Who is Hammond, the Next Overwatch Hero?

After a series of cryptic hints and teasers, Overwatch has finally revealed the identity of the game’s newest playable hero. Hammond, also known as Wrecking Ball, is the 28th hero added to the game, and he’s a hamster. Yes, that’s right, a hamster.

In a short reveal clip and origin story video released on June 28th, Hammond literally rolls into the game in a giant, gun-toting mech reminiscent of a hamster ball. So, what else do we know about this mysterious but well-armed rodent?

We know that Hammond was a test subject at the Horizon Lunar Colony, the same scientific program that endowed Winston with his advanced intelligence. However, the experiment came to an end when the intelligent gorillas rebelled, killing the scientists in charge. Winston and another test subject, presumably Hammond, escaped to Earth. Hammond’s role in the uprising remains unclear. Up to this point, no indication was given that Horizon used anything but gorillas as subjects, leading many to conclude that Hammond would be a gorilla, like Winston.

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Hammond’s origin story trailer reveals that he built the mech suit, which he used to escape the Lunar Colony uprising. He crash-landed in Junkertown in the Australian Outback, where it seems that he used his mech suit to fight in arena battles of some kind. This led him to fame and fortune, and is also how he acquired the “Wrecking Ball” nickname.

In this developer update video, Game Director Jeff Kaplan reveals more details about Hammond’s class and play style.

Hammond is a Tank, with his most notable ability being the ball mode showcased in the trailer. A grappling hook will allow him to swing around the map rapidly and slam down onto enemies from above. Like other tanks, Wrecking Ball has a unique shield ability that increases according to the number of enemies surrounding him, encouraging players to charge into clustered enemies and play more offensively. Finally, his ultimate is a barrage of mines that can be launched in a surrounding area, with predictably explosive results.

All these details indicate a new Tank aimed at more aggressive players, and Wrecking Ball’s inclusion in the Overwatch roster should lead to some interesting changes to how the game is played.

 

Everyone is here with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

“Everyone is here” in Nintendo’s new edition to the Super Smash Bros. series, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate! With a massive roster of 68 characters, longtime fans of the series will be excited to see the return of every character ever included in a Super Smash Bros. title. Along with the returning characters, Ultimate will feature three newcomers, Inkling from Splatoon, Daisy from the Mario franchise, and the long-anticipated Ridley from the Metroid series.

While some thought this game was going to be a port of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U with an increased roster, they will be happy to hear that this is not the case. During an interview with USGamer, localization manager Nate Bihldorff confirmed that the game was built from an entirely new engine, and was not an enhanced port of the previous title. While there are similarities between the two games, no assets from the previous title were used in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which was built entirely from scratch. This can be seen in some of the character changes, as well as mechanical differences between the titles.

During a separate interview with Famitsu, Nate Bihldorff and Bill Trinen revealed that, unlike the characters, not all stages will be returning in the new Super Smash Bros. game. It’s still unconfirmed which stages will not be coming back, but it’s most likely this information will get revealed as the release date gets closer

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Nintendo is also releasing a new Super Smash Bros. Edition Gamecube controller. Along with this controller, Nintendo will be releasing an adapter for the Nintendo Switch. Unlike the adapter for Super Smash Bros. Wii U, the adapter will be compatible with more games than just Super Smash Bros. Thankfully, if you owned an adapter for the Wii U, it’s already compatible with the Switch.

Whether you’re a lifelong fan of the Super Smash Bros. series, or you’ve only just begun playing, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will be an exciting new experience for everyone. Pre-orders are already available, with the release date set for December 7 of this year.

 

Halo VI: Return of the Spartan

Halo 5’s Forge was heralded as a groundbreaking addition to the Master Chief saga. It has given fans of the Halo series the chance to build their own levels to put each other through their paces. Since Forge’s release, we’ve seen some sick levels created. We’ve had the likes of “Elixir” by Sikamikanico set on the homeworld of the Covenant Elites, “Echoes” by Spirit in Black that takes its inspiration the levels of Halo: Combat Evolved, and even “Nautilus” by Ascend Hyperion that is set underwater!

We’re not here to talk about levels though. As well as levels, fans have also used Forge to recreate scenes and set pieces from some of the greatest pop culture ever. We’re here to celebrate some incredible work done by Reddit user u/NeomiCrystal.

NeomiCrystal has recreated the Sarlacc Pit from Return of Jedi, complete Jabba’s flying palace. We love it, and with a successor to Halo 5 announced at E3 maybe, just maybe, we are about to see Halo VI: Return of the Spartan.

If only this were real!

Xbox at E3: 2018 – Watch the newest game trailers for Halo Infinite, Battlefield V, Gears of War 5, and more

E3 is underway and Xbox got the chance to throw the first punches. The biggest news is probably that a new Xbox is in development. Actually, make that Xboxes, plural. Microsoft says they’re working on multiple consoles. You have our attention, Microsoft.

As to the games announced at E3, we’ve rounded up the trailers for the most anticipated upcoming adventures, so take a look and let us know what you’re most excited for in the comments below!

Want to watch the whole Xbox presentation? Check it out here:

 

The 4 best games for jaw-dropping graphics

After a hard day’s work, there’s nothing quite like relaxing in your favorite gaming chair and blowing off some steam.

We love all sorts of games here at Softonic, but you can’t deny the pretty ones are often the most popular. Although gameplay is important, there’s nothing more satisfying than escaping to a world that looks so real you can almost touch it.

So, let’s explore some of the best CPU-taxing, motherboard-melting, graphic card-smoking games that’ll make your eyes pop.

Far Cry 5

The newest entry in the long-running FPS franchise, Far Cry 5 is already a hit with fans and critics alike. And the graphics? Well, they’re incredible.

The environments are huge, open, and lovingly detailed. The foliage and weather effects are immersive, and explosions are crisp and satisfying. The game reaches a level of photorealism many premium titles can’t match, and even better, it runs well on most systems.

Ubisoft have done a great job with this release – just don’t mess with the turkeys.

The game retails for around $59.99.

Battlefront II

Although gamers were furious with EA’s pay-to-win progression (and their obsession with loot crates), you can’t deny that Battlefront II is absolutely gorgeous. The latest Star Wars films have jaw-dropping design, and this has clearly inspired the graphics team at EA DICE.

The models are detailed, animation is fluid, and the sound design is awesome (as expected from DICE). Videos with no HUD (heads-up display) show just how slick this game looks, on the wonderfully contrasting salt and red soil of the rebel base at Crait.

It’s currently available for around $30.00 on the Microsoft Store.

The Witcher 3

The third entry in the RPG adventure series, players once again take on the mantle of monster hunter, Geralt of Rivia. The series has always been renowned for the depth of its storytelling (and uh, romance), but the latest in the franchise also has a stunning world packed with vistas to explore.

It’s the sheer breadth of different environments that also makes the game notable. From densely-packed, dirty cobbled streets, packed with people going about their day, through to vineyards and dark, deserted forests with tall pines creaking in the wind – there’s a lot to explore. The lighting effects are beautiful, too, so if the monsters ever get a bit much, you can take Roach (your horse) for a sunset stroll along the beach – just watch out for the Drowners!

It’s available on Steam for around $39.99.

Cuphead

Time for something a bit different.

In an age where “best graphics” generally means having the most photorealistic design and animation, Cuphead appears to take a step backwards. A 2D side-scroller where you do battle with boxing frogs, angry bees, and giant paranormal carrots, the game also has a completely unique art style.

Every frame is hand-sketched, inked, and painted like a living 1930’s Max Fleischer cartoon. Although it might seem like a lot of work in an age where everything can be animated so easily, the extra effort elevates the graphics way beyond a quirky gimmick to something truly awesome.

It’s also tough-as-nails, so if you’re looking for a challenge, and hanker for something a bit more retro, you’ll love this game.

It’s currently retailing on the Microsoft Store for around $16.99. Considering the amount of hours put into animating it all, that’s a steal.

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That concludes our round-up of our favorite games with the best graphics. Whether you like fleeing from deadly turkeys, shooting Darth Vader, chopping up monsters with a silver sword, or running around with a cup for a head, hopefully, there’s something on the list that will tickle your fancy.

 

This is what happens when Thanos arrives in GTA

Image via: Geek Culture

In the latest Marvel Avengers movie, Infinity War, the whole gang of comic book superheroes face up against one opponent, Thanos. Needless to say, if you’re going to fight a ton of superheroes, all with their own movies, you’re going to be a pretty powerful character. I don’t want to spoil the movie for you, but this excellent GTA V mod offers an amazing, and fun, demonstration of just how powerful Thanos is.

In the mod, Thanos comes complete with the Infinity Gauntlet and is rocking all of the Infinity Stones. You can use the GTA V weapon toggle menu to select which stone you want to use to attack those around you. All the stones are there; Reality, Space, Power, Time, Mind, and Soul and each of them offers some powerful attack that you may or may not see in Infinity War.

If you’re into that sort of thing, it can be real fun throwing meteors at blaring cop cars, unleashing freakishly powerful attack beams, using the Space stone to create teleportation portals, and even black holes. Thanos’ famous ground smash, also seen in Fortnite: Battle Royale is here.

$19.98
GTA V

From: Amazon

A lot of great work has gone into this mod, by a talented modder called JulioNIB. If you head over to his Patreon, you’ll be able to get your hands on the Thanos mod, but also see that he goes way beyond Thanos. The JulioNIB Team have created GTA V mods for a lot of great characters, fun themes, and concept weapons. We salute the team’s work!

Reddit to the rescue: Watch out for the fake Fortnite Android apps

Well done, everyone. The internet is often portrayed as a hive of negativity, but last week, the global community came together to protect kids from falling victim to an online scam. The scam in question concerned a fake Android version of the hit game Fortnite: Battle Royale.

Fortnite is more than just a hit game; it is the biggest game ever. It has recently launched on iOS, but Epic Games, the developers behind Fortnite, haven’t yet to launched an Android version. There is no Android version of Fortnite: Battle Royale. This leaves fans of the game at risk as scammers seek to capitalize on the millions of young people around the world who are searching for Fortnite on Android.

One such scam was a video posted on YouTube, which ended up reaching YouTube’s front page. The video said that to unlock Fortnite on Android users needed to “install a few other apps.” Whereas this type of action is clearly a scam, it might not be spotted so easily by a child. To find out what was going on Reddit user u/UndersizedAlpaca took to Reddit, to call out YouTube, asking, “Why is a video designed to scam children allowed to be advertised, YouTube?”

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The post in r/videos quickly became one of the most popular posts ever and racked up almost 3,000 comments. The video in question was reported, as was the account that posted it, and many users began highlighting other accounts and websites that had been posting malicious content and pushing scams. The online community was on to what one user called a YouTube plague.

Many of the videos that were highlighted have since been removed by YouTube and, accordingly, the internet is a safer place for kids who are waiting on the Android version of Fortnite: Battle Royale. There are still scams out there, however, with many of them offering APK downloads for fake versions and all needing to be avoided. Epic Games has said, that it is aiming for a summer release of an Android version of Fortnite, so until then avoid anything that offers an Android version of Fortnite.

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Once summer comes around, however, do not download anything until you’ve heard an official announcement and you can be sure it is coming from an official source. Even with an army of internet users out there trying to protect Fortnite fans, scams still exist, and if you’re not careful, you could still end up a victim.

 

MiniDoom 2 is the cutest version of Hell you’ll ever see

Source: Youtube

MiniDoom 2 is an absolute marvel! Based on an unofficial 2D game that two brothers made a few years while they were teaching video game programming, MiniDoom 2 has 17 levels to fight through and offers you 14 weapons to help you do so. It also has plenty secrets and collectibles for gamers to find, which are all based on the original series of Doom games from ID Software.

Doom 2, which saw a lone marine face off against minions from hell was groundbreaking when it first launched and took the world by storm. Although MiniDoom 2 is probably the cutest version of hell you’ll ever see, the action is fast-paced and backed by a soundtrack that’ll have your hearting pumping even faster. To top it all off, MiniDoom 2 is completely free!!! If you fancy giving it a go, you can download it for free here.

20 best free games for Windows 8

At first, there were only a few games for Windows 8, but half a year later, things are very different. Whether you’re looking for shooter, platformer, or realtime strategy game, there are lots on offer and among the (unfortunately) large number of bad games, you can find some real gems. Below is a list of games for Windows 8 that are just waiting to be played.

Windows 8 Games

Jetpack Joyride

In Jetpack Joyride, you use your jetpack to run and fly nonstop through a never ending landscape. Just like other endless runner games, the only difference is in the obstacles and gold coins you find along the way. Great graphics and a catchy soundtrack make for a light-hearted game that’s not too difficult.

Jetpack Joyride on Windows 8

Judge Dredd vs. Zombies

In Judge Dredd vs. Zombies, you have to defend Mega-City One from a zombie attack. Using different weapons, you clean out zombies from different areas over the various levels of the game.

Judge Dredd vs Zombies on Windows 8

Roman Empire

In Roman Empire, you take on the role of power-hungry Caesar. Your goal? To conquer Europe. You’ll have to vanquish neighboring villages, create alliances and make spur of the moment decisions.

Roman Empire on Windows 8

Monkey Flight

Fans of Angry Birds will enjoy Monkey Flight. Helped by special objects, the aim is to launch the monkeys so that they pick up the floating fruit.

Monkey Flight on Windows 8

Mortar Melon

In Mortar Melon, the aim is to throw watermelons from the left edge of the screen into a randomly positioned basket. This becomes more difficult when obstacles like rotating blades are added to the mix and the difficulty increases with each level.

Mortar Melon in Windows 8

My Country

In this copy of SimCity, your mission is to build a bustling metropolis. You’ll have to build and place various buildings, roads, and other utilities to create the necessary infrastructure. If the people are happy, revenues will increase and your building plans will be safe, but if you don’t manage to organize the construction well, you’ll find that building flies out of control.

My Country on Windows 8

3D Boat Race

3D Boat Race lets you compete on the water in high speed boats. Arch-shaped goals show you the route to the finish.

3D Boat Race on Windows 8

Paper Dash

This game is a remake of the classic, Paperboy. The main character is a paperboy and you need to steer him around the obstacles that he’ll find on his route.

Paperdash on Windows 8

Parking Mania

The noble art of parking is recreated in Parking Mania. The aim is to park your car in a particular space. Just as in real life, however, this isn’t always easy – there’s little room to maneuver and the best spots are already occupied by other cars. Along the way, you pick up coins and other bonuses.

Parking Mania on Windows 8

Radiant Defense

This is a colorful tower defense game. In your role as commander of a space station, you have to defend it against external attacks. Slow down your opponents by positioning defensive towers and walls.

Radiant Defense on Windows 8

3D Marble Tracks

3D Marble Tracks is an interesting mix of mini golf, bobsled racing, and billiards. You’re going to need a lot of patience and a steady hand to get to the end!

3D Marble Tracks on Windows 8

Shuriken Ninja

In this puzzle, you play the part of a ninja. Use your shuriken stars and throw them to create chain reactions so that they hit several targets at once.

Shuriken Ninja on Windows 8

SoulCraft

This time we have an action-packed role-playing game full of sinister characters. In Soulcraft, you fight your way through a colorful fantasy world as an angel, demon, or human being, building up your character by gaining experience in combat, weapons, and objects.

SoulCraft on Windows 8

Trick Shot Bowling

Trick Shot Bowling is a classic bowling game where you can choose to play against the computer or real opponents. Decide for yourself where to aim and how hard to bowl the ball so that you can create a particular effect.

Trick Shot Bowling on Windows 8

3D Paperball

Throwing a screwed up ball of paper helps to release tension. In 3D Paperball, these paper balls are virtual ones and you can show off your basketball skills by hitting the trash can in various different scenarios.

3D Paperball on Windows 8

Agent P Strikes Back

This fun adventure stars Perry the Platypus, a character from the animated series Phineas and Ferb. The idea of the game is simply to jump between platforms and defend yourself against a series of animals that Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz has released to wreak havoc.

Agent P Strikes Back on Windows 8

AirHockey

A good game for two people, AirHockey is classic game room entertainment. In Windows 8, the floating discs you play with become touch-sensitive controls.

Airhockey on Windows 8

Drift Mania Championship 2

Drift Mania Championship 2 is a fun racing game with good graphics and a catchy soundtrack that makes full use of the motion sensors built into your tablet.

Drift Mania Championship 2 on Windows 8

Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek

The idea behind this game is a mystery and your job is to find the hidden objects and clues in the scene. The graphics are very good and full of details. The soundtrack also helps create an eerie and unsettling atmosphere.

Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek on Windows 8

Guns 4 Hire

In this fast-paced action shooting game, characters are armed to the teeth. The control system is similar to that of Command & Conquer.

Guns for Hire on Windows 8

What do you think are the best games for Windows 8?

Original article by José María López on Softonic ES.

GTA V: How to change character

GTA V lets you play three different characters; Franklyn, Trevor, and Michael each have special abilities and you’ll need to switch between one and the other on a regular basis to carry out certain tasks. Let’s see how to master changing characters in GTA V.

How to change characters

Press and hold the Down arrow key and then use the right (R) stick to select Michael (left), Franklin (Up) or Trevor (Right). The lower area will be reserved for your GTA Online avatar. Note that you can also play Chop, Franklin’s dog, by selecting the left sector!

GTA V A high-voltage mission…

The color codes

During GTA V missions, you’ll have to switch between one character and the another very quickly. Fortunately, a system of flashes of color will give you critical information about the status of each character. When a character must be selected, the picture flashes white. A red flashing light indicates that the character has been injured and needs you to help him. Finally, a translucent portrait indicates that the character isn’t available.

MORE GTA V…