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All Articles: E3 2019
Square Enix finally brings Collection of Mana to US and it’s available to download on Switch eShop today
One of the first games that Square Enix released for the Switch back in 2017 was Collection of Mana, a compilation that brought together the first three games in the franchise… but you might not know that as Collection of Mana never made its way out of Japan. But that all changed today as Square Enix finally added Collection of Mana to the Switch eShop immediately following the completion of Nintendo’s E3 2019 Nintendo Direct presentation.
Priced at $39.99, Collection of Mana includes two games that should be familiar to North American fans: Final Fantasy Adventure (which was originally released for the Game Boy in 1991) and Secret of Mana (which was originally released for the Super NES in 1993). But the compilation also includes the first English localization of Seiken Densetsu 3, which was originally released for the Super NES in 1995. Often referred to as “Secret of Mana 2” by game publications before the publisher decided to limit its availability to just Japan, it’ll officially be known as Trials of Mana to North American audiences.
If you’d prefer to add a Collection of Mana cartridge to your Switch library, Square Enix also said they plan to release a Retail Edition of the game through “participating retailers” and the Square Enix Store on August 27.
A Launch Trailer for Collection of Mana has been embedded above.
Posted in News, Switch
Tagged E3 2019, Secret of Mana
Final Fantasy VIII Remastered will land on PC and consoles later this year
Aside from making Final Fantasy VIII available to download for the PS3 through Sony’s PSone Classics banner in 2009, Square Enix has basically kept the RPG under lock and key since its launch more than 20 years ago. But it looks like they’re finally pulling it out of the vault later this year for a new re-release known as Final Fantasy VIII Remastered.
Featuring “newly rendered” visuals, Final Fantasy VIII Remastered will be your first real chance to play the game on modern platforms:
In Final Fantasy VIII, the military nation of Galbadia has declared war on the Dukedom of Dollet, who must hire the mercenary force, SeeD. Squall Leonhart, a new member of SeeD, together with his friends and Rinoa Heartilly, a member of a resistance group, get pulled into the war, unaware of their fated task to save the world.
The E3 Trailer for Final Fantasy VIII Remastered has been embedded above, and you’ll be able to purchase it later this year for the PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
The Avengers disassemble in first trailer for Square Enix’s Avengers Project
After two and a half long years, Square Enix has finally pulled the curtain back on Marvel’s Avengers, their massive new game project starring Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Combining “cinematic storytelling” with single-player and cooperative gameplay for up to four players, Marvel’s Avengers is in development at Crystal Dynamics with assistance from Eidos Montreal, Crystal Northwest, and Nixxes Software.
While the first trailer for the game has a celebratory mood to start, things quickly take a dark turn…
Marvel’s Avengers begins at A-Day, where Captain America, Iron Man, the Hulk, Black Widow, and Thor are unveiling a hi-tech Avengers Headquarters in San Francisco — including the reveal of their own helicarrier powered by an experimental energy source. The celebration turns deadly when a catastrophic accident results in massive devastation. Blamed for the tragedy, the Avengers disband. Five years later, with all Super Heroes outlawed and the world in peril, the only hope is to reassemble Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
Marvel’s Avengers will tell an original story set within the Marvel Universe that’ll also be updated at regular intervals after release through a series of free narrative expansions. PS4 owners can also expect to receive some type of exclusive content that will announced at a later date.
“We’ve assembled world-class developers from across the industry to bring players on an unforgettable journey,” said Ron Rosenberg, a Studio Head at Crystal Dynamics. “To ensure a truly heroic experience for all players, we’re announcing that our narrative will be delivered over multiple years, with no random loot boxes or pay-to-win scenarios. Every new superhero and region will be delivered to players at no additional cost if you own the core game. This is just the beginning of what we’ve got in store for our fans.”
“As superfans, working with Marvel and these characters is a dream come true and we are excited to finally reveal Marvel’s Avengers to the world,” said Scot Amos, a Studio Head at Crystal Dynamics. “This is our original take on these iconic superheroes. Leveraging our companies’ combined experience in epic action-adventure storytelling, we’re building a universe that fans will immerse themselves in for years to come.”
Marvel’s Avengers will be released for the PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Google Stadia on May 15, 2020.
Square Enix will release Final Fantasy VII Remake for PS4 on March 3, 2020
Square Enix just confirmed that Final Fantasy VII Remake will be released for the PS4 on March 3, 2020 in a new trailer. The short clip features another look at the game’s action RPG makeover and shows Cloud and Barret battling a platoon of enemy forces:
Rebuilding and expanding upon the legendary RPG for today, Final Fantasy VII Remake tells the story of a world fallen under the control of the Shinra Electric Power Company, a shadowy corporation controlling the planet’s very life force as mako energy. In the sprawling city of Midgar, an anti-Shinra organization calling themselves Avalanche have stepped up their resistance. Cloud Strife, a former member of Shinra’s elite SOLDIER unit now turned mercenary, lends his aid to the group, unaware of the epic adventures that await him.
Square Enix also said once again that Final Fantasy VII Remake would premiere on the PS4 “first,” so fans shouldn’t rule out a PC or Xbox One launch later down the line, but the publisher will surely have more to say about the game during their E3 Live event tonight
Posted in News, PS4
Tagged E3 2019, Final Fantasy VII
Doom Eternal razes Hell on store shelves on November 22… and in two new trailers
2016’s Doom was a wild ride through Hell that recaptured everything fans know and love about the seminal shooter series. So expectations are sky high for this Fall’s sequel, Doom Eternal. Thankfully, id Software and Bethesda have delivered with two new trailers at this year’s E3 Expo.
The first trailer focuses on the game’s story, and after spending five games in Hell (Doom 64 absolutely counts), it looks like we’re finally going to find out what Heaven is like in the Doom universe. You’ll get a glimpse at the Double Dash ability, as well as the Shoulder-Mounted Flamethrower, the new Meat Hook attachment for the Super Shotgun, and the retractable Doom Blade.
Meanwhile, the second trailer introduces Battlemode, a 2v1 multiplayer mode where one player controls the Doom Slayer and two others step into the cloven hooves of a pair of demons.
Slayer Threat Level at Maximum
Gain access to the latest demon-killing tech with the Doom Slayer’s advanced Praetor Suit, including a shoulder-mounted flamethrower, and the retractable wrist-mounted Doom Blade. Upgraded guns and mods, such as the Super Shotgun’s new distance-closing Meat Hook attachment, and abilities like the Double Dash make you faster, stronger, and more versatile than ever.Unholy Trinity
You can’t kill demons when you’re dead, and you can’t stay alive without resources. Take what you need from your enemies: Glory kill for extra health, incinerate for armor, and chainsaw demons to stock up on ammo. These tools are the key to your survival and becoming the ultimate demon-slayer.A New Class of (Destructible) Demon
Obliterate more demons than ever before, each with unique attacks and abilities. Fan-favorite classics such as the Pain Elemental, Archvile, and Arachnotron make their return, while a horde of totally-new demons join the roster including the Doom Hunter, Marauder, and the Gladiator. Rip apart your favorite demons to the core with Doom Eternal’s “destructible demons” system and take your power fantasy to new levels.Demonic Invasion Detected
As the Slayer, allow other players to invade your campaign as demons for a dramatic and unpredictable twist anytime you’re playing the campaign. Or be a demon and invade other players’ campaigns either by yourself or with someone else to give the Slayer a true taste of Hell.Enter Battlemode
Battlemode is the new 2 versus 1 multiplayer experience built from the ground up at id Software. A fully-armed Doom Slayer faces off against two player-controlled demons, duking it out over three rounds of intense first-person combat. More details coming soon!
Doom Eternal will be available for the PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One on November 22. Players who pre-order the game will receive the Rip and Tear Pack, which includes a Doot Revenant Skin, a Throwback Shotgun Weapon Skin, and a Bonus Master Level for the Campaign.
Doom Eternal will also be available in a special Deluxe Edition that contains the Year One Pass (which includes access to the story-based DLC 1 and DLC 2 expansions when they’re released), a Demonic Slayer Skin, and a Classic Weapons Sound Pack. Finally, the Collector’s Edition will come packed with all the Deluxe Edition content, a Wearable Doom Slayer Helmet, “The Gift of Argent Power” Lithograph, a Lore Book by id Software, a Digital Soundtrack, and a copy of the game in a Steelbook Case.
You can find Doom Eternal’s new trailers after the break.
The creators of Layers of Fear, Bloober Team, will bring a new Blair Witch game to PC and Xbox One on August 30
Bloober Team, the Polish developer behind Layers of Fear and its recently-released sequel, delivered a very surprising (some might say bewitching) announcement during today’s Xbox E3 Briefing. Apparently, they’ve taken their horror game expertise and applied it to a brand new game based on the Blair Witch, which will be released for the PC and Xbox One on August 30.
The first-person horror title is set in 1996, just after the camcorders belonging to Heather, Mike, and Josh were discovered by authorities:
It’s 1996. A young boy disappears in the Black Hills Forest near Burkittsville, Maryland. As Ellis, a former police officer with a troubled past, you join the search. What starts as an ordinary investigation soon turns into an endless nightmare as you confront your fears and the Blair Witch, a mysterious force that haunts the woods.
“We are so thrilled, and honestly a little scared, to bring all players, especially fans of Blair Witch, back into the haunted woods. It is genuinely an honor to be working on such a hair-raising, paradigmatic experience, which defined so many of our lives,” said Piotr Babieno, the CEO of Bloober Team.
“The team at Bloober is made up of amazing storytellers. We were excited to give them the opportunity to craft an original narrative set in the iconic woods of Blair Witch,” said Daniel Engelhardt, the Senior Vice President of Lionsgate Interactive Ventures and Games. “They’ve taken the evil hiding in the Black Hills Forest to a whole new level. Players should enter at their own risk.”
The first trailer for Blair Witch has been embedded above.
Battle monsters in Minecraft Dungeons for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One in Spring 2020
Microsoft pledged to “to nurture and grow” the Minecraft franchise when they purchased it (and its developer, Mojang) for $2.5 billion back in 2014. While a handful of spinoffs have been farmed out to other developers (a moment of silence here for Minecraft: Story Mode), Mojang has been hard at work on Minecraft Dungeons.
Earlier today, the consolemaker gave fans their best look yet at the blocky dungeon crawler in a new trailer at their E3 Briefing, and filled in a few more details on the Xbox Wire:
Created in the classic dungeon crawler style, Minecraft Dungeons will be single player and co-op multiplayer for up to four, including couch co-op on Xbox One. As a new standalone game from Mojang, Minecraft Dungeons takes players to never-before-seen locations in the Minecraft Universe teeming with mobs, old and new.
Minecraft’s signature blocky look shines throughout Minecraft Dungeons, but you can expect to find unexpected twists like all-new weapons, abilities, and even some new mobs! Players will also be faced with unfamiliar challenges and environments that have not existed in Minecraft until now. Randomly-generated levels will create fresh challenges in every play-through, and players will quickly learn how different gear can affect their chances against enemy mobs. Oh, did we mention epic boss battles?
Minecraft Dungeons will include four-player cooperative play (both locally and online), and it’ll be available for the PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One in Spring 2020.
The Battletoads are back in the first Gameplay Trailer for their upcoming Xbox One game
Buckle up, because the nostalgia train is coming for the Battletoads (this also works as a stealth Turbo Tunnel joke for all us olds)!
We still don’t know exactly when it’ll be released, but Microsoft unveiled the first Gameplay Trailer for the reboot during their E3 Briefing earlier today. Featuring a hand-drawn art style that departs significantly from the original game and the animated adaptation (it was the 90s, of course the Battletoads got a cartoon), players will be able to partake in three-player couch co-op and unleash big Smash Hits on unsuspecting enemies. The dreaded hoverbikes will also return, but from an easier-to-handle behind-the-back perspective.
Here’s a few more details about the side-scrolling beat ’em up from the Xbox Wire:
Battletoads is back! Rare and Dlala Studios are bringing the beloved brawler to Xbox with a unique animation style, wild side-scrolling action, and team-focused gameplay that’s perfect for couch co-op. Players take control of Rash, Zitz, and Pimple as they smash, stomp and slam their way through hordes of enemies and unleash choreographed chaos to defeat their greatest enemy yet. Fans can look forward to an all-new adventure packed with wild locations, unforgettable characters, and surprising gameplay challenges, all with a huge emphasis on co-operative play.
Battletoads is expected to launch sometime this year, and the Gameplay Trailer has been embedded above.
Posted in News, Xbox One
Tagged Battletoads 2019, E3 2019