The Mass Effect franchise is currently in a state of suspended animation following the lackluster showing by the series' fourth game, Mass Effect Andromeda. But there's still a big Mass Effect following out there, and developer BioWare knows it--that's why it acknowledges November 7 each year as "N7 Day" with some messaging to fans to remind them of their experiences trying to save the Milky Way Galaxy from the Reaper threat.
And it seems like BioWare boss Casey Hudson just used the studio's N7 Day Twitter post to hint at the future of Mass Effect.
BioWare posted a short video on Twitter mostly made up of people from both the studio and the fan community talking about why they like Mass Effect. It also includes an announcement that the studio turned out a free update for Andromeda on Xbox One X that improves the game's graphics.
What might be the most interesting part is the ending, though, where Hudson makes a statement laden with innuendo: "It means coming into the studio every day, dreaming about what the next great Mass Effect game will be."
Then he stares right into the camera for a long moment as he sips from a Mass Effect mug with the famous Commander Shepard line, "I Should Go," stenciled on the side. What does it mean???
Maybe nothing. After all, it's not like BioWare or its owner, Electronic Arts, ever said Mass Effect was officially canceled--but single-player DLC for Mass Effect Andromeda never materialized, despite some clear setups for some in the story, after that game received a rough reception from both fans and critics. BioWare has been putting its efforts into Anthem, its open-world sci-fi multiplayer game, which is set to release in February.
It sure does seem like Hudson's lingering look at the camera is a meaningful wink to fans, letting them know that the Mass Effect series hasn't been killed off in a boardroom somewhere. And in a blog post in August, Hudson noted that BioWare knows fans want more Mass Effect (and more of its fantasy franchise, Dragon Age), and said the studio has people working on "secret projects," even though he wouldn't enumerate what they might be. So that meaningful look seems like a playful reminder to fans on N7 Day that BioWare hasn't forgotten about them.
There's one the big question of what Mass Effect might look like, post-Andromeda. Would BioWare maintain the course set by the fourth game, which spins off from the original trilogy and takes place in a whole new galaxy, or would that game's rough reception lead to a whole new course?
If Hudson is telling fans to keep the faith for the future of Mass Effect, though, it'll likely be a long time before we hear anything more about it, thanks in part to Anthem. In the meantime, fans might just have to watch BioWare communications for secret messages.
Black Friday is known for offering a staggering number of deals, but do some research and you might discover many of those offers are no better than what you'll find at other times during the year. Worse, the sheer number makes it difficult to identify the genuinely good deals that are available. That's where we come in.
Target has already released its Black Friday ad, and we've rounded up all of its deals on games, movies and TV shows, and TVs and tech. But just what is worth heading out to Target (or browsing over to its website) for during Black Friday 2018? We're highlighting what we think are the retailer's best game deals this year to help you more easily plan ahead. We'll be doing the same with other retailers as their deals are revealed, along with a broader look at all the best deals to make shopping as pain-free as possible for you.
Black Friday this year takes place on November 23, although Target's deals will be available from November 22-24. Specific store hours on Thanksgiving Day will vary by location, as some states have previously banned stores from opening on Thursday. You can see the store's full ad on its website.
Most of Target's game deals involve PS4 and Xbox One, with individual games (rather than accessories or consoles) representing the bulk of the offers. Still, there is a nice mixture of things, including a great doorbuster deal on a PS4 bundle with Spider-Man, as well as a free game for buying a Nintendo Switch. And while not every big fall release is on sale--you'll be paying full price for Red Dead Redemption 2, at least at Target--many others are discounted, including NBA 2K19 and Assassin's Creed Odyssey.
Read on for all the best deals (in no particular order), and see all of our coverage in our Black Friday deals roundup.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey -- $35 (PS4/Xbox One)
The newest game in the Assassin's Creed Odyssey series is a good one, embracing the foray into Witcher-style RPG gameplay that 2017's Origins experimented with. It boasts a huge map, some fun naval gameplay, and a ton to do. It only just released in October, so $35 is a nice price to see so soon.
Call of Duty games tend to hold their value for a long time, and significant discounts are uncommon. $15 off for a game that launched just last month represents a solid deal, and perhaps makes the asking price a bit more palatable if you're upset over the lack of single-player or only care about a single one of its modes (such as the new Blackout battle royale).
One of the standout games from the first half of the year is God of War. The series formerly known best for its violence returned with a surprisingly touching father-son story--paired with some excellent combat featuring Kratos's new axe weapon, which works a lot like Thor's hammer. Familiarity with the franchise helps, but this is certainly a game you can jump into without having played the previous ones.
NBA 2K is routinely considered the best NBA sim series around, and this year is no different. While its microtransactions remain a sore spot for some players, $30 gets you a lot of game here, as you can focus on running a team, managing your own created character, or any number of other modes.
Another recent release, SoulCalibur VI released in late October and represented a welcome return for the weapons-based fighting game series. Alongside a robust character creator, it continues the series' proclivity for including fighters from other franchises--in this case, The Witcher's Geralt.
Although Target isn't selling Spider-Man itself at a discount, those who don't yet have a PS4 are in for a nice bundle. $200 for a PS4 on its own represents a decent deal, but Target is throwing in a free copy of Insomniac's fun open-world take on the webslinger to sweeten things.
Forza's alternating release schedule continued this fall, with its Horizon sub-series of open-world games seeing the launch of Forza Horizon 4. It's an incredibly fun game that offers a surprising amount of variety for a racing game. One thing to be aware of before buying it is that, like all first-party Xbox One games, it's available through Xbox Game Pass, meaning you get complete access to the game for as long as you're a subscriber. If you want to own a copy, $35 is easily the cheapest price offered so far.
Xbox One S Minecraft bundle with $20 Target gift card -- $200
Those in the market for an Xbox One have a variety of options at Target this Black Friday. While this specific bundle includes Minecraft and a Target gift card, the store's ad says all Xbox One consoles will be $70 off, potentially letting you get any pack-in game you want.
Nintendo Switch with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe -- $300
While this doesn't represent a discount over Switch's standard price, we don't tend to see the system go on sale often (and certainly not outside of places like Ebay). As such, getting a $60 game (which itself, like most Nintendo games, is rarely discounted by much) for free by picking up the system isn't half bad, especially considering that Deluxe is a great package of Mario Kart content.
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle -- $25 (Nintendo Switch)
When Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle first leaked, it looked like a joke of an idea. In fact, it turned out to be a truly pleasant surprise, offering a take on XCOM-esque tactics gameplay that filled a void which otherwise still hasn't been well addressed on Switch. Kingdom Battle hasn't been discounted steeply often, so getting it for $25 is a bargain worth considering.
If you're looking for a new game on the cheaper end of the spectrum, you could do far worse than Doom. The reboot offered a stellar blend of intense shooter gameplay and extreme violence, complemented by a great soundtrack.
Whether you already own a PS4 or Xbox One, or you're getting one for the first time this Black Friday, you may want to pick up extra controllers for some local multiplayer action. Regular prices on controllers are steep, but $40 is close to as cheap as we ever see official controllers go, so this represents a good opportunity to stock up on what you need.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 has three distinct multiplayer modes with very different play styles, so Activision and developer Treyarch are alternating with very focused updates. Last week's update focused mostly on the competitive multiplayer, and this week it's Blackout's turn. A new update rolling out tunes weapons and classes in the battle royale mode.
According to the patch notes, the Blightfather has been moved from IX to the Graveyard. This is called a temporary move, but you can take him on if you want to win some special rewards. The Character Missions in the Black Ops 4 Chaos Storyline have also been unlocked, and Character Mission quest item spawn rates have been increased.
Competitive multiplayer received a rotation of new playlists as well. The Featured playlist now includes Team Tactical Moshpit, Mercenary Chaos Moshpit, and Mercenary Hardcore Moshpit. For Zombies, the team says it's continuing to focus most of its efforts on stability. It promises an update on that progress soon.
The game is also hosting a 2X Tier Boost Weekend for Multiplayer and Blackout, plus 2X Nebulium Plasma in Zombies mode, starting on Friday, November 9. It will kick off at 10 AM PT and last through Monday, November 12 at 10 AM PT.
This comes just a few days after the last patch added Gun Game. You can check below for the full patch notes.
Blackout
Playlist Updates
Blightfather added to all playlists.
100-Player Quads added to the Featured playlist.
Maximum players in Solo and Duos playlists changed to 88.
Character Missions
Zombies Chaos Storyline Character Missions now available (Bruno, Diego, Scarlett, and Shaw).
Increased drop rates of Character Mission items.
Weapons (Blackout Only)
Submachine Guns
Increased muzzle velocity on all SMGs. This should provide more consistent gunfights when in SMG range, along with ensuring that SMGs perform as expected in their intended power band when compared to Assault Rifles in Blackout.
Spitfire
Reduced recoil.
Assault Rifles
Rampart 17
Reduced ADS sway.
Reduced recoil.
Tactical Rifles
Auger DMR
Increased re-center speed. We slowed down the re-center due to high performance in our Blackout beta, but have seen the AUGER slightly underperform since release.
Slightly increased muzzle velocity. This should make for more predictable shots when firing at a moving target within the Auger's intended ranges.
Swordfish
Tightened the spread pattern. This should allow more shots to land on target at range.
Light Machine Guns
While some players have found success with the LMGs in Blackout, they're still being passed over by the large majority of players. These changes should help make LMGs more manageable when providing cover fire or engaging targets at range.
Titan
Increased re-center speed.
Reduced re-center pattern offsets for more predictable recoil.
VKM 750
Increased re-center speed.
Reduced re-center pattern offsets.
Hades
Increased re-center speed.
Reduced re-center pattern offsets.
Equipment (Blackout Only)
9-Bang
Removed the 9-Bang from Blackout while we evaluate its place in the gameplay loop.
Concussion Grenade
Increased throw distance.
Increased stack count to 2.
Multiplayer
Playlist Updates
Added Team Tactical Moshpit to Featured Playlist (3v3 TDM, Kill Confirmed, and Search & Destroy).
Added Mercenary Chaos Moshpit to Featured category (6v6 TDM, Domination, Kill Confirmed, and Hardpoint, no parties allowed).
Added Mercenary Hardcore Moshpit to Featured category (Hardcore TDM, Domination, and Kill Confirmed, no parties allowed).
Gun Game and Control now in Featured category.
Gameplay
Resolved an exploit in Search & Destroy where players could change classes after the start of a round to regain Scorestreak progress from the previous round before death.
Resolved an issue in Heist where navigating the Buy Menu with the d-pad could display the description for the previously highlighted item.
Resolved an issue where meleeing friendly Razor Wire in Hardcore game modes would damage players, potentially causing the player who placed the Razor Wire to be kicked for friendly fire.
Miscellaneous
Corrected the description for "Fast Reflexes" Challenge to inform players of requirement to get 5 EKIA in a game shortly after switching weapons with Dexterity, Overkill, and Laser Sight.
Zombies
Stability
Resolved 2 specific crashes in the IX Main Quest.
Resolved a crash related to banner challenges in IX.
Resolved a crash that occurred when the Shield broke while the player had the Victorious Tortoise Perk active.
Gameplay
Resolved an issue where players could end up in a permanently downed state if they are revived as a self-revive is being completed.
Resolved an issue where picking up the Max Ammo power-up while Bandolier is active did not give additional ammo if the weapon was at its normal Max Ammo capacity.
Miscellaneous
Resolved UI issues caused by opening the Paintshop after personalizing a weapon in the Armory.
Resolved an issue where players could equip Talismans in Local Play.
Changed Aftertaste Elixir description to reflect its 5-minute duration.
Changed Arsenal Accelerator Elixir description to reflect its 2-minute duration.
General
Challenges
Resolved an issue where level-restricted Challenges could be locked again after Prestiging.
PC Version
General
Added Audio Presets to Options.
Resolved an issue where the rotation icon would appear when highlighting any items in the Black Market.
Zombies
Resolved an issue where players would be forcefully defeated when using the Fast Travel from Transverse Tunnel to reach the Cafeteria before opening its door in Blood of the Dead.
Resolved an issue where Warpaints could not be removed after being applied.
BioWare has announced that the Xbox One version of Mass Effect Andromeda is now X-enhanced. The patch enhances Andromeda on Xbox One X, offering better resolution and HDR support.
The new update is a part of 2018's N7 Day celebration. N7 Day is an annual celebration of Mass Effect games, comics, movies, and culture that occurs on November 7. BioWare usually uses the date to announce new updates or expansions for old Mass Effect games.
During the announcement video for the new update, BioWare also teased the next Mass Effect game. After Andromeda's less than stellar launch, BioWare put work on the Mass Effect series on hiatus, and hasn't revealed concrete details about what the next game in the franchise might look like. However, earlier in the year, BioWare general manager Casey Hudson revealed that work on something new had begun.
"Our Star Wars: The Old Republic team is hard at work on some amazing plans for the coming year, with new features and surprises that I think makes it the game's most exciting year yet," wrote Hudson in a blog post. "And yes--we hear loud and clear the interest in BioWare doing more Dragon Age and Mass Effect, so rest assured that we have some teams hidden away working on some secret stuff that I think you'll really like--we're just not ready to talk about any of it for a little while…"
In our Mass Effect Andromeda review, Scott Butterworth gave the game a 6/10, writing, "The game can't escape its shortcomings, but patient explorers can still find a few stars shining in the darkness."
Mass Effect Andromeda is available for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.
Along with online play and cloud saves, the Nintendo Switch Online service gives subscribers access to a library of classic NES games, which Nintendo plans to regularly expand with more titles each month. October's update brought NES Open, Super Dodge Ball, and Solomon's Key to the service, and now another batch of NES games is set to arrive next week.
Nintendo is rolling out three more NES games for Nintendo Switch Online on Wednesday, November 14. This month's additions include Konami's top-down shoot-'em-up TwinBee, the platformer Mighty Bomb Jack, and Nintendo's classic sci-fi adventure, Metroid. You can take a look at each game in the trailer below.
On top of the three titles Nintendo added to the NES library last month, October's update included an additional surprise: a special save data of The Legend of Zelda that gives players access to Link's entire arsenal of weapons and a ton of Rupees from the outset. The company has teased that more "fun new entry points into fan-favorite games" are on the way, so next week's batch of games may also include a similar surprise.
All of the NES games on Switch support online play, though in the case of traditionally single-player titles like Metroid, that comes in the form of screen sharing and "passing" control of the game back and forth. If you need help figuring out how to set up a session, we've outlined how to play Switch's NES games online. Switch Online subscribers can also pre-order a set of NES-style Joy-Con controllers, which are scheduled to start shipping out in mid-December.
Though Black Friday 2018 isn't here just yet, we've already caught wind of a number of planned deals. One of which we've highlighted here is for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, the current game in the long-running series. In addition to featuring the traditional multiplayer and zombies modes, Treyarch's newest entry debuted the franchise's first jump into the battle royale craze with Blackout, which is among the game's most well-received offerings.
The listings for these deals come from a recent Target ad showcasing upcoming sales, including Assassin's Creed Odyssey, God of War, Madden 19, and Soul Calibur VI. As of the time of this post, these Black Friday deals are not yet available, so going to these sites now will only show the current retail price. However, once Black Friday rolls around, you'll be able to claim these titles at a discounted price.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is no doubt one of the more experimental entries in recent years, yet it still offered a satisfying package to dive into. While last year's World War II was well received, Black Ops 4 offered a larger focus on giving players new ways to experience COD gameplay across its key gameplay pillars, which includes multiplayer, zombies--featuring multiple storylines and levels--the new Blackout battle royale game type, and a light story mode focusing on each of the playable Specialists.
Reviews editor Kallie Plagge gave the game an 8 in our review of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, and stated: "Black Ops 4 isn't short on content, and its three main modes are substantial. Multiplayer introduces more tactical mechanics without forcing you into them, and it largely strikes a good balance. Zombies has multiple deep, secret-filled maps to explore, though its returning characters don't hold up and prove distracting. Finally, Blackout pushes Call of Duty in an entirely new direction, making use of aspects from both multiplayer and Zombies for a take on the battle royale genre that stands on its own. Sure, there isn't a traditional single-player campaign, but with the depth and breadth of what is there, Black Ops 4 doesn't need it."
Here are the links to the deals you can find on Target, and we'll update this post with any other deals that come in from other retailers. If you're at all curious about World War II, there is also a planned Target deal for Call of Duty: WWII as well for $25. Again, these deals won't go live till Black Friday, which takes place on November 23. Be sure to check back with GameSpot and other deals going live sometime later.
WWE's next major event is Survivor Series. The fall PPV pits superstars from both Raw and Smackdown, which is one of the two times during the year you get to see this--with the other being Money in the Bank. All of the champions from both shows will compete against each other, and both Raw and Smackdown will have three different traditional Survivor Series elimination matches as well.
The PPV comes to the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on Sunday, November 18 with the main card starting at 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT and a Kickoff Show most likely starting two hours prior. The schedule for the day of the event is not up, but major WWE events like Summerslam, Royal Rumble, and Wrestlemania tend to have a longer pre-show. You can watch both the Kickoff and main card for yourself on traditional PPV through your TV provider or on the WWE Network.
It's going to be a big evening to determine which show is the dominant brand. As of this writing, there are seven matches on the card with more than a week before the event airs. Of course, we'll see Raw's Universal Champion, Brock Lesnar, take on Smackdown's WWE Champion, AJ Styles. Lesnar recently won the vacated title after a battle with Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel. This is the exact same match fans got at Survivor Series in 2017. Additionally, another former UFC fighter will also be defending her title. Raw Women's Champion Ronda Rousey takes on Smackdown Women's Champion Becky Lynch.
Below, you'll find the match card for Survivor Series, but keep in mind that many of these matches are not finalized. The traditional 5-on-5 elimination matches are coming together, and below the main match card, we've listed out the competitors booked for each match, so far.
Survivor Series Match Card:
Universal Champion Brock Lesnar vs. WWE Champion AJ Styles
Raw Women's Champion Ronda Rousey vs. SmackDown Women's Champion Becky Lynch
Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins vs. United States Champion Shinsuke Nakamura
Women's Survivor Series Match*
Men's Survivor Series Match*
Tag Team Survivor Series Match*
Raw Tag Team Champions AOP vs. SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Bar
*=Not finalized
Women's Survivor Series Teams
Raw:
No one confirmed yet
Smackdown:
Sonya Deville
Carmella
Asuka
Naomi
Tag Team Survivor Series Teams
Raw:
No one confirmed yet
Smackdown:
The Usos
The New Day (Unknown which two of the three members will be involved.
Men's Survivor Series Teams
Raw:
Drew McIntyre
Dolph Ziggler
Braun Strowman
Smackdown:
Shane McMahon
Daniel Bryan
The Miz
Samoa Joe
Rey Mysterio
Make sure to come back to GameSpot on Sunday, November 18 for live coverage and a review of Survivor Series.
From '70s possession movies inspired by The Exorcist to the wave of found footage films sparked by The Blair Witch Project, horror has long been marked by the popularity of sub-genres that follow a big box office hit. As the 1980s dawned, the huge success of John Carpenter's Halloween and Sean S. Cunningham's Friday the 13th led to dozens of interchangeable slasher movies, before the craze died out by the middle of the decade. This was the era of the horror franchise, with the commercial power of the Friday the 13th, Halloween, and in particular the Nightmare on Elm Street series cementing the idea that there was no limit to the number of sequels that audiences would turn up for.
The '80s were also marked by the rise of the comedy horror. Gone were the serious, gritty movies of the '70s--mainstream American horror of this era was frequently played for laughs, with some classics (Re-Animator, Evil Dead 2), but many more movies that were neither funny nor scary. There is no better illustration than the change in the decade's biggest horror icon--Freddy Krueger--who, over a few years, was transformed from a terrifying, loathsome child killer in the original Nightmare on Elm Street to the wisecracking cartoon villain of the later Elm Street movies.
But while Freddy and Jason might be the first things we think of when it comes to '80s horror, they're far from the whole story. Some the genre's great directors continued to put out impressive work, with the likes of David Cronenberg, Wes Craven, and John Carpenter delivering some of their best movies. The rise of VHS also meant that there was an incredible amount of horror available to watch easily, allowing some fascinating movies to find an audience that they otherwise might not have. There are many terrific '80s horror movies that tried to do something different, some within the popular subgenres of the era, some from way outside. So here's 14 underrated '80s horror movies well worth rediscovery.
14. Alligator (1980)
Before he was the director of highly acclaimed indie dramas such as Lone Star and Passion Fish, John Sayles wrote a series of brilliant genre scripts in the early '80s. His best known horror screenplays were for Joe Dante's The Howling and Piranha, but Alligator is another witty gem. It actually has some plot similarities to C.H.U.D, which you'll find later on this list--New Yorkers were clearly very worried about what was lurking in their sewer system back in the '80s! In this one, a baby alligator is flushed down a toilet and grows into a huge, hungry gator after it feeds on genetically modified animal carcasses that have also been dumped down there. Like Sayles' other work, this is a fast-moving, witty film that works as both an affectionate parody of monster movies, and an effective creature feature in its own right. Director Lewis Teague isn't in the same league as Dante, but it's a lot of fun, and has a terrific lead performance from the great Robert Forster (Jackie Brown, Twin Peaks).
13. Waxwork (1988)
As you'll see from this list, the 1980s was very much the decade of the horror comedy. There were many terrible examples, but the best ones--Evil Dead 2, Re-Animator, Return of the Living Dead--are now considered genre classics. Waxwork doesn't hit those heights but it's an inventive, off-beat movie that paved the way for the knowing, self-referential horror of the following decade. The film focuses on a spooky wax museum, in which a group of suburban kids find themselves trapped one night. The gimmick is that each display is a portal into another dimension--from Dracula's castle to London of Jack the Ripper--and if you die there, you become part of the waxwork display. It's not remotely scary, but director Anthony Hickox ladles on the laughs and the gore, and the cast--including Gremlins' Zack Galligan and veteran actors David Warner and Patrick MacNee--look like they're having a blast. It was followed by an equally entertaining sequel in 1992.
12. C.H.U.D (1984)
One of the fun things to do while watching '80s horror is looking out for upcoming actors who became big stars in the following decades. C.H.U.D has several, including John Goodman and Home Alone actors Daniel Stern and John Heard. As a result the acting is above the standard that you'd normally find in this sort of thing, and it remains an entertaining, satirical monster movie. The title acronym stands for Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers, a race of man-eating mutants who live in the sewers of New York. These creatures have been created by toxic waste that was dumped by unscrupulous city officials, and it's up to a cop and a photographer to stop them. C.H.U.D throws in a ton of subplots and characters--probably too many--and the environmental message isn't exactly subtle. But there's plenty of monster action, and the witty script, strong performances, and gritty location photography make this well worth seeking out.
11. Paperhouse (1988)
Director Bernard Rose is best known to horror fans as the director of 1992's classic Candyman, but four years earlier, he made this stunning dark fantasy. It's a movie which plays with dreams and childhood trauma, in which an 11-year-old girl escapes from the difficulties of her life by retreating into a house that starts as a drawing but becomes increasingly real. It's a subtle, haunting movie that relies more on atmosphere than shocks, and lingers in the mind long after it finishes.
10. Just Before Dawn (1981)
For the most part, the best known slasher movies of the '80s--Friday the 13th, The Burning, My Bloody Valentine--are the best the sub-genre had to offer. The exception is Just Before Dawn, a stylish stalk'n'slash more interested in tension than in murder and gore. Which is not to say it lacks those elements; plot-wise it's pretty generic stuff, as a group of kids get picked off one by one on a mountain camping trip. But director Jeff Lieberman makes great use of the Oregon locations, and it's easy to see why he cited the survival classic Deliverance as a huge influence. It's got some gripping sequences as the backwoods maniac stalks his victims and an eerie atmosphere, and the striking cinematography puts it way above its slasher peers. The movie also features an early score from Brad Fiedel, who went on to compose the music for several of James Cameron's movies.
9. Evil Dead Trap (1988)
Horror filmmakers in South-East Asia have long pushed the boundaries of the genre, and Evil Dead Trap is no exception. It's an intense, stylish, incredibly gory slasher in which a TV crew attempt to discover the source of what seems to be a snuff video and instead find themselves trapped in a warehouse by a crazed killer. This movie makes most US slashers seem bland by comparison, as director Toshiharu Ikeda pushes everything to the max. The atmosphere is steeped in dread, the storyline is increasingly bizarre, and the violence--some of it sexual--is shocking and gruesome. The movie's climax has to be seen to be believed as well. It's not for everyone, but hardcore gorehounds will love it.
8. Dead Heat (1988)
Away from horror, the '80s was also the decade of the buddy cop movie. So it's little surprise that the two would collide, the result being the cult favorite Dead Heat. This is one of those movies that feels like it's being made up as it goes along as it swings from wise-cracking cop comedy and violent action to crazed zombies and mad scientists, and also features one of the last roles for horror legend Vincent Price. Treat Williams and former SNL star Joe Piscopo play hard-bitten cops who discover that the dead are not staying in the morgue; before long Piscopo is himself a walking, talking reanimated corpse cop. None of it makes much sense, but it's a weird, wild ride, best enjoyed with like-minded fans of crazy cinema. The fact that Williams' character is named Roger Mortis tells you all you need to know.
7. Stage Fright (1987)
The heyday of Italian horror was very much the '60s and '70s, when directors like Mario Bava and Dario Argento were at their peak. But there were still some great movies made during the '80s, such as this stylish slasher. It marked the directorial debut of Michele Soavi, and took a ludicrous premise--a group of actors are picked off one by one by a killer during an all-night rehearsal--and delivered a superb, scary movie. Like much of the best Italian horror, it's an incredibly stylish film, but Soavi balances the gorgeous cinematography with some brutal kills, including some by knives, drills, and chainsaws. Best of all is the killer himself, an escaped lunatic who carries out his night of mayhem wearing a giant owl mask.
6. Pumpkinhead (1988)
Amongst horror fans, make-up effects artists are as revered as directors--pioneering figures such as Tom Savini, Rob Bottin, Rick Baker, and Dick Smith are all beloved figures within the genre. The late Stan Winston was one of the greatest in his field, and was responsible for the groundbreaking effects in movies such as The Terminator, Predator, and Jurassic Park. He also directed a couple of movies, the first of which is the excellent Pumpkinhead. As you'd expect, the movie features a great monster--a terrifying demon who is conjured up by a grieving father to take revenge on the scum who killed his son. Although it was met poor reviews on its release, Pumpkinhead has aged well--Winston generates a scary, brooding atmosphere, and tries to give his movie emotional resonance you don't always find in the genre, helped by a strong performance from genre veteran Lance Henriksen as the grief-stricken dad.
5. Pin (1988)
Scary dolls have long been a part of horror, but for the most part they are small and relatively easy to escape if they're trying to kill you. One exception is the plastic protagonist of the spooky Canadian thriller Pin. He's a life-size, anatomically-correct medical doll that a mentally unstable man called Leon is convinced is alive and speaks to him. What started as a harmless game he would play as a child in the doctor's office becomes dangerous when Leon ends up bringing the doll home and carrying out murderous acts that Pin "asks" him to do. It's a creepy, disturbing film marked by strong performances and an unpredictable script that feels very different from many of the trashier films of the era.
4. Street Trash (1987)
Perhaps the most outrageous horror comedy of the decade, Street Trash is the sole directing credit for Jim Muro, who would go on to be one of the most in-demand steadicam operators in Hollywood. There so much in here it's hard to know where to begin--the main plot centers around a batch of ancient whiskey that is sold by an unscrupulous liquor store to homeless winos in Brooklyn, which causes them to melt in spectacular style. But there are also subplots involving cops, mobsters, deranged Vietnam vets, and the attempts of two runaway brothers to survive on the mean streets of the city. It's utterly tasteless, with castration, necrophilia, and gang-rape jokes thrown around with wild abandon. But it's also absolutely hilarious, brilliantly directed, and features some absolutely incredible psychedelic gore scenes. For better or worse, there's no other movie quite like Street Trash.
3. Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989)
Japanese director and actor Shinya Tsukamoto recently appeared in Martin Scorsese's historical drama Silence, giving an acclaimed, dignified performance. But 30 years ago, Tsukamoto was making an impact in a very different way. His directorial debut, Tetsuo: The Iron Man, is an insane black-and-white cyberpunk nightmare, in which a man gets his revenge on the couple who tried to kill him by transforming himself into a fusion of man and machine. Tetsuo is true underground filmmaking, made on a tiny budget but overflowing with visual invention. Tsukamoto throws in stop motion animation, wild camerawork, fractured editing, and moments of truly shocking violence. It was shot over a difficult 18-month period, and Tsukamoto has subsequently said the experience left him wanting to destroy the negative after he had finished. Thankfully he didn't, and the movie has gone onto to become a true cult classic.
2. Night of the Comet (1984)
It was recently reported that this cult sci-fi comedy horror is getting the Hollywood remake treatment, but it's hard to see how the original can be topped. It's a seriously odd but gloriously entertaining post-apocalyptic comedy, in which teenage sisters Sam and Reggie find themselves trying to survive in LA after a passing comet wipes out most of the population. It's got zombies, mad scientists, a hilarious script, and a crazy visual style, but the movie's true success lies with its two main characters. Played by Kelli Maroney and Catherine Mary Stewart, Sam and Reggie are that '80s horror rarity--smart, strong, funny, totally badass lead female characters. Joss Whedon was a big fan, and later used Sam as one of the inspirations for Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
1. Q: The WInged Serpent (1982)
While never as well-known as Wes Craven, George Romero, or John Carpenter, Larry Cohen was unquestionably one of the finest genre directors of the '70s and '80s. A brilliant writer as well as director, he would effortless blend genres to produce movies that were smart, scary, and unique. He's best known for the It's Alive movies (and for writing the mainstream 2002 hit Phone Booth), but Q: The Winged Serpent is perhaps his greatest film. It's a monster movie, but one in which the creature action takes a back seat to some hilarious character-driven black comedy. Michael Moriarty plays a small-time crook who discovers that the winged creature who has been picking off New Yorkers is hiding at the top of the Chrysler Building, and sets about trying to blackmail the city for $1 million before he reveals its location. Moriarty gives a wonderfully wired performance, and there's able support from B-movie veterans David Carradine (Kill Bill) and Richard Roundtree (Shaft) as the cops on the monster's trail. Funny, gory, and hugely entertaining, Q is one of the decade's best.
Don't look now, but Black Friday is barreling toward us like a freight train--a freight train that's full of deals. For 2018, Black Friday takes place on November 23, and while that might still be a few weeks from now, it's not too early to start planning. If you're in the market for a PS4 console, accessories, or games--whether it's a gift for someone else or a gift for yourself--you likely won't find lower prices at any other time of year. We've gathered all of the PlayStation 4 deals announced so far into one place so you can get the best deal on whatever it is you're looking for. We'll keep this article updated as more retailers announce their Black Friday plans, so check back later; for now, the big ad we've gotten is from Target.
When it comes to PS4 consoles, the best deal announced so far is from Target, whose doorbuster deal will get you a PlayStation 4 Slim 1TB and Spider-Man as a pack-in game for $200. That's a great deal, seeing as the console normally costs around $300 and Spider-Man costs $60. Alternately, you can get PlayStation 4 Slim 500 GB from Sam's Club for $229, but you'll need a membership.
In terms of accessories, another doorbuster Target will offer is a PlayStation VR bundle that comes with a camera, Move controllers, Creed: Rise to Glory, and Superhot VR, all for $250. Also, both Target and Kohl's will have DualShock 4 controllers available for $40.
By Anonymous on Nov 07, 2018 11:03 pm We check out the free demos for Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight and Persona 3: Dancing In Moonlight that are available for download.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will spend roughly a year after its launch adding more characters, stages, and music tracks via downloadable content. Don't waste time starting that letter campaign for Dixie Kong, though--director Masahiro Sakurai says the roster is already locked.
"Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's DLC line-up is now complete," Sakurai said in a tweet. "This time the selection was made entirely by Nintendo. I decide if we can create a fighter based on their selection, then come up with the plan."
The phrasing does note that the selections were already made "this time," leaving the door open for another series of DLC content to follow that could include fan requests. The community has been vocal about some of their favorite characters, including Waluigi, Banjo-Kazooie, and others. Of course, he could have simply been contrasting this time with last time, meaning the last Smash Bros. game.
Six downloadable characters are coming in all. The first, Piranha Plant, will be available for free for everyone who purchases and registers the game by January 31, 2019. He'll come later as a purchasable character. Five more fighters will be added in DLC packs that are bundled with an additional stage and some new music tracks. Those packs will cost $6 apiece, and a Fighter's Pass bundle will get you all of them for $25. Buying the Fighter's Pass will also get you an outfit based on Rex from Xenoblade Chronicles 2.
The announcement of Piranha Plant and the DLC fighters came alongside the last two roster reveals in the main game: Ken and Incineroar. That announcement also debuted the final mode, Spirits, which has you take on a series of challenges to earn equippable character buffs. That Nintendo Direct mentioned that the DLC wasn't locked down yet, so the character selections may be very recent.
Smash Bros. Ultimate releases on December 7 for Nintendo Switch.
It's a new week, so of course the PlayStation Store has a new batch of deals available that can save you a heap of cash on some terrific PS4, PS3, and PS Vita games. Additionally, last week's Double Discount Sale continues, meaning PS Plus members get extra savings on many of the on-sale items. Just make sure to secure your purchases by November 13, when these deals go away.
But before you go on a spending spree, you might want to take a peek at our PS4 Black Friday roundup, which will be consistently updated with the best deals on PS4 consoles, bundles, games, and accessories. Some big savings have already been announced, so check there to start planning your Black Friday shopping spree.
Back on the PlayStation Store, you can create your own deadly theme park in Jurassic World Evolution for $51 (or $42 with PS Plus); just try to keep the dinosaurs in their pens. With Battlefield V launching later this month, you might want to grab the previous installment, Battlefield 1, for $24 ($8). And if a trippy version of Tetris sounds like your kind of thing, the you can pre-order Tetris Effect on sale for $36 before its release on November 9 (you can play it in PSVR, too).
If you want to drop in on the Japanese crime world, you can pick up Yakuza 0 for $18 ($16) or Yakuza 6: The Song of Life for $45 ($30). Perhaps you're looking to build a real-life skill. If so, for $21 ($12) you can get Rocksmith 2014 Remastered and learn how to play guitar. Or you can just build a digital metropolis in Cities: Skylines for $30 ($20).
You'll find more selections below, and you can check out all of this week's deals here.
With Pokemon: Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee set to arrive on Nintendo Switch in a little over a week, The Pokemon Company is ramping up excitement for their release with another new trailer. While the last one gave us our first glimpse at Lavender Town, this video showcases some of the challenging trainers who stand in your way of becoming a Pokemon Master. Mild spoilers follow.
The trailer begins with a look at Sabrina, the Psychic-type Gym Leader of Saffron City. We also get a glimpse of the leader of the villainous Team Rocket, Giovanni, as well as a quick look at the Elite Four--the four powerful trainers who await you at the Pokemon League. You'll only be able to challenge the Elite Four after you've collected all eight Gym badges in the Kanto region, and you'll need to defeat them in succession in order to become the champion.
Most notably, the new trailer also reveals that Red and Blue--the protagonist and rival of the original Red, Blue, and Yellow versions--will appear in Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee. From the looks of it, you'll be able to battle them during your adventure, though whether they use their original Pokemon lineup remains to be seen. Red and Blue aren't the only callbacks to the original Gen 1 games, either; at the end of the trailer, you can see a brief glimpse of the female trainer who appeared alongside them in the titles' original artwork.
As The Pokemon Company recently revealed, your adventure doesn't end once you've defeated the Elite Four. After you've become the Pokemon League Champion, powerful new Master Trainers will appear around the region. Each one specializes in one particular Pokemon, and you'll need to battle them using that same Pokemon in order to claim their title.
Believe it or not, Black Friday 2018 is right around the corner--two weeks from this Friday, in fact. The end of the year is approaching, and the holiday season brings with it the biggest shopping day on the calendar in the United States, family time be damned.
Even with a couple weeks to go before Black Friday--it takes place on November 23--we've already begun to get a look at the deals that will be available. Most notably, we've gotten Target's ad early, giving us a look at what will be on sale across games, tech, and entertainment. Sam's Club is also have a pre-Black Friday sale that has some nice deals for game fans.
As always, tracking what's on sale and where can be an overwhelming task, as can determining what the best deals are. We'll be doing our best to help you stay on top of this so you can make the most of Black Friday (and Cyber Monday immediately after that) without having to drown in a sea of circulars and hastily scrawled post-it notes. Below, you'll find our complete coverage of the event; be sure to check back as more ads are revealed in the lead up to the big day.
Platforms
PS4
All PS4 Deals
If you're looking for all things related to PS4, we've collected every deal announced so far for the platform--including consoles, accessories, and games--in one story. Among the highlights is a $200 PS4 bundle that comes with Marvel's Spider-Man at Target.
For a look at all things Xbox One, we've put together a roundup of every announced deal related to the system. That includes deals on consoles, games, and accessories. One of the best offers we've seen so far is a $400 Xbox One X bundle with a whopping $120 in Kohl's Cash from (you guessed it) Kohl's.
Target was the first big store out of the gate to release its Black Friday ad early, and it included a ton of stuff of interest to game fans. You'll find a PS4 with Spider-Man for $200, among other things.
Alongside its game offerings, Target's early Black Friday ad gave us a look at its many movies and TV shows that will be on sale, and it includes some great sub-$10 4K movies.
Black Friday is always a great opportunity to pick up a new TV for relatively cheap, and 4K TVs are among the variety of tech items you'll find discounted at Target.
Kohl's doesn't sell many games, but it oftentimes has some excellent deals come Black Friday. 2018 is no exception, as it might be the best place to buy an Xbox One X.
Kohl's might primarily be a clothes retailer, but it does sell a limited number of electronics, like TVs. These are discounted in addition to netting you some Kohl's Cash.
We should have a firm idea of everything that will be on sale well in advance of Black Friday, but while we wait for all of the ads to come in, we've previewed what to expect from this year's big day. That may help you determine if you should buy something now or wait for a possible deal later this month.
Anybody can walk into a story on Black Friday or browse to a retailer's website, but there are tips and tricks to best approaching it. We've put together a guide to help you make the most of all the big sales.
By Anonymous on Nov 07, 2018 09:30 pm In Red Dead Redemption 2, we guzzle down hair tonics and alligator meat on our quest to push Arthur's beard and physique to the extreme. Check out our results in Dirty Arty: Chapter 2.
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We check out the free demos for Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight and Persona 3: Dancing In Moonlight that are available for download.
In Red Dead Redemption 2, we guzzle down hair tonics and alligator meat on our quest to push Arthur's beard and physique to the extreme. Check out our results in Dirty Arty: Chapter 2.
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