Returnal Doesn’t Let You Save During Its (Very Long) Runs
Returnal is a very good game. Our review, which went up earlier today, called its moment-to-moment gameplay "sublime." It's currently sitting at 86 on Metacritic, which isn't too shabby for a brand new series.
But as reviewer Mitchell Saltzman also noted, it has one particular sticking point — its runs are very long, and there's no way to save in the middle of them. "That saps the desire to immediately return and try again after a failure, though not enough to grind it to a halt," Saltzman writes.
This has sparked some discourse on Twitter as fans and reviewers alike weigh in on the decision to omit a midgame save. Defenders are saying that Returnal is a roguelite, and being able to save in the middle of a run is anthithetical to the genre. Detractors, meanwhile, note that runs in Hades frequently take only about 40 minutes, as opposed to the two to three hours that it can take to finish off a Returnal playthrough. Its scale is what makes it unique, as it's one of the first real examples of a so-called "triple-A roguelite." This makes it a unique experiment in the genre, but its size also works against it. Ultimately, Housemarque also doesn't necessarily need to introduce a situation where players can save scum their way through a run. A quick save system is probably sufficient. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/29/returnal-review"]I am VERY excited for Returnal but reading that the average run can last 90+ minutes and there is no way to save midway (aside from Rest Mode) makes me really wish that PS5 had Xbox's Quick Resume feature.
I'll work around it, of course, since the game looks awesome! But still. — Brian Altano (@agentbizzle) April 29, 2021
No Plans for New Feature in Day One Patch
In preparation for tomorrow's launch, Sony has released a Day One patch that introduces a smattering of improvements across the board. Quicksave is not part of the planned update. We reached out to Sony for an official comment. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-playstation-first-party-exclusive-review&captions=true"] Until Housemarque changes its mind, you'll just have to carve out a significant chunk of time to play Returnal. Think of it as a throwback to the days when you'd leave your NES running overnight because you were in the middle of a Super Mario Bros. 3 run and you didn't have a save feature. Only in this instance, you're putting your PS5 into sleep mode and hoping that it doesn't decide to push a new firmware update while you're away. Or worse. All that aside, Returnal seems like a very cool mix of roguelite design and Housemarque's trademark twitch gameplay. Fans will get to experience PS5's latest exclusive when it arrives April 30. Correction: Hades employs an automatic quicksave feature. The article has been updated to reflect this. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN.Returnal Doesn’t Let You Save During Its (Very Long) Runs
Returnal is a very good game. Our review, which went up earlier today, called its moment-to-moment gameplay "sublime." It's currently sitting at 86 on Metacritic, which isn't too shabby for a brand new series.
But as reviewer Mitchell Saltzman also noted, it has one particular sticking point — its runs are very long, and there's no way to save in the middle of them. "That saps the desire to immediately return and try again after a failure, though not enough to grind it to a halt," Saltzman writes.
This has sparked some discourse on Twitter as fans and reviewers alike weigh in on the decision to omit a midgame save. Defenders are saying that Returnal is a roguelite, and being able to save in the middle of a run is anthithetical to the genre. Besides, Hades doesn't have a save, so what's the big deal? Detractors, meanwhile, note that runs in Hades frequently take only about 40 minutes, as opposed to the two to three hours that it can take to finish off a Returnal playthrough. Its scale is what makes it unique, as it's one of the first real examples of a so-called "triple-A roguelite." This makes it a unique experiment in the genre, but its size also works against it. Ultimately, Housemarque also doesn't necessarily need to introduce a situation where players can save scum there way through a run. A quick save system is probably sufficient. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/29/returnal-review"]I am VERY excited for Returnal but reading that the average run can last 90+ minutes and there is no way to save midway (aside from Rest Mode) makes me really wish that PS5 had Xbox's Quick Resume feature.
I'll work around it, of course, since the game looks awesome! But still. — Brian Altano (@agentbizzle) April 29, 2021
No Plans for New Feature in Day One Patch
In preparation for tomorrow's launch, Sony has released a Day One patch that introduces a smattering of improvements across the board. Quicksave is not part of the planned update. We reached out to Sony for an official comment. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-playstation-first-party-exclusive-review&captions=true"] Until Housemarque changes its mind, you'll just have to carve out a significant chunk of time to play Returnal. Think of it as a throwback to the days when you'd leave your NES running overnight because you were in the middle of a Super Mario Bros. 3 run and you didn't have a save feature. Only in this instance, you're putting your PS5 into sleep mode and hoping that it doesn't decide to push a new firmware update while you're away. Or worse. All that aside, Returnal seems like a very cool mix of roguelite design and Housemarque's trademark twitch gameplay. Fans will get to experience PS5's latest exclusive when it arrives April 30. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN.Hot Toys Reveals Scarily Realistic Sam Wilson Captain America Figure
Warning: this article contains some spoilers for the finale of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Be sure to check out IGN's full series review:
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/the-falcon-and-the-winter-soldier-series-review"]
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson is presumably the star of the upcoming Captain America 4, but there's one problem. Hot Toys has clearly kidnapped Mackie and blasted him with a shrink ray. That's the only explanation for the company's eerily lifelike new Captain America figure.
Hot Toys has just unveiled the latest figure in their ongoing MCU line, featuring Sam Wilson in his new Cap suit introduced in the season finale. Needless to say, this 1:6 scale figure looks just like the real deal. Get a closer look at the new Cap, along with the previously announced Winter Soldier figure, in the slideshow gallery below:
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-falcon-and-the-winter-soldier-hot-toys-figures-revealed&captions=true"]
In addition to featuring a very detailed likeness of Mackie, this 12-inch Cap figure boasts a detailed recreation of his new suit, complete with posable wings that unfold to a maximum width of 31.4 inches. The figure also comes with accessories like the obligatory shield, interchangeable hands and a Redwing figurine. The included base has a flight stand that allows you to pose both Cap and Redwing in midair.
This Captain America figure is priced at $375. It's currently available to preorder through Sideshow, with a projected release window of July-September 2022. The Winter Soldier figure is priced at $250 and is also expected to hit in that July-September window.
This new Captain America figure is just the latest in a growing lineup of Hot Toys releases based on Marvel's Disney+ shows. Recently the company revealed new Scarlet Witch and Vision figures based on the duo's appearance in WandaVision.
It remains to be seen if Hot Toys will tackle any other characters from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, such as Baron Zemo or John Walker in either his Captain America or US Agent costumes. We'll also have to see if Hot Toys has plans for Sam's previous Falcon costume. It does seem safe to expect at least one figure from the upcoming Loki series, given how often Tom Hiddleston's character has appeared in Hot Toys form over the years.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/29/marvel-studios-assembled-the-making-of-the-falcon-and-the-winter-soldier-official-trailer"]
Will you be forking over the $375 to own your own miniature Anthony Mackie? Let us know in the comments below.
IGN recently had the opportunity to speak with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier showrunner Malcolm Spellman, where he discussed whether justice was served with John Walker's character arc, why Sharon Carter had such a shocking turn and the decision to include Madripoor in the series.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
Hot Toys Reveals Scarily Realistic Sam Wilson Captain America Figure
Warning: this article contains some spoilers for the finale of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Be sure to check out IGN's full series review:
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/the-falcon-and-the-winter-soldier-series-review"]
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson is presumably the star of the upcoming Captain America 4, but there's one problem. Hot Toys has clearly kidnapped Mackie and blasted him with a shrink ray. That's the only explanation for the company's eerily lifelike new Captain America figure.
Hot Toys has just unveiled the latest figure in their ongoing MCU line, featuring Sam Wilson in his new Cap suit introduced in the season finale. Needless to say, this 1:6 scale figure looks just like the real deal. Get a closer look at the new Cap, along with the previously announced Winter Soldier figure, in the slideshow gallery below:
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-falcon-and-the-winter-soldier-hot-toys-figures-revealed&captions=true"]
In addition to featuring a very detailed likeness of Mackie, this 12-inch Cap figure boasts a detailed recreation of his new suit, complete with posable wings that unfold to a maximum width of 31.4 inches. The figure also comes with accessories like the obligatory shield, interchangeable hands and a Redwing figurine. The included base has a flight stand that allows you to pose both Cap and Redwing in midair.
This Captain America figure is priced at $375. It's currently available to preorder through Sideshow, with a projected release window of July-September 2022. The Winter Soldier figure is priced at $250 and is also expected to hit in that July-September window.
This new Captain America figure is just the latest in a growing lineup of Hot Toys releases based on Marvel's Disney+ shows. Recently the company revealed new Scarlet Witch and Vision figures based on the duo's appearance in WandaVision.
It remains to be seen if Hot Toys will tackle any other characters from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, such as Baron Zemo or John Walker in either his Captain America or US Agent costumes. We'll also have to see if Hot Toys has plans for Sam's previous Falcon costume. It does seem safe to expect at least one figure from the upcoming Loki series, given how often Tom Hiddleston's character has appeared in Hot Toys form over the years.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/29/marvel-studios-assembled-the-making-of-the-falcon-and-the-winter-soldier-official-trailer"]
Will you be forking over the $375 to own your own miniature Anthony Mackie? Let us know in the comments below.
IGN recently had the opportunity to speak with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier showrunner Malcolm Spellman, where he discussed whether justice was served with John Walker's character arc, why Sharon Carter had such a shocking turn and the decision to include Madripoor in the series.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
New Dexter Teaser Is Reframing the Original’s Controversial Finale
The latest teaser for Dexter not only gives fans their first look at Michael C. Hall's return as Dexter Morgan, it also shows that he is wasting no time in getting back to his killing ways.
This new teaser was shared on Showtime's Twitter alongside the words, "He's just a soul whose intentions are good. See what #Dexter has been up to when he comes home to Showtime this Fall."
Dexter's revival will serve as a "second finale" for the show that ended on a controversial note. It will also see Dexter leaving his life in Oregon as a lumberjack behind as this new series will take place in upstate New York. Hall previously spoke about returning to Dexter after the "unsatisfying" series finale, saying he includes himself in the group of people that have always wondered, "what the hell happened to that guy?" The Dexter revival will be a 10-episode limited series that will also star Clancy Brown as the villain. Other cast members include Julia Jones, Johnny Sequoyah, Sylvie Love, and Jack Alcott. There has been no word as of yet as to which series regulars will be returning to the show, but anything is possible! [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/01/how-they-ruined-the-dexter-finale"] For more on this upcoming second chance for Dexter, check out our thoughts on how this new series could redeem the disappointing ending of the original. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.He’s just a soul whose intentions are good.
See what #Dexter has been up to when he comes home to SHOWTIME this Fall. pic.twitter.com/Bh8UC83qn0 — SHOWTIME (@Showtime) April 29, 2021
New Dexter Teaser Is Reframing the Original’s Controversial Finale
The latest teaser for Dexter not only gives fans their first look at Michael C. Hall's return as Dexter Morgan, it also shows that he is wasting no time in getting back to his killing ways.
This new teaser was shared on Showtime's Twitter alongside the words, "He's just a soul whose intentions are good. See what #Dexter has been up to when he comes home to Showtime this Fall."
Dexter's revival will serve as a "second finale" for the show that ended on a controversial note. It will also see Dexter leaving his life in Oregon as a lumberjack behind as this new series will take place in upstate New York. Hall previously spoke about returning to Dexter after the "unsatisfying" series finale, saying he includes himself in the group of people that have always wondered, "what the hell happened to that guy?" The Dexter revival will be a 10-episode limited series that will also star Clancy Brown as the villain. Other cast members include Julia Jones, Johnny Sequoyah, Sylvie Love, and Jack Alcott. There has been no word as of yet as to which series regulars will be returning to the show, but anything is possible! [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/01/how-they-ruined-the-dexter-finale"] For more on this upcoming second chance for Dexter, check out our thoughts on how this new series could redeem the disappointing ending of the original. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.He’s just a soul whose intentions are good.
See what #Dexter has been up to when he comes home to SHOWTIME this Fall. pic.twitter.com/Bh8UC83qn0 — SHOWTIME (@Showtime) April 29, 2021
The Borderlands Movie Has Its Moxxi
Borderlands: The Movie rounded out its cast with a slew of announcements today, highlighted by Gina Gershon and Cheyenne Jackson.
Lionsgate revealed that Gershon, Jackson, Charles Babalola, Benjamin Byron Davis, Steven Boyer, and Ryann Redmond will be joining the cast of Borderlands. Bobby Lee will also be introduced in the new role of Larry.
They will join a large cast that includes Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Jamie Lee Curtis, and a slew of other familiar names. Eli Roth is set to direct the new film.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/05/borderlands-the-movie-gets-an-official-synopsis"]
In addition to announcing the new additions to the cast, Lionsgate also revealed their roles. Gershon will take on the role of Moxxi, who is one of the most popular cosplaying subjects for Borderlands fans. Jackson, meanwhile, will play Jakobs, who is Pandora's idea of a "refined gentleman." In the film, Jakobs is about to get married to Hammerlock, who is played by Babalola.
As for Boyer and Redmond, they will play Scooter and Ellie respectively, who run a scrapyard on Pandora. Davis will step into the role of an arms dealer named Marcus, while Lee will play a soldier from Roland's former unit — a new addition to the Borderlands universe.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=new-borderlands-the-movie-cast-members&captions=true"]
The Borderlands movie has been in development since at least 2015. Roth was revealed to be the director early last year, and development has continued apace since then. It will aim to adapt the extremely popular series of games for film, with Lilith (Blanchett) forming an alliance with an unexpected team that includes Tiny Tina (Ariana Greenblatt) and a host of other misfits. Black will play Claptrap, because of course.
The Borderlands movie does not have a release date yet.
The Borderlands Movie Has Its Moxxi
Borderlands: The Movie rounded out its cast with a slew of announcements today, highlighted by Gina Gershon and Cheyenne Jackson.
Lionsgate revealed that Gershon, Jackson, Charles Babalola, Benjamin Byron Davis, Steven Boyer, and Ryann Redmond will be joining the cast of Borderlands. Bobby Lee will also be introduced in the new role of Larry.
They will join a large cast that includes Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Jamie Lee Curtis, and a slew of other familiar names. Eli Roth is set to direct the new film.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/05/borderlands-the-movie-gets-an-official-synopsis"]
In addition to announcing the new additions to the cast, Lionsgate also revealed their roles. Gershon will take on the role of Moxxi, who is one of the most popular cosplaying subjects for Borderlands fans. Jackson, meanwhile, will play Jakobs, who is Pandora's idea of a "refined gentleman." In the film, Jakobs is about to get married to Hammerlock, who is played by Babalola.
As for Boyer and Redmond, they will play Scooter and Ellie respectively, who run a scrapyard on Pandora. Davis will step into the role of an arms dealer named Marcus, while Lee will play a soldier from Roland's former unit — a new addition to the Borderlands universe.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-borderlands-review&captions=true"]
The Borderlands movie has been in development since at least 2015. Roth was revealed to be the director early last year, and development has continued apace since then. It will aim to adapt the extremely popular series of games for film, with Lilith (Blanchett) forming an alliance with an unexpected team that includes Tiny Tina (Greenblatt) and a host of other misfits. Black will play Claptrap, because of course.
The Borderlands movie does not have a release date yet.
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion Review – A Leek to the Past
You might be relieved to learn Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion isn’t really about avoiding your financial responsibility to society. There’s no book-keeping, no audits, no lurking threat of a visit from the IRS. Instead, the act of tax evasion is a mere prelude, an unlikely catalyst for a rollicking and increasingly silly pastiche of the action/adventure genre.
Less concerned with ripping off fellow citizens and more with pilfering tropes from the Legend of Zelda, Turnip Boy is shameless about the source of its obvious inspiration. Within minutes from the start of the game, the village elder has dispatched you on a quest and you’ve retrieved a mystical sword from a sun-dappled forest grove. But it borrows and parodies familiar elements with an affection and exuberance that sweeps you along in a giddy rush for the entirety of its short but sweet duration.
Gallery
With Turnip Boy’s fiscal failure exposed in the opening scene, the town mayor channels Tom Nook by setting a quest that will allow you to pay off your debt and eventually inherit the family home. His demands are ludicrous from the get-go and seemingly untethered from your ultimate goal. But rather than leaving you annoyed at having to run some pointless errands, each new task only compounds the absurdity in amusing new ways. Really? That’s why you needed a laser pointer? You’ve got to be kidding me.
Continue Reading at GameSpotTurnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion Review – A Leek to the Past
You might be relieved to learn Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion isn’t really about avoiding your financial responsibility to society. There’s no book-keeping, no audits, no lurking threat of a visit from the IRS. Instead, the act of tax evasion is a mere prelude, an unlikely catalyst for a rollicking and increasingly silly pastiche of the action/adventure genre.
Less concerned with ripping off fellow citizens and more with pilfering tropes from the Legend of Zelda, Turnip Boy is shameless about the source of its obvious inspiration. Within minutes from the start of the game, the village elder has dispatched you on a quest and you’ve retrieved a mystical sword from a sun-dappled forest grove. But it borrows and parodies familiar elements with an affection and exuberance that sweeps you along in a giddy rush for the entirety of its short but sweet duration.
Gallery
With Turnip Boy’s fiscal failure exposed in the opening scene, the town mayor channels Tom Nook by setting a quest that will allow you to pay off your debt and eventually inherit the family home. His demands are ludicrous from the get-go and seemingly untethered from your ultimate goal. But rather than leaving you annoyed at having to run some pointless errands, each new task only compounds the absurdity in amusing new ways. Really? That’s why you needed a laser pointer? You’ve got to be kidding me.
Continue Reading at GameSpot