Need For Speed: Online Connection is Mandatory for Racing Game Reboot

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Always-on DRM—that is, digital rights management—has been a contentious subject within the gaming world ever since it first arrived on the scene.

Always-on DRM—that is, digital rights management—has been a contentious subject within the gaming world ever since it first arrived on the scene. For those of us not in the know, games that use DRM require people to remain linked to a server via Internet connection in order to actually experience them. While many game developers would assert that it’s an effective technique meant to prevent piracy of their software and is a convenient way to distribute updates, most fans would argue that it’s a hassle, especially if the DRM authentication network goes down and locks gamers out completely.

Opinions on the matter aside, some video game companies have utilized the method successfully, like Blizzardwith Starcraft II and Diablo III, while others have failed miserably by implementing it, such as Electronic Arts’ lackluster SimCity reboot. Now, strangely enough, after distancing themselves from using the technology several years back, EA’s upcoming relaunch of the popular racing game Need for Speed will require an online connection in order to play.

The news comes from the official Need for Speed Twitter account after user @DeanRheims brought up the notion of the title possibly having always-on DRM. A couple of follow-up Tweets to other users also explained that there will be a single player mode in addition to the multiplayer, and that being connected will allow for one’s friends to be a part of their “narrative experience.” However, there was no confirmation of the game being playable offline at all.

For some players, this report could sour the recent Need for Speed release date rumorsthat the game’s release date November 3 of this year. Plus, after EA’s aforementioned fiasco with the always-on DRM for SimCity ‘s reboot, one has to speculate whether or not the decision to make an Internet connection mandatory for the racing game is a mistake.

@DeanRheimsNFS will require an online connection, but the benefits are nice. More variety and a more rewarding experience with friends.— Need for Speed (@NeedforSpeed) May 28, 2015

If we’re really being honest, it’s been quite some time since Electronic Arts has truly understood what the fans actually want. In fact, the video game corporation has been selected as the worst company in Americatwo years in a row in a vote run by the digital publication Consumerist .

Regardless of Electronic Arts’ reputation, the details for Need for Speed are still rather scant. Aside from the information that the racing title will be open world, will feature car customization options, and will have an “immersive narrative,” all we have left to go on is the knowledge that it will also be supported by the Frostbite Engine used in EA’s other upcoming reboot, Star Wars Battlefront . With any luck, more positive particulars will be revealed at E3 this year.

Does the online requirement for Need for Speed make you hesitant to buy the game? Moreover, is always-on DRM a hindrance to video games in general?

Need for Speed is set to drop later this year for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Source: Twitter(via GameSpot)

Xenoblade Chronicles 3D’ Review

‘Xenoblade Chronicles 3D’ Review
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Despite the New Nintendo 3DS offering a number of new features including improved 3D tracking, the addition of a C-Stick, and enhanced CPU, gamers haven’t had a large incentive to pick up the updated portable.

Despite the New Nintendo 3DS offering a number of new features including improved 3D tracking, the addition of a C-Stick, and enhanced CPU, gamers haven’t had a large incentive to pick up the updated portable. Now, however, that may no longer be the case, as Xenoblade Chronicles 3D has arrived exclusively for the souped-up handheld device – making one of the best JRPGs of the previous generation into a mobile offering.

Despite a handful of new features, not much has changed since Game Rant originally reviewed Xenoblade Chronicles on its debut platform, the Nintendo Wii. The world is still massive, the unique mechanics are intact, and the game’s story will suck users into the world that developer Monolith Soft has worked so hard to create. Overall, the transition to the New Nintendo 3DS has been a successful one, but Monster Games (the studio responsible for porting the game) understandably had to cut corners to get the game running.

It should come at no surprise to see that the graphics have been downgraded in a bid to get the game running on a portable device. This may deter those looking to enjoy the gigantic and beautiful areas of Xenoblade at their peak state, but the world, enemies, and allies that fill the title have managed to transition wonderfully onto the handheld.

For those that only became acquainted with Shulk through his recent appearance in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U , getting familiar with the story in this title brings a lot more appreciation to the character and world that he inhabits. The mythos of Xenoblade Chronicles focuses on the battle between the humanoid Homs (of which Shulk is a part) and the diabolical, mechanized Mechon – as well as the mysterious sword known as the Monado.

What follows is a story filled with a number of twists and turns that will keep players engaged until the final moments of the campaign. Of course, completing the game is a monumental task in and of itself because of the sheer number of story-related and side quests in the game. That’s the level of depth that was on display in the Wii version and is dutifully duplicated in this New 3DS port.

Some enemies may have scale, but you have the Monado.

The New 3DS version is not without its bells and whistles as well, including Amiibo support. Utilizing the Shulk Amiibo figurine, for example, gamers can unlock 3D models and music. It also goes without saying that the 3Ds version adds a new layer to the visuals, but the fidelity is not enough to make it a major selling point.

Despite downgraded visuals, the core of what made the original game so appealing is still very much intact. Xenoblade Chronicles 3D offers gamers the chance to experience an engaging story, immense vistas, and action role-playing content that makes its mark on the genre. Those that missed this game on Wii should definitely check this version out as it’s the same great experience made portable. However, those that completed the game shortly after its debut won’t find much new content to sink their teeth into.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is available now exclusively on the New Nintendo 3DS.

Nintendo is Not Apologizing for E3 2015 Presentation

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The E3 press conferences are some of the most important moments for video game companies, and gamers hold studios and developers to a high standard during those presentations.

The E3 press conferences are some of the most important moments for video game companies, and gamers hold studios and developers to a high standard during those presentations. If gamers see or hear something they don’t like, they will loudly – and sometimes aggressively – share their disapproval online.

Such was the case after Nintendo wrapped up their E3 press conference. Many gamers were disappointed by Nintendo’s lackluster presentation, and voiced their displeasure online. In response to this negative feedback, Nintendo CEO Saturo Iwata tweeted an apology of sorts, which one person translated to say “We take opinions of this year’s Digital Event seriously and will work to better meet your expectations.”

However, it seems that wasn’t an apology at all, at least according to Nintendo‘s American president, Reggie Fils-Aime. Fils-Aime claims Iwata’s statement was taken out of context, and that his response was meant to be more like this:

Mr. Iwata is in Japan and what he’s trying to do is help explain to consumers in Japan what’s going on at E3. The correct translation of his message was: ‘Thank you for your feedback. We hear you and we are committed to continuing to meet your expectations,” was essentially his message.

In the end though, what matters is not what was said, but the fact that Iwata tweeted in response to backlash from Nintendo fans. That backlash was so strong that over 12,000 fans have signed a petition on Change.org asking Nintendo to cancel development of their newly announced, saying the game is a disgrace to the series.

That being said, Fils-Aime is still in high spirits about Nintendo’s E3 presentation, reminding folks that historically, gamer skepticism is depleted once they get a chance to try the games on the show floor.

One of the things I find interesting is that if you look at E3 historically for Nintendo, typically what happens is a press briefing happens or our digital event happens. And then over the course of the next couple of days people see the games get to play the games and the appreciation and understanding of what we’re doing increases over those three days and continues to build into the holidays.

Fils-Aime usedas a prime example, reminding players that the game was not readily accepted at last year’s E3, but that players are now loving the game. He also mentioned that it’s Nintendo’s job to not only make great games, but to help gamers see why they’re great.

While that’s a nice sentiment, it seems like a lot of work to convince players to like games they originally find silly or uninteresting. However, if Nintendo thinks they can do it, more power to them. It’ll be interesting to see if Fils-Aime’s vision is fulfilled in the next couple weeks as gamers reflect on Nintendo’s E3 presentation and presence, and if they come around to what Nintendo is doing over the next year.

What do you think about Fils-Aime’s comments? What an apology necessary from Nintendo, or was their E3 presentation enough for gamers? Share your thoughts in the comments.

E3 2015: ‘Xenoblade Chronicles X’ Gets New Trailer, Release Date

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It’s only been a month or two since New 3DS owners got their hands on Xenoblade Chronicles 3D , the mobile port of the popular Wii RPG, but they’re going to have to play quickly.

, the mobile port of the popular Wii RPG, but they’re going to have to play quickly. The game’s spiritual sequel, Xenoblade Chronicles X , hits North American shelves on December 4, 2015. The game is a Wii U exclusive.

is a near-future sci-fi adventure in which Earth is caught in the middle of a war between two alien races. It doesn’t go well. In order to prevent the destruction of the human race, Earth’s governments evacuate the planet. Xenoblade Chronicles X follows the exploits of the American evacuees, who crash land on a planet called Mira, with one of the alien races still hot on their tail.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is already out in Japan, and reportedly, the mechanically the game plays a lot like its predecessor. Battles occur in real time. Players move the characters, but they’ll attack automatically, in a system that’s been compared to.

Exploration is also a big part of Xenoblade Chronicles X . Players must journey across Mira recovering “stasis pods,” which contain other members of the human race; to do so, they’ll need to establish an electronic network called the Frontier Net, which provides information about the planet. Thankfully, Xenoblade Chronicles X gives players a number of ways to travel: in addition to exploring on foot, characters can also journey in “Skells,” or giant human-shaped robots.

Since its release in Japan, Xenoblade Chronicles X has been racking up positive reviews, and sold over 104,000 copies in its first month – for the Japanese market, that’s not bad. The game will be supported by seven DLC packs; four of those will ship with new characters, quests, abilities, and weapons, while others will be exclusively quest-based.

For RPG fans, it doesn’t get much better. The original Xenoblade Chronicles was one of the bestselling games during its initial release period, when it was up against heavy hitters like Mass Effect 3 and Prototype 2 . That’s impressive, especially considering that the game wouldn’t have gotten an American release if fans hadn’t rallied and demanded one.

Xenoblade Chronicles X comes out December 4, 2015 on Wii U.

New ‘X’ Trailer Highlights Open World Exploration & Mech Combat

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When developer Monolith Soft retweeted Nintendo’s announcement of today’s Nintendo Direct presentation , most figured it would finally be time to see more of the developer’s new game, tentatively titled X .

. And, as predicted, Nintendo’s presentation featured about 2 minutes of gameplay, which readers can view above.

While not too much is known about X at this point — specifically whether or not it ties into the Xeno series— the gameplay certainly sets itself apart from a lot the Wii Utitles available. On top of that, the game looks like a whole lot of fun.

As we already know, X is an open world RPG title that focuses on exploration. Players take control of a single character traversing the landscape, but they are not alone in battle.

Unlike previous Xeno games, however, X deploys a more active battle system. There is no battle trigger, or turn-based set-up — the player simply walks up to an enemy and wails on them.

It’s hard to tell exactly what actions the player is triggering since we can’t read Japanese, but it appears they have complete freedom of movement and a wealth of abilities to choose from. In a way, the X gameplay looks a lot like a cross between Monster Hunter and an MMO.

However, what sets the game apart from the pack are the “Dolls,” large mechs that the player can take control of at anytime. Since the game’s open world appears to be peppered with enemies of varying sizes, the Dolls presumably become a huge advantage in battle, allowing the player to take on enemies three times their size. X couldn’t come at a more perfect time either, as mechs are all the ragein games right now.

All in all, what Monolith Soft had to show was compelling, if a little truncated. The combat has flashes of familiar RPG tropes, only packaged in a different way. And we can’t wait to pilot those Dolls.

That being said, it’s been almost a year since this game was first announced, and yet Xeno fans haven’t seen too much of X in action. For that matter, neither Monolith Soft nor Nintendohas yet to confirm X ‘s true title. That leads us to believe the game will, at best, make a late fall release, presumably in Japan first.

What do you think of X ‘s gameplay? What are your hopes for the game? Let us know in the comments below.

X (Tentative Title) is targeting a 2014 release for Wii U.

Source: Nintendo

E3 2015: ‘Assassin’s Creed Syndicate’ Evie Trailer, PS4 Exclusive Missions

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While exclusive games are nice for console makers, sometimes that’s not possible, as developers want to make their games available to every platform.

While exclusive games are nice for console makers, sometimes that’s not possible, as developers want to make their games available to every platform. However, sometimes console makers like Sony and Microsoft are able to provide a timed exclusive for a game, or console exclusive missions and additions in an effort to promote their platform above another.

Such is the case with Ubisoft’s upcoming Assassin’s Creed Syndicate . During the Sony E3 presentationtoday, the PlayStation 4 maker announced that the new Assassin’s Creed game will come with a series of exclusive missions. These additional missions, dubbed the Dreadful Crimes, will set players up to investigate and solve a series of crimesbased on the most well-known crime writer in history, who we can only assume is Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the famous Sherlock Holmes series.

While extra missions inwon’t necessarily drive massive PlayStation 4 sales by themselves, when added together with exclusive games, timed exclusives, and other in-game exclusive additions, they have the power to drive gamers to one console over another. This is why console makers pay millions of dollars every year capturing the rights to these exclusives.

Aside from the exclusive missions in Assassin’s Creed Syndicate , Sony’s video showed off gameplaywith Evie, the twin sister of protagonist Jacob Frye. Based on the gameplay in the video, it looks like Evie will have her own set of special skills and will focus heavily on stealth gameplay.

Players will have the opportunity to play as either Jacob or Eviein the Dreadful Crimes missions. While the missions will be the same, it’s likely the experience will be a little different for each, as the characters will have their own strengths, weaknesses, and skills that will guide their efforts through the missions.

As a quick side note, it’s nice to see female characters finding greater inclusion in games as strong, independent characters. With Assassin’s Creed Syndicate , Dishonored 2 , and Rise of the Tomb Raider all coming out in the next eight months, it looks like the next year will be a good one for female protagonists.

Sony didn’t provide any further information about how many missions will be included in the exclusive DLC for Assassin’s Creed Syndicate , but if gaming history is any guide, it will likely include about two or three hours of additional content.

What do you think about Assassin’s Creed Syndicate and the PS4-exclusive Dreadful Crimes missions? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate is set to release October 23, 2015 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

Source: YouTube

New ‘X’ Trailer Highlights Open World Exploration & Mech Combat

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When developer Monolith Soft retweeted Nintendo’s announcement of today’s Nintendo Direct presentation , most figured it would finally be time to see more of the developer’s new game, tentatively titled X .

. And, as predicted, Nintendo’s presentation featured about 2 minutes of gameplay, which readers can view above.

While not too much is known about X at this point — specifically whether or not it ties into the Xeno series— the gameplay certainly sets itself apart from a lot the Wii Utitles available. On top of that, the game looks like a whole lot of fun.

As we already know, X is an open world RPG title that focuses on exploration. Players take control of a single character traversing the landscape, but they are not alone in battle.

Unlike previous Xeno games, however, X deploys a more active battle system. There is no battle trigger, or turn-based set-up — the player simply walks up to an enemy and wails on them.

It’s hard to tell exactly what actions the player is triggering since we can’t read Japanese, but it appears they have complete freedom of movement and a wealth of abilities to choose from. In a way, the X gameplay looks a lot like a cross between Monster Hunter and an MMO.

However, what sets the game apart from the pack are the “Dolls,” large mechs that the player can take control of at anytime. Since the game’s open world appears to be peppered with enemies of varying sizes, the Dolls presumably become a huge advantage in battle, allowing the player to take on enemies three times their size. X couldn’t come at a more perfect time either, as mechs are all the ragein games right now.

All in all, what Monolith Soft had to show was compelling, if a little truncated. The combat has flashes of familiar RPG tropes, only packaged in a different way. And we can’t wait to pilot those Dolls.

That being said, it’s been almost a year since this game was first announced, and yet Xeno fans haven’t seen too much of X in action. For that matter, neither Monolith Soft nor Nintendohas yet to confirm X ‘s true title. That leads us to believe the game will, at best, make a late fall release, presumably in Japan first.

What do you think of X ‘s gameplay? What are your hopes for the game? Let us know in the comments below.

X (Tentative Title) is targeting a 2014 release for Wii U.

Source: Nintendo

Review: ‘Life is Strange’ Game Impresses in Episode One Despite Awkward Dialog

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In Life is Strange game, photography student Max Caulfield returns home to Arcadia Bay, Oregon after spending five years in Seattle.

As Max, you can rewind time to shape the lives of your fellow students at Blackwell Academy.

If you mixed Telltale mechanics with the storytelling of, you might end up with something like DONTNOD Entertainment’s follow up to , Life Is Strange Episode One: Chrysalis .

game, photography student Max Caulfield returns home to Arcadia Bay, Oregon after spending five years in Seattle. A student at the prestigious art school, Blackwell Academy, Max is something of an outcast—she’s quiet and self-conscious, and slightly out of touch with the town and her old friends. Early on, a crisis causes Max to discover that she can rewind time, and this becomes the game’s core mechanic. As Max, you rewind your experiences to solve problems, help people, or make yourself look clever—it’s up to you to choose how she uses her power.

Well-Rounded Characters and A Promising Story Guide Life is Strange

Story-wise, the game treads the magical realismline perfectly. As of the end of the first episode, we don’t know why or how Max has her time travel powers, nor does it serve the story better to know. Like any teenager, Max wishes she could change time, and for the sake of the story, she can. The story is really about choice and consequence, and trying to grasp the importance of tiny decisions and interactions. As the player, even your smallest choices cause a ripple effect in Max’s and everyone else’s life.

Life is Strange ‘s beautiful cinematography makes each scene memorable.

The concept works well for the game, as you’re treated to both immediate and long-term responses to the choices you make throughout episode one. There’s not much in the way of hardcore gameplay—it’s a casual mixture of interactive puzzle-solving and decision-making. But if you’re an explorer and a codex-reader, you’ll find plenty to enjoy in Max’s world.

The cutscenes and visuals can be a real treat as well. Life is Strange game devs took great pains to beautifully frame each shot, emphasizing Max’s interest in photography and showcasing its graphics—not hyper-realistic, but moody and gauzy, bathed in a gorgeous autumn light.

The characters are interesting and diverse, and the first episode effectively introduces the important players as acquaintances, while letting you know there’s much more going on beneath the surface. This is especially true of Chloe, Max’s childhood friend, who first comes off as your average rebel teen but quickly reveals significant depths and facets.

Life is Strange ‘s Chloe might be just a rebel teenager at first glance, but there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface than you might expect.

That’s another strength of Life is Strange game—the problems the characters deal with are realistic, if a little hyperbolic. It’s unlikely that Episode One’s multiple dramatic events would all come to a head in one afternoon, but addressing violence and abuse from the perspective of a largely helpless teenager feels both bold and relevant. Max isn’t a fighter; she can’t solve problems by delivering a series of well-deserved punches. She can only change things as they happen, and hope that her choices create better outcomes for everyone.

Life is Strange Game’s Dialog and Metaphors Lack Subtlety

For all it’s fluid charms in imagery and gameplay, Life is Strange delivers some occasionally clunky dialog and story developments, and heavy-handed foreshadowing. For example, players at all familiar with chaos or time-travel theories (or Ashton Kutcher films) will quickly understand the link writers are teasing between a certain winged insect and an impending cataclysm. But there are still four episodes of the game to go, so there’s plenty of opportunities for the story to take unexpected turns.

Life is Strange ‘s dialog occasionally crosses the line from ‘witty teenager’ to distractingly glib.

Back to the dialog. The voice acting is solid in most places and wonderful in others, but some of the writing sounds troublingly like forty-somethings trying to masquerade as witty teens. Some people do still use the word ‘hella,’ but not to the righteous extent employed by the Life is Strange writers. Nor is it ever necessary to spell ‘cool kids’ as ‘kool kidz,’ especially when transcribing dialog. If the writers needed to convey sarcasm here, doing so with quotes or a change in voice tone would’ve done the job…as opposed to eye roll-inducing ironic spelling.

Time will tell how the final story shapes up, but Chrysalis is a good start for Life is Strange saga. It’s ominous, funny, and unique, and though the teenager-speak might ring hollow, it’s a promising glimpse of what’s to come in DONTNOD‘s newest game.

Life is Strange Episode One: Chrysalis is available now for PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, and Xbox 360.

Review: ‘Device 6’ Game Alternately Delights and Frustrates Mobile Users

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There is really nothing else like Device 6 , “a surreal thriller in which the written word is your map”.

, “a surreal thriller in which the written word is your map”. Calling it a text-based puzzle game sells it short; it isn’t a classic text adventure like Zork , nor is it like a Twine game, where clicking progresses the story. Winner of the “Apple Design Award 2014,” Device 6 fuses adventure, mystery, puzzles, charming graphics, and interactive text into a stunningly complex iOS game that’s ideal for the non-casual mobile user.

Device 6 Gameplay

In Device 6 , the player takes on the role of Anna, a woman who wakes up in a mysterious castle with no memory of how she arrived there. But “takes on” is oversimplifying—you read about Anna as you decide her actions and navigate her through a labyrinth of text, solving puzzles and punching codes into locked doors to progress. It flows like you’re reading a book, until the text path splits and you must choose your story direction with a swipe or poke of the touch screen.

But progressing is not as simple as finding the right numbers or symbols hidden throughout the game and plugging them in where appropriate. Players must use critical thinking and deductive reasoning to solve Device 6 ‘s riddles, interpret clues, and filter out misleading or irrelevant information.

As the plot progresses, you’ll realize the story relies on the interactive nature of video games to pull off its twist. While ports to mobile devicesare great for exposing more people to good games, creating a game that relies on the platform—in this case an iOS device (sorry, Android users)—to tell its story is a bold and interesting move.

Visually, Device 6 is quirky and delightful, using typography and pleasing graphic design to tell a visual storybeyond straightforward text. There’s not a whole lot in the way of animation or sophisticated next-gen graphics, but the strategic, winding use of text adds to the compelling sense of confusion and disorientation Anna feels.

Sound also helps flesh out the story, as footstep sound effects, occasional voice acting, and original music add character and style. Between the inventive story, the cool design, and the intriguing mix of adventure and interactive text features, Device 6 is sure to stick in your memory for some time.

Device 6 Challenges and Drawbacks

While Device 6 feels fresh and fun on the iOS game front, there are some definite drawbacks for the casual mobile player. For example, sound is absolutely essential to appreciating and playing Device 6 . Many of the clues are delivered through audio (with no text), so playing without sound means you’ll be unable to progress. It’s also a good idea to keep a pen and paper on hand, because some of the puzzles involve remembering visual patterns or series of clues.

The necessity of sound and (perhaps) note-taking means Device 6 isn’t a casual mobile game to be played for a few minutes at a time, which might turn off some players. While you can certainly play through one chapter or even the entire game in a single sitting, each chapter can take a significant amount of time to complete. The combination of reading and puzzle-solving means you have to be invested in what you’re doing, and on a mobile platform that can be a downside.

The difficulty level can be a little rough to handle too. Several of the clues are obscure to the point of being practically indecipherable, making a walkthrough essential for players who are easily frustrated. While difficult puzzles are part of the appeal of a game like Device 6 , some riddles bordered on opaque and misleading, as opposed to clever.

Still, Device 6 has a lot of positives and is arguably a must-play for serious mobile gamers and text-adventure enthusiasts. Device 6 also deserves credit for its innovative melding of different genres in a mobile device. It’s a great showcase for what mobile games can be and do beyond the era of Bejeweled and Angry Birds .

Device 6 is available nowfor $3.99 via Apple’s App Store.

Year Walk Game Review: A Haunting, Original Journey Through Swedish Folklore

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Year Walk is a vision quest in video game form, a digital recreation of the nearly forgotten Swedish tradition of Årsgång.

is a vision quest in video game form, a digital recreation of the nearly forgotten Swedish tradition of Årsgång. Created by indie studio Simogo ( Device 6 ) , Year Walk is a haunting and beautiful walk through Swedish folklore, with plenty of scares and twists to keep even the most hardened of gamers firmly entrenched in its creepy storybook forest. Available now for iOS, PC, and Mac, Year Walk is an excellent adaptation of folklore that makes the most of modern technology, seamlessly blending two worlds through time.

Year Walk ‘s Story Combines Folklore with Gaming for Unique Feel

To understand the story of Year Walk , the game provides you with a short journal detailing the Swedish tradition of Årsgång, a cultural vision quest in which a person, after fasting and resting in a dark room, undergoes a walk through the forest for a vision of the future. Usually undertaken at liminal times of year—Christmas, solstices, and New Year’s Eve—this quest could result in the walker encountering supernatural creatures that would test them and possibly herald disaster or good fortune.

While Year Walk actually started off as a film script, the jump to games makes perfect sense—throughout the game, you progress through a year walk, solve the challenges presented by the beings you encounter, and ultimately reach a resolution. It’s the most basic quest structure there is, and yet the game still feels highly original.

It would be easy to let interaction drive the gameplay and set story aside, but that’s not the case with Year Walk . While the story is quiet and requires some digging to unearth it, it is there, and uncovering it will give you an entire new appreciation for the visions and experiences you delve into over the course of the short, but effective, game.

Figures from Swedish mythology, such as the hurdle, make appearances that straddle the line between beautiful and creepy.

Remember—a year walk is not something done once and forgotten. To best understand the game’s story, pay attention to the clues you’re given and explore everything the game has to offer. There’s insight to be found beyond the walk itself, just as there was in the original tradition.

Year Walk ‘s Adventure Game Puzzles are Anything but Typical

Year Walk takes an interesting approach—it’s neither totally 2D nor entirely 3D. You spend the majority of the game walking back and forth across a sidescrolling environment, but will occasionally travel forward or backward as well as around particular objects. It can be a befuddling experience at times, but the game’s dreamy nature encourages the uniqueness of its dimensions in a similar fashion to games like Fez .

Year Walk ‘s puzzles encourage you to do the thinking for yourself, but the creepiness factor might make you a little nervous to take your next step.

With the game being called Year Walk , it’s unsurprising that much of the game is concerned with walking. But these walks are purposeful, familiarizing you with the village your character inhabits and, through excellent sound design, drawing you into the setting. While it might be tempting to rush through the game and its puzzles, a slow, thoughtful approach is preferred—a year walk is a time for contemplation.

And the puzzles are worth savoring as well. Though they sometimes venture into being frustratingly difficult (similar to Device 6 ), the game does provide helpful (if vague) hints to keep you going. Year Walk ‘s puzzles rely on concepts like sound, making them difficult for the hard of hearing or musically challenged, but also highly original. There are no adventure game staples like slide puzzles, and the game instead encourages you to play and explore, even if that play results in horrific visions.

Gorgeous Artwork and Haunting Soundtrack Set Year Walk Apart

If the gameplay and story aren’t enough to sell you, the game’s beautiful visuals are a treat. Snowy landscapes blend with beautiful color palettes for an original look like something out of a haunted storybook. When things get creepy, they really get creepy—colors shift and angles get spikier, and the game’s few jump scares are just enough to get you tense and alert without making you close the game in annoyance. The monster designs, pulled from Swedish mythology, are memorable and interesting, and their haunting faces are likely to show up as figures in the player’s dreams.

Year Walk ‘s monsters are just the right blend of uncanny and beautiful.

Because of the role that sound plays in solving some of the games’ puzzles, it’s safe to say that Year Walk ‘s sound is crucial. Even if the puzzles weren’t designed that way, the environment is made richer by the attention to detail, including the soft crunch of snow underfoot and the rare touches of Daniel Olsén’s original score serve to highlight the game’s atmosphere without overwhelming it.

Year Walk is a Journey Worth Taking

Though Year Walk is slow paced and its puzzles may be difficult, the flaws echo the game’s setting and tone. Its second ending may feel a little trite, but bridging two worlds—the more mystical 1800s with our decidedly less mysterious modern era—draws the player in, making them question how different the two worlds really are. For sheer artistry and inventiveness, Year Walk is a must play that demonstrates the power of folklore, games, and a familiar journey made strange.

Year Walk is available now for iOS ($3.99), PC, and Mac ($5.99). Game Rant played the game on PC.

The Future of Mobile Gaming: Moving Beyond Angry Birds and Endless Runners

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Mobile gaming and traditional gaming platforms frequently attract different customers.

Mobile gaming and traditional gaming platforms frequently attract different customers. PC and console fans typically spend their money on games that feel worth the $60 purchase, which usually means a much larger time investment. Graphics are also typically more important in traditional gaming, and many players like in-depth stories rather than quick timesinks.

On the other hand, mobile gaming tends to be all about the quick distraction. The most popular games— Angry Birds , Candy Crush , andfor instance—can all be played in bite-sized chunks while waiting at the doctor’s office or on your lunch break. Games that take a little longer or require a little more investment—such as Device 6 —may not be as successful because, despite their quality, they don’t attract as large of an audience.

But what mobile gaming does have is potential. Games have largely been a static activity—something you do at rest—but taking our games with us could redefine how we play. With innovations like the Apple Watch and improved smartphone capability in the market, mobile gaming might have a lot more up its sleeve than flinging birds at flimsy structures.

Nintendo’s PokéWalker is just the tip of the iceberg for inventive mobile gaming technology. Image Source: Rafael Castillo via Flickr.

Mobile Gaming Could Make Exercise a Game

Pedometers aren’t exactly new technology, but as our mobile technology gets better, we have even more opportunities to turn everyday activities into games. Pokémon used this technology back with the release of their PokéWalker, technology integrated with HeartGold and SoulSilver that let players gain experience for their Pokémon by walking, along with some other features.

It isn’t much, but with improved technology, this kind of thing could be great. Imagine a traditional Pokémon game developed for mobile gaming, where playing in different places rewards you with different types of Pokémon, or being able to battle people you meet through a program like StreetPass. Even if Nintendo isn’t interested in pursuing these avenues, that doesn’t mean they’re off the market. With mobile gaming being a growing industry, other developers could easily snap up mechanics like these to develop their own games.

Imagine if Halo 2 ‘s I Love Bees alternate reality game had been developed with mobile gaming in mind. Image Source: Halo Wiki.

Page 2: The Future of Mobile Gaming

YouTube Bait: Are Let’s Play Videos Encouraging Bad Games?

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The internet has given birth to a whole new type of video game reviews: Let’s Play videos.

The internet has given birth to a whole new type of video game reviews: Let’s Play videos. And while not all of these videos are meant to be reviews of games, viewers often take them as such, deciding whether or not to buy a game based on how their favorite YouTuber responds to a game while playing it.

“YouTube bait” refers to the trend of games that are aiming at getting picked up by popular YouTubers for exposure. Examples include Surgeon Simulator , Five Nights at Freddy’s , and Goat Simulator. While most YouTube bait probably didn’t start out that way, their ability to inspire laughter or screams in YouTube personalities like PewDiePieor Markiplierhave significantly contributed to their popularity.

YouTube bait raises a couple interesting issues; critics question whether popularizing games in this way contributes to an increased number of games in this style—games that prioritize bugged and half-finished gameplay or jump scares over innovation and polish. Games like these, critics argue, are little more than an attempt to cash in on YouTube popularity, and their prevalence oversaturates the gaming market with low-quality games.

It’s an interesting argument but is YouTube bait a threat to “real gaming” that should be taken seriously? Or just a fad that will blow over like any other?

Unpolished Games Attract Let’s Play Videos

Games have struggled to be taken seriously as a medium since they were created. Games like Goat Simulator , the entire premise of which is based on glitches, ragdoll physics, and limited exploration, are certainly not meant to be taken seriously; they’re meant to make players laugh rather than elicit deep and complex emotions. The unpolished nature of the game is its draw—it seems to be thrown together quickly with little attention paid to quality control, but somehow that serves to increase its appeal. An actual Goat Simulator game where players go about the daily life of a goat would hardly be appealing; instead, we’re in it for the sheer ridiculousness of flinging ourselves off of high places and sticking to cars with our tongues.

Goat Simulator is another frequent target of Let’s Play bait accusations, as it’s known for being unpolished and glitchy.

Are games like this doing anything to further the games medium as a whole? You might be able to make a case for games like Goat Simulator andas Dadaisttakes on the video game form, but here’s an alternative approach: these games are meant to be fun and that’s it. Maybe some of them are aiming to cash in on popular Let’s Play personalities, but commercial partnerships are nothing new in the gaming industry—just look at Call of Duty with Mountain Dew and Doritos, or the existence of exclusivity deals that prioritize one console over another.

It’s all silly money-grabbing to an extent. But is it actually harming the industry?

Let’s Play Bait Is Just One Stop on a Gaming Spectrum

In some ways, YouTube bait could be harming the industry. Games like Surgeon Simulator are hardly encouraging critics to take games seriously as a medium, but they do well because players both enjoy playing them and watching others play them.

While arguments rage on over the intended purpose of games— as art formsspeaking to the human condition or as entertaining diversions with no social responsibility—there’s definitely room for games to exist along a spectrum. Games like Gone Home , while excellent in a narrative sense, aren’t traditionally “fun.” And games like Super Mario Bros ., while heavy on fun and crucial to the existence of the medium, don’t exactly break new intellectual ground and aren’t trying to.

Games considered to be Let’s Play videos bait are focusing on fun over deep commentary on the human condition. And while there are sure to be some particularly egregious examples of YouTube baiting (, while free, received a lot of flack for containing outright references to PewDiePie), games like this rarely receive more attention than a bit of Steam outrage and Let’s Play videos.

Let’s Play Bait Isn’t a Sustainable Genre

Let’s Play bait is unlikely to gain a whole lot of traction as an actual, recurring genre. While PewDiePie might play a game and earn it more sales than it would have without his commentary, many people watch his videos for the personality, not to figure out what games to buy. And while games like Goat Simulator attract a good deal of initial attention, the game has slipped from over 10,000 peak players to just under 2,000in about a year, and it’s one of the most popularly cited YouTube bait games.

I Am Bread is an example of Let’s Play bait that isn’t all about the glitches; it’s silly and fun, but unpolished gameplay as a mechanic will go stale quickly.

People are going to play silly games because they like them. And while Goat Simulator might be one of the most infamous examples that spawned many offshoots in its wake— Grass Simulator , for instance—these games just don’t have the staying power to keep people interested in them after the initial fun has worn off.

So yes, Let’s Play videos bait will continue to seek exposure through popular YouTubers. But unless these games exert a little more effort—constant updates like Goat Simulator ‘s, or the regular release of sequels, like Five Nights at Freddy’s —the fascination just doesn’t work for sustained sales, and that’s not good for the business.

Hatoful Boyfriend’ Review

‘Hatoful Boyfriend’ Review
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If you’re not familiar with dating simulators , these are interactive, choose-your-own-adventure stories with a particular emphasis on romance.

Hatoful Boyfriend is the pigeon dating sim of your dreams.

Let’s just get this out of the way:is a bird dating simulator.

, these are interactive, choose-your-own-adventure stories with a particular emphasis on romance. In the case of Hatoful Boyfriend , that romance is with several different birds.

What’s really impressive about Hatoful Boyfriend is that being the only human in a school for birds isn’t the strangest part of the plot. You get the hang of that pretty quickly – this takes place in a future where birds are as intelligent as humans and each one has its own distinct personality. You can choose to pursue the strange and mysterious Nageki, the friendly and flirtatious Yuuya, the creepy school doctor, Shuu, or any of the game’s six other romance options. The game features a “powerful visualization module” that presents the player with a human version of each bird in anime style.

A Complex Simulator That’s Not Just for the Birds

It’s far too easy to write Hatoful Boyfriend off as a weird gimmick not worth playing for more than an hour or two. The game tends to encourage that idea—not all romance options are available on the first playthrough, and unlocking the full plot requires the player to romance every possible bird with all possible endings. That’s more difficult than it sounds, as one small change can, surprisingly, end in the player’s death.

Yes, death. Hatoful Boyfriend isn’t as cute and romantic as the first hour or so of play would have you believe. There are several light-hearted paths to choose from at first—romancing Ryouta is a sad but sweet story, and San’s plot is a completely ridiculous quest for pudding. Pursuing Yuuya—once his storyline is available—reveals a secondary plot that calls into question the politics of the in-game world, and attempting to romance Shuu quickly shows the player that not all is right at St. PigeoNation’s Institute. Things get worse when the player has the option to “wish for the mad love of a fallen angel,” opening up another potential romance option and a final boss battle straight out of a JRPG.

Hatoful Boyfriend allows you to see your favorite birds as if they were human.

The game was originally intended as an April Fool’s parodyof the otome genre, a specific subset of dating simulators that typically include voice acting, archetypal romantic options, and minigames to raise stats like intelligence and attractiveness. There’s a lot of humor at work in the game, from the concept itself to references to media like Monty Python and the Holy Grail and. The creator, Moa Hato, also uses references to Greek philosophers, real-world epidemics, and real people to flesh out Hatoful Boyfriend ‘s world. For a game that starts off with a human dating birds, it’s a surprisingly complex world.

Surface Simplicity Unfolds into Great Depths

Gameplay wise, there’s not much happening. There are choices to make, but much of the gameplay is the same regardless of which path the player chooses. You’ll go to the sports festival, visit the maid café, and go on a school hike with pretty much every path you choose, and conversation options are usually limited to two choices. When you’re grinding achievements to get to the game’s second mode you’ll likely find yourself fast-forwarding through dialog because you’ve already read it several times.

But it’s worth it. Once the player has explored the majority of the romance options, a second option appears when starting a new game: the option to fulfill a promise made long ago. This is where the narrative really takes shape, connecting all of the characters together in one large plot that explains the hyperintelligent birds, the player’s role at St. PigeoNation’s, and the strange absence of any other humans from the game’s story.

Until this option appears, the game is a straightforward dating sim. Attend classes, boost stats, and choose the right option for a hopefully happy ending with the bird of your choice. Once the player unlocks Bad Boys Love, the second mode, the game becomes a murder mystery, allowing the player to connect the dots to learn of a conspiracy that changes everything they’ve experience so far. It’s a huge twist, and, because it requires so much of the game be unlocked already, it’s something players that are just in it for a few laughs probably miss.

Hatoful Boyfriend has lots of bird jokes, but it also has strangely hilarious historical references.

Unfortunately, it’s also where the already minimal gameplaysuffers. While Hatoful Boyfriend allows for a variety of choices, the choices made while playing through the Bad Boys Love plotline don’t seem to make any difference on the ultimate outcome. Though you’re finding out all of the complexities of the world you’ve already sunk ten or so hours into, you’re doing so by clicking and reading without any noticeable change. The effect is made worse when you play through for the full ending a second time, and you have to click and read through the same lengthy text a second time to spot the differences in the complete version.

Is it worth it? Absolutely, if you’re a fan of absurd stories, off-the-wall humor, and dating simulators. Playing Hatoful Boyfriend isn’t really playing so much as it is reading and making a few decisions on what you think your date might like you to say. If you enjoy things like Goat Simulator for the mere absurdity of their existence, there’s enjoyment to be had in Hatoful Boyfriend ‘s bird puns, but it’s certainly not for everybirdie.

Hatoful Boyfriend is available via Steam for $9.99.