NLG - Next Level Gaming

If you’re a Pokémon fan, I bet you’ve always dreamed of owning and/or throwing a real-life Poké Ball. Now you can live out that fantasy in style with these premium Poké Ball replicas coming next year. You probably don’t want to actually toss these at your collection of Bulbasaur plushies, though; they’re very nice collectibles.  The Pokémon Company has teamed up with high-end replica manufacturer The Wand Company to produce a line of die-cast metal Poké Ball replicas set to launch throughout 2021. That would be Pokémon’s 25th anniversary , in case you haven’t been keeping count. In addition to recreating the classic red and white ball, expect to see replicas of the Great Ball, Ultra Ball, and Premier Ball in the coming months. Click here to watch embedded media Not only do these models resemble the genuine article, but they also have glowing buttons that light up via motion and touch sensing. Pressing the button changes the color of the lights or plays what the Pokémon Company de

If you're a Hibana fan , this Rainbow Six Siege statue is a must-have, but it's going to cost you more than just a pretty penny. Whether you're an avid collector or looking for a nice gift for the gamer in your life, this collectible is a fine addition from PureArts Studio.  The 1:4 scale Hibana Elite statue seen below will set you back $500 dollars, which is a pretty standard price point for a statue of this size made with polyresin. It features alternate weapons for her, including her Kyudo Japanese bow and the X-KAIROS 40 mm caliber launcher.  The statue offers two unique poses for each weapon type, making her an interchangeable addition to any collection. It's also good for those that love the idea of the bow and not the bow itself.  Click here to watch embedded media For those collectors that may be interested, here is what you need to know about the above Hibana statue from Rainbow Six Siege:  Equipment Unique Abilities: The X-KAIROS - a 40 mm caliber laun

Doom Eternal joined some of this year's most stellar gaming experiences in The Game Awards' Game of the Year category. Despite FPS experiences being one of the most popular genres on a yearly basis, Doom Eternal added to the formula with intense, satisfying, and fast-paced gunplay. Now that same acclaimed title is coming to Nintendo Switch next month.  The wait is almost over! Get ready to conquer demons when DOOM Eternal comes to #NintendoSwitch on Dec. 8! pic.twitter.com/rqe9SlP580 — Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) November 30, 2020 We loved Doom Eternal. Andrew Reiner said, "From a combat standpoint, you couldn’t ask for much more...It roars with excitement, and just keeps getting bigger and better as it goes." Now that Doom Eternal is coming to Switch, a new populous of players will have the opportunity to dive into the game's bloody hellscape and cut down the hordes of demons standing in their way. Additionally, veterans of the game will get the

Square Enix has another remaster on the way, this time with SaGa Frontier Remastered. While we don't have a release date quite yet, we do have a trailer showing off the latest nostalgia play from the studio.  The below announcement trailer offers a glimpse at what the remaster will have to offer fans of the original, an experience that made its debut back in 1997.  Click here to watch embedded media “The team of eight have returned – now with Fuse added as a playable character,"  reads the official reveal made by Square Enix. "Choose your favourite character and embark on your own unique journey. Each of the eight characters have different goals and endings. Your choices will affect how events unfold using the Free-Form Scenario System. This in-depth system will allow you to manipulate and expand a story all your own. "Challenge yourself in nail-biting battles by using ‘glimmer’ as well as learning new skills such as the ability to fire consecutive special atta

Assassin's Creed: Valhalla offers a stunning open-world for players to live out those Viking fantasies in. It even houses some pretty stellar references, including a Dungeons & Dragons game . That being said, there is one aspect that is far from beauty and grace, and it's these children that OH MY GOD WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEIR FACE?!  Look, we're not here to judge. All children are beautiful in the eyes of yada yada yada, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that these kids have officially out-uglied the boat people of Marvel's Spider-Man when it first launched on the PS4.  One Reddit user made a horrifying compilation showing off some of the best (?) of the best (again, ?) and really, this is not the content we should be sharing with you but we're doing it anyway. Sorry:  Reddit @KrutToppen Some of them aren't  that  bad, but the one in the middle looks like it's trying to suck my soul out through my monitor and I'm not OK with that.

The holidays are just around the corner and many are looking for the perfect stocking stuffers for gamers. For anyone looking for a unique gift (or just a cool fandom buy), there is a new set of Legend of Zelda makeup brushes that are pretty darn perfect for fans of the Nintendo franchise.  Maybe the magic of Legend of Zelda will make me miraculously better at makeup. Probably not.  From the shop Panashe-Essence (not affiliated with Game Informer or its parent company), the latest gaming crossover is none other than that of Legend of Zelda. This same company has offered other gaming goods, including a Pokemon set, but how could I resist writing up about a makeup option that offers the Hyrulian shield?  Panashe-Essence The above set comes with a powder brush, a smudge brush, an eyebrow brush, an eyeshadow brush, and a silkworm brush. The listing also states that the handles are made of metal for a heftier feel, but honestly? They just look really cool.  If you're looking to

Phasmophobia is a campy co-op horror game that is terrifying and hilarious (due to the graphics and its resulting comedic glitches). Due to its ghost-hunting nature and scary as all hell levels, this experience quickly skyrocketed to streaming fame and for good reason. Now joining levels like the High School and the asylum, the new prison level teased earlier this month is now available in the beta build of the game.  I haven't had a chance to check out the new level myself quite yet, but as soon as that work timer counts down, I plan on screaming my head off the same as always just in a brand-new location.  With the beta build, the devs behind Phasmophobia can test out some of the lingering bugs and implement fixes. Even though it's just launched, new issues have already been found, and tackled, with an additional patch specific to the beta build:  pic.twitter.com/kTq3hTZ0Hr — Phasmophobia (@KineticGame) November 29, 2020 The list of fixes includes a bug where the Fuse

Assassin's Creed: Valhalla is a massive game that has so much more than just its incredible main story to enjoy. Strategic building, meaningful romance, hilarious and intriguing sidequests; the new game has it all . It also has a pretty nifty Dungeons & Dragons reference, though not by that name.  As spotted by @PlayWithJambo, there is a part in Valhalla at the Foris Turre viewpoint in Wessex that players can see the clever D&D nod with Prisons & Pyewackets character sheets and DM notes:  All four 'character scrolls' pic.twitter.com/da42sYo1b6 — Jambo All The Way 🎅🏼🎄 (@PlayWithJambo) November 29, 2020 While not an active game that Eivor can participate in, it is more than a passing reference. If you look closely, you can see detailed characters sheets and the Dungeon Master's (DM) notes on the ongoing game. There is even a dice tray that can be seen in the short clip above.  There are many hidden references found within the massive world of Valhal

When we first learned of the  Super Nintendo World coming to Universal Studios in Japan, immediately my inner-child screeched in excitement with millions of others. Since then, every new look had that delight escalating further, and now? Now we've got a grand opening date as well as a new sneak peek at what the park will have to offer Nintendo fans.  Originally slated for a Summer opening earlier this, COVID-19 had other plans and the delay was called for safety concerns. While the pandemic continues to escalate in some areas, Osaka, Japan is ready to harness its inner Mario on February 4. Currently, the only park to be opening its Nintendo-themed doors is in Japan, but more parks are in the works to expand that fandom love even further with United States and Singapore locations on the way.  マリオカフェオープン前日から行きましたが2時間以上並んだ割にはストアの品揃えは正直チープ過ぎてガッカリするレベルでしたよ😥 マリオ感があるのは帽子だけかな？😅 新エリアにもっと魅力的なgoodsが来てくれる事を期待してます🤔🤔 pic.twitter.com/szqX3PjyYD — massa (@massa_gold) November 30, 202

The upcoming Monster Hunter live-action movie starring Milla Jovovich is almost ready to launch and to celebrate, Capcom is bringing the film's influence into the Monster Hunter World: Iceborne with a new crossover.  The latest crossover event will kick off this week on December 3 and will include two of the leading characters. A playable version of Milla Jovovich's character will be among the added characters with Artemis. While it's not the Capcom venture she's known for, it is a neat little mashup for those excited for the film following the most recent Palico-driven trailer .  Click here to watch embedded media The new event kicks off on December 3 at 4 PM PST and will include two new limited-time only Event Quests with a two-part single-player story starring Artemis herself. Jovovich will be voicing her in-game counterpart with the added NPCs speaking in "Monster Hunter language." Capcom even added a cheeky little winking face following the latter pa

PS Plus is a membership service that unlocks online play for PlayStation players while also awarding free games each month in addition to special sales on certain titles. The PS Plus Collection awards a total of 20 PS4 classics to PS5 PS Plus libraries, but it looks like some members are abusing that deal. With PS5 players now getting in on the free game action, a growing number of PS5 gamers are reportedly being banned due to a misuse of the service across generations. With stellar titles like Batman Arkham Knight, God of War, Bloodborne, and more, the desire to utilize the PS Plus Collection is high. So many of these games set the tone for PS4's success, but it looks like more than a few accounts were using a loophole that awarded this collection to PS4 players and Sony immediately sought to rectify that.  The PS Plus Collection is only meant for PS5 players, but some PS4 players have been using PS5 accounts with this particular library to download the free games onto their c

On the PlayStation 5, you can swing around a lovingly recreated New York City as Spider-Man, zipping around at 60 frames-per-second or in 4K resolution. You can listen to the explosions in Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War surround you in 3D audio. You can marvel at the way giant AAA games load in a matter of two or three seconds, wondering how you ever dealt with load times in the past, disgusted by the mere thought.  Also, you can put this cute little robot named Astro in a spaceship, and when you do that, you have to zip him in there. Here's the best part, though: When you zip him up, the DualSense controller that comes with the PS5 rumbles, and it feels like a real zipper! That's next-gen gaming, baby. That's the reason I spent $500 on this big ugly box in the middle of a pandemic and financial crisis.  But seriously: Of all the games I've played on the PlayStation 5, Astro's Playroom ( review ) is the only one that truly feels like a next-gen experience. This

In a year defined by ample hardships, video games have been a routine escape for many of us. Luckily, we saw the release of several incredible games, including Hades, The Last of Us Part II, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and much more. However, with so many sizable game releases , some of the year’s most interesting experiences likely flew under your radar. Without further ado, here are 5 hidden gem games you missed in 2020.  Risk of Rain 2 Risk of Rain 2 is a roguelike third-person shooter wherein teams of up to 4 travel from dimension to dimension to explore space and time. Players slowly build up their stats and abilities each run by obliterating waves of alien enemies and subsequently collecting randomized loot. Thanks to the abundant offerings of its item system, Risk of Rain 2 facilitates a power fantasy that would be considered broken in other games. I’ve spent many hours chasing after new characters, secrets, and broken builds, like unlocking a sextuple jump or curating an arsen

In a year filled to the brim with tragedy, never-ending stress, and political unrest, Persona 5 Royal defined my summer staycation in the best possible way. Last week, Royal was nominated in the Best Role-Playing category at The Game Awards, and rightfully so – though I wish it had been considered for other commendations as well. This isn’t a mere expansion of the original 2017 game. Among a bevy of substantial updates, Royal makes noticeable tweaks to Persona 5’s gameplay loop, introduces new cast members to the central narrative, and offers more areas to explore in Tokyo and the cognitive world. All these features combine to create a contemporary JRPG unlike any other. The 100-plus hours it takes to reach Royal’s closing credits may seem like a dauting commitment – especially for people who played the original Persona 5 – but this expanded vision for the game is less about the final destination and more about the journey itself. With that in mind, here are some reasons for why Pers

Science fiction enthusiasts hardly need an introduction to Dune . The original book, along with the long-running novel series that ensued, are foundational pieces of the genre canon. The series also has close ties with the early days of the strategy tabletop hobby, as the original 1979 board game was an early success story for theme-driven licensed board games. That game finally saw a re-release last year, and it’s a wonderful and challenging trip back in time, albeit with new art and some small tweaks. But as anyone who knows the franchise could tell you, there’s plenty of room in the Dune universe for additional perspectives. The brand-new Dune: Imperium, from Dire Wolf Digital, is a remarkably engaging game in its own right, and has nothing to do with that older release. Drawing on elements from across the fiction, and borrowing visual elements from the forthcoming Dune film, it’s a standout new release, offering a tense competition for influence and power to dominate the all-imp

Half-Life: Alyx is one of the best games of the year , but I wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t get around to playing it. In order to jump into Valve’s immersive new shooter, you also need to have access to a VR rig, which can set you back a significant amount of money – especially if you don't have a high-end PC. Personally, I think Half-Life: Alyx is fantastic; it’s the kind of game that makes me glad I invested in VR. But, I’m not here to convince you to spend money a fancy new headset; plenty of people have already made the case for Half-Life: Alyx as a defining VR game . I just want to tell you why it is worth playing if you’re a horror fan. To start, I want to reiterate that Half-Life: Alyx is a stellar experience on many levels. The series is known for its incredibly engrossing action, pitch-perfect environmental storytelling, and clever puzzles. Half-Life: Alyx features all those elements and does them all remarkably well. The storytelling and action, in particular, ha

During yesterday's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Pokémon Company International revealed its 25th anniversary logo. Accompanied by a giant Pikachu parade balloon, a dance troupe of Pikachu and trainers performed a short routine to an instrumental version of "Gotta Catch 'Em All" before unveiling the logo that you see above. While we already know that a new Pokémon Snap is coming to Switch at some point in the future , it's likely we'll learn a lot more about what's next for the Pokémon franchise beyond that. With the series' original Japanese launch happening on February 27, 1996, the Pokémon Company International dubbed February 27 "Pokémon Day" and has made a tradition of holding special events on that day. A screenshot from the Pokémon Snap game coming to Switch In previous years, we've seen Pokémon Day announcements including Pokémon Sun & Moon and Pokémon Sword & Shield, special digital goodies like Snapchat fil

The Yakuza series intimidates me. It includes seven huge mainline games, and even though I’ve made two earnest attempts to start the saga, I’ve never even finished Yakuza 0. That says more about me than the games, but I’m sure I’m not alone; getting through Yakuza’s whole sprawling story is a daunting proposition, since it involves playing through multiple giant RPGs. However, the recent release of Yakuza: Like a Dragon gives players the perfect opportunity to start with a clean slate. The core Yakuza games follow hero Kazuma Kiryu and decades of his exploits in the city of Kamurocho. If you want to jump into the deep end, we have this guide to help you with that – but Like a Dragon offers something different. It features a brand-new story with a different protagonist (Ichiban Kasuga), and mainly takes place in a new city (Yokohama), shedding years of baggage that may have been a barrier for new players. As someone with a little experience playing Yakuza, I am finding Like a Dragon

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla mixes up its RPG elements a bit in how it plays with the concept of a skill tree. Rather than give up the goods from the start, you reveal chunks of it from the fog as you go. I guess it technically adds a bit of mystery to character progression, until you realize you can just poke around online and see maps of the whole darned thing . Still, even if you have the whole tree laid out in front of you, it might be tricky to figure out what to prioritize. I’ll make it easier: get the Missile Reversal skill as soon as you possibly can. That single ability has transformed the way I play the game – in a good way. I’ve always enjoyed parrying and countering attacks as long as that’s been part of the Assassin’s Creed series. There’s something I find satisfying about waiting for an enemy to attack, only for your character to knock it aside and punish that enemy for having the nerve to take a swing. Once you get the timing down, it’s the best. And it’s the same in Valh

Publisher: Ubisoft Developer: Ubisoft Montreal Release: November 10, 2020 ( Xbox Series X/S , PlayStation 4 , Xbox One , Stadia , PC ), November 12, 2020 ( PlayStation 5 ) Rating: Mature Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PC Assassin’s Creed Valhalla mixes up its RPG elements a bit in how it plays with the concept of a skill tree. Rather than give up the goods from the start, you reveal chunks of it from the fog as you go. I guess it technically adds a bit of mystery to character progression, until you realize you can just poke around online and see maps of the whole darned thing . Still, even if you have the whole tree laid out in front of you, it might be tricky to figure out what to prioritize. I’ll make it easier: get the Missile Reversal skill as soon as you possibly can. That single ability has transformed the way I play the game – in a good way. I’ve always enjoyed parrying and countering attacks as long as that’s been part of the Assassin’

For decades now, Harmonix has brought a very particular set of skills to the gaming audience – finding ways to share the joy of music-making with players, even if those players have never picked up the instrument(s) in question. Time and again, the studio manages to find the thrill and wonder inherent to a particular corner of the musical world, and translate that into something approachable and fun. With Fuser, the developers behind Amplitude, Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and Dance Central have zeroed in on the festival dance music scene. I’ve never spun records as a DJ. I’ve never even attended a big outdoor music festival. And yet Fuser is everything I want as an escape from the doldrum and frustration of 2020, offering one of the most creative and technically remarkable opportunities for musical expression I’ve encountered in a game. As Brian Shea writes about in his enthusiastic review for Fuser , this new music game offers a number of different ways to interact with the music, from