Monthly Archives: June 2016
Titanfall 2: Our First Multiplayer Hands-On Is Fire
Now that NBA superstar Steph Curry has turned an emoji into a real-life adjective, we might as well just run with it. “Fire” is an apt fit for my first hands-on with Titanfall 2 multiplayer, which takes the core Titanfall “pilots & Titans” gameplay and evolves it in ways that feel mostly excellent so far.
I played four rounds of the new Bounty Hunt mode on a map called “Boomtown.” In Boomtown, enemy Titans will get marked with bounties, which you can collect by melee executing them from your Titan or rodeo-ing them as a pilot. The biggest change to the gameplay seems to be the way the rodeo mechanic works. No longer will your on-foot pilot hop up -- or use the Front Rifleman class’s grappling hook -- on top of the enemy Titan and empty lead into its brain after mashing the X button to pry off its protective covering. Instead, you’ll drop a grenade down a hole in the top of the enemy mech and walk away with a battery.
Game of Thrones: Is This Cersei Lannister’s Master Plan?
Full spoilers for Game of Thrones' latest episode, "No One," continue below.
Cersei Lannister does not do well when backed into a corner, but that's exactly what happened in the third-to-last episode of Game of Thrones' sixth season. After relying on the promise of a trial by combat to get out of her troubles with the High Sparrow, Cersei had that plan yanked away from her when her son, King Tommen, outlawed that medium of resolving a trial.
But like the feline on the Lannister house sigil, Cersei Lannister always lands on her feet -- or at least she has up until this point. She and Qyburn seem to have an ace up their sleeve, and I think I have an idea of what it could be. (Note: I learned since publishing this that a whole bunch of other people have this theory as well, so it seems like we might all be onto something!)
Fallout 4 Coming to HTC Vive
Bethesda has announced that Fallout 4 will arrive on the HTC Vive VR headset in 2017.
The updated version of the game was revealed at the Bethesda E3 Showcase, and attendees were able to play an in-development version after the show.
Bethesda also showed attendees a VR edition of this year's Doom, although no mention was made of if or when this version would see public release.
Fallout 4 received a 9.5 in our review, where we praised its "outstanding world" - something we'll get to see gratifyingly close-up in this version.
Doom’s First DLC Is Unto the Evil
During Bethesda's E3 press conference tonight it revealed the first piece of premium DLC for Doom: Unto the Evil, which is due out next month. The DLC includes the following:
- Three new multiplayer maps: Offering, Cataclysm and Ritual
- A new player-controlled demon: Harvester
- A new weapon: UAC EMG Pistol
- New equipment: Kinetic Mine
- New ways to customize your DOOM marine, including additional armor sets, patterns, colors and taunts
- New hack modules
Bethesda also announced a bunch of free additions coming to multiplayer, including a capture the flag mode known as Exodus, and a hold mode called Sector. There will also be three free-for-all modes, as well as classic death match, too.
Fallout Shelter Coming to PC
Fallout Shelter is coming to PC and getting a big update in July, Bethesda announced at tonight's Bethesda E3 2016 Showcase.
According to the Bethesda Blog, Update 1.6 will be the game's biggest yet featuring the following, "Overseers will be able to take control of their Dwellers and travel to new locations like abandoned buildings and decrepit Vaults, or even familiar spots like Fallout 4’s Red Rocket Fuel Stop and Super Duper Mart. With this all-new Quest system, you can now assemble a group of Dwellers to take on challenges outside of the Vault, uncover legendary loot, and face off against new enemies like Radscorpions, Ghouls and powerful bosses as you traverse the Wasteland."
New Prey Re-Revealed
During its E3 conference today, Bethesda re-revealed a new Prey game. It will be available in 2017 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
Developer Arkane Studios describes Prey as a “first-person immersive game set in a dangerous universe.”
The CG trailer showcased a male character who awakens on Talos 1 in the year 2032. After a Groundhog's Day-esque series of repetitive, mundane events, it showcased action against a bunch of spooky shadow monsters, and culminated with the character coming face-to-face with another version of himself.
Here's how Bethesda describes the new Prey in a blog post:
Skyrim HD Remaster Officially Headed to PS4, Xbox One, PC
Bethesda has confirmed that The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is headed to PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 28 - and that console mods will be supported.
Bethesda Game Studios' Todd Howard announced the long-awaited remaster - subtitled Special Edition - during Bethesda's E3 conference, simply saying: "There is something else you've been asking us about and, yes, we've been working on it."
Touting graphical enhancements like "snow shaders" and "volumetric god rays", Skyrim: Special Edition will also follow Fallout 4's lead by introducing selected mods on console.
Rumors of a Skyrim remaster began circulating last week. Bethesda Game Studios creative director Todd Howard said last year that work on Fallout 4 began with a current-gen port of Skyrim.
3 New Pieces of Fallout 4 DLC Announced
During its conference tonight, Bethesda revealed three new piece of DLC for Fallout 4, the third of which, called "Nuka World," will be the game's final DLC.
Contraptions allows players to build elaborate Rube Goldberg-type machines. You won't need to wait long to get tinkering, since it's out next week. According to Bethesda, "With Fallout 4 Contraptions, use conveyer belts, scaffolding kits, track kits, even logic gates to construct crazy and complex gadgets to improve your Wasteland settlements. The Contraptions Workshop also includes all-new features like elevators, greenhouse kits, warehouse kits, fireworks, armor racks and more!"
Bethesda Reveals Quake Champions
Bethesda has revealed a new Quake game, called Quake Champions during its E3 2016 press conference.
Studio Director of iD Software, Tim Willits, came on stage at the opening of the conference and said, "Yes, Quake is back." The CG trailer showcased a variety of warriors battling in an old-school arena combat zone.
Willits added, "“A competitive arena-style first-person shooter for the PC designed for players of all skill levels. Whether you are new to Quake or have been fragging for the last 20 years, Quake Champions will give you the challenge and rush you’d expect from iD Software multiplayer games."
“The game features a diverse cast of warriors each with different attributes and unique abilities, allowing you to fight the way you want," Willits went on. "iD has a long tradition of supporting competitive tournaments. The game is designed for world-class eSports play at every level.”
Game of Thrones Actor on Brienne and the Blackfish’s Connection
Full spoilers for Game of Thrones continue below.
Clive Russell's return to Game of Thrones as the Blackfish might have been short, but he had enough time to have several impactful character interactions. After his great face off with Jaime Lannister in "The Broken Man," he got a chance to share words and respect with Brienne of Tarth in "No One" before his death by Lannister men.
When I spoke to Russell, he explained why Brynden Tully immediately saw a woman he could respect in Brienne, even if he couldn't help her complete her mission of his army coming to Sansa Stark's aid in the North.