Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

New games and remastered classics are just what your snow day needs

Will Fulton
By

new games remastered classics just snow day needs dying light
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Snowed in this week by that vengeful snowstorm Juno? There’s no better time to brew up some hot chocolate and settle down with a new game. Brand new excitement from Dying Light and Life is Strange is available alongside HD remasters of classics like Grim Fandango, Metroid Prime, and Heroes of Might & Magic III.

What will you be playing this week?

Recommended Videos

Dying Light

Linux/PS4/Windows/XB1 (January 27)
Dead Island developer Techland returns to open world zombie survival with its first game developed for the latest generation of hardware. Scavenge for supplies and craft weapons during the safer day in order to survive nightfall when the zombies become much more dangerous.

French actor, stuntman, and founder of Parkour David Belle consulted on the game’s development to help with the freerunning mechanics that the developer emphasized heavily in the months leading up to release. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game were canceled in October of 2014 in order to allow the develops greater freedom to innovate.

Life is Strange: Episode 1

PS3/PS4/Windows/X360/XB1 (January 30)
The first of five episodes kicks off this twisted, time travel narrative from developer Dontnod, which previously warped perceptions with the mind-hacking beat ’em up, Remember Me. Student Max Caulfield returns home to Oregon to discover that she has developed the mysterious power to rewind time. She uses this newfound ability to investigate the disappearance of another friend, leading Max down a rabbit hole of her hometown’s secrets.

Unlike Dontnod’s Remember Me, which was weighed down by lackluster action, the time-warping mechanics take center stage in Life is Strange, opening up interesting narrative possibilities and puzzle solving.

Grim Fandango: Remastered

Linux/Mac/PS4/Vita/Windows (January 27)
Originally released in 1998, this Tim Schafer-designed game is considered by many to be the pinnacle of LucasArts adventure game golden age during the ’90s. Combining film noir, the Aztec conception of the afterlife, and Schafer’s trademark wry humor, Grim Fandango is a surreal and beloved mystery.

The remastered edition was developed by Schafer’s studio Double Fine. In addition to a graphics and audio overhaul, Schafer reached out to the established modding community to incorporate into his update some improvements to the original control scheme.

Metroid Prime Trilogy

Wii U (January 29)
GameCube may be the forgotten child of Nintendo consoles, but it was home to some extraordinary games that have a chance to be reborn for new audiences on Wii U. Retro Studios’ Metroid Prime series reimagined the classic side-scrolling exploration franchise from a first-person perspective, receiving near universal acclaim after an initial fan backlash against the change.

This trilogy compilation was originally released for Wii in 2009. Improved graphics and sound polish up the experience while systemic improvements from Metroid Prime 3: Corruption have been retroactively applied to the first two entries.

What else is coming:

  • Heroes of Might & Magic III: HD Edition (Android, iOS, Win/Jan. 29) — This classic, turn-based strategy title is many series fans’ favorite, available again for Windows PC or tablets.
  • Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 2 (Vita/Jan. 27) — Say that three times fast. This JRPG was originally released by Idea Factory and Compile Heart for PS3 in 2011.
  • Raven’s Cry (PS3, PS4, Windows, X360/Jan. 30) — If Assassin’s Creed IV left you wanting more pirates, this action RPG weaves fictional events and characters in with the historical 17th century Caribbean.
Topics
Will Fulton
Will Fulton
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Will Fulton is a New York-based writer and theater-maker. In 2011 he co-founded mythic theater company AntiMatter Collective…
VR headset deals: Meta Quest 2 and VIVE XR
htc vive vs pro headphones

While VR may not be as big as was predicted back in the early 2000s when the original Oculus Go was released, there is still a considerable market these days, and some great VR games like Half-Life: Alyx that you can have fun with. Of course, VR headsets remain expensive, and while options like the Meta Quest don't necessarily require a high-end gaming PC, they can still be a bit pricey for those who just want to put a foot in the hobby. Luckily, there are some good deals you can take advantage of, even on some of the best VR headsets, so be sure to check out all your options below.
Meta Quest 2 -- $199, was $200

Even though the Meta Quest 3 came out quite recently, the Meta Quest 2 is still a pretty powerful contender, especially since it has a wider library and app support than the Quest 3 currently has. Even more so, the Quest 2 is a lot cheaper than the Quest 3, and with the latest permanent discount down to just $200, that's a whole $300 or so difference from the Quest 3. Of course, the Quest 3 does have more advanced AR and slightly better performance with software and Wi-Fi, but that may not be worth the extra cost for some. Either way, be sure to check out the breakdown between Quest 2 and Quest 3 to get a better sense of what you should pick up.

Read more
BlizzCon 2024 is not happening despite Blizzard’s strong 2024 lineup
A still from World of Warcraft The Worldsoul Saga's reveal tralier.

World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch maker Blizzard Entertainment confirmed that BlizzCon 2024 will not be happening.

BlizzCon was a convention that Blizzard Entertainment held almost every year between 2005 and 2019 to celebrate its games and make new announcements. The pandemic and hostile workplace allegations against Blizzard meant that no shows were held in 2020 or 2022 (2021 was digital-only), but BlizzCon made its grand return in 2023. We attended it last November and had the opportunity to speak with developers and learn more about Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer's first visit to Blizzard, upcoming plans for franchises like Diablo and Warcraft, and more. Although Blizzard never outright confirmed that it would hold BlizzCon in 2024, the event was expected to continue after its return last year.

Read more
How to unlock fast travel in Another Crab’s Treasure
Kril with a coconut shell

Another Crab's Treasure is a fantastical soulslike set deep under the ocean where danger lurks around every corner. And like other games in the genre, it's often brutally difficult to overcome the various challenges you'll encounter. As such, you may find yourself wanting to backtrack for level grinding, to uncover new secrets, or to buy additional items in the game's main hub. However, you may notice early in the game that you haven't yet unlocked the ability to fast travel between the multitude of Moon Snail Shells (aka "bonfires") you've found. Here's how and when you'll unlock fast travel.
How to unlock fast travel
In the opening hours of the game, you may notice that you can access your skill tree, which will show a skill called Shelleportation. But you may be discouraged to see that you aren't able to apply any points to it yet. That's because the game doesn't open up this feature until you've advanced a few hours into the story.

To unlock fast travel, you'll need to work your way through the first few main areas of the game until you reach a boss called the Polluted Platoon Pathfinder. After beating this baddie, you'll soon find yourself teleporting to the Moon Snail's Domain. Here, you'll learn about the power of Umami, as well as unlock access to your skill tree.

Read more