After 12 years and five games, Mario and Sonic competing together at the Olympics is no longer shocking. The animosity of the Sega/Nintendo '90s console war has long subsided; Mario and Sonic have faced off across three generations of Smash Bros games, and the blue blur has starred in numerous Nintendo console exclusives. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 seems to recognize this, and does not lean in too hard on the gimmick; in the series' first story mode, for instance, the characters from the Mario and Sonic universes chat and mingle without much fuss or fanfare about their worlds colliding. Instead of relying on brand recognition, Tokyo 2020 succeeds by being the most fully-featured and content-rich game in the series, serving up a lot of enjoyable, accessible minigames.The game features 34 distinct events (including 10 rendered in a retro style to commemorate the 1964 Tokyo Olympics), 10 bonus minigames, a story mode, and online play. Events range from athletic button-mashers like the 100m and swimming races to sports like boxing, equestrian, and archery, all of which are easy to pick up and understand. The controls for every sport are extremely simple, occasionally to the point of being reductive--you're not actually in control of your character's movement in badminton and table tennis, for instance, only controlling where and when you hit the shuttlecock and ball. But some events feel more fleshed out, like soccer and rugby sevens; they won't give FIFA or Madden a run for their money, but they're a nice representation of the sports with all the edges and requirements of expertise sanded off, and make for an enjoyable casual take on the sports they represent. There are no absolute duds in the package, which makes for an unusually high hit rate for a game of this type. Every event has a "buttons only" option and can be played with any controller (including a single Joy-Con) without issue, but several also allow for motion controls. It's good that motion controls are completely optional, because their implementation is inconsistent. Any mini-game that requires accuracy, or returning the controller repeatedly to a central point, is better off with a controller in hand. Simulating a sprint by pumping your hands is entertaining, as is manipulating a Joy-Con like a skateboard. But strangely, sports that require the use of hands, like sports climbing and boxing, can feel messy and imprecise. The motion controls aren't exact enough that they'd be my preference in any event, but thankfully you can avoid them entirely if you want.Every event also features a bit of video game flourish, allowing you to pull off special moves to score more points or overwhelm your opponents. Each 2020 event has some sort of "Super" mechanic that kicks in if you press R at a certain point or perform an action perfectly. Depending on the event this can mean you get a burst of speed, extra power, or double scoring. Curiously, beyond this, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 often feels quite straight-laced and sincere in its approach to these sports. The exception to this is in the three "Dream Events"--a hoverboard race, a competitive motion-controlled shooter event where players shoot targets and kites as they pop up around a castle, and a karate variant that transforms the dignified martial art into something more akin to Power Stone, as four players fight simultaneously in a 3D arena. The race is by far the most enjoyable, riffing on the old Sonic Riders series, although it's limited to a single course; the other two do not make much of an impression.Some events are unlikely to hold your attention for long or bring you back often to try for a high score. Surfing feels good thanks to some strong animations, but there's not enough variation between waves to hold your interest long term; skateboarding looks great, but the simplicity of the control scheme becomes stifling after a few rounds; the kayak event is controlled by rotating the stick, which is tedious. But most games hold up well in local multiplayer, as the simple controls (most only use two or three buttons) mean that they're easy to pick up and learn. Mastering the exact timing on the 100m sprint and relay races, or working to get your best distance in long jump or javelin throw, makes for an enjoyable experience--especially if other players are involved.It's a shame that the multiplayer options are so limited--you're limited to simply going through the events in "quick play" and going through them one by one. There's no opportunity to arrange multi-event tournaments, for instance; it's just a matter of picking which events to play, and then playing them. Casual and ranked online play is included as well, but I did not have much success finding lag-free games, and it's not the sort of experience that translates well to online play. It's much more enjoyable when your opponents are in the room with you, all desperately trying to bash the 'A' button or master an equestrian course.The major exciting addition in Tokyo 2020 are the new "Tokyo 1964" events, which render the action in a manner fitting somewhere between 8- and 16-bit graphics. They're designed as though they were NES games, confined to two buttons, and super moves have been excised. You can turn on a CRT filter for these events to replicate the NES era better, and the minigames pay homage to the button-mashers of the time, albeit with less punishing controls (even if, yes, you'll be asked to mash A as fast as possible). The highlight is a tremendously strange take on running a marathon, where you need to gauge your stamina, grab water cups from tables, ride the wakes of other runners, and aim for boost pads to reach the front of the pack.Tokyo 1964 is a fun bonus, and it's surprisingly integral to the Story Mode. The plot concerns Mario, Sonic, Bowser, and Eggman being sucked into an old game console to compete in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and they have to run around to win medals that will ultimately restore them to the present. This mode is a big bogged down by lots of text-only conversations of little consequence, but the overarching plot is appealing goofy, at least. The highlight is seeing game's take on various iconic Tokyo locations, like Shibuya Crossing and Tokyo Skytree, lovingly rendered and filled with Mario and Sonic characters. They're beautifully realised, and I found myself getting unexpectedly invested in the upcoming Olympics as I played through, visiting each venue and reading the collectable chunks of Olympic trivia that pop up in each environment. The story is largely an excuse to run through most of the events in the game, and the difficulty is turned all the way down: if you fail an event three times you can skip it. You also unlock a handful of new playable guest characters for Quick Play (who are only playable in certain specific events, strangely) and a further 10 minigames by playing through the short campaign. Some of these minigames are amusingly bizarre--I certainly didn't expect a retro-styled stealth game in the middle of my Olympics experience.Mario & Sonic at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 is an entertaining take on the sports-event genre that has, by and large, disappeared in the modern-day. The game aims for accessibility at every opportunity, and while nothing about it is particularly exceptional, it still has plenty of unique flourishes to offer, and the wealth of different events and simple controls make for an appealing casual multiplayer title. Thanks to a generous selection of events and a few neat gimmicks, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is the best entry in this series. Info from Gamespot.com

Following a recent patch that nerfed the gun, Activision is planning another update for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare to address one of the military shooter's most controversial weapons. In a tweet, multiplayer co-director Joe Cecot said developer Infinity Ward is planning another change for the 725 shotgun that should address how effective the weapon is at a distance.Specifically, the update will "massage out" instances where the 725 is seemingly too effective at range, Cecot said. As you can see in the video below, the 725 is still very, very effective at a distance, which many have remarked makes the shotgun far too powerful.The 725 is a break-action shotgun that carries only two rounds. It's also not a standard shotgun. The weapon has a cylindrical choke that keeps the projectile spread tight. This is what makes the 725 effective at long ranges unlike other, more standard shotguns.Another tweak is coming which should massage out the rare very long shot. Now if the target is at low health this thing will always reach out. https://t.co/qN3cCNovOP — Joe Cecot (@JoeCecot) November 9, 2019In another tweet, Cecot said Infinity Ward is being careful to make sure that whatever changes it plans for the 725 do not impact the "soul" of the weapon. He also confirmed that Infinity Ward has no plans to simply remove the 725 from the game. "No," he said.Modern Warfare's 725 shotgunThe video below shows the 725 killing someone in one shot, from across the map. Cecot said this video shows a "rare" situation where one of the shotgun pellets lands. That being said, Cecot added that there are "changes still to come," presumably for instances like this.Hm pic.twitter.com/U6v2NNcms8 — Hayashii (@HayashiXPG) November 8, 2019Modern Warfare launched at the end of October, and it generated $600 million in revenue right away. The game is expected to sell as many as 27 million copies this quarter, while it will bring in even more money when the first Battle Pass launches in December. In other Call of Duty news, the Call of Duty Mobile game is racing up the charts with more than 140 million downloads and $50 million in revenue over its first month. Call of Duty News Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare Update 1.07 Is Out Now; Here Are The Full Patch Notes Modern Warfare Dev Addresses Highway Of Death, Waterboarding, And The Intent Of Its Story Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare Spec Ops Beginner's Guide Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare Beginner's Guide - Essential Tips To Help You Succeed Info from Gamespot.com

Blizzard has come under fire lately for their harsh treatment of Hearthstone Grandmaster pro Blitzchung, who was banned from the game and had his winnings taken away for expressing a pro-Hong Kong sentiment during a post-match interview. Although eventually his prize money was reinstated and his ban was reduced to six months, the fallout from the incident was immense: the game's developers spoke out against the way Blitzchung had been treated, sponsor Mitsubishi cut ties with the Hearthstone esports scene, and numerous protests were held, which led to further bans.Blizzard president J. Allen Brack addressed the decision directly during BlizzCon, but it's clear that many within Blizzard remain unhappy with how things have played out. Now Jeff Kaplan, director of Overwatch, has added his own voice to the discussion. Talking to The Washington Post, Kaplan has said that he would personally like to see Blitzchung's suspension reduced further. "I was relieved when they reduced his suspension...and I think the suspension should be reduced more or eliminated. But that’s just me.""I’m obviously a huge supporter of free speech," Kaplan said. "It’s something that’s very important to me...it got to me personally. I think the punishment was too harsh and I was greatly relieved when they gave his money back. I think that was extremely important." Kaplan talked about his own experience in Overwatch, where decisions like this typically take "four or five days" to get settled. He said that it was surprising to see a punishment like this get metered out so quickly: "I was actually shocked that such a harsh penalty was levied."For now, Blitzchung's suspension remains in place. For more on this, watch our interview with Freedom Hong Kong organizer Dayton Young about Blizzard's action here, and why change is important.Info from Gamespot.com

Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese generated headlines when he criticized Marvel movies, labelling them "not cinema." Marvel's chief creative officer recently weighed in, and now the writer of 2015's Ant-Man has shared his thoughts on the drama as well. Speaking to Deadline, Adam McKay said he was flabbergasted by Scorsese's anti-Marvel movie comments."I wrote one, Ant-Man, and I love 'em," McKay said about superhero films. "I felt like, c'mon Marty, what are you doing? You're an all-time hero, and some of those movies are really good."Scorsese said he tried to watch Marvel movies, but they never resonated with him so he stopped. Should Scorsese want to try again, McKay said he would recommend Thor: Ragnarok to the director--or to anyone else who doubts or belittles Marvel movies. "To anyone who disses superhero movies, I always say, watch Thor: Ragnarok. That movie is awesome," McKay said.McKay is perhaps best known for his comedy work with Will Ferrell. He and Ferrell co-founded Gary Sanchez Productions, the company that created Funny or Die and produced numerous comedies such as Step Brothers, The Other Guys, Daddy's Home, and Anchorman 2. McKay later shifted into the drama category by directing The Big Short and Vice.McKay and Ferrell have since left Gary Sanchez. McKay now heads up his own production company, Hyperobject Industries, which just recently signed a movie deal with Paramount and a TV deal with HBO.Marvel's chief creative officer, Kevin Feige, recently spoke out for the first time (publicly at least) regarding Scorsese's comments. He said Scorsese is entitled to his opinion, but nothing he says will stop Marvel from making superhero movies."Everybody has a different definition of cinema. Everybody has a different definition of art. Everybody has a different definition of risk, I guess" Feige said. "All I know is, I'm surrounded by people 24 hours a day who live and breathe and love cinema. Some people don't think it's cinema. Everybody is entitled to their opinion. Everyone is entitled to repeat that opinion."Everyone is entitled to write op-eds about that opinion, and I look forward to what will happen next. But in the meantime, we're going to keep making movies," he added.Marvel recently wrapped up Phase 3 of the MCU, which included the dramatic events of Avengers: Endgame. Phase 4 is on the way, and it includes movies like Black Widow and Thor: Love & Thunder, as well as the TV shows WandaVision and Loki. For more, check out GameSpot's rundown of all the Marvel Phase 4 movies and TV shows revealed so far.Info from Gamespot.com

Where The Water Tastes Like Wine, a narrative-focused game in which you work your way around the 1930s American Dust Bowl, hearing and trading stories, is come to consoles later this month. The game, which released on PC in 2018, is coming to Switch, PS4, and Xbox One on November 29.The game's impending release was announced by publisher Serenity Forge on Twitter. It's now available to pre-order on Switch.We are excited to announce that Where the Water Tastes Like Wine is coming to consoles - 🦃November 29th! 🐺Available now for pre-order on Switch🐺 pic.twitter.com/cRRlzUaZtF — Serenity Forge (@SerenityForge) November 8, 2019The game also received a new launch trailer ahead of its console release.The game, which contains a guest appearance from Sting, struggled at launch, with creator Johnnemann Nordhagen publicly discussing the difficulties developer Dim Bulb Games faced following the game's release. "At the end of the day it's astounding that a game that got this much attention from the press, that won awards, that had an all-star cast of writers and performers, that had a bizarre celebrity guest appearance(!) failed this hard," Nordhagen wrote. Perhaps the game's console release can recoup some of the costs of development.We gave the game a 6/10 in our original review, stating that "if the basic premise of gathering folk stories across a version of 1930s America strongly appeals to you, then Where the Water Tastes Like Wine is worth a look, but it's probably not worth finishing". Since launch, the game has been updated with Chinese-American tales. It's currently discounted by 70% on Steam.Info from Gamespot.com

Rocket League has received some new free cosmetic items, and they pay homage to another huge indie darling.The latest Rocket League / Beat Saber crossover has brought a new topper and boost to Psyonix's car soccer game, based on the blocks you're slashing away at in Beat Saber. You can wear one of the hood of your car, or fit it out with a boost that looks like the lanes from Beat Saber, with blocks travelling down. Check out the gif in the Tweet below for a better look.Need Boost? These two new customization items from Beat Saber – a Topper and Boost – are so cool! Log into @RocketLeague now and get them for free! pic.twitter.com/h2YmladpvV — Beat Saber (@BeatSaber) November 8, 2019Just last week the music of Rocket League came to Beat Saber, giving players of the VR rhythm game access to six pieces of music from the game. This free cosmetic DLC could be a way of promoting that pack, which will set you back a few dollars. Rocket League is big on collaborations--it featured a Stranger Things event over Halloween. There are some big changes coming to the game soon, too, as it will soon ditch loot crates in favour of 'Blueprints' that show you exactly what you're getting. Beat Saber, meanwhile, is available on Oculus and PS VR. In our 8/10 review, we praised it as "an exhilarating rush and an exhausting game to play in the best way."Info from Gamespot.com

Take-Two Interactive, the publisher behind games like Red Dead Redemption 2, The Outer Worlds, and Civilization 6, has filed a trademark that may give us the name of a future project. The company trademarked "31st Union" for properties related to computer games and associated merchandise.The trademark, filed on October 2, doesn't give particular insight regarding what exactly 31st Union could be. And like all trademarks, keep in mind that this doesn't necessarily mean a project of this name will ever come to fruition. Likely coincidentally, the name is also currently in use by a restaurant in San Mateo, California.Take-Two operates the Rockstar, 2K, and newly launched Private Division labels. Private Division is the publisher of Outer Worlds, Obsidian's last independent project before being acquired by Microsoft. In a recent earnings call, T2 said the game has exceeded expectations both commercially and critically.The company's other most recent marquee release was the PC port of Red Dead Redemption 2. The console release was GameSpot's Game of the Year 2018, and we found its PC version a mostly worthy port.Info from Gamespot.com

Tomorrow is a big day for all of us. Disney+ is arriving early on November 12, and depending on where you live, it launches early in the morning, and we'll all be watching the first episode of The Mandalorian. However, hours before the new show launches, you can get a sneak peek at the new series, as long as you don't mind watching a little American football.During the Monday Night Football game on ESPN--which is owned by Disney--there will be a sneak peek of the new Disney+ series airing during the event. The Mandalorian Twitter account revealed the info in the new video, which you can see below.Catch a sneak peek of #TheMandalorian tonight during Monday Night Football on @ESPN. pic.twitter.com/B49dHhqVWg — Star Wars (@starwars) November 11, 2019The Seattle Seahawks will take on the undefeated San Francisco 49ers during tonight's game, which kicks off at 5:15 PM PT / 8:15 PM ET on ESPN. More than likely, this new sneak peek at the new Star Wars show will happening in the first half (opening hour and a half) of the game, and at latest, during halftime.Disney+ launches tomorrow with an immense amount of content. The new streaming service combines so many properties like Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, Disney, and Nat Geo. The Disney vault is no more, as most of Disney's animated classics will be available Day One on the service, along with many cool '80s films. Additionally, there are plenty of great animated series from your childhood you'll want to watch again.Disney+ launches in the US, Canada, and Netherlands on November 12, and it's coming to Europe in Spring 2020.Info from Gamespot.com

Wattam, the latest game from Katamari Damacy director Keita Takahashi, has finally set a release date. It will come to PS4 and PC via the Epic Game Store on December 17. It is also planned for release on Steam, but that storefront has not updated with a release date yet. The game will cost $20, but it's offering a pre-order discount of 15%.The release date trailer shows a cute art style reminiscent of the one found in the Katamari games and Takahashi's follow-up, Noby Noby Boy. In Wattam, you play as a lonely little character named Mayor who has lost his memories and his friends. The game revolves around him reuniting with his friends and finding the joy in exploring together, as he builds stacks and chains with the colorful cast of characters. The announcement promises a cast of 100 characters to interact with.Wattam has been a long time coming, having first debuted at E3 2015. Takahashi's last major release was Noby Noby Boy, which was similarly about building connections with other characters--albeit in an experimental, online way."I think each game has different themes," he said in an interview on the PlayStation Blog. "I just have been wanting to make something new and fun, and that is more important than the themes."Info from Gamespot.com

Pokemon fans, the time has come--we're finally less than a week away from the release of Pokemon Sword and Shield, the first main-series Pokemon games to launch on a home console and one of Nintendo's most highly anticipated releases for Nintendo Switch. The games will be available this Friday, November 15, and there's still time to secure your copy early and get the game's numerous pre-order bonuses.Nintendo fans don't usually expect to save money on a first-party Switch game when it first releases, particularly if it's one of Nintendo's most popular franchises, like Pokemon. But this year, Pokemon fans are in luck, as Sword and Shield will be on sale for $49.94 ($10 off) at Walmart stores on launch day. This offer is in-stores only, meaning you'll need to actually drive to your local Walmart and make the purchase.This offer was spotted by deals site Cheap Ass Gamer. According to the below photo, the double pack (which contains both games) will also be on sale, selling for $99.98 instead of $120. These discounts are basically unheard of for a new Pokemon game and we doubt Black Friday will offer anything better, so if you're planning to get Pokemon for yourself or someone on your Christmas list, this is likely the best offer you'll find.Wal-Mart Update: Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield Double Pack (S) $99.98, Pokémon Sword (S) $49.94 & Pokémon Shield (S) $49.94. Games Will be Available the 15th. pic.twitter.com/iZGiRhjF05 — Cheap Ass Gamer (@videogamedeals) November 9, 2019A word of caution: The earlier you can make it to the store, the better, as stock may sell out quickly depending on your Walmart location.This is only the latest in a growing list of games that received release day discounts at Walmart this year, including Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Astral Chain, and Luigi's Mansion 3.On the topic of Pokemon deals, you can also save nearly 50% on the collector's edition of the Pokemon Sword and Shield: Official Galar Region Strategy Guide right now at Amazon. Normally sold for $40, the 400-page collector's edition is currently on sale for $24.72, and it includes a special black hardcover featuring the game's legendaries and a Joy-Con controller skin decal. Pokemon Sword And Shield News Pokemon Sword Vs. Shield: Exclusive Pokemon Confirmed For Each Version Pokemon Sword And Shield Pre-Order Guide: Bonuses And Discounts Pokemon Sword & Shield: Here's Every Gen 8 Pokemon Revealed So Far Info from Gamespot.com

Compulsion Games has announced the next chapter of We Happy Few, titled We All Fall Down, will launch on PC, Xbox One, and PS4 on November 19. We All Fall Down has you play as Victoria Byng, the main antagonist of We Happy Few."We All Fall Down returns to We Happy Few's dark origins, but burns it all down in spectacular fashion," publisher Gearbox wrote in a press release. "Starving like the rest of the people, Victoria wrestles with her own withdrawals as the city slides deeper into Joy shortage and disorder. Victoria has always helped to keep things proper, but the closer she looks, the deeper the rot seems to run."Taking place immediately after Victoria escapes from Ollie in Act III of We Happy Few, We All Fall Down sees Wellington Wells at its most dire. To survive, you can either stealthily slink past armed guards and shoot them with your dart gun, or you can rely on a powerful whip to both slash your way through enemies and swing between the rooftops. The eating, sleeping, and crafting systems in We Happy Few are not present in We All Fall Down.We All Fall Down is the third and final DLC for We Happy Few, concluding the storyline to the action-adventure game. Prior to We All Fall Down, We Happy Few's story was expanded on in April 2019's They Came From Below and July 2019's Lightbearer DLCs.In GameSpot's We Happy Few review, Alessandro Barbosa wrote, "[We Happy Few's] entire gameplay loop is underpinned by boring quests and long stretches of inaction. And even when it forces you to interact with its world beyond just walking to waypoints, combat, stealth, and otherwise fascinating societies fail to impose the right balance of challenge and tension. There's a clear lack of direction that We Happy Few is never able to shake, which wastes its intriguing setting. It does manage to weave each of its three stories cohesively into a larger tale, but it's also one that's never critical enough to earn the right to repeat 'happiness is a choice' any chance it can."Info from Gamespot.com

This episode of New Releases is all about exploring new worlds, whether its the Galar Region in Pokemon Sword & Shield, a whole galaxy in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, or the entire space-time continuum in Doctor Who: The Edge of Time. There's also a pair of remastered games for those who missed out the first time around: turn-based RPG Romancing SaGa 3 and grand strategy title Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. There's a ton of stuff for sci-fi and fantasy fans!Romancing SaGa 3 -- November 11Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch, VitaRomancing SaGa 3 is releasing outside of Japan for the first time since its 1995 debut. This RPG has been gussied up with better graphics, an extra dungeon, more story content, and a New Game Plus mode. You can choose from one of eight protagonists and start saving the world on the original game's 24th birthday.More Coverage:E3 2019: Two Classic Square Enix RPGs Headed To The WestRomancing SaGa 3 + SaGa Scarlet Grace Ambitions Trailer | Square Enix Press Conference E3 2019Doctor Who: The Edge of Time -- November 12Available on: PS4, PCWhile it is based on the super-popular BBC series, this VR game doesn't actually have you play as the Doctor herself. She's been kidnapped, so it's up to you, her companion, to rescue her. To do that, you'll have to pilot the TARDIS and confront classic Doctor Who bad guys like Daleks and Weeping Angels.More Coverage:Fire Emblem: Three Houses Pre-Order Guide: Special Seasons Of Warfare Edition, Pre-Order BonusFire Emblem: Three Houses Combat Gameplay | E3 2019Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition -- November 14Available on: PCThe PC strategy staple is back, sporting a lovely coat of 4K paint. This remaster also includes new content called "The Last Khans," which adds four new civilizations, bringing the total to a whopping 35. Couple that with three new campaigns, and you've got tons of possible war strategies to devise.More Coverage:E3 2019: Age Of Empires 2: Definitive Edition Gameplay Trailer DebutsMicrosoft's New Age of Empires Studio Won't Develop GamesPokemon Sword & Shield -- November 15Available on: SwitchBy this point, you probably know what you're getting with a Pokemon game, but Sword & Shield are mixing things up. The new Galar Region has its own variants of classic Pokemon like Weezing and Ponyta, plus region-specific evolutions for Farfetch'd and Linoone. Sword & Shield also introduce new giant, kaiju-like monsters called Dynamax Pokemon, some of which can even change form, known as Gigantamax Pokemon.More Coverage:Pokemon Sword And Shield: Here Are The Different Exclusive Pokemon Confirmed For Each VersionPokemon Sword & Shield: Pre-Load On Switch NowStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order -- November 15Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PCIt might sound cliche, but Fallen Order's combat really does feel like the Dark Souls games. In fact, if you die, you'll have to defeat the last enemy you fought to regain your lost XP, a la Bloodborne. It's pretty fitting that this original Star Wars story is challenging, since protagonist Cal Kestis is one of the few surviving Jedi Padawans after Order 66.More Coverage:Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order Pre-Orders Now Available On SteamStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Doesn't Break The Mold, But Could Still Be SatisfyingNovember has more video games to come. Next week, New Releases will take a look at the return of a cult classic with Shenmue 3 and the latest in tactical shooters with Sniper: Ghost Warrior Contracts.Info from Gamespot.com

Rick and Morty's Season 4 premiere "Edge of Tomorty: Rick Die Rickpeat" started the season off on a high note and proved the two-year wait was worth it. If you're as excited as us about the return of Rick and Morty, you will be happy to hear that Adult Swim has partnered with Spencer's for a pretty neat new T-shirt line, the first entry in which is based on Season 4, Episode 1.Edge of Tomorty: Rick Die Repeat T-shirt -- $22 See at Spencer's Spencer's will have a new T-shirt commemorating a moment from every episode through December 15. The first T-shirt's design shows off Holographic Rick, but we won't spoil the actual moment from the episode. Spencer's is currently running a buy one, get one 50% off deal on Rick and Morty merchandise, so you can get the $22 Holographic Rick T-shirt and another Rick and Morty-themed product at a great price right now. Rick and Morty News Rick And Morty Season 4 Episode 1: 23 Easter Eggs And References You Probably Missed Rick And Morty Season 4 Premiere Review - Back To Their Old Tricks The Holographic Rick shirt mirrors one of the recently announced Rick and Morty Funko Pops. Check out Holographic Rick and the other five upcoming Pops, including the limited-edition bloody Teddy Rick and Wasp Rick, who also made a comical appearance in the season premiere.All five of the new Funko Pops are available to pre-order at Entertainment Earth, with orders expecting to ship in December. It'll be interesting to see if more of the above Funko designs wind up on T-shirts at Spencer's in the coming weeks.In the meantime, be sure to check out Rick and Morty Easter eggs from Season 4, Episode 1.h/t ComicBookInfo from Gamespot.com

We're only a few days away from the release of Pokemon Sword and Shield. The Gen 8 Pokemon games arrive on Nintendo Switch this Friday, November 15, and ahead of their launch, The Pokemon Company has shared one final pre-release trailer that gives us another quick look at the titles--as well as a couple of new Pokemon.The trailer, which you can watch below, has only been released in Japanese, but it primarily showcases some of the new Gen 8 Pokemon that have been revealed since Sword and Shield were first announced, such as the Electric-type corgi Yamper and Obstagoon, a Galar-exclusive addition to the Zigzagoon line.Interestingly, the trailer also shows off two as-yet unrevealed Pokemon: the first appears to be made up out of runes, while the second appears to be a Galar-exclusive evolution of Mr. Mime, according to leaks that have been circulating online. You can take a look at the two new Pokemon beneath the trailer below.Beyond the new Pokemon, the trailer also gives us another look at some of the Gym Leaders you'll encounter on your journey across the Galar region, as well as some Pokemon that are capable of Gigantamaxing, such as Charizard and Butterfree. You'll have a chance to add the latter to your team; from November 15 to early January, Gigantamax Butterfree will be more likely to appear in Max Raid Battles. During that same time frame, Sword players will also be more likely to encounter Gigantamax Drednaw, while Shield players will have a better chance of finding Gigantamax Corviknight.Pokemon Sword and Shield release on Nintendo Switch on November 15, and the games will be $10 off at Walmart stores on launch day. Early adopters will also be able to get a few free Pokemon. Those who pick up a game by January 15, 2020 will be able to receive a free Gigantamax-capable Meowth, and players with save data of Let's Go Pikachu or Eevee on their systems will get a free Gigantamax-capable Pikachu or Eevee. You can read more in our Pokemon Sword and Shield pre-order guide. Pokemon Sword And Shield News Pokemon Sword Vs. Shield: Exclusive Pokemon Confirmed For Each Version Pokemon Sword And Shield Pre-Order Guide: Bonuses And Discounts Pokemon Sword & Shield: Here's Every Gen 8 Pokemon Revealed So Far Info from Gamespot.com

Blizzard has been steadily releasing Hearthstone updates and expansions for years, but it's fair to say at this point that the card game, once an explosive and surprise success, is now catering to its most loyal audience. Changes that feel massive within the community, like the recent trend of bringing in special or retired cards between expansions to mix up the meta, haven't done much to reach outside its established player base.It's in this environment that Blizzard has developed and prepared an all-new mode that seems aimed at reaching outside the traditional Hearthstone audience. Hearthstone Battlegrounds is the studio's take on the popular auto-battler genre, all within the familiar framework of the CCG mechanics. But while it could be a familiar and friendly introduction to auto-chess for Hearthstone veterans, it may not reach outside the core audience.Auto-battlers, sometimes referred to as auto-chess, have exploded in popularity over the last year, starting with the advent of the Dota 2 Auto-Chess mod. It's fundamentally a genre that's about investment, as you plan your purchases of armies to take part in automated battles. The strategy takes place entirely in the periods between the actual battle rounds, but the complexity of buying strategies and positioning can be daunting in high-level play.Hearthstone made its name on being an accessible, easy-to-learn collectible card game. The mechanics and UI were all clearly signposted, and after a lifetime of being CCG-curious, I finally found one that gently introduced me to the genre. Years later, the game has become second nature. Mechanics have stacked and built upon themselves, but I've been there since the foundation, and so it all makes sense. Battlegrounds appears primed to do the same for auto-battlers, and like CCGs I've been interested in learning the ropes of the emerging genre.Blizzard has a way of making clear and simple UI and that talent is on full display in Battlegrounds. Even watching the debut presentation at BlizzCon felt daunting, with a messy hodgepodge of keywords and mechanics that I simply had no point of reference for. The in-game experience, on the other hand, is perfectly friendly. After a brief tutorial explaining the rhythm of a match, I felt perfectly equipped to jump into a live game against human opponents.Like any auto-battler, Battlegrounds is a value game, as you buy and sell minions or upgrade your tavern using in-game currency to maximize your strength on the board. Just as Hearthstone capped Mana cost at 10, Battlegrounds keeps the number of coins in play and available tavern upgrades manageably low. You'll never be managing an ebb and flow of more than 10 Gold in any given purchasing round.You're pitted against seven other opponents, each doing the same, and rounds consist of your minions fighting the other side until only one team has any minions left. Whichever side breaks through does damage to the opponent, and then everyone heads back to the store to try it again. This repeats until only one of the eight players remains. This rhythm makes the focus less on play-order or deciding whether to attack an opponent's face as in traditional Hearthstone, and more about minion placement and purchase strategy.For the time being, the meta feels relatively limited. There are 24 heroes to choose from, but most of them have similar powers--namely, some method to buff a particular minion tribe. Those tribes, too, are limited. Right now there are only a handful of minions in the Mech, Beast, Demon, and Murloc tribes, and after a handful of games you'll learn how to maximize your synergy for each. Already there are almost foolproof strategies emerging, especially around Mech synergy. Other heroes encourage aggressive buying and selling, and any hero can be viable--but some are obvious favorites and nerfs seem inevitable.In beta, at least, the Battlegrounds mode doesn't have much of an incentive structure--as opposed to the other non-standard mode, Arena, which requires an entry fee and offers potentially big rewards for great performance. Battlegrounds has no such entry fee, and simply offers you a rank that raises or lowers after each match. Blizzard hasn't detailed if it will offer rewards at all. That makes the mode feel slight, like playing a Tavern Brawl after you've already claimed your weekly reward. Since the heroes don't count as class selections, they're ineligible for daily quest completion too.The reward structure may change after the beta period. At least for now, the experience is slightly enhanced by having purchased packs from the latest expansion (for the beta, this is counted as the upcoming expansion Descent of Dragons). You could get detailed stat tracking, a selection of three heroes instead of two, and emotes depending on the number of packs purchased, but none of these features feel strictly necessary.Ultimately, Battlegrounds did help introduce me to auto-battlers. I feel more capable and prepared to try others with the foundation this one has built. But I can't help but wonder if that experience would be the same for someone less familiar with Hearthstone. The mode introduces a handful of new units that are custom-built for the mode, but for the most part it relies on minions and mechanics that longtime Hearthstone players understand at a glance. If someone entered without that foundation, I'm concerned that trying to read and grasp each unit's information while under strict time constraints could be frustrating. If so, Battlegrounds may be another move that pleasantly caters to the Hearthstone community, without reaching very far outside of it.Info from Gamespot.com