The next generation of consoles is pushing hardware power further and faster, but the gulf of noticeable graphical and technical upgrades between generations is shrinking. Microsoft, for example, is consciously blurring the line by promising cross-generation support going forward with the launch of Xbox Series X. That makes quality-of-life features more valuable than ever, including at least one that’s more significant than it may seem: multi-game suspension.
The feature has largely flown under the radar, part of the suite of new features casually announced when Microsoft first revealed its next-gen plans. It was announced alongside other ambitious plans and quality-of-life features for new hardware, like an SSD to support faster load times and a new version of its standard wireless controller.
Sony has not detailed specific plans for multi-game suspension, but it stands to reason that the feature could be included into the PlayStation 5. The company has already talked about a similar feature, reportedly to be called Activities, that will let you jump into individual game modes straight from the console dashboard without needing to load into a game’s standard menu. It’s conceivable that both console manufacturers could borrow these ideas from each other.
These types of features more broadly could have a huge impact on how we interact with games, and what we expect from our console interfaces well into the future. These minor improvements that reduce friction in your everyday life end up becoming normalized, taken for granted, and then missed if they’re ever gone. In five years, it may seem frustrating or even unacceptable not to be able to swap between multiple games on-the-fly or jump straight into a multiplayer match without hassling with a game bootup.
Imagine, for example, you’re in the middle of a narrative single-player game mission. A friend messages you looking for a fourth for a battle royale quad, but she only has time for a single match. Rather than leave your friend hanging as you finish the mission or lose your mid-mission progress, you simply accept the invite, play a match, and hop right back in where you left off. Or you could play several single-player experiences back-to-back, jumping between them like novels with bookmarks.
The feature may also be a boon to game demos and subscription services like Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Now. Sometimes the frequency and volume of updates to these services make it difficult to sample everything of interest. Being able to keep your place in a game while quickly sampling a bunch of new offerings can help encourage trying more new games and create more discoverability on the platforms.
Before long, the seemingly small features we never knew we wanted could feel like ones that we can’t live without.
Whatever one may think of Apple devices, Apple’s marketing brilliance has been based around simplicity. In the aughts, the company rocketed to unprecedented financial success by pitching its interfaces as simple, intuitive, and user-friendly. Some features we now take for granted were introduced this way, instilling a sudden sense of “why didn’t anyone think of this before?” clarity. As consoles increasingly gain value in the mainstream market, it makes sense that companies would begin to focus less on pushing polygons and more on this simplicity-focused approach. Creating a device that works the way you wish it would is significant, even if those changes solve the problems you didn’t realize you had.
The coming generation looks to be an evolutionary step for console gaming. Its visual upgrades are bound to be impressive but may not signify the evolutionary leap we’ve come to expect from previous transitions. That means the generation could be much more defined by expansive online services and quality-of-life improvements. Before long, the seemingly small features we never knew we wanted could feel like ones that we can’t live without.
Click To Unmute
Size:
Want us to remember this setting for all your devices?
It may have taken three decades, but the third installment in the Bill & Ted franchise is here. Bill & Ted Face the Music has arrived in select theaters and on digital release for you to enjoy, whether you watch it on its own or watch it along with Excellent Adventure and Bogus Journey for the greatest triple feature of all time.
Bill & Ted Face the Music picks up years after 1991’s Bogus Journey, finding Bill and Ted middle-aged and not the wildly successful rock stars they expected to be. They do, however, wind up adventuring across time once again in an attempt to save reality from tearing itself apart. How does it end, though? And should you stick around after the credits? Keep reading to find out.
Warning: The following contains major spoilers for the end of Bill and Ted Face the Music. You’re going to want to watch this one, so go away until you’ve done that, then come back here so we can dig into that ending.
At the climax of the film, Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) realize they aren’t the Preston and Logan that are meant to create the song that will save all of time and space. It’s actually their daughters that save the day–Bill and Ted are ultimately there to be a part of their band.
So, with Bill and Ted on guitars, the daughters–Billie (Brigette Lundy-Paine) and Thea (Samara Weaving)–gather Jimmy Hendrix, Mozart, Louis Armstrong, Kid Cudi, and a host of other major names from throughout music history to create the song “Face the Music.” Death (William Sadler) is also in the band, once again joining Wyld Stallyns as bass player. Together, they all save the day and restore balance to the space-time continuum. There was no way for this to do other than with a happy ending, obviously.
That’s the end of the film, but it’s not the last we see of Bill and Ted. After the credits, viewers are taken back to the distant future, in which an elderly Bill and Ted rock out one last time in their retirement home. All those years later, they still have it.
Bill & Ted Face the Music is out on digital release and in select theaters now. Make sure to check out our Easter egg guide for anything you might have missed.
Click To Unmute
Size:
Want us to remember this setting for all your devices?
We did it! We made it to the release of Bill & Ted Face the Music, at long last. The film, which reunited Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter as their iconic characters for the first time in nearly three decades, is available in select theaters and on digital release as of now.
If you’re a fan of the franchise, chances are you’ve already watched the movie at least once. Did you catch all of the Easter eggs and references sprinkled throughout the film, though? If you didn’t, that’s quite alright. GameSpot has you covered. After watching Face the Music multiple times, we’ve uncovered 45 different things you should keep an eye out for in the new film.
It’s been 29 years since Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey, so beginning things with a recap was a good call.
]]>
]]>
2. It hasn’t gone well
The recap also shows how things have gone for the Wyld Stallyns since the last film. The band hasn’t done well, they haven’t saved the world, and Bill and Ted have become a joke. How the most excellent have fallen.
]]>
]]>
3. The last supper
Early on in the film, viewers earn that the fabric of time is being ripped apart and we’re shown quick shots of a variety of historic moments–from Babe Ruth playing baseball to the last supper of Jesus Christ.
]]>
]]>
4. They’re back
All these years later, through thick and thin, Bill and Ted are still at each other’s side.
]]>
]]>
5. Missy, I mean mom
First, she married Bill’s dad in Excellent Adventure, then Ted’s in Bogus Journey. Now, in Face the Music, Missy has found a new love of her life–Ted’s little brother Deacon.
]]>
]]>
6. Deacon’s all grown up
That’s right, Deacon is back in Face the Music and he’s all grown up. He’s also played by a new actor. In Excellent Adventure, he was played by Frazier Bane. In Face the Music, Saturday Night Live’s Beck Bennett takes over the role.
Bane has gone on to produce a number of reality TV shows, including Last Comic Standing and Pawnography.
]]>
]]>
7. The princesses
The princesses Bill and Ted married are also back, though much like with Deacon they are played by new actresses. Jayma Mays (Joanna) and Erinn Hayes (Elizabeth) feature heavily in the movie. That’s not new to the series, though. In Excellent Adventure, Diane Franklin and Kimberley LaBella played Joanna and Elizabeth, respectively. In Bogus Journey, they were replaced by Sarah Trigger and Annette Azcuy.
]]>
]]>
8. Ted’s dad still looks angry
If we’ve earned anything from the movies that game before, Ted’s dad John Logan (Hal Landon Jr.) does not think highly of his son or Bill. Some things never change.
]]>
]]>
9. The Wyld Stallyns have not aged well
In their attempt to find a song to unite the world, Bill and Ted have strayed far from their rock and roll roots. This is nothing like Those Who Rock. Instead, it’s just a lot of throat-singing and theremin.
]]>
]]>
10. Little Bill & Ted
Viewers were first introduced to Little Bill and Ted in Bogus Journey. Now, we meet them all grown up. Billie (Brigette Lundy-Paine) and Thea (Samara Weaving) are a lot like their dads.
]]>
]]>
11. Rufus’s daughter
Kristen Schall plays Kelly, the daughter of Rufus (George Carlin). The naming of the character is a nod to Carlin’s real-life daughter.
]]>
]]>
12. The future
The future looks a lot more high tech in Face the Music. The CGI put to use in crafting it makes it look far brighter, even though circumstances are more dire.
]]>
]]>
13. The phone booth
Now here’s a true relic of the past. When Excellent Adventure and Bogus Journey were released, phone booths were still a fairly normal thing to see. Now, though, that’s definitely changed. Still, seeing Bill and Ted come across their old time machine is a special moment.
]]>
]]>
14. Rufus returns
It was previously revealed that Rufus would appear in the new film, and it’s hard to argue that this is the perfect way to do it. With just a bit of repurposed footage, Face the Music was able to craft a truly emotional moment.
]]>
]]>
15. Be excellent to each other
It turns out that Bill and Ted’s life motto of “Be excellent to each other and party on” doesn’t carry as much weight now as it did three decades ago.
]]>
]]>
16. A more reliable watch
In the first film, Ted had a wind-up watch that he has to be reminded to keep winding. Thankfully, they were given Rufus’s watch for this new adventure, which doesn’t need that kind of attention.
]]>
]]>
17. Circuits of time phone book
That phone book sure looks familiar. It’s the only way to travel through time.
]]>
]]>
18. Air guitar
Bill and Ted’s signature air guitar was sorely missed. It only happens a couple of times in Face the Music, but they still do it even when middle-aged.
]]>
]]>
19. Sad future Bill and Ted
The first of a few future versions of Bill and Ted we meet in the film. These two are mostly washed-up rock stars who play open mic nights and definitely live in their van.
]]>
]]>
20. Ted’s drinking problem
This is also the first hint we get that Ted might have a drinking problem, as he seems pretty attached to that flask.
]]>
]]>
21. Excellent Adventure 2.0
In an effort to help their dads, Billie and Thea set off on a journey through history, much like Bill and Ted did in Excellent Adventure.
]]>
]]>
22. The weirdest therapy session ever
Time travel. Princesses. The end of space and time as we know it. Bill, Ted, Joanna, and Elizabeth sure do unload some heavy exposition on their couples’ therapist.
]]>
]]>
23. Ridiculous rock star Bill and Ted
So many future versions of Bil and Ted are just awful, including these over-the-top rock stars with bad British accents. Of course, we learn this is all part of a con they’re pulling.
]]>
]]>
24. Hey, Dave Grohl
That leads to a cameo by Dave Grohl. It seems Bill and Ted are squatting in his house while he’s out of town, just to convince their past selves they figured out the song to save reality. Instead, they just stole it from Grohl.
]]>
]]>
25. No, seriously, we gotta talk about Ted’s drinking
And, naturally, Ted’s drinking had only gotten worse. He’s graduated from a flask to simply chugging from a bottle of vodka.
]]>
]]>
26. The return of Death
In his first appearance in Face the Music, we see Death watching Ted’s dad as he plummets to hell.
]]>
]]>
27. Jimi Hendrix
Where else would Billie and Thea’s first stop be to enlist a band member than one of the greatest guitarists to ever live?
]]>
]]>
28. Louis Armstrong
Next on their checklist is Louis Armstrong, who quickly becomes a fan of both Hendrix and smartphones.
]]>
]]>
29. Mozart
Bill and Ted had Beethoven, Billie and Thea enlisted Mozart.
]]>
]]>
30. Muscular prisoner Bill and Ted
The next version of future Bill and Ted is downright silly. Now in prison after being arrested for breaking into Dave Grohl’s house, Bill and Ted are giant, muscled, and tattooed. Watching the duo come face-to-face with this version of themselves is incredibly entertaining.
]]>
]]>
31. Ling Lun
In Chinese mythology, Ling Lun is described as the founder of music in the country. According to said mythology, Ling Lun was a man and believed to have created bamboo flutes. In the film, Ling Lun is a woman played by Sharon Gee.
]]>
]]>
32. Greatest drummer of all time
While we couldn’t find any information about a prehistoric drummer named Grom, the character is played by acclaimed drummer Patty Anne Miller, who was in Beyonce’s band during her Super Bowl performance.
]]>
]]>
33. Super old Bill and Ted
Finally, a version of future Bill and Ted that doesn’t totally suck. A very old and incredibly peaceful Bill and Ted not only present the boys with the song that will save reality–it’s called “Face the Music”–they also have heart-to-hearts with their younger selves.
]]>
]]>
34. Death competing against himself
It’s a nice nod to Bogus Journey that all these years later, Death is still playing games–and cheating at them–even when he’s playing against himself.
]]>
]]>
35. The crumbling of the Wyld Stallyns
Bill and Ted reuniting with Death also shed light on what happened when the Stallyns fell apart. Death left the band and tried to claim Wyld Stallyns name for himself, which led to a lawsuit between the two sides. We learn that Death went solo after leaving the band, though the world wasn’t too keen on a bass guitar-only act.
]]>
]]>
36. The 210 freeway
Yes, the 210 freeway is real and it goes right through San Dimas. However, it’s not the multi-leveled massive highway that’s seen in the movie.
]]>
]]>
37. The real Peston and Logan
Who knew that all along it wasn’t Bill and Ted that would save the universe–it was their kids?
]]>
]]>
38. Circle K lives
Unfortunately, Bill and Ted don’t have a chance to hang out at Circle K in Face the Music. However, there is a billboard
]]>
]]>
39. Mozart vs. Beethoven
In what is clearly a nod to Beethoven’s discovery of keyboards in Excellent Adventure, Mozart is a bit more shocked by the sounds he hears the first time he strikes a key. Beethoven was immediately at home, while Mozart seems startled.
]]>
]]>
40. Station
Unfortunately, we don’t see Station the alien in the movie. However, Kid Cudi pays tribute to the fuzzy creature that splits into twins when addressing Bill and Ted.
]]>
]]>
41. 69, dudes
Of course, the time circuit code for infinity begins with 69–Bill and Ted’s favorite number. It’s worth noting, though, the numbers on the page don’t match.
]]>
]]>
42. The Wyld Stallyns ride again
At long last, Preston and Logan found their song and saved all of reality–and the newest Wyld Stallyns lineup rocked the universe, complete with Bill, Ted, and the princesses.
]]>
]]>
43. Wait, that’s Weird Al
The end credits feature tons of Bill and Ted fans pretending to play music and rocking out. Among them is “Weird Al” Yankovic, jamming on his accordion.
]]>
]]>
44. And Guillermo, because why not
Another notable face is Jimmy Kimmel Live’s Guillermo, playing air guitar.
]]>
]]>
45. The end
There is no more fitting end than to see Bill and Ted still rocking, even as old men. Given that the franchise’s co-writers told GameSpot this is the end of Bill and Ted’s story, this is quite possibly the last time we’ll see them.
]]>
Disclosure: ViacomCBS is GameSpot’s parent company
A new trailer for Cris Tales debuted during Future Games Show. It provided a fresh look at the upcoming stylish RPG. You can watch it, below.
In Cris Tales, you take control of the titular Crisbell (unless the title is actually in reference to her ally, Cristopher–yup, there’s more than one Cris), a young orphan who becomes a time mage. Each time mage can affect time in a unique way–in Crisbell’s case, she can see the world in the past, present, and future all at the same time. Using this knowledge, she can change the flow of time and influence the course of events.
For example, early-on in the game, Crisbell sees that in the future, two shops in town will fall on hard times after their respective store fronts mysteriously collapse. The means of preventing their collapse can only be achieved by mixing a potion from a rare fruit.
After planting the seed in the present, one of Crisbell’s allies–a talking frog named Matias with powers of his own–can skip to her vision of the future where the plant is fully grown and then take the fruit back to Crisbell’s time. You only get enough to make one potion though, forcing you to choose which store to save, ultimately only changing the future for one of the store owners.
Cris Tales implements this mechanic in combat too, allowing Crisbell to affect enemies in different ways depending on which time period she fights them in. Fighting a strong soldier in the future is far easier when he’s a weak and old man, for example, and sending someone to the past, drenching their shield in water, and then quickly returning them to the present will result in their defense rusting away.
Cris Tales is scheduled to release for Xbox One, PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Google Stadia on November 17.
The death of actor Chadwick Boseman from cancer has shocked not just the film industry but the entire world. Boseman was a man and an artist in the prime of his life and career, the star of one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most significant films and biggest creative and commercial successes … and now he’s gone.
Those who worked with Boseman, including the community of the MCU, have been sharing their condolences and thoughts on his death on social media. They hail an actor and filmmaker with so much more left to contribute and a passionate advocate for social causes.
Marvel Studios saluted Boseman, promising: “Your legacy will live on forever.”
Our hearts are broken and our thoughts are with Chadwick Boseman’s family. Your legacy will live on forever. Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/DyibBLoBxz
The extended Marvel Studios community have been sharing their tributes to Boseman on social media, including War Machine actor Don Cheadle, Captain Marvel’s Brie Larson, Shang-Chi star Simu Liu, Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson, future Captain Marvel 2 director Nia DaCosta, and Deadpool’s Ryan Reynolds:
Chadwick Boseman, the star of Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has died at the age of 43.
Boseman’s family confirmed his death, first reported by AP, with a message:
“It is with immeasurable grief that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman. Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and battled with it these last 4 years as it progressed to stage IV.
“A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much. From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and several more, all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy.
“It was the honor of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther.
“He died in his home, with his wife and family by his side.
“The family thanks you for your love and prayers, and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.
As mentioned in the note by Boseman’s family, the actor had starred in a number of productions throughout his life, playing real-life figures Jackie Robinson in 42, James Brown in Get on Up, and Thurgood Marshall in Marshall.
He is perhaps most well-known for his role as T’Challa/Black Panther, a role he took on in Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame, and would have again in the upcoming Black Panther 2, which was previously planned for a 2022 release. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, based on the play by August Wilson, has yet to be released.
Chadwick Boseman, the actor best known for his starring role in Black Panther, has passed away at 43. He had been fighting a four-year battle with colon cancer.
The news was reported by the AP and then confirmed on Boseman’s Twitter account, which states that he was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016. Over the last four years, it progressed to stage IV.
“A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much. From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and several more, all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy.
“It was the honor of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther.”
The tweet goes on to say he died at home with his wife and family.
Boseman is best known for his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, having debuted as T’Challa in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War. But his credits extend back to the early 2000s, with roles on shows like Law & Order, Third Watch, and CSI: NY. In 2013, he starred as Jackie Robinson in 42, a well-received biopic about the life of the first African American player in Major League Baseball.
His appearance in Civil War paved the way for 2018’s Black Panther, the first Marvel Studios film centered around a Black star. He has since appeared in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, and Black Panther 2 was slated to release in May 2022 as part of MCU’s Phase 4. The yet-to-be-released Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, a Netflix drama based on the play, may now be his final acting role.
In reaction to the news, co-stars and admirers have been sharing their reactions and memorials on Twitter. These include Marvel co-stars Don Cheadle and Brie Larson, Black Panther comic writer Evan Narcisse, and Joe Biden, among many others.
Hard to hear about this. Rest in love, brother. Thank you for shining your light and sharing your talent with the world. My love and strength to your family. https://t.co/hNAWav7Cq8
The true power of @ChadwickBoseman was bigger than anything we saw on screen. From the Black Panther to Jackie Robinson, he inspired generations and showed them they can be anything they want — even super heroes. Jill and I are praying for his loved ones at this difficult time.
Madden NFL 21 is a tale of two games, really. It introduces The Yard, the best new Madden game mode in more than a decade, situating itself nicely alongside the breezy and fun Superstar KO mode that arrived last year. But outside of these exciting inclusions that are well-suited for short sessions, Madden NFL 21 feels all too familiar, even for an annual sports sim. The tentpole modes that require a deep investment haven’t received meaningful updates, and the on-the-field gameplay doesn’t do much to move the series forward and is hampered by surprising technical issues.
EA Sports has done well as of late with recognizing that not every player wants to sink a dizzying number of hours into Franchise or Ultimate Team. With Madden NFL 20, EA added Superstar KO, a sudden death overtime mode where each player gets one possession. It returns in Madden NFL 21 largely unchanged, retaining its excellent high-stakes matches. With Madden NFL 21, EA has added a second casual game mode that is even better than Superstar KO.
The Yard is easily the most over-the-top game mode to ever appear in Madden. Inspired by backyard football, teams of six compete on an 80-yard field, getting three possessions each to try and score. You can play against the computer, team up with one or two friends, or see how you stack up online against other players. While it doesn’t feature NFL Blitz-esque hits, you can get really imaginative with the stripped-down playbooks. You’re allowed to throw unlimited forward passes behind the line of scrimmage, and many of the plays are set up to encourage this. Adding to this mechanic is the ability to snap the ball to any of your teammates. The Yard hinges on extravagant plays, as it requires you to move the ball 20 yards for a first down. Due to the limited number of blockers, there’s a delay before the defense can pass the line of scrimmage.
Where things really get interesting is the scoring system. After scoring a touchdown, you can choose to go for one-, two-, or three-point conversions, which require you to score from different yard lines. There’s a risk-reward element in play here, as you can lose by a decent margin even if you score three touchdowns. Bonus points are rewarded for passing the ball multiple times on a scoring play. The basic setup and chaotic variables in play create some of the most thrilling Madden moments I’ve ever experienced, and games typically only last around 20 minutes or less. It’s both brief and delightful, making it the antithesis of Madden’s long-running Ultimate Team mode.
Unfortunately, Madden NFL 21 begins to show its blemishes in the familiar modes. Franchise, once again, hasn’t received any noticeable improvements. It still gives you the opportunity to manage every aspect of your team over the course of many NFL seasons, but it’s essentially the same loop that’s been in place for the past few years, giving little reason to upgrade if you primarily play Franchise. This is particularly disappointing because The Yard and Superstar KO show that it’s possible to rework the best aspects of Madden to create an experience that’s fresh and exciting again.
Face of the Franchise: Rise to Fame, the single-player story mode, is the worst part of the package by far. EA Sports hit its stride with Madden NFL 18’s Longshot, thanks to a surprisingly moving cinematic story. Since then, the story mode has been altered significantly to give players more time on the sticks and less time watching cutscenes. This year’s iteration of Face of the Franchise attempts to reintroduce more narrative after last year’s lackluster Face of the Franchise: QB1.
It doesn’t work–at all. Rise to Fame is set up as flashbacks told to a reporter back at the high school where your legendary journey began. Of course, there’s a stereotypical brash starting QB named Tommy who gives you a hard time. Quickly, it’s revealed that the starter has a health condition that he’s been hiding, which thrusts you into the limelight in the second half of a game.
After playing a few games in high school, you pick to play at one of 10 NCAA programs, and your rival-turned-wide-receiver joins you. It flashes forward to your junior year when you’re told by the coach that you’ll split time as quarterback with your frenemy–yes, he wants to play QB again–in the upcoming season. The problem here is that your play on the field really doesn’t matter at all. Despite winning in blowout fashion in the two collegiate games I started, all of the cutscenes mentioned how the team was struggling. Even after winning the College Football Playoff semifinal in dominant fashion, I was benched in the first half of the National Title game for Tommy. The story only gets more ridiculous from there, but quickly leads you to the NFL, where it starts to play out more in the fashion of the traditional Franchise mode.
It’s nice that Madden has continued its focus on narrative modes that mirror offerings in NBA 2K and MLB The Show, but Rise to Fame entirely misses the mark. Unless you really want to guide a player with your name to the Hall of Fame, it’s not worth checking out–you’re far better off jumping straight into the normal Franchise mode. Groan-inducing writing, stiff animations, and a disjointed story arc make Rise to Fame every bit as lackluster as last year. Since there’s more of it here, it’s actually even more disenchanting.
The card-collecting Ultimate Team mode doesn’t fare any better than Franchise when it comes to new features. At this point, EA has added so many superfluous details that half the time it feels like you’re playing a tedious management sim rather than a football game. It also doesn’t help that Ultimate Team remains steadfastly committed to microtransactions, which puts players who don’t feel like spending money on digital cards at a disadvantage.
Though Ultimate Team has a long list of solo challenges that introduce you to the basics, they’re all relatively bland. Rather than emphasizing the mostly solid on-the-field simulation gameplay, Ultimate Team demands that you spend an inordinate amount of time in the menus micromanaging a growing collection of players with attributes that are often quite lower than reality. To get them closer to their real-life counterparts, you have to sink a dizzying number of hours into the mode, much of it spent completing mundane tasks and playing online against those who sometimes buy their way to a good team.
While there’s much to do in Ultimate Team whether you play solo against the CPU or online, nothing here moves MUT in a positive direction. Assembling and modifying your team is a monotonous task that forces you to examine a slew of different attributes in addition to a player’s overall rating to compose the best team possible. It’s certainly deep and filled with customization, but now more than ever, the dullness of it all is much more apparent.
Despite its shortcomings in the most prominent game modes, Madden NFL 21 still offers better on-the-field gameplay than in previous years–most of the time. The biggest change I noticed came with run defense. Last year, the run game was far too challenging to stop, but this time CPU defenders smartly fill gaps and notice ball carriers more often while engaged with offensive linemen. Tackling in the open field also received noticeable improvements, including new animations and fewer (unrealistic) broken tackles.
On the offensive side of the ball, the main improvement comes with your evasive moves, which can now be utilized with the right stick. Making cuts in the open field to evade defenders feels far more intuitive than before. Two new moves, a side hurdle and dead leg, add to the number of ways you can make the defender miss. Since hesitation running is big in football, it’s nice to see the dead leg added. Directional hurdles–called jurdles–let you jump left and right rather than just forward, which comes in handy when you’re running along the sidelines. All told, ball carrier moves are more dynamic, giving you new ways to catch defenders off guard.
Quarterback play is a tad more in-step with the real thing, as there’s more nuance to throws made with defenders breathing down your neck. While QBs can now hasten their release, the accuracy of passes when under pressure can vary wildly depending on the player. This also means that attempting throws with a backup QB in the same fashion as you would with, say, Patrick Mahomes can lead to some big misses. And new Superstar and X-Factor abilities further emphasize the disparity between the stars and role players, including numerous new receiver abilities that give those with hot hands high-percentage opportunities to nab anything thrown in their direction.
When Madden NFL 21 is running without a hitch, the football gameplay is quite good, even if it’s only incrementally better than last year. Sadly, in its current state, Madden NFL 21 has some real issues, especially in regard to kicking. On more than half of my kickoffs, field goals, and punts, there was some fairly extreme lag with the kicking meter, which led to laughably errant kicks. More than usual, receivers simply do not turn back to look at the ball at all, even when it hits them directly in the back of the head.
There are also bigger-picture issues with the overall experience. Sometimes the field didn’t fully render, forcing me to quit and reload. Other times the game got stuck in a loading loop after finishing a contest. Lagging animations aren’t super common, but I encountered one or two every few games. While I assume these issues will get patched with the planned day-one update, they add up to create an inconsistent and sometimes frustrating experience.
As the PS5 and Xbox Series X loom–PS4 and Xbox One editions come with free upgrades to next-gen–Madden has reached a crossroads. One side of the road is freshly paved and inspired thanks to the shenanigans featured in The Yard, while the other is beaten down and filled with potholes. With far more technical issues than normal and large chunks of recycled content, Madden NFL 21 feels more like an update than a brand-new game.
Click To Unmute
Size:
Want us to remember this setting for all your devices?
Season 4 of Fortnite: Chapter 2 is officially here, and as usual, a lot has changed in the battle royale shooter. This season is themed around Marvel, and a ton of superheroes, from Thor to Iron Man and more, have made their debut in the game to stop an impending invasion by Galactus.
While the arrival of Marvel’s superheroes is the most prominent change in Fortnite, that’s not the only thing that’s different this season. In the video above, we break down the six biggest changes in Season 4. Be sure to give it a watch before you jump in and join the fight against Galactus.
Of course, a new season also means new challenges, and this time you can unlock some exclusive Marvel cosmetics as you level up your battle pass. Check out our Fortnite Season 4 challenges roundup as the season rolls on for our latest maps and challenge guides.
Disney’s The New Mutants is finally hitting theaters this weekend, albeit after heftydelays. This is director Josh Boone’s first foray into superhero movies, and the movie has taken some weird turns to finally make it into theaters, but the most surprising thing about it might be the role one recognizable x-men character would have played, according to a new report from Vulture.
Citing various unnamed sources, that report says that the initial 2015 screenplay drafts written by Boone and collaborator Knate Lee failed to deliver the kind of vividly drawn teen drama the filmmaker had pitched to the studio. Boone had said he was drawing inspiration from 80s teen classics like The Breakfast Club, but nothing was clicking.
One of the biggest changes though was the treatment of Storm, a classic character and on-again off-again leader of the X-Men. In New Mutants, Storm was envisioned more as a “sadistic jailer” who enjoyed torturing the kids.
“It felt like the kids were being tortured. If the X-Men are holding [the young mutants] there, it can’t feel different from the mental furniture that audiences bring into the theater knowing that the X-Men are good guys. Storm like that made no sense.”
The past few X-entries have been less than stellar to both fans and critics. Last summer’s Dark Phoenix was considered joyless and abysmal, and had a calculated loss of about $133 million, when factoring expenses and revenues. Apocalypse, while a financial blockbuster, failed to hit with critics and has a 47% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Boone has yet to confirm or deny the radical change. It’s far from the first time something like this has happened in the X-Men franchise however. Both Deadpool and the Blob had completely different origins and mannerisms from Wolverine: Origins, Angel in Apocalypse was a cage fighter, and of course the whole timeline with Havoc.
In our review for The New Mutants we say “it’s not the worst entry into the X-Men franchise you’ve ever seen, but it’s not likely to be a very memorable one, either.” You can read the full review here.
