Demon’s Souls Review: Shield Up
There's much to praise about the remake of Demon's Souls. It's a remarkable technical showpiece for the PlayStation 5; a gripping gameplay experience that oscillates between exhilarating, nerve-wracking, and downright heartbreaking; and a faithful recreation of the seminal title that birthed the Souls-like subgenre. But developer Bluepoint's greatest achievement is that it took something I'm intimately familiar with and made me feel like I was venturing into the unknown.
Fundamentally, Demon's Souls for PS5 is what it has always been. Barring some small tweaks, the design of the game is identical to From Software's original. The core mechanics are unchanged, the enemies are placed in the same positions and behave in the same ways, the devious tricks and traps are still there, ready to catch the unfamiliar off-guard.
And yet, while retreading a well-worn path through the kingdom of Boletaria, I find myself without the confidence I should have. I'm cautiously approaching basic enemies with my shield raised, knowing their every move and how to overcome them, but fearing them still. I stand paralyzed at the end of narrow stone tunnels ominously lit by flickering torches, knowing exactly what awaits in the darkness, but still needing to will myself forward. And as monstrous demons step into arenas in which I've bested them dozens of times, I begin to doubt my chances at victory once more.
Continue Reading at GameSpotSackboy: A Big Adventure Review
Sackboy finally has a game to call his own. The smiley mascot for LittleBigPlanet and, occasionally, the PlayStation brand has always been treated as more of an icon than a character, a cutesy tabula rasa through which all video-game-related things are possible. In Sackboy: A Big Adventure, his purview is much more traditional. He's a jumpman, a platformer in the tradition of Mario, Sonic, Crash, and all the other mascots that came before him. Sackboy, both the character and the game, rises to succeed the mascot platformer mantle well in many respects. Though its aesthetic often feels bland, its solid platforming makes for a worthy challenge.
Like many platformers, story is not Sackboy's strong suit. You’re jumping around Craftverse, the world of LittleBigPlanet, to save it from a villainous jester doll called Vex. Though you'll get a fairly steady stream of updates reminding you of Vex's evil presence, there's not much you need to know. You could say the story is a waste of Sackboy's surprisingly compelling cuteness. On the other hand, you could argue that Sackboy's cuteness keeps your interest in the game afloat, even without a compelling story.
Sackboy regularly evokes LittleBigPlanet's arts-and-crafts visual aesthetic. Sometimes, the motif works well. There are great visual details in many of the levels, like hard-drawn cutouts of animals in the backgrounds or platforms made from stacks of books, which imply that the levels were set up in a child's bedroom. More often, though, it leads to generic "imagination-world" design. Most of the enemies are multi-colored animals or blocks with cute but angry eyes. And, even with those craftsy details, the basic level settings--space, the jungle, under the sea--all feel vague.
Continue Reading at GameSpotSackboy: A Big Adventure Review
Sackboy finally has a game to call his own. The smiley mascot for LittleBigPlanet and, occasionally, the PlayStation brand has always been treated as more of an icon than a character, a cutesy tabula rasa through which all video-game-related things are possible. In Sackboy: A Big Adventure, his purview is much more traditional. He's a jumpman, a platformer in the tradition of Mario, Sonic, Crash, and all the other mascots that came before him. Sackboy, both the character and the game, rises to succeed the mascot platformer mantle well in many respects. Though its aesthetic often feels bland, its solid platforming makes for a worthy challenge.
Like many platformers, story is not Sackboy's strong suit. You’re jumping around Craftverse, the world of LittleBigPlanet, to save it from a villainous jester doll called Vex. Though you'll get a fairly steady stream of updates reminding you of Vex's evil presence, there's not much you need to know. You could say the story is a waste of Sackboy's surprisingly compelling cuteness. On the other hand, you could argue that Sackboy's cuteness keeps your interest in the game afloat, even without a compelling story.
Sackboy regularly evokes LittleBigPlanet's arts-and-crafts visual aesthetic. Sometimes, the motif works well. There are great visual details in many of the levels, like hard-drawn cutouts of animals in the backgrounds or platforms made from stacks of books, which imply that the levels were set up in a child's bedroom. More often, though, it leads to generic "imagination-world" design. Most of the enemies are multi-colored animals or blocks with cute but angry eyes. And, even with those craftsy details, the basic level settings--space, the jungle, under the sea--all feel vague.
Continue Reading at GameSpotSpace Force: Netflix Renews Steve Carell Series for Season 2
Space Force: Netflix Renews Steve Carell Series for Season 2
Justice League: The Snyder Cut Will Only Have Roughly Four Minutes of New Footage
Justice League: The Snyder Cut Will Only Have Roughly Four Minutes of New Footage
Star Wars: Battlefront 2’s Janina Gavankar Cameoed in The Mandalorian, And You Definitely Didn’t Notice
“There is a Mon Calamari who puts their hands on their hips. That’s Frank Ippolito who’s inside that rig. He made that headpiece and it takes two puppeteers to animate it,” Gavankar revealed. “And they needed a second puppeteer to just handle the nostrils of this character. And [Ippolito] called me and he said, ‘Do you want to come puppeteer the nostrils of this Mon Calamari?’” “And I said ‘f**k yes.’” Gavankar's arrival on the set turned many heads including David Filoni who recognized Gavankar but didn't realize the purpose of her visit on set. When Gavankar revealed she was there as a puppeteer, she says the response she got from Filoni was "one of those 'of course you are,' kind of things." [caption id="attachment_2438457" align="alignnone" width="1280"]Chapter 11 incoming Start streaming the next episode of #TheMandalorian. #DisneyPlus pic.twitter.com/neEZ2KGVv8
— Disney+ (@disneyplus) November 13, 2020
Not seen: Gavankar puppeteering a nostril.[/caption]
So yes, when you see the Mon Calamari’s nostrils in the latest Manadlorian episode, remember that it is the work of Iden Versio, or rather her actor Janina Gavankar. Gavankar does say she would love to reprise the role of Iden if asked to by LucasFilms. "We know how she dies but we don't know about the years in between. There's a lot of life there so if anybody asks me to come back and play [Iden] I'd be delighted to do so."
For Gavankar’s portrayal of Iden Versio, an Inferno Squad commander and star of the campaign mode in Star Wars: Battlefront 2, check out IGN’s Battlefront 2 review. And be sure to check out our review of The Mandalorian Episode 3.
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Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.
Additional reporting by Terri SchwartzStar Wars: Battlefront 2’s Janina Gavankar Cameoed in The Mandalorian, And You Definitely Didn’t Notice
“There is a Mon Calamari who puts their hands on their hips. That’s Frank Ippolito who’s inside that rig. He made that headpiece and it takes two puppeteers to animate it,” Gavankar revealed. “And they needed a second puppeteer to just handle the nostrils of this character. And [Ippolito] called me and he said, ‘Do you want to come puppeteer the nostrils of this Mon Calamari?’” “And I said ‘f**k yes.’” Gavankar's arrival on the set turned many heads including David Filoni who recognized Gavankar but didn't realize the purpose of her visit on set. When Gavankar revealed she was there as a puppeteer, she says the response she got from Filoni was "one of those 'of course you are,' kind of things." [caption id="attachment_2438457" align="alignnone" width="1280"]Chapter 11 incoming Start streaming the next episode of #TheMandalorian. #DisneyPlus pic.twitter.com/neEZ2KGVv8
— Disney+ (@disneyplus) November 13, 2020
Not seen: Gavankar puppeteering a nostril.[/caption]
So yes, when you see the Mon Calamari’s nostrils in the latest Manadlorian episode, remember that it is the work of Iden Versio, or rather her actor Janina Gavankar. Gavankar does say she would love to reprise the role of Iden if asked to by LucasFilms. "We know how she dies but we don't know about the years in between. There's a lot of life there so if anybody asks me to come back and play [Iden] I'd be delighted to do so."
For Gavankar’s portrayal of Iden Versio, an Inferno Squad commander and star of the campaign mode in Star Wars: Battlefront 2, check out IGN’s Battlefront 2 review. And be sure to check out our review of The Mandalorian Episode 3.
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Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.
Additional reporting by Terri SchwartzUbisoft Montreal Office Scare: Police Investigating Source of ‘Hostage Situation’ Call
— Ubisoft Montréal (@UbisoftMTL) November 14, 2020Update 1: The Montreal police are now evacuating the building after identifying no threats. IGN will have more updates as the situation continues to unfold.
[poilib element="accentDivider"] Original Story: Canadian news outlets are reporting a police situation taking place at the building where Ubisoft Montreal is based. Montreal PD has confirmed there is a police operation in the sector where the offices are located but didn’t provide any further details. IGN reached out to the Montreal Police’s media box where an automated briefing said a “police operation” is happening at the location of Saint-Laurent and St-Vieateur, but that they are still verifying the situation. The Montreal police added that people should “avoid the sector.”No threat has been identified for now. We are currently evacuating the building. #SPVM https://t.co/7g7eHU2B1T
— Police Montréal (@SPVM) November 13, 2020
"We are aware of the situation and working with local authorities," a Ubisoft representative said in a short statement to IGN. Montreal PD has issued a follow-up saying specialized officers are on-site inspecting the premise, but no injuries have been reported.Opération policière en cours au coin de Saint-Laurent et St-Viateur. Nous demandons aux gens d'éviter le secteur. Le #SPVM valide présentement des informations et d'autres détails suivront. pic.twitter.com/qvDym0QmmM
— Police Montréal (@SPVM) November 13, 2020
The news first began when Ubisoft Montreal employees started sharing about a possible situation at the Montreal office. Ubisoft senior community director Eric Pope alerted social media about a police situation unfolding at the offices, though it was unclear at the time what the situation was about. There was much confusion about the event, especially since the first reports from Canadian outlets like the Montreal Journal first reported a possible hostage situation where Ubisoft’s offices are located, on Saint-Laurent Boulevard in the Mile End area of Montreal. The Montreal police did not confirm any details beyond a police operation, however, and there was no mention of any hostage situation. Ubisoft employees were filmed protecting themselves on the roof of their office building, and images of the scene were widely circulated online. Ubisoft Montreal employees shared updates on their safety online. While some Ubisoft Montreal employees are still working from home, others who have been in the office have provided updates on social media.Officers have been sent to the location following a 911 call. Specialized #SPVM officers are on site inspecting the premises. There are no injuries reported. https://t.co/omrH0sYHbQ
— Police Montréal (@SPVM) November 13, 2020
I’m safe, team here is safe, going home.
— Anouk Wolf-Kissed Total Landscaping (@Valskuiken) November 13, 2020
Safe atm.
— Maxime Durand (@TriFreako) November 13, 2020
[poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.I am safe. My thoughts are with my teammates in the office today. Please be safe.
— Cory Switzman (@imqulsive) November 13, 2020