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20 Years of WoW: How the Game & the Gamers have changed
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Review: Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Does a Classic JRPG Justice
Nov 9
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Mirthwood misses the Forest for the Trees
I'm a sucker for most crafting-type games, be they cozy farm-sims or more survival focused, so Mirthwood should be right up my alley as it combines a bit of both with a charming art style and medieval setting. Unfortunately, by trying to jack several trades at once it fails to master any, and that results in a fairly middiling game that can't find a compelling focus.
Mirthwood starts with a brief (and thankfully skippable) introductory segment, but honestly it feels unnecessary. There's a basic introduction to combat and picking up items, but it also for some reason establishes a family for your character rather than leaving your past blank to fill in. You don't spend more than a minute with these people and I have yet to see them become relevant again, so it just falls flat as a presumed attempt to add some stakes or a sense of desperation to the story.
Screenshot by Siliconera
From there you can begin your new life on an untamed continent. Well, mostly untamed. You actually start in a pre-built cabin right next to a quaint village pretty indistinguishable from the one you just left. You'll need to find your first tools, and there's a mysterious stranger with a quest for you, but otherwise it's business as usual for these sorts of farm-sim/crafter games. You can start gathering materials to upgrade your tools and craft better equipment, plant some crops and begin slowly building some capital, or you can explore around a bit for items and enemies to fight, perhaps even stumbling on some quests or caves to explore.
Whatever you turn your hand to, you'll end up earning experience in a relevant skill where you'll eventually get equippable skill cards. Each card grants a bonus like a chance for extra resources or a slowed rate of hunger but you can only have a few at a time and it takes a day to swap them back again. It's actually kind of a nice system that lets you tailor your perks to whatever you feel like doing on a given day.
Screenshot by Siliconera
But actually grinding out those skill levels is significantly less compelling. There's precious few interesting new items to craft even as you progress to higher tiers, they mostly just give you flat upgrades or let you gather more uninteresting materials. There's no sprinklers or new types of tool that change the way you play. There's a Charisma skill and a fairly involved conversation system too, but since there's so little actual detail about the various village NPC's there's little reason to bother talking to them. And then there's the combat, which has a level of depth with dodges and parries but is so fast and imprecise as to become frustrating. It actually motivated me to craft better equipment just so I could brute force past those encounters easier.
And it's here the art style actually starts to hurt the game. While it does bring a distinct, almost storybook-style aesthetic that reminds me of Wildermyth , it also makes the game world appear very flat which makes it difficult to judge distances for attacks and dodges. Combine that with a fairly close player camera, and the environment ends up feeling quite same-y and indistinct, as one small copse of trees blends into another when there's no roads or buildings to orient yourself around.
Screenshot by Siliconera
Ultimately, while inoffensive, Mirthwood fails to find its footing as either a crafting game or a lite, exploration-focused RPG. The uninspiring crafting and rudimentary combat don't manage to get that gameplay loop turning, and the lukewarm story can't cover for it either. While it might serve if you're craving a simple material grind, there are better games out there that do the same thing.
Mirthwood is immediately available for PC via Steam .
The post Mirthwood misses the Forest for the Trees appeared first on Siliconera .
Nov 21
20 Years of WoW: How the Game & the Gamers have changedLegacy of WoW Azeroth erupts in celebration! Horde and Alliance alike raise a glass (or axe/sword) to twenty glorious years of adventure, camaraderie, and epic battles across the World of Warcraft. It’s been two decades since World of Warcraft launched; not as just another MMORPG, but instead opening a portal to an ever expanding world beaming with possibility. Now, as veterans reminisce and a new generation takes up arms, the very landscape of Azeroth reflects this passage of time. This isn’t a simple nostalgia trip. It’s an expedition through the evolving heart of a phenomenon. Each expansion, each patch note, whispers a tale of adaptation. Join us as we delve through the evolution of World of Warcraft, from its strong beginnings to the sprawling narrative of today. This is the story of how a world, much like its heroes, levelled up – in power, in depth and the enduring bonds forged beneath its digital sky. A Journey of Design World of Warcraft’s Vanilla launch in 2004 introduced players to the vast world of Azeroth, offering a then-revolutionary MMORPG experience with two continents, eight races, and nine classes to explore. This era, defined by challenging 40-man raids like Molten Core and Blackwing Lair, laid the groundwork for WoW’s future, emphasizing community, exploration, and epic encounters that became synonymous with the game’s enduring legacy. World of Warcraft’s 2004 debut was groundbreaking, not just for its ambitious scope and immersive gameplay, but for the way it brought this vibrant new world to life. Players were captivated by a world that felt truly alive, a place where friendships were forged in the fires of Molten Core and legends were born beneath the sky of a brand new world. The focus was on the shared experience, the thrill of exploration, and the sense of belonging to something truly epic. Azeroth has blossomed from its initial vision into a sprawling world rich in lore and artistic detail. The depth and complexity of its stories and art have only grown richer over the years. Armed with the best designers in the industry, Azeroth has transformed over the years into a world of breathtaking cities and lush forests. The introduction of shaders, dynamic lighting, and advanced particle effects have painted a world brimming with vibrancy and detail, immersing players in its beauty like never before. Gameplay Refined: Complex Choreography and Customisation Beyond its visuals, the evolution of WoW is also underpinned by its impressive gameplay. Today’s WoW builds upon a strong foundation of MMORPG combat that has kept audiences enticed for over 20 years, introducing a depth of gameplay while streamlining systems for an intuitive and rewarding experience. Players master a complex dance of resource management, cooldown optimization, and synergistic teamwork. The addition of new classes, specializations, and talent trees continues to broaden the possibilities, inviting players to explore diverse playstyles and conquer ever-greater challenges. World of Warcraft’s gameplay mechanics are constantly evolving to match its ever-expanding world. PvP has transitioned from open-world clashes to structured battlegrounds and arenas, while Raiding has evolved from 40-player behemoths into smaller, more intricate encounters. Level caps have steadily risen unlocking new content, while the introduction of new races and classes like Blood Elves and Death Knights brought fresh gameplay styles and lore. Other features like transmogrification – added in the Legion expansion – allow for cosmetic customization, revolutionized player agency, aesthetics, and individuality. Through these constant refinements and additions, WoW’s gameplay remains fresh and engaging, making it one of the most popular MMORPGs around. Expanding universe As the game has evolved, so has the universe – expanding far beyond its initial two continents, Azeroth and Kalimdor. Each expansion has pushed the boundaries of the map, introducing players to diverse, new landscapes like the shattered realm of Outland, the icy plains of Northrend, the vibrant jungles of Pandaria, and the subterranean world of Khaz Algar. The future of Azeroth shines brightly, as the Worldsoul saga stands before us; a monumental chapter, and a culmination of twenty years of epic storytelling. From the fiery battle for Mount Hyjal during the Burning Crusade and the chilling confrontation with Arthas Menethil in Icecrown Citadel, through to the desperate fight against the Burning Legion on Argus, and now, the rising tensions of the War Within, every scar, and every victory has shaped this moment. Twenty years of powerful narratives have woven a rich tapestry of conflict and heroism, a gift to players that continues to unfold in breathtaking and unexpected ways in the ever-expanding Worldsoul saga. Future of World of Warcraft As World of Warcraft celebrates its 20th Anniversary and continues to thrive, is a testament to its enduring legacy and the passionate community that call it home. From groundbreaking expansions like Dragonflight and The War Within, to the constant refinement of gameplay systems and beautiful new landscapes, the future burns bright for Azeroth’s heroes. With new adventures on the horizon, exciting features in development, and a commitment to delivering epic storytelling, WoW is poised to captivate players for years to come. The journey is far from over; in fact, it feels like we’re only just beginning to scratch the surface of what’s possible in this ever-evolving world. World of Warcraft: The War Within is available now. To learn more about World of Warcraft and The War Within, check out the World of Warcraft website, or for real-time updates, follow the official X.
Nov 18
Is this Game Trying to Kill Me? Free DownloadIs this Game Trying to Kill Me? Direct Download: Is this Game Trying to Kill Me? – it is a mix of horror and first-person puzzle. You are trapped inside a cabin deep in the forest, and its owner offers to play a computer game in exchange for freedom. But the cabin and the game […]
The post Is this Game Trying to Kill Me? Free Download first appeared on WorldofPCGames .
Nov 15
LEGO Horizon Adventures Free DownloadLEGO Horizon Adventures Direct Download: Journey to a distant future, where the land is made of LEGO bricks and lush nature has reclaimed the Earth. Meet the Nora tribe who live in the settlement of Mother’s Heart, and catch your first glimpse of the incredible dinosaur-like machines that roam the forests, mountains, and deserts that […]
The post LEGO Horizon Adventures Free Download first appeared on WorldofPCGames .
Nov 15
Review: Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Does a Classic JRPG Justice
Dragon Quest is at a challenging turning point as Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake debuts, and it one that few gaming franchises will ever have to weather. It is exceptionally rare for a series this old to have retained so much of the same core creative staff from its inception to the present day. From Dragon Quest to Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age , three individuals have driven the mainline entries. Yuji Horii, the designer and scenario writer. Akira Toriyama, the character and monster designer. Koichi Sugiyama, the music composer. In an industry where change seems to be a constant, it's unusual to have a creative team stick with a series for their entire lives.
That trio of talents was stable core that led to perhaps one of the most consistent franchises around. Sadly, the march of time has broken up that band, and Dragon Quest will now have to get by without the direct contributions of Toriyama and and Sugiyama. A series long steeped in its traditions now has no choice but to turn to a new page. While we wait to see what that new direction looks like, it's as good a time as any to celebrate the games that made Dragon Quest so special to begin with. The original Dragon Quest trilogy of games has rarely out of circulation for long. With remakes for a wide array of platforms over the years, these three games have almost constantly been available.
Screenshot by Siliconera
Unfortunately, the quality of those remakes hasn't always been ideal. The most recent versions have their roots in feature phone releases, and it shows. Much of the combat animation found in previous releases was cut, perhaps to reduce the size of the download for data-conscious customers. For Dragon Quest III , some content was also removed. The end result was a version that took a step back in many ways from its predecessors. That would be fine had it not ended up so ubiquitous, but that was the version that ended up serving as the basis for the most recent console releases on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4.
Dragon Quest III deserves better. Luckily, "better" has arrived. Putting that fancy HD-2D tech to spectacular use, Square Enix has done a complete remake of Dragon Quest III with Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake . It just rolls off the tongue. This fresh take on the 36-year-old game aims to put a lot more meat on these old bones, and not only in terms of its presentation. But, you know, also in terms of its presentation.
This isn't the first time Square Enix performed this trick, with the HD-2D reissue of Live-a-Live showing already how a classic game can be juiced up via these means. This one feels a little different, though. Where that game was a late-era 16-bit release hailing from 1994, Dragon Quest III sits squarely in the middle of the 8-bit era. Its original February 1988 release puts it scant months after the debut of Final Fantasy , when JRPG developers were very much still figuring things out. Is a new coat of paint enough to entice modern audiences?
Screenshot by Siliconera
Time will ultimately have its say on that one, but whatever the outcome no one can accuse Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake of putting in a half-effort. Beyond the candy for your eyes and ears, there are a lot of new things to explore here. Every area is bigger, there are new things to discover in just about every location, and the story has been expanded upon. There are some new enemies to fight, a new character class to play with, and a significantly expanded Monster Arena that provides further incentive to poke around every nook and cranny of the world.
As a result of all of these changes, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is a much longer game than its previous incarnations. A person could easily spend twice as many hours making their way through this version, perhaps even more if they seek to do and see everything. There is a slight cost to all of this, with the brisk pacing of the original game taking a modest hit. Some of the dungeons in particular can feel a little too big, since most of them haven't become any more complex in the process. The distances between locations of interest are much bigger, too. It's not a huge issue, but those familiar with previous versions are probably going to notice.
Screenshot by Siliconera
Those new to Dragon Quest III are going to have to keep the original game's age in mind as they play. While it has been expanded upon, the narrative of this game is fairly lean. You're the child of the brave knight Ortega, who disappeared while on a quest to put a stop to the villainous Baramos. Upon reaching your 16th birthday, you set out on your own quest to finish what Ortega started and perhaps find some clues as to what happened to him. You'll have to travel the entire world on this journey, and we can see the eventual Dragon Quest custom of each stop having its own problem forming here in a prototypical fashion.
I think Square Enix did its best to flesh out the story of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake as much as it could. We get some cinematic angles, fully voice-acted cutscenes, and additional dialog to make the NPCs feel less like props. There are some new story beats in here as well. The original game didn't give the main character much more than a basic quest and an ending, so having some additional narrative reinforcement along the way is nice. Nevertheless, this remains mostly true to the source material when it comes to the main plot and your party's place in it.
Screenshot by Siliconera
Your companions on this journey are characters you roll up yourself, more or less. You choose their vocation and appearance, and can then distribute a few stat boosters to customize them. Each comes with a pre-assigned personality that will affect their stat growth, but that's all it affects. They will almost never speak any dialog, and mostly serve as extra bodies in combat. You can choose whether you want to directly command them when the time comes or have the AI handle things via one of a few different routines. Basically, you shouldn't expect any narrative development for your team members. It isn't that kind of game.
One thing going for this remake is that for an 8-bit JRPG, Dragon Quest III 's world has always felt lively and connected. The remake builds on that nicely. There are lot of NPCs milling about in every town or city, and the layout of the world makes a fair amount of sense for a game of this vintage. There's a reason for that, of course, and those who have played a version of this game before will know what I'm talking about. I'll leave that as something fun for the new players to pick up on, though. The presence of a day and night cycle adds further to this sense of place, and the ability to rest at any inn until the time of day of your choosing helps avoid some of the irritations that system originally caused.
Screenshot by Siliconera
Dragon Quest III HD-2D has a lot of new features like that to make the play experience more comfortable. You can choose between three different difficulty settings. Veterans will probably want to go with the Draconian Quest option, which more closely mirrors the original game, while those who simply want to enjoy the story can pick Dracky Quest, where you literally cannot die. There's a new system that will point you towards your next goal should you want to make use of it, but you don't have to use that if you don't want to. Another pleasant change is that you don't need to talk to royalty to make a hard save anymore, as any person of the cloth will be able to handle that. With both a frequent auto-save and a quick-save option on top of that, you can pretty much stop and resume your quest whenever needed.
A lot of the additions to the game take the form of more information at your fingertips. Full area maps, quick references to how many Mini Medals you've collected, and so on. You have more traversal options, too. You can Zoom to another location even if you're indoors now, and Zoom points extend to almost every location you've visited instead of just the towns. If you Zoom from a location and then use Zoom again, it will take you right back to the original point. This helps cut down on a lot of trekking around, and I think it's a good way to offset the larger size of the areas you're exploring.
Screenshot by Siliconera
There are other incentives to keep you exploring those spaces. First of all, you'll find a lot more random loot laying around in just about every space via jars and barrels. For the most part you'll find basic consumable items, but they can be welcome relief if an outing goes longer than planned. The overworld map offers even more thrills. As you journey, you'll see sparkling spots strewn about. Searching them will give you caches of items and gear, and you can sometimes find really nice things this way. They appear to be random, and new spots will appear as you play.
Less random are the new Secret Spots. These places tend to stand out on the map. Maybe it's a bigger tree of a different color in a forest, or an oasis in the desert. Whatever the case, visiting them will take you to a separate screen. You'll sometimes find NPCs with helpful advice, some goodies in jars or barrels, treasure chests, or even stray monsters. Don't worry, they won't attack. Instead, they tie in with the new Monster Wrangler vocation and the reimagined Monster Arenas. The time of day you visit is important, as certain things will only appear if you come at the right time. You'll come across stray monsters in other locations as well, such as towns, and again it's all about that timing.
Screenshot by Siliconera
The Monster Wrangler vocation is an interesting new element. In their basic form, they're strong fighters who can make use of a decent array of gear. They aren't quite as good at this as the other combat-focused classes, but they make up for it with their abilities. As you find stray monsters and take them in, your Monster Wranglers will get access to some seriously powerful moves. We're talking group heals in the early game, strong multi-hit attacks, and more. How well they keep up with the other classes depends on how much work you put into finding those stray monsters, though. They're helpful to that end, at least. Some monsters are skittish but if you approach them with a Monster Wrangler in your party, they'll easily come with you.
There's another benefit to finding these critters. Square Enix adjusted how it handles the Monster Arena in Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake . Once a place where you could scare up some cash by betting on monster battles, these are now places where you take a more direct hand in the action. All the stray monsters you've collected find their way here, and you can pick a team of three to go into the arena. Each rank offers a nice reward for winning while also giving you access to the next rank up. The battles themselves are fully operated by the AI, but you can give them the same guidance each turn that you would give your normal companions. It's typically good enough to get them to do essentially what you want them to.
Screenshot by Siliconera
You can only have one of each monster type in your party, but finding more monsters of the same type will strengthen that first one you picked up. This is the only way to power them up, so make sure to look around every corner. You can find monsters in Secret Spots, in towns and dungeons, and even in castles. Since some of them only appear at certain times of the day, you'll want to scour every spot at every time of the day if you want to fully fill out your collection. It's not necessary to complete the game, instead serving as a treat for those who want to get as much out of the game as possible.
The main quest is essentially as it always was, when you dig down to the core. It starts off relatively linear, but once it's confident the player has their sea legs, it opens up dramatically in more ways than one. You can choose the order in which you get things done to a great degree, but it all needs to be done. You'll also eventually get access to the Alltrades Abbey, allowing you to change your companions' vocations for some sweet multiclassing power. This has always been one of my favorite elements in Dragon Quest III , because you can absolutely create some broken characters that will tear through your enemies.
Screenshot by Siliconera
With that core intact, it means that newcomers are going to have to brace for what is in many ways still that 1988 game. You're going to be fighting a ton of random battles, and even the hyper-fast-forward option can't help that fiftieth fight with an assorted bunch of monsters feel fresh. Sure, they're gorgeously animated, but even that shine can fade when you're deep in a dungeon. The inventory management's UI has seen some improvements to cut down on the busy work, but characters still have their own inventories with limited space. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, but it's something some might not be used to.
The sense of adventure that drove the original Dragon Quest III is as powerful as ever, even with the wrinkles from its age. You've never staying too long in one place, and there's a surprising amount of variety in the tasks you're given in each. There's a good balance between guiding the player and letting them find the way forward themselves. The vocation system gives you a lot of customizability in setting up your party members, and this remake gives you plenty of options in terms of how they look and sound. I think the case could be made that Dragon Quest III is where the series finally got all of its pieces in place, which makes it perfect for a modern reimagining.
Screenshot by Siliconera
Beyond all of the nuts-and-bolts gameplay adjustments, the impressive new visuals and excellent new orchestral recordings of the soundtrack bring this quest alive in a whole new way. Seeing your next destination peek up over the horizon as the water glistens in the morning sunlight and the triumphant score swells up is truly something else. The cities are beautiful, the caves are extra-creepy, and every structure feels carefully hand-built. Even the battle backgrounds look great. The lighting effects in all of these scenes help everything pop just that little bit more.
While there is no denying that the heart of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake comes from another era, the level of quality across every aspect of this redo cannot be denied. If you love the original game, taking a trip through this version of its world is simply a must. If you've never played it, I can't imagine a better way to experience one of the genre's all-time classics. Its intentional adherence to the source might make some aspects of it hard for newcomers to swallow, but everything that could be done to make it palatable without changing it too much has been. It's a true celebration, both of the game and the series.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake will come to the Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on November 14, 2024 .
The post Review: Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Does a Classic JRPG Justice appeared first on Siliconera .
Nov 13
Eiichiro Oda May be Forming the Strongest Duo in One Piece with a Minor Detail About Luffy and Loki’s Bounties
In the recent chapters of One Piece, Prince Loki was finally revealed to be chained in the mountains of Elbaph Island. Luffy sniffed out Loki from the depths of the forest due to his senses tingling. But as the character debuted, fans were bombarded with a hard-to-forget statement. Loki called himself the Sun God and […]
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
Nov 9
ZEPHON Free DownloadZEPHON Direct Download: Humanity emerges, hesitantly, into ruination. Almost nothing is left of the world as we knew it—settlements, forests, seas, mountains—all have been blasted into unfamiliarity. Horribly mutated animals hunt in packs through deformed woodland. Decrepit military robots stumble unknowingly through the ruins, sensors and logic centres blown. Alien soldiers, once impossibly powerful, cower […]
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Nov 9
Legend of Zelda BOTW Composer Yasuaki Iwata Left Nintendo
Composer Yasuaki Iwata revealed on his own X account in early November 2024 that he had left Nintendo in July 2023 to pursue new challenges. The Japanese video game composer is available for contact via his account's direct message and email. However, he has still yet to announce the new group he is now affiliated with.
Iwata first joined the list of Nintendo composers for the 2013 Wii U game Super Mario 3D World . He also later contributed to the soundtrack for the 2014 entry Mario Kart 8 .
Yasuaki Iwata was arguably best known for his contributions as a composer to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild , which launched on Nintendo Switch and Wii U in 2017. Some of the tracks made by this composer were the area themes of Korok Forest, Rito Village, and Hateno Village, as well as the dungeon and Boss fight themes inside all four Divine Beasts and the Reunion themes with all four Champions.
After working on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild , Iwata was also spotted in the composer lists for ARMS and Super Smash Bros Ultimate . The latest title Iwata was known to work on is the 2020 title Animal Crossing: New Horizons , where he notably made the game's opening theme.
Yasuaki Iwata is still working as a game music composer even after he had left Nintendo in July 2023.
The post Legend of Zelda BOTW Composer Yasuaki Iwata Left Nintendo appeared first on Siliconera .
Nov 6
DON’T SCREAM Free Download (v1.28)DON’T SCREAM Direct Download: Scream, gasp, or even whimper into your microphone, and the game restarts. Welcome to DON’T SCREAM! – an Unreal Engine 5 horror experience inspired by ’90s camcorder found footage. The challenge is simple: survive a night in the Forest without screaming or dying. Sounds easy, right? But there’s a catch. Time […]
The post DON’T SCREAM Free Download (v1.28) first appeared on WorldofPCGames .
Nov 6
How a rainforest grows WSJ Crossword ClueThat should be all the information you need to solve for the How a rainforest grows crossword clue! Be sure to check more clues on our Crossword Answers.
The post How a rainforest grows WSJ Crossword Clue appeared first on Try Hard Guides .
Nov 5
1.6 Stardew Valley Console and Mobile Patch Release Time Set
Eric “Concerned Ape” Barone shared the exact release time for the Stardew Valley console and mobile patch 1.6 release time. It will roll out at 10am PT/1pm ET/7pm CET on November 4, 2024. This follows the March 2024 debut of the update for PCs.
Concerned Ape also noted that the release time for the console and mobile versions of the Stardew Valley 1.6 patch might vary. The 10am PT/1pm ET/7pm CET time is an estimate. So it might be a little early or late, depending on which system you use to play the farming sim. The announcement also confirmed that it will cover all 1.6 content up through 1.6.9.
Here are the full patch notes for the Stardew Valley console and mobile 1.6.9 update from the official website . Concerned Ape noted that Pathoschild put them all together for us.
New content & features
If you lost an item that can’t be found again, a new friend appears in the secret woods who can get it back (for a price).
You can now put legendary fish in fish ponds. These are limited to one per pond and produce legendary fish roe. Each fish has a unique water color.
You can now place beds and sleep inside any constructed buildings that allow furniture.
Items dropped in water now float for a short time, so you can collect them if you’re quick or have a magnet ring.
Sam and Shane now have work portraits while working at JojaMart.
Slightly tweaked some dialogues.
Added new Easter eggs.
Added hidden cheat commands . (Only on platforms where a save edit is possible)
Balance changes
Blue grass no longer grows slower than normal grass.
Fruit tree growth is no longer blocked by grass and seed spots.
Pine trees now drop one extra wood when chopped down.
The initiation quest now counts wild slimes killed on the farm.
Thorns ring damage now stacks if you equip two of them, and monsters killed by a thorns ring now drop loot like regular kills.
With the Gatherer skill, the chance to double harvested forage now applies when using an iridium scythe too.
Son of Crimsonfish can now be caught during the night market.
Robin no longer constructs buildings during green rain in year 1.
Placing a bomb and then switching to a weapon no longer applies its enchantments to the bomb damage.
Added some items to shops:
Adventurer’s Guild: Rusty Sword, Femur, Elf Blade, Steel Smallsword, Crystal Dagger, Obsidian Edge, and Work Boots. These unlock after you reach a certain mine level, regardless of whether you found them in a mine chest.
Marnie’s shop: Cow Decal.
Hat mouse: Sports Cap.
Willy’s shop: Advanced Iridium Rod.
Passing trains are now more likely to happen multiple times in the same session, but can no longer appear on consecutive days.
Willy’s shop now opens on spring 2 in the first year even if you didn’t read his letter.
Fixed Queen of Sauce reruns being affected by the recipes needed by unclaimed farmhands in empty cabins.
Fixed being able to receive monster damage while jumping down a mine shaft before the screen fades to black.
Fixed spa not fully recovering energy when a max-energy buff is active.
Fixed sleeping late while exhausted not reducing stamina as intended.
Fixed the [[catalogue]] and [[Furniture Catalogue|furniture catalogue]] selling items from themed catalogues like [[Retro Catalogue]].
Fixed exploit where a fish pond with a golden cracker could produce unlimited output. Fish pond output bonuses are now applied once when the output is created.
Fixed exploit where you could cancel cow milking and still get the friendship boost.
Fixed unintended extra chance of spontaneous green rain trees when loading a save in fall.
Fixed skill buffs affecting shop item requirements in 1.6.
Fixed sturdy ring no longer halving debuff times in 1.6.
Fixed lower chance of catching lava eels in caldera after 1.6.
Fixed forage crops harvested from garden pots always being low-quality and providing no XP.
Fixed iridium scythe with forage crops not giving XP or applying the forage level quality boost.
Fixed some weapons never dropping from crates when legacy randomization is enabled.
Quality of life changes
The game now recovers most saves automatically if they’re broken, corrupted, or missing the SaveGameInfo file.
The game now resends most achievements, recipes, and important mail if you somehow missed them. For PlayStation/Xbox players, missed trophies are readded when perform a specific action instead .
Fish ponds now show the number of roe or other output items to collect.
The wedding event now replays if you exit & reload the day.
The tailoring UI is now a bit more intuitive: slots that can’t accept the held item are now disabled, and you can no longer pick up some items that can’t be tailored.
Colored items like flowers now also sort by color. That avoids items being reordered randomly each time you sort your inventory.
You can now only sell books to the bookseller via the book purchase menu, not the trade-in menu. This reduces the chance of accidentally selling a book when trying to trade it in.
The collections tab now shows artifacts, gems, and minerals once they’re donated to the museum (not as soon as you find it).
Clint now refills your watering can when upgrading it.
Tweaked save process to reduce the chance of corruption.
Anvils no longer accept parrot eggs if you can’t re-roll their level yet.
Improved chatbox commands:
Chat commands are now case-insensitive.
Changed /help format to make room for more commands.
Added /help descriptions for /emote, /mapScreenshot, and /unbanAll.
Added consistent messages when you can’t use a multiplayer-only or host-only command.
Performance optimizations.
Technical changes
Migrated from FAudio to OpenAL, which should improve performance when playing audio.
Updated SDL from 2.0.x to 2.30.4 (used for input and windowing).
Fixed compatibility with newer Windows systems when using some older GPUs.
Gameplay fixes
You can no longer swap a chest’s type if the new type is too small to store its current items.
Fixed NPC issues:
NPCs no longer avoid passable terrain features like flooring and grass when pathfinding.
Fixed kicking Krobus out of the house triggering divorce dialogues.
Fixed Leo following his island schedule after moving to the mainland.
Fixed a Lewis schedule where he would overlap Marnie.
Fixed a Penny resort dialogue when married that was never shown.
Fixed Pierre sometimes showing a closed-on-Wednesday dialogue after his shop hours are extended.
Fixed mom or dad sending duplicate mail if you change gender later.
Fixed some dialogue based on location + heart level only being shown if you have 10 or more hearts with the NPC.
Fixed special NPC gift reaction dialogue sometimes not matching their gift taste (e.g. Willy giving a positive dialogue for triple shot espresso).
Fixed unable to talk to Robin after accepting a house upgrade.
Fixed incorrectly split dialogue in Linus’ first heart event.
Fixed NPCs unable to pathfind through tiles that had a tent at the start of the day.
Fixed NPCs not loading their green rain dialogue if you started the day on the island.
Fixed NPCs saying “…” in 1.6 if they bought an item you sold to a shop but they don’t have a relevant dialogue for it.
Fixed your spouse sometimes saying “…” instead of the intended neutral dialogue.
Fixed your fiancée/spouse reacting to a mermaid’s pendant as if you’re engaged/married to someone else.
Fixed UI issues:
Fixed world map not always showing players at the right spot when they’re inside a constructed building.
Fixed links in credits no longer opening a browser page.
Fixed able to interact with HUD elements like the toolbar when they’re hidden (e.g. when the game is paused).
Fixed issues when resizing the game window:
advanced game options layout being messed up;
collections page losing its selected tab and page;
social page losing its scroll position.
Fixed themed catalogues not having category tabs.
Fixed forge UI destroying any item held by the cursor after unforging.
Fixed museum menu clicks on the OK button sometimes grabbing the artifact behind it instead.
Fixed tailoring menu letting you trash some non-trashable items.
Fixed organize button in inventory UIs letting you put any item in special chests like enrichers.
Fixed issue where phoning Robin to get building prices and then resizing the window would enable the build/demolish/etc options as if you’d visited the shop directly.
Fixed specific items and machines:
Fixed chest color getting reset when you swap chest type.
Fixed crab pots not producing double catches correctly with wild bait.
Fixed crab pots duplicating bait when loaded by a hopper.
Fixed crab pots not applying deluxe bait and wild bait bonuses in some cases.
Fixed fences destroyed on click when surrounded by impassable objects on three sides (above + left + right) instead of four as intended.
Fixed geode crushers incrementing the ‘geodes crushed’ stat when hovering, which allowed unintended RNG manipulation.
Fixed magic quiver trinket sometimes doing nothing if both a valid and invalid target are in range.
Fixed mannequins losing their clothes if they’re moved into storage to make space (e.g. for an event). They now re-equip their previous clothes when they’re put back down.
Fixed tents not blocking item placement.
Fixed watering cans with bottomless enchantment sometimes shown with a half-empty meter. Bottomless watering cans are now always full.
Fixed building upgrades not placing interior items (like the coop incubator) if…
furniture is in the way. The furniture is now moved just like other objects.
an item blocking placement can’t be moved. It’s now moved into the lost & found in that case.
Fixed cases where the Pirate’s Wife quest chain could lock you out:
If you have the quest but lost the required item, you now get a new War Memento overnight.
If the quest was cancelled, you can now talk to Birdie to restart it.
NPCs can no longer mistakenly accept the quest items as gifts or refuse to accept their quest item.
Fixed location/map issues:
Fixed screen viewport at wrong position right after warping on horseback in some cases.
Fixed wilderness farm not pre-building the first cabin in separate-cabins mode.
Fixed grass in Marnie’s cow field never regrowing.
Fixed Willy’s bait barrel missing during night market.
Fixed some missing map tiles which let you walk off-screen.
Fixed able to leave Stardew Valley Fair’s festival area in odd years.
Fixed weed/stone debris spawning on top of placed paths in some cases.
Fixed able to dig up buried treasure from non-diggable tiles in some cases.
Fixed forest fish no longer catchable on the four corners farm.
Fixed bug where using the standard farm’s wallpaper/flooring in farmhouses of another farm type would reset them to that farm’s themed defaults.
Fixed pre-1.6 saves sometimes losing the Dwarvish Translation Guide. The fix is retroactive for affected players.
Fixed pre-1.6 farmhand stats not migrated correctly. The fix is retroactive for affected farmhands.
Fixed pre-1.6 tubs o’ flowers never blooming again if their first day in 1.6 was in fall or winter.
Fixed raccoon bundle accepting anything for preserve items.
Fixed level requirement for farmer titles lowered by one in 1.6.
Fixed fish ponds accepting multiple golden crackers before the first one lands in the water. They now register the first golden cracker immediately (but still delay the visual change until it lands).
Fixed two Desert Festival makeover outfits that applied male shirts to female players.
Fixed strange behavior of shop items with both a stock limit and stack size (e.g. items in several desert festival shops).
Fixed edge cases where viewing a previous year’s secret santa letter in the collections tab would show the current year’s secret santa in the game menu during the Feast of the Winter Star week.
Fixed the throw-item-into-shipping-bin animation drawing the base uncolored sprite for colored items like roe.
Fixed error loading mobile saves on other platforms.
Fixed crash when loading a save file in some rare cases.
Fixed crash when using a tent on Ginger Island during a night event.
Fixed some cat gifts applying fishing bonuses from the main player’s equipped fishing rod.
Fixed movie theater scene failing in some cases when players have previously unequipped trinkets.
Fixed Junimo harvesters losing the item color when dropping a crop on the ground due to their hut being full.
Fixed rare edge case where a Junimo hut output chest has too many item slots.
Multiplayer fixes
Added an /unlinkPlayer [name] chat command, which lets the host player release a farmhand so it can be reclaimed by the next person who connects.
Fixed being able to steal another player’s roommate.
Fixed farmhands able to claim multiple Desert Festival fishing quests per day.
Fixed crash when reconnecting later in the day after leaving a festival.
Fixed host crash if a farmhand disconnects while they’re between locations.
Fixed NPC duplication in multiplayer fish derbies.
Fixed crab pots & farm animals owned by an offline farmhand checking the main player’s professions instead.
Fixed crab pots with no owner checking professions from the main player instead of the player adding bait.
Fixed farmhands sometimes not seing the message when they can’t enter an NPC’s bedroom.
Fixed Marlon’s desert festival quests not displaying the Calico Egg reward to farmhands.
Fixed some multiplayer logic not handling an offline/invalid player correctly.
Fixed some potential ‘null reference exception’ crashes in multiplayer code.
Fixed crab pots with no owner checking the Mariner profession instead of Luremaster for the bait requirement in some cases.
Fixed Willy not sending fishing rod mail to farmhands who join after spring 2.
Fixed ‘waiting for players’ check including disconnecting players.
Fixed trains not playing chugga chugga sounds for farmhands.
Display text and localization fixes
In the credits, replaced the Reddit/Twitter links with a “News & Community” link.
Fixed a huge number of translation issues for non-English players, and added automated tests to keep translations more in sync going forward. For example, this fixes…
dialogue/event changes in 1.6 which weren’t applied in some languages;
missing dialogues and event actions;
missing, outdated, or incorrect translations;
missing event preconditions (e.g. Leah’s 10-heart event could play on a rainy day in some languages);
events playing the wrong music, not being skippable, or placing players or NPCs at the wrong spot;
translations having different dialogue portraits/breaks/etc;
conversation topics not started when something happens;
text being shown with one word per dialogue box;
improved grammar (e.g. gender conjugation);
various errors and typos;
and many other issues.
Many improvements and fixes to translations and sprites, including some re-translated item names .
Renamed “cranberries jelly/juice/wine” to “cranberry jelly/juice/wine”.
Fixed some bad words being produced by the random name generator.
Fixed NPC text signs and some chat/UI messages in multiplayer not always shown in your language.
Fixed flavored items in some chat/UI messages not shown correctly (like “ Player put ‘Smoked’ into the potluck soup “).
Fixed various typos in English text.
Fixed special order objectives not re-translated when the language changes. (This fix only applies to new special orders going forward.)
Fixed Robin showing the wrong number of hardwood required for a house upgrade in some languages.
Fixed some languages showing Willy’s back room invite mail as “???” in the collections tab.
Fixed some languages having inconsistent hat hair behavior.
Fixed some languages producing items with a different internal name.
Fixed French players not seeing prismatic effect for Magic Cowboy Hat and Magic Turban.
Fixed French and Japanese showing a ‘needs 5 coal’ message for the dehydrator.
Fixed Russian club coin and slots offset issues.
Fixed Russian Joja movie theater tilesheet not showing up.
Fixed Russian tool tooltips having overlapped names.
Fixed Spanish jukebox showing blank name for ‘Ginger Island’ song.
Fixed buy-ticket messages showing an unformatted price (like 1000g instead of 1,000g ).
Cosmetic fixes
Added lights to Marcello’s book stand.
Sam now changes uniform when he enters JojaMart, instead of only when he reaches his work tile.
Fixed many bugs related to light sources (e.g. lights stuck on screen, shown in the wrong location, removed before they should be, etc).
Fixed issues with the golden walnut & Qi gem drop-down display:
Added support for showing both at once (e.g. another player finds a golden walnut while you’re in the Qi gem shop).
Fixed display sometimes stuck on screen permanently.
Fixed display showing the wrong type in some cases.
Fixed display sometimes appearing in multiplayer when the value didn’t change.
Fixed line wrapping for movie concession description tooltips.
Fixed visual glitch during the even-year Spirit’s Eve if you have the Joja movie theater.
Fixed issue with padding on the edge of maximized game windows on Windows.
Fixed a shirt that looked weird.
Fixed tooltip display issues, like an empty space for edible items that don’t recover any stamina/health (like sweet pea and crocus) or an unintended double space in tooltip buff names.
Fixed missing shadows behind some colored items (like wine) in menus.
Fixed texture wrapping issue with Joja door.
Fixed glitched hidden emote animations in NPC profile menu in some cases. NPCs now use always their default sprite in the profile view.
Fixed red slime item sprite drawn one pixel lower than other colors.
Fixed missing pixels in anvil sprite’s outline.
Fixed stray pixel in dried mushroom color mask.
Fixed Krobus showing a gift icon for the void ghost pendant when he can’t accept it.
Fixed the item-received message cutting off part of the item name if it contains a # character (like ‘Tropical Fish #173’).
Fixed the item-received message sometimes showing no count or a wrong count.
Fixed some farm animals having double shadows.
Fixed stardrop tooltips showing incorrect health/energy recovery amounts.
Fixed timing of Easter egg in summit event.
Gamepad fixes
Fixed various issues/crashes with gamepad support.
When buying animals or buildings with a gamepad, you can now use the D-pad to move the cursor.
In the community center bundle UI, using gamepad triggers to move to donation slots and back now returns you to the same spot.
Added a small delay before you can cancel a waiting-for-players dialogue using a gamepad, to prevent accidentally closing it immediately after pressing the OK button.
Fixed gamepad issues on the new game screen.
Fixed dresser tabs not selectable with a gamepad.
Changes for modded players
Added a Content/ContentHashes.json file containing the MD5 hash for every vanilla content asset. This can be used by SMAPI and other tools to detect corrupted or modified game files.
Improved debug console commands .
When you leave a horse/mount in a temporary location, it now returns home when that location is removed.
Fixed ‘Jewels Of The Sea’ book producing roe for custom fishing catches that normally don’t have roe.
Fixed forage crops outside the farm being removed each week.
Fixed meteorite, strange capsule, and stone owl only appearing in the top-left 64×64 tile area on large custom farm maps.
Fixed pagination in powers tab when mods add more powers.
Fixed edge cases throughout the game code related to items whose stacks can’t be reduced to zero (e.g. tools).
Fixed various errors when custom items have no name.
Fixed error when mods apply audio changes if there’s no audio device available.
Fixed error if there are no movies available due to a mod bug. The game will now log a warning and choose from the full list of movies instead.
Fixed crash if a farm animal is in a broken building or location.
Fixed crash if a smoked fish’s original fish data no longer exists. You now get a delicious smoked Error Item instead.
Fixed crash when custom sounds loaded from a mod’s .ogg files are paused/resumed many times.
Fixed map tilesheet crash in some cases when playing split-screen mode with mods.
Fixed issues when the game’s whichFarm and whichModFarm fields are out of sync.
Fixed ‘light source already exists’ and ‘changing net field parent’ warnings in some cases.
Fixed mod data getting reset on chest type swap.
Fixed berry bushes showing wrong sprite in locations where seeds can be planted in any season.
Fixed stardrop gift reaction dialogue for custom NPCs defaulting to some raw data instead of their loved dialogue.
Fixed able to enter the Adventurer’s Guild back room without meeting the requirement if the door is open after a custom event.
Fixed triggered actions being logged twice.
Changes for mod authors
See the 1.6.9 mod author migration guide for new APIs, dialogue keys, game state queries, debug commands, map properties, C# constants/fields/methods, data fields, and many other technical changes.
Stardew Valley is available for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PCs, mobile devices, and the PlayStation Vita. The 1.6 update is available now on PCs, and the patch will come to the Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and mobile devices on November 4, 2024.
The post 1.6 Stardew Valley Console and Mobile Patch Release Time Set appeared first on Siliconera .
Nov 4
Tower Defense RNG Codes (November 2024)In Roblox Tower Defense RNG, you’ll embark on an exciting adventure to protect your base from waves of pesky enemies! Roll to unlock amazing towers and traps, and upgrade them to become even stronger. With the chance to find rare items, you can use special towers with unique abilities in fantastic places like eerie forests […]
The post Tower Defense RNG Codes (November 2024) appeared first on Try Hard Guides .
Nov 1
MrBeast and IShowSpeed Give Logan Paul Flashbacks of the Japan Forest Controversy That Almost Ended His Career
Halloween is probably one of the most anticipated times of the year and the entire hype just gets elevated thanks to YouTube and its brilliant content creators. Every year, we wait for YouTubers to come out with unique concepts for their Halloween videos and they sure didn’t disappoint us this time. As Logan Paul, IShowSpeed, […]
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
Nov 1
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – Secret of the Spires DLC Launches November 26thThe story DLC takes place in the Spires of the Clouded Forest, where players partake in "epic aerial battles" with their Ikran.
Oct 31
Metaphor: ReFantazio – How to Beat Sogne the Icebound Boss Guide
Quick View Where Can You Find Sogne the Icebound? How to Prepare to Fight Sogne the Icebound How to Beat Sogne the Icebound In Metaphor: ReFantazio, you’ll eventually need to learn how to beat Sogne the Icebound, a draconic boss that lurks in Everfrost Forest. The battle against Sogne the Icebound is a fight with […]
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
Oct 30
Rainforest home to the Nomole people Crossword ClueThat should be all the information you need to solve for the Rainforest home to the Nomole people crossword clue! Be sure to check more clues on our Crossword Answers.
The post Rainforest home to the Nomole people Crossword Clue appeared first on Try Hard Guides .
Oct 29
Review: Shin-chan: Shiro and the Coal Town Shares a Summer Fantasy
While Crayon Shin-chan humor can sometimes be a bit crude and the character designs might look a little harsh compared to other anime series, recent games have proven themselves to be smooth, soothing experiences. Shin-chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is a prime example. It’s a relaxing game that focuses more on the pastoral charms of a quiet, countryside life and moving at your own pace, with the goofiness and madcap elements of the series offering entertaining and comedic diversions.
Shin-chan: Shiro and the Coal Town starts with the pleasure that comes from living a gentle, kind life as a small child in a safe, tiny town. Shinnosuke and his family are currently living in Akita after his father’s job brought them there on a research project. Since his grandparents live nearby, Shinnosuke’s spends many days learning from his grandfather Ginnosuke and leisurely exploring the area with him. He collects bugs, fish, and plants for a local author. He meets kids around town. He takes requests to access new areas.
Screenshots by Siliconera
However, after getting established in Akita, Shinnosuke learns there’s a whole other area to explore, and it is one that apparently needs his unique help. Shiro leads him to a mysterious train platform in the nearby forest and, after getting on a car, it takes the two to Coal Town. It turns out Coal Town is in some sort of danger, and a young girl named Sumi asked Shiro to bring Shinnosuke there after she met the dog. Once there, you get involved in helping the town and its citizens as well, doing things like aiding an inventor named Yumi, assisting in creating food for Yosoi’s diner to sell, and challenging people to trolly races.
Since this is a life sim, the gameplay loop is quite lowkey. After Shinnosuke wakes up and has breakfast with his parents and grandparents, we are left to spend the day however we’d like. If we decide to stay around Akita, that might mean tending to the garden and the things we’ve grown, hanging out with the kids and neighbors nearby, fishing, collecting bugs, and generally experiencing a relaxed daily life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0prrCLPdk5M&t=4s&ab_channel=%E3%83%8D%E3%82%AA%E3%82%B9%E3%82%AD%E3%83%83%E3%82%BATV
Should someone head to Coal Town, odds are the narrative will advance a bit further. Not that there aren’t story-related activities happening around Akita. However, as the more otherworldly and unusual area, we’re pulled in to helping make a difference there. Especially in the case of revitalizing the diner and aiding with inventions. It’s also where you can get involved in trolley races, which is one of the more active activities. But again, even though sometimes it might seem like more is “happening” there, we can set our own pace.
Since it is a very low-stakes game where a player can take their time, it also might make some of the more minor issues feel like less of a problem. For example, catching bugs can be a bit tricky. They’re small, after all, and with ones like fireflies it may be difficult to discern exactly when you should swing the net. (I recommend looking for the shadow!) When filling out the compendium for wildlife or getting specific items for quests, it might be a little frustrating if you just can’t come across the right fish or ore that you need. (Fish shadow shapes are different, though they are hard to see, and Shiro will alert you to rare items sometimes!)
Screenshot by Siliconera
Image via Neos Corporation
Screenshot by Siliconera
Also, I feel like the environmental design and direction means that even if someone normally wouldn’t be a fan of Crayon Shin-chan, Shin-chan: Shiro and the Coal Town can still prove to be an incredibly appealing game. Both the designs of Akita and Coal Town are amazing, as well as very different. They occupy very opposite sides of the spectrum. In Akita, we have these wide, open, natural spaces filled with greenery, rustic homes, and more natural elements. Coal Town is a cobbled together industrial town. From a glance, you can see how the mines are the main reason it even exists. Yet even though it is crowded, polluted, and more densely packed with people, it’s still equally beautiful.
Shin-chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is a slow life simulation game paired with an engaging adventure involving the mysterious Coal Town. It’s a really relaxed and pleasant play, as a result. You can take your time with it and enjoy the ambiance. The only thing that might get in the way of some people’s appreciation or enjoyment of the experience is the presence of Shin-chan himself, as not everyone might appreciate his humor or the series’ character design. Still, even if you are apprehensive, it’s a soothing way to savor the last bits of summer before easing into winter.
Shin-chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is available on the Nintendo Switch and PC.
The post Review: Shin-chan: Shiro and the Coal Town Shares a Summer Fantasy appeared first on Siliconera .
Oct 27
Endless Forest Dream Free DownloadEndless Forest Dream Direct Download: A squad of heavily armored vehicles creeps along the narrow path of the tentacle forest. They approach an open space surrounded by an insurmountable wall of grotesque tentacles. Countless creatures wave their limbs around excitedly. They’re oozing mucus, eagerly awaiting the next “performance.” “Escorted by dozens of heavily armed soldiers, […]
The post Endless Forest Dream Free Download first appeared on WorldofPCGames .
Oct 24
AWAKEN – Astral Blade Free DownloadAWAKEN – Astral Blade Direct Download: Bionic girl Tania is assigned by her creator, Dr. Herveus to search and rescue a missing Investigation team in the rainforest of Horace Islands where mysterious Karpas energy turns local animals and plants into aggressive mutants. Slain your foes with a wide range of combos: from fastest to slowest. […]
The post AWAKEN – Astral Blade Free Download first appeared on WorldofPCGames .
Oct 23
Citadelum Free Download (v1.0.0.0)Citadelum Direct Download: Defy the Gods of the Pantheon or follow their will. Become the master of oh so many lives and destiny of so few in this twist to the genre face to face with the old deities. Build your settlement. Gather and refine resources from forests and quarries, breed animals, grow vegetables, fish […]
The post Citadelum Free Download (v1.0.0.0) first appeared on WorldofPCGames .
Oct 22
The ForestAs the lone survivor of a passenger jet crash, you find yourself in a mysterious forest battling to stay alive against a society of cannibalistic mutants. Build, explore, survive in this terrifying first person survival horror simulator.
