There's an important milestone in every adult's life when they realize that their parents aren't just monolithic figures known only as Mom and/or Dad, but people in their own right who have hopes, dreams, thoughts, and desires that have nothing to do with their children. That’s not exactly new territory in other art, but it's a rarity in games. In the few that do explore that idea, it's usually Dad who gets the attention. That makes Dontnod's Tell Me Why a fascinating anomaly right off the bat. It is, without question, a shattered portrait of a single mother, pieced back together by those who knew her best. The framework of the game screams narrative murder-mystery, but the game takes a Knives Out approach to that; the question of who killed Mary-Ann Ronan is answered by the end of the first episode. Why she died is a far more complex question, and the answers depending on unreliable, traumatic memories throws another wrench into the mix.The memories in question mostly belong to Mary-Ann's twin children, Tyler and Alyson. The facts from the start are these: Mary-Ann and her kids live in a tiny middle-of-nowhere town in Alaska called Delos Crossing. The family is poor, relying on handouts from other folks in town, while all the entertainment comes from either nature itself or Mary-Ann's fantastical imagination teaching her kids how to tell stories with and to each other. Over time, however, Mary-Ann's mental health deteriorates, culminating in a fateful night where Mary-Ann suffers some sort of mental break and attacks Tyler, who is later accused of killing her in self-defense. Tyler is sent away to live in a group home, while Alyson is taken in by a family friend, a cop named Eddy. Fifteen years later, Tyler and Alyson finally reunite to go back to their old house and clear it out to be sold, only to unearth some harrowing truths about their mother and their hometown--and everyone's roles in how Mary-Ann died.There are quite a few mysteries to be unraveled in Tell Me Why, but calling Tell Me Why a mystery suggests the game is more action-packed, twisty, and turny than it actually is. It's actually closer in tone and mechanics to Fullbright's Gone Home than Dontnod's own Life Is Strange. There’s still quite a lot of Life Is Strange in this game’s blood, though. Most of Tell Me Why involves simply walking around, pressing A when you come close to anything highlighted to hear characters expound on a particular object and continue the story, making dialogue choices for characters along the way. The developers' design ethos is familiar, they're excellent at making towns and communities that are awash in detail, places that feel rich, lived-in, and full of history and culture. That's particularly special in Tell Me Why, given the cultures represented here that are rarely if ever presented with this kind of TLC, if they've ever been presented at all. In particular, the way the indigenous Tlingit tribe is simply woven into the fabric of Delos Crossing, and doesn’t call out to itself as exotic or foreign is just excellent. There’s much to be said about the existence of The Other being portrayed not as a strange curiosity, but a fact of life in a narrative.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Stop me if you've heard this one before: Lady Love Dies, the "investigation freak" of Paradise, has been brought out of her 3-million-day exile for the end of the island's 24th cycle, her tryst with a demon forgiven in exchange for her solving the murder of the Council that, until last night, oversaw everything. Their eternal quest to summon the gods has been undone by what might or might not be a vast conspiracy, and a clear suspect has emerged: a demon-possessed slave citizen with a history of crime and a stomach full of Council blood. It's up to you to uncover the truth of what happened--or, at least, a version of events that you're satisfied with, one that's close enough to the truth--and pass judgment at trial, so that Paradise can end and the next cycle can begin.Paradise Killer is a detective game like no other, an excellent, bizarre, and utterly singular take on the adventure game. It lets you loose on its island setting, leaving it up to you the order in which you question potential witnesses, where you'll explore, and just how much you'll uncover. Structurally, it's reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild--it's got that same freewheeling sense of adventure, where every mountain peak has allure, and every fresh new discovery feels earned. You can start the final trial at any time and lay out your evidence, solving the island's numerous mysteries and sentencing the accused to death. It's possible to return to the judge with very little evidence and only a thin understanding of what happened, or you can really do a thorough examination of the island and its remaining inhabitants. Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

The Mandalorian is set to return in October. It has been announced that Season 2 of the acclaimed Star Wars TV show will start streaming on Disney+ from Friday, October 30.The news was confirmed by Disney+ in a new tweet. We've yet to see any footage or images from the new season, and the tweet only displays the shows's familiar logo. But is exciting to think the new season is only a few weeks away. Check it out below.This is the day. New episodes start streaming Oct. 30 on #DisneyPlus. #TheMandalorian pic.twitter.com/HFQSGipZAq — Disney+ (@disneyplus) September 2, 2020While many upcoming shows have been delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, production on The Mandalorian Season 2 was already complete by the time much of Hollywood shut down in March. Jon Favreau returns as showrunner, with Pedro Pascal back in the title role. Other returning cast members include Gina Carano (Cara Dune), Carl Weathers (Greef), and Giancarlo Esposito (Moff Gideon).Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Undead shooter Zombie Army 4: Dead War has two more seasons of content on the way. Developer Rebellion announced the news in its latest Development Update, outlining a rough plan for the next year's worth of undead Nazi slaying.The game's second season--which is being developed in collaboration with Flix Interactive--will kick off later this year on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Stadia. Season three is due to follow sometime in 2021, and both seasons will feature new campaign missions, character skins, weapons, and more, including both free and premium content.Rebellion isn't done with season one yet either. A free horde map titled Zoo is available to download now, while you can also purchase a crossbow pistol bundle separately or as part of the game's season pass.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Working from home is the new normal due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, but thanks to advances in internet technology and software that bridges the gap between people, communication is easier than ever before. Conferencing programs such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom have risen up to become some of the most popular software that allows for large groups of people to chat to each other from the comfort of their own home, but it can be boring seeing the same setting behind you in each call.That's not too much of a problem though, as those programs do allow for users to create a virtual background that can be used to liven up their surroundings. Sony has thrown its hat into the ring, and has released a collection of background images from several of its first-party games including Sucker Punch's Ghost of Tsushima, Naughty Dog's The Last of Us, and plenty more.Plus, they make for some soothing PC desktop wallpapers as well, in case you're looking for a change of pace. You can click on any of the images below to get them in their full resolution and convince your co-workers that you've just landed in feudal Japan or escaped the planet to join Ratchet and Clank in their next adventure.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Super Punch Patrol is the latest game from Gunman Clive creator Bertil Hörberg. The Swedish designer is known for taking retro video game experiences and imbuing them with modern touches, particularly when it comes to their unique art design, and Super Punch Patrol is no exception.With a title that immediately invokes the SNES generation, it's no surprise that Hörberg's latest mirrors the classic beat 'em ups of that era. The premise is a familiar one for the genre, too. Set in the far-flung future of 202X, crime and violence dominate the streets of Gravy City as an evil crime syndicate called E.C.S. rules the city and controls much of the government and police force, with only a handful of officers unsullied by corruption. Police Chief Anders Punch and two of his most trusted officers, Nils and Selma Snyting, take matters into their own hands and set out to defeat the evil syndicate using only their fists.Playing as police officers with the sole task of beating up people on the street isn't the most appealing idea in the current climate, but putting real-world issues aside, there's no denying that Super Punch Patrol's sketch-like art style is stunning to look at. The game features three playable characters and can also be played in two-player local co-op. Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Developer Double Damage Games has announced that Rebel Galaxy Outlaw is launching on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Steam on September 22. The action-packed space combat sim was previously an Epic Games Store exclusive, but it's now making its way to other platforms.If you were unaware, Rebel Galaxy Outlaw is a prequel to 2015's Rebel Galaxy. While the first game cast you as the commander of a powerful star destroyer with combat akin to Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag's naval skirmishes, Outlaw drops you straight into the cockpit of a nimble spaceship piloted by outlaw and smuggler, Juno Markev.There's a full single-player story campaign for you to play through, but you're also free to tread off the beaten path to meet and befriend a cast of sketchy characters, gamble some of your hard-earned cash and equipment at the local watering hole, or simply cruise around the vastness of space listening to over 21 hours of Subspace Radio.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

The PlayStation Store's latest sale focuses on AAA games, including a bunch of exclusives for discounted prices such as The Last of Us Part II, Dreams, and Persona 5 Royal. The Essential Picks Sale is live now and runs through September 16. You also still have another week to shop the Hidden Gems Sale, so between the two, you can grab both must-play hits and some games that might have flown a tad under the radar.The Last of Us Part II is discounted to $50, which is the first major discount we've seen on the stunning PS4 exclusive. If you prefer a physical edition, it's also on sale for the same price at major retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, and GameStop. Dreams, another 2020 PS4 exclusive, is discounted to $30 during the sale, and Persona 5 Royal is $39.Several PS4 exclusives from the past few years are featured in the sale, too. Death Stranding is slashed to $30, God of War is $15, and Marvel's Spider-Man: Game of the Year edition is down to $20. It's a great time to play Insomniac's wonderful take on Spidey, as Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales is set to release this holiday on PlayStation 5.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

The Star Wars franchise is iconic. It's made billions of dollars at the box office globally and has been a dominant force in mainstream pop culture since A New Hope's debut in 1977. However, throughout its time in the spotlight, the series hasn't treated its characters of color--and the actors that play them--exceptionally well.In an interview at GQ with John Boyega, who played Finn in Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker, the actor and activist spoke out about his treatment while working on the films because of his race. "I'm the only cast member who had their own unique experience of that franchise based on their race," Boyega said. "Let's just leave it like that. It makes you angry with a process like that. It makes you much more militant; it changes you. Because you realise, 'I got given this opportunity but I’m in an industry that wasn't even ready for me.' Nobody else in the cast had people saying they were going to boycott the movie because [they were in it]. Nobody else had the uproar and death threats sent to their Instagram DMs and social media, saying, 'Black this and black that and you shouldn't be a Stormtrooper.' Nobody else had that experience. But yet people are surprised that I'm this way. That's my frustration."If you can’t read the full article pls pls let your top lip and bottom lip become one. ❤️ — John Boyega (@JohnBoyega) September 2, 2020His concerns about the vocal and racist subset of Star Wars fandom are also visible in the experiences of The Last Jedi star Kelly Marie Tran, who left Instagram, after receiving online abuse in the wake of the film's release. She wrote a piece for the New York Times titled "I Won't Be Marginalized by Online Harassment" delving into her experience of being a woman of color.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

This episode of New Releases is taking a look at some of the biggest games launching in September. The new month starts off with a bang, with the action-packed Marvel's Avengers, the amped-up NBA 2K21, and the trick-filled Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 all dropping on the same day. There are also two big re-releases on the horizon: Crysis Remastered and Mafia: Definitive Edition.Marvel's Avengers -- September 4Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC, StadiaAs you'd expect, Avengers lets you team up with friends to take on threats together. There's a whole squad of superheroes to choose from, including Iron Man, Black Widow, The Hulk, and more. Of course, each hero has their own set of powers and abilities, and you can rank them up by collecting loot and filling out skill trees.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Fall Guys is getting a new obstacle in some of its current mini-games. A giant hammer the studio calls "Big Yeetus" will "randomly appear" in several levels to throw the little bean characters across the map.I've got a SPICY LEAK for you allWe're working on a little something that we have been calling...B I G Y E E T U SBig Yeetus will randomly appear in levels - to shake things upBig Yeetus is Chaotic NeutralBig Yeetus is not your friendBig Yeetus is not your enemy pic.twitter.com/nIBBKcf5qM — Fall Guys 👑 (@FallGuysGame) September 2, 2020Mediatonic tweeted out the news on September 2, although the studio didn't say when the hammer would be live in the game. The studio included a short gif of a player getting thrown across the Dizzying Heights map--all the way to the finish line. I'm sure most encounters with Big Yeetus won't be as generous.Fruit appeared to be getting shot out of the cannons on the Dizzying Heights map in the gif as well. Usually nothing but balls come out of those cannons, suggesting Mediatonic is making other changes to the game without saying much.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Welcome to Blumhouse is a new collection of horror movies from the producers of such scary hits as Get Out, the Purge series, and the most recent Halloween film. It brings together eight new films, four of which are set to hit Amazon Prime Video next month. The first trailer has now been released.The trailer provides a look the four movies--Black Box, Evil Eye, The Lie, and Nocturne. All four are quickly intercut throughout the trailer's short running time so it's hard to get a sense of the stories, but it looks like an intriguing mix of supernatural scares and more psychological terror. Check it out below:Blumhouse previously provided synopsis for the four movies, which you can read below. The final four films under the Welcome to Blumhouse banner have not been revealed yet, but they will be released sometime in 2021.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Developer Massive Entertainment rolled out an update for The Division 2 on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One that makes some minor adjustments. The full patch notes are outlined below.The latest patch makes three particular adjustments to The Division 2. The first pertains to issues with sniper turrets and irons out problems that cause inconsistencies while aiming and shooting. Additionally, the update addresses issues with checkpoints not working during the Tidal Basin Heroic boss encounter and adds Season 2 level skips to purchase from the in-game store so players can advance through The Division 2's battle pass-like progression system.In other The Division 2 news, a release date for Title Update 11 has still not been announced. However, Massive Entertainment outlined some of what players can expect when it drops. One such feature is gear appearance customization in the form of Transmogrification, which allows you to alter the look of any gear--except for Exotics, of course.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

Marquee first-party games don't usually get discounts until long after release, but PS4 users can now snag The Last of Us Part II at a great price, thanks to its first major markdown since launch. You can buy The Last of Us Part II for $50 from Amazon. The deal is also available through Best Buy and GameStop--if you're a PowerUp Rewards Pro member, you can get it for $45 from GameStop today only.It's unclear how long this deal will last for, so you'll want to order as soon as possible if you're interested. All retailers offer free shipping and can arrive by the end of the week--though you'll need Prime for two-day shipping if you're buying from Amazon. Best Buy and GameStop also offer in-store pickup if you'd rather grab it in person. The Last of Us Part II (PS4) $50 (was $60) See at Amazon See at Best Buy The story from the first game continues in The Last of Us Part II, as we follow Ellie and her partner Dina on their hunt to find a group of survivors that have wronged them. It's a dark story about revenge and anger, but it's also about companionship and what we'd do for those we love. The combat is also very tense and quite violent, so if you're into stealth action, you'll likely enjoy it.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com

We all know Avatar: The Last Airbender's opening credits. The four elements--air, earth, fire, and water--come together to retain the balance between their respective kingdoms before the Fire Nation attacks. It's an iconic intro, one that has been recreated multiple times over. As cliche as it might seem to use Pokemon to replace the elemental benders of the story, an animator took the obvious and made it adorable in this recreation.An animator named Kay took the Avatar intro and smashed four Pokemon in the place of the benders. This premise had been something Kay thought about for over 10 years and was "a long time coming." In the delightful recreation, the four elements are replaced by Charmander, Pidgey, Sandshrew, and Squirtle. What we get is a fluid, if short, animation showcasing the devastating power of these four pre-evolutions. Check it out below.It's been a long time coming, but I'm super stoked to share this final version with you all! This was an idea I had over 10 years ago and it makes me so happy to finally see it brought to life!💦🌍🔥💨I'd love to get the final version spread around so RTs super appreciated!! pic.twitter.com/SWvT9pX1dK — K. 💙 (@OhKayArt) September 1, 2020Earlier this year, Netflix gained the streaming rights to the Avatar franchise. You can stream both The Last Airbender and its sequel series, The Legend of Korra, on the streaming platform right now. A live-action adaptation that was announced by Netflix back in September 2018 has stalled after the show's creators, Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino, quit the production due to creative differences.Continue Reading at GameSpotInfo from Gamespot.com