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]]>May the Fourth be with you, Star Wars fans. The annual celebration of all things in the galaxy far, far away is super-sized this year. Not only are we getting The Rise of Skywalker and the Clone Wars finale on Disney Plus, but the Disney Gallery is presenting the first of an eight-part Mandalorian behind-the-scenes documentary charting the making of the entire first season.
While you’re likely to get your fill of Baby Yoda, it’s the roundtables that should catch the eye. The likes of Taika Waititi, Jon Favreau, Bryce Dallas Howard, and more are set to take part in a discussion among the directors and creators of the series. Who knows what secrets will be laid bare – and what that could all mean for the second season.
What: Disney Gallery: Star Wars: The Mandalorian: Season 1
Where: Disney Plus
When: May 4
2. Something creepy is slithering onto AMC
If you missed the fun and freaky Creepshow when it debuted on Shudder, you’ll have the chance to catch it again on AMC this week. It’s an anthology series of great horror stories from people like Stephen King and Birdbox writer Josh Malerman, and a spin-off of the classic Creepshow movies directed in the 80s by George A. Romero and Michael Gornick. As well as packing in plenty of nasty surprises the series also manages to lean into old school, comic-book horror themes, making it a delight to watch whether you’re a hardened horror addict or a new devotee looking to feel a few thrills when the lights go out.
What: Creepshow
Where: AMC
When: May 4
3. John Wick Hex brings its particular brand of gun-fu chess to PS4
Originally released on PC last year, John Wick Hex is finally making its debut on console this week, starting with PS4 before we hopefully get an Xbox One release later down the road. The turn-based strategy game from Thomas Was Alone creator Mike Bithell is that rarest of beasts: an officially licensed spin-off game that actually understands its source material, rather than attempting to merely cash in on the brand association with Lionsgate’s action trilogy. Smart, satisfying, and an easy way to pass the time right now, this is the closest we’ll get to a Keanu Reeves video game before Cyberpunk 2077 launches later this year.
What: John Wick Hex
Where: PS4
When: May 5
4. Red Dead Redemption 2 on Games Pass
Red Dead Redemption 2 is coming to Xbox Game Pass for console on May 7, and honestly, there’s never been a better time to escape into this massive Wild West adventure. As well as a story of gangs, loyalty, and crime to lose hundreds of hours in as you hunt, fish, fight and explore, there’s also Red Dead Online, the ever-evolving multiplayer spin-off. This is a game that deserves plenty of time – which you may well have a little extra of right now – and will reward you with an incredible experience. If you haven’t signed up for Game Pass yet, this is the perfect excuse.
What: Red Dead Redemption 2
Where: Xbox Games Pass
When: May 7
5. Get weird with Solar Opposites, a new series from Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland
We could all use a little more benevolent weirdness in our world, and Justin Roiland is here to deliver. Solar Opposites is an animated sitcom made by Roiland (the eccentric brain behind Rick and Morty) and Mike McMahan. It tells the story of a family of aliens forced to take refuge in middle America and I can already see how this is going to play out…
Solar Opposites has the same brand of bizarre humor as Rick and Morty, and that’s exactly what we need right now. Justin Roiland stars as the father figure, Korvo, while Silicon Valley’s Thomas Middleditch is a fellow alien, Terry. Middle America isn’t exactly known for its liberal outlook on life, so I can only imagine what sort of hijinks will ensue – in one scene from the trailer, the alien kids pour soda into the brain of a bully to make her more amenable. Yup, it’s a Roiland production.
What: Solar Opposites
Where: Hulu
When: May 8
Release Radar picks the best games, movies, and shows of the next seven days every Monday at 11am GMT.
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]]>Want to see Chris Hemsworth go full action hero? Extraction is for you. The Netflix original sees the Australian actor play Tyler Rake, a mercenary who uses his particular set of skills to rescue a drug lord’s son and extract him from the hustle and bustle of a heaving city, all while avoiding those trying to kill him.
Avengers: Endgame directors Anthony and Joe Russo are on board as producers, while Stranger Things’ David Harbour also makes a cameo appearance. There’s also enough room breaches, explosive set-pieces, and angsty machismo to fill a Call of Duty campaign. Basically, there’s bound to be something for you here. Perfect for a lazy weekend watch, if you ask us.
What: Extraction
Where: Netflix
When: April 24
2. Predator: Hunting Grounds channels the spirit of Friday the 13th: The Video Game for another asymmetric horror show
Haven’t you heard? Asymmetric multiplayer is all the rage right now. The last month alone has given us Resident Evil: Resistance, Doom Eternal’s Battlemode and – finally – Predator: Hunting Grounds, which could well be the most exciting pick of the bunch. Pitting four human soldiers against one titular Predator, Illfonic’s follow up to 2017’s Friday the 13th: The Video Game has all the makings of another viral hit. It’s also one of the few console exclusives for PlayStation on the horizon right now, so if you’re looking for ways to kill time with something fresh, you won’t be able to do much better than this authentic love letter to an 80’s action icon. Alex Avard
What: Predator: Hunting Grounds
Where: PC, PS4
When: April 24
3. Deliver Us The Moon on PS4 and Xbox One
A little vacation from this planet might seem like a good idea, but Deliver Us The Moon is here to remind you that it comes with its own problems. Arriving on consoles for the first time, the game sends you to the moon to see what happened to The World Space Agency that was stationed there happily harvesting energy, and why it’s gone real quiet. You and your ASE drone have to figure out just what went wrong as you explore the old facilities, piece together the history of the team there and try not to get sucked into the endless void of space.
What: Deliver Us The Moon
Where: PS4 and Xbox One
When: April 24
4. Nintendo Switch Lite’s new Coral design is here, and it proves they still have the most handsome consoles
The Switch has always broken the mold with unique, eye-popping color schemes, and that trend continues with the Lite’s new ‘Coral’ design. As of April 24, Europe will be getting an attractive pink overhaul of the console. That’s good news if you wanted to grab a Switch – it’s been almost impossible to get hold of the system over the last few weeks for obvious reasons.
Although it’s already sold out at many retailers, high street mainstay Game still seems to have stock (opens in new tab) on its website. If you wanted to try Animal Crossing but don’t have a Switch yet, that maybe your best bet. Benjamin Abbott
What: Nintendo Switch Lite – Coral
Where: Europe
When: April 24
5. Hugh Jackman’s a less jacked man in Bad Education
Journalism! Directors love to make movies about journalism – and for good reason. Just look at Spotlight, or All the President’s Men, or Zodiac. Journalists are the ones getting to the nitty-gritty of cases and the cinematic results are often thrilling. With that in mind, we have high hopes for Bad Education.
Hugh Jackman, Allison Janney, and Ray Romano star in HBO’s movie about a student reporter who ends up discovering that her school is embezzling millions of dollars after an assistant superintendent makes a crucial mistake. Come for the dazzling cast; stay for the investigation into a crime spanning decades.
What: Bad Education
Where: HBO
When: April 25
Release Radar picks the best games, movies, and shows of the next seven days every Monday at 11am GMT.
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]]>We won’t know what the task is until we sit down at the Challenge Radar video station, and read the instructions. That way we can’t prepare ourselves, or practice at all. The confusion is all part of the fun, apparently. We also can’t communicate what the challenge is until all of that week’s crew have completed the task.
To kick things off our very own James Jarvis set us the challenge of seeing how far we can get in Limbo with three lives to our name. As you can imagine, it wasn’t exactly easy for a game that gets its kicks off killing a small child repeatedly until you learn what to do.
Check out the video below to see how we did:
The GamesRadar crew are ready and waiting to be set your task. If you can think of something seriously challenging that you’d like to set for us to complete, please do let us know in the comments below.
- Games like Limbo that are steeped in atmosphere
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]]>Here we go again. Another attempt to adapt His Dark Materials, the epic fantasy novels by Philip Pullman in which two teenagers must traverse multiple universes while being accompanied by their personalized dæmons. So, what’s different about HBO and the BBC’s collaboration? Well, where the Golden Compass film, starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, was critically bemoaned, this new version has already received positive early reviews, with Dafne Keen, James McAvoy, and Ruth Wilson all winning acclaim. A second series has already been commissioned, showing that both broadcasters have obvious faith that this is going to be a hit.
What: His Dark Materials
When: 3/4 November
Where: BBC One (UK) and HBO (US)
2. Planet Zoo is basically Squee: The Game
If you’re even vaguely into world-building sims or 4X games and have a penchant for anything cute and fuzzy, there’s a game that’s about to blow your mind. Meet Planet Zoo, a brand new zoo crafting game that takes the strategy and building elements from Planet Coaster (they’re made by the same folks, don’t you know), and add a plethora of critters to look after. Think Jurassic World Evolution but swapping dinos with pandas, lions, alligators and spiders – yes, Planet Zoo can even make spiders semi-adorable – with habitats to build, parks to create, and enrichment items to introduce. It’s going to be massive – and glorious – time sink, but the way the game works you’re going to learn as much about these animals as your guests will. Bring on the critters.
What: Planet Zoo
When: November 5
Where: PC
3. Red Dead Redemption 2 is finally coming for your keyboards
We always knew it had to happen, but Red Dead Redemption 2 (opens in new tab) finally gets a PC release this week, a year after its console cousin. Rockstar hasn’t just been napping by the campfire in the last 12 months though, there’s all sort of technical tweaking that’s been happening under the hood to make the game look ridiculously beautiful on your massive monitor. There’s a handful of new content too, but if you’re playing it for the first time it’s not as if it was lacking action or activities, and if you’re thinking about playing it again on PC, do it for the insane visuals.
What: Red Dead Redemption 2
When: November 5
Where: PC
4. Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding is finally here
In case the wide and varied review discussion surrounding Death Stranding (opens in new tab) didn’t give it away, Kojima’s first big non-MGS effort is a game. While critics and fans argue over who’s played it right (or indeed at all), and who really gets the metaphors behind carrying boxes, you’ll be able to find out for yourself on November 8 when the finished product is finally delivered. Whatever you might think of it, the story of Sam Porter Bridges reuniting a post-apocalyptic America destroyed by exploding ghosts is going to be a talking point for months. Names like Hideo Kojima don’t get much bigger, and after years of hype and conjecture, the chance to finally see what it’s all about is going to be a big deal.
What: Death Stranding
When: November 8
Where: PS4
5. Rick and Morty are finally back – and they’re bringing Mr. Poopy Butthole with them
It’s been quite some time since we last got schwifty and watched some fresh Rick and Morty episodes, hasn’t it? In fact, it’s been over two years since the likes of Pickle Rick and McDonald’s Mulan Szechuan sauce blew up the internet and took over meme culture. Has the dimension-hopping duo mellowed in the interim? Don’t bet on it. The first round of trailers include dragons, gunfights, and even the return of Mr. Poopy Butthole. Ooh-wee!
It’s worth noting, though, that Rick and Morty season 4 (opens in new tab) has been split into two, with only five episodes coming in 2019 and the rest to follow at an undisclosed date in 2020. As Rick would say: that’s the way the news goes. Still, the future is looking bright for Rick and Morty as Adult Swim has ordered 70 more episodes of Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland’s animated comedy.
What: Rick and Morty season 4
When: November 10
Where: Adult Swim
Release Radar picks the best games, movies, and shows of the next seven days every Monday at 11am GMT.
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]]>Remember Rage 2 (opens in new tab)? No? We don’t blame you. The game seemed to come and go like the wind during its initial release earlier this year, but id Software and Avalanche are continuing to support the open world shooter with new content to justify a return to the wasteland, should you be so inclined. The upcoming Rise of the Ghosts DLC is Rage 2’s biggest expansion yet, with a new story, region, weapons, abilities, vehicles, cheats, and more to liven up your post-apocalyptic exploits with neon-coloured ultra violence. The game’s Sand Worm bosses look to be returning in a big way, too, so best pack some insecticide.
What: Rage 2 – Rise of the Ghosts
Where: PC, PS4, Xbox One
When: September 26
2. A classic horror series is back from the dead
The original Creepshow was a cult horror movie released in 1982, directed by George A. Romero and written by Stephen King. It was campy, rubbery and joyous, and it looks like the newly resurrected series will follow that tradition. The new show will feature stories from King, Bird Box writer Josh Malerman, and Joe Hill, and on the cast list are Saw’s Tobin Bell, Scream’s David Arquette, and Breaking Bad’s Giancarlo Esposito. A look at some of the stories – creepy dollhouses, monsters, and awful people – tick all the right horror boxes, so it’ll be a must-see for fright fans when it airs on Shudder this week.
What: Creepshow
Where: Shudder
When: September 26
3. The Good Place is back and we’re forking excited
Holy motherforking shirtballs! Everyone’s favorite show about the afterlife is back for its fourth and, sadly, final season. All the gang – Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, Jason, Janet and Michael – are back. This time, however, rather than being blissfully unaware that they are actually in the Bad Place, they have created their own Good Place to test whether humans, unaffected by external factors, can indeed be good. Of course, things aren’t quite that simple, as Chidi’s memory has been swiped while Eleanor remembers that they have been desperately in love with each other multiple times. How will things work? Who can say. All we know is that we’re forking excited for the show to return.
What: The Good Place season 4
Where: NBC (Netflix in the UK)
When: September 26
4. I don’t know what In the Shadow of the Moon is about (but I’ll be watching it)
I’m being a little facetious. In The Shadow of the Moon, at least on the face of it, appears to be a sci-fi murder mystery revolving around a shadowy woman who impossibly kills three people at the same time, miles apart, dies, and returns nine years later to start bumping people off again. From there, I don’t know where it’s going.
It could involve time travel, Looper-style, it could be vampires (check out the weird marks on each of the victim’s necks), or it could be a by-the-numbers police adventure starring Boyd Holbrook on the right side of the badge for the first time since Narcos. I just don’t know. It’s definitely going to blow our minds, though. Check the trailer out for yourself. Or don’t. You might want to keep things completely under wraps until later this week.
What: In the Shadow of the Moon
Where: Netflix
When: September 27
5. Code Vein – AKA anime Dark Souls – is about to get bloody
After several long delays, Bandai Namco’s entry to the Dark Souls-inspired arms race is about to make landfall. Code Vein is a third-person action RPG about vampire-demon-people trying to survive in a ruined, bloody world, and from its character designs to its oversized swords, it is anime as all hell. It’s also Dark Souls as all hell, right down to the stamina-fueled combat, lost XP on death which can be retrieved by retracing your steps, the Estus-esque Regeneration system, and Bonfire-like Mistle checkpoints. Of course, Bandai Namco publishes Dark Souls, so if anyone’s going to unabashedly emulate it, it would be them. It also publishes God Eater, and there’s more than a bit of that to Code Vein as well. That said, based on our Code Vein E3 2019 preview (opens in new tab), it is at least trying to build an identity of its own – but whether it properly grows into it remains to be seen. One thing’s for sure: Code Vein has the best anime character creator of all time.
What: Code Vein
Where: PS4, Xbox One, PC
When: September 27
Release Radar picks the best games, movies, and shows of the next seven days every Monday at 11am GMT.
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]]>Having some friends over anytime soon? There’s nothing quite like cosying up with your Nintendo Switch for a night of multiplayer survival horror. If you fancy filling the shoes of Jason Vorhees and slicing and dicing your way through camp Crystal Lake to hunt down other players, Friday the 13th: The Game (opens in new tab) is the fright fest for you. On the flip side, you can also take on the role of one of the camp counselors with a team of other players who have to try and outwit the hockey mask-wearing killer. Originally released back in 2017, the Ultimate Slasher edition coming to the Switch has oodles of extra content, including different Jason skins to unlock, new ways to murder your victims, and plenty of different methods to escape Vorhees when he’s out for blood.
What: Friday the 13th: The Game Ultimate Slasher Edition
Where: Nintendo Switch
When: August 13
2. The Angry Birds Movie 2 is looking to break the video game movie curse… No, really
Don’t get yourself in a flap. The Angry Birds Movie 2 is swooping into cinemas this week and, honestly and truly, it’s capital-G Good, blending laugh-out-loud moments with a rich sense of style and vibrant color that’s been so sorely missing from most animated movies in the past few years. It’s technically a video game movie, too, so it should go some way to breaking the genre’s curse at the box office. That is, until Sonic speeds into sight early next year.
So, what’s new this time around? Following on from the first movie, Red, Bomb, and Chuck, the Angry Birds, are forced to put aside their differences with the pigs to battle a new threat: more birds. Shakespeare, this ain’t, but, as the trailer shows, this will be a movie that will have kids and adults alike beaming all the way through with its silly sense of madcap humor – and there’s no flossing, dabs, or any other ‘down with the kids’ attempts in sight. Phew.
What: The Angry Birds Movie 2
Where: Movie theaters
When: August 14
3. Mindhunter returns to remind you to lock your doors at night
Netflix’s thrilling exploration of criminal profiling is back on August 16, and this time the gang from the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit are taking on the Atlanta Child Murders and serial killer Son of Sam. The new trailer suggests the series will explore the internal machinations of the bureau, and face America’s racial tensions as they race to find the Atlanta killer. We also know that Charles Manson will be one of the featured killers, played by Damon Herriman, who also took on the role of Manson in Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood (opens in new tab).
What: Mindhunter Season 2
Where: Netflix
When: August 16
4. 47 Meters Down: Uncaged promises just as many shark scares as the original, plus more horrors
Two years ago, 47 Meters Down was a box office smash. The horror film told the story of two sisters trapped inside of a deep sea diving cage with limited oxygen in their scuba tanks. 47 Meters Down: Uncaged keeps the sharks and deletes the cage, as four friends set out to explore ancient underwater ruins in Brazil only to discover they’re trapped in a labyrinth full of hungry sharks. The sequel promises to up the anxiety ante by adding claustrophobic tunnels to the equation. It’s sure to be pulpy horror at its finest, but if that doesn’t interest you, you can watch Sylvester Stallone’s daughter Sistine in her acting debut. Maybe she’ll punch a shark.
What: 47 Meters Down: Uncaged
Where: Movie theaters
When: August 16
5. The Righteous Gemstones brings wild family fun to HBO
A fan of Danny McBride’s brand of humor? Then you’re in for a treat. The comedian returns this week with a new HBO show, The Righteous Gemstones, which follows an extremely wealthy family who are all God-loving muppets obsessed with money. John Goodman – arguably the world’s greatest character actor – plays the Gemstone family’s patriarch, trying to keep everyone else’s ridiculous antics slightly grounded. Other cast members include Edi Patterson, Adam DeVine and Cassidy Freeman, who all play members of the family. Considering this is created, directed, written and starring McBride, this idiosyncratic show looks set to be an absolute blast.
What: The Righteous Gemstone
Where: HBO
When: August 18
Release Radar picks the best games, movies, and shows of the next seven days every Monday at 11am GMT.
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]]>This is the latest in a series of big questions we’ll be interrogating our writers with, so share your answers and suggestions for topics with us on Twitter. (opens in new tab)
Viva Pinata
Oh, how my heart yearns for a new installment of this strange, surprisingly violent animal husbandry sim. I fear future generations may never know the joy of attracting animals to a garden, tricking them into mating, and then bashing in the brains of their offspring for chocolate coins. Viva Pinata had all the looks of a game for children – bright colors and cutesy creatures – but that hid a dark undertone that had the unsettling aroma of a slaughterhouse. It was just so addictive: tending to your own plot of land, sowing seeds, and creating the right conditions to attract new pinata. The time feels so right for Rare to take a break from those bloody pirates and bring back a real Xbox icon. Image those papery horstachio fetlocks in 4K! Rachel Weber
A full-fledged Animal Crossing game
I know, I know – an Animal Crossing Switch (opens in new tab) is coming, but aside from a release date, it’s unclear what this upcoming Switch game actually is. The last few Animal Crossing titles have been spin-offs – one about room decorating, an Amiibo-focused party game, and another mobile title about happy campers. That means we’re long overdue for a true Animal Crossing: New Leaf sequel, one that really utilises the series’ focus with collectibles and idle, frolic-the-hours-away gameplay that would suit the Switch down to a tee. It would be the ‘Stardew Valley hits Switch’ obsession all over again, but with true Nintendo charm oozing through every pore. So yes, we know something Animal Crossing shaped is coming, but I’m praying it’s a core series entry and not some bonkers spin-off. Come on Tom Nook, don’t let me down. Sam Loveridge
Fable 4
Yeah, I know Lionhead Studios has been shut down for about two years, but according to rumors, Fable 4 (opens in new tab) is being worked on by Playground Games. It wasn’t too long ago that a potential Fable 4 Xbox Mixer leak (opens in new tab) was found by eagle-eyed users of the internet, so I have fingers and toes crossed for a Fable 4 announcement, and have also plaited my hair because that counts as crossing your hair too, right? Seriously though, we’re in dire need of Fable 4. Its brand of Hobbit-y fantasy, which touches on how hilariously parochial some cities and towns can be yet still manages to be charming, is exactly what 2019 needs. This year has had its fair share of Gritty Games™ with Days Gone (opens in new tab), A Plague Tale: Innocence (opens in new tab), Sekiro (opens in new tab), and The Division 2 (opens in new tab), so what we could really do with is a bit of humourous escapism in the form of kicking chickens, debating with giant talking stone doors, and shooting those gargoyles who roast anyone walking nearby. Zoe Delahunty-Light
The BioShock World War 2 game I’ve made up and am now obsessed with
We all know a new BioShock’s on the way one day, the question is: what’s the twist? Ever since visiting a Second World War exhibit that included a mile of underground bomb shelter tunnels (opens in new tab) playing a wobbly version of “We’ll meet again” I’m obsessed with a World War 2 take on the idea. I really have thought about this far too much. Imagine a giant, city-sized British bomb shelter that seals itself away from the world and gets forgotten about. We find it decades later with a culture built on xenophobic propaganda and “careless talk costs lives” suspicion. There’s so much BioShock-y stuff you could make out of world built from an excessive jingoism, self-destructive witch hunts, and a fear of comically caricatured enemies. Whatever eventually gets announced will never live up to my amazing imagine-o-game, so I’m really just setting myself up for a fall here. Leon Hurley
BioShock 4
The rumored sequel (or should that be paraquel?) to BioShock Infinite, currently codenamed Parkside and under development at a secret studio under 2K Games, has been a long time coming. It’s been over six years since the release of 2013’s divisive BioShock Infinite, not to mention a good while since we’ve had a decent AAA immersive sim with storytelling smarts too. Though BioShock auteur Ken Levine and many of those who worked on the original series alongside him have since left 2K, the fact that Parkside has been in development for such a long time under tight secrecy bodes well for how seriously the publisher is treating this return for its revered franchise. A grand reveal on the stages of E3 2019 could easily make it game of the show. Who knows what to expect from the project itself, but one thing’s for sure: there’s always a man, a city, and a lighthouse. Alex Avard
Xbox 2
Alright, so that’s probably not going to be what Microsoft’s Project Scarlett is going to be called – but whatever name its does end up giving it (Xbox Alpha?), we know the machine itself will usher in the next generation of console gaming. There are already rumors that Microsoft will show off its next powerhouse during their conference (Xbox Apollo?) and that something might even be playable behind closed doors. Yes, probably Halo infinite (opens in new tab). Even if that’s not the case, I’m ready to get all excited for the new tech and talk of teraflops, CPU architecture, and GDDR memory. After all, we’ve been waiting almost six years for a new machine, and if current trends are to be believed, this is likely to be the last time we’ll get a physical box before everything becomes cloud and service based. Which I’m also okay with, but that’s a whole different discussion. Oh! Xbox Blade? No? Fine. James Jarvis
Pokemon Snap 2
Nintendo and the Pokemon Company recently announced every Pokemon game under the sun (and moon): we got Pokemon Sleep (opens in new tab), Pokemon Home (opens in new tab), and a new Detective Pikachu (opens in new tab). We got everything except for the one Pokemon game that actually freakin’ matters: a sequel to Pokemon Snap, the best Pokemon game. Nintendo, I will do anything. I’ll buy that overpriced Pokemon Switch (opens in new tab) combo pack. Hell, I’ll buy that stupid Labo VR camera thing – I’ll even use the motion controls (for an hour or so until I get bored, obviously, at which point the Pro controller had better be supported). I will sacrifice my wallet on the altar of Amiibo if it’ll convince you to green-light Pokemon Snap 2. Countless games have proven how exciting and powerful photo modes can be, both for preserving amazing moments and – listen up, Nintendo, I’m talking to you here – creating free, fun, fan-fueled marketing. I know you hate free, fun, fan-fueled marketing, given the way you DMCA YouTubers and game preservationists, but trust me, it won’t actually kill you. Pokemon Snap was basically Photo Mode: The Game, so imagine what a socially connected, Switch-powered sequel featuring the latest crop of Pokemon could be! Oh god, I could cry – and I will if Pokemon Snap 2 isn’t released in my lifetime. All I want to do is take pictures of Lapras again, Nintendo – don’t make me beg. Austin Wood
A new Katamari game
So this may be coming out of the leftest of left fields, but it’s fair to say that things generally aren’t looking that great for the world environment right now. What we need is another wholesome adventure about cleaning up the planet. At least I think that was broadly what those games were about… I remember picking up lots of trash, but it’s been so long now since the last one came out. Not counting 2018’s Katamari Damacy remake on PC and Switch, you have to look back over a decade to find an original roll ’em up on home consoles. Katamari creator Keita Takahashi has been busy working on a game for the upcoming Playdate (opens in new tab) handheld, as well as the hopefully-still-coming-out-some-day Wattam (opens in new tab), so perhaps fresh content is too much to ask for. But at this point I’d happily take another Katamari remake on PS4 and Xbox One to get lost once again in some cheerfully quirky world tidying under a Royal Rainbow. Iain Wilson
Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas remakes
You want a Fallout 3/New Vegas remake. I want a Fallout 3/New Vegas remake. With any luck, Bethesda wants that as well. Despite being some of the best RPGs of the last generation, they haven’t aged all that gracefully in the visuals department. It’s not as bad as Oblivion’s “I-look-like-melted-candle-wax” faces, but both are still dated nonetheless. The gameplay is also clunky by today’s standards. As an example, Fallout 3 lacked the ability to aim down iron sights with any of your weapons. Meanwhile, talking to someone freezes the entire world around you. I know that some people make you feel like no one else in the room exists, but that’s just ridiculous. All these issues were fixed in Fallout 4, so its predecessors are prime candidates for a glow-up. It’d be worth it, too; certain Fallout 3 missions dole out consequences that still haunt me to this day, while New Vegas’ black humor and faction quests remain some of the franchise’s best. Benjamin Abbott
Something from Arkane Studios
Anything being announced from the geniuses at Arkane would be incredible, and an absolute E3-maker for me. Starting off in crude time-based terms, Prey’s Mooncrash DLC arrived last summer, and Dishonored: Death of the Outsider was released the better part of two years ago now, so I’d say we are ripe for an Arkane announcement. On top of that, Arkane’s Dishonored series and 2017’s Prey are some of my favourite games of all time. They are just fabulous, near-perfect immersive sims with exquisite design, great writing and characters, and imaginative game mechanics. However, it’s in their placemaking and worldbuilding where their extra special qualities lie: the cities of Dunwall, Karnaca, and the Talos I spacestation ooze atmosphere and a sense of place to the extent that they too become important in-game ‘characters’ and incredibly powerful settings. You can really feel attached to these places and grow curious about every nook and cranny, wondering what’s behind every closed door or high wall, and what other stories they have. As they are familiar, sure, I’d love another big entry into the Dishonored or Prey series, but a new IP from Arkane would be seriously exciting, too. Just give me something – anything – from Arkane, and E3 will be a total success for me. Rob Dwiar
What are you hoping for from E3 2019? Let us know on Twitter. (opens in new tab)
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]]>The post Which game did you start out hating, but grow to love? appeared first on Game News.
]]>This is the first in a series of big questions we’ll be interrogating our writers with, so share your answers and suggestions for topics with us on Twitter. (opens in new tab)
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Back in Ye Olden Days, tutorials were called ‘manuals’ and MGS3 (opens in new tab) worked on the assumption that you’d read its 120-page controls, tips, and lore guide; which of course I hadn’t since I was too good at games. The first few hours of MGS3 exist to remind you that you are not good at games. Your playable character, Big Boss, is tasked with sneaking through screen after screen of largely-identical jungle using a variety of crawling movements, distraction items and camouflage outfits to avoid being spotted. My memory of this boils down to shouting “I meant crouch! Crouch! F*CKING CROUCH” as my character body-popped back and forth between standing, lying, and crouching while being pumped full of bullets by guards. I was also approaching new sections of forest knowing full well I should equip the Tiger Stripe uniform rather than the Leaf outfit for a 10% camouflage rating increase, but thinking I was too good at games to get noticed before promptly getting noticed. And lying on the floor being pumped with bullets.
My epiphany was finally mastering the CQC system, and realizing I could cancel an alert just by running around and body-slamming all nearby guards – rather than waiting in a bush for three minutes until the guards got bored. Long story short: I’d argue that Metal Gear Solid 3 is the finest video game of all time, and I’d like to apologize to it for not understanding its impeccably crafted systems and being such an impatient, over-confident baby. Dan Dawkins
TowerFall Ascension
This was one of those games that was super popular in the office at lunchtimes for a while, and every time I’d walk past the gaggle of people crowded around a screen, staring at sprites and environments that looked like they’d be more at home on an Amiga 500 than a PS4, I’d just think, “why?” Then I played it. Died almost instantly, and hated it even more. But FOMO dragged me back over again and again until, finally, not only was I having fun (someone explained the controls and it turns out that really helps), but I was having fun with other people! And we were all in the same room having ‘the fun’ together! The sprites still look the same, but that’s all part of the charm. And none of that really matters when you realize that these days, when almost everything is designed for one person sitting in front of the TV, there aren’t many games that we can all play together huddled around a screen. And that’s what Towerfall (opens in new tab) is all about. James Jarvis
Tetris
When I was a child there was nothing more boring than a friend bringing around his Tetris (opens in new tab) Game Boy cartridge and making me watch him play hours of continuous shape stacking, all while trying to convince me it was the best game I could possibly buy. “Why should I stack shapes when I can catch a Dugtrio or slay pathetic Pidgeys,” I’d ask every time he came over. Oh boy, I now look back at that unintelligent, disrespectful Brandon and wish my friend slapped me in the face every time I pulled out his cartridge and swapped it for Pokemon Blue. Now, almost 20 years on, I regularly find myself sticking in the dusty cartridge and watching a few hours go by while I listen to the painfully majestic sounds and play with the 8-bit cubes, in awe of what I missed out on as a kid. Brandon Saltalamacchia
Animal Crossing
The first time I loaded up the beloved Nintendo classic Animal Crossing (opens in new tab) I was not impressed, reacting to it as if it was a plate of steamed vegetables, or a pile of clothes that needed ironing. I was young and dumb and the game seemed to be about everything 20-year-old me was trying to avoid. Talking to the neighbors, making a nice home, getting a mortgage? My idea of interior design was hiding my dirty laundry under the bed, and all the proceeds from my job at a fancy soap shop went on Smirnoff Ice and cigarettes. It was only a few years later, when I was trying actual adulting with a real mortgage and a sudden interest in decorative cushions that I fell for Animal Crossing and fell hard. Now I can appreciate a safe and happy world where I could build non-threatening relationships with animals, collect designer homewares and yes, even pay off my mortgage in satisfying chunks. It’s basically adulting therapy, and thank the divine and holy Beyonce that Nintendo is releasing a new Animal Crossing in 2019 (opens in new tab), because I need it more than ever. Rachel Weber
ActRaiser
ActRaiser is an SNES game about an unspecified divine force who saves villages by 1) possessing a statue to battle monsters then 2) returning to the heavens to direct road construction. Also, you shoot a ton of infinitely respawning bats. It seemed like everything I didn’t want in a video game the first time I booted it up: clunky action platforming, overt yet inconsistent religious themes, and worst of all, so many menus. But I kept giving it a little more time: to see what happens when the villagers seal a monster lair all by themselves; to take a look at the layout of the next map; to level up my angelic avatar by increasing the population. All the slightly misshapen elements of ActRaiser came together and soon the credits were rolling – there is a sequel, but it dropped the city-building elements to go all-out action. That’s all we’ve seen of ActRaiser since (aside from some mobile and Wii Virtual Console re-releases), so I’m especially glad I didn’t tap out early. Connor Sheridan
League of Legends
League of Legends (opens in new tab) was, for a time, the most popular game in the world. Played by millions upon millions of people, it combined the top-down isometric view of strategy games with immediate character-focused action and an intense teamwork. A little too intense for my tastes – at least at first. I’m more of a single-player type of guy; I rarely hop online for multiplayer shenanigans, and when I do I’d rather focus on cooperation than competition. So League, which brought out the harshest and most competitive sides of its player base, was not really my thing. Plus, games were far too long! You had to dedicate at least 45 minutes of your time to a 5v5, and if you weren’t keeping pace for that entire time, everyone was sure to let you know in the loudest ways possible. Thankfully, the game received some tweaks, a new emphasis was put on combating toxic behavior, and a handful of new modes let people like me go somewhere a bit less serious. Now I play ARAM every week with my friends and I have a blast. Sam Prell
Destiny
First time I played Destiny (opens in new tab), my initial thought was “Well, this is a bit shit.” Over time, however, it somehow became a space adventure that happily vacuumed up 1000 hours of my actual life. Time I literally cannot get back. When it first launched back in 2014, the console MMO genre was very much in its infancy, and its quirks were weird: shockingly limited character creation options, constant grind and repetition, a limited number of solo-play options, and a game plot that made little sense to anyone. But the more I grew to understand Destiny’s end-game sensibilities, and the more Bungie evolved the experience over time, the more its brilliance began to show. Its ecosystems showed their depth long after launch, showcasing a game that was meant to be understood and loved over time, rather than an overly excited frag-fest desperate to please players within minutes of being loaded up. By the time Destiny 2 rolled around in 2017, the original game’s journey felt complete; its shaky beginning a long-lost memory, consigned to my extensive Grimoire that detailed a long, happy relationship with a thoroughly innovative experience. Andy Hartup
Bloodborne
I’ve played Bloodborne (opens in new tab), I’ve completed Bloodborne, and I’ll wear that as a badge of honor till the day I die. Though it caused many a night of comfort eating and heart palpitations, Bloodborne got under my skin and enraptured me for months, despite my conscious self not even being sure whether I really liked it or not. If I’m honest, a small part of me still hates Bloodborne, and – with the main story completed – I never intend to go back. But I came to love and appreciate FromSoftware’s craft in the same way that I can admire the life and works of Radiohead, even though you’ll never catch me listening to them with anything other than baffled curiosity. Alex Avard
Nidhogg
I fancy myself to be a fighting game fan, so I was initially perplexed when the one-on-one fencing fighter Nidhogg (opens in new tab) simply didn’t gel with me. Here was a dueling simulator that casual and hardcore players alike were loving – yet I found the controls stiff, the visuals unsightly, and the screen-advancing mechanic frustrating. It wasn’t until I fell for Nidhogg 2 hard that I could appreciate the niceties of the original Nidhogg, with its tense standoffs, Hail Mary foil flings, gruesome humor, rough-edge aesthetic, and simple-yet-deep stance mechanics. Funnily enough, Nidhogg 2’s claymation-meets-Muppets art direction seems to turn a lot of folks off, so maybe I’m just a big ol’ contrarian. Lucas Sullivan
Stardew Valley
I was initially very anti-Stardew Valley (opens in new tab) because I’ve never liked anything that gamifies an existence you could have in real life. Games about mindless work, stuff like Animal Crossing, seem pointless to me; working a job to pay off a mortgage and save money for aspirational furniture to impress my friends is exactly the sort of thing I play games to escape. So initially Stardew seemed like the worst. Growing and tending vegetables? Hard pass. But the more people talked about it, the more I got curious and – almost as much to get involved as to actually play it – I dived in, and… loved it. Eventually. It took a little while, and the main reason is because it does more than just ‘work,’ with its dungeons, community centre and villager side missions. It’s a game where you happen to be a farmer, more than a game about farming, and in time it changed my mind. Leon Hurley
Got a game that managed to win you over? Let us know on Twitter. (opens in new tab)
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]]>The post Daily NewsRadar: FF15s Noctis gets punchy, Sega Genesis golden oldies come to console, and a surprising addition to Plants vs. Zombies 2 appeared first on Game News.
]]>Ever wanted to punch Noctis from Final Fantasy 15 in the face?
Or maybe you just want to watch him do some high-kicks in casual fishing attire? Either way, he’ll arrive in Tekken 7 – with a whole new wardrobe – on March 20.
Sega Genesis Classics brings your dad’s favorite games to your console
Enjoy the cutting edge of ’90s gaming with a new collection from Sega, featuring 50 golden oldies like Sonic the Hedgehog, Altered Beast, and Streets of Rage. It’s coming to PS4 and Xbox One on May 29, but Nintendo Switch owners have been brutally shunned.
Deadpool 2 adding more Cable and Domino
Apparently some people watch Deadpool for more than just Ryan Reynolds in spandex, because according to Collider, recent reshoots are focused on increasing the screen time for Zazie Beets as Domino (a walking weapon and mercenary) and Josh Brolin as time-hopping warrior Cable.
PVZ 2 gets PVP
Plants vs. Zombies 2 dropped in 2013, so either someone handed in their work really late, or EA decided five years later was the perfect time to add a competitive mode. Battlez pits you against another player, attempting to kill as many zombies as possible, as far away from your house as possible, to build a winning score.
Be part of a historical space program
If you haven’t checked out the misleadingly adorable Kerbal Space Program yet, the new Making History Expansion which launches today on PC is the perfect excuse. The game uses actual physics and aerodynamics to prove that you know nothing about building spacecraft, but then throws in cute aliens to make it all a bit less devastating.
Even more news:
Shadow of the Tomb Raider release date, platforms, and more revealed – but probably not on purpose
“I didn’t really know what I was working on” – How nine people at Rare created GoldenEye
Star Wars: The Last Jedi’s home release has a hidden cut – here’s how to watch it
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]]>The post Daily NewsRadar: An Assassins Creed curse, a giant Sea of Thieves cannon IRL and a 1986 version of Nintendo Switch appeared first on Game News.
]]>Sea of Thieves wants to impress you with a huge cannon
Tomorrow Xbox will fire an actual human man out of its Xbox Pirate Blaster, a 34-foot-long cannon, to try and remind you that pirate-packed Sea of Thieves (opens in new tab) will be released on March 20. You can watch David “The Bullet” Smith try and break a Guinness World Records title for the Greatest Distance Travelled as a Human Cannonball on Mixer starting at 1pm ET.
Assassin’s Creed Origins is back with new cursed DLC
Check out the launch trailer for the The Curse of the Pharaohs DLC, which looks very much like The Walking Dead circa 49 BC.
Mad scientist YouTuber gets a Switch working on a decades-old pocket TV
Playing your Switch on your new 4K TV is so 2017. All the cool kids are hacking their consoles to get them running on a black-and-white, CRT Sony Watchman Pocket Television from 1986. And when I say all the cool kids, I mean this one internet maverick.
The creators of Goat Simulator are back with Satisfactory
Coffee Stain Studios just teased a new game in the trailer below: Satisfactory. Though it doesn’t give much hint of how the game actually plays, it’s worth a watch for its adorable lizard, who deserves to be the new Lucas the Spider.
Westworld is getting a cartoony, facility-management mobile game
If you can’t bear the wait for Westworld season 2, this mobile game ought to tide you over. Gameplay-wise, it looks very similar to Fallout Shelter, just with more cowboys and cyborgs.
Even more news:
Watch Blizzard channel The Blair Witch Project for its latest Hearthstone expansion, The Witchwood
Fortnite: Battle Royale on iPhone and Android: How to sign up for testing right now
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