It was another huge year for Nintendo in 2018, with the company's Switch raking in the most sales of any console for the year in the U.S. According to a report from analyst firm The NPD Group, Nintendo helped lead an 8% increase in hardware sales, pushing the overall total to $5.1 billion.Nintendo wasn't the only console maker seeing gains in 2018, though. Analyst Mat Piscatella wrote in NPD's press release on its report that Sony's PlayStation 4, Microsoft's Xbox One, and other plug-n-play devices all saw sales gains in 2018 over where they landed in 2017. NPD did not reveal any sales totals or dollar amounts in its report.The Switch was inarguably the winner in hardware according to NPD, though, especially in December. In 2018, Nintendo made more money on console hardware than any company had since Sony took 2015 with the PS4. Nintendo's December 2018 Switch sales were higher for that month than any year since 2009--the year Nintendo had another huge December with sales of its Wii console.Nintendo's big win was reflected in software sales, as well. It had seven of the 20 top-selling games of 2018, which includes December's Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which came fifth in sales for the year.Another big factor in hardware sales, according to NPD: Fortnite. The firm doesn't track software numbers for the free-to-play game, but Piscatella took to Twitter to remark on Fortnite's impact on the industry.But really, the real story of 2018 is Fortnite. Its impact across Hardware, Accessories and Game Cards cannot be overstated. And even though we don't track Fortnite software in this tracking, its impact on Software overall was absolutely massive and has changed the industry. — Mat Piscatella (@MatPiscatella) January 22, 2019Apparently, Fortnite has players buying lots of new gamepads and headsets. Piscatella wrote in his release that 2018 saw a 33% increase in sales of accessories and game cards in 2018, up to an all-time high of $4.5 billion. "The DualShock 4 Black, Switch Pro Controller and the Xbox One S Wireless Controller White were the three best-selling accessories of 2018 in dollar spend," he wrote, with headsets also contributing.A huge part of that spending took place in December 2018, when consumers spent $1 billion on accessories and game cards--an increase of 29% over December 2017. The big seller in December: the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.NPD also ran down the best-selling software of 2018 and for December, with Red Dead Redemption 2 coming in first for the year.Info from Gamespot.com

Follow its rollout on PC and mobile last month, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds' newest map, Vikendi, has now arrived on consoles. Developer PUBG Corp. has released a new update for the battle royale game on PS4 and Xbox One, bringing the aforementioned snow map to both platforms, along with the Vikendi Survivor Pass and other new content.Vikendi is the fourth map to arrive in PUBG to date. Beyond its snow-covered terrain, its most distinctive feature is its size. Unlike the other maps in the game, Vikendi is 6x6 km large, making it smaller than both Erangel and Miramar, but larger than the 4x4 Sanhok.Vikendi also comes with an exclusive vehicle: the snowmobile. It can seat two players and is better suited to the map's snowy landscape than PUBG's other vehicles, but it doesn't perform as well over other kinds of terrain. PUBG Corp. has also added two new weapons: the Skorpion, which is available on all maps, and the G36C, which only appears on Vikendi.Arriving alongside Vikendi is the Vikendi Survivor Pass. Much like Fortnite's Battle Pass, it gives players a variety of challenges to complete over 10 weeks. Doing these challenges will level the pass up, which in turn will unlock cosmetics and other rewards.Rounding out the update are an assortment of tweaks and fixes for the game on both PS4 and Xbox One. Among other things, PUBG Corp. has revamped the parachute system and made various performance improvements. You can find the full patch notes on the PUBG website.Info from Gamespot.com

Though the Dead or Alive series hasn't reached the same heights as Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter, it's still a fighting game series that's carved out a place for itself alongside the others since its debut nearly 23 years ago. With Dead or Alive 6 slowly approaching its March 1 launch--releasing on PC, PS4, and Xbox One--the developers at Team Ninja plan for the next game to offer more single-player and online content, with the aim that this will attract greater interest for large-scale competitive play.While attending a recent hands-on session for the soon-to-be-released fighter, we talked with game director Yohei Shimbori, who spoke about the lessons learned from the free-to-play experiment with DOA5, and what the series hopes to accomplish in 2019."There's many different kinds of fans for fighting games," said the director. "Some play it for the story, some play it for esports. We saw that when Street Fighter 5 came out, it didn't have a story mode, and there was a lot of controversy around that. Once we saw that, we knew that people really wanted a story mode in their fighting games. There are also a lot of fans who really gravitate to certain characters. We focused more on that in DOA5 and the free-to-play versions, and with the expanded customization in DOA6, we wanted the fans to create their own personal versions of that character."Recently, the game's launch was delayed till March 1, away from its original release on February 15. According to the developers, this was to ensure that the game would be in stable shape for its debut. While the DOA series has had a particular reputation for blending fast, fighting action with characters that leaned heavily into fan-service territory, the developers want the series to be taken more seriously as a contender with DOA6, which they hope will push the franchise further into the spotlight."I'm very proud of how we're able to release this game after DOA5, as there was a pretty long gap when that game launched," Shimbori said. "Also, I'm very happy to see that the esports movement has gotten bigger in recent years. I really want to work with fans to help DOA expand and reach that type of stage. My dream is for the DOA fanbase is for it to grow even larger than from what it is today."For more on Dead or Alive 6, such as the current roster and what to expect from the comprehensive customization options, be sure to check back with GameSpot.Info from Gamespot.com

The main thing I've learned from having a sibling is that you can be polar opposites who bicker endlessly, but when push comes to shove there is nothing you wouldn't do to keep them happy, safe, and protected. This sentiment is the heart and soul of Life is Strange 2 and continues to ground the strong narrative through the second chapter of the Diaz brothers' journey away from their home in Seattle and toward a new one in Puerto Lobos.The second chapter of Life Is Strange 2 begins in the snow-laden Willamette National Forest in Oregon. It is several days after Daniel learned the tragic truth of why they had to flee Seattle, and the ensuing outburst that revealed his telekinetic powers. The brothers are now faced with the reality of managing not only their survival while on the run, but also the nuances of how to handle Daniel's abilities. Sean sets down ground rules for keeping the powers a secret while working with his younger brother to hone them. This supernatural element adds a new dimension to gameplay in that certain situations and objects can be manipulated by Daniel with your say-so.More interesting, however, is the difficult balance you must strike as Sean by either encouraging or discouraging Daniel's use of these powers. Using them may be helpful in certain situations, but there is the danger of being exposed or hurting someone in the process. The tribulations of decision-making in the second episode are far more complex due to this supernatural factor. The options to scare or prank your little brother are almost gone, but in their place you'll have the more difficult choice between keeping him safe and repressing his abilities or allowing him to use his powers--which is sometimes the only way to save others--but potentially put him at risk in the process.In playing the second chapter through multiple times and making different choices, it became clear that there are no options to have Sean behave in a nasty manner because Sean is not a nasty person. While you can make choices for the brothers, they aren't puppets. If you choose to have Sean yell at a loved one, he will likely apologize; you can ask Daniel to do certain things but he won't necessarily obey. This feature can diminish the feeling of ownership over the characters, but the way it bolsters the fundamentals of their characterization and relationships increases your fondness for them and investment in their journey. Choosing to act more dismissively or short-tempered doesn't stop Sean from wanting the best for Daniel, nor does being unhelpful or sacrilegious around conservative family members stop them from loving you or wanting to help you. The decision-making in Life Is Strange 2 isn't as simple as being kind or being callous, and this makes the episode far more interesting and nuanced.Daniel remains as impressionable as he was in the first episode. Swearing in front of him will enable him to do the same, telling him you don't believe in heaven will change his beliefs, and being unkind or unsupportive will make him disinclined to listen to you. This puts a huge weight on the way you choose to conduct yourself and how you treat others in Daniel's presence. The supporting characters in this chapter are less colourful than those in the last episode, and a couple of grungy train-hopping standouts are underutilized. While Sean and Daniel's grandparents are well-written, they aren't as unique or interesting as Episode 1 characters like Brody the travelling blogger or Lyla, Sean's bubbly best friend. As a result they don't contribute to the character development of the brothers in the same meaningful way.Much of the episode is spent in relative comfort, which is a change of pace for the brothers on the run, although the beginning retreads some story beats from the first chapter and as a result they feel less impactful this time around. There are a couple of instances that feel like cheap emotional shots, one of which is related to an Episode 1 choice that ripples out in a dramatic way, yet doesn't feel entirely earned. Even in these cases, however, the stellar performances of Roman George as Daniel and particularly Gonzalo Martin as Sean keep every moment engaging and sympathetic--from the mundanities of playing dice games to coping with heart-wrenching losses.While this episode is bookended by tense, gasp-inducing moments, the plot has a slower pace than the previous episode. It spends time filling in the blanks of the Diaz family tree and answers important logistical questions as to where the brothers can find a safe haven. This chapter also incorporates the story of Captain Spirit, or Chris, who we first met in the standalone game The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit. Chris' character is used as a clever device to display different sides of Sean and Daniel. He enables Daniel to flaunt his childlike creativity, while Sean can earn his trust and serve as a confidant for his troubled home life. The impressive writing from Episode 1 persists, making every conversation feel natural and relatable. This ensures that even the new characters that aren't as unique as those introduced previously still have layers and avoid cliches.This care and attention to detail extends to the environments, which feel genuine and lived-in. The particulars of places and objects also subtly clue you in to the personalities, priorities, and relationships of those they belong to; like kitschy plaques that signpost the interior of rooms in a house, a recycling bin full of beer cans, and a guitar covered in stickers. Underpinning all of this are acoustic folk tracks that punctuate the plot, echoing the feeling of teenage ruminations. The grounded, everyday vibe of the soundtrack helps drive home that Sean and Daniel are still normal teens and makes it easier to understand their mindset.One minor issue is the meta-knowledge that the Diaz brothers are two episodes into a five-episode journey, so you have an acute awareness that no matter how positively things are going, you're never too far from it all unraveling. However, even if you can see where things are going, there's a joy in taking each new step of the adventure and in managing the careful balance between being a guardian and a friend to Daniel. The larger consequences of how you've chosen to guide Daniel are still to come, but the cracks are starting to show and the pressure is heightening. That said, no matter how you leave Daniel and Sean at the end of this chapter, there is the palpable sense of hope, of a new way forward, and of the unconditional love between two brothers.Info from Gamespot.com

Reliving familiar frights can often make for a less-than-exciting horror experience. But with the remake of Resident Evil 2, Capcom shows respect for the original while also going to great lengths to give the macabre atmosphere and tense gameplay a noticeable upgrade. In doing so, this revamp of the classic survival horror game shows that the series can still offer a terrifying experience like no other.You once again play as either Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield. A viral outbreak has unleashed hordes of zombies and other grotesque monsters upon Raccoon City, leading to a series of dangerous and nightmare-inducing encounters for the two characters. While both protagonists' storylines have similar plots and take place in the same locations, there are different supporting characters and unique challenges in each that set the two playthroughs apart.In traditional Resident Evil fashion, you're tasked with surviving through the night and overcoming the nightmarish creatures and devious puzzles found throughout the infested streets of the city, the tight, dimly lit halls of the Police Station, and in the subterranean passages below. RE2 is a great mix of the understated survivalist approach from the original games and the tactile, reflex-oriented gameplay from more recent entries. It's very much a game about escalation; as your resources dwindle and the monsters become fearsome and more elaborate, the pressure is always mounting as the story progresses, and each moment feels just a bit more desperate than the last. Even the smallest of victories can feel like major wins in RE2, and you'll often find yourself onto the next struggle before you know it.While those who played the original game will enter with an idea of what's to come, the remake does a lot to refresh certain encounters and locations. Though many locales and their layouts are similar--save for the addition of a brand-new area and a new monster to deal with--the events therein are new. Jump scares don't trigger when you expect them to, or a room that once spelled certain doom in your head is now a safe haven--but then the question arises: if this room is safe, which room is the real dangerous one?Early Resident Evil games have a reputation for being melodramatic, often unintentionally, but the RE2 remake a more serious tone that makes for a more evocative story. While there is still the undercurrent of the hokey tone from the classics, with the characters cutting the tension with humor when appropriate, the remake's narrative is far more convincing, propped up by some impressive writing and strong performances that help convey urgency and despair. This is especially evident during the more quiet moments, when the protagonists will try to psych themselves up for what's to come. Even minor characters are given additional substance in the remake, with poignant moments given to the doomed police lieutenant Marvin Branagh and gun shop owner Robert Kendo.Both Claire and Leon have two different versions of the campaign, and after finishing the first run for one, you'll be prompted to start a follow-up with the other. Called Second Scenarios, they allow you to see the larger story from a different perspective. Both scenarios are totally isolated from another, and choices therein won't impact the other, but what makes these second runs worthwhile are the different encounters and sub-plots that don't occur in the first. It's a very interesting way to experience the narrative, and with four versions of the campaigns between the two leads--with the first two averaging 12-15 hours--you constantly uncover new details and events that weren't present in the previous playthroughs.Resident Evil 2's more serious tone is further enhanced by the renewed, fantastically atmospheric presentation, which gives familiar details from the classic game more of a pronounced look and feel. Moving away from the static camera angles of the original, everything has been redesigned with over-the-shoulder gameplay in mind, giving more of a palpable and invasive sense of dread when exploring. This is heightened even more by the impeccable audio and visual design of the game, creating an eerie, isolating vibe throughout. In a number of cases, you'll only have the illumination of your flashlight as you walk the dark hallways of the bloody and ruined police station, with the ambient rain and distant monster sounds ramping up the tension. You rarely feel safe in RE2, even when you actually are.The remake's impressive level of detail is consistently noticeable, but especially so during gorey moments. These gruesome encounters channel the same macabre and staccato approach from the classics, but are now honed through the visual luster of modern rendering and animation. As the zombies are the one constant threat throughout, you quickly become accustomed to seeing flesh chip away as you fire off pistol shots, along with watching the undead torn in half by well-placed shotgun blasts. Though RE2 easily proves to be the goriest game of the series, it never comes off as excessive, and the grizzly details all serve to highlight the grim circumstances of the desperate situation.Resident Evil 2's more serious tone is further enhanced by the renewed, fantastically atmospheric presentation...At the beginning, your meager selection of weapons doesn't seem like a match for the game's most intimidating horrors, but there are means available that can give you the upper hand in a lopsided fight. In addition to dismembering enemies with well-aimed shots hindering zombies' speed and offense, you can barricade certain windows to block ravenous undead from entering from outside. While many of these options are simply a temporary solution to a long-term problem, which can make it seem like they're not all that worth taking advantage of, they are helpful in a pinch.While you will no doubt settle into tactics that work well, RE2 throws in some fresh challenges. In one of the game's more tense encounters, you cross paths with the Tyrant, a hulking presence whose footsteps echo throughout the environment. Though it was a serious foe shown in small doses in the original, this imposing force of nature is now more of a persistent threat that actively stalks you during key periods in the story. Simply ducking into another room isn't enough, as it'll quickly follow you in to keep the chase going--similar to the RE3's Nemesis in that regard. If you manage to create enough distance and it loses line of sight, it'll disengage, but will remain lurking throughout the halls. With this dynamic, the Tyrant also makes the common foes you've gotten a handle of become genuine threats once again. As you find yourself trying to stay focused on the stalking figure, it's all too easy to round a corner and run into a group of zombies.Though the Tyrant offers a nerve-wracking surprise during some of these key moments, which makes the feeling of getting the best of it all the more satisfying, there are other times when it can disrupt Resident Evil 2's pacing. This is especially frustrating when you're simply trying to acquire an item or solve a puzzle in a room that the Tyrant and zombies frequent. What should be tense encounters can sometimes become annoying exercises in trying to lure it away, and in some cases it comes off like you're taking advantage of the Tyrant's rather limited AI to do just that. The Tyrant can overstay its welcome, but in most cases, its presence is a constant reminder of the looming threat throughout the game.While RE2 often keeps things serious, it's not all doom and gloom. In addition to occasional references that break the tension, there's also a suite of unlockable content available to the delight of RE fans, including the classic RE2 outfits for both Leon and Claire. After completing the campaign for both characters, you'll unlock a set of bonus modes starring fan-favorites Hunk and Tofu, the later of which is a sentient knife-wielding block of coagulated soy. Both of these extra modes take you on timed gauntlets battling through many intense encounters, with Tofu's mode being the most difficult scenario in the entire game. They also allow for a chance to cut loose against hordes of monsters without the worry of the larger survival-horror mechanics during the main game.Resident Evil 2 is not only a stellar remake of the original, but it's also simply a strong horror game that delivers anxiety-inducing and grotesque situations, topping some of the series' finest entries. But above all, the remake is an impressive game for the fact that it goes all-in on the pure survival horror experience, confidently embracing its horrifying tone and rarely letting up until the story's conclusion. Though Resident Evil 2 has its roots firmly in the past, it reworks the familiar horrors into something that feels brand new and all its own.Info from Gamespot.com

The Iron Banner is in full swing for one more day and the final Forge of The Black Armory has been unlocked, so there still plenty to do in Destiny 2 before the weekly reset. There's also a little more time to see Xur while he hangs around in the solar system, ready to sell to Guardians from his batch of Year One Exotic weapons and armor, before disappearing on Tuesday until next weekend. If you're still chasing Izanagi's Burden and have to wait three more weeks to complete the Dreaming City's Shattered Throne, Xur's offerings might tide you over.You'll find Xur on Io for a few more hours. Head to the Giant's Scar region, then ride your sparrow north to look for a cave in the northwest wall of the area. As is always the case, he's offering three pieces of Exotic armor, one for each class, and an Exotic weapon. While all copies of Exotic guns are identical, it's worth checking out Xur's armor: Each piece of Exotic armor gets random perk roles, which means you might be able to buy a more useful version of something you already have.This week's Exotic weapon is Vigilance Wing, an Exotic pulse rifle that packs a punch. Instead of the usual three-round burst of weapons in the pulse rifle class, Vigilance Wing fires five rounds with each pull of the trigger. It also gets more accurate when you're the last living person on your fireteam, which includes amping up your recovery time to make you a little more likely to survive--which makes it great for Crucible.In the armor department, Hunters can snag the Orpheus Rig boots, which give you more shots in the Moebius Quiver version of the Shadowshot super, and gives you back ability energy for each enemy you tether with your Shadowshot arrows. For Warlocks, it's the Varity's Brow helmet, which is great if you have an energy weapon you particularly like. The helmet restores grenade energy for each energy weapon kill you make, for nearby allies as well as yourself. Finally, Titans get Hallowfire Heart, a chest armor piece that amps up the recharge rate of your solar abilities, especially when your Super is active.Here are all the Exotics Xur offers this week and what they'll cost you:Vigilance Wing (Exotic pulse rifle) -- 29 Legendary ShardsHallowfire Heart (Exotic Titan chest armor) -- 23 Legendary ShardsOrpheus Rig (Exotic Hunter leg armor) -- 23 Legendary ShardsVerity's Brow (Exotic Warlock helmet) -- 23 Legendary ShardsYou can also buy a Fated Engram, if you can afford it. Dropping 97 Legendary Shards on the item will grant you one Year One Exotic you don't already have for that character. Xur also offers the Five of Swords challenge card for free, which allows you to add difficulty modifiers that increase your score in Nightfall runs.The Iron Banner this weekend also means you have something to do while we wait on the next big event of Destiny 2's ongoing content rollout. That's another Exotic weapon quest, known as The Draw, which drops on January 29. If you're hungry for even more Exotics, check out our guide for hunting down Jotunn, one of The Black Armory's best.Info from Gamespot.com

Overwatch has begun teasing its next in-game event, 2019's Lunar New Year. The annual event focuses on Chinese culture and often introduces new skins based on Chinese historical figures or folklore. Blizzard has revealed its first three skins for the upcoming Year of the Pig, with fresh looks for Reaper, Hanzo, and Reinhardt.The skins were rolled out on the official Twitter account. Reaper gets a new look as Lu Bu Reaper. Hanzo grows a mighty beard as Huang Zhong Hanzo. Finally, Reinhardt loses the helmet for Guan Yu Reinhardt. All three are modeled after generals who lived during the Han dynasty, so there's a definite theme to the inclusions so far.Year of the Pig will begin on January 24 and last through February 8. New skins are being debuted daily through Twitter and Facebook. That leaves a few more days for more skin reveals. Some possible contenders include Brigitte, Wrecking Ball, and Ashe, all of which were released after the last Lunar New Year event.Last year's Lunar New Year event was the Year of the Dog, which debuted a host of new skins and a capture-the-flag mode. The most recent Overwatch event focused on Ana and paired with a free skin for the character, right on the heels of the annual Winter Wonderland event.New year, new me.Make your own luck this year as LÜ BU REAPER!Overwatch Lunar New Year begins January 24. pic.twitter.com/jIJc1505Ys — Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) January 19, 2019Marked by the dragon.Snipe down flag runners as HUANG ZHONG HANZO. Overwatch Lunar New Year begins January 24. pic.twitter.com/Zbys5YfWCO — Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) January 20, 2019Respect your elders!Share your wisdom on Capture the Flag traditions as GUAN YU REINHARDT.Overwatch Lunar New Year begins January 24. pic.twitter.com/cHdGpq5sex — Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) January 21, 2019 Info from Gamespot.com

Bandai Namco's Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown debuts at No.2 in the UK games chart, below only New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, which keeps its place atop the physical chart for the week ending January 19. Ace Combat sells better this week than big hitters such as Red Dead Redemption 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, and FIFA 19, which finish at No.3, No.4, and No.5, respectively.The remainder of the chart stays largely unchanged in a week lacking many new releases. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate drops one place to No.6, while it's a good week once again for Activision's platforming remasters as Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and Spyro Reignited Trilogy both manage a top 10 finish.You can read the full top 10 sales chart below, courtesy of UKIE and sales monitor Chart-Track. Note this table does not include digital sales data, and so should not be considered representative of all UK game sales.Ace Combat 7 enjoys "the biggest debut in the long running series' history," according to Chart-Track. It launched last week to a positive critical reception, including an 8/10 from GameSpot."Good aerial combat is important for a game involving jet fighters, but it's a given quality for Ace Combat," wrote Edmond Tran in our Ace Combat 7 review. "Skies Unknown boasts a beautiful photorealistic world, entertaining mission variety, and a reason to get excited about clouds. But most importantly, it carries renewed devotion to the history and stories of its fictional universe, and with that, it brings back the human, emotional center that makes it remarkable. Ace Combat 7 is a fantastic return for a series that is at its best when it wears its heart on its wings."New Super Mario Bros. U DeluxeAce Combat 7: Skies UnknownRed Dead Redemption 2Call of Duty: Black Ops 4FIFA 19Super Smash Bros. UltimateMario Kart 8 DeluxeGrand Theft Auto VCrash Bandicoot N. Sane TrilogySpyro Reignited TrilogyInfo from Gamespot.com

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey is a remake of sorts of the 2009 DS game, this time for the Nintendo 3DS. It's out now in North America, though its release date in Europe isn't until January 25 (January 26 in Australia). The important question, though, is whether the remake is any good.Critical consensus has been positive, with many praising the new mode, Bowser Jr.'s Journey. "The extra mode certainly sweetens the pot for those who owned Bowser's Inside Story on DS, but fundamentally, it's the same game," wrote Justin Clark in GameSpot's Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story review. For more opinions on the 3DS version, take a look below or check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic. Game: Mario + Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s JourneyDeveloper / Publisher: AlphaDream, Arzest / NintendoPlatform: Nintendo 3DSRelease date: Out now (North America), January 25 (Europe), January 26 (North America)Price: US $40 / £35 / AU $60GameSpot -- 8/10"The extra mode certainly sweetens the pot for those who owned Bowser's Inside Story on DS, but fundamentally, it's the same game. If anything, the real drawback is the game coming off as an unnecessary surprise on the 3DS--which can already play the original game via backward compatibility. But the game itself remains one of Mario's RPG best, and it's a cheerful, inventive journey." -- Justin Clark [Full review]Game Informer -- 8.5/10"The updated visuals are attractive and the new mode is interesting--especially if you want to spend more time in that world--but if you played the 2009 original and consider yourself satisfied with that experience, then the incentive to return is small. If you've never played Bowser's Inside Story, this is a fantastic way to experience what is probably the best of the Mario & Luigi games. As a remake, it doesn't drastically change the experience or improve on it in a big way, but that's a testament to the original’s quality more than it is a knock against this version." -- Kyle Hilliard [Full review]Nintendo Life -- 9/10"Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey stands as a well-made remake of a game that was excellent to begin with, polishing up the original in small ways and adding some extra content that meaningfully establishes its own identity. If you've ever been a fan of the Mario & Luigi series (or are looking for a reason to dust off the old 3DS), do yourself a favour and pick this game up. Although Bowser Jr.'s Journey is just an 'okay' addition, the inventive battles, great writing and creative gameplay of the main game make this one an easy recommendation." -- Mitch Vogel [Full review]Kotaku -- No score"I'd love to have gotten a brand new Mario & Luigi game this year, or even a remake that was on Switch instead of the 3DS. Still, a remake of Bowser's Inside Story, one of the best games in the series, is better than none at all. I'm enjoying reliving the high points of the story with the beautiful, upgraded graphics and have found a surprising amount of fun in guiding Bowser Jr. through absurdist misadventures with the rest of Bowser's minions. The Mario universe has become so much bigger in the years since Inside Story was originally released. It's nice to be able to spend time with some of the under-explored characters on a smaller scale." -- Ethan Gach [Full review]Info from Gamespot.com

The DC smash Aquaman is still making serious money in theaters, but the studio's next movie will be with us soon. Shazam! is released in April, and will be a more comedic superhero adventure than most of DC's previous movies. A new teaser containing new footage has now been released.It starts off like many other superhero trailers. Young Billy Batson given incredible powers that transforms him into a full-size adult superhero, enabling him to fight the evil Doctor Sivana. But it quickly changes tone and emphasizes the movie's more humorous aspects, with Shazam attempting to buy beer and purchase a superhero lair from a realtor. Check the trailer out above.Shazam stars Thor actor Zachary Levi in the title role, with Asher Angel as Billy and Mark Strong as Sivana. It's directed by David F. Sandberg and hits theaters on April 5. For more check out, everything we know about Shazam! so far.A big part of the movie is Shazam's distinctive illuminated costume, and in a recent interview, costume designer Leah Butler revealed that the suit came with an extremely high price tag. "Each suit costs, oh boy, upwards of a million? We have ten suits," she said, via SyFy. "There is actually a battery in the back--we luckily had a cape to cover it all up or I don't know where we would have put all that stuff--and it is remotely lit through a switchboard operator. There is wiring throughout the costume. It's a 26-volt AA rechargeable battery. It lasts about two hours at full charge."It took 16 weeks to build the costume. We had to scan Zach's body and start building the costume even before he started his very strict regime--his diet and working out."Shazam! is one of two DC movies arriving in 2019. The Joker prequel movie is released in October, and recently finished production. It stars Joaquin Phoenix as the Clown Prince of Crime, and will reportedly be unconnected to the other movies in the DC universe. Info from Gamespot.com

Marvel has announced a new bi-monthly series from the creator of Deadpool, set to debut this spring. The new series Major X will take place within the X-Men continuity, and he'll clash with popular characters like Wolverine, Storm, and Cable.Comic Book reports that Rob Liefeld will handle the writing and art for the first issue of Major X in April. After that it will be written by Image co-founder Whilce Portacio with art from Teen Titans' Brent Peeples.Major X comes from a different reality, called the "X-istence," which is only populated by mutants. This was a paradise for mutants, but the X-istence was destroyed somehow, and Major X is seeking to bring his home back. Liefeld teases that the book will slowly answer questions about how the X-istence came to be in the first place, and how a portal opened that put Major X into conflict with the rest of the Marvel continuity.Liefeld also said he had the origins of the idea for Major X in 1992, but he held off on the project out of fatigue from other X-Men books and wanting to create more space for new creators to have a voice. He says the mysteriousness of Major X and the slow revelations of his nature is a callback to his favorite character."I still get asked all the time, 'Who's your favorite character?' It's Wolverine," Liefeld said. "It's always been Wolverine. He made me love comics and made me love the X-Men. And the thing about Wolverine also is the mystery. The mystery that they layered him with over multiple years. So with Cable, Deadpool, Domino, X-Force, I felt like I've subscribed to that notion of mystery and reviewing different layers."`Info from Gamespot.com

One of The Division's most notable achievements in 2016 was its rather unorthodox approach to PvP gameplay. Within the center of post-outbreak Manhattan was the Dark Zone, an isolated, untamed space where you could engage in timed events, small skirmishes, and even backstabbing temporary allies. With The Division 2, Ubisoft has some interesting plans for expanding the Dark Zone concept, most of which will have you rethinking how you'll tackle the infamous no man's land.We recently played several hours of the upgraded multiplayer mode, designed by original Rainbow Six developer Red Storm Entertainment. In the first game, the Dark Zone incorporated competitive multiplayer gameplay into the core systems and mechanics of the online world, allowing the agents to seamlessly transition between engagements against AI and other players in the volatile region. The developers refer to this gameplay loop as PvPvE: player-versus-player-versus-environment. While inside the zone, there are many opportunities to acquire powerful loot, but with significantly greater risk tied to it, thanks to tougher enemies and the threat of shady players looking for a chance to steal your loot.Though clever in its design, and offering some fun encounters, the Dark Zone in the original game--even after several updates--was largely dominated by the hardcore playerbase. This gave the setting a reputation for being uninviting for those that weren't used to the steep learning curve and sink-or-swim setup. With this in mind, The Division 2 places a larger emphasis on making the Dark Zones more worthwhile for all players, offering more reasons to stay and explore the new systems at work. Furthermore, the sequel will feature not one, but three separate zones across Washington D.C.--DZ East surrounding Capitol Station, DZ South encompassing the waterfront, and DZ West within Georgetown.Over the course of the campaign, your agent will be tasked to investigate the Dark Zones, allowing you to get your feet wet before things kick off. During our session, we opened the massive door leading into Dark Zone East and established various safe houses throughout the region. The on-boarding process for each Dark Zone also offers up some interesting narrative details, revealing what went wrong in the area and which faction of enemies has taken over. After completing the zone's introductory missions, the core content in the region will unlock, letting you enter skirmishes against AI and other players, or team up with others to secure loot.In another promising change, Dark Zone loot has been significantly overhauled. In the first Division, anything you found in the Dark Zone had to be "extracted" before it could be used. Extractions required you to make a last stand in a certain area to get gear airlifted out while enemies and other players swarmed in to stop you and steal the loot. For the most part, loot found in the zones in The Division 2 won't require extraction and will be free to use upon pickup. However, you'll still find contaminated weapons that will require extraction, but they're now for rarer types of gear. This is big improvement because it not only rewards those who can only invest so much time in the zones, but it also lessens the frustrations found from getting easily sniped by opportunistic players upon extraction.The sequel also does more to balance the initial power dynamics within the zones, normalizing all players' stats to ensure they're on an even playing field. The developers described this change as "fair, but intense," with the expressed purpose of allowing players of varying skill levels to see what they can find in the untamed areas. While this may bother some of the hardcore players, this change makes exploration of the Dark Zones more viable during the initial grind. However, you'll still come across players possessing unique loadouts and skill levels, ensuring most encounters will be unpredictable.One of the more devious aspects of the original Dark Zone was its Rogue gameplay system. At any point, players could choose to turn on one another and steal their loot before it reached extraction. While this was intended to be a strategic choice within the first game, it more often than not resulted in severe griefing from high-level players. In The Division 2, the Rogue system has gone through an overhaul, redesigning the general loop to offer more options outside of the strictly PvP design from the last game.To put it simply, Rogue status activates when you decide to get greedy. Throughout the zones are loot caches and special events that tie into the Rogue loop. If you decide to break into a locked loot chest, as opposed to using a Dark Zone key, then you'll immediately become Rogue for a limited time, momentarily placing you on the map for others to see. Even looting dead players will briefly turn you Rogue. While you may want to keep a low profile and wait for things to die down, special events will open up for Rogue players, allowing you rack up credits and resources, which can be turned in to unique vendors hiding out in the Dark Zone.Potentially, you could reach the upper Rogue tiers without engaging in combat. The more Rogue actions and events you take on, the better the rewards and the higher your status will become. If enough time passes, you'll eventually become a main target for others, opening up a manhunt within the zone. In our session, some of the most intense moments came from when we were Rogue, which meant we were constantly looking over our shoulders to make sure we weren't being followed by other players looking to take us down. With more incentive to enter Rogue status outside of general PvP hijinks, there could be some potentially challenging scenarios for players to tackle--especially for those who aim to stealth through the Dark Zone.With that said, getting a handle on the new Rogue mechanics sometimes resulted in cumbersome and awkward moments. While it's easy to go Rogue, simply by engaging in nefarious actions or simply activating it with the press of a button, the system itself can feel a bit too nebulous. A big issue we came across was that it was difficult, trying to get a sense of when you could actually target other players, or if they could target you. Likely intended as a safe-guard against griefing, you can only fire upon other players if they share Rogue status. So if you see another Rogue player in the wild, and you're not of similar status, you'll need to enable it to engage.As it stands, this approach can create a minor disconnect from the overall pacing and dynamic systems in the Dark Zone. In one case during a Rogue mission, we found ourselves trading bullets with another group, only for the fight to abruptly come to an end once we found out another player turned in a quest--which immediately disabled the Rogue status for all of us in mid-fight. Having said that, the developers are still tweaking aspects of the design, so the final game may see a change.At first glance, many of these changes seem to lessen the risk and ensuing dread that was synonymous with the Dark Zone. While that's certainly true to an extent, it also serves as a sampling for what's to come during the end-game. After the campaign's completion, one zone will become a contested area, and this will switch to a different location each week. Essentially a hardcore version of the Dark Zone, level and gear balancing will be disabled, player status is neutral by default, and friendly fire will be active at all times. With these changes, the contested Dark Zones could become some of the most chaotic and unpredictable areas the series has seen yet.While the Dark Zone is still the main attraction for The Division 2's competitive gameplay, the developers have also added in an additional layer that exists outside of the PvPvE loop. Picking up from the previous game's 1.8 update that brought in 4v4 PvP, The Division 2 will also have traditional competitive multiplayer modes. Known as Conflict, this organized form of PvP will allow players to take part in standard team deathmatch and domination game types against others--with all their levels normalized. Conflict will also feature unique stat-tracking and rewards exclusive to the mode, including new cosmetics. However, at launch there will only be three maps and two game types, which quickly became repetitive during our hands-on. The developers were clear in stating that more competitive offerings will come during post-launch, which they aim to keep supporting for the long term.The Division 2 felt very familiar to the original game, and that's OK. As it stands, the original game had a pretty spectacular post-launch period, and seeing that the sequel aims to keep that second wind going is reassuring. While some of the new innovations and changes in the sequel still need some work, it is interesting to see that its developers are trying to rethink the various elements of the competitive multiplayer, and how it can all coalesce within the online world. If you want to get some hands-on time with The Division 2 yourself, Ubisoft recently revealed plans for the upcoming private beta, which you can register for now on their site.Info from Gamespot.com

Studio MDHR released one of 2018's best games in Cuphead, and there is an expansion coming in 2019, but what'll the studio make after that? The outfit has yet to officially announce its next project, but now producer and artist Maja Moldenhauer has offered a cryptic tease.She said in a new Red Bull video feature, "I'm just really loving what we do. And the ideas we have for the next game are pretty epic." The entire feature is fantastic, and it offers a nice look behind the scenes of how Cuphead came to be and the studio culture surrounding it.Back in June, Moldenhauer told Gamereactor that Studio MDHR's next game will likely retain Cuphead's hand-drawn, 2D-style, but "the genre, the era, [and] the gameplay" may change. Cuphead is known for being very difficult, but Moldenhauer acknowledged that Studio MDHR's next title might be "different and refreshing" as it relates to difficulty.Cuphead's expansion, The Delicious Last Course, is set to arrive sometime in 2019. It introduces a new character, Ms. Chalice, as well as more weapons and bosses. You can watch the announcement trailer in the video embed above.Studio MDHR apparently started work on Cuphead in 2013, and it wasn't until a while later that Microsoft announced it would be involved as a publishing partner. Whether or not Microsoft continues its relationship with Studio MDHR going forward remains to be seen.What would you like to see Studio MDHR make next? Let us know in the comments below!Info from Gamespot.com

Last week the surprise news emerged that there is a new Ghostbusters movie on the way, which will be released in 2020. The film will be directed by Jason Reitman, son of Ivan Reitman, who helmed the 1984 original. The first teaser was also revealed. However, there's one star connected with the Ghostbusters franchise who is not happy with this news.Leslie Jones, who starred in the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot, took to Twitter to express her displeasure over the new movie. Jones appeared alongside Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, and Kate McKinnon in the reboot, which was directed by Bridesmaid's Paul Feig. However, it was a commercial disappointment and plans for a sequel were cancelled.In her tweet, Jones made it quite clear that she was not happy with the decision not to continue with an all-female Ghostbusters crew. She also described it as "like something Trump would do." Check it out below:So insulting. Like fuck us. We dint count. It’s like something trump would do. (Trump voice)”Gonna redo ghostbusteeeeers, better with men, will be huge. Those women ain’t ghostbusteeeeers” ugh so annoying. Such a dick move. And I don’t give fuck I’m saying something!! — Leslie Jones 🦋 (@Lesdoggg) January 19, 2019No official announcement has been made about the cast of the new movie. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Reitman is looking to cast four teens in the lead, specifically two boys and two girls. The site also states that the young stars will team up with the remaining members of the original cast--Dan Akyroyd, Bill Murray, and Ernie Hudson. All three actors also had cameos in the 2016 reboot.There were initially plans to make a sequel to the reboot. However, the movie ultimately lost money, and within a few months of release Feig admitted that he would be "very surprised" if another movie with that cast happened.Nevertheless, Reitman was supportive of the reboot when the new one was announced. He told Entertainment Weekly that he would "love to see more stories from [the 2016 cast]," even though his new film "will follow the trajectory of the original film."Info from Gamespot.com

In 2017, entrepreneur Billy McFarland attempted to put on a fantastical music festival in the Bahamas called the Fyre Festival. This elitist and very expensive event ended up being a total disaster. Now, both Netflix and Hulu have competing documentaries about this moment in history, but which one should you watch?Both of these movies pretty much come to the same conclusion, that event coordinator Billy McFarland is a functioning sociopath, compulsive liar, and a modern-day snake oil salesman. However, how both these films come to that conclusion is very different.Netflix's Fyre and Hulu's Fyre Fraud recount the events leading up to the Fyre Festival and how it all came together, which was way too quickly and without any experienced leader running it all. From having to switch the island where it was going to be held, to FEMA tents being used instead of villas, to the bands dropping out the last minute, it is the story of someone who desperately wants to be something he is ultimately not, a tech billionaire.Fyre, Netflix's documentary about the event, has a bit more of a mature take on the events and presents them as seriously as possible. This is one of director Chris Smith's best documentaries, which is saying quite a lot as he also directed 2017's Jim and Andy: The Great Beyond for Netflix and 1999's cult classic American Movie. The story is delivered as more of a mystery, asking the audience, "What went wrong?" It's apparent, from the get-go, that the problem was lack of planning and trying to rush out a product--which rests squarely on the shoulders of Billy McFarland.The subjects being interviewed for the piece are those who worked on the festival, from the ones who set up the stages and "sleeping" areas to those involved in the planning of the event. As the movie progresses, it becomes clear that it's nothing short of a "clusterf***," with McFarland's response to most problems being something along the lines of, "think positive and it will all work out." It doesn't.Fyre feels like a smashing success as it is a wonderfully engrossing movie from start to finish. It is essentially a rollercoaster ride of a story, for those who are only semi-familiar with what happened at the event.Over at Hulu, Fyre Fraud almost has a comedic bent to the entire piece, especially with the musical cues transitioning between each scene, which is hard to take in when the thesis for the film is that Fyre Media founder Billy McFarland was knowingly defrauding everyone around him. Fyre Fraud lets the audience know that everything about this festival was a part of the malicious intent that McFarland had. It's clearly a leap away from what Netflix's Fyre.It feels as though Fyre Fraud is geared much more to a younger audience, yet at the same time, a chunk of an early portion of the movie focuses heavily on what "celebrity influencers" and "social media" are, so choices like that are a bit bizarre. Additionally, the movie jumps around quite a bit in the Fyre Festival timeline.Fyre Fraud is much more about a Cliffsnotes version behind-the-scenes before and after the event--including from people that attended the event--but the one thing Hulu's documentary has over Netflix's is interviews with Billy McFarland. However, it's not as in-depth as you may hope for. There are even portions left in the movie where McFarland states he refuses to answer questions or simply says, "I don't know." However, the McFarland interviews alone make it worth your while to watch Fyre Fraud. Additionally, the Hulu documentary makes it a point mention that Jerry Media produced the Netflix documentary, and Jerry Media who were behind the social media marketing for Fyre Fest, and needless to say, Fyre Fraud is not kind to Jerry Media, while Netflix's documentary tends to paint them in a much better light.So if you can only watch one of these movies, which one do you choose? Even knowing the fact that Jerry Media had a hand in it, Netflix's Fyre is the way to go. It's not as malicious right off the bat when it comes to the way it represents its subjects--or millenials as a whole--and Smith finds probably the best way to tell this story without getting too in-depth with McFarland's life. However, both movies present different sides of the same story. Fyre Fraud gives the audience more insight into McFarland's life, which the Netflix doc doesn't. So make sure to check out both of the movies, but make sure to watch Netflix's first, as it's the better one. Info from Gamespot.com