StarCraft is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a variety of free cross-promotion bonuses
- By Ash
- in News
The original StarCraft is perhaps one of the most impressive games ever created. Not only was it an excellent strategy game, but it also fostered a gigantic modding/map-making community and an eSports scene so large its effects are still felt in South Korea today!
With all of that in mind, I am delighted to say that StarCraft is currently celebrating an equally impressive milestone - its 20th anniversary! Rather than babble on, allow me to share with you the recently posted and extremely nostalgic Anniversary Celebration video. Have a gander:
Life is Strange: Before the Storm's Farewell bonus episode has now arrived with young Max and Chloe as the main characters
- By Ash
- in News
Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a prequel to the original game set three years before Max returned to Arcadia Bay. While Before the Storm is a pretty good game in its own right, I can understand why people were upset that Max wouldn't even make an appearance. As such, I am glad to say that the bonus episode 'Farewell' has now arrived and that it's entirely centered around Max and Chloe's relationship!
You can probably guess this from the name alone, but the Farewell bonus episode gives you a chance to experience Max and Chloe's childhood friendship, as well as Max's eventual departure from Arcadia Bay. If you're wondering what this nostalgia trip is going to look like in-game, allow me to share with you the recently posted launch trailer. Have a look, it's positively adorable:
Total War: Warhammer's faction DLCs are 50% off this week, the cheapest they've ever been
- By Ash
- in News
If you've managed to grab Total War: Warhammer and its sequel during the most recent Sega sale, you might be interested to hear that their DLCs are now all at 50% discount on Steam - the lowest they have ever been. And yes, this applies to Norsca as well, though the savage Northerners will not be available in Total War: Warhammer 2 until May.
Speaking of which, it is also important to mention that all of the DLC applies to both Total War: Warhammer 1 and 2. So if you want to play as Norsca, feel free to buy them as you'll be able to mess around with them in Total War: Warhammer 1 right now, and then just start up a new playthrough once they finally become available in Total War: Warhammer 2 as well. Not a bad deal, all things considered.
Overwatch devs have announced the Top 10 hero picks across all tiers of Competitive Play
- By Ash
- in News
If you ask the average Overwatch player what the most over-represented heroes in Competitive Play are, chances are you'll get answers that are mostly focused around snipers and flankers. However, according to Jeff Kaplan's latest post on the BattleNet forums, that is only half correct.
First of all, none of the snipers show up on the list at all, which is fairly self-explanatory given their niche status. Flankers such as Genji and Tracer do make an appearance, though with far greater frequency at the higher ranks. So if the always popular DPS heroes aren't at the very top, who is? Well, according to Jeff Kaplan it's the supports and tanks that hold that lofty position, namely D.Va, Moira and Mercy.
Warhammer: Vermintide 2 Preview #2 - A marked improvement in almost every single way
- By Ash
- in Reviews
Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is set to arrive in a mere few days, bringing with it three new specializations for all of our heroes, a whole host of new enemies to endlessly slaughter, as well as a variety of new maps to comb over for secrets. Perhaps most importantly, it will also bring with it the same emphasis on teamwork and player skill as the original!
A little while ago I had a chance to try out a very early demo which left me highly optimistic, albeit slightly worried about a couple of issues. Now that I've managed to get a good chunk of hours into the much more modern and complete Closed Beta, however, I am delighted to say that I'm even more eager to get my hands on the final version, though I must admit I'm not exactly thrilled to see some of the long-standing problems still alive and kicking.
So if you're interested in seeing what Vermintide 2 is all about, and what exactly I feel is still in need of changing, allow me to give you my thoughts after spending a considerable amount of time with the Closed Beta.
The Souls-like action RPG The Surge will be getting a sequel for PC and consoles in 2019
- By Ash
- in News
[Update]: The Surge 2 now has a lengthy and rather exciting developer walkthrough!
Much like its predecessor Lords of the Fallen, The Surge is a competent Souls-like RPG that's unfortunately plagued by some annoying design decisions. Despite all of its flaws, however, I had a great deal of fun with The Surge and its A Walk in the Park expansion, which is why I'm quite happy to say that Focus Home Interactive and Deck13 are working on a sequel!
The details are currently few and far between, but according to the original announcement The Surge will have larger and more ambitious level design, more brutal combat, an expanded limb-targeting system, as well as an arsenal of new weapons and abilities! While all of these additions are great, it is the promise of larger and more interesting levels that excites me the most. After all, one of the most enjoyable aspects of any Souls-like game is the random meandering about in search of secrets, something the original The Surge simply could not deliver on.
Total War: Rome 2's Desert Kingdoms expansion now has a new gameplay preview showing off Numidia
- By Ash
- in News
Total War: Rome 2's Desert Kingdoms expansion is set to arrive this March 8th, bringing with it four new playable factions: Meroe (Kingdom of Kush), Saba, Nabatea and Masaesyli. Each of them will be getting new units, building chains, technology trees, as well as individual faction traits, which should go a long way towards fleshing out some of Rome 2's least interesting provinces.
If you're wondering how all of this translates into gameplay, allow me to share with you the recently posted developer walkthrough. There is unfortunately no combat to be seen, but it should still give you a good idea of what the new Desert Kingdoms expansion is all about. Have a gander: