By Christopher Gates on May 23, 2018 10:13 pm
Buckle up.
Han Solo's nothing without his ride. Oh, sure, Han's happy to take all the credit, but it's the Millennium Falcon that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs, not its owner. When Luke and Obi-Wan stumbled into the Mos Eisley cantina, they were looking for a ship, not a pilot. When the Falcon laid waste to the second Death Star, Han wasn't even on board. He was busy tangling with Ewoks and Stormtroopers while his ship saved the galaxy. In fact, by the time Han took control of the Star Wars universe's most famous YT-1300 light freighter, the Falcon was already half a century old, and had survived more adventures than Han could imagine. As far as we can tell, here's the definitive list of everyone who's sat in the Falcon's pilot's seat--for now, anyway. If history is any indication, the ship will change owners many more times before it's done.
1. Corell Industries Limited
60 years before The Millennium Falcon saved the galaxy (the first time), it was just a regular commercial freighter. According to James Luceno's novel, the aptly named Millennium Falcon, the cargo hauler began as just one piece of Corell Industries Limited's sprawling 8,000 ship fleet, and quickly gained a reputation for being both incredibly fast and frustratingly finicky. Different pilots gave it different names based on how much they appreciated it -- or how much they didn't. For example, the fella who named the ship Corell's Pride must've liked it. The ones who called it the Fickle Flyer or Meetyl's Misery? Eh, not so much. Image: The Essential Guide to Warfare, reference book from Del Rey, 2012
2. Kal and Dova Brigger
After the unscrupulous Trade Federation drove Corell Industries out of business, siblings Kal and Dova Brigger picked up the YT-1300, renamed it Hardwired, and used it to take over Corell Industries' shipping routes. As Luceno's tale goes on, Brigger's business quickly took a turn towards the dark side, however, and they'd ran afoul of smugglers. Dova was captured and executed, while Kal fled. Kal renamed the ship the Wayward Son and tried to go straight, but he just couldn't stay out of trouble. Before long, Kal found himself working with the Stark Commercial Combine, a loose confederation of pirates, bounty hunters, and other ne'er-do-wells. He didn't last. During one mission, the Galactic Republic unleashed hoard of carnivorous insects on the planet where Kal was hiding. The poor man was eaten alive, leaving the Wayward Son adrift and ownerless. Image: Fly Casual, RPG sourcebook from Fantasy Flight Games
3. Plo Koon
15 years later, the YT-1300 made its way into the hands of a shipping company called the Republic Group that was actually a front for a group of politicians who opposed Chancellor Palpatine's increasingly authoritarian regime. Under the Republic Group's stewardship, the ship was rechristened the Stellar Envoy, flew many clandestine missions to help restore the crumbling Republic, and had a handful of different pilots. In Millennium Falcon, a long lost photograph indicates that no less than Jedi Master Plo Koon himself once sat behind the Envoy's pilot seat.
4. Tobb Jadak
Former swoop racer Tobb Jadak never officially owned the Envoy, but he might as well have. For about a decade, the Republic Group paid Jadak and his best friend, Reeze Duurmun, to take care of The Stellar Envoy, maintaining the freighter and flying it on missions as necessary. After 10 years of service, Jadak and Duurmann hoped to purchase the Envoy for themselves, but they weren't so lucky. While embarking on a top-secret delivery run at the very, very end of the Clone Wars, the Envoy crashed into a ship above the so-called "smuggler's moon," Nar Shaddaa. Duurmun lost his life, Jadak fell into a coma, and the Envoy was abandoned in space (Jadak woke up sixty years later, and went on to serve as Millennium Falcon's co-lead). Image: Promo art for Suns of Fortune, RPG sourcebook from Fantasy Flight Games
5. Rej Taunt
The Stellar Envoy wasn't floating around Nar Shaddaa for long. As Luceno tells the story, Rej Taunt, an up-and-coming crime lord stationed on Nar Shaddaa, hired a mechanic to salvage the vessel and fix it up. Unfortunately, for Taunt, the newly rechristened Second Chance didn't last for more than a single mission. A combination of illegal buzz droids, a surprise Imperial patrol, and a deal gone horribly bad landed Taunt in prison, while the Second Chance was relocated to an Imperial shipyard. Image: Star Wars #10, Marvel Comics, 2015
6. Zenn Bien
Years later, a Rebel operative named Quip Fargil hired a Sullstan smuggler named Zenn Bien to help with an important mission: With aid from an Imperial turncoat, Bien helped Fargil steal the impounded YT-1300 cruiser. According to Millennium Falcon, Bien and Fargil were going to dismantle the ship and sell it for parts, but after Bien liberated the freighter, Fargil revealed that he had other goals in mind. After renaming the ship Gone to Pieces, Fargil used the YT-1300 as bait, launching a mission to steal a hyperdrive from an Imperial cruiser. Bien went along reluctantly, and the heist was successful. Bien received a tidy sum for her efforts, while Fargil took the Gone to Pieces to the Rebels. Image: The New Essential Guide to Alien Species, reference book from Del Rey, 2006
7. Quip Fargil
A full decade before Han joined the Rebel Alliance, his ship was already there. It was Quip Fargil who named the freighter the Millennium Falcon, and he spent 10 months using the modified YT-1300 to give the Empire a bad time. When Rebel command sent Fargil on a suicide mission, however, the pilot couldn't bring himself to follow through. Sacrificing his own life wasn't a problem, of course, but Quip loved the Falcon too much to destroy it. Despite the high stakes, Fargil bailed at the last minute, and spent the rest of his days plagued by guilt. To help ease his conscience, Fargil donated the Falcon to a doctor named Parlay Thorp and retired. By the time that Han Solo tracks him down in Millennium Falcon's second half, Quip has settled down under an assumed name, although he's never forgotten the ship that ended his Rebel career. Image: Stay on Target, RPG sourcebook from Fantasy Flight Games
8. Parlay Thorp
Under Dr. Parlay Thorp's ownership, the Falcon went from a warship to a medical vessel. While the doctor toured the galaxy helping those in need, Thorp discovered that she suffered from a fatal medical condition that was only kept at bay by the planet Hijadoan's mysterious life-preserving qualities. Thorp decided to stay on Hijadoan until she could discover a cure, and with her options limited, sold the Falcon to a traveling circus. Image: Star Wars Insider #83
9. Vistal Purn
Technically, while the Falcon was under the purview of Molpol's Traveling Circus, it was controlled by Molpol's owner, Dax Doogan. For all intents and purposes, Vistal Purn was its real master. According to Luceno, Purn handled all of the ship's repairs (including installing its first dejarik, or holo-chess, table) and served as its pilot, helping shuttle Doogan and various supplies between the circus's gigs. When the circus was attacked by Black Sun pirates, Purn used the Falcon to save the bulk of Molpol's menagerie, winning the heart of the circus's star performer, Sari Danzer, in the process. Purn ended up living in married bliss, but Molpol's Traveling Circus wasn't so lucky. The pirate attack decimated the circus' resources, and Doogan was forced to sell off all of its assets, including the Falcon. Image: The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide, reference book from Chronicle Books, 2001
10. Cix Trouvee
Cix Trouvee was an ace gambler but he wasn't much of a mechanic. After buying the Millennium Falcon from Doogan, Trouvee quickly learned that maintaining the 50-year-old ship, which was largely cobbled together from aftermarket parts, cost more than Trouvee could afford. In desperate need of funds to keep the ship running, Trouvee bet everything he had on a Rebel vs. Empire skirmish above the planet Yag'Dhul. In Millennium Falcon, Han and Leia discover that Trouvee didn't just lose the wager. He almost lost his life. As his creditors grew impatient, Trouvee made one last-ditch effort to raise some cash by entering the Cloud City Sabacc Tournament. There, Trouvee lost both his remaining credits and his ship to one Mr. Lando Calrissian. Image: Suns of Fortune, RPG sourcebook from Fantasy Flight Games
11. Lando Calrissian
Lando Calrissian was a gambler, a smuggler, and a con man, but he's probably best remembered these days for his impeccable sense of style. No wonder he wanted a ship to match. After winning the Falcon from Trouvee, Lando immediately gave it a much needed makeover, making it fit for a scoundrel of his stature. Sadly, the era of the meticulously maintained Falcon was short-lived. During Solo, Lando loses the ship to a fellow smuggler, the unabashed slob Han Solo, in another high-stakes sabacc game. According to the novel Last Shot, Han quickly went out of his way to ensure that the Falcon looks as shabby as possible.
12. Han Solo
It was Han Solo who transformed The Millennium Falcon from a mere ship into a galactic legend. With Han at the helm and Chewbacca in the co-pilot's seat, the Falcon became one of the most notorious smuggling vessels in the galaxy, helped destroy not one but two Death Stars, and played a pivotal role in the Rebel Alliance's triumph over the Galactic Empire. As shown in Star Wars: The Force Awakens: Incredible Cross-Sections, Solo added a kitchen to the ship after the end of the Galactic Civil War, making it a traveling home for himself, his wife Leia Organa, and their son Ben.
13. Gannis Ducain
Even Han couldn't hold on to the Falcon forever. Some time after the Empire's collapse, a gunrunner named Gannis Ducain stole the Falcon from the Solo family and immediately started outfitting the ship with new and more deadly weapons. Ducain's modifications would remain part of the ship until after Han Solo's death: while Rey trained with Luke Skywalker on Ahch-To, the Last Jedi novelization keeps Chewbacca busy undoing all of Ducain's messy and deadly work. Image: Edge of the Empire Beginner Game, RPG sourcebook from Fantasy Flight Games
14. The Irving Boys
We don't know much about Toursant and Vanver Irving, including how they wrested control of the Millennium Falcon from Ducain, but however they managed to do it, it probably wasn't pretty. In the short story collection Tales from a Galaxy Far, Far Away: Aliens, one man who owed Irvings money, Rikard Lovas, was so scared of the criminals that he faked a ship heist instead of paying them. The scheme didn't work and Lovas was arrested, although the Irving Boys still wound up empty-handed. After all, it's hard to get your money back when your mark is broke and in prison. Image: Fly Casual, RPG sourcebook from Fantasy Flight Games
15. Unkar Plutt
Eventually, Jakku's junk king Unkar Plutt stole the Falcon from the Irving Boys. He never realized what a prize he had. Under Plutt's ownership, the infamous freighter sat in a scrapyard for years and didn't take to the skies until the First Order attacked Niima Outpost during The Force Awakens. As the First Order pelted Niima with laser blasts, a young scavenger, a former stormtrooper, and a plucky droid snuck aboard the Millennium Falcon and used the aging freighter to escape. According to The Force Awakens' novelization, Plutt managed to track the thieves to Maz Kanata's castle on Takodana, but by the time that he caught up with the Falcon, it was back in Han Solo's charge. Instead of giving the ship back, Han had Chewbacca tear off one of Plutt's arms and sent him home empty-handed.
16. Rey
Following Han Solo's death at the hands of his son, Kylo Ren, Rey became the Millennium Falcon's owner and primary pilot. In The Last Jedi, Rey took the ship to Ahch-To, where she found Han's brother-in-law Luke Skywalker living in solitude, and later flew the Millennium Falcon to Crait, where she helped the last few members of the Resistance escape the First Order's vengeance.
By Eddie Makuch on May 23, 2018 06:54 am
Iron Banner is back
Lord Saladin is back in the Tower--and that means Iron Banner has returned to Destiny 2 for its latest version. Notably, this is the first Iron Banner event in Destiny 2's Season 3. As in the past, you will earn rewards such as gear and ornaments for completing challenges and more. We've rounded up all of these into this gallery, so click through to see everything you can get in this event. Iron Banner runs May 22-29. The gametype this time around is Control, which challenges players to capture and control parts of the map to win. There are multiple challenges you can partake in, including: - Avenger -- Defeat 5 opponents who recently defeated you or a teammate.
- Light versus Light -- Defeat an opponent while their Super ability is active.
- Objectively Awesome -- Capture 15 zones with your team during a match of Control.
Note that you must be Level 20 to participate in Iron Banner. If Lord Saladin does not show up in the Tower, Bungie advises that you return to Orbit and enter the Tower again.
By Kevin Knezevic on May 23, 2018 04:31 am
Tracer, Brigitte, and more get new looks for Overwatch's second Anniversary
Blizzard's popular hero shooter Overwatch is celebrating its second birthday this week, and the developer is commemorating the milestone with the return of the Overwatch Anniversary event. The event is underway now on all platforms--PS4, Xbox One, and PC--and introduces a variety of new content to the game, but as always, the most exciting additions are all the new skins. Blizzard has added 11 new Legendary skins to Overwatch, a number of which were revealed in the days leading up to the game's second anniversary event. We got early peeks at new looks for Tracer and Soldier 76, but Doomfist, McCree, and Overwatch's latest hero, Brigitte, are all also the recipients of new outfits. You can take a look at all of the new skins in the gallery above. The skins can be obtained in Anniversary Loot Boxes, which contain more than 190 Anniversary event items, more than 60 of which are brand-new. Everyone who logs in during the Anniversary Event will receive one Anniversary Loot Box for free, which is guaranteed to contain at least one Legendary item. Additional Anniversary Loot Boxes can be earned by playing the game or purchased with real-world money. In addition to the new skins, Blizzard has introduced a new free-for-all Deathmatch map called Petra. The developer has also made past seasonal brawls available to play again in Arcade for the duration of the Overwatch Anniversary Event. The event runs from now until June 11. If you've yet to purchase the game but are interested in joining the festivities, Blizzard is holding a free Overwatch weekend on all platforms very soon. From May 25-28, players will be able to play the full roster of heroes in a variety of modes at no charge, and any loot boxes that are acquired during the free period can be carried over to the full game.
Tracer Lightning Skin
Tracer Lightning Weapon
Bastion Stealth Skin
Brigitte Shieldmaiden Skin
Doomfist Formal Skin
Junkrat Buccaneer Skin
Junkrat Buccaneer Weapon
Junkrat Buccaneer Detonator
Lucio Bitrate Skin
Lucio Bitrate Weapon
McCree Sherlock Skin
McCree Sherlock Weapon
Orisa Forest Spirit Skin
Orisa Forest Spirit Weapon
Soldier 76 Venom Skin
Soldier 76 Venom Weapon
Symmetra Magician Skin
Symmetra Magician Weapon
Symmetra Magician Turret
Torbjorn Cybjorn Skin
Torbjorn Cybjorn Weapon
Torbjorn Cybjorn Mallet
By Matt Espineli on May 23, 2018 03:31 am
Against All Odds
Not all games receive positive fanfare upon their announcement or in the lead up to release. Heavy skepticism can follow a game for one reason or another. Sometimes it occurs due to a game being a drastic shift from past entries of a long-established franchise. Other times it's a prolonged development cycle that colors our expectations, typically resulting in cynicism or apathy. While there are games that ultimately fall in line with our worst expectations, there are plenty that manage to defy the odds. Everyone loves a good underdog success story, so we've compiled 15 of the most amazing games that defied widely held skepticisms and turned out to be great after all. What are some of your favorite games that defied expectations? Let us know in the comments below. Otherwise, be sure to keep up on our upcoming E3 2018 coverage. With all the successes you read about here, be sure to keep an open mind to whatever this year's big show might have in store. You can get up to speed on the big press conferences through our E3 2018 schedule.
DMC: Devil May Cry
When Ninja Theory's Devil May Cry reboot DmC: Devil May Cry was first revealed in 2010, people were understandably skeptical. It drastically redesigned the look of the frontman Dante, ditching the brash demon hunter's silver hair and red-leather in favor of a modern look and angsty demeanor. The change in art direction was instantly polarizing, resulting in a devout group of hardcore fans boycotting the game before it even released. Others worried the combat system wouldn't hold up to the high standard of quality set by past entries; Ninja Theory perceived lack of experience being the main culprit. While an early demo helped reassure some fans, expectations nevertheless remained low for others. However, when DmC eventually released in January 2013, the game was welcomed with positive critical reception and solid sales. At the time GameSpot gave the game an 8/10, and said: "DmC pulls off that unlikely reboot trick of feeling fresh and inviting while still holding onto what made the original series so appealing and so special." Despite its quality, some fans still rallied against DmC, going as far as petitioning to President Obama to remove the game from store shelves. However, the game continued to receive praise well after its initial release, and it's often cited now as one of the best entries in the franchise. DmC even received further acclaim with its subsequent remaster edition on PS4 and Xbox One. It just goes to show that looks can be deceiving.
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
When Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle was first leaked, nobody thought it was going to be an exceptional game--much less a good game. When Nintendo fans saw an arm cannon-touting Mario accompanied by Ubisoft's polarizing Rabbids, they lamented the possibility. It seemed like another disastrous mini-game collection waiting to happen; people wished it wasn't true. Flash forward to E3 2017 and everything changed. When Shigeru Miyamoto took to the stage during Ubisoft's E3 press conference brandishing an arm cannon, it seemed like everyone's worst fears were about to come true. And then the game was shown: Rather than the mini-game collection that most people expected it be, Mario + Rabbids was in fact a turn-based tactical strategy experience. It was a shocking surprise that nobody saw coming. Initial first impressions towards Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Rush were strong, and a positive reception followed into its release. GameSpot called it an "implausibly engrossing formula that is positively challenging and endlessly charming." Mario + Rabbids is an undeniably compelling game, and one of the most shocking and surprising entries in this list.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
When Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance debuted at the Spike Video Game Awards in 2011, it was a bit of a shock. Formerly titled Metal Gear Solid: Rising, the spin-off looked far more over-the-top than the initial version shown at E3 2009, which featured a tone and style reminiscent to mainline Metal Gear games. This was because the game was now being developed by Platinum Games, a studio most known for its work on fast-paced character action games. It turned out that the team at Kojima Productions weren't able to design a game completely based around the initially proposed "cutting" mechanic, so Platinum Games stepped in to pick up the pieces. While the studio was well-regarded for its games, there was skepticism from hardcore MGS fans over whether or not the studio could meet the series' standard of quality in both gameplay and narrative. Some fans felt its style sharply contrasted existing games in the series. Despite these reservations, Rising managed to live up to the series's legacy in all the right ways. Its stylish violence and hard rock soundtrack somehow seemed right at home in the occasionally ludicrous Metal Gear universe, proving that there was more to the franchise than Snakes and espionage. While Rising still has its detractors, it remains a substantial game well worth playing.
Until Dawn
It's all to easy for horror movies to unintentionally step into the realm of cheesy. Whether it's poor acting, rough special effects, or sloppy editing, there's so much that could potentially sap a scene. The same can be said of horror games, so the odds were stacked against Until Dawn from the start. Making matters worse, the game was originally announced as a first-person PS3 game with Move controls. No one really cared when it blew past its release date, and when it was re-announced as a third-person PS4 game, most people shrugged. Such a turbulent development cycle almost always spells bad news for a finished game. And then Until Dawn launched--and it was fantastic. The setting was creepy, the characters were interesting, and the narrative twists kept on coming. It was like watching a really good horror movie, but with the outcome under your control. Not bad for a game that seemed doomed from the beginning.
Doom (2016)
The Doom franchise had been largely dormant for the better part of a decade when id Software and Bethesda revealed what their plans were for the newest entry, simply titled Doom. With Doom 4 having been in development hell for years, our first good look at the new game showed what appeared to be a gorgeous technical demonstration--but one that suggested the game might be nothing but a gratuitous gorefest. While it's certainly no less violent than we were led to believe, Doom offers a shockingly enjoyable campaign. Multiplayer feels like an afterthought, but that is really of no concern because the single-player side proved to be one of the best first-person shooter experiences in years. Doom embraces some classic elements of shooters while integrating more modern concepts, like a progression system that allows you to upgrade weapons and your Praetor suit. Better yet, Doom offered what felt like a modernized version of classic FPS gameplay. Hiding behind cover for your shield to regenerate or relying on AI companions isn't what Doom is about; it instead focuses heavily on its shooting and movement. In a refreshing take, it forces you to stay on the move at all times in combat, making use of the environment and risking close-range melee kills (which restore health and ammo) to stay alive. The game is at its best when played at a high difficulty, where the combination of deadly enemies and the fantastic, intense soundtrack create a sense of urgency that can make Doom feel almost like a hybrid of arcade-style shooters and horror games. Despite the early concerns, Doom turned out to be a special game after all.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Coming off of a console generation that was littered with cheap, cash-in superhero games, many of us weren't expecting much from Rocksteady's Batman game. Sure it looked pretty and hearing Kevin Conroy reprise his role as Bruce Wayne was a huge plus, but aside from the fantastic Sunsoft-made games, the caped crusader didn't have the best track record when it came to video games. Boy, we couldn't have been more wrong. Borrowing design philosophies from Metroid, Arkham Asylum gave us a dark, detailed setting to explore, with certain pathways closed off until you acquired the proper gear to access them. The developers clearly understood Batman's long and rich history, and it could be seen around every corner, as well as in the gadgets and abilities you gained along the way. However, the best part of Arkham Asylum was that you truly felt like Batman. You would stalk criminals from the shadows, leap off tall buildings, disarm enemies with your batarang, and you were even able flex your muscles as a detective. Arkham Asylum wasn't just one of the best games from the last generation, but one of the best games ever made.
Watch Dogs 2
Watch Dogs was a bit of a disappointment for those expecting it to be a revolutionary next-gen game. Its hacking premise captivated us, but in execution, it was fairly limited. The visually striking appearance of protagonist Aiden Pearce fascinated us. Beneath the vigilante's gruff exterior were interesting motivations, but he ultimately failed to be memorable. That's not to say that Watch Dogs was an awful game for these reasons; rather, it simply failed to live up to the promise of its initial reveal, managing to only be a decent open-world game and not the masterpiece that many had envisioned it in the lead up to its release. Flash forward to its sequel. Announced shortly before E3 2016, Watch Dogs 2 spurred trepidation in those burned by its predecessor. But not all people were so incredulous; after all, the original did have its share of fans. However, it was difficult to ignore the air of skepticism surrounding Watch Dogs 2 pre-release. Certain aspects of it seemed promising: hacking would be expanded, its protagonist's narrative background covered themes not seen in most action games, and its setting of San Francisco and Silicon valley was a perfect fit for the series. And Watch Dogs 2 overcame the odds. Instead of trying to make good on the high expectations that plagued the original's pre-release, the game focused on developing its own sense of style, while expanding upon the mechanics of its predecessor. GameSpot said the game "is a step up from the first game's dreary rendition of Chicago, and even though Watch Dogs 2 can't go toe-to-toe with genre heavyweights, it's hard to walk away from its fun-loving attitude and exuberant cast." The game didn't reach the sales of the original, but it managed to firmly establish Watch Dogs as a promising and worthwhile franchise.
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
After the critically acclaimed Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, Zelda fans were eager to see what the next game in the franchise would be. But when Nintendo inevitable showcased the next entry for GameCube, titled The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, fan response was deeply mixed. The vibrant cel-shaded visual style was a far cry from the more realistic style depicted in Ocarina of Time and the tech demo teased at the Space World 2000 event. Many had grown to accustomed to the visual precedent set by Ocarina of Time, so to not be able to see it displayed in a next-generation Zelda game disappointed many of series' most ardent fans. Unfortunately, this widespread skepticism followed Wind Waker to its release, affecting its sales. Despite receiving glowing critical reception, it sold much less than previous Zelda games. The poor sales can likely be attributed to anxiety among fans that Nintendo was losing its edge by focusing on games for children, as opposed to the more mature-rated games developed by its competitors. However, Wind Waker has since garnered acclaim among fans, often cited as not only one of the best Zeldas, but one of the best Nintendo games of all time. Time often heals the deepest of wounds, and Wind Waker is no exception.
Hitman
For fans of the Hitman franchise, little faith was left after Hitman: Absolution. A series known for exercising your creativity with a limited toolset in cleverly designed levels resorted to a simpler stealth-action template when Absolution hit in 2012. Hitman: Blood Money, which came out in 2006 had been hailed is the best example of what a Hitman game should be, until we got the full picture of 2016's entry. It's a bit tricky to talk about 2016's Hitman game due to its episodic rollout. Even after the first episode, some fans remained suspicious, but once we had the chance to play through the second episode, Sapienza, we started to unpack the game's full potential. Each level was a huge playground where permutations of in-mission events unraveled and prompted players to adapt to emergent conditions to assassinate the necessary targets. The additions of challenges, escalation missions, elusive targets, and seasonal events uplifted the already great foundation. Replayability was at the heart of Hitman's lasting appeal and IO Interactive fostered that by continually supporting the game and giving you new reasons to jump back into missions you already finished.
Metroid Prime
When a beloved franchise makes a dramatic shift from its original style, it's natural for it to be met with skepticism and worry. This appeared to be the case leading up to the release of Metroid Prime for the Gamecube back in 2002. We had become so attached to the side-scrolling exploration that the change to a first-person adventure-shooter hybrid seemed to be a decision made to chase trends, rather than to benefit Metroid as we knew it. However, developer Retro Studios, in collaboration with Nintendo, captured the essence Metroid by creating a 3D world full of wondrous secrets, intense boss fights, and foreboding atmosphere. Metroid Prime retained the core conceit of the franchise by gating sections of the game behind the requirement of certain powers and upgrades. But what Prime really nailed down was the environmental puzzles and uniquely challenging enemies that filled each region. Chozo lore was scattered across Tallon IV, the planet Prime takes place on, which gave a rich sense of world-building without being too in-your-face about it, and the light ambient electronica soundtrack set the tone for wandering a hostile planet alone. In 2018, the control scheme of Metroid Prime is the probably the only aspect that hasn't aged well. A remaster of the Prime trilogy came out for the Wii and implemented the motion controls from Corruption which are much more fluid, but still aren't ideal today. Regardless, Metroid Prime represents an evolution of one of Nintendo's biggest franchises that stayed true to its retro roots while taking a step forward into the modern era.
Final Fantasy XV
Final Fantasy XV had a lot going against it well before release: major delays--the game was originally slated to release on PlayStation 3 back in 2006; changing directors--Tetsuya Nomura was swapped out for Hajime Tabata after several years of development; and, most alarmingly, the game started out as an offshoot title to Final Fantasy XIII's world. Originally titled Final Fantasy Versus XIII, the rebranding to a mainline Final Fantasy titled involved significant reworking of the plot, characters, and the game's mythos to take on its new identity. Yet FFXV's eventual release was an open-world triumph. GameSpot's Peter Brown praised the "impressive open-world that's equally beautiful and haunting." And the PC version of the game specifically made a stunning game look even better. While FFXV seemed like a game destined for either vaporware status or just flat out cancellation, the game continues to get new content and expansions even in 2018. And with the continual updates and content additions, FFXV is not just a game that surpassed our expectations, it's a better experience today than when it originally launched.
The Last Guardian
Having the well-known creator leave their parent company halfway through a project is generally not a great sign. So it seemed when, after five years of development on The Last Guardian, director Fumito Ueda left Sony and founded his own company. However, Ueda stayed on as a creative consultant for the game, leaving the technical aspects of The Last Guardian's development to Sony. Some delays are due to a team taking more time with a project and adding necessary refinements, and while those postponements often lead to immediate disappointment, they're generally considered an overall positive. But when a project's delays stretch for years and is punctuated with drama behind-the-scenes, the game that comes out is all too frequently a disappointment (see high-profile flops like Duke Nukem Forever and Daikatana). Add in The Last Guardian's shift from PlayStation 3 development to PlayStation 4, and it seemed unlikely that the game would even be released much less be any good. But Ueda's vision ultimately shone through the fog of negativity, providing players with a gorgeous, mysterious world to explore and a heartfelt narrative between the young, helpless protagonist and a cat-like, winged beast. The Last Guardian went on to earn a 9/10 score in our review with Peter Brown writing, "Your affection for Trico and sympathy for both characters blossom nonetheless, culminating in an enrapturing series of revelations that cements your attachment to their personalities."
Wolfenstein: The New Order
Before Wolfenstein: The New Order, it seemed like the World-War II-set shooter series had a difficult time trying to justify itself. With its predecessor Wolfenstein (2009) receiving mixed reviews and lackluster sales, enthusiasm for a follow-up was a low. Because of this, developer Machine Games (made up of ex-Starbreeze devs) wanted to switch things up by offering a more story-driven shooter set in an alternate-1960s under the rule of The Third Reich. In the reveal trailer for The New Order, an older Blazkowicz wielding two shotguns faces off against a squad of nazi-robots--complete with Jimmy Hendrix's cover of "All Along The Watchtower" blaring in the background to set the tone. Now an alternate-history narrative, there was a general worry that Wolfenstein would be moving to a setting that films and other games have ventured out to countless times. Moveover, Machine Games' focus on having a more relatable and nuanced Blazkowicz in the midst of his Nazi-killing rampage seemed almost counter to the series' pulpy action and set-piece moments--like facing-off against a gun-toting mecha-Hitler. But as it turned out, The New Order had a certain level of self-awareness when it came to managing its action and its story's tone. In keeping with tradition, the reboot was still an immensely satisfying run-and-gun shooter focusing on taking out Nazis in gruesome fashion. But underneath all that was a surprisingly earnest narrative about B.J. Blazkowicz and his reflections of a life in wartime--and what it said about his own mental well-being. Along with a set of memorable side-characters, The New Order features plenty of moments that channel Tarrantino-esque flair and moments of action--most of which were played to the tune of German covers of famous Rock-n-Roll songs. And all this happened while still showing an incredible amount of humanity and thoughtfulness to B.J. Machine Games' reboot turned out to be a pleasant surprise that showed the potential of what a new setting could offer, and how an old-school shooter can still feel fresh when given the right chance.
Sonic Mania
For years the Sonic series chased the legacy of its early games, often delivering experiences that failed to capture the spirit that made the 16-bit originals classics. Whether it was by getting wrapped up in story or putting too much emphasis on speed instead of level design, the newer games felt lost. However, this all changed with Sonic Mania, a sequel designed to be a throwback to Sonic's first few games, created by people who knew exactly what that ought to look like. Designed and developed by members of the Sonic fan-hack community, Sonic Mania exudes passion and reverence in its recreation of nostalgic visuals, sounds, and levels. But the game isn't content with senselessly regurgitating the past; rather, it expands upon the familiar with new ideas of its own and delivers plenty of inventive concepts that diversify and build upon the series' fast-paced level design. Sonic Mania is smart and interpretive in its approach, leveraging the strengths of its design and visuals to craft not only the best Sonic game ever made, but an amazing platforming experience overall. Sonic Mania turned out to be a huge success, managing to sell over one million copies across all platforms. Its success has even paved way for an enhanced version of the game featuring additional characters and modes, which is slated for release this July.
Sleeping Dogs
United Front Games' Sleeping Dogs experienced a prolonged and difficult development, which began in early 2008. The title was pitched as an open-world game incorporating dark tones with elements of comedy, similar to an HBO crime drama. However, publisher Activision felt it could be made part of its True Crime franchise. As a result, the game was revealed as True Crime: Hong Kong in November 2009, but due to issues in development, it was delayed. The extended development negatively impacted the project. Stiff competition from contemporary open-world franchises, like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, reduced hopes of the game's success based on the investment Activision was already putting into it. This inevitably lead to the game's cancellation in 2011 and massive layoffs at United Front Games. Despite its cancellation, the project didn't meet its end. Rather, publisher Square Enix stepped in to purchase the rights to the game, allowing the project to finally reach people's hands. Renamed Sleeping Dogs, the game released in 2012 to positive reviews. GameSpot's Carolyn Petit gave the game an 8/10 and praised its melee combat, varied mission design, and alluring atmosphere. While Sleeping Dogs' sales didn't meet Square Enix's expectations, it remains a fantastic open-world action-adventure in its own right that defied the odds and survived what seemed an inevitable cancellation.
By GameSpot Staff on May 23, 2018 03:26 am
Whether they're direct continuations that carry on the events of the previous game or unrelated follow-ups that share a general theme, gamers love--and love to hate--video game sequels. While you can argue that the emphasis on sequels seems to overshadow the creation of new, original IP, sometimes sequels produce unique experiences in their own right. Like the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild--the characters and themes are the same, but the game was a refreshing take on the entire open-world genre. Sequels are a huge part of game development, but most creators shy away from revealing what they have in the works too early. With E3 2018 coming up, there are potentially some big-name sequels primed to be revealed. So in this feature, we've gathered together our wishlist of games that deserve sequels, or unannounced games that potentially could be announced at this year's E3. Some are a little more far-fetched than others; Grand Theft Auto VI, outside of Rockstar Games seeming like it always disappears off the face of the planet, is going to happen someday soon. Bethesda will likely make an Elder Scrolls 6, and there are already rumors circulating of a new Bioshock. But Bloodborne 2, Bully 3, and Portal 3? Those aren't necessarily guaranteed. This isn't a definitive list of every game that we want a sequel to, but it represents some of the titles the GameSpot editors feel most strongly about and would love to see appear at E3 2018. What unannounced games do you hope get a surprise announcement at this year's E3 or other gaming event? Let us know in the comments below! Otherwise, be sure to keep up on our upcoming E3 2018 coverage. You can get up to speed on the big press conferences through our E3 2018 schedule.
Animal Crossing | Switch
Nintendo hasn't said explicitly it's working on a Switch version of Animal Crossing, but one is almost definitely in the works. With Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp on mobile last year, the company only whetted the appetite of fans who want a full-fledged entry in the relaxing life sim. And although Pocket Camp is surprisingly robust for a mobile game, it's still missing many of the most important elements of the Animal Crossing franchise: a large list of collectible wildlife, the ability to write letters and notes to your townsfolk, and customization options for your villagers' catchphrases. Pocket Camp is Animal Crossing in spirit, but not quite in execution. But that mobile release does seem to portend that the next chapter on Animal Crossing, this time on Switch, is imminent. Nintendo has stated that the core purpose of its mobile games is less about making money and more about keeping people engaged with its core franchises. For Animal Crossing, all that's left is the follow-through. What new features a Switch release of the game could bring is anyone's guess, but we imagine a large roster of potential neighbors and a more active way to connect and interact with other Animal Crossing players online. | Justin Haywald
BioShock 4 | PS4, Xbox One, PC
Where the original BioShock launched to praise from fans and critics alike, the third and most recent game in the series--BioShock Infinite--divided opinion somewhat when it came out in 2013. While some--including our own reviewer--loved it, others felt it turned the series too far towards shooter territory, and the story felt muddled. Time, then, for a new game in the series to unite everyone behind BioShock once again. One that can bring BioShock back to what everyone loved in the first place--its mystery, its atmosphere, its storytelling, and yes, its inventive powers--while also taking it to new frontiers. We've now done underwater and above the clouds; perhaps BioShock 4 could deliver another shock to our systems by taking us to space? | Oscar Dayus
Bloodborne 2 | PS4
From Software's Bloodborne forces Souls players to step outside of their comfort zone; to stop peeking at horrors from behind a shield and instead charge headfirst into them. Its gameplay focuses on bluster and brutality, but feels like a delicate dance of sword swings, explosive gunshots, and timed dashes. However, what really elevates Bloodborne is Yarnham, the mysterious gothic city where disease-ridden inhabitants wander around squalid streets, mindlessly attacking all that approach. It's also a place where science clashes with faith, factions battle over ideologies, and the presence of an unseen cosmic evil pervades. Bloodborne was both critically and commercially successful and, most importantly, fans of it are desperate for more. From Software recently teased a new project that adopts the studio's distinct style, but the use of the phrase "shadows die twice" could be hinting at something entirely new. A new From Software game is exciting, but we can't help but hold on to hopes of returning to the Bloodborne universe. The sweet blood, it sings to us. | Tamoor Hussain
Bully 2 | PS4, Xbox One, PC
Leading up to Bully (2006), Rockstar had been best known for hyper-violent games like Grand Theft Auto, Max Payne, and Manhunt. Then the developer adapted many of the core tenets that made those games great to craft an earnest, yet over-the-top tale of a troublemaker thrust into a private boarding school. Stereotypical cliques filled the student body at Bullworth Academy and painted a lively caricature of high school. It was your job as Jimmy Hopkins to navigate the dangerous waters of Bullworth and try not to get kicked out, all while trying to become the baddest, most respected fool on campus. Getting to class on time (presented as minigames), getting in fights, and causing all sorts of mischief makes up most of the game, but Bullworth and its surrounding town is also a believable place full of life. Not many games have topped the soundtrack's funky basslines and whimsical xylophone melodies either. Despite being twelve years old and one of Rockstar's best games, it never got a follow-up (although it was remastered). There have been rumblings throughout the years of a possible sequel; producer and lead writer Dan Houser said he had ideas for a Bully 2 back in 2013, and concept art believed to be tied to a sequel was shown last year. That's the extent of our hopes, though. Rockstar's portfolio has evolved since 2006: GTA continues to succeed, Red Dead emerged as a huge franchise, and LA Noire showed that action can take a back seat to story. With a resume like that, it's a lot of fun to imagine what Bully 2 could be.| Michael Higham
Bushido Blade 3 | PS4, X1, PC, Switch
Bushido Blade was a 3D, one-on-one sword-fighting game for PlayStation that was uniquely unforgiving. With no health bars, landing a clean hit on your opponent meant a crippled limb, if not instant bloody death. Tension was the name of the game, where every standoff was a strenuous task of reading your opponent, playing mind games and exercising quick reflexes. It was also a game concerned with maintaining honorable disposition and respecting your opponent. Bowing formally before a match, fighting fair, and never stabbing your opponent in the back was encouraged, and enhanced the game's zen-like appeal. But, you could also do the exact opposite: throw dirt in someone's face, kick them when they're down, and run frantically through the game's large, open arenas to search for an environment that could put your opponent and their choice of weapon at a disadvantage--a bamboo thicket could restrict naginata slashing maneuvers, a deep river could mask the movements of your katana, for example. Although Bushido Blade got a sequel in 1998, there hasn't been a a game in the last 20 years that has successfully come close to matching its understated qualities and strict mechanics. Its nearest neighbour today would be Nidhogg, if Nidhogg could be slowed to a snail's pace. In a post-Dark Souls era where players celebrate pure, unforgiving game experiences, a true Bushido Blade sequel with online competitive multiplayer is just the thing Square Enix should think about bringing back. | Edmond Tran
Diablo 4 | PS4, X1, PC
While Blizzard had a rough start with Diablo 3, they made great strides with improving the game in the years since its release. Once the expansion Reaper of Souls launched, Diablo 3 had earned its spot as one of the most impressive loot-focused action-RPG games on the market. Even now, regular updates are still ongoing, and with successful launches on PS4 and Xbox One, there's plenty of loot to go around for would-be adventurers traveling through Tristram and the underworld. Though Blizzard is still going strong with Diablo 3--along with Overwatch, World of Warcraft, and Hearthstone--the developers should look to the future of loot-oriented action-RPG games and get started with Diablo 4. The series scratches a certain itch that not many other games can, and Diablo 4 can take advantage of the second-wind the series has experienced in D3's post-launch life. | Alessandro Fillari
Elder Scrolls 6 | PS4, Xbox One, PC
There's no question that Elder Scrolls 6 is happening--Todd Howard has said as much a few times now. But between myriad ports of Skyrim and Elder Scrolls Online's recent Morrowind expansion, the questions are: "What kind of game will Elder Scrolls 6 be?" and, "Where will it be set?" The series has already explored several regions of Tamriel, but there are still places we haven't been: the Argonians' Black Marsh and the wooded region of Valenwood, just to name a few. But perhaps it's time to leave Tamriel behind and explore the rest of the world of Nirn. Yokuda is a continent destroyed by an unknown cataclysmic event. Could that be a chance to marry the gameplay of Elder Scrolls with the story trappings of Bethesda's other premiere RPG franchise, Fallout? Another possibility is the land of Akavir: a continent that rivals Tamriel in size, populated by four new races at war with each other. That covers the Elder Scrolls trope of multiple factions, and thanks to several mentions throughout the franchise, we already know that those four races--snow demons, snake people, monkeys, and tiger dragons--are important to the history of the world. Plus, it's easy to fit a fancy Roman numeral into the title, as Bethesda already did once with Obl(iv)ion. Elder Scrolls: Aka(vi)r, anyone? | Tony Wilson
Elite Beat Agents 2 | Switch
There's no reason to think that a sequel to Elite Beat Agents is in the works, but with the newfound success of Nintendo Switch, the quirky rhythm game from developer iNiS is a cult classic that's due for a revival. EBA was actually a localization of the cheerleading game Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan (which got a Japanese sequel on DS), but while the two versions are the same gameplay-wise, the soundtracks and overall themes were changed drastically to make the series fit into a Western archetype. But either way, both versions were solid games that took advantage of the DS' touch screen to let you tap out rhythms in time to the music. Ports of the originals would be great for a new generation of gamers to experience, though it's likely the music licensing deals make that a difficult process. But a new version of the game that takes advantage of either the traditional controls or the unique joy-con capabilities of the Switch would be delightful--maybe a Just Dance-style game that tracks your hand movements as you go through the game's on-screen choreography? | Justin Haywald
GTA 6 | PS4, Xbox One, PC
The last Grand Theft Auto game doesn't feel like it came out almost five years ago. Of course, that's partly due to the fact that its roll-out across Sony and Microsoft's consoles and then PC took three years. But it's also because the game is still consistently in the top 10 best-selling games of every month (here it is as number 10 for December and number 6 for the best-selling game of 2017). Although the GTA games are known for their multi-layered, single-player stories, GTAV's continued success is primarily driven by its multiplayer GTA Online mode. A sandbox set in GTAV's world, the game has captured such a large portion of Rockstar's resources that the long-ago promised single-player expansion has been dumped. But surprisingly, it's both not something that gamers seem to be clamoring for, and it hasn't affected the adoption of the game sales-wise. GTAV casts a long shadow, and it'll be interesting to see how its open-world model will affect the upcoming Red Dead Redemption 2. But it'll also be worth keeping an eye on how it affects the inevitable GTA VI. At some point, V's popularity will start to wane and we'll get another entry in the GTA world. But will this next game be a multiplayer-only experience that borrows both from elements that make GTA Online such a continuing success and other popular online games like Destiny 2? Or will GTAVI be a return to the single-player narrative with an even more robust online mode that just happens to exist alongside it? It's also worth noting that the gap between GTAIV and GTAV was only five years, so it's possible a new chapter in the rampant crime saga might be closer than you'd expect. | Justin Haywald
Horizon: Zero Dawn 2 | PS4
Despite exclusively making shooters for its first decade-and-a-half of existence, Guerrilla Games tried something very different with Horizon: Zero Dawn, and it more than succeeded. Guerrilla's debut open-world effort was impressive on a number of fronts, including its Monster Hunter-style combat and gorgeous visuals. But as with the first entry in any series, it had a number of areas that stand to be improved. Although combat encounters could be intense and memorable, that was only really the case at range--melee combat was simplistic and boring. Navigating anything but flat surfaces could be a frustrating chore, particularly in comparison to Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which made climbing so effortless. The bulk of the narrative, while interesting, was told through exposition dumps where you'd stand around and simply listen to someone talk. Improvements to these areas, combined with Guerrilla continuing to amaze from a technical standpoint (which we got a taste of with Zero Dawn DLC The Frozen Wilds' improved snow effects), would make Horizon 2 something really special. | Chris Pereira
Metal Gear Solid 6 | PS4, Xbox One, PC
After Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima left Konami in 2015, fans began to question the series' future and whether a new entry would be warranted. Months passed until publisher Konami finally revealed the next game in the long-running franchise: a survival-focused co-op spin-off with zombies, called Metal Gear Survive. As you'd expect, fan backlash was understandably negative, as it seemed diametrically opposed to the series' lineage. At the same time, it left questions as to whether or not Konami would ever develop a true successor or reboot. While a new mainline Metal Gear Solid game not directed by Kojima raises alarms for hardcore fans, it's difficult to rule out how awesome it would be if Konami managed to let an ambitious studio build upon the series' foundations or provide a completely new vision of what Metal Gear can be for its sixth entry. After all, a Metal Gear game doesn't necessarily need Kojima to be good or interesting. You need only look to franchise spin-offs like Metal Gear Rising and Metal Gear Solid (GBC), which each played incredibly well despite lacking Kojima's involvement. But imagine the possibilities of what Metal Gear Solid 6 could be: a game starring The Boss during WWII, that Grey Fox spin-off we always wanted, or maybe an entirely new game starring a fresh face mercenary/government agent in a far-future, post-MGS4 world? The Metal Gear series' universe is ripe with characters and concepts that could be used to create a fascinating new entry in the tenured franchise. Regardless of whatever shape or form it takes, we're hoping Konami takes full advantage of Metal Gear's rich history for whatever it has in mind for the series now that Metal Gear Survive is out. | Matt Espineli
No One Lives Forever 3 | PS4, Xbox One, PC
Even before the saturation of first-person shooters in the mid-to-late 2000s, there were so many great single-player FPS games on PC. Medal of Honor: Allied Assault and the original Call of Duty were staples of the genre, but nothing had quite the charm of No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way. For those not familiar, imagine the grandeur of James Bond and the absurdity of Austin Powers wrapped in an espionage tale with the highly capable operative Cate Archer at the helm. This was the foundation for a well-crafted shooter set in the Cold War era that took you across the world for hilariously ridiculous missions. Anyone who played it will never forget its incredibly adorable soundtrack, which so perfectly captured the campy spy theme. That was 2002, and 16 years later, little-to-no hope is out there for Cate Archer's return. NOLF 2 and its predecessor The Operative: No One Lives Forever are cult classics, but over time, the rights to the franchise went into a sort of limbo. Both games were developed by Monolith (known for the recent Middle-earth games), but were published by Fox Interactive. Fox was acquired by Vivendi, which merged with and separated from Activision. However, Monolith is now under Warner Bros. So, who the hell knows which company can even revive the series. Regardless, we're holding out hope that this series lives to die another day. | Michael Higham
Portal 3 | PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch
Why hasn't this happened already? Portal and Portal 2 are masterpieces, with the 2011 sequel successfully expanding on the first game's amazing puzzle game base with an intriguing story, improved script, and more diverse environments. A third game would surely be even better. It wouldn't even have to do much! It's been long enough that just more Portal would likely be satisfactory for a lot of people. But this is Valve we're talking about. As we all know, this company doesn't just make games for the sake of it. The developer even seems happy to almost troll its own fans by allowing other companies to use the Portal license in their own games: the past few years have seen Rocket League and Lego Dimensions recieve Portal-related content, and last year we even got a full game crossover with Bridge Constructor. And yet, still no proper sequel. We might be waiting a long time for Portal 3. If only those wormholes allowed us to travel through time... | Oscar Dayus
Silent Hills | PS4, Xbox One, PC
Despite game director Hideo Kojima's very public departure from Konami, the company is still seems adamant about supporting the auteur's Metal Gear series. Kojima was also tied to the next game in Konami's Silent Hill franchise, and while that project (a collaboration with film director Guillermo del Toro and actor Norman Reedus) is canceled, Konami has publicly stated that the Silent Hill franchise will continue on at some point. And despite Konami's issues, Silent Hill is still a tortured video game location that we'd want to visit again. Spanning multiple developers and a wide range of protagonists, the series is uniquely positioned for a follow-up that doesn't strictly adhere to the games of the past. And a success with the long-running horror franchise could potentially mitigate the disastrous PR left by Kojima's departure. It seems like a sure thing that Konami will get around to making another entry in the franchise, and even though it would've been fascinating to see what a horror mashup between Kojmia and del Toro would have been like, we'll likely get a taste of that in Death Stranding. The next Silent Hill will be a new creature, but what form it takes has yet to be decided. Hopefully, it can return to its critically acclaimed roots, and avoid being another average spin-off like Downpour and Book of Memories. | Justin Haywald
Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic 3 | PS4, Xbox One, PC
Though there have been many games that have taken advantage of the Star Wars brand to great effect, one title in particular has stood out for many fans of the storied franchise. Bioware's narrative-focused RPG Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic followed the adventures of an up-and-coming Jedi and their crew as they explored the galaxy, thousands of years before the rise of the Empire. At its time, it was a rather seminal game for the Star Wars series. Instead of shoehorning new characters into established lore and repeating moments from the films, this RPG title told its own story with a memorable cast of characters. While KOTOR had two sequels, one of which was the moderately successful MMO The Old Republic, there's been a yearning for a third game focusing on the single player experience with modern visuals and systems. However, much has changed with the Star Wars IP in recent years, and making a direct sequel isn't so clear cut. With Disney having acquired the Star Wars license, while also jettisoning much of the material from the 40-years of expanded universe fiction--including the plot of KOTOR--a follow-up would have to be a reboot. While this may draw the ire of hardcore fans, this also presents a wonderful opportunity to tell fresh stories with new characters. A Star Wars RPG seems well overdue, and with Bioware a part of EA--and with the publisher currently possessing the exclusive rights to produce Star Wars games--the timing seems perfect for the original developers to return to the Star Wars universe. Which should totally happen sooner, rather than later. | Alessandro Fillari
Super Mario Maker 2 | Switch
Mario Maker was one of the last hurrahs for Wii U owners, and what an event it was. It offered a chance for people to get creative with one of gaming's greatest icons, share Mario levels they've created online, and browse through thousands of levels made by other passionate players across the globe. If you followed game culture in 2015 and 2016, you probably saw plenty of people sharing videos of tremendously difficult stages being bested by skilled (or lucky) players; a testament to the game's widespread popularity and its effectiveness as a game creation tool. The Wii U GamePad touchscreen made the process of creating and editing levels a breeze, and all it takes is one look at your Switch to realize that it's built for a game like Mario Maker. Given that Switch's online environment is still a work in progress, it's understandable why Nintendo isn't rushing to make it happen, but given the massive Switch install base (relative to Wii U), it's easy to imagine that we'll see the next Maker game sometime down the road. | Peter Brown
Super Mario RPG 2 | Switch
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars blessed the SNES back in 1996, where our franchise favorite characters banded together to fight common enemies throughout the Mushroom Kingdom… in the form of a turn-based RPG. Squaresoft had created Final Fantasy VI, Chrono Trigger, and Secret of Mana by this time, but to wrap its refined RPG elements in the Mario universe made for one of the best mash-up/collaborations ever. Bowser was driven out of his castle, Peach was fed up with being held captive, and newcomers Geno and Mallow joined Mario in an adventure through new places that gave a nod to what we've seen in previous Mario games. What tied everything together and ingrained this game into our memories was the catchy, joyful soundtrack full of songs with layered instrumentation. You've probably heard the infectious "Beware the Forest Mushrooms" before. And shout out to those that fought Culex to the rearrangement of Final Fantasy IV's boss battle theme. Paper Mario, and its follow-up The Thousand Year Door, are incredible games in their own right, but are essentially spiritual successors separate from the world that was built in Legend of the Seven Stars. In this day and age however, the appetite for Mario spin-offs is strong; we got a tactical strategy game with Rabbids, and a remake of Superstar Saga on 3DS just in the last year. A proper follow up RPG should be on the shortlist for future Switch games. Of course, this is just wishful thinking given that there are no rumors, leaks, or cryptic messages from Nintendo that would indicate a true successor to one of its greatest games. | Michael Higham
By Array on May 23, 2018 03:09 am
Being an arctic explorer ain't easy.
AMC's horror show, The Terror, has proved to be one of the scariest shows for years. The crews of the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror--two real ships that set out from England in 1845 and disappeared for over 150 years--arrived in the frigid Northern wastes in search of the Northwest Passage. Please don't consider it a spoiler that things won't turn out great for these characters in the end. These real life shipwrecks weren't discovered until 2014 and 2016, respectively, and their crews had died long ago from cold, starvation, disease, lead poisoning, and cannibalism. Anything that happens in The Terror between the start and that foregone conclusion is just embellishment invented by Dan Simmons, the author of the book on which the show is based, or showrunners David Kajganich and Soo Hugh. But what embellishments they are. With that in mind, we've kept a running list of all the scariest s*** that goes down in each episode of The Terror...
1. Man Overboard
Episode 1 Of all the things that are no doubt going to kill these characters over The Terror's ten episodes, you might think falling overboard and drowning would be the least terrible. Then you imagine your whole body going numb, your vision shrinking, and your senses deadening as you slide further into the depths, unable to move or help yourself or do anything but die. Not a great start to this voyage.
2. This Guy
Episode 1 We don't know what it means. We just know that he's terrifying.
3. A Boy Among Men
Episode 1 It's unclear what this poor kid died from, but does it really matter? It's easy to envision these expeditionary crews as ships full of brave, hardened men, big sailors with 5 o'clock shadows and tattoos of mermaids and anchors. Seeing this kid get sick and scared and die is pretty jarring.
4. Hello Again
Episode 1 This trip underwater is filled with so much foreboding that you spend the entire scene just dreading that something awful is going to happen. Ultimately it could have been worse, but it was still a deeply unsettling moment.
5. World of Ice
Episode 1 The final shot of episode 1 is the most chilling of the whole episode: The two ships are completely encased in ice, presumably with no hope of digging out any time soon. This is only the beginning of the doom, though.
Episode 2
6. Crew, Meet Tuunbaq
Because probably starving to death in an Arctic wasteland isn't bad enough, the crew met the Tuunbaq, an Inuit creature of legend, in The Terror Episode 2. It doesn't seem very nice.
7. Bye Dad
Episode 2 Given that they were able to get this woman (who will come to be known by the name Lady Silence) and her dad back to the ship, there was a brief hope that they would save his life. Her frantic cries that he couldn't die below deck were terrible to hear.
8. Lady Silence's Warning
Episode 2 If only Lady Silence knew how right she was when she said they're going to disappear. Was it a prescient prophecy, or is she going to make sure of it? We'll have to keep watching to find out.
9. Photo Fnish
Episode 3 Captain Franklin poses for a photograph with the men chosen to hunt and kill the "bear." This being 1846, the group must pose for a full 30 seconds for the picture to be taken. Nothing really happens here, but the atmosphere is seriously ominous, as Goodsir watches his pocket watch to count down until the picture is done. It's almost like they are counting down to something terrible happening...
10. Tent Attack
Episode 3 And it does! Before the hunting party can even leave their tent, the Tuunbaq attacks, ripping open the tent from above and grabbing one of the men. As the rest of the group fire wildly into the blizzard and Franklin makes a run for it, the creature's victim loses his head in gruesome style.
11. Owwww-lid!
Episode 3 Episode 3 might be filled with decapitation and dismemberment, but one of the most excruciating moments comes shortly after the Tuunbaq attacks the hunting party. Crozier hears the gunshots and screams so runs to the deck, using a telescope to see what's going on. After he spots the terrified men retreating back to the Terror, he moves the telescope away from his eye, only to find that the metal has frozen to his eyelid, pulling a chunk of skin away with it. OWWWW!
12. Franklin Checks Out
Episode 3 Franklin's death was a genuine surprise. He had been introduced as one the show's main characters, and his antagonistic relationship with Crozier provided much of this episode's drama. But he becomes the Tuunbaq's third victim, pulled through the ice before having his leg torn off and dumped in same icy grave that we saw the Eskimo dad's body lowered into at the start of the episode.
13. Dinner Gift
Episode 3 This episode closes with Lady Silence back at her camp, alone. From outside the igloo we hear the ominous sound of large, beastly footsteps and the breathing of something big and scary. But the Tuunbaq is not here to kill--it is leaving her some food (a dead seal). The final shot of Lady Silence's terrified face as she emerges from the igloo is one of the most chilling moments of the whole episode.
14. Setting Sun
Episode 4 Crozier and his men stand on the deck of the Erebus, watching the final rays of the sun disappear below the horizon as the months-long darkness of winter descends. "The last of the year," says one of the men. "Feels like an omen." How right he is.
15. Heather's Brain
Episode 4 The marine named William Heather is laid out on the operating table after being attacked at night by the Tuunbaq. His head is half-open and his brain is on display, but amazingly, he's still alive. The whole scene is so spooky that even the doctors are forced to seal his eyes shut so he doesn't stare at them while they operate.
16. Two Men, One Body
Episode 4 In Episode 4's creepiest scene, Hickey creeps along the deck of the Erebus towards a mysterious figure seemingly leaning over the edge of the ship. As he reaches out to touch the figure, the body falls to the ground in two pieces. Even worse, we discover in the next scene that the top and bottoms halves of the body belong to different victims and have been stacked by someone--or something--in this macabre way.
17. Hickey's Confession
Episode 4 Hickey takes matters into his own hands and kidnaps Lady Silence, bringing her back to the Erebus. When Crozier demands to know what happened, the officer describes seeing the Tuunbaq up close. It doesn't sound good. "It was three times that of any bear we've seen. With a different... set to its head," he says. "I do not believe it is an animal we battle."
18. Hearing Voices
Episode 5 A crew member named Manson is helping move yet another body into the lower decks of the Terror, into what is called "the dead room." Except the terrified Manson doesn't want to go; he tells Lt. Irving that he's heard the voices of the dead trying to escape...
19. Why Do You Want To Die?
Episode 5 In his drunken desperation to find out how stop the Tuunbaq, Crozier yells at Lady Silence, demanding to know how the creature can be killed. Her reply is as unsettling as it is accurate. She stares straight into Crozier's soul and tells the pathetic, sorrowful man, "You don't want to live. Look at you. Why do you want to die?"
20. Up The Mast
Episode 5 In the show's most terrifying sequence so far, the Tuunbaq finally boards the ship in search of victims. Poor Blanky is sent by a drunken Crozier to pointlessly observe the ice, and in doing so is chased up a mast by the angry beast. We get the best look at it so far, just before it slices into Blanky's leg.
21. Sore Saw
Episode 5 Speaking of which, unfortunately Blanky's leg can't be saved. And this being the Arctic wilderness in the 19th century, there's nothing that can be done except take a swig of whiskey, put a stick between your teeth, and get busy with the saw. We don't really see much, but the sound of the saw and Blanky's screams are truly horrifying.
22. "A Darkness… With No Firm Hand To Stem It."
Episode 6 Blanky tells Fitzjames a story about a previous expedition he was on, where the odds of survival were about as low as they are for the crews of the Terror and the Erebus. The point of this eerie scene is to foreshadow the creeping madness in this episode, and Ian Hart's performance makes for a chilling scene.
23. Toungue-baq
Episode 6 Lady Silence sits on the ice with the Tuunbaq and reveals that her father was its master. "You cannot be with a shaman for so long," she tells the creature. "Accept me in his place." And then, with the beast looking on, she raises a knife and starts to cut out her own tongue.
24. King Heather
Episode 6 Poor old Heather hasn't had the best winter. He was mauled by the Tuunbaq in Episode 4 but survived, and since then has been lying on a gurney with his brain exposed. But if that was enough of an indignity, he ends up as the centrepiece of Fitzjames's carnivale, propped up as a macabre king with a paper crown on his head.
25. Lady's Back
Episode 6 Lady Silence returns to the ship, minus her tongue and covered in her own blood. Has her sacrifice given her control of the Tuunbaq? I suspect we'll find out soon enough.
26. Fire And Ice
Episode 6 In a great bit of misdirection, Collins sits with Dr Stanley early in the episode, describing his feelings of isolation and general mental disintegration. But in the end, it's not Collins but Stanley who cracks first. He sets the carnival tent ablaze and then immolates himself, staggering towards the terrified crew with his arms outstretched. It's a truly horrifying scene.
27. Cooking With Gas
Episode 7 Collins' mental disintegration continues. He tells Goodsir that the smell of "gas" is everywhere, ever since the ill-fated carnivale. Goodsir presumes he means the fire itself, but Collins is more specific--he is continually smelling the "meat" of his friends, burning alive. "They were cooking, like fillets grilling."
28. Heads Off
Episode 7 The one glimmer of hope that the stranded men had was the rescue team sent out after Franklin's death in Episode 3. Unfortunately, as we discover in the most gruesome way possible, the team only made it 18 miles. Hartnell finds their severed heads lying in the snow, presumably removed weeks earlier by the Tuunbaq and now displayed as gruesome frozen trophies.
29. Morfin's Madness
Episode 7 Madness continues to creep amongst the men, and a crewmember called Morfin is its next victim. The camp is awoken by Morfin screaming at the others, demanding that they cut off his head and lay it with those that they found the previous day. While his colleagues are obviously reluctant to do that, his death wish is soon granted when his gun malfunctions and explodes in his face.
30. Hacking Hickey
Episode 7 The episode ends with a shocking death, but it's not a Tuunbaq attack. Having encountered a group of Inuits, Irving races back to tell Hickey and another man. At this point Hickey fully becomes the evil character that the show has been building up to, and having already killed the other man, brutally stabs Irving several times through the chest. The episode concludes with the reveal that he is not Hickey at all, but someone else who has assumed his identity to board the Terror before it sailed.
31. Butchered
Episode 8 Suspecting that Irving didn't die at the hands of a savage gang of Inuits as Hickey reports, Crozier insists on viewing his body. The camera pans gruesomely down Irving's corpse, which has been scalped and castrated, revealing the extent of Hickey's savagery.
32. Tuunbaq attack!
Episode 8 After a slow build-up with very little actual horror, this episode explodes into mayhem as the Tuunbaq makes his reappearance, pursuing Collins into the midst of Hickey's impromptu trial. The creature bursts through the fog and lays bloody waste to the camp, trampling, biting, and clawing every man in sight.
33. Collins No More
Episode 8 While the fog-shrouded chaos of the final sequence makes it hard to see who exactly the Tuunbaq is killing, we do get Collins' demise in an excruciating close-up. The creature flattens him and proceeds to tear him apart, while he lies on the ground screaming. Bye Collins!
34. Whose head?
Episode 9 The grim business of gathering the bodies from the Tuunbaq's attack is underway, and it opens with this gruesome shot of one poor victim. Luckily Blanky is on hand to help the poor lad given the job of identifying the dead. "Mr Honey the carpenter," he says. "I recognize his neckerchief."
35. "What are we willing to eat next?"
Episode 9 Food is desperately short for both Crozier's men and Hickey's gang of mutineers. And of course, it is over in Hickey's camp that the previously unspeakable taboo of cannibalism is raised. Stating that they never really knew what was in cans of meat that they have been eating for years anyway, Hickey argues that eating human meat wouldn't be much worse. "Our needs have changed," he says.
36. Gibson Goes
Episode 9 Having made the decision that the only way to survive is to eat their own dead, Hickey is quick to supply a main course. After the captured Goodfellow tells him that the increasingly sickly Gibson is unlikely to live past a few days, Hickey speeds up the process and brutally stabs him to death.
37. Dinner Is Served!
Episode 9 Goodfellow is forced to carve up Gibson and deliver the choicest cuts of meat to the rest of Hickey's men. They sit silently around the table, grimly eating the lightly-charred meat. It's a dark scene, but one that also that evokes great sympathy for these men who have been forced into this terrible situation. Well, except for Hickey of course, who looks like he's really enjoying his dinner.
38. Soul Man
Episode 9 Although the bulk of Episode 9 is filled with murder and man-eating, there is a haunting sequence in which Tozer tell Hickey of what he saw when the Tuunbaq devoured Collins in the previous episode. "I saw my Collins' soul… and I watched that creature inject it. Feed on it." Chilling indeed.
39. Goodnight Goodsir
Episode 10 Knowing he will never make it out of Hickey's camp alive, Goodsir makes one final plan to stop the mutiny. He covers his body in poison, lies back, and cuts his wrists. He dies, leaving not just a corpse but a poisoned breakfast for his captors next day.
40. Feet First
Episode 10 Crozier is awoken the next morning to the grisly sight of Goodsir's butchered corpse. Hickey and his men have already taken their choice cuts of poisoned meat from it, and force Crozier to do the same. He slices a chunk from Goodsir's feet, as the now dead man instructed him to in order to avoid eating the poison.
41. Hacking Hickey
Episode 10 It is the final showdown with the Tuunbaq. As his remaining men are slaughtered all around him, Hickey attempts to tame the beast by slicing out his tongue as an offering.
42. Tuunbaq Bites
Episode 10 Unfortunately for Hickey, his plan to possess the Tuunbaq doesn't work. The creature devours his whole arm before throwing him into the air, literally tearing him in half. In an episode filled with sadness and death, the demise of this insane, evil man is a satisfyingly grisly one.
43. Camp Death
Episode 10 In one of the most chilling scenes of the whole show, Crozier and Lady Silence (who we now know is named Silna) find the rest of his men in a dilapidated camp. They didn't get very far, ultimately succumbing to starvation and illness. The remains of half-eaten body parts sit in a cold stove, and the bodies of the men lie next to one another in a tent. The only man who is clinging to life is Little. His face has been pierced with tiny gold chains--by whom it is not clear. He says one final world--"close"--before slipping away.
44. Gone
Episode 10 In the final shot of the show, Crozier sits on the ice with a young boy, fishing. It is years later, and having decided never to return to England, he has made some semblance of a new life for himself amongst the Inuits. But even though Crozier survives, knowing what he has lost to get to this point, makes for a chilling final moment of a brilliant show.
By Matt Espineli on May 23, 2018 02:11 am
The Best Switch Games So Far
After the Wii U, the release of the Nintendo Switch marked the beginning of an new generation for Nintendo. The universally praised The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild launched alongside it, giving the Switch all it needed to quickly rise to the top of console sales charts and dramatically increase Nintendo's revenue. In the year since its launch, there has been no shortage of fantastic games coming to the hybrid console, from huge first-party games like Mario and Kirby to indie darlings like Owlboy and Celeste. The library only seems to be expanding and improving with every consecutive release. In this feature, we're taking a look back at the best Switch games so far. This includes games that have received a score of 8 or higher on GameSpot since the console's release, as well as reviews for new games and updates to reviews of older games that were ported to Switch. Check out our choices for the best games released on the Switch. And with the console's library continuing to expand, make sure to check back often as we update this feature over the coming weeks and months. For an analysis of Nintendo Switch's first year, be sure to read our retrospective feature discussing the console's various successes and failures. In addition, you can also check out our features detailingall the Wii U games we ported to Switch, 13 things we want to see from the console.
Battle Chasers: Nightwar -- 8/10
"Beyond the challenge of combat, Battle Chasers is sustained through the strength of its story, a rollicking tale that takes our heroes literally to hell and back. It's bolstered by some sharp dialogue, gorgeous artwork, and an ensemble that plays extremely well off of each other. Lots of work has gone into Nightwar since its first release, and the balancing improvements make it an easy game to recommend on all platforms." [Read the full review] -- Justin Clark
Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze -- 9/10
"Tropical Freeze isn't a heavy-hitter from Nintendo in the same way Breath of the Wild or Super Mario Odyssey are, but it's a fantastic platformer that's bursting with creativity and expertly designed challenges. It's tuned just right--always tough but rarely frustrating--to ensure that even the most common moments feel great. If you missed out when the game first debuted back in 2014, give it a shot today. It easily stands the test of time." [Read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Bayonetta 2 -- 10/10
"But it's a challenge you'll want to experience again as soon as you put down the controller. Bayonetta 2's combat is so expertly constructed, and its presentation so joyously insane, that you'd have to try so very hard to get bored of it all. In a year filled with the promise of ever more elaborate experiences on all the shiny new hardware, that Bayonetta 2--a homage to classic game design and escapism--should be the most fun I've had playing a game all year is unexpected. But maybe it shouldn't have been. After all, its predecessor still stands as one of the finest games of its genre. To have surpassed that with Bayonetta 2, and to have created a game that will be remembered as an absolute classic, is nothing short of astonishing." [Read the review] -- Mark Walton
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
Dragon Quest Builders -- 8/10
"The excellence of Dragon Quest Builders illustrates the versatility of this 30-year-old franchise as much as it speaks to the engrossing appeal of Minecraft-inspired creation. The story-advancing draw of quests goes hand-in-hand with the depth of a crafting system that cleverly uses monster drops as some of the game's building tools. Whether you want to focus on completing assignments or build with no specific purpose, the game is feature-rich enough to suck up untold hours, even if this happens to be your first Dragon Quest experience." [Read the review] -- Miguel Concepcion, Editor
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim -- 8/10
"The original version of Skyrim is still an immense, engrossing RPG, and the quality, number, and variety of its quests makes it as easy to become lost in its world as ever. With the addition of Zelda-themed gear that's actually useful--and the fact that you can play anywhere--the Switch version of Skyrim is a great excuse to revisit a much-loved RPG." [Read the full review] -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Golf Story -- 8/10
"It can take a little while for the narrative to ramp up in Golf Story and for you to feel like you've really cultivated the skills of a champion, but based on the sheer scope of what the game delivers, there's likely something for everyone to enjoy whether their shtick is mini-golfing or terrorising delinquents with frisbees. It has successfully captured the trappings of yesteryear's RPGs, and the witticisms and idiosyncrasies of the characters you encounter are a great palate cleanser between rounds. Switch has had a swathe of indies hit its eShop recently, but if you're looking for something that'll give you satisfaction in terms of an interesting story and a rewarding mechanic, then Golf Story is certainly par for the course." [Read the full review] -- Ginny Woo
Gorogoa -- 8/10
"Few games take the concept of altering reality to as artistic a level as Gorogoa. This labor of love made chiefly by one developer is a gorgeous and intriguing puzzle game that works because of its stunning art and intelligent puzzle design. Far from a traditional game, Gorogoa is a slow and methodical trip into the surreal." [Read the full review] -- Jason D'Aprile
Kirby Star Allies -- 8/10
"Star Allies is yet another Kirby game, but it's up there with some of the best. It's an artistic showcase, and a great opportunity for co-op platforming. The one real complaint you can levy at it is that it gates off its more challenging aspects, but the fact that they are present to begin with will please anyone who's grown weary of the series' painless platforming." [Read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild -- 10/10
"No matter how gorgeous its environments are, how clever its enemies are, and how tricky its puzzles get, the fact that Breath of the Wild continues to surprise you with newfound rules and possibilities after dozens of hours is by far its most valuable quality. It's a game that allows you to feel gradually more and more empowered yet simultaneously manages to retain a sense of challenge and mystery--which, together, creates a steady, consistent feeling of gratification throughout the entire experience. Breath of the Wild is a defining moment for The Legend of Zelda series, and the most impressive game Nintendo has ever created." [Read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle -- 9/10
"Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle exudes off-beat optimism that never dissolves. It's a consistent delight, no matter how challenging the road becomes, because Kingdom Battle's unique turn-based tactics system is in every way a pleasure to engage with. Coupled with the annoyingly infectious allure of Rabbids, and the always delightful, colorful world of the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle is an implausibly engrossing formula that is positively challenging and endlessly charming." [Read the full review] -- Edmond Tran, Editor
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe -- 9/10
"For Mario Kart fans, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe might look like more of the same with small Double Dash-inspired tweaks. But thanks to a series of updates both big and almost unseen, it's the version of Mario Kart to get. If you don't own a Wii U or skipped out on Mario Kart 8 the first time around--or even if you've played it before--Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is worth your time. It plays beautifully on Switch in both handheld and docked mode, and its core racing is as exciting as ever. And, most notably, it completely revamps the original's lackluster Battle Mode, rounding out an already great racing game." [Read the full review] -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Mr. Shifty -- 8/10
"Mr. Shifty isn't a huge game in terms of length, but the three- to four-hour campaign is ample. It's like a shot of adrenalin, offering an exciting, intense experience, and it's easy to forgive the game's performance flaws when it so consistently makes you feel like a badass." [Read the full review] -- James O'Connor
NBA 2K18 -- 8/10
"NBA 2K18 is a hardcore sports simulation. If you want to get good, you have to put in the work. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to improve your skills no matter how you want to play. And the fact that there's so much to do is a bonus, because on the court, NBA 2K18 is also an amazingly well-crafted experience." [Read the full review] -- Seth Macy
Night in the Woods -- 9/10
"From beginning to end to epilogue, Night in the Woods is ultimately open to individual interpretation. How you relate to it depends on your own experiences and choices, including Mae's dialogue and who you decide to spend time with. Though its charming and angsty story works well on its own merits, it's special because of how it prioritizes conveying emotion over telling a straight narrative." [Read the review] -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Owlboy -- 9/10
"Owlboy is consistently charming and surprising, and when its final act doubles down on every front, it's bittersweet to see it end. As you relish the outcome of the final battle and watch the closing cutscene, you can't help but reflect on the beginning of your adventure and how far the world and its inhabitants have come. You'll never be able to play Owlboy for the first time again, but the memories of its magic moments stick with you. This is more than a treat for fans of old-school games; Owlboy is a heartfelt experience that will touch anyone with an affinity for great art and storytelling." [Read the review] -- Peter Brown, Senior Reviews Editor
Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2 Plus -- 8/10
"Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2 creates an exciting dynamic where ghosts are still dangerous, but the overall game is more forgiving than the original--and it's more entertaining as a result. Arcade ports tend to be games we play in short bursts--mostly for the nostalgia factor. Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2 certainly relies on that nostalgia to a point, but it handles the classic game in a way that plays with expectations to surprise you. It's the same game enhanced in the right directions to be make an old concept fun, innovative, and challenging all over again." [Read the review] -- Jason D'Aprile
Puyo Puyo Tetris -- 8/10
"Overflowing with colorful personality, Puyo Puyo Tetris revels in its weirdness. It provides solid versions of both puzzle games and merges the two in bizarre, frantic ways that adds a fresh dash of style to these long-running series. With an array of game variations spanning single-player, along with on- and offline multiplayer, it's an incredibly meaty package that should satisfy gamers for a long time to come." [Read the full review] -- Jason D'Aprile
Rive -- 8/10
"Rive is demanding, but it pushes the kind of near-thoughtless play that shoot-em-ups strive to achieve. When faced with an onslaught of enemies and environmental hazards, you'll have to think fast or die. Rive also doesn't run all that long, but what's here is excellent, top-notch action, and the game delivers some of the most memorable moments in a shoot-em-up in years." [Read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
Rocket League -- 9/10
"For people new to the game, they have a lot to look forward to regardless, as it's one of the most fascinating sports games in memory. Nevermind if you don't like soccer or couldn't care less about the growing esports community. Rocket League is a unique game that redefines the concept of what a sports game can be, and Psyonix continues to support it with new content on a regular basis. It's been around for a while, but now that it's on Switch, there's no better time to give it a shot." [Read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment -- 8/10
"Specter of Torment is a finely-crafted 2D platformer that is satisfying in all respects. Simply controlling Specter Knight--flying through the air and slicing through enemies--is a joy in itself, and being able to push your ability to control these skills in overcoming the game's cleverly-designed and challenging levels is always an exhilarating feeling. Specter of Torment is a focussed, polished, and satisfyingly challenging game that's well worth experiencing whether or not you've had the pleasure of playing Shovel Knight." [Read the full review] -- Edmond Tran, 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
Splatoon 2 -- 8/10
"At first glance, Splatoon 2 seems very similar to the first game. But all the small changes, and even the bigger ones in single player and League Battles, make for a fresh take on the already unique shooter. If you played a lot of the original, the sequel has enough to keep you coming back, and if you're new to the game, it's a fantastic place to jump in." [Read the full review] -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Stardew Valley -- 9/10
"The sheer number of things to accomplish in Stardew Valley can keep you interested beyond the original three in-game years you need to reach the end of your story--you may just want to start over rather than continue on. You'll work quite hard to gather enough money for your first horse, so that you can quickly move to the mines to get a mineral to complete a bundle at the community center. It's all centered around whatever it is you want to accomplish that day. And that's truly what makes Stardew Valley such a lovely experience, it encourages you to go out and be the best you can be, in whichever task that brings you the most joy. Stardew Valley motivates naturally, with blissful optimism." [Read the full review] -- Mary Kish
SteamWorld Dig 2 -- 9/10
"Every advancement Dig 2 makes to its story and mechanics strengthens your initiative to progress. There's an overwhelming sense of momentum that runs through the adventure; as if developer Image & Form sifted the original in a pan, removing its redundancies while expanding upon what made it so fun to persistently play. In your quest to acquire every upgrade and explore every nook and cranny, there's no shortage of hidden collectables to discover. And with post-game content that unlocks after you unearth every secret, the desire to keep digging intensifies. Dig 2 manages to not only be an exceptional successor, but a great adventure in its own right. Where the first game was a diamond in the rough, Dig 2 is a polished jewel." [Read the full review] -- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor
Super Mario Odyssey -- 10/10
"Odyssey is sustained beyond its major milestones not only through colorful worlds and hidden challenges, but through the sheer joy of controlling Mario, who's never felt more responsive or dynamic in action. Even with everything new that's been introduced, Nintendo's forward-thinking platformer retains the series' classic handcrafted appeal, which is even more impressive when you realize how densely packed each kingdom is. Mario's latest outing is big, bold, and bursting with new ideas, and like Breath of the Wild, is another instance of Nintendo going above and beyond to redefine our expectations. It's a shining example of refined creativity, and another crown jewel for Switch that is without equal." [Read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
By Michael Rougeau on May 23, 2018 01:01 am
Westworld Season 2, Episode 5, "Akane no Mai," finally brought viewers where we've wanted to go since the finale of Season 1: Shogun World. The show certainly took its time getting here, but in the end it was worth it. Just as we'd hoped, Shogun World is another Delos park, but this time filled with ninjas, samurai, geisha, and all the other trappings of feudal Japanese culture. Of course, these things are sensationalized and turned into a theme park for rich jerks, and the show pulled it off perfectly--right down to Sizemore "plagiarizing" his own storylines from Westworld. Here's everything we learned about Shogun World and the rest of the Delos-verse in Westworld Season 2, Episode 5, "Akane no Mai."
1. "Akane no Mai" translates to "Dance of Akane."
That one's self-explanatory if you've watched the episode.
2. The soggy hosts had their memories wiped.
Or something--"Like they're virgin. Like they never held data to begin with." And their backups were all destroyed. Wonder what this has to do with the larger Delos plot?
3. Shogun World is considered more hardcore than Westworld.
It was designed for guests who consider the standard Westworld experience "too tame."
4. Shogun World is based on Japan's Edo period.
Also known as the Tokugawa period (thanks to the Tokugawa shogunate), the Edo period took place in Japan between 1603 and 1868.
5. All the hosts can speak Japanese.
And dozens of other languages. They have hidden "comm skills" buried in their code, according to Sizemore.
6. Sizemore "plagiarized" his own storylines between parks.
Watching the Westworld heist play out in a different setting with slightly different versions of characters like Hector, Maeve, and Armistice was a lot of fun.
7. The butterfly provides another link.
Hector and Armistice spy the butterfly outside Shogun World's saloon, and quickly make the connection to Westworld's Mariposa saloon in Sweetwater. "Mariposa" is the Spanish word for butterfly.
8. Dolores has a plan involving the Sweetwater train.
"They've taken my daddy. So we're going to get him back."
9. Shogun World's hosts are a little more prickly when it comes to guests' behavior.
"The narrative bones of this place are just like Westworld," Sizemore says. "Hospitality is foreplay to a new quest. But in this world, if you don't hear them out, you've dishonored them. Sometimes homicidally so."
10. Encountering your "doppel-bot" can have adverse effects.
Including heightened aggression, feedback loops, and whatever was going on here between Armistice and her double.
11. Maeve sees her daughter in Akane and Sakura's relationship.
Which is why she deep down wants to help her.
12. Maeve has previously unheard of powers.
She can sense other hosts and even command them with her mind. She's basically a superhero.
13. Delos security has visited Shogun World already.
It didn't go well for them.
14. Other hosts are malfunctioning like Bernard.
The Shogun himself is leaking cortical fluid. Isn't it weird this never came up in Season 1?
15. Teddy f***s.
Wouldn't have thought he had it in him.
16. Not every host wants to be awakened.
Is this what Dolores means when she says they don't all "deserve" to make it to The Valley Beyond? Wonder what she'd think of Akane.
17. Dolores really has become the villain.
If you thought her arc this episode was about her regaining some feeling, you were dead wrong. Dolores is straight up heartless. Now Teddy will never be the same.
18. Akane's dance song is a version of Wu-Tang's "C.R.E.A.M."
From the 1993 album Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Listen to it again here.
19. Maeve is super badass now.
Can't wait to see her use that "new voice" some more.
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