Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden Gameplay Trailer is Classic Fallout Meets XCOM

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden Gameplay Trailer is Classic Fallout Meets XCOM

Funcom’s upcoming post-apocalyptic RPG Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is receiving a ton of attention. Judging by the recent gameplay trailer, that attention is well-deserved.

Exploration is the name of the game in Mutant Year Zero; according to the trailer, it will feature plenty of open areas for players to explore at their leisure. Players can snoop around, scour the game world for items to use or trade, complete missions, recruit new teammates, and fight all sorts of enemies. Moreover, as players explore the world, they will discover much-needed levity in just how detached the game’s post-apocalyptic world is from the modern one. Even though Mutant Year Zero is full of mutants and robots, characters believe a picture of a cartoonish moose portrays a demon and confuse a boombox for a literal bomb. It’s the kind of humor that’s tailor-made for post-apocalyptic RPGs and is extremely prevalent in games like Fallout.

Mutant Year Zero, while it seemingly will focus on an expansive world and narrative, will feature an equally-robust combat system. Stealth will play a vital role; if the player initiates combat from outside an enemy’s detection radius, he or she will have a chance to finish the battle before the enemy even knows what happened. That assumes, of course, players use stealth-oriented weapons such as silenced pistols and crossbows; noisy weapons like shotguns and grenades are almost guaranteed to draw unwanted attention. Moreover, before fighting enemies, players will be able to strategically position characters to effectively take out separated enemies and ambush the rest. In some cases, players can even turn an enemy’s superweapon against its would-be masters.

When Mutant Year Zero’s combat starts in earnest, it uses the same turn-based system as XCOM and Harebrained Scheme’s Shadowrun games. Players will be encouraged to fight tactically, seek cover whenever possible, and use special abilities to gain the upper hand. Some abilities, such as standing guard and firing on moving enemies, will be standard for this game genre, while others, namely mutations, are slightly more unorthodox. Yes, a game called “Mutant Year Zero” features mutations.

Each time a character levels up, he or she gains access to new mutations that can be swapped around while out of combat. Some need to be activated, such as stone-like skin that makes characters more resistant to damage, while others are passive, like being short to easily hide behind low cover. Moreover, players will be actively encouraged to change mutations, as some are more situational than others; bunkers with low ceiling will render wings useless, while robots will practically be begging to be targeted with the ability to disable electronics.

Weapons will also be a key feature in Mutant Year Zero. Players will be able to find them in the game world and upgrade them at their home base. Like abilities, weapon upgrades will contain a mix of standard and unconventional enhancements. Weapons can be improved to hit harder and more accurately, and they can also be upgraded with ammunition that lights enemies on fire or knocks them back.

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden’s gameplay trailer shows plenty of promise. Any gamer who has played Shadowrun Returns, Dragonfall, or Hong Kong will likely feel right at home. We at Twinfinite will continue to cover this game, which should release later this year.

Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden Gameplay Trailer is Classic Fallout Meets XCOM

Lego Incredibles Zooming Their Way to Consoles and PC This Year

Lego Incredibles Zooming Their Way to Consoles and PC This Year

Warner Bros. Interactive and TT Games have unveiled the next official Lego game, and it’s, well…incredible. Literally. Lego The Incredibles is coming soon, releasing as both digital and physical editions on June 15 alongside the film’s debut in theaters. It’s coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

Lego The Incredibles will feature much of the same fun the previous titles did, with an open world hub that lets you travel to locales like Nomanisan Island and Municiberg, with additional features such as “crime bosses” as you play through the hub world. As you complete additional areas of the world, you can start fighting crime in extended locations.

The campaign, however, will borrow from both movies and feature original content as well. The same familiar puzzle-solving, combat, and Lego-related building quests will be interspersed with other attacks and powers based on The Incredibles’ abilities to play into the family’s strengths. So while it’s going to largely be based on the Lego games you’re familiar with, it’ll be beefed up in the areas that count so it can feel more like an Incredibles-related adventure.

So if you’ve been jonesing for more of the superpowered family and more Lego games, this official reveal should keep you pretty excited, especially since you can go grab it the same day as you see the movie and take the magic of the family home with you.

Lego Incredibles Zooming Their Way to Consoles and PC This Year

John Cena Will Play Duke Nukem in a Deadpool-Styled Movie

John Cena Will Play Duke Nukem in a Deadpool-Styled Movie

Duke Nukem is known for two things: kicking alien ass and always being out of gum. Soon he’ll be known for a third thing: being played by John Cena in a movie.

According to CinemaBlend, producers Andrew Form (The Purge,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and Brad Fuller (Project Almanac, The Purge) have confirmed that Cena, after months of negotiations, is officially attached to an upcoming Duke Nukem movie. Well, for now, anyway. Form stated the script has yet to be penned, and, as with any actor, Cena could potentially leave if he reads the script and doesn’t like it.

While the Duke Nukem movie doesn’t have a script yet, Form and Fuller are already determined to make the movie’s tone match that of Deadpool. This decision is strangely fitting since Duke is overtly sexist, but in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way. Plus, his chauvinism somehow adds to his machismo charm, as odd as it sounds. Form even acknowledges the challenge of turning those normally negative personality traits into endearing ones:

You know that having a misogynistic guy in today’s world, how do you make that fun and lovable and at the same time he’s got to be an incredible badass, so those are the things that we’re struggling with and we’re going to try and come out with what I hope is a really fun ride. That’s the goal, is for it to be a really fun ride.

Some might balk at the thought of Cena being up to the task of playing what might just be the prototypical badass video game hero, but, like fellow wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson, he has plenty of experience in both action and comedic roles (and a few that are both). Plus, in sunglasses and a flattop haircut, he could potentially be a dead ringer for the character. Given his ever-growing experience as a voice actor, he could conceivably also sound almost identical to Duke’s original voice actor Jon St. John by the time filming starts.

While the movie is a long way off, we will pay close attention to this movie. With luck, it will help redeem the Duke Nukem franchise after the disappointment that was Duke Nukem Forever.

John Cena Will Play Duke Nukem in a Deadpool-Styled Movie

Local Multiplayer Is a Go for Minecraft on the New Nintendo 3DS

Local Multiplayer Is a Go for Minecraft on the New Nintendo 3DS

The Minecraft official Twitter has announced that local multiplayer is now up and running on the New Nintendo 3DS version of the game. After updating their copies of the game, players will be all set to play Minecraft with friends using a local wireless connection.

The New Nintendo 3DS was released back on Feb. 13, 2015. Two years later, Minecraft was released for the portable system on Sept. 19, 2017. The game features both a creative mode and a survival mode. In creative mode, players have unlimited resources with which to build their world. This sort of environment makes it easier to build the sprawling cities and landscapes that players of the game have become known for producing. In survival mode, players must explore and mine for materials to build with, as well as deal with creatures that might kill them. Since it is on the New Nintendo 3DS, the game uses the system’s touchscreen for checking the map and managing inventory. As a minor feature, the game also comes with five skin packs and two different texture packs.

The classic version of the well known game was first released to the public on May 17, 2009. The sandbox video game has since gained quite a bit of popularity. It is now available on a wide variety of platforms, including Xbox One, PS4, and the Nintendo Switch. On Minecraft’s official website, you can buy the game for PC and Mac for $26.95.

Minecraft for the New Nintendo 3DS sells for $29.99 on the Nintendo eShop. It is published by Mojang AB, and developed by Other Ocean Interactive.

Local Multiplayer Is a Go for Minecraft on the New Nintendo 3DS

February NPD 2018: Monster Hunter repeats as top game in the U.S.

February NPD 2018: Monster Hunter repeats as top game in the U.S.

Gaming consumers in the United States are dropping money on hardware and games even as February had a dearth of earth-shattering new releases. The industry is so hot right now, that it can’t help but generate year-over-year growth with $995 million in total sales, according to industry-tracking firm The NPD Group. That’s up 23 percent from $811 million during the same period in 2017.

Here are the numbers for February 2018:

  • Total: $995 million (up 23 percent from $811 million in February 2017)
  • Hardware: $316 million (up 55 percent from $204 million)
  • PC and console software: $397 million (flat from $397 million)
  • Accessories: $282 million (up 35 percent from $210 million)

“Year to date 2018 spending across video game hardware, software and accessories is up 39 percent when compared to the same period a year ago, to $2.1 billion,” NPD analyst Mat Piscatella said. “Growth has occurred across all categories, with hardware being the primary sales performance driver.”

It’s important to keep in mind that NPD’s report has some gaps in it. It does not report digital sales data for every publisher. It also does not include DLC, microtransactions, or mobile. So this is a snapshot of a wider, more dynamic market.

Let’s get to the charts.

Software

  1. Monster Hunter: World
  2. Call of Duty: WWII
  3. NBA 2K18
  4. Dragon Ball: Fighterz
  5. Grand Theft Auto V
  6. Shadow of the Colossus (2018)
  7. UFC 3
  8. Kingdom Come: Deliverance
  9. Mario Kart 8*
  10. Super Mario Odyssey
  11. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege
  12. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
  13. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds**
  14. Bayonetta 2*
  15. Madden NFL 18
  16. Assassin’s Creed: Origins
  17. FIFA 18**
  18. Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet
  19. The Sims 4**
  20. Star Wars: Battlefront II

*No digital sales included
**No PC digital sales included

“Dollar sales of Console, Portable and PC Games Software combined to reach $397 million in February 2018, flat when compared to a year ago,” said Piscatella. “Gains in Nintendo Switch spending offset declines across all other platforms. Year to date, software spending has grown 24 percent, to $916 million.”

As always, Nintendo’s games have long tails that keep them selling at full price for years. That trend is continuing on Switch for hits like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

“Mario Kart 8 returned to the top of the Nintendo Switch chart for the first time since May 2017,” said Piscatella. “Nintendo was February’s leading publisher in software dollar sales, while Capcom remains the top-selling publisher of 2018.”

While Nintendo Switch is filling in the gaps left by the other platforms, Capcom’s Monster Hunter is one of the main reasons we are seeing year-to-date growth. It is once again dominant in February. This is the second month in a row that it has topped this chart.

“After leading the market in January, Monster Hunter: World repeated as the month’s top-selling title overall, once again leading on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One platforms,” said Piscatella. “Unsurprisingly, Monster Hunter: World is currently 2018’s best-selling game.

Indie open-world role-playing game Kingdom Come: Deliverance also made it into the top 10, which is a huge feat and shows just how well that game is performing at retail.

“Call of Duty: WWII was February’s second best-selling title,” said Piscatella. “And it remains the best-selling title for the 12-month period ending February 2018.”

Xbox One

  1. Monster Hunter: World
  2. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
  3. Call of Duty: WWII
  4. Kingdom Come: Deliverance
  5. NBA 2K18
  6. Dragon Ball: Fighterz
  7. UFC 3
  8. Grand Theft Auto V
  9. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege
  10. Assassin’s Creed: Origins

PlayStation 4

  1. Monster Hunter: World
  2. Shadow of the Colossus (2018)
  3. Call of Duty: WWII
  4. Dragon Ball: Fighterz
  5. UFC 3
  6. NBA 2K18
  7. Grand Theft Auto V
  8. Kingdom Come: Deliverance
  9. Madden NFL 18
  10. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege

Nintendo Switch (physical only)

  1. Mario Kart 8
  2. Super Mario Odyssey
  3. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
  4. Bayonetta 2
  5. Splatoon 2
  6. Pokken Tournament DX
  7. Mario & Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
  8. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
  9. Arms
  10. Dragon Quest Builders

Nintendo 3DS

  1. Pokemon: Ultra Sun
  2. Pokemon: Ultra Moon
  3. Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology
  4. Mario Kart 7
  5. Minecraft
  6. Super Smash Bros.
  7. Mario Party: The Top 100
  8. Super Mario Maker
  9. Kirby: Battle Royale
  10. Super Mario 3D Land

The best-selling games of 2018 so far

  1. Monster Hunter: World
  2. Dragon Ball: Fighterz
  3. Call of Duty: WWII
  4. Grand Theft Auto V
  5. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds**
  6. NBA 2K18
  7. Super Mario Odyssey*
  8. Mario Kart 8*
  9. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
  10. UFC 3

The best-selling games over the last 12 months

  1. Call of Duty: WWII
  2. NBA 2K18
  3. Destiny 2
  4. Madden NFL 18
  5. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
  6. Grand Theft Auto V
  7. Star Wars: Battlefront II
  8. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands
  9. Super Mario Odyssey
  10. Mario Kart 8*

Hardware and accesories

Since the launch of the Nintendo Switch and Xbox One X, the PlayStation 4 has no longer dominated the hardware sales. Nintendo and Microsoft are both seeing growth as well.

“Hardware spending in February 2018 grew 55 percent when compared to a year ago, to $316 million,” said Piscatella. “Spending gains were driven by growth in Switch and Xbox One hardware sales. For the 2018 year-to-date period, hardware spending has increased 79 percent to $594 million.”

The Switch phenom story continued in February, for example.

“Nintendo Switch remains on a record-setting sales pace,” said Piscatella. “Over the first twelve months in market, Nintendo Switch has achieved the highest installed base for a console platform in history.”

But even if Sony isn’t leaving the competition in its dust, it still came out on top last month.

“Sony’s PlayStation 4 was the best-selling console in February,” said Piscatella. “And it remains the best-selling console year to date.”

Last month was a record-high for February for accessories and gamecards at $282 million. That broke the previous February record from 2016.

Gamepads are an especially large category with year-over-year growth of 46 percent.

“Gamepads were the month’s best-selling accessory group,” said Piscatella. “Headsets/headphones, power supplies, memory cards, and case/organizer categories all experienced double-digit percentage growth in the month. These gains offset a 75 percent decline in interactive gaming toy sales.”

PS4’s DualShock 4 Wireless Controller in Black was the best-selling accessory of the month and of 2018 so far.

February NPD 2018: Monster Hunter repeats as top game in the U.S.