Category: IGN

If you’ve been holding out for a solid deal, today’s lineup delivers some excellent finds. From a $12 power bank perfect for your Nintendo Switch 2 to a hefty Skytech gaming PC loaded with AMD’s latest hardware, there’s a little something for everyone.

TL;DR: Deals For Today

Vinyl collectors can also look forward to Woodkid’s emotionally rich Death Stranding 2 soundtrack, while digital deal hunters should check out the IGN Live 2025 Bundle. Eight well-reviewed PC games for just $22.

Hulu + Live TV Free Trial

Final Fantasy x Secret Lair

While boosters, Commander decks, and a new Starter Kit are up for grabs (if you can find them in stock), collectors will be most drawn to the highly coveted Secret Lair drops. Despite selling out instantly via Wizards of the Coast, these limited-edition mini-sets (Game Over, Weapons, and Grimoire) are still available through third-party platforms like TCGPlayer, though you’ll be paying premium prices well above the original $30–$40 MSRP.

Each set features beautifully reimagined cards themed around iconic Final Fantasy characters and spells: the Weapons drop highlights legendary arms like Cloud’s Buster Sword and Tidus’s Brotherhood, Grimoire centers on magic-wielders like Vivi and Aerith, and Game Over pays tribute to villains with cards like Spira’s Punishment and Meteorfall. All sets come in standard and foil variants, with Japanese versions available as well. If you’re considering adding these to your collection, be sure to check listings carefully and be prepared for markups ranging from $70 to $150 or more.

MTG Final Fantasy Chase Cards

It’s insane how quickly these cards have climbed in value just days after release, and I can guarantee you (almost) that they won’t be coming down any time soon. If you fancy saving some money ripping packs of MTG FF, just buy the card you want on TCGPlayer instead and save a fortune.

Where To Buy MTG: Final Fantasy

It’s finally here, Magic the Gathering: Final Fantasy is out in the wild. If you got a preorder for MSRP, well played, but many TCG and Final Fantasy fans missed out. Fear not, there’s still some options on sealed products available right now, including options from the secondary market with TCG Player which is around the same or lower than the pricing of big box retailers right now.

Pokémon Restock Updates

Checking these prices against TCG Player secondary market values, a lot of these products aren’t far off the mark. Make no mistake, they’re still way off MSRP, but finding Pokémon products on shelves that haven’t been marked up past the point of anyone caring is a positive. Still refusing to pay over MSRP for new sets? Well played, I’m proud of you. Here’s some single card highlights for you to shuffle through instead. Spoiler, there’s plenty of deals to be had.

Destined Rivals Singles Are On The Rise (Again)

It’s hard to stick a pin on Destined Rivals single card values right now, and the dips in value seem to match the little bits of stock distributors release to stores. Looking at the tracking charts for each of these cards, we can see mostly plummets from day one, then either upticks or cards for sale that exceed the original value at launch. It’s crazy, but we now know how low these cards can go. Sure there’s always attempts at market manipulation, but I wouldn’t buy any cards on the rise right now.

The Most Expensive Pokémon Cards In Packs RIGHT NOW

We’re not talking about vintage or out of print sets, all of these are incredible chase cards you can pull from booster packs available now. You can probably put money on their value going up as soon as their respective sets go out of print. If you don’t want to spend mega money ripping open packs, market values on these single cards are quite reasonable for the most part..

Destined Rivals Sealed Stock

Wew’re look to market values for Destined Rivals at the moment, seeing as big box stores are either fresh out of stock or charging over MSRP and what they’re worth on the secondary market. So here’s the full lineup to pop on your shelf or rip open like THAT Tyranitar. If you know you know.

Skytech King 95 Gaming PC

Iniu 10,000mAh 22.5W USB Power Bank

IGN Live 2025 Bundle

Woodkid for Death Stranding 2 On the Beach – 2LP Vinyl

Kirby and the Forgotten Land (Switch 2)

Donkey Kong Bananza

FiGGYZ

Monty Python And The Holy Grail – 4K UHD Combo + Steelbook

Badass Brawlers Bundle

Self Adhesive Hook And Loop Cable Ties

Anker HDMI Switch

JSAUX 3-Pack Tempered Glass Screen Protector Switch 2

Switch 2 tomtoc Slim Carrying Case

The Legend of Zelda Master Sword

Borderlands 4 Preorders

Borderlands 4 preorders have finally landed, and the started edition is just under the $70 mark in a suprising move after the comments made by Randy Pitchford. We’ve had a bit of a behind the scenes look with the beggining of the “Beyond the Borderlands” video dropping on how to make a vault hunter, and it’s all looking good.

Narrative Arc Bundle

Apple Mac and iPad Deals

Need an upgrade or a good introduction into the Apple ecosystem? There’s plenty of choices here, with the M4 chip powering the MacBook and Mac Mini, it’s just a case of thinking about if you’d like a traditional desktop setup or something you can take on the go. iPad A16 is perfect for pretty much anything too, even a bit of Apple Arcade.

Samsung 57″ Odyssey Neo G9 Gaming Monitor

Big Discounts On Crucial DDR5 and Storage

Crucial are one of the most dependable brands when it comes to M.2 and portable drives, and is a great option for those wanting the benefits of DDR5 RAM without flashy RGB and it’s price tag. Here’s some of the best deals in the Crucial price slashing marathon on Amazon right now. I currently use the X10 Pro 4TB for backing up files and folders on my PC and for watching videos on my projector, just a solid piece of kit.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (PS5)

DOOM The Dark Ages Art Print

Power Up Pride Bundle

Nintendo has confirmed the age of Donkey Kong Bananza sidekick Pauline, sparking questions regarding the young character’s timeline and how Bananza’s story will tally with previous titles — such as Mario’s original arcade game, where DK was famously portrayed as the villain and Pauline was his abductee.

In a character profile found on Donkey Kong Bananza’s Japanese website, Nintendo states that Pauline is a “13-year-old girl who loves to sing. She used to live above ground, but for some reason she was brought to the underground world and transformed into a rock.”

Yesterday’s reveal of this younger Pauline, during the Donkey Kong Bananza Nintendo Direct, strongly suggested she was the same music-loving version of the character seen in Nintendo Switch platformer Super Mario Odyssey, where a grown-up Pauline serves as both the mayor of New Donk City and the lead singer of a popular band.

Nintendo fans have been quick to highlight what this might mean for Pauline’s overall timeline — and the fact that DK and Pauline’s friendly team-up in Bananza is a very different vibe to the pair’s usual relationship of kidnapper and victim. Does something happen to DK, turning him evil? Or have we been getting Pauline and DK’s friendship wrong all these years?

Donkey Kong Bananza sees the two characters working together to help the teenage Pauline get back to the surface, in order to pursue her dream of becoming a world famous singer. Pauline’s appearance as a singer in Odyssey suggests that she does indeed make it.

But while Bananza looks story-wise to be an Odyssey prequel, the exact timeline here is somewhat unclear. Nintendo has never stated Pauline’s age in Odyssey, or in any of her other appearances, so it’s unknown how long before those events it is that Bananza takes place.

But by linking the character across these games through Pauline’s musical ambitions, it also highlights the fact that Odyssey’s Pauline does address her kidnapping by DK — something she describes as “traumatic.”

Pauline has been kidnapped by DK multiple times over the years. Most notably, she is saved from DK’s clutches in the original Donkey Kong arcade game, but she is then abducted again in various entries within the Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2 series.

In Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, Pauline is snatched by Donkey Kong after the she dares to pick a gift from Mario instead of DK. In Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!, Pauline is kidnapped once more by an enraged DK, upset that he’s missed out on a theme park opening.

Later entries in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series paint Pauline’s interactions with DK in a kinder light, however, such as in Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move, where the two team up to host a mini-game, and Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars, where the pair plan Mario a surprise party.

Does something happen to sour DK and Pauline’s relationship at the end of Donkey Kong Bananza, turning the ape from an ally to kidnapper? Will we see the events of the original Donkey Kong arcade game take place within Bananza, perhaps, with Mario coming in to save the day? Or have we been getting it wrong all these years?

Some fans have suggested that Bananza will turn the Mario universe on its head by revealing that DK and Pauline are in fact friends — and that Mario has been the villain all along, effectively stealing Pauline back when she’s just been hanging out with her pal.

Hopefully all will be revealed when Donkey Kong Bananza arrives as Nintendo’s next major Switch 2 launch on July 17, 2025.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Yesterday, the new patch 1.01.3 went live for Elden Ring Nightreign. It was a seemingly small patch, centered on bugs and quality-of-life tune-ups. It seemed like most players saw it and went about their day. But then, gradually, some started to notice a new option in their Expeditions menu.

A new Gaping Jaw undertaking, dubbed the “Everdark Sovereign,” was appearing on the Expeditions menu. Soon it became clear that FromSoftware had delivered on its promise to add enhanced bosses to Elden Ring Nightreign this month, and it did so without warning, letting players potentially stumble into the new venture. Watching the community piece this together, in the late hours of the night, was truly fantastic.

As confirmed this morning on Bandai Namco’s site, enhanced versions of current Nightlords—duibbed Everdark Sovereigns—will start appearing in Elden Ring Nightreign over the coming weeks. Each week, a new Sovereign will arrive in Limveld, with Gaping Jaw as the current Sovereign and both Sentient Pest and Darkdrift Knight due to get new, more challenging versions as well.

Everdark Sovereigns are only available while online, and each Sovereign will hang around for a week, then leave and get replaced by another one. You have to have beaten the base, original form of the Nightlord to challenge its Everdark Sovereign form.

Early reports from players indicate that this souped-up Gaping Jaw is, truly, enhanced. Videos of the fights show the empowered Adel zipping aruond the field, creating massive storms, and generally wiping the floor with entire trios of players in short order.

While you can tackle the Everdark Sovereign solo, or with friends and/or strangers, it seems like the new fight is truly adding some challenge, even for those who have been putting a lot of hours into Elden Ring Nightreign. To me, it’s reminiscent of Monster Hunter’s upgraded fights that get added post-launch, like Tempered versions of monsters, that seem meant to add extra challenge as players’ knowledge and power rises exponentially over time.

What’s the reward for felling an Everdark Sovereign? Well, a brand-new shop located in the hub area will let you spend all the Sovereign Sigils you’ll earn from a clear, and even this shop is a pretty exciting update. Alongside offering special Relics and other items, the Sigils allow playes to change the Roundtable Hold’s lighting, acquire the currently available skins, and set shifting earth statuses. The latter has been a major request from the community, and it’s great to see it addressed.

So while the patch notes for 1.01.3 were fairly unassuming at first, players now seem to feel like this is a huge update. The roll-out of enhanced bosses has already brought some new life and challenge back to Nightreign, and the promise of more to come is enticing, as are the new short-term pursuits to chase after.

Bandai Namco is also teasing this as the start of something: “This is only the beginning of the Everdark Sovereign cycle. As the power of the Night ebbs and wanes, the Sovereigns will soon return to the abyss they came from.” We already know Elden Ring Nightreign is due to get full updates down the road, so if this is an early indication of what we can expect, the long-term prospects for FromSoft’s new co-op survival action game seem good.

We’ve got plenty of Nightreign tips and tricks to help you take down all the eight Nightlord Bosses, and if you’re wondering how to unlock the two locked Nightfarer Classes, check out How to Unlock the Revenant and How to Unlock the Duchess, plus How to Change Characters.

Eric is a freelance writer for IGN.

We’re a little less than a month away from the release of Donkey Kong Bananza, and now it’s getting an adorable amiibo to release alongside it. The brand new amiibo for the game (which you can see here at Best Buy) features Donkey Kong and Pauline, who was recently confirmed to be your trusty sidekick in the game. She’s catching a ride on DK’s back, holding on to his necktie.

This new amiibo is currently listed for $29.99 and is set to release on July 17, which is the same day as Donkey Kong Bananza. If you want the full Donkey Kong setup for launch day, don’t miss out on picking up this amiibo at the link below.

Preorder Donkey Kong Bananza Amiibo

Fan-favorite rhythm game Beat Saber is ending support for PlayStation consoles.

From here on in, you shouldn’t expect any further updates or music packs if you play on PS4 or PS5, and from January 21, 2026, multiplayer support will also be withdrawn.

“As we look to the future and plan the next big leap for Beat Saber, we have made the decision to no longer release updates for PS4 and PS5 starting in June 2025,” the developer explained in a new FAQ entitled “End of Support for PS4/PS5” (thanks, Eurogamer).

“Our passion for VR remains unwavering. We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and what we can bring to Beat Saber fans who have been on this journey with us over the past [seven] years.”

The update stressed that you will still be able to play Beat Saber and have access to all of your previously purchased content, and cross-buy “remains active” between the PS4 and PS5 base game. You can also still buy songs and music packs that were released on or before June 18 — just nothing added to the catalog from today (June 19) onwards.

“We’re grateful for the incredible support you’ve shown us over the years, and we’re excited to share what the future holds for Beat Saber,” the update concluded.

For many players, this feels very much like the final nail in the coffin for PlayStation’s VR aspirations, as Beat Saber is still one of PlayStation’s biggest VR titles. Fans seem split between laying the blame with Sony and the lack of support its given to its VR headset, and Meta “wanting their game to be the best on Quest.”

“Absolutely baffling decision,” said one player on the subreddit. “Beat Saber still regularly tops the sales charts on PSVR1 and 2, I think dropping support for PSVR1 is understandable but not supporting PSVR2 feels like an absolutely insane move given how popular the game is on that platform.”

“This is a massively stupid f***ing decision,” added another. “I can’t overstate how mad I am about this.”

Despite its impressive technical specs, the PSVR2 seemingly lost momentum following its release in 2023. In June last year, Android Central reported that Sony made “deep cuts to funding for VR,” with only two first-party PSVR2 games allegedly in development. Sony eventually gave PSVR2 a new lease on life by adding PC VR support, but mentions of the device have been few and far between since. PSVR2 recently dropped to match its all-time low price thanks to the PlayStation Days of Play sale.

“The PlayStation VR2 may seem pricey, given that it costs $150 more than the base PS5 Digital Edition console you’ll need to use it,” we wrote when we reviewed the PSVR2 on release. “Even so, it’s such a quantum leap over the original PSVR in terms of ease of use, visual quality, and immersion that any PlayStation owner who loves VR should upgrade as soon as possible.

“Its 4K HDR OLED screen and excellently tactile Sense controllers are the most obvious improvement, but plentiful quality-of-life changes and the raw horsepower of the PS5 set a new standard for how VR games should play and feel on console. The downside is that, like any new platform, its thin launch lineup makes its lack of backward compatibility with original PSVR games a significant problem, but one that will only improve as Sony and other developers roll out new games that take advantage of the PSVR2’s unique features.”

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

Gears of War: Reloaded‘s upcoming beta weekend will now last a little longer and include more content as developer The Coalition responds to feedback from players.

“We heard you,” the team said on social media. “More maps. More modes. More time.”

As a result, this weekend’s upcoming multiplayer beta has been extended — so the beta now runs from Friday June 20 at 12pm PDT to Sunday June 22 at 9pm PDT — and Execution has now joined the mode pool alongside King of the Hill on Gridlock, Raven Down (Courtyard and War Machine), and Canals. You’ll also be able to play Team Deathmatch on the same maps via social matchmaking, with Gold Rush also in the pool.

That won’t quite quell the issues some players had about server stability but to be honest, that’s precisely what beta tests are for, right? Better to experience that instability now than when the game launches in a few weeks’ time.

Last month Microsoft announced Gears of War: Reloaded, a remaster of the original 2006 game, will launch on August 26 on PC, Xbox, and yes, even PlayStation. The shiny new version will come with improved visuals and audio, crossplay, and cross-progression, and all the DLC from the Gears of War: Ultimate Edition.

As a little treat for the Gears of War faithful, Gears of War: Reloaded will be a free upgrade for any players who purchased the digital version of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition before the announcement. If you’re one of the special ones, expect a code via a DM from Xbox ahead of the release.

“As we approach the 20th anniversary of Gears of War in 2026, we’re reflecting on what this franchise means. It’s about the stories we’ve told, the friendships we’ve built, and the unforgettable moments we’ve shared together. With Gears of War: Reloaded, we’re opening that door to more players than ever,” Mike Crump, studio head at The Coalition, said at the time.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

Capcom has announced a Spotlight digital event set for next week, when it will show more of Resident Evil Requiem, Pragmata, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Street Fighter 6.

The Capcom Spotlight livestream is set for 3pm PT / 11pm UK time on Thursday, June 26, and will last 40 minutes.

Capcom said to expect the “latest news” on the company’s upcoming games, as well as interviews with the developers. Specifically, Monster Hunter Wilds fans will get details on Title Update 2, which is set to release at the end of the month.

Capcom announced Resident Evil Requiem during Summer Game Fest earlier this month with an eye-catching trailer. IGN went hands-on with Resident Evil Requiem, which lets you play in either first- or third-person. There’s a new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft, although fans think we’ll also get to play as Leon Kennedy.

Pragmata, meanwhile, reemerged at Sony’s State of Play showcase with a new release date, a trailer, and information on what the game actually is.

Street Fighter 6 also turned up at SGF to reveal its Year 3 roster of playable DLC characters: Sagat is out this summer, C. Viper this fall, Alex early spring 2026, and finally, Ingrid late spring 2026. The trailer released as part of the announcement included a brief look at Sagat gameplay, so perhaps we’ll see more in the spotlight.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

It’s all well and good grabbing ridiculously expensive Pokémon TCG cards regardless of the climate, and I’m absolutely writhing in jealousy at those who can.

But imagine going back in time and pulling one of those epic chase cards straight off the shelf? Of course, you could today if you hate your bank account that much, but what about the most expensive Pokémon cards in packs right now?

I’m talking about Pokémon TCG bangers that you can pull in a booster pack today, and there are loads. We’re focusing on Destined Rivals, Prismatic Evolutions, Twilight Masquerade, and Surging Sparks for today, so let’s have a deeper look at the mad bangers you could pull from an in-print Pokémon TCG booster pack.

Just to note, the chances of pulling these cards are extremely slim, so if you plan on spending massive amounts of money on Booster Bundles, Booster Boxes, and ETBs, bear in mind that the actual value of the card itself is usually cheaper than ripping packs. Unless you’re mega lucky, of course.

10: Lillie’s Clefairy ex – 184/159

The 2021 relaunch of Splitgate solidified that Valve-style portals and old-school arena shooters are two great tastes that taste great together. Splitgate 2 carries that same great melding of run-and-gun action and tactical trickery that helped the original plant its flag in the genre, so it’s starting from a good place. Only problem is, it never makes much net progress from there. Even though the addition of character classes and a wider range of power weapons help bring Splitgate 2 through a new threshold of promise, some of the other shots it takes through the looking glass loop around to bite it from behind and have made me a bit less enthusiastic about the time I’ve spent with this free-to-play followup.

Visually, quite a bit has changed relative to the original. Gone is the muted, more industrial look of the battle venues, replaced by lots of vibrant colors and brighter lighting. That all makes it look less distinctive and more like the many games trying to catch the eye of Fortnite players. In the trade up from the grubby metal walls to the cleaner, sleeker surfaces, Splitgate 2 is also absent of the more interesting features that made the original’s maps interesting and memorable. Features like deserts and trees that would be smack-dab in the middle of a map (like in one of my favorites, Oasis) are now relegated to background decorations, and every surface you’ll actually run and gun across feels samey across the 15 map options.

Technically you can fix that problem yourself using the returning map creator mode, now called The Lab, which is powerful enough that it’s already filled with dozens and dozens of fan-made recreations of famous PvP maps from bigger games. To be fair there are some more interesting and original user creations that serve as great side shows to the main action. But most of these that I tried felt too gimmicky to be considered good replacements for the developer-made maps as far as having consistent and competitive rounds of the standard modes (to the extent that’s possible considering there’s no ranked mode currently available). It’s also spreading the community a bit thin. I had a pretty hard time getting strangers to queue for some of the wackier-looking options, often sitting in lobbies alone for long periods of time in hopes some other curious Splitgaters would stumble in. I was often disappointed.

Splitgate 2’s biggest win, though, is in gameplay tweaks that have a huge impact on pacing from match to match. The signature portals are still the X-factor, allowing you to create paths between two points on the map on the fly. Once you wrap your head around how they work they are fantastic tools for setting up ambushes, tricky getaways, and even manipulating physics to slingshot you across the map. I mostly use them here like I did in 2021, pulling off one-man flanks on jerks attempting to take my team’s objectives. This time, though, it only takes one button to create both ends of your personal wormhole when shot in succession, making them much more convenient to use. It comes at a slight cost, in that opening one of your portals on top of an enemy’s is the only way to close theirs, and that can force you to close off your own routes. But after logging over a dozen hours, I much prefer this minor drawback over the anti-portal grenades of yesteryear.

Movement always felt smooth, quick, and controlled in Splitgate thanks to its fast (but not too fast) sprinting and limited jetpacks. In Splitgate 2, both of these things combine with a new slide mechanic to make getting around the maps feel like I remember being able to move in my best rounds of Titanfall. The jetpack seems more powerful, with more lift before cooldown than the original’s version. Being able to stay aloft for longer means firefights more often begin or end in the air, adding a level of dynamism that makes every skirmish a challenge at every angle.

The standard arsenal isn’t much different than the original, though, which is a shame because it’s not very imaginative. Most weapons have slick futuristic curves and color schemes but function exactly like the assault rifles, SMGs, and carbines you’ve wielded in too many other games to count, and I wasn’t motivated to do much exploration of the options or customization of loadout presets because of that constant sense of deja vu. They really just make me want to sprint to grab power weapons, which spawn with some fanfare on neutral points during matches, as soon as possible. These returning super guns have gotten a couple of notable additions to their lineup, including my favorite: a pair of machine pistols that can be combined to form a longer machine gun when aiming down the sights. These are all awesome, game-changing weapons that are worth the effort to secure every time they’re available.

Mechanically, the biggest change to the way Splitgate 2 plays is the addition of three character classes, which are presented as avatars of competing corporate entities who settle their differences in this futuristic sport of gun-toting portal slipping. Sabrask, Meridian, and Aeros all have their own unique active abilities, like Meridian’s Hypersight, which reveals enemies around you for a short period, or Aeros’ Rush that gives everyones movement, reload, and regen a speed boost. My favorite is Sabrask’s Smart Wall, which plops a one-way bullet shield that protects anyone standing behind it while keeping them free to shoot through it at the enemy (much like a deployable version of Reinhardt’s shield in Overwatch). They each also have passive effects that they can grant their whole team simply by being present, incentivizing teams to have at least one of each in play. That means actives are more obviously impactful than the passives, largely because I’ve yet to play a game where every team involved wasn’t receiving boosted health regen from Meridian and faster ability and equipment recharges from Aeros and Sabrask, respectively. Is it really a “boost” if it’s basically the standard?

I think there’s an argument to be made that the choice to forgo class-based, hero shooter-y design was a keystone of the monument to the past’s simpler shooters that the original Splitgate was building. It meant all of us started from the same base capabilities and had to earn every advantage during a match, and there’s validity to that. I am sympathetic to this old-school Halo-style mentality, but I’ve come to prefer the diversity of these three new classes, which add just enough tactical expression to give old people like me a chance against fast-twitch no-scoping youth so long as I can out-think them.

Part of that is because Splitgate 2 matches, regardless of the mode you’re playing, are almost always more fun on smaller maps. They may not be as interesting as the maps in Splitgate, but at least they are built to take the most advantage of portaling in a way that ensures you’re never too far from the action. Larger maps, like the ones found in the three-team, 24-player Onslaught game types, can feel almost lonely because you have to run a fair distance to find some other players exchanging fire before plotting your portal game.

Across the board, though, it strikes me as odd that maps seem to deemphasize the advantage that using portals in combat would have. So many objectives sit in places completely hidden from a portal wall, and it felt much more difficult to use portals for aggressive pushes. Fortunately for me, someone who mostly uses portals to set traps and for escapes, and I felt like Splitgate 2’s layouts firmly establish that my more passive approach is the right way to play. Firstly, thank you so much for the 1047 Games. But secondly, this means that offensive strikes on objectives – especially the ones you have to hunker down on like in Firecracker or Domination – happen with the kinds of jetpack assaults and high-energy flanks that you could do anywhere else, from Tribes on down. Even modes that require lots of movement or rotating objectives, like Splitball and Hotzone, don’t afford many more opportunities to use the feature in a way that couldn’t be done without it. The most damning realization of this came when I was playing one of the limited-time No Portals playlist maps and realizing my games didn’t feel all that different without that supposedly defining ability.

Finally, the big new marquee feature of Splitgate 2 is the battle royale mode, and it operates mostly as expected: many teams of four drop into a semi-random zone on the map and fight each other to be the last squad standing. The wrinkle it adds to the genre (besides portals) is that the greater map is made up of four smaller maps connected to one another by jump paths and tunnels. These maps are styled as different environments – there’s a snowy zone and a lava zone, for instance – so it’s easy to communicate which one you’re talking about when planning with your team. Splitgate 2’s version of the storm closing in around you is shutting down one of these regions, forcing all surviving squads toward each other in a shrinking set of rooms; the effect is mostly the same.

What’s disappointing is that the different locations aren’t all that mechanically unique, so fights play out the same way no matter where you are. You certainly don’t want to have shoot outs while knee deep in magma, but when determining which zone to move to next, the potential hazards of the environment was never a top factor. And here, like in the other modes, Portals only come into play a bit, usually to move across long distances quickly, but not very much in the heat of battle. All in all, I didn’t find much going on in this battle royale worth steering your drop bus away from your current favorite for.

I’m not going to lie to you, folks. When I hear the word “soulslike,” my eyes start to glaze over, and I imagine the sweet release of death. It’s the same way I feel when someone says “metroidvania,” or “roguelike.” There’s nothing inherently wrong with soulslikes, metroidvanias, or roguelikes, for the record. There’s just an awful lot of them. I love a good steak, but you can’t eat fillet mignon every day. Sometimes you need some sushi, a taco plate, hell, even just a burger. A little variety goes a long way. So when I got asked whether I wanted a one or two-hour appointment with Wuchang, I only signed up for an hour. But I was allowed to play for two, and I’m really, really glad I did. Wuchang may be a soulslike, but it’s got unique ideas, and by the time I put down my controller, I knew I wanted to see more of what it has to offer.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers sets itself apart from the jump with its unique art and setting. It takes place in the land of Shu during the latter part of the Ming Dynasty. That single choice sets what I played of Wuchang apart from just about every other soulslike. Most games in this genre aren’t shy about their dark fantasy aspirations. In theory, that should mean everything looks a little different. In reality, that means most games look like Dark Souls, which means that most games really look like Berserk. I like Berserk, but it’s not great when everything looks like it stepped out of one of Kentaro Miura’s panels. Wuchang’s dark fantasy, make no mistake, but its setting means a lot of what I saw looks and feels unique (and colorful).

The story’s got an interesting setup, too. You play as Wuchang, a pirate with a nasty bout of amnesia. In my demo, she woke up without knowing who she was or what was going on. Unfortunately for her, amnesia might be the least of her problems. You see, Wuchang has contracted a disease known as the Feathering. It starts small; feathers form on your limbs. But as the disease progresses, you lose your memories, go mad, and undergo a “monstrous transformation.”

There’s no known cure, but that doesn’t mean our girl is just going to lie down. She’s healthier than most, so she’s going to look for a cure. The problem is, once most people realize you’ve contracted the Feathering, they’ll attack you on sight. It’s a neat reason for why just about everyone in Wuchang (though not all; there are plenty of people willing to help you) will attack you as soon as they see you. And the Feathering isn’t entirely a curse; it also gives Wuchang access to very powerful magic. Unlike most other Souls games, you don’t have to equip or spec into magic for it to be useful. It just is. That’s pretty slick.

The other big thing Wuchang does is make each of its weapons unique. Each one is different in very subtle ways. The greataxe in my demo could block, but parrying was a technique that was essentially reserved for a longsword. Other weapons didn’t have either ability, opting instead for attack skills to lay on the hurt. And you can’t just fire off these skills anytime, either. Using them (aside from block and parry, which you always have provided you’ve equipped a weapon with them) take charges, which you build by pulling off perfect dodges or parries. Nailing perfect dodges and parries also charges your magic.

Wuchang isn’t quite as fast as Bloodborne, but it’s faster than most souslikes and encourages you to be aggressive to build those charges. The dance is still here against bosses, and you shouldn’t charge in blindly, but Wuchang is less about waiting for enemies to whiff an attack and punishing them and more about forcing them to swing at you, building those charges, and then cashing in for big damage, either through weapon abilities, magic, or attacks that deal damage while switching to your other equipped weapons. It’s a nice change of pace from traditional soulslike, and forces you to take risks to get access to your best stuff.

Even leveling up is its own thing. Instead of dumping points into your core stats, you fill out a skill tree for everything from your weapons to upgrading your flasks. If you want specific stats, you’ll get them through the armor you equip. There’s no shortage of outfits in Wuchang, from the traditional to the risqué (and there is no shortage of fanservice in Wuchang), but you’re not just playing Fashion Souls or looking at core stats here. You always want to be sure you’re picking the right resistances. If you’re losing to enemies with swords, you might want some slashing resistance. Getting smashed by a big hammer? Bludgeoning resistance is the way to go. Magic got you down? Get some magic resistance in you. These choices matter, and I appreciate that your gear matters, even if I could have done without some of the fan service.

There are still bonfires (here, they’re shrines) and resting at them, which in Wuchang is known as “entering the Dream,” still respawns any enemies you’ve defeated. Even that, though, isn’t necessarily safe. The first time I entered the dream in my demo, I was attacked by a large, bird-like boss. I lost the fight that followed, but when I went back to the dream, the boss wasn’t there. I couldn’t tell you what the deal with that was, but it was interesting, and I kept wondering when (or if) I would get another shot at him. I didn’t, but I am interested in getting another crack at him and figuring out what all that stuff is about.

Speaking of bosses, I did get to square off with three of them during my time with Wuchang, and none of them corresponded to the “Big Dude in Armor” stereotype. From Software got that right with Artorias the Abysswalker, and they (and many others) have leaned on similar versions of that fight since. Often imitated, never duplicated, as the saying goes. Wuchang isn’t interested in sitting down at that table, though.

Instead, every one felt very different. The first was a masked man with a halberd. He definitely had a range advantage on my longsword and greataxe combo, but that was fine with me. I wanted him to swing at me so I could build charges and then use my greataxe to lay down the law. This boss took me quite a few attempts, mostly because I’d think I had an opening when I really didn’t, and get cooked for trying to attack when it wasn’t actually my turn. Once I got his patterns down, though, I was building charges and spending them efficiently, dodging through his attacks and landing big swings of my own. And when I needed to back off? I could cover myself with magic.

The second fight was against someone who seemed to have been transformed by the feathering. This was more acrobatic. The boss would leap into the air and attack from range, forcing me to time my dodges to avoid projectiles and keep from committing until I absolutely had to. I didn’t find it nearly as hard as the first (it took me just s couple tries), but I did appreciate the change of pace.

The last fight… whew, that last fight. Only one person at the entire event beat the final fight in the Wuchang demo, and I’m sad to say it wasn’t me. While the other two fights were all about dodging, this one (against a woman wielding a sword), forced me to parry. Even with the right weapon and good timing, she was a hard fight: incredibly fast, aggressive, and damaging. Every time I tried to back off to heal, she was in my face. Even when I parried her successfully, I had to be careful; I often only had time for a single counterattack before she’d hit me again. It was a brutal fight, and I didn’t win, but I appreciated how hard it was, and how I’d had to change my strategy for each boss. I can’t wait for another crack at her from the comfort of my couch.

And that sums up my feelings with Wuchang as a whole, really. I got a ton of time with it, far more than anything else I played at Summer Game Fest, and I left satisfied with what I’d seen. But I was also excited to see more. Not bad for a souslike, right?