From the very first battles you face as Val and Hinna inVisions of Mana, you’ll begin noticing the Corestones that enemies periodically drop upon their defeat. There’s a neat lore-related reason for this bizarre monster petrification process, but as players, we’re rather left scratching our heads for a while. It’s several hours into the game before Corestones come into play in a tangible way. As such, we figured a great many of our fellow gamers will be scratching heads, wondering whether they missed a tutorial somewhere along the way....

Quick Links As you can probably tell from looking at it,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fatetakes a lot of inspiration from Hades, from its combat style all the way to how it progressively tells a story. The most important similarity, though, is that, just like Hades, Splinted Fate is a rogueliteand not a roguelike. Generally, the main thing that sets those two apart is that in a roguelite, players are able to permanently upgrade their character and make subsequent runs easier....

Quick Links Worqor Zormor is a level 93 dungeon inFinal Fantasy 14: Dawntrail, and the second in the expansion. After a slight setback, Wuk Lamat is ready to continue on her quest to gather all seven Keystones and pass the rite of succession to become Tural’s next Dawnservant. The next step is the Feat of Proof, but to conquer this trial, you’ll need to climb up the massive mountain of Worqor Zormor....

Quick Links Conscriptthrows you right into the thick of it as you’re immediately thrown to the front lines of war. As opposing forces close in on the trenches, you’ll have no choice but to learn the basics of survival on the fly. Resources are growing scarce, and help isn’t on the way, so you’ll have to make every bullet count. While you may be as vulnerable as every other soldier on the battlefield, your wits can set you apart from the rest....

There’s a new Peg-E Prize Drop event happening this weekend in Scopely’s hit mobile game,Monopoly Go, but returning players will notice immediately that our girl Peg-E has gotten a bit of a makeover. Instead of paying out cash rewards from the bottom slots, we’ll now be earning points towards the Peg-E rewards. Player response to the change is mixed so far, with many saying they’ll miss the cash, but with excellent rewards to collect during the Peg-E event - like a Wild Sticker, to help complete what you need forthe Monopoly Games albums- it’s worth playing along....

Summary We’re fast approaching the point in a console cycle wherePlayStationandXboxannounce pro versions of their current-gen consoles. Phil Spencer claimed Xbox wouldn’t be taking that route with the Series X|S andsome reveals in Juneappear to have confirmed that. Three new console models will be released before the end of 2024, but none of them are more powerful than the ones that are already available. They’re simply different designs with more memory or digital-only, and the first of the three - the Robot White 1TB Series S - is now up for pre-order....

Summary BioWarehas had a rocky past decade. ThoughDragon Age: Inquisitionwas well-received, its well-documented development process was full of crunch and popularised the ironic term ‘BioWare Magic’. Following on from that,Anthemwas an abject failure, universally criticised for releasing unfinished with shallow gameplay. The game was quickly abandoned.Mass Effect: Andromedais a mixed bag, but it certainly didn’t achieve the relevance and praise of the original trilogy. Dragon Age: The Veilguardis potentially a return to form for the legendary studio, and the team at BioWare is well aware of where their strengths lie....

Ahead of Labor Day weekend,Amazonhas been cutting prices of thousands of products across its entire site all week long. Whether you’re looking tobuild up your video game backlog for lessoryou want some discounted Pokemon cards, there’s something in the ongoing Amazon sale to suit you. If you’re looking to spend a little more and effectively bag yourself a sizable piece of playable video game furniture ahead of Labor Day, then might I direct your attention to a special offering from Arcade1Up....

Summary Last week,Larianannounced that work on its next gamehas reached the “lift off” point. In a move that seems poetic but is actually just a reflection of how buildings work, the team gathered in the same room they were sitting in for the final meeting onBaldur’s Gate 3to discuss the next project. Nothing is known of the game apart from the fact it will not be Baldur’s Gate 4, nor anything tied toD&Dandthe 5e combat system....

Summary Astro Bothas some special levels based onGod of War,Horizon,Uncharted,Ape Escape, and LocoRoco that let Astro take control of a hero’s powers and play as them. One of the defining characteristics of Astro Bot (and Astro’s Playroom for that matter) is that as well asbeing a bright and colourful 3D platformer in a generation sorely lackingthem,it also celebrates and spotlights PlayStation’s history. Astro Bot goesone step further than Astro’s Playroom by turning its cameos into collectibles, but there are some franchises that get even more special treatment....

Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeancebrings with it a host of changes to the original game. As such, there are plenty of things to prepare returning players for when they boot up this bold new version. Just the same, there are things that full-fledged newcomers will wish to bear in mind as well. This SMT 5 guide centers on Vengeance especially, but we’ll delve into some all-rounders for those whose journey as the Nahobino is at its true beginning....

In an age dominated bydigital walkthroughsand online forums, the physical strategy guide might seem like a relic of the past. But for many gamers, these books are more than just practical tools; they’re collectible treasures that offer a unique blend of information and artistry. From detailed maps and character breakdowns to stunning concept art and behind-the-scenes insights, these guides provide an immersive experience that complements the gameplay. In this article, we’ll explore eight of the most iconic and collectible strategy guide books that have captured the hearts of gamers worldwide....

Quick Links Every strategy game needs a tank; it’s crucial to draw damage away from squishy damage-dealers as they attempt to kill your foes. When you first set eyes on Cornelius, it’s clear the developers ofSteamworld Heist 2envisioned him for this role. While each character can master every skill, his massive frame creates a big target, making him perfect for taking fire. Cornelius’s starting class of Brawler provides a great foundation from which to build, but to get the most out of him, you’ll need to borrow talents from other skill trees as well....