We’re back with the Top Five Stories of the Week. We have some great stories for you below. There you will find articles about Borderlands, Blizzard, Nintendo Club and much more. As always, for the full article, simple click on the hyperlink. Get in, sit down and hold on because here we go!
Number 5
Borderlands 2 Gets a Handsome, Current-Gen Edition
If you thought Borderlands 2 didn’t have a handsome enough of a package already, then maybe its Handsome Collection will change your mind. Yes, Borderlands 2 is getting yet another special edition, but this time it’s bringing Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel along for the ride just shy of five months after its original release.
Together, the two games make what Gearbox has so aptly dubbed Borderlands: The Handsome Collection for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in honor of its rather handsome (Jack) protagonist. For those of you who have been playing Borderlands 2 on last-gen systems, you won’t have to leave your progress behind either.
If you’ve been playing Borderlands 2 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or PS Vita, you can move your character progress and badass rank to the current-gen system in the same family. The same goes for The Pre-Sequel on 360 and PS3.
The Handsome Collection also sports four-player split-screen for the first time. Both games will run at 1080p and up to 60 frames-per-second. In four-player split-screen mode, target frame rate will run at 30 frames per second.
Both titles come with all announced DLC. For The Pre-Sequel, this includes the remaining two pieces of the season pass that have yet to be detailed. We now know they’re a campaign add-on and another character.
In addition to the standard edition, which goes for $59.99, the “Claptrap-in-a-Box Edition” comes with a steel book case, twelve lithographs (one for each vault hunter), and even a fully operational, remote-controlled Claptrap.
The Claptrap model in question rolls on a single wheel and has a camera in its eye and connects to an iPhone ClaptrApp so you can control it and see what it sees. There are only going to be 5,000 units of these babies rolling around out there, so if you want one, make your move now.
Number 4
Blizzard’s New Game: Heroes of the Storm
Blizzard has created a new MMO that will rival League of Legends. Heroes of the Storm will include heroes from Starcraft, Diablo and World of Warcraft that all must battle each other for supremacy of the field.
The bundle, Founder’s Pack, is on sale for $39.99 and is for the Americas, Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia. The items will carry over to the full version of the game once it’s released. Blizzard calls players to enter the storm:
“Prepare for battle deep within the Nexus, the swirling trans-dimensional storm at the heart of all Blizzard games. Whether you’re already in the Heroes of the Storm beta test or you’re a fresh recruit to the front lines, the Founder’s Pack is the perfect opportunity to enter a bold new realm of team-based hero brawls”.
The Founder’s Pack includes: beta access, $2,500 gold, three heroes (Diablo, Raynor and Tyrande) and three bonus skins.
Number 3
The Elder Scrolls Online Gets Cheaper, Console Release
The Elder Scrolls Online may not yet be free-to-play, but it’s about to get a bit cheaper. Beginning in March, the MMORPG will be shifting from a subscription-based system to a single retail purchase with no mandatory fees.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited will soon become available to all players in just two months. This new iteration includes all the same content, with optional downloadable content, customization, and convenience items handled via additional purchase.
When the changeover happens, anyone who ever had an account can jump back in. Those currently paying a subscription fee will also be enrolled in a new program called ESO Plus. This includes in-game items, a monthly stipend of crowns (used for cosmetic and convenience purchases, and all the DLC.
We though The Elder Scrolls Online suffered from something of a glitch-ridden “identity crisis” in spite of its entertaining story and gameplay at launch. Here’s hoping we get a smoother Elder Scrolls Online experience when it hits PlayStation 4 and Xbox One this June 9th.
Number 2
Shadow of Mordor Had a More Disciplined Nemesis System
You’ve probably killed thousands of orcs if you’ve played Monolith Production’s Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. According to new reports, had Monolith had its way, those orcs might’ve been even smarter enemies to do battle against.
The game’s now-renown Nemesis system, which follows the relationship between you and the Uruk captains of Mordor, would have been far more layered according to a post-mortem published on Gamasutra by design director Michael de Plater.
De Plater claims that at one point in development, each Uruk faction had its own morale and discipline ratings, which influenced Orc behavior and dynamic events in the world. While that system in particular failed to appear in the final game, dominating Uruks and sending them against their masters or using them to create an ambush for a war chief made it into the Shadow of Mordor we know and many of us love.
Number 1
Club Nintendo Closes Its Doors, New Program To Launch
If you’ve been faithfully collecting coins for Club Nintendo these past six years, then you may be in for some disappointing news – Nintendo’s announced that its member rewards program will be coming to an end worldwide with some type of new program to be named sometime in the near-future.
In that time, gamers could purchase any number of Nintendo games, register hardware , and complete online surveys, to earn coins to spend on everything from digital games and physical memorabilia that most notably included a Luigi’s Mansion 2: Dark Moon statue two years ago.
Club Nintendo members have until the end of March to earn what remaining coins they can, which can be spent through June.
At the present, members have nine digital games to choose from:
- Excitebikeon Wii U • Super Mario Bros. 2on Wii U • Grill-Off with Ultra Hand on Wii • Super Metroid on Wii • Super Punch-Out on Wii • Donkey Kong playable on 3DS • The Legend of Zelda on 3DS • Super Mario Land on 3DS • Wario Land II on 3DS
Honorable Mentions
This week had a lot of big news and the news staff and I found it hard to narrow it down to the usual five stories:
If you have suggestions for future entries, feel free to email me at jeremy.tyler@bagogames.com