Pokemon Go Bringing Gen 4 Legendary Giratina Back With New Form

Pokemon Go‘s first Gen 4 Legendary Pokemon, Giratina, is making an encore appearance in the hit mobile game soon. Niantic is bringing the Renegade Pokemon back to Raid Battles for another month beginning March 28, and this time around it’ll appear in a different form.

From March 28 to April 2, players will have another opportunity to capture Giratina in its Altered Forme (pictured below). After that, the Legendary Pokemon will transform into its Origin Forme–the serpent-like appearance it takes in Pokemon Platinum–until it leaves Raid Battles on April 29.

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Regardless of what form it takes, Giratina is a dual Ghost/Dragon Pokemon, so the same strategies you used to battle it when it first appeared during last year’s Halloween event will apply. What’s unique about this combination is that both Ghost and Dragon are susceptible to their own types, so Pokemon like Salamence, Rayquaza, and Gengar will prove to be effective against Giratina. Dark-types such as Tyranitar and Houndoom will also have an edge over it.

In the meantime, you still have a few more days to capture Pokemon Go’s current Legendary, Dialga. The Temporal Pokemon will only appear in Raid Battles until March 28, meaning this is your last opportunity to add it to your collection before it leaves the game. Dialga is a dual Dragon/Steel-type, making it weak to Fighting and Ground Pokemon like Machamp and Groudon.

Pokemon Go is in the midst of its spring equinox event, which makes Grass Pokemon like Oddish and Sunkern easier to find. The game’s next Community Day takes place this Saturday, March 23, and it likewise features a Grass Pokemon: the Gen 3 starter Treecko.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pokemon-go-bringing-gen-4-legendary-giratina-back-/1100-6465775/

Microsoft Apes Nintendo, Announces Xbox One Indie Game Showcase Stream

Microsoft has taken a leaf out of Nintendo’s book and announced a new Direct-style stream centered around indie titles coming to Xbox One. Named ID@Xbox Game Pass, the first episode will air on March 26 at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET / 4 PM GMT (3 AM AET in Sydney).

“You can expect to learn more about some of the hottest ID@Xbox titles coming to Xbox Game Pass with new reveals, gameplay highlights, and conversations with the developers,” the platform holder stated. It went on to tease information on Afterparty, Void Bastards, and Supermarket Shriek, as well as “new game announcements.” You’ll be able to watch on YouTube, as with Microsoft’s Inside Xbox streams.

On the face of it, the show will be similar to Nintendo’s regular Nindies streams, the most recent of which happened just a few days ago. The spring Nindies showcase even included a collaboration of sorts between Nintendo and Microsoft as a port of Cuphead for Switch was announced. It also brought a new Zelda game and some new Switch games available right now.

Microsoft’s announcement comes just hours after Sony unveiled its new show, State of Play, which promises more information on upcoming PlayStation games and “new game announcements” of its own. That stream is also airing on March 26, just a few hours after Microsoft’s ID@Xbox Game Pass show.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-apes-nintendo-announces-xbox-one-indie-g/1100-6465777/

Life Is Strange 2 Isn’t Back Until May, Release Schedule Detailed

You’ll be waiting a while longer to continue Life is Strange 2. Square Enix outlined the upcoming roadmap of releases for the remaining episodes, and the next one isn’t coming until late spring. The full season is slated to last through the rest of the year.

The company outlined its season of content on Steam. Episode 3 is coming on May 9, followed by Episode 4 on August 22, and Episode 5 on December 3. Those gaps are about what players may have expected given the four-month wait between the first two releases in September 2018 and January 2019, but it also means the story isn’t as close as fans may have hoped.

Life is Strange was a surprise from publisher Square Enix and gained a cult following around its mixture of sci-fi and fantasy tropes with the mundane parts of real life. It received a spin-off, The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, that served as a bridge and teaser for the sequel.

“Life is Strange paints an excellent, vivid picture of a young woman’s struggle for acceptance and justice, but trips itself up by trying to make things gamey,” critic Alex Ray Corriea said in GameSpot’s review of the first game’s final episode. “The story of Max and Chloe is a beautiful tale, but it’s marred by bizarre logical leaps and leftover plot holes. Aggravating out-of-place fetch quests and stealth sequences crack the somber atmosphere and very hamfistedly remind you that you’re playing a game. It’s unfortunate, because I do love Life is Strange’s story. I just wish the ending wasn’t so mismanaged.”

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/life-is-strange-2-isnt-back-until-may-release-sche/1100-6465778/

XCOM 2 Is Free To Play And 75% Off On Steam This Weekend

No matter how long and tiresome your week is, there’s at least one thing you can look forward to by the time you make it to Friday: Steam’s free-to-play weekend games will be live. This weekend, only one title is available as a free-to-play exclusive, but it’s a big one: XCOM 2, a turn-based strategy game where you command a resistance group of soldiers fighting back against aliens who have captured and now dominate Earth.

From now until Sunday, March 24 at 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET / 8 PM GMT (or March 25 at 7 AM AET), you can play XCOM 2 completely for free on Steam–and if you love the game, be sure to grab it at its current steep discount of $15 / £11.37 / AU $21.16 (normally $60). It’ll be on sale until Monday, March 25 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 5 PM GMT (or March 26 at 4 AM AET). The XCOM 2 Collection, its Digital Deluxe edition, and various DLC are marked down as well.

XCOM 2 takes places two decades after XCOM: Enemy Unknown, the series’ 2012 reboot. You play as the commander of XCOM, a military organization working to sabotage and bring down the alien regime that now occupies Earth. Stealth and strategy play an even bigger role in this sequel, which allows for sneaking around enemies and planning thrilling ambushes. The game earned a 9/10 in GameSpot’s XCOM 2 review for its nuanced strategy, compelling characters, and the critical decisions you’re forced to make.

“Time keeps ticking in XCOM 2, and the best we can do is make the right choices when we have the chance,” wrote GameSpot’s Mike Mahardy. “XCOM 2 imparts the weight of those decisions, and that’s what makes it extraordinary. It’s mathematical, emotional, and thoughtful all at once. It’s exhilarating, even in the face of failure. It’s compelling, even though we often lose. Victory is the goal, but that’s just an afterthought here–it’s the complex journey that counts.”

Play XCOM 2 for free on Steam »

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xcom-2-is-free-to-play-and-75-off-on-steam-this-we/1100-6465774/

Devil May Cry 5 Hits Big Sales Milestone In First Two Weeks

Capcom has shipped 2 million copies of Devil May Cry 5 within its first two weeks, the company has announced. That’s a significant boost from its previous release, the soft-reboot DMC: Devil May Cry, which had its sales expectations reduced amid a weaker-than-expected launch.

Capcom also noted that the series has now cumulatively sold more than 19 million copies since it debuted in 2001. If sales of DMC5 remain strong, it’s likely to help push that lifetime figure over the 20 million mark.

DMC5 is the first mainline release for the series in more than ten years. It brings back Dante and Nero, along with a new character, V, who summons animal familiars to do his fighting for him. The last numbered release, Devil May Cry 4, sold 2 million copies in roughly its first month on the market.

“DMC5 thrives on the stylistic and mechanical prowess of its predecessors. It sticks to tradition above all else, pursuing a few ambitious new ideas along the way, but mostly maintaining the series’ focus on intricate fighting systems and campy bravado,” Matt Espineli wrote in GameSpot’s Devil May Cry 5 review. “Rarely does the game stumble, consistently leveraging its spectacle and mechanical depth to push aside any small frustrations. All the while, the story exudes a charismatic charm that keeps you constantly intrigued as you’re refining your skills. DMC5 proves the series can still be brilliant and imaginative without compromising its longest-held traditions.”

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/devil-may-cry-5-hits-big-sales-milestone-in-first-/1100-6465773/

Judgement’s Western Release Date Unchanged, Actor Caught In Drug Scandal Removed From It

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the team behind the Yakuza series, has provided an update on its upcoming PS4 title Judgement. The game became embroiled in a controversy when Japanese voice actor Pierre Taki was linked to drug use, something which is treated very severely in Japan. In a tweet, the developer said the character model and voice for Taki’s character, Kyohei Hamura, will be adjusted for its western release.

Additionally, screenshots and trailers featuring Taki’s character have been “temporarily removed from all of Sega’s official channels.” In the future, this material will be made available again with the adjustments reflected in them, Sega confirmed.

Judgement is already available in Japan, but sales of the game were halted while the investigation surrounding the drug use was conducted. Taki later admitted to using cocaine and tested positive for it. Judgement’s western release date has not been delayed and it will be available on June 25.

As previously mentioned, Japan has very strict drug laws and the use of drugs has severe consequences, especially for those in the public eye. In addition to being removed from Judgement by Sega, Disney has also stopped sales of Frozen, in which Taki voices Olaf. Japanese publication Asahi News has reported that Disney is also looking at replacing him for Frozen 2.

Judgment is a narrative-driven game that serves as a spin-off from the Yakuza series. Players assume the role of investigator Takayuki Yagami, who is looking into grisly crimes in Kamurocho, which is the Kabukicho, Tokyo-inspired setting for the Yakuza games.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/judgements-western-release-date-unchanged-actor-ca/1100-6465772/

Sony’s State Of Play Stream To Bring PS4 Game Announcements On Monday

Taking a page out of Nintendo’s playbook, Sony has announced State of Play, a “new video program” that will provide viewers with updates, news, and game announcements from the world of PlayStation. The first episode will be streamed online this Monday, March 25, at 2 PM PT / 5 PM EDT / 9 PM GMT (8 AM AEDT on March 26).

According to a post on the PlayStation Blog, the episode will “showcase upcoming PS4 and PS VR software, including new trailers, new game announcements, and new gameplay footage.” The show will be available to watch on Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and, of course, on GameSpot.

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Sony says that State of Play will return throughout the year with more updates and announcement. The confirmation of this series of Nintendo Direct-style events will no doubt be exciting for PlayStation fans, especially since the company has confirmed it will not be attending E3 2019.

“As the industry evolves, Sony Interactive Entertainment continues to look for inventive opportunities to engage the community,” the company said, explaining its decision to skip the annual trade show. “PlayStation fans mean the world to us and we always want to innovate, think differently and experiment with new ways to delight gamers. As a result, we have decided not to participate in E3 in 2019. We are exploring new and familiar ways to engage our community in 2019 and can’t wait to share our plans with you.”

It seems State of Play is one of the new and familiar ways Sony intends to engage the PlayStation community. While it hasn’t detailed what games it may showcase, there are a number of big PlayStation titles currently on the way. Naughty Dog is working on The Last of Us 2, Sucker Punch has Ghost of Tsushima, Media Molecule is building Dreams, and Sony Bend’s Days Gone is set for launch in April. Kojima Productions’ Death Stranding is also on the way as a PS4 exclusive.

Sony will no doubt also use the platform to showcase some of the third-party and indie titles that are in the pipeline for both PS4 and PlayStation VR. Check back on March 25 and we’ll have all the news from the event for you.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonys-state-of-play-stream-to-bring-ps4-game-annou/1100-6465770/

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice–Where To Find The Shinobi Axe For Killing Shielded Enemies

Most of your time in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is spent dueling with swords, deflecting enemy attacks and striking back in order to overwhelm your opponent and open them up for devastating deathblows. But some enemies are tougher to deal with than others, and no amount of fancy sword work can break something like a sturdy shield. That’s where the Shinobi Prosthetic and its various tools come in, providing you options on the battlefield that are great for dealing with specific kinds of enemies.

You won’t start out with many tools for the Shinobi Prosthetic in Sekiro, though–you have to locate them in the world and bring them back to the Sculptor in the Dilapidated Temple in order to access them. That means that plenty of them are easy to miss, and not finding the right prosthetics can at the right time can put you at a serious disadvantage against some of the game’s tough bosses and mid-bosses. You’ll also lack the means to defeat some of the more irritating regular enemies until you find the right tools.

The Shinobi Axe is one of the early prosthetics that you’ll definitely want, since it’s great for smashing through shields and the wooden hats of the small but tough Senpou assassins. If you don’t search around enough, though, you can walk right past the axe, and that’ll make your progress a little more irritating. Here’s everything you need to know to snag this early prosthetic tool, and while you’re at it, you might want to check out our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice review, and our rundown of how death and Dragonrot work in the game.

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Visit Ashina Outskirts To Find The Estate

The Shinobi Axe is actually located in the Hirata Estate, a place you can only access through a specific quest item that lets you visit one of the Wolf’s old memories. The item you need is a bell that you can get from a character early on in the first area you visit, the Ashina Outskirts. Head to the Outskirts Wall–Gate Path area, past the samurai mid-boss you’ll fight near when you arrive. In the next, more open area, you’ll find lots of enemies patrolling around, and several blasted-out houses. Inside one is an old woman who thinks you’re her son when you speak to her. If you let her believe it, she’ll give you a bell and ask you to make an offering to Buddha.

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That bell is the quest item you’re looking for. Take it back to the Dilapidated Temple and offer it to the Buddha statue near the Sculptor. That’ll give you access to the Hirata Estate level three years in the past.

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Make Your Way Through The Estate

Once you’re in the Estate, you’ll need to progress to a specific area. Fight through the first section until you reach the Idol marked “Estate Path.” It’s this section where you’ll find the Shinobi Axe, although you’ll have to do a little work to reach it.

At the idol, you’ll be on a path that leads through some enemies to a closed gate. To get around the gate, you’ll need to hop over the wall on the right of the path and head past some huts and houses. If you’ve already found the Flame Vent prosthetic, you’ll need to go past that to get to the Axe. Advance through the yards until you pass an area with a row of huts, where a bunch of enemies are hanging out by a campfire. The path ahead of the campfire will take you back onto the main road, on the other side of the gate you couldn’t open. You should pass an injured samurai who tells you the Shinobi Axe is located in a nearby shrine.

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Finding The Shrine

As you pass the samurai and come back out on the main road, you’ll be able to turn either left or right. To the right, you’ll see two enemies standing at a gate where you can eavesdrop on them. Instead, turn left, heading toward the locked gate. Jump up on the wall on your left and you’ll see two more enemies talking just beyond. Picking up their conversation reveals they’re talking about burning a nearby building, which they call a shrine. That’s the place you’re looking for.

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Drop down and take out those two guys, then open the small square building to find the Shinobi Axe inside. You’ll need to return to an Idol Statue so you can travel back to the Dilapidated Temple and get the Sculptor to fit the Axe to your prosthetic, but you can do that quickly by opening that locked gate–it opens from the side you’re on, giving you a quick path back to the Idol.

Once you have the Axe, use it to stagger baddies with a big, powerful attack, and to smash anybody’s shields. You’ll find those shield-wielding enemies just up ahead on the main path through Hirata, so you’re going to want to get the Axe ready to go as soon as you can.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sekiro-shadows-die-twice-where-to-find-the-shinobi/1100-6465776/

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Guide–Where To Find The Firecrackers Shinobi Prosthetic Early

Swordplay is a massive part of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, but just as important is your other special weapon: the Shinobi Prosthetic. Early in the game, you gain a prosthetic left arm that can be outfitted with all sorts of tools. It’s what allows you to use a grappling hook to reach tough spots, and it also supports a bunch of different weapons, a lot like those you’ll find in Dark Souls or Bloodborne.

The thing is, you can’t just buy most Shinobi Prosthetics at a shop–they’re scattered throughout the world in Sekiro, and they can be easy to miss as you work through the game. Especially early in the game, though, prosthetics can be very useful for beating bosses and mini-bosses that might otherwise wail on you. It’s important to grab the early ones as soon as you can, so that when you run up against the worst enemies, you’ll be prepared.

The Firecrackers prosthetic is extremely handy for some of the first bosses you’ll come up against, including the horseback Gyoubu and the Blazing Bull. If you’re not careful, though, you won’t find the place to get the Firecrackers until after the battle with Gyoubu, which puts you at something of a disadvantage.

Here’s everything you have to do to find the Firecrackers prosthetic as early as you can, so you’ll have it to deal with some early bosses. While you’re at it, you might want to check out our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice review, and our rundown of how death and Dragonrot work in the game.

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Head To Ashina Outskirts

Scattered throughout Sekiro are merchants called the Memorial Mob. You’ll find them in places with a lot of dead folks (which is basically everywhere in Ashina), hanging out in tents, selling various items. These include your basic consumables, like Medicinal Pellets, as well as the occasional key item–like Firecrackers.

The first Memorial Mob merchant you can find is in the Ashina Outskirts area, specifically in the Outskirts Wall–Gate Path area. You’re looking for the section of the area that follows the samurai mid-boss. In the next area, you’ll find patrolling enemies, and a few people to talk to: specifically, a woman who will think you’re her son, and her actual son, who wants you to help her.

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Find The Stone Tower

From the blasted house with the woman, keep moving through the area until you hit a gate with stairs going upward. At the top is an enemy who’ll fire a cannon your way. Look to your left before the gate and you should see a place where you can grapple up.

This is the stone tower you’re looking for. Keep climbing it by looking up to the left for more places to grapple. After a few swings, you’ll reach the top, where you’ll find the Memorial Mob merchant you’re hunting.

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Spend Your 500 Sen

The Memorial Mob guy has an item called Robert’s Firecrackers, and it’s the item you’re looking to buy from him. It’ll run you 500 sen, so you might have to save up–try buying Light Purses if you’re having a time staying alive, since money that’s in purses can’t be lost when you die. Once you can afford the Firecrackers, head back to the Sculptor to have him attach the Loaded Firecrackers to your Shinobi Prosthetic. It’s great for distracting enemies and interrupting their animations, and is particularly effective against animals.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sekiro-shadows-die-twice-guide-where-to-find-the-f/1100-6465767/

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Guide–Where To Find The Flame Vent To Kill The Ogre

The Shinobi Prosthetic packs some of your best weapons and tools in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Once you unlock the special prosthetic arm, you can use it to grapple up to hard-to-reach places and switch between things like a flame thrower, a big axe, and distracting firecrackers to help you deal with various enemies.

The trouble is, those prosthetic tools aren’t always easy to come by. In fact, they’re mostly hidden in the game world, and you need to track them down in order to use them. They’re definitely worth searching for, too, as they can give you an edge against a lot of different enemies, including bosses. One of those is the Flame Vent, a Shinobi Prosthetic that can blast enemies with fire, dealing burning damage that can persist over time. You can pair it with oil that you’ll find all over the place in Ashina, which can make the burning effects even more powerful.

The Flame Vent prosthetic is good against specific, powerful enemies and bosses. Bad guys with red, glowing eyes are berserkers who aren’t staggered by your attacks, so they can be tough to deal with. But as a rule, those guys are scared of fire, so once you have the Flame Vent, you can use it to make them recoil, giving you a second to heal or an opening to deal some major damage.

Here’s everything you have to do to find the Flame Vent as early as you can, so you’ll have it to deal with some early bosses. While you’re at it, you might want to check out our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice review, and our rundown of how death and Dragonrot work in the game.

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Head To Ashina Outskirts

Your first stop is the Outskirts Wall–Gate Path area. From the Idol Statue, head forward past the samurai general mini-boss, into the area beyond. In that section, down some stairs, you’ll find a blasted house with a woman inside. Talk to her and she’ll ask if you’re her son; if you let her believe you’re her son, she’ll give you a bell to use as an offering. Bring it back to the Dilapidated Temple and use it at the Buddha statue beside the Sculptor. The bell will transport you to Hirata Estate and a memory of an attack there three years earlier.

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Continue To Estate Path

Hirata is a fairly lengthy level with lots of enemies to kill along the way. Keep pushing into the compound until you hit an Idol Statue that marks the location as the Estate Path. You’ll be on a pathway up toward a gate, which you’ll find locked. That’ll force you to the right of the path, over a wall and into some yards with huts and houses, and more enemies.

Keep pushing to the right until you hit an area with rows of huts. You’ll find enemies patrolling here, as well as one archer hanging out on the roof of one of the rows. Clear the area, then push up toward the archer. You’ll see several enemies hanging out around a campfire. You’ll need to kill them to get what you came for.

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Check The Campfire

Once all the enemies are dead, get close to the campfire. You should get a button prompt there that’ll let you pull the Fire Barrel out of the flames. Return to the Sculptor at the Dilapidated Temple and he’ll turn the Fire Barrel into the Flame Vent prosthetic tool. Use it to blast fire onto enemies; you’ll also eventually be able to upgrade it to shoot flames further.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sekiro-shadows-die-twice-guide-where-to-find-the-f/1100-6465766/