By Jimmy Thang on Aug 17, 2017 08:30 pm
While AMD's $499 RX Vega 64 was built to go toe-to-toe with Nvidia's GeForce GTX 1080, its more affordable Vega 56 sibling is designed to be the GTX 1070 killer. We've recommended the GTX 1070 for more gamers, since it's considerably cheaper, but is powerful enough to max out games at 1440p or to push high-refresh rate 1080p displays. AMD's RX Vega 56 is priced the same at $400, and makes a strong case at dethroning Nvidia's venerable card. Table of Contents
Design
The RX Vega 56 uses the same external design as the RX Vega 64. Both cards measure approximately 10.5 inches long and use a black chassis coupled with a 30mm blower-style fan. Its connections, which include three DisplayPorts and one HDMI connection, are also the same. Its biggest difference is that it's a 210-watt TDP card, which draws less power than it's 295-watt sibling. It still requires two 8-pin connectors, however, and you'll want at least a 700-watt PSU to power the GPU.
Specs
| | AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 | AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 | CUDA Cores/Stream Processors | 3584 | 4096 | 2560 | 1920 | Texture Units | 224 | 256 | 160 | 120 | ROPs | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | Core Clock | 1156MHz | 1274MHz | 1607MHz | 1506MHz | Boost Clock | 1471MHz | 1546MHz | 1733MHz | 1683MHz | Memory Clock | 800MHz | 945MHz | 10Gbps GDDR5X | 8Gbps GDDR5 | Memory Bus Width | 2048-bit | 2048-bit | 256-bit | 256-bit | VRAM | 8GB HBM2 | 8GB HBM2 | 8GB | 8GB | Transistor Count | 12.5B | 12.5B | 7.2B | 7.2B | Teraflops | 10.5 | 12.7 | 8.9 | 6.5 | TDP | 210W | 295W | 180W | 150W | Manufacturing Process | 14nm | 14nm | 16nm FinFET | 16nm FinFET | Architecture | Vega | Vega | Pascal | Pascal | GPU | Vega 10 | Vega 10 | GP104 | GP104 | Launch Date | 8/14/2017 | 8/14/2017 | 5/27/2016 | 6/10/2016 | MSRP | $399 | $499 | $549 | $399 |
In terms of specs, the RX Vega 56 is a slightly lesser version of the RX Vega 64 in many ways. Its name is derived from the fact that it has 56 compute units, as opposed to 64 on the RX Vega 64. This also means that it has less stream processors and texture units. It still uses 8GB of AMD's second generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM2), but its memory clock is reduced from 945MHz down to 800MHz. The RX Vega 56 is a 10.5 teraflop GPU, which is 2.2 TFLOPS fewer than the RX Vega 64, but a whole 4.0 TFLOPS more than the GTX 1070. Don't let the teraflop count mislead you, however, the competition is much closer than that number will have you believe. We'll dive into performance in the next few slides.
Testing Methodology
Since AMD is pitting the RX Vega 56 against the GTX 1070, we're going to make direct comparisons against it. We're also going to add in benchmark numbers for the RX Vega 64 and GTX 1080 to give more context as well. To ensure benchmarking consistency, we're using the same test rig for all GPUs, which is a system equipped with an Intel Core i7-5930K Haswell-E CPU clocked at 3.9GHz and 16GB of DDR4 RAM clocked at 2133MHz running in quad-channel mode. We're going to test the cards using the same suite of synthetic, VR, and game benchmarks. These tests encompass three resolutions (1080p, 1440p, and 4K). We also ran each benchmark at their respective max settings to really put the cards through their paces.
Synthetic Benchmark
3DMark 11 Extreme
3DMark 11 Extreme is a synthetic 1080p test that provides a score and measures a GPU's DirectX 11 performance. As you can see from the chart above, the RX Vega 56 scored a 7481, which is five percent less than the GeForce GTX 1070.
1080 Benchmarks
From left to right: Tomb Raider, BioShock Infinite, Shadow of Mordor, Unigine Valley, Metro Last Light
The rest of our 1080p tests show the RX Vega 56 and GTX 1070 trading blows, with AMD's card winning three out of the five benchmarks here. Nvidia's card managed to beat the RX Vega 56 in our Unigine Valley and BioShock Infinite tests, which are tests the RX Vega 64 also fell behind the competing GTX 1080. At 1080p, it's really too close to declare a definitive winner between the RX Vega 56 and the GTX 1070. AMD's GPU never got below 70 average FPS in any of our 1080p tests, which indicate that it's probably a bit overkill for standard HD gaming, unless you have a really high-refresh rate monitor.
1440p Benchmarks
From left to right: Tomb Raider, BioShock Infinite, Shadow of Mordor, Unigine Valley, Metro Last Light
While the GTX 1070 continues to beat the RX Vega 56 in Unigine Valley and BioShock Infinite, those leads diminish at 1440p. In the benchmarks where AMD's card wins, it increases its lead. Overall, we give the slight advantage to the RX Vega 64 at 1440p.
4K Benchmarks
From left to right: Tomb Raider, BioShock Infinite, Shadow of Mordor, Metro Last Light
Like the RX Vega 64, RX Vega 56 is really able to push itself more at 4K. Here, it's able to beat the GTX 1070 in all of our tests. We suspect the card's HBM2 video memory has a lot to do with the card being able to kick it into high gear here. While the GPU can max out many 4K games, with it getting a 22.3 average FPS in Metro Last Light, it proves that it won't be able to muster the performance to max out the most graphically demanding games at 2160p.
VR Test
SteamVR Performance Test
According to Valve's VR Performance Test, the RX Vega 56 is a card that's rated "very high" for virtual reality. When you look at the frame data, the benchmark suggests that the RX Vega 56 is four percent better for VR.
Acoustics and Temperatures
The RX Vega 56 is noticeably cooler than the RX Vega 64, which makes sense considering it's a lower TDP card. When we gamed with it, we saw it generally stayed in the low 70 Cs and hit a high of 73. Its fan noise was also largely tolerable with it spinning at around 2,100RPM.
Conclusion
Unless you heavily prefer Nvidia's ecosystem and have a G-Sync monitor, it's hard to recommend the GTX 1070 over the RX Vega 56, considering they cost the same. While they're pretty much neck and neck at 1080p, AMD's card generally beats Nvidia's GPU at 1440p, 4K, and VR. The RX Vega 56 ends up being a great graphics card for high-refresh rate 1080p gaming, a standout card for 1440p, and one that can help you dip your toes into 4K. It, arguably, represents best-in-class performance for its price.
By Matt Espineli on Aug 17, 2017 08:30 pm
The year is far from over, and while the big fall release period is about to begin, there are plenty of amazing lesser-known games already out that you should definitely check out. In this gallery, we've compiled a list of our favorite PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Switch games that we think you should play if you haven't already. Click ahead to see what we chose. What are some of your favorite games this year that you think others might've missed? Let us know in the comments below. And if you're looking for game recommendations for specific platforms, click on the in-depth features below:
Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator (PC)
Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator is a visual novel published by the Game Grumps in which you play as a dad who romances other dads in your town. It became an instant cult hit among dating sim fans when it was released in July, but even if you don't really consider yourself the type to date dads, you should give it a shot. It's filled with pun-based dad jokes and has at its core an incredibly heartwarming story about raising a daughter on your own. It's also inclusive without feeling like the diversity is just posturing; gender and sexuality issues are presented in a straightforward manner, but for the most part, the dads' narrative arcs are about fatherhood. In that sense, Dream Daddy is widely relatable. Most everyone has an opinion on dads and can find something among the game's many routes and endings relevant to their own life, even if it's not their next fictional crush.
Enter the Gungeon (Xbox One)
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.
Fast RMX (Switch)
Nintendo, or at the very least Shigeru Miyamoto, has made one thing clear: F-Zero is a series that's as good as dead. The last proper F-Zero game was F-Zero GX, released 14 years ago for the GameCube, with repeated requests for a new game shot down by Nintendo time and time again. Thankfully, Nintendo fans aren't entirely out of luck when it comes to high-speed racing games. In comes Fast RMX, an upgraded port of Wii U's Fast Racing Neo. This fast (duh), futuristic game offers 30 tracks and 15 vehicles, as well as online and local multiplayer options, and it features both shield and boost mechanics that closely mirror F-Zero in practice. No, it doesn't have Captain Falcon, but Fast RMX manages to capture the thrilling speed and, to an extent, the attitude of F-Zero GX--with a little influence from the WipeOut series' eye for graphic design.
Forza Horizon 3: Hot Wheels DLC (Xbox One/PC)
Forza Horizon 3 was already arguably the best racing game of the generation--if not longer--and it's only gotten better since launch with the release of two expansion packs. The first, Blizzard Mountain, went the more obvious route of taking players to a region inundated with snow, which was great, but the Hot Wheels expansion is the stuff of childhood fantasies. Whereas the Forza series has traditionally focused on delivering realism, this DLC allows you to get behind the wheel of classic Hot Wheels cars and drive them around wild courses comprised of loops and huge jumps. Making this all the more delightful is the way these are made from the classic orange Hot Wheels tracks and weave through an otherwise standard island setting that would not have been out of place in Horizon 3. Thanks to the track layout and boost pads, there's a sense of speed you don't get in the standard game, and it's downright exhilarating when you leap across a chasm or go zooming past a giant animatronic dinosaur for the first time.
Little Nightmares (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Little Nightmares is a haunting adventure that instantly pulls you into its world of existential conundrums. Having released this past April up against bigger games like Persona 5 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, it's likely this eerie journey passed you by. You play as Six, a nine-year-old girl trapped in The Maw, an underwater resort filled with monstrous, disfigured inhabitants. The background details are never explicitly explained, but it's clear from the beginning that your goal is to escape. It's a simple adventure that displays an enthralling sense of mystery throughout, pushing you from one tense cat-and-mouse-style chase to the next, as you explore the mysterious exteriors of The Maw. Clocking in at around two hours, it's likely you'll finish Little Nightmares in one or two sittings, but its strange world and distorted inhabitants makes it well worth checking out.
Nex Machina (PS4, PC)
If you're unfamiliar with Housemarque--creators of arcade-style action games like Resogun and Super Stardust--then you need to check out its stuff. The studio's latest project, Nex Machina, effectively channels the classic twin-stick shoot-'em-up action of games like Robotron 2084 and Smash TV. But that's because Eugene Jarvis, the creator of those games, collaborated alongside the studio to create it. The game is an intense display of frenetic action that takes the best from the work of both creative forces, combining it into an exhilarating experience of non-stop shooting. If you want to make things even more hectic, you can jump in with a friend to play cooperatively. Nex Machina's exhilarating action makes it well worth your time, but be wary, the game is tough. Expect your patience and reflexes to be tested.
Night in the Woods (PS4, PC)
Imagine a relatively quiet town in the American midwest populated by anthropomorphic animals. That's Possum Springs, where Night in the Woods takes place. And as Mae, a cat-human, you experience a readjustment to your hometown after getting the boot from college. This comes in the form of a side-scrolling adventure where conversations, character interactions, and mini-games propel you through a complicated and emotional tale of modern young adulthood. Jump the town's power lines to get to the rooftops and meet an amatuer astronomer who will show you the stars at night. Get the band back together when you reunite with your friends and play bass for a song you haven't practiced. Commit "crimes" with your bubbly homeboy Gregg, or shoplift (more criminal activity) with your seemingly apathetic homegirl Bea. Every story beat, hidden tidbit, line of dialogue, and optional interaction encourages exploring the beautifully painted world of Night in the Woods. The game isn't for everyone, but it hits what it aims for. Through the uniquely charming artwork of Scott Benson and the quirky, yet emotive soundtrack from Alec Holowka, the poignant storytelling is wrapped in elements that elevate it above many games this year.
Severed (Switch)
Severed is a traditional dungeon-crawling RPG with modern sensibilities. Its mechanics favor touchscreen devices, not simply for the sake of convenience, but to facilitate a combat system with demanding enemies that must be cut in the right location at the right time with a well-placed swipe of your finger. On Switch, Severed gets a slight upgrade from the Vita version, and a big upgrade from the iPhone version, thanks to the system's larger display. Beyond the clever integration of touchscreen controls and traditional gameplay, Severed presents the fascinating tale of Sasha, a one-armed warrior with a magical sword, caught in a hellish dreamscape in search of her loved ones. The monsters she faces are creatively nasty, accentuated by developer Drinkbox Studio's easily identifiable visual style, with sharp edges and expressive use of color. It's no surprise then that Severed makes a strong first impression, but it's not a fluke: the game is just as interesting to play as it is to look at. It's everything you'd expect from a dungeon crawler, but thanks to Drinkbox's inventive spirit, it's also packed with interesting motifs and ideas that you never see coming.
The Sexy Brutale (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
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. We've played it over and over again--groundhog day indeed.
Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment
Shovel Knight is 8-bit gaming not as it was--glitchy and fuzzy--but as we choose to remember it--pixelated, vibrant, and cleverly detailed. The sequel-by-expansion, Specter of Torment, is a similar retro action-platformer that is by all appearances on par with the original. The key difference is that the star, the lead character you control, is a villain from the first game: Specter Knight. His identity obviously plays into a narrative differently than Shovel Knight's did, but more importantly, Specter Knight moves and attacks in new ways, too. This is all to say that Specter of Torment is an excuse to revisit Shovel Knight's wonderfully nostalgic world and undergo a new range of challenges that call upon a unique set of skills. And the reason it's worth playing at all is because developer Yacht Club Games' work rises above the team's inspirations, and ultimately our rose-tinted memories as well. If you see any value at all in classic 2D platformers, Shovel Knight and Specter of Torment will more than likely make your day.
Snake Pass (PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch)
At first glance, Snake Pass' colorful art style makes it seem reminiscent of classic Rare platformers like Banjo-Kazooie and Donkey Kong 64. However, its mechanics differ wildly from those games; there's no jumping here. You control a snake named Noodle, maneuvering and curling around objects with his serpentine body, navigating intricate obstacles to reach collectibles, and solving a multitude of physics-based puzzles. The challenges you encounter are each meticulously crafted around Noodle's unconventional physicality, demanding you to know the ins and outs of his physics to fully master. It's quite unlike many games out there, which is more than enough reason for you to check it out, if only to discover how charming and different it is.
Snipperclips: Cut It Out, Together (Switch)
Snipperclips may not have the name recognition of Mario Kart or Splatoon, but this unassuming little Eshop game remains one of the best multiplayer experiences on Switch. Its premise is deceptively simple: players control a paper-like character and must snip each other into the appropriate shapes to solve puzzles. These start out easy enough; early challenges will have you simply trying to fit into a designated shape. However, the puzzles quickly ramp up in complexity, requiring some clever thinking and precise snipping to complete; one has players trying to retrieve and pop a balloon, while another challenges them with figuring out how to throw a basketball into a hoop. While the entire game can be played solo, Snipperclips is undoubtedly meant to be played with friends. The game supports up to four players, and trying to snip each other into the right shapes is surprisingly addictive, hilarious, and maddening all at the same time. This is accentuated by the game's charming animations; it's impossible not to smile at the faces your character makes when it squats or gets snipped. Snipperclips is the perfect showpiece for Switch's "play anywhere" portability and one of the hidden gems in the console's growing library.
Strafe (PC, PS4)
As a love letter to 90's first-person shooters, Strafe captures the frantic pace and thrills of its reference material. From the retro visuals and blocky blood splattering to the variety of weapons and abundance of secrets, Strafe is still worth playing even after the campaign's final encounter...if you even make it that far. Each run is a thrill as you violently dance through the game's 12 procedurally generated levels, and the roguelike structure heightens the stakes as get further along. You may be stuck in the dark corridors of the game's opening area before learning to skillfully cut through goblins and robots, but each world opens up to stage for increasingly frenzied firefights. Strafe has its own unique charm with comical self-awareness and silly, yet threatening enemies. But the soundtrack is what weaves all the game's elements together to elevate the experience beyond that of the standard FPS. Each level has its own synth-laden electronic rock track that instills a sense of wonder, inspires you fight through the hordes, or intensifies feelings of danger--or often all three at once . Once you get to grips with Strafe's systems and devise an effective play style, the looming threat of permadeath doesn't seem so bad.
Super Rude Bear Resurrection (PS4, PC)
Particularly in the wake of 2010's Super Meat Boy, there have been plenty of super-tough platformers released. And while, like many of those others, Super Rude Bear Resurrection is happy to kill you over and over again, it also gives your deaths a purpose. Whenever you die, you leave behind a corpse, which essentially serves to make a given level easier: It might block a laser from hitting you, cover up a set of deadly spikes, or give you a boost to make a jump easier. For an extra challenge, you're free to play without the assistance of those corpses, though doing so will cause you to miss out on some fun opportunities to see how they can modify a level. But even without the corpse mechanic, Super Rude Bear Resurrection is still a worthwhile platformer. The sense of satisfaction it provides when you're able to make it through particularly difficult section is immense. It also provides a steady stream of new ideas from beginning to end; you never go long without some new adversary or mechanic being introduced. Throw in some memorable boss fights, and you have a must-play game for anyone with a passing interest in platformers.
Thimbleweed Park (Xbox One, PC)
Thimbleweed Park is a point-and-click adventure by famed ex-LucasArts duo Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick. It was first revealed via Kickstarter back in 2014, but it finally released this year. The game deals with a murder in the small town of Thimbleweed Park where two FBI agents, Antonio Reyes and Angela Ray, are tasked with investigating the killing. The game rides a thin line between nostalgia and reinvention, balancing its comically written remembrances for the time-honored genre with a sliver of modern design choices. While it sometimes sticks too closely to the point-and-click genre's long-held tenets, Thimbleweed Park is great for experienced adventure game fans eager to experience its whimsical narrative, solve its multitude of puzzles, and uncover its secrets.
Thumper (PS4, Switch)
Do you remember when rhythm games were in style? It's been awhile, but that doesn't mean the genre is devoid of potential. No game in the past few years has proven the relevance of music as a driving force in game design as successfully as Thumper, the so-called rhythm-violence game from developer Drool. Mechanically, Thumper is a simple call and response game with added layers of complexity as you complete subsequent stages. Spiritually, Thumper is a disturbance. It heaves and crashes with unbridled intensity, with tracks that grow faster and time signatures more irregular the deeper you venture into its well of madness. Call it dramatic, but this is the effect Thumper's relentless speed and atmosphere can have on a person--the perfect argument to give it a try. They say music soothes the savage beast, but in Thumper's case, music makes way for the savage beast within us all. Play it on a TV, play it in VR, play it pressed up against your face on Switch; however you can, play Thumper.
What Remains of Edith Finch (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
What Remains of Edith Finch is a game in the same vein as Dear Esther and Gone Home; that is to say, it's a "walking simulator." Some might be turned off by the genre, but it tells a hauntingly beautiful and compelling tale that should not be missed. The premise is that the Finch family carries a supposed curse that leads every family member to die in unexpected and bizarre ways. It's very Final Destination in that aspect. You play as Edith Finch, as you explore the huge, mysterious family manor to unearth how members in your family tree have passed away. This opens the door to creative flashbacks, where you get to play the last strange moments leading to people's deaths. The story is powerful, gripping, and dark like an episode of Black Mirror. It's full of unexpected twists and turns and could only effectively be told through the video game medium. Considering you can beat it in under three hours, you should play it as soon as you can.
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap (PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One)
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is a game that sets out to bring the retro platforming adventuring series to the present day, while also celebrating its beginnings in the classic era. As a full remake of the original of Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap for the Sega Master System and TurboGrafix-16, it features a brand new artstyle that's lush and vivid, giving off a greater depth in its atmosphere--along with a fully orchestral soundtrack based on the original music. In keeping with its respect for the original, the remake allows you to shift between classic and modern styles of music and graphics on the fly. Feel like playing the original game in HD? You can do that, but if you're feeling crazy, you can mix things up and play with modern graphics along with retro sound and music. It even allows old passwords from the classic game to be used again, just like the old days. Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is a wonderful send-up to the classic era, while showing that retro titles still hold up incredibly well to this day.
Yakuza 0 (PS4)
The Yakuza series is an incredibly popular long-running franchise in Japan, but historically, it has had little impact in the West. At first glance, you might gather the series' latest western release, Yakuza 0, to simply be an action-game with a serious crime-drama narrative. But it's so much more than that. The game embodies what has made its predecessors so endearing to fans of the series, effectively combining its melodrama and seriousness with a dose of offbeat, absurdist comedy. While these extremes don't seem like they'd work together, the game manages to pull it off, handling both tones with ease. The result is an entertaining experience that pulls you in with its involved narrative, makes you break into laughter with its outlandish humor, and immerses you with its authentic take on a Japanese culture. It's also a prequel to the entire series, so If you've never tried a Yakuza game before, you owe it to yourself to play Yakuza 0.
Yooka-Laylee (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Developer Playtonic Games billed Yooka-Laylee as a "spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie" when it first pitched the game on Kickstarter, and that certainly wasn't an exaggeration. Like the classic N64 platformer, Yooka-Laylee stars an eponymous duo (in this case, a lizard and bat) and has players use their unique abilities to explore expansive, colorful worlds and pick up all manner of collectibles. In fact, Yooka-Laylee channels the spirit of Banjo-Kazooie so well that it genuinely feels like a long-lost N64 platformer, for better and sometimes worse; like many of Rare's titles, the game occasionally succumbs to some frustrating design decisions, and the number of collectibles to find could have been scaled back to make the overall experience tighter. That said, even during its moments of frustration, Yooka-Laylee remains one of the most charming releases of the year thanks to its tongue-in-cheek writing, beautiful art style, and whimsical soundtrack. The game more than succeeds in its mission of reviving the long-dormant genre, and while it may not top Banjo's first two adventures, it certainly sits alongside Rare's N64 output nicely. Anyone who grew up with '90s platformers and has a fondness for Rare games in particular will find a lot to love about Yooka-Laylee.
By Heidi Kemps on Aug 17, 2017 08:30 pm
Sonic Mania is a game packed with references to classic Sonic games and other Sega series. While some callbacks to previous games are obvious, there are a handful that go pretty deep into Sega and Sonic fandom. A lot of these references might go over your head unless you've been scouring Sonic fansites for decades on end, as many involve unused content from the Genesis games that fans and hackers have dug up from the ROMs and early game design documents. To help showcase just how deep the rabbit… er, hedgehog-hole goes, we've highlighting several Sega and Sonic references scattered throughout the game, ranging from mildly to incredibly obscure. You might be surprised at just how deep the inspiration for Sonic Mania runs!
Once You Pop...
The Studiopolis Zone is chock-full of references to various Sonic and Sega games. Here's one for you: a machine labeled "SegaSonic Popcorn Shop." This is based on a real machine that cooked the tasty treat for you as you watched Sonic battle Eggman over delicious popped goodness.
The real-life inspiration for the SegaSonic Popcorn shop in Studiopolis Zone. (Image credit: Sonic Wikia)
DAYTONA!
Sonic's not the only Sega game about going fast. There are some references to Sega's much-beloved Daytona USA throughout Studiopolis acts one and two. First off is this truck that will beam you around the level, marked with "Hornet High-Class": a bit of text seen on the car of the same name from Daytona.
LET'S GO AWAY!
Daytona's iconic Hornet in action.
DAYTOOOONAAAAAA~!
In addition, this giant lottery machine bears a "Gallop" logo--another design seen on the venerable Hornet. And the enthusiastic announcer for the competition mode? None other than the vocalist behind Daytona's amazing soundtrack, Takenobu Mitsuyoshi.
Club Sega
Studiopolis also has some interesting background imagery. "Club Spin," seen here, is a take on the "Club Sega" arcades seen across Japan, right down to the font used in the logo. The "Pink Bot" neon signs you see throughout are based on similar signs from Streets of Rage.
Ode to Spring Yard Zone
And the weird graffiti on the subway trains? "CPU" and "COPE" aren't just random words--they're also neon messages seen in the original Sonic the Hedgehog's Spring Yard Zone, one of Studiopolis' strongest inspirations.
A Game Gear
Take a look at this TV monitor next to tails. Does that three-color oval logo beneath the screen look familiar? If you have an old Sega Game Gear lying around, take a close look at it!
To Be This Good Takes Slogans
Sonic, along with some catchy advertising slogans, were Sega's biggest weapons against Nintendo during the console wars. You'll see several familiar phrases of the day scattered across Studiopolis acts 1 and 2 that you might recognize if you grew up in the 90s. Studiopolis act one features an LED sign with a scrolling message that says: TO BE THIS GOOD TAKES AGES TO BE THIS GOOD TAKES SEGA While this is probably very familiar to our UK readers, North American players might be left scratching their heads. That's because this was the slogan of Sega UK's advertising campaign during the height of the Mega Drive's popularity there.
Genesis Does..
But then there's the opposite. In Studiopolis 2, you can flip some letters out to spell: GENESIS DOES This is part of Sega's early slogan pushing back against Nintendo's near-monopoly; "Genesis does what Nintendon't."
The Next Level
Finally, there's another batch of letters that, when flipped, spell out WELCOME TO THE NEXT LEVEL, a well-known Sega slogan from the early-mid 90s.
Special Secret Stage
In Sonic Mania, you unlock features through the Blue Sphere stages. Several of these Blue Sphere stages are based on classic patterns from Sonic 3 and Sonic and Knuckles, but the final stage in the Blue Sphere gauntlet is based on an obscure secret. By selecting "07" in the Sonic 3 stage select sound test, then holding "A" as you pick the "Special Stage," you'll unlock a secret--and extremely difficult--special stage map. The final Blue Spheres stage in Sonic Mania is based on this map with some minor revisions--here are rings where some spheres would be so you can actually get a Perfect on the level-- but it's still as tough as ever!
The Goggles, They Do Nothing
When you begin a game as Sonic, you'll see Tails in a cute little aviator hat flying you to Angel Island. But if you begin as Tails, you'll see Sonic sporting some funky yellow goggles. What's the deal with this fashion accessory? Well, Sonic fans who have dug deep into the code and graphics of the original Sonic the Hedgehog found a power-up monitor containing an icon for goggles--and the graphics for the yellow goggles themselves, which fit perfectly over Sonic's sprite. Speculation is that the goggles were planned to help Sonic during the game's underwater sequences, but were ultimately scrapped. Fortunately, Sonic Mania has given us the (brief) opportunity to appreciate Sonic's underwater specs, though in a different context.
Victory Lap
Sonic's jumping celebration at the end of a round has its roots in content cut from the original game, as well. Early screenshots showed Sonic doing a victorious jump at the end of a level, and the sprites for this animation are still in the game data.
Bouncing Bunny Boy
Who's this rabbit? His name is Splats, and he's an enemy that's been a mystery to devoted Sonic fans for decades. Splats was first showcased in promotional material for the original Sonic, having appeared in media like trading cards and comics, and was even made into a figure. But the funny thing is, Splats was never in an actual game. His graphic data is's in the Sonic 1 ROM, but his coding was never completed. (Image credit: Twitter, @Sonic_Hedgeblog)
Bouncing Bunny Boy Reborn
But here the bunny enemy is in the Press Garden Zone, finally utilized! He's a basic foe, but he's a cutie--he hops around and leaves splats of ink where he hops, and spawns infinitely from jars scattered throughout. He can also be occasionally seen in the trash heaps of Flying Battery.
He's On Fire!
Being able to torch the spike bridges in the Green Hill Zone with Sonic's Fire Shield is a fun little novelty, but the idea for Sonic's literal bridge-burning actually goes back as far as Sonic 2.
Fireproof
In design documents, we can see an idea for an enemy that torches bridges and unveils new areas for Sonic to explore. Early ROMs of Sonic 2 that have leaked out onto the internet even have remnants of burning bridge graphics buried in their code. It's nice to have the opportunity to play with fire after all these years! Image: Sonic Retro
Rolling start~!
Like the classic Sonic games, Sonic Mania has a debug mode--though you unlock this one by collecting medals in the blue sphere stages rather than entering a code. One of the objects you can find is this checkered ball. But this object has a long history: it was first seen in early screenshots of the original Sonic the Hedgehog--and even described in media previews--but was nowhere to be seen in the finished game. It was also visible in that game's debug mode, but couldn't be placed in the stage. Image credit: Sonic Retro
Keep Rollin'
Now, however, you can place it in the stage, and even play around with it by pushing and riding on top of it. What's especially funny, though? It's still not present in the actual stage.
By Mat Elfring on Aug 17, 2017 07:30 pm
The summer is almost over and most of the big films that don't have "Star Wars" in the title have come and gone. Luckily, we're heading into the fall movie season, which means there are still a few blockbusters coming and a whole slew of horror films as we get closer and closer to Halloween. We looked through the upcoming movie release schedule and plucked 18 films that we're excited for releasing between September and November. Jump ahead to October Jump ahead to November
Renegades
Taking place in 1995, a group of Navy Seals finds treasure buried at the bottom of a lake in Bosnia. The poster does not do this movie justice--the poster makes this seem like a bad, straight-to-video flop. However, do yourselves a favor and watch the trailer. Renegades seems light-hearted and has a good sense of humor. Renegades opens on September 1.
It
If you've been living in a cave, then you've probably missed all the talk about the upcoming adaptation of Stephen King's It. A group of kids are terrorized by a shape-shifting monster who takes the form of a terrifying clown. You can check out a recent trailer for the movie here. It opens on September 8.
The Foreigner
Do you remember how awesome Taken was? What if Liam Neeson's character was replaced with Jackie Chan, and instead of trying to rescue his daughter, he's seeking justice for her murder? Are you sold? Well, you should be as that's the plot to The Foreigner, and the first trailer for the film was awesome, which you can watch here. The Foreigner opens on September 13.
Kingsman: The Golden Circle
The first Kingsman film was a success--especially for an R-rated movie--pulling in over $400 million for its theatrical run. Coming at the end of September is the sequel of the tongue-and-cheek spy/action film we all fell in love with. This time, Kingsman headquarters has been destroyed, and the survivors are teaming with its American counterpart to fight a common enemy, and you can watch the latest trailer here. Kingsman: The Golden Circle opens on September 22.
Lego Ninjago: The Movie
Every year, a plethora of franchise-based movies aimed at kids comes out, and we ignore them--for good reason. However, the trailer for Lego Ninjago: The Movie is delightful. In addition, it features the writers of The Lego Batman Movie from earlier this year. Ninjago follows an outcast whose father is a super-villain, and the film is based on a Lego toy line of the same name. Lego Ninjago: The Movie opens on September 22.
Friend Request
The second horror release of the fall season worth mentioning is Friend Request, and it looks ridiculous. A college student unfriends someone on Facebook, which leads to a suicide. Then a ghost starts killing off the student's friends. This movie was released in Europe in the spring of 2016, and finally, it's making its way to the States a year and a half later. Yes, this movie looks bad, but it also looks like a lot of fun, watch the trailer here and see how angsty young people get about social media. Friend Request opens on September 22.
Flatliners
Flatliners is a remake of the 1990 movie of the same name. A group of medical students becomes obsessed with finding out what happens after death, so they conduct experiments where they stop their hearts for a short period of time to gain a glimpse at the afterlife. The original film had some interesting twists and turns, and the most recent trailer seems to follow suit. It's an intriguing concept and has the potential to be a legitimately good horror film. Flatliners opens on September 29.
American Made
Tom Cruise's American Made may not be on your radar, but it should be. The upcoming film is based on a true story about a pilot who works for the CIA during the '80s as a drug runner. Yes, the story seems, as the trailer puts it, "unbelievable," so it's the curiosity of how this story came together that makes this a movie we're excited to see. American Made opens on September 29.
Blade Runner 2049
35 years after the release of the original film, Blade Runner 2049 makes its way to theaters in early October. The movie follows Ryan Gosling as a young blade runner who discovers a mystery which leads him to the missing Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford). The film looks quite ambitious, and you can watch the first trailer for it here. Blade Runner 2049 opens on October 6.
Happy Death Day
Keeping in tradition with movies like Groundhog Day and Edge of Tomorrow, Happy Death Day follows a college student who relives the day she gets murdered over and over again. Her goal quickly becomes to find out who killed her. It's a different take than the previously mentioned films, and the trailer makes it seem like a fun teen scream. Happy Death Day was written by comic book writer Scott Lobdell, who is best known for his run on X-Men. Happy Death Day opens on October 13.
Leatherface
Leatherface marks the eighth movie in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre series. The newest film follows the origin of Leatherface and is a prequel to the original 1974 film, not the 2003 reboot. The recent red band trailer offers up all the gore you could ever want, and yes, the titular character will be wielding his signature chainsaw during the film. Leatherface opens in theaters and releases through VOD services on October 20.
Geostorm
It's been a while since we've seen an entertaining, ridiculous, natural disaster movie. Luckily, Geostorm--a movie flying completely under the radar for some reason--is coming to theaters and of course, things are going to blow up. Director Dean Devil, who wrote Independence Day and Stargate, delivers the story of hacked satellites in space that can control Earth's weather. It's like the plot of 1966's Our Man Flint with explosions. You can check out the trailer here. Geostorm opens on October 20.
Jigsaw
Jigsaw is a spin-off of the Saw franchise that seems more like a sequel. Dead bodies have unearthed around the city, and it seems like it's the doing of John Kramer, the Jigsaw killer. The problem is that he's been dead for over a decade. The film is likely to feature some Rube Goldberg-esque deaths, and you can see the deadly traps set up in the trailer here. Jigsaw opens on October 27.
Thor: Ragnarok
While there are a lot of great films coming out this fall, Thor: Ragnarok should be on the top of your list. Sure, the first two films in the series were mediocre, but if you watch the trailer from Comic Con, you'll see why it's worth looking out for. Thor finds himself on an alien planet while Asgard is under attack from a villain named Hela. In addition, it's a team-up movie with the Hulk. They used to work together. Also, the movie features Jeff Goldblum as a character named Grandmaster. You're sold on it now, right? Thor: Ragnarok opens on November 3.
Daddy's Home 2
A follow-up to the 2015 comedy, Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg return as a step-father and ex-husband, with two different parenting styles. This time around, the two character's fathers show up for the holidays, played by John Lithgow and Mel Gibson. Hopefully, not all the good scenes are in the trailer, like the closing moment, shown above. Daddy's Home 2 opens on November 10.
Murder On The Orient Express
If you're looking for a good mystery, Murder on the Orient Express may be up your alley. This remake of the 1974 film centers around a murder on a train. All 13 stranded passengers are suspects, and a master detective attempts to discover who committed the crime. The trailer has a cool, stylized look, and the movie will be a nice break from the major blockbusters over the past few months, Murder on the Orient Express opens on November 10.
Justice League
The heroes of the DC Universe are joining forces in order to take on a villain from another world. Justice League is the DC movie fans have been waiting for featuring the team-up of Wonder Woman, Batman, Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg, and you can see them all in the trailer for the film here. Hopefully, the CG removal of Henry Cavill's mustache goes without a hitch. Justice League opens on November 17.
Coco
Finally, wrapping up the fall is Pixar's latest movie, Coco. It follows a young musician who finds the guitar of his hero, but touching it leads him on a journey through the Land of the Dead. The story looks imaginative, fun, and most importantly, original. Hopefully, this is the film that puts Pixar back on the right track. Coco opens on November 22.
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