Pokemon is one of Nintendo’s most popular properties, and it has existed now for 25 years. With such an extensive history of games, you’ve probably crossed paths with the franchise throughout its numerous generations. Whether you started playing from the beginning with Red & Blue or jumped onto the series when it re-debuted on 3DS with X&Y, Pokemon has likely left an indelible mark upon you. It has undoubtedly left a mark on GameSpot, that’s for sure.
Across our site’s similarly long history, we’ve reviewed every mainline Pokemon game. Many of GameSpot’s writers engaged with the series throughout the years and found something to treasure, even if not every game impressed us entirely. To mark Pokemon’s 25th anniversary, we’re sharing key excerpts from each review. Below you’ll find quite a fascinating array of critiques about the series that developed and evolved just as much as the games did.
Actor Ralph Fiennes is the latest actor from the Harry Potter films to jump into the fire surrounding author J.K. Rowling and her stance on transgender rights. In an interview with The Telegraph, the actor came out in defense of the author whose books (and subsequent films) helped put his noseless face into the nightmares of countless children over the last two decades.
“I can’t understand the vitriol directed at her,” Fiennes said. “I can understand the heat of an argument, but I find this age of accusation and the need to condemn irrational. I find the level of hatred that people express about views that differ from theirs, and the violence of language towards others, disturbing.”
Rowling has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons since at least June of last year, when she commented on a story that referred to “people who menstruate,” a description meant to include not just people who were born and identify as women but also people who do not identify as women but still experience those functions. Amid backlash for the comments, Rowling doubled down with an essay that simultaneously acknowledged the heightened risk that trans people experience while also suggesting that enough of them could be predators that they shouldn’t be allowed into single-sex spaces for women.
Harry Potter stars including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint have made statements in support of the trans community while also trying to deflect the idea that the support does not amount to a feud between the cast members and the author.
“Transgender women are women,” Radcliffe said in a statement. “Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo or I.” Watson and Grint’s statements were similar in tone.
Meanwhile, the Harry Potter machine keeps cranking away at Warner Bros. because it’s one of the biggest properties in the world, and both a third Fantastic Beasts movie and a hotly-awaited Hogwarts-themed video game are on the way. The studios behind both have released statements distancing themselves from Rowling’s stance. WB Games stated that Rowling is not directly involved with the Hogwarts Legacy game, and that the story is not based on any new work from Rowling. Warner Bros., meanwhile, said that “the events in the last several weeks have firmed our resolve as a company to confront difficult societal issues. Warner Bros.’ position on inclusiveness is well established, and fostering a diverse and inclusive culture has never been more important to our company and to our audiences around the world.”
Super Nintendo World is a theme park land celebrating video games, so it’s probably not too much of a surprise that its designers recreated the entire park in VR, and created its centrepiece Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge ride as a playable, virtual attaction inside a game engine. But it is still very cool.
Speaking during a press conference about the opening of Super Nintendo World Osaka today, Universal Creative executives were asked how the new park uses technology to take theme park design into a new age.
After they discussed more generally how technology could let the park evolve, global executive producer Tom Geraghty added a juicy detail: “We used the technology, also, in the design process. We built the entire land in VR and the design team could look around at a place and get sightlines and figure out where to move elements.
“Mario Kart was built in a game engine, so while [senior vice president Thierry Coup] was back in the States he could actually drive Mario Kart in a game engine, and give us notes in Japan.”
Given Universal and Nintendo want you to visit their parks sometime, I very much doubt we’ll be getting a public release of that game version anytime soon – but it turns out it has other benefits beyond just being fun for its designers.
Coup added that the game engine design means the ride can evolve over time more easily: “Because it’s in a game engine, we can keep updating, upgrading, putting new characters [in], changing themes, changing actions on the fly. So if there’s a special event, anything we want to release can be done overnight if we really wanted to. That makes it so much more flexible – it freshens up the experience. Every time you come back you could experience something new and exciting.”
That’s primarily possible because, while Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge is a traditional track-based ride, it uses augmented reality along the way to conjure up enemies and scenery. These are presumably what could be upgraded or remixed on separate days.
Super Nintendo World opens today in Osaka, Japan, with versions of the same park coming to Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Singapore and Epic Universe in Orlando (but that last one might not open until 2025).
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Joe Skrebels is IGN’s Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].
Super Nintendo World has officially opened to the public at Universal Studios Japan, letting guests be fully immersed in the world of Mario, Yoshi, and other classic Nintendo characters. The featured attraction in the new theme park expansion, which is also coming to Universal’s parks in Florida and California, is a Mario Kart ride. That particular attraction also happens to house the land’s best Easter egg, an autograph from the creator of Super Mario, Shigeru Miyamoto.
While in the queue for the ride, which takes you through Bowser’s castle, you’ll encounter a massive painting of Mario’s primary antagonist. In the corner of the painting, you’ll notice it’s been signed by the Mario mastermind.
Speaking at a press event, Senior Director of Technology and Innovation for Universal Creative Tom Geraghty revealed how Miyamoto’s autograph became part of the ride.
“We’re walking Koopa’s castle in Japan, and there’s this big portrait of Bowser that he’s had installed of himself–because he has a healthy sense of self–at the end of the hall,” Geraghty remembered of showing Miyamoto the land for the first time. “And it’s not signed because it’s just a portrait or a prop or whatever. And we said, ‘Miyamoto-san, there’s no artist signature there.’ So we handed him a Sharpie and he signed it right then and there. Then we came back and clear-coated it. So you’ll find his signature on the artwork in the land which is a special moment for us.”
That’s not the only Easter egg you’ll find in Super Nintendo World. The creative team revealed that the land is loaded with them–some of which you’ll have to work to uncover. However, other nods that were revealed include Pikmin characters being hidden throughout the area and release dates for certain notable Nintendo games being etched into the pavement surrounding the entrance of the area.
Super Nintendo World is open at Universal Studios Japan now. Opening dates for the California and Florida expansions have not been revealed. However, Florida’s governor has said the state is expected to open its version in 2025.
When you visit Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan, you’re immersed in the world of the Mario games–and even get to track down some very fun Easter eggs. In fact, the theme park land’s two rides are based on the Mario Kart franchise and Yoshi, Mario’s dragon sidekick. The Nintendo-based fun doesn’t end at the park, though. In fact, the wearable Power Up Band that you can purchase in the park can also be used with your Nintendo Switch at home.
Power Up Bands allow you to interact more with the land while visiting–from punching coin blocks and finding Easter eggs, to tracking your score on the Mario Kart ride and fighting Bowser Jr. in a boss battle. However, the band also acts as an Amiibo for use with your Nintendo Switch.
“Super Nintendo World Power Up Bands were designed to also be Nintendo Amiibo by default,” Senior Director of Technology and Innovation for Universal Creative Tom Geraghty said in a statement. “This allows you to use your Power Up Band beyond Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan. You can use your Power Up Band just like you would use any other Amiibo.”
What isn’t clear, exactly, is what this particular Amiibo will unlock on your Switch–or DS or Wii U if you are still using them. During a media event to celebrate Super Nintendo World’s opening, Geraghty teased, “You can put it on your Switch, and you’ll get a Princess Peach costume for the characters in your game or whatever.” We just don’t know what games, which particular costume, or if it’ll be exclusive to Super Nintendo World.
Beyond acting as an Amiibo, the Power Up Band will help keep track of the score you accrue during your visits to Super Nintendo World by syncing with an app. “The app has leaderboards,” Geraghty. And that leaderboard not only tracks your progress, but the progress of everyone else visiting. Their hope is that adding this competitive edge to Super Nintendo World will motivate users to make regular trips, lest they be bumped from the high school list.
And before you ask: No, there aren’t physical prizes for topping the leaderboards at Super Nintendo World. But having the bragging rights for having the high score at a theme park seems pretty cool.
Super Nintendo World is now open at Universal Studios Japan. Versions of the land are also in the works at Universal’s California and Florida parks.
Our IGN First game for March – our “cover story”, if you will – is Aliens: Fireteam, the upcoming third-person, three-player PvE survival co-op game from Cold Iron Studios. It’s due out this Summer for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, and Xbox One. We’re showing off everything we’ve seen and played this month. Check below for everything we’ve posted so far, and keep checking back all month long!
Also, if you missed the announcement of Aliens: Fireteam, including the reveal trailer, check that out too.
Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s Executive Editor of Previews. Follow him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan, catch him on Unlocked, and drop-ship him Taylor Ham sandwiches from New Jersey whenever possible.
Update 3/17/2021:The Venom sequel has been delayed out of its previously confirmed June 2021 release date.
Venom: Let There Be Carnage will now be released in theaters, including 3D, IMAX, and other premium large formats, on September 17, 2021, rather than June 25 of this year.
Original story follows:
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Sony Pictures officially announced that the release of Venom 2 has been pushed to next year.
The sequel, now titled Venom: Let There Be Carnage, will now hit theaters June 25, 2021. It was originally slated to open October 2, 2020.
Check out the video below for our breakdown of the news:
Andy Serkis is directing the Venom sequel, which sees Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, and Woody Harrelson reprising their roles from the 2018 blockbuster as Eddie Brock, Anne Weying, and Cletus Kasady, respectively.
Developer Lucid Games has revealed the Year 1 roadmap for Destruction AllStars, which contains three seasons of post-launch content. Along with new seasons, Lucid Games plans to add battle passes, a competitive mode, photo mode, and a brand-new playable character.
Season 1: Hotshots will begin in April, and is scheduled to continue until July. Season 2 will be July through September, and Season 3 will be September through December. Lucid Games hasn’t announced exact dates yet, but we’re willing to bet that Season 1 will begin on April 6, the day that a new Digital Deluxe Edition launches.
The Destruction AllStars Digital Deluxe Edition contains several rewards, which are listed below:
1100 Destruction Points
Lupita Character and Hero Vehicle Skin
Lupita Emote
Profile banner set
In game Avatars set
Digital Artbook
8x Challenge Series
Season 1 will add Destruction AllStars first new character. We still don’t know who they are or what their abilities might be, but you can see the outline of the character in the image of Destruction AllStars Year 1 roadmap, which is embedded below.
Season 1 will also add a battle pass to Destruction AllStars–it will have both a free and premium tier. Both tiers will include cosmetic rewards that are exclusive to Season 1.
The first season will bring a competitive and photo mode to Destruction AllStars as well. The competitive mode will be a whole new game type called Blitz, which will be a team-based 3v3v3v3 match. Photo mode will only be available in Destruction AllStars’ single-player modes, allowing you to pause the action at any time and snap pictures from different angles.
And speaking of single-player modes, Bluefang’s challenge series is officially live, offering more solo challenges to take on while exploring the backstory and motivations of one of Destruction AllStars’ most popular (and powerful) characters. Completing the challenge series will allow you to unlock exclusive skins for both Bluefang and his hero vehicle, Shredder.
Destruction AllStars is exclusive to PS5. The game is free to all PlayStation Plus subscribers until April 5. So if you don’t have a PS5 yet but you’re at all interested in trying Destruction AllStars, log onto your PlayStation account and grab this freebie. The game will be in your library and waiting for you until you manage to nab a PS5.
What the new island map looks like in Fortnite Season 6.
If you played Fortnite Season 5, the most glaring change in Season 6 is the disappearance of all that sand around the center of the map. The Zero Point has been fixed… sort of. At least total annihilation seems no longer imminent, but there’s more to see and do in the seasons ahead, no doubt. But while we await the next chapter in Agent Jones’ saga to save the multiverse, Season 6 is feeling the brunt of the current chaos.
New Location: The Spire
In place of the sand comes a monolithic new location, The Spire. This tall, spiral rock formation houses a bunch of loot at its peak but it’s been very popular for that reason, so visit it off the drop at your own risk. It’s certified spicy. If you do head there, make sure to use the new nearly vertical ziplines stretching out in all directions for a quick getaway.
The new Spire at the center of the map.
The Spire’s influence has spread like an ooze to the surrounding area, and now much of the map looks autumnal and harsh, with huts made of scales and bones and an overall prehistoric makeover coming to the island. If an area is brownish orange on the map screen, you can bet it’s been reimagined with this aesthetic, while elsewhere places like the residential Holly Hedges and the industrial Dirty Docks scenery remains unchanged from Season 5.
Parts of Weeping Woods take on the brownish orange hue of its prehistoric surroundings.
This gives the entire island a sort of dichotomous design, as players can quickly move between the prehistoric and modern in any given round. Some places, like Weeping Woods, have even been coated in a bit of each style, as you’ll see for yourself moving between the green and orange forestry.
If you’re exploring around The Spire, don’t forget to be on the lookout for three golden artifacts as part of the new Season 6 challenges.
More New Locations: Boney Burbs, Colossal Crops, and Towers
In total, there are three new named locations, including the aforementioned Spire at the center. To the west from there, Salty Towers is now Boney Burbs, while the location once known as Frenzy Farm and most recently went unnamed for Season 5 is now back on the map with an official title: Colossal Crops.
A new location in Fortnite, Boney Burbs.
In each brownish corner away from The Spire sits smaller spires, each featuring ample supplies on the top and a new type of launch pad cemented into each rock that can fling players away in a flash. Be careful though, as each use of this will land you in the same spot, so if someone is on your tail and you dash away, watch for them to come in quickly right on top of you.
New, unmarked towers contain ample loot if you can defeat Tower Guards.
These unnamed towers are also guarded by new NPCs called Tower Guards, though we only know their names because such a character is the tier 100 Battle Pass reward. These Tower Guards take some extra firepower to bring down as they’re buffed by not just a health bar, but shields as well. They’re best taken on when you’re not playing solo.
New Island Wildlife
All across the map, players will also encounter wildlife, such as chickens, boar, frogs, and wolves. Later this season, raptors will be introduced, according to dataminers. You can defeat these animals be they passive or aggressive and use their parts like bones and meat as crafting or healing supplies. We go over all of that in greater detail in our Fortnite crafting guide, but just know that when you’re creeping through the woods and hear a growl, it’s not just for show. There’s maybe something already stalking you.
A wild boar charges!
This season’s theme is “Primal” and with wolf packs, deadly-accurate NPCs, and new prehistoric locations, it definitely feels like there is a stronger emphasis on Fortnite being a survival experience. Even ammo feels scarcer and some weapons, such as snipers, are totally absent right now, driving players toward each other for closer, grittier combat with new Primal weapons. It will be interesting to see how the map evolves over the next many weeks, as Epic always has something up its sleeve. If we had to guess, Stealthy Stronghold, which has always looked eerily like Jurassic Park, might have secrets in (dino)store for players.
The first footage of Rosamund Pike in the Amazon’s upcoming adaptation of Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time fantasy book series has been revealed. Pike plays the key role of Moiraine Damodred.
The footage is extremely short, but fans will be excited to see the first footage of Moiraine. In the clip we hear a voiceover from Pike, stating “Do not underestimate the women in this tower,” followed by a close-up of the dark-haired Moiraine, and finally a flash of light. Check it out below:
The Wheel of Time takes place in a world where magic exists but only some women are able to use it. Moiraine is part of the Aes Sedai, a powerful and magical female organization, while the tower is the White Tower, their home. This teaser follows the first promo which was released in February and showed the ruby-hilted dagger stolen by the character Matrim from the haunted city of Shadar Logoth.
Other cast members include Sophie Okonedo as Siuan Sanche, Kae Alexander as Elmindreda “Min” Farshaw, Kate Fleetwood as Liandrin Guirale, Peter Franzen as Stepin, and Clare Perkins as Kerene Nagashi. The showrunner for The Wheel of Time is Rafe Judkins (Agents of SHIELD), and Uta Briesewitz (Westworld, Stranger Things) is directing the first two episodes. The series doesn’t have a release date yet.
The first 11 Wheel of Time novels were by Jordan, with the first published in 1984. Brandon Sanderson wrote the final three after Jordan’s death in 2007, based on Jordan’s notes.
