Batman: Gotham Knights Online Co-Op Play Explained

WB announced Gotham Knights, the new Batman game from Batman: Arkham Origins dev WB Games Montreal, and promised a new take on the Batman universe, as players won't be playing as the dark knight himself. Gotham Knights allows for players to choose from four different Bat-family members, and even play together as they explore Gotham. According to the official details released so far for the game, which is set to be released in 2021 for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC, Gotham Knights will allow for up to two players to play together online cooperatively, in addition to experiencing Gotham Knights as a single player game. There's no indication there will be local co-op, nor more than two players able to play cooperatively at this time. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/22/7-minutes-of-batman-gotham-knights-gameplay"] As for who you'll play, Gotham Knights features four characters — Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, and Red Hood — each with their own fighting style, gear, and moves that players can take advantage of and watch grow throughout the game. Here is the official description of all four playable characters:
  • Batgirl, also known as Barbara Gordon, is a determined fighter and a skilled hacker. As the daughter of deceased Gotham commissioner, Jim Gordon, she had helped Batman as Oracle in the past. Now, after years of recovery and preparation, she is ready to step into her new role, wielding her melee tonfa, and harnessing her training in kickboxing, capoeira and jiu-jitsu.
  • Nightwing is Dick Grayson, the first Robin, who was Batman’s protégé before becoming a hero in his own right. He’s a natural leader and the eldest and wisest member of the Batman Family. Nightwing’s mastery in acrobatics is complemented by his expertise use of his signature dual Escrima Sticks, making him proficient at taking out enemies.
  • Red Hood, formerly known as Jason Todd, is an intense and volatile anti-hero, which stems from his death and forced resurrection by one of Batman’s most dangerous foes. Red Hood has trouble keeping his temper in check but will not hesitate to step into the line of fire when a friend is threatened. His training has given him peak human strength and proficiency in multiple combat techniques with all manner of weapons – both traditional and high-tech.
  • Robin is Tim Drake, the young prodigy and genius of the team, who is a master of deductive reasoning. As a true believer in Batman’s mission, he is motivated by the conviction that Gotham City needs protecting and hopes to be the type of hero Batman personified. An expert fighter armed with his collapsible quarterstaff and skilled in a variety of stealth techniques, Robin also possesses a background in combined psychological warfare and behavioral sciences.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=batman-gotham-knights-gameplay-screens&captions=true"] Gotham Knights won't hit consoles and PC until 2021, but be sure to check out everything from the Gotham Knights reveal at DC FanDome, as well as all the new Gotham Knights gameplay and story details we've learned so far. And be sure to check out how to watch all of the DC FanDome panels for more.

Kathleen Kennedy on Star Wars’ Future: We Need “Time to Step Back”

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy recently spoke about the future of the Star Wars franchise now that the nine-part Skywalker Saga is complete. With creator George Lucas' original story, which had been the focus for most of the company's creative energy for so long, finally complete, Kennedy says "now we’re stepping back." Speaking to The Wrap, Kennedy explained that "stories have been told within this universe over the last 40-odd years, and there’s now the realization that this is a mythology that actually spans about 25,000 years, when you really start to look at all the different stories that have been told, whether it’s in books and games." "We just need the time to step back and really absorb what George has created," she continued, "and then start to think about where things might go. That’s what we’ve been doing, and we’ve been having a great deal of fun doing it, and meeting with lots of different filmmakers and talent. There’s so many fans out there and so many filmmakers that have been influenced by Star Wars for so long that it’s a fantastic opportunity to get a sense of who wants to be a part of this. So that’s what we’ve been doing." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=star-wars-rip-offs&captions=true"] Beginning December 22, 2023, Disney has three confirmed dates for upcoming Star Wars films, but next up, with regards to the sprawling shared universe, is Season 2 of The Mandalorian, which premieres in October. Kennedy sees streaming shows, on Disney+, as a hugely integral part of the Star Wars universe going forward. "I’ve already seen evidence of it," she said. "The ability to be very character-driven, with extended storytelling and connected storytelling, I think this space offers us a great opportunity to do that." There is also an Obi-Wan limited series in the works, which was originally set to be a movie. The show will take place 8 years after Revenge of the Sith and will be directed by Deborah Chow, who helmed episodes of The Mandalorian. Joby Harold also recently signed on as a writer for the series, even though its production has been on hold since the beginning of the year. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/21/the-true-story-behind-the-snyder-cut"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

Batman Gotham Knights Gameplay Shows Co-Op, Supervillain Boss Battle

At DC FanDome, WB Montreal showed off the first gameplay footage from its newly revealed Gotham Knights focusing on Batgirl taking on Mister Freeze. Here's a description of the footage below. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/22/7-minutes-of-batman-gotham-knights-gameplay"] The gameplay footage shows Batgirl riding a bat-cycle towards Mister Freeze's fortress. When she arrives, she's joined by Robin which shows co-op. During combat players can see the enemy's levels a la Assassin's Creed, suggesting some kind of RPG leveling system. While in combat, two players can seemingly take on a level at once. WB Games confirmed Gotham Knights will feature two-player online co-op, though the Gotham Knights can also be played solo. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-batman-video-game-review&captions=true"] The gameplay demo ends with a boss fight against Mister Freeze with both players fighting the icy villain at once. According to an official press release, here are the confirmed playable characters and their abilities: [poilib element="accentDivider"]
  • Batgirl, also known as Barbara Gordon, is a determined fighter and a skilled hacker. As the daughter of deceased Gotham commissioner, Jim Gordon, she had helped Batman as Oracle in the past. Now, after years of recovery and preparation, she is ready to step into her new role, wielding her melee tonfa, and harnessing her training in kickboxing, capoeira and jiu-jitsu.
 
  • Nightwing is Dick Grayson, the first Robin, who was Batman’s protégé before becoming a hero in his own right. He’s a natural leader and the eldest and wisest member of the Batman Family. Nightwing’s mastery in acrobatics is complemented by his expertise use of his signature dual Escrima Sticks, making him proficient at taking out enemies.
 
  • Red Hood, formerly known as Jason Todd, is an intense and volatile anti-hero, which stems from his death and forced resurrection by one of Batman’s most dangerous foes. Red Hood has trouble keeping his temper in check but will not hesitate to step into the line of fire when a friend is threatened. His training has given him peak human strength and proficiency in multiple combat techniques with all manner of weapons – both traditional and high-tech.
 
  • Robin is Tim Drake, the young prodigy and genius of the team, who is a master of deductive reasoning. As a true believer in Batman’s mission, he is motivated by the conviction that Gotham City needs protecting and hopes to be the type of hero Batman personified. An expert fighter armed with his collapsible quarterstaff and skilled in a variety of stealth techniques, Robin also possesses a background in combined psychological warfare and behavioral sciences.
[poilib element="accentDivider"] Gotham Knights will be available in 2021 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

WB Games Montreal’s Batman Game Officially Revealed

After years of teases, rumors, and speculation, Batman: Arkham Origins studio WB Games Montreal has finally revealed its next game — and, unsurprisingly, the dark knight returns. WB Games Montreal's Batman game is officially announced, known as Gotham Knights, set for release in 2021 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC. The game will feature two-player online co-op, five boroughs of Gotham City for players to explore, the ability to drive around via Batcycle, and an arsenal of combat and gear that will grow as the game progresses. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/batman-gotham-knights-announcement-trailer"] The debut trailer opened with voiceover describing a disaster in Gotham City, with Bruce Wayne''s body seemingly found in the rubble. Among the characters shown are Batgirl, Robin, Nightwing, and the Red Hood. Here's the official description of each character in game, which teases some of the unique abilities each brings to the table.
  • Batgirl, also known as Barbara Gordon, is a determined fighter and a skilled hacker. As the daughter of deceased Gotham commissioner, Jim Gordon, she had helped Batman as Oracle in the past. Now, after years of recovery and preparation, she is ready to step into her new role, wielding her melee tonfa, and harnessing her training in kickboxing, capoeira and jiu-jitsu.
  • Nightwing is Dick Grayson, the first Robin, who was Batman’s protégé before becoming a hero in his own right. He’s a natural leader and the eldest and wisest member of the Batman Family. Nightwing’s mastery in acrobatics is complemented by his expertise use of his signature dual Escrima Sticks, making him proficient at taking out enemies.
  • Red Hood, formerly known as Jason Todd, is an intense and volatile anti-hero, which stems from his death and forced resurrection by one of Batman’s most dangerous foes. Red Hood has trouble keeping his temper in check but will not hesitate to step into the line of fire when a friend is threatened. His training has given him peak human strength and proficiency in multiple combat techniques with all manner of weapons – both traditional and high-tech.
  • Robin is Tim Drake, the young prodigy and genius of the team, who is a master of deductive reasoning. As a true believer in Batman’s mission, he is motivated by the conviction that Gotham City needs protecting and hopes to be the type of hero Batman personified. An expert fighter armed with his collapsible quarterstaff and skilled in a variety of stealth techniques, Robin also possesses a background in combined psychological warfare and behavioral sciences.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=batman-gotham-knights-gameplay-screens&captions=true"] A posthumous message from Batman to his friends explains how he has died in the reveal trailer, with the Batcave having been exploded, but the Belfry is available for use to them to keep Gotham safe. The trailer features gameplay of all the heroes in action, as well as a final tease that the Court of Owls will play a major role in the game, but the developers teased that "The mystery in Gotham Knights is way bigger than just the Court of Owls." We also got seven minutes of Gotham Knights gameplay, which you can watch below, for an in-depth look at the upcoming adventure. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/22/7-minutes-of-batman-gotham-knights-gameplay"] All this past week, WB Games has released a series of Batman game teasers, including possible first looks at the game's map, an in-engine screenshot, and several Easter eggs pointing to iconic Batman characters. Before the teases this past week, though, WB Games Montreal doled out a few intermittent nods to its upcoming project, including a new logo tease earlier this year, which was preceded by other teases in 2019. Rumors began swirling in 2018 that the Montreal team's game would focus on the recent but beloved Court of Owls storyline, and we've got an in-depth breakdown of the Court of Owls comic run if you've never read it. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-batman-video-game-review&captions=true"] And be sure how to keep track of how to watch all of DC FanDome for all the biggest reveals of the day.

Wonder Woman 1984 Trailer Reveals First Look at Cheetah

Wonder Woman 1984 kicked off DC FanDome with a new trailer that revealed Kristen Wiig in her fully transformed Cheetah state! Cheetah's full feline form doesn't show up to the end of the trailer, with most of the trailer recalling what drives Barbara Ann Minerva to such a radical transformation. And it was through the wish-granting powers of Maxwell Lord. The first Wonder Woman 1984 trailer was released in December 2019, showcasing Pedro Pascal's villainous Maxwell Lord, giving us a look at Kristen Wiig as Barbara Ann Minerva (if not her transformation into Cheetah), and teasing the mysterious return of Chris Pine's Steve Trevor, who died in the first Wonder Woman film. How is Steve Trevor back from the dead in Wonder Woman 1984, you may ask? Naturally, the new trailer doesn't provide any concrete answers, but it seems likely that Maxwell Lord's master plan is involved. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/22/wonder-woman-1984-official-trailer-2"] The Wonder Woman 1984 panel also included celebrity guest appearances from both tennis star Venus Williams and TV's Wonder Woman, Lynda Carter. Carter heaped praise on both Gadot and Wiig. Wonder Woman 1984 has seen its release date delayed several times, and is currently slated for release on October 2, 2020 - although a new poster released ahead of DC FanDome didn't feature a release date, perhaps a sign of Warner Bros. keeping its options open given the current global uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic. For more on Wonder Woman 1984, check out our breakdown of the first trailer, plus find out why Cheetah is the perfect villain for Wonder Woman, and why Wonder Woman 3 will likely be Patty Jenkins' last film in the franchise. Check out the full DC FanDome schedule for details on when you can watch the panels for The Batman and the upcoming Suicide Squad and WB Montreal Batman games. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=ww84-dc-fandome-trailer-gallery&captions=true"]

Ratched, Enola Holmes, and Everything Else New to Netflix in September

Netflix is dropping some classic films and fan-favorite returning series to its lineup for September 2020. To kick things off, Netflix is debuting Ryan Murphy's Ratched, starring Sarah Paulson in the titular role. Premiering on September 18, Ratched is inspired by the iconic character of Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Netflix is also debuting a new sci-fi series, tilted Away, starring Academy-Award winner Hilary Swank on September 4. Per Netflix, in Away, "[as] American astronaut Emma Green (Swank) prepares to lead an international crew on the first mission to Mars, she must reconcile her decision to leave behind her husband (Josh Charles) and teenage daughter (Talitha Bateman) when they need her the most." On the movie front, Netflix is releasing Enola Holmes on September 23. The upcoming film, based on the novels written by Nancy Springer, stars Stranger Things' Millie Bobby Brown and The Witcher's Henry Cavill. In this series, Brown plays Enola, sister to Sherlock Holmes -- though she is not part of the official Sherlock Holmes canon. Check out the slideshow gallery below for the highlights of Netflix's September offerings, followed by the full list (U.S. Netflix only): [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=netflix-spotlight-september-2020&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"]

September 1

  • Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices -- NETFLIX FAMILY
  • The Boss Baby: Get That Baby! -- NETFLIX FAMILY
  • Felipe Esparza: Bad Decisions -- NETFLIX COMEDY SPECIAL
  • La Partita / The Match -- NETFLIX FILM
  • True: Friendship Day -- NETFLIX FAMILY
  • Adrift
  • Anaconda
  • Back to the Future
  • Back to the Future Part II
  • Back to the Future Part III
  • Barbershop
  • Barbie Princess Adventure
  • Borgen: Season 1-3
  • Children of the Sea
  • Coneheads
  • Glory
  • Grease
  • Magic Mike
  • The Muppets
  • Muppets Most Wanted
  • Not Another Teen Movie
  • Pineapple Express
  • Possession
  • The Producers (2005)
  • The Promised Neverland: Season 1
  • Puss in Boots
  • Red Dragon
  • Residue
  • Sex Drive
  • Sister, Sister: Season 1-6
  • The Smurfs
  • Wildlife
  • Zathura

September 2

  • Bad Boy Billionaires: India -- NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
  • Chef's Table: BBQ -- NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
  • Freaks – You're One of Us -- NETFLIX FILM

September 3

  • Afonso Padilha: Alma de Pobre -- NETFLIX COMEDY SPECIAL
  • Love, Guaranteed -- NETFLIX FILM
  • Young Wallander -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL

September 4

  • Away -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
  • I'm Thinking of Ending Things -- NETFLIX FILM
  • The Lost Okoroshi
  • Spirit Riding Free: Riding Academy: Part 2 -- NETFLIX FAMILY

September 7

  • Midnight Special
  • My Octopus Teacher -- NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
  • Record of Youth -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
  • Waiting for "Superman"

September 8

  • StarBeam: Season 2 -- NETFLIX FAMILY

September 9

  • Corazón loco / So Much Love to Give -- NETFLIX FILM
  • Get Organized with The Home Edit -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
  • La Línea: Shadow of Narco -- NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
  • Mignonnes / Cuties -- NETFLIX FILM
  • The Social Dilemma -- NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY

September 10

  • The Babysitter: Killer Queen -- NETFLIX FILM
  • The Gift: Season 2 -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
  • Greenleaf: Season 5
  • The Idhun Chronicles -- NETFLIX ANIME
  • Julie and the Phantoms -- NETFLIX FAMILY

September 11

  • The Duchess -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
  • Family Business: Season 2 -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
  • Girlfriends: Seasons 1-8
  • How to Train Your Dragon 2
  • Pets United -- NETFLIX FAMILY
  • Pokémon Journeys: The Series: Part 2 -- NETFLIX FAMILY
  • Se busca papá / Dad Wanted -- NETFLIX FILM

September 15

  • America's Book of Secrets: Season 2
  • Ancient Aliens: Season 3
  • Cold Case Files Classic: Season 1
  • The Curse of Oak Island: Season 4
  • Hope Frozen: A Quest to Live Twice -- NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
  • Izzy's Koala World -- NETFLIX FAMILY
  • Michael McIntyre: Showman -- NETFLIX COMEDY SPECIAL
  • Pawn Stars: Season 2
  • The Rap Game: Season 2
  • The Smurfs 2
  • Taco Chronicles: Volume 2 -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
  • The Universe: Season 2

September 16

  • Baby: Season 3 -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
  • Challenger: The Final Flight -- NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
  • Criminal: UK: Season 2 -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
  • The Devil All The Time -- NETFLIX FILM
  • MeatEater: Season 9 -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
  • The Paramedic -- NETFLIX FILM
  • Signs: Season 2 -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
  • Sing On! -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL

September 17

  • Dragon’s Dogma -- NETFLIX ANIME
  • The Last Word -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL

September 18

  • American Barbecue Showdown -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
  • Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous -- NETFLIX FAMILY
  • Ratched -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL

September 21

  • A Love Song for Latasha -- NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY

September 22

  • Chico Bon Bon: Monkey with a Tool Belt: Season 3 -- NETFLIX FAMILY
  • Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father: Season 4 -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
  • Kiss the Ground
  • The Playbook -- NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
  • Mighty Express -- NETFLIX FAMILY

September 23

  • Enola Holmes -- NETFLIX FILM
  • Waiting…

September 24

  • The Chef Show: Season 2 -- NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
  • Real Steel

September 25

  • A Perfect Crime -- NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
  • Country-Ish -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
  • Nasty C
  • The School Nurse Files -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL
  • Sneakerheads -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL

September 26

  • The Good Place: Season 4

September 20

  • Bad Teacher
  • Van Helsing: Season 4

September 28

  • Whose Vote Counts, Explained -- NETFLIX ORIGINAL

September 29

  • Michelle Buteau: Welcome to Buteaupia -- NETFLIX COMEDY SPECIAL
  • Welcome to Sudden Death

September 30

  • American Murder: The Family Next Door -- NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY
  • Wentworth: Season 8
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/05/netflixs-high-score-exclusive-opening-credits-clip"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] David Griffin still watches DuckTales in his pajamas with a cereal bowl in hand. He's also the TV Editor for IGN. Say hi on Twitter.

Iron Man VR Free Update Adds New Game Plus, New Weapons

Iron Man VR has received a new update that adds New Game+, an "Ultimate" difficulty mode, new weapons, improved load times, new quality of life features, and much more. Blaine Higdon, gameplay designer at Iron Man VR's developer Camouflaj, took to the PlayStation Blog to explain what's included in the free update, beginning with new game modes. The New Game+ mode will allow players to re-experience Iron Man VR's story without giving up their Research Points, and it immediately unlocks the Impulse Armor. The "Ultimate" difficulty mode has also been added, and will give players who have already mastered the "Invincible" difficulty even more of a challenge. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/02/marvels-iron-man-vr-review"] The new update also brings with it new weapons, including the Continuous Beam Repulsor that allows Iron Man to sustain a beam for several seconds. There will also be an EM Charge Cannon that can penetrate that hardlight shields of Skull, Revenant, and Wight drones. The Micro Swarm shoots out a "fire-and-forget" intelligent anti-swarm weapon that's great for large groups of enemies and, lastly, the Gravity Bomb creates a singularity that traps multiple enemies in their tracks. Eight new Custom Armor Decos, including the Iron Patriot, have been added. These can be unlocked by completing new challenges in-game. Beyond content, this update adds a few welcome quality of life features, including improved load times across the board. Additionally, the Shanghai mission's load times have decreased by 20-30 seconds. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-playstation-first-party-exclusive-review&captions=true"] Players can also skip cinematics without loading when replaying missions, and two side story missions are now skippable if desired following fan feedback. For more on Iron Man VR, check out our review and how Iron Man VR draws from the comics, Halo, and Resident Evil. [poilib element="accentDivider"] 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.

Othercide Review – Mother, May I

Despite its gothic horror visuals and heavy metal-inspired soundtrack, Othercide is, at its core, a heartfelt story about having empathy and compassion for someone who has suffered intense trauma. It's a game about sacrifice and hard choices, of accepting failure with the knowledge that you'll rise again stronger. Othercide's turn-based combat can be brutal, but at its best, it's also intensely rewarding to master. Though it suffers from some repetitive maps and technical issues, Othercide is an impressive strategy game with an otherworldly atmosphere and rich underlying story worth diving into.

From the very start, Othercide pulls you into a grim world on the brink of collapse. A city, already devastated by plague, has now been overrun with nightmare creatures called Others and becomes the site of an apocalyptic event that shatters time and space, resulting in an in-between place called the "Dark Corner." Together with a ghost-like being known as the Red Mother, you must command her army of Daughters in a battle against the Suffering Other and its monstrous creations. With names like Peace, Joy, and Harmony, these wide-eyed, white-haired Daughters cast a stark contrast to the forces of Suffering they face on the battlefield. Othercide does a fantastic job of establishing its horror atmosphere and introducing its main characters--the Red Mother and a Child that has merged with Suffering--in a way that immediately grabs you, compelling you to unravel its secrets.

No Caption Provided
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Memory plays a major role in Othercide, and it's your greatest weapon. If all of your Daughters die, you'll begin a new "recollection," or run, that starts you on Day 1 with a brand-new set of Daughters at full HP. Thankfully, you're not starting from scratch every time; in fact, the game is designed to help you improve with every failure and help you grow stronger. As you complete missions, you earn shards that can be used to unlock "remembrances," which are team-wide advantages that give you a little more of an edge in battle, such as boosting damage against certain enemies or experience earned from missions. Specific ability bonuses, called "memories," can also be directly applied to your Daughters to provide buffs or add certain effects to their attacks. Though memories don’t roll over from one recollection to the next like remembrances do, you earn them quickly through missions. The similar verbiage here can be confusing on your first few runs, but it doesn't take too long to grasp how recollections, remembrances, and memories play a key role in overcoming the challenging combat encounters in Othercide. Early on, because you start with a new set of low-level Daughters in each run, it can feel like you’re progressing too slowly, but the introduction of more and more buffs ensures you’re never truly starting from scratch past your first recollection. And eventually, reaching certain checkpoints unlocks remembrances that allow you to start a new run with Daughters at higher levels.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Othercide Review – Mother, May I

Despite its gothic horror visuals and heavy metal-inspired soundtrack, Othercide is, at its core, a heartfelt story about having empathy and compassion for someone who has suffered intense trauma. It's a game about sacrifice and hard choices, of accepting failure with the knowledge that you'll rise again stronger. Othercide's turn-based combat can be brutal, but at its best, it's also intensely rewarding to master. Though it suffers from some repetitive maps and technical issues, Othercide is an impressive strategy game with an otherworldly atmosphere and rich underlying story worth diving into.

From the very start, Othercide pulls you into a grim world on the brink of collapse. A city, already devastated by plague, has now been overrun with nightmare creatures called Others and becomes the site of an apocalyptic event that shatters time and space, resulting in an in-between place called the "Dark Corner." Together with a ghost-like being known as the Red Mother, you must command her army of Daughters in a battle against the Suffering Other and its monstrous creations. With names like Peace, Joy, and Harmony, these wide-eyed, white-haired Daughters cast a stark contrast to the forces of Suffering they face on the battlefield. Othercide does a fantastic job of establishing its horror atmosphere and introducing its main characters--the Red Mother and a Child that has merged with Suffering--in a way that immediately grabs you, compelling you to unravel its secrets.

No Caption Provided
Gallery image 1Gallery image 2Gallery image 3Gallery image 4Gallery image 5Gallery image 6Gallery image 7Gallery image 8Gallery image 9Gallery image 10

Memory plays a major role in Othercide, and it's your greatest weapon. If all of your Daughters die, you'll begin a new "recollection," or run, that starts you on Day 1 with a brand-new set of Daughters at full HP. Thankfully, you're not starting from scratch every time; in fact, the game is designed to help you improve with every failure and help you grow stronger. As you complete missions, you earn shards that can be used to unlock "remembrances," which are team-wide advantages that give you a little more of an edge in battle, such as boosting damage against certain enemies or experience earned from missions. Specific ability bonuses, called "memories," can also be directly applied to your Daughters to provide buffs or add certain effects to their attacks. Though memories don’t roll over from one recollection to the next like remembrances do, you earn them quickly through missions. The similar verbiage here can be confusing on your first few runs, but it doesn't take too long to grasp how recollections, remembrances, and memories play a key role in overcoming the challenging combat encounters in Othercide. Early on, because you start with a new set of low-level Daughters in each run, it can feel like you’re progressing too slowly, but the introduction of more and more buffs ensures you’re never truly starting from scratch past your first recollection. And eventually, reaching certain checkpoints unlocks remembrances that allow you to start a new run with Daughters at higher levels.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Apple Counters Epic’s ‘Antitrust’ Arguments, Says Epic Requested a Special Deal

Update: Epic CEO Tim Sweeney says Apple's statement on a special deal for Epic Games is "misleading." In response, Sweeney published the June 30 email between him and Apple executives in which Sweeney requests permission to launch an Epic Games Store app that doesn't adhere to Apple's payment system. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Original Story: Apple has responded to Epic’s antitrust lawsuit in a legal filing made public today that says Epic did request a special deal from Apple, contrary to what Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has said publicly. As reported by CNBC, former Apple senior vice president Phil Schiller wrote that “On June 30, 2020, Epic’s CEO Tim Sweeney wrote my colleagues and me an email asking,” for a special deal that would “fundamentally change the way in which Epic offers apps on Apple’s iOS platform.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/13/fortnite-1984-apple-parody-video-short"] Specifically, Apple claims that Epic requested to offer an Epic Games Store app on the App Store that would let iOS users install apps directly from Epic and bypass Apple’s payment processing options. Apple goes on to say that Epic’s request for an injunction to stop Apple from removing Epic’s developer account isn’t valid as any harm happening to Epic is “self-inflicted.” “All of the injury Epic claims to itself, game players, and developers could have been avoided if Epic filed its lawsuit without breaching its agreements. All of the alleged injury for which Epic improperly seeks emergency relief could disappear tomorrow if Epic cured its breach.” Earlier this month Epic Games filed a lawsuit against Apple over “Anticompetitive behavior.” The lawsuit followed a series of escalations that began when Epic started offering V-Bucks in Fortnite at a lower price by bypassing Apple’s pay systems. Apple responded by removing Fortnite from the App Store for breaching the Terms of Service, at which point Epic began its #FreeFortnite campaign complete with Apple commercial parody video, and an upcoming in-game event that highlights the legal battle. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.