Sega has confirmed it will be releasing its Sega Genesis Classics Collection for PS4 and Xbox One this spring. It'll include more than 50 games from the company's iconic 16-bit system Genesis (or Mega Drive, for those outside North America). Fans can expect Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Shining Force, Virtua Fighter 2, and several games in the Phantasy Star and Streets of Rage series. Check out some of the games coming in the trailer below.
The collection looks to be similar to the existing Sega Genesis Classics Collection currently available for PC on Steam. The collection's new website also has a logo for Steam, so it seems PC players are also in line for the new compilation. Nintendo Switch players, however, won't be receiving their copy of the Collection. That system is notably left off the announcement, even though Sega has recently released other classically inspired titles on the Switch like Sonic Forces.
The Collection will also include some enhanced features, of course, like Rewind and a host of visual filters to keep the games looking authentic. There will be full multiplayer capabilities and Trophies/Achievements, and a special Mirror Mode that allows you play the game with the screen flipped horizontally for extra challenge.
The game's announcement came after the website Seganerds posted a trailer and screenshots from the collection, saying Sega posted them on its website last week. Sega told Game Informer a mistake had been made, and the media was posted before the collection was actually supposed to be announced. Sega Genesis Classics Collection will release for PS4 and Xbox One on May 29, and you can get a fill list of the games it includes below.
Ubisoft has rolled out another big update for Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Wildlands. The New Assignment patch is now available for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, following a temporarily delay on the latter due to some "last-minute issues."
New Assignment is the fourth big content update for Ghost War thus far. Depending on which version of the game you're playing, you may need up to 15 GB of free memory on consoles to install it, while the Steam and Uplay versions require 4 GB and 15 GB, respectively. New Assignment introduces the usual assortment of new content to the game, most notably three additional classes: Trapper, Stalker, and Guerrilla.
Both the Trapper and Stalker are sniper classes, though each has very distinct abilities. The former is able to use knock-out gas traps from a distance and passively marks down opponents on the HUD and map for your entire team; the latter gives off no sound indicators from a far enough distance, and any enemies who have been marked will not receive a notification. The Guerrilla, meanwhile, is a support class that has a drone capable of shooting smoke grenades.
On top of the new classes, the update adds two more maps for Extraction mode: Refinery and Cliffside. The former is described as the "largest cocaine lab in Bolivia" and features multiple pathways; the latter is a former Rebel stronghold with tall buildings that provide great sniping vantage points.
Ubisoft has also implemented a number of bug fixes and a new map-voting tool that allows players to vote on one of three maps at the start of a match. You can find the full patch notes for the New Assignment update on the official Ghost Recon: Wildlands website.
As previously announced, Final Fantasy XV protagonist Noctis is set to be the next playable DLC character in Tekken 7. The original announcement pegged him for a Spring 2018 release, and it turns out his arrival is right around the corner on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
Bandai Namco has announced that the Noctis DLC launches for all three platforms on March 20. It shared the date alongside a new trailer that provides our best look yet at the fighting game version of the character. You can check that out below; it showcases Noctis's arsenal of weapons, which looks to consist primarily of his Royal Arms from FFXV.
The Noctis DLC consists of more than just a new character. As seen in the trailer, it also comes with a new stage, Hammerhead, which is set at the gas station of the same name from FFXV--you can even see Cindy standing around in the background. Noctis also gets several unique costumes, including the Casual Outfit, Royal Raiment, Fighting King's Raiment, and the most ridiculous of the bunch, Choco-Mog Style, which puts him in the same attire as FFXV's Moogle Chocobo Carnival update.
A price for the Noctis DLC was not shared, although the previously released Geese Howard DLC sells for $8/£6.49. One thing to be aware of is that Noctis will not appear in Tekken 7's story mode, though as you can see in the images above, you can go bowling as him.
Hollywood doesn't exactly have the best track record when it comes to adapting video games into movies. Whether it's Super Mario Bros., Street Fighter, or Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, most video game movies are trashed by critics and see little box office success. Is the new take on Tomb Raider, starring Alicia Vikander, the one that will change the tide, though?
The reviews for the new film have arrived and, thus far, they're better than you might expect. While Tomb Raider will definitely not be in contention at the Oscars in 2019, many critics seem to think it's decent action movie fare and better than most video game adaptations. Of course, not everyone loves the movie they saw.
Currently, Tomb Raider is sitting at a score of 46 on GameSpot sister site Metacritic. Take a look at a sampling of the reviews below to find out whether this is a movie you want to spend your time on.
Movie: Tomb Raider
Studio: Warner Bros.
Release Date: March 16
GameSpot
"To say exactly where the story goes that makes Tomb Raider so unique would be a spoiler, but let's just say it stays surprisingly grounded. That's a word you can apply to more or less the whole movie. Much of the action is heightened to unbelievable proportions, though no more so than in the 2013 Tomb Raider game, which was widely praised for its 'gritty realism.' The movie is a direct adaptation of that game, and it more than does it justice, even surpassing it in many ways." -- Michael Rougeau [Full Review]
The Associated Press
"The film not-so-subtly borrows from a half dozen better films, but even so, there are definitely ways the story of Tomb Raider might have been improved. Lara is for all her gumption, a pretty passive protagonist, for one.
As it stands, though, Tomb Raider is an often fun and visually compelling action pic, that is also sometimes unintentionally silly, with a great actress leading the whole thing." -- Lindsey Barh [Full Review]
Consequences of Sound
"For all the stigma attached to video-game adaptations, it would be a shame for Tomb Raider's many charms to go forgotten. The Tomb Raider games had long ago shorn the elements that made Lara Croft such a gaming punchline, so it's nice to see the films following suit. Vikander is a beautifully effective avatar for the American Ninja Warrior version of Lara Croft. Stripping down the bombast of the original games (and films) allows Uthaug's reboot to feel comparatively grounded and immediate, without dragging itself down with unnecessary pathos." -- Clint Worthington [Full Review]
IGN
"At its best, Tomb Raider is a passable action movie. It has some cool fight scenes and a neat tomb to raid. But this iteration of iconic adventurer Lara Croft misses the mark by reducing her identity to her relationship with her missing father and her physical prowess. This movie may directly lift many elements from the excellent 2013 video game reboot, but it disappointingly chooses not to adapt what made Lara an interesting and deep character." -- Miranda Sanchez [Full Review]
The Wrap
"Since the genre of video games-turned-into-feature films has inflicted some real doozies on audiences, Tomb Raider towers above most of its peers by being merely OK. By any other measure, this is a saga of fits and starts, and we can only hope for smoother sailing if the film inspires the sequels it clearly hopes to engender." -- Alonso Duralde [Full Review]
IndieWire
"Despite a fresher heroine, Tomb Raider still has all sorts of retrograde video game movie tropes. A cheesy voiceover serves as dunderheaded prologue, and all but consumes the narrative motion of the second act; flashbacks get out of hand in their attempts to round out Lara and Richard's relationship." -- Kate Erbland [Full Review]
Xbox One has been around for over four years now, but the 4K-capable Xbox One X has only been around for a few months. Whether you're a day-one adopter or new to Xbox, it can be difficult to sift through the store and figure out what to play. And yes, there are jokes about how Xbox One doesn't have any games, but that's not true! There's plenty to play on Xbox, and a your options are good even if you're on a budget.
From newer indies to discounted AAA games, we've picked out the best games you can get for $20 or under (around £16) on the Xbox store. This only reflects digital prices; there are games you can get on sale at other retailers, but these games are consistently this affordable.
Celeste may look like another pixelated platformer with a youthful protagonist, but it quickly transforms into a brutal, tightly orchestrated gauntlet of death that only the best players can master. It challenges you to traverse spike-lined caverns with a modest selection of skills, with alternate pathways that push your mettle even further as you strive to acquire every last hidden item. You will die hundreds of times, but with quick restarts and a catchy soundtrack, there's never any downtime to wallow in defeat, only a new opportunity to show the game what you're made of. The action and difficulty curve are accompanied by a surprisingly engaging story that adds just the right amount of context to make your arduous journey feel justified, and to solidify Celeste as one of the biggest surprises so far of 2018. | Peter Brown
Inside -- $20 / £16
Playdead games won the admiration of its now-large audience when it released Limbo, a slow-paced puzzle-platformer that relied heavily on the use of light and negative space. For the studio's follow-up, Inside, it delivered yet another somber world to explore. It presents a tale that unfolds effortlessly before your eyes as you advance from one scene to the next, with nary a word from any of its characters. Through the power of inference and suggestion, you realize the infiltration of a malicious organization and bear witness to its sinister deeds. Inside will test your ability to think creatively, but it's the narrative--and the way it's delivered--that makes it a game worth playing. Inside reinforces the notion that, sometimes, less is more. | Peter Brown
The Sexy Brutale -- $20 / £16
The Sexy Brutale is a quirky little puzzle game co-developed by Tequila Works, the studio behind beautiful adventure game Rime. Its essentially Groundhog Day: The Game--you play through the same day over and over, but with each runthrough you learn more about the creepy mansion you find yourself in. After seeing one character shoot another, you might go and find the gun and prevent the bloody murder by replacing real bullets with blanks. A number of these murders are interconnected--solving one puzzle might prevent one murder, but that could change another branch of time elsewhere in the house. There's no way of preventing every murder in one go, but discovering and tinkering with the different timelines is where the fun lies.And with it being playable on Switch, you can live the same day countless times anywhere you want. Suffice it to say, we've played it over and over again--groundhog day indeed. | Matt Espineli
Halo 5: Guardians -- $20 / £15
Halo 5: Guardians is the biggest and boldest Halo game ever. The campaign tells an intriguing story where Master Chief is could potentially be the bad guy, and another team is tasked to hunt him down. Though the overall narrative did not exactly pay off, the campaign pushed the franchise forward with its more open level design that offered a new feeling of freedom. On the multiplayer side, Halo 5 is arguably the series' strongest offering to date. The core modes like Arena are there and have never been better, and Forge mode has allowed modders to create some truly incredible creations. But what's more exciting is the 24-player Warzone mode, which gives Halo's multiplayer a sense of scale that it never had before--and it's a lot of fun. At $20 (or free with an Xbox Game Pass subscription), Halo 5 is absolutely worth checking out. | Eddie Makuch
Crypt of the NecroDancer -- $15 / £12
Roguelikes (or at least roguelike elements) have been one of the most popular trends in gaming over the past handful of years, but few have taken as interesting of an approach to the genre as Crypt of the NecroDancer. It tasks players with navigating a dungeon to the beat of the music. Rather than simply move in the direction you wish or attack the enemy that's in your path, you and your enemies' actions are tied directly to the (always excellent) soundtrack. It's essential that you always be doing something--not taking an action at the next beat resets your combo, meaning you'll earn less gold or deal less damage, depending on the items you've acquired. Particularly as the music becomes more fast-paced, this lends a real sense of tension and excitement to every moment: you need to constantly be considering your next action while accounting for how nearby enemies will react to your movements. It's an experience with few points of comparison, but it's nonetheless one that you'll certainly want to try. | Chris Pereira
Enter the Gungeon -- $15 / £11
Being a roguelike-style shooter, Enter the Gungeon naturally draws comparisons to games like The Binding of Isaac and Nuclear Throne. And while that does offer a decent starting point for understanding what to expect, Enter the Gungeon manages to rise above being a pale imitator. It feels fantastic, with a dodge-roll ability that allows you to satisfyingly evade damage with a well-timed use. There are ridiculous weapons, such as those that fire bees or a gun that shoots guns which themselves fire bullets. The well-crafted procedurally generated environments help to keep each run feeling fresh, as do the wide variety of items and secrets to uncover along the way. And co-op support makes for an especially fun, chaotic experience (although it's unfortunate that the second player isn't able to play as the different characters that the main player has access to). The entire game is also overflowing with personality and color, making for an experience that is as fun to look at as is to play. | Chris Pereira
Stardew Valley -- $15 / £12
Originally released on PC, hit farming sim Stardew Valley has made its way to console with very few compromises (aside from the lack of mods, if that's something you care about). It's an excellent take on the Harvest Moon formula, with a laid-back small-town atmosphere, tons of work to do, and bachelors and bachelorettes to date. But the valley also has its mysteries, and the added intrigue makes it easy to pick up, hard to put down, and rewarding day after day. Even though it has nothing to do with the Harvest Moon franchise, it's easily the best "Harvest Moon" game in years. | Kallie Plagge
Sonic Mania -- $20 / £16
Created by members of the Sonic fan-hack community under Sega's watch, Sonic Mania exudes passion and reverence in its recreation of nostalgic visuals, sounds, and level designs. But the game isn't content with senselessly regurgitating the past; rather, it expands upon the familiar with new ideas of its own and delivers plenty of inventive concepts that diversify and build upon the series' fast-paced level design. Sonic Mania is smart and interpretive in its approach, leveraging the strengths of its design and visuals to craft not only the best Sonic game ever made, but an amazing platforming experience overall. If you've enjoyed Sonic at any point in your life, you owe it to yourself to play Sonic Mania. And even if you're not a longtime fan, the fast-paced platforming on display is a fantastic introduction to Sega's beloved blue blur. | Matt Espineli
Overcooked -- $17 / £13
Overcooked is like a Mario Party mini-game blown up into its own standalone experience in the best way possible. It's a game that becomes exponentially better when played with at least one other person. What starts out as a relatively tame game where you help each other chop some vegetables and get them served on a plate becomes a frantic rush to put out fires, get ingredients distributed between two moving vehicles, and other ridiculous scenarios. | Chris Pereira
Thimbleweed Park -- $20 / £17
Point-and-click adventure games have experienced something of a renaissance in recent years, and Thimbleweed Park--from adventure game legends Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick--is a prime example. The X-Files-inspired journey puts you in the role of two FBI agents that bear more than a passing resemblance to the classic TV show as you relive the glory days of adventure games. Playing on any console means dealing with a gamepad-based control scheme (as opposed to the more natural mouse controls on PC), but Switch makes up for this with touchscreen support when played in handheld mode. | Chris Pereira
Thumper -- $20 / £16
Although it's a game arguably best-suited for VR, Thumper is an incredible experience however you play it. It provides a unique blend of rhythm-based gameplay and action--what the developer calls "rhythm violence"--that provides a far more intense version of the basic mechanics you see in other rhythm games. With an incredible soundtrack and levels well-suited to chasing high scores, Thumper is a game with the potential to stick around on your home screen for a long time. | Chris Pereira
Axiom Verge -- $20 / £16
Axiom Verge is another take on the Metroidvania style, but it distinguishes itself through its wide variety of weapons and tools--most notably, the Address Disruptor, which affects the environment and each enemy type in different ways. It's also a game with an impressive sense of scale and no shortage of secrets to uncover, encouraging multiple playthroughs. Add in an excellent soundtrack and tantalizing story, and there's a lot to like here. | Chris Pereira
Bastion -- $15 / £12
Supergiant Games' debut, Bastion, set the stage for everything else the developer created. This isometric action RPG tells a gripping story of a world destroyed by a catastrophic event referred to as The Calamity in the city of Caelondia. You control Bastion's protagonist, The Kid, who is led by the charismatic narrator named Rucks in a journey to piece the city back together. Very few survivors are left, and hostile monsters litter Caelondia, which is the impetus to put a varied arsenal of melee and projectile weapons to use. The Bastion acts as a sort of home base that slowly comes together as you progress and collect cores at the end of each level.Rucks' deep, instantly recognizable voice (that of Logan Cunningham) adds a level of grandeur to the story that's superbly supported by a truly remarkable soundtrack (by Darren Korb) that's vaguely Celtic, Western, and trip-hop all at the same time. Bastion's fantastical hand-painted art style (by Jen Zee) breathes life into a world nearly devoid of it, torn apart by a conflict of different cultures. These elements came to be staples of Supergiant's work, and Bastion is still a sterling example of the team's ability to craft a game that's both fun and heartfelt. | Michael Higham
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain -- $20 (not discounted in UK)
You may have heard that Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, the final Metal Gear game to feature the involvement of series creator Hideo Kojima, has flaws. The last chunk of the game involves replaying earlier missions with small tweaks, and certain late-game story content was consigned to a special edition bonus feature. Despite all of that, The Phantom Pain stands as a seminal example of what an open-world action game can be. While still retaining much of what makes a Metal Gear game so distinct, it presents players with a vast open world and the ability to tackle its challenges in many, many ways.The mechanics of Ground Zeroes have been fine-tuned, and you can leverage them in a multitude of ways as you take part in the game's consistently excellent, thrilling missions. Just as enjoyable are the emergent hijinks you'll encounter along the way, and all of this is made better by the consistent progression of building up your own personal army. Although it's undoubtedly an experience best played after playing making your way through the prior games, The Phantom Pain is a game that everyone should ultimately try. It holds up now, even after a few years; all that's changed is the price tag. | Chris Pereira
This week marks the launch of Kirby Star Allies, the pink puffball's debut adventure on Switch and Nintendo's big marquee release of March. Much like other installments in the long-running series, Star Allies is a side-scrolling platformer featuring a variety of colorful stages and bosses, which players must overcome using Kirby's signature Copy powers.
That isn't the only trick in Kirby's repertoire this time, however. Star Allies also introduces the ability to throw hearts at enemies, which allows Kirby to befriend up to three of them (who can be controlled either by the AI or other players) to work alongside him in each stage.
The emphasis on recruiting enemies sets Star Allies apart from other Kirby games. GameSpot critic Peter Brown called the mechanic "a welcome change that keeps the otherwise traditional gameplay fresh" in our Kirby Star Allies review and praised the game as "just relentlessly charismatic."
With its release quickly approaching, other reviews for Kirby Star Allies have begun appearing online, a sample of which you can find below. For a wider look at what critics are saying about the new Kirby Switch game, be sure to check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
Game: Kirby Star Allies
Developer: HAL Laboratory
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Release date: March 16
Price: $60 / £50
GameSpot -- 8/10
"Star Allies is yet another Kirby game, but it's up there with some of the best. It's an artistic showcase, and a great opportunity for co-op platforming. The one real complaint you can levy at it is that it gates off its more challenging aspects, but the fact that they are present to begin with will please anyone who's grown weary of the series' painless platforming." -- Peter Brown [Full review]
IGN -- 8.3/10
"The name Kirby Star Allies isn't just for show. Whether you're adventuring through Dream Land with up to three friends or playing with competent AI teammates, Kirby's ever-rotating group of uniquely powered pals are the real stars of the show here. The creative ways you can combine abilities never gets old, which means there's great potential for replayability especially with friends. I just wish the final boss battle hadn't come just as the puzzles were starting to give me a challenge." -- Brendan Graeber [Full review]
Eurogamer -- Recommended
"There are some caveats, of course--after the 60 FPS action of the 3DS outings for Kirby, it's a strangely retrograde experience seeing Star Allies stick to something around 30 FPS for its action, a move that smarts all the more seeing as the game's menus and post-level screens play out at 60 FPS themselves. There's also the fact that many will bounce off Kirby's soft edges, not seeing the point of a game in which you're caressed through and one that never really asks too much of the player. It's kid's stuff, really--but if you've any love left for the kinds of far-fetched wonder we all used to play as kids, then Kirby Star Allies can be pretty sensational." -- Martin Robinson [Full review]
US Gamer -- 4/5
"I suppose Star Allies' biggest compliment is also its most obvious flaw: It's a Kirby game. By now, you ought to know if you love the little guy, or if you can live the rest of your life without touching another one of his games. While anyone who's just not into Kirby should pass on Star Allies, I can confidently say the series' fans are about to make a whole bunch of great new pals. Just try to hold off on eating them until you're really desperate." -- Nadia Oxford [Full review]
Game Informer -- 6.25/10
"Star Allies gets credit for a great soundtrack, great controls, and an epic finale. Even if the visuals are the epitome of generic Kirby, they look sharp. HAL delivers a polished Kirby experience here that plays well, but it ultimately amounts to a forgettable adventure that demands so little from the player that I sometimes felt like I was barely involved at all." -- Kyle Hilliard [Full review]
Polygon -- 7/10
"While it lacks the substance to properly satisfy longtime Kirby fans, Star Allies does at least seem genuinely earnest in its underlying belief in the power of friendship. The game is frequently chaotic and a touch under-baked, but it's hard to be too upset at a game where you can break down long-standing bonds of enmity and heal foes with a kiss. Even if it's on the brief and simple side, Star Allies demonstrates the polish and personality you've come to expect from the series. It's a kid-friendly romp through the franchise's most memorable moments, and the asymmetric gameplay and lively spirit of Kirby's latest journey make it a great way to introduce a new generation of fans to the series." -- Jeremy Parish [Full review]
It's been nearly 15 years since Rob Zombie's first feature film, House of 1000 Corpses, hit theaters in 2003. It was followed in 2005 by the sequel The Devil's Rejects, a film that seemingly wrapped up the demented saga of the Firefly family. Since then, Zombie directed movies like The Lords of Salem, The Haunted World of El Superbeasto, and a reboot of the Halloween franchise. Now the musician and director is going back to his filmmaking roots with the return of the Firefly clan in his new movie, Three From Hell.
Zombie announced on Instagram that his latest film is already in production, writing, "It's all true! Day One shooting Three From Hell! The murder and madness continues." Tagged in the photo are Devil's Rejects star Sheri Moon Zombie--Rob's wife--and Bill Moseley, who played Otis Driftwood in previous films.
The bigger question is how a movie involving the Firefly family can even happen. After all, The Devil's Rejects ending with the three surviving members being gunned down by police. Given that Zombie is positioning the film as a sequel to The Devil's Rejects--as evidenced by the official T-shirt he already has for sale--chances are there will be some kind of supernatural explanation behind why they are resurrected.
Given that production is just now getting underway, there is no announced release date or additional cast information for Three From Hell. It's worth noting, though, that Zombie has seemingly been teasing the movie's announcement by posting a variety of behind-the-scenes photos from both House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil's Rejects, which you can see on Instagram.
By Anonymous on Mar 14, 2018 10:30 pm The new Tomb Raider movie starring Alicia Vikander as Lara croft is a close adaptation of the 2013 reboot game. Does it do the original justice? Find out in Mike Rougeau's review!
The new Tomb Raider is a pretty good action movie and a better than average video game adaptation, with a stunning performance from Oscar winner Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft. What really elevates it, though, are a couple of extremely specific story and design decisions that set it apart from all its contemporaries, from Indiana Jones and Uncharted to past Tomb Raider games and movies.
To say exactly where the story goes that makes Tomb Raider so unique would be a spoiler, but let's just say it stays surprisingly grounded.
That's a word you can apply to more or less the whole movie. Much of the action is heightened to unbelievable proportions, though no more so than in the 2013 Tomb Raider game, which was widely praised for its "gritty realism." The movie is a direct adaptation of that game, and it more than does it justice, even surpassing it in many ways.
Like the 2013 game (which itself was a major series reboot), the 2018 Tomb Raider movie follows a younger, less experienced Lara Croft in an origin story that sees her transforming by necessity into the skilled adventurer who gamers know and love. The film does a great job providing plausible explanations for Lara's many talents; as a young bicycle courier and amateur MMA fighter in London, Lara has the reflexes and athleticism she'll later use to scale rock walls and parkour her way through ancient tombs. And Vikander totally sells every punch, leap, and plunge, her amazingly chiseled muscles flexing and straining impressively throughout the movie.
Lara's father, Lord Richard Croft (Dominic West), has been missing for several years when we catch up with her in the movie. But she hasn't yet signed the papers that would give her control of his vast business empire and wealthy estate, out of a combination of determined independence and a stubborn refusal to admit he really isn't coming back. When she discovers new clues to where he disappeared to, she pawns what little she has (to a very funny Nick Frost) and hurls herself headlong in search of him.
That means heading to coastal Asia, where she tracks down (a little too easily, but whatever) the same boat that her dad chartered seven years earlier. She convinces the captain, Lu Ren (the underused but great Daniel Wu), to take her to the dangerous Devil's Sea, where her father's been stranded alongside the ruthless mercenary Mathias Vogel (the perfectly despicable Walton Goggins).
Tomb Raider suffers slightly from trying to cram too much in. It's stuffed full of action sequences, at least one of which probably should have been cut (the early chase scene where some kids rob her, maybe?). There's a cold open featuring her dad's voiceover explaining the mythology of the deadly Japanese goddess Himiko as maps and etchings scroll by on the screen, a tedious info dump that, incredibly, is then repeated later in the film when she uncovers all his research. And while the movie spends plenty of time establishing Lara as a character, it spends considerably less on the villain, Vogel, who remains fairly two-dimensional despite some quick lines about wanting to get off the island and see his family again.
Any empathy you might have felt for Vogel is derailed when he compares Lara to his daughters while being extremely creepy toward her. Thankfully, Lara is never explicitly threatened with sexual violence in this movie, which you might consider an improvement from some of the game's more ambiguous scenes. On the other hand, when a lone young woman is being hunted and restrained by multiple beefy, exclusively male bad guys, the implication--the possibility it might happen, despite it being unstated--remains. Some viewers might find it disappointing that Tomb Raider doesn't totally overcome that subtext, while others will simply consider it realistic.
But even when this movie threatens to sink in some areas, Vikander buoys the whole thing up admirably. The Ex Machina and The Danish Girl actress clearly put an incredible amount of physical work into making this character believable. It paid off in action scenes that feel just possible enough, even when they verge on unbelievable. Many of these, including a harrowing trip down river rapids toward a towering waterfall, are ripped straight from the game, to which the movie owes a great deal. Seeing them play out onscreen is fun for game fans, but they're not done simply for the sake of lip service, and non-gaming moviegoers should be just as engrossed.
Vikander also brings her considerable emotional range to the role, lending Lara the right amounts of vulnerability and raw feeling when required. Her ability to switch from a young woman who misses her father to a stealthy bow-wielding killing machine--and back again, multiple times--is impressive.
Her general skepticism, too, plays a huge part in grounding this movie in reality. She finds it just as implausible as you or I would that an ancient Queen of Death is going to spring out of her tomb and murder everyone on the planet; Lara isn't there to stop the curse, but to find and/or rescue her father, who she believes is at least partially insane for believing Himiko poses a real threat to the world. That aspect of her character pays off effectively by the movie's end, and it's one of the things that most sets this incarnation of Tomb Raider apart.
Maybe the weirdest thing about this movie--good or bad--is how closely it follows the plot of one predecessor in the "archaeological adventure" genre, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. In each movie, a reluctant, skeptical adventurer uses their missing father's research to track him down, inadvertently delivering that research directly into the hands of ruthless foes. They then must temporarily team up with said enemies to ensure their father's safety, using the research to pass a series of booby-trapped trials and reach a mythical something-or-other deep in the bowels of a long lost temple.
Tomb Raider holds up well on its own--and next to the 2013 game on which it's based--but understandably, it can't really compare with the classic movie it copies most heavily. This juxtaposition winds up especially unfavorable for Tomb Raider when you realize that unlike Indiana Jones, Lara Croft has no iconic (or even recognizable) theme music. This movie has plenty of fist pump moments, but you'll eventually realize they're not as impactful without that memorable "dun-dun-dun-duhhh!"
Nevertheless, Tomb Raider is a great video game adaptation and a decent action movie on its own, elevated by smart story choices and a winning performance from Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft. Here's hoping she's down for a sequel.
The Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection does a lot to celebrate 30 years of the series' focus on one-on-one fighting action. While Capcom has released other fighting game collections in the past, such as Street Fighter Anniversary Collection and Street Fighter Alpha Anthology, the 30th Anniversary Collection is by far the most robust compilation package ever released for the series. We recently had the chance to check out the upcoming collection ahead of its May release to all of its offerings. In addition to getting hands-on with the Nintendo Switch-exclusive Tournament Mode, we dived a bit further into the collection, and got to see just what makes this particular package so special.
The clear focus in the collection is highlighting the many major milestones of the 2D era. Featuring 12 of Street Fighter's greatest hits, the package includes the original Street Fighter, Street Fighter Alpha 1-3, Street Fighter II, Super Street Fighter II: Turbo, all three versions of Street Fighter III (SFIII, 2nd Impact, and 3rd Strike), and much more. As direct ports of the arcade releases, each game retains much of what hardcore fans can expect from the original games as they were in their traditional arcade cabinets.
Speaking of which, the collection also features a selection of filters and options for how you wish to view each game. Along with the old-fashioned normal mode, you can switch over to arcade and TV filters that show CRT-style scanlines and television tube-like curvature to each game, giving a more retro feel. A significant feature added to several of the games is the inclusion of online play for SFII Turbo: Hyper Fighting, Super Turbo, Alpha 3, and Street Fighter III 3rd Strike. With ranked matching and casual play supporting up to four players, you'll be able to dive into online matches against other hardcore SF fans. Unfortunately, only these select titles are online-enabled. According to the developers, they focused on offering online play for the most popular entries in the series, instead of having empty online lobbies for the least active games in the package.
The 30th Anniversary collection will also come to the Nintendo Switch--which will have a console-exclusive mode. Called the Tournament Mode, up to 8 players (across four different Switch consoles connected locally) will be able to compete against one another in Super Street Fighter II Tournament Edition as they fight their way up the ladder. During our session, we started off by picking one character and competed against the opposing player. After one round, the match finish screen instructs each player to move over to a new spot on the connected Switch units, bringing their chosen fighter and current progress with them. It sort of felt like a game of musical chairs, except with quick matches of Street Fighter. Though it felt a bit gimmicky, it's a neat feature for the Switch, and it could be a neat diversion when you have some friends around and some time to kill.
Along with the suite of games, the Anniversary Collection also comes with a special Museum Mode detailing the history and lore of the Street Fighter series. With a viewable Street Fighter Timeline, you can examine entries for each Street Fighter game along with factoids about their respective ports and the resulting impact for the franchise. Moreover, the timeline also details proposed side-games, such as how Street Fighter '89 eventually became Final Fight, along with some developer notes and art about each major milestone in the series. The bonus mode also features detailed information about each member of the roster, along with an incredibly detailed sprite viewer where you can inspect each character's individual animations for various moves across multiple games. Seeing the difference in detail between Chun-li's Hurricane Kick from the original Street Fighter II to 3rd Strike shows how much the series has improved over the years, giving some added respect for the craft that went into each title.
It was fun going through each game and checking out what they had to offer in today's age. Each entry is represented well, even featuring detailed facts about their development along with a showing of each game's arcade specific attract mode during your pre-game selection. Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection looks to be the most ambitious compilation the series has seen yet, and a surprisingly educational one as well. The series has been through a lot over the years, and seeing the essential games on display in all their glory offers some neat perspective on how much the series has held up over time, and how it still remains one of the most respected franchises out there.
Microsoft has officially confirmed its plans for E3 2018. Rather than have its usual presence inside the Los Angeles Convention Center, where E3 takes place, Microsoft is moving the bulk of its efforts across the street to the nearby Microsoft Theater in LA Live. The company says this will make for the company's "biggest E3 showing ever."
First up at the Microsoft Theater will be Microsoft's E3 press conference, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 10, at 1 PM PT. Following that, it will host Xbox FanFest events, hands-on demos for E3 attendees, and more. "Not only does the Microsoft Theater allow us to centralize our Xbox presence at E3, but its size enables us to include even more fans and partners in the Xbox E3 2018 Briefing than ever before," said corporate VP Mike Nichols in an Xbox Wire post.
The announcement makes it clear that the move was made in collaboration with the ESA, no doubt to avoid spurring discussions about E3's demise. Microsoft also points out that it won't be absent entirely from the official E3 show floor, as it will have a booth for its streaming service, Mixer.
"These changes--expanding our presence, multiple venues, taking over the Microsoft Theater--give us the opportunity to bring together a variety of Xbox experiences into one primary location and, most importantly, let fans in on what we're up to in 2018 and beyond in a fresh new way," Nichols said.
At this point, we have little idea of what to expect from Microsoft's E3 showing. Whereas last year we knew that Xbox One X (then Project Scorpio) would be a major highlight, this year's show remains more of a mystery. Xbox boss Phil Spencer said in January that there would be some "positive changes" at E3 for Microsoft, which may have been a reference to the just-announced move. One possibility is the announcement of Halo 6, which has been discussed but not formally revealed. Microsoft is also said to be working on a PlayStation Now-like game-streaming service.
By Anonymous on Mar 14, 2018 09:34 pm Tune in as Erick and Alessandro relives some of their favorite moments as Dante in the Devil May Cry series now that the HD collection is available.
By Anonymous on Mar 14, 2018 09:30 pm We've got some gameplay from the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, including Alpha 2, Third Strike, and more!
By Anonymous on Mar 14, 2018 09:30 pm The Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection Museum Mode has a robust art gallery, and includes the art, backstory, and even animation frames from every Street Fighter character. Check it out here!
Fortnite's newest patch has been delayed. Update 3.3 was supposed to go live on March 14, but developer Epic ran into an unspecified "issue," so the studio is delaying the patch until it can fix it. Epic added that it is currently working on a solution and will announce more details on its progress as information becomes available.
There is no word about everything in the 3.3 update, but the developer did tease that players will be able to come across a Supply Llama in Battle Royale. The update may also include remote explosives, a newly revealed item that players will be able to detonate from a distance.
We discovered an issue that will prevent us from releasing v3.3 tomorrow, March 14. We're working on solving that problem now and will update you once we know more.
Teams of 20 has been available in Fortnite since earlier this month. The mode pits five teams against each other, with each team containing 20 players. You can watch a trailer for the mode in the video embed above.
Developer Epic releases limited-time modes for Fortnite on a semi-regular basis. One of the previous ones was called Solid Gold, which made every item in the game Legendary. We can only imagine what limited-time mode will come next.
Epic recently announced it is bringing Fortnite: Battle Royale to mobile. Those with iOS devices can now sign up for a chance to take part in an exclusive invite event. If you're curious to see how the game runs on mobile, you can check out the first gameplay footage of Fortnite on iOS here.
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The new Tomb Raider movie starring Alicia Vikander as Lara croft is a close adaptation of the 2013 reboot game. Does it do the original justice? Find out in Mike Rougeau's review!
Tune in as Erick and Alessandro relives some of their favorite moments as Dante in the Devil May Cry series now that the HD collection is available.
We've got some gameplay from the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, including Alpha 2, Third Strike, and more!
The Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection Museum Mode has a robust art gallery, and includes the art, backstory, and even animation frames from every Street Fighter character. Check it out here!
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