Monthly Archives: September 2020

MGS1 and 2 Available on PC Today

Konami has announced and released a slew of PC ports for some of its classic games, including the Metal Gear, Castlevania, and Contra franchises. Starting today, the original 1987 Metal Gear, Metal Gear Solid, and Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, are all available on GoG.com. All can be purchased separately, while additionally Konami has released the Konami Collector's Series: Castlevania & Contra, which includes: Castlevania, Castlevania II: Simon's Quest, Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse, Contra, and Super C. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=metal-gear-mgs-mgs-2-pc-screenshots&captions=true"] Word of these ports broke via ratings board classifications earlier this week, but the games are now finally available for purchase. This release marks MGS' first PC availability since 2000, while MGS 2 hit PC in 2003. Substance is the expanded version of the original MGS 2: Sons of Liberty. Konami has recently been reviving its classic games, including both the Castlevania Anniversary Collection and the Contra Anniversary Collection. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/05/16/castlevania-anniversary-collection-launch-trailer"] For other Metal Gear Solid news, check out this interview with voice actor David Hayter as he reflects on the legacy of Solid Snake. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=konami-collection-pc-screenshots&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"]

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Latest Fault Visual Novel Game Gets a Gorgeous New Trailer

The latest entry in the fault series of visual novels from developer Alice in Dissonance, has gotten a new trailer. The first full-length trailer for fault - milestone two side: below, was revealed at Tokyo Game Show 2020 on the IGN Japan TGS livestream.

The game, written and directed by series creator Musinix with art by Hare Konatsu, is expected to be released on Steam next spring, though an exact date is as yet unknown. Console versions for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 have also been announced, but without an estimated release window.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/25/fault-milestone-two-side-below-exclusive-japanese-trailer-tgs-2020"]

fault - milestone two side: below is actually the third game in the series, not counting spin-off titles. The original game, fault - milestone one, was released in Japan in 2013 on Steam and GOG, and eventually localized and ported to Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4.

A direct sequel, fault - milestone two side: above, was released in 2015 on Steam and GOG but is now confirmed for release on the Nintendo Switch "with an extensive visual update" in December 2020. The two halves of fault - milestone two tell a complete story but each half has its own ending. According to publisher Phoenixx, the fault series has sold "over half a million copies around the world."

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=fault-milestone-two-below-screenshots&captions=true"]

In the trailer we get a glimpse of fault - milestone two side: below's underwater setting, an institution on the ocean floor called Vita Domain. Before we get to the jellyfish watching, however, series protagonist Selphine and her royal guardian Ritona are shown captured on the surface. Not for long, of course, since the ragtag crew sent to detain these two clearly underestimated Ritona's abilities. Anyone looking to catch up with the story so far and try the series for themselves should start by visiting the official website which outlines all the releases so far, including spin-offs, or playing the demo for fault - milestone two side: above which is available on Steam. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

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Latest Fault Visual Novel Game Gets a Gorgeous New Trailer

The latest entry in the fault series of visual novels from developer Alice in Dissonance, has gotten a new trailer. The first full-length trailer for fault - milestone two side: below, was revealed at Tokyo Game Show 2020 on the IGN Japan TGS livestream.

The game, written and directed by series creator Musinix with art by Hare Konatsu, is expected to be released on Steam next spring, though an exact date is as yet unknown. Console versions for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 have also been announced, but without an estimated release window.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/25/fault-milestone-two-side-below-exclusive-japanese-trailer-tgs-2020"]

fault - milestone two side: below is actually the third game in the series, not counting spin-off titles. The original game, fault - milestone one, was released in Japan in 2013 on Steam and GOG, and eventually localized and ported to Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4.

A direct sequel, fault - milestone two side: above, was released in 2015 on Steam and GOG but is now confirmed for release on the Nintendo Switch "with an extensive visual update" in December 2020. The two halves of fault - milestone two tell a complete story but each half has its own ending. According to publisher Phoenixx, the fault series has sold "over half a million copies around the world."

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=fault-milestone-two-below-screenshots&captions=true"]

In the trailer we get a glimpse of fault - milestone two side: below's underwater setting, an institution on the ocean floor called Vita Domain. Before we get to the jellyfish watching, however, series protagonist Selphine and her royal guardian Ritona are shown captured on the surface. Not for long, of course, since the ragtag crew sent to detain these two clearly underestimated Ritona's abilities. Anyone looking to catch up with the story so far and try the series for themselves should start by visiting the official website which outlines all the releases so far, including spin-offs, or playing the demo for fault - milestone two side: above which is available on Steam. [poilib element="accentDivider"]

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Battlestar Galactica Cast Voice Support for Michael Hogan After Brain Injury

A fleet of Battlestar Galactica cast members have been sharing the crowdfunding campaign that was launched for co-star Michael Hogan after he suffered a "life-changing" brain injury earlier this year. Several stars have shared the GoFundMe page organized by family friend Shari Ulrich to help to cover the medical expenses for the actor who has been hospitalized since February after suffering a "massive brain bleed" from a fall that left him with "complete paralysis on his left side, memory loss, cognitive impairment and an inability to swallow." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/09/18/battlestar-galactic-reboot-coming-to-nbcs-peacock"] Hogan's wife, Susan Hogan, penned a message on the page to explain that her husband, who played Colonel Saul Tigh in the 2004 sci-fi series, fell and hit his head at dinner after attending a Battlestar Galactica convention in Vancouver on February 17. "He went to bed that night not realizing that the impact had caused a massive brain bleed," she wrote, detailing the aftermath of the accident. "He was unable to be woken the next morning and was taken to Vancouver General Hospital and emergency surgery performed. It took 57 staples to close the part of his scull [sic] they had to remove in order to reach the damage." Ulrich noted that Hogan has since regained his speech and is "largely coherent," though she acknowledged that there is still a "long, long road ahead" for the actor who is "unlikely" to be able to work again. As a result, Ulrich is currently asking for donations to "give Susan a way forward without the crushing financial weight of the ever-changing costs for his care." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=tvs-most-divisive-series-finales&captions=true"] Hogan's former Battlestar Galactica castmates have taken to social media this week to voice their support for the actor and the fundraiser, which, at the time of writing, has exceeded $265K in donations. Showrunner Ronald D. Moore pinned a message of support for his "dear friend" at the top of his Twitter page. "Michael Hogan - Col Tigh from BSG and our dear friend - is fighting to recover from a terrible head injury," he wrote. "Please help his family in this time of need by contributing whatever you can." Tricia Helfer, who player Number Six in the iconic franchise, promoted the fundraiser on her Twitter account. "Our amazing XO has been fighting for months now," she wrote in the tweet alongside the link to the campaign. "Michael Hogan is one of the dearest, funniest, most talented men I know, and is going through an incredibly challenging time. Here's where we all can help him and his family." Keegan Connor Tracy, who played Jeanne on the series, also shared a few words to raise awareness for Michael and his family at this difficult time. "I've known Michael and his family since my earliest days as an actor," she wrote in a message to her followers. "I know they have many fans. Wishing the best for their family and a recovery from this terrible health crisis." Battlestar Galactica's producer Jane Espensen also shared the GoFundMe campaign link on Twitter, writing a heartfelt message that described Hogan (AKA "our own Colonel Tigh") as a "wonderful, kind soul who could use our help." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

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Battlestar Galactica Cast Voice Support for Michael Hogan After Brain Injury

A fleet of Battlestar Galactica cast members have been sharing the crowdfunding campaign that was launched for co-star Michael Hogan after he suffered a "life-changing" brain injury earlier this year. Several stars have shared the GoFundMe page organized by family friend Shari Ulrich to help to cover the medical expenses for the actor who has been hospitalized since February after suffering a "massive brain bleed" from a fall that left him with "complete paralysis on his left side, memory loss, cognitive impairment and an inability to swallow." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/09/18/battlestar-galactic-reboot-coming-to-nbcs-peacock"] Hogan's wife, Susan Hogan, penned a message on the page to explain that her husband, who played Colonel Saul Tigh in the 2004 sci-fi series, fell and hit his head at dinner after attending a Battlestar Galactica convention in Vancouver on February 17. "He went to bed that night not realizing that the impact had caused a massive brain bleed," she wrote, detailing the aftermath of the accident. "He was unable to be woken the next morning and was taken to Vancouver General Hospital and emergency surgery performed. It took 57 staples to close the part of his scull [sic] they had to remove in order to reach the damage." Ulrich noted that Hogan has since regained his speech and is "largely coherent," though she acknowledged that there is still a "long, long road ahead" for the actor who is "unlikely" to be able to work again. As a result, Ulrich is currently asking for donations to "give Susan a way forward without the crushing financial weight of the ever-changing costs for his care." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=tvs-most-divisive-series-finales&captions=true"] Hogan's former Battlestar Galactica castmates have taken to social media this week to voice their support for the actor and the fundraiser, which, at the time of writing, has exceeded $265K in donations. Showrunner Ronald D. Moore pinned a message of support for his "dear friend" at the top of his Twitter page. "Michael Hogan - Col Tigh from BSG and our dear friend - is fighting to recover from a terrible head injury," he wrote. "Please help his family in this time of need by contributing whatever you can." Tricia Helfer, who player Number Six in the iconic franchise, promoted the fundraiser on her Twitter account. "Our amazing XO has been fighting for months now," she wrote in the tweet alongside the link to the campaign. "Michael Hogan is one of the dearest, funniest, most talented men I know, and is going through an incredibly challenging time. Here's where we all can help him and his family." Keegan Connor Tracy, who played Jeanne on the series, also shared a few words to raise awareness for Michael and his family at this difficult time. "I've known Michael and his family since my earliest days as an actor," she wrote in a message to her followers. "I know they have many fans. Wishing the best for their family and a recovery from this terrible health crisis." Battlestar Galactica's producer Jane Espensen also shared the GoFundMe campaign link on Twitter, writing a heartfelt message that described Hogan (AKA "our own Colonel Tigh") as a "wonderful, kind soul who could use our help." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

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Snyder Cut: Henry Cavill Not Part of New Justice League Shoots

Henry Cavill has revealed that he isn’t returning to film any additional scenes for the Snyder Cut of Justice League. In an interview with Collider, Superman's Cavill confirmed that he would not be reuniting with the cast to partake in any new shoots for the infamous cut, contrary to recent reports claiming that Zack Snyder had a weeklong Justice League shoot planned for October with Cavill and several other cast members returning, including Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, and Ray Fisher. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/26/zack-snyder-reveals-henry-cavill-in-snyder-cut-black-superman-suit-clip"] "Not shooting anything additional. No," Cavill revealed in the new interview. "It's all stuff that has been already done. Obviously I don't know how things are going to evolve and change and adapt depending on now a different length of movie and whatever may happen in post-production. Whatever lessons may be learned from what is it four years since Justice League came out? Four years' worth of fan reaction. For me... I'm now just watching the party." It is perhaps worth noting that Cavill denied his participation in the supposed reshoots shortly before the report about additional photography hit, which means that there is a possibility that he purposefully kept those details under his cape knowing that the news had not yet hit the headlines. After all, Cavill acknowledges in the interview that circumstances could change as work continues on the Snyder Cut, even though he's currently in London shooting The Witcher Season 2. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=justice-league-snyder-cut-all-the-known-differences-from-the-theatrical-version&captions=true"] Regardless of whether or not there are new shoots planned with Cavill for the Snyder cut of Justice League, there are already a lot of known differences between the theatrical version of the film and the upcoming four-hour director's version, which will release in four parts on HBO Max in 2021. For more on the Snyder Cut of Justice League, check out our full breakdown on the legendary project's history if you want to learn more about how this mythical director's cut became a reality, watch this clip of Henry Cavill's Superman in his black costume, and read why Zack Snyder refuses to use a "single frame" of Joss Whedon footage in his version of Justice League, which he says is not part of the DCEU. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

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Snyder Cut: Henry Cavill Not Part of New Justice League Shoots

Henry Cavill has revealed that he isn’t returning to film any additional scenes for the Snyder Cut of Justice League. In an interview with Collider, Superman's Cavill confirmed that he would not be reuniting with the cast to partake in any new shoots for the infamous cut, contrary to recent reports claiming that Zack Snyder had a weeklong Justice League shoot planned for October with Cavill and several other cast members returning, including Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, and Ray Fisher. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/26/zack-snyder-reveals-henry-cavill-in-snyder-cut-black-superman-suit-clip"] "Not shooting anything additional. No," Cavill revealed in the new interview. "It's all stuff that has been already done. Obviously I don't know how things are going to evolve and change and adapt depending on now a different length of movie and whatever may happen in post-production. Whatever lessons may be learned from what is it four years since Justice League came out? Four years' worth of fan reaction. For me... I'm now just watching the party." It is perhaps worth noting that Cavill denied his participation with any additional photography for the film prior to the report about the supposed reshoots, which means that there is a possibility that he purposefully kept those details under his cape knowing that the news had not yet hit the headlines. After all, Cavill acknowledges in the interview that circumstances could change as work continues on the Snyder Cut, even though he's currently in London shooting The Witcher Season 2. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=justice-league-snyder-cut-all-the-known-differences-from-the-theatrical-version&captions=true"] Regardless of whether or not there are new shoots planned for the Snyder cut of Justice League, there are already a lot of known differences between the theatrical version of the film and the upcoming four-hour director's version, which will release in four parts on HBO Max in 2021. For more on the Snyder Cut of Justice League, check out our full breakdown on the legendary project's history if you want to learn more about how this mythical director's cut became a reality, watch this clip of Henry Cavill's Superman in his black costume, and read why Zack Snyder refuses to use a "single frame" of Joss Whedon footage in his version of Justice League, which he says is not part of the DCEU. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

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Serious Sam 4 Review – The Fourth Encounter

In Serious Sam 4, the long-running FPS series may have finally found a workable identity. Through each entry, developer Croteam has held onto the core gameplay loop that defined Sam's initial jaunt across Egypt. You will always back-pedal, you will always circle-strafe, and you will always fight dozens of Sam's memorable cadre of alien enemies at once. But, at times, that loop has been obscured by some of the strange decisions Croteam has made with the series. It was never broken, but each game finds the developer trying to fix it.

Enter Serious Sam 4, yet another reinvention that seems to draw from every period of the series' long life. As in Serious Sam 3, the graphics are realistic (though a little stiff). As in Serious Sam 2, there's vehicular combat and humor to spare (and a surprising portion of the jokes land). And, as in First and Second Encounter, the gameplay is razor-sharp and front-and-center. It's been nine years since the last mainline entry, and in that time we've witnessed the revival of circle-strafing shooters thanks to games both big (Doom) and small (Dusk). But, in this newly crowded landscape, Serious Sam 4 has a secret weapon. Croteam is simply willing to throw a ridiculous number of enemies at you at all times and it has the tech to pull it off.

In this outing, which functions as a prequel to The First Encounter, Sam and a small group of resistance fighters are attempting to push back the villainous Mental's assault on Earth. The alien horde has already won, but the resistance hopes to score a strategic advantage by tracking down the Holy Grail, which is actually an alien artifact hidden somewhere among the art and architecture of an impressively unspoiled Italy.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

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Serious Sam 4 Review – The Fourth Encounter

In Serious Sam 4, the long-running FPS series may have finally found a workable identity. Through each entry, developer Croteam has held onto the core gameplay loop that defined Sam's initial jaunt across Egypt. You will always back-pedal, you will always circle-strafe, and you will always fight dozens of Sam's memorable cadre of alien enemies at once. But, at times, that loop has been obscured by some of the strange decisions Croteam has made with the series. It was never broken, but each game finds the developer trying to fix it.

Enter Serious Sam 4, yet another reinvention that seems to draw from every period of the series' long life. As in Serious Sam 3, the graphics are realistic (though a little stiff). As in Serious Sam 2, there's vehicular combat and humor to spare (and a surprising portion of the jokes land). And, as in First and Second Encounter, the gameplay is razor-sharp and front-and-center. It's been nine years since the last mainline entry, and in that time we've witnessed the revival of circle-strafing shooters thanks to games both big (Doom) and small (Dusk). But, in this newly crowded landscape, Serious Sam 4 has a secret weapon. Croteam is simply willing to throw a ridiculous number of enemies at you at all times and it has the tech to pull it off.

In this outing, which functions as a prequel to The First Encounter, Sam and a small group of resistance fighters are attempting to push back the villainous Mental's assault on Earth. The alien horde has already won, but the resistance hopes to score a strategic advantage by tracking down the Holy Grail, which is actually an alien artifact hidden somewhere among the art and architecture of an impressively unspoiled Italy.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

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Amazon Luna: Everything We Know About the New Video Game Streaming Service

Amazon announced its foray into cloud video game streaming today with Luna, a new service that will let users stream games directly from their internet-connected device. It’s similar to services like Google’s Stadia and Microsoft xCloud, and IGN learned additional details in a media Q&A following the announcement. Like similar services from Google and Microsoft, Amazon Luna is a cloud gaming service where, for a monthly subscription, users can stream and play games directly on their TV, computers, and smartphones. Luna is taking a page out of the Xbox Game Pass playbook and offers a subscription to a library of games called the Luna+ channel along with 4K streaming for $5.99 a month. Stadia Pro, which is $9.99 a month and comes with features like 4k streaming also includes a library of games that members can play instantly. Amazon Luna, Luna, Luna+

The channel system is Luna’s prime differentiating feature as Amazon also announced a Ubisoft channel which will come with the newest Ubisoft games on the day and date they launch. Amazon confirmed that the Ubisoft channel will require a separate subscription and that other channels are being planned for Luna currently. Amazon said that channels won’t be limited to just publishers, though those are in the works too. One of the examples Amazon’s Director of Devices and Digital Initiatives Gabi Knight mentioned is an “RPG Channel” so these channels can be categorized by genre as well. Vice president of Amazon’s Entertainment Devices and Services Marc Whitten said Luna, at least at this stage, is not about exclusives or first-party games but on lowering the barrier of entry for great games. This seemingly downplayed any direct connection with Amazon's first-party development studio which is currently working on the MMO New World. One particular platform Luna is available on that its competitors aren’t is iOS, but this is not as clear-cut as you think. Luna will be available on iOS devices, but not through a native app. Instead, Luna will be playable through the iOS Safari browser. This is presumably for the same reason that xCloud and Stadia aren’t available on iOS devices, which is because of the restrictions from the App Store policy. Microsoft has even called Apple's policy on game streaming "bad" for customers. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/22/google-stadia-review"] Curious customers can sign up for the Luna beta starting today and Whitten says the first wave of invites will start going out in October. The Luna controller, which connects directly to the cloud to reduce latency, is available to order now for $49.99. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN. [Ed. Note: An earlier version of this article did not mention Stadia Pro also includes access to a games library. The article has been updated.]

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