http://auth.gamespot.com/ Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Sat, 12 Apr 2014 05:08:44 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/pc-space-sim-star-citizen-s-dogfighting-mode-looks-epic-even-in-pre-alpha/1100-6418939/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xyd7AV3_A8" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2F5xyd7AV3_A8%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26feature%3Doembed&wmode=opaque&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D5xyd7AV3_A8&image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2F5xyd7AV3_A8%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">During a PAX East panel yesterday, <a href="/wing-commander/" data-ref-id="false">Wing Commander </a>creator Chris Roberts showed off the first public demo of his new PC space sim <a href="/star-citizen/" data-ref-id="false">Star Citizen</a> and it does not disappoint.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The pre-alpha footage includes an extended interstellar dogfighting scene where we see the player avoiding asteroids and laying waste to enemies at will. We also get a look at the game's HUD, though it's not the final version of the game, so it could still change, of course.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The video was captured during the panel yesterday by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xyd7AV3_A8" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">YouTube user kigamitya</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Star Citizen has raised more than <a href="https://robertsspaceindustries.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">$41.7 million</a> through combined donations to the game's original Kickstarter (the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/star-citizen-the-top-crowdfunded-project-of-all-time/1100-6410717/" data-ref-id="1100-6410717">most successful in Kickstarter history</a>) and its own website. More than 425,000 people have backed the project so far. The game is due to launch in full sometime in 2015.</p><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Sat, 12 Apr 2014 04:48:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/pc-space-sim-star-citizen-s-dogfighting-mode-looks-epic-even-in-pre-alpha/1100-6418939/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/uncharted-actor-to-co-write-new-star-wars-game-for-ea/1100-6418938/ <p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Todd Stashwick, who is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/actor-teases-uncharted-ps4/1100-6416413/" data-ref-id="1100-6416413">playing a mystery role</a> in the <a href="/uncharted-4/" data-ref-id="false">upcoming Uncharted game for PlayStation 4</a>, will co-write the new Star Wars game in development at EA's Visceral Games, it has been revealed. Stashwick, who has appeared in the show <em>Justified</em>, will write the story alongside former Naughty Dog creative director Amy Hennig, who <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ex-uncharted-creative-director-amy-hennig-joins-ea-to-work-on-star-wars/1100-6418754/" data-ref-id="1100-6418754">joined EA's Visceral Games earlier this month.</a></p><figure data-align="left" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2504448-todd.png" data-ref-id="1300-2504448" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2504448-todd.png" data-ref-id="1300-2504448"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/1179/11799911/2504448-todd.png"></a><figcaption>Todd Stashwick</figcaption></figure><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="https://twitter.com/ToddStashwick" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Writing on Twitter,</a> Stashwick thanked fans for their support and said he's going to work hard to deliver a product that fans will enjoy.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"Thanks everybody for the kind words and support on the Star Wars project. I'm over the moon…wait…that's no moon…," he said. "As devout gaming/Star Wars geeks, Amy Hennig and I plan on writing a game we want to play. We will be our harshest critics."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Hennig has been teasing Stashwick's involvement with the new Star Wars game for some time. Earlier this week, she <a href="https://twitter.com/amy_hennig/status/453613445871464448" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">tweeted a picture </a>of herself having breakfast with Stashwick, as well as prolific voice actor Nolan North and even <em>Lord of the Rings</em> actor Monaghan. Curiously, Monaghan is wearing a <em>Star Wars</em>-themed t-shirt.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">It is unclear if Stashwick's involvement with the new Star Wars game will in any way affect his contribution to the Uncharted game for PS4. </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Visceral Games' Star Wars title is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-developing-open-world-star-wars-game/1100-6416442/">rumored to be an open-world game</a>, though EA has yet to provide any details on what form the studio's first title in the sci-fi series will take. EA and Star Wars franchise owner Disney signed a<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-and-disney-team-up-for-star-wars-games/1100-6407982/"> ten-year, multi-title deal last year</a>that makes the Mass Effect publisher the exclusive creator of new Star Wars games. Battlefield developer DICE is currently working on a new <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/star-wars-battlefront/">Star Wars: Battlefront </a>game.</p><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Sat, 12 Apr 2014 04:13:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/uncharted-actor-to-co-write-new-star-wars-game-for-ea/1100-6418938/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/resolution-disparity-continues-as-trials-fusion-is-1080p-on-ps4-and-900p-on-xbox-one/1100-6418935/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1197/11970954/2444838-single_quad_1392978343.png" data-ref-id="1300-2444838" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1197/11970954/2444838-single_quad_1392978343.png" data-ref-id="1300-2444838"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1197/11970954/2444838-single_quad_1392978343.png"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">The PlayStation 4 version of Ubisoft's upcoming motorcycle racing game <a href="/trials-fusion/" data-ref-id="false">Trials Fusion </a>will run in a higher resolution than the Xbox One, it has been revealed.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">A Ubisoft representative told <a href="http://venturebeat.com/2014/04/11/ps4-and-xbox-one-graphics-disparity-continues-trial-fusion-runs-at-1080p-on-sonys-box-and-900p-on-microsofts/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">VentureBeat </a>that Trials Fusion will run in native 1080p on PS4 and native 900p on Xbox One (upscaled to 1080p). The game is also coming to Xbox 360 and PC, and all versions will run at 60fps.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The graphics disparity between PS4 and Xbox One is nothing new. Major games like <a href="/call-of-duty-ghosts/" data-ref-id="false">Call of Duty: Ghosts</a>, <a href="/battlefield-4/" data-ref-id="false">Battlefield 4</a>, and <a href="/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag/" data-ref-id="false">Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag</a> all run in a lower resolution on Xbox One compared to PS4.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">This has led so some consternation from fans, but Microsoft says <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/more-xbox-one-games-will-run-in-1080p-over-time-microsoft-says/1100-6418408/" data-ref-id="1100-6418408">performance should improve over time</a>. Of course, the Xbox One is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-on-xbox-one-1080p-60fps-debate-it-s-up-to-individual-developers/1100-6417935/" data-ref-id="1100-6417935">fully capable of rendering 1080p/60fps</a>, and Turn 10's racing game <a href="/forza-motorsport-5/" data-ref-id="false">Forza Motorsport 5</a> is a great example of that.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Trials Fusion launches <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/trials-fusion-out-april-16/1100-6417966/" data-ref-id="1100-6417966">April 16 for Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PS4</a>. The <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/trials-fusion-pc-release-date-slips-but-the-open-beta-starts-tomorrow/1100-6418433/" data-ref-id="1100-6418433">PC version launches April 24</a>. For more, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/trials-fusion/" data-ref-id="false">check out GameSpot's previous coverage</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Sat, 12 Apr 2014 03:44:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/resolution-disparity-continues-as-trials-fusion-is-1080p-on-ps4-and-900p-on-xbox-one/1100-6418935/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/wolfenstein-the-new-order-pax-east-hands-on-impres/2300-6418294/ Chris Watters fills you in on how Wolfenstein: The New Order is shaping up in this preview from PAX East 2014. Fri, 11 Apr 2014 20:01:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/wolfenstein-the-new-order-pax-east-hands-on-impres/2300-6418294/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/titanfall-on-the-xbox-360/2300-6418293/ Despite shortcomings in lower resolution and stuttering frame rate, Titanfall still thrives on the Xbox 360. Fri, 11 Apr 2014 19:50:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/titanfall-on-the-xbox-360/2300-6418293/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/check-out-this-footage-of-diablo-3-for-ps4-running-in-1080p-60fps/1100-6418927/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418288" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418288/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Here's a great way to end your week. Straight from PAX East in Boston comes this 6-minute video showing off <a href="/diablo-iii/" data-ref-id="false">Diablo III</a> for PlayStation 4 running in 1080p at 60fps. The video features commentary from Blizzard senior producer Julia Humphreys and senior level designer Matthew Berger. </p><p dir="ltr" style="">The PS4 version of Diablo III, titled the Ultimate Evil Edition, was <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/diablo-3-for-ps4-has-exclusive-features-runs-at-1080p/1100-6416082/" data-ref-id="1100-6416082">announced during BlizzCon 2013 in November</a>. It includes the main game and its <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/diablo-3-reaper-of-souls-review/1900-6415713/" data-ref-id="1900-6415713">Reaper of Souls</a> expansion.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The video also touches on some of the game's new features, like its Mail, Player Gifts, and Nemesis systems, as well as the Apprentice Mode. We also learn in the video that Diablo III for PS4 will include all of the PC patches, which means the game will be "very finely tuned," Berger said. </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Blizzard has not announced a release date for Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition for PS4. An Xbox One version is currently in development, but Blizzard is<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/diablo-3-in-development-for-xbox-one-but-blizzard-not-sure-if-it-will-ever-launch/1100-6418494/" data-ref-id="1100-6418494"> not sure if it will ever be released</a>. Already reached level 70 in Diablo III? Check out <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/diablo-3-reaper-of-souls-what-to-do-after-you-reach-level-70/1100-6418820/" data-ref-id="1100-6418820">GameSpot's guide to understanding its endgame content</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Fri, 11 Apr 2014 18:45:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/check-out-this-footage-of-diablo-3-for-ps4-running-in-1080p-60fps/1100-6418927/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/hearthstone-on-ipad-demonstration/2300-6418292/ Blizzard shows us some cool features of the iPad version of Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft at PAX East 2014. Fri, 11 Apr 2014 17:59:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/hearthstone-on-ipad-demonstration/2300-6418292/ http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/half-minute-hero-the-second-coming-review/1900-6415729/ <p style="">The original <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/half-minute-hero/">Half-Minute Hero</a> for the PSP is one of those games that, despite a brilliant concept and critical acclaim, didn't really find an audience, at least not until it was ported to the Xbox 360 and PC at a later date. Half Minute Hero: The Second Coming is a direct follow-up to that game, taking place some time after that game's end. The initial story follows Yusha, a brooding military commander with a mysterious past. During a challenging mission in which the continent is threatened with destruction within an extremely short time frame, he's approached by the world's omnipresent time goddess, who has the power to rewind time in exchange for her favorite thing: cold, hard cash. But Yusha's about to get caught up in something far bigger: an epic time-bending conflict stretching across multiple generations and locations--in 30-second chunks.</p><figure data-ref-id="1300-2504224" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2504224-0005.jpg" data-size="medium" data-align="left" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2504224-0005.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2504224"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/78/787590/2504224-0005.jpg"></a><figcaption>Big enemies require even bigger, lumbering mobile hero castles for maximum annihilation.</figcaption></figure><p style="">The gameplay in The Second Coming remains similar to the original's Hero 30 mode. The game is split up into missions, where you have around 30 seconds to figure out a way to destroy a large enemy that will cause global destruction if the timer runs out. This process is facilitated by progression that distills common tropes to their bare essentials: fighting enemies to gain levels, stopping at towns to get information and supplies, and finding a path to the boss's lair. Given that there's only 30 seconds to accomplish all of this, things have been heavily streamlined: enemy fights involve auto-ramming into foes until somebody dies, character levels skyrocket within seconds, and towns are linear paths that allow you to dash in, get what you need, and dash out. Even so, 30 seconds is a harsh time limit, so you have the ability to pray to statues of the time goddess to reset the clock. But every time you do, she asks for a little bit more cash, making each progressive reset more and more expensive to finance. The game transforms a typically slow-paced genre into an epic race against time, turning genre conventions on their head and making you think and act quickly in order to succeed.</p><p style="">Unlike the original game, which offered multiple game genres (real-time strategy, shooter, tower defense) creatively compressed into thirty-second chunks, The Second Coming is entirely based around the RPG-styled gameplay. The lack of clever gameplay variety compared to its predecessor is one of the biggest disappointments of The Second Coming, and I often found myself wishing I could switch to a different sort of 30-second adventure every so often like I could with the original.</p><figure data-ref-id="1300-2504229" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2504229-0001%281%29.jpg" data-size="medium" data-align="left" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2504229-0001%281%29.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2504229"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/78/787590/2504229-0001%281%29.jpg"></a><figcaption>Equipment changes are reflected on your sprite. Who doesn't want a bunny hat?</figcaption></figure><p style="">However, the one style of gameplay that is present in The Second Coming is far more engaging and refined here than it was in the original game. There's now an actual overworld to explore between quests, offering optional dungeons, enemy battles, and tons of hidden secrets. Taking a bit of time to poke around between 30-second do-or-die adventures can yield treasures like hidden gear and evil lord medals, which can be exchanged for various unlockable features. Combat--simple though it may be--has also been refined with the addition of super-damaging, auto-activating skills learned from weapons and a stat-altering class-change system.</p><p style="">Quest design, too, benefits greatly from this increased focus, with some creative ideas thrown into the mix. Areas of the map may be destroyed when the timer hits certain points, necessitating a potentially costly time reset to restore things to how they were originally. Defeating giant-sized enemies and obstacles requires the aid of a ridiculous-looking mobile battle fortress you find and continually build upon throughout the game. One of my favorite quests involves you being given an absurd amount of "cursed money" you have to figure out how to waste before time runs out--a choice between blowing it all in an underground casino like a boss or buying individual loaves of overpriced bread to feed to children of a Dickensian orphanage.</p><p style="">As you might suspect from hearing that quest description, The Second Coming incorporates a lot of silliness and humor into its proceedings. The settings--standard fantasy, modernized pseudo-fantasy, and post-apocalyptic fantasy--are inspired by common tropes of JRPG worlds. Every well-worn character arc you can imagine (the obviously-set-to-betray-you party member, the jealous childhood rival, the thief turned ally, amongst many) is present, as are common plot threads (we must prove ourselves worthy of this power we need to defeat the boss!), though with their own goofy little twists to suit the game's frenetic pace. Famous RPG scenes, characters, and concepts are referenced and parodied lovingly, but even concepts outside of RPGs and games are fair game for The Second Coming's delightfully silly story. The game sometimes invests too heavily in its ridiculous narrative, however. There are some genuinely heartfelt moments in the story, but occasionally an overly wordy dialogue sequence leaves you wondering if the writers have started to take their tribute to RPG cliches a little too seriously. (Thankfully, the start button will skip reams of dialogue during almost every part of the game.)</p><figure data-ref-id="1300-2504226" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2504226-0003%281%29.jpg" data-size="medium" data-align="right" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2504226-0003%281%29.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2504226"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/78/787590/2504226-0003%281%29.jpg"></a><figcaption>You're free to gamble the time way--until the world explodes.</figcaption></figure><p style="">Beyond the main game, The Second Coming introduces new map/quest creation modes and a multiplayer feature. The quest creation tool allows you to develop simple quests and challenges on custom maps for players to download and enjoy in either solo or multiplayer modes. It's a nice way to let player creativity shine, and sharing created content on Steamworks is a breeze, though since this game was ported from an original Japanese PSP release, the actual creation interface itself is a little rough around the edges and not really optimized as well as it could be for a PC. Multiplayer is an absolute blast, allowing up to four players to play through a map and try to hinder each others' progress in defeating the evil lord. The 30-second timer remains and is universal for all players--if one person resets, it's reset for everyone, and if it runs out, all players are penalized. Throw in optional "goddess whims" that have random effects on the map and players and you've got a formula for ever-changing, incredibly fast-paced fun. You can even use your (or others') custom maps to make things even more challenging.</p><p style="">The Second Coming is a delight to play. While the lack of gameplay variety compared to what came before is a definite disappointment, the game is just so outright fun that it's easy to forgive. The sheer joy of fast-smashing adorable little pixel characters against each other while an amazing soundtrack filled with all-star game music composers cheers you to victory against the clock is well worth the price of admission, and the delightful secrets and extras make it an even more appealing package.</p> Fri, 11 Apr 2014 17:41:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/half-minute-hero-the-second-coming-review/1900-6415729/ http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/strike-suit-zero-director-s-cut-review/1900-6415728/ <p style="">Strike Suit Zero: Director's Cut is pushy. This space shooter all but wrecks its occasionally thrilling dogfighting action by never, ever knowing when enough is enough. The game is a prime example of kitchen-sink game design, assuming that if one white-knuckle tumble against a dozen enemy spaceships is good, then waging that exact same battle many times in succession during each and every mission must be flat-out fantastic. In reality, of course, this relentless approach chafes. It wears at your patience almost from the very beginning, to the point where the monotony soon makes you long to do something livelier.</p><p style="">The premise is a traditional space opera saga. The year is 2299, and you play a voiceless spaceship jockey named Adams, who gets into the civil war raging between Earth and rebellious human colonies just as the colonials are about to go all Death Star on the homeworld. The story is intriguing; not everything is spelled out in the beginning, leaving a lot of open questions about the mysterious alien tech that sparked the war, as well as about your fascinating allies, one of which is an enigmatic humanlike AI. There is no shortage of tension created by the threat to Earth--tension dramatically underlined in the fiery remains of a planet that serves as the backdrop to the campaign's second mission.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/536/5360430/2501277-strikesuit_dc_001.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2501277" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/536/5360430/2501277-strikesuit_dc_001.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2501277"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/536/5360430/2501277-strikesuit_dc_001.jpg"></a><figcaption>Zippy space combat is the highlight of Strike Suit Zero: Director's Cut. </figcaption></figure><p style="">Most of the time, Strike Suit Zero is content to be a modern take on the familiar space shooter, with design tropes that go back to <a href="/wing-commander/" data-ref-id="false">Wing Commander</a>. You take to the spacelanes in the cockpits of various vessels, and upgrade and unlock weapons, armor, and other gear as you move through missions. Controls are easy to grasp: The sticks control roll, pitch, and yaw, while the buttons handle shooting, acceleration and deceleration, and firing off missile-diverting chaff. The feel isn't quick flightstick-precise, although the accuracy is close enough to fend off any frustration. The overly simplistic targeting is the only real problem, as you often need to cycle through lengthy lists of foes to choose the one that you want to attack.</p><p style="">You also gain access early on to the strike suit, a Transformers-styled variety of ship that can morph into a giant robot whenever you blast enough enemies and power supplies like drones to load up on an energy source called flux. The character of the game changes as soon as you make the switch, as you immediately go from flying around Rogue Squadron-like to a good re-creation of Optimus Prime standing still in space. Whenever you transform, you lose all maneuverability and speed aside from a weird sidestep that seems entirely out of place, but gain the ability to unload huge energy blasts and twisting waves of missiles that obliterate enemy capital ships.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/0/1/6/7/2040167-716406_20130521_004.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2040167" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/0/1/6/7/2040167-716406_20130521_004.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2040167"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/mig/0/1/6/7/2040167-716406_20130521_004.jpg"></a><figcaption>Battles can look cool, but they suffer from extreme repetition.</figcaption></figure><p style="">Predictably, morphing into a battlemech can be effective, especially when facing waves of enemy fighters, and it's satisfying to pull a "watch this" moment and shred enemy squadrons in seconds. But the Transformers angle doesn't mesh well with high-speed dogfighting. One moment you're looping and spinning at speeds that would snap a spine; the next you're locked in place like a Big Bertha, mindlessly firing round after round at every nearby foe. Becoming a giant robot always comes with some regret, as it brings the entire game to a crashing halt.</p><p style="">What drops Strike Suit Zero back to zero most of all, however, is tedious combat. Every one of the 13 scenarios in the main campaign and the further half-dozen or so offered up as part of the additional Heroes of the Fleet mission series (sold separately as DLC when the game was released for the PC last year) does everything but beat you into submission with a Megatron action figure. Objectives rarely vary from escort missions, seemingly eternal dogfights, and straightforward assaults. In all mission types, enemy ships keep coming, and coming, and coming, warping in many times after you think the mission is finally over, like some intergalactic take on <em>Halloween</em>'s Michael Myers. Sheer enemy numbers overwhelm the interface. Tracking colonial ships is a real challenge in battles, as the screen is always littered with red arrows pointing offscreen to every threat and piece of random space junk. Your battle cry soon becomes "Enough already!"</p><figure data-align="left" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/0/1/6/5/2040165-716406_20130521_002.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2040165" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/0/1/6/5/2040165-716406_20130521_002.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2040165"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/mig/0/1/6/5/2040165-716406_20130521_002.jpg"></a><figcaption>Transformation brings the fun to an immediate halt.</figcaption></figure><p style="">Most of Strike Suit Zero is stripped down in comparison to more lavish space shooters of days gone by. There are no extravagant load-out option screens, no recreation decks to relax in with your fellow pilots, or even animations during the mid-mission visual transmissions from allied vessels (in the future, everyone is apparently a ventriloquist). The main plus here is being able to play from either a first-person cockpit point of view or from an external trailing camera. Ship models are bland, with little in the way of detail, and mission backdrops are mostly static scenes that are stylish and atmospheric, but still limited in impact, like the matte paintings in old Star Trek episodes. This is a plain Jane game made up for the prom.</p><p style="">Only the soundtrack rises above the waterline of mediocrity here, thanks to futuristic tunes that come off like mash-ups of the musical scores from <em>Blade Runner</em> and the reimagined <em>Battlestar Galactica</em>. There is a vaguely Eastern vibe to the music, along with echoing choral odes and never-quite discernible chants of exotic words. The only odd thing about the music is its slightly distant sound. Instead of being front and center in the mix like the usual game soundtrack, the score here is somewhat buried, as if you were cruising around listening to the universe's top 40 station on the FM dial.</p><p style="">Sometimes, simple is better. Maintaining focus on frantic space battles that move quickly and wrap up before you have time to regret what you're playing would have made Strike Suit Zero: Director's Cut more energetic and compelling. Piling on enemies and tossing in the Transformers-inspired ship just clogs up what could have been a charming, if deeply predictable, space shooter.</p> Fri, 11 Apr 2014 17:41:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/strike-suit-zero-director-s-cut-review/1900-6415728/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-evil-within-has-an-environment-built-to-scare/2300-6418291/ Peter fills Shaun in on the unsettling environment featured in an The Evil Within demo he saw at PAX East 2014. Fri, 11 Apr 2014 16:46:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-evil-within-has-an-environment-built-to-scare/2300-6418291/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/how-will-the-30-new-cards-in-the-curse-of-naxxramas-affect-hearthstone/1100-6418933/ <p style="">Only five of the 30 new cards slated to be released for <a href="/hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft/" data-ref-id="false">Hearthstone's</a> first single-player campaign--titled The Curse of Naxxramas--were <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/hearthstone-single-player-adventure-curse-of-naxxramas-announced-and-you-can-play-without-spending-a-penny/1100-6418919/" data-ref-id="1100-6418919">officially unveiled at PAX East 2014 today</a>. But if those cards are anything to go by, then it seems deathrattle is going to become a lot more common in Blizzard's recently released card game.</p><p style="">Deathrattle (abilities triggered upon a Hearthstone minion's demise) feature in four of the five new cards so far confirmed for The Curse of Naxxramas, and is apt considering the campaign's eponymous setting. In <a href="/world-of-warcraft/" data-ref-id="false">World of Warcraft</a>, Naxxramas is the floating necropolis of the archlich Kel'Thuzad--in other words, the undead have sway in this corrupted location. Players will be able to tackle this creepy area when The Curse of Naxxramas is released later this year, and marks the first of Hearthstone's single-player-focused Adventure Mode releases.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504232-curse+of+naxxramas+game+board.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2504232" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504232-curse+of+naxxramas+game+board.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2504232"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/225/2256286/2504232-curse+of+naxxramas+game+board.jpg"></a><figcaption>A spooky new board awaits in Naxxramas.</figcaption></figure><p style=""> </p><p style="">So what exactly is Adventure Mode? In this mode, players will do battle against a series of AI opponents to gain new cards. The Curse of Naxxramas will have five sections or "wings" to play through, with each wing featuring anywhere from three to four bosses. Cards are earned as you defeat bosses, with bonus cards also being awarded for clearing wings. Any card earned will be usable in Hearthstone's regular Play or Practice modes, while Naxxramas-themed cards will also be added to the mix in Arena matches. Only the first wing--the Arachnid Quarter--will be free. The subsequent four in Naxxramas will need to be purchased either through in-game gold or with real world money (although Blizzard has not confirmed what the cost will be). And your reward for completing all of Adventure Mode? 30 brand new cards, including class-specific ones earned by completing class challenges.</p><p style="">So how will the introduction of 30 new cards to Hearthstone affect the game's balance? Lead designer Eric Dodds says balance is something Blizzard is continually monitoring, with a new team created within the company that continually monitors balance issues.</p><p style="">"Before we had done a lot of balancing by what we thought was the right thing to do, and we did some internal balancing, but because we were in beta, there was also a lot of balancing going in because the community was helping out a lot," Dodds said. "But going forward, we now have a balance team making sure that all of these cards are balanced, because we have to make sure these are not cards that will break the game. So we have an internal team that is working on these specifically."</p><figure data-align="left" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504234-baron+rivendare.png" data-ref-id="1300-2504234" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504234-baron+rivendare.png" data-ref-id="1300-2504234"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/225/2256286/2504234-baron+rivendare.png"></a><figcaption>Baron Rivendare is afoot.</figcaption></figure><p style="">Dodds says the introduction of 30 new cards also has the potential to significantly impact Hearthstone's metagame. "What's interesting I think is there will be an interesting metagame happening during those four weeks as new cards come out, and decks suddenly change. Everything will be different, and then a week later, all these new cards come out. So over the course of the month we're going to see really interesting changes and shifts in the metagame."</p><p style="">"One of the cards I'm excited about is Baron Rivendare, because it makes deathrattles trigger twice. There will undoubtedly be things that happen that honestly we haven't even thought about as possibilities. There are certainly the simple ones where I have a harvest golem and I get two damaged harvest golems out of it. It's one of those things that I expect interesting combinations to come out of the community."</p><p style="">What happens, then, in the case of these new cards inadvertently unbalancing the game? Dodds says the solution is not to withdraw cards, but rather to empower players with solutions by introducing new cards into the mix.</p><p style="">"As far as card changes moving forward, our plan is, ideally, not to make any card changes because we want these cards to feel really solid in player's hands. That said, if something is clearly very out of hand--and that's a super subjective thing to say--then it's something we'll talk about," he said.</p><p style="">"But really what we want to do is when we feel the environment changes and changes in a way that doesn't work super well, is that we put additional cards out there in the player's hands that allow the player to take control. Because really the way we think about it is that we're just providing tools for the player to have a fun experience. So if it feels like they don't have the right tools for that experience, then we better put some more tools out there."</p><blockquote data-size="large"><p style="">If you choose to never put in a dime, you can still access all of the content over time.</p><cite>Hearthstone production director Jason Chayes.</cite></blockquote><p style="">For a game that has so far kept most of its gameplay modes free (buying cards and Arena are, of course, a different matter), the move to charging for a new mode is an interesting one for Hearthstone. But for production director Jason Chayes, the move still perfectly aligns with the game's goal of allowing players to access content in whatever way they please.</p><p style="">"We basically wanted to make it that no matter how you were experiencing Naxxramas, you were able to unlock the various wings for free just by earning the gold and unlocking it. That's an important philosophy we have for Hearthstone, is that if you choose to never put in a dime, you can still access all of the content over time. So that is a core part of how Naxxramas is designed. Beyond that, though, if a player is interested in getting to that content a bit faster, they can spend a bit more money and access it as well," he said.</p><p style="">The Curse of Naxxramas is set for release sometime in "summer" 2014 for PC, Mac, and iPad.</p><figure data-embed-type="gallery" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504241-baron+rivendare.png,http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504242-dancing+swords.png,http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504243-nerubian+egg.png,http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504244-shade+of+naxxramas.png,http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504245-undertaker.png" data-ref-id="1300-2504241,1300-2504242,1300-2504243,1300-2504244,1300-2504245" data-resize-urls="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/square_avatar/225/2256286/2504241-baron+rivendare.jpg,http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/square_avatar/225/2256286/2504242-dancing+swords.jpg,http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/square_avatar/225/2256286/2504243-nerubian+egg.jpg,http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/square_avatar/225/2256286/2504244-shade+of+naxxramas.jpg,http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/square_avatar/225/2256286/2504245-undertaker.jpg" data-resized="" data-resize-url=""><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504241-baron+rivendare.png" data-ref-id="1300-2504241" ><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/square_avatar/225/2256286/2504241-baron+rivendare.jpg"></a><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504242-dancing+swords.png" data-ref-id="1300-2504242" ><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/square_avatar/225/2256286/2504242-dancing+swords.jpg"></a><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504243-nerubian+egg.png" data-ref-id="1300-2504243" ><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/square_avatar/225/2256286/2504243-nerubian+egg.jpg"></a><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504244-shade+of+naxxramas.png" data-ref-id="1300-2504244" ><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/square_avatar/225/2256286/2504244-shade+of+naxxramas.jpg"></a><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504245-undertaker.png" data-ref-id="1300-2504245" ><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/square_avatar/225/2256286/2504245-undertaker.jpg"></a><figcaption>The first five cards unveiled for The Curse of Naxxramas. </figcaption></figure><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p> Fri, 11 Apr 2014 16:34:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/how-will-the-30-new-cards-in-the-curse-of-naxxramas-affect-hearthstone/1100-6418933/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-top-5-5-year-old-hacks-xbox-one-the-last-o/2300-6418271/ Watch Dogs and The Last of Us Remastered deliver on the details, and a five-year-old outsmarts Microsoft but they still have the edge with the cloud Fri, 11 Apr 2014 16:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-top-5-5-year-old-hacks-xbox-one-the-last-o/2300-6418271/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-goliath-has-evolved/2300-6418290/ Shaun and Chris talk about their time with Evolve at PAX East 2014 detailing the new skill point system of the Goliath class. Fri, 11 Apr 2014 15:57:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-goliath-has-evolved/2300-6418290/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/diablo-iii-on-ps4-details-and-improvements/2300-6418288/ We sat down with Blizzard at PAX East 2014 to get a demo of Diablo III on PS4 which includes all the additions from Reaper of Souls and more. Fri, 11 Apr 2014 15:17:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/diablo-iii-on-ps4-details-and-improvements/2300-6418288/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/castle-crashers-dev-working-on-an-xbox-one-game-check-out-the-bizarre-concept-art-here/1100-6418932/ <p style=""> </p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2504193-game4.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2504193" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2504193-game4.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2504193"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2504193-game4.jpg"></a><figcaption>Image credit: Destructoid</figcaption></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Today at PAX East, <a href="/castle-crashers/" data-ref-id="false">Castle Crashers</a> developer The Behemoth revealed that it is working on an Xbox One game currently titled "Game 4."</p><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="http://www.destructoid.com/the-behemoth-is-working-on-an-undisclosed-xbox-one-game-273159.phtml" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Destructoid</a> first reported the news, adding that the game is expected to be playable this year. More information about it is scheduled to be released at events like San Diego Comic Con and PAX Prime.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The site also obtained a piece of concept art for Game 4, and it is bizarre indeed. I'm at a loss for words; what do you make of it?</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The Behemoth is best known for creating the Castle Crashers and <a href="/alien-hominid-hd/" data-ref-id="false">Alien Hominid</a> franchises. The studio also released <a href="/battleblock-theater/" data-ref-id="false">BattleBlock Theater</a> in 2013.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">It is not much of a surprise to learn that The Behemoth is working on an Xbox One game, as the company is <a href="http://news.xbox.com/2014/02/xbox-one-id-xbox-new-developers" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">one of the many developers</a> signed up for Microsoft's independent publishing program ID@Xbox.</p><p style="">We will have more on Game 4 as it becomes available.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Fri, 11 Apr 2014 15:14:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/castle-crashers-dev-working-on-an-xbox-one-game-check-out-the-bizarre-concept-art-here/1100-6418932/
http://auth.gamespot.com/ Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Sat, 12 Apr 2014 05:08:44 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/pc-space-sim-star-citizen-s-dogfighting-mode-looks-epic-even-in-pre-alpha/1100-6418939/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xyd7AV3_A8" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2F5xyd7AV3_A8%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26feature%3Doembed&wmode=opaque&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D5xyd7AV3_A8&image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2F5xyd7AV3_A8%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">During a PAX East panel yesterday, <a href="/wing-commander/" data-ref-id="false">Wing Commander </a>creator Chris Roberts showed off the first public demo of his new PC space sim <a href="/star-citizen/" data-ref-id="false">Star Citizen</a> and it does not disappoint.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The pre-alpha footage includes an extended interstellar dogfighting scene where we see the player avoiding asteroids and laying waste to enemies at will. We also get a look at the game's HUD, though it's not the final version of the game, so it could still change, of course.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The video was captured during the panel yesterday by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xyd7AV3_A8" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">YouTube user kigamitya</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Star Citizen has raised more than <a href="https://robertsspaceindustries.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">$41.7 million</a> through combined donations to the game's original Kickstarter (the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/star-citizen-the-top-crowdfunded-project-of-all-time/1100-6410717/" data-ref-id="1100-6410717">most successful in Kickstarter history</a>) and its own website. More than 425,000 people have backed the project so far. The game is due to launch in full sometime in 2015.</p><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Sat, 12 Apr 2014 04:48:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/pc-space-sim-star-citizen-s-dogfighting-mode-looks-epic-even-in-pre-alpha/1100-6418939/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/uncharted-actor-to-co-write-new-star-wars-game-for-ea/1100-6418938/ <p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Todd Stashwick, who is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/actor-teases-uncharted-ps4/1100-6416413/" data-ref-id="1100-6416413">playing a mystery role</a> in the <a href="/uncharted-4/" data-ref-id="false">upcoming Uncharted game for PlayStation 4</a>, will co-write the new Star Wars game in development at EA's Visceral Games, it has been revealed. Stashwick, who has appeared in the show <em>Justified</em>, will write the story alongside former Naughty Dog creative director Amy Hennig, who <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ex-uncharted-creative-director-amy-hennig-joins-ea-to-work-on-star-wars/1100-6418754/" data-ref-id="1100-6418754">joined EA's Visceral Games earlier this month.</a></p><figure data-align="left" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2504448-todd.png" data-ref-id="1300-2504448" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2504448-todd.png" data-ref-id="1300-2504448"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/1179/11799911/2504448-todd.png"></a><figcaption>Todd Stashwick</figcaption></figure><p dir="ltr" style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="https://twitter.com/ToddStashwick" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Writing on Twitter,</a> Stashwick thanked fans for their support and said he's going to work hard to deliver a product that fans will enjoy.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"Thanks everybody for the kind words and support on the Star Wars project. I'm over the moon…wait…that's no moon…," he said. "As devout gaming/Star Wars geeks, Amy Hennig and I plan on writing a game we want to play. We will be our harshest critics."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Hennig has been teasing Stashwick's involvement with the new Star Wars game for some time. Earlier this week, she <a href="https://twitter.com/amy_hennig/status/453613445871464448" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">tweeted a picture </a>of herself having breakfast with Stashwick, as well as prolific voice actor Nolan North and even <em>Lord of the Rings</em> actor Monaghan. Curiously, Monaghan is wearing a <em>Star Wars</em>-themed t-shirt.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">It is unclear if Stashwick's involvement with the new Star Wars game will in any way affect his contribution to the Uncharted game for PS4. </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Visceral Games' Star Wars title is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-developing-open-world-star-wars-game/1100-6416442/">rumored to be an open-world game</a>, though EA has yet to provide any details on what form the studio's first title in the sci-fi series will take. EA and Star Wars franchise owner Disney signed a<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-and-disney-team-up-for-star-wars-games/1100-6407982/"> ten-year, multi-title deal last year</a>that makes the Mass Effect publisher the exclusive creator of new Star Wars games. Battlefield developer DICE is currently working on a new <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/star-wars-battlefront/">Star Wars: Battlefront </a>game.</p><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Sat, 12 Apr 2014 04:13:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/uncharted-actor-to-co-write-new-star-wars-game-for-ea/1100-6418938/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/resolution-disparity-continues-as-trials-fusion-is-1080p-on-ps4-and-900p-on-xbox-one/1100-6418935/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1197/11970954/2444838-single_quad_1392978343.png" data-ref-id="1300-2444838" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1197/11970954/2444838-single_quad_1392978343.png" data-ref-id="1300-2444838"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1197/11970954/2444838-single_quad_1392978343.png"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">The PlayStation 4 version of Ubisoft's upcoming motorcycle racing game <a href="/trials-fusion/" data-ref-id="false">Trials Fusion </a>will run in a higher resolution than the Xbox One, it has been revealed.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">A Ubisoft representative told <a href="http://venturebeat.com/2014/04/11/ps4-and-xbox-one-graphics-disparity-continues-trial-fusion-runs-at-1080p-on-sonys-box-and-900p-on-microsofts/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">VentureBeat </a>that Trials Fusion will run in native 1080p on PS4 and native 900p on Xbox One (upscaled to 1080p). The game is also coming to Xbox 360 and PC, and all versions will run at 60fps.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The graphics disparity between PS4 and Xbox One is nothing new. Major games like <a href="/call-of-duty-ghosts/" data-ref-id="false">Call of Duty: Ghosts</a>, <a href="/battlefield-4/" data-ref-id="false">Battlefield 4</a>, and <a href="/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag/" data-ref-id="false">Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag</a> all run in a lower resolution on Xbox One compared to PS4.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">This has led so some consternation from fans, but Microsoft says <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/more-xbox-one-games-will-run-in-1080p-over-time-microsoft-says/1100-6418408/" data-ref-id="1100-6418408">performance should improve over time</a>. Of course, the Xbox One is <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-on-xbox-one-1080p-60fps-debate-it-s-up-to-individual-developers/1100-6417935/" data-ref-id="1100-6417935">fully capable of rendering 1080p/60fps</a>, and Turn 10's racing game <a href="/forza-motorsport-5/" data-ref-id="false">Forza Motorsport 5</a> is a great example of that.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Trials Fusion launches <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/trials-fusion-out-april-16/1100-6417966/" data-ref-id="1100-6417966">April 16 for Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PS4</a>. The <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/trials-fusion-pc-release-date-slips-but-the-open-beta-starts-tomorrow/1100-6418433/" data-ref-id="1100-6418433">PC version launches April 24</a>. For more, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/trials-fusion/" data-ref-id="false">check out GameSpot's previous coverage</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Sat, 12 Apr 2014 03:44:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/resolution-disparity-continues-as-trials-fusion-is-1080p-on-ps4-and-900p-on-xbox-one/1100-6418935/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/wolfenstein-the-new-order-pax-east-hands-on-impres/2300-6418294/ Chris Watters fills you in on how Wolfenstein: The New Order is shaping up in this preview from PAX East 2014. Fri, 11 Apr 2014 20:01:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/wolfenstein-the-new-order-pax-east-hands-on-impres/2300-6418294/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/titanfall-on-the-xbox-360/2300-6418293/ Despite shortcomings in lower resolution and stuttering frame rate, Titanfall still thrives on the Xbox 360. Fri, 11 Apr 2014 19:50:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/titanfall-on-the-xbox-360/2300-6418293/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/check-out-this-footage-of-diablo-3-for-ps4-running-in-1080p-60fps/1100-6418927/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418288" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418288/" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Here's a great way to end your week. Straight from PAX East in Boston comes this 6-minute video showing off <a href="/diablo-iii/" data-ref-id="false">Diablo III</a> for PlayStation 4 running in 1080p at 60fps. The video features commentary from Blizzard senior producer Julia Humphreys and senior level designer Matthew Berger. </p><p dir="ltr" style="">The PS4 version of Diablo III, titled the Ultimate Evil Edition, was <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/diablo-3-for-ps4-has-exclusive-features-runs-at-1080p/1100-6416082/" data-ref-id="1100-6416082">announced during BlizzCon 2013 in November</a>. It includes the main game and its <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/diablo-3-reaper-of-souls-review/1900-6415713/" data-ref-id="1900-6415713">Reaper of Souls</a> expansion.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The video also touches on some of the game's new features, like its Mail, Player Gifts, and Nemesis systems, as well as the Apprentice Mode. We also learn in the video that Diablo III for PS4 will include all of the PC patches, which means the game will be "very finely tuned," Berger said. </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Blizzard has not announced a release date for Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition for PS4. An Xbox One version is currently in development, but Blizzard is<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/diablo-3-in-development-for-xbox-one-but-blizzard-not-sure-if-it-will-ever-launch/1100-6418494/" data-ref-id="1100-6418494"> not sure if it will ever be released</a>. Already reached level 70 in Diablo III? Check out <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/diablo-3-reaper-of-souls-what-to-do-after-you-reach-level-70/1100-6418820/" data-ref-id="1100-6418820">GameSpot's guide to understanding its endgame content</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Fri, 11 Apr 2014 18:45:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/check-out-this-footage-of-diablo-3-for-ps4-running-in-1080p-60fps/1100-6418927/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/hearthstone-on-ipad-demonstration/2300-6418292/ Blizzard shows us some cool features of the iPad version of Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft at PAX East 2014. Fri, 11 Apr 2014 17:59:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/hearthstone-on-ipad-demonstration/2300-6418292/ http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/half-minute-hero-the-second-coming-review/1900-6415729/ <p style="">The original <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/half-minute-hero/">Half-Minute Hero</a> for the PSP is one of those games that, despite a brilliant concept and critical acclaim, didn't really find an audience, at least not until it was ported to the Xbox 360 and PC at a later date. Half Minute Hero: The Second Coming is a direct follow-up to that game, taking place some time after that game's end. The initial story follows Yusha, a brooding military commander with a mysterious past. During a challenging mission in which the continent is threatened with destruction within an extremely short time frame, he's approached by the world's omnipresent time goddess, who has the power to rewind time in exchange for her favorite thing: cold, hard cash. But Yusha's about to get caught up in something far bigger: an epic time-bending conflict stretching across multiple generations and locations--in 30-second chunks.</p><figure data-ref-id="1300-2504224" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2504224-0005.jpg" data-size="medium" data-align="left" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2504224-0005.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2504224"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/78/787590/2504224-0005.jpg"></a><figcaption>Big enemies require even bigger, lumbering mobile hero castles for maximum annihilation.</figcaption></figure><p style="">The gameplay in The Second Coming remains similar to the original's Hero 30 mode. The game is split up into missions, where you have around 30 seconds to figure out a way to destroy a large enemy that will cause global destruction if the timer runs out. This process is facilitated by progression that distills common tropes to their bare essentials: fighting enemies to gain levels, stopping at towns to get information and supplies, and finding a path to the boss's lair. Given that there's only 30 seconds to accomplish all of this, things have been heavily streamlined: enemy fights involve auto-ramming into foes until somebody dies, character levels skyrocket within seconds, and towns are linear paths that allow you to dash in, get what you need, and dash out. Even so, 30 seconds is a harsh time limit, so you have the ability to pray to statues of the time goddess to reset the clock. But every time you do, she asks for a little bit more cash, making each progressive reset more and more expensive to finance. The game transforms a typically slow-paced genre into an epic race against time, turning genre conventions on their head and making you think and act quickly in order to succeed.</p><p style="">Unlike the original game, which offered multiple game genres (real-time strategy, shooter, tower defense) creatively compressed into thirty-second chunks, The Second Coming is entirely based around the RPG-styled gameplay. The lack of clever gameplay variety compared to its predecessor is one of the biggest disappointments of The Second Coming, and I often found myself wishing I could switch to a different sort of 30-second adventure every so often like I could with the original.</p><figure data-ref-id="1300-2504229" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2504229-0001%281%29.jpg" data-size="medium" data-align="left" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2504229-0001%281%29.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2504229"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/78/787590/2504229-0001%281%29.jpg"></a><figcaption>Equipment changes are reflected on your sprite. Who doesn't want a bunny hat?</figcaption></figure><p style="">However, the one style of gameplay that is present in The Second Coming is far more engaging and refined here than it was in the original game. There's now an actual overworld to explore between quests, offering optional dungeons, enemy battles, and tons of hidden secrets. Taking a bit of time to poke around between 30-second do-or-die adventures can yield treasures like hidden gear and evil lord medals, which can be exchanged for various unlockable features. Combat--simple though it may be--has also been refined with the addition of super-damaging, auto-activating skills learned from weapons and a stat-altering class-change system.</p><p style="">Quest design, too, benefits greatly from this increased focus, with some creative ideas thrown into the mix. Areas of the map may be destroyed when the timer hits certain points, necessitating a potentially costly time reset to restore things to how they were originally. Defeating giant-sized enemies and obstacles requires the aid of a ridiculous-looking mobile battle fortress you find and continually build upon throughout the game. One of my favorite quests involves you being given an absurd amount of "cursed money" you have to figure out how to waste before time runs out--a choice between blowing it all in an underground casino like a boss or buying individual loaves of overpriced bread to feed to children of a Dickensian orphanage.</p><p style="">As you might suspect from hearing that quest description, The Second Coming incorporates a lot of silliness and humor into its proceedings. The settings--standard fantasy, modernized pseudo-fantasy, and post-apocalyptic fantasy--are inspired by common tropes of JRPG worlds. Every well-worn character arc you can imagine (the obviously-set-to-betray-you party member, the jealous childhood rival, the thief turned ally, amongst many) is present, as are common plot threads (we must prove ourselves worthy of this power we need to defeat the boss!), though with their own goofy little twists to suit the game's frenetic pace. Famous RPG scenes, characters, and concepts are referenced and parodied lovingly, but even concepts outside of RPGs and games are fair game for The Second Coming's delightfully silly story. The game sometimes invests too heavily in its ridiculous narrative, however. There are some genuinely heartfelt moments in the story, but occasionally an overly wordy dialogue sequence leaves you wondering if the writers have started to take their tribute to RPG cliches a little too seriously. (Thankfully, the start button will skip reams of dialogue during almost every part of the game.)</p><figure data-ref-id="1300-2504226" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2504226-0003%281%29.jpg" data-size="medium" data-align="right" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/78/787590/2504226-0003%281%29.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2504226"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/78/787590/2504226-0003%281%29.jpg"></a><figcaption>You're free to gamble the time way--until the world explodes.</figcaption></figure><p style="">Beyond the main game, The Second Coming introduces new map/quest creation modes and a multiplayer feature. The quest creation tool allows you to develop simple quests and challenges on custom maps for players to download and enjoy in either solo or multiplayer modes. It's a nice way to let player creativity shine, and sharing created content on Steamworks is a breeze, though since this game was ported from an original Japanese PSP release, the actual creation interface itself is a little rough around the edges and not really optimized as well as it could be for a PC. Multiplayer is an absolute blast, allowing up to four players to play through a map and try to hinder each others' progress in defeating the evil lord. The 30-second timer remains and is universal for all players--if one person resets, it's reset for everyone, and if it runs out, all players are penalized. Throw in optional "goddess whims" that have random effects on the map and players and you've got a formula for ever-changing, incredibly fast-paced fun. You can even use your (or others') custom maps to make things even more challenging.</p><p style="">The Second Coming is a delight to play. While the lack of gameplay variety compared to what came before is a definite disappointment, the game is just so outright fun that it's easy to forgive. The sheer joy of fast-smashing adorable little pixel characters against each other while an amazing soundtrack filled with all-star game music composers cheers you to victory against the clock is well worth the price of admission, and the delightful secrets and extras make it an even more appealing package.</p> Fri, 11 Apr 2014 17:41:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/half-minute-hero-the-second-coming-review/1900-6415729/ http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/strike-suit-zero-director-s-cut-review/1900-6415728/ <p style="">Strike Suit Zero: Director's Cut is pushy. This space shooter all but wrecks its occasionally thrilling dogfighting action by never, ever knowing when enough is enough. The game is a prime example of kitchen-sink game design, assuming that if one white-knuckle tumble against a dozen enemy spaceships is good, then waging that exact same battle many times in succession during each and every mission must be flat-out fantastic. In reality, of course, this relentless approach chafes. It wears at your patience almost from the very beginning, to the point where the monotony soon makes you long to do something livelier.</p><p style="">The premise is a traditional space opera saga. The year is 2299, and you play a voiceless spaceship jockey named Adams, who gets into the civil war raging between Earth and rebellious human colonies just as the colonials are about to go all Death Star on the homeworld. The story is intriguing; not everything is spelled out in the beginning, leaving a lot of open questions about the mysterious alien tech that sparked the war, as well as about your fascinating allies, one of which is an enigmatic humanlike AI. There is no shortage of tension created by the threat to Earth--tension dramatically underlined in the fiery remains of a planet that serves as the backdrop to the campaign's second mission.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/536/5360430/2501277-strikesuit_dc_001.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2501277" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/536/5360430/2501277-strikesuit_dc_001.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2501277"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/536/5360430/2501277-strikesuit_dc_001.jpg"></a><figcaption>Zippy space combat is the highlight of Strike Suit Zero: Director's Cut. </figcaption></figure><p style="">Most of the time, Strike Suit Zero is content to be a modern take on the familiar space shooter, with design tropes that go back to <a href="/wing-commander/" data-ref-id="false">Wing Commander</a>. You take to the spacelanes in the cockpits of various vessels, and upgrade and unlock weapons, armor, and other gear as you move through missions. Controls are easy to grasp: The sticks control roll, pitch, and yaw, while the buttons handle shooting, acceleration and deceleration, and firing off missile-diverting chaff. The feel isn't quick flightstick-precise, although the accuracy is close enough to fend off any frustration. The overly simplistic targeting is the only real problem, as you often need to cycle through lengthy lists of foes to choose the one that you want to attack.</p><p style="">You also gain access early on to the strike suit, a Transformers-styled variety of ship that can morph into a giant robot whenever you blast enough enemies and power supplies like drones to load up on an energy source called flux. The character of the game changes as soon as you make the switch, as you immediately go from flying around Rogue Squadron-like to a good re-creation of Optimus Prime standing still in space. Whenever you transform, you lose all maneuverability and speed aside from a weird sidestep that seems entirely out of place, but gain the ability to unload huge energy blasts and twisting waves of missiles that obliterate enemy capital ships.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/0/1/6/7/2040167-716406_20130521_004.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2040167" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/0/1/6/7/2040167-716406_20130521_004.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2040167"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/mig/0/1/6/7/2040167-716406_20130521_004.jpg"></a><figcaption>Battles can look cool, but they suffer from extreme repetition.</figcaption></figure><p style="">Predictably, morphing into a battlemech can be effective, especially when facing waves of enemy fighters, and it's satisfying to pull a "watch this" moment and shred enemy squadrons in seconds. But the Transformers angle doesn't mesh well with high-speed dogfighting. One moment you're looping and spinning at speeds that would snap a spine; the next you're locked in place like a Big Bertha, mindlessly firing round after round at every nearby foe. Becoming a giant robot always comes with some regret, as it brings the entire game to a crashing halt.</p><p style="">What drops Strike Suit Zero back to zero most of all, however, is tedious combat. Every one of the 13 scenarios in the main campaign and the further half-dozen or so offered up as part of the additional Heroes of the Fleet mission series (sold separately as DLC when the game was released for the PC last year) does everything but beat you into submission with a Megatron action figure. Objectives rarely vary from escort missions, seemingly eternal dogfights, and straightforward assaults. In all mission types, enemy ships keep coming, and coming, and coming, warping in many times after you think the mission is finally over, like some intergalactic take on <em>Halloween</em>'s Michael Myers. Sheer enemy numbers overwhelm the interface. Tracking colonial ships is a real challenge in battles, as the screen is always littered with red arrows pointing offscreen to every threat and piece of random space junk. Your battle cry soon becomes "Enough already!"</p><figure data-align="left" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/0/1/6/5/2040165-716406_20130521_002.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2040165" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/0/1/6/5/2040165-716406_20130521_002.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2040165"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/mig/0/1/6/5/2040165-716406_20130521_002.jpg"></a><figcaption>Transformation brings the fun to an immediate halt.</figcaption></figure><p style="">Most of Strike Suit Zero is stripped down in comparison to more lavish space shooters of days gone by. There are no extravagant load-out option screens, no recreation decks to relax in with your fellow pilots, or even animations during the mid-mission visual transmissions from allied vessels (in the future, everyone is apparently a ventriloquist). The main plus here is being able to play from either a first-person cockpit point of view or from an external trailing camera. Ship models are bland, with little in the way of detail, and mission backdrops are mostly static scenes that are stylish and atmospheric, but still limited in impact, like the matte paintings in old Star Trek episodes. This is a plain Jane game made up for the prom.</p><p style="">Only the soundtrack rises above the waterline of mediocrity here, thanks to futuristic tunes that come off like mash-ups of the musical scores from <em>Blade Runner</em> and the reimagined <em>Battlestar Galactica</em>. There is a vaguely Eastern vibe to the music, along with echoing choral odes and never-quite discernible chants of exotic words. The only odd thing about the music is its slightly distant sound. Instead of being front and center in the mix like the usual game soundtrack, the score here is somewhat buried, as if you were cruising around listening to the universe's top 40 station on the FM dial.</p><p style="">Sometimes, simple is better. Maintaining focus on frantic space battles that move quickly and wrap up before you have time to regret what you're playing would have made Strike Suit Zero: Director's Cut more energetic and compelling. Piling on enemies and tossing in the Transformers-inspired ship just clogs up what could have been a charming, if deeply predictable, space shooter.</p> Fri, 11 Apr 2014 17:41:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/strike-suit-zero-director-s-cut-review/1900-6415728/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-evil-within-has-an-environment-built-to-scare/2300-6418291/ Peter fills Shaun in on the unsettling environment featured in an The Evil Within demo he saw at PAX East 2014. Fri, 11 Apr 2014 16:46:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-evil-within-has-an-environment-built-to-scare/2300-6418291/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/how-will-the-30-new-cards-in-the-curse-of-naxxramas-affect-hearthstone/1100-6418933/ <p style="">Only five of the 30 new cards slated to be released for <a href="/hearthstone-heroes-of-warcraft/" data-ref-id="false">Hearthstone's</a> first single-player campaign--titled The Curse of Naxxramas--were <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/hearthstone-single-player-adventure-curse-of-naxxramas-announced-and-you-can-play-without-spending-a-penny/1100-6418919/" data-ref-id="1100-6418919">officially unveiled at PAX East 2014 today</a>. But if those cards are anything to go by, then it seems deathrattle is going to become a lot more common in Blizzard's recently released card game.</p><p style="">Deathrattle (abilities triggered upon a Hearthstone minion's demise) feature in four of the five new cards so far confirmed for The Curse of Naxxramas, and is apt considering the campaign's eponymous setting. In <a href="/world-of-warcraft/" data-ref-id="false">World of Warcraft</a>, Naxxramas is the floating necropolis of the archlich Kel'Thuzad--in other words, the undead have sway in this corrupted location. Players will be able to tackle this creepy area when The Curse of Naxxramas is released later this year, and marks the first of Hearthstone's single-player-focused Adventure Mode releases.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504232-curse+of+naxxramas+game+board.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2504232" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504232-curse+of+naxxramas+game+board.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2504232"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/225/2256286/2504232-curse+of+naxxramas+game+board.jpg"></a><figcaption>A spooky new board awaits in Naxxramas.</figcaption></figure><p style=""> </p><p style="">So what exactly is Adventure Mode? In this mode, players will do battle against a series of AI opponents to gain new cards. The Curse of Naxxramas will have five sections or "wings" to play through, with each wing featuring anywhere from three to four bosses. Cards are earned as you defeat bosses, with bonus cards also being awarded for clearing wings. Any card earned will be usable in Hearthstone's regular Play or Practice modes, while Naxxramas-themed cards will also be added to the mix in Arena matches. Only the first wing--the Arachnid Quarter--will be free. The subsequent four in Naxxramas will need to be purchased either through in-game gold or with real world money (although Blizzard has not confirmed what the cost will be). And your reward for completing all of Adventure Mode? 30 brand new cards, including class-specific ones earned by completing class challenges.</p><p style="">So how will the introduction of 30 new cards to Hearthstone affect the game's balance? Lead designer Eric Dodds says balance is something Blizzard is continually monitoring, with a new team created within the company that continually monitors balance issues.</p><p style="">"Before we had done a lot of balancing by what we thought was the right thing to do, and we did some internal balancing, but because we were in beta, there was also a lot of balancing going in because the community was helping out a lot," Dodds said. "But going forward, we now have a balance team making sure that all of these cards are balanced, because we have to make sure these are not cards that will break the game. So we have an internal team that is working on these specifically."</p><figure data-align="left" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504234-baron+rivendare.png" data-ref-id="1300-2504234" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504234-baron+rivendare.png" data-ref-id="1300-2504234"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/225/2256286/2504234-baron+rivendare.png"></a><figcaption>Baron Rivendare is afoot.</figcaption></figure><p style="">Dodds says the introduction of 30 new cards also has the potential to significantly impact Hearthstone's metagame. "What's interesting I think is there will be an interesting metagame happening during those four weeks as new cards come out, and decks suddenly change. Everything will be different, and then a week later, all these new cards come out. So over the course of the month we're going to see really interesting changes and shifts in the metagame."</p><p style="">"One of the cards I'm excited about is Baron Rivendare, because it makes deathrattles trigger twice. There will undoubtedly be things that happen that honestly we haven't even thought about as possibilities. There are certainly the simple ones where I have a harvest golem and I get two damaged harvest golems out of it. It's one of those things that I expect interesting combinations to come out of the community."</p><p style="">What happens, then, in the case of these new cards inadvertently unbalancing the game? Dodds says the solution is not to withdraw cards, but rather to empower players with solutions by introducing new cards into the mix.</p><p style="">"As far as card changes moving forward, our plan is, ideally, not to make any card changes because we want these cards to feel really solid in player's hands. That said, if something is clearly very out of hand--and that's a super subjective thing to say--then it's something we'll talk about," he said.</p><p style="">"But really what we want to do is when we feel the environment changes and changes in a way that doesn't work super well, is that we put additional cards out there in the player's hands that allow the player to take control. Because really the way we think about it is that we're just providing tools for the player to have a fun experience. So if it feels like they don't have the right tools for that experience, then we better put some more tools out there."</p><blockquote data-size="large"><p style="">If you choose to never put in a dime, you can still access all of the content over time.</p><cite>Hearthstone production director Jason Chayes.</cite></blockquote><p style="">For a game that has so far kept most of its gameplay modes free (buying cards and Arena are, of course, a different matter), the move to charging for a new mode is an interesting one for Hearthstone. But for production director Jason Chayes, the move still perfectly aligns with the game's goal of allowing players to access content in whatever way they please.</p><p style="">"We basically wanted to make it that no matter how you were experiencing Naxxramas, you were able to unlock the various wings for free just by earning the gold and unlocking it. That's an important philosophy we have for Hearthstone, is that if you choose to never put in a dime, you can still access all of the content over time. So that is a core part of how Naxxramas is designed. Beyond that, though, if a player is interested in getting to that content a bit faster, they can spend a bit more money and access it as well," he said.</p><p style="">The Curse of Naxxramas is set for release sometime in "summer" 2014 for PC, Mac, and iPad.</p><figure data-embed-type="gallery" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504241-baron+rivendare.png,http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504242-dancing+swords.png,http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504243-nerubian+egg.png,http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504244-shade+of+naxxramas.png,http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504245-undertaker.png" data-ref-id="1300-2504241,1300-2504242,1300-2504243,1300-2504244,1300-2504245" data-resize-urls="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/square_avatar/225/2256286/2504241-baron+rivendare.jpg,http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/square_avatar/225/2256286/2504242-dancing+swords.jpg,http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/square_avatar/225/2256286/2504243-nerubian+egg.jpg,http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/square_avatar/225/2256286/2504244-shade+of+naxxramas.jpg,http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/square_avatar/225/2256286/2504245-undertaker.jpg" data-resized="" data-resize-url=""><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504241-baron+rivendare.png" data-ref-id="1300-2504241" ><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/square_avatar/225/2256286/2504241-baron+rivendare.jpg"></a><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504242-dancing+swords.png" data-ref-id="1300-2504242" ><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/square_avatar/225/2256286/2504242-dancing+swords.jpg"></a><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504243-nerubian+egg.png" data-ref-id="1300-2504243" ><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/square_avatar/225/2256286/2504243-nerubian+egg.jpg"></a><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504244-shade+of+naxxramas.png" data-ref-id="1300-2504244" ><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/square_avatar/225/2256286/2504244-shade+of+naxxramas.jpg"></a><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2504245-undertaker.png" data-ref-id="1300-2504245" ><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/square_avatar/225/2256286/2504245-undertaker.jpg"></a><figcaption>The first five cards unveiled for The Curse of Naxxramas. </figcaption></figure><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p><p style=""> </p> Fri, 11 Apr 2014 16:34:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/how-will-the-30-new-cards-in-the-curse-of-naxxramas-affect-hearthstone/1100-6418933/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-top-5-5-year-old-hacks-xbox-one-the-last-o/2300-6418271/ Watch Dogs and The Last of Us Remastered deliver on the details, and a five-year-old outsmarts Microsoft but they still have the edge with the cloud Fri, 11 Apr 2014 16:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-top-5-5-year-old-hacks-xbox-one-the-last-o/2300-6418271/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-goliath-has-evolved/2300-6418290/ Shaun and Chris talk about their time with Evolve at PAX East 2014 detailing the new skill point system of the Goliath class. Fri, 11 Apr 2014 15:57:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-goliath-has-evolved/2300-6418290/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/diablo-iii-on-ps4-details-and-improvements/2300-6418288/ We sat down with Blizzard at PAX East 2014 to get a demo of Diablo III on PS4 which includes all the additions from Reaper of Souls and more. Fri, 11 Apr 2014 15:17:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/diablo-iii-on-ps4-details-and-improvements/2300-6418288/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/castle-crashers-dev-working-on-an-xbox-one-game-check-out-the-bizarre-concept-art-here/1100-6418932/ <p style=""> </p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2504193-game4.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2504193" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1179/11799911/2504193-game4.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2504193"><img src="http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1179/11799911/2504193-game4.jpg"></a><figcaption>Image credit: Destructoid</figcaption></figure><p style=""> </p><p dir="ltr" style="">Today at PAX East, <a href="/castle-crashers/" data-ref-id="false">Castle Crashers</a> developer The Behemoth revealed that it is working on an Xbox One game currently titled "Game 4."</p><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="http://www.destructoid.com/the-behemoth-is-working-on-an-undisclosed-xbox-one-game-273159.phtml" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Destructoid</a> first reported the news, adding that the game is expected to be playable this year. More information about it is scheduled to be released at events like San Diego Comic Con and PAX Prime.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The site also obtained a piece of concept art for Game 4, and it is bizarre indeed. I'm at a loss for words; what do you make of it?</p><p dir="ltr" style="">The Behemoth is best known for creating the Castle Crashers and <a href="/alien-hominid-hd/" data-ref-id="false">Alien Hominid</a> franchises. The studio also released <a href="/battleblock-theater/" data-ref-id="false">BattleBlock Theater</a> in 2013.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">It is not much of a surprise to learn that The Behemoth is working on an Xbox One game, as the company is <a href="http://news.xbox.com/2014/02/xbox-one-id-xbox-new-developers" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">one of the many developers</a> signed up for Microsoft's independent publishing program ID@Xbox.</p><p style="">We will have more on Game 4 as it becomes available.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on<a href="https://twitter.com/EddieMakuch" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false"> Twitter @EddieMakuch</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></td></tr></tbody></table> Fri, 11 Apr 2014 15:14:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/castle-crashers-dev-working-on-an-xbox-one-game-check-out-the-bizarre-concept-art-here/1100-6418932/
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