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The Plot Twist In Star Ocean: Till The End Of Time Is A Lot More Believable TodayÂ
Most video games are content just to string the player along through dungeons, towns, or corridors full of machine gun cover while dishing out character arcs and weapon upgrades. Only a few try to reflect on the nature of reality and human existence. Star Ocean: Till the End of Time tried to do both. The…
By Ethan Gach -
Fire Emblem Heroes Adds Wedding Costumes
These are the latest heroes to be added to the game starting May 30. The spring event came with bunny costumes, so naturally a series of special characters sporting bridal gowns was the next logical step. The latest trailer for Nintendo’s mobile slot machine shows off old characters all dolled up for the big “I…
By Ethan Gach -
Culture
The Week In Games: Tokyo Vice
Tokyo 42, Star Trek: Bridge Crew (for real this time), and a bunch of other stuff comes out this week. As Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, it’s only fitting that release schedule starts winding down as well. The last few months still feel like a blur though, so I’ll be taking this…
By Ethan Gach -
CultureEverything You Wanted To Know About Super Mario 64‘s SurfacesÂ
People have been playing Super Mario 64 for years but few have plumbed the depths of how it was constructed and the unique ways its world works the way speedrunners have. “Every surface in SM64 is made up of triangles,” writes YouTuber, speedrunner, and Mario 64 analyst Pannenkoek at the beginning of his latest video…
By Ethan Gach -
This Sure Is A $600 Mega Man X Statue
Good statues don’t come cheap and Mega Man X is no exception. But for the price of six months’ car insurance or a round-trip flight to the North American coast of your choice, it could be yours. The little blue robot man measures 21″ and is 1/4th scale, so naturally it’s already sold out. Produced…
By Ethan Gach -
There’s More To Phantom Trigger Than Just Another Beautiful Pixel Brawler
Phantom Trigger is, in the words of its development team, a “neon slasher,” and it’s slated to arrive on the Nintendo Switch later this year. But don’t let pink and teal pixel art fool you, it’s more than just Hyper Light Drifter-lite. Revealed two months ago, the PC action adventure game with roguelike elements looked…
By Ethan Gach -
We’ve Spent Way Too Much Time Not Playing Games On Our Microwaves
You should probably be playing video games on your microwave or doing absolutely anything other than watching it slowly count down while your leftovers are getting nuked. In the most recent episode of his Invention Show on YouTube, gadget stunt man Colin Furze revealed the “Play-O-Wave,” a fully functioning microwave with a screen and component…
By Ethan Gach -
Culture
Sunday Comics: Cohesive Branding
Welcome to Kotaku’s Sunday Comics, your weekly roundup of the best webcomics that usually occurs on Sunday except when it doesn’t. The images enlarge if you click on the magnifying glass icon. Nerf NOW!! by JosuĂ© Pereira. Published May 26. Read more of Nerf NOW!! Awkward Zombie by Katie Tiedrich. Published May 22. Read more…
By Ethan Gach -
CultureRemnants Of Naezith Shows Gaming Needs More Grappling Hooks
Remnants of Naezith is a platformer that stars a grappling hook and wants to be the Super Meat Boy of twitch-based ledge swinging. There are dragon souls and remnants of them (as the title suggests), but in the end it’s all about being a futuristic Tarzan in a low-res world. “I loved playing Spider-Man 2…
By Ethan Gach -
It’s 2017 And Modders Are Still Making Diablo II Better
An update to one of the game’s most popular mods has increased the max character level to 125 and removed the cap on monster health, making the grind more deadly than ever. Median XL 2017, the latest season in the Median mod, was released yesterday. The latest update to one of Diablo II’s most robust…
By Ethan Gach -
Golf Story Is Another Twee Indie Game Headed To The Switch
A golf Game with delightfully precious-looking sprites and vibrant-pixelated greens? Yes, please. Created by Sidebar Games, Gold Story mashes together leisure sporting events with simulated town life in what seems like a modern day Town & Country Surf Designs: Wood & Water Rage crossed with Stardew Valley, because what’s a game these days without weird…
By Ethan Gach -
Overwatch Double-Ultimate Is A Sight To BeholdÂ
Oyana’s team was in overtime when they countered one devastating ult from the opposing Pharah with an exploding mech suit. There were bright lights, tons of explosions, and a lot of dead players. It was beautiful to watch Oyana took out both the Pharah raining down missiles and the Mercy who had just revived her…
By Ethan Gach -
EsportsThe Weekend In Esports: The Manila Masters, Combo Breaker, And More
TheMid-Season Invitational is over and done. The best team in League of Legends is, it turns out, still the best. This weekend, all eyes are on the Manila Masters Combo Breaker, the giant fighting game event with something for everyone. Below you’ll find where and when you can catch all the weekend’s biggest events in…
By Ethan Gach -
Monster Hunter XXÂ On The Nintendo Switch Gets Its First Trailer
This is what Monster Hunter XX, a 3DS game, will look like on the Switch according to a trailer and gameplay footage shown by Capcom at this weekend’s Monster Hunter event in Japan. Revealed earlier this week, the port looks like a crisper version of its predecessor that will try to take advantage of the…
By Ethan Gach -
CultureSpongeBob Speedrunner Won’t Rest Until Battle For Bikini Bottom Gets The Respect It Deserves
You’ve probably never given any of the SpongeBob games a second thought, but one speedrunner is playing thousands of hours of SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom in order to change that. Released in 2003, the game arrived a year after the first Ratchet and Clank and was several more removed from the glory days…
By Ethan Gach -
Culture
The Week In Games: A Rime For All Seasons
It’s been nearly four years since the game that looked like if Wind Waker had a baby with Ico was announced. How time flies! Development woes and the mounting pressure of creating a game that keeps getting described in terms of two all time greats aside, Rime (or RiME if you’re so inclined) remains as…
By Ethan Gach -
DIY Modders Are Using 3DS Cases To Carry Their Nintendo Switches Around
If you have a Nintendo Switch you probably love it. Just the right size and weight with a screen that’s sharp and bright, one of the only issues is keeping it safe. Kotaku’s own Stephen Totilo put his in a sock, but there are other solutions out there, including retrofitting 3DS pouches using a bunch…
By Ethan Gach