Aragami 2

The original Aragami was a surprisingly solid stealth game in a market mostly devoid of such releases, and 2021’s Aragami 2 excellently builds on those foundations to create a sequel that’s both larger and better in more aspects than one. Aragami 2 allows you to take enemies head-on with a brand new combat system, mission objectives are more varied than before, and you can also tackle the many missions with friends thanks to support for co-op – making it a dream come true for stealth game fans.

Following the Saints’ domination of Stilwater, they run up against the Syndicate and arrive in their territory of Steelport. Saints Row: The Third marks the series’ descent into outright zaniness and over-the-top action with crazy set-pieces, tons of ridiculous weapons and missions like escorting tigers or sky-diving with a tank. The remastered version sports improved visuals along with three expansions and 30 smaller DLC which provide even more weapons and extensive customization.

Saints Row: The Third Remastered is currently available for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC and Google Stadia. You can read our review for the game here. The Saints Row reboot is out on February 22nd 2022.

To celebrate the announce of the rebooted Saints Row franchise, we're giving away the classic Saints Row: The Third, totally FREE! What're you waiting for?! https://t.co/JBhhbd2SvI pic.twitter.com/erOF61aKKd

— Epic Games Store (@EpicGames) August 25, 2021

Saints Row: The Third Remastered launched recently for Xbox One, PS4 and PC via Steam after arriving first for the Epic Games Store. However, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S players are in luck as the update for current-gen consoles has gone live. If you own the game on PS4 or Xbox One, you’ll receive a free upgrade. Check out the release trailer below.

The PS5 and Xbox Series X versions are noteworthy for offering dynamic 4K and 60 FPS. Visuals are also the equivalent of the PC version at High settings with improvements to effects, texture resolution and more. It’s worth noting that Xbox Series S players can play the game in Beauty Mode, which offers upscaled 4K/30 FPS, or Performance Mode at 1080p/60 FPS.

Activities are supported on PS5 while the DualSense controller will have a purple-ish glow to mimic the Saints’ colors. For more details, check out our review for the remaster here. As for the next game in the series, Deep Silver and Volition haven’t provided any updates, though a so-called leak was debunked in September 2020.

Saints Row: The Third Remastered is getting native versions on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on May 25. THQ Nordic made the announcement via a recent update, confirming that if you already own the game on PS4 and Xbox One, you will get the next-gen upgrade for free.

Apparently, the next-gen version of the game will “equal the ultra settings on PC”. So what exactly does that mean? On both PS5 and Xbox Series X, the game will support dynamic 4K resolution and 60 FPS performance. On the Xbox Series X only, players will be able to choose between two graphics modes- one will run at 1080p and 30 frames per second, and the other will run at 4K and 60 frames per second.

On the PS5, the Saints Purple colour has been added to the DualSense lightbar, while you can also expect faster load times for the game on both PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Finally, it’s also been confirmed that the game is also releasing for GOG on May 22, alongside its Steam launch.

Saints Row: The Third Remastered is currently available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. You can read our review of the game through here.

Saints Row: The Third Remastered launched nearly a year ago, delivering an updated and touched up version of Volition’s bombastic and beloved open world action title. On PC, however, the game launched as an Epic Games Store exclusive- and if you’ve been waiting for it to arrive on Steam, there’s good news for you.

It’s been confirmed via the series’ official Twitter account that Saints Row: The Third Remastered is coming to Steam soon. It will launch for Valve’s digital platform on May 22, exactly a year after its initial release, which means that the game’s exclusivity period for Epic Games Store is coming to an end.

As for the future of the franchise, publisher THQ Nordic confirmed in 2019 that Saints Row 5 was deep in development at Volition, but there haven’t been a lot of updates on the game since then. With E3 coming up, we’re hoping to see something concrete soon, but that’s little more than wishful thinking right now.

Saints Row: The Third Remastered, meanwhile, is available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

Yes May 22

— Saints Row (@SaintsRow) April 28, 2021

Last month we got a chance to revisit the crazy and wild world of Saints Row The Third with a remastered version. The remaster actually got a lot more touch ups than your typical re-release, and was mostly well received even if it’s a tad dated in general by today’s standard. But in an interesting and frustrating twist, it seems a new update to the PC version has caused a lot of headaches.

The PC version of the game is currently exclusive the Epic Games Store, and while it didn’t have any major issues before, it seems the latest update has had a negative impact. As reported by DSOGaming, apparently a lot of users now have big issues that weren’t there before. For example, reportedly the game now locks its framerate creating frame pacing issues, as well as messing up sound for guns and cars in a lot of instances, and strange AI problems where normally neutral AI has gone aggressive for no reason. A video is provided by YouTube user John Papadopoulos, and you can instantly see the issues with frame pacing, as well as the sound.

There has been no word yet on what the issue is and, unfortunately, the Epic Games Store does not have official forums. No update or statement has been released. It’s a shame, because a lot of QoL and visual upgrades went into this version of the game, which you can read about in our interview with the publisher here, so hopefully it can be fixed soon.

GFK has released the data for boxed video game sale in the UK across the previous week (via Nintendo Life), and Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons has remained in the top spot, where it was last week as well. And it’s not the only Nintendo Switch exclusive to perform well. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has seen a significant boost in sales, jumping from fifth place to the second spot, outselling Call of Duty: Modern Warfare in third place.

There are a couple of debutants in the top 10 this week. Open world “shaRkPG” Maneater chomps its way to a decent debut, taking the sixth spot. It is followed in seventh place by Saints Row: The Third Remastered. The rest of the top 10 is dominated by games we’ve come to expect featuring in this list every week, including the likes of perennial seller Grand Theft Auto 5, FIFA 20, Luigi’s Mansion 3, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.

You can check out the full top 10 for the week ending May 23 below.

1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
2. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
3. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
4. Grand Theft Auto 5
5. FIFA 20
6. Maneater
7. Saints Row: The Third Remastered
8. Minecraft
9. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
10. Luigi’s Mansion 3

Let’s get this out of the way right now. As an open-world title, it certainly shows its age. The gunplay is a bit on the clunky side, as are the controls at times. The AI, especially for your allies, can be frustratingly dull, and there are a couple of noticeable difficulty spikes during the story. And though the city of Steelport is large, and actually pretty fun to explore, there’s not a whole lot to do aside from the story missions and side activities. Very few buildings in the world can be interacted with, and for the most part NPCs can’t be at all. And of course, the driving is infamously bad, although to the game’s credit, it’s actually self-aware in this regard, and even plays it for laughs. This is a far cry from more modern entries in the genre, which strive to build that kind of constant immersion.

"The point of Saints Row: The Third is the larger experience of it; the experience of the writing, characters, and humor, and the ridiculous nature of the story you’re experiencing. In that regard, the game has aged remarkably well."

If you’re looking for something that scratches that kind of itch, Saints Row: The Third probably isn’t for you. But then, that was never really the point of the game. Even when it first released, it was never really trying to compete with games like GTA anymore. After all, it had tried that with the first game, and to a lesser extent with the sequel, to mixed success. Instead, the point of Saints Row: The Third is the larger experience of it; the experience of the writing, characters, and humor, and the ridiculous nature of the story you’re experiencing. In that regard, the game has aged remarkably well. A few jokes can feel a bit dated. In particular, there are a couple of jabs at FPS trends of the time that don’t really apply anymore, but with those few exceptions the writing still holds up. The dialog is snappy and flows really well, and the characters, while often ridiculous and over the top, are actually well-written.

And that’s one of the surprising strengths of the game. Underneath the ridiculous veneer, there are actual real characters here, with consistent personalities and reactions to the world around them. That’s a critical part of the game’s success, as otherwise the constant barrage of silliness could have worn thin. One particular moment early on stands out, where the player character, the Boss, and their right-hand man Pierce sing along to “What I Got” by Sublime. Both characters sing it poorly, out of key and out of time, and spend as much time making fun of each other’s performance as actually singing. It’s charming, and helps make the characters feel like real people, in spite of the utter insanity of the world around them. Moments like that help ground the characters, and it’s a better game for it.

In fact, that leads to one of the other, larger strengths of the game, which is rather surprisingly the story. Much like the characters, the game has an actual story that is being told underneath the craziness. By and large the game plays its plot completely straight, and this actually helps add to the game’s humor. The characters in the world rarely react to how ridiculous everything happening around them is. They react to all of it as though it’s just a normal occurrence. This may sound jarring, but it’s actually a big part of the game’s charm and appeal. Of course, it’s hard to describe exactly how and why something is funny, and even harder to be truly objective about it. You may not find the game funny; a lot of its humor is relatively juvenile, a reliance on the absurd and impossible. If that doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, you probably won’t find the game as funny as I do. Personally, I found that the jokes landed more often than not, and that the snappy moment-to-moment dialog carried the game forward.

"Underneath the ridiculous veneer, there are actual real characters here, with consistent personalities and reactions to the world around them. That’s a critical part of the game’s success, as otherwise the constant barrage of silliness could have worn thin."

That’s not to say the game relies solely on its humor to carry it. There is some fun gameplay to be had here. The core gameplay loop, beyond the story missions, involves completing activities and buying up properties to expand the Saints’ influence in Steelport and push the rival gangs out of town. It can certainly be compelling, as there’s almost always something else you can do, however small, to build the gang’s influence. And some of the activities are really entertaining. One activity in particular, the beautifully named Professor Genki’s Super Ethical Reality Climax, puts the player in a bizarre gladiatorial game show, where you kill your way through an obstacle course, complete with color commentary. It’s a perfect example of the kind of off-the-wall humor that Saints Row excels at, and it’s easily one of the best activities in the game.

Some of the others don’t fare as well. Heli Assault, which tasks the player with flying a helicopter to escort an ally on the ground, suffers for the clunky vehicle controls, as does Trail Blazing, a mid-game activity that puts players on a vehicle on a track and requires them to drive through certain checkpoints. Though it is played for laughs, the vehicle controls are almost universally clunky, and the activities that rely on them tend to be the least enjoyable as a result.

As far as the remaster itself is concerned, it gets the job done well enough. The visuals have received an update, particularly where the environment is concerned. The lighting especially has received an overhaul, which makes the city of Steelport come to life in a much more vibrant way. Some of the texture work has been redone as well, making the environments as a whole look much better than before. The same care doesn’t quite seem to have been given to the character models. They look decent enough, but the facial expressions are stiff and some of the animations can look a bit off. It’s nothing too jarring, but it is worth noting. The remaster looks better than the original, for sure, but likely won’t blow you away with its visuals.

"As far as the remaster itself is concerned, it gets the job done well enough."

Aside from visual changes, there isn’t too much that has been changed in the remaster compared to the original release. It does include all of the DLC add-ons, including co-op, which is great. But aside from that, for better and for worse, not a whole lot of control or quality of life changes were made. The game generally didn’t feel like it needed them; aside from some occasionally clunky controls, things are intuitive enough, and nothing is really too difficult in the game. But it may be worth noting that if you played the original release and really didn’t like something about it, that’s probably still in the game. I had no issues with it, but your mileage may vary.

Saints Row: The Third Remastered is a game that is completely certain of its identity. It knows exactly what it is and what it is trying to do, and it makes few attempts to be anything else. If that doesn’t sound like it’s for you, go on ahead and give this one a pass. But if that slapstick, over-the-top style and silly, humorous approach to open-world gameplay sounds up your alley, this game is definitely worth your purchase. The remaster comes with all of the expansions and a co-op mode, so there is plenty of content here to make it well worth the purchase. Saints Row: The Third may not be the best open world game these days, but it is a perfect Saints Row game, and a great way to reintroduce players to the silly, chaotic, and highly enjoyable world of the Saints.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 4.

The Wonderful 101: Remastered

When PlatinumGames launched the Kickstarter for The Wonderful 101: Remastered, it probably didn’t anticipate over $2.25 million being raised. Releasing on May 19^th for PC, PS4 and Nintendo Switch, the remaster of the Wii U classic features improved graphics, running at 1080p resolution and 60 FPS on PS4 and Nintendo Switch’s docked mode. PC users will have the benefit of ultrawide support and new gameplay features include a Time Attack mode. Whether it translates over to the current generation or not remains to be seen but the porting process has already been an unforgettable journey.

Maneater

What happens when you pit a human against a shark? Probably the same thing that happens when you pit several hundred humans against a shark. This self-proclaimed SharkPG comes from Tripwire Interactive and Blindside Interactive, and sees a baby bull shark growing up to take revenge on a shark hunter. In the process, it’ll nosh on sea-life, venture to shores and yachts to devour humans, and unlock new abilities (like electromagnetic spikes because of course that’s what sharks are known for). You’ll be doing sick flips, hopping onto beaches and just being a general terror en route to evolving into a powerful megalodon. It’s as ridiculous as it is egregious and we can’t wait. Maneater is out on May 22^nd for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Saints Row: The Third Remastered

While Saints Row IV: Re-Elected was an underwhelming port, Saints Row: The Third Remastered is actually putting in some effort. Releasing on May 22^nd for Xbox One, PS4 and PC, the remaster sports 4000 updated assets, re-textured environments, a new lighting engine and other improvements. It also collects all of the DLC on top of the base game, providing dozens of hours of gameplay into one package. Saints Row: The Third is when the series fully committed to jumping the shark again and again and again. If you’ve never experienced it, the remaster might be worth checking out.

Minecraft Dungeons

After a slight delay, Mojang’s Minecraft Dungeons will be releasing on May 26^th for Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch and PC. A dungeon crawler, action RPG set in the Minecraft universe, the focus is on exploring randomly generated dungeons and slaying enemies in the search for epic loot as opposed to crafting. Don’t worry though – you won’t face any restrictions with regards to what kind of armor or weapons you can used. Want to rock a bow while running around with an enchanted hammer that chains lighting and creating fire trails? Go for it. In terms of feeding the power fantasy, Minecraft Dungeons should be a nice change of pace for action RPG looter fans.

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition

Monolith Soft’s classic RPG finally makes the jump from the Wii to the Nintendo Switch in Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition. The sprawling open world and epic story, focused on the war between the descendants of Bionis and Mechonis, have been remade from the ground-up, providing some genuinely great-looking visuals. But even more has been promised, from improved controls to an epilogue called “Future Connected” that takes place one year later. You can even jump straight into the epilogue if you so desire. Though it lacks the extra features of the New Nintendo 3DS version, Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition shouldn’t be missed. It releases on May 29^th for the Switch.

Someday You’ll Return

A psychological horror game that takes inspiration from the likes of Resident Evil 7, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter and Silent Hill, Someday You’ll Return aims to provide its own twist on the formula. Following Daniel as he pursues his daughter Stela into a foreboding forest setting, one that he swore he’d never return to, the title features crafting, stealth, tracking and even herbalism. There’s even a karma system with your actions influencing the ending. Someday You’ll Return releases on May 5^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Borderlands Legendary Collection (Switch)

The critically and commercially successful looter shooter series finally comes to Nintendo Switch on May 29^th. The Borderlands Legendary Collection includes Borderlands 1 and 2 along with The Pre-Sequel, with each offering tons of story content to blow through. Not only that but you get all of the post-release updates and DLC, though the recent Commander Lilith & the Fight for Sanctuary DLC for Borderlands 2 is sadly not included. Still, there’s more than enough side-quests, guns, loot, humor and violence to grind through, especially on the go. And then you can do it all over again as a different Vault Hunter!

XCOM 2 Collection (Switch)

Let’s be real – are you going to benefit from all the crazy mods and enhancements made by fans to XCOM 2 over the years? No but the XCOM 2 Collection on Switch, which also releases on May 29^th, offers what’s still one of the best turn-based tactical strategy titles to sink your teeth into. Along with the awesome base game and DLC packs which introduce alien hunters and robot units, you get War of the Chosen which adds new hero classes, new mechanics, levels and even more challenges. Want to see what happens when a Chosen warps in to ruin your day? This is the game for you. Besides, it’s never too late to jump into the franchise, especially if XCOM: Chimera Squad eventually gets ported over to the Switch.

Terraria: Journey’s End

Terraria is receiving its final update – the real final update, we’re sure – on May 16^th for PC with Journey’s End. It revisits all elements of the base game but also includes 1000 new items, a bunch of new weapons, new furniture sets, new consumables, new vanity sets, new pets and much, much more. You can even expect some new town NPCs, new wind mechanics, mini-Biomes and some new visuals, including new backgrounds, for the experience. There’s a whole lot of new content coming, basically, making for one hell of a send-off to the action-adventure sandbox title. Even if you’ve passed on Terraria after a few hours of play, it’s worth coming back with Journey’s End and experiencing everything that’s changed. Plus, it’s free, which is always a bonus.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor (PC)

The Elder Scrolls Online aka Bethesda’s other online title that’s actually good is getting a major new expansion next month on PC. Releasing on May 18th, Greymoor takes players to Western Skyrim with its snow-covered mountains to battle a Vampire Lord. The latest chapter in The Dark Heart of Skyrim adventure, Greymoor will see players also battling Werewolves and Witches while earning new armor sets and items, and completing new World Events. There’s also a new 12 player Trial, Kyne’s Aegis, which features three new bosses and hordes of raiders. Even if you’re still getting your kicks by endlessly modding The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, it might be worth checking out Greymoor and The Elder Scrolls Online in general.

As revealed by ESRB’s rating, Saints Row: The Third Remastered is indeed on the way. Releasing on May 22nd for $39.99, it will be available for Xbox One, PS4 and PC via the Epic Games Store. Check out the first trailer below and check out the title’s improved graphics.

Unlike previous ports like Saints Row IV: Re-Elected, Saints Row: The Third Remastered appears to overhaul its visuals a bit more. Developed along with Sperasoft, the remaster sees over 4,000 assets updated, a new lighting engine, improved character models and effects, and much more. But wait, there’s more.

Along with the base game, players will also receive all of the original game’s expansion packs and DLC (which have also been visually updated). Given how positively the original was received, Saints Row: The Third Remastered looks like a good way to revisit the story. Stay tuned for more details and footage in the coming weeks.