By Kevin Wong on Mar 26, 2019 11:17 pm
Us spoilers ahead!
Jordan Peele hit a nerve in his "written and directed by" debut, Get Out. It was both critically and commercially successful; it netted Peele an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. And Peele's newest film, Us, continues his record of success. It's a provoking, sprawling work, filled with callbacks and clever little touches. Comedy was Peele's original genre of choice, and the same instincts that create his comedy are applicable to his horror. Best of all, Us wraps with a game-changing plot twist that Peele telegraphs, in ways both explicit and subtle, throughout the film's running time. You may have seen it coming, but in some ways that makes it a good twist--it's easy to pull the rug out from the audience, but don't confuse mere surprise with actual narrative subversion. It takes crafting and forethought to misdirect the audience along the wrong path for an entire movie, reveal the correct path, and make it equally viable. The clues were there all along; you just weren't looking for them. Here is every hint and little detail we've found in Jordan Peele's Us, that gave the entire film its unity and sense of purpose. And if you have questions about the meanings behind the film, check out our explainer gallery and our analysis of the ending.
1. So What's The Twist?
So let's start from the end, with that doozy of a twist. At the beginning of the movie, the audience learns that when she was a little girl, Adelaide went into a house of mirrors at the Santa Cruz boardwalk. Inside, she met her Tethered doppelganger--an experience that apparently left her traumatized and unable to speak. What we learn at the end of the film is that Adelaide actually switched places with her doppelganger that evening in 1986. The doppelganger, named Red, choked Adelaide until she was unconscious, dragged her down to the underground, and handcuffed her to a bed. She then switched clothes and took her place above ground. That means that for the entire film, the woman we thought was Adelaide was actually Red, and vice versa. It complicates our sympathies of both women, and deepens the film's theme of "us versus them." It turns out there was nothing inherently inferior about the Tethered. The proof is that once someone from below ground was given chances, artistic outlets, and language to express herself, she blended in perfectly on the surface. The only thing that separates those who have a lot from those who have little is opportunity. Bearing that twist in mind, what follows are several moments from the movie that are now loaded with double meaning.
2. A Grieving Mother
When Adelaide's mother is talking to the therapist in the flashback and sobs, "I just want my little girl back," she has no idea how literal her words are--that her daughter was literally taken.
3. A Telling Conversation
We're led to believe that both Adelaide and Red have repressed the memories of their switch. But on some level, Adelaide (the adult Red) is aware of the awful act she's committed. She tells Gabe in a bedroom conversation about her fears that her double will track her down. This might be repressed guilt, of having to answer for what she did to Red years ago. Adelaide says during the same conversation with Gabe, "I don't feel like myself here." Of course she doesn't.
4. Twisted Fairytale
When Red tells the "Once upon a time..." story to Adelaide's family, she talks about how when people above ground ate delicious Thanksgiving food, the people below ground ate raw rabbit flesh. How would someone who lived underground her whole life even know what delicious food was? She remembers it from her childhood, before she was switched. She also phrases the story as a fairy tale because kids' stories are her most familiar cultural reference, since the last time she was aboveground was as a young child.
5. This Is Thriller
The Michael Jackson reference on the Thriller shirt that Adelaide is wearing is no coincidence. Lots of the imagery reinforces the connection to the artist. The Tethered are all dressed in red (like Jackson was in the Thriller video) and are wearing a single glove. Peele has discussed the duality of Jackson in interviews, of how a man of great generosity and philanthropy could also be accused of monstrous things. But the Thriller music video is also foreshadowing. Remember how at the end of the video, Jackson looked at the camera and had cat eyes? It turned out that he was a monster the whole time. In a similar way, Adelaide has blended in with the above ground people. One would have to look more closely to see that something isn't right.
6. A Broken Voice
Red speaks with a hoarse rasp of a voice. But even so, she is the only one of the Tethered who can speak; everyone else seems to communicate in grunts, moans, and animal noises. This was a clue that she was special; unlike the others, she had experienced and learned English above ground, and so she retained this ability. So why is her voice damaged? Probably because her larynx was crushed by her double when she choked her into unconsciousness. Conversely, this is the reason why Adelaide does not speak after the mirrors incident. Her parents think it's because she's traumatized. But it's actually because she's one of the Tethered, and simply doesn't know how to speak.
7. Hand in Hand
When she's in the waiting room of the psychiatrist's office, little Adelaide is playing in the sandbox, and she starts arranging the animals in a row side-by-side, in an imitation of Hands Across America.
8. Odd Couples
When adult Adelaide is relaxing on the couch near the beginning of the movie, she sees a smaller spider crawl out from underneath a bigger rubber spider, which mirrors the Tethered overcoming and escaping the underground. Later, a red frisbee lands on a white blanket at the beach, and completely lines up with a blue dot on the blanket. This overlap reinforces the duality theme, and it also refers to the entire film's premise of the red-clad Tethered rising up to kill and overlap their twins.
9. Odd Gestures
Gene's double, Abraham, is fascinated by Gabe's glasses, because every time Gabe adjusted his glasses or put them on, Abraham felt compelled to do the same gesture. This is the first time he's seen the purpose for this movement. Sometimes, the mirrored movement is twisted into something violent. The doppelganger of Kitty cuts her own face with a knife. This is a reference to the above ground Kitty's plastic surgery.
10. Mimicry Mimicry
Similarly, Jason's double, Pluto, is fascinated by Jason's lighter, because every time that Jason tried to do a magic trick with it, Pluto lit a match; it may be how he burned off the bottom portion of his face. Finally, he can see the reason for his misery. Jason realizes that his doppelganger, Pluto, feels a compulsion to imitate him. He learns this when they're in the closet together, copying the magic trick and pulling off their masks. Jason later uses this knowledge to his advantage, and tricks Pluto into walking into the fire, killing him.
11. The First Link In The Chain
When Adelaide and her family first arrive in Santa Cruz, we see a dead homeless man being loaded into an ambulance. We saw him previously during the prologue flashback; he was holding the same Jeremiah 11:11 sign and looked much younger. Later in the movie, Jason sees a homeless man standing in the middle of the beach, with his hands outstretched. We know now, with the benefit of hindsight, that this is the Tethered who replaced the original homeless man after killing him. He's also one of the first Tethered individuals to successfully kill his double; he's standing strangely, because he's taking his place as one link in the Hands Across America demonstration. By the end of the movie, there are many, many more who have joined him.
12. Sinister Shyness
When Adelaide tells Kitty on the beach that she doesn't feel comfortable talking, we initially think it's shyness. It's actually because she had to learn it; she had spent the first part of her life in the underground, where she didn't know any English. It's not a surprise that she still finds social interactions a little awkward or confusing.
13. An Innate Sense of Direction
Adelaide manages to navigate her way into the underground, sight unseen. The only way she could have moved with such deliberateness is if she had already been there--which she had, as a child.
14. A Regression of Behavior
Adelaide enters a near feral state toward the end of the film when she's trying to defeat Red in the hallway. She makes growling noises after killing Red that sound eerily similar to those of the Tethered. Her staggering (resulting from injury) is reminiscent of the way that the Tethered walked underground before the real Adelaide woke them up. Jason is suspicious throughout the movie. He sees Adelaide's "true self" when she kills one of the twins, and also when she kills Red; he's likely able to see some of their fight through the holes the locker. After both incidences, he looks terrified of his mother rather than reassured.
15. A Thematic Color Change
Adelaide's white shirt becomes more and more stained with blood during the movie, until it's finally "red," like the jumpsuits of the Tethered.
16. Whistle a Happy Tune
The real Adelaide, unlike her doppelganger, can whistle "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider" well. She does it as a young girl in the mirror funhouse. And she does it again right before her death, revealing that it's the same person.
17. Something Off About Jason
There are several theories that Jason might be a Tethered himself. Fans speculate that Pluto and Jason switched in the beach house closet the previous year, when Jason was trapped inside it the prior year. There's a lot of circumstantial evidence that supports this. For example, Jason is digging a tunnel at the beach instead of building a sand castle. He has a fascination with the underground and with dark places; the twin neighbors call him "weird" for it.
18. A Selective Memory
Jason also doesn't always recall things that he should. He doesn't remember how to do his magic trick from last year. And when Gabe asks Jason to get the baseball bat to defend against the Tethered, Jason doesn't know where it is.
19. Grieving for Grandma
We also learn that Jason and Zora's grandmother died, which Gabe says has affected Jason's state of mind. This feels like a callback to Adelaide's prior trauma. Maybe Gabe is making a convenient rationalization, and maybe the real reason why Jason seems different is that he is actually Pluto?
20. Another Explanation
If you don't buy that theory, there's another reason why Jason might be scared of his "mother" at the end: The real Adelaide, AKA Red, might have simply told him the truth about the switch. They were alone together down there for a while, after all.
21. Back to the Shadows
After Adelaide remembers her past, she locks eyes with Jason. He gives her a knowing look, and then puts on his mask. You could interpret this as a non-verbal signal to Adelaide that, "Yes, I'll keep your secret." Alternately, if Jason is actually one of the Tethered, he may have put on the mask as an acknowledgement of his true nature, and to tell Adelaide that he too was hiding the truth about himself.
By Chris E. Hayner on Mar 26, 2019 10:42 pm
With a month before Avengers: Endgame--the final chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Infinity Saga--arrives in theaters, a series of new character posters for the film have been released. The images feature a plethora of characters, both living and dead, along with the tagline, "Avenge the fallen." The posters were shared on the social media pages associated with the cast and various MCU movies, with the simple message, "1 month." And just to make things simple, in case you're not caught up on the MCU, those that died in Infinity War are shown in black and white, while images of the living are in color. While we knew whether just about all of the characters featured on the poster survives that finger snap from Thanos (Josh Brolin), the posters do confirm T'Challa's sister Shuri (Letitia Wright) was among those that turned to dust. While these posters clearly don't give away how Avengers: Endgame will conclude, it's easy to assume we'll see the characters featured in the posters in some fashion during the film. What makes that all the more exciting is the poster for a character we didn't even know plays a role in Endgame. Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), who was previously seen in Thor: Ragnarok, gets her own poster. While she wasn't seen during Thanos' attack on the Asgardian ship at the beginning of Avengers: Infinity War, her fate was never revealed. If this poster is to be believed, though, it looks like fans haven't seen the last of her. Avengers: Endgame hits theaters on April 26. After you take a look at all of the character posters, make sure to check out our latest theories about the film, as well as every deep dive we've taken into the movie thus far.
Chris Evans as Captain America
Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man
Chris Hemsworth as Thor
Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow
Brie Larson as Captain Marvel
Don Cheadle as War Machine
Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie
Mark Ruffalo as Hulk
Danai Gurira as Okoye
Benedict Wong as Wong
Bradley Cooper as Rocket
Paul Rudd as Ant-Man
Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye
Karen Gillan as Nebula
Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts
Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan
Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther
Anthony Mackie as Falcon
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury
Vin Diesel as Groot
Tom Hiddleston as Loki
Pom Klementieff as Mantis
Dave Bautista as Drax
Tom Holland as Spider-Man
Zoe Saldana as Gamora
Chris as Star-Lord
Letitia Wright as Shuri
Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Strange
Paul Bettany as Vision
Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch
Evangeline Lilly as Wasp
Sebastian Stan as Winter Soldier
By GameSpot Staff on Mar 26, 2019 07:15 am
Apple Arcade Subscription Service
Apple held a special event to introduce a slew of new services coming soon to it's mobile and desktop platforms. One of the more enticing prospects is Apple Arcade, a subscription-based service that will allow users to download and play any game it offers for a fee of $10 per month. These are games that will be playable on iOS, macOS, and Apple TV--they can also be played offline. This is not a cloud streaming platform like the upcoming Google Stadia, but instead Apple's version of an Xbox Game Pass-style model for games across Apple platforms. The service is slated to launch sometime in Fall 2019. Some big name developers and publishers are already on board including Sega, Platinum Games, Devolver Digital, Annapurna, and Konami. Even the esteemed Hironobu Sakaguchi, known for his leading roles on the Final Fantasy series and other notable RPGs, was featured with his upcoming game, Fantasian. Many of these games are not exclusive to Apple platforms, but will be included in Apple Arcade alongside the 100 exclusives that have been promised at launch. We've compiled games that have been confirmed for Apple Arcade with a brief description of each to give you an idea of what's on the way. For more on Apple's big event, check out all the details on its new streaming app and every show that's coming to it.
Fantasian
Fantasian comes from an incredible pedigree--it's being developed by Mistwalker and led by Hironobu Sakaguchi, who's best known for his prominent roles on many Final Fantasy games throughout the years. What's special about Fantasian is that its world is built through photographing 3D dioramas in real life and importing them into the game itself;they are literally constructing a game world by hand. It's ambitious, and Sakaguchi himself said, "I am scared of how many sets we are going to have to build in the end."
The Pathless
Annapurna Interactive is bringing a new game, The Pathless, to Apple platforms, and it seems to be an action-adventure with a world of vast, damp forestry to explore. There's a huge, mysterious, fiery rock floating above the sky, too. It appears to be impressive in scale, judging by a short clip that shows the player holding onto a hawk to glide down from a massive mountain top.
Team Sonic Racing
Sonic and his friends return to the racetrack in Team Sonic Racing, an upcoming racing game that features 15 playable characters. Like Sonic Riders, Team Sonic Racing divides characters into three types--Speed, Technique, and Power--and includes several vehicle options to customize your in-game performance. Unlike Riders, Racing puts an emphasis on working together, as teams compete against one another in cooperative-focused races across four different modes.
Where Cards Fall
The small team at The Game Band have been working on Where Cards Fall for a few years now, and was featured during the Apple Arcade reveal. It's a narrative-focused game with a distinct hand-drawn art style that tells a coming of age story said to touch on uncomfortable topics centered around a teenager going through high school.
Beyond A Steel Sky
Beyond a Steel Sky is the upcoming sequel to Beneath a Steel Sky, a sci-fi cyberpunk adventure game that came out in 1994. As opposed to its 2D point-and-click predecessor, Beyond a Steel Sky features 3D environments. According to Variety's interview with Revolution Software, protagonist Robert Foster returns in Beyond a Steel Sky, now seeing his city through the eyes of the AI he created at the end of the first game. The game's story will explore the pros and cons of living in a society overseen by an omniscient AI.
Overland
The team at Finji is bringing its post-apocalyptic, squad-based, survival strategy game to multiple platforms, including the Apple ecosystem. Overland features bite-sized procedurally generated maps throughout the game that's essentially a road trip to unveil the mysterious source behind Earth's apocalyptic event.
Projection: First Light
Projection: First Light has a striking art style that directly ties to its themes--you'll play as Greta, a shadow puppet, who goes on a journey across many different cultures in hopes of finding enlightenment. This 2D puzzle-platformer incorporates the history of shadow puppets as it relates to cultures in Indonesia, China, Turkey, Greece, and 19th century England.
Hot Lava
Klei Entertainment is bringing its first-person parkour platformer, Hot Lava, to Apple's ecosystem--it will also be available on PC through Steam. Hot Lava has a goofy, fun atmosphere inspired by the silly game you used to play as a kid where THE FLOOR IS LAVA and you can't step on it! It's evident in the house and classroom levels seen with gameplay reminiscent of Mirror's Edge.
Oceanhorn 2: Knights Of The Lost Realm
The sequel to the action-adventure Zelda-like, Oceanhorn: Monster of the Uncharted Seas, will be part of Apple Arcade. Finnish developer Cornfox and Bros were part of the reveal with Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm, and it appears to deliver more spellcasting, swordfighting, dungeon crawling, and open-world exploring with a whole bunch of story and lore to unravel in the game's mystical world of Gaia.
Sayonara Wild Hearts
It's a bit tough to discern what Sayonara Wild Hearts exactly is, but developer Simogo describes it as "a pop album video game." The game plays closely to a hyper-fast endless runner, but places a heavy emphasis on its upbeat electropop soundtrack against dark, neon-colored environments. In a way, it's kind of like a rhythm-action game that flaunts its flamboyant style.
Lifelike
Lifelike seems to be a relaxing, stress-relieving experience where you take part in swarm behavior akin to natural wildlife--it brings back memories of Abzu in a way. Denis Mikan of developer Kunabi Brother said, "we wanted to have a calming effect on players," and that "we just simply don't want to be responsible for adding another layer of chaos to the world."
LEGO Arthouse / LEGO Brawls
LEGO Arthouse and LEGO Brawls are seemingly vague names for the latest additions to the toy company's ongoing series of games. They're both being worked on internally at the company as opposed to developer Traveller's Tales, who typically are associated with LEGO's gaming efforts. If their names are anything to go by, we can likely expect these games to be quite different from the licensed games we've come to expect.
The Artful Escape
An upcoming game called The Artful Escape, which was previously slated as an Xbox One/PC exclusive, made an appearance in the Apple Arcade reveal. This stylish platformer follows the nephew of a famous folk musician as he discovers his own path in music and art, and draws influence from renowned artists like David Bowie and Bob Dylan.
No Way Home
Developer SMG Studio has only teased its new game No Way Home with an image that's drawn with a charming cartoon-like vibe: eight characters, many of which are alien, overlook a rocketship launched into space against the backdrop of a far-away moon and planet.
Repair
Repair is the latest from Ustwo Games, the famed studio behind the critically acclaimed Monument Valley series. Aside from a single image depicting who we assume to be Repair's protagonist, next to nothing is known about its premise or how it will play. Ustwo Games promises to reveal more about the game later this year, so stay tuned.
Hitchhiker
Hitchhiker is an adventure game that puts you in the role of, well, a hitchhiker. As an amnesiac drifter, you're set on a journey where you're not quite sure who you are or where exactly you're going. But as you progress, you'll piece together details about yourself from your driver and whatever clues you can find scattered about the vehicle you're in. Hitchhiker's intriguing premise and apparent simplicity makes it a good fit for Apple Arcade's roster of games.
Cardpocalypse
Cardpocalypse is a story-driven card game where you can change the cards and rules as you play. You take control of Jess, a 10-year old who's incredibly passionate about a hit card game called Mega Mutant Power Pets. After her school bans the game, Jess tries to figure other ways to play with her friends, but things start getting weird when creatures from the card game start appearing in the real world and kidnapping her friends. Your mission is to defeat these monsters in a game of cards while also saving your buddies in the process.
The Brandwell Conspiracy
The Brandwell Conspiracy is a first-person adventure game where you play as a nameless survivor who wakes up one day in a security facility after a seemingly catastrophic explosion. The rubble has trapped you inside and your only means of contact is with another survivor named Amber, who's trapped on the other side of a locked doorway; you must figure out a way to escape by using a pair of AR glasses to communicate with one another about your surroundings.
Yaga
Yaga, from Versus Evil, is an upcoming Apple Arcade release that's currently available on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. It's a third-person action-RPG with a narrative that the team promises is both charming and organic, shifting in new directions based on the choices you make during story sequences between levels.
Down In Bermuda
Down in Bermuda is a new game from Yak and Co, the team behind Agent A. Judging by the art on Apple's Arcade site, Down in Bermuda will likely feature an explorer in search of adventure on shrine- and temple-dotted islands, though there's no telling how the gameplay will reflect this. If Agent A is anything to go by, logic puzzles could play a prominent role in Down in Bermuda.
Winding Worlds
Winding Worlds is a new game from KO_OP, the team behind GNOG which featured complex and reactive fantasy toys that produce curious and delightful effects when you poke at their various components. It's tough to know what Winding Worlds will be, but its cute cast of characters looks like a curious bunch, to say the least.
UFO On Tape: First Contact
The original UFO on Tape was a sleeper hit on iOS that used your phone's camera to provide a lens into your surroundings, and a virtual representation of the real world as the canvas for fake UFO appearances. First Contact, the follow-up confirmed during the Apple Arcade reveal, has a stormy Akihabara, Tokyo as its thumbnail's backdrop with a formidable alien ship lurking next to the iconic Taito arcade building, because, you know, Space Invaders?
Frogger In Toy Town
Frogger In Toy Town looks just like how it sounds. It appears to be a modernized version of the classic Frogger gameplay with colorful, detailed visuals, also developed by Konami itself. We're curious to see how a frog will splat in this visual style. Oh no.
Doomsday Vault
Doomsday Vault is the latest game by the developer Flightless. We're not entirely sure what the game is about, as the studio hasn't posted any details regarding the project. However, if it's like the other games in this list, then it's likely to launch on Apple Arcade sometime this year.
Kings Of The Castle
Kings of the Castle is a cartoonish mobile game of some sort by developer Frosty Pop. Not much is known about the game aside from the brief screenshot we got during Apple's presentation. There appears to be a castle with eyes and a face and trees surrounding it with similar human characteristics. Kings of the Castle will be available sometime later this year.
Sneaky Sasquatch
Not much is known about Sneaky Sasquatch other than that it's a quirky adventure game where you play as a Sasquatch driving a golf cart. Created by a two-person team named RAC7, it looks to fall in line with the developer's previous work, which have typically been simple pick-up-and play experiences. Sneaky Sasquatch is expected to come out on Apple Arcade later this year.
Mr. Turtle
There's no telling what Mr. Turtle might be other than another cute iOS platformer, and judging by its developer's back catalog, which includes Mr. Crab and Mr. Crab 2, that seems perfectly in Illusion Labs' wheelhouse.
Spidersaurs
Spidersaurs is a new game coming from WayForward, developer of the Shantae and Switch Force games. Apart from the developer, thumbnail art, the game's home on Apple Arcade, no other concrete info is known about Spidersaurus at this time--except that it will feature human soldier-types with guns, and a T-Rex with spider legs for arms. But considering that it's a WayForward game, there's a strong chance Spidersaurs will be a side-scrolling action title, but that, of course remains to be seen.
Atone: Heart Of The Elder Tree
The original Atone from Wildboy Studios is an adventure game based on Norse Mythology that places great emphasis on puzzle solving and rhythm-based combat. That game isn't actually out yet, so it's difficult to tell what exactly distinguishes it from the game announced today for Apple Arcade game, Atone: Heart of the Elder Tree, but our guess is that there will be some form of narrative or gameplay connection to justify their common moniker.
Enter The Construct
Not much information is out there on Enter The Construct, but we caught a quick glimpse of it, and it looks like it's shaping up to be a sci-fi first-person shooter. Developer Directive Games has a few games in its portfolio. It made the competitive VR shooter Super Kaiju and the iOS tower defense strategy AR game The Machines, which we played for a feature covering the AR capabilities of Apple's phones.
Monomals
Monomals is an intriguing music game where you cast a rod into the ocean in hopes of snagging one of its titular creatures. With your haul of musical Monomals in tow, you compose music and then share it online with your friends and the community.
By Phil Hornshaw on Mar 26, 2019 05:52 am
Taking on enemies and bosses in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is always about clashing swords and carefully parrying, striking, and dodging enemy attacks. Often, though, you have another secret weapon in your arsenal: the Shinobi Prosthetic, a special prosthetic arm that lets you grapple to ledges. As you work through Sekiro, you can find other tools for your prosthetic, and often these can give you a big advantage in battle. You don't just get most Shinobi Prosthetic tools as you complete the game, though. As in From Software's other titles, these special weapons usually require you to seek them out or complete special tasks. Some you can purchase, some you'll find hidden off the beaten path, and some come from taking down tough bosses. To get them all, you'll need to search everywhere. If you're missing any prosthetics, we've got you covered--here's what you need to know to find every single one. And should you need more help, you can check out the rest of our Sekiro guides, including 14 tips to stop dying so much, and how to beat the Chained Ogre, Jozou the Drunkard, and the Blazing Bull.
Shuriken Tool--Ashina Outskirts, Outskirts Wall-Gate Path
You'll get this one relatively early, in the Ashina Outskirts area as you progress through your first level. You're in the right spot when you hit a battle with some wolves with a cliff to your left, a gate in front of you, and a Sculptor's Idol on your right on a ledge above you. If you activate that Idol, you'll find it's the Outskirts Wall--Gate Path location. From here, hop inside the small gate building ahead of you, go inside, and turn left. You'll find a corpse of a ninja dressed as a bird (one of the Nightjar clan you'll encounter later), from whom you can take the Shuriken.
Robert's Firecrackers: Shinobi Firecracker Tool--Ashina Outskirts, Outskirts Wall-Gate Path
This one is almost immediately after the Shiruken, but it's easy to walk right by it and not find it again until after your first big boss fight with Gyoubu the Demon. Head through the Outskirts Wall--Gate Path area and progress until you find a blasted-out house with an old woman inside. She'll give you a bell you can use as an offering back at the Dilapidated Temple. Keep going along the path here until you see another gate ahead of and below you, with stairs just beyond. Before the gate wall, look left for a place you can grapple up to. Turn left when you reach the grapple spot and you'll be able to climb up even higher. At the top of this stone tower is a Memorial Mob merchant in a tent, who will sell you the Firecrackers for 500 sen. Grab them, because they're very useful for briefly staggering and distracting a variety of enemies. You can also find a Memorial Mob merchant after fighting Gyoubu the Demon. From the Gate House Sculptor's Idol, look back across the field where you fought Gyoubu toward where you first entered. You'll see a set of stairs upward at the far end of the field. Climb it and head around the building to the right to find the merchant, and your second opportunity to buy Firecrackers.
Fire Barrel: Flame Vent Tool--Hirata Estate, Estate Path
If you return to the Dilapidated Temple with the bell you found and offer it to the Buddha statue beside the Sculptor, you'll be transported to the Wolf's memory of a place called Hirata Estate three years earlier. The Estate is being attacked by enemies and is on fire, and it's here that you'll find three prosthetics, most of them a little hidden. The first is the Flame Vent. Work your way through the level until you find a Sculptor's Idol that marks the Estate Path area. You'll see a road ahead with some enemies, and at the end of it, a locked gate you can't cross. Instead, hop over one of the walls on the right side of the path to find an alternative route. You'll keep pushing past enemies and houses until you reach an area with a couple of long rows of huts, with enemies patrolling. Move through here until you find a campfire with several enemies gathered around it. Clear them out and check the fire to discover the Fire Barrel, which can be fitted to your prosthetic to make the Flame Vent.
Shinobi Axe of the Monkey: Loaded Axe Tool--Hirata Estate, Estate Path
Smashing tough-to-kill enemies and those with heavy defenses requires a heavy weapon. Right after you find the Flame Vent in Hirata Estate, the path will take you past an injured samurai who tells you to find a Shinobi Axe hidden in a nearby shrine. Follow the path forward until it forks to the left and right. On your right, you'll see two enemies standing at a gate, on whom you can eavesdrop. Instead, though, turn left and hop up on the wall on the left side of the area. In the yard beyond, you should see two enemies talking near a small shrine building. You can eavesdrop on them, then take them out. Check the shrine to discover the Shinobi Axe, which you can load into your prosthetic and use against enemies with wooden shields and hats to break their defenses.
Mist Raven's Feathers: Mist Raven Tool--Hirata Estate, Bamboo Thicket Slope
The Mist Raven is one of the best prosthetics in the game, but it's tough to come by and pretty well hidden. Continue through Hirata Estate until you fight and kill the Shinobi Hunter to reach the Bamboo Thicket Slope area. From the Sculptor's Idol, progress forward until you can jump up to the left with the grapple. You'll see the river beside you here. Swing up ahead and then jump into the water and swim ahead, under the bridge. You'll find a landing on the right side of the river where you can get out, and a small cave opening blocked by bamboo that you'll have to slash through. From here, wall jump up to the top and you'll reach a three-story pagoda you might have heard mentioned by a character you can run into in the Estate Path area. You'll have to fight a tough Shinobi enemy here, though. If he gives you too much trouble, try running by to snag the Mist Raven from inside. This prosthetic tool lets you teleport behind enemies when they're about to hit you, and can be very helpful in boss fights.
Gyoubu's Broken Horn: Loaded Spear Tool--Ashina Reservoir
This one requires you to beat the Blazing Bull to gain access to Ashina Castle. You'll find yourself at the Ashina Castle Sculptor's Idol, which puts you in front of a set of stairs up to the castle keep, with a path to your left over the water. Grapple to the left; you'll see a bridge ahead of you with enemies on it. One of them holds the Gatehouse Key you'll need in just a few minutes, so kill them both and then return to the Idol. Walk forward to the base of the stairs up to the keep and hang a left. Head through the door on the right and drop down to reach Ashina Reservoir. You'll recognize this area from the tutorial section way back at the beginning of the game, before you lost your arm. Remember the house you sneaked underneath to eavesdrop on two guards inside? That's the building you want, but now you have the key to open it. From the Ashina Reservoir Sculptor's Idol, it's ahead on your left, up the stairs. It's surrounded by enemies, though, including a guy behind the wall on the immediate left who'll ring a bell to alert everyone of your presence. Once you've cleared the area, unlock the door with the Gatehouse Key and you'll find Gyoubu's Horn inside.
Sabimaru--Ashina Castle, Upper Tower--Antechamber
Technically, the Sabimaru is just at the top of the stairs from the Ashina Castle Sculptor's Idol, but you can't open the door from the outside, so you'll need to go around. Climb the rooftops to reach the Upper Tower area (this is where you'll run into all those Nightjar guys mentioned earlier; good luck). When you reach the Sculptor's Idol for Upper Tower--Antechamber, head forward until you reach a big wooden room with walkways. If you look down between the walkways, you'll see you can drop down onto a bunch of enemies at the bottom. Use a drop deathblow to take out the samurai in the blue kimono first, then clear out the other three enemies, and check the nearby treasure chest. The Sabimaru blade is inside, and you'll be able to unlock the front door of the castle.
Iron Fortress: Loaded Umbrella Tool--Ashina Castle, Old Grave
Like the Sabimaru, this one is tough to get to directly, and requires you to reach the Upper Tower--Antechamber area and drop down to the Ashina Castle keep's first floor. Once you get to the spot with the Sabimaru, you'll be able to unlock a door that leads to the back of the castle. Exploring this area will eventually lead you to the Old Grave Sculptor's Idol. From the Idol, look over the ledge to your left. You should see a big building with a hole in the roof. Drop down and jump through the hole to discover Blackhat Badger, a Senpou assassin with a big iron hat on. He'll sell you a handful of things, including the Iron Fortress item. Save up for it, because it creates a big shield that's easier to use for deflections than your sword.
Large Fan: Divine Abduction Tool--Sunken Valley, Gun Fort
You can't avoid this one. When you head through Sunken Valley after completing Ashina Castle, you'll eventually hit the Gun Fort, a spot covered in gun-wielding enemies. You can mostly sprint past them (and you'll probably need to) in order to get inside to the Gun Fort Sculptor's Idol. From there, continue forward until you hit the Long-Armed Centepede Giraffe mid-boss. Kill it--you can do it just by parrying all its attacks until it tires itself out and breaks its Posture--and then claim the fan from the statue nearby. The Divine Abduction tool can "spirit" people away, which is something you'll need for a side quest over near the Senpou Temple.
Finger Whistle Tool--Sunken Valley, Bodhisattva Valley
This is another unavoidable Shinobi Prosthetic Tool you'll get for advancing in the game. When you hit the Bodhisattva Valley Sculptor's Idol, you'll be right beside a big boss fight that needs completing: the Guardian Ape. Defeating the ape reveals the contents of its stomach--a slender finger with holes in it. Fit that to your Shinobi Prosthetic to get the Finger Whistle, which you can use to drive animals crazy, or to lure enemies toward you so you can assassinate them.
By Jordan Ramée on Mar 26, 2019 03:38 am
The Seeds To Success
Death comes quickly in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, so one of the most helpful tools you have at your disposal is the Healing Gourd--a refillable healing item. At the start, you'll only have one use per refill. However, by finding Gourd Seeds, you can increase that number. In total, there are nine Gourd Seeds scattered throughout Sekiro's Ashina, allowing you to increase your Healing Gourd uses to 10. Once you've found a Seed, you must give it to Emma in the Dilapidated Temple in order to increase how many times you can use the Gourd. Although it isn't necessary to do, upgrading your Healing Gourd is very helpful for surviving both the hardest of Sekiro's bosses and the ever-growing divide between Idols in the late-game areas. So even if you don't find all nine, you should at least go for a few. In the following guide, we list the location of every Gourd Seed and include images of their locations for all but one. The final Seed, the ninth, doesn't have an accompanying image, as we feel its location gets a little too close to spoiler territory. Only the first two Gourd Seeds are located in Sekiro's starting area. So just know that Gourd Seed number three and beyond go into light spoiler territory. We've kept it as spoiler-free as we can, but we do have to list the names of some of Sekiro's mid to late game locations, as well as those of certain enemies and bosses, in order to provide accurate directions. The following guide lists all nine Gourd Seeds in the order they can be found/earned. However, the order does not need to be followed. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is available for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. For additional help with the game, check out the rest of our Sekiro's guides.
Location 1: Ashina Outskirts - General Naomori Kawarada
You'll run into the first Gourd Seed fairly early in the game, but you'll have to fight for it. In the Ashina Outskirts, you'll find a hulking samurai near the Gate Path Shrine known as General Naomori Kawarada. This miniboss requires two death blows to defeat, but doing so rewards you with a Gourd Seed.
Location 2: Ashina Outskirts - Outskirts Wall (Stairway)
The second Gourd Seed requires you defeat a miniboss as well. You'll find the challenging Chained Ogre in the Ashina Outskirts near the Outskirts Wall (Stairway) Idol. Defeating him disperses the fog gate that blocks you from continuing onwards. Once you have, grapple up to the opening in the building. Immediately turn left once you're inside and you'll find the second Gourd Seed on the floor--a suitable reward for downing one of Sekiro's most difficult early game enemies.
Location 3: Ashina Outskirts - Memorial Mob
Once you've overcome its guardian, Gyoubu Oniwa, the entirety of the Ashina Castle Gate is open for you to explore. Travel to one of its two Idols and head up the stairs that are opposite of where you first encountered the boss. You'll find a tower that houses a mysterious masked man who offers you a side quest to "kill some rats." Outside and to the right of that tower is the second location of the Memorial Mob. This merchant sells one of the Gourd Seeds for 1,000 sen. Also, if you happened to miss the first Memorial Mob, take this chance to buy Robert's Firecrackers--for 500 sen--from this second one, as it allows you to unlock one of the best prosthetic tool upgrades in the game. Plus, it's really going to help with the next boss you'll have to fight, the Blazing Bull.
Location 4: Ashina Castle - Fujioka The Info Broker
Sekrio's fourth Gourd Seed must also be purchased. From the Ashina Castle Idol, go up the stairs and make a right from where you fight miniboss General Kuranosuke Matsumoto. A grapple point will take you onto the rooftops. Continue north until you finally reach a tower that blocks your progress and drop down. There, you'll find Fujioka the Info Broker, a merchant who offers a variety of wares and also promises to give Wolf information in exchange for safe passage outside of the castle. Talk to him and he'll eventually show up as a merchant at the Dilapidated Temple. The Gourd Seed he's willing to sell costs a whopping 2,000 sen. As an important NPC, Fujioka can catch Dragonrot. Although you can continue to buy items from him even if he's sick, you cannot complete his quest line if he's caught the disease. So you might need to find the cure for Dragonrot if you've resurrected one too many times.
Location 5: Ashina Castle - Upper Tower (Antechamber)
The fifth Gourd Seed is actually fairly simple to find, you just need to overcome all the trials and tribulations that precede reaching Ashina Castle as well as "the rats" who protect the castle's rooftops. Once you reach the Upper Tower (Antechamber) Idol, just grapple up to the palace roof--you'll now be near the enemy that most likely surprised or killed you when it exploded. The Gourd Seed is nearby for you to loot.
Location 6: Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo - Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo
Gourd Seed number six is found in Senpou Temple, Mt. Kongo. Travel to the Idol of the same name and continue forward to the very large building. Can't miss it. Grapple up into the rafters and then squeeze into a hole hidden in the building's ceiling--it's located on the left. You'll immediately know when you've found the right place. After heading down some stairs, you'll discover a group of worshipping monks who are praying to a mummy. At the mummy's feet is a Gourd Seed. Grab it and run, because not only will the mummy attack you when you get close, but it will start barfing up killer crickets. Leave the creepy god to its bizarre worshippers.
Location 7: Sunken Valley - Under-Shrine Valley
The seventh Gourd Seed is hidden in the first area of the Sunken Valley. Once you've reached the Under-Shrine Valley Idol, continue onwards into the actual valley. Eventually, you'll find a place where you can grapple across the canyon to the other side. Do so, and then climb the ledge on the left. Keep going and you'll run into the Gourd Seed hidden away in a corner.
Location 8: Ashina Depths - Mibu Village
The second to last seed can be found near the Mibu Village Idol, which is near the end of the Ashina Depths. Travel into the village and head for its center. There, you'll find a massive tree with several items scattered amongst its roots, one of which is the eighth Gourd Seed.
Location 9: [Spoiler]
The very last Gourd Seed is located in the final area of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Mentioning the name of said location and describing how to find Gourd Seed number nine would be a massive story spoiler--one we feel is best experienced blind. If you really don't care, and want to find the ninth seed, then watch our Gourd Seed location guide video. It does showcase the final Seed's location, but again, we think it's best you just discover this one on your own. You're pretty much guaranteed to run into it.
By Michael Rougeau on Mar 26, 2019 12:54 am
Move over Netflix.
Apple announced Apple TV+, the company's new subscription TV service that includes original shows, at its March 25 event. After discussing Apple News Plus and a game subscription service called Apple Arcade, Apple CEO Tim Cook turned his attention to the next evolution of Apple TV. They shared plenty of new details about the new service, including inviting several actors and creators onstage to share their new original shows. These shows are exclusive to Apple TV+, an ad free subscription service launching this fall. The service will be available online and offline across all Apple devices, and Apple promised new movies and shows every month, available in 100 plus countries. For more on Apple TV Plus check out our sister site CNET, and keep scrolling for a look at all the new exclusive shows Apple announced.
Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories
Steven Spielberg was one of the most prominently featured creators during Apple's event--quite understandably. The project he announced is called Amazing Stories, based on the sci-fi pulp magazines he read as a kid. It's a reboot of Spielberg's show of the same name that aired originally between 1985 and 1987 on NBC.
The Morning Show
Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Anniston, and Steve Carrell took the stage to discuss their new show, The Morning Show. They described it as a fictional look at the dynamics between men and woman that take place behind the scenes at a morning news/talk show.
See
Jason Mamoa (Aquaman, Justice League) and Alfre Woodard (Netflix's Luke Cage) announced a new sci-fi series called "See." It appears to be a post-apocalyptic show set in the future, when all humans have been blind for so long that they believe sight as a sense is a myth.
Little America
Up next came comedian Kumail Nanjiani, who described his show Little America as a series portraying human stories featuring immigrants to the United States. It sounds like a non-fiction, documentary-style show.
Helpsters
Big Bird may have stolen the show when the large, yellow puppet appeared onstage with another puppet, Cody, to announced Helpsters. It's a kids' show aimed at pre-schoolers to teach them about coding. This is as confusing to us as it is to you.
Little Voice
Next up were JJ Abrams and singer-songwriter Sarah Bareillis, who described their program Little Voice as the story of a young woman finding her voice as a woman and artist in NYC, based on Bareillis's own experiences.
Hello Oprah
Apple saved Oprah for last. She announced an expansive partnership with the company and described two projects--a documentary called Toxic Labor, and another multi-part series about mental health. She also announced "the most stimulating book club on the planet," though details are currently scarce.
And many more
Although Apple only had time to go in depth on a few of its new original shows, the company displayed this slide that slowly filled up with more and more names they're involved with. We screenshotted it so you can have a look, and jotted down some highlights. - Joel Kinnaman
- Rupert Grint
- Mark Duplass
- Aaron Paul
- Ben Stiller
- Octavia Spencer
- Stanley Tucci
- Jane Krakowski
- Chris Evans
- Jennifer Garner
- Ron Howard
- Lizzy Caplan
- Rob McElhenney
- Richard Gere
- Ewan McGregor
- Jon Favreau
- Snoopy
- M. Night Shyamalan
- Sofia Coppola
- Brie Larson
- Bill Murray
- Spike Lee
- Daveed Diggs
- Ronald D. Moore
- Rashida Jones
- Kristen Bell
- Leslie Odom Jr.
We'll keep updating this gallery as information about more of Apple's new original shows and movies becomes available. Our sister site CNET also has an extensive list of Apple TV Plus's rumored and confirmed programming.
Are You Sleeping?
Variety previously reported on this show starring Octavia Spencer, Lizzy Caplan, Aaron Paul, Ron Cephas Jones, Elizabeth Perkins, Mekhi Phifer, Michael Beach, Tracie Thoms, and Haneefah Wood. We caught a glimpse of it during Apple's keynote, though the company didn't mention it by name. It's reportedly based on a novel by Kathleen Barber about true crime podcasts.
Calls
CNET reports that Apple is adapting this French series by Timothée Hochet, which uses mostly audio to tell its story. Here's a trailer for the original.
Defending Jacob
According to CNET, Chris Evans (Captain America) executive produces and stars in this show based on a novel by William Landay about a father whose son is accused of murder. Chris Evans was spotted in attendance at the Apple event sitting next to actress Michelle Dockery, although Defending Jacob wasn't mentioned onstage.
Foundation
The classic sci-fi book series by Isaac Asimov is getting an adaptation courtesy Apple, according to CNET. Skydance Television (which has recently been responsible for Amazon's Jack Ryan show and Netflix's Altered Carbon) is producing, with Josh Friedman (the Terminator series and The Sarah Connor Chronicles) and and David Goyer (co-writer of the Dark Knight movies) at the helm.
Losing Earth
CNET reports that Apple is developing a series based on the New York Times article "Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change" by Nathaniel Rich, with Rich and Spotlight producer Steve Golin executive producing.
My Glory Was I Had Such Friends
According to CNET, Jennifer Garner and J.J. Abrams will team up once again (Alias fans should be excited) for this series based on Amy Silverstein's 2017 memoir.
Pachinko
Variety reports that Apple is teaming up with The Terror showrunner Soo Hugh to adapt the novel Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. It's about Koreans who migrate to Japan.
Swagger
Another one from Variety: Ron Howard and Brian Grazer's company Imagine Television has partnered with Apple to reportedly develop a series based on the early life of basketball player Kevin Durant.
Shantaram
Apple is reportedly developing a series based on the 2003 Gregory David Robert's novel Shantaram, "in which a convicted Australian bank robber and heroin addict who escaped from Pentridge Prison flees to India," according to the official synopsis.
Brie Larson CIA drama
Variety reports that Brie Larson (Captain Marvel) will executive produce and star in a series based on Amaryllis Fox's memoir Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA. It's about an undercover CIA agent.
M. Night Shyamalan something or other
The famous director was featured during Apple's keynote, but the company never explained what he's actually doing for Apple TV+. Deadline reports that it's a 10-episode psychological thriller starring Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under) and Nell Tiger Free (Myrcella on Game of Thrones).
Ronald D. Moore this or that
According to Deadline, Ronald D. Moore (of Battlestar Galactica and Outlander fame) and Fargo producers Matt Wolpert and Ben Nevidi are working together on a drama set in space. We may have caught glimpses of it during Apple's keynote (pictured above), but that's currently just guesswork.
Central Park
If the shot above looks like Bob's Burgers, that's because it appears to be from the new show by Bob's creator Loren Bouchard, Central Park. Deadline reports that the series ias being co-written by Bouchard, Nora Smith, and Josh Gad, and will feature the voices of Gad as well as Kristen Bell, Leslie Odom Jr., Titus Burgess, Daveed Diggs, Stanley Tucci, and Kathryn Hahn--many of the names that appeared on the Apple slide we mentioned above.
Dickinson
Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit, Bumblebee) will reportedly star as Emily Dickinson in this comedy about the classic author, according to CNET. 30 Rock's Jane Krakowski will also star as her mother.
It's Always Sunny, but video games
CNET also reports that Apple is working with It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia co-stars Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day on a new comedy series about a video game developer.
Peanuts something
Our sister site TV Guide reports that Apple and DHX Media (Teletubbies, Degrassi) are teaming up for new Peanuts content. We didn't learn anything new about it during Apple's keynote, but we did catch a glimpse of Snoopy, whose name was also featured on Apple's talent slide (above).
Untitled Colleen McGuinness project
30 Rock producer Colleen McGuinness is working with Reese Witherspoon's production company Hello Sunshine, according to CNET, for an original comedy series about which we know very little at this time.
Taika Waititi's Time Bandits???
The unbelievably fabulous Taika Waititi, director of Thor: Ragnarok and many other delightful projects, will direct and co-write the pilot for Apple's new Time Bandits show based on the classic Terry Gilliam movie, according to CNET. Holy balls this sounds amazing.
By Mat Elfring on Mar 25, 2019 10:18 pm
Over the March 23 weekend, McCormick Place in Chicago held C2E2, the city's largest comic and entertainment convention. Throughout the three-day show, fans primarily from the midwest went to panels featuring their favorite stars, visited the creatives in artist alley, and dressed up as their favorite characters from pop culture. And speaking of cosplay, C2E2 had some really innovative and unique costumes. From video games to comic books to wrestling and movies, there were recognizable fixtures from everything you love walking right beside you as you stare off at that weird steampunk booth that's nothing but goggles. Here are some of the coolest cosplays we saw from that weekend at C2E2. For more cosplay, check out our hub and GameSpot's cosplay Instagram page.
Usagi Yojimbo
Destiny
Destiny
Sentinel
Sentinel
Dr. Octopus
Dr. Octopus
Guy Fieri
Angry Waluigis
Waluigi For Smash 2019
Samus Aran
Samus Aran
Goblin King
Goblin King
Cobra Commander
Cobra Commander
Cogsworth and Lumière
Cogsworth and Lumière
Bumblebee
Mercy
Link and Beedle
Link and Beedle
Hulkamania Hulk Hogan and "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan
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