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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You got boost power!
Nintendo has kept the F-Zero spirit alive over the past few years with all sorts of retro revivals and game updates, and this week it’s rolled out Version 1.6.0 of its online battle royale F-Zero 99.
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The release date for “Super Robot Wars Y,” the latest in the “Super Robot Wars” series for console, has been set for Thursday, August 28!
All included titles have been revealed, along with key visuals and new systems. The newly released trailer features a wealth of up-to-date information, including battle animations of the included titles, original characters for this game, and the opening theme song “Hangeki Fight Back!” by JAM Project.
All titles and key visuals have been newly revealed!
This title will feature new appearances by SSSS.DYNAZENON, Godzilla Singular Point, and Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury Season 1 among many others.
Macross Delta: Passionate Walküre and Getter Robo Arc are also included for the first time in the console series.
In addition, it also includes titles familiar from past series such as Reideen the Brave, COMBATTLER V, and Aura Battler Dunbine, as well as titles from a wide range of generations such as Majestic Prince and Code Geass Lelouch of the Re;surrection
Featured Series in SUPER ROBOT WARS Y include:
The key visual is a new illustration, featuring a background represented as a torrent of light, inspired by the “Y” in the title.
Details of the original characters are revealed!
One of the main characters is Cross Tsukinowa, the Head of a NINJA group “Special Stealth Forces Haze”.He puts the mission first and doesn’t allow his feelings to interfere with the job.
The character is voiced by Kazumasa Fukagawa. The unit he flies is the Lunedrache, a ninja-motif unit with a distinctive scarf.
Another original character is Forte Tsukinowa, a member of the NINJA group “Special Stealth Forces Haze,” she may be inexperienced and somewhat immature for her age, but her positive attitude helps her overcome challenges she regularly faces. She is voiced by Aya Yamane. The unit she flies is the Lunedrache II.
The last characters to introduce are A. Advent and Echika Y. Franburnett, the mainstays of this story.
A. Advent is a massive 3-kilometer-long ship with a city in the dome of its deck.
Characters from different titles, each with their own unique backgrounds, gather here and travel around the world.
Echika Y. Franburnett is the legal owner of the Mobile Fortification A. Advent. She approaches everything she does with utmost seriousness, but she can sometimes be clumsy when communicating with others.
At the beginning of the story, Echika Y. Franburnett’s late father suddenly entrusted her with A. Advent on her 14th birthday. Without any explanation, she was given this powerful vessel. Although confused, she struggles to use its power for the right reasons. The character is voiced by Manaka Iwami.
Introducing the new system and training element: Assist Link!
Assist Link is a new system in the game designed to enhance the fun of the Super Robot Series. It allows players to focus resources on their favorite units and titles, making them play a major role in battles.
Unlike past series where only combat personnel like pilots and units could be enhanced, Assist Link lets users give attention to non-fighting characters such as heroines and sub-characters.
These non-pilot characters support battles as sidekicks, using “Assist Commands” on the tactical map to provide various advantages.
Assist Crew members can be trained and ranked up by clearing missions and using Assist Commands, with new effects added or existing ones powered up. The more you use Assist Link, the more it grows, with the maximum rank being RANK 4. At RANK 4, graphics change and players can enjoy a special conversation called “Assist Talk”.
We believe Super Robot Wars offers a unique opportunity to discover and deepen the love for new robot animation works. We are committed to creating Super Robot Wars Y to ensure this culture thrives in the future. More information will be shared soon, so stay tuned for updates. Meanwhile, pre-orders are now available in our digital store!
The following contains major spoilers from Episodes 1-3 of Andor Season 2.
After nearly three years, the long-awaited second season of Andor has arrived on Disney+. Taking place in the lead-up to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (which itself leads directly into Episode IV – A New Hope), Andor follows a cast of characters – both Rebel and Imperial – as they fight for control of the Galaxy.
The first three episodes of Season 2 were filled with action, drama, heartbreak, and some of the funniest scenes of the show so far. Talking exclusively with IGN at Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, the cast spoke in depth about some of the most jaw-dropping moments from Episodes 1-3.
In the opening scene of Episode 1, Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) works with a nervous undercover spy to steal a TIE fighter (specifically a TIE Avenger first seen in 1994’s Star Wars: TIE fighter PC game) from an Imperial test facility on the planet Sienar. And instead of expertly maneuvering the ship out of the building and off-planet, Cassian sneaks into the cockpit and has no idea how to fly it. This leads to a comical sequence in which he awkwardly lurches the Interceptor around a flight hanger before blasting through doors and nearly flying off a cliff. Luna explains there was a deeper meaning to the comedy in the sequence.
“The fun is over after minute four!” Luna jokes. “No, I think there’s a lot of humor in this season. Not that we were looking or searching for it, but it’s just implicit. For that (scene), we were not planning to do a comedic moment, but it is this man battling his ignorance, which makes it very fun. He’s against the Empire and the big problem is himself. He doesn’t know what to do with the equipment he’s trying to fly. I think it’s a very cool action sequence and action is much better when there’s humor around.”
After what can only be described as a traumatic end to Season 1 where she was brutally tortured by the nefarious Dr. Gorst, Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona) is still dealing with the consequences more than a year later. Bix, who has taken refuge on Mina-Rau with Brasso, Wilmon, and droid B2EMO, sees Gorst in her dreams. Arjona says that when we first meet Bix at the beginning of Season 2, she’s doing better but still struggling.
“When we left Bix in Season 1,” Arjona says, “she was at the lowest point that someone can possibly be thanks to Dr. Gorst. So when we meet her for the first time in Season 2, we sort of see almost like a parallel version of Bix from Season 1, Episode 1. We’re (seeing) kind of a hopeful and strong woman. She’s back in workwear, but there’s evidence that Dr. Gorst is still haunting her. And it’s going to take way longer than a year for her to get over this.”
At the end of Season 1, Imperial Security Bureau Supervisor Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) and mid-level bureaucrat Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) flirted – literally and figuratively – with a relationship. Syril told Dedra she had inspired him both in his career and life. Dedra, in turn, was saved by Syril after a group of rioters nearly overwhelmed her on Ferrix. Soller says the events of Season 1 left Syril – who is now officially in a relationship with Dedra – a changed man.
“(Syril is) feeling good and I leaned into that,” says Soller. “It was a joy being able to play with Syril, showing his feathers and trying to flex that a little bit. And seeing how his (new) relationship with Dedra is affecting him and affecting his mother and affecting his relationship to the Empire and his own desires to keep climbing up that ladder. But then there’s this whole other layer (we get to see). So he’s kind of a kid in a candy shop, I think, when you find him at the beginning of Season 2.
Perhaps the breakout character of Andor Season 1 was Eedy Karn (Kathryn Hunter), Syril’s overbearing and nosy mother. Season 2, Episode 3 sees Eedy visit Dedra and Syril in their apartment, leading to an incredibly humorous and awkward dinner in which Dedra puts Eedy firmly in her place. Eedy, not normally one to be trifled with, quickly understands that Dedra is not someone to be messed with either.
“I mean that really is a funny scene,” Gough says. “But for me, Kayhryn Hunter is a legend. I’ve known about her for so long and was so excited. The great thing about that scene is when you work with somebody like Kathryn, she’s a live wire, so she doesn’t make the obvious choices.
“So what looks like an intimidation on the page becomes a negotiation in the room. And so I went Dedra at her, but she did Eedy at me. I think (Dedra and Eedy) would hang out and (Syril) is lying broken on the bed. It was a couple of really fantastic days (on set).”
The first batch of Andor Season 2 episodes ends with a montage in which Cassian rescues Bix and Wilmon from Mina-Rau, (but not Brasso, who was tragically killed by Stormtroopers), a disguised Cinta chauffeurs Mon Mothma’s (Genevieve O’Reilly) childhood friend Tay Koma off to an uncertain fate, and…Mon drunkenly dances at a wedding? But O’Reilly says that seemingly out of place scene has deeper meaning. Mon has just just realized that Tay is no longer trustworthy and might meet an untimely end. Add to that the fact that she’s just married off her young daughter in part to finance the nascent rebellion and Mon decides she needs to seek refuge on the dance floor.
“It was an extraordinary day filming that,” O’Reilly explains. “It was my second to last day shooting. It felt like a very beautiful crescendo, a big piece of the end of three episodes at the wedding. Tony and I have been (saying) that perhaps from the outside, it looks like this beautiful Renaissance painting, but actually it’s a woman trying to exercise the chaos that’s in her brain. She’s dancing to keep herself from screaming. So everything in there (is) layers, there is depth, there are questions.”
Check out our review of Andor Season 2, where we said that she show was “even better” than in Season 1.
