By Matt Espineli on Sep 19, 2018 12:25 am
In the beginning of Marvel's Spider-Man, you're not armed with many special moves in combat and web-swinging. And when you gain access to the skill tree, there are so many skills to choose from that you might wonder where to even start. Spanning three separate trees (Innovator, Defender, and Webslinger) with 11 skills in each, you're free to prioritize however you wish. Amidst all of these skills, there are some that we believe to be absolutely worth getting. To help you be the most effective crime fighter there is, we've gathered 12 of the best skills to unlock first. In this feature, we discuss some of the most worthwhile skills and the reason why they're so useful. Though, if none of these skills suit your fancy, feel free to use our suggestions as a basis to figure out what works best for your playstyle. It's worth noting that you can unlock all of the skills by the end of the game. However, with so few skill points to go around early on, you're going to want to spend wisely. If all this talk of skills is getting you pumped, you can play Marvel's Spider-Man on September 7. According to GameSpot reviewer Edmond Tran, the game is "a superior Spider-Man experience that leaves a lasting impression, one that has you longing for just one more swing around New York City, even after the credits roll." You can read more in our full review. But if you're looking for more guides, you can also check out our feature detailing all the tips we wish we knew before starting the game. Which skills do you think are most worth unlocking first? Shout your opinions in the comments below.
Perfect Dodge (Defender)
As one of the first skills you can unlock, you'd be hard-pressed not to nab Perfect Dodge an hour or two after the skill tree is made available. But we cannot understate the importance of this skill, as it clues you in on the moment an attack is about to land. Not only that, but it generates bonus Focus and automatically makes Spider-Man counter with a Web Shot to an enemy's face. Master this skill and it'll get you out of trouble more times than you can count.
Quick Zip (Webslinger)
Quick Zip is a must if you're looking to pick up some serious speed while you're web-swinging. It basically allows you to Web Zip a second time without losing altitude, which comes in handy during tense chases or the web-swinging challenges you'll take on throughout the game.
Point Launch Boost (Webslinger)
Point Launch Boost is another brilliant web-swinging skill that helps you continually build up speed and momentum by hitting jump as soon as you make contact with a point. As a souped-up version of the standard Point Launch, it massively increases the distance traveled, further contributing to your general mood of feeling like the king of the world. It's always a good idea to use if you're lagging behind in a chase, and when performed in conjunction with Quick Zip, you'll close the distance in no time.
Wrecking Ball (Innovator)
Brutes can be a handful early on, locking you out of basic punching combos with their guard and overwhelming you with constant pummeling. Aside from throwing objects at them or webbing them and punching them back, there's not much you can do to physically hurt them. But with Wrecking Ball, these once frustrating foes can be webbed and thrown with ease. It's just about as functional as a typical Web Throw, but gosh if it's not just rewarding to finally do away with these meatheads.
Bunker Buster (Webslinger)
Like brutes, shield enemies can be a bit of a hassle. While they're easy to counter with a well-executed Dodge Under, shield enemies are generally a stressor in combat that can cause you to change your attack strategy by simply existing on the field. If you're like us and hate changing plans last-minute, then invest in the path to unlock the Bunker Buster Skill. It allows your Swing Kick to knock these well-guarded nuisances on their butts. Though, let's be real, the best time to use Bunker Buster is when you're on a rooftop where you can just knock shield enemies right off the edge. There's nothing malicious about that, right?
Throw (Defender)
Throw is...well, a throw. Performed by pressing square and then holding triangle, this tactical maneuver tosses your opponent in any direction you please. It's useful when you want to do some quick crowd control in a fight or throw any annoying brutes or gunmen off a roof. Hmm, we're starting to notice a theme here...
Payback (Defender)
Those pesky gunmen are the bane of our existence in combat, and it seems the game acknowledges this. You need only look to the appropriately named Payback skill, which lets you to perform an instant takedown on rifle and pistol enemies after a Perfect Dodge. If that sounds like your idea of a good time (we know it does), then invest in this skill ASAP.
Yank And Throw (Innovator)
Piggybacking off that sentiment of gunmen being quite annoying, Yank And Throw is another way to vent out your frustrations. All the skills preceding it are incredibly useful for disarming these enemies, but it's Yank And Throw that reigns supreme, completely disarming their weapons and hurling it right back them with concussive force.
Ground Strike (Defender)
Ground Strike allows you to smash down on the ground with explosive force--either after an air combo or when you're high up enough in the air. When a fight starts to get hectic, Ground Strike is a great way to throw enemies off balance, buying you time to retreat or set up a devastating Gadget combo. It also comes in handy when you want to land on a dime in the middle of web-swinging.
Chain Finisher (Defender)
Who doesn't want to perform two instant K.O.s in a row? Chain Finisher is a powerful skill that lets you to perform a second Finisher on basic enemies regardless of the Focus you have after performing the first one. If you're able to keep generating Focus consistently, this skill can make short work of large groups. That, and it's just straight up satisfying.
Air Yank (Webslinger)
Air Yank provides a useful way to initiate an air combo after a jump. It's also great after performing an air combo, allowing you to yank an additional enemy up to your level for another fruitful beating. You can even use it a few inches out from the edge of a rooftop to grab a foe from the safety of their perch and leave them to fall… Okay, that's the last time, we swear!
Air Tricks (Webslinger)
Air Tricks isn't so much useful as it is awesome. Have you ever wanted to feel even more cool while web-swinging? Is that even possible? Yes! Yes, it is! Air Tricks lets you perform aerial tricks to earn extra Focus and XP. While you could realistically use it to grind out XP, know that it doesn't offer you that much and that it specifically locks you out of leveling up with its earnings alone. Still, doing moonsaults all the way down after jumping off the Empire State Building has a special charm that's too difficult to pass up, especially if you're able to launch right back into a web-swing just before you hit the ground!
By Array on Sep 18, 2018 11:40 pm
Now that Destiny 2's Forsaken DLC and accompanying Raid have been released, Iron Banner is back. The Crucible mode features one major change from previous instances of it in Destiny 2, but it also brings with it new rewards, including both armor and weapons for Forsaken owners. Each class gets a brand-new set of Legendary armor, with one piece for each slot. There are also six Legendary weapons. All of this gear can be obtained from Iron Banner Engrams, which you receive for cashing in Iron Banner tokens earned by completing matches. However, that's not your only way of obtaining most of these items. Two of the weapons and each piece of armor for your class can also be purchased for 10 Legendary Shards and 10 Iron Banner tokens. But in order to buy each one, you have to complete a corresponding bounty available from Lord Saladin (who's located in the Tower in his usual spot, on a floor above Shaxx). All of these are done in Iron Banner matches and task you with doing things like winning matches and capturing zones. Complete a bounty and you'll receive 25 Iron Banner Tokens, a piece of random Legendary gear, and the ability to purchase the associated piece of Iron Banner gear. Iron Banner essentially works as it has in the past, but for the first time in this game, level advantages are enabled. What that means is your Power level is a factor in your performance, unlike in a standard Crucible match. In other words, you'll need to account for Power level when selecting your loadout--you'll be at a disadvantage if you use lesser gear that you may like more. Of course, you can always infuse it, though that process is now more expensive than it used to be. The return of Iron Banner comes alongside the release of update 2.0.3. This doesn't introduce any big new features, but it does resolve a number of lingering issues with the game. That includes one where you'd lose the Offering to the Oracle item if your inventory didn't have room for it; now, it'll be sent to the Postmaster.
By Array on Sep 18, 2018 11:13 pm
The first trailer for Captain Marvel is finally here, and fans couldn't be more excited about Marvel's next movie, which doesn't hit theaters until Spring 2019. The first female-focused solo film promises some action both in space and right here on Earth. Now, with the release of more information about the film, official set photos, the new trailer, and a breakdown, a wider picture for the movie has been painted. Again, it's early, but this film looks exceptionally promising for a few reasons. While many Marvel fans are still trying to get over the ending of Avengers: Infinity War, Captain Marvel won't be a follow-up, as it takes place at least two decades prior, during the '90s. In addition, the movie will jump viewers right into the action, skipping out on the origin story. There are also a few connections to other Marvel movies that we've noticed from casting announcements as well as set photos. We're keeping a running list of every Captain Marvel related announcement, confirmation, and plot detail as they trickle in over the next six months. There have been a few updates recently, including who Ben Mendelsohn and Lashana Lynch are playing in the upcoming film. Keep checking back as we plan on keeping you up-to-date on the latest Captain Marvel news up until its release. Captain Marvel hits theaters on March 8, 2019. It will be followed sometime in April with the release of Avengers 4. For more on the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Marvel Comics information:
1. It's set in the '90s
One of the first pieces of Captain Marvel news we got was its time period: the 1990s, a "previously unexplored" era of MCU history. This means that not only is this movie the MCU's first prequel since Captain America: The First Avenger, it also means that Carol has, in theory, been active and out there somewhere in the galaxy this entire time. Wonder why the Guardians of the Galaxy never encountered her?
2. Lee Pace will return as Ronan
The MCU doesn't have the best track record with returning villains--in fact, Ronan of Guardians of the Galaxy fame making his triumphant return to the screen is actually an MCU first. Thus far, the only recycled baddies, or anti-heroes, appearing in the Marvel roster are fan favorites like Loki, Bucky Barnes, and, briefly, Red Skull. In all likelihood, Captain Marvel is taking place well before Ronan went totally off the deep end as an Accuser, so we're probably going to see a completely different side of him this time around. But try not to get too attached--we all know where he ended up.
3. Skrulls are coming to the MCU
Last year, shortly after Comic-Con, Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige confirmed that Captain Marvel will introduce Skrulls into the MCU. An alien race capable of virtually limitless shape shifting, the Skrulls have been in an intergalactic conflict with another alien race, the Kree, for centuries. What exactly does that mean for the MCU going forward? Well, famously, Skrulls are master imposters--their comic book storylines generally emphasize the idea that close friends, teammates, and even arch enemies can be replaced by Skrulls for years at a time before anyone is any the wiser. By introducing the Skrulls to the live action universe retroactively, thanks to Captain Marvel's '90s setting--well, that's when things start to get really interesting. If Skrulls have really been here all this time, who knows who they've already replaced?
4. Carol's in the Air Force
In keeping with her comic book origins, set photos and interviews have confirmed that Brie Larson's Carol Danvers will be a member of the US Air Force. Brie Larson apparently trained with airmen for eight months to prepare for the role, and the Air Force was regularly consulted on Carol's character development--specifically whether or not it was possible for someone so young to have risen through the ranks as high as Carol will, apparently, have by the start of the film.
5. Nick Fury is back (and has known about Carol for some time)
In the Infinity War post credits, we got our first ever onscreen confirmation that Carol is definitely a part of the greater MCU at the hands of Nick Fury, who, moments before crumbling to dust, sent her a message on what looked like a futuristic beeper. This, of course, means that Nick has actually known about Carol's existence for some time. Thankfully, we're likely going to get a look at just why Nick decided to keep this one to himself on screen: Fury is confirmed to appear in the film as his younger, two-eyed self.
6. It's an origin story
It's been a while since we've had a proper solo origin story in the MCU, but Carol's getting the full treatment. Not only is Captain Marvel set in the past, it's positioned to detail out exactly how Carol got her powers, why she left Earth, and, presumably, how S.H.I.E.L.D was involved.
7. Jude Law will play Mar-Vell
The original Captain Marvel will be making his on screen debut right alongside Carol. Undercover Kree soldier Mar-Vell will be played by Jude Law. In the comics, Mar-Vell is one of the first Kree to be stationed on Earth. He adopts the alter ego of scientist Walter Lawson and begins to assess whether or not humans are a threat to the empire, but winds up falling in love with humanity and defecting. Mar-Vell's description for the movie cites him as the person who mentors Carol in her new powers and abilities.
8. Phil Coulson is back
Fan favorite S.H.I.E.L.D agent Phil Coulson is coming back thanks to Captain Marvel's retroactive setting. His actual involvement in the story is yet to be determined, but it's been confirmed that actor Clark Gregg will be digitally de-aged for the entirety of his screen time--however long that actually is.
9. We're meeting Minn-Erva
Mar-Vell isn't the only Kree entering the MCU for the first time. Kree geneticist Minn-Erva will be making her live action debut played by Gemma Chan. In the comics, Minn-Erva was one of the people sent to observe Mar-Vell during his time on Earth and a scientist with a slightly dubious ethical compass. Her obsession with genetic advancement even leads her to attempt to lure Mar-Vell into a romantic relationship based on her hypothesis that their offspring would be genetically superior.
10. Carol has a pet cat
Samuel L. Jackson posted a photo on Instagram of the Captain Marvel cast and crew shirts which feature a design apparently highlighting the involvement of Carol's comic book pet cat, Chewie. In the comics, Chewie is actually a cat-like alien called a Flerken that can fly, teleport, and shoot giant gross tentacles out of its mouth. (No, really.) Whether or not those particular qualities will be making the jump to live action remains to be seen, but even if he's just a normal cat this time around, he'll probably be pretty cute.
11. Captain Marvel is the strongest hero in the MCU
In an interview with Vulture, Kevin Feige casually called out Carol as the strongest superhero in the MCU, which is pretty major considering both the Hulk and Thor have been battling over that unofficial mantle for the last several movies. Unfortunately, relative strength is always great, but probably won't get us very far when it comes to going up against Thanos and the Infinity Gauntlet. Punching things is likely not the solution to returning half the universe to life. Still, it definitely can't hurt to have a brand new powerhouse in the Avengers corner.
12. Ben Mendelsohn is playing a Skrull
In EW's Captain Marvel reveal, the Ready Player One and Rogue One actor will be playing Talos, the leader of the Skrulls. In the comics, the alien race are known for their ability to shapeshift, except for Talos. However, that part of the character's history is being scrapped for the films, as we've already seen Talos will be going undercover as a human on Earth. Previously, it was rumored that Mendelsohn would be playing the Kree defector Yon-Rogg.
13. Lashana Lynch is Monica Rambeau
There may actually be a third Captain Marvel in the mix for this movie. Lashana Lynch has been cast as a Monica Rambeau, another adopter of the Captain Marvel mantle who was empowered by extra dimensional energy. Monica adopted the name Captain Marvel in the '80s and then went on to use the names Photon, Pulsar, and Spectrum.
14. Filming has officially wrapped
On July 8th, Brie Larson took to Twitter to announce that Captain Marvel had wrapped filming. This likely means it'll be another several months before we see a trailer--but a teaser might be coming relatively soon. This also means the handful of set photos we've seen have likely been a mix between actual Captain Marvel scenes and moments from Avengers 4.
15. Captain Marvel won't remember her past
While Captain Marvel is an origin story, the first trailer makes it seem as the film will start in the middle of Danvers' life as a cosmic superhero, after leaving the Kree Starforce. It seems more than likely that the structure of the film will keep her crashing into the Blockbuster Video on Earth as the starting point, with Danvers having no recollection of her past life, like the start of so many JRPGs. As she spends more time on Earth, pieces of her past will come back to her in flashes, which we see in the first trailer. This non-traditional structure to a Marvel origin film should be a breath or fresh air to moviegoers.
16. The Skrulls will be on Earth
When set photos were released, we saw Ben Mendelsohn filming a scene not wearing his Skrull makeup for his character Talos. The scene took place on Earth, and as we already know, Skrulls are shapeshifting aliens, so there are Skrulls secretly living on Earth. In the first trailer, Captain Marvel is on public transportation and punches a nice old lady in the face. Our guess is that the woman is actually a Skrull--maybe even Talos--and said something to Danvers to reveal her true identity. Or, she wouldn't give up her seat to Captain Marvel, who was very tired from travelling across the galaxy.
By Mat Elfring on Sep 18, 2018 09:54 pm
We're still six months away from the release of the next Marvel Studios movie, but recently, the first trailer for Captain Marvel dropped, giving us an idea what this movie is going to be about. The film follows Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) a pilot who receives superpowers and becomes part of an elite military team in the outreaches of space under a new name, Captain Marvel. However, the hero heads back to Earth, but trouble follows her from her fight in the cosmos. Aside from Larson, Captain Marvel stars DeWanda Wise, Jude Law, Gemma Chan, Lee Pace, Clark Gregg, Samuel Jackson, and Ben Mendelsohn. The film will be directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. The two directors previously collaborated on the TV series Billions, Room 104, and The Affair. We're taking a look at the new trailer and breaking it down, scene by scene, to see what we can learn about the movie. From superpowers to Skrulls to Nick Fury with both eyes, this new trailer packs a punch--one for an old lady on a subway. Here's what we learned from the new trailer. Captain Marvel hits theaters on March 6, 2019. For more, check out our guide to Captain Marvel's cast.
This Movie Looks Like A Blockbuster
Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) falls to Earth and lands inside a Blockbuster Video. Seeing how this movie takes place in the '90s, that's a fitting way to kick it all off.
Public Transit Is Confusing
Marvel--formerly known as Carol Danvers--finds herself in the Los Angeles subway system. She's wearing the Kree/Skrull War outfit.
SHIELD Has Some Sweet Swag
She finds herself at SHIELD--a couple decades before Hydra infiltrated and dismantled it. They even have cool hats. On that hat is the Shield logo that dates back to at least the late '80s, as the logo from Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's run from the '50s was a golden eagle on top of a shield.
Alien Autopsy
In one of the rooms at SHIELD is a doctor dissecting a Skrull, while someone else messes with an alien gun. As we've seen in previous set photos, we know the Skrull Talos (Ben Mendelsohn) heads to Earth. Obviously, this isn't Talos in the trailer, but could there be a Secret Invasion--which is also the name of a pretty great Marvel Comics event--being planned for Earth where Skrulls shapeshift into humans?
Carol Leaves Earth?
A spaceship appears over Earth as another one launches out of the atmosphere. Maybe Danvers is on the ship leaving the planet. But whose ship is above it? It may be Ronan's.
Nick Fury With Better Depth Perception
Nick Fury (Samuel Jackson) seems to be Marvel's guide throughout the trailer. He's trying to help her in any way that he can, and more importantly, he has two eyes. Will we finally learn how Fury lost his eye?
Top Guns
Marvel realizes that she once had a life on Earth, and she hasn't spent her entire life traversing the cosmos. There's a flashback to her in a pilot suit walking with Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch). In the comics, Rambeau was the mother of Monica Rambeau, also known as the Avenger Spectrum.
Starforce Assemble!
There is a quick shot of Marvel walking with other members of Starforce. Other members of Starforce that will be appearing in this movie are Mar-Vell, Korath, Dr. Minerva, and Ronan.
Mar-Vell Has Cat Eyes
Speaking of Mar-Vell, there's a quick shot of him--played by Jude Law--looking terrified. In the comics, he was the Captain of the Kree militia, and eventually became the superhero Captain Marvel. He later died of cancer.
That's Some Sweet '90s Future Tech
Carol Danvers--the soon to be Captain Marvel--is in a spacecraft, and there's something bright in front of her. Could it be the sun or the cosmic radiation that gives her superpowers?
It's A Skrull Invasion
The only time we see a Skrull close up is in this quick shot where a few of them walk out onto the beach. Set photos of this were released recently that give a better look. Is this a Skrull invasion of Earth or is it happening on another planet?
Keeping The Galaxy Safe From Old Women
Marvel decided to take the subway she was hanging out in earlier and finds herself confronted with a friendly elderly woman. Marvel proceeds to punch her in the face, but was this because the old woman was secretly a Skrull or because Marvel doesn't take guff from anyone?
Why Is Roman Always Alone On Giant Ships?
As we saw earlier, there was a ship above Earth as one was leaving the planet. This could be the same scene, but with an interior shot of the alien spacecraft. Inside, Ronan looks down on the planet. In the comics, Ronan--at one point--was on the Starforce, but it seems like this movie will be where the character parts ways with the team, if he's even on it at all.
Coulson Lives! (In The '90s)
Clark Gregg returns as SHIELD agent Coulson, and he's looking much younger in the brief moment we see him. Coulson was originally in the Avengers movie and the star of Marvel's Agents of SHIELD.
The Mohawk Is Here!
There is a brief shot of Marvel in her more recent comics outfit--but with the Kree/Skrull War colors. This outfit was originally designed by Jamie McKelvie when he redesigned the character in 2012.
Time For Red, Blue, And Gold!
The trailer closes with Captain Marvel in her newer suit. This is one of two brief times during the trailer that we get to see her use any powers. She's much more than a member of an elite Kree military team.
By Chris E. Hayner on Sep 18, 2018 04:35 am
Big things are happening on The Flash. After the daughter of Barry (Grant Gustin) and Iris (Candice Patton) made herself known in the Season 4 finale, she's getting very involved with the team and their superhero antics. Nora (Jessica Parker Kennedy) already has her own superhero suit to match her speedster powers and, based on the first batch of photos released from the new season, is wasting no time in jumping into action. The new photos show Nora as her alter ego XS, plenty of looks at the reunion with her mom and dad, plus working with the Flash against Gridlock--a new meta baddie that will be introduced in the Season 5 premiere. Other photos include various members of the team and the return of Wally West (Keiynan Lonsdale), as well as Iris holding her newborn half-sister. There are some things missing from the photos, though. First and foremost, the new version of Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh), named Sherloq, is nowhere to be seen. That leaves fans with no idea what Cavanagh's latest iteration of Wells will look like. There's also no tease of the big bad for the new season, Cicada (Chris Klein). In the comics, Cicada leads a cult of people that kill those the Flash saves. It remains to be seen how he will be portrayed on the show, though showrunner Todd Helbing told GameSpot, "What we do on our show is always inspired by it. 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." The Flash returns Tuesday, October 9, at 8 PM ET on The CW. Before then, check out our teases and spoilers for everything you can expect from Season 5.
By Dan Auty on Sep 18, 2018 02:30 am
The fall traditionally sees the release of the many of the prestigious movies that are awards-contenders, and 2018 is no different. Over the next few months, expect to see films such as First Man, Widows, and If Beale Street Could Talk hitting theaters, while many of the big summer movies move to VoD and streaming. Of course, the big talk in Hollywood this week is the Emmy awards, but there's still several great movies being released. This week, the fantasy adventure movie The House With a Clock in Its Walls hits theaters, with Cate Blanchett and Jack Black in the lead roles. John C. Reilly and Joaquin Phoenix star in the dark comedy western The Sisters Brothers, and there's violent teen satire in the blood-splattered Assassination Nation. On digital formats, the thriller sequel Sicario: Day of the Soldado and horror sequel The First Purge are out to buy, while Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is now available to rent. The landscape for consuming movies has really changed over the past few years. The biggest films still debut in the old fashioned-way--in theaters, with home releases still a few months off. But with the rise of streaming and Video on Demand, we are increasingly seeing simultaneous releases for smaller movies, with films getting a limited theatrical release on the same day that they are available to buy and rent digitally. The rise of Netflix and Amazon as major players in film production has also disrupted standard release patterns. Netflix in particular has attracted some major directors, and their movies will bypass theaters entirely and premiere worldwide on the streaming platform. And of course, movies that did get a theatrical release continue to move to digital platforms after a few months. This is a great way to catch up on movies you might have missed on the big screen--or are keen to rewatch. So here's our look at the best and most interesting new movies in theaters and available to watch at home this week.
The House With a Clock in Its Walls
Watch it in theaters on September 21 After a brief diversion into action territory with this year's Death Wish remake, Eli Roth (Hostel, Cabin Fever) returns to the genre he is best known for with this gothic fantasy. It's an adaptation of the much-loved 1973 novel of the same name about a young orphan boy who helps his uncle and a friendly witch find a magical clock with apocalyptic powers. This is a more family-friendly slice of gothic chills than Roth's usual brand of gruesome horror, and the impressive cast includes Cate Blanchett, Jack Black, and Kyle MacLachlan.
The Sisters Brothers
Watch it in theaters on September 21 While the western is far from the popular genre it once was, there are still great movies within the genre released each year. The dark and brooding Hostiles was released back in December, and the Coen brothers' much-anticipated The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs is due on Netflix soon. Before that we have The Sisters Brothers, an offbeat western based on Patrick deWitt's acclaimed novel. It stars John C. Reilly and Joaquin Phoenix as a pair of mercenaries who are hired to track down a chemist (Riz Ahmed), who has invented a mysterious formula that allows prospectors to find where gold is hidden. The strength of the cast, which also includes Jake Gyllenhaal, and rave festival reviews makes this well worth checking out.
Assassination Nation
Watch it in theaters on September 21 This dark satire takes the high school movie into some wild places. A group of teenage girls are targeted by the older members of their town when their phones are mysteriously hacked, and things soon descend into chaos and violence. Assassination Nation is sure to play well to horror fans and those who like their movies a little dangerous, and many of its themes are relevant to what is going on society today. The movie's tongue-in-cheek content warning says it all: "drug use, sexual content, toxic masculinity, homophobia, transphobia, guns, nationalism, racism, kidnapping, the male gaze, sexism, swearing, torture, violence, gore, weapons, and fragile male egos."
Sicario: Day of the Soldado
Own it digitally on September 18 The drug cartel thriller Sicario was one of the most gripping movies of recent years, and this sequel continues to deliver the brutal goods. This time the movie focuses on attempts by the CIA to incite an all-out war between rival drug gangs in Mexico, and Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro reprise their roles as a shady CIA operative Graver and vengeful Mexican mercenary Gillick respectively. In his review for GameSpot, writer Michael Rougeau said that Day of the Soldado is "well written, well acted, tense, topical, and complex, and in every way a worthy follow-up to Sicario--even if it wasn't needed to begin with."
Siberia
Own it digitally on September 18 Keanu Reeves has remained one of Hollywood's most prolific and popular stars for 30 years now, and with the third John Wick movie now in production, he shows little sign of slowing down. While we wait for that, we have Siberia, a crime thriller in which he plays a diamond merchant who finds himself in trouble with gangsters when a mission to Russia to sell some dubious rocks goes wrong. Reviews from its theatrical release suggest it's more of a drama than the John Wick movies, but Keanu gets to flex his action muscles too.
The First Purge
Own it digitally on September 18 The Purge series has become one of the most successful horror franchises of recent years--there have been four movies since 2015, and the TV show is currently airing weekly. The First Purge is the latest film and its hits digital formats this week. It's a prequel that looks at the creation of the single night of legalised crime known as The Purge. While reviews weren't as good for this one as previous entries (GameSpot's review said that "Whatever thin veil of subtlety this series ever possessed is gone from this movie"), the series goes from strength to strength commercially and fans will want to check this out.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Rent it digitally on September 18 The latest movie in the series of dinosaur thrillers is now available to rent at home. Fallen Kingdom sees Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard reprise their roles from 2014's Jurassic World, and features the welcome return of Jeff Goldblum's Dr Ian Malcolm. Director J.A. Bayona takes the action to the island of Isla Nublar and uses his previous experience in horror to deliver perhaps the scariest movie in the franchise so far. Back in June, GameSpot's Michael Rougeau said in his Fallen Kingdom review that the movie was "a hell of a ride, an exciting, terrifying, and funny follow-up that will have you at full attention until it ultimately sags in its third act."
By Kallie Plagge on Sep 18, 2018 01:08 am
Top Tier
PC gaming has been around for decades, but as technology grows, so too do the possibilities! Many, many games come out on PC--especially Steam--at a pretty fast pace, so it can be hard to know what to play. There's also a wide variety of genres to keep track of, plus all those games you buy during the Steam sale. To help you out, we went back a few years and rounded up the best PC-exclusive games. For this feature, we included some (but not all) of the PC games that received a score of 8 or higher on GameSpot, with priority going to games that were nominated for awards at the end of their release years. To narrow the scope further, we only picked games that released in 2013 or later--sorry, CS:GO. Many of the games on this list are relatively new, including Frostpunk, Into the Breach, and Divinity: Original Sin II, and a lot of them are among the best released on the platform. You can spend tons of hours in classic CRPG-style games or immerse yourself in more narrative-driven indie adventure games. Suffice it to say, there's plenty of high-quality options available to you. What PC games from 2013 onward do you love the most? Let us know in the comments below. And for more PC recommendations, be sure to check out our new show, Steam Punks, where we pick out a few hidden gems on Steam for you to try each week. You can also see our list of the biggest PC games to play in 2018 for more of what's to come.
Two Point Hospital -- 8/10
"It's remarkable that it's taken so long for a spiritual successor to Theme Hospital to show up, but now that it's here, it feels like it's been well worth the wait. The exaggerated, cartoon look and relaxed approach to management make it inviting enough for most players, while the deeper aspects of its economy are enough to keep seasoned players engaged. Two Point Hospital not only re-works an old formula into something modern and enjoyable, it also iterates on the classic brand of irresistible charm and wit, making something that's truly wonderful." [Read the review] -- James Swinbanks
Unavowed -- 9/10
"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 full review] -- David Rayfield
Battletech -- 8/10
"Battletech is a game that selfishly takes its time to be meticulous in every respect, and pushing through the density and idiosyncrasies of its many, slow-moving parts can be tough. But if you have the will to decipher it, albeit, at a deliberate and punishingly plodding pace, you can find yourself completely engrossed in its kinetic clashes. Battletech's intricate components ultimately foster a fascinating wealth of nuanced systems that build a uniquely strenuous, detailed, and thoroughly rewarding tactical strategy game." [read the full review] -- Edmond Tran, AU Editor / Senior Video Producer
Total War: Thrones of Britannia -- 8/10
"Thrones of Britannia is an exciting experience despite the cuts to integral components of the Total War series, such as city planning hinging on military needs, specific building customization, and expanded intrigue options. But this has given Creative Assembly room to focus on enhancing parts of the strategy experience that aren't quite as impenetrable to newcomers, and to allow the series to return to some of the beloved parts of previous historical games to balance out its newer, slimmer form. While there are minor issues with AI, and pacing suffers when you've comfortably gotten the upper hand, this is still a worthy and engaging contribution to the Total War stable that has successfully taken its cues from history's winners and losers alike." [read the full review] -- Ginny Woo
Far: Lone Sails -- 8/10
"Lone Sails is a transfixing, lovely experience, one that takes recurring indie game tropes and does something unique and fun with them. It's short enough that you could play through it in a single two or three-hour session, but it will likely stick with you for a long time. I can see myself going back in a few months just to revisit the ship, like checking in on an old friend." [read the full review] -- James O'Connor
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire -- 8/10
"Deadfire is dense, and it isn't a small game, easily dwarfing its predecessor in terms of scale. There's a lot to do, and it's easier than ever to get lost in the little stories you find, without following the arcs that the game has specially set out for you. Still, it's worth taking your time. The richness of Deadfire takes a while to appreciate, and like the brined sailors that call it home, you'll be left with an indelible attachment to these islands when you do finally step away." [read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
Frostpunk -- 9/10
"Frostpunk is among the best overall takes on the survival city builder to date. Its theming and consistency create a powerful narrative through line that binds your actions around the struggle to hold onto humanity in uncertain times. Hope is a qualified good, but you may not always be strong enough (or clever enough) to shelter that flame from the cold." [read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
Into the Breach -- 9/10
"There is so much strategic joy in seeing the potential destruction a swarm of giant monsters is about to unleash on a city, then quickly staging and executing elaborate counter maneuvers to ruin the party. Into The Breach's focus on foresight makes its turn-based encounters an action-packed, risk-free puzzle, and the remarkable diversity of playstyles afforded by unique units keeps each new run interesting. It's a pleasure to see what kind of life-threatening predicaments await for you to creatively resolve in every new turn, every new battle, and every new campaign. Into The Breach is a pristine and pragmatic tactical gem with dynamic conflicts that will inspire you to jump back in again, and again, and again." [read the full review] -- Edmond Tran, AU Editor / Senior Video Producer
Divinity: Original Sin II -- 10/10
"From lonely farmhouses through pitched battles with gods in far-flung dimensions, Divinity: Original Sin II is one of the most captivating role-playing games ever made. Its immaculately conceived and emotion-wrought fantasy world, topped by brilliant tactical combat, make it one of the finest games of the year thus far, and it has to be regarded as an instant classic in the pantheon of RPG greats." [read the full review] -- Brett Todd Note: Divinity: Original Sin II is coming to PS4 and Xbox One in August.
Total War: Warhammer II -- 9/10
"With Warhammer II, Total War doesn't reinvent anything so much as it iterates on the ideas that made the first so special. At its heart there's still the marriage of Total War's big-scale strategy and Warhammer's precise tactical play. But, through a thousand tiny tweaks, they've refined the experience into one of the most intriguing and exciting strategy games ever." [read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
The Red Strings Club -- 9/10
"From the game's opening piano chords, The Red String Club's futuristic exploration of themes regarding human emotion, strong writing, and exciting situations create an experience that is deeply gratifying. The cast of relatable, three-dimensional characters elevate the stakes of every bullet fired, secret divulged and cocktail poured. They are flawed and dangerous, but also convey admirable human characteristics that feel inspirational. The Red Strings Club is a tense adventure about a cast of characters that endanger themselves for goals that aren't necessarily guaranteed, a rewarding journey into the human soul, and a game that pushes the limits of what a point-and-click adventure can do." [read the full review] -- David Rayfield
Civilization VI -- 9/10
"Civ 6 has a few rough edges, but they're pushed far into the periphery by spectacular strategic depth and intricate interlocking nuances. Any frustrations I experienced were immediately eclipsed by my desire to continue playing. Just one more turn, every turn, forever." [read the full review] -- Scott Butterworth Note: Civilization VI's latest expansion, Rise and Fall, received an 8/10 on GameSpot and adds "several key features that both complement and change up the base game." You can read our full review for more.
Endless Space 2 -- 8/10
"4X space sims have long been known as the territory of the serious strategy gamer, but Amplitude has broken away from the pack here. Outstanding depth and tactical challenge have been preserved, although not at the expense of the strong storytelling needed to emphasize the sense of awe and wonder in galactic exploration that's always been a huge part of the genre's appeal. Amplitude has done a masterful job combining these two elements into a single game, where the quests and strategy and politics and economy are all tied into a whole much greater than the sum of its parts." [read the full review] -- Brett Todd
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III -- 8/10
"An odd chimera of its forebears, there's a lot in this fast-paced RTS that's a little bit off. Parts of the interface don't work sometimes, inter-match army management is half-baked, and the micromanagement needed to use the game's signature hero units effectively doesn't jibe with the extensive base-building you'll need to support them. But those problems fall away when you're in the heat of battle. Dawn of War III builds and maintains an organic tension that yields huge pay-offs, and there's nothing else quite like it." [read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
Hacknet - Labyrinths -- 8/10
"The feeling of playing Hacknet in a dark room with headphones on and being absorbed by its engrossing puzzles and soundtrack--full of heavy beats and filthy synth sounds--feels as close as you can get to the Hollywood hacker experience. The puzzles are uniquely challenging without feeling inaccessible, and the Labyrinths expansion takes the formula further by integrating deeper investigations and adding more puzzle variety. Despite the stumbling climax and steady learning curve, Hacknet - Labyrinths is one hell of a ride that leads you down the rabbit hole and back again." [read the full review] -- James Swinbanks
Orwell -- 8/10
"Orwell is a hard experience to pull back from, even as the dirtiness of your job sinks in. It uses simple mechanics to tell a complex and engaging story, one that feels particularly relevant right now. This is a game where your choices matter and resonate, and which will leave you with plenty to think about once it's over." [read the full review] -- James O'Connor
World of Warcraft: Legion -- 9/10
"With Legion, it's hard to remember when WoW's narrative and questing were ever this strong before. Time will tell if Blizzard will serve up a healthy dose of new content to keep the expansion and game alive (a la Mists or Lich King) or if it will suffer the fate of Warlords of Draenor, but right now (about a month after the expansion's release) Blizzard has proven it can still craft an MMO experience as well as--if not better--than anyone else." [read the full review] -- Don Saas
Quadrilateral Cowboy -- 9/10
"Quadrilateral Cowboy succeeds in astonishing ways: It makes you feel like an incredibly accomplished computer hacker and agent of espionage. It creates an eccentric, thorough world that feels good to exist in and creates characters you can empathise with, despite the lack of a clear plot thread. Quadrilateral Cowboy presents you with a spectrum of moments, and each moment makes you feel great." [read the full review] -- Edmond Tran, AU Editor / Senior Video Producer
Total War: Warhammer -- 9/10
"When you're in the middle of a siege and you're coordinating an assault with a friend, Total War: Warhammer approaches perfection. You'll be tested on all fronts and asked to manage complex battles with broad, nuanced outcomes. Every system and piece feeds into others, and your choices make all the difference. It's a triumph of real-time strategy design, and the best the Total War series has ever been." [read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
Offworld Trading Company -- 9/10
"It's a bit chilling to think that in Offworld you're playing out the same obsessive pursuit of capitalism that led to the fall of its finctional Earth--an event hinted at in tutorial dialogue--yet it's so recklessly entertaining and biting with its satire that I couldn't help but get lost. When combined with truly deep and intricate strategic options, Offworld is a revelation. It's almost unparalleled in the genre. Each and every game is thrilling. Every moment is a challenge. And the brutality of the free market ensures that you can never rest on your laurels, less you be quashed by the invisible hand." [read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
Devil Daggers -- 8/10
"Most of the time, Devil Daggers finds elegance in its simplicity. By stripping the pomp of many modern shooters, it reveals the complexity beneath, molding the fundamentals into something exhilarating, something always worth one more try." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak -- 9/10
"Homeworld was always about loneliness. It was always about clarity and focus. Kharak isn't new in that regard, but it is special. It shows us that when you get things right--and excel--that formula isn't easy to exhaust. Kharak does its part to add to that, though. Its use of voice acting and efficient visuals is a brilliant addition that's far from superficial. It helps narrow the scope of what you need to manage, so that it can load you up with as much as your brain can handle. It's a fast, daunting experience that's tough to shake, making Kharak as intoxicating as Homeworld has ever been." [read the full review] -- Daniel Starkey
That Dragon, Cancer -- 9/10
"It's virtually impossible to not bring one's own biases into That Dragon, Cancer, because death and disease are universal. Just as it's impossible to quantify whether the exploration of those two heavy topics is worth the time and considerable emotional energy, it's impossible to truly quantify the immeasurable value of being able to not just forever present the best version of a person to the world, but being able to earn his presence in every way his parents did." [read the full review] -- Justin Clark
The Beginner's Guide -- 8/10
"The Beginner's Guide is an absorbing journey into the thoughts and processes involved during the creation of a video game. It succeeds in helping you understand and sympathize with game developers as artists and people. It equips you with important tools to perceive and think about both video games and other mediums in intelligent ways. It's a game that lives up to its namesake--it's the beginner's guide to the meaning of video games." [read the full review] -- Edmond Tran, AU Editor / Senior Video Producer
Her Story -- 8/10
"We have an intimate level of knowledge about this woman in the wake of her own personal tragedy, and the strength of Her Story as a narrative experience is that even as the right clips put the truth in sharp relief, your ability to uncover it is both satisfying and horrifying. This feat of intelligence and insight sticks with you long after the credits roll." [read the full review] -- Justin Clark
Interloper -- 8/10
"Interloper distills the core elements of every good RTS and adds a little extra to put it over the top. No matter if you love or loathe traditional real-time strategy, the deep tactics and puzzle solving crammed into a nicely condensed package here come highly recommended." [read the full review] -- Brett Todd
The Stanley Parable -- 9/10
"The Stanley Parable is both a richly stimulating commentary on the nature of choice in games (and in other systems, too, like our workplaces and our families) and a game that offers some of the most enjoyable, surprising, and rewarding choices I've ever been confronted with in a game. Going the wrong way has never felt so right." [read the full review] -- Carolyn Petit
Arma 3 -- 8/10
"ARMA III is a game with few modern counterparts. The influence of Operation Flashpoint isn't felt in many current games, even the modern OF, leaving the ARMA series to lead a charge accompanied by Red Orchestra, Iron Front, and too few others. With that uniqueness comes a dedicated community willing to overlook the flaws because they crave a kind of tension and large-scale teamwork unavailable anywhere else. You should consider joining that crowd. ARMA III is a beast. It occasionally flails and moans, but once you learn how to balance yourself upon it, it gives you a marvelous, turbulent, and memorable ride." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Dota 2 -- 9/10
"The original Dota was an unexpectedly powerful blend of clashing genres and disparate elements that ended up taking over the world, and Valve's successor retains the original rules and characters while adding in a cheery free-to-play model and slick production values. The experience of playing Dota changes day by day--some evenings will be exhilarating, while others will kick your morale to the curb--but there are few games as worthy of your time investment as this. Those who choose to commit to Dota 2 will find many happy hours within this immaculate update." [read the full review] -- Martin Gaston
Antichamber -- 8.5/10
"There are moments in Antichamber that remain with you long after you've uncovered your last clue and solved your last puzzle. What has been created within its barren walls is supremely intelligent and wildly inventive, and Antichamber doesn't give up its ideals for the sake of accessibility. The few spells of frustration are fleeting and never compromise Antichamber's powerful achievements in design and style. 'Every journey is a series of choices,' you're told at the beginning of your adventure. You should choose to begin yours in Antichamber: it really is quite unlike anything else." [read the full review] -- Mark Walton
By Kallie Plagge on Sep 18, 2018 01:07 am
Best of the Best
Xbox One launched over four years ago, which means over four years of games! As such, it can be hard to decide what to play. From exclusives to the top multi-platform games to indies, there's a lot to choose from--and even though people joke that the Xbox One has no games, that's just not true! We've picked out the best Xbox One games so far. This includes many of the games that received an 8 or higher on GameSpot, and we've prioritized games that were nominated for our Best Xbox One Game list in the years those games released. It also includes Assassin's Creed: Origins, which was one of GameSpot's top Xbox One games of 2017 due to its performance on the Xbox One X. While there are plenty of new games, we haven't included the hundreds of backwards compatible games on Xbox One, which includes many original Xbox and Xbox 360 favorites. Xbox also has a subscription service called which lets you download and play a selection of over 100 games that varies slightly from month to month. For more Xbox One games, see our roundups of the best cheap games on Xbox One, and make sure to check out our gallery of the Xbox One exclusive games confirmed for 2018 as well as the biggest Xbox One games of 2018 for everything coming to the console.
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
Valkyria Chronicles 4 -- 8/10
"Ultimately, this is a return to form for the Valkyria Chronicles series as a whole. It stays so true to the franchise's first iteration that it'll feel as if almost no time has passed in the decade or so since the original game first came out. In revisiting the concerns and the environments of the first, it makes the most of those parallels and invites comparison in a way that highlights its strengths. Valkyria Chronicles 4 doesn't necessarily tell a new tale, but it doesn't have to; for all of its clichés and expected twists, there's a charm to the game's unwillingness to let up as it drives you and your friends forward at a rapid clip towards its bittersweet end." [Read the review] -- Edmond Tran
Divinity: Original Sin II Definitive Edition -- 10/10
"From lonely farmhouses through pitched battles with gods in far-flung dimensions, Divinity: Original Sin II is one of the most captivating role-playing games ever made in both its original and Definitive incarnations, with the latter proving that even the most complicated role-players can be ported successfully to gamepad-limited consoles. This immaculately conceived and emotion-wrought fantasy world, topped by brilliant tactical combat, make it one of the finest games of recent years, and it remains an instant classic in the pantheon of RPG greats." [Read the review] -- Brett Todd
PES 2019 -- 9/10
"For as long as EA continues to develop FIFA and hold a monopoly over official licences, PES will be the scrappy underdog just hoping for a surprise upset, even when it's fielding the likes of London Blue and PV White Red. The lack of licences for top-tier leagues remains a disheartening sticking point, but PES continues to make brilliant strides on the pitch, building on what was already an incredibly satisfying game of football to produce one of the greatest playing football games of all time. It might be lacking off the pitch, but put it on the field against the competition and a famous giant killing wouldn't be all that surprising." [Read the review] -- Richard Wakeling
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
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, AU Editor / Senior Video Producer
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
"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
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
"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
Cuphead -- 8/10
"Everything you've heard about Cuphead is true. It is a difficult side-scrolling shooter with relentless boss battles that demand rapid-fire actions and reactions. Think for too long, and you won't stand a chance against the game's toughest enemies. Battles may only last three minutes at most, but they feel far longer when you know that you can only absorb three hits before you have to start from scratch. When you are navigating your way around bullets, smaller enemies, and pitfalls, while simultaneously trying to damage your primary target, toppling Cuphead's imposing bosses is both a monumental and rewarding task." [read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Assassin's Creed Origins -- 7/10
"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 full review] -- Alessandro Fillari, 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
Battlefield 1 -- 9/10
"EA DICE splendidly interprets the early 20th century as a world in technological transition while humanizing the war's participants through well crafted, albeit fictional, narrative vignettes. Combined with an enthralling multiplayer component, the overall result is the studio's best work since Battlefield: Bad Company 2." [read the full review] -- Miguel Concepcion
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
Forza Horizon 3 -- 9/10
"With Forza Horizon 3, Turn 10 and Playground Games affirm the series' status as the driving game for everyone. The new emphasis on off-road options isn't at the expense of traditional races, thanks to the sheer volume of activities. All the while, Playground Games' calculated kitchen-sink design philosophy and rich reward system persistently tempt you to explore beyond your comfort zone, whether it's gifting your first Ariel Nomad buggy or reminding you that stunt races can impress thousands of fans. Enhancing your own brand might feel like a strange motivation to hit the road, but pulling off sick e-drifts on a mile-long series of curves makes the PR work worthwhile." [read the full review] -- Miguel Concepcion
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
Dark Souls III -- 8/10
"Dark Souls III is a game of valleys and peaks, down through dungeons and up over castle walls. It's a plummet into places we shouldn't be--an escape from places we don't belong. But of course, we fight our way through the darkness, and find our way out. There are a few stumbles along the way, but in the end, Dark Souls III is well worth the riveting climb." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt -- 10/10
"Where the Witcher 2 sputtered to a halt, The Witcher 3 is always in a crescendo, crafting battle scenarios that constantly one-up the last, until you reach the explosive finale and recover in the glow of the game's quiet denouement. But while the grand clashes are captivating, it is the moments between conflicts, when you drink with the local clans and bask in a trobairitz's song, that are truly inspiring." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Halo 5: Guardians -- 8/10
"Halo 5: Guardians is fueled by new ideas and propelled by some of the boldest changes to this storied franchise yet. Some of these changes fail, but others succeed, and although Halo 5 falters at times, it whisks us through black holes and across war torn tropical islands at a rapid pace. We can only surrender to its velocity." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Rise of the Tomb Raider -- 9/10
"Rise of the Tomb Raider's first shot pans over the vast, foreboding landscape we'll soon come to know. In many ways, it functions as a promise on the part of Crystal Dynamics: there are big things ahead of us. And at the end of Lara's journey, after we've seen her through this adventure, and experienced everything the world has to offer, it's clear that promise was kept." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Ori and the Blind Forest -- 9/10
"It consistently surprises you with new tricks: gravitational divergences, new ways to move through its spaces, and carefully designed levels that require you to think quickly and respond. It is not as snappy as, say, a typical Mario platformer, seeking instead a broader gameplay arc stretching across a single, interconnected world. It's a superb and thematically consistent approach that allows Ori and the Blind Forest to build joy on a bed of heartache, adding a new layer of mechanical complexity with each ray of hope." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain -- 10/10
"There has never been a game in the series with such depth to its gameplay, or so much volume in content. The best elements from the past games are here, and the new open-world gameplay adds more to love on top. When it comes to storytelling, there has never been a Metal Gear game that's so consistent in tone, daring in subject matter, and so captivating in presentation. The Phantom Pain may be a contender for one of the best action games ever made, but is undoubtedly the best Metal Gear game there is." [read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Fallout 4 -- 9/10
"Fallout 4 is an engrossing game that lures you in with mystery and the promise of adventure. Its wretched wasteland can be captivating, and you never know what odd person or settlement lies around the next bend. Fallout 4 uses its dark world as a canvas for exciting combat and gripping stories, and when you dig deeper into its post-nuclear-apocalypse version of Boston--defending yourself from violent scavengers and using your wits to climb social ladders--you become attached to the new you, and ultimately invested in the fate of your new world." [read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor -- 8/10
"This is a great game in its own right, narratively disjointed but mechanically sound, made up of excellent parts pieced together in excellent ways. I already knew what future lay in store for Middle-earth as I played Shadow of Mordor; I'm hoping that my own future might one day bring another Lord of the Rings adventure as stirring as this one." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Dragon Age: Inquisition -- 9/10
"Inquisition's characters and world recall the grand gestures of the original Dragon Age, even though the game as a whole is so structurally different to its predecessors. It offers the thrill of discovery and the passion of camaraderie. It features a glee club called The Sing-Quisition, and a dwarf with writer's block. It establishes connections with its world in big ways and small, with the sight of a titanous temple and the smirk of an Orlesian commander in love. Dragon Age: Inquisition is a wonderful game and a lengthy pilgrimage to a magical world with vital thematic ties to one we already know." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition -- 8/10
"Lara herself is so well crafted that I grew attached to her exploits and was sad to say goodbye when the credits rolled. And the exquisite visual design is so breathtaking that I continually found myself staring at the scenery instead of pushing onward. Tomb Raider is a great reinvention of this enduring franchise that made me eager to see where Lara goes in her future." [read the full review] -- Tom McShea
Forza Motorsport 5 -- 9/10
"All of this combined makes Forza Motorsport 5 an outstanding improvement to an already excellent racing franchise. It's far more than just a great racing sim, or a gorgeous showcase for the types of feats the Xbox One hardware is capable of. This is a game built on the romantic thrill of motorsport in all its forms, and that love for its subject matter is all but impossible to resist." [read the full review] -- Shaun McInnis
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag -- 9/10
"There's an incredible scope to what you can do in Black Flag, with a level of harmony between its component parts that encourages you to try it all, and a story that keeps you invested throughout the whole thing. If there was ever any question that Assassin's Creed needed something ambitious to get the series back on track, Black Flag is that game and then some." [read the full review] -- Shaun McInnis
By Matt Espineli on Sep 18, 2018 01:00 am
When you first jump into Marvel's Spider-Man, you're likely going to be taken aback by the complexities of its combat and web-swinging. Developer Insomniac has done a great job at making each system an interesting one that allows you to be creative while also expressing yourself as a player. While web-swinging will undoubtedly be easier to pick up, you're likely going to run into some issues properly executing the right combat moves during the right situations in a fight. There's a lot to the mechanics at work and it might catch you off guard, especially if you're more accustomed to the systems of other superhero games. Spider-Man is a much more agile and acrobatic character to play as than, say, Batman from the Arkham games. So, if you're thrown off by that, don't worry: we were too. But with enough practice, you can embrace and learn all the skills and abilities that Spider-Man has to offer and more. To help prepare you for the challenges ahead, we've compiled 11 tips you should know before starting Spider-Man. In this feature, we outline the best practices in combat, the types of skills you should prioritize unlocking in the game's skill tree, and other habits you should follow in order to come out successful. Spider-Man releases on September 7 on PS4. GameSpot reviewer Edmond Tran said the game is "a superior Spider-Man experience that leaves a lasting impression." You can read more in our full review. As the day goes on, look out for our in-depth guide highlighting the best skills, as well as our feature about the coolest best mods and suits mods in the game. And if you're loving what you're playing, you're in luck. The game's first DLC expansion is set to launch on October 23. In the meantime, were there any Spider-Man tips you have that you don't see here? Let us know about them in the comments below.
Repair The Security Towers ASAP
This might seem a given, but the sooner you can repair all of the Oscorp security towers, the better. Otherwise, you're going to be staring at a completely fuzzed out map for a decent chunk of the game. An effective crimefighter needs to have full awareness of their environment, so make repairing the police towers the first thing you do.
Practice The Basics of Combat
While web-swinging is pretty easy to understand and execute, combat takes a while to wrap your head around. Spider-Man has a pretty wide range of attacks and dodges at the start of the game that require quick reflexes to properly execute. Some moves are situational, but others have to be linked together with another move to be effective. For example, the Air Launcher (Hold square) can be combined with Yank Down (Hold triangle) for a powerful slam attack to the ground that knocks back nearby enemies. Take time to study the move list menu to watch footage of what each one does and the types of situations they're most useful in. It's best not to button mash, as later you'll acquire upgrades that reward perfectly-timed hits and dodges. If you're looking for a great venue to practice, then seek out Thug Crimes and Fisk Hideouts; there are plenty of enemies there you can test your skills against. Mastering the basics puts you in good shape for when you start unlocking gadgets and suit upgrades, which require intimate understanding of Spider-Man's repertoire to find the most powerful combinations (More on that later).
Unlock Enemy-Focused Combat Skills
Your early runnings as Spider-Man can be a bit tough when fighting against brutes and enemies equipped with shields or firearms, as they can easily fluster and overpower you if you're not careful. To help shift the odds in your favor, it's a good idea to unlock combat skills focused on hurting the different enemy types. Do you hate it when shielded enemies knock you back? Bunker Buster allows you to do the same to them and even launch them off buildings. Are you powerless to the Brute's constant pummeling? Wrecking Ball allows you to grab these meatheads and spin throw them, hurting surrounding enemies in the process. These enemy-focused skills tend to be a bit higher up on their respective skill trees, but they're well worth getting. After all, nothing is more satisfying than dismantling the tactics of the bad guys and showing them what's what.
Web Slinging Skills Are Essential and Cool
While combat skills and defensive maneuvers are essential aspects of your repertoire, there really isn't anything more essential to the Spider-Man Experience™ than web-slinging. So if you're into that kind of thing, we would recommend diving straight into that particular skill tree first. You'll earn some very useful abilities to help you traverse the city more efficiently and make the opening hours of the game much more invigorating. Aim to get the Point Launch, Quick Recovery, and Charge Jump as soon as possible, and you'll be flying through the city in record time.
Don't Forget To Craft Suit Powers And Mods
It can be easy to get lost in the action of Spider-Man's exploits and the ensuing drama of his double life--so much so that you neglect to upgrade his suit's capabilities. There's a wealth of equippable suit mods that each grant you special combat capabilities, like slow down time after a perfect dodge, instantly shock enemies who hit you, or generate Gadget refills after performing Finishers. And suits are more than just cosmetic unlockables, they actually give you access to special suit powers that can you equip no matter which suit you wear. These powers give Spider-Man special attributes, like bulletproof armor or the ability to throw enemies without having to web them up. All of these upgrades will be completely lost on you if you ignore them or simply stick to the ones assigned to you during the game's tutorial. Take advantage of suit powers and mods to enhance your Spidey tactics and abilities, but just make sure to check in every once in a while to see what you've unlocked for upgrade.
Diversify Your Side Activities
As you complete side activities and nab more of the game's myriad collectables, you'll earn special tokens used to upgrade Spider-Man's gadgets and craft new suit mods and powers. These upgrades require all manner of tokens to unlock, so when you're out in the world, try to diversify the types of activities you do. This way you'll always be racking in enough tokens to unlock the best Spider-Man's arsenal has to offer. When you hover over an activity on the map screen, it'll tell you the type of tokens you'll be rewarded, as well as how many you'll get. Some activities can even be repeated for additional token rewards. As a crimefighter, you'll want to keep yourself preoccupied, but try to avoid doing the same thing over and over.
Build A One Man Army: Be Creative
As Uncle Ben once said, with new suits, comes new suit powers. Or something like that. Our memory is a bit hazy. But by combining Suit powers with your gadgets, along with the three Suit Mod slots, you're able to create some spectacular combos. For example, if you're fighting a bunch of goons, you could shoot a loaded-up Web Bomb, then let out an ear-splitting solo with the Rock Out power to send them all flying. Maybe you want to take to the skies and pair the suspension matrix with low gravity for some serious hangtime. Or you could just let your robots to do the dirty work for you: use the Spider Drone and Spider Bro for a tag team takedown. Spider-Man's combat is all about creatively combining the effects of your gadgets, suit powers, and suit mods together for disastrous results. Be a responsible crime fighter and take time to mix n' match to see what works best. That's how Uncle Ben would've wanted it. You don't want to let him down, do you?
Ground Floor
As much fun as it is to swing through the city, there's still a whole world out there on the sidewalks to New York to explore, so take some time out of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Manning to appreciate the details on the ground floor. Give people high fives! Eavesdrop on the chatter! Check out the iconic New York City landmarks! Read the Daily Bugle! And sometimes, folks on the street might inform you about nearby crimes in the area.
Stop The Crime, Or Pay With Time
If you're a completionist and can't possibly imagine yourself NOT getting all of Spider-Man's spiffy new suits, then you're going to want to listen up. In order to unlock the final outfit (which we won't spoil here), you'll need to complete each of Manhattan's nine districts. That means finishing every single side quest, completing all the activities, and finding every collectible. This is why we cannot emphasize enough: do not skip crime activities. If you see a red exclamation icon pop up on your mini-map, make that your top priority. You'll want to complete as many as you can over the course of the main story, otherwise you're going to be spending a whole lot of time wandering the streets, searching for thugs to beat up. See a crime happening? Take 'em down. That's the Spidey way.
Seek Out Challenges
Later on, you'll come across stations that allow you to take on challenges. They might be combat or stealth focused or might have you chasing a drone across the city rooftops. Make sure not to skip these, as they'll reward you valuable tokens needed to acquire high-level upgrades for your gadgets and suit powers, especially when you break the high score record.
You Never Know What Nerdy Stuff You Might Find
Spider-Man is deeply entrenched in the character's extensive lore. As you advance the game's story, you'll notice a variety of references to the comics and movies. But if you take time to explore and look more closely at Insomniac's take on Spider-Man's Manhattan, you'll discover an abundance of Marvel references scattered all around. For example, there are several landmarks that are direct nods to famous Marvel characters and organizations. When you're not out fighting crime, be sure to set aside time to search for these references. It may not benefit your progression directly, but it's well worth doing--if only to be in awe of all the little details packed into the world.
By Matt Espineli on Sep 18, 2018 12:59 am
Despite having its own unique interpretation of the web-slinger's established world, Insomniac's Spider-Man is deeply entrenched in Marvel's expansive lore. The game makes reference to several characters and entities from the comics and movies, which includes mentions of the Avengers, Damage Control, Crusher Hogan, and a lot more. If you're an avid comic book reader or even a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you're likely to catch onto these subtle nods and details. But if you're among the many who love the character but may not be familiar with the more obscure facets of his world and those inhabit it, these references might swing over your head. During our time spent playing the game, we discovered a wealth of references and easter eggs that we'd be remiss not to share. With so many clever details to notice and discover in Spider-Man's bustling world, we've highlighted the most fascinating Easter eggs and Marvel references. There's a lot of late game story details present in this feature, so if you haven't beaten the game, we recommend you bookmark this page and return once you've cleared the game. If that doesn't bother you, feel free to click ahead. Spider-Man is out now and it's a fantastic game that exudes passion for the character at every turn. For our full thoughts on the game, be sure to read our review. You can also check out our guides detailing all the tips we wish we knew before starting the game, as well as our in-depth skills guide. And if you're loving what you're playing, you're in luck. The game's first DLC expansion is set to launch on October 23. In the meantime, were there any Spider-Man or Marvel Easter eggs you discovered that you don't see here? Feel free to let us know about them in the comments below.
Famous Landmarks
There's a ton of landmarks in Insomniac's take of Manhattan. Some are real--like Madison Square Garden and the Empire State Building--but others not so much. After all, this isn't our Manhattan, it's Marvel's version of the famous real-life burrough. As one of Marvel's central superhero (and supervillain) hubs, there are a ton of iconic locations packed in that Marvel fans will recognize. The first major one folks will notice is likely the Avengers Tower located in the Upper East Side district, but there's so much more scattered around! You can find the Wakanda Embassy in the Midtown district; Peter will make a comment about King T'challa aka Black Panther, wondering if he was bitten by a radioactive panther in order to get his powers. Dr. Strange's home--the Sanctum Sanctorum--is located exactly where it should be in Greenwich Village. And there's even some deeper, like Damage Control HQ, an organization specializing in cleaning up the wreckage of superhero fights. And The Bar With No Name, which is a hidden speakeasy where supervillains can drink and relax in peace. Spider-Man is littered with Marvel landmarks. We're only scratching the surface here, so we highly encourage you to explore and see the rest for yourself!
Mr. Phillip Chang
One of the side-missions has you helping out a fella named Phillip Chang, an ESU student who has you looking for his missing classmates. He's a resourceful guy, having developed advanced facial recognition technology that allows him to track down people via their social media feeds. Okay, maybe that sounds a bit creepy, but it helped Spidey save the day. Anyway, Phillip Chang is actually a character from the comics; though, his origins are much different. Peter attended university with Chang and they were even labmates for a time. He was a pivotal character in a story arc involving a deadly gang known as the Tiger's Claw. In his teenage years, Chang lived a troubled life, becoming involved with an underworld organization in China. However, he renounced his ways when the effects of his criminal dealings tragically took the lives of his parents. Chang then moved to the U.S., attending college at ESU where he met Peter Parker. But this peace was soon disturbed by the Tiger's Claw, who noticed Chang's impressive fighting ability and wished to make him their leader. Of course, Chang was reluctant and refused, but this triggered a series of events that ended with Spider-Man saving Chang from the clutches of the Tiger's Claw.
Otto's AIM Contract
After losing their support from the grant committee and having all their resources revoked from them by Norman Osborn, Otto calls in some favors and takes on a few grants in order to fund his research. One of the funding partners should be instantly recognizable to Marvel fans. If you examine some of the new equipment in the lab, you'll discover paperwork detailing a grant from A.I.M. aka Advanced Idea Mechanics. Peter remarks that their reputation is a tad shady, which is a bit of an understatement if we're talking about the very same organization from the comics. A.I.M. is a privately funded organization of terrorist arms dealers and scientists whose sole mission is to overthrow the governments of the world through the use of technology and scientific advancement. Their list of clientele and allies includes big-name supervillains, like Red Skull, Hydra, General Thunderbolt Ross, and the Serpent Society--which is an enterprise of criminals and mercenaries dressed as snakes. So yeah, pretty shady.
The Taskmaster
About halfway through the game you'll run into a shadowy figure who challenges you to complete some difficult tasks involving beating/sneaking up on goons, disarming bombs, and chasing drones. This menacing foe is none other than Taskmaster, a supervillain who battles Spider-Man every once in a while in the comics. Though, he has also made appearances in the comics of The Avengers, Deadpool, Daredevil, and more. Fighting game fans will likely recognize this skull-faced mercenary, as he was featured several years ago in the roster of Marvel vs. Capcom 3. As you complete Taskmaster's challenges, you'll start to learn that he has what's called "photographic reflexes," which allows him to duplicate almost any physical activity he sees by simply seeing it performed once. It's literally the reason why he's setup these challenges throughout Manhattan; he wants to take you down by learning your every move. What a creep!
Screwball
In the side-mission, Internet Famous, you get wrapped up in an internet challenge that takes a turn for the worse. After scanning a QR code, you're forced to complete combat and puzzle trials under a strict time limit in order to reveal the location of a kidnapping victim. The individual forcing you to do all this is a social media personality known as Screwball, who is only trying to take advantage of your involvement with the challenge to wrack up more subscribers. Screwball definitely has some screws loose, that's for sure. Her whole shtick is the same in the comics, committing crimes while a camera crew films her and then uploading the footage on YouTube to earn money. She makes it a point to get Spider-Man in the footage, as she acknowledges that her internet hits are even better with him around. It's worth noting that Screwball was first introduced in 2008 right around the early years of YouTube; her antics are more relevant now than ever before.
Spider-Man 2 Reference
During the latter half of the game, Spider-Man needs to make a quick save in order to stop a speeding subway train after dispatching Mr. Negative. His first attempt should be a familiar one to Spider-Man fans, as it's the same method that he used to save a subway train in Spider-Man 2. The game makes a very clear nod to this, even going as far as to having Spider-Man say "That totally worked the first time!" when it inevitably fails. Nice one, Insomniac, we see watchu doin'.
Backpack Collectibles
The game's 55 backpacks are more than just mindless collectibles you grab to upgrade Spider-Man's abilities. They each represent and inform a little about Peter Parker's life and history as a superhero. For example, you can find the last pair of glasses Peter used before he got his powers and even his Mk I web shooters! But there's a lot of other fascinating references and tidbits in-between, like a business card for Daredevil's law practice, and vials containing the blood of The Lizard and the sand of..well, Sandman--both are iconic supervillains from the comics. There's even a lovely nod to the past with the Arm Web collectible, which Peter comments he tried to use to glide short distances, but never worked. This Arm Web is an iconic aspect of Spider-Man's early designs in the comic books by artist Steve Ditko, who often drew the character with these underarm webs for aesthetic purposes. The references don't stop at characters and in-universe lore, though. There's a pin for the Spidey Squad, a real-life Spider-Man fan club. Peter acknowledges their presence in-game as his one and only fan club who always supports him when J. Jonah Jameson attempts to attack his reputation. The backpack collectibles are rich with narrative details that reference both Spider-Man and Marvel history. Don't hesitate to grab them in your travels!
Yuri Watanabe's Potential Secret
Yuri Watanabe is one of your closest allies in the game. As you'd expect, she exists in the comics, but she has a much more fascinating alter ego that's not yet confirmed to exist in this game's universe. In a similar vein, Yuri is an NYPD captain and ally of Spider-Man, but at night she acts as a ghostly vigilante known as the Wraith. She's technically the fourth person to take on the mantle of Wraith, but we won't go too hard on the specifics of the history of that. What matters is that there exists a possibility that this version of Yuri could very well become the Wraith. But will it happen? Time will tell.
The Black Cat
As you'll gather, the stakeout side activity centers around a thief named Black Cat, who is alluded to have quite the history with Spider-Man. In the comics, Black-Cat is a major character. She started out as a supervillain to Spider-Man, but this ended when the two eventually fell in love. Acting as on-again, off-again romantic partners, the couple worked together on several occasions to fight crime. However, the relationship inevitably ended when Black Cat eventually fell back into her thieving ways. Black Cat is considered one of Spider-Man's most trusted allies. However, at this point in the game's universe, she appears to be going through that same lapse she experienced in the comics. Though, were they romantic partners in this universe? That much remains unsaid. We imagine these stakeouts are a teaser for the upcoming Spider-Man DLC, titled The Heist, where Black Cat is to be prominently featured.
Dr. Morgan Michaels
In your quest to stop the "Devil's Breath" attack, you meet an Oscorp biochemist by the name of Dr. Morgan Michaels. Aside from showing remorse for his actions, you don't get much more out of him. However, this scientist is a lot more in the Marvel universe. In the comics, Michaels is better known as Morbius the Living Vampire. That's right, a vampire. A brilliant scientist, Michaels suffered from a rare blood disease, which he attempted to solve with an experimental treatment involving vampire bats and electroshocks. Of course, this didn't work out, instead instilling in him a thirst for blood and an intense aversion to sunlight. The resulting shift in his physiology rendered him into an unstable creature of the night. He would go on to fight Spider-Man a few times, but would ultimately become an anti-hero who preys on the blood of criminals.
Those Spider-Suits!
You unlock a multitude of suits as you progress through the story. A few of them are canonical to the story, but the others are all based on Spider-Man suits from the comics and movies. Some standouts include the Stark Suit from Spider-Man: Homecoming; the Scarlet Spider suit from the infamous Clone Saga arc; and the Spirit Spider suit, which is based on an alternate-universe version of Spider-Man who returns from the dead with supernatural abilities. For the full rundown on where each Spider-Man is from, check out our feature highlighting each one and their background.
By Array on Sep 18, 2018 12:57 am
Classic Suit (Damaged)
Spider-Man on PS4 has finally arrived and the word is in: the game is practically every bit the superhero simulator we were hoping for. Insomniac Games nailed the traversal, which effectively means that every moment in the game makes you feel like Spider-Man. The dramatic camera angles, the sense of speed, and the characterization of Spidey are easy qualities to love. The sheer number of unlockables also ensures that you're never far away from a new look or skill to add to your Spider-Man fantasy. In this feature, we are going to take a look at every suit that you can earn while leveling up and completing challenges, as well their relevant reference points and suit powers. If you're still early in the game, beware: you will be spoiled if you continue through the gallery. That said, you can also check out our beginner guides for the game, including a look at the best skills to prioritize in your unlock tree, and useful tips to keep in mind as you start off. But if you're here for suits and have no interest in our advice, read on. The first suit we're going to look at is the one you wear at the start of the game, the classic Spider-Man suit, although it's quickly in need of repairs after the opening missions. This kicks off the beginning of a series of upgrades, all thanks to your unlikely patron, Otto Octavius.
Advanced Suit
The Advanced Suit is the first new suit that you unlock, and was designed exclusively for the game by Insomniac. Its suit power, Battle Focus, allows you to generate a charge that can be used to either heal yourself or use powerful finishing moves.
Classic Suit (Repaired)
Once you get your Classic Suit back, it comes with the suit power, Web Blossom. Trigger it to watch Spider-Man leap in the air and spray webbing on almost everything in his immediate surroundings.
Noir Suit
This suit, inspired by 2009's Spider-Man Noir comic-book run, looks cool and grants you an effective suit power. With Sound of Silence activated, enemies that become alerted to your presence will refrain from calling backup.
Scarlet Spider Suit
The origins of this particular suit are a bit unusual. It's the suit of Ben Reilly--a mysterious clone of Peter Parker--who at one point fought crime in Manhattan alongside Spider-Man during the events of infamous comic book arc, The Clone Saga. Its suit power, Holo Decoy, spawns figments of Spider-Man as he moves for a short period of time, and enemies that attack them will wind up stunned as a result.
Spider Armor MK II
This black and yellow suit was designed back in 2011 to help protect Spider-Man from gunfire, and that's exactly what it does when you activate the Bullet Proof suit power.
Secret War Suit
This suit is in reference to the 2004 Secret War comics, and its suit power is one of the most effective in the game. Trigger the Arms Race power to emit an EMP blast that stuns every enemy within a short range, freeing yourself from a swarm of bad guys and opening them up to attack.
Stark Suit
This suit made its debut in the 2016 Captain America: Civil War film and has since appeared in subsequent Marvel films: Spider-Man: Homecoming and Avengers: Infinity War. Its suit power is the Spider-Bro, a mechanical friend that can zap enemies during combat to make them drop their guard.
Negative Suit
The Negative Suit is designed to mimic the game's major villain, Mr. Negative. In addition to its unusual look, its suit power emits a devastating shockwave of negative energy.
Electrically Insulated Suit
This lightly padded suit debuted in issue #425 of The Amazing Spider-Man in 1997 when Spider-Man and the X-Men fought Electro. Activating its Electric Punch suit power charges your fists with electricity and lets you stun enemies on impact.
Spider-Punk Suit
Rock Out to blast enemies with a wave of "righteous sound" with the Spider-Punk's suit power, or simply enjoy his unorthodox superhero costume. Spider-Punk first appeared in comics in 2015, and is the alter ego of an alternate-universe version Hobie Brown aka The Prowler.
Wrestler Suit
Throwing enemies into other enemies is one of the great joys during combat in Spider-Man, and the King of the Ring suit power granted to you by the Wrestler Suit allows you to snag bad guys without having to web them up first. It seems to be the game's version of the wrestling gear Spider-Man wore on the night Uncle Ben was murdered.
Fear Itself Suit
If you just want to punch villains really hard and not bother with a lot of footwork during a fight, using the Fear Itself's suit power, Quad Damage, is the way to go. The suit itself is based on Spider-Man's appearance from the Marvel crossover Fear Itself, which ran in 2011. The outfit has Spider-Man sporting bracelets made from Asgardian uru, the same magical metal used to create Thor's hammer.
Stealth ("Big Time") Suit
This black and green suit gives you a power that, when activated, makes you invisible to non-alerted enemies. This is a popular suit that's appeared in a lot of games since its comic debut in 2010. In the comics, Peter developed the suit using new technology he created from his job at Horizon Labs. It's closely associated by fans with the "Big Time" storylines.
Spider Armor Mk III
If you recall what the previous Spider Armor Mk model did, then it makes perfect sense that this suit takes bullet proofing one step further. Though it won't work for sniper fire, every other incoming bullet will bounce right off of this suit and fire back at the shooter when you activate the Titanium Alloy Plates suit power. In the comics, the Spider Armor Mk III was developed by Peter as a last resort suit to combat the Sinister Six. How fitting given its power and armored appearance.
Spider-Man 2099 Black
Spider-Man 2099 was a popular 1992 comic series that jumped ahead in time and presented a new hero behind the mask, Miguel O'Hara. The Low Gravity suit power associated with it increases your hang-time while activated.
Iron Spider Suit
The Iron Spider suits is one of the coolest in the game. It looks awesome, and comes with a suit power that causes metallic arms to rise from Spider-Man's back and attack nearby enemies. Though the original Iron Spider suit debuted back in 2006, this version was popularized in Avengers: Infinity War.
Velocity Suit
If you have a need for speed, this Velocity Suit's power Blitz will make you spring away from danger faster in combat, and send enemies flying farther than usual based on your momentum. The suit was designed specifically for the game by artist Adi Granov, who is known more famously for his art in the classic Iron Man: Extremis storyline.
Spider Armor Mk IV
This Spider Armor Mk series returns to a sleeker look for the fourth model. Its suit power can generate a temporary forcefield that protects you from all incoming damage. In the comics, the suit was created by Peter for his friend, Hobie Brown, to use in order to impersonate him. There's more to that story, but we'll spare you the details. Comics amirite?
Spirit Spider Suit
And now for something completely different. This out-there suit is based on a 2011 comic that more or less resulted in Peter Parker becoming infused with the power of the damned. This manifests itself when you use the Spirit Fire suit power, which sets enemies ablaze with mysterious blue flames.
Spider-Man 2099 White Suit
The alternate Spider-Man 2099 suit has a very useful suit power, Concussive Blast, that can send enemies flying off of buildings, making them easy one-hit-kill targets. The suit itself is the second one that O'Hara wears and it was designed by Peter during the All-New, All-Different Spider-Man arc.
Vintage Comic Book Suit
This understated suit is still rather impressive given how its rendered with a cel-shaded visual style that makes it pop. As an homage to its roots in classic Spider-Man comics, its suit power causes Spider-Man to release a series of bad jokes and one-liners that are so cringeworthy that they effectively stun nearby enemies.
Last Stand Suit
This leather-clad suit comes late in the game, which is probably for the better given how impactful its suit power can be. Using Unrelenting Fury prevents enemies, even those with shields, from blocking your attacks. This suit is a reference to a short-lived look at an alternate-future Peter Parker that appeared in 2003.
Undies
More Peter Parker than Spider-Man, swinging and kicking around in your underwear is a thing you can do if you need a laugh, but the suit power you get when you unlock this suit is no laughing matter: activate Equalizer to take out enemies with a single blow, but watch out as this punishing rule will also apply to you. Tread lightly, true believer.
Homemade Suit
This kitchy suit comes from Spider-Man: Homecoming and it can be yours if you take the time to find the 55 backpacks scattered across the map. Without a suit power, this one is more for the entertainment value of seeing Spider-Man in a funny outfit that it is a useful addition to your repertoire.
ESU Suit
Completing all of the photography challenges in Spider-Man will net you this collegiate outfit so you can proudly rep Peter Parker's alma mater--its unofficial suit power. You unlock it by nabbing all of the secret photos.
Anti-Ock Suit
This great-looking suit is unique to the game, and offers the very helpful Resupply suit power, which can be used to refill your gadgets when activated.
Dark Suit
The Dark Suit is earned after you complete all of the Black Cat activities in the game, and is a striking red-and-black suit with looks that make up for its lack of a suit power.
By Matt Espineli on Sep 18, 2018 12:48 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. The next major highlight in the franchise came from Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, a pirate-themed adventure telling the redemption tale of Edward Kenway, an errant thief soon to be made an Assassin. The game's naval combat and exploration brought new life to the series' increasingly stale urban environments. Rounding out the series' most noteworthy entries are Assassin's Creed Syndicate and Assassin's Creed Origins. Syndicate brought hope back to the series after one of its most debilitating lows, but Origins completely revitalized the franchise while transforming it into an action-RPG series. You can experience the highs and lows of Assassin's Creed by checking out our reviews of nearly every single game in the franchise in the slides ahead. It's worth noting that we do not have reviews of lesser-known games in the series: Assassin's Creed: Pirates and Assassin's Creed identity. Though, if you're interested in the deeper cuts of the franchise and want an in-depth look at Assassin's Creed in all of its ups and downs, be sure to watch the video above discussing the franchise's history and its impact on the gaming industry. In the meantime, which Assassin's Creed games do you love the most? Which games disappointed you the most? Feel free to discuss all your thoughts in the comments below.
Assassin's Creed -- 9/10
"Assassin's Creed will stay with you long after you finish it. Here is one of the most unique gameworlds ever created: beautiful, memorable, and alive. Every crack and crevasse is filled with gorgeous, subtle details, from astounding visual flourishes to overheard cries for help. But it's more than just a world--it's a fun and exciting action game with a ton of stuff to do and places to explore, rounded out with silky-smooth controls and a complex story that will slowly grab you the more you play. Make no mistake: Assassin's Creed is one of the best efforts of the year and a must-own game." [Read the review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles -- 6/10
"You could finish Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles in around four hours, but even the promise of a harder difficulty level won't likely lure you back for a second play-through. It's hardly a bad game; in fact, the final hour mixes the various elements together nicely and hits a smooth stride as a result. Nevertheless, the game offers few surprises, and some sloppy execution problems get in the way far too often to make it outright recommendable." [Read the review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines -- 5/10
"Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines doesn't get it. On the surface, it offers many of the features you'd want from an Assassin's Creed game on the PSP. It puts you in control of Altair, the first game's nimble protagonist, and sends you on a mission to assassinate your Templar enemies, who are equally eager to plunge their swords into you. If you delve a little deeper, however, you'll find that Bloodlines skimps on what makes the console games so special. The joy of rooftop running has been diminished by flawed platforming and smaller environments, bustling cities have been replaced by barren districts on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, and AI problems render the stealthy approach all but irrelevant. Bloodlines still delivers the brief bloody thrills you get from a well-timed counterattack, but on the whole, it is a neutered and unsatisfying adventure." [Read the review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Assassin's Creed II -- 9/10
"At first, Assassin's Creed II might seem as if it has added more than its foundation was meant to handle, but once all the new features are completely introduced, it develops that magic that so few games can cast. This is the rare sequel that offers fans of the original the basics they would expect, while adding and changing so many other aspects that even those who didn't appreciate the first should take the plunge, without hesitation. A few more contrivances notwithstanding, Assassin's Creed II is a better game than its forebear and is a beautiful and memorable experience on its own terms. But it's more than just a game--it's an escape to a place and a time that feel so welcoming, you'll be making return trips even after your initial adventure is over." [Read the review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Assassin's Creed II: Discovery -- 7/10
"In spite of its flaws, Assassin's Creed II: Discovery does a good job of bringing the Assassin's Creed vibe to a handheld platform. The scope is condensed but the spirit remains, thanks to fluid combat animations, familiar sound effects, and little touches, like cowering citizens, that pay homage to the vibrant cities of the console games. It's got its share of quirks, but Discovery is the first right step toward fitting a world of secret assassins and crazy conspiracies in your pocket." [Read the review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood -- 8.5/10
"Almost every aspect of the series has seen enhancements in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, from travel (you can whistle for a horse and ride it almost anywhere) to value (you can now replay any completed memory). There is joy in leaping across the Roman rooftops, taking in the grand sights in front of you and realizing that it is all your own playground. Stealing a combatant's spear from him and impaling him on it is a brutal pleasure. And the little touches--the way Claudia meets Ezio's stare with one of her own, or the fluid animations that characterize your agile maneuvers--are constant reminders of what makes these games so enchanting. This may not be Assassin's Creed III, but like Ezio's smirk, Brotherhood is too irresistible to ignore." [Read the review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Assassin's Creed: Revelations -- 8/10
"Even the greatest heroes can't live forever. And so it goes for Ezio Auditore di Firenze, who finally steps aside to make room for new champions in Assassin's Creed: Revelations. This is another quality entry in a quality series, and it unleashes you in a visually stunning re-creation of 16th-century Constantinople. Additions to the movement mechanics make exploring the city a joyous exercise in high-flying parkour, with you as Ezio leaping across rooftops and flinging yourself up exterior walls like a Renaissance superhero. Like many sequels, Revelations giveth, and Revelations taketh away, so you lose certain elements (horses) in favor of a slew of new ones (bomb crafting). Lots and lots of new ones. Assassin's Creed: Revelations is sometimes a lumpy Frankenstein's monster of a game, half-formed appendages stitched into place regardless of whether they belong there or not. Thankfully, when Revelations remembers to be an Assassin's Creed game, it soars into the Turkish skies, reminding fans why they fell in love with this freewheeling series." [Read the review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Assassin's Creed III -- 8.5/10
"Assassin's Creed III is a big game that gives you a lot to do, some of which is fleshed out relatively well, and some of which isn't. It is not, however, content to rest on the series' laurels. It takes chances with its opening, with its story, and with its characters. It expands the series' gameplay in enjoyable and sensible ways. As with many ambitious games, not every arrow fired hits the bull's-eye, yet this big, narratively rich sequel is easy to get invested in. Other games stimulate emotion with manipulative music and teary monologues; Assassin's Creed III rouses your mind and your heart by giving you a glimpse into its characters' souls and letting you judge them on their own merits." [Read the review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Assassin's Creed III: Liberation -- 6.5/10
"Though Assassin's Creed III: Liberation toys around with intriguing concepts and centers its story around a character you desperately want to know more about, none of it comes together especially well. Liberation often excels, but it stumbles just as much. The result is a game that fails to bear the standard of quality that has defined this series for years." [Read the review] -- Shaun McInnis
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag -- 9/10
"Black Flag presents a world full of adventure and opportunity, where treasures scavenged in a remote jungle can be used to turn the tide in a massive naval battle against mighty Spanish warships. It's a game where you can sail the seas for hours at a time, either hunting great white sharks or simply listening to your crew sing one infectious sea shanty after the next. There's an incredible scope to what you can do in Black Flag, with a level of harmony between its component parts that encourages you to try it all, and a story that keeps you invested throughout the whole thing. If there was ever any question that Assassin's Creed needed something ambitious to get the series back on track, Black Flag is that game and then some." [Read the review] -- Shaun McInnis
Assassin's Creed: Freedom Cry -- 6/10
"With the strongest ensemble cast in the franchise, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag wasn't short of assassins and pirates worthy of their own playable tales, DLC or otherwise. Freedom Cry is more than just another Assassin's Creed IV chapter with a reskinned protagonist, but its troubled handling of dark themes makes this a turbulent voyage." [Read the review] -- Miguel Concepcion
Assassin's Creed Unity -- 7/10
"Not all of Unity's more progressive touches are for the best then, but you might spend more time noticing what's old than what's new. The terrific city atmosphere of Paris, the focus on parkour, and the incentives for performing stealthy assassinations, all these things hint at a game that's trying to return to its roots after branching out so wildly in its past two iterations. Yes, Unity is the most ACII-like of the series since, well, ACII, and while it never really hits the dizzying heights of Ezio's jaunt through 15th century Italy, Unity's similarities are comforting enough to take the edge off its less-than-successful changes. But is it the next-gen Assassin's Creed game we've all been waiting for? Not quite. It's very good, maybe even great in places, but the story's smaller focus has come at the expense of its exquisitely rendered backdrop. The grandness and spectacle that so often graces the finest Assassin's Creeds is sadly sorely lacking here." [Read the review] -- Mark Walton
Assassin's Creed Rogue -- 6/10
"Outside of a few additions like an air rifle and grenade launcher (which is used exactly one for mission), there's next to nothing in Rogue that moves the franchise forward. And even if you simply wanted more of Black Flag, that the missions are so sparse makes it difficult to want to drag yourself across the vast expanse of Rogue's oceans. Instead of a rich, fleshed-out game, Rogue is a short, mildly entertaining adventure that's thin on core content, but thick with information. It's intriguing information though, particularly if you're a series fan, just don't expect the best of adventures while you're taking it all in." [Read the review] -- Mark Walton
Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China -- 6/10
"Assassin Shao Jun really wants a box. Apparently, the box holds a precious artifact left from the time of the First Civilization, but it is simply the ultimate in MacGuffins; it's the Maltese Falcon, the briefcase from Pulp Fiction, and the Ark of the Covenant. What it does is irrelevant and never elaborated upon, at least not in this story, for its purpose is to kick an adventure into action--in this case, a beautiful and ultimately boring trek that cribs from Mark of the Ninja but can't capture the earlier game's cleverness or excitement. It's tempting to praise Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China for squeezing the series' signature elements into two-and-a-half dimensions, and for making stealth gameplay more vital than it has been in an Assassin's Creed game for years. But Chronicles rests on being pretty, adding new mechanics over time but flattening the pace and allowing exploits and glitches to suck out the rising tension." [Read the review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Assassin's Creed Syndicate -- 9/10
"[Assassin's Creed Syndicate] is a triumphant return to form for the franchise, and presents a beautifully structured tale with heart and soul to spare. Ziplining through London is thrilling, and the game allows you to organically discover missions and leaves you open-ended solutions lets you to create a meaningful, personal experience within its world. Coupled with strong, loveable leads and a seemingly endless procession of ways to leave your (fictional) mark on London's history, Assassin's Creed Syndicate is a shining example of gameplay and storytelling." [Read the review] -- Alexa Ray Corriea
Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India -- 7/10
"For the mainline Assassin's Creed games, the history and characters are the bones holding the gameplay upright. For the Chronicles series, the curiosities presented by the setting act as a thin veneer that only momentarily distracts from the flaws beneath. Like Arbaaz himself, these great moments have a bad habit of vanishing into thin air when you least want them to, bit there is still a lot of fun to be had in this Indian adventure." [Read the review] -- Justin Clark
Assassin's Creed Chronicles: Russia -- 5/10
"[Assassin's Creed Chronicles: Russia's] art style is ultimately indicative of the problems with the series, in that, even at its most colorful or active, it falls flat. We're given few reasons to care about the story or characters, and gameplay doesn't escalate in a way that make sticking around for the complete three-game journey worthwhile. Newcomers may still find fleeting joy in one of the games for being a bite sized portion of Prince of Persia-style journeys through an exotic land. But the idea of sticking around for seconds or thirds has been proven to be a fool's errand, and that single portion turning out to be Russia would give a lackluster impression of the rest. Chronicles ends not with a bang or a whimper, but a shrug." [Read the review] -- Justin Clark
Assassin's Creed Origins -- 7/10
"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
By Chris E. Hayner on Sep 18, 2018 12:45 am
Netflix's Chilling Adventures of Sabrina won't bring its brand of scares until closer to Halloween. If you just can't wait, though, a big batch of photos from the new series has arrived, and they are positively spellbinding. The images are the first introduction the world is being given to a majority of the main characters on Chilling Adventures. While Sabrina Spellman (Kiernan Shipka) and her journey are obviously front-and-center on the series, the world of Greendale is populated with some very interesting--and peculiar--people that make up her family, friends, and foes. Whether it's her aunts Zelda (Miranda Otto) and Hilda (Lucy Davis), the trio of Weird Sisters that look down on Sabrina, or her boyfriend Harvey (Ross Lynch)--who is somehow completely oblivious to the teen witch's magical antics--there are a number of new faces fans will get to know when the series debuts. Perhaps the most exciting and intriguing piece of the puzzle is Sabrina's cousin Ambrose (Chance Perdomo). After being placed under house arrest by the Witches Council at some point in his life, he's forbidden to leave their shared home. That won't stop him from getting into whatever trouble his cousin is causing, though. Rounding out the cast are Michelle Gomez, Richard Coyle, Jaz Sinclair, and Bronson Pinchot. The first season of the series will consist of 10 episodes, with Netflix having already ordered a second season. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina debuts on the streaming service on October 26, just in time for a Halloween binge. Don't forget to check out the first official teaser for the new series, as well as the 9 shows we think you need to be watching this fall.
Sabrina Spellman (Kiernan Shipka)
Harvey Kinkle (Ross Lynch)
The Weird Sisters (Adeline Rudolph, Tati Gabrielle, and Abigail Cowen)
Aunt Zelda (Miranda Otto)
Aunt Hilda (Lucy Davis)
Mary Wardell/Madam Satan (Michelle Gomez)
Sabrina Spellman (Kiernan Shipka)
Father Blackwood (Richard Coyle), Sabrina Spellman (Kiernan Shipka), Aunt Hilda (Lucy Davis), and Aunt Zelda (Miranda Otto)
Father Blackwood (Richard Coyle)
Ambrose Spellman (Chance Perdomo)
Susie Putnam (Lachlan Watson) and Rosalind Walker (Jaz SInclair)
Nicholas Scratch (Gavin Leatherwood)
Susie Putnam (Lachlan Watson), (Jaz Sinclair), Sabrina Spellman (Kiernan Shipka), and Harvey Kinkle (Ross Lynch)
By Matt Espineli on Sep 18, 2018 12:45 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.
Undertale -- 9/10
"Three years after its initial release on PC, Undertale has found its way to the Nintendo Switch--and of course, the game is every bit as charming, challenging, and harrowing as it was the first time around. Undertale may seem like a straightforward retro-style RPG, but it subverts player expectations every chance it gets, which never gets stale because of clever writing and an evocative chiptune soundtrack. Thankfully, it plays just as well as it does on other platforms without any performance hitches or bugs after putting about four hours into this version. Like its console counterparts, you can fill the screen with an adaptive border that thematically fits with the location you're in (Undertale plays in a 4:3 aspect ratio). Dodging enemy attacks in the bullet hell-style defensive phase in combat works just as well with the Joy-Con analog sticks. Undertale isn't afraid to break convention, and because it does so in a way that's thoughtful and humorous throughout, the result is an emotional rollercoaster that fills us with determination." [Read the full review] -- Michael Higham
Into the Breach -- 9/10
"There is so much strategic joy in seeing the potential destruction a swarm of giant monsters is about to unleash on a city, then quickly staging and executing elaborate counter maneuvers to ruin the party. Into The Breach's focus on foresight makes its turn-based encounters an action-packed, risk-free puzzle, and the remarkable diversity of playstyles afforded by unique units keeps each new run interesting. It's a pleasure to see what kind of life-threatening predicaments await for you to creatively resolve in every new turn, every new battle, and every new campaign. Into The Breach is a pristine and pragmatic tactical gem with dynamic conflicts that will inspire you to jump back in again, and again, and again." [Read the full review] -- Edmond Tran
The Messenger -- 8/10
"The Messenger takes the best parts of the action-platformers it takes influence from and reinterprets them well. With clever writing, well-designed levels, and balanced difficulty curve, the game continuously hooks you with enticing skill-based challenges and satisfying payoffs. Your character might have an immediate imperative to delivering a world-saving scroll, but the journey there is definitely one to savor." [Read the full review] -- Alexander Pan
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
By Jordan Ramée on Sep 18, 2018 12:40 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. Be sure to check out our list of the best cheap PS4 games to find the best deals on some of these exclusives, including top-tier titles like The Last of Us Remastered and Bloodborne. Think you've got an insane amount of GameSpot knowledge? Put it to the test. We've reviewed a lot of PS4 exclusives since the console's debut in 2013, but only one of them has gotten a perfect 10/10 review score. Do you know what it is? Click ahead to find out, and we'll send a virtual high five your way if you happen to know the answer. If you also happen to know which PS3 game released again on PS4 with a perfect 10/10 GameSpot score (but couldn't make this list because it's not a remaster), then we offer you a virtual salute. Also, let us know what your favorite PS4 exclusive is in the comment section down below. Doesn't matter if the game was critically acclaimed or criminally underrated. Be sure to check out our list of the best Nintendo Switch console exclusives and best Xbox One console exclusives as well.
Marvel's Spider-Man -- 9/10
We gave the game an 8/10. In our Marvel's Spider-Man review, Edmond Tran wrote, "Minor shortcomings don't detract from Insomniac's achievement in creating a game that feels like an authentic interpretation of a beloved creation. The feeling of embodying Spidey and using his abilities is astonishing, and the time spent on exploring its major characters help make its story feel heartfelt, despite superhero bombast. There have been open-world Spider-Man games before, but none so riveting and full of personality, none that explore and do justice to this many facets of the universe. Insomniac has created a superior Spider-Man experience that leaves a lasting impression, one that has you longing for just one more swing around New York City, even after the credits roll."
Alienation
We gave the game an 8/10. In our Alientation review, Jason D'Aprile wrote, "Alienation is a refined and intense shooter that looks and sounds great, and offers fantastically chaotic and violent action. While the game sometimes feels a little too eager to kill players and lacks local play, with a full troop online, it's easily one of the best all-out action multiplayer games in recent memory."
Alone With You
We gave the game an 8/10. In our Alone With You review, Jason D'Aprile wrote, "This is a game that warrants repeated playthroughs to see both endings and experience other relationship choices. Alone With You bears some heavy thematic overlap with [games] like SOMA, Everyone's Gone to Rapture, and other story-centric releases that focus on the nature of what makes you human, the importance of relationships and contact, and mortality. It's different enough to feel new despite its retro roots, delivering impactful scenes that shine thanks to a stellar script that brings its few, but emotionally charged, characters to life."
Bloodborne
We gave the game a 9/10. In our Bloodborne review, Kevin VanOrd wrote, "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."
Dariusburst: Chronicle Saviours
We gave the game an 8/10. In our Dariusburst: Chronicle Saviours review, Heidi Kemps wrote, "Even with [its issues], Darius Burst is one of the best traditional shooters to come out in years. The visual design is excellent, the music is avant-garde and memorable, the boss encounters are thrilling, and it's chock-full of challenges to keep you coming back and playing more. If you enjoy these sorts of games at all and are craving a finely-crafted, intense shooting experience that will keep you hooked for a long time, then Darius Burst: Chronicle Saviours is a worthy."
Everybody's Golf
We gave the game an 8/10. In our Everybody's Golf review, Miguel Concepcion wrote, "Ultimately, [bothersome NPCs] are the only notable blemishes in an otherwise splendid and activity-loaded sequel, which also happens to be the best golf game on the PlayStation 4. Longtime fans will find comfort in the familiar controls and deep progression system, while newcomers will find the on-boarding experience easy and welcoming. Between the lengthy career mode and online play, you are never short of competition to test your nerves. And no matter how ridiculously superhuman your linksman skills become--there are awards for getting a hole in one on a par-5, after all--Everybody's Golf's strict adherence to the sport's strategic underpinnings is never compromised."
Everybody's Gone To The Rapture
We gave the game a 9/10. In our Everybody's Gone to the Rapture review, Alexa Ray Corriea wrote, "Everybody's Gone to the Rapture uses subtle cues to guide you through its world and then gives you the space to digest what you find. It's a wonderful example of what games can achieve narratively while presenting minimal physical engagement and tasking player imagination with the rest. That sense of futility never leaves you, but whether or not you cling to the story's threads of hope is entirely up to you; no happy ending is forced on you--just an ending. The moral of the story is whatever you think it is, and there's no wrong way to feel as you sift through its bright, empty world. And while I had my moments of frustration in navigation, that didn't stop it from dazzling me. I left Shropshire exhausted, spent, and utterly impressed by The Chinese Room's magnificently crafted journey, both in how it brought me to its conclusion and the conclusion itself."
Fighting EX Layer
We gave the game an 8/10. In our Fighting EX Layer review, Heidi Kemps wrote, "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."
Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age
We gave the game a 9/10. In our Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age review, Miguel Concepcion wrote, "While its enhancements do not translate into a brand new game for existing fans, [Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age] is nonetheless invigorating. For an experience that can last over a hundred hours, the subtle tweaks therein go a long way in showcasing Final Fantasy 12's grand trek in a new light. Its epic, lore-abundant story and its time-tested Gambit System should also appeal to those who missed out on the mainline series' trip to Ivalice the first time around. And thanks in part to the new audio and speed options, The Zodiac Age is an ideal definitive edition: one that improves the game over its original version across the board.
Final Fantasy 14 Online: A Realm Reborn
We gave the game an 8/10. In our Final Fantasy 14 Online: A Realm Reborn review, Pete Davison wrote, "There's no traditional PVP, and at times the grind can grow tedious, but if you press on, you find a vast and charming supporting cast, complex classes with plenty of interesting augmentations along the way, and a reworked MMORPG that combines new and old elements to weave together a satisfying and modern Final Fantasy that does its part to cater to longtime franchise fans and MMO enthusiasts alike. This is an admirable redesign, especially on the PlayStation 4, which very well may be considered the best venue to experience the staggering world and cornucopia of additional content. Even if you're still trekking through Vana'diel, consider making yourself a new home in Eorzea--we'd love to have you."
Galak-Z: The Dimensional
We gave the game an 8/10. In our Galak-Z: The Dimensional review, Mike Mahardy wrote, "But in the end, [Galak-Z: The Dimensional] is about learning as you go, and making the best of what you have. It's a layered, complex system, and even now, 20 hours after I started it, there are upgrades I haven't found, techniques I haven't practiced, and possibilities I haven't considered. Galak-Z pummelled me, knocked me to the ground and kicked me when I was down. But when I finally got the upper hand, and beat the final season with only a sliver of health left, the victory was all the more rewarding.
God Eater 2: Rage Burst
We gave the game an 8/10. In our God Eater 2: Rage Burst review, Miguel Concepcion wrote, "Good sequels strike a balance between reproducing familiar systems and introducing new features. Rage Burst shares many similarities with Resurrection, to the degree that you wouldn't be blamed for mistaking the former for an expansion pack of the latter at a glance. But Rage Burst is bolstered by a beefed-up combat system and scores of stylish, powerful loot, making frequent, sometimes repetitive questing, more enjoyable than it was in Resurrection."
God Of War (2018)
We gave the game a 9/10. In our God of War review, Peter Brown wrote, "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."
God Of War 3 Remastered
We gave the game an 8/10. In our God of War 3 Remastered review, Kevin VanOrd wrote, "Then again, this is not a series known for its sophisticated storytelling. Kratos is the vessel for an instinctive kind of gameplay that is rarely this successful. Your rewards for following God of War III's linear trail are genre-defining combat, excellent pacing, and the innate joy of watching enemies spew forth clusters of glowing red orbs when they fall. It's the ever-compelling quest for shinies, accomplished by slamming your cestus into the ground, then gutting a centaur and watching its viscera spill onto the floor. Your reward is more power, which you use to earn more shinies and to see more entrails. That the game finds so many ways to stay consistently fresh within this traditional structure is a feat worthy of the gods."
Gravity Rush 2
We gave the game a 9/10. In our Gravity Rush 2 review, Peter Brown wrote, "With a wealth of stories big and small to chew on, Gravity Rush 2 fulfills the needs of both a sequel and a prequel. The first Gravity Rush had enough going for it, but Gravity Rush 2 is stuffed with things to love. While its stealth missions are lame and it's disappointing to experience camera issues from time to time, Gravity Rush 2 excels in almost every other respect, making its predecessor seem quaint by comparison. This is easily one of the best video game sequels in recent memory, and an adventure truly worthy of its excellent lead character."
Gran Turismo Sport
We gave the game an 8/10. In our Gran Turismo Sport review, James Swinbanks wrote, "Ultimately, where you fall on GT Sport will mirror how you feel about racing games in general. If you're looking for a highly focused console racing sim, GT Sport is excellent, but don't come looking for a robust 'Gran Turismo' experience. You won't find it. Casual fans will feel the pinch of the scaled-down offering and the intimidating push towards racing online. But for sim-racers with a competitive spirit, it's easy to look past the smaller car and track roster and appreciate the incredibly detailed and responsive driving model, which is better than anything the series has offered before."
Grim Fandango Remastered
We gave the game an 8/10. In our Grim Fandango Remastered review, Kevin VanOrd wrote, "Grim Fandango's greatest triumph, however, is that you needn't overflow with nostalgia to appreciate its greatness. There is only this boisterous world and the unionized bee-demons that inhabit it, which you see through the eyes of one Manny Calavera, an everyday hero that has rightfully earned a place in video game history. Even if you don't know what happens at the end of the line, you're guaranteed to enjoy the trip."
Here They Lie
We gave the game an 8/10. In our Here They Lie review, Miguel Concepcion wrote, "Here They Lie pulls you in by appealing to your curiosities of what's around the corner--but you're also motivated to stick to the main path, because a part of you just wants to get the hell out of this urban nightmare. As a dark, well-crafted psychological journey in VR, the game captures the distinct duality of being a curious observer--and, conversely, a participant who simply wants to survive and escape. Its enigmatic visuals, choice-driven narrative, and provocations on morality are the driving forces that warrant multiple playthroughs, and all of those aforementioned elements combine to make Here They Lie one of the standout offerings among the PSVR's launch lineup."
Horizon Zero Dawn
We gave the game a 9/10. In our Horizon Zero Dawn review, Peter Brown wrote, "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 [Horizon 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.
Iconoclasts
We gave the game a 9/10. In our Iconoclasts review, Matt Espineli wrote, "When Iconoclasts' end credits begin to roll, it's bittersweet to see the journey come to a close. After solving every puzzle and witnessing the finale of its poignant narrative, you can't help but reflect on the growth of its characters and your impact onto the world. The game will shock and surprise you with how gripping its story is, and it's likely to do so again in subsequent playthroughs of New Game+ with your expanded knowledge of character histories and events. Iconoclasts may be a callback to the style and mechanics of old-school games, but it's also a sincere and compelling adventure that anyone with respect for fantastic storytelling and 2D-action can enjoy."
I Expect You To Die
We gave the game an 8/10. In our I Expect You To Die review, Mike Mahardy wrote, "But the annoyances caused by these hiccups pale in comparison to the thrills I Expect You to Die delivers. Through well designed puzzles, intense escape room scenarios, and a kineticism absent in video games on standard screens, I Expect You to Die knows exactly how to leverage the magic of VR, and proves it almost every step of the way."
Infamous: Second Son
We gave the game an 8/10. In our Infamous: Second Son review, Tom McShea wrote, "[Infamous: Second Son] focuses on pure enjoyment. It communicates that through the excellent combat that forces you to concoct crazy tactics to overthrow the invading forces. It draws you in further through its incredible visuals that not only hint at the PlayStation 4's impressive power, but employ a sensible artistic touch that makes Seattle a place you want to explore. It uses a complementary score to underline dramatic moments, and the sound effects pop with flair. And yet, for all of the elements in which Second Son excels, the narrative fails to carry its share of the weight. Still, don't become mired in the negativity as Delsin so often does. Instead, just laugh at the cheesy dialogue and chortle at how extreme the morality system is. Second Son is a great game that knows exactly what it is, and sucks you in with its unfiltered fun."
The Inpatient
We gave the game an 8/10. In our The Inpatient review, Justin Clark wrote, "The Inpatient doesn't just do right by Until Dawn, but stands right alongside it as one of the strongest horror experiences on PlayStation 4. It's a game far less concerned with pushing you towards what's lurking down every corridor than feeding you the worst ideas of what could be."
Invisible, Inc. Console Edition
We gave the game an 8/10. In out Invisible, Inc. Console Edition review, Kevin VanOrd wrote, "Nonetheless, this emotional distance is merely a minor issue. I don't care much about Invisible, Inc.'s throwaway story and its last-minute grasps at meaningful themes, or about my agents' personal backgrounds. Like the game, my efforts are focused on getting the job done, emotionally disengaged but intellectually centered. I bask in the stylish cutscenes and the sharp voiceover, but my attachment is not to the agency or its people but to the sheer pleasure of a successful heist."
The King Of Fighters XIV
We gave the game an 8/10. In our The King of Fighters XIV review, Matt Espineli wrote, "With plenty of opportunities available online or off, [The King of Fighters XIV] is a well-executed addition to the revered fighting series. Those disappointed in its new visuals may be unwilling to give it a chance, but if you remain steadfast in parsing through the multiple layers of its mechanics, you'll be rewarded with one of the most accessible, satisfying entries in the series to date."
The Last Guardian
We gave the game a 9/10. In our The Last Guardian review, Peter Brown wrote, "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."
The Last Of Us Remastered
We gave the game an 8/10. In our The Last of Us Remastered review, Carolyn Petit wrote, "In addition to the visual enhancements and the inclusion of map packs and story DLC, The Last of Us Remastered has other nice little features, like a photo mode that lets you stop the action at any time, position the camera to your liking, and share the screenshot with others, applying frames and filters if you choose. And there are commentary tracks on in-game cinematics featuring the creative director and principal actors. The Last of Us is a great action game that you should play if you haven't already. And if you have played it before, the improvements here aren't so dramatic as to make the game feel like a new experience, but it is definitely one worth revisiting. In the world of The Last of Us, as in our own world, love might destroy you, but it's also one of the only things worth fighting for."
MLB The Show
For review, we gave: MLB 14: The Show an 8/10 MLB 15: The Show an 8/10. MLB The Show 16 an 8/10. MLB The Show 17 an 8/10. MLB The Show 18 a 9/10.
Moss
We gave the game an 8/10. In our Moss review, Alessandro Barbosa wrote, "It's a testament to just how well Moss understands PlayStation VR and works with the device instead of trying to bend it to a will it was never designed for. Moss wouldn't feel right without it at all, and its many strengths are married to the interactions that only full immersion can manufacture. Unsurprisingly, then, Moss is easily one of PlayStation VR's best titles to date, even if it's a little too eager to get you in and out of its world."
Nex Machina: Death Machine
We gave the game a 9/10. In our Nex Machina: Death Machine review, Jason D'Aprile wrote, "Limited multiplayer options aside, [Nex Machina: Death Machine] is a game that confidently meets expectations. It's difficult, intensely satisfying, and packed with enough secrets and lofty secondary objectives to keep you enraptured for hours. It's a classic game at heart, but with refined challenges and exacting mechanics, it feels right at home in the modern era."
Nioh
We gave the game a 9/10. In our Nioh review, Miguel Concepcion wrote, "Although the spectre of potential failure hangs heavy over any play session, dying in Nioh is never genuinely disheartening. This is thanks in part to the various avenues of character growth and many approaches you can utilize to tackle a difficult section or boss fight. It shouldn't be surprising that the foresight and patience needed to survive a battle in Dark Souls translates well to the fundamentals of samurai combat here. Nioh's most invigorating and intimidating moments occur when you feel you're at equal footing with your opponent. And it's during these encounters that one careless move can result in your demise or the right string of thoughtful actions can make you feel invincible."
Persona 5
We gave the game a 9/10. In our Persona 5 review, Lucy James wrote, "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."
Pyre
We gave the game a 9/10. In our Pyre review, Peter Brown wrote, "And thus it's all too easy to fall in love with Pyre. It's immediately attractive. Its songs dance in your head long after they debut. And before you know it, you find yourself driven to get better at rites and perform at the top of your game. Likewise, you can't help but reflect on your partners in the Downside--those you trained, as well as those you neglected. Supergiant Games has created something special that lives on in your heart. And against great odds, it's invented a sport that could have stood on its own without the story it's attached to--but it's so much better because it is."
Ratchet & Clank (2016)
We gave the game an 8/10. In our Ratchet & Clank review, Cassidee Moser wrote, "Ratchet & Clank is every bit as dynamic and fun as the 2002 original. It's endearing and entertaining, a veritable power fantasy fueled by rockets and carried by specialty gadgets. Re-introducing a classic franchise to a new generation is a difficult task indeed, but Ratchet & Clank is a shining example of how it can be done."
Republique Remastered
We gave the game an 8/10. In our Republique Remastered review, Justin Clark wrote, "Needless to say, despite its mobile game roots, the world of [Republique Remastered] is meant to immerse, to beckon the player's curiosity, and to involve them enough in the city-state's ins and outs enough to get Hope out of danger. In transitioning to consoles, the game remains largely successful at that."
Salt And Sanctuary
We gave the game an 8/10. In our Salt and Sanctuary review, Miguel Concepcion wrote, "Salt and Sanctuary is wholly engrossing from every angle, from its happy marriage of combat and exploration to its ominously gripping art direction. Its world is rich in ambiguity, well designed to fill up message boards with discussions on the theoretical histories of its bosses to the origins of the seven Creeds. For as much as it unabashedly borrows from Dark Souls, it's an achievement that Ska Studios managed to give its homage an identity of its own that can be appreciated on its own merits."
Shadow Of The Colossus (2018)
We gave the game a 9/10. In our Shadow of the Colossus review, Edmond Tran wrote, "Shadow of the Colossus is a tremendous journey, and one well worth taking and retaking. The visual overhaul is stunning, thoroughly enhancing every facet of Wander and Agro's excellent adventure. Galloping through the tranquil world is always breathtaking; felling a monumental colossus is always humbling. Shadow of the Colossus is a beautiful reconstruction of an already exceptional title. It continues to be a modern classic and is an extraordinary game that everyone must experience."
Super Rude Bear Resurrection
We gave the game a 9/10. In our Super Rude Bear Resurrection review, Chris Pereira wrote, "For all of these minor gripes, none of them stand in the way of enjoying nearly every second of playtime. On the strength of its pacing and basic mechanics alone, Super Rude Bear Resurrection would make for an extremely engaging platformer. The addition of its corpse mechanic elevates it to something greater, allowing it to simultaneously serve as an extreme challenge for the most diehard platforming fans as well as a game that can be enjoyed by the novice crowd. Super Rude Bear Resurrection demands a lot from you, but the satisfaction of success is immense in the end."
Tearaway
We gave the game an 8/10. In our Tearaway review, John Robertson wrote, "Tearaway's most lasting feature is not within the game itself, but through the inclusion of printable blueprints. Through standard progression and by taking photographs of certain objects, you earn blueprints that allow you to create your own origami editions of your favourite elements from within the game. Be warned, though, that even when you follow the instructions, some of these are incredibly tricky propositions, but if you've got the patience, it's worth the effort to take the theme of connecting worlds to that next step. The fact that it's so tempting to spend time creating these paper models is a testament to how appealing and attractive Tearaway is. It's just a shame that one of the Vita's best experiences feels as long as a piece of paper is thick."
Tooth And Tail
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."
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