mom hits the Arcade Archives in Namco classic Baraduke appeared first on Destructoid.

See more than others ever have

Developer Sorath blasted onto the scene in 2016 with the first-person arcade shooter Devil Daggers. Now, the studio is back with another bizarre shooter, with possibly even more mind-bending action in Hyper Demon.

Hyper Demon launches today on PC via Steam, for $14.99. As the tag advert??ises, it's about slaying demons in a world like no other. And, apparently, from a view like no other either.

The faster you slay demons in Hyper Demon, the harder the game gets. But your score also ramps higher and higher. There is, apparently, an end. The question is, can y?ou make it there?

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScglDSi9KUs

Much like Devil Daggers, Hyper Demon has minimal controls. Col?lecting gems will allow players to buff up their capabilities, or charge up and execute massive super moves.

The trippy effect you see on the screen is what developer Sorath describes as "groundbreaking spherical projection," which gives the player a wide peripher??al view without pinching or shrinking the center of the screen. It is truly something to see in motion. And it allows for fields of view st??retching out to 180 degrees.

Alongside that, the game also has a holographic rear view overlay. So basically, you can have complete 360-degree awareness, if you can learn to visual??ly parse all the chaos happening on the field.

The devil inside

Devil Daggers was definitely a memorable experience from 2016. It had a dark and intense vibe, taki??ng the general concept of being a devil who shoots magic daggers from their fingers into an arena shooter frenzy.

Its visuals were particularly wild, so it's cool to see Hyper Demon con?tinue to push this into almost surreal places. With a surprise launch too, this is a nice Monday morning surprise for folks who love visually unique? arena shooters.

Hyper Demon is out now for PC on Steam.

The post Hyper Demon is Devil Daggers creator’s trippy new FPS, out now appeared first on Destructoid.

You have sustained a lethal injury...

The best thing about publisher Microids is its utter devotion to dice-rollin' retro reveals �One minute it's Tuesday, and then, BAM!, Denver the Last Dinosaur battle royale. Today's bizarre surprise comes in the form of a VR remake of Taito classic Operation: WOLF, coming to PC and consoles in 2022.

Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission is a reimagini?ng of the legendary 1987 rail shooter, whic??h sees hardy Green Beret Roy Adams embark on a do-or-die mission behind enemy lines to rescue a group of hapless hostages, held captive by some evil force that isn't America. The remake will tweak the characters, locations, and objectives of the coin-op classic, but promises to retain the trigger-pumping, quarter-guzzling action that made the original such a smash over three decades ago.

First Mission will feature a one-or-two-player story campaign, a wide arsenal of explosive weaponry, and a frenzied survival mode, alongside new enemies, stages, and cutscenes. No trailer was released for the title but sc??reenshots h?ave been made available for player perusal. I see the soldiers and the helicopters, but as of yet no hapless nurses, cats, or blatant Schwarzenegger rip-offs. We'll get there.

Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission launches on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch in 2022?. A Meta edition is ?planned for 2023.

The post Here’s that Operation WOLF VR remake y’all been asking for appeared first on Destructoid.