^{I’ve been accused of liking to hear myself talk and there’s probably truth to the claim. If you want to skip the preamble/context and get right to the meat, skip straight to PART TWO: THE DIGITAL STORE.}

PART ONE: INTRODUCTION

After his much-welcomed takeover, Chairman Ryan Cohen said to judge GameStop by their actions and not by their words. Since then, forward guidance has been cut and a few strategies have been tried.

The NFT marketplace made GameStop $150 million in IMX tokens from Immutable X for hitting the first two milestones of the agreed partnership deal which were immediately sold for USDC, sent to Coinbase, and dumped into the war chest. But still, it wasn’t the long-term revenue maker many of the shareholders hoped for.

Two warehouses totaling over 2-million square feet were raised and fell as Amazon-VP-turned-CEO Matt Furlong tried to build GameStop in the image of the last company he helped build for Jeff Bezos, but it was too much expansion and too expensive for the chairman’s tastes. GameStop kept the DoorDash deal where their 4,169 stores continue to be used as mini-warehouses for same-day deliveries without having to build an expensive shipping network, but again, shareholders didn’t get the long-term revenue maker they wanted.

Over 450 executives were poached from top tech companies and the vast majority were fired as the rapid expansion attempt bore poor fruit in the form of heavy EPS loss. Chairman Cohen became CEO Cohen and returned to the roots of his activist investing philosophy with GameStop: the letter he drafted and sent to the Board of Directors before the sneeze brought in a sea of cash for his pirated ship to explore and test.

He kept it simple. Kill the problem stores, cut the unprofitable costs, and stop spending money until the company makes money. With most of Q2 and all of Q3 and Q4 under Cohen’s CEO role, 2023 proved to be the first year of profit.

But cutting costs doesn’t mean new paths to revenue aren’t being explored.

As of now, there are three new revenue strategies I can see being undertaken by GameStop. By watching their actions, the plans are laid out bare. I think of them as GameStop’s trident. All three are loosely related and in their infancy stage. Like the prongs of a trident, they can do the job on their own, but the success of one benefits the other two. It remains to be seen whether or not any or all will be the long-term revenue maker that shareholders want.

One of the three strategies, the central prong of the trident, is the newly revamped GameStop Pro membership. That’s the one this post is about.

Before the revamp, GameStop Pro was a paid loyalty program. An annual fee of $15 in exchange for a rewards system that gave in-store credit for the next purchase. A way to get the customer to return and make a walk-in window-shopper more sticky.

Now it’s a membership.

Rather than serve merely as incentive to get customers to come back and use the rewards they accumulated on previous visits, Pro does that plus immediate benefits. Most notably, in the form of the cheapest possible games, both digital and physical, for the vast majority of gamers.

The annual fee has raised from $15 to $25, but the value per dollar has gone from good to great. It’s most noticeable in GameStop’s core business: Games.

PART TWO: THE DIGITAL STORE

GameStop Pro members get 5% off every purchase in the digital store.

In addition, 5,000 points are stored when Pro is purchased or renewed and 2% of every purchase is returned as further points which can be used as in-store or online credit (importantly, while digital store purchases reward points, the points can not be used on digital store items). Each month, a single $5 coupon is given to Pro members (again, not usable for digital store items).

With the cost of Pro being $25 a year, a customer would have to purchase $500 in the digital store to recoup the membership fee. That’s 7 brand new games a year to break even.

Assuming a single physical item is desired by the member (from batteries to gaming accessories to clothing), the instant $10 off (5,000 welcome points + one $5 off coupon) brings it a total of $300 spent a year to recoup the membership fee. That’s 4 brand new games a year to break even.

Assuming the member wants a mouse pad, a charging cable, a controller, and a water bottle at various points throughout the year, that’s $25 saved off the already competitive prices at GameStop (5,000 welcome points + 4 of the 12 coupons) and the Pro membership has already paid for itself. At this point, digital games are simply 5% cheaper than anywhere else.

And the whole time you’re saving on digital games, you’re getting Pro points to discount your next physical product. I don’t want to get too deep on the other new strategies being done by GameStop, but a private label of high quality, low price accessories is one of them. With 5% off (a Pro benefit) and by using stored points, these already great deals become outstanding.

The only membership that offers cheaper games is Humble Bundle, with a 10% discount on PC and Switch games. However, HB costs $120 a year. Even someone who plays on one of the two systems offered by them would almost certainly not benefit from HB over GS Pro as you would need to purchase 28 $70 games a year to break even on the HB membership compared to Pro.

HB: (28 x $70) = $1,960 (spending) x 0.10 (discount) = $196 (saved) - $120 (annual fee) = $76 in savings.

GS Pro: (28 x $70) = $1,960 (spending) x 0.05 (discount) = $98 (saved) - $25 (annual fee) = $73 in savings.

That’s not including the various benefits GS Pro offers or the fact that GS sells a wider selection of games.

PART THREE: PHYSICAL GAMES

While digital downloads have gained market share over the years compared to physical discs, physical games still represent about 20% of games sold and the 20% who still buy this way tend to feel strongly about it. This ratio was struck in the pandemic which quickly accelerated the decrease of discs and it hasn’t really moved since then.

Even if it stayed here forever, GameStop’s unique business model relating to physical games keeps it as a great value.

With 5% off the already lower pre-owned game prices and 10% extra trade-in credit, GameStop Pro allows a member to use the company as a video game rental service. The 5% discount turns to 15% during any of the four Pro weeks a year and GameStop has recently run a few trade-in specials where you get up to 150% of the normal value. The $5 monthly coupons do apply to all physical games as well, so its another $5 off the top on the initial purchase. Buy a game for cheaper, beat it, then sell it back for more. That’s a service only GameStop Pro can offer.

If you’d rather keep a collection of physical discs as a library as many gamers do, you can always do that too while keeping the $5 discount and 2% point rewards for cheaper games than competitors.

TL;DR: GameStop Pro is uniquely positioned to create savings for the average gamer, regardless of their console and regardless of their preference for digital or physical media, without changing any of their habits. Pro’s revamp is one of the three new monetary strategies GameStop is taking under Cohen and I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for the advertising to re-start.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game is a new asymmetrical multiplayer horror experience based on the iconic ‘80s film. Developed by Illfonic and Teravision  Games, it is set to be released in June 4 of this year! It is available to PRE-ORDER now, with two different editions! More information and everything you probably want to know right here!

So I get to be a clown? 🤡

It is clown with a “K”, but YES! The game is a unique take on asym horror, with 3 Klowns against 7 Human citicens of Crescent Cove!

As KLOWN, your objective is to capture and harvest players to activate the Klownpocalypse, which is not fun for humans...

As HUMAN you need to run, hide and fight to survive long enough to open or find a way out of town, hopefully starving the aliens to death. Both sides will have to cooperate with their teams and make good use of their roles to increase the odds of a successful invasion or evasion!

Cool. Can I play it? 🤹

Not right now, but the game is available to pre-order for Steam (Windows), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PS5 along the option of a DELUXE EDITION. Also, preordering will let you start playing at May 28, a week before it’s official launch!

So there is two EDITIONS? 🎪

PRE-PURCHASE EDITION: This edition is avaliable until June 3, and will grant you 1 Week of Early Access, 2 Human Cosmetics (bath themed), 1 Klown Skin (Fast Food Jumpsuit 1/5), and 1 Klown Character (Slim).

DELUXE EDITION: This edition will last past June 3, but getting it before will also grant the PRE-PURCHASE bonuses. This edition will give you 2 Human Costumes (Mike and Debbie), 2 Klown Skins (Fast Food Jumpsuit 2/5 and 3/5), 1 Movie Klown Look (Bibbo), the Digital Soundtrack and Digital Art Book of the game.

Where can I buy it? 🥨

Here is the links to each page for , , and  . Links also located on the side of the sub.

Was this really a movie?🍿

Yes, is a classic. You can watch it right !

Anything else?🤷🏿

I think so. If there is any more valuable information I'm missing, please let me know. I will update this post with comments and news as new itcome along near the release date!

Game Information

Game Title: SaGa Emerald Beyond

Platforms:

• PC (Apr 25, 2024)

• PlayStation 4 (Apr 25, 2024)

• PlayStation 5 (Apr 25, 2024)

• Nintendo Switch (Apr 25, 2024)

Trailers:

Developer: Square Enix

Review Aggregator:

Critic Reviews

- -

SaGa: Emerald Beyond stands tall with its superb battle mechanics, which are just as addictive as they are enjoyable.

- -

SaGa Emerald Beyond is a challenging throwback that hardcore veteran players will feel right at home with.

- -

SaGa Emerald Beyond is a fun experience with new mechanics and many ways to play. With five different characters with their own stories, it's a fun time to run around fighting a flurry of monsters, demons, and more. While things might get a bit repetitive at times, many will find it a blast trying out the different formations, United Attacks, and more.

- -

Square Enix’s addition to the SaGa series is a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, you’ve got its storytelling and exploration mechanics—both of which feel strangely placed, and neither of which gives the proper amount of freedom that you’d expect from a SaGa title. Its masterful approach to combat, however, ensures that you’ll never have a dull moment when it comes to duking it out with the baddies—or even when setting up your own team! SaGa Emerald Beyond isn’t “middle-of-the-road” by any means. It’s a mixture of good and not-so-good. However, as long as you go into things knowing that, you’ll probably still have a pretty good time.

- -

I wish I was more engaged in the story, because the potential of bouncing between 17 worlds and criss-crossing replayed stories sounds cool. It just doesn't coalesce into something all that fun. Maybe the SaGa series is something best left to ports and remakes.

- Portuguese -

Quote not yet available

- -

Quote not yet available

- -

SaGa Emerald Beyond is a wonderful RPG for anyone who loves experiencing multiple worlds and stories while partaking in incredibly gratifying encounters against imaginative enemies. This is the sort of game that we need more of. 💎

Game Title: Another Crab's Treasure

Platforms:

• Xbox Series X/S (Apr 25, 2024)

• PlayStation 5 (Apr 25, 2024)

• Nintendo Switch (Apr 25, 2024)

• PC (Apr 25, 2024)

• Xbox One (Apr 25, 2024)

Trailers:

Developer: Aggro Crab

Review Aggregator:

Critic Reviews

- -

Another Crab’s Treasure is a fantastic soulslike for those looking for an entry into soulslikes.

- -

Another Crab’s Treasure blends fun, challenge and accessibility for a gem of an experience.

- -

Another Crab's Treasure is a Soulslike hit and another win for Aggro Crab. Proving the genre can be more than just darkness and grit, offering colour and whimsy all within a memorable nautical world. Though it might not always be the most original, that's easily forgiven thanks to damn good action RPG combat, a healthy dose of accessibility and thoughtful environment design you'll get lost in for hours. Ducking in and out of shells, toppling great big bosses and zipping around with a grappling hook is SO. MUCH. FUN. This journey to the deep is well worth the plunge.

- -

Another Crab's Treasure utilizes its charming setting and assist mode options to become one of the most approachable Soulslikes ever.

- -

There's a lot to like about Another Crab's Treasure. Its underwater setting and cutesy premise makes this a unique Soulslike, and its accessibility options means this is one of only a few games in the genre that can truly be played by all. But there are bugs and issues galore, stopping this crustacean's adventure from being quite as enjoyable as it should be.

- -

Another Crab's Treasure blends hardcore action with 3D platforming to create a special undersea adventure.

- - Spanish -

Another Crab's Treasure is a simple action game, but one that plays its cards intelligently, letting it go wild with some crazy and original ideas. It's not going to blow your mind with its approach and its technical flaws don't help either, but it's the nicest souslike you're going to play in your life.

- -

Another Crab’s Treasure throws out dark themes and gratuitous violence in favor of talking cartoon crabs, and I love it.

- -

Another Crab’s Treasure might be one of the most delightful games you’ll play this year, and is great fun for veterans or newcomers to the genre.

- -

An undersea soulslike that's cute and compelling, though weirdly crass.

- -

Another Crab's Treasure may not convince soulslike skeptics, but it's a lovingly executed underwater take on the challenging genre.

- -

Another Crab's Treasure sets out to try and create a Soulslike that trims down the complicated foundation into a new approachable format and succeeds in every regard. A variety of accessibility options mean that anybody can dive in and experience the journey of Kril and have a part to play in the hunt for his shell. While inviting newcomers, Another Crab's Treasure manages to offer an exceptionally unique approach to combat that manages to stand out among the crowd. Technical hiccups throughout sour the experience very slightly, but the game on show here is ambitious and a strong candidate for anybody's first foray into this well-beloved genre. All managing to come together under an appealing and consistently entertaining journey and cast, Another Crab's Treasure is a great time.

- -

Another Crab's Treasure is a scrappy, succinct and soggy soulslike that doesn't just pay homage to FromSoft's pioneering efforts but stands out in its own right. There's no getting around the fact that it has serious issues of performance and polish that can really bring down the experience, but it's a game so packed with charm, so inspired, so unexpectedly cooked and with so many flashes of brilliance that I can genuinely say it's worth suffering through the pain points. I don't think I've been quite so enamoured with a game like this in a long time.

- -

Another Crab's Treasure is a delightful mixture of all the right things; the precise tug-of-war combat you'd find in a game like Sekiro, the verticality and exploration of old-school 3D platformers, and the light-hearted goofiness of classics like Banjo-Kazooie.

- -

Another Crab's Treasure is a refreshingly different take on the soulslike action RPG. Its more lighthearted presentation, stronger emphasis on story, and sense of humour don't take away from the genre's core, however - this is equally a stern, challenging adventure with fun combat to master and lots of secrets to discover. Unfortunately, it's let down by some frustrating technical troubles and occasionally janky moments. Despite its flaws, though, we came away having quite enjoyed the adventure; we can already feel the carcinisation setting in.

- -

A playful Soulslike for everyone, that lets you give a crab a gun.

- -

If you're intrigued by the idea of a crab scouring the ocean for makeshift armor while battling existential threats, then "Another Crab's Treasure" is definitely worth a dive.

- -

With their vibrant and approachable take on the genre, Aggro Crab has crafted an incredible soulslike that satisfies both genre veterans and welcomes newcomers with open claws.

- -

The game’s quirky sensibility lends amusing irony to its critique of modern industry’s environmental destruction. Where item descriptions in the Dark Souls series and its ilk flesh out the esoteric lore of their settings, here they offer a crab’s-eye view of life on the surface. “Residue of a painful venom lines the outside of this armor,” reads the blurb about the nozzle of a hot sauce bottle that Kril can equip as a shell. As Another Crab’s Treasure conjures a universe in which the vast horde of trash sunk carelessly into the sea might have its benefits, the game pokes countless holes in its fantasy, letting reality flood in: No amount of make-believe can render humankind’s impact on the Earth anything but poisonous.

- -

Another Crab's Treasure might be cartoony and fun, but it still has everything you'd want from a Soulslike: great bosses, huge and sprawling levels, and plenty of giant enemy crabs.

- -

Another Crab's Treasure riffs off the Soulslike genre, but strikes a great balance between humour and homage. This is a great game with a good message, and above all else, it's just a lot of fun.

- -

Another Crab’s Treasure is a Soulslike but for fans and newcomers to the series alike, creating a hilarious, exciting nautical knightly adventure for audiences of all ages.

- -

Despite a few downsides, I thoroughly enjoyed my time playing Another Crab's Treasure. The game's humor was a standout feature that had me laughing out loud on several occasions. As a fan of soulslike experiences, I can confidently say that it's one of the few AA games that's truly worth playing through. What's more, it's incredibly accessible to play, making it a great entry point for newcomers to the genre.

- -

Another Crab’s Treasure is a balls-hard Soulslike that was one of the most frustrating experiences of my reviewing career until I gave in and used its game-saving accessibility options.  Once the difficulty was better balanced the game’s humor and heart were able to shine through.

Game Information

Game Title: SaGa Emerald Beyond

Platforms:

• PC (Apr 25, 2024)

• PlayStation 4 (Apr 25, 2024)

• PlayStation 5 (Apr 25, 2024)

• Nintendo Switch (Apr 25, 2024)

Trailers:

Developer: Square Enix

Review Aggregator:

Critic Reviews

- -

SaGa: Emerald Beyond is a strong entry in Square Enix’s most bizarre franchise. It may not be the best introduction to the series, but it’s filled with wacky characters, fascinating stories, and an incredible combat system.

- -

SaGa: Emerald Beyond stands tall with its superb battle mechanics, which are just as addictive as they are enjoyable.

- -

SaGa Emerald Beyond is a challenging throwback that hardcore veteran players will feel right at home with.

- -

SaGa Emerald Beyond is a fun experience with new mechanics and many ways to play. With five different characters with their own stories, it's a fun time to run around fighting a flurry of monsters, demons, and more. While things might get a bit repetitive at times, many will find it a blast trying out the different formations, United Attacks, and more.

- -

Square Enix’s addition to the SaGa series is a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, you’ve got its storytelling and exploration mechanics—both of which feel strangely placed, and neither of which gives the proper amount of freedom that you’d expect from a SaGa title. Its masterful approach to combat, however, ensures that you’ll never have a dull moment when it comes to duking it out with the baddies—or even when setting up your own team! SaGa Emerald Beyond isn’t “middle-of-the-road” by any means. It’s a mixture of good and not-so-good. However, as long as you go into things knowing that, you’ll probably still have a pretty good time.

- -

SaGa Emerald Beyond has a deep and satisfying combat system that gets its hooks into you from the jump. There's a lot of narrative content across its five adventures, as well as a diverse collection of characters, but very little that truly grips the attention.

- -

I wish I was more engaged in the story, because the potential of bouncing between 17 worlds and criss-crossing replayed stories sounds cool. It just doesn't coalesce into something all that fun. Maybe the SaGa series is something best left to ports and remakes.

- - Portuguese -

SaGa Emerald Beyond is another good step for the series, evolving the ideas seen in its predecessor and delivering a fun RPG based on freedom and challenge. A few stumbles prevent it from being even more memorable, but it's a game that will please both fans of the series and curious newcomers.

- -

There really isn’t anything else like a SaGa game, and you will get your SaGa fix with SaGa Emerald Beyond.

- -

SaGa Emerald Beyond is a bold celebration of the series' past and present, warts and all.

- -

This is a game that wants you to tinker and fail, before you “get it”. It’s also a game explicitly designed to be different every time you pick it up. With its disregard for convention and disinterest in “quality of life” guidelines, you could have a rough start. But there’s so much going on under the hood, so much charm in its presentation and fearlessness in its design, it’s easy to recommend even to folks who might be looking at me like a weirdo right now. SaGa Emerald Beyond comes with caveats like any other JRPG that isn’t the usual Final Fantasy or Persona blockbuster, but those caveats are in service of an experience you won’t find anywhere else.

- -

SaGa: Emerald Beyond fascinates (for better and for worse) from start to finish. The multiple protagonists, bizarre presentation, and straightforward mechanics make for a rather easy but wholly unique JRPG.

- -

SaGa Emerald Beyond is a wonderful RPG for anyone who loves experiencing multiple worlds and stories while partaking in incredibly gratifying encounters against imaginative enemies. This is the sort of game that we need more of. 💎

Hey there!

You , and you , and now that the , it's time to see what you thought were the best games in 2023!

Survey Notes:

• This survey was open for one month from March 11th until April 12th.

• The link to the voting post has been on the sidebar and in sticky comments on many posts during the past month.

• We gathered 1,136 total responses in that time.

• Previous year winners and results can be found on our wiki at

Without further ado, here are tables to summarize and present the results:

Section 1 - Gaming Together

• Best Online Multiplayer Game - For outstanding online multiplayer gameplay and design, including co-op and massively multiplayer experiences, irrespective of game genre.

• Best Local Multiplayer Game - For outstanding local multiplayer gameplay and design, including co-op, irrespective of game genre.

• Best Family Game - For the best game appropriate for family play, irrespective of genre.

Section 2 - Categories by Genre

• Best Strategy Game - For the best game requiring a well thought out plan to achieve victory

• Best Role Playing Game (RPG) - For the best game designed with rich player character customization and progression

• Best Adventure Game - For the best adventure game, which may mix combat with traversal and puzzle solving

• Best Action Game - For the best game in the action genre focused on combat

• Best Fighting Game - For the best game designed primarily around head-to-head combat

• Best Sports / Racing Game - For the best traditional and non-traditional sports and racing game

• Best Horror Game - For that game that scared the socks off of you this year, the cause of all of those nightmares

• Best Platformer Game - For outstanding design and creativity in a game where players must use skill to jump between platforms or over obstacles without falling or missing jumps

• Best Puzzle Game - For the most enjoyable time racking your brain for the solution to the puzzle

• Best Music / Rhythm Game - For the best game with a focus on dance or the simulated performance of musical instruments

• Best Visual Novel - For the best Visual Novel, which may combine a textual narrative with static or animated illustrations and a varying degree of interactivity

• Best Simulation Game - For games generally designed to closely simulate real world activities

Section 3 - Categories by Qualities

• Best Soundtrack - For outstanding music, inclusive of score, original song and/or licensed soundtrack

• Best Art Direction - For outstanding creative achievement in artistic design and animation

• Best Narrative - For outstanding storytelling and narrative development in a game

• Best Game Direction - Awarded for outstanding creative vision and innovation in game direction and design

• Best Technical Achievement - For the game which achieves a combination of gameplay and graphics which goes well beyond hardware expectations

• Best Voice Acting - For outstanding voice acting, direction, and use of audio dialogue

Section 4 - Release Categories

• Best Re-Release / Re-master - For the best game whose original release was not on a current generation console (pre-2021) (Switch/PS5/Xbox Series X)

• Nintendo Switch Exclusive Game - Best game released in 2023 as a Nintendo Switch console exclusive

• Best Non-Switch Game - Games for PC/PS4/PS5/Xbox One/Xbox Series X

• Best DLC - The extra content that you felt was truly worth the money (or not in the case of free) and you don't regret the time taken to play it

• Best Ongoing Game - For outstanding development of ongoing content that evolves the player experience over time. Does NOT have to be a 2023 release

• Best Indie Game - For outstanding creative and technical achievement in a game made outside the traditional publisher system

• Best Free-to-Play Game - For budget-friendly games that you enjoyed and you don't regret the time taken to play it

Section 5 - Final Section

• Developer of the Year - Developer studio who displayed outstanding platform support through a combination of quantity and quality of new releases

• 3rd Party Publisher of the Year - Publishing studio who displayed outstanding platform support through a combination of quantity and quality of new releases

• Nintendo Switch Game of the Year - Recognizing a game that delivers the absolute best experience across all creative and technical fields

Section 6 - Bonus Questions

• What do you think the successor to the Nintendo Switch will be called? (short answer)

Top 10 responses, from 700 total:

1. Nintendo Switch 2 - 176+ responses

2. Super Nintendo Switch - 137+ responses

3. Nintendo Switch U - 18+ responses

4. New Nintendo Switch - 17+ responses

5. Nintendo Switch Pro - 14+ responses

6. Nintendo Switcheroo - 9+ responses

7. Nintendo s-Wii-tch - 9+ responses

8. Nintendo Switch Up - 8+ responses

9. Nintendo Switch Plus - 7+ responses

10. Nintendo Switch Attach - 7+ responses

• What price range do you think the next Nintendo console will fall into? (multiple choice)

• What is a category of games you feel is missing from our Games of the Year survey? (short answer)

Top 10 responses, from 262 total:

1. Shooter / FPS - 20 responses

2. Cozy game (casual, slice-of-life, chill) - 15 responses

3. Best Indie / Hidden Gem - 10 responses. ^(>< *^{We already have this category.}*)

4. Rogue-like or Rogue-lite - 9 responses

5. Best Shovelware / Worst Game - 8 responses

6. Best JRPG (6 responses), Best tRPG (5 responses), best aRPG (2 responses), and a few of these mention splitting up the RPG category in general

7. Racing (6 responses) / Sports (5 responses) + 1 response that said they should be separate

8. Best Port - 6 responses. ^(>< *^{We already have a Re-release / Re-master category.}*)

9. Best Card Game / Deck-Builder - 6 responses

10. Best Metroidvania - 6 responses

Other notable suggestions: Most Anticipated (5), Puzzle (5)^><, Simulator (5)^><, Best Adult game (5), Best NSO addition (4), Biggest Disappointment (4), Most Impressive / Greatest Influence / Most Impactful (4)^><, Open World / World design (4), Best Debut or New IP (4), Party-style / mini-games (3), Best Ending / writing (3), Best Small / Short game (3), Best [motion] Controls / Use of JoyCon (3), Best Value / Best game under $30 (2), Most Played / Addictive / Time-sink (2), Best game for children / education game (2), Best Sequel (2), Most Improved (2)

(><) - We already have categories for Indie, Re-release, Puzzle, and Simulation. Impressive / Impact / Influence might be considered to fall under overall Game of the Year. Do these suggestions reflect changes/improvements needed in those categories?

• What do you think has been the best year for Nintendo Switch so far? (multiple choice)

You may have seen a preview of results from this question .

----------

That's it for this post! You can also view the results in the for quick charts, or request additional charts by pinging . We will be presenting results from the other three bonus questions (AMA Suggestions, Preference by Post Flair, and Game Rec MegaThread Suggestions) in separate posts so as to dive deeper into those discussions.

Congratulations to all the winners, and we are open to feedback to make this run smoother in the future.

Game Title: Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes

Platforms:

• Xbox Series X/S (Apr 23, 2024)

• PlayStation 5 (Apr 23, 2024)

• Nintendo Switch (Apr 23, 2024)

• PC (Apr 23, 2024)

• Xbox One (Apr 23, 2024)

• PlayStation 4 (Apr 23, 2024)

Trailers:

Developer: Rabbit & Bear Studios

Publisher: 505 Games

Review Aggregator:

Critic Reviews

- -

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a worthy spiritual successor to Suikoden. Outside of some combat tweaks there is a lot to love here.

- -

As far as homages go, Hundred Heroes is an exceptional one. That old-school sensibility is captured perfectly, almost to its detriment. The sprite art is exceptional, the voice work is fantastic, and the character designs are excellent. I wish the pacing was more modern, though. And I’d be fine with an updated approach to inventory management. But all that is what makes this such a faithful successor to the Suikoden series. Well, that and the establishment of your own kingdom full of heroes. If you’re looking for the next Suikoden game, this is it! Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a worthy ascendant to the Suikoden throne.

- -

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is what classic RPG fans and especially Suikoden veterans are looking for. It has the gameplay, the soundtrack, and everything in between. It’s like reuniting with a long lost comrade and picking up where you left off, having a blast all over again. Welcome back, old friend, we missed you.

- German -

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes offers excellent content, especially for fans of JRPGs from the 90s, looks great and also keeps you engaged in the long term with the many characters that can be found. Only the story sometimes suffers from pacing issues and the current objective is not always completely clear. But that doesn't stop the title from being a great new start for an almost forgotten series.

- -

Despite boldly declaring "the JRPG is back" and then doing absolutely nothing new with the genre, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a decent, traditional JRPG that will tickle anyone who adored the classic PlayStation titles of the late nineties. Its modern affordances in visual design and voice acting bring this nostalgic adventure into the present day, but it is let down by sluggish, repetitive combat and some missed opportunities when it comes to utilising its massive roster of characters. Fans of Suikoden will likely already have this pre-ordered - for everyone else, check this out if you're looking for a nostalgic romp and don't mind a few speed bumps along the way.

- -

As a Suikoden successor, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is faithful to a fault.

- -

A big throwback RPG that doesn't meaningfully mess with Suikoden's 30-year-old formula.

- - Italian -

"To JRPG lovers" is the first sentence we read when starting Eiyuden Chronicle Hundred Heroes, testifying to the intentions that moved the developers of Rabbit & Bear Studios Inc.. In fact, the game is an impeccable collection of quotes, cues, mechanics and plots dating back to various sacred monsters of the genre, moreover staged with a curated artistic direction and really "in love" with its sources of inspiration.

- - German -

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes mainly delivers what the developers promised. It's a mostly very classical JRPG experience with beautiful graphics and great music. But while fans of the 90's JRPGs might get anything they love about these classics here, they also get nearly everything, that they might hate about them.

- -

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a good reminder of why the RPG genre left some parts of its Golden Age behind. It’s also a testimony to what makes the genre special and the power of good storytelling to move and inspire. Admittedly, rigid adherence to archaic structures makes those first impressions tough to look past, but a creative battle system, extensive party customization, and top-notch writing make up for the retro jank.

- - Portuguese -

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes was clearly made with dedication to deliver an epic experience about assembling a resistance army in the midst of an inglorious war. The narrative cannot give importance to such a vast cast, but, overall, it does a good job with what it has at hand, telling an engaging, well-written and well-voiced story. Translation does not follow the same level and several systems seem to be too close to the old productions on which they are based, missing the chance to modernize to allow for more efficient management. The end result is a good JRPG that suffers from limitations, which can still be resolved with changes here and there to systems, options and menus, bringing with it the potential to really shine in its environment.

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Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is for fans of turn-based RPGs. It's challenging, has great heroes, and a deep story. It will pull you in!

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I am shocked to my core; as a great lover of RPGs, this is one of the best ever. It's a must play for any genre fan out there.

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Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes has the nostalgic feel of a '90s JRPG but revitalizes the genre with lovable characters and epic strategy sequences.

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Eiyuden Chronicle is a fantastic first entry from Rabbit & Bear Studios in an attempt to bring back Suikoden. A by-the-numbers plot holds it back from truly achieving greatness, but a strong cast and exciting base building makes this a must-have for all fans of classic JRPGs.

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Eiyuden Chonricle: Hundred Heroes is exactly what Suikoden fans have been asking for. Fans of old-school JRPGs or games about recurring characters shouldn't hesitate to check it out.

- Chinese -

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is sure to satisfy long-awaited fans of the series, but whether it will win over casual gamers is another story. It boasts a quality script and a large, unique ensemble cast, but its dated design and lack of side-quest guidance will detract significantly from your experience.

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Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a truly memorable experience that absolutely will stick with you when it's over.

- - Spanish -

Eiyuden Chronicle Hundred Heroes is a great journey back to the golden age of the JRPG and a tribute to all the good things Suikoden gave us. With nostalgia as its flag, this game manages to overcome its lack of innovation to deliver a great adventure that will take you back to simpler times.

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One you get past its slow start, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes mostly succeeds in weaving the stories of multiple countries and characters together into a sprawling epic.

- - Italian -

While Suikoden II and IV remain on another level, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes takes the formula of these classics to some extent and repurposes it in a JRPG that is certainly interesting but perhaps not as beautiful and accomplished as we would have hoped.

- - Korean -

Another great title with immersive classic JRPG roots. Players will be busy with their hearts being engulfed with a tsunami of emotions when the game’s protagonists with all differences in races, culture and relationships eventually come together as one to share an ultimate goal. Players must build cities and defend against waves of invasions which brings enough motivation to show that even heroes still need everyone’s support to grow and be strong. Truly motivating once the players understand that maintaining positive relationships with other adventurers is key to advance forward in their journey. The 2.5D-esque graphics paired with dynamic action camera work is surely eye-candy and the sound design that focuses on epic 1-on-1 duels will be music to every gamers’ ears.

- - Korean -

A love letter to classic JRPG fans' would be the perfect description for this game. It's filled with various elements that evoke nostalgia for JRPG enthusiasts. However, despite its efforts to recreate the nostalgia of the past, maybe the absence of convenience feaures was too much.

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Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a heartfelt homage to the Suikoden games, seamlessly blending nostalgia with fresh experiences. While it effectively captures the essence of Suikoden, offering familiar storytelling and visuals that resonate deeply with fans, the presence of bugs and occasional performance issues may detract from the overall enjoyment. Nevertheless, these minor setbacks do not overshadow the game's true strength—its ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia while delivering a new and captivating adventure. With its rich narrative and familiar gameplay elements, Eiyuden Chronicle feels like a true Suikoden game with a new title, making it a must-play for fans of the beloved series.

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Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes perfectly captures the zeitgeist period of Japanese role-playing games of the late 90s, faults and all. [...] Players who yearn for the days of an epic fantasy story with solid turn-based combat & dungeon puzzle shenanigans most immersive will find a lot to love in this heartfelt tribute from the late Yoshitaka Murayama and his team Rabbit & Bear Studios.

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It won’t take long to fall in love with Nowa and his initial teammates on the Watch, and the bittersweet story beats come achingly fast in the first act of the game. Those who played the prologue game, Eiyuden Chronicles Rising, won’t have to wait long to meet some familiar faces and learn the answers to some of the questions left hanging there. From there, the journey is a comfortably familiar but emotional one, where power-hungry villains separate friends and family under the banner of a war that threatens to grow out of control.

It’s a beefy game, too, with backers who already got their copy claiming that they’re clocking 60 hours on a fast-paced playthrough, and I’m suggesting that around 80 is going to be a fair hour count for most players. Chock full of stuff to do, things to explore, and characters to meet and collect; for some of us, this is the game we wanted when we were teens and still enjoying our last free summers. Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a fantastic JRPG, wearing its old-school quirks like a badge of pride, with even its deliberate annoyances feeling like a wool flannel shirt. I can safely say it’s a terrific game and one its backers will welcome home with delight.

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To say I’m surprised by how much I’ve been enjoying Hundred Heroes is an understatement. Truly, I cannot wait to not only finish this game. I’m also really hoping the passing of the great Yoshitaka Murayama doesn’t slow Rabbit & Bear Studios down because I would really love to see more RPGs in this vein.

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Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes perfectly captures everything it set out to achieve. While the “love letter to JRPGs” phrase gets thrown around a lot these days, and sometimes makes me cringe despite my adoration for the genre, I have to hand it to Rabbit & Bear Studios. They made a promise and delivered with in amazing ways I never thought possible – Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a love letter to classic JRPGs.

- - Portuguese -

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is an RPG that actively strives to go against the market's quality of life efforts in pursuit of an old-school ideal. However, the result is a game that closes in on itself and caters only to the most die-hard fans of the genre. It's a shame, because even simple adjustments, like a mission menu and occasional changes to the menu, would be enough to maintain the challenge without the part that is purely inconvenient.

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Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is the epitome of a flawed gem-the kind of game that does a lot of things right and we're sure will command a dedicated legion of fans, but has legitimate problems that are tough to overlook. The expansive narrative, gorgeous spritework, and addictive combat all help make it an easy recommendation to any classic JRPG fan, but bear in mind that it can feel dated in its design philosophy and that the Switch version has a lot of performance problems, at least at launch. If you can get past those issues, this is an enjoyable and immersive RPG that mostly achieves what it set out to do.

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Were I not reviewing the game I would have put it aside after a few hours and never thought about it again. Eiyuden Chronicle comes after scores and scores of excellent and successful turn-based RPGs from which it could draw inspiration. Instead, it neglects so many of the lessons learned throughout the years in favor of outdated, tedious gameplay.

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Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a beautiful JRPG from beginning to end. It captures the wonder of discovery and adventure in every scene, with an added dose of tension as you navigate the complexities of a nation at war. Still, much of the weight has been removed from the player to the point where it feels like the entire experience is on autopilot and you're simply participating when it wants you to, like in a boss battle or environmental puzzle. That said, if I look at this game through the lens of it being Murayama-san's adventure and not mine, I'm just happy that he allowed me to accompany him on this path. While it's a brilliant showcasing of retro meets modern, there are areas to improve, and I can't wait to see what comes next.

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Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes pays homage to the beloved Suikoden series, which left an indelible mark as one of the most memorable JRPGs during the PlayStation 1 era. The game’s expansive design and nostalgic elements evoke fond memories for fans. However, nostalgia can be selective, often glossing over past flaws.

The revival of dated mechanics, including random encounters, fixed savepoints, and lengthy world map treks, hampers the overall pacing. Additionally, new features like gimmicks, war games, and forgettable characters miss the mark. The resulting package falls short of the (unreasonable) highs set by its inspirational source material.

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A joyous adventure and fitting swan song for one of Japan's great RPG directors.

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Whether or not you're a fan of Suikoden II, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is just about worth your time. Unfortunately, almost every high point in Nowa's adventure is met with a painful low, making for a disjointed experience bursting with forgettable minigames and characters.

- - Portuguese -

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a beautiful love letter to RPGs. It has an excellent story and characters, a challenging and entertaining combat system, as well as a vast amount of content to explore, all wrapped up in a package with great graphics and soundtrack. It's a must-have title for fans of the genre.

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Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a robust remembrance of JRPGs from a bygone era. Despite some of the more archaic design elements of that generation seeping through the cracks, this spiritual successor to Suikoden offers a comforting and familiar experience that feels inherently nostalgic. Between engaging characters, a diverse world, alluring combat, and more, Hundred Heroes is proof that this sub-genre is timeless, even at its roots.

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Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a slick and satisfying spiritual successor that gives Suikoden fans a great big dreamy treat whilst updating, modernising and streamlining its most retro aspects into a brand-new and exciting adventure for newcomers. With a timely tale to tell, excellent battle systems, an amazing cast of characters and plenty of experimentation and puzzling in its dungeons, this is a big win for Game Pass, and a fine farewell for one of the industry's true greats. Now, isn't that a lovely thing.

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Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is the true spiritual successor to the Suikoden series, capturing what made those games magical and expanding on the premise a hundred-fold. It tells a well-written and verbose tale of courage and endurance, but adherence to some fairly brutal old-school design precepts means it won't appeal to everyone.

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Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes might be a poor imitation of the games that came before, but it still has plenty to recommend it.

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A turn-based JRPG that accommodates those familiar with Suikoden or those who don't know what a Suikoden is. Embrace the old-school quirks and there's a wonderful journey to be had here.

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Maybe Hundred Heroes doesn't have me ready to run outside screaming about miracles, but I'm plenty satisfied and ready to go back and fill in some old, classic JRPG blind spots. Well, after I replay Tierkreis.

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Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes is designed to bring players a modern take on a classic JRPG experience. Get ready to lead 100+ playable characters through a war-torn world only you can save. Switch version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes. On a PC, I imagine Eiyuden Chronicle might generally be fine, but on the Switch it is a mess.

- - Italian -

Old players who have grown up with the first two episodes of the Suikoden franchise and backers of the Kickstarter campaign will be the most pleased by Eiyuden Chronicles Hundred Heroes, and old school JRPG through and through. Divisive game design choices aside, what we have here is a solid effort, but also one that looks too much to the past and much less to the future of the genre.

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Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes hits the right notes on paper but in practice, the story is poorly executed, battles are bland, recruitable characters are beyond forgettable, and the game itself is sluggish. The style and audio design do a good job, but not enough to save the overall experience.

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Being a homage to the classic Suikoden series, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes contains a PS1-like nostalgic appeal, a decent story and varied dungeon designs throughout. However, it’s held back by tedious recruitment processes, lacklustre battle systems and pacing issues that drag down the potential level of enjoyment.

- - Italian -

Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes is a good, deliberately old-fashioned JRPG with all the pros and cons. As a love letter to Suikoden it hits the mark despite some uncertainties, but the biggest problem at the moment are the bugs we encountered during the review, some very serious and impossible to ignore. Wait patiently for the bugfixes.

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Murayama and the rest of the fine folks at Rabbit And Bear did it. They've created a masterwork. Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes may have one foot firmly planted in the past, but make no mistake, its other foot is lunging forward into the future.

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Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is an incredibly enjoyable RPG and it brought back great memories of the Suikoden series. Collecting the heroes and having them join you in battle while you build your base and protect the land is just as fun as it was decades ago. 🏰

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While its premise, story beats and main characters echo Suikoden II a little bit too much, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes manages to stand on its own with a compelling tale, excellent characterization, classic JRPG gameplay and great presentation, which make it easy to look past some of its shortcomings, such as balancing and minor gameplay issues. The world of Allraan may never get into the spotlight again due to the unfortunate departure of its creator, but it is undeniable that it couldn't have been introduced to JRPG fans in a better way.

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Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is an enjoyable JRPG that old-school and new JRPG fans alike will enjoy. It has dozens of playable heroes to recruit and sidequests to complete, the combat system is intuitive and satisfying and the 2D-HD graphics are pleasing to look at. While the storyline, characters, and mini-games are relatively simplistic and there’s lots of micro-management required, these issues do not deter from the game’s positive qualities.

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Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a love letter for all Suikoden fans; it embraces the classic essence and doesn’t succumb to modernity.

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Early Access on PlayStation®5

A warm welcome to our pirates on this new platform, those returning from the Closed Beta and maiden voyagers alike! Enjoy finding your sea legs in these final days of Season 11 before April 30th ushers in our next Season and all its new features...

Microsoft Account Linking

• All players will need to sign in with a Microsoft account to play Sea of Thieves. When launching the game, players will be guided through the account linking process.

• Be warned, account linking is a permanent decision, as players are only able to associate a single Microsoft account with a single account for PlayStation™Network. Only use the Microsoft account on which you intend to carry over your progress to launch!

• Experienced players from other platforms who joined during the PlayStation®5 Closed Beta will have their pirate and all associated progress seamlessly transferred and accessible for play. Be sure to use the correct Microsoft account, as the two accounts chosen to be associated cannot be changed later.

Player Names and Online IDs

• Once a Microsoft account is linked for Sea of Thieves play, all players will be displayed using their Microsoft account gamertag.

• Players on PlayStation®5 can utilise the Recent Players List feature, located within the Game Options menu, to view the Microsoft account and linked online IDs of players on PlayStation™Network they encounter, as well as directly viewing their profile.

Inviting Friends into a Crew

• When setting up a crew, players can use the PlayStation®5 Game Base to invite existing PlayStation friends using ‘Invite to Game’.

• Players are also able to use the new in-game friends list, which consolidates friends from the linked Microsoft account and the account for PlayStation™Network into a single location for seamless crew management.

Cross-Platform Play

• Cross-platform play is enabled by default, ensuring that all new players joining High Seas will find their home on the waves with other players from all walks of life. Players on PlayStation®5, however, can choose to disable crossplay from Matchmaking Settings and only matchmake with others on PlayStation™Network.

Performance on PlayStation®5

• Sea of Thieves on PlayStation®5 is optimised to run at 60 FPS in 4K resolution, ensuring complete parity with Xbox Series X players.

• Players can access an additional Performance Mode from the game settings for supported TVs, allowing for 120Hz refresh rates at 1080p resolution.

HDR Setup on PlayStation®5

• New players on PlayStation®5 using a HDR-supported screen should perform HDR calibration when playing for the first time. Navigate to HDR Calibration in Game Settings to configure your experience.

DualSense™ Wireless Controller Support

• Hungry for haptic feedback? The DualSense™ wireless controller enhances the experience of movement and interactions with the world.

• Adaptive triggers leveraging unique qualities of the controller heighten the gunplay experience, allowing players to feel every bullet they fire.

• When a headset isn’t connected, the controller’s built-in microphone will serve as the default device for communication, granting all players access to in-game voice chat.

Voice Chat Notifications

• When using in-game voice chat with crewmates or other players you meet in the world, the name of the broadcasting players will be shown within the HUD in a new indicator.

Player Moderation

• Players now have access to the Player Blocking tool in the game’s settings. This allows a player to be blocked, resulting in them being restricted from communicating with you using in-game voice chat.

• The Player Blocking tool also allows for easy management of your Blocked Players list.

Fates of Fortune

Chest of Fortune

• The Chest of Fortune has been returned to the locked Vault of the formidable Fort of Fortune. Keep a keen eye on the horizon for the ominous red skull cloud in the sky when it becomes active.

• Crews who retrieve Chests of Fortune can now earn the next Grade of the Fortune’s Favour Commendation, unlocking access to the Fates of Fortune Lantern, Spyglass, Compass and Bucket.

Reaper’s Chests

• Crews chasing down the tell-tale beacon of the Reaper’s Chest or Reaper’s Bounty can earn the next Grade of the Reaper’s Riches Commendation, and start unlocking access to the Fates of Fortune Banjo and Drum.

Gameplay Improvements

Hit Registration Improvements

• Further improvements have been made to calculate the location of player shots more accurately across the client and server, providing a sizeable improvement to hit registration for ranged weapons across a range of combat scenarios.

Skeleton Ship and Megalodon Encounters

• The frequency of emergent Skeleton Ship and Megalodon encounters has been reduced to match the frequency of encounters prior to Season 11.

Animation Quality Settings

• Players now have improved control over the character animation quality within the Graphics Settings. This will provide a smoother experience; however, higher settings may impact CPU performance.

Outpost Cosmetics

New Outpost Stock!

• The Outpost shops have received a new shipment of items from the Seared Forsaken Ashes set, with the ship set and clothing now available to purchase with gold after unlocking the Warsmith of the Flame Commendation.

• The Outpost weapon shops now have the Forsaken Ashes Heavy Sword and Rapier available for Doubloons after unlocking the Devil’s Cartographer Commendation.

Legacy Event Cosmetics

• Previous rewards from the Wish You Were Here Event have now been added to the Outpost shops. The Cartographer Tattoo and the Refined Gold Cutlass, Spyglass and Speaking Trumpet are now available for Doubloons.

Season Five Legacy Cosmetics

• Cosmetics previously available during Season Five have arrived in Outpost shops and can now be yours in exchange for Doubloons!

• Players can purchase the Bell Brigade clothing set, along with a range of unique one-off items that were available during this Season. Pirate Legends can also pick up Merrick’s Tankard and Grimm’s Jacket.

• The time-limited Ancient Gold items, however, remain exclusive to players who participated in Season Five.

Updates

Report a Player

• The in-game Report a Player tool has now been extended, providing the ability to report players for Movement Exploits, Aiming Exploits and Toxic Behaviour.

• As with all player reports, these will be referred to the Sea of Thieves Support team for investigation and follow-up action.

Pirate Emporium Quick Menu

• The Pirate Emporium can now be accessed via the Quick Menu, allowing players to browse the Emporium at any time!

Pirate Emporium Local Currency Purchasing

• With shopping improvements in the works for the Pirate Emporium, this update removes a lesser-used feature that provided players with the ability to make purchases within the Pirate Emporium directly using their local currency.

Port Merrick Front End Menu

• The tavern location for the front end is now using the recently constructed Port Merrick tavern.

Fixed Issues

Gameplay

• Crews diving to an experience or Faction battle and surfacing alongside another ship should no longer encounter issues where items on board their ship become non-interactable.

• The frequency of sharks appearing when players set foot in the water has returned to normal levels.

• Resolved an issue experienced during high network traffic where players bailing from a ship would find that water would only be visually thrown from a bucket, and could then be thrown a second time.

• Console players can once again use a mouse and keyboard with full compatibility.

• Skeletons have been reminded that they need to repair damage to their ships during battle.

• Shipwrights should now consistently deliver purchased supplies to Captains.

• Players losing treasure during the Merchant Alliance or Order of Souls Tutorial Voyages will now find the Voyage cancelled.

• Players can no longer use a cannon to generate additional throwables.

• All Gold Hoarders Vault Voyages have been updated to prevent crews from predicting the location of the treasure.

• Players will no longer find treasure from a Siren Shrine reappears after leaving and returning to a cleared area.

• Selling Gold Hoarders artefacts at The Reaper's Hideout should no longer progress Gold Hoarders Commendations.

• Captains leaving a ship damaged at the end of a session should now consistently find the ship seaworthy in their next session, but will still need to restore it to fully repair it.

• The following Commendations will now progress when completing the required criteria: Righteous Victor, Athena’s Shield, Order of Ghouls, Hunt Them Down, Is That All You’ve Got?, Bones, Not Bonds.

• Crews failing to find an Hourglass battle after diving will no longer be unable to catch fire when returning to their original server.

• Resource Crates placed on a docked Rowboat should now still be visible and accessible after leaving the Tunnels of the Damned.

Performance and Stability

• Players should now find in-game voice chat works consistently when playing across platforms and regions.

• Resolved a prevalent client crash affecting Xbox consoles following the upgrade to GDK.

• Improvements made to shop purchasing when under heavy load, reducing scenarios where players may become stuck ‘Counting Coins’.

• Players should no longer become stuck waiting while attempting to purchase a Trading Company promotion.

• Players returning through the Tunnels of the Damned following a Tall Tale should no longer experience a Hazelnutbeard error.

• Further improvements made to game stability to reduce scenarios where players experience an unexpected exit from the game or become disconnected from their session.

Anti-Cheat

• Players on Steam should no longer encounter the error that Easy Anti-Cheat is not installed when installing from the Steam Store.

• Improvements to Anti-Cheat detection, reducing the frequency of players encountering a Hazelnutbeard error.

• Improvements to Anti-Cheat detection to further protect from external access.

User Interface

• The Guilds menu on the front end should now consistently open, providing access to the player’s active Guilds.

• Players can now successfully send Guild Invites to players not on their Xbox friends list.

• Players on PC will now find their graphics settings are consistently saved across sessions.

• Crewmates attacked by an enemy will now show the appropriate Crew Status Tag on their nameplate.

• The Ruby Stinger Cutlass shown in the Armoury preview now more closely matches the wielded weapon.

• The Flourishing Wild Rose items now display the correct iconography in the cosmetic chests.

• Viewing the Lantern Dance Emote within the Vanity Chest now displays the correct flame colour.

• The Noble Spartan Sails now display the correct iconography in the Ship Customisation Chest.

• Players attempting to close the virtual keyboard while typing in text chat will now find the menu is closed.

Visual and Audio

• Players should now consistently see their ship name adorning the Ship’s Crest when joining a session.

• While navigating around islands, players should no longer see leaves sometimes pop in and out.

• While observing shadows cast on board the ship, players should no longer see the shadows of ropes sometimes pop in and out while moving.

• Picking up a Captain's Key while on a Lost Shipment Voyage should now show it sitting correctly in the player’s hand.

• While on the Legend of the Sunken Kingdom Voyage, picking up the Gold Hoarders Medallion should no longer cause it to visually shrink in the player’s hand.

• Players traversing the world should no longer see large shadows pop in and out across islands or while out at sea.

• Players picking up the Vestige of Power or Ashes of Ruin will now find they use the correct animation when held.

• Players dodging repeatedly with a sword should continue to see their sword sway when returning to blocking.

• Blocking a skeleton’s attack with a cutlass now matches the skeleton’s strikes with the player's sword.

• Skeletons and Phantoms blocking a cutlass attack will now consistently block in sync with the player’s strikes.

• Observing a player blocking cutlass strikes will now consistently show the player’s blocking animations.

• Players swimming quickly underwater will now see the correct bubble effects from both hands.

• ‘The Journey to Mêlée Island’ – The Clock Tower Key should now sit correctly in the player’s hand.

• ‘The Shroudbreaker’ – The Mysterious Stranger now animates smoothly during the initial cutscene.

Environment

• Crews exploring a sunken shipwreck should once again be able to easily retrieve Bounty Skulls from within the Captain’s quarters.

• Crews unlocking the Vault beneath the Fort of the Damned will now find the treasure placed neatly on the surfaces.

Accessibility

• Players on Xbox using ‘Let Games Read to Me’ will find the Virtual Keyboard is now narrated.

Text and Localisation

• Improvements made to Quest Books across The Legend of Monkey Island Tall Tales to reduce overlapping text in a range of languages.

• The Unbroken Bonds Sails now have an appropriate name when viewed in the Ship Customisation Chest.

• Tasha at Ancient Spire Outpost no longer has duplicated words in her dialogue.

• Ship names using the maximum character length will no longer overflow within the Captain’s Logbook.

• Text shown on the loading screen will now be displayed correctly when using an Ultrawide monitor.

• ‘A Pirate's Life’ – The Cursed Captain’s name should always be shown alongside the relevant subtitles in all languages.

Download Size:

Xbox Series X: 7.44 GB

Xbox Series S: 23.2 GB

Xbox One X: 7.44 GB

Xbox One: 23.2 GB

Microsoft Store: 6.1 GB

Steam: 8.3 GB

PlayStation®5: 76.97 GB

Game Information

Game Title: Stellar Blade

Platforms:

• PlayStation 5 (Apr 26, 2024)

Trailers:

Developer: Shift Up

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Review Aggregator:

Critic Reviews

- - Spanish -

The explicit and self-confessed influence of NieR: Automata ends up having just enough importance in Stellar Blade—an enjoyable, solid action game, somewhat confusing and overloaded, and without much to say.

- - Turkish -

Stellar Blade has a unique way of always surprising you. Including uncovering the secrets of its well-crafted universe one by one. It offers an unforgettable adventure with deep gameplay that constantly evolves.

- - Spanish -

Stellar Blade has great merit when we see it from a production point of view and as Shift Up's letter of introduction to the international market. As an exclusive to the PlayStation 5, it lets us see that the industry is willing to expand and show us the AAA proposals that other regions have for us. Despite its positive points, the title offers us a generic story and gameplay mechanics that lack depth, although the presentation and production levels are impressive.

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Stellar Blade is a fantastic addition to the PlayStation-exclusive library. The combat is slick and fun, the story deep and interesting, and the set pieces all bigger than the last. It's obvious why Sony scooped this one up, fitting into its story-rich third-party pedigree of titles.

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Despite some flaws, Stellar Blade is a thrilling take on the modern action-adventure which any post-apocalyptic aficionado should check out.

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Stellar Blade stands out as one of the best action-adventure games of its generation. Its combat system is both deep and multilayered, ensuring that every encounter is an exhilarating experience. Offering a range of options, players can tackle enemies in several ways, be it through offensive maneuvers or defensive strategies. Whether opting to dodge, parry, or create distance, the choices are intuitively designed. Coupled with its captivating narrative and cinematic presentation, Stellar Blade is an essential exclusive.

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Stellar Blade bursts out of the gate looking stunning, full of jaw-dropping set pieces, intense action and gory violence, and maintains that pace throughout. Underneath this flashy action game are a lot of systems that we've seen before, but despite what can feel like a lack of innovation at times, it never feels stale or unenticing due to its overwhelming sense of style and polished, gratifying combat. For every familiar puzzle or annoying platforming section, there's a brutal boss battle or incredible over-the-top sequence that pulled me back in. Stellar Blade is a joy, a deliciously crafted adventure jam-packed with dramatic thrills.

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Beneath the fanservice and comparisons to NieR Automata and the Bayonetta games, Stellar Blade boasts some surprisingly involved combat systems and fantastic creature designs all in a relatively compact experience.

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With Stellar Blade, Shift Up shifts gears into overdrive to create an excellent debut console experience. However, the entry fee comes at being able to get over the surface level characterization.

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By pulling on the strings of many a modern classic they’ve been able to deliver a fun, tough, playable title that’s addictive and enjoyable. But it can be improved on in both image style and gameplay if there is a sequel.

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Overall, Stellar Blade is a journey worth experiencing. I feel like with some improvements in certain areas, Stellar Blade could be a legendary landmark experience like those it clearly draws inspiration from. But even in its current form, Stellar Blade offers a fast-paced action combat system in a unique world with a rewarding narrative. It's not quite stellar, but it's certainly solid. Solid Blade.

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Stellar Blade has landed a critical hit, successfully slicing through the crowd of well-established action-adventure game giants. If you’re a fan of sleek and stylish combat, with sprinklings of Soulsborne and Nier Automata vibes, you’ll feel right at home when playing Shift Up’s triumphant console debut.

- - German -

Stellar Blade is a brilliant PS5 exclusive with tons of over-the-top action. It mixes numerous elements from other games and genres to create a unique work of art. The aesthetics of the sci-fi world and the oversexualized protagonist are contrasted with ultra-ugly and superbly designed enemies. The dreamlike soundtrack perfectly underlines the melancholy atmosphere of the desolate sci-fi world. Graphically, the game looks excellent with a few exceptions and is one of the prettier games on the PS5.

The combat system is fast, fluid and intuitive. Aside from the spectacularly orchestrated battles, there is plenty to discover with excursions into other genres. The frustrating platformer passages, the moderately exciting side quests and the largely empty open game areas tarnish the otherwise fantastic overall impression a little.

- - Portuguese -

Stellar Blade is a game full of ambition and confidence, but it's too attached to its main inspirations, making it a somewhat unoriginal piece of entertainment.

- - Greek -

Stellar Blade offers excellent gameplay, an engaging protagonist, plenty of bloody action, an immersive battle system, and an interesting story.

- - Dutch -

With Stellar Blade, Shift Up joins a solid list of exclusives from the Playstation 5, and does so properly. Their first console game manages to impress with challenging battles, where the boss fights in particular steal the show, and a fantastic world. And although the side missions lack quite a bit of creativity, the main mission manages to keep your attention enough. Stellar Blade has everything it takes to become a hit, but should not be mentioned in the same breath as the biggest Playstation exclusives. The South Korean developer has already hinted at a sequel and once they manage to address the weak points there, it will not be long until Stellar Blade will become one of the most important games for Playstation.

- - German -

Stellar Blade is an excellent action-game. And could have been even better without the sexist shenanigans regarding the female cast. Nonetheless, the overall gameplay is more than solid with combat and variety in level-design standing out.

- -

Stellar Blade is an exceptionally well-crafted game that has learned from its influences and honed their teachings to a highly polished standard that can only be commended.

- - German -

Entertaining sci-fi action with great role models, which doesn't have many ideas of its own.

- -

More than just a Soulslike with a protagonist to serve as eye-candy, Stellar Blade has far surpassed our expectations, offering varied gameplay, outstanding visuals, a sublime soundtrack and an engaging story. It's a must-play for action game fans.

- KiKiToes - French -

A very good and generous action game, that's pretty good to sum up Stellar Blade.

- -

Stellar Blade is not just a great hack-and-slash game, it's a culmination of a great fashion designer's wardrobe and a 'souls-like' veteran's wildest fantasies. Thanks to its satisfying combat, varied enemy designs, and stellar presentation, it really lives up to its name despite some occasional hiccups involving lackluster platforming and repetitive side requests.

- -

Stellar Blade is an above-average title. Well-developed, with a captivating story from the first moment, and most importantly engaging due to thoroughly well-planned and competently executed gameplay. The South Korean studio Shift Up performed exceptionally well, and despite my initial skepticism, I ultimately saw it as one of the top games of 2024.

- -

Fluid and adrenaline-fueled combat, a compelling setting, and a stylish aesthetic make Stellar Blade an action game well worth experiencing.

- -

Despite not vibing too well with the demo, we were utterly in love with Stellar Blade by the time the credits rolled. Shift Up has done a tremendous job with their first triple A project and sets a high bar for modern action role playing games. There are some pacing issues, and the narrative's delivery stumbles, but the game as a whole is near perfect: the themes, the visuals, the music, the combat, the exploration, the world, and the technical performance. A modern masterpiece.

- -

From its incredible soundtrack to its brilliant world design and combat, Stellar Blade’s debut is a much-needed injection of fun across the PlayStation-exclusive library and likely the most refreshing new game on the platform to date.

- -

There's a hell of a lot going on in Stellar Blade, but it remains a surprisingly elegant and exciting adventure throughout.

- -

Stellar Blade delivers masterclass gameplay, spectacular visuals and a compelling universe. It no doubt will draw comparisons to Nier and its successor, but what Shift Up has done is improved upon the formula greatly in creating one of the best action games of the year. The combat will have you engaged from start to finish, and while the story is overly predictable, the beautiful visuals and mesmerizing soundtrack will have you immersed. It does have fatigue when it comes to the open areas and side quests, and there’s a lost opportunity with the location choices, but the main story has been finely crafted into a wondrous adventure that will last over fifty hours. It helps that the side quests help establish the lore of the world and the characters are compelling enough to keep your interest. In the end, Stellar Blade is a must-play.

- -

Stellar Blade is great in all of the most important ways for an action game, but dull characters, a lackluster story, and several frustrating elements of its RPG mechanics prevent it from soaring along with the best of the genre.

- - Italian -

Stellar Blade is a good game, plain and simple. It feels like so much love and passion has been poured into it, and even if the story doesn't quite reach the heights of NieR Automata and the like, Eve's tale kept me interested until the credits rolled, and made me eager for more. There are some minor issues, and I would have loved to see a little more environment variety, but snappy combat, terrific music and visuals, and a world almost as enchanting as her protagonist make Stellar Blade very easy to recommend.

- - Spanish -

EVE has come to conquer the hearts of fans. Shift Up has built a very beautiful game that, although it presents a somewhat weak story, is capable of catching anyone with its mechanics and fluid combat. Stellar Blade is a game that will remain in the memory for a long time.

- - Korean -

A beautiful, yet deadly action game that combines fast-paced action with the tension of a Souls-like experience. the game also caters to various gaming tastes with beginner-friendly features and puzzles. While the lack of story buildup and the short length are disappointing, and the details of close-range to long-range combat swaps can be cumbersome, overall it's an impressive piece.

- -

Ultimately, Stellar Blade is a game that focuses on style over substance with aa developer being overly ambitious for their first AAA console title. Let's hope that SHIFT UP continues to improve with their future games because with further refinement and a more specific tight focus on sharpening and honing its good mechanics instead of mixing everything in a mess like throwing crap at the wall to see what sticks, Stellar Blade could have turned out to be a much better game.

- - Spanish -

Stellar Blade is a game that stands out for its excellent character design and lore, but its appeal goes beyond the beautiful visual aspect. It's a really fun experience that we enjoyed due to its exceptional combat system, epic boss battles and enjoyable exploration. It's a brave game that dares to challenge many current trends to become one of the top South Korean representatives in the gaming industry.

- - Turkish -

I liked Stellar Blade, which I finished in about 35 hours, and got involved in side quests as much as I could. For the first time, it was a game that was prepared by a team that prepared a AAA game, and it was a game that could be much more fun if some of its mechanical systems were overhauled. Even as it is, it's worth buying and playing, don't pass without trying a demo first. At least you can get a little more idea of what the battles are like. The progress you make there is also saved so that you can use it in the main game.

- -

Stellar Blade absolutely delivers on its stylish, demanding action, impressive visuals and memorable music, even if the story execution and writing stumbles at times.

- -

Stellar Blade is an extremely impressive debut from Shift Up, serving up a combination of dynamic combat with visuals and animations that pay extreme attention to detail. Eve's adventure is dressed up with the wrappings of a masterful soundtrack that resonates long after the game is finished, and there's enough content to warrant a more thorough playthrough the second time around.

Stellar Blade's story is sadly predictable, and characters like Eve prove hard to form an emotional connection with due to their relatively flat personalities, but the world and lore are intriguing enough to create more properties should the developers choose to do so. It doesn't offer much in terms of groundbreaking innovation, but Stellar Blade is a competent and confident effort that will offer a good time worthy of your attention.

- - Portuguese -

Stellar Blade is a great action game with an interesting story. It's challenging in just the right amount and its content is varied enough to keep the player entertained. However, certain combat mechanics need some tweaking. In addition, the main campaign is somewhat short, and can be finished in about 10 to 15 hours (the parallel content compensates for the situation, being able to double this number).

- -

Stellar Blade is a provocative sword guard thumb-pop that ought to make every fan of the genre snap to attention.

- -

Stellar Blade recalls the classic era of character-action games in truly inspired fashion. It might struggle to deliver on its core narrative, and its platforming is often more frustrating than it isn't, but neither of those things are enough to bring down a thoroughly enjoyable action experience. It wears its inspirations on its sleeve, but manages to build on them in engaging fashion with a deliciously layered combat system and gorgeous presentation to boot.

- -

Stellar Blade is a slick console debut from a developer clearly on the rise. With an ever-evolving counter-attacking combat system, some superb art direction, and a sensational soundtrack, this is the kind of back-to-basics PS5 outing that fans have been pleading for. A dire English dub and some trite story beats mean the studio still has plenty of room to refine its craft, but Eve's inaugural outing is largely excellent across the board, and destined to become a firm favourite among PS5 enthusiasts.

- - Italian -

It's much easier than we expected, and it lacks really fresh ideas, but Stellar Blade is a very solid first effort from korean team Shift Up and a bold new IP for the Playstation Studios, thanks to a fast and furious combat system and solid performances. We're sincerely eager to see in which direction the devs will go from here in the future.

- -

Stellar Blade stands toe-to-toe with some of the best games of the character action genre. This package offers a satisfying combat system with plenty of progression, beautiful visuals, and one of the best soundtracks in years.

- -

Stellar Blade is a fun hack-and-slash that leaves a little to be desired. The story is decent, the combat is challenging, but traversal and some mechanics bring the experience down. There is a lot to enjoy here, and despite its flaws, it should keep you entertained for a while.

- -

Stellar Blade is a pretty enjoyable game to swing your hairband sword at, so long as you don't mind the obvious sexualisation. There's a few rough areas, but nothing to spoil things overall and there's plenty of interesting story to uncover as you fight your way through giant monsters with circular saws for heads and weird tentacles for legs.

- Italian -

Stellar Blade, as remarked several times during the review, turns out to be a collection of elements taken by weight from other productions and put together into a composition that while cohesive, seems soulless.

- -

Stellar Blade’s potential was clear, but as its ambitions expanded into something greater, it lost focus. As soon as Stellar Blade tries to bring everything together, it merges into a single figure that looks deformed and uneven. The quality is unquestionable but it wasn’t the final product I was slowly building in my head as I went through the game’s first half.

- -

It all contributes to Stellar Blade being a bit of a mixed bag, checking off boxes for what constitutes an action RPG in this modern age. That is not exactly a bad thing per se, but it is most certainly a missed opportunity for positioning the game as the leader of a new generation of experiences that build upon the successes that have come before. This title might not be the sharpest blade around, but it still has an edge that players can enjoy. Come for the visuals, stay for the combat, and try to ignore the suboptimal portions of humankind's latest attempt to take back the Earth.

- -

For those who wished that God of War Ragnarok offered a bit more challenge or that Bayonetta had a bit more weight to its combat, this slick sci-fi slasher is the perfect tonic, offering both the perfect entry point into the Souls-like genre and a refreshing refinement of the well-worn character action formula. It may lack the naval gazing intelligence of the excellent Nier Automata, but when you’re having this much fun, it’s hard to care.

- -

If you take just the combat and the music from Stellar Blade, you’ve got a fantastic game. Sadly, this is not the whole package.

- -

Taking a step back from Kim Hung Tae's character designs for a moment, Stellar Blade is a phenomenal action RPG that evolves from the framework of NieR Replicant and NieR Automata to become one of the next cult classics.

- - Dutch -

Stellar Blade combines great looks with thrilling fights. The game regularly borrows from the greatest games of today and combines that into an entertaining mix that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

So I just got around to watching the Valheim Presentation Jonathan Smars did at GDC 2024 and wrote down some bullet points I found interesting.

Jonathan is the lead engineer at Iron Gate. Some of this is my interpretation, as he wasnt 100% clear on some things.

• Overall, the Game is tuned to be played by multiple players. Yes, it can be played fine by one single person, but the experience is way better if you play with Friends, as the game is specifically designed to let everyone do what they enjoy without anyone falling behind. It was originally meant to be a P2P MMO, which is why the Server Structure works as it does - good for when everyone explores by themselves, bad when people are exploring together in tight areas. (thats not saying that Singleplayer was an afterthought or anything like that. Its just the nature of the game and the genre.)

• He still considers the Game more Adventure than Survival.

• Iron Gate is very adamant on their work life - balance. They have 7 hour days, 6 weeks of Vacation. They dont do overtime, they dont crunch.

• On why the Game exploded as much as it did, Iron Gate is clueless themselves. Jonathans theory is that people were burned out on classic online pvp gaming after one year of Covid lockdowns and were looking for more relaxed coop content to experience with friends. Valheim dropped at the perfect time.

• The infamous Road Map; reading between the lines, it sounds like this was pushed on them by the Publisher - Coffee Stain probably got dollar signs flashing in their eyes after the massive initial success and wanted to ensure the hypetrain kept going by promising lots of content to come soon. Obviously still was very badly communitcated within the Team and to the playerbase, and "the internet does not forget" as he says. So the Devs are to blame as well, but in my opinion without any outside pressure they would have not released this, as it does not fit their MO at all.

• The Horse. So this was basically about a local horse club getting into financial trouble during the Pandemic and asked if anyone wanted to help out, the Studio "bought" the Horse to support the Club. Posting about it was meant to be a fun little episode, but as we know Devs got a backlash for it as people questioned their work "priorities." Fun times.

• Updates. Jonathan considers Hearth&Home, the Abomination, Frost Caves, Mistlands and Hildir as "major" Updates. They also had 79 smaller patches for the Game so far.

• Again my impression: The Xbox Release, Crossplay and the constant work to balance those things out added a lot of extra work on the entire team. Basically everything has to be coded for the weakest link, which is the Console, and go from there.

• The Team grew to 13 from 5 people. They shifted positions around a lot, they also got a new office and had to move there, which also took time.

• Backwards compability is also time consuming, but very important to them that people can keep the Worlds they invested much time in for as long as possible. But also true that Development would be faster if they just did a clean sweep on every update.

• If Valheim wasnt an Early Access game, it would be finished by now. They would have done "slimmer" as Jonathan says. But the massive success raised standards within the team and raised expectations from the Playerbase. You have to go bigger and better everytime, adding to the development time.

• The Plan after Ashlands is to go for 1.0 with Deep North. They want to go out "with a bang" as he says. 1.0 is meant to feel like a true Ending, not another Update. They have some ideas, and a lot of polish and content will be added alongside the final biome. Also Steam Achievements, Mod Support and so on, everything to make Valheim feel like a complete game. A plan for the End Game is already there, as well as commitment to do some post-1.0 content updates.

• When asked about Playstation release, Jonathan cops out a bit with the "cant confirm nor deny" so maybe something cooking there?

I have to say, like many others I often am impatient, because this game is amazing and I cant wait for 1.0 to jump in and create "the World" to last. But the way Jonathan described it, the Development timeframe actually feels fair?

The Game is three years old. We got two massive Biome updates, and a lot of stuff inbetween, a console release, and obviously the "fix a million bugs" phase after the overwhelming success of the initial release. If I contrast this with other similar Early Access title, we are still on track. The Forest was in EA for 4 years, 7 Days to Die is in EA since 10! years.

Given that Deep North will have a lot of stuff coming with it, I think a fair estimate is late 2025. But Jonathan also says they learned a lot and can streamline lots of work better now, so maybe stuff will move faster, especially since Ashlands was basically a giant test for Deep North.

Edit: would you look at that, I just realized that the talk is actually free! I got access to the GDC vault but it's mad expensive, so that's great news for everyone not willing to pay 600 bucks for this Video

Game Information

Game Title: Another Crab's Treasure

Platforms:

• Xbox Series X/S (Apr 25, 2024)

• PlayStation 5 (Apr 25, 2024)

• Nintendo Switch (Apr 25, 2024)

• PC (Apr 25, 2024)

• Xbox One (Apr 25, 2024)

Trailers:

Developer: Aggro Crab

Review Aggregator:

Critic Reviews

- -

Another Crab’s Treasure is a fantastic soulslike for those looking for an entry into soulslikes.

- -

Another Crab’s Treasure blends fun, challenge and accessibility for a gem of an experience.

- -

Another Crab's Treasure is a Soulslike hit and another win for Aggro Crab. Proving the genre can be more than just darkness and grit, offering colour and whimsy all within a memorable nautical world. Though it might not always be the most original, that's easily forgiven thanks to damn good action RPG combat, a healthy dose of accessibility and thoughtful environment design you'll get lost in for hours. Ducking in and out of shells, toppling great big bosses and zipping around with a grappling hook is SO. MUCH. FUN. This journey to the deep is well worth the plunge.

- -

Another Crab's Treasure utilizes its charming setting and assist mode options to become one of the most approachable Soulslikes ever.

- -

There's a lot to like about Another Crab's Treasure. Its underwater setting and cutesy premise makes this a unique Soulslike, and its accessibility options means this is one of only a few games in the genre that can truly be played by all. But there are bugs and issues galore, stopping this crustacean's adventure from being quite as enjoyable as it should be.

- -

Another Crab’s Treasure throws out dark themes and gratuitous violence in favor of talking cartoon crabs, and I love it.

- -

Another Crab’s Treasure might be one of the most delightful games you’ll play this year, and is great fun for veterans or newcomers to the genre.

- -

An undersea soulslike that's cute and compelling, though weirdly crass.

- -

Another Crab's Treasure may not convince soulslike skeptics, but it's a lovingly executed underwater take on the challenging genre.

- -

Another Crab's Treasure is a scrappy, succinct and soggy soulslike that doesn't just pay homage to FromSoft's pioneering efforts but stands out in its own right. There's no getting around the fact that it has serious issues of performance and polish that can really bring down the experience, but it's a game so packed with charm, so inspired, so unexpectedly cooked and with so many flashes of brilliance that I can genuinely say it's worth suffering through the pain points. I don't think I've been quite so enamoured with a game like this in a long time.

- -

Another Crab's Treasure is a delightful mixture of all the right things; the precise tug-of-war combat you'd find in a game like Sekiro, the verticality and exploration of old-school 3D platformers, and the light-hearted goofiness of classics like Banjo-Kazooie.

- -

Another Crab's Treasure is a refreshingly different take on the soulslike action RPG. Its more lighthearted presentation, stronger emphasis on story, and sense of humour don't take away from the genre's core, however - this is equally a stern, challenging adventure with fun combat to master and lots of secrets to discover. Unfortunately, it's let down by some frustrating technical troubles and occasionally janky moments. Despite its flaws, though, we came away having quite enjoyed the adventure; we can already feel the carcinisation setting in.

- -

A playful Soulslike for everyone, that lets you give a crab a gun.

- -

If you're intrigued by the idea of a crab scouring the ocean for makeshift armor while battling existential threats, then "Another Crab's Treasure" is definitely worth a dive.

- -

With their vibrant and approachable take on the genre, Aggro Crab has crafted an incredible soulslike that satisfies both genre veterans and welcomes newcomers with open claws.

- -

The game’s quirky sensibility lends amusing irony to its critique of modern industry’s environmental destruction. Where item descriptions in the Dark Souls series and its ilk flesh out the esoteric lore of their settings, here they offer a crab’s-eye view of life on the surface. “Residue of a painful venom lines the outside of this armor,” reads the blurb about the nozzle of a hot sauce bottle that Kril can equip as a shell. As Another Crab’s Treasure conjures a universe in which the vast horde of trash sunk carelessly into the sea might have its benefits, the game pokes countless holes in its fantasy, letting reality flood in: No amount of make-believe can render humankind’s impact on the Earth anything but poisonous.

- -

Another Crab's Treasure might be cartoony and fun, but it still has everything you'd want from a Soulslike: great bosses, huge and sprawling levels, and plenty of giant enemy crabs.

- -

Another Crab's Treasure riffs off the Soulslike genre, but strikes a great balance between humour and homage. This is a great game with a good message, and above all else, it's just a lot of fun.

- -

Another Crab’s Treasure is a Soulslike but for fans and newcomers to the series alike, creating a hilarious, exciting nautical knightly adventure for audiences of all ages.

- -

Despite a few downsides, I thoroughly enjoyed my time playing Another Crab's Treasure. The game's humor was a standout feature that had me laughing out loud on several occasions. As a fan of soulslike experiences, I can confidently say that it's one of the few AA games that's truly worth playing through. What's more, it's incredibly accessible to play, making it a great entry point for newcomers to the genre.

- -

Another Crab’s Treasure is a balls-hard Soulslike that was one of the most frustrating experiences of my reviewing career until I gave in and used its game-saving accessibility options.  Once the difficulty was better balanced the game’s humor and heart were able to shine through.

We had a long distance relationship for two years and now we’ve been living together for 1,5 years. When we were long distance, there was never a problem of giving our attention to one another when we were together. But ever since we’ve moved in together, our time together seems to be taken for granted. Our jobs don’t make it easy to have shared downtime: he works in shifts and I have a 9-5 job. We have quite an intense social life with a big communal friend group. We get together with other people at least twice a week. But sometimes a month passes without us doing something with just the two of us. We’ve talked a lot about this, but rarely anything changes for a long period of time.

What often happens though is that he’ll be at home and just wants to be behind his PlayStation to take a break from his socially demanding job. I completely get this, but when we have a ‘night at home’ planned for just the two of us, he often quits early to play games with his friends online. It got to a point now where we only spend a few hours a week together, often just when we have a chance to eat together, watch a show or have sex. I feel like we are just roommates with benefits..

Now, to the issue at hand: Two days ago we had ‘a night for us’. He comes home after work at night, we talk a bit. Friends of us asked if we wanted to join them at their place for drinks and games, but I don’t feel like giving away another one of our moments, so we plan to play some games and watch a show at home. He might still go to our friends depending on how late I go to bed after our evening. We end up cuddling and having sex. 5 min after he says ‘well, I better get ready to go’. We have a discussion about why he suddenly feels the need to just leave, I feel annoyed and that’s it. He came home 3 hours later already, completely drunk. I packed my bags and went to my parents. He apologised a lot, and I don’t know if I am overreacting here.

You’ve seen her in a crown, now see her in Fortnite. Award-winning artist Billie Eilish is the Icon of Fortnite Festival Season 3!

Season 3 sounds off today and ends June 13, 2024, at 12 AM ET. During this time, keep up the tempo to unlock new Instruments, Jam Tracks, and other items in the Season 3 Festival Pass, which has a free reward track and a Premium Reward Track upgrade.

Feel a surge of boldness with the Premium Reward Track — upon purchasing this extra layer of unlockable rewards, you’ll automatically receive the Green Roots Billie Outfit!

KEEP AN EAR TO THE FESTIVAL PASS TAB

Season 3’s a lost cause if you’re not at the right venue. When you enter the Lobby of a Fortnite Festival experience (“Main Stage” or “Jam Stage”), head to Festival Pass in the top navigation. Here you’ll find the Season 3 Festival Pass and a button to view Festival Quests!

SEASON 3 FESTIVAL PASS

Level up your performance, level up your collection of in-game rewards! Completing Festival Quests will earn you Festival Points that forward your progress in the Festival Pass. 🎵 The more you progress, the more rewards you get 🎵

Free Reward Track

Here’s an Instrument that any audience will fall in lava with. The Lavatronik Bass is the final reward in the free reward track — turn the music up and then burn it all down!

Ready to riff? Rock the world by unlocking these four Jam Tracks in the free reward track:

• Epic Games - “Change”

• Epic Games - “Silly Bros”

• Epic Games - “Sweet Victory”

• WitchGang - “Runaway”

“Sweet Victory” existed previously in Fortnite as a Lobby Track. Players who had this Lobby Track in their Locker before Fortnite Festival Season 3 will receive a one-time V-Bucks refund equivalent to the amount they paid for it, plus the Jam Track version!

Channel the rhythm with two new Auras. First up is one that’ll spread the love: the Heart Groove Aura. Did things just get a little frosty? That’s the Snow Beat Aura for you.

The Snow Beat Aura.

Want to put your own spin on the stage? Then with your Mic in-hand, give the audience a twirl with the Spinback Emote.

Premium Reward Track

If you’re feelin’ this Festival Pass is not one to sleep on, you can purchase the Premium Reward Track upgrade for 1,800 V-Bucks to add a whole new layer of rewards to the mix! No additional Quests are required to unlock these rewards. When you upgrade, you’ll instantly unlock the Green Roots Billie Outfit!

The final reward of the Premium Reward Track is the music-reactive Ultraviolet Style for Green Roots Billie, an alt Style exclusive to the Season 3 Festival Pass. Nothing quite glows like neon green!

If the party’s over, start it back up again with these four unlockable Jam Tracks:

• Maroon 5 - “Maps”

• The Cure - “Friday I'm in Love”

• 5 Seconds Of Summer - “Youngblood”

• Billie Eilish - “Oxytocin”

Don’t be afraid, it’s just a microphone — the Burial Mic is one of two Billie Eilish-themed Instruments you can unlock in the Premium Reward Track. The beat keeping you up at night? Enjoy sweet dreams (and tunes) with the Sleeper Keys Keytar!

Please note! �� The Ultraviolet Style of the Green Roots Billie Outfit is exclusive to the Season 3 Festival Pass. The other content of the Season 3 Festival Pass is NOT exclusive to Fortnite Festival Season 3, and may become purchasable in the Shop at a later date.

BILLIE EILISH ITEMS IN THE SHOP!

All the good girls go to jam. In the Shop ‘til the end of Season 3 are three of Billie’s biggest hits as Jam Tracks:

• Billie Eilish - “all the good girls go to hell”

• Billie Eilish - “Happier Than Ever - Edit”

• Billie Eilish - “Therefore I Am”

More Billie Eilish items will be in the Shop until the Season’s last set, including the “bad guy” Emote and the “you should see me in a crown” Emote.

A new Billie Eilish Outfit and Jam Tracks from her new album will be coming to the Shop later during Season 3!

ROCK OUT WITH GUITAR CONTROLLERS!

You can now use your Rock Band 4 guitar controllers to go all out on new Pro Lead and Pro Bass song parts on the Main Stage on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC! Check out the table below to see whether your controller is supported with the launch of Season 3.

We’ll have more instrument controller news to announce in the future, so follow Fortnite Festival’s social channels to make sure you don’t miss a beat!

FORTNITE FESTIVAL SEASON 3 CONTENT CREATION

Wanting to make Season 3 content for YouTube? This Season, content creators in the program will be able to host VOD content on YouTube featuring the below selection of Jam Tracks (and their loops) and monetize it.

Jam Track selection:

• Billie Eilish - all the good girls go to hell

• Billie Eilish - Happier Than Ever - Edit

• Billie Eilish - Therefore I Am

The selection of Jam Tracks will change each week on Thursdays at 10 AM ET, so keep checking back to see what’s safe to feature in your content! No takedown notifications should occur during the Jam Track selection’s time window.

More info:

• In order to monetize their content featuring the Jam Tracks, SAC members need to link their YouTube and Support-A-Creator accounts.

• IMPORTANT: When uploading the content to YouTube, be sure to upload it as Unlisted or Public. If you upload the video as Private, it's possible you could receive a monetization claim on your video.

• For uploading the content on other platforms, refer to the channel’s platform policies for tips on how to avoid copyright strikes.

Although unlikely, if you do receive a claim on any SAC content, there may be a short delay in YouTube processing the release of the claim. During this time, please do not dispute the claim.

Not in SAC? Don’t worry, you can still share your Fortnite Festival experiences on YouTube during Season 3 featuring the selected Jam Tracks. However, you will not be able to monetize this content on YouTube.
Please note! �� For Twitch creators streaming content featuring the selected Jam Tracks, we cannot prevent your VODs or clips from getting flagged by third-party copyright detection systems. The general recommendation is to disable VODs/clips when streaming Fortnite Festival. For more information, see Twitch’s help page.

IMPROVEMENTS AND FIXES

PRO LEAD AND PRO BASS

• Added two new song parts: Pro Lead and Pro Bass! All current and future Jam Tracks now have these two playable song parts, accessible on the Main Stage with a guitar controller.

  • Pro Lead and Pro Bass have hammer-on and pull-off notes. When you have a streak going, you can hit these notes without strumming!

  • Pro Lead and Pro Bass have colored notes for each lane, corresponding with the guitar controller's buttons.

  • Leaderboards now have new listings to support Pro Lead and Pro Bass scores. Climb to the top!

• To support the release of Pro Lead and Pro Bass, we’ve updated the Overdrive color for all song parts from bright orange to silver-white. How you gather and activate Overdrive hasn’t changed, but we felt with the added note colors that Overdrive needed to appear more distinct.

• For now, the whammy bar only provides a visual effect. There is no audio distortion or extra Overdrive energy when whammying.

• We’re continuing to improve the feel of playing with a guitar controller and want your feedback! For rhythm-rocking veterans, there may be situations where you miss a note you’d expected to hit, or where a familiar Jam Track feels different. Let us know your thoughts as you don the axe in Fortnite Festival. We’re excited to see you shred!

TUNING UP

• The Music Library now shows an expanded set of stats, showing your selected Instrument type’s best performance in each Jam Track row.

• The Music Library is now also ordered with new and featured Jam Tracks at the top by default (this can be re-sorted), allowing players with large libraries to easily access Quest-relevant Jam Tracks.

• New Wristband Quests and rewards have been added.

• Season 2 leaderboard scores have been recorded and archived. The leaderboards await your new top performances with Season 3!

• For more convenient song selection, you'll be closer to the organ when you arrive Backstage. No more sprinting to make your setlist!

• There are more stats on the Results screen after each performance. You can now see the percentage of notes hit and missed and the average from your other performances to see how you’ve improved.

• We’ve reordered the song parts selection menu to Vocals > Bass > Lead > Drums.

• We fixed a bug that was granting a “Double Overdrive” meter during certain note sections.

• Made various other fixes and improvements.

I'm on Playstation. To open the chat options, it's press and hold right stick for 0.5 second. In the middle of heated battle I sometimes press right stick for too long and the chat options appear and all my attacks and abilities are disabled. I've lost so many kills and been killed so many times because of this. I'm 6'5" 260#s with some huge hands. I'm 120+ games in and try my best to avoid it but just cannot. I've thought of a few options that may or may not be viable. One would be an option to disable completely. Another would be instead of press and hold right stick, maybe change to press and hold down on the D pad. Another would be disable the chat completely while in combat or disable until player is stationary for .5 second. Any of this would truly help.

Game Information

Game Title: Tales of Kenzera: Zau

Platforms:

• Xbox Series X/S (Apr 23, 2024)

• PlayStation 5 (Apr 23, 2024)

• PC (Apr 23, 2024)

• Nintendo Switch (Apr 23, 2024)

Trailers:

Developer: Surgent Studios

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Review Aggregator:

Critic Reviews

- - Turkish -

With an emotional story, fluid gameplay and beautiful visuals, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is an adventure that will take you on a journey to faraway lands.

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Legends of Kenzera: ZAU is a triumph of storytelling. It's immersive and thoughtful in every element of Zau's journey. But the narrative, for all of its impact, doesn't stand alone. Instead, the difficulty and complexity of traversing Kenzera complement and add a tactile nature to the emotional endeavor of moving through grief.

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Tales of Kenzera: ZAU offers players a gorgeous world and captivating story, but some of the gameplay challenges might prevent you from seeing it all.

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Tales of Kenzera: Zau tells an emotionally impactful story reinforced by creative design decisions that put a physical feeling to abstract emotions. Its struggles lie in its approach to the Metroidvania genre, as its surprisingly straightforward structure sometimes undercuts the winding tale of acceptance. It’s an imperfect debut, but that’s fitting for a game about something as messy as grief.

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While there’s certainly more to be desired in terms of exploration and discovery, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is a solid first take from Surgent Studios... There’s clearly a lot of love put in from the team, and that passion comes through in every aspect of its presentation.

- - German -

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Surgent Studios' debut game, Tales of Kenzera: Zau, is another incredible EA Originals title.

- French -

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Tales of Kenzera: ZAU rests on a solid foundation, yet prioritizes its narrative at the expense of its game design. Rather than allowing its gameplay and narrative to support each other, it discards some of the medium's unique strengths for a competent if bland experience that fails to give full weight to its subject matter.

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Tales of Kenzera: ZAU doesn’t reinvent the metroidvania genre and if anything, is quite watered-down. However, its emotional story and refreshing African influence deliver a surprising yet short game that I high recommend you all play at least once.

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Tales of Kenzera: Zau is a well-made, confident adventure with some great voice-acting, and fluid, addictive platforming.

- - Italian -

Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is a video game with su much heart... enclosed in an imperfect container. Moving within the various regions of Kenzera is a pleasure, but for a good part of the game the combat remains more of a burden than a pleasure. When things finally start to get more complicated the adventure finally seems to take off, but unfortunately this happens far too late.

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Tales of Kenzera: Zau, as a narrative-driven adventure, is a must-play due to its unique lore, world, and memorable characters that keep you engaged until the end. However, as a Metroidvania, it doesn't offer too many innovations but rather more of the already established foundations of the genre, such as moderately challenging platforming, basic combat, and little else in the way of new skills and exploration.

It is a short and sweet indie game that respects your time, and, with a friendly price point, it's definitely a great meditative weekend adventure to get into that gives you some exhilarating 2D action while exploring some aspects of grief and identity that only Tales of Kenzera: Zau can offer in its unique presentation.

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Tales of Kenzera: Zau builds upon the Metroidvania formula to deliver exciting action, emotional storytelling, and African cultural specificity.

- Portuguese -

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Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is an earnest first video game effort from a studio that's destined for great things. Weak exploration and a lack of combat variety are minor flaws in an overall package that offers up fluid platforming, some great gameplay hooks, an emotionally-resonant story and a rich tapestry of sights and sounds that's like little else in the space. It's almost the perfect pairing to the recent Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, offering a succinct and approachable take on the concept that offers even more story, worldbuilding and visual flair.

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Tales of Kenzera: ZAU tells a touching, personal story of family, grief, and loss, but it's wrapped up in a game that makes appreciating that narrative a lot harder than it should be. A Metroidvania in only the most basic of ways, its combat and platforming are spoilt by basic design and structure, as well as controller issues and frustrating one-hit kills. At its best when left to simply tell its story, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU falters once you have to start playing.

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Tales Of Kenzera has a sensitive story and is beautifully designed, with an intriguing world to explore - but some imprecision lets it down in the platforming and combat. It's still more than worth a go for players looking for something fresh.

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As a story of loss, grief, and acceptance, Tales of Kenzera: Zau is a game like few out there. It's short and, in some ways, it can be basic. Given the story that it's telling, that's just fine.

- Italian -

Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is a metroidvania enjoyable for both casual and hardcore players, as long as you don't expect a complex gameplay or huge replayability.

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Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is an ambitious game, and this kind of endeavour should be applauded and encouraged. Seeking to harness the difficult topic of grief in the form of a Metroidvania was always a big ask. Unfortunately, on this occasion, it proved a challenge that simply hasn't been met.

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Tales of Kenzera: ZAU feels like a studio stretching its legs for the first time. Visually inventive, and full of great platforming, average combat and exploration lets it down

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In Tales of Kenzera: Zau, grief and acceptance tug at your heart between bouts of refined combat and slick traversal. While seasoned Metroidvania fans will want more diversions and mystique, the game’s platforming abilities and challenges do justice to its setting.

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Tales of Kenzera: ZAU infuses the action platformer with earnest, emotional storytelling and a vibrant, compelling world to explore.

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Tales of Kenzera: Zau is a triumphant debut for Surgent Studios. At $20, and available on day one for PlayStation+ subscribers, any fan of the action-platformer genre would do well to check it out. Zau’s journey through loss will stick with me for a long time, and the excellent gameplay already has me itching to play through it all again.

General FAQ

Any posts that include these questions will be removed as they have already been answered here, this is to avoid bloat of posting on the Subreddit so everyone has a smooth experience.

Q. Where can I find others to play with and do the challenge? A. Please use the .

Q. Will I be able to use KB/M? A. KB/M is not enabled for consoles as of right now, but will be added at some point after launch.

Q. Will my rewards and progress transfer to the final version of the game?
A. Your rewards will; your progress will not.

Q. Can I stream this test or publish content from it on YouTube or TikTok (or other social medias)?
A. Yes you can, there is no NDA.

Q. I'm having server issues (specifically server issues, not a hardware error) what do I do???
A. Just take a break and wait, spamming your buttons isn't going to magically get you in and doing so actually makes the issue worse for others and yourself, so take a break!

Q. Where do I send my feedback?
A. You can post your feedback ! The developers have already confirmed they do read this Subreddit and actively look to it for feedback, so feel free to make a thorough in-depth post with what you like, don't like, etc. But try to keep it to one post!

Q. Where do I report bugs and other issues?
A. Firstly, please take the time to scan the Subreddit to see if a bug has already been posted before you post that same bug, otherwise your post may be removed by us. If you do not see a post regarding the bug, look on the sidebar of the Subreddit to see if it is listed under 'Known Bugs'. If you have already checked and you are 1000% sure the bug has not been posted or is listed on the sidebar please make a post and then on top of that file a report to .

Q. Why can't I play this test on PS4 / Xbox One?
A. It seems the developers have opted to not enable it for those platforms, and there is some rumors that those versions may be canceled, but that is not official (yet).

Q. Why is there no jump penalty? A. There is, it's just turned off for this test.

Test Details

As announced in the previous update, XDefiant is hosting a Server Test Session to help test their servers' status and provide critical information to prepare for launch.

Pre-load is available now, so you can be ready to hop into the test as soon as it's open. Starting April 19th until April 21st, the Server Test Session will be open, worldwide, to anyone on latest gen platforms and PC.

• Start time: Friday, April 19th - 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET

• End time: Sunday, April 21st - 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET

Server Test Session is available to players on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X | S.

Server Test Session Rewards

During the test, there are rewards you will be able to earn for exclusive weapon skins and a weapon XP booster. By completing the challenges to earn the rewards, you will have these items available to use on Day 1 of launch!

• Play in the test: MP5 Shamrock Weapon Skin

• Play in a Party: M9 Ember Weapon Skin

• Reach Level 18: Weapon XP Boosters (x3)

How to download

PC

1. Open your Ubisoft Connect application. If you do not have that,

2. It should be right there on your front page, if it isn't restart / redownload the app

PlayStation 5

1. Go to the 'PlayStation Store'

2. Search 'XDefiant' and click whatever pops up

3. If you can't install from there, click '. . .'

4. Click 'View Product' and then '. . .' again

5. Click Download.

Xbox Series X | S

To play the Server Test Session, just search for XDefiant and download the test from the Microsoft store.

If you played an XDefiant test before and kept the game in your library, that is a different "product" just called XDefiant. Keep it as it will eventually be the final launch product.

In addition, if you still have the Closed Beta build, this one will have a grey icon and is expired, you can delete it.

How do you know if you have the right build downloaded?

It's called XDefiant - Server Test Session and the icon is a big X.

I love Minecraft and other games where you can build up your base, but I miss the feeling of having to put it all on the line with the threat of losing everything. Rust comes to mind, but do you know of any other games like this? Single or multiplayer suggestions are more than welcome! Can be First/third person, top down, isometric etc.