Heather Alexandra

The State Of PC Gaming In 2018

PC has never been a singular platform like, say, PlayStation or Xbox. Instead, it’s a series of disparate landmasses sharing the same turbulent sea. While this has allowed for plenty of innovation and experimentation over the years, in 2018 Steam—with its clutter and toxicity issues—has become less of a conduit and more of an impediment…

Players Are Split On Battlefield V‘s Weaker Guns

At launch, Battlefield V moved at a faster pace than previous games in the series. Not only could you run around quicker than before, but you could kill enemies faster, needing only a handful of bullets. This week, the game rolled out some changes to that gameplay rhythm, alongside a new hardcore playlist, and it…

Free Game Takes The Original Zelda And Twists It Around

Chances are good that if you play games, you’ve played The Legend of Zelda or at least seen a picture of the 1986 Nintendo Entertainment System original. The world was vast but made sense. North was north. In a free new downloadable game called Triforce, the land of Hyrule is twisted around and north could…

PUBG‘s New Snow Map Feels Like Classic PUBG

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds mightnot be the top dog in the battle royale area anymore, but it’s continued to grow and expand, most recently with the snow-filled map of Vikendi. It’s a map that brings the game back to its early roots. PUBG’s first map, Erangel, was a mixture of large forested areas and a few depressed…

Counter-Strike‘s Battle Royale Is Small, Fast, And Confusing

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has gone free-to-play, bringing a slew of hapless new players, probably a massive wave of hackers, and a battle royale mode. The mode, Danger Zone, feels less of a full-blown battle royale and more of a well-made mod. Even if Counter-Strike’s gunplay is second to none, Danger Zone isn’t going to stand…

Ashen Is A Dreamier Dark Souls

I’m a voracious Souls player. From multiple playthroughs of the Dark Souls trilogy to games like The Surge and Nioh, I can’t get enough of moody exploration and tough boss fights. Ashen, a new Souls-like published by Annapurna Interactive, released last week on the Epic store and Xbox One, and while it doesn’t reinvent the…

Kept you waiting, huh? Heather is finishing up Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake right now on our Twitch channel.

I Am Going To Play A Ton Of Hades

Hades, a new action game from Supergiant Games, released in early access last night in the new Epic Games store. It’s pretty limited right now, but even with only a handful of weapons and levels it’s got me extremely excited. Being trapped in Hell and dying over and over has never been so fun. Hades…

The First Tree Offers A Beautiful, Pensive Break From Everyday Life

The First Tree is an exploration game about learning who you are. You take control of a fox in a colorful frosted forest. As the fox searches for her children, another story plays out, recounted by an unseen male narrator, that focuses on family relationships and regrets. Those thoughts come paired with intoxicating sights and…

SonicFox Steals The Show At The Game Awards

Dominique “SonicFox” McLean took home the award for Best Esports Player tonight at The Game Awards in Los Angeles. The 20-year-old full-time student and fighting game ace gave a candid acceptance speech that was one of the night’s more heartfelt moments. “I just really really enjoy playing video games competitively,” he said. “I’ve never really…

Hitman 2‘s First Elusive Target Showed What’s Great About The Series

Hitman 2’s first elusive target left the game this week. These special targets, which players only have one attempt to assassinate, ramp up the tension and challenge players to perform perfectly. The first target also showcased some of Hitman’s best qualities. The scenario was funny, self-aware, and bloody as heck. The first target was Mark…

Rockstar Makes Early Adjustments To Red Dead Online’s Grindy Economy

Red Dead Online’s launch has been rocky. While there’s plenty of enjoyable rootin’ and shootin’, the meager rewards for playing have frustrated many players. In a blog post today, Rockstar announced new changes—and free rewards—that should make it easier to rake in the cash and make Dutch happy. Players can acquire two currencies, money and…

Battlefield V‘s First Expansion Is A Gamble That Doesn’t Pay Off

Battlefield V’s first post-launch addition, Overture, released today after an initial delay. The expansion moves the game’s timeline forward with new story perspectives and massive, tank-focused multiplayer battles. Overture is a mix of disappointing and exciting elements; it has terrific storytelling, but it also has one of the series’ least interesting maps. Also: Nazis. Overture’s…

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’s Fantastic First Expansion Sheds Light On The First Assassin

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has slowly expanded with new side missions and mercenaries battles, and while those might have been welcome diversions, they were a little light on story. The game’s first DLC, Legacy of the First Blade, launched its debut episode today. It’s a solid addition to the game, bringing tough challenges, introspective writing, and…

Sea Of Thieves’ Newest Update Makes The Game More Surprising And More Satisfying

When Sea of Thieves launched back in March, it felt pretty barren. The open sea in the Xbox and PC pirate game was gorgeous, but there wasn’t much to do. Since then, updates have brought new threats and areas, encouraging pirates to team up to take on sharks, survive volcanoes and explore distant islands. The…

Red Dead Online’s grindy economy is gettin some changes In a tweet today, Rockstar Games confirmed the economy will be adjusted alongside bug fixes. The goal is to “ensure all activities are appropriately rewarding and fun,” with updates coming potentially as early as the end of the week.

Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in! I’m streaming Hitman 2 live on Twitch Come join chat to relax and enjoy the shenanigans.

Damn, It Feels Good To Be A Healer

Lately I’ve been playing a lot of violent games for work. In the last week, I’ve thrown knives and lit people on fire in Battlefield V, blasted people away with my revolver in Red Dead Online, and engaged in all sorts of wacky assassinations in Hitman 2. It’s often a lot of fun, but every…

Throwing Knives Continue To Dominate Battlefield V

Battlefield V’s multiplayer moves at a faster pace than any other game in the series. Players run quickly, and action-movie escapades are common. Players also die faster, especially when they encounter the deadliest weapon in the game: throwing knives. The throwing knife is only available to the Recon class. Every class in Battlefield V has…

I Hope Red Dead Online Brings Back Red Dead Redemption‘s Standoffs

Red Dead Online is now available for everyone to play. As players fret over the economy and wonder what shape the game will take, I’m mostly thinking about how much I hope to see one key feature from Red Dead Redemption’s multiplayer make a comeback: standoffs. While Red Dead Redemption’s multiplayer was always more about…