legacy Archives

AppWizard

April 26, 2026

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena review (2009)

Wes Fenlon reflects on the legacy of older video games, particularly The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, expressing nostalgia for its innovative gameplay mechanics, including stealth and melee combat. He compares its level design to that of Batman: Arkham Asylum and suggests that Riddick influenced future licensed games. Fenlon notes the unavailability of both Riddick titles in the current market and speculates that Vin Diesel could help resolve licensing issues for a revival. He describes the immersive gameplay experience, where players embody Riddick and navigate a dynamic environment filled with various types of guards. The game features a mix of stealth and conventional shooting mechanics, with a variety of weapons, including a tranquilizer gun and the Scar gun. Fenlon critiques the level design in later stages and the checkpointing system, which lacks quicksave options. Despite these flaws, he appreciates the game's adult themes and humor, highlighting its significance in video game evolution.

AppWizard

April 26, 2026

The Pragmata mods are starting to roll in, and thank the stars they’re largely focused on the dad bod

Capcom's Pragmata has seen a surge in creative video game modifications, particularly focusing on the protagonist, Hugh. Modders have introduced several character skins for Hugh, including a Dead Space outfit by user FokeyT26, a Doom Guy skin from Doom: The Dark Ages, and a Master Chief skin that was previously exclusive to a deluxe edition. Additionally, players have swapped Hugh for characters from various genres, such as the protagonist of Wuthering Waves and Minecraft's Steve, and even replaced a game enemy with Shrek. The modding community continues to explore new possibilities, with characters like CJ from GTA: San Andreas and Optimus Prime also appearing in the game. Pragmata is available for .99 on Steam, and using REFramework is necessary to unlock these modifications.

AppWizard

April 26, 2026

Lord of the Rings Online now lets you follow in Bilbo’s hairy footsteps by buying up property and retiring to an iconic city

Lord of the Rings Online will introduce player housing in Rivendell on April 30 at noon Eastern Time. Players on 64-bit servers will compete to secure homes, with a system in place to open additional neighborhoods as needed. Directions to the Rivendell Steadings include walking southwest from the Rivendell stables or accessing it via the Bree-town Broker's Office. This update coincides with the game's 19th anniversary, and players can currently participate in new missions at the Prancing Pony until May 12, with rewards available.

AppWizard

April 26, 2026

With Silent Hill 2’s source code still MIA, a dedicated fan has decided to restore the game’s CGI renders: ‘Takayoshi’ Sato’s work was incredible for its time’

Bloober Team's 2024 remake of Silent Hill 2 has introduced significant changes, leading fans to desire a remastered version of the original game. However, Konami has reportedly lost the source code for the final version, making a remaster challenging. A user from the r/silenthill community, Rashmunchel, is upscaling the game's CGI art, restoring various assets including model renders and cutscene stills. They confirmed the use of a generative AI upscaler but emphasized the importance of manual editing to maintain the original aesthetic. Rashmunchel's project aims to preserve the legacy of Silent Hill 2 in the absence of official efforts.

AppWizard

April 26, 2026

As Enter the Gungeon celebrates its 10th anniversary, its creators have some choice words for the modern roguelike: ‘We’re seeing it mutate to the version of itself that popularity obfuscates’

Enter the Gungeon celebrated its tenth anniversary earlier this month and has sold over 14 million copies. The game's creators, Dave Crooks and Adam Kidd Drucker, expressed concerns about the evolving action roguelike genre, noting a shift towards mechanics resembling slot machines and a confusion between roguelikes and roguelites. They highlighted the rarity of authentic roguelikes and mentioned the lukewarm reception of some recent titles. Dodge Roll is currently developing Enter the Gungeon 2, which aims to maintain the original's gameplay while introducing a new 3D art style.

Winsage

April 26, 2026

Microsoft explains why Windows 11 File Explorer scrolls smoothly in some places, but not everywhere

Users have reported an inconsistent scrolling experience in Microsoft’s File Explorer, with smooth scrolling in the Gallery and Home views but jagged scrolling in standard folders. This discrepancy is due to the Gallery and Home views utilizing the WinUI 3 framework, while standard folders rely on legacy Win32 code. Microsoft is modernizing aspects of File Explorer but has not yet rewritten its foundational elements, leading to different rendering paths. The traditional folder views retain essential functionalities but sacrifice some modern UI features. Touch support issues are acknowledged, with current interactions prioritizing mouse and keyboard over touch gestures. Microsoft is addressing performance and reliability issues, with improvements in folder view consistency and reduced crashes noted in recent preview builds. These updates are expected in the May 2026 update, while smooth scrolling enhancements are planned for the future.

Winsage

April 25, 2026

Microsoft is Officially Rebuilding Windows 11 Again to Satisfy Users

Microsoft is committed to improving Windows 11 based on consumer feedback, particularly from Windows Insiders. The company has formed a team of product experts to enhance the Windows experience and is actively reviewing feedback from testers. A highly requested feature, a movable taskbar, is confirmed to be in development and has been showcased in recent preview builds. Microsoft plans to implement changes influenced by user input, with a focus on performance, reliability, user-friendliness, and overall experience, including significant updates expected in 2026. Anticipated enhancements include redesigning legacy interfaces, improving multitasking, expanding Virtual Desktop customization, allowing taskbar and Start menu resizing, introducing a faster File Explorer, creating a cleaner Notification Center, reducing reboots during updates, offering flexible update pause controls, and minimizing upsell prompts during setup. The company emphasizes a renewed focus on stability and responsiveness driven by user feedback.

AppWizard

April 25, 2026

Assassin’s Creed producer assures fans ‘there WILL be blood’ in the Black Flag remake, and it won’t be DLC

Producer Justin Ng from Ubisoft Singapore confirmed that blood will be included in the final version of Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced and will not be part of paid downloadable content (DLC). He acknowledged feedback regarding visual effects and audio cues during combat, stating that these elements are being toned down. Ng emphasized that the game's essence remains intact, responding to fans' concerns about the absence of visceral gameplay elements.

AppWizard

April 25, 2026

FF14 Evercold’s ‘Evolved Mode’ jobs aren’t a replacement, because Yoshi-P remembers what happened to Star Wars Galaxies

The upcoming expansion, FF14 Evercold, will introduce 'Evolved Mode' for a streamlined gameplay experience while retaining 'Reborn Mode' for traditional mechanics. Game director Naoki Yoshida discussed the development process, highlighting battle system planner Hikaru Tamaki's role in the initiative. A demonstration of Evolved Mode was showcased for classes like Paladin, Dragoon, White Mage, and Bard, with some classes undergoing significant changes. Yoshida emphasized the importance of preserving beloved aspects of the existing system to avoid alienating long-time players. The expansion was initially titled "Absolute Zero," and it will explore various forms of ice as thematic elements. Yoshida acknowledged Norse influences but did not provide specifics. He also expressed a desire for a sustainable future for FF14, ensuring its continuation beyond his involvement.

AppWizard

April 25, 2026

With Silent Hill 2’s source code still MIA, a dedicated fan has decided to restore the game’s CGI renders: ‘Takayoshi’ Sato’s work was incredible for its time’

The remake of Silent Hill 2 by Bloober Team has sparked renewed interest in the classic game, but fans desire a remastered version of the original. However, Konami has lost the source code for the final version of Silent Hill 2, making a remaster challenging. A fan named Rashmunchel from the r/silenthill community is working on restoring the game's CGI artwork, originally created by Takayoshi Sato. This restoration includes model renders, in-game images, cutscene stills, and animation frames, with a focus on a close-up of protagonist James Sunderland. Rashmunchel used a generative AI upscaler to enhance the low-quality images but refined the results in Photoshop to maintain authenticity. This grassroots effort aims to preserve the legacy of Silent Hill 2 in the absence of an official remaster.