By Phil Hornshaw on Feb 23, 2019 10:30 pm
Apex Legends has stormed onto the battle royale scene in its first month, garnering a huge community of 25 million players, according to developer Respawn Entertainment. That's an impressive number, but for a live service game, it's not how many people you can get to play at launch--it's how many people you can keep playing long-term. That's where Apex's upcoming battle pass comes in. Like competitors such as Fortnite, Apex Legends includes a whole lot of cosmetic items for players to unlock. In Apex, you can largely get them from loot boxes you earn or buy with real money. But there's another way to get those items, without having to buy lots of loot boxes and gamble. The battle pass in Fortnite, which players buy with Fortnite's premium currency, gives players a bunch of cosmetic items, plus allows them to level up at an accelerated rate to earn more items. Playing with a paid battle pass also lets you earn more of Fortnite's currency, and if you play enough, you could even afford to buy the next season's battle pass without spending real money. Apex Legends also has a battle pass system coming in its first season, which starts in March. We don't know any details about how it'll work, what it'll cost, or what it'll include just yet, although Respawn has said it intends for the battle pass to be an even better value than what's offered with Fortnite. We might not know what Apex Legends' first battle pass will entail, but we do have a few things we're hoping to see when it comes online. Here's our wishlist for Apex's battle pass for the first season.
A Whole Mess Of New Skins
The big thrust of a battle pass is new junk to earn. There are a lot of cosmetics already in Apex Legends, but more variety is always welcome. If Apex's battle passes and seasons are anything like Fortnite's, they'll probably have different themes. It'd be great to see additional skins playing on some of the current themes we've seen in Apex--guns and costumes similar to the Mastiff's Warp Zone skin would be a good start--but generally, we want lots of cool new stuff to earn, rather than a speedier way to earn what's already in the game. It'd also be great to see skins that go even further by reacting to things like taking or dealing damage, for instance.
More Loot Boxes On Leveling
The longer you play Apex Legends, the tougher it is to earn the loot boxes that include skins for characters and weapons. Every new level requires more and more experience points to earn, and once you hit level 20, you stop earning loot boxes with every new level and start getting them for every other level. A nice perk of paying for a battle pass would be the return of loot boxes for every level earned--or even more than that, since they get so tough to come by for those who've played a lot.
Crafting Metals You Can Earn
Along with more loot boxes, a nice perk of paying into a battle pass would be a reliable opportunity to earn crafting metals. The currency allows you to unlock specific cosmetic items one at a time, but the catch is, you can only get crafting materials from Apex packs. Adding crafting metals to leveling rewards, or as items you can earn from completing challenges, would make earning all those new cosmetics a little easier and make the battle pass feel like a better value.
Rewards For Winning, And Other Feats
Winning in Apex Legends is nice, like it is in all battle royale games, but it can also be a bit lackluster. After a hard-fought victory, you're treated to a screen that shows off your character, and that's about it. The battle pass would be a great opportunity for Respawn to enhance winning with cosmetics that can only be earned through victory, or at the very least, with a loot box reward of some kind. It'd also be nice to see more rewards geared toward recognizing the contribution players make to their teams beyond racking up a lot of kills.
Challenges To Expand On The Gameplay
Each new Fortnite season includes "challenges," in-game activities that players can complete to earn new cosmetics or currency to buy and craft them. Those activities also expand on Fortnite beyond its core competitive gameplay, giving players new reasons to log in and new things to do. Apex Legends could benefit from the same approach in challenges, although it would need to avoid some pitfalls. Providing players with incentives to try new guns or expand on their skills in supporting their teammates would be great--but challenges that encourage you to play poorly or blow off competition to chase hidden objects are less ideal, since they'll probably weaken competition in matches. We want challenges as long as they build on what's cool about Apex, instead of distracting from it.
Expansions On The Story
Like Overwatch, Apex Legends' characters mean the game has a lot of story that's not actually in the game. We know that Apex is set in the Titanfall universe and takes place 30 years after Titanfall 2, but there's not much more to the plot beyond that yet. Each of the characters on the game's roster has some backstory on the game's website, but seeing more of it in Apex Legends would greatly expand the world. Adding to the story, maybe through the challenges players could complete as part of the battle pass, would go a long way to expanding on Apex Legends and giving it the kind of longevity Overwatch has enjoyed.
By Mat Elfring on Feb 23, 2019 09:30 pm
While the internet is losing its mind over Will Smith as the Genie is the upcoming live-action remake of Aladdin, it's easy to forget that Disney has produced far more live-action movies than animated ones since the company started making films back in 1937, with the debut of Snow White And The Seven Dwarves. Disney's first live-action movie--that wasn't an animation hybrid--was the 1950 adaptation of Treasure Island. Jump ahead to the 60s, and Disney was pumping out, on average, six movies a year, and the vast majority were live-action as animated films were coming out roughly every three years or so. And there were a few memorable films you've surely seen like 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, The Parent Trap, or one of the million Herbie the Lovebug movies. Then, there was a short period of time where Disney got a bit weird. Before the studio established Touchstone Pictures, Disney dove into making more mature titles, stepping away from movies that that were zany family comedies about birds that laid golden eggs or any of the other movies that teamed up someone with a wacky animal. This seven-year period saw Disney going out on a limb to explore new avenues in storytelling, which meant more adult content. We're not talking about rated-R material, but the films Disney produced during this time weren't your typical comedy retreat. And no, we're not taking look at Tron, the company's most successful live-action movie during this period, as it's a hybrid animated/live-action movie, and also, it's awesome, and everyone reading this knows what it is. We're taking a look at the weirdest live-action movies from that time period, presented in order of "least weird" to "what was Disney thinking?
10. Flight of the Navigator (1986)
Flight of the Navigator is pretty tame, when put into perspective. This was the last movie to come out during Disney's "darker era" and two years after the formation of Touchstone Pictures. Chances are, you've probably seen this movie because it's pretty fantastic. Taking place in 1978, the movie follows David Freeman, a 12-year old boy who falls into a ravine, is knocked unconscious, and wakes up eight years in the future, not having aged a day. It turns out, David had created a telepathic bond with an alien ship--voiced by Paul "Pee Wee Herman" Rubens--that fills his brain with miscellaneous data and takes him on an adventure. Eventually, David gets sent back in time and all is well again. While this is the brightest movie from Disney's dark time, there are some dark elements, which we've seen in other movies. Most notably is the fact that NASA is the antagonist, and their goal is to study David and institutionalize him. Additionally, David knows that if he travels back in time, to 1978, he risks being vaporized. Our protagonists choices in Act III are psychiatric imprisonment or potentially being vaporized in space. That's a messed up thing to do to a kid.
9. Midnight Madness (1980)
Midnight Madness was the second movie in Disney's stable to get the PG rating. Don't worry, the first one is on this list as well. What's bizarre about this movie is that it feels more like a B-List teen comedy than something Disney produced. In this 1980 cult classic, a group of college students participate in a competition dubbed "The Great All-Nighter." A game master--who is constantly surrounded by a bevy of women--gives the students clues, which take them to a location, and they get a new clue which takes them to a new location, and so on and so forth. Midnight Madness couldn't feel less like a Disney movie. Tonally, it has more in common with Revenge of the Nerds than anything else under the mouse's banner. However, what's interesting is that it's stripped down. It's like they took Revenge of the Nerds and replaced all the swearing, nudity, and sexual situations with yucking it up for the camera and bizarre pseudo-sexual moments like jocks spraying women with beer from a keg. It's a movie that's too adult for kids but too kiddie for adults.
8. The Devil and Max Devlin (1981)
You know what Disney needs more of? Satan. The Devil and Max Devlin is one of the films that influenced Disney to create Touchstone Pictures. This fantasy comedy starred Bill Cosby, who played the devil. A shady landlord named Max Devlin is run over by a bus and dies. He is sent to Hell and told by the devil that he'll be there for all eternity unless Devlin can convince three people to sell him their souls, so Devlin's soul can be free. Devlin ends up getting the souls he needs, but falls in love with the mother of one of his victims. In the end, he sacrifices himself to save everyone's souls, and he ends up beating the Devil because of it. Although this movie follows a pretty traditional Disney storytelling formula with the main character of the story--who is flawed--learning something about himself and changing, the whole movie centers around people being tortured in the afterlife. Sure, there are plenty of comedic talents to soften the blow, but it's still a movie that's about eternal damnation.
7. Tex (1982)
Tex is the only movie on this list without a genre hook. This is a straight-forward drama. There's no comedy, science fiction, or horror slant to it. It was well-received by critics, with Robert Ebert giving it 4 out of 4 stars. The film centers around two brothers whose mother passed away. While this happens, their father walks out on the crumbling family, in what is essentially a coming-of-age story about young adults in Oklahoma trying to live their lives without parental figures. This was a pretty big breakout role for Matt Dillon, who played one of the brothers. Critics applauded the film for its realistic portrayal of adolescents. This was a very serious movie that didn't match the rest of Disney's cannon for the time. Sure, Disney touched on realism many times before, but it never reached the gritty levels Tex did when dealing with death and moving forward.
6. Dragonslayer (1981)
While originally rated PG, more recent TV showings of Dragonslayer got the dreaded TV-14 rating for its violence, adult themes, and nudity. Many people have forgotten about this movie--which was distributed by Paramount, which co-produced the movie--even though this was an Academy Award nominated movie for Best Original Score and Best Visual Effects. Dragonslayer takes place in the sixth-century where the kingdom of Urland is under the attack of a dragon named Vermithrax Pejorative. In order to keep the dragon at bay, the king offers it virgin women which are selected by lottery. A wizard apprentice decides to take action and goes on a journey to slay the dragon. Dragonslayer was ahead of its time. The film used Industrial Light and Magic to do its special effects, and it's a movie that debuted during the dawn of the '80s fantasy era, released the same year as Clash of the Titans. This was Disney's first live-action attempt at something like this and the only time they ever attempted a medieval era movie like this.
5. Condorman (1981)
Marvel Cinematic Uni-what? Condorman was Disney's attempt at a superhero film, and it was something else. The opening credit sequence alone is bizarre. Is this a superhero movie, a parody of one, or a dark tale of espionage? The movie follows Woody Wilkins, a comic book creator who decides to become one of his creations, Condorman. Woody meets a KGB spy and helps her defect. She has the CIA make Condorman be the agent that helps her on the journey. However, there is an assassin after her, and Condorman saves the day. Sure, you could say Condorman--like Dragonslayer--was ahead of its time, but the movie suffered from a lack of voice. Aside from being a critical and box office failure, it tried to follow the traditional style of Disney family comedy, which didn't work anymore. It's the only movie on this list that didn't tap into something darker and more adult, during this more mature time at Disney, and it's obvious that the people didn't want films like this anymore.
4. The Black Hole (1979)
With the success of Star Wars, Disney attempted to tap into the newly-created fandom with The Black Hole, a space opera that is bleak, disturbing, and dark. That may not be what Disney originally attempted, but that was the end result. Not even a silly floating robot could lighten the mood on this one. The Black Hole follows an exploratory spaceship from Earth. On its journey, it finds a lost ship just outside of the event horizon of--you guessed it--a black hole. The ship contains a scientist and android drones working for him. And, of course, said scientist is evil and turns on the crew of the exploratory ship. It all ends with the ship heading into the black hole where the scientist and one of his robots merge and burn up. The moment the audience realizes that the robot drones are actually zombified ex-crew members is horrifying, and the same goes for when the evil scientist dies at the end. Overall, it's a mediocre movie that has some exceptionally memorable moments. It's worth checking out at least once, just to see Disney's first dip into making more mature content.
3. Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
When you think about dark Disney movies, Something Wicked This Way Comes is at the top of many people's lists. The fantasy film was written by Ray Bradbury and adapted from his book of the same name. While Disney has it listed as a fantasy film, it's more horror than anything else. It centers around the town of Green Town, Illinois. Two boys who received detention hear about a bizarre travelling carnival that go and check out. While at first glance this seems to be your average, run-of-the-mill carnival, there are dark forces at play, and the man who runs the show--conveniently named Mr. Dark--plans to take control of the town and steal the townspeople's souls. It is a very dark movie filled with horrifying visuals. The music is incredibly eerie, and as a whole, the movie is unsettling. This was a film, however, that was shown to kids in elementary schools during the '80s. I will never forget the day I was shown this movie in my 5th grade class because Mr. Dark disturbed me to my very core.
2. Return To Oz (1985)
MGM's The Wizard of Oz is a classic film that is loved by everyone. So what happens when Disney decides to dive back into the world of Oz? Well, you get something that feels pretty derivative of another movie that came out a year prior, The NeverEnding Story. Tapping into the darker side of L. Frank Baum's Oz novels--primarily The Marvelous Land of Oz and Ozma of Oz--the movie follows Dorothy once again (who is now, like, 8 years old for some reason), who is taken by her Aunt Em to electrotherapy (I'm not making this up) because Dorothy keeps fantasizing about the land of Oz. Before her alleged delusions are zapped out of her, the building is struck by lightning and Dorothy is saved by a mysterious girl. Somehow, Dorothy ends up back in Oz--after falling into a river--where she must restore the Emerald City to its glory with her new friends, as it's been overthrown by the Nome King. The film didn't go over well with critics. While it stayed true to the source material, even while adapting two different stories, many felt it was just way too dark for children. The secondary characters were creepy and there is an intense feeling of hopelessness throughout the movie. Return to Oz isn't a bad movie by any means, but it certainly doesn't feel like anything Disney would ever put out, even when it's compared to the other films on this list.
1. The Watcher In The Woods (1980)
Topping this list of the bizarre is Disney's first real attempt at horror with The Watcher in the Woods. At no point in time does Disney pretend this is anything but a horror film, just check out the original trailer. The movie follows a young woman named Jan who moves with her family into a manor in the rural part of England. The woman next door says than Jan looks a lot like her daughter Karen who disappeared 30 years prior. Strange things begin happening to Jan, and she finds out that Karen went missing after a seance on the night of a lunar eclipse. Jan decides to recreate the seance to bring Karen back, and finds out that a being from another dimension traded places with Karen, and now Karen is stuck suspended in time. Eventually, all is set right and Karen comes back, not having aged a day. The Watcher in the Woods really nails that '70s horror tone, before the genre completely switched over to slasher flicks. It has the elements of the supernatural, mystery, and suspense that make many horror films of that time great. However, it's a bit of a convoluted mess. The majority of critics did not like it, although it was praised--by a few--for its scary moments. It's one of those films that's better when you talk about it rather than actually watching it.
By Matt Espineli on Feb 23, 2019 06:17 am
There are a lot of mechanics that Anthem doesn't make abundantly clear. For instance, combos are a damage-dealing mechanic that's essential in combat. But the game only lightly touches on their execution and importance, and there are several tidbits like this that are likely to go right over your head. To help you transform into the best freelancer you can be, we've highlighted several tips that'll enhance your abilities both in and out of combat. We've also included further insight and clarification on ancillary aspects of the game you might have questions about. For more Anthem tips, take a look at our combo guide. We'll be posting more guides in the coming days, so be sure to check back often. Though, if you're more interested in guns, we've created a feature showcasing every Masterwork and Legendary weapon we've found so far. GameSpot gave Anthem a 6/10 with Reviews Editor Kallie Plagge saying, "Anthem has good ideas, but it struggles significantly with the execution. It's a co-op game that works best with no one talking; it buries genuinely interesting character moments and puts its most incomprehensible story bits at the forefront; its combat is exciting until you get to the boss fights and find your wings have been clipped. Even the simple, exhilarating act of flying is frequently interrupted by the limitations of your javelin, and you never quite shake that feeling of disappointment--of knowing, throughout the good parts of Anthem, that you'll inevitably come crashing back down." Got any useful tips you didn't see here? Share them with us and the community in the comments below.
Every Javelin Detonates Differently
When you examine special abilities, you'll notice that some are called "primers," like the Ranger's Ice Grenade or Interceptor's Venom Spray, while others are labeled as "detonators," like Colossus' Siege Artillery or Storm's Lightning Strike. If an enemy has been hit by a primer, hitting them with a detonator will cause them to "detonate," causing a special damage effect to trigger. This sequence of damage dealing is what Anthem calls "combos." Primers and detonators can be identified by small icons in the UI: primers are designated by a semi-filled circle and detonators are marked with a four-pointed star. Each javelin has a different effect that activates upon successfully detonating a combo. Below you can find details on each one: - Ranger (Critical Target): Inflicts the largest amount of damage to detonated enemies
- Colossus (Explosion): All detonations explode and damage nearby enemies.
- Storm (Spread): All detonations explode and spread an elemental effect to nearby enemies.
- Interceptor (Aura): Detonating an enemy causes an elemental effect to be imbued into the javelin, which can be spread to nearby enemies through proximity and melee attacks.
Additionally, javelins can trigger combos with melee attacks. Colossus, Storm, and Interceptor have detonator melee attacks, while Ranger has a primer melee attack.
Bring a Primer and Detonator
Before you embark on a mission with your javelin, make sure you have both a primer and a detonator in your loadout. For example, you might want to choose an acid elemental primer and then choose an ice elemental detonator as your secondary. There aren't a lot of ways for your team to communicate when they've set up a combo, so packing your own primers and detonators can ensure you net that extra damage. In addition, having both primer and detonator weapons in your loadout allows you access to combos during solo play.
Dodge Like Your Life Depends On It
This seems like a given, but don't forget to dodge. With your javelin's flight capabilities, you might be fooled into thinking you're speedy enough to avoid incoming attacks. But when an enemy starts using homing attacks, a speedy dodge will get you out of trouble way more easily. You can dodge up to three times with one button press by holding down dodge and a direction. It's much quicker than flying around the battlefield to avoid said homing attacks.
The Interceptor Will Save You
Many players mistake the Colossus for a tank and choose it early on, but the real tank is the Interceptor. The Interceptor's ultimate enables a period of invulnerability that can be used for attacking or simply buying time to revive a downed team member. If you're looking to protect your team, the speedy maneuvers and abilities of the Interceptor are a must.
The Colossus' Shield
If you're switching over to a Colossus, take note that it uses shields differently compared to other javelins. In fact, it can't even perform a traditional dodge. Instead, using the dodge button as the Colossus raises a physical shield with its own health meter, which absorbs all incoming damage. It's worth noting that you can deploy a Lightning Coil while simultaneously holding out the shield, and it can even be used to melee or ram into enemies. The Colossus' shield is useful in a variety of offensive and defensive situations, so don't hesitate to make use of it to support your squad.
A Titan's Weak Points
Titans have several weak points that shift through the battle: their forearms, back, and chest. You'll notice each of these areas will glow yellow and look "open" when they're exposed. These areas will only open when the Titan is attacking, so it's usually a good idea to have the team spread out, with anyone who isn't the target of the attack laying down damage as the targeted teammate distracts the Titan. Make sure to focus all your fire during these moments and Titan fights should go a lot more smoothly.
Shallow Water Can Delay Overheating
Extend your flight time! You probably know you can cool off underwater or by flying through waterfalls, but you can also delay overheating by flying close to shallow water sources and by nosediving.
Play Solo to Experience the Story
If you'd rather go at it alone, you can launch solo sessions through the privacy menu at mission launch. This comes highly recommended for players who prefer experiencing the story, as playing with others opens up the possibility of getting left behind and missing certain sections due to the game's insistence on teleporting you to your party if you can't keep up.
Turn On Subtitles, Seriously
Turn on subtitles! If you're playing with friends, it's a good idea to turn subtitles on, just in case someone is talking while you're in a cutscene or trying to hear dialogue. It makes things much easier to follow, keeping you focused on the drama while still able to communicate with friends.
There's Far More World Building Than You Think
In your time spent flying around the world and exploring Fort Tarsis, you slowly discover more about Anthem's world and characters. However, the game actually has far more storytelling than it lets on. Peruse your email, for instance, to find detailed tidbits that further flesh out the world, while adding a welcoming sense of realism to its inhabitants. If you're a fan of digging deep into lore, check your codex often, especially after interacting with objects and NPCs in Fort Tarsis or discovering landmarks during Freeplay. New world building details are continually added. There are a lot of great stories packed in Fort Tarsis. We recommend seeking out Marelda, Pindel Blatch, and Sayrna.
How to Change Your Javelin's Colors
When you first start customizing your javelin's appearance, you might have trouble figuring out how to change its color. If you simply select the first option upon entering the Paint menu, you'll notice you're only altering your javelin's textures. To change its colors, press right on any of the body options to shift over to a little box on the right-hand side of the menu; this allows you to change the part's color.
Recent Articles:
| 
No comments:
Post a Comment