Wednesday, 09 June 2021 19:57

Elden Ring Gameplay Trailer Reveal | Game Rant

Written by
After two years of waiting, the highly anticipated Elden Ring from FromSoftware gets its first-ever gameplay trailer at Summer Game Fest.

Stranger Things is a Netflix series that is no 'stranger' to crossing over with video games, but the latest gaming adventure it is invading is the popular MOBA, Smite. With the base game being free-to-play, hopping in to see if it suits your fancy is an easy decision to make. If you like it, you don't have to put a ring on it - you can just get the Battle Pass instead to get your Eleven on. 

Smite is teaming up with Netflix for this new crossover for the game's next Battle Pass. The mashup will feature iconic faces from the hit TV show, including the Mind Flayer, the Demogorgon, Hopper, and Eleven herself. 

We are definitely not in Hawkins anymore...

We're teaming up with @Stranger_Things for our next Battle Pass featuring Eleven, Hopper, The Demogorgon, and The Mind Flayer! pic.twitter.com/W6rWumIRxz

— SMITE (@SMITEGame) June 10, 2021

The new Battle Pass arrives on July 13, 2021 and will also feature a new arena map emulating the famous Upside Down featured in the show itself. 

Want to catch up on even more of the Summer Game Fest and E3 2021 announcements that are going on right now? Be sure to check out our dedicated event hub here to stay in the know about everything coming down the pipeline in the gaming-verse. 


Thoughts on the latest game that Stranger Things is crossing over with? Have you fallen off of the Smite train? If so, is this enough to pull you back in? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! 

Wednesday, 09 June 2021 19:05

Kingdom Come: Deliverance Is Coming To Switch

Written by

Medieval RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance is making its way to Switch. The news game during today’s Koch Media Showcase (which you can read more about here), and the port is being handled by developer Warhorse Studios with help from Saber Interactive.

Unfortunately, there’s no release window or any details on what the port entails. One would imagine it’ll take a graphical hit, but it's unknown if the Switch port will have full feature parity with the console and PC versions. 

We weren’t the biggest fans of Kingdom Come: Deliverance when it launched back in 2018 (read our review), and it’s definitely not an experience for everyone. The game is a medieval RPG that’s more hardcore in nature compared to many of its contemporaries. For example, the combat is much more deliberate in a realistic sense, and the player has to eat and sleep to stay healthy. Kingdom Come’s most controversial aspect, at least around launch, was the game’s unique save system. In order to save, players had to either sleep in beds they owned (which could require a lot of backtracking if you’re out exploring) or consume an expensive potion just to preserve your progress. 

While some players were put off by Kingdom Come’s demanding nature, others have embraced its challenge and devotion to realism. The game has amassed a dedicated following of players, and Warhorse has updated the experience over the years to smooth out bugs and tweak problematic features to make it a bit more welcoming. The game has been bolstered by four story expansions and even has a live-action Netflix series in the works, so it’s doing something right. 

Excited to play Kingdom Come: Deliverance on the go? Are there any other big triple-A RPGs you’d like to see arrive on Switch? Let us know in the comments.

Click here to watch embedded media

Last month, a listing on the Microsoft Store leaked the first details of Two Point Campus, a university management sim by the makers of Two Point Hospital. Now, Two Point Studios has officially unveiled Two Point Campus with an upbeat cinematic trailer. 

According to the leak last month, Two Point Campus puts you in charge of building the university of your dreams. The leak indicates the ability to build the campus as you see fit, manage your staff, and oversee student activities in hopes of providing a fulfilling formative stage for the attendees of your school. In addition, players can expect zany courses that veer off the beaten path from what we typically attend college for in the real world. We witnessed various unique situations in the trailer, hinting at a ton of different over-the-top courses students can enroll in. From the leak, we know about Knight School, where students can learn how to joust, and Gastronomy, where students learn how to bake massive pizzas.

Two Point Studios' last game was Two Point Hospital, which received a decent review from us when it launched in 2018. You can read our full review here. Two Point Campus launches in 2022 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.

During today's Summer Games Fest, Koch Media showed off a number of upcoming games, many of them new IP, nurtured under its new publishing label, Prime Matter. If you didn’t catch the event, here’s a quick round-up of what was announced, when it’s coming, and what platforms you can play it on. 

The Chant (working title)

Release Date: 2022
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC

Horror fans may want to keep an eye on The Chant. The game stars a young woman who takes a spiritual retreat on a remote island where everything that could go wrong does. Players will combat an evil cult and other cosmic horrors using weapons imbued with spiritual powers. Players can also increase their perception of the world by accessing the spiritual sight of their third eye. Outside of combat you’ll explore the grim island and solve puzzles in a similar fashion to Silent Hill. 

Crossfire: Legion

Release Date: 2022
Platforms: PC

Legion is an RTS spin-off of the popular Crossfire shooter series. This classic strategy experience is set within the same universe and has all of the familiar trapping RTS fans expect. You’ll control various customizable units to battle large armies in either the full single-player campaign or against human commanders in online multiplayer. RTS fans starved for a new experience not named StarCraft have something to potentially look forward to when Crossfire: Legion arrives next year. 

Dolmen

Release Date: 2022
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Do you enjoy Dark Souls and Souls-like experiences? How about sci-fi and Lovecraftian horror? Dolmen may be the game for you. This action RPG outfits players with a melee weapon/shield combo as well as a gun to take on vicious, bug-like threats to reveal the secrets of a mysterious crystal, the Dolmen. While combat consists of the attack/parry/dodge formula the subgenre is known for, players can imbue their weapons with elemental effects. For example, using cryo to slow or freeze enemies. Souls-like games are a dime a dozen at this point, but we look forward to seeing how Dolmen continues to evolve and differentiate itself when it launches next year. 

Echoes of the End

Release Date: TBA
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

We don’t know much about Echoes of the End other than that players control Ryn, a young assassin who has the power to manipulate and destroy matter. The game is the debut title from Icelandic studio Myrkur Games and is set in a unique fantasy world inspired by the scenic island. Echoes of the End is being made entirely in Unreal Engine 5, so odds are it’ll look pretty sharp. We’ll just have to keep an eye on it to learn more about what it entails. 

Click here to watch embedded media

Encased

Release Date: September 
Platform: PC

Encased is a humorous RPG set in an alternative version of 1976. At the center of everything is The Dome, a mysterious structure of unknown origin filled with advanced technology. To uncover the truth, you’ll head in and join an organization working to unravel the Dome’s mysteries. Players choose one of five disciplines (science, engineering, security, management, and convict), each with their own specialized skills to help manage various aspects of the Dome’s society. When disaster strikes, you’ll have to work together with your crew to survive and, perhaps, escape. The Dome is currently playable in Steam Early Access and releases to PC this September. 

Click here to watch embedded media

Final Form (working title)

Release Date TBA
Platforms: consoles and PC

Earth has bit the dust in this sci-fi first-person shooter. You control a humanoid machine called a Valkyrie piloting a sentient spaceship to stop a devastating plague from wiping out the remnants of humanity. That mysterious premise is backed by fast-paced gunplay that emphasizes constant movement. Stay still for too long, and you’ll find yourself riddled with bullets courtesy of a hostile alien race seeking to control uncharted space. Final Form appears to be a long way out, but its brief gameplay teaser has our attention. 

Gungrave G.O.R.E.

Release Date: TBA
Platforms: TBA

Gungrave fans haven’t received a proper entry since Gungrave: Overdose in 2004 but that’s finally changing with G.O.R.E. We don’t know anything about it other than a brief, action-packed cinematic trailer that promises plenty of bloody action. Fingers crossed we’ll learn more details about the game sooner than later. 

The Last Oricuru

Release Date: 2022
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

This intriguing RPG combines medieval and sci-fi trappings. The Last Oricuru begins when players awaken from cryosleep to find themselves trapped in an alien world resembling the middle-ages. Decision-making is the name of the game as players can form alliances with different faction leaders in the midst of a civil war.  There’s no right or wrong answers, and choices result in different outcomes – some good, others not so much. Best of all, you can play The Last Oricuru alone or with a partner in the drop-in/drop-out co-op to solve puzzles required for two players. 

Painkiller 

Release Date: TBA
Platforms: TBA

A new Painkiller game is in the works, but we don’t know who’s developing it or when it’s coming. The original Painkiller launched in 2004 and was a supernatural first-person shooter by Outriders and Bulletstorm developer, People Can Fly. We’ll have to stay tuned to see what this sequel or reboot has in store. 

Payday 3

Release Date: 2023
Platforms: consoles and PC

Outside of revealing a new piece of concept art (posted above), we still know very little about Payday 3. Koch only reiterated the game will feature a “fully fledged social heist universe” set within a Hollywood-like setting. That isn’t likely to satisfy fans of the franchise, but any confirmation that the game still exists is always welcomed. 

Scars Above

Release Date: 2022
Platforms: consoles and PC  

At first glance, Scars Above appears to be a mix of Tomb Raider and Returnal in its blend of third-person combat and exploration. Astronaut Kate Ward finds herself stranded on a strange alien planet, and she’ll need to utilize a mix of wits and combat expertise to survive. Kate defends herself with weapons like a laser machete, a fireball-shooting flamethrower, and even a freeze gun. When things aren’t actively trying to kill you, you’ll piece together clues about the world itself to figure out what exactly you’re dealing with. Developer Mad Head Games describes Scars Above as “Alice in Wonderland meets Alien”, and we’ll see how that comparison stacks up when the game launches next year.


See any games that tickle your fancy? Let us know in the comments!

Summer Game Fest is going on right now, and while there were a few amazing triple-A reveals, a very charming indie adventure made its way center stage. Planet of Lana features a stunningly artistic world for players to explore, but let's be real for a second: whatever that black little floofball is, we need it. 

From Wishfully Studios, Planet of Lana is a cinematic puzzle adventure game that challenges a young girl with her adorable little friend to embark on a new mission of heroics. The world that she and her floofy companion must venture through is a colorful whirlwind of beauty and inspirational exploration, a planet that used to be untainted by the corruption of mankind. Through disharmony that has been slowly unraveling the balance between mankind and nature, a new danger awaits on the horizon in the form of a faceless army that is anything but friendly. Luckily, that doesn't spell out the disaster that one might think.  

From @Thunderfulgames and a small Swedish studio named @Wishfully_Games, here is your first look at @PlanetofLana! #SummerGameFest pic.twitter.com/nLv51gK2EP

— Summer Game Fest - LIVE Today! (@summergamefest) June 10, 2021

"This isn't a story about war," said the studio on the game's official website. Instead, it's a story about the journey to keep a beautifully peaceful planet exactly that: beautiful and peaceful. It looks absolutely stunning, and a peaceful game we could easily see on the Nintendo Switch. 

The beautiful off-world journey is slated for a 2022 release, though we don't know an exact release date or what platforms it will be coming out on. 


Missed anything from Summer Game Fest so far? Don't worry; we've got you covered! Be sure to mosey on over to our E3 2021 hub here for news, watch-alongs, wrap-ups, and more! Feel free to also drop your thoughts on Planet of Lana in the comment section below! 

If you’re a fan of horde mode FPS games in eerie sci-fi settings, then The Anacrusis is likely for you. Set aboard an abandoned space cruiser, four friends can team up to mow down sprinting armies of tentacled aliens while utilizing various perks and weapons to stay alive. Based on the brief gameplay footage shown, the lighthearted color palette and humorous banter between the four protagonists serve as a healthy juxtaposition to the moment-to-moment tension and firefights. 

You can use perks located throughout the expansive arena to amplify the stopping power of weapons or increase your own base stats (boosting your defense might prove to be a smart decision, especially for newer players!). Different gear has unique effects - from scorching laser rifles to shield grenades to Respawners that’ll keep your team alive and healthy for each battle.

The Anacrusis drops on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC.

Netflix is getting in on the E3 2021 and Summer Game Fest action with its own Geeked Week. Today is anime, tomorrow is gaming, but ever the two shall meet because we've got another look at the Resident Evil TV series called Infinite Darkness

Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness is one of several adaptations in the works, but this one is CGI in anime style. It's an all-new story that  takes place in the year 2006, two years post-Resident Evil 4. The series starts off with the U.S. President, Ashley's father, having to evacuate the White House after yet another hostile takeover takes place. In the universe that can't seem to catch a break, fans of the iconic horror series from Capcom have a new adventure to partake in, and it's set to go live on July 8.

Click here to watch embedded media

The above trailer gives us our first look at the opening sequence that leads up to the events that have reunited Leon Kennedy and Jill Valentine as they team up once more to fight back against unspeakable horrors. The events of Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness will put Ashley's father front and center as the president of the United States. A previous look at the TV series started out with a child's drawing focusing on Racoon City. A sense of foreboding could instantly be felt before all Hell broke loose.

The latest Resident Evil adaptation is produced and supervised by Capcom's Hiroyuki Kobayashi from the Resident Evil franchise. TMS Entertainment, which has birthed various anime series, will produce the series alongside Quebico, led by Kei Miyamoto. The entire project will be a full 3DCG animation production.

With Resident Evil Village ramping up the horror love once more and a separate film in the works, it's nice to see the Capcom franchise getting so much spotlight. Whether Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness will feel like the iconic series remains to be seen, but the non-live-action take seems to be the way to go for these sorts of projects.


What do you think about the latest look at Netflix's Resident Evil Infinite Darkness? Do you feel hopeful about this adaptation, or are you burnt out after all of the Village talk? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! 

Wednesday, 09 June 2021 19:38

Monster Hunter Stories 2 Gets A New Story Trailer

Written by

Monster Hunter Rise has been taking the world by storm, but a narrative-focused title is still slated for a summer release. And despite flying under the radar, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin chronicles the journey of a hero, his crew of loyal companions, and their relationship with the legendary Rathalos (a flying wyvern that has solidified itself as the mascot of the Monster Hunter series). 

In the new trailer, a plethora of mysterious characters fill the screen, various monsters skulk the wastelands, and the nefarious Nergigante makes his appearance once again. Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is only the second game in the franchise to come to PC. The Deluxe Edition comes with a ton of cosmetic and collectible content, which you can see by clicking on the link. 

Click image thumbnails to view larger version

 

                                                                                                            

Additionally, a set of Monster Hunter Stories 2-inspired Amiibos will be available. You can also receive an in-game clothing set by linking your Monster Hunter Rise save file with Wings of Ruin. Unfortunately, I wasn’t impressed with Rise’s gameplay loop and central plot:

Beyond mounting monsters and using the wirebug to wall-run in spectacular fashion, not much else distinguishes Monster Hunter Rise from the installments that came before. It has enough endgame content to keep you occupied long after the credits roll (if you don’t mind copious amounts of grinding) and multiplayer is still the optimal way to play, but the excitement of my early hunts waned before long. Monster Hunter Rise is far from being the next definitive chapter in the series. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a polished-but-conventional adventure with a few small-scale nuances, then you’ll be right at home in Kamura Village.

Click here to watch embedded media

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin will take a different approach to its gameplay. The classic Monster Hunter loop of sprinting through lush biomes to fell gargantuan creatures will be absent. Wings of Ruin launches for Switch and PC on July 9

Wednesday, 09 June 2021 19:47

Check Out The Evil Dead The Game Gameplay Reveal

Written by

Today, during Geoff Keighley's Summer Games Fest livestream, Evil Dead The Game, first announced during the 2020 Game Awards, made an appearance, with looks at gameplay, enemies, and combat. Earlier in the week, it was announced that the game would appear on the stream. 

In terms of gameplay, Evil Dead The Game looks remarkably similar to other asynchronous multiplayer horror games such as Dead by Daylight and Friday the 13th – though from the looks of the trailer, the enemy count seems to be higher. The trailer also showed off drivable vehicles and the ability to play as the demon hunting down the other player characters.

Narrated by actor Bruce Campbell, the trailer revealed a few tidbits about player objectives, which include collecting pages of the Necronomicon, lost tapes, and other "lost artifacts." 

You can get a look at the game in the video below:

Click here to watch embedded media

Evil Dead The Game doesn't have a specific release date yet, but it is expected to be released sometime this year. The game is coming from developer Boss Team Games and publisher Sabre Interactive. An interesting note about Boss Team is its entire mission statement revolves around making video games based on other intellectual properties. Alongside Evil Dead The Game, Boss Team is developing a card fighting game based on Netflix's Cobra Kai series, which first became available to play back in March of this year. 

As the name implies, Evil Dead The Game is an adaptation of The Evil Dead movie series, which debuted in 1981 with director Sam Raimi's The Evil Dead. In 2013, director Fede Álvarez was tasked with rebooting the series, and since then the series has had a minor resurgence. In 2015 on Starz, a television series called Ash vs Evil Dead premiered, and a new film, titled Evil Dead Rise, is expected to be released in 2022 on HBO Max. The new film is being written and directed by Lee Cronin, who made his directorial debut in 2019 with The Hole in the Ground.