SEGA, a name that’s absolutely rooted in gaming history, has been making its way into the mobile market for a while now. With this in mind, they have just released SEGA Slots globally (in all countries bar mainland China, Korea and Japan) to your IOS or Android device. If you love SEGA and happen to enjoy spinnin’ the reels this might be something that will float your proverbial boat.

SEGA Slots is a progression-based casino app which harkens back to SEGA’s inception in the 1950s as a producer of stand-alone slot machines. This title also features some of the most memorable characters from the gaming giant’s history.

SEGA Slots currently features eight unlockable machines featuring vibrant graphics and fun-packed gameplay. You will also be re-introduced to characters from some of SEGA’s most memorable games, including Shinobi, Golden Axe, Super Monkey Ball and of course Sonic the Hedgehog. Speaking of the last two games in that list, there are two bonus games to get you away from the slot spinning action for a little while. Help Sonic rescue his friends and earn huge payouts along the way or enter Super Monkey Ball Slot ‘s multiplayer mode to win banana bonuses.

We can expect to see more machines appearing in regular updates so there’s plenty in the works to keep things fresh and interesting. This title is available to download for free with in-app purchases so you aren’t really going to be losing anything but some of your time by giving Sega Slots a bit of a try. As a little by-line from me, regardless of this being awesome (which of course it all clearly is), this game is still simulating gambling, so parents with youngun’s might want to check it out before letting smaller players give it a go. Betting is fun as long as it’s done responsibly and all that. With this being said, you know where to look if you’re craving a bit of casino fun.

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Witnessing the beautiful Earth-like planet of Hillys from space was the beginning of an adventure that stuck with me all throughout the years. Beyond Good & Evil was developed by Ubisoft for the PS2, Xbox, Microsoft Windows and GameCube. It was released in 2003 (the same year as Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time) and it tells of a freelance reporter, Jade, and her quest to uncover the truth after becoming tangled with an interstellar conspiracy.

“Loyal Hillyans, the impending battle will be a difficult one! But thanks to the Alpha Sections…”

As we wait in anticipation for the upcoming sequel Beyond Good & Evil 2, let’s take a look at how the first game paved the way for it. We will also be able to appreciate the fact that the bar has been set high for this sequel if it’s going to match the level of ingenuity that the first game came out with.

What is in the Beyond?

As the title of the game suggests, our female protagonist becomes involved in something that is bigger than her. We also come to find out that the game is not yet showing us everything we need to know as players. Beyond Good & Evil has been considered to be an outstanding classic, especially when it was first released – IGN and Metacritic gave it a congratulating 4 stars out of 5. The graphics are true to form for the given consoles. The game contains a level map that is spacious but wouldn’t match the size of other games that were released within the same time, or even until today.

Through Beyond Good & Evil, we are given the lesson that bigger map size doesn’t always equate to better gaming experience. Furthermore, the entire game can be played to its 100% completion within 12-14 hours, so it’s not a prolonged escapade by any means.

NPCs are people too

As I played the game and strolled through the world of Hillys, I became so immersed because of the use of level design, audio and even the NPCs. Correction, especially the NPCs. Even though Jade (controlled by you) passed by them nonchalantly, you will notice that they have their own distinct personalities. With time, you will be able to pick them out by their voices and/or their textures. Yes, they have very minimal dialogue compared to the main characters, but it is nothing if not absolutely intriguing. The NPCs talk about events that are currently happening in Hillys, and it gradually changes as Jade completes ‘world-changing’ tasks.

It’s evident that there’s a certain level of apprehension between these conversations. Just like in the real world, different civilians voice contrasting opinions along with their own experiences, which informs the player about select events by allowing them to fill in the gaps.

Beloved (Underdog) Heroes

Since Jade is a reporter, the game encourages the player to photograph ‘crucial evidence’. The photos that you take are then revealed to the public in order to enlighten, inform and strengthen their spirits even in this time of oppression. I believe that this was a very nice touch. I remember the first time I played through the game and I saw one of my photographs on the big screens across the town. It felt like many of the story developments that occurred afterwards were something I truly achieved.

Along with her human-pig-hybrid adoptive uncle Pey’j (and halfway through the game we are met with Double H), Jade tries and gets by while taking care of orphans. However she becomes involved in the knowledge that the militaristic force called the Alpha Sections may have more intentions. These intentions might be deeper and more sinister than just protecting the civilians of Hillys.

The planet is being overwhelmed by an evil alien race known as the DomZ, all of whom have no sympathy towards innocent Hillyans. This is where Jade and her green lipstick (FYI I think this is the reason I am an avid make-up user to this day) does what she does best: take pictures. And take pictures is what we do, from taking snaps of shark hybrids playing the Disk Game to the DomZ Cyclops monster who wanted to eat Pey’j. There really isn’t much that we can’t document with our trusty camera.

What now?

If you have played Beyond Good & Evil before, then you know that it’s a unique game in itself. If you haven’t, I would seriously recommend you start playing it. You will be met with exploring, racing, and conversing with NPCs. The commendably ample story locations also mean that there will be enough to keep you absorbed for hours. You’re welcome, newbies.

In addition to this, the game doesn’t pack on pieces of information on top of each other. Therefore it won’t let you become lost in what’s happening and what you’re supposed to be doing. You will not forget the main storyline as you play it which is a gift. There have been far too many games 14 years ago and today that will make your head spin with plots. Just as you think that you’re getting bored, you become sucked into the abyss of adventure once again.

We can’t forget that Beyond Good & Evil was released on PS2 platform, and these titles are old compared to PS4 and Xbox One. Admittedly the game generally suffers from stiff controls and awkward camera angles at times. However it’s nothing too unpleasant and it adds to the originality of the game. There are also minor nuisances such as heavy movement and irritating perspectives during stealth segments. Having said that, this could be why the game was gradually forgotten. It could also have been because time desensitizes everything. Video games are most definitely not an exception to this.

Fingers crossed for the sequel!

In conclusion, Beyond Good & Evil feels as good to play now as it did 14 years ago. It teaches us of an underdog who got help from other underdogs. They freed the people they love within the planet that they called home. Old games such as this should never be forgotten. Furthermore, game developers would be making a wise decision if they looked over these sorts of games from time to time. Whether it be for inspiration or assurance that originality can never go out of style if used the right way, Beyond Good & Evil gave us an experience that was fresh and emotional.

The post The Birth of Beyond Good & Evil appeared first on That VideoGame Blog.

It is Thursday night so that means another Pixel Street Podcast is in the books!

Check out the podcast’s video below and be sure to subscribe to the Almost Random Youtube channel HERE.

Assassin’s Creed Rogue Remastered is coming to the PS4 and Xbone. If you do not remember, Rogue was originally released for the 360 and PS3 around the time the new generations started. The remaster will come with all of the DLC from the original version including two missions, weapons, customization items, and outfits, including Bayek’s clothes from Origins.

You can check out Ubisoft’s teaser trailer below.

Assassin’s Creed Origins is finally releasing new content! Later this month, Ubisoft will drop a free update and the first premium expansion. That’s not all though; along with these updates, Ubisoft is bringing back a special limited-time event for PC, Xbox One, and PS4.

New Updates + Trials of the Gods

At some point this January, Origins will receive a free update. The update will come with an increase of items in Heka chests, plus a new quest for players to celebrate the release of the first DLC. The update gives players access to gather more items from a handful of packs, including Wacky and Gladiator. Additionally with the update, players will now have the ability to sell their surplus outfits at the weaver shops.

As an added bonus, Ubisoft has also announced they are bringing back the Trials of the Gods event! For a limited time, you’ll be able to fight Anubis from January 9th to the 16th. Following Anubis will be Sobek from January 23rd to the 30th.

The Hidden Ones

The DLC, named The Hidden Ones, is set several years after the events of the main storyline. The Hidden Ones sees Bayek explore a new area of land, where he will come face to face with the leading Roman forces and rebellious faction. Ubisoft confirms that there will be new story content along with a level cap increase. If you’ve purchased the season pass for Origins, you’re in luck because The Hidden Ones is included! Ubisoft has not set a launch date yet, but it’s expected that players will have this expansion by the end of January. Lastly, in the coming weeks, new gear will be added to the store. The Almighty pack will drop on January 16th and the For Honor pack will be available on January 30th. More items will be added throughout the month so make sure to check out Ubisoft Club for all the new releases!

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With the first season of the professional gaming Overwatch League starting on Wednesday, Blizzard has released new skins into the game for players to show support for their favorite team (or teams).

All 26 heroes in the game have received 12 skins each, one for each team, so no matter your main you can rock your team’s colors. Personally, I am a Tracer main and I have to say the Dallas Fuel skin I got for her looks good. Each skin looks and feels like a team’s home jersey you would see on a professional sports team, making Overwatch League feel like the real deal.

To buy the new skins, a new currency has been added to the game called League Tokens which can be bought via microtransactions. While your first skin is free if you sign into the game by February 13th, any following skins will cost 100 League Tokens. This is fine and dandy until you realize that 100 tokens costs $5 to purchase, unless you decide to shell out $100 for enough tokens to buy a certain teams skin for all 26 heroes. Typical ridiculous microtransactions that you would normally see in a cell phone game.

While I am not impressed with the pricing on the tokens, these are 100% cosmetic which is the best way to do microtransactions. Completely voluntary and have no impact on the gameplay of the game. Also, 50% of the profits from the tokens go on to support the team that you choose to rep, so if you are a fan of esports this is a good way to support the Overwatch League.

First game of Overwatch League starts at 7 PM Eastern with the San Francisco Shock taking on the Los Angeles Valiant.

If you want to see a preview of how each skin looks on your favorite hero you can either see it in game or go to Gamespot’s article where they took a screenshot of each hero in every skin HERE.

To check out the different teams, schedule, and any other Overwatch League information you can visit the official website HERE.

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SMITE World Championship

This past weekend concluded the 4th annual SMITE World Championship in Atlanta, Georgia during the 2018 Hi-Rez Expo. It was a great night for the red, white and blue as two North American teams faced off against each other for the title of SMITE World Champions.

This year’s Hi-Rez Expo was PACKED.

The tournament’s eight screens provide the best viewing experience imaginable.

The coveted SMITE World Championship Trophy!

The Ao Kuang cosplay was top notch and won the cosplay competition.

There were a lot of Paladins cosplayers this year.

The cosplayer’s entrances were almost as badass as their costumes.

I love this Alley Cat Maeve cosplay.

Goku Black is Here!

While Dragon Ball FighterZ is arriving in just over a few weeks on January 26th, Bandai Namco continues to tease us with new footage of the game, including a new character reveal, this time focusing on one of the favorites from the current Dragon Ball Super series, Goku Black. From the trailer, you are able to preview Goku Black’s ability to scythe opponents and summon Zamasu to assist. Thanks to this reveal we’ve gotten a bonus inside look at more of the game’s story cinematics and the Shenron Combo System. Check out the Goku Black trailer below!

What’s worse than designing a game that bears an unintentionally striking resemblance to another, more popular game? The obvious answer, of course, is: creating a shameless knock-off of another, more popular game to be included in your game that already bears a striking resemblance to another, more popular game.

Did you catch all of that? No? Never mind. I’m waffling on today about the lesser-known hero shooter title Paladins, which does of course bear a strong resemblance to Activision Blizzard’s own hero shooter, the legendary Overwatch. Similarities here, though, might be forgiven – after all, games in the same genre are likely to look similar, and you wouldn’t criticise Tekken for looking like Street Fighter now, would you?

But then developer Hi-Rez went and announced Paladins: Battlegrounds (or PBG, for short), a Battle Royale game mode for 100 players that takes place on an island onto which you are dropped. Touted as the first ever Hero Shooter Battle Royale, the new mode is unashamedly and unequivocally copying PlayerUnknown’s smash hit Battlegrounds all the way down to the name. And this, folks, is the trailer:

The deep story of the original game, Life is Strange, has produced an epic prequel to the series called Life is Strange: Before the Storm. In 3 episodes, this game truly explains the heart-breaking backstory of Rachel and Chloe. Anyone who has experience with Life is Strange, understands what an explosive impact Rachel Amber caused on Arcadia Bay. The unanswered questions of Life is Strange have finally been answered in this episodic prequel.

Back to Arcadia Bay

The preface of the game is under the control of the bearings of our favorite angsty teen, Chloe Price. Through the eyes of Chloe, we learn that Before the Storm can be framed as the love story many fans have longed for. Plenty of the decisions seen in Before the Storm show no logic, but rather seem to derive from pure teenage emotions. This theme is seen throughout the game, as players discover the true connection that Chloe and Rachel feel. Prepare for the feels.

While the same storytelling premise is in place as the original, Deck Nine has created an enticing story that has its own unique story that stays true to its roots. As an episodic game, your energy will be mainly for choosing your path to take through various social interactions. These interactions force you to deal with the experiences and consequences that follow your decisions. Yes, these are the events that happen before Max returns to Arcadia Bay. Take this realization with a grain of salt because it’s far deeper than most expect. Diving deep into Rachel’s story is worthwhile to the player.

The Story Before The Storm

While Life is Strange solely focuses on your ability to rewind time, Before the Storm falls short of this power with zero supernatural encounters. What has replaced time powers is Chloe’s subpar “Backtalk” ability. This new ability seems to really disrupt the flow of the ever-branching story line. However, even without a time travel ability, you are able to see the wrinkle your choices make throughout the game. As each episode concludes, you see that each shocking ending is partially a reflection of your decisions.

If you’ve played the original, this game is important to understand what made Chloe so enticed by Rachel Amber. This game provides the backstory every fan has spend 2 years wondering about. If this game intrigues you, try out the original first before diving into this. Trust me, it will make a lot more sense if you do. This game does not provide a wonderful happy ending as it may seem to newcomers. There is a dark tone to all veteran players. Before the Storm is a highly enticing game with fun characters, heart-tugging emotions, and an overall fun context for fans of the original, but it does have its shortcomings. Low rendered graphics can cause distractions from the storyline along with sections of inconsistent dialogue and voice acting.

Overall

The overall story continues to peak interest throughout and characters remain enticingly complex. Overall it was an enduring and emotional trip back to our beloved Arcadia Bay. While there are limitations to Before the Storm, it still manages to give the perfect blend of romance and friendship in a convincing way that gradually gives the player an involved game experience. As far as prequels go, it show that with only a few hiccups to gameplay, the future of episodic storytelling games could be extremely prosperous.

All 3 main episodes of Life is Strange: Before the Storm are available now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

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