By Anonymous on Dec 21, 2018 12:30 am (Presented by Oculus) Ben and Chastity sit down, er, stand up to play Superhot VR, Robo Recall and I Expect You to Die on Oculus Rift!
Razer has unveiled its newest wireless keyboard and mouse, which are specifically designed to work with Xbox One. Called Razer Turret, the mouse and keyboard set retails for $250 USD.
There's nothing stopping you from using the Razer Turret on a PC, but the mouse and keyboard come with certain features that make it ideal for Xbox One. The Turret comes with both Razer Chroma and Xbox Dynamic Lighting, which pair up and cause the keyboard to light up in sync with the games you play. There's also an Xbox dashboard key that allows you to immediately return to your console's home page.
The wireless mouse and keyboard offer up to 40 hours of play on one charge, with the keyboard and mouse having a lifespan of 80 million keystrokes and 50 million clicks respectively. Part of the keyboard can also extend, providing a smooth surface for the mouse--which is stylized after Razer's Mamba Wireless--so you can play with the Turret on your lap without a desk or a table if you prefer.
The Razer Turret is available for pre-order on the Microsoft Store, but it doesn't have a definitive release date beyond Q1 2019. There's currently a limited-time offer on the Turret where you net a $25 USD Xbox gift card with a pre-order.
Following the release of Operation Absolute Zero on Xbox One and PC, Treyarch has rolled out another update for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. This one focuses primarily on tweaking armor durability and repair in Blackout mode, but it also makes a handful of changes specific to the PC version of the game.
As Treyarch detailed on Reddit, armor has been given an all-around nerf in Blackout mode. The durability of Level 2 and 3 armor has been reduced to match that of Level 1 armor, while the number of armor plates that can be carried at once has dropped from 10 to five.
Moreover, Treyarch has increased the amount of time it takes to use an armor plate by one second. The developer has also "slightly increased" Paladin weapon damage against armor.
"While we're pleased to see Armor lasting through more than one gunfight with this redesign, we agreed that Level 2 and Level 3 Armor was a bit too durable," Treyarch wrote. "With the durability dialed back on these, players should be able to destroy their enemies' Armor more frequently."
Along with the armor adjustments, Treyarch has added Weapon Camo support to Blackout. Now, players can apply any Camos they've earned in multiplayer, Zombies, or the Black Market to their weapons in the battle royale mode. The developer has also addressed a handful of issues across all platforms, including some stability improvements to the newest Zombies chapter, Dead of the Night.
In terms of PC-specific changes, Treyarch has fixed a bug that prevented players from changing their reticle color, as well as one "where a console prompt would be displayed in the tutorial screen when opening the Create-A-Class menu for the first time." You can find the full patch notes for the December 19 update on Reddit.
Do you like going on grand adventures? Do you like to jump over perilous obstacles, race against the clock, and test your instincts in the heat of battle? If you answered yes, my friend, it sounds like you are into action-adventure games!
Less a specific genre than a broad category, action-adventure is a bit of a catch-all, but it definitely doesn't include games focused on puzzles, sports, or narrative alone. If you're after games that put twitch gameplay front and center, usually alongside a compelling story to inspire you, then the list of games below is sure to contain a lot of options for you to consider as you head into the holiday season and the new year. These games were all reviewed by GameSpot in 2018, and earned high-scores, 8 and above; we've organized them by score and in alphabetical order.
While reviews are the opinion of a single writer, the GameSpot team at large has also come up with a list of what the group agrees are the year's ten best games. It's no surprise that there are plenty of action-adventure games among the group, including two remarkable PS4 exclusives: God of War and Marvel's Spider-Man.
When God of War arrived, everyone agreed that it was a momentous revival of an aging action-adventure series. As much as it bucked the trends we all grew to expect from the series, it also owned them to fuel the plot. It's one of the smartest sequels in memory, and a fantastic game that was executed remarkably well.
The same can be said of Spider-Man, which, in the hands of Insomniac Games, was driven by a near pitch-perfect swinging system that made the open-world structure of NYC a blast to zip through. As a character, Peter Parker also felt relatable, and by skipping the oft-told origin story, we were allowed to dive right into his day-to-day struggles as both a teenager and a superhero in disguise.
2018 also saw the release of Dead Cells. This 2D side-scrolling adventure is punishingly difficult at first, but the more you play the more clear your character's potential and the world's threats become. Not a game to let you get too comfortable, the randomized aspect of level layouts and equipment drops during repeat attempts to beat the game ensure that you're always on your toes, no matter your experience level.
For a look at all of the games that made our top-10 list for 2018, head on over to the Game of the Year 2018 hub. If you want to jump straight to our Game of the Year, don't expect us to spoil it here! Open this page for the big reveal, and a special message from the team behind the game.
Bayonetta - 10/10
Bayonetta 2 arrives on Switch with everything intact from the Wii U version, but with the added convenience of portability and a more consistent frame rate, making it the definitive version of the game. Thanks to the confident execution of seemingly unbridled creativity, Bayonetta 2 remains a game that shouldn't be missed, just as it was when we first reviewed the game on Wii U. -- Peter Brown & Mark Walton [Full Review]
Ashen - 9/10
Ashen does more than enough to differentiate it from other Souls-like games. Although its combat utilizes the same stamina-focused mechanics, the inclusion of features that promote a sense of community with the game's characters makes for a wholly different experience. It's frustrating to spawn and see that your computer-controlled partner has a weapon that doesn't complement the one you're using. However, even when playing with NPCs, your allies' efforts to assist you in battle cause you to care about the fates of the colorful cast of people you meet on your journey. The relationships you forge define your adventure through Ashen, and helping your new friends is a powerful motivator that drives you forward through the game's beautiful world. -- Jordan Ramee [Full Review]
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. -- Oscar Dayus [Full Review]
Dead Cells - 9/10
Even if you can't make it all that far, Prisoner's Quarters is simple enough that you'll have plenty of opportunities to "bank" cells for the aforementioned upgrades. That gives you a sense of constant progress, even when you bomb a run. In fact, the only real issue with the adventure is that some of the better upgrades can take substantially longer than they should. It stalls progress in the mid-game a bit and can lead to a feeling of grinding your wheels. Besides that, though, Dead Cells is a phenomenal effort to blend together some very disparate genres into a tight, cohesive whole. It's one of the better examples of how to remix ideas without losing their individual strengths. -- Daniel Starkey [Full Review]
Diablo III: The Eternal Collection (Switch Port) - 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. -- Mike Mahardy [Full Review]
Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze (Switch Port) - 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. -- Peter Brown [Full Review]
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. -- Edmond Tran [Full Review]
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. -- Peter Brown [Full Review]
Gris - 9/10
Gris understands intrinsically how magical video games can be and continually pushes your imagination until you're almost bursting with joy. The ways in which it reinvents itself as you gain powers and dive ever deeper into this world is truly special, and just as it knows exactly when to pull back the camera or introduce a new song, it's keenly aware of when it's time to say goodbye. Like a comet streaking across the sky, Gris is full of wonder and beauty and leaves you with a warm glow in your heart. -- Tom Mc Shea [Full Review]
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. -- Justin Clark [Full Review]
Hollow Knight (Switch Port) - 9/10
Hollow Knight feels exceptional because so many of its smaller, expertly designed parts fit so well together over an extraordinarily long adventure that could easily have fallen prey to poor pacing. But its expansive enemy roster and routinely surprising areas and platforming challenges ensure that your journey through this fallen bug kingdom is one you're unlikely to forget. Hollow Knight offers a surprisingly large and harrowing adventure, and it's a treat that every bit of it is just as divine as that last. - Alessandro Barbosa [Full Review]
Iconoclasts - 9/10
When Iconoclasts' end credits begin to roll, it's bittersweet to see the journey come to a close. After solving every puzzle and witnessing the finale of its poignant narrative, you can't help but reflect on the growth of its characters and your impact onto the world. The game will shock and surprise you with how gripping its story is, and it's likely to do so again in subsequent playthroughs of New Game+ with your expanded knowledge of character histories and events. Iconoclasts may be a callback to the style and mechanics of old-school games, but it's also a sincere and compelling adventure that anyone with respect for fantastic storytelling and 2D-action can enjoy. -- Matt Espineli [Full Review]
Owlboy (Switch Port) - 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. -- Peter Brown [Full Review]
Red 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. -- Kallie Plagge [Full Review]
Yoku's Island Express - 9/10
Yoku's Island Express takes two unlikely genres and combines them into one playful, natural experience. The game's audio and visual design is simply joyous and the large game world seamlessly combines its pinball puzzles with some brilliant level designs. While traversing the large map does get frustrating at times, Yoku's Island Express' main quest never drags, and with its slate of fun abilities, quirky supporting characters and a generous amount of optional content, Yoku's Island Express is a unique journey that's refreshing and just straight up fun. - Alexander Pan [Full Review]
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. -- Alessandro Fillari [Full Review]
Attack On Titan 2 - 8/10
Despite its slow start, Attack on Titan 2 offers exciting gameplay along with a deep and intriguing plot that, melodrama aside, tugs on the heart strings. It's well-paced and offers some impressive spaces to move through. The unique combination of the movement and combat mechanics combines with a gripping story to make Attack on Titan 2 one of the more surprising releases of the year. -- James Swinbanks [Full Review]
Chasm - 8/10
Even when its flaws are obvious, Chasm is a well-crafted adventure, and during the more than 12 hours I spent playing through my first time, I got lost only once. That's a huge bonus in a genre where getting lost is often the most frustrating aspect. Even after I finished, I was eager to venture forth on a new adventure, to test my combat mettle against harder foes and find the one secret that eluded me the first time through. It's a shame the randomization of the world isn't that big of a deal and the challenge could be better balanced, but the superb combat and visual design ensure your time with Chasm will be well spent. -- Tom Mc Shea [Full Review]
Dark Souls Remastered - 8/10
While Dark Souls Remastered on Switch possesses some odd quirks and isn't as technically impressive as its current-gen counterparts, it still retains the heart of what the original game is all about. To this day, Dark Souls remains a watershed moment for the action-RPG genre. Getting to re-experience many of the game's most nerve-wracking and iconic moments can be satisfying in its own right, but coupled with the Switch's flexible playstyle, this equally haunting and triumphant game becomes an even more involved journey. -- Alessandro Fillari [Full Review]
Dragon Quest Builders (Switch Port) - 8/10
The flexibility to mold the land and vanquish endearing monsters on a large screen and on the go offers a welcome level of convenience the PlayStation versions lacked. While this is obviously a benefit of all Switch games, the involving nature of Dragon Quest Builders, particularly the sense of player ownership in carving the land to your liking makes this game a strong match for the Nintendo platform. -- Miguel Concepcion [Full Review]
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. -- Matt Espineli [Full Review]
Full Metal Furies - 8/10
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. -- Jordan Ramee [Full Review]
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. -- Edmond Tran [Full Review]
Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition - 8/10
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. -- Daniel Starkey [Full Review]
Kingdom Come: Deliverance - 8/10
It's an impressive and unflinching look at the medieval era that transports you inside the compelling story of a real person caught in the middle of a civil war. As such, this is one of those rare, memorable games that stays with you long after you stop playing. While quirks and bugs can certainly be frustrating, none of these issues interfere much with the unique and captivating nature of the overall experience. -- Brett Todd [Full Review]
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. -- Peter Brown [Full Review]
Mega Man X Legacy Collection 1 & 2 - 8/10
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. -- Steve Watts [Full Review]
Minit - 8/10
Minit's lives might only last 60 seconds, but its extremely well-thought-out world design and engrossing loop of progress make it a curse-filled adventure that is worth dying the world over for. Its throwback to classic visuals aren't done for aesthetic alone, as none of its gameplay systems scream antiquity. It's a slickly presented adventure that continually manages to surprise you with every new area you uncover or item you procure, pushing you to pick away at its seams to uncover every drop of what it has to offer. With a delightful ending and more promised after its first run of credits, Minit is far more than just a collection of seconds. [Full Review]
Monster Boy And The Cursed Kingdom - 8/10
Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom not only pays faithful homage to Wonder Boy, particularly The Dragon's Trap, but by refining the solid foundations of its spiritual predecessors with modern affordances, it becomes a rich platforming adventure in its own right. With a well-realized world filled to the brim with secrets and excellent platforming mechanics that always keeps things interesting, the Cursed Kingdom is a place you will want to discover every corner of. -- Alexander Pan [Full Review]
Monster Hunter: World - 8/10
Ever since the title was first announced, it was clear that Capcom was gunning for something grander than Monster Hunter Generations. It has succeeded, and this is likely the biggest and best that the franchise has ever been. It's not just the comparative depth of the narrative; it also boasts almost seamless integration between combat systems that were previously incomprehensible for amateurs. The Monster Hunter formula has definitely honed its claws, and all the above factors play their part in making Monster Hunter World a meaningful evolution for the series at large. -- Ginny Woo [Full Review]
Moss - 8/10
It's a testament to just how well Moss understands PlayStation VR and works with the device instead of trying to bend it to a will it was never designed for. Moss wouldn't feel right without it at all, and its many strengths are married to the interactions that only full immersion can manufacture. Unsurprisingly, then, Moss is easily one of PlayStation VR's best titles to date, even if it's a little too eager to get you in and out of its world. -- Alessandro Barbosa [Full Review]
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. -- Justin Clark [Full Review]
Spyro 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. -- Justin Clark [Full Review]
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. -- Alexander Pan [Full Review]
The Missing - 8/10
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. -- David Wildgoose [Full Review]
Unravel 2 - 8/10
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 [Full Review]
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. -- Edmond Tran [Full Review]
Yakuza Kiwami 2 - 8/10
The tale of Tokyo and Osaka, Kiryu and Sayama's partnership, and Kiryu and Goda's rivalry remains one of the Yakuza's best stories, and Kiwami 2's minor missteps don't affect the heart of that experience. The modernization of its presentation and its mechanics elevate it, making it absolutely worth revisiting or experiencing for the first time. -- Edmond Tran [Full Review]
Though GameSpot's countdown of the top ten Best Games on 2018 is complete, with Red Dead Redemption 2 taking the number one spot, we've still got plenty to talk about for the year that was 2018. It was a particularly interesting time for gaming, offering up an impressive amount of indies, AAA titles, and remasters of classic games. Whether it was a massive open-world adventure game, or a more intimate puzzle-platformer that pulls on your heartstrings.
Just like in 2017, GameSpot is here to present our picks for the 2018 Editor's Spotlight Awards. Pulling together write-ups from the staff across the globe, we're taking the time to highlight some of our favorite games that really struck a chord with us. Though these games didn't make it into our top ten, they're still noteworthy in their own right.
In the list below, there were a lot of special games this year across all platforms--PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One--that offered a unique kind of experience that left an impression on us. Some of these highlights include indie-platformer Celeste, the involved crime-drama Yakuza 6, and Dragon Quest XI, the first console-based entry in the long-running RPG series to hit the US in more than a decade.
If you want see which titles made it onto our list of the Best Games of 2018 across various categories, as well as our look back on the year that was 2018, be sure to visit our Best of 2018 hub. With that said, kick back and take some time to read our thoughts on some of our favorites from this year. Did any of your personal picks make it on this list? If not, give your favorite game a shout out in the comments below.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey | PC, PS4, Xbox One
Traditionally I'm a fan of dense RPGs coupled with challenging turn-based combat, but this year one of my favourite games was one that put up no boundaries between myself and unfettered fun. In fact, it actively pulled them down. For instance, upgrading Leap of Faith at level 20 in Assassin's Creed Odyssey eliminates fall damage. This is a microcosm of everything I learned to love about the latest Assassin's Creed entry. It's a game that doesn't want to get in your way. You can respec your abilities at any time for a minimal fee, money and loot are abundant, you can climb almost anything you want with no stamina bar dragging you down, and you're free to head in any direction at practically any time.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey is acutely aware it has a breathtaking world to show off. As a massive ancient history buff, it was overwhelmingly exciting to see the sprawling ancient Greek cities, meet the heroes of the time, and climb towering historical monuments.
Odyssey is a game with far too much game in it and a multitude of missions which will keep you occupied if you want to play it all year. That said, it will also begin to grate if you're a completionist like me who likes to cross off every objective. Underneath all of that fat, though, is a genuinely great experience with an intriguing central plot, a heap of colourful characters to meet, a beautiful world that will swallow you up with all it has to offer, and a soundtrack I can't stop singing along to. Kassandra's strength, wit, and charm shines through every step of the narrative and her strong characterisation and physicality amplify the story's highest and lowest moments. In a year of games that were uniquely challenging or dramatic, Odyssey is the game I can't stop coming back to for sheer reliable fun. I think I might have to get that 'Misthios' tattoo after all. | Jess McDonell
Celeste | PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Matt Makes Games achieved something quite magical in 2018: in Celeste it made a piece of art that dealt with a sensitive topic in a deft and mature way while simultaneously and simply being A Good Video Game™. This delightful little platformer was amazingly satisfying--if difficult--to play, with varied obstacles, environments, and abilities. But what marked Celeste apart was how it portrayed protagonist Madeline and her mental health struggles, which are masterfully depicted through gameplay and in dialogue. Exquisite writing mean Celeste is easy to empathize with--her struggles thereby feel even greater and her successes even sweeter.
That's before you mention the beautiful art style and soundtrack, which help this wonderful world come alive and make it a pleasure to immerse yourself in. Celeste truly is one of 2018's greatest games, and you should absolutely play it. | Oscar Dayus
Destiny 2: Forsaken | PC, PS4, Xbox One
I definitely didn't think I'd be writing this in the year of the Traveler 2018. Ever since the first game launched, I've had a love-hate relationship with Bungie's shared-world shooter. The gunplay is great, the world is huge and weird, and the grind is horrible. Destiny 2 alleviated a lot of what was so frustrating about the first game, but after two big missteps in Year One with the Curse of Osiris and Warmind expansions, I thought I'd forever be playing Destiny 2 for my job, and never really enjoying it too much.
Forsaken changed that.
It finally feels like Bungie is finding its footing with Destiny 2. In its second year, Destiny 2 is filled with content that changes week to week, and there's a lot more variety in the grind that makes tuning in every Tuesday a lot more fulfilling. New modes like Gambit and the limited-time events such as the Haunted Forest in the Halloween-themed Festival of the Lost and the space-baking activities in the holiday-themed The Dawning are helping keep things fresh. Generally, there's enough to do in Destiny 2 right now that you can just do what you want, if you want, when you want.
But the thing I'm loving the best is that Bungie is finally, slowly, embracing Destiny 2's weird side. The endgame area called the Dreaming City is full of dimension-hopping monsters and metaphysical intrigue, and there are tons of story tidbits to uncover. Destiny's world has always been filled with really interesting stories, but they've usually been relegated to ancillary materials like weapon descriptions and tough-to-find lore drops. Now, Bungie is starting to slip those stories into the game. The developer finally feels a bit more willing to embrace the strange and fun ideas that have been in the game all along, and I love it.
With Forsaken, it finally seems like Destiny 2 is figuring out what its creators really want it to be. It's hitting a stride in gameplay that makes revisiting it over and over again feel like a journey, more than a treadmill. And I'm completely on board with the game embracing its stranger side and bringing more of its vast lore into the game. Bring on all those weird stories, Bungie--I want to hear (and play) them all. | Phil Hornshaw
Dragon Ball FighterZ | PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Dragon Ball was one of the shows that inspired my love of anime, and fighting games were instrumental in igniting my obsession with video games. Sadly, for as long as I've loved both, my dream of the two coming together remained unfulfilled. The history of Dragon Ball games is, for the most part, one of uninteresting brawlers that at best function and at worse are obvious cash grabs.
That is until 2018, when Dragon Ball FighterZ was released. Developed by Arc System Works, a studio with a proven track record of creating intricate, rewarding fighting games, FighterZ is a love letter to Dragon Ball created by people who are clearly fans of it themselves. As a long-suffering devotee, it gave me everything I could ask for, from impeccable visuals that bring a new level of vibrancy to the world of Dragon Ball to dozens of niche references the make up each character's moveset. Every aspect of FighterZ reciprocates the reverence I have for the series, and it's an absolute joy to see the care and attention that it has been given.
But beyond that, FighterZ is an accomplished game that takes the frenzied action of the manga and anime and transplants it into the framework of a 3-on-3 fighting experience. It's mechanically deep and layered in the way fighting game fanatics love, but at the same time the barrier to picking up a controller and making outrageous Dragon Ball things happen is very low. Sure, it may have a forgettable story mode and a less than intuitive lobby system, but those are small stumbles in an experience that otherwise Kaiokens its way into being the best Dragon Ball game ever created. | Tamoor Hussain
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age | PC, PS4
One of the things that stuck with me when playing through Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age was how it wholeheartedly embraced the tone and formula of a classic RPG adventure. Though many role-playing games in recent years actively tried to reinvent familiar trends and mechanics and apply them to different settings, DQXI's upbeat nature and adherence to the more traditional style of fantasy epic was something that I not only admired, but also found surprisingly refreshing.
Over the course of Dragon Quest's 30 year history, the series always stuck close to its classic adventure roots, only wavering ever-slightly when certain entries--particularly the MMO Dragon Quest X--call for a change. In isolation, the premise of DQXI is rather quaint, if somewhat well-worn by genre conventions. Playing as a long prophesied hero, you'll band together a merry crew of rogues, wizards, and warriors to defeat an encroaching evil that puts the fate of the world at risk. It's all very familiar, however the legacy that this game brings--along with its challenging turn-based combat gameplay, a wealth of side-quests, and a charming story filled with fun characters--helped push it to become my favorite RPG experience this year.
This particular game is also the best the series has looked to date, bringing Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama's expressive and endearing art style to life in a more pronounced way. There were moments during exploration, which DQXI offers up in droves, where I had this heartwarming feeling inside--likely due to how vibrant the world itself was and how close-knit my hero and companions had become throughout the expansive journey. Despite some particularly dark and stressful turns in the story, there's always a strong undercurrent of optimism and hope throughout, which not only made it a game that felt worthwhile to dive into, but epitomized the best of what the Dragon Quest series is all about. | Alessandro Fillari
Far Cry 5 | PC, PS4, Xbox One
Far Cry is consistently one of the best-selling franchises in all of gaming, but--to paraphrase the late comedian--it doesn't get much respect. Sure, the games receive admirable review scores, and the usual small controversies spark a flurry of editorials, but Far Cries come and Far Cries go and the gaming world moves on. That's largely because--even when they travel back to prehistoric times--these titles stick closely to the formula established in 2012 by Far Cry 3.
That remains true with Far Cry 5, but I can't find it in my heart to complain. I had a hell of a good time this year exploring Hope County, Montana and gunning down members of the apocalyptic Eden's Gate cult. The game world is sprawling and filled with outposts to clear, stunt races to win, animals to hunt, prepper stashes hidden behind environmental puzzles, and much more. This is a game that gives you the keys to semi trucks and helicopters and all but begs you to destroy them in fiery explosions.
Does Far Cry 5 have anything interesting to say about the world we live in now? Almost certainly not. Does that matter? Not when the game is this much fun. These are heady times. Sometimes shutting off your brain and exploring a digital amusement park is all the remedy you need. | Chris Reed
Forgotton Anne | PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
If you've ever watched a Studio Ghibli movie and wished you could live through it, then you'll love Forgotton Anne. Between the game's character designs and the type of story it tells, you'll wonder if ThroughLine's debut title is secretly a forgotten Hayao Miyazaki work.
You play as the titular Anne, a young woman who lives in a parallel universe where all lost objects from our world end up and gain sentience. Anne is the only Enforcer, someone who keeps the peace by using a device that can suck the life out of others. She's tasked with stopping a rebellion that's trying to prevent her master from building a bridge to our world--a seemingly straightforward conflict that turns out to be anything but.
Forgotton Anne is a strikingly gorgeous side-scrolling adventure game, both when it comes to visuals and music. However, the game's selling point is its story, which naturally evolves depending on how you handle each situation. Is it worth taking the time to deescalate a mob when people might get hurt, or would it be better to threaten the agitators into compliance? You could also just kill everyone or ignore the crowd and walk away. No matter your choice, it will affect others' perception of Anne. Even off-handed remarks can have unforeseen ramifications at the eleventh hour. | Jordan Ramee
Gris | PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
When I play games, I tend to get very wrapped up in the process of exploration. Talk to everyone, check every corner, try every door--I'll slow my progress to a halt if it means finding one last collectible. So at first, it was hard to give myself up to Gris.
I first noticed Gris because of its stunning watercolor art style, and it's definitely one of the most visually impactful games I've played all year. But its most breathtaking beauty is in how it plays. It's not a platformer that challenges your skills or tasks you with hunting down scores of collectibles; it simply asks that you flow through its ethereal world and allow yourself to go where it takes you. Sometimes, that means taking a leap of faith off a ledge, not knowing if you'll ever make it back to where you'd been--but sure that you'll find something beautiful when you land.
Aside from a few slightly tricky environment puzzles, moving through Gris' world is more incidental than intentional. You need to collect motes of light to progress, but getting them is almost always a consequence of following the path that beckons you rather than seeking them out. Even if you do "miss" something by taking the left path rather than the right one, you're not missing anything at all; you'll always end up where you need to be. There's a peacefulness in that, and while it's not the same kind of beauty that drew me in, it's what will stick with me the most. | Kallie Plagge
Iconoclasts | PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Iconoclasts was the first game I reviewed this year, and while other big games have since taken up my time, I could never quite shake the impact it left upon me. A vibrant 2D Metroid-like adventure, Iconoclasts puts you in control of mute protagonist Robin, a mechanic hunted down by a corrupt theocracy. What begins as a deceptively simple side-scrolling action game quickly unfurls to reveal a wave of complex puzzles and a heart-wrenching narrative.
While playing Iconoclasts is a joy, the story is what hits me the most. Its depiction of grief is realistic and powerful, never shying away from exploring the cast's emotional issues. There's a real sense of growth, with each character transcending their wit-laced dialogue and evolving into people with affecting, relatable plights. But it was my interactions with these characters as Robin that were the most significant.
Robin's endless strength in the face of a world dominated by religious and political corruption--not to mention her own emotional issues--served as rays of hope in the darkness. When I witnessed Robin's willingness to help even in moments when it clearly inconvenienced her, I was compelled to push her through it, if only to see how she might hope to restore the wounds inflicted by the world's atrocities. The inevitable conclusion gutted me, but it left me hopeful.
Pain and fear often throw us into doubt, but Iconoclasts reminds us how important self-sacrifice and empathy can be in aiding those around us who may feel weak, cynical, and alone. The unwavering, unspoken compassion and grace Robin exhibits unexpectedly furthered a resolve within me to try to help others, reminding me why we aren't solitary beings. And it's that encouraging notion that makes Iconoclasts one of my favorite games of 2018. | Matt Espineli
The Messenger | PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Back in 2014, Yacht Club Games took the gameplay of Mega Man and Duck Tales, and merged them together with were, at the time, stand out game design elements to create something truly special. For 2018, it was Sabotage Studio modernizing the design elements of Ninja Gaiden that created an incredible new gaming experience in The Messenger. And, as a huge fan of platform games ever since the NES days, this was something I had to check out.
Similar to Ninja Gaiden, you control a ninja set on a quest to stop evil. However, unlike Tecmo's classic platformer, you earn an additional jump anytime you swing your sword and connect with an obstacle or enemy. From here, the game is a somewhat traditional platformer, but, similar to Shovel Knight, instead of lives, you'll lose currency for each death. The gameplay is consistently excellent, with level layout and enemy placement always well thought-out and at times challenging, but never overtly-so.
And while all of this is designed well, it's the writing, and a major plot twist halfway through the game, that steal the show. While elements of this twist are shown in the trailer, I don't want to spoil too much of it, as it's really worth experiencing for yourself.
The writing is hilarious, consistently pointing out and making fun of video game tropes… even occasionally tying directly into the gameplay itself. I found myself regularly laughing out loud and falling in love with the Shopkeeper for all of his antics. Between this brilliant writing and modern take on a traditional platformer, The Messenger is easily one of the best platform games of the past few years, and a game both new and veteran players can enjoy alike. | Dave Klein
Mutant Year Zero: Road To Eden | PC, PS4, Xbox One
Mutant Year Zero: Road To Eden was one of several December releases that blindsided me right in the middle of our Best Of The Year discussions. I was scrambling to find more time to play it because its premise and execution is so strong, a refreshing twist on tactical turn-based strategy that introduces significant elements of stealth and exploration, forcing you to rethink your habits.
If you're fan of the genre, you'll likely begin to approach Mutant Year Zero skirmishes head-on like a game of XCOM--but that's not an approach that keeps you alive for very long. Mutant Year Zero puts an emphasis on careful planning, sneaking, hiding, and setting up ambushes. The key to being successful lies in how diligent you are in scouting the area, how patient you can be in waiting for guards to move on, and how well you can plan set up surprise ambushes to whittle down enemy forces. It's a great, compelling mix of real-time stealth and a wonderfully slick execution of the style of turn-based tactics popularized by Firaxis.
Of course, that's not to neglect the game's fantastic execution of a distant, overgrown post-post-apocalyptic world. The mutant animal/human hybrids are fascinating characters, and their sincere but amusing speculations of a long-lost human society are amusing. The scarcity of materials to help keep your team well-equipped and the high stakes of combat enhance the feeling of desperation. 2018 has been a great year for strategy games--Into The Breach, Battletech, Frostpunk, Civilization VI: Rise and Fall, and numerous Paradox expansions--and Mutant Year Zero, whose thematics and mechanics come together in a superb package, is another that shouldn't be missed if you love tactical strategy. | Edmond Tran
NHL 19 | PC, PS4, Xbox One
As a lifelong ice hockey fan and fan of sports video games in general, the NHL franchise has always appealed to me. NHL 19 in particular is my favourite of all sports games of 2018, and one hockey fans should absolutely check out.
The game hooked me right away when I learned it would feature an outdoor pond hockey mode where you play 1v1v1 battles on frozen ponds inspired by real-world places. Having grown up skating on lakes, ponds, and rivers in the northeast United States, it was such a rush to be able to finally do this in a video game. And now that I live in sunny Sydney, Australia, where there is no outdoor ice, it certainly gives me a huge hit of nostalgia every time I play it. NHL 19's pond hockey debut wasn't perfect, and I would like to see it grow and evolve with future instalments, but I still had a blast decking out my character in a beanie and sweatpants and cutting up the ice with friends.
NHL 19 also made a major stride forward this year with the introduction of legendary players like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, who appear in period-accurate clothing and gear--and this includes Gretzky's untucked jersey. Some of the very old players even have wooden sticks and don't wear helmets. It's a great nod toward authenticity and a representation of classic-era hockey.
The best part of NHL 19 is how it controls, creating a feeling of player embodiment that is unparalleled in sports games in my eyes. Completing a crisp tape-to-pass feels great, the action of crunching an opponent with a big-time bodycheck will make you glad you're home and not on the ice, and once you've had enough practice, deking opponents with well-timed toe drags and blowing past a defender is so very satisfying.
NHL 19 has been out for a few months now, so if you own a PS4 or Xbox One and you're into ice hockey, you can pick up one of the best sports games of 2018 on the cheap--and you really should. | Eddie Makuch
Octopath Traveler | Nintendo Switch
I was quite critical of Octopath Traveler's short-story structure when I reviewed it earlier this year, chiefly because I struggled to grow attached to the characters or their bite-sized sagas. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. I still feel that way today, yet when I reflect back on the games I enjoyed the most in 2018, Octopath Traveler is a natural fit on my list of favorites. And even though I don't love the end result of its narrative design, I have grown to appreciate the risk involved with deviating from the norm, and wouldn't mind if the team gave it another shot in the future.
If you haven't played Octopath Traveler and you have an inkling that it might be up your alley, it's definitely one to prioritize. It has an excellent soundtrack and a fascinating retro-meets-modern look. The combat system pushes you to be creative, and quite often you're forced to execute complex patterns spells and attacks when facing bosses--demanding fights that can last upwards of 30 minutes. Octopath Traveler may not nail every facet that I normally look for in an RPG, but its stronger qualities make it easy to recommend, especially to anyone with a fondness for 16-bit console RPGs | Peter Brown
Persona 3: Dancing In Moonlight | PS4
For me, there's no comfort game quite like Persona 3: Dancing In Moonlight. My love for rhythm games, Persona 3's cast, and the music born from the 12 year-old RPG's history all come together masterfully. A simple, yet exhilarating rhythm system makes you a part of the music with clever note patterns that sync perfectly to the beat, melody, or vocals. Sometimes you're keeping up with all facets of a track as the notes seamlessly transition to line up to different parts of these beautiful, layered songs.
Dancing In Moonlight works because it leverages one of Persona's greatest strengths: its soundtrack. I still get chills hearing the melodic-punk remix of "Heartful Cry" as it punches with raw, emphatic instrumentals; it feels like a recontextualization of the hard-fought battles Aigis endured throughout Persona 3 FES. Having a full, remastered version of "When The Moon Reaches For The Stars" makes my memories of Gekkoukan High's after school activities feel fresh again. The theme song "Our Moment" is written as a sentimental ode to those who still hold the strenuous, heartbreaking journey with SEES dear. Even songs unique to Persona 3 Portable come to life with bold, new arrangements. I could literally call out every single song (including the background music in menus and social events) and explain their impact, which is also a testament to the powerful work of series composer Shoji Meguro.
It's not just the superb tracklist that got me in my feelings; the recreations of Persona 3's wonderful crew in new 3D models struck me in an unexpectedly profound way. Everyone is voiced by their original actors, and reimagined in a modern art style that breathes new life into characters I feel like I've known for a lifetime--and Social Events top it all off since I basically get to hang out with them again.
Even though there's a vast library of great games installed on my PS4 that I still haven't finished, I keep getting pulled back into P3D. I've landed perfect combos on the highest difficulty with several challenge modifiers in nearly every song, yet I'm still drawn to doing it all over again. It's more than just a silly fan-service game. Despite Persona 3's dark, somber tone, Dancing In Moonlight is a celebration of the many things that made that RPG so special. | Michael Higham
Rival Megagun | PS4
I'll be honest in saying I've spent far too much of my childhood among the blinking lights of arcade cabinets, shooting enemy ships to oblivion until my pockets ran dry of quarters. While those days have all but vanished, Rival Megagun brings me right back to them, as you can almost taste the nostalgia dripping from every facet of its aesthetic. The detailed sprite work almost encases the game in some sort of shmup time capsule, and the pulsing music would be fit for any coin-op establishment.
The real star here, though, is the head-to-head gameplay. Pulling from games like Twinkle Star Sprites and Tetris Attack, Rival Megagun sees you facing off against a fellow gunship, sending drone ships, mines, homing missiles, and laser barricades at your opponent, just to name a few. While dodging the hellscape of bullets launched at you might seem familiar, there's a surprising amount of depth imbedded into the game. Keeping up your combo meter, choosing power-ups, and deciding how and when to use your bombs all make a difference in the heat of battle.
Rival Megagun also satisfies a power fantasy that I never knew I wanted fulfilled. By shooting down enough ships to fill up a power meter, you'll get a chance to transform yourself into a giant ship and face off against your opponent on their side of the screen, triggering an intense ship-to-ship battles that'll leave the victor thirsty for more.
Everything about Rival Megagun feels like it was made with shoot-em-up fans in mind, and it's exciting to play a game that cherishes its genre's history just as much as it expands upon its formula. | Joey Yee
State of Decay 2 | PC, Xbox One
Upon release, State of Decay 2 emerged as broken and battered as the zombies that filled its world. Leaving aside the mechanical bugs and world-clipping glitches that would become the stuff of GIF legend, an array of UI issues also filled Undead Labs' suburbia. Survival and item management should have been key conceits--instead, they were frustrating chores.
Several months and numerous patches later, State of Decay 2 has become one of 2018's boldest games. It's still extremely flawed, to be sure: poor dialogue combines with spotty AI to make some of my least favorite characters in recent memory. But Undead Labs has made so many quality-of-life improvements that it's hard to complain. Interacting with survivors, switching to other allies, and trading items have become painless affairs. There's more room to appreciate the harsh, flexible world on display here.
State of Decay 2 is a testament to the power of emergent storytelling, a school of design that's become a buzzphrase in recent years thanks to AAA titles embarcing it. Undead Labs offers as little guidance as possible, choosing instead to provide the player with survival systems and an open-ended world before getting out of the way. I almost never followed objectives in the traditional sense. Instead, I created my own. I spent four hours seeking a new outpost. I combed the Midwestern map for skilled survivors. In one case, I set out to find our lost vehicle in the middle of the night with just a rookie ally by my side, worried she would slow my veteran character down.
She survived. My veteran didn't.
Moments like these are what make State of Decay 2 so memorable--specifically because I created them, in the sandbox Undead Labs provided me. It takes skill to make a memorable story. It takes daring to let players do it themselves. | Mike Mahardy
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life | PS4
As someone who played through the entire Yakuza franchise in 2018, it's no surprise that Yakuza 6: The Song of Life hit me so hard. The series has always been great at delivering gripping drama, and this game is the culmination of everything that has led up to this point. While a number of endearing characters have made a lasting impact throughout the overarching plot, the Yakuza series has always been about Kazuma Kiryu's journey, and The Song of Life is a fitting final chapter for his story.
Kiryu has endured so much over the years and he carries all that baggage with him while trying to solve another mystery involving his adopted daughter Haruka and her infant child Haruto. Using the new Dragon Engine, the seedy red-light district Kamurocho never looked so good, and it also paints the beautiful picture of the new location of seaside town Onomichi. More importantly, the detail from the new visuals is put to great use with the characters. Expressions and emotions are conveyed with stronger impact, elevating one of Yakuza's greatest storytelling strengths.
It also wouldn't be a Yakuza game if it weren't for the charming and absurd side activities that make for genuine laugh-out-loud moments. These aren't just silly for the sake of being silly, but they still manage to build upon Kiryu's character, a man who can't help himself from reluctantly helping those in need. The best example being how Kiryu gets roped into dressing up and acting as the town's adorable mascot Ono Michio, eventually inspiring the local kids to be strong. There's also karaoke, managing a baseball team, and making friendships with bar patrons and hostesses.
Rarely does a series follow one character for seven full games spanning most of their adult life, but Yakuza has done that amazingly. Kiryu may have always had that hard-boiled attitude, but it never wore thin. He's taken down crowd-after-crowd of bad guys single-handedly, but his story is one that I'm happy to have found and experienced entirely. | Jean-Luc Seipke
Yoku's Island Express | PC, PS4, Xbox One
If you told me one of my favorite games of 2018 would be a Metroidvania-slash-pinball game starring a beetle who delivers mail, I'd ask you to stop filling out Mad Libs in the office. But that crazy combination of mechanics totally works. Yoku's Island Express manages to make Metroidvania cliches feel fresh by changing how you navigate and making your abilities more than just simple power-ups.
Sure, you can explore minute portions of the map by rolling along the ground, but any vertical movement is achieved by using one of the many pinball flippers found across the island. Launching yourself up mountain paths, between branches, and through the clouds high above terra firma is thrilling--especially when you might hit a bumper along the way. Where a typical Metroidvania can fall into a rut of finding a new power-up and backtracking, Yoku's Island Express makes exploring every nook and cranny exciting by making each zone a new pinball table; you won't just be high-jumping your way across platforms here.
That said, Yoku's power-ups do give you new ways to explore. For example, the Dive Ball lets you sink underwater, and the Sootling Leash serves as a grappling hook. While these abilities may sound cliche, their place in the game's lore makes them much more fun to discover. The Sootling Leash is composed of an actual Sootling, a dust-like creature that lives on the island. Its attraction to flowers is what lets you hook onto buds in the environment and swing around.
All these elements come together into a hybrid game the likes I've which I haven't played before. Marrying pinball to Metroidvania tropes makes exploration fresh and exciting, and twists on standard power-ups makes new abilities feel special. I totally recommend a trip to this island. | Tony Wilson
With the end of December drawing near, Microsoft has announced the Xbox Games With Gold for January 2019. It's a solid lineup of Xbox One and Xbox 360 games that anyone with an Xbox Live Gold membership will be able to download for free during various times throughout the month. Let's take a look at the first games that will be available in the new year.
Between January 1-31, Xbox One owners can download Celeste. This pixelated platformer is all about jumping and dashing through expertly designed (but seriously challenging) obstacles as you make your way to the peak of a mountain. It has simple, tight controls that you'll need to master in order to make it through terrain riddled with things like pits, spikes, bounce pads, and toxic black goo. Thankfully, the checkpoint system is forgiving enough that you're never put too far back after your many inevitable deaths.
The other Xbox One freebie is the racing game WRC 6 FIA World Rally Championship. This realistic rally game puts you face to face with all manner of challenges, including mud, fog, darkness, and ice, plus car troubles like engine breakdowns and punctured tires. If you're up for it, you can grab WRC 6 between January 16 and February 15.
The Xbox 360 Games with Gold for January are acclaimed titles as well, and thanks to backwards compatibility, you can play them both on Xbox One. You can pick up the two-player action/puzzle game Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light from January 1-15. And between January 16-31 you can grab Far Cry 2, an open-world shooter some fans consider superior to its numerous sequels.
That's what's coming in January. Right now it's not too late to download some of December's Games with Gold, including QUBE 2, Never Alone, and Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction.
Bethesda has closed out the year by laying out a roadmap of what we can expect the beginning of 2019 to bring to Fallout 76. The studio outlined a few details of patches coming in January, and promised more info to come early next year.
In the blog post, the studio noted that a mid-January patch will fix the lever-action rifle reload animation, some perk cards, and the crowds at Whitespring. The studio promised that going forward in 2019, patch notes will be accompanied by a brief explanation from developers detailing the rationale behind balance changes and adjustments. It's also working on a new mode without PVP restrictions, allowing you a little more flexibility in how you play. That will be coming in the first quarter of 2019.
It's fair to say that Fallout 76 has had a rocky launch. The game itself released in a buggy state, leading to a poor reception including in GameSpot's own review, which scored it a 4/10. It's been a series of mishaps since then, from an investigation into a PC refund policy to a bait-and-switch with canvas bags in the Collector's Edition, and finally a personal data leak. For its part Bethesda has continued to support the game with patches and has promised to listen to community feedback going forward.
"Bethesda has stated it intends to continue supporting the game for a long time, but at launch, Fallout 76 is a poor experience," wrote critic Edmond Tran. "There are echoes of the series' admirable qualities, but look past that facade, past the cute Vault Boy animations, past the familiar radio tracks, and you'll find no heart--just an inconsequential wasteland doomed to be nuked over and over again."
Despite its issues, it seems to have had a solid launch, selling decently well in physical copies according to data tracking firm NPD.
Some seriously high-profile games are on sale right now for iPhone, iPad, and Android. Even if you're not typically a mobile game player, you might want to pick up some of these titles to have access to games like Civilization VI and Final Fantasy VII any time in your pocket. Let's take a look at what's available and for how much.
First up is Sid Meier's Civilization VI for iOS. This is the complete computer game, but it's been revamped for touch controls and is compatible with iPhone and iPad. The game is free to download, but that only gets you 60 turns of play. Once you run out, you'll have to pay to unlock the full game. The unlock normally costs $60, but it's currently on sale for $15, which amounts to a hefty 75% discount.
But to sweeten the deal further, over the coming days Aspyr Media is giving away all of the expansions for free to anyone who owns the core game. So if you buy Civ VI now, you can get free civilizations and scenarios for Poland, Australia, Persia, and more between December 20 and January 1. Paying $15 for all of that is a great deal, considering the usual price for the core game is $60 and each DLC runs between $5 and $9. You'll just have to remember to pick up your free expansions every two days.
12/30 - 1/1: Free -- Khmer and Indonesia Civilization & Scenario Pack (Reg: $9)
In a separate deal, Square Enix is running a huge sale on its classic RPGs for iOS and Android. You can pick up Chrono Trigger for just $5 and get big discounts on every Final Fantasy mobile port that's available. For instance, Final Fantasy VII is on sale for $10, and Final Fantasy IX is $13. If you're in the mood for a more strategic take on the series, you can grab Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions for $7 ($8 for the separate iPad version).
The first trailer for the Men in Black reboot is here. The film is titled Men in Black International and sees Thor Ragnarok stars Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson take over from Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as the covert alien investigators.
The trailer follows the formula laid down by the previous movies, with Thompson playing a new recruit to the MiB agency, and Hemsworth assigned as her partner. Emma Thompson reprises her role as Agent O from Men in Black 3, and Liam Neeson appears as the head of the British branch of MiB. There's loads of alien-chasing action and wisecracking humor--in short, everything you'd expect from a Men in Black movie. Check the trailer out above.
Men in Black International is set to be released on June 14. It's directed by F. Gary Gray, who helmed last year's blockbuster The Fate of the Furious, as well as the hip-hop biopic Straight Outta Compton. The cast also includes Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley), Rebecca Ferguson (Mission Impossible: Fallout), and Rafe Spall (Prometheus).
All three original Men in Black movies were big box-office hits. Although the third movie was not as well received critically as the first two, it still made $624 million at the worldwide box office. In total, the whole series has made more than $1.6 billion.
The third week of Fortnite Season 7 has been relatively kind in terms of challenges; there's nothing too tricky or taxing, and for the most part you should be able to complete them quite naturally by playing. However, one among them stands out as requiring some good knowledge of the Fortnite island to complete.
In the paid Battle Pass tier of challenges, the game asks you to search between three ski lodges for five Battle Stars. Unless you've been paying extra close attention and have a good lay of the land, you may not know where to find said ski lodges, and the exact location to search. To save you the time and effort, we've done the challenge and can point you in the right direction. The ski lodges are between Frosty Flights and Happy Hamlet in the southwest corner of the island.
Take a look below and you'll find a map with the pinpoint information on where to go. Simply head to that part of the map and you'll very easily spot the Battle Pass icon. Grab that and boom, you're done. Easy as pie.
If you need a breakdown of what else is involved in this week's Battle Star grind, check out our Fortnite Season 7, Week 3 challenge list. Of course, the challenges from previous weeks are also available to complete, if you haven't already. That'll get you a few extra Battle Stars, which may be enough to tip you over the requirement to get a particular cosmetic you're after. We've got a comprehensive Fortnite Season 7 challenge guide to help you out with those too.
As part of the festive season, Epic Games has kicked off the 14 Days of Fortnite event. Up until January 2, Fortnite players will be able to take part in new and returning limited-time modes, buy seasonal outfits from the in-game shop, and earn daily rewards.
It's that time of the week again, Fortnite fans. The latest batch of challenges is now live, which means there are more Battle Stars to be earned. If you've been on the grind for a while, you'll know how this goes, but if you're new to this, we'll get you caught up quickly. Challenges are split into two categories, with one set available to everyone and a second set exclusive to those that have paid for a Battle Pass.
As you complete challenges you earn Battle Stars, which in turn level up your Battle Pass and give you access to more cosmetics, including those oh so precious skins, among others. We're now in Season 7, Week 3, and the free set of challenges include riding a zipline in five different matches and getting two eliminations with a Legendary weapon. On top of those two, there's a multi-stage challenge you can begin by landing at Lonely Lodge. Once that's done, you'll see further stages.
Meanwhile, paid Battle Pass owners will need to search seven chests at Polar Peak or Tomato Temple, ring a doorbell in two different named locations in a single match, and begin another multi-stage challenge by dealing 200 points of damage with a Shotgun. Finally in this tier, one of the challenges will require you to search between three ski lodges.
Free
Ride a zipline in different matches (5) -- 5 Battle Stars
Stage 1: Land at Lonely Lodge (1) -- 1 Battle Star
Search chests at Polar Peak or Tomato Temple (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Ring a doorbell in different named locations in a single match (2) -- 5 Battle Star
Search between three ski lodges (1) -- 5 Battle Stars
Stage 1: Deal damage with Shotguns to opponents (200) -- 3 Battle Stars
There's going to be plenty for Fortnite fans to do over the Christmas period as developer Epic Games has launched the 14 Days of Fortnite event. Up until January 2, Fortnite players will be able to take part in new and returning limited-time modes, buy seasonal outfits from the in-game shop, and earn daily rewards.
The Uncharted movie project has hit another stumbling block, as its director has reportedly now stepped down from his role. Shawn Levy was due to helm the Uncharted movie, but he is apparently busy with other projects.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Levy will direct Free Guy, another video game-themed film which was recently greenlit by 20th Century Fox. His involvement in that project means he has stepped down from directing Uncharted, for which Sony is now searching for another director.
THR states Tom Holland is still set to portray Nathan Drake, but Levy's resignation is a blow to the project, which has been in the works for years and has previously had three other directors fail to get it off the ground. The movie is reportedly a prequel to the games, with a script having been written by Blacklist director Joe Carnahan.
Levy's new project, Free Guy, tells the story of a man who realizes he lives inside a video game and his attempts to prevent its developers from shutting down his world. The project stars Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, and Lil Rel, and begins shooting in April.
Insomniac Games' Spider-Man is one of the best PlayStation 4 releases of 2018 and undoubtedly the best Spider-Man game of all time. Since its launch the studio has supported the title with DLC that includes extra story missions and, more importantly, brand new outfits for everyone's favourite web slinger. Thus far we've had the Spider-Clan outfit from Marvel's Mangaverse, Spider-UK from Edge of Spider-Verse, and numerous other cool costumes. It's been great.
However, we've now hit a bit of rough spot with Spidey outfit releases. In the newest update for the PS4 game, Sony and Insomniac will include the suit from Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies, in which Peter Parker and his crime fighting alter-ego were played by absolute charisma void Tobey Maguire.
For those that grew up with these movies and enjoyed them, this is great news and I'm happy for them; they get to cut about New York in a Spidey outfit they know and love. And it's free, so you really can't complain.
We have a special holiday gift for #SpiderManPS4 players. Today's game update will include a highly requested suit. Hint: It's webbed and it's FREE for owners of Marvel's Spider-Man! pic.twitter.com/6DLTxPFSaE
But I can complain. And I will. Because, unfortunately, for many others out there this only serves to remind us of that sad six-year period where everyone was so desperate for a superhero movie that didn't make them embarrassed to be comic book fan that they doublethinked themselves into believing that trilogy was good. It wasn't.
At most the entire Raimi series had one or two moments that were exciting and Alfred Molina was ok as Doctor Octopus, I guess. For the most part though, those movies were awkward, cheesy, and completely failed to look beyond the surface of what makes Spidey interesting. And you cannot kiss someone while upside down and have a good time; it feels as bad as it looks.
Complaining aside, Insomniac has done a great job in rendering the suit in-game, based on the screenshot above. It's a cool looking outfit and the webbed design makes it distinct in the lineup of many, many costumes that have existed over the years. Now that there's a good Peter Parker wearing it, it can actually be done some justice.
Spider-Man was released for PS4 in September and, in his review, Edmond Tran awarded it a 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," he said. "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."
The next major DLC release for Spider-Man on PS4 is Silver Lining, which launches on December 21 and will wrap up the City That Never Sleeps story arc. As the name indicates, Silver Sable will play a big part in this chapter, as she's not very happy that Hammerhead has been stealing her weapons.
Without warning, Sony has launched a brand-new Lemmings game for mobile. Simply titled Lemmings, the game is out now for iOS and Android.
It appears the new game attempts to stay true to the Lemmings releases from the '90s, while modernizing the series for mobile devices. "We took the Lemmings experience that people know and love and re-engineered it to make the most of smartphones and tablets," developer Sad Puppy wrote on the PlayStation Blog. "We've designed levels that are played in portrait orientation, as this is the most comfortable position to hold a device with one hand.
"We worked tirelessly on touch controls, removing secondary elements like camera control and making it as simple for players to assess the level, plan a strategy and execute it. It's the Lemmings game you know and love, redesigned for the best experience on your device. Under your direction, they'll dig, climb, build, block and fall through levels, with an ease of control that is both fun and challenging."
Lemmings is free-to-play, with an energy system and optional in-app purchases available for those who wish to spend a bit of cash. Note the game's description states an internet connection is required to play.
The first Lemmings game came to the Amiga in 1991, before being ported to a number of other devices. After publisher Psygnosis was acquired by Sony, Lemmings became a PlayStation-exclusive series. The most recent entry was a 2006 remake of the first game in the series for PS2, PSP, and PS3, also titled Lemmings.
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