Category: Gamespot

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been updated on Nintendo Switch and Wii U. According to Nintendo, version 1.3.1 fixes some bugs and introduces a new Zelda-specific news channel on Switch called Tips from the Wild.

The news channel will allow players to obtain in-game items, though it’s currently unclear what those items might be. Nintendo says certain items may not be available, “depending on your game progress and location.” The channel will be accessible through the the News tab in the Switch’s Home menu from August 9.

Breath of the Wild’s Wii U version has also been updated, and the patch includes “various fixes to improve gameplay.” The update has also fixed an issue in the first DLC expansion, The Master Trials, in which defeating certain enemies would not count toward your completion rate. Check out the full patch notes, via Nintendo, at the bottom of this article.

Nintendo recently revealed that Breath of the Wild has sold nearly 4 million copies. The open-world title was met with critical acclaim when it launched in March, including a 10/10 in GameSpot’s review. Critic Peter Brown called it “the most impressive game Nintendo has ever created.” Read more in our full Zelda: Breath of the Wild review.

In other Zelda news, series producer Eiji Aonuma has spoken at length about the game’s art and given fans a glimpse of Breath of the Wild’s next DLC pack, The Champions’ Ballad. The expansion is scheduled to launch “holiday 2017.” It will feature a new dungeon and story that revolves around the four champions from Link’s era and will also introduce new gear. Players can only purchase The Champions’ Ballad as part of Breath of the Wild’s $20 Expansion Pass, which also includes the recently released Master Trials DLC pack.

The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Version 1.3.1 Patch Notes

• We have fixed the issue in Pack 1: The Master Trials of the Expansion Pass, in which defeating certain enemies for Kilton was not counted toward completion when playing in Master Mode.
• Various fixes to improve gameplay.
• [Nintendo Switch only] In-game items can now be obtained from launching the software from certain articles distributed through a new News channel (“The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Tips from the Wild”) which can be accessed through News on the Home menu.
  • This channel is expected to open on 8/9/2017.
  • Depending on your game progress and location, certain items may not be obtainable.

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Mother! is the latest film from acclaimed director Darren Aronofsky, and an unsettling first trailer has landed. It’s billed as a “psychological horror film,” and the star-studded cast includes Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games), Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men, Skyfall), and Ed Harris (Westworld). Check out the trailer below:

A synopsis for the movie reads: “A young woman’s tranquil life with her husband at their remote country home is challenged by a mysterious couple who arrive and lodge with them.” The trailer certainly delivers plenty of chilling imagery, from spooky basements and creepy dinner parties to blood-filled lightbulbs and what looks like a sinister cult advancing on the house.

Aronofsky is known for the similarly dark, Oscar-winning thriller Black Swan, as well as such movies as The Wrestler, Noah, and Requiem for a Dream. The cast for Mother! also includes Michelle Pfeiffer (Dark Shadows), Kristen Wiig (Ghostbusters), and Domhnall Gleeson (Star Wars: The Force Awakens).

Mother! hits theaters on September 15, 2017.

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After a delay last year, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is finally available. The action game, which is the latest title from Heavenly Sword and DmC: Devil May Cry developer Ninja Theory, blends combat and puzzle sequences with a sympathetic story of mental illness and its effects.

We recently learned that the “timed” PS4/PC exclusive has a photo mode–and if you’re intrigued, you can see some gameplay here. But the big question is, is it any good?

GameSpot critic Alessandro Fillari praised the game’s “handling of an incredibly sensitive subject matter within an engaging and well-crafted action/adventure game,” and said players could “come away with a better understanding of a piece of something that many people in the world struggle with.” Read more in our full Hellblade review.

Other reviews have started to emerge, and we’ve collated some of them below. For a wider look at the game’s critical reception meanwhile, head over to GameSpot’s sister site Metacritic.

• Game: Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
• Developer / Publisher: Ninja Theory
• Platforms: PS4, PC
• Release: Out now
• Price: US $30 / £25 / AU $45

GameSpot — 8/10

“Hellblade’s most notable achievement is the handling of an incredibly sensitive subject matter within an engaging and well-crafted action/adventure game. At its heart, the story is about Senua’s struggle to come to terms with her illness. In the process, she learns to find the strength within herself to endure, and to make peace with her past. And in a profound and physical way, we go through those same struggles with her, and come away with a better understanding of a piece of something that many people in the world struggle with.” — Alessandro Fillari [Full review]

IGN — 9.0/10

“Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is a masterclass of atmosphere, storytelling, and the marriage of mechanical and conceptual design. While there are moments that feel shoehorned in to remind us we’re playing a videogame, the care and attention Ninja Theory has clearly poured into Senua and her story has created something amazing. This is a game everyone should play, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to have lived inside the mind of Senua, however briefly.” — Brandin Tyrrel [Full review]

Destructoid — 7.5/10

“Slowly but surely Ninja Theory has moved into film territory, but they can’t let go of their need to shove action mechanics into everything they do. With the increased focus and acceptance of so-called “walking simulators” there’s a huge market they can tap into, and I hope they end up doing that in the future. I enjoyed pretty much every facet of Hellblade that didn’t involve combat, which unfortunately pops up a little too often on top of the aforementioned technical problems–just enough to grate.” — Chris Carter [Full review]

Game Informer — 8.0/10

“Psychosis in video games is often used to justify a villain’s world-destroying ambitions, or as a vehicle to present gameplay gimmicks. Hellblade goes beyond those conventions, using Senua’s mental illness as the core from which the entire tale radiates. That approach results in some phenomenal and unsettling narrative moments that knock you off-balance. However, in pursuit of that achievement, Hellblade weaponizes the real-world frustration it causes in exploration and combat. That’s where it falters as a game, even while it captivates as a piece of interactive art.” — Joe Juba [Full review]

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At Japan Expo in Paris last month, Legend of Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma held a masterclass panel called The Art of Zelda with the series’ artistic director, Satoru Takizawa, and illustrator, Yusuke Nakano. The presentation, which discussed the artistic choices behind Nintendo’s storied franchise, was previously only available in Japanese and French, but now English-speaking fans can follow along with the panel thanks to a new translation by Nintendo UK.

The Art of Zelda masterclass focuses primarily of the art design of the series’ most renowned installments, Ocarina of Time, The Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, and its most recent chapter, Breath of the Wild. The entire panel runs for approximately 50 minutes and reveals some interesting behind-the-scenes information on the development of those titles, such as preliminary sketches of a “middle-aged” Link for Twilight Princess. You can watch the entire masterclass below.

Nintendo also gave fans their first look at Breath of the Wild’s next DLC pack, The Champions’ Ballad, during the Art of Zelda masterclass. While brief, the footage that the company showcased during the panel revealed some important details about the upcoming add-on, namely that players will again assume the role of Link and will learn much more about Princess Zelda during the course of the DLC. Nintendo also announced at the panel that a Breath of the Wild art book is in the works.

The Champions’ Ballad is scheduled to launch “holiday 2017.” It will feature a new dungeon and story that revolves around the four champions from Link’s era. It will also introduce new gear, one piece of which is based on the lobster shirt that Link wears in The Wind Waker. Players can only purchase The Champions’ Ballad as part of Breath of the Wild’s $20 Expansion Pass, which also includes the recently released Master Trials DLC pack.

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Square Enix recently launched a beta test for Final Fantasy XV‘s upcoming Comrades multiplayer mode, and things got off to a rough start. Server issues made it difficult initially to do much more than create a character and walk around a small patch of land, prompting the company to schedule a second beta test for this coming weekend. Strangely, though, you won’t be able to simply grab the beta and jump in once it begins.

In order to participate in the next beta, you’ll still need to meet the previous requirements: own a copy of the game and its season pass and be an Xbox Live Gold/PlayStation Plus subscriber. But you’ll also need to ensure you have the Closed Online Test downloaded by tomorrow, August 8–it won’t actually be available to download once this second test begins.

Prior to the start of this beta, Square Enix will release an update that’s intended to resolve matchmaking issues. These have plagued the first test, which concludes tomorrow and was originally intended to be the only beta.

Comrades is a cooperative multiplayer expansion for Final Fantasy XV, which until now had been single-player-only. Players create a character of their own to take online and partner with other players to explore the world and complete quests. Only a select amount of content is included in the beta, but there will be a variety of new weapons, gear, and attack styles in the full DLC. Noctis and company will eventually be made available as playable characters.

Square Enix has not yet provided a release date for Comrades, and it’s unclear if its time table will be affected by the outcome of the upcoming beta. Whenever it does launch, Comrades will be available both on its own and as part of the season pass.

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Tonight’s episode of Game of Thrones, “The Spoils of War,” had a number of standout moments. There was a huge battle and two characters met for the first time since Season 1. It was a lot to take in and think about. You can read GameSpot’s breakdown of the biggest moments in this spoiler-filled post.

And if you want to hear directly from creators D.B. Weiss and David Benioff, HBO has now posted a behind-the-scenes video in which they talk about the key sequences in the episode and what they mean to them. Of course, this video is overflowing with spoilers, so be aware of that before jumping in.

The Spoils of War was the shortest episode in the history of Game of Thrones, coming in at just 50 minutes. The next episode, Episode 5, will be back to around normal, clocking in at 59 minutes.

A full trailer for the fifth episode has not been released yet, but you can watch a teaser right here.

While Game of Thrones will end with the upcoming Season 8, HBO is exploring as many as five prequels, so fans will get more.

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Following tonight’s shortest-ever episode of Game of Thrones, HBO has now published a teaser trailer for next Sunday’s episode–and it’s pretty intense. You can watch the trailer below, but of course be aware that it contains pretty massive spoilers.

Tonight’s episode, “The Spoils of War,” was only 50 minutes long, making it the shortest-ever episode of the acclaimed HBO show. Things return to normal for the August 13 episode, which moves back to around the normal length, coming in at 59 minutes. And the Season 7 finale is the longest-ever episode.

For lots more on the “The Spoils of War,” you can check out GameSpot’s breakdown of the episode’s biggest moments here.

Season 7 is the penultimate season of Game of Thrones. While the show will wrap up with Season 8, HBO is exploring as many as five prequels.

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