It's almost time for your DVR to be overfilled with new episodes of your favorite shows. Whether you're into comedy, drama, or sci-fi, there is something for you on the small screen in the upcoming months. In addition, we're getting the final season of FX's spy/thriller The Americans, and the first season of Syfy's new DC Entertainment series Krypton. Also, there's this little HBO show returning called Westworld that we will all be looking forward to.
The list of new and returning shows is long between March and May, but we narrowed it down to 14 series that we're excited about, which you should check out. Obviously, a few of the selections will require subscriptions to HBO, Netflix, and Hulu.
It's been three years since the first season of Jessica Jones hit Netflix, and fans have been clamoring for more. Everyone's favorite hard-drinking, super-powered private detective returns for a second season, as the titular character deals with her past and what gave her the abilities she possesses. Just make sure, if you plan on binging, to get passed the first episode, as it has a slow start according to GameSpot's review by Mike Rougeau.
Jessica Jones comes to Netflix on Thursday, March 8.
Adam Ruins Everything: Season 4
Adam is back for a fourth season of his comedic/education series that tackles preconceived notions about life, work, food, etc., and backs up its arguments with actual facts. Season 4 of the series kicks off with six animated episodes (via Deadline), and while the series has had animated segments in the past, they've only done one fully animated episode thus far.
Adam Ruins Everything returns to TruTV on Tuesday, March 20 at 10 PM ET.
Krypton
There are a lot of DC shows on television: Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Black Lightning, Gotham, and Supergirl. Get ready because there is another one coming towards the end of March: Krypton. The new Syfy series follows Superman's grandfather on his home planet of Krypton, as Brainiac plans on bottling the city of Kandor. The most recent trailer for the show is pretty awesome, as we finally get to see Brainiac, and the CG looks pretty dang good. This show has a lot of potential for greatness.
Krypton airs on Syfy on Wednesday, March 21 at 10 PM ET.
Barry
In this new HBO series, Bill Hader plays a hitman from the midwest who follows his latest target to Los Angeles. While there, he gets the acting bug and finds a love for the art that he's apparently bad at. HBO has a great track record with comedic series, with series like Veep, Silicon Valley, and Crashing being the current top dogs for the network. The premise for Barry is fantastic, and from the looks of the trailers, Hader is going to metaphorically kill it on this show.
Barry premieres on HBO on Sunday, March 25.
Silicon Valley: Season 5
Nothing seems to go right with Richard and the Pied Piper gang on Silicon Valley, but with Season 5, they'll be trying to invent a new internet that will put Hooli out of business. The show hasn't missed a step in the past four years and continues to be one of the best comedic series on television.
Silicon Valley premieres on HBO on Sunday, March 25.
The Terror
Based on a true story, The Terror follows the British Royal Navy's journey through uncharted territory in order to find the Northwest Passage. There's a feeling of hopelessness and fear in the trailer, and while many other period piece series can be a tad dull, The Terror looks intense. Put this one on your DVR.
The Terror premieres on AMC on Monday, March 26 at 9 PM ET.
The Americans: Season 6
FX's spy-thriller series follows a husband and wife living in America, and they're secretly Russian spies. Coming into its sixth and final season, Phillip and Elizabeth will continue to work in the United States on their operation for the KGB. Season 6 will consist of 10 episodes, and while it's sad to see The Americans come to an end, this has been a phenomenal series. You might want to start catching up now before the end of March.
The Americans returns to FX on Wednesday, March 28 at 10 PM ET.
The Crossing
In ABC's new sci-fi drama, refugees start showing up in an American town, and they're all from a war that takes place 250 years in the future. The Crossing has an incredibly interesting premise, and the trailer shows a lot of promise. However, ABC has a history of pulling shows with mid-season premieres halfway through their run, especially shows with a sci-fi or fantasy slant, so you may want to check out The Crossing as it airs.
The Crossing comes to ABC on Monday, April 2 at 10 PM ET.
Legion: Season 2
The first season of Legion was so good, and we could not be more excited for it to return to FX in April. For those who missed out, Legion follows David Haller, a schizophrenic man with extraordinary abilities: he's a mutant, and according to comic book lore, he's the son of Charles Xavier. The show is unique and at times, very trippy. It is unlike any other comic book show on television.
Legion returns to FX on Tuesday, April 3 at 10 PM ET.
The Expanse: Season 3
Syfy's futuristic sci-fi series The Expanse is back for a third season. The show started out relatively grounded, as a war between Mars and Earth was looming. From there, it followed an unraveling conspiracy, and eventually, we got to see the protomolecule hybrids, which were terrifying. If you read the novels the show is based on, then you know it's only going to get crazier.
The Expanse returns to Syfy on Wednesday, April 11 at 9 PM ET.
Lost In Space
It's been a year and half since Netflix announced it was rebooting the classic TV show Lost In Space. Now, there's a full trailer and release date for the new series, and it's coming sooner than we thought. The trailer appears to be a solid reboot to the original series, as the show has a bit of a darker tone. Will Robinson's best friend, which was originally a robot, now seems a bit more alien than anything else, but that seems like the biggest difference. Regardless, it still looks fun.
Lost In Space comes to Netflix on Friday, April 13.
Fear of the Walking Dead: Season 4
Morgan Jones is moving over as a series regular to Fear of the Walking Dead for its fourth season. The group ended up split at the end of Season 3, so who knows where Season 4 will take us. At this point, thespin-off is more coherent and entertaining than the Walking Dead itself, as its story is less predictable.
Fear of the Walking Dead returns to AMC on Sunday, April 15 at 10 PM ET.
Westworld: Season 2
The first season of HBO's Westworld took us all by surprise. The series, based off the not-so-great 1973 movie of the same name, follows guests and robots inside a futuristic wild west theme park. From there, Season 1 took the viewer through twists and turns, which were sometimes insanely confusing, but in the end, it all made sense--except for the focus on The Maze. You can get a good idea of what's in store for you by checking out the newest trailer.
Westworld comes back to HBO on Sunday, April 22 at 10 PM ET.
The Handmaid's Tale: Season 2
The first season of Hulu's original series The Handmaid's Tale won two Golden Globes and eight Emmys after the debut season in 2017, which is quite the accomplishment for a dystopian sci-fi series. The show takes place in the future where the country has become a theocracy where women are not allowed to work or own property. The series follows June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss), a handmaid whose role is to get pregnant by her male masters. The series returns at the end of April, and we're hoping it lives up to the first season.
The Handmaid's Tale returns to Hulu on Wednesday, April 25.
Rainbow Six Siege's new Operation Chimera update has arrived, bringing new Operators and the limited-time Outbreak mode to the game. It also features some other significant changes to the game, as well as the addition of a new type of loot box called an Outbreak pack that features exclusive weapon skins, uniforms, headgear, and charms.
In the images above, we've collected all 50 new items available through Outbreak packs. You'll receive four packs for free just by logging in during the Outbreak event. Beyond that, you'll have to purchase additional ones for 300 R6 Credits ($5 gets you 600 Credits); a few other newly added items are obtained through specific gameplay challenges. Until you've obtained everything available through Outbreak packs, you're guaranteed a new item each time you open one--there are no duplicates.
Operation Chimera is a major update for Siege, and its release marks the start of Year 3 for the game. Unlike a typical expansion, it features two Attacker Operators (Lion and Finka) and no new competitive multiplayer map. There are, however, three new maps designed specifically for Outbreak, which is a cooperative mode for up to three players. In it, you play as select Operators as you deal with a zombie-like virus that threatens to wipe out life near the US-Mexican border.
Both Outbreak and the Outbreak packs are only available for a limited time, running from now until April 3. It and the broader Chimera update are available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One, but be aware that it's encountered some launch issues, including those related to the free Ash Sidewinder Elite skin and the ability to view the collection screen, among other things.
Microsoft has announced a release date and pricing details for its upcoming zombie survival game, State of Decay 2. The title launches for Xbox One and PC on May 22, and it'll be a little cheaper than fans might expect.
The standard version of State of Decay 2 will run for $30, while the Ultimate Edition costs $50. The latter grants players access to State of Decay 2 a few days early, on May 18. It also includes an Xbox One copy of State of Decay: Year One Survival Edition, as well as the forthcoming Independence and Daybreak DLC packs when they release.
Microsoft GM of Games Marketing Aaron Greenberg addressed State of Decay 2's surprisingly low price point on IGN. "Our goal is to build a long-term relationship with the State of Decay community and to foster deeper experiences with the franchise," Greenberg said. "We believe State of Decay 2 accomplishes this goal by immersing fans in the ultimate zombie survival fantasy, and we want to give more players the opportunity to join in and experience this unique game."
Are you ready to revisit your childhood? The first trailer for Christopher Robin--Disney's latest live-action take on its animated universe--has arrived, as the studio puts a Hook-like spin on Winnie the Pooh and his animal friends that were created by AA Milne.
In the trailer, a grown-up Christopher Robin (Ewan McGregor) has become so dedicated to his work that his family is suffering. "What to do?" he wonders to himself before Winnie the Pooh (Jim Cummings) appears behind him. While Christopher questions whether he's gone insane, a peek at the movie's official synopsis confirms he is not.
"In the heartwarming live-action adventure, the young boy who embarked on countless adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood with his band of spirited and lovable stuffed animals, has grown up and lost his way," the synopsis reads. "Now it is up to his childhood friends to venture into our world and help Christopher Robin remember the loving and playful boy who is still inside."
Rounding out the Hundred Acre Wood inhabitants are Chris O'Dowd as Tigger, Brad Garrett as Eeyore, Tony Jones as Owl, Nick Mohammed as Piglet, Peter Capaldi as Rabbit, and Sophie Okonedo as Kanga. The film also stars Hayley Atwell, Mark Gatiss, and Bronce Carmichael. Christopher Robin opens in theaters on August 3.
God of War's launch is coming up, and it marks the first major first-party PS4 release of the year for Sony. It's also the first new entry in the series in five years, and to mark the occasion, Sony will release a PS4 Pro bundle that includes a specially designed console and controller.
As pictured below, the console is primarily silver and grey, with some yellow and dark grey highlights. The top of the console is adorned with the skill tree from the game that's used to upgrade Kratos's new Leviathan Axe. On the front, you'll see runes that represent different realms from the game. The matching controller features a much simpler design with the same colors; the right grip includes the Huldra Brothers brand that's also seen on the Leviathan Axe, while touchpad has the God of War logo.
Both the system (which is otherwise a standard 1 TB PS4 Pro) and controller are available in the limited edition God of War PS4 Pro bundle. It also includes a physical copy of God of War and unspecified "digital content." It'll be released on the same day as the game, April 20, and will cost $400 in the US (the same price as a standard PS4 Pro) or $500 CAD. The bundle will also be available internationally, although specific pricing has not been shared.
As noted above, God of War is the first game in the series since 2013's God of War: Ascension. The new entry features a markedly different tone from past games, as it centers around Norse mythology (rather than Greek) and the story of Kratos and his son, Atreus. In addition to the base version, there are also more expensive special editions available, though you won't get those with the new PS4 Pro bundle.
On Twitter, Ubisoft stated that each version of the game will go down for an hour as the company launches the update. It'll arrive first on PC, which will be down from 6-7 AM PT / 9-10 AM ET / 2-3 PM GMT. Next, the PS4 version will go down for maintenance and deployment from 7-8 AM PT / 10-11 AM ET / 3-4 PM GMT. Finally, Ubisoft will deploy the update to Xbox One from 8-9 AM PT / 11 AM-12 PM ET / 4-5 PM GMT.
The update also tweaks a bunch of Operators. Ela's gun is getting nerfed, while Kapkan's loadout is changing. In addition, Blitz will now be a 2 speed / 2 armor Operator, having previously been 1 speed / 3 armor. For more, check out the Operation Chimera patch notes.
The latest free expansion for Rainbow Six Siege, Operation Chimera, launches today, thereby kicking off Year 3 for the popular shooter. This is a more substantial update than usual, as it adds new content to not only the core, competitive multiplayer component of the game, but it also introduces a new co-op event mode for a limited time. After a period of server downtime, Operation Chimera is now live on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
As part of this new expansion, two new Operators are now available. Unusually, both are Attackers; Finka is able to heal and temporarily boost the health of teammates or revive them from a distance, while Lion possesses a drone that can be used to identify the location of enemies for a brief time. They're both available to Year 3 season pass owners now, while other players will be able to purchase them with in-game currency soon. You can read all about them in our impressions of the new Chimera Operators.
Outbreak is another major highlight of this update. It's a co-op mode quite unlike anything currently in the game; across three missions, teams of three players work together to deal with zombie-like enemies. This comes complete with new cutscenes featuring characters like Ash and Thermite, and it's joined by a special loot box that includes exclusive gear. Outbreak and the loot box will only be available for a limited time, running from now until April 3.
From Software's critically acclaimed action-RPG Bloodborne is one of the PlayStation Plus free games of March 2018, which means there's going to be a multitude of newcomers playing the game for the first time. When you start the game, you'll notice that it's not your typical action-RPG in that it doesn't distinguish its heroes based on class, but rather how their upbringings have shaped them. Known as origins, these categories are analogous to classes in that they vary widely in determining your starting stats. These origins only vary by statistics. No one class is supplied with any additional gifts, items, or gear. The only exception is the bold hunter's mark, which is given to every origin. It should be noted that gender, age, nor appearance has any bearing on your stats or abilities.
How you shape your character from this point is up to you. As you level up, you can further customize those stats however you see fit. If it turned out you wanted your noble scion to improve his modest starting physical attack stats, you can spend the next 10 levels increasing strength. You can create your own mental narrative, where a hunter with a violent past now has the maturity to temper his aggression by focusing on upgrading stats other than strength.
One of the challenging aspects of choosing an origin in Bloodborne is that a couple useful stats are withheld from comparison until after you commit. HP, for example, is determined by vitality, while endurance determines stamina. Another stat is discovery, which determines the frequency of enemy item drops. Looking over our guide will show you which origin has greater discovery over others.
Like the Souls series, upgrading one primary stat increase various other stats. Here are some of the specifics:
Vitality: Increases HP and Physical DEF
Endurance: Increases Stamina, Physical DEF, Slow Poison RES, and Fast Poison RES
Strength: Increases R-hand ATK and Physical DEF
Skill: Increases R-hand ATK and Physical DEF (and also increase the potency of secondary offensive items)
Bloodtinge: Increases L-hand ATK and Physical DEF
Arcane: Increases L-hand ATK, Physical DEF, and Discovery
If you lived or admired the life of a middle class upbringing, you can project that middle-of-the-road outlook through the milquetoast origin. No one stat is exceptional, nor are they notably low. If you are a beginner who wants to be well-rounded, but doesn't want any special treatment with increased strength, go for milquetoast.
Lone Survivor
As the name implies, this class is high in vitality. No matter what genre you play, if you're the type of play who chooses to boost their HP first, you should like the lone survivor. It has the highest starting hit points out of any class at 659. By comparison, the well-rounded milquetoast only has 594.
Troubled Childhood
It's likely that someone from a troubled childhood has experienced unspeakable events not unlike that of the lone survivor. This would make a great symbolic pairing in co-op in the name of shared experiences and bonding over the mutual hardships within Bloodborne. Where the lone survivor is average in endurance and skill is made up by partnering with someone from a troubled childhood. If you're in a co-op session and are dealing with an enemy that deals slow potion, someone with a troubled childhood should be at the forefront, given that this hunter has the highest resistance to slow poison.
Violent Past
Whether the hunters who have a violent past were the dealers or receivers of violence matters not. All that counts is that they're able to take out their aggression out on all of Yharnam's hostiles, by having the highest starting strength out of all the origins. That's even higher than military veteran. If you appreciate the close quarters combat of Bloodborne and if you thrive on dealing with the crowd, go with violent past, especially since this class is weak in firearms potency.
Professional
Talented and educated, this origin brings high skill and endurance to the battle. With no shields in Yharnam's early areas, all creatures great and small will force you to dodge roll often. Having high endurance means having generous stamina to evade enemies, no matter the distance. And if you're one of those adventurers who finds a lot of value using offensive items beyond the gun and blade, we recommend the professional since his skill makes him adept at items like molotov cocktails and throwing blades.
Military Veteran
Oddly enough, if you're looking for a version of the milquetoast with a bit more of a kick in physical attacks, we recommend the Military Veteran. It's one of the more beginner-friendly classes since it's well-rounded with a strength boost to help you get through the townsfolk of Yharnam. The veteran's prior experience in battle is the reason why his strength, skill, vitality, and endurance are in the double digits.
Noble Scion
If you picture a military veteran class to be more adept with firearms, you should consider the noble scion. Out of all the origins, this has the highest combination of skill and bloodtinge. You also start with the highest amount of blood echoes: 540. Blood echoes is the game's version of souls in Dark Souls. If you are confident that you'll survive, or at least, recover blood echoes after your most recent death, you should be able to make good use of these extra starting allocation..
Cruel Fate
Those born of cruel fate endured many hardships, but those trials have only strengthened their resolve. By choosing cruel fate, you're picking an origin with some very well-spread stats, with the exception of bloodtinge, which is low and affects the potency of your firearms. It's a small price to pay because there is one unlisted stat that makes cruel fate one of the best classes to pick: discovery. As stated above, this stat increases the likelihood of enemy drops. Whereas all the other classes' discovery starts at 100 or 103, Cruel Fate starts at a whopping 119. If you can relate to a thief or explorer class from other RPGs, choose cruel fate.
Waste of Skin
As the game describes, "You are nothing. Talentless. You shouldn't have been born. There is no benefit." Waste of skin is for the true masochist, where the only bright spots are that you're not deprived of the bold hunter's mark and you start the game with clothes. If you are that specific kind of Souls series veteran who entertains the thought of beating Dark Souls II with a single dagger, this class is for you. It's the "bragging rights" class of Bloodborne.
The rollout of the major new Operation Chimera update for Rainbow Six Siege is upon us, but players are encountering some hiccups on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Ubisoft has confirmed a variety of known issues with both Chimera's additions and the new Outbreak mode, as well as one involving the free skin many players should have received.
Ubisoft angered players with its plans to change Siege's pricing and ultimately relented. Among the apologies it planned to offer was Ash's Sidewinder Elite skin, which would be made available to all players for free by playing a match before March 6, the day of Chimera's launch. If you qualified, it should be in your inventory now that the update has gone live, but many players have reported that it isn't showing up.
In a list of known issues outlined on Reddit, Ubisoft confirms it's aware of the problem and says a fix is in progress. The same is also true for an issue where the inventory doesn't show the Damascus Steel skin. Some other issues--including the VIP discount not working and Starter Edition players being unable to buy old Operators--have already been resolved. And if you haven't received your free Outbreak loot boxes for logging in, Ubisoft says you should simply restart the game to resolve it.
Other problems don't appear to have been addressed yet. These include a delay that Buck encounters when switching to and from his Skeleton Key shotgun, voice chat not functioning, and party leaders being lost in matchmaking. You can see all of the problems Ubisoft is aware of here.
As for what's new, the Chimera update introduces two new Operators and the limited-time Outbreak mode, which features special new maps. There are also other changes that have been made to the game, as you can read about in the full Chimera patch notes.
By Anonymous on Mar 06, 2018 10:21 pm Tune in as we try out Finca and Lion on the live servers as well as a few missions in the new limited time PvE horde mode Outbreak.
Another batch of free games for PlayStation Plus members has arrived. Although this month's lineup is no different from the average one in terms of total games, there are some excellent titles to be had across PS4, PS3, and Vita.
Alongside that, Ratchet & Clank is also free right now. This is the most recent entry in Insomniac's long-running platforming series, although it's technically not an original game. It's based in part on the animated film, which itself was based on the original Ratchet & Clank game.
That's not it for PS4 owners, who will receive a total of five games this month thanks to Cross-Buy. Both games available on Vita, Claire: Extended Cut and Bombing Busters, are free on Plus, as is one of the two PS3 games, Mighty No. 9. PS3 owners also get their hands on Legend of Kay.
Karen Gillan's character Nebula has appeared so far in Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2, where she's played the rival and foil to Zoe Saldana's Gamora. The two are adoptive sisters, "daughters" to the Mad Titan Thanos, who's set to be the villain (and apparently, the main character) of Avengers: Infinity War.
But while Nebula's been captivating any time she's on the screen, we've never learned much about her. That's going to change in upcoming MCU films, according to Gillan.
"I love my character so much," Gillan told GameSpot while promoting Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle's home release (on digital March 6 and DVD/Blu-ray March 20). "I am so invested in her whole backstory, her whole relationship with her sister, the relationship with her father that we're definitely going to explore in the movies that are coming out soon."
The next Marvel Cinematic Universe movie on the docket is, of course, Avengers: Infinity War, whose release date was recently moved up a week to April 27. Given the movie's expected focus on Thanos, it's safe to guess that Infinity War is the movie Gillan is referring to. The next MCU movies on the schedule are Ant-Man and the Wasp over the summer on July 6 and Captain Marvel on March 8 next year, followed by the fourth, still-untitled Avengers movie on May 3.
It's most likely that Infinity War will spend some time exploring the complicated relationship between Thanos and Nebula, and likely Gamora too--whether through flashbacks or present day exposition, we'll have to wait and see.
In the comics, Nebula plays a major role in the Infinity Gauntlet saga, though her on-screen version is significantly different from the source. Regardless, Gillan said she's excited for audiences to witness the character's journey.
"I just feel so lucky that I got this character who, you know, was initially a villain, and then we started to learn more about her, and then our view as the audience, I think, changed toward her," Gillan said. "And she's just such a well written character that I feel like lots of people are getting invested in her along with me. And so I'm just so excited for everyone to see where she ends up."
Anyone who was watching Doctor Who around seven years ago could have guessed that Karen Gillan was going to be big. Her role as Amy Pond was just the beginning, and she's since starred in movies like Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Guardians of the Galaxy 1 and 2, and of course, the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War.
Gillan spoke with GameSpot to celebrate Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle's upcoming home releases (March 6 digitally and March 20 on DVD and 4K Blu-ray).
GameSpot: Are there any deleted scenes or other special features you're excited for people to see in Jumanji?
Karen Gillan: You know, I don't have a clue. I'm really hoping that there are deleted scenes. I can't remember exactly what didn't make the cut, but there was a lot of hilarity going on during filming that I think you'll probably find on the DVD, particularly all the bloopers.
Who was the funniest person on set?
Oo, good question! I think DJ is the secret funny one--Dwayne Johnson. His style of comedy I really like. It's sort of slightly more British. It's a bit dryer and understated, and that just appeals to the British in me. However, the other guys are so funny too. I mean, Kevin Hart is a stand-up comedian through and through, you know, he sort of never switches off in that respect. He's just a natural stand-up. And then Jack, I mean--just watching him play a 16-year-old girl might take the biscuit in terms of how funny anyone is ever.
I was surprised how funny Nick Jonas was when I interviewed him, I thought it was so dry and then I went back and watched it again and realized he wasn't being serious at all.
Oh, Nick! He's funny too! How could I forget? He's maybe a little more understated with his humor as well. He's another one with the dry, more deadpan delivery that I really like.
The lead roles in Jumanji were unique for everyone, but I feel like it was especially incongruous for you to have to act like this awkward person--was that hard for you?
Um, no. It was actually more natural to me than other roles I've played, just because I think I probably was that at 16 and maybe somewhere inside of me I think there is an awkward 16-year-old girl. So it was fairly easy easy for me to access that, and I noticed that actually I've maybe just been suppressing it in my other roles, and finally I was getting to embrace it. And so I had a lot of fun with that. I was like 'Oh, I'm really tapping into something authentic here!'
I think we probably never stop feeling like our awkward teenage selves deep down.
I think probably everyone feels like that in some regard.
Are there any other '90s reboots you'd want to star in?
I think probably remaking Scream--to play the killer in Scream! I just have this idea that it would be so funny to have like, a really Scottish girl on the end of the phone. Like, 'What's your favorite scary movie?'
Are you a big horror movie fan?
I am, I do like a '90s process-of-elimination teenage slasher movie.
What are your favorites?
Ooo, OK, Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, [and] The Exorcist.
Classic.
Oh yes. I met the girl from The Exorcist recently. I've never been more starstruck.
What about contemporary horror movies? Anything recent?
I really enjoyed Get Out. I thought that was pretty good, an original take on the horror genre, sort of brings some social commentary into it as well.
Whenever you have something like Jumanji that was so important to people in their childhoods, expectations are all over the place. Why do you think this reboot worked so well?
I honestly think that there's no algorithm to creating a successful film or reboot. Actually all it boils down to is making something good. I think everybody's trying to pull all these tricks, when really all that matters is like, good movie or not. And this is just a good, funny movie, and it can be watched by the whole family, so therefore it's not just for a particular demographic. You can watch it with your parents, and your nephew, so it's a really broad demographic, and something that everyone can enjoy together. And we don't have that many of those out there, actually--entertainment that brings the entire family together. I think it's rare.
I've been a fan of yours since the Doctor Who days. Do you have any favorite moments from all of your time on the show?
I mean, I have so many, I don't even know where to start. I think it has to be--this is a bit of a boring answer, but it's working with the two guys I was working with, Matt Smith and Arthur Darvill. We became like family--I mean genuinely, they were like my brothers. And I don't have any brothers, so I now know what it feels like to have really annoying brothers.
We just had such a good time together and experienced this crazy show together, which took us all from obscurity and catapulted us to this different life. I don't know, it was just like this mental time in our lives, and it was great...I still keep in contact with them and we still have fun nights out together and stuff like that. We tend to reminisce on our time on Doctor Who more than anything.
What's been the most rewarding part of being involved in Infinity War and the Marvel movies in general?
Probably playing this particular character [Nebula]. I love my character so much. I am so invested in her whole backstory, her whole relationship with her sister, the relationship with her father [Thanos] that we're definitely going to explore in the movies that are coming out soon, and so I think it all boils down to that. I just feel so lucky that I got this character who, you know, was initially a villain, and then we started to learn more about her, and then our view as the audience, I think, changed toward her. And she's just such a well written character that I feel like lots of people are getting invested in her along with me. And so I'm just so excited for everyone to see where she ends up.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is out on digital today, March 6, and on 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray/DVD March 20.
Bloodborne is one of the PlayStation Plus free games of March 2018. If you're here, it's likely because you've just downloaded this critically acclaimed action-RPG. As a follow up to From Software's Souls franchise, Bloodborne will be very familiar to those who have followed the series. The good news is that you absolutely do not need to have prior knowledge of the Souls games to understand, appreciate, and most importantly, play Bloodborne.
For the seasoned Souls player, it would be a mistake to assume you can skip through the tutorials. Even if you manage to pull off the new visceral attack, you may not know how you did it, let alone how you can do it 100 percent of the time. You can also say that the regain system fundamentally makes this wholly different from Dark Souls.
To help both series veterans and newbies coming into this dark adventure for the first time this month, we've detailed the intricacies of the games mechanics and tactics in the 13 tips ahead. These will greatly make your first couple hours in Bloodborne considerably easier in what is already a challenging game.
When you arrive to the Hunter's Dream after your first death, you'll get to arm yourself with Bloodborne's starter weapons, with a melee weapon in one hand and a firearm in another.
With the myriad monstrosities that await you, it's important to choose the right starter weapons. Here's what you need to know about each weapon to help you make an informed decision.
Melee (Right-Arm):
Saw Cleaver -- This is the most balanced of the three weapons. Its extended version has effective reach while the compact version makes it light for a quick series of attacks. This makes for a solid pick if you're unsure what to go with.
Hunter Axe -- Direct and brutal, this axe has great damage, provided you can manage its slow speed. Its longer, alternate version has one drawback in that it needs to be held with two hands.
Threaded Cane -- With its long range, this cane is great against crowds even if its damage isn't as high as the other weapons. Its speed is also impressive.
Ranged (Left-Arm):
Hunter Blunderbuss -- This functions like a shotgun, meaning that its range is poor but can hit multiple targets at close range. It's also more potent against a single target when you're even closer. Note that a single shot only requires one bullet.
Hunter Pistol -- Better range than the Blunderbuss but you can only hit one target at a time. It's also effective in attracting attention from afar like the pebbles in the game.
How To Defeat The Most Challenging Early Non-Boss Enemies
Now that you're armed, you can exact vengeance on the lycanthrope that likely killed you in the opening moments of the game. But that's not the only tough adversary that awaits you; there are plenty of other tough combatants you'll be fighting relatively early in your adventure.
Along with the lycanthrope, we've noted two other large-sized enemies you'll encounter in Bloodborne's initial hour. Learning how to beat these three will train you in the fundamentals of combat, often applicable to bosses.
Lycanthrope: This fast-moving beast can be dealt with using quick melee attacks. Its animation before it lunges is easy to read so be ready to dodge and attack to its side (or better yet, its rear). You should be cautious about its lunges since there's the possibility it can grab you by its teeth, which often results in death.
Gargantuan Pig: Your first encounter with this pig will most likely be in the sewer. He poses a unique challenge in that his size does not make combat easy in the confining and narrow passages of the sewer. Do not face him head on if his front half is up in the air; it means he's about to slam down. You should also be mindful of his head swipes, where he swings his front half back and forth. Like many other enemies, his weak spots are at his sides and rear.
Ax-Wielder: If you want to cut your teeth in learning the fundamentals of close range defense, particularly dodging, you'll want a duel with this guy. When you head down the stairs leading to the passing mob, make a U-turn and you'll find this round, hulking foe surrounded by coffins and a carriage. He's slow but deadly and makes for a great training partner in rolling moves. Practice with him to learn how to get behind an enemy.
Study Every Enemy
Speaking of tough enemies, every one you face in Bloodborne has their own unique attacks and moves. You're encouraged to experiment, but also know that some enemies are easy enough that a series of quick attacks might be all you need. Some enemies in Yharnam are very easy to kill in a 1-on-1 fight, but you might want to plan a different strategy when they're in crowds. That applies to the ground-hugging carrion crow, an easy creature to kill, but can also overwhelm you if it has friends.
Take Advantage Of The Regain System
The Regain System is an integral part of combat where you have a very brief window of opportunity to regain lost health by dealing damage to the enemy that hit you. You'll know you've regained some health if you glow red with a successful blow. Bloodborne encourages up-close, assertive combat as opposed to Dark Souls, which allowed you more opportunities to distance yourself and regroup. Expect heated exchanges where you're not only trading blows with an enemy, but also trading health bars.
As you fight enemies, it's natural to assume that once they die, you'll no longer be able to siphon health from it--but if the regain system is still active, that's not the case. Enemies who are performing their death animation can still be attacked to regain health. So, if it's safe to, keep whacking away at collapsing corpses to maximize your use of the regain system.
Methodically Transform Your Trick Weapons
A crucial part of combat is distance management, and the state of your melee weapons can make a huge difference against a particular enemy. With a tap of the L1 button, you can toggle between two weapon lengths. The longer version will obviously give you better reach, something to consider when taking on enemies with longswords and spears. Conversely, the shorter version of your weapon allows for quicker attacks.
It is imperative that you keep your weapons in good shape. Do not wait for the weapon durability warning to appear. It's not a case of whether the weapon works or not. Its effectiveness gradually reduces with every dozen or so hits. Repairing weapons costs very little so you should have them repaired often at the workbench inside the house in the Hunter's Dream.
Your Trick Weapon Transformation Is Also An Attack
Though pressing L1 to transform your Trick Weapon while idle looks cool, it's even cooler when you fluidly integrate that transformation into a combo. If you're in the middle of striking an enemy, you can press L1 to perform an attack that also transforms your weapon into its other mode at the same time. This is especially useful if the distance between you and the enemy suddenly changes, and you don't want to let up your barrage of strikes.
Know And Master The Visceral Attack
Bloodborne takes a page from counter moves in fast-paced action games by giving you an opportunity to stun an enemy and deal significant damage. With the right timing, a shooting an enemy in motion can stun him and bring him to his knees. You know you've accomplished this if you hear a high pitched metallic sound. Knowing when to fire depends on the enemy but the miniscule window of opportunity is usually when they're about to strike you. One exception is the second boss, who can be stunned during his forward roll.
A stunned enemy will allow you to deal as many as six melee blows before they can fight back. If you're right next your foe while he's on his knees, you can deal a massive "visceral" stab attack. It's deadly enough to finish off most non-bosses in a single strike and can take off significant health from the bosses.
Always Look For Shortcuts
The initial area of Yharnam is a dense, labyrinthine district of a much larger city. It takes a while to fully explore, but once you've visited each section repeatedly, you'll realize that these areas are actually smaller than they initially feel. Its world is fundamentally more akin to Dark Souls than Dark Souls II, which means that shortcuts abound. If you come across a locked gate, there's a very good chance that there's an path to the other side of that gate. With the gate open, two lanterns checkpoints that were once far apart are suddenly close to each other.
Blood Echoes And How To Manage Them
With every enemy you defeat, one of the numbers on the upper right corner of the screen increases. This is known as blood echoes, the equivalent to souls in Dark Souls. Note that you will not be able to redeem your blood echoes until you reach the first boss, the Cleric Beast.
The greatest risk in Bloodborne is in dying, because you end up losing whatever blood echoes you have. You do have an opportunity to gain them back, though. The catch is that you have to return to the scene of the crime and that includes the same enemies in the immediate area. Like Dark Souls, a bloodstain will indicate the spot where you died. Interacting with it will give back your blood echoes. Note that in Bloodborne, your blood echoes may not be found in a bloodstain. Instead, you will have to kill a creature close to where your bloodstain would normally be. It's not hard to pick out this enemy as the one who holds your blood echoes is indicated by glowing eyes.
You Can Restore The Health Lost From Blood Bullets
If you press up on the D-pad, you can create some extra bullets from your own blood at the cost of a portion of your health. However, that health lost has Bloodborne's regain system applied to it--which means you can restore most of that health if you attack any nearby enemy immediately after creating those blood bullets. Free ammo is always useful!
You Can Attack While Climbing A Ladder
This is simple to pull off, but we wouldn't be surprised if you've never tried. Just press R1 to punch upward, or R2 to kick downward. It's rare that you'll ever need to use this, since NPCs don't seem to climb ladders all that often, but if you get into a PVP stoush over climbing space, this will definitely come in handy. Just don't run out of stamina while on the ladder, or you'll fall to your death.
You Can Break Out Of Grab Attacks
Throughout your journey, you'll encounter enemies that grab you and deal a lot of damage while you're unable to move. If you quickly alternate between pressing L2 and R2, you can break out of the grab slightly quicker. Additionally, you'll be in a different state when breaking out of the grab. Without pressing L2 and R2, you'll end up knocked to the ground and it takes seconds to get back up. If you do press L2 and R2, you'll throw the enemy off you and will immediately be able to take action.
You Can Add Gestures To Your Notes
When using the Notebook to jot down a note, press R1 a couple of times to find more options. You can add a second set of words to your note, and you can also add a gesture which other players will see in spectral form when reading your note. I've found that adding the "Point" gesture is most useful here, because it actually saves the direction you're looking in when you start writing the note. As such, it's possible to literally point out secrets and specific pathways for other players if you line yourself up just right when writing a note.
Far Cry 5's March 27 release date is drawing ever nearer, and now publisher Ubisoft has revealed a new mode for the upcoming game. Arcade Mode is a versatile level editor that lets you build huge, complex arenas, and it even includes assets from other Ubisoft titles.
You can use items from games such as Assassin's Creed Unity, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Watch Dogs, Far Cry 4, and Far Cry Primal, as well as Far Cry 5 itself of course. At a recent preview event we got to try out a couple of levels made by Ubisoft itself: one is a weird, mind-bending mission in which you must escape some sort of prison or maze, while the other is a stealth-based find-and-kill level that contains a nod to James Bond. Arcade Mode also contains a multiplayer segment, although we weren't permitted to capture footage of that mode; you can, however, watch us play the single-player levels above.
Tune in as we try out Finca and Lion on the live servers as well as a few missions in the new limited time PvE horde mode Outbreak.
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