C it yourself.
If you’re jonesing for one of those Switch 2 GameCube controllers and weren’t invited in the initial invitation, then you’re in luck as pre-orders for the controller are now live for all on the My Nintendo Store in the UK.
Priced at GBP £58.99, Nintendo Switch Online account owners in the UK can log in and ensure they get the perfect controller to play Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and SoulCalibur II on the new NSO app coming to Switch 2.
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We are so excited to announce that Ghost of Yōtei comes to PS5 on October 2, 2025!
It’s been nearly five years since we shipped Ghost of Tsushima, and in that time we’ve been hard at work making Ghost of Yōtei something special. While the stories are unrelated, it’s important to us to make this a worthy follow-up to Jin’s journey, and we can’t wait for you to experience Atsu’s quest for vengeance later this year.
Alongside today’s news, we’ve also released our latest trailer for Ghost of Yōtei, “The Onryō’s List.” Sixteen years ago in the heart of Ezo (called Hokkaido in present day), a gang of outlaws known as the Yōtei Six took everything from Atsu. They killed her family and left her for dead, pinned to a burning ginkgo tree outside her home. But Atsu survived. She learned to fight, to kill, and to hunt, and after years away she has returned to her home with a list of six names: The Snake, The Oni, The Kitsune, The Spider, The Dragon, and Lord Saito.
One by one, she’s hunting them down to avenge her family, armed with the same katana used to pin her to that burning tree all those years ago. But while Atsu’s story begins with vengeance, she’ll find there’s more to her journey than just revenge. As she explores Ezo, Atsu will meet unlikely allies and forge connections that help give her a new sense of purpose.
We hope the brief looks in today’s trailer give you a taste of what you can expect from Ghost of Yōtei. Beyond your first look at the Yōtei Six, you’ll spot some of the gorgeous scenery of Ezo as well as a handful of Atsu’s new weapons, a few of her allies, and even a new gameplay mechanic that will allow you to glimpse Atsu’s past and understand everything that was taken from her.
But we’ve only scratched the surface. In Ghost of Yōtei, we’ve built upon and evolved the way you explore the open world, offering even more freedom and variety than in Ghost of Tsushima. You’ll choose which leads to follow as you pick which Yōtei Six member you want to hunt down first. Atsu can also track other dangerous targets and claim bounties, or seek out weapon sensei to learn new skills. Ezo is wild, and as deadly as it is beautiful. As you trek across the open world you’ll find unexpected dangers and peaceful reprieves (including some returning activities from Tsushima), and you’ll be able to build a campfire anywhere in the open world for a rest under the stars. We want you to have the freedom to explore Ezo however you decide to, and we can’t wait to share more.
Today we can also reveal that pre-orders for Ghost of Yōtei begin next week, on May 2 at 10:00 AM in your local timezone (10:00 AM ET for those in the US), and you’ll be able to choose between multiple different editions, including our amazing Collector’s Edition.
First, if you pre-order any edition of Ghost of Yōtei you’ll receive a unique in-game mask, as well as a set of seven PSN avatars featuring concept art of Atsu and each member of the Yōtei Six at launch1. Pre-orders on PlayStation Store will receive the avatars immediately.
The standard edition of Ghost of Yōtei will be $69.99 USD / £69.99 / €79.99 / ¥8,980 MSRP and will be available at retail or at PlayStation Store.
At PlayStation Store, you’ll also be able to pre-order the Ghost of Yōtei Digital Deluxe Edition for $79.99 / £79.99 / €89.99 / ¥9,980 MSRP.
The Digital Deluxe Edition includes a digital copy of Ghost of Yōtei plus in-game bonuses including The Snake’s armor set, as well as an alternate dye for your starting armor. You’ll also receive a unique horse color and unique saddle dye, plus an in-game Charm, gold Sword Kit, and an early unlock of Traveler’s Maps, which allow you to find statues throughout the world to upgrade your skills.
Finally, we are thrilled to reveal the Ghost of Yōtei Collector’s Edition2, which will be available for pre-order at direct.playstation.com in parts of the world where it is available, or at select retailers in other regions. Collector’s Edition pricing will be announced at a later date.
This packed edition includes all of the pre-order bonuses, all in-game items from the Digital Deluxe Edition, and a digital copy of the game3, as well as a replica display edition of Atsu’s Ghost mask. The mask is built to-scale with Jin’s mask from our Ghost of Tsushima Collector’s Edition. If you have both, they look great next to each other on a shelf! The mask measures 6.8 x 5 x 5.9 inches and is made of resin, plus includes its own display stand.
Also included is a replica of Atsu’s sash, complete with the names of all six members of the Yōtei Six (but you’ll have to cross them off yourself). The sash measures 71 inches long and is made of a cotton blend, a perfect cosplay accessory or wall decoration.
There’s also a replica of the Tsuba from Atsu’s katana, forged by her father in the image of two twin wolves. This Tsuba measures roughly 3 x 3 inches and also includes its own display stand.
In addition to all of the above, the Ghost of Yōtei Collector’s Edition also includes a pouch of coins and instructions to play Zeni Hajiki, a game of skill you’ll play throughout Ghost of Yōtei. There’s also a foldable papercraft ginkgo tree along with a wolf at its base, and a set of four 5 x 7-inch art cards featuring the sash, the wolf, Atsu’s Ghost mask, and our key art.
We think this is the best Collector’s Edition we’ve ever produced, and we can’t wait for you to get your hands on it on October 2.
While pre-orders don’t open until May 2, you can wishlist Ghost of Yōtei right now at PlayStation Store and sign up to receive notifications as we release more information in the months to come.
We are so proud of Ghost of Yōtei and have many more exciting things we can’t wait to show you as we approach our release date. We are incredibly appreciative of all the support for Ghost of Tsushima and grateful for everyone who played, and hope you’ll look forward to following the wind once again on October 2.
1 Available via voucher code for Collector’s Edition and physical Standard Edition. Internet connection and an account for PlayStation Network required to redeem.
2 Starting May 2 at 10:00 AM ET in the U.S., and 10:00 AM local time in the U.K., France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, players will be able to pre-order the Ghost of Yōtei exclusively through direct.playstation.com in limited quantities. Must be signed-in to purchase.
3 Digital items available via voucher code. Internet connection and an account for PlayStation™Network required to redeem.
The most pivotal moment in any Pokemon game comes right at the start – choosing your partner Pokemon. The first moment you lock eyes with the creature you’ll spend tens of hours raising, bonding with and sending into battle is a special experience. That decision is usually based on vibes and taste to the point where many fans see it as a personality test. However, in those moments, you have no knowledge of how that decision will affect your journey to becoming a Pokemon master, with the gyms, rivals and secrets of the region yet to reveal themselves to you.
Well, we’ve done the research, looked into the base stats, found every strength and weakness of every starter Pokemon and all their evolutions and pitted them against their native regions to determine who is the best starter pick, not just to get you past the first couple gyms, but to take on the Elite Four and beyond. This is the first step to becoming a Pokemon master across all iterations.
While being the obvious pick to tackle the first gym in Pokemon Red and Blue (Grass beats Rock, as any Pokemon fan knows), Bulbasaur outshines both Charmander and Squirtle as the best starter pick in any bid to dominate the Kanto region.
Initial analysis might understandably lean towards Charmander. Fire types are a minority in Gen 1, many random encounters pitt you against Flying types (which are strong against Bulbasaur’s Grass) and the final gym is heavy on Ground types – something Charizard is immune to.
However, those who are Bulbasaur-inclined will find themselves flying through the majority of the game, with the Grass type being super effective against Brock’s Rock Pokemon, Misty’s Water collection, and the Giovanni’s final gym line-up, as well as being the best choice to take out the first two members of the Elite Four. The biggest challenge Bulbasaur will face are Erika’s Grass type gym, where strategy will be vital to overcoming the barrage of “not very effective” attacks, and Blaine’s Fire type gym, which can be defeated thanks to the abundance of water types present in Kanto.
There are some issues a Bulbasaur trainer will have to contend with, not least the many Pidgeys and Spearows you’ll come across in tall grass, whose Flying typing will provide a problem for anyone looking to grind their way to a high level. Thankfully, the amount of Ground and Rock types in caves will provide ample opportunity for Bulbasaur to wipe out entire bloodlines of Pokemon to gain a few XP. Also problematic are the frequent encounters with Blue, whose Pidgeot and Charmander will be a consistent issue, the latter of which can be helped by a Water type on your team.
But Bulbasaur, along with having well-balanced base stats, has the added bonus of evolving into Venasaur who also is a poison-type, giving him a solid advantage over the other two offerings from Professor Oak.
Pokemon Gold and Silver introduced just eight new Fire types to the series, in comparison to 10 Grass and 18 Water types. That minority means snapping up a powerful Fire Pokemon like Cyndaquil from the start adds a great deal of diversity to your team. More importantly, Cyndaquil proves to be the best matchup for the majority of gyms and Elite Four members that populate Johto.
Bugsy’s (you guessed it) Bug type gym and Jasmine’s Steel type gym will easily fall before a few Embers and Flame Wheels from Cyndaquil and his subsequent evolutions. The same cannot be said for the cutest of the starters, Water type Totodile, with there being no Fire, Ground or Rock gyms for him to dismantle. Grass type Chikorita (or more likely her third form, Meganium) would have a field day in Pryce’s Water gym but would struggle with the early Bug and Flying type gyms as well as Morty’s Poison type gym. Pryce will pose a problem for Cyndaquil, and so you’ll want to put together a well-balanced team to get you through that penultimate gym, but you’ll have many hours to assemble the perfect group before that hurdle.
Also working in Cyndaquil’s favour are the Grass and Bug types dotted throughout the Elite Four’s roster. Though all four of these teams are well-balanced enough to give you trouble no matter who you pick as a starter, the many Poison types and Lance’s team of Dragon/Flying types makes this a no-go zone for Meganium. Meanwhile Totodile’s final evolution, Ferligator, would certainly hold its own against many of these Pokemon, but won’t blaze through a few like Typhlosion will.
Picking Cyndaquil does come with its issues. There will be many Rock and Ground Pokemon bothering you with random encounters in caves and Lance’s team containing a Charizard and a Gyrados will require some solid strategy to overcome, but the effects of these are much lesser compared to what ails Chikorita and Totodile.
You might pick Mudkip because you just think he’s neat, but the reasons to go Water type for Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire run a bit deeper. In terms of gyms, Water type Mudkip has a bit of competition from the Grass type Treecko as both of them are super effective against three of the eight. They both have an advantage in Roxanne’s and Tate & Liza’s Rock/Ground gyms, while Mudkip will be best suited to take on Flannery’s Fire gym and Treeko for Wallace’s Water gym.
By the time you get to Wallace, Treeko would have almost definitely evolved into Sceptile, as Sootopolis City houses the final gym. The significance of that can’t be understated, but Treeko’s Grass typing sees it at a disadvantage in battles with Flannery and with Winona’s Flying type lineup. Mudkip, on the other hand, will struggle with just the one gym – Wattson’s (you guessed it) Electric type gym early on in Mauville City. Your third option, Torchic, doesn’t really enter the conversation here, with Fire types being super effective against none of the gyms and Fighting (a type gained by Torchic’s third form, Blazicken), only super effective against one, not to mention being at a massive disadvantage for Wallace’s battle.
The makeup of the Elite Four can lend a slight advantage towards Treeko’s final form, Sceptile, as you come across Glacia’s Ice/Water Pokemon and a few Grass Pokemon along the way which will cause Swampert (Mudkip’s third evolution) some issues. However, as Mudkip evolves into its final form, it gains Ground typing and very nicely balanced stats which see it gain a huge defensive boost, becoming immune to Electric and its only weakness being Grass. This makes Swampert able to power through battles where it usually might be the underdog.
Another consideration may be the amount of water present in the Hoenn region, meaning random encounters can be a bit of a grind, but Mudkip shows enough advantages in other areas to overcome that obstacle. Bonus points for being the cutest of the bunch.
Continuing the trend from the very first game, Pokemon Diamond and Pearl adds far fewer Fire type Pokemon to the series; just five in comparison to the14 introduced for Water and Grass. Though this isn’t a deciding factor in which starter to pick, it adds to the list of attributes going in Fire type Chimchar’s favour over Grass type Turtwig and Water type Piplup. Three is the magic number in terms of how many gyms a Pokemon needs to be super effective against to come out on top over its peers, and Chimchar’s Fire typing helps it overcome Gardenia’s Grass type gym, as well as the sixth and seventh gyms ran by Byron’s Steel types and Candice’s Ice types.
Chimchar faces tough competition from Turtwig, who can eliminate Roark’s Rock type and Crasher Wake’s Water type gyms with ease. After evolving into Torterra, it also gains Ground typing, making it immune to Electric attacks which will see it waltz through the final gym owned by Volkner. Though they may seem perfectly matched, a lot of Turtwig’s strengths are most exemplified in the early stages of the game, while Chimchar’s abilities sees him primed for late game success.
Coming through the gyms with minimal fuss is important due to the Sinnoh region’s very well-balanced Elite Four. Chimchar’s final evolution, Infernape, is perfect to take on Aaron’s Bug Pokemon, which would be super effective against Torterra, but the Grass type would admittedly be best to dismantle Bertha’s Water and Ground types. Piplup, despite evolving into the very resilient Empoleon, doesn’t have a significant advantage over many of the gym leaders or the Elite Four to make a dent here.
It’s a close matchup between Chimchar and Torterra, but due to the frequent battles with Team Galactic’s Bug types, the advantage falls with Chimchar, who has the gym battle credentials to back it up.
Gen 5 makes for a more clean cut decision, with the Fire type Tepig making the biggest claim for being the smartest pick. Grass type Snivy doesn’t quite make the cut as it only has an advantage over just the one gym, nor any significant advantages over any Elite Four member, as well as being plagued by the various Bug and Flying types across the Unova region’s tall grass and boss battles. Water type Oshawott isn’t as embattled as Snivy, being the best choice to take on Clay’s Ground type gym and being resistant to Brycen’s Ice Pokemon, which are super effective against Snivy. But like the Grass type, there are no Elite Four members who lean into a type specifically tailored to Oshawott or its evolutions.
However, Tepig’s Fire abilities, and its final form, Emboar, also being a Fighting type, allows it to have a smoother ride through Unova. Firstly, Burgh’s Bug gym and Brycen’s gym are light work for a Fire type, the latter being the penultimate gym in the game. Alternative solutions will need to be found to make it through Clay’s Ground-based gym, but the same can be said for Oshawott as it arrives in Elesa’s Electric gym.
The Elite Four battles are where Emboar’s Fighting type comes in handy, being super effective against Grimsley’s Dark type Pokemon. Emboar is admittedly vulnerable to Caitlin’s Psychic types, but if you have a strong enough bench, this battle can easily be overcome.
Also working in Emboar’s favour are his strong attacking stats and the presence of Team Plasma, who have an abundance of Steel types. Having to fight the Elite Four twice makes Pokemon Black and White a tough challenge no matter who you choose, but Tepig can put your mind at ease more often than the others.
Pokemon X and Y continue the dominance of Fire types in this list. The sixth generation has a quirk where you can choose from two sets of starters, first between the new bunch of Chespin, Fennekin and Froakie, and later between the Kanto starters from the original games. For this list, we’ll focus on the starters unique to this game, of which Fennekin is the standout. The Fire Pokemon can almost stroll through the gyms, being super effective against three and resistant to two more. Though two of those gyms are in the early stages of the game, the final three being Fairy, Psychic and Ice based means that Fennekin’s third evolution, Delphox, now imbued with Psychic typing, can head off to the Pokemon League relatively unscathed.
Froakie evolves into Greninja, a Water/Dark type Pokemon, making it super effective against Olympia’s Psychic team but weak against Valerie’s Fairy types. Being a Water type mostly gets it into trouble, matching up poorly against Ramos’ Grass types and Clemont’s Electric types, something Grant’s early Rock gym doesn’t make up for. Chespin’s story makes for similar reading, struggling off the bat with Viola’s Bug gym and going on to gain a Fighting typing after evolving into Chesnaught which leaves it at a disadvantage against Olmpia and Valerie.
As the games progress, the Elite Fours get a bit more balanced. Pokemon X and Y is another example of a series of battles suited to a different type each time. You’ll want Water to overcome Malva, Fire to overcome Wikstrom and Grass to overcome Siebold. Delphox just about has the edge, able to resist whatever Diantha’s Gardevoir throws at it.
Rounding out this Fire type four-peat is Litten from Pokemon Sun and Moon. Despite having to struggle through the first couple trials (the Alola region’s version of gyms, of which there are only seven), Litten is the obvious choice for the rest of the battles. Mallow’s Grass trial is the only lineup where each Pokemon is weak to Fire, but Sophocles’ Electric gym contains two Steel types and a Bug type. And by the time you arrive at Acerola’s Ghost trial you could have evolved Litten into the Fire/Dark type Incineroar whose attacks will be super effective against the whole lineup, especially the Grass and Ice Pokemon in Acerola’s team.
The final trial, in which you must face Mina with her Fairy Pokemon, is a little more complicated because of Incineroar’s Dark typing. A regular Fire type would be able to resist Fairy attacks, but Incineroar is damaged normally by them. Helpfully, Mina has a Steel, Grass and Bug type in her team.
Litten’s starter counterparts, Rowlet and Popplio, will find success with one of the first three trials, but will cease to have an advantage over any of the late game battles. Rowlet’s evolution, Decidueye, gains Ghost typing, which is a blessing and a curse for Acerola’s trial, but doesn’t garner much of an advantage elsewhere. Popplio evolves into the Water/Fairy type Primarina, but that doesn’t affect its fortunes with the trials at all.
Sun and Moon’s Elite Four are just a small fraction of what awaits you in the Pokemon League. After becoming champion yourself, you face challenges from 10 more trainers looking to take your place. These battles, on top of the Elite Four themselves, are too diverse for any starter to have any advantage over the other, meaning Litten’s ability to clear the trials is even more vital. The Alola region also introduces just eight Fire Pokemon in comparison to Grass and Water’s 13 (after the series had become more balanced in that regard) so snapping Litten up early is a great aid.
Sobble’s victory over Grookey and Scorbunny might be the closest of the lot. All three Pokemon are the best picks against three gyms, with Gordie and Raihan’s Rock and Ground gyms being perfect for Sobble and Grookey, and Melony’s Ice gym and Opal’s Fairy gym being tailor made for Scorbunny. Additionally, the first three gyms are Grass, Water and Fire typed, in that order, lending no advantage to any of the three starters. Raihan’s gym being the final one gives it a bit more importance, so the gym battles give a hair’s breadth of a lead to Grookey and Sobble.
The Galar region’s version of the Elite Four, The Champion Cup, allows Sobble to just inch past Grookey in the standings. None of these Pokemon’s final evolutions gain any new types, making them work with what they’re given from the start. The semi-final opponents don’t lean any particular way, but Bede’s Fairy Pokemon, followed by Nessa’s Water types and Raihan’s Fire and Ground heavy Dragon team, favour Fire, Grass and Water respectively. If success against the toughest opponents is most valued, then Sobble just about edges victory here.
Other considerations like the rivals, Team Yell, and random encounters are even less impactful than normal in Pokemon Sword and Shield. Team Yell uses mostly Dark types, which attack and defend normally against Fire, Water and Grass types, and the introduction of overworld Pokemon means random encounters happen less. If there’s any other factor that tips the scales towards Sobble, it would be that its final evolution, Inteleon, has a nicely balanced set of stats.
The sixth Fire type to be chosen on this list is one of the clearest winners. You might think that the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s focus on player freedom might allow for little separation between Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly – You can do the gyms and raid Team Star bases in any order you like and you can avoid encounters with wild Pokemon almost entirely. But even with all of that, the Paldea region feels designed to be dominated by Fuecoco.
The gyms in Scarlet and Violet don’t level scale, so if you have a bad matchup, you can just return once you’re able to power through a disadvantage. Still, the highest level gyms being Psychic/Fairy and Ice types, courtesy of Tulip and Grusha, and the two lowest level gyms being Katy and Brassius’ Bug and Grass types, means there’s a good reason to go with Fuecoco (and its Ghost type final evolution, Skeledirge) regardless of your strategy. Being a water type, Quaxly isn’t strong against any gym until it reaches its third form, Quaquaval, where it becomes a Fighting type, helping it in Larry’s Normal type gym. Sprigatito fares a bit better, evolving into Grass/Dark type Meowscarada, enabling it to best Tulip’s gym and Ryme’s Ghost gym.
The Team Star base raids place even more importance on what starter you pick, being vital to the story progression of the game. The crews based around Dark and Poison Pokemon have an abundance of Bug Pokemon who have to be cleared before you can face the boss, while crews based around Fairy and Fighting types are perfect for Skeledirge, who is immune to attacks from the latter. Quaquaval and Meowscarada are worthy opponents for the first member of the Elite Four, Rika and her Ground Pokemon, but from Poppy’s Steel team onwards, Skeledirge finds itself miles ahead of the competition.
Tenderfoot Tactics is a wistful and dreamlike turn-based indie that I had a real soft spot for the year it released. It’s still available on Steam and well worth a look, but won’t be available on the Xbox Store from today. In an act of solidarity with the BDS boycott of Microsoft following their reported connections with the Israeli military, the development team have removed their game from sale on Microsoft’s storefronts.
“Unfortunately, it didn’t make it”.
We’ve been following Old Skies, the time-travelling point-and-click from indie powerhouse Wadjet Eye Games (Unavowed, Primordia, The Excavation Of Hob’s Barrow), for a good few years now. Initially revealed in 2022, the game was supposed to launch on Switch and PC today, however, the developer has had to make the last-minute decision to delay the Switch launch following what it describes as a “frustrating” Nintendo certification process.
Wadjet Eye founder Dave Gilbert shared the news in a video posted to BlueSky, explaining that the team began preparations on the Switch approval months ago, but a later patch has caused things to take much longer than expected.
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, available April 24 for Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC with support for Xbox Play Anywhere and day one with Game Pass, promises exciting, original takes on standards of the RPG genre. While its premise and presentation stood out from its very first trailer, after many hours invested in the review build, I’m pleased to report that Sandfall interactive also refines or re-invents RPG gameplay elements that make every battle in Expedition 33 a lean-forward experience.
That said, some of these new techniques are – by dint of their originality – worth a bit of additional explanation. So, as you prepare to dive into Expedition 33 – and RPG fans should absolutely prioritize this title – here are a few spoiler-free “here’s how it works” elements that I wish we knew before my first trip to The Continent.
The biggest moment-to-moment difference between Expedition 33 and many turn-based RPGs out there is the level of attention players need to give towards every battle. While your actions (Attack, Skill, etc.) are selected from a menu, once you’ve confirmed your choice, make no mistake – you are now playing an action game requiring your full focus. Each action, from attacks, to spells, to heals, to buffs becomes a timed button press exercise – and the better your timing, the more you maximize its effects. Later in the game, you’ll even have the option to equip high reward skills where a mistimed press could backfire spectacularly. It’s awesome.
While offensive presses are mainly straightforward (and you’ll get used to your moveset over time) dealing with enemy attacks is a continually evolving affair. Iniitally, you’re given the chance to either dodge, using the B button, or parry, utilizing RB. Timing on these is tight; you will need to study enemy movements to learn when to react, but my advice to you: start with Dodge, as its timing is ever so slightly more generous. When you’re dodging consistently, you can begin to experiment with Parries, which – if executed – can lead to powerful counterattacks. But in the early game, Dodge will keep you alive.
If you’ve having trouble getting the precision down on attacks or need some more time to adjust to the style of play that Expedition 33 requires, you can adjust the difficulty of the game at any time to give you a greater window to achieve Parries or Dodges. You can also choose to allow the game to input the QTE moments during combat, taking that responsibility off your plate so you can sit back and enjoy those flashy combat animations.
Early on you will inevitably face down some incredibly tough characters (don’t look down on a mime!) and they *will* kick your ass. Note that many such fights are avoidable – you can always come back later, once you’re stronger! But if you do decide to have a go, know that the penalty for dying generally is just a respawn nearby. This isn’t a Soulslike – go for it, worry free! Also, enemies will respawn when you heal at an Expedition Flag, allowing you to re-run through many of these zones to help level up your party.
Your healing and respawn items – initially so scarce – do replenish every time you rest at an Expedition Flag or campsite, so take the risks, heal liberally, and if you crash out, know that you can always try again.
Another note on items: early on, I collected several items, such as Tints and Chroma Catalysts, and had no idea what to do with them. For the first few hours of the game, just collect, and don’t worry – their use will become apparent later, and you can’t miss it.
Every character has the ability – both in and out of battle – to free aim and fire, drawing on third-person shooters. Out of battle, this is typically used to interact with the environment, but something I did not initially realize is that you can fire a shot at an enemy Nevron to stun them. This allows you to settle proceedings and initiate battle on your own terms by getting close and pressing RB, beginning battles with a First Strike.
In-battle, however, Free Aim use gets more strategic, as each shot now costs 1 Action Point – and it won’t end your turn. Initially, you’re guided to fire a shot at Nevron weak points (for massive damage, of course). But this move has plenty of utility even when an enemy doesn’t have a weak point; many enemies can be killed solely with Free Aim shots – especially flying enemies. So if a character enters a turn with an abundance of AP, it’s usually worth it to fire off a few shots to soften up your target before launching into a Skill or Attack to finish them off.
The 4D chess version of this is when you couple this technique with the Dead Energy Lumina, gifting 3 AP for every defeated enemy – you may be able to mow through a whole gang in one turn!
One of the most interesting – and initially mystifying – features of Expedition 33 is the Pictos and Lumina systems, which allow for significant boosts and customization for your characters. Here’s how they work:
Pictos are basically an accessory, like a ring that grants an ability or boon. And much like a real ring, if you wear it long enough, it can make an impression on you, even after you take it off. Here’s how that plays out in Expedition 33: after winning 4 battles with a Pictos equipped, it’s considered “mastered.” That means *everyone* in the party can take advantage of that Pictos’ buff, provided they have enough Lumina points. You gain new Lumina points with every level, plus some consumable items that grant even more.
Here’s how that plays out: you’ll want to equip basically any new Pictos you find in the world – and you’ll get a lot – cycling them out as they’re mastered for new ones. Over time, you’ll have dozens of Lumina abilities to choose from and equip; mix and match to further customize your characters. Protip: some Lumina skills can require up to 10 Lumina Points to equip, while others may need as few as one. To get the most bang for your buck, prioritize those useful, lower cost abilities for your Lumina loadout, and simply keep the Pictos equipped for some of those important 10-point passives.
In Expedition 33, your characters will level up frequently, each time earning 3 points to invest in Attributes such as Vitality, Might, or Luck, as well as a point for your Skill tree.
On the Attributes side, there is an interesting quirk: sometimes a point in one attribute will upgrade another; for example, a point in Agility will often boost a character’s speed as well as their Defense or Attack Power. So, with each level up, it’s worthwhile to try adding a point into each slot before committing to see which will give you more bang for your buck.
One last bit of advice: explore – The Continent is mysterious and important, and it’s easy to get lost. But know that most dead ends will result in an item, or an optional enemy with great rewards. There is even some light platforming, so use your jump and poke around everywhere, you never know what you’ll find.
What you will find is one of the most interesting RPGs I’ve played in years, so make sure you preorder/preload today,
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available April 24 for Xbox Series X|S & Windows PC with support for Xbox Play Anywhere and day one with Game Pass
Kepler Interactive
Once a year, the Paintress wakes and paints upon her monolith. Paints her cursed number. And everyone of that age turns to smoke and fades away. Year by year, that number ticks down and more of us are erased. Tomorrow she’ll wake and paint “33.” And tomorrow we depart on our final mission – Destroy the Paintress, so she can never paint death again.
We are Expedition 33.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a ground-breaking turn-based RPG with unique real-time mechanics, making battles more immersive and addictive than ever. Explore a fantasy world inspired by Belle Époque France in which you battle devastating enemies.
Reactive Turn-based Combat
In this evolution of JRPGs, real-time actions enhance the heart of turn-based combat. Craft unique builds for your Expeditioners that fit your playstyle via gear, stats, skills, and character synergies. Open an active dimension in combat – dodge, parry, and counter in real time, chain combos by mastering attack rhythms, and target enemy weak points using a free aim system.
“Tomorrow Comes”
With only one year left to live, join Gustave, Maelle, and their fellow Expeditioners as they embark upon a desperate quest to break the Paintress’ cycle of death. Follow the trail of previous expeditions and discover their fate. Get to know the members of Expedition 33 as they learn to work together against impossible odds.
A Hauntingly Beautiful World
Explore an enchanting realm populated by surreal adversaries. Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from the Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield, discovering secrets and hidden quests along the way. Find allies of fortune in creatures of legend. Recruit special companions to access new travel methods and discover secret areas in the World Map.
Experience the debut game from Sandfall Interactive, fully realized in Unreal Engine 5 with stunning graphics and a heartbreaking soundtrack.
The post 8 Tips to Help You Get Started in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Nintendo has clarified compatibility concerns around its all-new GameCube controller, confirming there may be “issues” using it to play contemporary Nintendo Switch 2 games.
The GameCube controller was unveiled at the 60-minute Nintendo Direct earlier this month. At the time, we noticed the small-print warned the controller was “only compatible with Nintendo GameCube” games in the Nintendo Switch Online retro library, and not other Switch 2 games.
Nintendo has now clarified that small print, reiterating that the retro controller was designed to be used primarily with GameCube games. Players may be able use their GameCube controller for other Nintendo Switch 2 games, but there “may be some issues” doing so given the retro device will be missing “all the buttons and features” found in more modern controllers.
Nintendo also repeated its warning that the GameCube controller is only compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2 system.
“The Nintendo GameCube controller is designed for use with the Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics collection of games and is an optional way to play those games,” Nintendo confirmed in a statement to Nintendo Life.
“Since it doesn’t have all the buttons and features found in other controllers that can be used with the Nintendo Switch 2 system, there may be some issues when playing other games. The Nintendo GameCube controller can only be used on Nintendo Switch 2 and is not compatible with Nintendo Switch.”
The GameCube collection is a major update to the Nintendo Switch Online library, and grants subscribers access to a laundry list of classic 2000s-era titles, including The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and Soulcalibur 2, which will all be available at launch this summer. Of course, this library will be expanded in the years to come, with some teased titles including Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi’s Mansion, Super Mario Strikers, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, and more.
If you’re looking to pre-order a Nintendo Switch 2, GameCube controller, or other accessories and games, make sure to keep an eye on our Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order hub, which will stay updated with news and info. You can also find out more about how to increase your chances of getting a new Nintendo Switch 2 console on day one.
Vikki Blake is a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
There’s no official mod support for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. But when has that ever stopped modders from forcibly isekai-ing their favourite anime characters into the wrong realm? Not even 24 hours have passed since the fantasy RPG remaster was released in a “surprise” announcement by Bethesda, and the modding scene has already created 90+ mods and counting (and that’s just on one popular modding website). What’s most intriguing is that they’ve discovered some old mods for the original game still work in the remaster. It’s an exciting time to be an Elder Scrolls modder.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is Sandfall Interactive’s debut, which tells me two things about the French studio. Firstly, that they’re a bunch of utter show offs and, secondly, that they’re a bunch of utter show offs. You can’t do this, Sandfall. You can’t just come storming out the gate with a turn-based RPG possessed of all the flash and experimentation of Lost Odyssey or Legend Of Dragoon plus all the haunting playfulness and bizarre beauty of both Miyazakis having a thumb war while Yoko Taro rolls around on the floor beside them.
I don’t know how they do things in France, but where I’m from, pulling off such clarity of vision on your first attempt is illegal – as is this much earnest outpouring of feeling on any attempt. Indeed, I can see some of you finding Clair Obscur a little too cute, a little too eager to dazzle and move with its operatic spectacle and Lisa Simpson-ish virtuosity.
Me? I find it hard to even get lost in games I love these days. I’ll usually settle for anything that stops me checking my email for an hour. But if Clair Obscur’s brilliant combat had me hooked, the journey it offers had me enchanted. It would appear that they really do make ’em like this anymore.
And Sydney Sweeney will join the ride.
Not pictured: Michael Bay and Sydney Sweeney
After Sonic, Mario and now Minecraft, the movie industry has developed a serious appetite for all sorts of video game adaptations. Although not all of them have been a roaring success (spare a moment for Borderlands), most of them are generally raking it in at the box office.
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