Growing up, musicals were a huge part of my life, from performing Charlie & the Chocolate Factory as an elementary student to co-writing a rendition of Romeo & Juliet as a modern-style musical for the local area. As a huge musical theatre fan, the idea of a musical game in Stray Gods is an exciting idea.

Add on the fact that David Gaider, one of the lead writers for two of my favorite games in Star Wars: Knights of the Republic and Dragon Age: Origins, is working on the project as part of his co-founded rookie indie studio Summerfall Studios, and it's promising.

Stray Gods' cinematic indie visual novel-style is unique, complementing gorgeous 2D character designs with solid voice acting, and a sometimes skippable but still noteworthy soundtrack. The result is an incredibly unique adventure game where your choices matter, the storytelling clicks, and the colorful characters carry the game, even if the musical element is a letdown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coQQ-K8Iwi8

Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical (PC [reviewed], Switch, PS4/PS5, Xbox)
Developer: Summerfall Studios
Publisher: Humble Games
Released: August 10, 2023
MSRP: $29.99

Stray Gods moves at a brisk pace during its opening moments, quickly introducing the protagonist of Grace, played brilliantly by the wonderful Laura Bailey. These opening scenes are arguably a bit too fast, introducing several characters and then showing Grace as the prime suspect in the murder of a modern-day Olympic god.

The crux of this story centers around Grace trying to solve a murder mystery, to save herself from being convicted by gods like Athena and Persephone before it’s too late.

It just so happens, though, that Grace now has the power of a muse and can basically turn any scene into a musical. And that is exactly what this story does over the course of the seven days Grace has to clear her name.

[caption id="attachment_395492" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Break a leg

To get it out of the way, while I was excited at playing my first musical video game, the songs and performances don’t offer much to write home about.

To Stray Gods’ credit, there are a lot of songs. Unfortunately, this also means there’s a lot of filler and throwaway songs, especially at the beginning. You can’t skip forward, either, unlike the dialogue, which made the awkward transitions, lack of intriguing music, and often arrhythmic lines all the more noticeable.

A huge part of this comes from the intriguing idea of letting you control the songs. Much like interacting with the characters, you can make choices during musical moments. You could opt to go for the “cool” line in a scene, or be a bit more heartfelt.

Another time, you might choose between a solo or doing a group number. This flexible nature could be the cause of some of the inconsistency in the soundtrack, as the best musical numbers came later in the story when the they were fewer and farther between.

That isn’t to say that the soundtrack is awful, as there are a couple of standout numbers. Two that come to mind are basically any time that Khary Payton’s Pan sings, and a memorable duel between Grace and Persephone that is almost the sole example of the choice-driven songs working out rather well.

[caption id="attachment_395491" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

An ovation-worthy cast

But the musical elements are only a portion of the gameplay in Stray Gods. The rest of the game focuses on the core mystery and the mythical characters you meet along the way. This is where you can truly see Gaider’s work, as these are the best characters I’ve seen in a long time.

The player has the option to romance one of four people, each of which is outstanding in their own right. Freddie is the classic casual best friend who has a sweet relationship with Grace. Alternatively, you could opt for Troy Baker’s troubled and depressing Apollo.

Each of these fascinating characters grew on me over time, giving some solid romance options worthy of competing with some of Gaider’s past works. Even outside of the romance partners, the other characters you meet have terrific and detailed writing.

Everyone has their secrets you uncover slowly over time, and it is hard to know who’s telling you the truth or what their agenda is. At its core, this is a character-driven tale, and it constantly gives its cast memorable moments to work with.

[caption id="attachment_395490" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Choices that matter

This is helped by the frequent choices you get to make in the dialogue. They seem to matter just enough, such as picking who to side with in arguments or what order to investigate leads in. There are even characters who live and die in surprising ways, depending on the choices you make.

Stray Gods has enough material to garner at least one replay, to see how things could have gone differently. There are even some emotional sequences worth experiencing again, including basically everything surrounding Aphrodite’s disturbing, unforgettable storyline.

The core mystery isn’t a throwaway, either, with layers of twists and conflicting agendas. While it was a bit predictable in some areas, there was enough to keep me engaged from start to finish.

[caption id="attachment_395489" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

There is nothing like Stray Gods at all. The daunting task of creating an entire interactive musical is an admirable one. Even if the songs were mostly a miss for me, I’d like to see it tried again.

After all, you’ll find some of the most engaging characters around since Gaider’s previous stint at BioWare, and a worthwhile story in this sleeper hit. I know I have my eyes on Summerfall Studios moving forward.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical appeared first on Destructoid.

Don’t get it confused with the other Warzone

It looks like Activision is done with its attempt at making Call of Duty Warzone 2.0 the official "sequel" to the beloved 2020 battle royale title. Instead, this project is seemingly dropping its sequel status in favor of a simplified and streamlined title that is quite familiar.

https://twitter.com/CallofDuty/status/1666903638483034128?s=20

Activision seemingly changes Warzone 2’s name to just Warzone

With the recent announcement of Season 4 for Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2, Activision revealed a hidden change. Though there hasn’t been a public comment yet, all of the official material surprisingly references the flagship Call of Duty battle royale game as just “Warzone.”

This accompanies a new franchise logo, which replaces the classic one that has been present through the last few games, including Modern Warfare 2019, Black Ops Cold War, and Vanguard. This overall marketing and brand change appears to be a sudden and quiet refresh.

While the logo isn’t too huge of a change, what is surprising is Warzone’s sudden renaming. Everything from the recent official screenshots to even tweets from Activision itself feature Warzone without the typical “2.0” nomenclature. This contrasts directly with how Activision tweeted about the battle royale game even a few weeks ago. In the past with Season 3, for instance, the publisher referred to the game with the hashtag #Warzone2.

However, this is different from the recent Season 4 tweets. The new hashtag is simply #Warzone without the 2. But the situation isn’t super clear, either. Platforms like the PlayStation Store still refer to the game as Warzone 2.0, so it is confusing overall.

We’ve reached out to Activision for official comment on the matter and will be sure to update you once we have a definitive answer.

This conflicts with the already existing Warzone

Perhaps the oddest part about this situation is that Warzone kinda already exists. When Warzone 2 was released in 2022, the original CoD battle royale game didn’t go away. Instead, it was rebranded to Warzone Caldera under Modern Warfare 2019 and has been around ever since.

This essentially means that players could now have two Warzone games that they are able to play. Whether or not this could indicate that the Caldera map and the actual original Warzone are on their way out in the near future remains to be seen.

For now, though, nothing else is different for Warzone 2 players, outside of the possible renaming. The content remains the same as before, with even more new additions coming with Season 4. Players can look forward to a new battle royale map in the form of Vondel, based seemingly on Amsterdam.

[caption id="attachment_378768" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Activision[/caption]

Update: Activision responds

Activision has provided a comment to Destructoid regarding the name change, but it's extremely brief:

"Yes. Going forward it’s just Warzone."

Still, it's confirmation!

The post Warzone 2 rumors suggest a permanent rename to just “Warzone” (Update) appeared first on Destructoid.

The War for Cybertron comes to Fortnite

A new era is arriving for Fortnite, and this one is going to be a little bit wild. Fortnite Wilds is the name of the new season for Chapter 4 Season 3, introducing players to various map changes and content. The best part is that its release is impending across all platforms.

Fortnite Wilds Chapter 4 Season 3 release date, revealed

As announced during Geoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest livestream, Fortnite Wilds drops on Friday, June 9, 2023 worldwide. If the season follows the more recent trends of Chapter 4 seasons, it should last for about three months before giving away to a brand new one.

Wilds has quite a lot in common thematically and visually with a Chapter 2 season, Primal. During that season, players had a more feral and primitive island to check out, which had taken over wildlife. Fortnite Wilds has a similar theme, if the new reveal trailer is anything to go by.

What’s new to Fortnite Wilds Season 3

https://youtu.be/P2JnTforl_4

From this preview, there is a fair bit of information that we can glean about the upcoming Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 3. Wilds will apparently feature some massive changes to the island, including what appears to be a large crater somewhere on the map.

This crater looks fairly massive, with various ruins, temples, and other structures throughout it. This return to a more untamed island also means the long-awaited return of the velociraptors from Chapter 2. The trailer shows a squad of players riding them, so it seems that players will be able to tame these creatures and use them as pets once again.

It’s uncertain if there will be other animals added to battle royale, besides the raptors, but there are a host of new characters who will be debuting on the island. The most surprising of these is the latest crossover character in the form of Optimus Prime from the Transformers universe.

With the summer blockbuster film, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Optimus Prime and potentially other characters are coming to Fortnite Wilds. For now, the leader of the Autobots is the only confirmed character from the franchise, but there is always the chance that someone else, such as Megatron, could make an appearance.

There is also a glimpse of Fishstick firing Optimus Prime’s cannon in the trailer, which could indicate that a new limited-time weapon could be arriving this season. Regardless, Epic Games already teased some of the characters for the new Fortnite Wilds Battle Pass. It looks like Meowscles is getting a new tiger version, alongside an Ultron-like robot character, and more.

Thankfully, players don’t have to wait too long to see this new season, as it arrives on Friday, June 9, 2023.

The post Fortnite Wilds Season 3 release date & information, revealed appeared first on Destructoid.

It’s in the title, after all

The Legend of Zelda seems like one of the most puzzling names for a video game series, if only for the fact you never play as Zelda in any of the mainline games. Instead, you play as Link, leaving the titular character for the franchise in more of a supporting role and even the frustrating damsel in distress at times.

Despite so much of the series revolving around Princess Zelda of Hyrule, she’s never had her chance to shine as the hero in the way Link has. Sure, you can play as her right now in spin-off games like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and the Super Smash Bros. series, but those don’t carry the weight of a core title.

After all, every mainline installment of The Legend of Zelda, from the original on the NES to 2017's Breath of the Wild, has featured only Link as the playable hero. (Now, this could theoretically change in Tears of the Kingdom, but that isn’t guaranteed.)

As such, I feel like it is finally time for Nintendo to take the plunge and give Zelda her much-deserved time as a playable protagonist. This would considerably change the course of the series and offer a brilliant new perspective, one that is far more intriguing than the princess in need of a hero to save her.

Zelda could offer a unique perspective for the series

Playing as Zelda would offer a new, necessary perspective for The Legend of Zelda series. Nintendo hasn't given Link a voice, for instance. Zelda, on the other hand, has had strong voice performances that carries many mainline games, including the masterful BOTW and Skyward Sword.

With Zelda as a playable character, she could be a fantastic counter to Link. I’m not saying she has to replace him entirely, but that they could be dual protagonists together. Link could offer the usual open exploration, puzzles, and gameplay; nothing has to change there.

On the other hand, Zelda has the opportunity for a more scripted and story-driven perspective. This could enhance the story and gameplay alike, providing a game that is far unique compared to past titles.

The Legend of Zelda series is always reinventing itself and trying out new ideas, and this is one that should have happened a long time ago.

This opens up numerous gameplay opportunities

Age of Calamity showed what type of gameplay Zelda could have. With full command of many of the Sheikah Slate powers, she was one of the most exhilarating and unique playable characters there. Her inclusion in a mainline game as a playable hero could do the same.

Link could have the usual Master Sword, bow and arrow, bombs, etc. But Zelda could offer fresh gameplay, such as full command of magical powers via the Triforce or the like. Perhaps this could result in a more ranged approach where she blasts foes, freezes them, and renders their abilities useless from afar.

She could even work in tandem with Link in battles as a duo. Maybe players could have the opportunity to switch characters at will, choosing how to engage with each combat situation. The same could even happen for puzzles where, perhaps, Zelda and Link each have their own powers that have to be juggled together to progress through Shrines and dungeons.

If that isn’t enough, this could even allow for the first mainline game in the series to offer co-op. Letting one player (either online or offline) to control Zelda while the other controls Link would allow for exciting gameplay opportunities never seen before.

The narrative could break its generally stale cycle

https://youtu.be/uHGShqcAHlQ

Giving Zelda the lead role she deserves helps the narrative, too. Even in the exciting Tears of the Kingdom, its final launch trailer hints at the usual premise of Link going on an adventure to save Hyrule, and likely Princess Zelda, from a familiar evil threat.

While this usual formula worked quite well thus far, the story should match the recent gameplay leaps. Zelda could bring a missing anchor to the story, providing a voice for the player and acting as the direct response to characters in cutscenes.

In addition, Link would have a shoulder to lean on, allowing for more character development than ever before for both characters. Finally, this change opens the doorway for a new type of progression and story.

Instead of facing an imminent villain or threat like Ganon or Ghirahim, we could see a story about Zelda rebuilding Hyrule and leading it after the chaos is over.

Protagonist swaps worked for other Nintendo series

It’s almost strange that The Legend of Zelda franchise hasn’t featured Zelda as a playable main character in the past. After all, several other Nintendo properties tried switching protagonists and it worked beautifully. Take, for instance, the Xenoblade Chronicles franchise.

While fans adore Shulk and the gang from the original game, Monolith Software would have missed out on so much if they didn’t opt for new heroes in Xenoblade Chronicles 2.

I also think of other mega-series like Super Mario Bros. and Donkey Kong, both of which have freely allowed characters like Luigi, Wario, Diddy Kong, and more to take the reins.

There are honestly few Nintendo franchises that haven’t experimented with new protagonists. And the ones that have generally find great success, sometimes leading to entirely new sub-series in the case of Luigi in Luigi’s Mansion and Yoshi in Yoshi’s Island. It’s time for The Legend of Zelda franchise to do the same with the princess of Hyrule.

The post Is it time for Zelda to be playable in a mainline Zelda game? appeared first on Destructoid.

Here's how to progress fast in Honkai Star Rail

Honkai Star Rail has arrived on mobile and PC, letting players board the Astral Express and explore the cosmos. You don’t need to know anything about the previous game in the series, Honkai Impact 3rd, to play this gacha RPG. However, there are some things you should know about before playing.

For example, you might find yourself overwhelmed with all the systems Honkai Star Rail introduces to you. Even if you are a veteran of MiHoYo's Genshin Impact, there are a few aspects of Honkai Star Rail that initially look confusing, not least of which is the combat. Here are eight key beginner tips to get you started in Honkai Star Rail.

[caption id="attachment_375642" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Always check the weaknesses above enemies

Combat is the most important part of Honkai Star Rail. Unlike Genshin Impact, this game uses a turn-based battle system. You take turns, choose moves for each character in your party, and then your opponents do the same.

Hitting weaknesses is vital in this combat system. Every enemy has at least one weakness listed above its health bar. These are indicated by their elemental symbols, such as Physical, Fire, or Imaginary. If your character selects an attack with an element that matches a weakness, its corresponding symbol will flash above the enemy.

Hitting an enemy won't inflict additional damage, but it will deplete the white bar visible above the red health bar. After this white bar is completely drained, the enemy will become broken. Once broken, enemies will take bonus damage from incoming attacks. Furthermore, they'll suffer an additional effect depending on the element used to break them. For this reason, you'll want to memorize the unique properties of every element.

While exploring, use a diverse party so you can account for most weaknesses. Later on, if you know a tough enemy carries certain weaknesses, you can customize your team to counter them specifically.

[caption id="attachment_375643" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Don’t waste your Skill Points or Ultimates

Every character has three abilities to use in battle: Basic Attacks, Skills, and Ultimates.

Basic Attacks are free, and these typically deal average damage corresponding with the attacking character's elemental affinity. Meanwhile, Skills boast more power and have unique attributes, but they consume Skill Points that are shared by your entire party. You get Skill Points back via basic attacks, so characters with more situational abilities should simply use Basic Attacks and let their teammates spam their skills instead.

Either way, you'll want to plan the best times to use Skills strategically. I like to save Skills for when I want to break an enemy or need an area-of-effect (AoE) attack. Additionally, I unleash all of my Skills once an enemy is broken.

Ultimates work a bit differently. Ultimates can immediately be used once a character's Energy is full, even during an enemy's turn. I find they are quite generous, since characters accrue Energy when they take and receive damage. For most encounters, use these as soon as you get them, with or without a break.

[caption id="attachment_375644" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Explore the map for chests and secrets

Honkai Star Rail isn’t exactly an open-world experience like Genshin Impact. That said, some of the maps get quite large as and contain plenty of secrets and treasure chests.

Break apart any containers you see for quick credits and materials. Additionally, you'll find documents and computers you can interact with that reveal more about the lore and characters you meet. Collecting readable items can unlock achievements, which award Stellar Jade. Stellar Jade is a rare currency that free-to-play players will rely on to summon more characters.

But the most important part of exploration are chests. Each one you open up gives you some Trailblazer experience, which is otherwise a finite resource. In addition, they can give you more Stellar Jade.

[caption id="attachment_375707" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Techniques are your best friend

Every character has a Technique usable outside of battle, and these are easy to overlook. For instance, the main character knows "Immortal Third Strike," which heals your party when used.

Other characters might have Techniques that freeze enemies in place to give you a chance to score a preemptive strike. Unfortunately, you initially can only use Techniques three times before you need to recharge. I generally save these for later in a dungeon or when approaching a powerful foe.

If you need to refill Techniques charges, look for containers that glow purple. Break them apart to recharge your Techniques mid-dungeon.

[caption id="attachment_375646" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Don’t forget to level up characters and deck them out

Unlike other console RPGs, battles in Honkai Star Rail aren't your best source of EXP. In fact, if you rely on battles to level up, you'll quickly find yourself underpowered. Instead, you'll want to level using materials you get from quests and other content to gain instant EXP.

Additionally, if you're not fully equipping every party member on your team, you're leaving tons of power on the table. Make sure to equip everyone with Light Cones, Traces, and Eidolons (if you have them). These can make the difference between a victory and a wipe.

[caption id="attachment_375647" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Plan your gacha warps

Warps are this game’s version of gacha character summons. Similar to Genshin Impact, summons are sorted into two categories.

The first of these is the Regular Warp, which consumes Star Rail Passes. This is a permanent banner that draws from the game's standard pool of heroes, so this can be used anytime. The second option includes Event Warps, which grant a higher chance of obtaining a certain Character or Light Cone. These typically feature a unit who is only available for a limited time, and they require Special Star Rail Passes to summon.

You can purchase both Star Rail Passes and Special Star Rail Passes by using Star Jades or the premium Oneiric Shard currency. Additionally, the game will distribute Star Rail Passes or Special Star Rail Passes specifically, such as through preregistration rewards.

For new players, you'll actually want to focus on the Departure Warp. This banner consumes Star Rail Passes like the Regular Warp, except you'll get a 20% discount for every 10-pull. Additionally, you'll receive a guaranteed 5-Star unit within 50 pulls. This will give you a huge power boost for your early game progression.

For best results, throw all Star Rail Passes at the Departure Warp, and save your Stellar Jades for Special Star Rail Passes to use on Event Warps. This approach will fast track you towards a powerful and robust squad, even for free-to-play players.

[caption id="attachment_375648" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Change your FPS and other settings

As soon as you launch Honkai Star Rail, head into the settings and make any necessary changes.

On mobile, for instance, you can change the FPS to 60 FPS, which will make the game run much smoother. Additionally, many PC players will need to adjust the game's resolution to match their monitors. These few tweaks can seriously improve performance.

There are other changes you might want to make, such as mapping controller buttons (PC-only for now), adjusting the graphical settings, or changing the language for voiceovers.

[caption id="attachment_375649" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Redeem those codes

Lastly, never forget about the Honkai Star Rail codes.

Even at launch, there are many codes available to reward you with valuable resources. To redeem these codes, open up the main menu in-game and then select the three little dots next to your character to find the “redeem code” option.

The post Honkai: Star Rail beginner tips to get you situated aboard the Astral Express appeared first on Destructoid.

Server and progression issues are to blame

[Update: A new tweet from the official XDefiant Twitter account suggests that the beta will be closing as planned on April 23 at 23:00 PT and April 24 at 02:00 ET.]

XDefiant is in the middle of its first closed beta test, but there's trouble in paradise for the potential Call of Duty competitor. Ubisoft San Francisco developers recently hinted at a possible extension for the closed beta due to many ongoing problems.

[caption id="attachment_373891" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Ubisoft[/caption]

XDefiant closed beta extension, teased

Problems during the XDefiant closed beta test first popped up a few days after it went live on April 13. Notably, players weren’t able to advance past a certain point in the progression system and unlock any items. Additionally, loadouts that should allow players to save their favorite equipment didn't function properly. Ubisoft San Francisco has since pushed updates to address the problems, but patches took days to hit all platforms.

These issues are on top of unsteady servers that continue to hinder players' enjoyment of the game. These range from difficulty finding games online to even connecting to the servers in the first place. Even after a full server configuration replacement, players still struggle to play matches in this online-only game.

Thankfully, it didn’t take long for the game’s executive producer, Mark Rubin, to address the situation on Twitter. Rubin not only noted when the issues would hopefully be fixed, but also teased the possibility of a closed beta extension.

https://twitter.com/PixelsofMark/status/1647380740429205505

Fortunately for Rubin's Team, players have still praised the game despite the problems stemming from the beta.

"I've been absolutely floored by the reception so far even with all of the issues that we've had," Rubin said in a twitter thread on April 17. "We wanted to make this game out of our love for gaming and we can't be successful without you, the players."

[caption id="attachment_363483" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Ubisoft[/caption]

The closed beta is full of technical problems

If these issues continue for the remaining days of the closed beta, an extension could be in the cards. Hopefully, fixes arrive soon so all beta testers can get a feel for how this Call of Duty alternative plays.

The XDefiant closed beta will run until April 23. It is playable on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

The post (Update) Ubisoft considers extending XDefiant beta due to technical issues appeared first on Destructoid.

The Bomb Squad has an unfair advantage

Infinity Ward released a new type of cosmetic bundle in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2.0 store that is stirring up quite the controversy. The new Bomb Squad bundle offers certain DMZ players an advantage through its otherwise innocuous items, and much of the community is unhappy about this.

DMZ Bomb Squad Season 3 bundle, released

The new Bomb Squad cosmetic bundle is far different than anything else Infinity Ward and Activision has done before. This bundle includes five seemingly normal cosmetic items:

• EOD Specialist operator skin
• Boom Proof Sakin MG38 weapon blueprint
• DMZ Active Duty Slot
• Concussive Conclusion weapon sticker
• Which Wire? Emblem

From a glance, this seems like a fairly ordinary bundle like all of the other ones in the store in Season 3. However, a closer look at some of these items reveal some never-before-seen twists that are concerning for the future of DMZ and Call of Duty.

'Pay-to-win' bundles lead to concerns for DMZ’s future

https://youtu.be/7UnZtVaVGB8

For starters, the Active Duty Slot is a unique item that hasn’t been in a bundle before. In DMZ Season 3, players have up to three Active Duty Slots.

These slots are essentially loadouts you can create with weapons and skins for easy access. The most valuable part about them is that each slot keeps track of your exfiltration streak. The higher your streak, the better rewards you get in each match.

Having a slot only available via a bundle gives some players four save slots, which is unfair to everyone else. If you have a chain of 10 exfils on one slot and you die on a mission, losing it forever, it’s not a huge problem for Bomb Squad owners, as you have three other slots with chains for you to switch to.

Both the operator skin and weapon blueprint include specialized perks that work only in DMZ. The EOD Specialist offers players a free medium backpack in every DMZ mission they do, so long as they have that skin equipped.

Backpacks are useful for letting you store more items, and this skin ensures you don’t have to look around for one in each match. And the weapon blueprint has a unique perk where insuring the weapon only has a 15-minute cooldown.

"Insuring" is where you lock a specific weapon so you never lose it, even if you die in a match. However, weapon insurance generally has a cooldown of 1-2 hours before you can use it again. That isn’t the case with the Boom Proof LMG blueprint, where you only have to wait 15 minutes to use this already powerful weapon again.

With the four Active Duty Slots you have, you could go into every match with a backpack and even if you die, you just have to use one of the other slots for 15 minutes and you’re instantly back with the Boom Proof. Every match would give you an advantage over others.

These special DMZ perks are only available in this bundle. There is no way for other players to unlock these perks through challenges or the like, resulting in claims of this being “pay-to-win.”

Since DMZ generally includes other players in each match, you could be up against players who have this bundle and already have a strong advantage against you.

Players are concerned this points to more bundles like it

Other purported leaks show future potential bundles with concerning effects, like a packed-in self-revive kit. This could give players an inherent advantage over those who don't opt to pay for and equip them, creating a "pay-to-win" scenario that has DMZ players concerned.

For now, the only positive about these "pay-to-win" DMZ bundles is that they would only work for this mode. Thankfully, these bundles don’t affect Warzone 2.0 battle royale modes or Modern Warfare 2 matches. Even still, it is unfortunate that Infinity Ward is sparking outrage and potentially tainting DMZ. It’s even more painful since this is one of the best new additions in the latest Call of Duty games.

Related: How to get the Blood Soaked operator skin in DMZ on Dot Esports

The post DMZ’s ‘pay-to-win’ bundles spark outrage among Warzone 2 players appeared first on Destructoid.

From sky diving to shipbuilding and more

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom had its first gameplay demonstration from Nintendo, reintroducing fans to the world of Hyrule with roughly 10 minutes of gameplay. There were many fantastic moments and reveals in this presentation, ranging from each of the new powers to the islands in the sky.

10 best moments from the Tears of the Kingdom gameplay presentation

https://youtu.be/a6qna-ZCbxA

Even within the relatively brief gameplay demonstration for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, there are several standout moments that happen. Here are the 10 best situations and reveals that happened during the recent presentation in no particular order.

1. Recall power

Of the many new powers that Link has in Tears of the Kingdom, Recall has to be one of the most impressive. This power allows the Champion of Hyrule to rewind time on just about any object. This alone opens up countless gameplay possibilities, such as possibly sending a boulder back at enemies.

But, in the presentation, players get a glimpse of Link rewinding time on a rock that fell out of the sky. He effectively uses this as an elevator to go up into the sky and reach the new sky islands in almost no time.

2. Sky islands

Some of the possible concerns in the community about this Breath of the Wild sequel are its overt similarities to the original. Thankfully, there are some new locations to look forward to in the sky islands. Floating well above the region of Hyrule are new sky islands that players can visit.

In true Skyward Sword fashion, these floating islands include new content and enemies for players to encounter. It’s currently unknown how many sky islands exist, but this alone expands Hyrule greatly.

3. Fuse

The second new ability for Link in this game is Fuse. With this power, Link can take virtually any object and fuse them together. In the first instance of this, he's seen fusing together a rock and a branch to create a rudimentary hammer.

This makeshift weapon is more durable than using the branch on its own to fight. But there are other uses shown off for the Fuse power, such as creating eyeball arrows that hone in on enemies and require less skill for aiming.

4. Ultrahand vehicles

Similar to Fuse, Ultrahand is another one of the new abilities Link has. This one takes the Fuse idea and applies it to objects for other purposes besides combat. In the reveal of this power, Link puts three logs together along with some strange ancient fans to make a raft.

He is then able to use that raft to cross a river that might have taken a long time or too much stamina to swim across otherwise. With this power, players have the chance to make their own wacky vehicles for the land, sky, and sea.

5. Ascend

The final ability shown off in this gameplay trailer is Ascend. This ability allows Link to travel through the ceiling of a structure to the floor or platform above him. You can see Link using this power to pass through the ceiling above him to reach the top of a ruined structure. He also uses it inside a cave to pass through to the hillside above. Outside of some undefined restrictions, this will greatly improve Link's ability to get places fast. You can even use it to pass through entire mountains as long as there's a cave.

6. Defeating a Construct

This gameplay demonstration still felt like a teaser of what’s to come, but one of the best parts was one of the few combat sections. Players are shown a new enemy known as a Construct. This foe looks like a rather basic enemy with the same ancient mechanical Guardian aesthetic from BOTW.

The Construct is capable of wielding its own weapon, such as a branch, to fight back against Link. It even drops some new materials like the Zonai Charge and Soldier Construct Horn.

7. Skydiving

Toward the end of the gameplay demonstration, Link is spectacularly knocked off of the sky island. In the process, skydiving is shown off, which looks seamless and impressive. Certainly giving off some Fortnite vibes, players can dive and glide to nearly anywhere in Hyrule, by speeding up their descent.

8. Full view of all of Hyrule

In the midst of the sky diving section, this trailer gives some serious Breath of the Wild opening moments vibes. Just like the classic opener that shows Link looking at the sweeping view of Hyrule, this is an aerial twist as the player does a 360-degree look at the revamped Hyrule in Tears of the Kingdom. You can see mountains, a dragon, and a heavily corrupted location of some sort in the distance.

9. Tears of the Kingdom OLED Switch

At the conclusion of the gameplay demonstration, Nintendo revealed the game is getting its own themed Nintendo Switch console. The Tears of the Kingdom Switch is an OLED version, featuring some of the beautiful symbols and style from the game on the Joy-Con, docking station, and backside of the device.

It arrives before the game on April 28, 2023. In addition, a themed Switch Pro Controller and theme carrying case will also be available on the game’s launch day.

10. Development is finished

One of the biggest surprises to come out of the presentation was an update on Tears of the Kingdom’s development. The game is now officially ready and complete from start to finish. With well over a month to go, the entire game is now ready to reach players’ hands.

It isn’t certain if this includes any possible day-one patch, though. However, this news is exciting since it means Tears of the Kingdom is now ready for players to lose themselves in Hyrule all over again on May 12, 2023.

The post 10 best moments from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom gameplay demonstration appeared first on Destructoid.

Dropping in on a castle

Call of Duty Warzone 2.0 Resurgence mode is here. With its release, the new Warzone 2.0 Ashika Island map is available for players to land on and aim for a victory. This smaller-scale map is filled with several points of interests for players to check out, including a familiar multiplayer map locale.

Warzone 2.0 Ashika Island map, explained

[caption id="attachment_364299" align="aligncenter" width="3840"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The new Warzone 2.0 Ashika Island map is the home for Resurgence in the Call of Duty battle royale sequel. This map is completely unique and separate from the Resurgence maps in the past, like Rebirth Island and the like.

The island is, in fact, roughly a third larger than Rebirth Island, while still offering the same classic Resurgence gameplay. Players can land on Ashika Island and compete in Resurgence, a twist on battle royale where there are unlimited respawns.

Teams compete to see if they can survive long enough for their teammates to come back. They gear up and prepare for the final section of the match when everyone only has one life left to battle it out for the winner of the entire match.

When landing on Ashika Island and exploring it, you’ll find that there are seven main points of interests for you to conquer on your way to victory. Here’s everything you need to know about the map’s named locations.

Oganikku Farms

[caption id="attachment_364076" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Image via Activision[/caption]

This northwestern corner of the island is a quieter area, both for players and its architecture. The location is known for its farms and industrial works. If you are a player who likes to loot a lot without too much competition, this might be the place to visit.

Oganikku Farms is out of the way, though, so there is always the chance you may be far from the next circle.

Residential

[caption id="attachment_364071" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Image via Activision[/caption]

Residential is in the northeastern corner of the island and another of the quieter locations on the map. Here, you’ll find the residential homes of most of the people on Ashika Island. As such, there are a lot of smaller buildings to rummage through.

Residential is decently close enough to the center of the map that it can make for a solid landing spot for those who don’t want a busy start.

Town Center

[caption id="attachment_364084" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Image via Activision[/caption]

Town Center makes up the bulk of the western side of the map. This location, despite its name, is actually quite far from the central area. That said, it is close enough to Tsuki Castle and the other spots like the Beach Club to make it worth checking out.

Town Center features a bayside city location with plenty of buildings, a shipyard, and more to explore for loot. This is a solid starting point.

Tsuki Castle

[caption id="attachment_364073" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Image via Activision[/caption]

Tsuki Castle is the very center of the Ashika Island map. It is based around the original Castle multiplayer map from Call of Duty: World at War and, most recently, Vanguard. If you've played the map on either of those games, you’ll be quite familiar here.

The star of the Ashika Island map is home to a massive ancient Japanese castle with many buildings to explore on the estate grounds. If you are looking for the most fights at the start of a Resurgence match, this is the place to visit as it is the most populated area on the map in nearly every match.

Shipwreck

[caption id="attachment_364070" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Image via Activision[/caption]

Shipwreck is one of the least popular named locations on the island. On the far eastern side of the map, players will find two cargo tankers that have crashed onto the beach. They are ripe with loot but, other than that, there isn’t much reason to go here.

Beach Club

[caption id="attachment_364075" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Image via Activision[/caption]

Beach Club is mostly a resort and tourist area that is found in the southwestern corner of the map. Far removed from everything else, except the Town Center, the Beach Club includes a variety of hotspots like the aquarium, beach, and resort.

Beach Club has plenty of loot that you can find here, but its odd location might make it less than ideal for some players.

Port Ashika

[caption id="attachment_364072" align="aligncenter" width="1920"] Image via Activision[/caption]

Port Ashika is the industrial shipyard home for the commerce industry on the island. The port takes its name from the island itself. As such, you will find plenty of warehouses and large industrial buildings to explore. This makes it fantastic for loot.

However, Port Ashika is one of the less viable locations to head to for fights most of the time. It is in the southeastern corner of the map, so it sees far fewer people than other spots. That said, it is still recommended as a starting spot for its easy access to other locations like Tsuki Castle.

The post Warzone 2.0 Ashika Island map guide appeared first on Destructoid.

Diving deeper into Area Zero

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet might have only come out a few months ago, but some players are already eagerly looking ahead to the future. The possibility of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet DLC is exciting, but the question remains: will it happen or not?

Is Pokemon Scarlet & Violet DLC happening?

To be clear, The Pokemon Company hasn’t yet confirmed if DLC is happening for the Generation 9 games on Nintendo Switch. Even still, there are many hints within the games themselves that seem to point to this possibly being the case.

For instance, as Dot Esports notes, the third legendary Pokemon isn’t even available in the games. However, there is a book that references the third legendary Pokemon and even shows a glimpse of what its design might look like.

This, along with the inaccessible parts of the Paldea region add to this. This includes parts of Area Zero that you can’t visit, including a closed-off elevator that could lead to deeper parts. Plus, there is an entire grayed-out region that matches the look of Area Zero in the northeastern part.

All of these seem to point toward later DLC areas or, at the very least, possibly cut content. Given that Sword & Shield introduced DLC content to the series for the first time with the Isle of Armor and Crown Tundra, it seems possible that this trend could continue.

Rumored release date

As for when players will get their hands on the rumored Pokemon Scarlet & Violet DLC content, this is even further unknown. For reference, Sword & Shield released in November 2019, before releasing its first DLC pack in June 2020.

This was followed up by a second DLC expansion in October 2020. Since the Gen 9 games came out in November 2022, it seems possible that players could see its DLC plans follow a similar formula of one expansion in the summer and another in the fall.

This would be helpful given that it is possible that there won’t be a new mainline Pokemon release in 2023. That said, this only works if the Generation 9 DLC follows the same pattern of releasing two packs. It is entirely possible that there could be less or more expansions.

With that said, here is what the game and rumors have hinted at what the DLC could include.

Further Area Zero expeditions

[caption id="attachment_337879" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Image via The Pokemon Company[/caption]

For starters, it is possible that Scarlet & Violet DLC could take players back to the mysterious Area Zero from the main game. There are still parts of the Paldean crater that haven’t been explored yet. For instance, there is an inaccessible elevator near the entrance.

It is possible that the elevator could take players further down below into Area Zero. Or that players could head back towards the Time Machine in the center of Area Zero. There, it is likely that players could see new Paradox Pokemon in the DLC content. Like the teased Paradox forms of Suicune and Virizion.

Revisiting Kalos

[caption id="attachment_362264" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The other main theory about the rumored Pokemon Scarlet & Violet DLC is that players could revisit the Generation 6 region, Kalos. This could tie into the northeastern area of the map that is sectioned-off and seems to be inaccessible for now.

The real-world inspiration of Paldea, Spain, connects to France, the inspiration behind the Kalos region, in this area. There is a chance that a second DLC pack could see players visit this location and see part of the bordering parts of Paldea and Kalos.

What seems unlikely about this scenario is the ability to visit the entirety of Kalos a la the two regions in the Generation 2 games. Instead, it is more likely that it will solely be that one connecting area in the corner of the open-world map.

That said, this area alone could introduce a part of Kalos that hasn’t been visited before or even shed some light on the story events of those games.

Meeting the third legendary Pokemon

[caption id="attachment_362263" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Another possibility for the Gen 9 DLC is meeting the third legendary Pokemon. It is in the notes for the Scarlet and Violet Book in the school library. Since players can see art of its design, it seems like it is inevitable that this Pokemon will appear at some point.

DLC would be the best chance to integrate the third legendary and allow players to catch it. This would also be a great time to explore the origins of the Time Machine in the base game’s story. This could even show how it came about in the first place.

And perhaps this part of the DLC could shed some light on the real villain behind everything in the process.

Related: Do EXP Candies Increase EVs in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet? – Answered on Prima Games

The post Where will Pokemon Scarlet & Violet go next with DLC? appeared first on Destructoid.

Victory begins with your first loot

Dropping into a match of Call of Duty Warzone 2.0 can be nerve-wracking, for both newcomers and battle royale veterans alike. Whether you were around for the original Warzone or are checking this game out for the first time, there are some Warzone 2.0 pro tips you should know about that will get you well on your way to a victory.

Best Warzone 2.0 pro tips for winning matches

Below, you’ll find eight of the best Warzone 2.0 pro tips you can find for improving your gameplay. Some of these tips might seem obvious while others are more subtle changes that can mean the difference between an early trip to the Gulag and a first-place win.

Choose your landing zone wisely

First and foremost, every victory begins with the first step you take in a Warzone 2.0 match. It is imperative that you pick the right landing spot on the map in every match you do. If you aren’t gunning for the best landing spots in Al Mazrah, you’re already setting yourself up for failure.

For instance, you might end up too far away from the action or surrounded by dozens of players on all sides. Every player is different, with some liking a quieter loot cycle at the beginning while others prefer to go in guns-blazing.

Whatever your preference, try to aim for landing sites with plenty of loot near the middle of the map like Al Mazrah City or Ahkdar Village.

Communication is key

Unless you’re playing solo - which still doesn’t fully discount this tip - constant, quality communication is key to success. This is why it’s best to team up with people you already know and can chat with during the match. This is what pros do and how you garner the most victories.

But the communication needs to be on point. This means making proper call-outs about enemy locations, loot you found, and locations you’re heading to. If the entire team consistently communicates, you’ll already have a huge advantage over the other teams.

Don’t discredit the new feature in Warzone 2.0, though: proximity chat. When in or near a building, you can speak with the enemy players there. While this is mostly for troll purposes and TikTok, you can use this feature to come up with crazy moments like trading loot with other players or a temporary truce.

Don’t pick up everything

Speaking of loot, your first instinct might be to pick up everything you come across. This isn’t the wisest move in matches since your backpack space is limited. You can only hold two weapons in your hands and limited selections of explosives and the like.

If you constantly mash the loot button, you’ll likely make mistakes of switching a great grenade or tactical item with a type you won’t use. Speed is necessary in looting but it must be balanced well with careful consideration, which takes practice.

Save money for the right purchases

Cash, of course, is the one exception to the looting rule. Pick up any money that you see. That said, there is a delicate balance to cash where you might not want to spend it at every buy station you come across. By no means should you hoard money, but you shouldn’t spend it on something potentially unnecessary like a grenade just because you can.

Instead, you should save your money for the right purchases. When I play, I stick to the tried-and-true items of the UAV, loadout drops, heartbeat sensors, redeployments, precision airstrikes, and self-revives.

Create the best loadout for your favorite weapons

When it comes to loadout drops, this item is pointless if you don’t have the right loadout made ahead of time. It’s best to take your time researching and making the best loadout for your weapon class.

It’s also best to first find a weapon you like to use and then create a loadout based on it. After all, some pros might disagree with you based on preferences.

For example, some players may like a certain SMG like the Fennec but you prefer using the Lachmann Sub. Don’t compromise; simply find the best possible Lachmann Sub class in a situation like that.

Always be moving

The best Warzone 2.0 players know that constant flexibility and movement is key to victory. You should never stay in the same place for too long.

Not only does this make you vulnerable to the ever-closing circle but it can give away your position to enemies using UAVs. Stay on the move and you’ll be good to go. This isn’t the battle royale game to camp in.

Let the Gulag motivate you

Even the best Warzone 2.0 players end up in the Gulag at some point. No matter the reason why you got there, don’t lose hope or get discouraged. Realize what mistake you made, learn from it, and use the Gulag as a place to move forward.

The goal here is to win the Gulag match and get back into the match with a renewed sense of purpose. You can also use this second chance to immediately improve and change up your gameplay style. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the vast majority of my wins involved at least one teammate visiting the Gulag. It’s simply what you make of your mistakes.

Tweak your Warzone 2.0 settings

Lastly, your Warzone 2.0 settings can vastly improve your gameplay, depending on what you input regarding the UI, graphics, audio, and mechanics. Here are a few quick settings to change to better your chances of winning:

• Turn off dynamic resolution
• Cap your frame rate limit to match your monitor’s refresh rate (i.e. approximately 144FPS for 144HZ, etc)
• Turn off on-demand texture streaming (only if you experience lag)
• 100 FOV (optional but recommended for most players)
• Affected ADS FOV
• Default weapon FOV
• Turn on soundness equalizer in your computer’s audio settings
• Set horizontal and vertical sensitivity to 6 and 6 (change if necessary)

Related: A new Warzone 2 hack can crash the game’s server with the click of a button on Dot Esports

The post Warzone 2.0 pro tips & strategy guide: How to win matches appeared first on Destructoid.