News - Review: 30XX – Excellent Mega Man X-Style Run ‘N’ Gunning, With A Rogue
Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)
Though Capcom hasn’t necessarily abandoned the Mega Man brand as a whole, it’s indisputably reduced how often it produces new games in that celebrated franchise. For example, it’s been 19 years since the last new Mega Man X release (and let’s be real, X8 was a rough entry to end on), but that series now lives on in the efforts of its fans. A few years ago, Battery Staple Games released 20XX, a cute roguelite take on Mega Man gameplay, and now it’s followed up that effort with 30XX. It isn’t without issues, but we’re happy to report that 30XX feels like an overall improvement over its predecessor, and stands as a worthy homage to a beloved series.
Gameplay in 30XX follows the template of classic Mega Man X. You run ‘n’ gun through eight themed levels capped off with a tough boss fight, collecting new weapons or abilities each time you beat another boss, then challenge some extra tough final stages. The gimmick here, however, is that 30XX is structured like a roguelite, so each stage is different each run and there are myriad upgrades you can collect along the way to help even the odds a little bit. There are two playable characters, named Ace and Nina, and they take after Zero and X, respectively. Both have their pros and cons, though we generally preferred Nina’s ranged gameplay over Ace’s sword-swinging skills.
Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)
A key element that really elevates the fun of 30XX is how smooth the controls feel. In a game as hyper-focused on precision and skill as this, hiccups or sluggish controls could easily torpedo any sense of fairness, but 30XX proves to be consistently tight and responsive. We didn’t notice any frame drops in our experience and the movement tech feels outstanding; characters are snappy and agile, and feel like they can properly navigate the precise obstacles laid out before you.
Throughout each stage, you’ll often come across a few augments—or “Augs”—that will buff up your character for the duration of that run. Augs can do things like bolster your damage output or give a small shield that constantly orbits you and soaks up damage, and given that there are around 240 Augs to discover, there’s quite a bit of build variety you can experiment with. You can also periodically find Cores, which are armor pieces that give you new abilities like a double jump or a short hover. There’s quite a variety of these on offer, too, and we appreciated how much they mix up your approach to gameplay, not to mention that having a decent Core loadout is all but necessary for surviving the later stages.
Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)
Across a run, you’ll usually pick up a decent amount of a currency called Memoria, and when you inevitably lose, you’ll be sent back to the hub where you can spend it on permanent upgrades. These range from flat increases to your starting health and energy to more general buffs like the ability to choose from more levels when you beat a boss or to recycle upgrades that you encounter during a run. We appreciated having this meta-progression system in place, as 30XX can be an utterly brutal experience and these upgrades help level the playing field a bit. Plus, it’s nice to have another goal to shoot for beyond simply beating the next level, and you’ll likely find yourself attempting yet another run after a loss just to see how the new upgrades affect you.
Speaking of upgrades, a big change here from 20XX is that the new weapons and abilities you get from the boss of each level are tailored to each character, effectively doubling the number of abilities that you can play with. For example, one boss grants Nina a lighting attack that can home in on enemies, while that same boss grants Ace a downward thrust attack that sends out lightning balls scurrying along the floor. We appreciated how this creates new ways to play and makes each character feel more distinguished than before, giving players even more toys to experiment with as they figure out what builds work best for them.
If roguelike randomness isn’t your cup of tea, there’s a new mode called Mega Mode that may be more up your alley. Here, the boss stages are laid out in a cute, selectable grid reminiscent of classic Mega Man games, and though each level is still randomly generated, subsequent attempts after failing will see you running through the same stage each time. This allows you to progress by practicing and learning the level layouts, and when you couple this with the fact that all Augs and Cores stay with your character even after deaths, you have a mode that ultimately feels a lot more friendly to those who want a more traditional platforming experience.
Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)
And if you’d like some help getting through stages, you can always play in co-op mode, which allows for both couch and online multiplayer. We noticed performance taking just a bit of a hit here, but nothing that notably affected gameplay, and the fun of having an extra character on hand to assist in collecting goodies and overcoming bosses more than made up for any dropped frames. Overall, it feels like 30XX is intended to be played as a more single-player experience, but rest assured that co-op is still an enjoyable time if you want to go that route.
Rounding out the package here is a community mode wherein you play levels designed by fellow players using in-game assets. There are various filters you can use to sort levels by popularity or type, and there are all kinds of off-the-wall ideas here that would never fit in the game proper, but nonetheless add some cool stuff to engage with. We played one stage that lovingly recreated Green Hill Zone in 30XX’s engine—there were even some speed upgrades given out upfront so you could move extra fast through it. Mileage will vary here, of course, but it’s tough to argue against the value that it adds to an already highly replayable game.
While 30XX is an overall great experience, one issue we ran into is that the level design can feel a little hit-or-miss. Though stages are ultimately comprised of handmade sections that are randomly stitched together, they don’t always fit in a way that properly emulates a hand-designed level. For example, we encountered many situations where the difficulty was all over the place—extremely tough sections would be followed by segments that were a breeze, which can make for a rather oddly paced experience.
Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)
Beyond this, levels get substantially more difficult as you get further into a run, to the point where a stage can feel less like a fair challenge and more like a ROM hack Kaizo level. Having the right upgrades from earlier in the run can certainly take the edge off, but it’s never guaranteed that the upgrades you need will drop, and we experienced many instances where a section was virtually impossible to traverse without taking a lot of damage. If you just want to win at all costs, you can always activate the Assist Mode and tweak various parameters like enemy damage or player health, but this feels like an imperfect solution to a problem that exists at the design level.
For those of you who aren’t put off by the difficulty, you’ll be pleased to learn that there’s a way to make 30XX even harder via the Entropy system. Taking after the Heat system from Hades, Entropy allows you to activate modifiers at the start of a run that raise difficulty, such as negating the effects of healing items or raising enemy health. Each active modifier raises your Entropy level by one, and if you manage to complete a run, you’ll be rewarded with more currency for continuing meta progression. The catch is that you can’t endlessly farm these rewards at the same Entropy level, you’ll have to continuously stack more modifiers to boost your level if you want to keep progressing. Though toying with this was much too tough for us, we nonetheless appreciated that such a system is in place to give even more longevity. Those of you who enjoy a real challenge will have plenty of content to overcome if you’re up for it.
Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)
Visually, 30XX has gotten quite an upgrade over its predecessor, which featured an art style that made it look more like a mid-effort Flash game. 30XX trades this for a much more visually appealing hi-bit art style that very closely mirrors the visuals of the PSX generation of Mega Man X, and it employs this art style to fantastic effect. Whether you’re stumbling past the dark, stained-glass halls of a cathedral or weaving between foes in a high-tech tropical paradise, each level feels notably distinct from the last and is filled with some excellent spritework, most notably in the detailed backgrounds.
This is matched by an equally great chiptune soundtrack that manages to feel traditional without being overly derivative of past works. The high-energy tracks here do a nice job of matching the often intense pace of combat, and there’s a solid amount of variety here. Music is catchy without being overly repetitive, and it doesn’t distract too much from the action.
Conclusion
Although it can be a bit uneven, 30XX is ultimately an enjoyable take on action platforming with a roguelite twist. The high difficulty, extreme replayability, and gorgeous visuals all come together to make for an action platformer you won’t want to miss out on. Beyond this, Mega Mode makes this one a solid recommendation even for those who don’t usually like roguelites, as it strips out most of the randomness and presents a more old-school challenge. For any fans of Mega Man, retro action platformers, or roguelikes, 30XX covers all those bases and then some, and deserves a spot in your Switch library.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 09-12-2023, 10:39 AM - Forum: Lounge
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News - Rumors say Apple may introduce more “eco-friendly” iPhone accessories
With news on the iPhone 15 imminent, rumors are also starting to swirl about the other extras due to arrive alongside a swanky new phone. According to a report from MacRumors, the tech giant is moving towards more iPhone 15 eco-friendly accessories and moving away from its previous focus on silicone and leather products. Check out the best iPhone 14 Pro cases if you still need to get something for yourself.
Previously, Apple released several silicone accessories alongside each iPhone release, many including features such as MagSage charging. Alongside new eco-friendly cases, Apple is also expected to be introducing other items made of renewable materials, including their popular Sport Band, Solo Loop, and AirTag Loop.
The MacRumors support also mentions that Apple is likely to be phasing out its leather iPhone cases, so it seems the California-based tech manufacturer is creating a clear message of sustainability and environmental responsibility. We’ll have to wait until the official iPhone 15 event to learn more, but more sustainable products can only be a good thing.
If you want to learn all about possible iPhone 15 eco-friendly accessories as soon as they appear, be sure to watch the Apple Event below when it premieres.
So, tech fans, that’s all we have on iPhone 15 eco-friendly accessories for today, but we hope to be adding some concrete confirmation soon. For now, be sure to check out our guide to the best iPhone 13 cases next.
Explore the inner demons of three childhood friends on a summer retreat. Unearth secrets, fears and obsessions as you help them reconnect and rediscover themselves. A mature and treacherous visual novel from the creator of Milky Way Prince – The Vampire Star.
[freebies.indiegala.com] Will you cope with such a difficult task? You have to go through 30 rooms filled with labyrinthine and corridors. Use squares of a certain color to open doors. [freebies.indiegala.com]
AppleInsider - Apple TV+ MLS Season Pass subscription discounted to $29
Soccer fans who’ve yet to sign up for the MLS Season Pass on Apple TV+ now have a good reason to do so, with the price cut down to $29 for the remainder of the 2023 season.
The MLS Season Pass has been a success for Apple TV+, in part thanks to events such as Lionel Messi’s joining of Inter Miami. However, a new promotion may help boost numbers even more.
First reported byTechCrunch, the MLS Season Pass subscription usually costs $99 per season, or $79 per season for Apple TV+ subscribers. Now, long past the halfway point of the February 25 to October 21 season, fans who were tempted to pick up the Season Pass but were put off by the cost can do so at a much cheaper cost.
Sports fans can now pay $29 for access to the Season Pass for the rest of the 2023 season, or for Apple TV+ subscribers, that price goes down to $25. This is a considerable saving compared to the per-month charges, which are $14.99 per month or $12.50 per month for Apple TV+ subscribers.
Under the season pass, subscribers gain access to live coverage of matches, as well as the post-season play-offs, set to run from October 25 through to December 9. There is also a selection of other video content available, including match replays, original programming, and studio programs.
Once bought, the MLS Season Pass can be viewed wherever the Apple TV app is accessible, including the Apple TV set-top boxes, iPhone and iPad, Mac, and selected smart TVs.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 09-11-2023, 02:48 PM - Forum: Windows
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Microsoft - Our hope is that games like Starfield bring joy to millions of people ar
Frontline workers represent the face of organizations and make up the lion’s share of the workforce. But new Work Trend Index data reveals that 1 in 2 frontline workers cite being burned out in their jobs. Investing in technology that supports the frontline is key. Notably, 65% of frontline workers are optimistic that AI will help them in their jobs.
We are excited to highlight new Microsoft solutions and investments in next-generation AI for the frontline workforce across nearly every business. Frontline managers and workers can optimize their time from work order creation to schedule management with Copilot in Dynamics 365 Field Service and the new Shifts plug-in for Microsoft 365 Copilot. In Viva Connections, frontline workers can stay up-to-date on internal communications. And with shared device mode for Intune, VMware and SOTI, employees can simplify the sign-in experience securely.
Today’s announcements not only reduce administrative burden and time on spent on manual tasks, but also enable frontline workers to focus on end customer experiences and receive an overall improved employee experience. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/e9Ash_82
Fedora - Contribute at the Fedora Linux Test Week for Kernel 6.5 and Toolbx Test Day
Fedora test days are events where anyone can help make sure changes in Fedora Linux work well in an upcoming release. Fedora community members often participate, and the public is welcome at these events. If you’ve never contributed to Fedora Linux before, this is a perfect way to get started.
There are several test periods in the upcoming weeks. Here are the first two:
Sunday 10 Sept through Sunday 17 Sept , is to test Kernel 6.5.
Thursday 14 Sept focuses on testing Toolbx .
Kernel 6.5
The kernel team is working on final integration for Linux kernel 6.5. This recently released version, will arrive soon in Fedora Linux. As a result, the Fedora Linux kernel and QA teams have organized a test week from Sunday, Sept 10, 2023 to Sunday, Sept 17, 2023. This wiki page contains links to the test images you’ll need to participate. This is also going to be the release Kernel for Fedora 39 and any help testing regression for this Kernel will be very helpful.
A test day is an event where anyone can help make sure changes in Fedora Linux work well in an upcoming release. Fedora community members often participate, and the public is welcome at these events. If you’ve never contributed before, this is a perfect way to get started.
To contribute, you only need to be able to download test materials (which include some large files) and then read and follow directions step by step.
Detailed information about all the test days is available on the wiki pages mentioned above. If you’re available on or around the days of the events, please do some testing and report your results. All the test day pages receive some final touches which complete about 24 hrs before the test day begins. We urge you to be patient about resources that are, in most cases, uploaded hours before the test day starts.
Come and test with us to make the upcoming Fedora Linux 39 even better.
Today’s Pre-Release showcases the changes being made to rebalance Villager Trading as well as some changes to loot. If you want to check out the snapshot yourself be sure to enable snapshots within your Minecraft Launcher in the Installations tab.
The Recipe Book search has been updated with the following changes:
The search will only match the beginning of any word in the item’s name
For example, searching for “tor” will still show Torch and Redstone Torch but not Daylight Detector anymore
All recipes, including those that have not been unlocked, will now show up in search results
This will enable experienced players to find the recipes they are looking for (even if it hasn’t been unlocked yet) without overwhelming new players
Updated structure icons on explorer maps sold by Cartographers
When villagers unlock new trades, the order of those trades in the UI is now always random instead of sometimes being deterministic
The data pack version is now 18
Client options are now sent during the configuration network phase when joining a server
Data Pack Version 18
This data pack version removes the recently introduced execute if function and return run functionality. Flaws with those commands (see bugs MC-264595, MC-264699, and MC-264710) require some substantial changes to fix, which we do not want to make close to a release.
These commands will instead be reintroduced early in the next snapshot series when we can take the time to iterate on and test them together with pack makers.
Removed execute if|unless function command form
Removed return run command form
Numbers used as macro arguments are now always inserted without suffixes, regardless of numeric type
Added game rule enderPearlsVanishOnDeath, controlling whether thrown ender pearls vanish when the player that threw them dies (default true)
Villager Trade Rebalance Part 2
This pre-release updates the Villager Trade Rebalance experiment. This experiment has no effect on normal worlds. If you want to try these changes, you must turn on the Feature Toggle in the Experiments Menu when creating a new world. You can find more information about Feature Toggles here.
Thank you to everyone who has sent in their suggestions and feedback regarding the experimental trade change! We are trying out these changes to rebalance the villager trade system and make it more fair and fun for everyone. However, these changes are not yet final, and they will stay as experimental features while we continue to work on them. We appreciate your feedback on these changes. Visit this link to share your thoughts! We have been following the discussions about the previous Librarian and Wandering Trader updates and look forward to seeing the conversation continue.
Cartographer
Before now, Cartographers only sold maps to the Ocean Monument and Woodland Mansion. In this experiment, Cartographers can sell seven new maps as well. These new maps each point to a different village or structure and can be used to find seven different biomes. This will help players who want to quickly find a specific location without waiting until they come across it by chance.
Cartographers from different biomes will sell a different selection of maps. Starting from one village, it will be possible to find every other village type by following maps from village to village.
Cartographers now sell 7 new maps: Desert Village Map, Jungle Explorer Map, Plains Village Map, Savanna Village Map, Snow Village Map, Swamp Explorer Map, and Taiga Village Map.
Armorer
The Armorer’s trades have been updated with many changes.
The biggest change is that buying diamond armor now requires paying a small amount of Diamonds as well as Emeralds. This is meant to make the Armorer’s diamond armor trades less useful at the start of the game when players don’t have any Diamonds, while still giving a powerful advantage to advanced players who have spent some time collecting Diamonds.
Early-game players will find Armorers useful as a great source of iron armor, Shields, and Emeralds.
Other changes include:
Most master-level Armorers buy Iron Blocks (and pay very well for them)
Chainmail armor is exclusively sold by the secret Jungle and Swamp Armorers
The Savanna Armorers sells cursed diamond armor at reduced prices
The Taiga Armorer can swap one piece of diamond armor for another
Structure Loot
Certain Enchanted Books now have a high chance of generating in some structures:
Ancient Cities: Mending
Mineshafts: Efficiency (I to V)
Pillager Outposts: Quick Charge (I to III)
Desert Temples: Unbreaking (I to III)
Jungle Temples: Unbreaking (I to III)
MC-70127 – Some block state changes aren’t communicated to clients
MC-72721 – Chat messages show after death independent of the chat setting
MC-103800 – Sometimes armor stands won’t update their visual rotation
MC-119873 – The text used for the credits button within the title screen is untranslatable
MC-154827 – Typo in splash text “Verlet intregration!”
MC-177172 – Dash in villager/trader UI is hardcoded / untranslatable
MC-248778 – The item count symbol within the shulker box tooltips is untranslatable
MC-248833 – The parentheses used before and after the warning label within the language menu are untranslatable
MC-248844 – The page indicator symbol within the recipe book GUI is untranslatable
MC-248846 – The colon used within the death screen to show the player’s score is untranslatable
MC-249355 – The hyphen used within the statistics menu to show a null value is untranslatable
MC-252295 – The word “whilst” within several death messages isn’t spelled in American English
MC-252298 – Death messages relating to the Thorns enchantment don’t contain conjunctions where appropriate
MC-252316 – The word “burnt” within some death messages isn’t spelled in American English
MC-253241 – The player count indicator symbol within the multiplayer menu is untranslatable
MC-253269 – The advancement progress indicator symbol within the advancements menu is untranslatable
MC-253270 – The hyphen used within boss bars for raids is untranslatable
MC-253278 – The percentage symbol used within the level loading screen to show the loading progress of the world is untranslatable
MC-253281 – Text within filled map tooltips when advanced tooltips are hidden is untranslatable
MC-253283 – The percentage and chunk indicator symbols used within the optimize world menu are untranslatable
MC-253638 – The symbols used within shulker box tooltips to show random loot table contents are untranslatable
MC-255418 – Vertical redstone dust placed against dropper/dispenser/hopper doesn’t visually disappear when the dust above is removed
MC-256777 – The two characters used within the tab list to show players’ health are untranslatable
MC-260819 – The “death.attack.message_too_long” string is missing an article before the word “stripped”
MC-263133 – Inconsistent word usage in Out of Memory screen
MC-264233 – The player is shown as Anonymous after dying and respawning
MC-264574 – symlink does not work for the root world folder
MC-264615 – It takes several seconds for the absorption effect icon to display after obtaining the effect
MC-264656 – Regular golden apples don’t increase the number of gold hearts if you previously ate an enchanted golden apple and then took damage
MC-264657 – Absorption gold heart refilling is determined by whether the low level and the high level have the same hideParticles parameter
MC-264658 – Only integer numeric data type can be used in macro
MC-264809 – Redstone comparators cause redstone dust connection issue
MC-265053 – Programmer Art lapis lazuli outline texture in enchanting table UI incorrectly uses the old formatting
MC-265060 – Missing sprite for error in Loom GUI (loom.png)
MC-265126 – The ‘requirements’ field can no longer be skipped in advancements
MC-265151 – The “(Unknown)” string that’s displayed when being banned from a server for an unknown reason is untranslatable
MC-265209 – Switching to protocol “CONFIGURATION” causes race condition
MC-265213 – The chat message from the /random command says “between 1 and 6” instead of “1 to 6”
