It’s Monday, which is the start of the week for a lot of people, and usually the most drag-day of all. It can be tricky to adjust from the devil-may-care weekend to the responsibility of the week. Thankfully you can avoid this slump next time around with these energy drink deals happening at Amazon for today’s Deal of the Day.
Rockstar and Mountain Dew Energy Drink Deals
Lots of flavors of Rockstar Energy and Mountain Dew Game Fuel are on sale today, including sugar-free offerings if you’re on Keto or whatever. I don’t really know much about carb-free living, if I’m being honest. I’m sorry.
I do know the Game Fuel is pretty good, as I’ve consumed several flavors. Of the major flavors, my favorite is the red one, Charged Cherry Burst. I don’t think I dislike any of them, actually, but the Cherry definitely rises above the rest.
As for the Rockstar flavors, I can’t speak to those. I don’t really like Rockstar energy drink, but I know a lot of people do and there are quite a few varieties to choose from, so go wild. Just don’t drink more than one a day, that’s not healthy. OK, sure, even one a day isn’t “healthy,” but what can you do? Treat yourself, I say. Just do so responsibly.
The sale prices on these hyper-charged sugar waters are good for today only, as they’re part of Amazon’s deal of the day. There’s a little countdown timer on the item pages, to drive home that sense of urgency. If you want to save, today’s the day. Go wild.
Seth Macy is Executive Editor, IGN Commerce, and just wants to be your friend.
A new promotional image for the upcoming DC movie The Flash has been revealed by director Andy Muschietti. The movie stars Ezra Miller as Barry Allen, and it’s set for release on November 4, 2022.
The image continues the theme of previous images that Muschietti has posted on Instagram, in that it’s a close-up of a logo on a superhero costume. While earlier logos showed either the Flash or Batman’s logos, this one combines the two, with the iconic bat symbol set into the Flash’s suit, and the latter’s lightning bolt placed on top. Check it out below:
Batman plays a big part in The Flash, and we’re set to get two versions of the character from previous DC movies. Ben Affleck–the most recent Bruce Wayne–will be joined by Michael Keaton, who played the character in the two classic Tim Burton movies from the late ’80s and early ’90s. The movie will reportedly be influenced by the classic Flashpoint storyline from DC comic books, in which Barry enters alternate timelines.
The Flash also stars Sasha Calle as Supergirl, Kiersey Clemons as Iris West, Maribel Verdú as Nora Allen, and Ron Livingston as Henry Allen. The movie has taken a long time to reach production–it was stuck in development for years and went through a revolving door of directors, including Seth Grahame-Smith, Rick Famuyiwa, and John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein.
In a recent interview with Collider, Keaton spoke about returning to the character after so many years. “Without giving anything away–because I can’t–the first introduction is so good,” he said. “When we walked on and started talking about a couple of shots and angles, I went, ‘Whoa, this is big. This is great.’ I don’t mean for me, I mean the imagery is really great and reminiscent, to some degree, of Tim Burton.”
Ahead of its September 21 launch, Kena: Bridge of Spirits developer Ember Labs has announced that the game will feature a photo mode.
Revealed in an article on the PlayStation Blog, Kena: Bridge of Spirits’ photo mode will include one or two functions not typical of the more ‘standard’ versions of the feature seen in many games.
Instead of simply stopping time to allow players to take a quick freeze-frame of the action, Bridge of Spirits grants players the option to bring its characters to life as they look to set up the perfect snap. While moving the camera in photo mode, Kena and the game’s other characters will keep their attention on you; readjusting their positions to cater for more personality-fueled intimate shots.
In addition, the photo mode also comes with its own “Cheese” function. Once you’ve pinned down your angle and you’re ready to add another shot to the album, selecting the function will cause the characters in the photo to say “CHEESE” and strike a pose. According to Ember Labs, many characters in the game come with multiple poses, meaning that you can take various shots at any location within the game without it feeling repetitive and unmemorable.
Ember Labs producer, Thomas Varga, spoke a little further about why the team wanted to flesh out their photo mode for Kena: Bridge of Spirits. “Developing photo mode and the Cheese function were exciting animation opportunities for us,” he said in the PlayStation Blog post. “Not only does this function introduce another entertaining element for players, it also allowed us to showcase character personalities as we developed each unique pose.”
For more, make sure to check out our Kena: Bridge of Spirits preview, which looks at how the game looks to weave together features of different PlayStation hits like God of War and Horizon Zero Dawn to create an intriguing blend of Pixar-style animated combat and exploration.
Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.
the Pokémon Company announced Pokemon Trading Card Game Live for iOS, Android, PC, and Mac. This new app is a free-to-play experience in a digital format and players can battle trainers all across the world.
The game will use the official Pokémon Trading Card game rules, and players can pick up wherever they left off on any supported device whether it’d be mobile or desktop. There will be a variety of different gameplay modes, including ranked and casual play, as well as online matchmaking.
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Upon starting the game, players will receive eight playable decks at no extra cost, as well as a beginner’s starter deck. Players can also add new cards to their decks by redeeming codes included in physical booster packs or earning digital booster packs within the game. At launch, Pokémon Trading Card Game Live will have the Standard format, but the Expanded format will be coming at a later date. This will allow players to collect cards from the Sword & Shield, Sun & Moon, XY, and Black & White series.
The game has a Battle Pass and completing daily quests will provide players with XP, progression, and other rewards such as in-game cosmetics and booster packs.
Pokémon Trading Card Game Live will soft launch in Canada on mobile devices later this year, as well as have a global open beta for PC and Mac. Interestingly, there’s no mention of any Nintendo Switch release for this game, though not every Pokémon game has made its way to a Nintendo system.
Quantic Dream, the developer behind Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human, is rumoured to be making a Star Wars game.
The rumour has surfaced courtesy French YouTuber Gautoz, who reports that the studio has signed on with Disney. This follows the company’s shift to multiplatform after a long history of working exclusively with Sony.
As ever, all rumours should not be taken at face value, but Dualshockers reports that it has its own sources that confirm that Quantic Dream is working on a Star Wars game. The site reports that its source “provided overwhelming evidence” of having connections within Quantic Dream, and that the Star Wars game has been the studio’s project for around 18 months. The report notes that is is unclear what exactly that 18-month timeframe entails, but rumours within the “French developer community” suggest the game may have only begun full development in the past few months.
While there has been no official word surrounding an upcoming Star Wars game from Quantic Dream, Dualshockers’ reporter, Tom Henderson, captured a screenshot from Twitter that showed the company had liked a tweet discussing the rumours. This far from confirms that Quantic Dream is making a Star Wars game, of course, but the studio has since removed its like from the tweet.
While it remains unclear whether Quantic Dream will announce a Star Wars project in the future, one game from a galaxy far, far away that has been confirmed to be in the works is a remake of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. A new version of the 2003 RPG was announced at this year’s PlayStation Showcase and will feature Jennifer Hale as she reprises her role as Bastila Shan. The upcoming KOTOR remake is set to be coming to PlayStation 5 as a console exclusive at launch alongside a PC release, with other consoles possibly to be revealed at a later date.
Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.
Mobile players will soon be headed back to a classic as Zynga has released a new teaser trailer for FarmVille 3.
The short teaser showcases some of the new farming landscapes found in the new game, as well as a few of the different animal species that can be raised in this new installment, including goats, cows, alpaca, and more. Farmhands can also be seen interacting with the animals, in one instance feeding a calf.
Baby animals like the cow being fed feature heavily in the teaser, a nod to FarmVille 3’s brand-new breeding mechanic. Over 150 animals will feature in the game according to the official release, with horses, pigs, and arctic foxes also among the Farmville 3 fauna.
Fans of the long-running mobile franchise can also access new FarmVille-themed social features, including Zoom backgrounds and select images featuring facts about the game’s different animal species.
Farmville 3 is the latest entry in the highly successful FarmVille social gaming franchise. The first Farmville launched in 2009 as part of the Facebook platform, while FarmVille 2 launched five years later and saw two expansions: Country Escape and Tropic Escape.
The much-requested update to Madden 22’s take on scouting has been delayed to mid-October, after it was initially slated to release during September.
EA shared details about the upcoming scouting update as part of a deep dive on the Madden website, stating that it needed more time to ensure that the feature was fully ready for fans to experience.
“It is important to our team that we deliver what you request at quality,” says EA. “We are taking the time to ensure scouting is polished with some additional testing and scouting will be available to all players as part of a Title Update coming in mid-October.”
This may come as a blow to fans who have been waiting for the feature since the game’s launch back in August. Unlike many updates that integrate seamlessly, EA’s scouting feature will require fans to restart their franchise from scratch after the update is applied. Without this restart, the new scouting features will not be available. Fans currently playing Madden 22 can still begin a new franchise with the game’s present legacy scouting feature enabled.
When it does release, the new scouting model will look to deliver on a number of community requests. Scouting will begin in week one where players will be introduced to the current draft class and can start to plan out their scouting approach for the season.
During scouting, players will have control over their scouting department and will be able to hire, fire, and re-assign scouts to get the most out of their team. Scouts can then be directed toward different regions of the game’s scouting map so that fans can get the most out of their scouting experience. EA gives an example of how this might look in-game to show how players can best use their scouts to their advantage.
“For example, if one of the strengths of the Southeast region is cornerbacks, make sure you assign the scout that has the expertise in scouting cornerbacks to reap the most benefits,” explains EA. “You’re in charge of optimizing your five scouts to help you find those draft gems.”
The publisher also acknowledged in the post that micromanaging a scouting team might not necessarily be to everyone’s tastes. For those not interested in scouting to the same degree, players will be able to opt into a “set it and forget it” style experience that allows players to move forward with their franchise without penalty if they choose not to interact with the scouting feature.
In addition to giving fans control over a full scouting department, the new update will also include in-depth scouting reports, news content that will impact players’ positions on an in-game media board, and mock drafts providing a snapshot of who teams are interested in throughout the season. Focusing on players during a scouting window will allow fans to unlock more about their profile and give a further indication over whether the player is worth signing.
For more on the latest instalment of Madden, make sure to check out our review of the game. Alternatively, you can check out the game’s Face of the Franchise: All Access trailer below.
Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.
This year Netflix and series creator Mike Flanagan are doing something a little different for the Halloween season. There won’t be a new entry into the Haunting Of anthology series that gave us the shows Hill House and Bly Manor. Instead, we’ve got a brand-new, original horror mini-series by the same team (featuring a handful of the same actors) called Midnight Mass, and while it’s not the same sort of loose adaptation of a piece of classic literature as those previous shows, it’s sure to scratch the same itch for fans while still bringing plenty of surprises. Midnight Mass brings the thoughtful, evocative horror that Flanagan has made his name with, while also delivering standout performances and some incredibly inventive, entirely unexpected spins on familiar conventions that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Midnight Mass tells the story of an isolated island fishing community that has fallen on some less-than-ideal times–a past oil spill caused irreversible damage to the ecosystem and fish are scarce, so families are struggling. But change comes in the form of two new arrivals–one, Riley Flynn (Zach Gilford), the son of an island family who spent several years in prison on the mainland after a drunk driving accident, and another, a mysterious young priest who has come to take the place of the island’s extremely elderly Monsignor Pruitt.
According to the new priest, Father Paul (Hamish Linklater), Pruitt fell very ill on a pilgrimage trip to Jerusalem–a trip many of the island’s residents thought was a bad idea in the first place, given the Monsignor was pushing 80 years old when he boarded the plane. Still, Father Paul seems alright and is more than happy to serve the island’s devoutly Catholic community with a sort of charming, affable energy that’s completely at odds with a string of strange occurrences that begin happening all over the island following his arrival.
From here, it may be easy for horror fans to start connecting dots and making assumptions–scary priest stories are plentiful in the genre, and who doesn’t love a good Stephen King-flavored island community beset by a terrible evil? But this is where you’ll need to remember that this is a Mike Flanagan show and as such, all those expectations you might have about traditional horror stories and traditional horror monsters are only being teed up to be subverted.
Linklater’s Father Paul and Gilford’s Riley are joined by the rest of the island’s insular community. There are Flanagan mainstays: Kate Seigel as Erin Greene, a childhood friend of Riley; Robert Longstreet as Joe Collie, the island drunk; Henry Thomas as Ed Flynn, Riley’s father; and Rahul Kohli as Sheriff Hassan, a newcomer to the community and, notably, one of the island’s two Muslims. The other is his son, Ali (Rahul Abburi), who is struggling to find his place in the town’s extremely tiny population of teens. Rounding out the main cast is the puritanical Bev Keane (Samatha Sloyan); Leeza (Annarah Cymone), a young girl who was paralyzed in a terrible accident; and the kind-hearted Annie Flynn (Kristen Lehman), Riley’s mother.
It’s a stacked cast, and while the story ostensibly focuses on Father Paul, Riley, and Erin, everyone has something to do that makes a major impact over the course of the seven episodes–which is, put lightly, a delight. While Midnight Mass never attempts to pull off the same tricks as Bly or Hill House with overlapping timelines and flashbacks, it does showcase Flanagan’s ability to juggle an intricate web of related stories spread out across a large sampling of characters, all of which have something unique to offer.
While the entire roster is worth noting, Linklater and Longstreet are two of the major standouts in the ensemble. Father Paul would have been a very easy character to turn into a caricature–there is absolutely no shortage of sinister priests in horror to pick from, ranging from the overtly monstrous to the ones who espouse the sort of cool youth pastor cult leader vibe. Yet Father Paul is none of these things, and while you may be able to anticipate parts of his story arc from the very beginning, the biggest (and most brutal) pieces rest on Linklater’s relentless pursuit to imbue Father Paul with empathy and kindness that make him anything but a traditional villain.
Meanwhile, Robert Longstreet’s Joe Collie is a worthy successor to Hill House’s tragic caretaker, Mr. Dudley. A massive portion of Midnight Mass relies on its actors being able to both deliver and receive monologues, and Collie sits at the center of two of the show’s most powerful moments, not only because Longstreet himself inhabits the character perfectly, but because he reflects the horrors happening around him back in ways that will hit you right in the chest.
It won’t surprise you to hear that at its heart, Midnight Mass is a story about faith–but it’s never interested in easy answers or expected morality plays. There are certainly clear villains and monsters (some of which are literal, others who are less so), but there are much more ambiguous ones in the mix, too–and together, they coalesce into something that isn’t the sort of horror story you’d tell around a campfire or put on at a Halloween party. Like both Bly and Hill House, Midnight Mass deftly avoids relishing in the brutality it inflicts upon its characters and instead builds the horror out of how deeply they care–be it about one another, themselves, their faith, their futures, or their pasts. As such, you’re definitely less likely to be hiding behind your hands or jumping out of your seat as you watch, and instead sitting stock-still, feeling like you just can’t turn away even though you know something absolutely horrible is about to happen.
And when it comes to those horrible things, they range from emotionally devastating to fantastically violent, but each of them gives the impression of a very intentional craftsmanship. Flanagan and his team obviously worked very hard to ensure that even the most graphic moments were done with clear purpose, never just to shock or simply unsettle. Even in early episodes that are packed with what feel like more traditional horror tropes–thunderstorms, mysterious strangers, inexplicable “natural” disasters, creeping silhouettes of what might be monsters hiding in the dark–each scare is done in service to the larger thesis of the show.
That said, if by now you aren’t on board with Flanagan’s specific style and niche within the horror genre, Midnight Mass is unlikely to make a case to win you over. It’s a slow-burn story, rife with big emotional moments and esoteric debates that never get any easier to stomach even when they’re buffered by supernatural creatures. It’s less a show about spooks and monsters and more a tragedy that just so happens to have spooks and monsters in it. If that’s a train you’re already riding after shows like Hill House and Bly, however–welcome back aboard. Midnight Mass is everything you could ask for and more.
This is an advanced spoiler-free review of Midnight Mass. The miniseries will make its global debut on Netflix on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021.
Acclaimed Doctor Sleep and Haunting of Hill House writer/director Mike Flanagan takes a break from adapting popular horror novels to create his own terrifying work of art in Netflix’s seven-part limited series, Midnight Mass. Released from the creative shackles of adapting other people’s stories, Flanagan has crafted his most profound, personal, and haunting work yet. With some episodes running more than 65 minutes, there are times when Midnight Mass can feel a bit long in the tooth; however, Flanagan justifies his creative indulgence with a wonderfully bonkers final three episodes that left me breathless.
Set in the isolated community of Crockett Island, Midnight Mass immediately gives off a sinister vibe as the decaying town appears to be slowly rotting away from the inside. Here, we meet the colorful inhabitants. Flanagan is a master at developing memorable characters, and that remains true in Midnight Mass.
Our protagonist is Riley Flynn (portrayed by Good Girls’ Zach Gilford), who returns to his childhood home on Crockett Island after a long absence due to a tragic accident. Gilford gives a reserved but powerful performance as his character wrestles with constant self-doubt and a fear of letting people in… even his own family. When his father (Haunting of Hill House alum Henry Thomas) convinces Riley to go to church, we’re introduced to the town’s new priest, Father Paul (Hamish Linklater).
Riley and Father Paul form a dynamic relationship as the clergyman begins to help Crockett Island’s wayward son cope with his past traumas during their weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Their one-on-one interactions are thought-provoking, as Riley challenges Father Paul to explain some of the most prevailing theological questions, like why does God let bad things happen to good people? These are some of the show’s most poignant character-building moments, but it’s also where the story can dawdle at times. While the subject matter and performances throughout these religion-centric conversations are captivating, it feels like Flanagan is trying to hammer his point across after the nail has already been set in place.
Hamish Linklater is fantastic as Father Paul.
With that being said, Linklater (Legion, Fargo) is fantastic as Father Paul, showcasing the actor’s impressive range throughout by imbuing his character with plenty of charisma, empathy, and even some creepiness when the need arises. After miraculous events that defy explanation begin to unfold at the church under Father Paul’s tutelage, a religious revival envelops the community, causing a rift between the believers and skeptics.
Flanagan smartly plays with various forms of horror in Midnight Mass, from the supernatural to those born of human nature: zealotry, corruption, and jealously. While the supernatural terrors and jump scares aren’t as prevalent as they are in The Haunting of Hill House, there’s still plenty to be creeped out by during your binge.
Flanagan continues to prove that he’s not only a gifted writer, but also a capable director. His use of long tracking shots during conversations creates a sense of scale and realism, as his characters wander across Crockett Island’s rotting landscape. The music also adds to the eeriness of it all, with everything from somber folk songs to instrumental hymns being played in the background. There’s one particular piece of music, titled “Were You There,” that’s reminiscent of the “Rains of Castamere” number from Game of Thrones, signifying something ominous, sad, or even joyful.
Flanagan’s use of long tracking shots creates a sense of scale and realism.
Midnight Mass is chock full of excellent character actors, including Kate Siegel (Hush), Annabeth Gish (The X-Files), and Michael Trucco (Battlestar Galactica), among others. Flanagan’s scripts wisely allow everyone to have their moment to shine so that by the time you get to the insane final three episodes, there’s a profound sense of connection to the ensemble.
Among this talented cast, Rahul Kohli (Haunting of Bly Manor) is a standout as the town’s sheriff. His relationship with his son Ali (Rahul Abburi) is endearing, as the youngster struggles with his Muslim upbringing in a predominately Christian community. And then there’s Samantha Sloyan’s overly pious Beverly “Bev” Keane. She’s one of those characters you instantly love to hate, and Sloyan chews on every line to perfection.
According to a report from Deadline, famed composer Howard Shore–who won three Academy Awards for the music to Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings films–is in discussions to compose the music for Amazon’s Lord of the Rings TV show.
Filming on Season 1 has wrapped, but post-production work will continue through June 2022, the site reported, adding that pre-production on Season 2 (which films in the UK as opposed to New Zealand) will kick off starting January 1, 2022.
Deadline’s report had no additional information about Shore’s involvement in Amazon’s Lord of the Rings show. Importantly, the report says only that Shore is “in talks” to compose the music; nothing is official or confirmed at this stage.
Shore’s music for The Lord of the Rings films is iconic, and his involvement in the Amazon show–even in its unconfirmed stage–is generating a lot of positive social media buzz.
Shore won the Academy Award for Best Music, Original Score for The Return of the King and shared the Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song for “Into the West.” He also won the Academy Award for Best Music, Original Score for The Fellowship of the Ring.
Shore came back to compose the music for Jackson’s Hobbit series, too. Outside of Middle-earth properties, Shore is known for composing the music for the Best Picture winning movie, The Departed, as well as the Twilight series. He also did the music for Gangs of New York, The Aviator, and Eastern Promises, among many other films.
