Daniel Goldman of Kinjin Storylab, the creator of a number of award-winning stories, has announced that what he considers to be the best comic work of his career is making a comeback. Red Light Properties: Unfinished Business is an omnibus of the series and a fresh start for what's to come.
Red Light Properties: Unfinished Business is a collection of everything from the original Red Light Properties graphic novel in a hardcover book with a slipcase to keep it nice and secure. This collection is more than just what has come before; it includes 100 pages of comic books that have never been printed before. It's all coming to Kickstarter on October 1, 2024, for fans who love the series and comic book lovers who have yet to discover it to get their hands on.
Red Light Properties follows Jude and Cecilia. When they meet, sparks fly, and their future as an estate agency called Red Light Properties begins. Cecelia is the real business brain behind the operation. She manages their lives, including raising their child, getting in clients, pushing through every sale, and generally keeping life held together.
So what does Jude do? Well, he's got the ability to see dead people, and since it's previously haunted houses that Red Light Properties specializes in, he's got to keep up his end of the bargain and clear houses of spirits so they can be sold on the cheap to those who couldn't afford one otherwise. To do this, he needs to stay topped up on psychedelics, but that leaves him somewhere between reality and The Membrane that separates the physical world from the spiritual one. You can see how that could be a problem as a business partner, father, and husband, right?
Those who have followed the series for a while may know some of the stories included in this upcoming omnibus. "Goodnight Donnie Cheng," "Underwater," and even "Tight Shorts," which never made it off of Comixology, will all be included.
You can sign up to be notified of the Kickstarter's launch now. This will ensure you get an email as it goes live, so you don't miss out on any limited editions or early bird specials, which are always nice on new campaigns. I'd not heard about Red Light Properties before learning about this hardcover collection, but I love the concept and want to dive into all of it, which now I can do in Unfinished Business.
This Kickstarter is far from the end of the series. In spring 2025, Goldman plans on producing more Red Light Properties issues for fans to collect and read. If you've been looking for something new to add to your shelf, this is definitely one worth checking out when it goes live.
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]]>If you’re a Stardew Valley player on console or mobile, the long-awaited good news about the 1.6 update has arrived, and it's set to release on November 4.
Like a baby that’s grown in the womb and is ready to be born, the release will come very close to nine months after it arrived on PC.
This is great news, as now all players will be able to experience everything new that was added in the 1.6 update, and some of you can finally stop avoiding any and all spoilers. I tip my hat to any of you who have been avoiding any Stardew Valley guides because I’m not sure how you’ve managed it.
This does pose a specific problem for some players who have been making the most of the Tea prices. You’ve got six weeks from the time of writing to get all of those Tea Saplings sold, or you’re going to half your profits thanks to a lovely price nerf introduced in 1.6.
It is a shame that it has taken this long for the update to come to players on anything other than PC, and as yet there is no word from ConcernedApe as to the specific reasoning. Perhaps there never will be, and players in the comments of Ape’s tweet are simply overjoyed that they’re finally going to experience the update.
The good news is two-fold. Firstly, thanks to the delay, there’s a guide available for everything you could possibly get stuck in with 1.6. Second, this means that ConcernedApe will be able to refocus his efforts on his next title, Haunted Chocolatier. He’s previously stated that he’s been unable to put any work on his next title due to the extra effort involved with porting Stardew to consoles and mobile.
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]]>During the One Six Indie Showcase 2024, we were treated to a trailer for a brand new DLC for Rain World. This DLC, The Watcher, looks to take players to unfamiliar territory for a new Slugcat adventure, and fans want it to go as far as possible.
Eagle-eyed fans spotted several key details in the trailer for Rain World's The Watcher DLC, including a lack of Iterators, walking snails, and some fresh-looking animated backgrounds that hint at new environments. The franchise is known for an incredibly complex ecosystem that interlinks as you explore, with every environment impacting the other in some way. But fans want something that cuts deep from the DLC. A region or regions cut off from what we've seen before.
Long before the DLC's trailer was released, Rain World fans on the game's subreddit had been discussing what they wanted from it. User ANBpokeball sums up what a lot of other fans want. "Exploring new regions, seeing new creatures, meeting Slugcats other than the protagonist, and getting to meet one of the iterators other than Five Pebbles or Looks To The Moon."
This would be brilliant. Iterators are massive entities that house entire ecosystems. They're also said to create the rain that gives Rain World its name. In the base game and other DLC, you can see other Iterators in the distance when you reach the top of one, as high as you can go.
The featured image for this article shows a Slugcat at that point, and there's a shocking lack of Iterators. This hints that The Watcher DLC could be set at a different time, in a different dimension, or in a region separate from the rest of the franchise.
We can actually look to the Akupara Games page for the DLC for some clarity here. "Journey beyond to something, somewhere only ever glimpsed. When the world beneath your feet cracks and crumbles, will you hold on to all you once knew? Or dive into the unknown?"
It suggests we'll be somewhere in the Rain World series we've never actually been able to visit. Part of what makes the franchise so intriguing and gripping is its complex ecosystem that you sneak, run from, and fight your way through across many playthroughs.
From the sounds of it, I'd say we're heading to a dry location, somewhere the ground cracks and crumbles away from an Iterator. It could reveal the planet's past below the crust of dirt and away from the fairly familiar territories we've known around these large machines. Having played Animal Well earlier this year, I'm excited to play as another creature delving into the depths.
Fans want something new, and the trailer and description certainly make it look like that's what we're getting. We'll have to wait until March 28, 2025, to know for sure, and if you're new to the series, that should be just enough time to get caught up on everything you need to know before The Watcher DLC drops.
The post Rain World fans want new ecosystems and regions in The Watcher DLC appeared first on Destructoid.
]]>As part of the celebration for Batman Day 2024, the official Sonic the Hedgehog social media accounts recently uploaded this fascinating animated short of Shadow fighting criminals while dressed up as Batman, and it took the entire internet by storm.
Shadow not only looks absolutely amazing as Batman, but it also makes a lot of sense for him to cosplay as the Caped Crusader, seeing as both characters have similar designs and personalities. This is also great brand integration because Sonic X Shadow Generations is releasing on October 22, and Shadow will be the main antagonist of the third live-action Sonic movie, releasing on December 20. 2024 is the year of Shadow the Hedgehog.
The video itself is short but sweet, with detailed animation made by none other than renowned Sonic the Hedgehog artist Tyson Hesse, who confirmed on Twitter/X that he produced the entire thing with his wife. Sonic fans reacted to this short with both delight and surprise, since this is a crossover that nobody was expecting to happen, and it also inspired a ton of creative fan art and hilarious memes regarding the idea of Shadow becoming Batman.
Fans were quick to notice that the upload of this animated short on DC's official YouTube channel is titled "DC x Sonic Partnership Teaser," which may have revealed that this is just the beginning and that both DC and Sega may have more plans for these two characters.
Batman has already crossed over with iconic IPs from other companies in his comic books, like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or Predator. So it is possible that DC is planning a potential crossover comic series with the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise in the near future. On the other hand, some fans believe that Sega may add some Batman DLC content to Sonic X Shadow Generations after release, like a Batman costume for Shadow.
The post Sonic the Hedgehog celebrates Batman Day with a surprise crossover video appeared first on Destructoid.
]]>If you're short of packs to open and want to earn more of them in EA FC 25, the Early Access Challenge 1 SBC might just be your best option.
The latest fodder challenge is pretty easy to complete, as it comes with just one task. If you're lucky enough to pack something nice, it could benefit your squad immensely. At worst luck, you can recycle cards you don't need to try out your fate with a new pack. Let's take a look at how to complete the latest fodder challenge in Ultimate Team.
While the Early Access Challenge 1 SBC has just one task, the conditions can make it feel very complex.
Task 1 - Early Access Challenge 1 SBC
With any fodder challenge, it's always beneficial to use cards from your club. But here's a template solution you can utilize to complete the challenge cheaply and easily.
Potential Cost: 2,800 coins
Disclaimer: Cards with positions beside their name are in specific positions.
Once completed, you'll get a Rare Gold Pack for your efforts. Usually, the pack costs 25,000 coins to buy from the market, and the cost of completing the challenge is far less. Make sure to complete it as long as you have enough fodder in your club.
The post EA FC 25: How to complete Early Access Challenge 1 SBC appeared first on Destructoid.
]]>The The Octopus Evolution is arguably the best set of upgrades released so far in EA FC 25.
The latest evolution offers some wonderful upgrades, that includes stat boosts, new playstyles, and brand new role++. Given how important all these elements are in the current meta, you should make the best possible choices with this evolution. First, let's take a look at the requirements.
Here are the requirements of the The Octopus Evolution in EA FC 25.
The The Octopus Evolution has three levels of upgrades, and there are certain conditions.
Level 1 Upgrades
Level 2 Upgrades
Level 3 Upgrades
Level 1 Upgrades Challenges
Level 2 Upgrades Challenges
Level 3 Upgrades Challenges
There are over 8,000 options, and here are some of the best ones to consider.
The choices have been made keeping the upgrades, and all but Sam Coffey can obtain the highest possible overall rating of 85.
The post EA FC 25 The Octopus Evolution guide: Best players to use appeared first on Destructoid.
]]>The Fran Navarro Squad Foundations SBC is now live in EA FC 25, and you can get an immediate upgrade for your offensive line at a very reasonable price.
Navarro becomes the first player from the Portuguese league to get a promo item. All players have equal chance of getting the card as he's part of a special challenge. Let's take a look at how you can unlock the card, and if he's worth your fodder.
The Fran Navarro Squad Foundations SBC is relatively beginner friendly compared to the recent releases. It has two tasks, and the conditions are pretty reasonable as well.
Task 1 - Spain
Task 2 - 84-Rated Squad
Here's a set of solutions you can use to complete the Fran Navarro Squad Foundations SBC in EA FC 25.
Task 1 - Spain
Potential Cost: 6,500 coins
Task 2 - 84-Rated Squad
Potential Cost: 12,500 coins
If you have surplus fodder in your club, this SBC could be worth considering. You'll get a 85-rated ST item with 3* Skills and 3* Weak Foot. There are obvious limitations, but the item can be better than most budget striking options. It also offers the Finesse Shot, Power Shot, First Touch, and Incisive Pass playstyles.
If you're struggling in the attack, this Squad Foundations item could be cheap temporary fix.
The post EA FC 25: How to complete Fran Navarro Squad Foundations SBC appeared first on Destructoid.
]]>The Moments mode might not be on top of your priority list in EA FC 25, but it can be a great way to improve your Ultimate Team squad.
By completing the Milestones moments, you can get a Jumbo Rare Players Pack, which is valued at 100,000 coins (if you bought it from the market). You'll also get enough Stars to open a Rare Players Pack from the Moments store, which is usually valued at 55,000 coins. While completing the set can be pretty tricky, an ongoing glitch and a second controller can make your task a lot easier.
The Moments game mode is a PvE experience where you tackle the AI in custom scenarios. Each scenario has certain conditions in order to complete them and earn the rewards. Some of them can be pretty hard (the last two sets of the Moments Milestones are great examples).
However, there is an ongoing workaround that lets you simplify the process of completing any Moments you want.
Once you complete the Moments Milestones across all difficulty levels, you'll automatically get a Jumbo Rare Players Pack, along with additional packs as well. There are two Rare Players Packs as well, which can be unlocked using stars from the Moments seasonal store.
While this method reportedly works on PC, I tested it out on PS5. You'll need to have a separate profile on your console for the second controller. That allows the game to think that two separate persons are playing, allowing for the glitch to happen.
The post How to perform the Moments Glitch in EA FC 25 appeared first on Destructoid.
]]>Trench Crusade is a skirmish-scale tabletop game with miniatures, similar to Warhammer 40K, that pulls you into an alternate timeline in which the forces of hell are ravaging the Earth. The game is coming to Kickstarter and already has a pretty large following, so any miniatures fans won't want to miss it.
In Trench Crusade, you pick up, assemble, and paint the forces fighting with the armies of hell in an alternate version of 1914, 800 years after a group of heretical templar knights opened the gates and let the forces of evil swarm out. There are six factions to choose from, a set of skirmishes and bloody campaigns to play through, and over 60 miniatures to paint with gloriously unique designs so you can both impress and terrify your opponents.
The Trench Crusade Kickstarter campaign goes live on October 29, 2024. It's worth heading to the website and signing up to be notified when it launches because there could be limited early bird pledges. These ones always offer good rewards at a lower price, but once they're gone, they're gone.
At the time of writing, I don't know when the campaign will end. Most last for 30 days, but some can go on for more or less time, depending on the creator's goal or project. You tend to see the most attention right at the beginning and then right at the end, with a bit of a pause in the middle. That's what I'd expect to see from Trench Crusade.
As a miniature tabletop game, I think it will have a 30-day campaign. It has a fairly decent Twitter following, from which content creators have been slowly releasing new details of characters for a while. There are a few other groups, such as Discord, you can join through the game's website, where you'll also be able to keep up to date with any new details about the lore as they drop.
The rewards you can get from the Trench Crusade Kickstarter campaign aren't live at the time of writing. However, they will almost certainly include any or all of the 60+ miniatures featured from across all six of the main factions.
The Kickstarter page also mentions a hardback book that's part artbook and part rulebook to help you get an idea of what your units could look like once painted, but also how to play with them. I'm sure there will be some unique rulesets in there we've never seen before, and I'm excited to see how they impact a skirmish. There will be terrain tokens and more on offer, which I believe will likely include environmental elements to the game you can use as optional extras.
It's important to note that all of these rewards are available physically and digitally. I believe this will mean you can get the files to print your own units or pick units as a reward from a pledge if that's what you want. I don't own a 3D printer, so I'd like to pick up a set of units for one or two factions because everything I've seen so far looks fantastic.
The post Trench Crusade Kickstarter release date & campaign details appeared first on Destructoid.
]]>In Anime Switch, there are tons of units you can summon and battle with. It is also obvious that when there are so many options to choose from, it is hard to figure out which units to use. Whether you just started playing the game or are a veteran, we have crafted a tier list to help you know which units to focus on in Anime Switch.
We have divided the tier list into five categories: S, A, B, C, and D. Here is the tier list of all units in Anime Royale:
Tier | Units |
S | Joker, Bakame, Tazuko, Vegi (Super), Flamingo, Tachiki, Ulturya (Unleashed), Dori (Curse Lord), Life the Kidd |
A | Benjiro (Sun Form), Dori, Kogi, Vegi, Rio, Kid the Rumble (Destruction), Ron (Ant Arc) |
B | Rito, Manji (Diable), Takura, Igo (Release), Jumby, Kasta, Manji (Timeskip), Baw (PTS), Roshito, Kid the Rumble |
C | Ruffy, Bobo, Igo, Woro (PTS), Lam |
D | Benjiro, Kid Laruto, Koten, Rien, Ron, Chi, Boku |
S-Tier units are incredibly strong and definitely worth keeping in your loadout. The catch? They’re tough to summon, so you might need to rely on A-tier units until you get one of these S-tier units.
A-Tier units are quite effective and can give a toe-to-toe fight to the S-Tier units in terms of combat. Remember, keeping A-tier units is definitely a big yes, but it is not quite on the same level as S-tier units.
B-Tier units are not really bad, but in the long run, using them will be just a waste of time. Instead, you should try to summon high-tier units.
If you want to get an idea of how this game works and win games as well, C-Tier units are for you. But again, you won’t be a beginner forever, and obviously, you want to aim for better units. So, it is better that you replace the C-Tier units as soon as possible.
These D-tier units have little to no advantage over your opponent, so it is better to aim for C-tier units as your starting point.
The post Anime Switch (Roblox) tier list: All units, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.
]]>Rainbouillabaisse is a 5-star entrée in Disney Dreamlight Valley that packs a punch not only in terms of visuals but also in terms of profit potential and energy regeneration.
You can only cook Rainbouillabaisse if you have the Rift in Time DLC because it makes up part of the Eternity Isle collection, and some of the ingredients can only be found in DLC territory.
As a 5-star meal, you’ll need five ingredients to make Rainbouillabaisse:
Whether you’re looking for energy or Star Coins, Rainbouillabaisse is an excellent meal to cook.
When consumed, Rainbouillabaisse will restore at least 4,174 energy. That’s more than enough to completely fill your energy bar regardless of your current level and give you some yellow energy to go zooming around the Valley or Eternity Isle.
Selling Rainbouillabaisse will line your pockets pretty nicely as well. Each serving sells for at least 2,087 Star Coins, which is a pretty nice profit, especially if you’ve already got most of the ingredients on hand.
Lastly, Rainbouillabaisse can be used as a decoration, and let’s face it, it’s a very pretty looking dish. To do this, drop it from your inventory and then enter the Furniture menu to place it exactly where you want it to be.
The post How to make Rainbouillabaisse in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.
]]>In Counter-Strike 2, the UMP-45 is perhaps one of the most underappreciated weapons. For $1200, players have access to a powerful close-range SMG that's perfect for tucking away on tight angles.
In the right hand, the UMP-45 can deal tons of damage and can be bought on both the T and CT sides. Despite this, it's not exactly the most popular weapon in the game, with most players opting for the MAC-10 and MP9 as budget SMG options. It still has 41 weapon skins to use - let's rank them!
There's only one factor we're considering when ranking these UMP-45 CS2 skins into a Tier List: aesthetics. If you're adding a new Counter-Strike 2 skin to your loadout, you won't (or shouldn't, at least) buy one you don't like. That's why our Tier List focuses on how cool a skin looks. The S Tier and A Tier skins are the ones you need in your inventory, while the B and C Tier ones you can probably skip unless you massively disagree with our rankings.
Just because a skin is expensive doesn't mean it's good. Cheap doesn't necessarily mean bad, either, with some of the best UMP-45 skins in Counter-Strike 2 being among the most affordable to pick up. Because of this, price isn't a factor in this Tier List. However, we've still included a guide price based on Steam transactions for the Factory New versions of each skin. It's useful information, even if it doesn't determine which skin is the "best."
You may notice that some of these skins cross the $100 mark in price. It's worth remembering that these prices reflect the cost of the Factory New versions of these skins, which are by far the most expensive.
There are four other wear ratings in Counter-Strike 2: Minimal Wear, Field-Tested, Well-Worn, and Battle-Scarred. Each wear rating sees each skin become more worn, which, in most cases, reduces the cost dramatically. Consider this if you reckon a skin costs more than you're willing to spend.
The post Counter-Strike 2 UMP-45 skins Tier List: All CS2 UMP-45 skins, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.
]]>The Five-SeveN is one of the most powerful sidearms in Counter-Strike 2. Besides the Desert Eagle, this CT side pistol has arguably the highest skill ceiling of any secondary weapon in the game. Kind of useless when used by a new player but incredibly dangerous in the hands of a CS veteran.
Like all weapons in CS2, the Five-SeveN features 36 unique weapon skins you can purchase to jazz up the appearance of your sidearm. Let's put them into a Tier List, shall we?
Our rankings for this Tier List are based purely on the appearance of each skin. You're spoiled for choice with Five-SeveN skins, with plenty of awesome options that don't cost an arm and a leg to pick up. The S and A Tier skins are the ones we think you should be looking at, but the subjective nature of this means you may find your favorite tucked away in the B and C Tiers, too.
For many players, the price will also be important. That's why we've included an approximate price you can expect to pay when buying the Factory New versions of these Five-SeveN skins. A note, though. Prices in the Counter-Strike 2 skins market are always changing, so you may find that some of these are cheaper or more expensive at the time of reading. Still, it's good to get an idea of which ones are in your price range.
As you can see, Five-SeveN skins in Counter-Strike 2 range from a few cents to hundreds of dollars. You don't always have to go big to get the skins you want, however. Our prices reflect the Factory New versions of the above skins, but you can opt for Minimal Wear, Field-Tested, Well-Worn, or Battle-Scarred options instead to bring the price down considerably.
The Five-SeveN Hyper Beast is an excellent example of this. You can expect to pay around $115 to pick this up in Factory New, while the Battle-Scarred variant comes in at approximately $25 at the moment. A steep discount, to say the least.
The post Counter-Strike 2 Five-SeveN skins Tier List: All CS2 Five-SeveN skins, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.
]]>To fight against the threat of the demons, many members of the Demon Slayer Corps make use of Breathing Styles, which allows them to summon inhuman strength by pairing the right breathing patterns with immaculate swordsmanship.
But which among the styles featured in the series can be considered the strongest? Here are all the Breathing Styles in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, ranked.
An adjacent form of Flower Breathing created by the Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho to make up for her weak constitution and inability to decapitate demons, Insect Breathing is a style that specializes in performing fast and precise reaper-like trusts with the intent of applying lethal effects through Wisteria poisoning. True to that, and although lethal against most, the style lacks the punch many of the others have, as sunlight and decapitations are still the only way to truly end the life of high-end demons.
Created by the Sound Hashira Tengei Uzui, Sound Breathing is an offense-oriented style that revolves around his superhuman ability to identify sounds, and it's focused on performing a series of sequential and fast slashes while dual-wielding inter-connected Nichirin Swords. To add an extra kick to his forms, Uzui pairs many of them with gunpowder to generate massive explosions while making use of other ninja arts to shift the battle in his favor. Unfortunately, we cannot rank this breathing higher as only three of its forms were showcased during the entirety of the manga.
Used by the former Flower Hashira Kanae Kocho, as well as by Kanao Tsuyuri, Flower Breathing is a style that specializes in fast and well-placed curved stashes that mimic the way petals flow and bloom. Its biggest differential, however, lies in its final form's (Equinoctial Vermilion Eye) ability to massively boost its user's perception. That translates into a boost in kinetic vision, which allows them to momentarily perceive the world as if in slow motion while posing a severe burden to one's eyes.
Developed by Inosuke Hashibira during his life in the mountains, the Beast Breathing style is, much like its creator, as straightforward as it gets and relies on the use of two Nishin Swords as well as on one's physical attributes to rush in while cutting everything on their path. As a self-taught style, many of its forms (or fangs) make use of Inosuke's ability to dislocate his joints at will, as well as his unique perception.
A branch of Flame Breathing created and perfected by the Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji, Love Breathing is a style that focuses on the performance of whip-like slashes with preferably an altered Nishin Blade. A style only viable for Mitsuri, given her unique muscle density, Love Breathing is one of the most oppressive in our list, as it allows its user to slash opponents at blinding speeds and overwhelm even the highest-ranked demons.
Used and seemingly developed by the Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro, Serpent Breathing is a style that specializes in extremely precise and unpredictable single-motion attacks only achievable by curving one's sword in a snake-like manner. It is unknown if it is possible to perform its forms with a standard Nishin Sword. Even if no more than five of its forms were shown during the series, the style seems to be one of the most balanced in the series and allowed Iguro to hold his own and aid Tanjiro during most of their struggle.
Used by Muichiro Tokito, who might be by all accounts the most talented member of the corps since Yoriichi Tsugikuni, Mist Breathing is a style that specializes in pairing unpredictable movements with fast and sequential attacks to disorient targets.
Nothing showcases that better than its seventh dorm, Obscuring Clouds. Developed by Muichiro, the technique sees him slow his movements only to suddenly accelerate without notice. If attacked during it, that drastic change will cause enemies to feel like they are enveloped in and trying to strike a wave of mist.
Used by Kyojuro Rengoku and all of the Flame Hashira that came before him, Flame Breathing specializes in the performance of kendo-like heavy strikes capable of decapitating targets in one fell swoop. But don't let that fool you, as even if shown not to be a great fit against enemies like Akaza, the style packs enough punch to turn most demons into cinders. Together with Wind, Flame is also one of the Breathing Techniques with the highest number of known forms, only falling behind Sun, Water, Moon, and Beast.
Thunder Breathing is a quick-draw style that focuses, above all else, on the performance of unreachable fast strikes through its first form, Thunderclap and Flash. The style, however, gains new life when used by Zenitsu Agatsuma, as his Sixfold, Eightfold, and Godspeed variations allow him to perform consecutive Thunderclap and Flash slashes and bring down multiple enemies before they even realize they have been cut. Zenitsu also developed the style's seventh form, Flaming Thunder God, which can be seen as a hypercharged version of the above.
A maverick style that can be seen as the antithesis of the grounded approach of the water-breathing style, Wind Breathing focuses mainly on the performance of acrobatic high-speed slashes that emulate the shape of whirlwinds.
Used and mastered by Sanemi Shinazugawa, the style allows him to cruise through demons like a tornado. Its offensive repertoire also allowed Sanemi to stand his ground against Upper Moon Rank One Kokushibo in a duel even after the demon unsheathed his sword and revealed his true might.
Known for being the most common among the Demon Slayer Corps, the Water Breathing style excels in both offense and defense by applying water properties to swordsmanship, which allows it to make up for its lack of raw power with extreme adaptability. However, the style can only be brought to its full potential through its 11th form, Dead Calm.
Developed by Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka, Dead Calm sees users become water by entering a heightened state and allows them to react to threats at almost instantaneous speed. But the form is not perfect, as there's a limit to how many attacks one can perceive.
Used by Gyomei Himejima, the strongest among the last generation of the Hashira, the Stone Breathing style makes use of momentum to produce devastating close and long-range combinations at a 360-degree angle, a feat only possible given its reliance on unconventional chained weapons, such as Himejima's Nichirin spiked flail and handaxe combo.
Although demanding a lot of its user's body, given the necessity to manipulate the chain at all times, its use allowed Himejima to be a game changer in the fight against Upper Moon Rank One Kokushibo, all while guiding his comrades.
A style created by Michikatsu Tsugikuni (later to be known as the demon Kokushibo) after his failure to learn his brother's Sun Breathing, the Moon Breathing is the style with the biggest amount of forms to date, as it beneficiated greatly from the enhanced life spam its wielder boasted after being turned into a demon. True to that, many of its forms also use his Demon Blood Art and are paired with swordplay honed to almost perfection and a deep knowledge of all breathing styles.
That mix allowed Kokushibo to climb the ranks and take the spot as the first Upper Moon Demon, as well as keep the upper hand even while facing multiple marked Hashira during the Infinite Castle Arc.
The original breathing style, the Sun Breathing, was created by Yoriichi Tsugikuni and later adapted into the Kamado Family's Hinokami Kagura dance ritual. Boasting the main strengths of all of the main style branches, it's true might can only be achieved by linking together all of its forms.
A testament to both its power and its creator's might can be seen in how it was used by Yoriichi to bring Muzan to the brink of death during their first and only encounter. The wounds inflicted on the Demon King also damaged him to a cellular level and never fully healed, instead remaining as scars even half a century following their encounter.
The post All Demon Slayer Breathing Styles, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.
]]>When Space Goblin Studio's Astrobotanica was first revealed, I and many others were incredibly intrigued by how this new cozy sandbox survival game would work. You play as an alien who crashlands on Earth in its ancient past, and you must somehow use plants to save your species while surviving a primordial version of our planet.
It's a recipe for disaster but also a gripping premise for your next foray into a game that blends farming, research, base building, and even establishing a relationship with a Neanderthal tribe. There's so much going on in Astrobotanica, yet we know from massive cozy games like Stardew Valley and Subnautica that these many elements can coexist in harmony.
I spoke with Arek Wozniak, Space Goblin Studio's Studio Lead, about the game well ahead of its early access release. What I wanted to get out of this conversation was an understanding of the main gameplay loop, what the developer is aiming to deliver, and what inspired it.
Destructoid: Could you tell me about which games inspired you while making Astrobotanica? For example, it looks and sounds to me as if Subnautica was a big inspiration, even though the games are clearly very different when you get into the details.
Arek Wozniak: The studio is obviously composed of survival lovers, with each member having their own favorites. Subnautica is definitely one of them, and I totally get that the teaser trailer suggests a close cousin due to featuring plant scanning. But Astrobotanica drifts much further, which I’m sure will be obvious when we reveal more of the gameplay in the near future. One of the key focuses is exploration and problem-solving via scientific research. This is, of course, centered on plants, which are the real protagonists of the game.
Coming back to inspirations, I can confess that we’re great fans of Stardew Valley and Potion Craft. I also couldn’t not mention Sea of Thieves, as we’re absolutely in love with vibrant and stylized graphics. Finally, some gamers may also find the vibes of Slime Rancher once they know Astrobotanica better.
Destructoid: Can you explain the initial gameplay loop in Astrobotanica?
Arek Wozniak: CO2 is something you’ll have to replenish constantly but at a low pace. There’s not too much pressure, as ‘cozy’ is our master vibe to stay true to. You’ll be able to come back to your ship where some generators are still running. There will be plants to help you recover your CO2 levels. You’ll also be able to figure out other ways - whether via trial and error in the game or, perhaps, via your own research in abundant literature on greenery.
I wanted to point out really strongly that the lack of CO2 will not be the biggest challenge but something to keep in mind from time to time. Aside from this part, the core gameplay loop is built on the cycle of explore-survive-cultivate-repeat. A great part, and I mean the crucial part for survival in the long term, will require plant research, farming, and processing of the produce. This will become apparent step by step, without imposing, while other aspects, such as potion crafting and interaction with the environment and inhabitants, will also play their part as the game progresses.
Destructoid: How deep do the base-building/farming mechanics go in Astrobotanica?
Arek Wozniak: The base-building and farming mechanics are designed to be quite engaging and functional but without overwhelming complexity. For example, construction is based on blueprints, which helps you focus on gathering resources. Furthermore, structures have functional roles, and once completed and put to work, they will unload your burden so you can focus on exploration and research.
We’re also planning to implement progressing automation, so once you advance in the game, some manual tasks will become automated, such as watering or composting, so you’ll advance to more strategic planning. However, the key feature is potion-making or mixture-crafting. We’re still figuring out how to shape the nomenclature for drinks made of plants, perhaps tonics? Views and ideas are very welcome!
Destructoid: How much of Astrobotanica will we be able to play when it's released in early access?
Arek Wozniak: The plan is to set out at least three islands, each with its custom biomes, beautiful views, abundance of wildlife and foliage, and of course, native inhabitants. They will occupy a minimum area of 1.5 km² each. The islands will also feature cave networks and original mysteries to uncover and puzzles to solve. Players will have access to most options for the character development system P.R.I.M.A.L.
Destructoid: What is your plan for the game's early access development? Do you have a roadmap that you intend to stick to, is it open, or will you do a mix and incorporate requests from the player base?
Arek Wozniak: We’re yet to announce a specific roadmap, but I can reveal at this point that scaling is planned in two dimensions: First, by adding new islands to the map, and second, by developing advanced mechanics such as AI-driven animals. This is at least where we start, but once player reactions, suggestions, and criticism start coming, this plan may evolve a lot.
Destructoid: Astrobotanica looks like it leans heavily into the cozy genre while keeping a foot in the open-world survival crafting space. How does the game bridge these genres, and is it something both cozy fans and open-world survival crafting fans can enjoy together?
Arek Wozniak: It’s exactly right; we wanted to stand on the relaxation side of ambitious games and deliver a contradiction to hardcore survival. Isn’t it great that such games have started to appear in the first place to offer a “safe escape” by immersing into a pleasant and relaxing world? But it couldn’t be further from a shortcut, rather, it's a challenge to remove any obstacles in UX and gameplay to make the experience enjoyable and intuitive. To let it flow. This starts with, for example, the save-game feature, which can be done at any time and at any point. All the way to controlling a large base with abundant farms, which will still be easy and pleasant to manage. I won't comment on co-op play at this point, as this is planned for a slightly later stage.
Destructoid: Farming is an element that often comes to games like Astrobotanica during early access as a fan-requested feature. Why did you choose/need to have it in on day one?
Arek Wozniak: I appreciate you pointing this out. As said earlier, plants, whether you call them flora, vegetation, flowers, or anything else, are the real protagonists in the game. Their life cycles set the tone and tempo, as well as their needs for fertilized soil and water. We just could not start anywhere else than from what gamers call “farming,” but others just call it “nature.”
Destructoid: Has anything outside of the games industry inspired you while making Astrobotanica?
Arek Wozniak: We always appreciated how great a source of accidental knowledge games can be, from learning about the basics of architectural planning via Minecraft to getting to know some carpentry via The Forest, to familiarizing ourselves with aquatic life via Dave the Diver - to name only a few.
So we thought, why not plants? They are older than us on this planet, exist in an abundance of species, and have been, for ages, providing for humans. They are at our fingertips every day for nutrition, healing, helping to express affection, decorating the house, you name it. The rest was practical creativity without imposing. Astrobotanica doesn’t require you to know any plant or reach for an atlas. But if you at some point start distinguishing chamomile from thistle or recognize sage during your weekend walks, it will mean we have done a good job.
Destructoid: What do you want players to get out of the game outside of having a great time playing it?
Arek Wozniak: I’m very humble in this regard, as I totally get it that different people may want different things from gaming. With respect to the variety of views, I hope a common denominator is spending quality, fun, and engaging time.
But let me share my big ambition to plant a seed in gamers' thinking. If just one person will look at their environment differently, let it be appreciation of vegetation around them, some interest in natural medicine, or just getting a potted plant to take care of where they live - I’ll be a happy man.
The post Interview: Understanding Astrobotanica’s cozy gameplay loop & inspirations appeared first on Destructoid.
]]>Gaming doesn’t have to be restricted to PCs and consoles, and if you’ve got a cell phone, you can take gaming everywhere with you in your pocket. Netflix Games has a large number of games available to play if you have a Netflix subscription.
These games can be downloaded directly from the App Store or Google Play, and all you need to do is log in to your Netflix account after opening the game, then you can play it free for as long as you like.
I don’t think I need to explain this too much, but it’s definitely on this list because San Andreas might be one of the best GTA games to have ever been released. Maybe I’m just nostalgic because it was one of the first games I ever completed to 100%, but if you’ve got a Netflix subscription, it’s definitely worth diving back into San Andreas on your phone or tablet.
If you want something cozy and relaxing to play that always serves to challenge you at times, then Storyteller can tick all of those boxes. You’re given a number of boxes to fill and objectives to complete by changing the characters around into often humorous set-ups. Storyteller is a good choice if you want something to pick up and put down rather than getting sucked into a long play session.
As a fan of all things retro and having previously watched all of the seasons of Stranger Things, I wholeheartedly recommend downloading Stranger Things: 1984. It has a pixelated art style that’s reminiscent of old Game Boy titles and is true to the source material of the series. Besides, as we’re heading into spooky season, what better time to head into the Upside Down?
As soon as I played the original Valiant Hearts when it was released back in 2014, I fell in love with the art style, the story, the characters, and everything else. It cemented itself on my list of all-time favorites very easily. Coming Home is a direct sequel to Valiant Hearts, and is available on other platforms, but is free on iOS and Android if you have Netflix Games. Definitely worth experiencing if you’re looking for something to play.
Based on the worldwide hit board game of the same name, Exploding Kittens is a card-based game with a feline (and somewhat disgusting) twist. The included cards will be familiar to anyone who has played the physical version, and you’ll need to play them right if you want to get to the end of the game without exploding.
If you’re looking for a party game to play, then look no further than Heads Up! When the app is opened and a category is chosen, the player puts the phone on their forehead with the screen facing out, and then the rest of the players need to describe what’s on the screen. Guess right and you can flip the phone downwards to count it as a win. If you can’t guess, then flipping the phone upwards will give you a new word.
The Netflix Games version of Heads Up! contains a myriad of Netflix-themed words to be guessed, so if you watch a lot of shows on the streaming platform, you’ve definitely got an advantage.
Cats & Soup is exactly as it sounds and has you collecting cats who make soup. You can name your cats, decorate their mini-rooms, and dress them up in special outfits. It’s really cute, and I’m not sure what else I can say, but if you want a relatively mindless game to play when winding down in the evening, this is perfect.
Ever wanted to get meta and use a game to feel like you’re designing your own games? Game Dev Tycoon might just scratch that rather specific itch. You’ll need to manage finances and build up some funds to unlock new features for your developed games, eventually making your way out of your garage and into your very own office space to continue developing.
Twelve Minutes puts you in the hot seat and trapped in a time loop, with each loop lasting (you guessed it) 12 minutes. Featuring the voices of James McAvoy and Willem Dafoe, it’s a point-and-click adventure from a top-down perspective with multiple different endings to discover along the way. There’s a lot of replayability in this one, so you’ll find it hard to get bored.
The spooky season is upon us, and there’s nothing that says “Halloween is close” more than an easy-to-play horror-themed game. In Slayaway Camp 2: Netflix and Kill, you play a killer who is out to cause carnage. There are multiple levels to complete, each with multiple stages, and you unlock new skins to keep things fresh and creepy as you progress.
The post Here are the 10 Netflix Games you need to play now appeared first on Destructoid.
]]>Some fish in Stardew Valley can be caught in a variety of places, while others are more specific with where they spawn. Sandfish have a very particular habitat; in fact, it’s how they got their name.
Before you can go looking for Sandfish, you’ll need to unlock the Desert. To do this, you’ll need to complete the Vault Bundle at the community center (this is just a collection of monetary donations), or purchase the “Bus Repair” on the Joja Community Development Form for 40,000 Gold. It all depends on whether you’ve made the morally correct choice or sold your soul to Joja.
Once you’ve unlocked the Desert, finding Sandfish is easy, as it’s one of only two fish that spawn in the pond located in the top right corner of the Desert. Sandfish (and the other fish, Scorpion Carp), can be fished from these waters during any season between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.
When you catch a Sandfish, you may find that the bobber in the fishing mini-game darts around the line. Sandfish are pretty pesky and can get away from you if you’re not careful. To negate the sudden movements, it’s worth using a Cork Bobber or a Trapper Bobber to increase your chances.
One Sandfish is needed for the Speciality Fish Bundle at the Community Center, and they’re also on Penny’s loved gifts list. Outside of these specific uses, there are a few other things that can be done with Sandfish.
Sandfish can be used in any recipe that calls for ‘any fish’:
Item | Recipe | Recipe unlock |
Maki Roll | 1 of any Fish 1 Seaweed 1 Rice |
The Queen of Sauce Year 1, Summer 21 OR 300 Gold at the Stardrop Saloon |
Quality Fertilizer | 4 Sap 1 of any Fish |
Farming level 9 |
Sashimi | 1 of any Fish | Linus 3-hearts |
Sandfish can be used in the spool of a Sewing Machine to create the dyeable Fish Shirt. It can also be used as a yellow dye in the dye pots in Emily and Haley’s house.
You can place Sandfish into a Fish Pond, and they’ll produce Roe. If there are 10 Sandfish in a Fish Pond, you could possibly get Cactus Seeds.
The post How to catch a Sandfish in Stardew Valley appeared first on Destructoid.
]]>In the Fall of 2022, Netflix and CD Projekt Red released Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, an animated prequel to Cyberpunk 2077 that became one of the year's biggest sleeper hits. During Geeked Week 2024, the two studios revealed they're getting back together to make another animated project set in the Cyberpunk universe.
The announcement came as a brief but stylish trailer that barely reveals anything about this new project. All we know with any certainty is that this new Cyberpunk project will again play out in the mechanized jungle that is Night City. The trailer's description also confirms that Netflix Animation will be involved, proving that this will be an animated production.
I'm not surprised that Netflix is bringing us more Cyberpunk animation. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners was an earth-shattering success, so much so that Cyberpunk 2077's 1.6 and 2.0 Patches added a plethora of Easter Eggs and references to it. I've binged the series three times since 2022, and I'm still reduced to a sobbing mess by the time I reach the last episode.
Unfortunately, whatever this new Cyberpunk series (or film) ends up being, it won't be a continuation of Cyberpunk Edgerunners. CDPR confirmed long ago that they had no plans to produce a second season of Cyberpunk Edgerunners, and I, for one, am perfectly okay with that. David Martinez and his crew's adventures ended on a heartbreaking but satisfying note, and it'd be wrong to take that sense of closure away by trying to continue the story.
While we won't get Cyberpunk Edgerunners Season 2, we've known that CDPR has been planning to make other animated projects set in Cyberpunk 2077's world. Hopefully, this new entry will be just as nova as Cyberpunk Edgerunners was.
The post Netflix and CD Projekt Red are making another Cyberpunk anime appeared first on Destructoid.
]]>Famous Bloodborne hacker Lance McDonald just made a very interesting discovery in Astro Bot. While he hasn't found a way to play the game in 120 frames per second, he's found the next best thing: Sony being quietly very naughty.
In a recent tweet, McDonald shows Mister Mosquito's cameo in Astro Bot, then reveals its secretly naughty origins.
Astro Bot features numerous cameos from PlayStation characters, most of them from very popular games. Mister Mosquito, however, is but a novelty stealth game from the PS2 where you just went from room to room trying to suck blood off of people without getting noticed.
Mister Mosquito showing up not as an Astro Bot clone but as an actual tiny mosquito in a bloodless world likely had the few people who noticed his presence scratching their heads. Turns out the reason was fan service in the most in-the-know sense of the word. That cameo isn't a mere reference to Mister Mosquito, but specifically to a level where the titular Mosquito has to suck blood out of a woman while she's sleeping in a bathtub.
There's no actual nudity involved, but anyone versed in anime culture will know the exact purpose of including such a stage in a game.
Mister Mosquito even passes out, in a hearts-in-his-eyes cartoon style, upon mission completion. We can perhaps forgive Sony for this weird mission because Mister Mosquito is from a time before Bee Movie inadvertently taught humankind about the grossness of human-insect lust. Still, it's a pretty peculiar thing to be referencing right now in a game for kids. Did team ASOBI snuck this reference into the game, or, even better, was Sony trying to celebrate the time when developers put all sorts of lewd Easter eggs in games? We may never know.
You can now play Astro Bot on PlayStation 5 or get Mister Mosquito for the PS4 or PS5 from the PlayStation Store.
The post Astro Bot features a surprisingly naughty reference to a PS2 cult classic appeared first on Destructoid.
]]>Netflix recently released an exciting new trailer for its upcoming Devil May Cry animated series that will premiere in April 2025. However, fans immediately noticed that Dante's voice sounded different from the games, where Reuben Langdon usually voices him.
After people asked Netflix about this on its social media, the company officially confirmed that Dante will be voiced by none other than Johnny Yong Bosch, who voices Nero in the Devil May Cry video games. However, Reuben Langdon did step up to show his approval of this new casting.
Langdon congratulated Yong Bosch on his personal Twitter/X account and remarked that he's already part of the Devil May Cry family, referencing his previous work as Nero in DMC4 and DMC5. After all, this young devil hunter is Vergil's son and Dante's nephew, so it's quite reasonable for Netflix to cast Yong Bosch as a younger version of Dante from a separate universe.
Yong Bosch responded to Langdon's blessing, by telling him, "You’ll always be my Dante", which proves that things are definitely quite amicable between the two actors. This interaction has endeared most fans and made them receive the sudden recasting in a more positive manner.
The sudden replacement of Langdon as Dante is nothing new for the Devil May Cry franchise, seeing as he's not even the first person who voiced this character: Drew Coombs voiced him in the first game, Matthew Kaminsky in the second game, and Langdon took over the role from Devil May Cry 3 onwards. This isn't even the first time in recent years that someone else voiced Dante, with Jacob Browning voicing Dante in the mobile game, DMC: Peak of Combat.
There's no denying that Langdon's performance as Dante is incredibly recognizable and beloved, but since this is a character who is prompt to changing voices, this recasting should surprise no one. Not to mention that Yong Bosch's excellent work as Nero has already proven that he's more than fit to take up the mantle and breathe new life into this iconic devil hunter in the process.
The post Original Devil May Cry star gives anime’s new Dante voice actor his blessing appeared first on Destructoid.
]]>The beloved Naruto series is celebrating a major milestone — its 25th anniversary — with a special promotional video released to commemorate the occasion. This iconic manga, which was first released in 1999, has since become a cultural phenomenon, and the anniversary PV is a heartfelt tribute to the maverick ninja.
The anniversary PV beautifully captures some of the most iconic moments from both Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden, taking fans through key battles, emotional scenes, and memorable characters that have defined the series. From Naruto’s early days as the underdog ninja in Konoha to his evolution into the Seventh Hokage, the video serves as a nostalgic trip down memory lane for longtime fans.
For the uninitiated, the story follows Naruto Uzumaki, an orphaned ninja ostracized by his village due to the powerful Nine-Tailed Demon Fox sealed within him. To gain recognition and prove his worth, Naruto dreams of becoming the Hokage, the strongest ninja in the village.
Naruto, penned by Masashi Kishimoto, first debuted as a manga series in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999. In 2002, the manga was adapted into an anime by Studio Pierrot, marking the beginning of its international success. The anime ran for 220 episodes, covering Naruto’s early years and his growth as a ninja. Its sequel, Naruto: Shippuden, continued the story from 2007 to 2017, with 500 episodes that focused on Naruto’s maturation and the climactic battles that decided the fate of the ninja world.
The franchise has also received a number of spin-off manga series, as well as movies and video game adaptations. The manga can be read on MANGA Plus and VIZ Media, while the anime is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.
The post Naruto receives PV in celebration of 25th anniversary appeared first on Destructoid.
]]>If you’re looking for a new and very fun game to play with friends, or you want something to give you an excuse to scream out your frustrations, then may I recommend Pico Park 2?
I know that sounds like an incredibly contradictory statement, but if you’ve ever played Pico Park 2 or the original, then you’ll probably understand my position. I love this game. It’s adorable, it makes me laugh, and it’s incredibly fun to play with up to eight friends. But I also hate it, it frustrates me like nothing else, and I have a four-year-old and a kitten, so that’s really saying something.
I’m pretty sure that the love outweighs the hate in my relationship with Pico Park 2, because regardless of how much it frustrates me in one playing session, I always want to go back for another. The definition of insanity is doing something repeatedly and expecting a different result. I guess I must be insane, because I will always go back for more when it comes to Pico Park.
It’s not a rage game, at least I’m pretty sure it’s not supposed to be, but can you imagine getting eight people together in a level where you’re not allowed to touch each other because doing so will kill you? How about getting eight people moving around and trying to figure out where you are in a room filled with randomly moving characters? The rage is inevitable, but so is the laughter.
Some levels prevent you from moving as long as someone else is. This isn’t so bad with two or three players, but it’s a nightmare with eight. And then you have to consider the fact the platforms are continuously pushing anyone who isn’t moving backwards towards certain death. Can you see where the frustration comes in to play here?
Then, to add more chaos to the mix, one of the levels has everyone die if more than one person moves at once, and another lets you move only when you can’t see what you’re doing. These three levels are all part of world seven which, if you can’t tell, is not one of my favorites.
I’ve been playing to write this, and in order to get the screenshots that accompany this article, and once again I have reached the point of rage quitting a pixel platformer puzzle game. But I don’t want that to put you off, because before you rage quit, you’ll have a ton of fun and laugh until your sides hurt.
Pico Park is also a great test of communication skills, and a bizarrely sado-masochistic bonding experience. You know the age old relationship ‘test’ of building Ikea furniture together to see if you can get through an argument? I can only assume that whoever came up with that had never played Pico Park with their partner.
If none of this phases you, or you're up for the challenge, then you can play Pico Park 2 now. It's available on Nintendo Switch, PC (via Steam), Mac, and Xbox One. Have fun, and remember, you can do this.
The post I have a love/hate relationship with Pico Park 2 appeared first on Destructoid.
]]>Helldivers 2 fans are pretty happy with the game following the release of its 60-day update. Every buff and change feels solid. However, the massive improvement in gameplay has meant that frustrations with one item from the latest Warbond feel bigger than they actually are.
The Chemical Agents Warbond was released in Helldivers 2 a few days after the game's 60-day update. It brought with it a slew of chemical warfare-themed items like armor that looks like a hazmat suit, toxic gas-based Stratagems, and a healing sidearm called the Stim Pistol. But this last item, one that should help players out in a pinch, has become a slight source of frustration within the community. What should be a life-saver is definitely a meme at this point.
The Stim Pistol will provide a Helldiver with enough of a healing boost to survive their next hit. Provided the next hit isn't a Charger running them down or a misplaced Eagle 500KG Bomb. However, the healing a Helldiver is trying to provide their teammates won't work at all if they can't land the shot, and that's the toughest thing to do with this sidearm.
The problem is that it feels impossible to land a shot with the Stim Pistol. You can be in first person, aiming down sights, and have a Helldiver running right at you, but you'll still miss. It's definitely possible to land shots because I've seen players in the post-mission screens peppered with darts, but I have no idea how those darts found their mark.
If you've picked up the Warbond and are trying it out for yourself, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. If you're waiting to pick it up later, all you need to do is take one look at the Helldivers 2 subreddit to understand what's going on.
The Helldivers 2 community isn't worried about the issues with Stim Pistols, though. If this had happened before the 60-day update was released, it might have been the straw that broke the camel's back. With such a slew of buffs making the game as enjoyable as it was upon release, the Stim Pistol's inaccuracy fades into the background.
I have no doubt that developer Arrowhead Game Studios will fix the Stim Pistol in a future update. But nobody is that bothered about it right now. We've been spoiled with impeccable gameplay, a new Warbond, and even fantastic Superstore items. The game is in a great place at the time of writing, and you can see that in the community's reaction to weapon inaccuracy now compared to what it would have been just a week or so ago.
The post Helldivers 2’s most helpful weapon has created a frustrating problem appeared first on Destructoid.
]]>EA FC 25 is now available to those with early access, and you can celebrate your goals in many ways.
While the list for this year has mostly remained the same, there are few additions and removals. During the deep dive, we have already found some hints about the celebrations being added. Now that we have access to the full game, here's the complete list of all available celebrations at launch.
The basic celebrations are the most common type of celebrations, and they're well suited for beginners.
At launch, the list of running moves celebrations have remained the same as last year.
Celebrations | Controls |
---|---|
Thumb Suck | Hold Square |
Arms Out | Tap Square then hold Square |
Wrist Flick | Tap Triangle the hold Triangle |
Aeroplane | Hold R3 |
Point to Sky | Hold RS up |
Telephone | Hold RS down |
Can You Hear Me? | Hold RS left |
Hands Out | Flick RS right, then hold RS left |
Come On! | Flick RS left, then hold RS right |
Blow Kisses | Flick RS down, then hold RS up |
Double Arm Swing | Flick RS up, then hold RS down |
Flying Bird | Flick RS right, then hold RS right |
Hand on Head | Flick RS left, then hold RS left |
Heart Symbol | Flick RS down, then hold RS down |
Arms Pointing Up | Flick RS up, then hold RS up |
Windmill | Spin RS clockwise |
One Arm Raised | Hold circle |
Finger Points | Tap circle, then hold circle |
While the core list has largely remained the same, there are a few changes worth noting.
Celebrations | Controls |
---|---|
Signature Finishing Move | Press X |
Selfie | Press X when next to ad board |
Point to the Sky | Hold L1, press Circle |
Show Respect | Hold L1, double tap Circle |
Spanish Dance | Hold L2, flick RS up twice |
Flex | Hold L1, press Square |
All Ears | Hold L1, press Triangle |
X | Hold L1, flick RS down twice |
Big Man | Hold L1, hold RS right |
Baby Girl | Hold L1, hold RS left |
Knee Slide Drag | Hold L1, flick RS down then up |
Walk Like Me | Hold L1, flick RS right then up |
Mask | Hold L1, flick RS up twice |
Knee Slide Spin | Hold L1, spin RS clockwise |
Arms to Crowd | Hold L1, spin RS counter clockwise |
Timber | Hold L2, press Circle |
Cell Phone | Hold L2, press Square |
Hypnosis | Hold L2, press Triangle |
Think | Hold L2, double tap Square |
Stir the Pot | Hold L2, double tap Triangle |
Mannequin | Hold L2, hold RS up |
I Can’t Hear You | Hold L2, hold RS right |
Heart Symbol | Hold L2, hold RS down |
Brick Fall | Hold L2, hold RS left |
Driving | Hold L2, flick RS down then up |
Scorpion | Hold L2, flick RS left then right |
Tea | Hold L2, flick RS right then left |
Neighbourhood | Hold L2, flick RS right twice |
Faking It | Hold L2, flick RS left twice |
Tumble | Hold L2, spin RS clockwise |
Twist Flip (agile players) | Hold L2, spin RS anti-clockwise |
One Eye | Hold R2 press R3 |
Boxing | Hold R1 double tap Triangle |
Kiss the Ring | Hold R2, double tap Triangle |
The Salute | Hold R1, press Triangle |
Hop & Point | Hold R2, flick RS left twice |
Swagger | Hold R1, double tap Circle |
Giant | Hold R1, flick RS up then down |
Eye of the Storm | Hold R1, spin RS anti-clockwise |
Eyes and Arms (Griddy) | Hold R2, flick RS up twice |
Slide Salute | Hold R1, hold RS right |
Slide and Flex | Hold R1, hold RS down |
Gamer | Hold R1, flick RS right then left |
Happy Walk | Hold L1, hold RS down |
Chicken Dance | Hold L1, flick RS right then left |
Celebrations | Controls |
---|---|
Hands Crossed | Hold R2, hold RS up |
Kiss the Ground | Hold R2, hold RS right |
Fists | Hold R2, double tap Square |
Backflips | Hold R2, double tap Square |
Peace | Hold R1, double tap Square |
Pigeon | Hold R1, press R3 |
Guitar Dance | Hold R1, flick RS up twice |
Hopping | Hold R1, flick RS right twice |
Relax (offline only) | Hold R2, hold RS left |
Eye of the Storm | Hold R1, spin RS anti-clockwise |
Uncontrolled Backflip | Hold R2, spin RS clockwise |
Darts | Hold R2, spin RS anti-clockwise |
Eyes and Arms | Hold R2, flick RS up twice |
Rowing on Knees | Hold R2, flick RS left twice |
Dance & Spin | Hold R2, flick RS right twice |
Picture | Hold R2, press Square |
Cradle Swing | Hold R2, press Triangle |
Kiss the Ring | Hold R2, double tap Triangle |
Jump Slide | Hold R1, hold RS up |
Jump Slide | Hold R1, hold RS right |
Slide and Flex | Hold R1, hold RS down |
Ice Skating | Hold R1, flick RS down then up |
Golf Swing | Hold R1, flick RS left then right |
Matador | Hold R2, flick RS down then up |
Goggles | Hold R2, flick RS up then down |
Dance 3 | Hold R2, flick RS left then right |
Time Check | Hold R2, flick RS right then left |
These celebrations can be unlocked in Clubs.
Celebrations | Controls |
---|---|
KO | Hold L1, double tap Square |
Right Here Right Now | Hold R1, press Circle |
Low Fist Pump | Hold L2, flick RS down then up |
Stand Tall | Hold R1, hold RS left |
Timber | Hold L2, double tap Circle |
Rock On | Hold L2, press R3 |
Calm Down | Hold L1, double tap Triangle |
Phone It In | Hold L1, hold RS up |
Happy Walk | Hold L1, hold RS down |
Hang Loose | Hold L1, flick RS up then down |
Arm Swing | Hold L1, flick RS right then left |
Predator | Hold L1, flick RS right twice |
Gamer | Hold R1, flick RS right then left |
Don’t Look and Think | Hold R1, spin RS clockwise |
Energy | Hold R1, flick RS down twice |
Bye | Hold L1, press R3 |
Do note that new celebrations could be added to EA FC 25 as part of future updates.
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]]>Minecraft developer Mojang and MOD Entertainment revealed the Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue in early 2024. The one-hour-long real-world activity had to be delayed, but now it's coming up for its Dallas launch on October 18, 2024, and all attendees can get their hands on an exclusive reward.
Anyone who buys a ticket and plays the Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue will receive an exclusive in-game cape for Minecraft that's half-villager, half-zombie. It looks pretty great and acts as a nice bonus that'll help the event last even longer in your mind when you see it each time you log in. You don't even need to visit Dallas just to get the cape because the entire thing is going on tour, meaning there's a good chance it'll turn up near you in the future.
In the Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue, iconic locations and creatures from the game are brought to life. You start in the forest, where you'll learn the ropes of how mechanics in this experience function. From there, you'll enter the village, where you'll pick up your quest and team up with other real players to complete your task. I'm going to go ahead and guess, given the experience's name, that you'll be rescuing a Villager.
There will be multiple biomes to explore and creatures to meet along the way. While you can gush over the dolphins, sheep, and pigs, the skeletons and spiders aren't so friendly. Luckily, the experience has everything you'll be used to from the game, so you'll be able to fend off any mobs.
The most interesting thing about the Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue is the Orb of Interaction. This is an object you hold and take with you throughout the story to interact with objects, enemies, and every biome as you would in the game. It's got some sort of haptic feedback built in, so I imagine it vibrates in specific ways for each type of interaction, but it should also change color depending on what you're doing.
Considering you can build an entire universe in Minecraft if you work hard enough, a 1-hour experience sounds a little small. However, you do get to chill out in the Trading Post with a memento afterward, so you might be able to make an entire morning or afternoon out of it if you want.
Of course, the long-lasting reward from the experience is going to be that in-game cape. Given that you can only get it from this touring physical event, I can see it being pretty rare and desirable. Between this and the fact that you can keep the whole experience to an hour if you don't want to spend an entire day on it, I think the Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue could be pretty popular, especially with fans who aren't excited for the movie.
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]]>Despite developer Saber Interactive being hard at work making Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 as good as it possibly can be, it's managed to cook up a ferocious new game mode for World War Z: Aftermath. The new mode sounds like a tonne of fun, but only for those players ready to take on an impossible challenge.
Saber Interactive has been pretty busy over the last couple of months with the final prep and then the launch of Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2. On September 24, 2024, it's releasing a new game mode, Extinction Challenge Mode, for World War Z: Aftermath. This is the ultimate challenge for players, requiring skill, determination, and knowledge of every system just to have a chance at making it through a few checkpoints.
Extinction Challenge Mode for World War Z: Aftermath makes all zombies more aggressive and harder to kill as a baseline. There's usually a group of pretty docile or dormant zombies in each stage, regardless of difficulty. I imagine those are now gone, and needing to reload is going to be a bigger problem than it normally is with tougher and crazier hordes of undead throwing themselves your way.
The real run killer of this mode is that you're now dead after just one incapacitation. Usually, you can be revived at a few points throughout a level, but now it's only possible to respawn at checkpoints. Death is going to be more frequent because the mode also makes it harder to distinguish allies from enemies among the throng of bodies that's always around you.
I adore World War Z: Aftermath. I love the progression systems it has, and every mission on every difficulty feels just right. Seeing Saber Interactive continue to support it because of its players gives me hope that I'll be playing both it and Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 for years to come since the developer's latest game has a similar progression path for you to follow.
Saber Interactive initially released World War Z in 2019 before launching a current-gen version, World War Z: Aftermath, in 2021. It's been supporting the game ever since with a regular flow of content updates for both in-game skins, Twitch Drops, and much more. It's had a pretty stable fan base since launch thanks to receiving new features that feel as good as Helldivers 2's 60-day update but without the low points.
The Extinction Challenge Mode is just the latest example of what this developer is capable of when it's allowed to listen to a community and act on the feedback it provides. I can't say I'm excited about the prospect of dying over and over in this game mode, but I'm so happy that there are still fresh experiences to be had in one of my favorite games.
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]]>The Transformers event in Squad Busters brought two new permanent characters: Optimus Prime and Elita-1. Since they are new characters, it is important to know their abilities before you try to use them. Not only that, these characters also come in various evolution stages.
To help you understand them better, here is an in-depth explanation of Optimus Prime and Elita-1 abilities in Squad Busters.
Optimus Prime is an epic character in Squad Busters who boasts boosted health and size. He has three evolution stages, and here’s how they work:
Optimus Prime is available to unlock during the first week of the Transformers event in Squad Busters.
Elita-1 is another epic character in Squad Busters that shoots a laser beam and has boosted firepower and size. She is very impressive in long range and wields a turbocharger. This character also comes under three evolution stages. Here are the details of them:
Elita-1 will be available to play during the second week of the Transformers event in Squad Buster.
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]]>Back in September 2023, Netflix announced that the beloved Capcom game franchise Devil May Cry is getting a new animated adaptation. During Geeked Week 2024, Netflix followed up with an exciting reveal: the animated series is set to premiere in April 2025.
Alongside this announcement, a brand-new teaser trailer was released, giving fans a first look at some of the show’s action-packed sequences.
Produced by Netflix, the series promises to offer a fresh take on the iconic action-adventure game. Animation is being handled by Studio Mir, renowned for its stellar work on projects like The Legend of Korra and Dota: Dragon’s Blood.
The story will center on Devil May Cry’s iconic characters, including Dante, Vergil, and Lady. According to Anime News Network, the first season will consist of eight episodes, which should set the stage for what is expected to be a multi-season saga. Furthermore, Netflix confirmed that Johnny Yong Vosch, who voiced Nero in Devil May Cry 4 and Devil May Cry 5, will be taking on the role of Dante in this adaptation.
This is also not the first time Devil May Cry has been adapted for the screen. In 2007, Madhouse produced a 12-episode anime series based on the game. Released on home video by ADV Films and later Funimation, the anime gained a following and was made available on streaming platforms like Crunchyroll in 2017.
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]]>Half-Life was initially released in November 1998 and has shaped the games industry as we know it in many ways. While it's been extensively remastered by fans and has dozens of mods or side stories to play, there was still a version no one could access. That is, until now.
LambdaGeneration, one of the largest Valve game communities, recently announced that a pre-gold build of Half-Life is finally available for anyone to download and play. The build is from October 1998, which is just a month before the full game's actual launch. Fans are incredibly excited about the release because, while it's likely very close to the final build everyone got on release day, there could be subtle, hidden changes that are always fun discoveries when looking back at older titles like this.
You can download this pre-gold version of Half-Life from the official Archive.org page and try it out for yourself. The page has many useful tips for getting the game to run, which will definitely be needed if you're trying to play on a modern PC.
This build is technically what you'd call a beta build. It's from a point in development before the game went gold, which is when the developer is happy with the code and can have it printed onto discs and shipped.
As such, it might contain bugs, glitches, and a few features that you can't find in the final game, including that one that took Valve 25 years to fix. This could include different skins for enemies, entire rooms, or items that have been left in place for testing before being removed for the final build.
Some elements of game development were very different in 1998. For example, it wasn't uncommon for a game's final code to have to be hand-delivered to manufacturers or publishers. Despite there only being a month between this build and the final version of Half-Life, many changes could lie in the code, and it'll be exciting to see what hardcore fans dig up.
There are also many versions of Half-Life and the other games in the series that you've likely never heard of. One of the rarest is Half-Life: Uplink, which was a demo distributed with magazines ahead of the game's release. I think this just goes to show that no matter how many versions of a game you own and how much you research it, there's always something new to discover.
At a time when Half-Life: Alyx is the latest game in the series, and we're all gagging for Half-Life 3, this is a welcome new release. Even if it's yet another version of the first game. I first played Half-Life on PS2, but I remember the game's PC launch and the various big box releases you could get. Given their price now, I wish I'd bought them.
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]]>In the many decades since its publication, there have been dozens of different Lord of the Rings editions, but some of them remain absolute must-haves for diehard J.R.R. Tolkien fans.
From gorgeous paperbacks to iconic hardcovers, these are some of the best Lord of the Rings box sets and deluxe editions you could treat yourself to or buy for your closest friends.
This hardcover edition of The Lord of the Rings, first published in 1988, has beautiful artwork and comes with folded maps of Middle-earth. You may find small errors in the text throughout, as this is not the most error-proof Lord of the Rings box set out there, but there's something extremely charming about the cover art that will no doubt compel many people to go for this print.
This box set features hardcover editions of both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. The smaller size, similar to many mass-market books, might appeal to those who wish to take their books everywhere. And indeed, all four of these could easily fit in your small bag or even your pocket. The only downside is that the font is incredibly small, and the papers are a bit thin, which means you'll get a bit of ghosting from the pages. That said, the minimalistic cover art is absolutely irresistible, not to mention The Hobbit cover artwork by Tolkien himself is gorgeous and authentic to his own vision of what the story should project.
Now this is what I'd refer to as my Lord of the Rings workhorse reading copy. The cover of the first book features a circular outline alluding to the Rings of Power and the Eye of Sauron. The second book features the Two Towers, Minas Tirith, the Tower of the Sun, and Minas Ithil, the Tower of the Moon. The third book features the emblem of Gondor, drawn in gorgeous detail. If you want a handy Lord of the Rings box set that you can read again and again with ease, then you can't go wrong with this version.
This is a fairly new addition to the ever-growing collection of Tolkien box sets out there, but it's steadily going up in our list of all-time favorite Lord of the Rings prints. While most Tolkien books feature minimalistic artwork or, at best, Alan Lee's naturalistic watercolors, the Clarion set introduces a modern take on the trilogy. The Fellowship of the Ring entertains the gorgeous art of a Ringwraith, while The Two Towers shows the art of Barad-dur in all of its terrifying gloom. The Return of the King features Aragorn's re-forged Anduril, and all three boast J.R.R. Tolkien's iconic signature at the top. If you want to introduce a new friend to The Lord of the Rings, this is the box set you should buy for them.
Frankly, I don't know why anyone would buy this unless they're a huge Lord of the Rings fan. This deluxe edition from 2022 is gigantic, but the great thing about its design is that it reminds you of The Red Book of Westmarch, which is the in-universe book containing the accounts of both the stories of Bilbo and Frodo. There are also 30 color illustrations from Tolkien as he was composing his epic magnum opus. The deluxe hardcover further includes two removable maps drawn by Christopher Tolkien, which feature Middle-earth and its various regions in detail. Be forewarned, though; This isn't a book you hold in your hand and read. This is a book you ever so rarely pick up from your shelf to admire. So, if you have a dear friend or family member who is a huge Tolkien fan, getting this would make them the happiest person in the entire geekdom.
Another somewhat deluxe Lord of the Rings edition you could get is the 2021 hardcover by William Morrow. The red, black, and gold engravings on the cover are a joy to drink in, but what makes this print truly unique is the Ring-inscription in Tengwar, painted on a fully red fore-edge. This version also includes the author's paintings and is overall easier to use or read. J.R.R. Tolkien always intended The Lord of the Rings to be published under a single volume, and I do not doubt that he would've been proud of this if he were around to see it.
It is uncanny how much I love this particular edition of The Lord of the Rings, made complete with Alan Lee's gorgeous illustrations. The blue spine, featuring the names of the three volumes as well as a circular engraving of the One Ring inscription, is aesthetically pleasing, while the iconic painting of Frodo and Sam approaching the Black Gate graces the front with no other appendage. The illustrations inside are high quality, and the font size is just right. I don't know how to quite put it, but this edition somehow brings to mind what a definitive Bible-esque version of The Lord of the Rings would look like.
While this 2014 hardcover box set may not be the best Lord of the Rings edition objectively, I'd say it has the most gorgeous-looking covers in the book's entire publication history. The covers are edited versions of the older HarperCollins editions, but it's exactly those small details that make everything infinitely better. That is especially true of The Return of the King, which has received the biggest refinements. The papers are also extremely thin, making the books all the more easier to handle. Last but not least, this box set comes with the acclaimed Reader's Companion, which goes from chapter to chapter, examining the structure and the behind-the-scenes process of their evolution.
While I'm strongly partial to the 2014 hardcover set (with the Reader's Companion) and the 2013 slipcased edition, if someone were to ask me what's the all-time great Lord of the Rings box set, I'd point them to the 2020 HarperCollins illustrated editions, featuring Alan Lee's gorgeous art on the covers. This is essentially similar to the illustrated one-volume versions, with the exception that they've now been divided into three again. The font and page layout are stunning, and the artwork really takes you into the world. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more spectacular and attention-grabbing cover than Lee's art for Rivendell (on The Fellowship), Frodo approaching Cirith Ungol (on The Two Towers), and the Battle of Pelennor Fields (on The Return) not to mention good old Bilbo Baggins lounging in Bag End on The Hobbit.
If you're looking for a one-volume edition of The Lord of the Rings that's actually practical to read and use regularly, then the 50th-anniversary deluxe edition by William Morrow is your best bet. The cover is somewhere between a paperback and a hardcover, and the binding has been designed in a way to make the experience of opening the book and leafing through it as comfortable as possible. But what ultimately appeals to me about this edition, besides the fact that it includes all three volumes and the appendices while also being handy, is the beautiful, minimalistic grey cover. Out of all the different editions of The Lord of the Rings, this one feels the least showy and the most Tolkien-y I've come across, if that makes any sense.
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