Category: Video Games

Helldivers 2 is an early 2024 smash hit, with critical and commercial acclaim following its explosive launch on PlayStation 5 and PC. But there are some aspects of the co-op shooter that can result in a frustrating experience, and one of them has to do with the behavior of your teammates.

As IGN reported last month, some Helldivers 2 players are kicking their teammates before games even get going because they’re not bringing so-called “meta” builds to the party. (Check out IGN’s best loadouts guide to see what we think). This has been a problem with Helldivers 2 ever since it came out, particularly on higher difficulties, so nothing new there. But now the boss of developer Arrowhead has taken notice publicly, and asked the game’s community for ideas on how to solve what he called a tricky problem.

CEO Johan Pilestedt tweeted a response to one user who said they’d been “removed”, aka kicked, from matches due to using a single Stratagem or weapon the host didn’t like. “This is so shitty,” Pilestedt said. “Also very hard to solve — we have some ideas but no conclusion. You know what, let’s try this: Hive Mind — do you have a design suggestion for how to improve this experience?”

This is so shitty. Also very hard to solve – we have some ideas but no conclusion.

You know what, let’s try this: Hive Mind – do you have a design suggestion for how to improve this experience? https://t.co/HgUlV80fP4

— Pilestedt (@Pilestedt) March 9, 2024

What followed was a steady stream of suggestions. One user tweeted to suggest the addition of a ‘kick reason’, which might prompt an explanation. In this case, the user believes they were kicked because they picked up samples dropped by their squadmate, who, they suspect, did not know samples are shared at the end of a successful mission completion.

Another suggestion is that Helldivers 2 highlights the player who just kicked you in the ‘recent teammates’ section, so you can block them and, hopefully, prevent squadding up with them in the future.

Streamer Gothalion suggested the addition of a matchmaking “preferred style”, which would indicate whether you’re after a hardcore or casual game session. Essentially, you would be able to filter matchmaking so you end up playing with like-minded teammates.

There are more punishing ideas, too, including tracking how many times a player has kicked a teammate within a certain timeframe, then flagging them and potentially taking action if they exceed the limit. There are some creative suggestions. One user suggested that a kick creates a “fork” of the instance that was being played, and migrates the kicked player to that fork, complete with the gear and loadout they were using. Another user suggested a “conditional kick”, so that Helldivers 2 would only let a player be kicked under certain circumstances, such as a set number of teamkills.

One player said they’d been kicked several times at the end of a mission, even on the score screen after the Pelican took off. “It’s incredibly frustrating that I spend 15-30mins for absolutely nothing,” they said. “So far it seems that they do this because they can because I was not underperforming.” Pilestedt responded to say not allowing a kick “at that point and/or giving rewards anyways would solve that.”

What seems clear is that the host’s ability to kick any teammate is here to stay. “You need to own your experience as host,” Pilestedt replied to one user who stressed that the kick option is important for the host when it comes to booting out players who are griefing. Explaining further, Pilestedt said: “The host is the owner of the game. It’s their operation and they decide. Kinda like coming over to someone’s house.”

After a flood of suggestions, Pilestedt tweeted to thank the community for their help, and said he’d ask the development team to draw inspiration from the thread. “This is a pretty cool thing, the entire community coming together to discuss a hard to solve problem,” Pilestedt said. “Even though vote kick is the easiest, it has some downsides and there is always a better solution.”

Amid the discussion about kicking in Helldivers 2, mechs went live after the game’s first balance patch, which sparked something of a backlash Arrowhead subsequently responded to. Helldivers 2 has become one of the surprise hits of 2024 since launching in February, topping the charts on Steam and reportedly selling around three million copies. According to at least one analyst, it’s still growing. Check out IGN’s Helldivers 2 review to find out why it’s going down so well.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Like returning to a beloved amusement park as an adult, Contra: Operation Galuga instantly reconnected me with the 2D run-and-gunners from the quarter-slinging arcade days of my youth. And just like revisiting a childhood fancy, I quickly remembered why I had so much fun with this series, while also feeling a bit underwhelmed by how little things have evolved in all that time. This reimagining of the original Contra offers a perfectly adequate modernization of a bonafide classic that makes for an enjoyable jaunt alongside your friends, but it’s also perhaps overly faithful to its predecessors, allowing for only the slightest tweaks. I don’t regret the handful of hours it took me and my buds to get through all of Operation Galuga, but it’s one of those games that’s likely to fade from my memory just as quickly.

This sidescroller plays it safe with the reliable, if not particularly exciting, formula of fighting through stages filled with enemies before taking on a boss. Despite being framed as a sequel to the original Contra, Operation Galuga is a lot closer to a remake. It features the same macho dudebro protagonists, Bill Rizer and Lance Bean, on the same island going through many of the same stages in the same order. You and a friend will blast your way through familiar levels, like the waterfall stage with a giant alien at the end, the icy train ride stage, and even that part where you end up inside a massive alien’s body to do battle against the big guy’s gross parasites – just like in the original Contra from 1987. That said, Operation Galuga sets itself apart with some substantial additions, including fully voiced characters (complete with cutscenes), new playable characters with their own abilities and playstyles, and most notably, new 2D stages to replace the less interesting pseudo-3D shooting gallery levels from the original. All of these things do help to refresh an experience that plays things extremely close to its roots in almost every other sense.

Operation Galuga doesn’t always succeed with the new stuff it tries, however, and nowhere is that more true than in its story. I certainly appreciate the extra context for why our heroes are doing the things they do, but with stilted writing, one-dimensional characters, and lengthy dialogue sequences in which meaningful developments arrive sluggishly, this added story mostly detracts from an otherwise fast-paced sprint through hellish battlefields. For example, I probably didn’t need to hear extensive monologues about the Lemris, the story’s doomsday macguffin, to grok that we need to kill the bad guy who wants to use it to wipe out humanity. And I definitely didn’t need to stop in the middle of a level to listen to said baddie tell me that I’ve been tearing through his “unstoppable” forces – I know that already, mister evil alien, sir. Could you maybe deliver this lame smack talk while I resume shooting your friends?

Both the classic levels and the completely new stages at least make for some solid old school action. I always really liked the creepy journey through the inside of a living organism from Contra, so experiencing that in all its gross glory with upgraded graphics and mechanics was a lot of fun, and the completely new level that put my team on hovering motorbikes, then sent gangs of similarly octane-powered goons after us, mixed things up just enough to keep us on our toes. But whether it’s a reimagined legacy level or something wholly fresh, you’re still basically always doing the same stuff these games have been doing for many years: dodging enemies while filling the screen with colorful projectiles of our own as you run, jump, and dash your way to the end. There’s certainly nothing wrong with sticking to the basics, but it’s also one of those rides where you can more-or-less tell exactly how things are going to go just by looking at the title screen, and that doesn’t make for an especially exciting time. I enjoy retro, arcadey run-and-guns as much as the next boomer, but it would have been nice to find more surprises or evolutionary changes here, because it’s not like this genre couldn’t benefit from them.

Operation Galuga keeps the vast majority of the Contra gameplay recipe intact, which means longtime fans are unlikely to be blown away by anything besides the bullets enemies send your way. You’ll use an almost identical arsenal from previous games, from the Laser to the Homing Gun, fight the customary aliens and human commandos, and take on giant bosses who really don’t like to be shot in the eyeball. There are a couple minor tweaks here and there that just barely break the mold though, like how the new characters can do things like hover for a short period, shoot a grapple hook and zip over to distant surfaces, or slide under incoming fire and into enemies for damage, all of which provide a minor hiccup of fresh air.

Many design elements from developer WayForward’s previous Contra game, Contra 4, have been incorporated here as well. This includes the two-weapon system that allows you to keep a backup firearm stowed away so you can switch things up depending on what you’re facing – for instance, I liked to use a Machine Gun for straight DPS, but kept a Spread Gun or Flame Thrower handy for crowd controlling waves of chump minions. As an added twist, you can now upgrade your guns by picking up a second copy of something you’re already carrying, which buffs that weapon until you get hit, at which point you’re demoted back to the basic version. And if you’re feeling frisky, you also have the ability to overload weapons, sacrificing them in exchange for a temporary benefit, like becoming invincible for a while or emitting a shockwave of bullets in every direction. It’s usually not worth losing a cherished weapon for such a short-term effect if you can avoid it, but it’s definitely a nice option to keep in your back pocket if you find yourself in a pickle – especially since, by default, dying causes you to lose your held weapons anyway.

The Arcade and Challenge modes from Contra 4 also make a return, the former which enables four-player co-op and dares you to get as far as you can with a set number of lives, while the latter tests you with special limitations, like trying to get through a level without firing a weapon. There’s definitely some novelty in the challenge and chaos of marathoning each stage with a larger group, though that can get thin fairly quickly since you’re running through the same eight levels as the regular campaign. Similarly, there’s some minor fun to be had in tackling the trials that await in Challenge Mode, but unless you’ve a serious appetite for replaying each stage with some cheeky conditions, that too runs dry pretty fast.

Happy MAR10 Day! Sunday is here, which means it’s time to round up the best deals available this weekend across games, technology, and more! To celebrate the day, Nintendo has all kinds of exciting deals ongoing. The best deals for Saturday, March 10, include Nintendo Switch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Luigi’s Mansion 3, and more.

Get a $25 Gift Card with Any Nintendo Switch

To celebrate MAR10 Day, Best Buy is offering a free $25 Best Buy gift card with the purchase of any Nintendo Switch model. This includes Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, and the Nintendo Switch OLED Model. If you’ve yet to pick up a Nintendo Switch, this is a perfect time to do so, as you can spend the $25 gift card on a new game to go alongside it!

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for $39.99

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best-selling Nintendo Switch title to date. There’s never been a better time to pick up the game, especially since the DLC recently wrapped up. A total of 96 tracks are available to race through with this title, which will keep you busy for years to come. New racers, including Diddy Kong, Pauline, and Birdo, are even available with the Booster Course Pass!

Samsung EVO Select 512GB Micro SD Card for $24.99

If you’re in need of more storage, this is one of the best SD cards you can buy for your Nintendo Switch. The Samsung EVO Select Micro SD card is an excellent choice for any Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck owner. Both of these systems will eventually need more storage, especially the Nintendo Switch, since it contains so little. At $24.99, this is an excellent deal on an SD card you cannot go wrong with.

Save $20 Off Luigi’s Mansion 3

Luigi’s Mansion 3 is still one of the best Nintendo Switch titles available. Luigi finds himself, Mario, Peach, and Toad on vacation at the Last Resort hotel. However, upon arriving, things aren’t as they seem. You’re quickly thrust into a wild adventure featuring new abilities, companions, and ghosts. With Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD set to release this June, today is a great opportunity to check out the latest Luigi’s Mansion title in preparation.

Super Mario Maker 2 for $39.99

Super Mario Maker 2 is a great choice if you’re looking for a game that will let your creativity run wild. You can choose between different eras of Mario games and create as many courses as you’d like. With the ability to play others’ courses online, the amount of content Super Mario Maker 2 has to offer is endless! This MAR10 Day, you can save $20 off this exciting title.

Save On Samsung 990 EVO SSDs

Amazon has solid discounts for both the 1TB and 2TB Samsung 990 EVO SSD models. This SSD is compatible with PlayStation 5, so it’s perfect if you’re looking for a new PS5 accessory to pick up. Additionally, it’s great for any gaming PC or other device that supports a full NVME M.2 SSD.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown for $29.99

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a release that went under many people’s radars earlier this year. At $29.99, this 2D platformer is absolutely worth your time and money. We gave the game an 8/10 in our review, stating, “Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown captures not only what made games such as The Sands of Time so good, but it irons out a lot of the little issues that plagued the 3D games.”

PS5 Slim Spider-Man 2 Bundle for $399.99

Amazon has a fantastic deal ongoing for the PlayStation 5 Slim Digital Edition. The console itself is $50 off, and you get Spider-Man 2 for free. In total, that’s $120 worth of savings. This is perfect if you’ve yet to pick up a PS5, as we most likely won’t see a better deal than this for a while.

Save $20 Off Mario Tennis Aces

Mario Tennis Aces marked the first story mode in a Mario Sports title in quite some time. Developer Camelot looked to create an immersive new take on the Mario Tennis formula. Aces has dozens of characters to choose from, each with their own unique abilities and skillsets. The gameplay formula has been revamped with exciting new mechanics such as Zone Shot and Zone Speed, which redefine what a match of Tennis can look like.

Save 43% Off God of War Ragnarok

God of War Ragnarok is still one of the best PS5 games you can pick up. This action game acts as the sequel to 2018’s God of War, following Kratos and Atreus as Fimbulwinter looms. If you’ve yet to play this game, this is a great time to pick up Ragnarok at a discount and see why so many players love this series.

Pick Up the Dead Space Remake for $29.99

Dead Space launched last January, and this is a great time to pick up the game if you haven’t already. This remake features an impressive use of technology and a completely modernized combat system. Special attention has been put on the audio, with 3D Audio technology utilized for an immersive experience. You can expect loads of thrills and horror as you look to escape the stranded ship. The USG Ishimura has never looked better or been scarier.

Bomb Rush Cyberfunk Up To 38% Off

Amazon has both the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 copies of Bomb Rush Cyberfunk on sale right now. This spiritual successor to Jet Set Radio offers a ton of fun, with all kinds of activities to complete. You play as Red and join the Bomb Rush Crew, where you set off around the city to discover graffiti spots and get REP. All the flashy tricks you know and love are here, so this is a great title to sit back and unwind with.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart for $39.99

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a fantastic title that shows off many of the PlayStation 5 hardware features. From the lightning fast load times to the impressive use of the DualSense controller, Rift Apart takes full advantage of the hardware. Additionally, it’s a blast to play with an exciting story and satisyfing gameplay. Add this to your collection today with a nice $30 discount.

Remember The Year of Luigi? You know, that last-ditch effort marketing campaign Nintendo rolled out back in 2013 when not much else was going on for the company? To be fair, some solid games came out of The Year of Luigi, like New Super Luigi U and Dr. Luigi, but all the Luigi spin-offs and re-skins in the world couldn’t save Nintendo from losing over $400 million in 2013 when it was all said and done. The Year of Luigi remains an unintentionally hilarious footnote from a completely different era of Nintendo, and poor Mr. L never deserved to get wrapped up in one of the biggest Ls in company history. It goes without saying that Nintendo hasn’t really attempted another marketing campaign like this since.

Nintendo finds itself in a very different financial situation today compared to a decade ago, and it’s not in a place where it needs to rely on gimmicks to succeed; Nintendo Switch and its games speak for themselves. But, if Nintendo did put a label on the last 12 months, I’m confident they’d call it The Year of Peach. From her prominent role in The Super Mario Bros. Movie to finally starring in a new standalone game, Nintendo’s giving Peach more attention than ever before, and frankly, it’s long overdue. So this year on Mario Day, I’m asking the popular plumber to step aside and embrace the Mushroom Kingdom’s fearless leader finally getting her well-deserved moment in the spotlight.

Over the past several decades, Peach has been kidnapped, sidelined, and nearly forced into marrying Bowser while other characters have hogged all the starring roles. Yes, Peach is a staple of ensemble games like Mario Kart, Mario Party, and Super Smash Bros., but I’ve always felt Peach has been underutilized while other side characters like Luigi, Donkey Kong, Wario, Yoshi, and even the pathetic (but lovable!) Captain Toad got games of their own. For the sheer amount of games Nintendo releases that take place in the Mushroom Kingdom, it’s been surprising that we’ve lacked a standalone game starring the franchise’s leading lady.

But that changed last summer when Nintendo revealed Princess Peach: Showtime, the first solo adventure for the character since 2006, and only the second overall. While it remains to be seen how the game will turn out, it’s undeniably cool that Showtime appears to exist entirely as its own thing, completely separate from the rest of the Mario universe. As my colleague Rebekah Valentine put it, “I genuinely want to see Nintendo make a game where Peach is defined only by herself, and not by labels like Mario’s love interest, Mario’s damsel, Mario’s princess.” While we still don’t know for certain if Mario will rear his mustachioed head in Showtime, for the time being it seems like that wish is coming true, and it’s fantastic to see Nintendo adding a Peach-focused adventure to its extensive lineup of Mario games, detached from the traditions and expectations of the mainline series.

Princess Peach: Showtime isn’t the only reason that we’re living in The Year of Peach. Last year, Princess Peach was one of the most important characters in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, as Nintendo and Illumination smartly flipped Peach and Luigi’s traditional roles, sending Peach and Mario on an adventure to save the captive Luigi. Peach had as much screen time as anyone in the film, and it felt right seeing her front-and-center rather than trapped in yet another castle.

Following this, Peach was a fully playable character in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and it was about time. Growing up playing the New Super Mario Bros. games with my older sister, we never understood why cookie cutter characters like Blue and Yellow Toad were included rather than recognizable fan-favorite characters like Peach and Daisy, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder finally delivered a fleshed-out roster of characters where you can play through the entire game as anyone you like, no Mario required. Credit goes to Super Mario 3D World for doing this more than 10 years ago, but I loved seeing Super Mario Bros. Wonder take the idea and run with it.

Just a month after Super Mario Bros. Wonder came Super Mario RPG. This remake of the SNES classic features Princess Peach as a party member, and playing out turn-based battles with a crew of Peach, Mario, and Bowser was just as exciting in 2023 as I’m sure it was in the original Super Nintendo version. And later this year, Nintendo will release a remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, which includes an extremely memorable storyline centered around Princess Peach, including some dedicated segments where she is highlighted as the playable character. I can’t wait for Nintendo fans who missed the GameCube original to see how awesome Peach is in The Thousand-Year Door, which I consider to be one of her coolest appearances ever.

There’s never been a better time to be a Princess Peach fan, and I hope Nintendo continues its efforts to build out her blossoming corner of the Mushroom Kingdom. If all goes well, Princess Peach: Showtime will be just the first of many solo Peach games to come, and one of Nintendo’s most iconic characters will manage to reach Nintendo fans young and old in entirely new ways. Move over Mario Day, because this is the unofficial Year of Peach, and I’m completely here for it.

Logan Plant is IGN’s Database Manager, Playlist Editor, occasional news writer, and frequent Super Ninfriendo on Nintendo Voice Chat. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.

In celebration of Mario Day 2024, Nintendo announced that the remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door will be released on Switch on May 23, 2024.

The news was announced with a short glimpse of Mario on stage with a bunch of our other favorite Mushroom Kingdom characters in the audience. Alongside this big news, it was also confirmed a new Super Mario Bros. movie is in the works and that Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD will be released on Switch on June 27, 2024.

ICYMI: #PaperMario: The Thousand-Year Door
arrives on #NintendoSwitch May 23rd! #PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoorhttps://t.co/4O22wZX7RO pic.twitter.com/Csxn7Jq5Aa

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 10, 2024