By Peter Brown on Aug 04, 2018 09:30 pm 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. After four years and three games set in a decades-old conflict, the decision to ground the next Call of Duty game in a more contemporary setting resulted in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. The departure was welcomed with open arms by an audience hungry for something new, and the positive reception ensured a steady stream of modern- or future-set sequels, including multiple Call of Duty: Black-Ops and two more Modern Warfare (Modern Warfare 2 and Modern Warfare 3) games in the years to come. Like so many things, Call of Duty moves in cycles, and it was just last year that Activision took the series back to World War II, for, you guessed it, Call of Duty: WWII. It was a return to form that felt, to many, like the right move at the right time--a good way to shake up the flow of the previous 10 years. We are now looking ahead to the impending release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 this fall, and it's anyone's guess as to when the series will return to a more traditional style of military mayhem. Call of Duty's reach is so vast that it has no doubt resonated with people for a wide variety of reasons. We've collected GameSpot's Call of Duty reviews from over the years and compiled them to illustrate the series rise to prominence, and to provide a historical snapshot of each individual games' place in the process. But if there's a particular game that made you fall in (or out) of love with the Call of Duty, shout it out in the comments below! Call of Duty -- 9/10
"Call of Duty is an all-around excellent game that confidently challenges, head-on, all the other WWII-themed shooters out there and comes out on top. When a game is outstanding, like this one is, some people invariably expect it to be something completely different from what's already available. That's not true of Call of Duty, which is directly comparable to Medal of Honor: Allied Assault and other such games. Yet, on its own merits, this game is executed extraordinarily well, and, therefore, can be wholeheartedly recommended not just to fans of other WWII-themed shooters but to anyone looking for a first-rate action game." [Read the review] -- Greg Kasavin Call of Duty: Finest Hour -- 6.7/10
"Overall, Call of Duty: Finest Hour is still a competent shooter, and those who enjoy World War II-based games will still have a good time with it. Had the feel of the weapons been a little better, and had the campaign been more consistently intense, Finest Hour could have been a much better game. As it is, though, it enters a market that becomes more and more competitive with each passing month. Judged against the standards of so many other quality first-person shooters, Finest Hour is difficult to wholeheartedly recommend." [Read the review] -- Bob Colayco Call of Duty 2 -- 8.8/10
"Call of Duty 2 is just about everything you would hope for and expect from the sequel to one of the most successful World War II shooters of all time. Its varied campaign, excellent sound and gameplay design, and generally good AI make it a worthy successor to the original. At the same time, though, it's still a World War II shooter, and if you've grown weary of them, then Call of Duty 2's lack of new material might turn you away. It can also be murderous on your computer if you have modest hardware. What Call of Duty 2 does do well is nail down just about all aspects that define an ideal first-person shooter. If you liked the original and have been thirsting for more, Call of Duty 2 will definitely deliver that." [Read the review] -- Bob Colayco Call of Duty 2: Big Red One -- 7/10
Overall, Call of Duty 2: Big Red One is still a worthwhile first-person shooter. The game has made noticeable strides over the previous Call of Duty game on consoles with an interesting, but short, campaign. While the game has its moments, particularly with the turret shooting and vehicle portions, Big Red One still falls short of the standard the series set for itself on the PC because of pedestrian sound effects, poor AI, and a lack of intensity in the infantry combat. The multiplayer action on the Xbox and PS2 is also only serviceable, so it's worth a bullet point on the back of the box...and not much more. Unless you're a hardcore WWII game fanatic, Big Red One's probably only worth a rent." [Read the review] -- Bob Colayco Call of Duty 3 -- 8.8/10
"From start to finish, Call of Duty 3 is an intense experience and a great game. The visuals are fantastic and the sound is some of the best in any game to date. Though there's no question that Call of Duty 3 is every bit as good as its predecessor, and without question the multiplayer is vastly improved, none of the changes or additions to the single-player campaign significantly alter the way the game plays. If the Call of Duty series hasn't won you over previously, Call of Duty 3 isn't going to do much to change your mind. But for anyone else, Call of Duty 3 is a must-own." [Read the review] -- Aaron Thomas Call of Duty: Roads to Victory -- 6.2
"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
"COD 4 is available on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, and each version holds up admirably. The differences between the two console versions feel mostly negligible. Both systems deliver good frame rates and have good, easy-to-use multiplayer setups that most closely resemble Halo 2 and 3's party system and matchmaking playlists. The PC version of the game uses a more traditional server browser to get you into games. Both systems work just fine on their respective platforms. The PC version has the ability to run in a higher resolution, if you're equipped with a PC that can handle it, but it seems to scale quite well. You can also create servers that allow up to 32 players to play at once on the PC, as opposed to a limit of 18 in the console versions, but given the size of the multiplayer maps, putting 32 players in them makes things a little too crowded. Despite listing 1080p support on the back of the box, COD 4 appears to prefer 720p on the PlayStation 3. The only way to get it to run in 1080p is to tell your PS3 that your TV doesn't support 720p or 1080i, but the difference seems minor. Either way, you'd be hard-pressed to tell it apart from its Xbox 360 counterpart. And all versions control just fine, making the decision over which version to buy totally dependent on which controller you like the most. It's a shame that the single-player is so brief, but you should only skip out on Call of Duty 4 if you're the sort of person who doesn't appreciate great first-person shooter multiplayer. The quality of the content in the campaign is totally top-shelf, and the multiplayer is some of the best around, making this a truly superb package." [Read the review] -- Jeff Gerstmann Call of Duty 4 (DS) -- 7/10
"The bigger issue is the lack of any sort of online play. It'll take you roughly eight hours to finish the campaign, which you'll probably spread out over two or three play sessions just to give your eyes and hands ample rest. Beyond that, the multiplayer mode is restricted to four players who happen to be in the same room as you. There's a decent selection of environments while the layouts are well suited to the different deathmatch and capture-the-flag options, but realistically speaking, how likely are you to convince four of your friends to buy one DS game then arrange for everyone to get together to take advantage of its multiplayer mode? Not very likely. As such, the game's longevity stems mainly from its single-player campaign. That's Call of Duty 4 on the DS in a nutshell: intensely satisfying, but over in a day or two." [Read the review] -- Frank Provo Call of Duty: World at War -- 8.5/10
"By staying largely true to the formula that made Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare so successful, Call of Duty: World at War has ensured a proven level of technical quality, particularly in the multiplayer arena. On the other hand, one of Modern Warfare's strengths was its fresh approach, and by embracing a familiar setting and familiar mechanics, World at War achieves greatness but falls short of excellence. This is only a bad thing if you are expecting this game to top its benchmark predecessor. If, however, you are hoping for an exciting campaign, fun cooperative play, and engaging multiplayer action, then you'll find a lot to be happy about in World at War." [Read the review] -- Chris Watters Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Reflex Edition -- 8.5/10
"All told, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Reflex Edition does right by the source material. The expertly scripted and intensely exciting campaign is just as entertaining as it was two years ago on other systems, and even the occasional lapses in visual fidelity and control precision can't keep it from being a must-play for Wii shooter fans. Though the multiplayer will feel familiar to World at War veterans, the modern guns, equipment, and perks will make it feel new again, and the expanded gameplay modes offer a lot more variety. Though there are a few hitches to deal with, the core excellence of this game shines through, giving Wii owners a great shooter to keep them entertained for months to come." [Read the review] -- Chris Watters Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 -- 9/10
"Fortunately, the action generally remains on the good side of hectic, and the stream of rewards is as satisfying as ever. Two new elements, title and emblem, are little graphics and titles that you earn through your match performance, and these range run the gamut from serious to totally goofy. While not exactly in keeping with the serious tone of the campaign, they add an amusing way to further customize your online presence. With a robust variety of playlists in which to ply your deadly trade, Modern Warfare 2's competitive multiplayer is the best in the series and one of the best available on consoles. The inelegant campaign plot may make you feel like you're just along for the ride, but it is such an intense, roaringly great ride that you will be glad just to have played it. The cooperative missions provide a uniquely fun angle on the action that rounds out the package superbly, making Modern Warfare 2 thoroughly entertaining, thoroughly rewarding, and thoroughly worth the wait." [Read the review] -- Chris Watters Call of Duty: Black Ops -- 9/10
"While it may not take the signature Call of Duty action to dizzying new heights, Black Ops is a thoroughly excellent game. New modes and mechanics give a jolt of energy to the lively competitive multiplayer, and the engrossing new campaign develops into one of the best in the series. Combat training allows anyone to enjoy the thrills of arena combat and the satisfaction of leveling up, and the opportunities for cooperative play, local competition, and community video creation provide even more outlets for entertainment. Call of Duty: Black Ops lives up to the top-notch pedigree that the series has earned, giving players an awesome new shooter to enjoy just in time for the holidays." [Read the review] -- Chris Watters Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
"Modern Warfare 3 doesn't take any chances with the tried-and-true formula. At launch, even the matchmaking playlists feature standard fare, but the robust Private Match customization options let you tweak the standards to your liking (even offering some of Black Ops' more interesting modes) and hold the possibility of odd permutations to come. Whatever diversions or innovations may lie in Modern Warfare 3's future, the competitive multiplayer still offers the same sweet satisfaction you've come to expect from the series. This is some of the best online shooter action around, and with the daunting challenges of Spec Ops and the exciting, globe-trotting campaign, Modern Warfare 3 stands tall as another great descendant of the game that changed a generation." [Read the review] -- Chris Watters Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 -- 8/10
"Though zombies mode is stagnating, the rest of Black Ops II is lively, and it's great to see some shifting in the familiar structure. Developer Treyarch's storytelling prowess has once again resulted in an engaging, exciting campaign, and the addition of league play to the online multiplayer arena is an intriguing change that could reinvigorate the formula that has endured for so long. By reaching forward while remaining rooted in the things it does so well, Black Ops II offers a great shooter experience." [Read the review] -- Chris Watters Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified -- 2.5/10
"Crashes occur on a fairly regular basis, locking the system up. It's tough to stay connected to games, and even remaining hooked up to Wi-Fi can be a challenge. Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified is a massive disappointment that tarnishes this highly regarded franchise. What's more, this is a blown opportunity for the Vita to garner itself a headline game and franchise that could have really energized the system. Instead, we get a quick, forgettable knockoff cranked out simply to take advantage of the buzz around the Black Ops name." [Read the review] -- Brett Todd Call of Duty: Ghosts -- 8/10
"From an exuberant campaign full of spectacle and variety to the way Extinction's unpredictable aliens force you to use those targeting skills in entirely new ways, Ghosts strikes an excellent balance between the familiar and the novel. This is a game that's keenly aware of the series' strengths, but doesn't find itself beholden to them. No matter what standard you apply, Call of Duty: Ghosts is a terrific first-person shooter." [Read the review] -- Shaun Mcinnis Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare -- 8/10
"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
By Alessandro Fillari on Aug 04, 2018 07:30 pm Moving On Up In The City
Now spanning twenty years, the Grand Theft Auto series has seen all sorts of changes and improvements throughout its many crime sprees in large open worlds. While each game brought its own take on the familiar rags-to-riches story, where a small-time hood makes some bold moves against some notorious criminals, Rockstar Games have managed to up the ante with every installment--eventually becoming the quintessential example of what an open-world game is. Starting out as a top-down sandbox action game where stealing cars and evading the law was the primary focus, 1998's Grand Theft Auto offered several missions and challenges that tested players' driving skills. But not long after, the series eventually transitioned into the 3D open-world space with Grand Theft Auto III. Upon its release, the third core entry in the series was a watershed moment in gaming, kicking off the push towards games that offered complete freedom in vast worlds--all while causing trouble along the way. GTA III saw a number of spin-offs such as Vice City and San Andreas, which greatly expanded the scope of gameplay and exploration. But it wasn't until 2008 when GTA III saw its true successor with Grand Theft Auto IV, serving as a reboot for the series. Stepping into the shoes of Eastern-European immigrant Niko Bellic, the newcomer would fall into the criminal underworld of the re-imagined Liberty City, as he tried to get his own piece of the American dream. Though IV was a far more subdued take on the increasingly more over-the-top GTA experience, it managed to tell a far more consistent and layered story that grew more engaging as it went on--and the narrative was fleshed out even further with the release of two story expansions." But in 2013, Grand Theft Auto V saw its release, taking the series to new heights. With three playable characters, the largest map of the series, and a densely populated online mode with heists and other high-stakes missions to take part in, GTA V would eventually go on to become the fastest-selling video game in history. Over the course of the Grand Theft Auto series' rise, and occasional falls, GameSpot was always there to offer our thoughts on its continued growth. While we skipped out on reviewing some of the more obscure GTA titles, particularly ones for the Game Boy Color, we've invested time with the franchise's most noteworthy entries. Here are all of our reviews for every major GTA game, from 1998 to the present day. Is there a particular GTA game that still stands as your favorite among the others? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below. Grand Theft Auto | 8/10
"The real payoff of Grand Theft Auto is the freedom it allows. With most games you can only go where the game tells you to go when you're told to. In GTA you can go anywhere in the city, take any car on the street, at anytime. The only two things you really have to watch out for are getting killed or arrested. The true joy of GTA is the giddy feeling you get when you decide for no apparent reason to start launching rockets, blowing up cars, setting people on fire, and then, just over the screams you hear the sounds of approaching police sirens. Then you're forced to decide. Will you jack a car and get out of Dodge, or will you man up and stick it to 5-0 with your gat? That's what the game is all about, having that overwhelming feeling of slightly giddy doom when the police start to close in, and leaving the scene unscathed in a shiny new police car." [Read the full review]
-- Ryan MacDonald Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 | 5.9/10
"Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 does have some good things going for it. The go-anywhere, do-anything nature is its biggest plus, and if the structured assignments don't appeal to you, you can take any car joyriding and create a little crime spree of your own. There's a tangible sense of tension as you're trying to get to a safe house with the police on your back, and the way the police try to set up roadblocks is a nice touch. But Grand Theft Auto just has too many problems to make it anything more than a premise in search of a better game. All you would-be thugs out there keep your fingers crossed and hope the sequel addresses these problems." [Read the full review]
-- Ron Dulin Grand Theft Auto 2 | 6.8/10
"Whether or not you'll enjoy Grand Theft Auto 2 depends on a couple factors. If you're easily offended by the concept of running around and committing wanton acts of destruction with a few simple button presses, this game isn't for you. If the first game's control scheme baffled you, there's no solace to be found here either. Though the game manages to be quite a bit of fun, it occasionally still feels like a glorified mission pack." [Read the full review]
-- Jeff Gerstmann Grand Theft Auto III | 9.6/10
"Rockstar and DMA Design have obviously spent some time making sure that Grand Theft Auto III is a quality product, and that quality shows in everything, from the graphics, to the sound, to the plot points, to the gameplay itself. Unlike previous games in the series, the game is extremely fun whether you play it as it was intended to be played or eschew the game's intended mission structure and set out on your own to wreak havoc throughout the city. While the violent nature of the game will surely turn some people off and kids simply shouldn't be allowed anywhere near it, Grand Theft Auto III is, quite simply, an incredible experience that shouldn't be missed by anyone mature enough to handle it." [Read the full review]
-- Jeff Gerstmann Grand Theft Auto: Vice City | 9.6/10
"In the end, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City provides just about everything you'd want in a follow-up to an outstanding game. It's bigger, badder, and better in almost every imaginable way. The game tells a compelling story and adds enough gameplay content to the formula to engage players who've already played the previous game to death. And if by some small chance you somehow missed out on last year's GTAIII, Vice City will clue you in on what all the commotion was about. In short, if you're old enough to purchase Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, then you absolutely should, and fast." [Read the full review]
-- Jeff Gerstmann Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | 9.6/10
"Usually, when a game tries to do a million different things, it's an overambitious hodge-podge that can't manage to get its different parts down cold. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas has you doing many, many more things than any previous GTA game, and while some of them do work a little better than others, the strength of all these different gameplay elements--too many to count--makes for a powerful package that does not disappoint, despite the extremely high standards that Grand Theft Auto established and that San Andreas needed to live up to. With its strong story, well-written dialogue, terrific voice cast, impressive graphics, great in-game sound, and extremely entertaining and varied gameplay, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a stupendous thrill ride that shouldn't be missed." [Read the full review]
-- Jeff Gerstmann Grand Theft Auto: Advance | 6.5/10
"While the Grand Theft Auto series may be one of the most popular things going on in gaming these days, most people don't really know too much about the roots of the series. Yes, the "III" in Grand Theft Auto III does, in fact, mean that there were two games out before it. Those two games were top-down, 2D games that had the same basic structure as the newer games in the series, but it was done on a much smaller scale. That smaller scale is now available in an all-new GTA adventure for the Game Boy Advance. GTA Advance basically takes the gameplay from GTA1, adds in some of the conventions of GTA III, and brings along a rather dull and poorly written story, too. There's some nostalgic gameplay here, but by and large GTA Advance just isn't much fun." [Read the full review]
-- Jeff Gerstmann Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories | 8.6/10
"It's really pretty amazing that GTA: Liberty City Stories manages to cram in so much of the GTA experience that you're used to seeing on consoles. While the game is definitely a fine technical achievement and one of the best PSP games to date, the dull storyline and basic mission design do bring the whole thing down a bit. Maybe it's not entirely reasonable to expect for this game to live up to its console counterparts in every respect, but it retails for just as much as they did, and attempts to do many of the same exact things, so it really is a whole new GTA (just in a familiar setting). Yet for all it squeezes out of the PSP, it doesn't quite squeeze everything that makes the GTA series so special. But if what you're after is a game that looks and plays like a Grand Theft Auto game for your PSP, you'll definitely be satisfied." [Read the full review]
-- Jeff Gerstmann Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories |
"Vice City Stories is certainly an enjoyable follow-up to what Liberty City Stories offered last year. It's unfortunate that Rockstar wasn't able to craft a story as compelling as that of the console GTA games, and some of the technical limitations of the game engine are really beginning to stick out. Still, Vice City Stories does Grand Theft Auto in portable fashion quite well. It may not take the series into any kind of new territory, but it does the things it needs to in order to be an enjoyable GTA game more than well enough." [Read the full review]
-- Alex Navarro Grand Theft Auto IV | 10/10
"In case you haven't guessed already, Grand Theft Auto IV is a game that you simply have to play. The single-player game, which you can still play long after you complete the story, is the series' best by far, and the multiplayer features are good enough that you'll likely have no problem finding people to play with for many months to come. The minor flaws that you'll experience are no more difficult to overlook than those in previous GTA games, and they're greatly outnumbered by the features that will impress and surprise you anytime you think you've already seen everything that the game has to offer. There's lots to see in Liberty City, so you'd best get started." [Read the full review]
-- Justin Calvert Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars | 9.5/10
"Perhaps what's most amazing about Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is that it doesn't feel like a scaled-down handheld version of a GTA game. Rather, it feels like a logical and somewhat experimental progression for the series, introducing a handful of great new features that seem destined to become standard in future iterations. And don't let the art style or the presence of simple minigames fool you; Chinatown Wars is every bit as deserving of its mature rating as previous games. It's also one of the best GTA games yet." [Read the full review]
-- Justin Calvert Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City | 9/10
"Even if you choose to ignore the multiplayer and most of the optional activities and side missions, there's a good 20-plus hours of fun to be had with these episodes. The visuals are showing their age, and The Lost and Damned, while great, is clearly inferior to The Ballad of Gay Tony, but in every other respect this package is difficult to fault. The stories are compelling, the memorable characters are too numerous to mention, and the gameplay is still top-notch. It's unfortunate that PS3 owners have had to wait so long to get their hands on this content, but that's certainly no reason for you not to enjoy it. The PS3 episodes are indistinguishable from there Xbox 360 counterparts, and there's no question that you should play them. So, the only decision you need to make is whether you'd rather download them for $20 each or pay $40 to get them on a disc." [Read the full review]
-- Justin Calvert Grand Theft Auto V (PS3/360) | 9/10
"Where do you begin talking about Grand Theft Auto V? Do you start with the vast, varied, beautiful open world? Do you start with the innovative structure that gives you three independent protagonists you can switch between on the fly? Maybe you talk about the assortment of side activities you can engage in, or the tremendous number of ways in which you can go about making your own fun. Or perhaps you dive right into the game's story problems, or its serious issues with women. GTA V is a complicated and fascinating game, one that fumbles here and there and has an unnecessary strain of misogynistic nastiness running through it. But it also does amazing things no other open-world game has attempted before, using multiple perspectives to put you in the thick of cinematic heist sequences and other exhilarating, multi-layered missions like no open-world game before." [Read the full review]
-- Carolyn Petit Grand Theft Auto V (PC, PS4, Xbox One) | 9/10
"Aside from a few mild frame rate issues that sometimes take the edge off its more dramatic moments, this is the definitive version of GTA V, and the bar by which all other open-world games, or indeed any game that aims for a cinematic feel, should be judged. It is beautiful, and thought-provoking, and thrilling throughout. Even if you've played through GTA V once already, it's worth going back just to be reminded of what an outstanding achievement it is." [Read the full review]
-- Mark Walton and Peter Brown
By Chris E. Hayner on Aug 04, 2018 01:58 am
This story is about a town. It was a quiet town, once upon a time. But then a dad killed his son, and it hasn't been remotely quiet since. The second season of Riverdale saw the mafia move in, a contentious mayoral race--and a student body president one, as well--a serial killer in a hood, the introduction of a cult, and whatever the heck Chic Cooper was. Now, with Season 3 looming, Riverdale is appropriately dramatic. Archie (KJ Apa) is on trial for a murder he didn't commit, but his repeated terrible choices certainly led him to this point. Veronica (Camila Mendes) and her father Hiram (Mark Consuelos) are at war in a way only the richest people can be, which leaves them stealing real estate from one another. Of course, there will still be plenty of new and horrifying elements introduced in Season 3, including a deeper dive into The Farm--the cult Polly Cooper (Tiera Skovbye) joined--and plenty of romantic turmoil. Armed with an array of spoilers, the cast of Riverdale and showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa headed to San Diego Comic-Con to share what they could with fans during a Hall H panel. GameSpot was in the room as Apa, Mendes, Cole Sprouse (Jughead), Lili Reinhart (Betty), and the rest of the Riverdale gang teased what was to come in Season 3. Take a look at all of the teases and spoilers they dropped in the panel, then sound off in the comments with your own hopes about Season 3! Riverdale returns to The CW on Wednesday, October 10. San Diego Comic-Con 2018 Coverage - Best Cosplay From Comic-Con 2018
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The kids are finally going to school.
With all the drama, murder, and mafia business going on, it's rare that we actually see the teens of Riverdale going to class. That's going to change this season, though. "Starting in Season 3, we take place 3 months after Season 2 left off," Lili Reinhart revealed at the show's Comic-Con panel. "They've gone through their summer and are about to go back to school." As Aguirre-Sacasa explains, junior year is when high schoolers start thinking about college. It will be no different for this group. Well, it'll probably be a little bit different. This is Riverdale, after all. Betty and Jughead's relationship is shockingly drama free.
"Right now I think they are rock solid," Reinhart said of Betty and her boyfriend. This season will also see them getting back to investigative pursuits, which is what brought them together in the first place. Betty is enjoying her place at the top of the Southside Serpents food chain.
With Jughead now officially leader the serpents, that makes Betty the gang's queen… right? She certainly thinks so, as Reinhart teased, "At the beginning of the season, you'll see her own that title." Archie and Veronica may be headed toward a breakup.
Not all high school relationships last--especially those that include mafia drama and a murder case. That might lead to Veronica and Archie going separate ways in Season 3. "I think they're going to run into some problems," Mendes said. And she's rebounding with who?
According to Aguirre-Sacasa, Reggie (Charles Melton) will end up in an unlikely relationship in Season 3. In the same breath, he also mentioned the teen will work at Veronica's speakeasy--yes, she's a teenager with a speakeasy. Riverdale is weird. A quick connecting-of-the-dots certainly points to Veronica being the one Reggie winds up attached to, which is certainly unexpected. Best of luck to those two dramatic kids. Finally, Jughead's mom and sister are coming home.
They've been talked about regularly since Season 1, but Season 3 will finally see Gladys and Jellybean Jones, Jughead's mom and sister, respectively, return to Riverdale. No casting had been announced, but they'll appear later in the season. Alice is getting very close with Polly's cult.
As seen in the Season 3 trailer, Alice (Madchen Amick) is integrating herself into The Farm--the cult Polly has taken up with. In the trailer, the two are taking part in some kind of ritual with Polly's twins. It's deeply disturbing and will surely only get weirder when the series introduces Edgar Evernever, the group's leader. It's up to Jughead and FP to keep the peace.
After Hiram enlisted the Ghoulies in Season 2 to help control the Southside, tensions will be high in Season 3. According to Aguirre-Sacasa, it'll be up to Jughead and FP to keep the peace between the Serpents and the Ghoulies, which should be interesting given the elder Jones retired from his gang affiliation. They'll have help, though.
While it's not clear exactly how they'll work together, it was teased during the panel that FP will recruit former sheriff Tom Keller to help him keep Riverdale safe. Hermione Lodge is looking for some balance in her marriage.
Hiram has seemingly been running both his family and marriage like the mob boss he is. Now, however, he's not the only one with some power. At the end of Season 2, Hermione (Marisol Nichols) was elected mayor of Riverdale. "I think Hermione is happy to have a little [mayoral] power of her own, and I think she's going to use that power to change how her marriage has been the last season," the actress revealed. Hiram is focused on messing with his daughter.
While Hermione is looking for a balance of power, Hiram's attention is focused elsewhere. He's spending time "being a thorn in his daughter's side," Consuelos hinted. Perhaps she'll have some troubles with her new business venture. Jughead will eat a lot more, if you're into that sort of thing.
In the comics, Jughead is constantly eating. Hamburgers are clearly his favorite food, but he will eat just about anything given to him. On the show, though, there's not been a lot of time for Jug to chow down. However, according to Sprouse, that will change in Season 3. Get ready for Jughead to do something about his constant hunger. Parents find love too.
After finding out her husband is a psychopathic serial killer, you'd think Alice would take a break from dating. However, the cast and showrunner tease that she may quickly be finding love with FP Jones. It should be suitably awkward, given that their kids are dating. Friendship will be at the center of the show again.
Above all, Riverdale is about the "core four"--Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead--and the friendships they have. Season 2 lost that thread quite a bit, though, with the Black Hood, Archie being a terrible mobster, and any number of other problems happening in the town. However, Aguirre-Sacasa said that this season will see Betty and Veronica spending some time strengthening their bond, as will Archie and Jughead. "We're going to focus on the friendships," he said. And yes, there will be another musical.
When will it happen? What will it be about? Will they actually convince Cole Sprouse to sing? There are no answers to any of that, but Aguirre-Sacasa confirms that there will be another musical episode. Also, let's be honest, Cole Sprouse definitely won't sing in it.
By Chris E. Hayner on Aug 04, 2018 01:57 am
When The Flash returns for its fifth season, there's going to be a strangely familiar new face taking up residence in Central City. At the end of Season 4, the mysterious girl that popped up around nearly everyone on the team revealed herself to be the daughter of Barry (Grant Gustin) and Iris (Candice Patton) from the future. Her arrival will present the team with an entirely new set of problems, as she reveals exactly what's made her come back in time to confront her parents. On top of that, though, there's also a new villain coming to town, a new Wells on the way, and plenty of other issues to deal with. To figure out what, exactly, is going to happen, GameSpot was part of a small group interview with showrunner Todd Helbing and the cast of The Flash at San Diego Comic-Con. While they remained tight-lipped about many aspects of the season to come, the Flash gang was surprisingly open about how the first few episodes of the season are going to play out. Take a look at the spoiler and teases we managed to get out of Team Flash about what's to come in Season 5, then sound off in the comments with your own hopes for the new episodes. Also make sure to check out all of the Arrow Season 7 spoilers we were able to find out. The Flash returns Tuesday, October 9, at 8 PM ET on The CW. San Diego Comic-Con 2018 Coverage - Best Cosplay From Comic-Con 2018
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The theme for this season.
After introducing the time-traveling daughter of Barry and Iris from the future, Nora West-Allen (Jessica Parker Kennedy), Season 7 will focus a lot on The Flash's legacy and what that means to practically everyone on the team. None more than Barry and Iris, though, as they are confronted by their own personal future. "Our theme this year is legacies," Helbing says. "There's a lot for Barry and Iris, and everybody has their sort of thematic challenge with this, but with them, it's truly like, what's more important? Is it more important to be a great father? Is it more important to be the Flash? Are you friends with your kids? Are you parents? You know, when can you be either? All those questions that new parents grapple with, we're playing with Barry and Iris. It's a lot of fun." What Nora's arrival means for the show.
In its first few seasons, Barry was constantly screwing up the timeline by going back in time. Now, his daughter has done the exact same thing, which is going to have an impact on the show. "She clearly messed up something majorly," Helbing teases. "In the first episode, you'll find out a lot of what that is. We're not doing Flashpoint again, but there's certainly a ripple effect." For Barry, her arrival makes him immediately question himself as both a speedster and a parent. "Was he around to teach her?" Gustin wonders. "Did he not want her to be a speedster as all? What? We're going to answer those questions in the first couple episodes though, and see Barry and Iris' kind of different takes on her being here." Nora's relationship with her parents is strange.
Now that Nora has made herself known to her parents, she's going to be a bit distant from Iris--an idea introduced last season. That's something the show is going to confront early on. "She's a little standoffish with Iris," Gustin explains. "We don't know why. And she's like extra clingy with Barry." Candice Patton, who plays Iris, adds, "We'll get into that in Season 5, why they don't have the best relationship and why Nora is so much more of a daddy's girl." Nora's arrival makes Barry feel robbed of his life.
While the idea of meeting your future child might sound exciting, it's not for Barry. After all, this is a man who had his parents taken from him at a young age, and now, he's losing the opportunity to first meet his daughter when she's born. "Something we touched on in the first episode is, it's kind of hard for him because he's always wanted a family. He's always wanted a kid and now getting her like this. He almost feels like he's having another kind of thing stolen from him," Gustin admits. "His mom was killed because of his powers. He grew up with his dad in prison because of his powers and time travel, and now he doesn't even get to meet his daughter the normal way, he meets her at mid-20s… We'll see him deal with it in stages but it is kind of tough, kind of weird for him at first because he does feel like he's been robbed of a lot, and this is a gift at the same time its like, what is this going to affect? How will this affect the future?" A tease for this season's big bad.
It was revealed that this season Team Flash will face off with a villain named Cicada, played by American Pie alum Chris Klein. In the comics, Cicada leads a cult of people that kill those the Flash has saved, using daggers shaped like lightning bolts. It won't play out exactly like that on the show, though. "What we do on our show is always inspired by it," Helbing says. "So we've changed a lot of it to create a story that, or a villain that's formidable in a way that we haven't done before." As the trailer makes it clear, though, the lightning bolt daggers are still being used. Get ready to meet more than one new Wells.
With Harry gone, it's time to bring in another new Wells for Tom Cavanagh to play. However, the actor teases that there will likely be more than one this season. The Wells we will first meet is a strange one, though. "This year I thought, we'll add a little flair, and this guy is going to be called [Sherloque Wells], following along with the myth and the legend of Sherlock Holmes-ian type, but we might turn that a little bit on its head, the way they did with Iron Man," the actor says. How Sherloque will be like Iron Man remains to be seen, but Cavanagh seems to have big plans. "What was nice about Iron Man, I thought, was they took the superhero trope and kind of turned it on its head a little bit," he explains. "He had so many weaknesses, and when I say that, I mean that in a good way. It humanized him. He was quick. He was funny. I guess one of the great ways of describing him, one of the things that I'm drawn to when I see the superhero characters, are flawed people doing extraordinary things, because it sort of humanizes them to me." There might not be a Wells and Cisco friendship this year.
Though it's too early to know for sure, Carlos Valdes (Cisco) is championing the idea of Wells finding a new BFF on Team Flash. "Well, I'm not going to lie. I've loved playing opposite Tom for any and all iterations of Wells," the actor says. "I think we work really well together and I love that and I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world, but I think, I mean, I have to be honest, I would love to see him explore that kind of dynamic or that close or entertaining of a dynamic with somebody else. Do you know what I mean? Just, I'm a big fan of change and changing things up, so I don't know, that's my hope. We haven't really gotten into too much Wells stuff yet, but yeah, that's my hope." Get ready for a new suit.
As revealed in the first trailer for Season 5, Barry is wearing the Flash ring. With that ring will come an upgraded suit--finally. What it will look like has yet to be seen, but given how constant the Green Arrow has changed up his look, it's good to know Flash is getting something new. Iris might get to actually be a journalist this year.
One of the biggest issues The Flash grapples with every season is whether Iris is a journalist or not. In the first two seasons, her journalistic pursuits were central to the character. At a certain point, though, that side of her got buried as she became integrated into Team Flash. Now, though, it sounds like she may be putting her reporter hat back on. "I have been told that that is the plan," Patton says. "To get Iris kind of back on track being a journalist. I don't know how in depth they'll get with that. I'm always a little skeptical 'cause there's always so much going on but the plan is to kind of move in that direction. I mean, have you seen that article from 2024? Iris wrote that article so we do have to get to a place where that is possible to some degree. So I think we're moving that direction." Is Cisco developing a drinking problem?
With the Thinker dominating so much of Season 4, the show didn't get to spend a lot of time with Cisco in the aftermath of his relationship with Gypsy (Jessica Camacho). That will be addressed in Season 5, though it sounds like Cisco may be spending too much time drinking to get over his heartbreak. "I think that party that we end at in Season 4, where they're all at the West House, I think that was his first opportunity to start processing things and his only tool, the only tool at his disposal there was some champagne," Valdes hints. "So you can expect that to play a part, in terms of how he processes that break-up… Champagne plays a big part." Caitlyn isn't giving up on Killer Frost.
It was revealed in Season 4 that Caitlyn had some form of Killer Frost inside of her before the particle accelerator explosion in the show's first episode. Now, armed with that information, she's going to dig deeper into her other half in a quest for answers. "I think we're gonna see at the top of this season Caitlin really trying to get more information about Killer Frost and how she came to be and understanding that a little bit more," Danielle Panabaker says. "Which is exciting and I think that'll help us understand her motivations as well."
By Chris E. Hayner on Aug 04, 2018 01:57 am
When Arrow returns for Season 7, it's going to be a very different show. After all, the hero is now locked up in prison and the team has, for all intents and purposes, been pulled apart. After Oliver (Stephen Amell) turned himself into the FBI in the Season 6 finale, along with the reveal that big bad Ricardo Diaz (Kirk Acevedo) had survived his plunge from a rooftop, a new season looked promising. Now, with Season 7 in production, there's quite a bit about the new episodes that remains unknown. How can the Green Arrow fight crime behind bars--and what becomes of the team left behind? Furthermore, what becomes of his wife and son? The cast of the CW series descended upon San Diego Comic-Con to spoil as much as they could without giving too much away--new showrunner Beth Schwartz made sure of that, labeling herself "the spoiler police." While most of the big secrets remain just that, speaking to GameSpot and a small group of reporters during a roundtable, Schwartz and her cast shared some very interesting information about what to expect from the new season. Take a look at the spoilers and teases they were able to reveal, then sound off in the comments with your hopes for Season 7! Arrow returns October 15, when it moves to its new timeslot of Mondays at 8 PM ET. San Diego Comic-Con 2018 Coverage - Best Cosplay From Comic-Con 2018
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Jail isn't treating Oliver well.
At the end of Season 6, Oliver Queen publicly revealed himself as the Green Arrow and faced the consequences. Season 7 will find him in prison for his vigilante crimes, and it's not going smoothly. "All there is in prison is a bunch of people [he] put in prison," Amell tells GameSpot of his character, during a group interview. "It's not good. It's bad." Among those people, as seen in the first teaser for the new season, is Danny Brickwell (Vinnie Jones) and Derek Sampson (Cody Rhodes. "There's nothing about him in the premiere. There's nothing about him that's heroic," the actor continues. "It's kinda the opposite, actually. It's really tough. I've enjoyed it. I'm having a good time playing it, but it's been tough." Schwartz is excited for viewers to see what's become of Oliver behind bars. "I just think the fans are gonna go nuts," she says. "You see Oliver like you've never seen him before. All of our characters are kind of in a new role and trying to figure out how to save the city and honor Oliver's request at the end of Season 6." Oliver and Felicity are not in contact.
With Felicity taking care of Oliver's son, Amell reveals that his character hasn't actually spoken to either of them during his imprisonment. "[Oliver is] trying to keep his head down, trying to just manage his time," he teases. "Day-by-day, step-by-step. He hasn't had any contact with Felicity or his son. He's just trying, again, head down, press on."
While Oliver has had no contact with Felicity or William in the Season 7 premiere, the same cannot be said for Diggle (David Ramsey). With his closest friend out of commission and behind bars, Dig may be Oliver's only link to the outside world. "Diggle at the very top, we see there's been a routine over the past several months of him visiting Oliver," Ramsey says. "So you see that at the beginning of 701, that Oliver and Diggle have a lovely relationship, if you can say that. As lovely as you can visiting someone in jail. So yeah, these guys they're, for all intents and purposes, back together." Diaz is still the big bad.
Arrow has always had something of a routine when it comes to its major villains. By the end of each season, the villain was defeated to make way for whatever comes next. That didn't happen in the Season 6 finale, though. Instead, Ricardo Diaz managed to get away, keeping him as a problem needing to be dealt with. "We've never done that before, where we're continuing a villain from Season 6 as an unfinished story to Season 7," Schwartz teases. "What I can tell you is he's gonna be different than when we saw him last season, which is exciting." While she wouldn't elaborate on how he'll be different, it'll be the same actor in the role. Meanwhile, with Oliver in jail, Diggle is the one keeping the hunt alive. "He's still in the trail," Ramsey teases. "He's still on Diaz's trail, which has gone a bit cold. But he's using Argus resources for it." There are more villains from the comics on the way.
Diaz won't be the only villain what's left of the team comes up against in Season 7. "I'll tell you that we've heard of Longbow Hunters at the end of Season 6 with Diaz," Schwartz says. "I can't really tell you that much more about it. There definitely will be more. There'll be some more comic book characters, definitely, that we'll see this season. I can't tell you which ones." Let's all hope Arrow finally introduces Onomatopoeia. Team Arrow will not be donning their masks anytime soon.
Thanks to Oliver's deal with the FBI--the one that sent him to jail while the rest of the team remained free--they're going to be fewer costumed vigilantes roaming the streets in Season 7. "We can't do anything," Ramsey says. "We can't put on our masks anymore. So that was part of the deal with Watson was that we give up these aliases, and we don't have to do any time. And he will really be the sacrificial lamb." That's where ARGUS comes in.
With Team Arrow essentially shut down, Diggle is taking advantage of a new role at ARGUS to help with the team's search for Diaz. Unfortunately, they might push the government organization too far. "I think we use some ARGUS resources to try to track down Diaz," Ramsey says. "And there are some repercussions of that. There are some governmental repercussions of that. ARGUS is a government agency, and they have to answer to some people. So we have to play that story out of just what limits we can place on ARGUS in terms of tracking down Diaz." Felicity is ready for a fight.
While Felicity and William are in witness protection, that doesn't make them safe. This is Arrow, after all. Still, though Felicity is usually stationed at a computer hacking into anything and everything, this time she's ready to fight. "I think just like Oliver is watching his back, Felicity is tired of watching hers and might take some action," Rickards teased during the show's Comic-Con panel. You just might meet Diggle's parents this year.
Though he's been with the show since the beginning, viewers haven't met much of Diggle's family, outside of his wife and brother. That looks to be changing this season, however. "From what I'm understanding, we are going to get into Diggle's extended family even beyond Lyla," Ramsey hints. "They've been talking about that every season, but there's been real talk about that this season."
By Mat Elfring on Aug 04, 2018 01:45 am
After hearing about the exclusive Venom footage Sony showed off at Comic-Con this year, symbiote fans were pumped for the studio to release something more to the general public. With its release date coming up later this year, Sony has now unveiled a new trailer for the movie. It features not only numerous looks at actor Tom Hardy as Venom, but also our first peek at Riot, one of the symbiotes that Eddie Brock will have to contend with. Back in April, the trailer the studio released gave us a good idea what the movie is about. Eddie Brock is a journalist investigating Dr. Carlton Drake, who is doing experiments on people involving the symbiotes, which were collected from the debris of a spaceship. Somehow, Brock and a symbiote--named Venom--become united, and Brock deals with trying to keep his sanity and control of his body. His mental instability, which comes from the comics, may explain why it's so hard to understand him. Venom stars Hardy as Eddie Brock, Michelle Williams as Anne Weying, and Riz Ahmed as Dr. Carlton Drake. At the Comic-Con panel, Ahmed described his character as a genius who asks, "What does the future of humanity look like?" Apparently, it's an evolution of the human species by way of symbiotic bonding. With the release of the latest trailer, we know a bit more about what's going on in this movie, including who is playing the symbiotic villain towards the end of the video. There is also another person with a symbiote attached to them as well, and a few more shots of Venom we haven't seen before. Riot is a prominent part of the trailer, and he comes to the big-screen following his comic debut in 1993. He has a history with Drake in the comics that the upcoming movie appears to be drawing on. You can read more about that in our explainer, Who is Riot? Here's everything new and notable from the fresh Venom trailer. Venom comes to theaters on October 5. Different color symbiotes
In previous trailers, we saw multiple containers with symbiotes in them. The one above is yellow, which quickly reminded me of the miniseries Lethal Protector, where the Life Foundation unleashed five new symbiotes. Both Phage and Scream were orange and yellow, respectively. Could this be one of those two? Drake is running experiments
We've seen this before in previous trailers, but Drake seems very hands-on with his work. We see yet another symbiote, and it looks different from the one in the previous slide. If so, that means Sony could be fully adapting Lethal Protector, sans Spider-Man. The battle for Brock
Brock is having an internal struggle for his mind and body, and much like the last trailer, we see that Brock is having visual hallucinations, seeing Venom in the window of a card. Additionally, he's going though physical changes as we his body change as he fights off Venom. Things are getting weird
There's a brief scene featuring Venom's face coming off of Brock's body and talking to him. Venom is huge
Up to this point, we haven't seen how large Venom is. In the comics, he's a lot bigger than Spider-Man and other heroes in the Marvel Universe. In a wide-shot, we see Venom holding someone up. Venom towers over this guy. Yes, he's licking that guy
Is it weird to say that an iconic part of Venom is his ridiculously long tongue? Yeah? Well, it's in the trailer, and he licks a guy. This probably won't be the only time we see something like this. More symbiotes
Aside from Venom and the one we think may be Scream, there's also actress Michelle Williams who uses a symbiote to create a blade-like weapon coming out of her arm. Williams is playing Donna Diego in the film, and in the comics, Diego is better known as Scream. Riot is here
Without a doubt, this is Riot, the symbiote Venom will be fighting in the movie. Riot is a lot like Venom. He's large, powerful, and overall, just a gigantic brute. Who is Riot? Spoilers!
At the very end of the trailer, we see both Venom and Riot being torn apart, and the person inside the Riot symbiote is none other than Carlton Drake. That's a bit of a divergence from the comic, as Drake didn't bond with a symbiote. However, he did become a spider-monster in Spider-Man: The Arachnis Project.
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