By GameSpot Staff on Mar 24, 2018 12:22 am
Dream Fighters
Nintendo recently made an exciting announcement: Super Smash Bros. is officially coming to Nintendo Switch. And that's not all; the game is coming in 2018. Naturally, this has us pretty excited, and we're already speculating which characters we want to be on the game's roster. While characters who have been in past entries, like Ice Climbers and Star Wolf, are obvious choices for us, we're also eager to see characters from other Nintendo franchises and third-party games make appearances. Here are the 20 characters we want to see the most in Super Smash Bros. on Switch. As of yet, we don't know if this an updated version of Super Smash Bros. Wii U or a brand-new game. If it is a port, it could follow the model of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. There are plenty of other Wii U titles that deserve a second chance on Switch as well--you can see some of the ones we want most here--but Smash Bros. is undoubtedly the most obvious candidate. Nintendo has remained ambiguous about what form this game will take. Which characters do you want to see in Smash Bros. for Switch? Let us know in the comments below. In recent news, a Super Smash Bros. Switch tournament is going to be held at this year's E3. For more on the recent Nintendo news, check out GameSpot's roundup of all the recent Nindies Nintendo Direct news and our roundup of all the mid-March Nintendo Direct news, which includes release dates for some of the most exciting upcoming Switch and 3DS games.
Captain Toad
Super Smash Bros. rosters are generally dominated by the expected heroes and villains. What I want to see is another character like Animal Crossing's Villager who is a little more unconventional. Captain Toad may seem harmless, but the idea of him transforming into a fighter who can go toe-to-toe with Bowser, Ganon, or precious Mario (you know Captain Toad hates him and his proclivity for jumping and hogging the spotlight) would get me more interested in the Switch edition of Smash than anything else. While sure to be just one part of an expansive roster, making Captain Toad playable in Smash would help to provide Switch's Treasure Tracker re-release with some additional attention. He may not have the makings of a prototypical fighter, but to me that's what would make him more interesting. I'd be curious to see how Nintendo finds a workaround for his inability to jump--maybe he could throw his backpack into the air before leaping. He has a variety of tools and abilities at his disposal in Treasure Tracker (a pickaxe, an off-screen turnip gun, the ability to pull things out of the ground) that could be leveraged as weapons in Smash. And imagining a matching Treasure Tracker stage--one that messes with camera perspectives--is even more exciting. Captain Toad may not have the glitz and glamor of other names, but his unique nature would make him a worthwhile member of the roster. | Chris Pereira
Crash Bandicoot
Crash never made it into PlayStation All Stars, but he deserves a chance to throw down. With the N. Sane trilogy making its way to Switch, I think it's time for everyone's favorite marsupial to do the same. Crash's moveset is so easy to envision: spinning attacks, throwing wumpa fruit, and a Final Smash that slaps a golden Aku Aku mask on his face, charging him up like some kind of Australian Super Saiyan. If Crash were added to the roster, elements of his games could also be incorporated into the Smash universe. Maybe a standard mask could be picked up by anyone. Maybe the game's signature crates could be added to Smash's group of containers like barrels and party balls. One thing's for sure: making Crash a playable character should also mean Coco joining as an assist trophy. Let's talk stages. The Crash Bandicoot series has been all over the world, from the Great Wall of China to Ancient Egypt to a crazy techno-centric future. Why not take the "warped" mentality of Crash 3 and have fighters bounce between those crazy locations? I can already picture Neo Cortex floating around in the background of the outer space phase of the map. | Tony Wilson
Toon Zelda/Tetra
The Smash Bros. series has seen many Links: Young Link, Toon Link, regular Link, and now, what looks like Breath of the Wild Link. But there's only one Zelda. Zelda/Sheik is one of the standout characters, of course, but it's time for something new. Tetra is a badass pirate queen with a sword, and her Princess Zelda transformation has a bow with light arrows--among other possible weapons. (Her Hyrule Warriors incarnation has a pistol, for example.) She's scrappy, she's sassy, her pirate ship is already a Smash stage, and she already has an Amiibo. Even if she didn't transform like her standard counterpart, Tetra or Toon Zelda would both make sense among the ranks of the top Smash fighters. And it's about time. Plus, I just really want Wind Waker HD to come to Switch. | Kallie Plagge
Ice Climbers
The Ice Climbers were introduced in Super Smash Bros. Melee as representatives of the NES era of Nintendo's history. As a single entity, Popo and Nana were different from the other fighters; if the NPC-controlled Ice Climber was knocked out, you could still fight, just without team moves. Fighting as them was just really...well, cool. Popo and Nana got shafted in Smash 4. Supposedly cut due to the 3DS' limited processing power (and the fact that there probably won't be another game in their series soon, if ever, so they weren't a high priority), the Ice Climbers only appeared as a trophy. But the Switch solves one of those problems, at least! And if what Masahiro Sakurai says is true, and the Ice Climbers were fully functional in the Wii U version, it's not too much to ask to bring them back in the next Super Smash Bros. | Kallie Plagge
Geno
Since his debut in Super Mario RPG, fans have been clamoring for ♡♪!? (also known as Geno for those who struggle to pronounce his true name). While a true Super Mario RPG sequel will likely never happen, there is hope for the badass Star Road warrior to appear in Smash. When Nintendo started to release character announcement trailers for the Wii U and 3DS versions, I'd sit on the edge of my seat hoping he'd be revealed every time. When it came to the final DLC character reveal, Nintendo found a way to get my hopes up, only to crush them instantly. They showed off Geno, but not the way anyone wanted. We were told Geno was available...but as a Mii Gunner costume. While I was happy to see they acknowledged his existence, it was still disappointing to see he was still not a playable fighter. If he were to be added, he'd make an excellent ranged fighter and a welcome roster addition compared to the influx of sword-based fighters in recent games. Geno Beam (or even Geno Flash) would be perfect as a charge attack and Geno Whirl could be used similar to Samus's missile with the side-B attack. For a Final Smash, Geno Blast would look gorgeous as rays of light come flashing down to devastate his opponents.While I know deep down that it's a long shot, I'm still hoping that somehow he'll find his way onto the roster. With the inclusion of Square Enix's Cloud in the most recent version, the door is now open for Geno. I, for one, am eagerly awaiting his arrival. | Gajan Kulasingham
Isaac
One of the most exciting aspects of every Super Smash Bros. release is seeing which forgotten Nintendo characters the developers have plucked from obscurity and added to the roster. Not only is it fun to see old mascots completely reimagined on a modern console, but in many cases, an appearance in Smash Bros. heralds a revival for their series--as was the case with Kid Icarus after Pit appeared in Brawl. While Golden Sun may not be as well-known as some of Nintendo's other franchises, I'd still love to see its main protagonist, Isaac, join the fray. Despite his brief tenure in the spotlight (only three Golden Sun games have been released thus far, the latest of which starred not Isaac but his son, Matthew), Isaac is perfectly suited for Smash Bros. thanks to his special abilities. As an Adept, he's capable of wielding Psynergy, magic-like abilities that would form the basis of his moveset. To further set him apart from other fighters, he could equip different Djinn during a match, which would alter the Psynergy spells at his disposal. And for his Final Smash, Isaac could call upon one of Golden Sun's many other over-the-top summons, such as Judgment, to deliver a devastating, screen-consuming attack. Moreover, Isaac isn't a complete stranger to Smash Bros.; he appeared as an Assist Trophy in Brawl, so it would hardly be a stretch for him to make the leap to playable character. The Smash series may already have a glut of swordsmen on its roster, but I think Isaac has enough unique skills in his repertoire to make a great addition--and if it would help pave the way for a new Golden Sun game on Switch, so much the better. | Kevin Knezevic
King K. Rool
For every great hero, there is a villain that helps define them. For Batman, there is the Joker. For Mario, there is Bowser. And for Donkey Kong, there is King K. Rool. The Kremlings leader has been around since Donkey Kong Country and has frequently opposed the Kongs. Being such an iconic foe to a popular Nintendo character makes his absence in Smash Bros quite perplexing. If King K. Rool were to be added, he'd easily be classified as a heavyweight character--of which there is a significant need in the Smash Bros. games. With so many smaller, faster characters in the game, adding more powerhouse fighters would definitely be a welcome addition. He'd even have a vast array of costume options based off his various appearances in the DK Country games, such as Kaptain K. Rool, Baron K. Roolenstein, and King Krusha K. Rool. As for attacks, he has a wide amount of gadgets at his disposal, which could be attached to his basic attacks. This could make him a fun powerhouse character capable of dealing significant melee damage up close but also have the option of utilizing ranged attacks. I'd be excited to see him added, but I'm honestly surprised he hasn't been in a Smash game already. | Gajan Kulasingham
Crono
The Chrono series, outside of the thoroughly excellent DS re-release and the not-so-good PC port, has been silent for a long time. But aside from the business and development reasons that the seminal RPG only received one semi-sequel in Chrono Cross, a character crossover with the next Smash Bros. actually makes some weird sense. The biggest argument for Crono is that Cloud was playable in Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS. The protagonist from Final Fantasy VII is a staunchly third-party character from a Final Fantasy game that never came to a Nintendo console, so there's at least a precedent for that level of crossover. The Final Fantasy VII Remake gives a reason to elevate Cloud's profile (so maybe Aeris or Tifa would be a more-likely candidate). But Crono is such an outstanding character from developer Square's past and its long-running relationship with Nintendo. The other reason that Cloud makes a good fit is that, despite being yet another character with a sword, his reliance on multi-character attacks mean that he'd have his own unique identity, moveset, and visual flair. Crono is a long shot character, especially since unlike Final Fantasy, there isn't an official high-definition 3D model of the character available. But who would've guessed that Cloud, Ryu, and Bayonetta would ever be in a Smash game? | Justin Haywald
Professor Layton
The austere professor with his oversized hat may sound like an odd fit for Smash, but as an iconic representative of puzzle gaming on the DS, Professor Layton is long overdue for a spot on the SSB roster. The best examples for how Layton would work in a fighter is Phoenix Wright, who made an appearance in various Vs. Capcom fighting games, or a character like the peaceful Animal Crossing Villager. Not having a ready-made assortment of combat abilities doesn't rule out their effectiveness in a wacky game like Smash. And as we've seen from several of Layton's adventures, he's an accomplished fencer, so he's ready to throw down with a weapon when the situation calls for it. And Layton could also introduce fun, interactive stages that play off his previous adventures. Hand-drawn village backgrounds that open up to unlock puzzles, and maybe the characters on the screen would have to try to solve some of the simpler ones in order to avoid hazards from hitting everyone one the screen. Layton has been a dream addition to Smash for me for a long time, and figuring out how he'd fit into the game doesn't feel like a terribly difficult puzzle. | Justin Haywald
Ridley
As Samus Aran's arch-nemesis, the Space Pirate leader Ridley seems like a perfect candidate to go head-to-head with the Metroid hunter in the Smash Bros. arena as a playable fighter. Aside from the intergalactic bounty hunter and the Metroids that she hunts, the fire-breathing boss is one of the most recognizable characters in the series--who seems to always survive the last battle by the skin of its razor-sharp teeth. Despite never having been playable, Ridley has already made several appearances in past Smash games, most notably as a boss in Brawl's Subspace Emissary story mode. It's about time that Samus' nemesis became a playable character, and Ridley's fighting style, which is focused on fast, hard-hitting moves, along with a large set of wings that give it great speed and agility, can make Ridley a welcome change from the other heavy-set characters like King Dedede, Bowser, and DK. Moreover, Ridley's many appearances throughout the Metroid series also opens up the opportunity to let players choose from different incarnations of the character. I mean, who wouldn't want the chance to play as the cybernetically enhanced Meta-Ridley to battle Samus in one of the Metroid-inspired levels? | Alessandro Fillari
Tharja
Super Smash Bros for Wii U and 3DS has no shortage of Fire Emblem characters. To be honest, by the time Corrin and Roy rolled around as DLC I was starting to get sick of them, however, Tharja could add something unique to the roster. Unlike Roy, Marth, Lucina, and Ike, Tharja is a Dark Mage and she could specialize in ranged-attack spells. Sure, Corrin and Robin had a fair amount of medium-range attacks, but in most cases, you'd still want to keep your foes close. Tharja could utilize a flashy set of dark spells to deliver powerful blows from afar, and quick on her feet to escape close range fighters. The likelihood of Tharja coming to Smash is slim, but I think she would add much more character and personality to the roster than Robin and Corrin did. | Jake Dekker
Kass
While Breath of the Wild was very much Link's show, there was one character who always knew how to make his presence known throughout the young(ish) champion's quest throughout Hyrule--and it always started off with the faint sound of an accordion in the distance. Kass, the traveling storyteller, could spin a memorable yarn about Hyrule's past, but I'd like to think he can also hold his own in a fight against other Nintendo characters. While we don't ever see Kass fight, that certainly hasn't stopped Nintendo from turning normally passive characters--like Wii Fit Trainer or R.O.B.--into powerhouses on the battlefield. As a member of the bird-like Rito tribe, Kass has the natural gift of flight, potentially making him an agile character in a fight. However, his true gifts lie with his accordion and oratory talents. Much like in Breath of the Wild, Kass can use the power of song to grab the attention of anyone nearby as they listen to him tell the tale of the surrounding environment. While this may seem a bit gimmicky, Super Smash Bros. tends to shine most when it comes to characters that has a specific purpose. And often times, those characters prove their worth and find an audience among fans. And I for one think that Kass has the potential to prove himself on the battlefield. | Alessandro Fillari
Waluigi
If Waluigi can't get his own game, he should at least be added to the Super Smash Bros. roster. Wario has been playable in two previous Smash games, but Luigi's rival, Waluigi, has never been included. Now is the time. Waluigi has already made appearances in Smash as a collectible trophy and assist trophy, and in Brawl, Luigi has a black and purple color swap to make him look similar to his arch-rival. If he's already a part of the Smash universe, then making him playable is an easy transition. Smash Bros. on the 3DS and Wii U had plenty of Nintendo heroes on their rosters and not enough villains. The Switch version's roster could only benefit from adding another fun, fan-favorite antagonist like Waluigi to liven things up with his personal brand of mischief. Throughout the years, his popularity has only been growing. He's sassy, cunning, relatably self-hating, skilled, and ridiculous. Just think about how campy and glorious his taunt would be. It's Waluigi time. | Chastity Vicencio
Shovel Knight
Shovel Knight hits things with a shovel. I want to hit Kirby with a shovel. Honestly, it's as simple as that. Shovel Knight has been one of the best 2D throwback platformers in recent years, a game that perfectly captures the spirit of the NES era while making smart tweaks to make it more palatable for modern sensibilities. That's an excellent fit for a fighting game that oozes Nintendo spirit if you ask me. The game features a wide variety of upgrades that Shovel Knight (who can be male or female) can utilize to take down foes, so there's more than enough options to make Shovel Knight a distinctly interesting Smash character if brute shovel force isn't enough. And look--he's already got an Amiibo, so that's basically his ticket to ride. It's Shovelling Time! | Edmond Tran
Rex
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was one of Nintendo's biggest games of 2017, so it would only be fitting to see it represented in the newly revealed Super Smash Bros. for Switch. Naturally, the most logical choice for a Smash fighter from the game would be its protagonist, Rex, but just as in his own adventure, he should come with a few Blades in tow to make him a truly unique addition to the roster. Whereas Shulk (Smash Bros.' other resident Xenoblade character) is able to use the Monado to grant himself different buffs, Rex could derive his abilities from the Blade he currently has equipped. Like Pokemon Trainer from Brawl, he could swap between the Blades during a match, with each granting him a different set of special attacks. Of course, Pyra would be his primary Blade, but he could also have two others--such as Roc and Nia--at his disposal, just as in Xenoblade Chronicles 2. And for his Final Smash, Pyra could transform into Mythra to rain down a powerful Sacred Arrow attack over the entire field. Not only would Rex be a fun addition to the roster, but Xenoblade Chronicles 2 would make a fitting basis for a new stage. The game is filled with beautiful vistas and fantastical fauna, which could make for some rather interesting stage hazards--imagine having a match interrupted by a powerful Named Monster that forces all players to temporarily team up with each other to take down. As the face of one of Nintendo's most ambitious Switch games to date, Rex certainly deserves a spot on the Smash roster. | Kevin Knezevic
Falco
This might seem like an odd pick considering Falco will most likely be in the game, but as a diehard Melee fan, I want the Falco of old. Super Smash Bros. Melee is my most played game of all time, and Falco was my main man...err...bird. I liked him because of his side-A attack, which acted as a super strong KO kick that would send players flying off stages at moderate percentages. Newer revisions of Falco changed his kick to a much less effective arm-swinging swipe move, which isn't nearly as potent. Falco's shine was also very useful in Melee. Players could use it to perform combos, but later revisions had the shine shoot out of him, which removed these abilities. He's just not the same. As a die-hard old-school Falco fan, I just want Nintendo to return Falco to his glory days. | Jimmy Thang
Star Wolf
Even though Melee is my most-played game of all time, I didn't particularly care for Brawl when it came out. I didn't like the slower pace of the game, and the inclusion of tripping didn't help either. One character that I did love, however, was Star Wolf. His skillset matched with my playstyle perfectly. He has a strong side-A that could finish people, decent recovery moves, an effective arial game, and is equipped with a stunning projectile laser. I was dismayed to hear that he wouldn't be in the Wii U version, considering Nintendo doesn't often remove characters from Smash. I'm hoping Star Wolf makes a comeback and retains his moves. | Jimmy Thang
Snake
Super Smash Bros. has always a been cool way to have a bunch of your favorite Nintendo characters fight it out, and the idea easily invites other game characters to join the fight. But back in 2008 my wildest dream came true. Often said as a joke amongst my friends I always wanted a character from Metal Gear, my all time favorite series, to show up and that is exactly what I got with Super Smash Bros. Brawl. It was show time. Snake is an interesting character mostly due to the fact that he is one of few realistic-looking individuals in a roster of cartoon-y ones. He pulls a lot of his attacks from Metal Gear Solid 1 and 2, but a lot of his mannerisms come from Metal Gear Solid 3. He is a very range-heavy character, but if someone gets in close, he still has a lot of great tools at his disposal to even the playing field. He is a fun character to play with lots of tricks, and I really enjoy all of the small details they put in for fans of the MGS series. They could even incorporate some new stuff from MGSV; maybe just change him to be Punished Snake! From his silly codec taunt conversations about all of the characters to his vast arsenal of weapons rivaling any of the metal Gear games, Snake deserves to come back to Smash. | Ben Janca
Porky Minch
Technically, Porky has already made an appearance in Super Smash Bros.; in Brawl, he was one of the boss characters that Ness and Lucas face while fighting in the Subspace Emissary. But that only proves that he make an excellent addition to the fighting game roster. Although Giygas is the Big Bad in Earthbound, Porky is the malevolent being's willing accomplice. And as the Earthbound sequel, Mother 3, shows, Porky is a resourceful villain who's able to rise above his previous failures to become even more powerful and dangerous. And his appearance in Smash could also bridge the gap between his sniveling uselessness in Earthbound and his powerful but decaying form in Mother 3--a Porky that's just coming into his own powers but also relies on sophisticated gadgetry to pummel his foes. Most of all, I just want Porky in the game so that there's another direct Nintendo connection to the Earthbound/Mother series. I still haven't given up hope of a Western release of Mother 3...and the Switch would be the perfect console to get that long-awaited port. | Justin Haywald
The Champions Of Hyrule
The reveal trailer for Super Smash Bros. on Switch all but confirmed that Link from Breath of the Wild will be in the game. But I hope Nintendo will include more Breath of the Wild characters, like the Champions: Revali, Daruk, Urbosa, and Mipha. It would be awesome to see them all added into the game as four separate characters, but realistically, I could see Nintendo making them a single character slot--similar to Pokemon Trainer from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Having the ability to play and freely switch between Revali, Daruk, Urbosa, and Mipha sounds complicated to implement. After all, having access to four separate movesets seems like it would be both a mechanical and balancing nightmare, but I'm holding out for the possibility of the Champions being playable. Imagine launching an opponent upwards into the air with Revali's Gale, and then switching to Daruk to smash them down with his Boulder Breaker. You could even have Mipha revive you if you happen to accidentally get launched out of a stage. There are a ton of cool possibilities available for the Champions, and given Breath of the Wild's financial and critical success, they ought to be put in the game in some form. At the very least, I hope Nintendo incorporates their moves into Breath of the Wild Link's moveset, or creates an entire stage devoted to them and their Divine Beasts. | Matt Espineli
By Mat Elfring on Mar 24, 2018 12:13 am
Netflix is dominating the streaming service landscape, providing a plethora of entertainment for its subscribers. However, it releases so much content that it can be a real pain to keep track of it all. Don't worry, we have you covered throughout all of 2018. While we won't be seeing the next season of Stranger Things this year, there are still quite a few series to check out. Starting with January, we're detailing every Netflix original series the company releases this year and including a few of our thoughts about the shows we've seen. Yes, that even includes the bizarre documentary series most people pass over, time and time again, as we watch Altered Carbon for a tenth time. Here are the original series you can currently watch on Netflix, right now. Jump ahead: February, March
Lovesick: Season 3
Release Date: January 1 Genre: Sitcom Originally a Channel 4 series, Lovesick found a new home on Netflix in 2016. The show follows a group of friends living together in Glasgow, who are ultimately trying to find love and live their lives.
The End Of The F***ing World
Release Date: January 5 Genre: Dark Comedy Also originating on Channel 4, The End of the F***ing World found its way to Netflix in the new year. The show follows a young man who believes himself to be a psychopath. He wants to kill someone and settles on a young woman, who befriends him. Before jumping in to this series, there are a few things you need to know about the show.
Rotten
Release Date: January 5 Genre: Documentary Rotten dives into the American food industry and problems that have risen in the past few years, like the rise in demand for honey, while bees are disappearing in record numbers. Surprisingly, Rotten is pretty great. It's not bathed in conspiracy theories, like I originally thought it would be, and feels very grounded in reality. It's not trying to enforce a point of view on people. It simply explains the problem and backs it up with credible evidence.
Disjointed: Second Half Of Season 1
Release Date: January 10 Genre: Comedy Kathy Bates stars as the owner of a Los Angeles marijuana dispensary who employs her son and his friends to help run it. The first half of the first season was released in August 2017, with the second half dropping in January. Netflix cancelled the series in February.
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman
Release Date: January 12 Genre: Interview David Letterman returns in this new Netflix series that releases episodes monthly. The former Late Night host interviews people of note, which includes former President Barack Obama in Episode 1. The first season will consist of six episodes.
Somebody Feed Phil
Release Date: January 12 Genre: Travel/Food Everyone Loves Raymond creator Philip Rosenthal's new Netflix series is essentially a revamped version of his PBS show I'll Have What Phil's Having. Rosenthal travels the world, eats food, and cracks jokes along the way. Putting aside the fact that the intro music is the most annoying thing I've ever heard--and I used to listen to grindcore--Somebody Feed Phil is bland, unfunny, and feels pointless. There is no point-of-view or purpose. It's just a man travelling the world and eating. There's no catch nor anything that makes it enjoyable.
Drug Lords
Release Date: January 19 Genre: Documentary Drug Lords documents the life and crimes of cartels and its kingpins. The series interviews those who fought against the cartels and others who were a part of the cartels themselves, which--at times--creates conflicting stories.
Grace and Frankie: Season 4
Release date: January 19 Genre: Comedy Grace and Frankie find themselves living together after their husbands leave the women, for each other. The series has been nominated for multiple Emmys.
Dirty Money
Release Date: January 26 Genre: Documentary The Netflix series Dirty Money documents corporate corruption with each episode focusing on a single event, like the Volkswagen emissions scandal, which was featured on Episode 1.
One Day At A Time: Season 2
Release Date: January 26 Genre: Sitcom One Day At A Time--a reboot of the 1975 CBS series--follows a a United States Army Nurse Corps who separates from her husband to raise her kids with her mother.
Altered Carbon
Release Date: February 2 Genre: Sci-Fi A former mercenary's mind is placed in a new body, 250 years after his body died, and he's tasked with solving the murder of a wealthy man. GameSpot's Mike Rougeau said in his review, "Altered Carbon isn't hardcore sci-fi because it's set on a spaceship or there are weird-looking aliens running around; it's because the show recognizes that revolutionary new technologies don't exist in a bubble. They alter the fabric of the world, like cars, air travel, the internet, and cell phones have."
Queer Eye
Release Date: February 7 Genre: Reality A revamp of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Queer Eye features five gay men who makeover someone and change their lives by having them dress better, learn to cook, update their homes, and take better care of themselves overall. While GameSpot doesn't have an official review, the Queer Eye revamp has a lot of heart and it's fun. Sure, hairstylist Jonathan Van Ness can be a bit much, but Karamo Brown usually reigns him in.
Greenhouse Academy: Season 2
Release Date: February 14 Genre: Drama A brother and sister enroll in a private school for gifted students after losing their mother. The siblings join different houses within the school and quickly become rivals.
Everything Sucks
Release Date: February 16 Genre: Dramedy During the 1990s, a freshman A.V. club member falls in love with a young girl and their relationship has a few roadblocks, primarily because she's gay. The series is filled with '90s nostalgia, and you can check some of those things and learn their history here. GameSpot's Mike Rougeau said in his review, "Everything Sucks won't be for everyone, and it's far from perfect. But for those who can get past the cringey assault of forced '90s references and discover what the show is actually about, the prospect of a second season--which the final scene sets up in the most obvious way possible--won't seem so bad."
First Team: Juventus
Release Date: February 16 Genre: Sports Documentary The series follows the renowned soccer club Juventus as the team goes for its seventh straight Italian title. First Team follows the club both on and off the field, so viewers get a sense of what it's like to be a player.
The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale
Release Date: February 18 (New episodes on Sundays) Genre: Clip Show Yes, there are way too many shows where someone stands in front of a green screen and watches video clips, but no one (sorry, Bob Saget and John Henson) did it better than Joel McHale on E!'s The Soup. The Joel McHale Show is pretty much The Soup with less coverage of E! shows. There isn't an official GameSpot review, but if you loved The Soup, this will be right up your alley. The comedy is still top-notch.
Seven Seconds
Release Date: February 23 Genre: Crime Drama A teenager is killed in a hit-and-run incident, which is covered up, and tensions flare as there is no resolution to the case and no justice for the teen's family.
Ugly Delicious
Release Date: February 23 Genre: Travel/Food Chef and author David Chang travels around the globe, discussing food and culture with friends, scholars, and entertainers, as well as his own experiences growing up in America as someone of Korean descent. It's amazing to see Netflix release the worst travel/food series I've ever seen (Somebody Feed Phil) followed by Ugly Delicious a month later, which is undoubtedly the best I have yet to see. Ugly Delicious and David Chang aren't trying to be something they're not and putting on airs when it comes to all the topics this show covers, from racial stereotypes to the many different facets of American culture to food sustainability. It's honest, sincere, and at times, funny. It may also be the only travel/food show where the host not only admits he eats fast food on occasion but actually goes on a ride-along with a Domino's driver. This is a must see series.
Flint Town
Release Date: March 2 Genre: Docuseries A film crew follows police officers in Flint, Michigan, covering the day-to-day struggles with being a resident of that city--one with an undrinkable water supply.
Girls Incarcerated
Release Date: March 2 Genre: Docuseries In Indiana, at a juvenile correctional facility, the lives of girls are chronicled as they try to turn their lives around before they become adults.
Jessica Jones: Season 2
Release Date: March 8 Genre: Superhero The hard-drinking Jessica Jones is back for Season 2 of her Netflix series. The super-powered private eye continues to run her detective agency while dealing with ghosts from her past, including where her powers came from. GameSpot's Mike Rougeau said in his review of the first five episodes, "Jessica Jones Season 2 doesn't leap gracefully toward the future, even without the need to build up to The Defenders that previously dragged the entire Netflix Marvel universe down. Even across five whole episodes, it fails to present an intriguing new villain."
Nailed It!
Release Date: March 9 Genre: Cooking Contestants compete to make the best meals in the kitchen with the winner taking home $10,000. However, these home chefs have a terrible track record when it comes to cooking.
Love: Season 3
Release Date: March 9 Genre: Romantic Comedy Love follows Mickey (Gillian Jacobs) and Gus (Paul Rust), a couple very much in love with each other. The show follows their lives together and gives a realistic look at relationships. Season 3 is the last season of Love.
Edha
Release Date: March 16 Genre: Drama This Argentinian series follows a successful fashion designer--and single mother--who meets a mysterious man. This, in turn, leads her to being pushed to her limits as dark secrets are revealed.
On My Block
Release Date: March 16 Genre: Comedy The coming-of-age series On My Block follows a group of teens entering high school in inner-city Los Angeles. The series comes from Awkward creator Lauren Iungerich.
Wild Wild Country
Release Date: March 16 Genre: Docuseries Wild Wild Country follows controversial Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, who created a cult in the '80s in rural Oregon. Many have called his group a New Age "sex cult." The recounting of the events in Antelope, Oregon is beyond crazy. The story of the Rajneesh cult's rise to power in Wasco County is one of the most enthralling stories I've ever heard. What Wild Wild Country does exceptionally well is that it remains unbiased. It presents the events as told by the Rajneeshes and those who wanted them out of Antelope. It doesn't present this group in the best light, but the docuseries doesn't feel like it's trying to overly sway you one way or another, like many other Netflix documentaries.
Alexa & Katie
Release Date: March 23 Genre: Sitcom Best friends Alexa and Katie are about to start high school, but Alexa ends up developing cancer and starts treatment.
O Mecanismo (The Mechanism)
Release Date: March 23 Genre: Political Drama This Brazillian series recounts the Lava Jato investigation, which began as a money-laundering investigation in Brazil in 2014. It's also known as Operation Car Wash.
Requiem
Release Date: March 23 Genre: Supernatural Thriller Originally a BBC One production, Requiem is a six-part series that follows a cellist whose mother commits suicide, which leads her to question events in her past.
Santa Clarita Diet (Season 2)
Release Date: March 23 Genre: Comedy Santa Clarita Diet returned in March. The series follows a suburban real estate agent (Drew Barrymore) who turns into a zombie. Check out what we thought about the first season here.
By Array on Mar 24, 2018 12:11 am
Quality Games On A Budget
Nintendo Switch recently turned a year old, and already the system has no shortage of quality games to play. Even before a flurry of big-name third-party ports release for the system--Bayonetta 2, Skyrim, L.A. Noire, and Doom--there were already a ton of worthwhile options on Switch. There are Nintendo's flagship titles, like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, and Splatoon 2, and a variety of other Switch games you may have missed. Beyond that, though, there's a burgeoning selection of games that cost no more than $20 on Eshop. These budget-priced games are not a concept exclusive to Switch, nor is this system the only place to find many of them. But given the system's only a year in, it's incredible how the platform is bursting at the seams with games to play. Particularly, if you're just getting a system now, it can be hard to find things to play, in part because the Eshop needs some work. In the gallery above, we're highlighting Switch games that are available for no more than $20 on the Eshop. This is far from a comprehensive list, but if you're looking for a cheap Switch game to pick up, you can't go wrong with any of these options. Many are not Switch exclusives, but it's often the best platform to play them on, thanks to newly added features or the sheer convenience of having a version you can play both on a TV and on the go. These games are presented in no particular order; they're simply titles that are worth a look. While you're here, check out our features detailing all the Wii U games we ported to Switch, 13 things we still want to see from the console, and the best games on the console as of 2018.
Celeste ($20 / £18)
Celeste is a magical game that will challenge you in a multitude of ways. Its platforming is really, really hard, and you'll likely get frustrated at your fumbling fingers for failing a jump or at your slow brain for not figuring out how to get to the next safe zone. But when you get to that checkpoint, it's satisfying to know your fingers and brain aren't, in fact, useless. More than its platforming, though, Celeste's story is challenging. The main protagonist, Madeline, is faced with a horrible journey--both climbing a mountain and battling her own mind--and at times it's not easy to watch her suffer. The game's writing is such that it's easy to project that suffering onto yourself, and that can make it tough to face playing the next level. But you should absolutely do so, because it's a story with an ending worth the struggle and a cast of characters so endearing you'll be rooting for them to succeed. Just expect to fail a few leaps of faith along the way.
The Sexy Brutale ($20 / £18)
The Sexy Brutale is a quirky little puzzle game co-developed by Tequila Works, the studio behind beautiful adventure game Rime. Its essentially Groundhog Day: The Game--you play through the same day over and over, but with each runthrough you learn more about the creepy mansion you find yourself in. After seeing one character shoot another, you might go and find the gun and prevent the bloody murder by replacing real bullets with blanks. A number of these murders are interconnected--solving one puzzle might prevent one murder, but that could change another branch of time elsewhere in the house. There's no way of preventing every murder in one go, but discovering and tinkering with the different timelines is where the fun lies. And with it being playable on Switch, you can live the same day countless times anywhere you want. Suffice to say, we've played it over and over again--groundhog day indeed.
Crypt of the NecroDancer ($20 / £18)
Roguelikes (or at least roguelike elements) have been one of the most popular trends in gaming over the past handful of years, but few have taken as interesting of an approach to the genre as Crypt of the NecroDancer. Originally released on PC and other platforms before making its way to Switch in 2018, NecroDancer tasks players with navigating a dungeon to the beat of the music. Rather than simply move in the direction you wish or attack the enemy that's in your path, you and your enemies' actions are tied directly to the (always excellent) soundtrack. It's essential that you always be doing something--not taking an action at the next beat resets your combo, meaning you'll earn less gold or deal less damage, depending on the items you've acquired. Particularly as the music becomes more fast-paced, this lends a real sense of tension and excitement to every moment: you need to constantly be considering your next action while accounting for how nearby enemies will react to your movements. It's an experience with few points of comparison, but it's nonetheless one that you'll certainly want to try.
Battle Chef Brigade ($20 / £18)
Battle Chef Brigade puts you in control of an aspiring young chef named Mina as she fights to become the best cook in the land. But this isn't your typical cooking game; rather than choose from pre-set ingredients in front of you to make a simple dish, you actually have to hunt and gather them yourself, making use of Devil May Cry-like battle system to eliminate them in the wild. You then have to take what you gather back to your kitchen, throw it in a pot, and cook it in a match three mini-game. F rame this within an Iron Chef-like cook off where the clock is ticking against you and you'll have an idea of what you're getting into. The juxtaposition between the two core mechanics of hunting and cooking make for a tense, fast-paced experience that's both memorable and fulfilling.
Enter the Gungeon ($15 / £11)
Being a roguelike-style shooter, Enter the Gungeon naturally draws comparisons to games like The Binding of Isaac and Nuclear Throne. And while that does offer a decent starting point for understanding what to expect, Enter the Gungeon manages to rise above being a pale imitator. It feels fantastic, with a dodge-roll ability that allows you to satisfyingly evade damage with a well-timed use. There are ridiculous weapons, such as those that fire bees or a gun that shoots guns which themselves fire bullets. The well-crafted procedurally generated environments help to keep each run feeling fresh, as do the wide variety of items and secrets to uncover along the way. And co-op support makes for an especially fun, chaotic experience (although it's unfortunate that the second player isn't able to play as the different characters that the main player has access to). The entire game is also overflowing with personality and color, making for an experience that is as fun to look at as is to play.
Furi ($20 / £18)
Fans of Japanese action games will instantly love Furi, as it utilizes a twitch-based combat similar to fan-favorite games in the genre, like Devil May Cry and Bayonetta. Its premise is simple: you play as a nameless silver-haired swordsman who must fight his way out of imprisonment, facing off against a gauntlet of deadly bosses. Aside from its striking presentation, Furi's most memorable quality is its fast and frenetic combat, which is punchy, nuanced, and elegantly simple. It combines mechanics from both hack-and-slash games and shoot 'em ups, challenging you to handle switching between gameplay styles at a moment's notice in the midst of a fight. If you're a sucker for challenging action games, Furi should be at the top of your list for $20 Switch games to buy.
SteamWorld Dig 2 ($20 / £15)
SteamWorld Dig 2 expands on its predecessor in a number of welcome ways. It looks much nicer, with a better soundtrack and more interesting story, but it also expands on progression. A new mod system allows you to tailor your character to your particular style, and the varied environments provide an incentive to keep digging and new challenges to contend with. Digging your way through blocks remains an enjoyable gameplay mechanic, and particularly with optional waypoints disabled, exploring the depths of this world is a real treat. Read our SteamWorld Dig 2 review
Picross S ($8 / £7.19)
Switch's entry in the Picross series, Picross S, doesn't do anything radically new, and it doesn't have to. It offers the straightforward, streamlined pleasure of its sudoku/nonogram-style gameplay on the go. It's the kind of game that's perfect to have loaded up on Switch--you can easily jump in for a quick puzzle (or eight) while you're on the go or in between sessions of other games. There's plenty to do with 300 puzzles, and simultaneous two-player multiplayer support gives you a way to ease newcomers into the series.
Stardew Valley ($15 / £11)
Like many other games on this list, Stardew Valley feels particularly well-suited to the portable nature of Switch. The system makes it easy to boot up the game for a quick day on the farm no matter where you are, and the controls work surprisingly well--though they could still use some refinement (possibly through the addition of touch controls, which are absent). The game remains a charming take on the Harvest Moon formula and provides a nice, peaceful complement to many of the more action-oriented games on Switch--particularly in lieu of a new Animal Crossing. Read our Stardew Valley review
Golf Story ($15 / £13.49)
Even if you're not a fan of the real-world sport, there's an undeniable appeal to golf games. Golf Story goes beyond simply letting you hit the links, though, taking the form of a traditional RPG that just happens to revolve around golfing. It features a charming story and a delightful, reactive world to explore, along with some trademark Australian humor. Read our Golf Story review
Sonic Mania ($20 / £16)
Sonic Mania marks the latest attempt to recapture the 2D glory days of the Sonic franchise, and it more than succeeds. Fantastic level design and a real sense of speed help to scratch that nostalgic itch, but it also stands as a solid game among its contemporaries. Our review goes so far as to even say it might very well be the best Sonic game ever. In light of Sonic Forces' deficiencies, at least Sonic fans have good Sonic game to play on the system. Read our Sonic Mania review
Overcooked ($20 / £18)
Multiplayer games that can be played with a single Joy-Con are a real treat--wherever you go with the system, you're able to easily play together with another person. And that's good news for Overcooked, a game that becomes exponentially better when played with at least one other person. What starts out as a relatively tame game where you help each other chop some vegetables and get them served on a plate becomes a frantic rush to put out fires, get ingredients distributed between two moving vehicles, and other ridiculous scenarios. Read our Overcooked review
Thimbleweed Park ($20 / £15)
Point-and-click adventure games have experienced something of a renaissance in recent years, and Thimbleweed Park--from adventure game legends Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick--is a prime example. The X-Files-inspired journey puts you in the role of two FBI agents that bear more than a passing resemblance to the classic TV show as you relive the glory days of adventure games. Playing on any console means dealing with a gamepad-based control scheme (as opposed to the more natural mouse controls on PC), but Switch makes up for this with touchscreen support when played in handheld mode. Read our Thimbleweed Park review
Retro City Rampage DX ($15 / £13)
A throwback GTA Online mode aside, Grand Theft Auto has long since moved on from the classic top-down perspective of its earliest games. Retro City Rampage carries on that legacy, offering an open-world crime game in 8-bit style. What could have easily been a mere GTA clone, however, is distinguished with copious pop culture references and a distinctly arcade-style feel to its gameplay. This DX edition offers additional content not seen in the original version of the game. Read our Retro City Rampage review
Fast RMX ($20 / £17)
The likelihood of a new F-Zero game doesn't seem terribly high, but Fast RMX is the next best thing. It offers a similar style of high-speed, futuristic racing, with support for local and online multiplayer (including single Joy-Con play) and wide variety of levels. It's also a good-looking game, running at 1080p and 60 FPS. Read our Fast RMX review
World of Goo ($10 / £9)
It's been around for years, and the Switch version doesn't bring any new content to the table, but now is as good a time as any to play World of Goo if you haven't already. Its construction-based puzzles that task you with creating structures and other objects to fulfill a variety of objectives are still as well designed as ever, making this a worthwhile addition to your Switch library. The one noteworthy distinction with this edition is the addition of local co-op multiplayer (absent from most other platforms); it's also one of the few games to put the Joy-Con's IR pointer to use. Read our World of Goo review
Little Inferno ($10 / £9)
Another of Tomorrow Corporation's game, Little Inferno also doesn't bring anything new to the table for Switch if you're playing by yourself. But if you have a friend, it introduces a new local co-op multiplayer mode not seen on other platforms. For the uninitiated, Little Inferno involves throwing stuff into a furnace and watching it burn for cash (which is then used to buy more stuff to burn). Despite that simple premise, there is a deeper puzzle system at work here where you have to burn different combinations of objects together to fulfill certain requirement. It's relatively short but features a surprisingly intriguing story and has a cat plushie that poops when burned, so it really checks all the boxes. Read our Little Inferno review
Gonner ($10 / £9)
Switch's portable nature lends itself well to quick, pick-up-and-play roguelike games. Gonner is an ideal example, blending procedural generation with action-platforming as you blast your way through countless enemies. With a distinct visual style and seemingly endless replayability, it's another great match with the platform.
Graceful Explosion Machine ($13 / £10)
Shoot-em-ups are not well-represented on Switch, but Graceful Explosion Machine nicely fills that void. Rather than presenting you with an endless stream of foes, it presents confined, handcrafted levels and a variety of distinct weapons with which to dispatch your enemies. Dealing with weapon cooldowns and figuring out the ideal order in which to deal with enemies becomes a game unto itself, and this all takes place within the confines of a cute, colorful world.
Severed ($15 / £12)
Severed is one of the few games on Switch that can only be played in handheld mode, due to its mandatory touchscreen controls. It's a dungeon crawler with a twist, as you're tasked with slicing your way through enemies you encounter by swiping on the screen. But beyond the enjoyable gameplay and slick visual style, Severed's story is the real highlight, as you experience the tale of a one-armed warrior named Sasha. Read our Severed review
Shovel Knight ($10-$25 / £9-£22.49)
This is admittedly a bit of a cheat, as you're best off buying Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove, which includes all three of the campaigns released so far (and more content to come) for $25. But just $10 will get you a single campaign which is more than worth the price of entry. Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment puts you in the shoes of one of the main game's antagonists, Specter Knight, as he takes his own unique journey through the same levels featured in the original game. As with Plague Knight's campaign, the unique mechanics at play here (like the dash attack) make for a much different experience. You would be best-served by starting with the base Shovel Knight campaign, but whichever version you play, you'll be treated to a modern take on retro platformers that bests many of the classics it draws inspiration from. Read our Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment review
Snipperclips: Cut It Out, Together ($20 / £18)
Snipperclips was overshadowed at launch by the hype around The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but it remains one of--if not the--best multiplayer games on Switch. Although it can be played solo, cooperative play is where Snipperclips truly shines. You work together to solve relatively simple challenges--get this ball into the basket; pop some balloons--by overlapping your characters and cutting chunks out of one another. This allows you to shape your partner into a tool that can be used for the task at hand. There's little else like it, on Switch or elsewhere. One thing to note is the new Snipperclips Plus version, which offers additional content; owners of the base game will be able to purchase its additions as DLC. Read our Snipperclips review
Thumper ($20/£16)
Although it's a game arguably best-suited for VR, Thumper is an incredible experience however you play it. It provides a unique blend of rhythm-based gameplay and action--what the developer calls "rhythm violence"--that provides a far more intense version of the basic mechanics you see in other rhythm games. With an incredible soundtrack and levels well-suited to chasing high scores, Thumper is a game with the potential to stick around on your Switch's home screen for a long time. Read our Thumper review
Axiom Verge ($20 / £15)
Axiom Verge is another take on the Metroidvania style, but it distinguishes itself through its wide variety of weapons and tools--most notably, the Address Disruptor, which affects the environment and each enemy type in different ways. It's also a game with an impressive sense of scale and no shortage of secrets to uncover, encouraging multiple playthroughs. Add in an excellent soundtrack and tantalizing story, and there's a lot to like here. Read our Axiom Verge review
By Mat Elfring on Mar 23, 2018 09:27 pm
Netflix may be primarily known for its award-winning series, but the streaming service also provides quite a few movies that are worth your time. The streaming giant puts out more original movies than any of us realized, but don't worry, we will have you up to date with everything coming to a streaming device near you. Starting with January, we're highlighting every Netflix original movie the company releases this year--as well as a few notable ones Netflix didn't produce but has distribution rights to--and including a few of our thoughts about the shows we've seen. Here are the original movies you can currently watch on Netflix, right now. If you're more interested in the company's original shows, check out every Netflix original series for 2018. Jump ahead: February, March
The Polka King
Release Date: January 12 Genre: Comedy/Drama Based on a true story, The Polka King follows Jan Lewan (Jack Black), a polka band leader who was imprisoned in the mid-'00s for running a Ponzi scheme. The Polka King is pretty mediocre. At times, it can be funny, but its appeal seems to be to people that find Polka either the worst or best music genre of all time, even though it's not the primary focus of the story. It's a letdown as the real-life story the movie is based on is fascinating.
Step Sisters
Release Date: January 18 Genre: Comedy Megalyn Echikunwoke (Arrow, Vixen) plays a Harvard Law student helps a sorority win a step dance championship by teaching them to step.
The Open House
Release Date: January 19 Genre: Horror A mother and her teenage son move into a secluded mansion in the mountains. They find someone else is at the house as well--someone who wants to harm them.
Blockbuster
Release Date: January 24 Genre: Romantic Comedy After being dumped by his girlfriend, a man devices a plan to get back his girlfriend, Lola, who loves superheroes.
A Futile and Stupid Gesture
Release Date: January 26 Genre: Comedy Based on a true story, A Futile and Stupid Gesture follows comedy writer Doug Kenny (Will Forte), the mind behind National Lampoon magazine.
The Cloverfield Paradox
Release Date: February 4 Genre: Sci-Fi/Horror The Earth is in crisis and a group of the brightest scientists heads to space in order to test technology that could provide the planet with infinite power. However, the tech creates a paradox which has some unwanted effects. GameSpot's Mike Rougeau said in his review, "By the time The Cloverfield Paradox limps lamely to its nonsensical yet somehow predictable conclusion, you'll probably already have stopped paying attention."
The Ritual
Release Date: February 9 Genre: Horror A group of friends reunites and takes a trip to Sweden where they hike through a national park. They find a menacing creature stalking them throughout their journey. The Ritual is actually a solid horror film, which adds some unique elements to what seems like a typical horror plot. It's easily one of the more entertaining Netflix horror movies of the year. Note: Netflix is the international distributor for this movie.
Seeing Allred
Release Date: February 9 Genre: Documentary Seeing Allred follows women's rights attorney Gloria Allred--who has devoted four decades to her work--as her life is chronicled, and she takes on powerful men accused of sexual assault.
When We First Met
Release Date: February 9 Genre: Comedy At her engagement party, Avery Martin (Alexandra Daddario) recalls the first time she met her fiance Noah Ashby (Adam DeVine) at a Halloween party.
Love Per Square Foot
Release Date: February 14 Genre: Romantic Comedy The Hindi-language movie follows a young man and woman searching for a house in Mumbai.
Irreplaceable You
Release Date: February 16 Genre: Drama Irreplaceable You follows an engaged couple, Abbie and Sam, who have been best friends since childhood. Abbie learns she has terminal cancer and tries to find someone to replace her in Sam's life.
Fullmetal Alchemist
Release Date: February 19 Genre: Live-Action Anime In a world where alchemy is real, two brothers go on a quest for the Philosopher's Stone, after failing to revive their dead mother. GameSpot's Mike Rougeau said in his review, "Despite its high profile and fan hunger, Fullmetal Alchemist is everything wrong with live-action anime adaptations. It both adds nothing to the original and does a poor job imitating it." Note: Netflix is the international distributor for this movie.
Mute
Release Date: February 23 Genre: Sci-Fi 40 years in the future, a mute bartender searches for his missing girlfriend. The director Duncan Jones has called this a spiritual sequel to his 2009 film Moon. GameSpot's Mike Rougeau said in his review, "Mute is a bad joke about itself, the movie version of a Weird Al Yankovic song (an "Amish Paradise" sequel set in the future?), only if the filmmaker wasn't aware it was supposed to be a parody."
The Outsider
Release Date: March 9 Genre: Crime Drama Jared Leto stars as an American solider in postwar Japan who becomes a member of the Japanese.
Benji
Release Date: March 16 Genre: Family Blumhouse, the studio behind modern horror classics like Get Out, Insidious, and The Purge, recently rebooted Benji for Netflix. The movie follows the adventures of a stray dog named Benji. Interestingly enough, Brandon Camp--the writer and director of the reboot--is the son of the writer and director of the 1974 original.
Take Your Pills
Release Date: March 16 Genre: Documentary Take Your Pills addresses the increased usage of Adderall and similar prescription medications by students and those in the tech industry. Many reviews of the movie either call it propaganda or say it doesn't have a clear thesis.
Game Over, Man!
Release Date: March 23 Genre: Action/Comedy The Workaholics gang is back. In this feature film, three waiters at a posh hotel turn into action heroes when it's taken over by terrorists.
Paradox
Release Date: March 23 Genre: Musical/Western/Fantasy Directed by Daryl Hannah, this musical western follows a band of outlaws who are searching for treasure. At night, the moon lends its magic to them. It also stars Neil Young, so everything about this movie is a bit out there.
Roxanne Roxanne
Release Date: March 23 Genre: Biopic Roxanne Roxanne follows one of the oldest rivalries in hip hop. The movie is a dramatization of Roxanne Shante's life, who made waves in the mid-'80s when she recorded a response to UTFO's "Roxanne, Roxanne" called "Roxanne's Revenge."
By Mat Elfring on Mar 23, 2018 08:50 pm
The latest Deadpool trailer is here, and it is crazy. The new video is jam-packed with new characters, new plot points, Easter eggs, and someone that looks a whole lot like Lindsay Lohan. That couldn't really be her, could it? Although director Tim Miller isn't returning to the series, as he left due to creative differences, David Leitch helmed the upcoming film, and you may remember him from John Wick. Joining Leitch alongside the movie's star Ryan Reynolds is Josh Brolin as Cable and Zazie Beetz as Domino. Of course, Vanessa (Morena Baccarin), Weasel (T.J. Miller), Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand), Blind Al (Leslie Uggams), and Dopinder (Karan Soni) all return for the sequel, and you can see them in the newest trailer. We also finally learn who Terry Crews is playing. So what's going on with this new video? We're breaking down the new things we've learned about Deadpool 2, along with some Easter eggs and connections to the comic books, primarily weird stuff from the '90s. Deadpool 2 hits theaters on May 18.
Dopinder continues to be Deadpool's personal driver for the sequel, and he seems to have a beefed-up role this time, as we get to see a few shots of him outside of his taxi. He continues to idolize Deadpool and his work, and seems more loyal than ever in the new film.
Deadpool is headed to Japan. There are two scenes within the trailer--one of which takes place in a bathhouse--in which Deadpool is killing people in Japan. Early on, he cuts off a gangster's head. You can tell he's a gangster because he's wearing sunglasses inside, at night. Believe it or not, Deadpool is huge in Japan, and one of the merc with a mouth's best moments you missed is when he interrupted the X-Men: Apocalypse trailer in Japanese cinemas to promote his own film.
We don't think Deadpool wearing high heels is a reference to anything in particular, not even Marvel's Lady Deadpool--who didn't wear high heels anyway. It is very impressive that Deadpool can do a backflip while wearing the shoes without falling over, though.
Deadpool enters his and Vanessa's home and says, "I was rounding all the gluten in the world and launching it into space where it can't not hurt us ever again." This is a reference to the 1987 film Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. In that movie, Superman gathers the world's nuclear weapons in a giant net and throws them into the sun.
Why is Cable here? What does he want? The new trailer reveals that Cable wants to kill a child, probably because it affects his future, and Cable thinks it will be for the betterment of mankind. Deadpool isn't cool with Cable's plans and wants to stop him.
The kid in question we saw in the first trailer flips off the camera. He's wearing what seems to be a control collar and a yellow jumpsuit.
Cable easily takes down Deadpool in the next scene. Wade Wilson is wearing the same yellow jumpsuit as the kid Cable is hunting. We saw these jumpsuits in the first trailer, as they have something to do with the group "DMC." At this time, we do not know for certain what that means.
Normally, when a studio puts out a movie, it builds hype by letting the audience know, "here are two other movies you probably like that we've also made, so you know this new movie is going to be good." The Deadpool 2 trailer decides to promote Katherine Heigel's 27 Dresses and Anne Hathaway's The Devil Wears Prada, two movies that couldn't be more different than Deadpool 2.
There is another shot of the kid Cable is after. He's played by Julian Dennison, and in this scene, he's created an explosion and set some police cars on fire while his skin glows orange. We don't know who exactly he's playing yet, but we're betting it's Sunspot. He's an extremely powerful mutant whose powers are primarily solar-based.
Negasonic Teenage Warhead is back, and she has a friend. The newcomer to the movie is actress Shioli Kutsuna. Both of these mutants will be joining Deadpool on his journey.
Colossus is back as well. Stefan Kapicic reprises his role as the voice of the Russian mutant, and in this scene, Deadpool gets a nice butt squeeze in.
Deadpool will be spending some time in the X-Mansion for the new film. Well, at least enough time to take a spin in Professor X's chair. Hopefully, this time, there's more than two members of the X-Men inside the mansion.
Terry Crews punches a guy on the ground. We briefly saw him in the first trailer and guessed he'd be playing either Bedlam or GW Bridge. More on that later.
Negasonic Teenage Warhead's friend is back again, and she's swinging a chain around her head, which is now electrified. Because of her powers--as well as the "X" logo on her right shoulder--we're thinking she's playing Surge. The character is a member of the New Mutants from Japan, who has to wear gauntlets to control her electrical powers.
Could this "Peter" be Pete Wisdom? This character is a mutant from England who wears a suit and tie to work everyday because he's a member for the British government organization Black Air and later because the leader of MI:13, the group that deals with superhuman threats. Wisdom can absorb solar radiation and create thermal knives that are hotter than the surface of the sun. In addition, Terry Crews is confirmed as playing Bedlam, as his picture is here too.
While on the plane with Domino and his other teammates, Deadpool says they're going to call the team "X-Force."
There is another shot of one of the other members of X-Force, not the guy with the mustache. In the last breakdown, we thought this could be Chamber, but now, we're not so sure.
Deadpool pops out of a casket during a funeral and shoots everyone up. We're not sure who these people are, but the older woman--sitting down--looks like Cloris Leachman, and the woman standing next to her sure looks like Lindsay Lohan.
In the final scenes of the trailer, we see Deadpool crossing some police tape, wearing a mesh shirt with an X on it. While it's not exact, it really reminds us of what X-Force member Rictor used to wear during the '90s. We can expect to see a lot of '90s X-Force references in this movie.
By Chris Pereira on Mar 23, 2018 07:44 pm
The much-anticipated release of Deviljho in Monster Hunter World has finally happened. A new update for the PS4 and Xbox One RPG adds a new monster for players to contend with. With Deviljho now available, you'll have an enemy with new weaknesses and attack patterns to deal with. If you're brave enough to take it on, you can collect its parts and then craft new gear--including both weapons and armor. To find Deviljho, you'll need to have advanced far enough in the story. You'll begin to uncover its tracks on expeditions, just as you would other new High Rank monsters, and eventually receive a special assignment called The Food Chain Dominator, which allows you to target the beast.
This update adds a new Deviljho weapon for each weapon type, so you'll have something to strive for regardless of what you wield. Additionally, there are two new High Rank Deviljho armor sets to get your hands on. The Alpha version will provide you with the following skills: - Attack Boost (Level 4)
- Handicraft (3)
- Partbreaker (3)
- Latent Power (3)
- Speed Eating (3)
The Beta set offers fewer skills; the key difference between the two is that Beta provides more flexibility with the decorations you can equip. Here's what beta offers: - Attack Boost (4)
- Latent Power (3)
- Speed Eating (3)
- Partbreaker (1)
You can check out images of all the weapons and male armor above; we're working on acquiring the female armor and will update once we've gotten it. You'll need to be prepared to take on Deviljho, who's among the tougher enemies to face. The monster is now available on both PS4 and Xbox One alongside a suite of weapon balance changes, adjustments to address online griefing while carving, and more. There will be more armor to hunt down in the near future, as crossover gear with other games are on the way.
By GameSpot Staff on Mar 23, 2018 07:31 pm
PlayStation 4 is now more than four years old, and in that time it's amassed a substantial library of games. It was difficult to keep up with all of the quality releases even if you were onboard from day one; for those who have picked up a PS4 late, the number of games now available can be positively overwhelming. You're unlikely to ever play everything PS4 has to offer, but we're here to help you ensure you play some worthwhile games without breaking the bank. As is to be expected from a system that's now several years old, there's a wide array of games that can be picked up for quite cheap. We're highlighting many of the best games that can be had for no more than $20 on the US PlayStation Store. Be sure to let us know your recommendations in the comments below. 2018 is poised to grow the PS4's library even further, with high-profile releases like God of War, Spider-Man, and Red Dead Redemption 2 on the way alongside a variety of lesser-known hidden gems that you should be excited for this year.
Nex Machina
Nex Machina developer Housemarque has been focused almost exclusively on twin-stick shooters for the last decade. Starting with Super Stardust HD and running through games like Resogun and Dead Nation, it's experimented with different spins on the genre. Nex Machina feels like the culmination of those efforts, offering intense, high-octane action that constantly has you analyzing your surroundings and your options for disposing of enemies. It's an incredibly fun and satisfying experience to pick up and play, but it also features a variety of wrinkles and secrets for high-score chasers. Add in the gorgeous, neon-infused visuals, and you've got the finest output of Housemarque to date--which makes it all the more upsetting that the studio has decided to shift gears and go in a different direction. Still, you won't find a better example of its work than Nex Machina. | Chris Pereira
Journey
Plenty of games have stunning graphics, or heart-wrenching stories, or interactivity that stands head and shoulders above other offerings. Journey manages to have all of those and still amounts to more than the sum of its parts. Between traversing glittering sand and soaring to new heights with the help of your mystical scarf, you'll uncover hidden murals that hint at the game's story. For all that it does, Journey is also commendable for the conventions it abandons. The game does away with traditional dialogue and narration, preferring instead to let players interpret the adventure for themselves through sights and sounds. You won't need to experience it alone, though. In most cases you'll share your journey with another player-controlled character who you communicate with only through audible chirps. While the turmoil of accidentally losing your new friend hits hard as the environment becomes more threatening, finding them again and keeping them close in times of hardship is an unforgettable emotional experience. The unmistakable style in developer Thatgamecompany's design colliding with Austin Wintory's enchanting soundtrack makes Journey a unique experience that can't be missed. | Jess McDonell
Sonic Mania
Created by members of the Sonic fan-hack community under Sega's watch, Sonic Mania exudes passion and reverence in its recreation of nostalgic visuals, sounds, and level designs. But the game isn't content with senselessly regurgitating the past; rather, it expands upon the familiar with new ideas of its own and delivers plenty of inventive concepts that diversify and build upon the series' fast-paced level design. Sonic Mania is smart and interpretive in its approach, leveraging the strengths of its design and visuals to craft not only the best Sonic game ever made, but an amazing platforming experience overall. If you've enjoyed Sonic at any point in your life, you owe it to yourself to play Sonic Mania. And even if you're not a longtime fan, the fast-paced platforming on display is a fantastic introduction to Sega's beloved blue blur. | Matt Espineli
Fez
Despite being nearly six years old, Fez is still worth playing today. While it initially presents itself as a 2D game, it quickly reveals a third dimension and unfolds into something truly special as a result. You can rotate the game's seemingly 2D environments in 90-degree increments, which allows you to bring elements from the background into the foreground, often to reveal a hidden path. It's a tricky system to wrap your head around at first, but with a simple selection of puzzles to get you going, you can pick it up in no time. From this point on, Fez pushes you to contort your problem-solving techniques as it escalates to truly complex brain teasers that introduce cryptic symbols to match the ever-more-mysterious atmosphere. It's one of the few truly unique games around, and with the sequel cancelled long ago, it seems that will be the case for the foreseeable future. | Peter Brown
Axiom Verge
Axiom Verge is another take on the Metroidvania style, but it distinguishes itself through its wide variety of weapons and tools--most notably, the Address Disruptor, which affects the environment and each enemy type in different ways. It's also a game with an impressive sense of scale and no shortage of secrets to uncover, encouraging multiple playthroughs. Add in an excellent soundtrack and tantalizing story, and there's a lot to like here. | Chris Pereira
Bloodborne
The beauty of video games is how you're able to set foot in worlds you'd never want to visit in real life. Such is the case with Yharnam, the central locale of From Software's Bloodborne. You're a visitor and a hunter in a land without hope. Practically all its inhabitants are possessed with a zombie-like affliction and they want you dead. Still, every locale is inviting in its own haunting and disturbing ways; the more oppressive the environment, the more engrossing Bloodborne feels. The surrounding European-inspired architecture is as thoroughly pervasive as it is detailed. Between the gothic spires and array of imaginative melee weapons, Bloodborne often feels like an unofficial successor to Castlevania. Its enemies range from spectral maidens to more frighteningly supernatural creatures that bear much of the game's H.P. Lovecraft influence. And even if its gameplay and brutal combat borrows heavily from the studio's marquee series, Dark Souls, Bloodborne still manages to stand on its own. Bloodborne's backstories are less opaque than that of Dark Souls' mysteries, but that doesn't make this PlayStation 4 exclusive any less intriguing. | Miguel Concepcion
Undertale
Undertale watches you. It knows you through your actions. You don't have to hurt anyone, but you can hurt everyone. The consequences are hardly laid bare, but they are always alluded to in this retro-style RPG by independent developer Toby Fox. Undertale is both a culmination of the most chilling creepypasta and the most adorable, lovable characters you could imagine. It's all wrapped into a throwback turn-based RPG that incorporates dialogue trees in combat with elements of the bullet hell style for its combat. One of Undertale's greatest achievements is its ability to portray emotion and frame scenes through writing and an old-school art style. However, the most impactful piece of the puzzle is music: Its soundtrack evokes such a strong emotional response that very few games capture. The cozy, heartwarming jingle that plays in Snowdin town makes you wish you could chill at the local bar Grillby's with its diverse community of monsters. Papyrus' theme is equal parts silly and catchy, perfectly encapsulating the character himself. Hotland's tense, foreboding rhythm gets an electronic remix in a later stage that empowers you to push forward. The list goes on, but the point is that Undertale's masterful use of music becomes inseparable from the story it tells. It's a sort of love letter to Earthbound, but Toby Fox crafted a game that should be respected in its own right. Very few games evoke heartbreak, terror, and joy as powerfully as Undertale in such a short period of time; and in that regard, it's one of the best independent games ever made. | Michael Higham
Overcooked
Overcooked is like a Mario Party mini-game blown up into its own standalone experience in the best way possible. It's a game that becomes exponentially better when played with at least one other person. What starts out as a relatively tame game where you help each other chop some vegetables and get them served on a plate becomes a frantic rush to put out fires, get ingredients distributed between two moving vehicles, and other ridiculous scenarios. | Chris Pereira
Iconoclasts
There's no shortage of Metroidvania titles out there, but Iconoclasts stands tall as much more than a simple game about exploring the world while solving puzzles and fighting bosses. Sure, you swing a wrench that can interact with objects and whack enemies over the head, but the magic of this game goes far deeper than the tools at your disposal. Iconoclasts is a story about conflict: science vs. religion, nature vs. technology, old vs. young. And that serves as an incredible backdrop for dynamic characters that extend far beyond their 16-bit look. It's worth playing just to see where they--and you, as the mechanic Robin--end up. | Tony Wilson
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
You may have heard that Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, the final Metal Gear game to feature the involvement of series creator Hideo Kojima, has flaws. The last chunk of the game involves replaying earlier missions with small tweaks, and certain late-game story content was consigned to a special edition bonus feature. Despite all of that, The Phantom Pain stands as a seminal example of what an open-world action game can be. While still retaining much of what makes a Metal Gear game so distinct, it presents players with a vast open world and the ability to tackle its challenges in many, many ways. The mechanics of Ground Zeroes have been fine-tuned, and you can leverage them in a multitude of ways as you take part in the game's consistently excellent, thrilling missions. Just as enjoyable are the emergent hijinks you'll encounter along the way, and all of this is made better by the consistent progression of building up your own personal army. Although it's undoubtedly an experience best played after playing making your way through the prior games, The Phantom Pain is a game that everyone should ultimately try. It holds up now, even after a few years; all that's changed is the price tag. | Chris Pereira
Celeste
Celeste may look like another pixelated platformer with a youthful protagonist, but it quickly transforms into a brutal, tightly orchestrated gauntlet of death that only the best players can master. It challenges you to traverse spike-lined caverns with a modest selection of skills, with alternate pathways that push your mettle even further as you strive to acquire every last hidden item. You will die hundreds of times, but with quick restarts and a catchy soundtrack, there's never any downtime to wallow in defeat, only a new opportunity to show the game what you're made of. The action and difficulty curve are accompanied by a surprisingly engaging story that adds just the right amount of context to make your arduous journey feel justified, and to solidify Celeste as one of the biggest surprises so far of 2018. | Peter Brown
Shovel Knight
This is admittedly a bit of a cheat, as you're best off buying Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove, which includes all three of the campaigns released so far (and more content to come) for $25. But just $10 will get you a single campaign which is more than worth the price of entry. Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment puts you in the shoes of one of the main game's antagonists, Specter Knight, as he takes his own unique journey through the same levels featured in the original game. As with Plague Knight's campaign, the unique mechanics at play here (like the dash attack) make for a much different experience. You would be best-served by starting with the base Shovel Knight campaign, but whichever version you play, you'll be treated to a modern take on retro platformers that bests many of the classics it draws inspiration from. | Chris Pereira
Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection
If there was one first-party PlayStation 3 series that was deemed essential, Uncharted would be it. The Tomb Raider-inspired mix of treasure hunting, puzzle solving, and gunplay was a fitting match for Naughty Dog's penchant for character-driven action-adventure games. Every installment has it share of large set-piece moments, but these dramatic sections do not overshadow the games' engaging journeys of Nathan Drake and his many collaborators. And even though Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is considered by many as the series' high point, the first and third games are nonetheless rich in delightful archeological discoveries and engrossing battles. Experiencing the first three games remastered on the PlayStation 4 is a no-brainer, especially when Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection was handled by Bluepoint Games, the studio responsible for the recent Shadow of the Colossus remake. Upgrading this trilogy to 60 frames per second alone is enough to command the attention of any Uncharted fan, let alone any fan of the genre. The addition of a photo mode, improved textures, and new Trophies only sweetens the deal. | Miguel Concepcion
Bastion
Supergiant Games' debut, Bastion, set the stage for everything else the developer created. This isometric action RPG tells a gripping story of a world destroyed by a catastrophic event referred to as The Calamity in the city of Caelondia. You control Bastion's protagonist, The Kid, who is led by the charismatic narrator named Rucks in a journey to piece the city back together. Very few survivors are left, and hostile monsters litter Caelondia, which is the impetus to put a varied arsenal of melee and projectile weapons to use. The Bastion acts as a sort of home base that slowly comes together as you progress and collect cores at the end of each level. Rucks' deep, instantly recognizable voice (that of Logan Cunningham) adds a level of grandeur to the story that's superbly supported by a truly remarkable soundtrack (by Darren Korb) that's vaguely Celtic, Western, and trip-hop all at the same time. Bastion's fantastical hand-painted art style (by Jen Zee) breathes life into a world nearly devoid of it, torn apart by a conflict of different cultures. These elements came to be staples of Supergiant's work, and Bastion is still a sterling example of the team's ability to craft a game that's both fun and heartfelt. | Michael Higham
Transistor
Transistor, the follow-up to Bastion, would take many of the striking features of that game (like the hand-painted art style, for one) but twist them for a sci-fi, cyberpunk tale. Red was a singer who had her voice physically stolen in an attack on the city of Cloudbank, and she's the one you control in this unique isometric action RPG. The Transistor, a sword-like weapon that killed a man in the attack, becomes Red's tool for fighting back against an army of robots known as The Process, controlled by an evil collective known as The Camerata. Yes, it has a lot going on, but that's how it is with Supergiant's games. The Transistor glows and speaks; it trapped the consciousness and voice of the man it was used to kill, which means this dead man becomes Red's companion throughout the game, similar to the narrator in Bastion (also voiced by Logan Cunningham). What sets Transistor apart is that it incorporates a layer of strategy on top of the action RPG gameplay. There are countless permutations to Red's movesets since each individual move, or functions, can be mixed with another to create an attack which can be used to make short work of enemies that took over your neon-lit city. You also get to pause the action for a limited timeframe to craft a plan of attack and come up with clever ways to string together functions. Not only does Transistor's soundtrack stand out for its folk-tinged electronica, but it's the focal point for characterization and acts as a driving force from start to finish. Music is at the forefront and Darren Korb's vision for complementing the futuristic world is fully realized, which makes Transistor an absolute joy to play. | Michael Higham
Pyre
Pyre, the latest from Supergiant Games, diverges from the action RPG gameplay the studio is known for. The fantastical, hand-painted art by Jen Zee returns. A western, electronic, trip-hop fusion soundtrack from Darren Korb also makes a comeback. But instead of controlling a single protagonist who destroys the enemies in their path in search of answers, Pyre revolves around a mystical sport that's played in an underworld populated by those who've been exiled from the normal world. You are The Reader, found in Purgatory (where reading is forbidden) by a band of exiles who befriend you. The Rites are rituals of sport that determine your worth, and this is where the meat of the gameplay happens. In a Rite, you assemble a team of three from a pool of allies you meet along the way. You face another team of three and fight for the single orb placed in the contained arena with the objective of dunking or shooting the orb into the other team's goal (or Pyre). Only one player from each team can move at any given moment. Each type of player has a varied skillset that can make the sport easier, depending on your playstyle. It sounds like a bit much at first, but once you get a hang of the flow, there's just nothing quite like it. Many have described it as Rocket League meets Dota meets Transistor. Outside of sick orb dunks is the intriguing visual novel-style story about sacrifice and the ties that bind. | Michael Higham
Jamestown+
Vertical arcade shoot-em-ups typically deal with far-flung futures where an ace pilot is defending Earth from a swarm of technologically advanced aliens. By taking place in an alternate timeline where Mars was colonized by England in the 17th Century, Jamestown immediately sets itself apart from its peers. The unique, tongue-in-cheek setting goes a long way to make the game enjoyable, but it's the excellent gameplay that makes Jamestown easy to recommend. You have multiple attack ships to choose from, each with their own weapon loadouts and special abilities. They are easy to control and feel distinct enough that you won't mind replaying levels to extend your time with the game, all the while combatting cleverly constructed swarms of enemy ships that gradually escalate from level to level. It's not as punishing as most games in its genre, but the progress you make as you inch your way towards the conclusion feels rewarding nonetheless. | Peter Brown
Thimbleweed Park
Point-and-click adventure games have experienced something of a renaissance in recent years, and Thimbleweed Park--from adventure game legends Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick--is a prime example. The X-Files-inspired journey puts you in the role of two FBI agents that bear more than a passing resemblance to the classic TV show as you relive the glory days of adventure games. Playing on any console means dealing with a gamepad-based control scheme (as opposed to the more natural mouse controls on PC), but Switch makes up for this with touchscreen support when played in handheld mode. | Chris Pereira
Thumper
Although it's a game arguably best-suited for VR, Thumper is an incredible experience however you play it. It provides a unique blend of rhythm-based gameplay and action--what the developer calls "rhythm violence"--that provides a far more intense version of the basic mechanics you see in other rhythm games. With an incredible soundtrack and levels well-suited to chasing high scores, Thumper is a game with the potential to stick around on your home screen for a long time. | Chris Pereira
Inside
Playdead games won the admiration of its now-large audience when it released Limbo, a slow-paced puzzle-platformer that relied heavily on the use of light and negative space. For the studio's follow-up, Inside, it delivered yet another somber world to explore. It presents a tale that unfolds effortlessly before your eyes as you advance from one scene to the next, with nary a word from any of its characters. Through the power of inference and suggestion, you realize the infiltration of a malicious organization and bear witness to its sinister deeds. Inside will test your ability to think creatively, but it's the narrative--and the way it's delivered--that makes it a game worth playing. Inside reinforces the notion that, sometimes, less is more. | Peter Brown
Crypt of the NecroDancer
Roguelikes (or at least roguelike elements) have been one of the most popular trends in gaming over the past handful of years, but few have taken as interesting of an approach to the genre as Crypt of the NecroDancer. It tasks players with navigating a dungeon to the beat of the music. Rather than simply move in the direction you wish or attack the enemy that's in your path, you and your enemies' actions are tied directly to the (always excellent) soundtrack. It's essential that you always be doing something--not taking an action at the next beat resets your combo, meaning you'll earn less gold or deal less damage, depending on the items you've acquired. Particularly as the music becomes more fast-paced, this lends a real sense of tension and excitement to every moment: you need to constantly be considering your next action while accounting for how nearby enemies will react to your movements. It's an experience with few points of comparison, but it's nonetheless one that you'll certainly want to try. | Chris Pereira
SteamWorld Dig 2
The first SteamWorld Dig was most notable for its distinct blend of mining mechanics and Metroid-style exploration, but it ended right as it began to come into its own. Its sequel is twice as long and puts that added runtime to good use, as both the story and mechanics are given time to flourish. The game put you in control of a steambot named Dorothy searching for her missing friend, Rusty--the protagonist of the first game. There's a surprising sense of momentum that runs through the adventure; it's as if developer Image & Form sifted the original in a pan, removing its redundancies while expanding upon what made mining treasure and exploring so fun in the first place. The result is a brilliant and varied evolution of the first game that not only expands upon its hybrid formula but presents it in its best light. Where the first game was a diamond in the rough, SteamWorld Dig 2 is a polished jewel. | Matt Espineli
By Michael Rougeau on Mar 23, 2018 03:41 am
The more you know.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi shook the series up in ways that fans have never seen before, and for some, it was a lot to deal with. But as we found out watching the special features on The Last Jedi's Blu-ray release, it's impossible to fully judge the movie until you find out exactly why director Rian Johnson made so many controversial choices. Did you know that Mark Hamill hated the direction Johnson took Luke Skywalker in for the movie, or that the design for Supreme Leader Snoke changed throughout production because Johnson felt he wasn't intimidating enough? What about the fact that--according to Mark Hamill--George Lucas wanted to recast C-3PO's voice actor during production of the original Star Wars? Or that it took over 20 takes to capture General Leia slapping Poe Dameron across the face? Click through the gallery for a lot more. The Last Jedi's special features are spread across a feature-length documentary--The Director and the Jedi--as well as a shorter one, Balance of the Force, several breakdowns of key scenes, and more. We dove in and pulled out these tasty factoids, but there's plenty more to discover when you watch for yourself. Star Wars: The Last Jedi is out digitally now, and on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray disc March 27.
1. Mark Hamill did not like the direction for Luke Skywalkerwan.
From: The Director and the Jedi Mark Hamill emphasizes over and over in the feature length documentary The Director and the Jedi that he disagreed with the direction of Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi. "I told Rian this. It's no surprise. I said, 'I just fundamentally disagree with your concept of this character and how you use him.' Now having said that, I'll do everything within my power to realize your vision. Because, you know, it's not my character to decide. It belongs to other people. They just rent it out to me."
2. Hamill wrestled with the fact that Luke is no longer the hero.
From: The Director and the Jedi "You have your own view of how your character should be, and how he should be utilized. My character always represented hope and optimism, and now here I am very pessimistic and disillusioned and sort of demoralized," Hamill says. "It was heavy on him," says producer Ram Bergman. "He thought he's gonna be the Luke Skywalker of this trilogy. It's just the realization that in this trilogy, he's not Luke Skywalker. He's [Obi-Wan Kenobi]."
3. Hamill's struggle wasn't lost on director Rian Johnson.
From: The Director and the Jedi Johnson says in the documentary: "I don't think he ever got to the point where he thought 'OK, I understand why Luke has to go at the end of this.' But he was completely devoted to making what I had written the most powerful version it can possibly be on the screen. I'll always be dazzled by the fact that he had the generosity of spirit to do that, and always feel like I really, really owe him for that. You know, I don't take that lightly."
4. Johnson wanted to achieve as many scenes with practical effects as possible.
From: The Director and the Jedi Even scenes like the one in which Luke milks the sea cow--which is relatively unimportant in the scheme of the movie--were done with practical effects. "So to actually go to Ireland and place the sea cow on a rocky outcrop, the sea, the sound, the light, all of these aspects would just gel together to make the whole shot look incredible," says creature and droid effects supervisor Neal Scanlan.
5. Kylo Ren's distinctive scar was designed over several months.
From: The Director and the Jedi And it got wider and wider as they iterated on the design, according to hair and makeup designer Peter Swords King, who has an incredibly awesome name.
6. The actor and puppeteer behind Yoda is the same as in the originals.
From: The Director and the Jedi This may be common knowledge to some Star Wars fans, but others might be unaware that the voice actor and puppeteer behind Yoda in The Last Jedi is Frank Oz, who also controlled the iconic Jedi master in the original Star Wars trilogy.
7. The same goes for C-3PO.
From: The Director and the Jedi The same goes for C-3PO, who as always is played by Anthony Daniels. Daniels provides the voice and dons the suit for the protocol droid, as he has in all eight main Star Wars movies to date.
8. George Lucas originally wanted to re-cast C-3PO.
From: The Director and the Jedi From a story told by Mark Hamill in the documentary: "George got back and looked at all the footage and didn't like C-3PO's voice. And so he saw over 100 actors--voiceover guys--to come in and audition for the role of 3PO's voice. Mind you, it's all been filmed. And we're so used to Tony. 'Oh yes, how's that sir.' All of that, I mean, it was all part and parcel of the organic character. He's almost like the droid equivalent of Upstairs, Downstairs. He's much more comfortable in a drawing room serving champagne. That was the humor of 3PO!"
9. Snoke's design changed partway through production.
From: scene breakdowns Partway through production, Rian Johnson felt that Snoke didn't look threatening enough. So they re-designed the villain to make his shoulders and jaw wider and make him half a foot taller.
10. Snoke's motion capture was insanely detailed.
From: scene breakdowns The motion capture on Andy Serkis playing Snoke was so detailed that they were able to transfer small touches like Andy's flaring nostrils, slight twitches, and flying spittle onto the CG character.
11. Rian Johnson wanted The Last Jedi to redefine The Force.
From: Balance of the Force In a second, shorter documentary feature on the Blu-ray, Johnson explains that he wanted the movie to redefine what The Force is. "The Force is not a superpower," he says. "I wanted in this movie to do a little bit of a reset lesson, especially for kids who are coming to these movies for the first time."
12. Johnson had strong ideas for Luke's motivations in this movie.
From: Balance of the Force Johnson had clear ideas for why Luke has closed himself off to The Force and sequestered himself on this distant planet. "The Jedi have done nothing but add to the problems of the universe. And the most selfless act he can do is to do what he couldn't do in The Empire Strikes Back, and ignore the calls of help from his friends, and lock himself off," the director says. "And suddenly it turns into this kind of burden that he has to hold. He would love to jump back in and help everybody, but he's realized that if he brings the Jedi back into this, then the Sith are going to rise up again, and the whole thing is going to start again, and it's just going to be more misery."
13. Johnson has a good reason for Rey's parents being nobodies, too.
From: Balance of the Force "In the first trilogy, the hardest thing Luke could be told in that moment was that Vader was his father. It turns everything on its head for Luke, it takes away all the easy answers, and it makes him face the hardest thing, which is that 'I no longer have just a bad guy I can hate,'" Johnson says. "For Rey I think it's the exact opposite. If she were told that she is related to this person, or Luke is her this, or whatever, that would be the easiest thing she could hear. That's everything she wants. That would instantly define what her place is in this universe. So to me, the equivalent of 'I am your father' is 'Nope, you've got to stand on your own two feet. There are not going to be those easy answers here for you.'"
14. Johnson came up with the visual for Rey's vision before he knew what it meant.
From: Balance of the Force "The mirror cave is another thing that I didn't even know what it meant when I first had the visual idea," Johnson says. "And then as I developed the story I realized, oh, this is its place in all this, and what it means to Rey."
15. Sounds for Oscar Isaac's ship in the opening scene include a roll of tape.
From: scene breakdowns The sound design team clearly had a good time working on The Last Jedi. They got pretty creative; in the opening scene, for example, the sounds that went into creating Poe Dameron's ship include the slowed-down crinkle of a roll of tape being quickly unwound.
16. The bomber ships in that opening scene were inspired by World War II era B-17 bombers.
From: scene breakdowns Their vertical design is deliberate as well, meant to communicate visually the sheer impressive number of bombs each holds.
17. Leia slapping Poe was one of the first things they shot.
From: scene breakdowns It took around 24 takes, according to Oscar Isaac.
18. The idea for Holdo's sacrifice actually came from the original Star Wars.
From: scene breakdowns The idea for Holdo's sacrifice, when she cuts through Snoke's fleet at light speed, came from the original Star Wars, when Han Solo says "Without precise calculations, we'd bounce right through a star or fly too close to a supernova, and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?" Johnsons says he wanted to find out what that would look like.
19. Crait's white and red surface was one of the first visual ideas Rian Johnson had for the movie.
From: scene breakdowns The designers struggled to create the pulpy, red explosions that Johnson envisioned. They tried out a number of materials for the red undersurface, including red rubber, red ice, and red snow. They ultimately landed on shredded paper, wetted and dyed red.
20. The "gorilla walkers" make interesting sounds too.
From: scene breakdowns The sounds for the walkers during the battle of Crait are a combination of a metal press and a heavily distorted lion.
21. The ice cave section on Crait was inspired by the original Star Tours.
From: scene breakdowns Before Disneyland's Star Tours ride was revamped, there was a section where riders traveled through a comet and smashed through the ice at the other end. The ice cave chase on Crait was directly inspired by this section of the ride, Johnson says.
22. The crystal foxes could have been played by real dogs.
From: scene breakdowns They tested both live animals and animatronics for the crystal foxes on Crait, but ultimately went with full CG creatures to make them as elegant and beautiful as possible.
23. There were doubts about the casino sequence's place in the movie.
From: scene breakdowns Says costume designer Michael Kaplan, "A casino in Star Wars, you know, with fancy dressed people? It just seemed, ehh, and I expressed my fears to Rian, and asked for more input, and he didn't really make it easier. He said he wanted them to look very elegant."
24. Johnson sees Benicio del Toro's character more as a Han Solo figure than a villain.
From: The Director and the Jedi "Not a villain. Don't believe the internet," Johnson says. "I think he was there to meet a guy about a thing. You know? He was there on other business basically, and he was going to get in and get out, and then he got tossed in [jail]. I mean, really subconsciously, what we want to evoke in the audience is Han Solo. We don't want to play it too close to that, but the whole thing of a scoundrel, and the audience expects him to have a heart of gold."
25. The scenes between Luke and Rey were some of the first they shot.
From: The Director and the Jedi They were shot so early that other characters, like Rose Tico, hadn't even been cast yet. They were only given access to Skellig Michael, the small island off the coast of Ireland, for two days, in part because it's a bird sanctuary. "It felt so good to get out here and actually roll some film...it's going to be hard to go back to looking at charts and having board meetings," Johnson says.
26. BB-8 was difficult to operate on terrain that wasn't flat, such as ramps.
From: The Director and the Jedi Goodness he's cute.
27. Johnson sees Rey and Kylo as two halves of a single protagonist.
From: The Director and the Jedi "Kylo, that was the character that I was most excited about getting into and writing, because in the first Star Wars films, Vader was a great villain, but he was never someone that you identified with," Johnson says. "Whereas with Kylo, it's almost like Rey and Kylo are two halves of the protagonist. And if this is all about the transition from adolescence into adulthood, Kylo is that anger of adolescence."
28. There are subtle hints during Luke and Kylo's fight that Luke isn't really there.
From: scene breakdowns For example, the falling salt flakes don't interact with Luke or his lightsaber, and Luke's feet leave no marks in the salt on the surface of the ground.
29. Mark Hamill's reaction when he learned the movie's title is adorable.
From: The Director and the Jedi Cameras captured the moment Rian Johnson told Mark Hamill the title of the movie for the first time. "You can't tell Marilou [Hamill] or anybody, it's just me and you, because there's really only a couple of people who know," Johnson says, before telling him the movie will be called "The Last Jedi." "Oo. Wow. That means me!" Hamill responds. "Simple, direct, powerful. I love it. Wow, I'm glad I didn't know, I mean, because it's an added burden when I think of it."
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