Elite Dangerous: Odyssey VR

Elite Dangerous: Odyssey VR

The latest update to Frontier Developments’ popular space-faring simulator Elite Dangerous: Odyssey brings new missions, planetary technology, social hubs and more. This update also expands the bubble of playable space to 50ly, making it easier for Commanders to explore distant worlds. It also features a new genetic sampler tool for exobiology gameplay. The update is now available for pre-order and will be released in early 2021.

There is no official support for on foot VR gameplay in the current version of the game. While some users on Reddit have managed to use unofficial methods to enable on foot gameplay, it should be noted that these methods are not supported by the developer and can potentially break your game. Moreover, the on-foot experience is quite different from the in-vehicle gameplay, so it may not be an ideal choice for everyone.

On the plus side, the SRV mode in VR is strongly supported and offers a great sense of immersion as you pilot your ship through the galaxy. However, it can cause motion sickness in some players, especially if you’re not used to it. There are some settings in the in-game menu that can help alleviate the problem, though.

Despite these issues, there are many reasons to get excited about the release of Elite Dangerous: Odyssey VR. For one, the system requirements are relatively low compared to other VR games. Additionally, the physics engine supports a high framerate, which should be able to accommodate most modern PCs. In addition, the system requirements are lower than those of Elite Dangerous: Horizons, which means that it’s more accessible to a wider range of players.

In addition to the aforementioned benefits, the update also offers improved social interaction and combat. Players will be able to engage in multi-player battles with the ability to target individual ships or groups of fighters. The graphical quality has been greatly improved, and the game is now more realistic than ever before.

Another major change is the removal of the console profile transfer portal, which was a feature that allowed gamers to move their player data from a PlayStation or Xbox console to a computer-based version of the game. However, the developers have promised that it will be re-opened at some point in the future.

Super Mario Odyssey

Mario has been a staple of gaming for as long as game consoles have been around, and Super Mario Odyssey is no exception. The game distills the series’ joyful, irreverent world and characters with best-in-class platforming and a steady stream of new mechanics into a generational masterpiece.

The game’s main story follows Mario on a global quest to save his beloved Princess Peach from Bowser, who has kidnapped her. Accompanied by his anthropomorphic cap-like companion Cappy, Mario travels from kingdom to kingdom in search of Power Moons that fuel the Odyssey, his airship.

Odyssey features an open-world structure that allows players to explore a wide variety of environments in any order they wish. Each kingdom has a variety of landmarks and events, including various attractions such as buildings, shrines, restaurants, and more. Players can find and collect numerous collectibles throughout the game, including Kingdom Coins, Crazy Caps, and Power Moons. Each kingdom’s Coins and Caps unlock new items to purchase at the Odyssey’s Crazy Cap Shop.

Cappy allows Mario to possess various creatures and objects, allowing him to interact with them in new ways. For example, in the Sand Kingdom, Mario can possess a sandworm to collect hidden treasures and defeat a kingpin that has overrun a small village. He can also possess a clam that provides the ability to walk on water and control a wave, allowing him to explore underwater.

Many of the game’s new abilities are inspired by past games in the franchise, particularly Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine. Mario’s advanced movement options from these titles, such as sliding while grabbing on a ledge, return in Odyssey, along with many other gameplay elements, such as the ability to hover on cliffs and the use of enemy fusions.

Reviewers have praised the game’s level design and attention to detail. Dave Thier of Forbes praised how “Super Mario Odyssey is a wide-open challenge that never stops changing, even dozens of hours in,” while also praising its visuals and music. Peter Brown of GameSpot praised how the game’s variety of platforms and puzzles keep things fresh, while also noting that the game’s motion controls aren’t always perfect.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

With its sweeping open world and emphasis on survival, Breath of the Wild is the Zelda game that fans have been waiting for. It takes ideas from other games — crafting and survival, for example — but reworks them into the unique setting of Hyrule. The result is a game that’s more open and natural than its predecessors, allowing players to discover things like how lightning works through experimentation. It isn’t always as curated and cinematic, but that sense of discovery makes it feel like the kind of adventure that made the series famous in the first place.

Four years in development and two delays, and a world 12 times larger than any other incarnation of the Zelda universe — the result is an unforgettable experience. Nintendo’s team of artists, programmers and designers lived by one mantra during production: break the conventions of the franchise. And that they did.

The story begins with Link awakening in a dark cavern, guided by a disembodied voice to a device that resembles the Switch controller. From there, the game opens to reveal a vast and dangerous world of rolling hills, craggy valleys and frozen tundras. The landscape feels bigger than anything previous fans have seen in the series, and the reworked gameplay puts an emphasis on exploration and survival with a new system for cooking and weapon upgrades.

In an interview with Famitsu magazine, producer Eiji Aonume revealed that the team originally conceived of making Princess Zelda — normally the damsel-in-distress character who’s saved by her prince charming — the game’s main character. But the team ultimately decided that it would detract from Link’s role as the hero.

Breath of the Wild features an extensive number of references to previous games in the series and genre, with a nods to Skyward Sword, Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess and A Link to the Past in particular. Even the soundtrack contains several tunes reminiscent of classic games, including The Grasshopper’s Song from Xenosaga and The Hero’s Welcome from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Nintendo is no doubt hoping that this level of depth and quality will attract new gamers to the series, as well as rekindle the interest of dedicated fans.

The Walking Dead: The Final Season

For the first time since 2012, Telltale’s The Walking Dead video game series comes to an end. It’s a bittersweet moment, especially as the game is arguably the best of its kind. The Final Season takes place after a seven-year time jump and features Clementine, the player-controlled character who survived the zombie apocalypse in Season 1.

Clementine has been on the run ever since then, but the opening episode of The Final Season, ‘Take Us Back,’ finally brings her and baby AJ back to a home base. The secluded school is safe for the moment, but it won’t last long. Throughout the episode, Clementine has to make a series of choices, which can often lead to a variety of outcomes.

The Final Season has a distinct feel that sets it apart from previous seasons, with a focus on consequences and the weight of every decision. Even the small things can affect how people react to you and can alter your relationships with characters. For instance, in the third episode, ‘Cleaved Away’, you can have a heated confrontation between Clementine and James over AJ’s actions in the previous episode. But this sequence only plays out if James is still alive. Otherwise, the whole thing changes.

There’s also a greater sense of urgency in this series, especially in the action scenes. These are some of the fastest-paced moments in the entire franchise, and you’ll have to act fast if you want to survive. There’s little room for error, too. The Final Season isn’t afraid to put you in dangerous situations, and the game will punish you for mistakes.

The Final Season is a compelling, emotional ride that ties up several loose ends from the past three seasons. The episodic game is a fitting send-off for one of the most popular video games in recent memory, and it’s worth checking out if you’re a fan of the franchise. It’s available now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One version feature 7.1 Dolby TrueHD audio. The Blu-ray and digital combo pack comes with bonus features including deleted scenes.