The month of love is here, and this episode of New Releases is taking a top-level look at some of the biggest games of February. The new month kicks off with The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics and closes out with One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows. In between, PS4 players can enjoy exclusives like Dreams and the Yakuza 5 remaster. Platinum Games fans can also revisit Bayonetta and Vanquish with their 10th Anniversary Bundle.The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance Tactics -- February 4Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC, SwitchNetflix created a series based on the cult-classic film, and now that series is getting its own game. As the name states, this is a tactics game, and it features over 50 skirmishes to win, 14 characters to lead into battle, and plenty of custom jobs to assign along the way as the war between the Gelflings and Skeksis rages on.More Coverage:The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance Tactics--Release Date Announced In New TrailerDark Crystal: Age Of Resistance Tactics Reveal Trailer | Nintendo Direct E3 2019Yakuza 5 -- February 11Available on: PS4The Yakuza Remastered Collection is a one-time purchase, but that buy-in gets you remasters of Yakuza 3, 4, and 5. Those three games got staggered release dates, but the final entry arrives this month. Taking after the "5" in its name, this particular entry is set across five different parts of Japan and features five playable characters, including everyone's favorite ruffian Kazuma Kiryu.More Coverage:Yakuza 5 ReviewNew Yakuza 5 Screenshots Highlight the Five Main CharactersDreams -- February 14Available on: PS4Media Molecule, creators of LittleBigPlanet, have crafted another deep tool set with Dreams. This PS4 exclusive lets you sculpt objects, build worlds, and create pretty much any type of activity you can think of--someone even remade Final Fantasy VII within the game. What will you dream up?More Coverage:Media Molecule's PS4 Exclusive Dreams Has Gone GoldGame Making Made Easy In DreamsBayonetta & Vanquish 10th Anniversary Bundle -- February 18Available on: PS4, Xbox OneThese Platinum Games cult classics launched 10 years ago, and they're being bundled together on PS4 and Xbox One to celebrate. Those of you with a PS4 Pro or Xbox One X can even experience them in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. Seems like a good way to refresh yourself before we finally get Bayonetta 3.More Coverage:Bayonetta And Vanquish Anniversary Bundle Confirmed For PS4, Xbox OneBayonetta And Vanquish 10th Anniversary Remaster Bundle Announcement TrailerOne Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows -- February 28Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PCBased on the smash-hit anime, this arena fighter stays true to One Punch Man in a clever way. Saitama does indeed win every fight with a single punch, but if you choose him for your team during any of the 3-on-3 fights, he'll take a while to actually show up, leaving you to fight at a disadvantage until he arrives. Of course, there are plenty of other fan-favorite characters to choose from too.More Coverage:One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows' Saitama KOs Everyone In One PunchOne Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows - Official Gamescom Character Reveal TrailerFebruary is just getting started, and there are plenty of games on the horizon. Next week, we'll dive into the souped-up release of Street Fighter V: Championship Edition and a new expansion for Dead Cells, called The Bad Seed.Info from Gamespot.com

During Super Bowl LIV, Paramount Pictures aired a trailer for Top Gun: Maverick, and it featured pretty much exactly what you'd expect--and want--from a Top Gun trailer. Interspersed between clips of jets doing awesome aerial maneuvers were shots of some drama, with a voice-over teasing that Tom Cruise's Maverick will land himself in some hot water, again.Naturally, there's some rather striking shots with character aircrafts slowly being raised onto a deck, the silhouette of Maverick up against an ocean of water, and the sun partially blocked out by giant planes--all the Top Gun classics.Top Gun: Maverick is directed by Joseph Kosinski, who previously directed Oblivion, another film that Tom Cruise appeared in. Joining Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick are Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, and Ed Harris. The movie comes to theaters on June 26, 2020.For more on the movie, make sure to check out our article with everything we know about Top Gun: Maverick. You'll find more information on the cast, writers, director, story, and more there.Info from Gamespot.com

The countdown to the MCU's first movie of Phase 4, Black Widow, is slowly ticking down so naturally, the promotional campaigns are ramping up--and what better time than the Super Bowl to debut a brand new 30-second spot for the upcoming film? The big game may have only just begun but Natasha has joined a slew of heavy-hitting franchises from F9 and Mulan to A Quiet Place 2.In the clip, Natasha admits through voice-over that the Avengers weren't her first family and that, "at some point, we all have to choose between who the world wants you to be and who you are." She's, of course, referencing her time spent in the Red Room, the secret Russian training program responsible for Black Widow operatives like herself and Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), which has only been vaguely explored through the eyes of the MCU since Natasha's entrance into the cinematic universe back in Iron Man 2. Along with Yelena, Black Widow will be exploring Natasha's connections with Red Guadian (David Harbour) and Melina Vostokoff (Rachel Weiss).The only real new footage not already shown in the trailer released late last year features the film's new villain, Taskmaster, displaying some very Captain America-flavored moves with his trademark "T" shield. This is definitely by design--though we may not know if it's actually Tony Masters (yes, that is his real name--comics!) under the mask in the MCU's version of the character, we can definitely assume the character's "super learning" combat skills will come into play in one way or another. In the comics, Taskmaster is able to learn any fighting style instantly just by seeing it one time, meaning it's more than possible for him to mimic not only Steve Rogers, but any other Avenger (or any other villain) with ease. Masters was even responsible for training US Agent to use the shield while he took over as Captain America in Steve's stead.Black Widow hits theaters on May 1.Info from Gamespot.com

There sure are a lot of ads during the Super Bowl. Sure, the evening is all about the best of the NFC and AFC battling each other for NFL dominance, but most people like talking about the commercials. Companies put up millions of dollars for ads to try and get your attention.Many times, these ads have a comedic slant, and sometimes, they're actually funny--and often, they fail miserably. Over the course of Super Bowl LIV, there were a ton of ads, but only a few of them were actually really funny. So we collected the best ones from the NFL game and have them for you below.If you want more from the Super Bowl check out all the movie trailers revealed during the evening as well as all the commercials.CheetosWhen your hands are covered in Cheetos dust, you may not want to touch anyone or anything. MC Hammer pops up to sing the chorus from his hit song "U Can't Touch This."Avocados From MexicoEvery year, Avocados From Mexico puts out some hilarious commercials for the Super Bowl. This year, it spoofs the Home Shopping Network with accessories for your avocado.Rocket MortgageApparently, Jason Momoa isn't the man we all thought he was. Just watch the commercial for yourself, as it's easily one of the best of the evening.PringlesRicky & Morty make an appearance in this year's Pringles commercial, poking fun at the other Pringles commercials from the past year. Also, there are Pringles robots now.DoritosLil Nas X and Sam Elliot got into a dance-off during this Doritos commercial. Is there anything funnier than a horse with a sound system strapped to it? That's rhetorical because the answer is obviously "no."Disclosure: ViacomCBS is GameSpot's parent company. Info from Gamespot.com

When it rains, it furiously pours. Hot on the heels of the first trailer for F9, a new 30-second spot for the film has arrived. While it's mostly made up of footage we've already seen, there is a new look at returning character Han (Sung Kang), in his car--where he belongs.In case you somehow missed the news when the trailer arrived Friday, the first trailer for F9, the ninth installment in The Fast Saga, revealed that not only is Han still alive, but he's part of the action. Reacting to the trailer release at the Fast and Furious 9 concert, Kang said, "It's good to be home."How is he home, you might be wondering? It's a great question, but one we're going to have to wait a while to get an answer to. Of course, that didn't stop GameSpot from coming up with 14 different ways his miraculous resurrection could be explained.Of course, the return of Han isn't all that F9 has going for it. The movie is also introducing Jakob, a character played by John Cena who happens to also be Dom's (Vin Diesel) long-lost little brother we've never heard about before now. How convenient! Get ready for Diesel and Cena to stare at each other angrily for many scenes, in addition to the inevitable scene where they play chicken with their cars.F9 races into theaters on May 22.Info from Gamespot.com

Black Widow is Marvel's next movie, and the start of the studio's "Phase Four" block of films. It releases on May 1, and alongside the film's new Super Bowl spot, Marvel has released four new character posters today. The latest Black Widow posters revealed on Twitter show off the film's four main characters--Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow, Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova, Rachel Weisz's Melina Vostokoff, and David Harbour's Red Guardian. Check them out below.Check out the brand-new character posters for Marvel Studios’ #BlackWidow. See the film in theaters May 1. #NatashaRomanoff #YelenaBelova #MelinaVostokoff #AlexeiShostakov pic.twitter.com/5sAGeTlLrV — Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) February 3, 2020This is Johansson's eighth appearance as Black Widow, but the first time she has headlined her own movie. Florence Pugh is currently nominated for an Oscar for her work in Little Women, while David Harbour is best known for playing cantankerous police chief Jim Hopper in Stranger Things. Rachel Weisz is a huge star, who was most recently seen in 2018's The Favourite.Also worth noting is that Black Widow is suddenly sporting a lot of earrings, with upwards of nine visible piercings on the one visible ear. Whether this will have any bearing on the plot or character remains to be seen, but odds are that they're being showcased so that fans have something to speculate on.It's also interesting to note that while the other characters appear to be glancing into the distance, Black Widow's glance is right towards the camera.This is likely to be Johansson's last appearance as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe--and since it's set before Avengers: Endgame, it's possible that a few other characters will pop up one last time, too. Marvel will also release The Eternals in November.Info from Gamespot.com

Super Bowl LIV brought with it a slew of new movie trailers, including one for No Time To Die, the next entry in the James Bond franchise. The movie is expected to be the last with Daniel Craig starring as 007, and it is setting up some big changes for his future.Exactly what those changes are remain a mystery, but what we do know is that it has something to do with Madeleine Swann, the returning character played by Léa Seydoux. Of course, Rami Malek's villainous Safin will also play a role. Christoph Waltz appears in the trailer too, so expect to see Blofeld have some part to play in the future of Bond.No Time To Die is expected to hit theatres on April 10. Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, and Léa Seydoux (who also appears in Death Stranding) play M, Q, Miss Moneypenny, and Madeleine Swann respectively. In an unprecedented move, No Time To Die's composer has been changed late into production. Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer (The Lion King, Gladiator, Blade Runner 2049) has taken over from Dan Romer.There have been numerous other movie trailers shown during the game, including Mulan, Black Widow, and The Quiet Place 2, among others. You can watch them all in our Super Bowl movie trailer round-up. Info from Gamespot.com

Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is going to be something entirely new, combining the big-screen spectacles we've come to know and love with smaller scale streaming TV shows on Disney+, and the Super Bowl just gave us our first look at the not one, not two, but three of the upcoming MCU shows. The Disney+ Marvel Super Bowl spot showed us a look at The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, WandaVision, and Loki, which will begin rolling out on the streaming service this fall and will continue into 2022. First up is The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which will chronicle Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes in a post-Captain America world as they deal with not only the return of Baron Zemo (of Captain America: Civil War fame) but the emergence of US Agent, a new character who will likely pose a threat to Sam Wilson's stake in the Captain America mantle. The clips shown in the promo gave us our first look at Sam Wilson throwing the shield, Zemo coming face-to-face with Bucky Barnes, and Bucky sporting his newly cut hair.Next up is WandaVision, a self-described surrealist, "f***king bonkers" journey through the, uh, 1960s flavored sitcom life of Wanda Maximoff and Vision. If the clip is anything to be believed, it looks like we'll have a lot of wackiness to look forward to--including what may or may not be a pregnant Wanda. Fans of the comics will remember that Wanda and Vision are (strange as it may seem) the parents of two other Marvel characters, Billy Kaplan and Thomas Shepherd (don't worry too much about the last names for now), who become superheroes in their own rights.Finally, we got a look at Loki, which features an alternate version of Loki from the Avengers timeline--that is, pre-change of heart, genocidal Loki who was still very much working for Thanos. We saw him flee the scene back in Avengers: Endgame during a kerfuffle with the Tesseract. In case you somehow forgot that this will not be cute, funny Thor: Ragnarok-era Loki, he proudly announces that he's going to burn this place to the ground in the clip. Yikes.The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, the first of the MCU Disney+ shows, is slated to hit the streaming service this fall. WandaVision follows later in the year, and Loki arrives in 2021. Info from Gamespot.com

It's been a fascinating weekend for movies, with two new records being broken. Bad Boys For Life finished on top with $17.7 million, while the two new wide releases opened below expectations, and The Rhythm Section did particularly poorly.Bad Boys For Life has now earned $148,051,531 in its first 16 days of release, according to Box Office Mojo. As Forbes points out, that makes it the highest grossing film to ever release in January. The spot was previously occupied by a movie you might not have guessed--Paul Blart: Mall Cop, which earned $146,336,178 following its January 16, 2009 release.There's a reason for this. January is often a dumping ground for studios, when movies that are obviously not going to be part of the awards conversation or play well over summer are released. Bad Boys For Life has been such a huge success that a fourth movie in the series has already been greenlit.On the other end of the scale, The Rhythm Section broke a different record--it had the worst opening ever for a movie releasing on over 3000 screens. Going into the weekend, estimates put the film at earning around $5 million, which would have been the fifth worst weekend for a movie opening this wide; instead, it earned just $2.8 million and took the number one spot. The movie earned an average of $918 per screen, which makes it the first movie ever to release this wide and bring in a per-screen average below $1000.The film earned so-so reviews, and the star power of Blake Lively, Jude Law, and Sterling K. Brown does not seem to have been enough to get this action film off the ground. The weekend's other new release, Gretel & Hansel, brought in $6,050,830, which still isn't great--it's the 18th lowest opening for a movie on over 3000 screens.Here's the full domestic top ten for the weekend of January 31 through February 2.Bad Boys for Life: $17,675,0001917: $9,660,000Dolittle: $7,700,000Gretel & Hansel: $6,050,830The Gentlemen: $6,010,000Jumanji: The Next Level: $6,000,000Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker: $3,193,000The Turning: $3,050,000Little Women: $3,015,000The Rhythm Section: $2,800,000Info from Gamespot.com

Christophe Gans, the director of 2006's Silent Hill film adaptation, is planning on returning to the town for a follow-up. The French director spoke to the film site Allociné in his native language, and Rely on Horror has provided a translation of his statements. He told the site that he's also working on adapting another horror videogame series--Fatal Frame, a Japan-set series about seeking out ghosts with a camera. It's known as Project Zero in Japan."I have two horror film projects with (producer) Victor Hadida," Gans told the site. "I am working on the adaptation of the video game Project Zero. The film will take place in Japan. I especially don't want to uproot the game from its Japanese haunted house setting." This will be the first adaptation of the series. The most recent game in the series was Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water on Wii U, which used the GamePad as a camera."And we're also working on a new Silent Hill, Gans continued. "The project will always be anchored in this atmosphere of a small American town, ravaged by Puritanism. I think it's time to make a new one."While the original Silent Hill reviewed poorly at release, it has enjoyed something of a cult following, and is generally regarded as one of the better film adaptations of a game. The second Silent Hill film, Silent Hill - Revelation, is generally regarded as being much worse, but Gans was not involved with that one.These films are still in pre-production, and it's not clear whether a new Silent Hill film would be a direct sequel to the film or a direct adaptation of any of the games.It's been a long time since the last Silent Hill game, 2012's Silent Hill: Downpour. Hideo Kojima was working on a new title for PS4, Silent Hills, which was infamously cancelled in 2015. Although there are occasional rumors of the series' return, the only formal plan publisher Konami has announced is for a slot machine.Info from Gamespot.com

It's time to get the family back together. The first trailer for F9, the ninth installment in the Fast & Furious franchise --if you don't count Hobbs & Shaw--has arrived. The series, which has officially been branded The Fast Saga in a series of new character posters, is back with a vengeance. And along with the usual faces--Vin Diesel as Dom, Michelle Rodriguez as Letty, and the rest of the crew--being back, WWE Superstar John Cena has also joined the cast for the latest adventure.As the trailer opens, we see Dom has essentially retired and is living with his son and Letty on a farm. The retirement ends, though, when a mysterious figure played by new franchise addition John Cena arrives. He is revealed as none other than Jakob, Dom's long lost brother. Cipher (Charlize Theron) has enlisted him to help her kill Dom and the usual insanity follows.However, the twist is a major return. Justice for Han has finally come as the character appears, even though fans and Dom's family were led to believe he died in Fast & Furious 6. "It's good to be home," Sung Kang, the actor who plays Han, said during a concert to promote the trailer drop. How is Han alive? Where has he been? We'll have to wait and see.If you happened to notice one prominent member of the family missing, that's because Luke Hobbs (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) isn't involved in this particular film. After Johnson's character starred with Jason Statham in the spin-off Hobbs & Shaw, it's unclear as to whether he'll be back in the main franchise anytime soon. That said, if you can't have Johnson in your movie, Cena's not a bad replacement.Among those returning for the film is Jordana Brewster, who is making her first appearance in the franchise since Furious 7, the final installment to feature Paul Walker. Following Walker's death, his character was written out of the franchise, as was Brewster's, who plays his wife and Dom's sister, Mia. It remains to be seen F9 will handle the absence of Bryan (Walker), given his wife is back in the fold.F9 races into theaters on May 22.Disclosure: ViacomCBS is GameSpot's parent company.Info from Gamespot.com

Though the GameSpot team is usually busy keeping up with the biggest releases, other times we're catching up on games we missed, replaying old favorites, experiencing classics for the first time, or just dabbling in odds and ends for a spell.Below you can see a sampling of the games that folks on the GameSpot team are playing right now, the reasons we're playing them, and what we love about them so far. But don't just stop at reading our responses; we'd love to hear from you too! Please tell us what you're playing in the comments section below.We're hoping to make this a more frequent thing, not only for our sanity, but yours too! After all, we know how it is: you're playing something that resonates with you, but most times, you don't have anyone to talk to about it, so then you end up retreating into a hole and keeping it to yourself. It can be a real bummer, so we want to help end those moments. Join us in the cathartic release of screaming at the top of our lungs the overwhelming joys we're experiencing playing video games.Bloodborne -- Tamoor Hussain, Senior Editor & Global Head of NewsIt's been five years since I first stepped foot into Yharnam, and my mind has been stuck there ever since. Whether we're in the thick of a busy release season or amidst the doldrums of a new year, I find comfort in returning to Bloodborne. I can't stop thinking about it, and I can't stop playing it.I've braved mobs of maniacal citizens, fended off twisted beasts, and gone toe-to-toe with wayward Hunters more times than I care to admit, and yet I always find myself drawn back in, week after week, month after month. Yharnam satisfies my wanderlust, it evokes nostalgia, and it instills a sense of tranquility. What once was hostile and unwelcoming is now familiar and safe. The baroque architecture envelops me, and although it once felt like pointed knives, it is now a warm blanket. The distant moans of insane citizens and the screeches of their sharpened weapons dragging across the floor have become soothing instead of threatening.Occasionally, I'll find myself rejoining the hunt, pulled into a hair-raising, tense battle with a boss or even just a simple enemy patrolling the streets, but more often than not I play Bloodborne just to be in the world, to soak in the ambiance and enjoy the eerie, slightly unsettling atmosphere. There's nothing quite like walking the cobbled pave stones of Yharnam as it's draped in a cloak of red and purple light emanating from the Blood Moon hanging ominously in the sky. I'm not trying to wake from the nightmare anymore; I relish it. | Twitter: @tamoorhKentucky Route Zero: PC Edition -- Edmond Tran, Senior Editor & ProducerLike a lot of people, I've been waiting for the fifth and final episode of Kentucky Route Zero for a long time--it's been four years since Act IV came out, and would you believe Act I was released back in 2013?! Anyway, with the release of the complete package, I'm taking the opportunity to go back and replay it from the very beginning, both so I can remember what happens and so I can reappreciate just how amazing this whole series has been.And boy, it still manages to pack a punch. It's a point-and-click narrative adventure at its core, but the execution is downright masterful. Kentucky Route Zero's themes and writing are beautifully nuanced, its concepts are strikingly surreal, and its locations and setpieces are downright breathtaking. It twists you in such weird and deeply complex ways that I have to hold myself back from yelling "DAMN, THIS BE ART" every 10 minutes to anyone within earshot.I'd need a lot more words to describe it adequately (though plenty of people have written amazing things about it), but it is absolutely one of the most beautiful (I already said beautiful, but screw it, it is beautiful) and well put-together games I have ever played. Also, I just finished the new Frostpunk expansion, The Last Autumn, and wow was that stressful. | Twitter: @EdmondTranDragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age -- Chris Pereira, Engagement EditorI started Dragon Quest XI's Switch demo last August when it was released, but soon after, I tabled it because of all of the games that began to come out. On a lark, I recently picked it back up to see if I could get into the meat of the game and find out why people liked it; yet, the opening hours were as uninspiring as I was led to believe. After spending about eight hours with it--kudos to Square Enix for putting out such a substantial demo--I saw enough of the game's potential and immediately picked up the full version, which let me transfer my progress.I'm now more than a dozen hours in, and with the world opened up to me, I'm having a great time juggling its many systems (like crafting and team-up "Pep Powers" that add consideration to party composition). But more than anything, I'm enjoying Sylvando, the flamboyant but mysterious character with a disturbing technique for winking. It does have some weird quirks--the quest log is miserable, the map isn't great, and the feature to let NPCs lie to you is undercut by immediately telling you when things are lies. But there's more than enough here to sink my teeth into, and this feels like the rare lengthy RPG that I'll be sticking with for the long haul. | Twitter: @TheSmokingManXBorderlands 3 -- Alessandro Fillari, EditorI have a particular fondness for the Borderlands series. While the vibe it gives off certainly isn't for everyone, to me, it always succeeds at offering a fast and fun loot-grind with a wealth of ridiculous weapons and skills for the cast of vault hunters. I played a lot of Borderlands 1 and 2 back in the day, and I was looking forward to giving Borderlands 3 the same level of attention. I indeed got what I wanted from the game when it came out last September, yet it still left me wanting after finishing my playthrough with Moze. It didn't help that, despite its many innovations and worlds to visit, Borderlands 3 feels like it's about three years late to the party. Soon after I finished the story, I stepped away from the game.After letting it sit for a couple of months, and seeing what new content and tweaks Gearbox was adding to the game--such as increased vault space, rebalanced skills, and the Halloween event--I gave the game another shot, and I've been hooked ever since. Even though it's undeniably a familiar Borderlands game, there's just something about getting a new legendary weapon that's able to tear through waves of enemies with ease that I will never not find satisfying. The recent Moxxi DLC, focusing on a heist at Handsome Jack's casino, was also a lot of fun, and even has some of the better writing and performances that Borderlands 3 has to offer--which, admittedly, isn't a high bar. I've been playing B3 pretty regularly, and I'm currently working on a playthrough with my third character.In a lot of ways, Borderlands can be something of an acquired taste. The overall style and tone focuses a lot on abrasive meme humor and iconography borrowed from other sources. Yet I still can't deny that it scratches a particular itch I've been trying to get at for a while. I'm already looking forward to seeing what comes next for the game, which hopefully will include some better locations to explore. | Twitter: @afillariA Plague Tale: Innocence -- Steve Watts, Associate EditorJanuary is an excellent time to catch up on games I missed or just left unfinished--and with the spate of recent delays, February and March might be too. So I was pleasantly surprised when A Plague Tale: Innocence, one of our picks for the Best Games of 2019, appeared on Game Pass. It's an insidious little worm of a game, creeping into my thoughts when I'm not playing and keeping me occupied long past my intended playtime when I am. The story keeps pulling me through, always introducing one more layer to the mystery. The dreadful atmosphere peppers in just enough moments of warmth and levity to fully invest in the characters.It helps that it's an impressive technical achievement too. I was trying to explain to a friend the merits of what I can only describe as A Plague Tale's rat swarming tech, and it occurred to me halfway through that I wasn't sure if I was pitching him on why he should play it or convincing him to never, ever play it. The phrase "tidal waves of rats" might not have been quite the selling point I intended. | Twitter: @sporkyreeveStardew Valley -- Jenae Sitzes, Commerce EditorInstead of diving into my enormous backlog, I've recently found myself sucked back into a game I first played in 2016: Stardew Valley. The farming sim was an immediate success when it launched on PC nearly four years ago, and since then, it's been ported to almost every gaming platform.If you've never played or haven't checked out Stardew Valley in years, there's truly no better time to dive in. A massive 1.4 update just released in December, adding a slew of improvements to multiplayer mode as well as brand-new content, quality-of-life improvements, better controller support, and much more. There's a new Four Corners map designed for co-op, and there's even a new multiplayer mode that has players acquire wealth separately, adding a competitive element to Stardew for the first time.I never got far in Stardew Valley back in the day--the time limit stressed me out, and I was tired of watering my dang crops--but my relationship with the game was rekindled this past Christmas when, in a moment of boredom, I started up a multiplayer farm with my brother and boyfriend. Tackling Stardew's challenges together helped me get past some of the game's early struggles (the mines, daily watering, etc.), and I finally began to see why this game is still so popular, four years later. Once you start to automate your farm and earn real money, you begin to have more choices in how you design your farm and spend your time, and that fuels an increasingly addictive gameplay loop.I now have a solo farm as well where I'm in Year 3, married with kids, and rolling in money. And despite over 140 hours logged on my Nintendo Switch, I have no plans of stopping anytime soon. RIP, my backlog. | Twitter: @jenaesitzesStreet Fighter Alpha 3 On CPS2 Hardware -- Peter Brown, Managing EditorOne of my favorite avenues of my video game hobby is modifying and upgrading old game hardware. In the last year, that involved me dipping into arcade games--the proper hardware that would typically live in the guts of your favorite arcade cabinet. Capcom's CPS2 platform is a good entry point for anyone interested in trying out arcade gaming at home. Not only is it designed in a somewhat console-like fashion, with a baseboard that interfaces with a separate game board (both encased in plastic for easy handling), but it was the home for several of Capcom's most beloved games from the '90s, including one of my favorite games of all time: Street Fighter Alpha 3.Installing an HDMI mod into my CPS2 setup was the perfect excuse to spend some time with Alpha 3, which I gladly play on occasion on other platforms anyway. Still, there's something about playing it on the hardware it was designed for, which makes the experience feel that much more special. And no matter how many times I play it, Alpha 3's roster, graphics, music, and selection of fighting systems make me just as happy today as they did back in 1999. I love a lot of fighting games, but Alpha 3 feels like home to me, insomuch as a game can. It means a lot to give the original version of the game a place in my own home over 20 years after I first fell in love with it. | Twitter: @PCBrownDragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation -- Kevin Knezevic, Associate EditorDespite my fondness for JRPGs, I've only played a small handful of Dragon Quest games in my life, and most for only a couple of hours. That said, I've always been intrigued by the series thanks to its monolithic status, so seeing Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation on sale on the Switch Eshop last month was the perfect excuse to give the classic a try.At the moment, I'm about 10 hours into the game, but I think it holds up remarkably well considering its age. Of course, it has all the archaisms inherent in an RPG from the NES era; random battles occur far too frequently, and your progression through the story relies almost entirely on speaking to random NPCs to learn clues about where to go next, which means it's easy to forget what you need to do to advance if you don't take frequent notes. Despite these complaints, however, I've been greatly enjoying my time with the title so far.It's particularly interesting to me to see just how indebted the entire genre is to this game. Dragon Quest has always been regarded as the grandfather of JRPGs, but now that I've played Dragon Quest III, its influence can clearly be felt not only in other RPGs, but in subsequent Dragon Quest games as well. I was particularly struck by how similar Dragon Quest IX for the DS (the only other entry I've put a considerable amount of time in) is to it, not only in terms of structure, but in how both give you the ability to roll your own party members.What I especially enjoy about Dragon Quest III is the sense of adventure the game can instill thanks to its vast overworld, which you can more or less explore freely (if you can stomach the high random encounter rate). It feels thrilling to wander around and discover a new town or dungeon. I have a terrible habit of not finishing JRPGs, so it remains to be seen if I'll see Dragon Quest III through to the end, but right now, I'm eager to play more.Assassin's Creed III -- Matt Espineli, EditorAs a burgeoning fan of the Assassin's Creed franchise during 2012, I hated Assassin's Creed III when I first played it. The game's slow start, fragmented world design, and broken stealth mechanics left me feeling deeply frustrated. I held a bummer view about the game throughout the years, often voicing how low it sits in my ranking of the series with every passing entry. But that seems to have changed because I've been playing it these past few weeks for 30+ hours, and dare I say, I'm actually enjoying it.I'm honestly shocked that I've been turning around on Assassin's Creed III after all these years. So far, what's been appealing to me are the questions it asks about the moral conflict between the Assassins and the Templars--something I was unwilling to unpack at the time for some reason or another. Connor's struggle to maintain loyalty to his people and the Assassin Brotherhood while dealing with the brewing revolution is worlds more compelling to me in my older age. On the other hand, my enjoyment playing Assassin's Creed III finally clicked after allowing myself to accept what it's trying to be. What I've found is a world that rewards you when you engage with everything it has to offer. While not all of its activities are substantial or meaningful, the rewards you receive feed into the flow of playing the game in a way that's continuously satisfying.Assassin's Creed III remains a bit of a mess in parts, but I'm happy to report that my enjoyment of its accomplishments is finally outweighing the disdain I once had. There's really something special about being able to reconcile poor feelings about an old game; I feel like a great weight has been lifted. Anyway, please excuse me while I spend the next seven hours collecting treasure chests, sending out convoys, sinking naval warships, and talking to George Washington. | Twitter: @MGespinInfo from Gamespot.com

Sony's live TV service, PlayStation Vue, is dead. As announced last year, Sony shuttered the service as of January 30, 2020. If you're a subscriber, that means you'll need to find another streaming service if you're committed to cutting the cord. If you're me, you're stuck wondering what the hell I'm supposed to do with this useless button on my Roku remote.The remote in questionLook at it. It's just sitting there, staring at me, threatening to interrupt what I'm watching should I or my cat accidentally press it. With Vue now dead, there is literally no reason to ever make use of this button, because should I do so, I will only be faced with a reminder of its death and the nagging worry that one day, maybe Steam will no longer exist, or those movies I own through some service will no longer be accessible if my account isn't properly linked.It's not as if I was using the Vue button prior to this. I've never been a Vue subscriber, instead choosing to use Hulu TV and YouTube TV to get my fix of live basketball and ad-laced, modified-for-your-television reruns of Avengers: Age of Ultron on TNT. But that button at least had potential: Perhaps one day I would click it by mistake and be wooed by the offer of a free trial and find that it offered a superior experience to Hulu or YouTube.Now, that potential is gone like the carefree days of my childhood, and I'm left with a relic for which I have literally no use--at least the countless old power cords sitting in a bucket might one day gloriously find the devices with which they're meant to be partnered.I could pry the button off and give it to my cats, one of which would be delighted with it, but he could just as easily be entertained by a twist tie, so it doesn't seem worth the effort. (The button obviously isn't intended to be removed, and I learned my lesson with this sort of thing when I took the safety label off my car's driver-side sun visor.) I could find some way to reprogram the button, but a cursory search suggests that's no easy task; Roku has presumably struck deals to include these branded buttons that don't allow for that. But as the streaming wars heat up and some services don't make the cut long-term, Roku might want to be a little more selective with who ends up on its remotes.Info from Gamespot.com

The next big thing in Destiny 2's Season of Dawn is coming with its weekly reset on Tuesday, February 4: The Empyrean Foundation. It's another step in the ongoing story surrounding Osiris's Sundial, the rescue of Saint-14, and stopping the Cabal from using time travel to mess with the solar system--and you can get ready for it right now. Datamined evidence suggests the event will bring the community together to restore the Trials of Osiris in Destiny 2's next content season.As Bungie detailed in its This Week At Bungie blog post, the Empyrean Foundation will be a community-wide event to which all Guardians can contribute. Unlike other parts of the Season of Dawn, this will be an event everyone can participate in, whether you've purchased the season pass for this season or are using the free-to-play version of the game.The Empyrean Foundation will find Saint-14 asking players to donate Polarized Fractaline to the cause of building a beacon that can help draw new people to the Last Safe City, the center of life for Destiny 2's good guys. You earn Polarized Fractaline by completing the Sundial activity, running various activities throughout the solar system, and completing bounties from Saint-14 and the four Sundial Obelisks scattered on different planets. To prepare for the event, you're going to want to spend Fractaline to upgrade your Obelisks as much as you can (all their benefits unlock fully at Level 11, so that's probably a good bar to shoot for), and then bank up Polarized Fractaline to donate to Saint's cause.According to Bungie, you earn a new emblem and a Triumph for donating more than 5,000 Polarized Fractaline, which you can earn right now. You'll likely need to donate the 5,000 Fractaline to unlock this season's Triumph Seal, so it's a good idea to stockpile it early if you can. You'll also get free Fractaline from the Tower Obelisk depending on its Resonance Power (read: how much you've upgraded the other Obelisks), which should make earning it a little easier.As the community donates more Fractaline, everyone will earn shaders. There are seven levels to hit in total, with a new shader for each one, but Bungie hasn't fully detailed them. Here's the list as it appears right now:Stage 1: 400,000,000Stage 2: 700,000,000Stage 3: 1,200,000,000Stage 4: ???Stage 5: ???Stage 6: ???Stage 7: ???If you need other stuff to do in Destiny 2 while you wait for the Empyrean Foundation, you can use our Bastion guide to unlock the game's latest Exotic weapon, a Kinetic fusion rifle that once belonged to Saint-14. And if you missed the community's last big effort, the Corridors of Time, you can check out our Corridors guide to see what it was all about, and read how its changes to Destiny 2's storytelling made it especially cool. Destiny 2 News And Guides Destiny 2's Empyrean Foundation Arrives Next Week: Here's How To Prepare Where Is Xur Today? Destiny 2 Exotic Location, Armor, Weapon (January 31-February 4) Destiny 2 Bastion Exotic Quest Guide: How To Get The New Fusion Rifle Info from Gamespot.com

Destiny 2 was quiet this week, with most people having finished the quest to earn Bastion--except, of course, for a bug that nearly broke the game, thanks to an issue introduced with Update 2.7.1. But that's all solved now, and you can go about your weekend business as usual: visiting Xur and buying new Exotics. You might want to grab some new Exotics from Xur ahead of the Trials of Osiris, which seems to be coming back next season.Here's what you need to know to find Xur, Agent of the Nine, this week, and everything he has to offer.Xur LocationXur is located on Io in the Giant's Scar area this weekend. His Exotic weapon this week is Fighting Lion. Hunters can get the Lucky Pants leg armor; Titans get a chance at the Peregrine Grieves leg armor; and for Warlocks, there's the Starfire Protocol chest armor.Head to Giant's Scar on Io and look for Xur hanging out in a dark cave--his favorite kind of cave, apparently. Destiny 2 News And Guides Destiny 2's Empyrean Foundation Arrives Next Week: Here's How To Prepare Where Is Xur Today? Destiny 2 Exotic Location, Armor, Weapon (January 31-February 4) Destiny 2 Bastion Exotic Quest Guide: How To Get The New Fusion Rifle Xur InventoryThis week, Xur has an Exotic that can take some getting used to, but turns out to be a great weapon in both PvP and PvE: Fighting Lion. This breach-loading grenade launcher is very useful if you want to go after The Mountaintop, which is still a pretty great Crucible Pinnacle weapon from seasons past.If Xur's wares aren't compelling, you can always roll the dice on the expensive Fated Engram he brings with him. This gives you a single Exotic from the limited pool of ones you haven't already earned, for the price of 97 Legendary shards. If there's something you're missing from your collection and you want it sooner rather than later, it can be a good deal--starting with the Season of Dawn, all Exotic Engrams are Fated Engrams, but you'll have to level up your Season Pass or wait for a random drop to get some. Be sure to purchase it on the character who's missing the Exotic, and note that you can only get one per week, so choose wisely which of your characters makes the buy. If you're a PC or Xbox One player taking advantage of cross-save, you can now potentially get Wavesplitter from the Fated Engram as well, thanks to the fact that it's no longer exclusive to PS4.Xur Item Lineup (January 10-14)Fighting Lion (Exotic grenade launcher)Lucky Pants (Exotic Hunter leg armor)Starfire Protocol (Exotic Warlock chest armor)Peregrine Grieves (Exotic Titan leg armor)Fighting LionFighting Lion is a great Exotic grenade launcher in its own right, and will help you get good with others, too.If you've never really tried the smaller breach-loader grenade launchers in Destiny 2, you're missing out. These guns take a while to reload, but in the right hands, they can do massive damage. Fighting Lion is great training for the whole class of weapons, because it can bounce grenades off walls and other surfaces, only exploding when you release the fire button. Nailing enemies with grenades straight-on does extra damage, making the gun great for teaching you to deal with the arc of launcher grenades. If you plan on going after The Mountaintop, Fighting Lion is the weapon to use on that quest.Lucky Pants (Hunter)If you like Hand Cannons, you'll enjoy the extra ammo and bonuses you get from Lucky Pants.Seems like Xur has a whole bunch of Lucky Pants it's constantly trying to unload on Hunters. Not that they're not useful: these pants are great if you love Hand Cannons, because for every precision hit you score with one, you'll get one extra round loaded into your gun automatically from your reserves. You also get handling and accuracy bonuses on Hand Cannons when you swap to them from other weapons.Stats:Mobility: 7Resilience: 7Recovery: 10Discipline: 12Intellect: 6Strength: 6Total: 48Starfire Protocol (Warlock)Starfire Protocol requires using both Fusion Grenades and Empowering Rifts, but if you're good with both, they can be devastating.If you're a Warlock who likes Empowering Rifts and Fusion Grenades, Starfire Protocol is essential to your armor build. The chest armor gives you a second Fusion Grenade charge so you can throw them more often. Grenade kills give you Rift energy, and dealing Empowered damage from your Rifts gives you grenade energy, creating a feedback loop of destruction.Stats:Mobility: 6Resilience: 7Recovery: 12Discipline: 12Intellect: 6Strength: 6Total: 49Peregrine Grieves (Titan)You'll need to get airborne to enjoy the damage bonus granted by Peregrine Grieves.Peregrine Grieves are all about amping up your Titan shoulder charges. Specifically, if you can pull off your charges in the air, they'll deal bonus damage. That might not be strictly necessary in PvP cases, but if you have a powerful melee build for PvE, that bonus can go a long way. Xur's Peregrine Grieves also have better stat numbers than most of the Exotics he offers by about four points.Stats:Mobility: 13Resilience: 13Recovery: 2Discipline: 6Intellect: 6Strength: 12Total: 52Info from Gamespot.com