TheAge of Empiresfranchise has been incredibly influential in the world of real-time strategy, and that’s especially true for the series' second entry.Age of Empires 2hit store shelves back in September 1999 and while it certainly wasn’tthe first RTS game, it refined a lot of the core mechanics laid out in genre-defining titles like 1992’sDune 2and 1994’sWarcraft. It’s no wonder, then, thatAge of Empires 2: Definitive Editionhas done so well. Released in November 2019,Age of Empires 2: Definitive Editionhas just had its 5th birthday....

Summary Today marks 25 years since the original release ofPokemon Gold and Silverin Japan, leading thePokemonseries to new heights thanks to improved gameplay, additional features, and a plethora of critters exclusive to the Johto region. Gen 2 games were arguably leaps and bounds an improvement overPokemon Red and Blueas well asPokemon Yellow, and that’s mainly thanks to the addition of new elements that ended up defining the gameplay loop of the whole franchise....

Gamers looking to add to theirgaming controllerlineup are in luck, as the 8BitDo Ultimate controller has received a 20% discount this Black Friday. Instead of paying the full amount of $60, shoppers can grab the controller for just $48. Given that the controller comes with a charging dock as a free accessory, this is arguably one of the best gamepad deals available now. The brain behind the Ultimate controller, 8BitDo, has been releasing various kinds of gaming peripherals since 2013....

Summary Throughout its two-season run,Arcane: League of Legendsexplored many common themes in complex ways, such as sacrifice, class disparity, trauma, and love. One aspect ofArcane’sstory bears similarities to another complex video game story,The Last of Us Part 2. On the surface,ArcaneandThe Last of Us Part 2couldn’t be more different. One is an animated series adapting Riot’s fantastical world of Runeterra, bringing its beloved champions to life in a stunning animated format....

ARCTIC, known for itsPC cooling solutions, has launched a new AMD Ryzen-powered PC that mounts under your desk and delivers silent operation, thanks to passive cooling. Called theSenza, this underdesk PC is not going to top the benchmark rankings, and that is not the idea behind this concept. The Senza is a daily workstation PC that allows you tofree up space both on topand below your desk by not having a tower sitting next to you....

Summary Asmongold, an extremely popular content creator, has revealed that he supports Elon Musk’s inclusion ofTwitchin his ongoing lawsuit against Twitter advertisers. In August, the Tesla CEO filed a suit alleging that a number of companies formed an illegal alliance to boycott Twitter. In November, livestreaming platformTwitchwas added to the list of defendants. Musk’s complaint alleges that at least 18 member companies of the Global Alliance of Responsible Media (GARM) — including Unilever, Mars, and CVS Health — conspired towithhold advertising from Twitterin November and December 2022, shortly after its acquisition by the entrepreneur....

Summary A talentedBaldur’s Gate 3fan online has shared their impressive cosplay of Isobel, the Cleric of Selune from Larian’s RPG. Gamers are sure to encounter Isobel throughout theBaldur’s Gate 3story, and this particular gamer looks just like her. Since the release ofBaldur’s Gate 3well over a year ago, gamers have massively taken to the game. It has amassed a solid community of talented creators who are always finding new and interesting ways to pay tribute toBaldur’s Gate 3....

Baldur’s Gate 3is set to get a massive update with Patch 8 in 2025. Patch 8 will come with a host of highly requested features, including Photo Mode, cross-platform play for multiplayer, andtwelve brand-new subclasses. The new subclasses will involve a mix of official content fromDungeons and Dragons, as well as homebrewed content from Larian, which has been created especially forBaldur’s Gate 3. Each of thetwelve existing classes inBaldur’s Gate 3will get one new subclass....

Summary One surefire way to replenish Energy inDisney Dreamlight Valleyis by whipping up some delicious meals with Remy’s help. Each dish is divided into categories — Appetizers, Entrées, and Desserts — and restores different amounts of Energy, but they also sell for different base prices depending on the difficulty of the recipe and how many ingredients it requires (plus how hard it is to find/harvest said ingredients). Many Appetizers can be prepared in record time and only require a minimum of one ingredient, so for players who need an instant boost of Energy, they might be the smartest option....

Summary As adaptations of the inherently social tabletop roleplaying games, managing a party in computer-driven roleplaying games seems a little strange. While being able to micromanage the entire party down to their builds might be advantageous in terms of beating all combat encounters, it can be offputting for those who enjoy the surprises of having a group of people to bounce off of to have to become a walking hivemind to progress through a story....

Summary When people are deep in love, they think their partner is perfect for them. That they’re their soulmate, the person they were destined to be with. Then, if they break up, it can feel like they’ve lost a big part of themselves in the process, and everything they thought they knew about their future becomes null and void. Nonetheless, whether love lasts or ends, it can feel like fate falling into place, directing people toward their true path....

Whilemost manhwa seriesare often captivating for readers due to their well-detailed plot and the usual plot twists and turns, an even more captivating technique is one where the manhwa employs a change in the protagonist. This happens when the main character is either replaced permanently or for a substantial part of the story. By doing this,the shift in the lead rolebroadens the story somewhat, giving the narrative a new look and opening up newer possibilities in the general storyline and even among the characters....

As players gear themselves up for another adventure in a post-apocalyptic world full of dangerous machines and frenzied cultists, they will need all the help they can get inLego Horizon Adventures. And we are not just talking about the weapons of our heroes Aloy, Varl, Teersa, and Erend. Beyond the sharp and powerful objects that the gang can wield, there are also a bunch of ways in which players can give themselves more of an advantage when going up against the enemies in the game, just like the originalHorizon Zero Dawn....