By Array on Apr 05, 2018 11:30 pm
Dos and Don'ts
In addition to the campaign and regular online modes, Far Cry 5 features an impressive map editor for the Arcade mode. It lets you create your own maps and game types for other players to try out, but not every map is created equal. To help you out, we've put together nine tips for designing a great map; you can also check out the video version for visual inspiration. For more on Far Cry 5's Arcade, check out our video guide with more general tips on how to use the map editor, and get inspiration (or an idea of what not to do) with the best and worst maps available in the mode now. For guides on Far Cry 5's main modes, see our feature highlighting nine tips we wish we knew before starting and our video guide discussing general beginners tips to follow. 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 announced Far Cry 5's Season Pass, which takes you to settings like Mars and the Vietnam War. We also recently learned more about how to access the game's live events and the special rewards you earn by completing them. You can also find out more about how the game's microtransactions work in our detailed explainer.
Give Your Map Depth
Yes, it can be a pain to carve out terrain, and yes, you can still make a flat map interesting. However, when was the last time you took a walk outside? Nature isn't flat. Just adding some elevation can make a world of difference. Make rolling hills, dig valleys, mold rivers. And don't forget to use the smooth tool to even out those rough edges. The idea is to give your map some verticality so it's interesting to play and explore.
Don't Make It Too Big
It's tempting to make a huge map, but they present their own set of challenges. After all, the bigger the map, the longer it's going to take to fill it up with interesting things to do. However, if you have time to make a big map, you're going to need to consider your budget, as you can only fit so many assets into the map before running out of memory space. For example, you can cover empty map with loads of trees, but that'll quickly exhaust your budget. In order to learn the skills required to create better maps, we recommend starting small with your map and slowly growing outward.
Add Textures
One thing that separates the top-rated maps from the rest is that they have textures. It's super easy to add textures, and they make a world of difference. You can even change the default texture to whatever you want within seconds. Just click on the grid texture, hit change, and pick whatever you want.
Stick To A Theme
For your first few maps, it's a good idea to decide on a theme before you begin. For example, if you're making a snowy map, don't add palm trees. It sounds obvious, but keeping to a theme can help guide your design.
Don't Make Your Map Unnecessarily Difficult
Difficulty is good! No one wants a cakewalk of a map (unless they're trying to grind for XP), but spawning in, say, a tiny pit filled with Yetis or heavy enemies isn't fun either. Instead, try to ramp up difficulty as the player progresses through your map. Also, don't cram your map with 80+ enemies and ask the player to kill everyone. There are exceptions, but for the most part, be reasonable with the challenges you set forth for players.
Don't Make The Enemies Dumb
While it's not the most intuitive set of tools, you do have some flexibility with enemy AI. You can give them things to do, areas to defend, and places to go. This is something that can wait until the end, but if you are trying to make a map that tells a story and feels alive, it's definitely an important step.
Adjust The Environment
The environment tools are how you set the mood of your map. You can adjust time of day, wind force, fog, the backdrop, and post FX. Seriously, this is what brings your maps to life. With the environment tools, you can turn a simple collection of trees into a dark, eerie forest.
Don't Forget Boundaries
This is typically one of the last things to do when making a map. Once you've figured out the size of your map, use the map limits tool. This will give your players a death countdown if they get a little too adventurous.
For PC: Learn The Hotkeys
Knowing the hotkeys on PC can help speed up the map-making process significantly. We've listed them below. - Gameplay Modifiers: M
- Select: 1
- Move: 2
- Rotate: 3
- Snap: 4
- Objects: 5
- AI Management: 6
- Texture Painter: F1
- Add Vegetation: F2
- Roads: F3
- Environment: F4
- Bump: F5
- Raise/Lower: F6
- Flatten: F7
- Ramp: F8
- Terrain Set To Height: F9
- Smooth: F10
- Noise: F11
By Kevin Wong on Apr 05, 2018 08:10 pm
There's a great Colt Cabana podcast interview with CM Punk where he discusses an argument he had with Triple H. After hearing that Punk was upset about not main eventing Wrestlemania 29, Triple H told Punk that he was in a main event with the Undertaker. Punk retorted by asking if he was getting paid the same amount as The Rock or John Cena. Triple H didn't have a comeback for that. The guy had a point. Marketing is one thing, but for all functional purposes, there is only one main event, and that's the match which goes on last. Which leads one to ask: "Which of the matches on the card will main event Wrestlemania 34?" It doesn't matter from a practical standpoint; this isn't boxing or MMA, where the fans with tickets find their seats ten minutes before the main event. WWE fans, both on the Network and at the Superdome, will be their seats to watch the whole show. But it does matter from a standpoint of principles. CM Punk considered his WWE career a failure because he never got to main event Wrestlemania. Reportedly, Vince McMahon put Mick Foley in the main event for Wrestlemania 2000 because he felt so bad for not having done so earlier. The main event also demonstrates the company's values: who is Vince McMahon relying on to headline and represent his product? For example, when WWE decided to close the Royal Rumble with the women's battle royal in January, it was a massive deal. It put all the company's lip service about the Women's Evolution into action. Here are the five matches that are most likely to main event Wrestlemania 34 and our opinion and analysis of each choice. Also, check out the updated match card and all of our predictions for April 8.
Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns
This is the most likely candidate for the main event. It's for the Raw Championship, and Raw is widely perceived as the flagship brand. Lesnar is the most protected WWE superstar in years; nobody beats him cleanly. And Reigns garners a reaction from every fan, be it positive or negative. It's an obvious choice and a safe choice--ideal for casual fans. It's what the majority of fans expect anyway, so WWE won't be actively stepping on anyone's toes to put this on last. The only problem is that everybody, even the most casual fan, knows the result: Reigns is going to beat Lesnar because there aren't any other opponents left for Lesnar to defeat. The other main event possibilities for Wrestlemania 34 are a bit more unpredictable.
AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
This is the main event that the majority of hardcore WWE fans want. It's two of the finest workers in the company (and AJ Styles is, pound-for-pound, the best worker in the company) going head-to-head. It's a match that's fresh; it's only been booked once before in Japan. Nakamura won that first showdown at the Wrestle Kingdom 10 PPV. But either man could win this rematch, and it would be a reasonable result. They're fighting for the WWE Championship, which has a lineage dating back to 1963, and unlike the Universal title, it wasn't invented out of thin air. Nakamura is also this year's Royal Rumble winner, which makes this match, technically speaking, the rightful main event. Hopefully, the WWE makes it so. But it's still second in likelihood to Lesnar vs. Reigns.
Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka
This is, personally speaking, the second best option to main event Wrestlemania 34. As with Styles vs. Nakamura, the result is largely up in the air and could be rationalized both ways. Asuka is an undefeated juggernaut with over 265 WWE wins to her name. Charlotte is the most dominant woman to emerge from the first wave of the Women's Evolution. And if their Mixed Match Challenge action is any indication, fans are in for a real physical, violent confrontation. The only catch is that the first women's main event deserves a lot more hype and PR. If WWE were to go through with a "first ever" scenario, they would probably publicize it on every social media platform they have. There would be video packages circulating the Internet already. Fans haven't heard anything yet, which makes this unlikely.
John Cena vs. The Undertaker
This match hasn't been officially announced, even though it's obviously happening. Cena vs. Taker could main event the show if the company decides to torture its audience for as long as possible. And then, at 11:00 PM EST on April 8, when everyone has given up on seeing The Undertaker, the gong finally hits. It sounds good on paper, but it might not work as well in practice. The Undertaker could hardly move last year and got gassed halfway through his match with Roman Reigns. Will it be worth a "Wrestlemania Moment" to have a subpar match close the show? It isn't, in my opinion. But that's a call that WWE has to make.
Ronda Rousey & Kurt Angle vs. Stephanie McMahon & Triple H
This is a nightmare scenario. If Stephanie and Triple H's egos run wild, this mixed tag match could main event Wrestlemania 34. Perhaps they'll remember that Rousey has main evented UFC events, and they'll make the logical leap to assume that Rousey should main event their flagship show as well. There's a lot of reasons why this is a bad idea, but the major reason is that it will undercut the Women's Evolution. If this match is the main event, then technically speaking (even if they don't market it this way), Rousey and Stephanie will be the first women to main event Wrestlemania. That would be a disgrace--the honor to do that belongs to women who have been on the front lines, defining the women's division, rather than a newcomer and the daughter of the company's owner. On the bright side, if Rousey does main event Wrestlemania 34, it will blow up Twitter. It'll get mainstream attention from major news outlets, and WWE can put together a highlight reel of all the newspaper headlines for Raw the following day. Oh no. No, no, no. This is what's going to happen, isn't it?
By Kevin Wong on Apr 05, 2018 07:30 pm
When Wrestlemania debuted in 1985, it was an high-profile experiment, far from the stadium-filling juggernaut that it is today. In fact, had the closed circuit television event failed, WWE may have gone bankrupt; there would be no Hulkamania, no Austin 3:16, and no Cena Nation. Fortunately for us, WWE's blend of sports entertainment and celebrity involvement was a mainstream, crossover hit. Since then, there have been 32 sequels to the "Show of Shows." And on April 8, 2018, Wrestlemania will return to New Orleans' Superdome with a star-studded match card. In recognition of over three decades of Wrestlemania moments, here's a gallery of the best individual matches from each PPV. Hopefully, Wrestlemania 34 will live up to its institutional standard. For more Wrestlemania coverage, check out the biggest rumors leading up to the event. We have a full match card for you to check out, as well as our predictions. And come back to GameSpot Universe on Sunday, April 8 for live coverage of Wrestlemania 34.
Wrestlemania: Hulk Hogan & Mr. T vs. Roddy Piper & Paul Orndorff
The best matches at the first Wrestlemania were more about spectacle and crossover appeal than anything else. The first major highlight was seeing Andre the Giant bodyslam Big John Studd and then toss handfuls of cash into the front row. But the most memorable part of the evening was the tag match that closed the show, which paired Mr. T with Hulk Hogan. Mr. T was a high-profile celebrity cameo that set the bar for future celebrity cameos to come. Also present was special guest referee Muhammad Ali, who took a swing at Roddy Piper during the match.
Wrestlemania 2: The British Bulldogs vs. Greg Valentine & Brutus Beefcake
After its inaugural success with the first Wrestlemania, WWE spread itself way too thin with the sequel. They staged the event in three different cities: Uniondale, Rosemont, and Los Angeles. And out of three cities, Rosemont got the best of it. Andre the Giant won a battle royal consisting of WWE superstars and NFL players. And the British Bulldogs beat the Dream Team for the Tag Team Championship in the best match of the evening. The Bulldogs consisted of Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid. the legendary ring technician who inspired multiple younger wrestlers, including Bret Hart, Chris Jericho, Eddie Guerrero, and Chris Benoit.
Wrestlemania III: Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage
The same night that WWE broke the indoor attendance record with over 93,000 spectators--though this is still up for debate--it also showcased two of the most legendary matches in WWE history. The match that makes the highlight reels is Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant; Hogan body slammed the massive man to retain the WWE Championship. But the higher quality match is the Intercontinental championship match between Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat and "Macho Man" Randy Savage. It was an exhaustively choreographed clinic, and Steamboat clinched the title after a crucial save by George "The Animal" Steele.
Wrestlemania IV: Randy Savage vs.Ted DiBiase
Wrestlemania IV was a massive tournament to determine the WWE Champion. The final came down to Randy Savage and Ted DiBiase, who had tried to buy the title from Andre the Giant. Before Vince McMahon began playing himself on WWE programming, "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase was his stand-in, and one of the greatest heels of all time. Savage won the main event with his trademark elbow drop, which led to his first of two reigns as WWE Champion.
Wrestlemania V: Hulk Hogan vs. Randy Savage
Hogan and Savage formed the a mighty tag team known as the Mega Powers, but they eventually came to blows over the affections of Savage's valet, Miss Elizabeth. The main event between Hogan and Savage at Wrestlemania V--promoted as "The Mega Powers Explode"--was the best match on an otherwise lackluster card. It led to Hogan winning his second WWE Championship.
Wrestlemania VI: Ultimate Warrior vs. Hulk Hogan
The Ultimate Warrior had the physique of an action figure, and although he wasn't a good worker, his intensity (and the short lengths of his matches) made up for most of it. Just as Andre vs. Hogan was the "passing of the torch" at Wrestlemania III, Ultimate Warrior vs. Hogan was the corresponding "passing of the torch" at Wrestlemania VI. The two engaged in a prolonged test of strength before Warrior hit his trademark splash and scored the pin.
Wrestlemania VII: Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage
The retirement match between Warrior and Savage at Wrestlemania VII was most memorable for the story surrounding it. The Macho Man was a heel who called himself the Macho King, and he had traded in the management services of Miss Elizabeth for those of Queen Sherri. At the conclusion of the match, Miss Elizabeth, who was a spectator in the front row, climbed over the railing and reconciled with her true love. Often cited as one of the most tear jerking moments in WWE history, it eventually led to an engagement and an on-camera wedding.
Wrestlemania VIII: Bret Hart vs. Roddy Piper
If you want to see some fantastic in-ring storytelling, look no further than this match between Hot Rod and The Hitman. Bret, a longtime member of the Hart Foundation, was making a run at singles competition, despite being widely known as a tag specialist. He wasn't one of the muscle bound giants that Vince McMahon tended to favor. But two matches during this time period solidified Bret as a legend in the making. The first was his win over Mr. Perfect at Summerslam (1991). And the second was this win over Roddy Piper at Wrestlemania VIII. Hart ended the evening with blood covering his face, and no one could question his resolve and intensity after that.
Wrestlemania IX: Steiner Brothers vs. The Headshrinkers
Wrestlemania IX was widely derided in its day, in large part due to its main event. For months, WWE had built Yokozuna as an unbeatable monster of a man, and when he defeated Bret Hart for the WWE Championship, it made sense. But then, Hulk Hogan came out to the ring, challenged Yokozuna to an impromptu match, and won the title in less than 30 seconds. The lone standout of the event was this match between the Steiner Brothers and the Headshrinkers. All four men were shockingly agile for their size, and the "Wrestlemania moment" came when Fatu and Samu both body splashed Scott Steiner from the top rope.
Wrestlemania X: Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels
The opening match between Bret Hart and Owen Hart at Wrestlemania X is, technically speaking, the best match on the card. But the ladder match for the Intercontinental Championship between Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon was groundbreaking. Its spots looks pretty tame compared to the crazy stunts that WWE superstars pull off today. But back in 1994, this was hardcore and career-threatening. The two men put on phenomenal match with a single steel ladder, weaponizing it in every manner they could think of.
Wrestlemania XI: Lawrence Taylor vs. Bam Bam Bigelow
Wrestlemania XI was, businesswise, the lowest point in WWE's history. The company was struggling after losing some of its biggest stars to WCW; in less than a decade, the flagship PPV had gone from having 93,000 spectators to having 16,000 spectators. The Wrestlemania XI main event between Lawrence Taylor and Bam Bam Bigelow is best on the card, based on pure spectacle and low expectations. LT kept things simple, and Bam Bam, always a professional, carried his opponent to a respectable finish.
Wrestlemania XII: Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart
Shawn Michaels won his first WWE Championship in a classic Iron Man match against Bret Hart at Wrestlemania XII. The two men went 60 minutes without a single pinfall or submission. But then, WWE "President" Gorilla Monsoon ordered the match go into "sudden death." Michaels hit Sweet Chin Music, scored the pin, and ignited a feud (both in storyline and in real life) with Hart for years to come.
Wrestlemania 13: Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin
Has a wrestler ever gotten this much mileage over losing a match? Austin, rather than submitting to the Hart's Sharpshooter, passed out from the pain and ended the evening lying face-down in a pool of his own blood. In that moment, Austin went from heel to antihero, while Hart went from babyface to heel. Austin was already well on his way to becoming a legend. But this match hastened his ascent. It stands as one of the most intense matches in Wrestlemania history, especially because Hart took on an uncharacteristically hardcore edge.
Wrestlemania XIV: Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels
This was the official passing of the torch from the New Generation era, as embodied by Shawn Michaels, to the Attitude Era, embodied by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. It was also the beginning of the Vince McMahon vs. Austin feud; McMahon conspired to keep the title off Austin by making Tyson the guest referee. Tyson, however, turned at the last minute, made a quick count, and handed Austin his first WWE Championship. A little bonus trivia: Undertaker was waiting backstage to beat up Michaels if he tried any funny business or refused to drop the title.
Wrestlemania XV: Steve Austin vs.The Rock
This was the first of three Wrestlemania encounters between the two biggest superstars of the Attitude Era. By this point, the McMahon/Austin feud was in full swing, and Rock was Vince's "Corporate Champion." Rock and Austin did battle in a No Disqualification match, which featured several dramatic spots outside the ring and a rotating cast of referees. Eventually, however, Austin hit the stunner, and Mick Foley, wearing a homemade referee shirt, made the 3-count, much to McMahon's chagrin.
Wrestlemania 2000: Edge & Christian vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boyz
For a four year span in the early '00s, from approximately 1999-2002, WWE's tag team division underwent a renaissance, thanks to three tag teams all hitting their prime at the exact same time: The Hardy Boyz, The Dudley Boyz, and Edge & Christian. Their triangular Ladder match at Wrestlemania 2000 was the bright spot of an otherwise lackluster PPV. It was a non-stop highlight reel, filled with spots and stunts that would have ended the average match. Particularly notable was Jeff Hardy performing a Swanton Bomb on Bubba Ray Dudley off the top of a ladder. Both men broke through a table before hitting the floor.
Wrestlemania X-Seven: Edge & Christian vs. The Dudley Boyz vs. The Hardy Boyz
This is the bar by which all other Tables, Ladders, Chairs matches are measured against. TLC II, the second in a three-part trilogy, has held up amazingly well over time, and the major spots still look just as as dangerous as they ever did. The match featured run-ins by Lita, Spike Dudley, and Rhyno, each performing their signature moves for their respective teams. The match reached it zenith with another death-defying stunt by Jeff Hardy, who dangled from the suspended WWE tag titles before being speared, mid-air, to the floor by Edge.
Wrestlemania X8: The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan
The Rock was the babyface. Hogan was the heel--an evil one at that--and just several weeks prior, he had rammed the Rock's ambulance with a mack truck. But you'd never know that from hearing the Toronto crowd at Wrestlemania X8. Nearly every fan booed The Rock and cheered for Hogan. He was nine years removed from his last Wrestlemania event, and even though he had lost a step since the last time we had seen him, he still had that magnetic stage presence that cannot be quantified.
Wrestlemania XIX: Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle
The biggest match at Wrestlemania XIX was between two All-American collegiate wrestlers, who both made a successful jump to sports entertainment. Angle and Lesnar had wonderful in-ring chemistry, but ironically, this match is best known for what went wrong. Angle talked Lesnar into attempting a Shooting Star Press off the top rope, but Lesnar's foot slipped during the jump, and he landed directly on his head. Fortunately, he didn't paralyzed or kill himself, and the two men improvised the finish to give Lesnar his second WWE Championship reign.
Wrestlemania XX: Chris Benoit vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H
Triple H and Shawn Michaels were feuding, again, but this time, there was an x-factor in the mix: a Hart Dungeon graduate and Dynamite Kid aficionado named Chris Benoit. After flipping Michaels out of the ring, Benoit locked in the Crippler Crossface on Triple H and submitted him, winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. After the match, long-time friend Eddie Guerrero came out to the ring, and the two men celebrated together as confetti fell from the sky.
Wrestlemania 21: Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels
From Wrestlemania XIX to Wrestlemania XXVI, Shawn Michaels put together an incredible run of Wrestlemania matches, each one more epic and laden with emotion than the last. Michaels was one of those rare talents who actually got better with age; for every physical step he lost, he gained a step in ring psychology and timing. This match against Kurt Angle at Wrestlemania 21 lived up to both men's reputations. Particularly noteworthy was how Michaels started the match by mat wrestling Angle; he more than held his own against the Olympic gold medalist.
Wrestlemania 22: Shawn Michaels vs. Vince McMahon
This wasn't winning any awards for technical prowess, but that wasn't the point. It was stupid, bloody, violent, theatrical fun, and despite run-ins from both the Spirit Squad and Shane McMahon, Michaels still walked away with the win. One of the best spots from the match was when Michaels handcuffed Shane to the ropes, and then did a mocking Shane O'Mac shuffle before beating the boss' son with a kendo stick.
Wrestlemania 23: Money In The Bank Match
(Mr. Kennedy vs. Edge vs. C.M. Punk vs. Finlay vs. Jeff Hardy, vs. King Booker vs, Matt Hardy vs. Randy Orton) Until it became its own PPV, the Money in the Bank ladder match was a wonderful innovation. Climb the ladder, retrieve the briefcase, and receive a title shot at your chosen time and place, redeemable for an entire year. The MITB match at Wrestlemania 23 was star-studded. CM Punk came close to victory, but it was Mr. Kennedy who climbed the ladder and won the briefcase. Unfortunately, due to a misdiagnosed injury, Kennedy would drop the briefcase to Edge, who then cashed in on The Undertaker to become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
Wrestlemania XXIV: Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair
The stipulation of this match was that Ric Flair would be forced to retire if he lost to Shawn Michaels. The feud turned nasty as the event drew closer; Michaels called Flair "Old Yeller" and said the Nature Boy needed to be "put down." At Wrestlemania XXIV, Flair was clearly about to lose, and he encouraged Shawn Michaels to deliver the final blow. Shawn Michaels mouthed the words, "I'm sorry. I love you," and obliged.
Wrestlemania XXV: Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels
Along with Steamboat vs. Savage at WM III, Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania XXV was a once-in-a-lifetime, transcendent match, beginning with the entrances: Michaels, dressed in white, descended from the heavens, while the Undertaker, dressed in black, ascended from hell. The match was one phenomenal spot after another: a suicide dive that almost killed Undertaker, a kick-out from a Tombstone Piledriver, a punching contest with both competitors on their knees, and a moonsault-into-Tombstone reversal to close things out.
Wrestlemania XXVI: Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels
The rematch between Michaels and Undertaker at Wrestlemania XXVI did not exceed the original. But it had increased emotional stakes because Michaels' career was on the line. And just as Flair urged Michaels to finish him off at Wrestlemania XXIV, Michaels urged Undertaker to finish him off at Wrestlemania XXVI. Undertaker obliged with a jumping Tombstone Piledriver, which sent The Heartbreak Kid into retirement and improved the Dead Man's Wrestlemania streak to 18-0.
Wrestlemania XXVII: Undertaker vs. Triple H
This was the second time that Triple H faced Undertaker at Wrestlemania XXVII, but you would never know it from the video packages, which promoted this match as a long-awaited, generational showdown. This was the first time that Undertaker's age and deterioration played a role in the storyline. Triple H explicitly referenced it in their buildup, and Undertaker entered WM XXVII to Johnny Cash's "Ain't No Grave." And after winning the match by submission with the Hell's Gate, Undertaker was in worse shape than his opponent. He couldn't stand, and he had to be stretchered out of the arena.
Wrestlemania XXVIII: Undertaker vs. Triple H
The rematch between Undertaker and Triple H was a Hell in a Cell match at Wrestlemania XXVIII, with the retired Shawn Michaels as the special guest referee. Nearly two decades of storytelling came to a head in a single match, as the three men's complicated relationships played out in the ring. Michaels was particularly brilliant in this regard and showed every bit of conflict on his face: his respect for the Undertaker, his friendship with Triple H, and his desire to be impartial. After the match, all three men walked to the back together, acknowledging the "End of an Era."
Wrestlemania 29: Undertaker vs. CM Punk
Paul Bearer had died, for real. And WWE decided to turn a tragic loss into sports entertainment gold. For weeks, CM Punk tormented his opponent by imitating Bearer's voice and tossing the urn around like a toy. And the week before Wrestlemania 29, Punk covered himself in the urn's ashes. The culminating match between Undertaker and Punk was the final win of Undertaker's 21-match Wrestlemania streak. In hindsight, it should have been the main event instead of the rematch between The Rock and John Cena.
Wrestlemania XXX: Daniel Bryan vs. Batista vs. Randy Orton
This was the match that was never supposed to be. Daniel Bryan didn't figure into WWE's Wrestlemania XXX plans until fan backlash forced the writers to redraw them. Daniel Bryan had to beat Triple H, Randy Orton, and Batista in a single night to become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, and he succeeded after submitting Batista with the Yes Lock in the main event. It was an incredible underdog narrative, similar in presentation to Chris Benoit's Triple Threat victory at Wrestlemania XX. Just as they did back then, entire crowd celebrated with the victor as confetti fell from the ceiling.
Wrestlemania 31: Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins
The main event between Lesnar and Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania 31 had already exceeded expectations; Reigns endured a hellacious amount of punishment at the hands of The Beast, and Lesnar was bleeding profusely from the head. And then, Seth Rollins elevated the match to classic status by cashing in his MITB briefcase, Curb Stomping both men, and pinning Lesnar to win the WWE Championship. It kept Lesnar looking strong. It saved Reigns from a vicious audience backlash. And it swerved the audience completely.
Wrestlemania 32: Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks
There were matches with more hype, such as The Undertaker vs Shane McMahon or Roman Reigns vs. Triple H. There were matches with better ring work, such as AJ Styles vs. Chris Jericho. But the best match of the evening was Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks vs. Charlotte Flair for the WWE Women's championship. All three women had standout performances, especially Banks, who paid tribute to her idol, Eddie Guerrero, and Flair, who did a corkscrew moonsault off the top rope to the floor.
Wrestlemania 33: AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon
At Wrestlemania 33, the best worker in WWE took on one of the weakest workers in WWE. McMahon kept his offense minimal but impactful--a Coast 2 Coast here, a Shooting Star Press there. And Styles carried McMahon the rest of the way to a phenomenal match. This year, Styles will take on Nakamura for the WWE Championship, and McMahon will tag with Daniel Bryan to take on Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. Either showdown, booked properly, has the potential to be this year's best Wrestlemania match.
By Matt Espineli on Apr 05, 2018 05:55 am
Shelved and gone.
For one reason or another, games will get cancelled. Oftentimes we don't get to hear about many of gaming's most ill-fated projects, as they're often not revealed to the public. However, there are plenty of games that do get announced that are inevitably cancelled midway through production. Sometimes we find out why through official announcements or myriad rumors. Whether it's from not meeting the standards of publishers or just getting lost in development hell, some games often get the boot before they can even reach the hands of anxious gamers. There are many unfortunate projects that have met untimely ends over the years, including the recently cancelled Breakaway and last year's Scalebound. And what's worse is that many of these cancelled games were highly anticipated. Cancellations for games like Silent Hills and Mega Man Legends 3 have spurred massive disappointment from fans. While other times, there were cancellations for games that simply fell by the wayside after their initial announcement. Whether you were excited for any of the games we list in this feature or not, it's a bummer that these projects never made it to the finish line. From the most hotly anticipated cancelled games to the most obscure, here's a list of the most notable games that have been cancelled in the last few years and a detailed history on what they were. Which game cancellation disappoints you the most? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to check back often as we (sadly and inevitably) update this with more games. Otherwise, focus on happy thoughts and check out our in-depth galleries covering all the biggest PS4 exclusives, Xbox One exclusives, PC exclusives, and Switch exclusives coming in 2018.
Breakaway
Breakaway was to going to be Amazon Game Studio's big debut into the massively popular MOBA genre. First announced in September 2016 at Twitchcon, the game was a 4v4 hero sports brawler that combined elements from variety of games, like League of Legends, Power Stone, and Rocket League. In addition, it was being designed to be easily streamed on Twitch. Double Helix Studios--known for its work on Killer Instinct Season 1 and the 2014 Strider reboot--was handling development and it was to be the studio's first new game after being acquired by Amazon Game Studios in 2014. After Breakaway's initial reveal, little else was shown of the project in the intermittent years outside a few gameplay showcases. Eventually rumors began to circulate suggesting that Breakaway's development was on hiatus and that it was essentially cancelled. This was inevitably confirmed in April 2018 when Amazon released a statement asserting the following: "While we have developed many ideas and made a lot of progress, we are also setting a very high bar for ourselves. In spite of our efforts, we didn't achieve the breakthrough that made the game what we all hoped it could be. After a lot of soul searching, the team decided to focus on new ideas. As a result, Breakaway is no longer in active development." In the same statement, Amazon Game Studios left the smallest glimmer of hope for Breakaway, saying it could return to the project "if a thunderbolt of inspiration strikes." However, the official word is that Breakaway will not continue development anytime in the foreseeable future.
Scalebound
Scalebound was an Xbox One-exclusive action-RPG by PlatinumGames first announced at Microsoft's E3 2014 press conference. It followed the story of Drew, an adventurer who shares a symbiotic relationship with a dragon named Thuban. The two embarked on an adventure through the land of Draconis, battling enemy forces and giant creatures. The concept behind the game was conceptualized back in 2006, but Platinum moved forward developing Bayonetta instead. The idea was revised and re-pitched until its development was officially approved during the final phase of development for the studio's Wii U-exclusive action-adventure The Wonderful 101. Scalebound was scheduled to launch in 2016, but a crowded holiday release schedule pushed it into 2017. The game made a few appearances at trade shows throughout the years, showcasing its large-scale combat scenarios and online cooperative multiplayer. However, the game's development was cancelled in early January 2017. Microsoft commented: "After careful deliberation, Microsoft Studios has come to the decision to end production for Scalebound." As of writing, no other details have been confirmed over why the game was cancelled or if Microsoft will continue in a development partnership with Platinum.
Doom 4
Doom 4 was officially announced in May 2008 after former id Software lead developer John Carmack teased it at QuakeCon. The game was to detail the uprising of Hell on Earth and that it would follow the style of early Doom games. While the game was affirmed to be in active development in the years that followed, little was shown of the game, which led gamers to speculate about its development cycle. Interviews from key members of the team revealed that Doom 4 changed direction as development progressed, taking on heavily scripted qualities akin to the Call of Duty franchise. This build was scrapped in favor of a series reboot in 2012, which became 2016's Doom. Speaking in retrospect on the Doom 4 build, Bethesda VP of marketing Pete Hines commented that it didn't evoke what Doom should be about and that it wasn't hitting the marks it needed.
Star Wars 1313
Star Wars 1313 was an action-adventure game set to be a gritty take on the Star Wars universe. By the tail end of its development, it was going to follow the exploits of a young Boba Fett exploring an underground area of Coruscant known as level 1313. But when Disney purchased Lucasfilm, it made the decision to change the Star Wars franchise's position from internal development to a licensing model for Star Wars video games. As a result, on April 3, 2013, massive lay offs were made to LucasArts and all projects were canceled, including Star Wars 1313.
Silent Hills
Silent Hills was going to be the next installment in the Silent Hill series. Hideo Kojima was set to direct the project in collaboration with film director Guillermo Del Toro. The Walking Dead actor Norman Reedus was also attached to the project to portray the game's main character. When news of Kojima's plans to leave Konami after finishing MGS V began to circulate, his involvement in Silent Hills was left unclear. Konami finally confirmed the game was cancelled on April 27, 2015 after a variety of reports from those involved with the project had stated that the game was no longer in development. Despite the cancellation, Konami stated the Silent Hill franchise will continue.
Titan
Titan was a new MMO game by World of Warcraft developer Blizzard Entertainment. Development of the title was speculated upon as early as 2007 when Blizzard posted job listings for a next-gen MMO. It was confirmed to be in development in 2008, but Blizzard eventually canceled it in 2014. Reasons cited behind the cancellation include a lack of passion for the project and the trending success of their smaller-scale titles.
Tom Clancy's Rainbow 6 Patriots
Announced in 2011, Rainbow 6 Patriots was a first-person shooter developed by Ubisoft Montreal. It put players in control of a counter-terrorism unit known as Team Rainbow as they went up against a populist militia group known as the True Patriots. Ubisoft canceled the game on June 9, 2014 due to the desire to produce a more next-gen game experience for the Rainbow 6 series.
Prey 2
Prey 2 was a first-person shooter developed by Human Head Studios. As the sequel to 2006's Prey, it would have put players in control of a bounty hunter on the alien world of Exodus who is trying to recover his lost memories. But on October 30, 2014, publisher Bethesda confirmed that Prey 2 was cancelled due to the game not being up to its standards.
Shadow Realms
Shadow Realms was a 4v1 online action-RPG being developed by BioWare's Austin studio. It was first announced during Gamescom 2014. Set on modern day Earth and a parallel world known as Embra, it would have had players taking on the roles of magic wielding heroes caught in a war to save humanity against the evil Shadow Legions. Unfortunately, Shadow Realms got the boot due to BioWare Austin focusing their development efforts on other BioWare family projects, such as Dragon Age: Inquisition and the next Mass Effect.
Star Wars: Battlefront 3
Star Wars: Battlefront 3 was a third- and first-person shooter that was being developed by Free Radical Design. Despite never being officially announced, this version of Star Wars: Battlefront 3 was in development from mid-2006 to early 2008. But right when it was about 99% finished, the game was cancelled due to financial reasons.
Legacy of Kain: Dead Sun
Legacy of Kain: Dead Sun was an action-adventure game that was to be the sixth entry in Crystal Dynamics' long-running Legacy of Kain series. It was being developed by Climax Studios under the supervision of Crystal Dynamics. Development for the game began secretly in 2009-2010 after Square Enix Europe chose Climax Studios to take on the job of creating a next-gen Legacy of Kain game. However, Square Enix Europe canceled the title in 2012 before it was able to reach full production.
Fez 2
Fez 2 was to be the sequel to 2012's Fez, an indie 2D puzzle platformer that revolves around players solving puzzles while rotating between four sides of the game's 3D world. The game was canceled a month after its announcement following a Twitter argument between lead designer Phil Fish and a video game journalist.
Dawngate
Dawngate was a free-to-play MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) developed by Waystone Games and published by Electronic Arts. Aiming to differentiate itself from other MOBAs like League of Legends and Dota 2, Dawngate tried to implement an evolving story into its gameplay. Despite being in beta for quite some time, Waystone Games announced that the game was cancelled due to its beta not shaping up to the standards they hoped it would.
World of Darkness
World of Darkness was a vampire-themed MMO that was being developed by EVE Online developer CCP Games. Based in the supernatural world of the tabletop RPG series World of Darkness, the game was going to make heavy use of player politics and social interaction in its gameplay. However, CCP Games canceled the project on April 14, 2014 after being in development for nearly eight years.
Fallout Online
Fallout Online was an MMO that was being developed by Interplay Entertainment, the Fallout series' original creators. Officially confirmed to be in development in 2009, the MMO would eventually be canceled in 2012 after a long legal battle between Interplay and new series publisher Bethesda that resulted in an out-of-court settlement. Bethesda then got the rights back to develop a Fallout MMO.
Bioshock for the PS Vita
BioShock for the PS Vita was a game announced by former Irrational Games co-founder Ken Levine during Sony's E3 2011 press conference. It was going to be a completely new original entry in the series rather than a port of previous BioShock games. But in July 2014, it was confirmed that deals between Sony and BioShock publisher Take Two failed to materialize. And with closure of Irrational Games in 2014, whatever plans Levine had for the portable title are effectively buried.
NBA Live 13
NBA Live 13 was to be a reboot to EA's long-running basketball game franchise that at the time hadn't seen a release since 2010. However, due to lack of satisfaction over the game's builds in the lead-up to launch, EA decided to cancel the game a mere six days before its planned release date.
Mega Man Legends 3
Mega Man Legends 3 was to be the next entry in the cult classic Mega Man spin-off series. It would have had players controlling two new characters named Aero and Barrett who would have joined alongside returning series characters to save Mega Man Volnutt from Elysium. Initial development of Mega Man Legends 3 was originally helmed by series creator Keiji Inafune. However, when he left the Capcom in 2010, development continued without him. Unfortunately, on July 18, 2011, Capcom canceled the game citing that it did not meet the required criteria to go into full production.
By GameSpot Staff on Apr 05, 2018 05:44 am
Web-Slinging Wishes
PS4-exclusive Spider-Man is set to release on September 7. First announced at E3 2016, Ratchet & Clank Developer Insomniac's game adaptation of the famous web slinger has been a longtime coming. And with the upcoming release of God of War, all eyes are starting to turn towards Spider-Man. In the last two decades, Spider-Man has seen more good game adaptations than bad ones. Memorable high points include Spider-Man 2: The Game and Web of Shadows, but it's clear Insomniac has a high standard of quality to live up to. After all, the studio has been responsible for many of Sony's most iconic franchises, so fans have eagerly hoping the studio can deliver. But what does Insomniac need to do to make a new Spider-Man game stand out? We have a few more than a few ideas, seen in this gallery of nine things we want from the game. Some of our ideas include giving the game a great emphasis on gadgets and skills than beating up goons, revamping what it means to be an open-world Spider-Man game, avoiding telling an origin story, and much more. Up until now, news on Spider-Man on PS4 has been scarce. The game's release date was finally announced and new gameplay has been released showcasing city exploration and webslinging. For a look at how Spider-Man is shaping up, watch the game's latest story trailer. And if you'd like more insight on how Marvel Games is overseeing development of Spider-Man and its licensed games as a whole, read our interview with Marvel Games vice president and executive producer Mike Jones. What would you like to see in Spider-Man on PS4? Let us know in the comments below. And if you're eager to see what the other exclusives on PS4 are, then check out our in-depth gallery covering all the biggest PS4 exclusives coming in 2018. You can also look at our galleries detailing all the Xbox One exclusives, PC exclusives, and Switch exclusives.
Greater Emphasis On Gadgets And Abilities Over Fisticuffs
Much like the Batman Arkham series, combat in Spider-Man games has leaned toward beat-em-up style brawling. Yes, Spider-Man does tend to finish his fights with some sort of webbing-based flourish but it would be a positive change if his other talents and gear took the spotlight. Better combat integration of his even his most well-known powers like wall crawling and superhuman reflexes would add depth.
It Feels Like An Insomniac Game
We'd love to see Insomniac's talents for imaginative weapons and gadgets make their way into the game, even if it sounds weird for Spider-Man at first blush. From webware to spider-bots, there's five decades worth of gadgetry to dive into, ripe for reinterpretations by the talents responsible for Ratchet & Clank. And we hope Ted Price and his crew have the creative license to invent new gadgets for Peter Parker.
A New Kind Of Spider-Man Open World
Insomniac is also experienced in open-world designs, a high point being Sunset Overdrive. There are a number of Spider-Man games with expansive open worlds but none interpreted with the same surrealist and involving flavor as Sunset City. As a standalone game with no attachments to any of prior Spider-Man stories (including last year's Homecoming film), Insomniac's can make this one of the most original video game interpretations of New York City in a long time.
No Random Muggings
Just because it seems mandated that open-world Spider-Man games have to be set in New York City doesn't mean that it has to always have random muggings. It was an especially involving component in The Amazing Spider-Man 2's morality system, where your status as a hero or menace was determined by how many crimes you stopped. This feature ultimately felt like a chore, where disinterested players were unfairly classified as a menace. Being guilted into saving someone from a mugging doesn't always make for great gameplay, especially when you were in the middle a more compelling story mission.
No Origin Story
It seems like anyone with a remote interest in Spider-Man already knows his origin, with some thanks to the Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield films. Not only is the classic origin tale involving Uncle Ben unnecessary but so is any kind of origin-focused exposition. It'd be great to jump into the game with a version of Peter Parker who has already has a grasp of both his great power and responsibilities.
Focus On Peter Parker (And Miles Morales)
Speaking of Peter Parker, not enough games have paid attention to Spider-Man's real identity and his young adult challenges, particularly with his love life. It wouldn't be a stretch to hope for story-driven interludes that take inspiration from Life Is Strange or the many episodic Telltale games. And the fact that another Spider-Man, Miles Morales appeared at the stinger of the E3 2017 video for the game only makes the prospect of a Parker-Morales meet-up all the more intriguing.
Classic Spider-Man Attitude
One of the qualities of the better Spider-Man games in the past was their well-crafted dialogue, often bringing out Spider-Man's moxie, much to the frustration of his foes. This next game is all the more promising thanks to its experienced writing staff, which includes veteran comic book writers Christos Gage and Dan Slott. From what we've seen and heard, this latest handling will portray the web-slinger as the familiar smart aleck fans expect.
Mixing Up The Villain Roster
Yes, Doctor Octopus and the Green Goblin are popular for a reason, but for a series that's been around since the early 1960s, there's a wealth of sinister source material to mine. Having Mister Negative is a good start but how about Boomerang or even Crime Master? Insomniac can give the recurring villains like Black Cat, Rhino, Shocker, and Scorpion a break.
Side-Missions That Matter
Just because side missions are optional doesn't mean they're not worth the player's time. Some of the best side missions in the Arkham games have through-lines that last the entire length of the game. Speaking of mission choice, there'd be great replay potential if the narrative locked you out of one mission if you accept another, and with endgame repercussions. For example, what would happen if you flaked out on a date with MJ because you decided to stop a bank heist?
By Array on Apr 05, 2018 05:38 am
Top Guns in Far Cry 5
Previous Far Cry games have always sported a diverse roster of weapons, and Far Cry 5 is no different. With so many options available, you're probably asking which weapons are worth purchasing. To help you out, we've gathered nine weapons that we believe to be some of the best in the game. It's important to note that some of our choices are Prestige weapons, which are specialty weapons that can be unlocked for purchase by playing through the game's campaign or with real-world money. Some of the game's best weapons include the AR-CL semi-automatic rifle, the SA50 sniper rifle, the M-79 grenade launcher, and many more. Each weapon has their own special uses and functionality. Though, what you choose from our recommendations is also going to depend on your playstyle. After all, someone who specializes in stealth may not find it useful to use the RAT4 rocket launcher. It's also worth noting that many of the weapons you see in this feature are Prestige Weapons, which are higher-priced special skinned versions of normal weapons you can purchase with in-game money or real money. If you'd prefer, you can purchase a standard non-skinned equivalent of the same weapon in the shop for cheaper and without the fancier attachments. Regardless of which version of each weapon you choose to get, we stand by their quality and functionality. But what are some of your favorite weapons in Far Cry 5? Let us know in the comments below. If you're interested in our other Far Cry 5 guides, be sure to check out our feature highlighting nine tips we wish we knew before starting. In other news, Ubisoft announced Far Cry 5's Season Pass, which takes you to settings like Mars and the Vietnam War. We also recently learned more about how to access the game's live events and the special rewards you earn by completing them.
The SPAS-12 "Flameout" Shotgun
You can never go wrong with a shotgun in your loadout, but the "Flameout" Shotgun is particularly amazing for its rate of fire, being able to make short work of any approaching enemy groups. In addition, it can also be equipped with incendiary rounds, which makes it all the more destructive against multiple foes and deserving of its title.
The Slingshot
Despite what you might assume it does, Far Cry 5's slingshot actually lets you fire arrows. It sounds absurd, but its quick firing speed puts it a slight step above the standard bow at close range; it can even fire specialty arrows, like the incendiary or explosive arrows. If you're a fan of stealthily picking off cultists with arrows, the slingshot comes highly recommended. It also comes with an unlimited supply of rocks as an alternate ammunition, which while nowhere near as powerful as arrows, makes for a good laugh when you're able to use them to land a headshot.
SA50 "Free State"
If you're looking for an all-around great sniper rifle that balances heavy stopping power, range, and a semi-auto rate of fire, then the SA50 "Free State" comes highly recommended. It sports a solid rate of fire with little recoil when aiming down sights. And when equipped with a suppressor, you can make short work of enemy camps with little consequence.
M-79 "Shark Shooter"
When a firefight goes south and cultists start showing up in trucks, the M-79 "Shark Shooter" grenade launcher offers a quick way to recover. With its destructive splash-damaging grenades, you can make short work of enemy groups and easily take out incoming vehicles. It sports a short firing range, so be mindful of your aiming arc and general spacing between you and potential dangers ahead. In addition, the "Shark Shooter" replaces your sidearm slot, freeing up your other slots to equip powerful weapons.
.44 Magnum "Sixer"
There's not a whole lot to say about the .44 Magnum "Sixer." It's simply an incredibly powerful sidearm that can down enemies in a single shot. If wielding a powerful handgun sounds like your idea of a good time, then "Steel and Ivory" is well worth using. As long as you're quick and precise, it's guaranteed to get you out of a pinch.
RAT4
If you're interested in adding a rocket launcher to your loadout, then the RAT4 is a solid choice. It can lock onto vehicles and planes, which makes it incredibly useful if you're not accustomed to handling rocket launchers. In addition, you can even manually guide its missiles--similar to the LK-1018 from Far Cry 4. The RAT4 becomes essential later on when enemy helicopters and attack planes show up in greater numbers.
AR-CL "Sharkbite"
The AR-CL "Sharkbite" strikes a fine balance between an assault and sniper rifle, being capable of semi-automatic fire while retaining minimal recoil for precision firing. It can be a great way to free up an equipment slot if you're tired of lugging around both a sniper and an assault rifle.
Magnopulser
The Magnopulser is one of the few weapons in Far Cry 5 to have unlimited ammo, which can be useful when you're in a bind. Earned by completing a series of sidequests with Larry, the mad scientist of Holland Valley, this alien weapon fires a blast of energy that either vaporizes enemies or sends them flying (depending on the range you fire it from). It's best to use the Magnopulser against a crowd, but if you must use against a single enemy, try shooting it at their feet to stagger them and follow up with a melee attack. Otherwise, fire it at point-blank range to instantly dissolve enemies into pink mush; be wary, however, as you can't loot a vaporized body. And avoid using the Magnopulser against heavy enemies, as it cannot instantly vaporize them.
All Melee Weapons (Seriously)
Unlike past games, melee weapons in Far Cry 5 are incredibly useful. While they make for great short-range damage dealers, it's also possible to throw them long distances at enemies for massive damage or to stagger them. The Close Combat Mastery perk further enhances the damage dealt, and with the aid of performance-enhancing drugs, like The Fast and The Furious, melee weapons are made even deadlier. When standard firearms wear out their welcome, you can't go wrong with hurling shovels, bats, or pipes at unsuspecting cultists. If you're looking for a melee weapon with a finer aesthetic touch, purchase the Optimism Shovel at one of the local weapons shops. It's literally a shovel with a smiley face painted onto it. Brilliant.
By Meg Downey on Apr 05, 2018 03:56 am
Avengers: Infinity War is almost upon us, so now is a good time to start digging into the nitty gritty of the most famous MacGuffins in comics: the Infinity Stones. Six stones, six colors, six specialized power sets. The Infinity Stones have been haunting the Marvel comics universe in one form or another since the '70s, and the MCU since 2011. They've changed colors more than once, been given power upgrades, even different names, but at the end of the day, they still represent the biggest, scariest, and most destructive force Marvel superheroes can face. But what makes each stone different from the next? What does it matter that one stone is for "Mind" and another is for "Time?" Aren't "Space" and "Reality" the same thing? What does "Soul" even mean? Well, we're so glad you asked. Click through to find out what the Infinity Stones do, both in the comics and in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. When you're finished here, we have plenty more Infinity War primers:
Time (Comics)
Bright green in color, the Time Stone gives its wielder the power to--you guessed it--travel through time. However, it's not quite as simple as popping in and out of the past and future like Doc and Marty. Instead, the Time Stone provides the chance to peer into the time stream itself, giving whoever is able to use it the ability to change or modify the past, present, and future by literally adjusting the way time flows in any given moment. Think of it less like a Delorean or a Tardis and more like a never ending, perpetually unspooling look into all the potential timestreams within the Marvel Universe. It can be used to trap people in time loops, calculate possible outcomes of events, and change the trajectory of history. Currently, the Time Stone is in the possession of the Super Skrull.
Time (MCU)
The cinematic Time Stone is housed within the Eye of Agamotto, currently held by Doctor Strange. As far as we can tell, this version of the Time Stone has a paired down (but still quite powerful) version of it's comics counterparts power set. In Doctor Strange, Stephen used the stone to reverse the flow of time to save Hong Kong and later forced Dormammu into a time loop within the Dark Dimension. Since then, we haven't really had a chance to see Strange use the Eye or really test its powers-- although, after his most recent cameo in Thor: Ragnarok it's probably a safe bet that he's been doing his best to explore the potential of the Stone, and keep an eye out for any encroaching threats that might be after its power.
Mind (Comics)
The currently yellow Mind Stone has powers revolving around telepathy and telekinesis. Typically entrusted to powerful psychics like Professor Xavier, the Mind Stone typically augments and enhances the pre-existing metal prowess of whoever wields it, though it certainly can empower someone who has never shown any sign of mind-based superpowers if it has to. In its most powerful form, the Mind Stone can form a sort of universal hivemind, linking the brains of every sentient thing in the galaxy and bending them to the will of one central intelligence. As of right now, the Mind Stone is in the possession of Turk Barrett, otherwise known as Stilt-Man, the D-List Daredevil gag villain. No, really.
Mind (MCU)
Formerly contained within the blue crystal at the end of Loki's Chitauri scepter in the first Avengers movie, the cinematic Mind Stone was unearthed (and turned yellow) in the sequel, Avengers: Age of Ultron. Instead of falling into any one person's hands, however, the Mind Stone was almost immediately absorbed into an artificial android body, where it combined with Tony Stark's AI butler, Jarvis, and brought the Vision to life. Since then, the Mind Stone has lived in Vision's forehead. We've gotten some small glimpses as just what it can do (beyond, you know, granting inorganic objects sentience) via Vision's array of superpowers, but beyond shooting energy beams and allowing him to fly and become intangible, the Mind Stone's abilities are still pretty mysterious. It is, however, likely the one thing that is keeping Vision alive in his current form--so it's probably a safe bet that removing it from him would be pretty bad. Lethal, even.
Reality (Comics)
Maybe one of the most esoteric of the bunch, the red Reality Stone has the power to literally manipulate and change reality itself. This means it can actually bend (or break) the laws that govern the way the world works. If the wielder of the Reality Stone wanted, for instance, up to be down and the sun to be the moon, the Reality Stone has the power to make that happen. In its most powerful form, the Reality Stone can actually make entirely new realities all together from scratch. It is currently in the hands of Captain Marvel.
Reality (MCU)
Featured in the often derided Thor: The Dark World, the MCU's Reality Stone was introduced as a sort of glowing red dust or liquid known as Aether--but the extent and real nature of its powers are still largely mysterious. In The Dark World, the Aether is shown to be able to turn regular matter into "dark matter" when its bound to a "host." Unfortunately, the host is also slowly consumed by the Aether's energy, so it must be wielded by someone strong enough to not succumb to it completely. While in use, the Aether is apparently almost limitless in size, consuming whole buildings, threatening whole planets with "infinite destruction" (whatever that means.) By the end of The Dark World, the Aether has been contained in a small box and handled to The Collector, who presumably still has it.
Soul (Comics)
The orange Soul Stone stands apart from its six siblings by being the only "sentient" Infinity Stone. It has the innate, conscious desire to "collect" souls, which it does by pulling them from their mortal bodies and imprisoning them within itself in an alternate dimension. It can keep the souls it harvests trapped inside indefinitely, giving whoever is actually weidling the stone unlimited access to the thoughts and memories of its prisoners. The Soul Stone can also use what is known as the "cold light of truth" to extract information out of people or "revert" them back to their most basic forms (think less forcing things to de-evolve and more changing people so that their physical body matches who they actually are.) The Soul Stone is currently held by Ultron who is physically and mentally fused to Hank Pym. Ultron's first contact with the Soul Stone immediately pulled Pym's soul into its prison; however, so despite Ultron still physically looking like his creator, the genocidal robot is firmly in the driver's seat.
Soul (MCU)
The only Infinity Stone yet to be revealed, the MCU's Soul Stone remains a complete mystery. However, according to the Infinity War prelude tie-in comics, the live-action Soul Stone is one of the most powerful and dangerous of the bunch--but where it is, what it does, and how it can be stopped still remain to be seen.
Power (Comics)
The purple Power Stone is all about energy. Its abilities revolve around granting its wielder access to all the energy (i.e. all the power) that has ever or will ever exist in the universe--sometimes that power manifest internally, a boost in stamina or strength, etc, sometimes it manifests externally, an infinite power source for a machine, a super strong battery--you get the idea. As long as its energy-related, the Power Stone can mix things up. Also, unsurprisingly, the Power Stone can be used to amplify the effects and abilities of its fellow Infinity Stones, making them all the more dangerous when combined. The Power Stone currently sits with Drax the Destroyer.
Power (MCU)
Introduced in Guardians of the Galaxy, the Power Stone was originally contained within a dull looking grey orb that eventually broke open to showcase a glowing purple gem. Similar to the Aether, the Power Stone's abilities are rather nondescript. In its raw form, the Power Stone is incredibly dangerous--even fatal--to handle. It has the ability to create giant explosive bursts of energy, empower those strong enough to hold it with enhanced durability, strength, and stamina. It can even, if used correctly, destroy whole planets. The Power Stone is currently being kept by the Nova Corps.
Space (Comics)
The blue Space Stone's primary and most obvious power is its ability to teleport its user wherever they want, regardless of distance. If it's somewhere the holder can picture in their mind, the Space Stone can take them there. It can also bend the laws of space to allow its wielder to appear in multiple places at once, seemingly without any real limitations, meaning the Space Stone in the correct hands at full power could effectively create as many duplications of that person as needed. Right now, the Space Stone is being kept by a recently resurrected Wolverine.
Space (MCU)
First shown as an artifact known as the "Tesseract" the Space Stone was introduced as the prize of the Red Skull in Captain America: The First Avenger. It was used to power various Hydra experimental weapons with an extremely volatile blue energy that seemingly vaporized anyone it came in contact with instantaneously. Whether or not the Tesseract's victims are actually killed or if they're somehow just teleported (or perhaps atomized and then teleported) away is still up for debate. Similar to the Power Stone, it seems to be impossible, even fatal, for humans to touch unprotected. Since World War 2, the Tesseract has changed hands a few times, traveling all the way to Asgard where it was kept in safety in Odin's Vault for a while, before it was ultimately stolen by Loki at the end of Thor: Ragnarok.
By Michael Higham on Apr 05, 2018 02:00 am
The Astro A20 Wireless Headset
The Astro A20 Wireless Headset
Astro made a name for itself by creating high-end gaming headsets with audio quality and comfort that matched the accompanied asking price. Both the A40 and A50 models led that charge, but the company recently began to offer more budget-friendly products. The wired A10 was the first sub-$100 headset from Astro and caught our attention due to its unparalleled durability. Now we have a wireless iteration with the Astro A20. This headset goes for $150 USD / £150 GBP / $250 AUD for the standard design, which is available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, and come in platform-coordinated color accents. Here, we have the Call of Duty Edition for Xbox One and PC with a silver camouflage touch, which tacks on an extra $10. Feel free to jump to breakdowns of specific aspects of the A20 headset or click through our gallery above.
What's In The Box?
What's In The Box?
In the package, you get the A20 headset, a wireless transmitter base station, two micro USB cables (one 20 inches, one 40 inches), and an optical cable.
Base Station Transmitter
Base Station Transmitter
With a closer look at the base station transmitter, you can see the switch for either PC or Xbox One, and all the inputs. The micro USB port works to connect the transmitter to whichever device you want to use the A20 for, while the USB 2.0 port offers the option to charge the headset--it's quite convenient considering the transmitter takes up a port on your Xbox/PC. You also have the choice of connecting through an optical cable, which provide slightly better audio.
A Closer Look At The A20 Headset And Battery Life
A Closer Look At The A20 Headset And Battery Life
The A20 sports a sleek, minimalist design and offers a solid feel when you pick it up and put it on. There aren't many moving parts, which reinforces the durable, flexible feel of the headset; structural integrity is an impressive aspect of the A20. Battery life is a big question since the A20 is wireless; thankfully, after charging it overnight, the A20 lasted the entire time we tested it (about 8 hours). Astro states that the headset can last up to 15 hours on a full charge. On the outside of each ear cup, you can see the Call of Duty Edition artwork that features a faint digital camouflage pattern and the franchise name in its signature font style.
Comfort Is Key
Comfort Is Key
Foam-padded ear cups make the A20 easy to wear for long sessions and the velour upholstery mitigates the hot, sweaty feel you would get from the more common leather-like material. The headset does clamp a bit tightly, but it wasn't uncomfortable for a two-hour session thanks to the form-fit ear padding. Note that your mileage may vary if you wear glasses.
A Durable Headband
A Durable Headband
Under the headband is a bouncy, rubber-like pad that rests easy on top of your head. Above the headband, though, is the Astro and Call of Duty branding with the subtle camouflage pattern. While the A20 takes on a similar design to the wired A10, it doesn't share the same wild flexibility of the A10, but it still feels durable enough to safely bend.
Headset Controls
Headset Controls
On the right ear, you'll find the power button, a volume mixing wheel, the micro USB charging port, and an equalizer cycling button. The chat volume mixer is an extremely convenient way to adjust your audio balance on the fly if a teammates microphone is hot, or switch your focus between a conversation and heated in-game moments. Astro Command Center software allows you to customize audio equalization; you can set three different presets to cycle through with the EQ button.
Astro Command Center Software
Astro Command Center Software
Here's a quick look at the Astro Command Center software that lets you customize equalization, EQ presets, microphone behavior, and set different profiles. It's very simple to use and isn't bloated with unnecessary features.
How Does The A20 Sound?
How Does The A20 Sound?
40mm drivers push strong bass through this headset. Mid and high level frequencies also come out clear, but there's a big issue that compromises audio quality as a whole. The A20 emits a lot of static noise when it's active. We used the A20 on PC by connecting the transmitter via USB and on Xbox One through the optical port. In both cases, noticeable static noise came through and ruined the more subtle, quieter sounds in games and music. This isn't much of problem with louder sounds at higher volumes, but it limits the range at which the A20 can deliver clean audio.
Microphone Quality
Microphone Quality
The microphone works on a swivel and stays muted when it's flipped up. Only when you bring it downward does it activate and pick up sound. As for quality, it sounds clear when it's very close to the source, but your voice may sound distant if it's not close enough. Background noise also tends to get in the mix when it starts to pick up your voice, but it's not a big problem. The microphone arm itself is very flexible and can be contorted so you can position it properly.
Overall Experience
Overall Experience
There's a lot going for the Astro A20 wireless headset. It's durable, comfortable, and doesn't have too many moving parts to get in the way of using it. The functions and software offered by the A20 keeps things simple, which is appreciated, and battery life isn't a concern as it lasted the whole time we used it. But while it provides great sound quality in terms of audio frequencies, the unavoidable static noise hinders its status as a recommendable headset at $150 (standard edition) and $160 (Call of Duty edition).
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