With only weeks standing between the highly-anticipated Elden Ring and its ravenous fans, game director Hidetaka Miyazaki has opened up about the difficulty discourse that has long surrounded From Software’s games.

Discussions regarding difficulty in games aren’t anything new, of course. In recent years, a community push toward accessibility has brought about significant analyses of difficulty and how it can be tailored for inclusiveness. From Software frequently draws the ire of some gamers who feel its popular role-playing games, which include the beloved and demanding Dark Souls series, provide too steep a challenge and should include difficulty options.

Some fans of the aptly-named Souls-like genre disagree with the assessment that such games need a difficulty setting, feeling strongly that the games benefit from their cryptic design choices and precise, punishing combat. From Software itself has long stood by this stance, too, imploring all gamers to embrace the challenge so that they can feel an equal sense of reward by overcoming it.

Despite this, speaking in an interview with PlayStation Blog, Miyazaki made it clear that he believes the conversation is still one worth having. “It’s a valid discussion,” he said. “I feel like our approach to these games, not just Elden Ring, is to design them to encourage the player to overcome adversity. We don’t try to force difficulty or make things hard for the sake of it. We want players to use their cunning, study the game, memorize what’s happening, and learn from their mistakes.”

Miyazaki went on to share that he believes the barrier of entry has been lowered in Elden Ring as well, due to design choices that now provide additional player agency. “In Elden Ring, we have not intentionally tried to lower the game’s difficulty,” he said. “But I think more players will finish it this time. As I mentioned, the player’s level of freedom to progress through the world or return to a challenge later are all elements that I feel will help people get through the game at a more leisurely pace.”

In addition to general design changes, Miyazaki states that he hopes “players embrace that idea of receiving help from others,” promising that the multiplayer function of the game has been streamlined to put an emphasis on working together to overcome Elden Ring’s toughest challenges. With this in mind, Miyazaki feels confident that Elden Ring will have the highest rate of completion in From Software’s Souls-like library.

Miyazaki’s interview also included confirmation that Elden Ring will feature a New Game Plus mode and multiple endings, two components that have become a core part of what makes From Software’s games endlessly replayable for die-hard fans.

Elden Ring launches February 25 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.

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One of the best perks of Nintendo Switch Online is the ability to play dozens upon dozens of classic Nintendo games on Switch. At the time of writing, there are more than 100 SNES and NES games on the Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) service ($4/month, $8/3 months, $20/year), and an additional batch of Nintendo 64 games and Sega Genesis games in the NSO Expansion Pass ($30/year), with more on the way. The service also includes helpful features like optional save states for all the games available, rewinding your gameplay for NES, SNES, and Genesis, and unique versions of some games that start you out with end-game stats and gear so you can blast through each level.

A collection of more than 135 retro games (and counting) means there’s a lot to parse. While many of the included titles are among the best games ever, there are some clunkers in the mix, too. For anyone wondering which of these games are worth your time, we picked a bunch of titles across the service’s four available console libraries that we think represent the best on the service.

That said, just because your favorite isn’t listed doesn’t mean we think it’s unworthy. There are so many amazing retro games available on NSO, more than we have space to list. So think of this as a starting point for anyone unfamiliar with Nintendo’s (and now Sega’s) legacy catalog.

NES

Kirby’s Adventure

Kirby’s Adventure

Kirby’s Adventure is the cute pink puff ball’s first game on home console, and the follow up to 1992’s Kirby’s Dream Land on Game Boy. It’s also the game that introduced many of Kirby’s now-iconic abilities. Like in other 2D action-platformers, Kirby runs and jumps over obstacles and give baddies the boot, but he can also inflate himself to float over danger, or inhale enemies then spit them out as star-shaped projectiles that can hurt enemies and destroy objects. He can also gain special abilities by absorbing certain items and enemies, which opens up new paths and secrets hidden in each of the game’s 41 levels.

See our Kirby’s Adventure review.

The Legend of Zelda

The Legend of Zelda

The original Legend of Zelda is a surprisingly open-ended adventure that still holds up today.

Zelda 1 features recognizable elements in its story and gameplay, such as a secret-packed overworld, numerous dungeons and bosses to overcome, and an array of items that unlock new abilities. However, unlike many of its sequels, most of Zelda 1 can be tackled in any order. And once you beat the game, you unlock a “Second Quest” mode that remixes the locations of dungeons and treasure for a totally new experience. Just be warned that there’s very little hand-holding in the original adventure compared to later entries in the series. Stumbling into strong enemies or impassable obstacles too early can be frustrating, but players are free to explore as they please and there’s something to discover on almost every screen, making your progress feel more genuine.

See our Legend of Zelda review.

Punchout!!

Punchout!!

Speaking of NES games whose influence is still apparent in gaming today, the next NES game you should play on NSO is Punchout. This 1v1 proto-fighting game has elements of rhythm and puzzle games, and inspired everything from Street Fighter and fighting games in general, to action games with deliberate combat like Dark Souls and Monster Hunter. No, seriously.

Punchout Is all about timing and patience. Each opponent in the game’s roster has a unique fighting style and a unique personality to match. Your opponent will telegraph their moves with small tells that you need to memorize so you can respond with the proper counter move or dodge. Timing is also important, as some of the animations are quick and hard to spot, and your window of opportunity is short. Punchout is a tough game to master (and some of its characters are woefully outdated stereotypes), but the unique gameplay is still worth experiencing today–and hey, you can always use NSO’s built-in rewind feature for an easier playthrough.

Super Mario Bros.

Super Mario Bros.

Super Mario Bros. wassn’t the first Mario game on NES, but it was Nintendo’s mustachioed plumber’s first full 2D platforming adventure.

Even if you’ve never played Super Mario Bros, you probably know what to expect: The evil turtle King Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach, and Mario’s gotta save her by running left and jumping on things. The plumber can consume mushrooms that make him bigger and stronger, use fire flowers to throw fireballs, or collect stars that make him temporarily invincible. Super Mario Bros. still holds up today, but if you want some more variety in your platforming…

See our Super Mario Bros. review.

Super Mario Bros. 3

Super Mario Bros. 3

If you’re going to play just one game in NSO’s NES collection, it should be Super Mario Bros. 3.

Super Mario Bros. 3 is arguably the best game on NES, and still one of the best 2D platformers ever made. It outshines all previous Mario games and, frankly, many of the games that came after. It’s also notable for refining and cementing many elements the series is still known for, such as the Tanooki Suit and Super Leaf power-ups, sectioning levels into “worlds” with specific themes, and characters like the Koopalings. There’s also an SP version that starts at the final stage of the game, and lets players select from one of eight different power-up boxes for extra help.

See our Super Mario Bros. 3 review.

SNES

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest

Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest

Donkey Kong Country 2 refined the core gameplay ideas introduced in the first Donkey Kong Country and added unique elements that make for a better game than the original.

Like in the original, players control a tag-team of two characters exploring dangerous levels set in a variety of tropical lands, but you won’t be playing as the titular Donkey Kong this time. Instead, Donkey Kong Country 2 is the first game in the series to give Diddy Kong the starring role–but he’s not alone. Diddy’s pal Dixie Kong joins him on a quest to save Donkey Kong from the clutches of series villain King K. Rool. You can play the entire game solo or with a partner, and there’s tons of secret items and bonus levels to discover, adding plenty of replay value to this charming 2D platformer.

See our Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest review.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

A Link to the Past set the structure that almost every Zelda would follow for the next 20-plus years.

Like the two previous Zelda titles, players controlled the hero Link on his adventure across Hyrule to defeat Ganon and save Princess Zelda. However, A Link to the Past is more guided and story-driven than the first Zelda, ditches the RPG mechanics Zelda II experimented with, and took dungeons from enemy-filled gauntlets into puzzle-filled labyrinths with unique themes, resulting in a well-paced adventure.

That formula would remain core to the series’ gameplay until 2017’s Breath of the Wild, but A Link to the Past’s gameplay loop was novel, and a refreshing change for the action-adventure genre at the time. It’s considered by many to be the best Zelda game, and it’s easily one of the best games on SNES.

See our Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past review.

Super Mario Kart

Super Mario Kart

Super Mario Kart wasn’t the first arcade racer with combative powerups, but it was certainly the most notable. It paved the way for the franchise’s dominance as the best-selling games on nearly every subsequent Nintendo console and handheld. Fans of modern Mario Kart may be initially disappointed by the SNES game’s lack of kart customization options and slimmer roster of racers and tracks compared to other games in the series, but Super Mario Kart is still a joy to play. It’s a pure arcade racer that doesn’t need gameplay gimmicks or excessive customization to hold your attention.

Star Fox

Star Fox

Star Fox was one of the first fully-3D console games, and one of the few games on the SNES to take full advantage of the Super FX chip–the first-ever 3D rendering chip available on a home gaming console. While not as pretty as future Star Fox games or the rail shooters that came after, the original Star Fox was a mind-blowing leap in video game graphics. To be fair, Star Fox 64 (which is available in the NSO Expansion Pack’s N64 library) is basically a 1-to-1 remake of the SNES game’s story, gameplay, and music, and is arguably a much better game, but the SNES version is still fun and worth playing if you’re a fan of Fox McCloud and crew. And if you need more space shooting goodness, Star Fox 2–which was originally canceled just after the game was finished and left unreleased for decades–is also available on NSO.

Super Mario All-Stars

Super Mario All-Stars

Super Mario All-Stars is a collection of the original Super Mario Bros trilogy on the NES, plus Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (Super Mario Bros. 2 in Japan) on a single cartridge. All four games in the compilation were remade for the SNES with new graphics, controls, extra content, and more. Some have argued that the remakes are inferior to the originals, but they are easier on the eyes and have better controls. But hey, if you really want to play the original versions, they’re available in NSO’s NES library.

Super Mario World

Super Mario World

Look, we know we keep calling the Mario games on this list some of the “best games ever made,” but for many, Super Mario World is the best.

Super Mario World was the first all-new Mario game on the SNES and the immediate sequel to Super Mario Bros. 3. World built upon everything Mario Bros. 3 excelled at–specifically the excellent level design, pacing, and responsive controls–and expanded the formula with bigger levels filled with secrets that encouraged players to replay and explore more than any prior game in the series.

Super Mario World was also the first game in the series to feature Yoshi as Mario’s rideable companion, as well as all-new power ups, enemy types, and gameplay mechanics that make World an incredibly deep game. And topping it all off is the richly detailed 16-bit sprites the perfectly capture the “feeling” of Mario, and an amazing soundtrack from series composer Koji Kondo.

If you only have time to play one Mario game in the NSO collection, it should be Super Mario World.

See our Super Mario World review.

Super Metroid

Super Metroid

Super Metroid is a masterpiece of non-linear level design, atmospheric story presentation, and 2D action-platforming. The game starts strong with players controlling the intergalactic bounty hunter, Samus Aran, investigating a distress call from Ceres space station. As you quickly find out, almost all life on the station has been killed by space pirates and their leader, Ridley, who are after the last known Metroid–a parasitic organism that saps the life energy from its prey. Samus follows the space pirates down to the planet Zebes, the setting of the original Metroid.

From there, the game never lets up. Players explore a winding labyrinth of seamlessly interconnected levels, collecting power ups that bolster Samus’ arsenal with new weapons and abilities that unlock more of the map to explore, while the eerie (but catchy) soundtrack and atmospheric sound design create an engrossing atmosphere.

There’s a reason this game inspired a massively popular sub-genre that bears the Metroid franchise’s name, and why Super Metroid is often considered the best game in the series. Everyone should play it and find out why.

See our Super Metroid review.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island is a strange game. A good game, mind, but a strange one. It’s technically the second entry in the World series, but is a major departure from the established gameplay and art style of previous Mario games. The most notable change is that you play as Yoshi–an entire pack of multi-colored Yoshis, actually. Mario is still here, but as a baby the Yoshis are escorting back to his parents (while also saving baby Luigi along the way).

Controlling Yoshi is also a departure from Mario’s purely jump-focused skills and power-ups. Yoshi can eat enemies to turn them into eggs, throw said eggs at enemies and obstacles, and jump longer distances than Mario ever could thanks to his floaty double-jump. In turn, Yoshi’s Island’s level design differs from other Mario games to accommodate the dinosaur sidekick’s unique kit, offering a more exploratory, puzzle-platformer structure.

Nintendo 64

Sin & Punishment

Sin & Punishment

It’s hard to recommend many games in the NSO N64 collection due to the subpar emulation for Nintendo’s fifth generation console, but there is one N64 game every NSO Expansion Pack subscriber should play: Sin & Punishment.

Sin & Punishment is an on-rails sci-fi shooter that was originally exclusive to Japan, but gained a cult following in the west from the import crowd. Nintendo finally made it available to other territories in 2007 via the Wii Virtual Console, but with the Wii’s shopping services long-since shuttered, the NSO Expansion Pack is the only way to play this game today (aside from buying an expensive copy on the used retro market). And you should definitely play Sin & Punishment. It’s a gorgeous game for the time, with face-paced gameplay that remains buttery smooth from start to finish. It’s a quick playthrough, too, only lasting about 2 hours depending on how quickly you get through each stage, but Sin & Punishment’s unique levels and high score-chasing incentives provide plenty of replayability for those who want to spend more time with the game.

Sega Genesis

Gunstar Heroes

Gunstar Heroes

If you’re looking for a fast-paced run-and-gun shooter from the 16-bit era, Gunstar Heroes should be near the top of your list. This action-platformer is often regarded as one of the best in the genre and one of the best games on Sega Genesis in general. Critics lauded the fast-paced gameplay, varied level designs, and lush graphics at the time, and those elements still hold up well today.

Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millenium

Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millenium

Phantasy Star was Sega’s answer to Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, and while the series never caught on as widely as its competitors, the early games are among the best JRPGs ever made. Phantasy Star IV is by far the pinnacle of the entire franchise. It was lauded for its unique science-fantasy setting, deep combat system, and manga-inspired cutscene presentation.

Simply put: every RPG fan needs to play Phantasy Star IV. Don’t be intimidated by the “IV” in the title, though. While Phantasy Star IV concludes the series’ storyline, you don’t need to play the other games to understand what’s going on. Phantasy Star IV is set 1,000 years after the previous games, featuring a unique cast of characters on a mostly standalone adventure to save the Algol star system that will stick with you long after the final boss is defeated.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Sonic 2 is a bigger and faster evolution of the original game’s 2D platforming gameplay, and many cite Sonic the Hedgehog 2 as the pinnacle of the Blue Blur’s cartridge-based games. This is also where series-staple elements were introduced for the first time, such as Sonic’s now-iconic spin dash move, the pseudo-3D “special stages,” and–most importantly–Sonic’s trusty sidekick Tails as the second playable character. Tails tags along with Sonic in single player mode, or a second player can take control of the double-tailed fox in split screen mode.

See our Sonic the Hedgehog 2 review.

Streets of Rage 2

Streets of Rage 2

Streets of Rage 2 is yet another game on this list that many consider the pinnacle of its respective genre–in this case, 2D beat-’em-ups. Players select one of the four playable characters: Axel, Blaze, Max, and Eddie. Each of the brawlers has their own unique look and fighting style, plus three difficulty levels to choose from, giving this brawler lots of replay incentive in either single or two-player mode.

Streets of Rage 2 was also a showcase of the Sega Genesis’ hardware strengths. The large, detailed sprites were some of the best in the 16-bit era, and the soundtrack from famed composer Yuzo Koshiro took full advantage of the console’s Yamaha YM2612 soundchip.

See our Streets of Rage 2 review.

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Xur has returned from Eternity to peddle his wares in Destiny 2, which means you have a new opportunity to complete your collection of Exotics and snag some rare Legendary weapon and armor rolls. Here’s where you can find Xur this weekend and everything he’s selling–along with a rundown of what’s worth your attention.

You can find Xur back in the solar system with the daily reset on Friday, so we’ll update this article when he arrives with everything he’s selling and where you can find him.

Xur is present every weekend in Destiny 2, starting with the daily reset at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET each Friday. His exact location is always a mystery when he first arrives, as he is not listed on the map, and for novice players, he can be easy to miss. However, there are a set number of locations where he takes up residence, including the Tower Hangar area, on Nessus in Watcher’s Grave, and in the Winding Cove area of the EDZ.

Alongside changes in his location, Xur’s inventory also rotates weekly. That means it’s worth visiting him each time to check out his new weapons and rolls on Exotic and Legendary armor. You can visit him any time between his arrival Friday and the weekly reset at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET the following Tuesday when Xur departs the solar system.

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Spider-Man’s presence in Fortnite has brought one of his biggest nemeses to the island, as the Green Goblin has made his debut in the game.

The Fortnite Green Goblin skin was made available as part of the nightly item shop update. The skin comes bundled with the Pumpkin Bomb back bling, designed to look like the villain’s signature weapon.

“Oh, you’re a Fortnite skin? I’m something of a Fortnite skin myself.”

The skin is joined in the item shop by multiple pieces of gear designed around the hoverboard horror, including the Pumpkin P’axe pickaxe, Goblin Glider glider, and a unique Arm the Pumpkin! emote. All of these items and the Green Goblin skin can be purchased in the Green Goblin bundle, which also includes the Attack Of The Goblin loading screen pictured above.

The Green Goblin marks the final skin to be officially released after a series of leaks emerged with the 19.10 update over a week ago. The other skins, Clint and Kate from Hawkeye and Arcane Vi from League of Legends, saw their own releases in the item shop on January 20 and 22 respectively.

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This year’s The Elder Scrolls Online adventure will take players to a never-before-seen location with the new High Isles chapter, along the way diving deep into a culture that has yet to be explored in much detail in the lore.

The upcoming yearlong adventure is called Legacy of the Bretons, and will encompass multiple pieces of new DLC content over the course of 2022. The biggest addition in Legacy of the Bretons is the new High Isle chapter. Legacy of the Bretons will see players travel to the Systres Archipelago, a Mediterranean-inspired island region that is home to the High Isle itself.

A story of political intrigue awaits players on the island. Delegates from the three factions that are battling it out in the game’s Three Banners War have come to discuss peace terms on the island getaway, but a secret society known as the Ascendant Order has other plans. Players will unravel the mystery of the Ascendant Order, its motives, and its leaders in a story that The Elder Scrolls Online creative director Rich Lambert described as a return to the storytelling roots of the Elder Scrolls franchise.

“It’s definitely that more politically focused storyline rather than the cosmic daedric lords are going to invade, take over and enslave everybody,” Lambert said. “It’s a fresh new take, it’s something we haven’t done in a very long time, and it’s something we really wanted to dig into and kind of go back to our roots on.”

Breton culture is inspired by the feudalistic European society fans of Western medieval fantasy are no doubt familiar with, one filled with lords and ladies, knights in shining armor, and majestic castles. While that might sound like something many fantasy fans have seen before, Lambert stressed that the High Isle and Breton culture still has that signature Elder Scrolls style.

“It’s the Elder Scrolls angle,” he said. “There isn’t a single source of truth. We are definitely a lot more focused on the politics and showing that. It’s a novel thing in Elder Scrolls, and Bretons and their culture have never really been explored before.”

Fans of the franchise have been endlessly debating on the setting for The Elder Scrolls VI, which some believe based on the game’s initial teaser trailer to be centered around the Breton province of High Rock (Hammerfell is another likely possibility). If that is the case, High Isle could potentially step on some toes in regards to whatever Bethesda Game Studios is cooking up. While Lambert had little to say on that subject, he did talk about how ZeniMax Online works closely with Bethesda Game Studios to keep the world and lore of the Elder Scrolls universe consistent.

“We can just have frank discussions,” Lambert said. “‘Hey, this is what we’re thinking, this is what we want to do. These are the reasons why. Steer us in the right direction, make sure we’re not going afoul of lore or going afoul of other things.’ And they work with us really closely with that kind of stuff and help us navigate those waters, which is amazing.”

While High Isle will bring all the usual content included with a new chapter–new public dungeons, world events, delves, and more–it will also see the introduction of a whole new distraction within the world of Tamriel: a playable card game.

Called Tales of Tribute, the card game is a resource-building focused on strategy. Each player selects two decks, which are then all shuffled together. Players then play from that shared pool of cards to build resources and acquire more victory points than their opponent. Because decks are shuffled together, players who have unlocked or upgraded more cards won’t be at a distinct advantage over new players. Lambert said the inspiration for Tales of Tribute came less from collectible card games and more from games you might play at a tavern or pub while you are waiting for your friends to show up or just killing time.

“What would you do when you were waiting on a boat or what would you do when you were sitting at a pub drinking?” Lambert said. “You’d play games, you know? That was kind of the inspiration.”

Players will be able to challenge each other in Tales of Tribute directly or in taverns, and players who want to find an opponent quickly can also find a match using the game’s group finding system. There’s a single-player component too, with a unique Tales of Tribute storyline that sees players challenging various NPCs throughout the world. Tales of Tribute will have its own rewards for players to unlock through playing, including new decks, upgraded cards, and items of use outside the card game like housing items, cosmetics, crafting materials, and more. Lambert said there are 12 decks to collect, with players earning four decks after completing the card game’s tutorial.

Of course, launch is just the beginning, and Lambert said if there is demand among the community for more cards and decks that the team will continue to add more. Lambert said that ZeniMax Online has continued to support various game systems that have proven popular with players, using the game’s Antiquities and Companion systems as examples, and Tales of Tribute will be no different. Speaking of the Companion system, Legacy of the Bretons will introduce two new recruitable companions for players to team up with in the form of Ember and Isobel. Ember is a street-smart Khajiit with a “knack for magic” while Isobel is an aspiring Breton knight.

Overall, Lambert said the High Isles includes roughly 30 hours of new quest content, including side stories where players will get to learn more about Breton culture and lore. Like other ESO chapters, players won’t need to grind through old content to experience High Isle. Players can instead jump right in and start leveling with the latest chapter.

“There’s really something here for all types of players, and we are super excited obviously for the trading card game,” Lambert said. “We can’t wait for players to start digging in.”

The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle chapter which will launch June 6 for PC, Mac, and Stadia and arrive on Xbox and PlayStation consoles June 21.

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