The Marvel Cinematic Universe gets a lot of understandable criticism for its VFX-driven spectacle. Some projects feel half-formed, relying on explosions and callbacks to keep the audience’s attention.Captain Americais one of several excellent characters who make up the beating heart of the franchise. In truth, performances by stars like Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. carried the best moments of the MCU. Now that Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson is preparing for his first film as Captain America, the franchise has to make a few tough decisions about his presentation....

Summary A fan recreated pop star Chappell Roan inWWE 2K24. With a Create-A-Wrestler mode with an expansive selection of realistic features and wrestling moves,WWE 2K24allows players to turn themselves and other popular individuals, like Roan, into WWE superstars. During the recent Lollapalooza Chicago music festival, Roan broke the internet when she performed in a lucha libre-inspired costume to over 110,000 people in attendance. Roan is known for presenting unique concepts and costumes, and always makes sure to give platforms to LGBTQ+ talents, including local drag queens, at her shows....

Summary The originalFinal Fantasygames are getting another re-release, as Square Enix recently revealed theFinal Fantasy 1-6 Collection Edition,which complies the first six games in the series with various extra goodies. Releasing later this year on October 8 for the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, the title collects everyFinal FantasyPixel Remaster in one single package and is currently available for pre-order on the Square Enix website at a cost of $74.99....

Much has been said about the fiendishly difficult bosses inElden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, but the lands between each of them can pose just as much of a challenge. Even those who never played the originalDark Soulshave heard stories about the archers of Anor Londo and the rooftop route over which they defend, and now a section inElden Ring’s Land of Shadow is garnering the same onerous infamy....

Summary Diablo 4has revealed that adding the much-requested solo mode is currently not in the plans.Diablo 4players find many ways to keep themselves entertained, testing their characters' limits and exploring new mechanics and stories introduced to the game through regular updates. In addition to the normal game experience and endgame activities, it’s possible to test the character’s power in Hardcore, a brutal mode with permadeath.Diablo 4has PvP, in which players attack monsters and each other in locations known as Fields of Hatred....

Summary Diablo 4’s game director, Brent Gibson, addressed player demands to add the Paladin class to the game. This response follows player feedback on the addition of a new, unfamiliar class toDiablo 4. Warriors wielding holy magic and wearing heavy armor are a staple of the RPG genre and were featured as the Paladin and Crusader class inDiablo 2andDiablo 3, respectively. These quickly became one of the fan-favorite classes, and players have been clamoring for their return inDiablo 4....

Summary A group of dedicatedDiablo 4fans has managed to find the Ring of Misfortune, by completing the elusive “Wishing Well” event. This achievement marks the end of fan theories regarding the Lucky Coin’s usage, which has lasted almost sinceDiablo 4’s release. Secrets are no stranger to fans of theDiablofranchise, with the famoussecret cow level inDiablospanning multiple titles. For fans ofDiablo 4, one of the greatest in-game mysteries was the usage of the rare item called the “Lucky Coin....

Summary Some players are struggling to sort out their loot inDiablo 4’s endgame, asking for the implementation of a loot filtering system in the popular action RPG. Loot is at the heart ofDiablo 4, and while some of the previous seasons were criticized for not giving gamers enough powerful gear in the endgame, it seems that Season 5 is just giving them too many items simultaneously. Called Season of the Infernal Horde,Diablo 4’s Season 5 started earlier this month....

Quick Links Barbarians take matters into their own hands and will use any melee weapon there is in their power to beat the armies of Hell inDiablo 4. That said, there are some Barbs out there who will use their weapons in a way that is more akin to a scene from your favorite fantasy film. Using their weapon, they will tear into the ground and throw all the resulting debris at their enemies....

Summary Elden Ringplayers noticed that the recent patch forShadow of the Erdtreehas turned the boss arena forMohg, Lord of Bloodinto a post-fight non-combat zone. With mere hours left to go before the path to the Land of Shadow is opened, fans won’t have to wait much longer before the launch of the first and only expansion for FromSoftware’s critically acclaimed open-world Soulslike. In preparation for the debut ofShadow of the Erdtree, FromSoftware has released a new patch forElden Ring, which adds a variety of new player hairstyles, quality-of-life features, and balance adjustments....

Quick Links The base game ofElden Ringfeatured some unusual weapon types, and the same is true for itsShadow of the ErdtreeDLC. The expansion introduced a uniqueweapon type known as Perfume Bottles, which are not to be confused with the crafting materialPerfume Bottle. With the addition of Perfume Bottles, an old talisman has suddenly become very desirable: the Perfumer’s Talisman, which can be acquired in the base game. Even if you don’t have the expansion, this talisman can still prove useful due to the buffs it provides to various perfume items....

Summary Escape From Tarkovis often considered the pioneer of the extraction shooter genre, couplingPvPvE combatwith a tense and immersive atmosphere. A significant portion of the atmosphere and immersion withinEscape From Tarkovcomes from the map design and worldbuilding. EveryEscape From Tarkovmap is full of detailed worldbuilding that serves to enforce the distinctive tone of the game, immersing players in a post-war Russia that has since been overrun by crime and military skirmishes....

Summary Helldivers 2has been one of the most talked about games of the year so far. Leading up to its launch, the third-person shooter slid under many gamers' radars, butHelldivers 2ended up being a smash hit once it was released. The game has been hailed by both critics and players as a strong example of how live-service titles should be handled, but it hasn’t all been roses. SinceHelldivers 2takes a live-service approach, the game has received a series of updates....