The quirky crossover costumes continue in Monster Hunter: World, but unlike the previous Horizon Zero Dawn armor--which was an understandable fit for Monster Hunter--this new Street Fighter V set is a bit of a surprise. Have you always wanted to hunt monsters as Ryu? Your wish has been granted. The quest to unlock the Ryu gear is relatively simple, but if you're curious about how the process works, we've outlined the timing and quests below to access the extras. It's worth noting that the Street Fighter V gear is only available on PS4 currently for people with a Street Fighter V save on their system, and will be available on for others on PS4 and Xbox One later.
Ryu is the first of two Street Fighter V armor skins available now for the game; Sakura is the second and will be available at a later date. Like the Aloy gear, you'll have to wear the entire Ryu set together--you can't just wear the pants or chest alone. And the set will also alter your appearance so that your character looks like the legendary wandering shotokan fighter.
To unlock the Ryu armor, you must complete a quest called "Down the Dark, Muddy Path," which you can find at the Arena Quest Board in the Gathering Hub. The quest is a three-star mission that requires a Hunter Rank of 3 or higher. You only have access to the following loadouts: Greatsword, Dual Blades, Hammer, Gunlance, and Heavy Bowgun. It's also important to note that the quest is only available for a limited time, until March 1.
The quest objective is to slay a Barroth. When you complete the quest, you earn a Street Fighter V Ticket, a special currency used to unlock the Street Fighter costumes. However, you need to defeat Barroth seven separate times in order to earn enough Street Fighter V Tickets to unlock the Ryu gear.
Since the quest battle is in an arena, slaying Barroth has been scaled up to fit the space. As a result, its hit boxes are much larger, so make sure to dodge accordingly. In addition, avoid hitting its head, as that's where its armor is the thickest. Once you've defeated Barroth seven times, simply take all the Street Fighter V tickets you've earned to the Smithy to craft the Ryu gear. Check out the screens above for a more visual break-down of where to find everything.
Monster Hunter World's second Horizon event begins on February 28. Like the previous quest, it will be exclusive to PS4 players. The mission this time around will be to hunt a giant Anjanath, and the reward will be materials to craft Aloy's bow and armor. Equipping the armor will change your appearance to look like Aloy, regardless of your hunter's gender.
As the first stage of Overwatch League drew to a close, it represented a major milestone for Blizzard's big gamble on esports. The London Spitfire faced some setbacks during the final day of Stage 1, but after coming back from an earlier defeat against their rivals the New York Excelsior, they were able to secure victory and earn $100,000 in prize money. During a chat with Overwatch League commissioner Nate Nanzer at the finals, he spoke about how event organizers plan to refine their approach to the competition, while also reflecting on how things have transpired so far.
"I think we're off to a good start," said the commissioner. "There's tons of things we want to continue to iterate on and improve, but right now we're just really focused on figuring out how to continue to evolve and improve the show throughout the year, and have all of that culminate in the awesome finals event. That's the focus right now, and it's really awesome that people are happy with it. Nothing is broken, so right now we're just focusing on making it better."
With Stage 2 set to begin on February 21, there's already some notable changes coming up that could potentially alter the dynamic for the 12 teams. In addition to ongoing gameplay balances and tweaks for the base game, which included some notable changes to one of the most useful healer characters in Mercy, the league will also see an influx of new talent coming in to shake up the current roster.
The Stage 1 finals, while engaging and dramatic, ended up being a perfect storm of scheduling and scoring issues that resulted in many players feeling the heat after extended periods of play--and the organizers agreed. Taking place over the course of 12 hours--making the show itself somewhat exhausting to sit through--it forced the London Spitfire into playing several consecutive matches during the semi-finals and finals. While the London Spitfire were able to secure the win for the finals after a total of 14 games during the day--a testament to their team coordination and composure--this still made for a rather exhausting experience for all involved.
For the teams that had a hard time during the month, Stage 2 represents a clean slate for many players, allowing them to change the narrative surrounding their group. The Shanghai Dragons, featuring some of China's top esports talent, have struggled throughout their games in Stage 1. While they had some successful matches, they ultimately placed last. However, things could be be looking up for the Dragons. Three new players are set to join the Shanghai Dragons in Stage 2, which includes Lee Eui-Seok from Element Mystic, MVP Space flex Cheon "Ado" Ki-hyun, and Kim "Geguri" Se-yeon--who will be the first female player for Overwatch League.
As one of the top Zarya players in the world, Geguri could prove to be an effective player to round out a team that's in need of stronger defensive and support play. Many fans of competitive Overwatch have been clamoring for Geguri to have a spot in the League, and her placement on the roster could just be the shot in the arm that a team like the Dragons need to make it out of the bottom tier.
One thing that's common for an online game is for the developers to roll out gradual updates and tweaks for the game. Recently, both Junkrat and Mercy, two of the most used characters in the League, received some tweaks that toned down some key abilities that the developers felt could be easily exploited by players. Mercy became the go-to healer for teams thanks to her ability to resurrect dead players, along with her speed and healing range. However, the upcoming nerf will make the time to revive players last a bit longer, lower the speed boost from her Guardian Angel buff by 50%, and remove the bonus buff from her Resurrect skill. In addition to Mercy, Junkrat--a popular character for quick offensive strikes thanks to his Ultimate ability--will also see a nerf for one of his support abilities.
During a post-game press conference after losing to the London Spitfire, Jacob "JAKE" Lyon of the Houston Outlaws spoke about the changes to Junkrat, who is his signature character.
"I think it's interesting, actually," said the Houston Outlaw's top assault player. "The character is way weaker against dive, because the 120 AoE was really especially powerful against characters like Genji and Tracer--dodging Genji's reflect and still doing 120 and obviously one-shotting Tracer with damage boost is still a very powerful ability--but I think you'll still see the character a ton if people are running Reinhardt because he's still the faster shield-breaker in the game. Junkrat's RipTire is still the best ultimate in the game, so I think we'll still see Junkrat as viable, but it will be more situational. And it'll be more map dependent."
While Stage 2 will still largely keep the same flow and dynamic of its previous phases, the organizers are already looking to the future of the league given its immediate success. Overwatch League has kept a steady audience over the last month, and with the finals earning solid viewership, the organizers are confident that their audience will only grow from here. During a recent Activision-Blizzard investor call, the company already confirmed that the League was a solid success, and that the buy-in cost for new sponsors for Season 2 will increase--which is expected to add new teams and additional players. For now, Stage 2 is already looking to show more growth for the league, and what players can expect for Blizzard's rapid increase in esports.
As it currently stands, Blizzard Entertainment's Overwatch League--a hybrid of both esports/traditional sports systems--is already a solid success. With the closing of Stage 1--the first of five phases leading up to the Season 1 playoffs later this year--the London Spitfire came out on top against their current rivals in the New York Excelsior. While the end of the first part of the season is a major milestone, there's still a ways to go as we inch closer to the grand finals later this year. In the meantime, there's much room for growth and change for the League and the many teams over the next few stages.
While the League itself is has been gaining traction and found an audience of diehard fans, there's still plenty of room for improvement--which the organizers are well aware of. We had the opportunity to speak with Overwatch League commissioner Nate Nanzer during the Stage 1 finals, where he spoke about how things are progressing with Blizzard's big gamble on esports, how they plan to refine how the games are run, and how they hope to make their sport as welcoming and inclusive as Overwatch itself is.
GameSpot: Even though it's only been a few weeks for Stage 1, it already feels like Overwatch League is off to a solid start. Can you share your thoughts on how things are going so far with the League?
Nate Nanzer: Yeah, I think we're off to a good start. There's tons of things we want to continue to iterate on and improve, but right now we're just really focused on figuring out how to continue to evolve and improve the show throughout the year, and have all of that culminate in the awesome finals event. But yeah, that's the focus right now, and it's really awesome that people are happy with it. Nothing is broken, so right now we're just focusing on making it better. Our goal is to just make every stage and every season better than the last.
Esports is still in its infancy, and sort of trying to define what it is seems like a tough challenge. The sports genre is always evolving, and having this League try to define itself within the broader and evolving esports pantheon must a tough thing to get a handle of.
Yeah, that's sort of the idea here. The thing about esports, with it being this awesome and organic thing, was really hard for people to follow--like there was no one place to go to aggregate the information--so we wanted to make following the Overwatch League really easy and have a consistent schedule. It's been amazing to see all these teams play week in week out, and how the playing field has leveled. I think everyone coming into the League had certain ideas about which teams were good, and which teams were bad. And that in itself is exciting from the fan perspective.
Sports always has an underlying sense of drama to it, and you may end up finding yourself becoming attached to teams you didn't expect you would. The Shanghai Dragons in particular haven't been doing so great so far, yet I can't help myself to root for them. Especially with their recent inclusion to the roster in Geguri, who's the first female player in the League.
That's one of the things that's common in all of sports. Fandom often times is generated from familiarity with something, like your dad liking a team or being in the city where you grew up, or being a part of the same college, and we're seeing that a lot here--such as the fans that drove up here to watch the finals to support their local team. Or, and in a lot of cases, you see fandom generated from the players themselves. And also, fans tend to like rooting for the underdog--which is why there are so many people hoping to see Shanghai turn things around. It's really exciting to see how players have taken to game, the teams, and the players themselves. But all in all, it's really cool seeing a bunch of fans come together whether at watch parties or online to come out and support their local teams. It's really cool seeing how the regionality of it all is taking shape.
The game of Overwatch is something that celebrates diversity and inclusiveness, and it's what many fans find most endearing about it. Do you feel there's still room to go for the League itself, in terms of the regionality of the teams, and representation to match up with what the game is all about?
Well as of now, there's 113 players in the League currently from 19 different countries. It's an incredibly diverse league. Obviously we have players from Korea and China, but then we have players like Nomy is from Tijuana, and dhaK is from Venezuela. The League looks like what our playerbase looks like--with players from all over the world. One of the cool things about esports is that there are no physical differences between female and male players at this level, and we're going to see things change and evolve over time. As a game, and as a league, we take professionalism and being a good citizen of our community very seriously. We're not gonna solve toxicity on the internet and gender equality issues on our own, and it's a bit unreasonable that one game is going to solve all those problems, but we definitely want to make Overwatch League just as welcoming and inclusive as Overwatch the game is, and we're gonna do our best to do that.
With the League in its infancy, and there's bound to be a few missteps here and there from players and also in how its systems function. Can you speak to how the League will go about addressing upcoming changes and fixes going forward?
Well, the Overwatch League is four and a half weeks old, and I don't think we're gonna have all the answers right away, and who knows what the League will look like three, four, five, ten years from now, so what we're really focused on is just listening to all of our feedback from our players, our teams, our community--and making changes where we need to. We've already changed the order of the maps and flow our games, and we've always been iterating things, but at some point when designing a eague like this you have to put a flag in the ground and say "alright, this is what we're doing"--but I think we're gonna be very quick about something that needs fixing or needs to be addressed in a certain way, then we're not going to be precious about our original decisions. We're constantly listening to feedback from all of our stakeholders.
Pokemon Go's second Community Day is quickly approaching, and like the inaugural event held last month, it'll give players a brief chance to capture a rare Pokemon with an exclusive move. Developer Niantic had previously revealed that the Pokemon in question this time will be Dratini, and now the studio has shared details about what its exclusive move will be and how players can learn it.
The rare Dragon Pokemon will spawn much more frequently for the duration of the Community Day. If players manage to evolve its evolution, Dragonair, into a Dragonite during the event, it'll learn the ultra-powerful Dragon-type move Draco Meteor. This applies to all Dragonair you own, even ones that were obtained prior to the Community Day. However, Dragonite will only learn Draco Meteor if it is evolved during the event hours, giving you a very brief window of time to get one with the exclusive attack.
The Community Day takes place worldwide on February 24 and runs for three hours, although the starting times will differ depending on your region. The event kicks off in the US at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET, while Europe's Community Day begins at 10 AM GMT. In addition to the increased Dratini spawns, players will earn triple the normal amount of Stardust for any Pokemon they catch during the event, and Lure Modules will last for three hours.
Community Days are a new series of events that Niantic plans to hold once a month for Pokemon Go. Each event will feature a Pokemon that knows a move it cannot typically learn in the game. During the first Pokemon Go Community Day in January, players could find and catch a Pikachu that could use Surf, just like the one you get in the classic Pokemon Yellow version.
Before the next Community Day event begins, Pokemon Go players still have a chance to take part in the game's Lunar New Year event. From now until February 17, you'll earn triple Stardust for catching certain dog-like Pokemon such as Poochyena, Growlithe, Snubble, Eevee, or Electrike. Players can also encounter the latest Legendary Pokemon, Rayquaza, in Raid Battles until March 16.
Devil May Cry HD Collection is launching soon on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and today it got a new trailer. But DMC fans still have something to look forward to before it is released: later this month, you can check out the first Devil May Cry game on PC for free through Twitch Prime.
Capcom announced on its blog recently that all subscribers of Amazon/Twitch Prime can snag the freebie starting on February 27. After claiming it, you'll be able to download the full game through the Twitch desktop app.
Devil May Cry originally launched back in 2001 for PS2, so some players may find it a bit dated. But it's still cool to see where the series began, especially if your first exposure to the series was the reboot, DmC: Devil May Cry, which was released in 2013. Previous Twitch Prime free games have sometimes been free for only a few days, so be sure to jump on this promotion when it goes live. It's free to anyone with a Twitch Prime membership, which comes with an Amazon Prime subscription.
The Devil May Cry HD Collection, meanwhile, launches on March 13 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. It includes remastered versions of the first three games in the series, all of which run at 60 frames per second. You can check out the new trailer for the collection in the embed above.
In the past, it seemed like every superhero movie would have a tie-in game--often of questionable quality. That era seems to be over, as superheroes now frequently have their own game series independent of films, and this week's Black Panther release will pass without an accompanying game. However, you can play as Black Panther in Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 starting now.
In addition to Black Panther himself, the DLC includes a bunch more content related to the movie. It comes with six new characters: Black Panther in his Vibranium Suit, Okoye, Nakia, Erik Killmonger, Ulysses Klaue, and Everett K. Ross.
In addition, the DLC pack adds a new level to the game related to the movie. According to a press release, the level takes place in the Kingdom of Wakanda, and "players will take the legendary Wakandan Super Hero and his sister Shuri on a dangerous mission within the darkest depths of their homeland."
Sea of Thieves is one of the most anticipated games of 2018, and it aims to deliver players an open-world, swashbuckling pirate experience. However, the game will sadly not feature a tie-in to one of the most well-known pirate franchises.
In response to a fan's question, developer Rare confirmed today that there won't be Pirates of the Caribbean DLC coming to Sea of Thieves. As a result, you won't be meeting eccentric captain Jack Sparrow on the high seas in the game.
"We won't be adding anything specific to other IPs," Rare wrote on Twitter. "However you can rest assured that you will get a heavy dose of pirate goodness every time you play Sea of Thieves."
If you're in the market for an Xbox One, there are a couple of good deals coming soon. Microsoft is discounting the Xbox One S, and it's also bringing back the deal that threw in a copy of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds with the purchase of an Xbox One X.
In the United States, starting on February 18, you can grab any Xbox One S bundle for $50 off. This includes the new 1 TB PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds bundle that was recently released, bringing the cost down to $250 (originally $300). This deal runs through March 3. If you're in Canada, meanwhile, you can buy a 1 TB Xbox One S bundle for $60 CAD off from now until February 23.
If you would rather get the more powerful Xbox One X, you can get a free copy of PUBG with the console beginning on February 18 in the United States, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Latin America. The deal starts on February 20 in Australia, India, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Continuing Marvel's ten year tradition of post-credits stingers and teases for upcoming movies, Black Panther included two end credits scenes.
With the movie out in the UK and hitting worldwide this week, it's time to talk about them.
This is your last warning: If you haven't seen Black Panther yet, stop reading now!
Ready?
Civic Duty
The first is what you might have expected, given the end of the movie itself. T'Challa presents Wakanda's anti-isolationist shift to a United Nations-style government body, announcing that his nation will now be open to sharing their resources with the world. Of course, remembering that as far as the rest of the world is concerned in the MCU, Wakanda is a third world, underdeveloped country, he's met with some confusion--all while his new friend CIA Agent Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) smiles knowingly from the back of the crowd.
The stinger doesn't overstay its welcome. T'Challa isn't actually shown dropping the proverbial Vibranium bombshell on the poor unsuspecting world leaders, but the implication is enough. The landscape of the MCU, both politically and technologically, is about to change in a major way. This is a deceptively important detail, especially given the MCU's upcoming movie slate.
With Wakandan tech made more accessible, the landscape for both superheroes and civilians is about to take a major leap forward--and it's a safe bet that not every change will be positive, especially with the possibility of villains appropriating new tech too.
The real question is when--rather than if--we'll start seeing the impact of publicized Vibranium and Wakandan tech. After all, we can venture a guess that Wakandan weapons stand a better chance against Thanos than standard military faire--but will they be ready in time for Infinity War?
The White Wolf
Black Panther's second post-credits scene is a bit more direct with its Infinity War connections. We see, first in first-person perspective, someone waking up in an isolated Wakandan village, surrounded by curious Wakandan children. That someone is revealed to be none other than Bucky Barnes, last seen being put back into cryostasis in--surprise--Wakanda, during one of Captain America: Civil War's post-credits scenes.
The Civil War stinger didn't offer much context for Bucky's decision to be returned to stasis, outside of his own fear that he may be "activated" and manipulated by his Hydra-implanted trigger word programming all over again. But thankfully, between the end of Civil War and the end of Black Panther, Shuri, T'Challa's 16-year-old engineering genius sister, has been hard at work trying to solve Bucky's unique psychological problem.
We get a wink to Shuri's involvement during the movie itself when she offhandedly comments about being given "another broken white boy to fix" and an extrapolated look in Infinity War: Prelude #1, part one of a two part prequel comic released in January--not to mention the fact that Bucky was shown standing with the Wakandan army in the Infinity War trailer--so none of this is really all that surprising.
However, during the scene as Bucky walks from the tent to greet and thank Shuri outside, the children scatter around him playfully calling him "the white wolf" as they dash away. Cute as it sounds in context, that's a nickname with some genuine weight to it in the scope of Black Panther mythology.
The White Wolf, over in the comics, is actually the nickname given to a man named Hunter, who was orphaned as a baby in a plane crash on the outskirts of Wakanda. King T'Chaka, father of T'Challa, found Hunter and adopted him despite his people's concerns that Hunter was both white and an outsider to Wakanda in general. Hunter was raised to adulthood under T'Chaka's protection to become one of the leaders of the Hatut Zeraze, or the "Dogs of War"--a Wakandan covert special forces group.
Now, obviously, that story isn't going to translate over to the MCU in its entirety. The War Dogs are used in Black Panther as international spies, and T'Chaka clearly didn't raise a secret orphaned baby to lead them, but the role and significance of the "White Wolf," and the loose parallels between Bucky and Hunter, are definitely worth noting.
Given Bucky's training as a spy and assassin, him finding a way to either work for or with the War Dogs during Infinity War and into the future seems like a logical narrative step--and one that could dovetail into an expanded role for other Wakandan special forces like the Dora Milaje in the future, especially if Bucky finally picks up Cap's shield for keeps in Phase Four.
Regardless, we know that there's more to come for Bucky and Shuri before Infinity War really picks up, considering he was still short a cybernetic arm in the post-credits stinger and can be seen sporting a new model in the trailer. He's definitely due for a Vibranium upgrade.
Black Panther's core concept--that there's a secretive African country full of otherworldly technology, affluent people, and godlike warriors--is incredibly fun and ripe for storytelling. But it also begs the potentially damning question: Where has Wakanda been while black people suffered all over the world throughout human history? The fact that Black Panther doesn't just address that, but tackles it head on as the movie's central conflict, is a large part of what makes it a fantastic film.
Wakanda was long ago settled by five warring tribes who united under one king, empowered by the mountain of "vibranium"--the strongest metal in existence--implanted in the earth by a wayward asteroid. As its civilization became ever more advanced, Wakanda grew more and more secretive, under the leadership of a succession of kings who took on the mantle of the Black Panther.
That's the opening story dump necessary to get audiences on board. But the film's events actually begin in 1992 Oakland, where the Black Panther/King of the day, T'Chaka (the same one who died in 2016's Captain America: Civil War), travels to confront a treasonous Wakandan who grew disillusioned with his homeland's selfish isolationism after witnessing black people's suffering throughout the tumultuous period.
When the story picks up in the present day, it's that same issue that the new Black Panther, T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman), must face. His love interest, Lupita Nyong'o's Nakia, is a philanthropist who believes Wakanda should share its wealth and technology to help the suffering. His underlings, including Daniel Kaluuya's W'Kabi, believe Wakanda should wage war on the outside world. T'Challa would be more comfortable simply preserving Wakanda as it is, but throughout Black Panther he's confronted over and over with the same question: How can Wakanda continue to stand by while black people suffer all over the world?
That's where Michael B. Jordan's Killmonger comes in. As dangerous as he is charismatic, Killmonger seeks to seize control of Wakanda so he can use the nation's hyper-advanced weapons to undo millennia of injustice, remaking the world with black people on top. Through fierce monologues full of biting condemnations, Killmonger wields years of suffering--his people's and his own--to cut right to the core of everything wrong with Wakanda, and the world. Once his motivations are revealed, it's hard not to sympathize, and that combined with an absolutely stunning performance from Jordan makes Killmonger easily the best and most complex Marvel Cinematic Universe villain ever.
It's not a case of the villain becoming the good guy, though. Killmonger is undeniably evil--in fact, Black Panther's most unfortunate misstep is making him too villainous in the first half, which in turn makes it difficult to fully empathize with him later on. And besides, T'Challa's position is just as understandable: If Wakanda were to reveal itself to the outside world, they would almost certainly lose their way of life forever.
That may be selfish, but it works, in large part because Wakanda is so gorgeously realized in this movie. Think of it like an earth-bound Asgard, except unlike Thor's homeland, Wakanda seems like a place that might actually exist in the real world (besides all the hover trains and holograms, of course). T'Challa and Nakia stroll through the markets, while magnetic bullet trains criss-cross vibranium-laced caverns underground. Priests and priestesses tend the sacred garden of the Heart-Shaped Herb, the vibranium-infused flower that gives the Black Panther his powers.
The whole city pulses and thrives, colors and structures simultaneously informed by African heritage and an alienness granted by vibranium technology. The original songs by Kendrick Lamar fit perfectly, lending each scene both modernity and an added sense of history. And the characters who live there easily cement themselves in this movie as some of the most fully fleshed out in the whole MCU.
Danai Gurira's Okoye leads the Dora Milaje, a small army of ferocious female warriors, in some incredible fight scenes. Angela Bassett's Queen Mother Ramonda infuses a dignified monarch with a core of intense emotion. And Letitia Wright's Shuri, T'Challa's younger sister and chief inventor--the Q to his 007--threatens to steal the movie in her own right. Whether she's gawking hilariously at T'Challa's latest fashion faux pas or joining battle with the aid of some awesome new vibranium-powered gadget, Shuri will be many viewers' favorite character by the end.
Kaluuya (from Get Out!), Forest Whitaker, Andy Serkis, Winston Duke, and Martin Freeman round out the excellent cast, each getting their moments in the movie to make a mark. Freeman is the only one who stands out as kind of pointless, although he gets plenty of standout moments--arguably too many, as viewers and other characters alike will occasionally wonder why he's there at all (besides that his Agent Ross is a fan favorite character from the comics). Yes, his incredulity at Wakanda's advanced technology makes him a sometimes welcome surrogate for the audience, but as the most benevolent CIA agent ever portrayed he ultimately muddies the message somewhat.
The main reason the world thinks Wakanda is a third world wasteland is that's what Wakanda wants them to think. But it's also because that's easy for the world to believe. Black Panther is a movie that succeeds in challenging that type of preconceived idea, from the gut-punches of Killmonger's condemnations to the simple reality of seeing an affluent African nation never touched by--to borrow the movie's own terminology--any of history's many "colonizers." The fact that Wakanda isn't real only emphasizes the point.
And on top of all that, Black Panther is a top tier Marvel movie with all the humor, style, action, passion, and fun that the MCU has come to embody. Black Panther is a cultural event that's going to be hard for Marvel to top, no matter how many worlds Thanos conquers later this year in Infinity War.
Bandai Namco's upcoming action-RPG Code Vein promises a distinct style, a dense world, and difficult combat--and , the publisher revealed that it'll also feature cooperative multiplayer. On Twitter, the company announced that you'll be able to explore the vampire-themed world and tackle its difficult enemies with friends. From the description, it sounds like it'll operate similarly to Dark Souls' co-op functionality.
As you explore and attempt to complete dungeons alongside an NPC companion, you can send out a distress signal to summon a different player. As Gematsu reported, this player will have to fulfill "certain conditions," although it's unclear what these conditions will be.
This player will appear alone and can help you clear a dungeon, and then they can stay with you as a party member. They'll also be affected by your NPC's special perks, called Gifts. Bandai Namco also released a few new screenshots for the game, which you can see above.
February has been a busy month for Nintendo Switch owners so far, and that only continues this week with the release of Bayonetta 2. Platinum Games' acclaimed action game arrives on Switch nearly four years after it originally debuted on Wii U back in 2014, and it has the distinction of being one of the few games to earn a rare 10 out of 10 from GameSpot.
"Bayonetta 2 never strives to be anything less than the purest, rarest kind of action-game experience, one that values skill, reaction times, and sheer spectacle over all else--realism and storytelling be damned," critic Mark Walton wrote in GameSpot's original Bayonetta 2 review. "Sure, you can feel the influence of the likes of Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden in Bayonetta 2's combat, and see it in its wonderfully outlandish visuals. But neither of those games, nor the many that followed in their footsteps, come close to the brilliance of Bayonetta 2."
Ahead of its release, outlets began publishing reviews of Bayonetta 2. As always, we've rounded up a sample of them below to give you an idea of what critics have to say about the action game. For a broader look at Bayonetta 2's reception, be sure to check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
Alongside Bayonetta 2, the original Bayonetta also arrives on Switch this week, and it likewise remains one of the most highly regarded action games ever released, as you can read about in our original Bayonetta review. Both titles are available individually on the Switch Eshop, but those who pick up a physical copy of Bayonetta 2 will also receive a download code for the original Bayonetta, giving fans a chance to catch up on the series before Bayonetta 3 launches exclusively for the console. Alternatively, you can get a discount by purchasing the first two games on the Switch Eshop.
Game: Bayonetta 2
Developer: Platinum Games
Platform: Nintendo Switch
Release date: February 16
Price: $60
GameSpot -- 10/10
"Bayonetta 2 arrives on Switch with everything intact from the Wii U version, but with the added convenience of portability and a more consistent frame rate, making it the definitive version of the game. Thanks to the confident execution of seemingly unbridled creativity, Bayonetta 2 remains a game that shouldn't be missed, just as it was when we first reviewed the game on Wii U." -- Peter Brown [Full review]
IGN -- 9/10
"Playing through Bayonetta 2 on Nintendo Switch allowed me to relive some of the most exhilarating, action-packed, hack-and-slash moments from the last decade of gaming. The framerate improvements alone make it a better experience than the Wii U version, and the Amiibo-activated costumes at least put a fun spin on it even if there's no substantial new content for returning players. It's disappointing that the Switch version can't manage more than 720p on a big screen, but with that said, Bayonetta 2's fantastic art style holds up well." -- Filip Miucin [Full review]
Trusted Reviews -- 4.5/5
"Bayonetta 1 and 2 remain a fantastic duo of action titles that feel perfectly at home on Nintendo Switch. Being able to play two of Platinum Games' finest efforts whenever you like is hugely appealing, and the abundance of content on offer here only makes it even better." -- Jordan King [Full review]
We Got This Covered -- 4.5/5
"Although many have experienced Bayonetta in some form or another, whether it be the amazing PC port from last year, or the abysmal PlayStation 3 release, it feels more than at home on Switch. The inclusion of Bayonetta 2 seals the deal, as many didn't own a Wii U, and I certainly can't blame them. Packing them together for $60 is frankly a steal, as we've seen much worse ports at higher prices. A 720p docked resolution will be a deterrent for some, but maintaining a solid framerate is crucial for an action game, and on that front, Bayonetta 1 + 2 (mostly) hits the mark. If you're at all a fan of Bayonetta or action games in general, do yourself a favor and give these two games a go." -- David Morgan [Full review]
Vooks -- 5/5
"There's a reason Bayonetta is revered amongst fans of character action games. While Bayonetta as a character might deter some people from giving the franchise a chance, there's an incredible set of action games in this collection. As I said right at the beginning, after playing both Bayonetta games for the first time on Switch I was kicking myself for not trying them sooner. The characters and utter spectacle of the environments and encounters are impressive, and the flow of combat is immensely satisfying whether you keep it to basic dodges and ripostes or get experimental with combining techniques. Both games are adjustable to your preferences as far as difficulty, game speed, and complexity--even if you've been intimidated by similar games in the past, you can get in on the action here." -- Steven Impson [Full review]
A bunch of new titles arrived on Switch this week, including Platinum's critically acclaimed action game Bayonetta 2. If you're still looking for something new to play on the console, however, a new batch of deals are also now available on the Eshop, and they include discounts on some good games.
Just as in the PlayStation and Xbox Stores, 2K's latest basketball game, NBA 2K18, is on sale in the Eshop this week. From now until February 20, you can download the standard version for $39, while the Legends and Legends Gold Editions run for $50 and $82.49, respectively. Additionally, Capcom has discounted both Resident Evil Revelations titles for a limited time. Each game can be downloaded for $14 until February 21.
This week was an especially busy one for Switch, with 18 games arriving to the Eshop over the past several days. Along with the aforementioned Bayonetta 2, the original Bayonetta is also now available digitally for the hybrid console. A download code for the first game is included in physical copies of Bayonetta 2, but those who purchase either Bayonetta in the Eshop will get an automatic discount on the other one.
Overwatch marked Blizzard's first attempt at making a first-person shooter, and given its continued success, it's fair to say it turned out pretty well. Some fans may hope the developer tries its hand at a spin-off fighting game next, thanks to a new video.
Created by YouTube channel TGN, the video below imagines what Overwatch would be like as a 2D fighting game. It initially pits Reinhardt versus Zarya as the two use their actual Overwatch abilities in the context of a one-on-one fight on the Volskaya Industries map. At one point, we even get a stage transition, as Reinhardt's Charge ability is used to drive Zarya out of one area, through a wall, and into another portion of the map.
A second match sees Genji and Doomfist throw down on Numbani. All of this is accompanied by a fighting game-style HUD, complete with health bars, damage indicators, and special meters. There are even transitions from round to round, and it's all capped off with a bonus stage a la Street Fighter where Doomfist beats the hell out of an inanimate object.
In the video above, we've highlighted five such games. One of these, Celeste, is actually already available; the stellar platformer is out now on Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC. It's well worth a look--as our Celeste review states, "[Madeline's] tale is delicately told and beautifully illustrated, confidently coalescing with the satisfying, empowering game it lies within. Not bad for a game about climbing a mountain."
Looking further ahead this year, games like Donut County, Way of the Passive Fist, Wattam, and The Gardens Between look like exciting releases. We've spent time with each of these previously, and the video above dives into what makes each of them notable. If that's not enough, we have an even more extensive rundown on the biggest hidden gems of 2018, which covers a wide variety of genres and styles.
At any given time, there might be some sort of free game or free-play promotion going on, but right now it feels like there's an inordinate number of these happening at the same time. Specifics vary by platform and what memberships you have, but if you've got some time this weekend, there's likely something you can check out (or acquire permanently) for free.
Those with a PS4 can play the full versions of Rainbow Six Siege and Overwatch (with some restrictions, like no access to Competitive Play) if they have a PS Plus subscription. Siege's free-play event runs until February 18, while Overwatch's continues through February 19 (and provides access to the ongoing Year of the Dog event). The Metal Gear Survive beta is also now underway just before the game's launch and ends on February 18. PS Plus members also received some free bonuses this week, including a Fortnite item pack, a Gems of War booster pack, and the newly released Mercenary Kings: Reloaded Edition (as long as you claimed the original version of the game when it was previously offered through Plus).
Over on Xbox One, many of those same events are happening. Both Rainbow Six Siege and NBA 2K18 are playable for free through February 18--and, unusually, doing so doesn't require an Xbox Live Gold membership. You will, however, need to be a Gold member to try out Overwatch. The Metal Gear Survive beta is also now active. Meanwhile, the latest batch of free Games With Gold titles are now available to Xbox Live Gold subscribers for a limited time.
PC has maybe the best lineup of the three platforms. Siege and Overwatch are playable for everyone without any memberships, and the Metal Gear Survive beta is live on Steam, unlike the previous, console-only test. GOG is giving away a free game (Dungeons 2) right now, and if you're an Amazon Prime member, the newest Twitch Prime game is now available (Civilization IV: Complete Edition); both of these are yours to keep as long as you claim them in time.
When you're not bogged down in college basketball during March Madness, you're going to need something to binge. Luckily, Hulu is heading into the new month stocked with new shows, movies, and specials for you to watch.
In addition to the Power Rangers movie reboot and the first two XXX movies, March will see the streaming service add films like Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Dirty Dancing, Jennifer 8, and several James Bond films. The Hulu original documentary March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step will premiere, as well. Perhaps most importantly, the cult hit Hackers will also get added on March 1, in case you're wondering what Hollywood thought computer hacking looked like in 1995.
On the TV front, new seasons of KC Undercover, The Real Housewives of New York City, Angie Tribeca, The Son, and more will arrive in March. Hulu will also have the 90th Academy Awards posted after they air on live TV.
You can take a look at everything arriving on Hulu in March below. In case you're not caught up, you can also check out what was added in February.
Arriving on Hulu in March
March 1
Ask This Old House: Complete Seasons 11-12 (PBS)
This Old House: Complete Seasons 30 & 38 (PBS)
Veni Vidi Vici: Complete Season 1 (Viaplay)
1984 (1985)
A Feast at Midnight (1997)
A Guy Thing (2003)
A Mermaid's Tale (2016)
A Stork's Journey (2017)
A View to Kill (1985)
All the Wild Horses (2017)
Antitrust (2001)
Bad Influence (1990)
Bad News Bears (2005)
Billy the Kid (2013)
Body of Evidence (1993)
Boots on the Ground (2017)
Boulevard (2014)
Branded (2010)
Breakdown (1997)
Captivity (2007)
Carriers (2009)
Chaplin (1992)
Chicago (2002)
Criminal Law (1989)
Die Another Day (2002)
Dirty Dancing (1987)
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004)
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
Dream House Nightmare (2017)
Earth Girls are Easy (1988)
F/X (1986)
F/X 2 (1991)
Fatal Instinct (1993)
Finder's Fee (2003)
Fire with Fire (2012)
Fluke (1995)
For Your Eyes Only (1981)
Forces of Nature (1999)
Goldeneye (1995)
Gordy (1995)
Hackers (1995)
Hanoi Hilton (1987)
Happythankyoumoreplease (2010)
Hart's War (2002)
Hesher (2010)
High School (2010)
Home of the Brave (2006)
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988)
I'm So Excited! (2013)
Ill Manors (2012)
Imagine That (2009)
Jack Goes Boating (2010)
Jeff Who Lives at Home (2012)
Jennifer 8 (1992)
Kingpin (1996)
Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man (2005)
License to Kill (1989)
Love Crimes (1992)
Moonraker (1979)
Mr. Majesty (1974)
National Lampoon's Dirty Movie (2011)
National Lampoon's Dorm Daze 2: College @ Sea (2006)
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)
Pudsey the Dog: The Movie (2014)
Regarding Henry (1991)
Southie (1998)
Sprung (1997)
Stuart Little (1999)
Stuart Little 2 (2002)
Tales of the Grim Sleeper (2014)
The Accused (1988)
The Devil Inside (2012)
The Doors (1991)
The Glass Shield (1994)
The Living Daylights (1987)
The Million Dollar Hotel (2001)
The Music Never Stopped (2011)
The Secret of N.I.M.H. (1982)
The Square (2017)
The World is Not Enough (1999)
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)
Twenty Twenty Four (2017)
We Blew It (2017)
Where the Skin Lies (2017)
Who Killed Nancy? (2008)
XXX (2002)
XXX: State of the Union (2005)
Young Adult (2011)
March 4
K.C. Undercover: Complete Season 3 (Disney XD)
Traitor (2008) March 5
Amazing World of Gumball: Complete Season 5 (Cartoon Network)
The 90th Oscars: Special (ABC)
The 90th Oscars: Live From the Red Carpet: Special (ABC)
The Real Housewives of New York City: Complete Season 9 (Bravo)
Everything Beautiful is Far Away (2017)
The New Radical (2017)
March 6
Crash (2005)
Fantasia 2000 (2000)
March 7
Hard Sun: Complete Season 1 Premiere (Hulu Original)
Living Soul (2016)
March 8
Aftermath (2017)
Knock Knock (2015)
March 9
Power Rangers (2017)
March 10
Angie Tribeca: Complete Season 3 (TBS)
March 12
Force Majeure (2014)
Wolf Warrior 2 (2017)
March 13
Food Wars!: Complete Season 2 Dubs (Sentai Filmworks)
Bitter Harvest (2017)
March 14
Tommy's Honour (2017)
March 15
The Bridge: Complete Season 4 (ZDF Enterprises)
The Son: Complete Season 1 (AMC)
4 Lovers (2012)
Blade of the Immortal (2017)
Four Rooms (1995)
Hello I Must Be Going (2012)
LOL (2012)
October Country (2009)
River of Grass (1994)
The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill But Came Down A Mountain (1995)
The Fog (2005)
The Forgotten (2004)
The Kill Team (2013)
March 16
John Q (2002)
March 18
Almost Friends (2017)
March 19
Life Itself (2014)
Love and Saucers (2017)
March 23
March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step (2017) (Hulu Original)
March 24
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
March 27
The Little Hours (2017)
March 31
Closing Gambit (2018)
EuroTrump (2017)
The Ghoul (2016)
Habit (2017)
Project Eden (2017)
Leaving Hulu in March
March 31
A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
Blazing Saddles (1974)
Dirty Dancing (1987)
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004)
Gang Related (1997)
Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds (2008)
Those in the market for a new game that won't cost them a penny are in luck, provided they have an Amazon Prime membership. The next free PC game to be offered through Twitch Prime--which is one of the perks of an Amazon Prime membership--is now available, and it's a good one.
Civilization IV: The Complete Edition can currently be had for free on Twitch. It's available from now until February 21 and can be claimed from Civ IV's game page or by clicking the Prime Loot button from the Twitch website's top bar while logged into a Twitch Prime account. Bear in mind, you'll need to redeem this through the Twitch desktop app, rather than simply getting a code to redeem through Steam, but it's yours to keep even after this offer expires.
Although the Civ series is now two numbered entries ahead, Civ IV remains an excellent game that you can easily lose hundreds of hours in. The Complete Edition, which normally retails for $30, packages the base game with its Beyond the Sword, Colonization, and Warlords expansion packs, introducing even more content to a game that already offered a tremendous amount of gameplay.
Free games and DLC packs are periodically given out to members with Twitch Prime. Another is on the way shortly after this Civ IV offer concludes, as the original Devil May Cry will be free beginning on February 27. That precedes the PS4, Xbox One, and PC release of Devil May Cry HD Collection on March 13. PC owners can also nab another free game through EA's On the House promotion, which is currently giving away Dead Space.
It's been a busy month for PlayStation Plus members. In addition to the usual slate of free games to download, we've seen several other bonuses pop up for subscribers, and now there's yet another to claim if you're a Plus member on PS4.
Periodically, Sony will offer some kind of free DLC pack to PS Plus members, usually for a free-to-play game--we've seen them for the likes of Smite and Orcs Must Die: Unchained. The latest of these is now available for a limited time. Gems of War, a free-to-play puzzle game from some of the same talent behind Puzzle Quest, has gotten a new DLC pack you can grab here for free if you're a PS Plus subscriber.
The Gems of War PS Plus Starter Pack effectively acts as a booster pack. It provides you with the Nobend Brothers troop in addition to 2,500 Souls and 10 Gem Keys, both of which are in-game currencies. This is not to be confused with the existing PlayStation Plus Bundle, which is also still available to Plus members and provides an assortment of Souls, Keys, and other bonuses. (Grab that here.) The new Starter Pack is only available for a limited time--it expires along with the rest of February's PS Plus freebies on March 5.
PS4 owners have two new games to download this month: the PS4 launch title Knack and the Ico-esque adventure game Rime. Additionally, one of last month's freebies, the PSVR shooter Starblood Arena, is also still available at no cost for PS Plus subscribers until March 6.
PS3 owners likewise have two games to choose from this month: the 2D platformer Spelunker HD and the turn-based RPG Mugen Souls Z. Those with a Vita, meanwhile, will be able to download the side-scrolling adventure game Exile's End and the tactical RPG Grand Kingdom for no cost. The latter is also playable on PS4 thanks to Cross-Buy, giving PS4 owners three potential freebies to download this month.
There's good news and bad news. The bad news is Amazon is raising the prime of their prime service for those that subscribe monthly. The current $10.99 monthly cost will now be $12.99. The good news is that annual subscribers will see no increase, and there's plenty of new additions coming to Amazon Prime Video in February to make up for the extra money.
First and foremost, the new month will see the arrival of the rest of The Tick's first season. Guardians of the Galaxy's Peter Serafinowicz returns as the strange superhero, with six more installments debuting on February 23. The Tick is just one of several shows adding episodes to Amazon Prime, along with The Expanse and Mozart in the Jungle.
As for movies, 2009's Star Trek, directed by JJ Abrams, will be available to stream in February. Additionally, the original Red Dawn film, Mystic Pizza, both versions of Rollerball, and The Warriors will all be added to the service, among many other titles.
The beta features three missions set across two maps, which can be played cooperatively with up to four players. In addition to that, Konami is offering special daily missions for the duration of the beta. Everyone who participates in the trial will also receive three bonus cosmetic items in the full game: a FOXHOUND name plate, Metal Gear Rex Head accessory, and a bandana.
The beta runs on all platforms until February 18. It uses the same client as the previous beta, so players who already have that installed on their consoles won't need to download it again, although you'll need to download a patch for the client before you're able to participate.
Since the launch of its Battle Royale mode last year, Fortnite's popularity has exploded. That's no doubt thanks in part to being free-to-play, but while it follows the same basic format as other games in the increasingly popular sub-genre, it does offer a unique twist with its building mechanics. At the press of a button, you can build walls, floors, and stairs, and that ability is key to success.
However, with no tutorial and players eager to kill you, actually getting the hang of building is not especially easy. Building can generate a lot of noise, which invariably attracts unwanted attention. To help you get started, we've put together the video above in which we run through the basics of gathering materials and building. We cover both the small so-called "panic forts" that you'll build during the course of a match to protect yourself, as well as the towers that are frequently used at the end of a game.
In the video, you'll also get a look at the recently added minigun. Epic continues to make changes and add new content to Battle Royale, some of which can have a significant effect on building. The minigun is one such case, as it makes for an ideal way to rapidly destroy the cover that enemies are hiding behind.
A new update for Fortnite introduced the Crossbow, which, while packing unlimited ammo, doesn't offer the kind of firepower that's ideal for demolishing structures. It does, however, allow for stealthy takedowns, something that can provide you with a real edge. We'll have more tips and guides for Fortnite soon, but in the meantime, check out Battle Royale's new skins and upcoming Valentine's Day-themed content.
Sea of Thieves is often bandied about as an exclusive to Xbox One, but it's only a console exclusive; the seafaring pirate game is also coming to PC. Following earlier technical tests, official system requirements and recommended specs have been shared, and they truly run the gamut.
Microsoft and developer Rare have shared a wide range of possible specs for running Sea of Thieves on PC. What it describes as the minimum requirements involve running the game at 720p and 30 FPS. Doing so requires an Intel Q9450 or AMD Phenom II X6 and 4 GB of RAM. It also divides up the suggested video cards into "GPU" and "modern GPU" categories; the former calls for a 1 GB GTX 650 or AMD Radeon 7750, while the "modern" cards start with a GTX 1030 or R7 450. Unusually, we also get a hard drive speed suggestion too; you'll need 60 GB free on a 5,400 RPM drive.
From there, the specs scale up to the recommended level of 1080p and 60 FPS, which requires an i5 4960 or FX 8150, 8 GB of RAM, and a GTX 1060 or RX 470 (for modern GPUs), and a 7,200 RPM hard drive. The highest end provides the necessary specs to run the game at 4K and 60 FPS: an i7 4790 or Ryzen 5 1600, 16 GB of RAM, a GTX 1080 TI or RX Vega 64, and an SSD.
click for a full-size view
There are also requirements outlined for a slightly...lesser experience. Rare previously promised Sea of Thieves support for 540p with a 15 FPS lock. In this list of specs, we see the necessary hardware to run the game at 540p and 30 FPS with the minimum graphics setting, which is dubbed "Cursed." For this, you'll need an Intel Iris Pro Graphics 6200 or Iris 540, 4 GB of RAM, and integrated graphics. And, like all other specs, 60 GB of hard drive space and DirectX 11 support are still required.
What are you watching on Netflix this week? If you're not sure, perhaps it's time to try something new. The streaming service as plenty of options being added this week, in case you're looking for the perfect Valentine's Day binge.
The most notable arrival is the first season of the original series Everything Sucks. The coming-of-age comedy is set in the mid-1990s and, if the trailer is any indication, is going to hit many viewers right in the nostalgia. With nods to everything from Alanis Morissette to Beavis and Butthead to dating in a pre-social media and texting world, Everything Sucks aims to capture what it was like to be a freshman in 1996. Whether it succeeds it nor is something you'll have to find out.
Other titles coming to Netflix include the movies Evan Almighty and Blood Money. Additionally, originals like Irreplaceable You, DreamWorks Dragons: Race to the Edge, and Greenhouse Academy will premiere as well.
You can take the full list of what's coming to Netflix this week below. Alternatively, you can check out the list of everything being added in February.
February 14
Greenhouse Academy: Season 2 (Netflix Original)
Love Per Square Foot (Netflix Original)
February 15
Deep Undercover Collection: Collection 2
Re:Mind: Season 1 (Netflix Original)
February 16
DreamWorks Dragons: Race to the Edge: Season 6 (Netflix Original)
Microsoft has rolled out a fresh set of deals on Xbox Live, and there are some solid offers to be had across Xbox One and Xbox 360. Starting with Xbox One, the newest Call of Duty game, Call of Duty: WWII, is on sale for one of the first times since release. Right now, you can get it for $39, which is 35 percent off its normal $60 price.
Go to Major Nelson's blog to see a full rundown of this week's Xbox One and Xbox 360 deals, including country-specific price points and more. The offers, some of which require an Xbox Live Gold membership, are good through February 19.
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