Death Stranding

Apex Legends: the next Fortnite!?!

ISSUE 10 — 10 February 2019

by Shahan Ahmed and Dale Hurst

Top Story — APEX LEGENDS RELEASED

Respawn Entertainment, the creators of the award-winning Titanfall series, have taken their plunge into the Battle Royale genre with the release of Apex Legends. It is free to play, has loot boxes and is available on PS4, Xbox One and PC. PS+ subscribers can also get the ‘PlayStation Plus Play Pack’.

The launch was a success with a million unique players reached in under eight hours. In 24 hours, they reached 2.5 million players, which dwarfs Fortnite’s 1 million from their first day. Now, Apex has exceeded 10 million players. Executive producer Drew McCoy has written a letter to the community discussing what their aim was, what they’ve been through and thanking all of the players.

One of the aspects that the game is being lauded for is its game mechanics and how they have dealt with some of the biggest problems in the Battle Royale genre. One mechanic being the ability to revive your teammates or be revived by them yourself. It means that time isn’t wasted watching teammates attempt to win matches that can take up to half an hour. Another that many are talking about is the in-depth ping system. It makes the language barrier a non-issue and allows anyone without a mic to contribute just as much to the team.

There’s bad news for anyone waiting for Titanfall 3 — it’s not happening. In an effort to be open and transparent, Drew McCoy has gone on record stating that the world thinks they are making Titanfall 3 but they are not and are making Apex instead.

He also said:

“We’re doing a free to play game, with essentially loot boxes, after we were bought by EA, and it’s not Titanfall 3. It’s the perfect recipe for a marketing plan to go awry, so why have that – let’s just ship the game and let players play.”

A very clever move (feels unusual for the gaming industry) that has, no doubt, avoided a lot of potential backlash. As Respawn will be working on Apex Legends as a live service game, Titanfall 3 is not likely to be seen in the near future, if at all.

Shahan’s Opinion: I’ve mentioned previously that Battle Royale games aren’t my thing. However, the characters are likeable; them and their ults somewhat remind me of Overwatch. Also the PS+ incentives might just about pull me in.

THE WITCHER ARRIVES TO MONSTER HUNTER: WORLD

Ciri isn’t the only one travelling between worlds. After his stint in Soulcalibur VI, Geralt has arrived in Monster Hunter: World with Doug Cockle reprising the role as voice actor. The event puts you in control of the protagonist from The Witcher series as he solves new mysteries. There’s new gear and weapons to craft for both your hunter and Palico. An upcoming quest called “Contract: Woodland Spirit” will be available for hunters over the rank of HR50 from 15th February to 1st March. This will reward you with the Ciri full armor set and matching dual blades!

This crossover (which is already being deemed a perfect combination) shows the efforts Capcom continues to display in supporting Monster Hunter: World. This event boasts enough content to match or even surpass the crossover with Final Fantasy XIV.

Shahan’s Opinion: Last year I spent literally hundreds of hours on Monster Hunter: World. I’ve still got a few gold crowns to collect before I achieve 100% completion. This event will definitely get me back on the hunt.

PHYSICAL RELEASE CONFIRMED FOR THE OUTER WORLDS

Many are waiting for Obsidian Entertainment’s sci-fi RPG, The Outer Worlds. Especially after the débâcle that is Fallout 76, which is claimed by some to possibly be unfixable. As can be seen above, the game’s official Twitter account has announced that it will be getting a physical release.

Game Informer are doing a full month of exclusive coverage on The Outer Worlds including interviews with the original creators of Fallout, Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky. Here are just a few details that have been revealed regarding the game:

  • No third-person camera view
  • No morality system, only a reputation system
  • No hacking or lock-picking mini-games
  • Everyone can be killed. (No children in the game.)
  • Companions only die on the hardest difficulty (named Supernova).
  • Companions have a side quest each. Combat ability rises upon completion.
  • Companions don’t ruin stealth.

Shahan’s Opinion: Call me old-fashioned but I like physical discs for my video games. I like them in steelbooks and I don’t have any space left on my console for these digital copies.

NORMAN REEDUS’ VIEWS ON DEATH STRANDING

Last year in March, GameCentral Metro spoke to Norman Reedus on the set of his TV show ‘Ride with Norman Reedus’. He revealed details on his experience on Hideo Kojima’s highly-anticipated Death Stranding that have been embargoed until now.

Regarding the Metal Gear creator himself, Reedus says,

“That guy is such a genius, Hideo Kojima. I’m like, ‘Oh so they’ll be playing me?’ And he’s like, ‘No they are you. We will make them cry as you.’ I’m like, ‘What are you talking about? It’s a video game. … It’s kind of a new movie. I’ve never seen anything like what we’re doing. Guillermo Del Toro introduced me to him, who is also working on the game; he’s also a character in the game. I saw that video game director at the Video Game Music Awards, walk down the steps and they lit up underneath his feet like Michael Jackson and he goes, ‘I’m back.’ And the place is like, ‘Oh my god.’ Like grown men in tears. ‘I was like who is this god – whatever he wants to do I’ll do it. He’s a genius.”

Check out this article for more.

Norman will play the lead role and his fellow cast members include Mads Mikkelsen, Guillermo Del Toro, Lea Seydoux, Lindsay Wagner and Troy Baker.

Shahan’s Opinion: WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS GAME?

Dale’s Opinion: What Shahan said…

ASSASSIN’S CREED III IS GETTING REMASTERED

Ratonhnhaké:ton, better known as Connor Kenway, is back. Assassin’s Creed III Remastered has been announced this week for a release on March 29th for PS4, Xbox One and PC (no news for a Switch release). Relive Connor’s journey as he parkours across snow-covered tree branches and fights through the American Revolution.

In addition to AC3 you can obtain a remaster of Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation. This was a PS Vita exclusive that features the female assassin Aveline de Grandpré as the protagonist. This collection also includes the fascinating Tyranny of King Washington DLC series. They all have 4K HDR upgrades and various other enhancements for PS4 Pro, Xbox One X and PC.

For anyone who’s been playing Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, they can pick up the entire collection for free if they have the season pass. Otherwise it can be bought standalone.

Shahan’s Opinion: It’s often looked down upon after Connor had to follow Ezio Auditore’s life story. But I remember having a great time with it, which was impressive as Colonial America as a setting doesn’t interest me at all. The soundtrack was also phenomenal.

CRASH TEAM RACING NITRO-FUELED GAMEPLAY SURFACES

Gameplay has been shown this week for Beenox’s Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled. It is a remaster of Naughty Dog’s Crash Team Racing. It’s being built from the ground up and will have new tracks, kart customisation and online play. The release date is June 21st this year and it is coming to PS4, Xbox One and even the Nintendo Switch! Once a PlayStation mascot, he will soon appear on a Nintendo console not unlike Sonic.

Check out this video to see more gameplay of the kart racer, including three different levels and how all of the characters handle. Avoid Polygon’s gameplay video as the person behind the controller is the journalist who infamously struggled with Cuphead’s tutorial for 26 minutes and caused an Internet uproar.

Shahan’s Opinion: As much as I love Crash, Mario Kart is the only kart-racer I am familiar with. I’m excited to see how this compares. The visuals are already looking incredible.

Dale’s Opinion: I do have a fair few good memories playing the original Crash Team Racing on the PS1 years and years ago. Like the Spyro remaster, this is the sort of nostalgia I’ll be looking for when I (eventually) get a PS4.

GLOSSING OVER…

Kingdom Hearts III hits 5 million mark

Shahan gave you the full lowdown in his special feature last week; it’ll come as little shock to you that the latest Kingdom Hearts instalment has already shipped over 5 million copies worldwide.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 lost out to Devil May Cry 5

Hideaki Itsuno has stated in response to queries regarding the long-awaited and long-desired Dragon’s Dogma sequel, that he chose to make Devil May Cry 5 first instead.

And the winner of Metacritic’s Best Publisher 2018 is… Capcom!

It was revealed at the beginning of this month that Capcom is the best-reviewed publisher for 2018, based on its scores on Metacritic. On average, Capcom has a score of 79.3.

 

Red Dead Online Arrives

ISSUE 3 — 2 December 2018

by Shahan Ahmed and Dale Hurst

Top Story — RED DEAD ONLINE IS HERE!

The beta for Red Dead Online has now been rolled out to all players of Rockstar’s Wild West epic. The character creation element, in which you can make your own cowboy or -girl, is a great improvement from Grand Theft Auto Online’s ancestry system. It’s also a complete change from the first RDR’s online component.

On the other hand, the in-game economy has irked many fans. Various items in the online mode cost a lot more than in single-player and you don’t make that much money either. Reddit user ConvictedWaffles has pointed out in the Red Dead Redemption sub-reddit, the fact that you can sell a gold wedding ring for $1.15, but a can of baked beans costs $1.50!

In the near future there will be micro-transactions for Red Dead Online. Gold bars are a premium currency that will be purchasable with real money to pay for what you want in RDO. Gold bars can be obtained in-game, but it has been calculated by reddit user UnavailableIDs that it takes approximately 8-9 hours to earn 100 gold nuggets, which equates to a single gold bar. Be prepared for a long grind if you’re going to avoid spending real money on this in the future. Micro-transactions have been a worry for fans since GTA Online and the rising prices of its cars and items over the last five years. However, it is only in beta, so changes are likely to occur.

By the way, lassoing has finally made it into the multiplayer mode. Take a look for yourself in these clips!

RDO1
RDO2
RDO3

Shahan’s Opinion: Lookit! My pretty outlaw! Quick story: She’s alone at Twin Rocks looting the place for any worthwhile goods. After picking up some hair pomade off the table indoors, a guy tackles my cowgirl out of nowhere and chokes her out! Vengeance became top priority. After respawning, a headshot is inflicted on the perpetrator with the Carbine Repeater. It seems the fool had a friend, so she heads for the hills. They attempt to play smart and head for her from opposite directions. The Pump-Action Shotgun proves to be the perfect tool for the situation as they’re both summarily obliterated. She then rides off to start the next story mission. Conclusion: Griefers are very annoying but killing them is INCREDIBLY satisfying. And on occasion, they can be pretty funny too!

This Week’s Popular Choice — DARKSIDERS III

It made our headline last issue, and a couple of days later, it was released for purchase. The third instalment of the Darksiders series, with Fury and her steed Rampage taking the lead in the story, was released on 27th November. And the reviews, both from users and critics alike, have been very positive.

Many have praised the gameplay, though there seems to be a divide in opinion about the simplicity, with some reviews calling the game demanding, others remarking on its refreshing easiness. FromSoftware are infamous for their games’ challenging nature, in an age where many video games seem to hold their players’ hands. Perhaps they’ve acted on the feedback?

Shahan’s Opinion: I must confess. I’ve already spoiled a certain moment in the story by watching it on YouTube. I couldn’t help myself! I HAD to see them show off the fourth Horseman, Strife. He’s a badass. I have to get this.

Dale’s Opinion: I have to get this game, and the two before it. I love the sound of what Gunfire Games have done with the idea of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Plus, as was pointed out in last week’s issue, I have a bit of a thing for anti-heroines. And Fury is no exception…

New Character Spotlight — LUMA, BOOM BOOM AND PAULINE (Mario Tennis Aces)

The playable character roster for the Switch’s instalment of Mario Tennis is expanding further. A new wave of DLC characters was unveiled for Mario Tennis Aces earlier this week, revealing that Rosalina’s little friend Luma will be returning to the court, plus playable debuts for both Bowser’s henchman Boom Boom and the mayor of New Donk City herself, Pauline. All three are expected to be available for purchase from early 2019.

Shahan’s Opinion: Seeing how great this Mario sports games is looking, it makes me want Mario Strikers to return. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not much of a football fan. I don’t care for FIFA. But I remember having a blast with Mario Strikers Charged. Good times.

Dale’s Opinion: I have always loved the Mario sports spin-offs since I was a kid, primarily because they give you a chance to play characters you wouldn’t otherwise get to. Now that she’s back in the mainstream series, it was only a matter of time before Pauline became playable. Surprised we haven’t seen her slated for a Smash Bros. slot. I mean… if they’re giving it to a Piranha Plant…

PVP BATTLES IN POKÉMON GO

The popular augmented reality mobile game has been missing one of the most quintessential parts of the Pokémon experience; battling your fellow trainers. Niantic has announced via Twitter that PvP trainer battles are coming soon. Trainers will be using three of their Pokémon to go head-to-head against one another. Niantic has also shown that there will be three leagues to choose from and take part in; two of which have CP limits.

For anyone not up-to-date with Pokémon Go, Niantic added the ability to trade Pokémon in June and Generation IV Pokémon were introduced to the game back in October.

Shahan’s Opinion: I’ve not opened the app in a long while. Never caught a Dratini. Never got myself a Dragonair…

Dale’s Opinion: If and when I can be persuaded to get Pokémon Go, this idea will probably appeal to me. I was always in it for the head-to-head battles. Getting my competitive streak on.

UPCOMING GAMES TEASED IN THE GAME AWARDS TRAILER

The Game Awards are going to take place next week, hosted by its creator, Geoff Keighley of gaming journalism fame. He has posted a video to tease what’s in store for the big event. The clip contains snippets of the most hyped games that many gamers are waiting for, including Cyberpunk 2077, The Last of Us 2 and Death Stranding. The Game Awards this year will include appearances from Oscar-winner Christoph Waltz, the Russo Brothers (directors of The Avengers), the Duffer Brothers (creators of Stranger Things) and gaming YouTubers/streamers Pokimane, Ninja and Jacksepticeye, as well as other key figures of the gaming industry.

Shahan’s Opinion: I’m rooting for RDR2, Spider-Man and Monster Hunter World to win awards. I’ll have my fingers crossed for more details on Cyberpunk 2077. Maybe, just maybe even a release date!

STARDEW VALLEY DEVELOPER MOVING TO SELF-PUBLISHING

Concerned Ape, creator of Stardew Valley (one of the most popular indie games of the generation), is going to take up the role of publisher, in addition to being the developer. Specifically, he will be the publisher of Stardew Valley on the PC, Xbox, PS4 and PSVita platforms.

Chucklefish, his publisher beforehand, will continue in their role for the game on Nintendo Switch and mobile platforms. You can read the announcement including a statement from Chucklefish on the Stardew Valley developer blog.

Shahan’s Opinion: This can be seen as a success story for anyone who’s creating a game by their lonesome. I’ve not played Stardew Valley myself. I would not have thought it’d be a game for me but that was before Dale introduced me to the incredibly charming Animal Crossing series. The farming aspect and my soft spot for classic RPG graphics makes Stardew Valley a game I NEED to get to at some point!

GLOSSING OVER…

No Superman game from Rocksteady

The developers of the acclaimed Batman Arkham series have made it clear they will not be making an announcement at The Game Awards. Sefton Hill, game director and co-founder of Rocksteady Games, has tweeted as such and he also pointed out that whenever their current project is ready to show, it will prove not to be a Superman game.

Telltale’s Minecraft: Story Mode launches on Netflix

This is Telltale Games’ final project: a Netflix version of their episodic take on Minecraft. It has been adapted to be playable on the streaming service, so characters can’t be controlled and there are no QTEs to get through. The focus is on the decisions you make during the story.

Bethesda Continue to Make Mistakes?

It just keeps getting better for Bethesda. Consumers are now disappointed with the bag that comes with the Power Armor Edition of Fallout 76. As an apology, Bethesda are offering 500 Atoms (virtual currency) to affected accounts with proof of purchase.

Thank you for reading!

Please visit us again next week when we’ll have more gaming news and views for you. If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read so far, please like and comment!