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In the 08/16/2018 edition:

All The Call Of Duty Games, Reviewed: Modern Warfare, Black Ops, And More
Xbox One: The Best Backwards Compatible Games You Need To Play
Best Nintendo Switch Games Out Now (August 2018 Update)
Best PS4 Games Out Now (August 2018 Update)
The Best PS4 Game Exclusives Out Now (August 2018 Update)
All Assassin's Creed Games, Reviewed: AC II, Black Flag, Origins, And More
Best New Games You Need To Play Right Now: Dead Cells, No Man's Sky Next, More
Red Dead Redemption 2 Gameplay Trailer: Every New Mechanic (So Far)
Doom Eternal Gameplay Trailer: 11 Things You Probably Missed
Dead Cells Guide: 10 Tips We Wish We Knew Before Starting
Mission Impossible: The Wildest Tom Cruise Stunts, Ranked
Avengers: Infinity War -- 25 Facts We Learned From The Blu-Ray Special Features
46 Avengers: Infinity War Details We Learned From The Blu-Ray Audio Commentary
WWE Summerslam 2018 Predictions And Match Card: Daniel Bryan Loses To The Miz
From The Meg To Jaws, 16 Crazy Shark Movies Ranked By Insanity

All The Call Of Duty Games, Reviewed: Modern Warfare, Black Ops, And More

By Peter Brown on Aug 16, 2018 12:20 am

Heed the call.

Heed the call.

Call of Duty is a force to be reckoned with in the video game industry. It has, for the past 14 years, been the dominant first-person shooter in a market with some serious contenders. The series has had to evolve to maintain its edge, and despite being developed by multiple different studios, the entirety of the Call of Duty series has almost consistently garnered widespread acclaim from critics and players alike. People will always debate the merits of an annualized series, especially one that seems to thrive on iteration, but Call of Duty shows no signs of slowing down.

It all began back in 2003, with the original Call of Duty appearing alongside the likes of Medal of Honor and Battlefield, two series that had already established a glowing reputation among military FPS fans. All three were set during World War II, and Call of Duty would continue down that path for both Call of Duty 2 and Call of Duty 3.

"Call of Duty: Roads to Victory isn't a terrible game--it's just unnecessary. While it may look like Call of Duty and for a while feel like Call of Duty, nearly all of the things that make the Call of Duty games so enjoyable are watered down or missing." [Read the review]

-- Aaron Thomas

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare -- 9/10

"The last time Call of Duty had "Warfare" in its subtitle, it led to a well-received trilogy that deftly transitioned the series away from a well-trodden global conflict to modern-day combat. If the settings of today have run their course just as World War II did years ago, Advanced Warfare makes for a convincing foundation of futuristic yet relatable combat that is worth exploring and expanding further. The huge change in player mobility is less of a paradigm shift and more of an overdue retooling for an 11-year-old FPS franchise, especially in a year of mobility-focused shooters. Yet for all its predictability, Advanced Warfare is a deluge of action-film bravado, and it's difficult to not be carried away by its tidal forces." [Read the review]

-- Miguel Concepcion

Call of Duty: Black Ops III -- 7/10

"There are fleeting moments when Black Ops III's cybernetic modifications change the way you play. These abilities let you control enemy drones, stun human opponents, or set fire to robots' internal systems. The powers would be more impactful, though, if there wasn't such a lack of enemy variety. Aside from flying drones and the occasional mech mini-boss, enemy variants just require differing numbers of bullets to take down. And when you're using them on such a repetitive group of targets, who react the same way every time, the abilities lose their novelty.

Although Black Ops III offers the option to play the campaign cooperatively, its problems only multiply as a result. Instead of creating deeper scenarios involving teamwork and communication between up to four players, Black Ops III decides to just throw more hardened enemies at you. One Warlord--an enemy that requires several magazines to bring down--is bothersome enough. Four of them together is downright frustrating. They feel more like brick walls than sentient soldiers.

Black Ops III's narrative doesn't support the campaign in any meaningful way, either. It tells an incomprehensible story about AI ascendancy and the moral grays of a hyper-connected future, raising intriguing questions but never bothering to answer them. At the end of it all, after hours of soulless shooting and unremarkable storytelling, Black Ops III delivered its nebulous twist, and I didn't dwell on it.

In its undead modes, and the first 10 hours of multiplayer, it excels. But in its campaign, it merely crawls forward. Black Ops III doesn't offer anything remarkable to the series, but does just enough to maintain the Call of Duty status quo. The franchise, however slowly, continues its inexorable march." [Read the review]

-- Mike Mahardy

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare -- 8/10

"By venturing beyond Earth--and not just to other planets, but to space itself--Call of Duty found a canvas to produce its best story in years. It reinforces the notion that a game's narrative is only as good as its characters. Given the campaign's accomplishments in space combat, it's puzzling that no effort was made to replicate its zero-G sensations in Infinite Warfare's multiplayer. Consequently, the well-crafted Zombies mode is a more attractive, time-consuming proposition for those looking to play with friends. While no Call of Duty game has matched the comprehensive excellence of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the exploits of Reyes and Ethan are at least as memorable and moving as any deeds from "Soap" MacTavish and John Price during from the series' heyday." [Read the review]

-- Miguel Concepcion

Call of Duty: WWII -- 9/10

"Ultimately, if every shooter set in the European Theater of World War II is measured by how it depicts its D-Day landing--assuming it has such a mission--Call of Duty: WWII emphatically succeeds in its impactful designs and delivery. The sensation of riding the troop carrier as it approached the beach filled me with depression more than dread, knowing I'd survive eventually while many of my surrounding brothers in arms wouldn't. While not equally emotional, this battle's reinterpretation in War mode proves to be a highlight in a superb suite of competitive modes. Zombies rounds off this stellar return to form, effectively blending the ferocity of online cooperative play with the goal-driven satisfaction of found in the campaign. As one of the most comprehensive and filler-free Call of Dutys in recent memory, Call of Duty: WWII successfully capitalizes on the series' strengths" [Read the review]

-- Miguel Concepcion

Xbox One: The Best Backwards Compatible Games You Need To Play

By Array on Aug 16, 2018 12:16 am

The Best Xbox One Backwards Compatible Games

One of the best things Microsoft has done with Xbox One is make good on its commitment to backwards compatibility. New backwards compatible games are being added all the time. As with the most recent additions--Tomb Raider Legend and Tomb Raider Anniversary--these are shared 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. It's always a mystery as to when we'll get more; we only know what time it'll be and that it'll come on a weekday, but the next batch of games usually isn't far off.

Even without a proper schedule for new releases, the past few years have seen the list of backwards compatible games grow quite long--and, as a result, 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

Best Nintendo Switch Games Out Now (August 2018 Update)

By Matt Espineli on Aug 16, 2018 12:12 am

Switch Games That You Need To Play

The release of the Nintendo Switch marked the beginning of a new generation for Nintendo. After the lukewarm reception of the Wii U, many were beginning to wonder if the company would be able to survive in today's console market. However, it defied all expectations with its hybrid console/handheld console. Alongside the Switch's release was the universally praised The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, giving it the killer app it needed to quickly rise to the top of console sales charts and dramatically increase Nintendo's revenue.

In the year since its launch, there has been no shortage of amazing games coming, from huge first-party games like Mario and Splatoon to indie darlings like Owlboy and Celeste. There's even great third-party games, like Octopath Traveler and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. The library only seems to be expanding and improving with every consecutive release.

In this feature, we're taking a look back at the best Switch games so far. This includes games that have received a score of 8 or higher on GameSpot since the console's release, as well as reviews for new games and updates to reviews of older games that were ported to Switch. Check out our choices for the best games released on the Switch. And with the console's library continuing to expand, make sure to check back often as we update this feature over the coming weeks and months.

For an analysis of Nintendo Switch's first year, be sure to read our retrospective feature discussing the console's various successes and failures. In addition, you can also check out our features detailing all the Wii U games we ported to Switch, 13 things we want to see from the console.

The Switch already has hundreds of games, so many that some are bound to fly under our radar. The games covered here are only a small handful of the experiences out there. Which games do you think are some of the Switch's finest? Let us know in the comments below.

Dead Cells -- 9/10

"Dead Cells is a fascinating amalgam of several of today's most popular indie genres. It juggles elements of tough-as-nails action games and Metroid-inspired exploration platformers, with the procedurally generated levels and random item allotments found in roguelikes. It's impressive how it all comes together without a hitch, especially given that the persistent character growth found in games like Dark Souls or Metroid squarely conflicts with the randomized resets emblematic of Rogue-inspired games." [Read the full review]

-- Daniel Starkey

Mega Man X Legacy Collection 1 + 2

"In a way, the entire collection itself is the museum--an entire series, with all its beauty and its blemishes, on display for its audience to judge and assess years later. Parts of this legacy have aged horribly, but they're still undeniably a piece of Mega Man X history. We've been told that the upcoming Mega Man 11 was greenlit thanks in part to fan interest in the original Mega Man Legacy Collection. If Capcom follows with a proper sequel to Mega Man X, this compilation provides valuable lessons on what the series is, what it isn't, and what it can be when given the chance." [Read the full review]

-- Steve Watts

Octopath Traveler -- 8/10

"Despite the lackluster stories that pull you through the world, Octopath thrives on its character progression and the temptations of high-level challenges and rewards. The promise of new jobs, exciting boss fights, and powerful gear will inspire you to poke around every corner, and there are no shortage of discoveries to strive for. And all the while, you're treated to one of the most interesting and effective re-imaginings of a retro aesthetic around. Octopath will likely be a divisive game due to its fractured storytelling, but it's one worth playing despite its lesser qualities. Its high points are simply too good to ignore." [Read the full review]

-- Peter Brown, Managing Editor

Captain Toad

"Despite a smattering of minor complaints, Captain Toad stands as a pint-sized version of Nintendo's stellar first party pedigree. It's among the best Mario spin-offs around and a delightful iteration on old ideas." [Read the full review]

-- Daniel Starkey

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus -- 8/10

"As long as you're able to play the entire game in docked mode, The New Colossus is the same fantastic game it is on other platforms. It runs well and, despite some minor visual compromises, it still looks pretty good. Handheld mode is unfortunately far less optimized, and the Joy-Cons simply don't feel as good to use as the Pro Controller. If Switch is your only way to play it, The New Colossus is absolutely worth your time--just not on the go." [Read the full review]

-- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor

West of Loathing -- 8/10

"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." [Read the full review]

-- Edmond Tran, Editor and Video Producer

BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle -- 9/10

"Whether playing through the story mode alone or against hardened opponents online, Cross Tag Battle is an absolute joy with a surplus of possibilities within its wide roster and versatile fighting system. Even with all the ridiculousness of the overarching plot, I reveled in the charm of my favorite characters and embraced the many moments of fan service. It's a masterful unification of styles and mechanics from four different universes that compels you to dig deeper and dedicate the time to getting the most out of the beloved members of this cast." [Read the full review]

-- Michael Higham, Associate Editor

Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection -- 8/10

"That's more or less the story of the 30th Anniversary Collection. It won't satisfy every specific demand, but it's still a big collection of awesome games and behind-the-scenes content that no Street Fighter fan should miss. Street Fighter is a series worth celebrating and Digital Eclipse has managed to do so in a manner that feels respectful to the series and to the people who keep the spirit of arcade battles alive." [Read the full review]

-- Peter Brown, Managing Editor

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition -- 8/10

"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." [Read the full review]

-- Daniel Starkey

Battle Chasers: Nightwar -- 8/10

"Beyond the challenge of combat, Battle Chasers is sustained through the strength of its story, a rollicking tale that takes our heroes literally to hell and back. It's bolstered by some sharp dialogue, gorgeous artwork, and an ensemble that plays extremely well off of each other. Lots of work has gone into Nightwar since its first release, and the balancing improvements make it an easy game to recommend on all platforms." [Read the full review]

-- Justin Clark

Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze -- 9/10

"Tropical Freeze isn't a heavy-hitter from Nintendo in the same way Breath of the Wild or Super Mario Odyssey are, but it's a fantastic platformer that's bursting with creativity and expertly designed challenges. It's tuned just right--always tough but rarely frustrating--to ensure that even the most common moments feel great. If you missed out when the game first debuted back in 2014, give it a shot today. It easily stands the test of time." [Read the full review]

-- Peter Brown, Managing Editor

Bayonetta 2 -- 10/10

"But it's a challenge you'll want to experience again as soon as you put down the controller. Bayonetta 2's combat is so expertly constructed, and its presentation so joyously insane, that you'd have to try so very hard to get bored of it all. In a year filled with the promise of ever more elaborate experiences on all the shiny new hardware, that Bayonetta 2--a homage to classic game design and escapism--should be the most fun I've had playing a game all year is unexpected. But maybe it shouldn't have been. After all, its predecessor still stands as one of the finest games of its genre. To have surpassed that with Bayonetta 2, and to have created a game that will be remembered as an absolute classic, is nothing short of astonishing." [Read the review]

-- Mark Walton

Celeste -- 9/10

"It's a testament to convincing writing and ingenious design that after playing Celeste I felt like I'd been on the same journey as Madeline. Her struggle is one made easy to empathize with, her low points painful to watch, and her high notes exhilarating to experience. Her tale is delicately told and beautifully illustrated, confidently coalescing with the satisfying, empowering game it lies within. Not bad for a game about climbing a mountain." [Read the full review]

-- Oscar Dayus, Staff Writer

Dragon Quest Builders -- 8/10

"The excellence of Dragon Quest Builders illustrates the versatility of this 30-year-old franchise as much as it speaks to the engrossing appeal of Minecraft-inspired creation. The story-advancing draw of quests goes hand-in-hand with the depth of a crafting system that cleverly uses monster drops as some of the game's building tools. Whether you want to focus on completing assignments or build with no specific purpose, the game is feature-rich enough to suck up untold hours, even if this happens to be your first Dragon Quest experience." [Read the review]

-- Miguel Concepcion, Editor

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim -- 8/10

"The original version of Skyrim is still an immense, engrossing RPG, and the quality, number, and variety of its quests makes it as easy to become lost in its world as ever. With the addition of Zelda-themed gear that's actually useful--and the fact that you can play anywhere--the Switch version of Skyrim is a great excuse to revisit a much-loved RPG." [Read the full review]

-- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor

Golf Story -- 8/10

"It can take a little while for the narrative to ramp up in Golf Story and for you to feel like you've really cultivated the skills of a champion, but based on the sheer scope of what the game delivers, there's likely something for everyone to enjoy whether their shtick is mini-golfing or terrorising delinquents with frisbees. It has successfully captured the trappings of yesteryear's RPGs, and the witticisms and idiosyncrasies of the characters you encounter are a great palate cleanser between rounds. Switch has had a swathe of indies hit its eShop recently, but if you're looking for something that'll give you satisfaction in terms of an interesting story and a rewarding mechanic, then Golf Story is certainly par for the course." [Read the full review]

-- Ginny Woo

Gorogoa -- 8/10

"Few games take the concept of altering reality to as artistic a level as Gorogoa. This labor of love made chiefly by one developer is a gorgeous and intriguing puzzle game that works because of its stunning art and intelligent puzzle design. Far from a traditional game, Gorogoa is a slow and methodical trip into the surreal." [Read the full review]

-- Jason D'Aprile

Kirby Star Allies -- 8/10

"Star Allies is yet another Kirby game, but it's up there with some of the best. It's an artistic showcase, and a great opportunity for co-op platforming. The one real complaint you can levy at it is that it gates off its more challenging aspects, but the fact that they are present to begin with will please anyone who's grown weary of the series' painless platforming." [Read the full review]

-- Peter Brown, Managing Editor

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild -- 10/10

"No matter how gorgeous its environments are, how clever its enemies are, and how tricky its puzzles get, the fact that Breath of the Wild continues to surprise you with newfound rules and possibilities after dozens of hours is by far its most valuable quality. It's a game that allows you to feel gradually more and more empowered yet simultaneously manages to retain a sense of challenge and mystery--which, together, creates a steady, consistent feeling of gratification throughout the entire experience. Breath of the Wild is a defining moment for The Legend of Zelda series, and the most impressive game Nintendo has ever created." [Read the full review]

-- Peter Brown, Managing Editor

Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle -- 9/10

"Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle exudes off-beat optimism that never dissolves. It's a consistent delight, no matter how challenging the road becomes, because Kingdom Battle's unique turn-based tactics system is in every way a pleasure to engage with. Coupled with the annoyingly infectious allure of Rabbids, and the always delightful, colorful world of the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle is an implausibly engrossing formula that is positively challenging and endlessly charming." [Read the full review]

-- Edmond Tran, Editor

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe -- 9/10

"For Mario Kart fans, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe might look like more of the same with small Double Dash-inspired tweaks. But thanks to a series of updates both big and almost unseen, it's the version of Mario Kart to get. If you don't own a Wii U or skipped out on Mario Kart 8 the first time around--or even if you've played it before--Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is worth your time. It plays beautifully on Switch in both handheld and docked mode, and its core racing is as exciting as ever. And, most notably, it completely revamps the original's lackluster Battle Mode, rounding out an already great racing game." [Read the full review]

-- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor

Mr. Shifty -- 8/10

"Mr. Shifty isn't a huge game in terms of length, but the three- to four-hour campaign is ample. It's like a shot of adrenalin, offering an exciting, intense experience, and it's easy to forgive the game's performance flaws when it so consistently makes you feel like a badass." [Read the full review]

-- James O'Connor

NBA 2K18 -- 8/10

"NBA 2K18 is a hardcore sports simulation. If you want to get good, you have to put in the work. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to improve your skills no matter how you want to play. And the fact that there's so much to do is a bonus, because on the court, NBA 2K18 is also an amazingly well-crafted experience." [Read the full review]

-- Seth Macy

Night in the Woods -- 9/10

"From beginning to end to epilogue, Night in the Woods is ultimately open to individual interpretation. How you relate to it depends on your own experiences and choices, including Mae's dialogue and who you decide to spend time with. Though its charming and angsty story works well on its own merits, it's special because of how it prioritizes conveying emotion over telling a straight narrative." [Read the review]

-- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor

Owlboy -- 9/10

"Owlboy is consistently charming and surprising, and when its final act doubles down on every front, it's bittersweet to see it end. As you relish the outcome of the final battle and watch the closing cutscene, you can't help but reflect on the beginning of your adventure and how far the world and its inhabitants have come. You'll never be able to play Owlboy for the first time again, but the memories of its magic moments stick with you. This is more than a treat for fans of old-school games; Owlboy is a heartfelt experience that will touch anyone with an affinity for great art and storytelling." [Read the review]

-- Peter Brown, Managing Editor

Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2 Plus -- 8/10

"Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2 creates an exciting dynamic where ghosts are still dangerous, but the overall game is more forgiving than the original--and it's more entertaining as a result. Arcade ports tend to be games we play in short bursts--mostly for the nostalgia factor. Pac-Man: Championship Edition 2 certainly relies on that nostalgia to a point, but it handles the classic game in a way that plays with expectations to surprise you. It's the same game enhanced in the right directions to be make an old concept fun, innovative, and challenging all over again." [Read the review]

-- Jason D'Aprile

Puyo Puyo Tetris -- 8/10

"Overflowing with colorful personality, Puyo Puyo Tetris revels in its weirdness. It provides solid versions of both puzzle games and merges the two in bizarre, frantic ways that adds a fresh dash of style to these long-running series. With an array of game variations spanning single-player, along with on- and offline multiplayer, it's an incredibly meaty package that should satisfy gamers for a long time to come." [Read the full review]

-- Jason D'Aprile

Rive -- 8/10

"Rive is demanding, but it pushes the kind of near-thoughtless play that shoot-em-ups strive to achieve. When faced with an onslaught of enemies and environmental hazards, you'll have to think fast or die. Rive also doesn't run all that long, but what's here is excellent, top-notch action, and the game delivers some of the most memorable moments in a shoot-em-up in years." [Read the full review]

-- Daniel Starkey

Rocket League -- 9/10

"For people new to the game, they have a lot to look forward to regardless, as it's one of the most fascinating sports games in memory. Nevermind if you don't like soccer or couldn't care less about the growing esports community. Rocket League is a unique game that redefines the concept of what a sports game can be, and Psyonix continues to support it with new content on a regular basis. It's been around for a while, but now that it's on Switch, there's no better time to give it a shot." [Read the full review]

-- Peter Brown, Managing Editor

Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment -- 8/10

"Specter of Torment is a finely-crafted 2D platformer that is satisfying in all respects. Simply controlling Specter Knight--flying through the air and slicing through enemies--is a joy in itself, and being able to push your ability to control these skills in overcoming the game's cleverly-designed and challenging levels is always an exhilarating feeling. Specter of Torment is a focussed, polished, and satisfyingly challenging game that's well worth experiencing whether or not you've had the pleasure of playing Shovel Knight." [Read the full review]

-- Edmond Tran, Editor

Sonic Mania -- 9/10

"Sonic Mania methodically uses its sentimental appeal to great effect, but in the process, it heals the wounds inflicted by its most disappointing predecessors and surpasses the series' best with its smart and interpretive design. An excellent 2D platformer, Sonic Mania goes beyond expectations, managing to be not only a proper evolution of the series' iconic formula, but the best Sonic game ever made." [Read the full review]

-- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor

Splatoon 2 -- 8/10

"At first glance, Splatoon 2 seems very similar to the first game. But all the small changes, and even the bigger ones in single player and League Battles, make for a fresh take on the already unique shooter. If you played a lot of the original, the sequel has enough to keep you coming back, and if you're new to the game, it's a fantastic place to jump in." [Read the full review]

-- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor

Stardew Valley -- 9/10

"The sheer number of things to accomplish in Stardew Valley can keep you interested beyond the original three in-game years you need to reach the end of your story--you may just want to start over rather than continue on. You'll work quite hard to gather enough money for your first horse, so that you can quickly move to the mines to get a mineral to complete a bundle at the community center. It's all centered around whatever it is you want to accomplish that day. And that's truly what makes Stardew Valley such a lovely experience, it encourages you to go out and be the best you can be, in whichever task that brings you the most joy. Stardew Valley motivates naturally, with blissful optimism." [Read the full review]

-- Mary Kish

SteamWorld Dig 2 -- 9/10

"Every advancement Dig 2 makes to its story and mechanics strengthens your initiative to progress. There's an overwhelming sense of momentum that runs through the adventure; as if developer Image & Form sifted the original in a pan, removing its redundancies while expanding upon what made it so fun to persistently play. In your quest to acquire every upgrade and explore every nook and cranny, there's no shortage of hidden collectables to discover. And with post-game content that unlocks after you unearth every secret, the desire to keep digging intensifies. Dig 2 manages to not only be an exceptional successor, but a great adventure in its own right. Where the first game was a diamond in the rough, Dig 2 is a polished jewel." [Read the full review]

-- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor

Super Mario Odyssey -- 10/10

"Odyssey is sustained beyond its major milestones not only through colorful worlds and hidden challenges, but through the sheer joy of controlling Mario, who's never felt more responsive or dynamic in action. Even with everything new that's been introduced, Nintendo's forward-thinking platformer retains the series' classic handcrafted appeal, which is even more impressive when you realize how densely packed each kingdom is. Mario's latest outing is big, bold, and bursting with new ideas, and like Breath of the Wild, is another instance of Nintendo going above and beyond to redefine our expectations. It's a shining example of refined creativity, and another crown jewel for Switch that is without equal." [Read the full review]

-- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor

Lumines Remastered -- 8/10

"Lumines is the kind of game that temporarily rewires your brain, splicing together its ability to recognize visual patterns and audible rhythms simultaneously and forcing you to do the hard but delightful work of putting that ability to use. Having that experience so lovingly presented--and on the Switch, having Lumines handheld again for the first time in six years--is an occasion worth celebrating." [Read the full review]

-- Justin Clark

Best PS4 Games Out Now (August 2018 Update)

By Matt Espineli on Aug 16, 2018 12:07 am

The Best Around

It feels just like yesterday, but PS4 launched over four years ago, and a ton of games have come out in that time. As such, it can be tough to sort through all of them and decide what to play. Luckily, we at GameSpot have played tons of PS4 over the years and have more than a few recommendations to start you off with--whether you're a new PS4 owner or have had the console and are just looking for something you might've missed.

In this feature, we've collected the best PS4 games so far. This includes many of the games that have received an 8 or higher on GameSpot, and we've prioritized games that were nominated for our end-of-year Best PS4 Game lists. Check out our choices for the best games released on the PS4. And with the console's library continuing to expand, make sure to check back often as we update this feature over the coming weeks and months.

For more PS4 games on a budget, see our roundups of the best cheap games on PS4, and make sure to check out our gallery of the best PS4 exclusive games confirmed for 2018 as well as the biggest PS4 games of 2018 for everything coming to the console.

There are heaps of amazing PS4 games out there. Which PS4 games do you love the most? Doesn't matter if it's popular or incredibly underrated. Let us know in the comments below.

Dead Cells -- 9/10

-- Daniel Starkey

The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit -- 8/10

"Life is Strange gained a huge cult following, and whether you're a veteran or a newcomer, Captain Spirit captures a lot of the original game's appeal. Regardless of how you classify The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit--whether it's a standalone adventure, a demo, or a prologue--it's a beautiful game, and one that leaves you all the more excited about Life is Strange 2." [Read the full review]

-- James O'Connor

Onrush -- 9/10

"When it comes to crumpling metal and high speed thrills, not all of Onrush's game modes are on equal footing in terms of consistent excitement. Yet its foundations are so strong, and so unique, that it's easy to lose hours upon hours barreling around these disparate tracks. The question of longevity will, of course, depend on post-release support, with new classes, game modes, and tracks potentially on the horizon. Considering you need 12 players to fill a full room, it would be a shame if Onrush doesn't find the kind of audience that will give it the lifespan it deserves. Part of this will depend on how Codemasters iterates on the game from here on out, but they've shown a proficiency in knowing how arcade racing games click, and Onrush is such a bold, refreshing twist on the genre that there should be little hesitation in putting your faith in them to succeed."

-- Richard Wakeling

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life -- 8/10

"Yakuza 6 reins in its scope, but doubles down on what has made the series great. It's a unique and fascinating representation of the modern Japanese experience, worth playing even if you're a newcomer. The narrative is dramatic and sincere, and the game's endearing characters--coming from all walks of life--are interesting studies. The world is dense and rewarding to exist in, the dynamic combat system stays exciting even after you've kicked the crap out of five thousand enemies, and perhaps most importantly, Yakuza 6: The Song Of Life serves as a fulfilling conclusion to the turbulent, decade-long saga of its beloved icon, Kazuma Kiryu." [read the full review]

-- Edmond Tran, Senior Editor and Video Producer

God Of War -- 9/10

"In many ways God of War is what the series has always been. It's a spectacular action game with epic set pieces, big-budget production values, and hard-hitting combat that grows more feverish and impressive as you progress. What may surprise you is how mature its storytelling has become. Like Kratos, God of War recalls the past while acknowledging the need to improve. Everything new it does is for the better, and everything it holds onto benefits as a result. Kratos is no longer a predictable brute. God of War is no longer an old-fashioned action series. With this reboot, it confidently walks a new path that will hopefully lead to more exciting adventures to come." [read the full review]

-- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor

Bloodborne -- 9/10

"The finest treasures are found within the city of Yharnam and the forests, lakes, and purgatories beyond it. Only Bloodborne would be so bold as to bury an entire factional player-versus-player mechanic within an optional region, which is in turn buried within a series of oblique steps you might miss if you aren't exploring every nook and cranny, or ignore the game's enigmatic hints. I finished Bloodborne in less time than I did Dark Souls II, yet I treasure it more in spite of its few missteps. In death there is life, and in blood, there is redemption. More hyperbole, yes, but for a game this theatrical, only hyperbole will do." [read the full review]

-- Kevin VanOrd

Monster Hunter: World -- 8/10

"Ever since the title was first announced last year, it was clear that Capcom was gunning for something grander than Monster Hunter Generations. It has succeeded, and this is likely the biggest and best that the franchise has ever been. It's not just the comparative depth of the narrative; it also boasts almost seamless integration between combat systems that were previously incomprehensible for amateurs. The Monster Hunter formula has definitely honed its claws, and all the above factors play their part in making Monster Hunter World a meaningful evolution for the series at large." [read the full review]

-- Ginny Woo

Celeste -- 9/10

-- Oscar Dayus, Staff Writer

What Remains of Edith Finch -- 9/10

"Developer Giant Sparrow managed to strike the delicate balance between joy and sorrow in 2012's The Unfinished Swan, but What Remains of Edith Finch transcends even the latent sadness of that game, finding the beauty--even sometimes the fun--in what's always fundamentally a tragedy. It's not often that a game's plot slips past the bitterness of grief to finally get to the acceptance, but that's the triumph in What Remains of Edith Finch. Ultimately, if the game has any resemblance of a moral, it's that the bravest, most beautiful thing every one of us does is choose to keep going, despite knowing what's coming." [read the full review]

-- Justin Clark

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus -- 9/10

"The New Colossus never lets you forget who and why you're fighting. Nazi brutality is on full display, from the blown-out, irradiated remains of Manhattan to each of the resistance members, who all carry mental scars if not physical ones. You're never given a chance between cutscenes, missions, and even downtime on the U-boat to lose sight of the Reich's cruelty. Wolfenstein's tense gameplay elevates this further by giving you the power to truly resist--and come out of each battle ready for another fight." [read the full review]

-- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor

Sonic Mania -- 9/10

-- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor

Stardew Valley -- 9/10

"On the surface, Stardew Valley is a game about farming, but there are more adventures awaiting curious players beyond cultivating a rich and bountiful garden. From mining and fishing to making friends and falling in love, Stardew Valley's Pelican Town is stuffed with rewarding opportunities. As modern day woes give way to pressing matters on the farm and within your newfound community, Stardew Valley's meditative activities often lead to personal reflection in the real world. It's a game that tugs at your curiosity as often as it does your heart." [read the full review]

-- Mary Kish

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard -- 8/10

"By the end of the campaign, I was ready for the game to be over, but that's okay. RE7 ends just as it starts to outstay its welcome, and after the fact, I felt like I'd survived a truly harrowing journey. The boss fights may be slightly inconsistent and certain sections might drag after a while, but RE7 is still a remarkable success. It has a clear vision and executes it with impressive patience and precision. By returning to horror, Resident Evil has once again become something special." [read the full review]

-- Scott Butterworth

Night in the Woods -- 9/10

"Both intensely personal and widely relatable, Night in the Woods doesn't just tell a story--it gracefully captures complex, often unpleasant feelings and experiences. From the quiet melancholy of doing nothing on a rainy day to the emotional vacuum of severe depression, I felt deeply, sometimes too deeply, while wandering through the cartoon-animal version of a small Midwestern town. Its witty writing and character development keep its crushing existential themes grounded, making Night in the Woods one of the most evocative games I've played in a long time." [read the full review]

-- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor

Overwatch -- 9/10

"Overwatch is an exercise in refined chaos. There are multitudes of layers hiding beneath the hectic surface, and they emerge, one after another, the more you play. This is a shooter that knows how to surprise, one that unfolds at a frantic pace, one that takes a handful of great ideas, and combines them into something spectacular." [read the full review]

-- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End -- 10/10

"Uncharted 4's gameplay pushes the narrative forward, the narrative feeds off its gameplay, and every detail coalesces to create something bigger. Uncharted 4 bounces between set pieces and personal moments with such grace, with such skill and poise and affection for its characters, that you don't mind when the guns stop firing, and the smoke clears, and Nathan gets a moment to breathe." [read the full review]

-- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer

Titanfall 2 -- 9/10

"Titanfall 2 demonstrates a vitality that its predecessor couldn't. Whereas the first Titanfall kept up its breakneck pace throughout the entirety of every match, Titanfall 2 understands that sometimes, dialing things back for a few moments can make the long run much more enjoyable. In many ways, Titanfall 2 feels like the game Respawn should have made in 2013. It's a fantastic sequel. It's a fluid shooter. It's a spectacular game." [read the full review]

-- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer

Dishonored 2 -- 8/10

"Any time I'm given a choice between stealth and action, I go stealth. I love the hold-your-breath tension of hoping a guard didn't spot you and the hard-earned triumph of executing a perfectly timed plan. Dishonored 2 delivers that sneaky satisfaction, arming you with stealth essentials like hiding bodies, peering through keyholes, and silent takedowns. But it's also an incredible engine for gleeful chaos, one so engrossing and amusing that I kind of accidentally beat the entire campaign raining hilarious, elaborate death on my enemies." [read the full review]

-- Scott Butterworth

Dark Souls III -- 8/10

"I didn't expect to have so much fun with Until Dawn, and the depth with which my choices mattered and affected the final outcome encouraged repeat playthroughs. The visuals can be wonky at times, but in the end Until Dawn succeeds in being a thoughtful use of familiar mechanics, a great achievement in player-driven narrative, and a horror game you shouldn't miss." [read the full review]

-- Alexa Ray Corriea

The Last Guardian -- 9/10

"It isn't clear whether or not The Last Guardian means to be frustrating at times--if it's a concerted effort to test your patience for a lovable-yet-stubborn creature. Your affection for Trico and sympathy for both characters blossom nonetheless, culminating in an enrapturing series of revelations that cements your attachment to their personalities. Trico is the undeniable star of the show, exhibiting believable physicality and emotional range, but the boy is a valuable lesson in how to be patient and resilient when faced with unforeseen challenges.

When the book closes on their story, it's hard not to open it up again and begin anew. The trials you overcome endear you to both characters, but the emotions Trico elicits make you want to give it another chance--to be the patient, effective partner it truly deserves." [read the full review]

-- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor

Rocket League -- 9/10

"The joy of Rocket League rests on the countless plans that are conceived and discarded every other second in any given match. Trying to predict where and how the ball will bounce next is a game within the game. Despite the use of cars, Rocket League emulates the emotional surges typical of The Beautiful Game, such as the rush of an unexpected fast break or a well-timed header into a goal. With Rocket League, the promising concept of combining two wonderful things--cars and soccer--is equally magnificent in execution. You can't say the same thing about, say, combining cake and fruit to make fruitcake, as the comedian Jim Gaffigan observed." [read the full review]

-- Miguel Concepcion

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice -- 8/10

"Hellblade's most notable achievement is the handling of an incredibly sensitive subject matter within an engaging and well-crafted action/adventure game. At its heart, the story is about Senua's struggle to come to terms with her illness. In the process, she learns to find the strength within herself to endure, and to make peace with her past. And in a profound and physical way, we go through those same struggles with her, and come away with a better understanding of a piece of something that many people in the world struggle with." [read the full review]

-- Alessandro Fillari, Editor

MLB The Show 18 -- 9/10

"Sony's flagship baseball franchise has never been better. With its best-in-class controls and visuals, and impeccable attention to detail for the small stuff, MLB The Show 18 is worth catching for any baseball fan." [read the full review]

Horizon: Zero Dawn -- 9/10

"This is the first departure from the Killzone series for developer Guerrilla Games, and though you might think the team took a risk by stepping out of its FPS comfort zone to create a third-person open-world action game, you'd never know it was their first rodeo. For every minor imperfection, there's an element of greatness that recharges your desire to keep fighting and exploring Zero Dawn's beautiful and perilous world. Guerrilla Games has delivered one of the best open-world games of this generation, and redefined its team's reputation in the process." [read the full review]

-- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor

Nier: Automata -- 9/10

"Thanks to Platinum Games' knack for riveting and gratifying combat, Automata is Yoko Taro's most exciting game to date. The combat mechanics click after hurdling a low learning curve, and the end result is a skillful dance where balletic dodges complement wushu-inspired aggression. Moreover, this multi-ending trip is generously peppered with surprises and revelations, as well as easter eggs that call back to the first game and the Drakengard series from which Nier spun off. It's a meaty, often exhilarating trek that showcases Platinum Games' and Yoko Taro's unique blend of genius." [read the full review]

-- Miguel Concepcion

Persona 5 -- 9/10

"Within Persona 5 is a complex set of interconnected gameplay mechanics, and in almost every aspect Atlus has executed on its vision exceptionally, barring the pacing issues towards the end. At every turn, it presents something to marvel at, whether it's the fluid combat, vibrant world, or the many memorable characters. It's a game I could talk about for hours; I haven't mentioned the ability to connect to the Thieves Guild, which lets you see how other players spent their day or ask them for help answering questions at school. Or the thumping acid-jazz-infused soundtrack that I've not been able to get out of my head. Or even just the joy of seeing how it stylishly transitions between menus. But that encapsulates why Persona 5 is a game that shouldn't be missed. It's stuffed to bursting point with gameplay ideas and presentation flourishes--there's an overwhelming level of artistry in every part of Persona 5, making it a truly standout entry in the series. It's a refined, effortlessly stylish RPG that will be talked about for years to come." [read the full review]

-- Lucy James, Video Producer

Unravel Two -- 8/10

"With its charming yarnlings and a newfound style of platforming, Unravel Two remains welcoming even at its most foreboding. Sure, a forest fire breaks out in one of the latter stages, but even then, the race to keep ahead of the blaze is fun and frantic instead of stressful. In almost every moment you're given ample time and space to breathe and take in the stunning photorealistic world from the viewpoint of the tiniest creatures. It's a game with boisterous birds, chases through meadows, and most importantly a cheerful partnership with a companion who's always got your back. With only six chapters that run roughly 30 minutes apiece, Unravel Two doesn't last long, but it's a game where the time you have is meaningful, memorable, and downright pleasant from beginning to end."

-- Justin Clark

Madden NFL 18 -- 9/10

"Overall, Madden 18 marks an unusually large shakeup in a series that, due to its annualized releases, rarely features much more than small, iterative changes. The Frostbite engine allows the game to reach new levels of realism in its visuals, and EA has put a lot of effort into constantly evolving the game to keep it in line with real-world events. But it is the Longshot story mode that defines Madden 18. Some of Longshot is unnecessary spectacle, but its lasting value comes from the humanity that it brings to the game. The moments of vulnerability and sincerity between Devin Wade and Colt Cruise during the story are worthy of celebration and give the overall game a weight that Madden hasn't had before. And if that's not enough to entice you, it's also simply a terrific football game." [read the full review]

-- Alex Newhouse

Far Cry 5 -- 9/10

"Despite some brief irritations and missed opportunities with its narrative, spending time in the world of Hope County remains absolutely delightful. Far Cry 5 boasts a wonderfully harmonious flow to its adventure, with its smart changes to exploration, discovery, and progression distinctly bolstering the enjoyment of creatively engaging and experimenting with its spectacular open world." [read the full review]

-- Edmond Tran, Senior Producer/Editor

Transistor -- 8/10

"Transistor is always a good-looking game, but in these instances, it demonstrates a rare knack for combining its visuals and music to powerfully convey both narrative information and tone, driving the story forward with Red's own unwavering resolve. So in the end, yes, Transistor is a fun action role-playing game with a neat combat system, but beautiful moments like these make it more than that. They make it a game with a soul." [read the full review]

-- Carolyn Petit

Yakuza 0 -- 8/10

"Unless you have a strong aversion to violence, sex, or middling graphics, you owe it to yourself to give Zero a chance. Its story will surprise you, its inhabitants will make you laugh at every turn, and its ambitious scope will redefine how you think about open-world games. It's a fascinating adventure no matter how you approach it, and it's proof positive that a game can be wildly inconsistent yet remain a great experience." [read the full review]

Inside -- 8/10

"This is a beautiful, haunting, and memorable game, a worthy follow-up to Limbo. Its puzzles, although rarely difficult, are engaging complements to the story. The real achievement of this game, though, is the way that it crafts its narrative: detailed environments convey the bizarre world that you travel through; introspective moments are filled with minimalist sound design and just the barest touches of music; and the things you must do to complete your journey force you to confront the realities of humanity, freedom, and existence." [read the full review]

-- Alex Newhouse

Blazblue: Cross Tag Battle -- 9/10

-- Michael Higham, Associate Editor

The Crew 2 -- 8/10

"I'm annoyed by the game's lack of public interaction and meaningless gear system, but I'll fondly recall both the tension of flinging sprint boats back and forth through the narrow, artificial canals of The Venetian in Las Vegas, and the easygoing satisfaction of an hour-long hypercar race from New York to San Francisco, where I listened to a podcast and enjoyed the rolling scenery. Despite its shortcomings, The Crew 2 still displays admirable strengths, which lie in its player-friendly features, freedom of movement, and its willingness to bend the rules in order to make things exciting and varied for an accessible, American-themed thrillride." [Read the full review]

-- Edmond Tran, Senior Editor and Video Producer

Mega Man X Legacy Collection 1 + 2

-- Steve Watts

No Man's Sky Next -- 8/10

"At its absolute best, No Man's Sky is a measured, gentle experience where you are rarely the agent of change, but a perpetual visitor who's constantly dwarfed by the magnitude of a universe neutral to your presence. It is not your job in these stories to colonize the universe. Your job is to comprehend it. Your job is to recognize the spirituality in it. The primary gimmick of No Man's Sky, since day one, has been awe. The best things about the Next update feed that gimmick. While features like multiplayer and base-building certainly put more proverbial asses in seats, they're also the least memorable additions to an otherwise thoughtful experience." [Read the full review]

-- Justin Clark

The Best PS4 Game Exclusives Out Now (August 2018 Update)

By Jordan Ramée on Aug 16, 2018 12:05 am

The PlayStation 4 launched in November 2013 and Sony's done a phenomenal job making sure a stream of excellent exclusives continues to launch on the platform. That trend isn't slowing down in 2018, with the phenomenal God of War releasing earlier this spring and Insomniac Games' Spider-Man on its way in just a few months.

Click ahead to view GameSpot's highest-rated PS4 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. We've also limited the gallery based on console exclusivity, so you'll see a few games in this gallery that are also available on PC or PS Vita. This means games that originally released for PS2 or PS3 and launched again on the PS4 without any additional content (like Beyond: Two Souls) are not included. Remasters, remakes, and reboots are all fair game though.

For review, we gave:

MLB 14: The Show an 8/10

MLB 15: The Show an 8/10.

We gave the game an 8/10.

In our Tooth and Tail review, Daniel Starkey wrote, "Rotating through the band of 20 fighters will offer plenty of depth on its own, too. There's plenty of room to fake out foes by overbuilding one type and feinting a foe into countering that so you can sweep them with your own reserves. If you don't have quite the squads you need to deal with enemies in the best way, you'll have to adapt -- and strong variety will give you the tools to come up with unique combinations and tactics on the fly.

When all of that comes together in a tight, four-player battle royale, it is a thing of beauty."

Transistor

We gave the game an 8/10.

In our Transistor review, Carolyn Petit wrote, "Transistor is always a good-looking game, but in [certain] instances, it demonstrates a rare knack for combining its visuals and music to powerfully convey both narrative information and tone, driving the story forward with Red's own unwavering resolve. So in the end, yes, Transistor is a fun action role-playing game with a neat combat system, but beautiful moments like these make it more than that. They make it a game with a soul."

Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection

We gave the collection an 8/10.

In our Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection review, Mike Mahardy wrote, "At various times throughout the Uncharted games, our protagonist carries the ring of Francis Drake on a leather band around his neck. The ring's inscription reads: "Sic Parvus Magna," or, "greatness from small beginnings."

I can't imagine a better way to encapsulate this collection. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune was a fine game in 2007, but its wrinkles are deeper now, its age more apparent.

With Uncharted 2 and [Uncharted 3], though, Naughty Dog transcended Drake's own small beginnings. The Nathan Drake Collection is a firsthand account of Naughty Dog's growth as a storyteller, and this collection is the best way to relive that history, and witness its transformation up close."

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End

We gave the game a perfect 10/10.

In our Uncharted 4: A Thief's End review, Mike Mahardy wrote, "And most of all, as its final moments make clear, this is a story about storytelling--the importance we lend our idols, legends, and myths. How we pass down the ones that inspire us. How an old photo of three friends sitting on a pile of gold can unleash a flood of memories. Uncharted 4 is a challenge to the medium. In its writing, in its design, in its understanding of what makes games unique, Uncharted 4 is something to aspire to. It's a shining example. And we'll be talking about it for years to come."

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

We gave the game a 9/10.

In our Uncharted: The Lost Legacy review, Miguel Concepcion wrote, "The Lost Legacy doesn't signify a new era for Uncharted so much as it presents an opportunity to show the series from new perspectives, for which Chloe and the AI-controlled Nadine are perfectly capable. With a new playable treasure hunter comes new settings and character motivations, wrapped in a comfortingly familiar Uncharted package. The thrill of playing through set pieces that call back scenes from the earlier games is all the more enhanced when seen through the gameplay mechanics introduced in A Thief's End. The initial hours of The Lost Legacy give an "Uncharted Greatest Hits" vibe, but it grows into a more nuanced, clever experience, ranking among the best in the series while also making its own mark as a standalone Uncharted that isn't anchored to Nathan Drake's harrowing exploits."

Until Dawn

We gave the game an 8/10.

In our Until Dawn review, Alexa Ray Corriea wrote, "I didn't expect to have so much fun with Until Dawn, and the depth with which my choices mattered and affected the final outcome encouraged repeat playthroughs. The visuals can be wonky at times, but in the end Until Dawn succeeds in being a thoughtful use of familiar mechanics, a great achievement in player-driven narrative, and a horror game you shouldn't miss."

Wipeout Omega Collection

We gave the game a 9/10.

In our Wipeout Omega Collection review, Miguel Concepcion wrote, "By focusing on this specific era of the series, Wipeout Omega Collection maintains a level of cohesion you wouldn't get if this compilation included, say, Wipeout Pure or Fusion. While each of the three games exude style and stimulation in their own distinct ways, they collectively showcase the best elements of franchise's engrossing racing and silky smooth visuals. And even though it doesn't completely scratch the itch that only a completely new PS4 sequel can offer, this collection is easily the next best thing."

Yakuza 6: The Song Of Life

We gave the game an 8/10.

In our Yakuza 6: The Song of Life review, Edmond Tran wrote, "Yakuza 6 reins in its scope, but doubles down on what has made the series great. It's a unique and fascinating representation of the modern Japanese experience, worth playing even if you're a newcomer. The narrative is dramatic and sincere, and the game's endearing characters--coming from all walks of life--are interesting studies. The world is dense and rewarding to exist in, the dynamic combat system stays exciting even after you've kicked the crap out of five thousand enemies, and perhaps most importantly, Yakuza 6: The Song Of Life serves as a fulfilling conclusion to the turbulent, decade-long saga of its beloved icon, Kazuma Kiryu."

All Assassin's Creed Games, Reviewed: AC II, Black Flag, Origins, And More

By Matt Espineli on Aug 16, 2018 12:03 am

Assassin's Creed Through The Ages

It's hard to believe, but Ubisoft has released 20 Assassin's Creed games in the span of a decade, and we're already primed for a new one this year with Assassin's Creed Odyssey. In the years since the franchise's 2007 debut, we've received a wealth of fantastic games that have each managed to refine the series' classic open-world formula, while at times pushing it in exciting new directions.

Of course, not every Assassin's Creed game has met fan expectations, but the franchise is still packed with a ton of thrilling adventures that are well-worth experiencing and even revisiting today. It all began with the first Assassin's Creed, a flawed game that showed great promise with its innovative climbing mechanics and sci-fi/historical drama narrative. This potential was eventually realized with Assassin's Creed II, which proved a remarkable improvement thanks to more varied design and a historical setting that stood out from other open-world games of the time. Its follow-up, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, remains a satisfying sequel that refined much of what we loved about AC II while giving us new combat and exploration mechanics to engage with.

"While Assassin's Creed Origins reaches great heights in this new setting, it routinely runs into issues that bog down the overall experience. Technical issues make for an inconsistent experience and its new gameplay pillars wobble under the weight of its systems. But despite this, the world of Origins remains fresh and exciting to explore, which is a testament to the remarkable setting and compelling story. Assassin's Creed has undergone many changes in its long and storied history, and Origins feels like the first step in the start of a new journey. It has its fair share of problems, but the vision for its future is one worth pursuing." [Read the review]

-- Alessandro Fillari, Editor

Best New Games You Need To Play Right Now: Dead Cells, No Man's Sky Next, More

By Matt Espineli on Aug 16, 2018 12:00 am

The Cutting Edge

There are a ton of new games released every month. Some are highly-anticipated big-budget releases while others are smaller, more surprising independent titles. There's a wide variety of other experiences in-between as well. You get games from medium-sized publishers and even the occasional port or remaster of gaming's most iconic adventures.

With so many games coming out year-round, it can be tough keeping track of what's worth playing. To help keep you in the know, we've compiled all the best new games you absolutely need to play right now. The point of this feature is to focus on the latest and greatest games, so the choices you'll find here have been limited to the past couple months.

What you'll find in the slides ahead are games rated 7 or higher by GameSpot. However, you'll occasionally find some lower-rated ones that have been chosen to be included by an incredibly passionate member of our team. We won't hesitate to highlight experiences some members of our staff absolutely love--even if there are others who may not agree. The games included in this feature are ones we personally believe you should check out in some capacity.

As the months go by, we'll be continually cycling out the older games with the most cutting-edge experiences out now, so be sure to keep checking back as often as you can. Which new games have you been playing recently? Let us know in the comments below.

The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series - The Final Season Episode 1 -- 8/10

"The full scope and breadth of The Walking Dead: The Final Season has yet to be laid out, though perhaps the best hint can be found in the game's fancy, HBO-esque title sequence, showing Clementine and A.J. walking into Ericson, but also showing a silhouetted dead walker rotting away in the front yard, being overtaken by ivy, and, eventually, sprouting a yellow flower. Beautiful things are possible in the new world and the new ways to play that Telltale has laid out in Done Running. But something ugly and horrifying is likely to happen first, and it is going to be captivating to watch." [Read the review]

-- Justin Clark

Phantom Doctrine -- 9/10

"In spite of the lackluster visuals, Phantom Doctrine succeeds in making an incredible impression with its intricate and engaging mechanics. There is a lot to admire, with a single-player campaign taking about 40 hours to complete, full of varied and interesting mainline missions and procedurally-generated side content. The ability to play as either a CIA, KGB, or Mossad agent (the latter unlocked after one complete playthrough) also offers the tantalizing prospect of different narrative perspectives. Phantom Doctrine takes the familiar framework of isometric turn-based strategy and confidently repurposes it into a unique and satisfying experience. It wholly embodies the paranoia and tension of the 1980's Cold War setting in every aspect of its numerous gameplay systems, and completely immerses you in that all-encompassing state of mind." [Read the review]

-- Alexander Pan

Flipping Death -- 7/10

"Flipping Death's logic is sometimes too ridiculous for its own good, and frustrating platforming sections add some tarnish. But the game's silly puzzles, self-aware humor, and crazy characters still make a wonderful experience filled with plenty of chuckles, which help to leave you satisfied as the credits roll." [Read the review]

-- Seamus Mullins

Madden 19 -- 8/10

"Madden 19 is an excellent football game that improves on last year's entry in almost every way. There are problems, but there has never been a football game that more authentically represents the NFL than this in terms of presentation, controls, and depth." [Read the review]

-- Eddie Makuch

Unavowed -- 9/10

"But Unavowed's greatest strength is that it maintains an admirable focus on incredible characterization that feeds into every quest and conversation. Every question you ask, every decision you make, and every sacrifice you make carries you and your team members on an impassioned journey that epitomizes the best qualities of an adventure game. It never rests on tropes, a strong sense of empathy is present through its entirety, and not only do you come to wholly understand character motivations, the way these people deal with supernatural situations helps to build a bond between them and you as a player. From its wonderfully realized locations and its inviting, three-dimensional characters, Unavowed will have you eager to discover the captivating stories lurking in the demonic underworld of New York City." [Read the review]

-- David Rayfield

Monster Hunter World (PC) -- 8/10

"Ever since the title was first announced, it was clear that Capcom was gunning for something grander than Monster Hunter Generations. It has succeeded, and this is likely the biggest and best that the franchise has ever been. It's not just the comparative depth of the narrative; it also boasts almost seamless integration between combat systems that were previously incomprehensible for amateurs. The Monster Hunter formula has definitely honed its claws, and all the above factors play their part in making Monster Hunter World a meaningful evolution for the series at large." [Read the review]

-- Ginny Woo

Overcooked 2 -- 8/10

"Overcooked 2 undoubtedly shines in local co-op and the versus arcade modes. New recipes and obstacles provide a fresh challenge for veterans, but it remains approachable for new players with simple controls and short playtimes. The new throwing mechanic, too, adds a new dimension to both strategy and the inevitable chaos without overcomplicating things. It's a strong foundation, and with the right friends, Overcooked 2 is one of the best couch co-op games around." [Read the review]

-- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor

Dead Cells -- 9/10

"Dead Cells is a phenomenal effort to blend together some very disparate genres into a tight, cohesive whole. It's one of the better examples of how to remix ideas without losing their individual strengths." [Read the review]

-- Daniel Starkey

No Man's Sky Next -- 8/10

-- Justin Clark

Warioware Gold -- 8/10

"WarioWare Gold might not be entirely new, but it's the best representation available of what makes this series special. It's a true greatest hits package that showcases Wario's unique weirdo vibe, and this style of play remains inventive and thrilling 15 years after the original Game Boy Advance game. We're still hoping for an entirely new title on Switch in the future, but for now Gold is a compelling, generous victory lap." [Read the review]

-- James O'Connor

Chasm -- 8/10

"Even when its flaws are obvious, Chasm is a well-crafted adventure, and during the more than 12 hours I spent playing through my first time, I got lost only once. That's a huge bonus in a genre where getting lost is often the most frustrating aspect. Even after I finished, I was eager to venture forth on a new adventure, to test my combat mettle against harder foes and find the one secret that eluded me the first time through. It's a shame the randomization of the world isn't that big of a deal and the challenge could be better balanced, but the superb combat and visual design ensure your time with Chasm will be well spent." [Read the review]

-- Tom McShea

The Banner Saga 3 -- 8/10

"As things come down to the wire the two separate groups become more and more interconnected, the consequences of one group's choices directly affecting the potential of the other. This exemplifies the best part about The Banner Saga 3: the feeling that every action you've made in regards to your clan for three games--the friends you've kept and lost, the decisions you've made, and the battles you've picked--will likely influence how well this finale is going to fare. The Banner Saga 3 won't have the same kind of meaningful impact if you haven't experienced the rest of the series. But if you've taken the time to journey with these characters from the very beginning, this finale is a worthwhile and cathartic end to your long journey." [Read the review]

-- Edmond Tran, Senior Editor

Semblance -- 7/10

"Because it's so short, and the puzzles never get particularly fiendish, Semblance is an enjoyable but light experience. This isn't necessarily a bad thing--it's a relaxed game, a good one to clear over a few sessions in bed or on the train if you're playing on Switch--but it also means that it doesn't feel like the game realizes its full conceptual potential. But the fact that I desperately wanted more, and that I was disappointed when Semblance abruptly ended, says more about the game's strengths than its weaknesses. This is a good idea realized and executed well, even though you're likely to come away from it wishing for just a bit more." [Read the review]

-- James O'Connor

Mother Gunship -- 8/10

"With the game's clever gun crafting system added into the mix, familiar tropes and techniques from classic shooting galleries feel super-charged in the game's randomized bullet-hell dungeons. When Mothergunship is firing on all cylinders, it's a satisfying and thrilling shooter where it really counts. With an incredibly fun and never uninteresting gun-crafting mechanic, it certainly goes a long way with its clever hook and an endless flow of enemies to gun down." [Read the review]

-- Alessandro Fillari, Editor

Fighting EX Layer -- 8/10

"On a pure gameplay level, Fighting EX Layer is an absolute treat. What it lacks in bells and whistles it delivers in pure, fun combat. This is a game made for the sort of people who will spend hours perfecting an impractical, extremely-precise combo in training mode simply for the satisfaction of having done it. If that describes you, then Fighting EX Layer will be worth everything you put into it." [Read the review]

-- Heidi Kemps

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker -- 8/10

-- Daniel Starkey

Octopath Traveler -- 8/10

-- Peter Brown, Managing Editor

Sonic Mania Plus -- 9/10

"Beyond these additions and small tweaks, including balancing fixes and the ability to use secret options in any of your save files, Sonic Mania is the same exuberant celebration of Sonic's past. While it was already a fantastic package on the outset, this new update makes it even better than before. If you missed Sonic Mania the first time around, now is the perfect time to catch up." [Read the review]

-- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor

The Crew 2 -- 8/10

-- Edmond Tran, Senior Editor

Wreckfest -- 9/10

"It's rare when a racing game manages to modernize and reinvigorate an old formula with spectacular confidence, but Wreckfest does just that. Minor issues with menus and its soundtrack aside, it wows with a gorgeous look and wonderful driving feel, along with a damage system that satisfies in the most brutal of fashions. With its array of different cars, tracks, and event types, Wreckfest is a brilliantly fun and frenetic racing game that can be thoroughly enjoyed by anyone, not just racing game fans." [Read the review]

-- James Swinbanks

Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus (Switch) -- 8/10

-- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor

Lumines -- 8/10

-- Justin Clark

Mario Tennis Aces -- 7/10

"It speaks volumes that even the multiplayer limitations don't entirely dampen my enthusiasm for Aces. The Tetris Effect is in full swing here; days after the credits rolled, I still crave the satisfying thwack from a Power Shot, mentally replay matches and imagine how I might do things differently given a bit more focus and know-how. Mario Tennis Aces does what this series has done best, and for the most part, improves what it's rarely gotten right prior." [Read the review]

-- Justin Clark

Nier: Automata Become As Gods Edition -- 9/10

"Nier: Automata has released on Xbox One as the Become As Gods Edition, which includes the 3C3C1D119440927 DLC along with several cosmetic items for the main characters and pods. We tested the new Xbox One version by playing through the first three hours of the game, and it runs at a stable frame rate at 4K on the Xbox One X. Most importantly, everything we love about Nier: Automata is, of course, still here: the evocative soundtrack, unique narrative style, and affecting story are as strong as ever. We have updated the score to include the Xbox One version." [Read the review]

-- Michael Higham

The Adventures of Captain Spirit -- 8/10

-- James O'Connor

Red Dead Redemption 2 Gameplay Trailer: Every New Mechanic (So Far)

By Matt Espineli on Aug 15, 2018 11:47 pm

Red Dead Details

Rockstar Games really knows how to keep its fans in anticipation. Nearly a year since its announcement, the publisher has only released a few brief trailers for the upcoming Red Dead Redemption 2. Few details have emerged in the passing months about what you can do in the game, but now that we've finally gotten a glimpse at actual gameplay, we're starting to get a much clearer picture about how exactly Red Redemption 2 will play like when it releases later this year.

There's much more to Red Dead Redemption 2 than a simple next-generation facelift of the previous game's main mechanics. Some elements have remained the same, but a lot has changed. The world is much larger and more diverse, containing its own ecosystem of wildlife. Your level of interaction with the environment has been greatly expanded, allowing you to make moral decisions on the fly in your actions and conversations with the world's inhabitants. Horses are no longer just a disposable vehicle; instead, you must find a steed and build up a bond with them, which increases their ability to deal with riding around stressful firefights or dangerous animals.

To help you keep up to date on all the cool new mechanics being introduced into Red Dead Redemption 2, we've compiled them all in this feature for your reference. If you're loving what you're seeing here and in the first major gameplay video, then you're in luck: this is only the beginning. Rockstar plans to release more videos in the coming weeks showcasing additional gameplay features. The next trailer will discuss missions, activities, enemy gangs, robberies, how the Dead Eye system is changing, and more. As soon as those details drop, we'll be updating this feature, so make sure to keep checking back.

For the uninitiated, Red Dead Redemption 2 tells the story of outlaw Arthur Mogan. "After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee," Rockstar explained. "With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him."

Red Dead Redemption 2 releases on October 26 for PS4 and Xbox One. Although a PC version hasn't officially been confirmed, a programmer working on the game has alluded to the possibility that Read Dead Redemption 2 will launch on PC. What are you most excited about in Red Dead Redemption 2? Give us a holler about it in the comments below.

A Larger, More Diverse World

Red Dead 2's world is even larger than in the previous game and it's not simply open but filled with more diverse areas packed with meaningful activities to pursue. The world covers America's heartland all the way into its frontier, pushing you through a variety of environments such as harsh deserts, mountainous regions, untamed swamplands, and rural towns.

Varied Ecosystem

You're not alone out in the world. There's a whole ecosystem of animals out there that you need to be cautious of. You'll see a variety of predators--such as bears, wolves, and alligators--but there's also a host of prey and scavengers to encounter too. You might see a moose off in the distance or vultures feeding on a carcass. Compared to the game's predecessor, animals seem to interact more with one another whether you play a part in their encounters or not.

Improved World Interaction

Compared to the first game, your level of interaction with the environment has been greatly expanded. Now you can initiate and engage in a conversation with nearly everyone in the world, allowing you to make moral decisions on the fly in your actions and conversations. This is presented via button prompts which will differ based on who you're interacting with. For instance, if you see a passing rider, you can choose to call out to them, kindly greet them, or even antagonize them. On the other hand, these interactions will change when dealing with someone more aggressive. When threatened by an unsavory character, the game will allow you to rob them, defuse the situation, or antagonize them further. It's worth noting that these prompts do not appear in menus or dialogue trees and are instead initiated in real-time.

Your interactions with the world can even change depending on how you present yourself. With your gun holstered, folks are more willing to chat with you, but if you have your gun drawn, they'll notice and might want nothing to do with you. These sorts of details are important and will affect your experiences spent out in the world.

Expanded Honor System

Much like the honor system in the first Red Dead Redemption, your daily actions feed into the world's perception of you. However, the sequel seeks to expand on this by offering different consequences and opportunities to open up based on the honor you have. Your good actions may allow you to form friendships with folks you help out--who may lead you into new missions. But if you're a jerk, you might make enemies out of law enforcement and the populace at large, which could negatively impact your general activities out in the world.

Distinct Weaponry

Weapons have a more distinct feel than before, with each sporting their own unique realistic reload times and recoil. A wide range of weapons exist, ranging from basic six-shooter revolvers to scope-mounted sniper rifles.

You Can Only Carry Two Weapons

In a bit of a shift from the original, you can only carry two weapons in Red Dead Redemption 2. This means you've got to be smarter about which weaponry you choose to take with you into a firefight.

Fleshed Out Melee Combat

Melee combat was incredibly simplistic in the original Red Dead Redemption, as you could only really flail about when an enemy's guard was down in order to inflict any meaningful damage. However, this component seems to be far more engaging and more intimate. Much of the early gameplay shows Morgan grappling with enemies and guarding against their attacks to find better openings.

The Gang's Camp

Daily life in the Van der Linde gang revolves around the makeshift camp they set up each time they're forced to flee. This is a hub area where you can take on missions and companion activities, as well as listen in on NPC stories and play tabletop games. As you progress through the game, you're encouraged to help supply your camp with food and supplies. After all, these are folks Arthur calls family, which should prove more than enough of a motivator to keep everyone happy and well-fed. Putting in the time opens up new activities, increases your bonds with the members of your camp, and even reveals hidden secrets.

It's worth noting that taking care of your camp is not required from you as a player. However, if you do choose to disregard these duties, your camp will perceive you differently and maybe give a salty remark when you pass by.

You Can Hang Out With Gang Members

At any point in the game, you're free to chat with any member of your gang, which can sometimes reveal opportunities for new missions or side-activities. You can even ask them to headout with you to go fishing, commit robbery, or hunt for food.

Building Up Bonds With Your Horse

The power of friendship is a hell of a thing. And while you can grow closer to your comrades within Dutch's gang through conversations and activities, no one's more reliable than your trusty steed. Red Dead Redemption 2 makes horses valuable confidants by letting you groom, feed, and care for them, which results in benefits like faster dash speed and higher stamina. Horse skittishness also improves with a stronger bond; for example, bears may not scare it if trustworthiness is high. And the stronger the bond, the further it can hear your whistle.

Horses will have different behavioral traits based on breed as well, which affects how they interact with the terrain or handle stressful situations. Breed will factor into on how they react to Arthur too. Since you can tame wild horses, it seems that this'll be another level of relationship management that has tangible results.

Horse Storage

Your horse is more than just your pal and a means of transportation, you can also use it to store weapons, medical items, and any animal skins or carcasses you've hunted. Horses are customizable with saddles and saddlebags that offer the extra storage that is likely to come in clutch during prolonged expeditions out in the wilderness.

Doom Eternal Gameplay Trailer: 11 Things You Probably Missed

By Array on Aug 15, 2018 11:46 pm

Hell on Earth

The upcoming Doom Eternal's brief E3 teaser left a lot of folks clamoring to see more. After all, its predecessor was considered one of the best shooters released in 2016. Few details have emerged in the passing months about what sort of changes are being made to the game. But all that has changed with the series of gameplay videos revealed at QuakeCon 2018, which is finally giving us a much clearer picture about how the game will play.

There are a ton of new changes being introduced to Doom Eternal. Familiar weapons are receiving alterations that change up the way they're used. Your mobility has been greatly expanded, allowing you the ability to quickly dodge oncoming fire and even swing across maps with a grappling hook. There are even new power-ups that you can collect that enhance your abilities permanently. But given how fast Doom Eternal's action is, it's likely that a few of these changes might have flown under your nose.

We've put the footage under a microscope, taking note of all the intriguing new mechanics being added to the game, as well as all the awesome new maneuvers you can perform. To help you keep up with all the new changes being made to Doom Eternal, we've compiled the biggest ones that you might've missed.

Doom Eternal is set to launch on PS4, Xbox One, and PC sometime in 2019. In fact, you can pre-order Doom Eternal on those platforms right now. A Nintendo Switch port has been confirmed as well, but it's unclear if it'll release at the same time as other versions of the game.

What are some of the coolest things you noticed in Doom Eternal's debut gameplay footage? Let us know in the comments below.

Weapon Remixes

A few old weapons from the previous game return, but they feature some subtle changes that you might've missed. For example, the Combat Shotgun now has an alternate fire that's basically a gatling gun, while the Plasma Rifle shoots orbs that electrify enemies. Some weapons have been completely revamped, like the Ballista, which is a new version of the Gauss Cannon that shoots energy bolts that explode on impact. This is only a handful of the changes showcased so far, but we can't wait to see what else is being added into the mix this time around.

A Lives System

There appears to be a life system of some sort. Around the end of the first gameplay clip, the player grabbed a "+1 Life" item. It's likely this item is useful during enemy invasions, but we have to wonder if it serves a specific use when playing only in single-player.

Wielding the Crucible

It's hard to miss, but it appears Doom Eternal is actually following on the promise of its predecessor's conclusion by giving you the Crucible sword and letting you use it in battle! Whether or not it becomes a mainstay of your arsenal remains to be seen, but we're down to use it for at least a portion of the game.

Secret Opportunities

When the player opened up the map screen, it showed a ton of question marks, which are likely secrets you can discover. But given how large the map is now compared to the previous game, could these numerous secrets scattered around the map possibly allude to an even deeper emphasis on exploration and backtracking than before?

Demonic Corruption Meter

There also appears to be a "demonic corruption" meter on the map screen. From what was shown, we couldn't get a handle on how this impacted gameplay or if it was just a visual thing for the narrative's sake.

New Glory Kills

There are a bunch of new glory kills that were clearly highlighted in the gameplay footage, but we just want to show the guy getting his head squashed into his body. It's but one of many new gnarly looking (and satisfying) execution animations being added into the sequel.

The BFG 10000

It looks like the BFG is returning… in giant cannon form. You can see it firing during the last gameplay section on Phobos. At what, we don't quite know yet, but we're hoping it can obliterate some sort of gigantic demon we'll inevitably face in the game.

Expanded Mobility

Doom Eternal has far more mobility options than its predecessor. What's instantly apparent from gameplay is the ability to dash/dodge, but we also saw a wall climb in certain sections, as well as highlighted poles you can swing on to jump wide gaps. Additionally, the grappling hook can be used to cover ground very quickly.

New Suit, New Features

Doom Slayer has some new suit abilities, such as an arm blade that he uses for the new glory kills, but he also has a shoulder mounted launcher that can shoot grenades and spew fire. But knowing the Doom tendency for over-the-top weaponry, we're almost positive it's capable of more. There's a possibility we might get more types of projectiles for this weapon, such as elemental grenades or who knows what!

Destructible Demons

Destructible demons! It's a little hard to see amidst all the shootin' and the blood splatterin', but there appears to be some nuance in the way these enemies get destroyed. Demons will now lose their armor, get visible holes blown through them, or even be burned alive after shooting them enough times.

Permanent Power-ups

Like previous games, you can nab power-ups that can enhance your physical characteristics. Previously, these useful buffs were only active for a limited time, but in Doom Eternal, they seem to be permanent. The melee-enhancing Blood Fist power-up that the player picks up seems to stick around for the duration of the second gameplay video. It's unclear what happens to your existing power-up when you grab a new one, but we're guessing you're likely going to have to pick and choose which ones you want to keep on you.

Dead Cells Guide: 10 Tips We Wish We Knew Before Starting

By Kallie Plagge on Aug 15, 2018 11:41 pm

Be Prepared

Dead Cells is now officially out, and if you've been playing, you know how challenging it can be. The roguelike-Metroidvania hybrid's randomized elements make each run tense, while permanent upgrades put more pressure on you in the long run. Whether you're just starting or have hit a boss-shaped roadblock, knowing what to do next can be tricky. Luckily, we've got you covered.

In this guide, we've rounded up the best tips we wish we'd known before we started Dead Cells. Learn from our mistakes (and our successes), including how not to invest your cells and how to reforge your weapons for the best effect. We won't spoil big secrets here, of course, since the joy of discovery is one of the best things about Dead Cells.

For more, be sure to read our Dead Cells review. You can also watch our video about why Dead Cells is an instant classic and one of our favorite games of 2018, or, if you just want to see some gameplay, you can check out our livestream of the mid-game.

Got any other great Dead Cells tips? Let us know in the comments below!

Take Your Time

While you might feel like you need to rush your way through levels--and there is an incentive to do that, but we'll get to that in a bit--careful exploration will take you far. On an individual run, making sure you collect all the Scrolls of Power in each level will maximize your HP, attack damage, and any mutation bonuses going forward. As far as your overall upgrades go, seeking out blueprints, hidden areas, and powerful enemies will help you progress and open up new levels for you to take on.

Don't Unlock Too Many Weapons

As you collect blueprints, you'll be able to use cells to unlock weapons, skills, and mutations. When you unlock a weapon (melee, ranged, or shield) or skill (grenades, traps, and so on), it'll enter the rotation of items you might find on your run. If you unlock too many, especially low-level weapons and things you don't like using, you might have trouble getting your favorites. A safe bet while you're still figuring things out is to invest cells in mutations, since they aren't randomized, and permanent upgrades like the Health Flask. And whatever you do, don't unlock the Spartan Sandals.

You Don't Have To Spend All Your Cells

Speaking of which... In between each level, you'll find the Collector, who will exchange your cells for upgrades and weapon unlocks. If you try to leave his room without spending all your cells, you'll be told that the door won't open until you do. But that's a lie! You can roll, shoot, or smash your way through the door in two hits and leave with your cells in hand. This way, you can bank the cells you earned in the early levels until you beat a boss--there's a special Legendary Forge only available after boss fights where you can unlock permanent upgrades that increase your chances of finding higher-quality items. Just remember to talk to the Collector to turn in any blueprints you've found.

Always Be Rolling

Enemy attacks are punishing in Dead Cells, but each foe has its attack tells. Zombies will groan before launching themselves at you, for example, while Undead Archers will pull back on their bows before firing an arrow. Know when to dodge roll, and do it often--you'll avoid taking a lot of damage this way, especially if you're not using a shield.

Smash Doors Open And Land With A Stomp

It's loud, but crashing your way through Dead Cells' levels has its benefits. Instead of opening a door normally, roll through it or hit it open with one of your weapons--enemies on the other side will take damage and become stunned if they're close enough. You can also stun and damage enemies by stomping on them from above (just tap the jump/drop button/key a second time to do it). Landing with a thud will also prevent you from being stunned yourself, which can happen if you fall from too high up. Just know where you're landing, or else you might impale yourself on some spikes.

Speedrunning Unlocks Bonus Rooms

While it's generally good to be patient and cautious when playing Dead Cells, there's an incentive to move quickly if you're confident. At the beginning of each area after the first one, you'll come across doors that look like hourglasses. If you reach the door within a certain amount of time--two minutes for the first door, eight for the second, and so on--you'll gain access to a room filled with cells, gold, and other goodies. It's a great option if you got some lucky drops and feel comfortable leaving some parts of a level unexplored, or if you are looking to farm cells for upgrades.

Defeat Special Elites To Get Runes

As you play Dead Cells, you will come across powerful Elite enemies. Most of the time, killing these enemies will net you an amulet with special bonuses (among other rewards). But if you're in the right area, you might find an entire room dedicated to an Elite--you'll know it because you'll get locked in as the fight starts. Defeating this Elite will get you a rune, which unlocks an ability that carries over between runs and allows you to access new areas.

Tactics Builds Are Great

At the beginning, you start each run in Dead Cells with a sword. This can change with upgrades, but it also establishes that swords are central to a good loadout. But this isn't the case! You can have a lot of success with a tactics-focused build that includes two ranged weapons or a ranged weapon and a shield. These also go well with one of our favorite skill combos: the Wolf Trap and the Sinew Slicer. Trap enemies, drop a damage-dealing Sinew Slicer, and fire at them from afar to keep yourself safe and take out multiple enemies at once (and it's also great for boss fights).

Don't Underestimate Shields

Although you might want to do a bunch of damage, shields can be pretty useful. Even if you don't want to parry, the shields absorb a percent of the damage enemies deal. They can also give you some invulnerability briefly after you get hit, which helps as well. Parrying is a bit harder to master, as it's not passive, but it's also very helpful; you can send bombs back at enemies, and some shields even deal damage or stun enemies with a successful parry!

Make The Most Of Reforging

After you beat the Concierge for the first time, you'll unlock the ability to reforge weapons in between areas. This allows you to upgrade them as well as re-roll their effects, which is especially useful with more powerful and legendary weapons. You might have a high-DPS weapon that inflicts damage on you when you use it, for example, which is obviously not desirable (though the actual DPS of the weapon is). With reforging, you can roll for something better without throwing the weapon away! You can also try to coordinate your items' effects; for example, if you have an Ice Bow, you can try to reforge your other items so they cause more damage to frozen enemies.

Mission Impossible: The Wildest Tom Cruise Stunts, Ranked

By Dan Auty on Aug 15, 2018 10:55 pm

As the Mission Impossible movies have gotten bigger, so too has star Tom Cruise's desire for danger. While many action stars slow down a little as they hit middle age, 56-year-old Cruise has gone the other way, pushing his body for the sake of our entertainment in ways that would terrify many actors half his age.

The sixth movie in the series, Mission Impossible: Fallout, has arrived in theaters and reviews have suggested that it's the most spectacular entry to date. That's certainly translated to success, as the opening weekend's US box office set a franchise record.

Some of Cruise's Fallout stuntwork was notorious long before Fallout had even finished shooting, with an on-set accident causing the star to break his ankle and production to shut down for several months with a costly delay. Behind-the-scenes promotional videos have teased some of the movie's other amazing action sequences, such as the terrifying-sounding HALO jump, showing that the movie's marketers know that Cruise's willingness to risk his life is now a big selling point for the series.

The previous five movies all feature some incredible moments--from climbing onto planes and being thrown around by explosions to getting way too close to knives and cliff edges. So as we get ready to marvel at Cruise's latest batch of movie-set madness, here's a look back at the wildest stunts from the series so far.

Despite Cruise's age, Fallout is unlikely to be the last entry in the series. It reportedly opened with a strong Thursday night in the US, racking up $6 million (up from the $4 million earned by Rogue Nation). According to Box Office Mojo, it's grossed over $450 million worldwide as of August 13, and it's remained near the top of the charts in the US since its release.

10. Mission Impossible – Train Chase

Back in 1996, Cruise--or perhaps his agent--wasn't prepared to go to quite the same lengths to endanger his life, and there's a good chance in 2018 that Tom would've spent the climax of the first movie actually strapped to the top of the Eurostar train. But although the stunt was mostly achieved through greenscreen, a powerful wind machine was set up to blast 140mph winds at Tom as he clings to the speeding train.

9. Mission Impossible 2 – Knife Fight

It's not the biggest stunt in the second Mission Impossible movie, but in some ways it's the hardest to watch. In the final confrontation with bad guy Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott), Cruise, of course, insisted that real knives were used. There's a moment where Ambrose gets his blade scarily close to Hunt's eye, in extreme close-up. To get the dramatic effect, the blade was attached to a retractable cord that was measured precisely to stop just before it hit Cruise's eye. An inch further and it would've plunged straight into Tom's eyeball.

8. Mission Impossible – Hanging Around

Sometimes a great stunt doesn't involve running, jumping, and swimming. Sometimes it just involves staying very still under very difficult conditions. For the iconic scene in which Ethan Hunt hangs upside down in the vault while attempting to break into Langley in the first movie, Cruise was suspended 40 feet from the ceiling, maintaining incredible control over his body to remain absolutely still while he taps away at the computer.

7. Mission Impossible III – Bridge Blast

During the bridge confrontation towards the end end of MI3, a missile smashes into the ground, causing an explosion that sends Cruise flying several feet into the side of a car. In any "normal" film this shot would've been performed by a stuntman in long shot, before cutting to a final close-up of Tom. But of course we get to see the whole thing in one spectacular take. The car was padded, but man, it looks painful.

6. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation – Bike Chase

Rogue Nation is packed with so many great stunts that this bike chase is sometimes forgotten, but it still a stunningly dangerous sequence. Ethan races after Ilsa (Rebecca Ferguson) in order to get some stolen files back, skidding around the alarming bends of the Marrakech Highway in Morocco, while also trying to evade the henchmen on his trail. And of course, Cruise ensures that we know it's him performing these alarming high-speed stunts by refraining from wearing a helmet for the entire sequence.

5. Mission Impossible – Exploding tank

The first Mission Impossible fully established Cruise as an action movie star. Although the set pieces are a little more modest than in later movies, there are still some great moments that show that the star was very willing to put himself in danger. During a tense standoff, Ethan Hunt uses some detonating gum to blow up a huge fish tank that surrounds the actors, causing 16 tons of water to explode, right next to the star. A huge wave of water crashes through the room, as Cruise sprints just ahead. Director Brian De Palma was reportedly reluctant to let Cruise perform the stunt, on account of the risk from both the glass and sheer volume of water. But an earlier take with a stuntman didn't look any good, so Cruise went ahead and did it himself.

4. Mission Impossible 2 – Rock Climbing

It was MI2 that truly established the franchise's--and its star's--dedication to the dangerous. The movie opens with a sequence in which Cruise scales the cliffs of Dead Horse Point in Utah. While the actor was wearing a safety harness that was later removed digitally, it's still 100% Tom up there, jumping between rocks with no safety net below him. From that stunt on, there was no going back.

3. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation – Taking Off

Like the Bond movies, the Mission Impossible franchise is known for its spectacular opening sequences. At the start of Rogue Nation, Ethan Hunt clings to the side of a plane as it takes off. Cruise performed the stunt four times over the space of two days, and subsequently provided some alarming details about it. "While we were going down the runway, we were worried about bird strikes," he said. "Any kind of particle that the propellers could pick up, any kind of stone. I remember I got hit by a stone that was so tiny, you cannot believe it. I thought it broke my rib. Luckily it went to my vest, and not my hands or my face, or it would have penetrated and gone right through." Ow.

2. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol – Dubai So High

It's not all running, jumping, and nearly drowning. Cruise also seemingly lacks a fear of heights, even when scaling the world's tallest building. In Ghost Protocol, Ethan Hunt is seen on the side of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, 2,722 feet above the ground. And as the behind-the-scenes footage reveals, it's 100% Tom--swinging, climbing, and clambering around the outside of the building, as the camera crew circle him in a helicopter.

1. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation – Water Lunatic

Given that Rogue Nation starts with the Cruiser hanging off the side of an airplane as it takes off, you'd be forgiven thinking that the movie had peaked early in terms of life-endangering stunt work. But you're be wrong. An hour later, Ethan Hunt attempts to crack open an underwater safe, a sequence that took two weeks to film and required Cruise to not only act underwater but also reportedly hold his breath for up to six minutes at a time. Tom's physical training took months, as he trained alongside a freediving expert and taught his mind to believe "that you don't have to take a breath."

Avengers: Infinity War -- 25 Facts We Learned From The Blu-Ray Special Features

By Michael Rougeau on Aug 15, 2018 10:49 pm

The Infinity War Blu-ray has arrived.

The Avengers: Infinity War home release date is upon us. That means we can finally relive the pain and horror of Infinity War's bleak, tragic ending on repeat in the comfort of our own living rooms if we want. More importantly, it also means we get to dig into the movie's special features and learn new details about the movie, like just what was going on with Hulk.

The Avengers: Infinity War Blu-ray, which is now available alongside the digital version, comes with four featurettes: one focusing on the chemistry among all the characters, one focused on Thanos himself, and one each for both of the major battles in the movie (Titan and Wakanda). They come with a handful of deleted scenes, which include both a surprising MCU cameo that was cut from the movie and the second half of a scene that explains how the Guardians knew to head to Titan.

On Infinity War's digital release, which is out now, you can also find a special exclusive featurette called the director's roundtable. In it, MCU movie directors Jon Favreau, Joe and Anthony Russo, Ryan Coogler, James Gunn, Peyton Reed, Joss Whedon, and Taika Waititi sit down for an extended chat about how their separate visions and talents have come together to form the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There's also a very revealing audio commentary.

All these Infinity War special features form a fun and informative watch, so we put together this highlights list of our favorite things we learned. When you're done, don't forget to refresh yourself on what Infinity War's after credits scene means for the MCU's future, including the upcoming Captain Marvel.

1. There are around 2900 visual effects shots in Avengers: Infinity War.

According to executive producer Victoria Alonso. That's out of 3,000 total shots--so only 100 shots in the whole movie didn't rely on CGI.

2. Making Civil War the lead-up to Infinity War was extremely deliberate.

"Part of the reason why we were drawn to tell the story of Civil War and one of the reasons why we thought it was such a great place to leave the Avengers, divided, was because we knew that the greatest threat they would ever face would be coming in Thanos," says co-director Anthony Russo. "For storytellers, you want your heroes to be at their lowest point when they meet their worst threat."

3. The Titan battle was shot entirely on a soundstage.

4. Executive producer Victoria Alonso calls Infinity War "one big CG scene."

"The environment is CG, the weapons are CG, every shot is dense in layers."

5. Josh Brolin performed all the motion and performance capture for Thanos himself.

6. The showdown between Dr. Strange and Thanos was rendered and animated before Benedict Cumberbatch gave his performanc

This allowed the other departments to work on the scene's effects long before Cumberbatch shot his lines on a green screen.

7. The Wakanda battle was one of the most challenging thing the Russos have ever shot.

"Probably the most physically challenging thing that we've ever done was execute that Wakanda sequence," Anthony Russo says.

8. The Wakanda battle was shot on a physical location.

"It was a big ranch in Georgia that we turned into the fields of Wakanda," Anthony Russo says. The river running through the field was artificially dug for the movie and used a pump capable of churning through 30,000 gallons of water per minute.

9. The Russos coordinated with Black Panther director Ryan Coogler about Wakanda's geography.

"We actually had to work in tandem with Ryan Coogler. He and his team had maps of Wakanda and that was very helpful to us so that we could look at where we wanted to place the battle, understand strategy, so it's literally like doing a Jenga puzzle," Joe Russo says.

10. The Wakandan army included 70 extras on set, plus stunt people.

Their numbers were digitally expanded, and 10,000 "Outriders," Thanos's creatures, were added as well.

11. Rain was a big problem during filming in Georgia.

They would try to shoot actors' close-ups on rainy days, and hope the sun would come out the next.

12. The Russos thought hard about who would go in the snap.

"In terms of our choices about who Thanos would end up eradicating with his snap, you know, it was very story-focused. How do we pay off each individual character's storyline most profoundly?" Anthony Russo says. "The first person to go is Bucky Barnes, and it's shot from Captain America's perspective. We're watching Cap go through the experience of watching him go away. We're watching Okoye, whose number one mission it is in life to protect the king, she watches the king go in front of her. And to see those characters react in those situations is very powerful and resonant."

13. The filmmakers refer to the snap as "the bloodbath sequence."

Executive producer Trinh Tran throws the phrase in casually during the Wakanda battle featurette.

14. Many of the actors involved didn't know it was happening.

"The bloodbath sequence, we had gathered the whole entire talent there circled around our directors, and basically revealed to them that morning of when they came on set, that that scene was happening, that some of them were gonna be, you know, disappearing," says Tran.

15. Infinity War's production included 6,000 crew members spread around the world.

"It's about as massive a production as you can mount," says Joe Russo.

16. There's a deleted scene in which the Guardians receive several encoded messages from Nebula.

She warns them that Thanos is taking Gamora to Titan, which is how the Guardians know to go there, and why they're on Titan when Iron Man, Doctor Strange, and Spider-Man show up.

17. There's another deleted scene where Happy Hogan shows up in New York.

It's an extended version of the early scene between Tony Stark and Pepper, where Happy shows up and berates them about their upcoming nuptials. It honestly doesn't fit the tone of the movie.

18. Jon Favreau says he was hired to direct Iron Man because of Elf.

"What really hit was Elf, because Elf made money, and I was sort of like on a list of directors that were hirable," Favreau says in the director's roundtable feature.

19. The Russo brothers were "most impressed" by the first 10 minutes of the original Iron Man.

"That's a ballsy interpretation of a narcissist, who's presented as a drunk and a jerk. And this is the guy that I'm supposed to get on board with, who goes on this amazing journey throughout the course of the movie, and I do get on board with him. And I think that that was unique," Joe Russo says.

20. Taika Waititi couldn't join for the directors roundtable so they propped an iPad over a Hawaiian shirt with a hat on

This is amazing.

21. The Avengers' post-credits shawarma scene was born from a joke.

"I made a joke about, 'We should see them all eating shawarma for 30 seconds,' and then two months later [Kevin Feige] is like, 'I think we can do it,'" says Avengers director Joss Whedon.

22. They shot the shawarma scene after the movie had already premiered.

To Jon Favreau's amazement, Whedon admits they shot that scene after the movie had premiered already. "It did not go out in Europe because we didn't have time. It was during, while we were doing press, after the premiere, at the hotel. There was a shawarma place like three blocks away. We got everybody in there," Whedon says. They had to cover Chris Evans' beard (likely for filming Snowpiercer) with a prosthetic, which he blocked with his hand during the scene.

23. James Gunn wrote one of Guardians' favorite scenes in response to a note from Joss Whedon.

"Joss, you were the hugest influence on me, because I turned in my first draft of the screenplay [for Guardians of the Galaxy], and I was really afraid, because I felt good about it, but I actually thought it was too funny," Gunn says. "And the thing you said to me...was, 'Just make it more James Gunn.'" He went home after receiving that note and wrote the scene where the Guardians sit around laughing at Quill's "12 percent of a plan."

24. James Gunn thinks of Rocket as a furry, cute version of Frankenstein's monster.

"For me, Rocket is Frankenstein's monster. He is this little creature that was this innocent animal, who was turned into something that isn't what he was supposed to be, and is completely alone and completely lost, and has no connection, has no tenderness from anyone," Gunn says. "To me that was the seed from which the entire story grew."

25. The Russos wanted viewers to really believe that Thor was going to kill Thanos.

"We needed to create a situation where you really believed that Thor was going to kill Thanos. That was the story of the film--his journey to that," Anthony Russo says. "This guy has lost everything. And it's this level of sadness that imbues him with that underdog quality that then becomes the heart of the movie, and you start to root for, and you believe that's sort of the energy that's gonna carry you into the climax."

46 Avengers: Infinity War Details We Learned From The Blu-Ray Audio Commentary

By Array on Aug 15, 2018 10:47 pm

The directors and writers revealed plenty of new tidbits on the Infinity War Blu-ray.

If you're looking to check out every special feature on Avengers: Infinity War's home release, you're going to have to peep the digital version. It comes with an exclusive "directors roundtable" feature in which several MCU directors--from Joss Whedon to Taika Waititi--sit down together to discuss the cinematic universe they've built. But there's more to this package that true Marvel fans won't want to miss out on, especially Infinity War's audio commentary track.

The digital version is available to buy now, and the physical version--including the 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD--have finally hit stores. Bear in mind, if you buy the physical version, you get a digital copy as well, so that's definitely the most complete option.

In Infinity War's audio commentary, directors Joe and Anthony Russo, as well as writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, reveal tons of new information, from facts about the movie's production to their reasoning behind various decisions. Obviously you're going to want to watch the movie again first, but when you're done, check it out again with the audio commentary on.

All the other Infinity War special features are a fun and informative watch, so we also put together a highlights list of our favorite things we learned from the deleted scenes, featurettes, and more. When you're done, don't forget to refresh yourself on what Infinity War's after credits scene means for the MCU's future, including the upcoming Captain Marvel.

1. There's a cameo by Thor director Sir Kenneth Branagh.

"This was an amazing surprise, by the way, and we had this idea very late in editorial, to ask the amazing Sir Kenneth Branagh to come in and do the opening distress call over the logo, that carries us and sets the stage and carries us into the scene with Thor and Thanos and Loki on the Ark," detailed Joe Russo.

2. They wanted to keep the plot simple.

"We wanted to keep the plot very simple, with very simple MacGuffins, because we have so many characters in the movie that we knew if the plot was complicated, it would take too much story real estate to explain the plot, and that would take away from the character interactions, which we also knew would be the highlight of the film," stated Markus.

3. They didn't have the script for Thor: Ragnarok when they started working on Infinity War.

"The first scene of this movie changed a bunch, and until we figured out that they were going to end on a trip off of a destroyed Asgard, we didn't know where Thanos would find Loki," said McFeely.

4. Creating Thanos was one of the first visual effects they tested.

Because he was so central to the movie, and the difficulty in creating him was the highest, they knew they had to get him right.

5. Valkyrie definitely survived Thanos's attack.

"Several Asgardians have escaped. I've gone on record saying that Valkyrie has escaped with some of the Asgardians," said Joe Russo. There's a hint that Korg may also be among them: "All I can say is pray for Korg," added Markus.

6. Earlier versions of the script had more scenes of characters in their everyday lives.

But the plot had to move too quickly to allow for much of that--Thanos's breakneck pace left little room.

7. They talk about why the attack on Xandar happens off-screen.

"We wrote versions of Thanos attacking Xandar, and it had a similar purpose in the script to what Knowhere does now," explained Markus. "It was a place where Thanos and Gamora encounter each other. But the fact of the matter is, you know exactly what--if Thanos went to Xandar to get that stone, you know what happened. It was a big battle, and he got it." They decided to cut it from the script to avoid being repetitive, and to maximize how emotional it was every time Thanos got ahold of one.

8. They're aware that Tony having the Captain America flip phone on him is slightly ridiculous.

"And he luckily carries around the burner phone, fully charged--well to be fair we did have another scene between Pepper and Tony that illustrated where the phone came from, but it was a reshoot scene that we then opted to revert back to the park scene," stated Joe Russo.

9. There's a specific reason why Tony accepts that he needs to call Steve.

"When he says, 'Steve might be able to help,' it's because Tony knows that Wanda is on the run with Steve, and he knows that Vision has been stepping out and maybe having a relationship with Wanda, and he had been cool with that and probably not called Vision to task for it," said McFeely.

10. This entire long shot was done on the lot at Pinewood Studios.

It was on a green screen. The shot was designed to ground you with the characters, and it was inspired by Spielberg's directing.

11. Doctor Strange is meant to be one of the most powerful characters in the MCU at this point.

"We wanted to advance his power levels since the end of Doctor Strange, because it has been a few years, and that he's been doing his work and he's a diligent study and he's now one of the more powerful characters in the Marvel universe," said Joe Russo.

12. We should have faith in Doctor Strange.

By Infinity War's ending, it could be easy to get frustrated with Doctor Strange for so easily giving the Time Stone up to Thanos. But we should have faith in him, apparently:

"He generally comes off as the adult in the room, very reassuring, and that regardless of what happens over the course of the movie, I think Strange might know how this is going to work out. I have faith in him," said McFeely.

"You need that kind of character in a movie like this, where there's a lot of spinning plates, and a lot of the spinning plates are off balance," said Joe Russo.

13. Ebony Maw was inspired by the Marvel character Mephistopheles.

"He is inspired a little bit by Mephistopheles from the original Starlin books...there are some directly quoted lines from the book that we put in his mouth," said Joe Russo.

14. They changed the Black Order/Children of Thanos in deliberate ways.

They thought these characters were too powerful in the books, and didn't want them to outshine Thanos himself. In addition, they wanted the sub-villains' powers to match up in interesting ways with the heroes', which is why, for example, the Maw is a wizard--or a "techno-mage," as they call him.

15. Maw burning his hand on the amulet is a deliberate nod to Raiders of the Lost Ark.

16. Only two days pass over the entire course of the movie.

"I'm not even sure exactly what the amount of elapsed time in this movie is, it can't be more than maybe two days," said Markus.

"Yeah, at most," replied Joe Russo.

17. They see Peter Quill as a Peter Pan-like figure.

"Quill is a very interesting character to us," said Joe Russo. "He's sort of like a Peter Pan character. His mother was dying of cancer, he was kidnapped at the age of 10, raised by pirates, you know, he's unique."

18. Thor's meeting with the Guardians was one of the earliest scenes shot and cut.

And it changed very little through the end of production.

19. Earlier drafts had more backstory for the Black Order.

"Ultimately, the movie was getting too crowded, too hard to follow," said Joe Russo. "In the books there's a backstory between Proxima and Corvus that they're married, only hinted at in the slightest way here by the fact that they are paired up to retrieve a stone, and the way that Proxima responds when Corvus gets stabbed by Natasha."

20. The Alan Silvestri-composed Avengers theme music was deliberately used at only a couple of points in the movie.

"It's very Pavlovian for many of us, in terms of the emotional reaction we get from it," explained Anthony Russo.

21. They deliberately put the movie's couples in difficult situations.

"Characters at several points in the movie--characters in relationships--are put in situations where one is asked to kill the other to protect the universe," said Joe Russo.

"We're used to heroes sacrificing themselves, it's almost a given," added Markus. "But what's the next step? What are you willing to give up?"

"I know all these people will jump on the grenade," explained McFeely. "Will they throw somebody else on the grenade?"

22. They always wanted to save the Soul Stone reveal for this movie.

"We never wanted to give that chip away," said McFeely. "We didn't want it to be somewhere you already knew, we didn't want some other movie to plant it. We wanted to use it as a story point."

23. There's a subtle way they show that Gamora can sense that Thanos has been there.

"There are two shots in the movies where Zoe silently absorbs the presence of Thanos," said Joe Russo. "One is over her shoulder when they first arrive at the Ark, and they see all the dead bodies floating in space. It's a very subtle shot of her twisting her head knowing there's very few people in the universe who could enact that kind of destruction. And then again here, feeling it as she's landing, that they may be too late."

24. The illusion scene was Thanos's test to determine whether Gamora still cares for him.

"He uses this whole thing as a test to see if she still cares for him, and that reaction tell him that she does," stated McFeely.

"This is one of the most interesting things that Thanos does, and you realize that he has an inner life and an emotional life that's important to him," added Anthony Russo.

25. They answer the question "Why doesn't Thanos just double the resources in the universe?"

"People have asked us why Thanos didn't just use the Stones to double the resources in the universe," explained Joe Russo. "Clearly he is not...he was told no to an idea that he had, that he felt was the only solution, and then was proved right to himself when that solution was not acted upon. So his messianic complex, he is now committed to following through on the idea he had many, many years ago. He's not a stable--although he appears stable at times--he is not a stable individual."

26. There were drafts where Captain America and Iron Man reunited around this point.

But their differences are too severe, and it caused the pace to "grind to a halt."

27. Ebony Maw's death was inspired by Indiana Jones.

It was inspired by the moment Jones putt down his whip and pulled out a revolver in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

"Something quick and efficient would be more surprising than something belabored, because there's an incredible amount of action in the movie, it felt like we didn't need another five minute action sequence," said Joe Russo.

28. Thanos capturing Nebula was the catalyst for Thanos's quest, and thus the entire movie.

"The catalyst for the whole movie was when Thanos figured out where the Soul Stone was, because he captured Nebula on his ship and rooted around in her brain and found out that Gamora knew where the Soul Stone was," explained McFeely.

"It's the reason why he has not gone after the Stones at this point; because the minute he does, the forces of the universe are going to line up against him," added Joe Russo.

29. Rocket was hiding Thor's new eye in his ear, not his butt.

"I think a lot of people assume that Rocket had put it up his ass to get it out," revealed Joe Russo. "It was up his ear, remember?"

30. There were multiple possible versions of the scene where Thor gets his new weapon.

"We had scenes where it was trapped by basically a dragon, all sorts of things," McFeely said. "But this scene, not only does it provide a test for Thor, but it also shows what Thanos has wrought, right? And that's the second element. You get your little myth about the forging of the gauntlet, and that he's a ruthless SOB."

31. This was the first scene they shot, in the first few days of shooting.

They used the scene to figure out the tonal balance between the Guardians and the Avengers.

32. There's a specific reason they brought Red Skull back.

They knew that when the movie got to the planet Vormir, they'd need a character to reveal the location's rules--i.e. how to obtain the Soul Stone--in a way no one would doubt.

"That dovetailed nicely with a fetish Chris and I have of bringing Red Skull back into the universe," explained McFeely.

33. Making Eitri look giant was a challenge.

"It's very complicated to change scale on a character," Russo said. "When you have other characters in frame, when you're working with a giant character, so it was a very laborious process of matching lenses, moving Peter in for his shots bringing him out then moving Hemsworth in for his shots, and then changing the scale for each of them. It required the most math and science of anything we did in the film."

34. The filmmakers were unfamiliar with the Wakanda war chants while shooting.

The filmmakers were unfamiliar with the Wakandan war chants while shooting, because Black Panther was still in production.

"When the actors came from across Atlanta, from the set of Black panther, over to ours to do this, they just started doing it. And it was awesome," Markus says.

35. Rocket's "space dogs" line came from a test audience member.

"There was a focus group after one of the test screenings. Somebody was commenting on something that happened in this section of the film, and he said, 'You know those space dogs?' We thought it was hilarious, so we incorporated it into Bradley Cooper's read," Anthony Russo says.

36. Chris Pratt improvised a line in this scene.

The line "For the record, this was my plan" was improvised by Pratt.

37. The filmmakers know exactly which stones Thanos is using at any given time.

For example, in this scene, he's using the Power Stone to destroy the moon, and the Space Stone to pull it down to the surface.

38. Paul Bettany had one of the most uncomfortable costumes while shooting.

"Paul Bettany wears one of the most restrictive and intense costumes of any of the cast, completely painted up, his head is encased, his body's encased," Anthony Russo says. As they point out, that's not pleasant when you're shooting Georgia in 90 degree heat with 90% humidity.

39. Bruce Banner's arc was designed to make Banner a hero in his own right, regardless of the Hulk.

"This is an arc that makes Banner a hero, and not just someone who whines for the Hulk's help the whole time. Banner has to step up and solve the problem on his own," Joe Russo says.

40. There was a version where this is Captain America's entrance into the movie.

"There was a draft where that tackle was Cap's first appearance in the movie. They called us insane, and we may well have been," Markus says.

41. Captain America will have a "big story" in Avengers 4.

"We know we have two movies to tell the character arcs, and so some characters are going to better served in the second story. I think it's OK to say that Cap has a big story in the second one," McFeely says.

42. This is one of the only uses of the Soul Stone in the movie.

Thanos uses it to determine which Doctor Strange is the real one.

43. In the commentary, they refer to Bruce Banner as "the herald from space."

In the commentary (though not in the film), they refer to Bruce Banner as "the herald from space," a role in the comics filled by the Silver Surfer, a character for whom Disney doesn't have the rights.

"This is what Bruce Banner has been warning them about, as the herald from space, for the whole movie. And now it's here," Markus says.

44. Thanos is transported into the Soul Stone's internal world here.

"Are we committing to it being Soul World?" McFeely asked.

"Of course it is," Joe Russo replies. "Thanos is transported, through the power that was needed or required to wipe out half the life in the universe, into this dream state inside the Soul Stone."

"And he is allowed one last meeting with that which he gave up to get there, the spiritual representation of his daughter," Markus finishes.

45. Spider-Man's death wasn't so brutal, originally.

"If I remember correctly, it was, 'I don't feel so good,' Tony looked at him, he said, 'I'm sorry,' and disappeared," Joe Russo says. "And then on the day, we kept driving to put more and more emotion into it, and just went up to Tom and said, 'You don't want to go. You're a child. And you're using your strength as Spider-Man to fight this.' And then that was the performance that came out."

46. There's one last Easter egg here.

"For our eagle-eyed viewers, you'll see, to the right there, a scarecrow made of Thanos's armor. That is an homage [to the comics]," Joe Russo says.

WWE Summerslam 2018 Predictions And Match Card: Daniel Bryan Loses To The Miz

By Mat Elfring on Aug 15, 2018 09:15 pm

It seems like the Summerslam card is finalized. However, if the rumors are true, there will be even more changes coming in the final days before the PPV. Because of this, the predictions for the matches may change slightly based on the final match card, so keep checking back leading up to Sunday, August 19 when WWE's Summerslam airs.

Coming to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York--for a fourth year in a row--is WWE's yearly event, Summerslam. This year's PPV will be huge as the card is already stacked, including many championship matches. However, with this many matches already on the card, it's going to be one long show.

Summerslam begins at 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT on the WWE Network. The programming schedule for August 19 has been released, and the Kickoff Show will start two hours prior. Just like the the past couple of years, Summerslam's Kickoff has been two hours long. So if you plan on catching the entire event, make sure to tune in at 5 PM ET / 2 PM PT, as the Kickoff Show tends to have a couple matches on the program. As of this writing, there are 12 matches at 2018's Summerslam, and there's a possibility one more will be added.

If you're looking to watch Summerslam, but don't have the WWE Network, you can sign up for free for a month right now. After the trial subscription is up, the service costs $10 a month. However, there is no obligation to continue using the WWE Network after the trial.

While there are a lot of matches on the Summerslam card, one of the most notable is Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz. While you could say this rivalry dates back to 2010, when Miz was the mentor to Bryan on the first version of the TV series NXT, things really heated up back in August of 2016 when Miz went off on Bryan on an episode of Talking Smack. At the time, Bryan wasn't cleared to wrestle, but now he is, and this is the first time these two have faced each other in the ring in years. This is easily the best match build on the card.

Additionally, many titles are on the line, including the WWE Universal Championship, which Brock Lesnar still has in his possession. He'll be facing Roman Reigns yet again, and this may be the time Lesnar finally loses the title, but we've been wrong on countless occasions before.

Summerslam match card:

Rusev & Lana vs. Andrade "Cien" Almas & Zelina Vega (Kickoff Match)
The B-Team (c) vs. The Revival (Kickoff Show)
Cedric Alexander (c) vs. Drew Gulak (For the Cruiserweight Championship)
Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Jeff Hardy (For the United States Championship)
Carmella (c) vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch (For the Smackdown Women's Championship)
Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz
Dolph Ziggler (c) vs. Seth Rollins (For the Intercontinental Championship)
Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens
The Bludgeon Brothers (c) vs. The New Day (For the Smackdown Tag Team Championship)
Finn Balor vs. Baron Corbin
Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Ronda Rousey (For the Raw Women's Championship)
AJ Styles (c) vs. Samoa Joe (For the WWE Championship)
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Roman Reigns (For the Universal Championship)

Come back to GameSpot on Sunday, August 19 for live coverage of Summerslam.

Rusev & Lana vs. Andrade "Cien" Almas & Zelina Vega (Kickoff Match)

This feels like a perfect Kickoff match for Summerslam. Rusev vs. Andrade Almas--on its own merit--would be a really great PPV match, and the addition of Zelina Vega and Lana is fine. We'll get to see how these women have evolved as wrestlers a bit more. Regardless, this does feel like a push for Almas and Vega, since Rusev and Lana couldn't be more over right now. Because of that, I'm thinking Almas and Vega will get the win.

Our prediction: Almas and Vega win

The B-Team (c) vs. The Revival (Kickoff Show)

(For the Raw Tag Team Champions)

Raw's tag team division is lackluster right now, to say the least. And The Revival should be the team that, well, revives it. However, this is a Kickoff show match on an extremely bloated card. A title change here doesn't make sense. As much as I personally enjoy both of these tag teams, I want to see The Revival win it, but Summerslam is not going to be where this title changes hands.

Our prediction: The B-Team wins

Cedric Alexander (c) vs. Drew Gulak

(For the Cruiserweight Championship)

I miss the days where Drew Gulak would come out and mention he had a Powerpoint Presentation, and we'd all laugh at his antics. Now, he's a serious wrestleman and has a shot at winning 205 Live's Cruiserweight Championship from the delightful Cedric Alexander. While Gulak was a dynamite comedic heel, he's evolved into something new and improved, and this seems like the time for him to start a championship run.

Our prediction: Gulak wins

Finn Balor vs. Baron Corbin

Why am I enjoying this rivalry so much? It's pretty much just another story where a big guy thinks he can beat up a small guy because there's a size difference. It's a pretty standard story, but what I'm finding so appealing about it is that both of these men are pulling it off. Although this feud has been going on for a bit already, I'd like to see it continue past Summerslam, which means Balor needs the win, so he can use his "Constable" powers to make Balor's life hell, post-PPV.

Our prediction: Balor wins

The Bludgeon Brothers (c) vs. The New Day

(For the Smackdown Tag Team Championship)

While I'm a fan of both these teams, I have lukewarm feelings towards this match. New Day and Bludgeon Brothers have a history with each other, like when they almost murdered Xavier Woods, so there's some heat behind the match. I see New Day squeaking out a win with all of these men being locked in a giant cage for Hell in a Cell in a rematch next month.

Our prediction: The Bludgeon Brothers

Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens

(For the Money in the Bank contract)

On the flip side of the "big vs. small" storylines, here is one featuring two of Raw's most interesting characters that's falling flat for me. Because Strowman's Money in the Bank contract being on the line is a bit of a curveball, this leads me to believe that Owens will win, even though it feels like Strowman should come out on top. Regardless of who wins though, they will be cashing in that contract at the end of the night.

Our prediction: Owens wins

Secondary prediction: The winner will cash in later in the evening.

Dolph Ziggler (c) vs. Seth Rollins

(For the Intercontinental Championship)

Dean Ambrose returning to Raw changes everything about this match. Sure, both Ambrose and Ziggler's buddy Drew McIntyre will be on the sidelines, but that should make this more of a fair fight. There is a large part of me that would love to see Ambrose turn on Rollins at Summerslam, just to see if Rollins can overcome these huge odds, but I don't see that happening. That being said, Rollins will come out as Intercontinental Champion.

New prediction: Rollins wins

Original prediction below.

While the finish for their Ironman match at Extreme Rules was lackluster, this rivalry has been straight fire. It has showcased some phenomenal in-ring action the past couple of months. I could watch Ziggler and Rollins fight forever. However, Ziggler as champion, with Drew McIntyre protecting him, is working well on television, so I'm thinking Ziggler will win again with the help of his friend/monstrous bodyguard. Hopefully, this will lead to a triple threat between all three men at Hell in a Cell.

Our prediction: Ziggler wins

Elias Plays A Song

You know what Summerslam needs? Elias playing a song for everyone at the Barclays Center. Nothing could possibly go wrong! Elias is playing an actual show at the Gramercy Theatre the night before, so this will be his encore. Because of the growing rivalry between Bobby Lashley and Elias, I'm sure Lashley will interrupt Elias' beautiful song.

Our prediction: Bobby Lashley ends the show early

Carmella (c) vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch

(For the Smackdown Women's Championship)

Can anyone stop Carmella's reign of terror over the women's division on Smackdown? I hope not, but Summerslam could be the place where it happens. She'll have to defend her championship against both Becky Lynch and Carmella in a triple threat match. While Lynch and Charlotte are friends, they'll have to put their feelings aside for the battle, which could play into Carmella's hands. However, if you've been following these predictions the past year, you know I'm a Lynch supporter, so as always, I'm giving her the win. I truly hope I'm not wrong again.

Our prediction: Lynch wins

Shinsuke Nakamura (c) vs. Jeff Hardy

(For the United States Championship)

Nakamura and Hardy's rivalry continues into Summerslam, and maybe this time Hardy wears a cup as his opponent loves hitting people below the belt. This is Nakamura's time to shine as a champion, and the United States Championship is the perfect fit for him right now. I don't see him losing the title or this match.

Our prediction: Nakamura wins

Daniel Bryan vs. The Miz

Out of every match on the Summerslam card, this is the one I am looking forward to the most. Daniel Bryan and Miz have a longstanding feud, dating back to Bryan's first appearance during the NXT reality show days. Now that Bryan can wrestle again, this will be the first time in years the two men have faced each other in the ring. This rivalry won't and can't end here though. It could honestly go either way, but personally, I like the idea more of Miz winning here by despicable means and Bryan demanding a fair rematch in order to prove he's better in the ring.

Our prediction: The Miz wins

Come back to GameSpot on Tuesday, August 14 for an interview with Bryan about his history with The Miz.

Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Ronda Rousey

(For the Raw Women's Championship)

When it comes to this match, I guess the biggest question about it would be "Is it Ronda Rousey's time?" She's had a few televised matches and a couple more house show matches, but that doesn't mean she or the fans are ready for her to carry the title. While undoubtably Rousey will someday be the Raw Women's Champion, I don't think Summerslam will be where her journey begins.

Our prediction: Bliss wins but there will be a rematch

AJ Styles (c) vs. Samoa Joe

(For the WWE Championship)

At least someone in the men's division is defending their main event title regularly. With AJ Styles as champion, Smackdown viewers are treated to dream match after dream match. Sure, most of matches already happened in NJPW, ROH, and TNA, but it's new to the WWE audience. And while I may be predicting one too many title changes for Summerslam, I want to see these guys battle more than once, and more importantly, I want to see Joe as champion, even if that means dethroning Styles, who is doing a phenomenal job--pun intended.

Our prediction: Samoa Joe wins

Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Roman Reigns

(For the Universal Championship)

For the past couple of years, I feel like a broken record saying, "This is when Reigns will win the Championship, and Brock will leave, never to return." Sadly, every single time, Lesnar comes out on top, and we're stuck with a Universal Champion that rarely defends his title or shows up on TV. As a WWE fan, it is frustrating because the majority of us want to see the title around someone else's waist.

However, Lesnar really does seem on the outs with the company, and I truly think--like the mark that I am--that this will be it for him. However, he's still going to beat Reigns, mainly to pull a fast one on the audience and get them enraged, and then it'll be Owens (or Strowman if my previous prediction is wrong) who cashes in the Money in the Bank contract at the end of the match to beat Lesnar for the title.

Our prediction: Lesnar wins

Secondary prediction: The MITB contract is cashed in and Lesnar loses the title, finally.

From The Meg To Jaws, 16 Crazy Shark Movies Ranked By Insanity

By Chris E. Hayner on Aug 15, 2018 04:38 am

With The Meg swimming into theaters, it's important to remember the long history of sharks on film. Granted, most of that long history isn't very good, but it certainly is memorable.

As long as sharks have been the subject of movies, they've been involved in plots and scenes that make so little sense that it's hard not to wonder who agreed to pay for it in the first place. Whether it's the time a shark went on a rampage at SeaWorld or when a tornado whipped up a series of sharks to throw at a city and a franchise was born, there really is no limit for the situations sharks find themselves in on the big screen. In fact, one movie even turned a shark into something of a psychopathic stalker.

GameSpot dug back through the history of sharks on film to find 16 that deserve another look due to just how crazy they can be, and The Meg is absolutely included. So when you head to theaters this weekend to check it out, make sure you track down these other films as well.

And make sure to check out GameSpot's The Meg review in case you're wondering just how ridiculous this movie is going to be.

16. Shark Tale

This might seem like a strange entry on a list of crazy shark movies, but Shark Tale is a super bizarre film to watch. In it, great white sharks are actually a mafia and the shark expected to take over leading the family is a vegetarian with a heart of gold that happens to be voiced by Jack Black. That's pretty strange.

15. The Shallows

What makes The Shallows such a scary and thrilling film is the realism. So many shark movies go about 20 steps too far in portraying the shark as a killer, and that's usually what makes them so great. This film, though, is simply one woman vs. a shark that wants to eat her. In terms of sheer insanity, though, it's pretty tame. That's not a knock against it, The Shallows is just very grounded.

14. Great White

What's so strange about this particular film is that it was pulled from theaters in the United States after a month because it's believed to plagiarize Jaws. Truthfully, Universal Pictures does have a point. It follows a group of men who go hunt a dangerous shark while the local government refuses to believe there's a problem. Sounds pretty familiar.

12. The Reef

The Reef is the kind of movie that should keep you off of a boat until the end of time. While there's nothing overtly bizarre about this movie, the terror it creates from what started as a simple vacation will leave an impression.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, Jaws 2 is here to prove it's not. To be clear, this is nowhere near as exciting and inventive as the original Jaws. Still, between the shark eating a water skier, a boat exploding, and the heroes winning by electrocuting the shark, this movie is intense.

11. Mako: The Jaws of Death

In the aftermath of Jaws, there were many pretenders to the throne. However, Mako: The Jaws of Death puts an interesting spin on the shark tale. In it, the real victims are the sharks being exploited. Meanwhile, it's the stupid humans that are the real villains that are ultimately defeated.

10. USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage

What's so crazy about this 2015 movie that completely bombed at the box office? First and foremost, it's based on a true story of a World War II ship that is sunk in shark-infested waters, leading to all kinds of maulings. What's more, this movie stars Nicolas Cage. It is, sadly, the only shark movie Cage has made for some reason.

9. Open Water

Yes, this is an incredibly low-budget movie and it shows. For a shark movie, there's surprisingly little shark to be seen. However, that's where Open Water truly embraces how terrifying it can be. It's simply two people stranded in the ocean alone as a shark is on the hunt. By keeping the scale so small, Open Water is frighteningly realistic.

8. Jaws 3

Is Jaws 3 a better movie than Jaws 2? Absolutely not. The last of the original cast is gone and Amity Island has been left behind. However, this time the shark attacks SeaWorld. That's not a typo. The entire premise of Jaws 3 is that a shark sneaks into SeaWorld and stalks prey via an underground system of pipes. It's so utterly ridiculous, it deserves to be remembered for how insane it is. What's more, this movie was shot in 3D, the only entry in the franchise to get that treatment. And no, it was not good 3D.

This movie stars LL Cool J. That's really enough of a qualifier to be on this list. The rapper even included two songs on the movie's soundtrack, including one where he raps, "my hat is like a shark's fin." How does that make sense?

What makes Deep Blue Sea so insane though is that it's about genetically modified sharks. If there's anything science needed to do, it's to make sharks more efficient killers.7. Deep Blue Sea

6. Jaws: The Revenge

The fourth Jaws movie makes no sense whatsoever. It takes its subtitle "The Revenge" very seriously as the shark hunts the wife of the recently deceased Sheriff Brody. The shark kills her son and follows her to the Bahamas, which is something a shark absolutely would not do. How did this movie get made, we'll never know. Thankfully, we can just sit back and bask in how weird Jaws got by the end.

5. 47 Meters Down

This is what Open Water would be like with a better budget and cast. This time it's Mandy Moore and Claire Holt stranded in the water with sharks ready to attack. What 47 Meters Down does to put its own twist on things, though, is these women are stuck in a shark cage on the ocean floor, with their oxygen running out. This movie is like a ready-made panic attack.

4. Shark Night 3D

While Jaws 3 might have been the first 3D shark movie, thank goodness for Shark Night 3D. It put modern 3D technology to use in a very creepy movie filled with vicious shark kills. What's so over-the-top about this film, though, is it's not set in an ocean. Instead, someone has filled a lake with sharks. It seems incredibly unlikely, but just go with it.

3. The Meg

The newest shark movie is also one of the craziest. The Meg goes prehistoric by putting a megalodon at the center of the insanity. These massive beasts are as scary as they come and delight in chomping through anything in sight, whether it's a massive ship or a beach filled with people who don't know any better.

2. Sharknado

What's scarier than a shark or an army of sharks or a shark seeking revenge or a shark mobster? A tornado filled with sharks, of course. Yes, Sharknado is a TV movie, but it was impossible to leave it off of this list. It's Sharknado! The crazy movie that spawned a crazy franchise is filled with moments that will be hard to forget. They throw bombs into the sharknado, for crying out loud.

1. Jaws

The one that so many ripped off is still the best. Jaws is a fantastic movie and watching it in 2018, as opposed to when it was released in 1974, doesn't change that. What's so crazy about this particular film, though, is the restraint it shows. You don't actually see the shark in this film until 80 minutes in, though that doesn't keep you safe from the carnage it spreads.

While the films that followed may have taken the idea of a shark movie to new extremes, with megalodons, tornadoes, LL Cool J, and more, none of them will ever compare to Jaws--not even the sequels to Jaws. What's more, it's likely they wouldn't even exist without this film.

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Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Images from GameSpot - Galleries On 08/16/2018

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All The Call Of Duty Games, Reviewed: Modern Warfare, Black Ops, And More

Heed the call.

Call of Duty -- 9/10

Call of Duty: Finest Hour -- 6.7/10

Call of Duty 2 -- 8.8/10

Call of Duty 2: Big Red One -- 7/10

Call of Duty 3 -- 8.8/10

Call of Duty: Roads to Victory -- 6.2

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare -- 9/10

Call of Duty 4 (DS) -- 7/10

Call of Duty: World at War -- 8.5/10

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Reflex Edition -- 8.5/10

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 -- 9/10

Call of Duty: Black Ops -- 9/10

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 -- 8/10

Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified -- 2.5/10

Call of Duty: Ghosts -- 8/10

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare -- 8/10

Call of Duty: Black Ops III -- 7/10

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare -- 8/10

Call of Duty: WWII -- 9/10

Xbox One: The Best Backwards Compatible Games You Need To Play

The Best Xbox One Backwards Compatible Games

Alan Wake

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

Bully: Scholarship Edition

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Crackdown

Dead Space

Fallout 3

Fallout: New Vegas

Far Cry: Blood Dragon

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Halo: Reach

Hitman: Blood Money

Ikaruga

Jet Set Radio

Mass Effect Trilogy

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Mirror's Edge

Ninja Gaiden Black

Panzer Dragoon Orta

Peggle

Radiant Silvergun

Rainbow Six Vegas 1 and 2

Red Dead Redemption

Saint's Row: The Third

Shadows of the Damned

Skate 3

Spec Ops: The Line

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords

Star Wars: Republic Commando

Super Meat Boy

Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

Viva Pinata

Best Nintendo Switch Games Out Now (August 2018 Update)

Switch Games That You Need To Play

Dead Cells -- 9/10

Mega Man X Legacy Collection 1 + 2

Octopath Traveler -- 8/10

Captain Toad

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus -- 8/10

West of Loathing -- 8/10

BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle -- 9/10

Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection -- 8/10

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition -- 8/10

Battle Chasers: Nightwar -- 8/10

Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze -- 9/10

Bayonetta 2 -- 10/10

Celeste -- 9/10