By Array on Dec 07, 2017 12:05 am
Finding gifts for the PC gamer can be tough considering there are just so many dang peripherals out there. That's why we've done the dirty work for you and have outlined the best bang-for-the-buck keyboard, mouse, monitor and more that will serve as excellent gifts this holiday season.
Keyboard: Corsair K68 Mechanical Keyboard
A mechanical keyboard is a valuable asset to PC gamers, but they tend to come at a hefty price. Corsair offers some of the better options out on the market and for $100, the K68 features everything you'd need out of a keyboard. It's water and dust resistant, so you don't need to worry about accidentally spilling drinks at your desk and destroying an expensive piece of equipment. Dedicated media keys come in clutch and the Cherry MX Red switches give you smooth, linear, and precise keystrokes. Street price: $100
Mouse: Logitech G403 (Wired) / G703 (Wireless)
Logitech has a great reputation when it comes to gaming mice and the G403/G703 shows why. It's a simple mouse that fits into your hand whether you use a claw grip or palm grip. Those who prefer a heavier mouse can insert the included 10 gram weight. Two side buttons are easy to hit with your thumb and the distinct tactility of the mouse buttons help with rapid clicking. The G403 uses a Pixart PWM3366 optical sensor, which is extremely precise. The wired version (G403) goes for $70, but can be found for cheaper while the wireless one (G703) will run you $100 unless it's found on sale. Street price: $70 (G403), $100 (G703)
Mousepad: Steelseries QCK mouse pad series
The Steelseries QCK mouse pads are smooth. The surface consists of sleek cloth, which tracks precise mouse movements. The grippy rubber base prevents movement of the mouse pad itself. The low-profile styling keeps things simple. The QCK series comes in several sizes, so you can find the dimensions that suit your play style or desk space setup. Dimensions and street prices of the different versions are broken down below. Street price: QCK: 320x270x2mm ($9.99) QCK+: 450x400x2mm ($14.99) QCK Mass: 320x270x6mm ($11.99) QCK Heavy: 450x400x6mm ($24.99) QCK Mini: 250x210x2mm ($6.99)
PC Controller: Xbox One Controller
For a long time, the Xbox 360 controller was the de facto controller of choice for PC gamers due to its XInput support. The Xbox One controller is even better, however, with improved joysticks. The newer variants also support Bluetooth, so you can go wireless without a dongle. Street price: $47
Gaming Headset: HyperX Cloud Alpha
Kingston's HyperX brand found its way into PC gaming peripherals not long ago and its headsets have been highly regarded. The Cloud Alpha released this year and provides exceptional sound quality. Just as important is comfort; this headset has dense velvet-like ear pads that form nicely around your ears. The microphone is detachable so you can get it out of the way if you don't need it. HyperX's Cloud Alpha connects through a 3.5mm connection and can be used on any device that supports the audio jack. Overall, PC gamers will appreciate its sound and build quality. Street price: $100
Gaming Monitor: LG UltraWide UM57 25UM57
There are a lot of gaming monitors on the market, but LG makes a really good one with a 21:9 aspect ratio, which will be able to give you a viewing advantage in games that support ultra wide resolutions. It also helps that it's under $200. LG's UM57 25UM57 uses a 25-inch 1080p panel that offers just five millisecond of delay. This is good enough for most gamers. It also uses an IPS display, which means it offers vibrant, realistic colors and wide viewing angles. Street price: $180
VR Headset: Oculus Rift
With the recent price drop of the Oculus Rift to $400, now is arguably the best time to get a VR headset, especially since the Rift has a more mature library that includes great games like Superhot VR, Robo Recall, Echo Arena, and more. This price also includes the Oculus Touch controllers, which retailed for $200 alone earlier this year. It helps that the Rift is also much easier to set up than the competing HTC Vive. Street price: $400
SSD: ADATA SU800 (512GB)
Getting a solid-state drive is arguably the biggest upgrade you can make to your PC. ADATA's SU800 SSD is a relatively affordable one that offers 512GB of storage for under $160. It also offers sequential read and write speeds of 560 and 520MB/s, respectively, which makes it dramatically faster than the speediest hard drives. Price: $159
GPU: GeForce GTX 1060
The current cryptocurrency craze has dramatically increased the prices of modern GPUs, but you can still get a good graphics card for under $200. For instance, you can find Asus' 3GB Phoenix Fan Edition GeForce GTX 1060 for $193, and it happens to be a great GPU for maxing out most games at 1080p. Street price: $193
Webcam: Logitech C922
Logitech's C922 webcam is great for both streaming and video calls. It has two different modes that allow you to shoot at either 1080p with 30FPS or 720p with 60FPS. The C922 also offers low-light correction, so you can use it in dim environments. Street price: $100
Mic: Blue Yeti USB Microphone
Whether you want to stream or simply want a high-quality microphone, Blue Yeti's USB microphone has you covered. It has three condenser capsules, which allow you to switch among multiple recording patterns that include cardioid, bidirectional, and omnidirectional. Street Price: $125
By Michael Higham on Dec 07, 2017 12:04 am
Nintendo 3DS Holiday Gift Guide 2017
Nintendo 3DS Holiday Gift Guide 2017
The Nintendo 3DS has enjoyed a long lifespan and it's still very much relevant in gaming today. It has a vast library of amazing games at this point and the system itself has had a few iterations. So, if someone on your shopping list has yet to dip into the 2DS/3DS ecosystem, it'd be a good time to gift them a great handheld. Even if they already own one, we have a few pointers for accessories to pair with this Nintendo system. Check out what we rounded up!
New 3DS XL Samus Edition
New 3DS XL Samus Edition
The New 3DS XL systems are equipped with auto stereoscopic 3D which tracks your eyes to adjust the 3D effect properly. It's one of the key features that make the New systems special, but the enhanced hardware and exclusive games make it a worthy upgrade for those who are still on the first-generation 3DS. The Samus Edition in particular features an elegant sketch of Samus Aran on the backplate along with the screw attack logo in a neat two-tone burnt orange and gold color scheme. Retail price: $200
New 2DS XL Poke Ball Edition
New 2DS XL Poke Ball Edition
The Nintendo New 2DS XL launched earlier this year as another revision to the long-lasting handheld system, a non-3D version with the clamshell chassis design. It's still a great system, and if someone you know still hasn't dug into the 3DS's vast library or has one of the older DS models, now would be a good time to get them a New 2DS XL. And if they are a fan of Pokemon, why not spice things up with the Poke Ball Edition? It sports a red, black, and white color scheme and a little button (non-functional) at the center of the Poke Ball design! Retail price: $160
SanDisk Ultra 32GB microSDHC Card
SanDisk Ultra 32GB microSDHC Card
New 2DS and 3DS systems come with a 4 GB microSD card, but that's nearly enough to store many of the bigger downloadable games. A 32 GB SanDisk Ultra microSDHC card will do the trick and they're a great value for the amount of storage you get. For reference, Super Smash Bros. For 3DS has a download size of 2.1 GB and and Pokemon Sun / Moon takes up 3.2 GB. That extra space will come in handy. Retail price: $14 to $20
AmazonBasics Carrying Case
AmazonBasics Carrying Case
There's nothing too fancy about the AmazonBasics carrying case for 2DS XL and 3DS XL systems, but it's a semi-hard case that'll keep your handheld in tact. Inside the case are straps to keep the system from moving around and there are three pockets to store a few games. It's a much better option than having your handheld thrown in a bag. Retail price: $12 to $15
HC-RET Earbuds
HC-RET Earbuds
Simple earbuds are enough for the 2DS/3DS, but that doesn't mean you should skimp out on quality when gifting a pair. The HC-RET in-ear earbuds provide great value considering that they can be found under $20 and outclass other earbuds in its price range. Good bass and overall audio quality will make sure 3DS sound great. Retail price: $13 to $20
Hori 3DS XL Screen Protective Filter
Hori 3DS XL Screen Protective Filter
The two screens on the DS systems aren't prone to as many accidents as, say, a Nintendo Switch since both 2DS XL and 3DS XL models feature a clamshell body design. But that doesn't make the displays immune to getting scuffed. A pair of screen protectors can come in handy, and they're pretty cheap. The screen protective filter from Hori fits XL screens just right and comes with a cleaning cloth for application prep. Retail price: $9 to $13
Hori Game Card Case
Hori Game Card Case
Long-time owners of any of the 3DS family of systems probably have a ton of games by now, and carrying around a bunch of cartridges gets unwieldy. A simple case for all those carts can be a big help for portability and the one from Hori, which holds 24 carts, is only going to run you $10. Retail price: $10
Amiibo
Amiibo
In addition to looking like really cool figurines, Amiibo grant in-game bonuses depending on the particular Amiibo and game. The New 2DS and 3DS systems have a built-in NFC reader will recognize Amiibo when they're placed atop the lower screen. For example, you'll unlock Fusion Mode from the Metroid Amiibo and exclusive art from the Samus Amiibo in Metroid: Samus Returns once you beat the game. A little research will help you pick the right Amiibo for your giftee! Retail price: Varies based on specific amiibo
Nintendo eShop Digital Card
Nintendo eShop Digital Card
You can always rely on a Nintendo eShop card if you can't decide on a particular 3DS accessory to gift. These act as currency in the eShop store where you can purchase and download digital games. It'd make for a convenient gift that puts the decision-making burden on the recipient, which is great for you! These come in either $10, $20, $35, or $50 amounts with the cast of Mario characters printed on them. Retail price: $10, $20, $35, $50
By Chris Pereira on Dec 06, 2017 11:31 pm
Destiny 2's first DLC expansion, Curse of Osiris, is now available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. It introduces a variety of new content; there are campaign missions and Strikes set on the new planet of Mercury, which is home to a new free roam area with its own Public Event and the unique Infinite Forest zone. There's also new Crucible content and a variety of other changes, but for many players, the big highlight is the new gear. There are a number of new weapons in Curse of Osiris. While it'll take some time to acquire them all, we've already gotten our hands on quite a few. In the gallery above, we've rounded up all the Legendary weapons we've seen at this point. You'll also find a new Exotic trace rifle--the weapon type Bungie added for Destiny 2. Before now, there was only a total of one (Coldheart) in the game; now we've got another. You can also check out all the new Faction gear and Eververse cosmetics. Curse of Osiris's release coincided with that of update 1.1.0, which made some major balance changes to the game. Numerous weapon types have been buffed or nerfed, and further tweaks to Destiny 2 are coming soon as part of another big December update. The next patch will add Masterworks weapons, which should give hardcore players in particular some much-needed variety.
By Chris Pereira on Dec 06, 2017 11:27 pm
Destiny 2's Curse of Osiris introduces a ton of new stuff to acquire. That extends to include the various Factions you'll find in the Tower, as Future War Cult, New Monarchy, and Dead Orbit all have new items in their respective inventories. Most notably, each Faction has a set of the newly added armor ornaments, which allow you to further customize corresponding gear. Additionally, they have some new weapons, Ghost Shells, Shaders, Sparrows, and ships to acquire as you play. In the gallery above, we've rounded up all of the new the armor ornaments that the three factions offer to Warlocks, Titans, and Hunters. Alongside all of this, Curse of Osiris provides new weapons to obtain and a ton of new cosmetics at the Eververse store. That's on top of the new playable content, which includes story missions, Strikes, Crucible maps, and a new planet with its own Public Event.
By Dan Auty on Dec 06, 2017 11:12 pm
From humans to aliens and droids, every new Star Wars movie introduces new characters to its ever-expanding universe. The Last Jedi arrives next week, and while much of the plot is shrouded in mystery, the various trailers, toys, and interviews that have been released in advance have revealed a handful of the new additions to the Star Wars saga. Here's the roll-call so far…
Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo
Vice Admiral Holdo is played by Twin Peaks star Laura Dern. The character is a senior figure in the Resistance and commander of a ship called the Ninka. From the recent Star Wars novel Leia, Princess of Alderaan, we know that she has been a close acquaintance of Leia's for many years. In addition, an interview with Poe Dameron actor Oscar Isaac revealed that in The Last Jedi, Holdo takes over command of the Resistance and comes into conflict with his character.
DJ
Until recently little was known about this new character, played by Benicio Del Toro. There was even a suggestion from director Rian Johnson that "DJ" might not even be his name--although the Funko Pop of the character is definitely called that. Thanks to Finn star John Boyega, we have learned that "DJ" is an expert hacker, whom Finn makes contact with at some stage in the movie. "We need a codebreaker and he's the best in the galaxy," Boyega told EW. "Unfortunately, he's very dodgy and only in it for financial gain. He doesn't fight for any side."
Rose Tico
Rian Johnson has already stated that Rose Tico is his favourite new character in The Last Jedi, so expect to see plenty of actress Kelly Marie Tran. We know that she is a Resistance maintenance worker who goes on a mission with Finn to the casino city of Canto Bight. In an interview with EW, Tran described the character: "Even though she is good at what she does, she's not known. She's not cool. She's nobody, this background player, which is what makes her interesting. She's not the best. She's not royalty. She's someone who is just like everyone else."
Paige Tico
Rose has a sister called Paige, who is played by Veronica Ngo. She is a gunner in the Resistance, and while we've not seen her in any of the movie's trailers, she does appear in a behind-the-scene video that was revealed during Disney's D23 expo this summer. We also have a clue as to the ship that she works on, via the LEGO Resistance Bomber set, of which she is a part.
Captain Tallie Lintra
Tallie Lintra is the leader of the Resistance's A-Wing squadron, and is played by British actress Hermione Corfield. She can viewed briefly in one of the many TV spots for the movie, and she has her own toy.
BB-9E
The latest droid addition to the franchise has a black paint-job, angular head, and sinister red eye-light, making him very much the evil counterpart to the lovable Resistance astromech BB-8. BB-9E serves upon Supreme Leader Snoke's flagship Star Destroyer Supremacy and was first revealed as part of the Force Friday toyline in August.
Caretakers
This race of entirely-female amphibious aliens are residents of the planet Ahch-To, the ocean world that Rey found Luke on at the end of The Force Awakens. Their role is to look after the ancient buildings, including the remains of the first Jedi temple, on the island that Luke has been hiding out on.
Porgs
If there's one new addition to the Star Wars saga that every fan knows about by now, it's Porgs. These avian inhabitants of Ahch-To promise (or threaten) to be The Last Jedi's Ewoks, and you can expect more Porg toys to be shifted this Christmas than any other character from the movie. They fly, they squawk, and according to this TV spot, they can also fly spaceships. Or at least, get in the way while Chewie is trying to.
Praetorian Guards
With their red armour evoking the striking design of the Emperor's Imperial Guards from Return of the Jedi, the Praetorian Guards are the eight-man elite protectors of First Order leader Snoke. From what we've seen so far, they possess some scary-looking weapons, including hefty double-bladed polearms. Unlike the Imperial Guards, Johnson was keen for these intimidating characters to move like samurai warriors, so expect some Praetorian action in The Last Jedi.
By Jimmy Thang on Dec 06, 2017 09:30 pm
SNES Classic
The SNES Classic may be tough to find, but it'd make an incredible gift not just for its rarity, but because it packs some of the most iconic games from the early '90s. Its lineup, which includes the likes of Super Mario RPG, Final Fantasy III (VI), Super Metroid, and Super Mario World, makes the SNES Classic much more than a novelty or collector's item to keep on a shelf. Most of its included 21 games are still worth playing today. Street price: $80
Bluetooth Earbuds: Jabra Sport Pace Wireless Earbuds
If you're looking for Bluetooth earbuds that offer top-notch sound for around 50 bucks, the Jabra Sport Pace are a good choice. Its audio quality stands out among other wireless earbuds, putting out decent mid- and high-level frequencies. The Jabra Sport Pace Wireless earbuds hook around your ears, which help them stay put when you're running or working out. Street price: $50
Power Bank Portable Charge: Anker PowerCore 10000
With mobile devices being so vital to our daily lives, it's essential to keep them up and running. That's why it's important to carry a power bank. One of the best portable chargers is Anker's PowerCore 10000. As the name implies, it offers 10,000 mAh of juice. That's more than enough to fully charge an iPhone 8 more than four times over. To top it off, the PowerCore 10000 is very portable and offers high-speed charging. Street price: $26
Portable Bluetooth Speaker: Ultimate Ears Boom 2
The UE Boom 2 is arguably the best portable Bluetooth speaker around. It's loud enough for small parties, rugged enough to survive five-foot drops, and is waterproof up to one-meter for 30 minutes. This makes it a great speaker to use in the shower or at the beach. It's also got a big battery that can last 15 hours on a single charge. Price: $150
Tablet: Lenovo Tab 4 8
Lenovo's Tab 4 is a great value tablet that you can often find for under $130. It's rocking an 8-inch 1280x800-resolution screen and comes with Android Nougat. While it's equipped with 16GB of internal storage, it also supports Micro SD cards. The device offers good performance for its price with its Snapdragon 425 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM. It also comes with a large 4850mAh battery. Street price: $130
Drone: DBPower U818A FPV Drone
While high-end drones can be really expensive, DBPower makes a good entry-level one for $113. The company's U818A FPV Drone comes with a 720p camera that you can control with your phone. Street price: $113
4K HDR TV: TCL 55P605
TCL's 55P605 is arguably the best budget 4K TV. Considering it also supports HDR 10, Dolby Vision, and costs $600, it almost sounds too good to be true. To top it off, the ultra high-definition TV comes with Roku support built in. Price: $600
Projector: OCDAY 2800 Lumens Video Projector
OCDAY's 2800 Lumens is arguably the best budget video projector on the market. As the name suggests, it's capable of providing 2800 lumens, which is bright enough for most rooms. It's also a 1280x768-resolution projector that is optimized to shine on surfaces between 50 and 200 inches away. Street price: $210
Star Wars: Jedi Challenges AR headset
Developed by Disney using Lenovo's augmented reality headset, Star Wars: Jedi Challenges allows you to become a Jedi in AR. The game compilation features three gameplay modes. One allows you to wield a lightsaber against hologram foes like Darth Vader and Darth Maul, but there are other modes that allow you to play Star Wars chess or engage in a top-down strategy game where you can spawn tiny Clone Troopers to duke it out on your living room floor. At $200, though, it's really for only for the most hardcore Star Wars fans. Street price: $200
Set Top Box: Nvidia Shield
The Nvidia Shield not only supports your standard array of popular streaming apps like Netflix and Amazon Video, but it allows you to play a bunch of Android games and stream PC games from locally networked computers. The Shield supports Google Assistant, so users can ask it to keep them up to date with reminders and more. It also supports Google Cast, which allows people to stream videos to the device using their phones. Price: $199.99
Starting at $8 a month (4K streaming is $12 a month), Netflix is a great, affordable way to unwind. The streaming service offers over 6,400 movies and 1,600 shows and works on almost every computing device out there. Users can also download select videos to watch offline, and the service can be canceled anytime. Price: Starts at $8 per month
Delivery Service: Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime provides a lot: free shipping, extra discounts, Prime Video, Prime Reading, and even Twitch Prime benefits (like no ads and free games). You can almost find anything you'd need to buy on Amazon, so the free shipping and extra discount on certain items is arguably enough to justify a membership. Price: $33/three months or $99/year
By Chris Pereira on Dec 06, 2017 08:23 pm
Destiny 2's first expansion, Curse of Osiris, is now available and brings with it all sorts of new playable content on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. There's a new planet with story missions, Strikes, and a Public Event, Crucible maps, and more. But in addition to acquiring new Curse of Osiris weapons, Faction gear, and Exotics, there's also a variety of cosmetics to get your hands on. The release of Curse of Osiris and update 1.1.0 marks the start of Season 2 for Destiny 2. Among other things, this has brought a refresh to the Eververse store and Bright Engrams, meaning there are tons of new cosmetics to acquire. Ghost Shells, Sparrows, ships, emotes, weapon ornaments, and more have provided ways to deck out your Guardian with a stylish new look. In the gallery above, we've compiled a selection of Exotic gear you can now find in-game. There's plenty more than what you'll see here, including numerous Legendary items and other things that we just haven't seen yet. There are still more changes on the way to Destiny 2 in the near future. The aforementioned update 1.1.0 made some major balance changes to the game, but further revamps are coming soon as part of a second big December update. The next patch will add Masterworks weapons and new ways to acquire Faction armor and weapons.
By Justin Haywald on Dec 06, 2017 08:21 pm
Destiny 2's latest expansion, Curse of Osiris, has launched on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. In addition to adding some new single-player mission content and a higher level cap, the expansion has also added a ton of new weapon and armor choices. If you want to check out a wider-ranging list of all the new weapons we've been able to find so far, you can find that here, but in this list, we'll focus on the exotic equipment we've come across. Alongside the DLC, we also got update 1.1.0 for Destiny 2, which has introduced a number of buffs and nerfs, and more big tweaks are on the way for the game's December update. The next patch will add Masterworks weapons, which should give hardcore players in particular some much-needed variety. We'll have our initial impressions of the DLC going up tomorrow, but if you're already digging in, we also have the solution to one potential mystery: how to unlock the Heroic Public Event. We'll be spending more time on Mercury over the month to find out everything we can about The Curse of Osiris.
Titan Shoulders: Ophidian Aspect Perk: Cobra Totemic -- Weapons ready and reload very quickly. Melee range is extended.
Hand Cannon: Crimson
Titan Helm: Helm of Saint-14 Perk: Starless Night -- Your Ward of Dawn blinds enemies that enter it. Guarding with Sentinel Shield temporarily blinds nearby enemies.
Trace Rifle -- Prometheus Lens
Fusion Rifle: Telesto Perk: Fusion projectiles attach and detonate with a delayed Void blast.
Titan Guantlets: Aeon Safe Perk: Aeon Energy -- Summoning a barricade grants energy to nearby Aeon Cult allies. Other allies receive a fraction of the shared energy.
Scout Rifle: The Jade Rabbit Perk: The Fate of All Fools -- Chain body shots to gain bonus damage on your next precision shot and return ammo to the magazine.
Titan Helmet: Khepri's Horn Perk: Solar Rampart -- Solar damage kills recharge your Barricade, which unleashes a blast of Solar energy when summoned.
Titan Leg Armor: MK. 44 Stand Asides Perk: Seriously, Watch Out -- Grants an overshield when sprinting at full health with Seismic Strike, Hammer Strike, or Shield Bash equipped. Hits with these abilities recharge a portion of your melee energy.
Hunter Helmet: Graviton Forfeit Perk: Vanishing Shadow -- Increases the duration of any invisibility effects. Your melee recharges faster while you are invisible.
Warlock Gauntlets: Aeon Soul Perk: Aeon Energy -- Throwing grenades grants energy to nearby Aeon Cult allies. Other allies receive a fraction of the shared energy.
Grenade Launcher -- The Colony
Helmet -- The Stag
By Dan Auty on Dec 06, 2017 07:53 pm
Horror fans love the genre for many reasons--scares, suspense, mystery, and monsters. But let's face it, we also love it for the gore. Many of the most popular horror movies are also the most gruesome, and there are few moments in them more satisfying that an exploding head. When a director wants to create a truly show-stopping moment, nothing drops jaws faster than the sight of a human head erupting in glorious slow-motion. So let's take a look at some of the juiciest exploding heads in horror, in no particular order...
Chopping Mall (1986)
This wildly entertaining mid-'80s cult favourite not only has one of the best taglines of all-time ("where shopping can cost you an arm and a leg"), it also contains a spectacular head explosion. It's the story of shopping mall security robots which malfunction and start to kill partying teens, and it includes the laser detonation of one unlucky girl's cranium.
Galaxy of Terror (1981)
Galaxy of Terror was one of many, many low budget sci-fi horror movies that followed in the blockbuster wake of Alien. Produced by B-movie king Roger Corman, the movie focuses on the crew of a crashed spaceship that is infiltrated by a terrifying tentacled creature. In one juicy highlight, the ship's resident psychic--played by former Happy Days star Erin Moran--has her head squeezed so tightly by the extraterrestrial aggressor that it bursts open.
Maniac (1980)
For many horror fans, special effects whiz Tom Savini is as important of a figure as many of the genre's greatest directors. Best known for his pioneering work on George Romero's zombie movies, Savini also lent his gruesome skills to a variety of the '80s' key slasher movies. In the ultra-sleazy 1980 shocker, not only does Savini engineer an amazing shotgunned slow-motion exploding head, he also plays the unlucky guy who gets wasted. That's talent!
Final Destination 3 (2006)
The Final Destination series delivered many memorably gory moments, and of course, there's an exploding head in there. It features in the third movie, as one character celebrates cheating death while working out in a gym. Sadly for the poor fella, death catches up with him seconds later and piledrives his melon into mush.
Halloween VI: The Curse Of Michael Myers (1995)
Hardly the best of the many films in the Halloween series, The Curse Of Michael Myers is really only notable for being Donald Pleasance's final appearance in the franchise, and for featuring a lead role for a young Paul Rudd. There is a great exploding head in there too, as Michael puts so many volts through one victim's body that his entire noggin erupts. Shocking.
Creature (1985)
Also known as The Titan Find, this is another post-Alien space horror cheapie. The movie is little-remembered, but between the dodgy dialogue and lumpy acting, it does feature a doozy of an exploding head. One unfortunate crew member has his brain infected by an alien parasite, but before he can kill his former crewmates, a laser blast obliterates his head.
Daybreakers (2009)
Before making this year's horror hit Jigsaw, Australian directing brothers Michael and Peter Spierig helmed this stylish tale of a world inhabited by vampires where blood is scarce. In an early scene, a doctor played Ethan Hawke is testing a blood substitute on a fanged volunteer. Unfortunately the replacement liquid has the unfortunate side-effect of causing its subject's brains to detonate.
The Prowler (1981)
Another slasher favourite with some classic Tom Savini-assisted cranial mayhem. This one comes near the end of the movie when the killer is revealed--so we won't spoil it and say any more, as this is definitely one the best stalk 'n slash movies of the era. Suffice it to say that the crazed murderer of the title is dispatched in the goriest way possible with a shotgun at point blank range.
Deadly Friend (1986)
So far we've had exploding heads via lasers, gunshots, infected blood, and alien tentacles. But the prize for the most ludicrous example surely goes to Wes Craven's Deadly Friend. Hot from the success of A Nightmare on Elm Street, Craven made this tale of a dark love story between a teenager and his murdered high school sweetheart Samantha, whom he brings back to life via some vague '80s tech. The studio was unhappy with Craven's more subtle and less gory first cut so demanded he shoot some extra splatter for the fans. One such scene is the amazing, uproarious moment where the Samantha obliterates an old lady's noggin by throwing a basketball REALLY hard at her.
Saw III (2006)
With all the torture and mayhem unleashed across the eight movies in the Saw series, it's not surprising there's a couple of exploding heads in there. In Saw III, a doctor spends virtually the entire movie wearing a collar made from shotgun shells. If she cannot save the life of John Kramer--aka twisted murdering mastermind Jigsaw--the collar will explode. She succeeds in her task, but her blundering husband undoes all her hard work by then killing Kramer, condemning his wife to an extremely unpleasant death.
Saw IV (2007)
The next Saw movie also had a prime moment of cranial carnage. One of Jigsaw's victims is placed in a trap with his head positioned between a pair of giant ice blocks on mechanical arms. No prizes for guessing if he escapes or not. Splat!
Planet Terror (2007)
Planet Terror was Robert Rodriguez's half of Grindhouse, his and Quentin Tarantino's double-feature homage to classic exploitation movies of the 1970s. This madcap tale of alien possession and mutation features non stop comedy splatter, and the moment when Lost star Naveen Andrews gets his head blown gloriously apart remains a highlight.
The Fury (1978)
Brian De Palma's psychic thriller doesn't just feature an exploding head--it has an entire exploding body. The movie's main villain, played by pioneering indie director John Cassavettes, meets his truly spectacular, well-earned demise at the hands (or rather, the mind) of heroine Amy Irving.
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
This is Tom Savini's third entry on this list, and one of the most iconic exploding heads of all time. Near the start of George Romero's zombie masterpiece, a SWAT team storms a tenement building to force the residents inside to give up their dead. In the ensuing chaos, one of the soldiers gets a bit trigger happy and blasts an unlucky guy's brains all over the room.
Scanners (1981)
And finally, the grandaddy of all exploding head movies. David Cronenberg's 1981 sci-fi horror classic features an unforgettable scene in which evil Michael Ironside uses his psychic powers to ""can" the mind of a doctor testing him. It's one of the most famous scenes in horror, and still packs a punch.
By Matt Espineli on Dec 06, 2017 03:11 am
Let The BattleZ Begin
The upcoming 2D fighter Dragon Ball FighterZ sports dynamic, fast-paced action with visuals that looks to capture the over-the-top aesthetic of the iconic anime series. But as a fighting game, the big question is: "Who's going to be in it?" To help keep you up to speed on the latest roster updates, we've compiled all the characters that have been confirmed so far. Dragon Ball FighterZ is developed by Arc System Works (Guilty Gear, Blazblue). The game played on a 2D plane, but its characters are rendered in full-3D. It follows a 3v3 format similar to later entries of the Marvel vs. Capcom series. The game is currently in development for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC and is slated for a February 2018 release. For more about the game, check out our footage of the game in action, as well as our montage of every character intro and win quote so far. You can also check out all of our Dragon Ball Fighterz videos. Be sure to check out the latest gameplay trailer featuring new character Adult Gohan.
Android 16
Android 16 is the sixteenth iteration of Dr. Gero's powerful series of advanced artificial humans. Unlike his more hostile siblings, he demonstrates deep compassion towards all living things. Despite his gentle demeanor, Android 16 is willing to do whatever it takes to protect his siblings from danger.
Android 18
Android 18 is the eighteenth iteration of Dr. Gero's powerful series of advanced artificial humans. When she's first introduced, she follows Gero's orders to kill Goku. However, her rebellious attitude causes her to deviate from this plan, inevitably leading to her and her brother, Android 17, murdering Gero in cold blood. Regardless, Android 18 eventually joins the Z Fighters due to the kindness and compassion they exhibit towards her at the end of the Cell saga.
Android 21
Android 21, a new character designed by Akira Toriyama, is a central figure in Dragon Ball FighterZ's story mode. She's a scientist with an intellect similar to Dr. Gero. Not much else is known about her character, but she does seem to appear with Android 16 in all of the early screenshots.
Captain Ginyu
Captain Ginyu is the leader of the eponymous Ginyu Force, a squadron of elite mercenaries working for Frieza to conquer planets. He's a strict, yet compassionate leader who legitimately cares about the wellbeing of his teammates. As one of the few men who reveres Frieza, he is very loyal and follows any order he gives him.
Cell
Cell is one of the primary antagonists of the Androids arc, the third major saga in Dragon Ball Z. A mad scientist named Dr. Gero designed him to be the ultimate fighter by giving him numerous advantageous genetic traits and abilities.
Future Trunks
Future Trunks is Vegeta's and Bulma's son from an alternate timeline. While the couple eventually gave birth to him in the main timeline, this version of the character comes from an alternate era where the world was devastated by the Androids. Future Trunks first appeared in the aftermath of the Frieza Saga, having travelled back in time to warn the Z Fighters about the oncoming threat of the Androids, as well as to deliver medicine to Goku that would cure him of the heart disease he died from in the alternate timeline.
Frieza (Final Form)
Frieza is the emperor of the universe who's responsible for obliterating nearly the entire Saiyan race, which in turn caused the myriad conflicts present in Dragon Ball's earlier arcs. Frieza has a massive ego, believing that he is the most powerful life form in the universe.
Gohan
Gohan is the elder son of series protagonist Goku and his wife Chichi. While he shares his father's strength and courageous spirit, he tends to pull away from fighting and only resorts to it as a means of defending his family and friends.
Gohan (Adult)
Like his younger self, adult Gohan is a courageous warrior with a strong sense of justice. Years after he defeated Perfect Cell, he would protect the citizens of Satan City under the identity of Great Saiyaman and would go on to become an even more powerful warrior when his potential was unlocked by the Old Kai.
Goku
Goku is the main protagonist of the entire Dragon Ball series. He's a Saiyan that was originally sent to Earth as an infant with a mission to destroy it. However, he ended up losing his memory not long after landing, which caused him to grow pure-hearted. Goku constantly trains hard to become a powerful fighter, which often results in him saving the universe in the process.
Goku (Super Saiyan Blue)
Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan (SSGSS) form, also known as Super Saiyan Blue, is an incredibly powerful form introduced in Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F. Goku describes it as occurring when a "Saiyan with the power of a Super Saiyan God further transforms himself into a Super Saiyan."
Gotenks
Gotenks is the brash and headstrong fusion of Goten and Trunks. Despite his youth, he's an immensely powerful fighter, though his impulsiveness tends to cause him to blindly rush into a battle.
Innocent Buu
Innocent Buu is the first and the least evil of Majin Buu's forms. He's the result of Kid Buu (the original and pure form of Majin Buu) absorbing the Grand Supreme Kai.
Kid Buu
Kid Buu is the original and pure form of Majin Buu, reverting back to this state after Goku and Vegeta removed Innocent Buu and all of the other fighters he absorbed. Kid Buu's erratic nature and unpredictability makes him the monster's most dangerous form.
Krillin
Krillin is the best friend and ally of Goku. He is known as one of the most talented human martial artists on Earth. While he is often overpowered by many of the series' antagonists, he remains a courageous and loyal fighter that rarely backs down from a fierce battle.
Nappa
Nappa is an elite Saiyan warrior and comrade of Vegeta. He was once a general of the Saiyan Army, but after his race's demise, he began working for Frieza. This would eventually lead him on a mission to defeat Goku. Despite putting his all into assisting Vegeta to accomplish that task, he was inevitably killed by the young prince for his incompetence and failure.
Piccolo
Piccolo, otherwise known as Piccolo Jr., is a Namekian and also the final child and reincarnation of the Demon King Piccolo. He was once an enemy of Goku, but after forming a close bond with Gohan in Goku's absence during the Saiyan Saga, he changes his ways and becomes a permanent member of the Z-fighters.
Vegeta
Vegeta is the crown prince of the fallen Saiyan race. He first appeared as a villain, who worked alongside Frieza and his minions. However, he turned against the villainous emperor in favor of fighting alongside the Z fighters, all while striving to become the most powerful fighter in the universe.
Vegeta (Super Saiyan Blue)
Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan (SSGSS) form, also known as Super Saiyan Blue, is an incredibly powerful form introduced in Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F. Vegeta achieves Super Saiyan Blue form through ki control in Dragon Ball Super.
Tien
Tien is a disciplined and reclusive martial artist, and one of the strongest fighters on Earth next to Krillin and Yamcha. He's a descendent of an ancient race known as the Three-Eyed People. When he's not supporting his allies in their efforts to defeat powerful foes threatening Earth, he's usually spending time training with his lifelong best friend, Chiaotzu.
Yamcha
A former desert bandit, Yamcha was once an enemy of Goku, but quickly reformed and became his ally. He's a brave and talented martial artist who often assists the Z-fighters whenever trouble arrives; though, this begins to vary as the series goes on and more powerful foes are introduced.
Recent Articles:
| 
No comments:
Post a Comment