One of Disney’s many new Star Wars TV shows in the works, the Obi-Wan Kenobi project featuring Ewan McGregor in the title role, has finished filming. Not only that, but McGregor said he believes the show will live up to expectations.
“It was really, really good fun; I really enjoyed working with [director] Deborah Chow and I think it will not disappoint. I think it’s going to be good,” McGregor said to Variety (via IGN). McGregor added that he also enjoyed Kenobi’s use of new technology, which was a different experience compared to the prequel films that he starred in.
McGregor made his comments after winning his first Emmy this weekend for the TV show Halston.
McGregor previously told The Hollywood Reporter that he was working almost exclusively with bluescreens on Revenge of the Sith, and it was far from ideal, which is why he’s happy to film the new Kenobi show in a different way.
“After three or four months of that, it just gets really tedious–especially when the scenes are … I don’t want to be rude, but it’s not Shakespeare,” he said of the earlier Star Wars films from George Lucas. “There’s not something to dig into in the dialogue that can satisfy you when there’s no environment there. It was quite hard to do.”
For the Obi-Wan series, McGregor said he is excited to get to work using the new StageCraft technology. “They project [the virtual backgrounds] onto this massive LED screen. So if you’re in a desert, you’re standing in the middle of a desert. If you’re in the snow, you’re surrounded by snow,” he said. “And if you’re in a cockpit of a starfighter, you’re in space. It’s going to feel so much more real.”
As announced previously, Lucasfilm is working with Fortnite studio Epic Games and Star Wars effects company Industrial Light and Magic on new tech called StageCraft that uses Epic’s Unreal Engine to project scenes onto LED screens surrounding the physical set.
The series is being directed by Deborah Chow, who previously helmed episodes of The Mandalorian. While plot details are currently under wraps, Lucasfilm has confirmed that the show will take place 10 years after Revenge of the Sith.
Kenobi, which doesn’t have a release date, is one of various new Star Wars shows in development for Disney+. Others include The Book of Boba Fett, Andor, Lando, and Ahsoka. For more, check out GameSpot’s guide to everything we know about all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows.
Epic Games is no stranger to a Battle Royale-based collaboration, but prices for its latest clothing line deal with luxury fashion brand Balenciaga are likely to make even diehard Fortnite fans’ eyes water.
The Fortnite x Balenciaga collaboration features a number of in-game cosmetics that fans can purchase from within the item shop. However, it’s the price of Balenciaga’s IRL clothing range that is sure to make heads turn. Take the hoodie worn in the Shady Doggo skin pictured below – that’s the anthropomorphic dog dressed in white if you’re less familiar with the game. As well as being able to purchase the skin in-game, fans can buy a physical version of the same hoodie from the Balenciaga store… so long as they have a mere $725 to spare.
It doesn’t stop there though, the Balenciaga store is has a variety of Fortnite-branded products that you could remortgage your house to own. Weighing in on the lighter side of the range, fans can purchase a Fortnite branded Balenciaga hat for $395 dollars while fans really looking to spend top dollar on their merch can pick up a Fortnite branded denim jacket for $1290.
Luckily for some, the Balenciaga x Fortnite collaboration is far cheaper on the digital side of things. Between September 21 and September 28, fans will be able to unlock two free collaboration-based sprays in-game for completing challenges set by Shady Doggo. In addition, a number of Balenciaga based items and four unique collaboration-themed skins (Unchained Ramirez, Shady Doggo, Fashion Banshee and Game Knight) will be available for purchase in the Item Shop.
In other Fortnite collaboration news, Epic recently announced that Carnage would be the latest Marvel character to enter the Island. Joining as a part of the game’s monster-filled eighth season, the famed Spider-Man foe and Venom 2 villain is currently unlockable through the game’s Battle Pass.
Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.
The Nintendo Switch keeps building in strength, thanks to a library of great first-party games and strong third-party support. With the flexibility of playing while docked to a TV or as a handheld, portable console, it’s a great way to enjoy your favorite games. We’ve already seen plenty of brilliant Nintendo Switch games such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, so it’s exciting to know there’s more to come. Whether you’ve been a Switch owner from the beginning, or are perhaps eyeing the new OLED version, there are plenty of upcoming games to get excited about. To help you find your next gaming obsession, we’ve compiled a list of the biggest upcoming Nintendo Switch games to watch out for over the next year.
Long has the Metroid series conjured a strong sense of tension and foreboding with its mysterious sci-fi setting filled with deadly hazards. Metroid Dread will crank the fear factor up to 11, particularly with the introduction of the invincible EMMI robots that relentlessly chase Samus through cramped corridors. Alongside Samus’ usual abilities, she will also possess a stealthy power-up known as the Phantom Cloak. This new ability renders Samus invisible to the EMMI, but it can only be used sparingly, since it chews into her energy and health reserves. Set after the events of Metroid Fusion, whispers emerged about Metroid Dread as early as 2005, a project only recently fully-realized, making it the first new 2D game in the Metroid series in nearly 20 years. It looks speedy, action-packed, and intense: we’re absolutely ready to run for our lives when Metroid Dread comes to Nintendo Switch on October 8.
Mario Party Superstars is a celebration of the popular game series that induces multiplayer mayhem–and breaks friendships–dating back to the Nintendo 64. It’ll feature five game boards from the N64 Mario Party entries, each fully remastered, alongside 100 minigames from the series’ vast collection. Importantly, Mario Party Superstars will include button controls as well as motion controls, so you can play it the way you enjoy it best. Mario Party Superstars also features online matchmaking so you can play with friends anywhere, anytime. The reinvigorated visuals of each classic board and minigame are pretty impressive, looking vibrant and popping with color. Mario Party Superstars will let you duke it out for the title of superstar on Nintendo Switch come October 29.
Shin Megami Tensei fans have had a great 2021, with the Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster earlier this year, and they’ve got more to look forward to with Shin Megami Tensei V mere months away. Some of you may be more familiar with the Persona series, a spin-off deriving from Shin Megami Tensei, which also had a Switch release this year with Persona 5 Strikers. Involving an epic story of clashes between gods and humans, demons to fight, and alternate realms to explore, Shin Megami Tensei V has all the ingredients of a strong JRPG. Series veterans will recognize familiar turn-based combat elements, such as building consecutive attacks by targeting weaknesses and the ability to recruit demons to your side through negotiation. Due out November 12, Shin Megami Tensei V will be a Nintendo Switch exclusive.
Pokemon Diamond and Pearl graced the Nintendo DS back in 2007 as the handheld console’s first entry in the Pokemon series. Now, 15 years later, the superlative-laden Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are the Nintendo Switch remakes of the DS games. Fans of the original Diamond and Pearl will be delighted to know the remakes are remaining extremely faithful to the DS versions. Instead of recreating the Sinnoh region with the same visual perspective as recent entries Pokemon Sword and Shield, Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl retain a similar art direction to the source material, albeit with sharper graphics. The remakes should provide all sorts of nostalgia for returning players, while providing a sharp-looking introduction to Sinnoh for first-timers. Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl arrive on Nintendo Switch on November 19.
The Advance Wars series brought some of the best tactical gameplay of the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS era. Now we get to revisit it with a fresh new look in the form of Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp, a Nintendo Switch remake of the first two games. Featuring turn-based gameplay on a grid, the Advance Wars games see you assume the role of one of various Commanding Officers directing troops to victory, with each military group capable of using game-changing special abilities, such as unit repairs or power boosts. Developer WayForward (Shantae, River City Girls) has got the job with the remake, breathing new life into the series that will now feature online multiplayer in addition to the campaigns and local play included in the original release. You’ll be able to suit up for battle when Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp marches onto Nintendo Switch on December 3.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is shaping up to be one of the most exciting new additions to the series in years. Where Pokemon Sword and Shield took small steps into open-world exploration with the Wild Area, Pokemon Legends: Arceus looks to be going all-in. Set in the distant past, you play as an adventurer tasked with creating the Sinnoh region’s first Pokedex. In a significant change to the series, Pokemon Legends: Arceus appears to take place in real-time, with catching Pokemon requiring you to aim and throw Poke Balls while they roam openly in the wild. Its lush, nature-filled open-world setting has drawn comparisons to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild–a game that certainly makes for good inspiration. The focus on the eponymous Pokemon promises plenty of interesting narrative implications, as Arceus is considered a deity-like figure that created the Sinnoh region. We’ll find out more when Pokemon Legends: Arceus hits Nintendo Switch on January 28, 2022.
Splatoon, the family-friendly ink shooter, is a big seller for Nintendo, so the announcement of Splatoon 3 was a welcome inevitability. The Splatoon series has captured imaginations worldwide with its bright and fast-paced gameplay, fresh music, and the hotly contested Splatfests. Splatoon 3’s setting as shown in the reveal trailer is a Mad Max-style desert wasteland, which looks moody as hell and a like fascinating location for waging turf wars. One of the new weapons revealed is a bow capable of shooting ink arrows to take out opposition inklings and claim territory for your team. Both Splatoon games released so far have been brilliant fun for all ages, which is exactly what we’re expecting when Splatoon 3 splashes onto Nintendo Switch sometime in 2022.
With a working title named after the widely-adopted weapon triangle system of many turn-based strategy games, it’s clear what you’re going to get with Project Triangle Strategy: plenty of tactical gameplay along with a deep story. A follow-up to Square Enix’s gorgeous HD-2D RPG Octopath Traveler, Project Triangle Strategy takes more of a turn-based strategy approach in telling a grand tale about the “Saltrion War” of factions vying for control over the valuable resources of–would you believe–salt and iron. What intrigues us most about Project Triangle Strategy is its strong focus on game-altering choices. By making decisions based on utility, morality, and liberty, you shape the narrative and affect who joins your cause. With more stunning pixel art, tactical gameplay, and a choice-based story to enjoy, we’re awaiting more on Project Triangle Strategy–including its final name–ahead of a 2022 release on Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo and Ubisoft’s tactical crossover with Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle surprised even the most rusted-on genre veterans with its whimsical setting and clever gameplay, so we’re thrilled a sequel, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope, is incoming. This time around, Mario and his Rabbid friends venture forth to save the galaxy alongside Rabbid Rosalina and Rabbid-Luma hybrids known as “Sparks”. Not content to rest on the same grid-based combat of its predecessor, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope includes more real-time combat elements in addition to an increased focus on overworld exploration. Beloved video game composer Grant Kirkhope is returning to score this one, too, so there will be plenty of wonderful music to listen to while you take on the freshened-up combat encounters. Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope will bring its quirky genre hybrid action to Nintendo Switch during 2022
How do you follow up one of the greatest games of all time? Make a direct sequel, naturally. The Breath of the Wild sequel–which we don’t yet know the official title of–has us all clamoring for details, with recent trailer footage offering a tantalizing glimpse into the setting we’ll be exploring in the near future. We’ve done our own speculation as to what the next Hyrule adventure will entail, going over the symbolism used in an effort to decipher what the Zelda team has in store. Combine this with the potential narrative implications of recent spin-off Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, there are any number of scenarios that could play out. Breath of the Wild was so brilliant in part because of its wondrous sense of discovery and exploration. Its sequel will take to the skies in an exciting attempt to reach the same dizzying heights in 2022 on Nintendo Switch.
From small indie team Sidebar Games, Sports Story is the follow-up to charming RPG-sport hybrid Golf Story, with the addition of several more sports, including tennis and soccer. Similar to the Mario Golf and Mario Tennis games on Game Boy Color, Golf Story combined satisfying sports gameplay with RPG elements, such as leveling up stats and acquiring better equipment, alongside a humorous story where every problem could be solved by hitting a golf ball at it. Sports Story was initially slated for a 2020 release but was delayed indefinitely due to its increasing development scope. At this point, we’re not sure when Sports Story is going to bounce onto Nintendo Switch consoles.
Look, we don’t know when to expect Metroid Prime 4–especially in light of development restarting at the start of 2019–but the series’ and Retro Studios’ collective pedigree alone is reason enough to eagerly anticipate the eventual release of the fourth entry. The Metroid Prime series is an outstanding first-person adventure game with shooter mechanics, lauded for its ability to generate immersion through meticulous worldbuilding and phenomenal sound design. We certainly hope to see Metroid Prime 4 in 2022 so we can once again assume the role of Samus in another brilliant spacefaring adventure. One thing we do know for sure: Metroid Prime 4 will be a Nintendo Switch exclusive.
Hollow Knight stunned many of us with its brilliant, bug-filled take on the popular Metroidvania genre, so it’s sequel, Hollow Knight: Silksong, has to be one of the most hotly anticipated indie games going. From Team Cherry, a team almost as tiny as its insectoid characters, Hollow Knight sports tight combat and rewarding exploration, and includes some of the best environmental storytelling seen in any video game. Hollow Knight: Silksong stars Hornet, a protagonist larger and more vertically nimble than Hollow Knight’s hero. At exhibition demos back in 2019, Hornet’s needle and silk-based abilities were simultaneously familiar, yet different, making her a satisfying, refreshing character to play–mainly due to her abilities’ encouraging greater verticality. We’re not sure when Hollow Knight: Silksong is arriving on Nintendo Switch, but here’s hoping it’s soon.
Bayonetta 3 is in the same boat as Metroid Prime 4. We know it’s in development: we just don’t know when to expect the return of everyone’s favorite Umbra Witch. As recently as E3 2021, we heard Bayonetta 3 is “progressing well”, so we’ll have to hang tight in the meantime. Bayonetta’s known for some of the most deliriously camp action-shooter gameplay out there, and the eponymous character is as charming as she is deadly, defeating hordes of angels and demons with flowing locks of hair that would make Rapunzel jealous. It’s for this reason and many more that we think Bayonetta 3 is one of the biggest upcoming Nintendo Switch games.
All nine episodes of Star Wars: Visions drop on Disney+ on Wednesday, Sept. 22. Below is a spoiler-free review.
Every Star Wars property is made of the same basic ingredients: a touch of Western flair, a bit of influence from Japanese history, and all the complex mechanics that build a sci-fi world. Visions uses many of the same building blocks, simply rearranged in a new order. The collection of nine episodes — each featuring an independent story and design style from six different anime studios — is the Star Wars we all know and love, but one that grants a refreshing new experience to viewers like myself, who are looking for something different.
My one major critique of the series is that after nine episodes, most of the stories started to blend together. While each is perfectly enjoyable on their own, the overwhelming amount of similarities — like lightsaber duels fought by brave heroes — did start to wear me out. Don’t get me wrong, I love an incredibly choreographed sword fight as much as the next person, but after a while, there were few instances in the show where I found myself enjoying the repetitive duels. The world of Star Wars is vast and after some of these episodes, I was left wanting to see more stories geared toward regular people living in the universe and fewer epic battles between good and evil, Jedi and Sith.
The good news is that there’s an easy solution: just don’t watch them all in a row, despite the fact that Disney+ is dropping them all at once. Not unlike Disney’s Fantasia movies, the best viewing experience of Visions is not a marathon but one at a time, with breathing room in between. In this format, the episodes are allowed to shine for what they are and not get lost among the rest, suffering by comparison.
In a franchise that’s seen an explosion of new content in recent years, it was a delight to watch something that felt substantially unique, bolstered mostly by the breadth of visual styles. As a graphic designer and illustrator here at IGN, design in animation is one of my favorite topics of conversation andStar Wars: Visions delivered over and over again in that area. While some of the episodes didn’t take my breath away, they are all exceptional examples of design in animation.
For a series composed of vignettes instead of one overarching narrative, I thought it best to break it down episode by episode. I promise I’ll keep it quick!
1: The Duel
One of my favorite episodes and a strong start to the series.
I loved that this took place in a Star Wars setting heavily inspired by feudal/medieval Japan, a theme that can be seen in almost every episode that follows; it felt like a clever way to mix together traditional and science fiction filmmaking in a way that still felt true to the franchise.
Top marks for incredible costume design (check out those stormtroopers!) and the gritty, hand-drawn textures that made everything feel extra dramatic.
Score: 9
2: Tatooine Rhapsody
This episode really stood out as the kind of story we hadn’t seen told yet in this universe. An intergalactic rock band embarks on an impromptu adventure to save one of their members; it’s equal parts fun and bouncy, drawn in a style that matches with the story perfectly.
This is one of the only vignettes in the series to feature established characters from the Star Wars franchise, which was a surprise.
A complete departure from the previous episode, its lighthearted narrative and visuals helped make this one feel unique.
Score: 8
3: The Twins
This episode is another favorite of mine; I enjoyed it so much that I wish it was saved for the finale. When it ended, I was left wanting an entire series with these characters.
The artistic choices in this one were astounding. Orange stormtroopers, a deep red background, and the contrast of the perfectly circular blue stun rings evoke a sense of a graphic novel. The animation in the fight was incredible and the last shot of the episode made me audibly cheer.
Score: 9
4: The Village Bride
This episode gave me Avatar the Last Airbender vibes, with a village plagued by an evil that needs to be stopped by an unassuming hero. I enjoyed that this episode revolved around a little planet and their specific customs; one of my favorite aspects of the Star Wars universe is exploring the eccentricities of different planets and cultures.
The art as a whole didn’t astound me, but it was in no way lacking.
Score: 7
5: The Ninth Jedi
Like the previous episode, the art in this one didn’t blow me away. Even though there was nothing particularly wrong with it, it just didn’t grab me the way the others did.
The story followed a similar sentiment. I love the idea of someone smithing lightsabers for a new generation of Jedi during the reign of the Empire and the chaos that follows, but I found that I favored the droid drinking tea over the actual plot.
Score: 7
6: T0-B1
If you ever wondered what Astro-Boy would look like in Star Wars, I have good news for you: it’s this episode and I mean that in the best way possible.
This one was so pleasant to watch. The visuals were sweet and soft like a marshmallow, and it warmed my cold heart.
In contrast, the story felt like it was running at a breakneck pace. A lot happens in this short episode — lots of character development, a lightsaber battle, massive jumps in time — but I still enjoyed every minute of it.
Score: 8
7: The Elder
This is the only vignette in the bunch that does not take place in the Imperial Era. I love the juxtaposition of a sweet, soft padawan and their “cool guy” Master, but the pacing was a little slow.
The duel in this one was cleverly choreographed and the choices the animators made pulled me into the scene.
Score: 7
8: Lop and Ocho
The story was solid, but not astounding, and the same can be said for the visual style. This vignette suffers in its spot in the series; after seven episodes all ending in lightsaber battles, it didn’t offer anything new.
This episode, with its anthropomorphized bunny lady main character, is for someone, but that someone is not me.
Score: 6
9: Akakiri
This episode as a standalone piece is incredible, but as the last entry in the series, it felt a little underwhelming.
I adored how different the art style was in this episode; it reminded me of Cartoon Saloon’s Wolfwalkers. In particular, the way the characters’ faces were drawn and the colors used felt really different from all the others. I especially liked how the protagonist’s visions looked almost painted, which added to that wobbly nature of the rest of the designs. All the characters were drawn so smoothly and simply as opposed to the aggressively angular styles many of these shorts use.
This should have been episode 8 instead of 9. Or better yet, just watch it on its own.
Netflix has released the first trailer for Escape the Undertaker, an upcoming WWE-themed special that allows viewers to control how the plot unfolds.
The trailer for the choose-your-own-adventure experience sees The New Day’s Big E, Xavier Woods, and Kofi Kingston take on a series of supernatural challenges at The Undertaker’s mansion, which has been transformed into an extreme haunted house, with viewers granted the authority to choose their fate through various options presented on screen.
The footage shows Taker unleashing the powers of his urn and warning the wrestling tag team that they must confront their “deepest darkest fears.” One clip shows the trio entering the WWE legend’s morgue, where Xavier bravely ventures further into the mists of the foggy room whilst audiences at home choose whether to follow him or stay with the others.
Netflix’s Escape the Undertaker continues the streaming service’s ongoing partnership with WWE. The landing hub for the interactive horror adventure states that it’s 31 minutes in length, though it’s unclear exactly how many different endings and variants of additional scenes are locked inside that runtime, just waiting to be uncovered.
This isn’t the first time that Netflix has offered an interactive title to its subscribers — perhaps one of the most memorable additions to the choose-your-own-adventure genre was Black Mirror’s Bandersnatch event. The film, released in 2018, allowed viewers to make choices that would lead them to different stories, with five main endings to unlock.
Escape The Undertaker will be released on Netflix on October 5 as part of this year’s Netflix and Chills lineup, which features a skele-ton of hair-raising, door-locking, keep-the-lights-on treats for streamers this coming season. Other notable additions include the final season of Lucifer, the second season of Locke & Key, and Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass.
Update: The trade paperback collection of The Wrong Earth: Night & Day is in stores now. To celebrate, Ahoy Comics has provided IGN with a lengthy new preview of this “Batman ’66 Meets The Dark Knight Returns”-inspired mash-up.
Check out the slideshow gallery below to read the entire first issue of the series:
Ahoy Comics’ miniseries The Wrong Earth struck a chord with superhero fans on the strength of a killer premise. What if two versions of the vigilante Dragonfly traded Earths? What happens when the gritty, Dark Knight Returns-inspired Dragonfly trades places with the campy, Batman ’66-style Dragonflyman? Now creators Tom Peyer and Jamal Igle are back with a sequel, and IGN has an exclusive preview.
The Wrong Earth: Night & Day takes this multiversal romp to its next logical step. This time, Dragonfly and Dragonflyman will directly face off when they’re both dragged to a third Earth. Check out a preview of issue #1 below:
Here’s the publisher’s official description for The Wrong Earth: Night and Day:
“The vengeance-dealing Dragonfly sticks it to the man! The acrobatic sleuth Dragonflyman assists the police! These alternate-earth versions of the same masked crimefighter meet face-to-face for the first time in this new series by the original creators of the smash-hit The Wrong Earth! Will their impossible encounter result in a team-up…or an all-out war?”
The original series has received plenty of praise from other creators as well as fans. Mark Waid writes, “THE WRONG EARTH is far more than a one-note gag—Tom and Jamal have made a surprisingly deep exploration and commentary on where this medium has been, how it got to where it is, and where it can go.”
The Wrong Earth: Night & Day #1 is priced at $3.99 and is scheduled for release on January 6, 2021.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits, developer Ember Lab’s new adventure game for PlayStation consoles and PC, is out now, and reviews for the game have arrived as well. To help you decide if the game is worth your time and money, we’re collecting review scores and excerpts for Bridge of Spirits.
In our own Kena: Bridge of Spirits review, Phil Hornshaw praised the $40 game’s combat, puzzles, and story. Hornshaw also lauded the game for its art direction and music in the 9/10 review.
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Now Playing: Kena: Bridge of Spirits Hardest Difficulty Gameplay
Bridge of Spirits follows the story of a young woman, Kena, who is seeking out a sacred mountain shrine in an overgrown forest filled with trapped spirits. The world is populated by adorable little critters known as Rot, and collecting them helps give you more abilities.
Ember Lab was founded in 2009 by brothers Mike and Josh Grier, and the team initially worked on animation for partners like Coca-Cola and Major League Baseball before becoming a game studio and releasing Kena as its first game. Ember partnered with Sony to bring Bridge of Spirits to PlayStation exclusively on console, while the PC edition is only available on Epic’s storefront.
For an even more detailed look, check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
Game: Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Platforms: PS5, PS4, PC
Developer: Embed Lab
Release Date: September 21
Price: $40
Estimated Length: About 12 hours for the critical path [read more]
GameSpot — 9/10
“It’s about exploring a world and seeing what it once was, and helping to restore it again. And while Kena: Bridge of Spirits is full of familiar-feeling combat and exploration, its ability to find different ways to look at those ideas makes for a beautiful, emotional, and exciting journey.” — Phil Hornshaw [Full review]
Polygon
“Inspirations should always serve as a jumping-off point, something to build upon. But it often feels less like Kena: Bridge of Spirits was inspired by things, and more like it decided it could squish its beautifully realized world of magic and spirits into a ready-made mold. The result is a thoughtless blend; a hybridized paste. Vibrant and undoubtedly beautiful, Kena: Bridge of Spirits shows us every color in the spectrum. But strangely, it all feels brown–a muddy, grayish brown that comes from having mixed together every color on the palette.” — Ewan Wilson [Full review]
Hello there, little Rot
Press Start — 8/10
“Kena: Bridge of Spirits makes a good impression. It balances simplicity and challenge while weaving a neatly-paced story into something that can be played over a chill couple of days. Despite fantastic production values it’s still far from a AAA title–so it’s important to keep expectations in check, but anyone looking to lose themselves in a charming, gorgeous world ripe for exploration should look no further. It’s exactly what I needed right now–perfect cozy weekend entertainment.” — Kieron Verbrugge [Full review]
Eurogamer
“To me, Kena: Bridge of Spirits very much has first game syndrome–something with all the right ideas, weakened by their execution. If it does well–and given the fever with which it’s been followed leading up to its release, I expect it will–it’ll be because we often value AAA looks and mechanics more highly than attempts at innovation. I’m sure with this foundation Ember Lab has a great game in it, but this isn’t it just yet.” — Malindy Hetfeld [Full review]
IGN — 8/10
“With its elegantly simple combat and beautiful world, Kena: Bridge of Spirits harkens back to the days of the N64/GameCube-era Zeldas, Okami, and Star Fox Adventures, while also adding modern sensibilities and a distinct personal touch.” — Mitchell Saltzman [Full review]
Game Informer — 9/10
“Bridge of Spirits stumbles a little in spots, yet confidently sprints into the heart of the adventure, rewarding the player with secrets galore and visuals that are almost always worth admiring. If you love Zelda-like games or are just looking for an experience that will make you smile every step of the way, you can’t go wrong with Kena: Bridge of Spirits.” — Andrew Reiner [Full review]
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is the PlayStation’s latest console-exclusive action-adventure title, and much like Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart before it, the game is rather linear. The game will take players from place to place, pitting them against puzzles that can be solved with the help of adorable sprites called Rot, and they’ll also face off against vicious enemies. It’s the standard fare for a game like this, and players shouldn’t expect especially difficult segments or confounding puzzles to get in their way.
Of course, not everyone will traverse the forests and other various vistas of Kena: Bridge of Spirits at the same pace, especially if they find themselves looking to leave no stone unturned. Kena has a suite of collectibles to hunt down, all of which require a bit more exploration and attention from players.
All that being said, Kena: Bridge of Spirits won’t demand the player’s time like some other titles. It’s a linear action-adventure game through and through, so completing the game really depends on how much of it they’re comfortable with actually finishing.
How Long To Beat Kena: Bridge Of Spirits?
Critical Path
Once again, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is an action-adventure game, and that means it’s not going to take too long for players to beat. That’s doubly so if someone is just trying to make their way through the game’s main storyline and shelve it immediately after the credits roll.
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Kena: Bridge of Spirits First 20 Minutes Gameplay
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According to Phil Hornshaw, who reviewed Kena: Bridge of Spirits for GameSpot, reaching the game’s credits will take around 12 hours. Once again, that’s not an excessive amount of time to spend on a single-player game, especially one that was developed by an indie studio. Of course, that time can fluctuate depending on what difficulty someone plays on, but it shouldn’t stretch much longer than half a day.
Completionist Path
Players who are really trying to get their money’s worth out of Kena: Bridge of Spirits won’t actually end up spending much more time in the game than those who just want to reach the credits. While Kena has some buffers that can keep players playing, like collectibles, extra puzzles, and exploration, they don’t amount to much.
Completing all of Kena: Bridge of Spirits’ story and collecting every collectible along the way will take players around 15 hours of playtime. Again, that’s not a lot of time to spend in the game, but it hinges on what difficulty players decide to tackle the game on. Naturally, earning all the game’s trophies will also tack on some extra time, but the game won’t take long to beat, even for completionists.
If you’re just getting into Kena: Bridge of Spirits and need some extra help getting along, we have a guide highlighting some of Kena Bridge of Spirits’ tips and tricks for mastering the game. And if you’re on the fence about picking the game up, check out our Kena: Bridge of Spirits review, where Hornshaw called the game “an exciting, often heartbreaking journey that will make you want to explore every corner and crevice to see all that you can.”
It’s another year, another super-ultrawide monitor from Samsung. Now in its fourth year (including the original C49HG90, which didn’t bear the Odyssey brand), each new super-ultrawide has brought new features that help the G9 series excel in more than mere size. 2021 brings the most significant upgrade yet: a Mini-LED backlight.
Mini-LED can precisely control the light beneath the LCD panel and, in some cases, turn it off completely. This improves contrast, brings big gains to HDR brightness, and eliminates the dreaded edge-lit glow common to gaming monitors.
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 delivers all of the above yet suffers new problems that take the shine off its best feature.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 – Design
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9’s exterior is nearly identical to last year’s G9. The only aesthetic change is on the monitor’s lower left bezel, where the prior model’s bright green Nvidia G-Sync logo is replaced by a more subtle monochrome badge. It’s a minor, but positive, tweak.
I don’t blame Samsung for keeping the prior model’s look. Why mess with what works? The Neo G9’s glossy white rear plastic looks sleek, futuristic, and luxurious. A vent near the top provides sporty flair and the massive stand makes a statement on any desk. There’s also a vent-like ring rounding the stand’s connection with the monitor. This is where you’ll find the monitor’s customizable RGB light.
Samsung also leaves the monitor’s functional problems untouched. The stand is an absolute unit that measures 31 inches wide and 9 inches deep. The full depth is 17 inches which, on my desk, places the edges of the monitor closer to the front of the desk than the rear. You might need to plan a desk upgrade to go along with the monitor.
I get it. This is a big monitor with a big curve, so it’s going to take up space. Still, I can’t help but think the monitor would be more practical with a less extreme curve and a stand that trades size for heft.
The stand does its job, at least. It keeps the monitor stable and includes adjustment for height, tilt, and swivel. The tilt and swivel action are well-tuned, making it possible to adjust the monitor with a light yet intentional touch. VESA mounting is supported with an included adapter. You might want to look up your monitor arm’s maximum weight, however, as the Neo G9’s display panel tips the scales at a hefty 26 pounds.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 – Features
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 includes two HDMI 2.1 ports, an upgrade from HDMI 2.0 on last year’s G9, and one DisplayPort 1.4 port. The HDMI 2.1 ports can handle a refresh rate up to 144Hz.
The monitor’s maximum 240Hz refresh rate is only available over DisplayPort 1.4, and only with a video card that supports Display Stream Compression (DSC). Cards prior to Nvidia’s RTX 20-series and AMD’s 5000-series lack this feature. This includes the Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti in my desktop, so I was limited to a refresh rate of 120Hz on my main gaming rig (I also tested with an RTX 30-series laptop).
Samsung’s inclusion of two HDMI 2.1 ports and one DisplayPort might sound like an upgrade, but it’s not. It’s actually a downgrade from the prior model, which had one HDMI 2.0 and two DisplayPort ports.
Yes, you can now connect an Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 at once, but neither supports an ultrawide or super-ultrawide aspect ratio. The Neo G9 can’t even deliver 4K from a console because its native resolution is 5,120 x 1,440, which is too low to handle 4K’s vertical resolution of 2160 pixels. HDMI 2.1 serves no purpose aside from letting Samsung slap that label on the monitor’s marketing.
Input and monitor settings are handled through a joystick control on the monitor’s lower right bezel. Monitor settings are placed in clearly labeled menus that are easy to navigate. An instrument panel at the top of the menu provides at-a-glance information about critical settings like refresh rate and response time.
There is one new feature for 2021: three buttons beside the joystick that can be used to switch between customized settings. This is great if you switch between different settings in different games. That’s not how I play, but gamers who use the black equalizer feature to boost visibility in dark games will enjoy it.
Speakers aren’t included. The monitor also lacks support for USB-C connectivity, but it does have two USB-A ports for adding wired peripherals.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 – Gaming Performance
It’s no exaggeration to say the super-ultrawide Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 is a game-changing monitor. It can deliver not just stunning visuals but improve the way you play some titles. Unfortunately, it falls far short of perfection.
The Neo G9 is the ultimate monitor for simulation gaming. A visual landing in Microsoft Flight Simulator is easy, as the monitor’s wider perspective offers a realistic sense of speed and elevation. This same perspective can be great in open-world games and MMORPGs, making the Neo G9 a superb choice for Final Fantasy XIV or World of Warcraft.
Not all games are better on a super-ultrawide monitor, however. Most place important UI elements along the edges or corners of a display. This is a problem on a super-ultrawide, as the width will push important information outside your center of attention. You’ll have to tilt your head to see information that’s normally a glance away.
The Mini-LED backlight includes 2,048 individual dimming zones and is paired with a VA panel. Last year’s edge-lit G9 already had a solid measured contrast ratio of 1760:1, but the Neo G9 blows that away with an incredible measured contrast ratio of 8780:1. This beats Asus’ ROG Swift PG32UQX, which also uses Mini-LED. That display reached a measured contrast ratio of 4890:1.
The Neo G9’s incredible contrast provides a rich, deep image with great dimensionality. Yet, if anything, the high contrast ratio undersells the display’s strengths. Mini-LED completely eliminates the edge-lit glow that plagues most gaming monitors and ruins the ambience of dark scenes. Watching the sun set in an open-world game is a truly beautiful experience.
What about brightness? Yeah, the Neo G9 has it. Samsung claims a maximum peak brightness of 2000 nits. I measured a sustained brightness of 647 nits – the second highest I’ve ever recorded. The Neo G9’s overall HDR performance is great, with sharp, detailed highlights. Asus’ PG32UQX looks more vivid and delivers bolder, brighter color in HDR, but the Neo G9 defeats every other monitor on the market. A monitor with a conventional backlight, like the Alienware AW3821DW, can’t hope to keep up.
However, the Neo G9 has a problem. The Mini-LED backlight has a subtle pattern I noticed even on the Windows desktop. It’s not always visible in games but can create a series of horizontal bars that stand out in motion. The problem is most significant in bright scenes like a sunlit sky or a sterile laboratory room.
The Neo G9 also struggles with severe blooming, which causes bright halos to appear around objects on a dark background. You’ll see blooming around big objects, small objects, fast objects, and slow objects. You’ll even see inverse blooming, where the edge of bright objects appear faded against a darker background.
Some blooming and uniformity problems can be expected with Mini-LED, but Samsung can do better. The Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX does not have the same uniformity issues and while blooming does occur, it’s much less distracting.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 – Motion Performance
The Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 has a cutting-edge VA panel that all but eliminates the smearing issues that cause gamers to believe “VA” is a dirty word. I was able to identify some smearing of dark borders around objects when looking for it specifically, but the problem is so minor that I have trouble finding it even when examining content I know will show it.
Overall, the Neo G9’s clarity beats most gaming monitors sold today. It delivers fast response times and crisp, clean lines at the maximum refresh rate of 240Hz. Clarity holds up at lower refresh rates, too, and that’s important. Odds are good your video card can’t actually play your favorite tiles at 240 fps at this monitor’s native resolution of 5,120 x 1,440.
The Mini-LED backlight can be distracting, though. Blooming doesn’t reduce motion clarity but can lead to image quality issues that harm the monitor’s visual appeal in fast-paced games. Blooming behind a fast-moving object isn’t a motion clarity issue in the traditional sense – but it still doesn’t look great.
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 – Day-to-Day Performance
Unboxing the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 and placing it on your desk will leave you awestruck. It’s impossible not to be impressed by not only its size but also its image quality. As mentioned, the Neo G9 has an outstanding contrast ratio and very high maximum brightness. Its color performance isn’t exceptional but holds its own against other high-end monitors and will prove more than adequate for most people.
Despite this, the Neo G9 isn’t a great monitor for day-to-day use or content creation. The super-ultrawide aspect ratio and aggressive 1000R curvature are a problem when using the monitor to view and edit photos and videos. A 32:9 aspect ratio isn’t a great fit when editing content for a 16:9 display. You’ll also see distortion introduced by the curve. A straight line will never look straight.
The Mini-LED backlight’s issues are a problem. It’s so slow, and blooming is so noticeable, that you’ll see issues around the edges of windows. I’m not sure this is a functional problem for content creators, but it certainly feels unworthy of a premium monitor. Photo editors will despise the subtle pattern created by the backlight’s uniformity problems.
While the Neo G9’s HDR performance is great in games, it’s not ideal in Windows. Turning on HDR makes the display appear washed out and dull rather than more vivid. You’ll want to turn HDR off outside of games or HDR movies. This is a common problem for all monitors, but one the Neo G9 doesn’t resolve.
If you ever find yourself stuck sprucing up a rusty, beaten-down laundromat owned by your business mogul dad — who just happens to be Geralt of Rivia voice actor Doug Cockle — you might consider sticking it to the old man by secretly converting the entire thing into a classic 1990s-style arcade. If that’s up your alley, then you’ll be pleased as fruit punch to discover the upcoming Arcade Paradise, a management sim in the vein of Stardew Valley that has you running and managing your very own arcade from the ground up.
But this isn’t just any management sim. Not only will you run the laundromat and arcade businesses side-by-side as you manage each of your different funnels of income, it sounds like you’ll also get to dive into and play all 50 of these fully-realized arcade games.
There are a decent variety of cabinets to start with, like Video Air Hockey, a Candy Crush-style adventure game, and an F-Zero-like racer. But it’s cool that you can add other non-gaming features, such as a jukebox, which is full of retro-80s and retro-90s-themed original music.
Expect it to take a little while before you get anywhere, however. When your arcade venture is brand new and doesn’t generate much revenue as a result, your main hustle will boil down to running laundry cycles, unclogging toilets, cleaning up gum, and taking out the trash. At the end of each day, you’ll want to place your funds into a conveniently-located safe in the backroom office so you can buy sleek renovations and new arcade cabinets that arrive the next day, like clockwork. But watch out — if you stay at work for too long instead of going home to get a good night’s rest, you can pass out, which makes you miss time at work the next day.
It’s not as sophisticated as Stardew Valley’s loop, but it certainly adds a reason for you to keep an eye on the time via your nifty wrist watch — especially when planning out laundry cycles that can take several real-world minutes, or several in-game hours, to complete. It’s also worth mentioning that I didn’t see any other NPCs, and it doesn’t seem like there’s an option to hire employees to run these basic tasks for you.
Towards the beginning of a fresh save, it seems like you’re able to sink a minute or two at a time into an arcade cabinet while you wait for laundry cycles to finish automating, but since your main focus early on is leaning on the laundromat side of your business for steady cash flow, you won’t be doing too much in the arcade.
But you can expect things to become much more relaxed once you’ve purchased and collected enough different arcade cabinets.
Once that steady inflow of arcade money comes in, expect to give these arcade cabinets far more of your sustained focus, since you can ride on the passive income that they generate while you play to your heart’s content — at least until you need to go home at the end of the day. At this point, about two and a half hours into my preview session, I basically stopped paying attention to laundry cycles at all — instead, racking up points in the surprisingly accurate homages to Pac-Man and Grand Theft Auto.
Your main hustle will boil down to running laundry cycles, unclogging toilets, cleaning up gum, and taking out the trash.
As you play games, work your way through a to-do list, and score achievements, you can earn pounds in addition to regular cash. If you’d like to, you can then log into your PC and spend these neat pounds on extra cosmetic benefits, but it’s all optional. It’s nice that you can also alter the different settings of each arcade cabinet, which changes how much profit it generates on its own.
The PC in your backroom office is an effective base of operations that serves to add even more 1990s flavor to your arcade. This is where you receive emails, where you can chat with your dad and sibling about how your business is progressing, and where you’ll shop for upgrades. In fact, this retro-style computer has a few extra authentic tricks up its sleeve, coming in hot with a Windows 95-esque interface and even featuring classic dial-up sounds to boot.
The PC in your backroom office is an effective base of operations that serves to add even more 1990s flavor to your arcade.
There’s a story to follow here, too, but in the first few hours at least, it seems like it’ll take a back seat to managing and building your business. The story that exists is enough to guide you through the process of learning everything you need to know, and Doug Cockle is entertaining in his role as business dad, where he sometimes shouts orders at you over the phone but doesn’t overstay his welcome.
In this early build, I found that the keyboard and mouse controls were a bit rough and unclear, and I couldn’t find a menu where the keybinds were laid out. However, I found that plugging in an Xbox Elite Controller made Arcade Paradise far more enjoyable to play overall. The button layout is simpler; for example, you only need to hold the Y button in order to exit your PC or arcade cabinet. Whereas, relying on my keyboard and mouse setup, I got stuck in an arcade cabinet for an entire in-game workday.
Witcher 3 voice actor Doug Cockle is entertaining in his role as business dad, where he sometimes shouts orders at you over the phone.
Given that I’m playing with a preview build, this is all subject to change, especially including the quality of life features. But after spending over three hours exploring only a mere handful of these authentically-designed arcade cabinets, I can confidently say that Arcade Paradise promises a surprising amount of variety and depth thus far. Overall, it sounds like there are still quite a few features and arcade cabinets that I didn’t get a chance to see, but I’m excited to give Arcade Paradise a proper dive when it launches later this year.
