Remember Samba de Amigo? No longer relegated to serving as a racing game cameo who was once prominently featured in a franchise of old: the monkey with attitude returns in Samba de Amigo: Party Central on Switch.

Sea of Stars is also out on August 29, and fascinatingly, serves as a prequel to Sabotage Studio's wild 2018 project The Messenger. Blasphemous 2 (which we reviewed!) is out today, rounding out a pretty strong showing for the Switch eShop, with three brand new games this week. That explains why the rest of the lineup is smaller (relative to other weeks).

Nintendo Download: Samba de Amigo

• Agatha Christie – Hercule Poirot: The London Case – Available Aug. 29
• Alice Escaped!
• Arcade Archives DARK ADVENTURE
• Ashina: The Red Witch – Available Aug. 25
• Crypto Miner Tycoon Simulator
• Curse Crackers: For Whom the Belle Toils
• Giant Wishes – Available Aug. 25
• GINSHA
• Golf: Hole in One – Available Aug. 29
• Heart Chain Kitty: All Screwed Up – Available Aug. 28
• Hello Engineer
• Hidden Paws Bundle – Available Aug. 28
• Little Devil: Foster Mayhem – Available Aug. 25
• One-Two Combo Bundle: Punch Club Franchise
• Plumber Bundle 3 in 1
• Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles – Available Aug. 29
• Rocket Car : Ultimate Ball League Machines – Available Aug. 25
• Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate
• Sphereout – Available Aug. 29
• Stack Ball Run!
• The Bridge Curse: Road to Salvation – Available Aug. 30
• The Nightmare: Serial Killers
• Wildagotchi: Virtual Pet – Available Aug. 25
• Word Search Puzzle: Find the Words!
• Xtreme Sports
• Zombie Outbreak: Survival in Ancient Egyptian

If you missed last week’s edition, here it is. For those who are interested, sales are going on for all platforms.

The post Nintendo Download: Samba de Amigo: Party Central appeared first on Destructoid.

AK-xolotl is a game with an elevator pitch built right into its name. The latest from publisher Playstack and developer 2Awesome Studio ranks high on the "we came up with the title first" list, but thankfully, it also looks like a good time. The top-down roguelite shooter now has a date and a trailer showing off its fast-paced fireworks.

This axolotl with an AK rolls into action on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam on September 14, 2023.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xteTxUFl2xs

The gunplay in AK-xolotl looks pretty hectic, with some downright bullet hell-style patterns on display. In roguelite fashion, death isn't the end; it's just an excuse to start over, get stronger, and unlock new weapons. It's all accentuated with the help of nice looking pixel art visuals and some impressive sprite work, so hopefully the final game matches that energy. 

Look who's talkin'

Beyond the frantic shooting, AK-xolotl introduces an ally-raising system with the Axolittles. These little baby axolotls can be nurtured and fed until they eventually grow into adorable killing machines of their own. It looks like nurturing may involve putting diapers on them? This is the most I've ever thought about axolotls, much less changing their diapers. 

Based in Barcelona, 2Awesome Studio previously developed cyberpunk action-platformer Aeon Drive and shoot 'em up Dimension Drive. They also handle publishing and porting for a few other titles. If you want to try out their latest and give AK-xolotl a spin, the extended demo is available to play right now on Steam.

The post AK-xolotl, a roguelite shooter about an axolotl with an AK, sets launch date appeared first on Destructoid.

When it comes to capturing childlike wonder and exploration, few projects do it quite like Lil Gator Game. The humbly-titled adventure made a delight out of exploration, and new content has arrived for those who hunger for more carefree travels.

Playtonic Friends and developer MegaWobble revealed New Game+ mode, baby mode, and updated language support. If you've already made your way through everything, New Game+ will no doubt be among the most exciting. The execution is about what you'd expect from the feature. Hop into your cleared save data and go about the game's quests with the full toolkit and bracelets of power at your disposal.

[caption id="attachment_398518" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Playtonic Friends[/caption]

Baby's day out

True to its name, baby mode lets you play the entire game as the young version of Lil Gator. Embrace youth eternal as you glide around and make new discoveries in the mode, which is available in the settings from the start. Lil Gator Game also added four more translations in the new update. Players can now experience the game in French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, and Spanish (Latin American). It's all available now, making it a great time to take this gator for a spin if you haven't already. For those who have, a return trip to this quaint, cozy world is an even more attractive option.

Lil Gator Game originally launched in December 2022 and has picked up plenty of fans since its debut. The pressure-free adventure is currently available on Switch and PC. 

The post Lil Gator Game keeps the adventure going with New Game+, baby mode appeared first on Destructoid.

There are dozens of bizarro beat 'em ups outside of the mainstays, from Ninja Baseball Bat Man to Night Slashers. And then there's Gourmet Warriors. Released on Super Famicom in 1995 as Gourmet Sentai Barayaro, the brawler finally arrived in English in 2018 thanks to Piko Interactive. Now it's sharing the love with more platforms as part of publisher QUByte Interactive's Classics lineup.

Following a release on Steam and a physical SNES cartridge, the next stop is PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Gourmet Warriors brings the beatdown to those platforms on August 31. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyVx-_ozhBE

Heat 'em up

What puts the Gourmet in Gourmet Warriors, anyway? The characters might not be bipedal Food Fighters, but there is a rudimentary "cooking system" in place. While there are no traditional healing items, enemies drop ingredients that can be used to whip up meals between levels. I never thought I'd compare it to Zelda, but here we go. Like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, the right concoction can replenish more health. The three playable characters — Bonjour, Mademoiselle, and Trés Bien — have their own favorites, so you'll want to keep that in mind when cooking. 

The story hits all the mid-90s notes. The year 20XX, World War III, a setting called Zeus Heaven Magic City? The overexcited Vince McMahon meme intensifies with each sprinkle of narrative spice. In an alternate timeline, we would absolutely be talking about "that awesome Gourmet Warriors anime that ran for 87 episodes and two films."

Gourmet Warriors comes to us from developer Winds and director Satoshi Fujishima, who worked on games like 1994's X-Kaliber 2097. It has its roots in the campy buff action of the side-scrolling shoot 'em up series Cho Aniki. Some of the character models here may have already tipped you off on that one. The forgettable soundtrack is your first reminder of where this one rests in the halls of beat 'em up history, but genre completionists and oddball aficionados need to experience it at least once. 

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Earlier this year we saw the first gameplay trailer for Flashback 2, and now our hero Conrad B. Hart is back for more. With Gamescom underway, a new trailer is here to show off more of the sequel's action and intrigue.

Flashback 2 has original creator Paul Cuisset teaming up with developer Microids Studio Lyon to put players back in the role of the young GBI agent, and this new trailer shows more of how the new release differs from the 1992 original. Previously confined to methodical side-scrolling movement and quick and deadly gunplay, Conrad's freedom has expanded. You can see the 2.5D potion in motion as Conrad rolls, jumps, and shoots below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7ei5RIgyzI

Hangin' tough

Flashback 2 has other original team members on board in addition to Cuisset. This includes Thierry Perreau on game design and Amiga composer Raphael Gesqua. 

While it looks like a faster-paced take on the classic, it's nice to see Flashback 2 clinging to cinematic adventure game animations. The way Conrad hangs from ledges and performs all-important combat rolls should look familiar enough to longtime fans. Sure, they may have misspelled "Washington" in one of the cinematics, but it looks like a lot of care was put into bringing the battle against the Morphs to 2023.

Flashback 2 spins its dystopian sci-fi yarn on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC on November 16. It's going physical and digital on consoles, too, and the Collector's Edition packs in some extras for those who want to shout their Flashback love from the heart of their shelves.

The post Flashback 2 runs and guns in a fiery dystopian hell in Gamescom trailer appeared first on Destructoid.

The dream of owning the first Metal Gear games in one location will soon come to fruition with the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection. Now, a new platform is getting on on the action. In addition to current-gen consoles and PC, Konami announced plans to bring the first volume of the Metal Gear Solid bundle to PlayStation 4.

The PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC versions were previously locked in for October 24. PS4 details are still TBD, however, so we'll have to wait for further info. For now, we know the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection will be digital-only on PS4. The PS5, Xbox Series, and Switch collections will be available both physically and digitally. 

https://twitter.com/metalgear_jp/status/1693518300725366829

Bring back Ultra Games

As previously reported, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection packs in some essential sneaking missions, including the MSX classics. In addition to Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, players can relive the stealth action of Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. 

The NES version of Metal Gear I spent too long attempting to figure out back in the day is there, too, as is the less celebrated followup, Snake's Revenge. Much like the NES Metal Gear, creator Hideo Kojima was not involved in this sequel, and it shows. As a piece of gaming history, though, it's essential. Snake's Revenge reflects a company capitalizing on the popularity of an original title in international regions. Also, like most Ultra Games, the soundtrack — from composer Tsutomu Ogura — rips. 

As for what lies beyond all this, we'll have to wait and see if those volume 2 leaks pan out whenever Konami gets around to detailing the next collection. 

The post Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 adds digital PS4 version appeared first on Destructoid.

NetherRealm's Mortal Kombat 1 is just a few weeks away, and players are slowly learning about what's in store. GamesHub's Edmond Tran recently revealed an interesting detail that suggests the upcoming game may feature some nifty accessibility options. After losing in the Mortal Kombat 1 beta, he did a little sleuthing and discovered that he was playing what he believes to be a blind gamer. This led to him learning that the fighting game features a descriptive audio option for Fatalities.

https://twitter.com/EdmondTran/status/1693244537651785899

The example Tran posts has a narrator describing how Li Mei yanks out her victim's guts and decapitates them with a kick. The gruesome descriptions should serve as a great aid for visually impaired gamers hoping to immerse themselves in Mortal Kombat's gory world. That said, they're nauseatingly vivid enough to use for the awesome factor alone.

[caption id="attachment_393384" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via NetherRealm.[/caption]

Mortal Kombat 1 blends the old with the new

The closed beta test ran from August 18 until August 21, and several players have been showing off the upcoming game's slick visuals and bloody Fatalities. Johnny Cage has received quite a bit of attention, with many players enjoying his moves.

https://twitter.com/JockyRhonson/status/1692629225444970702

Fatalities are a key focus of Mortal Kombat 1. These are of course joined by Quitalities, which will make a return. This finishing move will activate when the loser of a match quits before the end of the round, causing their character to suffer a spectacularly violent death. The game will also introduce Kameo Fighters to provide you assistance during matches. Kameo Fighters revealed include classic franchise characters such as Ferra, Khameleon, Mavado, and Tremor.

Mortal Kombat 1 will be making an appearance at Gamescom 2023, though it won't be the only fighting game available. Tekken 8 is also scheduled to show up, and it'll be playable at Bandai Namco's booth.

The post Mortal Kombat 1 has a descriptive audio option for Fatalities appeared first on Destructoid.

We’re quickly approaching the launch of the first DLC for Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, and with it has come a dripfeed of new monster info. GameFreak seems happy to stir the pot so far, with reveals like a 19^th Tera Type without much context. Yet the recently released video for the Grass/Ghost-Type Pokémon Poltchageist is wild even by those standards. I’m going to spoil the heck out of it, so watch the short yourself if you want the blind experience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMWrwe9fJJk

Our story starts with an older man at a festival telling a ghost story to an audience of children. Apparently, once upon a time, there was a tea master who was an obsessive perfectionist. He was so obsessive that he would yell at any guest handling his tea, leaving him alone with his craft. With no one to share his work with, he tumbled over and “fainted from exhaustion,” which the audience is meant to interpret as “this guy was so angry that he left this mortal coil.”

The master’s tea caddy changes hands in the years to come. But as you might expect from the tone of this story, that caddy is hella haunted. Filled with rage and matcha in equal measure, it proceeds to drain the life force from at least one person who angers it so it can repair everything from cracked cups to phone screens. Then Poltchageist drains life force from the audience of sleeping children before ending the video by winking at the camera.

I’ve watched this final scene three times, and I still can’t decide what’s going on. Is Poltchageist draining life force from the food, or is it straight-up attacking children?

https://twitter.com/Pokemon/status/1693987183429116263

Poltchageist is maybe in the top 20 of most disturbing Pokémon

As longtime fans know, Pokémon isn’t afraid to get weirdly dark with its Pokémon backstories. I don’t know who wrote Yamask’s Pokedex entries, but I hope someone gave them a hug afterwards.

As for the raw gameplay details, there’s still a lot we don’t know about Poltchageist. It's very similar to Polteageist, even though it seems to share no relationship to the monster. It also joins a surprisingly robust roster of Ghost/Grass-Type Pokémon, including Generation 9’s Bramblin and Brambleghast.

From context, we can assume Poltchageist will rely heavily on draining moves. It apparently knows the ability “Hospitality,” which lets Poltchageist "restore a small amount of its ally’s HP when it enters a battle.” For context, Scarlet & Violet have gone hard on mechanics specifically for doubles battles. Tatsugiri and Dondozo for example specifically work well together, with their potential massively undermined in singles. So only time will tell whether Poltchageist’s Hospitality will help solo players out or exist specifically for the competitive scene. I know I would like to see more double battles pop up in the main game.

We’ll be sure to learn more about Poltchageist when The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero Part 1: The Teal Mask launches on September 13.

The post The new Pokemon Poltchageist is a brutal cup of matcha tea appeared first on Destructoid.

We knew that Red Dead Redemption II would be coming to Switch, and now it's finally here! Whether it's actually worth the (checks notes) $50 Rockstar is charging for it is one thing: but at least it comes with the Undead Nightmare DLC, which is one of the silliest romps the studio has ever created.

In other Switch eShop news, Quake II was surprised-released, and we even reviewed it (on PC)! This classic still holds up, but if you want something newer, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk is out on August 18. Here's the gist of this extremely Jet Set Radio-looking game: "Red is a graffiti writer who lost his head and instead has an AI robohead. In search of his roots, he joins the Bomb Rush Crew, Tryce and Bel, who are aiming to go All City. Together they discover who it was that cut off his head and how deeply Red’s human side is linked to the graffiti world."

If none of those catch your interest, there's, as usual, a ton of other stuff to sift through.

Nintendo Download: Quake II Edition

• A Castle Full of Cats
• Aery – Flow of Time
• Airplane Race Simulator – 2 Player Game – Available Aug. 18
• Arcade Archives MAD SHARK
• Arcade Snake Go!
• BOKURA
• Brave Bow Archer: Princess Rescue Simulator! – Available Aug. 22
• Candle Fire Run!
• Cat’s Cosmic Atlas – Available Aug. 18
• Chrome Wolf
• Die After Sunset
• Duck Race
• Embraced By Autumn – Available Aug. 18
• Forklift 2024 – The Simulation
• FRMaster – Formula Racing Simulator – Available Aug. 19
• Funny Jokes
• Gauntler
• Hidden Shapes: Cat Realm + Trick or Cats
• Luck Breaker
• Marble It Up! Ultra
• Neko Journey – Available Aug. 18
• Quantum: Recharged
• Rescue Team 911 Simulator - Ambulance,Police, Firefighter – Available Aug. 19
• Sable’s Grimoire: Man And Elf – Available Aug. 18
• Satay Shop Tycoon
• SHINOBI NON GRATA
• Skateboard Drifting with Maxwell Cat: The Game Simulator – Available Aug. 19
• The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood
• Tsugunohi
• Vampire Survivors
• Virgo Versus The Zodiac – Available Aug. 23
• Vostok 2061
• Wizards Legacy – Nightmare Park Manager Simulator
• Wroom Wroom Puzzles

If you missed last week’s edition, here it is. For those who are interested, sales are going on for all platforms.

The post Nintendo Download: Quake II appeared first on Destructoid.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will soon be receiving DLC called The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero to expand the main game. The first half of the DLC is titled The Teal Mask, and it is set to release on September 13 while the second half, titled The Indigo Disk, will be available in Winter.

In the lead-up to the launch of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, a trailer has been released that teases a 19thTera Type. Not much has been revealed about it, though it has the potential to shake up Pokemon battles.

[caption id="attachment_396558" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Game Freak.[/caption]

Lots to discover in The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero

All we know so far is that the symbol for the new Tera Type is rainbow-colored and features six pentagons surrounding a hexagon. As it currently stands, Terastallizing a Pokemon strengthens moves of the same type. Though it is unclear how the 19th Tera Type works, it does appear that it may be related to the new Pokemon Terapagos, which also has a hexagon surrounded by pentagons on its shell.

https://youtu.be/0VLPfiX5VJU

The latest trailer primarily focuses on The Indigo Disk. Taking advantage of nostalgia, the upcoming DLC will feature several past Starters, with critters such as Froakie, Piplup, Totodile, and Bulbasaur making an appearance, to name a few. A couple of new Pokemon moves are also showcased in the trailer. Gardevior is seen using Psychic Noise, a harsh attack that deals damage while preventing the target from healing, while Hariyama is seen using Upper Hand which allows it to strike before a target's priority move.

Two new Paradox Pokemon and their moves are also showcased. The giraffe-necked Pokemon named Raging Bolt is based on Raikou, and it can learn a new Electric-type move called Thunderclap. Iron Crown is a Paradox Pokemon based on Cobalion, and it learns a new move called Tachyon Cutter which is guaranteed to strike twice in a row.

There's more Pokemon on the way beyond the generational DLC

In addition to The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, fans have a few more Pokemon events to look forward to this year. Detective Pikachu Returns launches on October 6, while the animated web series Pokemon: Paldean Winds will debut on September 6.

The post Pokémon teases vague 19th Tera Type for Scarlet and Violet appeared first on Destructoid.

Overwatch 2 has been available for a while on multiple platforms, though it was in Early Access. With the Invasion update, the game left early access and officially launched on August 10.

Reception hasn't been particularly good, and the game currently sits with "Overwhelmingly Negative" user reviews on Steam. The main reasons for the review bombing relate to how the free-to-play model was implemented, as well as the lack of previously promised content.

[caption id="attachment_373661" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Blizzard Entertainment[/caption]

Overwatch 2 has had a less-than-perfect launch

One of the main criticisms Overwatch 2 is facing is that it is far more money-oriented than its predecessor. For example, some Heroes and game modes are locked behind a Battle Pass system. They can be unlocked through normal gameplay, though paying players can simply bypass it all. Some content has also been cut from the game, including the planned PvE Hero Mode.

Explaining why this is the case, Blizzard's Aaron Keller wrote a blog post revealing how plans were made but developers struggled to find their "footing with the Hero Mission experience early on,"  leading to the decision to cut it. The Invasion update does come with PvE Hero missions, but they are locked behind the Battle Pass system, leading to further annoyance.

When scrolling through the user reviews, it is easy to see a trend among the complaints. They're succinctly summarized in Steam user BraySC's review: "They released Overwatch 2 as a free-to-play business model, which leans more heavily into microtransactions, overpriced skins and predatory behaviour. To make matters worse, they shut down the first game, making it unplayable for people who purchased it, meaning the player base has to move over to this free-to-play business model to keep playing the game." There are also plenty of mentions of Blizzard's history of workplace sexual harassment allegations in the reviews.

As of August 13, only 9% of the 92,028 reviews are positive, making Overwatch 2 one of the most negatively reviewed games on Steam. The negative reviews aren't limited to Valve's store, and players have also been voicing their dissatisfaction on Metacritic where the game sits a user score of 1.4 as of August 13, indicating "Overwhelming Dislike."

Things haven't been all bad for Overwatch 2, however. On Metacritic, the critic review score is a respectable 69 as of August 13. It also hit a commendable peak of 75,608 concurrent Steam players on August 11, indicating that there may still be hope for the colorful FPS.

The post Overwatch 2’s Steam launch met with “Overwhelmingly Negative” reviews appeared first on Destructoid.

In a bizarre move, Red Dead Redemption will be available on Nintendo Switch for $49.99 on August 17, and uh, the reaction to that price has been "mixed," to put it lightly! I mean, I guess it does have the Undead Nightmare DLC and the Game of the Year bonus content, but you can get all of that and more for much cheaper on other platforms. The Switch version (alongside the upcoming PS4 edition) also does not include multiplayer capabilities. In any case, the choice is yours.

Moving Out 2 is the other major release, and that's out on August 15. This is a day-and-date release with other platforms, which is always nice to see. Oh, and there are tons of other things out if you want to comb through the below list!

• A Castle Full of Cats – Available Aug. 17
• Acceptance – Available Aug. 11
• Ace Antigravity Combat Racing
• Aery – Flow of Time – Available Aug. 17
• Anthology of Fear
• Arcade Archives BARADUKE 2
• Astro Flame: Starfighter – Available Aug. 15
• Ball Master Up!
• Black Skylands – Available Aug. 15
• Bright Lights of Svetlov – Available Aug. 11
• Chickenoidz Super Party
• Chrome Wolf – Available Aug. 17
• Cinderella: Interactive Book
• Cooking Arena
• Creepy Tale: Ingrid Penance – Available Aug. 16
• Death Becomes You
• Detective Agency: Gray Tie 2 Collector’s Edition
• Die After Sunset – Available Aug. 17
• Draknek and Friends Puzzle Bundle
• Elypse
• Farm Frenzy: Refreshed
• Female Nation Takeover - 女性国家乗っ取り計画 - 盗賊の俺が王になる -
• Hamster on Rails
• Idle Zoo Park
• It’s Puzzles: Wild Nature
• Marble It Up! Ultra – Available Aug. 17
• Mondealy
• Monster Prom 3: Monster Roadtrip XXL
• Moolii’s Dreamland
• Mouse Trap – The Board Game
• Mysterious Adventure of Michael
• Neon Blight
• Organ Trail Complete Edition
• Pipe Dream
• Prison Life Simulator Jail – Gangster Escape Games Scary Architect Battle – Available Aug. 11
• Pups & Purrs Pet Shop
• Puzzle Boys
• Quantum: Recharged – Available Aug. 17
• Rainbow Skies – Available Aug. 11
• SHINOBI NON GRATA – Available Aug. 17
• Slime Girl Smoothies
• Sonar Beat
• Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical
• Summer Valley Hike – Available Aug. 15
• Sven – Completely Screwed
• The Rewinder
• TOW TRUCK Driver Simulator 2023 – Available Aug. 12
• Ultimate General: Gettysburg
• Vampire Survivors – Available Aug. 17
• Wash Simulator – Clean Garage, House, Cars Business Tycoons
• Wild Legion
• Witch’s Garden
• World Spin
• X-Force Under Attack
• Zombie Soup

If you missed last week’s edition, here it is. For those who are interested, sales are going on for all platforms.

The post Nintendo Download: Red Dead Redemption appeared first on Destructoid.

During today's Pokemon Presents presentation, we saw Mewtwo announced as an upcoming Tera Raid encounter in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. However, another legendary Pokemon has made its appearance, and this one's much easier to get. Specifically, virtually anyone who owns either Pokemon Scarlet or Pokemon Violet can claim Mew as a mystery gift right now.

Until Monday, September 18, trainers can use the code GETY0URMEW in the Mystery Gift menu to instantly grab Mew. That's a zero and not an O in "Y0UR," since you can't input O, I, or Z in codes. For those who need a refresher, you can get to Mystery Gifts by selecting the Poke Portal option in the in-game main menu. Select "Mystery Gift" at the bottom of the menu that pops up, and then select "Get with Code/Password." If you input the code right, you should grab Mew right away.

[caption id="attachment_395454" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

That said, not all Mews are created equal. Mew's moves and Tera Type will differ between each player, so you may see some funky results. For example, my Mew has a Ground Tera Type and knows Earth Power, Swift, Light Screen, and Life Dew. A little random for my endgame focused file, but Earth Power would wreck house in the early game. Anyone who can access the Mystery Gift option during this period can claim Mew, including new players.

It always feels a little surreal to me whenever I see Mew given away like this. I mean, I know these legendary Pokemon distributions happen all the time these days. But after the schoolyard hysteria over getting Mew back in the Red & Blue era, I always expect to just get this monster with a glitch or a GameShark. I don't know how great Mew will fare against Mewtwo specifically, but my Life Dew Mew will help me on my quest to always use healers in Tera Raids.

The post Mew is now available as a Mystery Gift in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet appeared first on Destructoid.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet have had an interesting run of Tera Raid events. Until now, most of the 7-Star encounters have revolved around starters from previous games, usually with a strategically picked Tera Type that makes them tricky to take down. But now, with the impending release of DLC for Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, Mewtwo is here to kick the Tera Raid intensity up a notch.

From September 1 to September 17, Mewtwo will appear as a Tera Raid in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet. It will sport the Psychic Tera Type, so needless to say, this thing's Psychic attacks will hit hard. Normally, I would say this means Dark-type Pokemon will prevail. But if there's one thing I know about Tera Raid Pokemon, it's that they love to punish their obvious weaknesses. Aura Sphere will almost certainly appear in Mewtwo's move pool.

To help trainers prepare, Scarlet & Violet will see promotional raids throughout August that drop some key items to strengthen your team. The first encounter will appear from August 9 to August 17, with the second encounter running from August 19 to August 31. We didn't receive specifics about these raids, but I'd expect something similar to a 5-Star Blissey raid. In other words, an easy loot piñata for trainers to take down in a minute before claiming rewards.

If you read my older Tera Raid guides, you could probably tell how exhausted I felt after a while. The release schedule just got so fast, and I can only use Annihilape so much before it gets stale. However, with legendary Pokemon entering the fray, I might dip into the scene again. This monster harassed me enough in Pokemon Stadium, so I've got a score to settle.

The post Challenge Mewtwo as a Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Tera Raid in September appeared first on Destructoid.

During the August 8 Pokemon Presents, The Pokemon Company announced two classic Pokemon titles are coming to Nintendo Switch Online. First up is the Pokemon Trading Card Game which came out on Gameboy Color in 1998. The second is Pokemon Stadium 2 which hit N64 in 2000.

Both titles are coming to the Nintendo Switch Online service today, August 8. While it appears Pokemon TCG will be available on the base NSO service, Pokemon Stadium 2 requires the Expansion Pack.

While Pokemon TCG certainly isn't one of the traditional Pokemon games like Red, Blue, Yellow, etc., it's still fantastic. In fact, I remember playing it after those titles and thinking it was such a unique take on Pokemon. Instead of choosing a Pokemon at the start, players choose from one of three different TCG decks and begin their adventure to become the world's greatest TCG player. Similar to traditional games, you head out to defeat the eight Club Masters and earn their Medals, comparable to Badges.

Pokemon Stadium 2 is a sequel to the original which is actually the first time we saw Generation II Pokemon in full 3D. Back in 2000, the popular sequel was also the only Pokemon title to use the N64 Expansion Pak. In Pokemon Stadium 2, players focused more on Pokemon battles rather than catching them all.

Overall these are two great Pokemon titles being added to the service. Hopefully, this will also pave the way for the more traditional Pokemon GBC titles to come later.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QiLe4pTHAE

The post Pokemon TCG and Pokemon Stadium 2 coming to Nintendo Switch Online appeared first on Destructoid.

Pokémon fans should mark their calendars, as a new Pokémon Presents event has been announced.  You can watch it on YouTube at 6 PM PDT on August 8. The presentation will be a full 35 minutes long, which gives plenty of opportunity for some big presentations and announcements.

Though there has yet to be any word on what fans can expect, some reasonable guesses can be made. It had been previously revealed that DLC titled The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero is in the works for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. It will be released in two parts, with part 1 The Teal Mask, scheduled for Fall. Part 2, titled The Indigo Disk, will hit stores in Winter.

https://twitter.com/Pokemon/status/1687449174021660672

Pokémon Presents comes at the right time

With the release window creeping nearer, it is likely that the DLC will make an appearance in the upcoming Pokémon Presents event. Thus far, we know that The Teal Mask will take players to the Kitakami region as part of a school trip. Some new Pokémon have been showcased, including a trio consisting of a dog-like creature called Okidogi, a monkey-like critter called Munkidori, and a bird Pokemon called Fezandipiti.

There are a couple of spin-off titles that could also make an appearance. Detective Pikachu Returns is slated for an October 6 release. It will serve as the sequel to 2018's Detective Pikachu which spawned a film. Updates and announcements for Pokémon Unite and the recently released spin-off Pokémon Sleep could also pop up.

There is also plenty going on in the world of Pokémon TCG. The upcoming Obsidian Flames expansion could show up, though it is far more likely that the Pokémon 151 and Classic expansions will get the spotlight. These highly anticipated expansions return to Kanto to showcase the original 151 Pokémon.

Of course, there is every possibility that The Pokémon company could reveal something entirely unexpected. This could include a new remake or Nintendo Switch port, or new spin-off titles. We'll find out more on August 8.

The post A new Pokémon Presents is airing next week appeared first on Destructoid.

Sonic Superstars is attempting to recapture that classic Sonic feeling, though it will be bringing a few new elements to the franchise. A villain named Trip is preparing to make her debut, and though she's decked out in spiky armor, she won't be your typical Sonic enemy. In an interview with Game Informer, Sonic Team creative officer Takashi Iizuka discussed a bit more about Trip’s origins and role in Sonic Superstars.

[caption id="attachment_394939" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Sega.[/caption]

Trip and her trouble

Not much is known about Trip yet, though the official site for Sonic Superstars reveals that she has been enlisted by Fang and Dr. Eggman to protect them as they venture through the Northstar Islands. She has a striped, furry tail, and she is completely covered in metal armor that has prevented us from seeing her face.

In the interview with GI, Iizuka revealed that Trip was created by him and Naoto Ohshima, the creator of Sonic the Hedgehog and Dr. Eggman. In order to have a truly new story, they felt that a new character would be necessary. When designing her, they bounced around a few ideas, including an armored lizard and the ouroboros. Some of the ideas made it into the final design, as the “base of her character is a sungazer lizard” - literally an “armored lizard” in Japanese.

Trip's personality and backstory will also be an important part of her character. Instead of a one-dimensional character, they were aiming to create something that would “stand out and be a character that people can kind of relate to and empathize with and enjoy as a character in the world.” Unlike your average Sonic villain that is presented as a formidable foe, Trip—at least initially—is quite clumsy and she even “falls on her face in the very first scene that you see her in."

Of course, Trip won’t be there alone. Dr. Eggman and Fang will also be present, presenting a nice blend of both old and new. Though he is also an iconic villain, Iizuka confirmed that Shadow won’t be making an appearance.

The platformer is expected to launch on PC, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox in late 2023.

The post Sega reveals more about Trip, Sonic Superstars’ new villain appeared first on Destructoid.

WrestleQuest is the big game on offer this week for Nintendo Switch, which provides an RPG-like format for arcade wrestling action. I just recently replayed some WWE games and let me tell you: I'm in the mood for a good brawler! Brotato is another featured game from Nintendo coming your way and features some classic Robotron/modern Vampire Survivors horde-style action.

You have plenty of things to choose from! It's a good week for indie variety on the eShop.

• A Guidebook of Babel
• Action SuperCross
• Adore
• Alchemy POIPOI SS
• Arcade Archives GROWL
• Backbeat + Hexagroove Music Strategy Bundle
• BATSUGUN Saturn Tribute Boosted
• Brain On: Dot Physics
• Brotato + Space Gladiators Bundle
• Chickenoidz Super Party 
• Contraptions 3
• Cooking Arena 
• Counter Delta 2: Eastern Crisis
• Cricket Captain 2023
• Death Becomes You 
• DELTAZEAL
• Farm Frenzy: Refreshed 
• Fluffy Milo 
• Flutter Away
• GigaBash
• Heist Force
• Hyper Torque Racing
• Leafy Trails
• LEGEND BOWL
• LOST EGG 3: The Final
• MistWorld the after
• Nova Strike
• Puzzle Boys 
• Running Fable 
• Secret Summoner
• Side Decide
• Skabma – Snowfall 
• Slime Girl Smoothies 
• The Entropy Centre
• The Scientists’ Secret – Hidden Object Game
• Tiny Thor
• TRAPPED in The Kanal
• Ultimate General: Gettysburg 
• Unidentified Falling Objects 
• Wash Simulator – Clean Garage, House, Cars Business Tycoons 
• Windstorm Double Pack
• Wizardry School: Escape Room
• Would you like to run an idol cafe? 3
• X-Force Under Attack 

If you missed last week’s edition, here it is. For those who are interested, sales are going on for all platforms.

The post Nintendo Download: WrestleQuest appeared first on Destructoid.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom launched to widespread critical acclaim, and it currently sits as one of the highest-rated games on Metacritic. It was predictable that this would be accompanied by strong commercial success, but we are now getting an even clearer picture of just how impactful Breath of the Wild’s sequel has been.

As revealed in the latest financial report from Nintendo, Tears of the Kingdom has already sold 18.51 million copies. Thanks to the high sales, the company has seen strong financial performance for its first quarter.

[caption id="attachment_394907" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Tears of the Kingdom drives hardware sales for Nintendo

Released on May 12, Nintendo claims that the latest Zelda game "has made a major contribution to Q1 sales in the current environment." Though many of the players were returning from Breath of the Wild, the report notes that a growing percentage of customers haven’t played Tears of the Kingdom’s predecessor.

To put the success of Tears of the Kingdom into perspective, the report claims that "sell-through of this one title constitutes approximately half of the first-party software sold this fiscal year." It is also a massive success when compared to Breath of the Wild. Released in March 2017, it took until August 2020 to sell 20 million copies.

Nintendo’s financial report paints an overall positive picture for the company. Though the Switch may be dated, it continues to bring in a steady income through hardware and software sales. Nintendo has also been profiting from non-gaming media, with the company attributing its financial success, in part, to "royalties and income from visual content related to The Super Mario Bros. Movie."

The report gives a roadmap for the company going forward. October will be a particularly busy month, with Detective Pikachu Returns releasing on October 6, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder releasing on October 20. November will be equally packed, with WarioWare: Move It! hitting shelves on November 3 followed by Super Mario RPG on November 17.

The post The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has sold over 18 million copies appeared first on Destructoid.

It looks like the follow-up to the Nintendo Switch is almost here. According to a new report from VGC, the successor to the Switch is likely to release in the second half of 2024.

In the report, several key partners to Nintendo have claimed to have received development kits for the new console. Development kits for consoles are typically sent out well before the retail release so developers learn the new hardware and ensure some titles are ready to launch on the new platform.

The sources went on to share some alleged details on the new system. Like the Nintendo Switch, the next-gen console will have portable mode. Furthermore, the console will launch with an LCD screen rather than an OLED screen to reduce costs.

Those worried about the digital revolution need not worry as, allegedly, the new console will also accept physical games via a cartridge slot.

[caption id="attachment_384302" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

No word on backward compatibility support

Unfortunately, there has been no indication if the new console will have backward compatibility support with the Nintendo Switch. With over 100 million Switch units sold, backward compatibility support is going to be a huge deal. Nintendo will look to convert as many Switch owners as it can, and backward compatibility will certainly make that easier. However, adding a chip to enable such compatibility can further increase the cost of the system, which Nintendo may be trying to avoid in order to keep the price down.

Honestly, the second half of 2024 makes sense in terms of a new Nintendo system release. Sales for the Switch have been in decline for a few years now. Usually, that's an indicator there's room in the market for a new console release. Also, if the Switch successor were to release in the second half of 2024, that puts the Switch life-cycle at a little over seven years. That's par for the course for Nintendo's competitors, as the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One all had a similar life cycle.

Are you ready for a new Nintendo console? I'm definitely not against the idea. I really do hope it's backward-compatible, though.

The post Nintendo Switch successor reportedly planned for 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

Since Sega released the first Sonic the Hedgehog game in 1991, the lovable blue speedster remained a permanent fixture in pop culture. Though it has plenty of nostalgic value, Sonic Team will not be returning to 2017's Sonic Mania. In a recent interview with Game Informer, Sega explained why this is the case.

[caption id="attachment_394447" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

What happened to Sonic Mania 2?

Sonic Mania was a success that sold over a million copies in its first year of release. This might have indicated a sequel could happen, but that hasn’t panned out. In the interview, Sonic Team’s Takashi Iizuka revealed that the plan was originally to make a new Sonic game in the classic style following Sonic Mania.

"There was a period after the development of Sonic Mania when we worked with them to consider concepts for the next generation of Classic Sonic," Iizuka told GI. "It's too bad that it didn't become a finished game. Still, I'm pleased that the next generation of Classic Sonic that we talked about with them has been achieved with Superstars."

The upcoming Sonic Superstars will be using 3D assets. The team felt that the 2D pixel art style attracts a certain "core" audience. While most of these players may be lifelong Sonic fans, developers also wanted the upcoming game to appeal to a wider audience of new players. Hence, as Iizuka explains, they “needed to use the 3D assets to really give it that current look”.

Sonic Team amiably cut ties with developer Christian Whitehead who worked on Sonic Mania. Whitehead went on to form Evening Star, a studio working on its debut Penny's Big Breakaway. But Superstars does look to be using some pieces of Sonic Mania's legacy for the upcoming side-scroller.

https://twitter.com/CFWhitehead/status/1668971982493470720?s=20

Speaking to Game Informer, Whitehead backs up the account. He says Evening Star's goal was to move "beyond" 2D pixel art

"Evening Star did work with Sega to explore possible directions Classic Sonic could go after the success of Sonic Mania," Whitehead told GI. "Sonic Mania 2 was never in development, though, because we actually agreed early on that we should try to make something fresh, like hand-drawn 2D or 2.5D."

Though the upcoming side-scroller Sonic Superstars won’t look like the classic Sonic games, developers are still dedicated to making it feel like them. As Iizuka explains, the “game was created from zero – from absolutely nothing – but we were still looking at all those four classic games and creating physics that are going to match and feel like what the classic series needs to be”.

Sonic Superstars is slated to release in late 2023 on PC, Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox.

The post Sega explains why a Sonic Mania sequel didn’t happen appeared first on Destructoid.

After a decade-long hiatus, we finally have a new mainline Pikmin mainline entry in our hands. The adorable plant creatures are back, and this time they are joined by Oatchi the lovable rescue pup. Though the series has struggled a bit in the past, Pikmin 4 has made quite a splash since its launch, managing to reach the top of the Japan sales charts.

[caption id="attachment_394079" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

Pikmin 4 has a successful launch

As revealed by Gemastu, Pikmin 4 has sold 401,853 physical copies in its first week. This strong opening surpasses the first-week sales of all three prior games combined. Nintendo has been doing a great job of keeping players Pikmin-crazy all year, as the Pikmin 1+2 bundle was made available on the Switch in June.

With Pikmin 4 at the number one spot, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom slides to second place on the Japan sales charts after several weeks at the top. Despite this, Link’s latest adventure still manages to sell exceedingly well, with 15,616 physical copies sold in Japan between July 17 and 23. This brings up the lifetime physical sales in Japan to 1,775,035.

For context, you can find the complete list below. Lifetime sales in brackets if applicable:

1: Pikmin 4 (Switch) – 401,853
2: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch) – 15,616 (1,775,035)
3. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch) - 10,749 (5,385,022)
4. Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening (Switch) - 10,633
5. Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening (PS4) - 10,434
6. Minecraft (Switch) - 7,512 (3,200,000)
7. Splatoon 3 (Switch) - 6,337 (4,066,350)
8. Nintendo Switch Sports (Switch) - 5,784 (1,131,645)
9. Final Fantasy 16 (PS5) - 4,904 (401,376)
10. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Switch) - 4,844 (5,239,500)

As usual, the Nintendo Switch dominates the sales charts. Though some are eager for a successor to the handheld, the charts illustrate that players are still getting plenty of life out of it.

The post Pikmin 4 tops Japan sales charts, dethroning Tears of the Kingdom appeared first on Destructoid.

The time has come once again for another fabled third party Switch exclusive to hit the eShop, and this time, we're getting Disney Ilusion Island. We actually have a full review up for it, so if you're interested, check it out! It's a particularly interesting game in that it offers up four player co-op with difficulty sliders for individual players. In other words, it's made for the whole family.

Other bigger releases include Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons (which we also have a review for!), as well as Venba (which is described as a "wholesome narrative cooking game set in the 1980s," which is going to ignite a lot of interest).

Nintendo Download: Disney Illusion Island Edition

• 100 Doors Games: School Escape
• 3 minutes Mystery
• A Short Tale
• AKIBA’S TRIP: Undead & Undressed Director’s Cut
• ALIEN WAR 2 DOGFIGHT
• Animal Farm Parking
• Anime Clock
• Arcade Archives KING & BALLOON
• Barony 
• Calm Waters
• Classic Pool and Cyber Pool Bundle
• Demonic Supremacy 
• Don’t Lie Pack 1
• Don’t Lie Pack 2
• Ducky’s Delivery Service
• Eden’s Last Sunrise
• Ferris Mueller’s Day Off –
• HYPER METEOR
• Hypertension
• Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara
• Last Mage Survivors 
• Luna & Monsters Tower Defense -The deprived magical kingdom-
• Mega Ramp Moto – Dirt Bike Stunts Simulator 
• Mirrored Souls
• New York Mysteries: Power of Art
• Operate Now: Hospital
• Patrick’s Parabox
• Pixel Game Maker Series Angel’s Gear
• PixelJunk Scrappers Deluxe
• Police Cop Hot Pursuit – Car Racing Driving Simulator Real
• PSYCHIC 5: ETERNAL
• Punch Club 2: Fast Forward
• Raccoon Adventure: Animal City Simulator 3D Farm Super Deluxe 
• Radiant Tale
• Sword & Fairy Inn 2
• The Forgotten Room 
• The Master’s Pupil
• The Red Exile – Survival Horror 
• This Way Madness Lies
• Venice 2089
• Veritas 
• Watch
• Witch’s Pranks – Frog’s Fortune
• Working Hard Collection 
• World of Machines – Tanks War Operation
• YEAH! YOU WANT “THOSE GAMES,” RIGHT? SO HERE YOU GO! NOW, LET’S SEE YOU CLEAR THEM!
• YGGDRA UNION ~WE’LL NEVER FIGHT ALONE~
• Zombie Hunter: D-Day
• Zoo Park Story

If you missed last week’s edition, here it is. For those who are interested, sales are going on for all platforms.

The post Nintendo Download: Disney Illusion Island appeared first on Destructoid.

My love of the Style Savvy series from Nintendo and Syn Sophia is well-documented on this site, so I'm going to skip right over my normal lede on these stories and get to what we need to know. Fashion Dreamer, the style influencer game from Syn Sophia and Xseed Games, finally has a release date. And it's the same day as WarioWare: Move It! 

I've been following this game since it was first announced, and as excited as I've been, I've also been somewhat confused about how becoming a fashion influencer would work as a video game. I have to imagine I'm not the only one, which is why it's good Xseed and Nintendo released an 8-minute voice-less trailer for it that details everything players will do to rise to the top of the digital fashion world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI6P9j4ouRw

Solving the fashion problems of the game's various Muses sounds right up my alley. However, I hope Syn Sophia isn't banking on the online mode to carry this game. I don't want to jinx it, but I don't know if this is the type of game that'll foster a vibrant online community. I hope I'm wrong because I have some jumper designs I'd like to share with the world.

Will this work as well as the Style Savvy series did? I highly doubt it. There is no way being a fake fashion influencer is as immediately satisfying as running a boutique that literally can't fail. Still, I'm more than ready to give this game a go. I love fashion, and after I see Barbie tonight, I'm probably going to start wanting to play with dolls as well. Fashion Dreamer is pretty much both of those activities combined, so you can be sure it'll be on my Switch when it releases in North America on November 3, 2023.

The post Fashion Dreamer sashays its way to Switch this November appeared first on Destructoid.

Nintendo live service games often launch without a bevy of features, especially when it comes to the competitive scene. But it looks like they're going to rectify that mistake post-launch for Splatoon 3, if this new announcement pans out.

Buried at the bottom of this Splatoon 3 feature page (spotted by Twitter user OatmealDome) is a new listing for a "Tournament Manager," which is essentially a private tournament facilitator. Currently "in development," the manager would serve as a link between Splatoon 3 itself and the SplatNet 3 app, which will allow tournament organizers (TOs) to create and control their own tournaments, which includes bracket creation (!), and the automatic creation of lobbies, as well as automatic reporting (cutting down on a lot of the administrative work running tournaments).

This is a fairly big deal for the Splatoon 3 community, as it allows anyone to run local tournaments with ease, and instantly create communities without having to manually do all of the legwork involved in the competitive scene. Currently, there is no timeline for the project's completion, but Nintendo will "release more details" when they arise. All of this info is coming in as a result of a new patch drop, so things are looking up for Splatoon 3.

You can find all of the info at this link. Again, you'll need to scroll all the way to the very bottom. Like, the very, very bottom!

Splatoon 3 Tournament Manager info

We’re developing a service called Splatoon 3 Tournament Manager to help support the creation of private tournaments using the Private Battle feature in the Splatoon 3 game!

The service will link both the Splatoon 3 game and the SplatNet 3 service together to help players create and manage tournaments on demand.

The following features are currently planned (subject to change):

• Tournament-bracket creation and round-progression support.
• Automatic generation of Private Battle rooms used for tournament play.
• Automatic reporting of match results.

We’ll release more details when development is complete.

The post Nintendo is working on a game-changing tournament system for Splatoon 3 appeared first on Destructoid.

Horror game publisher Feardemic has revealed that the 2D psychological horror adventure game Afterdream will also be coming to consoles. Afterdream will be available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S sometime this year.

The spooky title is in development by sole developer Jesse Makkonen. Makkonen is well known for his other 2D scary titles Heal, Distraint, and Distraint 2. Afterdream is also coming to PC via Steam, through publisher Gamera Games.

To celebrate the news, Feardemic also released a creepy console reveal trailer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opqd5ri1_cM

Explore lucid dreams with a spooky camera

Visually, Afterdream looks great, with eerily creepy 2D stylized pixel art. Players use a special camera to navigate a ghastly mansion that blurs the line between reality and lucid dreaming. The camera will allow you to interact with hidden objects only visible through the lens of the camera.

I love the atmosphere of Afterdream.  It's hard to pull off a scary game using pixel art, but Makkonen definitely knows what he's doing. Also, with it being somewhat of a side-scroller, Afterdream seems honestly perfect for consoles. I'm curious to see where the story can go with this one, because I know his former games left quite an impact.

Afterdream will release sometime in 2023 on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

The post Psychological horror game Afterdream is coming to consoles appeared first on Destructoid.

NetherRealm's Mortal Kombat franchise will be receiving a reboot with the upcoming title, Mortal Kombat 1. It is set to hit shelves on September 19 on PC and current-gen consoles, and in the lead-up, some of the characters and gameplay have been revealed.

The roster will feature plenty of classic characters such as Liu Kang and Johnny Cage, as well as cameos from DC heroes, including Omni-Man who will be voiced by J.K. Simmons.

[caption id="attachment_393385" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

Mortal Kombat 1's Kombat Pack

Like other games in the franchise, Mortal Kombat 1 will be receiving post-launch content, and the first DLC pack will add comic book characters such as The Boys' Homelander and DC's Peacemaker, and Omni-Man. This should be good news for Omni-Man fans, as Invincible's second season is set to premiere on November 3. In an interview that took place during this year's San Diego Comic-Con, NetherRealm's Ed Boon revealed that Omni-Man will be voiced by Simmons, who also voices the character in the Amazon Prime animated series Invincible.

It isn't the first time Simmons has lent his voice-acting talents to video games, and he has also voiced Cave Johnson in Portal 2, as well as J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man 2: The Video Game and Spider-Man 3: The Video Game, to name a few of his roles.

Other confirmed voice actors include Andrew Bowen who is voicing Johnny Cage, Kari Wahlgreen who voices Kitana, and Sunil Malhotra who is the voice behind Kung Lao.

[caption id="attachment_393384" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

Mortal Kombat 1 is on the way

Plenty of features from past titles in the series will be making a comeback. This includes Quitalities to annoy players who try to spare themselves the shame of a Fatality. The Air Kombos from Mortal Kombat: Armageddon will also be making a return, though they have been refined.

Though Mortal Kombat 1 will contain plenty of features from the franchise's past, it will also be introducing new elements. This includes the Kameo Fighters feature, which will allow characters to assist in fights. Confirmed Kameo Fighters include Sonya Blade and Kano.

If you're interested in sprucing up your roster, keep your eyes on the Premium Edition which includes the base game along with the Kombat Pack, 1250 Dragon Krystals (the in-game currency), and early access from September 15. Alternatively, consider the Kollector's Edition which features all the Premium Edition's content as well as a steel book, three exclusive art prints, an inspired Liu Kang in-game character skin, a total of 2700 Dragon Krystals, and a 16.5-inch Liu Kang sculpture designed by COARSE.

The post Mortal Kombat 1’s Omni-Man will be voiced by J.K. Simmons appeared first on Destructoid.

Mastering the art of Dandori

When you’re not out collecting treasures and finding new Pikmin, you can participate in Dandori Battles which have you racing against an opponent to gather the most items. You can play them solo or with a friend. The battles are more challenging than they may initially seem, and it’ll take a fair deal of strategizing to come out on top.

If you want to up your game, learn these tips for winning Dandori Battles in Pikmin 4.

[caption id="attachment_393179" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

Don’t spread yourself too thin

At first, Dandori Battles can be overwhelming. There are several items to collect, a timer is running, and you also need to worry about hostile creatures. Things get a little easier if you have a good idea of what plates you need to keep spinning. These are the tasks that you need to complete with your Pikmin:

• Carrying items - to win Dandori Battles, you need to score the most points by collecting items and bringing them back to your base
• Defense - you need the Pikmin and Oatchi to take on any creatures that cross your path
• Overcoming obstacles - sometimes obstacles will stand in your path. Use your Pikmin to get around them.

Ensure you have enough Pikmin to delegate to each of these tasks. It may be tempting to have all your Pikmin carrying items, but you’ll soon find that it leaves you very vulnerable.

[caption id="attachment_393180" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

Take advantage of Oatchi

You have the adorable pup Oatchi to help you out. You can use the dog as a mount, allowing you and your Pikmin to travel faster and jump over obstacles. Oatchi can also charge at enemies, which can be devastating to them. When you’re low on Pikmin, the pup can also carry items.

Cleverly using Oatchi’s abilities will allow you to increase your efficiency. Be careful when taking on enemies with the dog, as it can only handle so much abuse before its health fully depletes and it has to recover before it can be used again. Upgrade Oatchi as much as possible by speaking to Shepherd and spending your accumulated Pup Drive.

[caption id="attachment_393178" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

Attack your opponent

You and your opponent share a battlefield, allowing you to sabotage their efforts. This can be done by throwing your Pikmin their way and stealing items they are carrying, or by dropping off Sneak Bombs at their base. Your opponents can also interfere with you, so be prepared to defend yourself against hostile attacks.

[caption id="attachment_393181" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid.[/caption]

Go big or go home

Although playing things safe and collecting items closest to your base is a solid strategy, sometimes it pays to be daring and go for the bigger treasures. These will net you more points though you’ll need lots of Pikmin to carry them, and you’ll have to beware of enemies and your opponent that could both sabotage you on the way.

In addition to Dandori Battles, there are also Dandori Challenges to complete. You’ll have to accumulate a certain number of points in a given time to win these challenges. Of course, this means plenty of treasure collecting and monster hunting.

The post Tips for winning Dandori Battles in Pikmin 4 appeared first on Destructoid.

Get them through July 27

My Nintendo is cycling through icons yet again, and this time, it's Pikmin 4's time to shine. Well, the whole Pikmin series really, because while Oatchi (the adorable dog and mascot of the game) and a few Pikmin 4-exclusive art pieces are on full display, several also represent Pikmin in a general sense dating all the way back to the start of the franchise many moons ago.

Here's a look at what you can pick up!

[gallery link="file" columns="2" size="large" ids="392934,392935"]

Full list of all My Nintendo Pikmin icons

• Ice Pikmin (Pose 1)
• Ice Pikmin (Pose 2)
• Yellow Pikmin (Carrying a cherry)
• Blue Pikmin (On dice)
• Red Pikmin (Carrying a button)
• Oatchi (Pose 1)
• Oatchi (Pose 2)
• Winged Pikmin
• Rock Pikmin
• Purple Pikmin/White Pikmin

There are also five backgrounds and five frames to choose from.

More Pikmin icons are on the way

Note that this is just the first wave. Wave 2 is coming on July 27, and will run through August 3. Wave 3 will begin on that same day, and ends on August 10. Teases for that wave include Glow Pikmin, a Bulborb, and stylized Pikmin pictures.

I have a feeling Oatchi is going to be pretty popular! I wish Nintendo released data on which icons were the most purchased.

The post My Nintendo just added Pikmin 4 Switch icons, and more are on the way appeared first on Destructoid.

A hot season starting to cool down

This year's summer has been chock-a-block with incredible games from Final Fantasy XVI to Street Fighter 6, but things are starting to cool down with the August 2023 games lineup. There are still some great games like Sea of Stars and Baldur's Gate 3 on the horizon. However, we can take a bit of a breather as most of these anticipated titles are fairly niche. Here's everything you can expect from the August 2023 games release schedule.

[caption id="attachment_392530" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via From Software and Bandai Namco[/caption]

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Publisher: From Software and Bandai Namco
Developer: From Software
Price: $59.99
Release Date: August 25
Trailer
Our Preview

The legendary studio behind Dark Souls and Elden Ring (From Software) is bringing back a mech favorite with Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon.  The Steam page claims it's bringing the developer's "signature action gameplay" into the mix with "fast-paced, omni-directional battles." Each fight will be set in "massive stages," and now with better graphical fidelity, the action will look even more intense and stunning. While there isn't any Souls-like combat from this sequel, you can deeply customize your mech just how you'd like it.

Your judgment will impact your mech's movement and even its battle style. The Steam page claims that "each mission can be approached with a unique mech strategy." Something you'd expect from From Software is boss battles; this game comes with them in spades. Hopefully, this game lives up to the extremely high expectations of the developer's huge fanbase after its 2022 magnum opus Elden Ring. From the pedigree alone, this is one of the most anticipated August 2023 games.

[caption id="attachment_392533" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Larian Studios[/caption]

Baldur's Gate 3 (PC)

Publisher: Larian Studios
Developer: Larian Studios
Price: $59.99
Release Date: August 3 (PC) and September 6 (PS5)
Trailer

RPG fans, rejoice! Baldur's Gate 3 is finally leaving early access on August 3. There is deep customization in the game, allowing you to pick from 12 classes (with 46 subclasses) and 11 races (including 31 subraces) for your hero/heroine. Larian Studios also claims your decisions will leave an impact on the storyline. "Every choice you make drives your story forward, each decision leaving your mark on the world," says Larian on the game's Steam page. "Define your legacy, nurture relationships and create enemies, and solve problems your way."

We'll see how grandiose the story is when the game fully releases, but it certainly sounds promising. As the game is set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, it will be based on the 5e ruleset. You'll be rolling the dice for your actions during combat and can interact with the environment in unique ways. Oh, and you can have romantic relations with a bear...if that's your thing.

[caption id="attachment_392534" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via EA[/caption]

Immortals of Aveum (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Publisher: EA
Developer: Ascendent Studios
Price: $59.99
Release Date: August 21
Trailer

If you're tired of guns and want a bit of a change-up, there's Immortals of Aveum with magic instead of ammo. You'll be blasting away all sorts of foes with 25 different spells at your disposal. There are also 80 talents to learn in this FPS single player campaign. As one of the battle mages, you're tasked to save the world from villains who plan to send it to the abyss.

The game looks exciting with plenty of intriguing enemies to fight and a sense of verticality within its level design. The graphics look pristine as well with gorgeous visual effects and grand environments.  It's one of the more intriguing August 2023 games on this list.

[caption id="attachment_392536" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via EA[/caption]

Madden NFL 24 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Publisher: EA
Developer: EA Sports
Price: $69.99
Release Date: August 17
Trailer

EA has a busy month in store because Madden NFL 24 is also dropping in August. Instead of slinging spells, you'll be throwing footballs and handling them better with an improved version of FieldSENSE. EA claims on the game's Steam page that it's "giving you greater control and delivering realism to all the ways you play." Additionally, there's a new feature called the SAPIEN technology. Apparently, it adds more realism to the body definition and variation of the athletes' physiques. EA claims this results in "realistic player movement."

EA also says that your teammates' ratings and situational awareness have improved since the last game with better AI. Thankfully, Madden NFL 24 will include crossplay, allowing you to play with your friends on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. While this is not my particular cup of tea (soccer should be called football, damn it), this year's Madden seems to be a big step up. It might be worth waiting for it to come to Xbox Game Pass, however, like Madden NFL 23.

[caption id="attachment_392538" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Sabotage Studio[/caption]

Sea of Stars (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC)

Publisher: Sabotage Studio
Developer: Sabotage Studio
Price: $34.99
Release Date: August 29
Trailer

Sea of Stars is the standout indie out of the August 2023 games list. Sporting wonderful 16-bit inspired graphics, Sea of Stars will wrap you up in some good ol' JRPG goodness. It's seemingly inspired by classics like Chrono Trigger and Super Mario RPG. There's a turn-based combat system that relies on timed button presses. If you time them correctly, your damage will increase. As the game proceeds, each combo will progress in difficulty.

The animations are absolutely gorgeous within the art style, adding even more of a nostalgic rush to the game. The game does feel modernized, however, with no random encounters and no grinding to speak of. Go at your own pace and stop The Fleshmancer performing their evil doings. To keep you entertained, there are other activities in Sea of Stars, such as fishing, cooking, and a tabletop game called Wheels.

[caption id="attachment_392540" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Fireplace Games[/caption]

Honorable Mentions

• Thronefall (PC) - August 2
• Flutter Away (PC, Switch) - August 3
• Atlas Fallen (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - August 10
• Moving Out 2 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC)  - August 15
• En Garde! (PC) - August 16
• Marble It Up! Ultra (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) - August 17
• Bomb Rush Cyberfunk (PC, Switch) - August 18
• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
• Ride 5 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - August 24
• Goodbye Volcano High (PS4, PS5, PC) - August 29
• Samba de Amigo: Party Central (Switch) - August 29
• Under the Waves (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - August 29
• The Shape of Things (Switch) - August 31

The post Most anticipated game releases – August 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.