Game Design
Ongoing coverage on Game Design.
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Destiny 2: Forsaken Review | Giant Bomb
Destiny 2: Forsaken significantly improves the base game with dramatic enhancements to loot and character progression, a more engaging story, and new areas. The expansion introduces the Gambit multiplayer mode and makes loot more meaningful by reintroducing random perks. Bungie has learned from past missteps, creating a more cohesive and enduring experience for the franchise.
Megasphere: Pre-Release First Impressions
Megasphere is a procedurally generated sci-fi action platformer from AKGames that emphasizes player discovery and challenging gameplay reminiscent of retro titles like Metroid and Castlevania. The pre-alpha build showcases stunning pixel art, fluid 60 FPS gameplay, and intelligent enemy AI, offering a polished experience despite its early stage. The game is priced at $15 on Steam.
God of War Review | Giant Bomb
The 2018 God of War reboot successfully evolves the franchise by shifting from Greek to Nordic mythology and focusing on a more mature narrative centered on Kratos and his son, Atreus. While the combat and exploration have been overhauled with an over-the-shoulder perspective and a more open world, the game retains the series' signature intensity and visual splendor, making it the best entry to date.
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle Review | Giant Bomb
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle offers a unique blend of Mario characters and Ubisoft's Rabbids in a turn-based strategy game that initially impresses with its depth and writing. While the core gameplay is solid, the combat becomes a chore in the latter half due to enemy design and a lack of variety, ultimately marring the overall experience despite its creative premise and humorous moments.
Free Online Game Makers | Shadowfox Games
This article lists and describes various free online game makers that allow users to create games without traditional programming. Tools like Wimi5, Cyberix 3D, Flowlab, and GameSalad are highlighted for their drag-and-drop interfaces and visual logic systems, catering to beginners and those looking to prototype game ideas.
Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite Review | Giant Bomb
Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite offers a fun and challenging core gameplay system with a two-on-two tag mechanic and the strategic use of Infinity Stones. While it aims for approachability with features like auto-combos, its single-player training mode is outdated, and the roster and presentation are disappointing compared to modern fighting games.
Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite Review
Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite is a two-on-two tag fighter that introduces Infinity Stones as a core mechanic, offering unique powers and an "Infinity Storm" ultimate. While the game features a fun and challenging core gameplay system with accessible mechanics and a high skill ceiling, it is criticized for its thin roster, disappointing presentation, and a lackluster training mode. The story mode offers some enjoyable moments but suffers from thin premises, and the online functionality is solid, though the ranking system is notably brutal.
Destiny 2 Review | Giant Bomb
Destiny 2 is a significant improvement over its predecessor, refining Bungie's blend of first-person shooting and loot-driven gameplay. While the story and tone have shifted, the sequel offers a more coherent narrative and a vastly improved endgame experience with streamlined progression and numerous activities. Despite some concerns about microtransactions and less memorable locations, the core gameplay, combat variety, and quality-of-life improvements make Destiny 2 a satisfying and rewarding loot shooter.
Destiny 2 Review
Destiny 2 significantly improves upon its predecessor with a more coherent story, streamlined gameplay, and a rewarding loot system, making it a compelling loot shooter. While the narrative sometimes leans on clichés and the focus on microtransactions, particularly with shaders, is a drawback, the core shooting mechanics, improved subclass design, and robust endgame activities offer a satisfying experience. Bungie has also implemented numerous quality-of-life updates and a strong clan system, setting a positive trajectory for future content.
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice Review
Ninja Theory's Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is a harrowing journey through a young woman's internal torment, focusing on dramatic storytelling over complex combat. The game masterfully depicts mental illness through spatial audio, hallucinations, and a deeply personal narrative, featuring a standout performance by Melina Juergens. Despite simple gameplay mechanics, its narrative success and authentic portrayal of psychosis make it a compelling and empathetic experience.
Resident Evil 7 Review
Resident Evil 7 marks a successful return to the series' survival horror roots, adopting a first-person perspective and a more focused narrative. While it experiments with new elements, it retains familiar gameplay loops like exploration, resource management, and puzzle-solving, offering a fresh yet classic Resident Evil experience.
By: Paula
The author expresses a preference for older Final Fantasy titles over Final Fantasy XIII and XIII-2, disliking the futuristic style of the newer installments. They suggest that instead of a full new game in the XIII line, a short DLC would be more appropriate, and that the developers should focus on creating new adventures or working on fan-requested remakes.
By: Shiva_16au
The author expresses disappointment with the direction of modern Final Fantasy games, specifically mentioning Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and contrasts them with older titles like Final Fantasy VII, VIII, IX, X, and XIII. They view newer games as primarily money-making products and intend to watch gameplay on YouTube rather than purchase them due to time constraints and perceived greed.
Dragon Age 3 Fans Heard (Nerdy News)
BioWare is seeking fan input on their official forums regarding the Dragon Age 3 game. Additionally, 343 Industries has released details for the Limited Edition Halo 4, and Nintendo is discontinuing the aqua blue Nintendo 3DS in Japan only. The news segment also touches on the MaKey MaKey Invention Kit and discusses game glitches.
Dragon Age 3 Features More Open World
BioWare is incorporating open-world elements into Dragon Age 3, drawing inspiration from titles like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. The developers aim to combine innovations from Dragon Age 2 with player expectations for a more expansive experience, while also reintroducing character customization options absent in the previous installment.
By: Jameel Aboulhosn
The author expresses a desire for more intricate combat mechanics in future Mega Man X titles, suggesting a blend of weapon and melee attacks. They also hope for a more open-world design, drawing a loose comparison to Assassin's Creed, and a reduction in missile-based enemy attacks.