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Saturday - October 05, 2024
Friday - October 04, 2024
Thursday - October 03, 2024
Wednesday - October 02, 2024
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Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy

2024-04-03

Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy Interview

Couchpotato interviewed Alexander from Atom Team about their latest game, Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy. A Kickstarter campaign for the game has already reached 2/3 of the funding goal.


» Continue reading the article...

RPGWatch

2024-01-07

Game of the Year Awards 2023 - Most Promising RPG

What is the most promising RPG of 2024? Like every year, you had your say. Check out the details to find out what games our visitors and editors think are most promising.


» Read the article

Recent articles










Picture Watch

Outland 17
Box Art

Poll Watch

Are you concerned about the use of generative AI by game developers?
Yes, it will decrease the quality of games
16.47%

Yes, it will impact people's jobs / shift the industry
25.88%

Yes, but it is too early to say whether the net result will be negative
30.59%

No, it will increase the quality of games
10.59%

No, it will improve people's jobs
3.53%

No, it won't substantially change anything
3.53%

I don't have any opinion for or against it / don't know enough about generative AI to say
9.41%

Vote

Saturday - October 05, 2024

Pathfinder: The Dragon's Demand - Matt Chat 539

by Hiddenx, 20:52

Matt chats with Alan Miranda and Luke Scull about Pathfinder: The Dragon's Demand:

MC539: Pathfinder Dragon's Demand with Alan Miranda and Luke Scull

Pathfinder: The Dragon's Demand

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Avernum 4: Greed and Glory - Kickstarter Success

by Hiddenx, 19:27

The Kickstarter for Avernum 4: Greed and Glory has already reached the second stretch goal:

Avernum 4: Greed and Glory Kickstarter Week Two Update!

Greetings, kind supporters! The Kickstarter is half over, and, just a few minutes ago, we hit our second Stretch Goal. Thank you!

This stretch goal is something I’ve been half-thinking about for quite some time. There will be a randomly-generated arena mode. (For those familiar with the world, it will be in the Abyss.) You will have to fight through a series of battles, each using a different set of game mechanics. Each trial you pass unlocks a reward and another trial. There will be Achievements for it. You can go through trials until you fail, and that's when you know how strong your group is. I’m looking forward to making this!

As the Kickstarter runs, we are still writing Avernum 4: Greed and Glory. We hit a big milestone today: We finished the first city and the first dungeon, done and fully playable. This traditionally is the point when we switch from making an engine to writing a game, and it’s always a huge step. We added a ton of dialog and story, and several new encounters. Those who played the original game will immediately see a lot of changes, and we’re really happy about them.

Two weeks to go, and we’ll keep trying to get the word out. Thank you again, and you’ll hear more soon! 

- Jeff Vogel

Thanks Couchpotato!

 

Avernum 4: Greed and Glory

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Suikoden I&II HD - More Games?

by Hiddenx, 19:22

Twisted Voxel reports that Remaster Director Takahiro Sakiyama hopes that the remaster will lead to a expansion of the series.

Thanks Couchpotato!

Suikoden I&II HD

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: J-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Diablo 4 - Vessel Of Hatred Q&A

by Hiddenx, 19:17

Wccftech posted an Q&A for Vessel Of Hatred:

Diablo IV Vessel of Hatred Launch Roundtable Q&A – Blizzard Dives into Every Aspect of the Expansion

As part of their Diablo IV Vessel of Hatred review program, Blizzard set up a roundtable Q&A with all the reviewers involved to answer practically every major question about the expansion due to launch next Tuesday on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S|X. Keep scrolling to read all the answers from Game Director Brent Gibson, Lead Designer Rex Dickson, Lead Live Designer Colin Finer, and Producer Kyle Martin. We've grouped the responses by topic for convenience.

General Vessel of Hatred Questions

Could you introduce the system or content that you focused on the most during the development process of Diablo IV Vessel of Hatred?

Rex Dickson: It is hard to say if there was any one specific area of emphasis, as we expect all our content to meet or exceed ‘Blizzard Quality’ expectations. Dark Citadel and The Undercity were both significant investments, as were Mercenaries, but the two largest areas of focus were the campaign/world and all the major systems changes.

What specific aspects did you pay attention to when designing Nahantu, and what challenges did you face during the development process?

Rex Dickson: There were many aspects that were points of emphasis for us when designing Nahantu. One that comes to mind is how to achieve a warmer color palette while also delivering on that classic Gothic horror theme. Another is incorporating elements from Diablo II, like Travincal and Kurast Docks. I think the biggest challenge we had was ensuring creative alignment across such a huge team with so many amazing ideas.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Diablo 4

SP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Hack & Slash
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: - Interview

by Hiddenx, 19:11

Couchpotato spotted a S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 interview on BBC:

Stalker 2: 'We want to show Ukraine can make great games'

"I would say that maybe half of our studio is currently working under the constant threat of being killed," says Evgeniy Kulik.

Evgeniy is a technical producer on Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, an upcoming video game developed by Kyiv-based developer GSC Game World.

It's a title fans of the original, released in 2007, have been awaiting for some time.

But it might not have happened at all, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

BBC Newsbeat spoke to Evgeniy about how Stalker 2's developers kept going, losing colleagues to war, and why the studio feels it's so important for them to complete the game.

The Chernobyl power plant was the site of the world's worst-ever nuclear accident.

In 1986, when the country was under the control of the Soviet Union, there was an explosion at the nuclear power plant 90 miles from Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

At least 31 people were killed in the immediate aftermath and the blast created a fire that burned for 10 days, sending a plume of radioactive smoke across Europe.

A 30-mile exclusion zone was set up around the nuclear reactor to keep people out, although the Ukrainian government had begun to admit tourists into the area before Russia's invasion.

The original Stalker: Shadow of Chernobyl, was set on an alternative timeline where a second nuclear disaster had struck, creating an array of mutant creatures and other unnatural phenomena.

Players took the role of a character tasked with exploring the post-apocalyptic setting and navigating the various factions fighting for control of the wasteland.

The decision to set the game at the site was controversial - one developer has said "the blood was still warm and it flowed in our veins" - even 30 years later.

But the game was a big hit, and Stalker 2 was first announced in 2010 - with the intention to build on the original's survival gameplay style.

In 2018, GSC Game World announced that it was working towards an April 2022 release date.

But just two months before that arrived, Russian troops and planes began to cross the border with Ukraine.

War had begun.

[...]

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2:

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Apocalypse
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Starfield - Shattered Space Reviews

by Hiddenx, 19:07

Couchpotato spotted two Starfield: Shattered Space reviews:

GamingBolt: Starfield: Shattered Space Is DISAPPOINTING - What The Hell Happened? [REVIEW]

IGN: Starfield: Shattered Space Review

Starfield

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Sci-Fi
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

Baldur's Gate 3 - How it broke the Internet…

by Hiddenx, 19:03

A16Z GAMES is talking about the PR strategies of Baldur's Gate 3:

How Baldur's Gate 3 Broke the Internet…

How did Baldur’s Gate 3 dominate the internet and reach audiences who don't even play video games? Discover the viral PR strategies that made this game a cultural phenomenon and how Palworld leveraged its "Pokemon with guns" concept to hook players beyond the meme. This video dives into the secrets behind effective game marketing and how to strike a balance between creative vision and viral success.

Thanks Couchpotato!

Baldur's Gate 3

SP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

Turn Based Lovers - Turn-Based RPGs October 2024

by Hiddenx, 18:59

The Turn Based Lovers present games of their favourite genre:

Top NEW Turn-Based RPGs And Strategy Games Releasing In October 2024

Timestamps

  • 00:00 Intro
  • 00:24 Metaphor ReFantazio
  • 01:33 Dead Season
  • 02:37 Sky Oceans: Wings For Hire
  • 03:09 Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven
  • 05:24 Flint: Treasure of the Oblivion
  • 06:07 Tarnished Blood (E.A.)
  • 07:08 8-bit Adventures 2 (Console Edition)
  • 08:24 Guild Saga: Vanished Worlds
  • 09:40 Shards of Realm
  • 11:18 Vestiges: Fallen Tribes (E.A.)
  • 12:44 Necro Story
  • 13:31 Beloved Rapture
  • 15:38 Spear Song
  • 17:15 Wildermyth (Console Edition)
  • 19:14 Vambrace: Dungeon Monarch
  • 20:14 Triangle Strategy (Meta Quest Edition)
  • 21:55 Outro

Thanks Couchpotato!

Turn Based Lovers

Details

Friday - October 04, 2024

Remnant 2 - Dark Horizon Review @ CGM

by Hiddenx, 17:38

CGM reviewed the DLC Remnant 2: Dark Horizon:

Remnant II: The Dark Horizon DLC (PC) Review

Fumbling The Landing

Remnant II, initially released on PC on July 25, 2023, is a third-person, souls-like, co-op shooter set in a modern fantasy version of a post-apocalyptic earth on the verge of collapse.  While the base game was excellent in its own right, building upon many of the key factors that made Remnant: From the Ashes such a stellar title, Gunfire Games announced shortly after its release their plan to produce three exceptionally well-priced DLC to give players a reason to keep coming back to the world of Remnant.

Having now played through both the impressive The Awakened King (a personal favourite) and the solid The Forgotten Kingdom DLC, Gunfire Games has stayed true to their word and recently released the final DLC, Remnant II: The Dark Horizon, enticing players to head back to N’Erud, one of the four locations from the base game. Along with a new free content update called Boss Rush available to all players, The Dark Horizon marks the finish line for the content roadmap that Gunfire Games had originally laid out last year.

[...]

Final Thoughts
Remnant II: The Dark Horizon's lacklustre story mixed with a shallow villain makes for a bland playthrough narratively. However, the new Warden Archetype, refined prism system, excellent new loot and new zones on N’Erud help pull the DLC up by its boots straps.

Score: 7/10

Thanks Couchpotato!

Remnant 2

SP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

Coridden - All About Shapeshifting

by Hiddenx, 17:31

Learn more about shapeshifting in Coridden:

All About Shapeshifting in Coridden

Greetings, Shifters! 

Today, we're embarking on a journey to explore shapeshifting in Coridden. Whether you've just discovered our game or you're already played the demo, understanding the art of shapeshifting is key to mastering the game. In this mini-guide, we'll delve into what shapeshifting is all about, how you can transform into different forms, and the advantages it brings to your gameplay.

Let's jump into it!

Why Shapeshift?
Shapeshifting is really important in Coridden. When you change into a beast, you can run faster and jump higher, which helps you move through the game more easily, as well as access some hidden shelves and nooks. On the other hand, when you are in your human form, you can use your fingers to open treasure chests and collect goodies you find along the way.

How Do You Get This Ability?
To shapeshift, you need special shards. These shards sometimes appear when you beat a beast in the game. Your gauntlets can use these shards to let you turn into the beast you defeated. The more beasts you beat, the more shapes you can change into!

Skill Trees For All
Every beast type has its own skills called Beast Mastery. These are like skill-trees with useful abilities for you to use when you’re in beast form. It's like having two characters in one because you can access both your beast and human skills anytime! Remember, each beast has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Play and Grow Together
Coridden is designed as a co-op adventure. You and your friends can fight, ride, and complete challenges together, making the game more fun and exciting as you grow and improve as a team.

Shapeshift Your Way to Victory! 

Thanks Couchpotato!

 

Coridden

SP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Larian Studios - Next Game in 2029?

by Hiddenx, 17:26

IGN reports that we have to wait until 2029 or longer for the next Larian game.

Thanks Couchpotato!

Larian Studios

Details

Starfield - Shattered Space - lukewarm Take-off?

by Hiddenx, 17:21

Eurogamer reports about the Starfield: Shattered Space launch:

Starfield's Shattered Space DLC has a lukewarm take off

Launch break.

Shattered Space, Bethesda's first major expansion for Starfield, released a few days ago, but has unfortunately been met with middling PC player numbers and lukewarm reviews.

Over on SteamDB, Starfield currently has a 24-hour peak concurrent player count of 17,074, and a current player count of 9,740. In contrast, Bethesda's much older release The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Special Edition has a 24-hour player peak of 21,494, with 13,772 of us currently making our way through the fantasy world.

Shattered Space's Steam reviews, meanwhile, currently sit with a "mostly negative" average. Many of these reviews claim the expansion is not worth its price tag, with several accusing the developer of being "lazy" with the storytelling and overall content.

"They say less is more, and with Shattered Space it's true. Bethesda's giving you less while asking for more money," reads one Steam review.

"Incredibly mediocre," another adds. "Was willing to give Starfield a lot of grace due to it being a new IP but now I've seen what they're doing to build on it, it's not worth it."

One positive review, meanwhile, is a very clearly backhanded compliment: "The story is boring af. Would recommend if you have insomnia and need to work the next day."

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Starfield

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Sci-Fi
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

GreedFall 2 - Early Access Review

by Hiddenx, 17:15

The Koalition checked out the Early Access version of GreedFall 2:

GreedFall 2: The Dying World Is Still Not Ready - Early Access Review

GreedFall 2: The Dying World is an RPG by the developer Spiders and published by Nacon. It is a prequel to the events that occurred 3 years before the original game of GreedFall. As a big fan of GreedFall, I was dying to jump at the chance to get early access to the new game. It is with a heavy heart that I must say at this time, I’m worried about GreedFall 2. I was able to jump into the early access that’s just released on Steam and I have to say that it is a mere travesty at this time. Now please bear in mind that Spiders claims that there’s only around 30% of the game being brought to us at this time, so that is a good thing. But at this exact stage, I find this prequel to be a lot less enjoyable than its predecessor.

The bugs for me were very overwhelming, from me running into walls which caused me to die. However, due to his death, I was still able to get a loot drop. About six minutes later I wandered past some enemy corpses, so no damn clue how they died as I was the only one playing in the area. However, for me to die to a wall but kill a mob yards away from me and get their loot, I am Overpowered!

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

GreedFall 2

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Historical
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Gothic 1 Remake - Q&A

by Hiddenx, 17:11

Couchpotato spotted a Gothic 1 Remake Q&A on Wccftech:

Gothic Remake Q&A – Alkimia Talks About Expanding the Classic RPG with an Extra 10 Hours of Content

Nearly five years after the Gothic Remake playable teaser was released on Steam, I watched a detailed presentation of the project at Gamescom 2024, followed by an in-depth Q&A with the developers at Alkimia Interactive.

To start with, the developers stressed Gothic's importance from a gaming cultural standpoint, especially in Germany and Eastern Europe, where the fantasy role-playing game immediately garnered a huge following. They also immediately clarified that the Gothic Remake Gamescom 2024 demo was not part of the actual game. Instead, it was a sort of prequel featuring another main character rather than the nameless hero. Alkimia Interactive said they were unsure whether the demo would be released to the public.

Even in this demo, the action still took place in the mining colony under the magic barrier created by magicians to keep convicts under control. The developers said it was very important to keep the original spirit and the daily routines of the NPCs, who do their own things, like having random conversations that you can listen to.

In the original game, the player could dive, but the action was basically useless. In the Gothic Remake, the developers wanted to make this more meaningful, so players can now find loot inside sunken chests. For instance, at the very beginning of the demo, enterprising players can find a sword underwater. Alkimia wants to make the Gothic Remake a highly immersive experience. To that end, UI elements like the health and mana bars will only appear when the character draws a weapon.

If you have played the original, you'll find that many locations are logical extensions of something in the original. Often, there was a blocked path; you would see something behind it, but you couldn't actually go in. Now, the developers have taken these open ends to add more content.

[...]

Gothic 1 Remake

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Adventure-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Diablo 4 - Vessel Of Hatred Reviews

Diablo 4

SP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Hack & Slash
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

The First Berserker: Khazan - Preview and Trailer

by Hiddenx, 16:34

Couchpotato spotted a preview and a trailer for The First Berserker: Khazan:

Fextralife: NEW First Berserker Khazan Closed Beta REVEALS! Skill Trees, Random LOOT System? Stats & More!

IGN: The First Berserker: Khazan - Official 'Viper' Boss Trailer

 

The First Berserker: Khazan

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

The Thaumaturge - Review

by Hiddenx, 16:29

Ye Old Entertainment reviewed The Thaumaturge:

The Thaumaturge review. An RPG that's not for everyone, but it might just be for you.

Thanks Couchpotato!

The Thaumaturge

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

Thursday - October 03, 2024

Rubedo: The Occult Dawn - Combat System

by Hiddenx, 21:29

Learn more about Rubedo's combat system:

First Version of the Rubedo's Combat System

See how the art of Sigil casting translates to a unique Turn-Based Combat experience

Target Experience
Remember the feeling you had, when playing a board or a card game, where you diligently hoarded just the right cards for several turns of apparent inaction, just to reach the point of "Now, let me end the game in a single turn, using my 7 cards, 6 power-ups, 3 enchantments, 4 mana resets, 2 cooldown resets and 12 action repeats"?

While this may be a friendship-ending manouver in a multiplayer setting, commiting such hate crime against an NPC is completely guilt-free. That's what we're going for here.

The Mechanic
Each turn, you will create a unique combinations of available symbols in order to produce a new sigil. You can understand a Sigil as a "card in a card game" with specific abilities and costs.

Most spells in Rubedo are not an instant 1-turn effect. Instead, you'll often apply a buff, debuff or delayed damage which occur over multiple turns.

This gives way for combos as you can cast a spell, which you enhance in following turns.

Have a look at one of such combos "Orgy of the Unwilling Shadows" in the following recording.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Rubedo: The Occult Dawn

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

GreedFall 2 - Community Update #3

by Hiddenx, 21:25

Farflame spotted community update #3 for GreedFall 2:

Community Update #3 | Combat, Character Customisation & Future Patch

Dear carants,

GreedFall 2’s Early Access released on Tuesday, and this week has been exciting for us. We are grateful for everyone who participated in making the release such a great moment and for everyone who took the time to share their experience with us.

We read all your feedback and questions, so we wanted to take the time to go over them with you and tell you what our team is currently working on for the next patch, as well as give you a rundown on two important subjects: combat and character customization.

Fixes & Improvements

With your feedback, we noted some bugs that we aim to fix soon with a small patch that should also include improvements such as: increasing certain drop rate, decreasing the DOF (depth of field) during dialogue scenes to make it less blurry, making the feedback of targeting an ally’s portrait more visible, and adjusting the AI behaviour so that you do not have to spend too much time micromanaging your companions when you do not want to - making your experience in combat easier.

We will publish the full changelog when it is live.

Combat System

The combat in GF2 is an aspect of Early Access that we are particularly interested in. With the introduction of the new tactical pause system, your feedback is and will be crucial for us to ensure that the new system is fun for everyone.

With that being said, we are aware that some elements are still a work in progress and need improvement, and that some bugs can hinder your experience for the moment. We noted your feedback on that subject, and we aim to improve it in future updates throughout Early Access.

Currently, the team is working on two major future improvements.

Auto Attacks
We noted that the pacing of the combat could feel a bit stiff. When auto-attacking, in between actions, the character goes back to its idle position before attacking. We plan to go over it and change it to make the combat pacing smoother and more reactive.

Picking
We noted that, in some instances, selecting a target could be difficult when it is moving or attacking. We plan to go over and fix it, so that selecting a target with a skill is more flexible regardless of it being in the middle of an animation or not.

Those two improvements are not the only things we will implement and change in the future, but we hope they will greatly help for a smoother experience in combat.

Of course, we will keep you informed when we plan to implement those changes, and we will keep monitoring your feedback to ensure that the combat system’s evolution meets your expectations as best as possible.

Customisation & Character Creation

Character Creation is another element of the game which is still in development. Throughout Early Access, we plan to add new options and new ways for you to create and customize the character you want.

You can expect some changes already in the next patches, with additional colours and hairstyles for the Character Creation.

However, in the long run, the system will have an integral revamp with new additions and new options that will let you create your character more freely, such as:
Face Editor: An editor for Character Creation that will let you alter the different areas of your face without having it being preset.
Transmog: The ability to change the appearance of your gear without altering the stats.
Of course, we will keep you informed and continue monitoring your feedback on that subject too.

Until then, do not hesitate to join the discussion and keep sharing your feedback with us.

Happy gaming!

GreedFall 2

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Historical
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Angelic - Open Alpha on October 7

by Hiddenx, 19:26

The next open alpha for Angelic will start on October 7; the first alpha wrapped up with 27k players.

Open Alpha Season 2 Starts on 7th of October

Heads up, Angels,

We’re adjusting the launch date of Open Alpha Season 2 by one week. Initially set for September 30th, we're pushing it to October 7th. This gives us extra time to polish things and ensure an amazing experience for both new and veteran players.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Angelic

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Sci-Fi
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Lies of P - DLC and Sequel

by Hiddenx, 19:19

Altchar reports that a DLC will arrive soon and a sequel is in the works:

Lies of P to receive first DLC soon, sequel in the works

  • The delay into the DLC includes record-breaking summer heat where the dev team is based in South Korea.
  • The director shared the first legitimate image from the DLC, with a brand new musical selection that will partake in the expansion.
  • The goal is to perfect the formula achieved in the original game and craft an even superior experience.
  • The fans can wait for a team doing its best to iron out what worked best in Lies of P.

The director of Lies of P shared new details about the highly-anticipated DLC of the game, despite the release date not being shared. The expansion is worth the cost of a full game and a full sequel is in store.
Jiwon Choi, director of Lies of P shared brand-new details about the highly-anticipated DLC of the Neowiz's game. Even though the release date was not shared, this didn't stop him from giving out some juicy news. 

Ever since the teaser for the expansion was announced, fans have been terribly waiting to receive more information about it, and finally, even though the content is not ready, new material was shared. Over a million players leapt into Lies of P's dark reimagining of Pinocchio's tale last year. 

Shortly after, developers announced an expansion that alone would be worth the cost of a full game, as well as that a full sequel was in store as well.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

 

Lies of P

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

Starfield - Shattered Space Review

by Hiddenx, 19:10

The Guardian reviewed Starfield: Shattered Space:

Starfield: Shattered Space review – much Va’ruun for improvement

The firstt story expansion for Bethesda’s big, bold, rickety space RPG arrives after a year’s worth of incremental updates that have already ironed out the game’s most egregious flaws. Those quest-breaking bugs have been squished, there are now vehicles to make planet-side travel less of a chore, city maps are at least partly useful these days, and there’s now a 60fps mode for those playing on Xbox Series X. But Starfield’s fundamental problems remain – turgid, rubbery NPCs; the baffling profusion of loading screens – but just as the Phantom Liberty expansion finessed Cyberpunk 2077 in its entirety, Shattered Space arrives poised to improve upon what came before.

[...]

Perhaps the next package of extra content will lean more into Starfield’s strengths, rather than amplify its weaknesses. But it really does feel at this point as if most of Starfield’s imperfections are baked in at the technological and conceptual level, and only a full-blown sequel, rather than continued updates, would be able to address them. It’s only because there is a such a bright kernel of brilliance here that it’s so disappointing to see Starfield’s galactic potential remain cosmically unfulfilled.

Score: 2/5

Thanks Couchpotato!

 

Starfield

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Sci-Fi
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

Xenonauts 2 - Development Update

by Hiddenx, 19:03

Couchpotato spotted a new development update for Xenonauts 2:

Xenonauts 2 Monthly Development Update!

With September over it's once again time for our monthly Xenonauts 2 development update. Here's a quick rundown of the things we've been busy with this month!

Milestone 5
Although we've continued to release hotfixes for Milestone 4 this month, our focus has been Milestone 5. If all goes well, we should (hopefully) have an early prototype of this update ready for testers later this month.

Milestone 5 is taking a long time because we're making quite a few changes. Aside from the Phase system mentioned in the last update, we're also going to be testing a "strategic operations" system that gives the player more control over the Geoscape and opens up a greater number of strategic gameplay options.

Essentially, the player gets a certain amount of "operation points" each day that can be spent on one-off missions to provide benefits (e.g. lowering Panic in a region, gaining an immediate cash injection, etc) or can be used to recruit Supporters in Geoscape regions who provide passive bonuses (e.g. increased monthly funding, reduced research / engineering times, etc). If you recruit all the Supporters in a region, you also gain a powerful Region Bonus for your organisation.

Our goal for this system is to add a bit more strategic depth to the Geoscape, and provide players a way to reduce Panic in regions where they do not have aircraft or radar coverage. Choosing which types of Supporter and / or Region Bonuses players want to pursue should hopefully provide players some interesting strategic choices - we're looking forward to seeing what people think when they get to play it!

New Missions / Terrain Tiles
Milestone 5 is intended to include the complete sequence of story missions, allowing players to play the entire campaign from start to finish. We've therefore been working on the final mission, creating some unique terrain tiles to reflect the setting in which it takes place. Similarly, we've also created some unique tiles for the areas where the player will encounter the alien leader species, the Eternals (the bridges of Battleship UFOs, and the command centers of the largest alien bases).

We're also attempting to address feedback about mission variety becoming a bit stale towards the end of the game by adding two new story missions into the later stages of the campaign. These center around an orbital station the aliens have constructed high above Earth. This gives us an isolated environment where aliens outnumber humans, which is helpful because the presence of large numbers of enemy reinforcements means we can once again make use of some mission types that stopped making sense after the defeat of the Cleaners.

We're still experimenting with these missions, but again we're hoping to have a basic version of them in the Milestone 5 prototype.

Other Updates
We've also added various smaller systems to the game this month. Firstly, Xenonaut bases now cost varying amounts ($500k - $1.5m) depending on where they are placed. This means there's fewer places where placing a base is objectively a bad decision; the locations with optimal radar coverage are now also more expensive. It's worth bearing in mind this also affects the first base, meaning you'll have more starting funds available if you choose a cheaper location.

In the tactical combat, we've added support for alien weapons capable of spawning clouds of (poison) gas on impact. This should allow us to equip certain alien species (probably Mantids) with weapons that behave a little differently from other alien units, while also making items such as the Rebreather a bit more useful.

As you can see at the top of the screen, we've also continued to add new artwork to the game - the image above being tied to the Phase system and the updated storyline.

Updated Game Editor
Over the last couple of updates I've mentioned our Game Editor upgrade, which is the first step towards having working modding tools for Xenonauts 2. Although work on the final modding tools won't start until after Milestone 5 is complete, this editor upgrade is now largely complete and will act as the foundation for our mod tools.

That's it for now, I think - I had a few more smaller things I wanted to talk about, but this update has run long already so I'll leave it here. We'll post another development update once the Milestone 5 prototype is ready to play!

Xenonauts 2

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Sci-Fi
Genre: Non-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Black Geyser - New Features

by Hiddenx, 19:00

Black Geyser got a lot of new features:

Dual Wielding And Other Improvements

Greetings, adventurers!

Some long-awaited features of the Fixpack have been released! They include dual-wielding, Steam Cloud support, fast-travel (single loading screen) to questgivers, and monster respawn in areas. Moreover, already known recipes are now marked in shops. We are working hard on the DLC and the other planned features (the remaining part of the Fixpack) of the base game as well.

We will release at least one additional major update before the end of the year. This will include a very important editor (tool) to provide improved modding support for the game.

Since the game has translations in 11 (eleven) languages, localization of new texts is a bigger challenge than we previously believed. Therefore, we will have to postpone all text-heavy features of the Fixpack (such as companion-specific epilogues and expanded romances lines) to next year. As a result of this optimization, their release is expectable at the same time or somewhat earlier than the DLC.

You can take a look at the full changelist below:

  • Dual-wielding for warrior and outlaw classes
  • Fast-travel to questgivers using the quest journal
  • Item tooltips now show which classes can use the item
  • Monster respawn in areas
  • Already known recipes are marked in shop UI
  • Added savegame file compression to reduce file size
  • Added Steam cloud save support
  • Added GOG achievements
  • Skeletons are now immune to Crimson Plague
  • Changed curative sap sounds
  • Siracca is now recruitable during To The Quick quest
  • The game is now available in two more resolutions
  • Corrected a visual bug that appeared on resolutions other than 16:9
  • Corpses of ghouls required for Destroy Them All quest no longer despawn if left unlooted before the quest is finished
  • Hearts required for Destroy Them All can no longer be stolen from ghouls and cultists
  • Trapped under the surface quest now fails if the player reports to the Spymaster before finishing it
  • Love's Labours Found quest now properly ends when the player pacifies mourning Beran
  • Urghos' aura no longer reacts to ranged attacks
  • Overlapping cutscenes concerning the stairs in Rothgor's Realm no longer block the player from progressing

As always and for all of you who continue to support Black Geyser and who continue to provide feedback here or on Discord, thank you so much!

The Black Geyser Team

Thanks Couchpotato!

Black Geyser

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

Dustgrave - Prologue on October 10

by Hiddenx, 18:48

Dustgrave's Prologue can be played on October 10:

Prepare for the Dustgrave’s Prologue – The journey begins October 10th!

Dustgrave: Prologue will be available for free on October 10th. Wishlist now so you can download as soon as it goes live

After months of intense development, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of Dustgrave: Prologue. It will feature all the updates and new mechanics we’ve been working on in the last few months!

The best part? Your progress in the Prologue will carry over into the full game at launch, since save games will be fully compatible!

We’ve taken our demo offline to focus all our efforts on making the Dustgrave: Prologue the best possible experience for you. Expect new features, improvements, and a world that’s more reactive and immersive. Plus more crime-related features, we love adding those.

Dustgrave: Prologue will be available for free on October 10th. Wishlist now so you can download as soon as it goes live!

Thanks Couchpotato!

Dustgrave

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Strategy-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Drova - Forsaken Kin - Livestream

by Hiddenx, 18:39

You can follow a nonstop Drova - Forsaken Kin developer livestream on Twitch until release on October 15.

Thanks Couchpotato!

Drova - Forsaken Kin

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Lords of the Fallen - Sequel in Development

by Hiddenx, 18:21

Eurogamer reports that a sequel of Lords of the Fallen is in full development.

Thanks Couchpotato!

Lords of the Fallen

SP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

Diablo 4 - Vessel of Hatred Cinematic Trailer

by Hiddenx, 18:17

Couchpotato spotted a new trailer for Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred:

Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred - Official In-Game Cinematic Reveal Trailer

Source: IGN

Diablo 4

SP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Hack & Slash
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

RPG General News - Steam's Turn Based RPG Fest

by Hiddenx, 18:15

Morstimal Gaming presents some highlights of Steam's Turn Based RPG Fest:

Steam's Turn Based RPG Fest Highlights

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:01 WH40k Rogue Trader/Pathfinder: WotR
02:15 Octopath Traveller 2
02:42 Xcom 1/2
02:55 For The King 2
03:28 Midnight Suns
04:02 Triangle Strategy
04:26 Eiyuden Chronicle
04:52 Tactics Ogre
05:25 Colony Ship/Age of Decadence
06:17 Ruined King
06:46 Circus Electrique
07:25 Wrap Up

Thanks Couchpotato!

RPG General News

SP/MP: Unknown
Setting: Unknown
Genre: RPG
Platform: Unknown
Release: In development

Details

Non-RPG General News - The Axis Unseen Preview

by Hiddenx, 18:11

Mortismal Gaming checked out The Axis Unseen:

Check Out: The Axis Unseen

Non-RPG General News

SP/MP: Unknown
Setting: Unknown
Genre: Unknown
Platform: Unknown
Release: In development

Details

Moon Beast - Trailer

by Hiddenx, 18:08

Couchpotato spotted a new trailer for the action RPG Moon Beast:

Moon Beast Teaser HQ 1080

Moon Beast

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Monomyth - Early Access Version released

by Hiddenx, 17:58

The dungeon crawler Monomyth has been released into Early Access:

MonoMyth

MONOMYTH is an immersive, first-person dungeon-crawling RPG inspired by the genre's late classics. Embark on a journey through a vast and highly interactive game world as you unravel the mysteries hidden beneath the ancient fortress of Lysandria.

Monomyth

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Urban Strife - Sneak Peak

by Hiddenx, 17:54

Check out the post-apocalytic RPG Urban Strife:

Urban Strife Sneak Peek

Come check out a preview of the latest Urban Strife build (recorded on Oct. 2nd)

During the Turn Based Festival we will stream a pre-recorded dev playthrough of our latest game build.

The location shown is a gas station controlled by a group of bikers, about to go to war against a gang of zombie worshiping cultists. This is only a small part of the scenario, basically the initial contact with faction, where seek to gain their favour and gain access to their traders, before going to war against their adversary.

We stopped short of spoiling too much of the content, but hopefully you can get an idea of what is coming.

Thanks Couchpotato!

Urban Strife

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Apocalypse
Genre: Tactical RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Wednesday - October 02, 2024

Baldur's Gate 3 - Playing With Mods

by Hiddenx, 21:30

Couchpotato spotted community update #29:

Community Update #29 Playing With Mods

Why hello there! You’re looking great, have you done something with your hair or just reconfigured your entire face to look like a fish?

If your mods are any indication, the answer is yes and then some. It’s not even a month since Patch 7 dropped on PC - complete with our official modding toolkit - and already you’ve uploaded over 1,000 mods and racked up more than 15 million downloads!

We’ve watched as you’ve customised your dice with flames and iridescent pearl, lightened the load of gold in your packs, and adjusted your party limit from 4 to 16 - because who needs personal space anyway?

And now, those of you on console and Mac can finally join in, with Patch 7 rolling out to these platforms starting today. Keep reading to learn how to kick off your modded run, plus check out some of the most popular mods ready for you to explore.

Today’s update also brings Hotfix #26 and Hotfix #27 to all platforms - if you want to check out the patch notes in full, point your eyes in this direction. But far from being our last patch, you can still expect to see crossplay and a photo mode for Baldur’s Gate 3 in the future.

Over 15 Million Community-Made Mods Downloaded - and Counting!

What better way to celebrate the inevitable chaos set to ensue than with another animated short made in collaboration with Spud Gun Studios, the masterminds behind Mashed. This time, our brave heroes are facing off against the latest threat to Baldur’s Gate: Mods!

[...]

Baldur's Gate 3

SP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

Age of Wonders 4 - Expansion Pass 2 Reveal

by Hiddenx, 21:26

Learn more about the new expansion pass of Age of Wonders 4:

Age of Wonders 4 Expansion Pass 2 Reveal - Archons are back! | New Content

Thanks Couchpotato!

Age of Wonders 4

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Tactical RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone - Gameplay Trailer

by Hiddenx, 21:23

Couchpotato spotted a new trailer for Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone:

CHERNOBYLITE 2: EXCLUSION ZONE - GAMEPLAY TRAILER [2025 ON PC & CONSOLES]

Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Post-Apoc
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Banquet for Fools - Preview

by Hiddenx, 21:20

Splattercatgaming checked out Banquet For Fools:

A Hidden Gem of a cRPG That Hits All The Right Notes - Banquet For Fools

Thanks Couchpotato!

Banquet for Fools

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Adventure-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii - Preview

by Hiddenx, 21:11

IGN checked out Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii:

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii – The First Preview

Thanks Couchpotato!

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Modern
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Metaphor: ReFantazio - Overview

by Hiddenx, 21:09

GameSpot gives an overview of Metaphor: ReFantazio:

Metaphor: ReFantazio Everything To Know

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Metaphor: ReFantazio

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Starfield - Shattered Space Review

by Hiddenx, 21:07

Mortismal Gaming checked out the DLC Starfield: Shattered Space:

Starfield: Shattered Space - DLC Review

Thanks Couchpotato!

Starfield

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Sci-Fi
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

New Arc Line - Preview @ Mortismal Gaming

by Hiddenx, 21:02

Mortismal Gaming checked out New Arc Line:

New Arc Line - Early Preview

Thanks Couchpotato!

New Arc Line

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Steampunk
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Flint - Treasure of Oblivion - Digital Deluxe Edition

by Hiddenx, 21:00

Couchpotato spotted a trailer for the Digital Deluxe Edition of Flint - Treasure of Oblivion:

Flint: Treasure of Oblivion - Digital Deluxe Edition Trailer

Flint - Treasure of Oblivion

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Historical
Genre: Tactical RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details