December 2019 – Page 26

The Witcher: Bringing the Epic Story to Life From Book to Screen

We’re rolling out sneak peeks for Netflix’s The Witcher all month long as part of our IGN First exclusive set visit. Keep it locked right here for never-before-seen interviews and behind the scenes footage of the White Wolf, Ciri, and Yennefer. For more Witcher be sure to check out our reviews for every Witcher episode, Henry Cavill discussing the common misconceptions about Geralt, Anya Chalotra breaking down Yennefer’s incredible transformation, Freya Allan on how Ciri fits into the Season 1 storyline, and our chat with David J. Peterson on how he created the “Elder Speech” language for the series.

James Cameron Thinks Avatar Will Wind Up Beating Endgame at the Box Office

It took a decade of interconnected movies and a re-release, but Avengers: Endgame managed to topple Avatar and become the highest-grossing movie of all time.

That victory won’t last for long, according to James Cameron, who, while talking to USA Today, predicted that Avatar will beat Endgame, restoring his franchise back at the top of the heap.

Was Rey’s Arc in Rise of Skywalker Part of JJ Abrams’ Plan All Along?

J.J. Abrams has opened up about the process of developing Rey’s character in the sequel trilogy, explaining that he had a long term plan for her, but that the details were more “shapes in the fog” rather than an elaborate roadmap. He also admits that parts of her planned story arc had to be adjusted as the saga continued to expand.

In an interview with IGN, the director of The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker discussed the completion of Rey’s arc in Episode IX, explaining how he carried ideas forward from his original plan established during The Force Awakens, even though ultimately they were only “building blocks” to manage plot points.

The Best Reviewed Nintendo Switch & 3DS Games In 2019

The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors. GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.

2019’s Best Switch And 3DS Games, According To GameSpot Reviews

The Nintendo Switch has been going strong since its launch in 2017, while the 3DS is heading off into the sunset with grace. Both systems did have some great games this year, so whether you’re still holding onto your 3DS or you’re only looking for Switch games, we’ve got you covered.

Below you can find a list of every Nintendo Switch game that scored an 8 or above on GameSpot’s review scale in 2019. For your reference, an 8 is a “great” game on our scale, while a 9 is “superb” and a 10 is “essential.” Because the Switch in particular gets quite a few ports, we’ve included ports of older games that came to Switch this year.

This list includes both first-party exclusives and games that are available on multiple platforms. This was a fantastic year for Switch exclusives in particular, with Pokemon Sword and Shield, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and Luigi’s Mansion 3 among the standouts.

If you’re interested in what we’ve highlighted in our annual Best Of awards, be sure to jump over to our Best Games of 2019 hub. And while you’re there, keep your eyes peeled for our most anticipated games coming in 2020.

The Best Reviewed PC Games In 2019

The products discussed here were independently chosen by our editors. GameSpot may get a share of the revenue if you buy anything featured on our site.

2019’s Best PC Games, According To GameSpot Reviews

An overwhelming number of video games come out on PC every year across a variety of platforms, like Steam and the Epic Games Store. If you’re looking for more games to play on your PC, look no further–we review quite a few games each year, and we can help narrow down your to-play list.

Below you can find a list of every PC game that scored an 8 or above on GameSpot’s review scale in 2019. In simple terms, an 8 is a “great” game on our scale, while a 9 is “superb” and a 10 is “essential.” This year, we only gave out one 10/10 score, and that’s to PC exclusive Disco Elysium.

This list includes both PC exclusives and games that are available on multiple platforms. Regardless, these games come recommended for PC, so you’ll find something that interests you here so long as you have a PC to play it on.

IGN’s Best Movie Ensemble of 2019

The Witcher Episode 7: ‘Before a Fall’ Review

Star Wars: Rey and Kylo Ren’s Force Connection Explained

Warning: this article contains major spoilers for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker!

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker adds new layers to the Force and the never-ending war between the Jedi and Sith. During the movie we learn that Rey and Kylo Ren are two halves of a Force Dyad, a phenomenon meant to explain the close bond they’ve shared over the course of the sequel trilogy.

The concept of a Force Dyad is new to the franchise, but it’s certainly one that builds on what we’ve previously seen with these two characters. Read on to learn more about what a Force Dyad actually is and why Rey and Ben are so different from the Jedi and Sith who have come before.

How The Witcher’s Season 1 Finale Sets Up Season 2

Warning! Full spoilers for Season 1 of Netflix’s The Witcher follow. This article also mentions some storylines from The Witcher novels. To learn more about the proper reading order for Andrzej Sapkowski’s Witcher books, click here.

Season 1 of The Witcher ends with a heartwarming embrace between Ciri (Freya Allan) and Geralt (Henry Cavill), as the two weary travelers fulfill their destinies. On the battlefield, Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) finally lets her chaos explode in order to defeat the Nilfgaardian army, but does it end up costing the powerful sorceress her life? This particular storyline comes from one of Andrzej Sapkowski’s short stories, titled “Something More,” which does mention the Battle of Sodden Hill that Yennefer participates in. And while there are a few differences from book to screen, the main narrative is pretty close to how Sapkowski tells it. But what does the Season 1 finale reveal about where Season 2’s story is likely headed, and what’s the deal with Geralt’s vision of his childhood and the mysterious woman named Visenna?