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Reliving familiar frights can often make for a less-than-exciting horror experience. But with the remake of Resident Evil 2, Capcom shows respect for the original while also going to great lengths to give the macabre atmosphere and tense gameplay a noticeable upgrade. In doing so, this revamp of the classic survival horror game shows that the series can still offer a terrifying experience like no other.

You once again play as either Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield. A viral outbreak has unleashed hordes of zombies and other grotesque monsters upon Raccoon City, leading to a series of dangerous and nightmare-inducing encounters for the two characters. While both protagonists’ storylines have similar plots and take place in the same locations, there are different supporting characters and unique challenges in each that set the two playthroughs apart.

In traditional Resident Evil fashion, you’re tasked with surviving through the night and overcoming the nightmarish creatures and devious puzzles found throughout the infested streets of the city, the tight, dimly lit halls of the Police Station, and in the subterranean passages below. RE2 is a great mix of the understated survivalist approach from the original games and the tactile, reflex-oriented gameplay from more recent entries. It’s very much a game about escalation; as your resources dwindle and the monsters become fearsome and more elaborate, the pressure is always mounting as the story progresses, and each moment feels just a bit more desperate than the last. Even the smallest of victories can feel like major wins in RE2, and you’ll often find yourself onto the next struggle before you know it.

While those who played the original game will enter with an idea of what’s to come, the remake does a lot to refresh certain encounters and locations. Though many locales and their layouts are similar–save for the addition of a brand-new area and a new monster to deal with–the events therein are new. Jump scares don’t trigger when you expect them to, or a room that once spelled certain doom in your head is now a safe haven–but then the question arises: if this room is safe, which room is the real dangerous one?

Early Resident Evil games have a reputation for being melodramatic, often unintentionally, but the RE2 remake a more serious tone that makes for a more evocative story. While there is still the undercurrent of the hokey tone from the classics, with the characters cutting the tension with humor when appropriate, the remake’s narrative is far more convincing, propped up by some impressive writing and strong performances that help convey urgency and despair. This is especially evident during the more quiet moments, when the protagonists will try to psych themselves up for what’s to come. Even minor characters are given additional substance in the remake, with poignant moments given to the doomed police lieutenant Marvin Branagh and gun shop owner Robert Kendo.

Both Claire and Leon have two different versions of the campaign, and after finishing the first run for one, you’ll be prompted to start a follow-up with the other. Called Second Scenarios, they allow you to see the larger story from a different perspective. Both scenarios are totally isolated from another, and choices therein won’t impact the other, but what makes these second runs worthwhile are the different encounters and sub-plots that don’t occur in the first. It’s a very interesting way to experience the narrative, and with four versions of the campaigns between the two leads–with the first two averaging 12-15 hours–you constantly uncover new details and events that weren’t present in the previous playthroughs.

Resident Evil 2’s more serious tone is further enhanced by the renewed, fantastically atmospheric presentation, which gives familiar details from the classic game more of a pronounced look and feel. Moving away from the static camera angles of the original, everything has been redesigned with over-the-shoulder gameplay in mind, giving more of a palpable and invasive sense of dread when exploring. This is heightened even more by the impeccable audio and visual design of the game, creating an eerie, isolating vibe throughout. In a number of cases, you’ll only have the illumination of your flashlight as you walk the dark hallways of the bloody and ruined police station, with the ambient rain and distant monster sounds ramping up the tension. You rarely feel safe in RE2, even when you actually are.

The remake’s impressive level of detail is consistently noticeable, but especially so during gorey moments. These gruesome encounters channel the same macabre and staccato approach from the classics, but are now honed through the visual luster of modern rendering and animation. As the zombies are the one constant threat throughout, you quickly become accustomed to seeing flesh chip away as you fire off pistol shots, along with watching the undead torn in half by well-placed shotgun blasts. Though RE2 easily proves to be the goriest game of the series, it never comes off as excessive, and the grizzly details all serve to highlight the grim circumstances of the desperate situation.

Resident Evil 2’s more serious tone is further enhanced by the renewed, fantastically atmospheric presentation…

At the beginning, your meager selection of weapons doesn’t seem like a match for the game’s most intimidating horrors, but there are means available that can give you the upper hand in a lopsided fight. In addition to dismembering enemies with well-aimed shots hindering zombies’ speed and offense, you can barricade certain windows to block ravenous undead from entering from outside. While many of these options are simply a temporary solution to a long-term problem, which can make it seem like they’re not all that worth taking advantage of, they are helpful in a pinch.

While you will no doubt settle into tactics that work well, RE2 throws in some fresh challenges. In one of the game’s more tense encounters, you cross paths with the Tyrant, a hulking presence whose footsteps echo throughout the environment. Though it was a serious foe shown in small doses in the original, this imposing force of nature is now more of a persistent threat that actively stalks you during key periods in the story. Simply ducking into another room isn’t enough, as it’ll quickly follow you in to keep the chase going–similar to the RE3’s Nemesis in that regard. If you manage to create enough distance and it loses line of sight, it’ll disengage, but will remain lurking throughout the halls. With this dynamic, the Tyrant also makes the common foes you’ve gotten a handle of become genuine threats once again. As you find yourself trying to stay focused on the stalking figure, it’s all too easy to round a corner and run into a group of zombies.

Though the Tyrant offers a nerve-wracking surprise during some of these key moments, which makes the feeling of getting the best of it all the more satisfying, there are other times when it can disrupt Resident Evil 2’s pacing. This is especially frustrating when you’re simply trying to acquire an item or solve a puzzle in a room that the Tyrant and zombies frequent. What should be tense encounters can sometimes become annoying exercises in trying to lure it away, and in some cases it comes off like you’re taking advantage of the Tyrant’s rather limited AI to do just that. The Tyrant can overstay its welcome, but in most cases, its presence is a constant reminder of the looming threat throughout the game.

While RE2 often keeps things serious, it’s not all doom and gloom. In addition to occasional references that break the tension, there’s also a suite of unlockable content available to the delight of RE fans, including the classic RE2 outfits for both Leon and Claire. After completing the campaign for both characters, you’ll unlock a set of bonus modes starring fan-favorites Hunk and Tofu, the later of which is a sentient knife-wielding block of coagulated soy. Both of these extra modes take you on timed gauntlets battling through many intense encounters, with Tofu’s mode being the most difficult scenario in the entire game. They also allow for a chance to cut loose against hordes of monsters without the worry of the larger survival-horror mechanics during the main game.

Resident Evil 2 is not only a stellar remake of the original, but it’s also simply a strong horror game that delivers anxiety-inducing and grotesque situations, topping some of the series’ finest entries. But above all, the remake is an impressive game for the fact that it goes all-in on the pure survival horror experience, confidently embracing its horrifying tone and rarely letting up until the story’s conclusion. Though Resident Evil 2 has its roots firmly in the past, it reworks the familiar horrors into something that feels brand new and all its own.

The main thing I’ve learned from having a sibling is that you can be polar opposites who bicker endlessly, but when push comes to shove there is nothing you wouldn’t do to keep them happy, safe, and protected. This sentiment is the heart and soul of Life is Strange 2 and continues to ground the strong narrative through the second chapter of the Diaz brothers’ journey away from their home in Seattle and toward a new one in Puerto Lobos.

The second chapter of Life Is Strange 2 begins in the snow-laden Willamette National Forest in Oregon. It is several days after Daniel learned the tragic truth of why they had to flee Seattle, and the ensuing outburst that revealed his telekinetic powers. The brothers are now faced with the reality of managing not only their survival while on the run, but also the nuances of how to handle Daniel’s abilities. Sean sets down ground rules for keeping the powers a secret while working with his younger brother to hone them. This supernatural element adds a new dimension to gameplay in that certain situations and objects can be manipulated by Daniel with your say-so.

More interesting, however, is the difficult balance you must strike as Sean by either encouraging or discouraging Daniel’s use of these powers. Using them may be helpful in certain situations, but there is the danger of being exposed or hurting someone in the process. The tribulations of decision-making in the second episode are far more complex due to this supernatural factor. The options to scare or prank your little brother are almost gone, but in their place you’ll have the more difficult choice between keeping him safe and repressing his abilities or allowing him to use his powers–which is sometimes the only way to save others–but potentially put him at risk in the process.

In playing the second chapter through multiple times and making different choices, it became clear that there are no options to have Sean behave in a nasty manner because Sean is not a nasty person. While you can make choices for the brothers, they aren’t puppets. If you choose to have Sean yell at a loved one, he will likely apologize; you can ask Daniel to do certain things but he won’t necessarily obey. This feature can diminish the feeling of ownership over the characters, but the way it bolsters the fundamentals of their characterization and relationships increases your fondness for them and investment in their journey. Choosing to act more dismissively or short-tempered doesn’t stop Sean from wanting the best for Daniel, nor does being unhelpful or sacrilegious around conservative family members stop them from loving you or wanting to help you. The decision-making in Life Is Strange 2 isn’t as simple as being kind or being callous, and this makes the episode far more interesting and nuanced.

Daniel remains as impressionable as he was in the first episode. Swearing in front of him will enable him to do the same, telling him you don’t believe in heaven will change his beliefs, and being unkind or unsupportive will make him disinclined to listen to you. This puts a huge weight on the way you choose to conduct yourself and how you treat others in Daniel’s presence. The supporting characters in this chapter are less colourful than those in the last episode, and a couple of grungy train-hopping standouts are underutilized. While Sean and Daniel’s grandparents are well-written, they aren’t as unique or interesting as Episode 1 characters like Brody the travelling blogger or Lyla, Sean’s bubbly best friend. As a result they don’t contribute to the character development of the brothers in the same meaningful way.

Much of the episode is spent in relative comfort, which is a change of pace for the brothers on the run, although the beginning retreads some story beats from the first chapter and as a result they feel less impactful this time around. There are a couple of instances that feel like cheap emotional shots, one of which is related to an Episode 1 choice that ripples out in a dramatic way, yet doesn’t feel entirely earned. Even in these cases, however, the stellar performances of Roman George as Daniel and particularly Gonzalo Martin as Sean keep every moment engaging and sympathetic–from the mundanities of playing dice games to coping with heart-wrenching losses.

While this episode is bookended by tense, gasp-inducing moments, the plot has a slower pace than the previous episode. It spends time filling in the blanks of the Diaz family tree and answers important logistical questions as to where the brothers can find a safe haven. This chapter also incorporates the story of Captain Spirit, or Chris, who we first met in the standalone game The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit. Chris’ character is used as a clever device to display different sides of Sean and Daniel. He enables Daniel to flaunt his childlike creativity, while Sean can earn his trust and serve as a confidant for his troubled home life. The impressive writing from Episode 1 persists, making every conversation feel natural and relatable. This ensures that even the new characters that aren’t as unique as those introduced previously still have layers and avoid cliches.

This care and attention to detail extends to the environments, which feel genuine and lived-in. The particulars of places and objects also subtly clue you in to the personalities, priorities, and relationships of those they belong to; like kitschy plaques that signpost the interior of rooms in a house, a recycling bin full of beer cans, and a guitar covered in stickers. Underpinning all of this are acoustic folk tracks that punctuate the plot, echoing the feeling of teenage ruminations. The grounded, everyday vibe of the soundtrack helps drive home that Sean and Daniel are still normal teens and makes it easier to understand their mindset.

One minor issue is the meta-knowledge that the Diaz brothers are two episodes into a five-episode journey, so you have an acute awareness that no matter how positively things are going, you’re never too far from it all unraveling. However, even if you can see where things are going, there’s a joy in taking each new step of the adventure and in managing the careful balance between being a guardian and a friend to Daniel. The larger consequences of how you’ve chosen to guide Daniel are still to come, but the cracks are starting to show and the pressure is heightening. That said, no matter how you leave Daniel and Sean at the end of this chapter, there is the palpable sense of hope, of a new way forward, and of the unconditional love between two brothers.

Reliving familiar frights can often make for a less-than-exciting horror experience. But with the remake of Resident Evil 2, Capcom shows respect for the original while also going to great lengths to give the macabre atmosphere and tense gameplay a noticeable upgrade. In doing so, this revamp of the classic survival horror game shows that the series can still offer a terrifying experience like no other.

You once again play as either Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield. A viral outbreak has unleashed hordes of zombies and other grotesque monsters upon Raccoon City, leading to a series of dangerous and nightmare-inducing encounters for the two characters. While both protagonists’ storylines have similar plots and take place in the same locations, there are different supporting characters and unique challenges in each that set the two playthroughs apart.

In traditional Resident Evil fashion, you’re tasked with surviving through the night and overcoming the nightmarish creatures and devious puzzles found throughout the infested streets of the city, the tight, dimly lit halls of the Police Station, and in the subterranean passages below. RE2 is a great mix of the understated survivalist approach from the original games and the tactile, reflex-oriented gameplay from more recent entries. It’s very much a game about escalation; as your resources dwindle and the monsters become fearsome and more elaborate, the pressure is always mounting as the story progresses, and each moment feels just a bit more desperate than the last. Even the smallest of victories can feel like major wins in RE2, and you’ll often find yourself onto the next struggle before you know it.

While those who played the original game will enter with an idea of what’s to come, the remake does a lot to refresh certain encounters and locations. Though many locales and their layouts are similar–save for the addition of a brand-new area and a new monster to deal with–the events therein are new. Jump scares don’t trigger when you expect them to, or a room that once spelled certain doom in your head is now a safe haven–but then the question arises: if this room is safe, which room is the real dangerous one?

Early Resident Evil games have a reputation for being melodramatic, often unintentionally, but the RE2 remake a more serious tone that makes for a more evocative story. While there is still the undercurrent of the hokey tone from the classics, with the characters cutting the tension with humor when appropriate, the remake’s narrative is far more convincing, propped up by some impressive writing and strong performances that help convey urgency and despair. This is especially evident during the more quiet moments, when the protagonists will try to psych themselves up for what’s to come. Even minor characters are given additional substance in the remake, with poignant moments given to the doomed police lieutenant Marvin Branagh and gun shop owner Robert Kendo.

Both Claire and Leon have two different versions of the campaign, and after finishing the first run for one, you’ll be prompted to start a follow-up with the other. Called Second Scenarios, they allow you to see the larger story from a different perspective. Both scenarios are totally isolated from another, and choices therein won’t impact the other, but what makes these second runs worthwhile are the different encounters and sub-plots that don’t occur in the first. It’s a very interesting way to experience the narrative, and with four versions of the campaigns between the two leads–with the first two averaging 12-15 hours–you constantly uncover new details and events that weren’t present in the previous playthroughs.

Resident Evil 2’s more serious tone is further enhanced by the renewed, fantastically atmospheric presentation, which gives familiar details from the classic game more of a pronounced look and feel. Moving away from the static camera angles of the original, everything has been redesigned with over-the-shoulder gameplay in mind, giving more of a palpable and invasive sense of dread when exploring. This is heightened even more by the impeccable audio and visual design of the game, creating an eerie, isolating vibe throughout. In a number of cases, you’ll only have the illumination of your flashlight as you walk the dark hallways of the bloody and ruined police station, with the ambient rain and distant monster sounds ramping up the tension. You rarely feel safe in RE2, even when you actually are.

The remake’s impressive level of detail is consistently noticeable, but especially so during gorey moments. These gruesome encounters channel the same macabre and staccato approach from the classics, but are now honed through the visual luster of modern rendering and animation. As the zombies are the one constant threat throughout, you quickly become accustomed to seeing flesh chip away as you fire off pistol shots, along with watching the undead torn in half by well-placed shotgun blasts. Though RE2 easily proves to be the goriest game of the series, it never comes off as excessive, and the grizzly details all serve to highlight the grim circumstances of the desperate situation.

Resident Evil 2’s more serious tone is further enhanced by the renewed, fantastically atmospheric presentation…

At the beginning, your meager selection of weapons doesn’t seem like a match for the game’s most intimidating horrors, but there are means available that can give you the upper hand in a lopsided fight. In addition to dismembering enemies with well-aimed shots hindering zombies’ speed and offense, you can barricade certain windows to block ravenous undead from entering from outside. While many of these options are simply a temporary solution to a long-term problem, which can make it seem like they’re not all that worth taking advantage of, they are helpful in a pinch.

While you will no doubt settle into tactics that work well, RE2 throws in some fresh challenges. In one of the game’s more tense encounters, you cross paths with the Tyrant, a hulking presence whose footsteps echo throughout the environment. Though it was a serious foe shown in small doses in the original, this imposing force of nature is now more of a persistent threat that actively stalks you during key periods in the story. Simply ducking into another room isn’t enough, as it’ll quickly follow you in to keep the chase going–similar to the RE3’s Nemesis in that regard. If you manage to create enough distance and it loses line of sight, it’ll disengage, but will remain lurking throughout the halls. With this dynamic, the Tyrant also makes the common foes you’ve gotten a handle of become genuine threats once again. As you find yourself trying to stay focused on the stalking figure, it’s all too easy to round a corner and run into a group of zombies.

Though the Tyrant offers a nerve-wracking surprise during some of these key moments, which makes the feeling of getting the best of it all the more satisfying, there are other times when it can disrupt Resident Evil 2’s pacing. This is especially frustrating when you’re simply trying to acquire an item or solve a puzzle in a room that the Tyrant and zombies frequent. What should be tense encounters can sometimes become annoying exercises in trying to lure it away, and in some cases it comes off like you’re taking advantage of the Tyrant’s rather limited AI to do just that. The Tyrant can overstay its welcome, but in most cases, its presence is a constant reminder of the looming threat throughout the game.

While RE2 often keeps things serious, it’s not all doom and gloom. In addition to occasional references that break the tension, there’s also a suite of unlockable content available to the delight of RE fans, including the classic RE2 outfits for both Leon and Claire. After completing the campaign for both characters, you’ll unlock a set of bonus modes starring fan-favorites Hunk and Tofu, the later of which is a sentient knife-wielding block of coagulated soy. Both of these extra modes take you on timed gauntlets battling through many intense encounters, with Tofu’s mode being the most difficult scenario in the entire game. They also allow for a chance to cut loose against hordes of monsters without the worry of the larger survival-horror mechanics during the main game.

Resident Evil 2 is not only a stellar remake of the original, but it’s also simply a strong horror game that delivers anxiety-inducing and grotesque situations, topping some of the series’ finest entries. But above all, the remake is an impressive game for the fact that it goes all-in on the pure survival horror experience, confidently embracing its horrifying tone and rarely letting up until the story’s conclusion. Though Resident Evil 2 has its roots firmly in the past, it reworks the familiar horrors into something that feels brand new and all its own.

As it often does, Epic has followed up the recent big Fortnite patch with a content update. This one, content update 7.20, makes some adjustments to various items and also introduces a new one, the Sneaky Snowman, vaults several weapons, and adds a limited-time mode. Here are the patch notes detailing what’s new and different.

The very brief video below sums it up fairly well, but in short, the Sneaky Snowman is a wearable disguise not unlike the bush. It’s a Common rarity item and can be found as floor loot or in chests and supply llamas. They drop in stacks of five (you can hold up to 10), and the reason for that is you can opt to wear it (by pressing Secondary Fire) or you can throw it (with Primary Fire) to create a destructible snowman. This way, your opponents will never be sure if a snowman they come across is an actual player or just a decoy.

Of course, enemies can destroy these snowmen by shooting them, but they have 100 health, so dispatching them won’t be as simple as shooting them once. When worn, they function as a shield but are destroyed if the wearer switches to another item or goes into building mode. You can, however, still move around as usual.

Alongside this, the new patch vaults several items, meaning they’ve been temporarily removed from standard Battle Royale game modes. Those include the quad rocket launcher, port-a-fortress, and grappler. And while they haven’t been pulled entirely, several other items and vehicles are also now less likely to be found, and two types of potions have had their drop rates swapped. As detailed in the patch notes:

Altered Spawn Rates

• Reduced the drop chance of Gliders.
  • Reduced drop chance from Chests from 11.89% to 4.43%.
• Reduced the drop chance of Balloons.​​​​​​​
  • Reduced drop chance from Chests from 7.58% to 3.24%.
• Reduced the spawn chance of Quad Crashers from 100% to 50%.
• Reduced the spawn chance of X-4 Stormwings from 80% to 50%.
• Swapped the drop chance of Shield Potions and Small Shield Potions.
  • Shield Potion
    • Reduced drop chance from Floor Loot from 16.53% to 13.22%.
    • Reduced drop chance from Chests from 14.26% to 9.51%.
  • Small Shield Potion
    • Increased drop chance from Floor Loot from 13.22% to 16.53%.
    • Increased drop chance from Chests from 9.51% to 14.26%.

A new but returning limited-time mode has also arrived: Sniper Shootout. All weapons in this mode have scopes, floor loot is less common, and there is no reviving teammates in duos/squads versions. Since the last time this LTM was available, the suppressed sniper rifle has been added, and supply drops can now include the Legendary scoped pistol.

At The Block, you’ll find Omega Pyramid, a new creation by player Directingpete. You can see it in the image below.

You can read on for the full patch notes, courtesy of Epic. Fortnite Creative sees a few additions, while Week 4 of the Cold Chaos event kicks off in Fortnite: Save the World. Elsewhere in the game, a new Ice Storm event began over the weekend, complete with new challenges.

Fortnite 7.20 Content Update Patch Notes

Battle Royale

LIMITED TIME MODE: SNIPER SHOOTOUT

Summary

In this limited time mode, players will do battle using scoped weapons only. May the best aim win!

What’s New?

• Suppressed Sniper Rifles have been added.
• Legendary Scoped Pistols have been added to Supply Drops.

Mode Details

• Floor Loot spawners reduced by 50%
• Reviving “Down But Not Out” teammates in Duos & Squads is deactivated – be careful peeking!
• Profile Stats (K/D & Wins) are tracked in this mode

WEAPONS + ITEMS

• Sneaky Snowman
  • Use Primary Fire to throw a projectile that creates a destructible snowman.
  • Use Secondary Fire to wear the Sneaky Snowman.
  • Sneaky Snowman has 100 Health and acts as a shield when worn by a player.
  • Sneaky Snowman is destroyed when its Health reaches zero or when the player wearing the snowman swaps to a different item or building mode.
    • This means that a player wearing a Sneaky Snowman cannot build or use other items. Movement of all types is allowed.
  • Available in Common variant.
  • Can be found from Floor Loot, Chests, and Supply Llamas.
  • Drops in stacks of 5.
  • Max stack size of 10.
• Swapped the drop chance of Shield Potions and Small Shield Potions.
  • Shield Potion
    • Reduced drop chance from Floor Loot from 16.53% to 13.22%.
    • Reduced drop chance from Chests from 14.26% to 9.51%.
  • Small Shield Potion
    • Increased drop chance from Floor Loot from 13.22% to 16.53%.
    • Increased drop chance from Chests from 9.51% to 14.26%.
• Vaulted the following items:
  • Quad Rocket Launcher
  • Port-A-fortress
  • Grappler
• Reduced the drop chance of Gliders.
  • Reduced drop chance from Chests from 11.89% to 4.43%.
• Reduced the drop chance of Balloons.​​​​​​​
  • Reduced drop chance from Chests from 7.58% to 3.24%.
• Reduced the spawn chance of Quad Crashers from 100% to 50%.
• Reduced the spawn chance of X-4 Stormwings from 80% to 50%.

PERFORMANCE

• Fixed an issue where building would cause a major drop in FPS.

EVENTS

• Added additional dates for Explorer Pop-Up Cup.
  • Updated additional materials gained on elimination to now drop with the eliminated player, rather than being granted immediately.

Creative

WHAT’S NEW?

This is an early release so you may experience client crashes, loss of progress, or other unexpected errors.

WEAPONS + ITEMS

• Sneaky Snowman
  • Use Primary Fire to throw a projectile that creates a destructible snowman.
  • Use Secondary Fire to wear the Sneaky Snowman.
  • Sneaky Snowman has 100 Health and acts as a shield when worn by a player.
  • Sneaky Snowman is destroyed when its Health reaches zero or when the player wearing the snowman swaps to a different item or building mode.
    • This means that a player wearing a Sneaky Snowman cannot build or use other items. Movement of all types is allowed.
  • Available in Common variant.
  • Can be found from Floor Loot, Chests, and Supply Llamas.
  • Drops in stacks of 5.
  • Max stack size of 10.
• Added to Creative
  • Light Machine Gun
  • Suppressed Sub-Machine Gun
  • Revolver
  • Semi-Auto Sniper Rifle
  • Smoke Grenade
  • Remote Explosives

Save the World

WHAT’S NEW?

Frostnite Weekly Challenge 4 – Cold Chaos

Focus your fire! Enemies gain modifiers when attacked, so work as a team and defeat the threat to unlock the banner and the Guardian’s Will Sword.

Lynx Kassandra

A new Hero arrives! Fast on her feet with catlike reflexes, unlock her in the Event Store for a limited time.

MISSIONS + SYSTEMS

• Weekly Frostnite Challenge 4: Cold Chaos
  • Enemies gain modifiers when damaged. Focus your attacks for maximum efficiency.
    • Enemies receive a certain combination of mutators per wave: Quickened, Enraged, Exploding Deathburst, Frenzied Deathburst, and Smoke Screens.
    • Survive for 30 minutes (three times) to collect the Week 4 Challenge Banner.
    • Survive for 30 minutes to collect the Medieval Sword.
  • Available on January 23 at 7 PM ET.

HEROES

• Lynx Kassandra
  • Mythic variant of the Fleetfoot subclass.
  • Available on the Event Store from January 23 at 7 PM ET.
    • Note: Lynx Kassandra will be unique when the new Hero Loadout launches.

WEAPONS + ITEMS

• Guardian’s Will Sword
  • Rewarded for completing the week 4 Frostnite Weekly Challenge.
  • A large sword with high damage and moderate impact.
  • Leap Attack
    • A Heavy attack that jumps to the targeted foe and damages nearby enemies.

AUDIO

• Improved Low Health state audio mix so that gameplay sounds aren’t ducked as severely.
• Updated Lefty/Right weapon equip/unequip sounds.
• Updated Decoy deploy and physics sounds.

Celeste may be a super-challenging game, but the music is pleasing and serene. A new Celeste music album goes further still, transforming the tunes into lovely piano adaptations.

The Celeste Piano Collections is part of Materia Collective’s Piano Collections series, which sees performers adapt popular video game albums in piano fashion. For the Celeste album, Trevor Alan Gomes arranged and performed the new takes on Celeste’s music, which was originally written by Lena Raine. GameSpot is excited to be able to announce the album today and premiere a track, “Scattered And Lost,” which you can listen to in the video embed above.

“Lena has a way of brilliantly hyper-saturating the music with rhythmic ideas, counterpoint, and even multiple lead lines, so taking those full-to-the-brim tracks and transforming them into equally complete piano solos was my greatest challenge to date,” Gomes said in a statement.

“My favorite track on the album, ‘Confronting Myself,’ was a puzzle to arrange for solo piano. I wanted to somehow capture the ‘glitched’ sound, so I translated that sensation to time signature and harmonic changes. ‘Exhale’ was also a joy to arrange for the super talented violinist Michaela Nachtigall, aka ‘Otama-Mama.’ Having just one track with an additional instrument feels like the strawberry on top that completes the album and gives it a lovely roundness.”

Materia Collective is also launching the Celeste Piano Collections on vinyl, and the artwork is stunning. Click through the images in the gallery above to get a closer look.

Jett Galindo (Sony/The Bakery) did the mastering, while Rozen handled the layout and design. The illustrations were created by David Rene Christensen. There are 13 tracks in all, and you can see a listing of them below.

The Celeste Piano Collections album arrives on January 25. You can buy/stream it at all the places you’d expect, including Spotify, iTunes, and Bandcamp. On Bandcamp, you can choose from MP3, FLACC, and other high-quality formats. You can also order the album on vinyl through Bandcamp, where you can also get the album’s sheet music.

This is not the first time Celeste’s music has been remixed for a new album. Last year, a lullaby/jazz album for the game’s music was released.

Celeste Piano Collections

1. Prologue
2. First Steps
3. Resurrections
4. Awake
5. Scattered and Last
6. Madeline and Theo
7. Quiet and Falling
8. In the Mirror
9. Little Goth
10. Confronting Myself
11. Reach for the Summit
12. My Dearest Friend
13. Exhale

Capcom has announced a new mode coming to Resident Evil 2 after launch, which aims to add some longevity with repeatable missions and random elements. The “Ghost Survivors” mode will be free for all players, and it will be released in multiple volumes.

A post on ResetEra details the announcement from Capcom’s launch event stream. Ghost Survivors will release across three volumes. The first volume will include the mayor’s daughter Katherine and a USS member named Robert Kendo as playable characters. The mode is also said to include at least one new enemy type that doesn’t appear in the main campaign. To keep the mode fresh, it will introduce random elements and an in-game shop that lets you purchase upgrades based on good performance in the challenges.

The RE2 remake will also sport the bonus 4th Survivor and Tofu modes from the original, giving you a little more to do after you’ve completed the main campaign. 4th Survivor puts you into the shoes of special agent HUNK, while Tofu lets you explore the zombie-infested city as a big block of substitute soy meat.

If you need to catch up on Resident Evil before the game drops, check out our story recap to refresh yourself on the world of survival horror. Plus you can read up on our pre-order guide to check out the bonus items available, and why Akuma should make a guest appearance.

This year’s Oscar nominations have been announced. Roma and The Favourite leads the pack, with 10 nominations each, and there was also a strong showing from Black Panther, Bohemian Rhapsody, and BlacKkKlansman.

Best Picture nominees were Black Panther, BlacKkKlansman, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Favourite, Green Book, Roma, A Star Is Born, and Vice. Black Panther is the first superhero movie to be nominate for Best Picture.

Best Actress nods went to Yalitza Aparicio (Roma), Glenn Close (The Wife), Olivia Colman (The Favourite), Lady Gaga (A Star Is Born), and Melissa McCarthy (Can You Ever Forgive Me?). Best Actor nominees this year include Christian Bale (Vice), Bradley Cooper (A Star Is Born), Willem Dafoe (At Eternity’s Gate), Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody), and Viggo Mortensen (Green Book).

You can see a rundown of categories and nominees below. You can also find a full breakdown off all the 2019 Oscar nominees at Variety. The 91st Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 24.

Best Picture

• Black Panther
• BlacKkKlansman
• Bohemian Rhapsody
• The Favourite
• Green Book
• Roma
• A Star Is Born
• Vice

Lead Actor

• Christian Bale, Vice
• Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born
• Willem Dafoe, At Eternity’s Gate
• Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody
• Viggo Mortensen, Green Book

Lead Actress

• Yalitza Aparicio, Roma
• Glenn Close, The Wife
• Olivia Colman, The Favourite
• Lady Gaga, A Star Is Born
• Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Supporting Actor

• Mahershala Ali, Green Book
• Adam Driver, BlacKkKlansman
• Sam Elliott, A Star Is Born
• Richard E. Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
• Sam Rockwell, Vice

Supporting Actress

• Amy Adams, Vice
• Marina de Tavira, Roma
• Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk
• Emma Stone, The Favourite
• Rachel Weisz, The Favourite

Director

• Spike Lee, BlacKkKlansman
• Pawel Pawlikowski, Cold War
• Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite
• Alfonso Cuarón, Roma
• Adam McKay, Vice

Animated Feature

• Incredibles 2, Brad Bird
• Isle of Dogs, Wes Anderson
• Mirai, Mamoru Hosoda
• Ralph Breaks the Internet, Rich Moore, Phil Johnston
• Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse, Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman

Animated Short

• Animal Behaviour, Alison Snowden, David Fine
• Bao, Domee Shi
• Late Afternoon, Louise Bagnall
• One Small Step, Andrew Chesworth, Bobby Pontillas
• Weekends, Trevor Jimenez

Adapted Screenplay

• The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Joel Coen , Ethan Coen
• BlacKkKlansman, Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott, Spike Lee
• Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty
• If Beale Street Could Talk, Barry Jenkins
• A Star Is Born, Eric Roth, Bradley Cooper, Will Fetters

Original Screenplay

• The Favourite, Deborah Davis, Tony McNamara
• First Reformed, Paul Schrader
• Green Book, Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie, Peter Farrelly
• Roma, Alfonso Cuarón
• Vice, Adam McKay

Cinematography

• Cold War, Lukasz Zal
• The Favourite, Robbie Ryan
• Never Look Away, Caleb Deschanel
• Roma, Alfonso Cuarón
• A Star Is Born, Matthew Libatique

Best Documentary Feature

• Free Solo, Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
• Hale County This Morning, This Evening, RaMell Ross
• Minding the Gap, Bing Liu
• Of Fathers and Sons, Talal Derki
• RBG, Betsy West, Julie Cohen

Best Documentary Short Subject

• Black Sheep, Ed Perkins
• End Game, Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman
• Lifeboat, Skye Fitzgerald
• A Night at the Garden, Marshall Curry
• Period. End of Sentence., Rayka Zehtabchi

Best Live Action Short Film

• Detainment, Vincent Lambe
• Fauve, Jeremy Comte
• Marguerite, Marianne Farley
• Mother, Rodrigo Sorogoyen
• Skin, Guy Nattiv

Best Foreign Language Film

• Capernaum (Lebanon)
• Cold War (Poland)
• Never Look Away (Germany)
• Roma (Mexico)
• Shoplifters (Japan)

Film Editing

• BlacKkKlansman, Barry Alexander Brown
• Bohemian Rhapsody, John Ottman
• Green Book, Patrick J. Don Vito
• The Favourite, Yorgos Mavropsaridis
• Vice, Hank Corwin

Sound Editing

• Black Panther, Benjamin A. Burtt, Steve Boeddeker
• Bohemian Rhapsody, John Warhurst
• First Man, Ai-Ling Lee, Mildred Iatrou Morgan
• A Quiet Place, Ethan Van der Ryn, Erik Aadahl
• Roma, Sergio Diaz, Skip Lievsay

Sound Mixing

• Black Panther
• Bohemian Rhapsody
• First Man
• Roma
• A Star Is Born

Production Design

• Black Panther, Hannah Beachler
• First Man, Nathan Crowley, Kathy Lucas
• The Favourite, Fiona Crombie, Alice Felton
• Mary Poppins Returns, John Myhre, Gordon Sim
• Roma, Eugenio Caballero, Bárbara Enrı́quez

Original Score

• BlacKkKlansman, Terence Blanchard
• Black Panther, Ludwig Goransson
• If Beale Street Could Talk, Nicholas Britell
• Isle of Dogs, Alexandre Desplat
• Mary Poppins Returns, Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman

Original Song

• All The Stars from Black Panther by Kendrick Lamar, SZA
• I’ll Fight from RBG by Diane Warren, Jennifer Hudson
• The Place Where Lost Things Go from Mary Poppins Returns by Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman
• Shallow from A Star Is Born by Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando, Andrew Wyatt and Benjamin Rice
• When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings from The Ballad of Buster Scruggs by David Rawlings and Gillian Welch

Makeup and Hair

• Border
• Mary Queen of Scots
• Vice

Costume Design

• The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Mary Zophres
• Black Panther, Ruth E. Carter
• The Favourite, Sandy Powell
• Mary Poppins Returns, Sandy Powell
• Mary Queen of Scots, Alexandra Byrne

Visual Effects

• Avengers Infinity War
• Christopher Robin
• First Man
• Ready Player One
• Solo A Star Wars Story