By Anonymous on Mar 09, 2019 11:30 pm Take a look behind the scenes to see how Human Ark Animation created the cinematic trailer for Pixelated Milk's upcoming WWII game, Warsaw.
By Anonymous on Mar 09, 2019 10:30 pm We break down Apex Legends' professional soldier, Bangalore, and teach you how to master her abilities in this battle royale shooter.
By Anonymous on Mar 09, 2019 08:30 pm Devil May Cry 5 features plenty of callbacks to not only the previous games but even external material like the anime and light novels. Here are the most noteworthy references we've found in DMC5.
Devil May Cry 5 isn't shy about being a pure celebration of the series' past. While it has plenty of new ideas, this latest sequel is laced with entertaining callbacks that are sure to bring a smile to your face. In addition, there's a surprising amount of extended-universe lore acknowledged in DMC5 that even hardcore fans might not even recognize.
We've compiled the most noteworthy Easter eggs and references in DMC5. Below you'll find references pointing as far back as 2001's DMC1, as well as fun nods to Capcom's other franchises. Be wary, there are light spoilers ahead.
In my review, I awarded DMC5 a 9/10 and said,: "DMC5 thrives on the stylistic and mechanical prowess of its predecessors. It sticks to tradition above all else, pursuing a few ambitious new ideas along the way, but mostly maintaining the series' focus on intricate fighting systems and campy bravado. Rarely does the game stumble, consistently leveraging its spectacle and mechanical depth to push aside any small frustrations. All the while, the story exudes a charismatic charm that keeps you constantly intrigued as you're refining your skills. DMC5 proves the series can still be brilliant and imaginative without compromising its longest-held traditions."
Did you spot any Easter eggs or references that we didn't mention here? Let us know in the comments below.
Red Grave City
The City of Red Grave is a nod to Tony Redgrave, which is Dante's alias in the anime and early light novels. In a note in the Gallery menu, this element is reintroduced into the canon, explaining that Dante took on the name since Red Grave City is his hometown.
The name Tony Redgrave itself is a nod to Capcom's past, as it's Dante's original name back when DMC1 was being developed as Resident Evil 4.
The .45 Caliber Virtuoso
Throughout the story Nico continually brings up Nell Goldstein, her grandmother and legendary gunsmith. Known as the .45 Caliber Virtuoso, Nell originates from a Devil May Cry light novel. She and Dante (known as Tony at the time) are established in the book as close friends. The fledgling demon hunter would often stop by Nell's shop to buy new guns, as well as sell any spares he picked up. But during his jobs, Dante would often break his pistols, so Nell decided to craft for him the indestructible dual pistols, Ebony & Ivory, to solve this persistent annoyance.
After Devil May Cry 3's release, details in that game's story ended up contradicting the events of the novel, and as a result, were removed from the canon. However, J.D. Morrison's letters to Nero in DMC5 end up bringing a lot of the novel's elements back into the canon, including Nell Goldstein.
J.D. Morrison and Patty Lowell
Speaking of J.D. Morrison, he originates from Devil May Cry: The Animated Series, a small 12-episode anime that ran back in 2007. Unlike the novel, the anime is canon taking place after Devil May Cry 1, and introducing Morrison as Dante's agent, bringing him job requests; though, the Morrison in the show features a completely different design from the game.
Another character introduced in the anime is Patty Lowell a young girl that ends up in Dante's care and lives in the Devil May Cry shop for a time. She makes a voiced appearance in DMC5, calling up Dante to invite him to her 18th birthday party.
One Bad Dad
Nico's father is mentioned a few times throughout DMC5, but it's never explicitly stated who he is. But if you research the Gallery enough, you can find several notes pointing to his identity. The profile that Nico wrote up on Dark Knight Sparda mentions that her father was from Fortuna, which is the primary setting of DMC4. In addition, the Red Queen weapon report states that Nico's father had designed the blade. If there's anyone from previous games who most fits the bill based on these clues, it's Agnus--the smarmy, research-obsessed scientist from DMC4. This lines up with details confirmed about Nico's father early on, who was said to be killed by Dante. And given Nico's general disdain for her father, it makes the most sense that it's Agnus.
Motorcycle Fetish
The Cavaliere likely is a callback to the series' love of inserting motorcycles into action scenes--specifically in DMC1 and DMC3. This crazy chainsaw motorcycle is earned after defeating Cavaliere Angelo, which is the boss that Trish was trapped inside. Getting the Cavaliere after this fight in particular is fitting Trish's association with motorcycles; she crashed into Dante's office with one in DMC1.
Familiar Familiars
If you didn't recognize them already, V's familiars, Shadow, Griffon, and Nightmare, are direct nods to DMC1 bosses of the same names. In fact, many of their attacks and animations are lifted straight from those bosses. For example, Shadow's Bayonet attack is very similar to the attack that its DMC1 counterpart opens up its bossfight with. You'll even notice later on that much of Mission 18 features several callbacks of each familiar's DMC1 counterpart, including the return of boss themes and some dialog referencing events on Mallet Island.
Rocket Board
The Punchline Devil Breaker has an added function that allows you to ride it like a skateboard, which is incredibly satisfying to use. This isn't the first time a DMC protagonist has ridden a rocket, though; the second mission cutscene in DMC3 features Dante doing the same after the Cerberus boss fight. The ability to ride the Punchline in this manner is likely a reference to that over-the-top scene.
Dr. Faust And Dante's Antics
The Devil Arm Dr. Faust is named after the Faust, the shrouded hat-wearing demon from DMC4. When you acquire the weapon from Nico, you witness quite a hilarious fourth-wall breaking scene of Dante dancing like Michael Jackson, as strobe lights flicker and fireworks go off in the background. This scene is likely an ode to DMC4 Dante's ridiculous shenanigans from his post-boss fight cutscenes.
The Mega Buster
If you got your hands on the deluxe edition, you'll notice that Nero gets a Devil Breaker that's legitimately Mega Man's buster arm. While it expectedly shoots buster shots of varying charges, equipping it also changes Nero's animations. When you jump, Nero extends his arms out like Mega Man does when he jumps; though, seeing Nero not have his mouth open while doing this jump is a smidge off-putting. In addition, dodging left or right causes Nero to slide just like Mega Man does. This animation change in particular is incredibly handy, as it increases the speed of Nero's dodges, making it easy to avoid enemy attacks.
A Rose For You
Dante has a taunt that pays homage to the sexual innuendo-laced monologue he delivers after defeating Berial in DMC4. It generally triggers when you achieve an S-rank. You'll know you've done it when he throws a rose and says: "And you are set free."
By Anonymous on Mar 09, 2019 08:24 am The latest episode of Discovery feels like a sequel to Star Trek The Original Series' two-part story, "The Menagerie". Greg & Chastity break down the story and references from Star Trek: Discovery season 2 episode 8, "If Memory Serves". Disclosure: CBS is GameSpot's parent company.
Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb has announced that Crackdown 2 is now Xbox One backwards compatible. The game is also now free on the Xbox Live store.
With this announcement, you can now own the entire Crackdown trilogy without spending a dime, provided you already have a subscription to Xbox Game Pass. Prior to the release of the third game, the original Crackdown was made free on the Xbox Live marketplace, and Crackdown 3 is included in the list of games offered through Game Pass. Both Crackdown and Crackdown 2 can be played on Xbox One via backwards compatibility--along with a long list of other games.
In our Crackdown review, Jeff Gerstmann gave the game a 7.8/10, writing, "Crackdown feels unfinished. It feels like the developers sat down and crafted a wonderful-looking city and carefully considered how the gameplay and abilities should work, and then they didn't have enough time to plug in enough activities to take advantage of it all."
In our Crackdown 2 review, Chris Watters gave the game a 7/10, writing, "What Crackdown 2 does offer is a whole bunch of room to have fun. Exploring the vast city, grabbing orbs, pulling off stunts, and flexing your abilities can keep you entertained for hours, and it's even more enjoyable when you have some friends along to add their own sparks of diversion."
Finally, in our Crackdown 3 review, Chris Pereira gave the game a 5/10, writing, "...it soon becomes apparent that the game has little new to offer beyond cool destruction tech that never gets put to good use. It certainly delivers on letting you blow things up and jump around the city. However, a dozen years after the first Crackdown offered that same experience but failed to provide you with enough interesting content surrounding that, it's truly disappointing to see this latest iteration suffer from the very same problems."
With March having finally arrived, we're slowly, but steadily moving through 2019. Capcom and Square Enix capped off January with two tremendous games, the Resident Evil 2 remake and Kingdom Hearts 3. On the other hand, we saw the release of three big-name games in February, which included Anthem, Metro Exodus, and Far Cry: New Dawn. Suffice to say, we've got a pretty steady lineup of new games so far. However, March is looking to shake things up further with even more exciting new games.
Starting off March's big releases are Dead or Alive 6 and Devil May Cry 5, which will be closely followed by Tom Clancy's The Division 2 in the middle of the month. The latter end of March will see the launch of From Software's new epic, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, as well as Nintendo's adorable platformer, Yoshi's Crafted World.
There are plenty of other more smaller experiences and remasters on the way this month as well. You can see all of the biggest game releases for March 2019 below. For a wider look at what's ahead this year, be sure to check out our complete list of game release dates in 2019.
Devil May Cry 5 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) -- March 8
After a six-year hiatus, the Devil May Cry franchise makes its long-awaited return with this month's release of Devil May Cry 5. The highly anticipated installment features the series' trademark stylish, over-the-top action, but this time around, it stars three playable characters: Dante, Nero, and newcomer V, who battles by summoning demonic familiars. That isn't the only way it diverges from previous games; it also introduces a new mechanic called the Cameo System, which allows players to team up online.
Tom Clancy's The Division 2 (PS4, Xbox Once, PC) -- March 15
The Division 2 is Ubisoft Massive's follow-up to its 2016 open-world shooter. This time around it's set in Washington DC and deals with the exploits of the Division attempting to reclaim the capital. Likes its predecessor, you work alongside other players to complete objectives while collecting all sorts of loot in the process.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (PS4, Xbox One, PC) -- March 22
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is the long-awaited new game from acclaimed studio From Software. You play as a mysterious shinobi, known as the one-armed wolf, with a weaponized prosthetic arm seeking to save his kidnapped lord and exact revenge on the one who cut off his arm. It appears to be expanding upon the classic Dark Souls formula by introducing stealth-action elements and more acrobatic maneuvers.
While Yoshi's Crafted World appears to be a rather straightforward 2D side-scroller, it offers a subtle twist to the formula in which levels appear as dioramas, and you switch from the front view to a behind-the-scenes look to reveal the stages' secrets. Revealed during Nintendo's E3 2017 presentation, Yoshi's Crafted World looks like one of Nintendo's most adorable games yet.
Apex Legends features a varied roster that bring their own unique set of skills to the intense battle royale. Though many of these heroes fall into the same archetypes you would expect from familiar online shooters, each character's abilities have a special twist to them that can open up some interesting strategies and dynamics within the squad. With every match yielding their own situational encounters and tense gunfights, you'll need to know the ins and out of your character to survive, while also knowing what to do should you cross paths with them on the field.
In this quick guide, we're taking a look at the cunning, but somewhat insecure Mirage. His peculiar skill-set can create some bizarre encounters where you'll see double, allowing him and his squad the chance to get the upper hand. Though these skills seem basic at first glance, they can create some interesting opportunities for you and your squad, which can open the pathway to becoming a champion.The knowledge below will help steer you in the right direction, but with the introduction of a new weapon called Havoc, balancing is likely to change in the near future. Speaking of changes though, the game recently got updated with a new patch.
For more breakdowns of different characters, and along with our full review and other guides focusing on some of the best weapons in the game, check out our further Apex Legends coverage on GameSpot.
Known as the Holographic Trickster, Mirage is one of the two unlockable characters in Apex Legends, the other being Caustic. He brings with him advanced holographic technology that can create false-duplicates for tactical purposes. On the surface, many of his skills appear a bit too situational and unorthodox, however, in keeping with the gameplay loop of a battle royale game, Mirage is the type of character that knows how to mess with his enemy's focus--which can mean all the difference in an intense fight.
With his slate of holographic skills, Mirage can disorient enemies and create additional pressure during fights. His primary tactical skill, known as Psyche Out, allows Mirage to create a holographic clone that runs ahead of him. At first glance, this double is indistinguishable from the real thing, which can cause other players to open fire. Mirage's decoy also display intelligence as well, and they act different depending on where they're deployed to. For instance, using one near a supply box will have the decoy perform an animation where they try to open it. Though many of these skills require certain circumstances to truly be effective, they are at their best when used in situations where you're uncertain of what lies ahead, or when you need to help your squad out by drawing fire away from enemies. However, it may take some time getting used to his abilities. With this in mind, here's a quick breakdown on how to his skills effectively.
Mirage's Abilities
Passive Skill: Encore
If all else fails and you get got, Mirage's passive skill Encore will kick in. Once you get knocked down, you'll instantly turn invisible and a decoy will drop in your place, who performs an overly dramatic death animation. This will buy you some time to crawl away to safety. However, the skill won't last long. If you're still out in the open and an enemy is nearby, then you're a prime target to get gunned down.
Tactical Skill:Psyche Out
Mirage's tactical ability Psyche Out allows you to send out a holographic decoy to confuse the enemy. It's a skill that has a surprising number of uses. In addition to drawing enemy fire in certain hot spots, allowing you to flank or get a bead on where a foe is hiding out, it's also a great skill to use for playing mind games. For instance, during the initial jump, you can send out decoys to landing spots, confusing enemy players into the thinking they're more active than they actually are.
Ultimate Skill:Vanishing Act
The Ultimate ability Vanishing Act is essentially a combination of Mirage's Passive and Tactical skills. When activated, Mirage will turn invisible and let a team of holograms distract the enemy for him. The skill is a great way to confuse enemies, who will likely lose track of which Mirage is the real one. This can be especially handy during tough fights in crowded spaces. Some of the best uses of Vanishing Act come when used to bail on fights that your squad is outmatched for or when you need to get the jump on enemies during a fight. However, there is a certain clue that can help enemy players keep track of the real Mirage. When you turn invisible, you'll leave a silhouette and can take damage. If the enemy can stay focused on any sudden movement, then they can still hit you with their shots.
Tips To Play
Mirage's greatest strength in battle is his ability to disorient enemies and shake up a fight. With his holographic skills, he can easily disrupt a fight by using his holograms, which also gives him and his squad some time to breathe. Right at the beginning of the match, once you and your squad make the jump, he can pull off some interesting tricks on other teams. While dropping from the ship, Mirage can send out up to two different holograms on the field. This can cause other teams to panic while in mid-flight, changing their course in order to avoid any possible fights when they're on the ground.
Once you make it to the ground, Mirage is best used when keeping his skills close to the vest. Unlike other support characters, his abilities aren't handy with only his squad around. However, once things start to go down, when you inevitably cross paths with an enemy team, this is where Mirage can shine. If you get the sense that an enemy team is nearby, you can send out hologram to act as a probe, provoking any gunfire from enemies. While in the moment, it's difficult to tell what's the real Mirage or a hologram, and they'll likely open fire on-sight.
Just like every other character, Mirage can carry his weight in a fight with any weapon he can get his hands on. However, given his trickster oriented skill-set, you may be better off using weapons that focus on long-range, such as the Longbow or Triple Take sniper-rifles. Once you toss out a decoy, you'll likely see enemies fire at the hologram, which will either give you a clue as to where they are--or if you're lucky--an opening if they decide to come run out to investigate.
Mirage has a pretty peculiar skill-set, but in the hands of a patient, and decisive player, he can be an effective squadmate to have. Even before touching the battlefield, he can cause panic amongst the enemy teams, which can make for an impressive start for matches.
By Anonymous on Mar 09, 2019 06:38 am Big companies like Google, Microsoft, and Nvidia are investing in cloud-based gaming platforms, but how does that change the gaming landscape and the future of hardware?
Shazam, the next DC Entertainment movie, won't be in theaters for almost a month. However, the film has screened for select members of the press and the reactions should be enough to get you excited about the origin story of Billy Batson.
Practically across the board, the social media reviews of the film are incredibly positive. According to GameSpot's own Mike Rougeau, "it's the best DCEU movie to date. It's super fun, has a ton of heart, feels like a self-aware throwback to adventure movies of the '80s, the cast are all great, and everything about it just works!"
I saw #Shazam this week--no review yet, but I and can confidently say it's the best DCEU movie to date. It's super fun, has a ton of heart, feels like a self-aware throwback to adventure movies of the '80s, the cast are all great, and everything about it just works! pic.twitter.com/LwSncWZFut
That's a sentiment shared by many, including io9's Germain Lussier, who wrote, "The humor & action you'd expect from a superhero film are there, but [Shazam] stands out because of the emotional, family story at its center." While Lussier notes there are some minor issues with the film, "the family stuff is dynamic & powerful." ET Online's Ash Crossan agreed, tweeting, "Pure of heart, incredibly funny, full of in-jokes and references. Brought me a childlike joy to watch."
Shazam! is another win for DC. Sure, the humor & action you'd expect from a superhero film are there, but #ShazamMovie stands out because of the emotional, family story at its center. I had some small issues with the hero/villain aspects but the family stuff is dynamic & powerful pic.twitter.com/FYM3QVp5hu
#Shazam was damn near PERFECT in my book. My FAVORITE DC movie (DCEU? What are we saying now?) by far. Pure of heart, incredibly funny, full of in-jokes and references. Brought me a childlike joy to watch. This role was MADE for @ZacharyLevi... & Jack & Asher & the entire cast pic.twitter.com/rVrxjcwvCe
According to Slashfilm's Peter Sciretta, the movie is "parts Home Alone, parts Big, a [crowd-pleasing] family-friendly joy-filled wish-fulfillment superhero film which gets a bit over the top and cheesy at times." Meanwhile, reporter Rosie Marx concluded Shazam is "sweet, funny, inclusive, charming. It encapsulates the wish fulfillment and wonder of superhero comics in a way that will appeal to kids whilst being filled with [non-stop] surprises for big comic book fans too."
#Shazam is parts Home Alone, parts Big, a crowd pleasing family-friendly joy-filled wish-fulfillment superhero film which gets a bit over the top and cheesy at times. It's fun and funny, and I was surprised at how much it wears it's heart on its sleeve.
#Shazam was very very good. Sweet, funny, inclusive, charming. It encapsulates the wish fulfillment and wonder of superhero comics in a way that will appeal to kids whilst being filled with non stop surprises for big comic book fans too. I loved it. ⚡️❤️ pic.twitter.com/X4I9updTFV
You'll be able to see for yourself what kind of movie Shazam is when it hits theaters on April 5. In the meantime, take a look at even more Twitter reactions below.
Zachary Levi was born to play #Shazam He delivers lots of laughs alongside co-star Jack Dylan Grazer. The film packs some big surprises for comics buffs and offers enough mainstream appeal to win over new fans. Shazam's strengths definitely outweigh its weaknesses. pic.twitter.com/kfFMW01jfO
Shazam showcases Zachary Levi's charm and charisma as an actor and has a heartfelt and inspiring message at its core. Despite the dark tone in parts, it ends up bringing about lots of laughs and fun for all. #shazam#shazammoviepic.twitter.com/nyK1fWgykE
— Ashley Menzel @ SXSW (@AshleyGMenzel) March 8, 2019
#Shazam is an incredible film. It is full of heart and humor. The kids are phenomenal and have great chemistry. Zachary Levi was perfectly cast and the action was awesome. This is one of DC's best! pic.twitter.com/VSpHbSDjBM
#Shazam is a super-powered BIG & I LOVED every second of it. A colorful, vibrant, vital addition to the DCEU. Vivid character-driven action, heartrending central relationships & fully earned, totally satisfying emotional moments. Super hilarious. Super thrilling. Super awesome! pic.twitter.com/KelHZ5YzFq
#SHAZAM! is pure joy that would have been right at home in the Amblin era. It has huge heart, loads of laughs, and even a few (welcome) scares. @ponysmasher combines classic charm and modern irreverence to create a thrilling superhero adventure for all. #SHAZAMMoviepic.twitter.com/3S7OYIjVos
#Shazam is an absolute delight! Super vibrant, tons of heart & a great fun-loving vibe. The family element is a big charmer & so is the humor that comes with watching @ZacharyLevi explore his new powers. Said this after IT but it's worth repeating - @Jgrazerofficial is a star.
What does Captain Marvel reveal about Avengers: Endgame?
Hey, did you know Captain Marvel was set in the '90s? Because it's set in the '90s. And in case you weren't sure, it's absolutely full of '90s easter eggs and references for you to relive some of that childhood nostalgia--or, if you're too young for that, a bunch of cool retro stuff to laugh about on the sheer weirdness factor alone.
Of course, Captain Marvel wasn't all throwbacks--though there were a bunch of them. Peppered amidst the clunky early internet tech and soundtrack full of earworms were some fantastic comic book nods that helped flesh out not only Carol Danvers' own personal story but the world of the Kree and Skrulls within the MCU. Captain Marvel carefully plucks bits of Carol's complicated, retcon-laden history out of the comics and repurposes them for the big screen, but don't panic, we carefully combed through every last detail that may have slipped by unnoticed.
The typical MCU introduction has been completely overhauled as a thank you/in memoriam to Stan Lee, who passed away late last year. As a staple cameo in every MCU film to date, there couldn't have been a more fitting tribute. Check out our ranking of Stan's best MCU cameos for more.
2. The Last Blockbuster
Carol crash lands on Earth smack dab in the middle of a Blockbuster, 1990s America's favorite video store--you know, back when you had to actually leave the house to rent a movie, and there was about a 50/50 chance that the VHS you picked up would be damaged beyond repair or recorded over with someone's home movie, if they even had it in stock to begin with. What a time to be alive.
3. Remember True Lies?
The 1994 Arnold Schwarzenegger/Jamie Lee Curtis thriller has a nice little shout-out via a cardboard standee Carol blasts to pieces. Sorry, Arnold.
4. What about Hook?
Carol doesn't appreciate the fact that she walks right by a rentable copy of Hook, but we sure do. Honestly, it's high time for someone in the MCU to make a Rufio joke.
5. The Right Stuff
When Carol crash lands in the Blockbuster, the first VHS tape she picks up just so happens to be the 1983 classic The Right Stuff, a movie chronicling the first years of America's space program. Get it? Because Carol's from space? And also was a test pilot for the Air Force?
6. That Soundtrack
Captain Marvel's soundtrack is absolutely bursting with 1990s grunge and pop earworms, including:
"Whatta Man" by Salt 'N' Pepa feat. En Vogue
"Only Happy When it Rains" by Garbage
"Waterfalls" by TLC
"Come As You Are" by Nirvana
"Just A Girl" by No Doubt
"Celebrity Skin" by Hole
"Man on the Moon" by REM
(Also, there's a Smashing Pumpkins poster in the parking lot where Carol lands.)
7. Remember Mallrats?
Stan Lee's typical cameo as an in-universe character--usually a random old man who gets a single line in each MCU film--gets a nice twist in Captain Marvel, as Lee actually plays himself in this movie. You can tell, because he's reading a script for the 1995 Kevin Smith movie Mallrats, in which Lee also played himself.
8. Kelly Sue DeConnick on the subway
There's another comics creator cameo besides Stan Lee in Captain Marvel. In the subway station, Carol makes brief eye contact with a red-haired woman. If her appearance seems significant, it's because she's comics writer Kelly Sue DeConnick, who helped create the version of Carol Danvers' Captain Marvel we know today.
9. A world before Google
When Carol uses an ancient 1990s computer in her search for answers, she doesn't head to Google, like any sane 2019 person would. She uses AltaVista, an era-appropriate search engine that anyone who used the internet in the '90s probably remembers.
10. Street Fighter II
The dive bar in which Carol and Nick Fury pow-wow features a fun gaming Easter egg in the background: A Street Fighter II arcade cabinet. SF2 hit arcades in 1991, so it makes perfect sense that it would be glimpsed in somewhat dumpy bar in 1995.
11. Getting Grungey
The distinctly '90s look that Carol borrows from a mannequin after crash landing on Earth, including the signature Nine Inch Nails t-shirt, is called "grunge." For you kids out there, grunge was popularized largely by Nirvana. By 1995, the style was already on its was to decline, though its influence can be seen today in ripped jeans and dirty flannels everywhere.
12. Nick Fury's history
Captain Marvel reveals plenty of potentially important details about Nick Fury's origins, including that he spent time as a spy before becoming an agent of SHIELD.
13. Fury's full name
The movie also reveals something that probably won't turn out to be important, but that we never knew before: Fury's middle name. His full name is Nicholas Joseph Fury. Now don't you feel like you know him a little bit better? Which is nice, because he's currently dust. :(
14. The origin of the pager
Avengers: Infinity War famously ended with an excellent Captain Marvel teaser, as Nick Fury sent a message on what looked like a modified relic of 1990s technology. In Captain Marvel, we learned the device's origins--and it turns out we were exactly right. It was a normal pager until Carol modified it and gave it to Fury in the event he should need to contact her across the wide depths of space.
15. Lawson is Mar-Vell
There was plenty of debate leading up to Captain Marvel's release about who would play Mar-Vell, a comics character with a long history. Was Jude Law's character really Mar-Vell? Who was actress Annette Bening playing? As it turned out, Law's character is actually a Kree named Yon-Rogg, and Bening played Dr. Lawson, who turned out to be the Kree Mar-Vell hiding in plain sight on Earth.
16. How I became the prince of a town called Bel-Air
Maria Rambeau's daughter Monica makes a fun reference to one of our favorite '90s TV shows: When trying to persuade her mother to embark on a dangerous mission with their old friend Carol, she mentions that the alternative is to sit on the couch watching Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. We know what we'd prefer.
17. It wouldn't be an MCU movie without an Infinity Stone
The MCU's favorite MacGuffin plays a surprise huge role in Captain Marvel. We had no idea going into the movie, but the Tesseract--ie the Space Stone--was the subject of Mar-Vell's research on Earth, and is the source of Carol's powers. No doubt this will be important in Avengers: Endgame--check out our full breakdown of the Tesseract's history and role for more.
18. A full view of Project Pegasus
Along with a lost chapter in the Tesseract's history comes a full look into Project Pegasus, the secret SHIELD initiative dedicated to studying the strange blue cube's powers. Previously, Pegasus had been referenced in comics and Easter eggs throughout the MCU, up to its destruction in the first Avengers movie.
19. Even more '90s (and earlier) nods
Captain Marvel's production design is exceptional. Everywhere you look--even on Mar-Vell's Kree ship that was hiding in orbit around Earth--there are relics of the '90s and earlier decades, from Troll dolls and pinball machines to the Space Invaders cabinet and even the Happy Days lunchbox that briefly holds the Tesseract. Fun stuff!
20. The NERF gun
This one was too good for us not to call it out specifically. When Minn-Erva and Carol finally face off, the Kree's opening salvo involves shooting our hero with what she likely believes is simply a garishly colored Earth weapon, with hopefully devastating properties. Instead, it's a beloved NERF gun that every '90s kid distinctly remembers losing every dart for and then letting it gather dust in your closet until your parents finally made you donate it to Goodwill.
21. The Rambeaus
Monica and Maria Rambeau are staples of Carol's comic book history, though normally she's the same age as Monica rather than Maria. As an adult, Monica even took over the mantle of Captain Marvel briefly before Carol did. Similar to Carol, Monica received her powers in a freak accident which exposed her to extra dimensional energy--so maybe with some luck we'll see an adult Monica Rambeau get her very own origin story in the MCU somewhere down the line.
22. "Photon" and "Avenger"
Carol's MCU callsign "Avenger" obviously played a major role in Fury naming the Avengers Initiative, but Maria's callsign "Photon" is actually a pretty deep cut comics reference. Maria's daughter, Monica, used the name Photon as her own superhero identity after she gave up being Captain Marvel in 1996.
23. The Supreme Intelligence
The Kree follow the will of an artificial intelligence known as the Supreme Intelligence which has taken a couple forms in the comics over the years, usually as some sort of giant head in a glass tube--not Annette Bening, so that's a new one. But the Intelligence itself, and all of its megalomaniacal Kree-first directives, are all straight from the source material.
24. Ronan and the Accusers
Guardians of the Galaxy fans will recognize blue Lee Pace as Ronan the Accuser, the first major villain the Guardians faced off against. Ronan's not quite as unhinged here in 1995 but he's certainly still not a great dude--and he and his Accusers are more than ready to eliminate any threat to the Kree empire they perceive.
25. Carol's origin story
Carol's comic book origin story has been given a number of overhauls in the past, so the MCU's rendition of events doesn't quite follow any one particular plot to the letter, but it does prominently borrow from the first origin Carol received, when she was caught in the explosion of an experimental piece of tech called the "psyche-magnetron" which spliced her DNA with Mar-Vell's.
26. The credits scenes
It wouldn't be an MCU movie without the double post credits scenes. This time around we got a good look at just what Cap, Black Widow, Banner, and Rhodey have been up to since the Snap--and at Carol's arrival on Earth, as well as the rather unfortunate arrival of the Tesseract back on Earth after the Kree almost made off with it.
27. Captain Who?
Throughout the movie, no one ever utters the phrase "Captain Marvel." It isn't printed in a newspaper headline by sensationalistic reporters, and the moniker isn't cooked up by a marketing team hoping to make money off Carol's heroics. Within the world of the MCU, Carol isn't actually called Captain Marvel, despite being a captain in the Air Force and the protege of the Kree Mar-Vell. But toward the end, Nick Fury does make a reference to the movie's title, when he refers to Carol's mentor as "Marvel" (pronouncing it like the title instead of the proper hyphenated Kree name) and likening her to the 1960s singing group the Marvelettes.
Psycho-Pass is getting a third season. This cyberpunk detective thriller anime first aired in 2012, before being followed by a second season, titled Psycho-Pass 2, in 2014.
According to the Psycho-Pass anime's website, which was translated by Anime News Network, the new season will star Yuuki Kaji as Arata Shindō and Yūichi Nakamura as Kei Mikhail Ignatov. Naoyoshi Shiotani, who directed the first season but was replaced with Kiyotaka Suzuki for the second, is scheduled to return for this third season. The creator of Psycho-Pass, Akira Amano, is returning to do the designs for the brand-new characters as well.
The Psycho-Pass anime has had a rather bumpy history. The first season is popular and highly regarded in both Japan and the West for its soundtrack, characters, and visuals. The TV show's second season was not praised to the same extent, and critics of the second season target its over-the-top use of gore as well as a villain who isn't as well-written as the one in the first season. Since its unpopular second season, the universe of Psycho-Pass has been expanded with three films (the most recent of which released in Japan last month), a manga that operates as a prequel to the main series, and a video game called Mandatory Happiness.
Psycho-Pass takes place in Japan in the near future, where crime is virtually nonexistent. At all times, everyone is monitored by a network of psychometric scanners that measure the mental and emotional state of each individual. Those who are calculated to likely commit a crime are swiftly detained and given therapy, while those who are deemed too far gone to save are sentenced to life in prison as "latent criminals" or killed on the spot by Inspectors or Enforcers. Inspectors are elite police officers who patrol the city, enacting the will of the system that governs everyone's mental state. Enforcers are latent criminals who serve Inspectors by committing the violent actions that may negatively affect their handlers--their lifetime servitude the price they have to pay for ever once feeling or thinking something illegal.
If you're interested in catching up on Psycho-Pass, you can watch both Season 1 and 2 on Funimation.
There are plenty of perks that come with being an Xbox Live Gold member--getting access to monthly free game giveaways is just one--and the latest bonus will be of particular interest for fighting game enthusiasts, Mortal Kombat fans in particular. Xbox Live is holding a Free Play Days event where Xbox Live Gold members can play Mortal Kombat X for free from now until Sunday, March 10 at 11:59 PM PST / 2:59 AM EST on Monday.
Mortal Kombat X introduced a new, smoother fighting engine to the series and a story mode that will appeal a lot to long-term fans who care about Mortal Kombat lore. In our Mortal Kombat X review, GameSpot's Peter Brown praised the game for its fantastic character designs and fighting mechanics. "A great roster with a wide range of diverse fighting styles and variations gives you plenty to play around with, and the new fighting mechanics add the right amount of depth to nudge Mortal Kombat X ever higher on the list of respectable fighting games," he wrote.
Use the below link to download and install Mortal Kombat X, or to download on console, go to the Gold member area on your Xbox One's dashboard. The game is free to play for just a couple more days, so don't wait if you want to try it out.
No comments:
Post a Comment