gameplay enhancements Archives

AppWizard

July 2, 2025

Death Stranding 2 is too damn easy

The author reflects on their experience with emulation on the Steam Deck, specifically playing Death Stranding 2. They describe a delivery mission across Australia, highlighting the challenges of navigating bandit camps and BT zones while carrying a heavy load. The author notes the game's consistent difficulty level despite new gameplay enhancements and expresses hesitation about connecting to the Chiral Network, fearing it would diminish the thrill of exploration. They discuss the overwhelming assistance provided by other players, which reduces the challenge and makes them feel like a spectator. The introduction of powerful gadgets and upgrades, such as anti-grav generators and leg skeletons, is seen as diluting the core experience. The author wishes for a more challenging gameplay experience, suggesting the addition of a hardcore mode with limitations to enhance resource conservation and decision-making. They express a desire for a future Director’s Cut that could address these concerns.

AppWizard

June 26, 2025

System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remastered Review

The 25th Anniversary Remaster of System Shock 2, released by Nightdive Studios, features enhanced visuals with a new Dark engine upgrade, improved textures, and refined audio. The remaster includes a polished version of the original game, retains the classic PC gaming experience, and introduces a four-player co-op mode. Players navigate as a UNN space soldier aboard the Von Braun spaceship, encountering alien threats and exploring immersive environments. The remaster also includes extras like concept art and old trailers, and it runs smoothly on the Steam Deck at 60fps. Nightdive plans to support gameplay and balance mods from launch, enhancing the game's longevity.

AppWizard

June 21, 2025

Minecraft’s new Chase the Skies update has brought new challenges and exclusive in-game rewards | Esports News

Mojang has released the Chase the Skies update for Minecraft, featuring improved graphics for Bedrock, a craftable saddle, adjustments to leashes, and three new ghast variants: Happy Ghast, Ghastling, and Dried Ghast. To celebrate the update, Mojang has launched two global Community Challenges: 1. Players must collectively spawn 50 million Happy Ghasts in Creative Mode, with rewards including a Ghast Rider Floatie for Bedrock Edition and a Ghast Riding Swimmer outfit for Java Edition. 2. Players need to feed one million snowballs to Ghastlings in Survival Mode, with rewards of Happy Ghast Pilot Gear for Bedrock Edition and a Happy Ghast Pilot Set for Java Edition. These challenges will remain active until the global goals are achieved, allowing players to participate at their own pace.

AppWizard

June 19, 2025

Enhanced Splinter Cell is the best way to play this classic in 2025

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell, released in 2002, has an unofficial mod called Enhanced Splinter Cell that revitalizes the game with quality-of-life improvements and restored content. The mod enhances lighting effects, allows customization of Sam Fisher's outfit, and incorporates dgVoodoo2 for modern compatibility. It introduces gameplay tweaks such as easier inventory access, HUD toggling, adjustable movement speed, and a new crouch mechanic. Additionally, it includes two previously cut missions, Nuclear Power Plant and Severonickel, along with updated cutscenes for the Kalinatek mission and the new missions. Enhanced Splinter Cell is recommended for players wanting to experience the classic on modern hardware.

AppWizard

June 17, 2025

Minecraft – Official Vibrant Visuals and Chase the Skies Launch Trailer

The Vibrant Visuals and Chase the Skies update for Minecraft introduces enhanced visual features such as improved lighting, dynamic shadows, and reflective surfaces, as well as new gameplay elements including the cheerful happy ghast and flyable mounts.

AppWizard

June 12, 2025

Minecraft 1.21.6 ‘Chase the Skies’ Release Date Announced

Minecraft's latest update, titled Chase the Skies, is set to launch on June 17, 2025. The update will feature a comprehensive graphical overhaul called Vibrant Visuals, new ghast variants, a player locator bar, an overhauled Realms UI, modifications to projectiles and splash potion effects, and additional ambient changes.

AppWizard

June 10, 2025

13 years after it was first teased, and 2 months after committing to a 2025 release, Mewgenics is delayed into 2026

Mewgenics, an "endless cat breeding RPG," will now be released on February 10, 2026, instead of the originally planned 2025 launch. Creator Edmund McMillen cited strategic planning as the reason for the delay, aiming to avoid competition with holiday releases. The additional eight months will allow the team to complete significant development tasks, including the animation of the final boss, integration of hard path rewards and random generation items, creation of ten new cutscenes, commissioning of three new music tracks, implementation of alternative and shiny furniture, and the completion of a secret late-game system. McMillen plans to engage fans with live streams and previews starting in January.

AppWizard

May 28, 2025

Minecraft 1.21.6 Pre-Release 1 Modifies Dried Ghast Sounds, Vibrations and More

Mojang has released Minecraft 1.21.6 Pre-Release 1, focusing on bug fixes and gameplay enhancements. Key changes include: - Dried ghast blocks now emit a vibration frequency of 11 when their state changes, and their ambient sounds have been reclassified under the Blocks sound setting. - Equipping saddles, horse armor, or carpets on mobs triggers a vibration frequency of 6, while unequipping them results in a frequency of 4. - A fix has been implemented to prevent players riding happy ghasts from passing through other occupied happy ghasts. - Technical updates include changes to the Data Pack version (now 79) and Resource Pack version (now 63), improved dialog functionality, and support for standardized dialog inputs.

AppWizard

May 14, 2025

Minecraft snapshot 25w20a explained: New features and updates – The Times of India

Minecraft snapshot 25w20a introduces the ability to craft saddles using three pieces of leather and one iron ingot. It also features a new music disc titled “Tears,” composed by Amos Roddy, along with five ambient tracks for various biomes. Players can now use shears to remove saddles, horse armor, harnesses, and carpets from animals, but not if the mob has a rider or if the player is crouching. Saddles will no longer be found as loot in structures, replaced by leather. Visual updates include fog effects on 3D HUD elements and reduced fog density during thunderstorms and rain. Additionally, players using Minecraft Realms will see new region indicators on the loading screen.

AppWizard

May 13, 2025

Stellar Blade for PC launches June 11 alongside Complete Edition

The PC version of Stellar Blade will be released on Steam on June 11, as announced by Sony Interactive Entertainment and developer SHIFT UP. A "Complete Edition" will also be launched on the same date, which includes the base game and additional downloadable content for PlayStation 5 and PC users. The game was originally released for PlayStation 5 on April 26, 2024. The PC version will feature enhancements such as AI upscaling, an unlocked frame rate, support for Japanese and Chinese voice-overs, ultrawide display compatibility, DualSense controller integration, a new boss battle, 25 additional costumes, and higher resolution environment textures. The Complete Edition will include the base game, pre-order bonuses (Classic Round Glasses, Ear Armor Earrings, Planet Diving Suit), Complete Edition bonuses (Fluffy Bear Pack drone cosmetics, Planet Diving Suit), and downloadable content (Twin Expansion Pack). Additionally, a CD-key for an outfit in the mobile game Goddess of Victory: Nikke will be included.