Game Design
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Tormentum II Review | TheXboxHub
Tormentum II is a visually stunning gothic point-and-click adventure game that draws heavy inspiration from H.R. Giger and Zdzisław Beksiński. Despite its dark aesthetic, the game features warm characters and surprisingly straightforward puzzles, making it accessible. The narrative offers significant choices that lead to divergent endings, though the writing can occasionally be verbose.
You can play cyberpunk RPG No Law like Dishonored in Night City, or strap grenades to a Roomba and start blasting
No Law, an upcoming RPG from Neon Giant, offers players significant freedom in how they approach objectives and interact with its detailed cyberpunk world. Creative director Arcade Berg emphasizes that there's no wrong way to play, with progression not tied to playstyle. The game features a dense, explorable city with verticality and accessible interiors, allowing for both stealthy infiltration and aggressive combat approaches, with player actions influencing how the city's inhabitants perceive them.
Super Mario Odyssey was a big inspiration for Capcom's latest hit Onimusha: Way of the Sword, director reveals
Capcom's Satoru Nihei, director of Onimusha: Way of the Sword, revealed that Super Mario Odyssey was a significant inspiration for the game's control scheme and tactical feel. He praised Nintendo's ability to create action games that are simple on the surface but dynamically challenging underneath. Producer Akihito Kadowaki cited the Gundam series for character inspiration and Silent Hill f for world design.
The Blood of Dawnwalker’s 30-Day Time System Is Brilliant and Stressful — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
The Blood of Dawnwalker features a unique and engaging 30-day time system where quests, upgrades, and activities consume time, forcing players to make difficult choices. While this design can be stressful and a completionist's nightmare, it adds significant pressure and addictiveness to decision-making, complementing the day/night cycle and Coen's dual nature. Despite a movement bug and some combat issues, the core time mechanic is praised as brilliant.
"You'll be able to engage in these high stakes arms races": Civilization's Arc of Tomorrow update is trying to make the threat of nuclear apocalypse more interesting
Civilization VII's upcoming free update, Arc of Tomorrow, will extend the game's playable timeline into the near future and introduce more elaborate nuclear war mechanics. The update aims to make mutually assured destruction a more engaging late-game feature with a one-turn missile delay and new defensive options. It also adds proxy war functionality through city states and an expanded economic system.
World of Warcraft's Venomous Abyss raid is "what we'd hoped for" from the war on add-ons, Ion Hazzikostas explains
Blizzard Entertainment's Ion Hazzikostas and Paul Kubit discuss the impact of banning combat add-ons in World of Warcraft's latest expansion, Midnight. They believe the change has successfully encouraged more vocal raid leading and human cooperation, aligning with their hopes for the game's progression. The developers also touch on ongoing UI improvements and adjustments to bonus roll mechanics.
'If you're designing an RPG, you have to go back to the source:' The post-apocalyptic RPG Entropy takes notes from Fallout and a long-abandoned Warhammer spinoff
The early access RPG Entropy draws inspiration from classic PC titles like Fallout and tabletop games such as Warhammer's Mordheim, alongside JRPGs like Final Fantasy 10. Lead developer James Wragg highlights the game's locational damage system and deep character customization as key features influenced by these sources.
The Blood of Dawnwalker’s Smartest Idea Fixes a Major RPG Problem
The Blood of Dawnwalker by Rebel Wolves innovates within the open-world RPG genre by implementing a time mechanic that limits completionism rather than curiosity. This design choice forces players to make meaningful choices with consequences, enhancing immersion and replayability by making each playthrough distinct. The game's approach to open-world design is praised for moving beyond checklist-style content and offering a more engaging experience.
Silent Hill: Townfall – 15 Biggest Things We Know So Far
Silent Hill: Townfall is set to launch on September 24th for PlayStation 5 and PC, offering a survival horror experience inspired by real-world Scotland. Players will control Simon, who is mysteriously linked to the town of St. Amelia, and utilize a handheld TV device for clues and enemy detection. The game will feature improvisational melee combat, limited firearm use, stealth options, and dynamic audio design, with enhancements for the PlayStation 5 Pro and full DualSense controller integration.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword’s Combat Is Doing A Lot of Heavy Lifting
Onimusha: Way of the Sword is a strong revival with excellent combat mechanics, but its surrounding elements like story and exploration fall short. While the game's combat, including Issen and parrying, is universally praised and contributes to memorable boss fights, the hub world and side quests lack variety and depth. Despite these shortcomings, the game is considered a worthy return for the series, with its core gameplay loop being its greatest strength.
Recension – Recension: Orbitals bär sitt anime-hjärta från 90-talet till en succé för två
Orbitals is a co-op adventure game for the Nintendo Switch 2, developed by Shapefarm and published by Kepler Interactive. It successfully captures the 80s and 90s anime aesthetic with vibrant colors and pop-inspired sound effects. The game features two protagonists, Omu and Maki, and requires cooperative puzzle-solving and gameplay, drawing comparisons to Hazelight Studios' titles like It Takes Two and Split Fiction.
Dune: Awakening lead says the MMO can be "a really great" solo experience, but if players "expect it to be like The Last of Us, they're probably barking at the wrong tree"
Funcom's Chief Creative Officer Joel Bylos stated that Dune: Awakening's new single-player mode will offer a great survival experience but cautioned players not to expect it to be like The Last of Us. He emphasized that player expectations should align with the game's genre to ensure satisfaction with the solo journey on Arrakis.
Marvel’s Wolverine Everything To Know
Marvel's Wolverine will feature a drastically different narrative and intricate combat mechanics for Wolverine's moveset. This article provides an overview of what players can expect from the upcoming game.
In a world of Slime Rancher and Palworld, I still crave more Viva Piñata
This article reflects on Rare's 2006 title Viva Piñata, contrasting its charming life simulation gameplay with the studio's earlier, edgier titles and later Microsoft projects. Despite not being a commercial success, Viva Piñata is praised for retaining Rare's distinctive design magic and offering a surprisingly deep experience with a hidden dark side.
Ananta is riding high off 'free anime GTA' comparisons, but its mess of ideas barely hold together in my…
Ananta, an upcoming free-to-play open-world RPG from NetEase Games and developer Naked Rain, attempts to blend numerous disparate ideas, leading to a lack of cohesive identity. While the game features mechanics reminiscent of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Grand Theft Auto 6, its execution is criticized for being derivative and barely holding together. Despite its ambitious scope and anime aesthetic, the article suggests players may not find enough substance to remain engaged long-term.
Rockstar boss says GTA 6 doesn't just let you easily walk around with guns because GTA 5's approach…
Rockstar North's Rob Nelson explained that Grand Theft Auto 6 will feature more nuanced NPC reactions to players openly carrying weapons, a change necessitated by advancements in technology and behavioral sophistication. Unlike Grand Theft Auto 5, where NPCs largely ignored visible firearms, the upcoming title will see characters react cautiously or move away if a player displays a weapon, reflecting a more believable open-world experience.
Hot Wheels Infinite Rush Review – Kick it into gear
Hot Wheels Infinite Rush offers gorgeous visuals and fitting music for its diverse islands, making it feel like playing with the toy cars. However, the campaign becomes repetitive, the controller scheme is not newcomer-friendly, and specific race requirements can be rigid, leading to a game best enjoyed in short bursts.
Dutch artist responds to the White House's Build the Wall game with Build that Bridge
Dutch artist Wouter Sieuwerts has released a free browser game called Build that Bridge as a direct response to the White House's 'Build the Wall' minigame. While the White House game involves stacking bricks to build a wall against 'aliens,' Sieuwerts's game uses the same mechanics in reverse to build a bridge, symbolizing connection and inclusivity.
2026 is the best year ever for video games and GTA 6 isn’t even out yet - Reader's Feature
A reader argues that 2026 will be the best year for video games, despite industry challenges, citing a packed release schedule including titles like Grand Theft Auto 6 and Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered. The author highlights numerous anticipated games across various genres and platforms, suggesting a peak in gaming quality.
Crimson Deserts’ Story Expansion Is Making the Base Game Feel Like Just the Beginning
The expansion 'Charting The Unknown' for Crimson Desert is transforming the action RPG by introducing new gameplay mechanics and activities, rather than just adding content. It expands exploration to underwater areas with new ships and diving gear, and introduces a more granular base-building system that integrates with companion activities. This approach aims to evolve the player experience and add depth to the existing world and its characters.
