Shaun Ranft, Author at Twinfinite https://twinfinite.net/author/shaunranft/ Video Game news, reviews, opinions, guides and videos! Wed, 12 Jul 2023 10:44:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.3 https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/cropped-logo-2.png?fit=32%2C32 Shaun Ranft, Author at Twinfinite https://twinfinite.net/author/shaunranft/ 32 32 WrestleQuest Hands-on Preview – It’s Still Real to Us https://twinfinite.net/features/skybound-wrestlequest-preview-its-still-real-to-us/ https://twinfinite.net/features/skybound-wrestlequest-preview-its-still-real-to-us/#respond Wed, 12 Jul 2023 13:02:00 +0000 https://twinfinite.net/?p=964570 Aliens, potatoes, and post-apocalyptic raiders, oh my!]]>

The world of professional wrestling is always changing. Whether it is a blend of differing styles making their way to the forefront; brand-new promotions surfacing with hopes of providing a reasonable amount of competition; or legendary acts returning for nostalgia’s sake—there is bound to be something for every single fan imaginable.

That is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to WrestleQuest, the soon-to-be-released wrestling game that utilizes fantasy RPG elements, courtesy of Skybound Games and Mega Cat Studios.

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FIFA 23 Ultimate Team’s Premier League Team of the Season Revealed https://twinfinite.net/news/fifa-23-ultimate-team-premier-league-team-of-the-season-revealed/ https://twinfinite.net/news/fifa-23-ultimate-team-premier-league-team-of-the-season-revealed/#respond Fri, 05 May 2023 17:11:45 +0000 https://twinfinite.net/?p=943381 Meet the star-studded lineup of the PL TOTS.]]>

With the Premier League season winding down, FIFA 23 and EA Sports have launched their annual Team of the Season Starting XI, voted on by the fans themselves. Given that the real-life title race has primarily been between two sides all season long, it makes sense that this squad would be so Arsenal and Manchester City-heavy. Add Erling Haaland’s historic goal-scoring campaign to the mix, and fans had themselves a tap-in.

The full Starting XI can be viewed below. Do you see any surprises?

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Hidden Injuries Might Be Affecting Ultimate Team in FIFA 23 https://twinfinite.net/news/hidden-injuries-might-be-affecting-ultimate-team-fifa-23/ https://twinfinite.net/news/hidden-injuries-might-be-affecting-ultimate-team-fifa-23/#respond Tue, 18 Apr 2023 19:08:22 +0000 https://twinfinite.net/?p=937478 There might be a reason that shiny Icon isn't quite as good.]]>

Folks who enjoy the grind of Ultimate Team in FIFA know that it’s a never-ending wave of card promotions. With them, the ultimate goal becomes building the best squad you can to take on challengers of all forms. But what if you were at a disadvantage without ever realizing it? Twitter user Quick_Rage FUT has a hunch you might be. Monday afternoon, they posted a screenshot from the FIFA Companion App indicating that injuries might be permanent. It’s just that in a way, they’re hidden.

Acknowledge the past, and embrace every moment of it.]]>

MLB The Show 23 on PS5

Sports simulations can be tricky. With each passing year, this craving for a heightened sense of realism grows, which oftentimes can lead to a glaring imbalance in the final product. And while I would argue that no simulation ever strikes said balance exactly right, MLB The Show’s latest offering comes closest. Not necessarily because of everything we’ve come to expect from the series, but rather the steps they’ve taken to improve on past missteps. The latest entry from San Diego Studios plays the hits all while bringing history to the forefront, and that is where it shines. First, though, let’s talk about a potential sticking point for anybody looking to play quickly.

As I continue to learn through playing various sporting titles, the battle between patience and impatience can become very real. And every year, particularly with The Show, that is where things seem to break down most often. You can breeze through a FIFA match in 15 minutes if you’d like, for instance, and even quicker if you’re not playing Ultimate Team. With an accelerated play clock in Madden, not to mention an ability to focus only on Key Moments, an NFL game can be wrapped up in 15-20 minutes as well. Depending on what you’re looking to do in The Show, that’s not always going to be the case. Sometimes, a game is going to take as long as it takes. Fortunately for the player, there are countless options to choose from — though, with varying levels of attention.

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https://twinfinite.net/reviews/mlb-the-show-23-review/feed/ 0 WWE 2K23 Reveals More Details on “Never Give Up” John Cena Showcase https://twinfinite.net/news/wwe-2k23-reveals-more-details-never-give-up-john-cena-showcase/ https://twinfinite.net/news/wwe-2k23-reveals-more-details-never-give-up-john-cena-showcase/#respond Fri, 17 Mar 2023 13:50:00 +0000 https://twinfinite.net/?p=908904 Are you ruthless enough?]]>

2K Sports and Visual Concepts have provided even more details regarding their signature Showcase game mode.

Not unlike WWE 2K15, players will be able to experience John Cena‘s now 20-year career over the course of several matches. However, unlike previous entries, players will get to experience this year’s mode — entitled “Never Give Up” — playing as some of his biggest rivals, including Batista, Brock Lesnar, and The Rock.

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WWE 2K23 Really Just Trolled Fans With Its John Cena Showcase Mode Ending https://twinfinite.net/news/wwe-2k23-really-just-rick-rolled-fans-with-its-john-cena-showcase-mode-ending/ https://twinfinite.net/news/wwe-2k23-really-just-rick-rolled-fans-with-its-john-cena-showcase-mode-ending/#respond Wed, 15 Mar 2023 16:33:04 +0000 https://twinfinite.net/?p=926409 Bet you didn't see that coming.]]>

Fans and players of WWE 2K games alike can have the pleasure of beating John Cena 14 different times throughout the WWE 2K Showcase Mode this year. But those who grew up watching the man behind “Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect” remember the “Super Cena” Era. Given what happens once you complete the initial Showcase, it would seem then that the folks at 2K (and Cena himself) are in on the joke.

Once you’ve completed all 14 initial matches, players then get a crack at three more bonus contests — the first of which allows the player to choose between any of Cena’s previous opponents from the Showcase. They also make it seem like you have the option to choose somebody else entirely, but the game doesn’t allow you to proceed if you actually select that option.

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Justice League: Cosmic Chaos Review – Superheroes Can Be Silly Too https://twinfinite.net/reviews/justice-league-cosmic-chaos-review/ https://twinfinite.net/reviews/justice-league-cosmic-chaos-review/#respond Fri, 10 Mar 2023 09:00:00 +0000 https://twinfinite.net/?p=922834 Fight crime, but don't take it too seriously.]]>

Justice League: Cosmic Chaos on PS5

Perhaps by now, the year 2023, we’re all a little burnt out when it comes to comic books and the superheroes that fill those pages. Especially if we’re attempting to keep up with the MCU and the like. A multiverse here, a world domination plot there, and suddenly you’re five television series behind and don’t understand the latest batch of references because your will to watch began to peter out shortly after phase three.

And that’s before we even begin to discuss the DC cinematic universe — which we won’t, because that’s not what this is about.

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6 Things to Do After Beating Wild Hearts https://twinfinite.net/features/things-to-do-after-beating-wild-hearts/ https://twinfinite.net/features/things-to-do-after-beating-wild-hearts/#respond Tue, 28 Feb 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://twinfinite.net/?p=915057 What, did you think the hunt was over?]]>

The world of Azuma is vast, and if you’re looking for danger, it won’t take long to encounter it. But what happens once you’ve finished your initial playthrough of Wild Hearts? How many more things can one accomplish once you’ve conquered the main story? Well despite how much there is to experience as you travel through Azuma the first time, there is plenty to experience after the fact as well. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of six things you can do after beating Wild Hearts that’ll make you keep playing.

The Dreaded Volatile Kemono

After beating Wild Hearts
Image Source: EA via Twinfinite

I believe it was Socrates who once said: Just because you’ve beaten the game doesn’t mean you’ve beaten the game.

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EA PGA Tour Courses Deep Dive Trailer Flexes Authenticity, Ball Dynamics, & Much More https://twinfinite.net/news/ea-pga-tour-courses-deep-dive-trailer-flexes-authenticity-ball-dynamics-much-more/ https://twinfinite.net/news/ea-pga-tour-courses-deep-dive-trailer-flexes-authenticity-ball-dynamics-much-more/#respond Tue, 21 Feb 2023 18:15:24 +0000 https://twinfinite.net/?p=911417 Realism is only half the battle with these courses.]]>

Tuesday morning, EA Sports gave players a glimpse of what they can expect when they hit the links on EA Sports PGA Tour later this year. In the latest Course Overview Trailer, EA really hammered home the importance of authenticity — no matter if you’re playing through Majors, working your way up the ranks, or simply trying to get a quick round in.

However, visuals are just part of the experience. EA has introduced a Course Dynamics system that aims to accurately reflect how each course plays, feels, and is experienced. How a ball rolls or bounces, for instance, will vary from course to course. EA visited each course to truly deliver on the feel they provide, with the aim of ensuring that no two courses will play the same.

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MLB The Show 23 Introduces ‘Classic’ Game Made Famous by the Negro Leagues https://twinfinite.net/news/mlb-the-show-23-introuces-classic-game-mode-made-famous-by-the-negro-leagues/ https://twinfinite.net/news/mlb-the-show-23-introuces-classic-game-mode-made-famous-by-the-negro-leagues/#respond Mon, 20 Feb 2023 16:48:59 +0000 https://twinfinite.net/?p=910674 Experience the Negro Leagues in all its historical glory.]]>

Monday morning, MLB The Show released another in-depth look at one of the new features fans can expect from the franchise’s latest installment. Incorporating the Negro Leagues into this year’s game through their Storylines feature has allowed the team to expand their game in different ways.

One such way is through classic ‘Night Baseball’ games, something that originated with The Negro Leagues — and more specifically, the Kansas City Monarchs — five years prior to MLB playing its first-ever night game.

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Pokemon Scarlet & Violet’s 1.2.0 Update Fixes Tera Raids & Performance… Kind Of https://twinfinite.net/news/pokemon-scarlet-and-violet-update-120-fixes-tera-raids-and-performance/ https://twinfinite.net/news/pokemon-scarlet-and-violet-update-120-fixes-tera-raids-and-performance/#respond Fri, 17 Feb 2023 15:58:24 +0000 https://twinfinite.net/?p=909423 The latest update to Pokemon Scarlet & Violet tackles bugs of all sizes.]]>

We’re only months removed from the release of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, but with Nintendo’s announcement of a version 1.2.0 update slated for late February, players can expect Tera Raid and performance fixes, to name a few, in the near future.

This update brings plenty of quality of life changes, with many of them centering around Pokémon Boxes. Players will be able to manage much more with regard to their creature’s status all in one location, such as their nickname, held items, markings, TMs, and moves — whether it be reordering, remembering, or forgetting them.

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FIFA 23 Title Update 7 Tackles Transfer Market Bug & Newest Glitches https://twinfinite.net/news/fifa-23-title-update-7-tackles-transfer-market-bug-newest-glitches/ https://twinfinite.net/news/fifa-23-title-update-7-tackles-transfer-market-bug-newest-glitches/#respond Thu, 02 Feb 2023 20:50:05 +0000 https://twinfinite.net/?p=901331 Not so fast with the offside flag.]]>

The latest Title Update for FIFA 23 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC has arrived courtesy of EA Sports, and there are a handful of gameplay tweaks to sift through — including one big one — as well as a couple of fixes that were often requested by the FIFA community.

For starters, FUT has addressed the bug that kept causing Transfer Market search filters to reset after every search regardless of whether or not the player reset them. While this didn’t seem to be an issue on the Companion App, the same couldn’t be said for the platforms themselves.

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The 14 Best Super Bowl Party Ideas & Snacks https://twinfinite.net/features/best-super-bowl-party-ideas-snacks/ https://twinfinite.net/features/best-super-bowl-party-ideas-snacks/#respond Thu, 02 Feb 2023 15:00:00 +0000 https://twinfinite.net/?p=900208 Super Snack Bowl.]]>

Super Bowl LVII is right around the corner, with Andy Reid and his Kansas City Chiefs set to go head-to-head with the Philadelphia Eagles, the team he coached for well over a decade prior to landing in KC. Intriguing, right? Drama at its finest, it could be said. The story writes itself, and so on.

More importantly though, at least for anyone who isn’t invested in these teams or perhaps even the NFL, it’s Super Bowl Sunday — a time-honored tradition that allows folks to gather in large numbers, kick back, talk about how ham-fisted or eyeroll-inducing all of the commercials are (nostalgia forever, baby!), and stuff their faces full of anything they can get their hands on.

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EA PGA Tour Preview – Carve Your Own Path to the Top https://twinfinite.net/features/ea-pga-tour-preview-carve-your-own-path-to-the-top/ https://twinfinite.net/features/ea-pga-tour-preview-carve-your-own-path-to-the-top/#respond Thu, 19 Jan 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://twinfinite.net/?p=894052 Have that bucket list handy for this hands-off preview.]]>

It’s been nearly eight years since EA Sports released their own entry into the PGA Tour series, that being Rory McIlroy PGA Tour in 2015. And while players have been able to get their fix on the links here and there ever since, EA was once the home for PGA action for over 20 years. Soon, for players all over the world, they will be again. Because this Spring, EA is officially back in the game. And this time, they’re leaving no stone unturned in the process.

If you’re looking for realism, you’ll find it here, with the developers introducing Pure Strike as arguably the most crucial piece of their revamped gameplay puzzle. Being able to utilize official PGA Tour ShotLink® and TrackMan data, the ultimate goal is for players to be tested in the exact same ways as the professionals are — from hole to hole, from course to course, it’s all about navigating each blade of glass as well as what every element throws at you. Ideally that would mean a solid range of courses to experience, right? That’s where EA’s ‘Bucket List’ comes into play.

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FIFA 23 World Cup Deep Dive Trailer Brings Live Tournaments, FUT Content, & Much More https://twinfinite.net/news/fifa-23-world-cup-deep-dive-trailer-live-tournaments-fut-authentic-feel/ https://twinfinite.net/news/fifa-23-world-cup-deep-dive-trailer-live-tournaments-fut-authentic-feel/#respond Tue, 01 Nov 2022 17:55:37 +0000 https://twinfinite.net/?p=856329 World Cup glory is at your fingertips in FIFA 23.]]>

Earlier today, EA Sports showed players how they can enjoy the World Cup within FIFA 2023. In the latest Deep Dive Trailer, fans got a look at every single way they can take football across the international stage — be it through live tournaments, more FUT content, and various quickplay modes. And you may even be able to rewrite history along the way.

Tournament mode offers various options, whether it’s single-player that begins from the opening match, an online tournament that allows you to play through the knockout stages as any of the qualified nations, or World Cup Live which enables you to play the tournament as it unfolds in real-time.

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Gotham Knights Review — It Takes a Family https://twinfinite.net/reviews/gotham-knights-review/ https://twinfinite.net/reviews/gotham-knights-review/#respond Thu, 20 Oct 2022 11:00:00 +0000 https://twinfinite.net/?p=848866 Gotham Knights is not an Arkham game, and because of that, it thrives.]]>

Gotham Knights on PS5

There is a moment early on in Gotham Knights when it becomes unequivocally clear that this is not going to be an Arkham game. The moment itself isn’t necessarily important from the outset, but what the moment represents most certainly is. Players are immediately made aware that they are no longer burdened with being Batman; that they no longer have to live up to his legacy. But they do have to live for him, and that is where our game so crucially begins.

For those unfamiliar, WB Games Montréal—the developers behind the arguably underrated Batman: Arkham Origins (2013)—brings us Gotham Knights, a new adventure set in the ever-dangerous city where things never seem to get better. In the wake of Bruce Wayne’s death, those closest to him must take his place to solve what plagues Gotham. To do so, they’ll have to dig deeper than ever before. They’ll also have to rely on one another in ways that Batman never did.

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FIFA 23 Review – End of an Era https://twinfinite.net/reviews/fifa-23-review/ https://twinfinite.net/reviews/fifa-23-review/#respond Wed, 12 Oct 2022 00:23:41 +0000 https://twinfinite.net/?p=843004 Does FIFA 23 offer enough?]]>

FIFA 23 on PS5

Every year when FIFA inevitably hits store shelves, there’s a sense of sameness washing over all who play it. And yet, we still play it. Every single year, without fail, we FIFA fans pick it up. Perhaps due to lack of choice. Or maybe because it fills us with that familiar yet strangely comforting feeling? In either case, there’s no doubt that once again, at its core, FIFA 23 is a robust sports game experience that fans of the franchise both new and returning will find much to enjoy.

Notably, it’s worth kicking off this review by highlighting that FIFA 23 is the final team-up between football’s governing body and EA Sports, a collaboration dating all the way back to 1994. FIFA as we know it will be an entirely new formula moving forward. I’m pleased to say this final effort in a long-running series feels like a fitting enough send-off.

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EA Just Wrecked the Value of One of FIFA 23’s Most Popular Features https://twinfinite.net/news/ea-wrecked-value-fifa-23s-most-popular-features/ https://twinfinite.net/news/ea-wrecked-value-fifa-23s-most-popular-features/#respond Mon, 26 Sep 2022 15:03:42 +0000 https://twinfinite.net/?p=838790 FIFA 23 has taken quite the step with the Hybrid SBCs.]]>

While FIFA 23 is right around the corner, players can still begin their Ultimate Team excursion via either the web or mobile app. Once they do, they may notice something a little different. In past FIFA games, the Hybrid Leagues, Hybrid Nations, and League & Nation Hybrid Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) were a good yet tricky way to earn big rewards relatively quickly.

In FIFA 23, however, every single reward from those SBCs—including the one players earn by completing them—have been made untradeable.

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Streamers Look to Force EA’s Hand with Madden 23 ‘Pack Strike’ Over Ultimate Team Pack Odds https://twinfinite.net/news/streamers-look-to-force-ea-sports-hand-with-madden-23-pack-strike/ https://twinfinite.net/news/streamers-look-to-force-ea-sports-hand-with-madden-23-pack-strike/#respond Fri, 23 Sep 2022 01:13:16 +0000 https://twinfinite.net/?p=837525 Can a pack strike truly force EA's hand?]]>

Ultimate Team has been a staple of EA Sports’ titles for over a decade. And throughout this time, players have tried to find a balance between grinding for varied rewards and using real-life money to up their chances at better ones. Streamers and various content creators, however, are ready to put EA on notice with regards to their Madden Ultimate Team system.

Earlier this week, popular YouTuber Zirksee took to Twitter to declare a pack strike with other members within the Madden community. One of the biggest issues they and others bring to the table is the lack of value they receive through MUT in return despite how pricey some of these in-game bundles are. You can check out the official tweet below.

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FIFA 23 Soundtrack Revealed; Includes Bad Bunny, Nas, Phoenix, & More https://twinfinite.net/news/all-songs-on-the-fifa-23-soundtrack-revealed/ https://twinfinite.net/news/all-songs-on-the-fifa-23-soundtrack-revealed/#respond Thu, 22 Sep 2022 19:10:17 +0000 https://twinfinite.net/?p=837164 The final soundtrack for EA Sports' FIFA 23 has arrived.]]>

With one final edition of EA Sports’ FIFA franchise right around the corner, players already have a couple of things they can get their eyes (and now ears) on. The web app is live, with the FUT 23 Companion mobile app set to go live today. There’s already a Team of the Week to look forward to if you’re a FUT player.

Yet one of the things we get to look forward to each year is the variety within the game’s soundtrack. And now, EA Sports has released their official soundtrack for FIFA 23. You can see for yourself with the official tweet below.

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