Category: Gamespot

A pair of new Heroes of the Storm characters have been announced at BlizzCon. Blizzard showed off a new cinematic trailer for the game that brings together one new addition from Overwatch and Warcraft–Hanzo and Alexstrasza.

According to Blizzard’s Kaeo Milker, Alexstrasza is a ranged Support who can heal allies and transform into a dragon using her trait, Dragon Queen. Hanzo, meanwhile, is a ranged Assassin who can both take out enemies and serve as a scout.

Also coming to HotS are some other major updates to the way the game itself plays. In addition to voice chat and a refined camera, Blizzard said it plans to provide performance and laning improvements, a rework to how stealth functions, “evolved” mechanics, and more. All of this will be included as part of the 2018 gameplay update, which Blizzard will detail as BlizzCon continues. Milker also noted that we’ll see “performance-based matchmaking” that better accounts for your skill level.

There’s much more to come from BlizzCon. In addition to the HotS news, we’ve also learned that StarCraft II is going free-to-play, with players gaining access to a substantial chunk of the game without paying a dime. We’ll report back as more news is shared; you can see everything announced in our roundup of the biggest BlizzCon 2017 news.

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Super Mario Odyssey is a huge, wonderfully designed game brimming with personality. Although it doesn’t specifically impact gameplay (for the most part), one new thing it introduces is the ability to dress Mario up in a wide variety of costumes. These range from his wedding outfit to Waluigi’s overalls and many others.

Amiibo figures play a part in accessing these costumes, as you can scan select ones to unlock a corresponding outfit in-game. They can also provide various bonuses, such as extra hearts and–in the case of Mario’s Amiibo figures–invincibility for 30 seconds. In the video above, we provide a full rundown on what you can get. Be aware that the costumes thankfully aren’t exclusive to Amiibo figures–you can unlock everything in-game without owning any.

To scan in an Amiibo you own, you have to speak with the appropriately named Uncle Amiibo. He’s the Roomba-looking robot who can typically be found near your ship after completing a kingdom. Speaking with him brings you to a menu where you can scan in your figures–just hold one over the reader on the right Joy-Con (or the middle of the Pro Controller) to do so.

Super Mario Odyssey is out now on Nintendo Switch. It earned a rare 10/10 in our Super Mario Odyssey review, and if you’re just getting started we have 10 essential tips as well as six things we wish we knew before starting Odyssey.

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Another weekly reset has arrived for Destiny 2, which means it’s time for a new Nightfall Strike… except it doesn’t. The Flashpoint has moved to the EDZ, but despite the reset, players still have access to the same Nightfall as last week: The Arms Dealer. It features the same exact Challenges but different Modifiers, which is unusual. We do know that a new Destiny 2 update is slated to arrive this week, and it’s possible the Nightfall will change following that. We’ll update this story if that proves to be the case, but for now we’ll look at the Nightfall version of The Arms Dealer.

The time limit is in place and can be extended because of the first of the two modifiers, Timewarp: Killing Time. By slaying enemies, you’ll receive additional time–up to a limit–to complete the Strike. The other modifier is Prism, which cycles through each of the damage types. The selected damage deals more than usual, while the others are less effective.

In terms of Challenges, Speed of Dark is active, which asks you to finish the Strike with at least five minutes left on the timer. Unbroken requires you to make it through the mission with fewer than three deaths. And finally, Trash the Thresher tasks you with bringing down a Thresher (the Cabal gunship) during the fight with Bracus Zahn.

The reward for completing the Nightfall is Powerful Gear. This is one of the few activities to offer those, and they’re among the best items you can get your hands on. It’s also a reliable way to increase your Power level past 265, should you be struggling to pass that point. If you haven’t made it to that point, you may want to consider waiting until after you’ve raised your Power level before grabbing the Nightfall reward. This Nightfall will be available until the next weekly reset, which occurs at 2 AM PT / 5 AM ET / 9 AM GMT / 4 PM AEST on Tuesday, November 7.

The Nightfall is available from the start for the PC version, which is out now. If you haven’t yet unlocked the Nightfall, you’ll need to complete two Strikes and approach the suggested Power level of 240 before Zavala will allow you to take part in them. Traditional matchmaking is not available, but in its place we have Guided Games, providing players with the opportunity to be matched up with members of a clan for the mission (which requires a Nightfall Ticket). Alternatively, clan members can sign up to serve as guides through the Nightfall. Doing so does not require a Ticket.

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Just days remain until Microsoft’s latest console, the Xbox One X, launches worldwide. The new device–which Microsoft days is the most powerful console in the world–brings upgraded specs and enhanced games, as well as a sleeker, smaller design than the original Xbox One.

However, what we all want to know is: is it any good? Thankfully, we’ve collected a roundup of reviews from around the web below. For more on the new system, check out our Xbox One X vs PC vs Xbox One graphics comparison, or take a look at everything you need to know about the Xbox One X.

• Platform: Xbox One X
• Publisher: Microsoft
• Release date: November 7
• Price: US $499 / £449 / AU $649

GameSpot — No score

“Should you get an Xbox One X? That answer should largely depend on whether you’d be happy with the console’s library of games. You can check out a list of all the Xbox One X-enhanced games here. If you’re happy with the lineup and are thinking about jumping in, allow me to outline three different scenarios for you. If you game on a 1080p TV and don’t have any plans to upgrade to a 4K one, the Xbox One S is going to be a better fit for you. While you will get some graphical enhancements with the X, you don’t really get your money’s worth if you don’t have a 4K HDR TV. But what if you already own a 4K HDR TV and an Xbox One? In this case, I’d only recommend getting the X if you have the disposable cash to spare for the increased visual fidelity and performance benefits. If you have a 4K HDR TV, don’t have a current gen console, and are looking to purchase one, however, the Xbox One X is a great choice.” — Jimmy Thang [Full review]

IGN — 8.7/10 (Review-in-progress)

“The Xbox One X is a very impressive collection of hardware crammed into a sleek case. It runs cool and quiet as it delivers impressive performance in the enhanced games we’ve been able to test out so far. It’s hard to believe Microsoft exclusives like Gears of War 4 can look so good and run so smoothly on a box that costs less than half of what you’d pay for a high-end gaming PC. Plus, it caters to home theater enthusiasts with 4K ultra-HD Blu-ray playback and Atmos sound. However, the big question of how it compares to the PlayStation 4 Pro in running third-party games remains, for now, unanswered.” — Brandin Tyrrel [Full review]

Polygon — No score (Pre-review)

“The Xbox One X is undeniably the best console to play multiplatform games; they’ll look and run better on it than on the PS4 Pro. For some people, that peace of mind–knowing that they’re guaranteed to get the highest image quality and smoothest performance–will be enough to justify the purchase price. And the ancillary benefits of Microsoft’s ecosystem, such as Xbox Play Anywhere and backward compatibility going back to the original Xbox, can’t be discounted. But I’ve been floored by plenty of games on the PS4 Pro, like Horizon Zero Dawn. For now, with the limited number of enhanced Xbox One X titles I’ve been able to test, I haven’t seen enough to be able to recommend the console in light of its high price–especially when the audience for these mid-cycle upgrades still seems so specific.” — Samit Sarkar [Full review]

The Verge — 8.5/10

“Sony really has some impressive exclusives on the way, and it’s hard for Microsoft to counter this despite its great job on the hardware. Microsoft promised the best hardware, and it delivered–but that’s nothing without games.” — Tom Warren [Full review]

The Guardian — 4/5

“Multiplatform titles will almost certainly look better on Xbox One X than on PS4 Pro, sometimes very noticeably (and elements like increased draw distance and smoother frame-rates can have a palpable effect on your gameplay experience), but is it worth the extra £100? That’s a conversation you need to have with your aesthetic standards and your wallet.” — Keith Stuart [Full review]

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The latest batch of discounts are now available in the US PlayStation Store. This week, PS Plus members will especially find some great deals on various PS4, PS3, and Vita games.

Thanks to the limited-time Double Discount Sale, those with a PS Plus membership can save twice as much on each of the eligible titles. On PS4, Plus subscribers can pick up the acclaimed Horizon: Zero Dawn for $28 (or $39 without PS Plus) ahead of the release of the game’s first major DLC expansion, The Frozen Wilds (which we got to see a bit more of during Sony’s Paris Games Week conference). Also discounted is Divinity: Original Sin – Enhanced Edition for $12 ($26). Some other notable deals include:

• Dead Rising Triple Pack — $23.79 ($41.64)
• Resident Evil Triple Pack — $29.74 ($44.61)
• Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 Remix — $30 ($40)
• Life Is Strange: Complete Season — $6 ($13)
• Matterfall — $10 ($15)
• Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 — $14 ($17)
• Overcooked — $6.79 ($11.89)
• Yooka-Laylee — $20 ($30)

PS3 owners have a smaller selection to choose from, though there are still some great titles on sale. Players can find discounts on Don’t Starve: Giant Edition ($4.49/$9.74), Life Is Strange: Complete Season ($6/$13), Pro Evolution Soccer 2017 ($10/$15), and The King of Fighters XIII ($6/$18). Vita owners, meanwhile, can pick up Utawarerumono: Mask of Truth ($32/$36), Valkyria Revolution ($32/$36), and Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception ($28/$34).

The Double Discount Sale runs until November 7. You can find the full list of this week’s discounted titles on the PlayStation Store. This is also the last week of Sony’s Day 1 Digital offer, which will get you a 20% coupon toward your next PSN purchase when you buy two or more select titles. Additionally, this is the last week members can download October’s free PS Plus games, which will be replaced on November 7.

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Looking for a new Xbox One or PlayStation 4? Retailer Kohl’s is offering the consoles for a very nice discount on Black Friday. Ad scans from the store’s Black Friday sale have been posted online by Bfads.net, and some of the featured “Doorbuster” deals include a new 500 GB Xbox One S with a $45 Kohl’s gift card for only $190. If you’re looking for a PS4, Kohl’s has the 1 TB PS4 with a $60 gift card for just $200.

Another option is the 1 TB Halo Wars 2 Xbox One bundle that comes with a copy of the game and two controllers for $330. It normally sells for $350.

Additionally, Kohl’s will sell PS4 and Xbox One controllers for $40 on Black Friday. That’s not an amazing deal; while the gamepads officially go for $60, you can regularly find them discounted to around $45-50. Still, a deal is a deal. Additionally, Kohl’s has the $100 Sony wireless Gold headset for only $70.

Go to Bfads to see the full 64-page Kohl’s Black Friday ad scan. Black Friday ad scans from all the other big stores should be coming soon, so keep checking back with GameSpot to see more about what you can get on the cheap this shopping season.

Black Friday 2017 is officially Friday, November 24, though some stores start their deals early. We’ll report back with more details as they become available.

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We’re somehow already in November, and as such, Sony has announced the lineup of free PlayStation Plus games arriving soon. Six more free titles are on the way across PS4, PS3, and Vita, and they’ll arrive next week.

On PS4, strategy game Worms Battlegrounds and platformer Bound will both be free starting on November 7. To celebrate the recent PlayStation VR anniversary, a bonus game will also be offered for a longer-than-usual period: Until Dawn: Rush of Blood will be free starting on November 7 and will remain that way through January 2.

During November, PS3 owners get R-Type Dimensions and Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic. Vita owners get Broken Sword 5: The Serpent’s Curse and Dungeon Punks. The latter offers Cross-Buy with PS4, meaning the platform gets a total of four freebies.

All of these games go free on Tuesday, November 7 and will be available until December 5. You still have time to claim October’s PS Plus games if you haven’t already done so. Games like Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain and Amnesia Collection are free right now, with a bonus title–PSVR game RIGS–also available until November 7. You can also now take advantage of the latest batch of PS4 weekly deals, which include some nice offers for PS Plus members in particular.

November 2017 Free PlayStation Plus Games

PS4

• Bound
• Dungeon Punks (Cross-Buy with Vita)
• Until Dawn: Rush of Blood (available until January 3)
• Worms Battlegrounds

PS3

• R-Type Dimensions
• Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic

Vita

• Broken Sword 5: The Serpent’s Curse (Episodes 1 & 2)
• Dungeon Punks

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