Game Infliction, Author at Game Infliction

WD’s blindingly-fast SN850x PCIe 4.0 SSD is down to $100 for 1TB

Solidigm P41 Plus 2TB at $99.99, and now it’s time to look at one of the very fastest PCIe 4.0 SSDs, the WD SN850x. It’s down to $99.99 for a 1TB model and $159.99 for a 2TB size, a new low price for each capacity and a great deal for our top PCIe 4.0 SSD recommendation.

This SSD is only really rivalled by the more expensive Samsung 990 Pro, our overall ‘fastest SSD‘ recipient, with both options offering random write performance well over 1M IOPS and sequential read speeds of up to 7300MB/s, at the very limit of the PCIe 4.0 standard.

Summary

Xbox Version of Valheim Targeting March 2023 Release Date

According to Embracer Group, Valheim’s long-awaited Xbox version will be released in March 2023 and it will be on Xbox Game Pass on day one.

The news comes by Embracer Group’s Q3 FY 22/23 earnings report, in which it says, “Valheim, developed by Iron Gate and published by Coffee Stain, is planned for release on Xbox Game Pass in March.”

While we don’t have an exact date, fans won’t have too long to wait until they can jump into the Norse mythology survival game on a new platform. Oh, and it will feature full cross-play with the Microsoft Store and Steam versions of Valheim.

Valheim was announced to be coming to Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Xbox Game Pass during June 2022’s Xbox Showcase Extended presentation, where it was also confirmed to be arriving on PC Game Pass.

In our Valheim Early Access review back in February 2021, we said it “is already a paragon of the survival crafting genre, with excellent art and music highlighting a world that generates endless exciting stories from only a few simple ingredients.”

To prepare for Valheim’s Xbox version, be sure to check out why we included it on our list of the 10 best survival games and take a look at our full Valheim Wiki so you can learn how to be the best of the best and handle anything the game tries to throw your way.

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Magic in Veil Of Dust doesn’t make life easy, just slightly less hard

Veil Of Dust. Unlike some games, Veil Of Dust doesn’t make it sound like any sort of concession; the middle difficulty is called Challenge, and says “it’s pretty tough – you’ve been warned”. I took the warning seriously, and thank God, because even the easiest difficulty had me pouring dandelion tea down my brother’s throat like he was doing a kegstand (and in the game).

Áine and Shane are a pair of Irish siblings who’ve moved to Oregon to start a new life, which, in the main story, involves eating potatoes and trying not to get depressed. It’s difficult enough that I didn’t think I would like it at first, as even basic tasks deplete your stamina and sleeping in your 1860s hovel with a hole in the roof doesn’t restore very much per night. Áine can do spells, but they’re simple and only really take the edge off what is a very hard life. Magic isn’t a cure-all in Veil Of Dust, and using it has to be weighed up, just like everything else.

Talking Point: Which Nintendo Console Has The Best First-Party Games Lineup?

Best of the best.

With the Game Boy and GBA libraries getting added to the Switch recently, we’ve been thinking about all of the games that might be coming our way over the next few months. This, in turn, got us thinking about just how many great first-party games were available on those two systems.

Indeed, we thought along the very same lines when the N64 library was first added to Nintendo Switch Online. Same for the SNES and the NES. And now that we think about it, the first-party lineup was outrageously good for the GameCube also, and the 3DS. And the DS ain’t no slouch. This isn’t even to mention the Switch itself which has its own catalogue of ‘series bests’ to boot.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Sword and Fairy: Together Forever Coming to Game Pass on July 6

The Sword and Fairy franchise may not be that well-known internationally, but it’s regarded in China as one of the most iconic RPG series ever made. Since its launch in 1995, Sword and Fairy has grown to include seven official sequels, more than 10 spin-off titles, and two live-action TV shows.

Sword and Fairy: Together Forever Screenshot

Today, we’re absolutely thrilled to announce that the latest game in this series, Sword and Fairy: Together Forever, will arrive with Xbox Game Pass on July 6, 2023, and will support Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing you to bring all your saves and achievements with you across Xbox and Windows PC.

For those new to the series, Sword and Fairy: Together Forever is a standalone story so there’s no need to catch up with all the older games (although if you’ve played them, you’ll definitely see how far the series has come). From a graphics perspective, Sword and Fairy: Together Forever is a huge step up from its previous games. Running on Unreal Engine 4, it’s filled to the brim with stunning character models, creatures, environments, and architecture.

At its core, Sword and Fairy: Together Forever is about the relationships between humans, deities, and demons. Our story revolves around a young woman name Yue Qingshu, one of the last remaining members of the elusive Mingshu Sect; and Xiu Wu, a deity who has lost a divine sword and must remain in the human world. The two young warriors form a symbiotic bond and must stick together throughout their adventure as they discover new allies and mortal enemies.

Gameplay combat is simplified and fast-faced, especially compared to the last games’ turn-based system. Now in real-time, fighting is smooth and straightforward. You’ll also get to switch between party characters and assign elements to customize and balance the team as you progress.

Sword and Fairy: Together Forever is a refreshingly stunning Asian title featuring jaw dropping environments and impressive character models. In this beautiful world, you can explore mountains and fields, while fighting epic characters. To top it off, the official soundtrack is just stellar- you might just add it to chill/study playlist!

We look forward to seeing Xbox Game Pass members dive in and experience this epic franchise with Sword and Fairy: Together Forever on July 6, 2023.

Sword and Fairy: Together Forever

E-Home Entertainment Development Co., Ltd

☆☆☆☆☆
57

★★★★★

$39.99

Get it now

Enter a realm that blends ancient mythology with traditional oriental aesthetics in Sword and Fairy: Together Forever, the latest standalone entry in the nearly 27-year-old RPG franchise! Weaving its tale between the three clans of Human, Deity and Demon, Sword and Fairy: Together Forever puts you in command of a memorable party of characters, each with unique personalities, motives, skills, strengths and weaknesses. Only together can they shape the future! Guide them as one in this compelling standalone chapter that serves as a jumping-on point for those new to Sword and Fairy while paying tribute to the series’ grand legacy.

Sword and Fairy: Together Forever not only features the most advanced graphics in series history, but it also introduces dynamic real-time combat mechanics with total freedom of movement and fluid, screen-filling skill animations. Switch between playable characters and strategize on the fly! Along the way, you can also meet and care for spirit creatures that will aid in your journey. Discover lush interconnected environments, equip your party with new skills, play mini-games and much more as you explore this beautifully crafted action role-playing epic, including exclusive outfits and weapon skins to further enhance the experience!

Features:

• Fight in real-time and switch between party characters instantly!
• Explore diverse landscapes, towns and more across a vivid mythology-based world.
• Learn and equip new skills as you progress.
• Experience more than 30 hours of story content and optional side quests!
• Capture, tame and feed spirit creatures that aid you in different ways.
• Play card battle mini-games in between intense battles!
• Discover console-exclusive outfits and weapon skins!

Wild Hearts immersive PS5 haptics and triggers features detailed

If you wish to be a great Wild Hearts hunter you must rely on all your senses, not simply your sight, in order to successfully stalk and defeat your prey. The snapping of tree branches in the distance to your right, the plodding thuds that send vibrations through your body as impossibly heavy feet meet the earth, they all tell you plainly that a Kingtusk is passing through the forest. You ready your weapon, testing the bowstring which thrums reassuringly in your hand. You are ready.

This should give you a taste of how the PlayStation 5 DualSense wireless controller makes each and every hunt in Wild Hearts unforgettable. The hunt begins on February 17. Keep reading to discover what you can expect when you enter the land of Azuma and take on the mighty Kemono.

Haptic feedback

The beauty of the land around you can be both a blessing and a distraction while you pursue your massive prey. Your sense of touch can help ground you, keeping you focused on your pursuit as well as giving you vital feedback that can make the difference between victory and failure. Whether you are using a Karakuri to evade an attack or practicing with your weapons in Minato, Haptic feedback will sometimes speak louder than the mightiest Kemono’s roar.

A wooden gate – somewhat past its prime – blocks your way. You begin to push through it, but it’s surprisingly sturdy. Feel the resistance as it fights against you before, inevitably giving way to your strength.

You pursue your prey, leaping over gnarled tree roots and rocks that litter the forest floor. It begins to outpace you, but suddenly you see a spring Karakuri, a sure sign that luck is on your side today. You leap onto it, feeling the vibrations (thanks to your DualSense controller) as if through your own feet, and make up valuable ground quickly.

Of course not all sensations you experience through Haptics will be strictly necessary for the hunt. You may find it both useful and soothing to take time to interact with the gentler wildlife throughout Azuma. Make a new friend (or two) with a gentle pat on the back.

As a hunter, you must be one with your chosen weapon. You must know its weight, its speed, the sensation it makes as it contacts your prey or as you loose an arrow. As you might expect, a hefty maul will feel quite different from wielding a more delicate bladed wagasa, and in time you will come to know each one better via your DualSense controller.

Adaptive triggers

Carefully you take aim, pausing only long enough to draw in a breath. The reactive trigger as you ready your bow emphasizes its power, your commitment to protecting your people, and the respect you have for your giant prey. As you release your breath your arrow flies, dealing the Kingtusk a final, devastating blow.

3D Audio

The beauty of Azuma extends beyond what you can see. All around you the sounds of nature fill the air. Birds sing and chirp above you, the wind dances through a chime creating a soft melody, water rushes by with a soothing murmur. Enjoy the peacefulness of natural sounds all around you with realistic 3-D audio. At least until that peace is shattered by the roar of an enraged Kemono.

Life in Minato creates its own melody, made up of the chatter of villagers as they gossip or barter. Listen carefully and you may even be lucky enough to catch someone singing a folk song.

Hunt with friends

For some, the thrill of the hunt is best savored alone. But even the most deadly hunter may face a beast they cannot take down on their own. In Wild Hearts you can unite with up to two friends (or other players) to stalk and hunt your prey. Hunting in a party will enable you to expand your battle plans and special missions. And with Fast Loading you will be able to experience the game with your friends even more quickly.

Pre-order the Wild Hearts Karakuri Edition

Leave a lasting impression on your fellow hunters with the Wild Hearts Karakuri Edition which includes the base game and six items: the Karakuri Samurai and Karakuri Ninja cosmetic armor sets, a decorative Tsukumo Lantern, and three Emotes. If you pre-order the Karakuri Edition you will also receive the Ferocious Kemono Emote and five Chat Stamps.

Rally Point: Master of Magic, and a dash of Total Warhammer, on balance

Master Of Magic, an all-time best 4X loosely summarisable as Civilisation crossed with Master Of Orion.

In the… uh, semi-heady fog of 2019 came the news that it was getting a remake, and I was muchly excited, for in the interim I’d actually learned the original existed and how good and somehow unrivalled it still was. And finally, in the slight damp of late 2022, that remake arrived. It is a remarkably faithful remake, to a degree I may not ever have seen for such an old game. Some details and flourishes aside, it’s basically the same design, with all the same parts.

Coincidentally, I’ve also finally got into Total Warhammer lately, and spent some time reacquainting myself with Warlords Battlecry, and in between building city walls and crushing stupid aryan elfs, I’ve realised what truly connects all three: balance. They all, correctly, reject it.

Best of Game Pass: February 2022

Let’s talk Game Pass. There’s news about Game Pass cannibalizing sales (though is anyone surprised by that?), but I’m more interested in using this space to share some neat games you can play on Game Pass now that may go overlooked. With a whopping 379 console games and 448 on PC as of this writing, there’s a lot to check out.

I try my best to play games outside of my comfort zone and, generally, grab ones that just look cool. Unfortunately, some of my favorite gems on Game Pass have been removed, but with those large aforementioned numbers, there’s no shortage of games to check out. The following games are all on Game Pass and are scheduled to stay through at least the month of February.

A Quick Mental Scrub

With as heavy as things are these days, sometimes you just need a quick run of something that doesn’t involve dropping into a massive (or small) map with other humans and something that won’t threaten to send you into a spiraling rage. The games below are easy to pop on and dip out of, or, they’ve got some sort of relaxing element to them.

Totally Accurate Battle Simulator (Xbox, PC)

Starting with the most chaotic and joyous option, Totally Accurate Battle Simulator pits your selected group of fighters against another preset challenge. Once you’ve got your fighting group ready to go you sit back and watch the battle playout, featuring, as the official description puts it, “wobbliest physics system ever created.” The ragdolls are fantastic, the eyes are goofy, and the victors of each battle aren’t always the ones you’d expect! Whether you’re interested in solving battle puzzles using your limited resources to select the right kind of fighters or playing around with weird matchups, these quick rounds are almost always a delight. Even better, there’s local and online co-op and multiplayer!

My Time at Portia (Xbox, PC)

If you’re still on the hunt for the right farming simulator, give My Time at Portia a try. I reviewed this back when it was released in 2019 and found it to be one of the most pleasant post-apocalyptic worlds I’ve explored. Combining farming, relationship building, combat, mining, building, and all sorts of activities in one, My Time at Portia is one of the few persistent simulation games I miss and plan on going back to.

DJMax Respect V (Xbox, PC)

DJMax Respect V isn’t the best rhythm game I’ve ever played but it’s certainly a fun one in quick bursts. If you’re a fan of the Hatsune Miku games, Guitar Hero, or other input-based rhythm game, DJMax Respect V is quick to get into with plenty of fun music. There are some more challenging inputs to figure out on controller, but ultimately it’s a quick download and a fun distraction if you’re looking to rest your thoughts.

A Longer Journey

Tinykin

I mentioned this one on Podcast Unlocked previously, but in case you missed it, Tinykin is a pleasant trip down memory lane for those of us who grew up with adventure platforming games that gave us a space littered with an abundance of trinkets to collect while working to reach the next area of our journey. Tinykin features a small extraterrestrial man exploring a bug-infested home in search of a way to get back to his home planet. With the help of creatures called Tinykin, you’ll platform, solve environmental puzzles, and investigate secrets. Every time I hop in to explore a new area I come away happy. Tinykin taps into that kid-like wonder of exploring something bigger than yourself and having fun while doing it.

Prey (Xbox, PC)

For folks looking for something more intense, you’ve gotta check out Prey. No, this game is not new nor is it all that unknown (I’d like to assume), but come on y’all if you haven’t played it, this is your reminder that it’s on Game Pass and it rules. In Arkane’s Prey, you’re left alone on a ship with a mysterious lifeform out to get you. And, unfortunately for you, it could be literally anywhere and mimicking anything. This first-person shooter is a tense, neat journey with an excellent DLC.

Up Next

Below are a few titles I’m interested in checking out soon. You can also check out my backlog on my Playlist page.

Genesis Noir (Xbox, PC) – I’ve had this one on my list for a long time. It’s a stylish puzzle game and that’s really all I needed to see to be interested.
Soccer Story (Xbox, PC) – Did you ever play Backyard Soccer or the other Backyard sports kids games? This vaguely reminded me of those and I’m interested to see how its story about a magical soccer ball in a world where soccer is forbidden plays out.
Signalis (Xbox, PC) – Ever since IGN’s Senior Features Editor Matt Kim described this survivor horror game to me I’ve wanted to play it. I’m not usually great with horror, but the – perspective makes it seem like something I could handle and enjoy.
Opus: Echo of Starsong – Full Bloom Edition (Xbox, PC) – This looks like a rather dreamy adventure and I like that it’s described to put its story front and center. I had a brief stint of digging deep into visual novels and I’m curious how it blends those elements with its puzzles and resource management.

Got a Game Pass recommendation you think has gone unnoticed? Don’t keep it to yourself! Share it in the comments below. You can check out other columns from the rest of the Podcast Unlocked crew on our show’s column page.

Miranda Sanchez is the executive editor of guides at IGN and a member of Podcast Unlocked. She’s a big fan of stationery and fountain pens. You can find her on Twitter and Twitch.

The Electronic Wireless Show podcast S2 Ep 3: a delayed game is eventually delayed again

podcast, where we discuss the surprising release date of 2029 for In The Valley Of Gods, the surprising advance of the Dead Island 2 launch date, and the entirely unsurprising delay(s) of Skull & Bones. Do you know what the most delayed game ever is? Because the title recently changed hands. This plus what we’ve been playing, a new hardware update, and a round of “what video game should Shakespeare play?”

Author: Game Infliction