By Kallie Plagge on May 18, 2018 03:10 am
Best of the Best
It's been over four years since the launch of Xbox One, which means over four years of games! As such, it can be hard to decide what to play. From exclusives to the top multi-platform games to indies, there's a lot to choose from--and even though people joke that the Xbox One has no games, that's just not true! We've picked out the best Xbox One games so far. This includes many of the games that received an 8 or higher on GameSpot, and we've prioritized games that were nominated for our Best Xbox One Game list in the years those games released. It also includes Assassin's Creed: Origins, which was one of GameSpot's top Xbox One games of 2017 due to its performance on the Xbox One X. While there are plenty of new games, we haven't included the hundreds of backwards compatible games on Xbox One, which includes many original Xbox and Xbox 360 favorites. Xbox also has a subscription service called which lets you download and play a selection of over 100 games that varies slightly from month to month. For more Xbox One games, see our roundups of the best cheap games on Xbox One, and make sure to check out our gallery of the Xbox One exclusive games confirmed for 2018 as well as the biggest Xbox One games of 2018 for everything coming to the console.
Monster Hunter: World -- 8/10
"Ever since the title was first announced last year, it was clear that Capcom was gunning for something grander than Monster Hunter Generations. It has succeeded, and this is likely the biggest and best that the franchise has ever been. It's not just the comparative depth of the narrative; it also boasts almost seamless integration between combat systems that were previously incomprehensible for amateurs. The Monster Hunter formula has definitely honed its claws, and all the above factors play their part in making Monster Hunter World a meaningful evolution for the series at large." [read the full review] -- Ginny Woo
Celeste -- 9/10
"It's a testament to convincing writing and ingenious design that after playing Celeste I felt like I'd been on the same journey as Madeline. Her struggle is one made easy to empathize with, her low points painful to watch, and her high notes exhilarating to experience. Her tale is delicately told and beautifully illustrated, confidently coalescing with the satisfying, empowering game it lies within. Not bad for a game about climbing a mountain." [read the full review] -- Oscar Dayus, Staff Writer
What Remains of Edith Finch -- 9/10
"Developer Giant Sparrow managed to strike the delicate balance between joy and sorrow in 2012's The Unfinished Swan, but What Remains of Edith Finch transcends even the latent sadness of that game, finding the beauty--even sometimes the fun--in what's always fundamentally a tragedy. It's not often that a game's plot slips past the bitterness of grief to finally get to the acceptance, but that's the triumph in What Remains of Edith Finch. Ultimately, if the game has any resemblance of a moral, it's that the bravest, most beautiful thing every one of us does is choose to keep going, despite knowing what's coming." [read the full review] -- Justin Clark
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus -- 9/10
"The New Colossus never lets you forget who and why you're fighting. Nazi brutality is on full display, from the blown-out, irradiated remains of Manhattan to each of the resistance members, who all carry mental scars if not physical ones. You're never given a chance between cutscenes, missions, and even downtime on the U-boat to lose sight of the Reich's cruelty. Wolfenstein's tense gameplay elevates this further by giving you the power to truly resist--and come out of each battle ready for another fight." [read the full review] -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Sonic Mania -- 9/10
"Sonic Mania methodically uses its sentimental appeal to great effect, but in the process, it heals the wounds inflicted by its most disappointing predecessors and surpasses the series' best with its smart and interpretive design. An excellent 2D platformer, Sonic Mania goes beyond expectations, managing to be not only a proper evolution of the series' iconic formula, but the best Sonic game ever made." [read the full review] -- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor
Cuphead -- 8/10
"Everything you've heard about Cuphead is true. It is a difficult side-scrolling shooter with relentless boss battles that demand rapid-fire actions and reactions. Think for too long, and you won't stand a chance against the game's toughest enemies. Battles may only last three minutes at most, but they feel far longer when you know that you can only absorb three hits before you have to start from scratch. When you are navigating your way around bullets, smaller enemies, and pitfalls, while simultaneously trying to damage your primary target, toppling Cuphead's imposing bosses is both a monumental and rewarding task." [read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Assassin's Creed Origins -- 7/10
"Assassin's Creed has undergone many changes in its long and storied history, and Origins feels like the first step in the start of a new journey. It has its fair share of problems, but the vision for its future is one worth pursuing." [read the full review] -- Alessandro Fillari, Editor
Stardew Valley -- 9/10
"On the surface, Stardew Valley is a game about farming, but there are more adventures awaiting curious players beyond cultivating a rich and bountiful garden. From mining and fishing to making friends and falling in love, Stardew Valley's Pelican Town is stuffed with rewarding opportunities. As modern day woes give way to pressing matters on the farm and within your newfound community, Stardew Valley's meditative activities often lead to personal reflection in the real world. It's a game that tugs at your curiosity as often as it does your heart." [read the full review] -- Mary Kish
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard -- 8/10
"By the end of the campaign, I was ready for the game to be over, but that's okay. RE7 ends just as it starts to outstay its welcome, and after the fact, I felt like I'd survived a truly harrowing journey. The boss fights may be slightly inconsistent and certain sections might drag after a while, but RE7 is still a remarkable success. It has a clear vision and executes it with impressive patience and precision. By returning to horror, Resident Evil has once again become something special." [read the full review] -- Scott Butterworth
Night in the Woods -- 9/10
"Both intensely personal and widely relatable, Night in the Woods doesn't just tell a story--it gracefully captures complex, often unpleasant feelings and experiences. From the quiet melancholy of doing nothing on a rainy day to the emotional vacuum of severe depression, I felt deeply, sometimes too deeply, while wandering through the cartoon-animal version of a small Midwestern town. Its witty writing and character development keep its crushing existential themes grounded, making Night in the Woods one of the most evocative games I've played in a long time." [read the full review] -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Overwatch -- 9/10
"Overwatch is an exercise in refined chaos. There are multitudes of layers hiding beneath the hectic surface, and they emerge, one after another, the more you play. This is a shooter that knows how to surprise, one that unfolds at a frantic pace, one that takes a handful of great ideas, and combines them into something spectacular." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Battlefield 1 -- 9/10
"EA DICE splendidly interprets the early 20th century as a world in technological transition while humanizing the war's participants through well crafted, albeit fictional, narrative vignettes. Combined with an enthralling multiplayer component, the overall result is the studio's best work since Battlefield: Bad Company 2." [read the full review] -- Miguel Concepcion
Titanfall 2 -- 9/10
"Titanfall 2 demonstrates a vitality that its predecessor couldn't. Whereas the first Titanfall kept up its breakneck pace throughout the entirety of every match, Titanfall 2 understands that sometimes, dialing things back for a few moments can make the long run much more enjoyable. In many ways, Titanfall 2 feels like the game Respawn should have made in 2013. It's a fantastic sequel. It's a fluid shooter. It's a spectacular game." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Dishonored 2 -- 8/10
"Any time I'm given a choice between stealth and action, I go stealth. I love the hold-your-breath tension of hoping a guard didn't spot you and the hard-earned triumph of executing a perfectly timed plan. Dishonored 2 delivers that sneaky satisfaction, arming you with stealth essentials like hiding bodies, peering through keyholes, and silent takedowns. But it's also an incredible engine for gleeful chaos, one so engrossing and amusing that I kind of accidentally beat the entire campaign raining hilarious, elaborate death on my enemies." [read the full review] -- Scott Butterworth
Forza Horizon 3 -- 9/10
"With Forza Horizon 3, Turn 10 and Playground Games affirm the series' status as the driving game for everyone. The new emphasis on off-road options isn't at the expense of traditional races, thanks to the sheer volume of activities. All the while, Playground Games' calculated kitchen-sink design philosophy and rich reward system persistently tempt you to explore beyond your comfort zone, whether it's gifting your first Ariel Nomad buggy or reminding you that stunt races can impress thousands of fans. Enhancing your own brand might feel like a strange motivation to hit the road, but pulling off sick e-drifts on a mile-long series of curves makes the PR work worthwhile." [read the full review] -- Miguel Concepcion
Inside -- 8/10
"This is a beautiful, haunting, and memorable game, a worthy follow-up to Limbo. Its puzzles, although rarely difficult, are engaging complements to the story. The real achievement of this game, though, is the way that it crafts its narrative: detailed environments convey the bizarre world that you travel through; introspective moments are filled with minimalist sound design and just the barest touches of music; and the things you must do to complete your journey force you to confront the realities of humanity, freedom, and existence." [read the full review] -- Alex Newhouse
Dark Souls III -- 8/10
"Dark Souls III is a game of valleys and peaks, down through dungeons and up over castle walls. It's a plummet into places we shouldn't be--an escape from places we don't belong. But of course, we fight our way through the darkness, and find our way out. There are a few stumbles along the way, but in the end, Dark Souls III is well worth the riveting climb." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt -- 10/10
"Where the Witcher 2 sputtered to a halt, The Witcher 3 is always in a crescendo, crafting battle scenarios that constantly one-up the last, until you reach the explosive finale and recover in the glow of the game's quiet denouement. But while the grand clashes are captivating, it is the moments between conflicts, when you drink with the local clans and bask in a trobairitz's song, that are truly inspiring." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Halo 5: Guardians -- 8/10
"Halo 5: Guardians is fueled by new ideas and propelled by some of the boldest changes to this storied franchise yet. Some of these changes fail, but others succeed, and although Halo 5 falters at times, it whisks us through black holes and across war torn tropical islands at a rapid pace. We can only surrender to its velocity." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Rise of the Tomb Raider -- 9/10
"Rise of the Tomb Raider's first shot pans over the vast, foreboding landscape we'll soon come to know. In many ways, it functions as a promise on the part of Crystal Dynamics: there are big things ahead of us. And at the end of Lara's journey, after we've seen her through this adventure, and experienced everything the world has to offer, it's clear that promise was kept." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Ori and the Blind Forest -- 9/10
"It consistently surprises you with new tricks: gravitational divergences, new ways to move through its spaces, and carefully designed levels that require you to think quickly and respond. It is not as snappy as, say, a typical Mario platformer, seeking instead a broader gameplay arc stretching across a single, interconnected world. It's a superb and thematically consistent approach that allows Ori and the Blind Forest to build joy on a bed of heartache, adding a new layer of mechanical complexity with each ray of hope." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain -- 10/10
"There has never been a game in the series with such depth to its gameplay, or so much volume in content. The best elements from the past games are here, and the new open-world gameplay adds more to love on top. When it comes to storytelling, there has never been a Metal Gear game that's so consistent in tone, daring in subject matter, and so captivating in presentation. The Phantom Pain may be a contender for one of the best action games ever made, but is undoubtedly the best Metal Gear game there is." [read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Fallout 4 -- 9/10
"Fallout 4 is an engrossing game that lures you in with mystery and the promise of adventure. Its wretched wasteland can be captivating, and you never know what odd person or settlement lies around the next bend. Fallout 4 uses its dark world as a canvas for exciting combat and gripping stories, and when you dig deeper into its post-nuclear-apocalypse version of Boston--defending yourself from violent scavengers and using your wits to climb social ladders--you become attached to the new you, and ultimately invested in the fate of your new world." [read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor -- 8/10
"This is a great game in its own right, narratively disjointed but mechanically sound, made up of excellent parts pieced together in excellent ways. I already knew what future lay in store for Middle-earth as I played Shadow of Mordor; I'm hoping that my own future might one day bring another Lord of the Rings adventure as stirring as this one." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Dragon Age: Inquisition -- 9/10
"Inquisition's characters and world recall the grand gestures of the original Dragon Age, even though the game as a whole is so structurally different to its predecessors. It offers the thrill of discovery and the passion of camaraderie. It features a glee club called The Sing-Quisition, and a dwarf with writer's block. It establishes connections with its world in big ways and small, with the sight of a titanous temple and the smirk of an Orlesian commander in love. Dragon Age: Inquisition is a wonderful game and a lengthy pilgrimage to a magical world with vital thematic ties to one we already know." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition -- 8/10
"Lara herself is so well crafted that I grew attached to her exploits and was sad to say goodbye when the credits rolled. And the exquisite visual design is so breathtaking that I continually found myself staring at the scenery instead of pushing onward. Tomb Raider is a great reinvention of this enduring franchise that made me eager to see where Lara goes in her future." [read the full review] -- Tom McShea
Forza Motorsport 5 -- 9/10
"All of this combined makes Forza Motorsport 5 an outstanding improvement to an already excellent racing franchise. It's far more than just a great racing sim, or a gorgeous showcase for the types of feats the Xbox One hardware is capable of. This is a game built on the romantic thrill of motorsport in all its forms, and that love for its subject matter is all but impossible to resist." [read the full review] -- Shaun McInnis
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag -- 9/10
"There's an incredible scope to what you can do in Black Flag, with a level of harmony between its component parts that encourages you to try it all, and a story that keeps you invested throughout the whole thing. If there was ever any question that Assassin's Creed needed something ambitious to get the series back on track, Black Flag is that game and then some." [read the full review] -- Shaun McInnis
By Kevin Wong on May 18, 2018 03:01 am
One of the best things about professional wrestling--the thing that separates it from other scripted dramas and comedies--is that it encourages audience participation. In a traditional theater, you'd get thrown out for speaking above a whisper. But at a professional wrestling show, fans are encouraged to cheer and boo; if you paid for a ticket, it grants you the right to say (not do) whatever you want. Of course, this privilege cuts both ways; if you decide to troll and heckle the wrestlers, know that the wrestlers can troll and heckle you right back. And unlike you, the wrestlers have a stage and a microphone. Here are 10 times that WWE Superstars owned the fans. Some of these moments were scripted ahead of time. Others were done on the fly. All of them burned like hell. If you liked this gallery, check out our other galleries on WWE Backstage Punishments, WWE Urban Legends, and Times That WWE Superstars Got Beaten Up In The Ring For Real. Be sure to check back at Gamespot Universe for more wrestling coverage as the Money in the Bank PPV draws closer.
Batista Hates You Too
From 2009-2010, Batista's legendary career hit its peak. He played the heel foil to John Cena's squeaky clean image. He was all about money and kicking ass, and he had nothing but contempt for Cena's kid-heavy fanbase. So when a little kid behind the barricade decided to yell "I hate you, Batista" at him, The Animal came back with a vengeance: "I HATE YOU TOO!" Short. Succinct. To the point.
John Cena Burns Chicago Down
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to stoke a home crowd. Insult the sports teams or some local celebrities, and you're good to go. But Cena's Chicago promo is a masterclass in drawing real, legitimate hatred from a crowd. Every single insult landed hard, and the booing just got louder. Near the beginning of his career, John Cena was a trash-talking rapper, and on this particular evening, he performed a freestyle that insulted both Chicago and his opponent, The Undertaker. He manages to squeeze Paul Bearer, necrophilia, the White Sox, the Bulls, Michael Jordan, and the 1871 Chicago Fire into a handful of bars.
Kevin Owens Tells An Elderly Fan That He Will Die Soon
There is not enough room in this article describe how witty and hilarious Kevin Owens is as a heel. But here's one example of how Owens assesses the crowd and finds the best, most cutting way to mess with them. After insulting an elderly audience member by calling him "grandpa," Owens then tells the fan that he'll be dead in five years. Owens caught some hell on social media for the remark, but that's par for the course; Owens is a traditionalist, and he does his best to live his gimmick in the public eye.
Chris Jericho Is From Winnipeg
Chris Jericho is so good at ticking off the fans that he's gotten into a few public confrontations with them. But he's also talented at tossing out casual one liners. In this clip, an American fan yelled at him, "Go back to Toronto!" and Jericho had the perfect response: "I'm from Winnipeg, you idiot!" These days, Jericho is so respected, especially after his Festival of Friendship with Kevin Owens, that it would be difficult for him to get boos like this again. After awhile, the fans simply love and appreciate the performers behind the characters, and no storyline can get in the way of that. Still, he did manage to draw heat during his feud with Kenny Omega in NJPW. Jericho might be the rare performer who's talented enough to overcome his own belovedness.
The Undertaker Gets Sick Of The "What?" Chants
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin is a WWE legend. But before he retired, he bestowed on WWE what might be the most irritating catchphrase in the history of the business: "What?" It started as a sarcastic, bullying line during the brief time that Austin turned heel. It eventually snowballed into an incessant chant that the fans use, even today, whenever they get bored, regardless of whether Austin is in the ring or even in the building. It throws off the in-ring performers' timing and focus. And The Undertaker, who isn't the best mic worker to begin with, lost his cool with the crowd: "I'll tell you what. Why don't you say 'what' if you like to sleep with your own sister?" The crowd laughed and yelled, "What?" again, and The Undertaker shot a look of contempt and disgust at them.
The Rock Goes Full Heel
For the longest time, The Rock was a full-fledged babyface, and his popularity swelled. But in 2003, The Rock had his sights set on mainstream success, and WWE played into the stereotype of a vain, spoiled Hollywood prima donna. All The Rock had to do was turn the volume up on his good-guy persona the slightest bit, and boom, instant boos. Nowhere is this better exemplified than in this Rock promo, which he cut in Toronto. The Canadian fans loved him when he first came out, but they certainly didn't love him by the time he finished speaking. In addition to trashing the Maple Leafs, he basked in the fans' cheers before demeaning their adulation. It was both degrading and brutally effective.
Shawn Michaels "Introduces" Bret Hart
The 1997 Montreal Screwjob, an incident where Shawn Michaels, referee Earl Hebner, Vince McMahon, and others conspired to take the WWE World Heavyweight Championship off Bret Hart, took place over 20 years ago. But it's still a raw wound, especially for Canadian Hart fans. Hart buried the hatchet with McMahon and Michaels in 2010. But when Michael cut this promo in 2005--in Montreal, no less--none of the main players were on speaking terms. Michaels did everything he could to offend the Canadian crowd, even singing a parody of "O Canada." And then, the ultimate troll move: Michael played Bret Hart's entrance music. The whole building erupted with joy, expecting to see the Hitman appear on the ramp. Nope. It was just a gag, and the disappointed fans quickly turned livid.
Ted Dibiase Kicks A Basketball
One of the Million Dollar Man's ongoing shticks was to offer fans money to perform humiliating stunts. The following stunt is the most notorious example of this gimmick; many fans believed that Dibiase took things too far. He told a little boy that if he dribbled a basketball 15 times in a row without missing one, he would give him $500. Dibiase then kicked the basketball away after the 14th bounce and sent the kid back to his seat. In later years, Dibiase admitted that the whole thing was scripted; the boy actually received the money backstage. In fact, Dibiase bumped into the kid in Omaha years later (he had grown to 6'6" in the meantime) while trying to rent a car. The once little kid had gone to college on a full basketball scholarship and was now the manager of the car rental.
Sasha Banks Makes Izzy Cry
While we're on the subject of wrestlers making little kids cry, this incident happened recently in 2015. Bayley and Sasha Banks were competing in an Iron Woman match at NXT TakeOver: Respect at Full Sail University. Bayley was the babyface and Banks was the heel--a role she excels at. Bayley's biggest fan, Izzy, was in the front row. And Banks, seeing her opportunity to get the crowd heated, grabbed Izzy's bow off her head and mocked her. Izzy cried, for real, in the audience, and Banks mocked this as well, pretending to cry in the ring. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you play the heel like a Bo$$. After the show, however, Banks felt bad. She gave Izzy a hug and a bouquet of flowers, which hopefully made up for it.
Stephanie McMahon Punks The CM Punk Fans
Along with "What?" the WWE fans also love to chant "CM Punk," a former superstar who left WWE on horrible terms and was later fired from the company on his wedding day. It's a sore spot for the company, and whenever Raw stops in Chicago, Punk's hometown, the fans make sure to chant his name. In 2016, however, Stephanie McMahon delivered a one-liner in reference to CM Punk's recent UFC loss: "So if you guys could keep that up for about 2 minutes and 15 seconds, you'd last one second longer than Punk did." The Chicago immediately fans stopped chanting.
By Kallie Plagge on May 18, 2018 02:25 am
Top Tier
PC gaming has been around for quite a while, but it only continues to improve as technology gets more advanced and as more and more great games come out. But because so many games do come out on PC (especially Steam) all the time, it can be hard to know what to play. To help you out, we went back a few years and rounded up the best PC-exclusive games. For this feature, we included some (but not all) of the PC games that received a score of 8 or higher on GameSpot, with priority going to games that were nominated for awards at the end of their release years. To narrow the scope further, we only picked games that released in 2013 or later--sorry, CS:GO. Many of the games that released during this period are some the best release on the platform. You can spend tons of hours in classic CRPG-style games or immerse yourself in more narrative-driven indie adventure games. Suffice to say it, there's plenty of high-quality options available to you. What PC games from 2013 onward do you love the most? Let us know in the comments below. And for more PC recommendations, be sure to check out our new show, Steam Punks, where we pick out a few hidden gems on Steam for you to try each week. You can also see our list of the biggest PC games to play in 2018 for more of what's to come.
Battletech -- 8/10
"Battletech is a game that selfishly takes its time to be meticulous in every respect, and pushing through the density and idiosyncrasies of its many, slow-moving parts can be tough. But if you have the will to decipher it, albeit, at a deliberate and punishingly plodding pace, you can find yourself completely engrossed in its kinetic clashes. Battletech's intricate components ultimately foster a fascinating wealth of nuanced systems that build a uniquely strenuous, detailed, and thoroughly rewarding tactical strategy game." [read the full review] -- Edmond Tran
Total War: Thrones of Britannia -- 8/10
"Thrones of Britannia is an exciting experience despite the cuts to integral components of the Total War series, such as city planning hinging on military needs, specific building customization, and expanded intrigue options. But this has given Creative Assembly room to focus on enhancing parts of the strategy experience that aren't quite as impenetrable to newcomers, and to allow the series to return to some of the beloved parts of previous historical games to balance out its newer, slimmer form. While there are minor issues with AI, and pacing suffers when you've comfortably gotten the upper hand, this is still a worthy and engaging contribution to the Total War stable that has successfully taken its cues from history's winners and losers alike." [read the full review] -- Ginny Woo
Far: Lone Sails -- 8/10
"Lone Sails is a transfixing, lovely experience, one that takes recurring indie game tropes and does something unique and fun with them. It's short enough that you could play through it in a single two or three-hour session, but it will likely stick with you for a long time. I can see myself going back in a few months just to revisit the ship, like checking in on an old friend." [read the full review] -- James O'Connor
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire -- 8/10
"Deadfire is dense, and it isn't a small game, easily dwarfing its predecessor in terms of scale. There's a lot to do, and it's easier than ever to get lost in the little stories you find, without following the arcs that the game has specially set out for you. Still, it's worth taking your time. The richness of Deadfire takes a while to appreciate, and like the brined sailors that call it home, you'll be left with an indelible attachment to these islands when you do finally step away." [read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
Frostpunk -- 9/10
"Frostpunk is among the best overall takes on the survival city builder to date. Its theming and consistency create a powerful narrative through line that binds your actions around the struggle to hold onto humanity in uncertain times. Hope is a qualified good, but you may not always be strong enough (or clever enough) to shelter that flame from the cold." [read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
Into the Breach -- 9/10
"There is so much strategic joy in seeing the potential destruction a swarm of giant monsters is about to unleash on a city, then quickly staging and executing elaborate counter maneuvers to ruin the party. Into The Breach's focus on foresight makes its turn-based encounters an action-packed, risk-free puzzle, and the remarkable diversity of playstyles afforded by unique units keeps each new run interesting. It's a pleasure to see what kind of life-threatening predicaments await for you to creatively resolve in every new turn, every new battle, and every new campaign. Into The Breach is a pristine and pragmatic tactical gem with dynamic conflicts that will inspire you to jump back in again, and again, and again." [read the full review] -- Edmond Tran, AU Editor / Senior Video Producer
Divinity: Original Sin II -- 10/10
"From lonely farmhouses through pitched battles with gods in far-flung dimensions, Divinity: Original Sin II is one of the most captivating role-playing games ever made. Its immaculately conceived and emotion-wrought fantasy world, topped by brilliant tactical combat, make it one of the finest games of the year thus far, and it has to be regarded as an instant classic in the pantheon of RPG greats." [read the full review] -- Brett Todd Note: Divinity: Original Sin II is coming to PS4 and Xbox One in August.
Total War: Warhammer II -- 9/10
"With Warhammer II, Total War doesn't reinvent anything so much as it iterates on the ideas that made the first so special. At its heart there's still the marriage of Total War's big-scale strategy and Warhammer's precise tactical play. But, through a thousand tiny tweaks, they've refined the experience into one of the most intriguing and exciting strategy games ever." [read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
The Red Strings Club -- 9/10
"From the game's opening piano chords, The Red String Club's futuristic exploration of themes regarding human emotion, strong writing, and exciting situations create an experience that is deeply gratifying. The cast of relatable, three-dimensional characters elevate the stakes of every bullet fired, secret divulged and cocktail poured. They are flawed and dangerous, but also convey admirable human characteristics that feel inspirational. The Red Strings Club is a tense adventure about a cast of characters that endanger themselves for goals that aren't necessarily guaranteed, a rewarding journey into the human soul, and a game that pushes the limits of what a point-and-click adventure can do." [read the full review] -- David Rayfield
Civilization VI -- 9/10
"Civ 6 has a few rough edges, but they're pushed far into the periphery by spectacular strategic depth and intricate interlocking nuances. Any frustrations I experienced were immediately eclipsed by my desire to continue playing. Just one more turn, every turn, forever." [read the full review] -- Scott Butterworth Note: Civilization VI's latest expansion, Rise and Fall, received an 8/10 on GameSpot and adds "several key features that both complement and change up the base game." You can read our full review for more.
Endless Space 2 -- 8/10
"4X space sims have long been known as the territory of the serious strategy gamer, but Amplitude has broken away from the pack here. Outstanding depth and tactical challenge have been preserved, although not at the expense of the strong storytelling needed to emphasize the sense of awe and wonder in galactic exploration that's always been a huge part of the genre's appeal. Amplitude has done a masterful job combining these two elements into a single game, where the quests and strategy and politics and economy are all tied into a whole much greater than the sum of its parts." [read the full review] -- Brett Todd
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III -- 8/10
"An odd chimera of its forebears, there's a lot in this fast-paced RTS that's a little bit off. Parts of the interface don't work sometimes, inter-match army management is half-baked, and the micromanagement needed to use the game's signature hero units effectively doesn't jibe with the extensive base-building you'll need to support them. But those problems fall away when you're in the heat of battle. Dawn of War III builds and maintains an organic tension that yields huge pay-offs, and there's nothing else quite like it." [read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
Hacknet - Labyrinths -- 8/10
"The feeling of playing Hacknet in a dark room with headphones on and being absorbed by its engrossing puzzles and soundtrack--full of heavy beats and filthy synth sounds--feels as close as you can get to the Hollywood hacker experience. The puzzles are uniquely challenging without feeling inaccessible, and the Labyrinths expansion takes the formula further by integrating deeper investigations and adding more puzzle variety. Despite the stumbling climax and steady learning curve, Hacknet - Labyrinths is one hell of a ride that leads you down the rabbit hole and back again." [read the full review] -- James Swinbanks
Orwell -- 8/10
"Orwell is a hard experience to pull back from, even as the dirtiness of your job sinks in. It uses simple mechanics to tell a complex and engaging story, one that feels particularly relevant right now. This is a game where your choices matter and resonate, and which will leave you with plenty to think about once it's over." [read the full review] -- James O'Connor
World of Warcraft: Legion -- 9/10
"With Legion, it's hard to remember when WoW's narrative and questing were ever this strong before. Time will tell if Blizzard will serve up a healthy dose of new content to keep the expansion and game alive (a la Mists or Lich King) or if it will suffer the fate of Warlords of Draenor, but right now (about a month after the expansion's release) Blizzard has proven it can still craft an MMO experience as well as--if not better--than anyone else." [read the full review] -- Don Saas
Quadrilateral Cowboy -- 9/10
"Quadrilateral Cowboy succeeds in astonishing ways: It makes you feel like an incredibly accomplished computer hacker and agent of espionage. It creates an eccentric, thorough world that feels good to exist in and creates characters you can empathise with, despite the lack of a clear plot thread. Quadrilateral Cowboy presents you with a spectrum of moments, and each moment makes you feel great." [read the full review] -- Edmond Tran, AU Editor / Senior Video Producer
Total War: Warhammer -- 9/10
"When you're in the middle of a siege and you're coordinating an assault with a friend, Total War: Warhammer approaches perfection. You'll be tested on all fronts and asked to manage complex battles with broad, nuanced outcomes. Every system and piece feeds into others, and your choices make all the difference. It's a triumph of real-time strategy design, and the best the Total War series has ever been." [read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
Offworld Trading Company -- 9/10
"It's a bit chilling to think that in Offworld you're playing out the same obsessive pursuit of capitalism that led to the fall of its finctional Earth--an event hinted at in tutorial dialogue--yet it's so recklessly entertaining and biting with its satire that I couldn't help but get lost. When combined with truly deep and intricate strategic options, Offworld is a revelation. It's almost unparalleled in the genre. Each and every game is thrilling. Every moment is a challenge. And the brutality of the free market ensures that you can never rest on your laurels, less you be quashed by the invisible hand." [read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
Devil Daggers -- 8/10
"Most of the time, Devil Daggers finds elegance in its simplicity. By stripping the pomp of many modern shooters, it reveals the complexity beneath, molding the fundamentals into something exhilarating, something always worth one more try." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak -- 9/10
"Homeworld was always about loneliness. It was always about clarity and focus. Kharak isn't new in that regard, but it is special. It shows us that when you get things right--and excel--that formula isn't easy to exhaust. Kharak does its part to add to that, though. Its use of voice acting and efficient visuals is a brilliant addition that's far from superficial. It helps narrow the scope of what you need to manage, so that it can load you up with as much as your brain can handle. It's a fast, daunting experience that's tough to shake, making Kharak as intoxicating as Homeworld has ever been." [read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
That Dragon, Cancer -- 9/10
"It's virtually impossible to not bring one's own biases into That Dragon, Cancer, because death and disease are universal. Just as it's impossible to quantify whether the exploration of those two heavy topics is worth the time and considerable emotional energy, it's impossible to truly quantify the immeasurable value of being able to not just forever present the best version of a person to the world, but being able to earn his presence in every way his parents did." [read the full review] -- Justin Clark
The Beginner's Guide -- 8/10
"The Beginner's Guide is an absorbing journey into the thoughts and processes involved during the creation of a video game. It succeeds in helping you understand and sympathize with game developers as artists and people. It equips you with important tools to perceive and think about both video games and other mediums in intelligent ways. It's a game that lives up to its namesake--it's the beginner's guide to the meaning of video games." [read the full review] -- Edmond Tran, AU Editor / Senior Video Producer
Her Story -- 8/10
"We have an intimate level of knowledge about this woman in the wake of her own personal tragedy, and the strength of Her Story as a narrative experience is that even as the right clips put the truth in sharp relief, your ability to uncover it is both satisfying and horrifying. This feat of intelligence and insight sticks with you long after the credits roll." [read the full review] -- Justin Clark
Interloper -- 8/10
"Interloper distills the core elements of every good RTS and adds a little extra to put it over the top. No matter if you love or loathe traditional real-time strategy, the deep tactics and puzzle solving crammed into a nicely condensed package here come highly recommended." [read the full review] -- Brett Todd
The Stanley Parable -- 9/10
"The Stanley Parable is both a richly stimulating commentary on the nature of choice in games (and in other systems, too, like our workplaces and our families) and a game that offers some of the most enjoyable, surprising, and rewarding choices I've ever been confronted with in a game. Going the wrong way has never felt so right." [read the full review] -- Carolyn Petit
Arma 3 -- 8/10
"ARMA III is a game with few modern counterparts. The influence of Operation Flashpoint isn't felt in many current games, even the modern OF, leaving the ARMA series to lead a charge accompanied by Red Orchestra, Iron Front, and too few others. With that uniqueness comes a dedicated community willing to overlook the flaws because they crave a kind of tension and large-scale teamwork unavailable anywhere else. You should consider joining that crowd. ARMA III is a beast. It occasionally flails and moans, but once you learn how to balance yourself upon it, it gives you a marvelous, turbulent, and memorable ride." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Dota 2 -- 9/10
"The original Dota was an unexpectedly powerful blend of clashing genres and disparate elements that ended up taking over the world, and Valve's successor retains the original rules and characters while adding in a cheery free-to-play model and slick production values. The experience of playing Dota changes day by day--some evenings will be exhilarating, while others will kick your morale to the curb--but there are few games as worthy of your time investment as this. Those who choose to commit to Dota 2 will find many happy hours within this immaculate update." [read the full review] -- Martin Gaston
Antichamber -- 8.5/10
"There are moments in Antichamber that remain with you long after you've uncovered your last clue and solved your last puzzle. What has been created within its barren walls is supremely intelligent and wildly inventive, and Antichamber doesn't give up its ideals for the sake of accessibility. The few spells of frustration are fleeting and never compromise Antichamber's powerful achievements in design and style. 'Every journey is a series of choices,' you're told at the beginning of your adventure. You should choose to begin yours in Antichamber: it really is quite unlike anything else." [read the full review] -- Mark Walton
By Michael Rougeau on May 18, 2018 02:18 am
Black Panther spoilers ahead!
Black Panther has already gone down in history as one of the most successful and beloved Marvel movies yet. Now that its home release date on digital, Blu-ray, and DVD is upon us, we get to finally return to Wakanda. Granted, we had a brief sojourn there in Avengers: Infinity War, too, but it's nice to return for a longer stay. Black Panther's special features include some in-depth featurette videos, most notably a lengthy conversation between many of the minds behind Black Panther--the movie, as well as the original and contemporary comics. There's even a featurette on the first 10 years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole, and a sneak peek of the upcoming Ant-Man and the Wasp. But the most informative and interesting feature of Black Panther's home release is the audio commentary that accompanies the film. Director and co-writer Ryan Coogler and production designer Hannah Beachler break Black Panther down frame by frame, discussing everything from scenes that were shot but never included to the subtle nod to The Lion King you might have missed. We compiled those nuggets and many more into this handy list, but all of Black Panther's special features are definitely worth watching for yourself. Black Panther is out now on digital, and releases May 15 on Blu-ray and DVD.
1. The prologue explaining Wakanda's history almost wasn't in the movie.
"The prologue to the film, that's something that was in the script, and it was out of the script, and we weren't totally sure if we were going to have it, but I'm really happy that we did," Coogler says.
2. There's a 515-page Wakanda "Bible."
It was created by Black Panther Production Designer Hannah Beachler to describe Wakanda's history. Hopefully we'll get to read it someday--although we doubt it.
3. Martin Luther King Jr.'s daughter "blessed the project."
"We shot at this apartment building in Atlanta that was really fitting to what you would find on Lake Merritt [in Oakland] around that time period," says Beachler. Apparently it was across the street from the church where Martin Luther King Jr. was buried, and King's daughter visited the set to give the production her blessing. The building where King is buried appears in the movie, but they touched it up digitally to make it look more like Oakland.
4. Forest Whitaker's character Zuri always wears purple.
Coogler says they chose a color scheme for each character in part to help audiences keep track, since there are so many different new characters in the movie. Young Zuri wearing purple at the movie's beginning helps associate him with Forest Whitaker's older version of the character later on.
5. Killmonger and his father's herringbone necklaces were inspired by Tupac.
"You see Tupac with the herringbone on a lot. And we kind of based Killmonger's look with the herringbone off of some of Tupac's chains. We wanted to put that big herringbone on his father, you know just kind of try to plant that seed early," says Coogler.
6. They considered making an African version of the theme that plays over the Marvel logo animation.
"We thought the contrast would be good," Coogler says.
7. The Wakandan font used on title cards was inspired by the Nsibidi script from Nigeria.
"We pulled from shapes from the earlier versions of Nsibidi, so the more like 4th century, more than the 1800s, [which] is when it was recorded by the British," Beachler says.
8. The sand tables were designed to look "tactile."
"We were trying to find ways for the Wakandan technology to be tactile. A lot of things in African culture are tactile," Coogler says.
9. The early jungle scenes were shot on a set in Atlanta the size of a football field.
"We brought in over 150,000 plants and trees for this set, and about 20 tons of dirt--red dirt," Beachler says.
10. Nakia's color is green to represent how she identifies with the world outside Wakanda.
"This kind of represents her being from the River Tribe, you know, and also her kind of blending in to these circumstances. You see the women are dressed in green in the back of the truck, and Nakia sees herself as part of the outside world as well, even though she's Wakandan born," Coogler says.
11. They cut part of this scene where T'Challa retrieves the devices he'd thrown on the car.
It improved the pacing, according to Coogler.
12. The environmental shots are from various regions in Africa.
These include regions around Winterton, Sambia, Uganda, and more.
13. The forest hologram was one of the first things Coogler conceived for the movie.
"That was one of the first things that you talked to me about, when we started designing Golden City, was that it's under this cover," Beachler says. They did a test animation that stuck with them throughout production.
14. The London museum set was built in Atlanta.
They worked hard to make it look authentic, down to the African artifacts.
15. The mask Killmonger steals combines elements of different African animals that represent him.
These include antelope antlers, a simian face, and a lion's mane. "The idea that he's an amalgamation of all these different things," Coogler says.
16. The sonic propellers on the bottom of the royal ship reminded Coogler of subwoofers.
"We had a great art director on that," Beachler says.
17. Zuri's face paint was inspired by warriors and shamans in Papua New Guinea.
"Forest [Whitaker] kind of picked that out, and we thought it was brilliant. It felt like they were trying to invoke a leopard," Coogler says.
18. T'Challa's face paint is a subtle nod to The Lion King.
"Little Lion King shout out with the stripe across his forehead," Coogler says. It appears to be a reference to this scene.
19. The scene where M'Baku challenges T'Challa was inspired by the movie Lincoln.
"I remember seeing [Lincoln] and thinking like, 'Aw, these political scenes are really interesting,' like when they're in the house, and they're arguing these political things in a real animated way," Coogler says.
20. The rhino in this scene is actually a horse.
They rhino-fied him with digital effects. "It was a Clydesdale, because they have the same gait as a rhino. So their hips move in that same sort of lumpy way that a rhino moves," Beachler says.
21. The centerpiece of Shuri's lab is a retired drill.
"This core piece was at one time, thousands of years ago, that was a giant drill. That's what they drilled with. And we had a wonderful artist, Brandon Sadler, who's a local to Atlanta, design and paint the piece on the core," Beachler says.
22. They got the idea for the secret casino while visiting an actual fish market in Busan, South Korea.
"Wakanda hides in plain sight, this casino hides in plain sight," Coogler says.
23. T'Challa, Nakia, and Okoye together make the Pan-African flag in this scene.
"Something I was conscious of was putting the Pan-African bent to how we made the film in the story," Coogler says.
24. The car chase scene is a mix between shots from Busan and Atlanta.
"Busan is beautiful. It's an amazing place," Beachler says.
25. Black Panther's wall run was inspired by athlete Bo Jackson.
Coogler says Jackson is the most athletic human he's ever seen, referring to a famous video of the baseball player wall-running after an impressive catch.
26. The color blue follows Killmonger everywhere.
"I was having fun with that at one point. I really was like, 'Killmonger's here! We need more blue!' It was fun just to see where we could put it, can we hide it, can we let people find it, Easter egg-y stuff," Beachler says.
27. Coogler considers T'Challa confronting Zuri to be "the most important scene in the film."
"We actually had the chance to show the film--an early cut, to Francis Ford Coppola, whose work inspired a lot of the story," Coogler says. "As soon as the movie was off, he was like, 'Hey, rewind it back to the most important scene in the movie.' I knew exactly what he was talking about." It's "the scene where everything changes," where we discover "the original sin of Wakanda."
28. Coogler says the opening scene was actually about Killmonger's father planning to break his mother out of jail.
"The backstory idea of it was this was through the woman he fell in love with, the African American woman, and the idea was that in Oakland, you see those guys talking about that paperwork in the beginning of the film, they're trying to figure out a way to break her out. She's been incarcerated, they're trying to break her out of jail," Coogler says.
29. Many shots in this scene are mirrored between the past and the present, deliberately.
The shot goes directly from Zuri to the past to Zuri in the present, and from T'Challa to his father and back, repeatedly. "It's the idea of the past becoming present again--of these wounds being fresh," Coogler says.
30. A deleted scene showed Nakia hiding Ross during Killmonger and T'Challa's confrontation.
"We shot a scene with her--right now, she's hiding Ross. That's what she's doing right now," Coogler says.
31. Killmonger breaking the spear is a reference to Shaka Zulu, an influential monarch of the Zulu Kingdom.
Shaka Zulu is widely credited with inventing the "iklwa," a type of short spear. Coogler says Killmonger breaking the spear is also representative of him breaking from traditions.
32. Killmonger's speech here was inspired by a veteran Coogler met.
"He's not bragging about having done these things; if you look at him closely, he's hurt that he had to do these things. There's a level of pain there," Coogler says. The director was inspired by a conversation he and his wife had with a veteran who recounted some of the things he'd done in war.
33. There are hints that T'Challa isn't really dead.
Like these dual panthers flanking Killmonger.
34. Nakia was inspired by Harriett Tubman.
Her headscarf in these scenes is a nod to that, according to Coogler.
35. Marvel's Kevin Feige told Coogler that M'Baku's refusal of the Herb is the most honorable thing in any Marvel movie.
That's a high compliment.
36. They only did two takes of the conversation between T'Challa and M'Baku.
"We were running out of time," Coogler says. Luckily, M'Baku actor Winston Duke "nailed it."
37. The choral vocals as T'Challa emerges from the wrecked ship translate to "Our king."
"This is one of my favorite musical moments," Coogler says.
38. The Battle of Endor provided inspiration for the final act fight.
Coogler says they studied many "third act" battle scenes, including one of Kevin Feige's favorites, the Battle of Endor from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.
39. This environment represents both the underground railroad of American history and heart valves.
"They're fighting for the heart of Wakanda," Coogler says. "So you see these mining things that Hannah designed, they almost feel like aortic valves."
40. T'Challa kills Killmonger with the spear that Killmonger broke earlier.
This is the same spear that Killmonger broke in half, Coogler says. It symbolizes, in part, Killmonger being undone by his own complete dismissal of tradition (that's my interpretation).
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