Following middling reception for the series' latest releases, THQ Nordic has announced a new Jagged Alliance game with a different developer. Tropico and Surviving Mars developer Haemimont Games is working on Jagged Alliance 3, but it's early days for the project.Revealed during the THQ Nordic 10th Anniversary showcase, Jagged Alliance 3 aims to improve upon the tepidly received latest entries by attempting to refocus and refine what made the earlier games so memorable and popular. A representative for THQ Nordic said the team is trying to take the "best swing possible" at making Jagged Alliance 3 a game fans appreciate.The game takes place in a fictional world rich with resources and also complicated political situations (which is well-trodden territory for Haemimont Games from the Tropico series). The president has been captured and you have been brought in to find out what happened.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

1999's Outcast was a beloved adventure game that won praise from critics and fans--we named it out 1999 adventure game of the year. Developer Infogrames tried to make a sequel, but the studio went bankrupt and nothing ever came from it. THQ Nordic later acquired the rights and today at the company's 10th anniversary event, announced Outcast 2: A New Beginning.The original game was praised for its open-world, non-linear structure, and the sequel takes these elements and expands on them for a modern audience. For those new to the series, the original Outcast put you into the boots of an ex-Marine tough guy Cutter Slade who was sent to a planet, Adelpha, in a parallel dimension to stop a black hole from destroying the world.The sequel picks up right where the first game left off. Something goes wrong on Cutter's trip back to his home planet and so he gets stuck for 20 years. He wakes up not back home on Earth, but still on Adelpha, instead. The people of Adelpha have been enslaved, and Cutter must save them. The game aims to separate itself from the pack with a "self-ironic, wholesome" take on sci-fi stories. There are so many dark and gritty sci-fi games on the market, the studio said, so it wanted to go in a different direction and make a game that was both more colorful in terms of its art and its tone. The developers want to make a world where players feel at home.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Just about every week brings something new to Destiny 2, whether it's story beats, new activities, or interesting new combinations of elements that let players devastate each other in the Crucible. Iron Banter is our weekly look at what's going on in the world of Destiny and a rundown of what's drawing our attention across the solar system.Let's all take a moment this week and celebrate the fact that, thanks to the excellent new Trials of Osiris changes, I got my first Flawless run and trip to the Lighthouse this week, with the help of GameSpot's own David Ahmadi. Everything Bungie has done for Trials with this revamp is excellent, and while it still needs one more big tweak, the developer said in this week's TWAB that it's already working to address my concerns. Truly nice work here, Bungie.I'm itching to dig back into Trials today, so let's hurry up and take a look at all the other, non-Trials stuff going on in Destiny 2 this week. Before we move on, though, you should know that Xur has some amazing Legendary guns this week. He's in the Tower. Go clean him out.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

THQ Nordic's showcase today wrapped up with a bubble-bombshell announcement for a new SpongeBob game. Titled SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake, the game will bring players through the cartoon's iconic scenes, including the cast's iconic performance of Sweet Victory at the Super Bowl.The game starts with SpongeBob and Patrick casting a flurry of wishes using a vial of Mermaid Tears. However, in their rush the duo tears open a portal in space and time (not like that other 2000s cartoon, though), leaving them to travel across different worlds to save Bikini Bottom.SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake, in contrast to the previous SpongeBob game from Purple Lamp, is a wholly original title, but it will still hinge on the same mechanics. According to the game's Steam page, The Cosmic Shake will include platforming and seven distinct worlds for players to explore. The game will also be voiced by the cartoon's original actors and feature over 100 of its songs.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Pokemon almost immediately took the world by storm. The multimedia juggernaut has become known for a wealth of anime cartoons, blockbuster movies, toys, a trading card game, clothing, collectibles, and of course, video games. That's not bad for a humble little Japanese RPG about catching wild creatures. The core of Pokemon has always been the main RPG series, which has attracted a passionate fanbase and even spawned a vibrant tournament scene. Those RPGs have each added new elements and features to the long-running franchise, but some were certainly more influential than others. We took a hard look at every mainline Pokemon game and determined which ones are just a cut above. Here are all of the best Pokemon games, ranked from not very effective to super effective.10. Pokemon Black and White 2Pokemon Black and White 2All of the Pokemon games loosely take place within a shared universe, but Black and White 2 is the series' only actual, canonical sequel. Set two years after Pokemon Black and White, these sequels revolve around the reemergence of Team Plasma. Though it took place in the same region, it featured new towns and areas that hadn't been accessible in the first game, and a handful of new mechanics. Those included a Pokemon World Tournament that featured famous trainers from the series' history and a new PokeStar Studio side-game. But while it was an enjoyable follow-up to an already solid Pokemon game, it was a little less novel and didn't represent the usual degree of change that we see in a whole new Pokemon generation.See our Pokemon Black and White 2 review.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

God of War: Ragnarok is the second and final entry in Sony Santa Monica's Norse saga, and now series veteran Cory Barlog has shed some light on why the studio is planning to wrap things up with Ragnarok. Speaking to Kaptain Kuba, Barlog said there are "several reasons" for this, the first of which is that games of this size and scale simply take a very long time to make, and Barlog doesn't want the saga to drag out too long. Also in the interview, Barlog compared the God of War Norse saga to the extended edition box set of The Lord of the Rings."I think one of the most important reasons is the first game took five years. The second game, I don't know how long it's going to take, but I'm just going to throw out that it's going to take close to a similar time to do this. And then you think, 'Wow, a third one...' we're talking a span of close to 15 years of a single story. And I feel like that's just too stretched out. I feel like we're asking too much to say the actual completion of that story, taking that long, just feels too long," Barlog said."And given where the team is at and where [director Eric Williams] is at with what he wanted to do, I was like, I think we can actually do this in the second story."Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Destiny's original composer Marty O'Donnell has been found in contempt of court for his usage of the game's assets, that he had uploaded to his YouTube channel and other platforms. Bungie served O'Donnell with papers in April 2014 this year, as he was ordered to return all material related to Destiny and Music of the Spheres--the foundation that the game's soundtrack was built on--as part of a 2015 injunction after he was fired from the company in April 2014.O'Donnell originally won a settlement from Bungie and president Harold Ryan after filing a lawsuit over his dismissal, which he claimed then was done "without cause."In 2019, O'Donnell began uploading that music and other materials to YouTube, as well as tracks and an album titled "Sketches for MotS" to Bandcamp that users could purchase from him according to Eurogamer.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Battlefield 2042 has been officially delayed to November 19, and this impacts a number of other particulars about the game, including its Early Access release date and the open beta. Community manager Freeman cleared up some of the specifics on Twitter. In addition to that, rumors emerged that the open beta will begin in early October.The Early Access period has shifted to November 12. As announced previously, the Gold and Ultimate editions of the game release one week early. Previously, this would have been October 15, but now it's November 12 to match up with the delay.Thanks to everyone who have sent their messages of support this past 12 hours or so - it's deeply appreciated by all of us on the team 💛 #BATTLEFIELDI'll be helping to answer questions as we move towards November 19th. To help clarify on the belowEarly Access = 12th November https://t.co/GDwneaclZs — Freeman 🇸🇪 (@PartWelsh) September 16, 2021As for the open beta, the dates have shifted, too. DICE never said when the open beta was previously slated to launch, but it was rumored for late-September. Now, it's seemingly been delayed to coincide with the game's overall delay. Don't expect to learn the new dates this week, however, but the reveal will happen this month.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

New details on Skull & Bones, Ubisoft's long-in-development seafaring game, have apparently emerged. According to leaker Tom Henderson--who has had a solid record with Call of Duty and Battlefield leaks over the years--the game reportedly features five different tiers of ships which are divided into the cargo, combat, and exploration categories depending on the journey that you'll take.New ships are unlocked via blueprints and can be customized, such as enhancing a vessel's predetermined arsenal of cannons with mortars, ballistas, and other weapons.Each ship also has its own strengths and weaknesses, with Henderson saying that smaller boats can outrun bigger ships if a chase occurs. Like most of Ubisoft's games, Skull & Bones is claimed to be an open-world title set in the waters of the Indian Ocean and a fictional pirate haven based on Madagascar.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

THQ Nordic marks its 10th anniversary this year, and the publisher is holding a special showcase to celebrate. The event takes place this Friday, September 17, and we're rounding up all the key details on how to watch it and what to expect. One of the announcements has seemingly leaked ahead of time, as PlayStation's Twitter account recently revealed a remake of Destroy All Humans 2. The celebration also includes free games and discounts, so be sure to read on to get all the information.How To Watch The THQ Nordic 10th Anniversary EventThe showcase, which THQ Nordic is calling a "digital party," is slated to take place September 17 starting at 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET. You can see more local times below. Because it is a party, everyone is getting a gift as well (more on that later).You can watch the THQ stream live on YouTube and Twitch.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Psychonauts 2 is the long-awaited follow-up to Double Fine's Psychonauts, a game about a crew of psychic kids attending summer camp to hone their skills. Now, after idolizing the expert psychics for years, Raz and his friends have been accepted into the Psychonauts! Well, the intern program anyway.But not all is well at Motherlobe, the Psychonauts HQ. Raz quickly discovers a conspiracy that goes back to the very roots of the organization itself, and he has to dive into the minds of his mentors and heroes to unlock their secrets and stop a looming catastrophe.Like its predecessor, this sequel is an old-school platformer, with large sprawling environments chock full of collectibles to snag. Some of them rely on power-ups that you'll gain as you progress through the story campaign, so you'll probably have to return to some areas to find the things you missed. That means your best bet may be to make a clean run through a stage until you rack up a full array of powers, and then go back to hunt down any missing doodads and tchotchkes.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

The Metroid series is one of the oldest in modern gaming, having originated in 1986 on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Despite its age, though, it's arguably never been more relevant to games than it is today. The series helped define the "metroidvania," and the influence of that genre can be felt in various other games that encourage exploration as a central mechanic. It's also perhaps one of Nintendo's least iterated series, having received fewer games than others like Mario or The Legend of Zelda. That cautious approach has led to each entry bringing something unique to the series. We've put together a list of the best Metroid games--not including spin-offs like Metroid Prime Pinball and Hunters--ranked from worst to best.10. Metroid: Other MMetroid: Other MThe Metroid series is incredibly small--just four main side-scrolling games and three first-person Metroid Prime games, along with a handful of remakes--and many of them are strong showcases of Nintendo's first-party prowess. That all-killer, no-filler approach means a game that is merely pretty good, like Metroid: Other M, bottoms out the list. The project was spearheaded by Team Ninja, best known at the time for the Ninja Gaiden series, and as a result Other M was a very different kind of Metroid game. It was the first to feature melee combat, and the perspective was a mix of traditional 2D and Prime-like 3D.It was a daring mix of ideas, and not all of them worked. While Other M was still a decent game, scoring a 79 review average on GameSpot sister site Metacritic, it received criticism for its uneven difficulty, and especially for its groan-worthy story and voice acting. Perhaps worst of all, it took one of gaming's most iconic heroines and made her doting and immature, and removed her agency in favor of a commanding officer. We can only assume the mixed reception is why there has been no Other M2.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

A new Wipeout game is finally coming out next year, but it won't be headed to its usual PlayStation home. Instead, the latest entry in the anti-gravity racing series is on its way to mobile devices, as publisher Rogue Games has announced Wipeout Rush for Android and iOS devices. Due for release in the early part of 2022, Wipeout Rush has its own single-player campaign, 60 ships from the original games, and a comic book-influenced approach to storytelling.There's also a new system for how you'll speed through the game's 12 championship cup races, as Wipeout Rush is described as a "card-based racing" game."We hope fans will come to it with an open mind because--although different--we're proud to bring the Wipeout franchise back into focus with a fresh take on the formula," Rogue Games CEO Matt Casamassina said to IGN regarding possible skepticism from fans. "And we've poured a lot of love into the presentation, which includes loads of iconic ships and tracks, a new comic book-inspired narrative, a fitting electronica soundtrack, and gorgeous visuals that run at 60 frames per second on modern hardware."Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

The Norse multiplayer RPG Valheim got a big patch today, September 16, with the launch of the much-anticipated Hearth and Home update. This included an overhaul of the food system, new building elements, and a "steamy viking hot tub.""Hearth & Home update brings plenty of new content to Valheim, expanding your gameplay options by introducing new mechanics, furniture, building pieces, food, weapons, optimizations, and more," developer Iron Gate said in a post on Steam.For players who enjoy building, the Hearth and Home update adds new "Darkwood" pieces like shingle roofs, beams, and other decorations. More furniture elements are available as well, including a "steamy viking hot tub."Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

On the September 15 episode of AEW Dynamite, AEW World Champion Kenny Omega accepted the challenge of the newly-signed Bryan Danielson. Danielson, a former multi-time world champion, spoke at All Out after his debut that he came to AEW to wrestle the best in the world, and now he has that chance. Next week, Omega will take on Danielson in a non-title match--and while some consider this a dream match, it's not the first time the two have squared up.Back in 2009 in PWG (Pro Wrestling Guerrilla), a wrestling group based out of Southern California that made its mark with its unusual mix of comedy and high-caliber professional wrestling, the two finally found themselves in the same ring.At the time, Danielson had already made a name for himself throughout the independent scene and minor promotions, capturing several championships along the way. Kenny Omega was just making a name for himself having come already made his way in Deep South Wrestling (WWE's then developmental territory), DDT Pro, NWA, PCW, and Jersey All Pro Wrestling.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com