I loved Cultic Chapter One when it came out in 2022. Now, with the release of its second chapter, the full game is one of the best shooters of 2025... Read more.View the full article
Embark Studios' Swedish modesty is the first thing you notice when you enter the ARC Raiders store. No flashy banners, no timers, no extravagant marketing: click here to see new arrivals or here for bestsellers. The merch itself is not over-the-top either: a bunch of T-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies, seven in total, with the recognizable four-colored ARC printed on them. Prices start at $31 USD and go up to $70. There is also a stylish, branded cap that's supposed to hit shelves this January. But that's not all. The shop has one non-apparel item, which I'm dying to add to my collection. View the full article
Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy is an upcoming team-based boss-battling title for Android and iOS that we got a chance to check out what this latest take on the Dissidia is bringing to the battlefield. View the full article
An internal pre-release build of iOS 26 points to a significant overhaul of the Studio Display – Apple's premium desktop monitor. Macworld got a chance to examine the code and found various clues confirming a long-rumored update. References found in the iOS 26 source code identify new specs for the... Read Entire Article View the full article
Xbox just began a massive ***** to celebrate The Game Awards 2025, with discounts on nominees like Split Fiction, Monster Hunter Wilds, and South of Midnight, alongside over 100 other games. Featuring discounts ranging from 20% to 95% off, now is an amazing time for Xbox players to pick up some awesome new games. View the full article
The Witcher 3 is over 10 years old, and one of CDPR's finest games (perhaps even the best game of all time). Now, it seems it's getting a DLC, which is to be announced at today's The Game Awards show, or so claims Borys Nieśpielak, a Polish leaker familiar with CDPR. Nieśpielak first made claims of an impending The Witcher 3 DLC back during the summer, though nothing came of it throughout the rest of the year. Now, he is certain the DLC is in the works and that The Game Awards are the perfect place to announce it. "I bet this is the best time to announce this DLC," Nieśpielak said during the Dec. 11 episode of the Rock i Borys Podcast. "I would be surprised if it wasn't announced now," he added. Nieśpielak went on to say that this is no longer just speculation on his part, but that it's been "confirmed... with several other sources... with one of the biggest [sources], so to speak." "This is a sure thing, this DLC for The Witcher 3," he said. [Hidden Content] The Witcher 3 released all the way back in 2015, over ten years ago. It got two expansion packs, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine, as well as over a dozen free smaller DLC, such as a new mission, items, and so on. It would be unprecedented for a company to revisit its decade-old title and release a new DLC, though Gearbox did do something similar for Borderlands 2 to tie it in with the release of Borderlands 3. My assumption is that this will be a free, small-scale DLC that ties The Witcher 3 in with The Witcher 4, probably explaining (at least in some capacity) what drove Ciri to take the mutations and become a fully-fledged witcher, given that she already has tremendous power stemming from her heritage as a Child of the Elder Blood. It'd be interesting and revitalize The Witcher 3, which nevertheless remains alive and healthy and still enjoyed by countless players. The post The Witcher 3 is a decade old, but it’s apparently getting a new DLC, according to leaks appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article
This year has been a blast through and through for gamers. Other parts of modern society have been shaken at their core over the course of 2025, but video games persevered, allowing us to escape what's around us even if briefly. Indie games utterly dominated the year, with back-to-back successes coming from solo developers, small studios, and independent ventures alike. They are the true heroes of 2025, having rung the alarms at every corporate AAA studio, causing them to rethink their approach to game development. Some games were simply the best, and we wanted to honor their contributions to games as an art form. We previously nominated our potential winners, and are now ready to show you the best of the best. Destructoid's best games of 2025 Image via Embark Studios The following games were nominated by Destructoid's staff in 11 categories, each category containing the editorial's top five favorite games, out of which we ran a second vote to choose the ultimate winner. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the most nominated game, carrying three categories, including Game of the Year, and three performances in the Best Acting Performance category. It's no wonder, as award shows have shown. So, here are our winners. Destructoid's Game of the Year Image via Sandfall Interactive | Remix by Destructoid Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Read more about why E33 is our GOTY here. Best Indie Game DispatchBest RPGClair Obscur: Expedition 33Best NarrativeClair Obscur: Expedition 33Best Multiplayer GameARC RaidersBest Live-Service GameARC RaidersBest Acting PerformanceBen Starr (as Verso in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33) Best Sports GameEA Sports FC 26Best Action GameHades 2Best Fighting Game2XKOMost Anticipated GameGTA 6 The most exciting part of this whole awards process was that we figured most games, and the most successful ones especially, are original titles and not sequels. 2XKO, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Dispatch are all standalone titles, with the first one only sharing a universe with League of Legends. Even so, sequels have overwhelmed the modern gaming industry, and it's good to see original titles performing and even dominating the current scene. Expedition 33 is, as expected, the most-awarded game, winning every category it was nominated in. We expect no less from tonight's The Game Awards, where E33 is the most-nominated game of the show's history. The post Here are our Destructoid Awards 2025 winners – The best games of this year appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article
"For those who come after," Destructoid is pleased to announce its winner for its 2025 Game of the Year Award, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Sandfall Interactive's debut title, a turn-based RPG set in a beautiful yet haunting world, has been praised across the gamut of the industry since launching earlier this year. Boasting gorgeous visuals, a gloriously bombastic soundtrack, and a harrowing story of love and loss, Expedition 33 is the best game of 2025 and one of the most memorable new titles in recent years. Image via Sandfall Interactive Below, some Destructoid contributors have written their thoughts and explanations as to what makes this game so special and why it's our Game of the Year for 2025. Scott Duwe (Staff Writer) Expedition 33 was a game that was on my radar from the moment it debuted in June 2024 thanks to its stylish spin on turn-based combat. Less than a year later, I was thrilled to be playing it for my first review at Destructoid. From its somber opening moments, it felt like a very special title, and that sentiment only grew from there. I scored it a 9.5, and felt validated as I saw all of the other tremendously high scores come flying in soon after. Everything in E33 exudes quality, from the satisfying QTE-laden turn-based combat to the open world exploration in an apocalyptic painted setting, but its soundtrack stands out most to me several months after release. When I think of "needle drop" moments in gaming, E33 is at the top of the list for several of those where I was almost knocked back in my chair. This video below illustrates just one of them: [Hidden Content] From the moment I completed it, Expedition 33 became my top contender for game of the year. I've played and reviewed over a dozen other titles this year since then, but the story of Gustave, Maelle, Lune, Sciel, Verso, Monoco, and all the others has continued to reign supreme in my mind. As an expertly crafted love letter to JRPGs of the past with several new mechanics to make it even more exciting, E33 didn't really need to have a great story to be a good game, because the total package itself, outside of that, is so stellar. But the prolific gut-punch pay-off in the tale of the Dessendre family wrapped a melancholy bow around that package to create something truly memorable and put it over the top for my vote. E33 is a monumental achievement made all the more impressive considering its origins and humble beginnings. It apparently had a budget of less than $10 million, and the game's impressive composer Lorien Testard was discovered after sharing his music from SoundCloud, after some of Sandfall's devs moved on from Ubisoft. It's just a pretty incredible story overall. Image via Sandfall Interactive And so when we put it to a group vote among all Destructoid writers and staff, the tallies confirmed what I've been saying since April: Expedition 33 is an instant classic, and well deserving of our GOTY honors. Drew Kopp (Freelance writer) Within the first hour, Expedition 33 transmogrified my eyes into waterfalls. It takes most other games at least 10 hours to do that. Rachel Samples (Editor-in-chief) Two words kept popping into my head throughout my Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 playthrough: "cinematic masterpiece." From the first few opening scenes, this RPG declared itself a front-runner for GOTY long before other industry giants had a chance to stake their claims. The game's fantastical world-building and stunning visuals will pull you in, while its nuanced but lovable cast and heart-wrenching story will get you to stay. With fun and innovative gameplay mechanics, provocative voice performances, and beautifully crafted narrative, Expedition 33 will forever live on my list of favorites. Image via Sandfall Interactive Hadley Vincent (Freelance writer) Clair Obscur had me standing up, applauding, and telling my friends that this is GOTY before I even set off on Expedition 33. You give me a good narrative and I'm in, and E33 took me all the way with its otherworldly mystery, flawless OST, and haunting Gommage. E33 is a painful journey about hope, acceptance, and moving on. Regardless of where you're at right now, E33 is a story we can all learn from as expeditioners in life. I'm no turn-based RPG fan, but E33 did what others couldn't — it changed my mind on the genre, and I'm thankful for my time on Expedition 33. Ross Deason (Director of Content) Only game I have actually completed in 5 years should tell you a lot. The post Destructoid’s 2025 Game of the Year – Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article
The Plasma Glazed donut is a unique item to bake in Pokémon Legends Z-A, and doing so is going to help you find one of the rarest Pokémon in the Mega Dimension DLC. If you have been wondering where to find Mega Zeraora, you've come to the correct place. Not only is it pretty difficult to find, but you'll need to bake the Plasma Glazed donut to stand a chance. This guide will list the complete recipe to make things easier for you. How to make Plasma Glazed donut in Pokémon Legends Z-A The process of constructing the Plasma Glazed donut is slightly different. While you'll still have to reach Hotel Z and speak with Ansha, you'll first have to reach a kid in Vert Sector 3 (location marked in the screenshot below). Exchange a piece of Canari Bread to get Popping Candy in return. Image via TPC Go to Hotel Z and speak with Ansha, and she will allow you to prepare a special Plasma recipe. She will also give details about the targets that you'll need to hit to complete the production. Here's the list of ingredients that you'll need. Three Hyper Roseli Berry (65 Spicy and 85 Sour)Three Hyper Babiri Berry (65 Sour and 170 Bitter)One Hyper Charti Berry (10 Spicy, 5 Sour, 95 Bitter, and 10 Fresh)One Hyper Haban Berry (85 Sweet and 65 Fresh) Complete the order, and Ansha will provide you with a Plasma Glazed donut, which will spawn a portal from where you can access Mega Zeraora. Naturally, this is one of the hardest donuts to make due to the requirements. However, the grind is undoubtedly worth it if you're looking to take down Mega Zeraora in the Mega Dimension DLC. The Old-Fashioned donuts also work similarly, as they allow you to defeat the three legendaries: Rayquaza, Groudon, and Kyogre. Some like the Bad Dreams Cruller donut are required instead to complete quests. Ideally, always save the Hyper Berries that will be required to complete these recipes so that you can progress towards completing the Mega Dimension DLC. The post How to make Plasma Glazed donut in Pokémon Legends Z-A Mega Dimension (Mega Zeraora encounter) appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article
This year, Destructoid is giving out its own awards to various games that have made a significant mark in the industry. However, we wanted to invite you, our readers, to crown your own king of 2025's video game realm, and the result is unsurprising. With an overwhelming majority of 90 percent, Destructoid's community, that is you, named Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as its ultimate Game of the Year. That coincides with our own choice, since we also gave Expedition 33 that prestigious title, crowning it as the ultimate game of all games released in 2025. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the Destructoid community's ultimate game of the year. Image via Sandfall Interactive I can't say I didn't expect this to happen. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the best games of all time, revolutionizing the JRPG genre and making a point about games as an art form. From its music, designs, and sheer artistry, Expedition 33 drives home the idea that yes, video games are a form of art that is worthy of appreciation. When I first played the game back while I was still at Dot Esports, I immediately knew it would be a hit. I only had four hours to work with at the time, given that it was a limited preview, but I came off it thinking that the game would take the industry by storm. And I was exactly right. My friends at the time didn't believe me. They thought no JRPG can ever grasp the industry in such a way, as well as that Clair Obscur doesn't scratch that "itch" for traditional JRPG fans. It'd be an oddity, a curious title that has many qualities, but one that ultimately fails on the road to greatness. Well, I guess they missed the mark on that one. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an excellent game, and everyone seems to recognize that now. It swept away the entire Golden Joysticks last month, and I have no doubt it's going to do the same at The Game Awards tonight. The post You have chosen your ultimate 2025 Game of the Year—and I feel like it needs no explaining appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article
EA and Battlefield Studios have issued a lengthy statement after the Battlefield 6 Winter Offensive 1.1.3.0 update saw players reporting widespread issues related to the main menu UI, gameplay stuttering, Breakthrough, and much, much more. The message, posted both to Battlefield social media accounts and the FPS franchise’s website, functions both as an explanation and a game plan. BF Studios says hotfixes and updates will now roll out in the coming days as it attempts to iron out the numerous kinks that started making waves in the Battlefield 6 community earlier this week. Surprise Attack It just keeps getting better #Battlefield6 Can't select any modes in menus. I thought this update was tested in labs? [Hidden Content] — CAMIKAZE78 (@CAMIKAZE78) December 9, 2025 Winter Offensive was originally positioned to bring wintery new content hand-in-hand with audio fixes, more reliable hit registration, and balance tweaks as BF Studios continues to flesh out the new Battlefield game’s first season. However, as update 1.1.3.0 made its way to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S Tuesday, players were instead met with an army of technical hurdles. Clunky main menu navigation and trouble registering hits on firing range targets were two of the more annoying issues being shared around online. One problem that actually impacted moment-to-moment multiplayer gameplay for many, though, involved micro stuttering that saw players freezing in place as they ran into battle. Another, more bizarre result of the new update had to do with what many believed was a stealth nerf to movement, which, despite being applauded by some, has since been reverted and labeled as “unexpected behavior.” "It kind of feels like there's an absolute deadline schedule by which point stuff comes out no matter what," one Reddit user commented shortly after the update went live. "I know DICE always had this 'fix X, break Y' modus operandi that's amusingly consistent amongst generations of people who worked there but so far every update has been literally that." The occasional hiccup aside, BF Studios has been steadily moving through Battlefield 6 Season 1, but it feels like that momentum has come to a halt with Winter Offensive. Even if the stop is only temporary, the update’s launch marks a moment of uncertainty for fans as they await Season 2 and as the holidays rush in. Winter Offensive has proven to be so problematic, in fact, that Battlefield REDSEC, the Battlefield 6 battle royale offshoot experience, had its Elite Series postponed due to “unforeseen technical issues.” “We want to be upfront: this is on us,” the Battlefield team said yesterday. Battlefield 6 is absolutely unplayable after the patch Well done @battlefield / @EA_DICE [Hidden Content] — DANNYonPC (@DANNYonPC) December 9, 2025 Calling for Backup BF Studios wants Battlefield 6 players to rest easy knowing that, if these issues haven’t already been fixed, they will be fixed soon. “We want to give you a clear status update on the issues we are tracking, the work already completed, and our near-term and future plans,” today’s statement says. “The team has been reviewing all reports since the update, including items related to Breakthrough, the Firing Range, Portal, the Main Menu, and performance topics such as micro-stuttering on PC, along with several other issues raised by the community.” Technical difficulties related to incorrect ticket sizes for Conquest, daily challenge rewards, infantry momentum, and battle pass tier skipping have already been resolved. More thorough hotfixes are now scheduled to begin tomorrow, December 12, starting with fixes for micro stuttering, main menu navigation, and the firing range for PC via Steam players. PS5 and Xbox players will benefit from their own update come December 15, which should bring an end to issues for the main menu and firing range. Stat tracking, especially pertaining to bot kills, is another issue that’s persisted through recent weeks that BF Studios plans to address soon, with rubber banding related to minimum spec PCs also set to be addressed. Perhaps the most heavily criticized aspects of Winter Offensive, though, were the changes to Breakthrough and vehicle placements announced via the update 1.1.3.0 patch notes last week. What it feels like after recent Breakthrough changes byu/mandbeyn inBattlefield .reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; } BF Studios says it’s heard the complaints related to how the update may have made victory too easy for the attacking team, specifically calling attention to concerns about objective placement, vehicle spawns, and attacker momentum. The developers explain that some fixes in this regard, specifically pertaining to vehicle spawning, have already been published, but stops short of walking players through how or when it plans to address these concerns. “Your feedback continues to guide the direction of our Breakthrough improvements, and we will share more as future adjustments take shape,” the message adds. More tweaks to vehicles should help the overall Battlefield 6 experience, too, with BF Studios saying it’s implemented updated vehicle damage zones, fixed hit registration for vehicle-mounted machine guns, and adjusted some maps for better pacing during matches. Finally, those who enjoy flying jets should know that air-to-air combat is set to receive some adjustments, including reduced jet canon damage, early next year, with a dedicated air radar planned to launch after Season 1. “We will continue validating the resolutions already in development, gathering additional data from your reports, and prioritizing remaining issues based on severity and player impact,” BF Studios adds. “Several items have already been resolved, or will be through our upcoming hotfixes. More improvements are planned in upcoming updates.” Battlefield 6 launched October 10 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X | S. It’s been on a bit of a rollercoaster ever since, as players have logged on to both praise and criticize everything from map sizes to balance changes. Its future post-Season 1 is currently unclear, but with EA and BF Studios scheduled to make some sort of appearance at The Game Awards tonight, fans are hoping for at least a small glimpse at what Season 2 may have to offer. Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe). View the full article
Traditionally, the great holiday shopping deals would end after Cyber Monday. That is apparently no longer true. Case in point: today only, Best Buy is offering the console versions of Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Call of Duty: ****** Ops 7 for under $40 each. Specifically, you can get the PS5 or Xbox version of AC Shadows for $34.99, and ****** Ops 7 for $39.99. Both deals go away at midnight, so grab them fast if you want them. Today's Best Game Deals The ****** Ops 7 deal is particularly good, because it’s on the steelbook cross-gen bundle editions of the game. That means you get a free steelbook case for the game with your purchase. And regardless of whether you buy the PS4 or PS5 version, it’ll work on both systems natively. The same is true of the Xbox version, with the Xbox One and Xbox Series X. Unlike most similar sales we’ve seen recently, no other retailer is matching the prices, meaning they’re exclusive to Best Buy. These are by far the best deals we’ve seen so far on both of these 2025 games. In other words, I wouldn’t expect to see either game drop to a lower price this year. The real question, of course, is whether the games are any good. If we’re talking about Assassin’s Cree Shadows, the answer is yes, absolutely. In our 8/10 review, critic Jarrett Green wrote, “Assassin’s Creed Shadows takes a flashing blade to the series’ established norms, trimming them to a more precise form in lieu of chopping them down outright. Combat is aggressive and requires more intentional parrying and skill management than in the past, and exploring the gorgeous provinces of Sengoku-******* Japan is encouraged thanks to the revamped map that deemphasizes collecting icons and checking off lists.” As for Call of Duty: ****** Ops 7, the answer is a little more complicated. While the campaign and Zombies modes are a little lackluster, the multiplayer remains strong. In our review of the latter mode, critic Seth Macy wrote, “Call of Duty: ****** Ops 7’s multiplayer is a great time. The first crop of maps are excellent, taking into consideration the new wall run and wall jump mechanics and how that extra dimension of movement adds so much to the fun. The weapons are all solid with the exception of the SMGs, and even though none have really captured my imagination, they're fun to use and fun to grind.” Both of these deals are absolutely killer for games this new, as emphasized by the fact that even Amazon isn’t price matching them. But the ***** ends at midnight, so pick up whichever one you want (or both) before the deep discount goes away. How to Follow IGN Deals Recommendations The IGN Deals team has over 30 years of combined experience finding the best discounts and preorders available online. If you want the latest updates from our trusted team, here’s how to follow our coverage: Sign up for our IGN Deals NewsletterSet IGN as a preferred source in GoogleFollow us on social mediaIGN Deals on XIGN Deals on InstagramIGN Deals on FacebookIGN Deals on Tiktok[/url] Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN's board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Bluesky. View the full article
The Old Peace update in Warframe has added plenty of new ways to build your frames, and Tektolyst Artifact mods will allow you to customize your loadouts further. Added to the game as part of the latest update, the Tektolyst Artifact mods boost various stats of your Operator/Drifter. It's an entirely separate category with 20 different options available at launch. Let's look at all the available options in Warframe and how you'll be able to obtain them. Table of contentsAll Tektolyst Artifact mods in WarframeHow to get and equip Tektolyst Artifact mods in WarframeAll Tektolyst Artifact mods in Warframe The 25 Tektolyst Artifact mods are categorized under the five Fousc schools. Every mod is aligned towards a specific school and has synergistic bonuses with its own/other schools. The table below has information about all 20 Tektolyst Artifact mods and how they work. NameFocus SchoolEffectsSil-TabolMadurai+60% Amp Status Chance. +15% Status Damage for each Vazarin School Mod.Ubri-KanephMadurai+60% Damage to Amps. +10% bonus for each Mod from a unique School.Hayan-DaborMadurai+60% Amp Multishot.Vikla-SaforMadurai+30% Amp Fire Rate. +30% Amp Ammo Efficiency.Omn-EviNaramon+60% Amp Critical Chance. +10% Amp Critical Damage for each Zenurik School Mod.Metem-ErunNaramonIncrease Operator Sprint Speed by 30%. +5% bonus for each Mod from a unique School.Evir-TiNaramon+60% Operator Jump Height.Hok-KaalNaramonAfter using Void Mode, the next Amp attack deals x3.0 bonus damage (cooldown 5s).Vik-AnamaZenurik+30% Maximum Amp Energy. +5% Amp Energy Regen Rate for each Madurai School Mod.Empazu-SholZenurik+12% Tauron Strike Initial Charge. +2% bonus for each Mod from a unique School.Esti Vel-IkhaZenurikIncreased maximum Void Sling distance by 30%. +10% Void Sling radius for each Mod from a unique School.Sey-TaphZenurik+30% Void Sling Efficiency.Da-RenVazarin+300 Operator Shields. +30 bonus for each Unairu School Mod.Metem-HakhVazarin+30% Operator Health & Shields. +5% bonus for each Mod from a Unique School.Lorun-TashVazarin+400 Operator Armor.Yar DalVazarin+300 Operator Health.Kaal-ZidiUnairu+30% Void Mode efficiency. +5% Movement Speed in Void Mode for each Naramon School Mod.Lashta-VakUnairuVoid Sling breaks Containers within 12m. +2m bonus for each Mod from a Unique School.Talsenk-AnUnairuGain knockdown immunity. When knockdown is blocked, enter Void Mode for 3s (cooldown 7.5s).Ulashta-SholUnairu-60% Transference Static duration.How to get and equip Tektolyst Artifact mods in Warframe Screenshot by Destructoid To obtain these mods, you'll have to participate in Perita Rebellion missions. You can then find the mods as random drops from enemies, and they appear to be quite rare. Once you find them, you'll be able to equip and use them. But first, you'll need a Tektolyst Artifact. You can find a Tektolyst Artifact after complete The Old Peace quest. Go to La Cathedrale, and you'll find Marie selling all five Tek Artifacts. You'll also need 150 of every boss reward: Lyroic Bridge, Ren Hypercore, and Ascaris Prime. Once you add a Tek Artifact to your loadout, you can then equip a maximum of five Tektolyst mods ot it. The post All Tektolyst Artifact mods in Warframe The Old Peace and how to get them appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article
2025 is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's year. Still, for all of its technical and artistic achievements, it's not infinite, and even replay enthusiasts should let go at some point. The void will feel immense, so let's look at similar titles you don't want to miss out on. Final Fantasy 8 Image via Square Enix Clair Obscur's director Guillaume Broche has cited Final Fantasy 8 as one of his favorite games, and it shows. There's a whole minigame in trying to list all the influences Final Fantasy 8 had on Expedition 33, from the world's art to some of the characters' looks and personalities, but you're even better off just playing Final Fantasy 8. Much like Clair Obscur, FF8 took a completely bold approach to the JRPG genre, but it just wasn't as well-received. Sure, Final Fantasy 8 sold big time and achieved critical acclaim upon release, but it quickly got hit by an unhinged tsunami of backlash that rendered it the ****** sheep of the franchise to this day. That's sad, as players should've at least respected Squaresoft's attempt at preventing things from going stale, especially in a game that, less popular mechanics aside, remains a tremendous cinematic, musical, and overall aesthetic triumph to this day. Final Fantasy 8 should've hit just as hard as Expedition 33 did upon release, but it came out to a world that just wasn't ready. The great praise some of the key people behind Expedition 33 have showered FF8 with prompted many to give it a try, and I'm sure they didn't regret it. You can be next. Lost Odyssey Image via Microsoft One of the reasons why the Xbox 360 was easily the best Microsoft soldier in the console wars was how that's the only generation when the company addressed the need to compete with the PlayStation's JRPG offerings, and Lost Odyssey was their crowning achievement. Lost Odyssey was everything a Final Fantasy game should be, or should've been, considering how it came out very close to Final Fantasy 13, which was everything a Final Fantasy title shouldn't have been. On top of a great story, cool looks, and characters, Lost Odyssey even featured a proto version of the QTE-style events that made Expedition 33's turn-based battles so fresh and immediately memorable. Vagrant Story Image via Square Enix Some argue Vagrant Story is the best game on the original PlayStation, and I believe the only reason that number isn't much higher is that not enough people bought it. This is one of the finest, most engrossing, and most original RPGs ever made, and more people need to know about it. Whereas I can see why games such as Final Fantasy 8 and Skies of Arcadia failed to sell, one because it strayed too far from Final Fantasy, the other because it didn't have "Final Fantasy" in the title, Vagrant Story's commercial failure, or failure to dominate sales, to be more precise, baffles most who got to play it. It was one of the most gorgeous games on the PlayStation, featured all-new mechanics that anyone could enjoy, and even had the same marketing machine behind it that the Final Fantasy series had. Luckily, because of its beautiful art style and direction, Vagrant Story remains a game anyone should give a try even today. Skies of Arcadia Image via ***** Skies of Arcadia not only nailed the beloved basics of JRPG combat, but it also added an extra dimension via its unique world composed of layers of explorable floating islands that, unsurprisingly, are really fun to explore when you happen to have a flying pirate ship. Skies of Arcadia was capable of going toe to toe with any of the best additions to the genre during the PS2 years, but it fell to the Dreamcast curse, which prevented it from reaching the popularity it deserved. Had it come out for the PlayStation 2, I certainly wouldn't have to be reminding people of its existence, though I do it with pleasure. Though Shenmue is the Dreamcast's best-known title, it's never going to be the best when there's Skies of Arcadia. Panzer Dragoon Saga Panzer Dragoon Saga was *****'s answer to Final Fantasy 7, and the relatively few people in the know are aware that this was no marketing ploy. Saga offered a tremendous alternative to the then-reigning FF-style gameplay through its battle system inspired by the classic on-rails Panzer Dragoon titles. The result was a game where frantic movement prevented any battle from ever feeling stale. And there's a reason why I'm putting this one last. Panzer Dragoon Saga acts as Simon, that optional boss that'll absolutely kick everyone's ****. That's not because Saga is harder to play through, but it's the hardest game on this list to get to play, as the only ways are via either emulation or for shelling out over $500 to get a used copy to run on the Saturn that you so totally own. Sadly, though entirely deserving, there's no guarantee that a remaster will ever come to fruition, as we don't know if ***** still has the source code in its possession. The post Want more like Expedition 33? Try out these underrated JRPGs appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article
It's been a long, hard road for Monster Hunter Wilds, but hopefully things will get a little lighter when its free Title Update 4 arrives next week on December 16. In a video published earlier today, Capcom outlined the additions coming in the final major Wilds update, including the returning elder dragon Gogmazios, new weapon and armor upgrade systems, and—crucially—improvements for the performance issues that have tarnished the game's reputation so badly that Capcom's own investors are using Wilds as shorthand for performance concerns... Read more.View the full article
Battlefield 6 developer DICE has responded to the disastrous launch of the game's Winter Offensive update, which was released for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on December 9. The studio has promised to continue gathering information from the Battlefield 6community and outlined its plans for the game's next hotfix update, which will be released for Steam users on December 12 in order to promptly address one of the most critical problems brought on by this week's 1.1.3.0 patch. View the full article
PC Gamer's latest issue is a Fallout bonanza, going over the entire history of one of the greatest gaming series with many of the key figures behind it. Among the topics covered are why Todd Howard wouldn't let the usual "videogame directors" touch the series, the disquiet of New Vegas' lead writer about the lack of credit and residuals in the Amazon TV show, the shaky launch of Fallout 76, and the early concept for Fallout 4 and its most-beloved character... Read more.View the full article
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