If there's one thing the Transformers franchise excels in (other than, you know, giant robots punching one another and turning into vehicles) it's really drilling into that nostalgia vein. There's a wealth of totally radical 80s potential to be found in the world of Autobots and Decepticons, and Bumblebee was not afraid to just go for it wholeheartedly, resulting in one of the most Easter Egg packed installments of the live action lineup. From nods to the robots of Transformers cartoons past to wink-nudge references to classic movies, Bumblebee never missed an opportunity--which might have been a bad thing if it hadn't managed to be so charming along the way.
In our Bumblebee review, we called out the movie's ability to ride the referential line with surprising grace. "Bumblebee hits a perfect tone with a great mix of action, humor, and heart. The soundtrack strikes all the right chords, the action is mostly clear and easy to follow even when two massive robots are rapidly grappling and transforming into various forms, and the characters are instantly relatable, without screenwriter Christina Hodson relying too much on cliches. The homages to Spielberg, Hughes, and other '80s filmmakers may not be subtle, but they are a lot of fun, and Bumblebee pays tribute in smart ways that don't feel out of place or forced. "
Unsurprisingly, there are some spoilers coming up, so proceed with caution as we recount every reference (both 80s and otherwise) we were able to find.
1.) Shockwave
While Megatron is conspicuously absent from the movie, other prominent members of the Decepticon leadership are front and center. The cycloptic Shockwave, a purple robot who, much like his boss, typically transforms into a gun, is seen giving orders on Cybertron during the opening moments. If you pay close enough attention, you'll even hear his iconic, highly accented voice deliver a few lines.
2.) Soundwave & Ravage
Arguably one of the most famous and recognizable Decepticons of all time, master spy Soundwave gets a prominent shoutout during the opening scene as he sends out his cassette tape minion--Ravage, a robotic cat--for the attack. "Ravage, eject," he says.
3.) Arcee
Instantly recognizable for her bright pink and white paint job, Arcee, one of the first female Transformers, can be seen fighting with the Autobots on Cybertron.
4.) Wheeljack
Endearing Autobot scientist Wheeljack shouts some orders to his teammates in the Cybertron scene--you can pick him out by his distinctive mouth plating and weirdly prominent "ear" crests.
5.) Ratchet
Autobot medic and one of the original Bay universe Transformers, Rachet, can be spotted on Cybertron represented with his classic red and white colors and design.
6.) Ironhide
One of the last big cameos during the battle for Cybertron is Ironhide, another of the original team from the Bay universe, who, like Ratchet, can be scene here sporting his original design and colors.
7.) Cliffjumper
Shatter and Dropkick track down an autobot soldier named Cliffjumper as they search the solar system for information on Optimus. Not only is Cliffjumper a classic Transformer represented in his original design, he's also notable as being close to identical to Bumblebee in the 80s cartoon and comic universe. Though the two of them were not officially related, they're commonly mistaken for one another.
8.) Seekers
The Decepticon forces on Cybertron are made up primarily of flying robots who transform into fighter jets, a quick shorthand for the Decepticon special forces team known as the Seekers, who were frequently lead by Starscream. They're never formally named, but other members like Skywarp, Thundercracker, and Acid Storm can be spotted among the crowds.
9.) The Touch
While Bee tries to encourage Charlie to impress all her high school friends, he plays 80s power ballad "The Touch" over his radio--a nice little nod to the theme song of the 1986 Transformers animated movie.
10.) Breakfast Club
It wouldn't be a movie set in the '80s without plenty of gratuitous '80s references. The main thing Bumblebee keeps going back to is the John Hughes 1985 classic The Breakfast Club, an essential teen movie from the decade that's still worth watching today.
11.) Triple Changers
Dropkick and Shatter are able to have two different alt modes simultaneously, making them the first real triple changers we've seen in the live action universe. However, triple changers have been a pretty major part of the Transformers mythology for a while, dating all the way back to the 80s.
12.) Sector 7
John Cena's character, Agent Burns, works for Sector 7, an arm of the US military specifically created to monitor and control otherworldly threats. It was first established back in the first Michael Bay movie.
13.) The Camaro
At the end of the movie, Bee changes his alt mode from his vintage VW bug to a sleek yellow Camaro, a nod to his alt mode through the other live action movies.
14.) Rick Roll
Naturally for a movie about Bumblebee, who uses songs on the radio to communicate, music plays a big part in the film. The funniest musical moment probably comes when Charlie gives Bumblebee the Rick Astley cassette with the song "Never Gonna Give You Up" on it--AKA the internet's beloved/despised "Rick Roll" meme--and he promptly spits it out.
15.) Alf
Here's another fun '80s reference: The Watson family enjoys the show Alf, which is about an Alien Life Form who crash lands in a suburban garage. Get it? (Yes, we get it.)
16.) Pong
Just in case you forgot, this movie is set in the '80s. Was Pong still popular in the '80s? Didn't they have the NES and Mario already by then?
17.) "Take us to your leader"
It's pretty clear that Shatter and Dropkick are in on the joke when they repeat this commonly used science fiction phrase.
18.) Help me, Bumblebee. You're my only hope
The way Optimus Prime's message to Bumblebee gets unveiled as a hologram emitted from the robot's chest may be a nod to Princess Leia's message to Obi-Wan Kenobi in A New Hope. Or maybe not--you decide!
19.) Inventing the internet
Based on the scene where they take over the world's satellites and communications networks, it seems in Transformers lore, Shatter and Dropkick actually did do something positive for humanity: Although it wasn't their intent, they just invented the internet.
20.) Pop Tarts
Members of the Watson family eat Pop Tarts, which were a popular breakfast choice in the 1980s, before scientists learned that eating nothing but processed sugar for an entire meal is actually a bad idea and let everyone know as much.
21.) Hot Dog on a Stick
Charlie works at a Hot Dog on a Stick, a fast food restaurant popular at malls in the 1980s. They made corn dogs, which is why the name "Hot Dog on a Stick" is funny. They would also deep fry pure breaded cheese on a stick, which was delicious.
22.) '80s Movies
What kind of movie is set in the '80s but doesn't have overt references to '80s movies? Luckily Bumblebee includes posters for The Thing and Raiders of the Lost Ark in Memo's bedroom.
Whether you were in the mood for large-scale historical battles or first-person sci-fi shooting and looting--or perhaps you simply needed to get your fix on the go with Nintendo Switch--2018 had a bit of something for every shooter fan out there. The big guns like Destiny 2, Battlefield V, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 had no problems gathering the usual attention, but they aren't the only shooting games that rose to the top in the past year.
We've rounded up every shooter that scored at least an 8 on GameSpot in 2018, and organized them by score below. Scroll down to see where your favorite of the year landed. You might find also find something new to consider playing before games start rolling out in 2019.
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]
Battlefield V - 8/10
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. -- Kallie Plagge [Full Review]
Destiny 2: Forsaken - 8/10
There is a lot to do in Forsaken, so much so that it can be difficult to see it all. That also means that, for the average player, this expansion has a much longer tail than previous iterations of Destiny 2. The variety and flexibility of activities established in the base game still work to make grinding a good time, and Gambit adds a consistently entertaining mode to the roster. The endgame, while difficult to reach, is also where the most satisfaction can be found. -- Kallie Plagge [Full Review]
Earth Defense Force 5 - 8/10
Despite the series' long-running nature, Earth Defense Force 5 is a standout action game, revelling in its own absurdity while crafting a brilliantly fun and lively action game around it. Its huge battles are a joy to watch play out both from up close and afar, and the wide variety of weapons and play styles with each player type offers plenty of reason to come back for more after the final bullet has been fired. -- James Swinbanks [Full Review]
Mothergunship - 8 1/0
With the game's clever gun crafting system added into the mix, familiar tropes and techniques from classic shooting galleries feel super-charged in the game's randomized bullet-hell dungeons. When Mothergunship is firing on all cylinders, it's a satisfying and thrilling shooter where it really counts. With an incredibly fun and never uninteresting gun-crafting mechanic, it certainly goes a long way with its clever hook and an endless flow of enemies to gun down. -- Alessandro Fillari [Full Review]
Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus (Switch Port) - 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. -- Kallie Plagge [Full Review]
With Christmas in the rearview, Aquaman is finally in theaters, and chances are you've seen it--which means you inevitably have a lot of questions. We kind of, sort of, mostly loved the movie, despite its problems, but we were also pretty confused about much of its worldbuilding and plot points. For example: What exactly is the timeline of Atlantean history? How long did King Atlan spend in his self-imposed exile after the fall of Atlantis? And how long ago did he record that message for the future king? How much time has passed since Atlanteans lived in what is now the Sahara desert, and how could a clue that's seemingly millions of years old point Arthur and Mera to a Greco-Roman era statue in Sicily?
Luckily, Warner Bros. gave us the opportunity to sit down with Aquaman's screenwriters, David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Will Beall, as well as DC's famed writer and Aquaman executive producer Geoff Johns. Of course, we asked them to clear this all up.
The main Aquaman timeline problem comes from the fact that Arthur and Mera surmise the Deserters Kingdom under the Sahara desert has been there since "before the Sahara was a desert," which a quick Google search tells us was around 7 million years ago. In addition, Atlanteans who broke off into the various Seven Kingdoms of Atlantis went down wildly divergent evolutionary paths, transforming over time into CGI fish people, CGI crab people, and CGI deep sea monsters, which doesn't happen overnight. Those facts suggest that the fall of Atlantis may have really occurred millions of years ago.
Yet at the same time, Atlan's voicemail message--the one that Arthur and Mera viewed in the chamber under the desert--pointed them to a statue in Sicily that's at most a few thousand years old. How do the writers explain that seemingly kraken-sized plot hole?
"Well, there's definitely a lot of different ways to skin this cat," Johns told us. "One is that Atlan actually lives longer than [other Atlanteans]. Atlanteans live longer than humans, and he's a king, with that trident, so clearly he lived a long, long time in isolation. I think that is probably the easiest explanation."
In other words, King Atlan--the same king who reigned during Atlantis's downfall--may have survived in exile at the Hidden Sea at the Earth's Core for millions of years. His trident's vaguely defined magical powers, which are never really explicitly defined in the movie, might have had something to do with it.
"[Atlan] is hanging onto the trident, and it's holding him together in some way," Beall added.
"Yeah, it's holding him together," Johns agreed. "I think he was there a long, long time."
Does that mean Arthur is effectively immortal as long as he wields it? Maybe we'll find out in future Aquaman movies (fingers crossed). But if the trident isn't responsible, the writers have another theory that could explain Atlan's long life: The energy blast that sank Atlantis may have had unknown effects on those who would have been nearest its epicenter.
"I think [Atlan] had some power beyond other Atlanteans, and he was at the ground zero of that explosion, so who knows how that energy affected him?" Johns posited.
One problem with that theory is it means Atlan survived in exile on the other side of that weird portal thingie for millions of years, then at some point swam back up through the Trench Kingdom, scouted around for potential clue locations, found that statue in Sicily, recorded that cryptic voicemail, and then swam back down through the portal and resumed his lonely vigil. Maybe he decided that the quest for his trident was a little too difficult, like video game developers who add more objective markers in a post-release patch. On the other hand, the Karathen--which, by the way, was voiced by Julie Andrews--seems to have had plenty of victims over the years, although it also states that it hasn't feasted in ages. So who knows?
There's yet another theory that has less to do with Atlan's age: The Deserters Kingdom in the Sahara may have actually survived into much more recent history. That's only possible if a hidden body of water once existed under the Sahara, which real life science suggests is actually possible. Johns floated this theory as well:
"Also, just because we believe that the Sahara was dry for millions of years doesn't mean there wasn't some water underneath it in this hidden kingdom at some point," Johns said.
Either way, it's pretty incredible that the best Aquaman's writers and executive producer can offer about the movie's timeline is theories. If anyone should be able to explain this stuff, it's them. Of course, they could have also taken the route chosen by Venom director Ruben Fleischer and simply fessed up to the plot hole. Instead, Johns and Aquaman's screenwriters decided on a middle path: They're not sure exactly how the movie's timeline works out, but according to them, it's not impossible.
Considering we're really just nitpicking here, we're going to say that's good enough for us and officially close this investigation. Aquaman is in theaters now.
It may be hard to believe, but 2018 is nearly over. That means it won't be long before January rolls around, bringing PlayStation Plus members a new set of free PS4, PS3, and PS Vita games to add to their collection. Sony has announced January's lineup, so let's dive in and see what you'll be able to download from PSN between January 1 and February 5.
PS4 owners can pick up Steep, an extreme sports game from Ubisoft that lets you ski, snowboard, and glide in a wing suit to go from a mountain's snowy peaks to its powdery base. The other PS4 game for January is Portal Knights, which takes the building component of Minecraft and constructs around it an RPG that encourages crafting and exploration.
If you're reading this in 2018, it's not too late to pick up your free PS Plus games for December. They include the racing game Onrush and the horror game Soma for PS4; Steredenn and SteinsGate for PS3; and Papers, Please and Iconoclasts for PS Vita.
PS Plus members should note that, starting in March 2019, Sony will no longer give away free PS3 and PS Vita games for PS Plus members. If you subscribe to PS Plus primarily for those free titles, you'll want to turn off your subscription's auto-renewal option or cancel it then.
PlayStation Plus Games For January 2019
PS4
Steep
Portal Knights
Fallen Legion: Flames of the Rebellion (also on PS Vita)
PS3
Zone of the Enders HD Collection
Amplitude
PS Vita
Fallen Legion: Flames of the Rebellion (also on PS4)
Netflix has been slowly killing off its slate of Marvel shows, in a move that seemed apparently linked to the impending launch of Disney's proprietary streaming service, Disney+. Now Disney's Kevin Mayer, the chairman in charge of direct-to-consumer offers, has left the door open to reviving those shows on its own channel once it launches sometime in 2019.
"They are very high-quality shows," Mayer told The Hollywood Reporter. "We haven't yet discussed that, but I would say that's a possibility."
It's far from a commitment, but it certainly gives more hope to further episodes than previously thought. Netflix has been cancelling the shows one by one, usually shortly after releasing their last season. It impacted Iron Fist, then Luke Cage, and most recently, Daredevil. Only Jessica Jones and The Punisher remain standing, but with Punisher's next season set for January and JJ's coming at some point soon too, both appear likely for the chopping block.
Disney has already announced a number of series for its own streaming service, including original Marvel series. Those plans include a series revolving around the fan-favorite character Loki. It joins some high-profile Star Wars projects like a series starring Rogue One character Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), and another called The Mandalorian. Those are already some big plans, which may make Disney hesitant to bring on even more shows.
On the other hand, the Netflix series are already critically well-regarded. In particular Daredevil was acclaimed for its first and third seasons, the latter of which left off with a cliffhanger. If Disney does revive it, fans will be able to see how that storyline pays off after all.
Far Cry 5 came out in March as a full $60 game, but this week the PS4 and Xbox One versions are on sale for $20 at Best Buy. That's the lowest price we've seen yet--which is good news for anyone who likes shooters, especially considering Far Cry New Dawn is set to launch on February 15. In a first for the series, New Dawn is a direct sequel to Far Cry 5, making now the perfect time to get caught up on the story. Just make sure you grab the game before it goes back to regular price on December 30.
Far Cry 5 is an open-world shooter that's set in Hope County, Montana, a rural area that's been overrun by an apocalyptic cult led by a man named Joseph Seed. You play as a federal deputy sent in to arrest Seed, but there wouldn't be much of a game if things went as planned. You quickly find yourself alone in a massive, hostile region, with an enormous amount of freedom over where to go and how to upgrade your abilities.
In GameSpot's 9/10 Far Cry 5 review, Edmond Tran wrote, "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."
The canonical ending of Far Cry 5 packs a punch, and Far Cry New Dawn takes place in the same geographic area 17 years later. According to the trailer, it will feature at least one character from the previous game, and likely more than that. So pick up Far Cry 5 and give it a go before the modestly priced sequel launches in February.
While a release date has not been announced for Amazon Prime's upcoming adaptation of the Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson comic book The Boys, one actor appearing in the show is glad something that's been so important to him for over a decade is finally coming to life. Mission Impossible: Fallout star Simon Pegg has a long history with The Boys and it's one he's able to carry over to the adaptation.
Fans of the comic about superheroes that embrace the dark side of their powers and celebrity status have no doubt realized how much the character Hughie looks like Pegg, and that's not a coincidence. Ennis and Robertson looked to the actor for inspiration with Hughie. Unfortunately, that was over 12 years ago and a younger actor--Jack Quaid--has been cast as the character. Thankfully, though, Ennis and Robertson, along with executive producers Eric Kripke, Evan Goldberg, and Seth Rogen have created a new role for Pegg.
The Shaun of the Dead star has taken on the role of Hughie's dad, who did not appear in the comics. The surprise announcement was made at New York Comic-Con in October, at which point Pegg sat down to speak with GameSpot about the role.
"This comic book has been in my life for 10 years, longer probably, and it was bittersweet when I found out that it was finally coming to screen and I realized that I wouldn't be Hughie," he said. "I'm too kind of old to play that role. I was delighted to hear it was Jack. I think Jack's amazing."
As for the role of Hughie's dad within the show's story, Pegg says he will appear in a few episodes of the first season. "It's very much a sort of little guest role that I came and did and was delighted to do," he admitted. "I felt like it was only right in a way, and I'm glad they felt the same way."
What should be interesting to see is the dynamic between Hughie and his father, as it sounds like dad may be a little overprotective of his son. "Hughie's dad's a very lovely guy," Pegg teased. "It's just him and Hughie. He worries about him... He's still got all his toys in his room and stuff. I think he likes it that way. He likes to sit on the couch with his son and watch TV. That's where he would like to stay forever."
Of course, given that Hughie has super-strength, there's little chance of that happening. Still, a father can dream.
As for the rather graphic nature of the comic, which is a pretty violent affair, Pegg assured fans that Amazon Prime has given a lot of freedom to the project. "They showed me the stuff that they'd already shot that was surprising and shocking, but for all the right reasons," he said. "I think Garth almost and Darick together, obviously because Darick Robertson was drawing it, together they were trying to almost dare somebody to adapt it. It was almost the unadaptable comic book, even more so than Preacher I think."
As for when you'll be able to see what the creative team behind The Boys has come up with, a premiere date has not been announced. However, the series that also stars Karl Urban, Elisabeth Shue, and Chace Crawford, will arrive in 2019.
How old is too old to play with Nerf? Asking for a friend.
Nerf blasters have come a long way since I was a kid. Back then, the coolest thing in the world was the Nerf Bow And Arrow, which fired a comically fat dart at your opponents. Now, Nerf is doing some really cool things with its Rival line by bringing the weapons of Overwatch into the real world.
Sure, the spring-loading technology probably hasn't changed much, but the look and feel of these blasters has. Hasbro gave GameSpot four of its new blasters based on the game Overwatch, and we played around with them. We also fired them a bunch, lost some of the balls, and made sure no one was looking at us in the process.
Check out below the box art and close up looks at what comes with each blaster below, as well as our thoughts on them. One thing is for sure, Nerf may look a whole lot different from what it used to but it still plays the same.
All of these Nerf Rival Overwatch blasters will be available at GameStop in the U.S. and at EB Games in Canada in January 2019.
Nerf Rival Microshots Overwatch
Price: $10
There are three different microshots to choose from: Torbjorn, D.Va, and Tracer. Each one comes with two darts, and it's a very basic blaster, with easy to load and fire mechanics.
Thoughts
Pros: Reminds me of the classic Nerf toys I played with as a kid.
Cons: Obviously, this was made for younger folks, as I don't feel the power of Overwatch holding this.
Nerf Rival Overwatch McCree Blaster
Price: $30
Comes with a die cast McCree badge and five high-powered rounds. The blaster also has a trigger lock to prevent accidental firing.
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This is the only blaster in the line that gets loaded from the back, and it only holds one shot at a time.
Thoughts
Pros: This is probably the coolest-looking blaster in the line. The badge is real sturdy and feels official.
Cons: It has to be loaded with a single round every time you fire. The blaster doesn't hold multiple rounds.
Nerf Rival Overwatch D.Va Blaster
Price: $30
D.Va's straight-forward blaster comes with three rounds and her lucky bunny charm. Additionally, it has a trigger lock to prevent accidental firing.
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Up to three rounds can be loaded into the blaster at a time. The go into the top near the front of the barrel.
Thoughts
Pros: Out of the entire line, this blaster looks most like the weapon from Overwatch. It holds multiple rounds, so you don't have to reload.
This set comes with two blasters, 16 rounds, and a mask. Like other blasters in the set, these also have a trigger lock to prevent accidental firing.
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Each of the blasters can hold eight rounds at a time, and they get loaded at the top of the blaster, right in the middle.
The mask
This thing is nuts. It's pretty durable and doesn't feel cheap by any means, which is nice as many collector packs skip out on the quality of the extra items included. The mask is easy to see out of and fits nicely on the face.
Thoughts
Pros: The mask fits the head and face of a 36-year-old man who has no shame. The blasters are easy to load with one hand, which is important because you'll be carrying both of them at the same time.
Cons: This is pretty pricey, but it is a collectors edition.
Sony released the PlayStation Classic on December 3, confirming rumors that it was working on a competitor to Nintendo's line of miniature consoles. One of the surprises was the system's $100 price tag, which is higher than Nintendo's NES and SNES Classics, which cost $60 and $80 respectively. The price isn't such a big problem this week, because many retailers currently have the PlayStation Classic marked down to $60. That's 40% off a product that released less than a month ago.
PlayStation Classic is a miniature version of the original PlayStation console from 1995. It comes with 20 PS1 games loaded onto it and two full-sized controllers so you and a partner can play the games that support couch co-op. You can find the full list of the games included on the system below.
Deals this good don't tend to last long, so if you've had your eye on a PlayStation Classic, now is a good time to grab one. Fair warning, though: in GameSpot's PlayStation Classic review, critic Peter Brown wasn't thrilled with the retro console. "The PS Classic doesn't feel like a celebration of PlayStation's formative years the way Nintendo's systems do," he wrote.
Speaking of Nintendo's mini console series, if you want an NES or SNES Classic, you might want to pick it up soon, because Nintendo is about to cease production of the miniature consoles. In the meantime, you can still find them in stock at several retailers.
In honor of the end of GOG.com's Big Winter Sale, we're giving away 500 PCgame codesfree from their catalog. The PC game codes will be a mysterycode, redeemable on GOG's platform, and are DRM-free. (Scroll down to enter below.)
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