By Meg Downey on Jul 07, 2018 10:54 pm
Ant-Man and the Wasp spoilers ahead!
You know the drill by now: A brand new Marvel movie has hit theaters which means we've got a brand new clutch of Eggs and references to sort through. Ant-Man and the Wasp may not have been the most serious entry into the MCU's timeline, especially in the wake of Thanos and the snap heard round the universe. But from obscure D-list comic book villains to decade-old MCU deep cuts, it still managed to pack in some winks and nods for the dedicated fan. We've broken down a list of them here--how many were you able to catch? When you're done, check out our full Ant-Man and the Wasp review, the post-credits scenes explained, whether we'll get another Ant-Man sequel, and all the Infinity War Easter eggs and references you could ever want.
1. House Arrested
We join Scott this time around while he's under house arrest--a consequence he's suffering from his involvement in Captain America: Civil War. Scott teamed up with Cap to fight against the signing of the Sokovia Accords, which landed him right into the heart of a black site prison called The Raft. Rather than deal with life on the run, Scott elected to take a plea deal and go back to his family, which included a two year house arrest clause.
2. X-Con Security
Scott may be confined under house arrest post-Civil War, but he's been hard at work with a brand new day job. He and the crew--Luis, Dave, and Kurt--have started up a brand new security consulting business called, appropriately, X-Con Security. This is actually a reference to some recent Ant-Man comics where Scott does just that in Miami, Florida. The comics version of X-Con is called Ant-Man Security Solutions, and it's populated not by other ex-cons, but with a small group of D-list costumed villains (Grizzly and Machinesmith making up the core of the group). But the basic principles are still the same.
3. The Orb
During Scott's heist playtime with Cassie, he has her pull out a "special contact" to disable one of their imaginary security systems. The contact, in this case, is just a paper plate painted like a giant eye that takes up Cassie's entire face for a moment. Of course, this is about 80% sight gag but that remaining 20% is a pretty clever nod to one of Marvel's weirdest (and most persistent) villains, a man called The Orb. Orb's most notable feature is his head, which, as you might guess, is a giant, spherical eyeball.
4. Animal House
Blink and you might miss Animal House playing on TV. But it's there, and it couldn't be more appropriate--it's Donald Sutherland talking about entire universes existing in one tiny atom, which, you know, is literally what the Quantum Realm is.
5. Sleight of hand
During his house arrest, Scott takes up close-up magic from an online course as a way to pass the time. He even gets pretty good at it! On top of just being yet another goofy layer to Scott's boredom, dealing with magic has been kind of a thing for the Ant-Man legacy. One of Hank Pym's oldest costumed enemies was a man called the Magician, who faced off against him back in the early 60s during his Giant-Man days.
6. Baba Yaga
This one isn't so much a comics reference as a wink to actual folklore. When discussing Ghost for the first time, Kurt wistfully explains that she sounds just like "Baba Yaga," a witch who could magically show up and eat children. He's not totally wrong, nor is he just making this up--the Baba Yaga is a myth-slash-cautionary tale told in Slavic countries about a terrifying old woman (or sometimes a trio of old women) who served, depending on the story, as a benevolent helper or a malicious villain. In that way, the reference fits very well.
7. "I was talking about me…"
Scott's daughter Cassie makes a very earnest pitch to him about needing a partner, but she's not talking about Hope's Wasp--she's talking about herself. It's a pretty heart warming and adorably child-like moment, all things considered, but the truth of the matter is, she's actually not wrong. Cassie in the comics becomes a superhero named Stature, able to use Pym Particles to manipulate her size just like her father. She goes on to join teams like the Young Avengers--obviously not when she's like, 10 years old, but hey! Who knows? Maybe a few years from now when Cassie's in her teens, she'll get to totally live out her dreams on the big screen.
8. Masters of Disguise
During their trip to visit Bill Foster on his campus while, hopefully, avoiding the eyes of the FBI, Hope, Scott and Hank go "under cover." Under cover in this case means they put sunglasses and baseball hats on. During their daring stealth mission, Scott comments that he can't believe anyone would be fooled by this because, really, they just look like themselves at a baseball game. He's not wrong--but he's also not just talking about their little ragtag team in that moment. The MCU has become pretty infamous for putting heroes in the same style of "disguise"--hats and glasses and not much else, to the point that it's become something of an inside joke for fans. Really, who isn't going to realize Captain America's standing right next to them just because he's got a pair of glasses and a hat on? Nobody, that's who.
9. Centurion
The FBI has it out for Hank Pym in more ways than one. They're hunting down Pym Tech for Scott's flagrant violation of the Sokovia Accords, sure--but there's some personal gain thrown into the mix. Agent Geoffrey Ballard is Sonny Burch's man on the inside for this particular mission, and steals Pym's lab from FBI custody during their their raid on its new woodland location. This lines up with Ballard's comics incarnation, Centurion, a Z-list villian and thief who is known for taking odd jobs that pay well.
10. The Goliath Project
Bill Foster talks briefly about he and Hank's work together back in the good ol' days on a project called "Goliath," which it turns out is more than just a catchy name. Bill's comic book counterpart has a superhero alter-ego all his own, the (surprise!) size manipulating Goliath, who had basically the same story on screen and off. Apparently, no matter what universe he's in, Bill's destined to be Hank's ex-assistant. Maybe eventually we'll get to see Laurence Fishburne suit up, but until then, a formerly Pym particle empowered Bill is the best we've got.
11. Jimmy Woo
The closest thing Scott has to a personal nemesis through the entirety of Ant-Man & The Wasp is Officer Jimmy Woo, the FBI agent in charge of overseeing Scott's house arrest and parole. We don't get too much in the way of a backstory for Jimmy on camera, but he's not a newly created character for the movies. In the comics, Jimmy has a decades long history as a S.H.I.E.L.D agent and hero in his own right, most famously as a member of the Agents of Atlas. What we're saying is, don't count out Jimmy Woo just because Scott completed his house arrest sentence. There's still plenty of potential for Agent Woo to return in the future, maybe with a whole team behind him.
12. Wassup???
Luis, bless his heart, makes a pretty dated joke to a truly vintage meme: the Budweiser "wassup??" commercial from the '90s. In the days before the internet truly took hold, this was pretty much the peak of comedy for several months after it first aired. Unfortunately for Luis, Scott and Hope don't seem to be as nostalgic about pop culture as he is.
13. Ava's Family
In describing the accident that knocked her body out of phase with the universe, Ava explains that her father was a man named Elihas Starr, a scientist who used to work with Hank Pym before he went rogue. Like Project Goliath, that name isn't just a random grab. Over in the comics, Elihas Starr is a scientist super villain known, appropriately, as Egghead, who dates all the way back to the early 60s. Unfortunately, it seems MCU Egghead will never truly be considering Starr's untimely death during the explosion that transformed his daughter into Ghost. But hey, who's to say there aren't more flashbacks in Ava's future that could flesh out her father's history a bit more?
14. Spot Stan
Of course Stan Lee has a cameo--this is an MCU movie, after all. This time around we catch Stan unlocking his car as the size-shifting chase barrels down the street. He makes a crack about how the '60s were fun but now he's paying for it--a two part joke about being a former hippie and also about founding Marvel. Ant-Man himself was introduced in 1962.
15. "It's Them!"
As the ants come marching in to save Hope, Scott, and Hank, Bill Foster has a moment straight out of the pulps of the '50s, announcing, "It's them!" It's a shout-out to the 1954 horror/scifi classic Them, which is, unsurprisingly, about giant ants. The reference comes full circle when Scott, Cassie, and Hope watch the movie for real while miniaturized at their very own "drive in."
16. Sonny Burch
Fan favorite Walton Goggins plays Sonny Burch, a sleazy businessman with his eyes set on Pym Tech--something he claims to be trying to purchase for a mysterious buyer, the likes of which is never seen or named on screen. In the comic, Sonny is basically the same, an on again, off again villainous CEO of a company called Cross Technologies that is traditionally a thorn in Tony Stark's side. His comic book connections actually run pretty deep, but most notably, he's had repeat dealings with Obadiah Stane, who you might remember as Iron Monger back from the very first Iron Man movie. Wouldn't that be a crazy callback to make on screen somewhere down the line? Stranger things have happened, and it's not like Sonny was taken off the table here--so maybe keep an eye out.
17. Giant-Man
While Scott's antics are being broadcast on TV, a newscaster refers to him as "Giant-Man," likely because he's, well, a giant man. But significantly this tiny moment represents the first time the name Giant-Man has actually been used in canon in the MCU.
18. Tardigrades. They're real.
During his trip into the Quantum Realm, Hank Pym comes across a few massive, alien-like creatures at the subatomic level. They're called Tardigrades, or "water bears," and they're actually pretty important to the scientific community. They're known for their ability to withstand extreme environments and live in excess of a hundred years.
19. Tim Heidecker, Whale Boat Captain
Continuing the Ant-Man franchise's tradition of including offbeat comedian cameos, Tim Heidecker of Tom Goes To the Mayor and Tim & Eric Awesome Show Great Job appears briefly in the film as a whale watch boat tour captain--a slightly larger role than Neil Hamburger's "Dale" in the first Ant-Man movie.
20. Evolutionary
Jan describes the effects of her time in the Quantum Realm as a sort of evolution, rather than adaptation. Over in the comics, Jan is actually a mutant, which gives that line a whole new flavor. While mutants aren't exactly canon in the mainline MCU, this does present a backdoor into introducing them in earnest sometime down the line. Maybe quantum energy will have something to do with the emergence of the next step in human evolution.
21. The Snap
Of course we couldn't go an entire movie without acknowledging the finale of Infinity War. The post credits this time around include Hank, Hope, and Jan all mysteriously "vanishing" (crumbling into dust), leaving Scott stranded in the Quantum Realm--the work of the Infinity Gauntlet and Thanos.
By Dan Auty on Jul 07, 2018 03:05 pm
With Mission Impossible: Fallout hitting theaters later this month, there has been much focus on the next batch of crazy stunts that Tom Cruise will be performing. But as impressive as Cruise's willingness to put himself in danger is, he's hardly the first major star happy to risk his life on a film set for the sake of our entertainment. Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan might have initially emerged in the 1970s as just another martial arts actor, but his incredible physical ability, comedic skills, and emerging talent as a director saw him quickly ascend to something far more than just another Bruce Lee clone. For more than a decade in the '80s and '90s, Chan delivered a run of incredible action classics, in which he performed some of the wildest stunts ever filmed. This was an era before CGI and green screen, and with his legendary stunt team on hand to assist, Chan continued to push his body is a series of an increasingly dangerous ways. Broken bones and hospital visits during production became a commonplace occurrence. Chan often replayed the stunt scenes within his movies, usually in slow motion, to leave the audience in no doubt as to who was performing them. These days, the 64-year-old has, of course, slowed down, but his legacy as one of cinema's greatest action stars is assured. So with his latest movie, the sci-fi thriller Bleeding Steel, in theaters this weekend, we take a look at Jackie Chan's greatest stunts.
11. Police Story 4: First Strike (1996) - Snowboard Jump
The fourth Police Story movie isn't one of the best in the series, but it has a cool Bond-esque opening sequence in which Jackie is pursued by bad guys on snowboards. At one point, our hero zooms off the side of the mountain towards a hovering helicopter, and manages to grab the landing skids on the bottom of the 'copter. As ever, Jackie shows the stunt from multiple angles and allows us to see that the stunt was 100% Chan.
10. Rumble in the Bronx (1995) - Alley Leap
Rumble in the Bronx was Jackie's second attempt to break into the US market, following an unsuccessful go in the early '80s. This time it worked, and would soon lead to American success with the Rush Hour movies. Sadly Jackie was never able to perform his own stunts in quite the same way when he hit Hollywood, but there are some flashes of the good stuff in this Vancouver-shot movie. The best moment sees him jump a 28-foot gap between tall buildings while being chased by villains--no harness, no wire, just skill and a bit of luck.
9. Who Am I? (1997) - Skyscraper Slide
This 1997 movie is hardly remembered as one of Jackie's best films, and at 43, the star was clearly slowing down when it came to pushing himself physically. But there's one scene which showed that the star could still deliver the dangerous goods. With villains hot on his trail, Jackie slides down the sloped glass side of Rotterdam's famous Willemswerf Building. He descends 21 stories, at one stage flipping up on his feet and repositioning himself headfirst, all the time moving forward at increasing speed. Plus, the different camera angles throughout the scene make it clear that he didn't just do the stunt once.
8. Winners and Sinners (1983) - Traffic Skating
Winners and Sinners saw Jackie team up with fellow action stars Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao for a silly action comedy. With the bigger cast and lighter tone, there's not quite as much room for many wild stunts. But there is a standout, in which Jackie navigates heavy traffic in a pair of rollerskates, weaving through the vehicles before skimming below the underside of a huge lorry.
7. Police Story (1985) - Bus Hanging
For many fans, Police Story was the movie that truly revealed the lengths to which Chan would push himself for sake of our entertainment. It's packed with insane sequences, and one of the best involves Chan hanging off the side of a speeding bus using just an umbrella. Not only that, but the scene ends with the bus coming to an abrupt halt, causing two villains on the top deck to crash out of the window. They were supposed to hit the parked car in front, but they fell short and instead smacked into the ground hard. And of course, Jackie chose to keep that take in the movie.
6. Drunken Master 2 (1994) - Hot Coal Crawl
In 1994, Jackie returned to the movie that helped make him a star, and delivered an incredible sequel to his '78 martial arts classic Drunken Master. It's very bit as good as the original, and features some of the greatest fight sequences of his career. The most eye-watering moment occurs towards the end, when our hero is knocked backwards into a pit of red-hot burning coals. Jackie crawls backwards through the pit using his bare hands as flames lick up around him, before climbing out and getting on with the action.
5. Armour Of God (1987) - Wall Jump
This wildly entertaining comedy adventure features one of Jackie's most notorious stunts, and the one that put him closest to death. In the opening sequence, Chan's treasure hunter character is attempting to escape a gang of angry natives. The stunt itself involved Jackie leaping from the ramparts of a castle wall to a tree, but while the first take went fine, ever the perfectionist, he demanded a retake so he could do it faster. This time however, the tree branch snapped, sending Jackie plummeting five meters to the ground. He cracked his skull on a rock and was airlifted to hospital where a piece of bone was removed from his brain in an emergency operation. Chan was left with a metal plate in his head, but he also included footage of the accident and its immediate aftermath in the outtakes at the end of the movie.
4. Police Story 3: Supercop (1993) - Helicopter Hanging
While the Police Story series has continued over the years, in terms of stunts, it peaked in 1993, with the third movie. As well as giving Michelle Yeoh her breakout role, it ends with a ridiculously dangerous-looking scene in which Jackie clutches a rope ladder, hanging from an airborne helicopter, which just keeps climbing higher and higher. Supercop indeed.
3. Police Story 2 (1988) - Bus Jump
Never one to do things the easy way, Jackie uses the top of a moving bus to gain access to a building in this sequel to the classic Police Story. First, he runs and leaps from the top of one bus to another. Next, as the vehicle speeds through traffic, Jackie spins and dives under several overhanging billboards before he jumps again, launching himself from the bus and through the huge glass window of a building. But as Chan later revealed, it was actually the wrong window: "Unfortunately, I chose the wrong window as my target, and instead of hitting prop glass, I smashed through a real pane. Which left me in real pain."
2. Project A (1983) - Clock Tower Fall
This riotous period adventure, in which Jackie faces down a gang of nasty pirates, is one of his best, most endearing movies. There's a ton of wild action, but while the best known scene is perhaps the exhilarating bicycle chase, the clock tower stunt is the craziest. Chan falls from a clocktower and drops three stories through two awnings, before hitting the ground. The scene was shot several times and Chan simply included two of the takes--you see him fall once, then we see it again, with his body twisting in a different, no less alarming way before slamming into the dirt. And then, just to prove that it's really him, without cutting away, we see Jackie stagger to his feet to deliver a silly joke.
1. Police Story (1985) - Pole Slide
The first Police Story saves the best for last, and in typical style, Jackie allows us to watch this stunt several times from different angles. During the final shopping mall-set final confrontation, Jackie descends from an upper level to the ground using a giant pole that covers the entire height of the mall. He slides all the way down it, smashing through dozens of electrified glass lights that are strung all the way down the pole, before finally crashing through a glass pane at the bottom. Without cutting away, Chan then grabs a shard of broken glass and races towards the main villain to arrest him. Unsurprisingly, the shocked man doesn't put up much of a fight.
By Dan Auty on Jul 07, 2018 03:05 pm
There's little doubt that Pixar has changed the face of animated cinema, through both its technical innovations and brilliant storytelling. But it's easy to forget that the company had been making films long before Toy Story hit screens in 1995. The studio's first feature was the culmination of more than a decade of developing 3D animation technology, which was demonstrated in a series of groundbreaking short films. Thankfully, big screen box office success didn't change the studio's desire to make movies on a smaller scale, and it has continued to make clever, charming, funny, and emotional short films over the decades. Since 1998's A Bug's Life, every new Pixar feature has been released alongside an original short film, and to date, the studio has produced 20 shorts. At their best, these are masterpieces of miniature storytelling. So with the 20th short, the acclaimed Bao, currently in theaters alongside the blockbuster Incredibles 2, we've ranked every one of these of these wonderful short films.
20. The Adventures of André and Wally B. (1984)
Pixar wasn't even called Pixar when it produced this very early short. Back then, the company was a division of LucasFilm known as The Graphics Group, and wouldn't be renamed for another two years. Nevertheless, the animation for this two minute film was groundbreaking, and played a big part in awakening the industry to the possibilities of computer animation. It's a simple but charming story of a character and his attempts to outwit a pesky bee.
19. Red's Dream (1987)
At four minutes, Red's Dream was twice as long as either of Pixar's previous two shorts. While it saw the company continue to pioneer computer animation, it is less well remembered than either The Adventures of André and Wally B or Luxo Jr, and was unlike most of Pixar's early shorts, as it was never attached to a movie in later years. The Red of the title is an abandoned unicycle who has a dream about being ridden by a clown called Lumpy in a circus, and the film shows John Lasseter's emerging skill at combining animated laughs with an evocative strain of melancholy.
18. Luxo Jr (1986)
Released with: Toy Story 2 As an animated short watched in 2018, Luxo Jr doesn't offer much narratively--it's basically two lamps playing with a ball. But like André and Wally B, this John Lasseter film was a hugely important release. It was the first short released under the name Pixar, and the technical achievement ensured that Luxo Jr was the first CGI film nominated for an Academy Award. Also, it provided Pixar with its distinctive mascot, and Luxo has appeared in front of every movie since 1998's A Bug's Life. The short was re-released alongside Toy Story 2 in 1999.
17. Lifted (2006)
Released with: Ratatouille Directed by award-winning sound designer Gary Rydstrom, this sci-fi tale is played for laughs. A young alien is struggling to complete his human abduction exam, in which he must swipe a sleeping farmer from his house into his UFO. The Spielberg influence is heavy in this one, which is not surprising given Rydstrom's previous work on movies such as Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Jurassic Park. It's highly entertaining, although perhaps lacks a bit of the emotional edge of the best Pixar shorts.
16. The Blue Umbrella (2013)
Released with: Monsters University This is a traditional romantic fable of a couple walking through the city during a downpour. One carries a red umbrella, the other a blue one, and the short cleverly uses anthropomorphized objects such as mailboxes and drainpipes to help the owners of the umbrellas meet. It's a slight film, but the stylish rain-soaked visuals and romantic warmth make it hard not to like.
15. Boundin' (2003)
Released with: The Incredibles Boundin' was the first Pixar short to include actual words--up to that point, every short had contained just sound effects and music. It was was very much the project of actor and animator Bud Luckey, who wrote, directed, voiced, and wrote the music. It's the fun tale of a musical sheep who loses his confidence after his wool is sheared. Luckily, he learns the joys of boundin'--getting up when you fall down.
14. Lava (2014)
Released with: Inside Out What The Blue Umbrella did for loved-up umbrellas, Lava does for volcanoes. Only Pixar could pull off a short film about romantic singing volcanos, but Lava really works. Directed by the studio's animation head James Ford Murphy, it's about taking your time to find love, and uses funny, sweet songs to tell a timeless story.
13. Tin Toy (1988)
While Luxo Jr snagged Pixar its first Oscar nomination, Tin Toy was its first win. A clear precursor to Toy Story, this short showed a massive leap forward from Red's Dream the year before. It features a one-man band attempting to escape from a destructive baby named Billy, and was a considerable financial risk for the struggling company. Luckily, boss Steve Jobs's faith in his animation division paid off when Tin Toy caught the attention of Disney, ultimately leading to the studio agreeing to bankroll the first Toy Story.
12. One Man Band (2005)
Released with: Cars Returning to the one-man-band theme of Tin Toy, this short resumed the tradition of using only sound effects and music to tell its story. It's the hilarious story of two rival street entertainers who are vying for the attentions of a young woman. Famed movie and video game composer Michael Giacchino was heavily involved with development and was integral to its success, writing the music alongside the animators, rather than composing it after the short was finished.
11. La Luna (2011)
Released with: Brave After the animated clouds of Partly Cloudy and abstract characters of Day & Night, La Luna returned Pixar's shorts to more traditional ground, with a sweet narrative story and 3D animated human characters. But it's still a beautifully made fairy tale, which uses some remarkable lighting and colors to depict three generations of a family who take a midnight boat trip and climb a ladder to the moon. Director Enrico Casarosa was heavily influenced by the work of anime legend Hayao Miyazaki, and the film was nominated for an Oscar.
10. Knick Knack (1989)
Released with: Finding Nemo The success of 1988's Tin Toy led John Lasseter's former employers at Disney to attempt to woo the animator back, but he refused their offer and decided to keep his creative independence at Pixar. Knick Knack was his next short. It was deliberately scaled down from his previous efforts and featured no human characters. Instead, it focuses on the comedy of a snow globe snowman and his attempts to escape his glass prison to reach "Sunny Miami," a mermaid ornament that sits next to him on a shelf. It might not be as technically impressive or emotionally involving as some, but it's one of the studio's funniest shorts. It was re-released alongside Finding Nemo in 2003.
9. Sanjay's Super Team (2015)
Released with: The Good Dinosaur One of the great things about Pixar's shorts is how they allow their creators to channel their own personal experiences. Writer/director Sanjay Patel's gorgeously animated film is based on his own experiences as a young boy, and the conflicts he experienced between the Hindu traditions of his family and the exciting lure of the modern world. It features superheroes and Hindu gods, and although there are a few surprisingly scary moments, it carries some profound messages.
8. Partly Cloudy (2009)
Released with: Up The inventive Partly Cloudy has all the classic Pixar elements, and according to writer/director Peter Sohn, the short took its inspiration from the Disney classic Dumbo. As a young boy, Sohn saw the baby Dumbo delivered by a stork and decided that it was clouds that made babies, before handing them to the birds for delivery. Partly Cloudy focuses on a stork who makes slightly less cuddly babies--crocodiles, porcupines, sharks, and electric eels. It's warm and funny, and one of the best.
7. Geri's Game (1997)
Released with: A Bug's Life After the release of 1989's Knick Knack, Pixar focused its efforts on developing its first movie, putting the time-consuming work of making shorts to one side. It would be eight years before Geri's Game was released, by which time Toy Story had changed animation forever. The leap in sophistication in that time period was astonishing, and this five-minute tale of an old man playing himself at chess was a clever, moving, and technically dazzling accomplishment. In other worlds, Geri's Game is all the things that makes Pixar the beloved studio it is today.
6. Lou (2017)
Released with: Cars 3 A recent Pixar classic, this is an inventive and funny tale of a school bully who is taught a lesson by a mysterious creature called Lou. Every evening, Lou gathers discarded items left by kids in the schoolyard for them to reclaim next day--except the bully wants to keep others possessions for himself. It has a thoughtful message as well as some great knockabout comedy and was nominated at the 2018 Academy Awards.
5. Presto (2008)
Released with: WALL-E Presto was heavily influenced by the classic zany cartoons of Tex Avery, Looney Toons, and Tom and Jerry, and the short succeeds in capturing much of their insane energy. It shows magician Presto DiGiotagione attempting to perform a magic trick with an uncooperative rabbit called Alec, leading to an increasingly wild series of humiliations for poor Presto. It crams more laughs into its five minutes than many comedies at 20 times the length, making it one of Pixar's funniest shorts.
4. Bao (2018)
Released with: Incredibles 2 Bao is the latest Pixar short to date, and also the first written and directed by a woman. Domee Shi's film looks at motherhood, focusing on an aging Chinese woman whose kids have left home. She experiences a second chance to be a mom when a dumpling comes alive, but this experience is also filled with inevitable loss and sadness. It's one of the most emotional shorts that Pixar has ever made, and shows that, 34 years on, the studio is still producing stunning work.
3. For The Birds (2000)
Released with: Monsters, Inc This charming avian tale remains one of the studio's best known shorts. It was directed by artist and producer Ralph Eggleston, who was hired by Pixar in 1992 and remains with the studio to this day. The story is simple enough: A large blue bird struggles to make friends with a small flock on a telephone wire, but has the last laugh. The humor, editing, animation, and hilarious sound design helped it secure an Oscar.
2. Piper (2016)
Released with: Finding Dory Although Pixar has released a steady of stream of shorts films over the last two decades, Piper was the first to win an Oscar since For the Birds 15 years earlier. It was well deserved. Director Alan Barillo utilised cutting-edge technology to bring us this story of a small sandpiper who is terrified of the water, but learns to love it with the help of some nearby Hermit Crabs. Visually, it's astonishing, and the rendered birds have an incredible amount of detail. But more importantly, it's a simple and timeless story told with heart and warmth.
1. Day & Night (2010)
Released with: Toy Story 3 The highly acclaimed Day & Night was a departure from the previous two decades of Pixar shorts. It uses traditional 2D animation alongside 3D elements to feature two characters, one filled with an ever-changing daytime scene, the other with a night scene inside him. It's visually stunning, smart, and thought-provoking, using the different scenes to display a range of emotions as the characters learn to celebrate their differences and similarities. In some ways, it's a precursor to the studio's work on Inside Out, but stands apart as a remarkable achievement in its own right.
By Kevin Wong on Jul 07, 2018 04:51 am
There's nothing wrong with a little twisted fun.
The Purge franchise is making massive bank. Not including the new film that came out on July 4, the films have made over $300 million against a budget of under $40 million. The First Purge looks to continue this trend. And if you're among the many who enjoy the franchise--as the box office returns clearly indicate--check out these similar films. Many are exploitative and crass. Most take a satirical approach to human violence. Others explore fear and personal choice. And all of them feature deranged, giddy psychopaths. Here are 10 other movies that fans of The Purge need to watch. And if you liked this gallery, check out 15 Fun and Patriotic Movies and 30 Twisted and Sick Horror Movies as well.
10. Wolf Creek (2005)
This grimy, low-budget Australian horror flick features three backpackers in the outback and the cackling, psychotic bushman who pursues them. Like The Purge, this movie is covered with a layer of figurative filth. Wolf Creek is a visceral, cruel experience, and you'll want to take a shower after finishing it.
9. You're Next (2011)
Home invasion movies like The Purge are reliably scary, but You're Next, which was shot on a shoestring budget in four weeks, manages to be uproariously funny as well. The home invasion is secondary to the toxic, awkward dynamics between the family members getting stalked. Think The Family Stone, but with a lot less schmaltz and a lot more blood.
8. Hush (2016)
Hush is a fantastic "What if...?" home invasion movie: "What if the hero of the film was deaf?" This is a horror film that rarely cheats; there are very few jump scares and a whole lot of mounting dread. Some of the scariest moments are before Maddie realizes there's an intruder; you see him stalking in the background, unbeknownst to her, making all sorts of noises you wish she could hear.
7. The Strangers (2008)
This is a mean-spirited, nihilistic piece of work. After a failed marriage proposal, a couple retreats to a secluded vacation home, where they are stalked and hunted by three masked invaders. Why are they doing this? What do they have to gain? There isn't a clear, good reason beyond sheer sadism. Alfred Hitchcock famously said, "Always make the audience suffer as much as possible. The Strangers exemplifies that approach.
6. Hide and Seek (2013)
This is not the corny Robert De Niro and Dakota Fanning suspense thriller about multiple personalities. This is an unrelated, creepy Korean film about squatters, who live in other people's homes when their owners aren't there. Hide and Seek has a final, clever twist that will catch you off guard if you're not paying attention. And after you see it, you'll want to watch the entire film, again, to appreciate it with new perspective.
5. Circle (2015)
This film could just as well be a stage play as a film. Circle takes place in one room; fifty people are trapped inside, standing in a circle, and one of them drops to the floor, dead, every two minutes. It's a fun psychological trip that gets tenser as the body count piles up.
4. We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011)
This is a thriller with a lot of of awkward pauses and silences; a sense of dread hangs over everything like a black cloud. It's about a mother who realizes that her only son is a burgeoning psychopath. It explores the depth of a mother's love and the dangers of denying the truth.
3. Battle Royale (2000)
This Japanese dystopian film, based on the novel of the same name, is gleefully exploitative. As a way of keeping the youth under its thumb, the Japanese government annually traps a group of students on an island. The students are forced to fight to the death until only one survivor remains. It's The Hunger Games before there was The Hunger Games.
2. Land of the Dead (2005)
George Romero's "Dead" films are all worth watching. But the fourth one, Land of the Dead, deals with the same themes as the Purge franchise. The zombie apocalypse is a framing device for a critique on social class and economic disparity. Even in this new, dangerous world, the poor suffer so that the wealthy will not.
1. Snowpiercer (2013)
Pound-for-pound, Snowpiercer is one of the finest films of the past decade. Directed by Bong Joon-Ho (The Host, Okja) and written by Bong and Kelly Masterson, Snowpiercer takes place on a planet Earth that is freezing; it's the result of a climate change experiment gone horribly wrong. The last human beings are trapped on a speeding Snowpiercer train, which is divided between the poor (the back of the train) and the wealthy (the front of the train). When the back of the train stages a coup and takes over Snowpiercer, car by car, the result is both thrilling and satisfying. Let us know what you think of all these films in the comments.
By Mat Elfring on Jul 07, 2018 04:38 am
Ant-Man and The Wasp is now in theaters, and while it is a Marvel superhero film, the movie is filled with moments of people and things growing to immense sizes and shrinking to the size of bugs. However, it's not the only movie featuring this sci-fi trope, which feels very at home during the 1950's science fiction craze. And while this theme isn't new at all, it is predominantly featured in quite a few films over the past 60 years. From Disney's Alice shrinking in order to get into inside a door to Wayne Szalinski ruining his life by using his shrinking/growing machine, there are actually some solid movies about this concept--as well as a few mediocre ones. So we decided to take a quick look at some other movies featuring people growing and shrinking in size for you to check out before or after you see Ant-Man and The Wasp. In our review of Ant-Man and the Wasp, GameSpot's Mike Rougeau said, "Ant-Man and the Wasp is hilarious, fun, silly, self aware, and creative. Filled with pseudo-science gobbledigook, crazy action, and multiple villains all vying for screen time, it's one of the most comic-booky MCU movies yet. The fates of all our favorite heroes after Avengers: Infinity War may still be up in the air, but in the meantime, Ant-Man and the Wasp is a welcome distraction." For more on Ant-Man and The Wasp, learn about the mid and post-credit scenes, the history of the character in the comics, and why the movie is set before Infinity War. Otherwise, check out these other movies about getting large or going small.
Alice In Wonderland (1951)
In this classic Disney film, Alice follows a white rabbit into the forest, which leads her down a rabbit hole. From there, she shrinks in size after drinking a magic potion, then grows after eating a biscuit. While the focus of the movie isn't about growing and shrinking, it's one of the most iconic moments of the movie.
The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
After exposure to radiation and insecticides, while enjoying a day in the sun, Scott Carey begins to shrink. He goes from a normal-sized man, to a few inches shorter, to being small enough to live in a dollhouse. Carey finds animals like a house cat and spiders become life-threatening when you're only six inches tall.
Attack Of The 50 Foot Woman (1958)
Rich socialite Nancy Archer isn't having the best life because her husband has been having an affair but continues to come crawling back when he needs money. One evening, Archer has an encounter with a UFO which transformers her to 50 feet tall. She then decides to take vengeance on her horrid husband.
Fantastic Voyage (1966)
Both the United States and the Soviet Union have created technology that can shrink people and objects; however, it only lasts for an hour. Dr. Jan Benes finds a way to make the shrinking last indefinitely, but finds himself in a coma after an assassination attempt. A group of doctors board a submarine, become miniaturized, and go inside Dr. Benes in order to save his life by removing a brain clot.
Honey, I Shrunk The Kids (1987)
Wayne Szalinski, the crazy scientist next door, creates a machine that can shrink things. However, his son, daughter, and two of his neighbor's kids end up and the wrong place at the wrong time and end up shrinking so small that ants are the size a horse and blades of grass are now the size of a tree. The kids go on a mission in their own backyard to try and get big again.
Innerspace (1987)
A pilot named Tuck is involved in a miniaturization experiment. He gets shrunk inside a vehicle and placed inside a syringe, but a group of bad dudes steal the technology, and Tuck gets injected inside Jack Putter, a store clerk. Tuck finds a way to communicate with Jack, while inside of him, and the two try to find a way to get the shrinking technology back and restore Tuck to regular size.
Big (1988)
A teenage boy named Josh wants nothing more than to be older, and one night, he makes a wish on a Zoltar machine to be big. He wakes up the next morning a full-grown adult. His best friend Billy helps Josh acclimate to the adult world while the two search for the Zoltar machine to reverse the wish.
Honey, I Blew Up The Kid (1992)
This time around, Wayne Szalinski makes a machine that can make things big, and just like the first movie, his technology goes awry when he accidentally uses it on his toddler, who begins growing at an incredible rate, up to 100 feet tall. Szalinski, once again, has to figure out a way to fix his kid.
Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves (1997)
At this point, Wayne Szalinski should be in prison for child endangerment and probably a bunch of other crimes. This time around, Wayne shrinks himself, his wife, his brother, and his brother's wife. Now, Wayne needs to get his children's attention in order to fix wet another problem he created.
Ant-Man (2015)
Scott Lang is trying to get his life back on track after being released from prison. However, he finds himself in rough spot when he steals a suit that allows him to shrink in size, and the suit's creator wants him to pull off a major heist to keep the shrinking technology out of the wrong hands.
Downsizing (2017)
Paul, an occupational therapist, decides to change his life forever by taking part in a procedure that shrinks humans to a few inches tall. However, his wife doesn't come with him, and Paul learns to live his life on his own, in a world that's so much larger than it used to be.
Rampage (2018)
Very loosely based on the arcade game of the same name, Rampage follows Davis Okoye, a primatologist who finds the albino gorilla--George--he takes care of is growing in size because of a genetic experiment gone wrong. Okoye teams with George to take on two other giant, mutated animals who are destroying Chicago.
By Matt Espineli on Jul 07, 2018 03:58 am
Going Battle Royale
With the massive success of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and Fortnite, battle royale games are quickly evolving, moving past the genre's humble beginnings as mods for large-scale survival games, like Minecraft and ARMA 2, and into fresh new territory. More and more new games in the genre are getting released every week; this year alone is packed with a slew of new battle royale games that aim to push the genre further by expanding its foundational elements and mechanics. To ensure you're kept up to date on all the latest battle royale games, we've compiled 19 of the biggest battle royale games releasing in 2018. Below you can find a full list releasing this year. In addition, you find out more details on each game in the feature ahead by clicking through to their game pages. Battle Royale Games Of 2018While there's plenty of battle royale games out there, we've decidedly narrowed it down in our list above to the ones most worth looking into this year. Many of the latest battle royale games are expanding upon it by throwing new mechanics into the mix. Some games add in spectator elements and dynamic environmental effects, while others are taking the experience to VR. It's exciting to see how some developers are pushing the genre to entirely new directions. There are also battle royale games this year are opting for a more traditional approach. Games like Europa and Mavericks: Proving Grounds are sticking to the last person standing approach but across different scales and with additional mechanics, like dynamic environmental effects and higher player counts. These games offer veteran players fascinating situations to test their skills. Even the biggest gaming franchises are incorporating battle royale into its repertoire. The upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and Battlefield 5 have battle royale-like modes. We can only imagine what other popular franchises plan to introduce the mode at E3 2018. Regardless of what you prefer, it's safe to say that there is likely a new battle royale game for you. But which one are you looking forward to the most? Let us know in the comments below. And be sure to check back often as we update this feature with even more new battle royale games as they get announced.
Battlefield 5 | PS4, Xbox One, PC
During EA's E3 2018 press conference, Battlefield V developer DICE confirmed that a battle royale mode will be available in the game at some point. DICE creative director Lars Gustavsson stated that games like Fortnite and PUBG are popular among the developer's employees. The idea to add a battle royale mode to Battlefield V came from conversations DICE developers were having about the game inside the studio as opposed to being a directive that EA handed down to the studio, he suggested. Release Date: TBA (Mode expected to release sometime after October 11 launch)
Fear the Wolves | PC, PS4, Xbox One
Fear the Wolves is a battle royale game set in an apocalyptic Chernobyl-like wasteland. It brings an interesting twist to the formula by introducing unpredictable weather cycles. In addition, there are radioactive zones that players can only explore with the proper gear. Release Date: PC Early Access TBA 2018 (Console version expected to launch in 2019)
Rapture Rejects | PC
Rapture Rejects is an upcoming battle royale game set in the popular Cyanide & Happiness cartoon universe. Unlike its contemporaries, the game sets players in a hellish otherworld where God has abandoned humanity, and the only option left is to kill until only one person is left standing. Release Date: TBA 2018
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 | PS4, Xbox One, PC
The upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is going to feature a battle royale mode. Dubbed Blackout, the new mode pits players against each other in a fight to be the last one standing. Where it differs from other battle royale games, however, is that it draws heavily on previous Black Ops titles. Developer Treyarch says it wanted to create a battle royale mode "the Black Ops way," and to that end, it has incorporated elements from the entire series into the mode. Release Date: October 12
Battlerite Royale | PC
Battlerite Royale is an upcoming mode for the team-based arena brawler where 20 players fight on a map 30 times larger than the game's standard arena mode map. You can play solo or as a pair, with 27 distinct heroes to choose from. The rules are standard fair as a battle royale game: drop in, gather supplies, kill people, and come out as the last person alive. Platforms: PC | Release Date: Summer 2018 (Standard Game is Available Now)
Maelstorm | PC
Maelstorm offers an interesting spin on the battle royale genre. Rather than take on the format of a first-person or third-person shooter, the game focuses on naval combat in a fantasy setting. You're pitted against 15 other players in a a battle to be the last "ship" standing. While you fight off other players and NPC ships, there are also sea monsters to worry about that'll attempt to sink you. And if the game's premise isn't enough to pull you in, it also offers progression and loot systems to keep you invested in and outside of battle. Release Date: Available Now via Steam Early Access
Egress
Egress is an RPG battle royale game with a Soulsborne-like combat system. It's set in an alternate universe that combines visuals elements from Victorian-era architecture, Lovecraftian mythology, and Retrowave. Release Date: TBA 2018
H1Z1 | PC (PS4 and Xbox One Versions Coming Soon)
Formerly known as H1Z1: King of the Kill, H1Z1 is the battle royale version of the zombie-survival sandbox game, Just Survive. It pits 150 players against each other in a last-man-standing deathmatch; players can choose to play solo, with a partner, or in groups of five. In addition to the game's standard battle royale mode, H1Z1 features a mode called Auto Royale, where four players drive a car into battle, collecting power-ups in order to emerge the last team driving. Platforms: PC | Release Date: Available Now
Proxima Royale
Proxima Royale is a sci-fi-themed battle royale where up to 60 players duke it out in a last "robot" standing conflict on an alien planet. The game is in early access, having had a few closed alphas over the past month or so. Release Date: TBA
SOS | PC
SOS offers something unique: it requires a microphone, and your social skills and sense of showmanship will be put to the test. Each player has to present themselves in an interesting way to stand out and earn the favor of a live audience. Each game is broadcast live online via the social gaming platform Hero, with spectators voting on possible in-game events like supply drops or bombing runs. The main goal is to find one of four relics spread across the map, and then signal for extraction and make it onto a helicopter. This sounds simple on paper, but 15 other players are also striving to accomplish the same goal, and with only a few seats on the helicopter, you're going to need to be clever and ruthless if you want to survive. Release Date: Available Now via Steam Early Access
Realm Royale | PC, PS4, Xbox One
Realm Royale is a 100-player battle royale spin-off of Paladins: Champions of the Realm. It takes on qualities similar to other battle royale games, but attempts to redefine them by introducing mechanics from hero shooters, with myriad playable characters, each with their own unique skills and abilities. In addition, it emphasizes cooperative play, as it's designed to be played primarily in four-person squads. Release Date: Available Now via Steam Early Access
The Darwin Project | PC, Xbox One
The Darwin Project is a third-person competitive multiplayer battle royale game with more of an emphasis on survival than its competitors. In order to win, you must endure extreme weather conditions, while tracking opponents and setting up traps in order to be the last one left alive. It's most noteworthy quality is that it incorporates reality TV show elements into its gameplay, like spectator interaction and a show director who controls varying aspects of the arena. Release Date: Available Now via Steam Early Access and Xbox One Game Preview program
Mavericks: Proving Grounds | PC
Mavericks: Proving Grounds is an first-person battle royale game where up to 400 players do battle in a highly dynamic environment. For example, you can set fire to a map, tactically spreading it to others parts of the map to either damage other players or cut them off. In addition, the game promises more intelligent mission systems, social hubs, and a player-driven narrative that informs your experiences playing the game. Release Date: TBA 2018 (Beta opens Summer 2018)
Islands of Nyne | PC
Islands of Nyne is a sci-fi-themed first-person battle royale game that's more skill-driven than its competitors. Based on how well you play, you'll earn special armor sets and weapon skins for your character. There's also a player betting system, which allows you to use in-game credits to place bets on individual players or teams during a match to win more equipment or skins. Release Date: TBA 2018 (Currently in Closed Alpha, which you can get into by pre-ordering the game)
Dying Light: Bad Blood | PC, PS4, Xbox One
Dying Light: Bad Blood is a standalone battle royale-esque expansion of the critically acclaimed Dying Light. It seems an almost unexpected release, but apparently it was made by developer Techland due to numerous fan requests. In Bad Blood, six players are dropped into random locations around the map in a race to acquire enough samples from several powerful infected zombies. As you take down these special zombies, you'll collect samples and potentially level up your character--boosting their health, agility, and attack power. The first one to acquire all the samples and escape in the evac chopper wins. Release Date: TBA 2018 (a Global Playtest is schedule for sometime this year, which you can sign up for via the Dying Light website)
Europa | PC
Europa is Chinese publisher Tencent's contribution to the battle royale genre. Unlike its competitors, the game will feature real-time weather, underwater exploration, environmental kills, and destructible cover. Whether Europa releases anywhere besides China remains to be seen. Release Date: TBA 2018 in China only
Survival Games: Battle Royale | PC
Survival Games: Battle Royale retains the genre's tried and true premise, but provides some twists of its own. Maps are procedurally generated and you must keep track of your stats and hunger as you fight to be the last one standing. In addition, the game sports a map editor that allows you design your own custom battle royale arenas. Release Date: Available Now via Steam Early Access
Stand Out: VR Battle Royale | PC (Oculus Rift, HTC Vive)
Playing a battle royale game in VR sounds like a huge challenge, but developer raptor lab is looking to make it happen with Standout: Battle Royale VR. In order to survive a match, you'll literally have to crouch down to avoid enemy and lean in and out of cover to get a clear line of sight on opponents; you can even reach out and snatch a magazine from a player's hands. Release Date: Available Now via Steam Early Access
Fractured Lands | PC
Fractured Lands sets the 100-player battle royale formula in a Mad Max-inspired post-apocalyptic wasteland. The game features classic genre mechanics, like resource management and tactical first-person shooting. However, it also sports an emphasis on car combat and vehicle customization. Release Date: Available Summer 2018 via Steam Early Access (Available now in Closed Beta)
By Array on Jul 07, 2018 03:27 am
Every Battle Pass Reward In Season 4 Of Fortnite
With the release of the huge 4.0 update, Epic Games kicked off Season 4 of Fortnite: Battle Royale. That update came with a new Battle Pass for players to purchase on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and mobile, meaning there are new rewards to obtain--including skins, emotes, dances, sprays, and more. Here is everything you need to know about all of these goodies, including how to get that much-coveted Omega skin at level 100. [Update: Season 5 starts on July 12, making this your last opportunity to rank up your Battle Pass and earn these rewards.] Rewards are for the most part only available to those who buy the the Battle Pass. It's priced at 950 V-Bucks, which is just under $10 / £8. As you play and level up, you'll earn more rewards, but you can speed up the whole process by completing the Season 4 challenges. Although the majority of those come in the form of "weekly" challenges, you have the entire season to complete them. Season 4 runs through July 9. Among the items you'll find in the premium tier of the Battle Pass are new skins, gliders, emotes, and loading screens. Also new are sprays, a type of cosmetic introduced in this patch that allow you to essentially spraypaint an image onto an object in the world. In the images above, you can see all of the major new items included in the Season 4 Battle Pass. Bear in mind, these are all cosmetic; nothing will actually impact gameplay directly. Another wrinkle is the limited number of skins that can be customized with different "styles." This is true of both the aforementioned Omega skin, as well as the Carbide skin you get immediately by purchasing the Battle Pass. With Carbide, you'll earn different styles by completing Carbide challenges, which simply involves hitting certain level milestones. Each specific challenge grants you a particular style, while there's also a Carbide pickaxe you can earn by completing three of these challenges. In terms of playable content, Fortnite has received numerous additions in recent months. Epic has consistently added new content to the game, including new weapons, items, map areas, limited-time modes, and more. Additionally, the infamous comet has finally hit, changing areas of the map and introducing gravity-defying Hop Rocks. The comet's impact has specifically created Dusty Divot, but there's also the new Risky Reels area shown in the Season 4 trailer. More intriguing are the hidden underground bases that players have discovered. One of these houses a large missile silo and generally looks to be a sort of supervillain lair. It's unclear how this factors into the ongoing "story" of sorts that Battle Royale is home to, but Epic clearly has plans to continue evolving the game outside of new weapons and things of that nature.
By Mat Elfring on Jul 07, 2018 03:07 am
It's time for things to get extreme, but not in like a late-90s/early-00s type of way with dirtbikes doing backflips and Jnco jeans. WWE is taking things to the extreme in its aptly titled Extreme Rules PPV. The event is coming to the WWE Network on Sunday, July 15, and the show will take place at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. Like most of WWE's PPVs, Extreme Rules will start at 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT, with a Kickoff Show airing on the network--and most likely YouTube--one hour prior. As of this writing, there are nine matches on the card for the evening, one of which will be on the Kickoff, and we should still see another match added. Everyone who's getting ready for Extreme Rules has their favorites to win each match, and GameSpot is no different. We've gone through the upcoming card and decided with great certainty who will win each of these matches. There may be a few title changes for the evening, but one thing is for sure: it's going to be a Happy Rusev Day, no matter who wins. Make sure to come back to GameSpot on Sunday, July 17 for live coverage of WWE's Extreme Rules as well as some followup pieces as well. If you're looking for more wrestling, check out these WWE movie cameos you might have missed.
Roman Reigns vs. Bobby Lashley
In the continuing saga of "Who Does Vince Think The Audience Will Buy As Brock's Next Opponent?" Bobby Lashley has stepped up to the plate. However, he has to get through Roman "I'm Always The #1 Contender Regardless Of My Win/Loss Record" Reigns. As much as I don't care for Lashley, I'd much rather see him in a main event picture over Reigns, if those are our only choices right now. Do we really need to see Lesnar/Reigns again? At least with Lashley, we'll get to see more than just six Superman Punches for 15 minutes. And Lashley has the build, strength, and durability to last against "The Beast." Our prediction: Lashley wins
Finn Bálor vs. "Constable" Baron Corbin
Maybe it's just me--I hope not--but Baron Corbin dropping the "Lone Wolf" gimmick and becoming the "Constable" for Stephanie McMahon has reinvigorated his career. This should be a fun match and maybe even one of the surprises of the evening. While I want Balor back in the main event picture, this rivalry has legs, and because of that, I'm giving the win to Corbin in hopes it continues into Summerslam. Our prediction: Corbin wins
Deleters of Worlds (c) vs. The B-Team
(For the Raw Tag Championship) Raw's tag team division is a bit of a mess. It feels like it's in this weird holding pattern, and there's just not a lot of hype around it. Something needs to change, and while a win for The B-Team may not be the kick in the butt the division needs, it's a push in the right direction for now. Our prediction: The B-Team wins
The Bludgeon Brothers (c) vs. Team Hell No
(For the Smackdown Tag Championship) Smackdown's tag division isn't much better than Raw's. The Bludgeon Brothers have run through the entire division on the Tuesday night show, and it's made all attempts at someone else winning the title futile in the process. Luckily, Team Hell No is back and provided some hope for Smackdown's tag team scene. While I'm hoping this is all another stepping-stone to get Bryan to take on Miz at Summerslam, I think Bryan and Kane have a chance to win the titles. Our prediction: Team Hell No wins
Carmella (c) vs. Asuka
(For the Smackdown Women's Championship) Hopefully, I'm not the only person who is excited James Ellsworth is back, even though Carmella doesn't need him around anymore. Obviously, Ellsworth will be involved, even though Carmella and Asuka could easily have a great match on their own. In a perfect world, this would be a great match to showcase Carmella and have her look like a champion who could stand on her own. However, I have a feeling Ellsworth is going to ruin it for her, and Asuka will somehow get the win. Our prediction: Asuka wins after Ellsworth interference goes wrong
Dolph Ziggler (c) vs. Seth Rollins (30-Minute Iron Man match)
(For the Intercontinental Championship) Remember when Dolph Ziggler won the United States Championship and abandoned it? Well, now he's the Intercontinental Champion, and I'm surprised he didn't walk away from this one as well. Ziggler and Seth Rollins have been putting on some stellar matches, so an Iron Man bout feels like the perfect fit. This is going to be a close one, but I'm giving Ziggler the win. Our prediction: Dolph Ziggler wins
Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Nia Jax (Extreme Rules match)
(For the Raw Women's Championship) Nia Jax will get her rematch for the Raw Women's Championship after Alexa Bliss cashed in her Money in the Bank contract last month. Jax, as champion, didn't work exceptionally well the first time, primarily because she was switched from face to heel in order to take on Ronda Rousey, which made no sense. Until her character can get back on track, Bliss should and will remain champion. Our prediction: Alexa Bliss wins
Jeff Hardy (c) vs Shinsuke Nakamura
(For the United States Championship) After spending the past couple months kicking AJ Styles in the groin, Shinsuke Nakamura has moved on to challenge Jeff Hardy for his United States Championship. This has to be a turning point for Nakamura. His character is working so well as a heel, and he's got to win a title sooner or later. A long-term rivalry between these two would be great, but it needs to start with a Nakamura win. Our prediction: Shinsuke Nakamura wins
AJ Styles (c) vs. Rusev
(For the WWE Championship) Happy Rusev Day! Anyone else feel like this match came out of left field? Sure, Rusev has a huge following behind him as of late, and at some point, he should be back in the title picture, but this feels a little too quick. AJ Styles has been a phenomenal champion for Smackdown, and it's just not time for the title to go to someone else yet. Our prediction: AJ Styles wins
By Kevin Wong on Jul 07, 2018 02:57 am
The 4th of July is the anniversary of America's birth. But in 2018, it also served as the release day for The First Purge, because the filmmakers have the subtlety of a lead pipe. Perhaps if this continues, this will be the new Independence Day tradition, the way the Saw movies always debuted on Halloween. In celebration of America's independence, we're ranking the disturbing, unsettling masks from the Purge movie franchise. It's the central irony of the films; Purging is supposed to be an annual release of everyone's true selves, but lots of people hide their faces while doing it. Here's a look at who's doing so with the best look (spoiler: weird cone mask guy is not No. 1). You may want to hold off on looking if you've yet to see the newest entry in the series. If you haven't done so, you may want to consider checking out our First Purge review before doing so, as it raises a number of concerns about this entry, which was directed by Gerard McMurray, rather than James DeMonaco, who helmed the earlier movies. DeMonaco did, however, write this film. "2016's The Purge: Election Year ended on a hopeful note. That movie tried to mirror the real world too, but the real life politics it mimicked turned out much differently than the film's," writes Mike Rougeau. "In 2018, we could have used a movie where, for once, the good guys won. The fact that series creator James DeMonaco, who's written all four entries and directed the three before this, chose to give us a prequel instead is empirical evidence that he may be out of good ideas.
35. The Weird Cone Mask Guy: The Purge: Election Year
He's a member of Uncle Sam's crew from the third movie. I don't even know what this is. It's definitely the worst costume amongst a bunch of fantastic ones.
34. The Demon Mouth: The Purge: Anarchy
Apparently, this guy is a WWE fan and loves Finn Balor. It's nice to know that wrasslin' survives America's collapse.
33. The Raver Skull Girl: The First Purge
From what we can see from the trailer, the first annual Purge started out with a massive rave and not nearly as much killing as one might expect. But take a look at Raver Skull Girl. She definitely knows what's up.
32. Benjamin Franklin: The Purge: Election Year
No doubt, the booziest of our founding fathers would have embraced the annual Purge. Inventing the Franklin stove has nothing on state-sanctioned murder.
31. The Blackface Purger: The Purge: Election Year
This was the first mask in the third movie, and it let us know that Election Year would be a much more obvious satire of America. It's based off a well-known racial caricature, right down to its wide eyes and pitch-black face.
30. The Statue of Liberty (Version 2.0): The First Purge
This was the promotional poster for the fourth movie. But it's more cool-looking than creepy, and it's definitely a step down from the Lady Liberty in the third movie.
29. The Clownface Girl: The Purge: Election Year
She's one of the Candy Bar Girl lackeys from the third movie. She's a typical "scary clown." Other Purgers spent a little more time on their costumes the night beforehand, though. C+.
28. The Mace Wielder: The Purge: Election Year
This is a confusing tangle of metal and wire, like he just walked out of a second-rate Thunderdome.
27. George Washington: The Purge: Election Year
The founding father of our country went from chopping down cherry trees to chopping off heads.
26. Anime Lamb Girl: The Purge: Election Year
A minor member of Candy Bar Girl's crew, Anime Lamb Girl is there in one scene and gone in the next. Maybe she got smart and went home.
25. Patrick Henry: The Purge: Election Year
"Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
24. The Lingerie Model: The Purge: Election Year
One of Candy Bar Girl's lackeys, she was the sexiest Venom symbiote on Purge night.
23. The Salesman: The Purge: Election Year
This guy deserves an elbow to the mouth for jumping in front of and startling his potential customers. It's hard enough to deal with the annual Purge without this guy messing with you before sunset.
22. The Window Man: The First Purge
That's just unwholesome. What the hell is that? We don't know. And we don't want to know.
21. The Deformed School Boy: The Purge
Preppy jock meets Eyes Wide Shut. This was the best screencap of him from the entire film; he took a bullet to the head almost immediately after entering the Sandin household. Unfortunately for him, creepiness doesn't equate to peripheral vision.
19. & 20. The Two Skipping Girls: The Purge
The Purge was the last film cameo for Joan Rivers, seen here with daughter Melissa. (Not really, but can you see the resemblance?)
18. The Blue-Faced Ape Man: The Purge: Anarchy
This primate with an overbite had a blink-and-you'll-miss-him appearance, but was definitely scary. The filmmakers paid careful attention to lighting him; the half-in-light, half-in-shadow effect is an oldie but a goodie.
17. The Bird Flipper: The Purge
He's upset, because not only is he deformed, he also has a receding hairline.
16. The Massive Raver Devil: The First Purge
The filmmakers finally got tired of beating around the bush. They put a big ol' Satan head right in the trailer for the new movie.
15. Chainsaw Girl: The Purge: Election Year
Wearing a surgical mask whilst brandishing a chainsaw was a particularly witty, dark-humored joke in the third movie.
14. The Interrupter: The Purge
The design of this guy's mask is actually pretty scary. But The Interrupter lasts too fleetingly to make an impact. He rants for exactly three seconds before Polite Leader gets tired of listening to his crap and shuts him up, permanently.
13. The Hipster Lumberjack: The Purge
Of course the Seattle hipsters are part of our dystopian future.
12. The Flukeman: The First Purge
Apparently, the massive Flukeman from The X-Files took a break from popping out of toilets to star in this new film.
11. The Polite Leader: The Purge
He only wears his mask for a few seconds before taking it off for the remainder of the movie. But the gang's leader probably has the most iconic look, because he was used in all the promotional shots. The actor, Rhys Wakefield, has such an expressive face, that he looks more exaggerated with his mask off than on.
10. The Half-Skull Biker: The Purge: Anarchy
Aside from the God Leader's, this is the scariest mask from the second film. The missing jaw makes him look a bit like Shao Kahn, if Shao Kahn decided to join a biker gang.
9. The Guy in the Hoodie: The Purge
Here's the worst jump scare of the first film--the payoff after stumbling aimlessly in the dark for 40 minutes.
8. The Motorcyclist: The Purge: Anarchy
Vroooooom!! The weird fencing-helmet-meets-motorcycle-helmet looks terrifying.
7. Abraham Lincoln: The Purge: Election Year
Born in a log cabin from humble means, Abraham Lincoln, the Great Emancipator, is widely considered our greatest president, thanks to his firm leadership, preservation of our Union, and good humor.
6. Uncle Sam: The Purge: Election Year
Uncle Sam didn't need help looking more freaky than he already is. "I WANT YOU! To participate in the annual Purge!"
5. The Big Pig: The Purge: Election Year
A massive, stuffed, bloody pig costume is disturbing enough. But the oversized pacifier crammed into its mouth seals the deal.
4. Betsy Ross: The Purge: Election Year
After sewing the first American flag, Betsy Ross loved it so much that she painted it on her face.
3. The Candy Bar Girl: The Purge Election Year
This is why you don't piss anybody off the day before the annual Purge. If I had a store, and I saw someone stealing a candy bar? She can take the whole box, as far as I'm concerned. Just don't show up with your fabulous, murderous crew the following day.
2. The Waving God: The Purge: Anarchy
The leader of the main gang from the second movie, he makes the most of his screen-time with a weak, cloying wave that sent chills down our spines.
1. The Statue of Liberty: The Purge: Election Year
"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" Lady Liberty (Version 1.0) has a DIY, punk rock look to her, with light-up, X-ed out eyes and a burnt looking face. She's a perfect send-up and subversion of America under the New Founding Fathers, and that's what makes her No. 1.
By Jordan Ramée on Jul 07, 2018 02:30 am
The Switch launched in March 2017 and Nintendo's done a pretty stellar job getting exclusives onto the company's newest console. Within its first year, the Switch had incredible triple-A exclusives like Super Mario Odyssey and smaller surprises like Golf Story. That trend isn't slowing down in 2018, with phenomenal-looking games like Octopath Traveler and Super Mario Party scheduled to launch before the year is up. Click ahead to view GameSpot's highest-rated Switch exclusives since the console's launch. The titles are in alphabetical order and don't reflect our own personal ranking of each game. The list only includes games we've awarded an 8/10 or higher and we've limited the gallery based on console exclusivity, so you'll see a few games that are also available on PC. This means titles that are on both Wii U and Switch without the Switch version being a remaster are not included. That's why Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition made the cut, while titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild did not. Nintendo's Eshop is having a pretty good sale on indie titles right now. Many of them, like Battle Chef Brigade, are notable Nintendo Switch console exclusives that simply aren't on this list because we haven't reviewed them. You can read our recommended list of cheap Switch games for even more excellent titles to play. We've only given one Nintendo Switch console exclusive a perfect 10/10 score. Do you know which one it was? Click ahead to find out. Be sure to also read through our list of every PS4 console exclusive game we've given a review score of 8/10 or higher. As you might surmise, that list is significantly longer than this one. And yet, surprisingly, there's only one 10/10 review score in that gallery as well. Let us know what your favorite Nintendo Switch exclusive is in the comment section down below.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
We gave the game a 9/10. In our Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze review, Peter Brown wrote, "Tropical Freeze isn't a heavy-hitter from Nintendo in the same way Breath of the Wild or Super Mario Odyssey are, but it's a fantastic platformer that's bursting with creativity and expertly designed challenges. It's tuned just right--always tough but rarely frustrating--to ensure that even the most common moments feel great. If you missed out when the game first debuted back in 2014, give it a shot today. It easily stands the test of time."
Golf Story
We gave the game an 8/10. In our Golf Story review, Ginny Woo wrote, "It can take a little while for the narrative to ramp up in Golf Story and for you to feel like you've really cultivated the skills of a champion, but based on the sheer scope of what the game delivers, there's likely something for everyone to enjoy whether their shtick is mini-golfing or terrorising delinquents with frisbees. It has successfully captured the trappings of yesteryear's RPGs, and the witticisms and idiosyncrasies of the characters you encounter are a great palate cleanser between rounds. Switch has had a swathe of indies hit its eShop recently, but if you're looking for something that'll give you satisfaction in terms of an interesting story and a rewarding mechanic, then Golf Story is certainly par for the course."
Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition
We gave the game an 8/10. In our Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition review, Daniel Starkey wrote, "Those returning to the fray will likely be a little disappointed as there just isn't enough new content to rouse fresh excitement. For newcomers, though, Hyrule Warriors is a delightful, bizarre outing that opens up the Zelda series, taking us places we've been before, just with thousands of monsters and awesome, screen-clearing magical attacks."
Kirby Star Allies
We gave the game an 8/10. In our Kirby Star Allies review, Peter Brown wrote, "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."
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
We gave the game a 9/10. In our Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle review, Edmond Tran write, "Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle exudes off-beat optimism that never dissolves. It's a consistent delight, no matter how challenging the road becomes, because Kingdom Battle's unique turn-based tactics system is in every way a pleasure to engage with. Coupled with the annoyingly infectious allure of Rabbids, and the always delightful, colorful world of the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle is an implausibly engrossing formula that is positively challenging and endlessly charming."
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
We gave the game a 9/10. In our Mario Kart 8 Deluxe review, Kallie Pragge wrote, "Deluxe also adds some small quality-of-life updates that make for a more polished package. Load times are shorter on Switch than on Wii U, and the game takes advantage of the Joy-Cons' vibration capabilities--off-roading is bumpier and drifting boosts feel more satisfying thanks to a stronger sense of acceleration. Plus, you can change your kart configuration in multiplayer without having to leave the lobby first. (About time.)"
Splatoon 2
We gave the game an 8/10. In our Splatoon 2 review, Kallie Pragge wrote, "At first glance, Splatoon 2 seems very similar to the first game. But all the small changes, and even the bigger ones in single player and League Battles, make for a fresh take on the already unique shooter. If you played a lot of the original, the sequel has enough to keep you coming back, and if you're new to the game, it's a fantastic place to jump in."
Super Mario Odyssey
We gave the game a perfect 10/10. In our Super Mario Odyssey review, Peter Brown wrote, "Odyssey is sustained beyond its major milestones not only through colorful worlds and hidden challenges, but through the sheer joy of controlling Mario, who's never felt more responsive or dynamic in action. Even with everything new that's been introduced, Nintendo's forward-thinking platformer retains the series' classic handcrafted appeal, which is even more impressive when you realize how densely packed each kingdom is. Mario's latest outing is big, bold, and bursting with new ideas, and like Breath of the Wild, is another instance of Nintendo going above and beyond to redefine our expectations. It's a shining example of refined creativity, and another crown jewel for Switch that is without equal."
West Of Loathing
We gave the game an 8/10. In our West of Loathing review, Edmond Tran wrote, "There are a few minor issues--inventory management on Switch becomes cumbersome as you collect an increasing amount of things, fights with a lot of enemies can obscure some pertinent information, and the stakes sometimes feel a little too low to be completely motivating. But West of Loathing's focus on maintaining a flexible, open-ended nature and lighthearted, humorous feel keeps you engaged in what feels like an imaginative pen-and-paper Dungeons and Dragons campaign, led by a game master whose only goal is to make sure you're laughing and having a fun time. West of Loathing's visuals are monochromatic, but there's enjoyable comedy painted between every line, a pitch-perfect Spaghetti Western soundtrack, and a full spectrum of role-playing possibilities to choose from that make it a consistently enjoyable madcap cowboy jaunt."
By Array on Jul 07, 2018 01:09 am
The Best Xbox One Backwards Compatible Games
One of Microsoft's strengths when it comes to Xbox One is its commitment to backwards compatibility. New backwards compatible games are being added all the time. As with the latest bunch--Assassin's Creed Liberation HD and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter--these are routinely announced by Major Nelson on Twitter at 9 AM PT on Twitter, although there's no particular schedule for how many are released (if any) on a given day. Even in lieu of any specific schedule for new additions, the past few years have seen the list of backwards compatible games grow quite long, and it can be extremely difficult to find those that are worthwhile. Not only are there 400+ Xbox 360 games that can be played on Xbox One, but more than 30+ original Xbox titles are also supported. Beyond the consistent rollout of games, Microsoft has publicly made it clear that backwards compatibility is a real priority for the company. "I see games as an art form," Xbox boss Phil Spencer said last year. "Console games can get lost when hardware generations go away. It can become more challenging to play the games of our past ... There's something to be learned from experiencing what I played as a kid. There's good business there for the content owners, but as players, it's nice to be able to understand how our art form has progressed." Spencer subsequently made it clear that backwards compatibility is--despite reports suggesting it's ignored--a feature that people do use. He wrote off data that said otherwise and pointed to an example of strong sales for an old Call of Duty game when it was added to the service: "I think the best signal we had so far is when Black Ops II landed and that month it hit NPD's Top 10 that month for game sales. An Xbox 360 game that's years old, that shows that people care." The feature has only gotten better with the release of the Xbox One X, as it offers much sharper visuals in these old games; some even have specific enhancements on top of a resolution increase. But whether you play on an X, an Xbox One S, or even the standard Xbox One, you're treated to a feature that is currently unmatched by both PS4 and Nintendo Switch. While not providing access to everything available on Xbox 360 and the original Xbox, the supported backwards compatible games from the two include classics ranging from expansive RPGs and thrilling adventures to XBLA gems and old arcade games refined for the big screen. Among these are all-time greats like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, the Mass Effect Trilogy, and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion to name a few. But if you want a challenge that's faster to jump into, the likes of Ikaruga or Super Meat Boy will do the trick. To help you parse through the giant list of supported games, we've compiled a list of our personal favorites to highlight which backwards compatible titles are worth your time. If you want to pick something out yourself, you can peruse the entire list of Xbox One backwards compatible games. Which Xbox One backwards compatible games do you love the most? Are there any games would you like to be added in the future? Let us know in the comments below.
Alan Wake
Unfortunately, Alan Wake has been removed from all digital platforms, which includes the Xbox Store. However, if you can snag yourself a physical copy of it (or already own it digitally), then Alan Wake will take you on an adventure that you won't soon forget. Set in the Pacific Northwest town of Bright Falls (and taking significant inspiration from the television series Twin Peaks), Alan Wake features the titular character taking a vacation with his wife, who hopes the break will help her husband with his writing block. Things quickly take a turn for the worse, as Alan's wife disappears, and he's forced to confront the darkness that shrouds Bright Falls and ultimately question his own sanity. It's a compelling narrative that'll have you aching for a proper sequel. Thankfully, the two DLC story expansions are now free, so you'll at least have something to tide you over. | Mat Paget
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Desmond Miles' trip through time ended with Assassin's Creed III, and Ubisoft's follow-up title put players into the role of a nameless Abstergo employee. It was a clean slate for the franchise, offering a great point for new players to jump in without having to start from Altair's story. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag steps back from the grand ideologies of the Assassins and Templars, as well as the convoluted Those Who Came Before storyline, to deliver a relatable tale of one man's quest for redemption. Edward Kenway isn't all that different from a young Ezio; he has a good heart but he's brash and selfish. Over the course of Black Flag, Edward grows from a greedy pirate into a humbled hero. The inclusion of both traditional assassination missions and new naval combat along with the lush islands and open seas of the Caribbean made for one of the best games in the franchise. | Jordan Ramee
Bully: Scholarship Edition
Rockstar constantly refines its open-world action games, which we've seen through the Grand Theft Auto series and Red Dead Redemption. But the one that always stands out to me is Bully, because it traded gratuitous violence and adult stories for the rough-and-tumble fisticuffs and hijinx of a rambunctious high school. I vividly remember the theme song that plays while walking Bullworth Academy, rushing to make it to class on time, and scrapping with the bullies in missions to become the most respected student on campus. Bully expands beyond that with loads of fun mini-games, silly characters based on high school stereotypes, and an expansive open world. While it may be a bit wonky in terms of controls and technical performance compared to modern games, everything it does right comes together for a game worth playing today. | Michael Higham
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Countless so-called Metroidvania games have drawn inspiration from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, but more than two decades later, few can approach its greatness. It evolved the well-established Castlevania series in numerous ways, offering a non-linear castle to explore and RPG-style progression while maintaining the satisfying side-scrolling action of earlier titles. I came to it years after its original release and still thoroughly enjoyed it, and it's something that I still routinely find myself booting up. Exploring Castle Dracula is one of the great pleasures in gaming, and it's a testament to its design that fans of the game still have its layout memorized so many years later. I'll spare you a reference to the twist in case you've managed to avoid it all these years, but whether you're a fan of more recent Metroidvania-style games who missed out on this progenitor of the genre or someone who's never dabbled in these types of games, you owe it to yourself to see why Symphony of the Night is regarded as an all-time classic. | Chris Pereira
Crackdown
Despite initially being written off by many as "that game with the Halo 3 beta," I was immediately taken with the concept of Crackdown--an open-world game where you play as a superhero special agent who can pick up and throw cars or leap over buildings. A decade later, the fairly basic set of goals you're given leave something to be desired, but the core gameplay remains extremely fun. Hunting down agility orbs and dealing with villainous gangs is still tremendously satisfying, particularly with a friend online. Its cel-shaded art style still looks good, and with backwards compatibility introducing some impressive Xbox One X enhancements to the visuals, Crackdown is a game that's well worth picking up. | Chris Pereira
Dead Space
Let's face facts: there's practically no chance that EA will bring back Dead Space, at least not as we know it. While it's sad to think that one of the most intriguing sci-fi horror series out there has been pushed to the sidelines, the fact that Dead Space is backwards compatible on Xbox One is at least worth celebrating. I know, it's also on PC, but if you're in a console-only household, Xbox One is the only current-gen console you can look to. And why should you play Dead Space? In short: it's a spooky-as-hell third-person action game with fantastic art direction, and features one of the coolest "guns" in gaming. The enemies you face are drastically distorted humans with malformed and elongated limbs that make great targets for your Plasma Cutter--a maintenance tool that fires energy beams, making it an equally effective sidearm. Dead Space manages to juggle cool tech and a scary setting unlike any other game out there, and if you haven't tried it in the past, you really should if you have an Xbox One at home. | Peter Brown
Fallout 3
Fallout 3 kicked off the series' modern era and helped cement Bethesda Game Studios' reputation as a leader in the field of open-world RPGs. The open-ended structure allows you to freely roam a post-apocalyptic wasteland (so long as you can survive) and seek out stories in the most unlikely and dangerous places. The dialogue choices are numerous, allowing you to shape the story and your character with a great amount of freedom, staying true to the series' RPG roots. Likewise, despite the shift to a first-person perspective, Bethesda implemented the Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, better known as VATS, to allow for strategic menu-based combat. It was an unusual mechanic but one that quickly gained favor for how it effectively bridged the gap between Fallout old and new. Fallout 3 was hugely ambitious at the time of its release, and persists as one of the all-time great open-world RPGs 10 years later. | Peter Brown
Fallout: New Vegas
Obsidian has the magic touch when it comes to RPGs, and Fallout: New Vegas is a prime example. The vast brown deserts of Nevada might not sound very appealing, but New Vegas shines through incredibly clever writing and masterful quest design. Vaguely aligned factions and active societies fill the world with distinct charisma. I'll never forget the high-class casino that acts as a front to a secret bourgeois cannibalistic society and the reveal of Mr. House's true identity while overlooking the entirety of New Vegas. Quests like these are plentiful, and they're surrounded by such intricate lead-up and dialogue sequences that plant genuine curiosity in your head to see them to the end. Fallout can easily drop in swing tunes and old-time jazz for a great soundtrack, and it's all the more fitting with the Vegas theme. But since this is a post-apocalyptic wild west, classic country-western songs diversify the tracklist and are burnt into my memories of trekking the dangerous deserts with a big iron on my hip. | Michael Higham
Far Cry: Blood Dragon
While I've personally grown tired of the franchise formula that was established with Far Cry 3, the one post-Far Cry 2 game in the series that I'm still quite taken with is Blood Dragon. The spin-off infuses Far Cry 3's gameplay with a dystopian '80s flavor. Despite being set in 2007, the game boasts a unique look, as it's essentially made to imitate the way '80s movies tended to imagine the future; there's fog everywhere, with neon colors and lasers paired with a matching synth soundtrack. You play as a stereotypical action hero named Rex "Power" Colt, who's voiced by Terminator and Aliens star Michael Biehn. It's all very over-the-top, satirical in nature, and it pairs quite nicely with Far Cry's gameplay. Blood Dragon's distinct enough to make it worth a try even if you find the Far Cry games somewhat rote. | Chris Pereira
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
If I had to pick a favorite Grand Theft Auto game in the series, I will always point to San Andreas. As a sort of ode to '90s hip-hop culture and satire of Southern California street gangs, San Andreas was an odd reflection of home. Sure, it's a GTA game, violent and absurd overall, but the way characters talked, the music that played, and just the way the city streets looked were all too familiar. In addition, Rockstar layered some light RPG elements that made the streets of Los Santos feel more lived-in. Sometimes I wouldn't even do missions, and instead hit the gym or shop for clothes. Of course, San Andreas includes an expansive open world beyond Los Santos with Las Venturas, the Vegas stand-in, and San Fierro to imitate San Francisco. Some of the mission designs are dated and the shooting mechanics aren't refined like modern entries, but San Andreas is still a ton of fun and has a unique personality that few games can match. Carl Johnson (CJ) still stands as one of the best GTA characters, ever. | Michael Higham
Halo: Reach
After Halo 3: ODST took a detour from John-117's story to focus on the mission of one squad of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, Halo: Reach took that same format of working within a squad and reapplied it to a group of Spartans. Taking place prior to the events of Halo: Combat Evolved, the story of how the planet Reach fell is a rollercoaster of empowering firefights and emotional sacrifices. It was Bungie's last Halo title before handing the reins over to 343 Industries, and it shows. Halo: Reach takes the best online multiplayer and single-player campaign elements that Bungie spent perfecting over Master Chief's original trilogy and combines it into one incredible game. I'll still boot up Halo: Reach from time to time, and the servers for SWAT are still loaded with thousands of players waiting to vote to play on Sword Base. | Jordan Ramee
Hitman: Blood Money
Before the 2016 franchise revival, Hitman: Blood Money was the peak of Agent 47 hijinx. At its core, Blood Money succeeds because of expertly designed missions; everything from creating a specific atmosphere for each level to weaving all the variables that can play out were on point. So many clever assassinations stand out to me, like loading a prop gun with real ammo that's supposed to be fired during an opera play or strangling a target with the handy fiberwire during mardi gras wearing a big yellow bird costume. This is where Hitman got its dark sense of humor, and it breathes life into an otherwise stoic assassin. Because it nails down the Hitman formula that's been refined with the recent entry, Blood Money has aged well and very much feels like a modern game. It's a little less forgiving and doesn't have the slew of interesting challenges from 2016's game, but Blood Money has some of the series' most memorable missions--and they remain just as fun today. | Michael Higham
Ikaruga
Japanese developer Treasure has another game on this list that's also a vertical-scrolling arcade shooter, but Ikaruga's reputation is unlike any of its peers'. Where so many games of this type bank on nuanced mechanics and subtle differences to standout in the eyes of enthusiasts, Ikaruga's big mechanic is so well known that it's gone on to inspire other developers who make games in entirely different genres. I'm talking about the black-and-white color switching mechanic, which both gives you the ability to absorb incoming enemy shots of the same color and alter your affinity to impart greater damage to enemies of the opposite color. Getting to the end of a stage in a game with one-hit deaths is challenging enough, but if you are after the top spot on a leaderboard you also have to know how to maximize your score by chaining together attacks as the appropriate color. It's tough, but Ikaruga is also a beautiful game that showcases an amount of maturity that feels unique compared to the rest of Treasure's output. While it's not everyone's cup of tea, Ikaruga is still an easy game to appreciate. | Peter Brown
Jet Set Radio
Jet Set Radio is a series that Sega may never bring back, but at least the HD port of the original Dreamcast hit is playable on Xbox One. It combines rollerblading and graffiti in a goofy cel-shaded metropolis, and apart from its sequel (which sadly isn't backwards compatible), there's no game like it. Jet Set Radio's expressive characters are only matched by the eclectic soundtrack that ranges from hip hop to Japanese rock, and it's so beloved that the lead composer, Hideki Naganuma, is regularly berated on Twitter to bring the series back, despite simply being in charge of music. Its reputation hasn't faded in 18 years, and if you don't know why, you owe it to play it and find out for yourself. | Peter Brown
Mass Effect Trilogy
BioWare's famed trilogy is defined by choice, and you'll make hundreds across all three games. Some of these decisions will be incredibly difficult, even heart-wrenching; I've spent many an evening thinking through the possible moral ramifications of my decisions. The trilogy really begins to show your impact when choices you made in the first game snowball into increasingly dire situations across the next two entries. I've only played the original Mass Effect once, but poured close to a thousand hours into the second and several hundred in the third. Each title is a masterpiece in its own right, and the latter two are mechanically sound third-person RPG-shooter hybrids that still hold up years after release. Mass Effect 2 is my favorite video game of all time, mostly because it's the best interstellar dating sim on the market. Over the course of three games, you'll fall in love with these characters and the rich sci-fi universe of Mass Effect. | Jordan Ramee
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Most people love Metal Gear for the series' stealth-centric games, but that doesn't mean the action-packed Rising should be ignored; far from it! Not only does it manage to fit right into the timeline and (in a roundabout way) the series' overall attitude, it is an excellent action game that, like Bayonetta and Vanquish, perfectly showcases why Platinum Games is so beloved. The standout feature of the blade-based combat system is Raiden's ability to literally slice through enemies--a process you can control, lopping off limbs or bisecting torsos with laser accuracy. It's an impressive feat of programming, and a unique mechanic that (as far as I know) has never been truly replicated. Worry not if you've always been turned off by Metal Gear's confusing storyline. Rising is all about over-the-top katana mayhem, and when it does make an effort to tell a story, it delivers goofy melodrama that anyone can appreciate. | Peter Brown
Mirror's Edge
When Mirror's Edge released, the gaming world had never seen anything like it. First-person platforming was practically a no-no, but EA DICE proved it's possible under the right set of circumstances. The trick, at least the one that made Mirror's Edge such a revelation, was to simplify pathfinding by using clever visual cues and implement contextual animations to create a sense of flow. In one stage you will leap across rooftops, wall run, smash through windows, and slide under enemy fire before taking the aggressor out. It's basically Parkour: The Game. While its sequel, Mirror's Edge Catalyst, tried to go for a more open-world design, the original game is focused enough to be tackled in small sessions, which also encourages you to attempt run after run through a single level, chasing your best times and most stylish performances. It's an endlessly cool game that may never get old. | Peter Brown
Ninja Gaiden Black
The original Ninja Gaiden reboot was something to behold back in 2004. As one of the fastest and most challenging action games of its era, Ryu Hayabusa's revenge mission where he fights ninjas, demons--and pretty much everything in between--was a knockout when it came to delivering thrills and moments of white-knuckle challenge. I'll even admit that I earned the lowly title of Ninja Dog on occasions, which was Ninja Gaiden's not-so-subtle way of saying 'git gud' back in the day. The game consistently delivered fast-paced action, and in the months after its release, it managed to get even better. As one of the early games on the original Xbox to use downloadable content, new weapons, monsters, and challenges were eventually added in, making the game even more of a stellar title. This culminated in the release of Ninja Gaiden Black, essentially the definitive edition of the core game. While Ninja Gaiden (2004) was remade again in the form of Sigma on PS3, I still think of Black as the best way to play Ryu Hayabusa's gory and over-the-top descent through the demonic underworld. Even after the releases of Bayonetta, Metal Gear Rising, and several installments Devil May Cry, Ninja Gaiden Black hasn't lost its touch, and it still stands still one of the greatest action games ever made. | Alessandro Fillari
Panzer Dragoon Orta
I've always had a deep respect for Sega's strange shooter series Panzer Dragoon, and the last entry, Panzer Dragoon Orta, remains a stellar tribute to its bizarre world. The series' otherworldly presentation--along with its own fictional language--gave it a sense of depth and wonder that felt all its own. While much of the series had its home on the short-lived Sega Saturn, 2003's Panzer Dragoon Orta was released on the original Xbox, showing a noticeable visual and technical upgrade over its predecessors. Diving back into the game after all these years made me appreciate how much thought and craft went into the game, which has held up spectacularly. Along with a wealth of hidden lore and concept art to find, it also comes with an unlockable version of the original game--which stands as one of the greatest game rewards of all time. If you're at all curious about the Panzer Dragoon series, Orta is the most accessible point of entry, and it still brims with that sense of otherworldly wonder that the series is all about. | Alessandro Fillari
Peggle
Peggle has received a sequel you can and should play on Xbox One, but more Peggle action is still a good thing. Fortunately, the original game is playable through backwards compatibility, and it holds up nicely. The basic Peggle formula--a sort of take on pachinko and pinball, but with tremendous sound design--is still as delightful as ever. You launch balls into a board filled with pegs and various obstacles in the hopes of hitting them and removing them from play. Finishing a round hilariously causes "Ode to Joy" to play as your ball sails across the screen one last time in slow motion, but the euphoric build-up of sound effects when you pull off an exceptional shot is one of the most satisfying experiences I've ever had in a game. | Chris Pereira
Radiant Silvergun
Remember Sega Saturn? While not a powerhouse in the US or Europe, it found great success in Japan where arcade ports were plentiful. One of the most well-known Japanese-exclusive Saturn games is Radiant Silvergun, and thanks to Microsoft's effort years ago to pump up the Xbox Marketplace with Japanese games, westerners finally got an official release on Xbox 360 and can still enjoy the game on Xbox One today. The most notable feature of this vertical-scrolling shooter is the large number of weapons you can pick from, which differ more in behavior than you might expect. Like many games by developer Treasure, Radiant Silvergun is a technical showcase (for its time) that also manages to be a great game with timeless appeal. | Peter Brown
Rainbow Six Vegas 1 and 2
In between its old-school tactical shooter phase and the current competitive multiplayer focus, Rainbow Six took a trip to Vegas and balanced its military sim roots with some more approachable shooter gameplay. Both Rainbow Six Vegas 1 and 2 captured the gaudy spectacle of the city's nightlife with bright lights and rows of slot machines, which often served as cover from enemy fire. I've had so many memorable multiplayer matches; taking cover and having the camera switch to third-person, rappelling down skyscrapers to crash through windows, or turning upside down on a rappel line to pop shots are a few of the amazing moments in competition. Servers are still online, so if you can get a group of dedicated players to play a few matches or terrorist hunt missions, you're guaranteed a great time. | Michael Higham
Red Dead Redemption
Of all the games that are backwards compatible on Xbox One, Red Dead Redemption tops the list as the most exciting. When it was added to the program earlier this year, not only did people finally have a way to replay one of the best games of the last generation on a current-gen console, they also got the option to play it in 4K on Xbox One X. This open-world western proved that Rockstar Games is capable of more than just Grand Theft Auto, and with the sequel on the way, now is the perfect time to see why Red Dead Redemption is such a big deal. | Peter Brown
Saint's Row: The Third
Saints Row was always a little silly, but The Third is clearly the point where Volition realized the franchise could no longer compete with Grand Theft Auto and chose instead to double down on the ridiculous. Saints Row: The Third is non-stop parody of open-world action games and pop culture references, and I love every second of it. There's something positively magical about playing as a loud-mouthed crime boss who's weaving between traffic on her motorcycle to save her friends from a ticking time bomb as government soldiers try to stop her while Bonnie Tyler's "I Need a Hero" plays over the radio. All of which occurs in what might be the most normal level in the game. Saints Row: The Third also does a good job recapping the events of the previous two games and introduces franchise favorite Kinzie Kensington, so it's a nice jumping on point if you're looking to play Saints Row IV or Agents of Mayhem. | Jordan Ramee
Shadows of the Damned
Shadows of the Damned was a match made in heaven for me. The quirky Suda 51 brought his comedic writing chops and teamed up with Resident Evil 4 director Shinji Mikami and Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka to make a shooter that, at the time, felt more like a Resident Evil 4 sequel than any game before it, including Resident Evil 5. The buddy-demon hunter adventure saw Garcia Hotspur and Johnson, the trusty skull sidekick that also turns into a number of different guns, venture into Hell to rescue Hotspur's love. There is quite the variety of enemies, levels, and crude jokes. While a sequel is what I truly want, I'll gladly play through it again for the umpteenth time to revisit it all. | Mat Paget
Skate 3
The Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series may go down as having the "best" skateboarding games of all time, but none of them capture the sport quite like the Skate series does. And while the first two Skate games had a more structured campaign the open-world skateboarding sandbox of Skate 3 is still as fun to flip, grind, and bail in as it was the day it came out. Tackling a specific spot over and over again in Skate 3 mirrors what real-life skateboarding is like, though I can actually pull off a darkslide or a benihana in Skate 3. And with its surprisingly breathtaking 4K enhancements on the Xbox One X, I can't recommend it enough. | Mat Paget
Spec Ops: The Line
Six years after release, I'm still reeling from the emotional fallout of Spec Ops: The Line. This unsettling game tackles the mental and emotional cost of war, and its moral quandaries stick with you long after you've put the game down and had a good cry. Despite having third-person shooter mechanics that are okay at best, Spec Ops: The Line kept me playing. Long after it forced me to kill innocent civilians, I was frantically shooting enemy combatants in a desperate attempt to justify my own in-game atrocities. But war doesn't work that way. I don't think I'll ever forget what white phosphorus does to a person, and if you play this game, you won't either. | Jordan Ramee
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is a gaming classic, and it was one of the best-written stories in the Star Wars canon prior to Disney neutering its relevance. The game utilizes similar combat, squadmate recruitment, and morality mechanics that BioWare would eventually use for both Mass Effect and Dragon Age: Origins. The game lets you fulfill your fantasy of living as a Jedi or a Sith, as you explore a galaxy far, far away, four millennia before the events of A Phantom Menace. I loved exploring ancient Tatooine and Kashyyyk on the Jedi path, but not nearly as much as seeing brand-new planets, like the ancient Sith homeworld Korriban, or flirting with Bastila. | Jordan Ramee
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords is one of the best Star Wars video games of all time. Although its gameplay is largely untouched from its predecessor, KOTOR II implements elements of grey to the previously black or white morality system. New lightsaber styles also add a level of strategy, and there's twice as many people you can try to smooch. My favorite Star Wars droid, HK-47, also returns from the original KOTOR, and he continues to deliver unparalleled levels of sarcastic murder puns and sass. Despite its removal from the Star Wars canon, if you love Bioware's RPGs and the adventures of a galaxy far, far away, you need to play this game. Its incredible narrative will hook you in 15 minutes. | Jordan Ramee
Star Wars: Republic Commando
Prior to The Clone Wars animated series, the only hint that the clone army was more than a faceless batch of characters was Star Wars: Republic Commando. This video game moved past the uniform helmets to reveal each clone had their own personality, likes and dislikes, and skill set. I fell in love with the troopers through Republic Commando, and the clones have remained my favorite Star Wars characters ever since. Taking the lead of Delta Squad as the dependable Boss and directing the demolitions expert Scorch, computer-savvy Fixer, and weapons specialist Sev offered a more tactical experience than 2004's Star Wars: Battlefront. New enemy types and weapons keep the game fresh across its three different locations, and the story is one of the best in the Star Wars Legends universe. | Jordan Ramee
Super Meat Boy
Super Meat Boy has become something of a reference point for games that have come after it--and with good reason, as it's an exceptionally well designed game. It's a tough platformer where death can come at any instant--and you will die many, many times. And as heartbreaking as those deaths can sometimes be, it's invariably your own fault; SMB offers extremely tight controls and a deeply satisfying wall-jumping mechanic (made all the better by the way Meat Boy leaves behind a trail of meat wherever he moves). With hundreds of levels and numerous secrets to uncover, there's a lot to enjoy here. But most importantly, playing this original Xbox 360 version means you get to enjoy the brilliant original soundtrack by Danny Baranowsky that's missing from SMB's most recent re-releases. | Chris Pereira
Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition
Capcom managed to do a lot of awesome things for Street Fighter V, but Street Fighter IV is still relevant for a lot of fighting game fans due to its massive roster and years' worth of competitive refinement. Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition marks the penultimate upgrade for the game, but you can also download the Ultra Street Fighter IV DLC to convert it into the ultimate version of the game on Xbox One. Whether you are a serious competitor or a casual fighting game fan who just likes to mash out a few combos with friends on the weekends, SFIV has loads of great characters to experiment with, and tons of personality to keep you entertained along the way. | Peter Brown
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind takes me back--to six-years-old Aiden. Even though I was far too young to be playing such an intense RPG, and 90 percent of the story went right over my head, I couldn't help but get utterly consumed in how fantastical and insurmountable Vvardenfell seemed. Maybe it was my child-like wonder, or maybe it was just Bethesda's magic. At the time, I hadn't really played anything like it, and boy were the giant mushroom houses and terrifying Cliff Racers just as cool as kicking tail during Lara's Tomb Raider adventures. Morrowind was the first RPG that really made me fall in love with the more serious and immersive side of gaming, and even though its graphics haven't aged particularly well, it still holds that obnoxiously special place in my heart that I can't let go of, a place where I forge my own story, and escape into some far-off land. And, you know, knock the daylights out of some cultists. That too. | Aiden Strawhun
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
"Stop right there, Criminal Scum! You've violated the law!" Once you get past the potato faces, Oblivion's hyper-saturated graphics really are something special. Oblivion also took a lot of the annoying mechanics in Morrowind and made them just a little bit better. Any race could wear any armor, birthsigns could be changed, vampirism was part of the main game, the list goes on. One minute you have the incredibly lush, almost ethereal expanses of Cyrodiil, the next, there's an actual demon invasion. It's a wonderful contrast that I don't think the other Elder Scrolls games quite capture, as they're dark and morose, and somewhat brooding--but Oblivion is brimming with energy and color. | Aiden Strawhun
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
The beautiful thing about The Witcher series is that if you're looking to hop into the latest entry, you don't need to play the previous titles. However, they do add a considerable amount of context to the expansive cast of characters, and particularly to every one of Geralt's relationships. The Witcher 2 is a mostly on-rails, linear RPG. That doesn't stop it from being an incredible, dramatic, and enticing adventure, however. The world is detailed and lush, as you'd expect from the series, and the choices you make throughout the story determine some pretty major outcomes. Just make sure to spend some time between story missions to smell the roses--er, the monsters, rather. | Aiden Strawhun
Viva Pinata
Rare's output under Microsoft has been uneven, but one bright spot shines above the rest. Viva Pinata is a sweet refuge from the norm--a sim that defies easy categorization. It bears a lot in common with farming sims like Harvest Moon or Stardew Valley. Instead of standard livestock, though, you're raising up beautifully designed candy-animals with punny names like "fudgehog" and "chewnicorn." The look is distinctly family-friendly, but under the surface the gameplay is surprisingly deep. I lost many nights to converting "sour" pinatas, facilitating my animals' feeding and mating habits, and even managing the food chain. (Some pinatas eat others, you see.) I'm partial to the first, but the semi-sequel Trouble in Paradise is mostly a revision for the better. Either way you can't go wrong, and they're both available on Xbox One. | Steve Watts
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