By Array on Apr 04, 2018 12:27 am
The first three months of 2018 have already seen some great TV shows, including Altered Carbon, The End of the F***ing World, Black Lightning, Everything Sucks, and the return of Jessica Jones. But there's loads more to come. While fans will have to wait until 2019 before we get more Stranger Things and Game of Thrones, there are still a ton of small screen goodies worth getting excited about. There's the return of some of 2017's best shows (Mindhunter, Ozark, Black Mirror), more offerings from Marvel and DC, some lavish reworkings of classic sci-fi and horror properties, and a handful of intriguing new titles. So here's the biggest TV shows to watch over next nine months...
Lost In Space
Netflix, April 13 The iconic '60s sci-fi series is getting a big-budget makeover from Netflix, and the first trailer appeared recently. It looks a lot darker and more dramatic than the original, but the plot remains the same--the Robinson family find themselves stranded on an alien planet after a colonisation mission goes wrong. The cast includes Molly Parker (House of Cards), Toby Stephens (Black Sails), and Parker Posey (The Good Wife), with Game of Thrones and the upcoming Hellboy reboot director Neil Marshall helming several episodes.
Fear the Walking Dead, Season 4
AMC, April 15 Although Fear the Walking Dead still doesn't get anything like the viewing figures of The Walking Dead, the spin-off is improving with every season, which is something that can't be said of the main show. Season 4 will see the most overt crossover between the two series to date, with Lennie James joining as troubled, stick-wielding fan favorite Morgan. He's not the only addition to the cast either, with Garret Dillahunt (Deadwood), Maggie Grace (Taken), and Jenna Elfman (Dharma & Greg) all set to play new characters, plus a change of location from Mexico to Texas. While it's hard to muster much enthusiasm for each new season of the main show, we're excited about Fear the Walking Dead's return.
Westworld, Season 2
HBO, April 22 It's been about a year since Westworld's first run ended on HBO. Throughout a season filled with jaw-dropping twists and gut-punching revelations, the end of Season 1 left fans with so many questions. Hopefully, the answers will be delivered once Season 2 hits the cable giant. While speculation has us wondering if the show will follow the path Michael Crichton's original film took--could Delos introduce audiences to a Medieval and Roman World in 2018?-- there's a surefire bet the new episodes will be rife with chaos. Oh, and Samurais. There's totally going to be Samurais.
Into The Badlands
AMC, April 22 AMC's martial arts drama has been picking up fans and great reviews for a couple of years now, and the third season is set to have the highest profile yet. The show is a post-apocalyptic adventure marked by a distinctive visual style, blistering action, and a cast that includes Lorraine Toussaint (Orange Is the New Black), Daniel Wu (Tomb Raider), and Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz). Season 3 will have a longer run than the previous two seasons, and last month, showrunner Alfred Gough gave fans a taste of what to expect. "The most exciting thing about this season is that everything in the Badlands is bigger," he told Variety. "The world gets more expansive, the stakes for all of our characters are higher, and the martial arts fights are bloodier and more bats*** crazy than ever."
Cobra Kai
YouTube Red, May 2 The Karate Kid was one of the most iconic movie hits of the 1980s, and to date it has spawned two direct sequels, a semi-sequel/spin-off, and the 2010 remake. The next entry is Cobra Kai, a follow-up to the original movie that premieres on YouTube Red and is produced by Harold and Kumar creators Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg. Arch-rival Daniels (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny (William Zabka) return, with the latter reopening the dojo of the title to train a new generation of evil karate kids. It's an interesting twist that the emphasis is on the first film's villain rather than its hero, and the trailers suggest an entertaining mix of nostalgia and more modern comedy drama.
Cloak and Dagger
Freeform, June 7 On the fact of it, the upcoming Marvel show Cloak and Dagger seems similar to Hulu's own Marvel series Runaways--runaway teens coming to terms with their emerging superpowers. But Cloak and Dagger, based on the popular '80s comic book, should make for a more darker and emotional ride. Aubrey Joseph and Olivia Holt play two kids who are living on the streets of New York, using their control over darkness and light to fight a drug epidemic sweeping the city.
Marvel's Luke Cage/Daredevil
Netflix, June 22 (Luke Cage) Iron Fist and The Defenders may have cracked the impeccable partnership Netflix cemented with Marvel but that doesn't mean all hope is lost with the comic book giant's street level heroes. While Frank Castle came in to disrupt Marvel's small screen universe, it's clear that Daredevil and Luke Cage still have more work to do.
Sharp Objects
June, HBO The HBO drama is inspired by Gillian Flynn's novel of the same name. The series stars Amy Adams as a journalist who heads home after a stint in a psychiatric facility, only to find herself investigating the murder of two girls. If you take the tone and subject matter of Flynn's previous work (Gone Girl) and add Jean-Marc Vallee's (Big Little Lies) directorial skills into the mix, it's easy to see Sharp Objects' edgy allure.
Doctor Who Season 11
BBC, October It's always exciting when a new actor takes on the role as the iconic Timelord, but the debut of the thirteenth doctor this October is a really big deal. Jodie Whittaker replaces Peter Capaldi and is the first woman to play the Doctor. Whittaker had a brief appearance at the end of the recent Christmas Special, but fans will have to wait until October to see how her portrayal differs from previous incarnations. There's a new showrunner too, as Broadchurch's Chris Chibnall succeeds Steven Moffat. Finally, the Doctor's assistant is to be played by comedian Bradley Walsh.
The Purge
Syfy The Purge is one of the most successful horror franchises of recent years--the three movies to date have made more than $319 million worldwide on modest budgets, and the fourth movie is set to hit theatres in July. But if that weren't enough, there's also a 10-episode TV show on the way. It's being produced for Syfy and will be overseen by franchise creator James DeMonaco, who also wrote and directed the first three films. It's set once more in a dystopian future where the annual Purge allows citizens to get all their violent, criminal impulses out, and according to early reports, will focus on a Marine who returns home to protect his sister on Purge Night. There's no premiere date yet, but it was recently announced The People v. O. J. Simpson director Anthony Hemingway will helm the first episode, so there's a good chance we might see it before the year is out.
Maniac
Netflix Maniac will probably be one of the weirder series of the year. Given the names attached, though, the show comes with huge buzz. Cary Fukunaga helms the dark comedy, which stars Emma Stone, Jonah Hill, and Justin Theroux. The story centers on a patient living in a psychiatric hospital who escapes reality by living his life inside a fantasy world maintained solely inside his own mind. It sounds bonkers, but if Fukunaga brings the same sensibilities he brought to True Detective, the network may have a winner on its hands.
Titans
DC digital channel While the quality of DC's movie output has been variable (to say the least), its roster of TV shows remains remarkably consistent. Titans is the latest addition. A live-action version of the Teen Titans, it's been in development since 2014, but shifting channels and cancelled pilots has meant very slow progress to the screen. But it is finally set to premiere in 2018, on DC's currently untitled new digital service. Australian actor Brenton Thwaites (Gods of Egypt, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) plays Dick Grayson/Robin, leading a team of young superheroes that includes Starfire, Raven, and Beast Boy.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Netflix The Coen Brothers are coming to TV. That sentence alone should get people excited. The duo--who brought classics like Fargo, The Big Lebowski, and No Country for Old Men to the big screen--will both write and direct a new western anthology series for Netflix. The six episode program will star Tim Blake Nelson, with each episode following a different character and story. Not much else has been announced regarding the series, but that's fine. The Coen Brothers are coming to TV and that's pretty awesome.
The Umbrella Academy
Netflix A comic book property outside of Marvel's purview is on its way to Netflix. The Umbrella Academy comes from the mind of My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way. The series tells the story of some not-pregnant women who suddenly give birth to a bunch of superpowered babies. Taking place in an alternate timeline--one where JFK is still very much alive--the story follows seven kids as they undergo training to save the world. Ellen Page has been tapped to star in the program, and Way will serve as producer.
The Twilight Zone
CBS: All Access Since anthology TV shows are all the rage now, it seems only right that the granddaddy that started it all come out of retirement. Jordan Peele (Get Out, Key and Peele) and Simon Kinberg (Deadpool, Logan) have teamed up to bring a new Twilight Zone to the masses. Sure, multiple versions of The Twilight Zone have graced the big and small screen over the past 60 years--some better than others--but now seems like the perfect time for the series to return.
Ozark, Season 2
Netflix When Ozark premiered last year, many compared it to Breaking Bad, both in terms of its plot (an ordinary family man who chooses a life of crime) and its mix of violent thrills and dark humor. But the show quickly grew into its own thing and emerged as one of 2017's most enjoyable original series. Season 2 already has a teaser and has been shooting since last fall, so there's a good chance of it arriving in 2018. Jason Bateman returns as money-laundering dad Marty Byrde, with Laura Linney as his estranged but equally duplicitous wife Wendy. As Bateman says: "It's a good escalation of everything as far: danger, the business challenges, and--domestically--our relationship."
Watchmen
HBO Zack Snyder's Watchmen movie was visually stunning, to be sure. The story, however, was a bit lacking. Is it possible a TV series is the right way to go? We'll soon see, as HBO has tapped Damon Lindelof (LOST, The Leftovers) to helm a small-screen adaptation of Alan Moore's iconic graphic novel. There's huge buzz behind the series, but fans have sort of been left in the dark on what to expect. Will this draw from Moore's comic, the 2012 prequel story, or DC's 2017 sequel, Doomsday Clock?
The Haunting of Hill House
Netflix Mike Flanagan (Oculus, Gerald's Game) is one of the best horror directors working today, and 2018 will see him turn his talents to TV. Produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblin TV, this is an adaptation of Shirley Jackson's 1959 novel, which was also turned into the classic 1963 movie The Haunting (the less said about the 1999 remake the better). Annabeth Gish (Sons of Anarchy, The West Wing) stars as Mrs. Dudley, the caretaker of a haunted estate, with roles for Timothy Hutton (All the Money in the World) and Gerald's Game's Carla Gugino. Flanagan has written and directed the whole 10-part series, and this could be one of the year's great horror shows.
Luther, Series 5
BBC Fans of Luther were both excited and dismayed when the series returned for a two-episode fourth season in 2015. With a busy actor like Idris Elba playing the title role, sometimes schedules can be tight. That said, it looks like Elba has donned his signature tweed coat for another go-round as brilliant detective John Luther. We don't know what sort of gruesome crimes he will be investigating, but one thing is for certain: Idris Elba is at his best when the world is at its worst. Right now, John Luther is the hero we need and deserve.
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Netflix Channeling the success of Riverdale, another Archie Comics story was in the works at The CW. But due to their concern of having too many witch shows--the network's Charmed reboot is still on the horizon--the untitled Sabrina the Teenage Witch series was handed over to Netflix. The series will explore the origins of the half-witch, half-mortal as she battles the evil forces that threaten her friends and family. Tonally, Deadline describes the series as being "in the vein of Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist."
Mindhunter Season 2
Netflix This is another Netflix show without a confirmed release date, but star Jonathan Groff has said that the second season of the period crime thriller is to start shooting early this year, so a late 2018 premiere is possible. The first season of Mindhunter showed that producer David Fincher was just at home with small-screen serial killer thrills as he is in movies such as Zodiac and Seven. The balance between a seriously dark crime procedural and a beautifully performed, character-driven drama was exceptional, so hopes are extremely high for Season 2.
Black Mirror, Season 5
Netflix Netflix has confirmed that Charlie Brooker's hugely acclaimed sci-fi anthology series will return for a fifth season. While the streaming giant is yet to announce a release date, the previous two seasons arrived a year apart, so there's good chance we might see Black Mirror Season 5 before the end of the year. Season 4 was the strongest season to date, so expect the next one to deliver more disturbing but darkly funny predictions about the way technology continues to shape our lives. Can't wait.
Castle Rock
Hulu The Stephen King renaissance has shown no sign of slowing down and with Castle Rock, Hulu's aiming to bring the author's story universe to the small-screen. The program's cast features names like Sissy Spacek, Bill Skarsgard, and Melanie Lynskey. But what makes Castle Rock so special is the connected nature of the anthology series itself. Fans should expect to see familiar stories, characters, and themes that originated in the author's previous works. There may be a decent wait before Pennywise the Dancing Clown returns to the big-screen, but that's okay. We're about to head back into Shawshank Prison, and that's pretty dang cool.
By Christopher Gates on Apr 03, 2018 10:35 pm
Take your pick.
Superman's perennially doomed homeworld is getting a new lease on life on SYFY's new TV series, Krypton. But which Krypton will the show be using, exactly? The Man of Steel's planet has gone through a number of changes over the past 80 years. Whether a world filled with supermen, a sci-fi utopia, or a planet consumed by civil war, these are some of the most important and influential takes on Krypton that have popped up throughout the Man of of Steel's long and storied history. After all, with Krypton, there's only one constant: Eventually, the planet is going to explode. Everything else is up in the air.
1. Action Comics #1 (1938)
In the very first panel of Superman's very first comic, a planet with green hills explodes as baby Superman's rocket takes off. The world isn't named and we don't get any information about what it's like, but hey--it's a start.
2. The Superman Newspaper Strip (1939)
Shortly after Superman's big debut, co-creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster introduced the Last Son of Krypton to newspaper readers with the first in-depth look at Kal-L's origin story. In the comic strip, Krypton is a planet filled with superpowered man and women--but extraordinary strength and the ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound still isn't enough to stop the planet from going kablooey. Notably, in the strip, Siegel's narration says that Kryptonians simply represent "the human race at its ultimate peak of perfect development." How did humans get to a far-off world like Krypton in the first place? We'll never know.
3. The Superman Serial (1948)
In the late '40s, Colombia Pictures released Superman, a 15-part serial starring Kirk Alyn that doubled as Krypton's live-action debut. In the first episode, viewers learn that Krypton's citizens have superpowers, but they never seem to use them. Instead, Krypton's council spends most of its time lounging around in togas, arguing about Krypton's imminent demise thanks to its quickly expanding sun, and sitting on some of the most uncomfortable furniture ever made. It's all cheap and vague and ill-defined, and pales in comparison to the extra-terrestrial worlds depicted in earlier serials like Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers.
4. Superman #53 (1948)
That same year, the comic books finally fleshed out Superman's origin story, giving readers their first real glimpse of Kryptonian society. In this telling, Krypton's intense gravity keeps its citizens grounded (although X-ray vision is still a thing), but the Kryptonians make up for their reduced powers with their super brains. They're also smug and arrogant, making it hard to get too upset when Krypton's uranium core turns radioactive and blows them all into a million pieces.
5. The Adventures of Superman (1951)
The first episode of George Reeves' popular television series borrows a lot from the Superman radio drama and the Kirk Alyn serials, but design-wise, this take on Krypton is far more serious than previous versions. It's also gloriously ostentations--Jor-El, Lara, and baby Kal live in the Griffith Observatory, for goodness' sake. For the first time, Krypton is less pulp and more like an outer space Westeros, although the producers are clearly limited by their meager TV budget. Hey, at least they tried.
6. The Silver and Bronze Ages (1956-1986)
In the '60s, Krypton became a much bigger part of Superman's ongoing series, and over the next two and a half decades the planet was fleshed out to a ridiculous degree. Readers were introduced to Krypton's governing body, the Science Council, met wildlife like the Snagriff and Flame Dragons, and visited landmarks like the Hall of Worlds and the Mind-Art Center. They learned that El is one of Krypton's family names, and that the planet's red sun, Rao, keeps its inhabitants powerless. Popular Kryptonian artifacts like the Phantom Zone, the Bottle City of Kandor, and Supergirl's hometown, Argo City, all made their debut here.
7. Superman: The Movie (1978)
In the comics, science might've been Krypton's guiding force, but that didn't keep things from being fun and lively. In Superman: The Movie, the Kryptonians' love of logic and rationality takes a decidedly dystopian turn. Under Richard Donner's direction, Krypton is a foreboding, monochromatic civilization where reason, not emotion, reigns supreme. Even Krypton's crystalline buildings are cold and sterile. Still, Donner must've gotten something right. Superman: The Movie's Krypton pops up again in Superman Returns, Smallville, the CW's Supergirl, and numerous comic books.
8. Super Friends (1983)
A kids' show that dabbles in genocide? You betcha. When Superman travels through time in Super Friends' third season episode "The Krypton Syndrome," he finds himself on a version of Krypton that's the same as the Silver Age version with one big exception: This time, Krypton can be saved. Unfortunately, doing so creates an alternate timeline in which the Legion of Doom reigns supreme, forcing the Man of Steel to go back in time again in order to set things straight. That's right: on Super Friends, Superman murders his entire planet to save his friends on Earth.
9. Post-Crisis (1986)
After Crisis on Infinite Earths reset the DC universe, DC hired fan-favorite writer and artist John Byrne to give Superman a new, modern origin story. Byrne's Man of Steel and World of Krypton miniseries reinvented Krypton as a dystopia where physical contact is forbidden, babies are raised in artificial wombs called "birthing matrices," and the people still carry the scars of an ancient conflict known as the Clone Wars. Thanks to weapons deployed during the battle, both Krypton and its people are slowly dying from a mysterious disease known as "the green plague." Basically, this time around, Krypton's destruction isn't a natural phenomenon. This time, the Kryptonians brought it on themselves.
10. Superman: The Animated Series (1996)
The follow-up to the fan-favorite Batman: The Animated Series ditches all that doom and gloom and returns Krypton to its pulp adventure roots, with a healthy dose of Jack Kirby thrown in for good measure. In Superman's pilot, Jor-El is a swashbuckling science hero who butts heads with both Kryptonian security forces and the local wildlife, and Krypton isn't doomed by its citizens' hubris. Instead, Brainiac, the duplicitous artificial intelligence that runs Kryptonian society, is the cause of Krypton's demise.
11. Birthright (2003)
In 2003, Mark Waid and Leinil Yu's 12-issue miniseries Birthright restored many of Krypton's Silver Age trappings. In this story, intellect and science have triumphed over war and violence, making Krypton a peaceful society once again. As a new origin for Superman, Birthright didn't last long, but many of the series' smaller contributions to Kryptonian culture, like the idea that Superman's shield is the Kryptonian symbol for "hope," managed to survive.
12. New Krypton (2008-2010)
DC's big crossover event gave fans its most in-depth look at Kryptonian society yet, while finding a way to bring all the different versions of Krypton together. In the story, we learn that Kryptonian society has five different guilds, each one of which dresses in the style of a previous Kryptonian incarnation. The Science Guild, for example, wears outfits that resemble John Byrne's designs. The Artist Guild's uniforms are plucked right out of the Silver Age. Naturally, Superman: The Movie gets a lot of love here, too (New Krypton co-writer Geoff Johns is Richard Donner's former assistant). Krypton's ceremonial robes look a lot like the ones that Marlon Brando's Jor-El wore, and New Krypton is built on crystal-based technology.
13. The New 52 (2011)
After DC's line-wide reboot, the New 52, Krypton looked a lot like its Silver Age counterpart, but it sure didn't feel that way. Despite Jor-El's familiar get-up, the New 52's Krypton is plagued by terrorists who want to keep Krypton's impending demise a secret. Also this time around, Superman's mom is a badass.
14. Man of Steel (2013)
You want grim and gritty? That's Man of Steel. Instead of robes, these Kryptonians wear armor. Instead of a peaceful society that values intellect and knowledge, this Krypton is engulfed in civil war. Meanwhile, the planet is exploding because the Kryptonians mined it to death, and everyone has weapons up the wazoo. Avatar-style dragon riding aside, Man of Steel's Krypton is harsh, violent, and unpredictable. No wonder its Last Son ended up being a stone-cold killer.
15. Krypton (2018)
So, what does Krypton look like on SYFY? Honestly, a little bit of everything. The show was developed by Man of Steel writer David Goyer, and was originally pitched as a prequel to the film. Krypton's producers list John Byrne's World of Krypton as a major influence. As in Superman: The Animated Series, Brainiac will be a major player on the show. Silver Age characters Flamebird and Nightwing are scheduled to appear, too. The guild system from New Krypton returns, and as for Superman: The Movie's crystals? Oh, there will be crystals. That's guaranteed.
By Oscar Dayus on Apr 03, 2018 05:36 pm
Rainbow Six Siege has been around for more than two years now, and in that time, it's gone from a competent shooter that had problems to one of the biggest multiplayer games around. Following the release of the most recent expansion, Operation Chimera, Siege hit its highest-ever concurrent player count on Steam, and Ubisoft now says it wants to continue supporting the game until it reaches 100 Operators, rather than make a sequel. But how did we get to this stage? How did Ubisoft turn an innovative-but-flawed game into the behemoth it is today? Simply put, the company did so by persevering -- with free downloadable content, an appropriate microtransaction model, and continual improvements. Just recently, for example, all of Rainbow Six Siege's base Operators were made free, while a bunch of characters were buffed or nerfed. For more on the latest expansion, check out all the Rainbow Six Siege Outbreak pack weapon skins, uniforms, and cosmetics, or read how the newest Operators, Lion and Finka, affect Siege's metagame. For now though, let's look back at what Siege was, how it's evolved, and where it stands today.
Base Game
Rainbow Six Siege's launch did not go according to plan. It was, of course, originally intended to be the ill-fated Rainbow Six: Patriots, but even after that was canceled Siege suffered problems in its beta phase and an eventual delay. It finally came out in December 2015 to a positive critical reception but also a bunch of server issues, bugs, and balancing problems. Critics praised the game's strategic depth, cast of characters--who each come equipped with a unique ability that aids in the game's hook of 5v5, attack v defense--and its destructibility. However, players complained of slow matchmaking and inconsistent hit detection. While these problems eased in the months following Siege's launch, they did not get fully resolved for around 18 months. Some also didn't like the slow progression, as the full list of Operators is not available to standard edition players when they begin; instead, you must unlock each character using Renown (essentially experience points), which can take a while.
Year 1, Season 1: Black Ice
By the time Siege's first DLC dropped in February 2016, the game had improved enough that it had a solid playerbase that was satisfied (if not totally happy) with the game's state. Black Ice then introduced two new Canadian characters--Buck and Frost--as well as a new map named Yacht. Thankfully, all Rainbow Six Siege DLC is free: maps are available to everyone and new Operators are able to be unlocked with Renown. The latter are, however, expensive when bought using in-game currency, so it's easier for most to buy the season passes if you want swift access to all the characters.
Year 1, Season 2: Operation Dust Line
Operation Dust Line was the next batch of DLC to drop in May 2016, bringing another new map, Border, and two more American Operators, raising the then-total to 24. Blackbeard's weapon shield and Valkyrie's black eye cameras each changed the meta up and are still used in the pro leagues today. Dust Line also marked the first time Siege players could equip special headgears and charms to their Operators and weapons, lending the game a little more color and personality.
Year 1, Season 3: Operation Skull Rain
In July 2016, Ubisoft released Siege's Brazilian expansion, Operation Skull Rain. Like previous DLCs, the update was free, consisting of two Operators--Capitao and Caveira--and one map, Favela. While Capitao and his crossbow have still not been perfected and have been the subject of many tweaks since launch, Caveira is a well-balanced, distinctive character that made Siege simultaneously more stylish and more dynamic: as a dedicated roamer, Caveira meant you could no longer expect to get all the way to the objective room without seeing an enemy defender, effectively expanding the scope of each map. Operation Skull Rain also brought a new loadout screen to better emphasize each Operator's unique style and color.
Year 1, Season 4: Operation Red Crow
Year 1's final Season of DLC, titled Operation Red Crow and released in November 2016, was Japan-themed. The new map, Skyscraper, was set atop a Japanese tower, complete with a tea room and thin (and very destructible) shoji screens. The additional Operators, meanwhile, have experienced very different life cycles since their release. Echo and his concussion drone are rarely used and commonly considered underpowered in all but the most experienced hands, while Hibana quickly became a favorite among the community for her ranged X-Kairos pellets, which can penetrate reinforced walls in a similar way to Thermite. By the end of Year 1, Rainbow Six Siege was in a much healthier place than 12 months earlier. It still wasn't perfect, but Ubisoft had now ironed out the majority of issues the launch game carried, while also expanding it in terms of maps and its roster of characters. Additionally, that cast grew significantly more diverse in that year, with more female characters added and ethnic minorities now represented much more prominently than before. Finally, as an example of a number of small improvements Ubisoft has made since launch, Operation Red Crow heralded the introduction of caliber-based destruction for all weapons, meaning a hefty sniper rifle would now make a bigger hole in a wall than a single SMG bullet.
Year 2, Season 1: Operation Velvet Shell
Year 2 kicked off in February 2017 with a new season pass, another map, and another pair of Operators in Operation Velvet Shell. Originating from Spain, both new characters were excellent additions to Siege's roster: Jackal is a dedicated roamer tracker, while Mira allows the defending team to see through a reinforced wall and shoot through if needed. Both fighters, along with the new map, Coastline, are still community favorites today.
Year 2, Season 2: Operation Health
Year 2's Season 2, however, was a little different to past DLC drops. Most notably, no DLC actually dropped--or at least, no new Operators or maps. Instead, Ubisoft delayed its planned content drop in favor of a period of quality of life updates and more small improvements called Operation Health. Aside from loot boxes called Alpha Packs, the Season meant improved textures, more realistic skies, and vastly improved lighting--you could finally see in and out of buildings! Matchmaking was also among the list of improvements, and this has remained far quicker and more reliable since Operation Health. The delay of tangible content annoyed many at the time, but in hindsight, Siege would not be as successful as it is today if it weren't for the foundation work done throughout the middle of 2016. Unfortunately, Operation Health meant we never got a fourth map during Year 2, but with so many maps that Ubisoft routinely removes some from rotation in public playlists, perhaps it's not as huge a loss as it first seems.
Year 2, Season 3: Operation Blood Orchid
The delay of two Operators in the season before meant Operation Blood Orchid came in September 2017 with not two, but three Operators, in addition to a new map. Two of those Operators, Ying and Lesion, are Chinese; the third, Ela, is Polish. Ying and Lesion are fantastic (if not revolutionary), but Ela has gone on to become a staple pick among the Siege player base. She's received multiple nerfs, but she remains a very popular defender -- primarily because of her rapid-firing SMG. Blood Orchid's map, Theme Park, is divisive among the community, but its gaudy rides and overgrown vegetation undoubtedly add yet more flavor to the ever-expanding buffet that is Rainbow Six Siege.
Year 2, Season 4: Operation White Noise
Year 2 wrapped up in December 2017 with Operation White Noise. This season included another three Operators--the remaining Polish character, Zofia, as well as Dokkaebi and Vigil--and yet another map, Tower. Dokkaebi was the first Operator to come from Ubisoft's recent push for 'global Operators,' by which it means characters whose abilities affect the whole map. Her hacking ability allows her to ring the phones of every defender still alive, meaning it's much easier to track them down. This mantra has continued into Year 3 with Lion and Finka, but we'll get to those momentarily. This season also saw Rainbow Six Siege receive 60 Hz servers, as well as another of the game's big mid-season reinforcement patches that routinely address balance issues so well.
Year 3, Season 1: Operation Chimera
Siege's third year of DLC has now begun, but rather than add another map, Ubisoft has developed an entirely new mode for the now-huge shooter. Outbreak is completely different to traditional Siege, adding zombie aliens, more expansive levels, and a fully fledged PvE mode for the first time (no, Terrorist Hunt doesn't count). There's also the usual pair of additional Operators, this time consisting of Finka and Lion. The former comes equipped with a stim pen that applies a 20 HP boost to both herself and every teammate for 20 seconds, even reviving any downed allies, wherever they are on the map. Lion, meanwhile, carries a drone that reveals moving enemies' identities and locations around the map for four seconds, including their exact outlines. With a seemingly higher profile now than ever, Siege has also now made every weapon attachment and all 20 of its base Operators free, helping those only just jumping on board.
Looking ahead, Ubisoft has big plans for its multiplayer shooter. The publisher says it's not going to make a sequel anytime soon, instead aiming for 100 total Operators. This would mean continuing support for the current game for many more years to come, which makes a lot of sense. Siege is in its healthiest ever state, with a huge and well-balanced roster, a supportive and attentive development team, a dedicated community, and more satisfying mechanics than ever before. In Year 3 alone, six more Operators are coming, along with a new mode, a complete map rework, and two brand-new maps. And beyond that, who knows? Rainbow Six Siege is a game that springs constant surprises and is always changing, both within matches and across seasons. Let's hope that continues throughout Year 3, and for many years after.
By Oscar Dayus on Apr 03, 2018 05:27 pm
Rainbow Six Siege has evolved a lot over its two-and-a-bit-year life, and as it heads into its third year of DLC it's changed once more. For starters, lots of the game's Operators are now free for those who purchase the Standard Edition or above, so many players now have more fighters to choose from. With that in mind, you might be wondering who to play as. For those still new to Siege or planning to pick it up soon, check out our guide on the best Rainbow Six Siege Operators for beginners. For the best Operators for advanced players, meanwhile, you're already in the right place. Of course, you'll likely have your own opinions and we'd love to hear them in the comments below.
Lion (Attack)
Lion has become one of Siege's most-picked Operators since launching with Operation Chimera in March, and it's easy to see why. His EE-One-D drone allows you to see the outlines of any moving enemies, and as such it lets you pull off some great kills through walls and gather intel about enemies' locations. In addition, activating your drone distracts enemies and forces them to stay still or expose their exact location to you. He's therefore useful in a push to force the opposition into a corner. He also throws up interesting combinations, for example with Fuze: trigger a Lion scan at the same time as Fuzing into an objective room and the other team will have a tough job staying alive. Lion isn't as important to a push as Thermite or Thatcher or Hibana, but provided you have those bases ticked, he can be an excellent support Operator.
Thermite (Attack)
Thermite's ability--a special breaching charge that can penetrate reinforced walls--make him an excellent attacking Operator. His two explosives make holes big enough to walk through, so you can make your own entry points into objective rooms. And even if you don't intend to enter an objective this way, it's a great way of distracting a defensive team. On top of that, he comes with a capable loadout. His M1014 shotgun is excellent at close-range, and is fast and great from the hip. His 556xi rifle on the other hand carries little recoil and excels at range.
Hibana (Attack)
Your other option for breaking through reinforced walls is Hibana. Her X-Kairos pellets can burn through metal walls and create openings for you to peek through. She has the advantage over Thermite of ranged breaching, and she gets three clusters of pellets to Thermite's two, so you can punch more holes in the enemy defense. Hibana's ability is also less vulnerable to being Bandit tricked (more on that later). However, each cluster doesn't create a big enough window to walk through, so you'll have to use more than one if you want to make another entry point. Despite Hibana and Thermite having similar abilities, many pro league teams roll with both in their squad as they each have such a crucial role in any team, and one being killed could be the difference between a win and a loss if the other isn't there to take up the breaching mantle.
Mute (Defense)
For most situations, one of Mute or Bandit is essential. Each can prevent Thermite or Hibana charges from activating, destroying their devices in the process. In terms of pure ability, Mute is often the best pick as his jammers can cover two reinforced walls (rather than Bandit's one per shock wire) and can jam vertically, too, meaning you can prevent enemies from breaching hatches above you. Finally, standing near a Mute jammer has the added bonus of protecting you from Lion's new drone ability and from Dokkaebi's ringing phones. He has a respectable loadout with the MP5K sub-machine gun, along with a powerful but slow firing M590A1 shotgun. His nitro cell charge can also open up walls and kill attackers behind them, making Mute as versatile an anchor as any.
Bandit (Defense)
Bandit's shock wires can electrify Thermite and Hibana charges, and while you don't get as much coverage as with Mute's electric devices, you can perform the amazing (but annoying!) Bandit trick. This involves placing a shock wire device after hearing Thermite place one of his charges--doing so will destroy the charge while not leaving your device open to being deactivated by one of Thatcher's EMP grenades. Bandit also arguably has a better loadout than Mute: his MP7 SMG is more powerful than Mute's MP5K with a rapid rate of fire--just don't let its recoil get the better of you.
Mira (Defense)
Mira is one Operator who is great in conjunction with Bandit. Since her one-way mirrors allow you to see through a reinforced wall, Bandit can see when a Thermite charge is about to be placed, making Bandit tricking easier. Even without Bandit, she can be a hugely effective Operator: putting two black mirrors next to each other and popping the window of one allows you to see an enemy approaching, strafe to the side, and take them out quickly. Alternatively, you can place a mirror low on an unreinforced wall, spot an approaching enemy, and stand up to frag them through the penetrable board. Mira has the potential to hugely weaken an attacking force, but she can do more harm than good in the hands of an inexperienced player--popping the mirror at the wrong time or allowing an enemy Twitch drone to do so for you can pierce a huge hole in your own defense.
Thatcher (Attack)
Thatcher is just an old man who hates technology, so what better character to have wield EMPs? His grenades can deactivate any enemy electronic device in their vicinity, including Mute jammers and Bandit's shock wires. This means Thatcher is the perfect sidekick to any Thermite or Hibana and makes him a near-essential pick on Secure Area and Hostage. The Bandit trick is a problem, but good communication between Thatcher and Hibana or Thermite can mean you can outsmart the dastardly opponent. He's also one of the few Operators that still carries standard breaching charges, so he can directly help punch holes in an enemy defense.
Twitch (Attack)
The alternative to Thatcher is Twitch. Her shock drones are similarly capable of taking out enemy devices, including Mute jammers, Bandit's shock wires, and defender cameras. A recent nerf means she now only has five shocks per drone so you'll have to pick your targets carefully, but she remains a potent weapon in any attacking force. In addition, her F2 assault rifle is one of the most powerful in the game--if you have steady aim, you're in with a good shot of winning any 1v1 engagement.
Valkyrie (Defense)
What do you do if a Twitch drone takes out all your cameras? Just put more cameras down, of course! Valkyrie's black eyes can give you crucial bonus vantage points over an enemy approach. Placed inside an objective room, above a common chokepoint, or outside a building to catch attackers off-guard at the start of a round, the extra cams provide Siege's most important currency: information. Valkyrie has the potential to turn the tide in the defending team's favor, even after she dies, but she requires intricate map knowledge to be used effectively. You don't want a black eye put up right next to an existing camera or in a place no enemy will go.
Ash (Attack)
One box that should probably be ticked is Ash. Her ability isn't the most powerful in the game--ranged breaching charges are nice, but don't really allow you to do much that, say, Zofia or Hibana couldn't also do--but her R4-C assault rifle is one of the best in the game. In addition, she's tough to inflict damage upon as her hitbox is tiny and her being one armor/three speed means she can move quickly. Nevermind her mediocre ability: in the hands of an advanced player, Ash can win a round by herself.
Ela (Defence)
Similar to Ash, Ela's ability isn't actually that great. Her concussion mines can make the difference if the attackers are making a last-minute push, but often rounds don't even get to that stage, so it's rare you'll even be able to utilize their dizzying effects. Nevertheless, she remains one of the most popular Operators because--again, similar to Ash--her hitbox is small, her speed is lightning, and her gun is remarkable. The Scorpion Evo has a rapid rate of fire and a large magazine size to compensate. Ela is getting nerfed, but she'll no doubt still be an excellent roamer.
Smoke (Defence)
Smoke is another Operator who excels when time is running out for an attacking squad. On Secure Area or Hostage in particular, his gas canisters can block an attacking route for the other team--they either charge through into the unknown and get hurt in the process, or they must find another way in. Save his smoke grenades for the final few seconds of a round and it can almost guarantee a win. In addition, Smoke is one of the best Operators to counter Finka's powerful new ability. The adrenal surge the new Operation Chimera character comes equipped with speeds up allies' breathing, meaning they'll take more damage from Smoke's deadly fog of war.
Montagne (Attack)
With lots of highly mobile characters popular at present, shield Operators are a little out of favor in Siege's meta. While Montagne isn't always the best pick, situationally he can be near unstoppable. On Bomb in particular, he can simply sit on top of a planted defuser and protect it, whittling away time. When the other team finally manage to find a gap in his armor, they'll likely have run out of time. Just don't ever let your shield down. Seriously, he's useless otherwise.
By GameSpot Staff on Apr 03, 2018 04:36 pm
The Best of the Best
Rainbow Six Siege has changed a bunch since its 2015 release. It's added new Operators, maps, and weapons--along with a number of gameplay balances and tweaks--the game has evolved into a remarkable online shooter with a passionate and dedicated audience. And now with the arrival of new content for Year 3, Rainbow Six Siege has made the original first 20 Operators free for players who purchase the Standard Edition (though keep in mind that Starter Pack players are limited to picking and choosing six Operators). Now is the perfect time to jump into Siege and take part in the intense close-quarters shoot-outs. Still, there are a number of things to consider before starting your career. And it all starts with picking the right Operator to invest to start with or invest towards. Here are our best picks for Operators for anyone starting out in Rainbow Six Siege. From understanding how to be a solid attacker by utilizing weapons in a quick fashion, to knowing how to work on defense by keeping those barricades and traps up, these characters will help ease you into the fast-paced nature of the game. Of course, you'll likely have your own opinions and we'd love to hear them in the comments below.
Ash (Attack)
Ash is an extremely fast run-and-gun attacker who can open up walls at a range without risking a close encounter. Her R4-C has a high rate of fire and often wins 1:1 engagements with defenders generally faster firing SMGs. With her unique gadget--the M120 CREM--she can fire special Breaching Rounds, allowing her to bust open walls and destroy enemy contraptions. This is especially useful when against gadgets like barbed wire and deployable shields. This particular Operator is useful for when you need to strike through an enemy defense quickly.
Blackbeard (Attack)
Although not as strong as his old self due to several nerfs, Blackbeard's unique trait, the TARS MK 0 rifle shield, gives him a decisive advantage in 1:1 gunfights. He can effectively take several shots to the upper body without damage before his shield breaks. This added defense is especially evident if his lower body is behind indestructible objects such as windows and desks, doubling his protection.
He can be an essential character for entry into the first room of almost any map, as well as that last push against the enemy. Along with his shield comes the strong mid-range Mk17 CQB, and long range SR-25. Plus, he has an effective desert eagle.
Fuze (Attack)
Fuze is a bombastic attacker due to his reliance on explosives. His Cluster Charge is one of the most deadly gadgets in the game capable of downing multiple defenders, pushing the enemy team out of a room, or outright winning a match in the right circumstances. He has a versatile loadout that allows players to choose between a ballistic shield, AK-12, and 6P41 LMG with 100 rounds.
However, his explosive charges can be harmful to hostages, so be mindful of who's nearby when getting those charges ready.
Hibana (Attack)
Hibana is one of the A-list Operators in the Siege meta with her X-Kairos launcher, which can tear through reinforced walls. Along with Thermite, she's one of only two Operators who can prevent attacking teams from getting corralled through the opposing team's prepared death funnels. Her loadout also includes the Type-89 rifle and SuperNova shotgun, along with a selection of Stun Grenades and a Claymore--making Hibana a key support player as her team moves in.
Sledge (Attack)
Sledge is one of the best characters for beginners to learn the art of breaching, thanks in large part to his trusty hammer. It can break through walls, floors, and ceiling hatches. He's perfect for breach experimentation, especially when coupled with his L85A2 assault rifle, which is ideal for picking off people through cracks and holes in the environment. However, his hammer can break if you overuse it, so don't go too wild.
Thermite (Attack)
Thermite is a top tier Operator for Rainbow Six Siege. At launch, he was the only Operator capable of breaching reinforced walls with his Exo-Thermic Charge, and remains only one of two Operators that still can. Without Thermite (or Hibana), teams are forced to funnel through defenders' well planned traps and spaces on most maps, which makes him one of the more critical members of the team. His M1014 shotgun is excellent at close-range, and is fast and great from the hip. While his 556xi rifle on the other hand can be tricky to master, but has decent recoil and excels at range.
Zofia (Attack)
Zofia is an all around versatile Operator that you can't go wrong with. She can pick herself up from a downed state in a similar manner to Doc, carries around Claymore mines, and uses a double barreled grenade launcher that fires both concussive and impact rounds. However, be mindful of when you use her launcher, as hostages behind walls can be killed if used recklessly. She has both an LMG-E light machine gun and a M762 assault rifle. Making her a huge compliment to top tier Operators like Ash who can break through several walls and fight into a building at range.
Bandit (Defense)
Bandit is one of a handful of Operators that can counter Thermite's breach charges and one of the best power roamers with his MP7 sub-machine gun. His Shock Wire gadget can electrify metal objects, such as reinforced walls, deployable shields, and barbed wire--causing damage to attackers that touch them and destroying any gadgets placed on them. Using electrified barbed wire can also destroy drones in the scouting phase, buying defenders time. Bandit is a useful character when trying to counter the attacking team's tricks, especially when they're running special Operator combos (where two Operators use their skills in tandem) that can bust though barricades quickly.
Castle (Defense)
Castle is the only Operator who can place armor panels over standard doors and windows. In some situations, he can lock an attacking team out of a final hostage room if they have used all of their explosives. By bleeding the attackers of their breaching charges, burning off time from the game, and often preventing easy access from buildings interiors, there are several encounters where Castle can turn the tide.
Frost (Defense)
Frost is an all around solid character with good speed and defense. However, what places her above other defense characters is her useful gadget called the Sterling MK2 LHT "Welcome Mat", a large bear-trap that can pin enemy attackers to the ground. This gadget can end a round entirely if it's stepped on by the final remaining attacker. The mere presence of Frost can slow down an attacking force due to the fact that they have to watch their step all the way across the map. She also has a very strong SMG--the C1--that has a slow rate of fire but is incredibly accurate.
Lesion (Defense)
As part of a wave of trap focused defenders, Lesion's hard to spot GU Mines embed in attackers legs and do damage over time resulting in distraction and potential death. Like Frost, he can occasionally end a round with a well placed trap. The GU mines are especially effective when used against fast attackers, not only slowing them down, but also poisoning them. His T-5 SMG and SIx12 SD are reliable in a firefight, but he's at his best catching defenders by surprise.
Rook (Defense)
Rook is probably the best Operator for beginners. He's one of the few Operators who's basically never a bad pick; giving extra armor to your teammates is always useful, after all. Those armor packs allow you to take more body damage, but importantly they are a passive item, not active like the majority of Siege abilities. Once you've put the armor pack down for everyone to pick from, your job is done. You can then concentrate on learning the game and on getting kills. Bear in mind the armor won't protect you from headshots, which are always a one-hit kill in Siege.
Mute (Defense)
Mute is the essential defender for preventing reinforced walls from being breached by remotely detonated gadgets. His Signal Disruptors can jam enemy frequencies, resulting in their remote gadgets--such as breach charges and explosives--not working properly. He's the more direct counter to Thermite, and can shut down drones from scouting and finding objectives.
He has a respectable loadout with the MP5K sub-machine gun, along with a powerful but slow firing M590A1 shotgun. His nitro cell charge can also open up walls and kill attackers behind them.
By Array on Apr 03, 2018 04:28 pm
It's hard to pin down exactly what makes Far Cry so appealing. Is it the gunplay? The open-world sandbox? Perhaps the compelling villains? Or maybe it's a combination of the three. As a series, Far Cry has stood out for the ways it combines so many elements. So before we dive headlong into the latest in the series, Far Cry 5, let's look back at its predecessors and examine how Far Cry's unlikely formula has evolved in unexpected ways. For more on the latest game meanwhile, check out our Far Cry 5 review, the game's weirdest mission, or some footage of Far Cry 5 running at max settings on PC. You can also watch our video feature on the history of Far Cry.
Far Cry (PC, 2004)
Released exclusively for PC, the original Far Cry--developed by Crytek--touts beautiful outdoor environments that had rarely been seen before in first-person shooters. These massive levels not only looked impressive, but they allowed you to approach combat in a variety of ways: on foot, in a jeep, on a boat, or even from the air. Large groups of enemies can be avoided entirely or lured in ambushes, which was the ideal way to play due to the enemy's impeccable aim and your fragile health reserves. Scouting out enemy camps and planning out attacks is critical, but stealth isn't always reliable. There are no melee attacks and no silenced submachine gun until a few levels in. Alerted soldiers will activate alarms and some fire flares to summon helicopters with reinforcements. There are flaws, however. Once stealth is broken, enemies always seem to know exactly where you are, a frustrating problem that's exacerbated by the lack of a manual save function. The game's plot involves ex-special forces Jack Carver, who ends up marooned on an island that he must try to escape. However, he soon finds himself dealing with the evil Dr. Kieger, whose botched genetic experiments created mutants called the Trigen. The game became a success upon release, and Ubisoft soon acquired the rights to the series from Crytek.
Far Cry Instincts (Xbox, 2005)
Instincts was a remake of the original Far Cry for consoles. It was originally planned for PS2 as well, but that version was ultimately canceled. Instincts' basic premise and characters are the same as in Far Cry, but levels are less open-ended and more linear due to the limitations of console hardware. There were, however, a number of changes and improvements to gameplay. Stealth is expanded upon to include a proper melee option and you can lay down traps to take out unsuspecting enemies. If you still prefer the all-guns-blazing approach, most weapons can now be dual-wielded. Finally, Instincts introduced a series of mutant powers known as Feral Abilities. These granted buffs such as increased speed, quicker health regeneration, and night vision. While overall less impressive than its PC ancestor, Far Cry Instincts still impressed for a console game of the day and sold well.
Far Cry Instincts: Evolution (Xbox, 2006), Far Cry Instincts: Predator (Xbox 360, 2006), Far Cry Vengence (Wii, 2007)
A slightly less well-received follow up, Far Cry Instincts: Evolution added some new weapons and vehicles, but otherwise provided more of the same. Released on the same day was Far Cry Instincts: Predator, a next-generation bundle for the Xbox 360 that packaged together Instincts and Instincts: Evolution. Finally, Evolution (the follow-up to the original Far Cry: Instincts, if you've lost track) got a Wii port called Far Cry Vengeance, which added motion controls.
Far Cry 2 (PS3, Xbox 360, PC, 2008)
During the release of all these console spin-offs, a numbered Far Cry sequel was in the works. Crytek had moved on to work on Crysis, so Far Cry 2 was developed by Ubisoft Montreal. When Ubisoft surveyed players of the first game, many said they didn't find very Jack Carver very memorable or likeable. So in Far Cry 2, you pick from a group of silent protagonists. As a mercenary for hire, you fly into a fictional war-torn African country to kill an arms dealer called The Jackal. Your mission goes south after contracting malaria, leaving you near-dead and The Jackal on the loose. While not as memorable as subsequent Far Cry villains, The Jackal was the series' first true attempt at a charismatic foe. The majority of the game is about taking on missions for the two warring factions, helping out other mercenaries, and trying to surviving the harsh African environment. While not a full-on survival game, Far Cry 2 attempts to offer a more realistic experience and a tone that feels oppressive. Everything is old and falling apart. Vehicles need to be fixed regularly and guns degrade over time leading to them jamming during inopportune moments or even breaking entirely. This encourages you to spend your hard-earned diamonds on newer weapons from arms dealers rather than scavenging from dead enemies. There's also the personal maintenance you need to carry out to keep your malaria in check. You'll receive Malaria attacks randomly throughout the game and if you run out of pills then you'll need to take on special missions to get more. Outside of the warring factions' cease fire zone, everyone is hostile towards you except for a small group of fellow mercenaries. Not only do you take quests from them but you have a special buddy who will show up and help you if you die. However, your buddy can also get hurt and if you don't have any healing kits left you'll have no choice but to put them down. All of this is compounded by a punishing save system:you can only save at designated save houses, raising the stakes of each firefight as more progress could be lost at any moment. You might decide that dead buddy isn't worth loading the save for after all. Far Cry 2 is a game that wants to you live in its world. You can't simply fast travel anywhere, but instead need to take the bus to stations on the map. And while later entries have eclipsed it on a technical level, the deep brown and orange color palate of the African Savanna is a beautiful and unique setting for a game. There's a day / night cycle and impressive fire propagation tech, where wind can carry a flame across an entire field. Far Cry 2 has perhaps the most mixed reputation in the series. Some found its save system and demanding gameplay too punishing and frustrating. The random malaria attacks, while in theory a great idea, could often be an annoyance and in some cases prevent you from progressing at all. It does however have dedicated fans, who love it for its dark tone, and who still consider it to be the series' high point. In many ways Far Cry 2 created the base that future games would follow but its sequels would take a radically different approach to tone.
Far Cry 3 (PS3, Xbox 360, PC, 2012)
Far Cry 3 takes its cues from the Far Cry 2 formula, once again taking place in a large open world. After criticism of the last game's hardcore mechanics, Far Cry 3 tweaks everything to offer a more fun-filled playbox. You can now save anywhere you want and instantly fast travel to previously discovered locations. Guns no longer degrade and you will gradually accrue a massive arsenal of weapons. Far Cry 3 is also a prime example of the Ubisoft world structure that we recognize today. Borrowing from the Assassin's Creed series, you'll climb radio towers to reveal the map and locations of nearby activities and outposts. Scoping out a base, tagging enemies, planning out your attack, and then executing it is a satisfying way to exert your influence upon the world. Thanks to the game's improved stealth you can take out whole bases without being detected, something that wasn't as viable in previous games. Far Cry 3's island hosts a large variety of animals that can be used to your advantage. Hunting down and skinning animals feeds into the game's crafting system, which you can utilize to upgrade the number of guns and amount of ammo you can hold, among other buffs. Introducing light RPG mechanics, completing objectives and killing enemies levels you up and puts points into an upgrade tree, which is visually represented as a growing sleeve tattoo. The game's narrative returns to a fixed protagonist named Jason Brody, a 25-year-old Californian rich kid who gets kidnapped by pirates. Much of the game's story fell flat for some players, but its main villain, Vaas, is hugely memorable. Vaas's playfully sadistic nature and memorable monologues made him one of gaming's great antagonists. While Far Cry has already been a well-known and loved in the gaming community, Far Cry 3's playful sandbox opened it up to a larger audience and made it into the massive franchise it is today.
Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon (PS3, Xbox 360, PC, 2013)
A standalone expansion, Blood Dragon is an 8 hour independent slice of Far Cry 3 decked out in all things '80s. Set in the dystopian future of 2007, you play as Cyber Commando Rex 'Power' Colt, voiced by '80s action star Michael Biehn. Rex must fight his way though an army of cyber soldiers and deadly blood dragons to take out his former commander, Colonel Sloan. Every aspect of Blood Dragon is a play or homage to the '80s, such as the game's scanline overlay, VHS tracking loading screen, and cheesy action movie plot featuring intentionally terrible dialogue. Completing the whole package is the excellent soundtrack from synthwave duo Power Glove, who invoke the sounds of films like Terminator and Escape from New York. Blood Dragon doesn't add anything particularly new to the Far Cry formula, but its over-the-top aesthetics and dialogue is enough to carry its short campaign. As a fun standalone experience it won people over with its '80s charm and quickly sold over 1 million copies, becoming one of Ubisoft's fastest-selling downloadable titles.
Far Cry 4 (PS3, Xbox 360, PS4, Xbox One, PC, 2014)
Released only two years after Far Cry 3, Far Cry 4 carries over much of the same structure as its predecessor while offering a brand-new story and setting. Its protagonist, American-raised Ajay Ghale, returns to where he was born--the fictional Himalayan country of Kyrat--to spread his mother's ashes. But in typical Far Cry fashion he gets himself involved with a rebel movement and a civil war with the Royal Army and the Kyrat King Pagan Min. After the overwhelming positivity towards the charismatic Vaas, Far Cry 4 recreated much of that success with Pagan Min. Unlike Vaas, Pagan Min is more complex, with his status as the 'bad guy' being called into question over the course of the game. It also didn't hurt to get excellent voice actor Troy Baker in to bring Min to life. Unlike the more linear narrative of Far Cry 3, 4 has branching choices that determine which member of the Golden Path rebellion you follow, leading to different missions and story paths. Far Cry 4 has a variety of ways it can conclude, including a secret ending you can trigger in the first 20 minutes of the game. Gameplay is similar to Far Cry 3 but with a couple of new additions. Thanks to the added elevation of the rocky Himalayan mountains, Ajay has a grappling hook you can use to scale certain cliffs, and he acquires a small helicopter that lets you go almost anywhere on the map. Or you can choose to take the scenic route aboard an elephant. Expanding on previous games' outposts, there are four major fortresses the player must capture in Far Cry 4. While these larger, tougher camps can still be done solo, you are also given the option to bring in a co-op buddy to help you take them down. The explosive mayhem of Far Cry is greatly enhanced with a buddy, but you can't do any story missions co-op and player two won't carry over any progress back to their game. Far Cry 4 sold well and was praised as an improvement over 3 but some were disappointed in how it felt merely like more of the same, which is understandable given the short time gap between the two games.
Far Cry Primal (PS4, Xbox One, PC, 2016)
There's something to be said about Far Cry's willingness to try new and interesting settings with each new game and the peak of this is Far Cry Primal. Set in 10,000 B.C., you play as a primitive human tribe's hunter, seeking revenge on a tribe of cannibals that destroyed his village. It's impressive the lengths Ubisoft went for the authenticity of the setting, going so far as to invent their own dialect based on a reconstructed Proto-Indo-European language. Without any guns, combat has greater focus on melee but otherwise many of the Far Cry staples fit right in. You're still climbing towers to reveal the map and taking over camps to unlock new activities. The newest change is the ability to tame and summon animals. Birds can scout out camps and tag enemies for you, and a sabertooth tiger can rush in with you during an attack. The response to Far Cry Primal was a rather mixed one. Some love the game's unique setting and enjoyed the ability to tame animals. Others feel it was simply another Far Cry with a different skin. Being released only a year-and-a-half after Far Cry 4, the fatigue people were already starting to feel towards the series grew even stronger. Ubisoft would give the series a longer break before it would return.
Far Cry 5 (PS4, Xbox One, PC, 2018)
Announced in 2017 and releasing on March 27, 2018, Far Cry 5 takes the series to the USA in fictional Hope County, Montana. The area has been taken over by a militia doomsday cult run by Joseph Seed who has established himself has a religious figurehead. For the first time you get to create your own protagonist, and you must then team up with the locals to help them take back their homes. The timing of Far Cry 5's setting and themes created quite a stir given the current political climate of the US. Ubisoft's says there's no connection with current political events, but it understands that comparisons will inevitably be drawn. The gameplay expands co-op further than we saw in Far Cry 4, and when not playing with another human, there are AI buddies you can summon to assist you. These include Nick the pilot or animals such as Boomer the dog and a bear named Cheeseburger. Towers have been removed, with new sections of the map unlocked by simply exploring and talking to the area's cast of characters. Otherwise, Far Cry 5 provides much of the same fun Far Cry we've all gotten to know. For 14 years, Far Cry as a series has evolved and changed in dramatic ways. It's not afraid to try new and weird settings, and even though its narratives have never been top-notch, they typically feature interesting and compelling characters. It continues to push its open-world sandbox and expand upon the freedom of player expression though gameplay. Everyone loves Far Cry for their own reasons, and lets hope the series continues to push forward and evolve in the future.
By Array on Apr 03, 2018 04:02 am
Quality Games On A Budget
There continues to be no shortage of high quality games to own and play on Nintendo Switch. There are Nintendo's flagship titles, like Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Kirby Star Allies, and a variety of other Switch games you may have missed. And if you's interested in revisiting fantastic games from the recent past, the game has ports for bige name games like Bayonetta 2, Skyrim, L.A. Noire, and Doom. However, there's also a burgeoning selection of games that cost no more than $20 on the console's Eshop. These low priced games are not a concept exclusive to Switch, nor is this system the only place to play them. But given the system's a little over a year in, it's remarkable how the platform is abursting at the seams with fantastic games to play. In the gallery above, we've highlighted Switch games that are available now 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. Be sure to check back often as we update this gallery with more awesome budget games. And 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 Array on Apr 03, 2018 03:54 am
Sea of Thieves is renowned developer Rare's pirate-themed multiplayer action game that gives you a taste of what it's like to pillage treasure and explore remote islands while sailing across dangerous waters. While the main loop of the game is pretty straightforward, it offers minimal insight and guidance into its most noteworthy mechanics. To help you become a confident and successful pirate, we've gathered nine useful tips that we wished we'd known before starting the game. Though, if you're more of a visual learner, you can also watch our Sea of Thieves guide video highlighting other essential beginners tips. Are there any essential tips that you don't see listed here? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to check back often for more Sea of Thieves guides. Otherwise, you can read our Sea of Thieves review for our full thoughts on how it shapes up. Sea of Thieves is the latest game from Rare, a studio best known for its work on classic games, like Donkey Kong Country, Banjo Kazooie, and Perfect Dark. It's a console exclusive on Xbox One, though digital copies enjoy Play Anywhere support, meaning you can play it on both Xbox One and PC. More notably, it's the first game to launch day and date through Xbox Game Pass. In other words, you don't actually have to purchase the game to play it--for as long as you're a Game Pass member, you'll be able to play.
Gather Supplies
When you first enter a session, your ship-of-choice is automatically stocked with a pre-set number of bananas, cannonballs, and planks. However, you won't have a lot. Before you leave the outpost you spawn in, you should check nearby barrels for more supplies, so you don't need to worry about running out as quickly. When you're cornered by an aggressive crew of pirates, you'll be glad to have the extra supplies.
Maneuvering Your Ship
It can be tricky maneuvering your ship at first; it requires some finesse and quick management of its various parts. If you ever need to turn your boat around, raise the anchor with the sails up and you can turn your ship without it moving forward. You can even do a 180 degree turn if you drop anchor. However, if you want to keep moving after performing a 180 degree turn, then raise the anchor immediately while the wheel is turned to one side.
Speedy Sails
On Galleons, if you have two people adjusting the sail length and direction, you can move around much quicker. You can also lower and turn sails much faster if you have two people adjusting the sails on each side of the boat at the same time.
You Can Check Your Map From Your Sloop's Top Deck
When manning the wheel of your sloop (the smaller ship in Sea of Thieves), you won't be able to simultaneously keep an eye on the map below deck. But rather than head downstairs when you need to judge your trajectory, you can let go of the wheel, turn around, and look over the rear side of the balcony for a glimpse of the map; this especially useful when sailing solo.
How To Dodge
You wouldn't think it, but there's actually a dodge maneuver in the game. If you jump while blocking, you'll dodge in the direction you're holding. This is a handy way to swiftly get out of the way of an incoming enemy attack.
Be Wary Of Enemy Crews During Raids
Be careful when engaging with other crews during a Raid, as it can be difficult to manage the fight with both skeletons and other pirates. As a rule of thumb, it's good to park the boat with cannons facing the island you're raiding on, just so someone can rain cannon fire upon any unsuspecting foes.
Aim For The Mast When Cannonballing To Other Ships
One of the coolest things you can do in Sea of Thieves is launch yourself out of cannon; it can be a handy way to reach far off locations or even an enemy's boat. If you're raring to do the latter, aim for the mast. If you hit it properly, you should drop straight down to the deck.
Take Advantage Of Explosives
Explosive barrels are useful tools found throughout the world, and knowing how to use them can give you an advantage during an otherwise overwhelming fight. You can place them on the ground and blow up groups of skeletons by kiting them near the barrel and firing a well-aimed shot. You can drop them in the water and strike them with a cannon blast as an enemy ship passes by. They are powerful, so be careful; it's easy to hurt yourself if you handle them carelessly.
Swimming 101: The Charge Attack Boost
If you climb onto the top of your ship and do a charged attack (by holding down the attack button), the momentum of the ensuing lunge will launch you straight into the water and give you a boost that covers a large distance. It's a simple technique, but it can help you get to dry land quicker than simply diving into the water and swimming normally.
By Array on Apr 03, 2018 03:50 am
Surprisingly, there's a substantial number of fun Easter eggs in Far Cry 5. Much of what you discover are generally references to past entries in the series, but there are even subtle nods to Ubisoft's other franchises, as well as a slew of pop culture references. With so many clever secrets to discover in the tumultuous region of Hope County, Montana, we've highlighted 10 of the most fascinating Easter eggs. Discover any Easter eggs that you don't see here? Feel free to let us know about them in the comments below. If you're interested in Far Cry 5 guides, be sure to check out our feature highlighting nine tips we wish we knew before starting. You can also watch our video guide discussing general beginners tips to follow. But if you are more fascinated by Far Cry 5's Arcade Mode, then watch us discuss how to use it in our guide video, or play some of the best and worst maps available in the mode now. Far Cry 5 is out now on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Be sure to read our Far Cry 5 review for our full thoughts about the game. In other news, Ubisoft recently announced Far Cry 5's Season Pass, which takes you to settings like Mars and the Vietnam War. We also recently learned more about the game's microtransactions and the game's single-player campaign playtime.
Bobblehead For Vaas And Other Characters
When you purchase a standard vehicle, you're able to customize it in small ways. One of the options allows you to add a Hawaiian Bobblehead onto your vehicle's dashboard. After you make your purchase, you'll notice that the Hawaiian Bobble head is none other than Far Cry 3 villain Vaas rocking a hula skirt and ukulele. If you're hankering for more cool Hawaiian Bobbleheads, you can also get ones of Far Cry 4 villain Pagan Min and a Rabbid by spending Ubisoft Club points.
Far Cry Primal Cave Paintings
South West of Rae-Rae's Pumpkin Farm in the Holland Valley is a location known as Frobisher's Cave. The walls within are covered in primitive cave paintings--no doubt this is a reference to series spin-off Far Cry Primal.
A Blood Dragon Movie
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is one of the series' finest entries, so it's great to see it getting some well-deserved love in Far Cry 5 with an entire side mission devoted to referencing it. If you go to the Grimalkin Radon Mine in the Henbane River, there's a side mission involving a shoot for Blood Dragon 3, a movie helmed by a narcissistic director named Guy Marvel. While the side mission makes for a fun distraction, the best part about the whole excursion is getting to listen to Blood Dragon's fantastic synth-laced soundtrack. It's funny to see Far Cry 5 make fourth-wall-breaking references like this, but it doesn't stop there. The game even makes a joke about that awful Far Cry movie directed by Uwe Boll in 2008. Splendid job, Ubisoft.
Outfits Referencing The Past
There are outfits you can wear that references past Far Cry and Ubisoft games. For example, completing the Blood Dragon side mission unlocks the Omega outfit, which dresses you up like a Cyborg Soldier from Blood Dragon. In addition, there's a Far Cry Primal outfit and an outfit that lets you look like Castle from Rainbow 6 Siege, which you can unlock by spending your Ubisoft Club points.
It's Red Balloon
Surprisingly, there's a reference to the famous Stephen King novel, It. Pennywise's signature red balloon can be seen near an open sewer entrance. If you want to find it, head to the Hope County Jail Bus, which is West of Fall's End in the Holland Valley. Follow the river a short distance south and you can't miss it. All credit goes to TassadarHD on Reddit for finding this reference.
Davenport Farm
Out of all the Easter eggs in the game, this one is the most fascinating and obscure. Last year, PC Gamer editor James Davenport wrote an open letter to Ubisoft asking them to put his dad, a born Montanan, into the game. Davenport's letter wasn't serious, but lo and behold, there's actually a location in Holland Valley called Davenport Farm. If you search the premises, there's not much to allude to Davenport's dad until you find a note which reads: "It is a well known fact that bovines are the most erotic animal on God's green Earth. Sometimes I sneak out here, so I can watch bulls have sex with the cows. Please don't tell my father." This could be a massive coincidence, but if the farm is a indeed reference to Davenport's father, then Ubisoft has completely trolled Davenport.
Climbing Towers Joke
While not exactly hidden, this Easter egg alludes to the infamous tower-climbing structure of Ubisoft's open-world games--which has actually been removed from Far Cry 5. It occurs during the game's tutorial when you're made to climb a radio tower. By the time you make it halfway up, you'll receive a radio transmission from Dutch telling you to not worry and that you won't have to climb towers anymore.
Secret Ending
Like Far Cry 4, there's a secret ending you can unlock during the opening sequences of the game. Follow the Sheriff and Marshall into the church and keep playing out the scene until you're instructed to arrest Joseph Seed. When prompted to press the X/A button to handcuff him, simply do nothing instead and wait out the scene until the secret ending triggers.
Firewatch Reference
There's a reference to indie studio Campo Santo's well-received debut, Firewatch. It appears in the form of a phone voicemail that you can listen to in the fire lookout tower on Dutch's island. The caller addresses the fire lookout as Henry, which is the name of the main protagonist in Firewatch.
All The Assets In Arcade Mode
Far Cry Arcade is a new mode where you can participate in co-op challenges and PvP multiplayer. However, the catch is that all the places you play in are created using the game's robust map editor, which gives you access to not only all the assets in Far Cry 5 but other Ubisoft games as well. For example, you have access to stuff like Far Cry 4's Himalayan statues, Watch Dogs' urban buildings, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag's pirate treasure, Far Cry Primal's tribal huts, and even Assassin's Creed Unity's French architecture. With so many assets at the community's disposal, we can only imagine the crazy sort of maps people will come up with.
Donald Trump Pee Tape
While Far Cry 5's narrative mostly avoids connections to modern day events and politics, it seems the devs at Ubisoft couldn't help but sneak in a real-world reference to Donald Trump in the side mission "Patriot Acts." Special Agent Willis Huntley, who is a returning character from both Far Cry 3 and 4, tasks you with removing a tape filled with sensitive information. As the mission progresses you learn the tape is being held by undercover Russians and it has something to do with liquid? If you haven't figured it out already, Huntley is not so subtlety referring to the infamous Donald Trump pee tape.
By Array on Apr 03, 2018 03:39 am
Ubisoft Montreal's recently released Far Cry 5 adheres to to the series' most well-established tenets, but it also manages to make some big changes to exploration, progression, and combat. When you first start the game's campaign, some of these new elements may seem disorienting and unfamiliar--a pleasant surprise for the series' most hardcore fans. To help clear the initial confusion and growing pains, we've gathered nine essential tips that'll help you better play Far Cry 5. Have any useful tips that you don't see listed here? Let us know in the comments below. And if you're looking for a beginners tips-focused guide, you can watch our video guide discussing general starter tips to follow. For those interested in Far Cry 5's Arcade Mode, watch us discuss how the mode works in our in-depth guide video. Otherwise, you can check out our feature detailing the game's 11 most intriguing Easter eggs. Far Cry 5 is available now on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Be sure to read our Far Cry 5 review for our full thoughts about the game. In other news, Ubisoft recently announced Far Cry 5's Season Pass, which takes you to settings like Mars and the Vietnam War. We also recently learned more about the game's microtransactions and the game's single-player campaign playtime.
If You Explore the World, More Activities Will Open Up
A lot has changed since the days of Far Cry 3 and 4, when you climbed towers in order to populate the map with dozens of activity icons and collectibles. In Far Cry 5, you now discover everything by simply exploring. In addition, the 3D map is now detailed enough that you can clearly see major landmarks and locations, which makes it easy to identify and mark new areas to explore. And as you're traveling, keep an eye out. Road signs reveal hunting spots, maps found inside building mark nearby buildings for you, and magazines tell you about fishing and hunting areas. If you talk to nonplayer characters, they'll tell you about nearby missions, outposts, and prepper stashes. Far Cry 5 is game that wants you to live in its world--so make sure to explore every interesting landmark or curious detail. You never know what you'll find!
Complete the Side Missions for Special Unlockables
Far Cry 5 ditches the repetitive, activity-based open-world structure of previous Far Cry games. For the first time in the series' history, Far Cry 5 brings in actual side missions, each with their own unique dialogue, narrative arcs, and gameplay. From simple missions like saving people from drugged up bears, to letting cows have sex to Marvin Gaye music so you can chop off their testicles for the annual Testicle Festival (yeah, that's a real thing in this game), you'll find plenty of mini-adventures to embark on. If you ever stumble upon any side missions, make sure to complete them, as you can also get some pretty sweet rewards -- like new weapons or beefed-up vehicles with guns attached to them that you can't normally find anywhere in the world.
Get the Weapon Slot Skill Upgrades ASAP
As in past games in the series, you want to prioritize expanding the number of weapons you can carry as soon as possible. These upgrades are acquired via the game's skill tree, as opposed to the crafting system. The sooner you can unlock these skills, the sooner you can start wreaking havoc with a more diverse set of weaponry.
Get the Lockpick and Repair Torch Perks
Far Cry 5 has plenty of locked doors and safes for you to open. Most times, you can find a key or combination hidden nearby, or blow a safe open with explosives. But if you want to avoid the trouble, try investing in both the Lockpick and Repair Torch skills. Both are handy for accessing hidden stashes containing weapons, ammo, or money. Heck, you can even use the Repair Torch to repair broken-down vehicles.
Make Money Quickly by Hunting or Uncovering Prepper Stashes
Money doesn't naturally accumulate as quickly as it does in previous Far Cry games, but you can still make a lot of money if you know what to focus on. A go-to method is hunting and skinning animals. No longer are skins used to craft things like a new wallet; instead, you sell them for direct profit. If you kill an animal with arrows or melee attacks, you'll obtain double the skins that you normally would by killing it with a gun. And when used in conjunction with the Harvest Master perk (which doubles your rewards from animals), $200 worth of feathers becomes $400, and $450 worth of cougar skins nets you $900. This comes highly recommended if you're going to resort to hunting as your main source of money-making. Aside from hunting, you should also keep an eye out for safes, which are usually inside buildings. With the Repair Torch or Locksmith perk, you can easily open them to access their valuables... but in a pinch, placing an explosive on them will also do the trick. The final method is Prepper Stashes, which are side missions that task you to solve some light environmental puzzles in exchange for a pile of loot. Whether it's by swimming across a river, shooting the lock off a door from afar, or navigating a barn full of beehives, your reward is a stack of cash, a couple of magazines that give you free Perk Points, and other goodies like new weapons. We highly recommend pursuing Prepper Stashes; not only are the rewards well worth it, but they're some of the best missions in the game.
Keep an Eye on Your Vehicle's Health
It's difficult to tell how much damage a vehicle can take before it's completely undrivable. A plane or truck is liable to go up in flames after a few bumps, so be prepared to abandon the driver's seat at a moment's notice. And if you can bail in time to launch your vehicle straight at an encampment of enemies, all the better. If keeping track of a vehicle's health is too much trouble, you can take a perk that allows you to make vehicles auto-repair as you drive. Otherwise, you'll have to resort to the Repair Torch perk for repairs.
Mark Enemies and Place Waypoints with Your Binoculars
Situational awareness is essential to your navigation through the hostile territory of Hope County. The binoculars are a useful tool, as you can use them to tag enemies, animals, and even notable interactables in the environment. If you're ever uncertain about what you can use in your immediate area to benefit your approach, your binoculars can shed light on the possibilities. You can also use them to place a waypoint onto a location in the distance--it's similar to placing beacons or stamps in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Take Advantage of Specialists
Expanding upon the buddy system from Far Cry 2, Far Cry 5 features a robust cast of Specialists, which are AI-controlled allies that you can call in for combat assistance. You'll find nine Specialists throughout Hope County; to unlock them, you need to complete their associated story missions. All of their missions are marked on the map from the beginning of the game, so it's relatively easy to find them. Each Specialist has two abilities associated with them. For example, Boomer the dog can tag all nearby enemies and fetch their weapons for you, making him a both a useful scout and a very good boy. The Specialists all sport a variety of skills, so pick the ones who best support your playstyle. And if you acquire the the Leadership perk, you can have up to two Specialists following you at any given time. Lastly, each Specialist has their own perk that decreases their cooldown time, so be sure to upgrade your favorites.
Utilize Guns for Hire
Outside of the Specialists, you have three slots that you can fill up with Guns for Hire, which are civilians that you can save and hire. Like Specialists, they have two abilities; however, these can only be unlocked by increasing their kill count as they fight alongside you. It's also important to note that the abilities they receive are random, so if you end up not liking what they earn, you can always dismiss them and hire someone new.
By GameSpot Staff on Apr 03, 2018 03:12 am
Dream Fighters
After much anticipation, Nintendo finally confirmed that Super Smash Bros. is officially coming to Nintendo Switch. And what's even better news is that the game is actually releasing this year. Naturally, this has us pretty ecstatic, and we're already speculating which characters we want to return or debut to the game's roster. While characters who have been in past entries, like Ice Climbers and Falco, are obvious choices for our staff's most hardcore fans, 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. Which characters do you want to appear in Smash Bros. for Switch? Let us know in the comments below. As of writing, we don't know if the upcoming game will be an updated version of Super Smash Bros. Wii U or an entirely brand-new game. If it is a port, it could follow the model of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which offered a slew of new features on top of including all existing DLC. 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. 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 Kallie Plagge on Apr 02, 2018 11:56 pm
Best of the Best
Xbox One launched over four years ago, and a ton of games have come out in that time. As such, it can be hard to sort through all those games and decide what to play. Luckily, we at GameSpot have played tons of Xbox One games over the years. In this gallery, we've collected the best Xbox One games so far. This includes many of the games that have received an 8 or higher on GameSpot, and we've prioritized games that were nominated for our Best Xbox One Game list in the years those games released. For more Xbox One games, see our roundups of the best cheap games on Xbox One, and make sure to check out our gallery of the Xbox One exclusive games confirmed for 2018 as well as the biggest Xbox One games of 2018 for everything coming to the console.
Monster Hunter: World -- 8/10
"Ever since the title was first announced last year, it was clear that Capcom was gunning for something grander than Monster Hunter Generations. It has succeeded, and this is likely the biggest and best that the franchise has ever been. It's not just the comparative depth of the narrative; it also boasts almost seamless integration between combat systems that were previously incomprehensible for amateurs. The Monster Hunter formula has definitely honed its claws, and all the above factors play their part in making Monster Hunter World a meaningful evolution for the series at large." [read the full review] -- Ginny Woo
Celeste -- 9/10
"It's a testament to convincing writing and ingenious design that after playing Celeste I felt like I'd been on the same journey as Madeline. Her struggle is one made easy to empathize with, her low points painful to watch, and her high notes exhilarating to experience. Her tale is delicately told and beautifully illustrated, confidently coalescing with the satisfying, empowering game it lies within. Not bad for a game about climbing a mountain." [read the full review] -- Oscar Dayus, Staff Writer
Fortnite -- no score
The exploding popularity of the battle royale game mode (where 100 players fight in a single-elimination deathmatch) reached new heights with Fortnite. It's the game nearly everyone is talking about and over 45 million have played. Fortnite strikes a great balance between being accessible and fostering a high skill ceiling. The core gameplay is simple enough; scavenge for weapons and items while gathering resources to build. The game feels fast and loose and a lot less like its military sim counterparts, but still offers the intense, high-stakes combat the genre is known for. It's free-to-play and has an inviting aesthetic akin to a Sunday morning cartoon. However, players soon realize the depth of Fortnite's construction mechanics and how the few structures you can build have to be pieced together in clever ways to stand a chance of winning. -- Michael Higham, Associate Editor
What Remains of Edith Finch -- 9/10
"Developer Giant Sparrow managed to strike the delicate balance between joy and sorrow in 2012's The Unfinished Swan, but What Remains of Edith Finch transcends even the latent sadness of that game, finding the beauty--even sometimes the fun--in what's always fundamentally a tragedy. It's not often that a game's plot slips past the bitterness of grief to finally get to the acceptance, but that's the triumph in What Remains of Edith Finch. Ultimately, if the game has any resemblance of a moral, it's that the bravest, most beautiful thing every one of us does is choose to keep going, despite knowing what's coming." [read the full review] -- Justin Clark
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus -- 9/10
"The New Colossus never lets you forget who and why you're fighting. Nazi brutality is on full display, from the blown-out, irradiated remains of Manhattan to each of the resistance members, who all carry mental scars if not physical ones. You're never given a chance between cutscenes, missions, and even downtime on the U-boat to lose sight of the Reich's cruelty. Wolfenstein's tense gameplay elevates this further by giving you the power to truly resist--and come out of each battle ready for another fight." [read the full review] -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Sonic Mania -- 9/10
"Sonic Mania methodically uses its sentimental appeal to great effect, but in the process, it heals the wounds inflicted by its most disappointing predecessors and surpasses the series' best with its smart and interpretive design. An excellent 2D platformer, Sonic Mania goes beyond expectations, managing to be not only a proper evolution of the series' iconic formula, but the best Sonic game ever made." [read the full review] -- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor
Cuphead -- 8/10
"Everything you've heard about Cuphead is true. It is a difficult side-scrolling shooter with relentless boss battles that demand rapid-fire actions and reactions. Think for too long, and you won't stand a chance against the game's toughest enemies. Battles may only last three minutes at most, but they feel far longer when you know that you can only absorb three hits before you have to start from scratch. When you are navigating your way around bullets, smaller enemies, and pitfalls, while simultaneously trying to damage your primary target, toppling Cuphead's imposing bosses is both a monumental and rewarding task." [read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Assassin's Creed Origins -- 7/10
"Assassin's Creed has undergone many changes in its long and storied history, and Origins feels like the first step in the start of a new journey. It has its fair share of problems, but the vision for its future is one worth pursuing." [read the full review] -- Alessandro Fillari, Editor
Stardew Valley -- 9/10
"On the surface, Stardew Valley is a game about farming, but there are more adventures awaiting curious players beyond cultivating a rich and bountiful garden. From mining and fishing to making friends and falling in love, Stardew Valley's Pelican Town is stuffed with rewarding opportunities. As modern day woes give way to pressing matters on the farm and within your newfound community, Stardew Valley's meditative activities often lead to personal reflection in the real world. It's a game that tugs at your curiosity as often as it does your heart." [read the full review] -- Mary Kish
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard -- 8/10
"By the end of the campaign, I was ready for the game to be over, but that's okay. RE7 ends just as it starts to outstay its welcome, and after the fact, I felt like I'd survived a truly harrowing journey. The boss fights may be slightly inconsistent and certain sections might drag after a while, but RE7 is still a remarkable success. It has a clear vision and executes it with impressive patience and precision. By returning to horror, Resident Evil has once again become something special." [read the full review] -- Scott Butterworth
Night in the Woods -- 9/10
"Both intensely personal and widely relatable, Night in the Woods doesn't just tell a story--it gracefully captures complex, often unpleasant feelings and experiences. From the quiet melancholy of doing nothing on a rainy day to the emotional vacuum of severe depression, I felt deeply, sometimes too deeply, while wandering through the cartoon-animal version of a small Midwestern town. Its witty writing and character development keep its crushing existential themes grounded, making Night in the Woods one of the most evocative games I've played in a long time." [read the full review] -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Overwatch -- 9/10
"Overwatch is an exercise in refined chaos. There are multitudes of layers hiding beneath the hectic surface, and they emerge, one after another, the more you play. This is a shooter that knows how to surprise, one that unfolds at a frantic pace, one that takes a handful of great ideas, and combines them into something spectacular." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Battlefield 1 -- 9/10
"EA DICE splendidly interprets the early 20th century as a world in technological transition while humanizing the war's participants through well crafted, albeit fictional, narrative vignettes. Combined with an enthralling multiplayer component, the overall result is the studio's best work since Battlefield: Bad Company 2." [read the full review] -- Miguel Concepcion
Titanfall 2 -- 9/10
"Titanfall 2 demonstrates a vitality that its predecessor couldn't. Whereas the first Titanfall kept up its breakneck pace throughout the entirety of every match, Titanfall 2 understands that sometimes, dialing things back for a few moments can make the long run much more enjoyable. In many ways, Titanfall 2 feels like the game Respawn should have made in 2013. It's a fantastic sequel. It's a fluid shooter. It's a spectacular game." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Dishonored 2 -- 8/10
"Any time I'm given a choice between stealth and action, I go stealth. I love the hold-your-breath tension of hoping a guard didn't spot you and the hard-earned triumph of executing a perfectly timed plan. Dishonored 2 delivers that sneaky satisfaction, arming you with stealth essentials like hiding bodies, peering through keyholes, and silent takedowns. But it's also an incredible engine for gleeful chaos, one so engrossing and amusing that I kind of accidentally beat the entire campaign raining hilarious, elaborate death on my enemies." [read the full review] -- Scott Butterworth
Forza Horizon 3 -- 9/10
"With Forza Horizon 3, Turn 10 and Playground Games affirm the series' status as the driving game for everyone. The new emphasis on off-road options isn't at the expense of traditional races, thanks to the sheer volume of activities. All the while, Playground Games' calculated kitchen-sink design philosophy and rich reward system persistently tempt you to explore beyond your comfort zone, whether it's gifting your first Ariel Nomad buggy or reminding you that stunt races can impress thousands of fans. Enhancing your own brand might feel like a strange motivation to hit the road, but pulling off sick e-drifts on a mile-long series of curves makes the PR work worthwhile." [read the full review] -- Miguel Concepcion
Inside -- 8/10
"This is a beautiful, haunting, and memorable game, a worthy follow-up to Limbo. Its puzzles, although rarely difficult, are engaging complements to the story. The real achievement of this game, though, is the way that it crafts its narrative: detailed environments convey the bizarre world that you travel through; introspective moments are filled with minimalist sound design and just the barest touches of music; and the things you must do to complete your journey force you to confront the realities of humanity, freedom, and existence." [read the full review] -- Alex Newhouse
Dark Souls III -- 8/10
"Dark Souls III is a game of valleys and peaks, down through dungeons and up over castle walls. It's a plummet into places we shouldn't be--an escape from places we don't belong. But of course, we fight our way through the darkness, and find our way out. There are a few stumbles along the way, but in the end, Dark Souls III is well worth the riveting climb." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt -- 10/10
"Where the Witcher 2 sputtered to a halt, The Witcher 3 is always in a crescendo, crafting battle scenarios that constantly one-up the last, until you reach the explosive finale and recover in the glow of the game's quiet denouement. But while the grand clashes are captivating, it is the moments between conflicts, when you drink with the local clans and bask in a trobairitz's song, that are truly inspiring." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Halo 5: Guardians -- 8/10
"Halo 5: Guardians is fueled by new ideas and propelled by some of the boldest changes to this storied franchise yet. Some of these changes fail, but others succeed, and although Halo 5 falters at times, it whisks us through black holes and across war torn tropical islands at a rapid pace. We can only surrender to its velocity." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Rise of the Tomb Raider -- 9/10
"Rise of the Tomb Raider's first shot pans over the vast, foreboding landscape we'll soon come to know. In many ways, it functions as a promise on the part of Crystal Dynamics: there are big things ahead of us. And at the end of Lara's journey, after we've seen her through this adventure, and experienced everything the world has to offer, it's clear that promise was kept." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Ori and the Blind Forest -- 9/10
"It consistently surprises you with new tricks: gravitational divergences, new ways to move through its spaces, and carefully designed levels that require you to think quickly and respond. It is not as snappy as, say, a typical Mario platformer, seeking instead a broader gameplay arc stretching across a single, interconnected world. It's a superb and thematically consistent approach that allows Ori and the Blind Forest to build joy on a bed of heartache, adding a new layer of mechanical complexity with each ray of hope." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain -- 10/10
"There has never been a game in the series with such depth to its gameplay, or so much volume in content. The best elements from the past games are here, and the new open-world gameplay adds more to love on top. When it comes to storytelling, there has never been a Metal Gear game that's so consistent in tone, daring in subject matter, and so captivating in presentation. The Phantom Pain may be a contender for one of the best action games ever made, but is undoubtedly the best Metal Gear game there is." [read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Fallout 4 -- 9/10
"Fallout 4 is an engrossing game that lures you in with mystery and the promise of adventure. Its wretched wasteland can be captivating, and you never know what odd person or settlement lies around the next bend. Fallout 4 uses its dark world as a canvas for exciting combat and gripping stories, and when you dig deeper into its post-nuclear-apocalypse version of Boston--defending yourself from violent scavengers and using your wits to climb social ladders--you become attached to the new you, and ultimately invested in the fate of your new world." [read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor -- 8/10
"This is a great game in its own right, narratively disjointed but mechanically sound, made up of excellent parts pieced together in excellent ways. I already knew what future lay in store for Middle-earth as I played Shadow of Mordor; I'm hoping that my own future might one day bring another Lord of the Rings adventure as stirring as this one." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Dragon Age: Inquisition -- 9/10
"Inquisition's characters and world recall the grand gestures of the original Dragon Age, even though the game as a whole is so structurally different to its predecessors. It offers the thrill of discovery and the passion of camaraderie. It features a glee club called The Sing-Quisition, and a dwarf with writer's block. It establishes connections with its world in big ways and small, with the sight of a titanous temple and the smirk of an Orlesian commander in love. Dragon Age: Inquisition is a wonderful game and a lengthy pilgrimage to a magical world with vital thematic ties to one we already know." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition -- 8/10
"Lara herself is so well crafted that I grew attached to her exploits and was sad to say goodbye when the credits rolled. And the exquisite visual design is so breathtaking that I continually found myself staring at the scenery instead of pushing onward. Tomb Raider is a great reinvention of this enduring franchise that made me eager to see where Lara goes in her future." [read the full review] -- Tom McShea
Forza Motorsport 5 -- 9/10
"All of this combined makes Forza Motorsport 5 an outstanding improvement to an already excellent racing franchise. It's far more than just a great racing sim, or a gorgeous showcase for the types of feats the Xbox One hardware is capable of. This is a game built on the romantic thrill of motorsport in all its forms, and that love for its subject matter is all but impossible to resist." [read the full review] -- Shaun McInnis
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag -- 9/10
"There's an incredible scope to what you can do in Black Flag, with a level of harmony between its component parts that encourages you to try it all, and a story that keeps you invested throughout the whole thing. If there was ever any question that Assassin's Creed needed something ambitious to get the series back on track, Black Flag is that game and then some." [read the full review] -- Shaun McInnis
By Kallie Plagge on Apr 02, 2018 11:55 pm
High Quality, Low Price
Xbox One has been around for over four years now, but the 4K-capable Xbox One X has only been around for a few months. Whether you're a day-one adopter or new to Xbox, it can be difficult to sift through the store and figure out what to play. And yes, there are jokes about how Xbox One doesn't have any games, but that's not true! There's plenty to play on Xbox, and your options are good even if you're on a budget. From newer indies to discounted AAA games, we've picked out the best games you can get for $20 or under (around £16) on the Xbox store. This only reflects digital prices; there are games you can get on sale at other retailers, but these games are consistently this affordable. For more games on a budget, see our roundups of the best cheap games on PS4 and on Switch. And make sure to check out our gallery of the Xbox One exclusive games confirmed for 2018 as well as the biggest Xbox One games of 2018 for everything coming to the console.
Celeste -- $20 / £16
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
Inside -- $20 / £16
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
The Sexy Brutale -- $20 / £16
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 it to say, we've played it over and over again--groundhog day indeed. | Matt Espineli
Halo 5: Guardians -- $20 / £15
Halo 5: Guardians is the biggest and boldest Halo game ever. The campaign tells an intriguing story where Master Chief is could potentially be the bad guy, and another team is tasked to hunt him down. Though the overall narrative did not exactly pay off, the campaign pushed the franchise forward with its more open level design that offered a new feeling of freedom. On the multiplayer side, Halo 5 is arguably the series' strongest offering to date. The core modes like Arena are there and have never been better, and Forge mode has allowed modders to create some truly incredible creations. But what's more exciting is the 24-player Warzone mode, which gives Halo's multiplayer a sense of scale that it never had before--and it's a lot of fun. At $20 (or free with an Xbox Game Pass subscription), Halo 5 is absolutely worth checking out. | Eddie Makuch
Crypt of the NecroDancer -- $15 / £12
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
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. | Chris Pereira
Stardew Valley -- $15 / £12
Originally released on PC, hit farming sim Stardew Valley has made its way to console with very few compromises (aside from the lack of mods, if that's something you care about). It's an excellent take on the Harvest Moon formula, with a laid-back small-town atmosphere, tons of work to do, and bachelors and bachelorettes to date. But the valley also has its mysteries, and the added intrigue makes it easy to pick up, hard to put down, and rewarding day after day. Even though it has nothing to do with the Harvest Moon franchise, it's easily the best "Harvest Moon" game in years. | Kallie Plagge
Sonic Mania -- $20 / £16
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
Overcooked -- $17 / £13
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
Thimbleweed Park -- $20 / £17
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 -- $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 home screen for a long time. | Chris Pereira
Axiom Verge -- $20 / £16
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
Bastion -- $15 / £12
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
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain -- $20 (not discounted in UK)
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
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