Author: Trafficblast

A new update is now live for Cadence of Hyrule, The Legend of Zelda-themed Crypt of the Necrodancer-like game. The update implements several quality-of-life improvements and bug fixes.

Crypt of the Necrodancer speedrunner wilarseny posted the patch notes for the update on Reddit. In terms of new features, the update gives Cadence of Hyrule achievements, leaderboard categories for co-op play, and a Beat Rumble option–the latter of which causes your controller to vibrate to the beat of the music to better help you time your movements.

There are several bug fixes in the update as well, the most notable of which is the removal of an issue that “could cause enemies to take an extra move when the song looped.” The update also removes some game-breaking exploits, like picking up a bomb even after it had exploded and preventing Ganon from refilling his health by skipping cutscenes during his boss battle. The full patch notes are outlined below.

Cadence Of Hyrule Update 1.0.2 Patch Notes

• Added achievements
• Added leaderboard categories for co-op. If co-op is used at any point during a run, the run will become a “co-op” run for leaderboard purposes
• Added more granularity to time-based leaderboard scores
• Added a “Beat Rumble” option, that gently vibrates the controller on the beat
• Added “( only)” flyaway when a player picks up a weapon their character cannot currently use
• Added collision in several areas to prevent map escapes and dungeon skips
• Added an option to see the credits from the main menu
• Adjusted enemy movement behaviour when an enemy is being pushed against a wall by wind
• Adjusted player movement behaviour when holding an object while being pushed by wind
• Adjusted player movement behaviour when pushing an object while sliding on ice
• Added an option to change some HUD elements to improve readability for colour-blind players
• Changed HUD elements to grey-out when the player does not have enough stamina for that action
• Prevent giving out dagger/shortsword in “Flawless Victory” blue chest
• Fixed a bug that could cause enemies to take an extra move when the song looped
• Fixed a bug where bombs could be lifted after they had exploded, with unintended results
• Fixed a bug where game time would continue to count up if the console was put to sleep or quit to the home menu
• Fixed a bug where skipping the cutscene between phases of the Ganon battle could prevent him from refilling his health
• Many other bug fixes

Cadence of Hyrule is available for Nintendo Switch. In GameSpot’s Cadence of Hyrule review, James O’Connor wrote, “Cadence of Hyrule is a fantastic Zelda game in its own right, even though it adopts the gameplay mechanics of another series. Beyond the aesthetics, it nails the satisfying sense of exploration and increasing power, and it revels in the joy of discovery, as all the best Zelda games do. It’s an extremely successful melding of two great game series and an experience that makes you feel eager for Nintendo to do more interesting things with their major licenses.”

While Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is expected to explore heavy subject matter in its single-player mode, developer Infinity Ward has decided to go in a more campy direction for multiplayer. The Modern Warfare reboot takes us back to the ’90s with the Tamagunchi, an optional accessory euippable in both multiplayer and the Spec Ops cooperative mode.

As the name suggests, Tamagunchis are Infinity Ward’s version of the Tamagotchi, a ’90s relic that requires constant babysitting of a virtual pet or else it kicks the bucket. Tamagunchis function very similar–except these are ravenous beasts feeding off your kills. The more kills you get, the happier it is. Go too long without killing and, as art director Joel Emslie told Game Informer, “it will rot and die.”

The idea was birthed after a coder found a way to synch the in-game wristwatch with the console’s internal clock to display real-world time. Muiltiplayer design director Geoff Smith told Game Informer that the team, upon uncovering the limitlessness of coding, “[grew the idea] into more and more madness.”

Tamagunchis react directly to your performance, reminding you that you are either doing great or terrible by going “Ya-ta” and making a little noise or just dying. The virtual pets even evolve out of their eggs should you pull together a successful string of kills.

While Tamagunchis are optional, Modern Warfare is expected to drop one multiplayer option found in Black Ops 4. According to co-multiplayer design director Joe Cecot, Infinity Ward’s upcoming first-person shooter will not feature a battle royale mode. However, Mordern Warfare will feature a brand-new mode that hones in on the franchise’s most compelling multiplayer elements.

The Pokemon Company has shared a new trailer for Pokemon Sword and Shield. Not only does the video give us our first look at the games’ villainous team, it also reveals a few more Gen 8 Pokemon, including Galarian forms of a couple of older monsters–one of which is receiving a brand-new evolution.

Just as in Sun and Moon on 3DS, some older Pokemon will have a different appearance and typing in the Galar region. That includes the raccoon-like Pokemon Zigzagoon and its evolution, Linoone, which were originally introduced in Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire on Game Boy Advance. In the Galar region, Zigzagoon and Linoone are Dark/Normal-types and have black and white fur rather than brown, giving them a rocker look.

While Linoone is traditionally the end of this evolutionary line, in the Galar region, it is capable of evolving into a brand-new Pokemon called Obstagoon. It may not be the only old Pokemon to receive a new evolution, either; as the official Pokemon website explains, “some regional forms have developed unique Evolutions unseen in any other region,” suggesting other Galarian forms may also get a new evolutionary branch.

Obstagoon

In addition to Zigzagoon and Linoone, we saw a new Galarian form of Weezing, which has smokestacks atop its two heads that resemble top hats, making it look like a dapper English gentleman. The Pokemon Company also revealed a new monster called Morpeko, which has “fully belly” and “hangry” forms, as well as the first details on Poke Jobs.

Pokemon Sword and Shield launch for Nintendo Switch on November 15. Controversially, the games won’t feature every old Pokemon, but you can see all the new Gen 8 Pokemon so far in our gallery. For more on the titles, check out our Pokemon Sword and Shield pre-order guide.

Over the past few years 8BitDo has released numerous Bluetooth controllers that work with retro console adapters, computers, Android OS devices, and Nintendo Switch. Build quality and variety have helped the company stand out from the competition, and as evidenced by last year’s M30 controllers designed for use with your Sega Genesis, 8Bitdo’s craft continues to improve. Its latest product, the SN30 Pro Plus Bluetooth Gamepad, looks comparable to other Super Nintendo-inspired controllers from 8Bitdo (albeit with prominent handles) but it is actually one of the most advanced controller options for Switch owners. Though it doesn’t feature the official Pro controller’s HD Rumble or a motion-detecting gyroscope, the SN30 Pro Plus’ distinguishing capabilities make it easy to overlook these arguably minor deficits.

A quick look at the SN30 Pro Plus reveals a familiar button layout, with four face buttons, four shoulder buttons (two of which are triggers), a directional pad, and start, select, home, and capture buttons. 8Bitdo sent us the model colored to look like the classic “DMG” Game Boy color scheme; it’s generally on point, though a slight red tint isolated to the applique on the face of the controller does stand out against the more desaturated plastic that surrounds it. Otherwise, the overall build quality is solid, with mixed materials and good-feeling buttons lending a high-quality feel throughout. Most buttons relay a satisfying tactile response when pressed, and the triggers offer a notable amount of resistance, which is good to have in general but even more important when you consider the ways in which you can adjust their sensitivity.

With the SN30 Pro Plus connected to your PC (or Mac, once the upcoming software is released) 8bitdo’s Ultimate Software tool lets you dive into the deep end of configurability. The first option you’ll see is button remapping, with individual profiles for the controller’s two operating modes dialed in for Switch or the Windows-centric X-Input API. Like every setting we’ll discuss here, the Ultimate Software’s user interface is clear, organized, and very easy to use, leaving little room for guesswork. Simply look to the panel on the right, find the button you want to change in the left-hand column, then pick which input you want to reassign to that button and hit the big purple ‘Sync to Controller’ button to commit your changes. If you ever need a visual reference, the image of the controller on the left of the Mapping tab will reflect your new settings.

This sort of visual feedback is helpful for button remapping, but it’s essential for the next two options: adjusting the active area of the analog sticks and trigger shoulder buttons. In each case, you are given a real-time look at the components in question. Being able to set the dead zone for these inputs can make a big difference to the right player and game, and the fact that you can both test and visualize these settings in real time, with your controller in hand and the Ultimate Software reflecting your actions, greatly streamlines the trial and error process. Beyond dialing in the sensitivity, you also have settings for inverting the axis of your analog sticks, or swapping their relative functions entirely.

Though less critical, you can also adjust the intensity of the controller’s basic vibration functionality (again, not proper HD rumble), with feedback coming from the controller as you dial in your preference.

8BitDo’s Ultimate Software can also be used to manually assign macros (a series of inputs) to a single button press. This is useful in a number of scenarios like, say, creating an automatic Hadoken button for Street Fighter or a quick build-rearm process for Fortnite. Rather than record your inputs directly from the controller during the macro creation process, you manually assign buttons by picking them from a palatte within the software–up to 18 inputs per macro, which will also correspond to a flashing light around the home button when activated. Macros are definitely questionable in the context of competitive multiplayer games, but that fact doesn’t detract from the benefit of having the option on the SN30 Pro Plus, should it prove useful in other scenarios.

The SN30 Pro+ ”G Classic Edition” closely matches the classic Game Boy color scheme, but the layer of plastic around the buttons has a different tone then the rest of the controller.

8BitDo claims that the rechargeable battery driving the controller in wireless mode can last for 20 hours, but unlike its previous controllers the battery in the SN30 Pro Plus is removable via a simple hatch, and you can even put two AA batteries in its place for the same 20 hours of playtime. This flexibility is greatly appreciated, more so because you won’t be stuck with a dead controller once the lifespan of included battery (like all batteries) eventually dries up.

In nearly every respect, the SN30 Pro Plus is an impressive product that goes above and beyond 8BitDo’s previous offerings, and most competitors’ as well. About the only thing you could wish for was the independence to remap buttons or create macros without the use of 8BitDo’s software. That’s only worth pointing out because it adds a requirement to the process, but in general using the tool is, like playing with the controller, a pleasant experience overall. In the SN30 Pro Plus, 8BitDo has delivered one of the best third-party controller options for Switch owners and a formidable option for PC users who have far more options to choose from. At only $50, it’s also competitively priced in a market that tends to favor high prices for feature-rich peripherals.

The SN30 Pro Plus is available in the US for $50 on Amazon, and interested EU customers can pre-order on Amazon UK for £42.99, where it will start shipping on September 27.

BUY 8BITDO SN30 PRO+ >>

Amazon | Amazon UK

Some links to supporting retailers are automatically made into affiliate links, and GameSpot may receive a small share of those sales.

Editors note: 8BitDo sent GameSpot a complimentary review sample of the SN30 Pro+ controller for review.

To say Dungeons & Dragons is in something of a golden age right now would probably be an understatement. Tabletop roleplaying has had an incredible resurgence in pop culture, thanks in part to its inherent timelessness and accessibility–you don’t really need much more than a handbook, a sheet of paper, and a few dice to stir up a game–but also thanks to technology Streaming shows devoted entirely to the playing of D&D campaigns have entered the cultural fray just as ’80s nostalgia has reached a fever pitch and the results have been explosive, to say the least.

The dominos of a cross-platform, cross-media tabletop-playing empire have been set up, so of course, it was only a matter of time before someone came along and knocked them all down.

Enter the McElroy family, brothers Justin, Travis, and Griffin alongside their father Clint. Comedians, podcasters, and content creators, the McElroys have amassed a massive following for their work on shows like My Brother, My Brother, And Me, an “advice show for the modern era” and the oft-meme’d Monster Factory, a youtube series in which the character creation mechanics of various video games are pushed to their absolute limits. But mixed in with the gags and the goofs is a McElroy show that stands apart from the rest. The Adventure Zone, which started, ostensibly, as a fun way for the three brothers to play D&D with their dad has since taken on a life all its own–not only as a podcast, but as a burgeoning line of graphic novels.

Alongside artist Carey Pietsch, the McElroys have successfully taken the D&D craze to its logical, genre-bending extreme, transmuting the dice-rolling, roleplaying story found in their hours and hours of podcasting into a “kindhearted epic fantasy” that stands on its own, independent from both its tabletop and broadcast roots.

But does the charm of the actual D&D playing get lost in the translation from podcast to page? Travis McElroy doesn’t think so. In fact, in a conversation with GameSpot at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, he was confident that the graphic novel adaptations were great ways to introduce yourself to the characters and the world the show exists in.

“If it’s somebody who has been kind of weary of getting into the podcast, the graphic novel is the perfect way to do it,” He said. Because one, you can pick it up, read two pages, set it back down, and go about your day and come back to it as opposed to–I think if you listen to three minutes of a podcast and then pause it–well.”

Clint explained that, though TAZ in all its forms is exploring the same story, they still tackle them in very different ways. “We kind of view it as a different project from the podcast. The podcast is an entity, the graphic novels are a different entity and it’s, the thing I tell everybody, is if you’re looking for a great fun read, then it’s a great fun read.”

The process of converting the show wasn’t always an easy one. “The podcast was kind of like the pitch meeting, the writers room round table,” Travis explained, “and once we start working on it, we go through and we say, ‘This moment, this line, this scene, doesn’t really play without tone of voice, without inflection. Can we make it work with facial expressions? Can we make it work with pauses and timing? No? Well, is there a different form of the moment we can tell using [the art.]'”

“The process is less about cutting things and more about translation,” Pietsch agreed. “All four of the McElroys are involved throughout, not just the scripting process, but also the artwork. So, at every stage, everybody sits down to review the pages. We want to make sure the characters are looking and acting like themselves. Like, what further tweaks do we need to make or what small changes to make sure that [a character like] Magnus really sounds like Magnus who is played by Travis, you know?”

This was particularly true for Murder On The Rockport Limited, which Clint described as “a very linear story. You get on a train and you go. So that freed us up to expand the two ends of it. It’s like a really good cannoli, okay? You got the big globs of icing on the two ends so we expanded those to expand the universe and flesh out some of the other characters.”

And while the relative ease of being able to read a graphic novel versus spending hour after hour listening to a podcast is still very much there, Pietsch and the McElroys don’t recommend skipping around in the story. You certainly can start your TAZ adventure by jumping right into Volume 2–but that doesn’t mean you should. “Hypothetically, it could stand on its own. I think story-wise, it is self-encapsulating; you could read it, especially if you looked up a one-paragraph synopsis of book one,” Travis explained, “but I would say you would miss out on a lot of character investment.”

Both volumes of The Adventure Zone graphic novel, Here Be Gerblins, and Murder On The Rockport Limited are available now, everywhere books are sold.