Game Design
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I played 30 minutes of Alien Isolation 2 and yes, it is scarier than the original
Creative Assembly's Alien Isolation 2 expands the terrifying experience beyond claustrophobic interiors into dangerous outdoor environments, as demonstrated in a 30-minute preview. The sequel promises to be even scarier than its predecessor, featuring enhanced AI for the xenomorph and a brutal, overwhelming atmosphere on an alien planet.
Känslan av att äntligen vinna
This opinion piece discusses how difficult boss fights in video games provide a crucial sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. The author highlights examples like King K. Rool from Donkey Kong Country, M. Bison from Street Fighter II, and Isshin the Sword Saint from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice as memorable challenges that serve as a testament to player skill and development. Overcoming these tough encounters offers a rewarding feeling of victory, especially when contrasted with real-world frustrations.
Star Wars Zero Company Review – Built on Hope
Star Wars Zero Company successfully captures the XCOM feel while evolving its tactical turn-based formula. Despite some graphical issues on PlayStation 5 and a slow-starting story, the game offers satisfying combat mechanics, engaging character progression through Bonds, and a solid Star Wars atmosphere.
GTA 6 isn't flashy for the sake of it – I'm impressed at how additive every new detail feels to gameplay
Grand Theft Auto 6 is poised to be an industry milestone, building upon Rockstar Games' established crime sandbox formula with additive gameplay details. The article highlights how mechanics like physically carrying loot and an overhauled Wanted system integrate seamlessly into core gameplay, making the world feel more convincing and interactive than in previous titles, including Red Dead Redemption 2. The focus on natural integration of details and the partnership between protagonists Lucia and Jason suggest a refined and impactful sequel.
Afterworld, Paradox's post-apocalyptic grand strategy game, let me conquer Florida with a band of alcoholic mutant…
Paradox Development Studio's upcoming grand strategy game, Afterworld, offers a post-apocalyptic sandbox where players can lead various survivor factions. The preview highlights the game's deep systems for managing settlements, laws, and belief systems, drawing comparisons to Stellaris and Hearts of Iron 4. While ambitious and featuring unique mechanics like granular population management and an exploration-driven tech tree, the alpha build still requires significant polish and onboarding improvements.
GTA 6 Cut This Feature Because It Was Too Real, But One Lifelike Detail Is Staying
Rockstar Games has confirmed that a feature allowing players to buy groceries and restock their fridge in Grand Theft Auto 6 was cut because it was deemed too realistic and complicated gameplay. However, a realistic refueling system for vehicles will remain. The game is set to launch on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
All the RPS Supporter rewards for August 2026: fatty felines, GTA 6 pondering, and a heap of barely washed radishes
Rock Paper Shotgun has detailed its supporter rewards for August 2026, featuring exclusive articles and content. Highlights include a puzzle game about toast and cats, a discussion on covering Grand Theft Auto VI, and a piece on modding Skyrim for fishing.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation includes more spin-off characters, Naoki Hamaguchi says, and devs "thought really hard" about including more compilation references for the trilogy's finale
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation director Naoki Hamaguchi stated that the game will continue the tradition of including references to the wider Final Fantasy 7 compilation. The development team put significant effort into integrating characters and elements from spin-off titles into the trilogy's finale, aiming to create a comprehensive new version of the FF7 universe.
Brigandine Abyss Review – One step forward, five steps back
Brigandine Abyss, a strategy RPG from Adglobe and NIS America, fails to impress with its dated design and uninspired story. While the game offers approachable grand strategy elements and a decent soundtrack, its repetitive gameplay, bland visuals, and balancing issues make it a significant step back for the series. The narrative is particularly weak, lacking depth and failing to engage players.
Games Inbox: Are retro video games becoming more popular?
This collection of reader letters discusses the growing popularity of retro gaming, the anticipation and potential console exclusivity of Grand Theft Auto 6, and the perceived resurgence in quality of Sonic the Hedgehog games. Other topics include Capcom's future releases, Sony's State of Play, and the long wait for Nintendo's Zelda remakes.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword Could Make Linear Exploration Exciting Again
Onimusha: Way of the Sword aims to revitalize linear action-adventure gameplay by blending focused combat and puzzle-solving with optional exploration in its open-town sections. Director Satoru Nihei emphasizes skill-based mechanics like parrying and Issen, contrasting it with Souls-like difficulty. The game is set to launch on September 4th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
GTA 6 Vs. GTA 5 Graphical Comparison – 10 Biggest Changes You Should Know
Grand Theft Auto 6 showcases a significant graphical leap over Grand Theft Auto 5, particularly in character models, animations, lighting, and environmental detail. The game's realism is enhanced by advanced features like ray tracing and improved water physics, promising a more immersive experience on the PlayStation 5.
Alien: Isolation 2 dev doesn't want you "on the verge of having a heart attack" playing the sequel, so…
Alien: Isolation 2 art director Ana Sopikova discussed the game's approach to tension, advising players who find it too scary to turn down the music. She emphasized balancing oppressive atmosphere with moments of relief to avoid constant, overwhelming fear. The article also draws parallels to Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil Requiem in managing horror intensity.
The Witcher 3 director's new RPG Blood of Dawnwalker is a hit with most critics, and just behind The Witcher 1 and…
Blood of Dawnwalker, the new vampiric RPG from Rebel Wolves and The Witcher 3 director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, has launched to largely positive critical reception, with a Metacritic score of 83. While praised for its combat, worldbuilding, and story, some reviews noted issues with pacing, repetition, and jank.
“Trust Us–We’re Remedy:” Control Resonant Will Have Plenty Of Lore, The Devs Just Can’t Reveal Any Of It
Remedy Entertainment assures fans that Control Resonant will feature extensive lore, despite promotional materials focusing on combat. Senior communications manager Miika Huttunen stated that narrative elements will be revealed gradually, with players uncovering the story through dialogue, collectibles, and environmental clues. The game will also incorporate player choices in dialogue and offer a challenging combat system.
Some of WoW's hardest dungeons and raids have gotten just a bit easier—that's on purpose, developers say
Blizzard developers are intentionally making some of World of Warcraft's dungeons and raids slightly easier to encourage greater player participation and improve the balance of roles. Changes include making Mythic Plus vault rewards more accessible and introducing flexible-sized "Lair" raid instances to ease players into Mythic difficulty.
Asobo Games says it would 'love' to make a modern-day entry in the A Plague Tale series, since Naughty Dog's The Last of Us 'was a big inspiration'
Asobo Games expressed interest in developing a modern-day entry in the A Plague Tale series, citing Naughty Dog's The Last of Us as a significant inspiration. The studio believes the series' core element, the Macula, would translate well into a contemporary setting.
Serious Sam: Shatterverse – A Brand New Take on a Classic
Behaviour Interactive discusses their design philosophy for Serious Sam: Shatterverse, aiming to blend the classic Serious Sam feel with modern FPS roguelike elements. The developers emphasize accessibility, peer-to-peer multiplayer, and a complete standalone experience, with support for future DLC.
GTA 6 won’t let you switch between Lucia and Jason whenever you want because it would be "unnatural" for…
Rockstar North's Rob Nelson explained that players will not always be able to freely switch between Grand Theft Auto 6 protagonists Jason and Lucia. Some missions will restrict switching due to story progression or to enforce a specific character's perspective, while others will allow free switching or force character changes.
The Metroidvania Genre Owes Credit To Much More Than Castlevania And Metroid
This article explores the origins of the Metroidvania genre, arguing that its roots extend beyond Metroid and Castlevania. It highlights early exploration platformers and RPGs like Aztec and Xanadu: Dragon Slayer 2, as well as Sega's Wonder Boy series, as crucial precursors that introduced key mechanics.
