Category: Video Games

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered – first look at bosses, new Map details

We’re deeply grateful for your enthusiastic support following our announcement of Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered. Your passion and dedication have been instrumental in revitalizing this beloved series, so today we wanted to share some new information on the game, with a first look at the game’s bosses in their remastered glory, as well as more details on the game’s brand-new map system which is a collaboration between us, the original creators and the community.


Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered – first look at bosses, new Map details

Remastered Boss updates and reveals

Each boss encounter in Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered is designed to challenge the player’s mastery of Raziel’s abilities. Our goal with the character models was to improve the textures as much as we could while ensuring that they blend in with the apocalyptic world. 

Melchiah received a full texture overhaul with darkened skin and a slimier body-feel. The bones and skeletal mapping are now more realistic and gory and his eye color was adjusted to match the original look.

Melchiah–The first of Kain’s lieutenants Raziel must defeat. This battle takes place in the Necropolis where Melchiah chases Raziel down while phasing through gates, making the spectral realm no longer safe. Strategically use the environment to expose Melchiah’s vulnerabilities and use his own devices against him.

Zephon was too desaturated, so we’ve completely repainted his face.

Zephon–Fought in a dilapidated cathedral, Zephon has evolved into an insect-like creature, fusing with this towering structure. You’ll need to ascend to the highest chambers and become willingly ensnared to be able to confront him. Search the room for any elemental advantages which could aid you in this endeavor.

Rahab’s head has been remodeled, so the eyes now have a reddish glow which gives him a menacing look. We’ve also altered the fangs to look more vampiric and made his skin color a little more gray.

Rahab–This battle occurs in a flooded abbey. Rahab is fully immune to water, which is lethal to Raziel. Use Raziel’s agility to avoid Rahab’s deadly close-range and long-range attacks by jumping and make use of your newly gained Telekinetic projectile ability to exploit Rahab’s extreme vulnerability to sunlight.

Dumah’s armor is now a lot dirtier and has patches of mold and blood all over it (considering he was impaled for centuries).

Dumah–In a desolated fortress, Dumah awaits reanimation. Just like his other brethren, Dumah is invulnerable to any attacks, so Raziel has to be cunning and lure him to a flame powerful enough to melt even the hardest metal, all while avoiding tremendous earthquakes caused by Dumah’s incredible strength.

The models for Kain in both Soul Reaver and Soul Reaver 2 needed to be completely re-designed to mitigate textural issues. With the increased polygon count we felt it was important to bring his look a lot closer to the Kain we got to see in the original FMVs, which was a lot more detailed and showed more-or-less what the original intent was for the character. The original model in SR1 was especially limited so now both games have a Kain that looks consistent between the two titles.

Kain–Raziel first confronts Kain at the Pillars where he must be swift and strike Kain three times to gain the Soul Reaver. The second encounter takes place in the Chronoplast, where the tiered arena makes evasion even more challenging. Track your target’s movements closely and make haste to strike him with the Soul Reaver. If you cannot reach him in time, use your Telekinetic projectile to stop Kain from using his powerful lightning attack. The encounter is intense and dramatic, but we won’t spoil how it concludes. Pre-order to find out!

Map & Compass details & gameplay

In the original versions of the games, players often found themselves wandering the vast, twisting landscapes of Nosgoth, relying heavily on memory and environmental cues to navigate. 

The introduction of the Map and Compass marks a thoughtful enhancement that blends modern gameplay conveniences with the preservation of the explorative experience the original titles were known for. The Compass gently nudges the player in the right direction without giving away specific details of where to go or what to do next and the Map is more of a reference tool than a guide.

We also included a collection tracker for any Health and Energy power-ups so that you know if you’ve gotten all of the collectibles within each area. All of the major Nosgoth features are present and accurately condensed based on the setting and gameplay. 

For fans who might feel that these additions are a major departure from the original games, we’ve made sure to incorporate a toggle-off function for the compass. 

In addition to its gameplay utility, the map is also a wonderful art piece that was created in collaboration with our development team, community advisors, artists, and designers at Crystal Dynamics. We knew accuracy was paramount, so we worked hard to pull from the original source art, design documents, and clues from game lore. We also incorporated community reviews to ensure nothing had been missed.

Thanks to these efforts, the map is accurate enough to feature in the new lore reader bonus menu – identifying the location of each lore entry. 

For design direction, Crystal Dynamics designers used a heavily inked approach that sits beautifully with the existing art, creating a stunning new way to visualize the world of Nosgoth. 

The Map and Compass are there to serve as welcome tools for exploration, ensuring that the remastered versions remain both a tribute to the classics and a modernized, more player-friendly experience.

The Aspyr Team looks forward to sharing more information before the launch of Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered on December 10, 2024!

Star Wars Unlimited TCG’s Twilight of the Republic Decks Spotlight Ahsoka and General Grievous

The upcoming Star Wars Unlimited TCG set, Twilight of the Republic, is almost here with the release slated for November 8. This is the third installment since the game premiered back in March. It’s still quite young, but there are already so many different types of decks that one can make. In fact, a two-player starter comes with every new set for anyone interested in jumping into SWU for the first time. The Twilight of the Republic starter includes a deck themed around the aggressive and heroic Ahsoka Tano and the Republic’s Clone Trooper army, as well as a deck led by the cunning and villainous General Grievous alongside the Separatist Droid army. With both decks in one package, it’s an easy way to kickstart a player’s venture into a new card game like Star Wars Unlimited with a friend.

When a card game is based on an existing series, we usually see game designers attempt to match what’s on the card with how the character or object is portrayed in their respective medium. It guides the playstyle and creation of other cards in the set, and we see some of that in both SWU starter decks. For instance, the Ahsoka Tano deck includes characters from the 501st Legion that she’s a part of, like General Anakin Skywalker and Captain Rex. The Jedi alongside the Clone army are known for skilled and organized combat, which brings us to one of the new mechanics in this set, Coordinate. This keyword or ability activates when a player controls three or more units on their side of the field. When its requirement is fulfilled, the player can then reap the reward of the newly activated action associated with the card’s Coordinate ability. In Ahsoka Tano’s case, she can command a unit to attack with a +1 power buff as long as her side of the field has at least three units. So if you’re playing with the Ahsoka deck, part of your goal is going wide on the board with units so you can always have more than enough to fulfill the Coordinate ability across all your cards that have that special keyword. That means your opponent will try to dwindle your numbers to prevent that from happening. Thankfully, the deck does include supporting cards to reflect the need to bolster an army like Batch Brothers or Jedi Master Shaak Ti, which can create clone trooper tokens to add to the unit count.

On the villainous side of this starter pack, we have General Grievou,s who leads the Separatist droid armies in their quest for dominance. Similar to the Ahsoka deck, the General Grievous deck has options to bolster the unit count as well with the help of Battle Droid tokens. Instead of the Coordinate ability, though, the Separatists rely on another new mechanic to the Star Wars card game: Exploit. Unlike Coordinate, Exploit does not buff or support the units already in battle. Instead, this new ability sacrifices units to play more powerful cards for a cheaper cost. For instance, if someone wants to play the Admiral Trench card, that player can defeat up to 1 unit they already control on the field to reduce his cost. Usually, this isn’t such a great trade, since you’re losing one of your units in the process, but cards like the Confederate Courier or Battle Droid Escort have a benefit from being defeated. If you combo the right cards, General Grievous can easily be joined by heavy hitters like the Separatist Super Tank or Hailfire Tank without losing too many units in the process. Of course, using the Exploit ability to its full effect means having units to sacrifice, so in a similar fashion, the General Grievous deck tries to go wide with units just like Ahsoka, but for a different purpose. Meanwhile, cards like Poggle the Lesser and Droid Deployment are a couple of notable options that can help the Separatist army stay in the fight.

Overall, both decks do a pretty good job of representing the two main factions of the hotly contested Clone Wars. Both rely on large armies, and you can see how different each deck plays with the lore in mind. For a dual starter deck package, it really showcases the new mechanics well, and they both seem pretty balanced right out of the box. In the end, these are starter decks and ultimately they are a jumping-off point to making unique and stronger decks with other cards in the new set, Twilight of the Republic. For more Star Wars Unlimited, check out both our review of the base set, Spark of Rebellion as well as a quick preview below of the Prerelease Box that will be available at your local game stores leading up to release.

The Star Wars Unlimited Two-Player Starter deck comes with:

  • Rules
  • Tokens
  • Two playmats
  • Two deck boxes

Ahsoka Tano and General Grievous pre-constructed decks lists:

Former Skyrim developer’s heavy metal open world hunting sim releases on Steam

Did you have a fine old time in Blackreach, the mazy, Dwemer-built underside of Skyrim’s sprawling mountain map? Do you like murdering Ents in slow motion? Do you want to see smells? You might be interested in The Axis Unseen, which has just launched on Steam – it’s the work of former Bethesda developer Nate Purkeypile, one of the big brains behind Blackreach.

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Exploring the New Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Trailer – A Closer Look at Bosses, Spells and Combat

The team at 505 Games, in collaboration with Leenzee Games, is excited to present the latest trailer for Wuchang: Fallen Feathers—an action-packed soulslike adventure set to launch day one on Xbox Game Pass in 2025.

This new trailer, unveiled at the recent Xbox Partner Preview, gives players a deeper dive into the world of Wuchang, showcasing epic boss encounters, powerful spells, and the intricate combat mechanics that define this highly anticipated title. Whether you’re a fan of the soulslike genre or new to action-RPGs, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers promises a journey filled with dark lore, intense battles, and immersive storytelling.

The trailer opens with the ominous Ming Army Inspector, a boss who casts a chilling atmosphere as he walks past a haunting forest of hanging bodies, delivering a speech about the crumbling Ming Dynasty and his vengeful quest to purge traitors. The stakes are set high from the start, establishing the dark tone that fans can expect from the world of Wuchang. As the trailer unfolds, we are treated to stunning CGI of Wuchang herself as she ignites her ancestral sword—a weapon passed down through the Bai family. This flaming blade is not just for show; it is a symbol of her past, one that ties directly into her mission and the lore woven throughout the game.

Weapons and Spells

In the gameplay segments of the trailer, players witness Wuchang wielding a range of weapons, each with their own unique style and abilities. The Cloudfrost’s Edge, a long sword that exemplifies precision and elegance, is one of her primary tools for battle.

Alongside it, the Firearm Blades, dual weapons with explosive capabilities, showcase her versatility in combat. In one breathtaking scene, we see her switching between these weapons, seamlessly combining swordplay with magic in the Featherweave combat style to block, parry, and unleash devastating attacks on her foes. The fluidity of her movements and the responsive controls provide players with a true sense of mastery over combat, whether they prefer close-range sword strikes or ranged assaults with spells.

Speaking of spells, the trailer highlights a series of powerful magical abilities, such as Echoes of Lu Hongliu, where Wuchang releases a thunderous roar, launching enemies into the air and dealing devastating damage. This ability, like many others in the game, is acquired through overcoming formidable foes. Players will need to harness these skills to survive the dynamic environments filled with enemies ranging from soldiers of the Daxi Army to supernatural beasts like the Corpse Swallowing Mussel—a monstrous creature mutated by the remnants of dark magic. Each spell, such as the Thunderfall from Nine Heavens or the Soul-igniting Lotus Fire, offers strategic opportunities, allowing players to stun enemies, deal area damage, or even gain temporary invincibility.

The new trailer also showcases some of the unique weapon arts and combat styles players will master throughout the game. For instance, wielding the Enigma Spear allows Wuchang to strike enemies from a distance, utilizing long-range precision attacks that add variety to her combat repertoire. The trailer also introduces the Cinder Dragoncoil, an axe that unleashes fiery damage, perfect for taking down larger, more resilient monsters. Switching weapons mid-combat allows Wuchang to adapt to different threats, whether it’s countering the attacks of low-ranking officers or unleashing explosive strikes against colossal bosses.

Finally, fans of intricate combat mechanics will be thrilled to see the Featherweave system in action. This allows for fluid weapon and spell transitions, giving players the freedom to craft their own combat style. Timing dodges, spell casts, and weapon switches will be crucial, especially when facing off against the trailer’s final highlight: a climactic battle between Wuchang and the Ming Army Inspector. This epic showdown promises to test players’ skills and decision-making, making it clear that Wuchang: Fallen Feathers isn’t just about brute force but also about mastering the rhythm of combat.

A Look At Enemies and Bosses

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers also introduces a wide variety of enemies and bosses, each designed to test players’ adaptability and strategic planning. From the Ornithropized Exiles—humanoid enemies plagued by ancient curses—to the terrifying Bird People Chief, players must confront not only physical threats but also the lore and mysteries tied to these characters. The trailer showcases intense battles with the Lady of Snow Castle, a boss whose attacks merge with her snow fox companion, creating a multi-phase battle that will challenge players to use every skill in their arsenal.

Beyond the action, the trailer highlights the richly crafted environments that players will explore. The diverse landscapes range from serene, lush villages to ominous, darkened forests that transform into menacing nightmares as the story progresses. Each setting is rendered with stunning detail using Unreal Engine 5, capturing the essence of ancient China while blending in elements of supernatural terror. These environments aren’t just for show; they are dynamic, interconnected spaces where players’ decisions can influence the story’s outcome, leading to multiple potential endings and quests that shape the fate of Shu.

The Xbox Partner Preview trailer for Wuchang: Fallen Feathers has delivered a thrilling preview of what’s to come, blending a dark narrative with fast-paced, action-packed gameplay.

With a launch set for Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC in 2025 as a day one Game Pass title, this epic soulslike adventure is poised to captivate fans with its deep lore, challenging combat, and beautifully rendered world. As we build up to the release, stay connected by following Wuchang’s official channels on X, Facebook, Instagram and Discord.

Don’t miss any updates on the journey that awaits—wishlist the game now and prepare to face the darkness.


WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers

WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers

505 Games

☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★

Get it now

WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers is a soulslike, action RPG set in the land of Shu during the dark and tumultuous late Ming Dynasty, plagued with warring factions and a mysterious illness spawning monstrous creatures.

Become Wuchang, a skilled pirate warrior struck by amnesia, who must navigate the uncertainties of her mysterious past while afflicted by the horrific Feathering disease. Explore the depths of Shu, enhancing your arsenal and mastering new skills harvested from fallen foes. Evolve your fighting style by sacrificing elusive Red Mercury and further develop new techniques obtained throughout your action-packed journey. Augment the weapons in your repertoire with powerful enchantments, allowing for a unique approach to combat and strategy that suits your personal style.

Battle against grotesque abominations, drawing on ancient lore to challenge the creeping darkness that threatens the humanity that remains. Your quest for truth will take you through forgotten temples, overgrown ruins, and shadowed paths fraught with peril. As you piece together Wuchang’s lost memories, your choices will lead you to one of several endings—each determined by the choices made, secrets unearthed and the allies you choose to trust.

Immerse yourself in a rich storyline, dynamic combat system, and breathtaking visuals that offer an unforgettable adventure through lands veiled in chaos and death. Will you reveal the truths of Wuchang’s curse and bring peace to Shu, or will you succumb to the encroaching horrors? The fate of the land rests in your hands.

The post Exploring the New Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Trailer – A Closer Look at Bosses, Spells and Combat appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Black Myth: Wukong’s Physical PS5 Edition Is Up for Preorder

Here’s some good news for collectors of physical games. Black Myth: Wukong is getting a disc version for PS5. Previously a digital-only game, Wukong’s physical edition doesn’t have a set release date, but it’s available to preorder now for $64.99 from most of the usual retailers (see it at Amazon) And for those who like physical editions to future-proof your ability to play games, the publisher has confirmed that the entire game is on the disc, with no download required.

Preorder Black Myth: Wukong (Physical Edition)

The physical PS5 edition of Black Myth: Wukong only comes in one edition, but it includes a code for the extra items included in the digital deluxe edition. Those include the following:

  • Bronzecloud Staff
  • Folk Opera Mask
  • Folk Opera Almsgiving Armor
  • Folk Opera Leather Bracers
  • Folk Opera Buskins
  • Wind Chimes
  • Selected Digital Soundtrack

What Is Black Myth: Wukong?

Black Myth: Wukong originally launched on PS5 and PC on August 19 (the game is also coming to Xbox at some point, though it’s unclear if a physical edition will be available for that platform).

The game, made by the Chinese developer Game Science, has been incredibly popular since launch. It’s an action-RPG based on Chinese mythology and the story Journey to the West.

In his 8/10 Black Myth: Wukong review, critic Mitchel Saltzman wrote:

“As GameScience’s debut action game, Black Myth: Wukong is mostly a great success, despite some major technical black marks and localization issues that are likely to cause some frustrations at launch. Combat is fantastic thanks to a great balance of careful resource management and lightning-fast, twitch-reaction gameplay that tested my skills as much as Elden Ring ever has, despite being a more traditional action game than FromSoftware’s style. Not only that, but there are a ton of exciting boss battles, a great variety of enemies, and the world they inhabit is an absolute treat for the eyes and ears. Its story has its moments but relies a bit too much on having prior knowledge of the events of Journey to the West, and it really could have used a map to make its rewarding exploration measure up to the strength of its combat. That said, its strengths more than carry it through, making Black Myth: Wukong a great action game that could be even greater if GameScience can squash the bugs.”

Other Preorder Guides

Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN’s board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Threads or Bluesky.

Here’s a free god sim from the Shotgun King devs in which you Build The Sun

Shotgun King developers Punkcake Délicieux have quietly rolled out another ticklish oddity in the shape of Build The Sun, a work-in-progress 2D god sim. In Build The Sun you preside over a tribe of alarming yet cute inkblot creatures, who sometimes remind me of Pikmin and sometimes, of that awful ‘roided-up panther monster from the opening stretch of Another World. Your objective is, indeed, to build the sun, because there isn’t one: the game’s pastoral pixelart world is engulfed in darkness.

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Throne and Liberty and Guild Wars Company NCSoft Suffers Layoffs Amid Significant Restructure

NCSoft, the South Korean MMO specialist behind the likes of Throne and Liberty, Guild Wars 2, and Lineage, has confirmed a significant restructure of the company amid a sweeping round of layoffs.

South Korean news agency Yonhap reported on comments from NCSoft co-CEOs Taek-Jin Kim and Byung-Moo Park, who blamed the incoming layoffs and reorganization on the company’s ongoing financial troubles. “We feel a deep sense of responsibility and offer an apology to all employees,” they said.

The co-CEOs added that “as a result of operating in a way that most of the manpower and functions are concentrated at the headquarters, financial performance has continued to deteriorate and we are at risk of becoming a chronically loss-making company,” and that this situation “is seriously damaging the creativity and challenging spirit that NCSoft originally possessed.”

NCSoft, established in 1997 and headquartered in Seoul, now plans to develop new video games in the form of independent studios, each with their own culture and process, it said. Throne and Liberty, recently published globally by Amazon Games to huge player numbers on Steam, is now its own game studio.

NCSoft is now split into four divisions: NCAI, Studio X, Studio Y, and Studio G. (Studio X is the studio behind Throne and Liberty.) It’s unclear at this stage what NCSoft’s troubles mean for ArenaNet, the Bellevue, Washington-based studio behind Guild Wars. Earlier this year, Guild Wars 3 was said to have been in development, although work continues on Guild Wars 2.

Some video games will be canceled, howoever, alongside layoffs via a voluntary retirement program, the co-CEOs confirmed. “Major changes are inevitable for the survival and future of the company, and we promise active support and compensation to those affected,” they said.

Earlier this month, Amazon Games announced that Throne and Liberty had seen more than three million players in just a week following its global launch. Originally billed as a Lineage sequel, Throne and Liberty is an MMO with PvE and PvP set in a dynamic and seamless world. It suffered numerous delays over the course of a development cycle spanning several years.

Throne and Liberty finally launched on October 1 across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, and soon proved a hit on Steam with an impressive player concurrent peak of 336,300. Throne and Liberty remains one of the most-played games on Valve’s platform. Neither Sony nor Microsoft make player numbers public.

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.

Netflix’s “Team Blue” of Halo, Overwatch and God Of War vets close without a single game to their name

Netflix have shut down one of their more trumpeted video game initiatives – a Californian studio known as team “Blue” and stocked with former Halo, God Of War and Overwatch developers. It was a major plank in Netflix’s on-going efforts to extend their film and TV streaming empire to what Nic insists on calling the “greasy screen”.

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HAL Laboratory’s Lovely Physics Puzzler ‘Part Time UFO’ Has Been Delisted On Mobile

Switch version is still available.

The mobile version of HAL Laboratory’s Part Time UFO has been delisted from storefronts as of today, the game’s official Twitter has announced. But don’t worry, the Switch version isn’t going anywhere.

Shared on Bluesky by AK, Part Time UFO’s original mobile release is no longer available to download on mobile devices. The game originally launched on phones in 2017 in Japan, before getting a worldwide release in 2018, and an expanded Switch version in 2020.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com