Sunday, June 30th 2024
This Week in Gaming (Week 27)
And just like that, we're in the second half of 2024. The first week of July brings with it a major release, at least if you're into futuristic online RPGs. Unfortunately, the rest of this week's new releases are mediocre at best and this seems to be a theme for the summer of 2024, unless you like pointless clicking games that is. At least the week starts with a new strategy game that involves knights, but from there it fizzles out in a DLC, a computer version of a classic family game, a retro version of an Xbox franchise and a creepy game in a pool. Oh and happy 4th of July to our US readers.
The First Descendant / This week's major release / Tuesday 2 July
The First Descendant is a free third-person cooperative action RPG shooter featuring high-quality graphics. Experience the fun of strategic boss fights through 4-player co-op and various unique characters, exciting gunplay, and looting. A variety of equipment is necessary for growth, and you can obtain them through clearing scenario missions within the game or in the World Missions where cooperation is crucial and battles with huge bosses. Steam link
Kingdom, Dungeon, and Hero / Monday 1 July
Kingdom, Dungeon, and Hero is a fantasy strategy and adventure game. Immerse yourself in a realm of horrors, magic, and strategic conquest on a hex-based map with a board game feel. Form armies, expand an economy, negotiate agreements, send heroes off on missions, explore dungeons, find magic items and artifacts to help you win the game. Steam link
Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail / This week's DLC / Tuesday 2 July
Blue seas, clear skies, and boundless possibilities await in Dawntrail, the newest expansion pack for the critically acclaimed FINAL FANTASY XIV Online! Explore uncharted territories with familiar faces as you discover new tribes, confront formidable threats, and expand your horizons as hope's light dawns once more. Steam link
4 in a row / Wednesday 3 July
Astoundingly simple and exciting every time: Who will be the first to arrange four of their chips in a row - vertically, horizontally or diagonally? Block your opponent and draw them into your trap. But be careful not to fall into a trap yourself. Entertaining brain training for two bright minds! Steam link
Spartan Firefight - Free Edition / Thursday 4 July
Get ready for the Firefight! From the creators of Spartan Runner comes a new action-packed game: Spartan Firefight. Battle against waves of enemies across a variety of game modes and maps in under five minutes. Unlock and upgrades powerful weapons to help you in your task. Purchase and collect skins, helmets, shoulders and more to create your unique Spartan. Steam link
Poolrooms / Friday 5 July
Dive into an expansive complex of interconnected rooms and corridors, all slightly submerged in undulating, lukewarm water. The architecture is both varied and strict, with each area connecting in a senseless manner, devoid of any easily identifiable purpose. Pillars protrude from the water, staircases descend into deep pits, and light casts irregular shadows, leaving some areas shrouded in darkness. Steam link
The First Descendant / This week's major release / Tuesday 2 July
The First Descendant is a free third-person cooperative action RPG shooter featuring high-quality graphics. Experience the fun of strategic boss fights through 4-player co-op and various unique characters, exciting gunplay, and looting. A variety of equipment is necessary for growth, and you can obtain them through clearing scenario missions within the game or in the World Missions where cooperation is crucial and battles with huge bosses. Steam link
Kingdom, Dungeon, and Hero is a fantasy strategy and adventure game. Immerse yourself in a realm of horrors, magic, and strategic conquest on a hex-based map with a board game feel. Form armies, expand an economy, negotiate agreements, send heroes off on missions, explore dungeons, find magic items and artifacts to help you win the game. Steam link
Blue seas, clear skies, and boundless possibilities await in Dawntrail, the newest expansion pack for the critically acclaimed FINAL FANTASY XIV Online! Explore uncharted territories with familiar faces as you discover new tribes, confront formidable threats, and expand your horizons as hope's light dawns once more. Steam link
Astoundingly simple and exciting every time: Who will be the first to arrange four of their chips in a row - vertically, horizontally or diagonally? Block your opponent and draw them into your trap. But be careful not to fall into a trap yourself. Entertaining brain training for two bright minds! Steam link
Get ready for the Firefight! From the creators of Spartan Runner comes a new action-packed game: Spartan Firefight. Battle against waves of enemies across a variety of game modes and maps in under five minutes. Unlock and upgrades powerful weapons to help you in your task. Purchase and collect skins, helmets, shoulders and more to create your unique Spartan. Steam link
Dive into an expansive complex of interconnected rooms and corridors, all slightly submerged in undulating, lukewarm water. The architecture is both varied and strict, with each area connecting in a senseless manner, devoid of any easily identifiable purpose. Pillars protrude from the water, staircases descend into deep pits, and light casts irregular shadows, leaving some areas shrouded in darkness. Steam link
21 Comments on This Week in Gaming (Week 27)
What the hell is this game ?
Is it an horror one ?
It looks like it !
I was going to do this one first, but it's not a game.
store.steampowered.com/app/2846260/CloudStudy/
This didn't look too exciting either.
store.steampowered.com/app/3043740/Calculate_It/
The game can be played solo or at least the betas had the option for it, I assume parties will be needed for the end game/harder content tho but I will give it a chance since I like games like this. 'looter shooter mix of Destiny and Warframe kind of game'
TLDR:
The cash shop is mostly consistent of skins and upgrade items (to bypass gathering mats).
Everything is subject to change, but if nothing does, then here is what was available during the test.
Basically you can buy stuff to speed up your progress/unlocking characters instead of farming it out if you want to and the rest are skins/battle pass.
For what its worth I've played another free2play Nexon game 'Vindictus' for ~7 years actively and all I've ever spent money on were the cosmetics and I did have multiple end game capable characters at the time/before I've quited.
Downside is that I had to play the game very actively like never miss an event/rewards + daily Raids with my guild and whatnot. 'there was nothing to win anyway so if someone wanted to pay that much just to flex their e peen at the Raid dps % screen then by all means do that :laugh:'
Personally I don't mind the cash shop since its not exactly a competitive game, my main concern is the end game with random ppl cause I aint going down the MMO guild thingy route again thats for sure.
Betas were promising so I will give them a chance cause the gameplay was fun to me.:) 'like I said its like a mix of Warframe and Destiny/looter shooter in general'
I'm also playing another gacha game for 1.5+ years now since its launch day 'my avatar character is from that game' and I'm doing just fine as a f2p so I'm familiar with the climate:oops:. 'bought 1 skin so far so yeh no paying for progress/gacha pulls'
The thing is with current f2p online games is that you HAVE to put time into it and stay active cause the event rewards are important/must have if you don't want to pay but still make progress.
I treat F2P games as long term investment/plan where I slowly make my progress and eventually still end up doing the same end game/daily content as everyone else anyway. 'if someone feels like paying for faster progression them thats on then and it doesn't really bother me + they pay for my free2play gaming in a sense'
Skins/cosmetics I might buy depending on how much time I've invested into the game already and plan to keep playing it.
In Nikke it took me 1.5 years to break my 100% F2P status with a limited time skin.:oops: 'I just had to get that and I felt like its about time I show some support to a game that I love'
And yea such games can make some crazy money thats for sure.
In seriousness though, when I hear 'dlc' my mind pictures 'horse armour' not an entire expansion pack. And as the meme suggests, the base game is technically free for new players just sayin
DLC is the same as expansion these days.It was that or this.
store.steampowered.com/app/3065090/Meh/
www.statutoryholidays.com/2024.php
Our July 1st ~ USA July 4th
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Day