By Chris Pereira on Dec 08, 2017 12:25 am
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 07, 2017 11:29 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 GameSpot Staff on Dec 07, 2017 11:16 pm
Missing the mark
With huge game releases like Horizon: Zero Dawn, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, 2017 was a remarkable year for games. As we approach the end of December, we're rolling out a number of features that focus on both the best of the best and GameSpot's editors' personal favorites, but not every game garnered quite the same level of acclaim. In this feature, we take a look back at the many games released this year that weren't as favorably reviewed. While these games may still have some noteworthy positives--such as unique art-styles or interesting stories--they also suffered from something that brought the score down for the reviewer. When compared to previous years, the games of 2017 were largely more well received--resulting in a lack of releases that scored a 3 or below. This is the complete list of every game released in 2017 that scored a 5 or lower on GameSpot.
Double Dragon 4 (PC, PS4, Switch) - 5/10
"Double Dragon IV isn't a good game in a modern sense, but it certainly is an honest trip back in time that will, if nothing else, offer a heavy dose of nostalgia for anyone with a fondness for the Lee Brothers' 8-bit adventures. Frankly, it mimics its source material perfectly. It's a worthwhile historical artifact if nothing else, but absolutely cannot match the vast improvements in gaming since those early days." [Read the full review] -- Jason D'Aprile
Divide (PS4) - 5/10
"Divide stretches on for a bit longer than it probably should, but the strengths of the story are heightened by decent writing and voice performances throughout. Conversations feel organic and real, line deliveries have a satisfying amount of emotion, and each character comes across as genuine. But the strength of the story is undermined by a game that poorly communicates necessary information and is built on repetition to the point that it loses the personality contained within the characters. If there's a second meaning to the title, it describes the division between a strong narrative and mediocre gameplay that would've been better served with more variety and direction throughout." [Read the full review] -- Cassidee Moser
Diluvion (PC) - 5/10
"Diluvion is in that most tragic class of disappointing game: the kind with great ideas. There's so much to love and appreciate on the surface that the game's profound awkwardness and convoluted mechanics just hurt to experience." [Read the full review] -- Justin Clark
Berserk And The Band Of The Hawk (PC and PS4) - 5/10
"Given how well Guts' bloodlust and battle experience are well-suited to the crowd fighting and mass slaughter of Warriors games, it's disappointing that this tie-in lacks the engagement and nuance of Omega Force's more imaginative efforts with other franchises. Its saving feature is the expansiveness of the campaign narratives, which serve as a hearty sampling of the Berserk franchise's multiple story arcs. If not for these insightful cutscenes, the developer's penchant for adequate but unengaging hack and slash combat would perpetuate the image of Guts as a one-note protagonist. And even if you're a Warriors fan who knows not to expect a Dark Souls level of gratifying melee combat, Band of the Hawk still deprives you of the juicy sights and sounds that one associates with Guts' savagery; the splashes of red that result from every kill hardly counts as "gore"." [Read the full review] -- Miguel Concepcion, Editor
Ride 2 (PC, PS4, Xbox One) - 4/10
"On paper, then, Ride 2 is an exciting proposition that bundles the promises of aspirational game design with the raw power and fun associated with motorbikes. Unfortunately, those promises are broken and the resulting game falls flat. Unless you're so enamoured with two-wheeled machines that you simply can't help but pick yourself up a copy, you should wait for a new contender to try its hand at delivering a biking game of this scope." [Read the full review] -- John Robertson
Malicious Fallen (PS4) - 5/10
"The fact remains that you have to perform a lot of legwork to understand how each boss works in respect to your abilities. There's a fine line to be crossed in a boss rush game, where hard fought battles lead to either sighs of relief or aggravated groans. Too often, Malicious Fallen earns the latter. Malicious Fallen isn't a game that feels triumphant so much as tiring." [Read the full review] -- Justin Clark
Flatout 4: Total Insanity (PS4) - 5/10
"Flatout 4 doesn't bring anything noteworthy to the series, and while the Flatout and party modes are good for some low stakes enjoyment, the grind of single-player progression is too much to bare. The challenge is borderline unfair at times, and that wrecks the partytime nature that the series used to do so well." [Read the full review] -- James Swimbanks
Rain World (PC and PS4) - 5/10
"In Rain World, the spectre of failure, often caused by events you can't control, lingers heavily. It quickly drives home the point that you're a foreigner in a ruined land where anyone larger than you wants to eat you. Its stunningly detailed backgrounds and few rewarding gameplay opportunities are vastly outweighed by its platforming imperfections and hibernation mechanic, which makes little sense in its connection to accessing new areas. Oftentimes, the frustrations resulting from failure devolve into apathy, which is a wholly unfortunate outcome for a game that gives off a deceptively promising first impression." [Read the full review] -- Miguel Concepcion, Editor
Has Been Heroes (Switch) - 5/10
"Has Been Heroes is, at least, a great fit for the Switch. It's the sort of game you can play while half-watching a sitcom in the background, rather than one to which you'll want to give your full attention. By the same token, playing the game with intense focus starts to feel like a waste of time after the first few hours. It's a demanding game that gives very little back for the time and effort it eats up. The game's name does not lie--it's best to let these has-beens be." [Read the full review] -- James O'Connor
Drawn To Death (PS4) - 4/10
"The best thing Drawn to Death has going for it is the aesthetic, which thoroughly lives up to its promise of vast, wild worlds crafted from the classroom notebook scribblings of a teenage delinquent. It's a world of kittens controlling giant robots, unicorn/teddy bear/cyclops abominations, and hideous caricatures of classmates and bullies. The stars, of course, are the playable characters, ranging from comparatively milquetoast designs like a murderous punk rocker named Johnny, to less conventional fare like a curvy female ninja with a shark's head. It's a strong foundation and a perfect fit for the kind of Quake-alike third-person shooter revival the game seems to be aiming for, but it's a combo that only seems to work--pun thoroughly intended--on paper." [Read the full review]
-- Justin Clark
Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 (PS4) - 5/10
"Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 feels like a B-tier, budget-priced game. Even the predictable, profanity-laden story is reminiscent of the type of gritty B-movies Steven Seagal is known for. There's certainly merit to its accomplished sniping mechanics, especially when missions hone in on the planning and precise execution that makes playing as a sharpshooter so thrilling. Yet it falters whenever it veers away from its strengths, and the plethora of nagging glitches and technical problems are a persistent nuisance that make Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 difficult to recommend." [Read the full review] -- Richard Wakeling
Syberia 3 (PC) - 4/10
"The great music coincides with a cold and grim, yet captivating atmosphere, creating a world that should be lived in. And that's the overall feeling with Syberia 3. Slivers of enjoyment and potential are found within a disconnected and underwhelming journey. The characters, their interactions, the way they speak, and the reason they even exist all mash into a puzzle-adventure game devoid of significance or impact. The Syberia series deserved a better return, otherwise, it should've been left in the past." [Read the full review]
-- Michael Higham, Tech Editor
Pinstipe (PC) - 5/10
"Regrettably, Pinstripe's rich atmosphere is overpowered by these types of issues. Enemies need only a few shots to defeat, puzzles need only a couple of tries to solve, and the final boss can be exploited to oblivion. And because the story lacks emotional weight or resonance, once the credits roll, you'll quickly forget Ted and Bo's struggle, the puzzles you solved, the conclusion to what could have been a memorably haunting trip through Hell." [Read the full review]
-- Jeremy Winslow
Birthdays The Beginning - 5/10
"It feels like there's a fantastic game somewhere in the heart of Birthdays the Beginning, ready to claw its way out of the primordial ooze of ideas to evolve into a wonderful god-game experience. But the conditions for it to thrive just aren't right: The interface is ill-conceived and cumbersome, the campaign's frustrations bring progress to screeching halts, and the frequent lack of information turns what should be a fun micromanagement experience into an exhausting guessing game." [Read the full review] -- Heidi Kemps
Friday The 13th: The Game (PC, PS4, Xbox One) - 4/10
"These shortcomings and ongoing server issues aren't easily overlooked, and work against what promise Friday the 13th shows. As of now, a week after launch, it's short on content and performs poorly all around, especially on consoles. The story goes that the developers weren't prepared for amount of people who wanted to jump on day one, but that does little to assuage players who were convinced that they were paying for a finished product. Despite showing potential that may one day be realized, Friday the 13th comes across as an unfinished game that shouldn't have been released in its current state." [Read the full review]
-- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
The Town of Light (Xbox One) - 4/10
"It's disappointing to see The Town of Light struggle so often, because the story it presents is both harrowing and captivating at times. While there's an interesting narrative to be found in its world, the moment-to-moment gameplay and repetitive environments impose an unavoidable malaise. Given the fact that the game is based on actual accounts of psychiatric treatment in the early 1900s, you might be better off looking up the real stories that inspired The Town of Light rather than forcing your way through a version of them here." [Read the full review]
-- Blade Hester
Reservoir Dogs: Bloody Days (PC) - 4/10
"Aside from the Reservoir Dogs name in the title and the colorfully named characters, Bloody Days shares almost nothing in common with its namesake. With its rewind mechanic, you can see the potential for an exhilarating top-down, twin-stick shooter, but this never comes to pass. The game is easily exploitable and produces frustration far too often to become even the slightest bit interesting. Reservoir Dogs: Bloody Days devolves to a banal experience that's all bark and no bite." [Read the full review] -- Jeremy Winslow
The Mage's Tale (PC) - 4/10
"Neither a groundbreaking VR experience nor a strong dungeon crawler, The Mage's Tale ultimately squanders its potential. It offers a couple of high points--some jokes do hit their marks from time to time--but there are so many problems, and there's so little of substance to drive the experience forward, that The Mage's Tale feels more like a shallow experiment than a reason to get excited about VR." [Read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
Miitopia (3DS) - 5/10
"Ultimately, lack of player input and randomness makes Miitopia feel like a slow slog you mostly watch rather than play. It's certainly cute, and it boasts the typically high production values you expect from Nintendo in terms of visuals, music, and dialogue. However, the fun of seeing Miis you put in various roles do goofy things wears thin after just a few hours, and while the game can reignite a bit of that initial joy when you add new Miis to the game at certain milestones, you still have to trudge through a lot of repetition to get there. If you're looking for a deep, engrossing game filled with Miis of your making, I'm sorry to say that adventure is in another castle." [Read the full review]
-- Heidi Kemps
Agents of Mayhem (PC, PS4, Xbox One) -- 4/10
"Personality can only take a broken and repetitive game so far. The attitude behind Agents of Mayhem has potential, at least if it's executed properly. But there's little to Agents of Mayhem beyond its foul-mouthed and bombastic attitude, which push the game into grating and obnoxious territory. Throw in the poor mission design and bugs, and you've got a game with loads of mayhem, but not much else." [Read the full review] -- Brett Todd
Don't Knock Twice (PS4) -- 5/10
"Don't Knock Twice doesn't share company with the likes of Layers of Fear so much as it does with the large number of "VR Experiences" flooding digital storefronts: quick and dirty cash-ins that feel more like tech demos than full-fledged games. Don't Knock Twice is more solidly constructed than some, but it's largely unambitious and forgettable. It seems content to be a ground-level thriller at a time and on a platform with plenty of hungry competition." [Read the full review] -- Justin Clark
Star Fox 2 (SNES Classic) - 5/10
"Star Fox 2 can be praised for the ambitious structure that seemed to be ahead of its time, but the enjoyable moments are hamstrung by modern standards and expectations. Framerate issues and tech that wasn't suited for this style of game prevent Star Fox 2's vision from being fully realized, but it's an important piece of gaming history kept alive with an official release. This game alone isn't the driving force to seek out an SNES Classic, and you'll want to consider the more time-tested games in the package." [Read the full review] -- Michael Higham, Tech Editor
FIFA 18 Nintendo Switch - 5/10
"FIFA 18 on Switch delivers some enjoyable soccer when on the pitch, but without Pro Clubs and The Journey, and in restricting all access to FUT when you're not online, it shoots itself in the foot. Being able to play FIFA on the go or with a friend is gratifying, and if you're happy to just play through Career Mode for the next year, then this port will satisfy your needs and is the best mobile FIFA you can buy, but compared to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions, this port is inferior in every other way." [Read the full review]
-- Oscar Dayus, Associate Editor
WWE 2K18 (PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch) - 5/10
"WWE 2K18's in-ring combat is fundamentally flawed, and will be as divisive as it often is. Yet there's no denying the inherent joy derived from performing your favorite Superstar's signature moves. Whether it's cracking your opponent over the head with AJ Styles' Phenomenal Forearm, or pounding the life out of Asuka's latest victim, there are moments of pure pro wrestling enjoyment to be found here. It's just compounded by too many frustrating issues, disruptive glitches, and a dearth of engaging single-player modes. This series has remained stagnant for far too long, and WWE 2K18 doesn't change things." [Read the full review]
-- Richard Wakeling
Elex (PS4) - 4/10
"Elex's world is no doubt enticing, but the good moments are heavily dispersed among some rough technical problems and odd designs that only serve to frustrate. The game offers an incredibly designed world and the basis of a compelling RPG that disappointingly fails to live up to its potential in almost every way. For a game that relies heavily on its combat for progression, it feels overwhelmingly geared against you, and with the added technical issues and lack of a compelling story to tell, Elex takes the wind out of its own sails at nearly every turn." [Read the full review]
-- James Swimbanks
Oure (PS4) - 5/10
"There just isn't very much to Oure beyond aimless exploring, since the battles are unsatisfying and brief and the collectables feel arbitrary. Lazily soaring through the clouds collecting orbs and finding secrets can be momentarily relaxing, but there's no compelling reason to keep exploring the clouds once you've wrapped up the Titan fights. The plot doesn't go anywhere, and the main action sequences feel like a small batch of concept proofs. Oure is the gaming equivalent of a daydream--it's pleasant and light, but it feels like a distraction rather than something worth latching on to." [Read the full review]
-- James O'Connor
Sonic Forces (PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch) - 5/10
"For years the Sonic series has come up short in its 3D games. It wasn't until Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations that the series was able to grasp a semblance of quality that could change the perception of the series as a whole for the better. Sonic Forces ultimately fails to advance the mechanics of previously successful 3D Sonic games, or present them in their best light. A mediocre platformer at best, Sonic Forces manages to do nothing more than reinforce long held stereotypes against Sega's beloved blue blur." [Read the full review] -- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor
Need For Speed: Payback (PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch) - 5/10
"Need for Speed Payback's banal racing is only magnified by this focus on grinding. The simple, almost retro, handling model provides occasional bouts of fun, but it's never enough to escape Payback's flaws, with an unwillingness to let you partake in its most hair-raising moments, and a general drabness that seeps into every layer of the game. Fast and Furious, this is not; and that's a disappointing outcome." [Read the full review]
-- Richard Wakeling
By Array on Dec 07, 2017 11:05 pm
With season 4 of Black Mirror arriving on Netflix on December 29, we thought we'd celebrate seasons 1-3 of the dystopian sci-fi anthology series by ranking our favourite episodes. For those that are excited for the upcoming new Black Mirror season, you can also check out our spoiler-free review of season 4 in the meantime. You can also watch a video version of this ranking list here.
Men Against Fire (Season 3, Episode 5)
Laurie Sparham/Netflix
Image: Laurie Sparham/Netflix We kick off our list with the military dystopia of 'Men Against Fire.' In a post-apocalyptic Denmark, an unnamed military organisation is hunting and killing a mutated human population unaffectionately nicknamed 'roaches.' This being Black Mirror though, things aren't quite as simple as that, and the episode dives head first into the arena of hi-tech warfare and its philosophical consequences on the world. While it's not a bad episode by any stretch of the imagination, it's place on this list is largely down to the heavy-handed way in which it treats its central theme and the fact that it reveals its hand way too early.
The Waldo Moment (Season 2, Episode 3)
Image: Channel 4 The murky world of British politics is sent up in 'The Waldo Moment,' our number 12 entry. This slice of election madness tells the tale of Jamie, a failed comedian who is also the voice and digital puppeteer of a cartoon bear named, you guessed it, Waldo. Coerced by his producer into running for parliament as Waldo, Jamie finds himself way in over his head as his election campaign takes an unexpected turn. The episode is totally fine, but doesn't stand up to the high quality of the rest of Black Mirror as it descends into hammy parody towards the end. But its defining virtue is that series creator, Charlie Brooker, compared it to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign with the Black Mirror twitter account tweeting out: 'This isn't an episode. This isn't marketing. This is reality.'
Hated In The Nation (Season 3, Episode 6)
Image: Laurie Sparham/Netflix People tend to forget that when they write mean things about others on the internet, they're often talking about a real person. Brooker and co. took this idea one step further in 'Hated In The Nation,' where mean tweets and social media hashtags could be weaponised to kill those who fall foul to the public's ire. If you watch this episode and read Jon Ronson's So You've Been Publicly Shamed, you may never want to use social media ever again…
Be Right Back (Season 2, Episode 1)
Image: Channel 4 In 'Be Right Back', Martha's boyfriend Ash dies in an accident. Unable to move past her grief, and discovering that she's pregnant, Martha uploads Ash's information, including photos, videos, and his social media profiles to create a virtual Ash. She goes one step further and downloads him onto a blank robot body, just like that episode of Futurama, but discovers that the new, fake Ash isn't the same as the old, real one. I guess technology just isn't a patch on the real deal.
Playtest (Season 3, Episode 2)
Image: Laurie Sparham/Netflix You might not know that series creator Charlie Brooker and Dan Trachtenberg, who directed this episode, were former game journalists. But that explains why 'Playtest' is all about video games, specifically horror games that really get under your skin. If you thought Resident Evil 7 was bad in VR, how's about a game that scans your brain to find out what terrifies you most? 'Playtest' is one of Black Mirror's freakiest episodes, but it is peppered with some hot video game Easter Eggs.
Shut Up And Dance (Season 3, Episode 3)
Image: Laurie Sparham/Netflix 'Shut Up And Dance' is one of the tensest episodes in Black Mirror, with the character of Kenny being blackmailed into doing a string of unusual and illegal things to prevent a video of him being released onto the internet. If you didn't cover your webcam before seeing this episode, then you definitely will after.
Fifteen Million Merits (Season 1, Episode 2)
Image: Giles Keyte/Channel 4 In 'Fifteen Million Merits,' the vast majority of the population are stuck in the rat race, endlessly cycling in order to earn "merits" to buy goods and services. The only way to escape is to enter a reality TV show called 'Hot Shot,' where winners are able to escape the grind and live in a nicer place. But the path to fame isn't straightforward, and not everyone can make it. 'Fifteen Million Merits' really cuts quite close to home, a is a biting commentary on our obsession with using reality shows as a measure of a person's success in life.
Nosedive (Season 3, Episode 1)
Images: David Dettmann/Netflix We live our lives online, posting our thoughts and photos so they can be rated by other people. But imagine if those ratings and opinions affected your real life. What if you had a rating that everyone could see, and immediately judge you on? What if that rating affected things like jobs, things you could buy, or even medical treatment? That's the reality in 'Nosedive,' one of Black Mirror's more thought-provoking episodes.
White Bear (Season 2, Episode 2)
Image: Channel 4 A woman wakes up in a house with amnesia. People hunt her down and try to kill her, but the bystanders do nothing to help, instead just filming her on their phones. It turns out that the woman was complicit in the murder of a small girl, filming her death on her mobile phone, so her punishment is to live this day over and over again, forgetting her crime while running away, in fear of her life. 'White Bear' features one of the biggest twists in Black Mirror, and its shock ending was allegedly inspired by a fence Charlie Brooker saw at the filming location, making him frantically rewrite the episode in just two days.
White Christmas (Special)
Image: Channel 4 Two men are stuck in a snowy outpost and tell each other stories of their past lives to pass the time. How did they end up at that outpost? What secrets will be uncovered? 'White Christmas' is perhaps one of the most ambitious episodes of Black Mirror, with three separate threads coming together to make one devastating storyline.
The National Anthem (Season 1, Episode 1)
Image: Channel 4 In its first episode, 'The National Anthem,' a beloved Princess is kidnapped, and the only way to secure her release is for the Prime Minister to, ahem, copulate with a pig live on TV. Part political satire, part a devastating commentary on how social media and technology have changed the news cycle has to work, Black Mirror came out with a bang. Or should that be a squeal?
The Entire History Of You (Season 1, Episode 3)
Image: Giles Keyte/Channel 4 If you ever feel like you tend to over-analyse situations or replay conversations in your head, then just be glad you don't have a Grain, because it will probably drive you mad. In 'The Entire History Of You,' this piece of tech allows its users to record everything they see and hear and replay these memories at will. Unfortunately for Liam, he kind of gets a bit obsessed with his Grain when he suspects that his wife is having an affair.
San Junipero (Season 3, Episode 4)
Image: Laurie Sparham/Netflix This episode is so different to the usual Black Mirror fare in that it's got a happy ending. The town of San Junipero is a simulated reality in which you can upload your consciousness to live in, and even if you die in real life, you can live there forever. It's an uplifting tale, complete with an 80s backdrop, in which technology manages to bring two people together who otherwise wouldn't have met. Come on, you knew Yorkie and Kelly's love story would be number one in this list.
By Justin Haywald on Dec 07, 2017 09:33 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 Array on Dec 07, 2017 09:30 pm
Best Xbox One Holiday Gift Guide 2017
There are a lot of goodies for the Xbox fans to get excited about this holiday season. Microsoft recently released the most powerful console to date with its Xbox One X, which almost necessitates pairing it with a nice 4K HDR TV. While the Xbox One S isn't as powerful as the X, it also comes with a 4K HDR Blu-ray player. With that said, we've rounded up the best Xbox One accessories, which include our picks for headset, charging station, remote, and more. We're sure that these gifts will make any Xbox fan happy. Related: Best Tech Gifts Best PC Hardware Gifts Best Nintendo Switch Gifts Best Nintendo 3DS Gifts
Xbox One X
The recently released Xbox One X is a souped-up version of the Xbox One before it. It's also tailormade for the Xbox fan who has a 4K HDR TV. This means that many games will look dramatically sharper at 2160p 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. Price: $500
Xbox One S Bundle
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. Street price: Starting at $230 (depending on game and HDD size)
Remote: PDP Xbox One Media Remote
The original Xbox One is still a great multimedia device and both the S and X models up the ante by packing in a 4K Blu-ray player. If someone you know uses their Xbox to consume media all the time and constantly switches between apps, a traditional remote could come in handy. PDP's remote is straightforward and affordable. Retail price: $20
Headset: Turtle Beach Stealth 600
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. Retail price: $100
PowerA Xbox One Charging Station
Plugging your controllers into your console to charge them can be inconvenient, especially with a home theater setup. You could be doing someone a big favor by gifting them a controller charging station. PowerA charging stations are made for either Xbox One or DualShock 4 controllers. The version that charges two controllers simultaneously can be found for around $30, while a single charging station can be found for $20. Both models come with rechargeable battery packs. Street price: $20-$30 (depending on model)
12-month Subscription To Xbox Live Gold
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. Price: $60
Custom Xbox One Controller (Xbox Design Lab)
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. Street price: Starting at $80 (depending on customization options)
Seagate Game Drive 2TB
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 gamers. Street price: $90
Xbox Elite Controller
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. Retail price: $150
Chargeable Battery Pack
If you're looking for a smaller Xbox One-related gift, Microsoft's official Play and Charge Kit is a good choice since Xbox One controllers use AA batteries. With this rechargeable battery pack, however, a user wouldn't have to worry about buying new batteries every time their old ones die out. As the name implies, the battery can charge while gamers are playing with it. Retail price: $25
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. Street price: $600
By Chris Pereira on Dec 07, 2017 05:12 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 Kevin Wong on Dec 07, 2017 02:30 am
Sorry about your loss--but that's show business.
The most interesting WWE storylines are the ones that are based in some kernel of truth. When a wrestler makes fun of his opponent's wife, or a real-life injury, or a wrestler's physical appearance, the audience member can gasp, cringe, and easily imagine that, "Yes, these two people hate each other. And I want to pay money to see them fight it out." But sometimes, in the pursuit of creating that pseudo-reality, WWE hits way below the belt. And fans who feel that WWE went too far in the pursuit of entertainment get mad at the company instead of the heel. WWE must negotiate a bizarre balancing act in the post-kayfabe era; fans want feuds to be intense, nasty, and shocking, but not so nasty that they can't be entertained by them. Here are 7 times that WWE worked real life tragedies into their storylines. All these instances resulted in multiple calls for WWE to show more restraint and taste. What do you think, and where would you have drawn the line? Let us know in the comments.
1. Karl Anderson Destroys A Dusty Rhodes Teddy Bear
Dusty Rhodes was a long-time employee of WWE, and prior to that, a legend of the squared circle. In his final years, Dusty was a key component of WWE's back office, with the crucial role of teaching the NXT developmental talent. He had two sons, Cody Rhodes and Dustin Rhodes (Goldust), who also worked for WWE. His death in 2015 triggered a massive outpouring of grief from the roster and fans. So when Bayley gave a teddy bear dressed as Dusty Rhodes to Goldust, it seemed like a sweet acknowledgement, from a student of Dusty's to a son of Dusty's. That is, of course, until Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows came by and ripped the bear's head off. Cody Rhodes, who was no longer employed by WWE, made the following statement on Twitter: "Not gonna' say something mean or blow a whistle. All I can say...is that whoever produced that, I hope they never know what this feels like." Ouch.
2. Paige Disses Reid Flair To Charlotte Flair's Face
The death of Reid Flair was a premature tragedy. Ric Flair's son, also a professional wrestler, was only 25 years old when he died of a heroin overdose in 2013. Neither Ric nor his daughter, Charlotte, can talk about Reid without bursting into tears; when they buried him, Ric left one of his Hall of Fame rings on Reid's fingers. Fast forward two years, and WWE decided to work Reid into the storyline between Charlotte and Paige. Right in the middle of a back-and-forth, during which Charlotte said her family had fight in it, Paige dropped this nuclear warhead of a line: "Your little baby brother, he didn't have much fight in him, did he?" The Flair family, including Ric and Reid's mother Elizabeth, was not informed beforehand. As for Charlotte, she was still fairly new to the main roster; any possible blowback from rejecting the script could have fallen on her. And according to rumors, Ric wanted to protect his daughter, which is why he never publicly called WWE out for the segment.
3. Batista: "Eddie's Dead."
Eddie Guerrero, Latino Heat, was one of the most beloved, hard-working superstars on the WWE roster. He was passionate on the microphone and he was incredible in the ring, able to work American, Mexican, and Japanese styles. He died an early, unexpected death—38 years old—in 2005, and he was widely mourned by his peers. Four years later, Batista was in the process of turning heel; he betrayed longtime friend and frequent tag partner, Rey Mysterio. And when Rey invoked the memory of Eddie Guerrero as their common link, Batista sneered, as coldly as he could, "Eddie's dead." He then went on to say that he wasn't thinking about anything from their past, but it was too late. There's no way to save face after a one-liner like that. Batista got over as a heel, but he did it in a way that felt exploitative to many.
4. Randy Orton: "Eddie's in Hell"
As callous as Batista was in 2009, that was child's play compared to what Randy Orton said to Mysterio in 2006, less than one year after Guerrero's untimely death. WWE was pushing Mysterio for a run at the world title, and along the way to his eventual victory at WrestleMania, he feuded with Randy Orton. And Orton dropped this line during their post-Rumble confrontation. "Rey, you're looking up towards the heavens like you're looking at Eddie. Let me tell you something, bro. Eddie ain't in Heaven, Eddie's down there... in Hell!" The entire angle was fairly manipulative; WWE constantly invoked Guerrero during Mysterio's rise to the top, which felt like emotional blackmail to cheer for the guy. But this moment stands out to many as particularly tasteless.
5. Hawk Attempts Kayfabe Suicide
The Road Warriors, also known by many WWE fans as The Legion of Doom, were a pair of hard-living, hard-hitting men. Hawk and Animal were known for working stiff (laying in their blows for real), and that, combined with their face paint and spiked shoulder pads, made them a fearsome, fun duo to watch. But offscreen, they had their demons. Hawk in particular suffered from alcohol and drug issues, and in 1998, WWE decided to turn the man's real problems into a fictional storyline. He began showing up to matches "under the influence," and Animal slowly began to trust him less and less. The storyline ended with Hawk climbing the Titantron, apparently to commit suicide. He eventually fell after being pushed by Droz. Both Hawk and Animal hated the angle, and it was dropped shortly afterwards. The storyline hasn't aged well, especially since Hawk died of a heart attack in 2003 at the age of 46.
6. Michael Cole Goes After Jerry Lawler's Dead Mother
A lot of WWE fans would like to repress this memory. There was actually a months-long period in WWE history when the commentators were physically feuding with each other. And against all better judgment, WWE booked a Michael Cole vs. Jerry "The King" Lawler showdown at WrestleMania XXVII. This match's buildup was incredibly awkward and cruel. And a little over a month before the big show, Cole decided to invoke Lawler's mother, who had died a week beforehand. He speculated, at length, as to how disappointed she would be in her son. And as for the "match" itself? It was an awful waste of time--certainly not worth the verbal mudslinging the two men partook in to hype it. Not including the pre- and post-match shenanigans, the fight lasted for close to 14 minutes, making it the fourth longest match of the entire show.
7. CM Punk Mocks Paul Bearer's Death
When the Undertaker's manager Paul Bearer died, The Undertaker did a silent in-ring tribute to Bearer. He knelt in the ring in front of the infamous urn as Bearer's face lit up the Titantron. It was both theatrical and strangely classy. But then, CM Punk interrupted and ruined it. The buildup to WrestleMania 29 was ugly by any standard. Punk stole the urn, which was not unheard of; WWE ran a similar storyline in the mid '90s when Undertaker feuded with Ted Dibiase and his Million Dollar Corporation. But now that Bearer was dead, the whole angle had lost any levity. To make matters worse, WWE all but implied that Bearer's ashes were in the urn. So when Punk started tossing the urn around and playing ventriloquist with it, it was particularly bracing. Right before WrestleMania, CM Punk attacked the Undertaker and then dumped the urn's ashes all over himself and The Undertaker. The audience audibly gasped. And although Bearer's sons had approved the use of their father in this segment, it was difficult for them to watch. Son Michael Moody posted the following message on Facebook: "If anyone is wondering, yes WWE did come to us wanting approval for tonight's storyline. The way it was presented to us was ok. Seeing it on screen was a different story. I don't even know what to say."
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