Disney's newest live-action remake, Beauty and the Beast, is almost here. The movie comes to theaters on March 17, and ahead of that, reviews for the magical movie started to appear online today.
To help you can get an idea for if the movie is worth your time and money, we've collected a number of excerpts from reviews, which you can see below. For more on the movie's critical reception, head to GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
The story is much the same as the 1991 animated original, while the soundtrack features a mix of classic tunes and new ones (and classic songs with new lyrics).
Beauty and the Beast is just the latest live-action version of a Disney animated classic, following Maleficent, Cinderella, and The Jungle Book. More are on the way, including Lion King, Dumbo, Mulan, and Aladdin, among others.
Film: Beauty and the Beast
Release Date: March 17
Starring: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Josh Gad, Ian McKellan, Ewan McGregor, Emma Thompson, Stanley Tucci, Kevin Kline
Directed By: Bill Condon
Rating: PG
Runtime: 129 minutes
GameSpot
"Beauty and the Beast is here to ride upon your nostalgia, to sweep you up in its visuals and get you singing along to all the songs that you loved from long ago. It's all new but still exactly as you remember it. Beauty and the Beast is wonderful, but above all, it is--by all definitions of the word--safe." -- Randolph Ramsay [Full review]
Entertainment Weekly
"More than movies or theme parks, Disney has always been in the business of selling magic. I wish there was just a little bit more of it in this Beauty and the Beast." -- Chris Nashawaty [Full review]
Variety
Disney's live-action remake of its 1991 animated classic, starring Emma Watson as a pitch-perfect Belle, is a sometimes entrancing, sometimes awkward mixture of re-creation and reimagining." Owen Gleiberman [Full review]
USA Today
"Unlike last year's The Jungle Book, Beauty and the Beast marries visual spectacle and sumptuous design work with a better story than its original, casting a spell on old fans and newcomers alike." -- Brian Truitt [Full review]
Polygon
"Despite some of its flaws, Beauty and the Beast is enchanting, wonderful, and captures the heart of what made the original so beloved in the first place. Condon stays true to the themes and styles that made the original so beloved in the first place, but there's also something unique about this adaptation that makes it feel entirely new.
It's the combination of nostalgia and modernity that will appeal to both fans of the original film and those who have never seen it, ushering in an entire new generation of Beauty and the Beast fans. I was concerned about this movie going in, considering how classic the original is, but I walked away from the movie feeling content and humming 'A Tale as Old as Time.'" -- Julia Alexander [Full review]
Collider
"I adore the 1991 Beauty and the Beast, and I had high expectations for the live-action remake. That being said, this isn't a matter of not living up to a classic original as much as there's a lack of consideration for making sure that everything works. There's no reason Beast's CGI makeup should look so awful when you've got Disney footing the bill.
There's no reason the new songs shouldn't be outstanding when you've got Alan Menken back to do the music. There's no reason to add new things if those things don't make the movie better overall. Condon didn't have to stay slavishly devoted to the 1991 film, but most of alterations and changes don't make his version feel fresh. They feel like they're grasping for relevancy." -- Matt Goldberg [Full review]
With Switch now available, Nintendo's support site has been updated with an entire section devoted to the new console. This highlights various small things you might be interested to know about your new system, although the page on Joy-Con issues is perhaps the most important one.
If you find yourself experiencing these issues, Nintendo does recommend ensuring you download the latest system update, but it also has some other tips. These include placing the Switch in the open, bringing the Joy-Cons closer to it, and moving it away from things like other wireless devices and, strangely, aquariums. Should moving it away from problematic devices not solve the matter, Nintendo recommends turning them off, which obviously isn't ideal.
For its part, Nintendo still hasn't responded to requests for comment on the issues from GameSpot and other media outlets.
Elsewhere on the support site, Nintendo details some other things Switch owners may want to be aware of.
Save game data, while stored internally and unable to be moved to another Switch, is unaffected when deleting a game--you're free to do so without losing your progress. Additionally, you have two options when deleting a digital game: deleting and archiving. Deleting works as you'd expect, while Archiving also removes the game and frees up space, but it leaves behind an icon on your Home screen. That allows you to easily redownload it in the future.
On the subject of backwards compatibility, it won't come as any surprise to hear that you're unable to play old games or use non-Switch controllers. The phrasing of the FAQ answer about this does raise an eyebrow, however, as it suggests it's possible we could see support for older Nintendo system's controllers in the future. "The Nintendo Switch system is an all-new way to play, and will not include backwards compatibility with digital or physical games designed for other systems, and is not currently compatible with controllers designed for other systems."
Other noteworthy things:
If you enter the wrong birthdate and fail the age verification test on the eShop, you have to contact Nintendo support.
As previously reported, the microSD card slot is under the kickstand.
You can format a microSD card from the System area of the Settings menu.
A full list of supported microSD types and speeds is available here.
If you notice any interesting tips or facts in using your Switch, let us know in the comments below!
It's a big day for Nintendo and the industry overall, as the Nintendo Switch arrives today. Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime wrote a note to fans in celebration of the launch.
Posted on Twitter (and reprinted in its entirety below), the note thanks fans for their support. Fils-Aime said the Switch--with its hybrid nature--allows console gaming to go in directions "never possible before." He listed off some of the first-party games coming to Switch this year, including Super Mario Odyssey, which he called a "massive new Mario adventure," and said players can expect "great content" from third-party companies as well.
The launch of any new Nintendo system is a special day. But in particular, we can't wait for you to play Nintendo Switch in the comfort of your living room, on the your commute ... or, really, anywhere you want! That's what makes Nintendo Switch so unique.
Over the course of the year, you can play a new game in The Legend of Zelda series, a sequel to Splatoon, and a massive new Mario adventure--not to mention the face-to-face fun of 1-2-Switch, the intense racing action of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the surprise that comes from new franchises like Snipperclips - Cut It Out Together or Arms. And you can also look forward to Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Fire Emblem for Nintendo Switch, and all the great content coming from our third-party partners.
I hope you fully enjoy the journey that you're about to begin. Here's to taking console gaming in new directions--and to new places--never possible before. Thanks for being the best fans. Have fun today!"
The promised reveal of the next content update for Destiny has proven to be more meaningful than expected. Bungie today discussed the "final live event for the Destiny 1 era" and provided details about how Destiny players will transition from the first game to its upcoming sequel.
By and large, it sounds as if your Destiny character won't transfer to Destiny 2 (or whatever it ends up being called).
"Sequels represent the start of a new adventure for every player, with new worlds to explore, new stories to tell, new powers to acquire, new loot to earn, and much more," Bungie said on its website today. "This led us to a decision that would enable us to serve both the game and the player's best interests: Destiny 1 power, possessions, and Eververse-related items and currency will not carry forward. They will, however, remain accessible to you in Destiny 1."
The good news is that your character--at least in terms of the way he or she looks-- won't be abandoned for the sequel.
"We know that, just like us, you have grown fond of the Guardians you've created, so we do plan to preserve your character personalization," it explained. "We are going to recognize the dedication and passion you've shown for this world. Specifically, the class, race, gender, face, hair, and marking selections for all characters that have achieved Level 20 and completed the Black Garden story mission will carry forward."
In addition to carrying over your look, these "veteran accounts" will be given "honors that reflect your Destiny 1 accomplishments."
"We believe this is the best path forward," it said. "It allows us to introduce the major advancements and improvements that all of us expect from a sequel, ensuring it will be the best game we can create, unencumbered by the past. We're looking forward to sharing more details with you later this year for how we will honor your legacy in the future."
Before the sequel arrives this fall, Bungie plans to offer one last live event in the first Destiny. Age of Triumph is meant to be "a fun and memorable celebration that will bring the first major chapter of our Destiny adventures to a fitting close." This will consist of new challenges and rewards.
Age of Triumph will launch at "the end of March." It'll first be revealed through a series of livestreams, starting with one this coming Wednesday, March 8.
Congrats to @NintendoEurope on the launch of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild! Kazuya's here to lend a hand in case Link needs one ;) pic.twitter.com/RQ2FI1sBBC
Pity poor Belle. Of all of Disney's recent efforts to create live-action versions of its classic animated films, it's this booksmart princess that's been saddled with the most expectation. The recent versions of Cinderella and The Jungle Book benefitted from the antiquity of the original movies (allowing its filmmakers more freedom to play around with the source material), but Beauty and the Beast--beloved by everybody and much fresher in our collective memory--has less wiggle room. It was the first animated film ever to have been nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, dammit, and it was a near perfect movie. Screw with it at your peril.
And so this live-action version of Beauty and the Beast behaves as you think it might: as a faithful reimagining of the animated hit from 1991, with little to distinguish it outside of real actors and occasionally jarring CGI. This makes it sound like a negative, but it really isn't (at least, not entirely). Sticking to a template can be wise, especially when your template is Disney Princess Movie TM. In this case, what it means is that this iteration of Beauty and the Beast is wonderful, filled with lavish visuals, charming characters, and outstanding songs.
It's lush and extravagant, with people in sumptuous costumes swanning about in ornate ballrooms. It's romantic and stirring, stuffed to the bodices with budding love and doomed affairs and unfulfilled passion. Nostalgia is powerful, and it's in full force here, propelling you as you watch this latest version of Beauty and the Beast reveal its updated takes on the songs and characters of the original. This new movie is exactly as you remembered the old one to be, but this time, it's packed with more.
More in this case includes a few new songs created especially for the film, but given how familiar many of us are with the original's soundtrack, it's hard to give the additions--fine as they are--fair consideration. Why pay much attention when the castle's furniture starts singing a new piece called Days in the Sun when you know Something There is just around the corner? Beast's new addition, called Forever More, fares better, if only for the soaring vocal performance of Dan Stevens.
There are also new story details here, including a side trip to Paris that provides more information on Belle's departed mother and their family's previous, happier existence before moving to, as Belle would say, the provincial life. But, as with the new songs, it all feels a little unnecessary. That's the great challenge when remaking a universally loved film; any changes or additions need to be amazing, otherwise they'll just be washed away in the wave of nostalgia for what you already know and love.
So when Beauty and the Beast sticks to vibrantly reimagining the original movie's look and songs, it works, even if it all seems so absolutely safe. You'll undoubtedly hum along as the jovial song Belle opens the movie, even if the radiant Emma Watson's uneven performance still somehow manages to keep the princess a 2D character in a 3D world. It's hard not to swoon as the camera sweeps around the dancing Beast and Belle as Beauty and the Beast swells to its chorus. Be Our Guest is another standout, with this version surpassing the visual extravagance of the original and serving as another reminder that, yes, Ewan McGregor (playing the candelabra Lumiere) can sing. Gaston, too, is outstanding, with Luke Evans as the song's titular meathead and Josh Gad (in an entertainingly camp performance) as LeFou absolutely owning their take on this popular toe-tapper.
But after the thrill of nostalgia fades, there's a lingering sense that despite the charm and joy that suffuses this new Beauty and the Beast, there's also more than a whiff of an opportunity missed. It's been a quarter of a century since the animated film was released, and princesses--even Disney ones--have evolved. Belle--as a bookworm and intelligent woman--was considered a new type of princess back in the 1990s, even if she ended up being a bystander in her own story. The updated, new Belle is just as smart but just as helpless. In a world where the likes of a Nerida or an Elsa have carried the torch for independent princesses, Belle--the smartest of them all--can't stand alongside them. Moana singlehandedly saved a demigod from a lava monster. Belle is still standing on a ledge yelling "watch out" as two men fight.
When Beauty and the Beast sticks to vibrantly reimagining the original movie's look and songs, it works.
But that's just another example of how closely this film sticks to the original. Beauty and the Beast is here to ride upon your nostalgia, to sweep you up in its visuals and get you singing along to all the songs that you loved from long ago. It's all new but still exactly as you remember it. Beauty and the Beast is wonderful, but above all, it is--by all definitions of the word--safe.
[UPDATE] The video, titled "Exploration and Discovery," has been released--watch it in the embed above.
BioWare explains in the video that Andromeda has more than 100 planets to discover; a "handful" of these can be landed on. Each has its own story, characters, and challenges, BioWare says.
The video also covers one of your main forms of travel: the Nomad. This vehicle can be upgraded with things like turbo and better handling, among other things.
Additionally, this video talks about the "forward stations" that you'll find in the world. When you find one, you can use it as a fast-travel point. You can also change your loadout or summon your Nomad at the stations.
The original story is below.
The next entry in Mass Effect: Andromeda's ongoing video series will be published today, March 3, BioWare has announced. The video will focus on the "exploration" element of the much-anticipated game. While you have to wait a little while longer to see the video, a teaser is available now.
"At its heart, Mass Effect: Andromeda is a game of discovery and exploration. The choices you make and the places you go; that you blaze your own unique trail through Andromeda," the narrator says in the teaser, which contains footage captured in-engine. Take a look:
Humanity needs a hero to blaze a trail through a new galaxy. Tomorrow you'll get your first look at exploration in Mass Effect: Andromeda. pic.twitter.com/HahI2LXPrk
Producer Michael Gamble teased, "Of all the '101' videos, this is my favorite. Hint: it has big, beautiful works. Full of mystery. And space crab-scorpions."
You can see the previously released Andromeda gameplay videos here.
New Line Cinema, the movie studio behind The Lord of the Rings, has acquired a pitch for a Wizard of Oz horror film. According to The Hollywood Reporter, writer Mike Van Waes came up with the idea for an original story that takes place in the magical world created by L. Frank Baum.
The movie, which is reportedly in the "early development stages," is said to connect to Baum's novel in some way. It was famously adapted for 1939's movie The Wizard of Oz starring Judy Garland.
There have been a number of Wizard of Oz adaptations over the years, the most recent of which was Disney's Oz the Great and Powerful, which starred James Franco. The popular Broadway musical Wicked began in 2003 and is still running today around the world.
Bear in mind that all New Line has done is acquired Waes' pitch, meaning it is very early days for the project, which is not guaranteed to ever come to fruition. There is no word at all on what the story is. Maybe it'll have something to do with those evil flying monkeys.
New Line is no stranger to horror movies, as it produced the Conjuring films, which have been box office hits. One of its high-profile upcoming films is an adaptation of Stephen King's killer clown book, It.
Are you interested in a Wizard of Oz horror movie? Let us know in the comments below!
A new clip from the upcoming French-language cannibal movie Raw has arrived. The minute-long video shows main character Justin (Garance Marillier) awaking in the night to find her skin is covered in a horrible, itchy rash. This appears to be a reaction to a hazing ritual that her character takes part in for her introduction into a nontraditional veterinary school.
She comes to the school as a vegetarian, but eats raw meat for the first time (including a rabbit kidney) to fit in with her classmates. This sets off a dramatic series of events where Justine gains a desire for human flesh, among other other things. The video is captioned, "What are you hungry for?" (via Collider).
Raw, which will see a limited theatrical release in the US starting on March 10, is rated R for "aberrant behavior, bloody and grisly images, strong sexuality, nudity, language and drug use/partying."
The 98-minute movie received a lot of buzz at various film festivals last year. According to The Hollywood Reporter, multiple audience members at a Toronto Film Festival screening for Raw passed out due to the film's content and an ambulance had to be called for them.
It is the first movie from writer-director Julia Ducournau.
This newest clip follows previous ones released over the past few weeks. You can watch them below, but be aware that they contain graphic and disturbing scenes, so you may not want to watch at school or work.
Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker character was only briefly seen in 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens. In this year's The Last Jedi, he is believed to have a larger role. Now, The Force Awakens director JJ Abrams has spoken up to praise Hamill's performance in the new film.
Abrams, who is a producer on The Last Jedi and presumably has seen an early cut, told the New York Daily News (via AV Club) that Hamill is so good in The Last Jedi that he should be in the mix for an Oscar. "I think we are all going to be very upset if he does not win an Oscar, and no one more upset than Mark," Abrams said.
The Last Jedi opens in December. No trailers have been released yet, but that could happen at the Star Wars Celebration event in April, as Lucasfilm has teased some "surprises" for the show.
It also stars Laura Dern, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, and Andy Serkis. Carrie Fisher filmed her Leia scenes for the movie before she passed away in December.
Nintendo has explained its digital Switch game policies for the first time, revealing that multiple user accounts may access the same downloaded games on one system. The publisher also confirmed that you'll be able to play any games you own on more than one console--including a friend's.
"Digital games that you purchase are tied to your Nintendo Account, but everyone on your active Nintendo Switch console can play them," the company states on its Switch support page.
Accessing your games on a second system requires an extra step, but it's nothing too taxing: "If you want to move your digital games to a different system, you can deactivate your current console, then use your Nintendo Account to access the Nintendo eShop on the new console. The new console will automatically become the active console for your Nintendo Account, and all of your digital games can be played on the new system."
If, say, you wanted to access a game for the afternoon on a friend's Switch, it's easy to reactivate your own device as your active console: just deactivate your user account on your friend's system and log in again on your own. All users on your device can play your games, but only while that device is listed as your active console, and Nintendo is quick to assure that only you can access your account funds when purchasing content from the eShop. Nintendo goes on to confirm that physical games are not tied to any one account or device.
Unfortunately, save files can't be transferred between devices--so while you can play your games on a friend's Switch, you won't quite be able to pick up exactly where you left off. There's also the fact that you can only deactivate a console from the device itself, not remotely--so if your Switch is stolen the only way to stop the thief from playing your games is to contact Nintendo.
As part of its ongoing reveals, Undead Labs has published the latest piece of concept art for the upcoming zombie game, State of Decay 2.
Posted on the game's website, this new art, which is "super early" and not representative of the game, is pretty creepy. It shows zombies tied to stakes, left to suffer. Snow and shorter trees are seen in the image as well, meant to show that this scene takes place at higher elevation.
"This was an early idea where we explored using color to try to evoke the feeling of a higher elevation," Undead Labs said. "We were also debating the idea that some humans might utilize zombies in less-than-savory ways."
New concept art for State of Decay 2 has been released on a weekly basis for a while now. You can see the concept art that Undead Labs released in the six previous weeks here, here, here, here, here, and here. Next week's concept art will be the last of the weekly reveals.
With the launch of Ghost Recon: Wildlands coming up next week, Ubisoft today put out a new trailer that showcases the game's PC version. The footage on display in the video was captured on a Geforce GTX card; you can toggle the settings to watch at 60 FPS and with a resolution of up to 4K.
Shown off in the video are a number of technical features that help the game look better such as HBAO+ (for better-looking shadows), volumetric lighting, and "turf tech" that makes grass look more lifelike and respond authentically. Additionally, Wildlands uses Nvidia's capturing tool, Ansel, to let players record and share their gameplay.
Ubisoft also explains in the video that Wildlands has an uncapped frame rate, as well as "dozens" of video options and presets. For more, check out the PC requirements and specs here.
The Transformers spinoff focusing on Bumblebee has found a director. It has been reported that Travis Knight, director of this year's Oscar-nominated Kubo And The Two Strings, will helm the 2018 release.
As reported by Deadline, this will be Knight's live-action debut. Kubo And The Two Strings was his first film as director, but as president of the Laika animation studio he has overseen such acclaimed movies as Boxtrolls, ParaNorman, and Coraline.
The Bumblebee film was first announced early last year. Paramount are planning a new Transformers movie every year until 2019, and former studio boss Brad Grey has previously stated that the Bumblebee film would be made on a lower budget than other films in the series,
"There are characters in the Transformers universe that can be and should be made into their own movies," he told The Hollywood Reporter. "We will make the next movie with Michael [Bay] and go right into a Bumblebee movie, which will be at a lower cost."
The latest movie in the franchise, Transformers: The Last Knight is released in June. It stars Mark Wahlberg, Anthony Hopkins, Josh Duhamel, Stanley Tucci, and John Goodman. Check out the trailer here.
Esteemed developer Fumito Ueda, known for games like The Last Guardian, Shadow of the Colossus, and Ico, is going in a very new direction with his next project. Or at least that's what this silly new video from Mega64 would have you believe. In the joke video, Ueda reveals that he's making Madden 2018.
"After many years of game design, I have finally been entrusted with a franchise that is near and dear to my heart. I hope you all look forward to this exciting new chapter in my career," he says in the introduction.
It's a wonderfully silly idea, featuring Rob Gronskowski is the bad guy, a "Deflate Gate Hex," and "Lord Goodell." There is also a joke about Michael Vick and his treatment of animals. The release date for this bogus game is 2028.
In reality, we do not know what Ueda is making next. After years of development, multiple delays, and a change of platform, The Last Guardian finally came out in December on PS4 to positive reviews.
Warner Bros. has released a red band/NSFW trailer for its upcoming comedy Chips, which is a reboot of the classic police drama TV show. This newest trailer is stuffed with raunchy jokes and other sequences that make it not a good idea to watch if you're at school or work.
The original TV show, which aired on NBC in the '70s and '80s, was not this adult-themed. Here's the trailer:
Chips (short for California Highway Patrol) stars Michael Pena and Dax Shepard as motorcycle cops Frank "Ponch" Poncherello and Jon Baker, who are on a mission to take down their crooked colleagues. The cast also includes Kristen Bell, Adam Brody, Jessica McNamee, Michael K. Williams, and Vincent D'Onofrio.
In an interview with Movieweb last year, Peaa spoke about differences between the show and the new movie. "We're doing our own thing," he said. "They are cops on motorcycles, and Dax Shepard wrote the script. The humor in it is way different. It's funny because, when you read it, it's funny, but when you say it, it's funnier.
"We just want to get that as right as possible, and have it be a very enjoyable ride, with the action and everything. I have high hopes for it, and it's a big opportunity for me."
The original series ran for six seasons between 1977 and 1983, and starred Larry Wilcox and Erik Estrada as Jon and Ponch. There was also a reunion movie in the late '90s called Chips '99.
Next month's Star Wars Celebration event will not only bring news about the next Star Wars movies. Lucasfilm has announced that there will be some video game news as well.
In a StarWars.com post, Lucasfilm announced that Electronic Arts will attend the event to "showcase the latest on their Star Wars projects." That could mean a number of things.
At Star Wars Celebration, attendees can play Star Wars mobile games like Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes, Star Wars: Pinball, and Star Wars: Force Collection. Additionally, there will be an offsite Cantina Community event where people can speak to developers.
Star Wars Celebration takes place April 13-16 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Tickets are on sale now.
A "huge" patch for Halo Wars 2 is on the way, developer 343 Industries has announced. In its latest weekly blog post, the studio said this patch, due out soon, will address "a number of the most common issues being reported by some players."
The patch fixes a bug where players could get stuck at the loading screen and another where some PC players saw a black screen when booting the game up. It also adds a welcome-sounding feature on PC that will alert players if they have old drivers.
There are a number of gameplay changes, too, including a fix for a problem where units would become unresponsive in the Blitz mode. It also clears out an issue where some units could receive a 4X speed boost, while friendly cloaked units will now appear on the minimap.
The patch does not include any balance changes for the game's units, though 343 is tracking player feedback and will adjust the game accordingly in the future.
You can see the complete patch notes below, along with a list of known issues that 343 is tracking and may address in future updates.
The patch does not have a release date yet, but the goal is to have it out ASAP, 343 said. It will arrive first on Xbox One with PC to follow because PC is a "much more complicated platform."
"We know a lot of you are very eager to participate in ranked seasons and a bit more hardcore competitive multiplayer so hang tight, it's coming soon," 343 said.
In other Halo news, 343 also revealed some major changes to Halo 5 regarding its motion sensor that will go live next week--you can read more about that here.
Halo Wars 2 Patch Notes:
Crashes/Errors/Performance
Fixed an issue where players could get stuck on the loading screen
Fixed an issue that caused some PC players to see a black screen on startup
Several "desync" fixes, one of which covered most of the tracked occurrences
Fixed a variety of PC crashes that were hardware-dependent
Fixed a Network Error on opening Blitz Packs
Fixed some AI issues in Skirmish that could cause performance hits
Fixed some performance hitches in Cooperative Campaign
Made performance improvements on various hardware
Overall multiplayer performance improvements
Fixed some crashes that could occur when loading a saved game
Fixed an issue that would cause a Campaign mission to get stuck after loading a save
Fixed a bug with joining a party and getting a network error
Added a driver check on PC to alert users to the presence of old drivers
Fixed an issue that caused players to disconnect from multiplayer games at the beginning of the match
Gameplay
Fixed issue with "Detect" on some starting units not working properly
Fixed an issue with getting the Palmer's Pure Gold Achievement
Fixed some bugs with Kodiaks in Campaign
Fixed a bug with garrisoned Snipers not getting additional stats
Fixed issue with squads getting stuck trying to garrison if another squad beats them to it
Gold medal can now be more easily attained in 'Hold the Line'
Fixed a Cyclops and Reaver pathing bug where they would sometimes stop moving
Fixed an issue with units getting stuck in bases after being made
Fixed various skull functionality not working on some units or abilities
Fixed some cross-skull interactions between Annihilation and Pestilence
Fixed some Locust pathing issues in Blitz (even though they're driven by Grunts)
Fixed an issue with units becoming unresponsive in Blitz
Fixed an issue in Blitz with units getting a x4 speed boost in a specific situation
Fixed a conflict created by swapping d-pad functionality in Blitz
Fixed an issue with the Blisterback not recovering from damage in Blitz
Fixed behavior of Marines sometimes failing to get new targets after throwing a grenade
Friendly cloaked units now appear on the minimap
Made some adjustments to Scarab creation
Tweaks to Grunt Mob, Bloodfuel Grunts, and Bloodfuel Locust
Holo Decoy can no longer be used on Pelicans or Spirits
Fixed card level of units affected by Holo Decoy not showing over clones
Glassing beam always creates vision now in Blitz
Adjusted AI to make better use of Healing and Cloaking fields
Skirmish AI now uses Extraction and Teleport
AIs have been practicing their Domination game
Metagame
Fixed a bug where parties were always assigned to Team 1
Fixed a rare issue with users not actually getting to play the leader they selected in Blitz
"Halt" cinematic should no longer be unlocked early in theater
Fixed some daily/weekly challenge issues where they were not tracked in some playlists
PC players can no longer tab target to whisper to themselves
Phoenix Log page adjustments
Pause menu adjustments
Set default difficulty of AI to normal from easy
Cosmetic
Cleaned up some language localizations
Fixed a bug with UI textures failing to load
Fixed some minimap graphical issues
Fixed a PC issue with starting army text overlapping some UI
Fixed some issues with individual card pack opening animations
Fixed an issue with a terminal for a red barrier not having a display string
Fixed a Domination icon issue, where it would rotate briefly when being recaptured
Fixed an issue with Health bars getting stuck on the screen
Fixed some issues with particles randomly shooting across the maps for various objects
Adjusted transparency on locked skulls in the side panel
Radial menu has been cleaned up a bit
Added extra visual indicator to aid players when they are selecting cards
Made some enhancements to the leader selection carousel
Audio
Fixed an issue with the announcer constantly reporting Zone B is contested when it's not
Fixed an issue with the Condor being able to be heard through fog of war
Fixed incorrect audio playing on some units when damaged
Fixed some issues with units calling out the wrong attackers
Fixed an issue with using right trigger or mouse wheel would cause audio spam
Added audio to Plasma Mines deploy
Added a variety of sound effects, and adjusted timing on some existing ones
Last, But Not Least
Under-the-hood preparation for future ranked multiplayer
Known Issues
We are still working on a fix for a known issue where a game can sometimes freeze or result in a very low frame rate
Investigating some reports of performance issues with cinematics
Investigating reports of the mini-map occasionally being unresponsive on PC
Occasional infinite loading screen when loading into consecutive missions in co-op
Game can sometimes hang indefinitely when restarting a mission
Unit balance feedback and assessment is ongoing by the design team
More than 16 months after its release, 343 Industries continues to update and evolve Halo 5: Guardians. In its latest weekly blog post, the studio announced that it is going to launch a new test playlist that features major changes to the way the game's motion sensor/radar works.
In the playlist, only two player activities will make you show up on the sensor: a (non-silenced) weapon being fired and a Spartan ability being used. On top of that, the "functional range," which is how far the motion sensor can track you, is being increased from 18m to 25m.
This is being done to "help determine if this has a potential place in Halo 5 going forward as well as potential learnings and implications for future Halo FPS titles."
343 has already tested this internally and found that it introduces a further element of strategy, as players can basically choose when they want to show up on the radar. Additionally, because suppressed weapons don't show up on the radar, they can be more effective.
Bear in mind that this is only a test. 343 may never introduce the radar changes to a wider audience in Halo 5 or in the next Halo FPS game (which we now know will have split-screen).
"The motion sensor is a staple of Halo gameplay but has also been a source of some controversy, particularly amongst the more competitive multiplayer crowds," 343 said. "While some players argue that the motion sensor should be completely removed, others argue that due to the speed of the game, gameplay would become too chaotic and it'd be too difficult to track players and Spartan abilities. Instead of an either/or approach, the team has been doing some work to change the motion sensor's functionality and now we'd love for players to help test it out and give us feedback!"
The new radar changes will be available in Halo 5's "Proving Grounds" playlist on Thursday, March 9. The playlist will be available for "at least a month," 343 said.
"We'll run the test as long as it takes to ensure that the team has adequate data and player feedback to make decisions," the developer explained.
343 will be poring over the gameplay data, but if you want to send in specific feedback, you can do so on Halo 5's forums or relay your thoughts to multiplayer director Quinn DelHoyo on Twitter.
Halo 5 still has a big playerbase, Xbox boss Phil Spencer said this week on IGN's Unlocked podcast. He added that the game's pool of players may rise even more in the near future, as Halo 5 is among the titles included with the $10/month Xbox Game Pass subscription service, which launches this spring.
On the more immediate horizon for Halo 5 is a new update that includes fixes, tweaks, and improvements across the board, but with a focus on Forge mode. The patch goes live on March 7, and you can see the full patch notes here.
Nintendo Switch's eShop, which launched via a day one update, has separate account balances to its 3DS and Wii U equivalents. That means if you have unspent credit sitting in your 3DS or Wii U wallet, you can't spend that without first merging that wallet with the new Switch system, called a Nintendo Account.
Luckily, doing so is easy. Simply go to your Nintendo Account page, and choose to merge the two wallets so you can spend previously redeemed vouchers on games for Switch.
Nintendo Switch also allows you to access other regions' eShops. Find out how to do so here.
Nintendo Account is the new replacement for Nintendo Network, while the former is also tied to My Nintendo, the rewards service similar to the now-defunct Club Nintendo. You can link your My Nintendo and your Nintendo Account here.
Disney's DuckTales revival series comes to TV later this year. Now, the network has released the first footage of the comedy-adventure series, providing the best look yet at the the show.
The video also teases out some of the story, which sees Scrooge McDuck (David Tennant) coming out of retirement. The show also features the voices of Danny Pudi (Community), Ben Schwartz (Parks and Rec), and Bobby Moynihan (Saturday Night Live) as Huey, Dewey, and Louie respectively. Kate Micucci (Scrubs) plays Webby Vanderquack, while Beck Bennett (Saturday Night Live) voices Launchpad.
Like the original show, the new version of DuckTales will be all about the "epic family of ducks on their high-flying adventures around the world." It debuts on DisneyXD this summer.
Matt Youngberg (Ben 10: Omniverse) is the show's executive producer. The first image was released last year--check it out here.
The original DuckTales series ran from 1987 to 1990.
The latest DuckTales game was 2013's DuckTales Remastered, which was developed by WayForward and published by Capcom. "Life is like a hurricane...of sadness," we said in our 4.5/10 critique.
[Update] An earlier version of the story stated that Suda51 was involved in the development of Fire Pro Wrestling World. It has been clarified that this is not the case and that his involvement in the announcement was a showing of support for the project.
Publisher Spike Chunsoft has announced that a new game in the Fire Pro Wrestling series called Fire Pro Wrestling World will arrive for PC on Steam Early Access later in 2017.
The announcement was made during GDC 2016 and, according to the game's Steam page, will feature the same grappling-focused fighting system as its predecessors as well as the ability to "customize every aspect of the match, from your wrestler to the ring itself." A list of features and the teaser video can be found below.
Play online: Organize exhibition matches, tournaments, leagues, championship bouts and battle royals with players from around the world.
Mix up the rules: Modes include Deathmatch (steel cage, barbed wire, or landmines), MMA rules and no-holds barred Gruesome Fighting.
Unlimited customization: Create your dream wrestler from over a thousand devastating moves and even more body parts to battle for custom championship belts. Personalize the ring, mat logos and even the referee!
Realistic simulation: Give your creations personalities with a robust CPU logic system that defines their every action. Does your wrestler play to the crowd, or play dirty? You provide actors for the ringside drama.
The announcement was made alongside a video featuring Killer7, Shadows of the Damned, and No More Heroes designer Goichi "Suda51," who offered his support to the project. The Fire Pro Wrestling series gave him his start in the industry, allowing him to work as scenario writer for Super Fire Pro Wrestling 3 Final Bout and also contribute to Super Fire Pro Wrestling Special. However, it seems Suda won't be involved in the development of Fire Pro Wrestling World.
From a gameplay standpoint, the series is known for its timing-based grapple system and deep customisation, however Super Fire Pro Wrestling is remembered for its dramatic ending.
The last Fire Pro Wrestling game was in September 2012, and allowed players to use their Avatars.
Logan launched worldwide this week, and cinemagoers are saying the film teases a highly anticipated superhero sequel.
Spoiler warning: no Logan story spoilers will be shown below, but the movie that's teased before the Wolverine film is revealed, so look away now if you don't want the surprise ruined!
Before Logan begins, there's a bonus sequence that features the comic antihero Deadpool (via Slashfilm) The character, clothed in his civilian gear as Wade Wilson, spots a scuffle between two men in a back alley. He runs to a phone booth to change into his superhero wear, but struggles to get his lycra on for over a minute before a gunshot rings from the alley.
The sequence ends with text that reads, "Deadpool… coming… not soon enough."
GameSpot has verified the teaser exists, at least in the US, though our UK viewer did not see the sequence before her Logan screening.
The scene follows rumors that Deadpool was to appear in the film itself, though the character's actor, Ryan Reynolds, denied those claims.
Logan, meanwhile, opened this week to positive reviews. In GameSpot's verdict, critic Randolph Ramsay called the film "a must-watch." Check out GameSpot's full Logan review for more.
According to a post from Reddit user youkatei, Nier: Automata players can discover a secret shop that sells trophies.
Now, these aren't in-game trophies to adorn some sort of in-game home. No, these are PlayStation system-level trophies. The same ones you usually unlock by completing sections of gameplay, or obtuse challenges.
After beating the game three times, a secret shop can be accessed that sells trophies in exchange for in-game currency. Real-world money cannot be spent in this store, only currency earned within the game--the same currency used to purchase weapons and other items. This means players are sacrificing possible progression for the sake of skipping hard-to-unlock trophies. Having said that, the prices on the trophies don't look unapproachably expensive, compared to the rate that currency is accrued in the game.
The screenshot above shows the secret store menu, with a list of trophies on the left (listed as "Trophy-26, etc.). It appears the player has just purchased Trophy-30, corresponding to the PS4 trophy unlock notification in the top-left.
So what do you think, is three playthroughs enough for players to earn a shortcut to hard-to-get trophies? Let us know in the comments!
Donnie Yen is joining the cast of the upcoming movie adaptation of Square Enix's Sleeping Dogs, starring in the role of a yet-unnamed undercover cop.
Donnie Yen (Ip Man 3)
Yen is known most recently for his portrayals of Xian in xXx: Return of Xander Cage, and of Chirrut Îmwe in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
According to the report over at Deadline, the film is being produced by Original Film and DJ2 Entertainment, under the guidance of producers Neal Moritz (the Fast and Furious series), Dmitri Johnson, and Dan Jevons. It will tell the story of an "undercover police officer (Yen) on a mission to take down one of the most powerful and dangerous criminal organizations in the world: the notorious Triads."
It's unclear at this stage how closely the film will follow the events of the game, or even if the undercover cop in question will be the protagonist from the game, Wei Shen.
Here's some cool news about Deadpool 2. The Wrap is reporting that Stranger Things actor David Harbour is "being eyed" to play Cable in the upcoming sequel. This information is sourced to an "individual with knowledge of the situation."
Harbour, who plays Police Chief Jim Hopper on Stranger Things, has reportedly even gone as far to screen-test for Cable. Fox declined to comment to The Wrap, and representatives for Harbour were not available to comment.
Harmonix has announced more songs from the Rock Band VR setlist, which will span 60 tunes.
The tracks revealed today include some classic rock cuts such as "Walk This Way" by Aerosmith and Van Halen's "Panama," as well as newer rock tracks such as "Beast and the Harlot" by Avenged Sevenfold's "Beast and the Harlot" and Dragonforce's seemingly impossible tune "Through The Fire And Flames."
The great sing-a-long "Livin' On A Prayer" the Paramore's pop song "Ain't It Fun" are also on the soundtrack. You can see all the songs confirmed today below.
Some of the songs will come to Rock Band 4 as DLC "soon," Harmonix teased.
Aerosmith – "Walk This Way"
Against The Current – "Running With The Wild Things"
Alice In Chains – "Man in the Box"
Arctic Horror – "Black Seas"
AudioDamn! - "Lights Out"
Avenged Sevenfold – "Beast and the Harlot"
Basement – "Promise Everything"
The Black Keys – "Gold On The Ceiling"
Bon Jovi – "Livin' On A Prayer"
DragonForce – "Through The Fire And Flames"
Foo Fighters – "Everlong"
Ghost – "Cirice"
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts – "Bad Reputation"
The Killers – "When You Were Young"
Megadeth - "Hangar 18"
Oasis – "Champagne Supernova"
OneRepublic – "Counting Stars"
Paramore – "Ain't It Fun"
The Shelters – "Rebel Heart"
Spirit Kid – "To My Romeo"
Van Halen – "Panama"
Harmonix will announce the remaining 39 songs in the time ahead.
Final Fantasy XV still hasn't been announced for PC, but the development team has indicated on more than one occasion that it's played around with the platform. We've now gotten a look at what it's been able to do with high-end PC hardware.
Square Enix has been working in conjunction with Nvidia on the latest version of Final Fantasy XV's engine, Luminous Studio Pro. The video above, first shared during a talk at the Game Developers Conference this week, shows off a tech demo of what's possible with the engine.
In addition to improved visuals, we see some other things that aren't in the console version of the game. This include a sort of monster truck version of the Regalia driving across a field in Duscae, a particularly fluffy cat, and a battle in Lestallum.
It all looks quite pretty, though keep in mind all of this was captured on a GTX 1080 Ti. That's the newly revealed Nvidia GPU that launches next week for $700.
All of this would strongly suggest Square Enix is considering bringing the game to PC. Numerous games in the series have been ported to PC, and director Hajime Tabata has said he wants to release it on PC. He's also talked enthusiastically about the idea of allowing players to create mods and their own quests in a potential PC version.
Would you be interested in Final Fantasy XV for PC? Let us know in the comments below.
Unlike recent games in the series, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is fairly indirect in how it shepherds you through its world. While it reveals some details, most of the time it's up to you to figure out how to survive. That's why we've compiled all of our in-depth guides to better help you in your journey to understand and overcome the game's myriad threats and mysteries. Keep in mind, there are potential spoilers in some of the guides below.
You can also check out our full review of the game, as well as our feature detailing everything you need to know about it. Be sure to check back often as we update this article with our upcoming Breath of the Wild guides and features.
Beginner's Guide
It's dangerous to go alone in the world of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild; the unwary can perish in a matter of seconds. That's why we've compiled beginner's tips to help you become a veteran survivalist of Hyrule. For a condensed take on what you need to know, watch the video above. Otherwise, check out our comprehensive guide for the full details. [Beginner's Guide]
Things The Game Doesn't Tell You
In Breath of the Wild, there are numerous important mechanics and concepts that the game never explains outright. At times the game alludes to them, but the majority of the time, you're left to figure them out on your own, either by experimenting or completing a sidequest that introduces a particular mechanic. With so many veiled secrets, we've compiled 14 useful things to know to help you on your journey. [Things The Game Doesn't Tell You]
How To Care For Your Horse
Breath of the Wild changes the tradition from past games in the series by removing Link's iconic trusty steed, Epona. Instead, you must find your own horse. Check out the video above for some tips on how to better tame and care for it.
For more on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, check out the news stories below.
Bungie will soon provide the first details about the next content update for Destiny, though it doesn't sound like a major expansion.
The developer teased the announcement in its weekly blog post today, saying it'll share "an announcement and a reveal schedule" at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET tomorrow, March 3.
"We're putting the finishing touches on an announcement about the next content update for Destiny," it explained. "For weeks now, we've been teasing relentlessly that you haven't heard the last from the Live Team. We do that not to be cruel, but to give our team the breathing room they need to finalize the details--and bring you along on the journey as best we can."
It didn't share much about what the new content entails, except to say it consists of "some fresh challenges for you to tackle and the sandbox changes that were previewed last week." Those include further changes to Sidearms, which have become incredibly popular after a recent update, as well as to Truth, No Land Beyond, Blink, and Memory of Skorri.
Separately from this, Bungie said a patch will be released for Destiny next week. This won't change anything on the part of players and is instead meant to bolster Bungie's ability to gather data about your playing habits.
We'll report back tomorrow with what Bungie has to share.
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