Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Review - IGN

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• Gaming04/30/2023@ThePinGang

  Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Review - IGN

  Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, JapanNintendo

  

  Starts 07/29/2022UNVERIFIED78% CONFIDENCE4.2 years ago

  When it comes to over-the-top roleplaying games, it’s hard to beat the bonkers worlds and stories I’ve come to expect from the Xenoblade Chronicles saga. With Xenoblade Chronicles 3, massive improvements have been made to combat, quest design, and the RPG sandbox, while retaining the absurd and awesome environments, and a laser-focus on great characters and an impressive (if convoluted) story. Of course, while this third entry evolves in some key areas that make the epic journey more consistently fun than the two mainline games that came before it, it also repeats some of the same mistakes, including sloppy writing, weak bosses, and graphics that often leave something to be desired. Even so, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is already competing for the spot as my favorite iteration of this beloved series.

  $59.99

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• Gaming04/30/2023@PrettyGang

  Elden Ring Review - IGN

  Shinjuku, Tokyo, JapanFromSoftware

  

  Starts 02/25/2022UNVERIFIED78% CONFIDENCE4.6 years ago

  In the 87 hours that it took me to beat Elden Ring, I was put through an absolute wringer of emotion: Anger as I was beaten down by its toughest challenges, exhilaration when I finally overcame them, and a fair amount of sorrow for the mountains of exp I lost along the way to some of the toughest boss encounters FromSoftware has ever conceived. But more than anything else I was in near-constant awe – from the many absolutely jaw-dropping vistas, the sheer scope of an absolutely enormous world, the frequently harrowing enemies, and the way in which Elden Ring nearly always rewarded my curiosity with either an interesting encounter, a valuable reward, or something even greater. FromSoftware takes the ball that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild got rolling and runs with it, creating a fascinating and dense open world about freedom and exploration above all else, while also somehow managing to seamlessly weave a full-on Dark Souls game into the middle of it. It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that Elden Ring ended up as one of the most unforgettable gaming experiences I’ve ever had.

  $59.99

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• Gaming04/30/2023@ThePinGang

  Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope Review - IGN

  Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, JapanNintendo

  

  Starts 10/20/2022CONFIRMED80% CONFIDENCE3.9 years agoHappened as dated, per ign.com^[1]: "…irder when a giant manta ray from space arrives to cause trouble. The story is actually one of Spark…"

  When a game hits on a good idea, some developers are content to play it safe for the sequel, making a few refinements but largely stick to what worked the first time. That totally makes sense. But Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is not that kind of sequel; even though Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle surprised us all with its smart XCOM-style tactics in Nintendo clothing, this followup maintains its best ideas but reinvents itself to the point where it immediately feels very different. It’s bigger and better in nearly every way, with a more freeform and customizable take on combat and an almost completely rethought overworld that’s much less linear and absolutely packed with puzzles. The story’s all over the place and the Switch can’t always handle everything smoothly, but it’s a fantastic game that can be played as either an enjoyable cakewalk or a deep, demanding tactical challenge, all while maintaining its zany sense of humor.

  Picking back up in the post-Rabbid invasion Mushroom Kingdom, things immediately get even weirder when a giant manta ray from space arrives to cause trouble. The story is actually one of Sparks of Hope’s few missteps: the original’s trans-dimensional blending of Mario characters and goofball Rabbids is completely absurd, but it kind of makes sense in its own way. This time, though, the completely unrelated enemy spreads what’s effectively Ganon’s corrupt ooze with eyeballs from Breath of the Wild everywhere, and most but not all of her minions are also Rabbids for some reason? Also we have a spaceship for traveling between literal worlds? It makes Kingdom Battle look grounded in reality by comparison, which is something I never thought I’d say about that game. I wasn’t expecting deep lore or anything, but it’s kind of a mess. It does consistently have some pretty good jokes, though, so at least I was chuckling as I was scratching my head.

  $59.99

  0.66

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• Gaming04/30/2023@ThePinGang

  Bayonetta 3 Review - IGN

  Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, JapanNintendo

  

  Starts 10/28/2022CONFIRMED78% CONFIDENCE3.9 years agoHappened as dated, per ign.com^[1]: "…is especially disappointing because it starts out so promisingly. It opens with a surprisingly dark…"

  I hold the Bayonetta series’ combat in such high esteem that I’d consider it in the top five or so combat systems of all time, right next to the Devil May Cry, God of War, Ninja Gaiden, and Batman Arkham games. It’s just incredible to look at, feels equally amazing to play, and is jam packed with opportunities for style and creativity thanks to the wide assortment of wild weapons at your disposal. Bayonetta 3 just further cements its legacy, strutting out with a surprising sequel in that it actually takes a lot of risks with changing up its established formula in an effort to revitalize a combat system that only slightly evolved between the first two games. Fortunately those risks pay off. Bayonetta 3 is an invigorated sequel with fresh new ideas that embolden its 13-year-old combat system, an impressive amount of variety throughout its 10 to 12-hour campaign, and more of that trademark sexy Bayonetta style that makes the series one of a kind.

  $59.99

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• Gaming04/30/2023@ThePinGang

  Kirby and the Forgotten Land Review - IGN

  Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, JapanNintendo

  

  Starts 03/25/2022CONFIRMED88% CONFIDENCE4.5 years agoHappened as dated, per ign.com^[1]: "…ocalyptic setting, but after a wormhole opens above Dream Land, the ruined remains of a seemingly hu…"

  Kirby is no stranger to reinvention. His ability to transform himself into all sorts of shapes and sizes aside, the games he’s in often experiment with new settings and gimmicks as well – whether it’s rolling a limbless Kirby with the DS stylus in Canvas Curse, piloting mechs in Planet Robobot, or fundamentally changing how he transforms in Epic Yarn. Kirby and the Forgotten Land might seem like another addition to that list at first glance, this time warping the traditionally 2D structure into 3D levels. But in reality, this platformer feels like the next big step for a more classic Kirby formula rather than an upheaval of it, and it’s one that skillfully translates the things I love about Kirby into a fresh – but still familiar – new perspective.

  $59.99

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• Gaming04/30/2023@ThePinGang

  Stray Review - IGN

  Los Angeles, United StatesAnnapurna Interactive

  

  Starts 07/19/2022CONFIRMED78% CONFIDENCE4.2 years agoHappened as dated, per ign.com^[1][3]: "…ling it gave me right from the adorable opening minutes. To be clear: you’re not a magic cat, not a…"

  A delightful cat-based platforming adventure in a cyberpunk world worth exploring.

  Silent protagonists are nothing new in video games, but Stray certainly pushes that concept to an interesting place. Part platformer, part traditional adventure game, this cyberpunk world full of neon-soaked robots transforms into a giant jungle gym from your perspective, which is just one foot off the ground. The concept of putting you in the paws of an average cat may be a silly one on the surface, but Stray uses that furry vehicle to tell a genuinely compelling story with some entertaining action along the way. Not all of its ideas land on their feet, but it was impossible to shake the fuzzy feeling it gave me right from the adorable opening minutes.

  $39.99

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• Gaming04/30/2023@ThePinGang

  Hogwarts Legacy Review - IGN

  Burbank, United StatesWarner Bros. Games

  

  Starts 02/10/2023CONFIRMED85% CONFIDENCE3.6 years agoHappened as dated, per ign.com^[1]: "…eiving a Hogwarts admission letter that opens the door to a secret world. With Hogwarts Legacy, I’m…"

  Like many, I’ve been waiting for a truly excellent Harry Potter game since I was in the third grade. In that time, we’ve gotten some respectable LEGO Potter games, an underwhelming EA Sports Quidditch game for some reason, and even suffered through the fevered nightmare that is Harry Potter Kinect. But none of these has come close to fulfilling that fantasy of receiving a Hogwarts admission letter that opens the door to a secret world. With Hogwarts Legacy, I’m happy to say that we finally got a Harry Potter game that captures some of that magic. Its open world map absolutely nails the vibe of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it has spellcasting combat that’s stupefyingly good, the characters that inhabit it are charming and unforgettable, and it is positively brimming with countless diversions to soak up dozens of hours of your time. It may not be the most impressive technical achievement and it is certainly cursed with a lack of enemy variety, but none of Hogwarts Legacy’s issues can cast a Descendo charm on this triumphant visit to the Wizarding World.

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• Gaming05/02/2023@PrettyGang

  The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild lands top spot on IGN's 10 Best Legend of Zelda Games of All Time

  Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, JapanNintendo

  

  Starts 03/03/2017CONFIRMED80% CONFIDENCE9.6 years agoHappened as dated, per ign.com^[1]: "…only” came in at number 3 here. When it launched in 1998, Ocarina of Time instantly defined what 3D…"

  The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild reinvented a 30-year-old series in a way we rarely see. After Skyward Sword offered a slightly more linear, story-driven campaign than most fans were used to, Breath of the Wild readjusted dramatically in the opposite direction. Suddenly you could go anywhere and climb anything in any order you wanted, and goodness gracious was there a whole lot to choose from.

  There are plenty of fair criticisms to throw at Breath of the Wild, with common ones being its lack of traditional Zelda dungeons and items. But what’s truly impressive is how much it maintained the heart of a Zelda game even as it altered nearly every system around it. To a certain extent, Zelda has always been about exploration and choice, and Breath of the Wild simply leaned into and enabled those aspects of itself above all else, now making the world a place that would react to those choices as well. There’s just so much to see, so many people to meet and secrets to find hidden throughout this long-since devastated version of Hyrule.

  $59.99

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• Anime09/15/2026@AnimeDesk

  Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll Releases in Japanese Theaters

  Uji, Kyoto, JapanKyoto Animation

  

  Starts 09/06/2019CONFIRMED92% CONFIDENCE83%7.0 years agoTheatrical release date confirmed on the title's own MyAnimeList^[1] listing.

  Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll opens in Japanese theaters, a Kyoto Animation side story following Violet Evergarden as she tutors a grieving heiress, Isabella York, in the ways of high society.

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• Gaming04/30/2023@ThePinGang

  Sifu Review - IGN

  Paris, FranceSloclap

  

  Starts 02/08/2022CONFIRMED85% CONFIDENCE4.6 years agoHappened as dated, per ign.com^[1]: "…very short game. Its five levels can be completed in just a handful of hours, even right from the fi…"

  From the very first punch, Sifu is utterly uncompromising in its design. Absolver developer Sloclap’s latest martial arts beat-em-up is bold, its combat exquisite, its animation top-notch, its music outstanding, and its story – while very simple – is poignant and elegantly told. It’s also unforgiving and unapologetic, with pockets of frustrating moments during which I was certainly not in my happy place. But by the end, Sifu offered me a nearly unparalleled sense of mastery and accomplishment, and I can’t imagine that I would’ve enjoyed it half as much if it pulled its punches.

  $49.99

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• Anime09/15/2026@AnimeDesk

  Violet Evergarden: the Movie Releases in Japanese Theaters

  Uji, Kyoto, JapanKyoto Animation

  

  Starts 09/18/2020CONFIRMED92% CONFIDENCE88%6.0 years agoRelease date confirmed on the title's own MyAnimeList^[1] listing.

  Kyoto Animation closes out the Violet Evergarden TV series with a theatrical feature, following the former child soldier turned letter-writing Auto Memory Doll as she reckons with grief and an unresolved promise from her past.

  0.60

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• Anime09/15/2026@AnimeDesk

  Violet Evergarden Premieres

  Uji, Kyoto, JapanKyoto Animation

  

  Starts 01/11/2018CONFIRMED92% CONFIDENCE86%13 episodes8.7 years agoBroadcast start date confirmed on the title's own MyAnimeList^[1] listing.

  Kyoto Animation's Violet Evergarden begins airing, following a former child soldier who becomes a letter-writing "Auto Memory Doll" to understand the meaning of the last words her commanding officer told her.

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