Befitting the series moniker, Monster Hunter games wouldn’t really be Monster Hunter games without, well, monsters to hunt. However, as reductively simple as that descriptor might seem, there have been literally hundreds of different monsters spread across a wide variety of titles in the series, so to say we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to a spot of monster smacking would be something of an understatement. With Monster Hunter Rise finally making its arrival on PC, we’ve decided to sharpen our swords and fasten our armour together with this handy guide outlining the toughest foes you’ll come across in the entire Monster Hunter franchise.
Extreme Behemoth
Arguably one of the most difficult foes to take down in the entire series, Extreme Behemoth (or ‘Extremoth’, as he’s affectionately known by players) is an absolute titan that effortlessly ranks as Monster Hunter World’s hardest monster. Found in the Elder’s Recess, the Extreme Behemoth is resistant to thunder and fire, has an *absolutely massive* amount of HP and can also cause bleeding and lob meteors and thunderbolts on your head when you expect it. You’ll need a fully stocked party of highly trained killers to even approach this nightmarish enemy and even then, your chances of winning are probably circling the toilet bowl. Best of luck.
Rajang
Very much in the running as one of Monster Hunter Rise’s most challenging enemies, Rajang presents nothing less than a resoundingly stout test for even the most adept and veteran of monster hunting parties. Appearing as a demonic goat gorilla from the deepest depths, the tenacious Rajang isn’t just one of the strongest enemies in Monster Hunter Rise, but also one of the fastest too, closing the distance between itself and its enemies at the blink of an eye. Oh but it gets better – in addition to its over the top physical gifts, Rajang can fry wannabe monster hunters with lightning strikes and stunlock them too.
Thunder Serpent Narwa
The final boss of Monster Hunter Rise’s hub questline, the fight with the Elder Dragon known as Thunder Serpent Narwa is a titanic encounter that is split into three phases – so that should provide some clue as to the magnitude of challenge you will be facing here. Possessing devastating telekinetic and thunder attacks, coupled with horrendously damaging physical strikes and a constantly changing pattern of attack across each phase of the encounter, taking on Thunder Serpent Narwa is an endeavour that requires much more than decent gear and good stats – you and all your buddies need to know each and every phase inside out in order to stand a chance. It’s time to get studying. And dying.
Lunastra
Another Elder Dragon that can be found within the confines of the Elder’s Recess, Lunastra continues the grand tradition of her race by being absolutely hard as nails and total pain in the backside to beat in a fight. Boasting many of the advantages that Elder Dragons typically possess, such as fire resistance, Lunastra goes a big ol’ step farther with a range of devastating abilities that allow her to heat the air to deathly temperatures, while also inflicting a crippling amount of damage over time on any group of hunters that are foolish enough to confront her.
Chameleos
Speaking of damage over time, that is quite literally the specialism of Chameleos; the resident poison-spewing Elder Dragon of Monster Hunter Rise. Making matters worse, not only can Chameleos burn through your HP like a hot knife through butter with its array of poison based attacks, but this Elder Dragon can also turn invisible at often the most inopportune of times. Expect to die (a lot) before you get the hang of tangling with Chameleos.
Now you’ve seen the toughest monsters that the series has to offer, it’s time to begin your journey to becoming the greatest monster hunter the world has ever seen. Grab Monster Hunter Rise at a great price right here and prepare for the battle ahead.
Science Fiction is the province of the dreamer; for those who think about what might be and where we might be going. It’s a space made of big ideas and bigger concepts, often involving space. Sci-Fi doesn’t just give us a roadmap for the future – it helps us dream impossible fears from our darkest nightmares, embracing many of the secret worries that we hold close.
Video games and Science Fiction walk hand in hand. From the very earliest days a Sci-Fi slant was intertwined with many games, and that is something that continues to this day. So to celebrate National Science Fiction Day on 2nd January, we thought it would be the perfect time to look back at some classic games and walk through the best Sci-Fi games of the 1990s.
Homeworld
Homeworld is proper Science Fiction. It’s set in a distant star system where a race of people (not entirely unlike our own) find out that their home world is not, in fact, their home world. So begins a journey to discover where they come from, beset by an alien species intent on destroying anyone who can travel faster than light.
With stunning space visuals, the best spaceship design in gaming and probably the finest intro to any game, Homeworld is an RTS with style and bags of Sci-Fi credibility.
Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri
Earth is a bit broken, so in an attempt to find somewhere to live, the U.N. sets out in a colossal ship to colonise Alpha Centauri. Unfortunately, humanity is still humanity, so we fracture on our long journey into many competing ideological factions.
If you’ve played Civilization II then Alpha Centauri will feel like coming home. However, as you explore this strange new planet, you’ll learn many things aren’t what they seem. For a start, the planet itself is alive, and may not entirely appreciate a tonne of warring humans on its surface. With a deep tech tree, many different ways to play and some truly creepy videos, Alpha Centauri is definitely one of the best Sci-Fi games of the 90s.
System Shock 2
The first System Shock was a cyberpunk exploration of a space station whose controlling AI has gone a bit wrong. The sequel takes the Science Fiction premise and doubles down on it, adding a thoroughly intense horror theme that’s still effective today.
Set on board the Von Braun – humanity’s first faster-than-light spaceship – you wake up and find that everyone’s dead. Well, nearly everyone. A voice in your head tells you to find them as you scamper and hide through the blood soaked corridors, surrounded by the evidence of something gone very wrong indeed. We won’t spoil what happens but if you have any interest in Science Fiction, immersive sims or horror games, you owe it to yourself to check out System Shock 2.
Fallout 2
Fallout 2 is one of those games that can be a little divisive, mainly because it has a somewhat lighter tone than the previous game in the series. What it does have going for it, however, is a much greater focus on Science Fiction. A bigger world has begun to recover from the fall of civilisation, containing many wonders…and new threats.
Set decades after the original game, you set out to find the GECK – a kit that allows you to revitalise an area of land, making it inhabitable once again. The game contains many non-canon elements but they’re always intensely fun to experience. Who doesn’t want to meet aliens, travel back in time through the Guardian of Forever to the original game, find a crashed Star Trek shuttle pod, or cross the bridge from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Beneath a Steel Sky
A common theme in much of Science Fiction, especially in video games, is that the future doesn’t turn out quite as well as we had hoped. In Beneath a Steel Sky, the world has become polluted beyond recognition, with many survivors living in colossal cities.
Beneath a Steel Sky sees you play as Robert Foster; someone who grew up amongst those eking out an existence in the wastelands after being lost there as a child. Accompanied by your robot sidekick Joey – whose personality you can transfer to other robotic shells – you enter Union City after being captured by security forces. What follows is one of the best point-and-click adventure games ever made. With a sequel now out, it’s well worth heading back to see how the story begins.
X-COM: UFO Defense
The original X-COM: UFO Defense (also called “UFO: Enemy Unknown” in Europe) basically wrote the manual on how to do a turn-based tactical combat game, and it does it with lashings of pulpy Science Fiction style.
Aliens are attacking Earth in classic frisbee UFOs, and it’s up to X-COM – the international clandestine defense network – to defeat them. Throughout the game you’ll build bases, defend cities, blow up invading UFOs, capture aliens, dissect them, discover new technologies and finally, take the fight to the alien headquarters. It’s a game that’s complete in a way that few are, giving you a look at all sides of the fight against aliens. If you’ve played the re-imagined XCOM series, this is definitely worth a look.
Duke Nukem 3D
Science Fiction doesn’t always concern itself with big ideas and musings on the future of humanity. Sometimes it’s also a big man, chomping on cigars, throwing out one-liners as he mows down a million alien cohorts on his way to get revenge for his blown-up spaceship.
Duke Nukem 3D was a revelation when it was first released. Not only for the quality of its shooting – which is still great – but for its sense of style. Mashing together B-Movie alien aesthetics, 1980s action hero sensibilities and recognisable, relatable environments, Duke Nukem 3D is a game that delights on many levels all at once.
StarCraft
There’s a reason StarCraft is still held up as a defining RTS that’s perfectly balanced and tuned, and that’s because it’s a defining RTS which is perfectly balanced and tuned. On the face of it the game’s simple; you build bases, gather resources, construct units, send those units out to fight. However, the game’s “rock, paper, scissors” approach to units means there’s almost endless variation in what you’ll be fighting against or using, and the game always keeps you on your toes.
Combine the sheer flawlessness of its gameplay with a presentation that goes for heady Science Fiction set on the frontier of human space, seeing humanity face off against elfin creatures with technology far beyond our own and a teeming race of organic monsters. StarCraft is a masterclass in setting as well as in pure gameplay, so is very much worth your time.
Day of the Tentacle
Historically, video games have had a hard time with comedy – often trying, often failing. Similarly, there are few Science Fiction comedies that really hit the mark, though they are becoming more common.
Enter Day of the Tentacle. Not only a time-twisting tale of madcap science gone wrong, but one of the funniest games ever made. If that’s not enough to tempt you to try out this highlight of 90s PC gaming, then the devious puzzles that litter its zany world are sure to keep you playing. Now available with a remastered version, there’s absolutely no excuse not to try out the legendary Day of the Tentacle.
Half-Life
No list of 90s Sci-Fi games would be complete without mentioning Half-Life. Newcomers to the series – coming in from the sequel or from Half-Life Alyx – may be surprised to see the difference in tone in this earlier work. It skilfully mixes a schlocky tale of a science experiment causing an alien invasion, with deeper world building that hints at something more going on.
Half-Life is a masterpiece and still stands up today. From the initial tram ride to explosive action facing down soldiers, aliens and even ninjas, Half-Life is a melting pot of Science Fiction ideas. And it weaves them together masterfully. Filled with puzzles and with a roster of weapons that’s as surprising as it is satisfying, there’s a reason Half-Life is an all time classic. Play it – you deserve to give it a try.
Honestly we could go on forever about 90s Sci-Fi games. Freespace, Another World, Blade Runner, Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday, Descent, Dreamweb…the list goes on and on. What’s your favourite Sci-Fi game from the 90s?
We have to admit that 2022 is already looking pretty stacked for top-tier game releases. The new consoles are finally getting into the swing of their lifecycle, and some eagerly-awaited games are coming very soon. With the development of many of the most highly-anticipated games being delayed thanks to the pandemic, it’s now full steam ahead for some top-quality gaming. So here are some of the hottest games that will finally be released in 2022.
Dying Light 2
It seems like the release date for Dying Light 2 has been on the edge of the horizon for so long now. However, come early Feb next year, it will actually be out! The Dying Light series has a big focus on traversal and parkour elements, with the sequel looking to take it to the next level.
The City is one of the last human settlements left and is on the brink of collapse, and you’ll make use of all your acrobatic skills to find interesting ways across rooftops as you fight off hordes of zombies and other threats. The gameplay looks fluid, fast and fun, and no doubt there will be lots of incredible action set pieces to be a part of across the vast open-world.
Starfield
Even though we’ve entered the final 12 months of Starfield’s release date, there is still very little known about the game, but Bethesda are promising an epic journey across space in this next-generation RPG.
What makes Starfield particularly special is that it’s the first new IP from Bethesda in 25 years. Taking to space for the first time is a whole new direction for Bethesda but with the Elder Scrolls and Fallout franchises providing years of memorable moments, Starfield should be in safe hands. What little we know sounds intriguing and come November 2022, players will be bursting with excitement to finally play.
Elden Ring
Let’s not mess around, this is probably the hottest title to be coming out next year. Not too long ago we got a really good look at the game, with some huge previews showing off lots of what will be on offer. No doubt the sneak peeks have sent hype through the roof for many!
Historically, developers FromSoftware have created stunning worlds that offer up some of the most challenging gameplay, and no doubt Elden Ring will be a similar story. A strong contender for one of the best video games of 2022.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl
We’re finally going back to the Chernobyl exclusion zone next year. The Stalker series has been one of the most revered cult classics and now we will get to see it in an entirely new glory. Expect deadly anomalies, violent mutated wildlife and fragile allegiances as you explore the vast open world and create your own story of survival amidst an epic branching storyline. It’s going to be terrifying, and we can’t wait.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2
Breath of the Wild changed how we approach open-world games and it lapped up so many awards for its freedom of gameplay, story, visuals…everything really. So it comes as no surprise that many are very excited for the sequel. After long bouts of silence surrounding Breath of the Wild 2 we finally got word that it’s coming in 2022.
As with Starfield, there are still a lot of unknowns about the game. However, we can expect Nintendo to build on the successes of the first game with verticality being a large focus if the trailers are anything to go by. One thing’s for sure, it won’t be long before people start sharing the craziest ways they can launch themselves across the map when the game’s finally out.
Get your wallets ready folks; 2022 is looking excellent. What are the games you’re most looking forward to in 2022? Let us know over at our Community Forum!
Rockstar’s gritty sandbox game series, Grand Theft Auto, is officially the most successful video game franchise to ever originate from the UK. And with the long-awaited (and recently patched) Definitive Edition, it’s now available for the most recent generation of consoles. There’s no getting around the fact that across all of the Grand Theft Auto games, the original trilogy has some of the best bits in the entire franchise. So we’ve put together this neat little feature which takes a look back at the best bits of the GTA Trilogy…and they really are the *best* bits.
GTA: Vice City – “Keep Your Friends Close”
The climatic storyline mission of GTA: Vice City, “Keep Your Friends Close” has protagonist Tommy Vercetti doing his best Scarface impression. He murders his way through an absolute legion of gun-toting goons before taking his well-earned place atop the Vice City criminal underworld. Filled with oodles of violence, piles of mind-warping powder and a good betrayal or two, GTA: Vice City’s final mission ranks up there with the very best bits of any game in the series.
GTA: San Andreas – “Just Business”
A standout mission from GTA: San Andreas, “Just Business” has CJ rescuing his best bud, Big Smoke, from the consequences of a deal that has gone catastrophically south. With no recourse but to literally get the heck outta dodge (well, Downtown), CJ and Big Smoke escape on a motorcycle, with the latter riding the bike in question and the former riding literal shotgun to deal with incoming enemies.
Generously stuffed with a seemingly never ending army of really rather angry Russian gangsters and an explosive set piece that looks like it belongs in the movies, “Just Business” is certainly a bombastic highlight when it comes to the best bits of the original GTA trilogy.
GTA 3 – “The Exchange”
In “The Exchange” – the final mission of GTA 3 – our mute protagonist Claude finally gets revenge on his murderousl insane ex-girlfriend by killing all of her remaining allies, before preventing her escape in a helicopter by sticking a rocket into it. After what felt like far too much time being on the back foot, Claude finally getting his revenge provided GTA 3 with the sort of satisfying, epic closure that Rockstar’s genre-defining offering arguably deserved.
GTA 3 – “Plaster Blaster”
One of the most hilarious bits of any game in the Grand Theft Auto franchise, the “Plaster Blaster” mission in GTA 3 has Claude taking on a mission from psychotic gangster Ray Machowski. After blowing up the apartment complex of some poor sap in a previous mission, players must chase him down to finish the job.
Where the (dark) laughs come in, however, is that this chap is pretty much covered in a plastered cast and is being transported in an ambulance to the nearest hospital. Naturally, this being a GTA game, the unfortunate chap falls out of the ambulance and can be promptly run over by Claude – cast and all – to complete the mission. Fun times!
GTA: San Andreas – “End Of The Line”
The final storyline mission of GTA: San Andreas, “End of the Line” has the story come full circle as players are whisked back to where it all began at Grove Street before all hell breaks loose. Easily the single most epic mission of any of the games in the original GTA trilogy, “End of the Line” has all the good stuff one would want from such an endeavour – betrayals, riots, prolonged gun battles, car chases and a final, climactic showdown with the nihilistic Officer Tenpenny.
Still absolutely breathtaking when played even today, End of the Line is a perfect example of how you cap off one of the greatest sandbox games ever made. Quite simply a sublime and raucous celebration of Rockstar’s commitment to open-world mayhem.
Halo games are events. Even if you’re not usually an FPS player, when they arrive you pay attention. 343 Industries have been tinkering hard at making the best Halo game they can and it seems they may have struck gold, especially with the Halo Infinite multiplayer options.
The game’s campaign is receiving plaudits across the world and the multiplayer – which soft-launched in a beta form a few weeks ago – is also receiving similar attention. So if you’re wanting to find out how to jump into this brand-new extravaganza, read on to get everything you need to know about Halo Infinite’s multiplayer.
How To Play Halo Infinite’s Multiplayer
Playing Halo Infinite’s multiplayer cannot be any simpler and that’s for one major reason – it’s free to play. To pick up Halo Infinite, you’ll just need an Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S or compatible PC. You’ll then be able to dive in and start playing.
Once you’ve downloaded the game you should be all set to start finding matches, destroying your opponents and falling into the game’s many, many pits. That’s not a metaphor; there’s a lot of pits to fall in, just like every Halo game.
Halo Infinite Multiplayer Modes
Included in Halo Infinite multiplayer are several different game modes to choose from when you’re planning on spending an evening blasting fools online. These are included in several different playlists, allowing you to dive in and play through a series of game modes. The playlists are being revamped and changed all the time, with player feedback proving pivotal to the changes 343 Industries are making to the game.
Here’s all the game modes currently available in Halo Infinite’s multiplayer:
Capture the Flag: Two teams fight against each other to capture a flag before bringing it back to your base to score points. Several variants exist, from Arena Capture the Flag to One Flag CTF, mixing up the action in several key ways.
Fiesta: This 4v4 deathmatch mode sees every player spawn with two random weapons and a random piece of equipment, meaning if you want to alter your loadout you’ll have to scavenge from the dead.
Oddball: Players in this mode must fight to keep control over a ball, scoring points for maintaining possession. A couple of different modes are included, including Standard Oddball and Oddball Free-for-All, which disposes of teams and sees players score points only for themselves.
Slayer: This is your standard deathmatch mode which again has several variations, from Team Deathmatch in Arena Slayer to FFA Slayer – a chaotic, everyone-for-themselves brawl.
Stockpile: This 12v12 battle mode tasks players with locating power seeds across the map before depositing them back at their base.
Strongholds: Originally seen in Halo 5, three zones appear across the map with players scoring points over time when controlling two or more.
Total Control: Another 12v12 mode, Total Control asks players to control three zones at once on a huge map. Once all three are controlled, the zones move to new locations. Scoring 3 points wins your team the match.
Halo Infinite Multiplayer Maps
There are tonnes of maps included in Halo Infinite right now, with more planned for inclusion with future updates. Here’s all the maps you can currently play through:
Aquarius: This is a symmetrical arena map set in an agricultural facility. Currently this map is available for CTF and Slayer modes.
Bazaar: Similar to maps set in New Mombasa, Bazaar is a market level that is available for CTF and Slayer fights.
Behemoth: This huge map is full of Forerunner ruins and technology, and can be played in Slayer and CTF modes.
Deadlock: This is currently one of the largest maps in the game, and this open Banished camp can be played in CTF, Slayer, Total Control and Stockpile modes.
Fragmentation: Similar to Blood Gulch, this is another colossal map that can be played in CTF, Slayer, Total Control and Stockpile modes.
Highpower: This canyon-based map is available for Big Team Battle modes across CTF, Slayer, Total Control and Stockpile modes.
Launch Site: Inspired by Halo Reach’s Countdown, you can play this small map in Slayer and CTF modes.
Live Fire: Oddball, Slayer and Strongholds modes are what you’ll be playing in this test facility.
Recharge: An asymmetrical map that can be played in Strongholds, Oddball and Slayer mode, testing your mastery of the game’s verticality.
Streets: Take to the New Mombasa streets in this map for Oddball, Slayer and Strongholds modes.
Halo Infinite Multiplayer System Requirements
Now you know what you’ll be playing if you dive into the huge world of Halo Infinite’s multiplayer, but you’ll also need to know if it’s possible to play. The only barrier to entry is if your PC meets the system requirements, so check below to see if your rig is beefy enough for the fight:
As the iconic Max Payne franchise celebrates turning 20, it’s fun to look back at what made the game so great. There wasn’t really anything else quite like the bullet-time, slow-motion shooter when it was released back in 2001. It was a gritty story of personal revenge told through the medium of a comic book-style storyboard, with Max’s grizzly voice narrating the journey. Let’s take a look back at some of the best Max Payne moments ever.
Bullet-Time
After the release of The Matrix in 1999, everyone wanted a piece of the bullet-time goodness. Max Payne was no different. Throughout the trilogy, you do a hell of a lot of slow-motion shooting, and it doesn’t really ever get old. However, the first time you got to experience it was something special. Launching yourself forward and having everything slow down around you at the touch of a button as your peppered bullets hurtled towards your enemies was a fantastically cinematic feeling.
The Presentation
Who can forget that wonderful grimace from the first Max Payne game? We all know Max has been through hell, so it’s understandable to see him looking so pained all the time. But it wasn’t just his contorted face that sold us on his pain.
The classic comic book storytelling accompanied by Max’s monotone narration throughout really helped sell the experience. Max Payne was a dark and grim tale and you see that through his eyes, experiencing the pain first-hand. The narration is iconic, and hearing it again immediately whisks you back into the world of Max Payne. Additionally, the sombre score used throughout to underpin the whole tragedy of the series is *Chefs Kiss*.
Pain and Suffering
With all of the emotional and physical pain and suffering Max goes through in the first game, he needs some sort of satisfying ending. When you finally get face to face with Nicole Horne – the main antagonist and the person who is ultimately behind the death of your family – in the Pain and Suffering mission, it’s a gratifying moment. Not only that, it’s also a really cool final mission. You face off against the “Killer Suits”, hiding and running from a helicopter that’s chasing you across floors as you try to catch Nicole. Finally, you bring her down with a completely over-the-top Hollywood ending where you crash a massive pylon on top of her helicopter. It kicks butt.
The Max “John McClane” Payne Era
By the time we get to Max Payne 3, Max has adopted a sort of John McClane look from Die Hard. Like most 80’s action heroes, he’s getting too old for this “stuff”. He lacks remorse and seemingly doesn’t care about most people anymore. But he’s still a badass, sliding down roofs whilst shooting people in slow motion and jumping from one speeding train to another just in the nick of time. Although to be honest, he’s not in a good way, both physically and mentally; remember, Max Payne is a dark tale.
However, that doesn’t stop him from shooting a grenade in midair, chasing down a jet and taking down the bad guys. He does spare one of them in the end too, so maybe he’s grown. The entire final game of the trilogy is an epic send-off for a guy who probably just wants a cold beer.
From Lucozade sponsorships to Angelina Jolie movies, the legacy of the Tomb Raider franchise is something to behold. After bursting onto the scene in 1996, Lara Croft has been kicking ass and partaking in questionable archaeological practices for 25 years, which is longer than most video games series stick around for. To mark the occasion, we’re going to run through our top five Tomb Raider games, which will no doubt annoy or elate you depending on your disposition.
5. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (2010)
Of all the Tomb Raider spinoffs that have surfaced over the years, this one is by far the best. Launching on Xbox Live Arcade in 2010, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is a top-down dungeon-crawler-come-puzzle-adventure, with superb destructible environments and challenging obstacles that you can play online with your friends. Crucially, it demands communication, which is the hallmark of any good co-op experience. Plus, the mythological set dressing is lovely to look at.
4. Tomb Raider II (1997)
A follow up that came merely a year after the iconic original, Tomb Raider 2 is remembered fondly by fans for its diverse environments, cool vehicles and exciting gameplay that pretty much finessed everything that the original did right. Who can forget exploring Croft Manor too, (and, of course, locking Winston in the freezer…)
3. Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015)
Another sequel that built on the brilliance of its forebears, Rise of the Tomb Raider is a stunning Siberian adventure that absolutely everyone should play. With brilliant puzzle design, a rich, weather-worn world to get lost in and some cool combat and crafting mechanics, it’s a great testament to Crystal Dynamics’ vision for the future of Lara Croft’s journey.
2. Tomb Raider (2013)
Rise of the Tomb Raider may have developed many of its ideas, but Crystal Dynamics’ original Tomb Raider reboot would be the game I’d recommend to anyone looking to play a modern Lara Croft game without any of the old-school mechanical chaff. With strong characters, gritty combat and brutal set pieces, it’s a wonderful hybrid that honours the old-school games while adapting to the modern action-adventure landscape which, at the time, was dominated by games like Uncharted.
1. Tomb Raider (1996)
Of course, the absolute classic had to come in first place. We wouldn’t have any game on this list without the original Tomb Raider; a groundbreaking 3D puzzle-platformer that shook the industry when it first landed in the mid-90s. Lara’s first outing gave us one of gaming’s greatest characters and hours of enduring fun fighting dinosaurs, bats and bears, all while solving fun puzzles and exploring moody environments. The best Tomb Rider game by far!
Mars has captivated humanity since the first time we looked up into the night sky and wondered at the lights we saw gleaming in the firmament. Today is no different – our art still explores the red planet in a myriad of ways. Indeed, the mysteries of our planetary neighbour have led NASA to declare an unofficial celebratory day for Mars: Red Planet Day. Taking place on 28th November, it is devoted to our planetary neighbour, encouraging learning, exploration, or simply just remembering that hey, Mars, you’re pretty alright – as rocky planets go. So we thought this would be the perfect time to explore gaming’s rich history dealing with Mars, with a look at the best Mars games of all time.
Surviving Mars
Ever since we learned we couldn’t walk freely on Mars, we have dreamed of colonisation. Surviving Mars sees you take on the role of a colony manager, building a new shining city on the face of the red planet. Explore, research, and build your way to a new haven for humanity amongst the stars, or fail horribly and start over – the choice is yours.
If you’ve ever wanted to get into city builders but feel that you’ve seen and done earth, Surviving Mars may be the game for you.
Martian Gothic: Unification
When you think about it, space is quite scary, so a Resident Evil-a-like Mars game does make sense. After all films, have plumbed Mars for horror for years now. Martian Gothic takes place on a mysteriously silent base on the surface of the planet, and mixes things up in several key, intriguing ways. You control three characters who must never, ever meet – if they do it’s a game over situation.
Additionally, you will never be able to kill any of the enemies assaulting you; you can stun them but they will reanimate and start their hunt all over again. This gameplay helps set Martian Gothic apart from pretty much anything else out there, making it a unique piece of gaming history.
Mars: War Logs/The Technomancer
Both Mars: War Logs and The Technomancer are set on Mars and delve deeply into this entirely original universe, created by French developer, Spiders. The theme has a heavy focus on the socio-political landscape of a distant cyberpunk future.
The first game sees you caught between rival factions as you try to survive in a terrible war over water. The second expands upon the world in every way, with you finding yourself on the run from the secret police as you attempt to make contact with Earth. Both games offer a fascinating look at the future and an extremely worn, lived-in world that’s like our own yet completely different.
Waking Mars
Waking Mars is truly something special. You play as an astronaut, exploring the surface of Mars. What happens afterwards sees you fall deep below the surface, learning all about the life which teems just out of sight of our earthly telescopes.
With wonderful sound design and gameplay that mixes together platforming, puzzle solving, and learning all about a huge roster of alien lifeforms, Waking Mars is a must for anyone who loves their games cerebral and full of wonder.
Red Faction: Guerilla
Sometimes you just want to blow something up, and there is still no game better for that than Red Faction: Guerilla. The third game in the Red Faction series shifts the focus from terraforming the ground to smashing up buildings.
Red Faction: Guerilla is about waging war on Earth’s oppressive government, destroying buildings and infrastructure in order to earn freedom for Mars. This game may be about a righteous uprising against a terrible government but in reality it’s all about smashing buildings and watching them crumble realistically into ruin. Destruction has never been so good and even now in 2021, it hasn’t been bettered.
Mars Horizon
Some games content themselves with being set on Mars, whilst others are all about the journey. Mars Horizon places you at the head of a space agency as you guide humanity to the red planet, designing rockets, building bases, and making sure your missions go off without a hitch.
If you’ve ever looked at NASA and thought you could do better, then Mars Horizon is definitely the one for you. With a heavy emphasis on realism and support from the European Space Agency, it feels like space is at your fingertips. A must-play for Red Planet Day!
Offworld Trading Company
Many strategy games focus on violence but Offworld Trading Company knows that there’s only one king of real violence in the universe: capitalism. In Offworld Trading Company you engage in economic Mars-based warfare against your rivals with a full range of options available to you in your quest to become the sole trader left standing.
Maybe you want to dive into a bit of hostile takeover action, maybe you want to sabotage their efforts, or maybe you simply want to corner the market on certain resources, starving your enemies as you become fat and rich on profit. This Mars game is a racketeer’s dream and the sci-fi setting helps make it feel entirely its own thing, setting it apart from any other strategy game out there.
Ultima: Worlds of Adventure 2: Martian Dreams
The Ultima series is responsible for many of the RPGs we hold dear today; from Western RPGs who walk in its footsteps to JRPGs like the Dragon Quest series, which is directly inspired by the fourth entry in the series. However, it’s not all sword and sorcery in Ultima. There are two spinoffs that take the Avatar to entirely new locales.
The second of these, Martian Dreams, sees the Avatar (you) team up with Warren Spector (of Deus Ex fame) in a Victorian-era adventure to the red planet itself. Fired by space cannon to Mars, you and a few adventurers explore the fate of the original Martians on the now barren planet. It’s inventive and full of RPG depth, making it a must-play for any fans of old school RPGs.
Doom(s)
No list of Mars games would be complete without mentioning Doom. Of course, despite many Doom games being set around Mars, most of them take place on various moons or other locations. The original is set on Phobos and Deimos (those are Mars’ moons, FYI), Doom 2 doesn’t go there at all, and Doom 64 may be set on Mars – we just don’t know, as the setting is only referred to as a “UAC Installation”.
It’s only Doom 3, Doom (2016), and Doom Eternal which feature the red planet directly. Doom 3 and 2016’s Doom in particular – despite being about demonic invasion – make sure that Mars takes centre stage. Doom 3 sees you needing oxygen to survive as you battle on the planet’s surface whilst 2016’s Doom takes you to wide titian vistas that stretch out as far as the eye can see, while you rip and indeed tear your way to victory. So whilst Doom may not always be directly set on Mars, the series is intrinsically tied to the planet in the imaginations and memories of everyone who’s ever played them.
Now we’ve taken you on a whistle-stop tour of gaming via Mars, you should be ready to take part in this year’s Red Planet Day. What’s your favourite Mars-themed game? Hit us up on our Community Forum; we’d love to hear from you!
Halo Infinite is so close it’s almost within reach; our hands can nearly touch the glass of Master Chief’s visor. Excitement is at fever-pitch for this latest installment in the long-running Halo series and with players already filling out the multiplayer mode in their droves, the buzz is extremely positive.
If you’re planning on picking up this next game in the series or want to know more about what everyone’s so excited about, then read on for everything you need to know about Halo Infinite.
What is Halo Infinite?
Created by series stewards 343 Industries, this marks the sixth main entry in the FPS series and looks to continue Master Chief’s story, acting as a sequel to Halo 5: Guardians. Published once again by Xbox Game Studios, the game looks to finish out the “Reclaimer Saga”, which started with Halo 4 and will take place on a damaged Halo ring named the Zeta Halo, or Installation 07.
The plot will see players take on the mantle of Master Chief John-117 once more as he seeks to find an artificial intelligence known as “The Weapon”. Together, they will attempt to locate his former friend and companion, Cortana.
Like in previous games, Halo Infinite includes both a campaign and a heavy focus on multiplayer. However, in a departure for the series, the multiplayer component is free to play!
Halo Infinite Release Date
Halo Infinite was initially planned for a 2020 release date but was delayed for obvious reasons. The full release is now due on 8th of December 2021.
Additionally, the multiplayer component of the game has been in open beta since the 15th of November, 2021, with progress carrying over to the full release. That means that to all intents and purposes, the multiplayer free-to-play mode is available right now. You’ll be able to play Halo Infinite on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Halo Infinite Trailers
Microsoft and 343 Industries have been very open with their trailers, diving deep into the campaign and Halo Infinite’s gameplay to ensure everyone has the information they need before heading down to Installation 07.
Below you’ll find the E3 2018 Announcement Trailer, Official Campaign Gameplay Premiere, a look at the multiplayer component, and overview of the game’s campaign and plot.
Halo Infinite System Requirements
You won’t need the beefiest system to get into Halo Infinite but you’ll definitely want to make sure your computer can handle all the explosions and epic vistas, especially if you’re planning on diving into multiplayer. Here’s Halo Infinite’s system requirements:
Minimum Requirements:
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10 RS5 x64
Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or Intel i5-4440
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: AMD RX 570 or Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 50 GB available space
Recommended Requirements:
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10 19H2 x64
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X or Intel i7-9700k
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: Radeon RX 5700 XT or Nvidia RTX 2070
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 50 GB available space
Now you should be ready to take the fight to the stars in Halo Infinite! Remember, you can pick up Halo Infinite for Xbox with us below, making sure you’re ready for everything the far future can throw at you.
Unbelievably, the original Xbox console is 20 years old. That little monolith that marked Microsoft’s first brave push into the world of video games is old enough to drink a pint in the UK, get married and more. So to mark the occasion, we’ve put together a small retrospective looking back at the first 20 years of Xbox. If you’ve got fond memories with this family of consoles, then you’ll enjoy this small trip down memory lane.
Xbox (2001)
Revealed to the public at the dawn of the millennium, the original Xbox pushed its way into a landscape dominated by PlayStation and Nintendo. With just 64 MB of DDR SDRAM and up to 10 GB of internal storage (!) you can really see how far we’ve come from a technical perspective. The Xbox is well remembered for its chunky controller, industrial Y2K menus and, of course, Xbox Live. Xbox Live was revolutionary for online multiplayer infrastructure, with games like Halo 2 becoming titans of the era.
But perhaps the most endearing part of the Xbox legacy is the console’s unusual exclusives. Weird games like Otogi, Voodoo Vince, Psychonauts and Jet Set Radio Future spoke to the ambitions of the plucky console. Even if it didn’t quite win the generational war, the Xbox made an enduring impact with its distinct design and superb software.
Xbox 360 (2005)
A golden age of Xbox dawned with the Xbox 360, which, in hindsight, absolutely dominated the seventh console generation thanks to an easy-breezy approach to online multiplayer, plenty of great third-party games and some strong exclusives. This is when franchises like Halo, Fable, Gears of War and Forza all hit their stride, producing some of the most memorable games of the past 15 years, and plenty of fond (and potentially upsetting) memories of Xbox Live party chats.
The quirky Kinect got us up and moving and interacting with games from a different perspective (even if that meant dancing to Star Wars-themed Jason Derulo songs) and who could forget the “blades” UI design that made jumping into games so seamless? Just don’t mention the red ring of death…
Xbox One (2013)
The Xbox One family of consoles oversaw some cool exclusives like Quantum Break and Sunset Overdrive, as well as the explosion of games as a service and scores of superb third-party multiplayer. It also helped Microsoft push towards the liberating Xbox platform that we now know and love. HDR and 4K/upscaling also arrived with the addition of the Xbox One X and S – which elevated the visuals of many modern games – as well as plenty of backwards-compatible Xbox and Xbox 360 titles.
Xbox Series X/S (2020)
Speaking of which, here we are in the 2020s with a brand-new, incredibly clever approach from Microsoft. Platform agnostic and cheap as chips, players can subscribe to the wildly-popular Xbox Game Pass service and get access to an unparalleled library of games across consoles, PC and the cloud. The Xbox Game Studios wheelhouse is also growing thanks to acquisition studios like Double Fine, Bethesda Softworks and Obsidian. The future looks extremely bright for Microsoft’s AAA output!
The strength of this generation can also be seen in the versatility and technical specifications of the dual consoles. The high-powered Series X can hit up to 8K with its monstrous 12 Teraflop internals, but the more affordable Series S is the ultimate 1080p games machine that can munch through most top titles and leverage the cloud where necessary to go beyond.
The more reserved minifridge and slimline designs of the X and S consoles also make them easy to slot into a modern living room. And console wars aside, Xbox has found itself in its strongest position in a long time, and is even using this time to reflect on the greater parts of its legacy with games like Halo Infinite.
It seems like we really don’t talk enough about just how good Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas was. The tactical, first-person shooter series traded its usual dark and grimy setting for the glitz and glamour of the Vegas Strip, and it was a blast – so much so that it inspired a sequel in Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2. Let’s take a look back at the best Rainbow Six Vegas missions, ranking them from worst to best.
6. Mexican Border
First on the Rainbow Six Vegas mission list is Mexican Border, the opening mission of the game. Your target is Irena Morales and you want to bring her in alive. Fighting your way through the streets filled with enemies, the game doesn’t feel too different to the familiar Rainbow Six formula. As you get to Irena, she sets off an explosion and causes a roof to cave in on you, knocking you out. When you awake, you have to fight your way through underground tunnels with minimal equipment. It’s a solid opener that gets the blood pumping, but it lacks the glitz and glam of the strip in later missions.
5. Downtown Vegas
Easing you into the story a little more is the third mission, Downtown Vegas. The Rainbow team heads to the Red Lotus casino to rescue a reporter named Trish Gracie. Fighting through the casino floors in the historic Fremont Street, Old Vegas is a darker and slightly moodier setting than the rest of the Strip missions. Being in the middle of the game, this mission – whilst good – is somewhat going through the motions of setting up bigger and better things to come.
4. Calypso Casino
The second mission changes things up as you take to the Vegas strip. Bright neon lights, music and the sound of slot machines are juxtaposed to the shooting and explosions as you fight your way from the main strip into the Calypso Casino. Rescuing hostages and escorting them safely out of the casino is all in a day’s work for your team. This is your first taste of the new Rainbow Six approach, and it’s a great intro to Vegas.
3. Vertigo Spire
Landing on top of the Vertigo Spire, you must fight your way down the floors through this luxury hotel. Lots of stacking up on doors and ordering your team to perform tactical and quiet takedowns is the order of the day as you make your way to Dr Williams. He informs you of two bombs – one of which has since been moved to an adjacent building which promptly explodes in the backdrop. It’s now up to you to get to the remaining bomb in your building and disarm it. With lots of tough firefights and loads of enemies to get through, this can be a challenging yet very fun mission.
2. Dante’s Casino
Another casino, another load of baddies to take out. This Rainbow Six Vegas mission has you infiltrating the still-under-construction Dante’s Casino. A huge bell in the tower falls, causing fires in the floors below. You must fight your way down the building repelling on the outside, breaching through windows and clearing floors with your team. It’s here that you find out Irena’s much bigger plan of attack and that Vegas was a distraction. Tension, action and great set pieces make this an excellent penultimate mission. The Nevada Dam is the real target and the location for the final mission.
1. Nevada Dam
Saving the best for last, the final showdown should always provide the most entertainment. The Nevada Dam mission doesn’t disappoint. It’s non-stop action with a bomb defuse, hostage rescue, stopping the dam from collapsing and finally, confronting Irena and putting a stop to her plans. An epic final mission wraps up a thrilling chase. Whilst it steps away from the strip it doesn’t disappoint with big action set pieces and makes a satisfying conclusion to an entertaining story.
If you grew up in the haze of Planet Hollywood and 00s MTV, there’s a chance you may have spent some time with the original Xbox. Microsoft’s first gaming console, it’s a monolithic beast that isn’t all that well-remembered compared to some of its peers, but still delivered some of the most fascinating games of the past few decades. Inarguably, many of the original Xbox games deserve to be brought back so a new generation can enjoy them.
Speaking of which, the original Xbox turns 20 this month, which is why we want to spend some time showing the black box some love. Read on as we acknowledge the games that defined its era.
Halo: Combat Evolved
Halo was the ultimate original Xbox game; the bottle of champagne that launched the good ship Xbox on November 15, 2001. A deeply-influential space shooter widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time, Microsoft is still trying to capture its brilliance decades later. Games like 343 Industries’ Halo Infinite are dying to evoke some of the series’ riveting roots. Who can forget the Assault on the Control Room, or that riveting escape in the warthog during the game’s finale?
Conker: Live & Reloaded
One of the best N64 games came to the original Xbox in style in 2005 after Microsoft bought British studio Rare. This is a beautiful relationship that has blossomed in the decades since, bringing us games like Viva Pinata and Sea of Thieves. Conker: Live and Reloaded remastered a superb single-player adventure with such strong art direction that it still holds up today via backwards compatibility on the Xbox Series X. And who can forget that manic, gore-covered World War 2 multiplayer mode in the early days of Xbox Live!
Psychonauts
Double Fine made its debut on the Xbox with Psychonauts; a fascinating, highly-ambitious 3D platformer about exploring the “mental worlds” of the afflicted and soothing their problems. A brave and hilarious cult classic about the power of empathy, Psychonauts resonated so much with fans in 2005 that it warranted a sequel, Psychonauts 2, more than 15 years later. If you want to relive the fun, you can grab it for PC below!
Jet Set Radio Future
Objectively one of the most stylish games ever made, Jet Set Radio Future offered superb soundscapes and slick soulful graffiti gameplay when it launched in 2002 and let players inline skate around a dystopian Tokyo. No game has managed to properly capture its cell-shaded style since, and without a remake or remaster for modern consoles, it has been left to flounder on the original Xbox for decades. If Microsoft was going to bring any game back for the 20th anniversary, it should be this one!
Otogi: Myth of Demons
Before Dark Souls, Japanese video games company FromSoftware delivered a gorgeous duo of third-person action-adventure games on the original Xbox; the Otogi series. With an inspired story, gorgeous vistas, stunning set pieces and (most importantly) fun combat, Otogi: Myth of Demons was a sign of things to come from the now legendary studio. Another game lost in time, so here’s hoping Otogi gets brought to modern consoles in the near future
What were your favourite games for the original Xbox? Let us know over at our Community Forum!
Konami’s Metal Gear Solid series is iconic; not only for it’s storytelling, gameplay innovations and world building, but also for it’s villains. Indeed, over the years the series has seen some truly amazing villainy. So as we reach the 20th Anniversary of Metal Gear Solid 2, let’s take a look back at some of the best Metal Gear Solid villains we’ve seen.
Vamp
Born in Romania, losing his family to a church bombing where he had to survive off of their blood after being buried by the rubble gave Vamp his taste for blood. Then being subjected to experimental nanomachines gave him his apparent immortality. Let’s face it, Vamp certainly had the makings of a villain early on. With his superhuman abilities including being able to parry bullets, run on water and scale walls, Vamp was an interesting and formidable boss. Some say he’s too cheesy, but then again the whole series can be a little cheesy or corny at times, so we’ll allow it.
Revolver Ocelot
As one of the longest-running characters, Revolver Ocelot is a true legend of Metal Gear Solid. A crack shot with the revolver after getting the recommendation from Snake to switch to using them…after Snake bested him and his squad, of course. He’s also someone not to be trusted. However, Ocelot has been a mainstay in the franchise for a reason; he’s always someone you can rely on for some entertainment and has been an integral part of many Metal Gear storylines.
Gray Fox
The franchise is full of icon after icon, and Gray Fox is another that can’t not be mentioned. He’s gone from hero to villain, to cyborg ninja, to hero again. Originally a child soldier, he was the only operative within FOXHOUND to be given the highest commendation of “Fox” and decorated five times. Originally an ally and comrade-in-arms to Solid Snake, his loyalty to renegade commander Big Boss later changed that and forced him to fight with Solid Snake. Gray Fox has been around the block and Snake has faced off with him numerous times. Also, who doesn’t like a badass cyborg ninja?
Big Boss
Is there a more important character in Metal Gear Solid than Big Boss? From protagonist in Snake Eater to one of the major antagonists, Metal Gear wouldn’t be the same without him. He was once considered the greatest soldier in America with an entire government project created to try and clone him, which gave us Solid Snake, Liquid Snake and Solidus Snake. You have to be pretty special for an entire government to want to clone you for soldiers. He’s been around for as long as the franchise and has taken many names along the way.
Liquid Snake
Liquid Snake is pretty much everything his twin brother Solid Snake is not. After both were created as part of the super-secret-super-soldier program Les Enfantes Terrible, Liquid became the leader of FOXHOUND during the Shadow Moses Incident. With an IQ of 180 and the ability to speak seven languages, he is an impressive figure. The final showdown with his twin brother is a legendary battle fit enough for any game. Finally confronting each other atop Metal Gear Rex, we eventually get treated to an epic hand-to-hand battle of two almost entirely-identical people. A true test of who is the superior fighter.
Psycho Mantis
He’s probably one of the most memorable bosses in gaming history, not just Metal Gear. Psycho Mantis was a member of FOXHOUND and took part in the takeover of Shadow Moses Island. When you encounter him in that wooden panelled office, he starts to show you his powers by breaking the fourth wall. Reading what games you’ve played from your memory card and having to switch controller ports in order to beat him is a moment people will never forget. Having the fourth wall being broken right in front of your eyes as Psycho Mantis uses his powers in a video game was something unheard of; it was entirely original, and fans have never forgotten it.
Metal Gear Solid might be a confusing story to follow at times, packed with dialogue and cutscenes. But there is no denying that the characters and especially the villains do an excellent job of making all those lengthy speeches worth it.
Share with us your picks for the Best Metal Gear Solid Villains over on our Community Forum. You can also pick up a copy of the awesome Metal Gear Solid V below!
As anyone with even a passing acceptance of video games will know, some of the best examples of the medium are those that have cracking sidekicks; those special companions that define the journey that you go on and who remain by your side when the brown stuff goes down. As such, it’s certainly fair to say that gaming isn’t lacking in great companions to accompany players on their adventures. So without further ado, here are our picks for some of the best video games sidekicks.
Atreyus – God of War
The son of the titular, very angry and also very beardy God of War, young Atreyus is something of a prodigy – deftly learning hunting and combat skills under the exacting and thankless eye of his world weary dearest dad. Able to meaningfully support his hard-hitting padre during combat while also providing a keen eye for danger, Atreyus certainly compliments Kratos rather than hinders him when things get spicy. Arguably more than anything though, Atreyu’s true value as a sidekick lay in how he humanises the God of War, pushing him to open his heart little by little to the son he thought he would never have. Awww.
Bullet – Blair Witch
Look, dogs are great – everybody knows this. But when it comes to pure heroism, you’ll struggle to find a more reliable sidekick than the ever loyal Bullet in Bloober Team’s superb Blair Witch adaptation. The bestest furry buddy of mentally-disturbed ex-copper Ellis Lynch, this compassionate yet alert Belgian Malinois helps to keep our main protagonist sane in what is – to all intents and purposes – a waking nightmare filled with evil. Not only that, but he also scouts out danger and can find hidden collectibles too.
Cleverly, Bullet will also respond appropriately to how he is treated. Reward him with a treat for doing something well and he’ll wag his tail happily and seek to do well next time. Scold him, however (don’t you dare), and his ears will descend and that tail will end up between his legs, rendering him ultimately less compliant as a result. Quite simply, Bullet is the Bestest Boy and deserves *all* the treats. Case closed.
Cortana – Halo
Existing side by side with the towering Master Chief for nearly 20(!) years now, the endlessly formidable AI known as Cortana is able to control fleets and research millions of years of cosmic history in a split second. Despite her seemingly-omniscient power, it’s Cortana’s relationship with Master Chief that has arguably proven to be one of the bedrocks of Halo’s substantial appeal, as their bond is arguably that of soulmates. This is a fact rendered all the more remarkable given that one is a genetically-engineered super-soldier and the other is a highly-advanced AI. Cortana is so awesome Microsoft even decided to name its own Alexa-style virtual assistant after her. See what I mean? Cortana is legit.
Tails – Sonic The Hedgehog
Perhaps the most famous of all video game sidekicks, the affable and infinitely cheerful Miles “Tails” Prower has been side by side with Sega’s blue speedster for nearly 30 years, helping him vanquish foes and collecting rings aplenty. An eternal optimist that is seemingly always ready with a smile and an encouraging word, this twin-tailed Kitsune is one of the longest-serving and most famous video game sidekicks ever, and it’s easy to see why.
Elizabeth – BioShock Infinite
Though her innocent ocean-blue eyes and initial demeanour might suggest that Elizabeth is something of a meek heroine, that couldn’t be further from the truth. After being liberated by the main protagonist of BioShock Infinite – the somewhat mercenary Booker DeWitt – a connection grows between the two. Elizabeth simultaneously peels back the edges of reality and slowly begins to thaw the heart of Mr. DeWitt, exposing him to a love and a universe of possibilities he had no idea even existed. It also doesn’t hurt that Elizabeth can wield her reality-altering abilities to aid Booker in his quest, all the while quite literally saving his life a good number of times to boot.
Sadie Adler – Red Dead Redemption 2
Pretty much made of full proof Tennessee whiskey and stinging comebacks, it can only be the wonderfully-abrasive Sadie Adler. She is just one of a number of folks that accompany the grizzled Arthur Morgan on his journey through the dying days of the old American West in Red Dead Redemption 2. Of the bunch though, she is most certainly the best. Able to drink any man under the table, out-quip anybody foolish enough to give her lip and outdraw just about anyone else in the West, Sadie Adler embodies the ramshackle romance of the rough Wild West with flair and aplomb. Oh and don’t call her a “Southern Belle”, either. It might score you a free headbutt.
That’s it for our roundup of the best video games sidekicks. Some honourable mentions from the Green Man Gaming team include Dogmeat from Fallout, The Last of Us’ Ellie, and the inimitable Diddy Kong. But who gets the prize for the best sidekick in your book?
Time marches ever on, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make time to look at where we’ve been. RPGs have evolved considerably over the last few decades and have become one of gaming’s most popular genres. Now, if you pick up an RPG you’re almost guaranteed a smooth, slick experience that’s fulfilling, beautiful, and rich in dialogue and consequences.
Back in the 90s, however, things were different. It was a time of unparalleled experimentation, a time when games didn’t have a rulebook so things were flung at the wall. Most ideas didn’t stick but a few were solid gold, expressing new and inventive ways of play. Some even stand up today; maybe not graphically, but they contain gameplay ideas that definitely stand the test of time. So take a trip back through the mists of time to an era where games were often broken but often brilliant. Here’s our list of the best 90s RPGs for PC.
Albion
Bluebyte is a development team best known for the Settlers and Anno series. Back in 1995, however, they made something different; an RPG. Well, calling it an RPG is probably a bit reductive. It’s a first-person isometric turn-based real-time dungeon-crawling semi-open world sci-fi fantasy role-playing game.
If that sounds like a mouthful, it’s because it is – Albion is an absolute beast of a game, featuring multiple game modes it swaps between depending on what you’re doing. Not only does it mash together multiple RPG genres into a fascinating melange, it also features a rich story about colonialism and imperialism – something that definitely needs to be experienced.
Also it has gaming’s best toilets, and that’s a fact.
Ultima VII: The Black Gate
The Ultima series revolutionised PC RPGs in the 80s and with Ultima VII: The Black Gate, it did so all over again for the 90s. This open-world adventure sees you take on the mantle of the Avatar as you return to Britannia again. This time, however, something’s wrong; there’s no apparent crisis calling you back to this alternate reality. What follows is a true open-world game – you can head anywhere almost right from the start and explore a huge world to your hearts’ content. Not only that, the world itself is incredibly interactive, letting you bake bread, fire cannons and weave garments, all of which help flesh out a fully living world.
Fallout
If you’ve only played the Fallout series since Fallout 3, you might be surprised at just how different its origins are. The original Fallout was a much more serious affair, though not without its own brand of wry satire, featuring isometric, turn-based, in-depth combat. Set in the apocalyptic ruins of California, you set out from Vault 13 to find a replacement for your home’s broken water chip. What awaits you outside is danger, danger and more danger, though you won’t have to face it alone. Fallout is heartbreaking and desolate, yet still somehow full of hope. A true gem even today.
Baldur’s Gate
There are few names as well known amongst RPGs as Baldur’s Gate, and for good reason. The original Baldur’s Gate made Dungeons & Dragons accessible for the first time, wrapping it up in a real-time-with-pause system that still makes sense today. The storyline starts simple but soon ramps up the stakes, taking in the entirety of the Sword Coast and even beyond. With a remastered version now available, there’s no excuse not to dive into one of the best RPGs of all time.
Planescape: Torment
If Baldur’s Gate revolutionised role playing games on PC, then Planescape: Torment took the next step. By de-emphasising combat and making the player truly in control of their actions and decisions, Planescape: Torment paved the way for modern RPGs
Of course that’d mean nothing if the game wasn’t actually good. Thankfully, with its mysterious setting in a universe completely unlike ours, it really is. Planescape: Torment is an all-time classic and much like Baldur’s Gate, there’s now an enhanced edition available to bring it bang up to date.
The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
There’s only one word you can apply to Daggerfall; vast. With a world the size of Great Britain and thousands of towns and dungeons to explore, you could be forgiven for being afraid to delve into its treasures. Daggerfall is by no means flawless, but as a testament to ambition it simply cannot be beaten. Doing procedural generation before we called it procedural generation, it’s one of the largest games ever made. If you like your RPGs meaty then you cannot do better than this.
Betrayal at Krondor
Many RPGs attempt to feel like a fantasy novel but only Betrayal at Krondor achieves it, simply because it had the backing of Raymond E. Feist. It even became canon in his long-running Riftwar series of novels. Betrayal at Krondor features an entirely unique RPG system with character development and attributes that help your party feel completely unlike anyone else’s. Add in brilliant world-building and some truly devilish puzzles, and you’re onto a classic.
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy is a series never afraid to reinvent itself and the biggest leap – both in storytelling and visual design – was Final Fantasy VII. Whilst the PC port at the time wasn’t amazing, it still managed to capture a generation’s hearts. There’s a reason that spending time with Cloud, Tifa, Aeris and co is part of many people’s formative experiences playing RPGs. FFVII is one of the best 90s RPGs for PC – not only because of its scope and quality, but also because it’s one of the few console-style JRPGs we had access to, and that makes it utterly beloved as a result.
Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager
The original Dark Sun: Shattered Lands was a gritty exploration of the desert planet Athas, seeing your group of gladiators escape from an arena to face off against an entire army. The sequel, Wake of the Ravager, seemed like it would be much of the same. Instead we got something truly weird, embracing the stranger things found in Dungeons & Dragons…many of which have never been explored again. If you think D&D is just elves and wizards then pick up Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager. It’s truly eye opening.
Eye of the Beholder
Dungeon crawlers are a staple of PC RPG-ing, and they’ve never been better than in Eye of the Beholder. Taking place deep underneath the city of Waterdeep, you and your party have to find a mysterious evil and make your escape intact. It’s simple stuff narratively but it comes backed with an innovative approach to party management, brutal fights and puzzles that are tricky, but not too fiendish. With several sequels you can port your party into, once you dive into Eye of the Beholder you won’t be coming back for a while.
90s RPGs remain some of the high points of the genre, and though we’ve covered some of the highlights we’re sure we’ve missed some. So what do you think are the best 90s RPGs for PC?
When the year begins to draw to a close, the nights get longer, and Halloween approaches like a dark spirit, it’s natural that our thoughts turn to horror. Gaming is a medium uniquely suited to scaring the living daylights out of you, with many of the scariest games able to make you scream out in fear.
There are tonnes of terrifying experiences available to play but only a few are deserving of being on our list of the scariest games of all time. Read on to explore the depths of fear with us.
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
When many think of scary video games they will naturally think of Amnesia: The Dark Descent. By making the simple act of looking at the enemies a thing you’re incentivised to avoid, the game’s roster of monsters become even more terrifying in the mind. It’s this core game mechanic that helps enshrine it as one of the scariest games of all time, and this crown isn’t likely to be lost any time soon.
The Convenience Store
The Convenience Store is a game about working the night shift at a small shop. Small in scope but with an art style that veers wildly between nostalgic and horrifying, The Convenience Store is a game that won’t take long to play but will last with you for many long, sleepless nights. If you have a spare hour or two and want to feel dread ooze from every pore, The Convenience Store is the game for you.
Silent Hill 2
The Silent Hill series excels at horror, taking the Resident Evil formula and twisting it into a psychologically terrifying set of games that delve deep into the psyche of its protagonists. Not only is Silent Hill 2 brimming with scary ideas, its monsters are deeply creepy even when not outright attacking you. To stand on Silent Hill 2’s streets is to experience a unique brand of fear.
Phasmophobia
You’d think that bringing some friends along would make things less scary. Phasmophobia turns that on its head, showing that fear is absolutely contagious. As a group of paranormal investigators you’re tasked with exploring haunted locations, gathering evidence. What happens after that can go quickly from comedy to terror, making Phasmophobia a worthy inclusion in our list of the scariest games of all time.
Condemned: Criminal Origins
One of the staples of horror is taking something normal, humdrum, mundane, and making it threatening. In Condemned: Criminal Origins, you’ll be mostly facing off against humans and exploring areas that could be considered dull, but this game manages to impart true terror into every aspect of its design. Its finale set in a house – much like yours! – is a masterpiece of horror game design.
System Shock 2
The oldest game on this list, System Shock 2 still manages to stand tall as one of the scariest games of all time. This immersive sim set on a spaceship never lets up with the horror, with the levels themselves almost seeming hostile to your presence. Its voice work in particular is key to the frights; from the broken AI voice of Xerxes to the plaintive cries of the mutated crew, asking you to kill them before they strike you down.
Outlast
Outlast sees you take on the role of an investigative reporter, exploring a psychiatric hospital armed only with your trusty video camera. It’s this camera that leads to some of the game’s scariest moments, as you’ll peer through it to see in the dark, only to find something lurking there. Its DLC, Whistleblower, ramps up the horror even further, providing a brand of terror rarely seen in the male-centric world of video games.
Resident Evil VII: Biohazard
The Resident Evil series has never been afraid to experiment with its formula, with that experimentation reaching new heights in Resident Evil VII: Biohazard. Taking the player into the first person as you explore the decrepit and mutant-filled Baker Mansion, it isn’t just the scariest Resident Evil game, it’s definitely one of the scariest games of all time. With the ability to play the game in VR, that horror is amped up even more. Play carefully!
Those are our picks for the scariest games of all time, what’s but your favourite game for giving yourself a fright? Head over to our Community Forum and let us know.
main, The Dark Pictures Anthology, Supermassive Games, PC, Survival Horror
The third entry in Supermassive Games’ The Dark Pictures Anthology series, House of Ashes, is now available, continuing the franchise’s tradition of spine-chilling horror. This latest installment introduces a new story with terrifying monsters that will live up to the series’ usual standard of fear.
As the third game in the anthology, House of Ashes follows Man of Medan (2019) and Little Hope (2020), expanding on the interactive drama experience the series is known for. Set in an ancient temple, House of Ashes features a fresh set of monsters, distinctly different from the disfigured demons of Little Hope and the fused skeletal horrors of Man of Medan.
In this article, we’ll explore the premise of House of Ashes, examine some of the new gameplay features, and take a look at the terrifying creatures you’ll encounter in this latest chapter.
Story & Gameplay Explained
Starring Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical), Moe Jeudy-Lamour (Ted Lasso), Paul Zinno (Future Man), Alex Gravenstein (X-Men: Dark Phoenix) and Nick E. Tarabay (The Expanse), House of Ashes follows a group of American and Iraqi Army soldiers who get pulled into an ancient Sumerian temple deep beneath the desert during the events of the Iraq War.
Players who dare to explore the House of Ashes will have to regroup, chart the ruins and forge new connections to survive while fending off some seriously spooky monsters. And because this is a Supermassive Games joint, every character that you play can die or survive depending on your actions, with the game offering multiple endings.
House of Ashes will also feature online and local multiplayer modes so that, thankfully, you don’t have to endure the horrors of the temple alone. New features for this entry in the series include changes to the game’s camera (which is no longer fixed), and scaling difficulty on the quick time events you need to complete to survive.
The Monster of Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes
While the characters who meet each other in the temple can potentially become enemies due to their military allegiances, the main threat is the House of Ashes monsters; large winged beasts with sharp claws that lurk in the shadows of the temple. Called Pazuzu by the ancient Sumerians, they look a lot like bats and seem seriously formidable, able to decapitate the survivors with ease and pull them into the depths of their domain. Players will have to control their breathing, complete quick-time events and stay stealthy to avoid the creatures in their quest to survive.
Warning – spoilers ahead!
The intrigue of the The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes monsters is a major plot point. It therefore goes without saying that if you want to find out for yourself during gameplay, don’t click below to read on. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
[su_spoiler title=”IF YOU’RE SURE YOU WANT TO KNOW, YOU CAN CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THE MONSTERS.” style=”default”]Over the course of House of Ashes, you will eventually find out that the monsters are face-tearing, blood-sucking vampires. And as if it could get any worse, they’re alien vampires at that. The creatures that became the vampires were infected with an alien parasite that mutated them into the abominations seen in the game. Players will also face human enemies that have been reanimated and turned bloodthirsty by the alien parasite that afflicted the creatures.
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You’ll no doubt have now played Back 4 Blood (or at the very least, read our previous blogs about it) by now, so you’ll know a lot about this intense co-op focused shooter that will have you facing off against hordes of infected zombies. In order to stand a chance against the Ridden, you’re going to need guns. Lots of guns. And with loads of ranged weapons as well as melee weapons to choose from and buy from vendors as you progress, you certainly won’t find yourself short of choice. Here’s our guide to all the Back for Blood weapons that you’ll be able to wield.
Assault Rifles
All Back 4 Blood guns have their own attachment slots, allowing you to improve the weapons stats. Assault rifles are good for dealing with large numbers Ridden at a good range. The AK47, SCAR and M4 Carbine are fully-automatic options, whilst the M16 has a three-round burst. You could also try The Ranch Rifle; a semi-automatic rifle with high damage output.
Submachine Guns
If you’re getting a little more up close and personal then the various submachine guns are excellent for that. All submachine guns are automatic and you can choose from MP5, UMP45, Uzi and Vector. They will do a little less damage than most auto rifles but their higher rate of fire typically makes up for that.
Light Machine Guns
There are two Light Machine Guns to choose from and as you’d expect, both are fully automatic. The M249 has a higher rate of fire and lower damage output, whereas the RPK is slower firing yet deals more damage.
Shotguns
Shotguns do massive amounts of damage at short ranges. The AA12 is the only fully-automatic shotgun, whereas there are two pump-action shotguns in the form of the 870 Express and TAC14. Finally, the Super 90 is a semi-automatic shotgun.
Sniper Rifles
If you’re looking for precision and high damage from your Back 4 Blood weapons then the sniper rifles are your best options. With three on offer – all semi-automatic – they deal high damage and can take many targets out in one hit. They’re also ideal for exterminating the Ridden at a long distance. The Barrett M95, M1A and Phoenix 350L are the three sniper rifles on offer.
Side Arms
Serving as secondary weapons, there are 9 different sidearms to choose from. There are 4 semi-automatic options; the Beretta M9, Desert Eagle, Glock 23, and the M1911. There is also a 3-round-burst version of the Beretta M9, as well as two fully-automatic guns in the Glock 23 Auto and TEC 9. Finally, choose the 357 Magnum for a double-action revolver with a real kick, or pick the double-barrel shotgun known as The Belgian.
Melee
Finally, we have the melee options, which also serve as secondary weapons. They’re all classic melee weapons, consisting of a Baseball Bat, Fire Axe, Hatchet, Knife and Machete; there for the picking for when you run out of ammo.
There’s no shortage of weapons to choose from when you’re facing off against the Ridden, so don’t be afraid to mix it up a bit and see what you like. Perhaps you’re more of a melee fiend, or maybe you like to keep your distance. Whatever suits you, you will find a weapon that fits.
Not yet had a chance to see off the Ridden? Head over to the Green Man Gaming Store to pick up the Standard, Deluxe or Ultimate Edition for PC or Xbox!
main, Back 4 Blood, Turtle Rock, crossplay, co-op, shooter, survival horror, warner bros, zombies
Much like Left 4 Dead, Back 4 Blood – Turtle Rock Studios’ spiritual successor to the zombie shooter mega hit – focuses a lot on co-operative play. Being able to play with friends around the globe is one of the main parts of the game. Sure, you can play the game on your own if you want to, but Back 4 Blood was designed with co-op in mind and is the best way to play. With such a focus on playing co-op, Back 4 Blood crossplay is a much requested feature. So here’s our run down on Back 4 Blood crossplay and multiplayer.
Back 4 Blood Crossplay
The good news is that yes, Back 4 Blood does feature crossplay. In fact, not only is crossplay available between console versions of the game, but PC players can also play with console players in the co-op campaign. PC players can team up with people on both Xbox and Playstation versions of the game as well as Xbox players being able to play with Playstation owners. Pretty neat!
But what about couch co-op in Back 4 Blood? Unfortunately, while a much beloved gaming feature of the past, split-screen or couch co-op is not available in Back 4 Blood.
Enabling Crossplay
Should you want to play with others on different platforms you will have to ensure that crossplay is enabled within the game. Thankfully, it’s a fairly simple thing to do. All you have to do to enable Back 4 Blood crossplay is head to the Matchmaking options. Then scroll down to the option that reads “Crossplay” and make sure it is set to “on”. That’s it. Now you will be able to invite players from other platforms through the game to join your lobby.
You will also notice that there is a private campaign option here. Enable this if you don’t want strangers joining your lobbies; It will be restricted to friends only and you’ll be able to play with them even if there aren’t four of you. Should you wish to switch crossplay off again, then head to the same place and choose the “off” option. That’s all there is to it!
Not got your copy yet? Get the Standard, Deluxe or Ultimate Edition from the Green Man Gaming Store!
Arguably one of the spookiest and most inventive survival horror efforts of 2012, Alan Wake returns to PC and modern consoles with a whole new coat of paint in Alan Wake Remastered. As with any remaster, however, it begs the question – just what are the Alan Wake Remastered differences and changes? Well, that’s what this handy guide is here to address, as we once more return to the creepy idylls of Bright Falls.
Alan Wake Remastered’s All-New 4K Resolution Visuals
Honouring its namesake duly, the Alan Wake HD remaster boasts a substantial overhaul of its visuals that help to bring a survival horror classic kicking and screaming onto PC and console platforms in 2021. Remastered in razor-sharp 4K resolution at a super-smooth 60 frames per second with highly detailed textures, improved lighting and shadow effects to match, Alan Wake now looks better than ever. The result is a fresh sheen to its real-time gameplay and cinematic sequences.
Reworked Animations & Cinematics
Underscored by the improvements brought to resolution, texture quality and other effects, Alan Wake Remastered also does good work where the animations and cinematics are concerned. Not only have animations been remastered to look much more lifelike, but a raft of modern visual effects have also been implemented into the cinematic cutscenes that were not previously available.
A Definitive Content Offering
Much more than just applying a remastered veneer to the base game, Alan Wake Remastered also includes all of the previously-released expansion content for the game too. This means that players will gain access to The Signal and The Write story campaign expansions at no extra cost and, of course, extensively remastered in eye-popping 4K resolution. Quite simply, if you were ever on the fence about Alan Wake, now is the time to jump in.
All-New Commentary Track
With just shy of a decade passing since the release of Alan Wake back in 2012, sufficient time has passed for its Director and Writer, Sam Lake, to reflect on its development and subsequent reception by gamers around the world. As such, this has resulted in the production of an all-new commentary track that is exclusive to Alan Wake’s HD remaster. Much more than just a painterly touch up of the original game, this remaster looks like a roundly robust offering for Alan Wake stalwarts and newcomers alike.
Alan Wake Remastered DualSense Functionality On PlayStation 5
In addition to all of the aforementioned visual upgrades, commentary track and comprehensive content offering, Alan Wake Remastered also provides PlayStation 5 owners with DualSense functionality. In practice, this means that the DualSense controller will provide varying and considered levels of haptic feedback in accordance to the on-screen action, providing this remastered version with another layer of immersion with which to ensnare the player.
If It Isn’t Broke, Don’t Fix It
Though Alan Wake Remastered brings a wealth of improvements to the table, developer Remedy Entertainment has been keen to maintain the essence of the original game. This means longtime Alan Wake players who are familiar with the base game will be able to slip right into this remastered version with ease, while new players will find its timeless mixture of Stephen King style atmospherics and survival horror mechanics to be utterly captivating for the very first time.
