Twitch Prime members--which includes anyone with an Amazon Prime membership--can get their hands on a free game. SteamWorld Heist is currently available for download right now. You can check out some of the gameplay in the video above.
SteamWorld Heist is a turn-based strategy game where you manually aim the guns of the robots you control, resulting in lots of skill shots and bullet-bouncing. You'll play as Captain Piper, with the goal of recruiting robot pirates to board, loot, and shoot your way through enemy spaceships in the steampunk-inspired world. Along the way, you upgrade your recruits by taking advantage of unique abilities, weapons, and stylish hats.
In GameSpot's review of SteamWorld Heist, Matt Espineli called it an "accessible strategy game with nuanced mechanics and systems that make its ever-shifting challenges a joy to play." He gave it an 8/10, and applauded its witty dialogue, tense combat, and deep mechanics that rely on skill over randomized dice rolls.
If you're an Amazon Prime member and want to play SteamWorld Heist for free, head over to Twitch Prime's website to link your account. Twitch Prime gives you monthly in-game loot, ad-free viewing on Twitch, and a channel subscription every 30 days, along with access to free games at different times. SteamWorld Heist will be available for free until December 27.
Grand Theft Auto V is celebrating the holidays, and today GTA Online got a wintry makeover. In the latest GTA Online update, San Andreas has received a blanket of snow, there are free liveries and a free car coming on Christmas, and a new vehicle is now available for purchase.
As part of GTA V's Festive Surprise event on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, San Andreas is now covered in snow. What's more, you can throw snowballs at people. By hitting left on the d-pad or G on your keyboard, you can pick up a snowball and then throw it at NPCs or your friends.
In addition, the Albany Hermes Muscle Car is available to everyone who logs into the game on Christmas Day, you can get 5 free liveries for the Thruster. Rockstar also previously announced that it would be giving away Krampus masks on Christmas Eve. Holiday-themed clothes and masks are available for purchase at in-game stores, too.
There's also a new vehicle that you can buy at Southern San Andreas Super Autos. Called the Benefactor Streiter, it's a "combination of sleek aesthetics and raw 4x4 power." It's classified as a Sports vehicle, and you can see it in the image above.
Rockstar previously announced that GTA Online's current Premium Stunt Race is H200, and the current Time Trial is Sawmill until Christmas Day. On December 26, this switches to Double Loop as the Premium Stunt Race and Cypress Flats as the Time Trial. Everyone who participates in the Premium Races will earn triple RP, and the top three finishers will receive a big GTA$ reward. The Time Trial, meanwhile, grants a big GTA$ and RP bonus for those who beat the target time.
The next batch of Xbox One Games Pass games have been announced. Ten new titles will come into rotation to kick off 2018. This round of additions has a good mix of action, adventure, and zen for everyone.
And, from now until January 4, new Games Pass members can join the service for $1. This price only covers the first month, and each month after will be $10. For a look at everything you'll have access to, check out the full list of Xbox Games Pass titles.
Xbox Game Pass January Titles (Available January 1):
A new update is now available for PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds on Xbox One. This marks the second patch the popular battle royale game has received on Microsoft's console thus far, following a fairly big update that arrived earlier this week.
While the new patch isn't quite as large as PUBG's previous Xbox One update, it makes a number of quality-of-life improvements to further refine the console version, which doesn't run quite as well as on PC. In addition to addressing various crashing issues, the new PUBG update further tunes the gameplay. Recoil has now been reduced for all weapons on Xbox One, while the range for adjusting your preferred sensitivity has been expanded. The update also makes some more unspecified performance improvements. You can find the full patch notes below.
This week also marked PUBG's 1.0 release on PC after being available in Early Access of nine months. The 1.0 release brings many new mechanics to the game, such as climbing and vaulting, which PUBG creator Brendan Greene says "will change the game severely." It also introduces a new desert map called Miramar, which will also be added to the Xbox One version in a future update. You can read more about the 1.0 release in our PUBG review.
PUBG Xbox One Update #2 Patch Notes
Optimization
Continued performance optimizations
In-game
The tuning range for the general sensitivity option has been expanded
Weapon recoil reduced across the board (Xbox Only)
Team UI will now correctly display voice chat status
Additional Localization updates
Bug
A variety of crash fixes
Fixed an issue where casting bar UI remains onscreen when spectating a target who died while using an item from their inventory
The holidays are almost here, and Xbox promotions are upon us. Microsoft announced recently that you can now grab a month of Xbox Live Gold or a month of Game Pass for just $1. The sale just started today, and it runs through January 4.
This is a great deal if you want to cheaply try out a bunch of games over the holidays. For $2 total, you get access to two services which grant access to games. Xbox Live, in addition to giving you online multiplayer access, also comes with a set of free games every month. This month, subscribers can download Warhammer: End Times - Verminitide, Back to the Future: The Game, and several other titles. In January, you'll get Zombi, The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, and other games. Free access to these titles only lasts as long as you have an active Xbox Live Gold subscription, however. In addition, you can often get an additional discount during Xbox game sales with Xbox Live.
Microsoft also announced that it's going to be giving money from subscriptions to charity. For every subscription to Live or Game Pass sold, the company will donate $10 of Game Pass to hospitals through the Game Changer charity.
The 2017 Entertainment That Should Have Been More Popular
With so many movies and TV shows coming out every single week, it's nearly impossible to keep up to date on the best pop culture has to offer. Unfortunately, that means some of the most outstanding pieces o entertainment can get lost in the shuffle, especially during the busy year that was 2017.
From what may have been the best video game adaptation ever, to a sequel that arrived 35 years after the movie it followed, to new ground being broken in the superhero genre, GameSpot is revisiting the best entertainment moments from the past year that should have been more popular. For one reason of another, these films and TV shows didn't find the audience interest they deserved. Whether it was a lack of box office success, not enough excitement from potential viewers, or a no social media buzz, these projects deserved better.
Did you catch them all?
Marvel's The Punisher
After both Iron Fist and Defenders were met with average reviews, and given the current social climate when it comes to gun violence, you can't really blame viewers for skipping out on Marvel's The Punisher. That said, missing this one was a mistake. While Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) didn't get much character development on Daredevil, Punisher paints the tragic anti hero as struggling with mental health issues as he gives into the urge to kill his enemies.
Blade Runner 2049
This movie had a lot going against it. As a sequel to a film from 35 years earlier, a major portion of the audience didn't know about the original. Still, somehow director Denis Villeneuve created one of the most beautiful and critically acclaimed sci-fi films of all time. In the end, though, the audience reaction didn't live up to the hype, leading to a disappointing run at the box office.
Colossal
When people complain about there being too many sequels and reboots, tell them about Colossal. It's the story of a woman who realizes her drunken movements are mimicked by a giant monster in Japan, putting a new spin on kaiju movies. With a cast consisting of Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, and Dan Stevens, you might expect it to be a hit. Sadly, it bombed. Perhaps that's why original ideas aren't explored more.
Castlevania
Netflix releases a lot of content every month. From scores of new shows, to original movies, it's easy for things to miss out on something. For many, that was the case with its animated adaptation of Castlevania, which debuted in July. This rare example of a video game adaptation that works really well was met with positive reviews from critics. However, as with many Netflix shows, it was quickly forgotten after release.
Saban's Power Rangers
The Power Rangers movie reboot was much better than anyone could have expected it to be. Whether it was giving an interesting backstory given to the Ranger powers or giving audiences their first autistic superhero, there was plenty to like about the film. Unfortunately, it opened to mixed reviews and less-than-stellar box office results. A sequel is possible but doesn't seem very likely.
Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later
The original Wet Hot American Summer movie has a niche fanbase at best. That's why it's not so surprising that the second sequel TV series--Ten Years Later--doesn't have a huge audience. Those missing it are skipping out on one of the funniest and star-studded shows of the year, though. With names like Amy Poehler, Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks, Ken Marino, Michael Ian Black starring for multiple episodes, what's not to love?
A sequel to a 12-year-old movie is a risky bet, especially when you consider the franchise in question is xXx. Still, in terms of pure fun, xXx: Return of Xander Cage is hard to beat. With Vin Diesel returning as Xander Cage and very fun and funny performances from co-stars like Nina Dobrev and Ruby Rose, it really did deserve to be more of a hit. Luckily, it did rather well at the international box office, so perhaps there's still life left in the franchise.
For the second-to-last time this year, Xur has arrived in Destiny 2. The merchant is back for a limited time to sell a selection of Exotic gear, as well as some other new options that were recently introduced. Despite overlapping with Christmas, there's nothing too special about this appearance, but you may want to pay him a visit nonetheless. Here's where to find Xur this week and a rundown on what he's selling on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Xur has returned again to Titan, where he's in his usual spot. To find him, you'll want to fast travel to The Rig and then head directly east. Drop down a level and you'll find him hiding out in a room all on his own, where you should be able to avoid attacks from the nearby enemies.
For the second week in a row, all of the gear Xur is selling is available to non-DLC owners; previously, he sold a piece of gear that only Curse of Osiris owners could equip. This week, he has the typical lineup of items for sale, including one Exotic weapon (the SMG Riskrunner) and one piece of Exotic armor for each class. Additionally, he has the new Three of Coins for sale, which will boost your chances of securing an Exotic item while playing. He also has the new Fated Engram, which--while expensive--guarantees that you'll acquire an Exotic piece of gear that you don't already own. Here's his full lineup:
Riskrunner -- 29 Legendary Shards
Lucky Pants (Hunter Leg Armor) -- 23 Legendary Shards
Doom Fang Pauldron (Titan Leg Armor) -- 23 Legendary Shards
Wings of Sacred Dawn (Warlock Chest Armor) -- 23 Legendary Shards
Three of Coins -- 31 Legendary Shards
Fated Engram -- 97 Legendary Shards
The Three of Coins has proven to be somewhat controversial, with players frustrated about the boost it provides and lack of clear communication about what it's supposed to do. Bungie has since talked about Three of Coins and the effect it has; it's also acknowledged a problem when using them in Heroic Strikes.
Meanwhile, Destiny 2's The Dawning event is ongoing, providing a variety of new items to acquire. It's also marked the Destiny 2 debut of Mayhem in Crucible, but it's unfortunately been marred by an exploit for Warlocks. Bungie has revealed this won't be fixed before the end of the event, nor will it ban those who use the glitch.
The latest Call of Duty: WWII update was released today on PS4 and Xbox One, and it's coming later today to PC. It brings a host of bug fixes and improvements, and it also includes weapon balance changes to guns ranging from LMGs to sidearms.
The weapon changes are probably the most noticeable parts of the patch, and it strengthens some guns while weakening others. The MP-40 and Thompson submachine guns have both received buffs to their fire rate, which will help bring them closer to the current favorite SMG, the PPSh. Further, the patch increases the Combat Shotgun's damage range. Finally, the entire LMG class of weapons gets a movement speed buff, while the MG-15 and Lewis LMGs both get reduced recoil.
Meanwhile, the FG-42 rifle has received a significant decrease in fire-rate, a change that will likely reduce the gun's dominance in the rifle class. Finally, the Machine Pistol's damage has been nerfed.
The patch also includes some tweaks and bug fixes, including UI improvements and a fix for the Zombies glitch that allowed players to deploy more than the maximum number of mines. You can read all of the changes in the patch notes below.
Anime fans should head over to the Microsoft Store today, December 22, for some special deals on select releases. The store is currently offering a range of first seasons completely free, with big discounts on other shows and movies.
The first seasons that fans can download in HD completely free today include Dragon Ball Z, Psycho-Pass, Yu Yu Hakusho, Fairy Tale, A Certain Magical Index, and Assassination Classroom. Adding any of these releases to your library means that you can keep them permanently, and they can be watched on Xbox One and Xbox 360, plus Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows Phone 8 devices.
In addition, complete passes for the additional seasons of these shows can be bought at reduced prices. For example, the next eight seasons of Dragon Ball Z can be bought for $9 each, instead of the standard $30. The live-action show Lost Girl is also part of the deal, following FUNinimation's home entertainment deal with SyFy in 2012.
In terms of movies, the Microsoft Store has 20 discounted releases for sale. These include Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F', Psycho-Pass The Movie, and three volumes of Rurouni Kenshin, plus the two live-action Attack on Titan films. These movies are all priced at $7 to buy, reduced from up to $15.
Just in case the big PSN holiday sale going on didn't offer enough ways to blow your money, Sony has launched another promotion on top of it. A limited-time flash sale is now live on the PlayStation Store, discounting a number of PlayStation games just before Christmas. However, unlike most flash sales on PSN, this one will last a big longer than usual.
Vita owners are completely out of luck with this flash sale, and there's very little in the way of PS3 discounts. PS3 owners can, however, pick up Persona 5 for $33. The two older platforms do have more games on sale as part of the existing holiday sale.
Rather than being a weekend-only event, this flash sale runs for a few extra days, ending on December 27 at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET. A day earlier, on December 26, we may see another set of deals added to the holiday sale, as we did this past week. That promotion offers additional discounts in many cases for PS Plus subscribers, but the flash sale offers the same pricing to all PSN members. You can see everything in the flash sale here.
If you missed out on the previous Monster Hunter World beta earlier this month, you now have another chance to try the co-op action game before it launches. The second Monster Hunter World beta is now live on PS4, and unlike the previous one, all players are able to participate in it, even if you don't have a PlayStation Plus subscription.
The beta runs from today, December 22, until 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET / 5 PM GMT on December 26 (4 AM AET on December 27). Like the previous beta, it features three quests across two levels. In the Ancient Forest, you can hunt the beginner-friendly Great Jagras and the much more challenging Anjanath, while the intermediate-level Barroth lurks in Wildspire Waste. You can watch footage of us hunting the latter at Tokyo Game Show.
Each quest can be tackled either solo or with up to three other players. However, you'll need to have a PS Plus subscription in order to participate in online hunts in the full game when it releases next month. As before, it seems this beta is exclusive to PS4 owners; Capcom hasn't announced if it will hold a similar beta for Xbox One or PC yet.
Players who participated in the previous Monster Hunter World beta can jump into the second one using the same client they already installed. Everyone else can download the beta from the PlayStation Store. You'll need at least 5.47 GB of free space in order to download the beta.
Monster Hunter World releases for PS4 and Xbox One on January 26, while the PC version will arrive later in 2018. Capcom has said it plans to continue supporting the game post-launch with new monsters to hunt as free DLC. The game will also receive new DLC weapons and armor, such as a PS4-exclusive set based on Horizon Zero Dawn.
In a year cram-packed with big budget television series and movies filled with unique and complex characters, there was plenty to talk about in the realm of entertainment. From Star Wars to Stranger Things to Game of Thrones and more, we were reunited with some of our favorite people and introduced to a few we couldn't stop talking about.
But which characters stood out the most this past year? Let us know which characters made the top of your list in the comment section below. As for the GameSpot crew, who were our favorites? Here are 27 characters from television and movies in 2017 that we loved and loved to hate.
WARNING: THERE ARE MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD. BE WARNED.
27. Lenny (Legion)
Played by: Aubrey Plaza
While the majority of the first season of Legion had viewers guessing as to whether or not Lenny was real, she was without a doubt one of the most dynamic and interesting characters on the show. Plaza showed a whole new acting range during this season, and her character had an incredible turn towards the end.
26. The Hormone Monsters (Big Mouth)
Played by: Nick Kroll/Maya Rudolph
Few characters in 2017 were grosser--or truer to life. The Hormone Monster and Monstress, played by Kroll and Rudolph, respectively, embodied every terrible and wonderful urge each of us felt at that special time in our life.
25. Bob Newby (Stranger Things 2)
Played by: Sean Astin
Whether or not the new hashtag ever catches on, Bob Newby remains the best new character added in Stranger Things Season 2. He's just so lovable!
24. Ed Kemper (Mindhunter)
Played by Cameron Britton
Edmund Kemper definitely falls into the "love to hate" category. His soft-spoken, eloquent mannerisms only made heinous things that came out of his mouth all the more difficult to stomach. Poor Cameron Britton will probably never land a wholesome role in Hollywood after this one.
23. Trevor Belmont (Castlevania)
Played by: Richard Armitage
Richard Armitage's rogueish portrayal of Trevor Belmont in Netflix's Castlevania series brought a surprising amount of heart to the traditionally blank role of the video game protagonist. We can't wait to see more of him in Season 2.
22. Okja (Okja)
For a CG super pig, Okja had a lot of personality. Even if Joon-ho Bong's Netflix original didn't turn you into a full-on vegan, it was hard not to fall in love with Okja.
21. Aquaman (Justice League)
Played by: Jason Momoa
Normally the laughing stock of the DC Universe, Momoa's take on the amphibious superhero was quite the departure from his comic book counterpart but certainly one of the better parts of Justice League.
20. Jughead (Riverdale)
Played by: Cole Sprouse
Jughead Jones, as portrayed in classic Archie comics, is little more than the hamburger-obsessed weirdo best friend of Archie Andrews. As the narrator, it's never clear exactly how much you can trust the things Jughead is saying or his version of the events. While this character, born on the wrong side of the tracks, is seemingly often the hero, who's to say that's not just how he wants the story to be remembered?
19. Vulture (Spider-Man: Homecoming)
Played by: Michael Keaton
In the comics, Vulture is a pretty lame villain, but Spider-Man: Homecoming made him work exceptionally well. He's a sympathetic villain who has his faults that Keaton nails out of the park. If you haven't seen the movie yet, then you're missing out, because his turn during the third act comes out of nowhere.
18. Ivar the Boneless (Vikings)
Played by: Alex Høgh
With the death of Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel), there was a need for a new powerful warrior to rise on Vikings. Enter Ivar, the crippled son of Ragnar who's more bloodthirsty than his father ever was. Høgh's portrayal of Ivar breathed new life into the series as a polarizing main character you couldn't stop talking about. It's hard not to feel sympathy for him right up until the moment he kills his own brother in a fit of rage.
17. Dante (Coco)
Dante was much more than a lovable sidekick. He was Miguel's eyes, ears, and at times, sense of logic during their adventure in the Land of the Dead. Because the content in Coco was a bit heavy, dealing with death and the afterlife, Dante added a bit of much needed fun during Miguel's journey.
16. Mad Sweeney (American Gods)
Played by: Pablo Schreiber
Mad Sweeney is the most entertaining leprechaun in all of television and movies--sorry, Warwick Davis's Leprechaun franchise. This antagonistic hot-head was one of the most entertaining parts of the first season of American Gods. The character may have some silly aspects about him, like his obsession with his coins, but Sweeney is unforgettable.
15. Ernesto de la Cruz (Coco)
Played by: Benjamin Bratt
Ernesto de la Cruz is one of the most delightful villains you'll see in any film. Coco treats him as the true hero of the story, a larger-than-life deity figure that young Miguel is desperate to know and aspires to be like. When the truth comes out and he's revealed to be a fraud, his entire character unravels to reveal someone so sinister that you can't help but be terrified by him.
14. Ares (John Wick Chapter 2)
Played by: Ruby Rose
The John Wick series is simply the best: better than all the rest. While the majority of the focus was on the titular character, Ruby Rose's Ares, a mute bodyguard, completely stole the show when she was on screen. It's proof that actions speak louder than words, as her character was cool but ultimately intimidating.
13. Evil Morty (Rick and Morty)
Played by: Justin Roilan
There are a whole lot of Ricks and Mortys from infinite universes, but one of the best--and worst--has to be Evil Morty. The guy is incredibly twisted and evil--hence his name. He's killed off a multitude of other people and climbed his way to the top to be the President of the Citadel. You don't cross Evil Morty.
12. Joi (Blade Runner 2049)
Played by: Ana de Armas
Joi is a hologram who exists in a world of replicants, yet it's easy for us humans to completely empathize with her, perhaps because of her total helplessness. She's not corporeal and must rely on Ryan Gosling's K to defend her--or rather, the device that projects her into the real world. It's this fleeting nature that makes her ultimate fate so sad, and the sexed-up Joi duplicate that much more upsetting later on.
11. Peter Parker (Spider-Man: Homecoming)
Played by: Tom Holland
For the first time in cinematic history--aside from Civil War--Peter Parker finally looked and sounded like a high school student. Holland embodied what it's like to balance school and friendships all while being a superhero. Peter Parker was fun, silly, and reminded us all of our awkward times as a teenager. Finally, Spider-Man is fun again.
10. Steve Harrington (Stranger Things 2)
Played by: Joe Keery
Steve Harrington was pretty unlikable in the first season of Stranger Things; however, he played a pivotal role in this year's season as a glorified babysitter and a father figure to Dustin. We got to see a new side to Steve, especially when faced with the new antagonist Billy Hargrove.
9. Rod (Get Out)
Played by: LilRel Howery
Get Out, one of the best overall films of 2017, isn't a comedy, but LilRel Howery added some humor to break up the tension of the film. On top of that, he's probably one of the most loyal and best friends in the history of cinema. He'll take care of your dog and save you from your kidnappers.
8. Korg (Thor: Ragnarok)
Played by: Taika Waititi
While the Thor: Ragnarok version of Korg was a huge departure from his comic book counterpart, Taika Waititi's portrayal of the warbound rockman was delightful and added yet another layer of comedy to the already hilarious film.
7. X-23 (Logan)
Played by: Dafne Keen
X-23 didn't say much during Logan, but she didn't have to. This little mutant did all her talking with her fists--and adamantium claws. Audiences across the world cheered when she walked out and dropped a decapitated head onto the ground. When is the last time a little kid kicked so much butt?
6. Lady Bird (Lady Bird)
Played by: Saoirse Ronan
Greta Gerwig is receiving much deserved praise for her directorial debut film Lady Bird. But the heart and soul of the film comes from Saoirse Ronan as the film's lead. The coming-of-age story focuses on Christine 'Lady Bird' McPherson, who longs to leave her Sacramento home for a new beginning in college on the east coast. Ronan delivers a complex and heartbreaking performance that will leave you wanting to immediately call a family member and tell them you love them.
5. Pennywise (It)
Played by: Bill Skarsgard
Many people worried that the new incarnation of Pennywise would simply attempt to recreate Tim Curry's performance from the TV movie. However, that was not the case as Bill Skarsgard made the role his own, which led to a much scarier and intimidating version of Stephen King's classic monster.
4. Kylo Ren (Star Wars: The Last Jedi)
Played by: Adam Driver
The Last Jedi showed that Kylo Ren is a much more complex and dynamic character than previously thought. His physical and emotional battles throughout the film were some of the highlights of the movie, and it was refreshing to see such a well-developed villain in this new Star Wars film.
3. Nora Durst (The Leftovers)
Played by: Carrie Coon
Durst has always been a big part of The Leftovers, but the entire finale of the series centers around her story, in a "tell not show" monologue where the audience is left to wonder whether or not the narrator is reliable and trustworthy. She's a gripping and enthralling character that's emotionally complex and the best part of the HBO series.
2. June (The Handmaid's Tale)
Played by: Elizabeth Moss
The Handmaid's Tale is a bleak, dystopian story, but there is one glimmer of hope during the first season, and that's June, played by Elizabeth Moss. She gives an award-winning performance as a handmaid who finds quiet ways to rebel against the system.
1. Wonder Woman (Wonder Woman)
Played by: Gal Gadot
Gal Gadot's portrayal of Wonder Woman was the saving grace of 2017 for the DC cinematic universe. Gadot masterfully played the princess of Themyscira and gave the audience a few laughs with this fish-out-of-water story. In addition, she was one of the best parts of Justice League, which failed to hit its mark.
You know what's a great idea? Stuffing 100 players into a plane to parachute down onto a desolate island to scavenge for weapons, armor, and supplies in hopes of surviving a bloody deathmatch. And to keep things interesting as numbers dwindle, throw in the impending doom of an electric field that forces players into an ever-shrinking warzone. PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds turns this foreboding gameplay concept into an exhilarating multiplayer shooter. With several randomized variables that challenge you to adapt, no two matches are the same, and it's what keeps you coming back for more. It's not the first of its kind, and despite glaring flaws, PUBG emerges as the most accessible, mechanically refined battle royale game to date.
PUBG stands above its forebears by streamlining systems and mechanics to let you focus on gearing up, devising tactics on the fly, and executing them to the best of your ability. Gone are granular gameplay elements like crafting, bleeding, and the arduous navigation from games of this lineage. Jumping into a match is less daunting and faster paced than something like H1Z1: King of the Kill or earlier Arma II mods that Brendan "PlayerUnknown" Greene himself helped create.
Whether solo or with a squad of other players, the early phase of a match is filled with tense anticipation. Dropping out of an aircraft with just the clothes on your back, you're expected to loot for weapons, ammo, armor, and health packs. These critical items litter the city centers, towns, and abandoned structures across the game's two different maps. You have to account for the plane's flight path and determine if you want to pick a fight as soon as possible; if so, it's a race to find the first gun or immediately throw hands in a hilariously janky boxing match. On the flip side, parachuting to a more distant town results in a less stressful hunt for items; either way, you won't always get the gear you want. In squads, sharing an abundance of ammo and health packs or helping scout for a vehicle highlights the tactical advantage of team play in the opening minutes.
It's absolutely necessary to juggle all of these factors in the early phase of a match, and by the same token, this can prove to be exhausting and repetitive. Despite having relatively smooth inventory management, it's demoralizing to spend a majority of a match gearing up only to lose in the first firefight or die unceremoniously by distant gunfire coming from an undetermined direction. The harsh reality is part and parcel of the give-and-take you have to accept in PUBG for the more rewarding moments to surface.
After working through the hectic opening of a match, you then have to face the dread of engaging others while also keeping an eye on the slow yet ominous "blue circle of death" that forces players into an increasingly smaller zone. It gives you time to scavenge regardless of the area you land in, but the random nature of where the circle converges within a huge map ensures that no one strategy can be employed repeatedly. Whereas capture zones and specific choke points dictate the action in many shooters, PUBG leverages simple variables to stave off monotony.
You never know where the final firefight will take place, or which position will be most advantageous when things heat up, until the blue zone comes into view. One match could have the last 10 players fighting on the open shores and in between rock formations, and the next one could turn into a stalemate between squads holed up in buildings. Miramar, the newer desert map, showcases the evolution of PUBG with its more varied terrain, newfound verticality, and quirky touches to city interiors (like a luchador wrestling ring and a casino floor). Regardless of the map, the same rules and tactics apply, and it's up to you to adapt to the given environment.
Positioning, scouting, and knowing when to engage are vital to success; these are tenets that feed into the emergent tactics formed in the matter of seconds that separate life and death, especially when playing in groups. Imagine a skirmish against another squad across a crowded city. Spotting enemy movement presents an opening for a kill that'll turn the tide, but taking action puts you in potential danger. So do you pursue the enemy and brace for bullets raining down on you, or fire from afar and give your position away? If you take enough damage and get knocked down, teammates can revive you before you bleed out, but they'd be defenseless as the revive countdown ticks. PUBG is a series of calculated risks in the form of a shooter, and the unpredictability of where or when these moments happen keeps the game fresh.
As you inch toward becoming the last combatant standing, the tension ramps up exponentially. The risk-reward nature of PUBG is compounded by the fact that matches become more of an investment as they go on. But because of how much you have to work to achieve victory, winning is intrinsically rewarding, even without a tangible prize at the end. Whatever your style, there's a way to survive if you play smart. That's not to say the only triumph comes from winning, though. Survival itself is an achievement, every kill feels earned, and recognizing mistakes in a heated battle is a lesson learned.
PUBG retains some of the military-sim roots of its predecessors and is ultimately better for it; it's another layer of forethought required during confrontations. You'll find that guns aren't easy to wield, as recoil is a major factor that negates the effectiveness of full-auto firing modes outside of close-quarters encounters. Bullet drop makes sniping much more challenging than lining up crosshairs while health packs take time to be applied, which makes you think twice about healing under pressure. PUBG's learning process involves going through a lot of trial and error, but this is key in reaching the most satisfying parts of the game.
As of now, there aren't any in-game tutorials to lay out the basics or jumpstart newcomers. Even after several hours, you may still not realize that you can hold the ctrl key and right-click items in the inventory to drop a specific quantity for squadmates, for example. Although it's one of the more accessible games of this type, there's a lot to learn and nothing to show you the ropes if you're on your own.
While PUBG focuses on executing the core mechanics that make battle royale-like games great, it lacks technical refinement. At launch, PUBG is noticeably improved from its early access days, but frame rates can still fluctuate inexplicably. Even a high-end PC can have trouble maintaining a consistent framerate with relatively modest graphics settings, evidence of PUBG's ongoing optimization struggles.
Likewise, the familiar fear of seemingly random crashes and connection difficulties remains, and it's sometimes almost as unnerving as an opposing squad converging on your location. (If it's any consolation, you can pick up where you left off if you relaunch the game before your character dies.) You may also experience character models clipping through the environment and getting stuck inside objects. If and when these problems strike, an otherwise good match can be ruined in an instant.
PUBG's technical shortcomings can undermine its broader achievements on rare occasions, but they don't override your desire to continue playing. Each phase of a match presents a different type of tension that is equal parts thrilling and terrifying, driven by the insatiable desire to be the last person (or squad) standing. Whether you play solo or in a group, successfully executing adaptive tactics to win intense, high-stakes firefights makes for an incredibly rewarding experience. Every player has unique stories of their most memorable matches, and even after hundreds of hours, PUBG continues to inspire rousing tales of victory and defeat.
The end of the month--and year--are in sight. With January right around the corner, Microsoft has announced the lineup of free Games With Gold titles that Xbox Live Gold members will be able to download throughout January on Xbox One and Xbox 360.
As always, there are a total of four games split across the two platforms. On Xbox One, action RPG The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing III will be free for the entire month. This marks the game's launch on Xbox One, and it'll come with (unspecified) Xbox One X enhancements. Starting on January 16, it'll be joined by Zombi, the modified version of Wii U launch game ZombiU. One of the current freebies, Back to the Future: The Game, will also continue to be available during the first part of January.
On the Xbox 360 side, Tomb Raider: Underworld will be available for the first half of the month. It will be replaced by co-op action game Army of Two. As with every Xbox 360 game released through Games With Gold, these both support Xbox One backwards compatibility, meaning Xbox One owners with Gold get a total of four freebies in January.
In the aftermath of that closing, talk began to spread. With more and more games incorporating loot boxes, and single-player games not making publishers enough money to sustain AAA development--is this the beginning of the end for single-player games?
In the video above, Reboot's Mike and Jake discuss this question. For more of these chats, as well as critical video essays, watch past episodes of Reboot on YouTube or here on GameSpot.
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