No Man's Sky Update 1.2 (The Path Finder Update)

Hey, Internet! No Man's Sky version 1.2 is here!

That game that so many of you love to hate is getting another extensive update. There's so much more for you kids to hate and complain about now. Let's take a look at some of the new features which so many people will choose to never try but still proceed to mock and make fun of because it's the internet and that's the "cool" thing to do.

- Permadeath Mode

For those who want a bit more of a challenge, you can now attempt to reach the center of the universe without dying. 

- Adjusted difficulties

Normal and Survival mode difficulties have been adjusted in order to improve the player's experience in each mode. 

- Damage in Survival mode

If your starship sustains too much damage in space, you will now crash land on the nearest planet.

- New trophies

Survival and Permadeath modes now have their own unique trophies which can be unlocked in addition to the standard trophies.

- Improved lighting

The in-game lighting has also been improved and now features crepuscular rays, ambient occlusion and HDR support.

- PS4 Pro support

For those of you who own a PS4 Pro, you will be able to experience the game in 4K resolution.

- Exocraft

Exocrafts are landed vehicles which can be constructed and summoned at any time. There are 3 vehicle types available to the player. 

1) Roamer - Essentially a space monster truck capable of traversing difficult terrains.  

2) Nomad - A sleek, scouting vessel.

3) Colossus - A harvester which allows the player to mine materials with a vehicle mounted laser.

- Shared Constructions

Anything you construct will now be shared online. This means that other players will be able to visit your home base.

- New construction modules and tech blueprints 

New pieces of technology can now be purchased from traders at space stations or bases.

- Specialization System

A new specialization system has been added which allows the player to set-up their multitool and starship to suit different roles and play styles.

- New base building parts

New parts will be added to the base building menu to enable players to further customize their bases. 

- Photo Mode 

The photo mode will allow players to take still images. Players will now be able to freely control the camera position, time of day and weather, as well as add filters.

So, there it is. A few of the new features which will be added to the game for free in order to improve the player's overall experience. You can view a more detailed list of all the improvements and patch notes on Hello Games' website by clicking here. The question is, how many people will actually give it a chance? I've openly stated that I enjoy No Man's Sky, even more so after the Foundation update which added base building and giant freighters. It's not the greatest game in the world but it isn't utter trash like some people keep insisting it is. There's only been a handful of people who share my feelings towards this game. So, if you've played the game before, here's your chance to play an improved version of it, if you've never played it, maybe it's time to give it a try and if you would rather not try it at all and just keep making jokes, I guess that's fine too.

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Horizon Zero Dawn - Review Embargo Lifted

First off, let me just say that as an RPG fan, I am extremely excited for this game. I suspect quite a few of you reading this right now feel the same way. Horizon Zero Dawn has been on my list of most anticipated games of 2017 and now it's just a few days away. The first ever open world RPG developed by Guerrilla Games looks absolutely gorgeous. Just watch this gameplay video if you haven't already:

Horizon Zero Dawn - E3 2016 Gameplay Video | Only on PS4

Sony seem quite confident in their new offering as well because they've already lifted the review embargo for the highly anticipated game. At the time of writing, Horizon Zero Dawn has already been reviewed by many reviewers and websites and most of them have decided to award it with very high scores. It just so happens that I've compiled a list of links to some of those reviews for anybody who wishes to delve a bit deeper. 

GameSpot : 9/10
IGN : 9.3/10

GamesRadar : 4.5/5

COGconnected : 100

Easy Allies : 4/5
metacritic : 89
Trusted Reviews : 4.5/5
Polygon : 9.5/10
Destructoid : 7.5/10
Videogamer : 8/10
tweakers : 9.5/10
Digital Trends : 9/10

I'll be honest, it's not easy for me to justify spending the equivalent of $60 on a brand new game so I often opt to wait a bit and buy a used copy but I've decided to make an exception for this game purely because I really like what I've seen so far and I cannot possibly imagine not being able to play it on launch day.

Horizon Zero Dawn will be released on February 28th, unless you're in Europe, then it's the 1st of March for you. Either way, you won't have to wait much longer to experience the beautiful post post apocalyptic world (yes, "post" twice).

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Want To Be A "Cool Kid" Among Gamers? Follow These 5 Simple Rules! #cool

1. Hate Certain Games and Make Sure Everybody Knows It

As any "cool kid" would know, there are games out there which must be hated at all costs. It doesn't matter if you haven't actually played it yourself. It doesn't matter if there are people out there who enjoy it. It doesn't matter if the game has been significantly improved after being updated. If it's trendy to hate it, then hate it, you must. This means finding content regarding these games anywhere on the Internet and leaving mean comments. It doesn't matter if the content was made by individuals simply doing their job reporting what's new in the gaming industry. No! They deserve to be hated as well for releasing content about a game which you dislike! Cool games to hate right now? No Man's Sky and Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare.

2. Proudly State You're Not A Console Peasant

This is a super cool tip! Play games on PC only. Do not game on consoles. This does mean that you will miss out on some amazing exclusive games like The Last of Us, Zelda, Mario, Uncharted, Persona and many, many others BUT you will be able to tell everybody that you're not a console peasant. Surely, everybody including the ones who game on multiple platforms will have no other choice than to simply bask in the turbulence of your magnificence because you're a "cool kid".

3. Hate Fans Of All Game Genres Except The One You Like

A real "cool kid" always has a specific genre of game they like and they dislike fans of every other genre. So, stick to your favourite game genre and if anybody ever dares to like a different genre, loathe them because they're not cool. You can also go the extra mile by reminding them that the games they enjoy suck and that they aren't real gamers. That'll show them who's cool!

4. While Gaming, Let Everybody Know of Your Awesomeness

When gaming online, it's important that all the other players know who they're playing with. You aren't just another lame noob, you're a "cool kid" and should be known as such! The most effective way of doing this is to get a good gaming headset with a high quality microphone and keep telling everybody about your imaginary sexual exploits with the mother of whoever is currently beating you. This is a surefire way of letting them all know that you're not to be messed with. 

5. Never Give Helpful Advice To Other Gamers

If anyone ever comes to you for advice on how to beat a boss or get past a specific section of a game, never be helpful. That's not cool. You must always remain smug and remember that you're the "cool kid' and you shouldn't be bothered by these noobs and their lack of gaming ability. The coolest thing to reply with in these situations is a simple yet extremely cool "Git Gud". They might get angry at you now but someday they'll come back to thank you for making them a better gamer. Nowhere near as good as yourself, obviously. 

I hope you had a few good laughs reading that. At the end of the day, we can't take anything too seriously. As long as we have a sense of humour and mutual respect, we'll be fine.

Now, if this article has somehow offended you and you have the urge to leave really mean comments, you can visit my Instagram and Facebook.  

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Sony's Insane Amount of Upcoming Exclusives - Good or Bad?

If you've been keeping up with Sony's gaming related announcements, you'll know that Sony has a slew of exclusive games coming to the PlayStation platforms in the near future. So far, Sony has revealed quite a large number of games, some of which are currently being developed, some near completion and some arriving within just a few weeks! However, having this many exclusive titles in development, is it good or bad?

Of course it's good! This article is just an excuse for me to vent my excitement! 

Sony have been doing very well with their exclusive lineup. Gravity Rush 2 and Yakuza 0 have already been released. Now, let's look at some of the other exclusive PlayStation 4 games we can look forward to.

Digimon World: Next Order

The previous entry from the Digimon franchise on PS4 was Digimon Cyber Sleuth which was released back in March 2015. I fell in love with that game and naturally spent a silly amount of time on it. Now look! Another Digimon game for me to sink my teeth into. Excited? Yes, I am.

 

Digimon World: Next Order - Gameplay Trailer | PS4

Persona 5

The Persona series has been loved by JRPG fans for 2 decades now. Persona 4 Golden is still an amazing game available to all PS Vita owners. Sadly, I'm not one of them which is why I'm incredibly excited to play Persona 5 when it's released on PS4 this year.

Persona 5 - PlayStation Experience 2016: Story Trailer | PS4

Horizon Zero Dawn

A completely new concept brought to life by the ones who gave us the Killzone franchise. Mechanical dinosaurs! Need I say more? 

Horizon Zero Dawn - Story Trailer | PS4

Nioh

Bloody, brutal, challenging samurai game. Many have compared it to Dark Souls but is it actually harder than Dark Souls? We shall see. 

Nioh - PlayStation Experience 2016 Trailer | PS4

Spider-Man

Ben's nephew is getting new game! We've been in dire need of a good Spider-man game for quite a while now. The trailer looks amazing. Yet another exclusive to look forward to.

Spider-Man - E3 2016 Trailer | PS4

God of War

Kratos is coming to PS4 and he's bringing his son along with him and it doesn't look like that's the only new addition. He's also been given pretty new-gen graphics, gameplay tweaks, new fighting mechanics and a scruffy beard! 

God of War - E3 2016 Gameplay Trailer | PS4

Gran Turismo Sport

Sony's driving simulator finally joins the current gen. As a long-time GT fan, I'm sure I'm going to enjoy this one! Even if you aren't a fan of the Gran Turismo series, you cannot deny how beautiful this game is.

Gran Turismo Sport - PlayStation Experience 2016 Trailer | PS4

Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy

That oddly shaped marsupial is finally being remastered and will be coming to PS4. What's there to say? It's Crash Bandicoot!

Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy | PSX 2016 Gameplay | PS4

The Last of Us Part II

Ellie seems dead set on finding and killing a certain group of people. It will be quite a while before we get to find out the details for ourselves but I, for one, am willing to wait and just let Naughty Dog work their magic. 

The Last of Us Part II - PlayStation Experience 2016: Reveal Trailer | PS4

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

Another one of Naughty Dog's amazing franchises get's a new entry. This time it's a bit different but I seriously doubt it'll be a game you'd want to miss.

UNCHARTED: The Lost Legacy - PlayStation Experience 2016: Announce Trailer | PS4

Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom

Ni no Kuni was one of the most beautiful games on PS3 and now, Ni no Kuni II looks like it will be one of the best looking games on PS4. Level-5 has also recently confirmed that Ni no Kuni II will be available on PC. Keep up the good work, Level-5! 

Ni no Kuni II: REVENANT KINGDOM - PlayStation Experience 2016 TRailer | PS4

Detroit: Become Human

A futuristic game in which you have to make decisions in order to reach a desired outcome. Branching paths isn't something new to videogames, we've had them for ages now but this looks like it's taking that concept to a whole new level.  

Detroit: Become Human - E3 2016 Trailer | PS4

Days Gone

Zombies. Lots and lots and lots of zombies. Enjoy!

Days Gone - E3 2016 Gameplay Trailer | PS4

Death Stranding

Hideo Kojima's new project looks interesting to say the least. To be honest, that's pretty much all I'm comfortable saying about it. Even Mads Mikkelsen who has a role in the upcoming game admitted that he doesn't know much about the game either. Well, in Kojima we trust, I guess.  

Death Stranding - Teaser Trailer - PSX 2016: Low Roar Version - 4K

Ace Combat 7 

Ace Combat is finally coming to PS4 and PSVR. Just imagine flying a jet and engaging in aerial dogfights in VR! I'm quite intrigued.

Ace Combat 7 - PlayStation Experience 2016 Trailer | PS4, PSVR

These are just a few examples of what's to come. There are so many other great titles coming to PS4 it's hard to keep track of them all. I think it's quite safe to say that we'll have a lot to be excited about in 2017 and beyond. It's a good time to be a PlayStation 4 owner.


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