When theAssassin’s Creedfranchise first broke onto the gaming scene, it was a unique combination of open-world traversal, stealth gameplay, and historically-accurate narrative. That was in 2007. Now, 15 years later,Assassin’s Creedis one of the biggest gaming franchises in the world andhas a noticeable influenceon nearly every open-world video game that hits the market. RELATED:Assassin’s Creed Rift Needs Excellent Parkour While fans of the series are drawn in by itsstunningly-realized historical settings,satisfying parkour mechanics, and unusual sci-fi meta-narratives, the games have long struggled with their mission structure....

Summary Naughty Dog are one of the most reliable game developers in the industry right now. Whether it’s their incredible take on thesurvival horror genreinThe Last of Us, or the epic action-adventures ofNathan Drake, they’ve come out with some absolute masterpieces in the eyes of many and are consistent in their quality, though not all of their games have been universally loved. There’s always a chance that a game in any series can end up being a little polarizing if it takes some creative risks, and while there aren’t many in Naughty Dog’s catalog, there are still some which ended up dividing opinion....

Combining the elements of an interactive narrative and JRPG sounds like a great idea on paper. Throw that idea into a world that parallels the video game industry, and have it developed by two studios with 14 years of experience within the same series, and the final result is bound to be a strange accumulation of the varying parts.Neptunia: Sisters VS Sistersis exactly that — a strange experience, but one that’s muddied by different components that don’t ever fully come together....

The chronology of events between all threeDrakengard games,Nier,the remasteredNier Replicant,andNier Automatais honestly pretty convoluted.Yoko Taro really spread that infoacross all different forms of media. In fact, to get the full picture, fans will need to do a lot of research that includes information found in theNier Automatastage plays, theNierDrama CD, theDrakengard 3manga series, and even the crossover raids in theFinal Fantasy XIVMMORPG. RELATED:The Most Hilarious Nier: Automata Memes About 2B Thankfully, the actualNier Automata game, including theEnd of YoRHa Edition,is pretty obvious with its references and homages to its predecessor, but there are still a few of them that only true fans ofNier Replicantwill notice....

Not only is the in-game photo mode a great feature forStarfieldto borrow fromFallout 76, but having players’ photos show up as personalized loading screens is a nice touch that sweetens the deal. Especially considering the frequency of loading screens that players encounter throughoutStarfield, these particular features are arguably underrated. Furthermore, more video games in general should consider the value of having a photo mode and personal loading screen feature. Many players feel thatStarfieldstill has a lot to learn fromFallout 76and other Bethesda RPGs that were released beforeStarfield....

Blizzard has finally introduced Twitch drops toWorld of Warcraft, and the rewards have been pretty strong so far. While Blizzard could have created Twitch exclusive cosmetics, it chose to offer many coveted cosmetics instead. It went back into the expansive catalog of retiredWorld of Warcraftitems such as mounts, and offered some of the most sought-after gear for those who are willing to watchWarcraftstreamers for a couple of hours. There is no large barrier to claim these, and it has helped open up the game’s rich history to the masses....

Genres of games have expanded and altered over the yearsto fit new subgenres of themesthat have made games entertaining to those that have had the chance to experience them. However, some games and franchises are known for how they have iconically defined the boundaries of what it means to be in that genre. Related:Great PS1 Anime Games That Never Left Japan These memorable PlayStation games and franchises changed the perception of what to expect in other games from various genres, either through their innovative gameplay mechanics, creative design changes, or sheer quality....

Summary APokemonfan has recently crafted a lovely Eternatus crochet. ThePokemoncommunity is filled with talented people who often use their skills to celebrate the franchise, which includes creating plushes, crochet, paintings, fan art, and more, and this work stands out because of its high quality. Eternatus is a legendary Poison/Dragon-type creature originally introduced inthe eighth generation ofPokemongames. Often considered among the most memorable critters inPokemon Sword and Shielddue to its unique appearance, Eternatus has a rare dual-type combination, which is only shared by Dragalge and Naganadel....

Together with Pikachu and Eevee, Charizard is one of the most popular Pokemon in the history of thelong-running franchise. With this in mind, it should come as no surprise to see a special Charizard-themed event coming toPokemon Scarlet & Violetso soon after their release, especially with Pikachu and Eevee having both already been treated to their own special events early on in the games' lifecycle. RELATED:Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: The Best Order to Get Every Badge (Gyms, Titans & Team Star Bases)...

It’s a long-running joke that at certain points while playing almost any game, the PS4 Pro sounds like it could blast off into space. While PCs and console fans typically get loud while the hardware is pushed to its limits, thePS4 Proseems to take things to a new level. The console can get so loud, in fact, that it can be hard to hear the game over the fan spinning....

While the iconic and well-lovedSuper Mariofranchise is celebrating its 35th anniversaryin 2020, 2021 is very important anniversary for another popular video game mascot. 2021 marks the 30th anniversary ofSonic the Hedgehog, and it looks like SEGA wants to pull out all the stops for Big Blue. And one of the ways it plans on doing that is with a new anniversary encyclopedia exploring the lore of the franchise. The newSonic the Hedgehogencyclopedia, aptly named theSonic the Hedgehog Encyclo-speed-ia, is a $50 hardcover book that will delve into the lore and details of everySonicgame over the last 30 years....

Out of all the amazing,influential technologiespresent within theStar Trekfranchise, one of themost impressive is the replicators. Their ability to conjure almost anything with a simple command has the possibility to end world hunger in the blink of an eye. It can create any tool needed for any task without having to rummage around in endless toolboxes. They can even create material possessions such as clothing or furniture. However, every piece of technology, no matter how remarkabe, has its constraints....

Summary WhileStar Warsfans have had a lot to say aboutStar Wars: The Last Jediand the sequel trilogy as a whole since its release, one observant viewer has taken to social media to point out one interesting way in which they thinkThe Last Jedigot a leg up on the other Disney-era trilogy films. After Disney acquired Lucasfilm, they announced a newStar Warstrilogy that would be a sequel to the original films. Fan excitement that preceded the films was followed by would be met with mixed opinions from fans as they rolled out....