Quick Links Shadow of the Erdtreeadds many new things to the base game, building upon the foundation that was laid out whenElden Ringfirst came out. Where itadded new weaponsand spells, it also added an entirely new status effect, Eternal Sleep. Differing only slightly from normal sleep, Eternal Sleep can be procced with two weapons, Velvet Sword of St. Trina andThiollier’s Hidden Needle. This status effect isn’t very effective in PvE (at least in the DLC) since mostbosses are immune to sleep and eternal sleepor shrug off the effect immediately after being inflicted....

Summary Despite being some of the most popular global entertainment today, it can often be easy to miss how much history there is behind many of the storied animation studios responsible for creating anime. Now, one of the oldest and most venerable names in anime is celebrating a big anniversary with some free, big-name content. One of the oldest and most iconic anime studios in Japan, TMS Entertainment, is celebrating 60 years since its initial founding as Tokyo Movie Co....

Summary Fallout 76has more content on the way for fans to experience following the game’s current trend of a steady stream of new updates. Although the game was criticized for being light on content when it launched in 2018, six years' worth of updates has madeFallout 76quite a robust experience for fans of survival crafting games. The next big content drop forFallout 76is scheduled to be released on September 3 with the launch of Season 18 and the Milepost Zero update....

Summary Fans have now waited years for news about aGhost of Tsushimasequel, especially with how the first game left the story of Jin Sakai hanging on a cliff. The Mongol invasion was thwarted bythe end ofGhost of Tsushima, but Jin’s story, specifically, was left hanging in the balance. Unfortunately, despite various claims, there has been no official word from Sucker Punch about whether a sequel toGhost of Tsushimais in development. If a sequel does happen, it’s bound to be quite different from the first, as Jin’s journey of growth and self-discovery has reached a major milestone that can’t be reversed....

Summary The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s approach to combat could have a ripple effect on magical abilities in the series' future. With Zelda finally taking the lead for the first time on a Nintendo console, the game is destined to be a trailblazer one way or another. Even in the first trailer, it’s clear thatThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomwill be a different experience than most titles. Zelda’s magic looks to drive a lot of the gameplay ofEchoes of Wisdom....

Summary While playingThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, one player created a mechanical duck that serves as a boat and comes equipped with mounted lasers for defense. This recent build is yet another example of the creativity ofTears of the Kingdomplayers, and the game’s community has applauded this latest effort. As the sequel to the highly successfulThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, there was little doubt thatTears of the Kingdomwould be popular....

Summary Konami and Nintendo have officially announcedCastlevania Dominus Collection, which brings the three DS-eraCastlevaniagames to the Switch.Castlevaniaremains one of the most popular and influential video game franchises of all time. It helped innovate the beloved Metroidvania genre, and before that, 2D action platformers in general.Castlevaniais still big today, with hit Netflix animated series and crossovers in other games. Castlevaniais being represented in everything fromDead by DaylighttoV Rising, though hardcore fans are more interested in playing the actualCastlevaniagames themselves....

Baldur’s Gate 3has a versatile magic system that includes different spells and cantrips that accommodate all kinds of situations. Drawing fromDungeons and Dragons' 5e spell list, the effects and usability of the spells are limited by in-game mechanics. For the most part,Baldur’s Gate 3does a great job of making the world reactive to almost any situation and spell. Unfortunately, Mage Hand, one of the most useful cantrips inDungeons and Dragons, isn’t nearly as useful inBaldur’s Gate 3....

Quick Links Laurel BudsToward the end ofBlack Myth: Wukong’s first chapter, players are introduced to Shen Monkey and several methods of improving the healing drink. One of these methods is adding “Soaks” to the mixture, which will apply extra effects to whatever drink is currently in the Destined One’s gourd. In Chapter 1, it is possible to find three such soaks. In Chapter 2 ofBlack Myth: Wukongwe visit the Yellow Wind Ridge, where the second of the “Senses of the Great Sage” can be found....

Summary OneAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsplayer has stumbled across what may be the most lucrative Hot Item in the game, and they’ve used it to amass a fortune in nearly an instant. Earning bells is one of the key gameplay components ofAnimal Crossing: New Horizons, but it’s rarely as easy as it was for this lucky player. Each day, a new Hot Item will be posted outsidethe Nook’s Cranny shop, and Timmy and Tommy will pay double the price for that item all day long....

Summary The surprisingly contentiousElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtreehas made waves in the gaming community thanks to its elevated challenge over the base game, which is hard enough as it is. But while thedebate aboutShadow of the Erdtree’s difficulty rages on, it’s worth taking a look at how the expansion, andElden Ringas a whole, actually signifies FromSoftware becoming more accessible. Nearly everyone who has beaten a FromSoftware game will admit that the studio doesn’t hold back when it comes to difficulty....

Summary Batman: Arkham Shadowis slated to feature at least two iconic Batman antagonists while having the honor of debuting an established yet previously unseen villain in Otis Flannegan’s Ratcatcher. Based on how Gotham City is depicted inBatman: Arkham Shadow’s promotional cinematics thus far these villains seem meticulously handpicked for such a chaotic and unruly set dressing, where Batman stands against his foes in a sea of fire. It’s unknown how much ofArkham Shadow’s Gothamwill legitimately be blanketed with fire, to be fair, but such a set piece would have been a haven for one aptly themed criminal....

Quick Links There is no doubt that Kurt Russell’s career is stacked. Over the course of his decades-spanning career, he has portrayed an impressive number of iconic roles,many of which have equally emblematic hairstyles. Some of his most memorable roles include Jack Burton fromBig Trouble in Little China, “Stuntman” Mike McKay inDeath Proof, andWyatt Earpin Tombstone. It is also well known that his turn inEscape from New Yorkas Lt. S.D. Bob “Snake” Plissken, a government-weary decorated Special Forcessoldier, turned criminalinspired another beloved character,Metal Gear Solid’s protagonist, Solid Snake....