Gait Games

### Pokémon Champions: The Innovative Competitive Arena for Pokémon Gameplay

Pokémon Champions marks a captivating new addition to the Pokémon universe, set to debut as a free-to-play battle simulator in April. This platform aims to transform competitive Pokémon gameplay, having been highlighted during the recent 30th anniversary Pokémon Presents. With a concentration on competitive battles, it is anticipated to serve as a vital foundation for the future of the Pokémon community.

#### What Is Pokémon Champions?

In contrast to traditional RPGs in the Pokémon lineup, Pokémon Champions is crafted for competitive dueling—suitable for both official tournaments and casual play. Players can transfer Pokémon from the Pokémon Home storage application or discover new Pokémon within the game. The recruitment process involves Victory Points (VP), which are acquired through ranked battles. This system guarantees that assembling a team necessitates effort, as players cannot merely buy Pokémon outright; they are required to earn them through gameplay.

Newly recruited Pokémon will cycle through the in-game shop, giving players the chance to temporarily recruit them daily for free or to buy them permanently for 1000 VP. Clarity remains lacking regarding the ease or difficulty of accumulating VP, as well as whether prices will differ for various Pokémon.

Alongside VP, players can also utilize items such as Quick Coupons and Teammate Tickets, acquired through in-game missions, to recruit Pokémon. The game offers a variety of battle modes, including ranked, casual, and private battles, catering to both competitive players and those seeking a more leisurely experience.

#### In-App Purchases and Monetization

Pokémon Champions will present a diverse array of monetization methods without permitting direct purchases of Victory Points. Players can buy a one-time starter pack that provides extra box spaces, music selections, and training vouchers, though pricing is yet to be revealed. The default offering is 30 box spaces, with the starter pack contributing an additional 50.

A subscription membership is also proposed, offering increased storage and team slots, more missions and rewards, and improved battle music. The game will include battle passes that players can progress through by participating in ranked matches, which will provide customization items for their avatars and Pokémon, as well as essential battle items like Mega Stones available for purchase.

#### Incorporating Mega Evolution and Other Mechanics

Champions will integrate various features from the Pokémon series, including Mega Evolution and Terastalyzing, introducing an engaging dynamic to battles. The game is set to change its seasonal ruleset, with Mega Evolution being prominently featured during its launch phase.

#### Pokémon Training in Champions

Training Pokémon in Champions seems to be closely associated with the Victory Points framework. Players may need to invest VP to alter a Pokémon’s moves, nature, abilities, and stats. This element may complicate the training process, potentially causing players to prefer traditional games like Scarlet and Violet for training rather than battling in Champions to gain VP.

#### Community Engagement and Expectations

While there is substantial enthusiasm for the launch, many within the community are still awaiting clarification on how Champions’ various systems will operate cohesively. With the launch imminent, there are hopes that The Pokémon Company will provide detailed guides to assist players in navigating the new game successfully.

As April approaches, the excitement continues to escalate. Pokémon Champions is set to become a crucial platform for competitive Pokémon gameplay, but it will necessitate transparency and collaboration from the developers to realize that potential and meet the needs of both seasoned players and newcomers.

### Highguard: A Synopsis of Its Rise and Demise

**Introduction**

Highguard, a free competitive shooter crafted by Wildlight Entertainment, is slated for a permanent shutdown on March 12, just over a month following its launch on January 26, 2025. The studio revealed the closure through Twitter, thanking the more than 2 million players who participated in the game during its short span.

**Final Updates and Developer Statements**

On March 3, Wildlight Entertainment published a blog entry affirming the game’s final update, which aimed to roll out new offerings including a new playable Warden, an additional weapon, account level progression, and skill trees. The developers invited players to join them for one final gaming experience before the servers ceased operations, emphasizing the community’s contributions and feedback since the game’s inception.

“We have opted to permanently close Highguard on March 12,” the studio mentioned, reflecting on the obstacles encountered in building a “sustainable player base.”

**The Game’s Journey from Anticipation to Closure**

Highguard was first revealed as a significant announcement at the 2025 Game Awards, attracting fans’ attention due to its connections with former developers of successful franchises like Titanfall and Apex Legends. Despite the excitement, the game’s art style and multiplayer emphasis faced skepticism, resulting in a swift downturn in community sentiment shortly after its launch.

Following its debut, the studio sought to pivot by introducing extensive updates, including the launch of a 5v5 mode and a raid-style gameplay approach aimed at rekindling player interest. Nevertheless, these initiatives proved insufficient, and the player base dwindled considerably, never returning to the initial peak of 97,000 concurrent users.

**Challenges and Industry Implications**

Highguard’s decline serves as a case study within the live-service gaming domain, showcasing the difficulty of maintaining player engagement in a competitive landscape. Layoffs at Wildlight shortly after the game’s introduction highlighted the immense pressure on studios to achieve sustained player engagement and profitability.

The game’s inability to forge a robust player base underscores critical lessons for developers within the live-service arena. While initial excitement may be sparked through strategic marketing and substantial events such as the Game Awards, it does not assure ongoing success without an engaging gameplay experience and community backing.

**Conclusion**

As Highguard readies to join other notable live-service failures, such as Concord, in digital oblivion, it leaves a brief yet significant legacy. The game lasted 45 days, serving as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the gaming industry and the hurdles developers face in creating titles that resonate with audiences. Wildlight Entertainment’s closing message encapsulates the studio’s dedication to its community, even as they commemorate the conclusion of an ambitious venture.

Vampire Survivors clones! They’re a dime a dozen these days, primarily because poncle created an admittedly very strong template to mimic. This week’s bullet heaven, as the genre has come to be known, is a charming little entry called Antivirus Survivors 2003 Professional, a take on the format that imagines a world where your Windows XP running computer’s icons all want to kill you.

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### High on Life 2: A Comedic Adventure into the Absurd

Launched last month, *High on Life 2* from Squanch Games is the larger, crazier, and more humorous continuation of 2022’s *High on Life*. This new chapter expands the limits of comedy shooters, showcasing more action, laughs, and odd situations. The development journey was extensive, with the script soaring to over 10,000 pages, indicating the studio’s dedication to providing an unforgettable gaming adventure.

#### Distinctive Boss Fights

A notable aspect of *High on Life 2* is an ambitious boss encounter with an alien named Senator Muppy Doo, brought to life by Richard Kind’s voice. In an unexpected twist, this boss diminishes in size and infiltrates the player’s battle suit, confronting them within the game’s pause menu and settings. This inventive gameplay feature demanded significant effort to execute, as the developers faced challenges with the intricacies of modifying game settings during play.

Alec Robbins, the narrative director, voiced pride in this achievement, remarking, “We weren’t actually certain we could pull off these things and still receive certification for console releases.” Despite the hurdles, the battle melds humor with an engrossing gameplay experience, and Robbins attributes Kind’s performance as pivotal to its triumph.

#### A Creative Introduction

The game’s opening sequence is another technical wonder, utilizing a fast-paced montage style influenced by the storytelling methods of *Thirty Flights of Loving*. This technique functions both as a tutorial and a recap of the events from the previous game, aiming to captivate players efficiently. Robbins provided insights on the pacing difficulties, revealing that the initial version was twice as lengthy before being edited for brevity and effectiveness.

Similar to the rest of *High on Life 2*, the introduction is filled with optional banter and jokes, highlighting the game’s extensive script. Robbins noted the complexity of the dialogue system, which calls for seven unique responses from each talking gun, all developed by a compact team of around five writers.

#### A Dive into Mystery

Another key feature of *High on Life 2* is a murder mystery segment that thrusts players into the role of a detective. Drawing inspiration from titles like *Obra Dinn* and *Disco Elysium*, this component offers a respite from the high-octane shooter dynamics, although players have the option to bypass it if desired. Robbins expressed the team’s enthusiasm for venturing beyond their usual genre, sharing a wish to create a full-fledged mystery game in the future.

#### Navigating Fair Use

The development group at Squanch Games also navigated the complexities of parody law and fair use while crafting their comedic storyline. Robbins mentioned that a deep comprehension of these legal nuances enables the studio to weave in references and parody elements that enhance the game’s humor. This includes various pop culture allusions, such as a *Frasier*-inspired claw machine, illustrating the team’s readiness to embrace creative risks.

Despite facing some resistance during the first game’s development, Robbins affirmed, “Typically, we just go for it,” emphasizing the belief that humor can flourish within the whimsical realm of video games.

#### Conclusion

*High on Life 2* is currently available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. With its combination of groundbreaking gameplay, expansive dialogue, and witty storytelling, it guarantees a delightful experience for fans of the genre. For more insights or tips, players can seek out additional resources and reviews linked through gaming news outlets.

Among the first things I did in Esoteric Ebb was spectacularly injure myself by posing a question to a kobold guard that was actually a statement. To whit, “you are a kobold.” My Dexterity hollered at me to stave off embarrassment with a witty follow-up, but I failed the associated dice roll and almost bit my own tongue off.

“Use this to your advantage,” growled my Strength stat. “Intimidate him with your life’s liquid.” So I spat blood through my visor, all over the kobold’s feet. “He is baffled,” observed my Wisdom. “Your actions have truly made a mark upon his dark soul.” Later, the kobold and I agreed – again via dice roll – that neither of us like the taste of milk, which somehow unlocked a quest to become a milkman. Apparently, the money’s decent.

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**Rediscovering Joy and Nostalgia with *Scott Pilgrim EX***

As individuals age, the thrill that once coursed through the energy of live performances can diminish, transforming into a persistent mental counting of the remaining tracks instead of a cultural event. This transition reflects the nostalgia experienced when revisiting cherished childhood favorites, particularly through media that resonates with a past era. *Scott Pilgrim EX* stands as a remarkable tribute to such nostalgia, delivering a mix of retro gaming visuals and enjoyable mechanics that can alleviate the pressures of adulthood.

Created by Tribute Games, known for productions like *Mercenary Kings* and the lauded *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge*, *Scott Pilgrim EX* revives the cherished realm of Scott Pilgrim. The studio boasts talent that contributed to the original 2010 video game version of the *Scott Pilgrim vs. the World* film, alongside Paul Robertson’s pixel artistry and Anamanaguchi’s catchy chiptune soundtrack, underscoring the collaboration of skilled creators who share an enthusiasm for genuine gaming experiences.

With its launch on March 3, *Scott Pilgrim EX* emerges as a spiritual successor and an advancement of the classic beat ’em up genre. Moving beyond discrete levels, the game’s format unfolds in a single, interconnected map reminiscent of iconic titles such as *Castlevania* and *River City Ransom*. This arrangement promotes exploration, enhancing the gameplay experience as players navigate a vibrant, cartoonish depiction of Toronto, filled with streets brimming with challenges and adversaries.

The game’s mechanics present a novel approach to combat with a varied move set that promotes strategic gameplay instead of mere button-mashing. Players can chain together attacks, blocks, and aerial moves to execute intricate combos, with a variety of items—spanning from nostalgic turnips to magical wands—adding richness to encounters. This layer of strategy enhances the fun, particularly when facing increasingly tough boss battles.

While the main storyline may take a backseat to the gameplay, it captures the whimsical essence of the *Scott Pilgrim* universe. The narrative follows Scott’s mission to rescue his bandmates from the mechanical foe Metal Scott, guiding him through various environments influenced by time travel. The dialogue, albeit limited, retains a humorous and sincere tone that resonates well with fans of the original content.

Despite being comparatively brief, with completionist runs estimated between 5 to 8 hours, *Scott Pilgrim EX* guarantees replayability and hours of fun, especially in multiplayer formats. As players immerse themselves in this lively world, the game represents a charming escape from the mundane aspects of adulthood. Each punch landed on an enemy or burger acquired for stat boosts feels like a return to the simplicity of youth—a reminder of the joy that can be rediscovered through gaming.

In the end, *Scott Pilgrim EX* demonstrates that although one may become weary or sidetracked by the distractions of adult obligations, games like this provide a nostalgic escape, enabling players to reconnect with the enthusiasm and innocence of their younger days, making it a delightful addition to any gaming collection.

The above headline will not be a particularly surprising one, but just to make sure it’s absolutely clear, developer Wildlight have confirmed that their raid shooter Highguard will be closing its servers from next week, March 12th. The team confirmed as much in a post shared to the game’s official Twitter account, where it went into (very little) detail about what’s next.

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**Cracking the Final Puzzle in Resident Evil Requiem: A Collective Endeavor**

In the past week, participants of Capcom’s newest title, *Resident Evil Requiem*, have been immersed in searching for answers to the mysterious “Final Puzzle.” This test becomes accessible after finishing the game and has proven to be a significant challenge for many. Although the solution was recently extracted from data, players were initially unaware of how to interpret the subtle hints within the game and effectively tackle the puzzle.

IGN has provided a thorough video walkthrough that outlines every step necessary to solve the puzzle. The guide underscores the significance of paying attention to the numerous clues woven throughout the game, which consist of assorted documents, environmental features, and seemingly trivial items that players might miss until their importance is recognized. Challenges arise as some clues are buried deeper in later segments of the game, complicating the efforts of players trying to piece together the solution without external assistance.

Even though the solution was previously datamined, the excitement of discovery persists for those eager to delve into the game’s complexities. Nonetheless, anecdotal reports from community members indicating that arbitrary in-game occurrences act as hints have emerged, despite IGN’s detailed guide providing solid evidence for each step necessary to resolve the final puzzle.

As soon as players began compiling information and exchanging insights, a community spirit emerged, with many passionate gamers working together to analyze and overcome this daunting challenge. There exists a natural pleasure in collaboratively solving puzzles, a tradition well-established among gaming communities. However, not all enigmas foster unity; the ongoing discussion about Leon Kennedy’s marital status has sparked intense disputes reminiscent of zombie swarms.

In conclusion, *Resident Evil Requiem* not only highlights Capcom’s dedication to complex game creation but also the strength of community in tackling challenges. Although the intrigue of the Final Puzzle may have diminished somewhat due to datamining, the common experiences and joint efforts among players continue to build connections within the gaming realm.

Reconfigure is the new “puzzle-RPG-FPS hybrid” from Antti Tiihonen – co-founder of Almost Human, and one of the designers behind “bloody brilliant” dungeon crawler Legend of Grimrock. Where Grimrock threw you into a mountain and challenged you to find your way out, Reconfigure throws you into a starship that is in the process of being, wait for it, reconfigured.

The on-board robots are busy feeding spare components to the engine, as they seek to maintain acceleration towards some mysterious destination. You are the vessel’s last human, and your task is to navigate a maze of passages, laser sentinels and pressure plates in order to stop the ship devouring itself.

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**Delving into the Abyss of Terror: The Sinister Rites of Arkham**

In the lurking shadows of 1932, as murmurs of peculiar cults and age-old entities resonate through the stony streets of Arkham, Massachusetts, gamers are plunged into a gripping tale brimming with tension and otherworldly phenomena. The newest point-and-click adventure, *The Sinister Rites of Arkham*, created by José María Meléndez under the emblem of Postmodern Adventures, challenges players to embody Detective Jack Foster as he unveils chilling enigmas linked to his forebears in Lovecraft’s haunting realm.

Building upon the acclaim of *Nightmare Frames* and *An English Haunting*, both of which celebrated horror themes from varying periods, *The Sinister Rites of Arkham* signifies a comprehensive dive into the gruesome motifs emblematic of H.P. Lovecraft. Set against a backdrop of horrendous murders and unsettling vanishings of infants, the game integrates investigative gameplay with an atmospheric environment that encapsulates Lovecraft’s signature unease.

**A Sinister Murder**

Players commence their adventure with Detective Jack Foster, a man who has returned to work following a distressing psychological breakdown. Joined by Harvey Whitman, a former psychologist and specialist in cult dynamics, players explore a peculiar case involving a decapitated corpse found in a sealed chamber, resting within an extensive symbol etched on the floor. The investigation uncovers malevolent particulars, such as a char mark and a dismembered forearm, indicating that the assassination may be entrenched in ceremonial rites linked to ancient cosmic terrors.

As players traverse the game’s elaborate layout, they explore diverse locations, discovering items and resolving inventory challenges that drive the story ahead. The narrative skillfully weaves in historical happenings, notably the infamous Salem witch trials, insinuating a hidden link to malevolent supernatural powers seeking to revive forgotten deities.

**Navigating Lovecraft’s Heritage**

Contemporary readings of Lovecraft’s oeuvre must address the author’s notoriously racist notions, a hurdle that *The Sinister Rites of Arkham* does not shy away from. Some proponents of Lovecraft strive to justify or downplay his biases, yet the stark truths of his convictions profoundly influence the reception of his literary heritage today. Meléndez opts to portray characters with more progressive outlooks, enriching the narrative while recognizing the dominant attitudes of 1930s culture.

This intricate interplay of character viewpoints offers a deliberate critique of Lovecraft’s own prejudices, though certain moments, such as the uneasy depiction of a prejudiced bus driver, may come across as awkward. Regardless, Meléndez’s sophisticated narrative strategy provides depth, probing human misery in both historical and contemporary contexts.

**Engagement and Atmosphere**

One of the game’s remarkable attributes is its swift pacing. Players do not suffer through extended skepticism or disbelief typical of horror narratives; instead, they are swiftly immersed in a surreal landscape of supernatural occurrences. This absence of hesitation permits the storyline to progress rapidly, engrossing players in an ever more chaotic and peculiar realm that preserves Lovecraft’s spirit.

*The Sinister Rites of Arkham* not only showcases Meléndez’s extraordinary pixel art but also highlights his prowess as a storyteller. Although it might lack some of the intricate delicacy found in *An English Haunting*, it remains a captivating option for adventure fans. Priced at a reasonable $15, it delivers a full-length gaming experience sure to enthrall those attracted to the domain of horror and enigma.

In summary, *The Sinister Rites of Arkham* beckons players to traverse the interconnected domains of historical dread and cosmic horror, all while probing the darker aspects of humanity. As Detective Jack Foster navigates this twisted storyline, players will reveal not only supernatural terrors but also the haunting realities of human nature itself.