Motion Twin has released a new Dead Cells patch that reintroduces all of the game's old versions. The Legacy Update, available now on PC, brings back the glory days of Dead Cells for those feeling nostalgic.The Legacy Update lets you play "every major iteration of the game from the first build of Early Access right up to [the] present," Motion Twin wrote in a Steam blog post. "We will of course make sure that we stock all of our future major updates in there too." The patch also does a few extra things, such as preventing cloud saves from getting deleted, adding new mutations and weapons, reworking "total crap" weapons, and more.The Legacy Update is available on Steam right now. It allows you to play all of the major iterations of Dead Cells since Early Access. Oh and we fixed the dreaded Steam Cloud save deletion hellfest. Happy holidays everyone! https://t.co/gvB2kfHUCv #gamedev #indiegames #Steam pic.twitter.com/rHSAenj1kN — Motion Twin (@motiontwin) December 23, 2019The headlining feature of the Legacy Update though, as the name suggests, is the replayability of all Dead Cells' previous major updates. This includes Rise of the Giant, Hand of the King, and many others.To access Dead Cells' previous updates, right-click on the game in your Steam library and select "Properties." Click the "Betas" tab and choose the version you'd like to play from the dropdown menu. Hit "Close," wait for the download to complete, and enjoy your favorite version of Dead Cells. The Legacy Update is currently only available on PC, but Motion Twin said in a separate tweet that "the updates will come to all platforms ASAP."Motion Twin, in conjunction with the newly-established studio Evil Empire, has confirmed that Dead Cells will continue to receive new content well into 2020. Coming to the roguelike-Metroidvania in Q1 of next year is The Bad Seed, a new piece of DLC that "brings two new early game biomes and a big #$&%-off boss for you to bash your head against." The Bad Seed will cost $5 USD when it goes live.Info from Gamespot.com

Pokemon Go's annual holiday event is back for another year. This year's event runs through January 1 and gives players around the world a chance to catch some holiday-themed Pokemon, complete exclusive Field Research tasks, and even add a few new Gen 5 monsters to their collections.Throughout the holiday event, Ice-type Pokemon such as Sneasel, Delibird, and Snorunt will appear in the wild much more often than normal. You'll also have your first chance to catch Cubchoo, the adorable polar bear cub from Pokemon Black and White, as well as a Shiny version of Snover.Those aren't the only special Pokemon available during the event. You may also run into holiday versions of Pichu, Pikachu, and Raichu. On top of that, you may encounter another new Gen 5 Pokemon, Cryogonal, when you use Glacial Lures, and you can hatch Alolan forms of Sandshrew and Vulpix from 7 km eggs.On top of the increased Pokemon spawns, Niantic has rolled out a set of event-exclusive Field Research tasks. Team Rocket has also added a few new Shadow Pokemon to their teams, including Shadow Delibird. Finally, wintry avatar items like a Stantler sweater and headband are now available in the Style Shop. You can read more about the holiday event on the Pokemon Go website.In other Pokemon Go news, Niantic recently rolled out a new Buddy Adventure feature for Pokemon Go. The Gen 5 Legendary Virizion is also still available in the game until January 7, and the first Community Day of 2020 is set for Sunday, January 19. You can catch up on more Pokemon Go developments below. Pokemon Go News Pokemon Go: New Legendary, Virizion, Now Available Pokemon Go's First Community Day Of 2020 Dated Pokemon Go Adding New Buddy Adventure Feature Pokemon Go December 2019 Field Research Task List New Pokemon Go Event Makes It Much Easier To Get Evolution Items Info from Gamespot.com

The Witcher author Andrzej Sapkowski and game series developer CD Projekt Red have announced they've reached an agreement regarding a legal case filed in 2018, in which Sapkowski was seeking additional compensation for the games' sales.The statement, released by CDPR, did not disclose the details of the agreement, but it did state that it's intended to resolve the current legal case and set a clearer path forward. It also says that the agreement "confers new rights" upon CDPR while retaining its existing title rights for The Witcher games, graphic novels, board games, and merchandise."[T]he agreement satisfies and fully clarifies the requirements and expectations of both parties in light of previously concluded agreements, and establishes a framework for future cooperation between the parties," it reads."We've always admired Mr. Andrzej Sapkowski's works--a great inspiration for the team here at CD Projekt Red,” said CEO Adam Kiciński, in a statement. "I believe today marks a new stage in our continued relationship."Sapkowski had previously filed a legal demand for $16 million (£12.4 million), citing a Polish Act on Copyright and Related Rights that allows extra compensation when the original sum was too low based on "benefits obtained in association with the use of that author's work." Essentially, since the Witcher series took off, Sapkowski's lawyers contended he deserved a bigger cut. CDPR said it "will go to great lengths to ensure amicable resolution" but suggested that $16 million was simply too much.The popularity of the Witcher video game series may have helped lead to the live-action Netflix series starring Henry Cavill, which premieres today. In GameSpot's review, Michael Rougeau found the casting and production top-notch, but said the story was out-of-sequence and difficult to track.Info from Gamespot.com

Virizion has arrived in Pokemon Go, but that's not the only Legendary Pokemon you can encounter right now in Niantic's hit mobile game. The Gen 2 mascots Ho-Oh and Lugia have both returned for a special Raid weekend event, giving you another chance to capture the fan-favorite Legendaries.Until 1 PM PT / 4 PM ET on Monday, December 23, players around the world will be able to encounter Ho-Oh and Lugia in five-star Raids. Each Legendary is part-Flying, so Rock and Electric Pokemon will prove to be effective regardless of which one you face. Water Pokemon will also be helpful against Ho-Oh, while Dark and Ghost types have an advantage over Lugia.During the Raid weekend, you'll also still be able to encounter Virizion, Pokemon Go's newest Legendary, in five-star Raids. Virizion is the third member of the Swords of Justice trio from Pokemon Black and White and is a dual Grass/Fighting Pokemon, so you'll want to bring along Flying, Fire, Psychic, Ice, Poison, or Fairy Pokemon when challenging it. Both Ho-Oh and Lugia will be especially effective against it if you can capture one of them before they leave Raids again.Shortly after the Raid weekend ends, Niantic will kick off Pokemon Go's annual holiday celebration. This year's event runs from December 24 to January 1. During that time, you'll be able to encounter holiday versions of Pichu, Pikachu, Raichu, and Stantler, as well as two new Gen 5 Ice Pokemon: Cubchoo and Cryogonal. You'll also have your first chance to catch a Shiny version of Snover.In other Pokemon Go news, Niantic recently rolled out a new Buddy Adventure feature, which gives you new ways to interact with your Buddy Pokemon. Once you've fed your Buddy enough berries, it will follow you around on the game's world map. You can also raise your friendship level with your Buddy Pokemon the more you interact with it, which in turn will unlock other bonuses.Niantic has also announced the date of Pokemon Go's January 2020 Community Day. The event takes place on Sunday, January 19, and runs from 11 AM-2 PM local time in the Northern Hemisphere and from 3 PM-6 PM local time in the Southern Hemisphere. However, the featured Pokemon for next month's event has not been revealed yet. Pokemon Go News Pokemon Go: New Legendary, Virizion, Now Available Pokemon Go's First Community Day Of 2020 Dated Pokemon Go Adding New Buddy Adventure Feature Pokemon Go December 2019 Field Research Task List New Pokemon Go Event Makes It Much Easier To Get Evolution Items Info from Gamespot.com

The recently announced remake of Resident Evil 3 is releasing for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on April 3, 2020. The title's reveal, alongside its trailer, came as something of a surprise, but it makes sense--the Resident Evil 2 remake was a game of the year contender, and sold extremely well.Now, thanks to one fan who got their hands on the latest issue of the Japanese games magazine Famitsu and helpfully translated an interview (as noticed by USGamer,) we've got some more details about Resident Evil 3. The magazine features an interview with producers Peter Fabiano and Masachika Kawata, who share some details about the game.part 1I've picked up the most recent issue of Famitsu Weekly (issue #1620) that has an exclusive interview with producers Peter Fabiano and Masachika Kawata. — Nóra, the somniloquist (@misssnugglebutt) December 18, 2019The game was codenamed "Escape" during development, and has come about due to high demand from fans, according to the Twitter thread. The game will follow the original, as the Resident Evil 2 remake did, but with changes and rearrangements "so that those familiar with the original could also enjoy it." The game is reportedly 90% complete, so a delay is not expected.Despite part of the trailer being in first-person, the game will be played from the over-the-shoulder perspective that RE2 also used. Jill's outfit has been redesigned so that it "wouldn't look uncomfortable" during action, as this game is "a lot more action-packed" than Resident Evil 2. Carlos' look has changed for this remake, but apparently his demeanor has as well, and he's now more mature. Brad Vickers has apparently changed more substantially, and will have a different role in the remake, but the producers are not ready to talk about that yet.The interview also promises that there will be plenty of maps for Resident Evil Resistance, the new multiplayer mode also included with Resident Evil 3. For more on Resident Evil 3, see why it's Mat Paget's most anticipated game of 2020.Info from Gamespot.com

Google Stadia has finally added achievements to its games. You can now earn achievements in Stadia titles, and they'll be retroactively awarded to players who have completed the tasks that achievements ask of them, meaning you won't need to restart games to earn them. There's a catch, though--achievements are only live for users on Chrome browser or Chromecast. Mobile app users do not yet have access to achievements; they are coming in 2020, according to the latest Stadia Community round-up.🔔 Our achievement system is here and you will now receive notifications when playing on desktop, laptop, and TV. You can view your full achievement list on web, including all the ones you've earned since you began playing Stadia. pic.twitter.com/VX7cGg9K9k — Stadia (@GoogleStadia) December 20, 2019Players with access to achievements can view their three most recently earned achievements for the last game played on their profiles, or can examine individual games for more detailed pages and descriptions of the achievements they've earned, or their progress towards earning them. You can also view other player's achievements if they have been made visible to you. Not all games on Stadia are required to include achievements, and there are not associated points or values for each achievement as there are on Xbox. It's a system more akin to Steam's achievements. Achievements are available now across Stadia's launch line-up. They're also available in the newly released Stadia versions of Borderlands 3, Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2, and Ghost Recon: Breakpoint.Info from Gamespot.com

Superman actor Henry Cavill spent a lot of the time at the gym to prepare for his starring role as Geralt in Netflix's new Witcher TV show. It's now been reported that Cavill got so jacked that it caused a problem with the show's costume department. In short, he kept Hulk-ing through his outfits.Polygon spoke with the show's costume designer, Tim Aslam, and the site reported: "Not only was the actor particular about his outfit, but that during shooting, his muscles wore down the leather at such an alarming rate that replacements were constantly produced to meet the production's needs."In the lead-up to The Witcher's release, Cavill said he was so committed to getting buff to play the monster-slayer that he trekked up the hill and through the snow to get to the gym. It was leg day, and Cavill wasn't willing to skip it.The Witcher premiered on Netflix earlier this month. The show generally fell flat with critics--here at GameSpot we scored Season 1 a 4/10--but the audience response was far more positive.Read next: The Witcher's Confusing Timelines, ExplainedInfo from Gamespot.com

The Witcher series premiered on Netflix last week, and it appears to have put Steam users in a witching mood. The player count of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt spiked sharply, even overtaking the recently released Red Dead Redemption 2.According to the Steam Stats page, The Witcher 3 is holding steady at roughly 46,000 players at the time of writing, to RDR2's 45,000. Red Dead 2 still overtook it at the peak for the day with 50,000, but it's still an impressive feat for a game that's nearly five years old to keep a dead heat with a more recent and very critically acclaimed game.The Witcher 3 was GameSpot's Game of the Year in 2015, and one of the only games to have received a 10/10 score in the site's history. It also recently released as an included game on Xbox Game Pass for consoles, right alongside the Netflix premiere, so that may have helped it regain word-of-mouth as well.Unfortunately for Netflix, the series is less than a smash-hit. It has received mixed reviews on GameSpot sister site Metacritic, and GameSpot's review gave it a 4/10. Editor Michael Rougeau said that while the acting and production values are on-point, the story is delivered in a way that's unnecessarily confusing."But in the end, Netflix's The Witcher is simply broken. Like the original stories, it begins in media res for Geralt of Rivia, so game fans hoping to learn more about the witcher himself won't find an origin story here," Rougeau wrote. "And by trying and utterly failing to cram new and remixed backstories for Yennefer and Ciri in without making any attempts to place each plotline within the larger story, The Witcher completely falls apart. Game fans who haven't read the books will be totally befuddled, and book readers will be scratching their heads just as frequently. If you're utterly devoted to the world of The Witcher, you'll certainly enjoy the familiar aesthetic and characters, but beyond that, this series is hard to recommend."Info from Gamespot.com

With Hanukkah upon us and Christmas in just a few days, chances are you've already finished your gift-shopping for this holiday season. If not, or if you just want to grab a little something for yourself, GameStop has a great deal on a new Xbox One X.The 1TB system with a full game download of NBA 2K19 is going for $250, but the price only shows once it's in your shopping cart. That's a discount of $50 off the usual bundle price, which is already a sizable discount for a new 4K system with an included game. But GameStop also has its Game Days 2019 promotion going, which grants a free white Xbox One wireless controller with the purchase of a new console bundle. That gets added automatically to your cart with no extra charge. See at GameStop Meanwhile, Microsoft is holding its Xbox Winter Sale now, with more discounts on Xbox One X bundles and tons of digital games. Those include bundles with newer games like Jedi Fallen Order and Gears 5, also with a second controller included, and the lower-end Xbox One S bundles. It's also offering a solid deal on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, granting your first three months for $1.NBA 2K19 received a 7/10 in GameSpot's review, but even if you aren't a baller the discounted price may be worthwhile for the price of the new console and controller alone.Info from Gamespot.com

2020 is almost here, so we've asked GameSpot's staff to share which games they're looking forward to most in the new year. New consoles are going to dominate the headlines, but at the end of the day it's all about the games, and there are a ton of exciting ones to look forward to. When you're done reading this entry, follow along with all of our other end-of-the-year coverage collected in our Best of 2019 hub and our Most Anticipated of 2020 hub.2019 was a weird year for me. I quit the job I'd had since 2015 and moved out of the apartment I spent six years in to travel for three months around Japan. In 12 weeks, I lived in three apartments and two capsule hotels from Hiroshima to Osaka to Kyoto to Tokyo. I've split my time between two temporary living situations back in the United States and I'm getting ready to move again, for the second or third time this year, depending on how you want to count it. In early 2020, I'll be moving yet again, hopefully somewhere I can finally call home again. I've done a lot of packing and unpacking. Through it all, I've spent a substantial amount of time thinking about the things I own and the things I don't, cutting down my belongings, trying to be less wasteful and more resourceful. The act of minimizing my possessions, putting them in boxes, then taking them out again and trying to figure out where and how they fit in an unfamiliar space has become a strangely comforting routine. In a time where I don't really have a place to call mine, the things I own and choose to take with me are what makes whatever space I'm in a home. I guess that's what I find so appealing about Unpacking.Unpacking is an upcoming "zen puzzle game" from the studio Witch Beam. In each level, you pull items out of a box and arrange them in a room, empty except for basic furnishings. It's like a simplified, domestic take on Tetris. You pick your piece--a book, an action figure, a frying pan--clicking around to rotate it and find a place for it in the confines of its assigned room. In the demo build I've played, there were only a few, unspoken restrictions on what can go where. After decorating a kid's bedroom, the locked diary I had set on the desk began to glow red. It required a more private location, so I slipped it into the desk drawer. Victory music ensued.There's a meditative quality to putting things away in Unpacking. I can only compare it to a less busy version of sorting and categorizing in Wilmot's Warehouse (a personal favorite from this year) or detailing a room in The Sims using decorative mods--books, dishes, even random clutter, elevating those uncannily basic Sim houses into something resembling a real, lived-in space.For a lot of people in my generation, owning a home feels like a privilege and a fantasy, rather than a given--something that would be nice to have, but also tied to a certain lifestyle, at least in American culture, that doesn't quite appeal to our changing ideals. Playing around with the concept in a game space like Unpacking, using it to reflect on and develop new ways of thinking about what a home is and can be, and what kind of emotional attachments we put on the things that fill it, feels comforting. Maybe this is just the grownup version of a doll house. Whatever it is, I want more of it.Unpacking is currently on Steam with a projected release date of late 2020.Info from Gamespot.com

Can you believe that Final Fantasy VII Remake is happening? After a tech demo of the opening of Final Fantasy VII was teased at E3 2005, fans were ravenous over the prospect that one of the most popular and beloved RPGs of all time would be getting a completely modern remake. 1997, even back then, seemed like an eternity ago.But Square Enix kept us waiting for a long time--it wasn't until E3 2015 that Sony officially announced that a full-blown remake was a real thing. It would be co-directed by series veterans Tetsuya Nomura and Naoki Hamaguchi, produced by Yoshinori Kitase (director and co-writer of the original FFVII) and would be released in an episodic nature.We know that it's going to be a completely modern overhaul of the original game created from scratch, and will tell the same story with the same characters and locations that fans remember. However, whereas the original game featured a fixed camera and turn-based battle system, the remake will take the form of a third-person game with a free-roaming camera and real-time combat.For the longest time, we only got quick peeks at remade scenarios, but 2019 gave us a much better look at the highly anticipated game. The game was finally playable at expos, we got an in-depth look at the new battle system, and we now have a clearer idea about how much content we could expect from the first release.Table of Contents [hide]Announcement and TrailersRelease DateStory And Characters / How Much Of The Original Will Be Included In The Remake?Battle SystemHow Big Will The Game Be?Box ArtPre-Order and Collector's EditionsDeluxe EditionFinal Fantasy 7 Remake 1st Class EditionAnnouncement and TrailersAs stated, Final Fantasy VII Remake was announced at E3 2015 via a cinematic reveal trailer, which showcased Cloud walking through what appeared a market area. Another brief trailer followed during that year's PlayStation Experience and showed gameplay.But then it was radio silence for quite some time. We didn't get a chance to see the game again until Sony's State Of Play presentation in May 2019 where Square revealed a new trailer of Final Fantasy 7 Remake--the first time we'd seen new footage of the game in quite some time, which gave us the first glimpse of Aerith and the revamped battle system.During E3 2019, Square Enix detailed Final Fantasy 7 Remake's combat new combat system and allowed us to go hands-on with a playable demo, which involved leading Cloud and Barret through an early section of the game, culminating in a boss fight with the Guard Scorpion. It impressed us greatly, making us realise that the game was shaping up to give us something better than we wanted.In a trailer released during Tokyo Game Show 2019, we got a look at Tifa and Aerith in action as party members, as well as a look at a couple of the game's early summoning creatures, the icy Shiva and the firey Ifrit. We also got a taste of the English voice acting, and a first look at the new iterations of Shinra's hit squad, The Turks.Most recently, we got a new trailer at the 2019 Game Awards, which focus on Cloud Strife's much-loved cool, calm, and collected personality.Release DateFinal Fantasy 7 Remake will launch on the PlayStation 4 on March 3, 2020. However, we know that it's only a timed exclusive for Sony's console until March 2021, at which point it will potentially come to other platforms like PC and Xbox One. Heck, it could even launch on PS5 and Xbox One Series X by then!Story And Characters / How Much Of The Original Will Be Included In The Remake?We know that Final Fantasy 7 Remake will be split into multiple parts, each comprising of one part of the original game. Producer Yoshinori Kitase, who directed the original Final Fantasy VII on PlayStation, has previously said that the team doesn't know how many games the Remake will span.However, we can expect the first part to involve the first part of Final Fantasy VII that takes place in the city of Midgar, as Cloud meets up with eco-resistance organisation Avalanche. The group is attempting to sabotage the reactors that power the city, owned by the nefarious Shinra Electric Power company. Kitase is quoted as saying, "We decided we're going to focus this game on Midgar and what happened in Midgar" and "we can't say anything more about the future games after that, because we don't know ourselves, really."We've seen the new interpretations of party members Barrett, Tifa, and Aerith in the trailers released so far, as well as a look at the game's primary antagonist, Sephiroth. Fans who have played through the original game will probably know what to expect, given all this information.Battle SystemThe combat system for Final Fantasy 7 Remake is an entirely new one to the series, combining elements from the original game with real-time mechanics from more recent entries.How it works is that you'll essentially be moving and attacking with standard attacks in real-time, which will fill an Active Time Battle gauge. Once that gauge is charged up enough, you'll be able to slow down the action to cast magic, trigger special abilities, or use items.We got a glimpse at both "Easy" and "Normal" modes from the in-game option menus, and Kitase-san then showed us a new combat mode, named "Classic Mode". pic.twitter.com/MTVKeFgBL6 — FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE (@finalfantasyvii) September 14, 2019However, Final Fantasy 7 Remake includes a "Classic" combat mode, where moving and attacking will be automated, and the ATB gauge will fill up on its own. In this mode, the only real thing you need to worry about is waiting for the executing commands when you're able to, making this more of a direct interpretation of the menu-based combat system seen in the original game.How Big Will The Game Be?While we're still unclear about how big the download size for the game will be for digital downloads, or how much room the install will take on your PS4's hard drive, we do know that the physical version will span two blu-ray discs, according to Square Enix.Box ArtThe Western box art for Final Fantasy 7 Remake is an updated version of the original US box art for Final Fantasy VII on the PlayStation, a big nostalgia play that is sure to appeal to fans who were around for the initial release.In a welcome move, the cover art is reversible, with the Japanese box art on the other side--it features the logo on a plain background, as was the case with the original Japanese and PAL releases of Final Fantasy VII on PlayStationIn North America & Europe, all physical copies of #FinalFantasy VII Remake will come with a reversible cover, which matches the front cover being used in Japan!All pre-orders come with a Chocobo Chick Summon Materia DLC 🐤 #FF7RPre-order here👉 https://t.co/GgyCsmRrt6 pic.twitter.com/z8NcWMRPOG — FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE (@finalfantasyvii) November 27, 2019Pre-Order and Collector's EditionsThere are a bunch of different editions and pre-order incentives for Final Fantasy 7 Remake. All preorders will get the Chocobo Chick Summon Materia DLC, which hopefully is as cute as it sounds. If you pre-order from the Square Enix Store, and you'll receive double Members Rewards points. Best Buy is offering a $10 reward credit to My Best Buy members, and as usual, the PlayStation Store is offering a free, dynamic FF7 Remake PS4 theme with any pre-orders.GameStop has an exclusive pre-order bonus that may be of interest to physical collectors--you'll get a serialized Shinra key card and collectible tin box (shown above). You'll get this bonus free when you pre-order either the standard or Deluxe edition of FF7 Remake. See Final Fantasy VII Remake at Amazon Deluxe EditionThe Deluxe Edition will cost $80 and includes: Base game and any pre-order bonusesArtbookMini-SoundtrackSteelbookCactuar Summon Materia DLCCarbuncle Summon Materia DLC See Deluxe Edition at Amazon Final Fantasy 7 Remake 1st Class EditionThe 1st class edition is exclusive to the Square Enix Store and will cost you $330. This edition includes:Base game and any pre-order bonusesPlay Arts Kai Cloud Strife & Hardy Daytona box setArtbookMini-SoundtrackSteelbookCactuar Summon Materia DLCCarbuncle Summon Materia DLCThere's now a waiting list for the 1st class edition--you can hop on that and get more information below. See 1st Class Edition at Square Enix Store Info from Gamespot.com

When HBO first announced that Damon Lindelof would be creating a TV show based on the Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons graphic novel, Watchmen, our reaction was unsurprisingly skeptical. Lindelof has earned himself a divisive reputation since his days with Lost and Watchmen stands as one of the most infamously anti-adaptation comics of all time--it's not that it's a particularly challenging translation from page to screen, but it's been a personal crusade for Alan Moore for years to fight against any and all efforts to give the Watchmen universe the franchise treatment. And that's to say nothing of the dubiously stylish 2007 movie version of the source material that left a lot to be desired for Watchmen fans everywhere.So, no, the initial announcement of the show didn't have us all that excited. A little curious, sure, but mostly nervous, which certainly wasn't helped by the fact that both HBO and Lindelof kept the actual premise for the series tightly under wraps, even as the first trailers began to drop. It wasn't until the first episode actually aired, shown to the public for the first time at this year's New York Comic-Con, that we finally got some idea of what the Watchmen TV show would be--and just how wrong we were to ever doubt it.Rather than attempt to adapt the graphic novel, the Watchmen show was a sequel, treating the comic like the real history of an alternate universe. The show posited what a modern-day Watchmen universe would look like in 2019, had caped crusaders actually had a hay day back in the 50s and 60s, an atomic superbeing named Doctor Manhattan actually existed, and three million people actually been wiped out by a fake psychic monster attack. The result was fascinating--a setting that was all at once totally familiar and completely alien. But that was only half of the equation. In order to really make use of this new and fascinating world, Watchmen had to actually have a story to tell that was worthy of the one that came before. That was the real challenge, and one that Lindelof and his team executed better than we could have ever hoped.By focusing the modern-day Watchmen story not on any familiar comic book characters, but an entirely new star, a police detective in Tulsa, Oklahoma named Angela Abar (Regina King), Watchmen crafted a story that felt fresh and unique, even for viewers who have been steeped in Watchmen comic lore for the last thirty-plus years. Angela's journey, which eventually intersected with some of the biggest and most iconic characters from the comic in totally unexpected ways, both added to and interrogated the legacy of people like Ozymandias, Rorschach, and Silk Spectre. But perhaps more importantly, her story felt worthy of the Watchmen name--a twisting, turning, mind-bending path full of hard-hitting social commentary and an unflinchingly honest look into the nature of things like history and legacy. She may not have existed for Gibbons and Moore, but she was undeniably as much a product of that world as any of their original vigilantes.Add to that HBO's clever answer to comic book backmatter (the essays and stories you'd find at the end of each Watchmen issue to flesh out the world) the Peteypedia, and you've got yourself the recipe for a puzzle box-style story that just keeps you coming back for more. Sure, it may have been dense and packed to the brim with self-referential Easter Eggs and the sort of tiny details you'd only catch after multiple viewings, but it never felt like a burden. Watchmen wasn't trying to make its viewers do homework--it just asked for your full attention, and rewarded you wholeheartedly when you gave it. At the end of the day, Watchmen threaded the needle. It provided a perfectly paced, poignant nine-episode run that told a complete and satisfying story in a rich world that was a joy to watch. With any luck, it'll be the sort of TV that will continue to fuel conversations, both about the story itself and about the real-world issues it attempted to tackle. Info from Gamespot.com

The award for best film of 2019 goes to Parasite. Parasite is an unforgettable film that caught us completely by surprise, captivated us, defied genres, and subverted our expectations. This Korean black comedy was masterfully directed and co-written by Bong Joon-ho, known for his hit films The Host and Snowpiercer. It’s best to go into watching this film knowing as few details as possible, so we won’t reveal anything major here. Letting the events of the film sneak up on you is a key part of what makes this film such a thrilling ride. But trust us when we say, this is the must-watch movie of 2019.Parasite follows the struggling Kim family. A young man named Ki-woo, his sister Ki-jeong, his father Ki-taek and his mother Chung-sook live together in a cramped basement apartment and work odd jobs like assembling pizza delivery boxes to get by. When Ki-woo’s friend Min is about to travel abroad, he recommends Ki-woo as a replacement in his position as an English tutor for the teenage daughter of the wealthy Park family. Ki-woo uses forged documents made by his sister to pretend to be a college student and gets the job. Eventually, his other family members scheme their way into getting jobs with the rich but naive Park family.As our reviewer Rafael Motamayor wrote, “The result is a symbiotic yet fragile relationship where both families depend on each other, but greed and class prejudice threaten to destroy them both.” Like Joon-ho’s previous Snowpiercer, at the core of the film is a strong commentary on social class division. We think about the title and wonder who the parasites are. Perhaps it’s everyone involved, as both families are feeding off of each other.Parasite starts out clearly as a slapstick comedy and evolves into something much darker. By the end, it cannot be defined by any single genre. It mixes elements of satire, thriller, and horror, keeping you locked in suspense until the very end. Adding to the tension is the superb cinematography. Cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo utilized lighting, rain, and vertical compositions to show the contrast between the rich and poor families. The home of the Park family is bathed in sunshine, while strong rains and darkness flood the home of the Kims. The smooth, purposeful camera movements are accompanied by a haunting, operatic score from Jung Jae-il, that effectively make you feel every twist or revelation in your bones.The film is perfectly cast, with each actor delivering incredibly strong performances. Particularly Park So-dam as the daughter, Kim Ki-jeong, who is clearly the smartest person among the cast of characters. It’s devilishly entertaining to watch the Kims each work their way into employment with the Parks. As our reviewer Rafael Motamayor wrote, “By having the actors hold back and reveal their true personalities little by little, it presents us with enough perspectives that the audience can see their own beliefs reflected and their biases confronted.”Parasite is the kind of film that will stick with you for days, and make you want to talk about it. It’s thrilling, stressful, at times hilarious, and haunting. It takes you on an unforgettable ride resulting in an ending that you will never see coming. The class divide at the heart of the film is something that is universally relatable, and will make you question your own biases. Bong Joon-ho is a master filmmaker. Info from Gamespot.com

Following the swift removal of Dangen Entertainment CEO Ben Judd, the Japanese indie publisher is now offering its developers the option of reconsidering their contracts with the company.Dan Stern, the current CEO of Dangen, said in a statement that "all developers will be free to reconsider contracts and decide whether or not they would like to continue forward with Dangen under its new management." According to Stern, Dangen has reached out to its developers--including those working on Devil Engine and Fight Knight--and hopes to resolve these matters as quickly as possible.This news follows Stern stepping into Ben Judd's shoes as CEO earlier this month. Judd, who co-founded Dangen in 2017, was accused of mismanagement and sexual harassment by multiple individuals who have worked with him in the past. The allegations led to Judd stepping down as CEO, saying in a statement, "For the foreseeable future, I will be focusing on fixing some of the issues that have come to light as well as spending time with my family. They believe in me and I want to work hard to grow in a way that justifies that faith. I am truly sorry."Regarding the studios working on Devil Engine and Fight Knight, Stern said he has "reached out to [those] developers with a clear path toward mutually agreed separation." He also specified that if any studio wishes to part ways with the publisher, all of Dangen's marketing materials will be removed from those projects, ownership of store pages will be given back to the developers, and final payments (especially to the Devil Engine team) will be resolved when invoices are received.Dangen Entertainment is the publisher of many indie games, including 2D fighter Pocket Rumble, action-platformer Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight, upcoming beat-em-up The TakeOver, and more. The company is perhaps best known for the 2018 critically acclaimed indie action-puzzler Iconoclasts, which received a 9/10 in our review.Info from Gamespot.com

Note: This story is full of spoilers for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Read on at your own risk!In concluding the three-movie arc of the Star Wars sequel trilogy and the nine-movie Skywalker Saga, The Rise of Skywalker closes down a whole lot of character arcs and pays off quite a few ideas first raised in The Force Awakens. It also introduces a bunch of new stuff--most notably, the return of the series' ultimate evil, Sith Lord and Galactic Emperor Sheev Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). We've known for a while that Palpatine would be making a return thanks to trailers, but exactly how he'd come back and what he'd be up to has been a mystery.Now that Rise of Skywalker is out in theaters, we have our answer: Palpatine apparently survived the destruction of the Death Star II back in Return of the Jedi and has been working behind the scenes for decades, instigating the rise of the First Order and trying to regain his ridiculous amount of power. While the First Order has been formidable in its own right, we learn in The Rise of Skywalker that Palpatine has more tricks up his sleeve. Star Wars News How Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker Ends For Every Major Character Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker - 48 Easter Eggs From Past Movies Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker Review - A Galactic Disappointment Star Wars Timeline: How To Watch It All In Order On Disney Plus Is Baby Yoda In Star Wars 9: The Rise Of Skywalker? But Palpatine's return isn't a new idea. In fact, the plot of The Rise of Skywalker has a whole lot in common with other Star Wars stories, ranging from the original films to old Expanded Universe comics and novels--but none more so than Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Though the story of the 2003 video game takes place thousands of years before Palpatine's rise, a bunch of the plot points of KOTOR and TROS are pretty much the same. Allow me to explain.KOTOR starts in the aftermath of a major war that has devastated the Galactic Republic--the Mandalorian Wars. Those spooky Boba Fett-looking warriors (a tribe of which is central to the Disney+ series The Mandalorian) raised a massive army and nearly brought the Republic down in a horrific conflict that devastated countless worlds. When things were at their most dire, a group of Jedi led by a knight named Revan and his friend, Malak, broke with the Jedi Order, which had chosen to remain neutral. The Jedi joined the Republic to defeat the Mandalorians, but afterward, Revan and Malak disappeared into the Unknown Regions. Eventually, they returned, but had fallen to the Dark Side, and led a massive Sith Armada bent on destroying the Republic and taking over the galaxy. It turns out, the pair discovered an ancient alien space station called the Star Forge, capable of creating an entire fleet of ships in an incredibly short period.The Star Forge made Revan and Malak powerful enough to threaten the entire galaxy.That story is a whole lot like the setup for The Rise of Skywalker, in which Kylo Ren discovers the legendary Sith planet, Exegol (also in the Unknown Regions), and discovers it's where Emperor Palpatine has been holed up, marshaling his strength. As with Revan and Malak and the Star Forge, Palpatine has managed to use Exegol to create an entire fleet of Star Destroyers that could smack down the entire galaxy.In KOTOR, the player spends most of the game trying to dig up information on and then find the Star Forge, which is pretty much what goes on in The Rise of Skywalker. Rey, Poe, and Finn travel across the galaxy in search of information on Exegol, which they obtain from a Sith dagger. That leads them to an artifact called the Sith Wayfinder, which provides a map to Exegol and the giant fleet Palpatine has waiting there.KOTOR's protagonist is a nascent Jedi who has visions of Revan and discovers information about the Star Forge, and near the end of the game, turns out to be none other than Revan himself (or herself, depending on the character you create). The Jedi had brainwashed the injured Revan after Malak tried to kill him, intent on using his power against his former apprentice.That's not unlike the arcs of both Kylo Ren and Rey in The Rise of Skywalker. Ren is a fallen Jedi who discovers a ridiculous Sith power, but who eventually is turned back to the Light Side to battle to stop a former evil ally in Palpatine. You could also liken Revan to Rey, who, like Revan, discovers she has the Dark Side in her past and the potential to go bad. The Rise of Skywalker reveals that Rey is the granddaughter of Palpatine, and that information acts as a shadow over her, often making her wonder if she won't fall to the Dark Side herself.Palpatine's return echoes the idea that villains are really working to stop a bigger, badder Sith threat.Some of the story beats of KOTOR and Revan are picked up in the MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic, creating even more parallels. It turns out that the thing that drove Revan and Malak to the Dark Side in the first place was not the ridiculous amount of power they discovered in the Star Forge, or the horrors they saw during the Mandalorian Wars. Instead, it was something worse: The pair discovered a secret, immortal Sith emperor out in the vast reaches of space, who was himself marshaling power for an attack on the galaxy. That's basically what's going on in The Old Republic, but if and when you find Revan in that game, you learn that he and Malak meant to take over the galaxy partially so they could strengthen up its defenses against the much bigger threat in the Sith Emperor. That's at least similar to what's up with Kylo Ren--he might be trying to tighten his grip on the galaxy, but he's also spending most of The Rise of Skywalker trying to turn Rey to his side so that the two can defeat the worse threat represented by Palpatine and his armada.It's not a perfect comparison, but there are a lot of similarities between where The Rise of Skywalker goes in its plot, and the path KOTOR trod back in 2003. As mentioned, this isn't the only old Star Wars story The Rise of Skywalker draws on--a revitalized Palpatine who can transfer his spirit between bodies was the drive behind the Dark Empire comics in the 1990s, for instance. But while most Star Wars video game plots either just borrow the plots of the films or have nothing much to do with them, The Rise of Skywalker's similarities to KOTOR might be the closest the Star Wars saga has come to doing things the other way around--the films being influenced by the games, for once. Info from Gamespot.com