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From the summer break directly to GAMESCOM! In the first part of our trade fair special, we have collected the best games, biggest news and most exciting impressions of Gamescom for you. With topics like Starfield, Ghostrunner 2, Black Myth: Wukong, Little Nightmares 3, Alan Wake 2 and Tekken 8, Gamescom in Cologne has some top-class titles in the line up. But even if many bigger names like Sony or EA are missing and Nintendo and Ubisoft don't present much new, there are still enough topics for 2 complete Game Two from Cologne: Constance, Total War: Pharaoh, Stalker 2, Persona 5 Tactica, Persona 3 Reload... The list is long. And apart from that, we even developed our own video game. Granted: You can't play "Game Two: Gamescom Quest" but at least you can look at it. And it looks quite nice, doesn't it?
Who says that there were no good games at the fair? We have a few counter-arguments! Trant has taken a closer look at the best Souls Likes of the fair: BLACK MYTH: WUKONG is a surprise hit that caught many cold and therefore already caused long queues at the booth at the fair. But also LIES OF P or LORDS OF THE FALLEN make a very good impression. In addition, Trant was able to play PATH OF EXILE 2, which could possibly outrun Diablo 4. John was able to play GHOSTRUNNER 2, which also looked pretty good, and MORTAL KOMBAT 1 offered the usual good Klopp quality and of course brutal fatalities. Markus and Sebastian then checked out the INDIE ARENA BOOTH and there they not only saw SUPER BUNNY MAN again, but also a whole bunch of other indie game secret tips.
Special episode, musical, Gamescom, summer break... there has been a lot going on lately, which is why we unfortunately missed out on some games. But of course we can't let that sit on us, because so many awesome games have been released! BALDUR'S GATE 3, REMNANT 2, PIKMIN 4, VIEWFINDER, BLASPHEMOUS 2... Just listing all our summer break games would go beyond the scope here. Watch the episode: We have them ALL!
On top of that, we have ARMORED CORE 6: FIRES OF RUBICON, new fodder from the Souls studio From Software - but not at all Souls-like. The mech action game is a return to the roots and breaks with the Souls success formula. Will the courage be rewarded with a good game? Trant will tell you.
In addition, Kuro has already ventured a few hours into STARFIELD and will give you his first impression in a short review before you get the full rundown of the Bethesda role-playing game in our actual review next week.
After several hours in space, we're finally ready for our final conclusion on STARFIELD, Bethesda's brand new universe and Microsoft's big exclusive hope to push their Xbox and Game Pass. But Microsoft just doesn't quite want to hit the big time.
It's a similar story for Ubisoft, whose top franchise ASSASSIN'S CREED has been criticized time and again. With ASSASSIN'S CREED MIRAGE, the return to the Orient, originally planned as DLC for Assassin's Creed Valhalla, is now supposed to be a return in terms of gameplay.
And that is also the perfect keyword for SEA OF STARS. Because if you played the last game by Sabotage Studio called "The Messenger", you know that retro is writ large here.
In the news you can also find out everything about the Nintendo Direct and the State of Play, as well as the scandal around the Game Engine Unity and the latest update of the Electronic Entertainment Expo - in short "E3".
Another Souls-like? Yes, but a good one! LIES OF P comes from the Korean studio Round8 and, with Unreal Engine 5, not only looks chic but also plays well. And even Trant, who after Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro and other representatives of the genre like Lords of the Fallen or The Surge doesn't really want to play classic Soulslikes anymore, was pleasantly surprised. Similar to John, who tested THE CREW MOTORFEST and became more and more of an arcade racing fan with every hour of gameplay during his review. Although The Crew Motorfest reminds us of Forza Horizon not only in its setting, the game must do a lot right. Markus was also in London and brought a preview of SPIDER MAN 2 with him. In the news, you can read about the most exciting details from the Microsoft leak, like the new Xbox consoles or Bethesda's plans for Elder Scrolls 6. And yes, Microsoft was apparently planning to buy Nintendo.
Do you remember when CYBERPUNK 2077 was released? The hype was huge, the disappointment even more so. But with CYBERPUNK 2077: PHANTOM LIBERTY, not only an exciting DLC is released, but also the update 2.0, which finally brings Cyberpunk to the level that was hoped for in the beginning. Several reviews now give top ratings and the scandal around the 1.0 release seems to be overcome. Markus also took a look into the future and brought a preview of FINAL FANTASY VII: REBIRTH. The successor to Final Fantasy 7 Remake now not only has an open world, but also over 100 hours of content. In the news, you can find out about the latest updates from Unity and Epic Games. There is also news from Payday 3 and Sony. In UNDER THE RADAR we have not only parked our review of MORTAL KOMBAT 1, but also a number of other recommendations. Including: THRONEFALL, UNDER THE WAVES, GUNBRELLA and THE COSMIC WHEEL SISTERHOOD.
Game Two investigates: "The Lord of the Rings: Gollum" from Hamburg-based studio Daedalic Entertainment is considered the flop of the year: 34 out of 100 points on review aggregator Metacritic, over 64% negative user ratings on Steam and lots of angry comments about bugs, crashes and false advertising promises. But what exactly happened behind the scenes? What decisions led to the disastrous launch? And how did those involved experience the bumpy development of the studio's "first big blockbuster game" and the eventual wave of cancellations? In our investigative research, we reveal why Gollum HAD to fail.
Game Two is at the end. We have no more ideas. Why? You'll see in this episode of Game Two. But we still have to realize one idea and that's YOUR idea! The big special about BALDUR'S GATE 3 we promised you. A whole (well almost) episode about maybe the best game of the year and maybe even the best RPG of all times? We already did a small review after our summer break, but of course that was far too little for a game like Baldur's Gate 3, which is not only the opus magnum of Larian Studios, but also brings the genre CRPG to a new level once again. The great hope of all role-playing game fans on PC, Playstation 5 and now even on MacOS from Apple has been fulfilled and we hope to meet your expectations as well with this installment. And maybe Baldur's Gate 3 has also given us an idea of how Game Two could continue...
Wow, that's a lot of games! We've got some catching up to do, so instead of three themes this week, we've got FIVE! If you have a Playstation 5, then you're probably interested in SPIDER MAN 2. The Sony-exclusive open-world spider fun now has twice as many spider-men and a much bigger New York City in its luggage. But does that mean twice as much fun? Find out in our review!
Ubisoft takes a step back with ASSASSIN'S CREED MIRAGE. Originally planned as DLC for Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Mirage is supposed to reduce the formula a bit and hook fans of the old parts, who found Valhalla and Co. too complex. Is this the right decision?
In our third article you'll find out everything about FORZA MOTORSPORT, COUNTER STRIKE 2 and LORDS OF THE FALLEN. So if you're into cars, shooters or soulslikes, there should be something for you.
Something like this doesn't happen every day: SUPER MARIO WONDER is a genuine new 2D platform game with the star plumber in the leading role. All reviews are overflowing, everyone is celebrating the creative gameplay - so everything's the same? Our Kaizo pros Dennsen86 and Matthias have something to say about that.
Meanwhile, not everything is as rosy in CITIES SKYLINES 2 as it is in the Flower Kingdom. The successor to the Sim-City-like Cities Skylines has some new features, but the performance and mod support leaves a lot to be desired. Can the game still convince John?
Those who like role-playing games will have little to complain about this year. With Final Fantasy 16 and Baldur's Gate 3, at least 2 real planks have already been released, which will keep you busy for a while. Meanwhile, DRAGON'S DOGMA 2 has chosen 2024 as its release date, and by then you should have a bit more time to play.
This week in "Under the radar" we have once again put together a fine collection of games for you. In the DLC of Resident Evil 4 SEPERATE WAYS, you follow the story of Ada Wong, who was still a supporting character in the main game. TALOS PRINCIPLE 2 lets you philosophize about humanity and in WARIO WARE: MOVE IT... well, actually everything possible is done. You can't explain it, you have to see gameplay. Also included: ENDLESS DUNGEON, WITCHFIRE, BOMB RUSH CYBERFUNK, COCOON, ENDLESS DUNGEON and VOIDIGO.
Chris also played a preview version of AVATAR: FRONTIERS OF PANDORA.
And then Esther screwed herself into the mechanical cyber suit from GHOSTRUNNER 2 to test her gamer skills. You can see how Esther became a ninja in her review.
In the news section you'll also find updates on the layoffs at Bungie and the censorship of Spider-Man 2.
Attention Xbox users: ALAN WAKE 2 sees the return of a hero who can now also be found on the PC and Sony Playstation, but who originally made his debut in the Xbox-exclusive insider tip Alan Wake. Part 2 is now much more horror-oriented, but still oozes with typical Remedy charm. THE INVINCIBLE, a walking simulator that aims to follow in the footsteps of Firewatch but doesn't always succeed, also has its weaknesses. However, anyone interested in story and sci-fi could still find what they are looking for here. In any case, the prize for the longest name goes to LIKE A DRAGON GAIDEN: THE MAN WHO ERASED HIS NAME. Originally planned as DLC, the latest installment in the Yakuza and Like a Dragon series has been properly expanded and is now suitable as a stand-alone game. In the news, there's an update on the Switch 2, or rather the new handheld from Nintendo, which was allegedly discovered last week.
It's that time again: A new Call of Duty is being released, but CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 3 is not what we know and expect from the series. It is much less. As Kuro aptly explains in his review, the campaign really isn't convincing at all this year. You'll find out what we think of the other modes, multiplayer and zombies next week. In this week's news you can find out everything about the annual GAME AWARDS! They don't take place until December 7th, but the announcement of the nominations has already caused a lot of excitement. Next up, Chris has taken a look at AMERICAN ARCADIA for you. The game from Out of the Blue Games is for puzzle fans and lovers of 2.5D platformers with a twist. You can find out what that twist is in the review. And if you're into Warhammer Age of Sigmar, we've got something for you too.
Super Mario remains in constant use: After the recently released SUPER MARIO BROS. WONDER, Nintendo is already sending the old moustache on his next adventure. The remake SUPER MARIO RPG aims to offer German gamers the best opportunity to catch up on the somewhat lesser-known classic in this country.
Markus, on the other hand, took a look at PERSONA 5 TACTICA, the turn-based strategy spin-off of the well-known JRPG series.
And of course there's also our second round of COD: MODERN WARFARE 3! Kuro, Schröck and Kiara ventured into the multiplayer and zombie mode for you after the disappointing campaign. Will they be able to correct the negative image of the former shooter king?
Under the radar is back! And this week we found more games under it than ever before! (...or so we think. We haven't counted them again.) Including: ROBOCOP: ROGUE CITY, YOU WILL DIE HERE TONIGHT, SLAY THE PRINCESS, KNUCKLE SANDWICH, CHANTS OF SENNAAR, BACKPACK HERO and a few more tips!
Chris also sat down at the late-night table this week and read a review of STEAMWORLD BUILD Böhmermann-style from the teleprompter. If you have no idea about the SteamWorld game, don't worry! Chris explains what so many people find so enchanting about it.
And Markus took a look at THE LAST FAITH. The 2D game combines Metroidvania and Souls-like elements, and if you're thinking: "I've heard that one before!" then you're right. But the gameplay of The Last Faith still has its charm.
"The Oscars of video games" - that's what the Game Awards are called by and with Geoff Keighley, but they are even more than that. In addition to the Game of the Year and various other categories, which Baldur's Gate 3, Alan Wake 2 and Mario Wonder divide among themselves, many trailers and gameplay of future games are also shown and new games are announced. Those who like Warhammer 40k and enjoy playing role-playing games in the style of Baldur's Gate have so far been left out in the cold. Despite the flood of Warhammer games, there hasn't been a real CRPG yet. This is now changing with WARHAMMER 40K: ROGUE TRADER and Kuro has taken a look to see if it's worth it. There's also a new edition of our "Excavated" column, but this time in a special version. Esther digs up the horror classic SILENT HILL 2, but has never played the game before.
The gaming year 2023 is coming to an end and it was a great one! After we had to make do with smaller games in 2021 and 2022 and the big AAA titles were few and far between, 2023 saw so many hits that we didn't even know how to play all of them. But which video game was the best? We asked the Game Two and Rocket Beans editorial teams to vote and compiled the 15 best games of the year. Among them: BALDUR'S GATE 3, THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TEARS OF THE KINGDOM, ALAN WAKE 2, MARIO WONDER and many more. And we also talk about our biggest disappointments this year in the show. In addition to a number of scandals and a series of studio closures and redundancies, some games also made negative headlines on release. What was your Game of the Year? And which game disappointed you? Let us know in the comments!
We are back! 2024 is dawning and with it a new year for the two-time Grimme Award-nominated gaming show GAME TWO! (weird flex)
Everyone agrees that 2023 was a legendary gaming year in terms of releases. But what video games can we expect in 2024? There are also some highlights this year. Games such as FINAL FANTASY 7 REBIRTH, the remake of SILENT HILL 2, STALKER 2, METAL GEAR SOLID DELTA: SNAKE EATER, STAR WARS OUTLAWS, the ELDEN RING DLC: SHADOW OF THE ERDTREE, DRAGON'S DOGMA 2, HOLLOW KNIGHT: SILKSONG, MARIO VS. DONKEY KONG, HADES 2, WARHAMMER: SPACE MARINE 2, HELLDIVERS 2, BLACK MYTH: WU KONG, RISE OF THE RONIN and many more.
We have also put together a few insider tips from the indie games sector for you, including MANOR LORDS, THE PLUCKY SQUIRE, BEATSLAYER, VISIONS OF MANA AND PACIFIC DRIVE.
Palworld is currently occupying the entire Internet. And we have also taken a look at the wild mix of Ark: Survival Evolved, Rust, Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Pokémon. In this week's news, you can find out why Palworld is currently the subject of heated debate, followed by our review of the game next week.
We also have some catching up to do this week: AVATAR: FRONTIERS OF PANDORA, DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: THE DARK PRINCE, THE FINALS, READY OR NOT and HOUSE FLIPPER 2 are all games that were released between the years when we were on break. But of course that doesn't stop us from giving our two cents again.
Meanwhile, Esther took a look at PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE LOST CROWN. The new installment in Ubisoft's classic series is based on the early 80s and once again uses a 2D perspective. Many gameplay features are familiar from other Metroidvanias, but some are also quite fresh.
Warning: This episode is pretty stupid. But we can't help it! That's because we have reviews of PALWORLD, TEKKEN 8 and LIKE A DRAGON: INFINITE WEALTH on this show. And these games are anything but normal.
Most people should have heard of PALWORLD by now. The open-world survival game combines elements from Ark Survival Evolved, Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Elden Ring with monster collecting from Pokémon - a wild mix that is a lot of fun but also hotly debated.
TEKKEN 8 is less scandalous, but just as crazy. The latest installment in the Tekken series arrives just in time for its 30th anniversary and has become a real slam dunk - most reviews pretty much agree on that. We'll tell you why that is.
And LIKE A DRAGON: INFINITE WEALTH has actually managed to take the absurdity of Yakuza and Like a Dragon to a whole new level. That actually deserves an award.
If you like survival games, you won't know where to start chopping stones and wood at the moment. After the hype game Palworld, the next survival competitor is coming around the corner this week, and it's from Frankfurt! ENSHROUDED is being developed by Keen Games and already offers a decent package of gameplay options for building houses in the Early Access phase.
A package has also been put together for PERSONA 3 RELOAD. It includes: Graphics updates, convenience features and a good dose of Persona madness.
And at Under the Radar, we have a number of smaller games for you, but they are also quite something. One of them is PIONEERS OF PAGONIA, the new game from Volker Wertich, the father of the Settlers series. Also in the short review: DEATH MUST DIE, BLOOD WEST, ANOMALY AGENT, MOMODORA and POGO 3D (a real banger!)
In the news you can also find out all about rumors that Microsoft will soon be releasing games on Sony's PlayStation. Uh what? Is that really what it says?
The Batman Arkham series can confidently be described as groundbreaking. The gameplay mix that developer Rocksteady created back then was unique and inspired many other games, such as the recently released and extremely successful Spider-Man 2. With SUICIDE SQUAD: KILL THE JUSTICE LEAGUE, however, Rocksteady is moving away from the familiar formula and opting for a game-as-a-service model in the style of Destiny or Fortnite. Can that work?
Whether MARIO VS: DONKEY KONG will work is less questionable. After all, it is one of the oldest conflicts in video game history. And the original game already appeared on the Game Boy Advance. However, the remake for the Nintendo Switch now wants to prove that the concept still works.
At first glance, it's hard to know what to make of ULTROS. At second glance, however, you realize that this is a very creative Metroidvania that dares to break new ground both visually and in terms of gameplay.
We have a new champion! HELLDIVERS 2 came out of nowhere and quickly became one of the most played games at the moment. Despite server problems, the co-op alien shooter in the style of Starship Troopers does a lot right. In stark contrast to SKULL AND BONES. Over the past few years, we have doubted at times that we would even live to see its release. But now the pirate MMO is actually here and confirms many of our fears. Studio Don't Nod will probably be familiar to many because of the popular adventure game Life is Strange. However, their latest project BANISHERS: GHOSTS OF NEW EDEN also has the potential to appeal to single-player gamers with a penchant for good stories. This week's news is all about the ELDEN RING DLC called SHADOW OF THE ERDTREE, the NINTENDO DIRECT and other important news from the gaming world.
The next big chapter in the Final Fantasy 7 epic has begun. FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH not only continues the story of Cloud, Tifa, Sephiroth and co. but also introduces an open world that divides opinion.
PACIFIC DRIVE is the debut work of Ironwood Studios, who have put together a wild mix of gameplay. Survival, roguelike, horror, mystery, crafting and racing - all in one game.
Our Unearthed section returns this week and this time our intern Tim digs up the game of his youth: THE SIMPSONS HIT AND RUN. The game combines GTA, which is still on everyone's lips even before the GTA 6 trailer, with the Simpsons universe. No wonder it is still an absolute top game for many.
Among other things, the news is about Microsoft and a new Xbox model and the redundancies at Sony.
NIGHTINGALE, the first game from Canadian studio Inflexion Games, was one of the most requested games on Steam even before its release. Now it's out and we're curious to see if it deserves this advance love. Markus took the plunge into the Portal worlds and tells you more about the chic survival adventure. In contrast to its predecessors, EXPEDITIONS: A MUDRUNNER GAME no longer focuses on the simulation of cargo transportation but on exploration. Will MUD and SNOWRUNNER superfan Trant like that? The action role-playing game LAST EPOCH has already managed to put a lot of pressure on its big competitor DIABLO 4 in Early Access. On the way to the full release, however, Studio Eleventh Hour Games made a serious mistake, as Chris experienced first-hand in the test.
Two hype games and the return of a classic: UNICORN OVERLORD is the new hope for fans of JRPGs. OUTCAST: A NEW BEGINNING continues the adventurous journey of a classic franchise that at first glance is somewhat reminiscent of Mass Effect. The first part of Outcast was released 25 years ago, in the meantime Studio Appeal was closed once, then re-established and is now celebrating its big comeback. In Under the Radar, we also take a look at BALATRO. The card game with its mix of poker, roguelike and deckbuilder is currently receiving an enormous amount of hype and is already considered by some to be the roguelike of the year. But Balatro is not the only review in Under the Radar. Also included: QUADROIDS, NEWS TOWER, the remake of BROTHERS: A TALE OF TWO SONS, DEEPROCK GALACTIC: SURVIVOR, GRANBLUE FANTASY: RELINK and TURNIP BOY ROBS A BANK.
It has been almost twelve years since DRAGON'S DOGMA was released. In the shadow of DARK SOULS and SKYRIM, the action role-playing game unfortunately met with little success. However, despite sales figures that fell short of Capcom's expectations, a fierce fan community formed, which ensured that the game subsequently became a real insider tip. Now the wishes for a sequel have been answered and DRAGON'S DOGMA 2 has been released to much advance hype. With RISE OF THE RONIN, NIOH and NINJA GAIDEN studio Team Ninja is attempting an open-world game for the first time. With its still popular samurai setting, the announcement was sure to attract a lot of attention - John tells you whether the genre change was a success. In PRINCESS PEACH: SHOWTIME! the princess, who usually wants to be rescued by Mario above all else, takes on the leading role. The game aims to be a colorful mix of different game concepts in a theatrical setting.
Most people associate Resident Evil with the survival horror genre, but its origins lie in a different franchise: ALONE IN THE DARK. Like Resident Evil 2, 3 and 4, the first part is now getting a remake, even with a prominent cast from Hollywood, known from Killing Eve and Stranger Things.
We take another trip into the past in a new episode of our "Excavated" section. Daniel digs up DISHONORED: THE MASK OF ANGER.
And because it's always best at home, we've also included a game from Germany. Or rather from Berlin. Because BEAT SLAYER is set in an alternative reality in the state capital where robots are up to mischief. But there's still currywurst and techno. The whole thing mixes rhythm games like Hi-Fi Rush with roguelite gameplay a la Hades.
CONTENT WARNING is currently going viral on Twitch. And that's funny, because the game itself is also about going viral. We gave the hype game a try. It's been far too long since we've had a post where Basti sits somewhere and talks into the camera. That's over now! In his column "Less mechanics, more feeling!", he calls for video games to have less hand-holding and let players explore for themselves how the game world works. In UNTER DEM RADAR, we have once again compiled the best indie games of recent times. Included this time are: SECRETS OF GRINDEA, PEPPER GRINDER, BERSERK BOY, SOLIUM INFERNUM, CHILDREN OF THE SUN, ENDER MAGNOLIA: BLOOM IN THE MIST, INKBOUND and BULWARK: FALCONEER CHRONICLES.
Game Two has a new presenter! From now on, Esther will alternate with Sofia, Lara, Nils, Eddy, Simon and Budi to lead you through the show! Esther has also brought something for you. HAROLD HALIBUT! The game from German studio Slow Bros looks phenomenally good and there's a reason for that. All the assets in the game are handmade. Can the adventure game also keep up with the story and gameplay? If you are more into role-playing games and have a heart for retro games, you will probably look forward to EIYUDEN CHRONICLE: HUNDRED HEROES. The spiritual successor to Suikoden not only comes with over 100 playable characters, but also many features familiar from legendary JRPGs from the good old days. And you read that right: There is yet another new Prince of Persia game. THE ROGUE PRINCE OF PERSIA is, as the name suggests, a roguelite. Find out what new ideas the prince brings to the genre in our preview!
City building in the Middle Ages may sound boring to some, but MANOR LORDS has triggered a little hype. The first scenes of the historically detailed construction simulation have already catapulted the game to number 1 on Steam's wishlist. The game is now in Early Access and has to prove itself.
STELLAR BLADE has received a similar amount of attention in advance. The game is not stingy with violence and naked skin and has received a lot of criticism for this in advance. Find out in the review whether the game is still convincing.
In TALES OF KENZERA: ZAU, the lead developer deals with the loss of his father. This may sound a little too dramatic for some people at first, but the gameplay should still appeal to many. This is because it relies on the Metroidvania principle, which has often proven its worth.
There is a breath of fresh air in the field of action RPGs: NO REST FOR THE WICKED comes from Moon Studios, who have already celebrated many successes with Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps. But their new game combines action gameplay from a top-down perspective with multiplayer progression, as in an MMO, and base building. Time for a comeback: Just in time for the movie premiere of Challengers, it's also time for tennis in the video game cosmos. TOP SPIN 2K25 is set to offer tennis action reminiscent of the heyday of sports games. But many microtransactions and monetization cloud the gameplay. Akira Toriyama is a legend of manga: Dragon Ball, Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger are just some of the projects Toriyama has worked on. Now SAND LAND, a realization of one of his later series, is coming out.
Since the successful launch of the TV series, the FALLOUT series has been on a roll. Infected by the hype, the user numbers of FALLOUT 4 and FALLOUT 76 are also shooting through the roof again. We took another look at both games and report on the controversial next-gen patch for FALLOUT 4 and what has happened in FALLOUT 76 since our test around 5 years ago.
In Under the Radar, we've also collected lots of hot indie gems that we'd like to recommend to you. Prominent examples are ANOTHER CRAB'S TREASURE and BUCKSHOT ROULETTE, but we've also got even more blatant insider tips up our sleeve! Don't you think so? Then tune in! ...How? Anyone reading this has already clicked on the video anyway? So yes, thanks for the info, but to be honest I didn't expect anyone to finish reading this anyway. I'm a bit touched now. Thank you! But now off you go to the video and have fun!
