According to Polygon, Epic Games sued Thomas Hannah, a quality assurance contractor, on May 7 for leaking spoilers for Fortnite: season four. Through a third party, Hannah spread information about where Fortnite's meteor would hit, an action in direct violation of his non-disclosure agreement.
Prior to the leak, most Fortnite theorists believed they had decoded a secret message that hinted Titled Towers would be the crash zone of the meteor. The leak debunked this prediction, and informed players that Dusty Depot was the actual target. Epic is accusing Hannah of deliberately working with a third party to leak this info.
Hannah's defense against the accusations is that he did not purposely leak the target location. According to him, he was bombarded by "a series of questions and guesses regarding where the meteor would hit," at the end of Fortnite: Battle Royale season three. Hannah then shared the information in a private conversation, assuming it would remain confidential. It did not, and the spoilers were published to a subreddit. Both the post and the account that created it have since been deleted, but the internet is forever and this was no exception.
Epic claims the damages this leak has done cannot be fixed with money, as the company "has suffered and is continuing to suffer irreparable injury." The company is seeking punitive damages under both state and federal trade secret laws.
A new month has arrived, which means a new slate of games are on the horizon. Between the excitement of E3 2018 and this month's upcoming releases, gaming fans have a lot to look forward to in June. This month sees some notable titles arrive on each platform, from the Switch port of Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus to a new Mario sports game and the latest title from Life Is Strange developer Dontnod.
As always, we've rounded up a list of the biggest games launching this month below, giving you a handy way to keep track of what's in store for Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC in June. For a broader look at all of the major games coming to each platform throughout the rest of the year, be sure to check out our comprehensive list of game release dates in 2018.
Jurassic World Evolution (PS4, Xbox One, PC) -- June 12
Arriving on PS4, Xbox One, and PC on June 12, Jurassic World Evolution is a theme park sim that challenges players with managing their own Jurassic Park. They can choose which types of dinosaurs they'd like to hatch and what types of attractions and amenities they'd like to build to attract guests to their park. The game also features Jeff Goldblum reprising his role as Dr. Ian Malcolm.
This month's big Switch release is Mario Tennis Aces, the first Mario sports game to arrive on Nintendo's hybrid console. Developed by Camelot, the studio behind every previous Mario Tennis game, Aces introduces a number of new mechanics, such as the time-slowing Zone Speed and the powerful Zone Shots. It also features the first story mode in the series since 2005's Mario Tennis: Power Tour.
Rounding out this month's biggest releases is The Crew 2. Ubisoft's open-world racing game arrives on PS4, Xbox One, and PC on June 29, and it builds upon its predecessor with a few new mechanics, most notably vehicle transformations. In this installment, players can switch between a car, boat, plane, or other vehicles on the fly to seamlessly race across different types of terrain.
Fortnite's latest update, v4.5, is now available on all platforms. On top of introducing a new weapon and other features to both Battle Royale and Save the World, it marks the start of the game's latest limited-time mode, Playground--although as of this writing, the mode has been temporarily taken offline.
Unlike previous limited-time modes, Playground is intended to be a "low-pressure environment" that acts much like a private server. It allows players to explore the map, devise strategies, and play around freely with up to three friends without the risk of being eliminated by other players.
Each round in Playground lasts for one hour, and the storm circle won't begin closing in on the map until 55 minutes into the match. Friendly fire is enabled, although players will respawn immediately unless eliminated by the storm. There's also considerably more loot to find. 100 Llamas will spawn across the map, and players will receive 10 times the normal amount of any resources gathered during the match.
Playground isn't the only limited-time mode available in Fortnite this week. Final Fight Teams of 12 is also now underway in Battle Royale. This mode unfolds like a standard game of Battle Royale; however, the storm circles stop closing partway through a match. Once the circles have finished closing, a Final Countdown timer will begin, with the remaining teams competing to have the most surviving players when the time expires.
Epic hasn't announced an end date for either Playground or Final Fight Teams of 12. Fortnite's limited-time modes are typically only available for about a week, although it remains to be seen if Playground will remain in the rotation a little longer than usual to make up for its downtime. You can read more details about each mode--courtesy of the patch notes on the official Fortnite website--below.
Epic still hasn't provided a time table for when Playground mode will be enabled again. The mode was taken offline due to a matchmaking issue that cropped up following the rollout of update 4.5. That issue has since been resolved, but Epic says it is "continuing work" to bring Playground back online. The developer will provide further updates on Fortnite's status website.
Fortnite Update 4.5 Patch Notes
Playground
Summary
Playground is a low-pressure environment where friends can let their creativity run wild. Build massive structures. Practice with the weapons and items. Fight against your friends. Have fun!
Mode Details
You'll have one hour to create, play and train as you wish. Hop in and try out version 1 of Playground!
Drop into the Battle Royale map with a squad of friends for an hour
Friendly Fire is on
Players respawn on elimination unless downed by the storm
The storm doesn't start closing in for 55m, and takes 5 minutes to close in
Resources gathered grant 10x the normal rate.
100 Llamas will be spawned on the map
Chests & Ammo Boxes spawn 100% of the time
Final Fight Teams of 12
Summary
Make it to the final circle and then fight for the Victory Royale!
Mode Details
Final Fight plays similar to standard Battle Royale, but instead of the storm circles closing all the way in, they stop part way through the match.
When the circles have finished closing in, the Final Countdown timer will begin.
The remaining teams will battle it out until the timer expires.
The team with the most players remaining at the end of the timer wins!
In the event of a tie, the two (or more) teams tied for the lead win the match.
The first half of 2018 has been packed with tons of fantastic games. Much like last year, there are several well worth your time to play. Big-budget games, like God of War, Far Cry 5, and Dragon Ball FighterZ, floored us with their attention to detail and quality mechanics. On the other hand, smaller indie experiences continued to turn our heads; Iconoclasts and Celeste were some of the early standouts of this year, but a wealth of other unique experiences have released since then, like Yoku's Island Express and Minit.
Around this time of year in 2017, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Nier: Automata, Persona 5, Horizon: Zero Dawn, and Resident Evil 7: Biohazard were some of the most fantastic experiences. However, this year seems to be meeting the high standard set by those games, and in a wide variety of genres.
With so many games coming out every month, it can be tough keeping track of the best ones. To ensure you're aware of this year's finest, we've gathered them all here for your convenience. Ahead are games exemplary enough to be considered some of the best of this year so far. By the end of the year, a number of these could become candidates for 2018's Game of the Year awards.
Which games do you think will be good enough to be included in our Game of the Year awards? Let us know in the comments below.
The Red Strings Club -- 9/10 (Platforms: PC)
"From the game's opening piano chords, The Red String Club's futuristic exploration of themes regarding human emotion, strong writing, and exciting situations create an experience that is deeply gratifying. The cast of relatable, three-dimensional characters elevate the stakes of every bullet fired, secret divulged and cocktail poured. They are flawed and dangerous, but also convey admirable human characteristics that feel inspirational. The Red Strings Club is a tense adventure about a cast of characters that endanger themselves for goals that aren't necessarily guaranteed, a rewarding journey into the human soul, and a game that pushes the limits of what a point-and-click adventure can do." [Read the full review]
-- David Rayfield
Iconoclasts -- 9/10 (Platforms: PS4, Vita, PC)
"When Iconoclasts' end credits begin to roll, it's bittersweet to see the journey come to a close. After solving every puzzle and witnessing the finale of its poignant narrative, you can't help but reflect on the growth of its characters and your impact onto the world. The game will shock and surprise you with how gripping its story is, and it's likely to do so again in subsequent playthroughs of New Game+ with your expanded knowledge of character histories and events. Iconoclasts may be a callback to the style and mechanics of old-school games, but it's also a sincere and compelling adventure that anyone with respect for fantastic storytelling and 2D-action can enjoy." [Read the full review]
-- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor
The Inpatient -- 8/10 (Platforms: PSVR)
"The Inpatient doesn't just do right by Until Dawn, but stands right alongside it as one of the strongest horror experiences on PlayStation 4. It's a game far less concerned with pushing you towards what's lurking down every corridor than feeding you the worst ideas of what could be." [Read the full review]
-- Justin Clark
Celeste -- 9/10 (Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)
"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
Monster Hunter World -- 8/10 (Platforms: PS4, Xbox One)
"Ever since the title was first announced last year, it was clear that Capcom was gunning for something grander than Monster Hunter Generations. It has succeeded, and this is likely the biggest and best that the franchise has ever been. It's not just the comparative depth of the narrative; it also boasts almost seamless integration between combat systems that were previously incomprehensible for amateurs. The Monster Hunter formula has definitely honed its claws, and all the above factors play their part in making Monster Hunter World a meaningful evolution for the series at large." [Read the full review]
-- Ginny Woo
Subnautica -- 9/10 (Platforms: PC)
"Subnautica's story, scares, and beautifully rendered underwater setting make it one of the most fascinating survival games around. You will always have to grind away to a certain extent to gather necessary resources, but the overall experience is both accessible and refined. Subnautica may not make you eager to get back to the beach this summer, but right now there is no better virtual way to experience the beauty, and the terror, of the deep blue sea." [Read the full review]
-- Brett Todd
Shadow of the Colossus -- 9/10 (Platforms: PS4)
"Shadow of the Colossus is a tremendous journey, and one well worth taking and retaking. The visual overhaul is stunning, thoroughly enhancing every facet of Wander and Agro's excellent adventure. Galloping through the tranquil world is always breathtaking; felling a monumental colossus is always humbling. Shadow of the Colossus is a beautiful reconstruction of an already exceptional title. It continues to be a modern classic and is an extraordinary game that everyone must experience." [Read the full review]
-- Edmond Tran, Editor and Senior Producer
Dragon Ball FighterZ (Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC)
"FighterZ is complex and distinct enough to be enjoyed by fighting game competitors, but there's no question that it's been designed to tap into the hearts of Dragon Ball's most dedicated fans, and no doubt those same qualities will win people over who've never given the series a chance. Where past games attempted to get there through huge character rosters and deliberately predictable trips down memory lane, FighterZ has bottled the essence of what makes the series' characters, animation, and sense of humor so beloved and reconfigured it into something new: a Dragon Ball fighting game that can go toe-to-toe with the best of the genre." [Read the full review]
-- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
EA Sports UFC 3 -- 8/10 (Platforms: PS4, Xbox One)
"EA Sports UFC 3 is a tense, exciting, and dynamic recreation of the stand and bang aspect of mixed martial arts. There's a fluidity to the way it moves, and a satisfying feel and unpredictability to the way fights can unfold that demands your engagement. The grappling still needs plenty of work, and one would hope this is something EA Canada addresses in the next iteration; yet these shortcomings become easier to overlook because of the accomplishment of its redefined striking. When it comes to the art of combat, few sports titles do it better." [Read the full review]
-- Richard Wakeling
Radiant Historia Perfect Chronology -- 8/10 (Platforms: 3DS)
"With all the time juggling, the brain-teasing mechanic of the White Chronicle doesn't overshadow Radiant Historia Perfect Chronology's story. Its politically charged tale complements Stocke's personal journey as he follows his orders and makes sense of his powers. The White Chronicles' close connection to the plot only makes temporal manipulation all the more engrossing, regardless if you're working your way to the game's best conclusion or hitting every node in the timeline. This feature maintains its grip for much of the game's 60-hour journey in spite of its combat shortcomings. Had this been a straight port of the DS version, it would still warrant the attention of RPG enthusiasts who missed Radiant Historia the first time around. With its upgrades and considerable bonuses--particularly the Sub-History--even those who think they got their fill by beating the original game should check out this definitive edition." [Read the full review]
-- Miguel Concepcion
Kingdom Come: Deliverance -- 8/10 (Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC)
"Even with these issues in mind, anyone who can appreciate the down-and-dirty nature of history should play Kingdom Come: Deliverance. It's an impressive and unflinching look at the medieval era that transports you inside the compelling story of a real person caught in the middle of a civil war. As such, this is one of those rare, memorable games that stays with you long after you stop playing. While quirks and bugs can certainly be frustrating, none of these issues interfere much with the unique and captivating nature of the overall experience." [Read the full review]
-- Brett Todd
Moss -- 8/10 (Platforms: PSVR)
"It's a testament to just how well Moss understands PlayStation VR and works with the device instead of trying to bend it to a will it was never designed for. Moss wouldn't feel right without it at all, and its many strengths are married to the interactions that only full immersion can manufacture. Unsurprisingly, then, Moss is easily one of PlayStation VR's best titles to date, even if it's a little too eager to get you in and out of its world." [Read the full review]
-- Alessandro Barbosa
Into The Breach -- 9/10 (Platforms: PC)
"There is so much strategic joy in seeing the potential destruction a swarm of giant monsters is about to unleash on a city, then quickly staging and executing elaborate counter maneuvers to ruin the party. Into The Breach's focus on foresight makes its turn-based encounters an action-packed, risk-free puzzle, and the remarkable diversity of playstyles afforded by unique units keeps each new run interesting. It's a pleasure to see what kind of life-threatening predicaments await for you to creatively resolve in every new turn, every new battle, and every new campaign. Into The Breach is a pristine and pragmatic tactical gem with dynamic conflicts that will inspire you to jump back in again, and again, and again." [Read the full review]
-- Edmond Tran, Editor and Senior Producer
Kirby: Star Allies -- 8/10 (Platforms: Switch)
"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
Surviving Mars -- 8/10 (Platforms: Xbox One, PC)
"Surviving Mars, above else, is about hope. So many strategy games hold to their gameplay, eschewing any overarching themes or messages. But, as corny as it sounds, for those who believe in the majesty of spaceflight, for those who are keen to marvel at how pernicious our plucky little species can be, Surviving Mars is SimCity with soul. It shows the challenges that come along with planetary migration, but it also shows that they are solvable. With the right planning, drive, and ingenuity, we can do great things together." [Read the full review]
-- Daniel Starkey
Attack On Titan 2 -- 8/10 (Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch)
"Despite its slow start, Attack on Titan 2 offers exciting gameplay along with a deep and intriguing plot that, melodrama aside, tugs on the heart strings. It's well-paced and offers some impressive spaces to move through. The unique combination of the movement and combat mechanics combines with a gripping story to make Attack on Titan 2 one of the more surprising releases of the year." [Read the full review]
-- James Swinbanks
Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kindgom -- 8/10 (Platforms: PS4, PC)
"Ni No Kuni 2 is a robust game that offers ample ways to spend your time, and even if they aren't all up to the same level of quality, it's easy to appreciate how they collectively contribute to the bigger picture. It's chock full of excellent battles and surprising moments that make for a far more memorable experience than you initially expect and leaves you impressed by your own accomplishments. If you didn't play the first game, don't let this one pass you by too." [Read the full review]
-- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
MLB The Show 18 -- 9/10 (Platforms: PS4)
"Sony's flagship baseball franchise has never been better. With its best-in-class controls and visuals, and impeccable attention to detail for the small stuff, MLB The Show 18 is worth catching for any baseball fan." [Read the full review]
-- Eddie Makuch, Editor
Minit -- 8/10 (Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC)
"Minit's lives might only last 60 seconds, but its extremely well-thought-out world design and engrossing loop of progress make it a curse-filled adventure that is worth dying the world over for. Its throwback to classic visuals aren't done for aesthetic alone, as none of its gameplay systems scream antiquity. It's a slickly presented adventure that continually manages to surprise you with every new area you uncover or item you procure, pushing you to pick away at its seams to uncover every drop of what it has to offer. With a delightful ending and more promised after its first run of credits, Minit is far more than just a collection of seconds." [Read the full review]
-- Alessandro Barbosa
Far Cry 5 -- 9/10 (Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC)
"Despite some brief irritations and missed opportunities with its narrative, spending time in the world of Hope County remains absolutely delightful. Far Cry 5 boasts a wonderfully harmonious flow to its adventure, with its smart changes to exploration, discovery, and progression distinctly bolstering the enjoyment of creatively engaging and experimenting with its spectacular open world." [Read the full review]
-- Edmond Tran, Editor and Senior Producer
God of War -- 9/10 (Platforms: PS4)
"In many ways God of War is what the series has always been. It's a spectacular action game with epic set pieces, big-budget production values, and hard-hitting combat that grows more feverish and impressive as you progress. What may surprise you is how mature its storytelling has become. Like Kratos, God of War recalls the past while acknowledging the need to improve. Everything new it does is for the better, and everything it holds onto benefits as a result. Kratos is no longer a predictable brute. God of War is no longer an old-fashioned action series. With this reboot, it confidently walks a new path that will hopefully lead to more exciting adventures to come." [Read the full review]
-- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life -- 8/10 (Platforms: PS4)
"Yakuza 6 reins in its scope, but doubles down on what has made the series great. It's a unique and fascinating representation of the modern Japanese experience, worth playing even if you're a newcomer. The narrative is dramatic and sincere, and the game's endearing characters--coming from all walks of life--are interesting studies. The world is dense and rewarding to exist in, the dynamic combat system stays exciting even after you've kicked the crap out of five thousand enemies, and perhaps most importantly, Yakuza 6: The Song Of Life serves as a fulfilling conclusion to the turbulent, decade-long saga of its beloved icon, Kazuma Kiryu."[Read the full review]
-- Edmond Tran, Editor and Senior Producer
The Alliance Alive -- 8/10 (Platforms: 3DS)
"There's a lot to love about The Alliance Alive: a well-paced story in an interesting world, a meaty mashup of unique combat elements, and a fantastic soundtrack that keeps you pumped and eager to explore. If you can put up with a bit of a learning curve, you'll find a great portable adventure well worth dusting off your 3DS for." [Read the full review]
-- Heidi Kemps
Frostpunk -- 9/10 (Platforms: PC)
"Frostpunk is among the best overall takes on the survival city builder to date. Its theming and consistency create a powerful narrative through line that binds your actions around the struggle to hold onto humanity in uncertain times. Hope is a qualified good, but you may not always be strong enough (or clever enough) to shelter that flame from the cold." [Read the full review]
-- Daniel Starkey
Total War: Thrones of Britannia -- 8/10 (Platforms: PC)
"Thrones of Britannia is an exciting experience despite the cuts to integral components of the Total War series, such as city planning hinging on military needs, specific building customization, and expanded intrigue options. But this has given Creative Assembly room to focus on enhancing parts of the strategy experience that aren't quite as impenetrable to newcomers, and to allow the series to return to some of the beloved parts of previous historical games to balance out its newer, slimmer form. While there are minor issues with AI, and pacing suffers when you've comfortably gotten the upper hand, this is still a worthy and engaging contribution to the Total War stable that has successfully taken its cues from history's winners and losers alike." [Read the full review]
-- Ginny Woo
Battletech -- 8/10 (Platforms: PC)
"Battletech is a game that selfishly takes its time to be meticulous in every respect, and pushing through the density and idiosyncrasies of its many, slow-moving parts can be tough. But if you have the will to decipher it, albeit, at a deliberate and punishingly plodding pace, you can find yourself completely engrossed in its kinetic clashes. Battletech's intricate components ultimately foster a fascinating wealth of nuanced systems that build a uniquely strenuous, detailed, and thoroughly rewarding tactical strategy game." [Read the full review]
-- Edmond Tran, Editor and Senior Producer
Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire -- 8/10 (Platforms: PC)
"Deadfire is dense, and it isn't a small game, easily dwarfing its predecessor in terms of scale. There's a lot to do, and it's easier than ever to get lost in the little stories you find, without following the arcs that the game has specially set out for you. Still, it's worth taking your time. The richness of Deadfire takes a while to appreciate, and like the brined sailors that call it home, you'll be left with an indelible attachment to these islands when you do finally step away." [Read the full review]
-- Daniel Starkey
Far: Lone Sails -- 8/10 (Platforms: PC)
"Lone Sails is a transfixing, lovely experience, one that takes recurring indie game tropes and does something unique and fun with them. It's short enough that you could play through it in a single two or three-hour session, but it will likely stick with you for a long time. I can see myself going back in a few months just to revisit the ship, like checking in on an old friend." [Read the full review]
-- James O'Connor
Yoku's Island Express -- 8/10 (Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch)
"Yoku's Island Express takes two unlikely genres and combines them into one playful, natural experience. The game's audio and visual design is simply joyous and the large game world seamlessly combines its pinball puzzles with some brilliant level designs. While traversing the large map does get frustrating at times, Yoku's Island Express' main quest never drags, and with its slate of fun abilities, quirky supporting characters and a generous amount of optional content, Yoku's Island Express is a unique journey that's refreshing and just straight up fun." [Read the full review]
-- Alexander Pan
BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle -- 9/10 (Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch)
"Whether playing through the story mode alone or against hardened opponents online, Cross Tag Battle is an absolute joy with a surplus of possibilities within its wide roster and versatile fighting system. Even with all the ridiculousness of the overarching plot, I reveled in the charm of my favorite characters and embraced the many moments of fan service. It's a masterful unification of styles and mechanics from four different universes that compels you to dig deeper and dedicate the time to getting the most out of the beloved members of this cast." [Read the full review]
-- Michael Higham, Associate Editor
Onrush -- 9/10 (Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC)
"When it comes to crumpling metal and high speed thrills, not all of Onrush's game modes are on equal footing in terms of consistent excitement. Yet its foundations are so strong, and so unique, that it's easy to lose hours upon hours barreling around these disparate tracks. The question of longevity will, of course, depend on post-release support, with new classes, game modes, and tracks potentially on the horizon. Considering you need 12 players to fill a full room, it would be a shame if Onrush doesn't find the kind of audience that will give it the lifespan it deserves. Part of this will depend on how Codemasters iterates on the game from here on out, but they've shown a proficiency in knowing how arcade racing games click, and Onrush is such a bold, refreshing twist on the genre that there should be little hesitation in putting your faith in them to succeed." [Read the full review]
-- Richard Wakeling
Unravel Two -- 8/10 (Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC)
"With its charming yarnlings and a newfound style of platforming, Unravel Two remains welcoming even at its most foreboding. Sure, a forest fire breaks out in one of the latter stages, but even then, the race to keep ahead of the blaze is fun and frantic instead of stressful. In almost every moment you're given ample time and space to breathe and take in the stunning photorealistic world from the viewpoint of the tiniest creatures. It's a game with boisterous birds, chases through meadows, and most importantly a cheerful partnership with a companion who's always got your back. With only six chapters that run roughly 30 minutes apiece, Unravel Two doesn't last long, but it's a game where the time you have is meaningful, memorable, and downright pleasant from beginning to end." [Read the full review]
-- Justin Clark
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit -- 8/10 (Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC)
"Life is Strange gained a huge cult following, and whether you're a veteran or a newcomer, Captain Spirit captures a lot of the original game's appeal. Regardless of how you classify The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit--whether it's a standalone adventure, a demo, or a prologue--it's a beautiful game, and one that leaves you all the more excited about Life is Strange 2." [Read the full review]
By Anonymous on Jun 27, 2018 11:29 pm Sony's Shawn Layden commented on possible PS4 cross-play with Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, while PUBG Corp. dropped its lawsuit against Fortnite developer Epic.
After seeing the first Sicario film in 2015, chances are most of the audience didn't expect a sequel as it ended on a note of finality. However, Lionsgate announced mere months later that a follow-up was happening. Now, with Sicario: Day of the Soldado heading to theaters, it's likely this isn't the end of the road.
Tyler Sheridan, who wrote both films, actually has a trilogy in mind to complete the Sicario tale, according to Sicario: Day of the Soldado star Josh Brolin. "From what I know, I think that Taylor Sheridan always had an idea of a trilogy in concept," Brolin tells GameSpot while promoting Day of the Soldado. "I don't think that that was necessarily an intention from the beginning, but I just think he had those stories."
As producer Trent Luckinbill explains, the continuation of this franchise was always dependent on where Sheridan thought the story would go. "This was a world and a landscape that he really thought he could do more with," he explains. "So, that's where we're at. Certainly, with Taylor, [we] feel like we could maybe explore that final chapter if that's where it goes. We love the characters, and we felt like after the first one we wanted to see more of them, and I think we feel the same way now."
In fact, Luckinbill says, the wheels for a potential third film are already in motion. "If it felt organic and felt like there was a demand for it, we certainly would look at that and are having those discussions now because again this was something that Taylor really had in his mind, and there was always this concept of this was more than just one for him," he says.
And while it's not set in stone by any means, the cast certainly seems intrigued by the idea of a final Sicario film. "I'd be interested to see where he takes it from here," Benicio del Toro says. "That's what he said, but we don't know if there's going to be a third. But if it does come about, I'm willing to tackle it."
Of course, there is one person missing from the gang. After starring in the first film, Emily Blunt doesn't return for Sicario: Day of the Soldado. Though she was initially said to be reprising her role, the actress was eventually written out of the script by Sheridan. "He felt organically that it made more sense to spend time with these two guys, these two characters, without that chaperone," Luckinbill says. "He wanted to explore the two of them together."
Have fans seen the last of her in this franchise, though? Possibly not, according to the Luckinbill. "We love Emily, and she's been very supportive, and if we're to do more, we're already having those discussions," he teases.
Now it's just a matter of Gillick (del Toro) and Graver (Brolin) making it out of Day of the Soldado alive, should Sheridan and the team behind the films want to reunite them with Blunt's Agent Kate Macer. Then again, with how much blood was spilled inthe first film--and is likely to be spilled in the second--who knows if anyone survives?
Sicario: Day of the Soldado is in theaters on June 29.
Disney has taken another step closer to completing its deal to buy Fox's entertainment assets. It has been reported that the studio has agreed to sell Fox's 22 regional sports networks, following a complaint filed in federal court this week by the Department of Justice.
As reported by Variety, the Department of Justice had argued that since Disney already owns national sports network ESPN, adding Fox's sports assets to its roster would be highly anti-competitive. However, Disney's agreement to sell them off has satisfied the DoJ, making Disney's bid for Fox's entertainment assets increasingly attractive to Fox shareholders in its battle with rivals Comcast.
The deal is of particular interest to movie fans, as Fox holds the rights to many popular Marvel characters, most notably the X-Men and the Fantastic Four. A deal between Disney and Fox would mean that these characters could become part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Disney itself has stressed this, saying in an earlier statement that buying Fox will help create "richer, more complex worlds of inter-related characters and stories that audiences have shown they love." In addition, successful properties such as Avatar--which currently has two sequels in production--The Simpsons, and the Alien and Predator series will become part of Disney's roster.
Mass Effect Andromeda was a high-profile flop in one of EA's biggest franchises, and one that's still having ripple effects on its approach to new games like Anthem. But could it all have been avoided under different circumstances? Following an offhand comment to Game Informer that cited a crowded release window, BioWare developer Mark Darrah took to Twitter to expand his thoughts with some surprising frankness.
"I'm going to regret this in half an hour but let's talk 'did MEA get a fair shake'." He starts by acknowledging that Andromeda was a deeply flawed game, especially at launch. From there, though, he starts explaining some of the external factors that had an impact.
"The review environment was crowded," he said. "Nier, Nioh, Horizon, and Zelda all launched in MEAs window. Each does something better than MEA (again, a flawed game). As a result, even systems that are pretty decent get scrutinized against superiorly implemented ones. Does launching in a different window turn 72% into 90? Certainly not. 72 into 77/78? Maybe."
He goes on to say that word-of-mouth probably had a large impact, and this is just "the nature of the industry." Some games benefit from their release window while others suffer from a crowded one. He suggests that inversely, Dragon Age Inquisition benefited by 2014 being a "tough year" for games.
"You launch the best game you can," he concludes. "MEA has a lot of problems and got lapped by genuinely better games."
As Darrah mentioned, Andromeda earned a 72 on GameSpot sister site Metacritic, which is officially "Mixed" but significantly lower than the series had become known for. GameSpot's review scored it a 6/10, citing breathtaking new worlds but lamenting its dull characters and abundance of fetch quests. BioWare general manager Casey Hudson recently indicated the studio plans to get back to Mass Effect at some point, but right now it's mostly focused on Anthem.
Epic Games has revealed when Fortnite: Battle Royale Season 5 will start. In a post on the game's Reddit page, the company confirmed Season 5 will begin on July 12 at 1 AM PDT / 4 AM EDT / 9 AM BST / 6 PM AET. To help people unlock remaining Battle Pass rewards for Season 4, Epic is awarding double XP for matches from June 29 until July 2.
Ahead of the new season, Epic has released a new mode for Fortnite. Introduced as part of the latest update, the Playground LTM is essentially a private server for players to experiment on. It's designed for players to jump in and hone new strategies or sharpen building skills. Since access is invite only, you can do these things without being ruthlessly gunned down by enemy combatants.
The latest Fortnite update also adds Dual Pistols, map markers, part four of the Blockbuster Event, the Builder Pro controller layout, and more. You can read the full Fortnite v4.5 patch notes here for a breakdown of everything new.
Fortnite continues to be incredibly popular, and the impact of its success is now being seen through how much physical copies of the game are selling. Since disc-based versions of Fortnite are no longer available, prices of it on Ebay have skyrocketed to the $100-200 range, with a few listings going as high as $450.
The game recently launched on Nintendo Switch and has already established a strong community. This is in part helped by the fact that it supports cross-play with Xbox One, PC, and iOS. Like the other versions of Fortnite, it is only available digitally.
Quentin Tarantino's movies have always assembled impressive casts, and his latest is no exception. Once Upon a Time In Hollywood is about to start production, and the '60s-set film will star Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Al Pacino, Kurt Russell, Dakota Fanning, and James Marsden. The first image from the movie has now been revealed.
It was posted by DiCaprio on his Instagram page, and it shows him and Pitt in character as Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth. Dalton is the former star of a Western TV show whose career has fallen on hard times, while Booth is his best friend and stunt double. Check it out below:
Once Upon a Time In Hollywood is set in 1969, and Robbie is set to play actress Sharon Tate, who is Dalton's neighbour. In real life, Tate was killed by the Manson family, although it is unknown if the Manson killings will feature in the movie.
DiCaprio and Pitt have worked with Tarantino before; Pitt starred in Inglourious Basterds, while DiCaprio was in Django Unchained. This is the directors's ninth movie; in 2016 he stated that he would retire from directing after ten films, so it's possible that Once Upon a Time In Hollywood will be his penultimate film. It was recently reported that he was writing a new Star Trek film. Last month it was confirmed that there are multiple Star Trek movies in development at Paramount, but it is unknown if Tarantino's is one of these.
Once Upon a Time In Hollywood hits theaters on August 9, 2019.
E3 2018 was loaded with some fantastic games that immediately captured the attention of many. Whether it was CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077, EA's blowout of Anthem and Battlefield V content, Sony's impressive demos for Ghost of Tsushima and Spider-Man, or the reveal of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's massive roster--there was definitely a lot to take in, leaving little room to properly digest some of the more lesser-known games. We at GameSpot explored the E3 show floor and its surrounding events, playing a number of different games coming to PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
In this gallery, we've compiled a list of some of the most interesting games from E3 2018 that didn't get enough attention, many of which are releasing sooner than you think. In addition to experiencing the likes of Annapurna Interactive's Ashen and Donut County, Avalanche Studios' Generation Zero, and the recently announced Killer Queen Black for Switch at E3 convention center, we also saw many games from the Indie Mix event. At these smaller events, many indie developers, like Double Fine Entertainment and Team17, show off their upcoming games.
In many cases, all you need to stand out is a creative idea and the skillset to see it through, and these games made their presence known alongside the most talked-about games of E3 2018. While many of these games possess that familiar indie charm, they each have their own particular hook to them. Some focus on quirky adventures that have retro-inspired aesthetics and gameplay, while others go for a more somber or action-oriented experience. Here are 21 games you may have missed out on during the gaming industry's big show.
For more info on some of the most noteworthy games of E3 2018, be sure to visit GameSpot's E3 hub page for all of our content on this year's show and to see what's coming up next in gaming.
Ashen (PC, Xbox One)
After playing through From Software's Soulsborne titles, I developed an incessant itch for more video games that promise challenging combat and use a stamina system to weigh the risks of attacking or defending. Ashen is just the scratch I needed.
In Ashen, players take on the role of a faceless warrior who's looking for a home but finds death instead. Dying isn't the end, though, as this hero is resurrected each time they're killed. Good thing too, because you'll face off against some fierce enemies and challenging bosses on your journey. The second-to-last boss crushed me almost immediately on my first attempt. I got him to half health in a follow-up fight that lasted nearly 10 minutes before he killed me again.
Ashen's story is focused on forging connections, both with NPCs and other players. Plenty of NPC humans dot the snaking map, each offering opportunities to pursue either professional or personal relationships. Several of these characters come with their own fascinating questlines, too. Players can also enter others' games, but it's always to assist, not to invade. Certain areas of Ashen's world can only be reached with a companion, so jolly cooperation is vital to discovering every hidden secret. | Jordan Ramee
Arca's Path (PC, and PS4)
There is a definite gap in the market for relaxing video games. There are some, of course--Rymdkapsel, Journey, and Monument Valley are three that come to mind for me--but they're still few and far between. Arca's Path aims to change that; it's a VR-only pseudo-platformer, and the main emotion it evoked inside me was pure relaxation.
No controller is used in Arca's Path outside of your own head; you simply stare at where you want your ball to roll to, and it moves in that direction. Simple obstacles such as ramps and narrow gaps stand in your way, but they're there more for visual variety than for any meaningful challenge. A zen soundtrack and beautiful shapes and colors make this slow-paced game as soothing as it is attractive, and I look forward to playing more. No release date has yet been announced, but we know it's coming to PSVR, Oculus Rift, and Steam VR. | Oscar Dayus
Donut County (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
Donut County is a solo project from developer Ben Esposito, who worked on What Remains of Edith Finch and The Unfinished Swan. It has a different tone from some of his previous work--Donut County is full of smartly used internet humor and stars a cheeky, morally gray raccoon whose favorite app wreaks havoc on a town.
Thanks to this app, you're able to control a hole in the ground that grows as you get more to fall inside of it. You start small with grass and pebbles and work your way up to cars, buildings, and even mountains, all while solving puzzles so you can get everything in the area into the hole. Each level shows how different objects or characters ended up underground, and they're broken up by funny scenes of those characters arguing about the events in the present.
Playing as a hole sounds really silly, but in practice it's meditative and relaxing. It's essentially a game about cleaning up a bunch of garbage, at least from a gameplay standpoint, but thematically it's about consequence and becoming aware of how your actions affect other people. I played an hour of the Donut County at E3, and I can't wait to play it all the way through and see how everything comes together. | Kallie Plagge
The Endless Mission (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
Developer E-Line Media entered the public eye with Never Alone, a contemplative puzzle-platformer inspired by Alaska Native culture. The studio's latest project, however, is something radically different. The Endless Mission is a sandbox creation game that bears more similarities to Media Molecule's enigmatic Dreams than to E-Line's previous effort, and its ambitious premise makes it one of the most intriguing games we got to see at E3.
Broadly speaking, The Endless Mission allows players to mash together elements of different genres to create new experiences. For instance, players can take the avatar from a 3D platformer and insert it into a racing game, then use that avatar to race on foot against the other vehicles. What's especially neat is that combining these disparate elements will cause other aspects of the game to change accordingly, so that regardless of which elements and genres you mash up, the game will still be playable. In the aforementioned example, adding an avatar to a racing game causes boxcars to appear around the course, which players can hop between to reach the finish line.
That's only one of the possible combinations afforded by The Endless Mission. The game puts a suite of different genres, elements, and other tools at players' disposal, with even more planned for the title as development progresses. Those who are so inclined will even be able to tinker with the code, although no coding experience is necessary to make use of its tools. The Endless Mission enters Early Access on Steam this fall, with a full release planned for next year. | Kevin Knezevic
Generation Zero (PC, Xbox One)
Avalanche Studios' Generation Zero wants you to feel outmatched and equally unnerved in its large open world. Set in an isolated region in rural Sweden during the late 1980s, you find many of the residents dead or missing, and the only things left are swarms of killer robots that lurk in the dense forests and fog. In this open-world survival game set during the early period of the robopocalypse, you and your group of survivors will have to scrape together resources from buildings and fallen enemies in order to stand a chance against the machines in the area.
The many items you'll find include weapons, clothing options, support items, and even scavenged robot parts that can boost your weapons' effectiveness. You'll initially encounter small runner bots, but over time, your group will come across bigger threats lurking throughout the world--which includes giant robot walkers that stand several stories tall. While you can play solo, the developers recommended playing through the game with friends, as many of the high-end challenges look to be quite overwhelming.
Coming to PC, PS4, and Xbox One in 2019, Generation Zero seems to be an open-world survival game of a different flavor, focusing more on mystery and the errieness of its setting, which is definitely a welcome change of pace. With an atmosphere that recalls moments from Black Mirror's Metal Head episode, exploring what's left of the land will be just as challenging as trying to survive in it. | Alessandro Fillari
GTFO (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
GTFO handles a lot like Rainbow Six Siege, albeit with a horrifying twist. Each member of the squad outfits themselves with both a primary and secondary firearm, as well as a custom tool and melee weapon. Then, the elevator drops your team off at the mission location, where you can practically feel the tension in the air. It's really dark and eerily quiet, except for the occasional gurgle reminding your squad that they're not alone.
GTFO never holds your hand as you and your team desperately try to escape its monster-infested corridors. The creatures hunt by sound, so running and gunning is a terrible idea. To keep the horde off your back, you'll have to be stealthy.
You'll still die a lot, though. Both health and ammo are incredibly scarce, and mistakes are swiftly punished. The custom tools, ranging from explosive trip wires to a glue gun that can slow down enemies or plug breached doors, offer plenty of creative ways of handling the threats in front of you, but solid teamwork is ultimately the best weapon in your arsenal. Be sure to grab three friends you can trust. | Jordan Ramee
Indivisible (PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One)
The next project from the studio behind Skullgirls is shaping up to be a lovely new take on the classic Metroidvania genre. Titled Indivisible, the game follows the story of Ajna. She and her father live just outside a quiet little town, but when mysterious powers awaken within her, she must embark on a journey to discover the truth behind them.
Indivisible combines Metroid-style exploration with the combat system of cult classic RPG Valkyrie Profile. The combination sounds simple on paper, but Lab Zero Games tackles the formula with skill and finesse. Battles sport the nuance and complexity of a fighting game; each character in your party features their own unique attack and abilities, which you need to control quickly and efficiently. During my brief hands-on time with the game, it was a lot to take in. But when I got a knack for how to input and link together combos, I was instantly enamored by the possibilities.
Before I played Indivisible, I had my eyes on it mostly because of its beautiful art style. But now that I've played it, I'm very excited to jump back in to explore its world and unlock the full potential of the devastating attack chains packed into its combat system. | Matt Espineli
KIDS (Mobile, PC)
Discussion of "games as art" has become trite to the point of comedy, but clearly some games are more overtly reminiscent of other art forms than others. KIDS, from Swiss developer Playables, wears its arthouse minimalism on its sleeve.
The monochromatic palette is striking, consisting of white silhouettes with black outlines on a white background. Interactivity is relatively subtle and minimalist as well. In one vignette, touching one of the figures may make them move. In another, it could make them point their finger at another anonymous figure. It feels like KIDS would be at home in as an interactive piece in a gallery space. The simple mechanics are used to illustrate different group dynamics: following a leader, shifting blame, being part of a mob. Every vignette shown so far ends the same way: the group plunges itself, lemming-like, into a pit.
A mobile release promises a tactile feeling to manipulating the mannequins, but the point comes across well enough on PC as well. This is bound to be the sort of game that inspires debate over "games versus experiences," given its linear interactivity and lack of a fail-state. Whatever it is, KIDS invites exploration and curiosity. | Steve Watts
Killer Queen Black (Switch)
Beneath its retro-style visuals and deceptively simple premise, Killer Queen Black is an intense and fast-paced game of strategy and coordination. A remake of the Killer Queen arcade game, Black has undergone a few notable changes in its move to Switch and PC, particularly in the number of players it supports (4v4 rather than 5v5 as in the arcade), but the competitive essence of the original remains very much intact.
Each contest in Killer Queen Black pits the two teams against each other with three ways to win. You can either collect enough orbs to fill up your team's hive, eliminate the opposing team's queen three times, or ride the snail that's slowly crawling along the bottom of the arena from one end of the screen to the other to secure a victory. On paper, each of the victory conditions sounds simple enough to complete, but it's much more difficult in practice with both teams vying to achieve the same goals.
As such, success in Killer Queen Black hinges upon planning and coordination between the entire team. For example, two players can act as decoys, collecting orbs while another tries to stealthily ride the snail to victory. Alternatively, players can take a more offensive approach and focus on eliminating the opposing queen, although that leaves open the possibility the other team could fill up their hive. With both local and online multiplayer support, Killer Queen Black looks like it'll make for a hectic party game when it releases early next year. | Kevin Knezevic
Knights And Bikes (PC)
Whether played solo or co-op, Knights and Bikes puts players in the role of two pre-teen girls, Nessa and Demelza, who are adventuring across a British isle during the 1980s. The only town on the island has seen better days, but the girls don't notice until the economic downturn begins to affect Nessa's family. They'll need to be brave to save the town. They'll need bikes too.
Every aspect of this Secret of Mana-like RPG, from the gameplay to the story, is seen through the eyes of two adorable kids. Nessa splashes muddy puddles with a malicious glee, reimagining her rain boots as powerful weapons that send troublesome enemies scurrying away. Demelza attaches real value to the pieces of trash, squirming bugs, and random knick knacks she and Nessa collect, so she's very confused as to why the shopkeeper would prefer actual money when the girls try to buy a new bike.
I love how Knights and Bikes does such a phenomenal job at capturing what it's like to be a kid who's dealing with the injustices encountered while growing up. Although both Nessa and Demelza initially face their ever-more adult situation with ingenuity and wide-eyed-wonder, I immediately recognized the slow creep of reality beginning to warp their childlike innocence. It's a bittersweet part of life that all adults can remember to some extent. | Jordan Ramee
Ninjala (Switch)
Coming to Nintendo Switch, this game is going to find an audience with the same crowd that was enraptured by the colorful aesthetic of Splatoon 2. Ninjala is a goofy multiplayer-focused arena brawler where bubble gum-chewing ninjas fight it out in the streets of Tokyo with baseball bats. It's bizarre, hectic, absolutely absurd, and insanely fun.
Players choose one of eight different teenage ninjas, grab their weapon of choice, and head into the arena. Only the baseball bat was available when I played, but GungHo Online Entertainment promises a few of the other greyed-out options will be added by launch.
In the eight-person Battle Royale mode, players blow up the bubble gum they're chewing to various sizes before utilizing it to run up walls or float to the ground. Players need to reach inside the bubbles they blow to acquire their weapon. Doing so pops the bubble. The weapon's size depends on how large the bubble was before it popped. Players score points by attacking others and can earn extra points by charging up and delivering a massive knockout strike. Regardless of whether the attack connects or not, once you swing, your weapon is lost and you'll need to blow another bubble to get a replacement. To keep enemy ninjas from escaping while charging your attack, you can spit out your bubble gum to temporarily trap other players where they stand. Matches end in just a few minutes so it's easy to just jump into one more round. | Jordan Ramee
Ooblets (PC, Xbox One)
While Harvest Moon has continued ever-onward and Story of Seasons was a valiant attempt to rekindle the magic, it was Stardew Valley that really showcased the modern viability of the candy-coated farming life sim. Enter Ooblets, an adorable entry in the newly revitalized genre that blends in elements of Pokemon for good measure. It's an altogether sweet and endearing combination that will be hard to pass up.
While the loop of a farming sim is mercantile--buying seeds to sell crops to buy more seeds--Ooblets brings your plants to life as tiny companions with their own strengths and weaknesses. Other plant types make nourishment or special items for your fledgling creatures, and you can take them into battle. But this game is cute as a button in every aspect, so combat is handled through a dance competition. All of this is wrapped up in a charming art style and with cheeky writing. Ooblets is due on PC and Xbox One this year, and it's going to be a real life-eater--especially if it ever comes to Nintendo Switch. | Steve Watts
Pode (Switch)
Pode is a beautiful, soothing, adorable puzzle game about a rock helping an alien star find its way home. You can control both characters at once in single-player or play the whole game in co-op, helping the two characters interact in order to make your way through the gorgeous world.
"Pode" in Norwegian refers to the act of two plants joining together to become one; it's also a cute word used by Norwegian families when talking to or about their children. The two meanings tell you everything you need to know about this game's wholesome nature. It also contains an exquisite soundtrack from Journey and Assassin's Creed Syndicate composer Austin Wintory.
From what I played, Pode is shaping up to be a gorgeous and heartfelt experience, and I can't wait to play the full game on Nintendo Switch. | Oscar Dayus
Satisfactory (PC)
The next game from the creators of Goat Simulator is nothing like that wacky, over-the-top game. You play as an engineer who goes out into the world to find resources to create "Project Assembly," which is a machine with a "mysterious purpose." Satisfactory is a factory-building simulator presented from a first-person perspective, which is different in the building sim genre. The game bears visual similarities to No Man's Sky, but there is no procedural generation. There is just one big, big planet that is 30 square kilometers, and there is also multiplayer support and combat as well, which is new and unexpected for the building sim space. It's cool and exciting to see developers known for one thing do something completely unexpected. The game will launch with an alpha period, though no dates or details have been announced yet. | Eddie Makuch
Shadows: Awakening (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
At first glance, Shadows: Awakening can look like a traditional isometric single-player RPG, but it has some incredibly interesting gameplay dynamics that take it to the next level. You play as a demon who takes control of the souls of long-dead heroes. While you command those heroes to explore and battle in the land of the living, your demon who possesses them lives in the shadow world--you can instantly switch between the two parallel universes, something that's necessary to win certain battles, solve puzzles, and get the best loot.
Shadows: Awakening takes a lot of the fun and appeal of multiplayer online battle arena games and brings it to a single-player, story-driven RPG with real-time party combat. There are tons of characters to play, more than 120 skills with which to customize your party's abilities, and 70 locations to explore. The developers say they want to inspire adventure, encouraging players to explore both the land of the living and the shadow realm (and using the two together) to find the best loot and discover the secrets of the world they've created. It's an exciting prospect to see a party-based RPG of this scale with real-time combat, all in a single-player experience. | Patrick Faller
Strange Brigade (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
Strange Brigade is a co-op third-person shooter from Sniper Elite developer Rebellion. Set in 1930s Egypt, it has you raiding tombs and mowing down supernatural creatures--ghouls, zombies, and more gruesome monsters--using both standard-issue guns and an array of more inventive abilities. Slain enemies drop blue soul-like orbs that you collect to power your magical amulet, which can be equipped with deadly flamethrower and electricity powers. There's also numerous traps to trigger, such as spinning blades and spike pits, to aid you in your fight.
Strange Brigade lacks the polish of a AAA title, but there's something satisfying about being able to fry a dozen enemies in one go, and the game's bright, vaguely steampunky aesthetic and irreverent script help it stand out. It's coming to PS4, Xbox One, and PC on August 28, and I can't wait to see more. | Oscar Dayus
Transference (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
Transference is a new game from Lord of the Rings actor Elijah Wood's film company SpectreVision and Assassin's Creed publisher Ubisoft. A deeply unsettling game made for VR (but also playable on standard platforms), Transference tells the story of a father who uploads his consciousness and that of his wife and son to the cloud. Something goes wrong and the data gets corrupted. Things get weird from there. The game lets you play from each family member's perspective. What's most interesting is that you might start the game questioning one of the character's motivations and mindset, but when you play as the others, you begin to feel empathy for their situation. And this messes with your head in some surprising ways. Transference launches this fall for VR platforms, as well as Xbox One, PS4, and PC. | Eddie Makuch
Tunic (PC, Xbox One)
Tunic's appearance during Microsoft's Xbox press conference at E3 2018 tells you everything you need to know about this adorable adventure game. In a beautiful isometric world that evokes the best of The Legend of Zelda, you control a courageous fox on a grand adventure.
I was immediately drawn in by Tunic's astoundingly cute art style and graphics, not to mention its nostalgia-inducing soundtrack. But after playing it, I feel confident that it's going to deliver on the gameplay front as well. Tunic feels like classic Zelda, with a touch of things more modern, like the maneuverability of Hyper Light Drifter and the playfulness of Fez. Just look at the cryptic, unreadable text in the E3 trailer--whatever language that is, it's present within the game as well, and it makes actions as simple as picking up a sword feel fun and mysterious.
In development by Andrew Shouldice and presented by Finji, Tunic is set for an exclusive release on Xbox One and Windows PC. And it's one I can't wait to check out again. | Mike Rougeau
What The Golf? (PC)
Right from the beginning, you discover that What The Golf? isn't really about playing golf. In the opening level, where you line up a putt on the green, the character--not the ball--is immediately flung from their shooting position towards the goal. You move onto the next stage right after. Referred to as an "anti-golf game for people who hate golf" by its developers, What The Golf? is a bizarre yet oddly endearing take on the idea of golf, but heavily recontextualized throughout stages that take a very loose and sometimes very literal approach to what golfing is.
What The Golf? is, as strange as this sounds, a puzzle-golf game designed through the whimsical and stylized lense of Katamari Damacy. Whether driving a golf club down the fairway, guiding a soccer ball past a group of rowdy kids, or even relocating an entire house to another space, your goal is to simply get the object to the goal post. In stranger cases, you're controlling a mound of dirt and transporting it into a large hole in the shape of the number one--a literal hole in one--or controlling a character in a platforming game. And just when you think it couldn't get any weirder, it tosses in stages parodying other games like Super Mario Bros., Portal, and even Superhot--complete with time-bending gunplay.
Playing What The Golf? had me repeatedly scratching my head, but always in a good way. The stranger it got, the more I respected how far it went with its weirdness. Expected to release later this year on PC, this quirky and always bizarre puzzle-golfing game never ceased to surprise me with just how far off the deep end it went. | Alessandro Fillari
Where Cards Fall (Mobile, PC)
Where Cards Fall is an isometric puzzler that takes its title both figuratively and literally. The game ostensibly revolves around manipulating and resizing stacks of cards to create platforms that can be traversed, but beneath the surface, it tells the coming-of-age story of a high schooler coping with the pressures and uncertainty of adolescence.
While the aforementioned cards are primarily used to navigate through the game's levels, they aren't simply a means of solving puzzles; they also form the buildings that in-game characters live in. Splay a stack out long enough and it'll pop up into a house that you can enter. We only got a glimpse of this in our brief hands-on time with the game, but it's a novel concept that is expanded upon as players create different types of buildings and interact with their occupants.
The underlying gameplay in Where Cards Fall is also clever and satisfying. It begins simply enough, tasking you with moving a stack and expanding it until it's large enough to allow you to cross a gap, but it quickly introduces additional stacks that you must expand, jump on, and rearrange as you work your way through a level. Where Cards Fall doesn't yet have a release date, but the game is coming to iOS devices, PC via Steam, and Apple TV. | Kevin Knezevic
World War Z (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
Licensed video games might not be as popular or as prevalent as they once were, but Saber Interactive's zombie game based on the Brad Pitt movie World War Z looks promising. The four-player co-op game is set in the universe of the film but does not follow the film's story. Instead, it tells an entirely new narrative featuring four survivors who must band together to survive waves of zombies in a variety of environments, including the New York City train line and lush jungles. I played a 20-minute demo of one of the chapters and found the shooting tight and responsive. Additionally, the brutal melee attacks--I had a firefighter's axe--are a good way to clear out zombies when you get surrounded. And it feels satisfying. World War Z is due out in early 2019 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. | Eddie Makuch
Though the year in gaming in 2007 was a tough act to follow, we all still have fond gaming memories from 2008. It was packed with a wealth of high-profile sequels to some of the biggest franchises, including Grand Theft Auto, Fallout, and Metal Gear Solid. In addition, there were notable debuts from unexpected gems, like the EA-produced big-budget survival game Dead Space and indie darling Braid, which each proved influential in a variety of ways. Many of the games in 2008 continued to push the boundaries of gaming, offering experiences that were substantial and memorable in their own right.
The GameSpot staff is taking a personal look back at some of the more notable games of 2008, and the impact they've had in the ten years since their respective releases. While some of these games became the stepping-stones for something greater--and others have since fallen into obscurity--the impression they left on us is undeniable, and are worth recognition for their tenth anniversary.
Here's a selection of games--in order of their respective releases--that made 2008 a year to remember for us. And if you want to see the biggest games that turned 10 last year, be sure to check out our feature covering the biggest games that turned 10 in 2007.
Burnout Paradise (January 22, 2008)
Vehicular free-roaming games had existed long before 2008, but none had so eloquently blended urban racing with automotive slaughter like Burnout Paradise. In a time when quest-loaded open-world adventures on consoles were about to hit their stride, Burnout Paradise was a rare 40-hour non-RPG that warranted the time and attention of completionists like myself.
Today's racing market--dominated by Need for Speed, Forza, and Codemasters games--skew toward realistic car performance regardless if you prefer arcade or sim controls. Upon firing up Burnout Paradise today, I'm reminded of how its car handling has more in common with Sega arcade games of yore than with more recent racers--titles that are tied to their respective franchise goals of realism and authenticity. Burnout Paradise never had to worry about that, especially when your audience expects quarter-mile-long leaps over cliffs and destructive car chases that can stretch halfway around its 26 square-mile map.
The game's density of goals ensures that the moment you tick off a mission box, you're just blocks away from starting another. The next quest might even come to you, whether a high-value target happens to drive by or someone challenges you to an online match. And the fact that the online servers are still up--rare for a 10-year-old racing game--is a testament to its following and resiliency. Much larger drivable worlds have sprouted up in the last ten years, but none have managed to replicate the happy and balanced marriage of speed and ruination quite like Burnout Paradise, much to the dismay of fans who long for a successor. -- Miguel Concepcion
No More Heroes (JPN December 6 2007; US January 22, 2008)
Killer7 on GameCube was the beginning of a continued fascination with the Goichi Suda (Suda 51) for me, but No More Heroes was the game that sparked that interest and set it aflame. It struck at a high point for Wii software; Super Mario Galaxy and Metroid Prime 3 were still fresh in our minds. But No More Heroes stood out because of how abrasively different and boisterous it was, at least on the surface level.
Protagonist Travis Touchdown had a raucously ambivalent attitude and an unhealthy obsession with anime girls, and he set out on adventures that were entirely self-serving, involving copious amounts of slaughter and blood. Suda and Grasshopper Manufacture seemed like they were purposefully going out of their way to be lewd on a characteristically family-friendly console. You had to take a dump on the toilet to save your game. You needed to shake your controller vigorously, and suggestively, to charge your beam katana. Double entendres and bad words were doled out like free candy.
It was easy to see all that and dismiss No More Heroes as straight-up crass. And though its combat and the open world had some great ideas, they were admittedly repetitive and bland in the long run, which might not have helped its broader perception. But once you looked just past the facade, there was something extraordinary about No More Heroes. The game's attitude housed unique twists that satirised and denounced conventional storytelling structures, and the whole nature of video games and geek culture in general. At the time, I found it completely fascinating.
Ten years later, there's a laundry list of things that don't fly as well. And though No More Heroes 2 was great, the rest of Grasshopper's output has mostly missed the mark, especially as our culture and video games have developed. But No More Heroes is still a defining moment for games in my eyes, so I'm hoping that the return of No More Heroes for Switch, Travis Strikes Back, will use its intriguing game-within-a-game setting to positively revitalize its satirical spirit. -- Edmond Tran
Rez HD (January 30, 2008)
When Rez debuted on Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade as Rez HD, I was vaguely aware of it--the Dreamcast version never launched in the US, but reading about the Trance Vibrator accessory as a young teen ensured I'd never completely forget the game it accompanied. Early 2008 was still a time where any new XBLA release was an obligatory purchase, and so I somewhat blindly picked up what would go on to become one of my all-time favorite games.
My immediate impressions were underwhelming--sure, it had an interesting look and some stellar music, but the basic gameplay conceit of highlighting enemies and launching attacks seemed exceedingly simple. As the minutes went by, I cranked up the volume higher and higher and noticed how the music was morphing based on how I was playing. Stats presented at the end of a stage detailing the percentage of enemies or power-ups I was able to collect tapped into my competitive side. By Area 4--home to one of the greatest songs in any video game--the level of intensity and synesthesia-esque sensation provided one of the truly memorable experiences I've ever had with a game.
The ensuing spiritual successor, Child of Eden, offered this to some extent, but it couldn't totally recreate what made Rez special. I found myself returning to Rez HD even years later, believing it to be too niche to ever receive any remaster treatment. Cut to almost a decade later, and Rez Infinite shows up to leverage not only modern graphical technology, but also add a VR mode (which justified a PSVR for me) and a new stage (Area X) that provided a greater level of freedom. Now, a full decade-plus later, I still routinely take the game for a spin, and although I dispatch many of its enemies through sheer memorization, it remains quite unlike anything else. -- Chris Pereira
Devil May Cry 4 (February 5, 2008)
Capcom's popular Devil May Cry series is in a class of its own when it comes to delivering fast-paced action and thrills. As an admirer of the series since the first, I've always had a soft spot for the devil-hunting mercenary Dante and his crazy antics. As the Street Fighter of the action genre, DMC is a spectacle to behold in the hands of a skilled player. And while I was never one of those players who was able to juggle multiple enemies at once and execute style switches in rapid fashion, I still found enjoyment from watching other players make magic happen. The DMC community found a lot to love in Devil May Cry 4, and watching what the top players posted online was just as fun as playing the game itself.
When Devil May Cry 4 was announced, Capcom showed brief footage of the game's new main character, Nero, a younger and more gung-ho brawler with a demonic arm that could yank enemies from afar. While I wasn't so keen on this new guy at first, I grew to love his style after getting my hands on him, and he ended up complementing Dante's class-based mechanics. While the community, and its connectedness, came into its own with the fourth game, this particular title was also a bit of a letdown compared to the prequel DMC3. The game featured far more backtracking, and less overall content compared to previous games, which made it the most repetitive of the series. Having said that, DMC4's combat mechanics are incredibly responsive and refined, offering the best action of the series.
Not long after, the community went into meltdown when Ninja Theory's DmC: Devil May Cry reboot was announced--and despite the odds, it ended up being one of the strongest games of the series. Still, the fans kept DMC4 alive and well over the last ten years, and even showed the same enthusiasm for the recent Special Edition release. I'd often revisit the game over the years, and while its blemishes are still noticeable, I can't help but smile at all the cheesy bits and pump my fist when I pull off a slick combo. It's been a while since OG Dante's last outing, and with the rumors of DMC5 happening, now seems like a good time for the devil-hunter and his protege Nero to move on and experience something new. -- Alessandro Fillari
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (JPN January 31, 2008/US March 9, 2008)
Since the debut of Super Smash Bros. on the Nintendo 64, I've become hooked on the franchise. Smash Bros. Melee was my favorite game in the series--and one took over my college life. My friends and I would play the game for hours on end, even skipping classes, just so we could get another match in. When Smash Bros. Brawl was first announced for Wii, I knew I was going to pick it up. As the roster was being revealed, I became more and more excited to get my hands on it. This was going to be the largest Smash roster to date with 35 characters, and the idea of playing as Snake, Sonic, Wolf, or even the Pokemon Trainer had me giddy with excitement.
Once the game came out, however, my reaction wasn't quite as positive towards the changes made. The characters felt a bit "floatier" and as such didn't feel as fluid as Melee did. The game also introduced a tripping mechanic that I felt took away the competitive feel that Melee had established. As time went on, I did change my tune as I grew to enjoy the game more for what it was. While the new mechanics weren't necessarily to my liking, the game at its core was still undeniably fun, and I've come to appreciate the game for its distinct style and charm. -- Gajan Kulasingham
Valkyria Chronicles (April 24, 2008)
Console tactical strategy games, specifically those with settings grounded in reality, have a special place in my heart. The same could also be said of that part of the mid-'00s Sega that was killing it with new franchises: Yakuza, Bayonetta, and Valkyria.
Valkyria Chronicles, the brainchild of the directors behind the Sakura Wars tactics series and the celebrated RPG Skies of Arcadia, remains a beautiful debut. Its seemingly timeless art style, a superb execution of cel-shaded polygons to evoke pencil-drawings and watercolors, is still gorgeous. The setting, a somber, anime-influenced take on Europe during the early stages of World War II, still feels distinct. It tells a sincere story with relatable characters about citizens forced into war to protect their homeland. And its strategic combat system, which mixes top-down, turn-based strategy with third-person, real-time action, is still unique, robust, and satisfying to use.
Its sequels, while competent, never quite lived up to the original for me. The PSP failed to capture the beauty of the visuals, the strategy system felt like it was getting unnecessarily complex, and the stories they told started to get too ambitious and unrelatable for me. Every time I played a new Valkyria Chronicles game, I would inevitably hit a point where I would go back and start another run of the original.
Valkyria Chronicles was remastered for PS4 and PC recently, and it's very much a game that has held up after ten years. It's the only game worth playing or revisiting in anticipation for Valkyria Chronicles 4, due for release in 2018. The upcoming sequel is set in the same timeframe as the original game, so here's hoping Sega remembers what made the first game so special. -- Edmond Tran
Grand Theft Auto IV (April 29, 2008)
Playing the Grand Theft Auto series felt something like a rite of passage back in my day. When GTA III first came out in 2001, I was a freshman in high school, and this game captured the interest of my fellow students. It was the game that every kid played, even when their parents told them not to. I'd eventually plow through GTA III, savor the '80s bliss of Vice City, and stew in the expansiveness of San Andreas--just enjoying the many ways to explore and cause chaos. When Grand Theft Auto IV came around, it was not only the first game on new hardware--showing off new visuals and more convincing storytelling--it was also the first GTA game I played as an adult.
While the previous three games and PSP spin-offs featured a connected story, IV started from scratch. Set in a newly designed Liberty City, it ended up feeling like a reboot for the series. Taking on the role of an eastern-European immigrant named Niko Bellic, the game told a surprisingly subdued and somewhat understated story about an outsider trying to fit in. One of the great strengths of the series is its strong focus on satire, more specifically its critique of American consumerism, greed, and lust for violence. While I caught some of the references and humor in the previous games when I was younger, I'm not ashamed to admit that many of the other critiques flew over my head. While the satire can sometimes have the subtlety of a sledgehammer, many of its jabs at American culture were successful at hitting its mark.
Over the course of the game, GTA IV would grow a bit crazier with its escalating story, but it never quite reached the full-blown absurdity of its predecessors. And you know what? That's OK. If anything, the new approach to storytelling made for far more convincing and impactful sequences, which include the infamous bank heist mission, Three Leaf Clover. While GTA IV didn't have as much to do as its predecessors, it did possess a number of ideas forward looking ideas, such as additional playable characters in the following DLC campaigns, a fairly developed online mode, and a mobile phone that yielded opportunities for side-events. All of which would set the stage for what would be core mechanics in GTA V. Still, I have some fond memories of exploring Liberty City. And I wonder to this day if Niko Bellic is still alive and well in the GTA's world. -- Alessandro Fillari
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots (June 12, 2008)
I never swore at a game as often I as did with Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. All the swearing was positive, though; every time there was a callback to a previous Metal Gear game, I couldn't help but react with an ear-to-ear grin, an expletive, a fist pump, or some combination of the three. My eyes grew when I saw the Hind-D wreckage, a callback to the first Metal Gear Solid that was all the more poignant since you never saw the ship crash in the original game.
The worst and best thing about MGS4 is how it cannot be appreciated on its own. Its variety of finely tuned combat mechanics and its dark theme on the proliferation of paramilitary companies are overshadowed by the abundance of exposition to serve and please its long-term fans. To a newcomer who has no context, hearing Big Mama utter, "That's my boy!" to Old Snake sounds like simple encouragement. To a fan, that line is loaded with 50 years' worth of lore, suddenly connecting two characters who never appeared in a game together prior to MGS4. I get a lump in my throat every time I hear it.
MGS4 also exists to tie every major loose end Hideo Kojima unleashed since the original Metal Gear. Resolutions ranged from forced to graceful to inexplicable and many of us fans ate it up, even if we blamed plot issues on nanomachines. In a market where franchises like Halo and Gears of War can potentially outlive its fanfare and leave unresolved narrative threads, it was unreal how many storylines MGS4 resolved. Metal Gear Solid 4 is fan service in its purest form, the likes of which we might never see again. -- Miguel Concepcion
Battlefield: Bad Company (June 23, 2008)
It was a decade ago, but I remember playing the Battlefield: Bad Company beta back in early 2008. I didn't have much experience with previous games in the franchise, as they were focused around PC and I was primarily a console gamer. Right away, from the first match I got into, I remember the multiplayer taking my breath away and showing me something I'd never seen before. Using the power of the Frostbite engine, basically everything in the world could collapse and disintegrate, in turn opening up the battlefield in new and exciting ways. No longer could someone camp in a hideout and live to tell the tale. Just blast them away. Seeing a building collapse and crumble completely changes the way you think in a multiplayer shooter. No area is safe. Danger lurks at every turn. Watching the battlefield change around you as a match progresses afforded a level of dynamism that I hadn't experienced before.
When the game was officially released, however, it was the campaign that really made Battlefield: Bad Company stand out--and it remains one of my favorite Battlefield games to this day. It was the first title in the series to feature a real campaign, and its characters were some of the more memorable and dynamic ones I can remember in a military FPS. The story was praised for its humour, which was a refreshing change of pace from military games that came before it. A sequel was released in 2010, and it was similarly excellent. While I do also enjoy the mainline Battlefield series and logged many hours on Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 1 (sorry, Battlefield Hardline), I think the time is right for the Bad Company sub-brand to return. The newest rumour is that 2018's Battlefield is Bad Company 3, and I could not be more excited. -- Eddie Makuch
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 (July 10, 2008)
When Persona 4 first released, it didn't get much recognition. Sure, it had its hardcore fans, but this JRPG released on the outdated PS2 was overlooked. Only in the years following its release was Persona 4 recognized as one of the greatest RPGs on the PS2, if not of all time.
A unique element to Persona is its balance of participating in everyday life while simultaneously dealing with supernatural elements that make up its more traditional RPG gameplay. Participating in every day of a full calendar year lets you experience the daily life of a Japanese high schooler and get an intimate familiarity with the characters. The game focuses heavily on your party member's personal struggles, mirroring what many teenagers go through. Back in 2008, I was the exact same age as the main character, and I was able to see many of my own insecurities represented in the game. In a medium where power fantasies and fantastical heroes are the norm, to see a group of characters go through the same anxiety I had right then created an attachment that no game has ever been able to match.
In the decade since its release, Persona 4 has gotten the recognition it deserved with numerous spin-offs and an enhanced remaster for the PS Vita, which would be my recommended version to play. Its sequel, Persona 5, has made vast improvements to the series formula and a cast of characters that stand on their own. But as great as that game is, it's still no Persona 4 for me. The circumstances in which I played Persona 4 will never be recreated. It was there in a time when I needed it, and that's why it's one of my favorite games of all time. -- Jean-Luc Seipke
Braid (August 6, 2008)
Jonathan Blow busted onto the scene as a prominent independent game developer when Braid released in 2008, and for good reason. It was one of the early hits that thrusted indie games into the mainstream via Xbox Live Arcade, but Braid turned out to be much more than that for those who connected with the game's themes and gameplay. Braid plays like a 2D side-scrolling platformer but mixes in the ability to reverse time that affects objects and enemies in clever ways. In your effort to piece together protagonist Tim's past and search for a mysterious princess, you rack your brain to solve the numerous puzzles and execute perfectly timed jumps onto platforms and atop enemies. If you happen to fall to your death, just reverse time and try again in a matter of seconds.
As you progress through Braid, the layers of lessons learned along the way stack, and you're constantly challenged to use what you know in new ways. Keys tucked away in hard-to-reach ledges unlock doors to make it through levels, but the collectable puzzle pieces paint the picture of a man who lost control of his personal and professional life. The sparse, yet affecting story is arguably one of Braid's strongest aspects.
Storytelling in independent games was still in a sort of infancy in 2008, but Braid set an example for how smaller games can tell bigger stories. The overarching plot is open to interpretations, even with the extensive post-game texts, but in its final moments, Braid subverts expectations to leave a lasting impact. What starts out lighthearted becomes increasingly foreboding as to earn the final twist and completely flip your interpretation of who you thought Tim and the princess were. A beautiful soundtrack that borrows elements of traditional Celtic folk music to drive home the heartfelt journey further supports Braid's tale. -- Michael Higham
Too Human (August 19, 2008)
Too Human isn't necessarily something worth going back to, and it also wasn't exactly praised as a worthwhile game when it released in 2008. It turned out to be a fairly middling third-person action RPG, and in the words of GameSpot reviewer Kevin VanOrd, "It will lift you up only to continually let you down." Too Human tells the story of Norse mythology in a dystopian sci-fi setting, but its threads are wholly incomplete. Regardless, the systems made for fun combat scenarios, and co-op highlighted those moments. So, why is Too Human worth mentioning? Developer Silicon Knights and Epic Games (makers of Unreal Engine) went into one of the more wild legal disputes in modern gaming history.
Silicon Knights first sued Epic for "failure to provide a working game engine" in July 2007. However, Epic struck back with a counter-suit a month later claiming that both parties were fully aware that features of the engine were still in development and that Silicon Knights violated the license agreement by modifying the engine and sharing technology with Sega. It wouldn't be until five years after Too Human's release that the case would be resolved; In 2012, Epic won the suit on grounds that Silicon Knights committed "copyright infringement, misappropriation of trade secrets, and breach of contract." As a result, Silicon Knights was ordered to destroy all its tech and code that was derived from Unreal Engine 3 and give Epic access to company devices to make sure this happened. This meant that any unsold copies of Too Human (and other titles using UE3 tech) had to be destroyed as well.
The studio went defunct after filing bankruptcy two years later. Luckily, if you really wanted to play this lacking action RPG, used copies are out there for cheap despite the obliteration of copies and its code. It may have been more or less erased from the games market, but the circumstances in which Too Human existed is a story that left a more lasting impression than the game itself. -- Michael Higham
Dead Space (October 20, 2008)
The first Dead Space was a bold and unexpected move from publisher Electronic Arts, which was not typically known to dabble in survival-horror games. When I first watched footage of the game on GameSpot back in 2008, it seemed like an Alien-inspired Resident Evil 4 clone, but as I watched further, I was quickly enthralled by its chilling atmosphere, sleek UI, and inventive combat mechanics. As an avid fan of survival-horror games, I knew I had to play it; but after spending all the money I had on Metal Gear Solid 4 and a DualShock 3 controller that year, I was flat-out broke. Luckily, my brother's friend had a copy I could borrow.
I have fond memories of my first playthrough of Dead Space; its setting and atmosphere affected me in ways I find hard to forget. I often remember how frigid the USG Ishimura seemed, which felt amplified by the chilly weather outside during the time of year I was playing. A cold sweat covered my hands as I tightly gripped my controller, anticipating how I'd strategically dismember the next necromorph waiting to ambush me. I even recall consciously avoiding playing the game at night; the darkness I'd glimpse through my room's shutter blinds seemed like endless black voids, which made my trek through hallways into the unknown feel all the more haunting.
Dead Space was a terrifying survival-horror game like no other in 2008. To this day, the game remains one of my all-time favorites in the genre. While its sequels don't quite live up to its brilliance, don't let that deter you from jumping into this one. It's well worth it for the gruesome frights and action-packed dismemberment. -- Matt Espineli
Far Cry 2 (October 21, 2008)
Today, the Far Cry series revels in allowing its players to explore exotic open worlds in over-the-top fashion--oftentimes with hilarious results. However, there was one game that did something a bit different, telling a story that was tonally unlike the original PC game and its console oriented spin-offs featuring a super-powered Jack Carver. As the first sequel, and also first true open-world game of the series, Far Cry 2 gave off a sense of weight that's still left an impression on me. Focusing on the exploits of a foreign mercenary in the African wilderness, you're quickly caught up in a brutal faction war while on the hunt for an infamous arms dealer named The Jackal--who actively sows the seeds of chaos in the isolated country. Oh yeah, and the main character is slowly dying from malaria.
Instead of the B-movie schlockly tone of its predecessor, Far Cry 2's story focused on the hardships of a country caught in a civil-war, offering some of the most harrowing and even nihilistic moments of the series. FC2 would go on to set standard for open-world action in a the series, such as invading enemy bases and taking on missions with your AI buddy character in tow, and it did it in a way that expressed a level of earnestness that the series hasn't seen since. The sequel also added in a stark difficulty spike due to its focus on realism that made the previous games feel like they were on training wheels. In a lot of cases, I was gunned down after forgetting that weapons often jam, and that enemies are far more cunning than in the average FPS.
To say that Far Cry 2 sticks out from the rest of the series would be an understatement. Its silent main character has to deal with the reality of existing in a space where the political conflict forces civilians into the crossfire, with many of the most important characters--the ones that can actually stop it all--weighing the cost of their lives over a pile of conflict diamonds. I'd often wonder if I was making this place worse by trying to carry out my own mission, like I was the lever for an ever-turning meat-grinder. At the time of playing this game, I was still in college, and one of my classes brought up the subject of the systemic disruption of Central and Northern Africa's society from outside influences. It didn't take long for me to understand where Far Cry 2 was coming from after its bleak conclusion. And that's really something I haven't really felt from another game since. -- Alessandro Fillari
Fallout 3 (October 28, 2008)
Having a video game, movie, or book set in your city is not uncommon, but when you're presented with a post-apocalyptic version of a town you know, the imagery takes on new weight. As a kid growing up in Maryland, I had innumerable school field trips and other excursions into DC, so seeing a bombed-out version of the US capitol immediately grabbed my attention. Museums I had visited, streets I had walked, buildings where my own father had worked--these were shown in a post-war light that rendered them both familiar and unrecognizable.
A setting can only get you so far, and that's where Fallout 3's incredibly engaging story and mechanics come into play. An RPG providing you with guns and improvised weapons is nothing new, but the brutality here makes them feel that much more powerful. Mad Max was clearly an influence on Fallout 3, and it shows in the combat and the amateurly constructed weapons you take into battle. It was definitely one of the goriest games of '08--and your view of the blood splatter got almost too close for comfort thanks to the game's VATS system.
Outside of combat, your actions and dialogue choices could completely change the course of the story. These branching paths weren't new--BioWare had already done it a few times--but choosing a side is a theme that carried forward into both New Vegas and Fallout 4, growing in scope each time. The open-endedness of quests also blew my high-school mind. On a second or third playthrough, I stumbled into Raven Rock hours before the story had intended me to, effectively cutting the main quests in half. You wouldn't know any better if it were to happen on your first experience, but having been through the game before, I was amazed that it allowed for such exploration. To this day, exploring every interesting-looking corner of the map is a habit I happily cannot break. -- Tony Wilson
Call of Duty: World At War (November 11, 2008)
Call of Duty: World at War is my favorite COD game. It's almost certainly not the best--its campaign could not match the thrills of its predecessor, Modern Warfare, and its multiplayer was a little unbalanced--but it's my favorite, because it brought so many of my friends together.
I was still in school in 2008, and a large portion of my friends group had bought PS3s and Xbox 360s, so I frequently had a dozen or so friends online at the same time, all playing the latest Call of Duty. Luckily, World at War was also the first in the series to include Nazi Zombies--the perfect, ridiculous mode for a group of teenage boys to bond.
We bought all the map packs, played every night, and had an amazing time doing so. As Call of Duty got bigger and we got older, people started dropping off, foregoing Black Ops or Modern Warfare 2 in favor of, I don't know, alcohol or something. Despite this, World at War will forever be cemented in my memory as a magical time in my life, where socializing was frequent and easy, and included pack-a-punched weapons and exploding zombie heads. Doesn't it just bring a tear to your eye? -- Oscar Dayus
Mirror's Edge (November 11, 2008)
The original Mirror's Edge was a critical hit when it landed in 2008, but sadly, its striking presentation and unique gameplay didn't translate to commercial success. Nevertheless, soaring stories above city streets from one alabaster rooftop to the next was a thrill no other game could match, and for many of us, our memories of Mirror's Edge feel just as fresh today as the day we made them; neither time nor an open-world sequel could make us forget the first time we took a leap of Faith.
I came to Mirror's Edge during my first year covering games, back when I was an assistant video producer. I had the simple job of capturing gameplay video of EA's experimental parkour game, but what began as a routine capture session grew into a short-term obsession, and a long-term appreciation for Mirror's Edge's unique accomplishments. Far more for my own satisfaction than my manager's, I couldn't rest until I'd perfected the few levels I set out to capture. Run after run, I continued to identify and fix flaws in my approach, and take advantage of new opportunities that revealed themselves to my ever-more trained eye. I was already impressed by the first-person platforming and the clever ways one high-flying maneuver connected to the other, but after coming to grips with how Mirror's Edge worked, I was able to define my own approach to virtual parkour, and appreciate it on an entirely different level.
I look back on Mirror's Edge as a game that was far ahead of its time, but one that came at the right time for me. Whether or not the sequel from a couple of years ago proves that the concept was nothing more than a one-hit wonder, I'm okay if EA puts the series to bed indefinitely. I don't need a new Mirror's Edge, I only need the Mirror's Edge that struck a chord with me, the unsuspecting player, ten long years ago. -- Peter Brown
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King (November 13, 2008)
It had been four years since I was introduced to the world of Azeroth, and Blizzard's MMO wasn't showing signs of slowing down, especially after the release of its first expansion, The Burning Crusade. Even after defeating Illidan Stormrage, I was definitely not prepared for what was around the corner with the game's next expansion, Wrath of The Lich King, which gave me and everyone else a shot at Arthas still sitting high atop his frozen throne.
Once I managed to wait through the server queue and the crashes, I was finally ready to take my Night Elf Rogue, Philanthropy, and board the boat from Stormwind to the Borean Tundra. I didn't realize it at the time, but more was changing than just the expansion for me. I ended up transferring servers later that week.
This expansion ended up being one of the more interesting times in my Warcrafting career. The biggest changes were leaving my guild of 300+ active members (we had two 40- raids back in vanilla; it was nuts), transferring to a different server, and undergoing a faction change/realizing my full potential and becoming the world's edgiest Undead Rogue. It was a whole new experience that showed me a side of World of Warcraft I didn't know existed. Even with all the changes I still had a great time clearing through dungeon and raid content with the new friends I'd made.
I still look fondly back on late-night runs of Naxxramas, defeating the Old God Yogg-Saron in Ulduar, and eventually getting taken out by the Lich King and watching Tirion Fordring steal our kill. It's these memories and many more that make me realize just how great Wrath of the Lich King really was. It was the height of the game's popularity for a reason. -- Ben Janca
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (November 16, 2008)
Many remember Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe as the game that toned down the series' iconic violence, but when it launched in 2008, it gave the series its groove back. Sure, fatalities and over-the-top gore are an integral part of the Mortal Kombat formula, but this was the first time in years where I felt like I was playing a classic Mortal Kombat. It was still on a 3D plane, but for the most part, it felt like those first three games. As a Scorpion player, I was ecstatic to see the return of back, back, low punch (only '90s kids will remember this). Additionally, seeing some of my favorite superheroes stand in for some of my favorite Mortal Kombat characters was an absolute treat--Batman used his smoke bombs and disappearing act as if he was Smoke, while The Flash tripped up his opponents with his Kabal-like speed.
In addition to the excellent fighting gameplay, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe was the first to feature NetherRealm's trademark story template. For those who aren't familiar, it's basically a movie in which you take part in a couple dozen fights with gameplay and cutscenes transitioning seamlessly between each other. It kicked off a period in which NetherRealm not only made my favorite fighting games, but also some of my favorite single-player experiences. On top of that, it's used the story template in every one of its games since and has even pushed other fighting game developers to follow suit with cinematic story modes now being featured in games like Street Fighter V, Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite, and Tekken 7.
The Mortal Kombat series may not have regained all of its footing until 2011's simply titled Mortal Kombat, but it was Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe that planted the seeds for that comeback. And despite NetherRealm putting out four arguably better fighting games since then, I'll still go back from time to time to play a few matches and remind myself of how it all started. -- Mat Paget
Focusing on the trials of four unique protagonists--a biker, a vietnam veteran, a college student, and a retail salesman--the group would travel through several zombie-infested cities that offered randomized encounters thanks to the game's AI director. While players came in expecting a fun co-op zombie-shooter, my friends and I ended up getting an intense online bonding experience. Playing through Left 4 Dead's stages, which switched up set-pieces depending on your performance, resulted in us watching everyone's back closely to ensure we were in good shape. Because if it wasn't the AI zombie horde that got us, it'd be the cunning special monsters controlled by enemy players, such as The Smoker, a hacking and wheezing undead, who'd tangle survivors with its tongue and drag them into a dark alley to be swarmed by other zombies.
By far, the most iconic level of the series is No Mercy. This first stage was the most pure and representative of what people can expect from the game. Starting out on the roof of an apartment building, you'd slowly work your way down through its many rooms to the streets below. Your only hope for survival is a helicopter located on the rooftop of a nearby hospital. Making it there alive would be an exercise in teamwork and patience, while also keeping a quick finger on the trigger. For me, Left 4 Dead wasn't really about the action in a zombie shooter.
Rather, it was a more affecting and tense experience to see if you could work well with others under pressure--something I still admire about the game to this day. -- Alessandro Fillari
The main antagonist during the first season of Legends of Tomorrow is a major dud. Savage is the type of mustache-twirling villain who isn't threatening, let alone scary. Thankfully, the show has yet to revisit him.
Image: The CW
99. Rip Hunter
First appearance: Legends of Tomorrow (Season 1, Episode 1)
After leading the Legends in Season 1, Rip's character took a strange turn thanks to brainwashing by the Legion of Doom in Season 2. While it was a refreshing change, evil Rip was short lived.
Image: The CW
98. The Calculator
First appearance: Arrow (Season 4, Episode 12)
While The Calculator is a world-renowned cyber-criminal, Arrow fans only briefly saw that side of the character. After all, nobody wants to hate Felicity's dad.
Image: The CW
97. Constantine Drakon
First appearance: Arrow (Season 1, Episode 1)
Prior to being the Green Arrow, Oliver was The Hood. In the Arrow pilot, The Hood comes face-to-face with a corrupt CEO's head of security named Constantine. He may only appear once, but he's still officially Oliver's first villain.
Image: The CW
96. Captain Boomerang
First appearance: Arrow (Season 3, Episode 7)
The Captain is a former member of the Suicide Squad and deadly with a boomerang. While he might be able to outsmart Oliver in some of their Season 3 encounters, he ends up in the shadow of most other villains in the Arrowverse.
Image: The CW
95. Atom Smasher
First appearance: The Flash (Season 2, Episode 1)
Atom-Smasher was one of the many metahuman enemies Team Flash has come up against and is definitely the least interesting of the bunch. It's easy to see why when all he really does is grow bigger and smash things.
Image: The CW
94. Solovar
First appearance: The Flash (Season 3, Episode 13)
While this giant albino gorilla -- and leader of Gorilla -- is impressive, he's too little too late to the party. Thanks to Grodd, The Flash fans already have plenty of experience with huge ape villains.
Image: The CW
93. Cooper Seldon
First appearance: Arrow (Season 3, Episode 5)
How did Felicity's ex-boyfriend from her goth phase make the list? After hacking his way into trouble in Star City, he ends up joining forces with Damien Darhk. All told, though, he's near the bottom of the list when it comes to Darhk's henchmen.
Image: The CW
92. Baron Reiter
First appearance: Arrow (Season 4, Episode 2)
Beron Reiter is responsible for a lot of Oliver's misfortune on Lian Yu in the Season 4 flashbacks. He's pretty forgettable, though, given how that season is regarded as one of the show's worst.
Image: The CW
91. Abra Kadabra
First appearance: The Flash (Season 3, Episode 18)
Abra Kadabra has amazing potential as a baddie on The Flash. He's a time traveler from another dimension and has powers that heavily resemble magic. Unfortunately, he also looks and acts like a cheesy Las Vegas magician, which doesn't help him.
Image: The CW
90. The Mist
First appearance: The Flash (Season 1, Episode 3)
This meta-human can turn himself into a poisonous gas, which should be useful in killing superheroes. Unfortunately, he is wasted as one of far too many villains-of-the-week in the first season of The Flash.
Image: The CW
89. Cyrus Gold
First appearance: Arrow (Season 2, Episode 7)
The biggest misstep with Cyrus is his name. In the comics, Cyrus Gold is widely known as Solomon Grundy--the reanimated villain with superhuman strength. Unfortunately, Arrow never takes him that far. Instead, he's a test subject of Brother Blood's. While he does gain some strength, it's not enough to become the iconic character comic fans know.
Image: The CW
88. Everyman
First appearance: The Flash (Season 1, Episode 19)
This metahuman is a shapeshifter, which could make him a major villain in the Arrowverse, with the ability to become anybody--including The Flash. Unfortunately, he is largely forgotten after being killed off in Season 1.
Image: The CW
87. Amunet Black
First appearance: The Flash (Season 4, Episode 5)
Though she has the ability to control metal and gets a kick out of controlling Killer Frost, Amunet sort of ended up being a good guy. Still, she has a cool power and a mean streak. For now, though, she just doesn't add up.
Image: The CW
86. Dr. Light
First appearance: The Flash (Season 2, Episode 5)
Dr. Light shoots concentrated blasts of light from her hands, is trying to kill The Flash, and is the Earth-2 doppelganger of Barry Allen's girlfriend. She has all the makings of a great villain but her role essentially sees her ushering in Zoom as the new primary antagonist.
Image: The CW
85. Alchemy
First appearance: The Flash (Season 3, Episode 1)
As the leader of the Cult of Savitar, Alchemy was set to be a major force of evil on The Flash. Instead, he's sent to different earths to prepare them for Savitar's arrival, rather than being his own villain. Unfortunately, Savitar ends up not being all that impressive, which can also be said of Alchemy.
Image: The CW
84. Shrapnel
First appearance: Arrow (Season 2, Episode 10)
Shrapnel doesn't have special powers or a bloodlust for Oliver Queen. He's just an insane serial bomber who doesn't last long enough to become a more notorious villain. He does briefly join the Suicide Squad, though.
Image: The CW
83. Reactron
First appearance: Supergirl (Season 1, Episode 3)
Thanks to his super suit, Reactron can fly, has superhuman strength and can fire blasts of concentrated energy at his enemies. He's still no match for Supergirl.
Image: CBS
82. Anthony Ivo
First appearance: Arrow (Season 2, Episode 5)
The doctor plays a big role in Season 2's flashbacks to Lian Yu. His obsession with a mysterious serum and his eventual pleading for Oliver to kill him show he isn't truly evil, just driven mad after the death of his wife.
Image: The CW
81. Rival
First appearance: The Flash (Season 3, Episode 1)
This speedster villain was created thanks to the Flashpoint timeline. Born Edward Clariss, he isn't quite as bad as Savitar--if only because he only lasts two episodes. His cartoony costume does him no favors, though.
Image: The CW
80. Jeremy Tell
First appearance: Arrow (Season 4, Episode 3)
Tell, also known as Double Down, pulls playing cards from his tattooed skin. While they can cut through just about anything, he is essentially a less exciting version of X-Men's Gambit and ultimately becomes one of Damien Darhk's lackies.
Image: The CW
79. The Mayor
First appearance: Arrow (Season 2, Episode 4)
The Mayor's only appearance on Arrow was a single episode. His attack on a charity event makes him stand out among the show's villains, though.
Image: The CW
78. Zaman Druce
First appearance: Legends of Tomorrow (Season 1, Episode 4)
Druce, a Time Master, partnered with Vandal Savage to hunt down Rip Hunter and the Legends. While he may have been working with the absolute worst villain in the Arrowverse, Druce is even more devious than Savage due to his personal connection to Rip--he is the Legend's former mentor.
Image: The CW
77. Non
First appearance: Supergirl (Season 1, Episode 8)
Like Kara Zor-El herself, Non is a Kryptonian. However, while Kara becomes Supergirl, Non is a warlord set on destroying the world. He is nowhere near as impactful as his wife, Astra, though.
Image: The CW
76. Edward Fyers
First appearance: Arrow (Season 1, Episode 5)
A mercenary from Season 1, Edward is yet another in a long line of flashback villains. While his fights with Oliver on Lian Yu are impressive, he's unable to leave a lasting impression.
Image: The CW
75. Bronze Tiger
First appearance: Arrow (Season 2, Episode 2)
An associate of China White, Bronze Tiger gets major points for the metal claws he wore--which look rather similar to Wolverine. He always plays second fiddle to somebody, though, whether it's China or members of the Suicide Squad later on.
Image: The CW
74. Clyde Mardon
First appearance: The Flash (Season 1, Episode 1)
Clyde holds the distinction of being the first metahuman villain on The Flash, with the ability to manipulate weather. Unfortunately, he is rather forgettable, unlike his brother Weather Wizard.
Image: The CW
73. Anarky
First appearance: Arrow (Season 4, Episode 2)
While his time as a low-level HIVE member of easily forgettable, Anarchy's disfigurement and obsession with killing Damien Darhk and the Green Arrow make him someone you want to watch. Unfortunately, his failure keeps him from landing higher on the list.
Image: The CW
72. Savitar
First appearance: The Flash (Season 3, Episode 6)
The main villain of Season 3 of The Flash is also one of the very worst the of the series. The show's repetition of using speedsters as adversaries makes him not that interesting. Plus, the reveal that a different version of Barry Allen--the hero--was the villain all along ended up being poorly done.
Image: The CW
71. Tobias Church
First appearance: Arrow (Season 5, Episode 1)
Tobias Church is a villain who would rank higher on the list had he of lasted longer. What worked so well about the character is the fact that he's not superpowered, mystic or from another Earth. He's just a vicious crime lord.
Image: The CW
70. Music Meister
First appearance: Supergirl (Season 2, Episode 16)
Music Meister is one of the sillier villains to appear in the Arrowverse, with the ability to hypnotize people and take their powers. He's single-handedly responsible for the musical crossover, though, so he cannot be forgotten.
Image: The CW
69. Ricardo Diaz
First appearance: Arrow (Season 6, Episode 6)
This drug kingpin was a member of Cayden James' group of villains in Season 6 Arrow. It remains to be seen how he'll be remembered in the long run, as this wasn't the show's best season--largely due to the villains. Still, he tried.
Image: The CW
68. Kuasa
First appearance: Vixen (Season 1, Episode 2)
After debuting on the animated Vixen series, Kuasa arrives on Legends of Tomorrow as a follower of Mallus. As the granddaughter of Amaya and with the ability to manipulate water, she's already a great Legends of Tomorrow villain with room to become even better.
Image: The CW
67. Murmur
First appearance: Arrow (Season 3, Episode 16)
Murmur may not have been a major villain in the Arrowverse, but his simple presence is creepy enough to make him memorable. With his mouth sewn shut, he eventually becomes the right-hand man of Damien Darhk in his war against the Green Arrow.
Image: The CW
66. Al-Owal
First appearance: Arrow (Season 2, Episode 5)
This member of the League of Assassins is a master assassin in his own right. However, his death at the hands of Sara Lance, who snapped his neck, keeps him from becoming a bigger force.
Image: The CW
65. Brick
First appearance: Arrow (Season 3, Episode 10)
Danny Brickwell is a notorious criminal with practically superhuman strength. After becoming feared throughout Star City, he's able to align himself with Damien Darhk. Still, even with the killing of Rebecca Merlyn, Brick doesn't leave much of a mark on Arrow.
Image: The CW
64. The Dollmaker
First appearance: Arrow (Season 2, Episode 3)
While the Dollmaker may only be a nuisance to Team Arrow for a single episode, the way this twisted serial killer would treat his victims as toy dolls is pretty unforgettable.
Image: The CW
63. Rainbow Raider
First appearance: The Flash (Season 1, Episode 8)
While the Rainbow Raider may seem like a minor villain, he's the one behind the first true crossover: Flash vs. Arrow. With his power to manipulate people with his eyes, he's able to turn the heroes against each other.
Image: The CW
62. Metallo
First appearance: Supergirl (Season 2, Episode 1)
Metallo is a worthy villain for Supergirl, due to being powered by Kryptonite, her one weakness. However, the same Kryptonite also becomes his undoing when it becomes unstable and explodes. A villain that defeats himself can only be so memorable.
Image: The CW
61. Multiplex
First appearance: The Flash (Season 1, Episode 2)
Given the power to instantly create an unlimited number of clones of himself, Multiplex has the opportunity to be one of The Flash's best villains. Unfortunately, it takes very little for the team to end the threat he poses, keeping him from landing too high on the list.
Image: The CW
60. Clock King
First appearance: Arrow (Season 2, Episode 14)
Clock King is one of the few villains to raise trouble on both Arrow and The Flash, and he did so without any special powers. However, neither show treats him as a major opponent of Green Arrow or The Flash, preventing him from becoming too iconic.
Image: The CW
59. Bug-Eyed Bandit
First appearance: The Flash (Season 1, Episode 18)
The Bandit is another villain that jumped shows. While her army of robotic bees makes her memorable, she's little more than a nuisance on either show.
Image: The CW
58. Zoom
First appearance: The Flash (Season 2, Episode 1)
No speedster villain is ever going to live up to Eobard Thawne. While Zoom may responsible for introducing the multiverse on The Flash, in the end he's a pretender to the speedster villain throne.
Image: The CW
57. Trajectory
First appearance: The Flash (Season 2, Episode 16)
There's no other way to say it: The Flash is lousy with speedster villains. Still, while Season 2 villain-of-the-week Trajectory may not have the longevity of Savitar or Zoom, she makes an impact as the first female speedster on the show. Bonus points for creating a serum to obtain the Speed Force herself.
Image: The CW
56. Red Tornado
First appearance: Supergirl (Season 1, Episode 6)
As an android with the ability to manipulate air and create tornadoes and fly, the Red Tornado is one of Supergirl's trickier enemies. However, Supergirl's heat vision proves to be too much for the sentient droid in the end.
Image: The CW
55. Mirror Master
First appearance: The Flash (Season 3, Episode 4)
When it comes to interesting powers, the ability to turn mirrors into portals is hard to beat. Still, that can only take you so far in terms of fighting, as Mirror Master finds out.
Image: The CW
54. Isabel Rochev
First appearance: Arrow (Season 2, Episode 1)
In Season 2, Isabel's hands were in many evil groups, from Deathstroke's to the Church of Blood. After taking on the alter ego of Ravager, alongside Deathstroke, she solidified herself as one of Oliver's bigger villains of the season.
Image: The CW
53. Evelyn Sharp
First appearance: Arrow (Season 4, Episode 19)
Though she was originally a member of Team Arrow, Evelyn's betrayal of Oliver and the crew shook them to their very core. Siding with Prometheus, she has proven to be a valuable asset.
Image: The CW
52. Indigo
First appearance: Supergirl (Season 1, Episode 15)
Indigo, otherwise known as Brainiac 8, might be the most powerful villain Kara has ever faced on Supergirl. She's a synthetic being from another planet that has many of Kara's own powers, plus the ability to shapeshift into a human to blend in with the world.
Image: The CW
51. Derek Sampson
First appearance: Arrow (Season 5, Episode 3)
After being thrown into a vat of chemicals--which is very similar to The Joker's origin--this drug dealer now has mutated powers that make him far more dangerous to Team Arrow. His joining forces with Prometheus makes him even scarier, though it ultimately was a losing battle.
Image: The CW
50. Cyborg Superman
First appearance: Supergirl (Season 1, Episode 4)
The original Hank Henshaw managed to avoid death thanks to Project Cadmus. However, his survival includes being turned into an unstoppable killing machine. While he was able to defeat Supergirl at one point and remains alive, he is ultimately little more than Lillian Luthor's pawn.
Image: The CW
49. Black Flash
First appearance: The Flash (Season 2, Episode 23)
Black Flash is essentially what's left of Zoom following his defeat at the hands of The Flash. After being captured by Time Wraiths and bound to the speed force forever, he now resembles a decayed corpse in a speedster costume.
Image: The CW
48. Astra
First appearance: Supergirl (Season 1, Episode 1)
Like her husband, Non, Astra is a powerful Kryptonian warlord and a commander of their army. She is the Kryptonian that's had the biggest negative impact on Kara; her forces nearly destroyed the world.
Image: The CW
47. Amanda Waller
First appearance: Arrow (Season 1, Episode 22)
As the former director or ARGUS and leader of the Suicide Squad, Waller is never directly involved in the fight, which makes her a brilliant villain. Instead, she sent minions to do her bidding.
Image: The CW
46. Black Siren
First appearance: The Flash (Season 2, Episode 22)
What makes Black Siren so effective as a villain that she's an Earth-2 doppelganger of Laurel Lance, a dead superhero. It's an asset she's used time and again to torment Team Arrow and her Earth-1 father Quentin Lance, proving how ruthless she is.
Image: The CW
45. Clifford DeVoe
First appearance: The Flash (Season 4, Episode 1)
The latest big bad on The Flash was just...kind of weak. He wreaked havoc on Barry's life throughout Season 4, even landing him in prison at one point. In the end, though, he went out with a whimper. He's certainly not the worst villain The Flash has ever had, but a good example of why stretching one big bad out for an entire season can get tiring..
Image: The CW
44. Deadshot
First appearance: Arrow (Season 1, Episode 3)
As the primary member of the Suicide Squad, Deadshot holds the distinction as one of the few villains to appear in all of the first five seasons of Arrow, though his Season 5 cameo was a hallucination. It goes to show the importance of this assassin and master marksman.
Image: The CW
43. Konstantin Kovar
First appearance: Arrow (Season 5, Episode 6)
Two words: Dolph Lundgren. Lundgren portraying the Russian gangster who tormented Oliver in his pre-Green Arrow life made him exciting to watch. What's more, the fight scenes between Konstantin and Oliver stand up as some of the show's best and most vicious.
Image: The CW
42. General Eiling
First appearance: The Flash (Season 1, Episode 5)
General Eiling started off in Season 1 of The Flash as a thorn in the team's side. After initially attempting to turn a meta-human into a weapon of mass destruction, he eventually becomes mind-controlled by Grodd. Through it all, Eiling has survived, so chances are he'll be back one day.
Image: The CW
41. Silver Banshee
First appearance: Supergirl (Season 1, Episode 14)
Cursed with superhuman strength and a deadly scream, Silver Banshee proves dangerous to Supergirl on her own. It was teaming with Livewire that truly shows the villain she can be, though.
Image: The CW
40. Livewire
First appearance: Supergirl (Season 1, Episode 4)
After acquiring the ability to manipulate electricity, she finds her true power in teaming with Silver Banshee. The duo makes for a formidable force against Supergirl.
Image: The CW
39. General Shrieve
First appearance: Arrow (Season 3, Episode 14)
In the Season 3 flashbacks, General Shrieve's quest had him attempting to topple China with a biological weapon. He succeeded in killing thousands, but Oliver and Maseo eventually put a stop to him.
Image: The CW
38. Girder
First appearance: The Flash (Season 1, Episode 6)
With the ability to transform his body to steel, Girder easily outmuscles Team Flash in Season 1. However, it's his reanimation as a zombie in Season 2 that makes Girder become the stuff of legend.
Image: The CW
37. Golden Glider
First appearance: The Flash (Season 1, Episode 16)
Captain Cold's sister might not be as great of a villain as he is, but she certainly did pick up some of his style. She also has the distinction of having a weapon that turns anything she wants to gold, which is rather impressive.
Image: The CW
36. Pied Piper
First appearance: The Flash (Season 1, Episode 11)
While Pied Piper's only real metahuman power is super hearing, his brain is his most dangerous weapon. The former STAR Labs employee is able to hack into the facility's computers to find a way to stop The Flash, even if it's temporary.
Image: The CW
35. Talia al Ghul
First appearance: Arrow (Season 5, Episode 10)
Talia is the eldest daughter of Ra's al Ghul and half-sister of Nyssa. In Season 5, she fights side-by-side with Prometheus in his quest to destroy Oliver Queen. Ultimately, though, she faces off against her sister and loses, proving Nyssa to be the superior sibling.
Image: The CW
34. Weather Wizard
First appearance: The Flash (Season 1, Episode 15)
The brother of Clyde Mardon ended up with similar metahuman powers--only far more powerful. That, combined with his quest for revenge over his brother's death, makes Weather Wizard an exciting villain to watch.
Image: The CW
33. Cupid
First appearance: Arrow (Season 3, Episode 6)
Many Arrow fans might think Cupid is the biggest villain yet, simply because they were forced to watch a fake wedding between Oliver and Felicity, rather than the real thing. Still, Cupid's Green Arrow obsession makes her do some terrible things.
Image: The CW
32. Reign
First appearance: Supergirl (Season 2, Episode 22)
While the full impact of Reign has yet to be established, already this Kryptonian world killer has shown to be a villain Kara will have a hard time overcoming. In the Season 3 winter finale, Reign actually defeated the Girl of Steel, at least temporarily.
Image: The CW
31. The Huntress
First appearance: Arrow (Season 1, Episode 7)
Though she's been absent since Season 2, The Huntress remains a very personal enemy on Arrow. She's Oliver's ex, and he tried time and again to keep her away from becoming a vigilante. Ultimately, the vendetta she had against her father overtook her and she now resides in prison.
Image: The CW
30. Maxwell Lord
First appearance: Supergirl (Season 1, Episode 2)
While Supergirl is largely populated with aliens and monsters as villains, Maxwell Lord is very human and resembled Lex Luthor with his genius intellect and penchant for evil--even creating the Bizarro clone of Supergirl. By the end of Season 1, though, the two became allies.
Image: CBS
29. Killer Frost
First appearance: The Flash (Season 1, Episode 23)
Killer Frost is as deadly as they come, and when Caitlyn Snow transforms into the evil ice queen, all bets are off. Still, if Frost wants to crack the top ten, she's going to have to be more of a villain than a hero.
Image: The CW
28. King Shark
First appearance: The Flash (Season 2, Episode 4)
If anything, The Flash deserves credit for bringing such an unconventional villain to the small screen. With appearances in Seasons 2 and 3, this massive metahuman is half-man, half-shark, and one of the most dangerous foes Team Flash ever battled.
Image: The CW
27. Maseo Yamashiro
First appearance: Arrow (Season 3, Episode 1)
What makes Maseo such a good and scary villain is that he was once not only a close friend of Oliver, but also his mentor. However, after joining the League of Assassins and serving at the side of Ra's al Ghul, he became one of his most bitter enemies.
Image: The CW
26. Andrew Diggle
First appearance: Arrow (Season 3, Episode 14)
The younger brother of John Diggle is one of Arrow's most heartbreaking villains. After being recruited by HIVE, he became one of Damien Darhk's most useful allies; his personal connection to Team Arrow made them vulnerable.
Image: The CW
25. China White
First appearance: Arrow (Season 1, Episode 2)
A major figure in Season 1, China White was one of the first assassins Oliver crossed paths with as the Hood, and she left a lasting impression. She last appeared in Season 5, proving she's not done yet.
Image: The CW
24. Cayden James
First appearance: Arrow (Season 5, Episode 19)
He's a supervillain, an evil hacker, and the former lead of Helix. It took almost no time for James to make his presence known and his misguided vendetta against Oliver Queen was very interesting to watch. After all, he managed to break up the team and, in the end, Oliver is headed to prison.Image: The CW
23. Queen Rhea of Daxam
First appearance: Supergirl (Season 2, Episode 8)
The Queen of Daxam--and mother of Mon-El--was Supergirl's most notorious alien foe. She set out to invade Earth as revenge for turning her son against her. In the end, it was Mon-El that was her undoing.
Image: The CW
22. Trickster
First appearance: The Flash (Season 1, Episode 17)
Trickster is one of the most unforgettable villains in the Arrowverse. Mark Hamill plays the role, which he originated on the 1990s version of The Flash--one of the new show's few connections to the original.
Image: The CW
21. Vigilante
First appearance: Arrow (Season 5, Episode 7)
One of Arrow's most interesting villains was one of its most mysterious. The identity of Vigilante, a gun-wielding masked maniac, was a closely-guarded secret. In the end, his connection to Dinah Drake helped in tearing Team Arrow apart.
Image: The CW
20. Time Wraiths
First appearance: The Flash (Season 2, Episode 17)
Time Wraiths are essentially the guardians of the Speed Force. They hunt down speedsters that misuse their powers--which Barry Allen has done numerous times. What makes them so scary and evil is the mystery that surrounds them, much like anything regarding the Speed Force.
Image: The CW
19. Nora Darhk
First appearance: Arrow (Season 4, Episode 9)
The daughter of Damien Darhk and Ruve Adams is shaping up to be one of the very best the Legends of Tomorrow have faced. After growing up with her father, she's now become a follower of Mallis with a deep hatred for heroes.
Image: The CW
18. Sebastian Blood
First appearance: Arrow (Season 2, Episode 2)
As the leader of the Church of Blood, Sebastian spent much of Season 2 working with Deathstroke to take over Star City. However, Blood being elected mayor caused Deathstroke to change course, making the two enemies.
Image: The CW
17. Ra's al Ghul
First appearance: Arrow (Season 3, Episode 4)
The Demon's Head and leader of the League of Assassins managed to actually kill Oliver, resurrect him, and recruit him into the League. He was easily one of the Green Arrow's most dangerous villains.
Image: The CW
16. The Count
First appearance: Arrow (Season 1, Episode 12)
The man behind the Vertigo drug who tried to kill Felicity early in the series was one of Oliver's most significant Season 1 foes. He returned in Season 2 as Count Vertigo to continue his evil ways, cementing him as one of Arrow's finest baddies.
Image: The CW
15. Dominators
First appearance: Invasion! crossover
While not the greatest Arrowverse villains, the Dominators alien race are the craziest. Nobody on any of the shows had faced an enemy quite like these beings that almost got away with world domination.
Image: The CW
14. Black Arrow
First appearance: Crisis on Earth-X crossover
Thanks to Crisis on Earth-X, viewers got to see what Oliver Queen would be like if he were a Nazi, and the results were horrifying. The Black Arrow is more ruthless than the Green Arrow could ever be and does it all for the Reich.
Image: The CW
13. Overgirl
First appearance: Crisis on Earth-X crossover
As with the Black Arrow, Overgirl was the Earth-X version of Supergirl--a Nazi Girl of Steel. Given how wholesome and good Supergirl is, seeing her exact opposite on screen was jarring.
Image: The CW
12. Ruve Adams
First appearance: Arrow (Season 4, Episode 9)
While Ruve may not have had the supernatural powers of her husband, Damien Darhk, she was perhaps even more manipulative than he could dream of being. So manipulative that she used Oliver's war with her husband to blackmail him out of the mayoral election--becoming mayor herself.
Image: The CW
11. Grodd
First appearance: The Flash (Season 1, Episode 21)
When Grodd was first introduced as a meta-powered ape in Season 1 of The Flash, he was a sight to behold. However, when Team Flash went to Gorilla in Season 3, Grodd was established as one of the best villains ever.
Image: The CW
10. Heat Wave
First appearance: The Flash (Season 1, Episode 10)
Captain Cold's partner in crime is more psychotic than his friend, and a much bigger fan of inflicting pain. Still, as evil as Heat Wave can be, it's hard not to love how corrupt his mind is. Thankfully, he switched sides to become a Legend of Tomorrow.
Image: The CW
9. Captain Cold
First appearance: The Flash (Season 1, Episode 4)
Captain Cold was not only the first major villain to face The Flash, but also among the to first to do it with flair. Captain Cold was so memorable he became a fan favorite and ultimately a hero on Legends of Tomorrow.
Image: The CW
8. Nyssa al Ghul
First appearance: Arrow (Season 2, Episode 14)
As the daughter of Ra's al Ghul, Nyssa was often seen as a villain simply by association. Her place of esteem within the League of Assassins established that. However, her love for Sara Lance was often her saving grace, which kept Nyssa from going completely to the dark side.
Image: The CW
7. Lillian Luthor
First appearance: Supergirl (Season 2, Episode 1)
After being introduced in Season 2, Lillian Luthor--mother to Superman's foe Lex--has become a dominant force on Supergirl. She's the leader of Project Cadmus, which has declared war on aliens and wants the Girl of Steel dead. Her son had to get his awfulness from somewhere, and it seems Lillian is where it comes from.
Image: The CW
6. Anatoly Knyazev
First appearance: Arrow (Season 2, Episode 4)
Anatoly has been a thorn in Oliver Queen's side since first introduced in Season 2. The former KGB agent and Bratva leader was Oliver's mentor in the underworld before turning against him. The feud between these two is as personal as it gets.
Image: The CW
5. Damien Darhk
First appearance: Arrow (Season 4, Episode 1)
Damien brought a new wrinkle to Team Arrow's villains--the mystic. With his supernatural powers, Damien was able to push the Green Arrow to the brink and ultimately kill Laurel Lance.
Image: The CW
4. Malcolm Merlyn
First appearance: Arrow (Season 1, Episode 4)
One of the best Arrowverse villains is also one of the first. From the very beginning, there was something devious about Malcolm. Between his time as the Dark Archer to his angling to become the Demon's Head, he proved time and again he was only out for himself.
Image: The CW
3. Prometheus
First appearance: Arrow (Season 5, Episode 1)
Prometheus broke the Green Arrow by essentially making him look in the mirror. Showing Oliver Queen his worst self nearly destroyed not only Team Arrow, but also Oliver himself.
Image: The CW
2. Deathstroke
First appearance: Arrow (Season 1, Episode 13)
Oliver Queen's sometimes friend, often foe, has been pushing the Green Arrow to his limits since he was stranded on the remote island of Lian Yu. Between that and his rich comic book history, Deathstroke is hard to beat.
Image: The CW
1. Eobard Thawne
First appearance: The Flash (Season 1, Episode 1)
There are none more devious or destructive than Eobard Thawne. This villain from the future made The Flash's life absolutely miserable, and he did it while posing as Barry Allen's mentor, Harrison Wells.
Pokemon Quest, the free-to-play RPG that was surprise-released for Nintendo Switch last month, is now available on mobile as well. You can find it for the low cost of zero dollars on the iOS and Android stores. It does include in-app purchases, and data doesn't transfer between these and the Switch version.
The light Pokemon game has you build a team of three monsters to fight other Pokemon and gather loot. Then you can use your loot to attract more Pokemon, and swap them out for members of your team, and on and on. It only features first-generation Pokemon for the time being, but they're given a fresh makeover with a blocky art style.
This being a free-to-play game, though, there are various in-app purchases. The packages on Switch ranged from around $3 to almost $20.
These are the most ridiculous and useless X-Men characters.
The X-Men were first introduced in 1963 and have given comic book fans some of the greatest Marvel superheroes of all time. From Wolverine to Jean Grey to Cyclops to Storm, and so many more, the X-Men stands the test of time as one of the best superhero teams ever.
Still, that doesn't mean every X-Men decision is a home run. While characters like Gambit, Nightcrawler, and Beast remain some of the most popular in the Marvel universe, there are plenty of mutants that are utterly ridiculous. Like these.
Image: Marvel.
Eye-Scream
This particular mutant only appeared once, in a 1983 comic book. His mutant power is an ability to transform himself into any ice cream flavor.
Image: Marvel
Goldballs
What power does Goldballs have? It's all in his name. He can shoot gold-colored balls from his body -- just don't ask what they're made of.
Image: Marvel
Glob Herman
While some heroes can become invisible, this mutant's powers are limited to translucent skin. His bones, muscles and organs are still visible, though, so his foes know where to aim.
Image: Marvel
Tag
Tag's secret power? He tags people, which causes them to emit a signal that makes everyone else run away.
Image: Marvel
Beak
He's essentially a bird--hollow bones, lots of feathers, and a beak. What good is that, honestly?
Image: Marvel
Ugly John
How do we put this delicately? Ugly John's power is that he has three faces, all of which are ugly. It's literally the only "power" he has working in his favor.
Image: Marvel
Cypher
Cypher's power is the ability to translate any language -- both human and alien. It may not come in too handy during a fight, but at least he's got jokes.
Image: Marvel
Longneck
Go ahead and guess what Longneck's mutant power is. If you guessed anything other than having a long neck, you're clearly not paying attention.
Image: Marvel
Zeitgeist
Vomit. That's what Zeitgeist is good at. He has an acidic vomit that can burn through just about anything. He's definitely not the kind of guy you want to go on a pub crawl with.
Image: Marvel
Kylun
Kylun sure looks scary. As far as powers go, though, not so much. He has the ability to mimic any sound he hears using his vocal chords. Yes, he's essentially Michael Winslow from the Police Academy films.
Image: Marvel
Jazz
This mutant's one and only power is that his skin is blue. This is not a joke.
Image: Marvel
Jubilee
Anyone who's seen the X-Men animated series from the '90s loves Jubilee, no doubt. That said, her ability to create explosive light blasts with her hands essentially means she shoots fireworks at people. It looks cool, but it's not very intimidating.
Image: Marvel
Skin
Try to contain your surprise when we tell you that Skin's mutant power is his skin. More specifically, it's the elasticity of his skin. He has roughly six extra feet of skin on his body.
Image: Marvel
Layla Miller
On the surface, Layla's power to resurrect the dead is incredibly useful. However, they come back without their souls. That complicates matters quite a bit.
Image: Marvel
Maggott
He can't eat, however, two creatures that can devour anything live in his digestive system. They leave his body, eat, then return to impart the energy they've gained to Maggott. It's...complicated.
Image: Marvel
Mimic
While more useful than Kylun's, Mimic's power isn't that original: He can mimic anybody near him. That said, it essentially leaves Mimic only as useful as those in his vicinity.
Image: Mimic
Broo
Broo's big power is -- wait for it -- compassion and the ability to think for himself. Honestly. He's a mutant Brood, an alien race that works as a hive-mind that wants to protect its queen. But Broo makes his own choices, can make friends, and also happens to have genius-level intellect.
Image: Marvel
Rogue
In the comics and cartoons, Rogue has some cool powers--like flight. In the movies, though, her power absorption ability is more of a hindrance than a help. She drains mutant powers with a touch, which is a real bummer for her boyfriend Iceman.
Image: 20th Century Fox
Adam-X
Adam-X can essentially make an enemy's blood combust, burning them alive from the inside-out. To do that, though, he has to get oxygen into the blood by cutting his opponent open. So, in order to inflict harm, he must first inflict harm... to the X-treme.
Image: Marvel
Karma
Karma has a pretty strange form of telepathy as a power. Not only can she read minds, but she can also possess other beings to take control of them temporarily. She can even tune into their thoughts and feelings so she can feel them herself.
Truth be told, that sounds like more of a burden than anything else.
Image: Marvel
Stacy X
A former prostitute, Stacy X has the power to control pheromones--meaning she can control your bodily functions like orgasms, nausea, and vomiting with a touch. Let that sink in.
Image: Marvel
Toad
Toad, like Beak, has animalistic powers. That includes superhuman leaping abilities, an elongated tongue that can dart out, and a flexible bone structure. Still, it's hard to look past the fact that he's essentially a frog.
Image: Marvel
Ink
Ink's powers are actually due to his tattoos. He's not a mutant, but instead gets tattoos from a mutant that give him powers.
Image: 20th Century Fox
Marrow
While Marrow's ability to control the growth and strength of her bone structure does earn her a spot on this list, it's pretty useful. She can make spikes and bones grow on-demand, creating a litany of armor and weapon possibilities.
Image: Marvel
Callisto
What powers does Callisto have? Her senses are enhanced. That means she can smell things from far away, has great vision, and her sense of touch is second-to-none. How useful is that on the battlefield, though?
Image: 20th Century Fox
John Wraith
While John Wraith's primary ability is to phase from one location to another, it's another of his powers that is utterly ridiculous. He has anti-aging capabilities, meaning he ages slower than others. While that might sound cool in theory, keep in mind what little aging comic book characters normally do.
Image; 20th Century Fox
Lifeguard
Lifeguard's powers are peculiar in that she can detect danger to human life and automatically gains any powers needed to save those at risk. Definitely take her when you go hiking or swimming.
Image: Marvel
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