Resident Evil 3 Remake: 14 Easter Eggs and References

Resident Evil 3, a remake of 1999’s Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, is officially out. The remake has plenty of Easter eggs and hidden references–in fact, we’ve managed to find over a dozen so far.

In the video above, Richie Bracamonte details 14 times that Resident Evil 3 references the original game or the other titles in the survival horror franchise. Don’t worry, this video is relatively spoiler-free. Though it does showcase some of the locations you’ll visit later in the single-player campaign, it doesn’t talk about major storybeats.

Some of RE3’s Easter eggs are fairly obvious–like protagonist Jill’s outfit from the original game, which you can unlock–while others are a bit trickier to find or easy to miss. Did you know, for example, that when you visit locations from Resident Evil 2, the codes you used to unlock lockers and doors from RE2 will still work in RE3? It makes sense, of course. They are literally the same lockers and doors.

In GameSpot’s Resident Evil 3 review, Alessandro Fillari wrote, “Even without taking into account the original game, or its predecessor, RE3 struggles to keep up with its pace amid a clashing of elements from survival horror and standard action. While it has a strong start and gives its principal villain some great moments, this truncated retelling of the concluding game from the original Resident Evil trilogy doesn’t do it proper justice.”

That said, Alessandro does enjoy playing the remake on Nightmare mode–which transforms the fairly linear game into something closer to the terrifying survival horror experience of its predecessor. It’s the best way to play Resident Evil 3.

Rick & Morty Writer To Pen Ant-Man 3 Script – Report

The line between Rick & Morty and the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to blur. In November it was announced that Jessica Gao, who wrote the show’s “Pickle Rick” episode, was picked to develop the She-Hulk show on Disney+. Now, another alum from the series is reportedly joining the MCU. However, this one will write a film.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Rick & Morty writer/co-producer Jeff Loveness has been tapped to pen the script for the currently unannounced Ant-Man 3, the followup to 2018’s Ant-Man and the Wasp. THR reports that director Peyton Reed has already signed on to return.

In addition to his creative role on the Adult Swim animated series, Loveness has credits that include writing for Jimmy Kimmel Live, Miracle Workers, and The Onion News Network. He is also no stranger to comics, having written for Marvel Comics, Boom! Studios, and DC.

There’s no word yet on when, exactly, Ant-Man 3 will film. When Phase 4 of the MCU was announced, it was nowhere to be seen. Instead, sequels like Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, Captain Marvel 2, and Thor: Love and Thunder were announced. However, even those films are in flux as Marvel Studios recently announced a slew of release date changes.

Given that Ant-Man 3 hasn’t been officially announced, there is currently no public release date set for the film. However, Rick & Morty returns to Adult Swim on May 3.

Resident Evil 3 Remake’s Nemesis Vs. RE2’s Mr. X Comparison Gameplay

The remakes of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3, like the original games, share some big similarities. Both return you to Raccoon City, where you have to fight against hordes of undead enemies and a host of other horrific creatures in order to survive. Both games also have their own creatures that stand out among the usual terrors, relentlessly hunting you for the duration of your stay in Raccoon City. In Resident Evil 2, it’s Mr. X; in RE3, it’s the Nemesis.

Both Mr. X and the Nemesis are similar, like the games in which they’re found. They’re towering creatures that stalk you through the environment, following you through different rooms and constantly trying to tear you apart. The Nemesis is a different beast from the Tyrant Mr. X, though–Resident Evil 3’s monster is something of an enhanced version of its counterpart, making it more aggressive and giving it additional capabilities.

Check out the video above to see how Mr. X and the Nemesis compare, and the different challenges they present as you again try to stay alive in the hellish Raccoon City in Resident Evil 3 Remake.

Xbox One X Bundles And Controllers Get Huge Discounts In Microsoft Spring Sale

Microsoft recently kicked off an Xbox One digital games sale, and now it’s discounting a number of its Xbox One X console bundles and controllers. If you’re looking to pass the time while you’re stuck at home, then the Xbox One X is an excellent console to help you do exactly that. It’s the most powerful console on the market right now, capable of greater performance and resolutions than the standard Xbox One. Each bundle comes with an awesome game, and if you need an extra controller, then there are plenty of deals on those as well.

The Xbox One X bundles are all currently $300 and include Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Forza Horizon 4 (with the Lego Speed Champions DLC), NBA 2K20, and Gears 5. There are two options for NBA 2K20: the standard black console and a gorgeous paint-splattered Hyperspace-edition Xbox One X. The Gears 5 bundles also let you choose between the standard console and a special edition with a unique design–both bundles also come with the entire mainline Gears of War series.

A number of Xbox One controllers are also discounted. Standard controllers, such as the White, Grey/Green, and Grey/Blue variations, are on sale as are some special edition controllers like the Midnight Forces II, Armed Forces II, and Night Ops Camo pads. And if you want to design your own, Xbox Design Lab controllers and NFL Design Lab controllers are $5 off.

There’s also a great deal if you’re looking for some more games to play. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is currently $1 for new subscribers’ first month. Ultimate comes with huge game libraries on Xbox One and PC as well as all of the benefits from Xbox Live Gold. You can see the full spring sale at Microsoft, but if you’re interested in more great offers, be sure to check out all of the free games you can claim right now and keep forever.

Xbox One X bundle deals

Xbox One controller deals

Xbox Game Pass deals

Now Playing: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Video Review

Rosetta Stone Has a Great Deal on Lifetime Unlimited Language Learning Right Now

There’s no time like the present to start learning something new, and while the absolute best time to learn a new language is when you’re a toddler, those carefree days of juice boxes and nap times are long gone. The second-best time to learn a new language, though, is right now.

Fortunately for you and your new-language-learning needs, Rosetta Stone is running a sale on lifetime subscriptions and offering free live coaching between now and June 30 on select languages. That means you can get an actual human to help you learn a new language. Pretty great in my opinion.

And yes, Japanese is one of the languages offered as part of the lifetime deal.

Rosetta Stone Deal

[poilib element=”commerceDeal” parameters=”slug=rosetta-stone-lifetime-subscription-deal”]

The lifetime Rosetta Stone deal is normally $299, but right now you can get it for $199. That amount is due right now, but if you want to sign up for a plan on monthly payments, that’s totally fine. Rosetta Stone has 3-month plans for a single language starting at $11.99 per month with $35.97 due at purchase.

Twelve-months of unlimited languages is $95.88 down and $7.99 a month after that, and 2 years of unlimited language learning access is marked down from $249 due to $143.76 and then $5.99 a month after that.

Now is a great time to learn new skills, with some places offering free online courses, as well as discounts. If you’d rather spend your time relaxing, we put together a list of free trials for streaming movies, TV shows and even comics.

[widget path=”ign/modules/recirc” parameters=”title=&type=articles%2Cvideos&tags=us-shopping&count=3&columnCount=3&theme=article”]

Seth Macy is IGN’s tech and commerce editor and just wants to be your friend. Find him on Twitter @sethmacy.

Persona 5 Royal Review – Ideal And The Real

In the three years since Persona 5‘s original release, I’ve thought about it almost every day. Its lavish style gracefully captures its spirit of rebellion and breathes life into its dynamic combat system. The evocative, banging soundtrack perfectly encapsulates the emotion of each moment. The downtime spent in Tokyo with your friends brings you closer to each of them, invigorating your fight for what’s right. All those qualities feed into a bold story that unapologetically puts its foot down against the injustices that reflect our own society.

The extended version, Persona 5 Royal, brings the heat all over again. But beyond a plethora of superb gameplay refinements and features that improve an already-rich RPG comes a momentous new story arc seeded within the original narrative and paid off in full by the end. It delivers something genuinely surprising, leading to awe-inspiring moments and emotional conclusions that recontextualize what I thought the game was. Through its lengthy 120-hour runtime, Persona 5 Royal proves itself as the definitive version of a modern classic.

The minute you start P5R, you’re given the fantastic in media res introduction that brilliantly showcases the ride you’re in for–and provides a glimpse at the Royal-exclusive character Kasumi. After this teaser, you’re brought to the chronological start of the story that then walks you through the events that lit the fire inside our protagonist (aka Joker) and kicked off his journey as a virtuous trickster. The opening hours may take some time to pick the pace back up, but by easing you into the game’s systems, you’re set up for the rest of its flow.

P5R expertly intertwines the daily structure of living life as a Japanese high school student and a supernatural-powered vigilante fighting evil in an alternate dimension. Because the social sim elements and RPG dungeon crawling are woven together seamlessly, you grow attached to the very world you’re fighting to change. It’s a format that’s been the series foundation since Persona 3, and it is at its most effective here in P5R with a range of possibilities and new minor UI elements that help communicate your options. Carefully choosing how to spend your precious days and nights by balancing school life, relationships, and your duties as a Phantom Thief throughout the calendar year even makes the mundane exciting.

Best girl Makoto is down to throw hands while being a straight-A student.
Best girl Makoto is down to throw hands while being a straight-A student.

You’ll spend time with characters to learn about what drives them and witness their growth as they internalize and overcome their traumatic pasts. Among your connections are kindhearted adults exhausted by a system that has failed them and teenagers haunted by their past and dreading their future. These are very human stories that often hit close to home and inspire in their own small way (although some are inherently awkward). And these relationships with your Confidants bestow powers you carry into battle. P5R makes the Confidant process easier with new scenes, in the form of phone calls, to help rank them up faster, effectively granting the opportunity to see more of these enticing stories. It’s important because there are a few new Confidants to bond with as well.

The key new opportunities are with Goro Akechi, who is now someone you choose to spend time with, which eventually leads to a better understanding and development of him this time around. Kasumi Yoshizawa has been touted as the big addition to the roster; she fits in well and you’ll see that her desire to be an elite competitive gymnast comes from a darker, complicated place. Although her screen time is limited in the first half of the game, she becomes vital to the delivery of the new story beats and a welcome ally to fight alongside the rest of the gang you know and love. Above all is the school counselor Takuto Maruki, a tremendous character who truly elevates P5R’s narrative. He’s an excellent thematic fit, offering perspectives on mental health that hadn’t been touched in the original. His story is cleverly integrated into the core narrative, and he’s also key for unlocking what’s beyond Persona 5’s original story and some of P5R’s best moments.

Persona 5 Royal wouldn't be what it is without Dr. Maruki.
Persona 5 Royal wouldn’t be what it is without Dr. Maruki.

Relationships are what drive you, but the hard-fought battles take place in the Metaverse, a physical manifestation of corrupted cognition. Demonic shadows lurk as you work to metaphysically crush the distorted desires of abusers who have oppressed your friends and many others–and you do so with a hyper-stylized, confident swagger. With most Palaces comes a new party member and story thread about what led them to join the cause. These aren’t solely tragic backstories for the sake of being dramatic, though–it’s how you come to understand their fighting spirit before they become a beloved comrade. Taking on these story-critical Palaces never loses its luster, as their trippy, imaginative designs and enemies allure you into the wild battles throughout. At times, the very premise of Palaces is subverted to great effect; sometimes evildoers aren’t the only ones who need a change of heart. It further compels you to seek what lies ahead.

Beyond a plethora of superb gameplay refinements and features that improve an already-rich RPG comes a momentous new story arc seeded within the original narrative and paid off in full by the end.

Palaces feature some small but smart changes in P5R, too. Rearranged dungeon layouts accommodate Joker’s new grappling hook, letting you swing to new areas. They often lead to Will Seeds, a collectible that replenishes SP and mold into useful accessories. Returning players may also notice that some dungeon layouts have been streamlined, making exploration smoother. Mementos, the Metaverse’s collection of procedurally generated floors, also gets some much-needed overhauls. Driving around to progress in these twisted subway depths as the Morgana bus was novel, but grew repetitive in the original game. P5R throws in new mechanics like collecting flowers and stamps to cash in for useful items and perks to boost battle rewards. And the most welcome change is that, instead of the same song throughout, new tunes play at deeper levels.

Joker and Kasumi be like v O_O.

Aside from stealthily navigating these surreal dungeons, you’ll be spending a ton of time engaged in P5R’s dynamic turn-based combat. It’s swift and stylish, and builds on the strong foundation of Shin Megami Tensei, which has you focusing on exploiting elemental weaknesses and earning extra turns. Standard enemies can be fodder once their affinities are exposed, but tougher ones, minibosses, and bosses tap into combat’s intricacies. P5R layers more onto battles, like the absurd Showtime attacks that have two party members partner up for a high-damage combo that initiates in clutch situations. The powered-up Baton Pass mechanic is even more crucial as it can boost damage and replenish HP and SP. And boss fights now have different phases that present new, tough challenges that require you to think more tactically, testing your mastery of the combat system.

The dripping swagger of it all extends to the snappy and efficient UI that helps keep up combat’s fast pace. Everything unfolds in such a quick and ridiculously stylish fashion that you can’t help but fall in love with it and the Phantom Thieves who pull off all these flashy moves. Even in a second version of the game, executing all-out attacks and watching them unfold hasn’t lost one bit of its charm. Never has a turn-based combat system been this thrilling.

Persona 5 Royal is many things: a collection of small inspiring stories, an ambitious harrowing journey with some good friends, a stunning visual and auditory experience, a resounding call to action.

But P5R isn’t here to just look pretty. Beneath the mask of its unrelenting style and charming silliness are the friendships you naturally form and motivate you to follow the fight through to the very end. From their persona awakenings to the moment you see them fully realize their goals, your fellow Phantom Thieves become your ride or die in this heavy-hitting story. In targeting perpetrators of sexual assault, worker exploitation, and vile authoritarianism, Persona 5 draws a clear line in the sand–people like this have no place in our society and deserve no mercy. There is no middle ground, no compromise to be made, no both sides-ism. Your crew’s personal drama sometimes seeps into the broader message, but not without illustrating why you’re fighting so hard to change things. Even when doubt about their vigilante ways starts to creep in, characters work through it, stick to their ideals, and realize there wasn’t really a choice in the matter.

Morgana said eat the rich.

Admittedly, P5R is often subtle as a brick. It’s easy to nitpick where its writing falls into being too simplistic or a bit rote–although it has improved in some ways, it can still be crude at times. It isn’t particularly nuanced in its storytelling, but it doesn’t have to be. In being clear as day in its narrative, the messages and characterizations are unmistakable. It’s also so wild to me that the game’s almost-caricature villains have become less and less far-fetched in just the three years since the original release–the blatant abuse of power, their wrongdoings laid bare, and the masses uninterested in seeing them face consequences. The conclusion to the original narrative arc just hits differently now, and the game’s dramatic battles have become increasingly cathartic.

Transitioning into the Royal-exclusive third semester, there’s a tonal shift that’s effortlessly executed. Stranger things begin to happen, in an oddly unsettling way, especially during the seemingly blissful winter. Here, P5R takes a turn toward genuine moral quandaries. In this third semester, there’s a bit more to learn about your friends, and there’s one final Palace to infiltrate. And it is, without a doubt, the best one in the entire game.

These new events are beautifully captured with new Royal-exclusive songs that amplify what was already an iconic, genre-bending soundtrack.

Kasumi fits right in fighting alongside the Phantom Thieves.

The mysteries within will surprise you, and fascinating revelations about characters propel them well beyond who they presented themselves to be. The pace at which it’s told and how the series of events are framed paint Persona 5 in a new, captivating light while staying true to its original spirit. This new story arc achieves a grand sense of scale and finality, yet captures a more intimate, personal tone. And it all builds up to what’s also the greatest boss battle in all of the game, pushing your combat abilities to their limits.

P5R effectively solves one of the original’s shortcomings: its somewhat abrupt end. In the vanilla version, even after over 100 hours, it felt like there was still a missing piece; P5R has that missing piece. There’s 15 to 20 hours worth of excellent content that takes Persona 5 in a different direction while going all-in on its best qualities. It gives a dramatic, stunning finish even after the original’s bombastic, over-the-top conclusion.

These new events are beautifully captured with new Royal-exclusive songs that amplify what was already an iconic, genre-bending soundtrack. I always recognized “Life Will Change” and “Rivers In The Desert” as perfect examples of how Persona 5 uses its music to portray precise emotions of the moment–songs that exudes the infectious confidence of the Phantom Thieves going in to take a corrupted heart. As the case with our old favorites, the new evocative jams become a powerful narrative device. “I Believe” stands a bold recollection of the long, hard-fought journey that culminates to one last battle, while “Throw Away Your Mask” carries the hint of reluctance between a clash of ideals. The new Palace’s theme has a wistfulness that permeates the scenarios that unfold. Music is inseparable from the Persona experience–the series thrives because of it–and somehow, some way P5R delivers again to make an even stronger impact.

The downtime gives you the opportunity to reflect and just chill with your crew.

So, just like in the original, the song “Sunset Bridge” brought my time with P5R to a close. It’s a bittersweet tune that’s used throughout the game to signify a moment of clarity for its characters. But as the final background track before having to leave the game behind, it became my own personal moment of clarity, realizing just how much I’ve cherished my time here, and now for all-new reasons.

As P5R comes to a close, it tries to ease you into its end with heartfelt scenes, some new and some familiar. But in doing so, it only makes it harder to say goodbye again. Persona 5 Royal is many things: a collection of small inspiring stories, an ambitious harrowing journey with some good friends, a stunning visual and auditory experience, a resounding call to action. By refining what was already great and building on its best qualities with a brilliant new story arc, Persona 5 Royal asserts itself as an unforgettable and empowering RPG that should be recognized as one of the best games of our time.

Now Playing: Persona 5 Royal Review

Persona 5 Royal Review – Ideal And The Real

In the three years since Persona 5‘s original release, I’ve thought about it almost every day. Its lavish style gracefully captures its spirit of rebellion and breathes life into its dynamic combat system. The evocative, banging soundtrack perfectly encapsulates the emotion of each moment. The downtime spent in Tokyo with your friends brings you closer to each of them, invigorating your fight for what’s right. All those qualities feed into a bold story that unapologetically puts its foot down against the injustices that reflect our own society.

The extended version, Persona 5 Royal, brings the heat all over again. But beyond a plethora of superb gameplay refinements and features that improve an already-rich RPG comes a momentous new story arc seeded within the original narrative and paid off in full by the end. It delivers something genuinely surprising, leading to awe-inspiring moments and emotional conclusions that recontextualize what I thought the game was. Through its lengthy 120-hour runtime, Persona 5 Royal proves itself as the definitive version of a modern classic.

The minute you start P5R, you’re given the fantastic in media res introduction that brilliantly showcases the ride you’re in for–and provides a glimpse at the Royal-exclusive character Kasumi. After this teaser, you’re brought to the chronological start of the story that then walks you through the events that lit the fire inside our protagonist (aka Joker) and kicked off his journey as a virtuous trickster. The opening hours may take some time to pick the pace back up, but by easing you into the game’s systems, you’re set up for the rest of its flow.

P5R expertly intertwines the daily structure of living life as a Japanese high school student and a supernatural-powered vigilante fighting evil in an alternate dimension. Because the social sim elements and RPG dungeon crawling are woven together seamlessly, you grow attached to the very world you’re fighting to change. It’s a format that’s been the series foundation since Persona 3, and it is at its most effective here in P5R with a range of possibilities and new minor UI elements that help communicate your options. Carefully choosing how to spend your precious days and nights by balancing school life, relationships, and your duties as a Phantom Thief throughout the calendar year even makes the mundane exciting.

Best girl Makoto is down to throw hands while being a straight-A student.
Best girl Makoto is down to throw hands while being a straight-A student.

You’ll spend time with characters to learn about what drives them and witness their growth as they internalize and overcome their traumatic pasts. Among your connections are kindhearted adults exhausted by a system that has failed them and teenagers haunted by their past and dreading their future. These are very human stories that often hit close to home and inspire in their own small way (although some are inherently awkward). And these relationships with your Confidants bestow powers you carry into battle. P5R makes the Confidant process easier with new scenes, in the form of phone calls, to help rank them up faster, effectively granting the opportunity to see more of these enticing stories. It’s important because there are a few new Confidants to bond with as well.

The key new opportunities are with Goro Akechi, who is now someone you choose to spend time with, which eventually leads to a better understanding and development of him this time around. Kasumi Yoshizawa has been touted as the big addition to the roster; she fits in well and you’ll see that her desire to be an elite competitive gymnast comes from a darker, complicated place. Although her screen time is limited in the first half of the game, she becomes vital to the delivery of the new story beats and a welcome ally to fight alongside the rest of the gang you know and love. Above all is the school counselor Takuto Maruki, a tremendous character who truly elevates P5R’s narrative. He’s an excellent thematic fit, offering perspectives on mental health that hadn’t been touched in the original. His story is cleverly integrated into the core narrative, and he’s also key for unlocking what’s beyond Persona 5’s original story and some of P5R’s best moments.

Persona 5 Royal wouldn't be what it is without Dr. Maruki.
Persona 5 Royal wouldn’t be what it is without Dr. Maruki.

Relationships are what drive you, but the hard-fought battles take place in the Metaverse, a physical manifestation of corrupted cognition. Demonic shadows lurk as you work to metaphysically crush the distorted desires of abusers who have oppressed your friends and many others–and you do so with a hyper-stylized, confident swagger. With most Palaces comes a new party member and story thread about what led them to join the cause. These aren’t solely tragic backstories for the sake of being dramatic, though–it’s how you come to understand their fighting spirit before they become a beloved comrade. Taking on these story-critical Palaces never loses its luster, as their trippy, imaginative designs and enemies allure you into the wild battles throughout. At times, the very premise of Palaces is subverted to great effect; sometimes evildoers aren’t the only ones who need a change of heart. It further compels you to seek what lies ahead.

Beyond a plethora of superb gameplay refinements and features that improve an already-rich RPG comes a momentous new story arc seeded within the original narrative and paid off in full by the end.

Palaces feature some small but smart changes in P5R, too. Rearranged dungeon layouts accommodate Joker’s new grappling hook, letting you swing to new areas. They often lead to Will Seeds, a collectible that replenishes SP and mold into useful accessories. Returning players may also notice that some dungeon layouts have been streamlined, making exploration smoother. Mementos, the Metaverse’s collection of procedurally generated floors, also gets some much-needed overhauls. Driving around to progress in these twisted subway depths as the Morgana bus was novel, but grew repetitive in the original game. P5R throws in new mechanics like collecting flowers and stamps to cash in for useful items and perks to boost battle rewards. And the most welcome change is that, instead of the same song throughout, new tunes play at deeper levels.

Joker and Kasumi be like v O_O.

Aside from stealthily navigating these surreal dungeons, you’ll be spending a ton of time engaged in P5R’s dynamic turn-based combat. It’s swift and stylish, and builds on the strong foundation of Shin Megami Tensei, which has you focusing on exploiting elemental weaknesses and earning extra turns. Standard enemies can be fodder once their affinities are exposed, but tougher ones, minibosses, and bosses tap into combat’s intricacies. P5R layers more onto battles, like the absurd Showtime attacks that have two party members partner up for a high-damage combo that initiates in clutch situations. The powered-up Baton Pass mechanic is even more crucial as it can boost damage and replenish HP and SP. And boss fights now have different phases that present new, tough challenges that require you to think more tactically, testing your mastery of the combat system.

The dripping swagger of it all extends to the snappy and efficient UI that helps keep up combat’s fast pace. Everything unfolds in such a quick and ridiculously stylish fashion that you can’t help but fall in love with it and the Phantom Thieves who pull off all these flashy moves. Even in a second version of the game, executing all-out attacks and watching them unfold hasn’t lost one bit of its charm. Never has a turn-based combat system been this thrilling.

Persona 5 Royal is many things: a collection of small inspiring stories, an ambitious harrowing journey with some good friends, a stunning visual and auditory experience, a resounding call to action.

But P5R isn’t here to just look pretty. Beneath the mask of its unrelenting style and charming silliness are the friendships you naturally form and motivate you to follow the fight through to the very end. From their persona awakenings to the moment you see them fully realize their goals, your fellow Phantom Thieves become your ride or die in this heavy-hitting story. In targeting perpetrators of sexual assault, worker exploitation, and vile authoritarianism, Persona 5 draws a clear line in the sand–people like this have no place in our society and deserve no mercy. There is no middle ground, no compromise to be made, no both sides-ism. Your crew’s personal drama sometimes seeps into the broader message, but not without illustrating why you’re fighting so hard to change things. Even when doubt about their vigilante ways starts to creep in, characters work through it, stick to their ideals, and realize there wasn’t really a choice in the matter.

Morgana said eat the rich.

Admittedly, P5R is often subtle as a brick. It’s easy to nitpick where its writing falls into being too simplistic or a bit rote–although it has improved in some ways, it can still be crude at times. It isn’t particularly nuanced in its storytelling, but it doesn’t have to be. In being clear as day in its narrative, the messages and characterizations are unmistakable. It’s also so wild to me that the game’s almost-caricature villains have become less and less far-fetched in just the three years since the original release–the blatant abuse of power, their wrongdoings laid bare, and the masses uninterested in seeing them face consequences. The conclusion to the original narrative arc just hits differently now, and the game’s dramatic battles have become increasingly cathartic.

Transitioning into the Royal-exclusive third semester, there’s a tonal shift that’s effortlessly executed. Stranger things begin to happen, in an oddly unsettling way, especially during the seemingly blissful winter. Here, P5R takes a turn toward genuine moral quandaries. In this third semester, there’s a bit more to learn about your friends, and there’s one final Palace to infiltrate. And it is, without a doubt, the best one in the entire game.

These new events are beautifully captured with new Royal-exclusive songs that amplify what was already an iconic, genre-bending soundtrack.

Kasumi fits right in fighting alongside the Phantom Thieves.

The mysteries within will surprise you, and fascinating revelations about characters propel them well beyond who they presented themselves to be. The pace at which it’s told and how the series of events are framed paint Persona 5 in a new, captivating light while staying true to its original spirit. This new story arc achieves a grand sense of scale and finality, yet captures a more intimate, personal tone. And it all builds up to what’s also the greatest boss battle in all of the game, pushing your combat abilities to their limits.

P5R effectively solves one of the original’s shortcomings: its somewhat abrupt end. In the vanilla version, even after over 100 hours, it felt like there was still a missing piece; P5R has that missing piece. There’s 15 to 20 hours worth of excellent content that takes Persona 5 in a different direction while going all-in on its best qualities. It gives a dramatic, stunning finish even after the original’s bombastic, over-the-top conclusion.

These new events are beautifully captured with new Royal-exclusive songs that amplify what was already an iconic, genre-bending soundtrack. I always recognized “Life Will Change” and “Rivers In The Desert” as perfect examples of how Persona 5 uses its music to portray precise emotions of the moment–songs that exudes the infectious confidence of the Phantom Thieves going in to take a corrupted heart. As the case with our old favorites, the new evocative jams become a powerful narrative device. “I Believe” stands a bold recollection of the long, hard-fought journey that culminates to one last battle, while “Throw Away Your Mask” carries the hint of reluctance between a clash of ideals. The new Palace’s theme has a wistfulness that permeates the scenarios that unfold. Music is inseparable from the Persona experience–the series thrives because of it–and somehow, some way P5R delivers again to make an even stronger impact.

The downtime gives you the opportunity to reflect and just chill with your crew.

So, just like in the original, the song “Sunset Bridge” brought my time with P5R to a close. It’s a bittersweet tune that’s used throughout the game to signify a moment of clarity for its characters. But as the final background track before having to leave the game behind, it became my own personal moment of clarity, realizing just how much I’ve cherished my time here, and now for all-new reasons.

As P5R comes to a close, it tries to ease you into its end with heartfelt scenes, some new and some familiar. But in doing so, it only makes it harder to say goodbye again. Persona 5 Royal is many things: a collection of small inspiring stories, an ambitious harrowing journey with some good friends, a stunning visual and auditory experience, a resounding call to action. By refining what was already great and building on its best qualities with a brilliant new story arc, Persona 5 Royal asserts itself as an unforgettable and empowering RPG that should be recognized as one of the best games of our time.

Now Playing: Persona 5 Royal Review

Star Wars: Mark Hamill Shares Heartfelt Letter to Fans

With Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker capping off a saga more than 40 years in the making, Mark Hamill has penned a heartfelt letter to fans thanking them for their devotion to the Skywalker Saga.

Hamill tweeted out a photo of his letter, which is being included as part of The Complete Skywalker Saga Blu-ray set. You can read the full letter below:

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Hamill’s letter is all the more touching given that it pays tribute to the late, great Carrie Fisher and refers to the franchise as “George’s faraway galaxy.” He also reflects on how drastically Lucas’ early plans for the original film changed, referencing the mouthful of an original title “The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, as taken from the Journal of the Whills, Saga I: Star Wars.”

The letter is just one of many perks included in The Complete Skywalker Saga. The 4K Ultra HD version (which is exclusive to Best Buy) features a whopping 27 discs, covering all nine of the numbered Star Wars movies along with many hours of bonus features. Those discs are contained within a special art book featuring concept art spanning all three trilogies.

Even months after its release, we’re continuing to learn more behind-the-scenes details about The Rise of Skywalker. The newly released The Art of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker sheds light on axed storylines and a tank-like version of BB-8, while Anthony Daniels told IGN C-3PO nearly had a bigger role in Episode IX.

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For even more on the final Skywalker Saga movie, find out why we think the documentary, The Skywalker Legacy, helps redeem Episode IX.

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Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

How the Strangest WrestleMania in WWE History Will Play Out

We haven’t done a full WrestleMania preview here in a while at IGN, but given the circumstances of this year’s unique and historic WrestleMania 36, which has been whittled down to bare bones broadcasting from WWE’s Performance Center in Orlando, I thought it’d be worth a closer look. Let’s sift though what to expect from the annual “Grandest Stage of Them All.”

Obviously, none of this ideal. The state of the world’s not ideal. However the decision was made to not cancel or postpone WrestleMania, but instead hold it in a small venue with no one in attendance except the performers and crew. Whatever the full reasons behind the choice to not stop the runaway train that is WWE’s ongoing product, be they financial or creative, or a combination of both, WrestleMania is about to look and feel starkly different.

It’s also worth mentioning here that there are strong rumors (just rumors, mind you) that WWE is actually considering, after their post-Mania pre-taped shows air, taking an actual hiatus. Which is a truly unheard of-yet-understandable thing; given the ever-increasing safety restrictions in Florida, it just might not be possible to keep the torch lit.

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Where Will WrestleMania 36 Be Held?

WWE started using its own tricked-out training facility, the WWE Performance Center, for televised events back on March 11 when NXT aired its weekly live show from there due to their usual venue at Full Sail being booked for a separate event. This was originally meant to be a one-off and not the new normal going forward, but the spread of COVID-19 quickly started ramping up and by that Friday, March 13 – just two days later – Smackdown was being held from the Performance Center with no fans in attendance. As it stands, that NXT show is the last event WWE had in front of a live crowd.

WWE held RAW, SmackDown, and NXT from the emptied-out Performance Center the following week, with the decision finally made to move WrestleMania there announced on Saturday, March 21. Many had wondered what might happen first: Vince making the call to cancel or postpone or Tampa city officials pulling the plug. Ultimately, WWE chose to switch venues, cancel all other Tampa events (TV Tapings, NXT TakeOver, Hall of Fame), and also spread the WrestleMania wealth out over two nights.

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What Time Does WrestleMania 2020 Start?

Billed as being “Two Big for Just One Night,” WrestleMania 36’s card has now been stretched over two nights – April 4 and 5, beginning at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET. It’s possibly the craziest example of broad showmanship ever as, obviously, ‘Mania is smaller than ever this year. It’s actually such a weird misnomer that you kind of want a 180 to happen, where Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, or Triple H opens this weekend’s proceedings with an earnest message that fully addressees the corona-elephant in the room. I understand that WWE has a deep “show must go on” drive to distract people and provide entertainment (to its detriment sometimes), but I think a touch of actual honesty would be good right now.

Anyhoo, the show is very much not “too big” for one night. The decision to split it up over two days may have come from a combo of wanting to provide two nights of entertainment for those in isolation while also realizing that a nine-hour show from the Performance Center would seriously risk becoming a mind-numbing affair. It’s a lot of sameness. As it was, WrestleMania in front of 80 thousand people could also get dull in its own right. WWE now had to consider putting on a marathon of a show in a very intimate space.

WrestleMania 36 Schedule

The breakdown of matches for the two nights is rumored to be the following (though word has it WWE is still mulling over the roster for the two nights):

Night One, April 4

  • Roman Reigns (er, no) vs. Bill Goldberg
  • Shayna Baszler vs. Becky Lynch
  • John Cena vs. “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt – Firefly Funhouse Match
  • Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins

Night Two, April 5

  • Drew McIntyre vs. Brock Lesnar
  • Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley
  • Edge vs. Randy Orton – Last Man Standing Match
  • The Undertaker vs. AJ Styles – Boneyard Match

These aren’t all the bouts, just a rough breakdown of the most-marquee matches and how they’re probably being divvied up. The reported idea is still to have eight matches each night so we might get a card looking a lot like that, along with these eight extra matches sprinkled in:

  • Lacey Evans vs. Sasha Banks vs. Naomi vs. Tamina Snuka vs. Bayley – Fatal 5-Way Elimination Match
  • Angel Garza and (Andrade replacement) Austin Theory vs. The Street Profits
  • Daniel Bryan vs. Sami Zayn
  • The New Day vs. The Usos vs. John Morrison and The Miz* – Triple Threat Ladder Match (*but Miz is out, so it will be altered)
  • Nikki Cross and Alexa Bliss vs. Asuka and Kairi Sane
  • Elias vs. King Baron Corbin
  • Bobby Lashley vs. Aleister Black
  • Otis vs. Dolph Ziggler

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Is WrestleMania 36 Being Pre-Taped?

Because of the unique way this is all unfolding, and mass uncertainty when it comes to travel and the ability to gain access to talent when needed, there was no way WrestleMania 36 could have been broadcast live. With different businesses closing every day and people’s ability to even leave their homes being mandated by local authorities, WWE had to basically get everyone they needed in the building at the same time and then shoot everything they could. That included RAWs, SmackDowns (which is why last week’s pre-taped SmackDown didn’t address Roman Reigns pulling himself from the show), NXT (which taped the TakeOver matches for its regular weekly show), the post-Mania RAW, and WrestleMania 36 itself.

Just three weeks ago, Edge had to drive 17 hours from his home in North Carolina just to deliver a promo for a RAW. This was just the beginning of future personnel issues, so WWE had to switch over to a model that other, smaller promotions have been using for decades – taping multiple TV episodes at once.

According to Sports Business Daily, “government rules surrounding the outbreak made it impossible for WWE to have the amount of personnel on hand for a fully live WrestleMania. Instead, most matches have already been taped, including from locations beyond the Performance Center. However, the two shows planned will feature live content as well.”

So some things will be live. We just don’t know what yet. Commentator chatter? Backstage segments? We’ll find out.

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Out of the Ring and Off-Site Matches

When Edge challenged Randy Orton to a Last Man Standing match on the RAW he spent hours and hours driving to, many fans wondered why anyone would do that type of match in an empty facility? Did WWE still think the pandemic was going to blow over in time for the stadium show in Tampa? Or did WWE realize that because the show was going to be on lockdown, you had to mix up the locations as much as possible? So instead of all the matches happening in the same ring, surrounded by the same nothingness and silence, Edge and Orton will be able to traverse the performance center and raise hell.

Of course, before the walls of COVID-19 closed in on WWE, NXT’s Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa actually brawled and battled around the same building, so Edge and Orton will have to try and make their dance differ from NXT’s previous war.

Then there are the actual off-site matches, one on each night. Much like the (much-maligned) House of Horrors match between Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt from a few years back, these will be filmed fights in different non-ring settings. AJ Styles and Undertaker are going to meet up in a Boneyard Match. At first, it seemed like WWE was trying to re-name the Buried Alive match. And who knows? Maybe someone will get tossed in an open grave? But what it is, overall, is a cemetery brawl. WWE just didn’t want to use the name “cemetery” or “graveyard.” The stipulations of the match, and how one wins, will probably be announced the night of.

John Cena and Bray Wyatt, on the other hand, are wrestling in – basically – an… alternate dimension? Inside Bray’s mind prison, the Firefly Funhouse. It’s a mock-up of a children’s TV show like Mr. Rogers or Blue’s Clues and it’s basically a place Bray retreats to in order to escape his past pain and torment. Yup. They’re going to wrestle in there. Hopefully, it’ll be wickedly imaginative, maybe even incorporating elements of Bray’s past gimmicks. Why not? The Funhouse is supposed to be a ferocious catalog of Bray’s history as a wrestler.

It’s also worth mentioning that Gargano vs. Ciampa, which was originally booked for NXT TakeOver: Tampa, will also take place in some type of off-site dilapidated warehouse.

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WrestleMania 36 Roster: Will Roman Reigns and The Miz Appear?

Though it hasn’t been officially acknowledged by WWE, Roman Reigns has pulled himself from his slated Universal Title match against Bill Goldberg due to being immunocompromised.

The Miz is out too, or was out, since all of this has been taped already, as he reportedly was feeling ill and was not cleared to participate at the time of filming. Buddy Murphy, who wasn’t scheduled for a match but probably would have been in Seth Rollins’ corner, was also not cleared to wrestle. Rey Mysterio was also not involved in the card as he was quarantined.

On the women’s side, Dana Brooke is in quarantine, or at least was during the tapings, so she did not participate in the multi-challenger match for Bayley’s SmackDown Women’s Championship.

Andrade is also out, but that’s because he suffered a rib injury during his match on last week’s RAW.

These are the nuts and bolts of the roster right now. It’s shame that Roman ultimately had to pull himself from the show and wasn’t made to by WWE, given his recent triumph over leukemia, but it’s totally for the best that he leave the scene right now – and not just because if he and Goldberg had gone out there in front of tens of thousands of people, they’d have been booed out of the Bay.

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Will WrestleMania 36 Still Be Pirate-Themed?

Man, I sure freakin’ hope so.

No, it’s not in Tampa Bay anymore, and it’s a bummer we can’t watch Kairi Sane come out on a giant ship or New Day dress up like – I dunno – the Pirates of Dark Water or something, but WWE is still using the pirate graphics. The TV promos are still using that swashbuckling score and the match image backdrops are still all Jack Sparrow-y.

Just keep everything excessively Treasure Island; put the entire commentary team in ya-har! costuming like they did back at WrestleMania IX when everyone had to wear togas. Make these uncertain times… FUNcertain times. You can take away our giant outdoor stadium, but you’ll never take away our desire to see Kevin Owens remove Byron Saxton’s peg leg and hit Seth Rollins with it.

You know, moving forward, when normalcy returns and crowds are once again allowed to gather, there might be something to the whole “spreading ‘Mania out over two nights” deal. Of course, it would bump NXT TakeOver and those are WWE’s best shows by far, but just the idea of breaking up the excessive length of a normal WrestleMania is a topic worth broaching.

Will you be watching WrestleMania 36? Both nights? If so, what match are you looking forward to the most?

I’ll be live-blogging the event on both nights, so make sure you check out IGN’s homepage for all the WrestleMania match results and reactions in real-time.

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Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.