By Tamoor Hussain on Nov 09, 2017 04:53 pm
Everything You Need To Know About Destiny 2's Faction Rallies
Once again, Destiny 2's Faction Rallies are live on the PS4, Xbox One, and--for the first time ever--PC. For the uninitiated, Faction Rallies are an opportunity to earn exclusive rewards ranging from weapons and armor to shaders. In order to do this, you must pledge yourself to one of three factions and fight in its name. To join a faction, head to the Traveler and talk to one of the three leaders. Arach Jalaal (Dead Orbit faction) and Lakshmi-2 (Future War Cult) can be found in the Hangar, while Executor Hideo (New Monarchy) is tucked away in the Bazaar. To obtain the items they have, you'll need to trade them for rewards Tokens, which you earn by destroying supplies found in Lost Sectors or doing Public Events, Crucible matches, strikes, and the Raid. This gallery will help you locate each of the leaders and also show you what gear they have to offer. In related news, a Destiny 2 PC-only update was released ahead of the debut of Faction Rallies. Bungie has released the 1.0.6.2 hotfix, which is intended to resolve a technical issue that cropped up with a previous patch. The 1.0.6 update made changes to how Faction Tokens are earned.
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Executor Hideo (New Monarchy)
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Executor Hideo Location
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - New Monarchy Powerful Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - New Monarchy Gear
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - New Monarchy Gear
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - New Monarchy Gear
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - New Monarchy Gear
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - New Monarchy Gear
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - New Monarchy Gear
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - New Monarchy Gear
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - New Monarchy Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - New Monarchy Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - New Monarchy Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - New Monarchy Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - New Monarchy Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - New Monarchy Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - New Monarchy Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Arach Jalaal (Dead Orbit)
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Arach Jalaal Location
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Dead Orbit Powerful Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Dead Orbit Gear
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Dead Orbit Gear
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Dead Orbit Gear
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Dead Orbit Gear
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Dead Orbit Gear
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Dead Orbit Gear
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Dead Orbit Gear
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Dead Orbit Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Dead Orbit Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Dead Orbit Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Dead Orbit Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Dead Orbit Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Dead Orbit Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Dead Orbit Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Laksmhi-2 (Future War Cult)
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Laksmhi-2 Location
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Future War Cult Powerful Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Future War Cult Gear
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Future War Cult Gear
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Future War Cult Gear
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Future War Cult Gear
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Future War Cult Gear
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Future War Cult Gear
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Future War Cult Gear
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Future War Cult Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Future War Cult Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Future War Cult Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Future War Cult Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Future War Cult Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Future War Cult Weapon
Destiny 2 Faction Rallies - Future War Cult Weapon
By Paul Lilly on Nov 09, 2017 05:05 am
The anti-malware guide
It was around this time a year ago that we posted several tips for removing viruses, along with preventative measures for avoiding future infections. All of that still applies, but what happens when you have a particularly nasty malware infection that manages to evade your best efforts to eradicate it from your PC?That's when you need to kick your efforts up a notch. If things get really bad, the only recourse is a full-blown reinstallation of Windows, but that should be reserved for a last ditch effort. Before you consider the nuclear option, try these next-level tactics we put together to remove even the most stubborn malware.
Restoring Order
Depending on the type of infection, you might get away with restoring your system to a previous state. A stubborn malware infection is not necessarily sophisticated, and if that's what ails your PC, reverting back to a previous restore point (if one exists) can take your system back in time before things went south. In Windows 10, navigate to Control Panel > System and Security > System Protection and click the System Restore button. You will see a list of any restore points that exist, and if you click on one, there will be an option to scan for affected programs before going through with a restore. In Windows 7, click on Start > All Programs > Accessories > Systems Tools, then click the System Restore program icon.
Shock and Awe
If you're at your wits end trying to remove malware, then it's a safe assumption you already tried scanning your PC with an antivirus program, whether it is the one that Microsoft provides (Windows Defender) or a third-party solution such as Kaspersky. If not, start there, then move on to Malwarebytes, which often picks up malicious files that manage to evade traditional anti-virus programs. At this point, you've either eradicated your system of malware, or are ready to pound your keyboard in frustration. Don't do that. Microsoft offers a lightweight application called Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) that targets prevalent malware families and is frequently updated. Give that a go, and if you need more firepower, there are several free third-party programs you can (and should) try, including SuperAntiSpyware, SpyBot Search & Destroy, Zemana Antimalware, Norton Power Eraser, and Hitman Pro (free 30-day trial).
Portable Protection
Some of the more sophisticated malware infections are programmed to recognize certain third-party applications and either evade them or prevent them from properly installing. One way to get around that is by using a portable anti-malware program that can be used without installation. Even if you don't have an infection, these are handy to have on a USB flash drive in case a family or friend needs your assistance. There are several options, and it is a good idea to carry around more than one. Ones that we recommend include Emsisoft Emergency Kit, ClamWin Portable, Vipre Rescue, Dr. Web CureIt!, and Trend Micro House Call.
Outwit the Enemy
Malware writers play dirty, but so can you. If you've run into a malware infection that prevents your anti-virus program or anti-malware application from loading, you can try changing the program's filename and extension. In fact, the portable version of SuperAntiSpyware already does this by providing a unique filename each time you download the file. That makes it a bit more difficult for malware to sniff out a program. For other programs, you can take matters into your own hands by navigating to the directory where it's installed and renaming the executable that loads it. For example, the default location for Malwarebytes in Windows 10 is C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes\Anti-Malware\mbam.exe. Change the name of mbam.exe to something different, then try to load the program by double-clicking. You can also try changing the file extension from .exe to .com, which in many cases will not break functionality. To do that, you first have to be able to see the file extension. In Windows 10, open up any folder in Explorer and click the View tab. Go to Options > Change folder and search options, click the View tab, and uncheck the 'Hide extensions for known file types' checkbox. Once you've done that, you can rename mbam.exe to mbam.com and still load the program by double-clicking it.
That's a Funny Name
Some malware is considerably easier to remove once you've stopped it from running. To do this, type 'Task Manager' in the Start menu, and then expand the view by clicking on 'More details.' You will see a list of running programs and background processes. Scroll through these and look for any malware programs that might be clearly labeled, which can be the case if you know exactly what type of infection has found its way onto your system. Also be on the lookout for weirdly named programs consisting of a random string of characters. If in doubt, Google the program to make sure it's not something that is supposed to be running, and if not, right-click and select 'End Task.' Do the same thing in the Startup tab. Once the offending program has stopped running, it can be easier to remove using our other tips.
Roll Out RKill
Not all malware programs hide in plain site. If you're having trouble terminating a malicious program from running in the background, download and run RKill. This handy program was developed by BleepingComputer, a large support community run by volunteers, and a great resource for protecting against and removing malware. RKill is a portable application that doesn't need to be installed. What it does is terminate known malware processes that are running so you can resume trying to remove an infection. It doesn't delete any files, so it's safe to run. That also means you shouldn't reboot your system after running RKill, as any malware processes it managed to kill will just load back up.
Play It Safe
When all your efforts seem to be in vain because a malware infection is always two steps ahead, boot into Safe Mode. When you enter Safe Mode, Windows loads only the bare essentials. This limits the overall functionality of Windows, but it also means that malicious programs will not have a chance to load, putting you in a better position to clean up your system. There are different ways of booting into Safe Mode. In Windows 10, go the Start menu and click on the power button. While holding down the Shift key, press Restart. When Windows 10 reboots, it will prompt you to select from a list of options. Choose Troubleshoot, then Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart. In the menu that comes up, press the "4" key to choose the Enable Safe Mode option. An easier way to get there is to type System Configuration in the Start menu. In the Window that pops up, go the Boot tab and check the Safe boot box. Once you've booted into Safe Mode, you should be able to run an anti-malware program without any resistance.
Boot From a Live CD
Booting to an infected drive, even in Safe Mode, may seem like walking into the middle of a fire with a pail of water. Why not fight the inferno from afar, using a hose? That is sort of the idea behind a bootable rescue CD, otherwise known as a Live CD. Using a rescue CD, you can boot into an environment that is detached from your infected drive, and run a series of diagnostics and tools to pinpoint and eradicate malware. There are many different options out there, such as Ultimate Boot CD and SystemRescueCD. Some antivirus vendors offer their own rescue CD images as well, including Bitdefender and AVG. These are all viable options, and free to boot, though one we recommend giving a spin is the All-in-One System Rescue Toolkit (also free). This is one of the newer rescue CDs put together by Paul Bryan Vreeland, a field technician who set out to build a streamlined option with both a bootable repair environment and a handful of Windows utilities in the same package. It's free to download (he accepts donations) and it works with several versions of Windows, Linux, and even newer versions of Mac OS.
Time to Reset
If you have gotten to this point and still have not been successful in removing malware, there is one last thing you can try before going nuclear, but only if you're running Windows 10. One of things Microsoft added to Windows 10 is a Reset option that lets you keep your personal files while reinstalling Windows. It's a mini-nuke option, in that it removes your programs and settings, but keeps your documents and other items that you might not have backed up (and really, you should back them up anyway). To go this route, go to Windows Settings > Update & Security and select Recovery from the left-hand side. You can also type Reset my PC in the Start menu. Under the Reset this PC heading, click the Get started button and select the option that lets you keep your files. Follow the prompts and Windows will take care of the rest.
By Mat Elfring on Nov 09, 2017 04:09 am
Since 1998's Blade, when the whole comic book movie craze began, there have been too many superhero movies to count, with seven coming out this past year, like Logan, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and Wonder Woman. It's gotten to the point where there are so many of these films that actors have played multiple comic book characters in these movies, like Taika Waititi, who played Korg in Thor: Ragnarok and Hal Jordan's friend Tom Kalmaku in 2011's Green Lantern. However, having two roles in a couple of comic book movies isn't a big deal nowadays. The real super-powered champions are the actors who found themselves in three or more of these films, and we found 27 actors who have jumped through the films of DC, Marvel, and more.
Ryan Reynolds
Reynolds is best known for playing Wade Wilson in 2016's Deadpool, which was the first time that character has been done properly in a film. Also appeared as: Hannibal King in Blade Trinity (2004) Wade Wilson in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) Hal Jordan in Green Lantern (2011)
Idris Elba
Elba played Heimdall in four movies within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, most recently in Thor: Ragnarok. Also appeared as: Roque in The Losers (2010) Moreau in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011)
Chris Evans
While he's known for his role of Steve Rogers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Chris Evans has appeared in quite a few other comic book movies. Also appeared as: Human Torch in Fantastic Four (2005) Lucas Lee in Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010) Jensen in The Losers (2010) Curtis in Snowpiercer (2013)
Jeffrey Dean Morgan
We all know Morgan for his role of Negan on AMC's The Walking Dead, but Jeffrey Dean Morgan had a few big roles in comic book movies, including Batman's dad. Also appeared as: The Comedian in Watchmen (2009) Jeb Turnbull in Jonah Hex (2010) Clay in The Losers (2010) Thomas Wayne in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Michael Fassbender
Michael Fassbender is best known for his portrayal of a young Magneto in the X-Men prequels, but he's also had a couple roles in other comic book films as well. Also appeared as: Stelios in 300 (2006) Burke in Jonah Hex (2010)
Josh Brolin
Josh Brolin will be immortalized as Cable in next year's Deadpool sequel, but the actor has already had some major roles in comic book movies. Also appeared as: Jonah Hex in Jonah Hex (2010) Young Agent K in Men in Black 3 (2012) Dwight McCarthy in Sin City: A Dame To Kill For (2014) Thanos in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Ciarán Hinds
Ciarán Hinds is about to voice the villain Steppenwolf in the upcoming Justice League film, but he's also had a couple other roles in comic book films as well. Also appeared as: Finn McGovern in Road to Perdition (2002) Roarke in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011)
Mark Strong
He's known for his role as Merlin in the Kingsman series. However, he's also had a couple other big roles, including a legendary baddie in a DC film. Also appeared as Septimus in Stardust (2007) Frank D'Amico in Kick-Ass (2010) Sinestro in Green Lantern (2011)
Temuera Morrison
It may not be a comic book movie, but Temuera Morrison is known for his role as Jango Fett in the Star Wars prequels (here's to hoping if there's a Boba Fett spin-off, he gets cast). Next year, he'll be playing Thomas Curry, Aquaman's father. Also appeared as: Axel in Barb Wire (1996) Abin Sur in Green Lantern (2011)
Jon Favreau
Jon Favreau is an established director, bring movies like The Jungle Book, Iron Man, and the upcoming Lion King remake to life. He's primarily known for playing Tony Stark's assistant and friend Happy Hogan in the Iron Man franchise and Spider-Man: Homecoming. Also appeared as: Assistant in Batman Forever (1995) Foggy Nelson in Daredevil (2003)
Laurence Fishburne
In 2018, Laurence Fishburne will enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Dr. Bill Foster AKA Goliath in Ant-Man and Wasp, but he's been in a few other comic book movies as well, including one from DC. Also appeared as: Voice of Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) Perry White in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Morgan Freeman
The man with the golden voice is primarily known for his role as Lucius Fox in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. Also appeared as: Sloan in Wanted (2008) Joe Matheson in Red (2010)
Rosario Dawson
Dawson does a lot of voice acting, like Batgirl in The Lego Batman Movie and Wonder Woman in Justice League Dark. Currently, she plays Claire Temple on Marvel's Netflix series, but as far as her live-action film roles goes, she most known for playing Gail in Sin City. Also appeared as: Laura Vasquez in Men in Black II (2002) Valerie in Josie and the Pussycats (2001)
Michael Clarke Duncan
The actor's portrayal of Kingpin was one of the few good things to come out of 2003's Daredevil. Also appeared as: Maute in Sin City (2005) Kilowog in Green Lantern (2011)
Parker Posey
Parker Posey has had several roles in comic book movies over the years, most notably playing the eccentric Fiona in Josie and the Pussycats. Also appeared as: Danica Talos in Blade Trinity (2004) Kitty Kowalski in Superman Returns (2006)
James McAvoy
He played Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men prequels, but James McAvoy has appeared in a couple other comic book movies as well. Also appeared as: Wesley in Wanted (2008) David Perceval in Atomic Blonde (2017)
Carla Gugino
Carla Gugino is most known for her role as Sally Jupiter in 2009's Watchmen; however, she has a new role in the DC cinematic universe. Also appeared as: Lucille in Sin City (2005) Kelor in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Karl Urban
Karl Urban IS Judge Dredd in 2012's Dredd--take that, Sylvester Stallone. While there's no sequel on the horizon, sadly, you can check out Urban in his newest role in the third Thor film. Also appeared as: William Cooper in Red (2010) Skurge in Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Ben Foster
This actor played the mutant Angel in 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand, and while that was his latest comic book role, it wasn't his first. Also appeared as: Spacker Dave in The Punisher (2004) The Stranger in 30 Days of Night (2007)
James Marsden
Currently, Marsden is known for his role in Westworld, but in the realm of comic book movies, he was the first person to play Cyclops in the original X-Men trilogy. Also appeared as: Richard White in Superman Returns (2006) Quince in 2 Guns (2013)
Doug Jones
If you saw Doug Jones walking down the street, you might not recognize him, but you would know him from his role as Abe Sapien from the first two Hellboy movies. Also appeared as: Thin Clown in Batman Returns (1992) A Ripper in Tank Girl (1995) Joey in Men in Black (1997) Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)
Will Smith
Will Smith played the role of Deadshot in Suicide Squad. However, that wasn't the first time the big-name actor starred in a comic book film. Also appeared as: Agent J in Men in Black (1997) Robert Neville in I Am Legend (2007)
Clancy Brown
Clancy Brown is primarily a voice actor, known for his roles on Star Wars: Rebels, Spongebob Squarepants, Avengers Assemble, and more. On the big screen, he most recently voiced Surtur in Thor: Ragnarok. Also appeared as: Parallax in Green Lantern (2011) Meachum in Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
Sam Rockwell
Sam Rockwell had a brief stint in the Marvel cinematic universe as Justin Hammer in Iron Man 2. Also appeared as: Head Thug in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) Doc in Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
Danny Huston
Danny Huston plays a great villain. Most recently, he played Ludendorff in Wonder Woman. Also appeared as: Marlow in 30 Days of Night (2007) Stryker in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
John Hurt
Legendary actor John Hurt had many memorable performances in his career. In the realm of comic book movies, he was best known for his portrayal of Professor Broom in Hellboy. Also appeared as: Adam Sutler in V For Vendetta (2005) Gilliam in Snowpiercer (2013)
Stephen McHattie
Stephen McHattie has had a few notable roles in comic book films over the years, like his portrayal of Leland in A History of Violence. Also appeared as: Loyalist in 300 (2006) Hollis Mason in Watchmen (2009)
Stan Lee
Obviously, the king of comic book movie roles is Stan Lee, which you totally knew already. To date, Lee has appeared in 31 films based on Marvel Comics. His best roles were the Watcher informant in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and the DJ at a strip club in Deadpool. He's the "Where's Waldo" of Marvel movies, except much easier to spot.
By Kevin Wong on Nov 09, 2017 02:38 am
From Demon to Corporate Stooge, and back again.
Kane is back in WWE. He reintroduced himself in classic Kane fashion, by busting out from beneath the ring before chokeslamming Roman Reigns. He's been on a tear ever since. At TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, he stuffed Braun Strowman into the back of a garbage truck. And on the October 23 episode of Raw, Kane pinned Finn Balor (cleanly!) after delivering three chokeslams. In all likelihood, the Big Red Machine will be Braun Strowman's next opponent. And as one of the few Superstars remaining from the Attitude Era, Kane will likely pass the figurative torch, from one big, agile man to another. Strowman has quite the legacy to live up to. Here's a brief history of Kane, WWE's most fearsome, fiery monster.
The Debut
The Kane character is performed by wrestler Glenn Jacobs, who went through a series of failed gimmicks before he became Kane. Most infamous was his brief run as Dr. Isaac Yankem, D.D.S., who was billed as Jerry "The King" Lawler's personal dentist. But then, WWE began a multi-month storyline, exploring the rift between the Undertaker and Paul Bearer. The premise was that Kane was The Undertaker's kayfabe brother, and when Kane was a young boy, he started a fire in their parents' funeral parlor. The blaze killed his parents and left Kane scarred, both physically and mentally. (Fans would later discover that Undertaker had started the fire and that Paul Bearer was Kane's father, among other, sordid revelations.) Undertaker believed his brother had died in the accident. But Bearer claimed that Kane had survived, and at Badd Blood '97, Bearer escorted Kane to ringside, where the big man ripped the door off the steel cell and Tombstoned the Undertaker inside. It was quite the impressive debut. Jacobs would later say, in multiple interviews, that hiding his face behind a mask helped him to hone his physical performance--that he learned to express his emotions through body language, because he could not do so with his face.
WWE Champion
Kane held the WWE Championship for a day--he won it at King of the Ring from "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, and he lost it back to Austin the following night on Raw. Still, that's one day longer than most wrestlers get to hold the biggest prize in the industry. Kane's first two years were marked by his long, recurring feud with the Undertaker. They fought each other multiple times, most notably at WrestleMania XIV--where Undertaker needed three Tombstone piledrivers to put Kane down--and an Inferno match at Unforgiven: In Your House, where Undertaker lit Kane on fire to earn the victory. Throughout their feud, both brothers engaged in increasingly macabre stunts--Kane, for example, locked Undertaker in a casket and set it on fire. This was more than a fight for a title. It seemed that both men wanted to kill each other--a symptom of the extreme Attitude Era that was slowly gaining momentum.
Fiery Dominance
After dropping the WWE title, Kane took his place in the upper midcard, where he took on his emeritus role as gatekeeper, known in wrestling circles as being a "jobber to the stars." In other words, if a wrestler wanted to be in the main event, defeating Kane would be a necessary step on the path there. Anyone who was able to defeat Kane was "made," in a sense, because Kane destroyed anyone who was not a main eventer. A win over Kane was a badge of honor, reserved for top talent and potential top talent. Because of this, Kane was more a force of nature than a good guy or a bad guy. Among the highlights from this era: Kane held the Tag Team titles with Mankind. Later, he allied with D-Generation X and won the Tag Team titles again by teaming with X-Pac. Kane also became more relatable. Once mute, he now spoke through an electrolarynx. And of course, he always kept his on-again, off-again feud with The Undertaker going.
Sibling Love
2001 was a banner year for Kane. He broke the existing Royal Rumble record by eliminating 11 other wrestlers over the top rope. At WrestleMania X-7, Kane won the Hardcore championship from Raven. But the most memorable moment of the evening belonged to Steve Austin, who turned heel and later formed the Two-Man Power Trip with Triple H. Partially in response, Kane and Undertaker stayed allies for two years, calling themselves the Brothers of Destruction. They remained a united front throughout the Invasion angle, when WCW and ECW "invaded" WWE. Their signature was to perform dual chokeslams, side-by-side. If one of them got jumped in the ring or backstage, the other one would not be far behind. As always, title or not, Kane maintained his mystique. His fiery entrance, combined with his physical stature (he was incredibly ripped in 2001, even for a wrestler) made him a perennial contender, even if he never closed the deal.
Self-Parody
It was during Invasion and post-Invasion eras that Kane started working self-referential humor into his segments. The character, by that point, had become increasingly weighed down by melodramatic backstory, and WWE found opportunities for the Big Red Machine to poke fun at himself and at how ridiculous his character had become. Here's a brief, incomplete sampling: Kane performed his version of Booker T's Spin-A-Roonie. Kane performed the Wassup taunt with the Dudley Boyz. Kane helped a kid win a prize from a video arcade claw machine. But the funniest parody moment--which ranks as one of the funniest moments in WWE history-- is when Kane performed an incredible Hulk Hogan impression during a backstage segment. If you haven't seen it already, click the link above. It'll be the best thing you'll see all day.
Unmasked
It was around this time that Kane also started wearing a half-mask. Fans could now see his jaw and part of his facial expression. He began talking to other wrestlers in a conversational manner. He was an unabashed crowd favorite. A lot of what had made him intimidating for so many years had disappeared. And so, in an effort to keep the character fresh, WWE made the decision to unmask Kane. This became one of the most controversial WWE angles of 2003. Some fans trashed the decision, and saw it as the ruination of a classic character. But Jacobs supported the decision. He wanted to try something new after so many years behind the mask. Unmasked Kane was mentally unhinged, and he attacked people for the smallest offenses; it turned out that all of the scars from the childhood fire were mental, not physical. The worst offense was when Kane set Jim Ross on fire--proof that Good Ol' J.R. is one of Vince McMahon's most loyal employees.
Faithful Husband
From nearly the very beginning his run, the WWE writers played with the idea of giving Kane a love interest. First it was Tori. More recently, AJ Lee gave Kane a big smooch that left him dazed and confused. But when Kane forced Lita to marry him, it was particularly bizarre. The wedding, like all WWE weddings, was a mockery and a disaster. Lita wore black. Little people formed the wedding procession, which would never, ever fly in today's cultural climate. And Matt Hardy crashed the proceedings and paid dearly for the attempt. But it didn't end there. Kane got Lita kayfabe pregnant. And then she kayfabe miscarried when Kane accidentally fell on her. He would later crash Edge and Lita's kayfabe wedding. Like the Katie Vick storyline--where Kane allegedly killed his girlfriend and had sex with her dead corpse--some storylines are best forgotten and buried deep. Way, way deep.
World Heavyweight Champion
Kane would pass several years in his regular upper midcard spot, fulfilling the same gatekeeper role that he always filled. He fought the Undertaker. He fought Edge. He fought The Big Show. He fought CM Punk. Most storylines were some variation on his new, unhinged persona, although even that evened out as the years passed. And finally, after so many years of loyal service, WWE Creative pulled the trigger on their long-tenured employee in 2010. He won the briefcase at Money in the Bank and cashed in the contract on the same night, defeating Rey Mysterio to win the World Heavyweight championship. And this time, he held the title for almost half a year before dropping it to Edge.
Hell No!
Eventually, WWE remasked Kane; the new face covering looked like stitched-together human skin, a la Leatherface. And after placing him in a few midcard feuds, WWE decided to pair Kane with Daniel Bryan. They formed Team Hell No, and they became the ultimate odd couple. There hadn't been a weird pairing this consistently entertaining since Booker T and Goldust. The best Team Hell No segment is when the two of them went to anger therapy, and Kane introduced himself to his support group. Never has a truthful account of a career been so dark and funny: "I grew up locked in a basement, suffering severe psychological and emotional scarring when my brother set my parents on fire. From there, I shifted around among a series of medical institutions until I was grown. At which point, I buried my brother alive. Twice. Since then, I've set a couple of people on fire and abducted various co-workers. Oh, and I once electrocuted a man's testicles. Years ago, I had a girlfriend named Katie, but let's just say that that didn't turn out so well. My real father is a guy named Paul Bearer, who I recently trapped in a meat locker. I've been buried, divorced, broke up my ex-wife's wedding, and tombstoned a priest. And, for reasons never quite explained, I have an unhealthy obsession with torturing Pete Rose."
Corporate Suit
Kane took some time off, and when he returned, he was Corporate Kane, with a well-pressed suit and an eager-to-please attitude. He allied himself with the McMahon Authority, which meant that he spent the majority of his time helping Seth Rollins win and making Roman Reigns' life miserable. Out of all of Jacobs' different personas, Corporate Kane was probably the least entertaining and the worst characterized, though that was by design. The Authority kept his mask in a literal glass case, likely for when they might need that extra level of Demon Kane support. But one fateful day, the mask went missing...
The Future?
So where, exactly, does Kane, newly masked, go from here? Well, next up is Braun Strowman; the two of them will no doubt collide for monster supremacy. And Strowman, of course, will win the feud. But that's the entire point--Kane will make Strowman look extremely powerful by losing to him, and he will put the younger Superstar on the path to greater things. Because that's the beauty of a wrestler like Kane. He holds no record number of title wins. He's not mentioned in the same breath as The Rock or John Cena. But he's always there, in the background, pushing guys like those to be the iconic Superstars they became. No doubt, Kane is back to fill that supporting role once again, of making good wrestlers look great, and making great wrestlers look legendary. And if this is his last WWE run before Jacobs becomes a full-time politician (he's running for Mayor of Knox County), it's been one "hell" of a winding, compelling career.
By Matt Espineli on Nov 09, 2017 01:25 am
What Is It Good For?
Call of Duty: WWII expands on the series' many multiplayer offerings with a brand new, highly involved game mode: "War." An objective-based team battle, War combines all the best parts of Call of Duty's other objective-based game modes to make lengthy battles in which one team attacks and tries to complete a series of tasks, and another team defends, doing everything they can to stop them. War changes the Call of Duty multiplayer formula in some key ways, requiring players to know the maps to access every advantage for defending and attacking. Not everything about War is obvious--so here are 10 tips to help you achieve victory over your enemies on all of Call of Duty: WWII's War maps. If you're looking for more general multiplayer tips, you can check out our Call of Duty: WWII multiplayer beginner's guide. Call of Duty: WWII is out now for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. For our thoughts about the game, check out our Call of Duty: WWII review. You can also see what other critics are saying about the WWII shooter in our review roundup. And For more on Sledgehammer's huge title, check out our guide on how to get the Tesla Gun in Zombies Mode or take a look at the quest that rewards you for watching other players open loot boxes.
Create Multiple Useful Loadouts
The thing that makes War interesting is that the battlefield is constantly changing. As attackers clear objectives, defenders are pushed back repeatedly to new areas, where they have to change up their strategies. You can pick a single loadout for an entire mission, but as the situation changes, you'll often want to be able to switch your approach and your weapons to go with it. In general, you should have a good mid-range loadout (probably Infantry), a close-range loadout (Exploratory or Airborne) and a long-range loadout (Mountain) so you can play multiple roles in the battle. If your team is getting wrecked by a machine gun emplacement, for instance, switching to a sniper can help clear the way. If you have to fight in close quarters, a shotgun can do some serious damage. Play a few rounds and build loadouts to help you deal with the objectives you're struggling with.
It's All About Teamwork
Running around as a lone wolf is a great way to lose when you're playing War. The only real way to complete your objectives is to work together, and the team that operates as the best unit is the one that will prevail. Not only do you want to stick together with your teammates whenever possible, but you want to assist them as much as you can. That means laying down covering fire when teammates are building defenses, flanking enemies when they're already engaged in firefights, and generally doing everything you can to work like a team. War is a game mode in which communication is also key. You should listen for your teammates' characters to call out enemy locations--they'll do that automatically as part of the game--but grabbing a voice headset so you can speak with your squad directly is recommended. That way you can share enemy locations and coordinate strategies. It's the best way to guarantee victories.
Bring Smoke Grenades
You can get away with playing most of Call of Duty: WWII's multiplayer without ever touching a smoke grenade, but in War, it's an essential tool. Buy it as soon as you can unlock it and add it to at least one of your loadouts--specifically, whichever one you plan to use to charge up the beach at Normandy in the Operation Neptune map. Smoke can obscure enemy vision significantly, allowing you to avoid getting shot up by machine gun nests or sniped at key moments, like on that Normandy beach. When putting together a War team, make sure everyone has smoke available for those times when you're assaulting enemy defenses. You can always tell a new team by a group that has no smoke grenades and thus gets chewed up by the enemy at key points on a map.
Build Your Defenses
When you're playing the defensive side of a War map, there are lots of ways to close off paths to the enemy and force them to stop, potentially making them vulnerable and giving you time to set up. The trouble is, while maps are full of buildable walls, machine gun nests and tank-stopping hedgehogs, somebody has to build them. Every time you're pushed back on a War map as a defender, you're entering a new area where the defenses are not yet set up. Keeping your defenses up is essential to winning a map. Attacking players can knock down walls and barricades you've built, but you can reconstruct them (and you earn points for doing so). Protect your defenses and make sure you get the most out of them by using them to do things like ambush players and blast unsuspecting attackers before they're ready for the fight. A team that gets lazy about its defenses usually gets overwhelmed.
Blow Stuff Up
The flip side of the discussion about defenses is that, for attackers, you constantly want to be blowing up barricades and other irritations even if you don't plan to take those paths. There are actually multiple ways into every defended area on a given War map, but defenders usually block them off. To destroy those barricades, you can plant explosives just by getting close and holding down the corresponding button, although this leaves you vulnerable. It's almost always worth destroying barricades, however. Opening up multiple paths to get into an area means you can make it hard for the defenders to anticipate your attacks. You can also blow some stuff up when playing on defense--on Operation Neptune, for instance, it's possible to destroy Allied ladders up into the bunkers. Whenever possible, using your demolitions abilities is key.
Grab The Flamethrower
Unlike other Call of Duty: WW2 modes, there are no scorestreaks in War. That means even if you're wrecking the other team and racking up objective points, you're not going to trigger your usual bonuses like air support. But there is one handy boost you can snag in the game if you're quick about it: a flamethrower. Flamethrowers float onto the battlefield in plane-dropped care packages, and they're pretty handy if you can grab them and use them correctly. Having the gun doesn't make you any more difficult to kill, but it does make you extremely lethal--it doesn't take much to kill an enemy with the flamethrower. Better still, you get to keep the flamethrower until it's empty, even if you're killed. Use it in tight areas and at clutch moments to kill lots of other players really quickly, and you might save yourself a loss. Just make sure not to ignore the flamethrower when it drops, or the other team can grab it.
Mounted Machine Guns Are Essential
Mounted 50-caliber machine gun nests are all over the place in the Call of Duty: WW2 campaign, but you'll find them scattered liberally around multiplayer maps as well. In War, they're extremely important, and whenever you can construct and use one==both on attack and defense--you should. In lots of situations in War, you'll need space to complete objectives. When constructing a bridge or holding down the beach at Normandy, stopping players from being able to group up is essential. Mounted machine guns leave you exposed, but they're extremely powerful. If you use them effectively, you can control the ground the other team needs to cover and keep them from achieving their goals.
Don't Worry About Dying
War isn't about getting kills, it's about completing objectives. You do want to be as lethal as possible and survive as much as you can in the game mode, but those aren't your primary motivators they way they are in a mode like Team Deathmatch. Sometimes, it's worth dying to help your team win. That means you shouldn't be afraid to throw yourself on a proverbial grenade if it comes to that. Risking your life to complete objectives is more important than staying alive. You'll often see teams full of sharpshooters, all staying back so they can pick off enemy players--and those kinds of teams lose. Choose your loadouts and your role based on what can help your team be victorious, and don't be afraid to charge into certain death if the distraction might help the cause. After all, you'll always come right back.
Explore The Maps
There's a lot going on in any given War match. Each map has at least three objectives, all of which could be a self-contained multiplayer map unto themselves. And all those objectives have multiple ways of entering and achieving them. There are lots of paths through the map, many of which can be blocked and defended, and elements like machine gun nests that can be set up by both teams. The point is, there are a lot of ins and outs to learn. It can take a bit to get familiar with the maps in War, but spend some time exploring them, even in the midst of battle. Finding all the paths through an area will make you better able to defend them, and better able to switch your tactics to deal with being stagnated by enemy defenses. Finding the right place to wait for enemy attackers can be key to fighting off the final assault in the last moments of a match. Try to get familiar with all the objectives in a map as quickly as possible.
Anticipate The Enemy--And Camp To Catch Them
Once you know the maps well enough to know where the other team will approach you from and where they're likely to hole up, you can use a tactic that is otherwise frowned-upon in multiplayer: camping. When defending, camping isn't just a possible tactic, it's often essential. You'll often need to sit on an objective and keep players from approaching it. The best way to do that is find a good spot to hang out and catch players unawares. There are tons of good spots where you can hang out and catch players as they climb up ladders, pop through doorways or try to blow up barricades. The best way to find those spots is when you're attacking; keep an eye out for places where your teammates don't expect a fight, and then use that information to slow up the other team. You can also find good places to camp as an attacker, too, which is especially useful when you're trying to set bombs on objectives. Get used to looking for out-of-the-way corners and use them to your advantage. War is about winning by any means necessary.
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