Fallout 4 Locks An Important Mechanic Behind DLC & It Hurts The Base Game

and represent fairly different implementations of Bethesda's open-world formula, but when it comes to their shortcomings, they both end up falling into the same trap. There's always a certain level of familiarity to Bethesda RPGs, from the strong points like worlds full of varied possibilities, to the weaker elements like outdated engine design. Not everything has stayed the same over the years, however, and the newer ideas in and are exactly why they don't measure up to the best qualities of Bethesda's most memorable games.

FromSoftware has touted Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree as its largest ever expansion, and though that obviously means it’s going to be packed full of plenty of new content – like over 10 new bosses and a new map larger than the base game’s Limgrave area – what should we expect where its endings are concerned? According to director Hidetaka Miyazaki, though there will be multiple endings, you shouldn’t expect quite as many as the base game had.

Getting a complete story experience in can take a long time, but the process tends to feel fairly straightforward in most regards. From a linear main story to checklists for side content, there isn't much about that leaves potential for confusion, especially when compared to the less straightforward approach of the original Even after 100%ing a playthrough, however, it's actually impossible to have seen every scene that the game has to offer in one go at the story.

has made waves as a live-service game that offers the complete package of fun gameplay, an engaging community, and interesting updates, but one move could undo a huge portion of what it's built over the past few months. As a sequel to the modestly popular top-down shooter, the third-person follow-up has managed to go toe-to-toe with major IPs and stands out as one of the biggest successes of 2024. Not everyone has been able to get in on the fun – isn't available on Xbox – but that hasn't slowed its momentum much.

's long-awaited next-gen update has now refreshed the game on both the Xbox Series X/S and the PlayStation 5, but it's still a better game on the former option thanks to one huge difference between the versions. Ever since first making its way to consoles with, the post-apocalyptic RPG series has had plenty of struggles with bugs and performance issues showing up in every game to varying degrees. The next-gen update does fix some key problems that have persisted in the game since launch, even if it introduces some of its own.

PlayStation Plus is getting some exciting new additions in May, allowing subscribers to pick up a variety of games and keep them as long as a subscription is active. A small selection of rotating monthly titles is available to download across all three tiers of the service, which offer varying degrees of benefits for different price points. On the more costly Extra and Premium tiers, May will also bring new entries to a more permanent catalog that consistently adds more games than it loses.

The soulslike genre has been shifting and evolving for over a decade now, and with the rapid release of recent entries like and , it's clear just how much has changed over that time. Although was the first game to codify many of the core soulslike mechanics, was the one that shot the concept to worldwide popularity. Within a few years, the ideas that made so compelling were starting to spread throughout the gaming industry, and plenty of titles have benefited from them since.

is a new cartoon brawler from Lightfox Games, tossing players into hazard-filled arenas to partake in everything from classic deathmatches to cupcake-chomping competitions. Published by Mad Mushroom, a label owned by content creator group OTK, the game is focused on the kind of wide appeal and simple fun that could make the experience appealing to streamers and their audiences. There's such a thing as too simple, however, and is definitely toeing that line.

The new is an interesting addition to , but more than anything, it's a reminder that one older game in franchise deserves to have a proper comeback. Although the release model of has long relied on extensive amounts of expansion packs, the series also spent much of its lifespan spinning things off into proper side games. Although this could sometimes get very far from the original concept (like in ), the franchise also had its fair share of games that fulfilled core concepts in their own interesting ways.

Navigating the world of isn't that tricky as a whole, but one element that's easy to get tripped up on is the game's approach to relationships. makes a major departure from both the original and by making relationship progress with party members a central part of the game, with the ultimate payoff lying in a number of potential dates at the Gold Saucer. Although the basic thrust of the system is clear enough, some key aspects aren't actually revealed until after the credits roll.

has finally received a next-gen update to squeeze in some improvements on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, and it also makes some key changes and additions that are reflected on PC as well. Released in 2015 for the prior console generation, remains the most recent mainline installment in the post-apocalyptic RPG series. Anyone looking to scratch the itch has no choice but to stick with or previous games in the series, so the prospect of getting an update could be a tantalizing one.

might not look like a game that would have much of an emphasis on the story at first glance, but by the time it reaches the ending, it proves that its narrative ambitions are greater than might be expected. As an unusual twist on the soulslike genre, packs intense fights and a healthy dose of platforming into a package that's more charming than most of its peers. Although the framing might seem like it wouldn't dwell in the grim, quiet corners that most soulslike games frequent, the story ends up having some serious weight.