Pass the Controller | Latest news, reviews and reviews in video games
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Community
  • About
    • Contact
    • Meet the Team
  • Home
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Community
  • About
    • Contact
    • Meet the Team
>

Daedalic Entertainment to develop The Lord of the Rings: Gollum

27/3/2019

 
Picture

Daedalic Entertainment are working with Middle-Earth Enterprises on a new Lord of the Rings game centred around Gollum.

by Chris Brand
Picture

@pass_controller

Not much is currently known about the title, which has a distant 2021 release window, but Carsten Fichtelmann, CEO of Daedalic, recently spoke to PC Gamer about the project.

Fichtelmann let slip a few details during the interview. It's an action-adventure title set before the events of the books and the split personalities of Gollum/Smeagol could play a major part.
"When you look at our history with storytelling games, it was obvious that we needed to do something where the protagonist has a conflict going on," said Fichtelmann.

"This is also something you'll play in the game. You'll come to decisions you have to make, and you'll have the two voices talking to you. He may change his mind, and this is a clue about how it will play."

As Warner Bros. own the film rights, Andy Serkis won't be reprising his role as the pint-sized pest. This Gollum could be very different, as the developers are "telling his story before we learn about what happens to him in the books. So it's definitely new content that we'll see."

Are you interested in exploring more of Gollum's story? Let us know below or over in the forums.
COMMENT ON THE FORUMS
0 Comments

Fallout 76 Survival Mode Beta now available

27/3/2019

 
Fallout 76 Survival Mode Beta now available - Pass the Controller

The latest update for Fallout 76 is now live, bringing a new, more competitive way to play with fewer PvP restrictions, a permanent XP bonus, scoreboards and weekly challenges.

by Chris Brand
Picture

@pass_controller

Anything you can do in the standard Adventure Mode is open, including quests and events, and progress can be transferred between Survival and Adventure as often as you wish. The main difference is, in Survival, players can attack each other freely and won't appear on the map unless they’re Wanted or they hold one of the top three spots on any scoreboard.
You'll also be awarded double the amount of caps for each dweller vanquished and they'll drop all of their junk (which is more valuable than it sounds in the post-apocalyptic world of Fallout), along with a random amount of aid items.

Respawns are limited to Train Stations, your C.A.M.P. and Vault 76. Fast travel can be used to get around but is also limited to these areas and any Workshops you own.

Weekly challenges offer legendary rewards and the first one unlocks Crushing Blow, an M79 Grenade Launcher which inflicts double damage to targets at full health and an extra +50% limb damage.

A big change to Adventure Mode has also been ushered in, eliminating "slap damage" by reducing damage from non-hostile players to zero. There are a few caveats, however. If pacifist mode is disabled and you return fire against another player, you will become hostile and take full damage from their attacks. If your Workshop is contested, or you attempt to claim another player's Workshop, you will once again become hostile. Go easy on that trigger finger, cowboy.

Check out Inside the Vault for an in-depth look at the new systems in play and upcoming weekly challenges.

Are you going to dive into Survival Mode? Been enjoying Fallout 76 like our Liam? Let us know below or over in the forums.
COMMENT ON THE FORUMS
0 Comments

Microsoft debuts ID@Xbox Game Pass show

27/3/2019

 
ID@Xbox-Game-Pass

Following Sony’s first ever State of Play stream earlier in the week, Microsoft have debuted their own Nindie Showcase-like program promoting a host of new indie titles coming to Xbox One.

by Liam Andrews
Picture

@pass_controller

All the games featured in ID@Xbox Game Pass show will be available to Game Pass subscribers on the day of release, at no extra cost. Highlights from the show include Killer Queen Black, an “intense action strategy platformer” that features multiplayer matches for up to eight players, and there’s also a more in-depth look at upcoming space exploration title Outer Wilds and After Party from Oxenfree developers Night School Studio.
Blazing Chrome, developed by JoyMasher and published by The Arcade Crew, makes an appearance towards the end of the show, offering up plenty of Contra-esque run-and-gun action.

​Our personal pick has to be the short but sweet look at Void Bastards, a strategy-shooter featuring comicbook-inspired visuals. It’s developed by Blue Manchu, whose team includes a former BioShock and System Shock 2 developer.

What did you think of the first ID@Xbox Game Pass show? Let us know below.
Comment on the forums
0 Comments

Outward’s final dev diary focuses on co-op adventuring

26/3/2019

 
Outward

Deep Silver and Nine Dots Studio have released their fourth and final dev diary showcasing Outward’s cooperative gameplay.

by Liam Andrews
Picture

@pass_controller

Players can experience the open-world fantasy RPG in both local split screen and online co-op, sharing in battles, equipment and the game’s survival elements. In the video below, we see how having a buddy around can prove very useful when exploring areas or taking on large, powerful enemies.
In Outward, you play as a simple adventurer, not some all-powerful hero, as you explore a vast open world. The game features a “unique magical system” and survival elements, such as the need to eat and rest.

Outward launches today on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC.

Let us know what you think of the game below or in the forums, and be sure to keep an eye out for our upcoming Outward review.
Comment on the forums
0 Comments

Iron Man VR and much more announced during PlayStation’s first State of Play stream

26/3/2019

 
PlayStation-State-of-Play

Sony’s debut Nintendo Direct-like broadcast went live last night, bringing us a look at some of the content heading to PlayStation 4 and PS VR in the coming weeks and months.

by Liam Andrews
Picture

@pass_controller

First up was the reveal of Iron Man VR, a PS VR exclusive title developed by Camoflaj (République) and Marvel Games. The reveal trailer hints that players will be able to tackle enemies using motion controls, and also gives us a brief look at the game’s shadowy antagonist. Players will come “face-to-face with iconic allies and Super Villains” on a globe trotting mission to save the world.
There was plenty more PS VR news, including confirmation of upcoming virtual reality support for No Man’s Sky and a 28 May release date for London Studios’ Blood & Truth. We also got brief looks at first-person adventure title Falcon Age (9 April), tabletop-inspired fantasy RPG Table of Tales (16 April) and Rick & Morty creator Justin Roiland’s bizarre Trover Saves the Universe (31 May).
Robot Entertainment’s multiplayer dungeon crawler, ReadySet Heroes, was announced during the show as a timed exclusive for PS4. In the game, two players must quickly make their way through levels whilst collecting loot and weaponry, ready to face off against an opposing team of two (who’ve ran an identical version of the dungeon themselves) in a final arena showdown.

It’s been purposefully designed as a “short session game” for local or online multiplayer, with no PlayStation Plus required to engage with the latter.
ReadySet Heroes is out sometime later this year.
Moody science-fiction thriller Observation is out later this spring (21 May) and sees players stepping into the role of a self-aware AI known as SAM on a stricken space station. Using SAM’s connections and various systems, players must help the last remaining crew member uncover the mysterious downfall of the station.
You can catch up with the entirety of the inaugural State of Play below.
Share your thoughts on all the big announcements with us below or over in the forums.
Comment on the forums
0 Comments

Get a first look at Spacelords’ newest character, Sööma

25/3/2019

 
Spacelords-Sooma

MercurySteam has unveiled the latest addition to the ever-growing roster of Spacelords, the free-to-play title formerly known as Raiders of the Broken Planet.

by Liam Andrews
Picture

@pass_controller

Hailing from Mars, Sööma is a member of the Umbra Wardogs faction and belongs to a “seclusive cult devoted to helping those who suffer pain and oppression.” The character’s image and voice are provided by actress and model Stefanie Joosten, who also lent her likeness to Quiet in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.
“Sööma is a truly interesting character to play with,” said Joosten. “She can absorb the damage suffered by her allies, but that power comes with a price for her to pay. It is really exciting seeing my character coming to life, and I can’t wait for Sööma to be released!”

​Sööma will be released Q2 (April – June) this year.


Let us know what you think of the new character below or in the forums.
Comment on the forums
0 Comments

ENDED: Plague Inc: Evolved giveaway

25/3/2019

 
Plague Inc. Evolved Steam giveaway header - Pass the Controller

Maximilian Roitner (@MaxationX) is our Plague Inc: Evolved giveaway winner!

Picture





by Sam Sant

Picture

@SlamShotSam


This week's prize is certainly... unique. Train to be a despicable bioterrorist by spreading your very own deadly pathogen worldwide, all in an effort to eradicate mankind. 

​In Plague Inc: Evolved, you'll begin by infecting a 'Patient Zero' and from there continue to evolve your virus in an effort to overcome humanity's best defences. If you can adapt and survive, spreading the plague on a global scale in this rather unnerving strategy-simulation game, then congratulations - you've wiped out your own species!

In the worrying event that appeals (who am I kidding, it does sound like fun), enter via Gleam below for your chance to win a Steam key. If you aren't drawn as the winner and you really must spread misery, then Plague Inc: Evolved can be purchased for £11.99 on Steam, Xbox One and PS4.

​Good luck!
Plague Inc. Evolved Steam giveaway banner - Pass the Controller
Plague Inc: Evolved giveaway
0 Comments

Cuphead, Mutant Year Zero and Cadence of Hyrule announced for Nintendo Switch

20/3/2019

 
Cuphead

It’s been quite the eventful day for Switch owners, with a whole host of indie titles announced for the hybrid console.

by Liam Andrews
Picture

@pass_controller

During today’s Nindies Showcase, it was confirmed that Studio MDHR’s colourful run-and-gun boss battler, Cuphead, is making its way to the Switch following a successful launch on Xbox One and PC last year. The game features co-operative action for two players and a gorgeous 1930’s cartoon aesthetic. It’s out 18 April on Switch.
Another big announcement from today’s Showcase was a Legend of Zelda and Crypt of the Necrodancer crossover, called Cadence of Hyrule. This mashup between Brace Yourself Games’ rhythmic action game series and Nintendo’s iconic adventure franchise is due to arrive sometime this spring, but you can catch a glimpse of it in action below.
Finally, The Bearded Ladies and Funcom are bringing their XCOM-like Mutant Year Zero: Road To Eden to Switch this summer. Sam described Road To Eden as a “strange game, but in the best way” in our review, highly recommending it to both role-playing and strategy fans alike.

​The Switch version is out 25 June, which coincidentally is also the release date of the game’s next expansion. A special boxed edition of the game will be available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Switch that includes the base game plus the new DLC.
You can check out all the indie news from today’s Showcase in the video below.
Be sure to share your thoughts on the deluge of Nindies heading our way this year below or over in the forums.
Comment on the forums
0 Comments

Generation Zero releases next week, launch trailer revealed

19/3/2019

 
Generation Zero releases next week, launch trailer revealed - Pass the Controller

THQ Nordic have shared the launch trailer for their open world co-op shooter, Generation Zero, which releases next week.

by Chris Brand
Picture

@pass_controller

Set in a re-imagined version of Sweden in the 1980s, Generation Zero has you, and up to three friends, surviving an invasion from hostile machines, whilst trying to unravel the mystery of what is really going on. Players will be able to "lure, cripple or destroy enemies in intense, creative sandbox skirmishes."
There are many different flavours of enemies, each with their own weapons and sensory equipment, which are persistently simulated and "roam the landscape with intent and purpose." When a specific enemy component is destroyed, such as armour or weapons, the damage is permanent and they will carry it with them until you next meet, even weeks later.

The world itself is rendered using the Apex engine and features "a full day/night cycle with unpredictable weather, complex AI behaviour, simulated ballistics, highly realistic acoustics and a dynamic 1980’s soundtrack."

Generation Zero hits Xbox One, PS4 and PC on 26 March. You can pre-order from the official website to receive the Radical Vanity Pack, containing 12 additional customisation options.

What do you think of Generation Zero? Let us know below or over in the forums.
COMMENT ON THE FORUMS
0 Comments

Call of Duty: Mobile announced by Activision

19/3/2019

 
Call-of-Duty-Mobile

Activision and Tencent are bringing Call of Duty: Mobile to the West, a free-to-play take on the franchise’s iconic multiplayer for iOS and Android devices.

by Liam Andrews
Picture

@pass_controller

Developed by Tencent’s Timi studio, Call of Duty: Mobile features a mash-up of maps, modes, weapons and characters from games past and present, including the Modern Warfare and Black Ops series. According to the trailer, it looks like CoD: Mobile might  feature some sort of zombies mode and there’s also what looks like a brief snapshot of the island from Black Ops IV’s Battle Royale mode, Blackout.
Confirmed modes include Team Deathmatch, Search and Destroy and Free-For-All, with iconic maps such as Crash, Hijacked and Nuketown making an appearance. Players earn scorestreaks, characters and weapons as they progress, allowing them to customise their loadout.

“We are delivering the definitive, first person action experience in a new mobile title with incredible graphics and visceral Call of Duty gameplay,” said Chris Plummer, VP, Mobile at Activision.

“Together with the amazing team at Tencent, we’re bringing together a collection of the most beloved maps, competitive modes, familiar characters and signature weapons from across this storied franchise into one epic experience for the first time on mobile.”

​A public beta will be held this summer, which you can sign up for over on the game’s official site.

Are you looking forward to playing Call of Duty on the go? Let us know below.
Comment on the forums
1 Comment
<<Previous


    READ MORE

    Reviews
    Features
    VideoS

    Comment

    Categories

    All
    E3
    Giveaways
    News
    Nintendo
    PC
    PlayStation
    Podcast
    Stadia
    Talking Games
    Virtual Reality
    Xbox


    Archives

    February 2023
    April 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016


    RSS Feed

Pass the Controller

News
Reviews
Features
​
Videos
Community
About

What is PTC

About Us
​Meet the Team
​
Contact Us
Find our reviews on:
  • OpenCritic
  • vrgamecritic
© COPYRIGHT 2014-2022 PTC / JMP.
​ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.