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  Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Is Mindless, Frustrating, And Kind Of Fun

  A month ago, I proclaimed that Nintendo’s Animal Crossing mobile game lacked heart and soul. Repetitive dialogue, rote gameplay, and the sleazy undertone of it all—Pocket Camp dilutes the series’ charm. But it’s confession time: I’m here today to partially eat my words. Since its late November worldwide release in 2017, Pocket Camp, a new…

  By Narelle Ho Sang Published January 1, 2018
• Culture

  The Week In Games: That Face Says It All

  2018 is here! A year set to bring us long awaited AAA titles and beautiful indie gems. Though… not this week. Winter is a notoriously harsh time for the world of gaming, and January is usually the low point of this chilly lull. But fear not! This January is giving us some exciting entries in…

  By Ben Bertoli Published January 1, 2018
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  The Brilliant Use Of Speed In Mega Man 2’s Quick Man Stage

  One of the most extraordinary facts about Mega Man 2 is that it almost didn’t happen. Sales of the first Mega Man were low, and it was only with the special permission of Capcom’s vice president that development was allowed to proceed. But there was a catch. The staff had to work on it concurrently…

  By Peter Tieryas Published January 1, 2018
• Culture

  What Was Your Favorite Video Game Moment Of 2017?

  Which video game moment of 2017 had your heart aflutter? Did it make you cry? Did you scream furiously into the void? Did it leave you thinking about it hours, days, and weeks after you experienced it? Did you laugh so hard, liquids spewed out of your nose? One or all of the above? Cool.…

  By Narelle Ho Sang Published December 31, 2017
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  Nine More Video Games That Left Us Defenseless And Scared

  One moment, you’re on top of the world, the next, completely helpless. Weaponless, defenseless, and pretty much helpless. Last time, we talked about nine games that took away all our weapons. This time, we talk about nine more games that stripped us of all resistance. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild One of…

  Narelle Ho Sang and Peter Tieryas Published December 31, 2017
• Esports

  League of Legends Player Hits Level 300 After Days Of Crushing Bots

  Since Riot Games reworked accounts to level infinitely in League of Legends, there has been something of a race as players climb higher and higher. The leader just passed level 300 today. His method? Destroying dozens of bots. Playing under the name “Nolife Raphael,” he was locked in a race for the first to level…

  By Eric Van Allen Published December 31, 2017
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  The Heartbreaking Final Fantasy VII Song That Makes Me Smile

  One of Final Fantasy’s most iconic songs doesn’t even make my top 10 favorite list. That said, it’s also one of my most cherished. What makes it special is that it’s tied to one of my fondest memories—but not in as sweet a way as you may think. On this the last day of 2017—which…

  By Narelle Ho Sang Published December 31, 2017
• Esports

  Rocket League Player Argues With Tournament Over Plane Ticket To Scotland

  The upcoming Twelve Titans Rocket League tournament will pit 12 players against each other in a winner-take-all one-on-one brawl. Isaiah Sharrieff was set to be one of those players who would play in the tournament in Scotland—until he revealed on Twitter that he had already played his first round and won’t fly to Scotland. In…

  By Eric Van Allen Published December 31, 2017
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  Purple Coins Are Super Mario Odyssey‘s Best Collectible

  By balancing scarcity and value, Mario’s newest platforming hit finally brings second-tier collectibles into the limelight. There are plenty of classic gaming icons associated with everyone’s favorite pudgy plumber. Mushrooms, stars, turtle shells, and more come to mind when picturing Mario and the magical world he inhabits. And though many different Mario items and collectibles…

  By Ben Bertoli Published December 31, 2017
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  The Sublime Battles Of The Last Story

  I never thought my favorite part of a Hironobu Sakaguchi game would be the battle system, especially since Final Fantasy and Lost Odyssey are renown for their compelling stories and dramatic character arcs. But in The Last Story, the combat was not just the best part of the game. It represented a refreshing evolution of…

  By Peter Tieryas Published December 31, 2017
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  Five Video Game Moments That Stressed Me Out In 2017

  Video games gave me much comfort in this very trying year. They also stressed me out like you wouldn’t believe. As 2017 is coming to a close, it’s time to let go of all the worries and start anew. Before that, it’s good to reflect and confront those demons as part of a healing process.…

  By Narelle Ho Sang Published December 31, 2017
• Esports

  Turbo Mode Makes A Game Of Dota 2 Less Of A Commitment

  I have something of a Dota 2 habit. Every week, I find time to play at least a few hours of the game—frequently, if not a game a day. But part of my frustration with Dota 2 has always been the time commitment it requires, as games can take upwards of 40 to 50 minutes…

  By Eric Van Allen Published December 31, 2017
• Culture

  Sunday Comics: Still Super Mad

  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. Warning: Some of these comics are Christmas related. We are aware it is past Christmas. Nerf NOW!! by Josué Pereira. Published December 25.…

  Kotaku Published December 31, 2017
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  Who’s Your Favorite Game Character Of 2017?

  There were so many great games in 2017 with fantastic stories and equally great characters. Persona 5’s entire ensemble added something to the gripping narrative and I found myself sympathizing with all of their plights. Nier: Automata had an amazing cast of robots who were memorable and fascinating, even if most of them ended up…

  By Peter Tieryas Published December 30, 2017
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  The Tragic Sidequests From Nier Automata’s Machine Village

  Nier Automata is cruel to its characters. An action role-playing game from Square Enix, very few games have made me react as strongly to the story as Automata. While Yoko Taro’s games have always been disturbingly provocative as they dig at deep existential questions, the optional sidequests from the Machine Village exemplify what makes Automata…

  By Peter Tieryas Published December 30, 2017
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  These Food-Based Pokémon Concepts Are Simply Delectable

  Developer and illustrator PaperBeatsScissors has prepared an entire menu of tasty Pokémon creations over the past few weeks. The Pokémon series is well known for turning anything and everything into a collectible monster. Keys? Yep. Chandelier? Absolutely. Steaming pile of garbage? You better believe it. But despite there being over 700 Pokémon in the current…

  By Ben Bertoli Published December 30, 2017
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  The World of Ruin In FFVI Is About Searching For Hope In Desperate Times

  In Final Fantasy VI, the villains triumph. It’s one of the most shocking moments in gaming. As devastating at the moment is, the journey the protagonists take to defy the overwhelming odds against them is a message of hope during bleak times and represents what I most love about the series. Warning, spoilers abound!!! Celes’…

  By Peter Tieryas Published December 30, 2017
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  Enter The Gungeon‘s Addictive Gameplay Is Fueled By A Killer Soundtrack

  No matter how many times the “You Died” screen pops up, I restart and keep pushing forward. Enter the Gungeon is punishing and hilarious. And its incredibly bad-ass soundtrack is what I love most about it. This year I discovered Doseone. After seeing him perform at Devolver Digital’s E3 parking lot party in June, I…

  By Narelle Ho Sang Published December 30, 2017
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  How Originality And A Shaky Launch Crippled One Of 2017’s Best Games

  DropMix is fantastic. With the holiday season coming to a close, it’s a darn shame more folks aren’t talking about Harmonix and Hasbro’s new musical card game. As the creator of the original Guitar Hero franchise, as well as its expanded-instrument successor Rock Band, Harmonix is no stranger to the world of risky rhythm endeavors.…

  By Ben Bertoli Published December 30, 2017
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  The Trials And Tribulations of Shining In The Darkness

  There’ve been lots of difficult games in my life. Shining in the Darkness was one of the hardest in my 16-bit era experience. A Sega Genesis game that was part dungeon crawler and part JRPG, Shining had a relentless enemy encounter rate and a Labyrinth that was very easy to get lost in. At the…

  By Peter Tieryas Published December 30, 2017