biteho.com

Turner & Hooch premieres Wednesday, July 21 on Disney+.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Disney’s new Turner & Hooch series is a charming follow-up to the original 1989 film, featuring Josh Peck (Drake & Josh, The Wackness) as the son of Tom Hanks’ cop character and a new rambunctious, order-destroying hound ready to sloppily sniff out all the clues that evade local law enforcement.

The new Turner & Hooch carries the tone of the perfectly agreeable film, a pleasing balance of comedy, action, and heart — though maybe it’s a little too similar for those familiar with the original. So much of the first episode, “Forever and a Dog,” acts as a retread of the beats from the movie, to the point where sometimes it feels like little more than a gussied-up Turner & Hooch rewatch.

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/06/30/the-biggest-streaming-movies-and-tv-shows-of-july-2021″]

A legacy sequel allows for reboot elements to occur — as Peck’s pristine routine-loving US Marshal Scott Turner Jr. (yup) gets saddled with a giant dog who throws his life into chaos and disaster — while still tethering to the story to, well, let’s face it, Tom Hanks. Even though Hanks’ Scott Turner Sr. acts as (off-screen) connective tissue, the show kills off the character, and leaves no opportunity for a Hanks cameo (unless he recorded a tape for Scott Jr.). It feels like a strange door to close, though maybe it was ultimately easier than having to forever mention Scott Sr. and never see him.

There are some elements that just hit differently in the modern age, and not necessarily in a good way. Watching a person’s apartment and personal belongings get absolutely wrecked for the sake of comedy is sometimes jarring, as is the notion of giving someone a dog that they do not want and are not equipped to care for. What was once a silly gimmick for a buddy cop movie now just feels wildly irresponsible and potentially harmful. It’s not a show-breaker, but it’s poor form for all adults involved, regardless of this new Hooch-type dog (named Hooch, naturally) being willed to Scott Jr. by his dad.

[poilib element=”poll” parameters=”id=c683463c-9aeb-4ede-95d1-10a976965aba”]

Because of this, it feels like Turner & Hooch’s best material might be ahead of it. After this premiere episode that sets up the human/dog dynamic while heavily leaning on a decades-old movie and its sort of wonky, antiquated ideas of cops and doggos, hopefully Turner & Hooch can tell stories on its own terms. It will always play as a continuation (Reginald VelJohnson is set to return and Sheila Kelley now plays the role Mare Winningham once played), but it still has the freedom to free itself from elements that don’t quite work now. Even the villain in this first chapter is a callback, in a way, to the baddie from the film.

Creator Matt Nix (Burn Notice, The Gifted) infuses Turner & Hooch nicely with the “blue sky” programming tone from his Characters Welcome USA days, providing a few chuckles, a groovy car chase (though I think some innocent people may have died?), clear stakes, a solid ensemble, and an overall sense of friendliness. Carra Patterson plays Scott’s partner and mentor, providing another less-put-together foil for our mild-mannered and rule-abiding hero to bounce off of. Patterson’s pregnant Marshall Baxter represents a person who’s willing to invite both love and something disruptive into her life, which are two avenues Scott has sort of closed himself off to. Nikita and Agent Carter’s Lyndsy Fonseca, as Scott’s sister, also represents this to a degree. In fact, everyone around Scott is someone more willing to confront clutter and confusion.

[poilib element=”quoteBox” parameters=”excerpt=Turner%20%26amp%3B%20Hooch%26%2339%3Bs%20best%20material%20might%20be%20ahead%20of%20it.”]

And even though the “will they/won’t they” love interest established in this first episode draws parallels to Hanks’ Scott falling for a veterinarian, Vanessa Lengies’ Erica, a dog trainer, feels like a good pairing for Scott since her job, specifically, is to bring the upheaval to order. Peck himself makes for a good leading man, as his comedy past serves him well here. The series overall isn’t looking to break any molds, but the further it gets from the roadmap of the film, the better chance it has of an uptick.
[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”albumSlug=the-weirdest-failed-tv-pilots-in-history&captions=true”]

As I take my first trepidatious steps into the Katanga refinery, hair-raising hisses courtesy of its xenomorph residents echo throughout the steel corridors. A frightening greeting, for sure, but close encounters of the chest-bursting kind come with the job when you’re a Marine in Aliens: Fireteam Elite. This three-player co-op third-person shooter from developer Cold Iron Studios sets its sights on being the de facto galactic bug-hunting simulator that Aliens fans have wanted for nearly four decades. And after playing a near-final build full of superb firefights with wonderfully grotesque alien breeds, I’m optimistic that the silver screen’s seminal interspecies war is finally getting the glorious game adaptation it rightly deserves.

Set 23 years after James Cameron’s 1986 film, Aliens: Fireteam Elite follows a battalion of Colonial Marines investigating a distress call from the planetary colony LV-895. It seems everyone’s favorite parasitic species is running amok again, and I was one of the poor sods sent in on extermination duty. Plot details beyond this rough outline were noticeably sparse, lacking even lore dumps via notes or computer terminals. I could only play through the opening chapter’s first couple missions, though, so it’s likely that most of the story was hidden away until the full release. Given that everything iconic about the film was here in stunning detail, from Vietnam War-like decoration of Marine armor down to the pulse rifle’s iconic electric chug, I’m hopeful the story will receive the same meticulously loving treatment.

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”slug=aliens-fireteam-elite-july-2021-screenshots&captions=true”]

What Aliens: Fireteam Elite unquestionably captures the essence of from its namesake is tense, close-quarters shootouts with swarms of xenomorph. These acid-fueled uglies will flood into rooms like a tidal wave of gnashing teeth and tail-whips until there’s no breathing room left, meaning you’ll need a steady trigger finger and crafty strategies to gain any ground. Of course, mowing them down with a pulse rifle or smartgun is a reliable first line of defense, and witnessing their exoskeletons rip-apart into gooey chunks is a guilty pleasure of mine — but careless brute force will only get you so far. Everybody within a fireteam must synergize their special class abilities when things get hairy. Coupling the technician’s stun grenades with a rocket barrage from the demolisher’s shoulder cannon, for example, became the immensely satisfying one-two xeno-toppling punch between a teammate and me. One that got plenty of use as wall-to-wall infestations were common inside the Katanga’s darkest depths.

[poilib element=”quoteBox” parameters=”excerpt=These%20acid-fueled%20uglies%20will%20flood%20into%20rooms%20like%20a%20tidal%20wave%20of%20gnashing%20teeth%20and%20tail-whips%20until%20there%26%2339%3Bs%20no%20breathing%20room%20left.”]

My only concern with Aliens: Fireteam Elite’s combat is how finicky and mobility-limiting the cover system can be. Doorways often require needlessly frame-perfect camera alignments for you to hug them while others don’t, not to mention sticking yourself to a piece of cover is a bad call when the overwhelming majority of enemies sprint towards you to get within melee range. Sure, there’s the spitter xenomorphs that hock corrosive loogies from a distance, but I’ve yet to get hit by one. Though with several yet-to-be-seen xenomorph types and synthetic androids still to come, it’s a safe bet that more of them will make hiding behind cover a viable tactic.

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”slug=aliens-fireteam-new-xenomorph-types&captions=true”]

That’s a wager I’m confident in winning, too, because every breed of xenomorph thus far has distinct roles during missions. Take the ever so opportunistic drones that opt for quick hit-and-runs on anyone foolish enough to stroll off on their own. Once you’re in firing range, they’ve usually already darted back into the ventilation system — saving its skin while taking a hefty chunk of the victim’s health with them. Or prowlers, fearsome tackle artists that are particularly fond of pinning Marines to the ground at the least convenient times. Whenever I didn’t bother checking behind a corner, this crimson-shaded menace was eager to punish my negligence.

[poilib element=”quoteBox” parameters=”excerpt=Take%20the%20ever%20so%20opportunistic%20drones%20that%20opt%20for%20quick%20hit-and-runs%20on%20anyone%20foolish%20enough%20to%20stroll%20off%20on%20their%20own.”]

Even runners, which are all-purpose cannon fodder xenomorphs, are slippery when their numbers seem endless — complementing the more challenging breeds marvelously when you hyperfocus on one over the other. That overarching theme sets Aliens: Fireteam Elite apart from other games based on the series. Each breed’s quirk plays off its kin well, making the hive itself (and your worst nightmares) come alive.

By the time my team and I made it through the whole of Katanga, Aliens: Fireteam Elite mostly won me over. Mostly. The marine’s weaponry and class toolkits harmonize with the xenomorph’s adaptive nature excellently, which got me plenty excited, despite the cover system being less than helpful and the sparse story beats leaving too much to the imagination. Either way, though, I’m stoked to play more when it comes out next month.

It’s here: the great nineties sitcom Seinfeld has been immortalized in a LEGO set. The set depicts the comedian’s iconic apartment, as well as the stage where Jerry tells standup jokes to kick off and close most episodes. It’s available now exclusively at the LEGO Store for $79.99.

The one caveat is that, for now, it’s only available to VIP members. This is an easy problem to fix, as anyone with a LEGO Store account can become a VIP member just by clicking a button or two. It’s free. If you don’t want to jump through those meager hoops, you can wait until the set is available for non-VIP members on August 1.

LEGO Ideas Seinfeld

[poilib element=”commerceDeal” parameters=”slug=lego-seinfeld-set”]

Designed for ages 18 and up, this set is comprised of 1,326 pieces and comes with five minifigures. You get Jerry, Elaine, George, Kramer, and Newman. The bulk of the set is Jerry’s apartment, complete with his computer room, kitchen, and a bit of the hallway with the door to Kramer’s apartment.

Like the Friends LEGO sets, this one has lots of fun details from the show. There’s a Superman magnet on the fridge, along with a menu for Monk’s Cafe, where they frequently get coffee. The computer has an internet browser open to the website for Vandelay Industries.

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”slug=lego-seinfeld-set&captions=true”]

Each minifig is holding an appropriate item, often from a particularly memorable episode. For instance, Elaine has a goldfish in a bag, a reference to the parking garage episode. George has a loaf of marble rye and a fishing pole. Kramer has a pretzel and his coffee table book of coffee tables. You even get one of George Costanza’s boudoir photos to hang on the wall.

Again, this set is only available to VIP members for now. It will open up to everyone on August 1, but there’s no reason not to sign up for the VIP program. If you do sign up for the program, you’ll start accruing VIP points for each LEGO Store purchase. These can be redeemed for various prizes and other things. You also get early access to certain sets (like this Seinfeld one) and are eligible for various other benefits. 

The set is part of the LEGO Ideas line, in which anyone can submit build ideas for LEGO to consider making if they receive 10,000 votes from the community.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Chris Reed is a commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @_chrislreed.

Publisher Bandai Namco has announced that worldwide sales for SoulCalibur VI have now reached two million copies in total since the game originally launched on October 19, 2018.

Like many fighting games of the modern era, SoulCalibur VI’s sales were augmented by the release of additional characters and levels through downloadable content, with characters such as Hwang and Setsuka being added to the roster. Players could also create their own warriors through the game’s extensive character creation mode, which often resulted in some hilarious and disturbing creatures appearing in online matches.

SoulCalibur VI was also available on Xbox Game Pass for a time, eventually leaving the subscription service on July 1 this year.

Compared to previous games in the series, SoulCalibur VI did better number than its predecessor SoulCalibur V, which had shipped 1.38 million units as of June 30, 2012, although SoulCalibur IV still stands as one of the best-selling games in the series with 2.32 million units sold.

“Like all the best titles in the genre, it has a low barrier to entry and high skill ceiling,” critic Tamoor Hussain said in his SoulCalibur VI review. “For those looking to get in a few games with friends it’s welcoming and immediately enjoyable. For those committed to ploughing the depths of its systems to get tournament ready, it has plenty to unpack and understand. Better still, those that want to play alone will find SoulCalibur VI has some of the most substantial single-player content in any fighting game today.”

A recent teaser for Battlefield 2042‘s new mode that will be revealed on July 22 apparently points to the possibility that a fan-favorite map from Bad Company 2 will be in the game.

An eagle-eyed fan on Reddit used Photoshop to reveal that the video contains what appears to be a reference to a map that bears a strong resemblance to Bad Company 2’s Valparaiso. As you can see in the image below, and more clearly in the comparison shot further down the page, the map shown in the teaser video very much appears to be Valparaiso.

Battlefield 2042’s new mode will feature fan-favorite maps from the Battlefield series, and Valparaiso would certainly fit the bill. As for how this map would factor into the new Battlefield game, that’s anyone’s guess. So far, DICE has confirmed only that Battlefield 2042 will have seven All Out Warfare maps at launch, with more to come over time.

Bad Company 2 never got a sequel, but if one of its maps lives on through Battlefield 2042, that’ll at least be something for fans of the sub-brand to enjoy.

Whatever the case, we’ll know more very soon, as EA and DICE are set to officially announce this new mode on July 22 during EA Play Live. The show is also expected to bring news about what’s next for Apex Legends and reveal the first gameplay for the EA Originals title Lost in Random.

There may also be some surprises, EA teased. It’s widely believed that EA will formally announce the heavily rumored new Dead Space title at EA Play Live.

For more, check out GameSpot’s breakdown of how to watch EA Play Live and what to expect.

EA Sports’ upcoming professional golf game, EA Sports PGA Tour, will feature the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), one of its Major tournaments, and female golfers as playable characters.

The Amundi Evian Championship in Évian-les-Bains, France–which is one of the LPGA’s five Majors–will be featured in the upcoming golf game, which launches in Spring 2022. The real-world tournament takes place this week. This is the first time that the event has ever been featured in a video game.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 featured the LPGA, but from the sound of it, this is a broader representation of the women’s game to be featured in EA Sports PGA Tour next year.

“We’re thrilled that the LPGA Tour is coming back to EA Sports PGA Tour especially with the inclusion of a major global tournament like The Amundi Evian Championship,” LPGA boss Brian Carroll said. “EA Sports has done a great job in continuing to expand female representation in the various modes throughout the game and featuring women’s golf in an authentic and modern way.”

In an effort to “create a more welcoming community,” EA’s development team worked with former pro golfer and current broadcaster Iona Stephen. She joined EA’s larger “creative council” to help shape and inform the game’s audio, visuals, and more. Stephen will also be a commentator in the game.

“I’m incredibly excited that EA Sports PGA Tour laid out a vision to represent female athletes and the LPGA in the game,” Stephen said. “My goal in helping EA is to give women the satisfaction of playing a quality golf game while seeing themselves in a variety of ways that go beyond a handful of female character models.”

EA also announced that pro golfer Jin Young Ko–the defending champion of the Amundi Evian Championship–will be included in EA Sports PGA Tour as a playable character. “Women’s golf is growing so fast and having us included in this game is a great opportunity to reach fans all around the world. I can’t wait to see how it turns out–and I can’t wait to play the game!” Ko said.

“Several” other LPGA players will be featured in EA Sports PGA Tour, while you’ll also be able to create a female golfer in the game.

In addition to The Amundi Evian Championship, EA Sports PGA Tour will have all four PGA Tour Majors, including the Masters, PGA Championship, US Open, and The Open, along with The Players Championship and the FedExCup Playoffs. A full roster of playable characters has not been announced yet, nor have we seen any images or gameplay for the title.

EA has announced that its upcoming golf simulator, EA Sports PGA Tour, will feature the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour, along with playable women golfers.

The upcoming golf game, which will launch in Spring 2022, is set to feature one of the LPGA Tour’s five major championships; The Amundi Evian Championships. Set in the “truest representation” of France’s Evian Resort Golf Club, EA Sports PGA Tour will be the first new-generation video game to depict women’s golf.

Former pro golfer and current GOLFTV and Sky Sports broadcaster, Iona Stephen, has worked with EA to help guarantee authenticity. Additionally, Stephen will also be EA’s first female on-course commentator, and so players will be able to hear her voice provide insights and assessments of their performance on the green.

[ignvideo url=”https://www.ign.com/videos/2015/07/15/rory-mcilroy-pga-tour-video-review”]

“I’m incredibly excited that EA Sports PGA Tour laid out a vision to represent female athletes and the LPGA in the game,” said Stephen in a press release. “My goal in helping EA is to give women the satisfaction of playing a quality golf game while seeing themselves in a variety of ways that go beyond a handful of female character models.”

Stephen will not be the only women’s golf professional featured in the game. Jin Young Ko, the winner of the 2019 Amundi Evian Championship, will also be included as a playable character. She is one of a roster of golfing athletes that can be used across game modes, including the Amundi Evian Championship and a variety of challenges.

Players who wish to create their own golfer can also craft women characters in the Create-A-Player feature, and these characters can then compete in LPGA-themed challenges, amateur tournaments, and The Amundi Evian Championship.

EA Sports PGA Tour marks EA’s return to the golfing space after a few years away. While it will not feature Tiger Woods due to his exclusivity contract with PGA Tour 2K, it will have major competitions such as The Masters Tournament and FedEx Cup.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Matt Purslow is IGN’s UK News and Entertainment Writer.

If you’re looking for something new to play on PS5 or PS4, you’re in luck. The PlayStation Store is hosting its annual Summer Sale right now with deals on more than 1,200 games. The sale includes PS5 exclusives such as Returnal and Demon’s Souls as well as 2021 multi-platform games like Hitman 3 and Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. The Summer Sale runs until August 19, but the second batch of game deals will go live on August 4.

PS5 owners can grab a couple exclusives at a discount. Bluepoint’s excellent Demon’s Souls remake is on sale for $49.69, down from $70. Housemarque’s wonderful roguelike shooter Returnal, one of the best games of 2021 so far, is down to $49.69, too. You can also grab Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Launch Edition for $55.29. It comes with a remastered PS5 version of Marvel’s Spider-Man as well as the standalone sequel starring Miles Morales.

There are some nice discounts on games with free PS5 upgrades in the sale, too. Sackboy: A Big Adventure, a delightful family-friendly LittleBigPlanet spin-off, is discounted to $40.19. Meanwhile, you can get Hitman 3 for 50% off at just $30. Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate has also received a big discount, dropping the price to $24.

In addition to Demon’s Souls, you can save on From Software’s entire library of games for PlayStation. Dark Souls Remastered is $20, Dark Souls II is $10, and Dark Souls III is $15. From Software’s latest original game, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, is on sale for $39, and Bloodborne is only $10.

Other highlights from the sale include Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s Cross-Gen Bundle for $35, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition for $45, and It Takes Two for $30.

We’ve rounded up more of the highlights from PSN’s Summer Sale below. Make sure to check the end dates on deals, as some discounts are only available until August 4. Also, don’t forget to come back when the sale reaches its halfway point; we’ll update this article when the deals refresh.

Best deals on PSN

• Batman: Arkham Collection — $15 ($60)
• Bloodborne — $10 ($20)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War – Cross-Gen Bundle — $35 ($70)
• Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time — $36 ($60)
• Dark Souls Remastered — $20 ($40)
• Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin — $10 ($40)
• Dark Souls III — $15 ($60)
• Demon’s Souls — $49.69 ($70)
• Destiny 2: Beyond Light — $24 ($40)
• Destiny 2: Legendary Edition — $40 ($80)
• Disco Elysium – The Final Cut — $24 ($40)
• Dragon Ball FighterZ — $9 ($60)
• Hitman 3 — $30 ($60)
• It Takes Two — $30 ($40)
• Judgment — $26 ($40)
• Little Nightmares II — $24 ($30)
• Marvel’s Avengers — $24 ($60)
• Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales Ultimate Edition — $55.29 ($70)
• Mass Effect: Legendary Edition — $45 ($60)
• Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Master Edition — $37.49 ($50)
• Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate — $24 ($60)
• Outriders — $39 ($60)
• Red Dead Redemption 2 — $24.59 ($60)
• Returnal — $49.69 ($70)
• Sackboy: A Big Adventure — $40.19 ($60)
• Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice — $39 ($60)
• Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 — $30 ($40)
• Yakuza: Like a Dragon — $39 ($60)

Netflix has revealed the main characters and voice cast for The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf, an upcoming anime origin story telling a tale from the life of Geralt’s mentor, Vesemir.

Vesemir, voiced by Theo James (star of The Divergent Series), is described as a “swashbuckling young witcher” who slays monsters in an effort to escape poverty. In Nightmare of the Wolf, Vesemir will embark on an adventure to rid a politically-fraught kingdom of a strange new monster. This journey will also see him confront his own past demons.

When you’re a monster hunter, every deal has a price. The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf premieres August 23 only on @netflix. pic.twitter.com/M6vFlBG1cO

— The Witcher (@witchernetflix) July 21, 2021

That journey will see Vesemir come across Tetra (voiced by Lara Pulver), Deglan (Graham McTavish) and Lady Zerbst (Mary McDonnell). You can see all four of their anime renditions in the gallery below.

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”albumSlug=the-witcher-nightmare-of-the-wolf-characters&captions=true”]

The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf will be available from August 23, and acts as a prequel to The Witcher TV show. The main show’s showrunner, Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, is co-producing alongside Beau DeMayo, and the anime is directed by Studio Mir’s Kwang Il Han.

For more, check out why Nightmare of the Wolf is an anime and not live-action, what we can expect from season 2 of the main The Witcher TV show, and the latest trailer for Henry Cavil’s Geralt adventures.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Matt Purslow is IGN’s UK News and Entertainment Writer.