battles Archives

AppWizard

December 27, 2024

Alan Wake 2 set such a high technical bar last year that few games in 2024 came anywhere near, but it wasn’t all abject disappointment

Alan Wake 2 debuted late last year, leading to assumptions of a 2024 release. Dragon's Dogma 2 launched in March but had excessive hardware demands and inconsistent performance. Nixxes Software's port of Horizon Forbidden West showcased effective traditional rendering. In May, Nixxes also released the Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut, which lacked ray tracing but was well-executed. June saw the release of Shadow of the Erdtree, the first expansion for Elden Ring, which did not include engine updates, causing performance issues for PC gamers. In August, Black Myth: Wukong and Star Wars Outlaws featured ray tracing but faced performance issues. September brought a port of God of War Ragnarök and Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, both performing well. The Silent Hill 2 remake encountered glitches and performance issues on PC, while Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 struggled at launch. Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl had visual appeal but suffered from performance problems and required patches for stability. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle performed well on lower-end hardware but was glitchy. High-profile titles like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth are anticipated for 2025.

BetaBeacon

December 27, 2024

Top 25 best tower defence games for Android phones and tablets

Kingdom Rush is a tower defense game available on iOS and Android, considered the pinnacle of the genre with tight unit balance, intuitive controls, inventive level design, and a comic book aesthetic.

Tech Optimizer

December 26, 2024

“I went through hell” Japanese indie dev on how their game was wrongly flagged as a virus, and blocked on Steam

A Japanese indie developer, Shiromofu Factory, launched the game Dungeon Antiqua on October 10, 2024. The game, inspired by early Final Fantasy and Wizardry titles, is available on Windows and macOS and has received a Very Positive review status on Steam. After a December 6 update, users reported virus warnings from antivirus programs like Norton, Avast, and McAfee, which were triggered by the game's use of the Pyxel engine and Pyinstaller for executable files. The developer advised users to exclude the game's .exe file from scans, but on December 12, Steam blocked the game from sale due to multiple virus reports. The developer requested a rollback to an earlier version, which prevented future updates. They purchased Norton Antivirus for testing and attempted various solutions, including filing reports with antivirus companies and considering a code signing certificate. They identified that the use of Python’s “os.remove()” function contributed to the false alerts and implemented a workaround. However, antivirus software retained memory of flagged files, causing continued blocks. Ultimately, flipping the fairy image associated with the game’s file by 180 degrees allowed Dungeon Antiqua to bypass the antivirus barriers and resume updates.

AppWizard

December 26, 2024

Best PC Games Graphics of 2024

- Empire of the Ants, developed by Tower Five using Unreal Engine 5, showcases innovative technology like Lumen and Nanite, delivering a visually stunning experience without stutters. - Dragon Age: The Veilguard features a unique art style and striking visuals powered by the Frostbite Engine, despite not meeting long-time fans' expectations. - S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, despite its troubled development and some graphical glitches, is visually captivating, especially with HDR, and modding communities have helped enhance its environments. - Horizon: Forbidden West translates beautifully to PC, offering impressive visuals without ray tracing effects, and is considered superior to titles like God of War: Ragnarok. - Final Fantasy 16 shines on PC with gorgeous environments and character designs, and the absence of major pop-ins enhances the immersive experience. - Tekken 8 is noted as the most visually impressive 3D fighting game, with meticulously crafted character models and stage designs that run smoothly on various PC configurations. - Black Myth: Wukong utilizes path tracing technology for a visually rich experience, though it has some limitations in environmental design. - The Silent Hill 2 Remake features expansive environments and exceptional use of Lumen and Nanite, showcasing impressive 3D models and an elevated horror art style. - Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, utilizing Unreal Engine 5, presents some of the most realistic 3D characters and environments, with high-quality textures and particle effects. - Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is recognized as the best-looking PC title of 2024, featuring path tracing effects that enhance lighting and detail, despite minor texture issues.

AppWizard

December 26, 2024

What is Minecraft Minepal mod?

The Minecraft Minepal mod introduces an AI-driven non-player character (NPC) that interacts with players in a lifelike manner, powered by ChatGPT. It supports 55 languages and is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux, available for free and supporting up to Minecraft version 1.20.4. The NPC can engage in voice chat, assist in constructing structures, accompany players, gather and craft blocks, perform tasks like cooking and repairing, and can be customized in appearance and personality. Installation involves downloading the standalone Minepal application, entering the Minecraft username, specifying the host, selecting the Java version, and launching Minecraft to introduce the NPC into the game.

AppWizard

December 25, 2024

8 best free-to-play games on Steam

Steam offers a selection of free-to-play games, including: 1. Counter-Strike 2 - A team-based first-person shooter featuring battles between terrorists and counter-terrorists, enhanced by the Source 2 engine. 2. Marvel Rivals - A team-based PVP game with 6v6 battles featuring 33 Marvel heroes and villains, developed by NetEase Games in collaboration with Marvel. 3. The Sims 4 - A life simulation game where players create characters and design homes, now available for free with optional paid DLCs. 4. Warframe - A fast-paced game where players control biomechanical suits for ranged and melee combat, offering extensive content for free. 5. World of Tanks - A military strategy game focused on armored battles, allowing players to customize tanks from various historical periods. 6. Dota 2 - A popular MOBA game providing a competitive 5v5 experience with unique heroes, entirely free to play. 7. Fishing Planet - A fishing simulator that offers realistic gameplay with attention to detail, including weather conditions and fishing techniques. 8. Sky: Children of the Light - An adventure game emphasizing social gameplay and puzzle-solving in stunning fantasy realms.

AppWizard

December 25, 2024

Top 7 Nintendo Holiday 2024 deals to grab for Christmas & New Year’s: Minecraft Legends, EA Sports FC 25, and more

Nintendo is offering a Holiday 2024 sale with discounts on various games. The details of the top 7 deals are as follows: 1. Minecraft Legends - Sale Price: .99 - Regular Price: .99 - Discount: 75% - Sale Ends: January 6, 2025 2. NBA 2K25 - Sale Price: .99 - Regular Price: .99 - Discount: 60% - Sale Ends: January 8, 2025 3. EA SPORTS FC 25 - Sale Price: .99 - Regular Price: .99 - Discount: 50% - Sale Ends: January 6, 2025 4. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury - Sale Price: .99 - Regular Price: .99 - Discount: 33% - Sale Ends: January 6, 2025 5. Disney Dreamlight Valley - Sale Price: .99 - Regular Price: .99 - Discount: 25% - Sale Ends: January 12, 2025 6. SpongeBob SquarePants: The Patrick Star Game - Sale Price: .99 - Regular Price: .99 - Discount: 20% - Sale Ends: January 6, 2025 7. Minecraft Dungeons Ultimate Edition - Sale Price: .99 - Regular Price: .99 - Discount: 50% - Sale Ends: January 6, 2025

AppWizard

December 25, 2024

The best couch co-op games for PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5 and Xbox

Cult of the Lamb has introduced a local co-op mode through the Unholy Alliance update, allowing players to summon a new character, The Goat, for shared gameplay. The game combines village management and combat, where players control The Lamb and gather followers while embarking on crusades against the Bishops of the Old Faith. Co-op play enables both characters to traverse the environment together on a shared screen, with the ability to revive each other during battles. New tarot cards, relics, and fleeces are unlocked with a co-op player, and players can also start a new game together. The shared screen may cause interruptions when managing the cult, but effective communication can enhance the experience. The cooperative mode offers a new way to explore the game, particularly for post-game quests and harder challenges.

AppWizard

December 24, 2024

Best FPS 2024: STRAFTAT

STRAFTAT is a first-person shooter game that features frenetic 1v1 battles, reminiscent of classic arcade-style duels. The gameplay is hypercompetitive, with a mantra of "two players enter, one player leaves," and includes a variety of whimsical level designs, such as navigating mazes or sliding down icy slopes. The game incorporates satisfying weapon mechanics and a quirky art style, creating a unique atmosphere that balances absurdity with skillful gameplay. It offers over 70 diverse maps, fostering a social environment akin to a modern LAN party. The game's slapstick humor and chaotic moments enhance the experience, although the competitive nature may pose a challenge for new players. STRAFTAT emphasizes immediate fun over traditional progression systems, appealing to both nostalgic fans and new players in the FPS genre.

BetaBeacon

December 24, 2024

Bandai Namco and Koei Tecmo announce Kingdom: Hadou for iOS, Android

Bandai Namco and Koei Tecmo announced Kingdom: Hadou, a free-to-play strategy game for iOS and Android in Japan. Closed beta test in mid-to-late January 2025, applications open until January 2, 2025 for 5,000 users.