By Dan Auty on Nov 28, 2018 07:33 pm
Within a few years, Netflix has grown from a service that streams movies and shows made by other studio and companies to a major, prolific producer of its own content. The budgets for its own output matches that of its Hollywood rivals, and it continues to disrupt traditional, decades-old way of doing things. From entire TV seasons premiering simultaneously, to movies that are available to watch worldwide within weeks of their festival premieres, Netflix continues to make its own rules about how and when we view entertainment. However, two of this week's theatrical releases show that the company is perhaps softening on one of its more controversial practises, namely bypassing theaters entirely. The big budget Jungle Book adaptation Mowgli and highly acclaimed drama Roma can both be seen in theaters ahead of their Netflix debuts in a few weeks, and while a one or two week window is obviously much smaller than most theatrical releases get, it's still notable that the company is willing to give their most expensive and prestigious movies the chance to be seen on the big screen. In the case of Mowgli, this hugely expensive film was bought from Warner after experiencing many delays, and was always intended to be seen theatrically. Roma, meanwhile, is a serious Oscar contender, and the Academy still requires a theatrical release for all movies under consideration for nominations. Beyond those releases, this week stands as one of the quietest of the year in terms of new movies in the US. After Mowgli and Roma, the biggest movies are the low budget British zombie musical Anna and the Apocalypse and the horror movie The Possession of Anna Grace, which is getting a wide release but arrives with absolutely zero buzz. In the UK, Creed II and Ralph Breaks the Internet hit screens, a week after their highly successful US debuts. So here's the week's new releases in the both the US and UK...
Mowgli
See it in US and UK theaters on November 30 This adaptation of the classic novel The Jungle Book was originally due to arrive in theaters back in late 2016. But following the huge success of Disney's own Jungle Book movie, the rival version was delayed, and ultimately sold to Netflix. It hits the service next week, but ahead of that we have this limited theatrical release. Directed by Planet of the Apes and Black Panther star Andy Serkis, the all-star cast includes Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Serkis himself, and it is supposedly a much darker take on the story than the Disney version. With Disney's own sequel also in development, it remains to be see how many Jungle Books the public actually wants, but with any luck, it will offer something a little different.
Anna and the Apocalypse
See it in US and UK theaters on November 30 Holiday horror has long been a staple of the genre, but Anna and the Apocalypse might just be the first holiday comedy horror musical. It's yet another zombie movie, but this time the undead action is punctuated by rousing song-and-dance numbers, as a young woman named Anna fights to save her loved ones. Based on an award-winning short film, Anna and the Apocalypse has been picking up rave reviews at various festivals over the past year and it looks like the perfect good-time Christmas zombiefest.
The Possession of Anna Grace
See it in US and UK theaters on November 30 Originally titled Cadaver, this horror movie focuses on a former cop who has checked out of rehab and takes a graveyard shift working in a city morgue. Unfortunately, one of the corpses died during an exorcism, and is still possessed by some ancient evil. The movie hits US and UK theaters in Friday, and while there are currently no reviews available for this one--which is rarely a good sign--the trailer looks like it could provide horror fans with some decent claustrophobic scares.
Creed II
Watch it in UK theaters on November 30 While most thought that the legendary movie boxer Rocky Balboa had finally hung up his gloves, the 2015 spin-off Creed not only gave the character one of his finest movies, it paved the way for director Ryan Coogler to get the job of directing Marvel's wildly successful Black Panther. Coogler isn't back for the sequel, but star Michael B. Jordan is and he is once again playing the son of the original movies' Apollo Creed. Rocky creator and star Sylvester Stallone is back too, as both co-star and co-writer, as is Rocky IV's Russian powerhouse Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren). In his review, GameSpot's Michael Rougeau said the movie gives the fans "exactly what you want, executed with amazing finesse." It has already proved to be a smash in the US, and arrives in the UK theaters this week.
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Watch it in UK theaters on November 30 The 2012 animated comedy Wreck-It Ralph was a critical and commercial hit, and the sequel hits UK theaters this week. It focuses on the arcade game villain-turned-hero of the title, who this time enters the internet after the arcade his game lives in goes online. John C. Reilly voices Ralph, with Sarah Silverman, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk, Taraji P. Henson, and James Corden also part of the voice cast. The movie stands as the second biggest Thanksgiving weekend box office hit of all time in the US, so expect similar business in the UK.
Roma
Watch it in UK theaters on November 30 Alfonso Cuaron is best known for the hugely successful Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Gravity, but his new movie is a world away from those blockbusters. It's a semi-autobiographical story set in Mexico City of the early '70s, and it follows the life of a housekeeper who works for a dysfunctional middle-class family. It's had some the best reviews of any of movie this year, with critics praising both it's beautiful black-and-white photography, ambitious narrative, and powerful performances. Roma hits Netflix on December 14, but the streaming giant are giving it a limited theatrical release ahead of this, and can be seen in UK cinemas this week. Could this be the first Netflix movie to pick up some major awards nominations?
By Tamoor Hussain on Nov 28, 2018 07:58 am
Red Dead Redemption 2 is out now, and it explains the majority of its gameplay systems that you'll be interacting with across the many hours you can play it. However, since it's so big, some of the information can be doled out over the course of multiple hours. This is a smart decision that means players aren't overwhelmed from the outset, but you may find yourself asking questions that the game isn't ready to answer yet or that you simply missed. Just as you'd expect, the open-world game is overflowing with things you can do, as you can read about in our Red Dead 2 review. Should you choose, you can sink a huge number of hours into exploring the vast American wilderness and enjoying the beautiful environments it presents, hunting animals to provide for your friends and family, or robbing trains to--well, provide for your friends and family in a less wholesome way. To help you hit the ground running we've put together a number of tips that that'll help you get along better earlier in the game. These should serve as a primer to jumping into the world of Red Dead Redemption 2, so we've included a bunch of some of smaller things that, once we realised them, made for smoother play sessions. Alongside those, there's information that the game tells you, but perhaps doesn't stress upon as much as it should. Crucially, this is all spoiler free, so you're in no danger of hearing about that moment where [REDACTED]. For more Red Dead Redemption 2 tips we've got spoiler-free guides on how the morality and honor systems work, the best way to make money, and some information on how weapon customization functions. If you're planning to spend a bunch of time fishing, we've got a guide for that too. Make sure to also watch Quickdraw, our weekly Red Dead Redemption 2 video series. In the first episode we looked at previous Rockstar games that have influenced RDR 2. The second episode, meanwhile, is a story recap of the original Red Dead Redemption.
Fit As A Fiddle
Red Dead Redemption 2 gets surprisingly in-depth with information on the health and well being of its main character, Arthur Morgan. And to really make the most of these you should head into the "Player" menu in the pause screen and select "Arthur." You'll be presented with information cards that clue you into the state of your Health, Stamina, and Dead Eye cores, which dictate how quickly each of these attributes regenerates. To guarantee you're operating at peak performance you need to maintain your Cores by eating, resting, and generally keeping Arthur in good shape. You'll also get information on the actual numerical percentage of how much core you have remaining. Temperature and weight impact stats for health and stamina respectively, so if you're layering up in the heat or walking around in the chillier parts of the world as if it's a warm summer's day, you'll see Arthur's health drain faster. Similarly, if your Arthur is thick with two Cs, stamina will take a hit but your health will be boosted slightly. However, if he's on the thinner side, health will be impacted negatively, but your stamina will improve a bit. All outlaws are beautiful in our eyes, but if you have a specific playstyle in mind it's important to watch your weight and manage it to suit you.
Mapped Shortcut
This is a very small quality of life improvement that has a big impact. You'll spend a whole lot of time going into and out of the map in Red Dead Redemption 2. Its world is vast and although there are key locations that you'll travel to, along with waypoints to guide you there, the game also cultivates a wanderlust. Sometimes, this may mean going out into the wild west to hunt, and if you're looking for a specific animals you'll need to head to particular spots. Other times you may just want to trot around to see what strange situations and scenarios present themselves to you. Initially, getting the map up can seem like a two-step process: pressing the start button to bring up the pause menu, then selecting the map option. However, you can expedite this by instead holding the start button down, which will take you straight to the map. This is a common thing in modern open-world games but it isn't explicitly mentioned so it can be an easy to miss detail.
Circle of Life
Hunting is a crucial part of Red Dead Redemption 2. It brings in resources for you and the rest of your gang to survive off, but also lets you build a deeper connection with the world around you through study and observation. When you come across an animal to hunt, don't just go all Yosemite Sam on it. Instead, be more Elmer Fudd and take it slow. Be sure to use the study prompt as you'll get an entry in the "Animals" section of the Compendium that tells you a little more about it. This includes details on how they behave, the best weapons to use to bring them down cleanly (and thus increase their value), and what they can be used for. Early in Red Dead Redemption 2 you're taken out on a hunt and given a runthrough of how it works. It's all fairly simple, but there are two main tricks that help considerably. The first is masking your own scent. Press in the analogue sticks to activate Eagle Eye and you'll see an aura emanating off you--that's your own body funk, don't be ashamed, you're a rough and ready outlaw living off the land and farting into the winds whenever it suits you--this is the good life. You'll need to make sure those wisps of B.O. aren't being carried towards the animal, as they're super judgemental about odors and will bolt. If you're out on a tricky hunt we recommend heading to a vendor first, as they'll usually sell you an item to mask your smell, or you can craft one. Also hit the baths regularly; there's a limit to how much you can smell like sun baked horse poop. The other tip is to attract the attention of an animal locking on to them and then pressing square (on PS4) or X (on Xbox One). This causes the animal to raise its head and leaves it in the perfect position to be brought down cleanly. We recommend trying to use a bow as often as possible when hunting, as it's quieter and better for getting clean kills. Don't forget to give your pelts to Pearson back at the camp, or one of the Trappers that appears. They will hold on to them them for you to come back and use for crafting later.
Hop The Fence
At a certain point in the game you'll complete a mission and meet a Fence. No, we're not talking about a wooden partition typically used to enclose outside areas and made of posts connected by either boards, rails, or wires, we're talking about the criminal variety of Fence. These folk will buy stolen goods from you, which is handy if you've just five-finger discounted a carriage or horses. However, they'll also more than happily take small ticket items off your hands, so if you're the robbing and heisting type, Fences will be your best buddies. However, if you're fresh off committing a crime and have a bounty on you, you'll need to first pay off this off at the Post Office, as Fences won't chat to you otherwise.
Pistols At Dawn
The basics of shooting in Red Dead Redemption 2 are familiar, simple, and intuitive. However, your gun has more uses than filling folks with lead. In fact, it can also be used to get what you want out of a person without killing them. The thundering clap of gunfire has a way of persuading people to be more compliant, so if you take out your gun, hold the aim button, and then press up on the directional pad, Arthur will point his gun into the air. When you fire, you may find people a little more deterred from acting out. While many will usually comply for fear of losing their lives, others may ignore you. You can usually tell whether it's going to work based on the other person's demeanour. The cowardly types tend to stop dead in their tracks, but if you're robbing someone and they have a defiant attitude, you may be out of luck. Nevertheless, it's worth a shot into the sky. For those after a gun-focused tip that's useful in combat, hit the square or X button while aiming to execute a dolphin dive. The game has a cover system to keep you safe when the bullets are flying, but the dive is a handy way of minimizing risk when moving point to point.
Wicky Wicky Wild Wild West
For those who enjoy exploring the nooks and crannies of far-off virtual lands, Red Dead Redemption 2 provides plenty to uncover. One of the most immersive ways to experience it all is to turn off the in-game map and rely on your own sense of direction and navigational skills to get around. If you hold down on the directional pad and opt for turning off the minimap, characters that you ride with will be more forthcoming with directions, which makes for a more natural--and authentic--form of discovery. If you find yourself struggling, however, you can always just tap down again to briefly bring up the map to get your bearings. While you're out and about, keep your eyes peeled for smoke in the sky; where there's smoke, there's usually a (camp)fire, and this more often than not will either lead to a side-mission or a memorable random encounter. Similarly, listen for things happening in your environment, as you may hear someone shouting for help or beckoning you to come over as you pass by. Sometimes it's easier to just use public transport to get where you need to, and to make use of fast travel you can hop on a taxi coach or a train. These are usually only available in towns, but if you upgrade Dutch's quarters in the camp, you can then also purchase a map for Arthur that allows him to return to certain previously visited locations.
Gimmie The Loot, Gimmie The Loot
Money makes the world go round, and you'll need to keep a constant influx of cash to get by. While exploring the world and doing missions, it's common to come upon abandoned camps with lots of items up for picking. Sometimes you'll have to walk up to individual items and snatch them up, but you may also stumble upon a bunch of goodies in close proximity to each other. In these situations, simply hold down the loot button and Arthur will pocket the valuables as smoothly as one of Fagin's boys. One of the most consistent sources of cash and goods is the bodies of your fallen enemies. Naturally, you'll be taking out a whole lot of people, and you should make it a point of stripping them of their valuables while you're at it. As with the previous game, enemies you've killed are marked on the map with a small 'x', so once battles have subsided, ensure you head over to all the corpses and recover your spoils.
Horseplay
As the saying that we just made up this second goes, "A cowboy is only as good as the horse he or she rides in on," so you'll want to spend time strengthening your bond with your noble steed. The easiest way to deepen your bond with your horse is through positive reinforcement. When you're moving at a *checks Google* "two-beat trot," press in the left analogue stick and Arthur will tell his horse how much he values it and how it's the bestest and bravest. From our experience, the cooldown on this is around 14 seconds, so you could min-max wholesome horse compliments to build your bond quicker. As your bond grows, your horse's health and stamina will improve, you'll be able to whistle for it from further away, and it'll come to you even if you're in combat. It'll also cross deeper water and rougher terrain, and if someone tries to steal it, they'll have a much harder time. Other abilities such as rearing, skid turning or stopping, and even dressage also become available. There's also some tricks to riding a horse properly, as well as best practices. If you tap the X or A buttons in time with your horse's gallops you'll reduce the rate at which it uses stamina, which means you can run faster for longer. Make sure to also give it regular breaks and feed it often. As the other saying we just made up goes, "A healthy horse is the wind beneath a gunslinger's feet." When you're riding long distances you also have the option to use the cinematic camera. If you set a waypoint on the map and there's a direct line along a defined route there, then switch to the cinematic camera, your horse will stay true and all you've got to do is hold the run button down.
The Right To Bear Arms
Red Dead Redemption 2 has a diverse range of weaponry available for you to implement in your cowboying ways. For quite a few hours you'll find yourself limited to the basics: six-shooters, rifles, and shotguns--and the more basic versions of them at that. If you're the kind of person who finds themselves frequently staring down the barrel of a gun with another poor soul in your crosshairs, you may be tempted to save up some cash to try and get new, more powerful weapons. If that's what you want to do, go ahead; it's the wild west and you're an outlaw so be the master of your own destiny and all that. However, if you want to save yourself a bit of cash and get your hands on some powerful weaponry, spend time focusing on doing the main story missions. Unsurprisingly, the game is very generous in giving you useful rewards when completing these missions, so if you follow the critical path you'll get showered with new guns, items, and equipment. Resisting the urge to ride out into the wild lands of America with nothing but a gun and your horse to make a name for yourself may be difficult, but stick with the gang for a bit in the early game and it'll be worth your while in the long run.
Wish You Were Here
Finally, here's a quick tip that will keep FOMO at bay. Make sure to do the missions that appear as white icons around your camp. These are usually activities that you undertake alongside other members of the Van der Linde gang, and provide some nice characterization moments. These will disappear after a while, either because they're time sensitive or because narrative advancements wipe them away. If one of these pops up, make sure to prioritize them over the yellow, core missions. Those will always be there, waiting for you.
By Matt Espineli on Nov 28, 2018 07:57 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.
Dragon Ball FighterZ -- 9/10
"FighterZ is complex and distinct enough to be enjoyed by fighting game competitors, but there's no question that it's been designed to tap into the hearts of Dragon Ball's most dedicated fans, and no doubt those same qualities will win people over who've never given the series a chance. Where past games attempted to get there through huge character rosters and deliberately predictable trips down memory lane, FighterZ has bottled the essence of what makes the series' characters, animation, and sense of humor so beloved and reconfigured it into something new: a Dragon Ball fighting game that can go toe-to-toe with the best of the genre." [Read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Managing Editor
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
The Missing: JJ Macfield and the Island of Memories -- 8/10
"The faltering plot twist doesn't detract from the overall experience. The Missing is smaller and more mechanically conventional than Deadly Premonition or D4, but its components remain focused on distinctly a Swery game: a dark, idiosyncratic experience that tells a deeply personal story that's as confronting as it is sincere. It is absolutely not for everyone, but as the game reminds us, there is nothing wrong with that." [Read the review] -- David Wildgoose
Diablo 3: Eternal Collection -- 9/10
"Diablo 3 is a game about long term goals accomplished in short, thrilling bursts. It's rewarding and subtle. It's flashy and boisterous. I have spent six years enjoying it, and will likely spend six years more. As far as video games go, that's a long time--I came into the Eternal Collection expecting a eulogy for one of my favorite games. Instead, I stumbled upon a celebration." [Read the review] -- Mike Mahardy
Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu / Eevee -- 8/10
"Despite these concessions, Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee are delightful reimaginings of the series' origins and a deep RPG in their own right. It makes a lot of smart improvements on the original Red, Blue and Yellow while holding on to what made them so special in the first place. Fans of the series might be let down by the lack of features they've come to expect, but Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee take the Pokemon formula in some exciting new directions." [Read the review] -- Jake Dekker
Full Metal Furies -- 8/10
"So yes, Full Metal Furies is primarily a brawler, and a good one that promotes teamwork instead of button-mashing. But it's also a very hard puzzle game, one that challenges you to perceive each level, as well as the game's mechanics and characters, in new ways. It's a shame most of the Furies are so two-dimensional throughout the main campaign--especially Meg, who's arguably the most lovable of the bunch--but the story is consistently witty with its humor and an absolute joy to watch unfold. And while coming up with strategies to handle new enemies and piecing together the clues for each puzzle is fairly difficult at times, it's a rewarding and deeply satisfying challenge." [Read the review] -- Jordan Ramee, Associate Editor
By Matt Espineli on Nov 28, 2018 07:56 am
The Best Around
It feels just like yesterday, but PS4 launched over four years ago, and a ton of games have come out in that time. As such, it can be tough to sort through all of them and decide what to play. Luckily, we at GameSpot have played tons of PS4 over the years and have more than a few recommendations to start you off with--whether you're a new PS4 owner or have had the console and are just looking for something you might've missed. In this feature, we've collected the best PS4 games so far. This includes many of the games that have received an 8 or higher on GameSpot, and we've prioritized games that were nominated for our end-of-year Best PS4 Game lists. Check out our choices for the best games released on the PS4. And with the console's library continuing to expand, make sure to check back often as we update this feature over the coming weeks and months. For more PS4 games on a budget, see our roundups of the best cheap games on PS4, and make sure to check out our gallery of the best PS4 exclusive games confirmed for 2018 as well as the biggest PS4 games of 2018 for everything coming to the console. There are heaps of amazing PS4 games out there. Which PS4 games do you love the most? Doesn't matter if it's popular or incredibly underrated. Let us know in the comments below.
Red Dead Redemption 2 -- 9/10
"While Red Dead Redemption was mostly focused on John Marston's story, Red Dead 2 is about the entire Van der Linde gang--as a community, as an idea, and as the death rattle of the Wild West. It is about Arthur, too, but as the lens through which you view the gang, his very personal, very messy story supports a larger tale. Some frustrating systems and a predictable mission structure end up serving that story well, though it does take patience to get through them and understand why. Red Dead Redemption 2 is an excellent prequel, but it's also an emotional, thought-provoking story in its own right, and it's a world that is hard to leave when it's done." [Read the review] -- Kallie Plagge
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 -- 8/10
"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." [Read the review] -- Kallie Plagge
Marvel's Spider-Man -- 9/10
"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." [Read the review] -- Edmond Tran, Senior Editor and Producer
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
Guacamelee 2 -- 9/10
"Everything about Guacamelee 2 comes off as smarter and more thoughtful than the first game, even while indulging in its self-aware shenanigans and Rick & Morty-esque dimensional hijinks. The game never stops finding new ways to hook you in, to the point that even the most painstaking and intensive playthroughs feel like they just fly by. Saving the numerous timelines in Guacamelee 2 is just as much about partaking in a marvel of devious, meticulous game design as it is about saving Juan and his family from peril." [Read the review] -- Justin Clark
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
Onrush -- 9/10
"When it comes to crumpling metal and high speed thrills, not all of Onrush's game modes are on equal footing in terms of consistent excitement. Yet its foundations are so strong, and so unique, that it's easy to lose hours upon hours barreling around these disparate tracks. The question of longevity will, of course, depend on post-release support, with new classes, game modes, and tracks potentially on the horizon. Considering you need 12 players to fill a full room, it would be a shame if Onrush doesn't find the kind of audience that will give it the lifespan it deserves. Part of this will depend on how Codemasters iterates on the game from here on out, but they've shown a proficiency in knowing how arcade racing games click, and Onrush is such a bold, refreshing twist on the genre that there should be little hesitation in putting your faith in them to succeed." -- Richard Wakeling
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life -- 8/10
"Yakuza 6 reins in its scope, but doubles down on what has made the series great. It's a unique and fascinating representation of the modern Japanese experience, worth playing even if you're a newcomer. The narrative is dramatic and sincere, and the game's endearing characters--coming from all walks of life--are interesting studies. The world is dense and rewarding to exist in, the dynamic combat system stays exciting even after you've kicked the crap out of five thousand enemies, and perhaps most importantly, Yakuza 6: The Song Of Life serves as a fulfilling conclusion to the turbulent, decade-long saga of its beloved icon, Kazuma Kiryu." [read the full review] -- Edmond Tran, Senior Editor and Video Producer
God Of War -- 9/10
"In many ways God of War is what the series has always been. It's a spectacular action game with epic set pieces, big-budget production values, and hard-hitting combat that grows more feverish and impressive as you progress. What may surprise you is how mature its storytelling has become. Like Kratos, God of War recalls the past while acknowledging the need to improve. Everything new it does is for the better, and everything it holds onto benefits as a result. Kratos is no longer a predictable brute. God of War is no longer an old-fashioned action series. With this reboot, it confidently walks a new path that will hopefully lead to more exciting adventures to come." [read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Bloodborne -- 9/10
"The finest treasures are found within the city of Yharnam and the forests, lakes, and purgatories beyond it. Only Bloodborne would be so bold as to bury an entire factional player-versus-player mechanic within an optional region, which is in turn buried within a series of oblique steps you might miss if you aren't exploring every nook and cranny, or ignore the game's enigmatic hints. I finished Bloodborne in less time than I did Dark Souls II, yet I treasure it more in spite of its few missteps. In death there is life, and in blood, there is redemption. More hyperbole, yes, but for a game this theatrical, only hyperbole will do." [read the full review] -- Kevin VanOrd
Monster Hunter: World -- 8/10
"Ever since the title was first announced last year, it was clear that Capcom was gunning for something grander than Monster Hunter Generations. It has succeeded, and this is likely the biggest and best that the franchise has ever been. It's not just the comparative depth of the narrative; it also boasts almost seamless integration between combat systems that were previously incomprehensible for amateurs. The Monster Hunter formula has definitely honed its claws, and all the above factors play their part in making Monster Hunter World a meaningful evolution for the series at large." [read the full review] -- Ginny Woo
Celeste -- 9/10
"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
Stardew Valley -- 9/10
"On the surface, Stardew Valley is a game about farming, but there are more adventures awaiting curious players beyond cultivating a rich and bountiful garden. From mining and fishing to making friends and falling in love, Stardew Valley's Pelican Town is stuffed with rewarding opportunities. As modern day woes give way to pressing matters on the farm and within your newfound community, Stardew Valley's meditative activities often lead to personal reflection in the real world. It's a game that tugs at your curiosity as often as it does your heart." [read the full review] -- Mary Kish
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard -- 8/10
"By the end of the campaign, I was ready for the game to be over, but that's okay. RE7 ends just as it starts to outstay its welcome, and after the fact, I felt like I'd survived a truly harrowing journey. The boss fights may be slightly inconsistent and certain sections might drag after a while, but RE7 is still a remarkable success. It has a clear vision and executes it with impressive patience and precision. By returning to horror, Resident Evil has once again become something special." [read the full review] -- Scott Butterworth
Night in the Woods -- 9/10
"Both intensely personal and widely relatable, Night in the Woods doesn't just tell a story--it gracefully captures complex, often unpleasant feelings and experiences. From the quiet melancholy of doing nothing on a rainy day to the emotional vacuum of severe depression, I felt deeply, sometimes too deeply, while wandering through the cartoon-animal version of a small Midwestern town. Its witty writing and character development keep its crushing existential themes grounded, making Night in the Woods one of the most evocative games I've played in a long time." [read the full review] -- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Overwatch -- 9/10
"Overwatch is an exercise in refined chaos. There are multitudes of layers hiding beneath the hectic surface, and they emerge, one after another, the more you play. This is a shooter that knows how to surprise, one that unfolds at a frantic pace, one that takes a handful of great ideas, and combines them into something spectacular." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End -- 10/10
"Uncharted 4's gameplay pushes the narrative forward, the narrative feeds off its gameplay, and every detail coalesces to create something bigger. Uncharted 4 bounces between set pieces and personal moments with such grace, with such skill and poise and affection for its characters, that you don't mind when the guns stop firing, and the smoke clears, and Nathan gets a moment to breathe." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Titanfall 2 -- 9/10
"Titanfall 2 demonstrates a vitality that its predecessor couldn't. Whereas the first Titanfall kept up its breakneck pace throughout the entirety of every match, Titanfall 2 understands that sometimes, dialing things back for a few moments can make the long run much more enjoyable. In many ways, Titanfall 2 feels like the game Respawn should have made in 2013. It's a fantastic sequel. It's a fluid shooter. It's a spectacular game." [read the full review] -- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Dishonored 2 -- 8/10
"Any time I'm given a choice between stealth and action, I go stealth. I love the hold-your-breath tension of hoping a guard didn't spot you and the hard-earned triumph of executing a perfectly timed plan. Dishonored 2 delivers that sneaky satisfaction, arming you with stealth essentials like hiding bodies, peering through keyholes, and silent takedowns. But it's also an incredible engine for gleeful chaos, one so engrossing and amusing that I kind of accidentally beat the entire campaign raining hilarious, elaborate death on my enemies." [read the full review] -- Scott Butterworth
Dark Souls III -- 8/10
"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
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
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
NBA 2K17 -- 9/10
"Despite its few drawbacks, NBA 2K17's excitement for basketball is contagious, and it's hard not to get wrapped up in it. Apart from the lacking 2KU mode and stiff recreations of commentators, the rest of the game looks great and plays even better. After finally devoting a significant amount of time to one of these games, I now see why it's such a well-regarded series, and it makes me wish that every sport got the same treatment that basketball does in NBA 2K17." -- Mat Paget
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
Until Dawn -- 8/10
"I didn't expect to have so much fun with Until Dawn, and the depth with which my choices mattered and affected the final outcome encouraged repeat playthroughs. The visuals can be wonky at times, but in the end Until Dawn succeeds in being a thoughtful use of familiar mechanics, a great achievement in player-driven narrative, and a horror game you shouldn't miss." [read the full review] -- Alexa Ray Corriea
The Last Guardian -- 9/10
"It isn't clear whether or not The Last Guardian means to be frustrating at times--if it's a concerted effort to test your patience for a lovable-yet-stubborn creature. Your affection for Trico and sympathy for both characters blossom nonetheless, culminating in an enrapturing series of revelations that cements your attachment to their personalities. Trico is the undeniable star of the show, exhibiting believable physicality and emotional range, but the boy is a valuable lesson in how to be patient and resilient when faced with unforeseen challenges. When the book closes on their story, it's hard not to open it up again and begin anew. The trials you overcome endear you to both characters, but the emotions Trico elicits make you want to give it another chance--to be the patient, effective partner it truly deserves." [read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Rocket League -- 9/10
"The joy of Rocket League rests on the countless plans that are conceived and discarded every other second in any given match. Trying to predict where and how the ball will bounce next is a game within the game. Despite the use of cars, Rocket League emulates the emotional surges typical of The Beautiful Game, such as the rush of an unexpected fast break or a well-timed header into a goal. With Rocket League, the promising concept of combining two wonderful things--cars and soccer--is equally magnificent in execution. You can't say the same thing about, say, combining cake and fruit to make fruitcake, as the comedian Jim Gaffigan observed." [read the full review] -- Miguel Concepcion
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice -- 8/10
"Hellblade's most notable achievement is the handling of an incredibly sensitive subject matter within an engaging and well-crafted action/adventure game. At its heart, the story is about Senua's struggle to come to terms with her illness. In the process, she learns to find the strength within herself to endure, and to make peace with her past. And in a profound and physical way, we go through those same struggles with her, and come away with a better understanding of a piece of something that many people in the world struggle with." [read the full review] -- Alessandro Fillari, Editor
MLB The Show 18 -- 9/10
"Sony's flagship baseball franchise has never been better. With its best-in-class controls and visuals, and impeccable attention to detail for the small stuff, MLB The Show 18 is worth catching for any baseball fan." [read the full review]
Horizon: Zero Dawn -- 9/10
"This is the first departure from the Killzone series for developer Guerrilla Games, and though you might think the team took a risk by stepping out of its FPS comfort zone to create a third-person open-world action game, you'd never know it was their first rodeo. For every minor imperfection, there's an element of greatness that recharges your desire to keep fighting and exploring Zero Dawn's beautiful and perilous world. Guerrilla Games has delivered one of the best open-world games of this generation, and redefined its team's reputation in the process." [read the full review] -- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Nier: Automata -- 9/10
"Thanks to Platinum Games' knack for riveting and gratifying combat, Automata is Yoko Taro's most exciting game to date. The combat mechanics click after hurdling a low learning curve, and the end result is a skillful dance where balletic dodges complement wushu-inspired aggression. Moreover, this multi-ending trip is generously peppered with surprises and revelations, as well as easter eggs that call back to the first game and the Drakengard series from which Nier spun off. It's a meaty, often exhilarating trek that showcases Platinum Games' and Yoko Taro's unique blend of genius." [read the full review] -- Miguel Concepcion
Persona 5 -- 9/10
"Within Persona 5 is a complex set of interconnected gameplay mechanics, and in almost every aspect Atlus has executed on its vision exceptionally, barring the pacing issues towards the end. At every turn, it presents something to marvel at, whether it's the fluid combat, vibrant world, or the many memorable characters. It's a game I could talk about for hours; I haven't mentioned the ability to connect to the Thieves Guild, which lets you see how other players spent their day or ask them for help answering questions at school. Or the thumping acid-jazz-infused soundtrack that I've not been able to get out of my head. Or even just the joy of seeing how it stylishly transitions between menus. But that encapsulates why Persona 5 is a game that shouldn't be missed. It's stuffed to bursting point with gameplay ideas and presentation flourishes--there's an overwhelming level of artistry in every part of Persona 5, making it a truly standout entry in the series. It's a refined, effortlessly stylish RPG that will be talked about for years to come." [read the full review] -- Lucy James, Video Producer
Unravel Two -- 8/10
"With its charming yarnlings and a newfound style of platforming, Unravel Two remains welcoming even at its most foreboding. Sure, a forest fire breaks out in one of the latter stages, but even then, the race to keep ahead of the blaze is fun and frantic instead of stressful. In almost every moment you're given ample time and space to breathe and take in the stunning photorealistic world from the viewpoint of the tiniest creatures. It's a game with boisterous birds, chases through meadows, and most importantly a cheerful partnership with a companion who's always got your back. With only six chapters that run roughly 30 minutes apiece, Unravel Two doesn't last long, but it's a game where the time you have is meaningful, memorable, and downright pleasant from beginning to end." -- Justin Clark
Madden NFL 18 -- 9/10
"Overall, Madden 18 marks an unusually large shakeup in a series that, due to its annualized releases, rarely features much more than small, iterative changes. The Frostbite engine allows the game to reach new levels of realism in its visuals, and EA has put a lot of effort into constantly evolving the game to keep it in line with real-world events. But it is the Longshot story mode that defines Madden 18. Some of Longshot is unnecessary spectacle, but its lasting value comes from the humanity that it brings to the game. The moments of vulnerability and sincerity between Devin Wade and Colt Cruise during the story are worthy of celebration and give the overall game a weight that Madden hasn't had before. And if that's not enough to entice you, it's also simply a terrific football game." [read the full review] -- Alex Newhouse
Far Cry 5 -- 9/10
"Despite some brief irritations and missed opportunities with its narrative, spending time in the world of Hope County remains absolutely delightful. Far Cry 5 boasts a wonderfully harmonious flow to its adventure, with its smart changes to exploration, discovery, and progression distinctly bolstering the enjoyment of creatively engaging and experimenting with its spectacular open world." [read the full review] -- Edmond Tran, Senior Producer/Editor
Transistor -- 8/10
"Transistor is always a good-looking game, but in these instances, it demonstrates a rare knack for combining its visuals and music to powerfully convey both narrative information and tone, driving the story forward with Red's own unwavering resolve. So in the end, yes, Transistor is a fun action role-playing game with a neat combat system, but beautiful moments like these make it more than that. They make it a game with a soul." [read the full review] -- Carolyn Petit
Yakuza 0 -- 8/10
"Unless you have a strong aversion to violence, sex, or middling graphics, you owe it to yourself to give Zero a chance. Its story will surprise you, its inhabitants will make you laugh at every turn, and its ambitious scope will redefine how you think about open-world games. It's a fascinating adventure no matter how you approach it, and it's proof positive that a game can be wildly inconsistent yet remain a great experience." [read the full review]
Inside -- 8/10
"This is a beautiful, haunting, and memorable game, a worthy follow-up to Limbo. Its puzzles, although rarely difficult, are engaging complements to the story. The real achievement of this game, though, is the way that it crafts its narrative: detailed environments convey the bizarre world that you travel through; introspective moments are filled with minimalist sound design and just the barest touches of music; and the things you must do to complete your journey force you to confront the realities of humanity, freedom, and existence." [read the full review] -- Alex Newhouse
Blazblue: Cross Tag Battle -- 9/10
"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
The Crew 2 -- 8/10
"I'm annoyed by the game's lack of public interaction and meaningless gear system, but I'll fondly recall both the tension of flinging sprint boats back and forth through the narrow, artificial canals of The Venetian in Las Vegas, and the easygoing satisfaction of an hour-long hypercar race from New York to San Francisco, where I listened to a podcast and enjoyed the rolling scenery. Despite its shortcomings, The Crew 2 still displays admirable strengths, which lie in its player-friendly features, freedom of movement, and its willingness to bend the rules in order to make things exciting and varied for an accessible, American-themed thrillride." [Read the full review] -- Edmond Tran, Senior Editor and Video Producer
No Man's Sky Next -- 8/10
"At its absolute best, No Man's Sky is a measured, gentle experience where you are rarely the agent of change, but a perpetual visitor who's constantly dwarfed by the magnitude of a universe neutral to your presence. It is not your job in these stories to colonize the universe. Your job is to comprehend it. Your job is to recognize the spirituality in it. The primary gimmick of No Man's Sky, since day one, has been awe. The best things about the Next update feed that gimmick. While features like multiplayer and base-building certainly put more proverbial asses in seats, they're also the least memorable additions to an otherwise thoughtful experience." [Read the full review] -- Justin Clark
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes Of An Elusive Age -- 9/10
"Innovation in games is talked about a lot, but it's also great to see traditional gameplay formulas that have been around for decades presented exceptionally well. Dragon Quest XI is one of the best modern examples of this; its beautiful presentation, both visual- and story-wise, combines with a tried-and-true gameplay formula for a journey that's full of heart and soul. Once you find yourself sucked into the world of Dragon Quest XI, it's going to be hard to put down until you reach the grand finale." [Read the full review] -- Heidi Kemps
Assassin's Creed Odyssey -- 8/10
"Despite this, Assassin's Creed Odyssey's ambition is admirable, which is reflected in its rich attention to detail for the era and its approach to handling the multi-faceted narrative with strong protagonists at the lead. While its large-scale campaign--clocking in at over 50 hours--can occasionally be tiresome, and some features don't quite make the impact they should, Odyssey makes great strides in its massive and dynamic world, and it's a joy to venture out and leave your mark on its ever-changing setting." [Read the review] -- Alessandro Fillari, Editor
Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise -- 8/10
"Lost Paradise may replicate the Yakuza series' format, but it's filled with a passion for FotNS that makes it fantastic all on its own. While previous games based on the property have adapted its story and characters with some success, few have managed to not only nail the style and tone but redefine what's possible with its world and characters. RGG Studios has done a splendid job at evoking the justice-fueled power fantasy Kenshiro represents, succeeding in revealing more about the historic and beloved character in amusing and unexpected ways." [Read the review] -- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor
Spyro the Dragon: Reignited Trilogy -- 8/10
"The Reignited Trilogy is the best kind of collection that not only brings a beloved series up to current visual standards but also proves just how well-built the original titles were. Granted, the originals were done by a little studio called Insomniac, and it's not exactly surprising something that team did is a fine example of the genre. But the Reignited Trilogy's developer, Toys for Bob, deserves major kudos for bringing Insomniac's vision to life in the way we could've only dreamed in 1998." [Read the review] -- Justin Clark
Hitman 2 -- 8/10
"The addition of other minor mechanical changes--like concussive weapons, a picture-in-picture enemy activity alert, and visible security camera sightlines--help to improve Hitman 2 overall as a dense and accessible stealth assassination game. But the new locations are the real stars, impressive and inventive sandboxes ripe for picking apart with exciting experiments. Hitman is about experiencing the anticipation of seeing whether a plan will work when you try it for the first time. It's about feeling the tension of briskly walking away from a bad situation, hoping you can lose the suspicious guards. It's the satisfaction of knowing the machinations of a level so well that when a target moves into a particular place at a particular time, you have the perfect way to intervene. Hitman 2 is a familiar experience, but in the Hitman world, familiarity is an incredible strength." [Read the review] -- Edmond Tran, Senior Editor and Producer
Battlefield 5 -- 8/10
"The Battlefield series has a winning formula that Battlefield V doesn't deviate far from, at least for now. Conquest and the map roster don't mesh well together, however, Grand Operations--and the other modes within it--steal the show and foster some of the greatest moments the franchise has offered. You might be surprised by the impact of the slight changes made for this entry, especially when you're deep into pushing or defending objectives in Frontlines alongside teammates fulfilling their roles. That's when Battlefield V is at its best." [Read the review] -- Michael Higham, Associate Editor
By Alessandro Fillari on Nov 28, 2018 07:55 am
Welcome To West Virginia
Fallout 76 is a much different from previous games in the franchise. First off, it's the first online game in the series' history, with a far more in-depth focus on survival and crafting. This new approach on the familiar post-apocalyptic RPG's mechanics will take some time getting used to--and players will be doing that together in a shared world. You won't be alone out in the wasteland, which should bring some comfort in the path ahead, though, rogue players are more than likely to give you a hard time if you aren't careful. In this guide feature, we've come up with a handful of tips and a short list of things to do during your first few hours exploring the ruins of West Virginia. As the earliest game in the Fallout timeline, set only 25 years after the bombs fell, the inhabitants of Vault 76 will explore a world that's still in disarray after the nuclear apocalypse. Though the setting of West Virginia was largely spared from the bombs, radiation and chaos have seeped into the valley, irreparably altering wildlife, and unearthing creatures that many thought to be legend. While the main hook is the focus on surviving a violent, irradiated world full of other players online, the familiar aspects of the Fallout experience are alive and well in 76--there are even some surprises for the eagle-eyed fans to uncover. If you've been playing the beta, you'll be happy to know that all of your progress is transferring over to the full game. But if you're new to the game, here's a quick survival guide to help you overcome the odds. For more info on Fallout 76, be sure to check out footage from the first 50 minutes of the game, and along with our chat with Pete Hines about the current state of the game, and what lies ahead. If you're more curious about how the game is, read our Fallout 76 review.
Explore The Vault
Instead of being rushed out the Vault door like in other Fallout games, with hostile Vault-tec security or irradiated radroaches nipping at your heels, you're afforded the chance to calmly prepare yourself for the expedition on the surface. After creating your character and taking a quick photo of yourself for you nametag, you'll grab your new pip-boy and get to explore the vault at your leisure--and even interact with other players starting out as well.
Once you leave your room, be sure to examine every point of interest on your way up to the entrance. These stops will get you stocked up with new items and supplies, which includes a starting set of Perk Cards, purified water, and the all important C.A.M.P device--allowing you to build structures in the outside world. Around the Vault, you'll find various holotapes that tell you more about the residents of the bunker, which includes the vault Overseer who's gone missing. Once you're ready, make your way towards the exit of the Vault. Though rest assured, if at any time you want to return, the Vault's door will always be open to you--even allowing for fast travel at no cost.
Take In The Sights
Starting out in the Western portion of the map, set in the Appalachian region, you're in a prime spot to branch out into the other parts of the West Virginian wilderness. Your map is one of the most valuable resources you have, which highlights many of the major attractions in the area--akin to an amusement park guide. But in between those major points of interests, there are many different areas that house valuable loot, interesting story details, and some usual monsters to fight. Moreover, you'll often find events and side-missions while exploring, which can open up some interesting diversions. While the entire map is free to explore at the beginning, it would be best not to branch out too far into other regions. Here are some interesting locations that you can explore in the early hours of Fallout 76, all located in reasonable distance from the Vault - Top of the World Ski Lodge: Located in the center of the map on top of a mountain, making it one of the highest spots in game. Resembling an old-school, gimmicky resort, this ski-lodge now houses bloatflies and Super Mutants. When exploring this site, you'll also be able to find one of the game's more unusual melee weapons known as the Ski Sword. - The Greenbrier Resort: Found just south of the ski lodge, this resort is an extremely ritzy location that feels more like a time capsule than a ruin. With an army of Protectrons maintaining the grounds and keeping nasty foes out, the resort is in surprisingly good condition having survived more than twenty years of no activity. While exploring the inside, you will find mobs feral ghouls, all of whom have kept their attachment to the posh lifestyle of their past lives. - Horizon's Rest: Located just west of the Top of the World ski lodge, this ruined plane has been converted into a multi-level living quarters for survivors. However, the owners have since abandoned it, leaving behind an armory filled with weapons, ammo, and armor for anyone who's able to find the clues to unlock it.
Stick With The Beginning Story Missions
Once outside, you'll start the early missions of the main story. In an interesting approach that's different from past Fallout games, many of the tutorial segments take place in the open world. In a more trial-by-fire approach, you'll gradually learn more about the many systems at work while collecting a set of new weapons and supplies. Despite being given some basic survival items from the bunker, you're still an unprepared Vault Dweller in a new world, and you'll need to get new supplies fast in order to survive. Though you may have the urge to get started on your adventure and explore on your own, it's really in your best interest to take on the early missions in the main quest. Right outside the Vault door is a Mr. Gusty robot, who will let you know where to go next in your quest to find the Overseer. Within the first 10 minutes of stepping outside, you'll acquire new weapons, armor, and get used to the more nuanced mechanics in Fallout 76. This will go a long way in helping you get your feet wet in the open world, and you'll still come across many side events and opportunities to take on.
Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone
Building your character up from scratch is one of the hallmarks of the Fallout series, and 76 is no different. However, the early hours of Fallout 76 are not as generous as other games in the series, and it'll take time to gradually build up to the more familiar archetypes of previous games. But before you reach that point, you'll need to understand that you'll often have to work with what you have at your disposal--even if it's mostly scraps of items and word-down weapons that have seen better days. It's important for you to get out of your comfort zone and try out new methods and solutions for survival that you wouldn't normally take on in other games.
Rethink What Makes You SPECIAL
Given the more survivalist nature of Fallout 76, you'll have to be constantly on your toes and adapt to any situation that comes you way. The systems at work in-game allows for more flexibility, letting you refocus your character's strengths at anytime. Once you start leveling up, you'll be able to allocate SPECIAL points and gain new Perk Cards for your character. While all the SPECIAL points you invest are set in stone, the new perks you can set on your deck can be swapped out at any time. As you increase in power from leveling up and acquiring new gear, you'll be able to flesh out your character in more interesting ways. Players that often favor firearms and explosives may find themselves in a position where they'll have to double down on melee weapons and hacking, and many of the perks you find will offer up some interesting buffs to make builds that were made on the fly seem worthwhile.
Group Up
Just outside of Vault 76, you'll encounter other players who have also started their journey. While you're totally free to explore on your own and take on whatever challenges that come from being a lone wanderer in West Virginia, there are many benefits to exploring in a group. When in a group, you and your squad can communicate with each other through voice-chat--though only in short-range--which will allow you to coordinate quests and how you'll clear our some of the more challenging locations housing Scorched, Ghouls, and Super Mutants. Though this is totally doable on your own, getting a group can lessen the hassle and spare some precious resources that you would end up spending on your own.
Grouping up in a Fallout game is still a new concept, so it's better to get a feel for it sooner rather than later. To team up with others, walk over to another player and invite them into a party. If they accept the invite, you'll partner up instantly. Up to four people can work together, with each member getting their own share of the loot. However, if you want to splinter off from the group and do your own thing, you're free to do so. If you've put a lot of distance between you and your group and want to return to them, you can open up the map and fast travel to a party member, allowing you to great distances without much hassle.
Always Be Collecting
Scavenging for junk items and gear is a normal part of your journey in the post-apocalyptic wasteland. While the cheap desk fans, baseballs, and plastic cups may not seem so valuable, breaking them down to basic materials can lead to crafting new weapons, armor, and support items. The screws from a desk fan for instance can be used to craft higher-end weapon and armor upgrades your paltry starting weapons, which will help even the odds when things get tough. Moreover, items can be gathered from the game world itself, including downed tree logs, which offer wood. However, it's important not to get too greedy when exploring and junking all these items. With the deeper survival mechanics in place, every item you have in your inventory has a set weight. And with all those items added up, you'll likely find yourself overencumbered at the worst possible time. If you can't find a workbench to scrap items, you can always stay on the lookout for stash boxes, which are often located in residential areas, red rocket stations, or can be built with the C.A.M.P.. Despite this being an online game, you're not racing against others to scavenge the nearby ruins for junk. Every player will get their own haul of items, and you're never left empty handed after seeing another squad of vault dwellers rummage through a place.
Get Crafting and Stay Healthy
While there are plenty of supplies and new weapons to find in the field, these tools won't be in that great of a condition and you're much better off not leaving things to chance. The gear you create and modify with your own hands with the resources are what make the difference between surviving a shootout with Mole Miners or finding yourself face-first in the dirt.
Once you have those materials, it's best to start investing them into better items and supplies. Along with the weapon and armor workbenches, you'll need to utilize the cooking and chem stations to craft food, clean water, and healing items in order to stay healthy. While you certainly able to eat whatever stale food or use worn down weapons and armor, it all has to be done with caution. Poor weapons will breakdown fast, and dirty water and rotten food can lead to diseases and sickness for your characters--including the particularly nasty case of Radworms.
Challenge Another Player
Once you reach level 5, Fallout 76's player vs player gameplay will open up. Despite every character coming from the same Vault, where they shared safety and comfort from the outside elements, all previous friendships formed in the bunker are tossed by the wayside. While you're not committed to taking part in PVP, you may come across a relentless player who's got their eye on you. When another person attacks you, they will only deal chip damage to your character--a small fraction of their actual attack power. However, it does add up over time, and they can kill you if you've lost enough health--or if they just happen to catch you after a nasty scrape with some monsters. If this happens, you have several options at your disposal; you can fast-travel away from them, block them, or even try to engage them in a fight. The later option can go a number of different ways, especially if you're up against a stronger player, but it lead to interesting results--the winner takes any junk items that their opponent had upon their defeat. Since this is a first for the series, you may want to try out player combat as early as you can to get a feel for it. While you can usually avoid PVP, there may come a situation where dueling could work out for you, especially if they're an underleveled annoyance. However, it's usually in your best interest to keep fights clean. If you ambush others and take them out with chip damage--with the other player not fighting back--you'll be marked as a murderer and left with a large target on your back for others to see.
Take Your Time
To put it bluntly, Fallout 76 features the largest map of the series--there is no way you'll experience many of the game's more defining events during the early hours. With so much ground to cover, it's a good thing to take your time and soak up all the details during the beginning of your journey. While many players will be eager to dive into the questline dealing with the nukes, which Bethesda have been teasing since the game's reveal, this is an event that will take several hours to work up to. Moreover, many of these quests will require high-end gear, such as power armor and high end, as it puts you face to face with some of the game's most dangerous monsters, including 76's new elite foe known as the Scorchbeast. Once you've amassed an arsenal of weapons, supplies, and strengthened your character to a point where you can handle many of the tougher challenges, you'll be able to venture out into West Virginia's more notorious areas, which includes the Savage Divide and The Mire. But you're better off taking things slow, and enjoying yourself until that time comes.
By Array on Nov 28, 2018 07:54 am
Surviving West Virginia
After months of waiting, a new Fallout game has finally arrived. As you'd expect from the series, Fallout 76 is a massive game that's packed all manner of RPG systems and mechanical details many of which aren't explained in detail. Add that onto the new multiplayer functionality and it's more than likely you've got myriad questions that you need answers to. Fortunately, we're here to help with our collective knowledge having each played the game for a couple dozen hours. Many of the series' classic idiosyncrasies remain in Fallout 76. You'll wander the land, gather resources, craft items, kill a super mutant or two, and get involved in all sorts of questlines. In this feature, we go over tips you should know about the game's survival and progression systems, as well as call out important details to keep at the forefront of your mind as you play--whether it's taking time to build up your C.A.M.P. or pilfering whatever Power Armor you see. If you're keen for a more basic rundown of what to expect when you first jump into the game, be sure to check out our Fallout 76 survival guide. In that feature, we offer recommendations of cool places to check out, as well as a few beginner's tips. Fallout 76 is out now on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, but be sure to read our Fallout 76 review to see how it turned out! For more guides, you can check out our survival guide, as well as our feature highlighting where to get some easy Power Armor sets. If you've still got questions about how Fallout 76 plays, be sure to check out our feature highlighting everything you need to know about the game. In the meantime, what are some of the craziest discoveries you've made in Fallout 76? Got any useful tips to offer, too? Let us know in the comments below.
Tackle the Main Story Early On
Once you leave Vault 76, you are free to go anywhere you want. But don't let that freedom go to your head, as you most definitely lack the resources needed to survive. If you're not careful, you're likely to end up somewhere high leveled and dangerous. We strongly recommend at least doing the first couple quests in the main story, which act as an extended tutorial and also provide you with a ton of important supplies and blueprints. The story missions in the Overseer's Camp, the town of Flatwoods, and the Morgantown Airport teach you about workbenches, diseases, and how your C.A.M.P. works. You also gain a ton of basic weapons, ammo, aid supplies, recipes, and plans for building. After Morgantown, you'll be in much better shape to start exploring freely. Keep in mind that the main story is in general a great way to get new stuff and learn the game, so it's a good idea to hop back in and do it every once in a while.
Use the C.A.M.P
The C.A.M.P. is a new feature in Fallout 76 that acts as your own personal base that you can use to rest, repair equipment, and eventually build your own home. Because it's technically a camp, that means you can move it to anywhere you want on the map--for a small fee, of course. But don't fret, as stuff you've already crafted is stored and can be replaced at no cost, so you only have to worry about building something like a workbench once. Traveling to your C.A.M.P. is always free, so try to place it strategically. That means putting it near resources, existing crafting benches, and water until you have unlocked crafting stations and water purifiers to do the work for you. Even if you aren't interested in building up your C.A.M.P., it's worth creating a basic one that has all the stuff you need, like a cooking station, workbenches, and a stash. It's also worth noting that you can't just set up your C.A.M.P. anywhere you please. It needs to be in a location that isn't named. In addition, if you want to preserve your stuff from the elements, make sure to store your stuff in your Stash (more on that in the slide ahead) before leaving. There's a lot to the C.A.M.P., so be sure to check out our separate video that goes over all the nitty-gritty details.
Build a Stash
Like previous Fallout games, your character's inventory limit is going to be a consistent obstacle, because when you're carrying too much stuff, your Action Points are sapped just from moving around--compared to past games where you just became incredibly slow. Because of this, your Stash at homebase is one of your most valuable assets. Always have a Stash in your camp and use it store stuff to make space for yourself. Only you can access your Stash, so anything you place in there is safe from the hands of unfriendly players. You'll notice other Stash boxes throughout the world and in other people's camps, but using them will only access your Stash and not anybody else's. If you're far away from your camp and need to know where to look for a Stash, there will usually be one at a Train Station or Red Rocket. Always throw whatever junk you've picked up into your Stash; there's actually a command that instantly offloads all your junk in the Stash menu. Once all your junk is in your Stash, you have access to all of it at any workbench for crafting, so you don't need to worry about carrying it around everywhere you go. Do keep in mind that the Stash does have an item limit. It's not possible to build a second one, so eventually you're gonna have to start getting rid of stuff. You can't put off Spring cleaning--not even in Fallout 76!
Repairing Weapons and Armor is Different!
Weapon and armor conditions return for Fallout 76 after having been absent from Fallout 4. However, unlike Fallout 3 and New Vegas, where you could use another weapon or armor of the same type to improve the first's condition, you need specific junk to repair your gear in Fallout 76--much like how you upgrade mods. If you're missing materials, you can tag them for search just like in Fallout 4 to help you find what you need when scavenging. While armor takes a little time to bust, weapons can degrade rather quickly, so make sure to keep an eye on them--lest they break in the middle of combat.
Beware of Diseases
One of the newest additions to Fallout 76 are diseases, and they can really harm you if you're not careful. You can get them from pretty much anything. The obvious comes from enemies labeled as "diseased," such as a Diseased Radroach, which can easily infect you by simply touching you. When you see an enemy marked as "diseased," it's always best shoot them from a distance. You wouldn't think it, but beds have a high chance of giving you disease, specifically any bedding that's not raised off the ground. You also also catch diseases from eating rotten or raw food, swimming in water, or even just walking in certain areas that contain airborne diseases. That last one can be avoided by wearing certain equipment, like Hazmat or Space Suits, or Gas Masks like the Fire Breather Helmet. If you're unfortunate enough to catch a disease, your options are to either to wait it out, or cure it with medicine. Waiting for a disease to go away on its own can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour depending on the disease. Curing a disease is obviously the prefered method, but Cure Disease (actually what the item is called) can be tough to find. Alternatively, if you're in a real pinch, you can set up your camp and wait to die and then respawn, which will cure your disease.
Pilfer Power Armor
Power Armor is high-level equipment that comes in handy later on. But in your early runnings, you'll come across plenty of Power Armor chassis out in the world, but they'll only have a few pieces of armor on them. These pieces are usually around level 40, so you can't even use them most of the time. But don't ignore these just because you're at a low level, as you can still take advantage of them. Remove all the armor pieces attached to the Power Armor, and if you have the space, bring them with you to store in your Stash. After that, hop into the Power Armor chassis, as even without any armor plates attached, it'll give a defense bonus and a boost to your carrying capacity. It's worth noting that once you hop into a Power Armor chassis, it's yours, which means you can store it in your inventory or place it in your Stash. Taking the time to scavenge Power Armor pieces early on will put you in a better place when you reach the appropriate level to actually use fully decked-out Power Armor.
Pay Attention To The Verdant Season
Regions will gain what the game calls a "verdant season" where resources like plants will be more abundant. It cycles through different regions, so pay attention to the tip messages on the right of the screen so you know where to visit if you want to collect extra resources. Pay special attention for ingredients needed to cure diseases such as blood leaf, which is found near streams.
You Can Change Your Look At Any Time
If you're you're the type to spend an hour or two in the game's character creator, know that you're not locked into your choices after you confirm your appearance. Unlike previous games, Fallout 76 lets you change your appearance at any time. Simply bring up the map, tap R1 or RB to access the menu, and choose the "Change Appearance" option. Resort to this if you're in a rush to play the game and want to think about your looks later.
Don't Forget To Unlock Plans And Recipes In Your Inventory
Crafting is an important part of the Fallout experience. After all, if you're going to survive out in the Wasteland, you'll need to leverage all that useless junk you grab into functional items. As you explore, you will find new plans and recipes that'll expand your repertoire of craftable items. You might think these will get added to the workbench recipe list upon picking them up, but you'd be mistaken. To unlock them in your crafting list, simply pull up your Pipboy and confirm them in the Notes section of your inventory.
Make It A Point To Scavenge Bobby Pins And Radaway
Classic necessities from previous games, like Bobby Pins and Radaway, are much harder to come by in Fallout 76. Make it a point to investigate every nook and cranny of an environment, as these items are often tucked away in the most unexpected places. And if you've got enough money or resources, make sure to stock up by buying, trading, or crafting them. Work at it enough and before long these won't be so hard to keep in constant supply.
Interact With Others!
Fallout 76 is a multiplayer game so interacting with other players is major component. But you must be wondering: "What's possible?" First off, there is in-game voice chat that's area-based, letting you hear people close by. Direct communication is a useful tool for asking players if they want to trade or help you out. If you don't want to to hear other players you can always turn this off in the audio settings, and it's still possible to communicate with visual emotes. Trading with other players is as simple as walking up to them and pressing a button. You can get a full look at someone's inventory and request specific items you're interested in. Of course, there's also PVP. You can't attack or be attacked by other players until you're level 5, which is meant to prevent spawn camping outside Vault 76 and killing all the newcomers. Once you can attack others, you'll notice that when you first start shooting players, you will actually be inflicting a reduced amount of damage. Again, this is meant to prevent random people from just killing you, or you from killing them. If the other player attacks back, the two of you have officially engaged in combat with the damage safety turned off. While it's difficult, it's possible to kill a player who isn't fighting back, but doing so is considered murder. That puts a bounty on your head and replaces your icon on the map with a bright shiny red star, letting everyone know where you are. Any player can then murder you and be rewarded with a bounty of caps, which comes out of your personal supply. You'll get some rewards from the bodies of dead players, but looting them isn't gonna score you their armor or weapons. Instead, you only get their junk and crafting supplies. While this may not seem like much, scoring a large supply of junk can be a nice boost for you, while losing a lot of junk you just spent the last hour collecting can be pretty devastating. Luckily, your dead body will be marked on the map, so you can recover your stuff regardless of what killed you. When an encounter stops being fun and games, you can block a player by finding them on the social menu and then flagging them.
How Parties Work And Some Useful Tips
Teaming up as party comes with its own benefits. Party members can share Perks with each other (more on Perks later), as long as your Charisma stat is three times the rank of the Perk. It's best to work together with your party and figure out which perks to share to maximize the benefits of the group. When you're in a group, the questline the party leader has active is shared with the whole party, and completing the quest gives everyone the reward--even if party members have already beaten that specific quest. Party members can also fast travel to each other without needing to pay caps. You aren't tethered to each other, so you're free to split up and travel separately and then rejoin as a group whenever you want. In fact, if you're friends with someone and in the same server, you can fast travel to them for free even if you aren't in a party together. If you have a large group that needs to be broken up into multiple teams, this is a great way to stick together and form a supergroup.
Good Perk Cards To Get
Fallout 76's new leveling system is quite a bit different from previous games. This time it's based around Perk cards. Every time you level up, you can put a point into one of the seven S.P.E.C.I.A.L. skills that make up your character's stats, and then pick a card to equip for the skill. The number of points you have in that skill determines how many cards you can have. For example, if you have four points in a particular skill, you can unlock four Rank 1 cards, or two Rank 2 cards, or one Rank 3 card and one Rank 1 card. A Perk card always starts at Rank 1. If you want to upgrade its rank, you need to combine it with duplicates of the same card. There are dozens of Perk cards, many of which we've yet to find. You generally earn them by leveling up, opening up Perk card packs, or by completing challenges. Below is a rundown of which cards you should look out for. As you probably know, the Charisma skill is based around working with other players. If you're in a team, you want to use Charisma Perk cards that provides team bonuses. A useful one is Inspirational, which nets you bonus XP when in a team. But make sure to share the card if you want your whole team to get the XP boost rather than just you. Even if you aren't in a team, Charisma still has Perks, like Lone Wanderer, which reduces damage and boosts AP regen for solo players. As you play, an important factor to consider is your weight limit. Running out of space is a problem you'll face often. The Strength Perk card, Pack Rat, can reduce the weight of your junk items up to 75% at max rank. However, in our experience two of the most unexpected sources of weight are food and first aid supplies. The Agility Perk card Thru-hiker can reduce food and drink weight to a max of 90% and can easily clear up to 60 lbs from your inventory. Another good Agility Perk card is Action Girl/Boy, which lets you regenerate your AP faster. This is incready useful as it ties into your sprint, which tends to run out quickly early on. Endurance cards are useful in managing the game's survival requirements, such as reducing radiation, not needing to eat or drink as much, or preventing diseases. Make sure you and your party always have lockpick and hacking perks handy so you can unlock safes or hack terminals. Gunsmith is an incredibly useful Intelligence Perk card that makes slows gun degradation and lets you crafter higher tiers of guns as you rank it up. There's also First Aid, which increases the amount of health gained from stimpacks. These are only few examples of cards we found useful during the early parts of the game. Remember you can swap your perks at anytime, so always take the time to set them up to fit your current playstyle.
Complete Challenges to Earn Atoms
Fallout 76 has an in-game microtransaction store called the Atomic Shop you can access from the main menu. Everything it offers is purely cosmetic, like new outfits, paint jobs for you Pipboy or Power Armor, photo mode poses, and player emotes. It all costs Atoms, a currency that you can buy with real-world money. But chances are you'd rather earn those Atoms by completing in-game challenges. There's a series of set challenges you can complete along with a rotating set of daily and weekly challenges. You'll naturally complete a lot of these just from playing, but if you're itching to get more Atoms, check out the challenges page in the menu to find some of the easy ones to complete.
Rapid-Fire Tips (Other General Tips)
There's a lot of small stuff packed into the game that's worth being mindful of. Below are some tips we didn't think would suffice as their own slides, but are important to mention nonetheless: - Holotapes still play when you enter a loading screen but you no longer hear them. So if you have a tape playing wait until you leave or enter a building or fast travel until you're done listening to it.
- Always carry a Hazmat suit with you. There are tons of areas with heavy radiation that can quickly kill you the more you spend time there, so a Hazmat suit is essential. That, and they can prevent airborne and waterborne diseases.
- If you find an instrument, take 30 seconds to play it and receive the Well-tuned status, which grants you a bonus +25% AP regeneration for 1 hour.
- Be warned, if you murder someone while in a party, your teammates can start attacking you right away. You won't be able to attack them, however, because you're on the same team.
- Use a Tinker's Workbench to bulk your materials, which will condense them and reduce the weight, freeing up more space in your inventory or Stash.
- If your meat, veggies, or fruit spoil, don't eat them but also don't throw them away. You can convert them into fertilizer.
- Sleep at the start of every play session until you get the well rested icon. It means you get more XP on your adventures.
- You can swap your Pip-Bboy between two viewing modes: the standard one takes up your entire view, but the alternate version lets you see what's around you while you navigate menus.
- When building the CAMP, many objects in the world block larger saved bases from being placed. Fortunately you only really need one point of contact and can float your entire base on a single set of stairs. Minimizing your base's footprint will reduce your chances of not being able to deploy it.
- Even if you don't like VATS, it's still very good for quick shots with bolt action weapons.
- Remap the grenade button if you play on PC and plan on using ShadowPlay. Its currently set to Left ALT, and trying to start and stop ShadowPlay will have you accidentally throw a grenade. Also it's just an awkward key to put melee/grenade on anyways.
By Alessandro Fillari on Nov 28, 2018 07:53 am
Tales of the Wild West.
It's incredibly easy to miss out on Red Dead Redemption 2's most interesting side-events and secret encounters. With the involved main story taking well over 50 hours to complete, it can often be challenging to pull yourself away from the plot to venture off to places that house strange and fascinating side events. In addition to many callbacks to the original game, featuring the return of key locations and characters, several of these moments showcase Red Dead 2's weird and morbid side. In this feature, we've rounded up a number of side events, Easter eggs, and references that speak to the amount of diversity and sheer attention to detail that Red Dead Redemption 2 has hidden in its world. A word of warning, however: Given that some time has passed since the release of the game, we've decided to include things from later part of the story--particularly some events of the epilogue. Spoilers follow. Whether it's chance meetings with ghosts, a UFO, or even a vampire, the open world Western always tries to keep things interesting for those that want to dive a bit deeper. If you want to know more about what you can find in the world of Red Dead Redemption 2, including many of the hidden weapons and the legendary animals, or if you just want to hear more of our thoughts on the finer details of the game, be sure to check out our continuing coverage--which includes our weekly show Quickdraw, highlighting many of Red Dead 2's important details and features.
The Meteorite
In one of the more short encounters, you can stumble upon the aftermath of small meteorite impact. Located just northeast of Roanoke Valley and Annesburg, you'll find an isolated home with smoke seeping out of a hole in its roof. Once inside the house, you'll find a group of corpses near a small crater in the center of the room. Approaching the crater will allow you to pick up a meteorite, which evidently killed the unsuspecting people inside. After leaving the home, Arthur will make a note of the event in his journal. While you're free to hang onto this rock from outer space, you can also sell it for cash.
The Ghosts of Lemoyne
While each region has its own fair share of oddities, the area of Lemoyne is particularly rife with supernatural activity--which you can witness when walking around in the late hours of the night. In the western part of Bluewater Marsh at approximately 2 AM, you'll hear hysterical ravings from a person in the wild. As you venture deeper in, you'll see a glowing figure wearing a white gown off in the distance. This ghost will relive her last moments alive, shouting out into the darkness for help. If you try approaching the ghost, she'll vanish into thin air. With three different stages, each encounter will become progressively more morbid, revealing how she died and why she continues to haunt the area.
In addition to the wandering ghost, there's also a runaway phantom train that haunts the tracks in the early morning. While exploring the area around the tracks just northwest of Scarlett Meadows at around 3 AM, you can hear the faint sound of a train echo through the night. But instead of an actual train, you'll see the ghostly image of one racing through the dark. Unlike the other ghost, this train can be approached, and you can even ride through it on your horse. The train won't stay around for long, however. After riding on the tracks for some time, the phantom train will disappear before your eyes.
The UFO And The Cult
There is a ruined chapel located in the eastern section of New Hanover. If you enter around 2 AM, you'll find a morbid scene with several dead members of a cult. Together, they sought to commune with an otherworldly being who only showed at night. After reading the diary of the cult leader, you're given some hints on how you can trigger one of the game's most bizarre events, which manages to push Red Dead 2's weirdness up by several degrees.
You can learn more details on where you can find the church, and how you can trigger this close encounter by checking out our video on this particular event.
The Plague Town
To the northwest of the Lagras swamp, you can find an abandoned town named Pleasance. With some callbacks to Tumbleweed in Red Dead Redemption 1 and to the viral horror in Undead Nightmare, Pleasance is a town with a lot of history behind it, but we're left with only minor details to piece together what happened in this tucked-away town. On the doors of the town barn, you'll find a large message stating "Stay Out, Plague." Nearby, you can also find the town graveyard, offering up some details on the lives of the former residents. Aside from a note shedding some light on the town's past, there isn't much else to uncover--leaving the rest to your imagination.
The Elusive Bigfoot
As something of a running joke from previous open-world Rockstar games, encountering Bigfoot has been something that many fans have expected since the first hoax in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Though Red Dead Redemption's Undead Nightmare DLC finally offered a chance to meet the fabled creature, it didn't end particularly well for the Sasquatch, resulting in one of the more tragic missions in the game. However, Red Dead Redemption 2 features some nods to those encounters, leading up to a surprisingly bittersweet moment. Though you can find several sets of Giant bones throughout the world which strongly resemble the fabled creature, it's possible to meet with one of the last remaining Sasquatch. In order to have a meeting with Bigfoot, make sure you have examined over 30 animals, which you can check in your compendium. After that's done, head to the Calumet Ravine, located just east of the Wapiti Reservation. On the west side of the ravine, you'll see a flock of birds near the water. They'll immediately fly off in unison after you get close enough, and you'll need to follow them as best you can. Eventually, they'll take you to a remote cave to the east. Once you arrive, you'll hear voice echo out from a nearby cave which is inaccessible to you. While conversing with the cave-dweller, who is no doubt the reclusive Bigfoot, you'll learn more about why they're in isolation. After finishing your chat, you can return several days later to check up on him and pick up where things left off. You'll never actually see Bigfoot in-game, though it is refreshing to have a surprisingly human chat with the Sasquatch, who just longs for friendship.
The Scientist and His Creation
Like in Red Dead Redemption 1, you'll encounter peculiar individuals who toy with machines that inevitably lead to their downfall. Once you arrive in Saint Denis during Chapter 4, you'll come across a character named Marko Dragic, a foreign inventor who seeks to master the forces of life and death through electricity. Starting up the Stranger mission The Bright Bouncing Boy, you'll complete several tasks for him in the area before he returns to his lab located northwest of Annesburg. If you meet him there, he'll give you another mission where you'll have to help him harness lighting to give life to his ultimate creation--a walking, talking robot.
If you return later, you'll find Dragic's lab in shambles and the robot missing. In the lab, you'll find an electric lantern, which will help you track the walking machine. In order to find the machine, return to Colter--the abandoned town from the opening chapter--and head up the mountains to the west. The lantern will glow orange when facing in the direction of the lost robot. Once you reach the top of the cliff overlooking Colter, you'll find the the lost machine sitting alone--calling out for his "papa."
The Vampire of Saint Denis
Saint Denis is an incredibly dense and populated town, offering up a lot of interesting opportunities to uncover in the back alleys. However, there's one terrifying encounter that will take some work to find, leading to a surprising confrontation with a creature of the night. Throughout the city are clues written on the sides of structures. These clues will eventually point you towards the location of a vampire. Though this event may seem like it's totally out of place in Red Dead 2, the build up to this moment, where you learn more about the location and the residents of Saint Denis, makes it an incredibly tense and satisfying event to see play out.
For more details, be sure to check out our guide on finding the vampire of Saint Denis.
The Shack in the Woods
Though this is a very brief encounter, this isolated shack in the woods has a very tragic history to it. Just west of Braithwaite Manor in Lemoyne, you'll come across a small community near the water. While in the village, you'll hear incensed ranting from someone in the nearby forest. Heading slightly south, you'll come to a shack with chains wrapped around it. The voice inside becomes louder when you approach, and when you decide to examine it, a hand will reach out and try to grab Arthur.
If you take the time to listen to her dialogue, you'll find out that she's one of Braithwaite family's long held secrets--they abandoned her due to her mental illness and physical deformities. Unfortunately, there's no way to free her from her confinement. If you encountered the woman prior to the epilogue, returning again during the end-game will see the woman dead in the shack, long forgotten after the fall of the Braithwaite family.
The New Hanover Serial Killer
In the game's most gruesome encounter, you'll come face-to-face with one of Red Dead 2's most ruthless villains. Just southeast of Valentine, you can find the first location of a ritualistic murder, displaying the mutilated corpse with the words "Look upon my works" written on the nearby rock. From here, you'll be able to uncover other clues to uncover the identity of the serial killer roaming New Hanover and nearby regions. Solving the mystery eventually leads to a shocking confrontation with the murderer.
For a more in-depth guide on how to track and take down this Wild West serial killer, be sure to check out our guide.
The following slides include late-game spoilers. Proceed with caution.
[Spoilers] John Can't Swim
Anyone who's played through Red Dead Redemption 1 can attest to John Marston's incompetence in large bodies of water. When he would get too deep, he'd die instantly. Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2, however, is a far more reliable swimmer, and he's very quick to remind John of that while speaking with him. During some story missions and while hanging out at camp, Arthur and other gang members will tease John for his inability to swim.
While this can be seen as a subtle nod to the original game, there's a bit more to it than just a throwaway joke. During the game's Epilogue chapters, you'll shift perspective to John Marston, and you'll likely figure out during the worst possible time that John still can't swim. If you ever find yourself in deep water, John's stamina cores will drain instantly, putting him in immediate danger. Though this can come off as bit of a hassle, especially after many hours playing as Arthur Morgan, it is still a humorous--if cruel--reminder of a real danger from the first game.
[Spoilers] I Know You
Throughout Red Dead Redemption 2, you'll see many callbacks to some memorable locations and people from the first game. Aside from the members of the Van der Linde gang, you can hear some characters speak about Landon Ricketts--the legendary gunslinger from RDR1--and even Bonnie MacFarlane, referenced in a letter found in Annesburg. Though New Austin and the town of Blackwater are barred off from the Van Der Linde gang for much of the game, you'll eventually return during the Epilogue chapters when playing as John Marston. John and his family will get accustomed to living a normal life on their ranch at Beecher's Hope. You can even visit many areas from the previous game to see just how different they were in the time before his next adventure.
While visiting the town of Armadillo in New Austin, you'll be able to run into several characters whom you might know from Red Dead Redemption 1. In the general store, you'll meet up with Herbert Moon, the abrasive and anti-semitic owner of the place. Behind him on the shelf is a picture of another familiar fellow, the Strange Man from Red Dead 1's infamous "I Know You" side mission. John will even make a comment about knowing him, but can't quite place exactly from where.
By Kallie Plagge on Nov 28, 2018 07:52 am
Spoilers Ahead
Red Dead Redemption 2 differs from its predecessor in a lot of ways. On the more obvious side of things, it stars a different character, Arthur Morgan; it's also larger and more mechanically deep, and you have more flexibility in what you can do. But the prequel takes many cues from the original RDR, and there are a number of parallels and references to keep an eye out for. In this feature, we've outlined the major Red Dead Redemption callbacks in RDR 2. There are spoilers for both games--if you haven't rolled credits on RDR 2 especially, stop reading and come back later. We've included the things that stood out to us the most, so for a more general list of references, see our feature on the weirdest Easter eggs we found. For more Red Dead spoilers, check out our RDR 2 spoiler chat, where we discuss all the biggest, most spoilery parts of the game in detail. It's part of our weekly video series, QuickDraw, which highlights different aspects of the game every Friday. You can also read our full Red Dead 2 review for our spoiler-free thoughts on the game. If you're looking for RDR 2 help, check out our Red Dead Redemption 2 guides for more info, like everything you need to know about horses, where to find all the Legendary Animals, and how the Core system works. And if there are any other major callbacks we missed for this feature, let us know in the comments below.
Agent Ross And Fishing
When you take Jack Marston fishing early in RDR 2, the younger Pinkerton who confronts you is Agent Ross, who manipulates and eventually kills John Marston in the original. This is Jack's first meeting with Agent Ross; his second and last is during the epilogue of RDR, when you've switched to playing as him and he's seeking revenge for his father's death. Jack confronts and kills Agent Ross while he's fishing.
Can't Fight Gravity
When Arthur and Dutch are cornered on the cliffside while running from the law, they jump off the cliff into the river to escape. Before they jump, Dutch gives the same "you can't fight gravity" speech he gives to John Marston in the first game--right before he falls off the cliff and kills himself.
Playing Both Sides In Bigger Conflicts
In Red Dead Redemption, John Marston gets himself involved in the Mexican Revolution, and he screws things up pretty royally for the revolutionaries by selfishly playing both sides in an attempt to locate Javier. In RDR 2, a similar thing happens with Rains Fall and Eagle Flies. It's a bit more complicated in that Arthur is resistant to becoming involved at all, but thanks to Dutch, the gang ends up doing favors for both father and son, making things worse for the Wapiti tribe as a whole.
The Strange Man
In Red Dead Redemption, there's an optional side quest called "I Know You" in which you encounter a man in a top hat who says cryptic things and knows far too much about John's past. In RDR 2, you don't encounter this man head on, but he's lurking around somewhere--specifically in a creepy cabin in Lemoyne. GTA Series Videos on YouTube has a full video of what happens in the house and how to trigger everything. If you weren't convinced that the Strange Man was death or the devil before, this will do it.
The Red Dead Redemption Theme
During the epilogue of 2, the Red Dead Redemption theme comes in as John is taking on the cattle rustlers from the neighboring ranch.
Chores On The Ranch
Toward the end of RDR, you do quite a few chores around Beecher's Hope with Jack, showing him how to run the place. While playing as John in the epilogue of RDR 2, you have to do many of the same chores--because John has to learn how to do them in the first place. It's also a respite from the lawlessness of John's "old" life in both games, the one he's never able to escape despite his tireless efforts.
Revisiting Pike's Basin
In the RDR 2 epilogue mission "An Honest Day's Labors," you go with Sadie to Pike's Basin to find the man who stole her bounty. This is the location from "Justice in Pike's Basin," the first big mission you do with Marshal Johnson in the first game.
Letter To Bonnie MacFarlane
When playing as Arthur, you can find a man washed ashore on the coast just south of Van Horn Trading Post. When you get closer, it's revealed that he's not dead yet, and he gives Arthur a letter intended for Bonnie MacFarlane--a key character and friend to John Marston in the original game, in which she is unmarried but cryptic about it. When playing as John in the epilogue, you can visit MacFarlane Ranch in New Austin, but Bonnie is absent due to the cholera outbreak in the area.
The Beecher's Hope Graves
After the credits roll at the end of RDR 2 and you return to the game, John and Abigail are standing on a hill looking over Beecher's Hope, and Abigail tells John that she loves their new home. They are standing right where their graves will be at the end of the first game.
By Alessandro Fillari on Nov 28, 2018 07:52 am
Lost And Legendary Arms
Red Dead Redemption 2 on PS4 and Xbox One features a massive arsenal of weapons, from basic six-shooters and lever-action rifles to powerful shotguns and sniper rifles. In addition to the weapons you can buy from a gunsmith or pick up from run-of-the-mill fallen enemy, there are also many special weapons hidden in the world for you to find. Much like the side missions you come across, it's very easy to permanently miss out on some of these weapons, especially if you don't take the time to examine an area further or loot a dead bandit's corpse. After spending many hours roaming the wilderness and towns of Red Dead Redemption 2's depiction of late-1800s America, we've amassed a large amount of melee weapons and firearms for Arthur to use when fighting against rival gang members and angry vagabonds. There's a surprising amount of items to find, some of which break away from the Western setting and reference cultures that have since disappeared in the face of the new century. To avoid spoilers, we've omitted some mentions of weapons that you can acquire late in the game, though we plan to update this feature in the coming weeks. So for now, here's an extensive list of weapons along with their locations. If you just can't get enough of Red Dead Redemption 2 and want more info, be sure to check out our galleries and features focusing on Fishing, the many legendary animals, and an extensive breakdown of the Core systems. You can also check out GameSpot's new weekly show Quickdraw, where we highlight and examine some of the game's most fascinating and impressive details each Friday.
Firearm: Flaco's Revolver
In-game description: A rare Cattleman Revolver, featuring delicate engravings and a carved ivory handle. Previously owned by the late gunslinger Flaco Hernandez, defeated in a duel at Cairn Lake, this gun has an ammo capacity of six rounds, and a can use Regular, High Velocity, Split Point, Express and Explosive revolver ammo.
Location: Flaco's Revolver
After accepting the Gunslinger mission in Valentine--The Noblest of Men, and A Woman--you can examine the photos of the various characters. To find Flaco Hernandez, examine and read his photo to unlock his mission, which is located near Cairn Lake, southeast of Colter to the northern section of the map. Pick up the gun near his body to acquire his revolver.
Firearm: Granger's Revolver
In-game description: A rare Cattlemen Revolver, with a dark metal finish and covered in custom engravings. Previously owned by the late gunslinger Emmet Granger, defeated in a dual near Flatneck Station, this gun has an ammo capacity of six rounds, and can use Regular, High Velocity, Split Point, Express and Explosive revolver ammo.
Location: Granger's Revolver
After accepting the Gunslinger mission in Valentine--The Noblest of Men, and A Woman--you can examine the photos of the various characters. To find Emmit Granger, examine and read his photo to unlock his mission. Just east of Flatneck Station, you can find him at his pig farm. After completing his tasks, you'll engage in a duel. Afterwards, you can pick up his signature firearm.
Pistol: Midnight's Pistol
In-game description: A rare Mauser Pistol, this weapon features gold-plated engravings and a black wooden grip. Previously owned by the late gunslinger Billy Midnight, defeated in a duel on a train departing Rhodes, this gun has an ammo capacity of ten rounds, and can use Regular, High Velocity, Split Point, Express and Explosive pistol ammo.
Location: Midnight's Pistol
After accepting the Gunslinger mission in Valentine--The Noblest of Men, and A Woman--you can examine the photos of the various characters. To find Billy Midnight, examine and read his photo to unlock his mission. At the post office in Rhodes, talk to the clerk to figure out where he is. After boarding the train, talk to Billy Midnight, which will lead to a quick chase. Eventually, you'll engage in another duel. Pick up his firearm from his body, and you'll acquire his gold-plated Mauser Pistol.
Shotgun: Rare Shotgun
In-game description: A rare Double-Barreled Shotgun with faded brass tarnish and adorned with carvings. Previously owned and cherished by a lonely woodsman living in solitude amongst the trees and wildlife of Roanoke Ridge. This gun has an ammo capacity of two rounds, and can use Regular Buckshot, Incendiary Buckshot, Slug and Explosive Slug shotgun ammo.
Location: Rare Shotgun
Though it's known as the Rare Shotgun, you can find this weapon in a couple locations. The first is north of Annesburg, located at a small cabin in Manito Glade. Take out the angry recluse and pick up his gun. The second can be dropped from cave hermit directly west of Hanging Dog Ranch, just north of the Little Creek River near Wallace Station.
Melee: Ancient Tomahawk
In-game description: A traditional native Tomahawk with a striped bound shaft and polished sharp blade. Although showing some signs of its age, this weapon has been well maintained by one of the locals. This melee weapon was found lodged in a broken wooden target, overlooking Calumet Ravine in the Grizzlies.
Location: Ancient Tomahawk
Can be found sticking out of a broken target on the east side of Calumet Ravine, overlooking the river below. This is located east of the Wapiti Indian Reservation.
Melee: Antler Knife
In-game description: A rare knife, with a handle manufactured from the antler of a stag, and part of the blade snapped off near the crossguard. This weapon was taken from the scene of a fight between a large bear and hunter, which occurred near Hanging Dog Ranch in Big Valley. Neither side won.
Location: Antler Knife
Found on a dead bear who was killed by the hunter he crushed. Located directly northwest of Hanging Dog Ranch near Little Creek River.
Melee: Broken Pirate Sword
In-game description: An old and rare pirate cutlass, with a long snapped blade and decorative golden handguard. This relic was found lodged inside an abandoned boat, run adrift in the swamplands surrounding Saint Denis. With a longer range than most bladed melee weapons, this is still practical combat weapon despite its age.
Location: Broken Pirate Sword
On a wrecked boat located on the small islands southwest of Saint Denis, you'll find a skeleton with an old pirate sword.
Melee: Civil War Knife
In-game description: An old Bowie knife with a solid blade, worn wooden handle and large D-shaped handguard for protection. This weapon was commonly used by Civil War soldiers, and is covered in rust. It was found in a storage room underneath the ruined Fort Brennand in Roanoke Ridge, New Hanover.
Location: Civil War Knife
Found in the basement of Fort Brennand, an abandoned fort southwest of Van Horn. To find the basement, go into the building to the right of the entrance of the fort and go down the ladder inside.
Melee: Hewing Hatchet
In-game description: This old and worn Hatchet has a flat edge along one side of the blade and is designed for hewing, the process of converting logs into lumber. This melee weapon was found in a tree stump near Moonstone Pond in the Grizzlies, next to an abandoned shack. This Hatchet can also be thrown.
Location: Hewing Hatchet
On the south shore of Moonstone Pond, you'll find the hatchet resting in a tree stump.
Melee: Rusted Double Bit Hatchet
In-game description: A rare Hatchet, featuring a rusted double-bladed head: one razor-sharp side for chopping and cutting; and a dull side for splitting wood. This melee weapon was found in a tree stump near Annesburg Mine in Roanoke Ridge, and has been worn by the elements over time. This Hatchet can also be thrown.
Location: Rusted Double Bit Hatchet
Found in a tree stump outside a shack between Elysium Pool and O'Creagh's Run.
Melee: Viking Hatchet
In-game description: A rare ancient Hatchet, engraved all over with Nordic patterns and bound with leather. This melee weapon was found at an old stone altar in the Roanoke Valley area of New Hanover, lodged into a skull. This Hatchet can also be thrown.
Location: Viking Hatchet
Northeast of Beaver Hollow you'll find a small ruin made by ancient Vikings. While you can find the hatchet resting on a stone table, heading into the tomb will also lead you to the Viking Helmet, one of the game's more unusual items to find.
By Chris E. Hayner on Nov 28, 2018 03:45 am
It's 2018, making it just about time for yet another adaptation of the Robin Hood story. Thankfully, Taron Egerton and Jamie Foxx are here to make that happen with their new movie--Robin Hood--in theaters now. This new take on the character Robin of Locksley--or Robin of Loxley, depending on which version you're watching--joins a long line of Robin Hood stories that have been unfolding on the big and small screens for practically as long as movies have been made. In fact, the first Robin Hood film, Robin Hood and His Merry Men, was a silent movie released in 1908. It's one of six silent films based on the character that were released--and over 70 adaptations to movies and TV as a whole. It's such a deep pool of Robin Hood takes to dig through, and we're revisiting 10 others you should at least know exist, whether because they're iconic versions of the Robin Hood story or because you'll be surprised at who was cast as the infamous archer that steals from the rich to give to the poor. Then again, there are a couple you need to know about because, well, they're just bad. So as you prepare to go see the new Robin Hood, take a look at these other tales of Robin, Little John, Maid Marian, and the rest of his Merry Men.
10. Robin Hood (2010)
With director Ridley Scott taking on something as massive as the tale of Robin Hood--starring Russell Crowe--you might expect a special movie. 2010's Robin Hood is special, but only because of how bad it is. Gone from this take on the story is any measure of humor or joy. Instead, this Robin Hood is dry, dark, and not very fun to watch. However, if sad and gritty Robin Hood if what you're looking for--and it shouldn't be--maybe this is the movie for you.
9. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
If we haven't christened the 1990s as the Costner era yet, we really should. He was in every movie, I'm pretty sure. Of those, he was in his very own Robin Hood film, Prince of Thieves. Like Ridley Scott's Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves didn't bother including any of the fun aspects of the Hood fable, instead presenting a dark and violent story. At the very least, though, Morgan Freeman and Alan Rickman turned in memorable performances as Azeem and the Sheriff of Nottingham, respectively. Curiously, Costner didn't bother trying an English accent in the movie.
8. Robin of Locksley (1996)
This TV movie refuses to be ignored. Robin of Locksley puts a modern spin on the tale of Robin Hood. Devon Sawa (Casper, Final Destination) stars as Robin McAllister, a boy who winds up at a rich kid prep school and falls for a girl named Marion (Scrubs' Sarah Chalke). Naturally, his high school life is riddled by the evil rich kid John Prince Jr., played by none other than Joshua Jackson (Dawson's Creek, The Mighty Ducks). This is '90s teen fare at its best and as silly as it is, you should probably watch it.
7. Arrow (2012-Present)
Now wait a minute, isn't Arrow an adaptation of the Green Arrow comic book? Yeah, sure it is. The Green Arrow, a vigilante archer that wears green, protects the weak from the corrupt, and in general is trying to save his city. Sounds a lot like Robin Hood, doesn't it? To be honest, it's the early seasons of Arrow that veer closest to the story of Robin of Locksley. While all of Oliver Queen's comic book backstory is still there, he spends the pilot stealing money from the rich and corrupt as payback for their evil ways. He's also referred to as Robin Hood more than once throughout the run of the show. Robin wouldn't be so murdery about it all, though. It's not a perfect comparison by any stretch, but leaving Arrow off of this list feels wrong. Regardless, it's a much better Robin Hood story than Prince of Thieves.
6. Robin and Marian (1976)
Who can forget Sean Connery as Robin Hood? What Makes Robin and Marian such a worthwhile Hood movie is that it's essentially a sequel to the fable most know. In it, Connery plays an older Robin Hood who finds himself reconnecting to his old life and his former love Maid Marion (Audrey Hepburn). Given this is still a Robin Hood story, he once again comes up against the Sheriff of Nottingham. What makes Robin and Marian work is that it's the same story, but told through a different point of view. This Robin isn't the young and brash defender of the poor. Instead, he's a man who survived fighting in the Crusades and now has a different and more mature perspective on life.
5. Princess of Thieves (2001)
Did you know Kiera Knightley played Robin Hood? She did! Well, kind of. Princess of Thieves is a TV movie that casts the future Pirates of the Caribbean star as Gryn, the daughter of Robin and Maid Marian. It's not an epic film by any stretch, but changing things up and focussing on a female protagonist is a fresh take on the Robin Hood lore and one that could and should be explored again.
4. Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)
Mel Brooks' Robin Hood: Men in Tights is a movie that teens in the 1990s couldn't get enough of. It's loaded with jokes and silly songs, features memorable performances by Cary Ewles and Dave Chappelle, just to name a couple, and managed to become a cult hit in the years that followed as people found it on VHS. It's unfortunate that it was such a bomb at the box office.
3. Robin Hood (1922)
Douglas Fairbanks was the first major name to take on the role of Robin Hood in this silent film. While it's not the most widely-known take on the character, it's definitely the one that helped this particular tale become such a hot commodity on the big screen.
2. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
When you're thinking of classic Robin Hood, though, this is the movie that should immediately come to mind. This was the first non-silent Robin Hood film, which saw Errol Flynn take on the title role in what is widely considered the best live-action retelling of the tale ever. The Adventures of Robin Hood is everything you want this story to be, from it's bright and colorful palette, to its action-packed fight scenes, to even the comedy and joy injected into the story. How no other live-action film has been able to copy this formula is a mystery.
1. Disney's Robin Hood (1973)
Still, it's hard to argue against Disney making the true best Robin Hood adaptation of all time. This animated classic manages to weave an exciting world of talking animals and fun songs into the Robin Hood tale, forever imprinting the idea that Robin Hood is a red fox on generations of children.
By Phil Hornshaw on Nov 28, 2018 01:39 am
New Stuff To Get
The fifth season of Destiny 2, Season of the Forge, is here, and with it comes a whole mess of new items for players to find--and in some cases, buy. In the case of cosmetic items, the Eververse store is already fully restocked with spiffy-looking new stuff for players to get from the next expansion, The Black Armory, including a sparrow that's on fire, new Exotic weapons ornaments for guns like Ace of Spades, and dances such as the iconic one from Pulp Fiction. There's also new sets of Eververse armor: the Symmetrists' set for Warlocks, Vanguard Dare for Hunters, and Star-Crossed for Titans. As is usually the case in Destiny 2, it'll take a few weekly resets to see everything that's on offer in the Eververse store in the Season of the Forge, which runs through February. It comes with a new style of Bright Engram called an Etched Engram, but the usual means of getting those cool new cosmetics are the same: you'll get them by completing Eververse bounties to gather bright dust and activating the Prismatic Matrix by completing a weekly challenge, or by purchasing Destiny 2's premium currency, Silver, using real money. There are also new Pinnacle Weapons for players to earn in the Gambit, Crucible, and Vanguard Strike playlists, plus five new Exotics hidden somewhere in the expansion. This gallery will show you all the cosmetics currently on sale in the Eververse store, plus the Exotic ghost shells, sparrows, and ships shown in Season 5's refreshed Collections that players will be pulling from Etched Engrams as they play.
Symmetrists' Palms
Bond of Reciprocity
A Bad Run
Salute To The Colonel
Competitive Dance
Ska Dance
Tangled Paladin
Wishbringer Shotgun
This weapon is only available for purchase from Lord Shaxx if you reach the Crucible Valor rank of Legend.
Eidolon Bird
Dream Streak
The Past Unearthed Transmat Effect
The Past Unearthed Transmat Effect (Arrival)
Buzzing Drone Shell
Past Followed Shell
Future Perfect Shell
Neon Helix Shell
Sanctum Plate Shell
Rust Punk Shell
Ada-1's Lone Wolf
Odrerir
The Platinum Starling
Unsecured/Outcry
Burnout
Always On Time
Approaching Infinity
Dark Horse
The Bronco
By Kevin Wong on Nov 28, 2018 12:53 am
The Boy Who Lived continued living after the seventh book.
J.K. Rowling cannot let Harry Potter go. Granted, it's hard to blame her. She created a multi-billion dollar franchise with the first seven novels of her Harry Potter series. And there are millions of fans worldwide who are willing to pay her vast sums of money to revisit a universe she clearly loved and never got bored of. Everything Rowling says becomes canon. In fan communities, this is known as the Word of God; since she is the originator of these stories, she has the ability to pronounce new facts as she pleases, even years after the original books' publications. The public may eventually sour on this; if the reviews for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald are to be believed, we might be on the verge of a backlash. But this trend started long before the latest Fantastic Beasts movie. Here are seven new things we've learned about the Harry Potter Wizarding Universe since the books ended--either from the new films, from Rowling herself, or from the expanded online compendium Pottermore, which has fleshed out the backstories of numerous characters. "Dumbledore is gay" made national headlines; we're going to talk about some of the more minor details that even Harry Potter fans might have missed. When you're done, check out all the Harry Potter Easter eggs we found in Fantastic Beasts 2 and the 7 dumbest things Dumbledore ever did.
7. Luna Lovegood got married to a perfect match.
Luna Lovegood, called "Loony" by her detractors, was an offbeat girl: odd, dreamy, and prone to flights of fancy, but also smart, earnest, and empathetic. She was the typical "weird" kid at Hogwarts, but Harry identified with her inner pain (she lost her mother, he lost both parents) and became her close friend. When Luna grew up, she became a wizard naturalist, dedicating herself to finding and learning more about magical creatures. Somewhat appropriately, she married Rolf Scamander, the grandson of Newt Scamander. Newt is the lead hero of the Fantastic Beasts movies. In book canon, he wrote the Hogwarts textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
6. Aunt Petunia and Harry partially reconciled before her death.
Aunt Petunia, the jealous sister of Harry's mother Lily, was non-magical, and she held it against Lily and Harry for the rest of her life. But she played a crucial, essential role in the series; she took Harry into her home when Lily died (even if it was reluctantly), and by doing so, she solidified the magical protection that her sister had given Harry until his 17th birthday. At some point, around 2020, Aunt Petunia died. At the time of her death, she had partially reconciled with Harry; they exchanged Christmas cards, and they occasionally saw each other so Harry and Dudley's children could play together.
5. Horace Slughorn learned his elitism from his parents.
Horace Slughorn was a good Slytherin; he was a palm greaser and a manipulator, but he was on the side of history and despised the pure blood mentality of his fellow House members. He practiced a sort of ruthless meritocracy; he valued those who showed talent and promise, and anyone who was simply average or below average was treated with cold indifference. He learned much of his elitism from his parents, who were part of the "Sacred 28" pure-blood families. Although his parents believed in pure blood supremacy, they were neither militant nor overt in enforcing their beliefs. As a result, Slughorn became friends with Muggle-born wizards, and came to see them (as he did with Lily Potter) as capable of being equally talented as pure bloods.
4. Draco became a better person.
Draco was framed as a villain from the first book of the series, but the readers and Harry soon discovered that Draco was more worthy of contempt and pity than hatred. He was trying too hard to be evil, and it was clear that he didn't have the stomach for the torture and murder it would entail. After the seventh book, Draco had to re-evaluate his life; the people that he admired were either dead or imprisoned, and his father had to become an informant to protect himself from further criminal prosecution. He ended up marrying Astoria Greengrass, a witch who disavowed pure blood supremacy and refused to teach those beliefs to their son, Scorpius. Hopefully, Scorpius's more forward-thinking upbringing will break the cycle of hate in the Malfoy family.
3. Dolores Umbridge was a half-blood.
The most hated character in the entire series (debatably even more hated than Voldemort himself) is Dolores Umbridge. Militant, phony, hypocritical, sadistic, and prejudiced, she presided over a court that persecuted Muggle-born wizards and witches in Book 7. The irony of this, we later find out, is that Umbridge is a half blood witch herself. Her father was a wizard who worked for the Ministry as a custodian, but her mother was a Muggle; she also had a brother who was a squib. And during her childhood, the family split; the mother and brother rejoined and disappeared into the Muggle world, never to contact Umbridge again. Umbridge hated her mother for her Muggle roots, and she despised her father for his low station. When she began her rise to power, she persuaded her father to retire and lay low, and she began passing herself off as a pure blood to bolster her credentials.
2. We've been saying "Voldemort" wrong this whole time.
Everyone knows how to pronounce "Hermione" these days. But in the early days of the fandom, casual readers mispronounced it all the time. It wasn't until Rowling included the correct pronunciation in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Hermione teaches Viktor Krum how to say her name) that we learned "Her-my-oh-nee" was officially the right way to say it. Voldemort, however, got no such scene in the books. And on Twitter, Rowling confirmed that the right way to pronounce "Voldemort" was with a silent "t." Rowling herself, however, conceded that she was alone in doing this--unless you count the official audiobooks, whose narrator, Jim Dale, pronounced the word Rowling's way while reading the early books, before finally caving to popular opinion and good sense in the later ones.
1. The Nagini was once a human.
And lastly, here's a revelation that's highly relevant to the new Fantastic Beasts film. In the new film, Claudia Kim performs the role of a woman named Nagini, who is a "Maledictus." According to J.K. Rowling, "Maledictuses are always women, whereas werewolves can be either sex. The Maledictus carries a blood curse from birth, which is passed down from mother to daughter." For those of us who read the books, it's obvious where this is headed; Nagini's blood curse will eventually turn her permanently into a snake, and she will become Voldemort's seventh Horcrux. The only question, and the one fans will be dying to have answered, is how. There are more massive revelations in Fantastic Beasts 2, but in the interest of avoiding spoilers, we'll leave it at that. Check out our Crimes of Grindelwald ending explained article if you want to know more.
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