New story on NPR: A Fragile Relationship Tested By Freedom In 'Outside In' https://ift.tt/2Gn257r
Saturday, 31 March 2018
NPR News: Episode 833: Worst. Tariffs. Ever.
New story on NPR: Episode 833: Worst. Tariffs. Ever. https://ift.tt/2Gm203R
NPR News: Arizona Teachers Threatening To Strike If They Don't Get A Pay Raise
New story on NPR: Arizona Teachers Threatening To Strike If They Don't Get A Pay Raise https://ift.tt/2GGAeOw
NPR News: Attorneys Will Factor In Impact Of #MeToo Movement In New Bill Cosby Trial
New story on NPR: Attorneys Will Factor In Impact Of #MeToo Movement In New Bill Cosby Trial https://ift.tt/2GpPOuA
NPR News: Atlanta Paralyzed For More Than A Week By Cyber Attack
New story on NPR: Atlanta Paralyzed For More Than A Week By Cyber Attack https://ift.tt/2pTYGBT
NPR News: 16 Palestinians Killed, Hundreds More Wounded In Violence Near Gaza Border
New story on NPR: 16 Palestinians Killed, Hundreds More Wounded In Violence Near Gaza Border https://ift.tt/2GXIYxy
NPR News: As Syrian War Continues, Only 1 Rebel Group Remains In Eastern Ghouta
New story on NPR: As Syrian War Continues, Only 1 Rebel Group Remains In Eastern Ghouta https://ift.tt/2E7ycSc
NPR News: Wife Of Orlando Nightclub Gunman Acquitted Of All Charges
New story on NPR: Wife Of Orlando Nightclub Gunman Acquitted Of All Charges https://ift.tt/2GXij3U
NPR News: Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin Weighs In On Tensions Between U.S. And Russia
New story on NPR: Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin Weighs In On Tensions Between U.S. And Russia https://ift.tt/2pTYsL3
Judge Temporarily Stops U.S. From Blocking Undocumented Teenagers’ Abortions
By MATT STEVENS from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2IgOuuz
Tesla Says Crashed Vehicle Had Been on Autopilot Before Fatal Accident
By GREGORY SCHMIDT from NYT Business Day https://ift.tt/2J3d1ER
What’s on TV Saturday: ‘Lover for a Day’ and ‘Operation Odessa’
By SARA ARIDI from NYT Arts https://ift.tt/2H0EXsr
Notre Dame, a UConn Nemesis, Topples the Huskies in a Final Four Thriller
By JERÉ LONGMAN from NYT Sports https://ift.tt/2J9KJs2
Police Release New Body Camera Footage of Alton Sterling Shooting
By THE NEW YORK TIMES from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2E8TPlk
Vermont Legislature Passes Sweeping Gun Restrictions
By JESS BIDGOOD from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2E8JHsD
Stacey Dash, Actress in ‘Clueless,’ Drops Out of Congressional Race
By MATT STEVENS from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2IikBu9
Quotation of the Day: Automakers Asked for Looser Rules but May Get More Than They Bargained For
By Unknown Author from NYT Today’s Paper https://ift.tt/2uyPTeh
Mississippi State Earns Second Straight Trip to Women’s Final
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT Sports https://ift.tt/2GH6ocL
Sung Hyun Park and Pernilla Lindberg Share ANA Inspiration Lead
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT Sports https://ift.tt/2J5mueI
As Stanton and Judge Go Quiet, Tanaka Leads the Yankees
By DAVID WALDSTEIN from NYT Sports https://ift.tt/2uFbQIi
What You Might Have Missed: 10 Weekend Reads From Opinion
By KATHLEEN O’BRIEN from NYT Opinion https://ift.tt/2GGYDDY
Vermont Town Seeks a Heart, and Soul (Also Milk and Eggs)
By BILL McKIBBEN from NYT Opinion https://ift.tt/2H0Nk7m
What Americans Really Think About Sports Betting
By GARY BELSKY from NYT Opinion https://ift.tt/2GJ59Kk
Albany Strikes Budget Deal That Sidesteps Trump’s Tax Plan
By VIVIAN WANG and JESSE McKINLEY from NYT N.Y. / Region https://ift.tt/2GH0QyU
NPR News: Moby On World Cafe
Moby On World Cafe
A wide-ranging conversation about long-term sobriety, DJ'ing children's parties, and why at 52 years old, the musician has no desire to tour again.
Read more on NPR
A wide-ranging conversation about long-term sobriety, DJ'ing children's parties, and why at 52 years old, the musician has no desire to tour again.
Read more on NPR
Pulse Nightclub Shooter’s Widow Found Not Guilty Of Aiding Her Husband’s Attack
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'Sharknado 6' Will Be the Final Film, With a Time Travel Theme
Shark to the future! Or at least the past.
According to TVLine, Syfy will give fans the sixth and final "Sharknado" movie this summer. The title and release date haven't been announced yet. But we do know there will be a time travel plot to "Sharknado 6" -- which makes sense considering "Sharknado 5: Global Swarming."
In No. 5, Fin (Ian Ziering) saw the world around him destroyed. How do you make a movie after that? You go for the time travel trick, of course! So that's what's up in No. 6 -- he has to go back in time to try and stop the Sharknado that started it all. Fans can probably expect a lot of callbacks to the early films, which should make for a fun drinking game. (Is there any other way to watch?)
TVLinen says "Sharknado 6" will bring back Tara Reid, Cassie Scerbo, and Vivica A. Fox, with franchise director Anthony C. Ferrante also returning. More celeb-ish guest star cameos are also expected.
The first "Sharknado" came out in 2013, followed by "Sharknado 2: The Second One," "Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!," "Sharknado: The 4th Awakens," and "Sharknado 5: Global Swarming."
What do you think they should title No. 6 -- "The Last One (Until a Reboot)"? "Back to the Water"?
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The 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Honest Trailer Mocks Fans by Arguing With Itself
Screen Junkies found an unusual target for its latest Honest Trailers video: fans.
The new video takes on "Star Wars: The Last Jedi," and while it pokes fun at its source material like always, it also ribs the franchise's very large and very divided fan base. Everything starts out normally, but then the narrator is interrupted by the original Honest Trailer voice, who has a very different opinion. The two disagree constantly, mirroring actual Star Wars fans.
Their assessment becomes complicated, to say the least. While the current voice calls the film "a refreshing update to a predictable formula," the old voice adds that it "spits in the face of everything you once loved." To the former, it's exhilarating, yet the latter finds it insulting.
The two voices banter back and forth throughout the video, but by the end, they find some common ground. It turns out both camps had the same favorite parts and least favorite parts, and they're equally disinterested in "Solo." What a lesson in coming together.
Watch the funny take on "The Last Jedi" below.
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Jeff Goldblum Dropped More Cryptic 'Jurassic World' Comments on 'Watch What Happens Live'
The Jurassic Park franchise star is reprising his role as Dr. Ian Malcolm in the upcoming "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom," and it sounds like he could possibly appear in its sequel as well. Goldblum discussed the franchise while a guest on "Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen," and he was all kinds of cryptic.
A fan had called in to ask the actor about his comments regarding Laura Dern returning to the franchise, and Goldblum wholeheartedly embraced the word "maybe."
"Maybe I said too much," he said. I don't know for sure. ... I can't divulge anything. But maybe, maybe, maybe she will."
That's four maybes total, and we very much hope they add up to a yes. Goldblum kept our hopes up by highlighting that there are already plans for "Jurassic World 3."
"Some people may or may not be in it," he said. "That's all I can say."
Very interesting. For now, we'll look forward to seeing the actor in "Fallen Kingdom." As we've seen in trailers and as Goldblum mentioned, Ian will testify in front of the Senate about dinosaurs.
Watch the actor's many "maybes" below.
"Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" opens June 22.
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Fortnite: Do A Dance, And It Could Become A Battle Royale Emote
Epic Games has announced a dance contest for Fortnite, and the grand prize winner will get their dance featured in Battle Royale as an emote. Called "#boogiedown," the contest is currently active and runs until April 10.
To enter, record a video of yourself (or a group) performing an original dance, and share your submission on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram using the hashtag #boogiedown. Your dance must also "fit the playful personality of Fortnite." You can watch a trailer for the contest below.
In addition to getting an emote in the game, the winner will receive 10,000 V-Bucks, disco-themed cosmetics, and an exclusive "IRL" Boogie Bomb. There are 100 winners in total; you can read the full breakdown of prizes and rules on Epic Games' website.
Fortnite's update v3.4 is out now on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and mobile. It adds a new weapon--the Guided Missile--and brings back the limited-time Sniper Shootout mode. A follow-up patch is also available now. For more on Fortnite, be sure to check out our guide on how to complete Fortnite's Week 6 challenges.
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Persona 5 Anime US Streaming Details, Premiere Date Revealed
The anime adaptation of last year's acclaimed RPG Persona 5 now has a premiere date for the United States. Aniplex of America, which recently acquired the rights to Persona 5: The Animation in the US, announced today at Sakura-Con that it will simulcast the series on Crunchyroll and Hulu, Anime News Network reports. The premiere is scheduled for April 7, the same day it will air in Japan.
Persona 5: The Animation follows the same premise as the game. It begins with the protagonist--named Ren Amamiya--transferring to Shujin Academy. Soon after, his persona awakens, and he and his friends form the Phantom Thieves. In February, Aniplex of America released an English-subtitled trailer for the series, which you can watch below.
While Production I.G (best known for Ghost in the Shell) made the animated sequences from the game, A-1 Pictures is producing Persona 5: The Animation. A-1 Pictures previously worked on Persona 4: The Golden Animation. Additionally, the game's Japanese voice cast are reprising their roles for the anime, and Shoji Meguro is returning to compose the music.
For more on anime, see our list of the biggest anime to watch in 2018. If you're looking for new shows to watch in the meantime, check out our gallery of the best anime available on Netflix and our top 10 anime of 2017.
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Far Cry 5 Arcade: The Best And Worst Maps We've Seen So Far
Far Cry 5 is a sizable game. It boasts a large, open-world experience with a story that can take 25 hours or much more to complete, and it offers a playground that you can play around in indefinitely. But its long-term appeal lies in the Arcade, a new map editor mode that allows players to craft their own experiences.
Arcade can be used to create a wide array of experiences (even using assets from other Ubisoft franchises, like Assassin's Creed and Watch Dogs) for single-player, co-op, and competitive multiplayer. Just as importantly, these creations can be shared online, giving you a potentially endless set of levels to check out. In the video above, we run through some of the best and worst maps that we've encountered so far. Some of these are fairly straightforward concepts, while the appeal of others lies in their references to other game franchises. We check out a Zelda map of dubious quality (which is nonetheless worth a try), a Hotline Miami-inspired level with one-hit kills where you throw bats as weapons, and another that is essentially a linear horror map.
Ubisoft offers its own Arcade creations that you'll encounter while playing Far Cry 5, which showcase exactly what's possible. Many of those you'll find online from other players are, unfortunately, somewhat lacking--as our Far Cry 5 review notes, "There are a lot of bland examples out there ... It's easy to weed out the duds when picking and choosing single-player levels, but when it comes to multiplayer, you leave some of it up to chance." That's because multiplayer lobbies allow three players to propose a possible level, and everyone then votes on those selections and one that's chosen by the server.
As you play, you're also able to vote on maps you like and dislike, so there is some built-in system that will hopefully help the best content to eventually surface in-game. You can also try out Arcade Hero, a mode where you randomly play through newer maps. Our reviewer, Edmond Tran, found it difficult to get into multiplayer matches this way, but it works well for single-player and co-op content--though the quality of what you're playing may vary wildly. On the bright side, you do get bonus experience for participating in Arcade Hero, and that progress feeds back into the currency and Perks you use in Far Cry 5's main campaign.
If you're interested in creating your own content, we have tips on how to get started in Far Cry 5 Arcade. Otherwise, you can check out the maps featured in our video through the links below.
Map 1: Country War
- Creator: Shining912
- Quick pitch: An open map that's missing textures and things to do.
- Download link
Map 2: 穷途末路-活下来！
- Creator: MQfree
- Quick pitch: An outpost mission that asks you to kill nearly a hundred enemies.
- Download link
Map 3: Farm Assault
- Creator: Thor0508
- Quick pitch: A decent map that has you attacking a farm.
- Download link
Map 4: Horror Film
- Creator: Camdolf
- Quick pitch: An atmospheric map with a deadly foe waiting for you at the end.
- Download link
Map 5: Apocalipse Base
- Creator: AnoAnk
- Quick pitch: A map that's way too big and has too many enemies.
- Download link
Map 6: Hotline Miami
- Quick pitch: A colorful neon map that looks and feels like a first-person Hotline Miami game.
- Download link
Map 7: Welcome to Elk Jaw Lodge v0
- Creator: Sundic_Ouff
- Quick pitch: A dark and bloody adventure that takes you through a rural town that's erupted in chaos.
- Download link
Map 8: Legend of Zeldo
- Creator: Cute_N_Evil
- Quick pitch: A large map that pays homage to The Legend of Zelda in some entertaining ways.
- Download link
from GameSpot https://ift.tt/2pSFJPL
Fortnite Server Issues Causing Queues; In-Game Stats Disabled
Following the launch of a pair of updates this week, Fortnite is suffering from some server problems today. These are causing players to wait in queues, and while Epic is working on the situation, there's another matter to be aware of on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and mobile.
After the 3.4.1 patch was released earlier today, Epic confirmed on Twitter that players were experiencing "longer than normal matchmaking times." Its status page also outlines the various areas of the game that are experiencing a "partial outage," which for most people means it's taking a long time to either get online or into matches.
"We're still working to resolve these backend service issues and will let you know once we've seen recovery," Epic said. "We know you want to get back out there and appreciate your patience as we work through these problems."
In order to help "relieve stress" on Fortnite's backend, the display of stats in-game is being disabled. However, the dev insists your stats are still being recorded and will be displayed properly after the problems have been resolved; this is merely a temporary measure that cuts off your ability to see accumulated stats. There's no estimate for when all of this will be resolved, but we'll report back as more details are shared.
This problem follows another issue after the release of update 3.4 that caused progress and XP to not be recorded in Save the World missions and Battle Royale's new Sniper Shootout limited-time mode. That issue has since been fixed, and another, unrelated patch--3.4.1--was released today to deal with some other problems.
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Another New Fortnite Update Out Now For PS4, Xbox One, And PC
A new patch is now available for Fortnite. Coming on the heels of the big v3.4 update, developer Epic has deployed another fairly minor patch for the popular battle royale game, which primarily resolves a handful of bugs and makes a few other performance improvements.
Specifically, update v3.4.1 fixes the delay in the Pump Shotgun animation. It also resolves an issue with the game not displaying the distance for Sniper Rifle eliminations. Finally, the patch implements "multiple" unspecified crash fixes.
Patch v3.4.1 is available to download now on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Epic says it will roll out a similar update for the mobile version in the "near future," which will also include some platform-specific fixes. You can read the brief patch notes for the new update below or on the official Fortnite forums.
The latest patch arrives shortly after the release of Fortnite's v3.4 update. That introduced new content to both Battle Royale and Save the World modes. The former received a new weapon, the Guided Missile, and brought back the temporarily disabled Boogie Bomb. Epic also shuffled the rarity of shotguns, although they're functionally identical to before. Meanwhile, Save the World players can now take on a new Easter-themed quest line.
Update v3.4 also kicked off a new limited-time mode for Battle Royale: Sniper Shootout v2. Likewise, a new batch of weekly challenges are now available for Battle Pass holders. Be sure to check out our guide on how to complete Fortnite's Week 6 challenges.
Fortnite v3.4.1 Patch Notes
- Multiple Crash Fixes
- Pump Shotgun Animation Delay
- Distance not being shown for Sniper Rifle eliminations
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Best Xbox One Games So Far (As Of March 2018)
Best of the Best
Xbox One launched over four years ago, and a ton of games have come out in that time. As such, it can be hard to sort through all those games and decide what to play. Luckily, we at GameSpot have played tons of Xbox One games over the years.
In this gallery, we've collected the best Xbox One games so far. This includes many of the games that have received an 8 or higher on GameSpot, and we've prioritized games that were nominated for our Best Xbox One Game list in the years those games released.
For more Xbox One games, see our roundups of the best cheap games on Xbox One, and make sure to check out our gallery of the Xbox One exclusive games confirmed for 2018 as well as the biggest Xbox One games of 2018 for everything coming to the console.
Monster Hunter: World -- 8/10
"Ever since the title was first announced last year, it was clear that Capcom was gunning for something grander than Monster Hunter Generations. It has succeeded, and this is likely the biggest and best that the franchise has ever been. It's not just the comparative depth of the narrative; it also boasts almost seamless integration between combat systems that were previously incomprehensible for amateurs. The Monster Hunter formula has definitely honed its claws, and all the above factors play their part in making Monster Hunter World a meaningful evolution for the series at large." [read the full review]
-- Ginny Woo
Celeste -- 9/10
"It's a testament to convincing writing and ingenious design that after playing Celeste I felt like I'd been on the same journey as Madeline. Her struggle is one made easy to empathize with, her low points painful to watch, and her high notes exhilarating to experience. Her tale is delicately told and beautifully illustrated, confidently coalescing with the satisfying, empowering game it lies within. Not bad for a game about climbing a mountain." [read the full review]
-- Oscar Dayus, Staff Writer
Fortnite -- no score
The exploding popularity of the battle royale game mode (where 100 players fight in a single-elimination deathmatch) reached new heights with Fortnite. It's the game nearly everyone is talking about and over 45 million have played. Fortnite strikes a great balance between being accessible and fostering a high skill ceiling. The core gameplay is simple enough; scavenge for weapons and items while gathering resources to build. The game feels fast and loose and a lot less like its military sim counterparts, but still offers the intense, high-stakes combat the genre is known for. It's free-to-play and has an inviting aesthetic akin to a Sunday morning cartoon. However, players soon realize the depth of Fortnite's construction mechanics and how the few structures you can build have to be pieced together in clever ways to stand a chance of winning.
-- Michael Higham, Associate Editor
What Remains of Edith Finch -- 9/10
"Developer Giant Sparrow managed to strike the delicate balance between joy and sorrow in 2012's The Unfinished Swan, but What Remains of Edith Finch transcends even the latent sadness of that game, finding the beauty--even sometimes the fun--in what's always fundamentally a tragedy. It's not often that a game's plot slips past the bitterness of grief to finally get to the acceptance, but that's the triumph in What Remains of Edith Finch. Ultimately, if the game has any resemblance of a moral, it's that the bravest, most beautiful thing every one of us does is choose to keep going, despite knowing what's coming." [read the full review]
-- Justin Clark
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus -- 9/10
"The New Colossus never lets you forget who and why you're fighting. Nazi brutality is on full display, from the blown-out, irradiated remains of Manhattan to each of the resistance members, who all carry mental scars if not physical ones. You're never given a chance between cutscenes, missions, and even downtime on the U-boat to lose sight of the Reich's cruelty. Wolfenstein's tense gameplay elevates this further by giving you the power to truly resist--and come out of each battle ready for another fight." [read the full review]
-- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Sonic Mania -- 9/10
"Sonic Mania methodically uses its sentimental appeal to great effect, but in the process, it heals the wounds inflicted by its most disappointing predecessors and surpasses the series' best with its smart and interpretive design. An excellent 2D platformer, Sonic Mania goes beyond expectations, managing to be not only a proper evolution of the series' iconic formula, but the best Sonic game ever made." [read the full review]
-- Matt Espineli, Associate Editor
Cuphead -- 8/10
"Everything you've heard about Cuphead is true. It is a difficult side-scrolling shooter with relentless boss battles that demand rapid-fire actions and reactions. Think for too long, and you won't stand a chance against the game's toughest enemies. Battles may only last three minutes at most, but they feel far longer when you know that you can only absorb three hits before you have to start from scratch. When you are navigating your way around bullets, smaller enemies, and pitfalls, while simultaneously trying to damage your primary target, toppling Cuphead's imposing bosses is both a monumental and rewarding task." [read the full review]
-- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Assassin's Creed Origins -- 7/10
"Assassin's Creed has undergone many changes in its long and storied history, and Origins feels like the first step in the start of a new journey. It has its fair share of problems, but the vision for its future is one worth pursuing." [read the full review]
-- Alessandro Fillari, Editor
Stardew Valley -- 9/10
"On the surface, Stardew Valley is a game about farming, but there are more adventures awaiting curious players beyond cultivating a rich and bountiful garden. From mining and fishing to making friends and falling in love, Stardew Valley's Pelican Town is stuffed with rewarding opportunities. As modern day woes give way to pressing matters on the farm and within your newfound community, Stardew Valley's meditative activities often lead to personal reflection in the real world. It’s a game that tugs at your curiosity as often as it does your heart." [read the full review]
-- Mary Kish
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard -- 8/10
"By the end of the campaign, I was ready for the game to be over, but that's okay. RE7 ends just as it starts to outstay its welcome, and after the fact, I felt like I'd survived a truly harrowing journey. The boss fights may be slightly inconsistent and certain sections might drag after a while, but RE7 is still a remarkable success. It has a clear vision and executes it with impressive patience and precision. By returning to horror, Resident Evil has once again become something special." [read the full review]
-- Scott Butterworth
Night in the Woods -- 9/10
"Both intensely personal and widely relatable, Night in the Woods doesn’t just tell a story--it gracefully captures complex, often unpleasant feelings and experiences. From the quiet melancholy of doing nothing on a rainy day to the emotional vacuum of severe depression, I felt deeply, sometimes too deeply, while wandering through the cartoon-animal version of a small Midwestern town. Its witty writing and character development keep its crushing existential themes grounded, making Night in the Woods one of the most evocative games I’ve played in a long time." [read the full review]
-- Kallie Plagge, Associate Editor
Overwatch -- 9/10
"Overwatch is an exercise in refined chaos. There are multitudes of layers hiding beneath the hectic surface, and they emerge, one after another, the more you play. This is a shooter that knows how to surprise, one that unfolds at a frantic pace, one that takes a handful of great ideas, and combines them into something spectacular." [read the full review]
-- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Battlefield 1 -- 9/10
"EA DICE splendidly interprets the early 20th century as a world in technological transition while humanizing the war's participants through well crafted, albeit fictional, narrative vignettes. Combined with an enthralling multiplayer component, the overall result is the studio’s best work since Battlefield: Bad Company 2." [read the full review]
-- Miguel Concepcion
Titanfall 2 -- 9/10
"Titanfall 2 demonstrates a vitality that its predecessor couldn't. Whereas the first Titanfall kept up its breakneck pace throughout the entirety of every match, Titanfall 2 understands that sometimes, dialing things back for a few moments can make the long run much more enjoyable. In many ways, Titanfall 2 feels like the game Respawn should have made in 2013. It's a fantastic sequel. It's a fluid shooter. It's a spectacular game." [read the full review]
-- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Dishonored 2 -- 8/10
"Any time I'm given a choice between stealth and action, I go stealth. I love the hold-your-breath tension of hoping a guard didn't spot you and the hard-earned triumph of executing a perfectly timed plan. Dishonored 2 delivers that sneaky satisfaction, arming you with stealth essentials like hiding bodies, peering through keyholes, and silent takedowns. But it's also an incredible engine for gleeful chaos, one so engrossing and amusing that I kind of accidentally beat the entire campaign raining hilarious, elaborate death on my enemies." [read the full review]
-- Scott Butterworth
Forza Horizon 3 -- 9/10
"With Forza Horizon 3, Turn 10 and Playground Games affirm the series’ status as the driving game for everyone. The new emphasis on off-road options isn’t at the expense of traditional races, thanks to the sheer volume of activities. All the while, Playground Games’ calculated kitchen-sink design philosophy and rich reward system persistently tempt you to explore beyond your comfort zone, whether it’s gifting your first Ariel Nomad buggy or reminding you that stunt races can impress thousands of fans. Enhancing your own brand might feel like a strange motivation to hit the road, but pulling off sick e-drifts on a mile-long series of curves makes the PR work worthwhile." [read the full review]
-- Miguel Concepcion
Inside -- 8/10
"This is a beautiful, haunting, and memorable game, a worthy follow-up to Limbo. Its puzzles, although rarely difficult, are engaging complements to the story. The real achievement of this game, though, is the way that it crafts its narrative: detailed environments convey the bizarre world that you travel through; introspective moments are filled with minimalist sound design and just the barest touches of music; and the things you must do to complete your journey force you to confront the realities of humanity, freedom, and existence." [read the full review]
-- Alex Newhouse
Dark Souls III -- 8/10
"Dark Souls III is a game of valleys and peaks, down through dungeons and up over castle walls. It's a plummet into places we shouldn't be--an escape from places we don't belong.
But of course, we fight our way through the darkness, and find our way out. There are a few stumbles along the way, but in the end, Dark Souls III is well worth the riveting climb." [read the full review]
-- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt -- 10/10
"Where the Witcher 2 sputtered to a halt, The Witcher 3 is always in a crescendo, crafting battle scenarios that constantly one-up the last, until you reach the explosive finale and recover in the glow of the game's quiet denouement. But while the grand clashes are captivating, it is the moments between conflicts, when you drink with the local clans and bask in a trobairitz's song, that are truly inspiring." [read the full review]
-- Kevin VanOrd
Halo 5: Guardians -- 8/10
"Halo 5: Guardians is fueled by new ideas and propelled by some of the boldest changes to this storied franchise yet. Some of these changes fail, but others succeed, and although Halo 5 falters at times, it whisks us through black holes and across war torn tropical islands at a rapid pace. We can only surrender to its velocity." [read the full review]
-- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Rise of the Tomb Raider -- 9/10
"Rise of the Tomb Raider's first shot pans over the vast, foreboding landscape we'll soon come to know. In many ways, it functions as a promise on the part of Crystal Dynamics: there are big things ahead of us. And at the end of Lara's journey, after we've seen her through this adventure, and experienced everything the world has to offer, it's clear that promise was kept." [read the full review]
-- Mike Mahardy, Video Producer
Ori and the Blind Forest -- 9/10
"It consistently surprises you with new tricks: gravitational divergences, new ways to move through its spaces, and carefully designed levels that require you to think quickly and respond. It is not as snappy as, say, a typical Mario platformer, seeking instead a broader gameplay arc stretching across a single, interconnected world. It's a superb and thematically consistent approach that allows Ori and the Blind Forest to build joy on a bed of heartache, adding a new layer of mechanical complexity with each ray of hope." [read the full review]
-- Kevin VanOrd
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain -- 10/10
"There has never been a game in the series with such depth to its gameplay, or so much volume in content. The best elements from the past games are here, and the new open-world gameplay adds more to love on top. When it comes to storytelling, there has never been a Metal Gear game that's so consistent in tone, daring in subject matter, and so captivating in presentation. The Phantom Pain may be a contender for one of the best action games ever made, but is undoubtedly the best Metal Gear game there is." [read the full review]
-- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Fallout 4 -- 9/10
"Fallout 4 is an engrossing game that lures you in with mystery and the promise of adventure. Its wretched wasteland can be captivating, and you never know what odd person or settlement lies around the next bend. Fallout 4 uses its dark world as a canvas for exciting combat and gripping stories, and when you dig deeper into its post-nuclear-apocalypse version of Boston--defending yourself from violent scavengers and using your wits to climb social ladders--you become attached to the new you, and ultimately invested in the fate of your new world." [read the full review]
-- Peter Brown, Reviews Editor
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor -- 8/10
"This is a great game in its own right, narratively disjointed but mechanically sound, made up of excellent parts pieced together in excellent ways. I already knew what future lay in store for Middle-earth as I played Shadow of Mordor; I'm hoping that my own future might one day bring another Lord of the Rings adventure as stirring as this one." [read the full review]
-- Kevin VanOrd
Dragon Age: Inquisition -- 9/10
"Inquisition's characters and world recall the grand gestures of the original Dragon Age, even though the game as a whole is so structurally different to its predecessors. It offers the thrill of discovery and the passion of camaraderie. It features a glee club called The Sing-Quisition, and a dwarf with writer's block. It establishes connections with its world in big ways and small, with the sight of a titanous temple and the smirk of an Orlesian commander in love. Dragon Age: Inquisition is a wonderful game and a lengthy pilgrimage to a magical world with vital thematic ties to one we already know." [read the full review]
-- Kevin VanOrd
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition -- 8/10
"Lara herself is so well crafted that I grew attached to her exploits and was sad to say goodbye when the credits rolled. And the exquisite visual design is so breathtaking that I continually found myself staring at the scenery instead of pushing onward. Tomb Raider is a great reinvention of this enduring franchise that made me eager to see where Lara goes in her future." [read the full review]
-- Tom McShea
Forza Motorsport 5 -- 9/10
"All of this combined makes Forza Motorsport 5 an outstanding improvement to an already excellent racing franchise. It's far more than just a great racing sim, or a gorgeous showcase for the types of feats the Xbox One hardware is capable of. This is a game built on the romantic thrill of motorsport in all its forms, and that love for its subject matter is all but impossible to resist." [read the full review]
-- Shaun McInnis
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag -- 9/10
"There's an incredible scope to what you can do in Black Flag, with a level of harmony between its component parts that encourages you to try it all, and a story that keeps you invested throughout the whole thing. If there was ever any question that Assassin's Creed needed something ambitious to get the series back on track, Black Flag is that game and then some." [read the full review]
-- Shaun McInnis
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