Alice Bee (RPS in peace) wrote about platformer System Purge a while back, saying it starred a witch with a nice hop. So I tried out the demo for its sequel, System Purge: Hollow Point, and can confirm that the witch still has a nice hop. I’m thankful for this, because if the witch did not have a nice hop, the game would be maddening in a bad way. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still maddening. Just in a good way. The hop is good.
Pole position.
The latest boxed charts data from Japan is now available courtesy of Famitsu, and once again, we can see that the Switch is still comfortably dominating in the region both with hardware and software sales. Astro Bot is the only representative from Sony’s PS5 platform.
Frankly, it’s mad that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe keeps selling so well. More than 7 years after its Switch debut with mere months (weeks..?!) to go until we learn more about the Switch successor, the arcade racer has now surpassed a mind-boggling 6 million units sold in the region. Worldwide, of course, the latest data confirms that the game is now sitting well above 60 million units sold.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Valve instituted a fairytale punishment for cheaters in its unreleased laney shooter Deadlock yesterday. Cheaters will now be turned into frogs, provided the other players in the match vote for it. A Counter-Strike 2 modder proved the effect in a post on Xitter after the change was mentioned in some out-of-the-way patch notes by a Valve developer.
A new shooter set in the StarCraft universe is in the works at Blizzard, according to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier’s book Play Nice, via Eurogamer. The project is headed up by Dan Hay, who worked various leading roles on Ubisoft’s Far Cry series, and also a 1999 CGI film starring Jim Belushi named “The Nuttiest Nutcracker”. The real-time strategy spinoff was also mentioned during an IGN podcast that aired yesterday.
That’s pretty much all, folks.
Fans of old-school sports compilations may remember Tiny Toon Adventures: Wacky Sports Challenge on Super Nintendo. In it, you played as the titular animated youngsters, who competed in enjoyable cartoon versions of familiar events. SNES also had Looney Tunes B-Ball, a beautifully animated genre classic that put a colourful spin on the NBA Jam formula.
Bamtang Games hopes to bring back this forgotten subgenre with Looney Tunes: Wacky World Of Sports, a collection of four game types, pitting the original Warner Brothers animated line-up against each other in solo and multiplayer tournaments.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
“Classic turn-based tactics”.
Following successful funding on Kickstarter, the turn-based tactical strategy game Warside has finally locked in a release date. It will launch for Switch and multiple other platforms on 28th January 2025.
In case you missed our existing coverage of this one, as you can see, it’s heavily inspired by a certain Nintendo series. The developer previously mentioned how it felt it could “evolve” the genre and was happy to cite not only Advance Wars but also series like Wargroove and Into The Breach as inspirations.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
It was released on Switch last year.
It’s meant to be all about Echoes of Wisdom this week, but there are also some celebrations currently taking place for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
A year after its release, Link’s massive open-world sequel outing has now taken out the “grand award” at Japan’s Game Awards for 2024. This award was accepted by series producer Eiji Aonuma and the game’s director Hidemaro Fujibayashi.
Read the full article on nintendolife.com
Join us for a tour of the PlayStation booth at the Tokyo Game Show 2024, featuring some memorable photo ops as well as hands-on with a few anticipated PS5 games. Let’s dive into the booth plus gameplay reports for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Sonic x Shadow Generations, Dragon Quest III HD-3D Remake, and Metaphor ReFantazio.
At the PlayStation booth, visitors can take a look at the PS5 Pro console – displayed publicly for the first time and set to be released on November 7 – and also play Final Fantasy VII Rebirth or Gran Turismo 7 on the new console. Additionally, the entire lineup of the PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection is also displayed at the booth.
SIE is showcasing an exciting lineup of PS5 titles, including Astro Bot and the highly-anticipated Monster Hunter Wilds. Let’s dive in!
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a remake of the 2004 game Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater for PS2. I had a chance to play a versus mission at the PlayStation booth.
As Snake descends into the jungle, he calls up his mentor, The Boss. The excellent voicework for these iconic characters immediately brought me back to my PS2 days with the original. The map design, where players move between sub-areas, is also faithfully recreated in the remake. While it may have been highly possible to create a single large map using today’s advanced technology, the sub-area design helps make each jungle section feel distinct.
The new high-definition visuals are stunning, with the character’s textures and the jungle’s atmosphere being realistically rendered. The change in the camera angle, from bird’s eye view to third-person, also elevates the immersive feeling of exploring the dense jungle. Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a game that not only feels novel with its updated graphics and controllability but also brings a wave of nostalgia as it remains faithful to the original story, dialogue, and map design.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, launching on November 14, is a vivid reimagining of the beloved 1998 RPG The game provides richer aesthetics by adding 3D effects to pixel-based backgrounds. The pixelated characters and monsters coexist harmoniously with the 3D backgrounds, and I was captivated by the meticulous depiction of the rippling water surfaces and the details of the interior decorations. The scenery also gradually transitions from day to evening to night as time passes.
With the new Monster Battle Road feature, I was able to send three captured monsters into battle arenas against other teams of creatures. While you can’t directly control the monsters, you can still choose from four preset tactics to influence your monsters fight. I learned that frequently switching tactics paves the road to victory.
During the playthrough, I also explored the Skyfell Tower and battled against the boss bandit, Robbin’ ‘Ood. Just as in the original, combat is based on random encounters. Instead of assigning actions to each party, I opted for a group command for some AI combat actions. The combat offers three options for speed, so I chose the quickest option for fast-paced, hassle-free battles. Waiting for me at the top of the tower was Robbin’ ‘Ood and his three henchmen. Skillful use of spells, special skills, and recovery commands is key to toppling these lethal foes.
Metaphor: ReFantazio, launching October 11 on PS5 and PS4, is a new IP from the creator of the Persona series.
In the Dungeon modes, Occupied Cathedral, I explored with friends who possessed awakened abilities, Archetypes, and experienced a unique combat system called Fast & Squad. Combat began with enemy encounters that triggered a turn-based command battle called Squad. However, against lower-ranked opponents, I could immediately assault them with a Fast Attack, defeating them with a single blow instead of initiating a turn-based fight.
The Squad command battle is based on Atlus’s signature Press Turn Battle system. You can use the Press Icon to determine how many actions are remaining for each turn since normal attacks, stronger attacks called Synthesis, and Archetype skills each consume a different amount of press. Notably, attacking the enemies’ weak points don’t consume Press and provide more options for additional actions. The thrill of a successful strategy is matched only by the disappointment of a failed one, creating an emotional roller-coaster where every decision carries significant weight. This intensity and excitement are particularly palpable during combat against formidable foes. The stylish ultimate move skill Synthesis perfectly capture the essence of Persona.
In Journey mode, I traveled on the gauntlet runner and mingled with friends to find out more about their identity and what they mean to my character..
Sonic Generations is remastered with new content featuring Shadow in this high-speed action-adventure, launching on October 25.
I dropped into the Space Colony Ark: Act 1 from Shadow’s storyline, guiding the hedgehog through a space station with lightning-fast reflexes. With missiles, lasers, and robots all trying to halt my advance, the power of Chaos Control helped meoutmaneuver them.
Later in the game, I faced a familiar but stronger boss, Metal Overload, from a 2003 PS2 Sonic game. For this part of the game, Doom Surf is the only way of traversal as the stage is set on the ocean. Using L1 and R1, I spun to deflect the enemy’s missiles to attack the boss. Between jumping over a barrage of lasers and dodging the boss’s tail swiping, this game is packed with endless action and kept me on my toes the whole time.
You can also find the recent hands-on reports for my experience with Monster Hunter Wilds, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, and Dynasty Warriors: Origins at Tokyo Game Show 2024.
Remember The Day Before, the once-hyped game that had such a disastrous early access launch that the Singapore-based studio that developed it, Fntastic, announced its closure just days later? Well, Fntastic appears to be back, and they’re asking for a second chance — and your money.
In yet another bizarre development to what was already a strange saga, the X/Twitter account for Fntastic resurfaced today, announcing a Kickstarter campaign and asking for “your help again to bring Fntastic back.” The post links to a website which claims to lay out the details for Fntastic’s next moves.
Once, you helped us create Fntastic through Kickstarter.
Today, we need your help again to bring Fntastic back!
Learn more and support us: https://t.co/6CB75yGWnE#fntastic #propnight #escapefactory— Fntastic (@FntasticHQ) September 26, 2024
If your first thought is that this whole thing could be a hoax, you’d be forgiven — and frankly, it very well could be. But if it is, it’s a pretty elaborate troll, as the website is extensive. It includes an FAQ, a PDF detailing its “recovery plan,” contact info, a merch page, and more. It also links to a Discord server which has mods claiming to be Fntastic devs and a bevy of confused onlookers.
What’s more, the website even includes details and links to a new multiplayer co-op game, Escape Factory. A free demo is currently available via its Steam page, and a Kickstarter page is looking to raise $15,535 to bring the game to fruition. As of press time, the campaign has raised $139 from three backers. The YouTube account for Fntastic, which was scrubbed shortly before The Day Before’s launch, also posted a trailer for Escape Factory.
According to the FAQ section of the website, if Escape Factory does not reach its Kickstarter goal, the studio won’t be able to return.
If the whole thing seems a little tone-deaf after the disaster that was The Day Before, the website claiming to be Fntastic at least acknowledges that it might have some trouble regaining consumers’ trust. The website says they “deeply apologize to everyone for The Day Before and take full responsibility for what happened.”
“After the closure, we reflected on our past mistakes and initiated significant internal changes to drive radical improvement,” the site’s FAQ page reads. “We’ve discontinued the practice of involving external volunteers and are now fully committed to a more professional approach. Honesty, transparency, and community engagement have become our top priorities.”
In terms of who is apparently on the current team, the website admits that it’s “smaller, but it still consists of the same people who created all of our previous games.” Interestingly, the website makes no mention of Fntastic founders Eduard Gotovtsev and Aisen Gotovtsev, not even in its “About Us” section that chronicles the studio’s history.
The website adds that Fntastic has lost all legal rights to both The Day Before and Propnight, another game developed by the studio before its closure, and elaborates further on some of the things it’s learned from The Day Before debacle.
“Over time, we’ve analyzed the factors that led to The Day Before’s unsuccessful launch,” the website reads. “These included overly ambitious goals on a low indie budget, a team without AAA tech experience, and embellished marketing, which we deeply regret.”
The X/Twitter account for Fntastic has been replying to concerned onlookers ever since the first announcement, as many are, understandably, a little hesitant to trust the studio (if this even is the studio).
Fntastic had a tumultous development cycle for The Day Before leading up to its tumultuous launch. The first trailer debuted back in 2021, gaining traction for what looked to be an exciting post-apocalyptic open world MMO. Hype gave way to skepticism, however, amid controversy over the studio’s use of unpaid volunteers, various delays, a trademark dispute, and a fan revolt that accused the whole thing of being a scam.
It all led up to The Day Before’s early access launch in December 2023, and once fans were able to finally get their hands on the game, the response was so overwhelmingly negative (even IGN gave it a rare 1/10) that the servers shut down just over a month later. Refunds were distributed to all who purchased The Day Before, with Fntastic telling one player, “This was our first big experience. Sh*t happens.”
Still, the website saying it’s Fntastic is adamant that the team has learned from its mistakes, stating that its core principles are now “honesty, transparency, and professionalism.”
IGN has reached out to Eduard Gotovtsev and Aisen Gotovtsev, as well as a previous email address for Fntastic, for clarification on the legitimacy of the website, and has not heard back yet. We’ll update this story if and when we do.
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
Amazon is taking 30% off the popular 2TB WD Black SN850X PCIe Gen4 M.2 NVMe solid state drive (SSD) with pre-installed heatsink, now only $139.99 shipped. The WD Black SN850X is one of the fastest PCIe 4.0 SSDs on the market; it works equally well as additional storage for your PlayStation 5 console or as a blazing fast boot drive for your gaming rig. This is one of the best M.2 SSDs for 2024. (The SN850P is mentioned in the roundup, but the SN850X is the exact same SSD only without the official PS5 certification.)
The SN850X is the latest generation of WD’s flagship Black series M.2 SSDs. In terms of performance, it’s considered a top-tier SSD with sustained read speeds of up to 7,300MBps, write speeds of 6,600MBps, random read speeds of up to 1,200K IOPS, and write speeds of 1,100IOPS. It’s faster than the previous generation SN850 thanks to newer flash chips (BiCS5 vs BiCS4) and an updated firmware.
If you plan to install this in your gaming PC, WD includes Game Mode 2.0 utility software that’s designed to tune the SSD for better performance during gaming sessions. Unless you have an unlimited budget, 2TB is the size I would recommend for a boot solid state drive; for most people, this is plenty of space for your OS and apps, and the price is still reasonable.
The SN850X also makes for an excellent SSD for your PlayStation 5 console. This is the same SSD as the officially licensed SN850P. It fulfills all of Sony’s requirements, including M.2 2280 form factor, minimum 5,500MB/s speed, and PCI-E Gen4x4 interface. Even better, this model comes equipped with a slim aluminum heatsink already preinstalled. It’s guaranteed to fit in both the PS5 and PS5 Slim consoles. The SSD comes with a five-year warranty. By the time your warranty runs out, you might have already moved onto the PS6.
If you’re looking for more SSD storage upgrade options for your PS5 console, check out our best PS5 SSD deals of 2023. There are even less expensive options if you’re not married to any brand.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn’t hunting for deals for other people at work, he’s hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
