If you love board games with remarkable strategic depth, y?ou’re probably a fan of a few tabletop titles that fall under t??he “Euro�category. Whether you’re growing crops, completing objective cards, or amassing a fortune from trading, these board games are always immensely satisfying. In the list below, we’ve assembled our picks for the ten best Euro board games of all time. There are a ton of games that fall under this classification, but our choices focus on titles that clearly feel like a quintessential Euro board gaming experience.

What is a Euro board game?

A Euro board game typically features complex mechanics, indirect competition, minimal dice rolling, and a scoring system creates multiple paths to claiming victory. There’s often an emphasis on economic development and engine building, while combat with other players usually isn’t front and center. The “Euro�term distinguishes the genre from more traditional American board games, which often emphasized thematic? rather than mechanical depth. However, nowadays there are plenty of Euro board games with engaging themes.

10. Great Western Trail (2nd Edition)

Great Western Trail is a game that’s all ab??out getting your herd of cattle from Texas up to Kansas City, and making a few pit stops along the way. Despite the western American theme, the mechanics of this title are firmly entrenched on the Euro side of the pond. You can hire and place workers, focus on deck building to get better cows, or upgrade buildings along the trail so you can charge the other players fees when they stop by. It takes a long time to setup, but once it’s on the table it’s always a hit.

9. Catan

The original Settlers of Catan board game, first released in 1995, helped to define Euro board games and set them apart from their luck and theme-based American counterparts. For that reason alone, it deserves a place on this list. Boxing out other players from accessing parts of the board is still fun to this day, though you can admittedly get into situations where you know you’ve lost well before it’s actually over. The randomized layout of the island’s map allows for lots of variability, and there are plenty of solid Catan expansions to choose from.

8. Le Havre

Le Havre is an economic engine builder that starts off with a few slower turns but quickly escalates up to an epic scale. By the end of the game, you will hopefully have amassed a fortune in coins, building investments, and ships. But to get there, you’ll first need to gather food ea??rly on to feed your workers, pick up trade items, and find the perfect time to sell yo?ur goods. While the theme is fairly simple, the strategies you can deploy are anything but. Thankfully, the rules are also fairly straightforward since there’s only a handful of actions to choose from when it's your turn.

7. Scythe

The richly drawn world of Scythe adds plenty of inter??esting thematic to exciting Euro-like board game mechanics. Each player gets both a faction and a play mat that dictates the combination of actions they can take for the game. In one round, you might be producing food and metal, then building a structure. The player to your left might also choose the production action, but their play mat might allow them to spend metal to build a mech instead. You’ll need six stars to win the game, and only two of them can come from combat with other players. In fact, you might not even need to win a fight to win the game, because gaining popularity and bolstering power can be just as important.

6. Terra Mystica

In Terra Mystica, players choose one of fourteen different factions to control and work to transform the lands around their home region. Building structures around the map is essential, since they allow you to pick up more workers, trade, and unlock a faction-specific ability. There are also four religions to choose from, and investing in them give?s you better skills and abilities. It’s the most complex board game on this list.

5. Viticulture

In Viticulture, your objective is to create a world-renowned wine that everyone wants to try. It’s a worker placement game in which most of the actions you can take on your turn are right in front of you on the board. While that might make it sound simple, there will be plenty of tough decisions to make, particularly when it come??s to timing your actions in accordance with the changing seasons. The process of harvesting, bottling, and marketing your wares is easy ??to enjoy and doesn’t require you to worry about the other players too often.

4. The Castles of Burgundy

If you want to try a quintessential Euro board game, look no further than Castles of Burgundy. This kingdom builder primarily focuses on collecting settlemen?t tiles. Smart placement of these tiles will give the player more money, more trade goods, and more favorable dice rolls. Take over an entire region for bonus victory points, and advance your position on the turn order track to create the best d?uchy in medieval France. The game starts a bit slow, but quickly picks up its pace in the middle stages.

3. Agricola (Revised Edition)

Uwe Rosenberg’s farming and engine building board game Agricola is an epic tale of rags to riches with no shortage of strategic depth. At the start of the game, you’ll have two workers and a handful of basic improvements for your farm. Approximately two hours later, you’ll have a prosperous harvest and a bountiful feast of victory points. Agricola has many similarities with Rosenberg’s other famous Euro board games, A Feast for Odin and Caverna: The Cave Farmers. All of them are great, but there’s arguably only space for one of them ?on this list.

2. Brass: Birmingham

Brass Birmingham is an immensely satisfying economy-driven board game with a ton of exciting mechanics. Despite its Euro board game status, it’s definitely not lacking in theme. The dark and gritty Industrial Revolution England that players journey back to is engaging, atmospheric, and wonderfully?? illustrated by the board and other components. Throughout the game, you’ll enjoy building a network of?? railways and canals, selling goods, and increasing your production power.

1. Concordia

The strategic depth and numerous pathways to victory in Concordia make for an incredible tabletop gaming experience. You’ll start your journey off in Rome, and send your colonists out to build a trade network. As you link regions as far apart as Egypt and Britannia, you’ll get to build houses and gather more resources from them. You can also purchase the action cards available on the board, which are completely randomized. Once the last card is sold or one of the players places their fifteenth house, the game ends. The classic theme, simple yet engaging economy-driven gameplay, and lack of dice rolling make Concordia an essential Euro board gaming experience.

The post The 10 Best Euro Board Games of All Time, Ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

Engine buildin?g board games at their best can be immensely satisfying and incredibly variable, with tons of unexpected outcomes. When you sit down to play, you’ll of course start out with nothing. But as it turns out, with a pair of farmers, a pile of rocks, and a couple bars of metal, you too, can build an empire. In the list below we’ve assembled our picks for the best engine building board games of all time. Every single one of them i??s a game night staple that’s absolutely worth playing.

What is an Engine Building Board Game?

The hallmarks of this type of board game are simple. You usually begin with very little to work with, whether it's coins or bushels of wheat or workers. You must then begin working toward victory by gathering resources. The more resources you have at your disposal, the more cards or tiles you can play. These cards and tiles will then either make it easier to gather more, or make everything you have in play more efficient. By the end of the game, you’ll have a well-oiled machine that lets you take incredi??bly powerful turns.

13. It’s a Wonderful World

The futuristic, dystopian card game It’s a Wonderful World is a modern classic of the engine-building genre. The game takes place over the course of four rounds and includes a drafting system that ??allows you to sabotage your opponent’s systems. Well-timed card placement and resource generation are the keys to a succe?ssful strategy. However, you’ll also need to think carefully about which cards you need to discard rather than build. It typically takes less than an hour to finish a game, and there’s a solo mode.

12. Gizmos

In Gizmos, each player works to design a machine that they hope will win them the top prize at the next Great Science Fair. When it’s your turn, you’ll have to file designs, build contraptions, or pick up resources from the game’s marble dispenser. With a good arrangement of cards in?? play, you can quickly pick up steam. It’s easy to learn and looks deceptively simple, but mastering the game will be challenging for most players. On some occasions, your starting hand can make it tricky to win, and for that reason, it’s just a bit further back on this list.

11. Fantastic Factories

Fantastic Factories is perfect for players looking for a new engine building board game that’s a bit less of a slow burn than the other entries on this list. The theme is straightforward and direct, and the card combos are satisfying and easy to trigger. It’s a bit ?friendlier than your average tabletop title since player interaction is limited, and this can be either a blessing or a curse depending on your preferences. It’s easy to learn and works great for players of all ages.

10. 7 Wonders

Develop an ancient civilization from the ground up in 7 Wonders, and then build a monument to your greatnes??s to claim victory points. The game takes place over three phases. The first is all about mining, logging,?? and quarrying stone. In the next round, you and the players to your immediate left and right can use these resources to start assembling armies and attacking enemies. By the final round you might have made a few scientific innovations, or perhaps built a pantheon or palace that people in the future will consider a great wonder.

9. Splendor

If you’re looking for an easier to understand engine builder that’s accessible for all players, Splendor is a great pick. You’ll have a set of gems to work with in the first round, which you can use to pick up cards. These cards essentially function as more money for you to stack with your init?ial gems. The purchasing options are randomized, and most of the more expensive cards will give you victory points. The first player to 15 points takes the crown. Though it’s on the simpler side, there’s plenty of strategic gameplay.

8. Scythe

The first World War rages on into the 1920s in Scythe, an exceptional alternate history board game of mechs, worker movement, and production. Each turn you’ll need to think carefully about what you’re going to do both now and in the next several rounds. If you produce oil, you can upgrade the efficiency of your play mat. If you choose to make food instead, you can purchase bolsters that react to your opponents' actions. With more workers and more resource generation comes increased power and popularity costs. You can also make metal or wood to build m??echs and structures. Mastery of this board game takes time, and that’s because the??re’s so much more here than just engine building.

7. Dominion

The classic deck-building card game Dominion is all about adding fuel to your deck’s engine to ensure that you have efficient draw and coin generation. While it might seem tempting to only pick up victory points for the end of the game, these cards typically slow down your deck. Instead, you’ll need to build a setup with actions and treasures to ensure that you can do something meaningful every turn, whether it’s putting down a string of markets and villages or cursing your opponents. There’s also a ton of great Dominion expansions that uti??lize novel mechanics and give you more w??ays to win.

6. Underwater Cities

Underwater Cities is ??a building and development-themed board game in which each player aims to effectively transform the sea floor with new civilizations. Science and research are of course essential to success, though you’ll also need to think carefully about where you’re going to put your domes and tunnels. Color-matching card p??lacement will help ensure you get the most out of every turn, but this is often difficult depending on what you have in your hand. Like all the best engine building board games, it’s both complex and satisfying.

5. Wingspan

The bird-themed board game Wingspan is a medium-weight engine and tableau builder that just about everyone will enjoy on game night. Each round, you can either?????????????????????????? play a bird to your mat, lay eggs, gather f?ood, or draw. As you continue to put more cards down, these actions will become significantly more productive, and lead to some sizeable turns. There are ton of different effects to mix and match, because no two birds are alike. With the goal board and the variety of bonus cards available, no two games are quite the same either.

4. Race for the Galaxy

When you win a game of Race for the Galaxy, you’ll feel like you’ve conquered the entire universe. That’s because in each game you’re working to bend an immense network of planets and? solar systems to your will with new technologies and social changes. There are seven different pha?ses that can happen in a given round, but each player can only choose one of them. As a result, the possible actions you can take will remain relatively unpredictable. It’s a system that keeps things exciting right up to the very end.

3. Res Arcana

In Res Arcana, the engine you build will quite literally be ma?gical. That’s of course because you and your fellow players are competing mages who have to manage a mix of essences to make artifacts and claim monuments. You’ll know everything about the items you have to work with up front at the start of the game, though the order in which you get to use these tools varies. The first player to ten points wins, and with the right engine, you might be able to pick up all these points i?n a single round.

2. Agricola

Agricola is the ultimate farming board game, and perfectly balances worker placement with engine development. Your farmstead has little to offer at the start of the game, but by adding rooms, working in the field, raising livestock, and having children, everyt?hing will begin to run more smoothly. You’ll have both occupation and minor improvement cards in your hand to aid you, but you can also choose to use the major improvements availabl?e on the table instead. The scoring system also gives you plenty of different routes to victory and rewards setups with more variance in production.

1. Terraforming Mars

When it comes to building up a resource generation and card effect engine, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as Terraforming Mars. Each player takes on the role of a corporation bent on turning the Red Planet into an industrious civilization that churns out a massive profit. You’ll start by increasing your production tracks with mines, microbes, and monetary investments. By the end you’ll be building space technology on Jupiter??’s moons, constructing domed cities, and thawing enough water to create an ocean. When it comes to engine building board games, it’s our top pick.

The post The 13 Best Engine Building Board Games of?? All Time, Ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

With an arsenal of Terraforming Mars expansions at your side, conquering the Red Planet is more exciting than ever. Whether you’re settling deep space colonies or building ??the Luna Metropolis, the added maps and game mechanics of the expansions bring additional laye??rs of depth and chaos to the original board game. But which expansions are the biggest game changers? And which expansion is the best one to buy first? In this guide, you’ll find a complete breakdown of the game’s add-ons listed in the suggested purchasing order.

How Many Terraforming Mars Expansions Are There?

There are currently five official expansions for Terraforming Mars. However, Stronghold Games is working on three more, which will first be available via Kickstarter. There are also a few additional add-ons that develop the world of Terraforming Mars beyond the boundaries of the iconic board game. But b??efore we get to those, let’s take a look? at the main expansions. 

1. Terraforming Mars: Prelude

If you’ve played Terraforming Mars without any of its expansions, you’ve probably noticed that the early generations can be quite slow. The cards in the Prelude box jumpstart your corporation’s production and terraform rating right out the gate, which puts you in the middle of the engine-building action when the game begins. For this reason alone, it’s easily the best Terraforming Mars expansion to buy first. The Prelude expansion also adds five new corporati??ons to the mix, ensuring further gameplay variance.

2. Terraforming Mars: Hellas & Elysium

The Hellas & Elysium expansion adds two new game boards that explore t?he far side of Mars. Ocean spaces shift positions, placement bonuses change?, and cards like Noctis City lose their placement restrictions. In addition, each board offers new milestones and awards that change your strategy significantly. On the Hellas map, the temperature rises quickly. On the Elysium map, the game’s expensive cards are more impactful than ever.

3. Terraforming Mars: Colonies

With the Colonies expansion, the reach of your corporation extends to the distant expanses of the outer solar syste??m. A randomized selection of the new colony tiles placed during setup represents destinations where players can either build a colony or send their trade fleet for resources. If you trade on the moons and planets where your opponents have a colony, they’ll benefit from your actio??ns. The Colonies expansion also added 49 new project cards and five new corporations, so there are even more ways to win. 

4. Terraforming Mars: Turmoil

If you’ve already purchased all three of the expansions listed above but want further mechanics and gameplay variance for Terraforming Mars, you can go with either Turmoil or Venus Next. Turmoil is the most complex ex?pansion available for the game, designed specifically for experienced players. It includes the new committee board, on which you ?can add your delegates to political parties to influence which party will be in power during the next generation. The ruling party then passes policies that alter the game environment. Alongside the committee board, a series of global events will also take place each generation, which add considerable chaos to the game by restricting resources, decreasing temperature, and even destroying cities.

5. Terraforming Mars: Venus Next

The Venus Next expansion adds a new global parameter, the Venus track, which increases your terraform rating in a similar fashion to the temperature and oxygen scales. However, the Venus track doesn’t have to be maxed out for the game to end, which means it will sometimes be ignored entirely, depending on which corporations are in play. For this reason, Venus Next is the lowest priority expansion on this list. However, it adds five new corporations, 49 new project cards, and a few additional milestones and ?awards, all of which are definitely nice to have. 

Expanding the Terraforming Mars Universe

The world of Terraforming Mars includes more than the original board game and its expansions. If you can’t get enough of this fantastic universe, here are a few extra ways to amplify your Terraforming Mars experience.

Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition

It’s easy to mistake Ares Expedition for one of the original game’s expansions. However, it’s a standalone game that simplifies many of the core mechanics of the original. As a result, it plays at a significantly faster pace. While the oxygen and temperature parameters tied to the completion of the game remain the same as the predecessor game, tile placement is no longer important because oceans are locked in place and simply need to be flipped. The game also has three expansions of its own, Discovery, Foundations and Crisis.

Terraforming Mars: The Dice Game

Terraforming Mars: The Dice Game is another standalone game that reimplements many of the mechanics of the original. Dice randomize resource production, and only two of the three global parameters are needed to complete the game. It’s a good choice for younger players who enjoy the theme of Terraforming Mars.

The Terraforming Mars Book Trilogy

The Terraforming Mars books are neat novelties that provide extensive backstory for the events of the board game. There are three entries in the series, which begins with In The Shadow Of Deimos. The story continues in Edge Of Catastrophe and is completed in the final novel, Shores Of A New Horizon. The events of the books closely involve the Terraforming Committee and its influence on the taming of the Red Planet, which means they’ll make the most sense to gamers who have already played the Turmoil expansion. 

Terraforming Mars Puzzles

In addition to the games and books, there are also Terraforming Mars puzzles available for true collectors and enthusiasts. The Prelude and Colonies puzzles focus on the key art from the expansions after which they are named, while the corporations puzzle features a fun display of a?ll the corporation and board game tile and card icons.&nb?sp;

The post The Complete Terraforming Mars Expansion Guide appeared first on Destructoid.

Love board games but tired of setting up all the pieces and organizing times when everyone can get together? Digital board games make it easy to sit down and enjoy a session of strategic combat, cooperative exploration, or competitive engine-building with friends online. In this list yo?u’ll find a l??ineup of some of the best digital board games that you can dive into right now. 

1. Dune: Imperium

In Dune: Imperium, your goal is to take control of the planet Arrakis and its spice. Increasing your standing on the game’s four influence tracks, which represent the Fremen, Bene Gesserit, Spacing Guild, and Empire, is just as essential as winning conflicts with other players. You’ll play as a great house leader, utilizing their unique passive and signet ring ability. The game is part deck-building and part worker placement, and one of its key expansions, Rise of Ix, is making its way to the digital port soon.

2. Terraforming Mars

As a rich Earth-based corporation, it’s your g??oal to make ??Mars habitable and take over as much of the planet as possible. The game gives you an incredible variety of ways in which you can do this, from building cities and greeneries to crashing one of the planet’s moons against its surface. By increasing oxygen levels and temperature, as well as placing ocean tiles, you’ll accumulate terraform ratings and move towards the planet’s completion.

3. Scythe

It’s the 1920s, but the Great War is entering its next round of conflicts, in? which giant mechs roam throughout Europe and destroy everything in their path. In this alternate history, engine-building and resource management are the name of the game. As the Nordic, Saxony, Polonia, Rusviet, or Crimea faction, you’ll conquer territories, engage in conflicts with other players, and work towards control of The Factory at the center of the board. The game also earns bonus points in my book for its fantastic artwork.

4. Wingspan

Whether you’re a bird enthusiast or not, Wingspan is an awesome strateg?y game. Here your goal is to play birds in each of the three biomes in your play area: wetland, grassland, and forest. As you continue building each of these spaces, you can launch a series of ??satisfying effects based on the bird cards in each row and collect the points necessary for victory.

5. Everdell

Everdell is a fantastic worker placement game in which it’s your goal to build a thriving city inhabited entirely by adorable animals before the next winter. Playing cards from the meadow and managing your resources are at the core of the gameplay, but you c??an also host fun events, send your workers on?? journeys, or visit one of the game’s randomized forest areas. The music and atmosphere that the digital port brings to the game are fantastic.

6. Elder Signs: Omens

Elder Signs: Omens leans into classic Lovecraftian horror, with players trapped inside the Miskatonic University Museum with an ancient demon that must be sealed away before time expires. It’s a cooperative or single-player dice-rolling experience in which your investigators will need ??to best a series of scenarios to collect the coveted Elder Signs, which close the portal to the beyond.

7. A Game of Thrones: The Board Game

One of the biggest problems with the physical edition of A Game of Thrones: The Board Game was that you needed six players in one place for four to six hours. Thankfully, the digital edition fixes this. As one of the great houses of Westeros, players conquer as many of the map’s castles as possible, allying with neighboring players or perhaps engaging in conflicts with them instead. Bidding power tokens for control of the Iron Throne, the Valyrian s??teel sword, and the messenger raven are also essential to achieving victory.

8. Mysterium

Mysterium is a cooperative game in which a team of psychics investigates a murder at an old manor, where a ghost attempts to communicate the details of its death to the living. Players are given strange, artistic clues that must be correctly interpreted before the clock runs out. Along the lines of Clue, you’ll need to successfully identify the correct person, place, an?d weapon t??o solve the case.

9. Carcassonne- Tiles & Tactics

In Carcassonne, it's your objective to build a kingdom using a series of tiles? containing fields, roads, cities, and monasteries. Cities with completed walls, roads that successfully link two cities, and monasteries all work for increasing your score, as long as you’ve got ‘meeples�tokens in the correct space. It’s a classic game that starts out simple, but you can also add any of the game’s six DLC expansions to make it even more fun.

10. Root

Root might look like a cute game based on its art, but it’s an intense war game. Pla??yers control one of four factions: Marquise de Cat, the Eyrie Dynasty, the Woodland Alliance, and the Vagabond. The strength of the game lies in the differences in play style of these four factions, all of whom seek control over the woodland and its resources.

11. Dominion

If deck-building games are your favorite, Dominion is a must-play. The objective is to have the most victory points. However, these points are mostly tied to the worst cards during the game because they slow down your deck’s engine. Instead, you’ll want to buy gold and add a few of the game’s ten kingdom cards to your deck. These kingdom cards rotate each game, and there are hundreds to choose from if add on the game’s numerous expansions.

12. Gloomhaven

Gloomhaven is a dungeon crawler RPG in which you’ll play through an epic campaign as one of seventeen mercenaries, collecting loot, upgrading skills, and making critical decisions that affect the game’s story. Scenarios in the campaign play out following addictive turned-based exploration and combat. The world of Gloomhaven is? original and deeply engaging, and the game’s complexity makes it suitably challenging, even for experie?nced board gamers.

The post 12 Great Digital Board Games You Can P?lay Right N?ow appeared first on Destructoid.

I'm becoming increasingly aware that a lot of my articles are about retro or classic games. Well, I am monstrously old, after all. And on that note, if you want a more modern version of the beloved 90s RTS game Dungeon Keeper, look no further.

KeeperFX is a fan project that aims to keep Bullfrog's lege?ndary strategy game alive and well. The website says the aim is to "preserve and expand upon the original," while bringing with it improvements to the visuals and new features.

It does require an official copy of Dungeon Keeper in order to play the FX version �either t??hrough a disc (remember those?) or a downloaded copy of the Gold Edition �but the fan project itself is free.

What's featured?

Here's a quick list of what you'll find in KeeperFX:

• Windows 7/10/11 support
• Higher screen resolutions
• Modernized controls
• Many bugfixes [sic]
• Additional campaigns and maps
• New level script commands
• New creatures, textures and sprites
• Multiplayer
• And much more!

In short, it re?tains the general look and feel of the ol' D-to-the-K, but with some modern overhauls.

Some of you may already be aware of KeeperFX as it's technically been around since 2008. However, the latest download represents build 1.0.0, aka the "first full version." According to the site, "all original Dungeon Keeper code has been rewri??tten" and it's a? fully open-source standalone game.

For those with nostalgia on the brain, this sounds like a neat way to experience a gaming relic of the past. And let's be honest, we haven't had much luck from the series since that awful, awful, Dungeon Keeper mobile game.

The post KeeperFX is a fan project that’s keeping Dungeon Keeper alive appeared first on Destructoid.

Where would we be without Steam? It's easily the most popular way to download and play PC games in the current climate. The developer Valve a?lso treats us to numerous events and sales throughout the year, and the next one is just around the corner.

If you like strategy games, then get ready for Steam Strategy Fest. As the name implies, this will b?e a celeb??ration of all things tactical. A recent promo video gives a brief hint at what's to come.

//youtu.be/xYp3ugqPxiA

The event will kick off Monday, August 28 at 10AM Pacific? and will go on until September 4, so that's a week in which to get your strategy on (that?'s a saying, right?)

What's to be expected?

As always, Steam isn't saying absolutely everything about Strategy Fest. Suffice it to say, you can find demos and discounted games on sale throughout the week. As for what's going to be on offer, it's hard to say, but the short video above outlines a few titles that are likely to be included, such as Dune: Spice Wars and The Riftbreaker. ?Essentially, if this is a genre you're into, you're bound to find something? you like.

Considering that we recently had the Visual Novel Fest, and before that the Stealth Fest, Valve does a good job of making sure we all stay tuned into its gaming platform. We can't help ourselves. There's usually something for everyone at these sales events. They make our Steam libraries look nice and bulky, even if they have the opposite effect on our collective wa?llets and digital bank accounts.

The post Steam Strategy Fest begins next week, celebrates…well…strategy games appeared first on Destructoid.

It was dated today

So we've already gotten three waves of DLC for Fire Emblem Engage, all of which take place in the Paralogue Islands. Think of these like a "DLC paradise" of sorts, where you'll meet with more all-star members of the Fire Emblem cast and acquire more spirits to pla??y with. Well, Wave 4 is a little bit meatier.

Instead of character DLC, this time Nintendo is billing it as a "new story scenario." Titled "Fell Xenologue," you'll acquire new party members, and will adventure through new locations and maps (plural), as you attempt to potentially wrap up th??is game's universal storyline. Thanks to a new trailer from Nintendo, we do have a date for all this: April 5.

This is a pretty quick turnaround, when everything is said and done! Note that Xenoblade Chronicles 3 came out in mid 2022, and still hasn't hosted its big story DLC release yet. That's still coming in late 2023. Granted, story DLC for a game like Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is going to be even meatier than a Fire Emblem game: but it's nice that Engage fans don't have to wait that long.

Provided th??e DLC is worth it, at least. Hopefully it delivers!

All the details you need for Wave 4 of Fire Emblem Engage's DLC:

• It's a new story scenario called Fell Xenologue
• It includes new characters, locations, and maps, as well as more class types
• It's out on April 5

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_oeDuN3i6M

The post The big sto?ry DLC for Fire Emblem Engage is out in April appeared first on Destructoid.

Multiverse of madness

We're almost at Wave 3 of the season pass for Fire Emblem Engage, and wow, that time has just flown by.

As revealed in the February Nintendo Direct, Hector, Soren, Camilla, Chrom, Robin, and Veronica are all coming to the game in spirit form. Chrom and Robin happen to be the newest kids on the block, and they actually launch on March 8. Thanks to the official Japanese Fire Emblem Twitter? account, we have some footage of what that meeting actually looks like, and how the pair operate in battle.

You really can't go wrong with releasing all-star former series cast members as DLC, I have to say. Although not every facet of the fandom is going to be thrilled with "X or Y" inclusion, you're going to hit some superfans, and dropping th??em in duos is a great way to split the difference. So far the character DL?C has been a great appetizer for the main course. About that!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R-M-DxcQ4Q

What's next for Fire Emblem Engage DLC?

As a reminder, Wave 4 is the big one. That includes the Fell Xenologue chapter, which is a new story sequence.

Most of the other DLC takes place in the Divine Paralogue islands, which is the core DLC destination.

Meeting Chrom and Robin in Fire Emblem Engage

//twitter.c??om/FireEmb??lemJP/status/1632652380964802562

Chrom and Robin combat footage

//twitter.com/Fire?Emble??mJP/status/1632655445696614400

The post Chro??m and Robin are coming to Fire Emblem Engage this week appeared first on Destructoid.

Give it a try

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope kind of came and went for a lot of?? folks, but it made a good impression all the same. Odds are you were either on the fence about it or just had a lot going on four months ago (I know most of us on staff did with all the games that were being dumped!), but now you'l?l have a chance to check it out for free.

As of now, a demo is out on the Nintendo Switch eShop. The demo itself is fairly meaty, providing a glimpse of the intro to the game, as well as a chunk of the first area (Beacon Beach). This game still has life in it yet, as the Tower of Doom DLC is actually out today. More DLC is on the way too, including a Rayman add-on later this year.

If y??ou do decide to pick it up as a result of the demo, you also have the benefit of post-launch patches, which have smoothed over some of the game's b??igger glitches (including a progress-halting bug for 100% completion).

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjpbDzGz67U

Where to download the Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope demo

Head to this eShop listing page, and click the "download demo" icon below the title, and above the digital price tex??t

The post A Mario + Rabbids Sparks of H?ope demo is out now on Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

No need to double the file size day one

Day one patches, especially on systems like the Switch where you might be running low on space to hold your games, can be infuriating. Although there is a host of post-launch content on the way, Fire Emblem Engage doesn't seem to be party to that yet.

As shared on the official?? Japan??ese Nintendo Switch support site, Fire Emblem Engage will be updated to "version 1.1.0" today, essentially for the Japanese l?aunch (and global launch on January 20). You c??an find the full translated patch notes below.

Fire Emblem Engage launch patch notes (Ver.1.1.0)

In short, the update patches in the DLC/season/expansion pass (which you'd need internet access for anyway), both in terms of the content itself, and the functionality from the main menu. It also has the added bonus of "update benefits," which typically includes minor gift-like items that are collected en masse through a menu. You'll get them automatically after reaching Chapter 5 in the game (the chapter you're on is visible whenever you save, so it'll be easy to spot), after manually visiting the Somniel: the hub zone of Fire Emblem Engage.

The post The Fire Emblem Engage launc??h patch is thankfully small: here are all the updates appeared first on Destructoid.

There's a lot there, especially when it comes to character customization

Fire Emblem Engage is out on January 20, and I can't wait until everyone rushes in and the impressions start flying out. Fire Emblem games have waltzed with relationship aspects for some time now, and although some folks have gotten used to them, others have rebuked the mechanic. Since Engage is heavily going to cater to ??the latter category, it's bound to get a wide variety of r??eactions.

For now, there's ??this gigantic e??ight minute trailer from Nintendo that might help you decide whether or not this entry is for you. Given that this trailer is all gameplay pretty much, it's a great thin?g to watch before you decide to drop $60 on it.

Here's everything that the Fire Emblem Engage overview trailer runs through:

• A reminder that there's "over 30 characters" to play as (who have backstories that can be viewed in-game)
• An emphasis on how you can swap classes freely, with the example of an early-game mage-like character swapping into a monk, and dealing big damage to an elite enemy
• A good overview of the battle system, from team composition to the intricacies of the turn-based combat system (including counters to each combat type, which might be helpful to jot down before you play)
• The trailer highlights some useful battle info, including the fact that before actually triggering an attack, you can see who will go first in the bottom middle of the screen: also, a suggestion to let lower-level characters deliver the final blow to enemies when leveling
• Footage of the Time Crystal in action, which lets you rewind turns
• A brief overview of the world map system, and the Somniel hub
• An explanation on how to grow bonds to trigger support conversations (fight close together, or heal each other)

Unlike a lot of other overview videos which are mostly filled with fluff, this one has a few good pointers! In that sense, it's great for complete newcomers as well as returning Fire Emblem veterans.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJCOoTp6v5I

The post This eight minute Fire Emblem Engage trailer will tell you e??verything you need to know about the game appeared first on Destructoid.

Yeah, I'd say it's engaging

It was crazy to see the moment when Fire Emblem really started to make it big out of Japan. I've said it often, but growing up with people who constantly questioned where Marth and Roy were from in Smash Bros., witnessing the star power of this series (to the point where it has multiple spinoffs) from every angle has been something else. And now that it's more in the public eye, it's also subject to qu??ite a bit of scrutiny.

I don't think people will object to much in Fire Emblem Engage, though.

[caption id="attachment_358177" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Fire Emblem Engage (Nintendo Switch)
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: January 20, 2023
MSRP: $59.99

As I talked about in my preview session, I was immediately enamored by the tone of Fire Emblem Engage. The sense of whimsy and wonder it has resembles Lunar: The Silver Star Story and other bygone JRPGs, which is a wonderful thing. It has the "badass that's also goofy" trope, the aloof hero, the unflappable confidant: the whole nine yards. That might not be a lot of people's cup of tea, but I found myself remembering and connecting to character names more in Engage ??than most past entries, even as I amassed a bigger and better party as time?? marched on.

The premise is very familiar fantasy: a great warrior and Divine Dragon named Alear by default (that's you!) defeated a fell dragon a thousand years ago, and the battle subsequently put you in a d?eep sleep. Fast forward to the timeline of the gam??e, and your dragon mom (for real) senses a great evil again (that's the part where you wake up). Of course there's twists and turns along the way, as well as the humanistic angle of how this world's citizens live in the wake of the divine: which means there's plenty of political intrigue and clandestine machinations to be had.

I also bought into the "chosen one" conceit, because Alear has just enough characterization to feel like a p??art of the world, but not so much that they dominate the storyline. Some absurd looking costumes aside, this universe is full of interesting characters, and as I mentioned above, I got attached to quite a few of them. Not everything lands, and the story is predictable in chunks (especially toward the beginning), but it has so much energy (and the game has so much to do) that it's easy to keep moving forward.

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

The other strong pillar of Engage is the fan service, which is mostly muted in the form of bonds through Emblem Rings. Point blank, this is an excuse to get people to connect to their favorite old Fire Emblem characters (like Roy and Marth), but the team went above and beyond in terms of how everything is actually implemented. While those spirits are heavily integrated into the actual plot (gathering all the Emblem Rings is the initial quest), they serve a mechanical purpose, and do a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to party customization. At first it seemed like?? another "multiverse" style cash grab, but I was pleasantly surprised after seeing how it actually worked.

On top of the typical class swapping and advanced classes, you ?can pair up a character with a spirit via an Emblem Ring. This not only grants that party member bonuses, but it also allows them to merge into a super-charged form throughout the battle for a limited amount of turns. Bonds have a multifaceted impact throughout the game, allowing spirits to pass on passive skills, bond and interact through very short cutscenes on top of the normal bonding system (with the classic A, B, C level ranks), and of course, do cool stuff during combat like unleash a giant flame attack that hits multiple squares. You also have the option to "re-engage" as it were once the meter is full again, so there are strategic considerations with this system.

In Engage, you're constantly upgrading things that matter. Your equipment loadout can be changed, as well as your skillset, class, bond, and a lot more. As you progress with the story more options will be unlocked through the typical in-game shops, as well as the chance to create miniature rings that confer bonuses ??on party me?mbers who don't have an all-powerful Emblem Ring equipped.

From a strategic standpoint Fire Emblem Engage plays out like past entries, and like many famous strategy RPGs (SRPGs). Th?ere's a grid-based system, a rock-paper-scissors gear mechanic (swords beat axes, axes beat lances, lances beat swords), a party to manage and kit out, and enemies to defeat or objectives to tackle. With no durability there's a lot less worrying about upkeep and more of a focus on loadouts: which matter quite a bit, since you can "break" enemy counterattacks for a turn with a hard weapon counter.

[caption id="attachment_358178" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The battle maps in Engage are interesting, particularly with the placement of copious amounts of items, buff-inducing squares, cover, and bond bonuses: which grant you full bond charge after e??nding your movement on them. Even in some of the easier encounters the layouts do? some heavy lifting to keep things moving along. Things move pretty fast, too.

The core flow of the game is effortlessly fun. After finishing a mission generally you get the chance to lightly explore a very small little zone (imagine freeing a town, then talking to the townsfolk after), then you go back to the world map and choose what to do next. If you were annoyed at the pacing of Three Houses, Engage should be a breath of fresh air. As much as I did like those pitstops in the hub in the last main entry, the freedom that Engage allows strikes a great balance. After completing a mission, in most cases, you have the option to move on through a world map to the next story bit: or take a break and do some paralogues (side missions)/he??ad bac??k home to the Somniel hub.

You have the choice to go back to the hub, talk to everyone, do all the minigames, fish, spend time with your mystical pet, spar, change up the hub zone music, rewatch story bits in your room: you get the point. There's a lot to do if you want to stop and smell the roses, or you can just go full throttle and contin?ue the narrative chapter by chapter. It's refreshing, because I'd constantly change up how I played based on how a particular mission went.

[caption id="attachment_358179" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

If things felt dicey, I'd look at all of the upgrades available and spend some time reconfiguring my party. Sometimes I'd do three or four chapters at a time without stopping. And in some cases, I'd spend a few hours at the hub just messing around, donating to allied countries' war efforts, combing through the achievements I hadn't unlocked yet (which grant bond fragments, which can be used for bond bonuses), looking at the animals I adopted from the story zones, that sort of ?thing. There's just enough to do where things matter, but not so much that you'd feel like you're missing out if you don't grind out a particular fishing segment.

I was also able to do some light testing of the online trial system before launch, and while I likely won't be playing it full time, it does seem like a nice diversion. The two main modes involve a rel?ay race against other players on the same map, and the ability to create your own (or play other) challenge maps online. You can even "take over" someone's run in the relay mode, which I did every so often just to try out different party builds and see if I could optimize something myself. As a completely optional diversion, I'd say it's a welcome addition.

When Fire Emblem Engage was first announced I was wary of the visual style, but it grew on me once I saw it in action. The strategic bits are smooth, the customization element is deep, and I'm a sucker for the tasteful fan service that we're getting with the appearance of past franchise heroes. If you were overwhelmed by Three Houses, this is a great follow-up that doesn't just follow that same formula: and in many ways, gets back to Fire Emblem basics.

The post Review: Fire Emblem Engage appeared first on Destructoid.

Things are looking up

Fire Emblem Engage is nearly here, and we talked quite a bit about it (and the expectations therein) recent??ly in a preview article. At this point the only thing left is a?? few odds and ends, as the game is set to launch just next week on January 20, 2023.

Until that time, there's a few minor commercials that have popped up on Nintendo's YouTub??e channel, which provide a closer look at some of the game's major mechanics, and cast??.

Fire Emblem Engage Commercial 1

The first commercial provides a brief look at the setup of the narrative, which you're probably going to be skipping if you're going in blind. The fantastic elements and the more grounded kingdom hopping angle are briefly mentioned too, as well as quite a few closeups of bond system (including Alear, the main character, and Marth), and some combat animations. It's?? short, but to the point.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj4yHLTCd9Y

Fire Emblem Engage Commercial 2

The next commercial focuses more on the party members/Emblem Ring conceit, and has a short "tactics" section that gives us some brief strategic gameplay. The core of this video lies in the opportunities to customize your party, which includes class types and Emblem Ring/Engage pairings (read: equipping party members with the spirits of classic Fire Emblem characters).

Multiple heroes from prior Fire Emblem ga??mes are teased as well toward the end ??of the video.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5D8Qakq0GM

While short, these clips get the gist of the new entry?? across. Now all you need to do is wait for some impressions, or f??or January 20 to hit so you can dive in.

The post These Fire Emblem Engage commercials are l?ikely our last look before launch appeared first on Destructoid.

Pre-orders are up now, too

By way of a new trailer, Capcom has confirmed that Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection is out on April 14.

Amazingly, the extent of the collection's online play has been revealed (Netbattle), with support for private and public matches. This is in addition to chip, style, and program trading (which will only be supported in Mega Man Battle Network 3 "and beyond"). As previously confirmed, the ?collection ser?ies will also have "over 180 songs" to listen to, as well as "over 1,000 images" to peruse in a gallery.

You can pre-order it now on PS4, PC (Steam) and Switch, via a $60 bundle that includes both collections (the physical version has "one game card" if you were wondering). Individual collections will be available "separately at launch" for $39.99 each. In the meantime, here's som??e more info, and a recap of what each collection actually entails.

When this was announced it was completely unexpected, but I'm stoked this happened. My original copies of every game are readily available in every collection, but this series deserves to live on through a new generation. While Capcom is no stranger to pushing out Mega Man collections instead of new releases: it's good enough for me, so long as said collections actually have a good amount of love and care put into them. So far, this packed Legacy Collection seems to be heading down the right path.

Here's a look at the online systems revealed this week

[gallery link="file" ids=??"354136,354??137,354138,354139,354140,354141"]

Here's a new Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection trailer

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

Mega Man Battle Network Switch Volume 1 game list:

• Mega Man Battle Network
• Mega Man Battle Network 2
• Mega Man Battle Network 3 Blue
• Mega Man Battle Network 3 White

Mega Man Battle Network Switch Volume 2 game list:

• Mega Man Battle Network 4 Red Sun
• Mega Man Battle Network 4 Blue Moon
• Mega Man Battle Network 5 Team ProtoMan
• Mega Man Battle Network 5 Team Colonel
• Mega Man Battle Network 6 Cybeast Gregar
• Mega Man Battle Network 6 Cybeast Falzar

The post Save the?? date: Mega M??an Battle Network Legacy Collection is out on April 14 appeared first on Destructoid.

I like it 3000

When Firaxis Games has anything in the hopper, I perk up. Hell, even 2013's now-defunct Haunted Hollow was fun. So when Marvel's Midnight Suns wa?s announced, with no "co-developed" chicanery, I was in.

What I got was a fun little romp that's very different from many games they've made in the past, XCOM included.

Marvel's Midnight Suns (PC [reviewed], PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
Developer: Firaxis Games
Publisher: 2K
Released: December 2, 2022 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) | TBA (PS4, Switch, Xbox One X)
MSRP: $59.99

Most of the XCOM comparisons started to wane as more footage showed up: and I'm entirely OK with that. Midnight Suns is really more akin to Fire Emblem than anything else, complete with a (friendship) relationship minigame between party members, and a literal abbey that serves as your hub. Yes, you're going to be rubbing elbows with big-name Marvel heroes like Blade and Iron Man, but you're also going to be controlling an original character named "The Hunter," who serves as a blank slate fish out?? of water pen that inks the overarching story as you go along.

It's a veritable who's who of Marvel heroes and villains: big and small. The reliable heavy Crossbones is one of the first characters you even see, amid a sea of Hydra soldiers and mystics. In a very Indiana Jones opening sequence, Lilith (a powerful de?mon and main big bad) is awakened, and is immediately bad news. Cue Doctor Strange and Iron Man, who try to unite the clans and stop her. Amid a roster of big name heroes, most of which have headlined feature films, you also get to create the aforementioned Hunter that's part of the Midnight ?Suns: the magic-backed resistance effort against Lilith.

It's a clever move by the storytellers to provide the "chosen one" trope that all of the big stars play off of: but it in turn leads to some predictable beats. More than I anticipated, there's some real ham-fisted dialogue, but the boot can fit standard the MCU has set. By any standard, it can be cornbally. Like many games with huge casts, a lot of the better moments are in the qui??eter moments: though there are some characte?r intros that are pop-worthy, and will elicit audible gasps or cheers from Marvel fans playing along.

Those little moments? They center around some of the light dialogue choices when talking to people, to drill down aspects of their personality, or the mission at hand. Midnight Suns also has a cute little social network for heroes: which you know some writer was completely jazzed about working on. You aren't just selecting missions from a menu either (Midnight Suns has a war table where you do do that!). There's full-on RPG elements, like map exploration (with your avatar), crafting, party management, quests, and a hub (the abbey). The abbey is just big enough where it has a decent amount of things to do; without feeling so spraw??ling th?at there's a lot of wasted space.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7Icc7o0ex4

So how do you actually play? Cards!

In Midnight Suns, card types include attacks, skills, and heroics. Each card costs a unit called a "card play," which you'll? use to actually enact actions. You get three card plays per turn, barring special abilities that can refund them, or grant more plays on future turns (banking). There's more! Attacks charge your heroism, which can be used for more powerful heroic card effects (which might blast every enemy on the battlefield, for example). Skills are classified as support and buff effects, including card draw. You can also use the environment on occasion, at the cost of heroism. Playing a quick card lets you refund a card action on a KO (meaning, it's perfect to save to clear out fodder).

Lesser minions can be killed instantly (they don't have a health bar), and elites need proper damage to kill. Some effects have bonuses like knockbacks, which you can aim. It's a smart system that keeps things quick, while maintaining the theme of stepping into the role of powerful larger-than-life heroes. Some missions have constant reinforcements coming in, which ensures that Midnight Suns isn't a cakewalk on higher difficulties.

Nothing is strictly grid-based. Battlegrounds are more like a loose arena with guidelines, littered with objects like dumpsters an?d power transformer??s stuffed in that you can slam enemies with (or into). There's light movement considerations, which can matter for positioning, range, and some moves that knock enemies into each other.

Once you pick it up, it's easy to get in the groove, especially on PC with quick clicks. I was impressed at how the game carried itself as soon as I shot my first repulsor blast. The effects are awesome looking in the literal sense, at least on PC: I can see why the team opted to forgo previous generation console releases for the time being. The combat banter is fun to listen to as well, especially with characters who don't like each other: it's all playing off that small-time dialogue strength that so many modern RPGs are good at, like most of the Dragon Age series.

The more you play and the more cards you get, the more interesting the mec??hanics kind of layer on top of one another. Do you KO weaker enemies and clear the board or soften up elites? I started to spot environmental objects with a keener eye, attempting to weave together combos that could take out bigger enemies in one turn, rather than one and a half. It's fun, it's fast, and it's all in the moment.

Where Midnight Suns faltered a bit for me was with what I'd call "fluff" missions. Things can get samey, especially when fighting repeat enemy types like Hydra Soldiers with standard tactics. The action is great, even after seei?ng the same animations and dialogue cues over and over, but the enemy layouts and arena-based formula don't always hold up, and are conducive to taking breaks between sessions (or spending more time in the abbey). Some story missions have required heroes (the Hunter included), but others let you mix in your favorites, so you can change things up that way.

Crazily, there are eight difficulty levels: easy, normal, three versions of heroic (billed as an "increased challenge") and three levels of an ultimate tier ("a serious challenge"). Most of the nuances include bonus hero XP and mission bonuses at the cost of higher enemy health. Every single one of these barring easy and normal are locked at the start, asking players to "complete missions and colle??ct star ratings" to earn them.

If you're wondering about any 2K-related meddling, there's a "NightStalker Blade" newslette?r skin, and a marketplace for special skins [suits] was open, but we were provided with all of them. A few look like palette swap?s, and several are extremely transformative, like Fallen Hulk for Hulk. So far, this seems to be the main premium content push (knock on wood).

In several respects, Midnight Suns reflects the tendencies of the more streamlined, popcorny, and entertaining MCU films. It isn't what I expected?, in a good way. It's incredibly easy to recommend to any Marvel fan, and is simple enough to pick up and play for strategy newcomers. Although the highs aren't as high as some of Firaxis' past work, those of you who latch onto the relationship building, social network, and silly moments will find a lot of joy here: I absolu??tely wouldn't be surprised to see Hunter cosplay at future conventions.

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

The post Review: Marvel’s Midnight Suns appeared first on Destructoid.

Yeah, this was worth bringing back again

It's hard to really stress how incredible Tactics Ogre's legacy is. Originally debuting in 1995 in Japan, it gained a lot of traction in 1997 on PlayStation with a North American release. While I can distinctly point to January of 1998, and Final Fantasy Tactics, as the time where I went "yeah, I'm pretty into SRPGs," Tactics Ogre really was the genesis of it, beyond what I had dabbled in before it. It was the talk of my friend groups, and got so many people into the genre. So when, out of nowhere, I learned that it was coming back in 2022 (beyond the PSP edition) as Tact??ics Ogre: Reb?orn, I was ecstatic.

Yes, let's rediscover one of the most interesting SRPGs ever made, through a modern lens, with a completely new audience in play. This "final trailer" that arrived today on Square Enix's YouTube shows off what we can expect before it hits on PC, Switch, PS4, and PS5 on November 11. It's basically an overview of the themes and mechanics of the game, but if you want to completely skip most of the story beats (as vague as they may be), ??I recommend watching everyth?ing 1:30 on.

As a reite?ration, he?re's everything Square Enix is touting as new:

"Based on the 2010 release, the game features improved graphics and sound, as well as updated game design, bringing to life a new Tactics Ogre that remains true to its roots. Tactics Ogre veterans will experience a game that surpasses their fondest memories, while players new to Tactics Ogre will discover a game unlike any they've ever played. Reborn and deeper than ever, the game enables players to immerse themselves in the world and intrigue of Tactics Ogre like never before."

To stress again: definitely put this on your radar. Tactics Ogre is an evergreen story, and one that should live on through as many platforms as possible. The easier it is to experience this vision, the better: especially given that?? the PSP storefront is dead. Thankfully, at the very least, PSP copies are fairly cheap, running folks around $40 on average.

See, I??'m already prepping you for picking up every version of this game early!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVNyoeik0ig

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Deadpool and Venom are among them

It's a 2K game, so of course the Midnight Suns season pass is a thing. Announced this week via the below trail??????????????????????????er (presented b?y Deadpool), it'll bring more characters into the fray.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=blw2Q0YZI_E

Here's what we have so far for the Midnight Suns season pass:

• DLC Content Pack 1 - Deadpool - A foulmouthed mercenary with a heart of gold, Deadpool has a penchant for grisly violence and lighthearted, fourth-wall breaking wisecracks.
• DLC Content Pack 2 - Venom - Spider-Man’s nemesis and one of the main game’s bosses, Venom turns playable hero in DLC #2, armed with all of the same symbiote attacks that once threatened the lives of the Midnight Suns.
• DLC Content Pack 3 - Morbius - One of the original comic book Midnight Sons, Morbius is an accomplished biochemist who, in an attempt to cure his own rare blood disease, turned himself into a living vampire.
• DLC Content Pack 4 - Storm - A powerful member of the X-Men, Storm has the ability to generate and manipulate wind, lightning, rain, and other types of weather to her will.

Yes, Deadpool makes a "Morbin' Time" joke in the video.

According to 2K, the pass will also be sprinkled with additional content beyond the characters; like more levels and items. Midnight Suns is still slated for a December 2 release on PC, PS4, PS5, and Series X/S. Th?e Switch version and prior generations are allegedly coming later, though there's no date in sight, and I wouldn't be s??urprised if they were canceled.

As one of the last big games of 20??22 , I think I speak for strategy and Marvel enthusiasts alike when I say that I hope this one is worth it. With Firaxis at the helm it's really hard to go wrong, but pu??tting big characters like this behind a season pass doesn't inspire confidence.

The post The Midnigh??t Suns season pass will have a few heavy-hitting characters appeared first on Destructoid.

He needs no introduction

It's hard to believe that Fire Emblem Engage is already coming in January, but Nintendo seems dead set on that soonish release date: and is steadily showing off more of the game (albeit on the official Fire Emblem Japanese Twitter account). Amid the sprinkling of gameplay (more so than the trailer) we've gotten so far, the latest set of clips includes gameplay of a series star. New Fire Emblem Engage Marth footage is out thanks to the series' Twitter account, and gives u??s a better look at the hero in action.

Here is the full ?introduction/mini character bio from the inaugur?al tweet (translated/cleaned up), which also reveals his Japanese voice actor:

"Marth (CV: Hikaru Midorikawa) is commonly known as 'The Beginning Heraldry', and is a noble and charismatic hero among heroes??. He is the prince of the Altea Kingdom, located in the alien continent of Archanea,"

We get to see how guest characters seem to appear in Engage, and Marth is reconfirmed as a sword user in this entry. There will also be some story elements involved with the summoned heroes, including the below c?onversation with the main character.

If Engage pulls this off, and manages to bring in some of the most celebrated characters in this series' lengthy history, it could lead to some explosive moments. Ideally the team actually mana?ges to make these portions sing: and elevates them over a fanservice-like inclusion.

Fire Emblem Engage Marth footage:

//twit??ter.com/FireEmblemJP/status/1575757841809408000

The post Nintendo shows off Marth in Fire Emblem Engage appeared first on Destructoid.

"We will announce the new date once it has been determined"

As you may recall, we reported six months ago that Advance Wars 1+2: Reboot Camp (a remake of Advance Wars 1 and 2 with extra features on Switch) had been delayed due to recent world events. Since then we haven't heard an official statement from Nintendo; and even during the Nintendo Direct this week, the publisher remained silent on wh??en it may see the light of day.

That silence has been broken via a statement from a Nintendo rep, who spoke to Stephen Totilo from Axios this week. Here's their full reply:

??"The release has been delayed. We will announce the new date once it? has been determined."

Totilo had asked if the game had been fully canceled, which it doesn't seem to be at this time, given that it's "still delayed" as of this week. Beyond current events, Nintendo also has several considerations when it comes to determining the Advance Wars 1+2: Reboot Camp launch date. The game is fully completed, and?? they can stick it into any schedule lull they so choose. They could also use the opportunity of an event or stream to "re-announce" it to the world.

With that in mind, given the bevy of strategy games we're going to see on the Switch based on the Nintendo Direct presentation alone, there's plenty of other things to play in the meantime, even if Advance Wars 1+2 continues to be delayed. Strategy game fans are seeing a renaissance of sort?s, and the Switch is a great fit for many titles that would have previously been relegated to handhelds.

The post Nintendo says it hasn’t canceled Advance Wars 1+2 for Switch, though it remains delayed appeared first on Destructoid.

A trio of Front Mission Remake projects are coming to Switch

Nintendo gave us the rundown on the trio of Front Mission Remake titles today during this morning's Nintendo Direct. Wait, three? Yep!

The initial remake (titled Front Mission 1st: Remake) is out in November (originally slated for "summer" of 2022), with the sequel coming "next year." These were already announced. However, there's also a Front Mission 3 project announced "for the future."

Here's a recap of what to expect from Nintendo: "You’ll pilot giant machines called Wanzers in tactical turn-based combat. As you progress, you’ll obtain Skills that can help you gain the upper hand against opponents. Continue the battle in the sequel, Front Mission 2: Remake, previously unreleased outside of Japan! Take advantage of additional features, like more terrain effects, weapon and armor attributes, ??and over 80 new skills. You can also test your mettle at the Colosseum and use the Network system to gain intel on events as they unfold."

There's no shortage of strategy games available on the Switch, whether it's resto??red classics or brand-new projects. The third game, however, is really the one I'm waiting for. It's one of my all-time favorite s??trategy games, and that box art is burned in my mind. I mean, it's just a mech and a brown color scheme! But it stuck with me.

The post Front Mission Remake dates announced, Front Mission 3 Remake?? confirmed appeared first on Destructoid.

Become a politician; without selling your soul

Ever since Paradox Interactive announced Victoria 3, I've been in a state of semi-disbelief. It was a strategy game in-joke for so long?? that I couldn't believe it was really happening. I was provided a preview build of the upcoming socio-economic grand strategy game thanks to Paradox. To quote Sidra Holland and Jackie Chiles, it's "real, and it's fantastic." And soon, you too can politick to your heart's content when the game releases on October 25, 2022.

For those of you present who aren't cool enough to know what the Victoria series is all about, an introduction is in order. Victoria is a grand strategy game series aptly set during the Victorian era. Whereas other entries in the Paradox family of grand strategy games focus on war or lineage, Victoria's focus lies in economics and the changing political landscape of the dawning Modern age. Starting in 1836, you control a country and all of its economy and laws while trying to improve the lives of your citizenry. You know how you always scream at your screen that you "can do better" whenever some talking head politician messes everything up? Victoria allows you to put your m??oney (or nati?onal credit) where your mouth is.

The problem with the Victoria series is that we've been devoid of a new entry since 2010 and the last entry is a notoriously hard nut to crack for various reasons. From the Version 0.1 build that I played, I can safely say that Victoria 3 is well on its way to addressing many of th??e barriers to entry that its previous entries had.

Bringing the Modern Age into the Digital Age

The first improvement that stood out to me was the UI/UX design, even compared to games as recent as Imperator: Rome. At a closed-door press demo, game director Martin Anward emphasized that while Victoria 3 would be easier for new players to get into, it would not come at the expense of complexity? but through streamlining how information is presented. Your basic menus where you take the various temperatures of your nation are all still present, but sorters and filters have been given ?big buttons to help you get to what you need quickly.

On top of menus, important overlays of the map have also been given big buttons at the bottom of the screen to show you the big picture of how your empire (and anyone else on the map) are doing in regards to metrics such as production and consumption, quality of life, what have yo??u.

Additionally, nearly every term, metric, item, and country has been given what is called a nested tooltip. Those who have played Crusader Kings III will recognize the feature as it is used in the base release of that game as well. By hoverin??g over a color-coded word in a menu, you will get both a breakdown of what it means, as well as a look at how well you are doing in terms of said metric. After a few seconds of hovering over the term, the tooltip window will soft lock on your screen and you can then navigate to a nested tooltip within your nested tooltip. I think I maxed out at three tooltip windows as I was delving deep into my economy. It did start to get a bit crowded for simple mouse movement, but I had all the information I needed, and it didn't require going to the Official Victoria wiki.

I know what you're thinking, "menu design, what a place to start for a preview" �but all of your decisions and actions will be made through menus, so it's nice to see that a concerted effort has been made to streamli??ne the intake of information for a topic as complex as economics and how that affects your populace. But fine, if you want something juicier t??han menu improvements, how about an actual developer-made tutorial mode?

Ooooh, teach me, Amadeus.

With nearly every previous Paradox grand strategy game, you were given a very base tutorial that mostly entailed how to navigate menus and complete actions. Past that point, you were left to your own devices to figure out how to succeed which at the time meant digging into double-digit hours of YouTube videos. Victoria 3 has not only a tutorial mode but also an objective mode tha?t guides you with completing nations such as a hegemonic ruler or an egalitarian utopia.

In said tutorial mode, you are given a breadcrumb trail that acts as an interactive Econ and Poly Sci 101. Various objectives such as "grow your GDP" or "make a political party that doesn't like you happier" are presented to you and you are given the option of being shown why you should do that, and if you want to be truly handheld, how you can go about it. However, sometimes the objectives were a bit redundant. It got annoying when they were trying to make me placate a social group that stood in staunch opposition to the policies I was trying to enact. But the game never yelled at me for ignoring it. Even with the redundancy of one or two objectives, I was able to get my economy into working order thanks to training mode. Before this in Victoria 2, I had considerable trouble achieving it.

It could be easy to handwave away something as simple as an objective or tutorial mode, but when it comes to the Victoria series, it's incredibly welcoming to players who don't have an established knowledge of something as complex as statesmanship (i.e., most people). This addition is not only huge for the Victoria series, but also for the greater Paradox grand strategy library. Is a tutori?al also not doing it for you? ??How about a map improvement?

The map is alive with the sound of social upheaval

Also new to the Paradox grand strategy library? as a whole is a new "living map."

Previous entries of the map interface were pretty much just colors and lines akin to political maps. In Victoria 3, the map has? received a major update to show how your country is evolving through visual cues. You can now see new cities and factories popping up along with infrastructural changes such as trains running in your states. The neat thing about this new feature is that it isn't just arbitrary additions on the map �you can see that new building you built on the map. It's a little touch but it helps in helping drive home the connection between you and your po??pulace.

While the addition of the living map is nice, it did adversely affect performance on my Ryzen 7 3700/RTX 2070 Super build. The development team did assur?e us at the conference that it was a preview build of the game and improvements would be imp??lemented before launch, but it was still noticeable enough to lead to brief slowdowns and even a crash once.

War, (HUH), what is it good for?

One of the main concerns that arose since the announcement of Victoria 3 was the perceived absence of autonomy for war and how it is waged. Whereas every other Paradox game allowed you to wage war as you saw fit, Victoria 3 has done away with direct control of your armies and is instead leaving this task up to g?enerals and admirals that you assign to your armed forces and waging war based on their characteristics. While the loss of autonomy in warfare is felt, you have other ways of interacting with foreign nations through the use of hostile diplomacy in what is being referred to as diplomatic plays.

In a diplomatic play, you can attempt to force a foreign government to change one of its policies to something that you deem more fit for your liking. At this point, a battle of the wills pops up between the two nations. Demands and possible concessions are laid out by both sides, with the opportunity for allies and even regional neighbors to get involved in the diplomatic battle. Anyone who gets involved can do anything from simply getting their toes wet with economic s??upport, all the way up to committing troops to a potential conflict (wi??th demands of their own to be met by the main player they are siding with). If something can be worked out, great, all parties walk away (mostly) unscathed. But if talks fail to reach a compromise, then the two sides will escalate to war. War is then conducted through the use of high-level strategic choices that you dictate such as assigning generals to armies and placing said armies along fronts.

The developers have essentially taken the war goal/casus belli mechanic from every other game in their repertoire and ??expanded it for the purposes of diplomacy. I will admit that the only action I saw in diplomatic plays was sitting on the bench waiting to be called up by a larger country as repayment for a good deed they did for me earlier. I did come close to forcing a change from an isolationist trade policy to an open market, but peace won.

Fun with finance (and flags)

I've been waiting for Victoria 3 for what seems like forever. By the time I returned to PC gaming in the mid-2010s, Victoria 2 was already falling out of date as Paradox refined its craft and had begun to make its games more easily palatable to the uninitiated. I've always been a closet political junkie, and I'm a big enough nerd to love the concept of economics and international trade. So it was all about waiting for my turn in the sun. After a week and a half with the preview build, I can tell that my turn is comi??ng.

The entire time I had with the preview, I was having a blast. The game sucked me in, grabbed hold of my attention, and refused to let go. I couldn't stop thinking about my long-term goals and would frequently boot up the game to implement a policy change I thought of while doing real-world stuff. One evening, my poor partner came rushing into our computer room thinking something was gravely wrong with me because I was muttering curses at length. America had cut off my supply of small arms, and my economy took a turn for the worst because of it. I wanted America'??s head, and I was ready to back anyone who felt the same way but was limited by my size. I was promptly called a loser and left to smolder in my rage.

Victoria 3 is, without a doubt, not for everyone. It also has some ways to go before it is street-ready. But for a preview build, it ran pretty well most of the time. Even with the times where it stumbled, Victoria 3 was the most fun I've had with a grand strategy game ever. There is no greater joy than growing your economy while also increasing yo??ur infrastructure. I can't wait to get back into the big chair and bring my nation into a prosperous new era of social equality.

Victoria 3 will release for PC on October 25, 2022.

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Legion of Doom

Fans of veteran tactical combat series Jagged Alliance are already getting their gear together for the long-awaited sequel Jagged Alliance 3, which is currently in development at studio Haemimont Games. Publisher THQ Nordic released a new trailer for the RTS title during this weekend's Digital Showcase.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah9O1LQXIvE

Once again set against the backdrop of Grand Chien, Jagged Alliance 3 sees the fictional republic overthrown by a dangerous paramilitary force following the mysterious disappearance?? of its president. As "The Legion" embeds itself within each and every sector of the troub?led nation, the family of its missing ruler reaches out to the clandestine Adonis corporation to send its best team of black ops mercenaries to locate the president, defeat The Legion, and restore Grand Chien to its former state of (relative) order.

The new sequel, which will arrive a full two decades on from 1999's Jagged Alliance 2, will feature the tactical engagement and strategic gameplay of its predecessor, powered by a brand new engine and modern-day mechanics. A huge cast of new and familiar mercenaries will be made available for the player's home-grown militia, given access to a huge arsenal of weaponry, equipment, and explosive, town-rattling ge??ar. Battle The Legion's forces, train local insurgents, and retake the Grand Chien street-by-street in explosive campaign action alone or with co-op support.

Jagged Alliance 3 is cu?rrently in development for PC. A release window has not been announced.

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The Subnautica studio has a new IP on deck for Opening Night Live, and it's turn-based

As August ramps up, more pieces in the Gamescom puzzle are falling into place. Subnautica and Natural Selection creator Unknown Worlds has already locked in the reveal o??f its n?ext game �a turn-based sci-fi strategy game that's a part of a "new IP."

We'll learn more about this strategy game during the Geoff Keighley-hosted Gamescom: Opening Night Live streaming showcase on August 23 at 11:00 a.m. Pacific.

According to Krafton, Inc., "Unknown Worlds co-founder and game director, Charlie Cleveland, will officially reveal a new IP set in a sci-fi world that features imaginative turn-based gameplay. Striking Distance Studios' CEO Glen Schofield will also take the stage at Opening Night Live to share a new look at The Callisto Protocol, the upcoming next-generation survi??val horror game that is set to launch on Dec. 2, 2022."

"So excited to finally share what I've been obsessed with, and working on every day, for quite a few years," tweeted Cleveland. "OBSESSED."

"We'll show you lots of gameplay too," Keighley added.

[caption id="attachment_338829" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{Krafton's Gamescom 2022 crew.}[/caption]

I honestly keep forgetting that Krafton owns Unknown Worlds, but this reveal should be a firm reminder. Previously, the pair described the new game as "genre-defining" and suggested it would have an Early Ac??cess launch; par for the course for this team.

Unknown Worlds has also been hiring for more Subnautica, so don't sweat it

What about the next Subnautica? ?I'm all rile??d up thinking about the possibilities.

Last we heard, the team was looking for a senior narrative designer to take point on "the next game in the Subnautica universe." Some of the most memorable moments are also the most terrifying, and while it's good to have a wide appeal, freaky ocean exploration sets this series apart. Of course, it ??can't be unsettling the whole time �calmer, quieter breaks need to be there too. There are a lot of directions the story can go from here.

Unknown Worlds has quite a bit of goodwill to spare, so whether it's this new sci-fi strategy title or another Subnautica, they've got our attention. See you at Gamescom?

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You can also pick up Recompile

A StarCraft: Remastered free download is front and center for this newest Prime Gaming update: set to arrive at the start of August.

As Prime Gaming continues to shuffle in new games alongside of other publisher-driven services, Amazon Prime subscibers have new games to claim. Several are relatively unknown, a few are higher-profile indies (comparatively), and the one Amazon chose to put front and center is StarCraft: Remastered. Not paying ??for a ?Blizzard game sounds pretty great right now to a lot of people, I bet.

If you need a refresher, here is what StarCraft: Remastered does differently:

• Full graphical upgrade of the original StarCraft and the StarCraft: Brood War expansion
• Widescreen UHD support for up to 4K resolution
• New matchmaking and leaderboards
• Player profiles that track individual statistics
• Cloud saving for campaign progress, hotkeys, and replays
• Higher fidelity music and sound
• Switch between Remastered and the original StarCraft

Beyond StarCraft: Remastered, you can find the full free lineup below.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BzNM2pyzW8

August 2022 free games with Prime month:

• • StarCraft: Remastered

  • Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders

  • Beasts of Maravilla Island

  • Recompile

  • ScourgeBringer

  • Family Mysteries: Poisonous Promises

August 2022  new in-game content with Prime: 

• • • Apex Legends

    • Call of Duty

    • Destiny 2

    • Fall Guys

    • Grand Theft Auto Online

    • League of Legends

    • World of Warcraft

The post The August Prime Gaming ??free lineup c??uriously involves StarCraft: Remastered appeared first on Destructoid.

I have to stress: the original

Warcraft III turns 20 years old this week: just let that sink in. The strategy c??lassic originally arrived on July 3, 2002, and changed the genre (and eventually, other subgenres) forever.

I can vividly recall when Warcraft III came out, as a friend of mine took off school for several days, and declined to hang out with my gaming group that weekend in favor of playing through the entire campaign. That act of isolation ensorcelled me into running out and buying it, and once we had a LAN setup going at his house, the rest was history. By then Warcraft III had fully caught on in the zeitgeist, and was on its way to becoming one ?of the ?most popular strategy games of all time.

Before long, we were playing hundreds of hours of custom games. Entire weekends were spent (with Diablo 2 hell mode breaks) trying to find the best custom games possible, and we'd all go out in these little individual excursion missions downloading them before taking turns presenting the group with the coolest, most-lasting maps to play. Eventually, someone found DOTA, and that turned into its own game (and genre) �but you know that? story!

Years later, when we met my? wife, one of the first things we did was surf custom games together (lots of tower defense!). It's been a unifying element throughout my entire life as long as it has existed.

All of the above is why it's such a shame that Reforged replaced the original client going forward. While the re-release did finally get an update recently, it's not only too little too late, but it's not enough. Hopefully if Blizzard hasn't gotten around to it but the time Microsoft takes over, the new owners will make it right. If all else fails, just de-couple Reforged ent?irely:?? the classic version of the game deserves to live on beyond file sharing.

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With real-time skirmishes

Our first game reveal of Summer Game Fest 2022 involved Xenomorphs, and that had to be on someone's bingo card, right? Tindalos Interactive and Focus Entertainment showed off a cinematic trailer for Aliens: Dark Descent ?with soldiers facing a seemingly hopeless situation �you know the one! �and a sneaky bit of isometric ?gameplay footage at the end. It's a (single-player) squad-based action game. Not what I was expecting, at all.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W_fIqBj3gc

The game's official site fills in more info, with a mention of "permanent" death, "shortcuts" and "safe zones," and "setting up motion trackers in a persistent world where your actions impact levels forever." Aliens: Dark Descent will have threats like Facehuggers, Alien Queens, rogue humans, and a "host of horrifying creatures new to the Alien franchise." O??n that note, this is an "original" story, so things could get... experimental.

As little as the trailer gives away, I like the sound of needing to manage "health, resources, and sanity, to avoid permanent team losses and mental breakdowns" between missions. Granted, I'd do a terrible job if games like XCOM are any indication, but this alien-infested train could de?rail in a memorable way. Can I name my squad?? after friends and family?

Fly me to the moon, Lethe

"The gameplay we have developed is unique, inspired from our favorite tactical and CRPG games and packaged in nerve-wracking, r??eal-time action," said Focus Entertainment managing dire??ctor John Bert. The lighting looks good, I will say. Here's another screen:

While this might not be the Alien: Isolation sequel we've all be??en waiting for, and the story trailer does ??little for me, the actual gameplay foundation here seems like a potentially strong setup. Until proven otherwise, I think it's a decent use of the license. Part of it is going to come down to the controls, though, so we'll see how it turns out.

Aliens: Dark Descent ?is coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in 2023.

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It was the blurst of times...

Publisher Raw Fury, in association with developer Fury Studios, has opened up its neon yellow bum-bag and pulled out a teaser for the next entry in the strategy/building Kingdom series: Kingdom Eighties.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=srq0fgpX9F0

Currently in development for "the coolest platforms," Kingdom Eighties: Summer of Greed will see that series visit the manic, Day-Glo vibe of 1980s Americana, utilizing a wild, Saturday Morning Show vibe to backdrop its latest bout of exploration, world-building, and conquest. While Raw Fury is keeping tight-lipped on the details, we do know that the premise of Kingdom Eighties concerns a? rag-tag gang of kids and their efforts to save their neighborhood from the mysterious and titular "Greed."

The new game will represent the fourth release in the franchise, following on from Kingdom (2015), Kingdom: New Lands (2016), and Kingdom: Two Crowns (2018). The new game will retain all of the resource-management, base-building, and combat of its predecessors, but is simply choosing to set the action in an entirely new world, one of arcade games, weekend adventures, and Denver the Last Dinosaur. Just remember to? trade in your trusty steed ?for a BMX and you'll be golden.

Kingdom Eighties is currently in development for PC and con??soles. It is scheduled to launch in 20??22.

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Sweaty men not included

I’ve been eagerly anticipating the release of Advance Wars 1+2 Re-boot Camp since its announcement. I’ve loved the series since I first played it on Game Boy Advance back in 2001. At the time, I had no idea that the games date back to the Famicom, and, for some reason, Advance Wars was just the first we got in North America. When I started collect?ing for the Famicom, it was one of the first games I ?looked for.

I wound up with Daisenryaku due to a strangely worded listing. The collector’s?? market was kind of weird back then.

I did eventually land what I was looking for. I had the privilege of tr?ying it out with a friend of mine who also loves the series. As it turned out, there was some to be had. Nothing that hasn’t been antiquated by later games in the series, ??but fun nonetheless.

I want to talk about the box art to Famicom Wars because it’s one of the strangest I’ve ever seen. Forget about bearded fellows playing the banjo or horrible Sega Master System covers, Famicom Wars decided?? to promote itself using a row of sweaty boot camp trainees screaming at the camera. I honestly cannot fathom the discussions that went on around the use of it. Was Nintendo happy? Was the development team happy? Did the company that put this togeth??er ever find work again?

Those sweaty men don’t feature within the game. Instead, it’s the same bizarre light-hearted approach to war that we’re used to from the series. Okay, there’s no dialogue, so we don’t get COs patting each other on the back for the great battle that resulted in untold collatera?l damage and lives lots, but it’s still presented in an off-puttingly goofy fashion. Forget the horrors of war, just focus on the strategy.

Perhaps predictably, Famicom Wars is the formula distilled down to its purest elements. You’ve got the?? Red Star and Blue Moon ar?mies. They’re evenly matched, and the COs are just generic army dudes. However, the main gameplay elements are all here. Grid-based, units with strengths and weaknesses, terrain that offers defensive cover, and capturing cities for a better daily income. If you know how to play Advance Wars, then you’re all set here. If you don’t, then just know it’s a simple take on the tactical war genre.

Many of the units that would be carried through the Game Boy Wars games and into Advance Wars existed here. Tanks and artillery in light and heavy flavors, infantry, bazooka infantry, battleships, and bombers. The big difference is that APCs and supply trucks are separate units. The supply trucks deserve special mention because t?hey’re very unintuitive. When in a group of units, they always resupply the unit closer to the enemy. They would also sometimes just refuse to resupply for reasons I couldn’t disc?ern. Maybe if I had the instruction manual.

One feature that I wished was carried over to later games in the series is the persistent campaign. There’s no story mode, but t??here’s a series of islands to be taken over. If you’re playing a 2-player campaign, then you’re essentially fighting to see who can capture the most islands. There’s a battery backup in the cartridge, which means that you can keep the campaign going over multiple play sessions. Unfortunately, the battery in my cartridge died. Have you ever tried opening a Nintendo-type Famicom cartridge? There are no screws, just plastic clips. Taking them apart without breaking those clips is a harrowing experience.

There are some drawbacks. The AI takes all the time to make its moves as a human player would, but without the conversation and smack talk. It’s not bad in early maps where there aren’t many units fielded, but in the bigger maps, I would literally walk away from the game and come back after a few minutes to find that they were still thinking about moving units. This was a problem with a lot of early turn-based strategy games. SD Gundam World, for example, or even Game Boy Wars.

It’s also a rather unbalanced game. I recall a match where I was being trampled by ?a friend of mine in 1v1. I was on the ropes, but I turned the whole battle around because I was the first one to drop the money on a battleship. Those beasts hit anything; land, sea, air. They’re the ultimate artillery and I can’t think of a single strategy that could defeat a blockade of those things. Of course, I’m no, uh�Captain Picard. I’m drawing a?? blank here on actual military leaders.

I had to bring up that t??ime I won because he was always better than me at?? strategy games.

It’s somewhat important to note that, while both games are similar, Famicom Wars predated Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light by about two years. Both were designed by Intelligent Systems, or perhaps more accurately programmed by Toru Narihiro. While Fire Emblem is a much more advanced game with its narrative, persistent unit death, and RPG elements, there’s a lot of Famicom Wars DNA in there??, and i??t’s unlikely it would exist without its predecessor.

It’s easy to say that Famicom Wars was mad??e obsolete by later games in the series, but I think it’s more important to appreciate how fun it s??till is. Even back in 1988, the foundation of the series was pretty strong. I just wish we got it over here.

Nintendo did recently go to the effort of localizing the original Famicom version of Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light, though they only offered it for a limited amount of time and then, mystifyingly, pulled it from stores. However, they tend to have more respect for the Fire Emblem series since the western audience latched onto it and turned it into a million-seller. Maybe if Advance Wars 1+2 Re-boot Camp succeeds, we’ll finally see a localization. On the other hand, you could just use the map editor to remake all the Famicom Wars maps, so what do I know?

As for what’s there now, if you’re brave, you can poke around with the Japanese menus and try to figure things out. Otherwise, you need to kn?ow the language. There’s no story, but there are a lot of stats and unit types. Luckily, there is a fan translation available. Maybe check it out if you’d like to see where this series spawned.

Check out previous Famicom Fridays right here.

The post Fa??micom Wars was already a solid foundation for Advance Wars appeared first on Destructoid.

Do as Arnold says and get your ass to Mars

This week on the Epic Games Store, board game purveyor Asmodee Digital is giving out Terraforming Mars for free. Just claim the PC game by May 12 to lock it up in your library.

As a quick ??aside, this music puts me in a real Com??mander Shepard state of mind.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=92a3TUwPBgc

Terraforming Mars is an adaptation of Jacob Fryxelius' 2016 strategy board game, and like its award-winning source material, you'll try to forget all of the terrible stuff you saw in Total Recall and Red Faction as you work to bend Mars to? your will. Progress must be mad??e!

Corporations clash?? as you and your big-business rivals "transfo??rm Mars into a habitable planet by spending vast resources and using innovative technology to raise temperature, create a breathable atmosphere, and make oceans of water" to pile up Victory Points.

The PC game has single-player support if you?? want to really take your time, or you can compete under pressure with five others, whether that's AI opponent?s or real players.

I wasn't there at launch, but looking through the user reviews, Terraforming Mars was in dire need of bug ?fixing a?nd other fine-tuning and it has gotten better with updates.

"As an avid fan of the board game, I can recommend this game for new and experienced players," noted a player who goes by nimrod. "The way it keeps track of your points and cards is super convenient and the interface is easy to learn. If you enjoy a nice calm game to play alone or ??with friends that wracks your brain a lil bit, this one's for you."

If you ever need a feel-good palette cleanser, keep an eye on Terra Nil, too.

[caption id="attachment_219643" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{Prey (2017).}[/caption]

Next week's free games are Prey and Jotun

Terraforming Mars will be free to claim and keep until May 12, at which point the Epic Games Store will swap in Jotun: Valhalla Edition and Prey until May 19. Arkane's paranoid ??space-station FPS with immersive-sim tendencies gets a lotta love around here.

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Hmmmm

For weeks now Blizzard has been teasing a mobile entry in the Warcraft franchise, which was built up as an Earth-shattering reveal. That time has come, and it's called Warcraft: Arclight Rumble.

Described as "Warcraft at your fingertips," this new game is a "mobile action strategy game" that looks very similar to a lot of other competitors on the market. It'll sport a "massive single player campaign," as well as head-to-head PVP, prompting players to control armies and heroes to take on "bosses and characters from the Warcraft universe." You'll also "collect over 60 minis" as part of the game's progression s?ystem, across the playable factions of Alliance, Horde, Beast [Gnolls are seen in the trailer], Undead, and Blackrock. "Raids" and co-op play with guilds are teased.

The theme is extremely zany, in a completely over-the-top fashion (a little too much upfront) as was evident from the developer reveal. Warcraft: Arclight Rumble is set to debut this year, and pre-registrations are already live now on Android (it's also coming to iOS). You can find the full website for the game here.

While I'll wait to play it to judge, this e??ntire thing felt like it was don?e under duress at the behest of Activision.

The Warcraft: Arclight Rumble reveal trailer:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6LYBW8cH4c

The Warcraft: Arclight Rumble screenshots:

[gallery ids="319917,319918,????319919,319920,319921,319922"]

//www.tiktok.com/@destr?uctoid/video/7095836488310525190?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7052788164067706373

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