8bitdo put nostalgia to practical use with the SF30 Pro and SN30 Pro, two controllers that are modeled after those of the Super Famicom and Super Nintendo. By adding modern touches, these controllers make for fully functional gamepads for the Nintendo Switch. Both connect via Bluetooth and are also compatible with Windows PC, MacOS, Android, and Raspberry Pi devices.
One controller retails for $50 USD, but you get a fully featured gamepad; even though it's modeled after the SNES pad, you get two bumpers (L, R), two triggers (L2, R2), dual analog sticks that click downward, and the home and screenshot buttons you see on Switch controllers. The SF30 Pro and SN30 Pro have motion controls as well, which is extremely important for games like Super Mario Odyssey and Splatoon 2.
Pairing either controller is seamless for the Nintendo Switch, but you should note that it only connects wirelessly. Your PC need to be able to pick up Bluetooth in order to function, and it will be recognized as a Nintendo Pro Controller. However, it does sport a USB-C port to charge, and a USB-C-to-USB 2.0 cable comes in the package. Battery life is said to last up to 16 hours after charging for around two hours; with the SF30 Pro fully charged, I never had to plug it back in after my five hours using it on the Switch.
As far as the buttons go, they all feel responsive and great to use. The classic design of these controllers do make them a bit tough to grip, but as long as you clamp the controller tightly enough on the sides, this shouldn't be too much of a problem. These aren't going to stand up to the precision and ergonomics of the official Pro Controller, but the SF30 Pro and SN30 Pro make the throwback design work surprisingly well.
The SN30 Pro (above) and the SF30 Pro (below).
By playing Zelda: Breath of the Wild, I got a feel for how these hold up in a full-fledged game. I didn't have any issues with how they function, and it was novel playing a 2017 game with a throwback gamepad. I also played a bunch of the recently ported Rocket League on Switch to get a feel for a fast-paced competitive game. Again, there were no issues playing or nailing down shots on goal. Admittedly, a Pro Controller is more comfortable for these situations, and high-level players will want the more precise triggers and analog sticks.
There is one annoyance with both controllers, however. When they vibrate, they make a high-pitched squealing sound. If you have headphones on or you're playing games in a loud room, it's not much of an issue. But the noise really picks up in a quiet setting. You can hear an audio clip of the actual sound in the video above.
Overall, the SF30 Pro and SN30 Pro are ergonomically sound and don't skimp out on any features or functions you'd want from a controller. They're not going to hold up to the design of the Nintendo Pro controller and the vibration sound is quite annoying, but this modern take on classic controllers from 8bitdo is wonderful.
Both the SF30 Pro and SN30 Pro are set to launch on December 10 for $50. Pre-orders are now live on Amazon.
Yet another sale on Destiny 2 has arrived, this time with the best pricing (for most people) we've seen yet. Amazon has discounted both the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the base game for a limited time.
Right now, you can pick up either console version for just $25 (or, more precisely, $24.88) on Amazon. That beats the previous best price on the game, albeit not by much. It's also been on sale for $30 at Best Buy in the past, which meant Gamers Club Unlocked members could pick it up for $24, but this current $25 price is available to everyone; Amazon Prime is not required. There's no word on how long this deal will be available for, so you may want to act quickly if you're interested.
This deal comes just over a week after the release of the game's first DLC expansion. Unfortunately, as our Curse of Osiris review notes, it doesn't meaningfully improve on the base game's shortcomings. Destiny 2 itself is still very fun--you can read about it in our Destiny 2 review--and has expanded through free post-release updates, but in many ways it remains a work-in-progress for developer Bungie.
One other important thing to note for someone just coming to the game is that Curse of Osiris initially locked non-DLC owners out of some content they previously had access to. Bungie has since reversed course on this to some degree, but the harder, Prestige version of the weekly Nightfall remains Curse of Osiris-only. Additionally, there will be weeks where the Trials of the Nine multiplayer activity features an Osiris map, which means only those with the DLC will have access to it.
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Rodriguez has now commented on the issue, and explained that it had long been the plan to give Alita big eyes in the style of the source material. "It was always [Cameron]'s intention to create a photo-realistic version of the manga eyes that we're so accustomed to seeing," he told Empire. "We really wanted to honor that tradition and see that look standing next to any human character. To have the right person to emote behind it was really essential. Her origins are in the film and you understand why she looks that way.
"If the eyes are the windows to the soul, we have some pretty big windows. You can see a lot going on in there! When it gets to the emotional scenes it's really uncanny and striking. And captivating!"
Cameron intended to direct the movie for many years, but last year handed over the reins to Rodriguez, who is also known for the likes of From Dusk Till Dawn, Desperado, and the Spy Kids movies. It hits theaters on July 20, 2018.
In 2015, Cameron told Variety: "Robert and I have been looking for a film to do together for years, so I was pumped when he said he wanted to do Battle Angel. He's very collaborative and we're already like two kids building a go-kart, just having fun riffing creatively and technically.
"This project is near and dear to me, and there's nobody I trust more than Robert, with his technical virtuosity and rebel style, to take over the directing reins. We're looking forward to learning a lot from each other while we make a kick-ass epic."
Battle Angel Alita is the futuristic story of an amnesiac cyborg who becomes a deadly bounty hunter. It was first published in 1990 and ran for nine volumes until 1995. In 1993, a two-episode anime version was produced, which adapted the first two volumes of the manga.
We're giving away one-hundred (100) Xbox One codes for PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and one (1) Grand Prize Pack, which includes a loot box, cast-iron frying pan, ski-mask, illustrated map of Erangel, and customized Xbox One controller. (Scroll down below to enter.)
Competition ends Thursday, December 14 at 9:00AM PT. One-hundred (100) winners will be emailed. Entry is open worldwide.
Enter below (the additional entries are OPTIONAL to increase your chances of winning):
From the makers of the best-selling PC phenomenon, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds drops players into a competitive survival battle where you'll engage in a heart-racing fight to be the last player left alive. Loot supplies, find weapons and gear-up to take on the competition in a solo or team squad match. Emerge the lone survivor in a thrilling game experience full of unexpected, adrenaline-pumping moments.
Game Preview: Game is unfinished and work in progress, may change over time, and may not release as a final product. Game preview information at xbox.com/GamePreview. Xbox Live Gold required to play (sold separately).
Continuing our list of Holiday Gift Guides we've compiled a list for the deal-minded gamer. We've got you covered with everything from console games to collectibles. With such a wide range of gifts, you're bound to find something for that special someone on your list.
Resident Evil 7 Biohazard Gold Edition
Immerse yourself in the world of survival horror with one of 2017's scariest and most celebrated games. Ethan Winters arrives at the dilapidated Baker mansion on a quest to find his missing wife. The terrors he discovers within require him to scavenge for supplies and weapons to fight against the unpredictable and deadly Baker family, along with other threats. The Gold Edition contains the full game plus DLC: Banned Footage Vol. 1 and 2, and the End of Zoe epilogue, making it a huge value.
While the Stratus XL may look like just a slick, responsive new wireless controller, under the chassis is a gaming platform chameleon. At only $40, the Stratus XL is a versatile bluetooth beast that connects up seamlessly not just to PCs and to Steam, but to the Samsung Gear VR, the Google Daydream VR, and Android as well.
Zombie-slaying icon Frank West returns to center stage in this sprawling, open-world epic to take out thousands of undead foes. Frank's Big Package includes all previously released add-on content, along with the all-new Capcom Hero's Mode. Frank can tap into the power and appearance of Capcom legends like Mega Man X, Dante from the Devil May Cry series, and many more to devastate the walking corpses infesting Willamette, Colorado.
One of the best Plug & Play classic game consoles out there, not only does this $20 Pac-Man shaped system deliver arcade perfect renditions of 12 of Namco's best classic titles—including Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Galaga, and others--but gives players the special pleasure of playing the infamous 255th and 256th levels of Pac-Man without, well, having to play the other 254.
The beloved story of lupine deity Amaterasu arrives on modern platforms. Known for its innovate art style, Okami brings ancient Japan to life with a breathtaking traditional Japanese ukiyoe aesthetic. Amaterasu does more than look good on her quest to defeat the evil Orochi and free the land from his corruption – she can also wield the powerful Celestial Brush. Players command the artistic might of the Celestial Brush to not only strike down impish enemies, but return color and life to the lands blighted by Orochi.
Tired of that message telling you the DualShock 4 is low on battery coming up at a critical moment? Well, this $25 Dual Charger solves that problem by allowing two DualShocks to be charged on the same inobtrusive little stand over an AC Adapter, ensuring you have access to another fully charged weapon of choice at all times.
Resident Evil finally arrives on Nintendo Switch! Resident Evil Revelations and Resident Evil Revelations 2 are two hit entries in the celebrated horror franchise, and they're playable at home or on the go. Resident Evil Revelations stars fan-favorite characters Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield as they explore abandoned cruise ships and an arctic tundra to battle bio-engineered abominations. Resident Evil Revelations 2 stars Claire Redfield and Barry Burton as they fight to uncover the mystery of a deadly prison island and the evil mind behind it. Both games take advantage of the Switch's Joy-Con motion controls for increased aiming and other immersive motion-based action.
A must-have for Xbox owners for over ten years, this $25 little miracle pays for itself with what you save in batteries. With one little rechargeable pack, players can expect 30 hours out of a single four hour charge, and keep on playing while said charge is in progress.
Rookie attorney Apollo Justice makes his debut in the fourth entry of the exciting Ace Attorney series. The hot-blooded, spikey-haired lawyer is joined by a quirky, lovable cast of characters including his magician assistant and a fellow attorney who moonlights as a famous rock star. Use Apollo's insightful instincts to sense witnesses' tics, spot dishonesty and fight for justice. The Nintendo 3DS touchscreen also comes in handy when getting down and dirty with interactive forensics to investigate crime scenes.
We've seen Tetris ported to everything from the PS4 to graphing calculators, so, maybe it's not a surprise at all to see Tetris in our lighting options. Priced at $17, this set comes with one of each of the seven Tetriminos, which light up when they're stacked against each other, which they will do in virtually any configuration. And no, they don't disappear if you create a perfect line.
With 10 million sold since March, there's a lot of Nintendo Switches out there, which likely means a lot of copies of the brilliant Breath of the Wild. This dense $23 art book is a perfect companion piece to all those new Hyrule explorers, with 400+ pages of everything from concept art, to instruction manuals, to just gorgeously rendered portraits from the entirety of the series, punctuated by behind the scenes stories and interviews from Zelda's creators.
Between Mega Man 11's surprise announcement, and his surprise appearance in Monster Hunter World, it's a good time to be a fan of the Blue Bomber. This $40 figure is a good way to celebrate. With interchangeable expressions, optional prop parts, and dozens of articulation options, the Nenodroid Mega Man deserves a home on any collector's shelf.
For any "git gud" folks who thought Mario Odyssey or Mario + Rabbids was too easy, here's your chance to take those sweet Mario skills to the master's game. With all the typical pieces swapped out for Mario appropriate figures, for $35, this Collector's Edition board puts Mario and his friends up against Bowser and his crew. For the record, no, there are no invicibility stars, and even if there were, it wouldn't let you knock over all your opponent's pieces at once.
With Destiny 2, PUBG, and Call of Duty WWII out there, it's more important than ever for players to come in loud and clear to their teammates and vice versa. Doing it without breaking the bank can sometimes get tricky, though. For $50, though, HyperX's Cloud Stinger delivers everything competitive players need on multiple platforms: from memory foam cushions for comfortable extended play sessions, to its noise cancelling microphone, which mutes on a swivel.
Guillermo del Toro has been making movies for over 20 years. As much as the director has grown in his craft, each outing feels like an invitation to his audience to be involved in a fantastical game of make believe. Through the grit and the gore, there's an enthusiastic compassion that seems to always light the way
Since 1993, del Toro has disrupted the world of genre movie making. His new film, The Shape of Water, is in theaters now, making it the perfect time to revisit the auteur's nuanced career. Here's each Guillermo Del Toro movie ranked, from worst to best.
10. Mimic (1997)
Mimic follows the story of a giant cockroach monster that threatens New York's sewers. What's unfortunate about del Toro's first studio film is the version that hit the big screen wasn't his. 1997's Mimic buckled under the weight of Miramax's heavy demands--Harvey Weinstein notoriously wanted del Toro removed from the project--resulting in a cookie cutter creature feature that looks stunning but lacks any real human element for the audience to connect with.
9. Blade II (2002)
You could say del Toro began coming into his own with Blade II. The sequel gave Wesley Snipes' fanged hero more to work with, teaming him up with the enemy to take down the vampire-killing Reapers. The director brought a refreshing sense of humor to the film, which was missing in the first outing. It didn't delve as deeply into the story as other films in del Toro's roster. But the character dynamic, fun action sequences, and gruesome vampire effects--which are revisited in FX's vampire series The Strain--are on full display here.
8. Cronos (1993)
Cronos tells the story of an elderly man who finds immortality through a robotic parasite. The gift of eternal life comes at a cost: A vampiric need for human blood. It's Guillermo del Toro's first movie, which makes it feel a bit dated. There's an uneven balance of horror and humor here, which is unfortunate. The movie's cinematic influences can be a bit distracting, as well--there are bits of David Cronenberg and Sam Raimi sprinkled throughout. But Cronos gives the audience a glimpse at the storyteller Guillermo del Toro would eventually become. And for a debut movie, the end product is still an intriguing one.
7. Crimson Peak (2015)
If Crimson Peak was marketed as a gothic romance, the film may have fared better in the box office. But when the studio presented it as a horror film, viewers left the theater disappointed at the story's lack of scares. That said, the troubled love story between Edith (Mia Wasikowska) and Thomas (Tom Hiddleston) adds an emotional center to the tortured, incestuous, and violent tale. Taking a step back, it's easy to see the heartbreaking ghost story del Toro is telling here. With lavish backdrops and elegant costumes, Crimson Peak is a feast for the eyes.
6. Pacific Rim (2013)
Pacific Rim is the anti-Transformers. Michael Bay's film franchise is rife with one-dimensional characters, a distracting orange and teal color palate, and eye-numbing CGI'd fight scenes. Guillermo del Toro's take on the mech vs. monster genre doesn't necessarily reinvent the wheel, but it picks up the slack where Bay's movies fail by maintaining the focus on humanity's survival. Sure, Charlie Hunnam's performance was a bit forgettable. At the end of the day, watching the epic battles between jaegers and kaiju was a spectacle to behold. Add a Top Gun-style resistance into the mix and the end result becomes well worth the price of admission.
5. Hellboy (2004)
Before Marvel reignited the superhero genre, del Toro brought a different sort of comic book hero to life with 2004's Hellboy. Just like Blade, this protagonist is an outcast--OK, fine, he's the son of the devil--who fights against his genetic code to defend humanity from supernatural threats. Not only was del Toro able to stay true to Mike Mignola's comic, the casting of Ron Perlman as the big red guy was perfect. He brought the character's inner conflict and working class bravado to life, instantly cementing Hellboy as a genre icon. It's not a perfect film, but the layered anti-hero quality planted a seed for an epic sequel.
4. The Devil's Backbone (2001)
When Guillermo del Toro commits to going dark, he really goes dark. With The Devil's Backbone, he heads right for the jugular. The story takes place during the Spanish Civil War, following a young orphan as he makes contact with the ghost of another child. Here, del Toro's balance of heart and horror come together perfectly. There's an emotional throughline that binds the audience to each character--no matter how villainous they may be--because, at the end of the day, this is a story about accountability and repercussions during a time of war. To say that The Devil's Backbone is a heart-wrenching film would definitely be an understatement.
3. The Shape of Water (2017)
On its surface, The Shape of Water is a supernatural love story. But the adult fairy tale works on many layers, exploring an era of American fortitude and the cracked facade of the 1960s American dream. Through a backdrop of class warfare and government corruption, the love story between the mute woman and fish man breeds an element of joyful hope that permeates the entire film. It becomes a tactile thing worth clinging to. Guillermo del Toro is at the top of his game with this one.
2. Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
Hellboy II picked up the slack where the first movie failed: It put the big red guy in the spotlight. This time around, our hero led the pack and did so with a supporting gang of misfit heroes. It's got everything you'd expect from a Guillermo del Toro film: huge monsters, romance, religious conflict, and a fair share of laughs. Aside from working on a superhero level, the film explores the place for a supernatural hero in the modern human world. If the movie didn't come out the same year as Iron Man and The Dark Knight, it's possible it would've taken the world by storm.
1. Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
Pan's Labyrinth is the masterpiece del Toro was born to make. It exists in the same realm as The Devil's Backbone: It's dark and brooding, heartbreaking, but hopeful. The horror fairy tale follows Ophelia, a girl displaced during the Spanish Civil War who finds salvation through a supernatural creature named Fauno (Doug Jones). He assigns her three tasks to complete, and if she succeeds, she'll be brought back as a princess. Pan's Labyrinth is a heavy film that questions authority, addresses sacrifice, and finds its heart through the wondrous imagination of a hopeful young girl.
Given the game's different take on the series and the lack of Hideo Kojima's involvement, many Metal Gear fans have been skeptical of the upcoming "spin-off episode" of Metal Gear Solid V, Metal Gear Survive. Fortunately, players will have an opportunity to try the game for themselves in advance of its release, as Konami has announced a beta for the game launches next month.
Survive's beta will run from January 18-21 on both PS4 and Xbox One; there's no mention of a PC beta test, although the game is also coming to that platform. According to Konami, it will provide an opportunity "to jump into co-op mode to build, defend, and fight alongside friends online." No further specifics on what's included were shared.
Those who participate in the beta will receive bonus items in the full game. These include a FOXHOUND name plate, a Metal Gear REX head accessory, and a bandana. It's unclear if there will be a way to unlock these without having played the beta, or if they'll be available at all in the PC version.
Coinciding with this news, Konami shared the video above. It opens with producer Yuji Korekado providing an overview of the game before diving into a look at the single-player and the function that the Base Camp serves in single-player and co-op. We get a look at hunting animals, crafting, and combat, as well as how your Base Camp will periodically come under attack, forcing you to plan ahead and then defend it when necessary.
The Dragon Ball FighterZ roster continues to grow. Ahead of its release next month, Bandai Namco revealed three more characters from the Dragon Ball fighting game, all of whom notably hail from the newest Dragon Ball series, Dragon Ball Super.
In the latest issue of Japanese magazine V-Jump (via Gematsu), we learned that Beerus, Goku Black, and Hit will all be playable in Dragon Ball FighterZ. Beerus is a welcome addition; Universe 7's God of Destruction plays a major role in Dragon Ball Super, and he was one of the characters we were hoping to see in FighterZ. According to V-Jump, he can create Spheres of Destruction, which explode when they come in contact with an opponent, and his Meteor special attack is God of Destruction's Judgment.
Hit and Goku Black are likewise interesting choices for fighters, particularly Hit. His signature technique in the series is the Time Skip, which allows him to jump ahead in time a fraction of a second to get the jump on an opponent. In Dragon Ball FighterZ, his moveset emphasizes striking, and his Meteor special temporarily stops time and unleashes a combo attack. Goku Black's special is called Work of the Gods, and he can summon Zamasu to "bind" an opponent.
In addition to the three new characters, the latest issue of V-Jump revealed two new features in Dragon Ball FigherZ. The first is called Come Forth, Shenron. In this mode, you'll collect Dragon Balls when you successfully execute a certain number of combos. After all seven are gathered, the Eternal Dragon Shenron will appear, and the player who fulfills a certain condition will have one of four possible wishes granted: recover your HP fully; revive an ally; add another Sparking icon; or gain regenerating health.
The other new feature is called Dramatic Production. When players meet certain conditions, you'll witness iconic scenes from the anime before and after a battle; V-Jump shows images of Yamacha laying in a crater after being killed by a Saibaman and a few other dramatic moments from Dragon Ball Z.
The Xbox received a much needed boost with the release on the Xbox One X this year. The console's successes have varied, but this year in particular was a big step in the right direction. Part of this can be attributed to the arrival of Xbox One X, currently the most powerful console on the market. In theory, it will be the best way to play cross-platform games. It's this forward-thinking that has given Microsoft an edge over its competition--despite its short list of console exclusives. On the other hand, 2017 also yielded an array of fantastic indie games for Xbox One, further rounding out its lineup of first-party and third-party releases.
The Xbox One offers solid experiences that are often made even better by high-end hardware. In no particular order, here are our picks for the best Xbox One games of 2017:
After seven years worth of annual releases, it's understandable that people grew fatigued with the Assassin's Creed franchise. However, Assassin's Creed Origins quells doubts and concerns over the series' future by making good on the promise of revitalizing the franchise. Taking form now as an action-RPG, it benefits from expanded stealth and combat mechanics, offering more depth and nuance than its predecessors. Its protagonist Bayek is one of the series' best, possessing kindness and compassion that make him instantly likable, but he's also a morally conflicted character with a tragic past that's easy to empathize with.
While Origins maintains the series tradition of period-piece settings and conspiracy theory narratives that made past entries so engrossing, it also reinvigorates the formula with new ideas. The game organically shifts progression through a multitude of activities you discover while navigating a stunning depiction of Ptolemaic Egypt. No longer do you climb towers to unlock a checklist of simplistic tasks; instead, each quest you take on offers narrative context that shines light onto the state of the world, displaying the time-period's myriad injustices or simply showing you a heartfelt encounter between Bayek and his loved ones.
Origins is one of the best open-world adventure games on Xbox One this year, offering an experience that'll keep you hooked for hundreds of hours. It's also the best version of the game on consoles, as it performs and looks best on Xbox One X compared to PS4 Pro. If you haven't picked it up, Origins is well worth your time on Xbox One, regardless of whether you're a hardcore fan of Assassin's Creed or not.
If a game was made in the 1930s, what would it look like? The answer is: Cuphead.
Developer Studio MDHR's creation brings together a wealth of ideas and mechanics that feel completely at home with one another. The game's hand-drawn animation and watercolor backgrounds bring to life a visual style that is both completely unique to video games and executed flawlessly. From the moment the opening title rolls, Cuphead envelops you in its world, one whose authenticity never lets up for a second.
But Cuphead is more than just a fancy, well-drawn exterior. The game is an ode to the run-and-gun shooter genre and to classic video games in general, with homages to series like Mega Man, Contra, and Street Fighter. Cuphead's two-dozen-plus bosses not only fill the screen with hazards and obstacles, but also with personality, constantly offering challenges that excite just as much as they frustrate. You're encouraged to get better, though, and eventually overcome its toughest levels.
Cuphead is a game that deserves to be seen and played by everyone. Backed by a fully orchestrated jazz soundtrack that you'll catch yourself humming for weeks to come, Cuphead grabs hold of you with its beautiful and infectiously cartoony world, and hopes you never leave it.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus never lets you forget who you're fighting, and why. Nazi brutality is on full display, from the blown-out, irradiated remains of Manhattan to each of the characters, who all carry mental scars if not physical ones. The far-future technology of the Nazi regime is exhilarating to partake in--high-powered laser weapons are exciting to use, after all--but it's also a grotesque display of their ruthless subjugation of all corners of the world. Anything is possible in Wolfenstein, and that's a direct result of immense human suffering.
That said, a tongue-in-cheek tone reminiscent of Inglorious Basterds strikes the right balance with the game's incredibly heavy subject matter. The New Colossus has a completely bonkers storyline, and it's elevated by satisfying Nazi-killing action and a self awareness of its own dark humor. It also manages to make combat exciting without becoming a power fantasy--it's straight-up difficult, and its mechanical, heavily armored enemies can seem impossible to take down at times. But regardless of whether you take a stealthy or guns-blazing approach, you'll be rewarded with a thrilling fight once you do emerge victorious.
The most memorable thing about The New Colossus, though, it its direction. Carefully choreographed cutscenes give more gravity to an already great cast of characters, and the timing of specific moments (all spoilers) makes them all the more impactful. 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.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard marks a return to form for Capcom, which reconnected with its survival horror roots in 2017 to deliver a Resident Evil that is both modern and faithful to the series' legacy.
The game casts aside the third-person perspective for first-person, and in doing so, ratchets up the nerve-wracking tension throughout the campaign. Crucially, however, it leans on the genre pillars that it both established and popularised; bullets and healing items are in short supply, and enemies require strategy and a steady hand to take down.
From the early moments of breathlessly running around the Baker home, hoping and praying not to cross paths with Jack, the psychotic patriarch of the family, to the nail-biting cat and mouse game in Marguerite's bug-infested cabin, and the intense fight for survival at the end, Resident Evil 7 is edge-of-your-seat gaming at its finest.
In What Remains of Edith Finch, you play titular character Edith Finch as she explores her family's old and mysterious mansion. Ever since her ancestors arrived in America from Norway in the 1930s, there's been a rumor that suggests the Finch family tree is cursed, leading to many strange and unfortunate deaths.
As you explore the various rooms within the large estate and read old notes from your fallen relatives, the game flashes back and allows you to play out their last moments. What makes What Remains of Edith Finch so powerful is that it does an excellent job tapping into the commonalities of belonging to a family. Who hasn't lost a loved one in life? Seeing how Edith's aunts, uncles, and siblings pass away can be heartbreaking, but these little story vignettes are also wildly imaginative and whimsical.
Seeing a hungry little girl eat poisoned berries only to experience hallucinations that lead to her untimely death is both sad and fantastical. Reliving your brother's last moments as he overcomes depression while daydreaming on the job at a fish factory is another haunting, yet beautiful experience. Each vignette in the game is distinct and amounts to short-but-sweet modern-day fairytales. It helps that the game is tied together by wonderful voice acting and meticulously detailed environments that further bolster the story's eerie events.
GameSpot will be unveiling its picks for the best games of the year throughout all of December. Check out our Best of 2017 hub for even more.
By Anonymous on Dec 13, 2017 09:00 pm Join us as the GameSpot staff not only reveals our number 8 game of 2017, but also why you should play this game.
The latest Legendary Pokemon in Pokemon Go, Ho-Oh, has been appearing in Raid Battles across the globe for the past two weeks, but it won't be around for much longer. The rainbow-colored Pokemon will only be available until December 14, making this your last day to catch one if you haven't yet.
Ho-Oh was unlocked in Pokemon Go late last month, following the successful completion of the game's Global Catch Challenge. The event tasked players with capturing 3 billion Pokemon worldwide. Players managed to surpass that goal just prior to the deadline, unlocking the rare Pokemon Farfetch'd for a brief time (Kangaskhan was also briefly unlocked in east Asia).
Ho-Oh was initially scheduled to be available until December 12; however, developer Niantic extended its duration by an additional 48 hours. The Legendary bird will now appear until 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET on December 14. Like previous Legendaries, you can encounter Ho-Oh in Raid Battles at Gyms. You'll need to team with other players to take it down, and only after you've defeated it will you have the opportunity to capture it.
Ho-Oh isn't the only new Pokemon to arrive in Pokemon Go recently. Last week, Niantic rolled out a huge update that added dozens of Gen 3 Pokemon to the game, such as Treecko, Torchic, Mudkip, and Salamence. The update also introduced a dynamic weather system, as well as the ability to create and save Battle Parties.
Splatoon 2, Nintendo's Switch-exclusive shooter, has changed quite a bit since launch, and it's now evolved once again. Update 2.1.0 is out now, and it adds a new game mode called Clam Blitz, among other things.
Clam Blitz is a new way to play in which both teams need to throw as many Clams as possible into the other side's basket. You'll first need to break their basket open by forming a Power Clam, made by securing 10 standard Clams at once. You then hurl the Power Clam at the other team's basket to force it open, allowing you to throw in both Power Clams (which are worth 20 points) and normal clams (three points). Outside of Clam Blitz, a bunch of weapons have been tweaked and more bugs have been fixed. See the full patch notes at the bottom of this article, via Nintendo.
This latest patch follows update 2.0, which launched in November. That update added new gear, increased the level cap, and introduced a much-requested feature: the ability to change weapons between battles without needing to leave the lobby. It also added a new map for use in Salmon Run and tweaked a lot of the game's balancing. Read more about that update here.
Splatoon 2 was included in our five best Switch games of the year. For lots more of our end-of-year coverage, check out our Best of 2017 hub.
Clam Blitz will now appear in Ranked and League Battles. After you've played it once, it will also be selectable in Private Battles.
Fixed an issue in which a player submerged in a wall or a thin ground surface would take damage from the opposite side of the terrain.
Fixed an issue in which a player behind a Splash Wall or a launched Brella would take damage from the opposite side if the distance between the player and the Splash Wall or Brella was close.
Fixed an issue on Sturgeon Shipyard in which if a certain wall was hit with a bomb, ink would splash onto a nearby wall that players were occasionally unable to submerge into.
Fixed an issue in Splat Zones on Moray Towers in which the border indicating the Zone area was incorrect for part of the Zone.
Fixed an issue on Manta Maria in which, if a player did a Splashdown on a specific place, they would be treated as out of bounds after landing and be killed.
Fixed an issue in Turf War on Manta Maria in which the area beneath the thick pillars was inkable, and was counted as part of the turf.
Fixed an issue in Tower Control on Manta Maria in which players were able to jump from a high spot near the center of the stage to a part of the opponents' base.
Fixed an issue on Snapper Canal in which bombs would disappear without exploding when coming into contact with certain walls.
Fixed an issue on Snapper Canal in which, depending on the mode, the area beneath obstacles placed near the center was inkable, was counted as part of the turf, and couldn't be reclaimed in Splat Zones.
Fixed an issue on Blackbelly Skatepark in which players could jump higher than normal near the start point and go over certain obstacles.
Fixed an issue on Blackbelly Skatepark in which if a certain wall was hit with a bomb, ink would splash onto a nearby wall that players were occasionally unable to submerge into.
Fixed an issue in Tower Control on Blackbelly Skatepark in which players could climb over a wall not intended to be climbed over by jumping from the top of a tower at the right moment.
Fixed an issue on MakoMart in which if a certain wall was hit with a bomb, ink would splash onto a nearby wall that players were occasionally unable to submerge into.
Fixed an issue on MakoMart in which a certain railing could be seen through by pulling the camera close to it.
Slightly adjusted the tower path in Tower Control on MakoMart in order to fix a rare issue in which the player could be sandwiched between the tower and terrain, causing them to be pushed inside the terrain.
Fixed a rare issue in which, when the player does a Splashdown near a tower, they could pass through the terrain and fall out of the stage.
Fixed an issue in which, if the player closed their umbrella the moment that a bomb exploded, neither the umbrella nor the player would take damage.
Fixed a rare issue in which two Ink Storm clouds would be generated when a player directly hit a Splash Wall or Brella with an Ink Storm, depending on how it was hit.
Fixed an issue in which, when a player using the Inkjet touches water and is forcibly returned to their original place, they would be treated as if drowning and be killed, depending on the place.
Fixed an issue in which the camera would abruptly move if the player did a Splashdown near some fences in places like Kelp Dome.
Fixed an issue during Splatfests on some stages in which it was difficult to distinguish the color of ink due to in-stage lighting.
Specifications for some of the main weapons and specials have been changed. Click here for details
Specifications for the terrain or placement of objects in some stages have been changed. Click here for details
Salmon Run
Fixed an issue on Salmonid Smokeyard in which players could get sandwiched between the terrain and fences if they become a squid on top of certain fences that appear at low tide.
Fixed an issue in which, if one player disconnected immediately after putting a Golden Egg in the container, the total number of Golden Eggs would be tallied incorrectly on the remaining players' screens.
Fixed an issue in which, when damage was done to a Scrapper with the explosion from defeating a Steelhead or bombs bounced back from a Drizzler, whether or not the Scrapper was defeated would be displayed inconsistently on the other players' screens.
Fixed an issue in which, despite a Chinook holding a box was defeated, the box would still be displayed on other players' screens, and Chums would appear from an invisible box.
Story Mode
Fixed an issue in which, if the player shot the Hero Splatling while jumping on a Ride Rail, the weapon would behave abnormally and prevent the player from attacking until becoming a squid.
Spectator Mode
Adjusted the order of display for the guide button for changing perspective and the mark indicating the player holding the Rainmaker.
Fixed an issue in which the color of Bravo team's Ink Mines would show up as Alpha team's color.
Fixed an issue in which the icon for Ink Mines wouldn't show up properly when having switched between players.
When focused on a given player, their opponents' signals ("C'mon!", "Booyah!", etc.) are no longer displayed.
Unified the direction of the top-down camera and turf map on Kelp Dome.
Adjusted the direction of the turf map on MakoMart to display the Alpha team's start point on the left-hand side of the screen as like other maps.
Other Changes
Fixed an issue in which after repeatedly winning in League Battle or Splatfest Battle (team), players would occasionally be disconnected after the battle results are recorded and before proceeding to the next battle.
Fixed an issue in which, during Splatfests, Off the Hook would not move in the background after taking pictures with amiibo in places other than Inkopolis Square, and then returning to the Square.
Fixed an issue in which, if the player did a Splashdown in the test firing area, targets on the other side of terrain would also take damage.
Weapons
Weapon
Adjustment
Blaster Custom Blaster Hero Blaster Replica
Reduced movement penalty after firing by 7/60 of a second.
Increased damage of a single shot from 28.0 to 30.0
Splat Brella Hero Brella Replica
Narrowed area painted with a single shot. Increased ink consumed for each shot by roughly 10%. Increased damage to the canopy from opponents' Blaster-type weapons by roughly 38%. Increased damage to the canopy from opponents' Charger-type weapons by roughly 50%.
Range Blaster
190 >200
Maps
Stage
Adjustment
Musselforge Fitness
Changed terrain in all Battle types.
Adjusted placement of objects near the center of the map, and reduced obstacles.
Adjusted placement of other miscellaneous objects.
Starfish Mainstage
Changed terrain in all Battle types.
Adjusted placement of objects near the center of the map, and reduced obstacles.
Added a slope going up to the stage.
Adjusted placement of other miscellaneous objects.
Humpback Pump Track
Adjusted placement of objects in Tower Control.
Greatly adjusted the path of the tower.
Added Inkrail from each team's base toward the center.
Additionally, adjusted placement of things such as obstacles.
Inkblot Art Academy
Adjusted placement of objects in Rainmaker.
Added platforms and a slope leading up to the center from the open spaces on the left and right of the map.
Increased size of the boxes used to climb into the enemy base from the center of the stage, and adjusted the look to match the stage.
Added inkable box for climbing to a high point in the opponents' base, to the left when viewed from your own base.
Adjusted the direction and position of the white objects in each base.
Adjusted placement of objects in Tower Control.
Added platforms and a slope leading up to the center from the open spaces on the left and right of the map.
Moray Towers
Changed terrain in all Battle types.
Adjusted trajectory of the Inkrails that leads to the enemy base from both sides.
Increased width of the platform beneath the Inkrails mentioned above.
Adjusted placement of other miscellaneous objects.
Outside of Splatfests, reduced brightness of the sun, and reduced the disparity in visibility between teams.
Port Mackerel
Adjusted placement of objects in Rainmaker.
Adjusted shape of the sponges near the starting point.
Set the area above certain containers near the center as Rainmaker-Free Zones.
Snapper Canal
Outside of Splatfests, reduced brightness of the sun, and reduced the disparity in visibility between teams.
Lynn Shaye returns as paranormal investigator Dr. Elise Rainier, with a supporting cast that includes Leigh Whannell (Insidious), Angus Sampson (Fargo), Caitlin Gerard (The Social Network), and Bruce Davison (X-Men). Whannell, who created the series with Wan, has also written the screenplay. It's directed by Adam Robitel (The Taking of Deborah Logan).
A synopsis for Insidious: The Last Key has also been released. It reads: "the creative minds behind the hit Insidious trilogy return for Insidious: The Last Key. In the supernatural thriller, which welcomes back franchise standout Lin Shaye as Dr. Elise Rainier, the brilliant parapsychologist faces her most fearsome and personal haunting yet: in her own family home."
The first Insidious was directed by Wan and it released in 2011, making $97 million worldwide from a modest $1.5 million budget. The 2013 sequel was an even bigger hit, earning $161 million, while Insidious: Chapter 3, which made $112.9 million, arrived in 2015.
We're well into December and the holiday season, and Blizzard has marked the occasion by kicking off Overwatch's latest seasonal event. Winter Wonderland has made a return from last year, but it includes a bunch of new content--including new skins.
When Blizzard first teased Winter Wonderland 2017, it only shared three characters who would be getting Legendary skins: Junkrat, Roadhog, and Hanzo, the latter of whom would be getting a "long-awaited skin from the comics." None of these were actually revealed, leaving us to wait for the event to begin to get a look.
Now, with Wonder Wonderland live, we've gotten to see each and every one of the new skins. In the gallery above, you can check out all of the new looks (starting with the Legendary skins), as well as other new cosmetics and event content in this update. In addition to the aforementioned characters, there are new skins for Bastion, Ana, Sombra, and Soldier 76. There is also a new winterized version of the Black Forest map and a 5 vs. 1 Brawl mode called Yeti Hunt, as well as returning holiday-themed content from last year.
Winter Wonderland is available for free on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. As is typical for these events, a seasonal loot box containing these items has replaced the standard one. You'll get a free loot box just for logging in during the event, which runs from now until January 1.
Blizzard has kicked off Overwatch's celebration of the holidays, bringing back the Winter Wonderland event from last year. This isn't a complete retread, however; while you're again able to access what was available last year, there are also new skins and a limited-time mode to check out, among other things.
As with any new Overwatch event, the skins are the big highlight. When Blizzard announced the event's return recently, it teased that Junkrat and Roadhog would be among those to get Legendary skins, while a "long-awaited Hanzo skin" from the comics would also be included. Others with newly added looks include Sombra and Ana. You can see all the new Overwatch Winter Wonderland skins in our gallery.
This update includes a new, winterized version of Black Forest, along with the returning, holiday-themed versions of King's Row and Hanamura. The Mei's Snowball Offensive Brawl also makes a comeback (and is now playable on the themed Black Forest map), while Blizzard has introduced another new brawl that the studio has compared to a boss fight. Mei's Yeti Hunt sees a team of five Meis compete against one player, who assumes the role of Winston with his Yeti skin. Things play out a lot like Evolve, where the Meis hunt down Winston, who roams the map to find power-ups. Once he collects enough, he enters Primal Rage mode, and the Meis have to flee to avoid being killed. Once enough Meis--or Winston--are killed, the game is over.
In a video, Jeff Kaplan explained that Blizzard wanted to try something "fun and different" with this mode. He said the point is "just to be fun and light and refreshing for a short period of time." As such, Yeti Hunt is not intended to be a perfectly balanced, highly competitive mode. You can queue up for this through standard matchmaking or join a match with five other friends, with the game cycling through who plays as the Yeti. When queuing normally, you can set your preference for Mei or Winston, though given the mode's nature, you won't always get to play on the side you selected.
Winter Wonderlands is available from now until January 1 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. It includes all of last year's skins and content, and Blizzard has lowered their costs to make them easier to acquire. Legendary skins from 2016 drop to 1000 credits, Epic to 250, Rare to 75, and Common to 25.
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