The end of the month is quickly approaching, which means Pokemon Go players only have a few more days to catch its current Legendary. The Pokemon Silver mascot Lugia is scheduled to leave the game on April 2, making this your last opportunity to add one to your collection for the foreseeable future.
Lugia was one of the first Legendaries introduced in Pokemon Go, originally appearing as a Raid Battle boss last summer alongside another Legendary bird, Articuno. Niantic reintroduced Lugia to the game earlier this month, although players will find it is slightly different from its initial run.
As before, players will encounter Lugia as a Raid Battle at Gyms. This time around, however, it knows the "newly improved" Flying-type move Sky Attack. Lugia should also prove to be easier to capture than it originally was, although you will still need to defeat it first in order to get that opportunity. You can find tips on how to catch Lugia in our guide.
Niantic hasn't announced if Lugia will return to the game again in the future, but it certainly wouldn't be a surprise. Several Legendaries have reappeared in Pokemon Go following their initial run, most recently Groudon and Kyogre, both of which returned as Raid bosses during last month's Legendary Week event.
April 2 also marks the day Pokemon Go's Easter Eggstravaganza event ends. Until then, Pokemon that normally hatch from 5 km or 10 km Eggs, such as Wynaut or Ralts, can be hatched from 2 km Eggs. Players will also earn extra Candy for every Egg they hatch during the event.
Even a year later, it's not uncommon to come across astonishing videos of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Nintendo created a game with an incredible series of interlinking systems that can result in all sorts of weird, fun, and wild stuff. And where there's a world where hijinks can ensue, there must be silly and funny video recordings.
Rather than convince you that you can ride a Guardian or something of the sort again this year, we've instead gone a different route for April Fools' Day. We present to you Hyrule's Funniest Home Videos--a take on the long-running clip show, featuring some of our favorite moments from Breath of the Wild. We even have our own spin on the theme song--sorry in advance that it'll be stuck in your head later.
You can watch the full video above. Be sure to share your own favorite Breath of the Wild moments with us as well. Sadly, many of the best may have been lost, as Nintendo didn't enable Switch's built-in video capture feature until late in 2017, and the Wii U version doesn't offer that at all. Still, there's been no shortage of cool and delightful stuff to come out of the game, as we think the video highlights.
It may seem hard to believe, but it has been 15 years since "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's final wrestling match at Wrestlemania 19 on March 30, 2003. In the bout, Austin went toe-to-toe with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson--the third meeting between the two at WWE's biggest show of the year.
That match put a cap on a WWE in-ring career that spanned nearly a decade and included six reigns as WWE World Champion. While he may not have been able to perform as long as names like John Cena and The Undertaker, there's no doubting Austin is one of the most important--if not the most important--figures in WWE history.
It's the feud between the Texas Rattlesnake and Vince McMahon that catapulted WWE's Attitude Era to success against WCW during the Monday Night Wars, and it's Austin's matches against the likes of Bret "The Hitman" Hart, Triple H, and The Rock that made him a household name and one of the most popular figures in professional wrestling history.
That's what makes his match at Wrestlemania 19 so fitting. In a black leather vest emblazoned with the letters OMR, which stand for One More Round, Austin made his way to the ring for one final confrontation with arguably his greatest in-ring opponent--and the only man who could give him a run for his money in terms of popularity--The Rock.
The story told in the buildup to the match was practically perfect and a textbook example of how to promote a Wrestlemania feud. After losing to Austin at Wrestlemania 15 and 17, The Rock was now on his way to becoming a movie star outside of wrestling. However, he couldn't move on until he finally beat Austin once and for all on the grandest stage of them all.
Theirs was the sort of blood feud that is largely missing from wrestling today. In a world where AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura are going to Wrestlemania 34 to put on a dream match that will no doubt be an incredible sight to see, Austin and Rock made their issues personal each and every time. There's no better example than this match between the two at Wrestlemania 19, which you can watch above.
It remains to be seen whether Rock or Austin will be involved in Wrestlemania 34. Both have made sporadic appearances over the years as their careers outside of wrestling continue to grow. That said, whether they show up or not, this is a match that will go down in history as one of Wrestlemania's best.
It's the start of a new month, which means a new batch of games have been added to Xbox Game Pass. Subscribers to Microsoft's game service now have access to seven more titles on Xbox One, with an additional game arriving on April 11.
Beginning April 1, Game Pass subscribers can play the Xbox One edition of the acclaimed city-building sim, Cities: Skylines. That includes both the base game and its After Dark expansion. Players can also create their own mods and share them online thanks to a free update that arrived for the game last month.
Other new additions to Xbox Game Pass this month include the open-world hunting game The Hunter: Call of the Wild; the fast-paced first-person platformer ClusterTruck; the action-RPG Portal Knights; the unique side-scrolling strategy game Kingdom: New Lands; the brawler Sacred Citadel; and the crime thriller Late Shift. You can find the full list of this month's new Xbox Game Pass titles below.
On top of those games, the robot-fighting game Robocraft Infinity is being added to Xbox Game Pass beginning April 11. Robocraft Infinity marks the first ID@Xbox title to join the Game Pass catalog on the same day it launches. It allows players to build their own custom robot designs and battle them against other players' creations in Battle Arena and Deathmatch modes.
Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft's Netflix-style subscription service for Xbox One. It costs $10 a month to subscribe and gives members unlimited access to a library of more than 100 titles for as long as they have an active subscription. Microsoft began expanding the service last month with the release of Sea of Thieves, which was the first Microsoft-exclusive title to launch at retail and on Game Pass simultaneously. You can see the full list of available games here.
One of the most memorable moments from The Simpsons comes from Season 7, Episode 21 back in 1996. During the episode titled "22 Short Films About Springfield," one story follows Principal Skinner who invited Superintendent Chalmers over for lunch. The meal goes awry and Skinner ends up serving Krusty Burgers which he hastily calls "steamed hams." It is one of the most satisfying bits in the 29 seasons of the series, and what could be better than watching it all over again? Well, what if Jeff Goldblum was in it?
While promoting the upcoming game Jurassic World Evolution, Jeff Goldblum--who recently played Grandmaster in Thor: Ragnarok--took the time to do a masterful reading of the classic Simpsons bit, which you can see in the video above. Goldblum read Skinner's lines, normally played by Harry Shearer.
Goldblum returns to the Jurassic Park franchise this summer, reprising his role as Dr. Ian Malcolm for the first time since 1997's The Lost World, and he seems excited to return as Malcolm. "I'll try to contribute something to the plate of dino-entertainment," he said. "I like my character. I think my character is a saucy, sassy man of some integrity and deep thinking. And of course, that whole world continues to be popular, slam-bang, top entertainment."
In addition, Goldblum will also be playing Malcolm in Jurassic World Evolution. The upcoming game will be released digitally on June 12 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC and physically on July 3 for Xbox One and PS4. It's a sandbox-style park management game, much like Rollercoaster Tycoon with giant dinosaurs, which is fitting as it's by Frontier Developments, the minds behind the previously mentioned series. You can learn more about specifics of the game in our interview with Evolution's game director, Michael Brookes, and lead designer, Andy Fletcher.
The next film in the franchise, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, hits theaters on June 22 and features Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt reprising their roles alongside Goldblum. The latest trailer for the movie was released during the Super Bowl, and once again, the movie will contain people running from dinosaurs.
Sea of Thieves on Xbox One and PC is a good-looking game. In addition to its delightfully cartoony art style, it sports some of the best water we've ever seen in a game. But what would happen if you turned it down to its lowest settings--and then went even further than that? Would the water still look nice? Luckily for you, we have the answer.
On this week's episode of Potato Mode, the show where we take gorgeous games and make them look like mush, Joey and Nick wreak havoc on Sea of Thieves. They start by turning all the in-game settings as low as they'll go, which is surprisingly fine. Then they do some tinkering in the background files, which makes everything just terrible. Then they get drunk.
There's a shark, there's a ghost ship, there are skeletons, and there's a lot of invisible vomit. But the water? Well, it mostly looks okay.
You can watch new episodes of Potato Mode every Friday on GameSpot. Let us know in the comments what other games you'd like to see Joey and friends ruin. And for more on Sea of Thieves, be sure to check out our review.
Anyone who pays attention to the PC world knows that there are so many new games that release on computers every week, and aside from the really huge releases, it's hard to tell whether you might enjoy something or not. That's where STEAM PUNKS comes in--we're taking some of that guesswork away, and showing you the best hidden gems we find.
This week, Edmond takes a look at unforgiving shooter Synthetik, a rougelite where firing your gun is the hardest, and most satisfying part of the game. He also throws some spare change at mech strategy/shooter hybrid Armed to the Gears, and we ponder the perceptions of cost being an indication of quality.
Speaking of cost and quality, Jess plays free adventure game Traum and has a great, if not horrifying, time. She then gets slothful with her own hybrid pick of Lazy Galaxy, an RTS/idle clicker mashup that is taking unattended computers across the galaxy by storm!
Have you been playing any fantastic new PC games that we missed? We want to hear about them! Let us know on Twitter: @EdmondTran + @JessMcDonell
Far Cry 5 pits you in a hopeless scenario: trapped in the middle of the Montanan wilderness, in a community run by a charismatic cult leader, with no help coming. It's a daunting task, but with a little help you can start dismantling the organization and picking off the fine salt-of-the-earth folks who want to murder you.
Far Cry veterans are sure to recognize some basic mechanics and tools from their previous battles against isolated despots, but this fifth numbered installment actually changes it up a bit. For starters, Ubisoft has abandoned its ubiquitous tower-climbing mechanic for more natural discovery from exploration.
The experience system has been similarly overhauled in favor of a Perks system that rewards you for completing certain tasks. That may leave you wondering which perks to pursue first, but that really depends on how you want to play. If you're a survivalist, you may want to immediately go for the Harvest Master or Repair Touch so you can get the most out of your resources. Harvest Master is especially handy for making money, which can be more scarce in this game. If you're more of a stealthy killer, try going for the Grapple to climb easily and Locksmith to access areas.
Check out the video above for our full slate of tips, including some other Perks to prioritize and how to make the most bang for your buck. Sometimes literally. Far Cry 5 releases on March 27 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
Rockstar has rolled out a new batch of content for Grand Theft Auto V's online multiplayer mode on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. This marks the second week of the Southern San Andreas Super Sports Series, Rockstar's big season of racing-themed updates for GTA Online. This time, the developer has introduced another pair of new vehicles to the online mode, along with a new selection of in-game discounts.
Two new cars arrive to GTA Online this week. The first is the sleek Pegassi Tezeract, which players can pick up from Legendary Motorsport. It's joined by the Vapid Ellie, which can be purchased from Southern San Andreas Super Autos. You can take a look at both cars in the screenshots below.
On top of the new vehicles, Rockstar has extended the bonuses you can get from Hotring Circuit, the new multi-lap race introduced in last week's GTA Online update. Players will continue to earn double GTA$ and RP by playing the mode through April 2. In addition to that, Special Cargo Sales are worth twice as much GTA$ this week, and Bodyguards and Associates will earn double GTA$ salaries.
This week's selection of discounts is once again focused on vehicles, giving you a chance to save on some new storage facilities. Players can also save on a number of customization parts for their cars, including engines, liveries, spoilers, and more. You can find the full list of discounted items at the bottom of this story.
The Premium Race this week is Steeplechase. Everyone who participates will receive triple RP, while those who finish within the top three will earn a big GTA$ payout. This week's Time Trial is Del Perro Pier. Players who best the target time will take home a nice GTA$ and RP reward.
This Week's GTA Online Discounts
Properties
Fort Zancudo Hangar A2 -- 50% off
Special Cargo Warehouses -- 50% off
Smoke Tree Road Bunker -- 35% off
Arcadius Business Center -- 30% off
Aquarius Yacht -- 30% off
FH-1 Hunter (Weaponized Helicopter) -- 30% off (Buy It Now & Trade Price)
Sony is holding another sale across PS4, PS3, and Vita, with a few big game collections and bundles included. If you're going to jump into a game series you missed, you might as well do it with both feet and save a few bucks in the process. The bulk of the discounts are on PlayStation 4, and Plus subscribers get extra savings as usual. [Update: A number of these games have returned to their regular prices early, including some of the particularly excellent deals, like the BioShock Collection for $12. We've removed those deals from the text below, but there remains a number of worthwhile deals to be had.]
These prices go until April 3, which is also the deadline for grabbing March's PlayStation Plus games. We've outlined some further highlights below, and you can check out all the discounts for yourself.
April showers bring lots of new programming on Netflix. From classic--and not so classic--movies to new original TV shows and films, the streamer is making sure you have more than enough to binge for the beginning of spring.
Among the films being added to the service are the so-bad-it's-good video game adaptation Mortal Kombat, Looney Tunes: Back in Action, The Iron Giant, The Lost Boys, and the first two Cabin Fever movies. You'll also be able to stream Scarface, Sin City, and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.
On the originals front, April 13 will see the premiere of Netflix's Lost in Space reboot, as well as new seasons of The Magic School Bus Rides Again, Money Heist, and Wakfu. Each Sunday will also bring new episodes of The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale. If documentaries are more your speed, Bill Nye: Science Guy will debut on April 25.
It's not all good news, though. There are a number of films leaving Netflix in April. Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, and Batman & Robin will all disappear on April 1. Additionally, both Ace Ventura movies, the first two American Pies, 30 Days of Night, and Small Soldiers will also all be gone at the beginning of the month.
A new Fortnite update is now available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, but in addition to checking out the new stuff it has to offer, Battle Royale players have some other things they can now do. Fortnite's week 4 challenges recently rolled out for Battle Pass owners, and some of them might prove to be tricky.
The full list of challenges is outlined below; one requires you getting the right weapon and utilizing it efficiently (dealing a specific amount of damage with a sniper rifle), while another has you tracking down chests in the Flush Factory or supply drops around the map. There are two in particular that you might need some help with.
The first of these is not labeled as Hard; you're told to visit five different ice cream trucks. These are scattered around the map--there are more than five in total, with a handful located right inside major locations like Tomato Town, Pleasant Park, and Retail Row. Others are in less obvious locations, though you can track them all down with this map shared by Reddit user imkairu.
What is labeled as Hard is the challenge that reads, "Search between a Vehicle Tower, Rock Sculpture, and a Circle of Hedges." That somewhat vague clue is pointing you toward a point in the southeast corner of the map, in the G9 section. It's just on the edge of some water--you can see it in this screenshot from Reddit user __Kaneda__, or see the map they provided here.
You can check out all of the week 4 challenges below. Keep in mind that, despite being added weekly, you have the entirety of Season 3 to finish these out. That means you can also go back to complete previous weekly challenges. Week 5's challenges are now available.
Weekly challenges are only available to those who own the new Season 3 Battle Pass, which costs 950 V-Bucks. It expands the number of optional tasks you're given in Battle Royale and allows you to unlock more items like outfits, gliders, and emotes. The Season 3 Battle Pass also includes new types of items, such as loading screens and Back Bling. Check out our gallery of Battle Pass rewards for a look at everything you can get.
Fortnite: Battle Royale Week 4 Challenges
Deal damage with Sniper Rifles to opponents (500) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search Chests in Flush Factory (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search Supply Drops (3) -- 5 Battle Stars
Visit different Ice Cream Trucks (5) -- 5 Battle Stars
Hard: Search between a Vehicle Tower, Rock Sculpture, and a Circle of Hedges (1) -- 10 Battle Stars
Hard: Trap Eliminations (1) -- 10 Battle Stars
Hard: Eliminate opponents in Tomato Town (3) -- 10 Battle Stars
The start of spring is a great time to be an Xbox One owner. Microsoft has kicked off its big seasonal sale, introducing some major deals on many of the system's latest and greatest games. Another great thing about this Spring sale: it's on for a while. Most deals are available for the next two weeks.
If you've been wanted to pick up Call of Duty: WWII, it's available for download for $49.79 ($45 with Gold). The Digital Deluxe version is $83 ($75), down from $100. There's also a Call of Duty: WWII and Destiny 2 bundle available for $82.49 (71.49).
One of the biggest games of last year, Assassin's Creed Origins, is also on sale. You can pick it up for $42 ($36). There are also a deal on the Deluxe Edition for $49 ($42) and the Gold Edition for $70 ($60). If you're in the mood for even more Assassin's Creed action, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is $15 ($12), Assassin's Creed Syndicate is $50, Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Edition is $25 ($20), and Assassin's Creed Unity is $15 ($12). The Assassin's Creed Triple Pack, which includes Black Flag, Syndicate, and Unity, is $54 right now ($45).
No matter what system you play on, Fortnite has something new for you to check out with its latest update. Those who are in the ongoing Fortnite mobile test for iOS, however, can look forward to some platform-specific improvements.
Fortnite's 3.4 update is headlined by its new content--namely, the Guided Missile weapon and Sniper Shootout v2 mode--but there are other changes of note. As detailed in the patch notes, mobile players will now get a new message if they try to run the game on an unsupported device. It'll let you know specifically which iPhone and iPad models can run the game. There's also a message pointing out that the game doesn't support jailbroken devices.
Regardless of which iOS device you're using, you'll now benefit from 4X MSAA anti-aliasing, which should sharpen the look of the game. You can also use whispers and party text chat, and the way doors auto-open has been modified. Additionally, there's a new tutorial when you first play to explain the tap-to-swing controls.
Also of note is a new "game data download system" that Epic says should allow future updates to be "much smaller." You can grab a small update on the App Store, and when you open the game, a 1.8 GB update will download. During this process, you'll be presented with the screen above, which cycles through a series of images highlighting the key features of the game, tips on how to play, and an explanation of the basic controls.
Alongside these new features, a variety of mobile-specific bugs have been fixed. You can see all of the patch notes that only pertain to mobile below. Battle Pass owners also have new Week 6 challenges to now complete.
Fortnite Mobile-Specific 3.4 Update Patch Notes
Added 'Unsupported Device' message at startup for certain devices. That message is:
"We're sorry. Fortnite requires a device with 2GB of memory to run. Fortnite works with: iPhone SE, 6S, 6S Plus, 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, X; iPad Mini 4, Air 2, 2017, Pro."
Added new game data download system, which will allow us to make much smaller updates in the future.
When you start up this new version of Fortnite, it will start downloading all the game data, which will be the full size (around 1.8GB).
Antialiasing (4x MSAA) is now enabled on all supported devices.
Whispers and Party Text Chat are now enabled on mobile.
Added a quick tutorial for 'Tap to Swing' which appears upon first startup.
Added a message informing players that jailbroken devices are not supported.
Auto-opening of doors is now based on input instead of your player's current speed.
Bug Fixes
Continuously attacking with the Harvesting Tool is now more consistent when double tapping and holding the right side of screen.
The left fire button is now more reliable and responsive.
Opening treasure chests now feels more responsive.
Fixed various inconsistencies with tap to shoot, making it more accurate.
Fixed the minimap blocking movement and look input.
Fixed an issue which caused misfiring when single tapping the screen and interacting with the HUD.
Fixed some issues causing Tap, Tap + Hold actions to not register.
Fixed longer than expected loading times on iPhone X.
Fixed a crash that could occur when tapping the Epic Friends list rapidly.
Fixed Impulse Grenade effects not being visible enough on Low settings.
Turbo Building and Automatic Material Swapping settings now save correctly.
Weapon and consumables dropped can no longer be auto-picked up by the dropping player.
Epic Games has announced a dance contest for Fortnite, and the grand prize winner will get their dance featured in Battle Royale as an emote. Called "#boogiedown," the contest is currently active and runs until April 10.
To enter, record a video of yourself (or a group) performing an original dance, and share your submission on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram using the hashtag #boogiedown. Your dance must also "fit the playful personality of Fortnite." You can watch a trailer for the contest below.
In addition to getting an emote in the game, the winner will receive 10,000 V-Bucks, disco-themed cosmetics, and an exclusive "IRL" Boogie Bomb. There are 100 winners in total; you can read the full breakdown of prizes and rules on Epic Games' website.
The anime adaptation of last year's acclaimed RPG Persona 5 now has a premiere date for the United States. Aniplex of America, which recently acquired the rights to Persona 5: The Animation in the US, announced today at Sakura-Con that it will simulcast the series on Crunchyroll and Hulu, Anime News Network reports. The premiere is scheduled for April 7, the same day it will air in Japan.
Persona 5: The Animation follows the same premise as the game. It begins with the protagonist--named Ren Amamiya--transferring to Shujin Academy. Soon after, his persona awakens, and he and his friends form the Phantom Thieves. In February, Aniplex of America released an English-subtitled trailer for the series, which you can watch below.
While Production I.G (best known for Ghost in the Shell) made the animated sequences from the game, A-1 Pictures is producing Persona 5: The Animation. A-1 Pictures previously worked on Persona 4: The Golden Animation. Additionally, the game's Japanese voice cast are reprising their roles for the anime, and Shoji Meguro is returning to compose the music.
An appeal from actress Lindsay Lohan in her lawsuit against Rockstar Games parent company Take-Two Interactive, which alleged her likeness was used in Grand Theft Auto V, has been dismissed in the New York Court of Appeals. The lawsuit dates back to 2014 and was initially thrown out in 2016 before Lohan appealed.
The lawsuit claimed GTA V's character Lacey Jonas is an "unequivocal" reference to Lohan. In the initial ruling, the court stated that "[e]ven if we accept plaintiffs' contentions that the video game depictions are close enough to be considered representations of the respective plaintiffs, plaintiffs' claims should be dismissed because this video game does not fall under the statutory definitions of 'advertising' or 'trade.'"
In the appeal, as spelled out by Gamasutra, the court concluded that "a computer generated image may constitute a portrait within the meaning of [Civil Rights Law sections 50 and 51]. We also conclude, however, that the subject images are not recognizable as plaintiff."
In simpler terms, Lacey Jonas is not a likeness of Lohan, and that's the final word.
One of the most interesting aspects of covering professional wrestling is the ongoing attempt to separate truth from fiction. When I interview WWE superstars, I ask myself, "Are these the performers' opinions or their characters' opinions?" When a press release goes public, "Are its contents legitimate, or are they part of a meta-storyline that will lead to a match?" This deliberate blur is a key to wrestling's appeal, but it's also frustrating for people who want the unvarnished truth. Which brings us to Shane McMahon and his recent bout of health issues.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn attacked Shane on the March 13 episode of Smackdown. The beatdown started in the ring, and it continued into the backstage area. Owens and Zayn wrapped a chair around Shane's head and slammed him into the ring post. They powerbombed him onto a metal riser. And afterwards, WWE released a statement addressing the attack: "He sustained a laryngeal contusion when the steel chair was wrapped around his head and thrown into the turnbuckle," WWE medical staff said. "He was then thrown onto the metal rack, which resulted in trapezius and rhomboid strains."
This seemed consistent with the scripted attack on the show. But then on March 26, WWE announced that Shane was now suffering diverticulitis. "Shane developed a massive infection due to acute diverticulitis and was hospitalized for several days in Antigua before being flown back to a New York-area hospital, where he is currently being treated with heavy doses of antibiotics," explained WWE. "The doctors in New York have also discovered that Shane suffered an umbilical hernia during the attack, which will require surgery once the infection has been eradicated."
What's so interesting about this medical update is that it's posted on the exact same site and reported with the same level of seriousness, as the storyline injuries. But the last sentence, about the newly discovered "umbilical hernia" suffered during the storyline attack, muddies the truth even further.
It would seem, with so many storyline injuries and real injuries, that Shane McMahon could not compete at Wrestlemania 34. But on the March 28 episode of Smackdown, Daniel Bryan announced that he and Shane would be taking on Owens and Zayn in a tag team match.
And that's when it occurred to me, even though the feeling had been building for a bit: I don't want to see Shane competing in this match if he's just going to do what he always does: jump off tall stuff. It's not fun anymore to watch him risk his life for what appears, on the surface at least, to be a midlife crisis, or a bizarre manner of currying favor with his father and sister.
In a Vice Sports article from 2016, Ian Frisch reported on a meeting that occurred between Shane McMahon, author James Frey, and Vince McMahon in March 2012, in which Shane proposed that he take over all of creative. At one point, Shane had also been an Executive Vice President of WWE, but he resigned his position in 2010 to pursue business opportunities in China. Now, he was returning to his family's company for a piece of his legacy.
By doing so, he would undercut his sister, Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon, and his brother-in-law, Executive Vice President of Talent Paul Levesque (known by his wrestling name Triple H). And understandably, the two of them were beside themselves when they heard about this surprise meeting.
Vince declined the offer. And Shane did eventually return to appearing on camera in 2016--this time as an on-screen character. He was the commissioner of Smackdown, but he held no real executive authority; he was reciting scripted lines, just like everyone else. For someone who reportedly attempted a backdoor coup four years prior, this was a bizarre demotion. He once hoped to supplant his sister; now, he would be taking his marching orders from her. A casual observer might look at this and see an opportunist, lying in wait, for the right opportunity to seize power.
Because of this, Shane McMahon's infamous daredevil stunts are increasingly awkward to watch. While he still held an executive position in WWE, his antics had a weird sort of heroism; he was risking his life for the good of the company--a company that he would one day be running.
But without that motivating factor, it smacks of desperation--like he's trying to bleed his way back into a family business that he voluntarily left--not the other way around. He's 48 years old, and he's still cracking his ribs and suffering concussions--for no discernible end and no discernible purpose, other than to say that he can, and to feed off crowd chants like, "You still got it!" But it's not like he ever had it to begin with. Shane still needs a skilled worker--like AJ Styles or Kevin Owens--to put on a good match.
Shane's stunts do not meaningfully improve any match because 90% of the time, they are contextually separate from any story that match is telling. It's just a freak show at this point; he might as well bite the head off a chicken while he's at it. And moreover, he's doing these stunts, where he could literally die, in front of his young kids. It reminds me of that scene in Beyond the Mat where Mick Foley's crying kids watch him take close to a dozen unprotected chair shots to the head. But at least that was unplanned; Shane knows that he's falling off the roof of Hell in a Cell. And his luck may run out eventually.
At Wrestlemania 34, Shane will have three of the best wrestlers in the company--Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and Daniel Bryan--carry him to a decent match. But his actual contributions will be memorable for all the wrong reasons. He's just going to jump off more tall stuff. Again. And if this is Shane's convoluted strategy to make his way back to the executive table, he's going to be very disappointed.
Roman Reigns is going to beat Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania 34. This much we know, with near 100% certainty. Sorry to disappoint you.
There will be contrarian predictions over the next two weeks, but those predictions will be wrong. There will be no Seth Rollins plot swerve. There will be no eleventh-hour booking change by Vince McMahon. Lesnar won the WWE Universal title from Goldberg at Wrestlemania 33, and since then, he has defeated every other conceivable threat to his dominance. He defeated Samoa Joe. He defeated Braun Strowman. Reigns is the only viable opponent left. Reigns vs. Lesnar is a rematch of the two men's Wrestlemania 31 main event, which creates narrative closure to their feud. It would be impossible to duplicate the same level of excitement on a smaller stage.
Reigns is also winning because the WWE writers painted themselves into a figurative corner. Brock Lesnar, according to the storyline, is a spoiled, entitled champion who doesn't care about the fans, blows off scheduled appearances, and coasts on the hard work of younger, hungrier, full-time wrestlers. Roman Reigns, meanwhile, is the man who loves the fans and sacrifices his health and happiness to put smiles on their faces. WWE has sold fans on the following premise: that so long as Lesnar is champion, Monday Night Raw is worse off for it. To have Lesnar beat Reigns is a tacit admission that the show will continue to be bad.
There's every reason to believe that Reigns vs. Lesnar will be fantastic. The last time they faced one another, Brock ended the evening with blood running down his face. Reigns didn't, but of the two men, he arguably got hurt more. Brock's moves were stiffer than usual that evening; a particularly vicious lariat sent Reigns crashing off the apron. Reigns took so many German suplexes that Lesnar improvised a meme--"Suplex City, b***h!"--around it.
The more WWE makes Reigns physically suffer, the more people cheer him instead of boo him. You can see the exact moment the tide shifts during Wrestlemania 31, when Reigns is rolling on the ground in pain, laughing like a long-haired, greased-up Tyler Durden. This past year, Strowman threw Reigns into tables, hurled him against an ambulance and shoved him into any hard, unforgiving surface nearest to them. The crowds ate it up. And most recently on the March 19 episode of Raw, Lesnar beat Reigns with a steel chair before tipping over his stretcher.
Beating Reigns to a pulp satisfies multiple audiences in multiple ways. His fans empathize with his pain. His haters love to see him suffer. And everyone loves a good beatdown. The YouTube videos of Reigns getting pulverized are some of the most watched videos on WWE's official channel.
Love him or hate him, one positive factor about Roman Reigns is indisputable: he is quite possibly the most durable man on the roster. The man can take a hard beating and keep coming back for more. Even his most venomous critics can concede that. Hurting Reigns to get him over isn't a viable long-term strategy--he'll have a truncated career if he keeps hurling himself into metal objects-- but it might work in the short term for Wrestlemania 34.
Reigns is winning on April 8, and he's going to earn the Universal Championship the hard way. Perhaps, that'll be enough for the majority of fans to finally get on board with him.
If you're interested in more breakdowns of upcoming Wrestlemania matches, check out all our predictions here and stay tuned to GameSpot for more Wrestlemania coverage.
Wrestlemania is quickly approaching. The 34th annual installment of WWE's biggest event of the year takes place on Sunday, April 8, coming to the Superdome in New Orleans. The match card for the event is still being filled out, and there is room for a few more matches.
That being said, there are plenty of rumors drifting around the 'net about additional matches, future plans for wrestlers, and surprise returns of injured wrestlers. One longstanding rumor that came true this past week was Daniel Bryan being cleared to wrestling once again. What else could come true? We rounded up some of the most believable ones coming from wrestling insiders.
Take these rumors with a grain of salt as not all rumors end up coming true. We'll be updating piece throughout the upcoming weeks to let you know what's confirmed and what we heard wrong.
Daniel Bryan's Future
Daniel Bryan has to go in for medical testing after every match. While many are saying Daniel Bryan is the healthiest star in the company, part of the superstar's new agreement requires him to get a doctor's evaluation after every match. (via Cagesideseats) It's pretty obvious that he'll be teaming up with Shane McMahon to take on Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. The supposed stipulation for the match will be a street fight or unsanctioned match. (via Ringsidenews)
Owens and Zayn Will Remain Fired
In addition, Owens and Zayn--who were "fired" on the March 20 episode of Smackdown--may remained fired until after Wrestlemania, where they will be drafted by Raw. (via Ringsidenews)
Is AJ Styles Injured?
There have been rumors that WWE Champion AJ Styles is injured. While there is no confirmation as to whether or not that is true, AJ Styles said in a recent interview that he will be at Wrestlemania, no matter what anyone else claims. (via Catch-Newz)
[UPDATE 3/26] Over the weekend, AJ Styles wrestled at Smackdown house shows, so he seems good to go for his match with Shinsuke Nakamura. As of this writing, there has been no news regarding his mysterious injury he allegedly suffered recently.
When Will Cena/Taker Be Announced?
John Cena won't get an official Wrestlemania match until days before the event. We all know the Undertaker will fight Cena at this year's event, but Taker has not answered Cena's call. Apparently, the confirmation for this match won't come until the Raw before Wrestlemania on April 2. (via Cagesideseats)
Big Cass Will Return
Remember Big Cass? He's been injured since Summerslam last year, and apparently, Cass has been telling people his leg has healed up, and he's cleared to wrestle again. It's unclear if he'll be at Wrestlemania this year, even if it's just for a quick spot in the Andre The Giant Battle Royal. If not Wrestlemania, then Cass could return at Raw the next night. (via PWInsider)
WWE's Plans For Asuka
Get ready for a long Asuka run. She's a shoe-in to win the championship at Wrestlemania against Charlotte, and the plan is for her to defend it for a year, leading to Wrestlemania 35 where she takes on Ronda Rousey. (via WrestlingNews)
The Rivalry Isn't Over
According to wrestling insider Dave Meltzer, Gargano vs. Ciampa will happen at Takeover: New Orleans. (via Twitter)
The Greatest Royal Rumble On WWE Network
Apparently, the Greatest Royal Rumble, an event taking place on April 27 in Saudi Arabia, will appear on the WWE Network. The 50-man rumble match was promoted on the WWE Network when you try to cancel your subscription. GameSpot attempted this but saw no such promotion on the cancellation page. (via Twitter)
[UPDATE 3/26]WWE detailed that John Cena will be taking on Triple H at the Greatest Royal Rumble, and both the Intercontinental and Raw Tag Team Championships will be on the line for the event. Also, Samoa Joe is advertised for the event. Does this mean he'll make his return at Wrestlemania, the Raw after Mania, or will this event be his first show back? Tickets for the event--which takes place in Saudi Arabia--go on sale on March 31.
Hulkamania To Run Wild Again?
Hulk Hogan hasn't been a part of WWE since July 2015, but that could change. Hogan is allegedly in talks with WWE to make his return. As to what he would do in WWE is the real question. With Shane McMahon spending less time on tv and Daniel Bryan going back to wrestling, there are a couple of positions open on Smackdown for a new commissioner or general manager. At this time, WWE stated it does not have a contract with Hogan but it has confirmed it's spoken with him. (via PWInsider)
[UPDATE 3/26] There are plenty of rumors revolving around where Hulk Hogan will fit in WWE if he returns. He's allegedly going to become Smackdown General Manager as Daniel Bryan will go back to wrestling full time. WWE has not released any additional statements regarding Hogan's status.
We'll learn if more of these rumors are true during Wrestlemania weekend, which takes place April 6-8.
While some storylines in wrestling blur the lines between reality and fiction, the absence of Daniel Bryan from in-ring action has been very much a real-life ordeal. After sustaining multiple concussions, which led to seizures, Bryan was forced to retire in early 2016. Although he has been the Smackdown general manager since the summer of 2016, Bryan was not allowed to compete or fight at all in WWE. On the March 20 episode of Smackdown, Bryan announced his return to the world, only to very quickly be beaten to a pulp by aggravated superstars.
Daniel Bryan have a heartfelt speech on the Tuesday night show to let the world know that he's been cleared to compete in the ring again. The emotionally charged segment had Bryan with tears in his eyes during the opening moments of Smackdown. It was a sincere, beautiful moment to share with fans.
However, this is WWE, and stories need to be told and friends need to be betrayed. Later in the evening, Bryan came out again to fire Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, who beat up Smackdown commissioner Shane McMahon a week prior. Long story short, Zayn and Owens were not pleased, and they powerbombed Bryan on the ring apron after an in-ring assault.
While this is seemingly all setting up a Wrestlemania match between Bryan and Shane McMahon taking on Owens and Zayn, what WWE did sensationally well with this segment was let Bryan play to the crowd. We got to see the "Yes Kicks," Bryan's dropkicks in the corner, and overall, it was an exceptionally exciting moment.
This was the first time Bryan has fought on television since April 26, 2016, when he and John Cena took on Cesaro and Tyson Kidd--another wrestler forced early into retirement because of injury. Bryan looked pretty good in the ring; however, the main worry is that Bryan will still use his high-risk, in-ring style which got him hurt in the first place. While there was nothing more exciting than seeing Bryan compete back in the ring, he has to play it safe for his latest run.
Wrestlemania 34 is filled with matches that could serve as the main event of the show. However, to me, there are two matches that stand above the rest in terms of anticipation, buildup, and potential to be instant classics: AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura and Charlotte vs. Asuka. And while Styles/Nakamura will be fantastic, it's Charlotte/Asuka that will take the proverbial cake.
The rivalry between the two is new, as the match is built entirely around a Royal Rumble win, but both women's journeys to the top is just as important. Here is how Asuka and Charlotte got to the main WWE roster and into this Wrestlemania match.
Asuka travelled back and forth between Japan and the United States, beginning in 2004 under the ring name Kana. Most notably, she wrestled for Shimmer, although she never won a title at the promotion. In August 2015, she signed with the WWE and changed her name to Asuka. Early on, she was unstoppable and put on some stellar performances, with her battle against Emma at NXT Takeover: London being the first of many in WWE. In April 2016, Asuka won the NXT Women's Championship and held onto it until August 24, 2017, when she had to relinquish it due to injury. She did not lose the title once, and her reign lasted an astonishing 510 days. While Asuka was--and still is--undefeated in singles competition, she did suffer three losses and five no-contests in tag and four-way matches. Otherwise, she has been undefeated for two and a half years, racking up 250 wins without a loss.
Since coming to Raw, she remains undefeated, and she won the first-ever Women's Royal Rumble match on January 28. New rules for Rumble winners went into effect this past year, as the lone survivors of each match got to choose who they wanted to fight in a title match at Wrestlemania. It didn't matter what show the superstar was on. After making the WWE Universe wait, Asuka announced on March 11, at the Fastlane PPV, that she was challenging Charlotte for her belt.
Charlotte Flair, the daughter of two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, had a very different journey on her way to becoming the Smackdown Women's Champion. While she had a few appearances in the final years of WCW--as a teenager--she got her true in-ring start in NXT in 2012. In May 2014, Charlotte won the NXT Women's Championship after beating Natalya. She was a heel during this time and a member of the BFFs along with Sasha Banks and Summer Rae. She dropped the title in January 2015 to Sasha Banks in a four-way match featuring the other Four Horsewomen Bayley and Becky Lynch. This was a golden era for women's wrestling in NXT.
Later in July, Charlotte was called up to Raw along with Banks and Lynch as part of the Women's Revolution. She was the Diva's Champion for a short stint, and then became the first WWE Women's Champion at Wrestlemania 32, which later became the Raw Women's Championship after the brand split. Eventually, Charlotte headed to Smackdown and won the Tuesday night show's championship as well. She will be the only superstar to hold every women's championship in the modern era: NXT, Diva, WWE, Raw, and Smackdown. No one else will ever achieve that again, as the Diva's title will thankfully never return.
That brings us to Wrestlemania 34 on April 8. Asuka chose Charlotte as her opponent, and there could not be a better matchup for the women currently in the division. They are polar opposites with their styles, as Charlotte is an American-trained athlete, who works much more like an '80s or '90s star with some modern-day pizazz thrown in. Asuka utilizes more kicks and punches and works with a stiffer Japanese style of wrestling--or "Strong Style" if you prefer. What the two do have in common is the use of submission wrestling and a "never give up" attitude. Charlotte is strategic and cunning, and Asuka is controlled chaos.
What we really have to weigh here is Asuka's streak. Is Wrestlemania the perfect place for her to get her first single's loss since coming to WWE? Yes. Is the time now? I don't think so. Even when you ignore the rumors that Asuka's win will set up a year-long run as champion, only to lose to Ronda Rousey at Wrestlemania 35--which I really hope isn't true--Asuka and her streak are still new to the WWE Universe. Sure, NXT fans have been seeing her for a few years, but she's only been on Raw for six months now. She's still new to the average fan of WWE's programming. There is still a lot of time to build up just how dominant Asuka is, to really put Goldberg's WCW streak to shame--which Asuka broke almost a year ago, prompting a congratulations from Goldberg.
The whole match shouldn't be about making Asuka look like a dominating force and Charlotte simply putting her over though. It's going to be a battle, as both women are two of the best competitors WWE has to offer currently. Expect this match to be longer, filled with ups and downs, and for Charlotte to look just as tough as Asuka. This should be a clean, straightforward match with no shenanigans or controversial endings. It doesn't need it.
It's apparent that Asuka will beat Charlotte and win the Smackdown Women's Championship, but what could that mean for Charlotte? Will she continue to feud with Asuka or jump ship to Raw during the rumored Superstar Draft happening at Backlash? If she does make the jump, she'll more than likely take on Ronda Rousey before the former UFC fighter starts her slow build to the aforementioned story with Asuka. Regardless of future storylines, we're in for an exciting match at Wrestlemania.
If you're interested in more breakdowns of upcoming Wrestlemania matches, check out all our predictions here and stay tuned to GameSpot for more Wrestlemania coverage.
WWE's biggest PPV of the year, Wrestlemania 34, is quickly approaching, and this year's event is going to be jam-packed. As of this writing, there are 13 matches on the card with at least two more to be added between now and Sunday, April 8 when Wrestlemania comes to the WWE Network and PPV.
New Orleans will host this year's event at the Superdome, and already, there have been some huge surprises going in, like Smackdown general manager Daniel Bryan being cleared to wrestle at the show. In addition, actor Macaulay Culkin answered Rusev's open challenge for Wrestlemania, and while that sounds like a blast, we don't think anything will come out of it, but you never know.
Wrestlemania 34 starts at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT, with a Kickoff Show more than likely starting two hours prior--WWE has not announced specifics for the Kickoff yet. Last year's event went for six and a half hours, so hopefully, you are watching the event somewhere really comfortable.
Obviously, there are still a few more matches that will be added to the card, like John Cena vs. Undertaker; however, we're only delivering the 100% confirmed matches for the upcoming event. Aside from those two potential matches, there could be even more surprises, if some of the WWE rumors floating around the 'net come true.
Fortnite: Battle Royale got a big new patch today that implements a bunch of changes and brings back an old limited-time game mode. The update also includes a new weapon, the Guided Missile, which has provided an unexpected high point of the new patch.
This is because the Guided Missile moves slow enough to ride on. That's right, you can now surf on one of the giant, slow-moving missiles. This is actually the second weapon that players can ride on; the Pumpkin Launcher is also surf-able. But the Guided Missile is much more fun because the person who launched it can control its flight. Twitch streamer and esports athlete Myth demonstrated missile surfing, and you can see it in action in the video below.
It's pretty hilarious, and it shows another example of some of the wackier strategies and stunts that Fortnite players come up with, both to get an advantage and just to have fun. We have no idea if missile-surfing will ever be used strategically--but it's fun to imagine a player launching a missile and their teammate toward an enemy's location.
The Fortnite 3.4 patch is also headlined by the return of Sniper Shootout, which features the addition of the Hunting Rifle and Crossbow and the removal of the Magnum Revolver. Further, the game's 30 FPS option has been removed. You can see the full Fortnite 3.4 patch notes here.
Since Moira was added to Overwatch in November, she's proven to be a relatively unique character. She's a fantastic healer, but she also functions as a hybrid, of sorts, capable of dealing significant damage to enemies. However, Moira can't constantly heal like Mercy and Zenyatta can--meaning she will run out of healing for short times during matches. Recently, Blizzard added a welcome tweak to the Overwatch Public Test Realm that communicates Moira's limitation better to other players.
Added in the latest PTR patch are two new lines that Moira speaks when she's out of healing power. When she runs out, she now shouts "Not ready!" or "I need to recharge." You can see the lines in action in the video below, courtesy of Reddit user Owlero.
This is a small but much-appreciated change, as it'll allow for better teammate communication when not voice chatting and will prevent other players from wasting time asking for a heal.
The new PTR update is available now on PC, and it includes various UI, character, and map changes as well as Moira's new lines. For instance, Blizzard has boosted the transparency on Moira's moves, especially her ultimate move Coalescence, which was causing issues due to its blinding effect. D.Va's micro missiles, meanwhile, have had their explosive damage reduced. You can see the full list of changes on Blizzard's forum.
Far Cry 5 is a sizable game. It boasts a large, open-world experience with a story that can take 25 hours or much more to complete, and it offers a playground that you can play around in indefinitely. But its long-term appeal lies in the Arcade, a new map editor mode that allows players to craft their own experiences.
Arcade can be used to create a wide array of experiences (even using assets from other Ubisoft franchises, like Assassin's Creed and Watch Dogs) for single-player, co-op, and competitive multiplayer. Just as importantly, these creations can be shared online, giving you a potentially endless set of levels to check out. In the video above, we run through some of the best and worst maps that we've encountered so far. Some of these are fairly straightforward concepts, while the appeal of others lies in their references to other game franchises. We check out a Zelda map of dubious quality (which is nonetheless worth a try), a Hotline Miami-inspired level with one-hit kills where you throw bats as weapons, and another that is essentially a linear horror map.
Ubisoft offers its own Arcade creations that you'll encounter while playing Far Cry 5, which showcase exactly what's possible. Many of those you'll find online from other players are, unfortunately, somewhat lacking--as our Far Cry 5 review notes, "There are a lot of bland examples out there ... It's easy to weed out the duds when picking and choosing single-player levels, but when it comes to multiplayer, you leave some of it up to chance." That's because multiplayer lobbies allow three players to propose a possible level, and everyone then votes on those selections and one that's chosen by the server.
As you play, you're also able to vote on maps you like and dislike, so there is some built-in system that will hopefully help the best content to eventually surface in-game. You can also try out Arcade Hero, a mode where you randomly play through newer maps. Our reviewer, Edmond Tran, found it difficult to get into multiplayer matches this way, but it works well for single-player and co-op content--though the quality of what you're playing may vary wildly. On the bright side, you do get bonus experience for participating in Arcade Hero, and that progress feeds back into the currency and Perks you use in Far Cry 5's main campaign.
If you're interested in creating your own content, we have tips on how to get started in Far Cry 5 Arcade. Otherwise, you can check out the maps featured in our video through the links below.
Map 1: Country War
Creator: Shining912
Quick pitch: An open map that's missing textures and things to do.
Update: Blizzard has offered a second teaser for Overwatch's new Uprising event. It primarily showcases the returning Brawl mode and skins from last year; the bulk of the brief video is essentially promising that players will have another shot at all of that. However, the end shows a second "archives file" being accessed, which may be intended to suggest that another Brawl mode is set to be included. That's purely speculation at this point, but it seems clear that Blizzard means to indicate that there will be something new for Uprising in 2018. We'll report back as we learn more. The new tweet and original story follows.
As promised, Blizzard plans to bring back a revamped version of Overwatch's Uprising event. The first details of this year's iteration have now been announced, and players will be able to take part in all of it starting on April 10.
Blizzard explains that Uprising "turns back the clock, giving you the chance to relive a pivotal moment in Overwatch history." What that means in practice is that you'll be able to play a special co-op Brawl where you "join Tracer on her very first mission."
In addition to that, there will of course be cosmetics to obtain. More than 100 "declassified" Loot Box items will be up for grabs, though specifics on new additions haven't yet been shared. You can see a brief teaser video in the tweet below.
Initiating archive declassification… Mission files unlock: April 10. RETWEET to confirm. pic.twitter.com/cTevQ8M5CE
Back in January, director Jeff Kaplan stated Uprising would return for 2018 but that Blizzard "want[s] to evolve it" in some way. At the time, he also said the Anniversary event would make a return to give players another chance to unlock the items that were only available last year. A date for that has not been announced, but it'll presumably come in May, when Overwatch will celebrate the two-year anniversary of its release.
No Man's Sky is coming to Xbox One alongside a big new update, developer Hello Games has announced. The game's Xbox One release is coming at some point in 2018, while the update is also coming for free to PS4 and PC this year.
All previous expansions--Foundation, Pathfinder, and Atlas Rises--will be included in the Xbox One release, while the upcoming update will also be pre-installed. The game's Xbox One box art states it will be enhanced for Xbox One X with 4K and HDR capabilities, but no details on those features have been announced.
The game was previously exclusive to PS4 and PC after launching for those systems in 2016. Hello Games self-published the exploration title on those platforms, but 505 Games--the publisher behind games such as Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons and Payday 2--will distribute the Xbox One version worldwide.
No Man's Sky's upcoming update--dubbed Next--will also be made available for free to PS4 and PC players. Hello Games says the update will be "an important next step in a journey for No Man's Sky," though no further details have yet been released.
In our original No Man's Sky review, critic Peter Brown awarded the procedurally generated sci-fi game a 7/10. "No Man's Sky is immediately a massive game with impressive seamless transitions from ground to space, and it will entertain your inner collector for a while," he said. "The more you get to know it, the more you recognize its faults, and it's easy to fall so deep into the act of exploring and trading that your focus narrows to those aspects alone. If, however, you consider everything it has to offer and listen to what Atlas has to say, No Man's Sky becomes more than a collection of slightly different worlds in a seemingly never-ending galaxy--it becomes an examination of the meaning of life in a way that's more valuable than all the gold or starships in its virtual galaxy."
You've likely watched the new Westworld trailer a dozen times at this point, looking for hidden messages. Well, look no further because someone on Reddit has found the secrets.
As it turns out, there's a hidden binary code found in a single shot of the trailer, which Reddit user TheOracleOW quickly found and decoded. The result is a link to a hidden page on the Delos website, which is a commercial for the company and its theme parks--specifically Westworld. As things with this show tend to do, though, the technology is buggy and some truly haunting imagery can be seen.
Among the things seen in his hidden video are Delos founder James Delos (Peter Mullan), who will be introduced in Season 2, cutting up his own face, a man with a noose around his neck awaiting a hanging, and a look at train tracks in which humans--or hosts--have replaced the wooden beams that serve as foundations.
Naturally, since Westworld likes to string along its viewers, the fun doesn't end there. The end of the video flashes the word "XOMEGACH" on the screen. From there, you have to visit the Delos website. If you click login and enter XOMEGACH, you are taken to another hidden website, which includes a video with the directive "Find Peter Abernathy."
Fans should remember is the name of Dolores's (Evan Rachel Wood) father, played by both Louis Herthum and Bradford Tatum in Season 1. How he fits into this is anybody's guess, but clearly, Westworld isn't done with Peter Abernathy yet. However, that's as far as the rabbit hole does at this point.
Get Out, It Follows, The Witch. These are modern horror films we still talk about because of a standout premise. A Quiet Place joins these ranks with a strong hook of its own: everyday noise as something to fear. It's a harsh, scary film that pulls no punches and makes excellent use of sound.
A Quiet Place has a simple setup, where the rules are clearly established: The world is overrun by blind monsters that track you by sound only. This leads to an hour and a half of pure tension. Common things like a toy that makes noise or a dropped bottle of pills can lead to disaster, and not just when the creatures are in the next room. It's a smart concept that keeps your eyes and ears focused throughout the film.
In a typical horror film, you have the baseline noise--dialogue, music, background action--punctuated by the volume spike of a scare. With A Quiet Place, it's the range in between, the innocuous everyday sounds that would be harmless in any other movie, that keep the tension flowing.
The Abbott family is the center of attention, composed of mother Evelyn (Emily Blunt), father Lee (John Krasinski), daughter Regan (Millicent Simmons), and sons Marcus (Noah Jupe) and Beau (Cade Woodward). These names are never actually said aloud in the movie, and it doesn't matter. In fact, there is a miniscule amount of spoken dialogue throughout the entire thing, making those few verbal moments more intimate. The family dynamics are clear from the opening scene, and that familial warmth from everyone makes you care about them as one unit. Their performances come together to forge a believable family in a hellish world, where simply getting through the day is a silent struggle.
Krasinski pulls double duty as the film's director, and he was able to coax out great moments from his cast. Most notable is Simmons, a deaf actress who taught her co-stars American Sign Language. This spotlights a method of communication not often seen in movies, but her performance goes far beyond hand motions, with a face that moves between expressions of happiness, sadness, and fear. She portrays a girl whose heart is also in emotional pain, largely over finding her place in this post-apocalyptic world. She thinks about the future, how best to protect her family, and how these things are made harder because of her disability. It's far from the stereotypical moody teenager.
The Abbotts' way of life is also clearly established early on. They walk on sand to hide their footsteps, sign to each other with ASL, and find ways to cook and clean while minimizing their audio footprint. But even during these would-be normal moments, the threat of making a sound is ever present. It adds a layer of unease to what would otherwise be dry scenes, especially in the opening act. That time is also spent foreshadowing setpieces and objects that later factor into the action in significant ways. A conversation between a father and son beside a river illustrates that you can speak aloud in this world, but only when another natural sound is louder than the one you make. The movie sets a strong tone of danger at all times, with rare moments of peace or joy.
Once the setup is complete, the plot takes a basic "survive the night" turn as a monster invades the family farm. The Abbots silently fight for safety, though there doesn't seem to be any deeper meaning to the action beyond getting out alive. That said, the movie is not afraid to constantly ramp up the danger. Brief moments of respite for the Abbotts are quickly undone, either by a monster creeping into the scene or someone making accidental sound, from the opening to the credits. Watching Blunt deliver a baby while the monsters stalk about the house is harrowing.
The smart use of sound also leads to a few pleasant moments. At one point, Krasinski and Blunt dance to a song played through her iPod's headphones, the only time music is heard in the entire film. The tone overall is pessimistic, but these few moments of happiness help you empathize with the Abbotts even more. They're complemented by cinematography that uses equally warm colors, and a few striking reds during particular moments of tension.
A Quiet Place does its job well: It clearly establishes ground rules, continually ups the danger, and makes dynamic use of all types of sound. Any hope of progress or safety in this world can be crushed by a dropped object or even the soft crying of a baby. There are precious few seconds where the Abbotts--and you as the viewer--can relax. While it certainly doesn't shy away from trying to make you jump, it's the sonic nature of the scares and unending threat of everyday actions that make this film stand tall.
The Good
The Bad
Constant threat of sound keeps you on the edge of your seat
Pretty basic "survive the night" plot
Fantastic sound design
Thoroughly explores its premise
Strong performances
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