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Now, in an interview with the website Otaquest, the head of the Sonic Team, Takashi Iizuka, has briefly mentioned how Sega wants to “take good care” of both its 2D and 3D iterations of Sonic moving forward. Here’s the full exchange:
Otaquest: There are basically 2 different approaches to Sonic as a character which are defined by Classic Sonic (2D) and Modern Sonic (3D), and the release of Sonic Mania showed that there is a lot of demand for the 2D gameplay among fans. Has this impacted the way Sonic Team approaches handling the franchise at all? Do you feel like there’s a pressure to balance between the 2 different styles?
Takashi Iizuka: Not much time has passed since the distinction between “classic” and “modern” was made, in fact, it was since 2011’s “Sonic Generations” title. Even before that, in addition to the main 3D series, there was a high demand for the 2D action games such as the Sonic Advance series, so we revived the old Sonic as Classic Sonic for the 20th-anniversary title, Sonic Generations. We initially thought that it would be a 20th Anniversary project only, however after that we had a strong demand for a new classic Sonic standalone title, that became 2017’s Sonic Mania. We would like to take good care of these two very popular iterations of Sonic’s in the future.
As for what’s next, we’ll just have to wait and see. Sega of America’s CEO, Ivo Gerscovich, says some “really exciting” news is on the way for Sonic’s 30th anniversary, that the company can’t wait to share. What kind of reveal would you like to see for Sonic’s birthday next year? Tell us down below.
Soapbox: It’s Time For WWE No Mercy To Make A Comeback On Nintendo Switch
In case you haven’t been keeping tabs on the WWE video game scene, it’s currently in a state of complete anarchy. Ever since THQ went bust and 2K Games took over the licence in 2013, the games have been gathering a steady flow of criticism, which has been rapidly gaining in pace as each instalment is released.
The situation has been particularly grim for Nintendo fans. When 2K took over it completely ignored the Wii and Wii U and only released one game, WWE 2K18, on the Switch. The problem was, this Switch version was more broken than Matt Hardy (don’t worry non-fans, that’s his gimmick: I’m not libelling him) and was absolutely riddled with bugs and slowdown. Rather than fix it, 2K quietly shirked away again and chose not to bring 2K19 or 2K20 to the Switch.
Even fans of other consoles have been discovering what that feels like now. Last year 2K ditched developer Yuke’s – who had been lead developer on the series ever since it started two decades ago – and decided to make WWE 2K20 on its own, before quickly realising it was rubbish at making wrestling games without any help. As such, there will be no WWE 2K21 at all on any system: instead 2K is pausing to reflect on what it’s doing wrong, and is letting its NBA Playgrounds studio Saber Interactive release a cartoonish arcade-style brawler called WWE 2K Battlegrounds instead (hey, at least that one’s coming to Switch).
It’s clear that the WWE 2K series is in some sort of existential limbo as 2K tries to figure out how to revive a series now that it’s punted the team that knew it inside-out. I think I might have the solution, and while it’s something of a bold one I think deep down anyone who’s been playing wrestling games for a long time will know it’s the correct one.
Kill it. Retire it. And bring back No Mercy.
For those not familiar with it, WWF No Mercy was a Nintendo 64 exclusive and was the definitive WWF (as it was known then) game. It had an enormous roster for the time, had a thoroughly entertaining branching story mode and, most importantly, had the most perfect combat system which has yet to be even remotely approached by any other wrestling game since, let alone surpassed.
What made No Mercy such a fun game to play was the tactical element of its control system. On a base level you had two opening gambits: an attack (with the B button) or a grapple (with A). You could tap either button for a quick one that did less damage, or hold it down for a more powerful one that took a while to wind up, telegraphing it to your opponent so anyone reasonably skilled at the game could figure out what’s coming and reverse it accordingly (the L button reversed grapples, the R button reversed attacks).
What this ultimately meant was that if you put two experts against each other the game would actually play out like a real wrestling match. You would never be crazy enough to try to bust out the big moves early on, because your opponent would see you coming a mile off and counter you out of your boots. Instead, your strategy would be to try to chip away at your opponent with quick attacks and grapples, and slowly wear them down. Then, as their stamina depleted, you would be able to pick them up off the floor and leave them stunned for a brief period, finally leaving them wide open to more powerful attacks and grapples.
It’s the closest a WWE game has ever come to feeling like the real thing (and yes, we know it isn’t ‘real’ in that sense, so if you act smart and mention it in the comments everyone will know you didn’t actually read the article). The fact that two decades later nothing has matched it speaks volumes about the current state of the genre: it’s little surprise that there’s an active ROM modding scene with fans making their own modern versions of the game, by taking out the old wrestlers and replacing them with today’s superstars.
What I propose, then, is that 2K call these modders’ bluff and do the same thing. Give No Mercy an HD update, call it WWE No Mercy 2K22 (it’s too late to do it this year), and fill the roster with modern WWE and NXT superstars. Chuck a bunch of legends in there too: the character models are so low poly that you could have hundreds and hundreds of wrestlers in there with fairly little effort. Yes, 2K has a big scanning set-up that it uses to make photo-realistic versions of athletes in its NBA and WWE games, but given that 2K20’s character models were notorious for looking like ropey mannequins from a backstreet Niagara Falls waxworks, we don’t think many would care too much if this HD No Mercy had hundreds of low-poly grapplers in there instead.
Here’s the kicker: there’s already precedent for this. Right before THQ went under it released WWE WrestleFest, an iOS version of the classic 1991 arcade game that retained some of the original roster like Jake ‘the Snake’ Roberts and Macho Man Randy Savage, but also added the likes of John Cena and The Rock. It was planned for Xbox 360 and PS3 but when THQ went to the big squared circle in the sky, so did WrestleFest. It’s no big loss, because it was rubbish, but the point is that taking an old wrestling game and updating its roster isn’t even a revolutionary idea: it’s been done before, just with a game that wasn’t very good in the first place.
There’s a deep irony in the fact that Nintendo fans have been getting slim pickings these days when it comes to wrestling games, whereas 20 years ago Nintendo was the place to be if you wanted the definitive WWE experience. It’s time to correct that hideous injustice and bring the champion out of retirement for one last ride. It’s time to show a modern generation of wrestling fans how a video game representation of sports entertainment is supposed to feel. It’s time to realise that THQ picked the wrong horse to back all those years ago and should have killed the SmackDown! series (which eventually became 2K) instead of the N64 games. Friends, it’s time for No Mercy to make a run-in.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 07-20-2020, 03:22 AM - Forum: Lounge
- No Replies
Going Stealth In Ghost Of Tsushima Will Affect The Weather
In Ghost of Tsushima, protagonist Jin's actions will actually influence the weather--and we don't just mean when he plays his flute, a mechanic which allows you to switch between sunny, foggy, rainy, and storms whenever you want. No, how you choose to fight the Mongols will change the weather as well.
In an interview with Ghost of Tsushima creative director Nate Fox, he told me, "The game is definitely scripted to provide more storms as you do things which are extremely Ghost driven."
It's a rather clever feature. Jin is an unrelenting force of nature in Ghost of Tsushima, abandoning his identity to embrace the symbolic power of the Ghost in order to defeat the Mongols via means that lack honor. At the start of the game, you'll likely defeat most enemies with the tools of the samurai as they'll be all you have access to. But as encounters increase in difficulty and you unlock new Ghost skills, the game naturally encourages you to adopt a more stealth-focused approach.
We have made the decision to move the release of Destiny 2: Beyond Light to November 10.
As the first chapter in a new trilogy of expansions, Beyond Light is the beginning of a new era of Destiny 2. We have a powerful story to tell and incredible new features that we’re really excited for players to experience. As always, our goal is to make the coolest, most entertaining expansion we can possibly make for our fans. To that end, we are doing what’s best for the game and moving the launch date.
The past few months have been a challenge and will continue to be during this pandemic. We’ve learned to create together in a new way, by having to work apart from one another. Despite these hurdles, we’re still committed to the same level of quality that our fans expect.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be unveiling more of what we’re working on for Beyond Light and what that also means for Season of Arrivals, which will now extend to November 10. Beyond Light sets the stage for an incredible future in Destiny 2 and, though it’s coming later than we originally anticipated, we’re excited to continue that journey with you this November.
Xbox Insider Release Notes – Alpha (2007.200709-0000)
Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox One update preview coming to the Alpha ring. It’s important we note that some updates made in these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox One.
We continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device. Details can be found below!
System Update Details:
OS version released: RS_XBOX_RELEASE_2007\19041.3502.200709-0000
Available: 8 p.m. PT – July 9, 2020
Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – July 10, 2020
New Features and Experiences
We have exciting news! Alpha users can expect something new coming to their Xbox One update preview.
System
Four new languages are being added to console: Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and Greek! There will be a Quest in the Insiders Hub so please give feedback on the quality of the translations as localization work continues. The new languages will be selectable in Settings.
Note: Several areas have yet to be localized such as Assist, and you will not be able to select the languages when performing initial console setup.
Fixes Implemented
Thanks to the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented for this build:
System
Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console
Note: Users participating in Preview may see “odd” text across the console, for more information go here.
Known Issues
We understand some issues have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes. These items aren’t being ignored, but it will take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution.
We’re still tracking these known issues:
Audio
Users who have Dolby Atmos enabled and console display settings set to 120hz with 36 bits per pixel (12-bit) are experiencing loss of Dolby Atmos audio in some situations.
Workaround: Disable 120hz or set Video Fidelity to 30 bits per pixel (10-bit) or lower.
Some users have reported that Dolby Atmos for Headphones audio setting changes when the console is rebooted/updated.
Note: If you attempt to set the audio to Dolby Atmos for Headphones and see a message advising you to launch the Dolby Access App, please file feedback before launching the app.
Game DVR
We are aware game clips (non-4K and 4K) are not recording at all or recording the incorrect length with recent updates. We are investigating.
Note: Make sure you report the behavior on the console as soon as you record the clip and notice either behavior.
Workaround: We’ve implemented a fix where clips that do not record in 4K will instead record in 1080p instead.
Guide
When installing or updating a game/app, the installation progress bar may not show progress. The issue is known and being investigated.
We’ve received reports that the Friends tab is not showing the correct status of online/offline friends.
Some users may notice that the Guide has changed appearance and functionality, this is expected behavior as there are certain experiences being flighted among a random subset of users in Preview.
Messages
Users are reporting that Message notifications that have been marked as read are re-appearing as new. We are aware and investigating the behavior.
My Games & Apps
Users have reported seeing black tiles instead of game artwork when browsing their collection.
Note: We are still investigating the issue, please report the issue again from the console if you have done so with a prior update and are still seeing this behavior.
Some titles in collection may appear with a “trial” tag incorrectly in collection.
Profile Color
Sometimes users may encounter the incorrect Profile color when powering on the console.
Make sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of your issue. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.
How to Get Xbox Insider Support
If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please reach out to the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.
When posting to the subreddit, please look through most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to threads with the same issue before posting a brand new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Don’t forget to use “Report a problem” before posting—the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.
Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today. We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.
For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox One Update Preview ring!
Mobile dev Carbonated raises $8.5 million in seed funding
Newsbrief: Carbonated has raised $8.5 million at the close of a seed funding round, money the California-based team plans to use to get its first project, an AI-driven squad-based shooter for mobile, off the ground.
The funding comes from the likes of Andreessen Horowitz, Bitkraft Ventures, and others, and will help the studio ramp up its hiring efforts and bring 20 more developers on board, remotely.
In addition to that in-development mobile game, the Carbonated team notes in a Medium post that it is also working on a live-ops tool it calls Carbyne that aims to allow it to quickly create, modify, and deliver in-game content.
Spike Chunsoft announces the release date for Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
Spike Chunsoft has announced the launch of Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair on August 20 in Japan. Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair is the second installment of the Danganronpa series. The franchise is best described as a murder mystery adventure game, but it can be compared to Agatha Christie’s best-selling novel, Murder on the Orient Express. There are a lot of Japanese detective games on mobile, but few of which compares to the Danganronpa series.
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair takes place on Jabberwock island, as part of your School Trip. The once-bustling tourist paradise is now uninhabited, but yet somehow in pristine condition. The students of Hope’s Peak Academy are all having fun until Monokuma returns to begin his diabolical game. Now, trapped on an island with a killer on the loose, it’s up to you to solve the mystery: if you want to escape.
As your classmates drop like flies, you must examine the crime scene for clues, interview suspects, and determining the motive for each despicable murder. If Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair sounds like a game you would enjoy, you can check out the trailer included below for more details.
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair release date: When will it launch?
Famitsu has confirmed that Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair will launch on iOS and Android on August 20. It will list for 1960 yen, which equates to around $18.
DANGANRONPA 2: GOODBYE DESPAIR trailer: what does the gameplay look like?
If you are yet to play any of the Danganronpa series, then you should check out the trailer below. It shows how you will go about investigating the murders by interviewing your classmates.
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If you are looking for something to play now, why not check out Tales of Crestoria?
Waifu Uncovered Temporarily Pulled From Japanese eShop Due To Explicit Scene
This week saw the release of One-Hand-Free Studios’ Waifu Uncovered on the Nintendo Switch eShop.
As you might recall, it mixes bullet-hell shoot ’em up action with “a light-hearted story” in which you de-robe one of eight “beautiful females” by blasting away their virus-infected clothing. It even comes with a “one finger mode” for when you’re “busy with other things”, as well as a “censorship unlock system”.
Its openness seems to have caused some issues, as the title has now been pulled from the eShop in Japan. Here’s the official notice about this temporary removal from its publisher Eastasiasoft:
According to Automaton (via Nintendo Everything), Waifu Uncovered’s removal is supposedly tied to a scene that reveals some extra skin. The uncensored mode was reportedly removed from the Japanese version of the game, so this particular scene shouldn’t even be on display.
During a brief second of gameplay, one of the character’s breasts is fully exposed. This is the scene in which it can occur
Normally there should be clothing or some sort of object preventing full exposure:
As noted by Eastasiasoft, it’s now working on a fix to bring the game back as quickly as possible.
Feature: Upcoming Nintendo Switch RPGs To Look Out For In 2020
Since launching in 2017, we’ve seen some outstanding games launch on Nintendo Switch, becoming home to many fine RPGs in the process. We’ve previously explored the best Nintendo Switch RPGs and best action-RPGs, but 2020 alone has already been filled with great examples, and all catering to the different sub-genres.
Even with these, Nintendo’s popular hybrid machine still has more RPGs left before the year ends. On the first-party front, Nintendo just launched their latest RPG with Paper Mario: The Origami King, marking the sixth entry for this sub-series, and as far as we’re currently aware 2020’s second half will see a line-up dominated by third party developers.
Big names are coming through, and so from turn-based affairs to more social experiences, there’s a whole lot to look forward to. With that in mind, here’s 10 upcoming RPGs we’re particularly excited for.
Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Square Enix
Release Date: 27th Aug 2020 (USA) / 27th Aug 2020 (UK/EU)
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles was a surprise multiplayer hit on Gamecube; it marked Final Fantasy’s return to Nintendo platforms for the first time since Final Fantasy VI, bringing in dungeon crawling and action-RPG elements. Allowing teams of four players, each player needed their own Game Boy Advance and whilst enjoyable, that last factor made it somewhat impractical.
It spawned several follow-ups across the Wii and DS, but Square-Enix are now bringing us a Remastered Edition on the 27th of August, hoping to recreate this co-op experience through online multiplayer. To make life easier, cross-play support has also been confirmed with the PS4 edition, making it more accessible than ever before.
Publisher: Naps Team / Developer: Naps Team
Release Date: Q3 2020 (USA)
It’s been awhile since we’ve heard about Baldo. Developed by Naps Team, it was first revealed during Nintendo’s Indie World Showcase back in March. Inspired by Studio Ghibli films and The Legend Of Zelda, this Italian title brings us an action-adventure RPG reminiscent of Ni No Kuni. Taking us to the land of Rodia, an ancient prophecy begins to unfold after a heartless creature was sealed away by the Owls; there’s a high focus on puzzle solving across this interactive open world and it’ll launch on Switch this summer as a timed console exclusive.
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment / Developer: WayForward
Release Date: 3rd Nov 2020 (USA) / 3rd Nov 2020 (UK/EU)
Nintendo took us by surprise last week when they teased a surprise WayForward reveal during their Paper Mario Treehouse Presentation. Speculation ran wild despite Nintendo’s efforts but few people expected we’d receive Bakugan: Champions Of Vestroia. Based off the anime TV series, Champions of Vestroia brings us an original storyline, seeing players team up with their alien Bakugan in battle. Confirmed to feature co-operative play and online fights, there’s a potentially fun multiplayer experience here when it launches this November.
Having previously brought us 2012’s critically acclaimed Journey, Thatgamecompany have taken a different direction with Sky: Children of the Light. Designed as a social experience that pushes meeting new people, this adventure game with RPG elements sees you exploring a magical kingdom. Each stage is based on a stage of life, letting you fly across it via a cape as you collect the scattered “Winged Lights”, and whilst it can be played alone it’s recommended to be played with friends. Having previously released across iOS and Android, a Switch version is now due for a Summer release.
Publisher: Obsidian Entertainment / Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Release Date: 2020 (USA) / 2020 (UK/EU)
Taking gameplay inspiration from Dungeons and Dragons, Pillars of Eternity has been a success for Obsidian Entertainment, acting as a spiritual successor to Baldur’s Gate. Switch fans received the Complete Edition last year and to little surprise, Pillars Of Eternity II: Deadfire is next. Taking us back to Eora five years later, we find the god of light and rebirth, Eothas, has returned in a violent awakening.
You’ll play as a “Watcher”, someone who can look into the souls of others whilst reading their memories, helping to influencing events around you. It launched on PS4 and Xbox One back in January but like many Switch ports was sadly delayed, although considering these came with performance issues, this may be a blessing in disguise. It’s still scheduled for Switch this year but for now, all we can do is wait.
Publisher: Modus Games / Developer: Dreams Uncorporated
Release Date: 17th Nov 2020 (USA) / 17th Nov 2020 (UK/EU)
Cris Tales has become one of 2020’s more anticipated indie releases since developers Dreams Uncorporated revealed it. Bringing us a visually stunning game, this classically inspired RPG sees you guiding Crisbell and her allies to save their world, and stopping the Time Empress from rewriting history. Featuring turn-based battles and puzzle solving, Crisbell can witness the past, present and future all at once, altering her foes’ individual timelines. Due for release in November, we cannot wait to see how this unfolds.
Neptunia made its Switch debut last year with spinoff title Super Neptunia RPG and in two weeks’ time, the main series will be joining it. Initially released back in 2016, the confusingly-titled Megadimension Neptunia VII is actually Neptunia’s fourth main entry, taking us back to the world of Gamindustri where characters act as representatives of video game companies.
Turning the console wars into an anime RPG, it received positive reviews and if successful on Switch, previous entries could also make the jump. If you’re a collector of physical editions too, you’ll also be pleased to hear that Limited Run Games are handling its Switch release, as confirmed by their recent broadcast.
Publisher: NIS America / Developer: Nippon Ichi
Release Date: Q3 2020 (USA)
Disgaea is no stranger to Nintendo Switch, seeing Disgaea 5 Complete arrive two months after it launched. Since then, Nippon Ichi have also brought over complete editions for Disgaea 1 and most recently Disgaea 4, but with this latest compilation the series’ mascot race Prinnies are back in the spotlight.
Previously seeing two comedy spin-offs released on PSP back in 2008 and 2010, Prinny 1-2: Exploded and Reloaded brings both 2D platformers in a singular package, featuring upscaled visuals and all prior DLC, but also comes with a high difficulty. Due for launch on the 13th of October, it’ll help fill the gap whilst fans continue waiting for news on the rumoured Disgaea 6.
Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Team Asano
Release Date: 2020 (USA) / 2020 (UK/EU)
Back on the Nintendo 3DS Bravely Default was a pleasant surprise for fans in 2013, warranting a sequel three years later, and for a time its future was unclear, especially when Square-Enix moved onto Octopath Traveler. Seeing a return to traditional JRPG gameplay and turn-based combat, Bravely Default II was confirmed last December and is currently scheduled to launch in 2020.
Set within the same universe but taking us to a new location, this adventure sees us following the story of heroes Seth, Gloria, Elvis, and Adelle. It marks a fresh start for Bravely Default and if you want to try it early, the demo is still currently available via the eShop.
Set 700 years before Ys I, this action-RPG is more of a dungeon crawler than other entries, set entirely within Darm Tower. You’ll play as either Yunica Tova or Hugo Fact, and much like MegaDimension Neptunia VII, it’ll be available as a physical release via Limited Run Games for the next two months, but right now all we’ve got is a vague 2020 release date.
A good set of RPGs to round out 2020. Any games you’re particularly looking forward to? Let us know in the comments.
