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In Hollowbody, an early 2000s-style third-person survival horror game by Nathan Hamley (the solo developer behind Headware Games), the true terror comes not from its hideous monsters, but from inhabiting a world where regular people are failed by the system and left to die. Hollowbody is an homage to the PlayStation 2-era classics that helped define the genre. It also adds a tech-noir spin; think the first few Silent Hill games, namely Silent Hill 2, and a touch of Blade Runner. It goes heavy on atmosphere, relying almost entirely on tension-building rather than action to create a sense of palpable unease. And while the game resurrects PS2 graphics, it does not subject you to tank controls (unless you want them, then theres a toggle for that, sickos). Its set in the not-too-distant future in a ruined city somewhere in the British Isles, decades after the region was struck by a supposed biological attack and later bombed while under quarantine. A brief introduction alludes to corruption and conspiracy around the true events of the catastrophe. The initial attacks targeted cities plagued by economic hardship and depravity, and the affected areas were walled off to contain the spread of any contagions but not before people deemed to be high value citizens were allowed to escape to an artificial island with a suspiciously utopic name (Aeonis). The game opens with a group of researcher-activists who have convened at an entry site to one of the exclusion zones, where they plan to go in search of answers. After one of them, Sasha, goes missing, her partner Mica sets out in a hover car to find her at any cost. Its in this early sequence that we really see the tech-noir part of Hollowbodys description come through: Mica staring out the huge glass window of an apartment overlooking a densely packed city la Blade Runner 2049; zipping between skyscrapers in a flying passenger vehicle; having a cheeky conversation with an intelligent navigation system. Naturally, Mica crashes on the ride in, loses contact with the one person who can help her and has to make her way toward Sasha on foot. Headware Games From then on, the tech-noir bit slips mostly out of focus until it swings back around at the end of the game, and Hollowbody takes on the more traditional survival horror mold of science experiment turned local extinction event. There are some touches of that distinct tech-infused vision at one point, Mica passes a broken-down mech the size of an apartment building, and theres a glowing childrens toy in one room that looks vaguely robotic but its not exactly pervasive. Micas personal gadgetry and the styling of the inventory menu serve as the only real reminders of that angle for most of the game. There are a number of puzzles to solve as you explore derelict buildings and the citys parks trying to figure out how to get the hell out of there. The solutions to most of these are fairly obvious once youve come across the clues sprinkled around each location, so the fun is more in the exploration. There was an occasional head-scratcher that would send me in circles though. It didnt help that the surfaces I was able to interact with would sometimes continue to display indicators like Pick up or Seek even after I took everything that could be used from them. In cluttered rooms, I found myself rechecking some spots over and over thinking Id missed something. These prompts will also appear in some places just for the sake of having Mica make inconsequential observations, like commenting on the dirty dishes or sheets that have gone years unwashed, and shell say the same remarks repeatedly as she encounters the same setups in different apartments. Thankfully, that doesnt detract much from how unnerving the setting is. The music is haunting, and it combines with heightened environmental noises like rain, radio static and Micas echoing footsteps to create a really visceral soundscape. If ever Micas inside a building or underground structure, you can be sure itll be dark and labyrinthine. It always felt like a monster was going to jump out at any second, despite that not usually being the case. (It was sometimes, though.) Outside, Mica is exposed, and it doesnt take long for monsters to notice her and start congregating around her. Headware Games The monsters themselves are wonderfully disgusting. There are bipedal abominations, some emaciated while others are top-heavy and headless, with gross tendrils flailing out from their upper halves. Hollowbody has some demon dogs, too, plus a few scuttling insectoid creatures that seemingly pose no threat beyond creeping you out. Cat-sized worm critters will slither right past you, and their hilariously clunky animation just might be the most PS2 thing about the entire game. Its not very combat-oriented often, you can just run past the enemies but there are guns to come by, and a few makeshift melee weapons. Using the latter felt somewhat stiff and slow at times, particularly when facing a group of beasts, but I was still able to make do favoring bludgeoning tools to conserve ammunition. And I delighted in the gushy thwack of my street sign ax connecting with monster flesh. I also loved that Mica can grab an electric guitar off the wall and use it as a weapon. It may not be the most pragmatic approach considering the heaviness, but the clang when it makes contact with its target is very satisfying. There are bodies in various states of decay at every turn, and Micas scanner will give you an instant read on the deceased to get a sense of who they were and how they died. In many instances, the cause is nothing paranormal: dehydration, starvation, murder, etc. A backstory forms through documents and audio flashbacks that are activated at certain sites, telling of financial struggles and gentrification in the city long before the biological disaster, and the eventual desolation endured by the people in the quarantined area afterward, who could only survive as long as their dwindling resources allowed. Mica finds a notice of impending rent hikes, a letter that mentions the disruption of construction going on at all hours of the night and a past due notice for unpaid utilities bills showing monthly prices had quadrupled. She comes across a note left behind by a dying man, wishing for a better future for his family and humanity. In one post-quarantine recording, starving civilians pleading o leave the city are gunned down by armed forces. It is all incredibly bleak, and I didnt have to suspend my disbelief very much to envision a reality in which things would pan out like this. Headware Games But an explanation as to why there are horrid, fleshy humanoid monsters roaming the streets never fully reveals itself in a straightforward way. (At least, not with the ending I reached and all the materials I collected.) The most substantial hint on that front came from a single newspaper clipping, the contents of which Id rather not spoil here. The article plants the seed of an idea, but its largely up to the player to fill in the blanks beyond that. There are touching snippets of Mica and Sashas story as well, but the duos connection to this place and apparent significance within its present goings-on never quite got the neat wrap-up I was hoping for. While the ending was a beautiful, emotional scene that felt like it brought the story full circle thematically, it also left me with the feeling of, Wait, what just happened? It seems like there are other endings, though, which may prove more conclusive on subsequent playthroughs. Beating the game also unlocks a harder difficulty option and a first-person dungeon crawler mode, which immediately made everything feel scarier when I switched it on. Even with its shortcomings, Hollowbody is a solid survival horror title that feels especially impressive when you take into account the fact that it was made by a solo indie developer. Vibes are part of what made its predecessors unforgettable, and Hollowbodys oppressive mood hits all the right notes.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/hollowbody-fills-the-void-left-by-ps2-survival-horror-games-160030810.html?src=rss
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Waymo and Uber are planning to bring their robotaxi service to more locales in the near future. Waymo One will arrive in Austin and Atlanta by early 2025. Folks in the two cities will be able to take a ride in Waymos autonomous, electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles via the Uber app. Waymo employees in Austin are already using the service. The company will open up access to a limited number of public riders via the Waymo One app before moving the service to Uber early next year. The Atlanta public can start taking rides in the robotaxis in early 2025, and the companies plan to gradually expand Waymo One in that city. The Austin operations have been a long time coming. Waymo first revealed plans to expand to the Texas state capital back in 2023, and it initially planned to do so that fall. Waymo One riders currently take more than 100,000 trips each week across San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles. Waymo said in May it was facilitating 50,000 paid trips every week.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/waymo-and-uber-are-bringing-their-robotaxi-service-to-austin-and-atlanta-by-early-2025-154417860.html?src=rss
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Anker's 3-in-1 MagSafe foldable charging station has dropped to $88, which is a record low price. We haven't seen it go this low since Amazon Prime Day. This is a discount of 20 percent. As the name suggests, this is a 3-in-1 charging station that can simultaneously accommodate an iPhone, an Apple Watch and AirPods. It boasts 15W charging and is Qi2-certified, so you can expect things to move quickly. For instance, the company says it can get an Apple Watch Series 9 to 47 percent in just 30 minutes. Its easy to see why this thing made our list of the best Apple Watch accessories. Its actually quite portable for a charging station. It only weighs 6.9 ounces and the whole thing folds up to around the size of a deck of cards. It also ships with the chargers cable and a 40W power brick, so youll have everything you need to get those top charging speeds without having to splurge on anything extra. While this is a great charger, especially for frequent travelers, the price has long been a sticking point for many. Its tough to recommend any accessory like this at more than $100. The sale price of $88 makes things a bit more palatable. October Prime Day 2024 is around the corner, serving as Amazons (un)official kickoff to the holiday shopping season. If youre eager to snag some early holiday deals for those on your list (or yourself), heres what we know so far about the next Prime Day shopping event. When is October Prime Day 2024? Amazon has not announced the dates of fall Prime Day 2024 yet, but we do know it will be returning sometime in October. What is October Prime Day? October Prime Day is an extension of the regular Prime Day sale held annually in July. It features exclusive deals on Amazon for Prime members, although not quite on as big of a scale as the main summer Prime Day. How long is October Prime Day? In years past, October Prime Day has been two days long, just like Prime Day in July.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/ankers-3-in-1-magsafe-foldable-charging-station-drops-back-down-to-its-prime-day-price-151850336.html?src=rss
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