Ahead of the debut of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater in August 2025, Konami shared the opening movie that includes the new version of the theme song. The company also confirmed that Cynthia Harrell is again performing “Snake Eater,” as she returned to rerecord the classic track. 

While the song is familiar, the Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater opening movie is new. Konami noted Kyle Cooper rearranged and did it. There will also be ways to interact with it, though Konami didn’t say exactly what will change as we watch and press buttons during it. 

The video begins with newspapers setting the stage for the Cold War story before showing Naked Snake in different situations from the game. Other major characters like Colonel Yevgeny Borisovitch Volgin, The Fear, The End, and The Boss also appear. Also, at the 1:30 mark you can actually see Naked Snake eating a snake that he cooked over a fire.

Here is the full Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater opening movie on YouTube with Cynthia Harrell’s new recording of the theme song.

We’ve seen quite a few updates before this latest reveal. For example, Konami shared the Japanese collector’s edition back in April 2025. That includes a bust of Naked Snake you can display and a FOX Unit patch you can add to clothing. 

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater will come to the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on August 28, 2025. The original game appeared on the PS2, and Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D appeared on the 3DS.

The post Watch the Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Opening Movie appeared first on Siliconera.

In Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, we can enter codes for gifts after playing for a bit to immediately gain extra items or rewards. While the game only debuted on May 21, 2025, Level-5 already started sharing some of these, with two available so far. The goal for the first two releases seems to be to build up item reserves quickly and easily without spending Dosh or doing some crafting.

How do I redeem codes for gifts in Fantasy Life i?  13193i

After getting through the tutorial and taking on your first of many Lives, you’ll be able to open up the Weird Pad (menu) and find a Gifts section. Going to that will let you enter an eight-digit code to get some items to make adventuring a little easier. However, note that you do need to be online to redeem any of them. Note that on the Switch and eventual Switch 2 versions, Level-5 said you will need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to redeem codes.

After connecting to the internet, type in the code with the keyboard. Once you hit accept, the item will be given to you. You don’t need to go to the Guild Office box to get them like you did the Deluxe Edition items.

Here’s a gallery of official images showing how to go through this process.

What are the Fantasy Life i gift codes so far? 1i94n

Level-5 started sharing these codes for gifts on the official social media for Fantasy Life i, so following that is a good idea. Of course, following this site is handy. There are no expiration codes noted, so you should be able to always use these. 

Here are the two codes:

• A56LCE87 - 3 Life Cures, 5 Energy Powders, 5 Healing Powders, 5 Hi-HP Potions, 5 Hi-SP Potions
• T2GC6EQL - 3 Healing Powders, 3 Life Cures, 3 Power Aids, 3 Resistance Aids, 5 HP Potions, 5 SP Potions

And here’s a gallery showing official images of the codes.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is available for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and it will also come to the Switch 2. 

The post Two Fantasy Life i Codes for Gifts Released appeared first on Siliconera.

HoYoVerse announced what we can expect from the 2.0 update to Zenless Zone Zero and, in addition to the Xbox Series X version, new story, and new region, we each will get to choose a free S-Rank character and S-Rank W-Engine. There will also be activities that essentially give players enough currency and items for three ten-pulls on the gacha, as we can earn 1,600 Polychromes that could be put toward either the Star-Studded Cast Stable Channel banner or limited Signal Searches. Free costumes for Belle and Wise will also be available to earn as rewards in Zenless Zone Zero as well. Everything kicks off on June 6, 2025.

First, we actually get to pick which free S-Rank character and W-Engine we want in Zenless Zone Zero after 2.0 arrives. Here’s the list of all playable units we can choose from, as well as their factions, attributes, and specialties:

• Grace - Belobog Heavy Industries - Electric - Anomaly
• Koleda - Belobog Heavy Industries - Fire - Stun
• Lycaon - Victoria Housekeeping - Ice - Stun
• Nekomata - Cunning Hares - Physical - Attack
• Rina - Victoria Housekeeping - Electric -
• Soldier 11 - Obol Squad - Fire - Attack

As for the free S-Rank W-Engines, it looks like the image showed the ones associated with each of those six characters may be available to choose as your free one. Here’s the list of those possible options:

• The Brimstone - Attack
• Fusion Compiler - Anomaly
• Hellfire Gears - Stun
• The Restrained - Stun 
• Steel Cushion - Attack
• Weeping Cradle -

We also got to see and learn the names of the two Zenless Zone Zero costumes for Belle and Wise. Belle’s is called Delicate Sunlight. Wise’s is Soaring Crane. Both are based on attire seen by people in the new Waifei Peninsula, and they each have a white, yellow, and black color scheme.

Here is how the Zenless Zone Zero Belle and Wise costumes look, and there’s also a screen capture of the free S-Rank characters being given away.

New and returning characters appearing in 2.0 also came up, as the next Zenless Zone Zero Agents were confirmed. The three Yunkui Summit characters, as mentioned before, are Yixuan, Ju Fufu, and Pan Yinhu. Pan Yinhu is the only A-Rank one, as the others are S-Rank. Yixuan, returning character Astra Yao, and Pan Yinhu will be available at launch in 2.0, while Ju Fufu and returning Agent Caesar will appear in the second part of the update.  

The trailer for the new update can be watched below, and it focuses on the new story before showing off playable Agents.

Here’s the full 2.0 Zenless Zone Zero Special Program on YouTube.

Zenless Zone Zero is on the PS5, PC, and mobile devices, and the Xbox Series X version and 2.0 update comes on June 6, 2025. 

The post We Get a Free Zenless Zone Zero S-Rank Character in 2.0 appeared first on Siliconera.

Monster Prom is one of those series where I feel certain entries are catering to different types of possible players. I always felt the first two games were best for newcomers to the concept. With Monster Prom 3: Monster Roadtrip, I felt like it was more for those familiar due to character decisions and gameplay concepts. Now that Monster Prom 4: Monster Con is here I still think the series is as entertaining as ever, but it might not be best for newcomers.

You’re a monster. You’re trying to find someone to love. Fortunately, you and your six friends April, Doug, Liam, Nico, Omen, and Zoe are headed to a con. As you work on your own comic and attend activities and events, there will be opportunities to work on yourself and connect with them. Maybe you’ll even find love! However, you’re not the only person attending, as potentially other people could be playing with you and even pursuing the same love interest as you. 

So the Monster Prom series are basically visual novel dating sims with stat management and calling dibs on events determining if you’re lucky enough to win a love interest. As such, the writing is a really important part. While I really loved the scripts in the first three games, I’m disappointed in this one. Yes, Beautiful Glitch absolutely embraces the con experience. However, I feel like that overwhelms the charm typically found in the series. Because all of the interactions with the love interests focuses on activities at a con or fandom, I felt there were times when they sometimes came across more as caricatures of certain types of fans than more nuanced personalities. 

This isn’t as much of an issue for established characters like Liam and Zoe, who are still great, but I think the reason I did connect with them more despite loving the designs of newcomers is because we got to know them in the original game and follow-ups. Like I really wanted to see more of April’s depths, due to her background. And while Omen and Nico have fantastic designs, there were runs where I came away with the feeling that Omen is there to be the “chaotic” and “dark” choice and Nico was an excuse for a bunch of costumes. I really felt like past games offered a bit more range and insight into who characters were, leaving me feeling like I “knew” who they were after a few runs. I didn’t get that here. It’s enjoyable in its way, and I think Monster Prom fans will like it, but the decision make me wonder if it’d turn off those more unfamiliar with the series.

But in general, the Monster Prom 4: Monster Con gameplay is as tight as usual. Gameplay is divided into a sequence where you visit a few spots at the con to build stats, seeing a scene with some of the love interests where you can make decisions after each one. After that, you’ll get opportunities to work on your comic by choosing from certain prompts to Mad Lib your way to a finished work at the end. There will also be times when you can sit with one of the love options at a table to try and make an impression and connect. When you reach the end, your stats and actions influence the relationship with a possible person in your group and you see what your finished work looks like. Depending on the option you select at the outset and how many players appear, you could end up spending two hours or more searching for love.

So while the writing is clever and often funny in Monster Prom 4: Monster Con, I also feel like the execution of the story and direction may not be as good of an introduction to the series. Like the original Monster Prom and Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp strike me as being better examples of the narrative work and characterizations Beautiful Glitch is capable of, while offering solid gameplay. The general gameplay loop and experience in Monster Prom 4: Monster Con is great, the characterization decisions and some narrative choices for events make me feel like it’s better as a follow up once someone’s familiar with what the team and series is capable of, rather than a first introduction.

Monster Prom 4: Monster Con is available for PCs. 

The post Monster Prom 4: Monster Con Feels Made for Existing Fans appeared first on Siliconera.

A new system in Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma will allow players to use a technique to travel between worlds and timelines to pursue additional romance options with the bachelors and bachelorettes you can marry. You’ll be able to go to an "alternate future," where you have a new partner, all without losing any of your progress.

While Marvelous didn't update the English version of Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma website yet to include the localized name of this mechanic, the Japanese name literally translates to “Technique to Travel Between Worlds.” With this feature, you can go to alternate timelines with a new partner, all without having to lose your current family, level, or inventory. You can travel freely between worlds, and each save data can have up to thirty different timelines. This gives you the opportunity to explore the twelve different romance options in Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma without having to completely restart your progress or give up a current love affair with one of the other bachelors or bachelorettes.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is the latest entry in the long-running Rune Factory series. This spin-off features a Japanese-inspired setting, and there are two protagonists you can choose from. The gender of your protagonist does limit romance options in Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, as all love interests can be married regardless of your choice. Marvelous first revealed this game during the August 2024 Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase. 

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma will come out for the Nintendo Switch and WIndows PC via Steam on May 30, 2025.

The post Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Lets You Romance Multiple Characters appeared first on Siliconera.

Kaiyodo announced some new Dead or Alive 6 figures, and they’ll be based on recurring DOA heroines Honoka and Marie Rose. Both are early in development, as the manufacturer only shared teasers for both on social media. These announcements were in both Japanese and English, so it is likely they are being prepared for a worldwide release. The company often does that, especially with its Revoltech figures.

At the moment, only official images of the characters based on their appearances in Dead or Alive 6 appeared, which suggests each of them will be depicted in their official, default costumes from that installment. The reveal also confirmed these will be 1/7 scale figures. This means they will likely be around 10 inches tall. 

Here are the official announcement images for both of the figures. 

Some of Kaiyodo’s last Koei Tecmo figures involved Revoltech Ninja Gaiden ones.

One of the last Dead or Alive figures involved the DOA XVV version of Marie Rose based on her appearance in Azur Lane. That is a part of the Koei Tecmo KT Model+ brand. It is only a 1/6 one though. It is expected to release in December 2025. 

Dead or Alive 6 is available on the PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and the Kaiyodo DOA figures based on Honoka and Marie Rose are in development.

The post Kaiyodo Making Dead or Alive 6 Honoka and Marie Rose Figures appeared first on Siliconera.

SuperGroupies announced a Metaphor: ReFantazio clothing and accessory collection that includes items based on the protagonist, like Will’s coat, and could be used for everyday use or worn as a cosplay item. A Protagonist Model Trench Coat and Shoulder Bag will both be available in “late” November 2025. As a reminder, Super Groupies did note that Trump tariffs will affect prices for those of us in the US, so it is important to keep in mind possible “tariff adjustment charges” before using the worldwide shipping option to purchase any items.

The SuperGroupies Protagonist Model Trench Coat based on the one Will wears throughout Metaphor: ReFantazio is the more expensive of the two items at $299.99, and it is also the one that most resembles the actual jacket that is close enough to the real costume that it could be used for cosplay. It is a double-breasted style with a light white and grey plaid print. There’s a belt at the waist, and there is an optional, removable throat tab designed to resemble the armor at the neck in-game. The interior tag resembles the novel our avatar carries, and there’s a reference to Gallica with a gold silhouette on the inside as well. It is available in sizes medium through XXL. It is also a unisex style, so anyone can wear it.

Here’s a closer look at that coat.

The $239.99 Protagonist Model Shoulder Bag is inspired by the one Will carries throughout Metaphor: ReFantazio. It’s not an exact replica, however. It is about a foot tall and is over 15 inches wide. It comes with a shoulder strap that is about 55 inches long, so you can wear it cross-body. It can hold B4 size papers and books. It also has a tag inside that resembles the novel in the game and matches the tag in the coat.

These are the first photos of it:

This isn’t the only SuperGroupies item that could be used everyday or for cosplay. The Vash coat in the Trigun Stampede collection could be as well.

Pre-orders for the Metaphor: ReFantazio Protagonist Model Trench Coat and Shoulder Bag are open until June 15, 2025, and the items that can be worn everyday or used for cosplay will launch in late November 2025. Metaphor: ReFantazio is available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. The manga based on it is running now worldwide.

The post SuperGroupies Metaphor: ReFantazio Coat Could Be Used for Cosplay appeared first on Siliconera.

Capcom announced that it will add both free and paid items based on Street Fighter 6 to Monster Hunter Wilds, with the update and DLC arriving on May 28, 2025. This means a Chun-Li costume for Alma to buy, Akuma layered armor for our hunters, and the ability to dress our Palicos as Blanka-chan with layered armor. A new trailer highlighted all of these in action.

This is actually the second time Akuma appeared as layered armor in an entry. It was in Monster Hunter Rise as an Event Quest reward back in August 2021. This version of the armor features special actions. 

As for the paid DLC, a few items came up. Alma will get both Chun-Li and Cammy costumes. Stickers featuring characters like Ryu, Akuma, Juri, Cammy, and Blanka-chan will appear. Gestures with attack properties that recreate the Hadoken, Shoryuken, and Tatsumaki Senpu-Kyaku will come up. There will also be a Blanka-chan Doll pendant for our equipment. Prices aren't available for this yet. However, the description on the YouTube trailer noted these are all sold piecemeal and not in a pack.

Here is a trailer showing off the Street Fighter 6 DLC and free updates for Monster Hunter Wilds.

This is the first major crossover for Monster Hunter Wilds. However, past games featured a number of them. In Monster Hunter Rise, there were tie-ins with titles like Mega Man, Okami, Sonic the Hedgehog, and the aforementioned Street Fighter collab.

Monster Hunter Wilds is available for the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. Street Fighter 6 is on the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC now, and it will come to the Switch 2 on June 13, 2025. The Street Fighter 6 Monster Hunter Wilds free crossover update and paid DLC will debut on May 28, 2025.

The post Monster Hunter Wilds Free and Paid Street Fighter 6 DLC Arrives appeared first on Siliconera.

Shift Up showed exactly how some of the Stellar Blade Goddess of Victory: NIKKE costumes and the minigame based on the mobile game will look in a trailer for the crossover DLC. This also featured a peek at the Scarlet boss fight as well. There's also a Doro Dorothy cameo at the very end.

This video began with a look at the Stellar Blade minigame gameplay, as that involves shooting down foes in the same way someone would when playing NIKKE. As it starts, Shift Up quickly cycles through a few of the character costumes for Eve in the add-on. First, she’s dressed as Rapi. Then, she looks like Modernia. A quick peek at Anis’ attire comes after. Her Alice outfit appeared after that. She’s briefly dressed like Dorothy after that, before returning to her normal appearance.

From there, we see the cover-based shooting familiar from NIKKE. What honestly look like Rapture robots, in addition to Stellar Blade foes, descend on her location. We hide behind cover and emerge to shoot at them, and the UI suggests the Burst system from NIKKE may be present. 

After that we see some familiar faces. Volt the dog shows up and interacts with Eve. We then get a better look at her in the different NIKKE costumes in Stellar Blade. Eve meets Scarlet after that, and that leads into a peek at the boss fight between the two characters. Things close out with Eve encountering Doro Dorothy at about the 1:27 point.

Here’s the full trailer:

Stellar Blade is available for the PS5 and comes to the PC via Steam on June 11, 2025, and the Goddess of Victory: NIKKE DLC debuts the same day and is a part of the complete edition of the game. NIKKE is available on PCs and mobile devices now.

The post Stellar Blade NIKKE DLC Trailer Shows Costumes and Gameplay appeared first on Siliconera.

I don't know who I am. I don't know what happened to my family. I'm alone, on a road to a small town, and while nobody cares enough to offer me food or a place to stay, they show enough concern to warn me away from the witch living in the woods. Yet the moment they do, I know that is exactly where I am meant to be. This is Emberstorm Entertainment's Reka, a game about training under a witch, decorating a chicken-legged, moving house, and using my herbal and potentially magical skills to improve my life throughout this simulation. 

I take my time on my journey to the witch's house. She's not going anywhere. I'm not running away. But I do want to know what is around us, and what I can expect. I help a merchant with a fae entity of sorts trapped in a lantern repair a wagon. I find a baby goat before it falls to it's death in a well. People in this dwindling village spread many rumors about the woman I'll soon meet. She's a demonic presence. She's an eccentric old lady. She once had a companion, but who knows where they went. She eats children. She's an affront to The High Lord. 

Everyone has an opinion and, after hearing a sufficient amount, I know enough to suss out her exact location and use my com to head to my new home. All this serves as a means of showing how much worldbuilding can be done in such a short amount of time. You need to try and connect to learn more. Only by hearing rumors can you get on the right path. But by taking that time, you also learn what their lives are like. What the village is like. What they need. How you can help to gain useful or decorative rewards.

Upon first meeting Baba Jaga, she seems... ordinary. A plain, elderly woman. Someone a bit gruff. She's been waiting for me, just as I have for her, and she tasks me with gathering mushrooms and honey for our meal, then raspberries to barter with some Lutki in the woods who stole her talisman. Said charm will be mine if I retrieve it, allowing me immediate access to teleport back to her home at a whim. "So she is magic," I think as I head out for more practical gathering. Her crows follow and surround me. Whether they are there to report my deeds back to her or protect me, I can't tell. Mushrooms, honey, and raspberries are easy enough to spot. So are the mischievous woodland creatures that look like hopping wooden logs with faces. They're eager to trade me niceties like apples for my berries and give a gift if freed from errant logs, though I did need to chase down the thief who stole from my new master. 

I feel like that’s what I appreciate most about Reka, even in these early days. There’s a strong sense of magical realism. Yes, there really are beings like the Lutki and Leshy in the woods. Some remedies for people around you are as simple as putting in some effort to harvest, gather, or prepare food. However, there’s real magic here too. The fast traveling is a prime example, as is the chicken-footed, moving home itself. After a death in the family in the village, the home really does need to be cleansed, but that involves placing black salt instead of weaving some spell. But it’s amazing how often practicality and common sense wins. For example, when getting permission from Leshy for a trial that allows a larger home, none of the tasks involve magic or crafting. They involve actions that make the forest and its inhabitants happier. 

I also appreciate how this carries over to added content as well. For example, in May 2025 a Roots and Remedies update launched for Reka. This brings farming to the game. However, I feel like that garden is multifaceted. It looks nice, besides my quaint cottage. It adds something new to my routine. But it also enhances this witch game by making elixirs possible. Yes, we could poison people before, but now there are more opportunities, and it seems like a means of using both practical tonics to assist people and more magical potions such as one that lets us understand animals.

Reka feels full of potential and like a witch game that explores how “magic” could be an actual spell or a more practical solution someone didn’t consider. Even though the 1.0 release isn’t set to arrive until later in 2025, it feels like there’s so much to enjoy already. I love diving into the world created here and taking in the ambiance.

Reka is in early access on PC via Steam. 

The post Preview: Reka Already Feels Like an Immersive Witch Game appeared first on Siliconera.

Earlier in May 2025, Tookyo Games, DMM Games, Exnoa, and Spike Chunsoft teased a new game called Shuten Order, and now we know it will launch on September 5, 2025. The Steam page is live, and the full game will debut on the Switch and PC. A Digital Deluxe Edition will also appear with art book and soundtrack. 

The world is ending, and a Shuten Order cult appeared once people realized their fate. With 168 days left, the nation state Shuten founded by the group is plunged into chaos after the leader’s death. That’s where we come in, as we play as the revived head of the group now tasked with finding out who killed him in four days. This means going through five routes, each investigating a different minister in the group and playing differently to find the murderer. So the Ministry of Education is a dating sim, Ministry of Health is an escape room game like 999, Ministry of Justice is an adventure game like Ace Attorney, Ministry of Science is a visual novel, and Ministry of Security is described as “stealth action horror.” Beating all five is necessary to see the end.  

This means we’ll see two Tookyo Games in 2025. The other is The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy, which featured input from Kazutaka Kodaka and Kotaro Uchikoshi. That appeared on the Switch and PC. 

Shuten Order will come to the Switch and PC on September 5, 2025.

The post Tookyo Games’ Shuten Order Debuts in September appeared first on Siliconera.

Square Enix shared some details about the process of deg the CG renders and models for Cait Sith in FFVII Rebirth. Despite having a brief cameo in Episode INTERmission on FFVII Remake Intergrade, the character made his full appearance in the second title of the remake trilogy.

The company explained that the final touch ups to the fur were very challenging when deg the full-body CG, but the team at Square Enix was satisfied with the soft-textured feel of Cait Sith for his model in FFVII Rebirth. For the close-up bust, the developers explored several pose ideas inspired by the image of playing with a plush or a stuffed animal toy, with movable legs and arms.

One of these ideas involved Cait Sith using both of his hands to imitate cat paws raised up to his ears and slightly tilting his face to create a sly expression. The aforementioned pose was shown on the third image in the post shared by the company, which you can check out in more detail below.

Square Enix has been sharing details about the CG renders and character models of various characters in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, with the most recent ones talking about the ninja Yuffie Kisaragi, and Barret Wallace.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is readily available worldwide on PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam.

The post FFVII Rebirth Cait Sith Model Inspired by Stuffed Toys appeared first on Siliconera.

Yostar announced the closed beta test dates for its new game Stella Sora, and that kicks off on May 28, 2025. It will run for over a week, ending on June 8, 2025. This comes after registration to participate opened in April 2025.

This announcement also included a full timeline for this phase. As a reminder, the cut-off to try and get into this test ended a while ago. We could only for a chance to play until May 16, 2025. 

Here’s the timeline for the closed beta phase:

• May 22, 2025: Picked players will be emailed and told they will get to participate.
• May 26, 2025: Closed beta test participants will be able to the build. 
• May 28, 2025: The closed beta begins.
• June 8, 2025: The closed beta ends.

Alongside the closed beta test dates for Stella Sora, there’s also an update on pre-registration progress. It currently ed 2,500,000 people. As a result, everyone gets 10,000 Dorra, the in-game earned currency, and 200 Stellanite Dust, another type of currency, for free. The next tier is 3,000,000 people, which unlocks a Tranquil Retreat Disc for everyone. We will get 600 Stellanite Dust if the pre-registrations hit 4,000,000, the four-star Trekker: Ann character if the game hits 6,000,000, and 10 Cerulean Tickets for the gacha if the 8,000,000 hallmark is hit.

Stella Sora is in development for PCs and mobile devices, and Yostar will hold the closed beta test for the new game between May 28, 2025 and June 8, 2025. 

The post Yostar Starts Stella Sora Closed Beta Test Next Week appeared first on Siliconera.

HoYoVerse confirmed in the official patch notes for the 3.3 Honkai: Star Rail update that it changed the English Trailblazer voice actors for Caelus and Stelle. It did not reveal the new performers behind either character. Previously, Caleb Yen played the male option and Rachael Chau voiced the female one. 

The official patch notes for 3.3 noted the Trailblazer English voice actors change in the section discussing changes to Honkai: Star Rail audio. It noted that for now, the snippets that come up when using the Remembrance version of the character in battle or going through the Trailblaze Mission story quests in 3.3 will sound different. It then confirmed that future updates will change the lines for other paths and quests. HoYoVerse offered no explanation in the update and didn’t announce who the new actors are.

This change for the Caelus and Stelle English voice actors isn’t the first time Honkai: Star Rail performers ended up being changed or just disappearing. Starting in 2024, we began to see alterations. In the case of Dan Heng and Himeko, voiced lines for both stopped appearing. So while others would speak during story segments, there would be silence if someone used the English language option. All of this started happening after the SAG-AFTRA strike started in July 2024, with performers striking about concerns regarding AI being used to train or replicate people’s performances. 

We’ve also seen English voice actors changed with little or no notice like this for other HoYoVerse games as the strike continued. Most recently, it also occurred in Zenless Zone Zero. Lycaon ended up being replaced in 1.6. There’s a new English performer for Soldier 11 as well.

Honkai: Star Rail is available for the PS5, PC, and mobile devices, and the 3.3 update is now live for the game worldwide.

The post Honkai: Star Rail Caelus, Stelle English Trailblazer Voice Actors Changed appeared first on Siliconera.

We are in the midst of a glut of roguelikes that also involve deck-building mechanics. There’s so much to sort through, likely not enough time or money to play them all, and I know I often see titles that are too clearly doing a little too good of a job “paying homage” to the most popular properties. Not that this wealth of options is a bad thing. The original Monster Train, which is sublime, wouldn’t be here if games like Hand of Fate and Slay the Spire didn’t pave the way and inspire developer Shiny Shoe. Fortunately for us, Monster Train 2 feels as satisfying as its predecessor, with this new game building on everything good from the original and including more strategic options.

While in the original Monster Train we ran a train right into hell, Monster Train 2 is taking us to Heaven. The Titans are a universal threat, Seraph is a traitor, and we begin with the once-divine Banished angels and demonic Pyreborne dragons making the first push to the top. While we initially learn about the situation from Banished leader Fel, going through runs and pushing yourself unlocks additional clans, like the Lazarus League scientists, Luna Coven witches, Under Legion fungi, and more insights into the current situation. If all goes well and we make smart choices while playing, the new covenant between angels and demons might result in everyone being saved.

The Monster Train formula remains largely unchanged in Monster Train 2, with any new additions layered on top of existing concepts to enhance the core gameplay experience. You start by picking two Clans, which will influence the decks you build, and probably a Pyreheart modifier. Your train features multiple rooms layered one on top of the other. You’ll be building a deck of cards to deal with the hordes trying to stop your train from reaching its destination. You place units in each room to face off during the battle phase, hopefully protecting the fire at the top that ensures your run into the Abyss can continue. A fight starts with an idea of who you’ll face. You’ll then be able to use some of your points to initially assign and even arm the units you’ll place on floor’s room on the train. Every round, enemies that survive combat move up another floor to the fires at the top. You’ll get a chance to pull from your hand to perform spells, arm units, and dispatch new warriors to floors ahead of the next assault. This repeats until the final wave and perhaps an encounter with a more devious boss. Once that opponent is on the field, it will lead to previous rooms it destroys being blocked off as it makes its ascent and special mechanics kicking in to make fending off that greater foe a greater challenge. 

During your turn, it’s possible to place units. (Said units can also gain new traits and be buffed based on events or store purchases between battles.) Once in position, Equipment Cards with armor or weapon traits and buffs could be applied, and Room Cards could influence what happens in a specific room on the train. (For example, a type of sword could allow for multiple hits or you could get more money from defeated units in a room on a floor.) While you might see the same units repeatedly, due to the Clans you pick and cards you’ve unlocked, the Pyre Hearts and their conditions picked at the outset of a run, the Equipment Cards you stock, the Room Cards you find, and the effects from purchases and events mean each playthrough feels different.

The customization applies when picking your path. As you go from one fight to another on your travels, you’ll be able to choose which track to follow. While they will tend to share one nod at the beginning of the journey and end up at the same encounter, the other stops along the way differ. Do you pick a road with a random event, one that could include a crossover guest encounter and a shop, or would one with an opportunity to upgrade a character or make more decisions about the contents of your deck be better for your current strategy? Random events can be unbalanced an unfun and punishing way sometimes, making the perk absolutely not worth the pains tied to it. It’s probably one of the few things that actually bothered me about Monster Train 2, and I hope there is rebalancing in Shiny Shoe’s future. 

And you'll see a lot of those options and runs as you play, as the execution means you won't derail after only one or two bouts. Since your sacred flame at the top of the train will "fight back" against any opponent that reaches it and is pretty sturdy even at the start, an enemy or boss slipping past your defenses and getting up there isn't a guaranteed "game over." You might still make it through another one or two fights before being wiped out. It feels like Shiny Shoe wants you to play long enough to learn from your mistakes or pick up on strategies you might like, so your next attempt has a better chance of going better.

Which is important, as I think anyone who picks up Monster Train 2 will end up playing it for a very long time. There is so much packed into this game. At one point, I ended up earning a wealth of content that I would have expected to be paid DLC (and gladly paid extra to access). The number of additional features, both gameplay-influencing and purely cosmetic, are staggering, and I am so excited about spending a few months trying out different Clan pairings, working on different deck mechanics, and going through the different modes. Yes, there are multiple modes, so if you don’t feel like trying to push yourself to advance the story, you could pick Endless to see how far you can get with no limits or try the Daily Challenge. 

I love Monster Train 2 now, and I suspect I’ll love it even more after putting 50 to 100 hours into it. Shiny Shoe did a fantastic job of keeping everything important in Monster Train, not disrespecting the original experience in any way, and implementing new Clans, card types, encounters, and mechanics that keep it challenging in a manageable way. Even the addition of a story is fascinating, considering the original only featured hints at the series’ lore. I love what the team did here, and Monster Train 2 ended up becoming as essential an entry in an roguelike library as the original.

Monster Train 2 will come to the Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on May 21, 2025. A demo is available on Steam.

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