The SNES Nintendo Switch controller is now available for purchase in the UK. The new controller is exclusively available to Nintendo Switch Online members and is designed to be used with the Super NES games that are available as part of the service.

With a Nintendo Switch Online paid membership, you can purchase Super Nintendo Entertainment System Controllers for Nintendo Switch and play Super NES™ games in authentic fashion! These full-size, wireless controllers offer the perfect way to enjoy classic Super NES games.

The SNES Nintendo Switch controller includes a USB cable that can be used to charge the device, and orders are limited to four controllers per Nintendo account. 

If you plan on picking up the controller, keep in mind that you need system update 9.0 NUP to use the device on your console. The controller, which very much mimics the look of the original SNES controller, is available for £26.99. This price includes VAT but excludes shipping charges. 

The full list of SNES games available as part of the Nintendo Switch Online service are:

• Brawl Brothers
• Demon's Crest
• Joe & Mac 2: Lost in the Tropics
• Kirby's Dream Land 3
• Star Fox
• Super E.D.F. Earth Defense Force
• Super Mario Kart
• Yoshi's Island
• Super Puyo Puyo 2
• Super Tennis
• Breath of Fire
• F-Zero
• Kirby's Dream Course
• Pilotwings
• Stunt Race FX
• Super Ghouls'n Ghosts
• Super Mario World
• Super Metroid
• Super Soccer
• The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past

Much like the NES games that are available, the games include a rewind function that allows you to jump back a few seconds in time. I'm sure playing these older games on the special SNES controller for the Switch is going to feel fantastic.

You can order the controller today from the My Nintendo Store.

Excalibur Umbra is a variant Warframe based on the original Excalibur. He has increased armor and energy, and also has polarity slots that allow him to use the Umbral Mods. Excalibur Umbra cannot be farmed in the way many other Warframes are and is instead gotten by completing a particular quest.

How To Get Excalibur Umbra

To get Excalibur Umbra, you need to complete The Sacrifice quest. You need to have finished the Apostasy Prologue to get this quest. If you have yet to take part in the Apostasy Prologue, visit your quarters on the Orbiter. You should see an energy orb floating near the window. Interact with it, then play through the short quest.

Once that is done, you can access The Sacrifice quest in the Codex. 

The Sacrifice Quest

In this guide, I will give valuable information that will help guide you through the quest but will try my best to avoid spoilers.

Investigate Sentient Energy

The first step of the quest sends you to Lith, on Earth. When you land, kill the Grineer and then search the courtyard area using the Codex Scanner or Synthesis Scanner. You will find items in the following locations:

• beside the tree
• to the back left of the courtyard
• to the right of the tree, near a rock
• around the middle of the courtyard, near a gravestone
• to the right of the walkway near the courtyard entrance

Explore Lua

For this part, you need to match the blue symbols at the Orokin Memory Cipher terminal with the blue symbols that can be found in the area. You need to physically find the symbols in the level for it to work. 

The first Memory Cipher requires two symbols; the second requires four symbols. If you struggle with solving the second one, after finding all the symbols, Ordis will eventually help you.

Play through the rest of the level to get to the next part, set aboard the Orbiter. This is narrative-heavy, so I will avoid talking about it here.

Explore Ceres

Follow the Excalibur Umbra through the level. When you find him he is resistant to all damage, so use your Void Blasts to stun him, then use Transference on him. This will give you access to a new memory from the Warframe.

Explore Neptune

When you find Excalibur Umbra on Neptune, he will have a new shield making him immune to Void Blast damage. Hit him with your Void Beam to remove the shields, then the Void Blast, then perform another Transference. 

Explore Lua (again)

Once again, the Excalibur Umbra will have a new shield making him immune to Void Blast damage. Hit him with your Void Beam to remove the shields, then the Void Blast, then perform another Transference. Once you take control of the Umbra, make your way to extraction.

Return to Earth

You will return to the courtyard to confront an NPC. Engage in a fight with the NPC and take out all the Sentient enemies to enter a cutscene and finish up the quest.

When you eventually return to the Orbiter, you will now have access to the Excalibur Umbra Warframe. 

A few years ago, a mobile Dragon Quest game came out in Japan called Dragon Quest of the Stars. Pretty soon, Western audiences will be able to play the game as well.

Square Enix recently announced in a press release that Dragon Quest of the Stars will be coming to the West in early 2020. The game will be available for both Android and iOS devices. However, Android players specifically are currently able to pre-register for a Closed Beta Test that will be conducted from Oct. 30 through Nov. 28. You can pre-register for the Beta on the game's website.

Players will be able to create their own custom character, as well as two companion characters. This will be the trio you use during the game's main single-player campaign. There will also be multiplayer modes which the player can play with up to three friends. Of course, the game will feature character design by Dragon Ball artist and long-time Dragon Quest character designer Akira Toriyama. Dragon Quest of the Stars will also have in-game stickers designed by illustrator Kanahei. These stickers can be used in the game's multiplayer modes.

Related: What is the Dragon Quest XI Protagonist's Name?

This news comes off the heels of a busy week for Dragon Quest fans. Last week, the first three Dragon Quest games were all ported to the Switch. At the same time, Dragon Quest XI S, the definitive and expanded version of Dragon Quest XI, was also released on the Switch. Additionally, a Pokémon GO-like Dragon Quest mobile game called Dragon Quest Walk was recently released in Japan. There is no word yet if it will be localized outside of Japan. Dragon Quest of the Stars was initially released in Japan in 2015 and has been downloaded more than 20 million times.

September might have brought us fantastic sequels to games like Borderlands 3 and remakes such as The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, but October will arguably bring a better batch of games that will come out. There is a lot of anticipation from video game fans, and just like us, we hope that these upcoming games will eventually exceed our expectations. Whether they are sequels, remakes, or new titles, we have gathered the ten games of October 2019.

Top 10 Games Coming Out in October 2019

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Complete Edition

Platform: Nintendo Switch

Release date: Oct. 15

Even though this game has been out for a long while, the Switch port of The Witcher: 3 Wild Hunt brings all of the content, including DLC. Even though it has been done before, what will make new and old players love this game is the ability to play on the go. To truly enjoy the journey, one must be able to continue forward without taking a long break, and the Switch will deliver that once it comes out.

Doraemon: Story of Seasons

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows

Release date: Oct. 11

Doraemon has been an ongoing franchise for 50 years. It is hugely popular in Japan but has made its way internationally. The game Story of Seasons will be the first to be released to a western audience. For those that are into farm simulations while acting as an RPG, similar to Stardew Valley, Doraemon: Story of Seasons will be a nice suggestion to play in October.

Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville

Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Release date: Oct. 18

For such a cool concept, Planet vs. Zombies is still a successful series with a new title coming out. As the sequel to Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2, Battle for Neighborville will undoubtedly deliver with enhanced gameplay as well as new mechanics. Developer PopCap Games knows how to keep the games fresh, and we hope to see that again on the 18th.

Destiny 2: Shadowkeep

Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Google Stadia

Release date: Oct. 1

Bungie has brought Halo to life, and while Destiny was a mixed bag at first, the fourth expansion for the sequel, Shadowkeep, will be a first to be released without published Activision. There will be new features as well as similar ones coming to the expansion, and that is always a good thing. Destiny 2 has proved itself to be better than its predecessor, and we can hope that Shadowkeep will be the ultimate experience when it comes out tomorrow.

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair

Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows 

Release date: Oct. 8

It is heartbreaking that Banjo-Kazooie has not gotten a game in over ten years, there will be a spiritual successor with Playtonic Games’ developers being formerly from Rare. Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is a spin-off for its main series, and this could be a chance to have Yooka-Laylee stand on its ground. It is hard to replace Banjo-Kazooie, but we are optimistic that this game can improve from its predecessor.

Felix the Reaper

Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Macintosh

Release date: Oct. 17

For having an oddly grim premise about Death, Felix the Reaper has a unique twist of being a romantic comedy as well. The gameplay will be a unique attribute as a puzzle adventure game, and with that being a different genre, this game certainly has a passion for making it one of the best titles of 2019. We will cheer for Felix once the game comes out on the 17th.

Minecraft Earth

Platform(s): iOS, Android

Release date: October (date unknown)

It might seem bogus to have a mobile game on this list, but it’s Minecraft! Minecraft Earth is shaping to be a strong entry for the series, and it will be free-to-play as well. Even for a mobile game, Minecraft Earth will offer the chance to travel the actual planet and enjoy what makes Minecraft what it is. Early access will be available by then, so be prepared to witness the next installment.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows

Release date: Oct. 25

When you look at Call of Duty, it had a strong start, but then gradually got repetitive. However, a reboot of the best sub-series is a smart idea since the original Modern Warfare is considered one of the best titles in the series. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare will even have cross-platform multiplayer, so if you have a friend or relative who owns a different console, there is no need to worry for this game!

Little Town Hero

Platform: Nintendo Switch

Release date: Oct.16

Game Freak is known for creating the worldwide phenomenon Pokémon, and this year, they have a completely new game coming out! Little Town Hero does not stray away from the RPG elements, so fans familiar with Game Freak’s work will have a simple time getting into the game. Plus, the music will be composed by Toby Fox, the one and only creator of Undertale. Even if Pokémon remains Game Freak’s iconic series, Little Town Hero will be a breath of fresh air to play.

Luigi's Mansion 3

Platform: Nintendo Switch

Release Date: Oct. 31

Poor Luigi can’t catch a break for his fear of ghosts. For the third time in Luigi's Mansion 3, he will bust them at a hotel with various themes and unique atmospheres. Even though there are only three titles, the fact that this series has been ongoing for nearly 20 years shows how much the Mario fans love Luigi. It is looking to be the best so far, and on Halloween, it will be the perfect game to play.

In the recently released Borderlands 3, several characters are returning from previous entries in the series. One somewhat surprising addition to the cast was the character Rhys, who originally appeared in Telltale's Tales from the Borderlands. Acclaimed voice actor Troy Baker originally played Rhys but was not brought back to portray him in Borderlands 3. This has been the cause of some controversy.

After it was revealed that Baker wouldn't be returning as Rhys, fans began to ask Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford why this was. Pitchford replied in part, "You’ll have to ask Troy. I was told by the audio director that he turned it down."

Baker has since stated on multiple occasions he did not turn down the role, but that in fact, he was the one turned down. Why exactly this would be hasn't been entirely clear until now.

In a recent interview with VG247, Baker explained that he wasn't allowed to take the role since Gearbox wasn't hiring union actors. "It was simply a matter of they wouldn’t go union," Baker explains. "And I can’t do a non-union gig." Baker is a member of the union SAG-AFTRA, which provides various labor protections to actors. Baker goes on,

We always knew going into it, that this was going to be the thing. They were going to take these characters, and put them from the Tales from the Borderlands series from Telltale, into Borderlands proper. I’ve been waiting for this call. They were like, ‘Do you want to do this?’ And I said, ‘Yes’. They never, because they would never move from that position. I’m not mad. It’s invariably a completely different character, but it still stings.

Despite this unfortunate circumstance, Baker will be appearing in several other high-profile games coming up. He will be playing the character Higgs in Death Stranding, Bruce Banner in Marvel's Avengers, and will be reprising his role as Joel in The Last of Us Part II.

If you have been trying to log on to Destiny 2 today, then you will have been running into some problems. Is Destiny 2 down? Yes, it is, so let’s talk about why.

Is Destiny 2 Down?

Destiny 2 is down for an extended maintenance today and will remain down until tomorrow. It’s a day for Destiny 2 tomorrow, and a lot of work needs to be done to get everything ready.

Not only do we have the release of the new expansion, Shadowkeep, but we also have the launch of Destiny 2: New Light, the free to play version of the game. On PC, Destiny 2 is leaving the Blizzard App and will begin its new life on Steam tomorrow. 

With so many things going on, an extended maintenance period was required to ensure the smoothest possible transition for customers. 

Below, you will find some details plucked from the Bungie website about the ongoing maintenance, and when you can expect it to end. 

Destiny 2 Server Status

Destiny's maintenance starts on Sept. 30, at 9:45 am PDT, 15:45 UTC. According to the Bungie website, you can expect the following:

• Destiny 1 and 2 will be brought offline to undergo maintenance to prepare for Update 2.6.0.1.
• Players will be unable to log in until October 1, 2019, at 10 AM PDT when Update 2.6.0.1 becomes available.
• Maintenance is expected to conclude at 12:00 PM PDT (2100 UTC) on October 1.
• Sign in, and some of the Bungie.net and Destiny Companion features will be unavailable on Web, Mobile, and Third-Party Apps during maintenance.

The maintenance will stop affecting front end sign-on servers on Oct. 1 at 10 am PDT, 17:00 UTC. While users should be able to sign-on from this time, they may experience sign-on issues due to continued background maintenance. 

• Destiny 1 and 2 services are back online, and Destiny 2 Update 2.6.0.1 has begun rolling out across all platforms and regions.
• Users may experience sign-on issues as background maintenance is still ongoing.
• Bungie.net and Destiny Companion features have re-enabled on Web, Mobile, and Third-Party Apps. 

Maintenance, including background, will be finished by 12:00 PDT, 19:00 UTC. At this point, you can reasonably expect to be able to sign into the game servers without any issues. 

• Destiny 1 and 2 maintenance is expected to complete.
• Console players who encounter issues updating to Update 2.6.0.1 should reset their console and relaunch Destiny 2.

Players who encounter issues should report them to the #Help forum.

Niantic has just released distorted images for Pokémon Go that features mysterious new figures.

On the Pokémon Go Twitter account, three new images were revealed. According to the first tweet, the images come from a file that Professor Willow found in a corrupted folder. All three images are distorted with different colors, yet viewers can still make out a mysterious person in each photo and the Team Go Rocket symbol.

The first corrupt image shows what appears to be a woman posing. The second image shows what appears to be a large, buff man. The buff man looks like he is holding something that is in a circle shape; is it a Poké Ball or a coin of some sort? The third person is much smaller than the previous two; you can make out that they are wearing glasses and can even see their sneakers clearly at the bottom of the screen.

Professor Willow has started to recover files from the corrupted folder, and he’s uncovered these images. One of the photos is still being restored... pic.twitter.com/JErFS24HZu

— Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) September 30, 2019

Who are these people?! pic.twitter.com/3bjK8EVAaA

— Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) September 30, 2019

The Pokémon Go Twitter account suggests the images are related to Team Go Rocket’s recent takeover of the game. They don’t reveal the identity of the characters, though these mysterious people may be Team Go Rocket admins. Admins, or similar characters, in the main Pokémon games are generally the most powerful members of an evil organization besides the leader. They are much stronger than a normal grunt and are often seen working directly under the main boss himself. Of course, this is just speculation at the moment.

No other information on these mysterious images has been revealed at this moment. However, we expect more news to come from Niantic and Pokémon Go sooner rather than later.

Destiny 2 is going free-to-play, giving away a huge chunk of historical content for people to enjoy with no charge. This coincides with the game moving from the Blizzard App to Steam, but when is Destiny 2 coming to Steam?

When Is Destiny 2 Coming To Steam?

Destiny 2 is coming to steam on October 1! So, tomorrow! Destiny is currently down for maintenance, but when the service comes back up tomorrow it will be free-to-play on Steam. 

The above inforgraphic shows all the content that will be available in Destiny 2 for free on Steam:

• The Red War, Curse of Osiris and Warmind campaigns
• Year 1 Exotic Weapons and Armor
• Free Roam Access to ALL destinations
• Black Armory Forges
• Gambit and Gambit Prime
• The Menagerie
• Year 1 Nightfall Strikes
• The Crucible and Strike Playlists
• Year 1 Raids and Raid Gear
• In game events such as Iron Banner, The Dawning and Crimson Days

Destiny 2 is available for pre-load on Steam right now, and will be playing from October 1 and 10am PDT, 17:00 UTC. It will not include the Forsaken Expansion, or the new Shadowkeep Expansion. 

The Forsaken Expansion will set you back $25, while the Shadowkeep Expansion will cost $35. It's probably not much of a shock that the total cost of the available paid content for new players comes to $60.

Still, you have a huge amount of content for free, and will be able to play with your friends straight away because you will start the experience at 750 Power, the same as your friends who have been playing for years now. 

Cube World is out right now. You're going to have the chance to choose between four different classes when you start the game. Each of the classes has something, making them unique to the player's experience, and they change up the entire experience when you jump into the game. What are those differences? Each of the classes come with two specializations.

The Classes of Cube World

Mage

Do you want to fling magic and summon spells against your enemies? You've chosen the correct role. You're going to get your chance to sling magic at the edge of your fingertips and send them flying out at anyone in your way. You're going to find your spells cast out at varying times, with basic attacks going pretty quickly, but the stronger, more hefty strikes are going to take longer to summon and they're going to consume plenty of MP.

You have two specializations available to you, the Fire Mage and the Water Mage. If you're a fire mage, you're going to have the opportunity to use dangerous attacks to burn allies. A strong attack, Fire Spark, gives you a chance to make your next special attack instantly cast. When you're a water mage, you have increased attack speed, and you can heal allies. Every time you hit an opponent, your attack speed goes up.

Skills:

• Fire Explosion (Fire Mage): You cast a powerful explosion, that burns close enemies and knocks them back. Has a chance to stun enemies.
• Healing Streaming (Water Mage): You cast a stream of magic water to treat the selected ally or yourself. This skill becomes an area of effect in the future.
• Mana Shield: You are protected by a magic shield which absorbs damage for up to 30 seconds
• Teleport: You teleport to the selected location.

Ranger

Do you prefer to keep your distance and cause damage from afar? Grab a bow and keep your eyes out of the sun because you want to choose to become a Ranger. Their attacks have a charged attack they can build, giving their ranged attacks a substantial hit. 

The Ranger's two specializations are Snipers and Scouts. If you go down the sniper route, you're going to want to focus on your overall range to destroy your enemies, and your attacks have an increased attack speed every time you hit your opponent. If you prefer being a bit quicker, then run around as a scout. Your attacks are going to have the chance for your next special attack to have an instant charge.

Skills:

• Aim (Sniper): You lay down and camouflage yourself in stealth. Stealth increases damage, critical strike chance and regenerates MP. Stealth gets canceled if you move.
• Scout's Swiftness (Scout): Thanks to your agility, you can move and attack faster. Lasts 10 second
• Kick: You repulse all enemies in melee range with a bold kick. Enemies can be stunned.
• Retreat: You jump back to seek shelter.

Rogue

Do you prefer to stick to the shadows and rely on striking your enemies with precise misdirection? Time to take to the shadows with the Rogue. You're going to find yourself dodging plenty of your enemy's attacks, making it difficult to get a proper hit in on you while you're moving around because you can maneuver in the middle of a fight. Your special attacks are instant, too.

The Rogue's specializations are the Assassin and the Ninja. If you go the assassin route, you're going to rely on sneak and surprise attacks to take down your opponents. Stealth is going to increase your critical strike chance and regenerate your MP. For those who prefer the ninja, you're going to be counterattacking your opponents more and moving around out in the open.

Skills: 

• Camouflage (Assassin): You camouflage yourself from enemies in stealth even in combat. Stealth increases damage, critical strike chance, and MP regeneration.
• Shuriken Attack (Ninja): You perform a backflip to seek shelter and throw multiple shurikens at your enemies.
• Intercept: You move quickly to the selected location and attack close enemies with your unique ability.
• Sneak: You hide in the shadows to camouflage yourself. Stealth increases damage, critical strike chance, and MP regeneration.

Warrior

The final option in Cube World you can choose is the Warrior. When you're the warrior, you're going to rely on hitting your opponents over and over again to lash out massive attacks and build up your MP. Your MP is going to fuel into your charged attacks, making them hit harder alongside your abilities.

Your two specialization choices as the Warrior is the Berserker and the Guardian. Those who choose the berserker are going to find themselves dealing a hefty amount of damage with each attack you land increasing your overall speed. The other option, guardian, is more the tank option for your gameplay. You're going to able to soak up additional damage, giving your skills with a sword and shield combo. You're going to have increased health, too.

Skills:

• War Frenzy (Berserker): You enter a war frenzy and can charge you special attacks faster. Lasts 10 seconds.
• Heroic Strike (Guardian): You taunt all nearby enemies, forcing them to attack you instead of party members. This move also heals you and your team.
• Cyclone: You spin around for a while the shift key is held and attack all enemies around you. Blocks incoming attacks
• Smash: You jump to the selected spot and smash nearby enemies.

Health is a pretty vital resource in Cube World because when you run out of it, you die. When you are fighting mobs and monsters, the damage that you take can thankfully be dealt with by using potions and food to restore your health.

How To Restore Health In Cube World

Food can be cooked at campfires, which can often be found in villages or dotted around the map in various places. You can make the below types of food. Thankfully, for emergencies, some recipes don't require any cooking. The ingredients for the recipes can be found while you are exploring the world, or sometimes full items will drop from mobs of enemies. 

It is also possible to find food that you can eat without prepping, like Apples. These can just be eaten at any time to restore your health.

The golden rule in Cube World is if you see something on the ground, pick it up; it is very likely a valuable resource!

• Ginseng Soup - made with Ginseng Root, requires a campfire.
• Pumpking Muffin - made with a Pumpkin, requires a campfire.
• Pineapple Slice - made with a Pineapple, does not require a campfire.
• Mushroom Spit - requires a mushroom slice, onion slice, and a campfire.
• Snowberry Mash - made from a Snowberry, does not require a campfire.

When you eat food using the Q button, an animation will start. You heal slowly while this animation is playing, but interrupting the animation will stop the healing. You also don't want to hit Q rapidly, or you will be wasting potential healing time. Just hit Q once, then let the animation play out, then heal again if you need to. 

Life Potions

You can also heal with Life Potions. These require a Heartflower and a Water Flask to craft. Heart flowers can be found growing in the world, while Water Flasks can be purchased, or will sometimes drop from dead enemies. 

The Q button will default to use whatever the first item is in your inventory, and will work through the healing items in the order. If you wish to change the item currently on Q, just hit the Tab button to bring up quick select, and use A and D to navigate to the item you want. 

For those who have been waiting, it's finally over. Cube World has officially released on Steam, and you can start playing it right now. You're going to be able to check out the RPG world, exploring it from the different biomes and learning about the numerous little towns. You can even go about getting a pet to join you. However, if you're looking for a more human companion and don't have any friends who play the game, you may want to reach out to others in the community.

The Cube World Discord Channel

If you're looking to jump into the game with some new people and learn about what other people, you're not going to find a better place than the official Cube World Discord channel. You can pick it up right here. Feel free to hop in, introduce yourself, and explore the channel. Because the game released so recently, you can expect the channel only to grow as the game's popularity does and more people learn about the title.

Related: How to Level Up in Cube World

You can announce your name in the channel and start exchanging Discord information with those you bond with during your time there. If you're curious about how to get started in Cube World's Multiplayer, we have you covered. For those who are still getting started and have yet to figure out what class they want, we have a guide breaking down what they do, giving you an idea of how you want to build yourself. Some classes are going to be better for solo play, and others are ideal for playing in a group.

There's plenty to do in Cube World, and more to come. We're going to be covering it quite a bit for the next week, so make sure to stick around Gamepur. We're going to have more details about the game as we discover more information.

You don't always have to rely on the fact you're going to have another player supporting you in Cube World. You have ways of bringing an animal with you and getting them to follow your commands. For those who are looking to never travel alone in Cube World, you have the option to tame a pet and bring them with you to help support you. It does take a bit of time and practice, though.

How to Tame a Pet In Cube World

Thankfully, the process of taming a pet in the game does not take too much effort. You merely have to understand a handful of straightforward mechanics and make them happen. The first thing you need to do is locate the type of food you're going to want to use for the animal you want to tame. We have the entire list over here for your reference. 

Related: How to Ride a Pet in Cube World

Generally, you're going to locate a majority of this food out on the world and have enemies drop it when you're killing them in combat. However, if you know the town in the biome you're in, you can always visit the Trade District in the town and locate the Item Shop. The Item Shop is going to have all of the food available, but for a price. So if you don't have any money, you may want to do a handful of quests or take out enemies to get some gold. From there, you can grab the ideal pet food you want and go searching for the pet to tame.

Grab the food you want to use from your inventory into your hand. Approach the animal you're looking to tame and offer it to them. After a time the pet is going to bond with you. When it does you're going to see it gain a health and mana bar underneath with yours on the upper left portion of the screen. There are five types of pets you can acquire in Cube World: 

• Healers: These creatures are going to heal nearby allies during combat.
• Melee: These creatures are going to get in close and damage enemies with close-range attacks.
• Mounts: You can ride these creatures around the game.
• Ranged: These creatures are going to attack enemies with a ranged attack.
• Tanks: These creatures are going to take more damage from the enemy, but deal out less.

We don't have a list of what every animal does in the game. We're going to build one in the future, and we'll make sure to link it back here when we finish it.

Cube World left beta today and is now available on Steam. If you are wondering if the game is free-to-play, the answer is no. Cube World originally launch in Alpha over 6 years ago, it seemed to stall out for quite a well, before entering beta just over a week ago. The game has now released on Steam for $19.99.

Will Cube World Go Free To Play In Future?

I sincerely doubt it, the develop has never expressed a desire to turn Cube World into a free to play game, nor does the game as it is currently designed easily support monetization in that fashion. If you feel the price of Cube World is a little too high for you right now, then waiting for a Steam sale if your safest bet.

Game decscription from Steam:

Cube World is a voxel-based action RPG with a focus on exploration. It takes place in a procedurally generated fantasy world made up entirely of cubes.

Features

• Choose between four different classes: Warrior, Ranger, Mage, Rogue.
• Action-based combat with dodging, aiming, combos, special skills and more.
• Explore a nearly infinite, procedurally generated fantasy world.
• Plan your next adventure with the 3D voxel world map. Scroll and zoom everywhere to find your next destination!
• Craft weapons, armor, potions, elixirs and food and more from ingredients found throughout the world.
• Tame pets that fight along your side and can be used as mounts.
• Non-linear, open world gameplay. Solve quests, help residents, fight huge monsters, explore ancient dungeons! It's all up to you!
• Discover procedurally generated lore and learn about ancient civilizations and magic artifacts.
• Retrieve unique magic artifacts to level up and improve your skills.
• Earn gold to buy items or to book an eagle flight to new lands.
• Cube World's unique per-land progression system makes finding loot, solving quests and clearing dungeons rewarding and exciting over and over again.
• Use your hang glider to take to the skies or explore the oceans with your boat.
• Find magic items to enter secret areas and to support you on your journey.
• Play solo singleplayer or join your friends in coop-online-multiplayer.

After a long enough wait that some thought it would never happen, Cube World has finally been released. In its current version, the game has eight character races, which can both be used as the race of the player character and encountered in the wild as NPCs. 

The current playable and NPC races in Cube World are

• Human
• Elf
• Dwarf
• Goblin
• Orc
• Frogman
• Lizardman
• Undead

Playable Races in Cube World

While there are eight playable races in Cube World, there are no gameplay differences between them. The game’s developer has said that different races may get unique attributes in the future, but as of now, they only offer cosmetic changes.

In addition to choosing a race for their character, players can customize their appearance, with the options changing depending on the character’s race. Humans have the most customization options, with several faces, hair styles, and hair colors to choose from. The more monstrous race options, like Lizardmen and Frogmen, have fewer options. Even after character creation, there are some ways to further customize your character. A Barber NPC can change your hairstyle, though there is nothing it can do to affect characters like Frogmen that have no hair. The developer has also said that more customization options could be added in the future.

Related: Cube World: What are the Classes?

NPC Races in Cube World

Each of the playable races in Cube World can also be encountered as NPCs out in the world. NPCs can either be friendly characters that will help you fight or aggressive ones that will attack you. Defeating hostile NPCs will often grant you valuable items.

NPCs of different races can have some differences between them, particularly in the biomes where they live. For instance, Elves won’t appear in dungeons, but that’s the most likely place to find Undead. Human NPCs can appear as bandits in wild, but you’ll also frequently encounter friendly Humans in Cube World’s cities. Goblins and Orcs often show up in the woods. As the smallest of the races, Goblins are mostly found hunting in packs, while Orcs are more able to use their large size to be formidable opponents all on their own.
 

Call of Duty Mobile is on the horizon, and anyone who’s seen the game running will know that if you play and enjoy the series, this mobile title is one that’s worth taking seriously. Announced back in early 2018 as a collaboration between Activision and Chinese giant Tencent, the market for a premium name in the FPS arena is big, and being backed by two of the biggest publishers in the world is a tantalising proposition, it looks the part too. Check out the announcement trailer below:

In the past, portable versions of the game have usually ended up half-baked and almost unplayable due to their awkward control scheme, but this is coming to Android and Mobile, both of which support Bluetooth controllers which means that it’s closer to the full-fat experience than ever. 

But curiously, the game also supports the keyboard and mouse, meaning that if you have a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, you can connect them up to your mobile or tablet and game with the undisputed best control scheme for first-person shooters.

However, first-person shooters are very twitch reliant, meaning that the players who can spot and shoot enemies accurately first are the ones that win in the end. That's difficult when you're playing on a screen that's not much bigger than the average human hand.

That’s why if you want to take your Call of Duty Mobile experience to the next level, you need to get yourself on a PC and play the game there.

While this will not work with a Mac using the iOS version of the game, an Android emulator and the game on the Google Play store should work absolutely fine. Because your computer will already have a keyboard and mouse attached to it, the emulator will recognise them as inputs, so no extra assembly is required.

First, you need an emulator to run the game. There are plenty out there for Windows 10 that will do the job nicely. One of the most popular ones, especially for gaming, is BlueStacks, but some investigative work should help you find one that works for you.

Once the emulator is set up, you should have access to the Google Play Store (not all Android emulator builds will come with it installed and may require you to find a .apk file for it, though we can confirm that BlueStacks comes with it installed). From there, you can download Call of Duty Mobile as you would a normal game once available and then play with a keyboard and mouse!

Now not only do you have a fantastic mobile shooter experience on the big screen, but also with the best control scheme.

As it’s a mobile title and it will be intended to run on tech for mobile, lower-end computers should still be able to handle the game without too much issue, and because it’s a direct input from your PC, input lag should be at a minimum, though server quality can cause this to vary.

We hope to see you on the battlefield, soldier!

Each month there's usually a rate of 1-2 games per day that come out on mobile devices. And that's a lot. This list is to help narrow down that search, and help you to discover something new in all different genres for every person. From casual, to adventure, to horror, to story-driven, to Mario Kart. This is the 

#10. Kaihi

Kaihi is an arcade game that has players control a small onigiri, or rice cake. Slide across the screen to collect coins within a certain time limit. Once the time is over, you can move to the next room. The longer you stay alive, the harder each room gets with getting threats that move across the screen either to eat you, or take the coins you’re trying to get. You can collect power-ups to deal with them too.

Pros: simplistic gameplay, cute artstyle

Cons: power-ups aren’t frequent

Kaihi is available on iOS only for free.

#9. Mindkeeper: The Lurking Fear

Based off of H.P. Lovecraft’s work, Abylight Studios has brought forth their new title where players take on the role of H. Joyce as he explores an old abandoned mansion in the Swamp of Storms to discover the secret behind the lurking fear. It has some good quality graphics, and some decent horror and atmospheric qualities being an interesting take on the original H.P. Lovecraft story. It also has some fairly good puzzles that can really get a few head scratches going.

Pros: Atmospheric, good puzzles, available for Apple Watch

Cons: Movement can be tricky

Mindkeeper: The Lurking Fear is available on iOS only for $1.99 USD.

#8. Black Sea Legend

Like pirates? Like JRPG’s? Like naval battles? Then you’ve come to the right place. You play as a pirate Captain who’s gaining an army of other pirate Captain’s to taking down the evil bandit pirates. Yes, there are good pirates now, and your team of them are going to free up coastal cities and plunder some treasure in the sea while you’re at it. A charming little pirate adventure with some rather familiar names for the pirates. Da Vinci, Raphael, and more that I’ve not even discovered yet. It’s naval battles taken to a new level with some fun superpowers that pirates apparently have now.

Pros: Simplistic gameplay, easy to understand combat system

Cons: Levelling up takes a very long time, no character customization

Black Sea Legend is available on Android systems only for free.

#7. Mythgard

If you’re a fan of Hearthstone or Magic: The Gathering card games, Mythgard is right up your alley. Mythgard takes a twist on the myth of Persephone, putting it into a modern setting with a lot of demons, and well, all the gods have gone missing, with Percy (Persephone in this version), finally leaving the gates of the Underworld to go find her mother. Along the way, she does battle against demons and creatures of the night who are trying to put a stop to her travels, or to take her power. As someone who’s never played a card game like this before, this was an interesting introduction to them, and with fun characters and lead protagonist with a powerful baseball bat as her weapon, it’s safe to say this is staying on the phone.

Pros: Stunning artwork, easy to understand card system

Cons: No difficulty settings, have yet to come across deck customization

Mythgard is available on Android and iOS systems for free.

#6. Granny: Chapter 2

She’s back, and now she’s brought her husband: Grandpa. And now you’re trapped in Grandpa’s house. Much like the first game, you have to escape the evil clutches of these delirious old people who apparently want you dead. You have 5 days to escape with several different escape route options. With Grandpa in the mix, there’s double the threat against you. But while Granny hears everything, Grandpa doesn’t hear all too well, but he does his very hard. Escape with your life, or die at the end of 5 days. This is a great continuation of the previous installment, with new spooks, new ways to fight back, and new escape routes.

Pros: Difficulty settings with the ability to remove Grandpa, decent scares, good puzzles

Cons: Very glitchy, controls can be wonky

Granny: Chapter 2 is available on Android and iOS systems for free.

#5. One Punch Man: Road To Hero

Following the story of its namesake One Punch Man: Road To Hero brings in the iconic characters and villains from the silly comic turned popular anime One Punch Man. The story of Saitama who wants to be a hero for fun, but struggles with the fact that each foe he comes across goes down with one punch from him. The game combines turn-based fighting combat with a board game style movement to find items, bosses, and other fights. The cast from the original anime has also returned to give back their talents for the game. A good sense of humor, and some good fighting systems, if you like One Punch Man, you’ll like this.

Pros: Good combat system, fully voiced

Cons: Requires stamina to do missions, stamina recharge rate is very slow

One Punch Man: Road to Hero is available on Android and iOS Systems for free,

#4. Slaughter 3: The Rebels

This is the third installment of the Slaughter series by Ray Spark. The story is about a town that’s secluded from the rest of the world that is a prison encampment with no way out. Players take on the role of Russell once more, as he’s brought back to this prison encampment where the walls have fallen and criminals run free. Here, his partner has gone missing. And with cops having been murdered in the streets and anyone who wanted to live having fled the complex, it’s overrun. Packing a few guns, you have to make your way through, take care of threats and come back with your partner alive. An intense action drama with some amazing graphics and a continuation of a thrilling story.

Pros: Stunning graphics, easy controls, fully voiced

Cons: Combat is tricky

Slaughter 3: The Rebels is available on Android for $2.00 USD and iOS for $0.99 USD.

#3. Wanderlust Travel Stories

This game feels like a choose your own adventure book with real life locations, and real life cultures. The game is more of an interactive novel where players control the protagonist of a specific story and shape their adventure and experience through the choices they make. The game is meant to be for those who want to travel, but don’t have the means to. As Wanderlust adds in photographs of the actual locations, and news articles about important factors of travelling and the locations you travel to, such as how global warming is affecting the area, or how tourism hurts certain locations. Players are also given a few things to manage, such as what to pack, when to leave, and their exhaustion levels and a few other things to watch. Their experience will change depending on these aspects.

Pros: in depth story telling, beautiful photos

Cons: not gameplay heavy

Wanderlust Travel Stories is available on iOS Systems only for $9.99 USD.

#2. Mario Kart Tour

As expected, this mobile version of Mario Kart has been highly anticipated since it’s announcement and it’s taken everything by storm. Mario Kart Tour brings back all the favourite maps from previous games and compiles them together into different tours at the palm of your hand. Collect all sorts of characters, karts, and gliders to get as many points as you can and come in first place. It’s just as fun as many remember the first Mario Kart’s to be, and just as cutthroat when certain shells are used against your enemies. There isn’t much else to say about it, as it’s everything many of us hoped it would be, and it’ll stick around for a long time.

Pros: It’s literally Mario Kart, customizable playing style

Cons: Not all the features have been added yet, micro transactions

Mario Kart Tour is available on Android and iOS Systems for free.

#1. This Is The Police 2

This Is The Police 2 brings a special combination of several different styles of games to create a one of a kind experience. It combines puzzles, simulation, management, visual novel, tactic strategy and more and it does it seamlessly. After the death of the previous sheriff, players follow the young new sheriff Lilly Reed. She’s dealing with stress in the workplace from the lack of a mentor and capturing a wanted fugitive criminal, Jack Boyd. He gains her trust, and she makes a plan with him and goes through her job hoping that it won’t come back to bite her.

The game focuses on tactical strategy when cops are sent out to investigate or arrest certain people of interest.There’s a large mystery at hand, and several people are involved. From there, you can interrogate them, search through files, and then send them to court. And if they end up being innocent, you can see if judges can be bought.

There was something about this game being story driven and choice based where every thing, every move, every answer or question, and every decision felt like there was a weight to it. It was reminiscent of how in depth a story can go, much like in shows like Twin Peaks, where the lore is everything and has so much to it. I can easily express that there were moments where I felt so scared of the consequences of what my mistakes would bring (even if they might not have been mistakes), and what that might mean for the case or characters.

Pros: Intense story, great strategy, good management system, loveable characters

Cons: Because it is story driven there are times when the game becomes slow as it focuses on cutscenes and interactions, tapping certain tools or objects in combat is tricky

This Is The Police 2 is available on Android and iOS Systems for $6.99 USD.

There are four classes in Cube World. Each of them comes with two specializations, giving players the option to maximize how they like to handle their overall gameplay. You're going to find one specialization performs better in specific situations than another. While players are going to choose their first class when they start the game, how do they go about getting the specialization for their class?

How to Get a Specialization in Cube World

Luckily, you do not have to go about completing a quest or getting a certain amount of money before you can choose. All you have to do is speak to a specific NPC in the city. Then you're good to go. It shouldn't take you too much time to get it done, but if you don't know what you're looking for, you're going to struggle for a little bit.

The person you're looking for is in a town. Get to the town and look for them on the map, indicated by the golden crown. Walk over to them on the map and you should see a Guild Specialist in the city. If you're having a bit of trouble locating them, you can find them in the Adventurer District. Walk up to them and speak to them regarding your class' specialization options.

You can also visit this area if you're not enjoying the class you first picked out. You can go to speak to the same individual to change your class. They're not too picky about you doing it. So if you think you're not going to enjoy the class you're playing, or you might like to switch it up, feel free to modify how you're playing your character. The same goes for the specialization because you can change them freely whenever you're in the mood. Don't feel like you need to hole yourself into a particular role in the game.

Cube World is all about having the freedom to play whatever you want to do. Rather than playing multiple characters, switch things up with modifying your main character to see what you have a good time with when you play with friends or by yourself.

A  Pokémon Center pop-up store is set to come to London, and the store will include an exclusive London based stuff Pikachu.

Pokémon Centers are stores that exclusively sell Pokémon products, primary stuff animal versions of popular Pokémon. They are named after the Pokémon Centers from the video games, which are buildings where you can take your Pokémon to get healed. Very few Pokémon Center stores exist in the world, with the most notorious being the one in Japan.

As a promotion for the upcoming Pokémon Sword and Shield, the Pokémon Company announced they were going to release a Pokémon Center pop-up store in Westfield London, Shepherd's Bush. This pop-up store will include exclusive products, including a London based Pikachu stuff animal.

A Pikachu based on London has appeared in multiple official images promoting the Pokémon Center in London. This London Pikachu is dressed up as a classical London Gentleman. He wears a bowler hat and a cute little business suit. He also carries an umbrella with a Psyduck shaped handle. He isn’t wearing pants though.

Bringing charm, sophistication and shockingly good looks... It’s our new favourite gentleman, London City Pikachu! 😍

Available exclusively at #PokemonCenterLondon! https://t.co/3dAkFiTHdIpic.twitter.com/94cTq05HLO

— Pokémon UK (@PokemonNewsUK) September 30, 2019

Since this London Pikachu has been featured so heavily in promotional images, it isn’t too surprising that the Pokémon Company will be selling a stuff version of him exclusively in the London Store.

The London Pokémon Center will also have a playable demo for Sword and Shield. The demo will be at the Sword and Shield specific area. Access to the area will be limited, so it is best to get there early.

The Pokémon Center pop-up store in London will be available starting Friday, Oct. 18. Last day will be on Friday, Nov. 15.

The remake for The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening has just released, and we were impressed by it. The presentation and graphics of the game were excellent, and we were charmed by the story and characters. Link’s Awakening has a set of wacky supporting characters, making the game come off as surreal. This intention makes sense in the context of the game, which we won’t spoil here.

The Link’s Awakening remake reminded me how much I like some of those supporting characters, particularly Marin. Marin is the first person that Link meets on Koholint Island. She is a sweet girl with an angel’s voice; the game does an excellent job making players care for Marin. It makes the ending with her all the more bittersweet and gives the game emotional weight.

Though the Legend of Zelda rarely has complex stories, I do think the franchise succeeds when it comes to subtle pathos and emotionally symbolic themes. Since Link is usually a blank slate for players to take control of, it is up to the supporting characters to add depth to the storyline and even make Link more complex. A lot of the time these supporting characters are often overshadowed by Link and Zelda. Personally to me, they are the heart of the franchise. It is one thing to save Hyrule from Ganon. It is another thing entirely when you want to keep people you care about. Characters like Marin and Groose make the world worth saving.

The Top 10 Best Legend Of Zelda Characters

Let’s celebrate all the Zelda characters in the franchise, both major and minor. They are the ones that flesh out the world of Hyrule and make it worth saving every time.

Honorable Mentions

The first quick honorable mentions go to Darunia for his sweet dance moves in Ocarina of Time. Other honorable mentions go to Ruto from the same game; she is a Zora princess (AKA fish people), and she has a crush on Link. Agitha from Twilight Princess also gets an honorable mention for being a weird bug person. Anju and Kafei from Majora’s Mask have one of my personal favorite sidequests in all of the video games, so those two characters deserve honorable mentions. I also really love Linkle’s design from Hyrule Warriors, so she gets one too. Impa and Medli barely miss out on the top ten, along with Ravio from A Link Between Worlds.

Dishonorable mentions go to Tingle because he’s Tingle. Another dishonorable mention goes to those kids from Twilight Princess. The kids in that game go through an arc and stuff, but they are annoying, and I hate how they look. Ilia from Twilight Princess also gets a dishonorable mention because she was useless, and her whole amnesia thing in the game was annoying.

Ghirahim

Ghirahim brought something new to the franchise after decades of the same old, same old. The developers of Skyward Sword probably figured fans were tired of facing off Ganon again, so instead they fabricated their villain for the game. Though the final antagonist ends up being Ganon-like, Ghirahim served as the primary antagonist for most of the game. A weirdo and a creep, Ghirahim was a breath of fresh air to the franchise. He wasn’t like previous villains of the franchise, especially compared to Ganon, and he grew to become a fan favorite.

Link

Link is more of a tool than a character. He’s only defining characteristics are his clothing, arsenal, and the fact he never speaks. Despite that, I wouldn’t want him to be anything other than what he is. Link has become such an icon within the gaming world, and gamers around the world love him. I love him, and he rarely shows any personality outside of being brave. Link's personality gets reflected through his relationships with his supporting cast, which helps fully flesh out him as a character. The supporting characters serve as Link’s emotional connection to the world of the game; they have the emotional arcs that are a reflection towards Link’s character arc. He may not be the most vocal protagonist around, but I wouldn’t want him to have any other way.

The Champions

This choice is two birds with one stone kind of situation. I get to add four more characters to the list, and it can still count as one entry. The champions from Breath of the Wild were a select group of heroes chosen by Princess Zelda to pilot the Devine Beasts. Each warrior is a different species than the others found throughout Hyrule. The Champions had Link and Zelda among their ranks, but we do not include them in this entry.

The Champions that we’re going to talk about are Revali, Daruk, Mipha, and Urbosa. Revali is a cocky and arrogant Rito, a species of bird people. Daruk is a Goron, a type of rock people, and he is known to get very exciting during battle. Mipha is the Zora Princess, and she is known for her gentle soul and having feelings for Link. Urbosa is a brave Gerudo Warrior; Gerudo is an all-female clan that lives in the desert. All four champions brought some personality to the game, and their ultimate demise is genuinely sad.

Zant

Zant from Twilight Princess lives in the weird balance of being both intimidating and pathetic. Zant is a Twili from the Twilight Realm, who gains immense power from Ganondorf. He uses that power to control his home Realm. In the first half of the game, he comes across as a serious-minded individual. He acts like everything is in control, and does come off as being imposing. He slowly starts to unhinge, and you see more of his real personality.  Underneath his helmet is a sad, pathetic person, who acts like a child. His two personalities are in direct conflict with one another, which makes him a fascinating character. He is ultimately an immature child with the powers of a god. It makes you wonder how he could have pretended to be so calm and collective in the first half of the game.

Groose

Groose from Skyward Sword has become a fan-favorite character for the franchise, and it is hard not to see why. He was in love with Zelda and didn’t like how close Link was to her. At first he seemed like a typical bully, who looked kind of like a coward. However, throughout the game, you realize he is brave and comes to Link’s aid on several occasions. He even forms an unusual friendship with Impa, which further develops his character. He was also a vital component in the final boss battle, saving Zelda’s soulless body before it hit the ground. He grew to become real friends with Link and Zelda. His character development in Skyward Sword may be the most fulfilling arc in the entire franchise, and it is the reason why so many fans love him.

Skull Kid

The Majora Mask in the game of the same name is one of the most iconic imagery in the entire Legend of Zelda franchise. The Mask controls Skull Kid, one of the most enduring antagonists in the series. Skull Kid is an immortal being, who is forever trapped in adolescents and is often making mischief. Given the power of the Majora’s Mask, Skull Kid receives the powers of a god. The Mask heightens all the worse aspects of Skull Kid, including his mischievous pranks and jokes.

Nevertheless, Skull Kid is still a sympathetic character in the end. Despite his prankster personality, deep down, he is a lonely being. All it wants is a friend, and there is something heartwarming in seeing Skull Kid and Link becoming friends at the very end of Majora’s Mask.

Zelda

Whereas Link is generally the same character in all the games, the many different versions of Zelda have a variety of different personalities. Although at times she can be plain as Link generally is, she is also often shown to be more playful and thoughtful. At times she can be Link’s best friend and main love interest, while other times her and Link would rarely talk to each other. Sometimes she acts wise beyond her years, and other times she acts like any other normal teen girl.

Zelda’s many different reincarnations are some of the best characters in the franchise, but it is hard to decide which one is the best Zelda. Instead, I’ll highlight all the best ones that I genuinely love. First great Zelda goes to Tetra, a reincarnation of Zelda who became a sea pirate. She is spunkier than other Zelda’s. The revelation that she was Zelda’s reincarnation in Wind Waker was a genuinely good twist the first time playing through it.

Zelda in Skyward Sword is adorable, and her relationship with Link is one of the best aspects of that game. Their budding romance is legitimately uplifting, and Zelda’s bubbly personality makes it too difficult to not be in love with her yourself. Finally, Zelda in Breath of the Wild comes off as the most vulnerable and flawed Zelda in the franchise. She is someone who tried to do something different to protect Hyrule, failed at it, and is trying to redeem herself.

Marin

SPOILERS TO LINK’S AWAKENING

The girl who inspired me to make this list, Marin is the first female character that fans of the franchise fell in love with. The original Link’s Awakening doesn’t have the most elaborate or detailed graphics, and a lot of the translated dialogue is peculiar. Despite that, Marin comes off as an incredibly likable and fully realized character.

Again, Link is a new state in this game, never talking. Marin takes up that role as the emotional anchor to the story. She confides to Link about her dreams to be a seagull and fly across the world. It gets revealed she is part of the Wind Fish dream, and for Link to go home he needs to wake the Wind Fish up. When his dream ends, and Marin ceases to exist. It is one of the most bittersweet endings in the game, and the remake on the Switch only adds to the tragedy.

You can now hear Marin’s beautiful singing voice in the Switch version, and the better graphics made her appear alive. If there is any solace to the ending, it is that Marin may have gotten her wish to turn into a seagull. Still, her disappearance at the end, along with her request for Link to not forget her, is downright heartbreaking when thinking about it in hindsight. She serves as the heart of Link’s Awakening, providing the emotional component in that game that Link isn’t capable of doing.

Saria

The two video games that influenced me the most at a young age were The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Final Fantasy VIII. I already wrote in length about my love for Final Fantasy VIII, so consider this entry on Saria from Ocarina of Time being my ode to that game. Specifically, there is one moment from Ocarina of Time that has stuck with me since I was a tiny child. It is such a small scene. Nevertheless, it adds so much to the overall themes of Ocarina of Time.

Ocarina of Time doesn’t have a complex narrative, but I do believe it is rich with symbolism and metaphors. The whole game is essentially a metaphor on life and the hardship of growing up. Link starts as a child in the game, and the first part of his journey requires him to leave his childhood home and leave behind his childhood best friend, Saria.

Saria can catch Link before he leaves, giving him her prize Ocarina. It is such a small yet vital moment in the game. The scene represents how people in real life will lose childhood friends as they grow up. Since Link needs to be an empty void, it is up to Saria to fill the emotional gap. Everything we need to know about their relationship gets told through her eyes, and they never looked so sad. She represents the inherent tragedy of growing up, and she provides one of the best moments in the entire franchise.

Midna

Twilight Princess has become a divisive game for fans of the Legend of Zelda franchise. Some fans appreciate the darker and grittier look, especially compared to the cartoony Wind Waker. However, at the same time, other fans thought the game lack an engaging overworld, and a lot of the dark elements of the story felt superficial. I loved the game. I think the game oozes with atmosphere, and it provided us with what I believe is the best character in the Legend of Zelda franchise.

Midna comes to Link after the latter gets turned into a wolf for the first time. She is a small person who seems otherworldly. She offers to help Link with his quest to save Hyrule, but during those early moments with her, you can never tell if you could fully trust her. That’s what ultimately makes her a fantastic character; you have a hard time figuring out if she’s a good guy or bad guy. When you find out her backstory and motivation, you realized she was neither. She was working for her own goal.

It turns out she is the titular Twilight Princess, who was deformed by the evil Zant. She wanted to use Link to regain her domain and didn’t care for him or Hyrule. With that said, she starts caring for Link and becomes increasingly more selfless. Her sacrifice to save Link and Zelda at the end of the game was the culmination of her character arc, and she quickly gets revived to her true form. With a single tear, she says goodbye to Link with a simple “I see you later,” and it may be one of the most disheartening scenes in the entire series.

Link has had many good partners throughout the franchise, sadly though none of them have ever matched Midna. Their chemistry was amazing, and that is even though Link never talks. Midna is a character that dares to be gray in a franchise that is all about black and white. The overall uncertainty of her motivation is one of her defining aspects, and it truly makes her a standout in the entire series.

Right now, Mario Kart Tour is going in the direction of every mobile game ever created. They're attempting to get players invested in their game, offering plenty of options for those who merely want to play the game, or those who want to pay to play. You can go either way. However, right now, multiplayer is not in the game. It's going to release during a future update. Is the update going to include multiplayer for players where they're going to need to pay to play it?

Will Multiplayer Cost Money in Mario Kart Tour?

While Mario Kart Tour does encourage players to purchase their monthly pass for $4.99 and give them the option to buy Rubies, the game's premium currency, it's unlikely players are going to need to pay to play the multiplayer portion of the game. Right now, this area is still under construction. It's doubtful anyone is going to need to pay to play this post of the game. 

Related: When Does Ranking Unlock in Mario Kart Tour?

Being able to play with friends is a bit part of the Mario Kart game. Additionally, while adding friends to your friend's list does take a little bit of time to achieve, Nintendo does not bar you from doing so. It's unlikely they're going to block players from getting access to multiplayer when the update arrives. However, they could make it Cup-specific, which would players are going to need to play through the game enough to unlock it. This method could be the only thing preventing players from jumping into multiplayer outright.

Doing so might be a good idea. It takes a little bit of time and practice for players to get through Mario Kart Tour, and the more they play it, the more likely they're going to have higher-level drivers, vehicles, and gliders available to them. These are important to score points. However, while points are essential at the end of the race, they do not determine if a player is going to get first or second place. This scoring system could change upon the arrival of multiplayer, but we don't know yet. We do not have too many details about how it's going to work, not until it officially releases.

We're going to learn more about multiplayer in the future from Nintendo. For now, compete against your friends during the first ranked cup race, and keep trying to beat them with your line-up. The more you play of Mario Kart Tour, the better results you're going to receive.