8 things to watch out for this week

Fox June 8, 2018 Feature Leave a comment 30 Views

E3 is like video game Christmas, even if Xbox’s Phil Spencer is a poor substitute for Santa and you don’t get presents until *actual* Christmas; just a dizzying, often cruel, tease of what might be months – or even years – from our grasp. We already know a good selection of the E3 2018 games (opens in new tab) that’ll feature next week, but ahead of the E3 2018 schedule (opens in new tab) kicking off with EA Play on Saturday 9th June, here are the big games, themes and talking points likely to dominate this year’s show:

Death Stranding should just leave us with more questions

After three trailers of unexpected celebrity appearances, dead sea creatures, and teleporting pod infants, Death Stranding (opens in new tab) has cultivated the optimal aura of Hideo Kojima weirdness. We know another trailer is bound for E3 at the Sony press conference on Monday (18:00 PDT / 21:00 EDT, Tuesday 02:30 BST) and, as the game nears the end of its initial launch window – remember, Kojima said at one point that it would arrive before 2019 – people are hoping to get a more solid grasp on what the game actually is. It’s understandable. But listen: at this point, there are no solid gameplay details that Kojima could reveal that wouldn’t be disappointing. Right now, Death Stranding is like Schrödinger’s cat – it exists in every possible form until we actually see it. The mystery that Kojima Productions has cultivated over the years deserves so much better than the old “camera pans behind the hero’s shoulder as somebody walks out on stage and picks up the controller” trick. The only concrete answer I want from Death Stranding’s E3 presentation is a release date – until then, just give me more questions until the game comes out. That said, the Death Stranding reddit group are convincing themselves there might even be a surprise demo made live during the show, akin to Kojima’s PT. As tantalising as that seems, it really might be talk from a parallel dimension. Connor Sheridan

PS4 exclusive Ghost of Tsushima has the potential to be the samurai answer to Red Dead Redemption

Western and samurai movies are two sides of the same coin. With Ghost of Tsushima – from InFamous developer Sucker Punch – no doubt due to be shown off at E3, there’s the possibility that the game could have the similar themes. Dying frontier life was at the heart of Red Dead Redemption, and similarly Ghost of Tsushima is going to show us a world saturated in conflict as samurais are forced to adapt to the Mongol invasion. Taking place in 1274 when feudal Japan was at its peak, the demands placed upon the samurai in Ghost of Tsushima should shape up to be a parallel to John Marston’s own change of character in Red Dead Redemption: whereas Marston abandoned the outlaw life in favour of a home life, in Ghost of Tsushima the samurai has to set honour aside and use stealthier fighting methods against the Mongol invaders. The figure of the lone samurai being torn between his duty and his own belief of what’s right is the familiar backbone of samurai movies, and I’m betting that the same will apply to Ghost of Tsushima. Along with a healthy dose of katana action, of course. Zoe Delahunty-Light

The Avengers game is an incredibly exciting idea, but feels like an almost impossible task to fulfil 

In the most abstract terms, the idea of a full-scale, AAA Avengers game is exciting – and of course, long overdue. But at this stage, given the scale of the MCU, and its escalation since the appearance of the first team-up movie in 2012, what the heck form could it even take? At this stage, post-Avengers: Infinity War (opens in new tab), the very notion of the Avengers feels too big to be contained within a single game design. If taking a traditional, story-led, linear action direction, surely it has to be at least five games in one to give every character a satisfying work-out, and that’s going to risk all kinds of bloat and focus problems. But what are the other options? Will the game dodge trying to contain the roster of characters within a strained, single-player campaign by opting instead for a more free-form, co-op affair? Will it side-step the challenging issue of equally favourite characters altogether by tasking us with creating our own, new hero to exist alongside the Avengers, a la DC Universe Online, or a superhero Destiny? There’s boggling potential here, and it increasingly feels like the more leftfield an approach the game takes, the better. David Houghton

E3 2018 won’t be fought on hardware and exclusives, but ecosystems and services

We’re not seeing PS5 (opens in new tab) at E3, confirms Sony America President Shawn Layden. Xbox One X is only seven months old and the Nintendo Switch is 18 months old. So it’s looking likely that we’re not going to see a significant hardware update at E3. While attention will inevitably be focused on which console has the best press conference, exclusive games and third-party deals (play Big Shooter Royale beta first on PS4 etc), the battle is shifting to online services. Nintendo Switch’s premium online service (opens in new tab) launches in September. The Big N need a compelling reason to drive sign ups. As it stands, they’re offering the ability to play online games, access 20 classic NES games and cloud saving for your – quite affordable – $19.99 / £18.99 yearly sign up. Nintendo are yet to reveal its advertised ‘special offers’, but if rumors of Fortnite on Switch are true, this could be Ninty’s killer app; especially if Switch can establish itself as the most tween-friendly environment for Epic’s battle royale. All eyes are on Xbox, with boss Phil Spencer now shaping wider Microsoft strategy, like recent moves to a ‘Play Anywhere’ on Xbox or PC ecosystem. Xbox’s backward compatibility already trumps Sony’s offering and Game Pass is edging toward a ‘Netflix for Games’ model. PS4 will almost certainly boast the best exclusive games… so will Xbox counter with a left-field surprise? Dan Dawkins

Will Nintendo finally give us some Limited Edition Switch hardware?

The Nintendo Switch is already 18 months old (where did that go?) and although Nintendo has delivered us some funky coloured joy-cons, we’ve yet to see any limited edition versions of them, or the console itself. Take a look at the 3DS for example. Over the years, Nintendo has been regularly pumping out new editions of the handheld, including, most recently, an all new Hylian Shield Edition 2DS XL, but where’s the love for the Switch? I hope Ninty will treat us to a limited edition Pokemon Let’s Go Switch or even a Smash Bros edition, especially as by then you’ll be able to utilise cloud saves to move your game saves from one console to another at last. And by limited edition I mean, completely new joy-cons, custom back-plates, perhaps a new colour for the switch itself instead of the black, not just more neon Joy-Cons. And if I’m being really greedy, what we really need are custom designed docks, with a possibility of built in RGB lighting. Is that too much to ask? Nintendo can do it, and it will, but when is the big question. Brandon Saltalamacchia

Who’s going to win the E3 2018 battle of the royales?  

Fortnite Battle Royale with the ring closing in and taking people out

There’s a running joke about 100 battle royale games dropping into an arena and fighting it out to see who emerges victorious, but this year’s E3 really might end up feeling as ridiculous as that sounds. Fortnite is hosting an epic celeb and streamer-filled Party Royale tournament (and will probably announce a Nintendo Switch port), Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 – the first of many triple-A contenders – could show off some gameplay for its new mode Blackout, and there’s even rumours of battle royale experiences for Red Dead Redemption 2, Battlefield 5, and the next Gears of War, all of which could see surprise reveals during one of the press conferences. With so many to choose from and get excited about, predicting which battle royale game will ultimately steal the show is no easy task but, as the genre itself dictates, there can only be one winner (psst, my money’s on Fortnite)… Alex Avard

Microsoft really needs to pull some exclusive titles out of the bag

Technically, Microsoft is in a very interesting position for this year’s E3. The Xbox One is being outsold by the PS4 by at least 40 million units, and even the Switch sales figures are starting to nip at the Xbox’s fan ports. The Xbox One game releases for the end of the year are looking very thin indeed if you strip away third-party titles like Black Ops 4, Red Dead Redemption 2 or Battlefield 5. Because of that though, Microsoft has the most to gain this E3, with a lot of ground to make up for and currently nothing in the books that would make you buy an Xbox One X (opens in new tab) over a PS4 or a PC. It’s a shame because the Xbox One X is always the go-to console for developers to show off their new games, because it makes them look just so delicious. But there might be some light in them there green hills. There are rumblings online about Fable 4 (opens in new tab), a new Forza Horizon, and even murmurings of not one, but three, new Gears of War titles, including a battle royale contender. But for me, Microsoft needs that one big game. That console seller that would ease them over the finishing line of this console generation with a bit more of a bang than its current whimper. It might be the case that it’s Halo 6. But for me, I want Microsoft to pull its own new IP to rival Sony’s Horizon Zero Dawn (opens in new tab) or a complete and utter reboot in the style of God of War (opens in new tab) or Zelda: Breath of the Wild (opens in new tab) out the bag, to prove that it’s still got the moves to compete with Nintendo and Sony. If it doesn’t, Microsoft can’t just rely on good systems and services to keep things ticking over, and I fear my Xbox One will continue to gather dust for another year. Sam Loveridge

Fallout 76 is almost certainly a multiplayer game, but are Bethesda ready for a backlash? 

On Sunday we’ll finally get a look at Fallout 76 after all those Bethesda E3 rumours (opens in new tab). The showcase is on Sunday at 18:30 PDT/ 02:30 BST, and given recent release date rumours point to an early release, expect Fallout 76 to feature heavily. But what are going to get? Numerous sources suggest this will be some kind of online/co-op world building game along the lines of something like Ark: Survival Evolved or Rust. And, for some reason, that’s made people so angry, with the internet full of outrage Bethesda isn’t making another single player Fallout for them. A game that, at this point, can only exists in the heads of those hammering all-caps fury into the world – considering Fallout 4 took about 5-6 years to make the idea anything approaching Fallout 5 being ready barely two years later is a big ask. It means Sunday will be interesting: the current reaction feels like a fan base slowly winding themselves up in preparation for an imminent hissy fit of entitlement. Is Bethesda ready? Leon Hurley

8 Things to Watch This Week picks the best games, movies and shows of the next seven days every Friday at 9am PDT / 5pm BST.

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8 things to watch out for this week

Fox January 26, 2018 Feature Leave a comment 29 Views

You’ve nearly made it through Dry January, but we hope it hasn’t been a dry month for great movies, games and TV. It certainly hasn’t been for us, with inventive TV shows like The Good Place dazzling in its second season on Netflix, Black Lightning putting the super in superhero shows and small cats taking on big dinosaurs – with your help of course – in Monster Hunter World. Here’s our pick of the eight things to watch out for this week. Take a look:

1. Can crazy smart Netflix comedy The Good Place confound and delight viewers again with its season 2 finale?

The Good Place delights as an archetypal, upbeat, US sitcom – uniting the talents of Ted Danson (Cheers), Kristen Bell (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) and creator Michael Schur (Parks and Rec) – but dazzles for different, less obvious, reasons. Part philosophy, part fantasy, the show teases a career-best performance from Danson (Michael), a godlike architect who runs The Good Place, a spiritual realm where the best people go when they die. Kristen Bell wakes up here despite living a terrible, selfish, life; desperate to mask her impostor status while attempting to become a better person (“I mean I wasn’t freaking Ghandi. But I was OK. I was a medium person”, protests Bell). If this doesn’t sound like something you’d enjoy,  give it a shot… one member of the GR team recently watched season 1 in *one evening*. Each whip-smart 22 minute episode cascades into another, as the show reveals its warm characters – we forking love you, Janet – and hidden depths. With season 2 nearing its conclusion on Netflix (UK), you’ve still got time to watch it all in advance of next week’s finale. Don’t read any reviews, dive into season 1… and join us next week to see if creator Mike Schur’s conclusion can pull another hat out of the rabbit. Daniel Dawkins

What: The Good Place
Where: Netflix (UK), NBC / Hulu (US)
When: Friday, January 26

2. Here’s why superhero series Black Lightning deserves a spot on your TV schedule

I know what you’re thinking. Another superhero TV show? Christ, do we need another?! Well, the answer is yes… when it’s a series like this one. The CW developed the little-known Black Lightning comic for a 13-episode run, which started a couple of weeks ago in the US and has now come to Netflix – and unlike most superhero offerings, it’s not about young teenagers discovering their powers. Black Lightning focuses on a retired superhero who gets pulled back into the good fight to save his community, and leans heavily on its black roots and current political issues to make a statement. Basically, imagine Luke Cage, but without the slow pace and a little less subtle. This show isn’t afraid to talk about difficult topics (and be damn entertaining while doing it), but it’s lead Cress Williams who really makes this show what it is. If you’re in the US, you can catch new episodes each Tuesday on The CW and if you’re in the UK, the first episode is on Netflix now with new episodes coming every week. Lauren O’Callaghan

What: Black Lightning season 1
Where: The CW in the US and Netflix everywhere else
When: Tuesdays

3. The first of Destiny 2’s ‘game-fixing’ updates will be far more important to the game’s long-term health than the sum of its content suggests

In 2018, we find Destiny in troubling uncharted territory, losing support even from the loyal core fanbase that gladly championed the original game during its own early traumas. Plagued by backlash to deep design fundamentals that make the sequel shallower and less rewarding across the board, Destiny 2 is in a tight spot. On January 30, we get the first of the hopefully game-fixing updates that Bungie has promised throughout the year – its current schedule runs right through to autumn – and theoretically our first taste of where Destiny 2 is going. The update itself isn’t huge (it’s set to increase reward drops during Raids, and augment that bland Raid gear with new perks), but symbolically it’s huge. The nature of those new Raid perks might well be very telling of Bungie’s attitude toward gear design moving forward, offering great insight into the shape of the full sandbox overhaul scheduled for later in the year. And the way that the traditionally under-communicative studio delivers the patch will be vital. A new air of open conversation, explicitly detailed, transparent communication, and clear empathy for the player-base will be an appreciated gesture of long-term goodwill. Another set of vague patch-notes and unwelcome, in-game surprises, frankly, will not. Cross everything, Guardians. This one is going to be bigger than it looks. 

What: Destiny 2’s first big 2018 update
Where: Destiny 2, on PS4, Xbox One, and PC
When: January 30 

4. Laser League’s open beta begins, and this Tron-inspired game of ‘Oh god the walls are closing in’ might be your next obsession

In an age of gaming where every piece of a character’s outfit can be scavenged for, crafted, and assigned dozens of attributes, sometimes it’s nice to go back to a more simple design. Laser League, from developer Roll7 (OlliOlli, Not A Hero) plays like a mash-up of Tron’s lightcycles and rugby, but really only has one rule: don’t touch the enemy team’s lasers. In this 3v3 game, presented as though it were the arena sport of the future, players race around a playing field trying to capture nodes that spawn walls of lasers. Various classes will help you get a leg up on your competition, but things never get so complex that you feel lost. The hectic pace of the game coupled with maps that are constantly, rapidly changing will keep you on your toes and get your heart racing. But hey, don’t take our word for it – an open beta this weekend will let you try it for yourself at no cost, which you definitely should do. Like a few other contemporary leagues (Rocket League, League of Legends), we think Laser League has the potential to become a massive success. Sam Prell

What: Laser League open beta
Where: PC (Steam)
When: Friday 26th Jan – Sunday 28th Jan

5. Sea of Thieves beta lets you get drunk and blind players with vomit. Yay!

If you’re a Sea of Thieves Insider or have pre-ordered the game then the closed beta is live for you (and you can still get in by pre-ordering right now). It’s a little slice of Rare’s pirating adventure, letting you sail the seas in  search of treasure, fights and, most importantly, booze. Find a pub on any of the outpost islands and you can drink grog until you’re too drunk to stand and throw up everywhere. The two practical upshots of this is that it becomes so hard to walk you’ll likely end up walking off the jetty into the sea. And you’ll also projectile vomit //everywhere//. Hit someone with it and you’ll blind them. If you’re aim’s not good then hold a bucket, throw up into that and then throw it at them. This is why pirates rarely get invited to parties. Leon Hurley

What: Sea of Thieves closed beta
Where: Xbox One
When:  January 24 to January 31

6. Celeste from the creators of TowerFall is perfect for platformer purists

Tight controls, ruthless maps, NPCs laughing at your efforts to get to the top of a mountain: there’s plenty in Celeste to delight the most sadistic players. The people who made TowerFall (opens in new tab) – one of the best party games around – are back with Celeste. TowerFall’s platforming prowess and famously-responsive controls is woven into a tale of adventure and personal demons. You’ll have to get into the nitty-gritty of the controls and physics to master Celeste, and certainly isn’t for anyone who has a tendency to rage quit after their 147th death. It could be 2018’s Super Meat Boy. Zoe Delahunty-Light

What: Celeste
Where: PC, Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch
When: January 25

7. Call of Duty WW2 update brings shotgun fixes, free stuff and new DLC content to PS4

It’s a good week to get back into Call of Duty on PS4 if you’re not played it for a while. Not only has there been some much needed shotgun balancing (sawn off buffed, combat shotty nerfed) it’s also preparing for its first DLC with a week long community event. The event will bring free gear for all in the shape of a new Resistance Division/class, as well as new weapons and uniforms to try out. As well as that there will be in-game events, special Orders and Contracts, plus double XP playlists, XP boosts and a free Resistance supply drop just for logging in. The event runs from 23-27 to set the scene for the Resistance DLC on the 30th, which adds three new multiplayer modes, a new War mode called Operation Intercept, and a new Zombie’s chapter called The Darkest Shore. Leon Hurley

What: Call of Duty WW2 Resistance DLC and community event
Where: PS4 (coming to Xbox One and PC in February)
When: January 23 to Jan 30

8. Monster Hunter World is the most accessible in the series yet, so it’s a perfect time to get huntin’

You might have heard the hubbub about Monster Hunter World (opens in new tab), about its massive critters, fully roamable world and fuzzy cat companions. Well, it just happens to be amazing, and not just graphically. It manages to distill everything that’s made the series so successful into a game that makes it utterly accessible, ripping out overly complicated mechanics and systems to reveal a game that’s still incredibly complex and deep, but actually approachable. It’s rare that you’ll see GamesRadar+ give out a five star review, but this one probably should have got a six. If you’ve felt inimidated by Monster Hunter’s reputation for being overly dense, then you should absolutely believe the hype and give Monster Hunter World a chance. Sam Loveridge

What: Monster Hunter World
Where: PS4 and Xbox One
When: Now

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