Following the reveal of Rainbow Six Siege's next map, one of the three new Operators launching later this month has now been teased. The video below offers a very quick look at what to expect from Ying.
Ying is one of two new characters in Operation Blood Orchid who hail from Hong Kong's Special Duties Unit, also known as the Flying Tigers. She carries the Six12 and T-95 LSW as primary weapon options, while her secondary is a Q-929. Of course, it's her ability that is the biggest question, and we unfortunately don't get to see it fully used here.
The video shows her throwing a ball under a barricaded doorway, but it cuts away before its actual purpose is revealed. A recent leak on Reddit suggested it's a cluster of flashbangs that can either be rolled or attached to a surface. Given the leak also correctly showed Ying's face, it seems safe to assume that it is accurate.
Ubisoft's full reveal for Blood Orchid is coming soon. During a livestream next week, it will show more of the new Hong Kong map, which is called Theme Park and is seen in the Ying teaser, as well as the two other characters the expansion adds. These Operators will be free to Year 2 season pass owners on August 29, while other players will be able to purchase them with in-game currency a week later.
The news was revealed initially by Steve Lemme, one of the founding members of Broken Lizard, the comedy troupe behind the movies. He appeared on Seven Days, and while he didn't technically name the date, it was very clear what it is from his description. "There is [a release date], but I can't tell you what it is," he said. "Here's what I can tell you: It's springtime and there's a very obvious date, which happens to fall on a Friday this year."
April 20--or 4/20--does indeed fall on a Friday next year, and the date was subsequently confirmed by a post on the movie's Indiegogo fundraising page. Broken Lizard raised $4.6 million to help bring Super Troopers 2 to fruition, and the movie recently finished production.
Lemme went on state that the film is "going to be our widest release. And it's testing better than any movie we've tested. It came out fantastic."
2001's Super Troopers starred the five members of Broken Lizard--Lemme, Erik Stolhanske, Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, and Paul Soter--as hapless Vermont troopers who get mixed up in something they couldn't have expected. The movie also featured Brian Cox, Daniel von Bargen, and Lynda Carter.
They all return for the sequel, while Rob Lowe joins as a new character. In terms of the story, Soter told MovieWeb all the way back in 2009 that the film sees the officers sent to the Canadian border, to a town that was thought to be Canadian soil but is actually part of the US. "We essentially have to impose US law on a bunch of Canadians that aren't at all happy about it," Soter said.
Capcom has released a new trailer for Monster Hunter World, the series' upcoming installment for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. This video gives fans their first look at a new area they'll get to explore in the game, Wildspire Waste.
Unlike the lush, densely wooded Ancient Forest area that Capcom showcased last month, Wildspire Waste is an arid canyon dotted with caves and swamplands. Despite the harsh environment, the Waste has its own thriving ecosystem. Players will encounter a number of exotic monsters here, including the bird-like Kulu-Ya-Ku, which steals eggs from other monsters' nests, and the returning Barroth. You can get a closer look at Wildspire Waste in the trailer above.
Monster Hunter World is the first new home console installment in the series since 2010's Monster Hunter Tri. The game introduces a number of new elements to the series, such as the slinger, a multipurpose tool that allows players to swing across chasms and shoot ammo to distract monsters. Like previous titles, World features the same 14 different weapon classes that have appeared throughout the franchise. Capcom recently released a series of trailers that give fans a much closer look at each unique type of weapon.
Monster Hunter World is releasing for PS4 and Xbox One in early 2018, while the PC version will follow later. Those who attend the Gamescom expo in Germany next week will have a chance to go hands-on with the game. A demo will also be on display at PAX West in Seattle, which kicks off on September 1. We got a chance to interview Monster Hunter producer Ryozo Tsujimoto at E3 2017 about why the series has left handhelds for home consoles and what the move has allowed the developers to achieve.
Nintendo has released a new trailer for Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, the upcoming alternate versions to last year's installments. While brief, the video showcases some of the differences that await players in this version of the Alola region.
Most interesting, however, are the changes that have been made to the region itself. The map of Alola looks a bit different than it did in Sun and Moon; the game's official website says "ominous clouds are spreading in the sky" above the region and players will encounter "new buildings and landscapes" that weren't around in its previous incarnation.
The trailer also teases that "new secrets of the Alola region will be revealed," which will presumably relate to the Ultra Beast Necrozma. The mysterious Pokemon will play a much more prominent role in these installments, and some secrets about the monster that were "undisclosed in the previous games" will be revealed in Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon.
While it wasn't touched on in the trailer, the games' website reveals that Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon will feature new Z-Moves as well. According to the site, players will acquire a Z-Power Ring that allows them to unleash "even more varieties of Z-Moves" than they could in Sun/Moon. The Pokemon Company revealed one of the new attacks at the 2017 Pokemon World Championships: Clangorous Soulblaze, an exclusive Z-Move for Kommo-o. This powerful attack deals damage to both opponent Pokemon in Double Battles and increases each of Kommo-o's stats.
The next chapter in the Uncharted series--and the first not to feature Nathan Drake--is nearly here. With Uncharted: The Lost Legacy's release just around the corner, Sony and Naughty Dog have released a launch trailer.
As you'd expect, it centers largely around Chloe and Nadine, the co-protagonists of the game (although you play exclusively as Chloe). While they are working together toward a common goal, they aren't without their disagreements, though it seems they won't have any issues kicking an ample amount of ass. You can also glimpse some of the large environments and big action scenes; check out the trailer below.
In GameSpot's Uncharted: The Lost Legacy review, Miguel Concepcion writes, "The initial hours of The Lost Legacy give an 'Uncharted Greatest Hits' vibe, but it grows into a more nuanced, clever experience, ranking among the best in the series while also making its own mark as a standalone Uncharted that isn't anchored to Nathan Drake's harrowing exploits." For more critics' thoughts, you can also check out our Lost Legacy review roundup.
The Lost Legacy launches this coming Tuesday, August 22, for $40/£30/AU$55. In addition to the campaign, it provides access to Uncharted 4's multiplayer mode. Regardless of which game you use to dive into multiplayer, it will soon feature some content from The Lost Legacy.
Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon aren't the only Pokemon games coming to 3DS this fall. Next month, the series' second generation installments, Pokemon Gold and Silver, will launch as Virtual Console titles in the 3DS Eshop, and players in Europe will have a chance to pick up boxed versions of them in stores.
Nintendo announced on Twitter today that packaged versions of the classic Pokemon games will release the same day they arrive in the Eshop, September 22. These will contain a download code for their respective title, and they're sure to bring back fond memories for anyone who played the originals. You can see a photo of the packages below.
The two boxes are almost exact replicas of the games' original packaging when they first released for Game Boy in 2000. The boxes have a shiny finish and feature each title's respective mascot Pokemon, the Legendaries Ho-Oh and Lugia. The Pokemon Company's official Japanese Twitter account confirmed that the packaged versions will also be released in Japan, though there is currently no word if they'll be available in the US or if they contain anything besides a download code.
Pokemon Gold and Silver were the series' first official sequels. The games were set in the Johto region two years after the events of Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow. In addition to being the first installments to feature full-colored graphics, the pair introduced a number of important features to the series, including a day/night system, Pokemon breeding, two new types (Dark and Steel), and 100 new monsters. The Virtual Console releases will be compatible with Pokemon Bank, allowing players to transfer the Pokemon they catch to Sun/Moon and their upcoming alternate versions.
In honor of Game Of Thrones Season 7 Episode 5 "Eastwatch", we're giving away a Jon Snow Funko Pop! One (1) winner will be chosen after the giveaway closes on Friday, August 18th at 12:00PM PT.
Open to US residents only, void where prohibited. If you do not win this time, you'll be automatically entered in the next giveaway.
There has been much speculation over the past few months about whether Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins would return to helm the sequel. It has now been reported that she is close to signing a record-breaking deal with Warner for the job.
According to Deadline, Jenkins is in "final negotiations" to direct Wonder Woman 2. Although the sequel was announced at San Diego Comic-Con in July, there has been a delay confirming Jenkins' return while her salary was being agreed to.
While no figure has been revealed, Deadline states that her pay will be in line with other recent superhero movie directors. According to the site's sources, a less established director would expect to earn $1.5 million-$3 million, while someone like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice's Zack Snyder might receive as much as $10 million. Whatever Jenkins' salary, it will be the most ever earned by a female director.
There was earlier confusion about whether Jenkins would be back for the next Wonder Woman. Last month, she spoke about her plans for the sequel, leading many to presume that she was confirmed to direct it. She later clarified her comments, stating that she hadn't yet signed on and was "just talking about ideas and hopes."
The new Stephen King movie It is getting a small 8-bit tie-in game, it was announced today. It: Enter The Sewer takes place in the sewers of Derry, Maine, where Pennywise the killer clown lives. You control Georgie's paper hat boat and must avoid obstacles in the sewer like Missing Children posters, Betty Ripsom's shoe, and Pennywise himself as you collect balloons to rack up a high score. You can play it here.
It the movie opens in theatres on September 8. Bill Skarsgard plays Pennywise, while Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard is among the ensemble cast of kids who face the terrors of the killer clown.
Plans for the It sequel are already underway. Director Andres Muschietti confirmed that he would start work on the second part of the adaptation soon. "We'll probably have a script for the second part in January," he said. "Ideally, we would start prep in March. Part one is only about the kids. Part two is about these characters 30 years later as adults, with flashbacks to 1989 when they were kids."
A variety of new content is on the way to Friday the 13th, developer IllFonic has announced. A newly launched website for the game has revealed the first details on a number of additions that are on the way, though in many cases these were teases more than full announcements.
Chief among them is that a new playable Jason is coming. IllFonic had almost no specifics to share, but it did say will feature unique kills. Meanwhile, all existing versions of Jason will receive new kills, though specifics numbers or details weren't shared. You can see some behind-the-scenes shots from a motion-capture session in the gallery below, which may provide some hints about what to expect from the kills.
The Retro Jason (released back in June as an apology for issues plaguing the game) will be temporarily removed. This is in order to provide it with a "little TLC work" that will take about a month. At least part of the overhaul will consist of new music that plays for players on both sides in a match.
Multiple new maps are in development, but one in particular will launch "sooner than you might think." It will be released for free, and while its setting hasn't been revealed, IllFonic said it's "ripped straight from the films." This is separate from the recent news that several existing maps are being modified to also have smaller, denser versions.
Two new counselors are also on the way; IllFonic teased that they could be complete newcomers or existing Friday the 13th characters. A new clothing pack will allow you to customize your counselors' looks, as will the Spring Break 1984 clothing pack. This beach-themed DLC launches "soon" and consists of bikinis and swimsuits for $4, though it will be available at a discounted price of $2 for a limited time (international pricing hasn't been announced). One of the outfits can be seen in the gallery above.
Finally, a free emote pack is on the way that consists of eight different gestures, including a very over-enthusiastic thumbs-up. This will coincide with the addition of a new UI for gestures, allowing you to select emotes for each counselor.
Among all of these announcements, there was no word regarding Friday the 13th's single-player component. Most recently, IllFonic said this was due out by the end of summer, which means it should arrive in the next month, though it's unclear if the schedule for its release has changed.
Despite a rough start, Friday the 13th has sold about two million copies. One major change that was announced this month is the removal of team-killing, an issue that has seen "rampant" abuse. It will now be impossible to kill teammates with weapons, though hitting them with a vehicle will still do Jason's work for him.
The third character from Injustice 2's Fighter Pack 1 DLC, the Teen Titan Starfire, may have just released, but players won't have to wait too long to get a look at the game's next DLC fighters. Warner Bros. announced that the three characters who'll comprise Injustice 2's Fighter Pack 2 will be revealed at Gamescom.
The new characters will be unveiled during a livestream on August 23. The stream begins at 4 AM PT/7 AM ET/12 PM CET and will also broadcast a Celebrity Charity Competition between DJs Steve Aoki and Don Diablo. The two will face off in a best-of-five contest of Injustice 2. Fans can watch the live stream on NetherRealm's Twitch channel.
Nine DLC characters are planned for the superhero fighting game. In addition to Starfire, Fighter Pack 1 introduced Red Hood and Mortal Kombat's iconic ninja, Sub-Zero, to the roster. Players can purchase Fighter Pack 1 for $20; those who picked up the Ultimate Edition of the game will receive all of the DLC characters at no extra cost.
We don't yet know which characters will be part of Fighter Pack 2, but NetherRealm boss Ed Boon shared a cryptic image teasing one of them on Twitter, which you can see above. He had previously hinted that fans will be happy with the new fighters. "Of all the characters we're going to reveal, we'll have the biggest 'wow' for the last one we're going to show," Boon said.
A bigger-than-usual expansion is on the way for Rainbow Six Siege later this month, and among the contents is a new map. Aside from knowing it would be set in Hong Kong, we had no idea of what to expect, but that's changed with the release of a video that provides a brief tour.
As its name suggests, Theme Park is set in an amusement park. It looks to be abandoned and dilapidated, with plants growing over certain parts--though someone has been kind enough to keep paying the electric bill, apparently.
It looks to be an excellent new setting for Siege's style of gameplay, although it does look more like a map you'd see in Killing Floor than here. You can check Theme Park out in the video above.
This map releases for free to all players as part of the Blood Orchid expansion's launch on August 29. It will also introduce three new characters to the game, one more than the usual expansion. That extra is due to the cancellation of a previous expansion in favor of Operation Health, during which Ubisoft worked to resolve fundamental and technical issues with the game. The map that was a part of that expansion will never see the light of day, but its two new Operators will be split across Blood Orchid and the expansion after that.
The map and characters will be fully revealed during a Gamescom livestream at the Rainbow Six Pro League Finals. The stream is scheduled for August 26 at 10:15 AM PT / 1:15 PM ET / 6:15 PM BST on Twitch.
Nintendo is continuing its weekly rollout of free DLC weapons for Splatoon 2. This time, players can get their hands on another returning weapon from the first Splatoon.
Beginning tonight, the Classic Squiffer will be available to purchase with in-game currency from Ammo Knights. Unlike most other chargers (Splatoon's equivalent of sniper rifles), the Classic Squiffer has a relatively short range, but it compensates with its quick fire rate and high attack power when fully charged.
As in the first Splatoon, the Classic Squiffer is complemented with the Point Sensor sub-weapon; when thrown at an opponent, it allows players to track their movement for a brief time. The weapon's special this time around is Ink Armor.
Splatoon 2's next Splatfest is scheduled to begin in two weeks. The competition takes place the first weekend of September, and this time it asks players which superpower they would rather have: flight or invisibility. Nintendo will share timing details for the Splatfest soon.
Nintendo also recently announced that a Splatoon 2 Nintendo Switchbundle will finally be released in the US. The bundle includes a digital copy of the game, a Splatoon-themed Switch carrying case, and neon pink and green Joy-Cons, making this the first opportunity for fans in the US to pick up those colored controllers. The bundle goes on sale September 8 and retails for $380, but it will only be available at Walmart stores.
The first teaser for The Punisher is here. Marvel's upcoming show is expected to arrive on Netflix later this year, and this first promo can be found after the final episode of The Defenders, which hit the service today. It doesn't give much away, but it certainly looks as dark, intense, and violent as fans are expecting. Check it out above.
The Punisher sees Jon Bernthal reprise his role as vigilante anti-hero Frank Castle from the second season of Daredevil. He is joined in the new season by his Daredevil co-star Deborah Ann Woll, playing Karen Page.
Bernthal is the fourth actor to play the Punisher, following Dolph Lungren, Thomas Jane, and Ray Stevenson, in the three previous movie versions. In an interview with Complex last year, Bernthal spoke about taking on one of Marvel's most iconic characters.
"The first step in trying to fill Frank Castle's shoes is to try to understand what would happen if somebody tore that love away from you," he said. "If they tore those people away from you. And that's something that just filled me with so much emotion and made me so scared, so angry. It's always sort of been my philosophy in life. If something really scares you, if something really kinda sets you on fire inside, that's exactly what you need to step towards."
"There's a pressure there to stepping into an unbelievably iconic role," he continued. "The responsibility here is to do justice to the iterations of the character that have come before me, but then obviously to make it unique, and to make it real, and to make it mine."
Those still in the market for a Nintendo Switch will soon have a new option when deciding how to purchase it. Nintendo has announced a new Splatoon 2 bundle for North America, though only a single store will carry it.
Following the launch of Splatoon 2 bundles in Europe and Japan, North America will get one starting on September 8. For $380, it includes a Switch, a digital copy of Splatoon 2, and a carrying case. It will only be available at Walmart. Nintendo did not say how long it will be available for.
Notably, the Joy-Cons that the system comes with are the neon pink and neon green ones that were previously unavailable in the US. Nintendo's press release notes this bundle gives "fans in North America their first chance to get their hands on that Joy-Con color combination." That suggests these controller controllers will be sold separately at a later date.
Nintendo currently offers two different versions of the base system itself: one with grey Joy-Cons, and one with a red and blue pair. Yellow Joy-Cons released alongside Arms are also available but only as a purchase separate from the system.
This Splatoon 2 bundle marks the Switch's first official bundle in North America. However, retailers have made a habit of selling their limited supply of Switch systems in bundles that package the system together with games and accessories. Stock remains limited, with the system selling out very quickly whenever it returns to stores--when it's sold on its own, at least.
Those eager to place their order for the Xbox One X will soon have a chance to do so. Pre-orders will reportedly go online in a matter of days.
According to a tweet from The Verge's Tom Warren, pre-orders will be available this Sunday, August 20, following Microsoft's Gamescom press conference/livestream event. Microsoft has yet to confirm the details of when pre-orders go live, but Xbox boss Phil Spencer has stated that more information regarding Xbox One pre-orders will be shared today. However, it looks like all we'll get is what's seen in the tweet below, which promises pre-order details on Sunday. Marketing boss Albert Penello also posted about this on Twitter, saying, "Xbox One X Pre-orders are COMING! Watch our Gamescom broadcast on Sunday for details and a cool surprise!"
We don't yet know what exactly to expect from Microsoft's Gamescom event this Sunday. It's scheduled to begin at 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET / 8 PM BST, and we'll cover all of the major news here on GameSpot. Spencer stated on Twitter that we'll hear about Xbox One X game support and described the event as "something we haven't done in awhile at Gamescom; it will be different from what fans expect, but I'm excited."
The Imaginarium Studios has revealed its video game companion to the Planet of the Apes film franchise, Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier. The studio released the first trailer for the game, setting the stage for the bleak conflict that players will have to navigate.
Described as a "narrative-driven adventure game of conquest, betrayal, and survival," Last Frontier is set between the events of the series' two most recent films, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes. According to the press release, "When the fates of a tribe of apes and a band of human survivors intertwine, two worlds collide as their precarious existence hangs in the balance."
Like the film series, Last Frontier blurs the line between the humans and apes. Players will be given the chance to understand both sides of the conflict by allowing them to play as both humans and apes during the course of the game. It will fall to them to navigate the tense relationship between the two species, as "every decision impacts the fragile balance between peace and war." The game will also feature multiple endings.
We first learned about Last Frontier at New York Comic-Con last October. Actor and Imaginarium Studios founder Andy Serkis (who also performs motion capturing for the film character Caesar) teased that it would be a companion piece to War for the Planet of the Apes that "feels like an interactive movie."
Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier is releasing for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Publisher FoxNet hasn't announced an exact release date yet, but the game is slated to arrive sometime this fall.
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life's western release date has been announced. The action game is coming to the west on March 20, 2018--just over a year after it originally launched in Japan.
In addition, publisher Sega revealed a special After Hours Premium Edition, which, for some reason, contains a lot of gear related to drinking. Included are two bar glasses, two coasters, two ice stones to chill your drink, and a collectible outer box--plus the game, of course. This special edition will cost US $90 / £80 / AU $130, while the standard version of the game will set you back US $60 / £50 / AU $90. Pre-orders and launch versions of the standard edition will also come with a free hardcover art book, which doubles as a disc holder.
Finally, a new trailer has been released for the PS4 exclusive, showing off some of the game's crazy combat, its traversal… and cats. Lots of cats. Take a look above.
Yakuza 6 was first announced back in 2015 at Japan's Tokyo Game Show. It launched for Japanese players in December 2016, but has so far not been available in the west.
The Yakuza series follows Kazuma Kiryu's rise through the ranks of the Yakuza and his ongoing conflicts with rival factions of the crime family. The latest entry to come to the west was Yakuza 0, which we enjoyed here at GameSpot. Critic Peter Brown called it a "fascinating adventure" and awarded it an 8/10--you can read more in our full Yakuza 0 review. For more on Yakuza 6, meanwhile, check out some recent gameplay or a trailer.
We know The Lost Legacy contains the biggest Uncharted level ever made, and we've seen some pre-release gameplay--but is it any good? Reviews have started to go live for the new action game, and it seems critics are enjoying it. Our reviewer, Miguel Concepcion, said "The Lost Legacy doesn't signify a new era for Uncharted" but it does deliver "new settings and character motivations, wrapped in a comfortingly familiar Uncharted package." He went on to say it ranks "among the best in the series." For more, check out our full Uncharted: Lost Legacy review.
For a wider view of critical opinion, check out our review roundup below, or take a look at GameSpot's sister site Metacritic.
Release: August 22 (North America), August 23 (Europe, Australia)
Price: US $40 / £25 / AU $55
GameSpot -- 9/10
"The Lost Legacy doesn't signify a new era for Uncharted so much as it presents an opportunity to show the series from new perspectives, for which Chloe and the AI-controlled Nadine are perfectly capable. With a new playable treasure hunter comes new settings and character motivations, wrapped in a comfortingly familiar Uncharted package. The thrill of playing through set pieces that call back scenes from the earlier games is all the more enhanced when seen through the gameplay mechanics introduced in A Thief's End. The initial hours of The Lost Legacy give an "Uncharted Greatest Hits" vibe, but it grows into a more nuanced, clever experience, ranking among the best in the series while also making its own mark as a standalone Uncharted that isn't anchored to Nathan Drake's harrowing exploits." -- Miguel Concepcion [Full review]
IGN -- 7.5/10
"Uncharted: The Lost Legacy succeeds on the strength of its protagonists, writing, and phenomenal depiction of India's jungles and ruins. Being in the company of Chloe and Nadine keeps its overly familiar action sequences and disappointingly empty open-world area interesting, and it regains its footing in smart puzzles and thrilling cinematic moments." -- Marty Sliva [Full review]
Polygon -- 8.5/10
"I went into Uncharted: The Lost Legacy expecting a light stand-alone adventure, but it turns out to serve a much greater purpose. Despite the new protagonist, this game serves as a celebration of everything the Uncharted series has come to represent over a decade of mostly strong releases from Naughty Dog. And because of the new protagonist, it also offers a glimpse into what the franchise could become in the future, with some new developer leading the way. Naughty Dog did right by our memories here, and I hope that whoever takes on Uncharted next does right by them." -- Philip Kollar [Full review]
Eurogamer -- Recommended
"Perhaps it is unfair to expect more of a glorified expansion pack, but it was Naughty Dog that raised our expectations were with the excellent Left Behind add-on for The Last of Us; it seems as though, with its changing of the guard, The Lost Legacy had just as good an opportunity to weave some new patterns with this old yarn. That opportunity has been missed.
"Many won't mind that and will point, reasonably, to the sheer unflagging quality and effortlessness of this action romp. Others, like me, will take pleasure in finding that a smaller Uncharted doesn't mean a lesser one, and that even in a series known for its excess, less can be more. And Nate? To be honest, I didn't really miss him." -- Oli Welsh [Full review]
Trusted Reviews -- 5/5
"It might be shorter--as reflected in the price--but The Lost Legacy is a great Uncharted and a dazzling example of a studio at the top of its game. To be honest, I wouldn't have believed that Chloe and Nadine could make such fantastic, sympathetic protagonists or that Naughty Dog could stretch the formula out for another 10 hours, yet it has and I loved every minute.
"To my mind, this isn't merely one of the best games of the summer, but one of the season's best blockbusters in any media. If Naughty Dog wants to leave the series here, it's hard to grumble, but let's hope it doesn't. Right now, more Uncharted seems like anything but a bad idea." -- Stuart Andrews [Full review]
The Guardian -- 4/5
"Though The Lost Legacy boasts beautiful new environments to explore and for Chloe to take collectible photos of on her smartphone, the journey through them feels very familiar. The only thing that's truly fresh about this game is the protagonists, but they're a promising pair, and those who don't mind a formulaic sequel should take the chance to get to know them. They've certainly proved that we don't need Drake." -- Jordan Erica Webber [Full review]
The game takes place in a distant future in which the only hope for governments and global corporations are a group of corporately funded super agents--the Agents of Mayhem. Take a look at a bunch of videos below:
After playing it pre-release, we had our doubts, and now final reviews have started to go live. In our verdict, critic Brett Todd said there's "little to Agents of Mayhem beyond its foul-mouthed and bombastic attitude." He went on to say it has "loads of mayhem, but not much else." Read more in our full Agents of Mayhem review.
For a selection of other critics' opinions, check out the roundup below. Alternatively you can take a look at GameSpot sister site Metacritic for a wider view of Agents of Mayhem's critical reception.
Release: Out now (US), August 18 (Europe, Australia)
Price: US $60 / £43 / AU $100
GameSpot -- 4/10
"Personality can only take a broken and repetitive game so far. The attitude behind Agents of Mayhem has potential, at least if it's executed properly. But there's little to Agents of Mayhem beyond its foul-mouthed and bombastic attitude, which push the game into grating and obnoxious territory. Throw in the poor mission design and bugs, and you've got a game with loads of mayhem, but not much else." -- Brett Todd [Full review]
IGN -- 7.1/10
"Agents of Mayhem does a good job paying homage to the cartoon and live-action TV heroes of the '80s and '90s, and revels in the absurd tropes and idiosyncrasies of those inspirations. A broad and goofy arsenal of unique weapons and gadgets and the ability to switch characters on the fly to access complementary abilities offers some solid combat and good mindless fun, but due to some unpolished writing and repetitive environments and enemy types, it doesn't fully live up to its heroic potential." -- Jon Ryan [Full review]
Game Informer -- 8.0/10
"Agents of Mayhem is cheesy, rarely funny, and generally ridiculous, but I was eager to play for long periods of time. The action is frenetic and fun, with room for strategy using all the characters' assorted abilities. Even if Seoul ends up being a bland backdrop, I enjoyed being in the world and causing explosions in [it] at every opportunity." -- Kyle Hilliard [Full review]
Polygon -- 5.5/10
"This has likely started to feel like a litany of sins rather than cogent critique, but it's the best way I have of illustrating Agent of Mayhem's failings. It is not felled by any one thing, but is rather undone by a thousand little cuts. Agents of Mayhem heaps theoretical fun on you. Characters, powers, upgrades, tons of missions--it's desperate to for the player to just have fun. It's a noble impulse, but one that it's depressingly incapable of consistently delivering on." -- Justin McElroy [Full review]
GamesRadar+ -- 4/5
"Variety is something that Agents of Mayhem otherwise has in abundance, thankfully. Whether you're in the mood for action-packed battles on crowded concert stages, upgrading your agents and home base, or going for some breezy, triple-jumping platforming between skyscrapers, new fun is never far off. Then you can return to base, slot in a different trio of heroes, and drop back into Seoul with an all-new team. Mayhem is flawed, but it's also a strong start for an enjoyable and funny series. Would it be presumptuous to say I'm ready for season two?" -- Connor Sheridan [Full review]
Trusted Reviews -- 2.5/5
"Agents of Mayhem would have been a great rental in days gone by, but today it's an experience that's great for a a short while, but doesn't offer enough to keep players invested for the duration of the campaign. I hope Volition does something with these heroes, though, as they're truly great. I just hope they're wrapped up in a more fulfilling experience on par with rivals in the genre on their next outing." -- Brett Phipps [Full review]
"I am very pleased to secure this global partnership with Deep Silver, which is comprised of incredible men and women who have a deep passion for bringing Japanese titles to the rest of the world," said Shenmue III director Yu Suzuki. "Throughout this process, Deep Silver has expressed a deep passion for Japanese games, the Shenmue franchise, and its fans--this gives me further confidence in Shenmue III and that we have found the best partner possible."
Deep Silver announced the news on its website and confirmed the game will "exclusively" launch on PlayStation 4 and PC, both physically and digitally. It also stated a release date is scheduled for some time in "the second half of 2018."
The news follows a crowdfunding campaign that ended at the highest-ever figure for a video game. Nearly 70,000 backers pledged $6,333,295, and more has likely been raised since. After Shenmue III was revealed on Sony's stage at E3 2015, there was some confusion over whether the PlayStation owner would publish the long-awaited game. Ys Net said at the time that Sony would provide "assistance on the production and marketing end" and "some publishing support as well," but that the manufacturing giant would not see "a cent of your Kickstarter dollars," with the whole sum going to Ys Net itself. It's unclear if the developer's arrangement with Sony remains in place following the deal with Deep Silver.
More Shenmue III news is expected at Gamescom 2017 in Cologne, Germany. GameSpot will be in attendance at the show next week bringing you all the latest news on the much-anticipated role-playing game.
PlayStation 4's 5.0 update was leaked last week, and now Sony has officially revealed what's coming in the patch. In short, there are few huge features included in the update--which is out today for select beta testers--but lots of small improvements that should improve the system's functionality overall.
Some of the enhancements center around streaming using the PS4's built-in broadcasting capabilities. PS4 Pro users will be able to stream in 1080p and 60 FPS, provided their connection is strong enough, and PSVR users will be able to see new messages and comments coming through while broadcasting. PSVR is also adding 5.1ch and 7.1ch virtual surround sound support.
Next up, the PS4's Friends List is being updated with greater management tools, such as the ability to set up separate lists of friends. You'll be able to create a list of all the people you play Destiny with and send them all an invite, for example. This feature replaces the old Favorite Groups tab.
In another move to help reduce the amount of time spent in menus, the Quick Menu is being updated to have more options. For example, you'll be able to check on download progress and see new party invites. You can also leave a party from within that menu and see your current Spotify playlist.
Notifications are also being improved when watching films and TV, as you can now disable message and other notification pop-ups while watching media. You can also change how much of a message is displayed, as well as its color, when playing or watching any form of content.
Finally, Parental Control features are being overhauled in favor of what Sony calls "Family on PSN." This replaces the old Master/Sub account system; instead, one user is deemed the Family Manager, and they can set up other accounts and appoint them as a Parent/Guardian, Adult, or Child. Parents or Guardians can restrict Child accounts in their "use of online features and communication with other players, set restrictions for games, restrict the use of the internet browser, and set spending limits for PlayStation Store." Note that Sony says the first time any North American user tries to set up an Adult account, they will be charged $0.50 "to verify that you are an adult."
You can read all the details of the 5.0 update here. Beta testers who were selected to take part will be able to upgrade today, though bear in mind that your console may experience "unexpected issues" as a result of the beta. Sony does say, however, that you can downgrade to the current version of 4.73. The company has not revealed when the update will go live for all users, though beta invites do include two extra codes for testers to try it out with friends.
Year-to-date, Ghost Recon: Wildlands remains the best-selling game of 2017, with Ubisoft still the top-selling publisher for the year.
In total, game sales for July 2017 amounted to $277 million, which is up 17 percent year-over-year. Year-to-date, dollar sales came to $2.7 billion, up less than 1 percent.
Dollar sales of video game software and PC games software combined to reach $277 million in July 2017, up 17 percent versus year ago. Year to date, dollar sales are up less than 1 percent compared to year ago at $2.7 billion.
With Splatoon 2 (No. 1), Breath of the Wild (No. 5), and Mario Kart 8 (No. 7), Nintendo had three of the month's top seven best-selling games on the all-platforms chart.
NPD analyst Mat Piscatella also mentioned in the report that RPGs are "experiencing a market resurgence."
Also of note is that three Call of Duty games made the Top 20 chart, including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered,Black Ops III, and Infinite Warfare. "Over the 12-month period ending July 2017, Call of Duty is the market's best-selling video game franchise and Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare the best-selling game," Piscatella said.
This month's Stephen King adaptation The Dark Tower may not have made an impact at the box office, but it looks the like same won't be true for the upcoming It. The big-screen version of King's classic horror novel hits theaters next month, and early estimates suggest that it might set a box office record.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the movie could make $50 million in its opening three days. This would make it the biggest film ever released in September, overtaking 2015's Hotel Transylvania 2, which made $48 million. The site states that some sources even think It could make as much as $60 million.
Warner, however, is more cautious, and the studio's own estimate places the movie more in the $40-$45 million range. September is traditionally a quiet month at the box office, and the film's R rating could count against it. Nevertheless, it is certain to earn considerably more than The Dark Tower's underwhelming $19.1 million opening weekend gross.
Plans for the It sequel are already underway. Last month, director Andres Muschietti confirmed that he would start work on the second part of the adaptation soon. "We'll probably have a script for the second part in January," he said. "Ideally, we would start prep in March. Part one is only about the kids. Part two is about these characters 30 years later as adults, with flashbacks to 1989 when they were kids."
It arrives in theaters on September 8. The movie stars Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise, plus Finn Wolfhard, Jaeden Lieberher, Sophie Lillis, Wyatt Oleff, and Jeremy Ray Taylor.
The live-action adaptation of the classic manga series Death Note hits Netflix later this month, and a new clip has been released. It shows the movie's main character Light confronted by the mysterious detective L--check it out below:
This clip follows the full Death Note trailer, which was released in June, plus a behind-the-scenes promo. The movie stars Nat Wolff, best known for the hit teen drama The Fault in our Stars, Keith Stanfield, Paul Nakauchi, and Shea Whigham. Willem Dafoe will perform the voice of the demonic Ryuk. The film hits Netflix on August 25, 2017.
The movie premiered at San Diego Comic-Con last month. In GameSpot's Death Notereview, writer Michael Rougeau said that the film "isn't a perfect adaptation. But it is a fun one. Fans of the original should walk away happy, and newcomers to the morbid world of shinigami and sociopathic high schoolers with god complexes will get more out of the film's relatively short runtime than they would from trying to tackle the anime's full 37-episode run."
Death Note ran for 108 issues between 2003 and 2006. These were subsequently collected into 12 graphic novels, which to date have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. There have also been three live-action Japanese films, an anime series, and a number of video games for the Nintendo DS, published by Konami.
Last month it was rumored that Shazam would be the next DC movie to start production. This has now been confirmed by director David F. Sandberg, who has also explained why Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson won't appear in the movie.
Johnson was previously announced in the role of Shazam's nemesis Black Adam who is set to appear in his own spinoff movie. However, in a new interview with Film Riot, Sandberg said, "[Although] The Rock has been cast as Black Adam, he's not going to be featured in this film. There have been variations of the script, before I came along, where Black Adam was in and out. But now, this is about Shazam."
Sandberg also spoke about the research he is doing into the character, and explained that he was going all the way back to Shazam's earliest comics. "I'm taking it all in," he said. "Some of those really old ones are quite fun, when he's, like, fighting Hitler. Stuff like that. So there's a lot to read. It's also interesting because he sort of has a couple of different origin stories, and a couple of different takes on it. You have the most recent sort of Geoff Johns version, and then you have Ordwell version, and then you have those really old versions.
"It's going to be interesting, just because how hardcore the fans are. Already, if I tweet a little something, suddenly there's blog post, and no matter what you do, some people will be disappointed."
Although Shazam will be the next DC movie to start shooting, the studio has plenty more films in the pipeline. A full slate of upcoming titles was announced at San Diego Comic-Con last month, including Wonder Woman 2, The Batman, Justice League Dark, Suicide Squad 2, Green Lantern Corps, Batgirl, and the Flash movie, which is now titled Flashpoint.
Shazam first appeared in 1939, when he was known by the name Captain Marvel. The character was bought by DC in 1971, when he was renamed, due to Marvel's ownership of the name Captain Marvel. A live action Shazam TV show was broadcast in the mid-70s, while an animated show followed in 1981.
A new trailer for the upcoming Thor: Ragnarok has been released. It's a Japanese promo, and while much of the footage is the same as the previous US trailer, it does feature an appearance from another key figure from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Check it out below--but be warned, it contains potential spoilers!
Thor: Ragnarok stars Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner, and Tom Hiddleston as Loki. Cate Blanchett plays the villainous Hela, while Jeff Goldblum will appear as immortal games-playing Grandmaster. It hits theaters on November 3, 2017.
One key addition to the MCU is Skurge, the gun-toting, tattooed Asgardian bad guy played by Star Trek's Karl Urban. The character was better known as the Executioner in Marvel's Thor comics, and in a recent interview with CBR, Urban spoke about playing the character. "It was really about trying to honor the genesis," he said. "But also make sure that as a piece of the puzzle he fits into the world that [director] Taika [Waititi] was creating. I think that there's going to be elements within the character of Skurge that are going to surprise fans.
"The most challenging aspect was probably the physicality of the role, particularly when you're trying to work with that uniform, is pretty physically exhausting. [But] once I've shaved my head, put the tats on, wear the armor, it dictates the tone."
Halo 5 developer 343 Industries continues to support the 2015 Xbox One shooter. In this week's Halo blog post, 343 announced that it is planning a major-sounding update for Halo 5's large-scale Warzone mode. 343 lead multiplayer designer Lawrence Metten said there have been too many lopsided Warzone matches, so the team is going to make some big changes to make for a more balanced experience.
"Over time, the Warzone battlefield has changed as players have become more and more skilled at the game mode. However, not all of these changes have benefited all parties-- since launch, we've slowly seen the Warzone 'blowout rate' (how often matches end in lopsided or blowout scores) continue to rise," Metten said. "The Warzone team is experimenting with some significant changes to the way Req Leveling works to facilitate more balanced Warzone matches."
The changes will include an adjustment to the Req Level that gets awarded in matches, while there will also be what 343 is calling a Req Level "drip." This will "slowly increase everyone's Req Level over the course of each match," Metten said.
Internal tests at 343 show that Warzone matches are more tightly contested, Metten said. "In our internal playtesting, these changes have resulted in more back-and-forth Warzone matches with considerably fewer players stuck at low Req Levels over the course of each game," he explained.
The Warzone Firefight and Warzone Assault modes are not changing with this update, which should go live "late next week."
Outside of the Warzone changes, 343 is working on a weapon-tuning update that will make changes to 14 weapons and one power-up. The update that includes these changes is targeted for this Fall; you can read more about what's changing and why here.
Other details in the Halo weekly blog post include word that Halo 5's Infection, HCS, and Mythic Warzone Firefight playlists will pay out double XP this weekend. Additionally, 343 said that Xbox One backwards compatibility support for Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo 4 is "still progressing." We also learn in the blog post that Halo Wars 2's newest DLC leader, Yapyap The Destroyer, is rolling out right now, alongside other tweaks and additions which you can read about here.
A new trailer for the game Fishing Planet has come online, and my oh my, it is something. The over-the-top trailer uses heavy music and sword sound effects (?). Overall, if you close your eyes, you might think you're watching a Call of Duty or Battlefield trailer.
But it's for a fishing game, and it's great. Fishing is an exciting sport, or at least it can be when you have a big one on the line and you're fighting to bring it in. This trailer no doubt succeeds in capturing that, and now all I want to do is go fishing. There is a surprise at the end, too, that you may not see coming.
Fishing Planet bills itself as the "ultimate fishing simulator." It includes 12 places to fish (a river, a lake, and a swamp are shown in the trailer), more than 70 species of fish, "thousands" of tackle combinations, a "complex" fish AI system, and more.
The game has been available on PC since 2015 on Steam, where it's in Early Access. A free-to-play game that lets you fish with other human players in a multiplayer environment, it makes money from the microtransactions it offers. One such add-on is the 4th of July Pack, which includes America-themed fishing equipment.
Hearthstone's latest expansion, Knights of the Frozen Throne, is available now, but the accompanying single-player content is still rolling out in weekly waves. Week Two opens the frosty Upper Reaches, and adventurers who make it through all three battles will unlock another free Frozen Throne card pack.
In addition to some key art from the expansion, lead mission designer Dave Kosak passed along some notes for taking on the three new bosses.
Blood-Queen Lana'thel
Dave Kosak's advice:
Echoing the mechanics of the World of Warcraft encounter, Lana'thel bites your hero at the beginning of the mission, replacing your Hero Power with "Vampiric Bite." You have to bite a minion every turn, giving them +3 attack. If you run out of minions , Lana'thel has a few she's more than willing to offer up as a snack. The challenge of this encounter is to keep enough minions on the board so you always have targets to bite.
Be careful! Lana'thel has spells of her own to remove minions from your hand.
Professor Putricide
Dave Kosak advice:
Throughout the fight, Professor Putricide's Hero Power, "Mad Science," will get even madder. First, all Secrets will cost zero, then all weapons will cost one. In phase three, he'll set the cost of everything to five mana. In addition, he summons Rotface and Festergut to the fight. Crazy stuff!
Having lots of weapons and Secrets to play is important, as well as having card draw available to take advantage of the cost reduction, but there are plenty of creative ways to defeat Professor Patricide. The craziness of having all those free cards in hand will challenge even the best players in one of our most difficult encounters.
Sindragosa
Dave Kosak's advice:
At the start of this fight, players will have four frozen minions on the board. At regular intervals Sindragosa will use her Hero Power, "Frost Breath," to permanently freeze all enemy minions.
In WoW, players had to use their frozen allies as cover, then break them out of the ice. In Hearthstone, there's no rescuing frozen allies, providing an intensely tactical encounter where every minion counts! Players who find ways to sacrifice their own minions and carefully time Sindragosa's Frost Breath can keep enough slots available to finish the encounter before their entire board is filled with useless blocks of ice.
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