Review: Stray Blade
Developer – Point Blank Games Publisher – 505 Games Platforms – PS5,Xbox Seris S|X, Xbox One , PC (Reviewed) Review copy given by Publisher Stray Blade is an action-adventure game that plunges players into a world of ancient ruins, lost civilizations, and fierce battles, all within the mysterious realm of Acrea the Lost Valley. As an adventurer brought back to life in this war-torn land, you’ll uncover secrets, face deadly foes, and strive to restore balance guided by your trusty companion, Boji. The game’s premise promises an unforgettable journey, and indeed, it delivers on many fronts. However, there are some notable issues that need addressing. On the positive side, Stray Blade shines in several areas. The world and level design are impressive, with a nod to the interlocked areas reminiscent of Dark Souls. The concept of backtracking and witnessing the world’s evolution in response to your actions is a commendable feature. The game world feels dynamic, alive, and constantly evolving, offering a unique and engaging experience that few other games provide. Stray Blade certainly boasts a visually captivating world, from overgrown city ruins to frozen caves and winding canyons. However, some players may experience persistent low FPS (frames per second) throughout the game. This can be a significant drawback as it hampers the overall gaming experience. A consistent and smooth frame rate is crucial in an action-adventure game like this to fully immerse players in the world and provide a seamless combat experience. One of the most enjoyable aspects of Stray Blade is its intricate crafting system. The ability to gather rare materials and discover new recipes keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting. Your character and companion, Boji, both have their individual talent trees, which adds depth to the progression system. Nevertheless, some players may find that the crafting and resource balancing needs some tweaking. At times, it can feel a bit overwhelming, and some items might seem too rare to obtain, making it challenging to fully engage with the crafting aspect of the game. Another issue that plagues Stray Blade is the camera system. The camera can often feel clunky and uncooperative, which can be frustrating during intense combat sequences. The game’s hyper-responsive combat system demands precision, and an uncooperative camera can disrupt the flow of battles and make the gameplay less enjoyable. The story, lore, and characters are well-crafted, despite not being the primary focus of the game. The interaction between the main character, Farren, and Boji is natural and enjoyable, adding depth to the narrative. The lore and history of Acrea are seamlessly integrated into the gameplay, and the visuals reflect the original residents’ culture and elements used in the world’s design. It’s a rich and immersive experience for players interested in diving deep into the game’s lore. In conclusion, Stray Blade offers a captivating world, intriguing lore, and a combat system with potential. However, it’s marred by resource balancing issues, low FPS, and a clunky camera system.
Persona 5 Royal and others leave Xbox Game Pass on October 31
Microsoft revealed the new additions to Xbox Game Pass coming in the last half of October and it includes Dead Space, Jusant, Like A Dragon Ishin, and others. Sadly, when games get added to the best deal in gaming, others get swapped out and on October 31, 2023, there will be a major title that will be leaving. Persona 5 Royal will officially exit Xbox Game Pass along with a few other titles, but this one sticks out the most as it’s been on the service for a year now. Here is the list of titles leaving Game Pass at the end of October: Gunfire Reborn Kill It With Fire Persona 5 Royal Signalis Solasta Crown of the Magister Source: Xbox Wire
Dead Space, Like A Dragon: Ishin, and Jusant headline Xbox Game Pass additions this month
Xbox Game Pass is no doubt the best deal in gaming with every first-party title from Xbox Game Studios releasing to the service day one and many games continue to arrive on the platform. Today, Microsoft announced some new additions to Xbox Game Pass including Dead Space and the brand new climbing adventure game, Jusant. Another game headlining addition that is available today on Game Pass is Like A Dragon: Ishin! Here is the full list of games joining Xbox Game Pass: Like A Dragon: Ishin! – Available Today F1 Manager 2023 – October 19 Cities Skylines II (PC only) – October 24 Dead Space – October 26 Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery – October 26 Mineko’s Night Market – October 26 Headbangers: Rhythm Royale – October 31 Jusant – October 31 This is yet another strong lineup of gaming joining the best deal in gaming for Xbox and PC. Will you play any of these games thanks to Game Pass? Source: Xbox Wire
Netflix Is Reportedly Interested In Securing Grand Theft Auto Games To Fuel Its Mobile Gaming Endeavor
Upon exploring what Netflix has under way for its growing gaming endeavor for its platform, premium titles are slowly entering its grasps. Previously, we saw the likes of Valiant Hearts 2: Coming Home arrive last year. Atop of that, job listings pointed at extensive hiring to branch into developing AAA PC titles internally as well for the platform’s portfolio of IPs. This past August, we got a taste of one game on the way for Netflix with Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon. With the first part aiming to launch this December, Snyder at Gamescom shared that Super Evil Megacorp is to develop the spin-off title. While details are slim with no gameplay revealed just yet, the game is said to take place after the two films in that respected universe. According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, Netflix is hungry to explore even more with its plans to deliver even bigger projects for its platform. One franchise mentioned is Grand Theft Auto. The Rockstar Games-owned IP is always sought out and it appears that Netflix is looking to release a pre-existing title or even ship a new title altogether for its platform. Currently, it is confident to say that Rockstar Games is working on Grand Theft Auto VI. Previously, leaked footage of pre-alpha gameplay from 2019 seeped through the cracks online revealing the return to Vice City. Additionally, the developer did address that it is working on the next major installment for the series – very likely acknowledging the sixth entry. As in terms of parent company Take-Two Interactive entertaining the idea, streaming/subscriptions has not completely convinced CEO Strauss Zelnick. In a previous interview, Zelnick explained that Xbox Game Pass does not make a whole lot of sense in terms of profitability when condensed through a sole service compared to traditional retail sales. You can read the full report by heading here. What do you think about playing Grand Theft Auto on Netflix? Source: The Wall Street Journal
The Revealed Analogue 3D Is ‘A Reimaging Of The N64’
When entertaining the idea of preservation, current platform holders look to bring beloved releases of prior eras to its family of consoles. For the sake of Xbox, the firm that offers the most support on this behalf, boss Phil Spencer shares desire to pursue this with a widespread, legal route on the platform. However, its legacy Xbox 360 & original Xbox is out of the question thanks to the DRM for titles requiring an online connection to emulate. But, when it comes to legacy cartridges, Analogue has offered a blanket alternative for mobile devices. From the Game Boy to the Game Gear, Neo Geo Pocket Color, and Atari Lynx, the Analogue Pocket has become a flattering approach for older handhelds to be preserved. Similarly, the same company is now in the works to offer ‘a reimagining’ for the classic N64 as well with a new product. Announcing the Analogue 3D, the firm is to offer the same amount of detail the Analogue Pocket did for portable handhelds. Even more, it is an original device that can translate to modern displays without any need of modding and does not require any form of emulation as all native N64 cartridges will be compatible with the Analogue 3D. “Wireless Bluetooth and 2.4g. 4 original-style controller ports. Completely engineered in FPGA. Analogue OS. No emulation,” Analogue writes describing the Analogue 3D. “A reimagining of the N64. 4K resolution. Original Display Modes. Reference quality recreations of specific model CRT’s and PVM’s. The first and only aftermarket solution supporting 100% compatibility in every region. USA, EU & JP.” While not entirely expressive on what other features are to come with the Analogue 3D when it officially launches, it is understood that Analogue is to offer extensive features to truly flesh out the new device. Most importantly is that this new system enables users to relive the cartridges they currently own without the need to tamper with original hardware or approach pirating games that are no longer supported. What is your thoughts on the new Analogue 3D? The Analogue 3D launches sometime in 2024. Source: Analogue
Skull Island: Rise of Kong is now available for $39.99
GameMill Entertainment has a busy Fall with the release of several new games including Skull Island: Rise of Kong which has been the talk of the internet. The game is available now on Xbox One, Xbox Series XlS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam. The criticism of the new King Kong game has been the graphics and gameplay based on the trailers and images we’ve seen. Some players have already jumped on the game and the game looks even worse than what the trailers showed. Twitter use, RickDaSquirrel posted a cutscene from Skull Island: Rise of Kong which looks poorly done. https://twitter.com/RickDaSquirrel/status/1714014780346806395 Here is another gameplay clip: “Gameplay” of Skull Island: Rise of Kong. This costs 40 dollars and is made by people that make low effort shovelware with big IP franchises. The modern LJN pic.twitter.com/YjHqOeoosr — King Kong Perfect Shots (@KongShots) October 16, 2023 It’s hard to believe with an IP like Kong Kong that something like this would be released. You can purchase Skull Island: Rise of Kong for $39.99 on all platforms.
Lies of P has sold 1 Million copies less than a month after launch
NEOWIZ released their souls-like title, Lies of P on September 19 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series XlS, and PC via Steam and Mac via the Mac App Store. The game is inspired by the familiar store of Pinocchio set in the dark, Belle Époque-inspired city of Krat. Today, NEOWIZ announced that Lies of P has sold 1 Million units less than a month after its release across all platforms worldwide. “This incredible milestone for Lies of P proves the potential of Korean console games on the global stage,” said Seungchul Kim, co-CEO of NEOWIZ. “The reception has been incredible so far, and we are beyond thankful that over 1 million players have already embarked on their journey through Krat,” said Jiwon Choi, Director for Lies of P. “Likewise, we are excited for what the future holds for Lies of P, and can’t wait to share more when the time is right.” You can purchase the game for $59.99 and if it’s available on Xbox Game Pass if you’re a subscriber. In our review, we state that Lies of P is one of the most challenging, well-made, solid executions of a Souls-like game.
