BySamuel MorenoPublished5 minutes agoWe may earn a commission from links on this page.Screenshot: Capcom / Samuel Moreno / KotakuJump ToMonster Hunter Wilds’ first title update introduced a lot of new content, but a standout addition is Mizutsune. This serpentine behemoth is a one-of-a-kind threat packed with unique mechanics and an aggressive attitude. The Tempered version takes it to another level and is considered by many to be stronger than anything encountered in the campaign or after. No matter which variant you’re having trouble with, we can help you beat this frothy threat.Suggested ReadingThe 3 Best And 3 Worst Korok Challenges In Tears Of The Kingdom Share SubtitlesOffEnglishview videoSuggested ReadingThe 3 Best And 3 Worst Korok Challenges In Tears Of The Kingdom Share SubtitlesOffEnglishYou’ll first take on a Mizutsune in the “Spirit in the Moonlight” side mission. The only requirements are being at Hunter Rank 21 and having already completed the “Fishing: Life, In Microcosm” side mission for Kanya. Once you’ve hunted the monster down one time, it will start spawning in both the Scarlet Forest and Ruins of Wyveria.Tempered Mizutsune can spawn in these same areas, albeit only once you’ve leveled up more and at least reached chapter six of the main quest line. I can say from personal experience that the Tempered version spawned more often during a Fallow season or an Inclemency. Feel free to use the Rest function a couple of times to make it show up.Screenshot: Capcom / Samuel Moreno / KotakuMizutsune’s most distinctive aspect are its bubbles, which are dispersed during many of its attacks. Getting hit by most of these will inflict you with the unique Bubbleblight ailment. This ailment is split into a minor and a major stage. Minor Bubbleblight isn’t too bad, as it’s a buff that enhances your evasion. Getting hit with another bubble will change it to the more frustrating Major Bubbleblight, which causes you to slip while running and be sent farther away by large attacks or explosions.A Nulberry is unfortunately not able to cure this status ailment, although they’re still worth bringing since Mizutsune can additionally inflict both Waterblight and Fireblight. The quickest way to cure Bubbleblight is to use a Cleanser. Alternatively, if you have fought this monster before and are just farming, equipping Mizutsune-forged armor is a big help. Its Bubbly Dance skill will prevent Major Bubbleblight so that you can focus more on dealing damage. If you don’t have the armor or run out of Cleanser, your next best bet is waiting 30 seconds for it to disappear.Some bubbles apply different effects, which makes things more complicated. Thankfully, they’re color-coded; however, you’ll still need to be quick on your feet when they’re coming right at you. Here are the different-colored bubbles and what they do:Clear: Deals damage and inflicts BubbleblightGreen: Provides healing and inflicts BubbleblightRed: Provides a temporary attack boost and inflicts BubbleblightFiery Blue: Deals damage and inflicts FireblightTrying to dodge these bubbles isn’t always the best use of your time. Both Slinger ammo and attacks from your weapon can pop them, although slower melee weapons can require precise timing. Using ranged weapons like Heavy or Light Bowguns is a lot more convenient.Screenshot: Capcom / Samuel Moreno / KotakuMizutsune is a highly mobile monster that can hit hard and use its water-based attacks to trigger a variety of status ailments. Start your hunts with the following weaknesses in mind because you’ll want to take advantage of them:Elemental Weaknesses: Thunder, DragonWeapon Type Weaknesses: Cut, BluntBreakable Parts: Head x2, Claws x2, Tail, Dorsal FinWeak Point: MouthSusceptible Status Ailments: Blastblight, Exhaust, Paralysis, Poison, Sleep, StunScreenshot: Capcom / Samuel Moreno / KotakuEven though you can tackle this thing as early as Hunter Rank 21, I suggest holding off for a bit. Mizutsune dishes out massive damage that can be mitigated with better armor and weapons. Wait until you’ve finished chapter five and can farm Gore Magala hunts. Weapons crafted from Gore Magala parts dish out Dragon element damage, while its armor offers great Water resistance. These are huge advantages to have when fighting this creature.Any weapon type can work, but slower ones will feel extra cumbersome against Mizutsune. Between the erratic movements and seemingly endless bubbles, it’s convenient to have quicker weapons like Dual Blades or Sword and Shield. Their multi-hitting nature will help with applying elemental damage as well. I advise pinning it down using traps and different ailments if you’re still having trouble landing hits.You should also watch out for its Waterblight-inflicting jet stream attacks. Mizutsune has a handful of moves that involve vertical or horizontal sweeping water beams. Thankfully, they’re easily telegraphed and have small hitboxes. Make sure to exploit Mizutsune’s long recovery periods after using these attacks.Mizutsune’s long-reaching tail attacks are another notable characteristic. The most deadly of these are the tail slams, which come out fast and can take out all of your health if your defense is low. There is a backflip variant to hit anyone behind and another where it twists its body in the air to slam those in front. I’ve seen the latter countered with an Offset Attack, but dodging it is the less risky solution.All of the above is amplified when the monster enters its unique enraged state. Breaking its head will enable it to transition into a powered-up mode akin to Soulseer Mizutsune from prior entries, complete with blue fire flaring from its left eye. Mizutsune will start shooting fire-covered bubbles in addition to using attacks more rapidly and aggressively when this state is triggered. While you can try to avoid this by not breaking the head, the trade-off is that you’ll be inflicting less damage. The one positive to this enraged state is that it will tire quicker and eventually become exhausted. That’s your cue to start dealing as much damage as possible.Don’t feel bad if these hunts leave you frustrated. There is a lot to keep track of with little time for reaction. Tempered Mizutsune is even more challenging and might just be the toughest fight in Monster Hunter Wilds yet. Still, everything we’ve mentioned will apply all the same. Memorizing which animations initiate which attacks will go a long way. Otherwise, bring your best gear, outfit them with appropriate decorations, and carry the Armorcharm and Powercharm items for good measure.Screenshot: Capcom / Samuel Moreno / KotakuNothing makes a tough fight feel worth it more than some good loot. Flipping through the monster’s Detailed Info tabs will break down all the various drop rates for the end of a hunt, destroyed wounds, and body part carvings. It’s a lot to take in, but worth perusing to narrow down what parts you need. I’ve provided a simple list of the attainable Mizutsune materials below that’s sorted by the overall drop frequency, with the most common parts at the top.Mizutsune Fin+Mizutsune Claw+Mizutsune Purplefur+Mizutsune TailMizutsune Scale+Bubblefoam+Mizutsune Certificate SMizutsune Water Orb The community’s pleas for harder hunts certainly seem to have been heard. With the addition of Arch-Tempered monsters on the horizon, I can imagine these are only going to get tougher.. #how #take #down #powerful #mizutsune

SummaryAnima Flux is now available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.Play solo or team up in two-player co-op.Check out our survival tips to get the most out of your first run. The mutant apocalypse has arrived — and Anima Flux drops you right in the middle of it. Now available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, this action-packed dystopian adventure invites players to step into the roles of Roy and Eileen, genetically enhanced soldiers of a failing theocratic regime. Their mission? Fight through waves of bio-mutants and uncover the haunting truths behind the collapse of humanity’s last space city. Whether you’re taking on this brutal world solo or with a partner in two-player co-op, survival will depend on how well you understand your characters’ strengths — and how you adapt your strategy to the challenges ahead. Playing in Co-op Mode: Roy and Eileen as a Team In Anima Flux, the heart of co-op play lies in the synergy between Roy and Eileen. Roy is your melee powerhouse — a close-range combatant who can take hits and dish them out. Eileen, in contrast, is an agile archer, delivering devastating damage from a distance while offering cover and tactical flexibility. Key Tips for Co-op Success Stick together, but play your roles. Roy should lead the charge and draw enemy attention, while Eileen positions herself to snipe from behind cover. Use Eileen’s mobility to kite or flank. Her ranged attacks can soften enemies before they reach Roy, and she’s great for clearing out flying enemy clusters from safe spots. Revive wisely. If one of you goes down, you can bring them back to life, but make sure the path is clear before attempting a revive. Stay united. Co-op is key — some obstacles, like pressure plates and locked lifts, can only be bypassed through teamwork. Playing Solo: One Mind, Two Warriors If you’re braving Anima Flux on your own, don’t worry — the solo experience has been carefully tuned to be just as rewarding. You’ll be able to swap between Roy and Eileen on the fly, using their abilities to respond to whatever horrors the game throws your way. Top Strategies for Solo Play Switch strategically. Roy is perfect for crowd control and absorbing damage, while Eileen excels at taking down priority targets from afar. Use the right character for each scenario. Learn enemy patterns. Managing two characters means efficiency is everything. Knowing when and where enemies spawn gives you the edge to position both characters effectively. Use the AI to your advantage. While controlling one character, the other will act based on your positioning — try leading enemies into ambush zones or using one character to distract while the other unleashes abilities. Keep moving. Especially early on, when dash abilities are limited, positioning is critical. Jump-dodging and terrain awareness can help you avoid incoming damage. A World That Doesn’t Forgive — But Rewards Mastery At its core, Anima Flux isn’t just about hacking and slashing through mutants. It’s about mastering rhythm and strategy — learning how to survive in a world that’s falling apart. Whether you’re playing with a friend or taking it on alone, every choice matters, every encounter is dangerous, and every victory feels earned. This is a world where death is always looming — but that just makes survival sweeter. Ready to Fight? Anima Flux is available now on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Download it today and step into a world of tactical combat, haunting beauty, and unforgiving odds. Roy and Eileen are waiting — will you survive? Anima Flux JollyCo ☆☆☆☆☆ 3 ★★★★★ Get it now Anima Flux is a co-op metroidvania with two genetically enhanced soldiers, special agents of a theocratic dictatorial regime. Fight your way through swarms of mutants through a desolate, dystopian space city and save humanity's last stronghold, if, of course, anyone is still alive… The only human city located on the space ark is subjected to an organized mutant invasion. For the sake of survival, a theocratic totalitarian regime sends its best troops to rescue the city and eliminate the threat. Take control of two elite soldiers, combine their unique abilities and skills. Finesse your way around through the most ferocious foes. Act bravely and fearlessly. After all, you can trick death, by transferring your anima with the latest implant technology. Don’t get consumed by fear of death, because the truth is grimmer. Co-Op Metroidvania The unusual spin of the genre, turns the classic metroidvania into a fun, couch co-op adventure. Both characters develop differently as the game goes on. Explore the grim locations of the space ark, rescue an ambushed or seriously injured partner. Get challenged by dangerous mutants and build your own boss-fight strategies together with a friend. And the best part is that you can always switch to single player mode if your pal is not around. A mind-blowing dystopia The story is set in a highly detailed game world, told in stunning hand-drawn animated cutscenes, and elaborated in dialogs full of irony. Tragic and intriguing fates of the supporting characters will immerse you into the human world of the far future, where moral and ethical issues trouble the mind more than ever. Search for the truth and prepare for incredible twists and turns. Unique visual style Through the artistic lens of 80-90 retro sci-fi aesthetics, the game carefully renders a variety of futuristic 2D visuals mixed with the dark cosmic atmosphere. The post Anima Flux: How to Survive the Dystopia – Top Tips for Playing Solo or in Co-op appeared first on Xbox Wire. #anima #flux #how #survive #dystopia

While it may come as a surprise to many players, it is important to note that the Dragon Sword is actually not the only weapon in Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. While it is no doubt the coolest, Ryu's family sword is, in fact, just one of eleven weapons that can be found throughout the game. Jokes aside, exploring each weapon in Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is one of the best ways to enhance what is already an incredible game. And with nine melee weapons and two ranged weapons available, it is also a great way to increase overall replayability. With this in mind, this guide will show you exactly where you can find and unlock every weapon in Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. #where #find #every #weapon #ninja

ByGeorge YangPublishedYesterdayWe may earn a commission from links on this page.Screenshot: id Software / George Yang / KotakuJump ToAside from a more ambitious narrative scope, Doom: The Dark Ages also introduced semi open-world areas where objectives and secrets are a bit more spread out. “The Kar’Thul Marshes,” the fifteenth mission in the game, is the third of these, after “The Siege Part One” and “Ancestral Forge.”Suggested ReadingNintendo Switch 2 Price Is Set at for Now, But Could Go Higher Share SubtitlesOffEnglishSuggested ReadingNintendo Switch 2 Price Is Set at for Now, But Could Go Higher Share SubtitlesOffEnglishNintendo Switch 2 Price Is Set at for Now, But Could Go HigherRead More: Throughout the game, you’ll also come across many Sorcerer and Knight statues with jewel collectibles. Sorcerer statues hold Wraithstones while Knight statues hold Rubies. In the game’s open-world segments, you’ll find these blocked off with a barrier, surrounded by holographic wolf statues. In order to fill these statues in, you’ll have to find three other wolf statues scattered throughout the open-world mission and destroy them with your shield.In “The Kar’Thul Marshes,” there are five of these wolf statues instead of the usual three. Here are their locations.Screenshot: id Software / George Yang / KotakuThe sorcerer statue is towards the left of the starting point. You’ll come across a few combat encounters before coming across a path with some gold. At the end of the path, you’ll see a small cove with the sorcerer statue surrounded by the five wolves.Screenshot: id Software / George Yang / KotakuThe first wolf statue is near where you first start on the mission. Simply go forward and to the left and you should see the wolf statue at the end of the cliff.Screenshot: id Software / George Yang / KotakuThe second wolf statue location is close to the first. Just go a bit further out to the left, and right across from the Battle Demon Toy collectible, you should see a cliff that’ll let you drop down. The statue is right at the bottom.Screenshot: id Software / George Yang / KotakuAs you continue to make your way to the left side of the level, you’ll eventually collect your first Relic Fragment. There’s a large gold chunk collectible and near that is the third wolf statue sitting right past the cliff.Screenshot: id Software / George Yang / KotakuThe fourth wolf statue is near the third one. From the third wolf statue, go around the corner and tackle the combat encounter near the back against a bunch of giant tentacle demons. The fourth wolf statue should be against a rock wall.Screenshot: id Software / George Yang / KotakuThe fifth and final wolf statue is actually in the same room as the sorcerer statue with the barrier. When in the room, simply look to your right and you should see the wolf statue down the hall.After shattering all five wolf statues, the barrier surrounding the Sorcerer statue will disappear. You can then interact with the statue and grab the Wraithstone, which can be used to upgrade your weapons, shield, and melee capabilitiesFor more Doom: The Dark Ages, be sure to check out our review, as well as collectible guides for the first two missions of the game: “Village of Khalim” and “Hebeth.”. #surprise #there #are #more #wolf

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Marvel Rivals keeps players engaged with its eclectic lineup of Marvel heroes, featuring a mix of legendary Avengers and hidden treasures from the universe. As the iconic figures of Spider-Man and Iron Man bask in the limelight, this game has skillfully carved out its own space by spotlighting unique and frequently overlooked characters from the expansive Marvel universe. Characters such as Squirrel Girl and Jeff the Land Shark introduce unique playstyles and innovative dynamics, captivating players who are on the lookout for curveball choices. The underdog heroes, steeped in rich comic history, bring their unique abilities, disrupting the meta and emerging as unexpected stars in the competitive scene. Now, the player community is abuzz with excitement over a leaked character from the X-Men universe—Armor—who is rumored to make her debut as a Vanguard shortly. Here’s more on how the leaked character will transform the meta. Marvel Rivals leak reveals iconic mutant Armor is arriving soon Marvel Rivals leakers have once again revealed a character from the datamined files called Armor, who will soon join the game’s roster. Armor is set to be a Vanguard-class hero with a melee-focused playstyle, introducing a distinct tank role to NetEase Games’ 6v6 hero shooter. These leaks, which originated in game files, have spurred widespread discussion about Armor’s abilities, design, and potential impact on Marvel Rivals Season 2. Armor is leaked to be the upcoming hero in Marvel Rivals. Image by VideoGamer. According to the leaks, Armor, classed as a melee Vanguard, has a kit designed for durability and aggressive frontline play. Her skills include Unbreakable Object, Psionic Armor – 1 Form, Psionic Armor – 2 Form, Psionic Armor – 3 Form, and Mountain-Breaking Strike. These point to a dynamic playstyle, presumably featuring adaptive armor states or transformations that improve her tanking abilities, along with a devastating attack to disrupt adversaries. The abilities reference Hisako Ichiki’s comic book abilities, in which she creates a psionic exoskeleton for superhuman strength and defense, which corresponds to her tank role in Marvel Rivals. While no official release date has been announced, the full ability list implies that Armor is in active development, possibly for a mid-season update or later in Season 2. Marvel Rivals Platform: macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X Genre: Fighting, Shooter Subscribe to our newsletters! By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime. Share #marvel #rivals #hero #leak #reveals

The Super Smash Bros. Melee tournament Full House 2025 finals ended in the most anticlimactic way Sunday — and it’s all because of an extremely rare glitch.The tourney featured a showdown between fourth-ranked Kurtis “Moky” Pratt and Cody Schwab, the second-ranked player in the Melee community.The two players both selected the Melee speed demon Fox McCloud and duked it out at Pokémon Stadium. When the stage transformed into its forest phase, both players were separated by a tree obstacle and began baiting each other to see who would make the first move.Naturally, biding time in Smash Bros. Melee looks like the combatants rapidly dashing in place, a term known in the fighting game community as wavedashing. What is usually seen as mundane baiting quickly evolved into something far more interesting: a rare glitch.Moky’s Fox was positioned in the splintered tree and idly wavedashed a little too much, triggering a glitch found on the Pokémon Stadium’s forest variant that, when the technique is done perfectly, will allow the player to phase through the stage. Unfortunately, the exploit led Moky to an untimely demise, giving the match to Cody and missing out on a payday.Funny enough, guest commentator and Melee player, Juan “Hungrybox” Debiedma, mentioned the glitch possibly happening moments before the incident came to pass. The anticlimactic results stunned everyone in attendance, with Hungrybox screaming at the result and Moky and Cody looking at each other in disbelief. Moky would later head to Xto vent about the hilarious mishap, posting, “there’s just no way LMAOOOOO.”Polygon reached out to both Moky and Cody for a comment on the 24-year-old glitch, but hasn’t received a response from the pro players.Super Smash Bros. Melee is still kicking after all these years, and regardless of how many more Smash games Nintendo gives us, some players feel that Melee perfected the formula. In the two decades that the game has existed, players have shared numerous reports of glitches; some exploits could cause a Black hole, while others could apparently cause you to potentially lose out on winning See More: #smash #bros #melee #player #lost

The Super Smash Bros. Melee tournament Full House 2025 finals ended in the most anticlimactic way Sunday — and it’s all because of an extremely rare glitch. The tourney featured a showdown between fourth-ranked Kurtis “Moky” Pratt and Cody Schwab, the second-ranked player in the Melee community. The two players both selected the Melee speed demon Fox McCloud and duked it out at Pokémon Stadium. When the stage transformed into its forest phase, both players were separated by a tree obstacle and began baiting each other to see who would make the first move. Naturally, biding time in Smash Bros. Melee looks like the combatants rapidly dashing in place, a term known in the fighting game community as wavedashing. What is usually seen as mundane baiting quickly evolved into something far more interesting: a rare glitch. greatest commentator curse of all time there’s just no way LMAOOOOO pic.twitter.com/pVktbdfVDS— hungryboxMay 19, 2025 Moky’s Fox was positioned in the splintered tree and idly wavedashed a little too much, triggering a glitch found on the Pokémon Stadium’s forest variant that, when the technique is done perfectly, will allow the player to phase through the stage. Unfortunately, the exploit led Moky to an untimely demise, giving the match to Cody and missing out on a payday. Funny enough, guest commentator and Melee player, Juan “Hungrybox” Debiedma, mentioned the glitch possibly happening moments before the incident came to pass. The anticlimactic results stunned everyone in attendance, with Hungrybox screaming at the result and Moky and Cody looking at each other in disbelief. Moky would later head to Xto vent about the hilarious mishap, posting, “there’s just no way LMAOOOOO.” Polygon reached out to both Moky and Cody for a comment on the 24-year-old glitch, but hasn’t received a response from the pro players. Super Smash Bros. Melee is still kicking after all these years, and regardless of how many more Smash games Nintendo gives us, some players feel that Melee perfected the formula. In the two decades that the game has existed, players have shared numerous reports of glitches; some exploits could cause a Black hole, while others could apparently cause you to potentially lose out on winning    #smash #bros #melee #player #lost

My first memory of the Nintendo Switch is about as mundane as it gets. I don’t recall unboxing it, powering it on for the first time, or bringing it to a rooftop party. Instead, I see myself sitting in my ex’s living room on a random weekday. As they cooked, I sat quietly as I climbed atop of my first Divine Beast in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.  I don’t remember this because it was a triumphant achievement that showed off what kind of spectacle my new next-gen console could pull off; I remember it because I was very depressed. Recommended Videos While Nintendo was starting a meteoric rise in March 2017, I was hurtling towards the ground faster than Link with a depleted stamina wheel. I had just come off a stressful election year marred by a wave of beloved celebrity deaths. The world felt like it was coming to an end, an alarmist thought that especially felt true as a new administration wreaked havoc on the United States come March. My personal life wasn’t going much better. My ambitions were non-existent and I was locked into a day job career that I never wanted. I was becoming more despondent by the day and I could sense that a breakup was imminent. It would be months until I’d go to therapy for the first time in my life, so all of this pent up anxiety that I tried to keep quiet bled into my Joy-cons as I gripped onto them for dear life. Nintendo I find myself reflecting on this small moment now as the Nintendo Switch 2’s June 5 release date looms. For the first time in eight years, I’ll unbox a brand new Nintendo console on that day. Its internal storage will be empty. My Samus avatar won’t greet me when I boot it up because I won’t have logged into my account yet. The tablet will be a blank canvas that I will fill over the next eight years of my life one download at a time. And though it’s an arbitrary moment in time born from cold boardroom meetings and clinical earnings calls, I see the start of a new console era as an opportunity to reinvent myself too. If I look back through my life, I can map my development by the video game hardware I’ve owned. My Sega Genesis takes me back to the early days of my childhood spent playing Sonic the Hedgehog 2 with my brother before he got wrapped up in his own teenage  angst. The GameCube conjures countless memories of the formative high school years that I spent bonding with my close friends over rounds of Super Smash Bros. Melee. I’m back in college when I think about the Wii, navigating physicality for the first time in both my relationships at the time and the video games I was playing. Each console, each handheld tells countless stories about where I have been and how I have evolved alongside the tech that followed me there. That now weighs on me as I prepare to power down my Switch for what could be the final time in just a few weeks. My instinct has been to process that moment with a retrospective about the system, reflecting on the games that made it one of the best video game consoles of all time. Instead, I’ve found myself more and more focused on mapping my own generation. Who was I during this eight-year Switch era? What will be the snapshot I see when I think back to Super Mario Odyssey or Fire Emblem: Three Houses? Nintendo The answer doesn’t feel as simple as it once was when I was younger and console generations were shorter. I began that journey at rock bottom, hopeless and floundering amid societal collapse. The Switch would follow me through multiple breakups, several jobs, three apartments, the death of a close friend, and unprecedented moments in history that chipped away at my mental health. Just as the Switch is inseparable from a pandemic that defined its power, I can’t untangle those eight years from the waves of pain and uncertainty that washed over me between new game releases. If the Nintendo Switch 2 had launched in 2020, I’d be able to tell you with relative certainty that the Switch represented the worst years of my life. But eight years is a very long time, much longer than these hardware time capsules usually hang around. A period that long is bound to bring arcs, both for the console and its players. Nintendo kept steady while riding a wave of momentum shifts due to a changing landscape around it, but my ride was different. While I started at the bottom, playing Breath of the Wild as an escape from the world around me, I began to rise. I started therapy and got a better job months after the Switch released, just when everything was at its most hopeless. I made a more serious career pivot in 2020, landing a dream job that put me on the path to a career in video game writing I’d always thought was unobtainable. I eventually landed here at Digital Trends and made a name for myself writing work that I’m proud of. I stumbled my way through relationships only to land into something more secure and healthy. I hit a peak alongside the Switch in 2023, the same year it would release the double whammy of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Bros. Wonder. When I look into my Switch’s display now, catching a glimpse of my reflection in the black screen, I see an era of rebuilding. These were eight years that threw the challenges of adulthood at me and dared me to overcome them. It felt impossible in the moment, but I’m still here. Maybe I’m just looking too closely to find patterns, but I see a direct parallel to that story and Nintendo’s own. Like me, Nintendo was listless in its Wii U era. It had no idea where to go after the Wii’s success, just as I didn’t know how to turn the creative fulfillment of my college days into something sustainable in adulthood. It too was at rock bottom when the Switch released, in desperate need of a second act. Nintendo got one, and so did I. If this is the start of a new era for Nintendo, who’s to say it can’t be another beginning for myself as well? But our lives don’t stay the same for very long. Ahead of the Switch 2’s launch, I find myself in a similar low to the one I was in back in 2017. History has repeated itself as a mentally taxing election year has yielded the same president that made my life hell for the Switch’s first four years on the market. The career I built for myself is one strong wind away from tilting over as games media endures an intense period of contraction, one that destroyed the website that gave me the dream job that catapulted me to success in 2020. Some days, I’m every bit as distant and despondent as I was back then. When I turn on my Switch 2 for the first time in a few weeks, it will feel cyclical in a way that’s bound to leave me overlooking just how much I’ve accomplished between launches. But I’m trying to approach it with a bit more hope this time. If this is the start of a new era for Nintendo, who’s to say it can’t be another beginning for myself as well? I know that I’m capable of climbing out of despair, even as the biggest forces in the world fight against me. There will be change. I will undoubtedly pack my things into 50+ boxes again in between playing levels of the latest Mario game. I will fall out of touch with some friends and gain some new ones. Perhaps I’ll miss Nintendo’s big Switch 3 reveal in 2033 because I’ll be too busy nursing an injured pigeon during my shift at a bird rehabilitation center. Maybe the Switch 3 won’t happen at all as Nintendo moves on to its next bright idea after a disappointing generation that calls for a creative overhaul. I can’t possibly know who I will be the moment I power my Switch 2 down for the last time. All I know is that Mario will probably be there at the finish line, looking not one day older than he does now while I greet him with a grayer beard. I’ll try not to be jealous of his eternal youth — some Italians just age better than others. Instead, I’ll embrace those differences, as grumpy as I no doubt will be in my middle age, as every change will be a sign that I’ve made it through another leg of an ongoing relay race. I’ll be ready to pass the controller to whichever version of me is up next when I get there. #end #nintendo #switch #era #closes

Disney's Tron returns to the big screen in 2025, 15 years after the cult-classic reboot, Tron: Legacy, and more than 40 years after the original film. Naturally, a franchise about people pulled into a computer should also extend to video games, and while there have been many great Tron games over the years, the upcoming Tron: Catalyst might just be the best yet. I recently played some of the isometric action-adventure title ahead of its June 17 release, and its blend of immersive interactivity and intriguing storytelling left me ready for me.A New Tron TaleTron: Catalyst comes from acclaimed indie developer Mike Bithell, creator of Thomas Was Alone and Volume. This is actually Bithell's second Tron game, following 2023's Tron: Identity. However, that game was a visual novel, a beloved but niche genre that's almost entirely about story. Although Tron: Catalyst's gameplay is much more robust, it maintains that attention to narrative.You play as a program, Exo, stuck in Vertical Slice, a seedy city where everyone has their own agenda. There’s a surprising amount of Cyberpunk 2077 energy as you gather intel at nightclubs, distract guards to sneak through passages, and participate in underground gladiator fights. Multiple dialogue options suggest multiple ways to handle story scenarios. The demo featured high-quality voice acting as well as music that, while not up to Daft Punk standards, created an excellent and evocative mood for your shady cyber-shenanigans. Despite the unreal sci-fi setting, I felt as if I inhabited a cool and somewhat dangerous real place. Gameplay: Disc Battles and Light RacingTron: Catalyst is largely a top-down, action-adventure game. I spent much of the demo battling guards with my trusty Identity Disc. You can strike foes in melee combat or toss your disc from afar. Defensive options include parries and dodges. The combat isn't revolutionary, but it's satisfying. As you collect skill points and unlock upgrades, such as one that causes your disc to bounce between multiple enemies, Catalyst resembles an action scene from a Tron movie.Recommended by Our EditorsCombat helps punctuate surprisingly elaborate missions, such as tracking down a specific program or transmitting valuable data. The quests take you across several locations, from the rain-slicked city streets up to rooftop pool parties, showing off the beautiful artifice of Tron’s iconic, dark-neon world. I played the demo at a steady 60 frames per second on Steam Deck.Exo has the ability to glitch the system and rewind time. Initially, I feared this might turn the game into a roguelike. Instead, rewinding time helps you solve puzzles. For example, you can know where a character appears ahead of time. You also maintain the shortcuts and passcodes you previously learned, making it less tedious to revisit old areas. One gameplay feature I was especially intrigued by, but didn’t experience much of, was the Light Cycle. You can summon the vehicle anytime you're on the streets to quickly travel between distant locations faster, as well as leave light trails to block off foes. It felt awesome, but served little purpose in the demo because my missions were mainly in interior locations, very close to each other. Hopefully, the cycle serves a larger role in the final game, and the full world is large enough to justify it. This might be too ambitious, but I yearn for an isometric open-world game in the style of classic Grand Theft Auto, just with more derezzing.Disney's Next Digital FrontierCatalyst has the elements to make you feel like you're living in a Tron reality worth exploring. If you’re looking for an exciting new digital adventure this year, Tron: Catalyst could be the low-key surprise you've been waiting to download. The game launches June 17 on PC, PlayStation 5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S; check back then for a full review. #played #tron #catalyst #rebooted #love