There are plenty of exciting gift ideas for Xbox One owners this holiday season, and some sweet deals on consoles for those who aren't in Microsoft's ecosystem yet. The Xbox One X was released recently and lives up to its claim of being the most powerful console to date, but it almost necessitates pairing it with a good 4K HDR TV. While not as powerful as the X, the Xbox One S still plays everything, including 4K HDR Blu-ray discs.
We've rounded up the things you should look out for when shopping for Xbox One accessories and consoles this season, which you can see in the video above. The items we highlighted are listed below with their price in USD.
Be sure to watch and read our other holiday gift guides for all the other gaming platforms:
The Xbox One X is a souped-up version of the Xbox One. It's also tailor-made for 4K HDR TVs. This means that many games will look dramatically sharper with a 2160p resolution and feature a wider color gamut thanks to the system's HDR capabilities. Certain games like Gears of War 4 arguably look better running on the Xbox One X than a more expensive high-end gaming PC. While the Xbox One X isn't cheap at $500, you really get your money's worth here.
TCL 55P605 4K HDR TV - $600
TCL's 55P605 is arguably the best budget 4K TV. Considering it also supports HDR 10, Dolby Vision, and costs $600, it's a great TV for its price. To top it off, this ultra high-definition TV comes with Roku support built in.
Xbox One S Bundle - $230 to $300 (depending on bundle and HDD size)
While the Xbox One S isn't a huge upgrade over the original Xbox One, it does support high-dynamic range so that games and movies that support HDR can look dramatically more vibrant and lifelike. Unlike the original Xbox One, it comes with a 4K Blu-ray player. There are also several bundles that pack in different games like Assassin's Creed Origins, Minecraft, Forza Horizon 3, and more.
Seagate Game Drive 2TB - $90
While you can't swap out the hard drive on an Xbox One like you can on a PS4, you can install games on an external drive. Seagate's Game Drive is designed for the Xbox One and has a green hue and logo to match. While it scales up to 8TB, we're recommending the 2TB version, which should be enough for most situations.
The Xbox One X asserts itself as the most powerful console to date.
Xbox Elite Controller - $150
The Xbox One Elite Controller is quite possibly the best gamepad out there. It's wireless, has a nice substantial weight and four programmable paddles on the back that come in clutch for competitive shooters. You also get a useful carrying case, swappable thumbsticks, and the option for an 8-way satellite-looking D-pad that's better for fighting games than the traditional configuration.
Custom Xbox One Controller (Xbox Design Lab) - $80 to $93
It's fun to design an Xbox One controller on Microsoft's Design Lab site, especially if you're tailoring one for someone with specific tastes. There are 19 colors to choose from and you can also customize the grips, bumpers, triggers, and more. According to Microsoft, there are over one billion permutations. The cherry on top is that you can even engrave their name or gamertag on the controller.
Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Headset - $100
Good audio is really important to round out the gaming experience, and on the Xbox One, Turtle Beach's Stealth 600 headset does a lot of things right. The key feature here is that the headset connects directly to the console wirelessly without a dongle; just sync it up and the headset's ready to go. Comfort is just as important as sound quality; thankfully, the Stealth 600 is comfortable for long sessions, and the earcups are even designed to fit around glasses.
12-month Subscription To Xbox Live Gold - $60
A 12-month subscription to Xbox Live Gold costs $60. Not only does this grant access to online multiplayer, but the service offers multiple free downloadable games every month.
Square Enix has announced a release date for the Nintendo Switch version of Dragon Quest Builders. The Dragon Quest sandbox spin-off arrives on Nintendo's hybrid console in early February and comes with a handful of exclusive new items and features.
Dragon Quest Builders first released for PlayStation 4 and Vita in 2016. Unlike a traditional Dragon Quest title, it was envisioned as the series' answer to Minecraft. The game employs a very blocky visual style, and your primary objective is to find materials to craft buildings and other objects in order to rebuild the world of Alefgard (the backdrop for the first-ever Dragon Quest title).
The upcoming Switch version features the same content as the original PS4 and Vita release, including the ability to download other players' creations and upload your own in the game's free-build Terra Incognita mode. Additionally, the Switch version includes "additional crafting options" not found in the previous release, though Square Enix hasn't specified what those will entail. Players will also have the ability to gather materials and battle enemies while riding the Great Sabrecub in the Switch game.
World in Conflict and Black Flag had both been available as free downloads through Uplay earlier this month, but today Ubisoft began a new promotion that also includes Watch Dogs. The only catch to the giveaway is that you have to sign in with or create a Uplay account; after that, though, the games are yours to keep.
If you haven't played it already, Watch Dogs is definitely worth trying out. Although Watch Dogs 2 is generally considered the better of the two, the first game is still cool and it's fun to simply mess around and hack things in the open world. You can learn more in our original review of Watch Dogs. Together with Assassin's Creed IV, this promotion could keep you occupied throughout the holidays.
A great expansion instantly compels you to re-enter a world you've already spent countless hours in. It entertains and fascinates you with new ideas and mechanics that elevate the base game it builds upon. An expansion--when done well--can be an amazing way to engage with a game you already deeply love.
But expansions didn't have it easy this year, what with the embarrassment of fantastic new games in 2017 that were all vying for our attention. Fortunately, there were numerous top-tier expansions that were well worth jumping into to return to some of gaming's most beloved worlds. In no particular order, here are our picks for the best expansions of 2017.
Beyond its level cap bump from 60 to 70 and a new campaign playtime of 50 hours, much of Final Fantasy XIV's new content is the result of fan feedback while also offering a host of accessibility options for newcomers without over-simplifying the experience. Even adding the seemingly basic ability to dive and swim goes a long way in expanding the world of Eorzea, allowing Stormblood to feature an undersea world, fishing, swimsuits, and submersible mounts.
Aesthetically, Stormblood adds diversity to Eorzea, leaning toward an predominantly East Asian look. This is true of not only the new environments but also the addition of a Samurai class, which excels in consistent damage-per-second offense. Stormblood's other new class, the destructive and agile Red Mage is the unofficial ninja of FFXIV.
Alongside all these new content additions is a story that maintains the series' narrative strengths. This, in turn, adds gravitas to many of the mainline missions which unfold through harrowing story-focused moments. Whether you've played consistently since the first day of A Realm Reborn or you're an MMORPG fan who's never touched FFXIV, Stormblood enrichens an already attractive proposition thanks to a strong base game and the Heavensward expansion.
If you fell in love with Horizon Zero Dawn earlier this year, the Frozen Wilds expansion was the perfect excuse to revisit the rough-and-tumble wilds with Aloy. With the help of a tribe known as the Banuk, Aloy's selection of weaponry was expanded with magical casting staffs--to go along with plenty of new challenges that put them to good use. But these tools and the newly expanded skill tree prove useful in the rest of the game's map as well. It's easy to imagine how a new player, after making a trip to the frozen north halfway through the campaign, would re-enter arid deserts and shady forests more confident than ever in the face of Horizon's giant mechanical beasts.
Guerrilla Games also used The Frozen Wilds as an opportunity to flex its technical prowess in new ways. Snow was present in the main game, but the snowy mountains in the frozen north are a different beast. As Aloy trudges through blankets of snow, she leaves tracks behind that persist for quite a while, and they are more detailed and nuanced than simple paths carved for a basic effect. Likewise, snowfall is prettier than ever, with each flake reflecting nearby light sources. If you were already impressed with Horizon's sunsets, just wait until you see them punctuated with pink and blue hues. Horizon didn't need an expansion, but Frozen Wilds' additions make an already strong game even better.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind
What makes The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind truly special is that it's just nostalgic enough to appeal to OG Morrowind fans while still being inviting to first-time players. 2016's One Tamriel update to the main ESO game eliminated level requirements on quests and replaced the previous system with level scaling, so no matter if you're level one or 50, it's accessible to every player.
With roughly 30 hours of new content to play through, the Morrowind expansion feels like a well fleshed-out story. You'll assist the legendary warrior-poet Vivec as his power is being sapped away. At the same time, a meteor is heading towards the capital--in short, Vvardynfell's impending doom is nigh, and your choices are all about figuring out how to save it. This is the first time we've seen this sort of urgency in ESO's questlines, and it's the first time that it's ever felt like your choices truly matter.
Aside from the massive improvement in writing, ESO: Morrowind also introduces the first new player class since the game's initial launch: Wardens. It's a well-balanced class with a focus on nature magic, perfect for beginners or current players who want to focus on an alternate. The Warden is a little weak at first, but a versatile build and great addition to the classes that already exist within the ESO universe.
It can be difficult to keep the magic of a 20-year-old-plus franchise alive, but this expansion's beauty, endless number of things to do, and small details make it a solid and meaningful addition to the world of The Elder Scrolls Online.
Firaxis Games is a master of expansions. Whether it be for the long-running Civilization series or the modern XCOM games, the developer understands what makes its games tick, and what changes will make it do so even more smoothly. XCOM 2: War of the Chosen is the best evidence of that yet.
WotC introduces new friendly units, enemy units, relationship-building, and progression options, but perhaps the greatest addition of all is the campaign's vastly improved pacing. For maybe the first time, Firaxis has found a way to make the middle turns of a strategy campaign fun. WotC's mission structure and overarching strategy decisions are more varied throughout the entirety of your fight against the Advent aliens, providing a new experience each time you play.
The expansion also adds the titular Chosen, alien bosses that hunt your XCOM team both in tactical situations and through the strategic overlay. They gather knowledge about your missions. They ambush your soldiers at critical times. They literally extract intel from your officers' minds, using all of it to develop new powers and perks to more effectively fight against you. They're major threats in battle, yes, but also major threats as commanders. War of the Chosen does what only the best expansions can do to already amazing games: It makes you play XCOM 2 differently.
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Expansion Pass
If replaying The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild from the beginning sounds like a daunting task, then you'll take comfort in knowing that Breath of the Wild's Expansion Pass completely justifies starting a new adventure.
In the base game, the lack of a linear quest line allows you to freely explore Hyrule, consistently rewarding you with unique moments and adventures. But with the expansion, you'll notice your story changing even further. Master Mode, for instance, drastically shakes up combat as enemies regenerate health, have increased strength, and detect Link faster. The increased difficulty furthers your appreciation of the game's mechanics, often encouraging you to utilize tactics and maneuvers you may have taken for granted.
If you're uneager to start Breath of the Wild over, the Expansion Pass still offers plenty of new content to tackle. Trial of the Sword itches that desire for more survival-permadeath challenges, like the one seen on Eventide Island. The Hero's Path feature tracks your last 200 hours, tracing your footsteps on the map--and possibly revealing areas you haven't visited. The expansion even delivers a plentiful number of new armor pieces that lead to new areas and quests.
After beating the game's four main dungeons, you gain access to a dozen more shrines, a fifth dungeon, and fantastic boss fight. And the reward for all this? A motorcycle that completely changes the way you view Hyrule's landscape.
It's fairly easy to discover an awesome new experience in Breath of the Wild, but its Expansion Pass offers an abundance of rewards that make exploring the land of Hyrule even more riveting.
GameSpot will be unveiling its picks for the best games of the year throughout all of December. Check out our Best of 2017 hub for even more.
The Last Jedi might push Star Wars in a bold new direction, but it doesn't ignore the series' past. While fans will be uncovering the Easter eggs, throwbacks, and homages in the latest Star Wars adventure for years to come, here are the coolest things that we've found so far. Warning: spoilers ahead!
1. Hardware Wars
Remember that shot of a spaceship that turns out to be an iron in the First Order's laundry room? That's not just a silly joke. It's a tribute to Ernie Fosselius' 1978 short film Hardware Wars, one of the earliest Star Wars parodies. Hardware Wars opens with a space duel between a toaster and an iron, before going on to tell a brief story about heroes Fluke Starbucker, Ham Salad, and Princess Ann-Droid.
2. Luke's Compass
Luke didn't bring much with him to Ahch-To, but among the knick-knacks scattered on his shelf is a compass that might look familiar to video game fans. Luke stole that device from an Imperial stronghold in Star Wars Battlefront II, and it's implied that the compass helped him locate the original Jedi temple.
3. Carrie Fisher's Dog
Before her passing, Carrie Fisher didn't go anywhere without her French bulldog, Gary. In tribute to Fisher, director Rian Johnson gave Gary a cameo in The Last Jedi, where he's been reimagined as a companion for one of Canto Bight's well-off aliens. See that pointy-eared creature over on the left? That's him (and don't worry: according to first-hand accounts, Gary loved the movie).
4. Poe's Necklace
It's hard to see, but in The Last Jedi Poe Dameron wears a chain around his neck that holds his mother's wedding ring. Poe's parents, Shara Bey and Kes Dameron, appeared in Greg Rucka and Marco Checchetto's Shattered Empire comic series. They were part of the team that beat the Empire at Endor, and helped Han Solo, Leia, and Luke found the New Republic.
5. Other Accessories
Poe isn't the only Last Jedi character rocking some stylish space jewelry. According to The Last Jedi: The Visual Dictionary, Luke wears a fragment of a Sith lightsaber crystal around his neck, while Supreme Leader Snoke's ring is decked out with obsidian taken from Darth Vader's castle on Mustafar.
6. Colored Milk
While in exile, Luke survives on a diet of fish and green milk, which he gets fresh-squeezed from Ahch-To's grotesque thala-sirens. The drink is a callback to the blue milk served at the Skywalker moisture farm on Tatooine, although that beverage was harvested from yak-like banthas and not busty sea mammals.
7. Justin Theroux
Mulholland Drive and The Leftovers star Justin Theroux appears in The Last Jedi as the stylish Master Codebreaker, but don't panic if you didn't recognize him. He's only on screen for a couple of seconds, and he's practically unrecognizable under that thin, suave moustache.
8. Mouse Droid
While infiltrating Snoke's flagship, the Supremacy, BB-8 goes undercover by hiding under a box. As he rolls through the Supremacy's hallways, he makes the same chirps and warbles as one of the Empire's famous MSE-6, or "mouse," droids, even though he's about four times bigger.
9. Gold Dice
The gold dice that Luke finds in the Millennium Falcon (and later hands to Leia) are more than just kitschy decorations. According to The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary, those are the dice that Han used to win the Falcon from Lando in a game of Corellian Spike, a variant of the popular card game sabaac. The dice also appeared in A New Hope and The Force Awakens, and should feature prominently in Solo, too.
10. Twin Suns
As Luke succumbs to fatigue after his battle with Kylo Ren and right before he ascends into the Force, he looks out to sea, where two suns hang in the sky, recalling Luke's introduction way back in the first Star Wars film.
11. Gareth Edwards
The Rogue One director returns to the Star Wars universe in The Last Jedi, playing one of the last remaining Resistance fighters during the battle on Crait. You can see him in the trenches standing next to Resistance Trench Sergeant "Salty" (i.e. the "It's salt" guy).
12. Leia's Message
It's hardly an Easter egg, but it's still a reference. When R2-D2 convinces Luke to help train Rey (and maybe save the Resistance in the process), he replays Leia's iconic cry for help from Episode IV. That's the same recording that got Luke involved in these Star Wars all the way back in 1977. His life has never been the same.
13. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Joseph Gordon-Levitt has appeared in all of director Rian Johnson's films, and The Last Jedi is no exception. In the latest Star Wars outing, Gordon-Levitt voices Slowen Lo, one of the guests at Canto Bight. His character's name is an Easter egg, too: it's a reference to the Beastie Boys song "Slow and Low," following in the tradition of The Force Awakens' Ello Asty ("Hello Nasty") and Ilco Munica ("Ill Communication").
14. Lifting Rocks
While training Rey in the ways of the Jedi, Luke sarcastically mentions that the Force is about more than lifting rocks. Clearly, Luke still harbors some resentment towards Master Yoda, who made Luke stack rocks with the Force while they trained on Dagobah. Of course, Rey ends up lifting a pile of stones during The Last Jedi's final moments, making boulder-levitation an unofficial Jedi rite of passage--whether Luke likes it or not.
15. Luke's X-Wing
Not only is Luke's X-Wing submerged under the water at Ahch-To, recalling how his ship sunk in Yoda's swamp during The Empire Strikes Back, but the metallic door that guards Luke's hut on his island getaway is made out of one of the starfighter's wings--or at least it was, until Chewbacca decided to knock it in.
16. The Throne Room
The stand-off between Rey, Kylo Ren, and Supreme Leader Snoke has The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi's fingerprints all over it. The scene in which Snoke uses the Force to taunt Rey right before his apprentice strikes him down is very similar to the climactic showdown in Episode VI, while Kylo's attempts to recruit Rey during the aftermath echo Vader's pleas to Luke at the end of Episode V.
17. Don't Join
Benicio del Toro's shifty hacker isn't named during The Last Jedi, but the end credits and promotional materials refer to him as DJ. That's short for the character's mantra, "Don't join." In case that's not clear enough, DJ also has "don't join" engraved on a metal plate attached to his cap, although you might have trouble reading the inscription: the slogan is written in Aurebesh, Star Wars' fictional alphabet.
18. Rebel Scum
Finn's proud declaration of allegiance after beating Captain Phasma is a throwback to Return of the Jedi, when Han Solo takes offense at being called "Rebel scum" by an Imperial officer. Since then, the epithet has become a Star Wars catchphrase, showing up in spin-off media like Dark Forces and Battlefront II.
19. Double Duty
In The Last Jedi, Mark Hamill didn't just steal the show as Luke Skywalker. The veteran voice actor also donned a motion capture suit to play Dobbu Scay, who Lucasfilm's Pablo Hidalgo confirmed is the gremlin-like creature who mistakes BB-8 for a slot machine.
Since A New Hope debuted in 1977, Star Wars has been a box office juggernaut, and it just keeps on coming. With Star Wars: The Last Jedi releasing soon, as well as a Han Solo movie coming six months later, we thought it would be a good idea to see just how well these movies have done in the theaters.
Using data from Box Office Mojo, we've ranked every Star Wars movie that had a theatrical release by its box office. In addition, movies older than 10 years had their numbers adjusted for inflation accordingly.
The animated feature served as a lead-in to the animated series of the same name: The Clone Wars. While it had a large theatrical release, it didn't make a lot of money. This is probably because this movie is nothing more than a pilot for an excellent TV series, but not a great stand-alone entity.
Domestic: $35,161,554
Foreign: $33,121,290
Total: $68,282,844
9. Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017)
The Last Jedi had the second largest opening of all time, bringing in $220 million domestically. Look for these numbers to explode in the upcoming weeks because of the holidays and the fact the film opens in China on January 5.
Domestic: $220,047,000
Foreign: $230,000,000
Total: $450,047,000 [As of 12/18/18]
8. Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
Say what you want about the prequels--more bad than good obviously--but even the movie that made the lowest amount in the theaters, still came pretty close to the $1 billion mark. People went in droves to the theater to see Anakin Skywalker sulk.
Domestic: $310,676,740 [Adjusted For Inflation: $426,241,924]
Foreign: $338,721,588 [Adjusted For Inflation:$464,718,863]
Total: $649,398,328 [Adjusted For Inflation: $890,960,788]
7. Rogue One: A Story Wars Story (2016)
You know you have a successful franchise when your film has all-new characters and a brand-new story, and it still breaks $1 billion, even though it's one of the darkest Star Wars films to date.
Domestic: $532,177,324
Foreign: $523,879,949
Total: $1,056,057,273
6. Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
The final act in the prequel trilogy gave us the birth of Darth Vader, which is probably the reason it did a bit better than Episode II.
Domestic: $380,270,577 [Adjusted For Inflation: $480,583,735]
Foreign: $468,484,191 [Adjusted For Inflation:$592,067,585]
Total: $848,754,768 [Adjusted For Inflation: $1,072,651,321]
5. Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
The final act in the original Star Wars trilogy brought in the least amount of money out of that lot, even though it had three separate theatrical releases.
Domestic: $309,306,177 [Adjusted For Inflation: $721,663,860]
Foreign: $165,800,000 [Adjusted For Inflation:$410,869,379]
Total: $475,106,177 [Adjusted For Inflation: $1,132,533,239]
Note: Return of the Jedi got three theatrical releases: 1983, 1985, and 1997.
4. Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
In 1999, people were hungry for Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, and because of this, it brought in $1.5 billion at the box office. And during this time, people everywhere loathed the antics of Jar Jar Binks.
Domestic: $474,544,677 [Adjusted For Inflation: $682,116,537]
Foreign: $552,500,000 [Adjusted For Inflation:$818,532,397]
Total: $1,027,044,677 [Adjusted For Inflation: $1,500,648,934]
Note: The Phantom Menace had two theatrical releases: 1999 and 2012.
3. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Arguably one of--if not the--best movies in the franchise is Empire Strikes Back, and while it didn't pull in the same numbers as A New Hope, it did exceptionally well.
Domestic: $290,475,067 [Adjusted For Inflation: $765,135,253]
Foreign: $247,900,000 [Adjusted For Inflation:$742,553,763]
Total: $538,375,067 [Adjusted For Inflation: $1,507,689,016]
Note: Empire Strikes Back got three theatrical releases: 1980, 1982, and 1997.
2. Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)
People were pretty excited to have a new film in the Star Wars franchise--one that wasn't telling the origins of characters we already know and love. Because of this, The Force Awakens pulled in an incredible $2 billion during its theatrical run.
Domestic: $936,662,225
Foreign: $1,131,561,399
Total: $2,068,223,624
1. Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
The original Star Wars took the world by storm. In 1977, people were lining up around the block to see it, and when adjusted for inflation, it pulled in $2.7 billion. It's doubtful another film will take the top spot.
Domestic: $460,998,007 [Adjusted For Inflation: $1,503,659,950]
Foreign: $314,400,000 [Adjusted For Inflation:$1,280,526,297]
Total: $775,398,007 [Adjusted For Inflation: $2,784,186,247]
Note: A New Hope got three theatrical releases: 1977, 1982, and 1997.
If you missed out on the previous Dragon Ball FighterZ beta, you'll soon have another chance to try the highly anticipated fighting game ahead of its launch. Bandai Namco is holding a second beta for Dragon Ball FighterZ next month on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and now the publisher has revealed exactly when players will be able to jump in.
The next Dragon Ball FighterZ beta kicks off on January 14, and unlike the closed beta that ran back in September, it will be open to all PS4 and Xbox One players--though you'll presumably still need a PS Plus or Xbox Live Gold subscription to participate. The beta begins at 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET / 9 AM CET and runs until the same times on January 16.
Those who pre-order certain versions of the game will have a chance to jump into the beta a little early. Reserving Dragon Ball FighterZ digitally in the PlayStation and Xbox Stores will give you access to the beta at 12 AM PT / 3 AM ET / 9 AM CET on January 13, a full 24 hours ahead of when it officially begins. You can also try the beta early if you pre-order the physical Dragon Ball FighterZ Collector's Edition.
By Anonymous on Dec 18, 2017 08:30 pm UFO crop circles, animal testing, and blowing up gold mines. The strange personalities and their quests are back in true series form with Far Cry 5.
The fighting game genre is overflowing with options for those that want to trade blows with virtual opponents, and each has a unique flavour to it. But whether it's Street Fighter's fireballs, Smash's platforming, Mortal Kombat's brutality, or Marvel Vs. Capcom's blistering speed, they're all essentially twists on the same basic formula. Bandai Namco's SoulCalibur series, however, has always distinguished itself by arming its colorful roster of fighters with an array of weaponry.
The last mainline entry in the series, SoulCalibur 5, launched in 2012. Nothing has offered a similar experience in the interim, which made SoulCalibur's absence all the more difficult for fans. But, finally, the hiatus is over and SoulCalibur 6 has been announced. With a fresh set of faces guiding its creation, developer Project Soul is reviving the series with new ideas intended to refine the much-loved weapon-based combat while also maintaining its approachability.
Click image to view in full screen
At a recent Bandai Namco showcase, we got an opportunity to play through an early build of the game. It featured just Mitsurugi and Sophitia as playable characters but provided an opportunity to get a feel for the systems underpinning its gameplay. For fans, it'll come as welcome news that not a lot has changed, at least with the fundamentals of SoulCalibur. Attacking is primarily done through horizontal and vertical slashes or kicks, all of which can be modified by pressing directions during execution, holding buttons down, or chaining them together for combos.
SoulCalibur 6 immediately feels familiar, so much so that within seconds of picking up the controller, muscle memory from the hundreds of hours of playing SoulCalibur 2 kicked in and I was moving effortlessly through Mitsurugi's stances, using combos to juggle opponents, and launching them out of the arena for ring outs. As a longtime fan of the series, it felt like a homecoming, but a handful of new systems also provide more to think about for those that want to dig deeper.
The biggest new addition is Reversal Edge, which is executed by simply pressing and holding one button, at which point the character winds-up an attack that is slower than most others. During this they're open to attack, but Reversal Edge has a small amount of armour and so it will nullify one incoming attack. After a brief startup, the character will use their Reversal Edge attack and, if it lands, the game seamlessly enters a cinematic sequence where the camera swoops in and time slows.
At this point it becomes a game of rock-paper-scissors where you have a split second to take in what the opponent is doing, consider whether they will attack you--and if so whether it will be with a horizontal, vertical, or kick attack--or move, and act accordingly to counter. At a higher level, fights in SoulCalibur become about momentum, and it can often be difficult to steal some of that from a good player. Someone who knows what they're doing can often parlay a single knockdown or launch into a stream of inescapable combos and setups until they've won. Reversal Edge provides the opportunity to slow the pace down and reset the situation by creating breathing room, but it does so without tipping the scales too far. To regain steady footing you'll still need to make the correct judgement call and hope that the other player isn't already one step ahead.
Reversal Edge was designed to place emphasis on mind games involved in understanding and exploiting the way another player tends to behave, but without overwhelming casual players
When asked about the decision to introduce Reversal Edge, producer Motohiro Okubo said the system was designed to place emphasis on mind games involved in understanding and exploiting the way another player tends to behave, but without overwhelming casual players by making it a single button press. Since the version we played didn't have a proper explanation for the system, it was difficult to gauge how to fully take advantage of Reversal Edge and the advantage won by whoever comes out on top after a clash. On a few occasions a correct guess led to a special; this stunned the victim very briefly, which created a very small window to do extra damage. For the most part, it was a dependable way to ease pressure, take stock, and maneuver into a neutral position, which will certainly be handy against skilled opponents.
Another new mechanic is Lethal Hit. Every character in SoulCalibur 6 has a move that, if it lands in a specific condition, will launch the opponent and slow down time, leaving them vulnerable to follow-up attacks. For Mitsurugi it was a vertical slash used as he's rising from a knocked down position. For Sophitia, meanwhile, it seemed to activate when she blocked with her shield and immediately followed with a successful downwards slash of her blade. Lethal Edge requires a good understanding of your chosen character, a bit of setup, and a hint of luck to properly land, but the opportunity it provides will be devastating in the right hands.
Other familiar systems make their return to SoulCalibur 6 with some tweaks to make them simpler to understand and implement in play. Critical Edge, the series' equivalent of a super move, is built up by taking damage to fill an energy bar. Once available, simply tapping the right trigger button will launch into an attack with a special animation that, if it connects, does considerable damage. Critical Edge is as easy to dodge as it is to pull off, however, so simply throwing it out there will be wasteful. Instead players will need to find the split-second in which their opponent is vulnerable, or create an unblockable scenario, to actually make the most of it. It feels like a simple but effective way of adding more to the mind-games element of battles without the need for complex button inputs.
Another returning system, Guard Impact, has also been simplified. In previous games tapping forward and block at the exact moment an incoming attack was about to land would result in a counter that would push the enemy back a bit. Similarly, doing so with back and block would parry the attack, with the opponent falling to the ground as you move aside--the former was used to gain an offensive advantage while the latter for positional advantage. In our time with SoulCalibur 6, it seemed that it was only possible to do the forward and block variation, resulting in the pushback counter. This could be another concession for simplicity, but it's one that doesn't have a negative impact on the depth of the fighting mechanics.
Given the limited nature of the demo we played, we felt compelled to ask Okubo about some of the other details fans of the series will want to know: what the return to an earlier period in the series' timeline means for characters like Siegfried and Nightmare, Raphael, or Zasalamel; whether the excellent Weapon Master single-player mode from SoulCalibur 2 would make a return; and the possibility of guest characters. Predictably, he kept his cards close to his chest, saying they felt there were more stories and questions to be answered about the origins of Soul Edge and Soul Calibur--the two legendary blades at the heart of the series' narrative--which is why they jumped back in the timeline. Pressed about the modes, he answered with a little smile and confirmation that the team is attuned to what fans want.
Whether Project Soul delivers on these wishes remains to be seen, but based on our brief hands-on with the game, the fundamental systems of SoulCalibur remain intact and as satisfying as ever to play. The room was filled with players that had different levels of experience with SoulCalibur; some were fiddling with buttons and studying its intricacies, others reveling in wantonly swinging swords and sliding out of arenas, but all were having fun. The wait for a new entry in the series has been long and arduous, but the soul still burns.
Dragon Ball FighterZ's roster of characters is a great representation of the beloved series from across the years. Developer Bandai Namco recently announced that Goku Black, Hit, and Beerus--three characters from the currently-airing Dragon Ball Super series--will be playable in its upcoming fighting game, and we got some hands-on time with them.
During a recent event, we took each of these newcomers into battle and--as is the case for most of the Dragon Ball FighterZ roster--they're very faithful to their characters. Goku Black is a powerhouse, arrogantly cutting down his opponents while quickly moving around the screen for tricky mixups. Beerus, meanwhile, summons energy balls to make him tricky to approach and hard to escape. Hit, meanwhile, lives up to his reputation as a deadly assassin, teleporting around the battlefield to deliver crushing blows in the blink of an eye. You can see all these characters in action in the video above.
Blinky, Inky, Pinky, and Clyde's hunt for Pac-Man will soon be able to be played on the go. Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 and 2+ are coming to Nintendo Switch in February 2018, Bandai Namco has announced.
This isn't the first time we've seen this title, as it was initially released on PS4, Xbox One, and PC in 2016. This iteration of the classic arcade title takes everything loved about the original, but is smoothed over with a bright, modern paint job, and a few cool gameplay twists.
Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 is a single-player game. It has new gameplay modes like Score Attack, Adventure, and Big Boss Battle to keep things interesting. It has the same style as the first Pac-Man Championship Edition, but requires more strategy.
If you're looking for something a little more social, Pac-Man Championship Edition 2+ builds on the standard version of the game with co-op local multiplayer. This two-player mode lets each player control a character using a Joy-Con and race to see who can get the highest score.
These two Pac-Man titles will be available on Nintendo Switch on February 22, 2018. For more thoughts on Pac-Man Championship Edition 2, check out our review. In it, Jason D'Aprile awarded the game an 8/10.
"Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2 creates an exciting dynamic where ghosts are still dangerous, but the overall game is more forgiving than the original--and it's more entertaining as a result," he said. "Arcade ports tend to be games we play in short bursts--mostly for the nostalgia factor. Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2 certainly relies on that nostalgia to a point, but it handles the classic game in a way that plays with expectations to surprise you. It's the same game enhanced in the right directions to be make an old concept fun, innovative, and challenging all over again."
The upcoming eighth season of Game of Thrones is the celebrated fantasy show's final one, so there is great anticipation for it. Now, one of the show's main actors, Kit Harington, has spoken a bit about it, saying the wait will be worth it.
"It's a lot of--it's just bigger than it's ever been!" It is sinking in, it's just quite emotional," Harington told Time, adding that he's going to be in Belfast this week to shoot some scenes.
Harington went on to say that the plan is for him to finish filming his scenes in 2018. When it's all over, the actor said he's not sure how that's going to hit him personally. After all, being Jon Snow and being connected to HBO's hit show has been such a massive part of his life for so long.
"I don't know how I'm going to feel sometime next year when I've finished," Harington said. "It's quite a sudden shift, I guess, but it feels like the right time."
Also in the Time interview, Harington remarked how part of what makes Game of Thrones great is that the cast and crew are so in sync. "One thing that I've noticed is that if people are enjoying what they're doing and the cast and the crew and the producers are melding in the right way and everyone is getting on in the right way, the right kind of energy is flowing through a group of people, then the end product can only benefit from it and can only become better for it."
Amazon has announced all of the movies and TV shows coming to Prime Video and more in January--and there is some great content coming to kick off the New Year.
Arriving on January 1 is the 10th season of the BBC's sci-fi show Doctor Who, along with Darren Aronofsky's chilling drama Requiem for a Dream. Also due out on January 1 is Sam Mendes' Oscar nominated very sad movie Revolutionary Road and David Fincher's thriller Zodiac. Quentin Tarantino's first movie, Reservoir Dogs, also comes to Amazon Prime on January 1.
Coming on January 12 is the first season of the Amazon Original show Electric Dreams, which stars Bryan Cranston, Anna Paquin, Timothy Spall, and Steve Buscemi. You can see Amazon Prime's full lineup below, as rounded up and compiled by GameSpot sister site CNET.
New to Amazon Prime, January 2018
January 1
The 2018 Rose Parade Hosted by Cord & Tish (Amazon original)
All is Lost
American Ninja
Assassination
Avenging Force
Babel
Baby Mama's Club
Black Rain
Brothers
Burning Blue
But I'm a Cheerleader
Capote
Coming Soon
Cool World
Cross Bronx
Dangerous Curves
Drop Dead Sexy
Doctor Who, season 10
Evolution
Flawless
Freedom Writers
Hamlet
Highway
Horsemen
Hustle & Flow
Invaders from Mars
Love and Death
Love Story
Murphy's Law
Platoon Leader
Pretty Bird
Primitive
Requiem for a Dream
Reservoir Dogs
Revenge of the Ninja
Revolutionary Road
Richard the Lionheart
Show of Force
Six Degrees of Separation
Step Into Liquid
Street Smart
The Perfect Weapon
The Presidio
The Wraith
Thelma & Louise
Uncommon Valor
Words and Pictures
Zodiac
January 5
The Devil's Double
January 6
Grimm, season 6
January 7
A Ghost Story
January 9
Prime Suspect: Tennison, season 1
January 12
Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams, season 1 (Amazon original)
During a livestream event today, Dead or Alive series creator Team Ninja said it is ending support for at least Dead or Alive 5 and potentially the series overall for now. Team Ninja developers said during the livestream that Team Ninja is moving on from the Dead or Alive franchise as it looks toward what it might make next.
"Dead or Alive 5 has finally come to an end, but the Dead or Alive team is very active," the developer explained. "It is time to stop what we are doing for now and look into the future."
You might not hear from Team Ninja "for some time," the developer said, as the team is taking time to nail down what it's doing next.
Team Ninja created the Dead or Alive series and has worked on numerous instalments in the fighting game series in the 20 years since the franchise began in 1996. The latest core instalment, Dead or Alive 5: Last Round, was released in 2015.
Dead or Alive 5: Last Round has seen strong DLC support in the form of new characters and stages over the years. So the end of support is tough news for fans still playing the game, but all good things end and it's exciting to think about what Team Ninja might do next.
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