Category: Games

With WandaVision on Disney+ now streaming, the Elizabeth Olsen/Paul Bettany series about, of course, Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch and Vision, is raising a lot of questions among fans. And one of the biggest is regarding who exactly Geraldine is, the character played by Teyonah Parris.

So let’s catch up on the history of Geraldine, who according to Marvel Studios is actually known as Monica Rambeau. We’ve seen her before in the MCU, specifically in the Captain Marvel movie where she was still a little girl.

If you don’t know Monica Rambeau and some of the many names she’s had over the years—including Captain Marvel!—let us shine some light on this hero.

Spoilers follow for WandaVision through Episode 3.

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Monica Rambeau: The All-Terrific Captain Marvel

Monica got her start in the Marvel universe in 1982’s The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #16. Created by Roger Stern and John Romita Jr., she made her debut as the “all-new, all-different, all-terrific Captain Marvel” when she and Peter Parker crossed paths in their plain clothes. Literally, she walked past him, and his Spider-Sense went off to tell him that she was someone extraordinary. Worried that she might draw unwanted attention in a bad neighborhood, Peter changed into his costume to keep an eye on her. He quickly discovered that she can take care of herself.

Caught by surprise, Monica blasted Spider-Man thinking he was another hoodlum; she hadn’t yet learned to fully control her powers. She was the new Captain Marvel, an unorthodox lieutenant in the New Orleans Police Department before she was granted staggering powers as the result of being blasted by extra-dimensional energy. Turned into pure electromagnetic energy herself, Monica can fly, travel close to the speed of light, convert her body into energy, and fire photon blasts.

Monica went to the Avengers for help controlling her powers, and she became a member of the team. A natural leader thanks to her commanding personality and time in the police force, it wasn’t not long before she was promoted to leader of the Avengers. However, when she was left powerless after expending all of her energy in a battle, Monica returned to patrolling the New Orleans harbor for a brief period. Naturally, her powers returned (because comics), and in time she would choose two new monikers: Photon, and later Pulsar.

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By the time of the Infinity storyline in 2013, Monica had taken yet another superhero name, Spectrum. She joined the Mighty Avengers alongside Luke Cage, Power Man, White Tiger, and the Superior Spider-Man to stop Proxima Midnight from destroying New York City. Later, Monica took her place in the Ultimates lineup with Carol Danvers—Captain Marvel—before returning once again to the Avengers.

Photon, Pulsar, and More: Monica Rambeau’s Many Superhero Names

Monica was dubbed Captain Marvel after her first somewhat accidental outing as a superhero. In command of a small boat before donning her costume for the first time, a witness overheard Monica called “Captain” by her companion. When the police arrived, the witness could only say, “Capitan est maravilla!” Captain Marvel was born. There was no hero bearing the name at the time as Mar-Vell, the original Captain Marvel, had succumbed to cancer, so the name stuck.

After some time passed, the son of Mar-Vell, named Genis-Vell, met Monica and offered to let her keep the title after his initial misgivings. She declined, saying she had picked a new name to “stop living in other people’s shadows.” She chose Photon. (In the film version of Captain Marvel, Photon is Maria Rambeau’s call sign, a nice nod to the comics.)

Genis-Vell later decided he wanted the name Photon when his body was transformed into photonic energy after being grievously injured. “I can’t be my father–I have to be something different,” he told Monica as they brainstormed superhero names over drinks. She finally settled on Pulsar, saying simply, “I like that one.”

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After a while, Monica just went by, well, Monica. This is likely the name most people think of when they think of the character, for clarity’s sake. But once again, Monica changed her superhero name to Spectrum after taking the lead on the team known as the Mighty Avengers. She was most recently part of this year’s “No Road Home” storyline with her fellow Avengers, still bearing the name Spectrum, so that might be the one that finally sticks.

Who is Geraldine in WandaVision?

2019’s Captain Marvel movie introduces us to a young Monica, daughter of Maria and friend of Carol, who’s a lieutenant herself—Lieutenant Trouble, that is. (Carol’s nickname for her is another perfect tongue-in-cheek homage to the original character.) The 11-year-old (played by Akira Akbaris) is instrumental in choosing Carol’s costume as Captain Marvel. Years will pass before we will see her again as an adult, this time in WandaVision, and perhaps that series will see her gain powers and become a superhero like in the comics. She could even take her mother’s callsign, Photon, for her superhero name.

For now, however, it seems as though Geraldine/Monica is an agent working for SWORD, which makes sense since Nick Fury now runs that secret organization, and a younger Fury was palling around with Monica’s mom and Captain Marvel back when Monica was a kid.

It does seem that Monica is infiltrating the false reality that Wanda is living in, and probably has created, in WandaVision. Somehow she takes the name Geraldine along the way, and it’s not clear whether or not she’s fully aware of her true identity while she is in that sitcom-like world (called Westview). But when she starts to realize something is wrong and questions Wanda about Wanda’s dead brother Pietro, who was killed by Ultron in the MCU’s “real world,” Wanda expels Monica from Westview.

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In the comics, Monica’s origin story is tied to the nefarious Roxxon Corporation in New Orleans—which viewers of Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger are very familiar with. If she is a superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, will her powers be tied to Roxxon? Or directly to Wanda Maximoff herself due to the events of WandaVision? It’s almost impossible to predict what kind of role Monica Rambeau will ultimately take in the MCU. No matter what it is, we can’t wait to see her light up the screen.

Jan. 22, 2021: This story has been updated with the latest information on WandaVision.

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Kelly Knox is a freelance writer who also contributes to StarWars.com, Marvel.com, Nerdist, and more. Follow her on Twitter at @kelly_knox to talk Star Wars, Dungeons & Dragons, comics, and more.

Phoenotopia: Awakening–previously a Switch exclusive–is now available on PC via Steam. This action-adventure puzzle platformer is a full-blown remake of 2014’s Phoenotopia, a popular Flash game.

In Phoenotopia: Awakening, you play as Gale, a simple villager. When mysterious invaders appear from the sky and abduct all the adults, you suddenly become the oldest person in the village. Despite your lack of combat training and knowledge about the outside world, you take responsibility for the situation and set out on an adventure to save the grown-ups.

Gameplay-wise, Phoenotopia: Awakening features top-down, open-world exploration when you’re wandering through the landscape and transitions into a side-scrolling action-platformer when you enter towns, dungeons, and other key areas. Combat is difficult, relying on stamina.

But enemies and powerful bosses aren’t the only challenge you’ll encounter–the game’s many dungeons are commonly compared to the difficult puzzle-filled labyrinths seen in 2D The Legend of Zelda games. But at least you’ll be grooving while you’re scratching your head, as the game features over 60 original tracks, many of which are really good.

The game is quite hefty with content for those looking for a game to fill up a few weekends. Developer Cape Cosmic estimates the full campaign will take you 30 hours–for completionists, it will take you about 50 total hours to beat the main story and then also find the 33 energy gems, 55 heart pieces, and 111 moonstones, as well as unlock the 33 achievement badges.

Five destinations and a trail of dead bodies later, Agent 47’s journey has finally come to an end. There’s only a single target to focus on in Hitman 3‘s final level, but a small army of Providence elite agents stand between 47 and the elusive Arthur Edwards.

Here are all of the Carpathian Mountain train’s assassination challenges and everything you need to do to complete them. For more tips and secrets, be sure to read our Hitman 3 walkthrough and guide hub. Otherwise, check out our other assassination guides below.

Straight Shot

Once you’ve worked your way to Edwards, a limited number of options are available. If you’d prefer to get rid of the Constant the old fashioned way and you happen to have run out of weapons on your way towards the confrontation, some of 47’s signature tools can be found in Edwards’ wardrobe, past where he stands looking in the mirror. A bullet to the head from 47’s silenced pistol, an SMG, or any of the other guns you picked up will earn you the Straight Shot challenge completion. Quick, easy, and to the point.

Losing Everything

For a less lethal approach, Edwards can also be dealt with using the memory-erasing serum that he prepared for 47. Simply pick it up and inject Edwards, and he’ll be rendered helpless. Completely unaware of who 47 is, Edwards is taken off the board with surprisingly little bloodshed, poisoned with his own last resort and allowing you to complete the Losing Everything challenge.

A New Father

As detailed in the Hitman 3 Secret Ending guide, there is another option available. Remain patient after you pick up the serum, and Edwards will tempt you with a chance to become a blank slate again, free from choice. If you choose this option, not only will 47’s quest end on the Providence train, he’ll wake up in a padded cell that is eerily familiar to the one that gamers around the world discovered him in back in 2000. If that’s your choice, you’ll complete the A New Father challenge when 47 resets his entire life’s journey.

Snow Angel

An easy feat to accomplish, as all you have to do is wait for a guard to walk past and push him off the train. A single guard patrols one of the open train compartments after you make your way outside, and with the right disguise on, getting him into position is absolutely easy for the Snow Angel challenge.

Exhibition Shooting

While it’s not the type of assassination that players are used to, shooting a train signal that clearly has it in for you is still satisfying. Simply climb above a carriage, take aim, and squeeze the trigger when you see a signal getting close to 47. One dead train signal later, and you’ll have banked the Exhibition Shooting challenge.

Bullet Train

It’s inevitable that you’re going to run into some stiff resistance on your way towards the front of the train, and you might as well grab the Bullet Train challenge completion along the way. Simply take out guards with an SMG, a shotgun, and a silenced pistols, and you’ll have earned some more points.

Soda Slinger

There’s no shortage of Providence security on the train, and if you’re looking to ensure that they don’t interfere with your final mission then a can of soda to the face is a reliably non-lethal method to make use of. You’ll need to chuck three cans at Providence security guards to finish the Soda Slinger challenge. One can of soda can be found in the back compartment of a carriage, on the seat:

Another can be found on a seat opposite in a room that various gambling items in storage such as a small round poker table:

And the last one can be found on a small table opposite the bar that is guarded by two soldiers discussing local geography:

With all three cans in your possession, there are still several guards on the train whose heads would be the perfect targets to chuck the soft drinks at.

With the ICA exposed, Hitman 3‘s next stop is the vineyards of a known Providence member who may be brewing more than just a fine wine behind the scenes.

Here are all of Mendoza’s assassination challenges and everything you need to do to complete them. For more tips and secrets, be sure to read our Hitman 3 walkthrough and guide hub. Otherwise, check out our other assassination guides below.

Notes of Hemlock / Hold My Hair

Tamara Vidal only has one type of wine that she cares for, and it happens to be a rare bottle of Pinot. While she’s on her rounds with Burnwood, disguise yourself as a waiter and make your way down to the bar area on the ground floor. A bottle of Pinotcan be found in the storeroom to the right side of the bar, and once you have it, you can wait for Vidal to appear.

Poison her glass with a lethal toxin to complete the Notes of Hemlock and Tasteless, Traceless challenges when you serve her favorite drink to her. Or, to complete the Hold My Hair challenge, you can use an emetic poison instead and follow Vidal when she retreats to the bathroom.

Pulp Friction

Vidal, Burnwood, and Yates’ fixer Corvo Black are scheduled to take a tour of the vineyard, which leads to a perfect opportunity for some mayhem. You’re able to disguise yourself as either Black or the chief winemaker, with the head of the vineyard’s disguise being particularly useful in this mission story. When he sends his assistant off to pluck three grapes from the harvest, distract him over to a secluded spot by running a nearby water pump machine.

Once disguised, you’ll be able to lead the group on an informative tour. You’ll have several opportunities to take care of Vidal, which includes using an industrial grape-pressing machine that ends with a gruesome demise. Lead the group over to the grape crushers, and Vidal will lean over to take a look. One quick shove is all it takes, and she’ll join the Yates estate as a grisly new wine vintage, completing the Pulp Friction challenge.

Coldhearted

For a colder approach, carry out the tour as normal but make a stop by the freezer on your way. Make certain that you have a screwdriver equipped, and when Vidal stands inside the freezing unit you can trap her, thereby tampering with the locking mechanism outside of it. Black will also be caught in the assassination, which results in two potential problems being eliminated as part of the Coldhearted challenge.

Firebrand

The last stop on 47’s vineyard tour is a chance to assassinate Vidal via electrocution. This works best if Black is not in your party, and involves some preparation before you start the tour. In the wine factory, grab a screwdriver, a wrench, and a fuse cell. Distract the worker near the grape pressing machine so that you can tamper with the wiring on the floor, then sabotage the pumps with the wrench so that the room is flooded with wine.

Insert the fuse cell in a nearby junction box and then subdue the chief winemaker so that you can disguise yourself as him. Start the tour, and give Vidal a look at the grape crushing machine. Quickly run out, make certain that Burnwood has followed you out, and activate the power to that room. Vidal will be eliminated through an electrified harvest, earning you more career points for completing the Firebrand challenge.

Pencil Pusher / Straight Shot / Piano Man

While Yates has numerous plans in motion to deal with Diana Burnwood, he’s not averse to trying more legal methods in his quest to discredit his competition. He recently hired a lawyer to dig up dirt on Burnwood, and the legal expert can be found wandering the car park when the Mendoza level begins.

When the lawyer walks into a nearby alcove so that he can admire the setup, you can easily knock him out with the people around you being none the wiser. Ditch any illegal items 47 has on him, make certain that you grab the legal papers, and then head to the mansion. You’ll need to pass a frisk test first, and then announce yourself to the guard at the gate.

Once you’ve been escorted inside, eliminate the guard and hide his body in the cupboard. Set up the legal papers on the desk, and approach Yates in his villa. The two of you will be left alone once you’re in the office, and when Yates decides to inspect your papers, you can make good use of the nearby pen on the desk to assassinate him, completing the Pencil Pusher challenge. You’ll also have a chance to kill Yates with 47’s carbon wire tool or with a bullet to the head, which in turn completes the Piano Man and Straight Shotchallenges.

Get Rid Of The Body

If you’d prefer to get rid of Yates while also watering his garden with his liquidized remains, you can subdue Yates in the office. You’ll have to be wary of the two guards outside the office, but you can toss Yates out the window, climb through, and then drag his body to the plant mulcher. A quick press of the button, and there won’t be any evidence of Yates left to identify when you complete the Get Rid Of The Body challenge.

The Orator / Someone Could Hurt Themselves

Yates is due to give a speech to his assembled guests soon, but 47 will need to set the scene before the potential Constant of Providence leaves his manor. With a suitable disguise acquired, preferably that of a waiter, make your way to the cinema on the ground floor and pick up the Branson MD-2 microphone.

Head outside and back upstairs to the area where Yates will give his speech, swapping the microphone out and then increasing the voltage being fed to it. Run up to the manor, pass a frisk test, and then grab one of the torches near the catering truck. Return to the venue where people have gathered for Yates’ speech, and ignite the barbeque so that Yates will appear.

Stick around to complete The Orator challenge and Someone Could Hurt Themselves challenges, and Yates will give a speech that is shocking, to say the least.

Domestic Disturbance

47 may not be the best agent to play matchmaker, but he can destroy a marriage with a mere folder of incriminating evidence. Infiltrate the Yates wine cellar through either the mansion or the secret passage behind the wine production factory’s barrel room, and you’ll spot a safe that is guarded by two of the elite security agents. To open the safe, you’ll need the code 2006, which will then reveal a secret dossier.

Take this dossier to Yates’ wife Valentina, and she’ll learn how her husband sabotaged her career so that he could win a case. She’ll eventually confront him on the balcony of the manor, and in a fit of rage, she’ll push him over the edge. With your hands still relatively clean, this will complete the Domestic Disturbance challenge.

Murder By Proxy

This double assassination requires a lot of work, but the pay-off is worth it. Infiltrate the barrel room, and Yates will signal that he wants his incredibly rare bottle of Paladin 1945 brought up to his meeting room. ou’ll find an entrance on the right side of the barrels that you can jump down into. Use a screwdriver to open the grate, and you’ll be able to sneak into the room that contains the rare wine. Make certain that the windows have been frosted, and you can take out the Sommelier and his assistant.

Once you’ve assumed the Sommelier disguise, open the vault with the code 1945. Grab the wine bottle, ditch your illegal items, and meet up with the head of security. You’ll then be led to the meeting that Yates is hosting and a showdown will begin between him and Burnwood. You won’t get a chance to poison any of the wine during this sequence as security takes over the wine-pouring duties, but you will see Vidal murdered when she refuses to join the conspiracy to kill Burnwood.

At this point, you’ll have ten minutes to save Burnwood. Infiltrate the mansion and take out the security on the top floor where she’s being held, and the final sequence will begin. Burnwood will fatally wound Yates while 47 takes out his remaining security detail, leaving 47 to finish the job. With both targets down, you’ll have completed the Murder By Proxy challenge.

To Loyalty

An alternative way to complete the Closing Statement mission is to prepare the scene before Yates and his crew arrives. With a lethal poison in your inventory, infiltrate the wine cellar either through the mansion or through the wine production facility. An elite guard outfit works best here, and once you’re in the room, you can taint Yates’ glass with a lethal dose of poison. Allow the rest of the story to play out as intended, and after Burnwood is escorted upstairs, Yates will take his final sip of wine.

With Yates now dead on the floor thanks to the poisoned glass of wine, this will complete the To Loyalty challenge.

Coming off the success of last year’s Tony Hawk Pro’s Skater 1 + 2, developer Vicarious Visions is undergoing a major adjustment. Activision Blizzard has confirmed that the company will be moved from Activision’s umbrella into Blizzard, pivoting the studio to be “fully dedicated” to Blizzard games going forward.

According to GamesIndustry.biz, the transition is effective immediately, with Vicarious Visions remaining in Albany, New York. The 200-team studio will now be “fully dedicated to existing Blizzard games and initiatives.” Starting today, Vicarious Visions, which has led development on a majority of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater franchise, will no longer work on the famed IP.

A spokesperson told the publication that Vicarious Visions would be a great fit to offer Blizzard Entertainment’s development studios “long-term support” going forward.

“After collaborating with Vicarious Visions for some time and developing a great relationship, Blizzard realized there was an opportunity for [Vicarious Visions] to provide long-term support,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson didn’t clarify what Vicarious Vision has been working with Blizzard on or for how long, but Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier said the studio has been “working on Blizzard projects for a few months now.” What these projects are remain a mystery, though Blizzard’s upcoming games include Diablo 4, Diablo Immortal, and Overwatch 2.

As part of the shift, upper management is also being shuffled around. Vicarious Visions’ head Jen Oneal has been promoted to executive vice president of development at Blizzard. She will report directly to company president J. Allen Brack. Taking Oneal’s place at Vicarious Visions as studio head is Simon Ebejer, who previously served as the studio’s chief operating officer.

Founded by two brothers while they were in high school in 1990, Vicarious Visions has had a hand in some big-name franchises, including Crash Bandicoot, Guitar Hero, Spider-Man, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. The studio’s website seems to be a deadlink following the merger.

This news comes at an odd time for Vicarious Visions, which just last year saw Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 set a new record for the franchise, selling 1 million units faster than any previous entry. And following the successful launch of Vicarious’s Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy, Activision Blizzard said during a 2017 conference call that remasters of its other IP were likely. Vicarious Visions also served as a Destiny 2 support team before the Activision-Bungie split.

This marks the second Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater developer that has been shuttered due to a merger. The last studio handling the franchise, Neversoft, was combined into Call of Duty developer Infinity Ward in 2014.