I’ll be upfront: Claire Redfield has always been my favorite Resident Evil character. She’s caring, strong-willed, and a total badass. She’s everything you’d expect from a good hero, and when we met Claire back in 1998’s Resident Evil 2, she was simply that, only defined by a few characteristics. Her red vest and motorcycle gave her a tough exterior, while her concern for her brother and quest to save Sherry Birkin showed a more sensitive side. The remake stays faithful to the original story, but it adds some extra layers to Claire’s personality. One thing I couldn’t get over as I played her campaign is just how these little additions, such as better bonding moments with Sherry and hilarious responses to being caught off guard by zombies and Mr. X, make such a difference.

Overwatch has had an abundance of updates since its 2016 release, with Blizzard continuously reworking the roster to allow for more optimal combat experiences. While some noteworthy patches have completely reinvented character roles, smaller ones have altered cooldown timers or bullet spreads. These frequent modifications often tip the scales of gameplay balance. Some heroes have become devastatingly strong (Hanzo and his lethal arrow volleys), while others lose their value (Brigitte’s shield bash debuff). Here are four heroes currently in need of serious repair: 

The Flaws: At one point, Mercy’s selection rate soared above her support comrades, because she was such a capable healer. Supports, like Lucio and Zenyatta, were limited to specific stratagems. Others, notably Ana, were too mechanically demanding to use efficiently. Comparably, Mercy’s ability-kit was easy to execute and, in some cases, stronger. With ample healing numbers and high mobility, she provided a dependability that no other hero could best. Currently, however, Mercy’s viability is at a record low. With a healing per second (hps) reduction, and a less sustainable ultimate called valkyrie (for 15 seconds her core abilities are slightly enhanced), she is no longer reliable at her own role. 

Overwatch has had an abundance of updates since its 2016 release, with Blizzard continuously reworking the roster to allow for more optimal combat experiences. While some noteworthy patches have completely reinvented character roles, smaller ones have altered cooldown timers or bullet spreads. These frequent modifications often tip the scales of gameplay balance. Some heroes have become devastatingly strong (Hanzo and his lethal arrow volleys), while others lose their value (Brigitte’s shield bash debuff). Here are four heroes currently in need of serious repair: 

The Flaws: At one point, Mercy’s selection rate soared above her support comrades, because she was such a capable healer. Supports, like Lucio and Zenyatta, were limited to specific stratagems. Others, notably Ana, were too mechanically demanding to use efficiently. Comparably, Mercy’s ability-kit was easy to execute and, in some cases, stronger. With ample healing numbers and high mobility, she provided a dependability that no other hero could best. Currently, however, Mercy’s viability is at a record low. With a healing per second (hps) reduction, and a less sustainable ultimate called valkyrie (for 15 seconds her core abilities are slightly enhanced), she is no longer reliable at her own role. 

I’ll be upfront: Claire Redfield has always been my favorite Resident Evil character. She’s caring, strong-willed, and a total badass. She’s everything you’d expect from a good hero, and when we met Claire back in 1998’s Resident Evil 2, she was simply that, only defined by a few characteristics. Her red vest and motorcycle gave her a tough exterior, while her concern for her brother and quest to save Sherry Birkin showed a more sensitive side. The remake stays faithful to the original story, but it adds some extra layers to Claire’s personality. One thing I couldn’t get over as I played her campaign is just how these little additions, such as better bonding moments with Sherry and hilarious responses to being caught off guard by zombies and Mr. X, make such a difference.

Sucker Punch Productions is currently hard at work on Ghost of Tsushima, but fans continue to demand this team make a new Infamous or Sly Cooper game. The studio is a hit maker, and the first title that really took off for it was Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus. Released on September 23, 2002, exclusively on PlayStation 2, Sly Cooper showed us stealth could be used to deliver unique maneuvering methods in a platforming setting. The success of this title brought a string of sequels, an eventual remaster by Sanzaru Games (which we look at today), and a fourth installment by that same studio.

Sly Cooper has his place in the history of games, but the odds of him returning for a fifth installment are slim. Let us know what you think of this series in the comments section below, and be sure to stick around for the second segment which gives us a look at film franchise done up in a way you wouldn't expect.

Sucker Punch Productions is currently hard at work on Ghost of Tsushima, but fans continue to demand this team make a new Infamous or Sly Cooper game. The studio is a hit maker, and the first title that really took off for it was Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus. Released on September 23, 2002, exclusively on PlayStation 2, Sly Cooper showed us stealth could be used to deliver unique maneuvering methods in a platforming setting. The success of this title brought a string of sequels, an eventual remaster by Sanzaru Games (which we look at today), and a fourth installment by that same studio.

Sly Cooper has his place in the history of games, but the odds of him returning for a fifth installment are slim. Let us know what you think of this series in the comments section below, and be sure to stick around for the second segment which gives us a look at film franchise done up in a way you wouldn't expect.

I’ll never forget Christmas 1993. All our presents had been opened and while it was a solid year for gifts, it wasn’t more memorable than any other Christmas morning… yet. In true A Christmas Story fashion, my parents “spotted” something behind the couch. They pulled out a large box wrapped in red paper. I didn’t have to open it to know what it was: the Super Nintendo I had been begging for the entire year. I ripped the paper off and gazed upon my new SNES in all its packed-in-Super-Mario-World glory. I had played NES games at friends’ and relatives’ houses to that point, but my home gaming was limited to Avoid the Noid or Wheel of Fortune on the family computer. This not only gave me some much-needed entertainment, but it changed the course of my life. I dove headfirst into the world of gaming and never looked back.

In 2015, I wrote about how gaming has shaped my life over the years. A major part of that was how it allowed me to bond with my father. He traveled on a near-weekly basis for work, so while my weekday evenings were often for homework, the moment he walked in the door on Thursday or Friday night, I couldn’t wait to hand him the second controller.

I’ll never forget Christmas 1993. All our presents had been opened and while it was a solid year for gifts, it wasn’t more memorable than any other Christmas morning… yet. In true A Christmas Story fashion, my parents “spotted” something behind the couch. They pulled out a large box wrapped in red paper. I didn’t have to open it to know what it was: the Super Nintendo I had been begging for the entire year. I ripped the paper off and gazed upon my new SNES in all its packed-in-Super-Mario-World glory. I had played NES games at friends’ and relatives’ houses to that point, but my home gaming was limited to Avoid the Noid or Wheel of Fortune on the family computer. This not only gave me some much-needed entertainment, but it changed the course of my life. I dove headfirst into the world of gaming and never looked back.

In 2015, I wrote about how gaming has shaped my life over the years. A major part of that was how it allowed me to bond with my father. He traveled on a near-weekly basis for work, so while my weekday evenings were often for homework, the moment he walked in the door on Thursday or Friday night, I couldn’t wait to hand him the second controller.

Wargroove is a fantastic game that borrows heavily from the Advance Wars milieu, filling the void that series’ absence has left behind in fans’ hearts (like mine). But for as similar as Chucklefish’s latest game might hew to its inspiration, it makes a number of smart, significant changes that are mostly for the better, giving players more to think about when making their next move.

Here are the biggest ways the two games’ battles differ, with accompanying tips on how to use them to your advantage. For a deep dive on what else Wargroove has to offer that Advance Wars doesn’t, check out or episode of New Gameplay Today.

By far the biggest, most nuanced change Wargroove makes to its inspiration’s gameplay are critical hits. While the name “critical hit” can imply a degree of randomness, it’s anything but: Essentially, they allow you to squeeze extra damage out of every unit (save for passive transport units) if you move them in the right place at the right time. Regular soldiers are stronger when attacking near their commander, the adorable little battlepups are extra vicious if the unit they’re attacking is next to another allied doggo, and dragons deal extra when attack units on open roads.

Wargroove is a fantastic game that borrows heavily from the Advance Wars milieu, filling the void that series’ absence has left behind in fans’ hearts (like mine). But for as similar as Chucklefish’s latest game might hew to its inspiration, it makes a number of smart, significant changes that are mostly for the better, giving players more to think about when making their next move.

Here are the biggest ways the two games’ battles differ, with accompanying tips on how to use them to your advantage. For a deep dive on what else Wargroove has to offer that Advance Wars doesn’t, check out or episode of New Gameplay Today.

By far the biggest, most nuanced change Wargroove makes to its inspiration’s gameplay are critical hits. While the name “critical hit” can imply a degree of randomness, it’s anything but: Essentially, they allow you to squeeze extra damage out of every unit (save for passive transport units) if you move them in the right place at the right time. Regular soldiers are stronger when attacking near their commander, the adorable little battlepups are extra vicious if the unit they’re attacking is next to another allied doggo, and dragons deal extra when attack units on open roads.