Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Should You Choose The Stairs Or The Elevator?
Final Fantasy 7 Remake is full of small choices that can affect your overall experience in a bunch of subtle ways. Sometimes these choices add to a behind-the-scenes tally that changes which characters show up for specific story moments. Other times, the changes are more obvious, like when you choose between taking the elevator or the stairs in Shinra Tower in Chapter 16. Like the original FF7, your route gives you a slightly different experience.
Here’s what you need to know about the choice between the elevator and the stairs in Shinra Tower, what you’re missing depending on your choice, and how you can see both sides of the coin.
Should You Pick The Elevator Or The Stairs?
The choice between taking the elevator and the stairs echoes a similar one from the original Final Fantasy 7. In that game, taking the elevator was more convenient, but also forced you into additional battles with Shinra troops as you approached the top floors. The stairs were a safer alternative, but you had to run up all 60 flights; the upshot was, you got an elixir midway through.
FF7 Remake’s stairs and elevator are similar, but the reason to try one (or both) is for the dialogue between characters on the way. Both build up the characters and their relationships, but each has a specific tone.
The Elevator
Choose the elevator if you want a little more somber character development for Tifa, and to a lesser extent, Barret. The trip up will stop a few times as other people try to get on the elevator, resulting in a couple of quick fights with Elite Officers that shouldn’t trouble you too much.
As you head up, a regular Shinra employee will also attempt to take the elevator. Upon encountering the Avalanche squad, she’ll run off in another direction. Seeing the regular people that work for Shinra pushes Tifa to reflect a little more on what she and the rest of Avalanche have been doing.
Overall, the elevator is the (much) quicker and more convenient choice, and it comes with a heavier story moment. But it also continues to give you insight into Tifa’s frame of mind, suggesting that while she believes in Barret’s goals of saving the planet, she doesn’t have nearly the ruthless conviction that he does.
The Stairs
Pick the stairs if you want a funnier moment between the characters, particularly concerning Barret. Taking the stairs is the safer option–there are no battles on the way up–but it is the longer option, requiring you to physically run up all 60-some flights.
It’s tiresome, not just for you and your thumbs, but for the characters. Over time, Cloud and Barret will slow their ascent, making the whole thing take even longer. But that leaves room for some pretty funny dialogue as Barret, lagging behind, calls for Cloud to wait up for him, and Tifa burns ahead, wondering what’s taking so long. The stairs lead to a lighter moment than the elevator trip, one that suggests the bonds growing between Cloud and his pals.
You Should Really See Both
Picking the stairs or the elevator doesn’t have a discernable impact on the rest of the game (that we know of–FF7 Remake seems to take a lot of minor decisions into consideration for some big moments, but all that tracking happens behind the scenes), so hit the scene that sounds more interesting to you. Or better yet, save your game right before making the decision and check out both scenes. Both expand on the characters of FF7 Remake, which are the best thing about it, in different ways, and both are worth your time, even if you have to run up an entire tower’s worth of stairs to see them.
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Kings & Criminals: 3 New VOD Movies to Stream This Weekend
Below you’ll find micro-reviews of three notable new digital releases, each of which portrays fact-based characters who operated outside of the boundaries of the law.
There’s Ned Kelly — think of him as Australia’s Jesse James, but with a suit of armor — and Robert the Bruce, Scotland’s “outlaw king” who’s played here by the same actor who portrayed him in Braveheart.
Finally, there’s a new HBO true crime drama, Bad Education, which is garnering Hugh Jackman some of his best reviews in years.
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True History of the Kelly Gang
- VOD Date: April 24
- Available on Amazon, GooglePlay, YouTube, Vudu, iTunes, PlayStation, Xbox, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum (Charter, Time Warner, Brighthouse), Verizon Fios, Altice (Optimum), Cox, DirecTV, AT&T, Bend Broadband, Buckeye, Guadalupe Valley, Hotwire Communications, Metrocast, Suddenlink, WOW Internet Cable, RCN, Midcontinent Communications
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True History of the Kelly Gang is a gripping, atmospheric approach to the legend of Australia’s most notorious outlaws with its tense pacing and unsettling, relentless score keeping the viewer on edge throughout and an aesthetic that is both grungy and grand, intense yet intimate.
Actors from Mick Jagger to Heath Ledger have portrayed Ned Kelly in a number of films over the years, some of those movies faring better than others. Coming off of his acclaimed turn in the stellar 1917, George MacKay once again impresses, making Kelly a tightly coiled, dangerous yet still emotionally accessible punk. Russell Crowe humanizes his rather grotesque mentor figure — and sings an incredibly vulgar yet funny song to children at one point — while Essie Davis is the fierce, wounded heart of the film as Ned’s mother. Nicholas Hoult and Charlie Hunnam both impress as the entitled lawmen who plague the Kellys, each using their positions of power and social status to lord over the family.
Director Justin Kurzel’s anachronistic yet poetic style is reminiscent of Alex Cox’s films from the ‘80s, so it will likely prove challenging for some viewers to embrace. The dramatic license taken here — especially in the film’s attempt to be modern and political in its sensibilities — will also likely prove a bridge too far for those who know the real history of Ned Kelly, even if the film makes it clear from the get-go that it’s not interested in the “True History” so much as being a character study like The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. While I’m still not sure True History of the Kelly Gang ultimately delivered its message clearly, I certainly appreciated it employing an off-kilter approach rather than traveling a safe and familiar route.
SCORE: 8.0
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Robert the Bruce
- VOD Date: April 24
- Available on Amazon, AppleTV, GooglePlay, FandangoNOW, iTunes, Xbox, PlayStation, VUDU, DirecTV, AT&T Uverse, Altice, Comcast, Cox, Spectrum, Verizon FiOS
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Angus Macfayden reprises his role from Braveheart as the 14th century Scottish rebel-king Robert the Bruce, but viewers expecting a rousing, freeeeeedom!!-loving epic like that bloody Mel Gibson classic will likely be disappointed by this surprisingly low-key, small-scale drama. Robert the Bruce lacks any massive battles like those depicted in the 1995 Best Picture winner or even in 2018’s Outlaw King, which also chronicled the Bruce’s life and campaigns.
Macfayden’s thoughtful performance aims to demystify this legendary figure, as we see him mostly on the run throughout the film and struggling with doubt. The story is really about what he represents to his fellow Scots, from the other lords who have their own agendas to a family of commoners he finds refuge with. This less epic, more intimate approach is an interesting idea but in a stage play, “bottle episode” sort of way but, again, if you’re expecting Braveheart 2 you may find the film a bit of a chore as it’s more for the drama and history-minded.
Visually, Robert the Bruce also seems to be consciously avoiding Braveheart comparisons (despite the casting of Macfayden) by foregoing vistas the green fields and rocky moors of medieval Scotland in favor of a bleak, wintry landscape where nature is as much a foe to face as rival clans or the English.
SCORE: 6.0
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Bad Education
Hugh Jackman delivers one of his most nuanced performances in HBO’s Bad Education, a different sort of true crime movie. Inspired by the larceny scandal that rocked the Roslyn, New York school district in the early 2000s, Jackman portrays superintendent Frank Tassone, who was eventually busted for embezzling millions. The film generates some sympathy for Tassone by portraying him as a veteran educator who wants only the best for his students. Problem is, he wanted the best for himself, too.
This is a tautly-paced, very human study of everyday people harboring big secrets. And it’s not just Tassone and his fellow Roslyn employees — namely Allison Janney’s scammer and Ray Romano’s status-minded school board president — who are solely to blame for this giant mess. There are also entitled parents who demand preferential treatment for their not particularly gifted kids, parents whose real estate values are directly tied to their school district’s inflated success.
As directed by Cory Finley, Bad Education is a tragicomic portrait of an ecosystem fed by ambition and greed, populated by people seeking greater status whether they’ve earned it or not. Jackman is exceptional as this circus’s ringmaster who convinces himself and all those in his orbit that he’s precisely the person they require to realize all their grand ambitions.
SCORE: 8.0
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Jim Vejvoda is IGN’s Executive Editor of Movies. Follow him at @JimVejvoda.
10 Cloverfield Lane Director Reveals Alternate Endings and Deleted Subplots
If you missed our 10 Cloverfield Lane WFH Theater, you can still check it out in the player above or below. But if you just want to know the key takeaways from the episode, read on to learn more about the new details Trachtenberg revealed.
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Cloverfield as The Twilight Zone
The Cloverfield franchise is a strange beast. There are currently three films in the series, but they don’t tell a sequential story so much as explore individual stories set within a shared universe. That was always the intention, according to Trachtenberg. He said the series (once it actually became a series) was envisioned as a modern-day Twilight Zone anthology.
“It’s like The Twilight Zone, except that instead of having it be called ‘The Cloverfield Zone,’ any movie that comes out you have ‘Cloverfield’ in the title as a fun way of doing it.”
Damien Chazelle Almost Directed
10 Cloverfield Lane is notable for featuring a screenplay written by a pre-Whiplash and La La Land Damien Chazelle. It turns out Chazelle was originally attached to direct as well, but he dropped out in 2014 once Whiplash received funding
The Psycho Inspiration
Trachtenberg revealed Alfred Hitchcock’s seminal 1960 film Psycho was one of the biggest inspirations for 10 Cloverfield Lane, which isn’t surprising given the suspenseful plot and confined setting. Trachtenberg said composer Bear McCreary’s score was especially Psycho-influenced, as were the opening scenes of Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s character Michelle fleeing her old life.
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How Video Games Inspired the Movie
As much as Trachtenberg drew from Hollywood classics like Jaws and Psycho. he revealed that 10 Cloverfield Lane is equally influenced by iconic video games like Half-Life 2 and The Last of Us.
“I took as much inspiration from my experience playing Half-Life 2 and The Last of Us and Uncharted as I did from the movies I watched,” said Trachtenberg. “The thing I always say about it is I find first-person games to be less immersive than third-person games. Even though first-person games – you are the character. It is you. But I feel like when we’re linked to a character and watching their behavior. I can then identify and relate and feel more for that that when, ‘It’s you! It’s me!'”
He continued, “Video games have always been a massive inspiration, and certainly for the filmmaking in the movie and the kind of movie that it is in general.”
On the subject of figuring out the creature designs, Trachtenberg told us the Gears of War franchise became a major source of inspiration. “I love the idea that the spaceship is some space creature that instead of pulling their rudder on a boat, it’s pulling on its organ to make it turn left or right. We grafted the tech on top of this organism.”
That Bradley Cooper Cameo
While 10 Cloverfield Lane features only three main cast members, it does include another A-List Hollywood star in cameo form. None other than Bradley Cooper provides the voice of Ben, Michelle’s boyfriend who calls her early in the film. Trachtenberg told us casting Ben was actually a difficult process. Eventually producer J.J. Abrams emailed Cooper and convinced him to join up. Cooper wound up recording his lines on his phone.
The Alternate Opening
The film originally began with what Trachtenberg described as a more traditional opening sequence. However, both he and Winstead agreed to alter that opening to help better align it with the rest of the film in terms of tone and Michelle’s overall character arc.
Describing the original opening, Trachtenberg said, “She’s with her boyfriend and she’s going to meet his parents for the first time, and she’s nervous about that. Essentially, it was a very familiar horror movie opening where the protagonist is worrying about something frivolous, and then something crazy happens… It wasn’t great and it wasn’t really thematic. Mary and I were really driven by the idea that this is someone who would be breaking a cycle by going through this.”
Trachtenberg’s First Shot
Trachtenberg made his directorial debut on 10 Cloverfield Lane. He revealed the shot of Michelle waking up in her underground cell was actually his very first shot on the movie. For the most part, he shot the movie chronologically, in order to make the tension that much more authentic.
John Goodman’s Angry Performance
10 Cloverfield Lane hinges a lot on John Goodman’s ability to paint a convincing portrait of the paranoid, unstable Howard Stambler. Trachtenberg told us that while Goodman wasn’t his first choice to play Howard, once the idea was floated he couldn’t picture anyone else in the role. Trachtenberg took inspiration not from Goodman’s past roles, but instead an infamous old interview where Goodman became progressively more agitated with the interviewer while struggling to continue forward.
The Welcome Mat
Trachtenberg pointed out one minor but important detail regarding Howard’s underground bunker. There’s a welcome mat at the front entrance of the bunker, and Trachtenberg said he agonized over what direction to orient the mat and what that implied about Howard’s character.
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CGI Pigs
While 10 Cloverfield Lane is a low-budget thriller that takes place almost entirely within one structure, there is one scene featuring a liberal use of CGI where you might not expect it. When Michelle looks outside and sees the dead pigs, the pigs themselves are completely computer generated. Trachtenberg revealed the crew attempted to use practical effects but couldn’t achieve the right level of gore.
*That* Dinner Scene
Most fans would agree the scene of Michelle, Howard and John Gallagher Jr.’s Emmett sharing their first meal together is among the film’s best. Trachtenberg told us he looked to both Jaws and Se7en for inspiration here. Bizarrely enough, he also revealed that the scene was due to be cut, but editor Stefan Grube saved it from the chopping block.
Putting on a Happy Face
One of the notes Abrams gave Trachtenberg was that the shower curtain in the bunker needed to have a happy face pattern in order to make it stand out more. However, the concern was that a regular happy face symbol might draw comparisons to Watchmen, so Trachtenberg went through the agonizing process of picking out just the right smiling duck pattern for the bathroom.
He said, “Is it a million ducks? Is it just the one duck? The duck holding the umbrella is what we finally figured out.”
More Cloverfield Connections
10 Cloverfield Lane began life as a spec script titled The Cellar before morphing into a Cloverfield spinoff. Trachtenberg told us that surprisingly little about the project changed after it was decided to forge that Cloverfield connection, with only the shot of the mailbox being added later on. However, there were other connections considered. At one point there was discussion of including the satellite from the first movie. And the reason the movie was shot under the codename “Valencia” is because Trachtenberg originally intended to showcase the Siege of Valencia in the film.
Trachtenberg also told us that the original plan (before the movie became integrated with Cloverfield) was to switch to a spherical camera lens for the final scenes so the film could take advantage of IMAX screens. Ironically, even though this idea was abandoned, 10 Cloverfield Lane wound up playing in IMAX theaters anyway.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Subplots
Trachtenberg gave plenty of insight into the ways the film’s story changed over time, particularly when it came to the climax. He told us there was originally a running subplot involving Howard and Emmett giving Michelle sedatives, leading to a scene where she has to shower and fears being spied upon.
“I just felt like the movie doesn’t need it,” Trachtenberg said. “We’re not doing that the whole movie, and I don’t want to be exploitative and showing her naked. Not just because it’s wrongfully salacious, but just because it’s a go-to for a horror movie.”
Trachtenberg confirmed an earlier version of the script featured an ending where Howard doesn’t die, though that plot point had changed by the time he came onboard. “That version of the script I haven’t read. That was very different in tone. Howard was sort of a good guy, and Michelle was not treating him good the whole movie. So in the end, when Howard’s proven right, she had to learn her lesson… Howard was good and Emmett was bad in that version.”
He continued, “The version I read, the details were different. The creature was characterized differently and it was all set during the daytime. The beats were different.”
Speaking about the sequence where Michelle escapes the bunker only to attract the attention of the alien ship, Trachtenberg said, “There was a section of this… when she’s running away and she ran into a piece of farming equipment… It was a whole elaborate thing that felt exciting while we were shooting it and did not come together.” That was when the focus shifted to Michelle taking temporary refuge in the nearby house.
The design of the aliens at the end was a subject of much debate and back-and-forth. “I was hellbent on making these things organic, and J.J. was hellbent on there being tech and armor associated with them… It became designers listening to two different directors with ideas.”
Trachtenberg said there was a more elaborate version of the ending that was screened for a test audience but didn’t earn a strong reception. “Eventually the audience was like, ‘Enough! End the movie already!'”
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Alternate Titles
Even the title was in flux at one point. Trachtenberg said there were several alternate titles considered, with ideas like “The Book of Cloverfield” and “The Cloverfield Files” floated as a way of highlighting the franchise’s anthology approach. Another possibility involved titling the movie “Below,” setting up a potential sequel called “Above.”
From Smashed to Cloverfield
Trachtenberg cast Winstead as the lead largely because of her performance in 2012’s Smashed. In fact, Trachtenberg drew directly from that performance when shooting the scene at the end of the film where Michelle is both crying and laughing.
A Direct Sequel?
Several IGN readers wanted to know whether Trachtenberg has any plans to make a direct sequel to 10 Cloverfield Lane, one that would continue Michelle’s story. He acknowledged his interest in the idea, even if he doesn’t feel a sequel is strictly necessary.
“I always felt like there’s definitely a fun, really cool way to do the next part of her story that I would love to do,” said Trachtenberg. “At the same time, there’s something awesome about there never being a sequel to this. I think it ends on a really beautiful little grace note for her journey, which is great. I would if I could, but I don’t feel that we need to.”
Where Is the Portal Movie?
One of Trachtenberg’s first film projects was a 2011 short film called “Portal: No Escape,” based on Valve’s hugely popular puzzle game. In response to an IGN reader’s query, we asked Trachtenberg if he knew of the current status of the Portal feature film, which was originally teased way back in 2013, and if he himself might be tapped to direct it. The short answer? He’s not sure.
“I casually talked about it with them at one point. Portal and Half-Life – both of them are awesome. I don’t know if they’re still doing it… My answer is I have no idea.”
For more on that subject, check out our breakdown of all the video game movies currently in development. And be sure to read our recap of IGN’s Rogue One WFH Theater, where we learned more about the many ways that Star Wars prequel evolved.
Overwatch’s Voice Lines Are Going To Get Much Better Soon
While everyone is practicing social distancing due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Overwatch game director Jeff Kaplan uploaded a new developer update from his cell phone discussing some incoming changes. This includes an “improved” communication wheel, adjusting queue times, and more.
The headlining feature is a new, customizable communication wheel. Kaplan noticed that players wanted to say things such as “Goodbye” and “Fall Back” to teammates while in-game. With the improved communication wheel, you will be able to customize the responses based on an expanded preset list. All of these new responses are voiced by the characters.
Also baked into the improved communication wheel is the ability to slot the “Sorry” command into every character’s response list, including the game’s newest hero Echo. “A lot of you have asked for that level of customization in the communication wheel, and we think it will be really powerful for you,” Kaplan said.
Another incoming change is a brand-new “Priority Queuing System.” Currently, when a Competitive match ends because of random player disconnection, you’re placed at the end of a queue and have to wait for another match. With the new system, as long as you’re not the reason why the Competitive match collapsed, you’ll be placed back in the same queue as if the spoiled match never happened. “So it’s not going to guarantee that you’re instantly going to get into another match after the match gets shut down by a leaver,” Kaplan said. “But you’re not going to have to wait the entire queue time.”
Additionally, new Overwatch patch notes will now show up in-game instead of linking out to the game’s official website. Kaplan hasn’t clarified exactly when these new features will appear in Overwatch.
In other Overwatch news, the game’s 32nd hero, Echo, is now live across all platforms. The Overwatch team shared some patch notes that tweaks some of the game’s heroes, such as Mei and Tracer, and more.
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Animal Crossing: How to Get the Art Exhibit Museum Upgrade
What We Do In The Shadows Season 2’s New Twist Could Be Hilarious And Deadly
After the revelation at the end of Season 1 that Guillermo (Harvey Guillén) is a descendent of famed vampire hunter Van Helsing, What We Do in the Shadows is ready to take that character arc to the next level. In the third episode of Season 2, “Brain Scramblies,” Guillermo made some new friends that could pose quite a bit of danger to his vampire masters.
“He’s looking for virgins, and he’s run out of other groups that he thinks will have a lot of them so he goes to a meeting of the Staten Island Mosquito Collectors,” executive producer Paul Simms explained to GameSpot and other outlets during a visit to the set of the show. “And once they ask him some questions, they reveal that there are actually a bunch of vampire hunters, and that’s their cover.”
This group of vampire hunters is led by a man named Derek, played by The Office alum Craig Robinson. Speaking to GameSpot, Robinson described the character as a “militant mosquito hunter,” adding, “He’s all about shutting down the vampire nation.”

Derek is a no-nonsense vampire hunter that doesn’t find them quite as hilarious as viewers do, which makes for some pretty good comedy–especially given he and his team’s inexperience with them. “I think the more serious you take it, the funnier it is,” Robinson explained. “I know how ridiculous we look, but we are about going to kill some vampires and we had the tools, you know? We had stakes, we had crossbows, all kinds of garlic, crosses, everything. Every cliche we had heard [of], we made sure we [had it] covered.”
Then, along comes Guillermo. “He decides that it’s better to join them and work from the inside out, you know? So he infiltrates the club, but also keeps them at bay,” Guillén said, while on set. “It’s a tricky balance for Guillermo just because he’s still protecting vampires that he loves, but he’s also making new friends and they’re actually showing him like respect and love, which is kind of hard to ignore.”
That means viewers will see Guillermo sharing many of his scenes with the Mosquito Collectors, which was one of the biggest highlights of the experience for Robinson. “I can’t say enough about how good he is. The second we started and all throughout it was my mouth was agape,” the actor said of Guillén. “He’s incredible. And he’s a throwback, in such a great way, to a Peter Sellers-type of comedy. He understands acting and comedy and it’s just so natural. So it was fun just playing with him. He opens up that playground of trust and silliness.”
It’s not all jokes, though. While Robinson wouldn’t reveal exactly how long he’d be sticking around, he’ll at least last until the next episode, “The Curse.” It’s there that Guillén teased, “Episode 4, so far, is one of my favorites because it’s like a mini-action movie.”
What We Do in the Shadows airs Thursdays on FX.
Deals: 15% Off Apple AirPods, 30% Off Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones
15% Off Latest Apple AirPods 2 (With or Without Wireless Charging Case)
Add to cart to see this price
Starting today, Verizon Wireless has discounted the 2nd generation Apple AirPods down to Black Friday prices. You can get it with a charging case (which charges via Lightning cable) for only $135.99, or with a wireless charging case (which charges via inductive Qi charging or Lightning cable) for $169.99. The AirPods 2 is a truly wireless headphone with Siri support and 50% longer talk time than the original AirPods.
- Get it with Wireless Charging Case at Verizon for $169.99 (add cart to see price)
- Get it with Charging Case for $135.99 (add cart to see price)
10% Off Apple AirPods Pro, Now $224.99
Add to cart to see this price
This is the lowest price ever, even lower than on Black Friday, and it ends very soon. These are truly wireless AirPods with built-in active noise cancellation and despite that that they actually have longer play time on a single charge than the vanilla AirPods. Other features include three sets of silicone tips for customized fit, a sweat and water resistant outer shell, and a wireless charging case that can provide an additional 24 hours of battery life.
- Get it at Verizon Wireless for $224.99 (add to cart to see price)
Free Sling TV from 5pm to Midnight (Includes CNN, MSNBC, Food Network, HGTV, Cartoon Network)
Sling’s Happy Hour promotion is offering free Sling Blue from 5pm to midnight (normally $30/month). Keep up with live news from CNN, MSNBC, HLN, and Fox News. You’ll also get access to HGTV, Food Network, A&E, Bravo, TNT, Comedy Central, Cartoon Network, The Discovery Channel, Nick Jr, and more.
Out Today: 55% Off XCOM: Chimera Squad Expansion for PC, Now $8.99
This XCOM 2 expansion normally sells for $19.99 but you can save 54% off by pre-purchasing it through Green Man Gaming. It installs from the Steam client. XCOM Chimera Squad is a big DLC with a new storyline that takes place years after the end of the year. You also get new races with unique abilities at your disposal and new gameplay mechanics like interleaved turns, revamped tactical combat system, coordinated breach mode, and more.
WorkPro Quantum 9000 Series Ergonomic Mesh High-Back Chair With Headrest for $307
Use code “OFFICEDEPOT30”
This is an excellent office chair with a mesh seat and high backrest, headrest, adjustable lumbar cushioning, height-adjustable armrests, and more. It’s currently $440 everywhere, except that Lenovo is offering a $130 off coupon for a limited time.
- Use code “OFFICEDEPOT30” to get it at Lenovo for $307
30% Off Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 (Refurbished with Full Warranty), Now $279.95
This is the newest Bose noise-cancelling headphones, a direct successor to the super popular Bose QuietComfort 35. It boasts superior noise cancellation, better microphone, a sleeker design, and more comfortable ergonomics. Bose refurbished headphones have the same warranty as buying new. That makes a great deal considering it retails for $400 and the previous low we’ve seen was $350.
Octopath Traveler for Switch (Preowned) for $34.99
Save 25% off this Switch gem. We gave Octopath Traveler an “Amazing” 9.3/10 and it fully deserves the score. It’s a very traditional JRPG featuring gorgeous 16-bit graphics with a splash of tilt-shift, a deep and rewarding battle system, and your choice of eight characters each with different storylines to pursue.
Cheap Must-Have Titles for the Nintendo Switch
My favorite games for the Switch so far have been indie games. Although the first party Nintendo games have immense polish and charm, personally I find indie games more fun to play. Here are the ones I’ve played, really enjoyed, and are currently on sale.
- Steamworld Quest: Hand of Gilgamesh for $12.49
- Celeste for $4.99
- Towerfall for $4.99
- Cuphead for $14.99
- Overcooked 2 for $14.99
Alienware Aurora R8 Intel Core i7-9700 RTX 2080 SUPER Gaming PC with 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, and 2TB HDD for $1548
Use code “LCS10OFF”
This gaming PC boasts a 9th gen Intel Core i7 processor and the newest RTX 2080 SUPER video card. It’s about 10% more powerful than the non-SUPER model and considerably more powerful than the GTX 1080 Ti. For those of you who would rather have a PC preinstalled with all the RAM and storage you’ll ever need, this model has 16GB RAM and dual drive storage.
- Use code “LCS10OFF” to get it at Dell for $1548
Alienware Aurora R9 Intel Core i7-9700 RTX 2080 SUPER Gaming PC with 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD, and 1TB HDD for $1557
Use code “LCS10OFF”
The new 2019 Alienware Aurora desktop boasts a facelift, improved thermals, new RGB LED lighting system, toolless chassis for easy swapping of parts, and performance components.
- Use code “LCS10OFF” to get it at Dell for $1557
Alienware Aurora R8 Intel Core i7-9700 RTX 2080 SUPER Gaming PC for $1404
Use code “LCS10OFF”
If you want upgrade the RAM and hard drive yourself, you can save alot of money compared to adding pre-configured upgrades. Like the new R9 chassis, the R8 features easy toolless entry. Swapping components doesn’t void the warranty.
- Use code “LCS10OFF” to get it at Dell for $1404
Alienware Aurora R9 Intel Core i7-9700 RTX 2080 SUPER Gaming PC for $1431
Use code “LCS10OFF”
Upgrade to the newer chassis for $27 more.
- Use code “LCS10OFF” to get it at Dell for $1431
New Alienware Aurora R9 AMD Ryzen 7 3700X AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT Gaming Desktop PC for $1044
Use code “LCS10OFF”
For those of you who haven’t been keeping up with the Intel vs AMD CPU war, AMD has been giving Intel a run for its money with its flagship processors. The new AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8-core processor is comparable to the Intel Core i7-9700, both in terms of gaming and workstation performance. It’s paired with an RX 5700 XT video card, which is on par with the RTX 2070. If you want to upgrade the RAM or hard drive, I’d suggest doing it on your own. You’ll save money, and the Aurora R9 allows for toolless access without voiding your warranty.
- Use code “LCS10OFF” to get it at Dell for $1044
Oculus Rift VR Headset (Factory Refurb) at the Oculus Store for $299 (Compatible with Half-Life: Alyx)
Includes 6 Month Oculus Warranty
The Oculus Store has refurbished Oculus Rift VR headsets and they are clearing them out at a great price, $100 less than the Oculus Quest and Rift S. This is the only way to get an Oculus Rift with warranty. I bought my Oculus Rift headset over 3 years ago and still use it to this day. I’ve never had the urge to upgrade to the newer VR headsets, especially at their ridiculous price points. The original Oculus Rift controller is, in my opinion, still the best controller for Beat Saber because it is the lightest and least bulky compared to the rest (even the Rift S controller). It also has exceptional tracking, even with only two sensors. Also, the higher resolution on the newer VR headsets requires an even more demanding computer. My GTX 1070 equipped PC can run the Rift perfectly well, but may not suffice for a VR headset with nearly double the pixel count. Half-Life: Alyx is also compatible with the Oculus Rift.
$100 Off Rosetta Stone Lifetime Subscription
Take advantage of your free time at home and learn another language! Save 33% off lifetime access to all of Rosetta Stone’s language learning courses. Unlike Babbel, the other big language learning course, Rosetta Stone includes Asian languages like Chinese Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. There’s also a 30-day money back guarantee so you can test the waters before you decide to commit.
- Get a Lifetime Subscription at Rosetta Stone for $199
- Get it with Free KeepSolid VPN Subscription for the same price at StackSocial
Save 73% Off 1-Year IPVanish VPN Plan
IPVanish is offering 73% off its 1 year VPN plan, dropping the price to $39. That’s only $3.25 a month for a service that provides some great benefits. VPN is the first and easiest step to making your internet activity a bit more anonymous. VPN is also a great way to “trick” a host site into thinking you’re in another part of the world. That’s great for watching region-locked content from streaming services like Netflix. IPVanish boasts a very user-friendly interface, doesn’t hog resources, and has a zero-log policy. We also gave it a great review.
Online Learning Course Bundles from Stack Social
Want to be more productive at home? Stack Social has plenty of practical courses that can kick start your career. For under $40 per bundle you get dozens of hours of online instruction in programming, game creation, video production, ethical hacking, and more… all from the safety of your home.
- Learn to Code in 2020
- Become a Python Coder
- Build Your Own Android Apps
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- School of Game Design Lifetime Membership
- Ethical Hacking 101
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- Change Your Background Without a Green Screen
1 Month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $1 (Includes Xbox Live Gold and Game Pass)
May work for both NEW and EXPIRED accounts
This price is reserved for new and expired accounts. Game Pass Ultimate is basically Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass combined into one membership. You even get access to Game Pass for PC. Normally you’d be paying $14.99 for one month, but Amazon is offering an additional month for free. Game Pass gives you access to tons of high profile games like Kingdom Hearts 3, NBA 2K20, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Gears 5, Forza Horizon 3, The Outer Worlds, Grand Theft Auto 5, State of Decay, and more.
ComiXology Free Trial Extended to 60 Days
This sponsored deal is brought to you by ComiXology
The ComiXology trial period is normally 30 days. ComiXology is Amazon’s digital comic platform and is the largest digital retailer of American comics. The site hosts 20,000 digital comics, graphic novels, and manga from DC, Marvel, Image, Dark Horse, and more. Here’s your chance to access all of it, totally free, for 30 60 days. If you’re an avid comic reader, you might want to consider continuing on afterwards, since it’s only $5.99/month. You can even sign in with your Amazon account.
3 Months of Amazon Music Unlimited for Free
This deal only works for new Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers, but you don’t have to be a Prime member. Normally you’d be paying $9.99/month for this service (or $7.99/mo for Prime members). Amazon Music Unlimited works alot like the paid ad-free versions of Spotify or Pandora. Get access to millions of songs and playlists that you can stream anywhere.
New Licensed Castlevania Apparel at the IGN Store
Do you enjoy Netflix’s original Castlevania animated series? If so, the IGN Store has added a host of officially licensed Castlevania apparel. Sign up for our newsletter and get a 20% off coupon code. Alternatively, save 10% off using coupon code “igndeals10“.
- Check out Castlevania Graphic Tees at the IGN Store
- Animal Crossing Tees
- The Legend of Zelda Tees
- Stranger Things Tees
- Ghostbusters Tees
- Marvel Tees
- DC Tees
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Eric Song is IGN’s deal curator and spends 25% of his pay on stuff he posts.
Moving Out Review
Helping friends move house is widely regarded as one of the worst ways you can spend a Saturday, but somehow developer SMG Studio has taken that most dreaded of friendly favours and transformed it into fantastically frantic fun. Moving Out is a couch co-op game about cooperatively moving couches, successfully expanding Overcooked’s brand of coordinated chaos from the kitchen into every other room in the house. Often tense and frequently hysterical, Moving Out is a must-play for fans of same-screen multiplayer games.
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Casting up to four players as employees of the Smooth Moves company, Moving Out features 30 main levels across its small-town setting. Each location has gold, silver, and bronze-tiered time limits to target as you scramble to gather up all of the boxes, appliances, and stubbornly shaped pieces of furniture scattered about each level and ferry them to the back of the removalist truck. It’s a fairly straightforward task to bungle your way to a bronze like a bull in a china shop, but grabbing a gold requires a strategic approach to room order, considered job delegation, and precise pathfinding to ensure maximum efficiency.
[poilib element=”quoteBox” parameters=”excerpt=Precious%20seconds%20tick%20away%20on%20the%20clock%20and%20the%20language%20between%20you%20and%20your%20frazzled%20team%20of%20moving%20mates%20grows%20increasingly%20more%20colourful.”]The controls are simple, with buttons for grabbing, throwing, and jumping, but the challenge is presented by the unique properties of the objects themselves. Television sets are typically tethered to walls by their power cords, which stretch and snap as you carry the TV out and lurch you into a spin; large L-shaped lounges slow you and your moving partner down to a sluggish waltz as you inch your way through narrow doorways; and upright pianos flip over on their side if you try to take a corner too quickly, all while precious seconds tick away on the clock and the language between you and your frazzled team of moving mates grows increasingly more colourful.
Moving the Goalposts
Just when you think you’ve wrangled your inept assembly line into order, Moving Out drops new elements into the mix to add game-changing wrinkles. A farmyard level means your cargo isn’t just bulky, but mobile, leaving you to chase chickens and push pigs that seemingly want to be anywhere but the back of your truck. Elsewhere, a large factory requires you to navigate a series of conveyor belts through interconnected rooms, while a set of door switches in another facility forces you to open and close different paths and strategise your way to your objectives on the fly.
It’s absolutely manic, but successfully executing a plan is utterly exhilarating. Corners can be cut if you’re willing to take risks by throwing and catching fragile items from one player to another, or heaving a refrigerator out of a second-storey window instead of dragging it down the stairs. Even the order in which you load the truck is an art unto itself. Use up all the flatbed floorspace with smaller items first, and you won’t know whether to laugh or cry as the double bed you hurl onto the top of the pile to finish the job tumbles right back out of the truck, further delaying your exit. Moving Out seems shambolic at its start, but demands real thought, coordination, and planning by its end.
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In addition to the reward of getting gold-medal times, I also enjoyed returning to each level for the bonus objectives. Each one has three optional tasks – some of which are clear, such as completing a job without breaking any windows – while others are more cryptic, not unlike those found in Untitled Goose Game. Those require you to experiment with the various objects and contraptions found within each setting, for example the objective may be to ‘Give the bird a bath’ and to achieve it you need to find a decorative pink flamingo somewhere in the level and hurl it into the bathtub. Successfully completing these 90 objectives unlocks 10 extra mini-games in the arcade menu, which is a series of timed gauntlet runs that provide some of the most fiercely challenging cargo-shunting stretches in Moving Out.
Bust a Move
Yet even during its most patience-testing moments, it’s impossible to stay mad at Moving Out because its ‘80s-influenced style is so endearing. Its characters and settings are vibrant, its soundtrack is relentlessly upbeat, and it features levels that pay clever homage to the likes of Frogger, Pac-Man, and Bowser’s castle from Super Mario Bros. There’s a certain goofball charm that pervades Moving Out, from the shifty-eyed cat clocks that seem to adorn the walls of every house to the way the characters occasionally fart from the exertion of lifting particularly heavy loads.
[poilib element=”quoteBox” parameters=”excerpt=There%E2%80%99s%20a%20certain%20goofball%20charm%20that%20pervades%20Moving%20Out.”]Moving Out is undoubtedly at its best with buddies. It’s technically playable in single-player, with the number of items in each level reduced and the heavier objects made lighter in order to better suit solo play. However, packing the contents of a house into a truck with your own two hands is about as much fun as it sounds, and it’s only now after finishing the game’s story as a quartet (which took about eight hours) am I playing on my lonesome purely to try and grab any remaining golds for the sake of completion. Additionally, while my preference would be to play Moving Out with friends locally anyway, it’s worth pointing out that there’s no online functionality — so those hoping for the option of playing with friends remotely (which is kind of important right now) are likely to be disappointed.
Fallout 76: Bethesda Investigating Bug Where NPCs Permanently Steal Your Stuff
The strange glitch has been noted by several users on the Fallout 76 Reddit, with posters claiming that they’ve lost hordes of ammo and expensive weapons. Upon death, players are waking up to find the guns they were using and the ammo attached missing from their inventory. Later, they’ve noticed that the same gun they were using in combat is now in the hands of a nearby NPC, suggesting that it had been looted from the player’s corpse upon death. Those NPCs can’t be looted back.
This is a major problem, as it means expensive and rare weapons that players have worked hard to purchase or unlock are being lost, with no clear means to recover them. One particular post mentions that a player lost an explosive machine gun that they spent “15k caps” on. A few posters have singled out the event missions Radiation Rumble and Riding Shotgun as being a particular source for the bug, so you may want to avoid them for the time being. This video from Dani Garcia gives us our best glimpse at the glitch in action (thanks, PC Gamer!)
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A Bethesda Community Manager has responded to the strange phenomenon, writing that they will “investigate this immediately” under one of the offending Reddit posts. NPCs arrived in Fallout 76 as part of the Wastelanders update, a free overhaul anticipated by the fans who stuck with Fallout 76 after its troublesome launch. Wastelanders adds new questlines and infrastructure, as well as an improved reputation system.
If you’re thinking of jumping back into the apocalyptic fray, check out our article on whether you should return to Fallout 76 for Wastelanders.
And if you’ve already made the leap, you may want to check out our walkthrough which will guide you through the new quests in Wastelanders. Just watch out for those event missions if you’re fixing to keep your hard-earned loot!
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Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.