The latest major Palworld update is live, fixing a range of crash and save data bugs while also addressing a glitch which saw your much-abused indentured munsters falling into an eternal slumber when assigned to a Pal breeding farm. I continue to wonder how much of Palworld is deliberate satire.
Developed as a PlayStation 5 exclusive by South Korea-based studio Shift Up, Stellar Blade emphasises fast-paced action and boasts a post-apocalyptic setting. Both its flashy combat and stunning visuals scream next-gen, yet at the same time, Stellar Blade is not shy to hide the past it was inspired by. IGN Japan had the chance to sit down with the developers and talk through their inspirations.
As Eve, players perform flashy combos while quickly reacting to enemy attacks by parrying and dodging at the right time to create openings for counters. Developer Kim Hyung-tae told IGN that Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Bayonetta were some of the action games his team was inspired by.
Visually speaking, Stellar Blade’s world shares vibes with many science fiction works that have a post-apocalyptic setting, albeit with a strong Asian touch. Many of the game’s main characters have Asian appearances, and Xion – a city built by the last survivors on Earth – appears to be heavily inspired by modern Asian cityscapes.
“As for Stellar Blade’s world-building, we designed it by mixing cultural elements from Hong Kong, Japan, China and Korea,” Kim said.
“That being said, Xion isn’t only inhabited by Asian people, and we didn’t intend to make it look like a specific country or culture. The most important thing about Xion is that it is a city built for the world’s last survivors. Of course, I have enjoyed many different cultures and art myself, so I can’t deny that I was inspired by other science fiction works with a similar dystopian setting.”
As some of the main inspirations on Stellar Blade’s world, Kim mentions cyberpunk manga series Battle Angel Alita and the 1982 science fiction film Blade Runner.
However, Stellar Blade’s biggest source of inspiration might be Nier Automata. The combination of Yoko Taro’s stylish action and dystopian world-building feels close to Stellar Blade. On top of that, both games have a badass anime-inspired female protagonist.
“Nier: Automata left a huge impression on me,” said Kim. “It made me realize that a game like this could be made, and allowed me to rediscover the kind of game that I want to make.”
Stellar Blade launches on PS5 on April 26.
Esra Krabbe is an editor at IGN Japan.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth preorders are currently down to just £56.65 in the UK right now. This is a tremendous deal, and guaranteed to arrive on launch day February 29. All you need to do is use promo code LOVE10 (see here) to secure the game at a discount.
This is the best Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth preorder deal in the UK right now, making it the perfect time to secure your copy and ensure you’re among the first to explore the expanded universe. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to save big and embark on an unforgettable adventure. But, the only caveat is that this LOVE10 code will expire after February 8, so there’s a limited time frame on this one.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth promises to bring back the nostalgia while adding layers of depth to the story and gameplay that we’ve been dreaming of since the original. The game is the highly anticipated second installment in the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy, taking the iconic story into its next chapter.
The anticipation surrounding the release of the game is palpable, with fans eagerly discussing how good they expect the game to be. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a curious newcomer, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is shaping up to be an unforgettable journey through one of gaming’s most cherished universes.
In our final hands-on preview of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, we said: “This second game in the reimagined trilogy is like an extension that flows out of its predecessor rather than another radical rethink. But Rebirth is layered with several new ideas that, at least across the duration of a recent three-hour playable demonstration, suggests Cloud and co’s upcoming journey will feel like a genuine sequel rather than a full-priced expansion.”
There’s also a new relationship system, called Bonds of Friendship, that has been added to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. As explained in the system’s tutorial, “the strength of these bonds can alter portions of the story.” One of those story moments is the Gold Saucer date, and you’ll be able to see how your potential partner feels about you via a variety of emoji-like faces.
Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.
“It’s that time of the year again”.
The well-executed beat ’em up rogulike Sifu is teasing some surprises for its second anniversary, even though the developer rolled out the final content update on Switch last November.
In a brief message via social media, Sloclap said it had some “surprises” to share over the coming days, beginning with the anniversary on 10th February (that’s later this week).
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
The biggest fighting game tournament in the world is returning to Las Vegas. EVO 2024 will take place from July 19-21st in a new venue: the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. EVO 2024 will be the biggest EVO ever, featuring several new additions and eight games gracing the main stage. All told, four games will be making their debut as a main title. We learned a ton about what EVO will look like in 2024 from the EVO Announcement Show on Twitch. In short, it’s going to be much, much bigger than last year’s event.
EVO 2023 was a great show, and we documented the journey of IGN’s own Mitchell Saltzman as he competed at the event. but this year will see several improvements to the EVO format. First up, there will now be a dedicated registration area to keep lines shorter. In addition, the EVO show floor will be open all three days. That means three days of artist alley, publisher booths, the EVO Arcade, and more.
Speaking of the EVO Arcade, EVO 2024 will be the largest in EVO history with a bigger BYOC (Bring Your Own Controller) area. This year, there will also be an all-new art gallery with works from the history of the FGC on display and a brand new stage for EVO showcases on Friday featuring interviews, exhibitions, and more. The popular cosplay contest will also return, and perhaps most importantly, you’ll no longer need separate tickets for the Finals on Sunday. Since the show floor will be open all three days, you can go back and forth from the Finals to the show floor as much as you like.
In addition to all the details on the event itself, we also got a look at the eight games that will grace the EVO main stage, four of which will be making their EVO debut, which are highlighted in bold:
You’d expect newcomers like Tekken 8 and Mortal Kombat 1, but it’s good to see smaller, lesser-known games like Granblue and Under Night get their turn under the bright lights. The real story, however, is the return of Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, which makes sense, since Evo 2024 will be the 20th anniversary of EVO Moment 37. Yes, that EVO moment 37. There will also be a community stage where community-run tournaments will get their time in the sun, though those games haven’t been announced yet.
It’s a lot to take in, but if you can’t get enough EVO, EVO Japan is set to take place in April 27-29, which will feature every game at EVO minus Mortal Kombat 1. If you’re looking to register or just want to learn more, you can head over to https://www.evo.gg for additional details.
Will Borger is an IGN freelancer. You can find him on Twitter @bywillborger
Available now.
Although Super Mario Maker 2 on the Nintendo Switch received its final major update back in April 2020, it still occasionally receives a smaller update. The latest one follows on from an update in 2022 that addressed several issues.
This latest one makes some adjustments for a more “pleasant gaming experience”. Here it is in full:
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Wo Long Fallen Dynasty Complete Edition is available for download on February 6, transporting gamers into a dark Three Kingdoms world infested with demons. The Complete Edition comes packed with all of the new weapon types, divine beasts, bosses, story chapters, and end game content included in the three DLC packs plus the collaboration DLCs.
However, it’s the three new weapon types – cestus, long sword, and whip – that really flex the game’s muscles, offering distinct new ways to play the game as you fight for every last breath.
Here’s a breakdown of how to use each new weapon type…
Time to beat down demons with your bare hands! Aggressive attacks enable you to quickly combo punches and kicks while also preparing to deflect at any moment due to the speed of animations. Watch out, though, the lack of range can be a problem against certain enemies, so team cestus with Wizardry Spells like fireballs in order to have the best of both worlds.
While cestus is equipped, you can actually increase your Spirit by up to three levels, with each level granting certain positive effects:
To top it off, when you are fighting in High Spirits, using Martial Arts, Spirit attacks, or Fatal Strikes will actually grant you a positive effect that increases the amount of Spirit you obtain. When you perform a Spirit attack, the surplus Spirit from your current level will be consumed. You will also lose any Spirit gained from Level 3 if you switch to a weapon other than cestuses.
Master’s Tip: Learn to take advantage of the different levels of Spirit when fighting with cestus. Depending on the enemy, use the different positive effects during battle appropriately.
The long sword is a great weapon thanks to its ability to charge before strikes. That’s right, using this extended blade enables you to actually charge and accumulate energy as you hold down either X or Y to perform normal attacks or Spirit Attacks. The longer you hold the button, the more powerful the charged attack will become, with each button unleashing two phases of strikes. With a longer accumulation period enabling a more powerful attack with different animations and sound cues to help clue you in to whether you’re using a phase 1 or phase 2 attack.
Building up power directly after Spirit attacks, Martial Arts, or successful deflects will shorten the time it takes to accumulate power. In fact, moving while accumulating energy will also allow you to quickly dodge in that direction. It is even possible to deflect enemy attacks at the beginning of the dodge sequence and doing so successfully will instantly boost your energy level to the maximum level. This enables you to launch a powerful counter attack while breaking the enemy’s stance.
Master’s Tip: Learn when to charge your sword with your Spirit attack (Y button) – even during a mid-combo string – so that you can either land a strong blow or move away mid charge to deflect and instantly charge your final attack.
When first trying out the whip, just know, this weapon has the biggest risk/reward factor of any item in Wo Long. You’ll want to first build up your Spirit Meter as much as you can before taking on the deadlier demons, but once you’re ready to rumble, activate Frenzy mode by pressing Y while guarding. Here’s the reward, as your whip attacks in Frenzy mode, combine the whip with Martial Arts and Wizardry Spells to overwhelm opponents with a series of strikes. This combination of attacks makes the whip one of the best (and most fun) long-range weapons in the game to take out hordes of monsters. You will even deal damage to surrounding enemies upon successfully deflecting an attack.
But here comes the risk. In Frenzy mode, your attacks will be more powerful, but you will not be able to recover Spirit, and each of your attacks will also consume Spirit. Additionally, Frenzy mode will be automatically deactivated when you are staggered, such as when you are inflicted with a status effect or Spirit Disruption, leaving you open to taking on huge damage, or possibly even leading to your demise.
Master’s Tip: When using Frenzy mode, as Spirit gets low, switch over to a different weapon using deflect counterattack (RB + B). This will smoothly transition you to your secondary weapon while also deflecting. And while this will take you out of Frenzy mode, since you are now using another weapon, it will also give you the opportunity to build up Spirit quickly again before switching back to the whip to once again find yourself in a Frenzy.
Think you have what it takes to defeat the demons of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Complete Edition? Download the game when it launches on February 6.
The post Whip it Good! Breaking Down Weapons Included in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Complete Edition appeared first on Xbox Wire.
I don’t think anyone is going to be surprised to learn that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth feels incredibly similar to Final Fantasy 7 Remake. This second game in the reimagined trilogy is like an extension that flows out of its predecessor rather than another radical rethink. But Rebirth is layered with several new ideas that, at least across the duration of a recent three-hour playable demonstration, suggests Cloud and co’s upcoming journey will feel like a genuine sequel rather than a full-priced expansion.
During the hands-on demo I was able to play through the first two chapters of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. The opening section recreates the Nibelheim Incident flashback from the original game; an important slice of Sephiroth’s backstory that reveals the main reason for his villany. This scenario plays out more or less identically to what you remember of Remake – a linear trek through a simple environment, elevated by exceptional combat and character work. I liked this structure in Remake and I still like it in Rebirth.
It is in chapter two, though, that Rebirth begins to show how things have changed. Freed from the restrictive streets and corridors of Midgar, your party is set loose in a large open world of rolling grasslands and towering trees. The demo did not make it clear if the continent is made up of large segmented zones or if it is a genuine, seamless open world, but what I can say is that the sizable region in this demo chapter feels much more expansive and authentically natural than the areas seen in last year’s Final Fantasy 16.
These zones initially feel somewhat empty but that is soon changed after discovering and activating a scattering of ‘remnawave towers’. Following open world tradition, these towers plot a variety of activities on your map that can be undertaken as distractions from the main storyline. I unfortunately didn’t have enough time to fully dig into these side tasks, but they include hunt-style battles and item salvaging. I’m left with the impression that these mini quests won’t be Rebirth’s most compelling feature, but hopefully they will be an improvement upon both Remake and FF16’s monotonous side stories. At the very least the side content does promise worthwhile rewards: for instance, scanning and defeating monsters in the world will upgrade the returning combat simulator, which in turn will unlock new summon materia – the magical orbs that manifest god-like allies in battle.
The grasslands area that extends around and beyond the small town of Kalm is not structured identically to the world of the original Final Fantasy 7, but it nonetheless feels authentic to that game. Lush forests harbour the Chocobo Farm, which is once again managed by Bill, Billy, and Chloe. Push onwards and the verdant grass gives way to gloomier swamplands that are terrorised by the monstrous Midgardsormr – the renamed but still-infamous Midgar Zolom snake. As in Remake, all of this covers a significantly larger and more detailed area than the same region of the original game, turning what were once minutes of play into hours.
Simply getting around these zones feels more freeing and smooth thanks to the improved movement that allows Cloud to easily hop up over small and mid-sized obstacles, and a basic climbing mechanic that sees him clamber from one yellow handhold to another. It’s not exactly Uncharted, but this added element of ‘outdoorsiness’ provides an enjoyable sense of adventure. Add in the expected Chocobos for fast, feathered trips, and you’ve got a strong basis for wider exploration.
Of course, those wide open zones are home to more than just trees and flowers. There’s plenty of enemies roaming the world and Remake’s exceptional combat returns. This time around you have the full freedom to arrange your party how you wish, choosing a trio from your recruited pals. You can put together three different parties and switch between them on the fly while exploring, allowing you to have pre-arranged setups for different scenarios. Spotted a large beast in need of a battering? Get your melee-focussed Cloud-Tifa-Red XIII party ready and dive in. Are flying monsters lurking in the skies ahead? Just cycle to your ranged Cloud-Barret-Aerith team and you’re good to go.
Red XIII is now a fully-playable companion, acting as an agile attacker who can build up combos of claw swipes. He also has a Vengeance gauge, which builds with every successful block and can eventually be triggered to boost his attack power and dodge speed. But a new character isn’t the only added layer to the combat – alongside the character combo synergy abilities which return in an enhanced form from Remake’s Intermission DLC, there’s now a whole skill tree system that allows you to build out a character’s strengths beyond just their Materia choices. Remake felt like a sweet spot for Final Fantasy combat and character crafting, so it remains to be seen if Rebirth has perhaps overloaded it with too many extras, but right now I like what I’ve sampled and am excited to learn its tactical depth and breadth.
While shocking stabbings, amazing airships, and weird weapons is what the original Final Fantasy 7 is best remembered for, one of my favourite things about the PS1 classic is its variety of goofy minigames. Remake established the new trilogy’s dedication to that eclectic variety of gameplay types with things like the motorbike chase and Honey Bee Inn dance number, and I’m pleased to see Rebirth has a whole new slate of weird oddities to entertain us. A collectable card game called Queen’s Blood, in which you lay cards in a trio of lanes in an attempt to claim the highest score, hopes to steal the hearts of Triple Triad fans. Out in the fields, you must outwit Chocobos in a humorous stealth sequence that has you weaving between patches of long grass and throwing rocks as distractions. And once you’ve snuck up on and caught a chocobo, you can of course indulge in a bit of chocobo time trial racing.
None of these activities are pinnacles of gameplay design, but that’s not the point; the weird diversions from the standard explore-fight-upgrade loop was what made the original Final Fantasy 7 so flavorful, and I’m pleased Square Enix recognises that. Not all of the new experiments land, though; I’m hoping the one where you push a slow, heavy vacuum around to suck up toxic mako fumes is a one-and-done.
While it’s great to see things return, this trilogy is also defined by what it changes. By and large, this demo was relatively restrained in regards to alterations to the original story beats. Chapter one is a faithful recreation of the climb up Mt. Nibel, aside from it now being the home of the Materia Keeper battle. You’re also in direct control of Sephiroth, too, who has a suitably devastating moveset with a very cool parry system. Dedicated fans will also find delight in tidbits of dialogue that appear to closer unite these events with that of Crisis Core – at one point Sephiroph says to Cloud, “Perhaps you’d like to say a few words to your sword, first?”, which is fun for those who recognise its significance.
It’s in chapter two that I found a bigger story shift, as Shinra soldiers parachuted into Kalm in hunt of Avalanche, forcing the gang to flee out into the grasslands. This adds much more tension to what was previously a very low-key period of the original game, with Cloud having to creep along elevated platforms to avoid capture. Sadly there’s no use of genuine stealth mechanics here – there’s no way to be caught or mess up, so the tension is simply narrative rather than systemic. But as far as the story goes, it’s nonetheless a fun new minor wrinkle in a tale many of us know incredibly well.
With this substantial hands-on, Square continues to show the confidence it established in the first game of the Final Fantasy 7 remake project. Its most notable addition for Rebirth, the open world, is a welcome extra, but the full quality of its activities remains to be seen. Regardless of their success, though, I feel that once again the combat, characters, and overall story will be the main, uncontestable hook, and there’s no signs of them having diminished. And so Rebirth promises to continue in style this worthwhile reinvention of one of history’s landmark RPGs.
Matt Purslow is IGN’s UK News and Features Editor.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the newest installment in the Final Fantasy VII remake project and one of 2024’s most-anticipated games, tells the tale of main protagonist Cloud Strife and his loyal companions who explore a massive world outside Midgar, the city of Mako, as they pursue Sephiroth, one of the most iconic antagonists in video game history.
Ahead of the full game’s release on February 29, the demo releasing today allows you to not only take control of the protagonist, Cloud, but take full control of the legendary swordsman Sephiroth in battle. You will be able to play as Sephiroth as part of the extended flashback section, as Cloud recalls an earlier mission in his career as a Soldier – the Nibelheim incident. Taking place several years before the events of the game, this will set the stage for several important moments within Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. What’s more, we’re planning to release an update later this month that will allow you to explore part of the Junon region before the release of the full game on February 29. We hope you’ll take this opportunity to venture into the world of Final Fantasy VII!
Today’s State of Play includes a new trailer focusing on the story of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth alongside around 11 minutes of never-before seen gameplay. This footage includes the world premiere of many unseen elements of the game: an overview of the world map, ways to get around the expansive world including a wide range of vehicles and mounts, varied exploration, minigames, and much more.
It’s a must-see, both for those excitedly awaiting Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and those who have yet to dive into the world of Final Fantasy VII.
Highlights from the Final Fantasy VII Rebirth gameplay
The around 11 minutes of gameplay footage showcases the following elements of the game:
The stage for your new adventure: a gigantic world map, connected seamlessly
The stage for the adventure of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a gigantic world map, constructed of several areas seamlessly joined together.
The footage showcases a wide range of ways to get around the expansive map, from Chocobos – that Final Fantasy series mainstay – to buggies and wheelies. Chocobos will be of particular help to Cloud and his companions, since they have different abilities in each area. Some can swim through raging currents, jump over mushroom footholds, or even scale sheer cliffs.
Many points of interests to explore on the world map
In the vast field areas, there are all kinds of points of interest to explore that will call to your sense of adventure. Broadly speaking, the first category is World Intel – where you survey the world, fighting fearsome foes and seeking out various resources or hidden treasures as you go. The second type is odd jobs, which delve deeper into the world and characters. Today, we’ve introduced sanctuaries, which reveal knowledge on this game’s summons, helping Cloud and his companions conquer them to subsequently call on their power in battle.
Unique and colorful minigames scattered throughout different regions of the world
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has a diverse range of minigames all throughout its world. And they’re of an even greater scale than the many minigames in the original Final Fantasy VII! The development team’s recommendation is the card game Queen’s Blood, and you can collect cards from the early part of the game, so you can enjoy thinking up and building a powerful deck that’s unique to you. Some of the minigames are just as fun to watch as they are to play, so they’re perfect to play when you feel like taking a breather from the main story.
Epic cinematic storytelling with stunning graphics
The emotional storytelling experience has been refined even further in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. The high-quality, rich graphics that use the PlayStation 5 console’s ultra-fast SSD to its fullest can show the subtle nuances of the emotional state of the characters, further elevating the narrative experience its depiction of Cloud and his companions forging ever-stronger bonds.
More detailed and nuanced facial animations will lend additional depth to the characters’ journeys, especially as Cloud and his friends face down the destiny that awaits them at their story’s end.
New and improved ways to deepen your relationships with your companions through gameplay
The bonds between the characters established over the course of the story are now important to all aspects of gameplay. Cloud’s relationship with his companions will change according to his actions and dialogue choices, impacting most notably the well-loved date event scene from the original game. In addition to date partners players of the original Final Fantasy VII can expect, the team has prepared some new partners plus an expanded date sequence within the Gold Saucer, so there’s plenty to look forward to. And if you increase your party level, which shows the bond between the entire team, characters will be able to achieve their true potential in combat. There are lots of synergy skills that characters with a close relationship can perform, so you can overwhelm foes with your favorite characters and special moves.
The footage from State of Play also reveals plenty of other content that we didn’t cover in this blog, so it’s definitely worth a watch. And if this piqued your interest, we hope you’ll experience the new and expanded world of Final Fantasy VII in the demo, released today.
It’s not long now until the release of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on Thursday February 29. We’re so excited to be able to get this game into your hands and for you to play the game for yourselves!
As the WWE continues to distance itself from Brock Lesnar, the wrestler has been removed from the cover art of the special edition of 2K’s upcoming WWE 2K24.
As spotted by wrestling reporter Andrew Ravens, who also posted a side-by-side of the original cover and the latest one, Lesnar was cut from the promo art of the Forty Years of WrestleMania edition of the game. There’s now a larger version of John Cena where Lesnar used to be.
Brock Lesnar was removed from the WrestleMania cover of WWE 2K24. The first photo is the latest version. pic.twitter.com/UPv2JCFsJG
— Andrew Ravens l WrestlingNews.co (@Andrew_Ravens) February 6, 2024
It’s unclear if Lesnar will be removed from the game altogether when it releases on March 8. A source with knowledge of the situation, however, tells IGN that steps are being taken to update the game in accordance with recent developments surrounding Lesnar and his reported connection to a lawsuit against Vince McMahon and the WWE. IGN has reached out to 2K for comment.
Lesnar has already been removed from 2K’s WWE Supercard mobile game. The developments come after the publication of the aforementioned bombshell lawsuit filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant, which contains a long list of disturbing allegations against McMahon, including sexual assault and sex trafficking.
The lawsuit alleges, among other things, that McMahon directed Grant to take explicit photos of herself for a WWE star that the company was trying to re-sign. The wrestler is not named in the lawsuit, but the Wall Street Journal reports that Lesnar is the wrestler in question.
Lesnar was also reportedly set to be a participant in last month’s 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, but those plans changed after the report.
WWE 2K24 will be released on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4/5, and PC on March 8.
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
