The villains for Paramount’s upcoming Bumblebee standalone movie have been revealed.
Per EW, Bumblebee will be going up against two Decepticon muscle cars who are tracking the titular Otobot. Angela Bassett will be voicing one of the villains, Shatter, who takes the form of a cherry-red Plymouth Satellite.
Meanwhile, Justin Theroux will voice Dropkick, whose vehicle form is a blue AMC Javelin. The Decepticon’s will also be sporting wheels instead of wings. However, there’s also one more villain who flies, but the character’s identity and voice actor are still being kept under wraps.
HBO has ordered a straight-to-series Victorian sci-fi show from Joss Whedon called The Nevers.
As revealed by The Hollywood Reporter, Whedon will act as writer, director, executive producer and showrunner on The Nevers, though the episode count and premiere date have yet to be determined. The show was reportedly up for grabs from a number of competing networks and services, including the streaming giant Netflix.
Along with a new English trailer, The Pokemon Company has shared a Japanese theatrical trailer for Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu and Let’s Go, Eevee. The ad showcases some more footage of the upcoming Nintendo Switch RPGs, but most notably, it gives fans their first look at a pair of familiar faces who will be returning in the games: Jessie and James of Team Rocket.
Just as in the classic Pokemon Yellow version–which served as the inspiration for the upcoming titles–it appears Jessie and James will play a recurring role in Let’s Go, Pikachu and Let’s Go, Eevee. In the theatrical trailer, which you can watch below, the villainous duo (along with Meowth) can be briefly seen confronting the protagonist in Mt. Moon.
The theatrical trailer also shows off some brief footage of Pikachu battling Zapdos and Moltres, two of the Legendary birds from Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow. This is particularly notable because players cannot typically battle wild Pokemon in Let’s Go, Pikachu and Let’s Go, Eevee, suggesting that Legendaries may be the exception to this rule.
On top of those new details, we’ve recently learned that players will be able to give their partner Pikachu and Eevee different hairstyles and accessories in Let’s Go, Pikachu and Let’s Go, Eevee. The Pokemon Company also confirmed that each version will feature its own exclusive Pokemon, just as previous installments in the series have.
Let’s Go, Pikachu and Let’s Go, Eevee release exclusively for Nintendo Switch on November 16. In addition to couch co-op using a second Switch Joy-Con, the games support local and online trading and battling, although players will need to have a subscription to the Nintendo Switch Online service to use the online features. The pair will launch alongside the Poke Ball Plus, a Poke Ball-shaped controller that can store a Pokemon and also interact with Pokemon Go.
If you hurry, you can snag yourself a free game on Steam right now. The game in question is Hacknet, but it won’t be free long. The deal ends July 14 at 10 AM PT (1 PM ET, 6 PM BT), when it goes back up to its regular price of $10 / £7. You can grab it here.
Hacknet is a well-received hacking simulator that kicks off when you receive a message from a recently deceased hacker named Bit who connects you with a hacking group called Entropy. That launches a series of missions in which you use the game’s Linux-inspired interface to crack into secure digital spaces to access top-secret files and communications.
Each job is a essentially a puzzle for you to solve using a set of hacking tools accessed through a command line. Your ultimate goal is to discover the circumstances that led to Bit’s death.
From GameSpot’s 8/10 Hacknet review: “As the stakes get higher and the stories start to intertwine, the feeling that you’re doing things you really shouldn’t be starts to hit home, creating a wonderful sense of tension around your actions that remains a constant throughout… The feeling of playing Hacknet in a dark room with headphones on and being absorbed by its engrossing puzzles and soundtrack–full of heavy beats and filthy synth sounds–feels as close as you can get to the Hollywood hacker experience.”
If you like Hacknet, you can buy the Labyrinths expansion, which connects you with a different hacking group and sets you on a separate mission. Labyrinth comes with additional hacking tools that add more variety to the puzzles. You’ll probably want to play through the original game first, as the puzzles in Labyrinth are significantly more complex.
Octopath Traveler has been stirring nostalgia-hungry RPG fans since it debuted as an early project for the Nintendo Switch. More than a year later, the loving homage to 16-bit RPGs has finally released, giving fans a chance to pick up a game inspired by the likes of Final Fantasy 5 and SaGa Frontier.
While it takes clear inspiration from those classic RPGs, though, it has a few unique tricks up its sleeve. The combat system is reminiscent of the more recent Bravely series, with the ability to stack attacks onto a single turn. Even more significantly, the name refers to the eight distinct protagonists, each with their own stories and special abilities both in combat and NPC interactions. You can choose which order to play through their stories, or even if you want to skip some altogether.
That story structure has led to a divisive critical response. While many reviewers agree the under-the-hood RPG systems are inventive and invite exploration and tinkering, critics are split on whether this divided story structure works. GameSpot’s Octopath Traveler review was one such review that found the systems intriguing but the story lacking. Check out a collection of critical reactions below, and head over to our sister site Metacritic for the wider response.
Game: Octopath Traveler
Developer: Square Enix, Acquire
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Release date: July 13
Price: $59.99 / £42.99 / $69 AU
GameSpot — 8/10
“Despite the lackluster stories that pull you through the world, Octopath thrives on its character progression and the temptations of high-level challenges and rewards. The promise of new jobs, exciting boss fights, and powerful gear will inspire you to poke around every corner, and there are no shortage of discoveries to strive for. And all the while, you’re treated to one of the most interesting and effective re-imaginings of a retro aesthetic around. Octopath will likely be a divisive game due to its fractured storytelling, but it’s one worth playing despite its lesser qualities. Its high points are simply too good to ignore.” — Peter Brown [Full review]
IGN — 9.3/10
“Octopath Traveler is a JRPG dream come true. Both its battle system and aesthetic pay loving tribute to the Super NES era while moving the formula forward in exciting and novel ways. This isn’t merely a modern retread of past classics, but a phenomenal homage with genuinely fresh ideas in a fantastically charming wrapper of old-school meets new. While the eight different character stories could’ve used a little more connection between them, I’m looking forward to going back to complete them all, explore the many side areas, battle optional bosses, and unlock the final job classes.” — Seth Macy [Full review]
Nintendo World Report — 9/10
“But Octopath Traveler is much more than its peculiar vignette-heavy story that owes more to Dragon Quest or SaGa Frontier than Final Fantasy. It’s an elegant game packed with serene melodies, a simple yet deep combat system, and a stunning world to explore. The end result might not be the modern classic so many hoped for, but Octopath Traveler is an excellent RPG that’s only major sin is a loose story structure.” — Neal Ronaghan [Full review]
Twinfinite — 4.5/5
“Octopath Traveler feels like a much more personal collection of tales that might go against what you’d typically expect from a JRPG. More than anything else, the way the characters fall together feels like coincidence rather than providence, and the game is far more concerned with telling intimate stories about grief, friendship, adventure, and redemption. You might not get to save the world, but there’s joy to be had from just helping out someone in a bind and learning more about the deep history of Orsterra as you go. For what it sets out to do, Octopath Traveler excels.” — Zhiqing Wan [Full review]
God is a Geek — 8.5/10
“Octopath Traveler is not only an essential RPG but it is a fantastic reason to buy a Switch if you’ve been craving a meaty JRPG with one of the best soundtracks in gaming and a superb battle system.” — Mikhail Madnani [Full review]
Destructoid — 7.5/10
“Octopath Traveler is a small triumph in that it mostly delivers on its promise to give us eight stories worth seeing through. None of them push the envelope in any way, and several drag, but that’s not a huge issue when you have so many to choose from. Even if you skip one or several tales altogether you’re still going to get a handful of RPG goodness.” — Chris Carter [Full review]
Fandom — 7/10
“Octopath Traveler is a gem of an RPG with genuinely brilliant battle mechanics and a world worthy of celebration, but it’s hamstrung by an ambitious structure that doesn’t suit its narrative ambition.” — Don Peppiatt [Full review]
RPG Site — 7/10
“I really want to love Octopath Traveler, but the messy nature of its story presentation is ultimately an enormous weakness. That stands out, but this game is also truly one of the most intriguing evolutions of the ‘golden age’ RPG formula out of Japan, managing to both build on and pay homage to the classics. I don’t particularly mind that Octopath Traveler is a collection of eight separate stories, but the lack of any sort of cohesion even among the party members bogs it down and makes the stories that are there ring slightly hollow. Octopath Traveler is an excellent game, but the elasticity of its structure proves to be the one unassailable hurdle between it and becoming a classic in its own right.” — Josh Torres [Full review]
Following a tantalizingly brief teaser trailer back in March, Nintendo formally unveiled its next Super Smash Bros. game at E3 2018. The new installment in the beloved fighting series arrives on Nintendo Switch later this year, and while there are still undoubtedly many details we don’t yet know about it, Nintendo revealed a ton of information about the game during its June presentation, giving us a good idea of what to expect.
To catch you up on everything Nintendo has revealed about the game so far, we’ve compiled everything we know about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate below, from the game’s release date and new characters to the many changes being made to its gameplay. We’ll continue to update this list as new details emerge, so be sure to check back for the latest information on Nintendo’s highly anticipated mascot fighter.
Prior to its official reveal at E3, there was much speculation over whether Super Smash Bros. Ultimate would be a new installment in the series or an expanded port of the Wii U entry, in the vein of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Nintendo cleared up any misconceptions during a Q&A session at this year’s expo, confirming that Ultimate is indeed a brand-new title built for Nintendo Switch.
How Many New Characters Are There?
Nintendo has revealed three new fighters debuting in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: Inkling, Ridley, and Daisy. The first two are brand-new additions to the series, and both boast their own unique movesets and play styles that draw from their respective franchises. Inkling can splatter opponents with ink and use a variety of weapons from Splatoon, such as Splat Bombs and the Splat Roller, while Ridley can spew fire and spear other combatants with his tail.
Unlike the other two newcomers, Daisy isn’t an entirely new addition to the roster, but rather an Echo Fighter–a clone of an existing character, in the vein of Lucina and Dark Pit. Her moveset and play style are based on Princess Peach, although she boasts some different characteristics to set her apart. Beyond those three fighters, Nintendo hasn’t revealed if any other new characters will appear in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, although it seems likely that a few surprises still remain in store for fans.
Which Characters Are Coming Back?
Everyone! Super Smash Bros. Ultimate features the largest roster in the series to date with 66 confirmed fighters (and presumably a couple of surprises still to be revealed). Every playable character who has ever appeared in a Smash Bros. game will return in Ultimate, including all of the DLC fighters released for the Wii U and 3DS installments–such as Bayonetta, Corrin, and Mewtwo–as well as third-party characters like Sonic, Cloud, and Street Fighter’s Ryu.
The roster even encompasses characters who have previously only appeared in a single Super Smash Bros. game, including Pichu and Young Link (whose sole appearances were in 2001’s Melee), and Wolf and Snake from 2008’s Brawl. Longtime Metal Gear Solid voice actor David Hayter revealed he is reprising his role as the latter in Ultimate, and Snake’s signature stage, Shadow Moses Island, has also been confirmed to return.
It’s unclear just how many of these characters will be available from the outset; Nintendo teases that the starting roster could be as small as that of the first Super Smash Bros. for N64–eight characters–but an exact count has not been confirmed. However, the company says the conditions for unlocking characters have been streamlined this time around, and new fighters will be doled out frequently, giving players the feeling that they’re constantly making progress.
How Many Stages Are There?
Nintendo hasn’t revealed the full list of stages in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate yet, but the company says a “massive list” of them will return in the game. Among the many that have been confirmed thus far are Spirit Train and Tortimer Island from Super Smash Bros. for 3DS; Princess Peach’s Castle and Great Bay from Melee; New Pork City and Frigate Orpheon from Brawl; and Mario Galaxy from Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. At least two new stages will be introduced in the game as well: Great Plateau Tower (based on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild), and Splatoon’s Moray Towers. Every stage in the game will also have a Battlefield and Omega form.
What Else Is Different?
Aside from all of the new characters, stages, and items, Nintendo is making a ton of mechanical and balance changes in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Game director Masahiro Sakurai says the amount of tweaks in the game could number in the “tens of thousands,” and they range from subtle visual upgrades–like Wii Fit Trainer’s refined face–to reworked movesets and other dramatic overhauls.
One of the most notable changes is the pace of the game. Combat in Ultimate feels speedier than in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, resulting in quicker and more intense matches. Moreover, Nintendo has introduced some new techniques, such as directional air dodges, and simplified other ones, like short hop attacks, improving the game’s accessibility while also allowing for more skillful play. In keeping with this emphasis on speedier matches, players will dish out more damage in one-on-one battles, while those who excessively dodge will now be penalized with slowed dodge movement and a smaller window of invulnerability.
Most Final Smashes have also undergone some dramatic changes in Ultimate. Some existing specials, like Pikachu’s Volt Tackle and Sonic’s Super Sonic transformation, are now uncontrollable, lightning-fast attacks, while other characters have received new Final Smashes entirely. This time, Link fires a devastating Ancient Arrow, while Pit barrels through opponents in the Lightning Chariot. Nintendo says that nearly every Final Smash has been reworked in Ultimate to be more immediate, allowing players to get back into the fray more quickly.
Likewise, many returning characters have received significant overhauls in Ultimate, both in terms of their appearance and their movesets. Ganondorf, for instance, is modeled after his classic look in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and he now uses his sword for his smash attacks. Princess Zelda’s new model is based on her appearance in A Link Between Worlds, and Link dons his Champion’s Tunic from Breath of the Wild. Shulk can now choose Monado Arts directly rather than having to cycle through them, while Palutena’s special attacks have been streamlined.
Can I Use GameCube Controllers?
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will support several different controller options, including the Switch Pro controller, a single Joy-Con, and many Smash fans’ preferred gamepad, the GameCube controller. As was the case with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the latter will be compatible with the console via a separate adapter. This peripheral plugs into the Switch dock and works with both standard wired GameCube controllers and the wireless WaveBird.
Those who already own the Wii U GameCube controller adapter will be able to use it with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on Switch. Nintendo will also release a new controller adapter later this year, along with a new line of Smash-branded wired GameCube controllers. Both are already available for pre-order from various retailers such as Amazon and GameStop; the adapter retails for $20, while the GameCube controllers run for $30 each.
Will It Work with Amiibo?
Nintendo confirmed Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will be compatible with the existing range of Smash Bros. Amiibo, and data saved to those figures will carry over to the new game. The company has also announced it will produce several new Smash Bros. Amiibo. During E3 2018, Nintendo showcased figures of Ridley and Inkling, two of the new fighters making their debut in Ultimate. The third new fighter announced for the game thus far, Daisy, will likewise receive an Amiibo, although it wasn’t on display at E3.
In addition to the new figures, Nintendo announced it will also produce Amiibo for returning characters. The company has specifically confirmed Wolf, Ice Climbers, and Pichu will receive Amiibo, although that will presumably apply to other returning fighters, such as Young Link and Snake, as well. The Ridley, Inkling, and Wolf figures will launch alongside Super Smash Bros. Ultimate this December and retail for $16 each. Reprints of many previous Smash Bros. Amiibo will also be available later this year for $13.
Will I Need to Pay to Play Online?
While online play on Nintendo Switch has been free up until now, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (and other online-enabled games like Splatoon 2, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu and Let’s Go, Eevee) will require a Nintendo Switch Online subscription once the premium service rolls out this September. Subscriptions will be available for one month (US $4 / £3.49 / AU $6), three months (US $8 / £7 / AU $12), and 12 months (US $20 / £18 / AU $30). Nintendo will also offer a Family Plan, which allows up to eight accounts to share one membership for US $35 / £31.49 / AU $55 a year.
Will There Be DLC?
Nintendo hasn’t given any indication as to whether or not it will release additional content for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. However, the most recent installments in the series received an extensive amount of DLC following their release, from new stages and characters to a wide assortment of Mii Fighter costumes, and it seems likely that Ultimate will get a similar level of post-launch support, although nothing has been confirmed as of yet.
When’s the Release Date?
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch later this year, on December 7.
BioWare has lost one of its most veteran developers. James Ohlen, who had been with BioWare for 22 of the company’s 23 years of operation, has retired from the RPG studio.
In a post on Twitter, Ohlen said he “loved” his time at BioWare where he most recently worked on the new IP Anthem. As for why he’s leaving, Ohlen said, “I need to take a break from the industry and work on something a little smaller and more personal.”
After 22 years I have retired from BioWare. I’ve loved my time with Anthem, Star Wars, Dragon Age and Dungeons and Dragons. But I need to take a break from the industry and work on something a little smaller and more personal.
In another tweet, Ohlen said the projects he had the most fun with at BioWare were Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2, for which he served as lead designer, as well as Neverwinter Nights. “I’ve been a D&D fanatic since I was 10 years old,” Ohlen said. In his post-BioWare life, Ohlen will stay in the fantasy space. He’s collaborating with another former BioWare creative director, Jesse Sky, on the book Odyssey of the Dragonlords. A “mystery” writer is also working on it.
BioWare’s new game, Anthem, is coming early next year for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Unlike many other BioWare games, it’s an always-online, multiplayer-focused shooter with limited dialogue options. We saw it and played it at E3 and we came away impressed–check out the video above to learn more.
In addition to Anthem, BioWare is working on a new Dragon Age game, but it has yet to be formally announced.
Fortnite Season 5 is officially underway, and there’s plenty of new content for players to sink their teeth into. We’ve already extensively covered the changes and additions, but we also wanted to collect all the new tips and tricks you’ll have at your disposal.
First and foremost, you’ll want to know about the changes made to shotguns–especially considering how significant they’ve been to player strategy in the battle royale. Shotguns will now indicate how many pellets actually hit, with visible markers appearing within the reticle. You won’t be able to cycle between two shotguns like you could before though, as there is now a short period of time after firing a shotgun where another shotgun can’t be fired. Measure your shots carefully, or just find another way to kill someone.
For anyone who’s struggled to get a revive in a past 50v50 or Teams of 20 game, worry no longer. Fortnite is implementing XP bonuses for reviving teammates in both limited-time modes. You’ll only get three bonuses a match though, with an extra 30XP the first time and 10XP for the follow-up second and third time. Hopefully, this influences more players to offer a helping hand instead of leaving their teammates to die.
The Storm is also getting an update. Circles seven, eight, and nine will still shrink but they’ll also be able to shift in random directions. You’ll need to be ready to hoof it at a moments notice.
Between matches, hitting the “Play Again” button now allows players to preview pickaxe visual and sound effects in the Item Shop, Battle Pass, and Locker.
You’ll also have access to the same sound visualizer that were created for mobile on all platforms. Flipping it on puts a small visual indicator on your screen that alerts you to nearby gunfire, footsteps, or chests. However, audible sound effects are muted while the visualizer is on. The new option can be found in the Accessibility tab. Don’t worry about it if you play on a mobile platform, you’ll be unaffected by this change.
