Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[On my iPad: Helix]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/on-my-ipad-helix/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/on-my-ipad-helix/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/26/on-my-ipad-helix/#commentsThis is On my iPad, a quick look at an iOS game we think you'll enjoy.

We can't seem to put down Michael Brough's Helix. Here's a brief video explaining why the retro-inspired avoidance game is special to us. The challenging, "hectic piece of momentary action" is available on iPhone and iPad for $2.99.
[Image: Michael Brough]

JoystiqOn my iPad: Helix originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jan 2015 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionhelixindieiosipadiphonemichael-broughmobileon-my-ipadrecommendedMon, 26 Jan 2015 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Fable just the first step in getting more Xbox One games on Windows]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/fable-just-the-first-step-in-getting-more-xbox-one-games-on-wind/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/fable-just-the-first-step-in-getting-more-xbox-one-games-on-wind/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/23/fable-just-the-first-step-in-getting-more-xbox-one-games-on-wind/#comments It's easy to forget the Xbox's place inside the Windows empire. The bespoke platform is hinged on games and entertainment, looming over the console world but still living in its own fiefdom under Microsoft. The Xbox 360 and Xbox One are seen as instrumental to the software giant's goals, but their reach is about a billion behind that of Windows. Microsoft wants to dismantle the barriers within itself now, unifying games, productivity and phones under the banner of Windows 10.

The Xbox One will host new universal apps - programs designed to run on both Windows devices and Xbox architecture - alongside a Windows 10 update later this year, but that's a lesser gesture compared to what Microsoft announced on Wednesday during its Windows 10 event. Even having the Xbox and its games there, on stage, represents a change in the Windows message.

Head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, took that stage to announce a PC version of Fable Legends, the latest entry in developer Lionhead's long-running and lovably lighthearted fantasy role-playing series. Not only is the game coming to Windows PC players, but it's coming in a way that allows them to play and chat with Xbox One players through Xbox Live. According to Spencer, it's the first game of several first-party Xbox games coming to PC.

Continue reading Fable just the first step in getting more Xbox One games on Windows

JoystiqFable just the first step in getting more Xbox One games on Windows originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Jan 2015 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftpcrecommendedxboxxbox-oneFri, 23 Jan 2015 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Screamride: For those who dream of disaster]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/screamride-for-those-who-dream-of-disaster/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/screamride-for-those-who-dream-of-disaster/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/20/screamride-for-those-who-dream-of-disaster/#comments It's only fair to start this with an apology to Screamride, which joins us just as every second game gets to be called a 'roller coaster ride,' usually because it has a car chase, some explosions, and at least one scene of the protagonist going NO NO NO N- [explosion cuts off the rest, but an additional NO is strongly implied].

Screamride, in contrast, is actually about roller coasters: riding them; building tightly coiled tracks for them; destroying them in fiery catastrophe. It's so in love with pleasing disaster that it's likely to be wrongly categorized as 'cinematic action game.'

Continue reading Screamride: For those who dream of disaster

JoystiqScreamride: For those who dream of disaster originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>frontier-developmentsmicrosoftmicrosoft-studiosq1-2015recommendedxboxxbox-oneTue, 20 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Who The Hell Is: Johnny Gat]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/19/who-the-hell-is-johnny-gat/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/19/who-the-hell-is-johnny-gat/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/19/who-the-hell-is-johnny-gat/#commentsThe following feature contains spoilers for the existing Saints Row franchise.
On Tuesday, gamers will be able to go to Hell - literally - and fight off both Satan himself and hordes of undead in the Saints Row 4 standalone expansion, Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell. Previous Saints Row games have allowed players to customize an avatar which, over the course of the series, rises from lowly street thug to President of the United States and even intergalactic badass supreme. Gat Out of Hell though, does not.

In Gat Out of Hell, players will be stepping into the shoes of either Kinzie Kensington or Johnny Gat. If you've never played the previous games and don't have either the time or inclination to power through them before the standalone expansion's January 20 release date, you might be asking yourself: who the hell is Johnny Gat?

Friends, we are here to help.

Continue reading Who The Hell Is: Johnny Gat

JoystiqWho The Hell Is: Johnny Gat originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Jan 2015 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>johnny-gatmicrosoftpcplaystationps3ps4recommendedsaints-rowsaints-row-2saints-row-4saints-row-gat-out-of-hellsaints-row-the-thirdwho-the-hell-isxboxxbox-oneMon, 19 Jan 2015 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Off the Grid: XCOM - The Board Game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/16/off-the-grid-xcom-the-board-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/16/off-the-grid-xcom-the-board-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/16/off-the-grid-xcom-the-board-game/#comments

You may not be aware, but a new XCOM is on the way to stores later this month! No, don't bother firing up those spiffy new consoles, this XCOM experience is for your tabletop. Board and card game publisher Fantasy Flight Games has teamed up with 2K to bring you XCOM: The Board Game, and Joystiq has survived the alien invasion.

While you may expect a board game based on the XCOM strategy video game franchise would resemble more of a dungeon crawler, where you hunt and kill aliens, XCOM: The Board Game attempts something unique. Utilizing an app, XCOM: The Board Game randomizes alien movement, in-game events and keeps up to four players on their toes with strictly timed and very tense situations.

In this episode of Off the Grid, Xav is joined by Jeff Cannata and Christian Spicer from the DLC Podcast, to play XCOM: The Board Game and discuss the pre-release copy of the game, the app functionality and what it's like to be in charge of the budget to save the human race.

XCOM: The Board Game is expected to launch later this month from Fantasy Flight Games and designer Eric M. Lang (Marvel Dice Masters, Arcadia Quest).
[Image: 2K, Fantasy Flight]

JoystiqOff the Grid: XCOM - The Board Game originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Jan 2015 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2K-GamesEric-M-LangFantasy-Flight-GamesOff-the-Gridoff-the-grid-seriesrecommendedXCOM-The-Board-GameFri, 16 Jan 2015 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Talos Principle review: God in the machine]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/the-talos-principle-review-god-in-the-machine/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/the-talos-principle-review-god-in-the-machine/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/13/the-talos-principle-review-god-in-the-machine/#commentsMac, PC, Linux
Often, performing routine tasks can provide unexpected clarity: You think of the perfect ending for your short story while in the shower, or realize the best comeback while riding your bike down a familiar street - three hours after the actual argument. Or, you finally understand the true nature of consciousness while angling a laser beam into a portal beside a door.

The Talos Principle takes advantage of this vague phenomenon, presenting a series of straightforward physics- and tetromino-based puzzles within a deeply introspective, proddingly philosophical narrative. It could have easily been a puzzle game and nothing else - and its intricate puzzles could sustain it on their own - but The Talos Principle offers an intelligent story packed with history and the quiet questions we ask ourselves just before falling asleep. It's mysterious and haunting, creative and beautiful - and loads of fun.

Continue reading The Talos Principle review: God in the machine

JoystiqThe Talos Principle review: God in the machine originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Jan 2015 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CroTeamdevolver-digitaljoystiq-excellence-award-2015macpcrecommendedthe-talos-principleTue, 13 Jan 2015 09:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Ludwig's picks of 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/best-of-the-rest-ludwigs-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/best-of-the-rest-ludwigs-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/07/best-of-the-rest-ludwigs-picks-of-2014/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

Jazzpunk

Jazzpunk is likely to be misunderstood, or impossible to understand, by design. You could say explanation comes as an insult to its eccentricity.

The gist of it is that you're a spy completing missions in a surreal, robot-dominated world, the kind you might dream up after dozing off in the middle of a late-night Leslie Nielsen movie marathon. And while the convoluted wordplay wouldn't feel out of place in a Zucker spoof - in Japan, for example, you're asked if you prefer kimonos or kistereos - the barbs of reality are what really make Jazzpunk stick.

Take its odd vision of dystopia, which is regularly mocked through one-off minigames (like a first-person shooter dubbed ... Wedding Quake). Here, you can put on a special visor that lets you see and blast nonsensical Wi-Fi passwords as they dance in the air around you. I mean, that's weird, but ... think about it. The concept is kind of weird to begin with, right here on Earth. Taken as a form of escapism, then, Jazzpunk is silly without taking you too far from the truth.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Ludwig's picks of 2014

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Ludwig's picks of 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jan 2015 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-of-the-rest-2014crossy-roaddonkey-kong-country-tropical-freezeforza-horizon-2gods-will-be-watchingiosipadiphonejazzpunkjoystiq-best-of-2014macmicrosoftmobilemonument-valleynidhoggnintendopcplaystationps3ps4recommendedroundaboutstarwhal-just-the-tiptitanfallwatch-dogswii-uxboxxbox-oneWed, 07 Jan 2015 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Susan's picks of 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/best-of-the-rest-susans-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/best-of-the-rest-susans-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/06/best-of-the-rest-susans-picks-of-2014/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

Framed

Framed is so elegant and simple that it needs not a single word to teach you how to play. If you understand the basic function of the panels in a comic book and are able to poke things with your finger, you will swiftly understand the basics of how to make things happen in this brilliant mobile game. Arrange the panels one way, and your spy makes a daring escape from the police; position them another way, and he emerges from the wrong door right into the hands of the law.

From the very first level, which uses just two panels to illustrate how switching the order of the comic can change the outcome of its events, Framed builds on its simplicity, adding more panels, directionality and timing to create more complex puzzles in its stylish spy-vs-spy thriller. Each page of the comic is a puzzle complete unto itself, making Framed perfectly designed for short bursts of inspiration, or restricted play time. It's one of those games that's so damn clever, you wish you'd thought it up yourself.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Susan's picks of 2014

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Susan's picks of 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Jan 2015 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsandroidbest-of-2014best-of-the-rest-2014danganronpa-2-goodbye-despairdanganronpa-trigger-happy-havocframediosipadiphonejoystiq-best-of-2014lightning returns final fantasy xiiimicrosoftmobilenintendopersona qplaystationplaystation-vitaps3recommendedtales from the borderlandsvitaxboxTue, 06 Jan 2015 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Xav's picks of 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/best-of-the-rest-xavs-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/best-of-the-rest-xavs-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/best-of-the-rest-xavs-picks-of-2014/#comments
ATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

Set aside your cries of it being a glorified demo; you'll get no support from me. I poured dozens of hours into Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, exploring every facet, achieving S ranks throughout (some of which you can watch on my YouTube channel) and doing it again and again to test and examine its reaction to my exploration and exploitation.

Ground Zeroes is a marvel of technology and, yes, it's a great tease of what Kojima Productions has in store with The Phantom Pain. Truthfully, I'm a series fanatic and - as last year's mention of Splinter Cell: Blacklist will attest - a lover of all things stealthy, so it may come as no great shock that I ended up adoring Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes. But I can identify when something doesn't work and I truly believed Ground Zeroes accomplished its task beautifully. I loved the game for what it offered and ultimately delivered on: a taste of what's to come, powered by technology befitting of a main course. I think we all got a little mad about it because we can't wait for more.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Xav's picks of 2014

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Xav's picks of 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2015 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-of-the-rest-2014dark-souls-2destinyelite-dangerousinfamous-second-sonjoystiq-best-of-2014metal-gear-solid-5-ground-zeroesmicrosoftoff-the-gridpcplaystationps3ps4recommendedtitanfallxboxxbox-oneMon, 05 Jan 2015 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[I'm delighted to hate Sunset Overdrive]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/i-m-delighted-to-hate-sunset-overdrive/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/i-m-delighted-to-hate-sunset-overdrive/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/i-m-delighted-to-hate-sunset-overdrive/#comments I really, really can't stand Sunset Overdrive. Pretty much everything about it bugs me. I don't mean that I simply don't enjoy it, or that it's a love/hate kind of relationship like one would have with Dark Souls. No, I mean that it is finely tuned to aggravate and frustrate me every moment that I play it. Which, upon reflection, is kind of great.

When you play a lot of games, you do start to worry about self-fulfilling opinions and echo chambers. You begin to wonder if you really like that game as much as you think you do, and when you do like something you begin to wonder if you really know why. To be any good as a critic, you need to constantly recalibrate your sensors, and so it's important for a game like Sunset Overdrive - whatever your version of that may be - to come along every now and again and remind you that your tastes are more than just a formula into which various developers can plug new guns and landscapes.

Continue reading I'm delighted to hate Sunset Overdrive

JoystiqI'm delighted to hate Sunset Overdrive originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2015 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>insomniacinsomniac-gamesmicrosoftopinionrecommendedSunset Overdrivesunset-overdrivexbox-oneMon, 05 Jan 2015 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Alexander's picks of 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/best-of-the-rest-alexanders-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/best-of-the-rest-alexanders-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/best-of-the-rest-alexanders-picks-of-2014/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft

If you'd told me a year ago that I'd spend a majority of my 2014 with a collectible card game, I'd have politely smiled and nodded, blind to how deeply Hearthstone would get its hooks in me. Blizzard once again proved itself to be the master of evolving a genre for the masses, creating a card game that is distinctly a video game and pulling in 20 million players.

Hearthstone was the perfect distraction from my coursework, allowing for 15-minute breaks. Its daily quests passively pushed me to develop a well-rounded appreciation for the game. I took the time to check out Hearthstone forums and researched different decks as I collected more cards. I soaked in the HearthPwn.

The additional cards added through the Curse of Naxxramas single-player adventure and the Gnomes vs. Goblins expansion have kept the game fresh. Hearthstone is a mathematical crunchfest at the tournament level and, much like poker, I can appreciate it, even knowing I will never be part of that world. Hearthstone and I have a casual understanding and I don't see us concluding our daily dalliance any time soon.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Alexander's picks of 2014

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Alexander's picks of 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2015 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-of-the-rest-2014destinydungeon-of-the-endlesshearthstone-heroes-of-warcraftjoystiq-best-of-2014microsoftpcplaystationps3ps4recommendedtitanfalltowerfall-ascensionxboxxbox-oneMon, 05 Jan 2015 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Earnest's picks of 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/best-of-the-rest-earnests-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/best-of-the-rest-earnests-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/05/best-of-the-rest-earnests-picks-of-2014/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

Forza Horizon 2

Don't let the checkered flags and supercars speeding from point to point fool you, Forza Horizon 2 is not a racing game. It's a driving game; a game that's equally entertaining whether you're speeding from point A to point B in a pack of supercars, or languidly navigating a scenic highway on the Italian coast.

Say what you will about the game's less-than-realistic physics modeling (the polite term is "arcade-style"), but developer Playground Games absolutely understands what makes cars cool. Driving endless laps around a tarmac track might work for NASCAR, but vehicular works of art like the Lamborghini Aventador need equally picturesque surroundings. Southern Europe works nicely, but the impressive bit is that Playground Games managed to capture all the aesthetic highlights of the region in a relatively small space tuned explicitly for racing.

It's a good thing the setting works so well, because once you've arrived it's hard to leave. Not just because the driving mechanics feel so right, and not because the game's leveling system is fiendishly moreish, but because the virtual world is stocked with a truly vast number of races and events. 120 levels in, I've seen maybe 20 percent of what the game has on tap. At this rate, Forza Horizon 2 isn't just one of the best games I played in 2014, it's probably going to be one of the best games I play in 2015 too.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Earnest's picks of 2014

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Earnest's picks of 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2015 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsbest-of-the-rest-2014Blizzardforza-horizon-2joystiq-best-of-2014microsoftnintendopcplaygroundPlayground-Gamesplaystationps3ps4recommendedTellTale-Gamesxboxxbox-oneMon, 05 Jan 2015 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Top 10 of 2014: Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/03/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-middle-earth-shadow-of-mordor-yo/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/03/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-middle-earth-shadow-of-mordor-yo/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/03/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-middle-earth-shadow-of-mordor-yo/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.
One game to rule them all, one game to find them; one game to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor brilliantly defies so much of its own definition - it's a game based on a movie franchise based on a beloved series of books, a description that is normally worthy of a grimace and a passing glance. Instead, Shadow of Mordor is not only a truly excellent fantasy-action game, it introduces an innovative and playful enemy-character system that is sure to be replicated in the industry for years to come.

Continue reading Joystiq Top 10 of 2014: Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

JoystiqJoystiq Top 10 of 2014: Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 03 Jan 2015 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-of-2014joystiq-best-of-2014microsoftmiddle-earth-shadow-of-mordorMonolithMonolith-Productionspcplaystationps3ps4recommendedWarner-BrosWBWBIExboxxbox-oneSat, 03 Jan 2015 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Top 10 of 2014: Dragon Age: Inquisition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/03/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-dragon-age-inquisition/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/03/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-dragon-age-inquisition/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/03/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-dragon-age-inquisition/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

Dragon Age: Inquisition presents a world on fire; fire formed from the spark of lovers, the friction of politics, and the heat of a dragon's breath. It is a game that gives players everything they could have wanted from another entry in the classic RPG franchise. It satisfied our appetites for combat, beautiful worlds, thought-provoking narrative, memorable characters and challenging scenarios.

And then it somehow made us hungry for more.

Continue reading Joystiq Top 10 of 2014: Dragon Age: Inquisition

JoystiqJoystiq Top 10 of 2014: Dragon Age: Inquisition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 03 Jan 2015 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-of-2014biowaredragon-age-3dragon-age-inquisitioneaelectronic-artsjoystiq-best-of-2014microsoftpcplaystationps3ps4recommendedxboxxbox-oneSat, 03 Jan 2015 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Top 10 of 2014: Shovel Knight]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/03/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-shovel-knight/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/03/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-shovel-knight/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/03/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-shovel-knight/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

Retro-inspired platformers are practically synonymous with the indie scene, and the genre's almost as active nowadays as it was back in the early console era. With so much competition already on the market, what makes Yacht Club Games' throwback platformer, Shovel Knight, worth a spot in our list of the best games of 2014?

It has a rare devotion to authenticity, for one thing. Similar in premise to Capcom's NES classic DuckTales, Shovel Knight stars an unlikely hero equipped with an unconventional but multifaceted weapon. Making the most out of simple mechanics is a staple of the 8-bit era, and Shovel Knight himself is a shining example, showcasing a robust moveset in spite of his seemingly limited capabilities. Like the best games from the last millennium, it won't take you long before you've mastered Shovel Knight's initial learning curve and find yourself chaining carefully timed pogo bounces in order to reach faraway platforms.

It's also incredibly faithful to its source material. Like its ancient 8-bit brethren, Shovel Knight is built with hardware limitations in mind, mostly adhering to standards with its tile-based backgrounds, limited color palettes, and exceptionally catchy soundtrack that never exceeds its limited number of allotted sound channels. These are the sort of details that you won't notice unless you're specifically looking for them, but working together in concert they legitimize the experience, and complete the illusion that Shovel Knight escaped from the flannel clutches of the early '90s.

Continue reading Joystiq Top 10 of 2014: Shovel Knight

JoystiqJoystiq Top 10 of 2014: Shovel Knight originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 03 Jan 2015 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsbest-of-2014gotyjoystiq-best-of-2014macnintendopcrecommendedshovel-knighttop-10yacht-club-gamesSat, 03 Jan 2015 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Top 10 of 2014: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-super-smash-bros-for-wii-u/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-super-smash-bros-for-wii-u/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-super-smash-bros-for-wii-u/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

It's been a long time coming, but the Wii U finally came into its own this year, thanks in no small part to Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. The game sold nearly half a million units stateside during its weekend launch, earning the title of fastest-selling Wii U game in the United States.

We'd call that a surprise, but here's the thing about Smash Bros.: everyone - young, old, casual, hardcore, and every label inbetween - wants to get in on the action. That's what makes the series special, and Smash Bros. for Wii U proved that Nintendo and developer Sora Ltd haven't lost sight of that universal appeal.

Continue reading Joystiq Top 10 of 2014: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

JoystiqJoystiq Top 10 of 2014: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-of-2014joystiq-best-of-2014nintendorecommendedsora-ltdSuper-Smash-Brossuper-smash-bros-2014super-smash-bros-for-wii-uwii-uFri, 02 Jan 2015 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Mike's picks of 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/best-of-the-rest-mikes-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/best-of-the-rest-mikes-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/best-of-the-rest-mikes-picks-of-2014/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

Desert Golfing

Imagine you're stranded in the middle of a vast desert with nothing but a golf club and ball, rolling hills of sand stretching as far as the eye can see. You're not going anywhere soon. May as well play a few thousand rounds and work on your swing, right? Whoa, did you see that cactus on hole #316? Maybe it was a mirage, but I swear I found a rock on hole #537.

This delightfully minimal, endless version of golf doesn't drown players in features. Instead, Desert Golfing perfectly mimics life on a desert golf course: Serene. Sometimes maddening.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Mike's picks of 2014

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Mike's picks of 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-golden-wakeandroidbest-of-2014best-of-the-rest-2014desert-golfinggeometry-wars-3-dimensionshitman-goiosipadiphonejoystiq-best-of-2014madden-nfl-15microsoftmobilepcplaystationps3ps4recommendedxboxxbox-oneFri, 02 Jan 2015 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Top 10 of 2014: Sunset Overdrive]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-sunset-overdrive/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-sunset-overdrive/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-sunset-overdrive/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

Some days you just can't catch a break. Your apartment sucks, your job sucks and thanks to the greed of corporate fat cats, your technicolor city (which also generally sucks) has just been overrun by bloodthirsty mutants. Other people might flee in terror, but not you, the desensitized, self-aware, modern twenty-something. You see this horrible turn of events as a cathartic excuse to splatter creatures with unwieldy weapons while spouting cool one-liners. "How hard could the action hero schtick really be?" you think to yourself before setting off, flaming shotgun in hand, to save the world.

That's all the story given in the first few minutes of Sunset Overdrive, but it's all you need. This isn't some somber, dragon-infested role-playing epic, nor is it the latest dour, paint-by-numbers futuristic military shooter. Instead, Sunset Overdrive is a vibrant rainbow smile; a game made by people who want you to share in their glee. Sunset Overdrive is an explosion of giddy rebellion in an industry obsessed with the stereotypical teenage boy's grim, overwrought idea of what's cool.

Continue reading Joystiq Top 10 of 2014: Sunset Overdrive

JoystiqJoystiq Top 10 of 2014: Sunset Overdrive originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-of-2014gotyinsomniacinsomniac-gamesjoystiq-best-of-2014microsoftrecommendedsunset-overdrivetop-10xbox-oneFri, 02 Jan 2015 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Top 10 of 2014: Alien Isolation]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-alien-isolation/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-alien-isolation/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-alien-isolation/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

I'm suspicious of Alien: Isolation as I play it, waiting for the leather shoe to drop and seeing a meddling executive come chasing after it. It's just a cartoon in my head, sure, but these games are made or broken by how well they can bend to the needs of the creator, the desires of the publisher and the expectations of a varied audience. A low-action survival game with a persistent stalker isn't usually where video game aliens end up - not even THE alien.

You start questioning everything. There are too many jagged parts for a blockbuster game, too many harsh pitfalls for the easily frustrated player, too much smart enthusiasm for what is truthfully a tarnished property. And on top of that it's supposed to be an intimate horror game from Creative Assembly, the studio best known for giving you a god's view in the Total War strategy games.

And yet few studios could have been as suitable as Creative Assembly, for fanatically recreating not only the look of 1979's 'Alien', but instilling the same vulnerability and paranoia that must have clung to the film's lone human survivor, Ellen Ripley. Alien: Isolation puts her clever daughter in a similar predicament, inherits a horrible monster with a matryoshka doll of mouths, and proves that authenticity is key not only in historical fact. Whereas Total War unfurls the history books as best it can, Alien: Isolation is devoted to recreating the timeless truths of Ridley Scott's film: its look, its unpredictable killer and the sigh of relief we share with those who survive.

Continue reading Joystiq Top 10 of 2014: Alien Isolation

JoystiqJoystiq Top 10 of 2014: Alien Isolation originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alienalien-isolationaliens-isolationbest-of-2014creative-assemblyjoystiq-best-of-2014microsoftpcplaystationps3ps4recommendedsegaxboxxbox-oneFri, 02 Jan 2015 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Richard's picks of 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/best-of-the-rest-richards-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/best-of-the-rest-richards-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/best-of-the-rest-richards-picks-of-2014/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

The best thing about The Vanishing of Ethan Carter might be that it tells its story in a way that only a video game can. Other games aspire to emulate other forms of media, to be more like movies or books. Ethan Carter, on the other hand, embraces the interactivity of the medium in a wonderful way, with an awareness of a video game's ability to let you live through a moment, rather than just witnessing it.

At first, Ethan Carter feels like a typical paranormal mystery, and its investigation mechanics are cleverly implemented, asking you to put the events of the past in the correct order to reveal the truth behind a series of murders. The mystery elements turn out to be just a small part of The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, though, and you soon find yourself pulled into some of the greatest moments of pure fantasy that I've ever seen in a video game.

I won't say another word, for fear of spoiling anything. If you appreciate a good mystery, and you believe in the transportational power of games, do yourself a favor and pick it up.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Richard's picks of 2014

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Richard's picks of 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbest-of-2014best-of-the-rest-2014dark-souls-2destinyhearthstonehearthstone-heroes-of-warcraftiosipadiphonejoystiq-best-of-2014microsoftmobilepcpersona-qpersona-q-shadow-of-the-labyrinthrecommendedtales-from-the-borderlandsthe-vanishing-of-ethan-carterxbox-oneFri, 02 Jan 2015 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Sinan's picks of 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/best-of-the-rest-sinans-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/best-of-the-rest-sinans-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/02/best-of-the-rest-sinans-picks-of-2014/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

Dark Souls 2

I've been known to perch on treetops with many a RPG, but even by my standards this was a makeout-heavy year. Four of my five picks are of the role-playing variety, and I've put more than 250 hours into that quartet alone. 2014 was a super-solid time for the genre, and that's evidenced by the sheer range of RPGs in my Best of the Rest.

The only place to start this round-up is Drangleic. It was always going to take something truly special for Dark Souls 2 to stay out of its predecessor's shadow, at least for me. We are, after all, talking about following on from my game of the last decade. That proves a challenge too far for From's sequel, despite the many tweaks and additions it brings to the table. Crucially, Dark Souls 2 diminishes that sinking-into-quicksand helplessness, that sense of being lost, in every sense of the word. It is still there, but just that significant bit less so.

Yet Dark Souls 2 remains an all-encompassing adventure like few others this year. It draws from both Dark and Demon's Souls to juxtapose a deep, foreboding world against an elegant simplicity of swords, shields, dungeons and big bad monsters. There are more pretenders to the throne now, but Dark Souls 2 still stands out as an idiosyncratic, unpredictable experience.

For all my criticisms I plowed at least 100 hours into the world of Drangleic, and I'll be back on the plow when Dark Souls 2 hits PS4 and Xbox One in April.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Sinan's picks of 2014

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Sinan's picks of 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-of-2014best-of-the-rest-2014bravely-defaultchild-of-lightdark-souls-2divinity-original-sinjoystiq-best-of-2014macmicrosoftnintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ps4recommendedthreesvitawii-uxboxxbox-oneFri, 02 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Top 10 of 2014: Valiant Hearts: The Great War]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/01/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-valiant-hearts-the-great-war/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/01/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-valiant-hearts-the-great-war/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/01/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-valiant-hearts-the-great-war/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

War is a common theme throughout video games, usually granting you a trigger to pull and later reminding you of the true cost of battle. Ubisoft Montpellier's approach to one of history's deadliest conflicts in Valiant Hearts: The Great War eludes those narrative methods, instead spinning an endearing tale about a period of sustained malice and sorrow.

Set during the events of World War 1, Valiant Hearts' four playable humans (and one canine) get swept in the waves of global catastrophe practically by circumstance. The side-scrolling adventure game begins with the German-born Karl stripped from his family in France, then injected into the side of conflict opposite that of his father-in-law, Emile. As the world around them collapses, they meet the Belgian medic, Anna, who is drawn in for the good of others, and the voluntarily enlisted American, Freddie, who has a personal mission at heart.

Continue reading Joystiq Top 10 of 2014: Valiant Hearts: The Great War

JoystiqJoystiq Top 10 of 2014: Valiant Hearts: The Great War originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Jan 2015 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbest-of-2014gotygoty-2014iosipadiphonejoystiq-best-of-2014microsoftmobilepcplaystationps3ps4recommendedubisoftUbisoft-Montpelliervaliant-heartsvaliant-hearts-the-great-warxboxxbox-oneThu, 01 Jan 2015 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Anthony's picks of 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/01/best-of-the-rest-anthonys-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/01/best-of-the-rest-anthonys-picks-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/01/best-of-the-rest-anthonys-picks-of-2014/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

Unlike a surprising number of vocal individuals on the Internet, I happened to like Final Fantasy XIII. Its world of cruel, mercurial gods and long, fashionable coats worked for me despite some miserable pacing and some truly unlikable characters. (Why would anyone try to save Serah or help Snow? They're insufferable.) I didn't love it, though. I honestly thought that I'd finally grown out of Final Fantasy's style of drama. And then came Lightning Returns, the best game to come out of Square's internal Japanese studios since 2006.

Everything about Lightning Returns clicked for me. The weird costume design was leveraged to make a speedy, delectable battle system that rarely emphasizes level grinding over skill and strategy. Manipulating the passage of time while sticking to the game's ceaselessly diminishing clock before the world literally ends never feels cumbersome or stressful as in other time management games, it only adds to the driven feeling that fuels the story. And what a story.

Lightning Returns trades mewling melodrama for a tale about a post-death world. When everyone lives forever, when nothing changes, what matters? The wooden Lightning of past games instead becomes a powerful point-of-view character for the player, an anchor for our questions about this fantasy world works and what's at stake. Square hasn't made a game this powerful or weird in years, and part of me wishes this was the only Final Fantasy XIII in existence.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Anthony's picks of 2014

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Anthony's picks of 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Jan 2015 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-of-2014best-of-the-rest-2014joystiq-best-of-2014lightning-returns-final-fantasy-xiiimicrosoftpcplaystationps3ps4recommendedsouth-park-the-stick-of-truththe-vanishing-of-ethan-carterwolfenstein-the-new-orderxboxxbox-oneThu, 01 Jan 2015 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Top 10 of 2014: Mario Kart 8]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/01/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-mario-kart-8/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/01/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-mario-kart-8/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/01/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-mario-kart-8/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

Mario Kart 8, much like its host console, made a poor first impression when it showed up in demo form back at E3 2013. In the same way that the Wii U met with equal parts confusion and indifference when it debuted - thanks to that odd controller- Mario Kart 8's anti-gravity racing felt like the most tiresome sort of tacked-on gimmick early on.

"Oh, it's Mario Kart! But super pretty! And upside down!" Great. Super. Who cares?

But also like the Wii U, Mario Kart 8 hides deep pleasures just beneath the surface. Beautiful, smart, overstuffed with rewards, and functional in ways the series has only toyed with in the past, Mario Kart 8 was a burning hot spot in Wii U's brightest year yet.

Continue reading Joystiq Top 10 of 2014: Mario Kart 8

JoystiqJoystiq Top 10 of 2014: Mario Kart 8 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Jan 2015 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-of-2014joystiq-best-of-2014mario-kart-8nintendorecommendedwii-uThu, 01 Jan 2015 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Top 10 of 2014: Far Cry 4]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/01/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-far-cry-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/01/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-far-cry-4/http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/01/joystiq-top-10-of-2014-far-cry-4/#commentsATTENTION: The year 2014 has concluded its temporal self-destruct sequence. If you are among the escapees, please join us in salvaging and preserving the best games from the irradiated chrono-debris.

Far Cry 4 tells the story of a despondent man visiting a foreign land, just as hopeless, to fulfill the final wish of his late mother. Basically, the epitome of a good time!

Despite its dour setting, Far Cry 4 offers a level of freedom and unfettered joy that most open-world games do not. As protagonist Ajay Ghale you scour this space for treasures, fight off terrifying beasts (like the vicious honey badger), join a national rebellion and, yes, try to put your mother's remains to rest.

Continue reading Joystiq Top 10 of 2014: Far Cry 4

JoystiqJoystiq Top 10 of 2014: Far Cry 4 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best-of-2014far-cry-4joystiq-best-of-2014microsoftpcplaystationps3ps4recommendedxboxxbox-oneThu, 01 Jan 2015 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mortal Kombat X and the beauty of gore]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/31/mortal-kombat-x-and-the-beauty-of-gore/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/31/mortal-kombat-x-and-the-beauty-of-gore/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/31/mortal-kombat-x-and-the-beauty-of-gore/#comments In a demo video for the next installment of Mortal Kombat, series staple Scorpion is moments from being decimated by the fatality of D'Vorah - an insect-like woman joining the roster. In her final move, she summons a swarm of flesh eating bugs.

They eat two holes into Scorpion before setting on his head. The flesh disappears quickly - his skin eaten away first, inner flesh and then the muscle closest to the bone. In the end, all that remains is his skull and his jawbone hangs off to the left, like a door on a rusty hinge. Adding insult to fatal injury, Scorpion's skull rolls away and D'Vorah crushes it with the heel of her boot.

Creative. Disgusting. And yet, strangely beautiful. Mortal Kombat X continues the franchise's grand tradition of a love affair with gore.

Continue reading Mortal Kombat X and the beauty of gore

JoystiqMortal Kombat X and the beauty of gore originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Dec 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftmortal-kombat-xNetherrealm-Studiospcplaystationps3ps4recommendedWarner-BrosWarner-Bros-Interactivexboxxbox-oneWed, 31 Dec 2014 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A brief history of do-it-yourself Mario]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/30/a-brief-history-of-do-it-yourself-mario/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/30/a-brief-history-of-do-it-yourself-mario/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/30/a-brief-history-of-do-it-yourself-mario/#comments Nintendo's Mario Maker - launching early next year - may be the company's first official foray into do-it-yourself level editing but, as many people know, would-be game designers have been using unofficial channels to do just that for close to two decades using Nintendo's most popular brand. The end result? A fan community like no other, filled with passionate people from all over the globe, all working toward one common goal - creating an absolute boatload of deviously designed Mario levels.

Of course, long before there were dedicated toolsets, there was the humble game ROM. In addition to allowing people to finally brag about beating Ghosts N' Goblins, NES game ROMs had/have the added bonus of being fairly easy to manipulate. What better title to screw around with than the original Super Mario Bros.? It didn't have too many sprites and, oh yeah, there's that whole "pretty much defined video games for an entire generation" thing.

So the ROM-smiths went to work. It was simple stuff at first, like getting rid of Mario's mustache or even his clothes. Naked Italian plumbers soon gave way to stoned Italian plumbers. Most of the notable hacks of this early era were simple one-offs created for shock value, like Super Bud Brothers, which replaced some of the game's bushes and character sprites with weed leaves, and the disgusting Super KKK Brothers in which, well, you can probably guess its horrific gimmick.

Continue reading A brief history of do-it-yourself Mario

JoystiqA brief history of do-it-yourself Mario originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Dec 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mario-makernintendorecommendedwii-uTue, 30 Dec 2014 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Couch co-op games to keep you warm this winter]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/29/couch-co-op-games-to-keep-you-warm-this-winter/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/29/couch-co-op-games-to-keep-you-warm-this-winter/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/29/couch-co-op-games-to-keep-you-warm-this-winter/#comments Winter is upon us, and now's a great time to cuddle up with your significant other or a close buddy for some couch co-op. It's not just a great way to grow closer to the ones you love - add a blanket to the mix and it's a cost-effective way to stave off the cold. Many of 2014's games are better experienced with a co-op partner, and we're featuring a dozen of this year's best right here in the pages ahead.

For the purposes of this feature, we're highlighting games that only offer local co-op, with no option for online cooperative play. This year saw the release of several exceptional games that feature online co-op in addition to local multiplayer (including Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, Earth Defense Force 2025, and Halo: The Master Chief Collection), but these particular games require a friend in close proximity in order to enjoy their co-op features.

Online or not, what are your favorite co-op games released this year? Drop us a comment and let us know!

>>Couch Co-op Games Perfect for the Winter<<

[Image: Miramax]

JoystiqCouch co-op games to keep you warm this winter originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Dec 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>co-opco-op-gamescouch-co-oprecommendedMon, 29 Dec 2014 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Off the Grid: Golem Arcana]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/29/off-the-grid-golem-arcana/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/29/off-the-grid-golem-arcana/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/29/off-the-grid-golem-arcana/#comments

Following its successful Shadowrun revival Kickstarter, developer Harebrained Schemes set its sights on a new crowdfunded project: a miniature tabletop game and mobile app hybrid.

That game is Golem Arcana, which launched earlier this year. Utilizing an infrared stylus and specialty app, players move physical objects around a modular board and engage in combat with detailed pre-painted minis, leaving the micromanagement of the game to their mobile devices.

In a new series exploring board and card games that we're calling "Off the Grid," Xav and Richard look at Golem Arcana and discuss how it works, what makes it special and whether or not it's something you should explore in any effort you may have to game offline.

JoystiqOff the Grid: Golem Arcana originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Dec 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>golem-arcanaharebrained-schemesmobileoff-the-gridoff-the-grid-seriesrecommendedMon, 29 Dec 2014 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq's favorite races in games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/28/joystiqs-favorite-races-in-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/28/joystiqs-favorite-races-in-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/28/joystiqs-favorite-races-in-games/#comments It was revealed this week that the Heavensward expansion for Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn would introduce not only new jobs, but a new race for players to enjoy: the Au Ra. Featuring tails, scales and horns, the Au Ra blend humanoid features with those of dragons, and who doesn't want to be a dragon-person?

The news also gave us a chance to reflect on our own favorite races in gaming, which we've collected here for your viewing/judging pleasure. Of course, not everyone will have the same taste in fictional species (though one does make an encore appearance on our list) so tell us: what's your favorite race in games?

>>Joystiq's Favorite Races In Games<<

JoystiqJoystiq's favorite races in games originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 28 Dec 2014 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsmicrosoftnintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3ps4recommendedvitawii-uxboxxbox-oneSun, 28 Dec 2014 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq's favorite new characters of 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/26/joystiqs-favorite-new-characters-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/26/joystiqs-favorite-new-characters-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/26/joystiqs-favorite-new-characters-of-2014/#comments It takes all sorts to make up the video game worlds we explore, and sometimes a few characters stand out as our favorites. From the buffoonery of Ratbag to the big splash made by the Troupple King, this year featured a host of unique new faces.

As we close out another year of gaming, we look back at some of our favorites. Of course we couldn't highlight them all, so we ask: What are your favorite characters of 2014?

>>Joystiq's Favorite New Characters of 2014<<

JoystiqJoystiq's favorite new characters of 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Dec 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsbest-of-2014microsoftnintendopcplaystationplaystation-vitaps4recommendedvitawii-uxbox-oneFri, 26 Dec 2014 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The five worst console games of 2014]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/25/the-five-worst-console-games-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/25/the-five-worst-console-games-of-2014/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/25/the-five-worst-console-games-of-2014/#comments 2014 may have been the worst year yet for bad console games -- they're practically extinct at this point. Sure, many of this year's games were divisive, or flawed, or buggy, but few were outright terrible. Ballooning budgets force AAA games to maintain some degree of quality control (well, mostly), and even the indies have gotten their act together, producing modestly scoped, reasonably priced games that aren't all that upsetting even when they disappoint.

As a lover of trash, I'm troubled.

Fortunately, a few truly awful games rose to the top of the garbage heap to sparkle as gleaming, irredeemable turds. I'm glad to have played these games, but I think we, as an industry, can do better. Let's vow to release more bad games in 2015. And not just bad games for Duck Dynasty fans, either - let's make bad games that all of us can enjoy.

>>The five worst console games of 2014<<

JoystiqThe five worst console games of 2014 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Dec 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>recommendedWorst-of-2014Thu, 25 Dec 2014 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gaming off the grid: Video game-inspired board games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/24/gaming-off-the-grid-video-game-inspired-board-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/24/gaming-off-the-grid-video-game-inspired-board-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/24/gaming-off-the-grid-video-game-inspired-board-games/#comments If you're looking for family fun but don't want to stray too far from the video game franchises you know and love, tabletop gaming may be the perfect alternative for you this holiday season.

While there are countless (and not very entertaining) licensed board games available at big box retailers - like Mario-themed Monopoly or Halo-themed Risk - there are far better options available for those looking to further explore their favorite video game worlds.

Here is a collection of some of our favorite board and card games based on video game franchises. If you're looking for a fun activity for family and friends this holiday, you can't go wrong with these fantastic board and card games.

>>Our favorite video game-inspired board games<<

JoystiqGaming off the grid: Video game-inspired board games originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Dec 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>board-gamesdoomfantasy-flight-gamesgolem-arcanaholiday-2014recommendedthe-witcher-adventure-gamexcomWed, 24 Dec 2014 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Presents: Dragon Age, Dark Souls and dominatrixes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/23/joystiq-presents-dragon-age-dark-souls-and-dominatrixes/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/23/joystiq-presents-dragon-age-dark-souls-and-dominatrixes/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/23/joystiq-presents-dragon-age-dark-souls-and-dominatrixes/#comments Anthony John Agnello (@ajohnagnello) chats with BioWare Creative Director Mike Laidlaw about Dragon Age: Inquisition. They discuss the influence that From Software's Dark Souls series had on Laidlaw when crafting the developer's latest RPG.

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JoystiqJoystiq Presents: Dragon Age, Dark Souls and dominatrixes originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Dec 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWaredark-soulsdark-souls-2demons-soulsdragon-age-3dragon-age-inquisitionEAElectronic-Artsjoystiq-presentsMike-LaidlawradiorecommendedstoryTue, 23 Dec 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Code Name: STEAM video preview]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/22/code-name-steam-video-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/22/code-name-steam-video-preview/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/22/code-name-steam-video-preview/#comments

In 2015, developer Intelligent Systems invites you through a tour of history where Abraham Lincoln teams up with the likes of The Cowardly Lion and Tom Sawyer to battle aliens in a steampunk-powered world. See what happens when you miss history class?!

Code Name: STEAM arrives on the 3DS on March 13, but don't you don't have to wait to get eyes on the strategy game from the makers of Fire Emblem and Advance Wars. Joystiq has sent Editor-in-chief Ludwig Kietzmann through and around time to go hands on with the game and report back his findings. The verdict? The future is moist. Thanks, condensation.

JoystiqCode Name: STEAM video preview originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Dec 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dscode-name-steamIntelligent-Systemsnintendorecommendedvideo-previewMon, 22 Dec 2014 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq appreciates a good pun]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/15/joystiq-appreciates-a-good-pun/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/15/joystiq-appreciates-a-good-pun/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/15/joystiq-appreciates-a-good-pun/#comments The team here at Joystiq enjoys a good pun - though it's unclear sometimes if everyone else appreciates them quite as much as we do. Still, video games aren't beyond playing with words either and 2014 was a good year for particularly punny games.

As we wind down 2014, Team Joystiq takes a look at some of our favorite wordplay moments in games for the year. It may be a low form of humor, but that doesn't mean it can't make us chuckle.

>>A Good Year for Puns in Games<<

JoystiqJoystiq appreciates a good pun originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Dec 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>HumorHumor-is-SubjectivePunsrecommendedMon, 15 Dec 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation 20th Anniversary: Reader's Choice PS1 Favorites]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/08/playstation-20th-anniversary-readers-choice-ps1-favorites/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/08/playstation-20th-anniversary-readers-choice-ps1-favorites/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/08/playstation-20th-anniversary-readers-choice-ps1-favorites/#comments Last week, Team Joystiq took a look back at some of its most beloved PlayStation titles in celebration of the console's 20th Anniversary. Today, we reminisce again, this time with a collection of your favorites from the console's library.

From Metal Gear Solid to PaRappa the Rapper, the Reader's Choice list features a wide variety of amazing titles that - coupled with our list - prove just how powerful Sony's original console was.

>>Joystiq Presents: Reader's Choice PS1 Favorites<<

JoystiqPlayStation 20th Anniversary: Reader's Choice PS1 Favorites originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Dec 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Joystiq-Readers-Choiceplaystationplaystation-20th-anniversaryrecommendedMon, 08 Dec 2014 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PlayStation 20th Anniversary: Our Most Beloved PS1 Games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/04/playstation-20th-anniversary-our-most-beloved-ps1-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/04/playstation-20th-anniversary-our-most-beloved-ps1-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/12/04/playstation-20th-anniversary-our-most-beloved-ps1-games/#comments Twenty years ago this week in Japan, Sony cemented its name in the annals of video game legend with the launch of the original PlayStation. The little gray box would help usher in a new era of gaming, and bring players to worlds that could only be discovered in our wildest dreams.

Though there are countless classic games in the PlayStation's library, the Joystiq team reminisces about a handful of favorites. Which games on the PS1 were significant to our growth as lifelong admirers of gaming culture?

>>Joystiq Presents: Our Most Beloved PS1 Games<<

JoystiqPlayStation 20th Anniversary: Our Most Beloved PS1 Games originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Dec 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>playstationPlayStation-20th-AnniversaryPlayStation-AnniversaryrecommendedThu, 04 Dec 2014 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Happy birthday, Nintendo DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/28/happy-birthday-nintendo-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/28/happy-birthday-nintendo-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/28/happy-birthday-nintendo-ds/#comments Double digits, Nintendo DS! Little two-screened wonder, the machine that rose Nintendo to the heavens rather than the depths of hell, you turned 10-years-old earlier this month. How far you've taken us, Nintendo DS! As the GameCube floundered back in 2004 and Game Boy Advance was staying afloat thanks to Pokemon, the world scoffed at your weird design. A microphone? A touch screen? Madness! Now there's scarcely a device out there that doesn't sport both features. You sit along the original Nintendo Entertainment System as one of the most successful and influential gaming machines ever.

Now that you're ten, Nintendo DS, it's time to grow up! No more dillydallying with soft batch games like Spectrobes! With a decade under your belt, its time for games that will make you the womanliest woman and manliest man you can be, Nintendo DS. Here are ten games that will make you a grown up. They will teach you things about life, love, triumph and heartbreak. Here, dear DS, are ten games to play on your road to adulthood.

>>Ten Games Bringing the DS into Adulthood<<

JoystiqHappy birthday, Nintendo DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Nov 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsnintendoNintendo-DSNintendo-DS-10-Year-AnniversaryNintendo-DSiRecommendedFri, 28 Nov 2014 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Presents: A Zelda Story]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/28/joystiq-presents-a-zelda-story/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/28/joystiq-presents-a-zelda-story/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/11/28/joystiq-presents-a-zelda-story/#comments Do you remember the first day you played your favorite game? What about the moment you bought that game; what lengths did you go to pick it up? Joystiq's own Reviews Content Director Richard Mitchell (@TheRichardM) recalls the story of the the day he bought The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo 64, and discusses the patience of his mother with our Community Manager, Anthony John Agnello (@ajohnagnello).

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JoystiqJoystiq Presents: A Zelda Story originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-zelda-storyjoystiq-presentsnintendonintendo-64radiorecommendedsnowthe-legend-of-zeldathe-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-timethe-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-3dzeldaFri, 28 Nov 2014 09:00:00 EST