Siliconera |
- Love Live Virtual School Idol Project Will Start in Fall 2022
- Nintendo Switch Online Missions & Rewards Arrive as New Feature
- Evangelion 3.0+1.0 1st Anniversary Stream Will Air on Twitch
- FromSoftware Focused on Scale and RPG Elements for Elden Ring
- EarthBound Maps Will Appear as Framed Art in Japan
- Genshin Impact Kokomi and Raiden Shogun Art Contest Begins
- Trails of Cold Steel III & IV to Join PS Now in Japan
- Final Fantasy XIV Letter from the Producer Live 6.1 Time Announced
- Kingdom Hearts Dark Road Update Delayed Again
- miHoYo Contributed $65 Million for Nuclear Fusion Research
- People Can Play 14 Pac-Man Games in Pac-Man Museum+ in May
- Review: Elden Ring is Promising, but Held Back by Its PC Performance
- Baelz Hakos Birthday Merchandise and First Original Song Appear
- Fire Emblem Heroes A Hero Rises 2022 Voting Gauntlet Goes All Green
- HoYo-MiX Year in Review Features Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact Music
| Love Live Virtual School Idol Project Will Start in Fall 2022 Posted: 01 Mar 2022 06:30 AM PST
A new Love Live Virtual School Idol multimedia project will launch in Fall 2022. There is a short teaser trailer on its official YouTube channel. However, aside from the basic premise, there is no information on how exactly things will look and go. Due to the name of "Virtual School Idol," it is possible that it will feature the girls working as VTubers rather than as traditional idols. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps_HO7n0zfw According to the official website for the Love Live! Virtual School Idol project, it will take place over the course of a year (365 days). During this time, content such as video streams, magazines, CDs, live events, and mobile applications will appear. Rather than focusing on past Love Live! idols, it seems that it will feature new characters and cast members. The Love Live franchise is series involving multiple forms of media. Aside from television series and games, there are also manga series and CDs. There are also collaborations between its characters and other properties. For example, in 2021 the Japanese Love Live School Idol Festival mobile game offeref a collaboration event featuring characters from the Persona series. Love Live Virtual School Idol will start in Fall 2022. More information will appear in the future. The post Love Live Virtual School Idol Project Will Start in Fall 2022 appeared first on Siliconera. |
| Nintendo Switch Online Missions & Rewards Arrive as New Feature Posted: 01 Mar 2022 06:00 AM PST
Nintendo added a new Missions & Rewards feature to Nintendo Switch Online. Completing missions will reward players with My Nintendo Platinum Points, which can be redeemed for a variety of different items. Most notably, there are new Nintendo Switch player icons, allowing for icon element customization. Nintendo Switch Online missions are tasks designed to reward players for doing things they may already be doing. For example, on a weekly basis players can "back up save data" in the cloud to earn 20 Platinum Points. Another mission requires players to play a "featured title" in the NES app, which is Super Mario Bros. at the moment. Doing so rewards them with 50 Platinum Points. Players can redeem points for items like digital wallpapers, digital or physical items at the My Nintendo Store, and the new aforementioned Nintendo Switch player icon elements. These elements include individual icon frames, characters, and backgrounds. Players can assemble these elements to create their own unique Nintendo Switch player icons. You can see some examples below.
Nintendo will offer a different theme for icon elements through Nintendo Switch Online each month. That means some icons will come and go. Through April 3, 2022, the themes are "Animal Crossing: New Horizons (March birthdays) and Super Mario Odyssey." An active Nintendo Switch Online subscription is required to complete these new missions and redeem their rewards. Nintendo Switch Online is available through all versions of Nintendo Switch hardware. An upgraded tier of the service, Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, recently added The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask to its games lineup. The post Nintendo Switch Online Missions & Rewards Arrive as New Feature appeared first on Siliconera. |
| Evangelion 3.0+1.0 1st Anniversary Stream Will Air on Twitch Posted: 01 Mar 2022 05:40 AM PST
The Evangelion 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon a Time movie first anniversary is coming up on March 8, 2022. Khara will mark the occasion by holding a live stream on the day at 19:00 JST (5 AM ET). The movie's director Hideaki Anno will attend the stream with several other key staff members. They will re-watch the movie while answering questions from fans. Khara has opened a Google Docs form on the stream's news page, where fans can send questions to the staff in Japanese. It will close the submissions in seven hours before the stream begins. Khara will share the exact URL for the Evangelion 3.0+1.0 anniversary stream on Twitch at a later time. It is currently unknown whether the stream will be available worldwide or region-locked. Evangelion 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon a Time appeared first in Japanese theaters from March 8, 2021, to late July 2021. It managed to gross 10 billion yen during its run at the Japanese box office. In January 2022, the Japan Academy Film Prize Association listed this movie as one of the nominees for the Best Animation of the Year. The latest Evangelion movie is immediately available to watch worldwide via Amazon Prime Video. It appears on the platform as Evangelion 3.0+1.01: Thrice Upon a Time, which has several additional scenes not included in the original launch. The post Evangelion 3.0+1.0 1st Anniversary Stream Will Air on Twitch appeared first on Siliconera. |
| FromSoftware Focused on Scale and RPG Elements for Elden Ring Posted: 01 Mar 2022 04:30 AM PST
In a pre-release production staff interview, FromSoftware revealed that the development team focused on three core tenets when creating Elden Ring. These included scale, RPG elements, and lore that ultimately created the core experience of Elden Ring. The development team revealed that scale was important for creating a sense of variety in the game. This includes the creation of various castles, caves, and dungeons that players can actively explore in Elden Ring. The developers worked to ensure that these areas would be connected seamlessly throughout the open world. However, while scale was an important factor when creating Elden Ring, FromSoftware wanted the RPG elements of the game to allow for true variety in playstyle. The intention was to enable players to pursue their own method of exploration. You can watch the Elden Ring pre-release production staff interview below. It features English and Japanese subtitles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP_SmxASo5Q The video also delves into the creative process of Elden Ring's lore. It reiterates that Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin provided the foundation for Elden Ring. Elden Ring director Hidetaka Miyazaki was already a fan of Martin's work. While Martin provided lore regarding events having taken place before the narrative of the game, the team was able to create the scenario. This also helped FromSoftware develop the general gameplay that would appear in Elden Ring. A recent interview with Famitsu revealed several more key development details regarding Elden Ring. This included its parallel development with Sekiro. Elden Ring is available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC. You can read our review of the PC version, with PlayStation 5 impressions. The post FromSoftware Focused on Scale and RPG Elements for Elden Ring appeared first on Siliconera. |
| EarthBound Maps Will Appear as Framed Art in Japan Posted: 01 Mar 2022 04:00 AM PST
Shigesato Itoi and Hobonichi will produce and sell framed art based on EarthBound pixel maps in Japan. The company will open pre-orders for a limited time in March 2022. The framed art of EarthBound maps will be available in five different models. Each of them will depict a distinct featured location in EarthBound, including Onett, Winters, Fourside, Moonside, and the Cave of the Past. People residing in Japan will be able to order the framed art in two different sizes: Small at ¥16,500 (~$144) and Large at ¥37,400 (~$325). They can also choose one of the three available frames, including black, red, and natural wood grain. [gallery columns="5" link="file" ids="918351,918352,918353,918354,918355"] EarthBound originally came out for the SNES in 1995 in North America and 1994 in Japan, where it is known as Mother 2. In February 2022, Nintendo made the game — along with its predecessor, EarthBound Beginnings — available on Nintendo Switch. Users who have subscribed to Nintendo Switch Online can access the classic games immediately. Hobonichi has been releasing assorted merchandise related to the EarthBound franchise in Japan. In October 2021, it released the Pollyanna 2 manga compilation that includes a comic made by Undertale creator Toby Fox. The company also released various items ranging from jackets to plushes in 2020. Pre-orders for the framed art of EarthBound maps will be available in Japan from March 8 to March 31, 2022. Hobonichi will deliver the finished products around late May 2022. The post EarthBound Maps Will Appear as Framed Art in Japan appeared first on Siliconera. |
| Genshin Impact Kokomi and Raiden Shogun Art Contest Begins Posted: 01 Mar 2022 03:30 AM PST
miHoYo has announced a Genshin Impact art contest featuring Sangonomiya Kokomi and the Raiden Shogun has begun. Applicants will have until March 17, 2022 to submit their entries. Winners for the individual art contests will be announced on April 15, 2022. miHoYo has fully outlined how users can participate in the Kokomi and Raiden Shogun art contests through its official website. In order to participate, users will need to post their submissions on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. The tags #GenshinImpact, #RaidenShogun, or #SangonomiyaKokomi must be used, depending on the submission. Users will also need to submit their entry information through a link provided in each individual official blog post. A total of nine winners for each contest will be selected from the pool of submissions. The rewards are as follows:
Additionally, several submissions are allowed from participants. However, only one prize can be won per participant. Participants must also include work-in-progress images alongside their final submissions for the Genshin Impact Kokomi and Raiden Shogun art contest. In January 2022, miHoYo held a similar art competition. However, this was focused on fan art of the Geo Archon Zhongli and Ganyu. Rewards for that particular art contest included Primogems and cash prizes. Genshin Impact is available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, and Android and iOS devices. It is in development for Nintendo Switch. The post Genshin Impact Kokomi and Raiden Shogun Art Contest Begins appeared first on Siliconera. |
| Trails of Cold Steel III & IV to Join PS Now in Japan Posted: 01 Mar 2022 03:00 AM PST
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III and The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV will be available on PS Now in Japan in March 2022. However, these won't be the only games joining the subscription-based service. Other titles include Crysis Remastered, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Definitive Edition, and Shadow Warrior 3. [Thanks, Gamer!] The full list of titles available through the March 2022 PlayStation Now update include the following:
It is unclear if The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV and III will be made available through PS Now in other regions, but they are not part of the North American lineup for March. Additionally, titles like Shadow Warrior 3 and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Definitive Edition will only be available through the service for a limited time. Shadow Warrior 3 will be on PS Now from March 2 to July 4, 2022. And Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Definitive Edition will remain on the service until May 2, 2022. Other titles on the list will be available starting on March 1, 2022 without limit. Previous titles added to PlayStation Now have included Final Fantasy X | X-2 Remaster and Final Fantasy IX. PS Now is immediately available to players with a subscription on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC. The post Trails of Cold Steel III & IV to Join PS Now in Japan appeared first on Siliconera. |
| Final Fantasy XIV Letter from the Producer Live 6.1 Time Announced Posted: 01 Mar 2022 02:30 AM PST
Square Enix shared what time the Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) Letter from the Producer Live featuring information about Patch 6.1 will be held. While the upcoming Letter from the Producer Live was announced during a previous broadcast, the exact time wasn't announced. However, viewers can expect to watch the Final Fantasy XIV Letter from the Producer Live with information about Patch 6.1 at 8 p.m. JST / 3 a.m. PT / 6 a.m. ET / 12 p.m. CET on March 4, 2022. Viewers can watch the broadcast through YouTube, Twitch, and Japanese streaming service NicoNico. Square Enix will also allow joint broadcasting of the Letter from the Producer Live. This means that users will be able to stream the broadcast through their individual Twitch or YouTube channels. The contents of the FFXIV Letter from the Producer Live will focus on information regarding Patch 6.1 and other content. However, details regarding what that could potentially be have yet to be announced. Additionally, this broadcast is being labeled as "Part 1," which could mean that a second broadcast will reveal more information. Previous Letter from the Producer Live broadcasts have revealed new armor sets, raids, and other content. This past February, the developers released a roadmap detailing what users can expect leading up to Patch 6.5. Final Fantasy XIV is available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC. The Letter from the Producer Live will be held on March 4, 2022 and feature information about Patch 6.1. The post Final Fantasy XIV Letter from the Producer Live 6.1 Time Announced appeared first on Siliconera. |
| Kingdom Hearts Dark Road Update Delayed Again Posted: 28 Feb 2022 06:00 PM PST
The update for the offline version of Kingdom Hearts: Dark Road has been delayed again. The official Japanese Twitter account announced that the patch would require "a little more time." The 5.0.0 update was initially slated to release during Winter 2021 and will now release at an unspecified date. According to Square Enix, one of the reasons for the delay is the large number of new scenarios coming with the new update. Kingdom Hearts: Dark Road is a prequel story that follows antagonist Xehanort, starting with the character's youth. The announcement tweet includes various images from the game. https://twitter.com/KHDR_PR/status/1498130845047132160?s=20&t=qyiXCzm7We2xWM7ZGMNDnA The upcoming 5.0.0 update is the final story update for Kingdom Hearts: Dark Road offline. Square Enix initially planned to release the update in September 2021. However, due to various issues, the company had postponed the update indefinitely. Prior to the most recent delay, Square Enix had announced the aforementioned Winter 2021 window. Kingdom Hearts: Dark Road originally released globally in June 2020 as part of the existing Kingdom Hearts: Union x mobile app. A year later, Square Enix announced that it would shut down the Union x app. After the shutdown, players would be unable to access Dark Road via Union x. Players would instead be able to enjoy the story through a new, offline version of the game. Kingdom Hearts: Dark Road is available to play offline on iOS and Android devices. There is no confirmed release date for the final 5.0.0 update. The post Kingdom Hearts Dark Road Update Delayed Again appeared first on Siliconera. |
| miHoYo Contributed $65 Million for Nuclear Fusion Research Posted: 28 Feb 2022 04:00 PM PST
miHoYo, the company behind Genshin Impact and Honkai Impact 3, contributed $65 million to Energy Singularity, which is a company that works on nuclear fusion technology. miHoYo led the round of financing alongside other corporations such as NIO Capital. [Thanks, Daniel "ZhugeEx" Ahmad!] As part of efforts to lower carbon emissions, some companies and governments conduct research into renewable energy. Nuclear fusion is one of those options. While Tokamak devices are not new, small and commercialized versions of the machine could mean that more individuals and businesses would have access to clean energy. A Tokamak device is a machine that uses magnets to confine plasma particles. This then leads to fusion (and energy), thus nuclear fusion. There are a large number of Tokamak devices in history. France has been constructing the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), and it will finish in 2025. This is not the first time that miHoYo donated money to a research institution, and nuclear fusion is not its only interest. Ahmad also noted, miHoYo teamed up with the Shanghai Jiaotong University Ruijin Hospital in 2021. The project focuses on integrating technology with the human brain in order to treat conditions such as depression. In 2021, miHoYo earned over $1 billion in revenue from Genshin Impact. Genshin Impact is available on the PS4, PS5, Windows PC, and mobile devices. The post miHoYo Contributed $65 Million for Nuclear Fusion Research appeared first on Siliconera. |
| People Can Play 14 Pac-Man Games in Pac-Man Museum+ in May Posted: 28 Feb 2022 01:00 PM PST
Bandai Namco promised a new collection of Pac-Man games would be on the way. Now it has a release date. On May 27, 2022, Pac-Man Museum+ will give people on all current consoles and computers a chance to go through 14 different iterations. People can also place on leaderboards and decorate the home "arcade" hub by playing. Pac-Man Museum+ will include a mix of both conventional and unconventional entries in the series. For example, Pac-Land, Pac-in-Time, and Pac Motos will be there. Here's the full list of included Pac-Man games in the collection.
There's also a new trailer showing off the game and its virtual arcade. It shows off the customization elements after the 30 second mark. After that, it shows how coins earned from missions can be used on things like flooring, furniture, wallpaper, and other accessories to arrange the layout. It also shows how Pac-Man himself will appear in the area. Pac-Man Museum+ will show up on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC on May 27, 2022. It will be PS5 and Xbox Series X compatible. Xbox Game Pass subscribers will also be able to play it at launch. The post People Can Play 14 Pac-Man Games in Pac-Man Museum+ in May appeared first on Siliconera. |
| Review: Elden Ring is Promising, but Held Back by Its PC Performance Posted: 28 Feb 2022 12:00 PM PST
Elden Ring is massive. When FromSoftware announced it would be creating a new open world experience, I expected maybe a handful of areas cleverly linked together in the developer's usual fashion. But Elden Ring is a sprawling game, laden with mysteries and extremely challenging boss fights that will test the skill of just about any player. No doubt, it has become one of the most anticipated games of 2022. Potentially for a good reason. However, Elden Ring squanders what promise it holds by performance issues on PCs and a lack of deviation from Dark Souls in almost any regard. It wasn't until I was roughly 40 hours in that I discovered that I was effectively playing a majority of Elden Ring in reverse. I had uncovered some areas prematurely. Because of the sheer amount of ways to approach certain parts of the map, I was throwing myself against proverbial brick walls. While there were other avenues I could explore, the lack of direction had me convinced that this was the right way to go. But there is no right way in Elden Ring. You will find world bosses scattered throughout the map, some barring progress in directions you might believe you need to go. Those bosses felt infinitely harder than some story relevant fights. Mostly because, for some reason, my frame rate would dip dramatically during these open world encounters. There was one particular instance against the Tree Sentinel that caused my game to not only freeze, but stutter for more than a few seconds at a time. This wasn't the first time it would happen. It was a recurring issue within the area and with this particular boss.
These issues would appear sporadically in Elden Ring on the PC. Sometimes during boss fights constrained to wide arenas. Sometimes while moving between areas on the map. It didn't matter if I was mounted, running through fields of grass, or maybe sprinting haphazardly through pools of shallow water. The worst instance occurred during one of the boss fights reserved for later in the game. The game froze several times, and the frame rate dropped significantly. Other instances included bugs that sounded like some kind of audio corruption. Perhaps the most frustrating things, outside of the frame drops, were the infinite loading screens and crashes. These would usually happen when I would attempt to respawn at a Statue of Marika after dying. While it's a minor inconvenience, as there are Points of Grace are aplenty on the map, it was frustrating nonetheless. Thankfully, the Elden Ring PlayStation 5 performance fared somewhat better. While I did see the occasional frame rate drops, loading times were faster and I experienced no crashes. I played roughly 25 hours of the game on the PS5 to see if the same performance issues and frame drops appeared in the same areas as they did on PC. While some areas and boss fights were still affected, it wasn't nearly as egregious. This is the version of the game I would recommend to those interested in playing the game. However, there are other grievances I have with its general performance. While a day-one patch rolled out, the performance on PC wasn't particularly better as a result. Which could change over time with future updates. That said, with a game so reliant on frames to time dodges, the technical issues I experienced were deeply frustrating. Especially considering the play style that I've carried over from multiple FromSoftware games. I'm not a player that builds vitality. That was mostly a mistake while playing Elden Ring. Due to the open nature, I was running into bosses well above my level. While I was able to defeat them with persistence — and through the use of the trusty and almost broken-feeling Reduvia Blood Blade that's since been rebalanced — it wasn't exactly fun. I did not feel the usual sense of accomplishment, like each victory was well earned, mostly because I felt like I had managed to win through luck. And trust me, I love a challenge! If given the opportunity, I will brute force my way through anything. If it's possible, I'll absolutely try to do it. But it's clear that despite the open world aspect of Elden Ring, it will be all the more difficult if you go about things in the way the game does not intend. Especially if you don't allocate points into vitality. So much of the game feels as though it almost requires players to level up this particular stat in order to comfortably get through the game. And of course you can do that to make things easier! However, the fact that it almost seemed necessary felt like a detriment.
In FromSoftware games, there's a level of fairness you might expect. After learning the systems, things become clear. For example, when discovering just how far you can push the trading mechanic in Bloodborne, the way to play the game becomes apparent. But in Elden Ring, it feels like the player is playing Dark Souls and the enemies are playing Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. So when Miyazaki revealed that Elden Ring was in development alongside Sekiro everything about the design sensibilities made a lot of sense. Outside of a few standard enemy types, most you will encounter are fast. Attacks are frantic, which barely gives the player time to breathe. No amount of points I pumped into my stamina was enough to really keep me safe. And enemies are more aggressive when using spells or attacking from a range. It keeps you on your toes, which can sometimes be a good thing. But Elden Ring feels less about skill and more about simply enduring. It became a dance of measuring just how much damage I could take and if my vitality would be enough to survive between the few hits I could manage to get in. This was further compounded by attacks from enemies tracking you as you frantically try to dodge to the right or left. This isn't necessarily the case for early bosses, but you can feel how reactive the AI is almost immediately. Especially when using spells. Bosses near the second half of the game become even more agile, with the exception of a few, or hit so impossibly hard it feels like you don't have much of a chance. This is further compounded by every boss having a second phase, be it introduced through a cutscene or an enemy revealing an entirely new set of skills once their health bar reaches the halfway point. I also encountered some clipping issues with one boss in particular. His wide sweeping attacks would go through the ground and instantly kill my character. Using shields or opting for more durable builds potentially circumvent a lot of these issues, along with the choice use of Ashes. These new items allow for players to summon spectral creatures, or even NPCs, to assist them in battle. They will either deal damage or distract bosses. But Elden Ring could potentially be frustrating to players who want to pursue more varied builds or stray from that particular path. But running through the game with low vitality is entirely possible, as I had managed to overcome most bosses well below the levels the developers potentially intended. Horseback combat was mostly just okay. I didn't find it particularly interesting or very fun.
That said, there are plenty of things to enjoy about Elden Ring. The open world feels vast, and each region on the map feels wholly unique and distinct. The verticality in some maps is interesting. Having Torrent alleviates a lot of the stress of running through enemy encamps on foot. Enemies you encounter will vary between these areas, and there is a genuine sense of culture fostered by their respective demigods. There is one area in particular I absolutely loved, mostly for how saturated the environments were and its splendid use of colors. My favorite parts involved exploration and discovering something new. Even on my second playthrough on the PlayStation 5, I was uncovering things I hadn't seen during my initial Elden Ring run on the PC. I had encountered NPCs I initially missed and progressed stories that had halted due to the strange way I had chosen to tackle the game the first time around. Elden Ring is full of colorful characters. However, they're similar to previous NPCs in FromSoftware games. Some are cryptic and strange, while others border on the supernatural. Archetypes from the Dark Souls series appear and seem to be series staples, as they adhere to the world building of the Souls games almost beat-for-beat. Women are largely regarded as analogous to "life givers," with very few prominent NPCs straying from this tired path. Patches is there, because of course he is. And there are nods to a noble aristocracy who use blood-based techniques, similar to the Vilebloods from Bloodborne. There are several different factions as well, but ultimately aligning with one doesn't mean much in the way of the story. Some paths will open up and make progression somewhat easier, but aren't required. It was a bit disappointing that some NPCs didn't remark upon my joining of a specific house, based on their prerogative to effectively murder other NPCs. Maybe that was because I had, as mentioned previously, played the game backward. I felt like doing this locked me out of several dialogue options with prominent NPCs or from specific storylines. And as the order isn't specific, it could potentially be easy for players to make those mistakes. But that's what a second or third playthrough is for, as Elden Ring seems like a game with incredible potential to keep the player entertained through numerous runs.
The narrative itself is what you would expect from FromSoftware and is serviceable enough to keep the player moving forward. You are a Tarnished, set to recover Great Runes from beings of immeasurable power. Your path isn't necessarily predetermined. It is clear that you are the vehicle of change within the world. Your destiny is intertwined with the NPCs you will meet and how you choose to proceed. Thankfully, taking NPCs into major battles doesn't kill them. So players won't need to err on the side of caution if they're looking to take their favorite characters into a fight, so long as their summon sign is available. The score has some particular stand-out pieces, which help create a sense of atmosphere in any given area or encounter. The Magic Academy of Raya Lucaria in Liurnia was one of my favorite areas in the game for this reason. A more subtle melody plays as you explore the derelict remains of what was once potentially a prestigious academy. However, most of the more encounter-focused music teeters on the edge of sounding like a track you would find in Dark Souls III. Which isn't a bad thing! But with Elden Ring being an entirely new IP, you would expect something more distinct, or more in line with the song that accompanied the game's announcement trailer.
I played the majority of my reviewing period by myself. This was mostly to see how bosses would scale going into other players' games or worlds upon the full release. I was extremely disappointed to see that FromSoftware has gone the way of Bloodborne's multiplayer, which means my stats were nerfed the moment I stepped into another person's game. I was hoping that this wouldn't be an option, as previous interviews stated that multiplayer will potentially make the game easier for players. But I find this hard to believe, if pulling people into your game will make their builds less viable or less durable. I also experienced constant connection issues, and the game booted me out of multiplayer at random. Which isn't great, especially since you will need to use a specific item (that you can craft or purchase) to make summon signs visible. In the way of accessibility, there is next to nothing here. The PC version of Elden Ring allows for players to rebind their keys, but that's about it. The PlayStation 5 version has no accessibility options. Customization options between the two are minimal at best. Yes, you can adjust the graphics settings for the PC version of Elden Ring, but that menu is about as in-depth as it gets. It would be nice to see FromSoftware incorporate other accessibility options in the future, maybe in the way of allowing players to adjust game speed. There are some issues with the menu as well, mostly in the way that it's just so layered that it can be confusing to navigate at times. And while a map is available, the marker system is somewhat useless, as you cannot leave notes to tell you the significance of any particular place outside of very tiny insignias. I really suggest players take notes while playing the game. Especially when discovering notable locations, as NPCs might ask you to go there at a later date. Only a select number of locations remain named on the map or through Points of Grace. Elden Ring is a potentially great game that is hindered by massive performance issues. It doesn't do anything particularly genre-defining, as it mostly sticks to what FromSoftware always does. It will no doubt please fans of the Dark Souls series. But its lack of accessibility options and somewhat restrictive multiplayer may leave some wanting. Ultimately, I think it will potentially offer a better experience down the line, as the day-one patch has already changed some fundamentals of the game. With no real improvement regarding its performance on PC, Elden Ring is a hard game to recommend until a more stable version is available. Reviewer's PC Specs
Elden Ring is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC. The post Review: Elden Ring is Promising, but Held Back by Its PC Performance appeared first on Siliconera. |
| Baelz Hakos Birthday Merchandise and First Original Song Appear Posted: 28 Feb 2022 11:30 AM PST
Though it technically isn't Baelz Hakos' birthday, there's a celebration with merchandise for the Hololive Vtuber. The character's birthday is actually February 29th, but it is being celebrated with a collection of themed items. This also comes one day after the debut of the Baelz Hakos original song "Play Dice." The Baelz Hakos Birthday Celebration 2022 items are available alone or as a set. The set includes both the digital and physical items. People get a rubber mat they could use as a mouse pad with "Boom Boom!!" art by Mika Pikazo. That same design is also featured on a bonus postcard. There's a snapback baseball cap with "Bruh" on it. You also get a porcelain coffee mug with Baelz on it. There's a keychain with a pair of dice and Mr. Squeaks on it too. The digital items include a Birthday Voice Pack with "A Walk Home" situational pack and a Japanese and English system voice pack. The exclusive bonus voiced line is of her saying, "Thank you, Brats!" (Brats are what her fans are called.) Here's a closer look at the items. The full set is $121. The Boom Boom mat, Bruh cap, and #Caffeinated mug can be purchased separately. The mat is $25, while the cap and cup are both $37 each. People could also buy the system voice pack for $5 and situational voice pack for $9. As for the Baelz Hakos song, "Play Dice" debuted on February 27, 2022. Camellia and Baelz wrote the lyrics, with Camellia also composing the music. The music video's animation is by Onikari Warabe. However, please note that the video does feature flashing lights. The Baelz Hakos birthday merchandise will ship sometime between the end of July 2022 and end of August 2022. Pre-orders are open until April 4, 2022. The voice packs can be purchased even orders close. The post Baelz Hakos Birthday Merchandise and First Original Song Appear appeared first on Siliconera. |
| Fire Emblem Heroes A Hero Rises 2022 Voting Gauntlet Goes All Green Posted: 28 Feb 2022 11:00 AM PST
Now that the first round of the Fire Emblem Heroes A Hero Rises 2022 Voting Gauntlet is over, it is confirmed this event will result an all green focus unit banner. The four remaining units are The Fodlan Star Byleth, Hatari Duet Azura, Nightfall Ninja Act Corrin, and War God Thorr. Rounds 2 and 3 will determine which one of the four will be given away to all users for free. Going into Round 1 of the A Hero Rises 2022 Gauntlet, some Fire Emblem Heroes players began coordinating to eliminate the two outlier units. Those were Fated Holy Knight Sigurd, a red cavalry unit, and Hegemon Husk Edelgard, a colorless beast unit. This meant in the first round that the Azura Duo unit and Legendary Byleth both needed to win their rounds to make an all green Fire Emblem Hero banner happen. The other units eliminated during this phase were New Year Jotnar Dagr and Youthful Sage Eitri. Going into round two, there are two match-ups. One pits the Corrin and Elise Duo unit against Thorr. On the other side, the Azura and Leanne Duo face Byleth. Fire Emblem Heroes is available on Android and Apple iOS devices, and the second round of its A Hero Rises 2022 Voting Gauntlet began on February 28, 2022. The post Fire Emblem Heroes A Hero Rises 2022 Voting Gauntlet Goes All Green appeared first on Siliconera. |
| HoYo-MiX Year in Review Features Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact Music Posted: 28 Feb 2022 10:00 AM PST
To offer a look back at what its HoYo-MiX team did in 2021, miHoYo shared a 2021 Year in review video. The almost five minute trailer goes over music from Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact 3rd, and Tears of Themis. Tracks from composers and arrangers Dimeng Yuan, Frex, Gon, Hao, Jiade He, TetraCalyx, Vinchi, Yu-Peng Chen and Zoe appear. Each one only offers a brief sample of the song, though. However, before it comes up the album it appeared on shows up. First, here are the songs from the Genshin Impact soundtrack appearing the the HoYo-MiX music video.
The following Honkai Impact 3rd tracks show up during 2021 Year in Review music video too.
Finally, there was one Tears of Themis song there. As a reminder, this is miHoYo's mobile adventure game with otome overtones.
Here's the full 2021 HoYo-MiX year in review. It jumps around between the games' soundtracks. Genshin Impact is available on the PS4, PS5, PC, and mobile devices. Honkai Impact 3rd is on the PC and mobile devices. Tears of Themis is only available on mobile devices. The post HoYo-MiX Year in Review Features Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact Music appeared first on Siliconera. |
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