Stranger Things 2 has finally arrived and it's time to celebrate. How do you properly mark such an occasion, though? A new collection of Funko Pop figures based on the series, of course. The toy company has released images from their third wave of vinyl figures from the Netflix series.
The new figures are all pulled directly from Season 2 of Stranger Things, embracing the Halloween spirit of the new episodes. The collection features Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Will (Noah Schnapp) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) in their Ghostbusters costumes from the new season, complete with proton packs, bags of candy, and a ghost trap for Dustin. Joining them is a new version of Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), with an updated look.
Will's mom Joyce (Winona Ryder) and new kid in school Max (Sadie Sink), a character introduced in Stranger Things 2, round out the new wave. As with many Funko collections, there's also a rarity included with these new figures. An alternate version of Max, complete with the Michael Myers costume she wears trick-or-treating in the new season, are available exclusively at Hot Topic.
The new wave of Stranger Things Funko Pop figures are out now. Their arrival comes on the heels of several exciting Pop announcements, including new figures from the James Bond franchise, WWE, and DuckTales, just to name a few.
For more Stranger Things coverage, check out GameSpot's hub for the streaming series, where you can find episode reviews, videos, theories, and more. Stranger Things 2 is available on Netflix now.
Spoilers for Stranger Things 2, up through Episode 5, "Dig Dug," below
Will's possession by the Shadow Monster just took an interesting turn: Based on where Stranger Things Season 2, Episode 5 concluded, Will is now physically connected to whatever is spreading through those tunnels. What was it Mr. Clarke the science teacher was saying about organisms' response to fear again?
If the spooks can't torch the Upside Down vines without hurting Will, that might explain why the Shadow Monster needed to possess him in the first place. Dr. Owens told Nancy and Jonathan that although he can't undo his predecessors' mistake, he can stop its spread. With that possibility neutered, the Monster will be free to do whatever it is he's trying to do--unless they can get him out of Will in time.
"Dig Dug" delivered exactly the kind of plot momentum Stranger Things 2 needed after a relatively slow first half. It hasn't fixed the season's other big foible--a weak set of new characters--but it just might have provided the catalyst that will send the show hurtling forward in the season's second half.
Episode 5 also injected a little more levity, mostly in the form of goofy Bob the Brain, who had more to do in this episode than he has since he was introduced at the start of Season 2. Sean Astin's face when he recognized the lake's shape in Will's puzzle-map was priceless.
Dustin's pleas for help--and his shutdown at the hands of Lucas's little sister--provided some lighter moments too, even if they happened while Dustin was scrubbing his cat's blood from his bedroom carpet. This episode was full of cute moments like that, from Lucas asking his dad for girl advice to Dustin trying to reassure his mom about the cat. (I'll say it again: poor Mr. Mews.)
But the most important development in "Dig Dug" was Eleven's unexpectedly easy reunion with her mother. It felt a little convenient, but on the other hand we likely haven't come close to seeing the limits of Eleven's psychic powers, so why shouldn't it be that simple?
Thankfully Stranger Things Season 2 hasn't persisted with too many flashbacks, but the one Eleven's mother showed her was worth the time, even if we could have easily guessed at what happened there. Dr. Brenner stole Eleven as a baby, her mother tried to get her back, and they gave her an electric lobotomy to make sure it wouldn't happen again.
And Eleven is finally on the path to potentially meet up with her counterpart from the first episode. The show's taken a long time getting here, given that Kali provided the explosive opener for the entire season. That's built up the anticipation, so hopefully their meeting is worth it.
At the same time, there's bound to be some fallout from the events of this episode. The tapestry of secrets on which everyone's continued safety seems to depend is coming unraveled, whether in Lucas's failed attempt to explain it to Max, or Nancy and Jonathan's divulgence of basically the entire story. And Hopper, Joyce, Bob, Mike, and Will are now in the government's hands.
We're five episodes in, and Dr. Owens still hasn't revealed a darker side. Maybe he's really what he seems to be--a charming, well-meaning scientist trying to make up for his predecessors' mistakes--which would make his outing at Nancy and Jonathan's hands a little bittersweet. Or maybe he'll show his true colors with five of our favorite characters in his clutches, and the secrets he's worked hard to keep seeping out around him like poison into soil.
No matter what, it's Eleven's search for a real home that's slowly turning into the most poignant arc of the season. Yes, she escaped easily from the Upside Down after Season 1's finale, but she didn't crawl out into comfort. Whether in the woods fighting to survive the winter, or trapped in Hopper's cabin like a prison of boredom, Eleven hasn't felt at home--maybe ever. If she thought she'd find a home with her mother, she was sadly mistaken, as her mother's in no state for a real reunion.
Will she find a home with Kali and the weird gang we glimpsed in Season 2's premiere? Onto the next one we go.
Best reference or easter egg:
Hopper made a mad dash for his hat as the spooks pulled him to safety at the end of the episode, mirroring a similar moment in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Wonder how Indiana Jones would have dealt with the Upside Down?
Head back to our Stranger Things 2 hub for more episode reviews, theories, references, easter eggs, and more!
Stranger Things Season 2, which is officially dubbed Stranger Things 2, has finally arrived. It's now available to stream on Netflix, and as is typically the case with its original series, the entirety of the season has been released at the same time.
The much-anticipated season is a bit longer than the first, as it consists of nine episodes (up from eight). The choice to avoid the word "Season" was a deliberate decision on the part of creators Matt and Ross Duffer, who have shared that Netflix was originally hesitant about the idea. "When we started describing it as a sequel, Netflix was like, 'Don't do that, because sequels are known to be bad,'" said Matt. "I was like, 'Yes, but what about T2 and Aliens and Toy Story 2 and Godfather II?'"
Ahead of the second season's release, it's already been confirmed that Stranger Things will return for Season 3. The Duffers had previously suggested Season 4 would be the show's last, but director Shawn Levy has gone on to say a fifth season could happen. "Hearts were heard breaking in Netflix headquarters when the brothers made four seasons sound like an official end, and I was suddenly getting phone calls from our actors' agents," he said. "The truth is we're definitely going four seasons and there's very much the possibility of a fifth. Beyond that, it becomes I think very unlikely."
Grand Theft Auto V's latest update is a big one, with lots to offer players on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. To celebrate the game's 4th anniversary, Rockstar is offering discounts on tons of properties and vehicles, holding a big giveaway, and introducing a "nightmarish" new Adversary Mode right in time for Halloween.
Condemned mode marks one GTA Online player for imminent death. You die when the time runs out, unless you can "pass the bad news" onto somebody else by killing them. It's a last man standing competition, with double GTA$ and RP at stake until November 6.
You can also earn double GTA$ and RP on Smuggler's Sell Missions and, to celebrate the game's milestone, Rockstar is giving away GTA$400,000 to any player who logs into GTA Online from now until November 6. Those players will receive the payout in their Maze Bank account sometime between November 6 and November 13.
As always, the update also introduces a new vehicle. This time, it's the Vigilante, equipped with rocket propulsion technology and front-mounted machine guns (with room for a missile upgrade). You can put the Vigilante to the test in the new Transform Race Inferno, and earn double payouts of GTA$ and RP as all Transform Races offer the bonuses until October 30.
There are tons of deals on for a limited time. Up until October 30, you can get 30% off a whole bunch of properties and vehicles. Check out the full list above and below, and for more details you can visit GTA V's website.
You'll collect a whole load of gold coins in Super Mario Odyssey, and although the game uses these instead of lives when you die, they're primarily used to purchase goodies at stores. Spread out throughout Mario Odyssey's many worlds are shops where you can buy top-ups for hearts, Power Moons, and--most importantly--costumes!
The various outfits available for Mario range from cosplay-style cowboy, diver, or racer outfits, to some nostalgic classic costumes that will make fans of Mario and Nintendo jump for joy. We've put together a nice little fashion parade of all the costumes we've found so far, so take a look at the video above to see everything you can dress everyone's favourite little plumber in. Certain Amiibo figures unlock Mario Odyssey costumes, but you'll still be able to get your hands on everything in-game without scanning any.
Of course, those that want to see all Mario Odyssey's costumes themselves should think twice about watching, as it's spoilerrifc. You can also check out Super Mario Odyssey review, and for even more Super Mario Odyssey related content, take a look at the list below.
Microsoft's Major Nelson has announced this week's lineup of Xbox One deals, and while the lineup is not all that extensive, there are some solid offers to be had. We also now know what Games With Gold titles that November will bring, if you'd prefer something free.
Microsoft is less than two weeks away from launching its newest game console, Xbox One X. The impending release of a new system tends to put a damper on sales of existing ones, and that appears to be the case with Xbox One, based on Microsoft's latest earnings report.
The company today reported its financials for the quarter that ended on September 30, 2017. During that period, gaming revenue was $1.896 billion, up 1% from where it was during the same period a year ago. That's due in large part to software and services revenue, which was up 21% thanks to "a higher volume of Xbox Live transactions," though that was offset by "a decline in revenue per transaction." Xbox Live monthly active users grew 13% to 53 million; that figure counts anyone who has logged in on Xbox One, Xbox 360, or PC in the last 30 days.
Hardware specifically saw a big decline, as revenue was down 48% year-over-year. Microsoft said that was because it sold fewer units, which were themselves sold at a lower price. The company is undoubtedly hoping to turn that around with the Xbox One X, which carries a premium price tag of $500/£450. That said, Xbox boss Phil Spencer has already acknowledged that Xbox One X is not for everyone and is not going to outsell the cheaper Xbox One S.
During a post-earnings conference call, CEO Satya Nadella referenced the upcoming launch of Xbox One X and echoed what Phil Spencer recently told us. Put simply, Microsoft believes success in gaming involves more than just Xbox One sales. That involves bringing more people to Microsoft and Xbox Live platforms and experiences, with Nadella saying this will require "fundamentally rethinking" how progress in gaming is considered.
Microsoft's More Personal Computing division, of which the gaming business is a part, brought in revenue of $9.4 billion, in line with where it was a year ago. The company overall saw revenue increase by 12% to $24.5 billion, while operating income was $7.7 billion, up 15%.
Following a recent TwitchCon panel during which Bungie outlined how Destiny 2's seasons will work, Bungie has now provided another overview of the changes coming to the game. It also provided a peek at some of the new gear rewards on the way.
Alongside a preview of next week's Destiny 2 patch, Bungie provided a high-level outline of the areas it's looking to improve. The studio has handed the game off from its main development team to the Live Team, which, as was the case with the first Destiny, is responsible for sustaining the game post-launch. That includes the introduction of private Crucible matches, improved rewards for Prestige activities, and changes to mods.
In a post on Bungie's website, Destiny 2 game director Christopher Barrett stated, "We've been playing the game in the wild for seven weeks, and like the Destiny experiences that have come before, we're always thinking about where the game is heading next. We're still planning when a bunch of the improvements listed below are going to make their way into the game, but we wanted to let you know what we're up to." The note was accompanied by the following list that highlights what Bungie is focused on:
New systems and rewards to give our most engaged players additional, optional pursuits.
Better incentives for players who complete challenging Prestige activities.
Better rewards and replay value for strikes, adventures, and Lost Sectors.
Private matches for the competitive community (we are targeting early 2018).
Crucible tuning like adjusted Supremacy scoring and better spawning rules.
Better incentives for completing Crucible matches (and penalties for quitting competitive games).
Continued improvements to Iron Banner and Faction Rallies, including uniqueness of rewards.
Changes to make the mod economy more interesting and impactful.
Ongoing improvements to Exotics, including adjustments to reduce instances of duplication.
New ways to spend surplus currency and materials (looking at you Legendary Shards).
An emote interface that allows players to equip Salty, Spicy Ramen, Six Shooter, and Flip Out all at the same time.
Outside of private matches, no time table for any of this was shared; next week's update will deal with fixing bugs, rather than introducing new content. We do know that, in addition to the return of Iron Banner and Faction Rallies, The Dawning will make its return from Destiny 1. However, there won't be a Halloween event, as Festival of the Lost won't appear until at least next year.
Another update is on the way for Destiny 2, and it's slated to arrive next week. A specific release date has not been announced yet, but Bungie has provided an early look at the patch notes to provide players with some idea of what to expect.
Update 1.0.6 will resolve the problems with the Bureaucratic Walk emote, which allowed players to glitch into areas they were not meant to reach. This issue was serious enough that the emote was pulled from sale and Trials was canceled for two weeks. The update also provides a fix for players who found themselves alone more often than intended. Specifically, Bungie says it has addressed an issue where players would "encounter empty public spaces too often in free roam."
The remainder of the patch notes deal with Crucible. The mercy rule has been expanded and can now be activated with a wider range of scores. In Clash, the score limit has been reduced to 50 (from 75), while Control's has been reduced to 90 (from 100). Additionally, zones held by the enemy in Control will have less of an impact on spawning.
You can get a full look at the patch notes Bungie provided below; there will be more included than just this in the full update. Right now, the developer only says that it will release "early next week." There's no word if this will be accompanied by server downtime, but that seems likely. Bungie has also outlined what's next for Destiny 2.
Destiny 2 Update 1.0.6 Patch Notes Preview
General
Fixed an issue with collision detection on the Bureaucratic Walk emote
Fixed an issue causing players to encounter empty public spaces too often in free roam
Crucible
Updated Mercy Rule settings to allow Mercy to activate slightly later in the match, allowing a wider range of scores to trigger it.
Clash
Reduced score limit to 50 (was 75)
Control
Reduced score limit to 90 (was 100)
Reduced influence that enemy-controlled zones exert over the spawning system
Survival
Reduced round time limit to 2 minutes (down from 3)
Reduced life count to 6 (down from 8)
Supremacy
Increased score-to-win to 70 (up from 50)
We now grant one point for defeating an enemy Guardian
Adjusted the influence that enemy crests have on the spawning system
BioWare today shared some new details about the next Mass Effect novel. As previously announced, it's called Mass Effect: Annihilation, and it "chronicles the journey of the Keelah Si'yah as it carries 20,000 drell, elcor, batarian, and quarian colonists to Andromeda." The status of the Keelah Si'yah is an important matter in Andromeda; it did not leave at the same time as the other arks, which explains the absence of the species aboard.
The description of the book continues, "A pathogen is discovered aboard the ark after many drell are found dead in their cryo pods. As the pathogen jumps species, the ship's systems begin to fail, making it clear this is no accident."
Annihilation is the first Mass Effect book to be written by Catherynne M. Valente, whose previous work includes The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making and The Orphan's Tales series. Annihilation was previously scheduled to launch this summer and was to be followed by a third book, Mass Effect: Initiation. It's now instead slated for release in the US, UK, and Canada on June 26, 2018 (August 28, 2018 in Australia).
Since the beta and leading up to launch, we kept hearing about how well Destiny 2 runs on PC. Now we have the full release of the game and have been playing plenty of it, so it's a chance to get the final word on how it performs on PC with different video cards. Here, we provide some benchmark numbers and give tips on how to boost framerate.
Graphics Settings Explained
Before we get into actual performance metrics, let's run through some of the important graphics settings in the options menu. We evaluated many of these during the beta period, but things have slightly changed since.
Field of View (FOV) will widen your viewing angle, allowing you to see more in your peripheral vision. We recommend going with the max at 105, as we did with all our tests. This does affect framerate, since more of the game world is rendered on screen at once.
We have two Anti-aliasing options; FXAA tends to make the overall image a little blurry and less effective in getting rid of jaggies, as opposed to SMAA which does a better job, but taxes your machine a bit more. In addition, Render Resolution (supersampling) provides the cleanest overall image, but it'll significantly impact performance when set to high percentages. You should only use this if you have plenty of FPS to spare.
Texture Anisotropy (anisotropic filtering) makes textures and surfaces seen at an angle and at a distance more detailed. It hardly impacts framerate, so we recommend setting this to 16x.
Screen Space Ambient Occlusion darkens areas that should be blocked from light sources to add a richer look to the game. HDAO does a fine job adding depth to the image in exchange for a few FPS, while 3D takes this a step further it'll cost additional FPS.
Texture Quality should be set to Highest since it won't impact performance as long as you have enough video memory on your graphics card. The menu shows a bar to see how much VRAM is being consumed, so you'll know.
Shadow Quality affects the resolution at which shadows from the sun and spotlights are rendered. This will noticeably affect framerate the higher it's set. While Foliage Shadow Distance doesn't affect performance all that much, Foliage Detail Distance is a big ticket item if you need higher framerates.
Wind Impulse is a neat effect that makes foliage react realistically to the action in game and it doesn't really impact FPS. Light Shafts affects the quality of ray casting through the environment, but doesn't ask much of your system if it's turned up.
Methodology
Destiny 2 doesn't allow you to use third-party performance monitoring applications, which means we couldn't use FRAPS to read our framerates. An in-game benchmark tool is also absent, though we do get a built-in FPS counter. By going off of that, we were able to track FPS at any given moment during a sequence we repeated to get our results.
We went to Earth's European Dead Zone (EDZ) but got away from the Trostland church outpost to make sure we had a controlled environment. We walked down the path to the Outskirts where the scenery opens up and pushes a system's ability to render Destiny's 2 vast environments. We then got in a quick firefight with some dregs to capture some action. And we monitored the framerate throughout this sequence.
The system we used had an Intel Core i7-6700K CPU at 4.2GHz and 16 GB of RAM. We tested Destiny 2 with three resolutions using the latest video cards from Nvidia and AMD that best fit each resolution:
Nvidia cards were tested using version 388.00 of the GeForce driver and AMD cards were tested with version 17.10.2 of the Radeon ReLive software.
Benchmark Results
4K
Let's start with our 4K tests. It was ideal to test 4K with everything maxed out on one card; the GTX 1080 Ti. And based on our test sequence, the card produced 51 to 60 FPS.
For a more reasonable 4K scenario, we tweaked the settings and used HDAO, Shadow Quality on High, and turned off anti-aliasing. We saw a noticeable boost as the GTX 1080 Ti produced 70 to 96 FPS. The GTX 1080 was able to maintain frame rates between 58 and 79 FPS, and AMD's RX Vega 64 gave us 54 to 73 FPS.
Video Card
Settings
FPS Range
GTX 1080 Ti
4K, Max
51 - 60
GTX 1080 Ti
4K, High
70 - 76
GTX 1080
4K, High
58 - 79
RX Vega 64
4K, High
54 - 73
1440p
For our tests at 2560x1440 we pitted the GTX 1070 and RX Vega 56 against each other. With every setting maxed, the 1070 produced between 60 and 88 FPS, while the Vega 56 managed 54 to 77 FPS.
Bringing things down a bit by using HDAO and High shadows, the GTX 1070 improved to 69 to 95 FPS, and the Vega 56 bumped up to 61 to 87 FPS.
Video Card
Settings
FPS Range
GTX 1070
1440p, Max
60 - 88
GTX 1070
1440p, High
54 - 77
RX Vega 56
1440p, Max
69 - 95
RX Vega 56
1440p, High
61 - 87
1080p
I know we've been throwing around a lot of numbers, but hang in there, we're almost done. For our 1080p max test, we matched the GTX 1060 and RX 580. They're pretty much neck-and-neck; Nvidia's card gave us 65 to 92 FPS and AMD's card put out 64 to 89 FPS.
By turning settings down to High and using HDAO, we can get great framerates on budget level cards. We threw in the GTX 1060 again and got between 76 and 101 FPS. But the cheaper RX 570 yielded 63 to 90 FPS, and the even cheaper GTX 1050 Ti netted 50 to 72 FPS.
Video Card
Settings
FPS Range
GTX 1060
1080p, Max
65 - 92
GTX 1060
1080p, High
76 - 101
RX 580
1080p, Max
64 - 89
RX 570
1080p, High
63 - 90
GTX 1050 Ti
1080p, High
50 - 72
Tips To Boost Performance
By doing tests on both Highest and High settings, we see how much of a boost in FPS you can get from some simple tweaks. However, there are four important options to turn down when looking for better framerates:
Ambient Occlusion: Using HDAO instead of 3D adds approximately 8% more FPS.
Shadow Quality: Using High shadow settings gives about 8% more FPS, and Medium about 14% compared to Highest.
Foliage Detail Distance: Using Medium boost FPS by about 5% compared to High. Low adds around 12% FPS compared to High.
Depth of Field: Compared to Highest, High adds about 5% more FPS and Low adds about 9% FPS.
Turning FOV down from 105 to 95 also boosts FPS by about 4%, but we recommend testing this out to see if the narrower viewing angle is a worthy trade-off to you. Every other graphics option is pretty much icing on the cake. Taking these down a notch contributed significantly to getting better performance in our tests. So look to these settings if your system is struggling.
Be sure to check out our wealth of guides and walkthroughs for the game if you're just getting started. And read or watch our full review of Destiny 2 if you're still deciding on whether or not to jump in.
Those in the market for a new GPU for their PC will have a new Pascal option to choose from in just a week. Nvidia has confirmed the release date for the GTX 1070 Ti, which is due out on November 2.
The 1070 Ti is positioned between two of Nvidia's existing high-end video cards, the GTX 1070 and 1080. It features 2,432 cores and 8 GB of video memory running at 8 Gbps (meaning its total bandwidth is 256 GB per second). Nvidia claims it doubles the performance of the GTX 970 and is well-suited to overclocking. The company provides some relative performance comparisons on its website, but those don't provide a ton of detail.
Pre-orders are now open for the 1070 Ti, which will retail for $450 in the US. Numerous manufacturers will offer Ti-based cards, including Asus, EVGA, Gigabyte, MSI, and PNY. As with previous cards, Nvidia is offering its own Founder's Edition through its online store. There's a limit of two per customer, and if you're crazy enough to pick up a pair, you can also grab an SLI bridge from there for $40.
Microsoft's new Netflix-style subscription service, Xbox Game Pass, is now available. For $10/month, subscribers can play more than 100 Xbox One and Xbox 360 games (via backwards compatibility) on Xbox One as much as they want for as long as the title is available. The catalog will be refreshed on a monthly basis as a small number games are added and others removed.
Microsoft says it aims to stock the Xbox Game Pass library with titles across a number of popular genres, including action, adventure, shooter, puzzle, strategy, and RPG.
Current Xbox Game Pass Titles
Xbox One
10 Second Ninja X [added September 1]
Bard's Gold
Blood Bowl 2
The Book of Unwritten Tales 2
The Bridge [added September 1]
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
The Bug Butcher [added October 1]
Costume Quest 2 [added October 1]
D4: Darks Dreams Don't Die
Dead Island: Definitive Edition
Dead Rising 3
Defense Grid 2
Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition
Dirt Rally
Electronic Super Joy
F1 2015
Farming Simulator 15
The Flame in the Flood
Gears of War: Ultimate Edition
Guacamelee: Super Turbo Championship Edition
The Golf Club
Halo 5: Guardians
Halo: Spartan Assault
Halo Wars: Definitive Edition (coming November 1)
Hue [added September 1]
IDARB
JumpJet Rex
Knight Squad
Kyub
Layers of Fear
Limbo
Lumo
Mad Max
Maldita Castilla EX: Cursed Castle [added October 1]
Massive Chalice
Max: The Curse of Brotherhood
Mega Coin Squad
Mega Man Legacy Collection
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (coming November 1)
Metro: Last Light Redux [added September 1]
NBA 2K16
Oddworld: New 'N' Tasty (coming November 1)
OlliOlli
Payday 2: Crimewave Edition
Pharaonic
Pumped BMX+
ReCore: Definitive Edition [added August 29]
Resident Evil HD (coming November 1)
Resident Evil 0
Resident Evil 6
Roundabout
Saints Row IV: Re-elected
Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell [added October 1]
ScreamRide
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse
Sky Force Anniversary (coming November 1)
So Many Me
State of Decay: Year One [added October 1]
Steredenn
Strider
Sunset Overdrive
Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings
Super Time Force
The Swapper
Terraria
Tower of Guns [added October 1]
Ultratron
The World of Van Helsing: Deathtrap (coming November 1)
A recent leak provided us with possible dates for the next three holiday sales on Steam. The first of these has proven to be accurate, as the Steam Halloween sale has officially begun this week, offering discounts on a variety of titles that Valve deems "horror games."
But as was the case last year, many of the titles on sale are not what you might consider horror games--they just have zombies or some kinds of spooky elements. Notable not-horror games on sale include Inside for $10/£7.49, Dead Rising 4 for $36/£24, Night in the Woods for $16.66/£12.59, Friday the 13th: The Game for $20/£15, Prey for $30/£22.49, and Danganronpa: Ultra Despair Girls for $21/£16. You'll also find horror movies on sale, but again, some fit that description (Saw: The Complete Collection for $39/£27) better than others (RiffTrax's wonderful take on House on Haunted Hill for $6/£4.31).
This sale runs from now until November 1 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM BST; you can see everything included here. If the aforementioned leaked list continues to prove accurate, Steam's Black Friday sale will begin on November 22 and will be followed by the Winter sale on December 21. If you're looking to celebrate the upcoming holiday, check out our roundup of Halloween in-game events and updates.
The Xbox Game Pass catalog is expanding once again. Microsoft has announced seven more games are coming to Xbox One's Netflix-style subscription service next month, which players will soon be able to download and play for as long as they have an active subscription.
The seven titles will be available on Xbox Game Pass beginning November 1. Subscribers will be able to play everything in the Game Pass catalog; like Netflix or Sony's PlayStation Now service, Xbox Game Pass gives subscribers unlimited access to its full library of titles, though the games are downloaded rather than streamed.
After a year off, the Assassin's Creed series makes its anticipated return with today's release of Assassin's Creed Origins. This installment in Ubisoft's popular stealth-action series plays a bit differently than previous titles, however.
On top of its new Egyptian setting, Origins makes many notable changes to the franchise. Not only has the combat system been overhauled, placing a much greater emphasis on dynamic strikes and parrying, the game introduces new open areas to explore and some RPG elements like experience and levels.
While Origins does a good job of teaching you the nuances of its new systems, there are a few things you might miss when you first start the game. In the video above, we take a look at seven essential tips to keep in mind when playing Assassin's Creed Origins.
Xbox VP Mike Ybarra announced the forthcoming feature via Twitter today, noting it will be available to Xbox Insider members in Preview at some point today. As for the rest of us, all we know is that it will come "soon."
The process seems fairly straightforward. Go to the Store tab as usual, click on "Buy as Gift," choose a friend to send it to, and like magic, a code for the game you've purchased for them will pop up in their Xbox messages.
Gifting digital titles isn't a new idea. This sort of feature has already be available on PC platforms like Steam and Origin for some time. But what's interesting is that it's never been available for Xbox or PlayStation. Only time will tell if the Nintendo Switch will jump on board with this as well.
While we still don't have a public launch date on the gifting feature, we can only hope it comes in time for the holidays. There are few better ways to surprise the gamer in your life, while simultaneously avoiding lines and shipping fees. For more Xbox news, make sure to check out the latest system update and the 13 original Xbox titles now available for backwards compatibility.
It was a big week in general for new games, but today's the biggest of the week, month, and perhaps the entire year. New entries in three major franchises have all released on the same day, and unfortunately for your wallet and spare time, you might want to play them all.
In GameSpot's Super Mario Odyssey review, Peter Brown gave the game his gold seal of approval, awarding it a 10/10 for its effortless cycling through new worlds and enemies, unique gameplay ideas, and the sheer joy of controlling Mario.
"[Odyssey's] collection of open-world Kingdoms is varied and broad, and sometimes clearly inspired by Super Mario 64. Though it isn't necessarily a groundbreaking game like its ancestor, which redefined expectations for 3D games at large, Odyssey outpaces it at every turn. Its environments are bigger and some of the most interesting ever seen in a Mario game--just wait until you lay eyes on Bowser's elaborate fortress. All the extra space is invaluable, as the dense layouts of challenges and rewards justifies every building and landmass you encounter," he wrote.
We've collected a variety of other reviews and put them below. Take a look and you'll get a broader sense of how it is being received, and for more a much wider look at what critics have to say, be sure to check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
"Odyssey is sustained beyond its major milestones not only through colorful worlds and hidden challenges, but through the sheer joy of controlling Mario, who's never felt more responsive or dynamic in action. Even with everything new that's been introduced, Nintendo's forward-thinking platformer retains the series' classic handcrafted appeal, which is even more impressive when you realize how densely packed each kingdom is. Mario's latest outing is big, bold, and bursting with new ideas, and like Breath of the Wild, is another instance of Nintendo going above and beyond to redefine our expectations. It's a shining example of refined creativity, and another crown jewel for Switch that is without equal." -- Peter Brown [Full review]
CNET
"Super Mario Odyssey marks a major milestone in Mario's legacy. This will likely be the game his future endeavors get measured against. It's an absolute no-brainer to buy for anyone with a Switch. And if you've been waiting on Odyssey as a validation for a console purchase, I'm here to tell you the time is now." -- Jeff Bakalar [Full review]
Giant Bomb -- 5/5
"Unlike Breath of the Wild, this is not a complete reinvention of what an iconic Nintendo franchise is capable of. Super Mario Odyssey is very much a 3D Mario game with its roots set in Super Mario 64's exploration and sense of discovery. Its surprises are less about the overarching format and more about the nooks and crannies carved into each and every world. Each kingdom is absolutely packed with charm, clever objectives, gorgeous visuals, a stellar soundtrack, and a huge variety of ways to have fun. One moon would have me leaping across tiny platforms with pinpoint precision, and the next would have me cheering up a businessman by dressing like a clown. At no point did I feel like I was checking boxes just to up my completion percentage. Even now that I've collected every moon and purple coin in the game, I still want to play more of it. It's one of the most joyous and entertaining gaming experiences I've had in a long time, and it stands tall among the all-time great Mario games." -- Dan Ryckert [Full review]
IGN -- 10/10
"Mario's games have been around for almost as long as game consoles have been a thing, but thankfully, he's always evolving. We rarely get the same Mario twice. Super Mario Odyssey delivers on that ongoing promise of originality and innovation: It distills the venerable series' joyful, irreverent world and characters and best-in-class platforming action, and introduces a steady stream of new and unexpected mechanics. It's all spun together into a generational masterpiece." -- Ryan McCaffrey [Full review]
Polygon -- 9.5/10
"Super Mario Odyssey is almost certain to be counted among the best games in Nintendo's star series. For a character nearing 40 years old, it's amazing that Mario has remained not only a beloved character but one whose games are generally expected to be great. From that perspective, it's no surprise that Super Mario Odyssey is, yes, a great game. But more than that, it's a fantastic, even fundamental addition to Mario's legacy. From a plumber to a doctor to a tennis star to, uh, a Goomba, Mario has endured. No, this will not be the last Mario game, but it is almost certain to be lauded as one of his best." -- Philip Kollar and Allegra Frank [Full review]
Game Informer -- 9.75/10
"I was floored by the creativity accompanying most of Odyssey. A lot of iteration and thought clearly went into some of the secrets and platforming exercises. I enjoyed each challenge type except the Roving Races, on-foot sprints against Koopa Troopers where every second counts. I was irked by the racers walking through enemies and walls without penalty--almost appearing to be a bug or a cheap way of intensifying the competition in a game that is otherwise nearly flawless in its execution. Quibbles aside, Super Mario Odyssey is an absolute delight, and another Switch release that will have Nintendo fans debating which 3D Mario game is the best of them all. I still hang my hat on Super Mario Galaxy as the pinnacle of the series, but Odyssey and its wealth of gameplay styles and moons make it a close second." -- Andrew Reiner [Full review]
GamesRadar+ -- 5/5
"[T]he gripes are so small that it's easy to say Odyssey is the most glorious of Mario's adventures to date. And not to mention adorable. Have you seen all of his outfits? Nintendo's ability to jam secrets and side-quests into every pixel continues to astonish and means I'll be playing Super Mario Odyssey for many Moons to come." -- Sam Loveridge [Full review]
Eurogamer -- Essential
"[T]here is nothing like a new Super Mario to remind you that there is no other studio that can make games like this. Jump on a tomato in the Luncheon Kingdom and watch how it splats out into a sizzling hot pool of sauce; ride a Jaxi, a stone steed as fast as a rocket, and watch the way it scrabbles frantically at the ground as you try to rein in its boundless speed. Then release it--whee! The happy revelry that has gone into the making of this nonsensical world is infectious, while the return to the open design of Super Mario 64 has freed all that gleeful energy in a sloppily explosive burst. To many people, Mario is video games. To play Super Mario Odyssey is to remember why that is." -- Oli Welsh [Full review]
USGamer -- 5/5
"The Nintendo Switch isn't hurting for must-have titles, and Super Mario Odyssey is a proud addition to its library. Like Breath of the Wild before it, it takes you on a journey that's not short on cool sights, epic battles, and coy suggestions to 'see what's over there.' Pack a suitcase and get on board; there's so very much to do." -- Nadia Oxford [Full review]
Assassin's Creed Origins is about to release, and Ubisoft has unveiled the official launch trailer. It gives players a sneak peek at the game's action and its story, which tells the tale of the beginning of the Assassin Brotherhood. Check it out in the video above, and then read GameSpot's full Assassin's Creed Origins review to see what it gets right, and what it doesn't.
The trailer, called Legend of The Assassin, introduces Bayek, a warrior in Ancient Egypt whose struggle against the corrupt forces of the time leads him towards becoming the first Assassin. Unlike other games in the series, which always advanced the story forward in time, Origins is a prequel to those that came before it. There's a lot to the plot and lore of the franchise's universe, so if you haven't played the previous games or just need a refresher, check out GameSpot's recap of the Assassin's Creed story so far.
The trailer showcases a lot of the action and beautiful cinematic cutscenes in Origins, too. Players can expect more of the series' trademark parkour-inspired adventure and fight sequences but, unlike previous Assassin's Creed games, Origins adds RPG elements to its open-world gameplay. You'll level up your abilities in a skill tree, which will increase your hit points, damage, and abilities over time.
Assassin's Creed Origins releases October 27 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. When the system launches on November 7, it will also be available for Xbox One X, rendering in beautiful 4K for those with 4K displays and offering enhanced "architectural models, vegetation, rocks and display[s] them at longer Draw Distances in dense environments like the grand cities of Alexandria and Memphis," according to developer Ubisoft.
Spoilers for Stranger Things 2, up through Episode 4, "Will the Wise," below
The effects of Will's encounter with the Shadow Monster were less immediate than one might have thought from watching the giant smoke-spider violently invade his body at the end of Stranger Things Season 2, Episode 3. That's a symptom of this season of Stranger Things' larger ailment up to now: It's slowed down considerably since its blast of an opener.
Granted, at Season 2, Episode 4, "Will the Wise," we're just shy of halfway done. But where Stranger Things Season 1 had a desperate urgency in every episode past the series premiere, Season 2 is a much slower burn. There's no single catalyst driving its various plots and subplots forward, like Will's disappearance in Season 1. In turn, there's less of an impetus to keep watching--that "just one more" fishhook that sinks deep into our brains with the best the age of streaming has to offer.
In other ways, Stranger Things Season 2's more deliberate pacing can be a strength, as it gives the show room to breathe and develop things more fully. The Shadow Monster's effects on Will are growing, and the visions he's seeing now may only be a precursor to what's coming. They may also prove useful, especially as Hopper puts spade to soil and leaps down into the tunnels.
Something down there is "growing, spreading, and killing," according to Will. Hopefully it doesn't get Hopper, although the show is hinting at the possibility. Halfway feels early for a major character death, but who knows? Either way, Stranger Things 2 gets extra points for its creative use of certain sets, especially the Byers house, which once again seems in danger of being totally trashed.
In psychic brat land, Eleven's foray into the wider world unfortunately didn't last long, and in "Will the Wise" she found herself back in the cabin once more. It's great that Stranger Things is building anticipation toward her reunion with the rest of the cast, but by now her cabin fever is getting contagious--I'm starting to feel it too. Unless they're really going to drag it out until the very end, it's time to get her back into the main story.
Unfortunately, that's looking less and less likely. Comparing Hopper to Dr. Brenner--"Papa"--did nothing for her relationship with her makeshift guardian, and their paths are clearly diverging. Hers is taking her toward her mother, and his is taking him underground, possibly to a gruesome death by Demogorgon or worse.
By the way, wasn't the camera slowly spinning upside-down as he lowered himself into the tunnel a fantastic touch?
Elsewhere, Dustin continues to act incredibly stupid with his "pet." The rest of the kids are convinced that finding d'Artagnan might enable them to help Will--or at least provide some clues--but Dustin is being unrealistically stubborn. Not to mention, he's breaking the rules of friendship: "Friends don't lie." That's not working well for Hopper and Eleven, and it's not going to end well for "the party" either. Poor Mr. Mews.
One last complaint: The Billy and Max subplot has, so far, yielded nothing of substance. Steve vs. Billy is becoming the real rivalry of the season, but what purpose does Billy actually serve in the larger story? With zero character development, is he really just a pure villain? Dr. Brenner and his government spooks served that purpose last season, but they were actually sinister, not to mention relevant to the plot. Billy is just an a-hole.
And is he racist too? What's his issue with Lucas? "There are certain types of people in this world that you stay away from," he tells Max. "That kid is one of them." So, yeah. It seems like he's racist, too.
Sadie Sink is trying her best as Max, but the show is simply giving her nothing to work with. Given that we still know literally nothing about her, she seems to exist less as an actual character and more as a plot device to cause strife among the group.
Stranger Things Season 2 has spent an abundance of time setting certain things up--the poisoned pumpkins, Will's visions, Eleven's situation--with little payoff so far. In other ways it's totally failed at set-up, like the one-dimensional new characters Max and Billy, who both feel wedged into the story with inadequate context or characterization.
On the bright side, these waves have to start crashing soon. With Hopper underground, Will infected/possessed by the Shadow Monster, Eleven digging for answers, and Dustin forced to acknowledge that d'Artagnan is a monster, Stranger Things Season 2 might finally get moving again.
Oh, and Nancy and Jonathan were smarter than I gave them credit for. What can they accomplish with that recording? Hopefully we'll find out soon.
Best reference or easter egg:
The brief basketball face-off between Steve and Billy is straight out of an '80s cheese-fest high school sports drama. Loved it.
Head back to our Stranger Things 2 hub for more episode reviews, theories, references, easter eggs, and more!
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is the follow-up to 2014's The New Order. It once again centers around B.J. Blazkowicz and his struggle to overthrow the Nazi regime. This time around he's trying to set up a second American Revolution with the help of a militant group of resistance fighters.
With the game's release date set for October 27 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, we've compiled our most important features and gameplay videos detailing everything you need to know about Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. Check back often as we update this article with our in-depth review, additional articles, and videos.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus Review
In GameSpot's Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus review, we scored the game a 9/10. Kallie Plagge wrote: "The New Colossus never lets you forget who and why you're fighting. Nazi brutality is on full display, from the blown-out, irradiated remains of Manhattan to each of the resistance members, who all carry mental scars if not physical ones. You're never given a chance between cutscenes, missions, and even downtime on the U-boat to lose sight of the Reich's cruelty. Wolfenstein's tense gameplay elevates this further by giving you the power to truly resist--and come out of each battle ready for another fight."
Beginner's Guide
Wolfenstein II is a no-nonsense narrative-driven shooter. Between stealth, perks, dual wielding, and ax throwing, there's a lot to think about when entering a hostile environment. There's also plenty of collectables and activities to accomplish. To help you better your chances of survival, we've compiled 10 essential beginner's tips to follow.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus maintains the same action-heavy gunplay of its predecessor. The game features a variety of weapons, most of which can be dual-wielded. New this time around is a cover system to aid your approach in a firefight. For more of our impressions about the game and its provocative depiction of a Nazi-occupied America, check out the features below:
Every Cinematic Cutscene So Far--We collected every cutscene we have seen so far for Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus and put them all into one handy video for you. Be warned, this video is packed with spoilers.
Delivering A Nuke To Area 52 Gameplay--BJ Blazkowicz is back at it again! This time our well armed friend is fighting through a train to deliver a nuke to Area 52.
The third and final Injustice 2 character in Fighter Pack 2 is just a few weeks away from release. Hellboy, the biggest surprise character of the DLC additions so far, releases on November 21, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced today.
Coinciding with the news of when he's coming, WB shared a new gameplay trailer that showcases what Hellboy plays like. As you'd expect, he makes ample use of his gun, giant fist, and sassy attitude; the difference in attitude between him and Galactus, whom he fights for much of the video, is quite big. We also get a look at his Super; whereas many characters take to the sky for theirs, Hellboy and his unfortunate opponent head deeper into the Earth.
Even with Hellboy still a few weeks away, we already know who's next for Injustice 2: Atom. The character is due out in December and is the first of three coming as part of Fighter Pack 3.
Assassin's Creed Origins has finally arrived, and it makes some major changes to Ubisoft's popular stealth series. The most prominent is undoubtedly its new setting. For the first time, Origins takes the Assassin's Creed series to ancient Egypt during the time of Cleopatra, recounting the story of Bayek, the last Medjay, and the beginnings of the Assassin Brotherhood.
While the new setting has allowed the developers to introduce many new gameplay elements, from the ability to ride camels and slide down pyramids to vicious hippos and gladiator battles, it isn't merely window dressing for the adventure, but an integral component of the story. Even more so than previous installments, Assassin's Creed Origins is suffused with history, to the point that Ubisoft will release a combat-free Discovery mode next year that takes players on guided tours to better learn about ancient Egypt.
That mode, however, is still several months away. In the meantime, we've put together a historical primer on Assassin's Creed Origins. In the video above, we take a look at the historical events that serve as the backdrop for the game with the help of Assassin's Creed franchise historian Max Durand. Viewers should be advised that the video may contain some slight spoilers.
Assassin's Creed Origins is now available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. GameSpot critic Alessandro Fillari awarded it a 7/10 in our Assassin's Creed Origins review and said, "Assassin's Creed has undergone many changes in its long and storied history, and Origins feels like the first step in the start of a new journey. It has its fair share of problems, but the vision for its future is one worth pursuing." Before jumping into the game, be sure to check out our Assassin's Creed story recap, as well as our roundup of everything you need to know about Assassin's Creed Origins.
We're now well into October, and if you haven't already done so, there's a new batch of free PlayStation Plus games for this month to claim. Anyone who subscribes to Plus have a total of six games to download, spread evenly across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and Vita--although PS4 owners undoubtedly have the best selection.
October's highlight is undoubtedly the headlining PS4 game, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Its predecessor, Ground Zeroes, was offered previously, but The Phantom Pain is a far more substantial experience. While not the end of the Metal Gear series--there's still the upcoming Metal Gear Survive, at the very least--The Phantom Pain is the last game to feature the participation of Hideo Kojima, who created the franchise.
Additionally, PS4's freebies include one that's perfect with Halloween coming up. Amnesia Collection is also free; it's a compilation of two different horror games: Amnesia: The Dark Descent and Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs. An additional two games can be had for free on PS4 this month, thanks to Cross-Buy being supported by October's Vita games, Sky Force Anniversary and Hue. This month's offerings are rounded out by the two free PS3 games, Hustle Kings and Monster Jam Battlegrounds. PS3 owners also get access to Sky Force Anniversary, which actually supports three-way Cross-Buy.
Time has already run out for That's You, a freebie that has been around for a while now but exited the free rotation on October 24. Another free game, the PSVR title RIGS, will return to its regular price on November 7.
Finally, Plus members get into the closed beta for Hand of the Gods, Smite developer Hi-Rez Studios' new game. To help get started, Plus subscribers can download a DLC pack that includes various freebies to help them get started.
All of these freebies are up for download on the PlayStation Store right now. They can be claimed either through the respective systems or on the PSN website. You can expect November's batch of free PS Plus games to be announced soon.
Like that ex-partner that you know isn't good for you, but you meet up with again because maybe ... just maybe ... this time it could be different--Xur is back. This week Destiny 2's shadiest businessman is hanging out on Io, close to the Warmind Vault JS-2. For the uninitiated, Xur is a mysterious merchant who shows up each weekend to sell a random assortment of Exotic weapons and armor, which is the most desirable type of equipment in the game.
Again, Xur's spot this weekend is one of the few locations he routinely pops up in, so you'll no doubt remember how to get there. If you're struggling--or you're new to this, because you're playing on PC--you can watch the video above, in which we'll show you exactly how to navigate Io, slip past its enemies, and reach Xur unharmed. You can take a look at what he's got to offer below.
D.A.R.C.I. (Sniper Rifle): 29 Legendary Shards
Knuclehead Radar (Hunter Class Helmet): 23 Legendary Shards
Actium War Rig (Titan Class Chest): 23 Legendary Shards
Eye of Another World (Warlock Class Helmet): 23 Legendary Shards
During a TwitchCon panel Bungie outlined how Destiny 2's seasons will work and offered a peek at some of the new gear rewards on the way to the game. The list of upcoming highlights included "new systems and rewards to give our most engaged players additional, optional pursuits" and "better rewards and replay value for strikes, adventures, and Lost Sectors," among other things. You can check out the full list of Destiny 2's planned endgame changes here.
Despite all the other notable titles out this week, The New Colossus is not a game to miss. GameSpot critic Kallie Plagge awarded it a 9/10 in our Wolfenstein II: The New Order review and said, "[D]espite some heavy-handed moments that feel like missteps in its message, satisfying Nazi-killing action bolsters its completely bonkers storyline in a way that only Wolfenstein can achieve."
Other reviews have begun appearing online as well, and critics agree that Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is one of the best games in a year that has been packed with exceptional releases. We've collected a sample of other reviews below; for a wider look at what critics think of Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, be sure to visit GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
"The New Colossus never lets you forget who and why you're fighting. Nazi brutality is on full display, from the blown-out, irradiated remains of Manhattan to each of the resistance members, who all carry mental scars if not physical ones. You're never given a chance between cutscenes, missions, and even downtime on the U-boat to lose sight of the Reich's cruelty. Wolfenstein's tense gameplay elevates this further by giving you the power to truly resist--and come out of each battle ready for another fight." -- Kallie Plagge [Full review]
Polygon -- 9/10
"B.J. is comfortable killing thousands upon thousands of his enemies if they stand between him and a bit of peace. But killing isn't all that Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus offers. It's the rare first-person shooter that explores the first time its hero pulled a trigger; it's the rare first-person shooter that is comfortable connecting with the primal, untamed parts of your brain while celebrating just how f*****g good it feels to lay out a Nazi." -- Ben Kuchera [Full review]
US Gamer -- 4.5/5
"Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus builds on the first game, making for another superb linear first-person shooter campaign. It's an empowering journey that BJ goes on--rising from his near death experience from The New Order to be stronger than ever, befriending others who are just as tough and ready to take back what the Nazis stole from them: their country." -- Caty McCarthy [Full review]
Game Informer -- 9.75/10
"When I finished my playthrough, I sat watching the credits roll with a huge grin on my face, quite convinced I hadn't played a better first-person shooter in years. I'll keep coming back for a long time thanks to bountiful epilogue missions, plus an alternate-timeline playthrough that grants access to another side character, scenes, and weapons. But these things are just gravy. On its own merits the campaign is unbeatable, packed to the gills with unforgettable story moments and fantastic combat sequences. Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is a bold game that rages and soars, deftly balancing pulp sci-fi with deadly seriousness, and one that should not be missed by anyone interested in the power of storytelling in video games." -- Javy Gwaltney [Full review]
GamesRadar+ -- Review-in-Progress
"In all, I'm having a blast, but while Wolfenstein 2 has delivered some of the highest highs in modern FPS, so it has delivered a handful of real lows. It has also served up some of the most shocking moments too, getting creative with both characters and pacing in ways that few other games would dare to even think about. For this devil may care spirit, it deserves high praise. And for its commitment to creativity and doing things its own way it also deserves to be finished properly before I can deliver definitive comment on how this crazy, loveable, sickening, and hilarious shooter all ties together." -- Andy Hartup [Full impressions]
Super Mario Odyssey is the latest installment of Nintendo's tenured franchise starring the lovable Italian plumber. You once again control Mario as he works to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. But this time around, he has the help of a new hat sidekick named Cappy, who he can throw at certain objects or enemies to temporarily possess them and use their unique abilities.
With Super Mario Odyssey's release date set for October 27 on Nintendo Switch, we've compiled our most important features and gameplay videos detailing everything you need to know about the game. Check back often as we update this article with our in-depth review, guides, additional articles, and videos.
Review
In our Super Mario Odyssey review, Peter Brown scored the game a 10/10. He writes: "Odyssey is sustained beyond its major milestones not only through colorful worlds and hidden challenges, but through the sheer joy of controlling Mario, who's never felt more responsive or dynamic in action. Even with everything new that's been introduced, Nintendo's forward-thinking platformer retains the series' classic handcrafted appeal, which is even more impressive when you realize how densely packed each kingdom is. Mario's latest outing is big, bold, and bursting with new ideas, and like Breath of the Wild, is another instance of Nintendo going above and beyond to redefine our expectations. It's a shining example of refined creativity, and another crown jewel for Switch that is without equal." For more, check out our Super Mario Odyssey review roundup.
Features
As a 3D-style Mario game, the emphasis is on exploration in Super Mario Odyssey. The game sports a multitude of open sandbox environments to navigate, which are each packed with enemies and platforming challenges. For more about our impressions about the game thus far, check out the features below:
Assassin's Creed Origins is the latest entry in the long-running Assassin's Creed franchise. Unlike past games, which continually pushed the ancestor timeline forward, this entry is a prequel. Set in Egypt, you play as Bayek, a warrior whose struggle against the corrupt forces of the time leads him towards becoming the first Assassin.
With the game's release date set for October 27 on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, we've compiled our most important features and gameplay videos detailing everything you need to know about Assassin's Creed Origins. Check back often as we update this article with our in-depth review, guides, additional articles, and videos.
Review
In our Assassin's Creed Origins review, Alessandro Fillari scored the game a 7/10. He writes: "While Assassin's Creed Origins reaches great heights in this new setting, it routinely runs into issues that bog down the overall experience. Technical issues make for an inconsistent experience and its new gameplay pillars wobble under the weight of its systems. But despite this, the world of Origins remains fresh and exciting to explore, which is a testament to the remarkable setting and compelling story. Assassin's Creed has undergone many changes in its long and storied history, and Origins feels like the first step in the start of a new journey. It has its fair share of problems, but the vision for its future is one worth pursuing." For more, check out our Assassin's Creed Origins review roundup.
Features
Unlike its predecessors, Assassin's Creed Origins is an action-RPG; it sports a multi-faceted skill tree, damage hit points, and equipment with varying statistics. In addition, everything you do feeds into an overarching progression system that steadily improves your character's strength and abilities over time. For more about the game's mechanics and story, as well as our impressions of it thus far, check out the features below:
Netflix's lineup of new content for October 2017 has been announced, and it's a good month to subscribe if you're a fan of horror movies or Stranger Things. The list consists of all of the new movies, TV shows, and original series launching through the month, as well as everything that's leaving--most of which is already gone now that we're halfway through October.
With Halloween coming up, there are some scary movies to watch, like Cult of Chucky. Alternatively, you can watch something a bit lighter, with new comedies including Tommy Boy and Talladega Nights. If you're outside the US, you now have access to the early episodes of Riverdale: Season 2.
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