Patrick Klepek

Doom Is Exactly The Right Kind Of Ridiculous

Yep, that’s the main character in Doom fist bumping a collectible. It’s not easy for games to be funny, but another id Software reboot, Wolfenstein: The New Order, deftly pulled this off. It’s a nice surprise that Doom does, too. (Yes, I know that id Software didn’t make Wolfenstein: The New Order; the studio was…

The next version of Android, currently dubbed N, will have a proper VR Mode that makes the operating system more VR-friendly. Ars Technica has a bunch of details. The company will also start stamping certain phones as “VR Ready,” though right now it’s limited to the the Nexus 6P.

Super Mario Vs. Mecha Bowser Is One Of Mario Maker‘s Best Stages Yet

You might think this GIF is all you need to know about the brilliant Mario Maker level Super Mario vs. Mecha Bowser, but there’s so much more. I finally got around to this stage during my Mario Maker Mornings series on YouTube, and while that initial “oh, crap!” moment as this monstrous creature slowly marches…

Dark Souls 3‘s anti-cheating patch on PC has been re-released, and early reports suggest it doesn’t have the annoying stuttering that plagued the first one. We might not know what poise does in Dark Souls 3 yet, but at least you’re able to play with less fear now.

If Your ARK: Survival Evolved Mod Is Good Enough, The Developers Will Buy It

ARK: Survival Evolved got another map today, a Tolkien-inspired landscape that doubles the game’s size. But the game’s developer, Studio Wildcard, didn’t make it. It was a mod from the community that became popular, prompting Studio Wildcard to offer a bunch of money for it and hiring the guy. This map, called The Center, is…

DOOM‘s Approach To Collectibles Is Smart, Fun, And Satisfying

DOOM levels are pretty straightforward: kill demons, find the exit. But there’s a lot hiding beneath the surface, and though it’s optional, I’ve become obsessed with finding everything before moving on. I don’t usually do this in games! Collectibles are usually bullshit, time wasters meant as padding. I’m not against collectibles as a concept, though—they’re…

Salt & Sanctuary, both a 2D take on Dark Souls and an excellent game, is now available on PC. Previously, it’d only been out on PS4, and it’s coming to Vita…eventually. If you’re looking for something to fill the Dark Souls 3 void until the DLC arrives later this year, this is a good option.

Playable TimeSplitters Levels Are Hidden In Homefront: The Revolution

It doesn’t seem like a Timesplitters sequel is coming anytime soon, but as a consolation prize, Homefront: The Revolution has the next best thing. The reviews haven’t been kind to Homefront: The Revolution so far—stay tuned for our own take on the game!—but hey, at least the game seems to have some cool easter eggs?…

That Time Bill Gates Starred In A DOOM Promo Video

Yes, that’s Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates pretending to walk around in a level from DOOM and firing a shotgun at a demon marine. When the original DOOM was released, it was installed on millions of PCs across the country. Microsoft, interested in pushing Windows 95, wanted id Software (and DOOM) involved in the OS. Microsoft…

The DOOM Easter Eggs Players Have Found (So Far)

The new DOOM game is surprisingly awesome, and like Wolfenstein and Fallout, it’s full of humorous easter eggs and subtle nods to other games. Warning: Some of these might be considered spoilers! Skyrim’s Arrow to the Knee Meme The Thumbs Up Death From Terminator 2 Video Credit: Grizwords Vault-Tech From Fallout Commander Keen’s Head…On A…

Dark Souls: The Board Game was a smashing success on Kickstarter, raising a whopping $5.4 million over the last month. It’s not due to arrive until April 2017, but clearly, there’s a market for more Dark Souls material.

Dark Souls 3 Anti-Cheating Patch On PC Backfires

It’s been a messy few weeks for Dark Souls 3 on PC. It’s a terrific game, but cheating has been rampant, and From Software hasn’t been clear about how they’re going to solve it. So when a patch showed up this weekend, promising to fix things, it was good news! It also, uh, broke the…

The Origins Of Cosplay Date Back To The 1930s

As the weekend approaches, it’s time for Worth Reading, a roundup of the best games writing around. Let’s start with a history lesson. Hey, You Should Read These “Meet the Woman Who Invented Cosplay” by Jennifer Culp If you, like me, know nothing about the cosplay’s history, Jennifer’s article is highly recommended. Though her piece…

Friday The 13th Movies, Ranked

Chi-chi-chi-ha-ha-ha. It’s Friday the 13th! What better way than to celebrate than by judging, ranking, and obsessing over the violent cinematic exploits of hockey enthusiast Jason Voorhees? Most of these movies aren’t even good! This article was originally published on March 13, 2015. Friday the 13th has been around since 1980, seen nine sequels, experienced…

Blizzard: Sometimes Those Overwatch Players You Think Are Cheating Are ‘Just Really Good’

The beta period for Blizzard’s team-based shooter, Overwatch, has ended, with the game formally launching on May 24. In the meantime, they’ve released guidelines on how they’re going to handle cheating, including a warning warning about the game’s best players. Though Blizzard themselves will be monitoring for cheaters in Overwatch, the community is encouraged to…

Sources: The Ambitious (Now Cancelled) Plans For Disney Infinity‘s Future Included Rogue One, Bigger Figures

Disney’s cancellation of its lucrative toy-centric Disney Infinity series is even more shocking given the tantalizing plans for the series that two sources close to the project have shared with Kotaku Developers were planning numerous new level packs, including one based on this fall’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story movie, as well as a…

From Software Says Dark Souls 3‘s Seemingly Useless Poise Stat Is Working As Intended

Poise, which allows players to take hits without staggering, has been one of the more important stats in the previous Dark Souls games. In the weeks after Dark Souls 3‘s release,players discovered the poise stat doesn’t seem to impact anything. Was it glitched? From Software has an answer: no. “The poise stat is working as…

I haven’t had a chance to play it yet, but Super Mario vs. Mecha Bowser in Mario Maker looks like a delight. Who knew it was possible to build a mech?!

Civilization VI Coming Later This Year

It’s been nearly six years since there was a new, proper Civilization game. That’s changing later this year, with the newly announced Civilization VI Here’s the official trailer for the game, due to arrive on October 21 on PC: In the new game, cities now physically expand on the map, units can be combined into…

Star Wars Battlefront will return in 2017 with “bigger and better worlds,” and will pull from the new films, EA announced on an investor call today. It’s unclear if this means a proper Battlefront 2 or a big expansion. An EA spokesperson said the company had “nothing more to share.”