Sable Review – Sandy Pilgrimage
The titular Sable is part of a nomadic tribe known as the Ibexii. Like every child who comes of age on the planet of Midden, Sable must leave her clan behind and embark on a rite of passage called The Gliding. This involves venturing out into the wider world on a pilgrimage to learn more about themselves, the land they inhabit, and the people that populate Midden's sun-scorched sand dunes. Like those before her, Sable is bestowed a hoverbike and a Gliding Stone before leaving, the latter of which allows her to float through the air using an energy bubble born from ancient technology. With this, the stage is set for an open-world adventure that's equal parts relaxing and engrossing.
At its core, Sable is a game about exploration, with its mechanics and overall design all feeding into this central philosophy. Upon departing the Ibexii camp for the first time, you're free to straddle your hoverbike and venture off towards any of the four corners of Sable's vast but manageably-sized map. There are quests to complete along the way that maintain some semblance of order, but this is a freeform open-world game that disregards the genre's traditional objective structure. Generally, your compass will point you in the vague direction of your current quest, while at other times you'll be given directions that encourage you to discover locations for yourself. You can set your own waypoints by using the map or by finding a vantage point and using the Navigator to mark potential points of interest, and all of these are displayed on the compass that encircles your hoverbike. Crucially, you never have to stare at a mini-map or a big objective marker as you skim inches above the sand, and this keeps your eyes planted firmly on what's in front of you.
If you're heading towards a particular location with your eyes on the horizon, you're likely to spot other distractions along the way, whether it's a plume of smoke billowing into the sky and hinting at signs of life or the battered husk of a crashed spaceship. This kind of organic discovery is often found lacking in open-world games that rely on pre-existing points of interest and maps scattered with markers, and it sets Sable apart as you chart the world yourself by venturing towards whatever catches your eye. Midden is a fascinating world to uncover, too, with small pockets of civilization nestled in between the serene desolation of its sprawling desert. There are dilapidated temples engulfed by sand, a graveyard full of gargantuan animal bones, and an eerie forest shrouded in perpetual darkness--to name just a few of the sights you'll come across throughout your travels.
Continue Reading at GameSpotSable Review – Sandy Pilgrimage
The titular Sable is part of a nomadic tribe known as the Ibexii. Like every child who comes of age on the planet of Midden, Sable must leave her clan behind and embark on a rite of passage called The Gliding. This involves venturing out into the wider world on a pilgrimage to learn more about themselves, the land they inhabit, and the people that populate Midden's sun-scorched sand dunes. Like those before her, Sable is bestowed a hoverbike and a Gliding Stone before leaving, the latter of which allows her to float through the air using an energy bubble born from ancient technology. With this, the stage is set for an open-world adventure that's equal parts relaxing and engrossing.
At its core, Sable is a game about exploration, with its mechanics and overall design all feeding into this central philosophy. Upon departing the Ibexii camp for the first time, you're free to straddle your hoverbike and venture off towards any of the four corners of Sable's vast but manageably-sized map. There are quests to complete along the way that maintain some semblance of order, but this is a freeform open-world game that disregards the genre's traditional objective structure. Generally, your compass will point you in the vague direction of your current quest, while at other times you'll be given directions that encourage you to discover locations for yourself. You can set your own waypoints by using the map or by finding a vantage point and using the Navigator to mark potential points of interest, and all of these are displayed on the compass that encircles your hoverbike. Crucially, you never have to stare at a mini-map or a big objective marker as you skim inches above the sand, and this keeps your eyes planted firmly on what's in front of you.
If you're heading towards a particular location with your eyes on the horizon, you're likely to spot other distractions along the way, whether it's a plume of smoke billowing into the sky and hinting at signs of life or the battered husk of a crashed spaceship. This kind of organic discovery is often found lacking in open-world games that rely on pre-existing points of interest and maps scattered with markers, and it sets Sable apart as you chart the world yourself by venturing towards whatever catches your eye. Midden is a fascinating world to uncover, too, with small pockets of civilization nestled in between the serene desolation of its sprawling desert. There are dilapidated temples engulfed by sand, a graveyard full of gargantuan animal bones, and an eerie forest shrouded in perpetual darkness--to name just a few of the sights you'll come across throughout your travels.
Continue Reading at GameSpotHere’s Why Deathloop’s More Robust Melee Combat Was Scrapped
Deathloop originally had a more robust melee combat system, but it was scrapped during development and replaced with the kick move.
In a Noclip video interview around the 12:50 mark, Deathloop creative director Dinga Bakaba revealed that Deathloop originally had a combat parry system similar to Dishonored. This idea was scrapped in favor of Deathloop's simple and very powerful kick.
"In the beginning, you could defend with the machete and parry and block like you said okay let's just ask ourselves all the questions that just put [sic] the fencing of Dishonored, we will figure it out later," Bakaba said. "But as soon as we added the multiplayer, something went wrong."
Bakaba explained that the invader "has a delay over the host." This provided a difference in gameplay between the multiplayer invaders and the NPCs. So, the parry system was scrapped, but the developers weren't satisfied.
"So then we removed the timed parry and it was only [blocking] and that was boring as hell," Bakaba said. "So we said 'f*** defense, let's just replace defense with the kick like a big kick that makes you go oof.'"
The parrying was then removed and the fan-favorite kick was born.
Check out IGN's pick of the best PS5 SSD to play Deathloop at its top console potential.
IGN's Deathloop review was relatively positive towards the game and praised the combat system: "The precision engineering of this complex, looping world is held in balance by Deathloop’s combat system, which is a delightfully raucous affair that roars like a dragon with ballistic breath."
Visit our Deathloop walkthrough and Deathloop guide for beginners to master Arkane Studios' latest.
Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN.
PS4 Firmware Update Reportedly Keeps Consoles From Being Bricked
PlayStation 4 firmware update 9.00 reportedly prevents the console's battery from tampering with the PS4's ability to play games.
As reported by GameSpot, there was discussion earlier this year on websites like Ars Technica that the battery powering the clock inside every PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 will prevent the consoles from being able to play games. Because the consoles use their own clock to verify PlayStation trophy information, if the battery in that clock dies out then the consoles reportedly won't be able to start games.
YouTube channel Modern Vintage Gamer removed the battery from a PlayStation 4 with firmware update 9.00 and found that games were able to play, according to GameSpot. There is no official information from PlayStation regarding this issue.
DualShockers has the official patch notes for update 9.00 and there is no mention of any changes to the console's battery. There was reportedly a change to trophies though. PlayStation 4 users can now view PlayStation 5 trophies on their consoles in the Trophies section and under the profiles in the Games tab.
There were also changes to Messages where a group owner can now delete a group. Also, if you block another user that you share a group with, then you will have the option to remove yourself from the group that's shared with them.
Sony also added the ability to use Remote Play on an iOS or Android device using mobile data and made changes to Parental Controls.
Now that PlayStation 4s will hopefully stick around for much longer, check out the best PS4 accessories to get.
The PS4 continues to put out new games in the next generation but IGN has already put together a list of the best games of the PS4/Xbox One Generation and the (mostly) complete history of the PlayStation 4.
Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits Is Another Great PS5 and PS4 Game – Beyond Episode 718
On this week's episode of IGN's weekly PlayStation show, Podcast Beyond!, host Jonathon Dornbush is joined by Brian Altano and Mitchell Saltzman to discuss Kena: Bridge of Spirits, another great console exclusive game for the PS4 and PS5 lineup. We jump into Mitchell's thoughts from his review, in which he called Kena a great game, what we love and hope to see improved about the combat and exploration in future games, our love of the beautiful art design and detail, and we weirdly get hung up on the game's fonts.
But in general, we discuss what's so great about Kena's gameplay and world, and why you'll want to pick up Ember Lab's first game on PS4 or PS5. Plus, we dive into the recent reports about Quantic Dream's alleged Star Wars game, if that's a combination we're interested in seeing, and whether it makes sense for Quantic Dream to explore settings like the original trilogy or apply its choice-based gameplay to an era like The High Republic. We also dive into the reports about discussions of a Marvel vs. Capcom 2 remaster, and Mitchell gives us some insight into why the project is so fervently demanded, and what we hope to see from an MvC 2 remaster.
We also read a new Memory Card story, offer wild Super Smash Bros. Ultimate predictions for a PlayStation guest character, and much more! Direct Download
Podcast Beyond! is live every Wednesday. For more on PS5, check out our PS5 console review and our PS5 wiki guide for tips on how to best use your system. And for more Beyond, be sure to watch the first episode of our Bloodborne let's play!
Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior Features Editor, PlayStation Lead, and host of Podcast Beyond! He's the proud dog father of a BOY named Loki. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.
Best Buy’s In-Store Event Celebrates Actually Having PS5s and Xbox Series X In Stock
It's been almost a year since Sony and Microsoft released their ninth-generation gaming consoles the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Yet, buying either of the three new consoles has been difficult due to an ongoing chip shortage. If you are still looking to get your hands on one of the latest gaming consoles, Best Buy has announced that select locations will sell both PS5s and Xbox Series X consoles tomorrow.
Heading to Best Buy's website, the retail chain announced that select locations will have limited quantities available of the Xbox Series X in addition to the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. More than 300 Best Buy locations across the United States (plus one location each in DC and Puerto Rico) will carry a limited number of ninth-generation consoles.
To make sure as many people as possible can purchase a console, Best Buy confirmed that each of the eligible retail stores would be enforcing a one-console-per-customer rule, with employees to begin handing out tickets at 7:30 am local time. Acquiring a ticket guarantees you the opportunity to purchase either a PS5 or Xbox Series X inside the store.
This is the first time Best Buy is selling these highly desirable gaming consoles since both were released last November, which the retailer pledged ahead of both console's release dates that it would not sell either in-stores until 2021.
Prior to this announcement, if you wanted to buy either console from Best Buy, you had to do so through its website or mobile app. Best Buy previously did in-store restocks at select locations. With the retail giant selling limited quantities of RTX 30 graphics cards at select locations in both June and July.
Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
The Wire Creator Won’t Shoot His Texas-Based HBO Miniseries In Texas After Controversial Abortion Law
The creator of The Wire, David Simon, has revealed that he won't shoot his new Texas-based HBO miniseries in Texas as a result of the state's recent controversial abortion law.
Simon, who is behind hit HBO shows like The Wire and The Deuce, announced the news on Twitter today. He also asked followers for places that look similar to the Dallas and Fort Worth areas of Texas.
Simon said this news is "not a matter of political efficacy," but rather that he's "responsible for the employees on our projects."
If an employer, this is beyond politics. I’m turning in scripts next month on an HBO non-fiction miniseries based on events in Texas, but I can’t and won’t ask female cast/crew to forgo civil liberties to film there. What else looks like Dallas/Ft. Worth? https://t.co/q6Py6XikYh
— David Simon (@AoDespair) September 20, 2021
As you can see in Simon's tweet above, The Wire creator says he can't and won't ask female cast members and crew to forego civil liberties — their right to abortion — to film there.
Texas' new law bans abortions as soon as cardiac activity is detectable, or about six weeks. Furthermore, private citizens can sue abortion providers, and more drastically, anyone who even helps a woman get an abortion.
According to IndieWire, the Dallas Film & Creative Industries Office, formerly known as the Dallas Film Commission, wrote the following in response to Simon: "Laws of a state are not reflective of its entire population. Not bringing a production to Dallas (a big 'D') only serves to further disenfranchise those that live here. We need talent/crew/creatives to stay and vote, not get driven out by inability to make a living."
"You misunderstand completely," Simon said to the Dallas Film & Creative Industries Office, according to IndieWire. "My response is NOT rooted in any debate about political efficacy or the utility of any boycott. My singular responsibility is securing and maintaining the civil liberties of all those we employ during the course of a production...even if one of our employees requires full control of her own body and choices — and if a law denies this or further criminalizes our attempt to help her exercise that control, we should have filmed elsewhere."
Simon's comments join other public responses from people and companies alike against Texas' anti-abortion law. Former Tripwire Interactive president, John Gibson, tweeted in favor of the law and two developers associated with Tripwire, Shipwright Studios, and Torn Banner Studios, spoke out against Gibson. Gibson stepped down from Tripwire shortly after.
(Header photo by Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for WarnerMedia)
Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.
Respawn Is Working on Too Many Other Games to Develop Titanfall 3
Titanfall's community coordinator Jason Garza says Respawn is unlikely to make Titanfall 3 or new content for Titanfall 2 as the studio is working on "too many other games" at the moment.
As reported by Dextero, Garza revealed in a livestream that there was nothing in the works for the Titanfall series, saying, "There’s nothing there. We’ve got too many other games in the works right now.”
Garza did clarify that Respawn is still investigating major hacking vulnerabilities in Titanfall 2, which has been plagued by security concerns and hackers.
Titanfall is Respawn's first major franchise combining the first-person shooter genre with large mechs. Titanfall 2 was considered one of the best games of the year when it was released and has amassed a devoted following. But Respawn has since moved on to focus primarily on the battle royale game Apex Legends.
In addition to continual updates for Apex Legends, Respawn also developed the single-player action-adventure game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. After the success of Jedi: Fallen Order, EA confirmed it was the start of a new franchise.
The news about Titanfall lines up with last year's report that no new Titanfall games were in development, suggesting a previously teased game was canceled. Titanfall 3 recently popped up in the GeForce Now leak, but it almost certainly falls into the category of games that were pure speculation.
For more, check out our recent report about EA abandoning Titanfall 2, and what happened next.
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.
Fantastic Beasts 3 Gets a New Title and a Much Earlier Release Date
Fantastic Beasts 3 is officially titled The Secrets of Dumbledore, and it's coming to theaters much sooner than expected.
Warner Bros. confirmed the film's title and announced that its release date had been moved up by three months, with the third entry in the fantastical franchise now scheduled to open in theaters on April 15, 2022, as opposed to July 15. The studio plans to have its biggest movies be theatrical exclusives again in 2022, after debuting its 2021 slate in theaters and HBO Max.
#FantasticBeasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore in theaters April 15, 2022. pic.twitter.com/l27HbuwW9f
— Fantastic Beasts (@FantasticBeasts) September 22, 2021
The first plot details for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore have also been shared by way of an official logline, which reads as follows: "Professor Albus Dumbledore knows the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts Magizoologist Newt Scamander to lead an intrepid team of wizards, witches and one brave Muggle baker on a dangerous mission, where they encounter old and new beasts and clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers. But with the stakes so high, how long can Dumbledore remain on the sidelines?"
The third film brings back the majority of the cast from the last two entries, including Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, Jude Law as Albus Dumbledore, Ezra Miller as Credence (aka Aurelius Dumbledore), Callum Turner as Theseus Scamander, Dan Fogler as Jacob Kowalski, Alison Sudol as Queenie Goldstein, and Katherine Waterston as Tina Goldstein.
This time, however, Mads Mikkelsen will be taking over the role of Gellert Grindelwald, replacing Johnny Depp, who departed the role last year. He is, technically speaking, the third actor to play Grindelwald. Colin Farrell first took on the role, albeit as 'Percival Graves,' an alter-ego achieved through transfiguration magic, before Depp portrayed the 'real' version.
It was previously announced that Fantastic Beasts is also now going to be a 5-part series of films after it was extended from its original three-film run, with director David Yates confirming that each film will also take place in a different city: the first installment unravelled in New York City, while The Crimes of Grindelwald largely centered around Paris.
The third film is set in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, so get ready to step out of your suitcase and into the world of Fantastic Beasts when The Secrets of Dumbledore hits theaters next year.
Adele Ankers is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.
MCU Special Coming to Disney+ With ‘An Exciting Look Towards the Future’
A Marvel Cinematic Universe Special is coming to Disney Plus on November 12. It's part of Disney's wider plans to make November 12, the anniversary of Disney Plus' launch, a big day for the streaming service moving forward.
Disney Plus will feature several new releases on that day to celebrate the occasion among them, "a special celebrating the Marvel Cinematic Universe on Disney+ with an exciting look towards the future."
On the same day, Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings, Jungle Cruise, Home Sweet Home Alone, and more are coming to the service. There will also be a special Boba Fett-themed Star Wars special.
We don't know exactly what the MCU special will look like yet, besides that it will be looking ahead to what's next. Already on the slate, Eternals is coming out a week before Disney Plus Day on November 5, and Spider-Man: No Way Home is launching on December 17.
Next year, MCU fans can look forward to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and The Marvels. There are also several television series coming soon, including Hawkeye and Ms. Marvel.
For more, check out our review of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which we called great. Or, read our picks for the most shocking moments so far in Marvel's What If...?
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.