By Dan Auty on Mar 16, 2018 11:48 pm
Horror comes in many forms, from monsters and ghosts to psychotic killers and crazy cults. But there's nothing quite like body horror to separate the hardcore fright fan from the more casual viewer. The phrase 'body horror' was first coined in the British academic journal Screen in 1986, and it loosely describes movies where the terror comes from the human body itself, whether it's melting, mutating, or perhaps hosting some terrifying parasite. 1986 was also the year that David Cronenberg's classic The Fly brought the sub-genre to a wide mainstream audience, and since then many of most disturbing moments in cinema have been focused on flesh-based shocks. So here's some of the gloopiest, goriest, and most gruesome body horror scenes of all time….
12. Brain Damage (1988)
Frank Henenlotter directed the 1982 classic Basket Case, the wonderfully sleazy tale of a young man who keeps his horrifically misshapen brother in a basket. But it was his second movie, Brain Damage, that really delivered the body horror goods. The movie is a drug analogy, in which an evil leech-like brain-eating parasite called Aylmer forces his hosts to bring him victims by getting them hooked on a hallucinogenic drug that he secretes directly into their brains. The highlight is an amazingly gruesome scene in which our hero Brian hallucinates that he is slowly pulling his entire brain out through his ear.
11. From Beyond (1986)
Director Stuart Gordon followed his classic 1985 zombie comedy Re-Animator with the darker, weirder From Beyond. Based once more on a story by HP Lovecraft, it focuses on two rival scientists who are attempting to see beyond our normal reality using a machine known as the Resonator. Of course, the machine does more than that, and it ends up physically changing the doctors, providing plenty of opportunity for gloopy body horror. In particular, the villainous Dr. Pretorius goes through some wonderfully strange transformations, including the one pictured above.
10. The Ruins (2008)
While much of the body horror on this list is the result of scientific experimentation, The Ruins is an example of nature fighting back. This horror tale features a bunch of American tourists who stumble upon a Mayan template and find themselves trapped by predatory, flesh-eating vines. There's a particularly unpleasant scene in which one of the party realises that the vines have invaded her body and are moving around beneath her skin, forcing her friends to cut her open and pull them out.
9. Videodrome (1982)
No body horror list would be complete without at least a couple of movies from the master of the sub-genre: David Cronenberg. For many fans, the director's finest movie is the mind-warping thriller Videodrome, in which a TV signal induces horrific hallucinations, allowing Cronenberg to indulge in a series of increasingly disturbing sequences. In one, star James Woods discovers that he has grown a vaginal slit in his belly, into which he plunges a gun. Later on, one of the movie's villains declares, "I've got something I want to play for you!" and pops a pulsating, organic videotape in there.
8. Antiviral (2012)
David Cronenberg's son Brandon has also ventured into filmmaking, following in his dad's footsteps with this seriously weird sci-fi tale of celebrity obsession. In the future, fans can buy "celebrity viruses," to experience the same medical afflictions of their idols. You want to share the same herpes infection as your favourite pop star? No problem. The scene most worthy of the Cronenberg name is a dream sequence in which our infected hero imagines he is transforming into a twisted fusion of man and machine.
7. The Thing (1982)
John Carpenter's sci-fi horror favorite might have been a critical and commercial bomb when it was first released in 1982, but it's now considered one of the finest horror movies ever made. The movie showcased some incredible work from VFX genius Rob Bottin, as the titular creature imitates a group of scientists stationed at an arctic base, making its appearance in the most gruesome ways possible. The most outrageous transformation sequence is a procession of increasingly gobsmacking moments, which starts with the team's doctor attempting to resuscitate one of his colleagues after he seemingly suffers a heart attack. It's probably easier to go and watch it, but as one of the other scientists exclaims at one point: "You gotta be f***ing kidding me!"
6. Slug Girl (2018)
Given how weird a lot of horror anime can get, it's no surprise there's quite a bit of animated body horror from Japan. Artists Junji Ito is considered one of the key figures in horror manga, having created such books as Tomie, Uzumaki, and Gyo. January saw the release of The Junji Ito Collection, which adapts 10 of his most disturbing stories into short anime films. One of them is titled Slug Girl and is a spectacular slice of wild body horror, in which a girl's tongue begins to transform into a giant slug. It starts off disgusting and just gets worse from there.
5. Street Trash (1987)
This outrageous 1987 horror comedy goes out of its way to offend. From the necrophilia jokes to a game of football played with a ripped-off male member, Street Trash really does have something for everyone. The main plot centres around a batch of ancient whiskey that an unscrupulous liquor store owner sells to the bums of Brooklyn, which has the unfortunate side effect of making them melt. The first meltdown is also the most spectacular, as one poor fella sits down on an abandoned toilet, takes a swig, and quickly turns into gloop in gloriously colourful style.
4. Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)
Japanese director and actor Shinya Tsukamoto recently appeared in Martin Scorsese's historical drama Silence, giving an acclaimed, dignified performance. But 30 years ago, Tsukamoto was making an impact in a very different way. His directorial debut, Tetsuo: The Iron Man, is an insane black-and-white cyberpunk nightmare, in which a man gets his revenge on the couple who tried to kill him, by transforming himself into a fusion of man and machine. In the movie's most shocking scene, Tetsuo kills his girlfriend by raping her with a spinning drill, which has replaced his… well, you can probably guess.
3. The Fly (1986)
Cronenberg's best known and most successful movie also features some of his most outrageous body horror moments, as Jeff Goldblum slowly and painfully changes into--yes--a fly! There's almost too many juicy scenes to choose from, but for sheer disgustingness it's hard to top the final moments of Goldblum's transformation, as what remains of his human flesh falls away and the insect emerges.
2. Society (1990)
There's no other horror movie quite like Society. Directed by Re-Animator producer Brian Yuzna, it's a satire of 1980s class and privilege that plays out like a weird, subversive soap opera. Ex-Baywatch star Billy Warlock discovers that his privileged, status-obsessed friends and parents are in fact shape-shifting, power-mad sex mutants. The movie ends with the infamous orgy scene in which the movie's elite merge gloopily into one another while literally consuming their victim. The class metaphor might not be subtle, but the whole sequence is unforgettable.
1. The Human Centipede (2009)
Tom Six's shlock-horror-comedy The Human Centipede has become synonymous with outrageous, disgusting horror; even non-horror fans who would run a mile from watching it know the movie's name. And they have good reason to run too, as Six fully delivers on the promise of the title. There's no scene sicker than the one in which mad Dr. Heiter wakes up his creation, three kidnapped victims who have been sewn together to form a disturbing mock-centipede. The whole sequel is made even worse by the doc's wild jubilation that his experiment has worked. As his victims cry in terror, he weeps tears of joy.
By Oscar Dayus on Mar 16, 2018 10:51 pm
Rainbow Six Siege has been around for more than two years now, and in that time, it's gone from a competent shooter that had problems to one of the biggest multiplayer games around. Following the release of the most recent expansion, Operation Chimera, Siege hit its highest-ever concurrent player count on Steam, and Ubisoft now says it wants to continue supporting the game until it reaches 100 Operators, rather than make a sequel. But how did we get to this stage? How did Ubisoft turn an innovative-but-flawed game into the behemoth it is today? Simply put, the company did so by persevering -- with free downloadable content, an appropriate microtransaction model, and continual improvements. Just recently, for example, all of Rainbow Six Siege's base Operators were made free, while a bunch of characters were buffed or nerfed. For more on the latest expansion, check out all the Rainbow Six Siege Outbreak pack weapon skins, uniforms, and cosmetics, or read how the newest Operators, Lion and Finka, affect Siege's metagame. For now though, let's look back at what Siege was, how it's evolved, and where it stands today.
Base Game
Rainbow Six Siege's launch did not go according to plan. It was, of course, originally intended to be the ill-fated Rainbow Six: Patriots, but even after that was canceled Siege suffered problems in its beta phase and an eventual delay. It finally came out in December 2015 to a positive critical reception but also a bunch of server issues, bugs, and balancing problems. Critics praised the game's strategic depth, cast of characters--who each come equipped with a unique ability that aids in the game's hook of 5v5, attack v defense--and its destructibility. However, players complained of slow matchmaking and inconsistent hit detection. While these problems eased in the months following Siege's launch, they did not get fully resolved for around 18 months. Some also didn't like the slow progression, as the full list of Operators is not available to standard edition players when they begin; instead, you must unlock each character using Renown (essentially experience points), which can take a while.
Year 1, Season 1: Black Ice
By the time Siege's first DLC dropped in February 2016, the game had improved enough that it had a solid playerbase that was satisfied (if not totally happy) with the game's state. Black Ice then introduced two new Canadian characters--Buck and Frost--as well as a new map named Yacht. Thankfully, all Rainbow Six Siege DLC is free: maps are available to everyone and new Operators are able to be unlocked with Renown. The latter are, however, expensive when bought using in-game currency, so it's easier for most to buy the season passes if you want swift access to all the characters.
Year 1, Season 2: Operation Dust Line
Operation Dust Line was the next batch of DLC to drop in May 2016, bringing another new map, Border, and two more American Operators, raising the then-total to 24. Blackbeard's weapon shield and Valkyrie's black eye cameras each changed the meta up and are still used in the pro leagues today. Dust Line also marked the first time Siege players could equip special headgears and charms to their Operators and weapons, lending the game a little more color and personality.
Year 1, Season 3: Operation Skull Rain
In July 2016, Ubisoft released Siege's Brazilian expansion, Operation Skull Rain. Like previous DLCs, the update was free, consisting of two Operators--Capitao and Caveira--and one map, Favela. While Capitao and his crossbow have still not been perfected and have been the subject of many tweaks since launch, Caveira is a well-balanced, distinctive character that made Siege simultaneously more stylish and more dynamic: as a dedicated roamer, Caveira meant you could no longer expect to get all the way to the objective room without seeing an enemy defender, effectively expanding the scope of each map. Operation Skull Rain also brought a new loadout screen to better emphasize each Operator's unique style and color.
Year 1, Season 4: Operation Red Crow
Year 1's final Season of DLC, titled Operation Red Crow and released in November 2016, was Japan-themed. The new map, Skyscraper, was set atop a Japanese tower, complete with a tea room and thin (and very destructible) shoji screens. The additional Operators, meanwhile, have experienced very different life cycles since their release. Echo and his concussion drone are rarely used and commonly considered underpowered in all but the most experienced hands, while Hibana quickly became a favorite among the community for her ranged X-Kairos pellets, which can penetrate reinforced walls in a similar way to Thermite. By the end of Year 1, Rainbow Six Siege was in a much healthier place than 12 months earlier. It still wasn't perfect, but Ubisoft had now ironed out the majority of issues the launch game carried, while also expanding it in terms of maps and its roster of characters. Additionally, that cast grew significantly more diverse in that year, with more female characters added and ethnic minorities now represented much more prominently than before. Finally, as an example of a number of small improvements Ubisoft has made since launch, Operation Red Crow heralded the introduction of caliber-based destruction for all weapons, meaning a hefty sniper rifle would now make a bigger hole in a wall than a single SMG bullet.
Year 2, Season 1: Operation Velvet Shell
Year 2 kicked off in February 2017 with a new season pass, another map, and another pair of Operators in Operation Velvet Shell. Originating from Spain, both new characters were excellent additions to Siege's roster: Jackal is a dedicated roamer tracker, while Mira allows the defending team to see through a reinforced wall and shoot through if needed. Both fighters, along with the new map, Coastline, are still community favorites today.
Year 2, Season 2: Operation Health
Year 2's Season 2, however, was a little different to past DLC drops. Most notably, no DLC actually dropped--or at least, no new Operators or maps. Instead, Ubisoft delayed its planned content drop in favor of a period of quality of life updates and more small improvements called Operation Health. Aside from loot boxes called Alpha Packs, the Season meant improved textures, more realistic skies, and vastly improved lighting--you could finally see in and out of buildings! Matchmaking was also among the list of improvements, and this has remained far quicker and more reliable since Operation Health. The delay of tangible content annoyed many at the time, but in hindsight, Siege would not be as successful as it is today if it weren't for the foundation work done throughout the middle of 2016. Unfortunately, Operation Health meant we never got a fourth map during Year 2, but with so many maps that Ubisoft routinely removes some from rotation in public playlists, perhaps it's not as huge a loss as it first seems.
Year 2, Season 3: Operation Blood Orchid
The delay of two Operators in the season before meant Operation Blood Orchid came in September 2017 with not two, but three Operators, in addition to a new map. Two of those Operators, Ying and Lesion, are Chinese; the third, Ela, is Polish. Ying and Lesion are fantastic (if not revolutionary), but Ela has gone on to become a staple pick among the Siege player base. She's received multiple nerfs, but she remains a very popular defender -- primarily because of her rapid-firing SMG. Blood Orchid's map, Theme Park, is divisive among the community, but its gaudy rides and overgrown vegetation undoubtedly add yet more flavor to the ever-expanding buffet that is Rainbow Six Siege.
Year 2, Season 4: Operation White Noise
Year 2 wrapped up in December 2017 with Operation White Noise. This season included another three Operators--the remaining Polish character, Zofia, as well as Dokkaebi and Vigil--and yet another map, Tower. Dokkaebi was the first Operator to come from Ubisoft's recent push for 'global Operators,' by which it means characters whose abilities affect the whole map. Her hacking ability allows her to ring the phones of every defender still alive, meaning it's much easier to track them down. This mantra has continued into Year 3 with Lion and Finka, but we'll get to those momentarily. This season also saw Rainbow Six Siege receive 60 Hz servers, as well as another of the game's big mid-season reinforcement patches that routinely address balance issues so well.
Year 3, Season 1: Operation Chimera
Siege's third year of DLC has now begun, but rather than add another map, Ubisoft has developed an entirely new mode for the now-huge shooter. Outbreak is completely different to traditional Siege, adding zombie aliens, more expansive levels, and a fully fledged PvE mode for the first time (no, Terrorist Hunt doesn't count). There's also the usual pair of additional Operators, this time consisting of Finka and Lion. The former comes equipped with a stim pen that applies a 20 HP boost to both herself and every teammate for 20 seconds, even reviving any downed allies, wherever they are on the map. Lion, meanwhile, carries a drone that reveals moving enemies' identities and locations around the map for four seconds, including their exact outlines. With a seemingly higher profile now than ever, Siege has also now made every weapon attachment and all 20 of its base Operators free, helping those only just jumping on board.
Looking ahead, Ubisoft has big plans for its multiplayer shooter. The publisher says it's not going to make a sequel anytime soon, instead aiming for 100 total Operators. This would mean continuing support for the current game for many more years to come, which makes a lot of sense. Siege is in its healthiest ever state, with a huge and well-balanced roster, a supportive and attentive development team, a dedicated community, and more satisfying mechanics than ever before. In Year 3 alone, six more Operators are coming, along with a new mode, a complete map rework, and two brand-new maps. And beyond that, who knows? Rainbow Six Siege is a game that springs constant surprises and is always changing, both within matches and across seasons. Let's hope that continues throughout Year 3, and for many years after.
By Oscar Dayus on Mar 16, 2018 10:49 pm
Rainbow Six Siege has evolved repeatedly over its two-and-a-bit-year life, and as it heads into its third year of DLC it's about to change again. Operation Chimera is nearly upon us--as is the new Outbreak co-op mode--bringing two new Operators and more. In addition, lots of the game's Operators are going free for those who purchase the Standard Edition or above, so you'll soon have many more characters to choose from. With that in mind, you might be wondering who to play as. For those still new to Siege or planning to pick it up soon, check out our guide on the best Operators for Rainbow Six Siege beginners. For the best Operators for advanced players, meanwhile, you're already in the right place. Of course, you'll likely have your own opinions and we'd love to hear them in the comments below. For more info on Rainbow Six Siege, including our time with the game-changing Chimera expansion, check out our coverage on GameSpot.
Thermite (Attack)
Thermite's ability--a special breaching charge that can penetrate reinforced walls--make him an excellent attacking Operator. His two explosives make holes big enough to walk through, so you can make your own entry points into objective rooms. And even if you don't intend to enter an objective this way, it's a great way of distracting a defensive team. On top of that, he comes with a capable loadout. His M1014 shotgun is excellent at close-range, and is fast and great from the hip. His 556xi rifle on the other hand carries little recoil and excels at range.
Hibana (Attack)
Your other option for breaking through reinforced walls is Hibana. Her X-Kairos pellets can burn through metal walls and create openings for you to peek through. She has the advantage over Thermite of ranged breaching, and she gets three clusters of pellets to Thermite's two, so you can punch more holes in the enemy defense. Hibana's ability is also less vulnerable to being Bandit tricked (more on that later). However, each cluster doesn't create a big enough window to walk through, so you'll have to use more than one if you want to make another entry point. Despite Hibana and Thermite having similar abilities, many pro league teams roll with both in their squad as they each have such a crucial role in any team, and one being killed could be the difference between a win and a loss if the other isn't there to take up the breaching mantle.
Mute (Defense)
For most situations, one of Mute or Bandit is essential. Each can prevent Thermite or Hibana charges from activating, destroying their devices in the process. In terms of pure ability, Mute is often the best pick as his jammers can cover two reinforced walls (rather than Bandit's one per shock wire) and can jam vertically, too, meaning you can prevent enemies from breaching hatches above you. Finally, standing near a Mute jammer has the added bonus of protecting you from Lion's new drone ability and from Dokkaebi's ringing phones. He has a respectable loadout with the MP5K sub-machine gun, along with a powerful but slow firing M590A1 shotgun. His nitro cell charge can also open up walls and kill attackers behind them, making Mute as versatile an anchor as any.
Bandit (Defense)
Bandit's shock wires can electrify Thermite and Hibana charges, and while you don't get as much coverage as with Mute's electric devices, you can perform the amazing (but annoying!) Bandit trick. This involves placing a shock wire device after hearing Thermite place one of his charges--doing so will destroy the charge while not leaving your device open to being deactivated by one of Thatcher's EMP grenades. Bandit also arguably has a better loadout than Mute: his MP7 SMG is more powerful than Mute's MP5K with a rapid rate of fire--just don't let its recoil get the better of you.
Mira (Defense)
Mira is one Operator who is great in conjunction with Bandit. Since her one-way mirrors allow you to see through a reinforced wall, Bandit can see when a Thermite charge is about to be placed, making Bandit tricking easier. Even without Bandit, she can be a hugely effective Operator: putting two black mirrors next to each other and popping the window of one allows you to see an enemy approaching, strafe to the side, and take them out quickly. Alternatively, you can place a mirror low on an unreinforced wall, spot an approaching enemy, and stand up to frag them through the penetrable board. Mira has the potential to hugely weaken an attacking force, but she can do more harm than good in the hands of an inexperienced player--popping the mirror at the wrong time or allowing an enemy Twitch drone to do so for you can pierce a huge hole in your own defense.
Thatcher (Attack)
Thatcher is just an old man who hates technology, so what better character to have wield EMPs? His grenades can deactivate any enemy electronic device in their vicinity, including Mute jammers and Bandit's shock wires. This means Thatcher is the perfect sidekick to any Thermite or Hibana and makes him a near-essential pick on Secure Area and Hostage. The Bandit trick is a problem, but good communication between Thatcher and Hibana or Thermite can mean you can outsmart the dastardly opponent. He's also one of the few Operators that still carries standard breaching charges, so he can directly help punch holes in an enemy defense.
Twitch (Attack)
The alternative to Thatcher is Twitch. Her shock drones are similarly capable of taking out enemy devices, including Mute jammers, Bandit's shock wires, and defender cameras. A recent nerf means she now only has five shocks per drone so you'll have to pick your targets carefully, but she remains a potent weapon in any attacking force. In addition, her F2 assault rifle is one of the most powerful in the game--if you have steady aim, you're in with a good shot of winning any 1v1 engagement.
Valkyrie (Defense)
What do you do if a Twitch drone takes out all your cameras? Just put more cameras down, of course! Valkyrie's black eyes can give you crucial bonus vantage points over an enemy approach. Placed inside an objective room, above a common chokepoint, or outside a building to catch attackers off-guard at the start of a round, the extra cams provide Siege's most important currency: information. Valkyrie has the potential to turn the tide in the defending team's favor, even after she dies, but she requires intricate map knowledge to be used effectively. You don't want a black eye put up right next to an existing camera or in a place no enemy will go.
Dokkaebi (Attack)
Dokkaebi has somewhat fallen out of favor with many Siege players--her M14 EBR is excellent at a distance but as soon as you get to Siege's close-quarters core, its semi-auto fire rate means it struggles. Nevertheless, her ability to make defenders' phones ring loudly is an interesting one that can provide vital information in an attack, while her camera hack is the perfect counter to Valkyrie. Ringing defender phones can not only let you know exactly where enemies are, but it also distracts them--move in at the exact moment they pause to turn their phone off and you have an easy kill. Getting access to enemy cameras is then just an added bonus. Dokkaebi isn't as important to a push as Thermite or Thatcher or Hibana, but provided you have those bases ticked, she can be an excellent support Operator.
Ash (Attack)
One box that should probably be ticked is Ash. Her ability isn't the most powerful in the game--ranged breaching charges are nice, but don't really allow you to do much that, say, Zofia or Hibana couldn't also do--but her R4-C assault rifle is one of the best in the game. In addition, she's tough to inflict damage upon as her hitbox is tiny and her being one armor/three speed means she can move quickly. Nevermind her mediocre ability: in the hands of an advanced player, Ash can win a round by herself.
Ela (Defence)
Similar to Ash, Ela's ability isn't actually that great. Her concussion mines can make the difference if the attackers are making a last-minute push, but often rounds don't even get to that stage, so it's rare you'll even be able to utilize their dizzying effects. Nevertheless, she remains one of the most popular Operators because--again, similar to Ash--her hitbox is small, her speed is lightning, and her gun is remarkable. The Scorpion Evo has a rapid rate of fire and a large magazine size to compensate. Ela is getting nerfed, but she'll no doubt still be an excellent roamer.
Smoke (Defence)
Smoke is another Operator who excels when time is running out for an attacking squad. On Secure Area or Hostage in particular, his gas canisters can block an attacking route for the other team--they either charge through into the unknown and get hurt in the process, or they must find another way in. Save his smoke grenades for the final few seconds of a round and it can almost guarantee a win. In addition, Smoke is one of the best Operators to counter Finka's powerful new ability. The adrenal surge the new Operation Chimera character comes equipped with speeds up allies' breathing, meaning they'll take more damage from Smoke's deadly fog of war.
Montagne (Attack)
With lots of highly mobile characters popular at present, shield Operators are a little out of favor in Siege's meta. While Montagne isn't always the best pick, situationally he can be near unstoppable. On Bomb in particular, he can simply sit on top of a planted defuser and protect it, whittling away time. When the other team finally manage to find a gap in his armor, they'll likely have run out of time. Just don't ever let your shield down. Seriously, he's useless otherwise.
By GameSpot Staff on Mar 16, 2018 10:48 pm
The Best of the Best
Rainbow Six Siege has undergone many changes in the time since its 2015 release. From adding new Operators, maps, and weapons--along with a number of gameplay balances and tweaks--the game has evolved into a remarkable online shooter with a passionate and dedicated audience. And now with the arrival of new content for Year 3, Rainbow Six Siege will make the original first 20 Operators free for players who purchase the Standard Edition starting on March 3; Keep in mind that Starter Pack players are limited to picking and choosing six Operators. Now is the perfect time to jump into Siege and take part in the intense close-quarters shoot-outs. Still, there are a number of things to consider before starting your career. And it all starts with picking the right Operator to invest to start with or invest towards. These are our best picks for Operators for anyone starting out in Rainbow Six Siege. From understanding how to be a solid attacker by utilizing weapons in a quick fashion, to knowing how to work on defense by keeping those barricades and traps up, these characters will help ease you into the fast-paced nature of the game. While you're often encouraged as a newcomer to choose Operators that make you less of a liability to your team, we are firm believers in learning as you go, so we've highlighted choices that reflect this mentality. Of course, you'll likely have your own opinions and we'd love to hear them in the comments below. For more info on Rainbow Six Siege, including our time with the game-changing Chimera expansion, check out our coverage on GameSpot.
Ash (Attack)
Ash is an extremely fast run-and-gun attacker who can open up walls at a range without risking a close encounter. Her R4-C has a high rate of fire and often wins 1:1 engagements with defenders generally faster firing SMGs. With her unique gadget--the M120 CREM--she can fire special Breaching Rounds, allowing her to bust open walls and destroy enemy contraptions. This is especially useful when against gadgets like barbed wire and deployable shields. This particular Operator is useful for when you need to strike through an enemy defense quickly.
Blackbeard (Attack)
Although not as strong as his old self due to several nerfs, Blackbeard's unique trait, the TARS MK 0 rifle shield, gives him a decisive advantage in 1:1 gunfights. He can effectively take several shots to the upper body without damage before his shield breaks. This added defense is especially evident if his lower body is behind indestructible objects such as windows and desks, doubling his protection.
He can be an essential character for entry into the first room of almost any map, as well as that last push against the enemy. Along with his shield comes the strong mid-range Mk17 CQB, and long range SR-25. Plus, he has an effective desert eagle.
Fuze (Attack)
Fuze is a bombastic attacker due to his reliance on explosives. His Cluster Charge is one of the most deadly gadgets in the game capable of downing multiple defenders, pushing the enemy team out of a room, or outright winning a match in the right circumstances. He has a versatile loadout that allows players to choose between a ballistic shield, AK-12, and 6P41 LMG with 100 rounds.
However, his explosive charges can be harmful to hostages, so be mindful of who's nearby when getting those charges ready.
Hibana (Attack)
Hibana is one of the A-list Operators in the Siege meta with her X-Kairos launcher, which can tear through reinforced walls. Along with Thermite, she's one of only two Operators who can prevent attacking teams from getting corralled through the opposing team's prepared death funnels. Her loadout also includes the Type-89 rifle and SuperNova shotgun, along with a selection of Stun Grenades and a Claymore--making Hibana a key support player as her team moves in.
Sledge (Attack)
Sledge is one of the best characters for beginners to learn the art of breaching, thanks in large part to his trusty hammer. It can break through walls, floors, and ceiling hatches. He's perfect for breach experimentation, especially when coupled with his L85A2 assault rifle, which is ideal for picking off people through cracks and holes in the environment. However, his hammer can break if you overuse it, so don't go too wild.
Thermite (Attack)
Thermite is a top tier Operator for Rainbow Six Siege. At launch, he was the only Operator capable of breaching reinforced walls with his Exo-Thermic Charge, and remains only one of two Operators that still can. Without Thermite (or Hibana), teams are forced to funnel through defenders' well planned traps and spaces on most maps, which makes him one of the more critical members of the team. His M1014 shotgun is excellent at close-range, and is fast and great from the hip. While his 556xi rifle on the other hand can be tricky to master, but has decent recoil and excels at range.
Zofia (Attack)
Zofia is an all around versatile Operator that you can't go wrong with. She can pick herself up from a downed state in a similar manner to Doc, carries around Claymore mines, and uses a double barreled grenade launcher that fires both concussive and impact rounds. However, be mindful of when you use her launcher, as hostages behind walls can be killed if used recklessly. She has both an LMG-E light machine gun and a M762 assault rifle. Making her a huge compliment to top tier Operators like Ash who can break through several walls and fight into a building at range.
Bandit (Defense)
Bandit is one of a handful of Operators that can counter Thermite's breach charges and one of the best power roamers with his MP7 sub-machine gun. His Shock Wire gadget can electrify metal objects, such as reinforced walls, deployable shields, and barbed wire--causing damage to attackers that touch them and destroying any gadgets placed on them. Using electrified barbed wire can also destroy drones in the scouting phase, buying defenders time. Bandit is a useful character when trying to counter the attacking team's tricks, especially when they're running special Operator combos (where two Operators use their skills in tandem) that can bust though barricades quickly.
Castle (Defense)
Castle is the only Operator who can place armor panels over standard doors and windows. In some situations, he can lock an attacking team out of a final hostage room if they have used all of their explosives. By bleeding the attackers of their breaching charges, burning off time from the game, and often preventing easy access from buildings interiors, there are several encounters where Castle can turn the tide.
Frost (Defense)
Frost is an all around solid character with good speed and defense. However, what places her above other defense characters is her useful gadget called the Sterling MK2 LHT "Welcome Mat", a large bear-trap that can pin enemy attackers to the ground. This gadget can end a round entirely if it's stepped on by the final remaining attacker. The mere presence of Frost can slow down an attacking force due to the fact that they have to watch their step all the way across the map. She also has a very strong SMG--the C1--that has a slow rate of fire but is incredibly accurate.
Lesion (Defense)
As part of a wave of trap focused defenders, Lesion's hard to spot GU Mines embed in attackers legs and do damage over time resulting in distraction and potential death. Like Frost, he can occasionally end a round with a well placed trap. The GU mines are especially effective when used against fast attackers, not only slowing them down, but also poisoning them. His T-5 SMG and SIx12 SD are reliable in a firefight, but he's at his best catching defenders by surprise.
Rook (Defense)
Rook is probably the best Operator for beginners. He's one of the few Operators who's basically never a bad pick; giving extra armor to your teammates is always useful, after all. Those armor packs allow you to take more body damage, but importantly they are a passive item, not active like the majority of Siege abilities. Once you've put the armor pack down for everyone to pick from, your job is done. You can then concentrate on learning the game and on getting kills. Bear in mind the armor won't protect you from headshots, which are always a one-hit kill in Siege.
Mute (Defense)
Mute is the essential defender for preventing reinforced walls from being breached by remotely detonated gadgets. His Signal Disruptors can jam enemy frequencies, resulting in their remote gadgets--such as breach charges and explosives--not working properly. He's the more direct counter to Thermite, and can shut down drones from scouting and finding objectives.
He has a respectable loadout with the MP5K sub-machine gun, along with a powerful but slow firing M590A1 shotgun. His nitro cell charge can also open up walls and kill attackers behind them.
By Mat Elfring on Mar 16, 2018 10:47 pm
The latest trailer for Avengers: Infinity War is here. The upcoming film, which will be the longest Marvel movie to date, has all the heroes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including the Guardians of the Galaxy. Together, they'll join forces to fight the evil Thanos. The villainous space titan is trying to collect all of the Infinity Stones in order to rule the universe. There is a lot going on in this new trailer, so we're breaking it all down to figure out what's going on in the new film and a few of the Easter eggs the trailer dropped as well. If you're interested to see what happened to all the heroes before the film, make sure to check out "Avengers Infinity War: Where Is Everyone?" Avengers: Infinity War comes to theaters on April 27.
The trailer opens with an object entering the atmosphere above New York City. Gamora, the adopted daughter of Thanos, provides voice over as Bruce Banner, Black Widow, and War Machine look towards the sky: "The entire time I knew him, he only ever had one goal: to wipe out half the universe."
Gamora continues: "If he gets all the Infinity Stones, he can do it with the snap of his fingers." Thanos adds the Space Stone to his Infinity Gauntlet, which he acquires somehow from Loki, who obtained it after the events of Thor: Ragnarok. Thanos already has the Power Stone in the Gauntlet, which was in the possession of the Nova Corps, but the mad titan has apparently already relieved them of it.
There is a quick shot of Peter Parker hanging onto the side of a bus, and he puts his Spider-Man mask on. He's still using the first suit Tony Stark game to him, so this shot is most likely from earlier in the film. The real question we have is "Was the training wheels protocol turned off?"
Villains sure do love attacking New York City, don't they? In a quick scene, we see a circular object in the background. We've seen this in the past, as Spider-Man was traversing one in the previous trailer. It's called a Q-Ship, but what is its purpose?
Groot Jr. is a baby no more. The son of the original Groot is now in his tween years, so he'll most likely be a bit more handy in battle. This is the only time we see Groot in the trailer.
Thanos looks best with his helmet on. The mad titan is somewhere in the universe, and it's apparent from the smoke billowing behind him that he is on the attack.
We quickly learn that this is essentially Gamora's origin story. Thanos comes to her planet, attacks, and takes the child with him. During consecutive shots, we see other green-skinned aliens standing behind the Chitauri guards. The bizarre takeaway from this moment is how willing Gamora seems to be to go alone with Thanos.
Within the trailer, there are a few scenes that show the true brutality and strength of Thanos. Above, you can see Thanos crushing Thor's head, and we have never seen Thor in that much pain in any of the films he's appeared in. Despite the fact he's the "second strongest Avenger," according to Tony Stark's computer (Thor: Ragnarok), he seems no match for Thanos.
Get ready for a new batch of bad guys. Accompanied by Loki, who has most likely turned on the heroes again, this is the Black Order--originally called Cull Obsidian in the comics. They are a group of Thanos's generals who are sent to Earth to destroy it. The team, which also goes by the name of "Midnight Slaughter," is made of up Corvus Glaive, Proxima Midnight, Black Dwarf (now called Cull Obsidian) and Ebony Maw. The character Supergiant is not pictured, and we're not sure if she's in the movie or not.
We quickly see Thanos crushing the Tesseract, which contains the Space Stone. Maybe Loki didn't betray the Avengers. Maybe this was all self-preservation as Thanos has been tracking the Infinity Stones, and Loki just happened to have one.
It looks like a lot of this movie takes place in Wakanda. We see Steve Rogers, Black Widow, Bruce Banner, James Rhodes, Sam Wilson, Vision, and Scarlet Witch all arriving together. During Civil War, they were fighting each other, so it's pretty obvious that the threat of Thanos has brought them all together. In addition, James Rhodes (War Machine) is wearing something around his waist and on his legs that helps him walk again, as he was injured by Vision in Civil War.
There is an overhead shot of what we can assume is the Chitauri attacking Wakanda. However, Wakanda's technology is incredibly advanced, and the city's force field seem to be holding up well to attack. Why is Wakanda being attacked though? Our guess is that the last Infinity Stone, the Soul Stone, resides in the country.
Much like Thor, Doctor Strange finds himself being dominated by someone during battle, with blades piercing his face. We have a pretty good feeling one of the Black Order is doing this to Doctor Strange, especially from the shot that follows.
Here's a closeup of Black Order member Ebony Maw. He is a master of manipulation and can affect people's minds with "webs" that give him information about that person's secrets. In addition, he can control them with these mind webs as well. Since he tends to avoid confrontation, he sends others to do his dirty work.
Finally, there is a shot of Captain America taking on Thanos, one on one. Rogers stops Thanos from crushing him with his giant hand, and Thanos gives him a confused look. Is it because Rogers is stronger than he appears or is Thanos confused as to why someone weaker than him is physically fighting back? We'll learn more once Avengers: Infinity War comes to theaters on April 27.
By Array on Mar 16, 2018 05:21 pm
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.
By Eddie Makuch on Mar 16, 2018 03:47 pm
Here's All The New Skins For Overwatch's 27th Character
The newest Overwatch hero, Brigitte, is available now on the game's Public Test Realm. She's coming soon to the full game on PC, PS4, and Xbox One--and so are a lot of different skins. In this gallery we're rounding up all the Brigitte skins we've seen so far. As you'll see Brigitte has Classic, Engineer, Carbon Fiber, and other skins available. They all seem to retain Brigitte's same basic look but you'll see that the skins give her outfit new colors and change the look of her weapon. One of the skins puts spinning gears on the middle of her shield. At least one of the skins also puts cosmetic equipment on her, including welding goggles and a tool pouch that goes on her belt. Click through the gallery to see all of the Brigitte skins we've seen so far. Brigitte is a Support-class hero who can heal and provide armor to her allies, hit multiple enemies at once with her flail, and equip a shield. With the use of her Shield Bash ability, she's able to do some notable things, like stun Reinhardt through his shield, stop Reinhardt's Charge, and stun Torbjörn's sentry. Blizzard has announced that she'll be released in an update on March 20.
By Mat Elfring on Mar 16, 2018 01:50 am
WCW is--and should--be remembered for helping create/fuel the Attitude Era, which was the most popular era of wrestling. Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, and Kevin Nash rose to power as the New World Order; Chris Jericho, Eddie Guerrero, and Chris Benoit put on some amazing cruiserweight matches; and Sting was an icon who constantly reinvented himself. However, not everything to come out of the '90s at WCW was gold. There were a lot of really weird moments buried within the archives of the company, from the supernatural to bad celebrity cameos to the just plain stupid. Here are our 10 favorite weird WCW moments we completely forgot about.
The Shockmaster Aftermath
There is no way you've forgotten about Shockmaster. It's unforgettable. We've all seen the video of his debut. If you haven't, welcome to wrestling fandom, and I hope you're enjoying your first week as a fan. What many people don't realize is that WCW kept wrestler Fred Ottman as the Shockmaster character even after his failed debut on Flair For The Gold. He was revamped to be a working-class man of the people who also happened to be really clumsy. The new gimmick didn't translate as well to the ring as Ottman played more of a dominating beast during his short, post-Flair for the Gold fall.
There's No Hulkamaniacs Here!
The Dungeon of Doom was a heel wrestling stabled formed by Kevin Sullivan in 1995. The ultimate goal of the group was to destroy Hulkamania and Hulk Hogan as well. With Sullivan leading, the DoD consisted of The Shark, Kamala, The Zodiac, Meng, Vader, and The Giant. They were the wrestling equivalent of The Island of Misfit Toys: repackaged wrestlers fans had lost interest in. The real magic happened when Hulk Hogan was transported to the Dungeon of Doom's dungeon. What followed was one of my personal favorite strings of dialogue for a promo, delivered "eloquently" by Hulk Hogan: "Where am I? There's no Hulkamaniacs here. I've never been here before! Ahh! It's not hot! What is this place?" I implore you to watch it for yourself.
Sting Befriends A Fictional Robotic Police Officer
At Capital Combat, in 1990, the WCW PPV had a special guest appearance from none other than Robocop, the cybernetic policeman from the film franchise of the same name. During the event, Sting was locked inside a cage at ringside by the Four Horsemen. Robocop showed up, scared the Horsemen off, and then pulled the door off of the cage, freeing Sting. It is one of the dumbest moments in the history of WCW, as the slow-moving Robocop doesn't seem like a real threat at all.
The Kiss Demon
The Kiss Demon is the perfect example of bad contracts playing out on television. In 1998, Eric Bischoff, who was the head of the company at the time, made a deal with Kiss, the rock band, to have a wrestler based on Gene Simmons's stage persona, The Demon. While the wrestling gimmick was originally played by Brian Adams, Dale Torborg assumed the role after Adams revealed he didn't feel comfortable playing it, before he even wrestled his first match. The contract stated that The Demon would wrestle a main event match, but Bishoff was relieved of his position during the middle of this, and in order to fulfill the obligation, The Demon wrestled a main event match at Superbrawl; however, said match was during the middle of the PPV. Later, The Demon lost plenty of matches and many called the character "dead on arrival." Then he was placed in a stable with Vampiro and the Insane Clown Posse, before disappearing completely when WWE bought WCW.
Vampiro Joins ICP, Hangs Out With The Misfits, Rejoins ICP
1999-2000 was a weird time for Vampiro. In 1999, he formed a stable with Raven and Insane Clown Posse called "The Dead Pool." Believe it or not, this actually went over pretty well. However, later in the year, Vampiro brought the punk band The Misfits to WCW. He, his allies, and their devilocked hair took on Oklahoma and Steve Williams in a short-lived feud. Then, Vampiro formed another stable with ICP and The Kiss Demon called "The Dark Carnival." WCW was struggling against WWE at the time and bringing in celebrities and sadly, Vampiro was bounced around by booking as the company tried to regain its footing.
Dustin Runnels' Weirdest Gimmick Yet
Dustin Runnels left his Goldust gimmick when he parted ways with WWE in 1999. Soon after, over at WCW, vignettes of a man all in black and white facepaint started playing on Nitro. While this character, named Seven, was supposed to be based on "The Strangers" from the movie Dark City, he much more resembled a child abductor. Broadcaster Turner felt the same way and found a way out: Runnels debuted as Seven and did a shoot promo saying he's done with gimmicks.
Vader And Sting Go To White Castle
Before NWO took over, the WCW did some unique--and sometimes cringeworthy--things. Backed by Ted Turner, the wrestling promotion would occasionally make mini-movies that seemed like they had a large budget as far as wrestling segments go. One of the most memorable came from an episode of WCW Saturday Night in January 1993. It's called "Vader's White Castle of Fear," and it was supposed to be building up the main event for SuperBrawl 1993. In the segment, which looks and feels like a commercial for a '90s board game, Sting is invited to Vader's castle for a party. Sting arrives by helicopter and he and Vader get into a tug-o-war match. It is one of the most bizarre segments to appear on WCW during the early '90s.
Rick Steiner Cuts A Promo On A Doll
On occasion, wrestlers can get into feuds with celebrities (again, Robocop), but the most bizarre celebrity feud was Rick Steiner and Chucky, the murderous doll from the Child's Play movies. On an episode of WCW Nitro, Rick Steiner was interviewed about his brother Scott Steiner and their current rivalry. This segment was interrupted by horror icon Chucky. The horror villain cut a promo saying he'd beat up Rick Steiner, but he was really there to promote his new movie Bride of Chucky. Rick was warned not to mess with Scott because Chucky was going to direct a movie starring Big Poppa Pump.
Chamber of Horrors Match: Where The Loser Dies
In 1991, at the Halloween Havoc PPV, WCW debuted the Chamber of Horrors match, an eight-man tag team match taking place inside what we would now call a "Hell in a Cell." The goal of the match wasn't to pin your opponent, make them submit, or even knock them out. Participants waited for a smaller cage to drop, which contained an electric chair. Your team lost the match if one of your allies was put in the chair and electrocuted. We're not kidding, and to prove it, here's video of Abdullah The Butcher kayfabe dying.
Warrior/Hogan II: A Feud 8 Years Too Late
Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior had quite the feud in WWE back in 1990, with it all leading to their match at Wrestlemania VI. However, eight years later, WCW tried to reignite the excitement, and it was a flop. Hogan debuted in WCW in 1994, and Ultimate Warrior followed four years later. Now, with both men in the promotion, WCW decided to build a rivalry between the two for 1998's Halloween Havoc. During one segment, Eric Bischoff and Hogan were in a dressing room, and Warrior appeared in the mirror. Bischoff couldn't see it, so Hogan thought he was going crazy. The segment didn't really go anywhere, and it was pretty confusing. What was the point? At the actual Halloween Havoc match, the two wrestled a pretty bland match as neither one of them was that great in the ring at this point in their careers. WCW was starting to run out of fresh ideas, and a supernatural reinvention of the 1990 WWE rivalry felt like too little, too late.
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