Yearly Archives: 2020

Liberated Review – V For Very Frustrating

Surveillance is out of control, technology is numbing the minds of the masses, and the government (or corporations, or some combination thereof) has become fascist and corrupt, stripping freedoms and assassinating dissidents in the name of security. That familiar premise has been utilized again and again in works ranging from 1984 to Westworld, and it's also the state of the world in Liberated, a cyberpunk-ish side-scrolling action game that's as much comic book as video game. The tech dystopia is well-worn territory in movies, books, comics, and video games, and Liberated offers little that hasn't been done better elsewhere.

Liberated's story is pretty much a carbon copy of its more interesting inspirations. The same is true with its frustrating side-scroller gameplay, which is both overly simplistic and often frustrating. It's unfortunate that the playable parts and the story that are meant to drive the game can't match up to its gorgeous, comics-inspired art style--paging through all those great-looking panels will make you wonder if Liberated wouldn't have made a pretty good comic, instead of a lackluster game.

To be fair, Liberated's story is mostly a comic book. The game is presented as though you're reading through four volumes of a graphic novel of the same name. As you pass over panel after panel, you'll occasionally pause on one that becomes a playable side-scrolling level, where you're generally tasked with shooting a lot of enemies, or hiding from them and breaking their necks as they pass by.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The Last of Us Part 2: PlayStation Boss Says Preorders Weren’t Hurt By Spoiler Leak

PlayStation boss Jim Ryan has revealed that demand for The Last of Us Part 2 "remains strong" despite major story spoilers circulating online. Specifically, the spoilers appear to have had a limited effect on preorders for the game. In an interview with CNET, Ryan acknowledged the unfortunate situation, but mentioned that Sony has "tallied more preorders in Europe for The Last of Us Part 2 than it did for Marvel's Spider-Man at the same point before its launch." Ryan went on to say that he hopes The Last of Us Part 2 will be "a defining game for this generation," and added that while there haven't been any plans revealed for bringing the game to the PS5, The Last of Us Part 2 will run on the new console "without issue." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/13/the-last-of-us-part-ii-inside-the-story-video"] Back in late April, major spoilers for the game circulated online, ruining some major moments of the game for fans waiting to play the hotly anticipated sequel. They're still doing the rounds, so please, be careful out there! Not long to go now until June 19, when the game launches worldwide on PS4. For more on The Last of Us Part 2, check out our article covering the game's incredible tiny character details. IGN's review of the game will go live on Friday June 12, at 12:01AM Pacific Time. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Prey VR for PSVR Listed by Retailer

A listing for an unannounced 'Prey VR' has been found on the website of UK retailer ShopTo. The page, which was seemingly taken down after being discovered, suggests that the game would be exclusive to PSVR. Following the original link to the listing now results in a 404, but Twitter user Nibellion managed to grab a screenshot prior to its deletion. If the listing wasn't made in error, it's currently unclear what form the supposed game would take. Bethesda has a prolific recent history with VR games, previously porting VR versions of its tentpole games, such as Doom VFR, Fallout 4 VR and Skyrim VR. It may well be that Arkane's Prey is getting a similar treatment. Prey has already had a VR outing in the form of Typhon Hunter, a PC/PSVR spinoff from the main game where you can solve puzzles inside of VR escape rooms and enjoy a multiplayer game mode similar to Prop Hunt from Garry's Mod, where players can mimic inanimate objects. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2017/02/15/the-first-11-minutes-of-prey"] This Shopto listing appears to be distinct from Typhon Hunter, however, which has stoked a lot of interest from fans of the base game. We reviewed Prey back in 2017, calling the game's space station setting "fantastically explorable." In other Arkane news, footage of the studio's cancelled Half-Life episode, Ravenholm, was recently revealed to the public for the first time. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

LOTR: Sean Bean Had to Cheat During His Mordor Meme Speech

A majority of The Lord of the Rings trilogy cast, plus Oscar-winning LOTR director Peter Jackson, reunited this weekend for Josh Gad's Reunited Apart YouTube series as a way to raise money for the charity No Kid Hungry. During the episode, which lasted almost an hour, Jackson dug into the famous Mordor speech made by Sean Bean's Boromir during the formation of the Fellowship. You know the one. It includes the lines "One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its black gates are guarded by more than just orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep. The Great Eye is ever watchful." Yup. it's the speech that launched a million "One Does Not..." memes over the past several years. "That entire speech that Sean had to deliver at the Council of Elrond was written the night before," Jackson explained. "It's long and we gave it to Sean the morning he arrived. What Sean did, which I thought was really clever, is he got a print-out of the speech taped to his knee." "It was on his knee and when he did that scene, you'll see [Jackson mimes Bean looking down, pretending to be deep in thought]." "If you watch the scene now, you'll see every time that Sean has to check his script." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=amazons-the-lord-of-the-rings-every-confirmed-actor&captions=true"] Amazon's massive Lord of the Rings TV series production was one of many projects shut down due to the coronavirus over the past few months, though New Zealand began slowly reopening for business after the first week of May, allowing for shooting to eventually resume for both LOTR: The Series and James Cameron's Avatar 2. Back in January, one of the LOTR series' lead actors was replaced when Robert Aramayo (Game of Thrones) joined the show, replacing Will Poulter (Black Mirror) as a young hero named Beldor. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/19/lord-of-the-rings-series-gets-early-season-2-renewal-from-amazon-ign-now"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

LOTR: Sean Bean Had to Cheat During His Mordor Meme Speech

A majority of The Lord of the Rings trilogy cast, plus Oscar-winning LOTR director Peter Jackson, reunited this weekend for Josh Gad's Reunited Apart YouTube series as a way to raise money for the charity No Kid Hungry. During the episode, which lasted almost an hour, Jackson dug into the famous Mordor speech made by Sean Bean's Boromir during the formation of the Fellowship. You know the one. It includes the lines "One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its black gates are guarded by more than just orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep. The Great Eye is ever watchful." Yup. it's the speech that launched a million "One Does Not..." memes over the past several years. "That entire speech that Sean had to deliver at the Council of Elrond was written the night before," Jackson explained. "It's long and we gave it to Sean the morning he arrived. What Sean did, which I thought was really clever, is he got a print-out of the speech taped to his knee." "It was on his knee and when he did that scene, you'll see [Jackson mimes Bean looking down, pretending to be deep in thought]." "If you watch the scene now, you'll see every time that Sean has to check his script." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=amazons-the-lord-of-the-rings-every-confirmed-actor&captions=true"] Amazon's massive Lord of the Rings TV series production was one of many projects shut down due to the coronavirus over the past few months, though New Zealand began slowly reopening for business after the first week of May, allowing for shooting to eventually resume for both LOTR: The Series and James Cameron's Avatar 2. Back in January, one of the LOTR series' lead actors was replaced when Robert Aramayo (Game of Thrones) joined the show, replacing Will Poulter (Black Mirror) as a young hero named Beldor. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/19/lord-of-the-rings-series-gets-early-season-2-renewal-from-amazon-ign-now"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

Star Wars Stormtroopers Encourage Social Distancing at Reopened Disney Springs

With Disney theme parks having lost $1 billion due to coronavirus closures, and tentative plans in place to reopen Walt Disney World Resort in Florida this July, Disney World's shopping district, Disney Springs, in Orlando, recently reopened to the public back on May 20...with some added advice from a pair of Stormtroopers. The following video comes from the Disney Springs YouTube account and it shows a couple of First Order Stormtroopers performing a handful of pre-recorded balcony skits about social-distancing and protecting oneself and others by using masks. Take a look... [youtube clip_id="_cCmJX7fOmU"] "Yeah, I'm going to need you to move one male bantha's length away, please," says one Stormtrooper as she suffers the aggressive arrogance of her cocky co-worker. When Walt Disney World Resort starts up again next month, the company's plan outlines a limited capacity for the park, with visitors having to secure a reservation for the day they wish to attend in advance. The capacity of the park will then incrementally increase as the county furthers its reopening phases. Looking for more Star Wars news floating around the galaxy? There's a new “#MakeSolo2Happen" movement online, a new Star Wars movie from Taika Waititi in the works, and some new quotes from Mark Hamill about if he'd ever want to play Luke Skywalker again. If you're looking to travel way back in the realm of Star Wars fandom, check out these pictures and video from A New Hope's first ever tour of the sci-fi fan convention circuit back in the summer of 1976. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/06/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-blooper-clip"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

Star Wars Stormtroopers Encourage Social Distancing at Reopened Disney Springs

With Disney theme parks having lost $1 billion due to coronavirus closures, and tentative plans in place to reopen Walt Disney World Resort in Florida this July, Disney World's shopping district, Disney Springs, in Orlando, recently reopened to the public back on May 20...with some added advice from a pair of Stormtroopers. The following video comes from the Disney Springs YouTube account and it shows a couple of First Order Stormtroopers performing a handful of pre-recorded balcony skits about social-distancing and protecting oneself and others by using masks. Take a look... [youtube clip_id="_cCmJX7fOmU"] "Yeah, I'm going to need you to move one male bantha's length away, please," says one Stormtrooper as she suffers the aggressive arrogance of her cocky co-worker. When Walt Disney World Resort starts up again next month, the company's plan outlines a limited capacity for the park, with visitors having to secure a reservation for the day they wish to attend in advance. The capacity of the park will then incrementally increase as the county furthers its reopening phases. Looking for more Star Wars news floating around the galaxy? There's a new “#MakeSolo2Happen" movement online, a new Star Wars movie from Taika Waititi in the works, and some new quotes from Mark Hamill about if he'd ever want to play Luke Skywalker again. If you're looking to travel way back in the realm of Star Wars fandom, check out these pictures and video from A New Hope's first ever tour of the sci-fi fan convention circuit back in the summer of 1976. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/06/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-blooper-clip"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

The Batman’s Riddler Praises Matt Reeves’ Script as ‘Really Powerful’

Though production on Matt Reeves' The Batman was shut down due to the coronavirus crisis, it hasn't stopped the stars of the film from heaping praise onto it - from Jeffrey Wright touting the "most badass" Batmobile to Andy Serkis teasing the emotional relationship between Alfred and Bruce. Now Paul Dano, who plays The Riddler in the movie, has opened up a little about the project while discussing his 2018 directorial debut, Wildlife, with The Playlist. When Dano was asked when he thought The Batman's filming might resume he answered “I was filming. I flew home to visit my baby and then didn’t get to fly back [because of the pandemic], which is a really strange thing." “But I feel really good about it," he continued. "I think Matt Reeves is the real deal. I was really surprised by his script, which I think is, is potentially really powerful. Hopefully we’ll get to get back to it sometime soon. I’m not sure.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-batman-cast-every-actor-and-character&captions=true"] It was recently revealed that Robert Pattinson had just started working on Christopher Nolan's time-imploding adventure Tenet when he learned he had been cast as The Batman. Pattinson, in his interview with Total Film, went on to discuss the production stop. "We’d really gotten into a really good rhythm as well, so it’s kind of strange to be pausing. But, again, it’s a hard movie. I mean, obviously it’s Batman, so it’s kind of nice.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/20/big-changes-for-the-batman-and-other-dc-movies-ign-now"] In other Caped Crusader news, here's why it's time for a new live-action Robin - plus, what The Batman can learn from Batman & Robin. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

The Batman’s Riddler Praises Matt Reeves’ Script as ‘Really Powerful’

Though production on Matt Reeves' The Batman was shut down due to the coronavirus crisis, it hasn't stopped the stars of the film from heaping praise onto it - from Jeffrey Wright touting the "most badass" Batmobile to Andy Serkis teasing the emotional relationship between Alfred and Bruce. Now Paul Dano, who plays The Riddler in the movie, has opened up a little about the project while discussing his 2018 directorial debut, Wildlife, with The Playlist. When Dano was asked when he thought The Batman's filming might resume he answered “I was filming. I flew home to visit my baby and then didn’t get to fly back [because of the pandemic], which is a really strange thing." “But I feel really good about it," he continued. "I think Matt Reeves is the real deal. I was really surprised by his script, which I think is, is potentially really powerful. Hopefully we’ll get to get back to it sometime soon. I’m not sure.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-batman-cast-every-actor-and-character&captions=true"] It was recently revealed that Robert Pattinson had just started working on Christopher Nolan's time-imploding adventure Tenet when he learned he had been cast as The Batman. Pattinson, in his interview with Total Film, went on to discuss the production stop. "We’d really gotten into a really good rhythm as well, so it’s kind of strange to be pausing. But, again, it’s a hard movie. I mean, obviously it’s Batman, so it’s kind of nice.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/20/big-changes-for-the-batman-and-other-dc-movies-ign-now"] In other Caped Crusader news, here's why it's time for a new live-action Robin - plus, what The Batman can learn from Batman & Robin. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

Will We See J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson in the Next Spider-Man Movie?

One of the great surprises in Spider-Man: Far From Home came right at the end, mid-credits, when actor J.K. Simmons -- who played J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, along with voicing the character in various Marvel animated series and Sony's Spider-Man video game -- portrayed ol' flat-top once more as an official part of the MCU. In Far From Home, Jameson was the host of an online crackpot conspiracy show called The Daily Bugle, who believed Quentin Beck's lies hook, line, and sinker - claiming that Mysterio was the greatest superhero of all time. In a recent edition of PeopleTV's Couch Surfing, Simmons was asked if fans should expect to see Jameson again in the next Spider-Man film. Simmons made it clear that while he'd signed on for sequels, it was up for the studio to decide if the character was returning or not. "I don't know if I would use the word expect," he said, as a way of tempering the anticipation. "It's great to have the opportunity, as these things evolve," he added, "to be one of the holdovers from the previous version." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvel-phase-4-official-lineup&captions=true"] Simmons also thought back to his first time auditioning for Raimi's first Spider-Man film, which is something he had to do despite having worked with Raimi on two other films (For Love of the Game, The Gift). Simmons described the process as "nerve-wracking." "The producers and the people at Sony, they needed to be convinced," he said, "because obviously, there were a lot of much more high-profile actors that they had in mind that would help with the box office." Plus, Simmons audition was the scene where the Green Goblin busted through the wall of Jameson's Daily Bugle office and choked him, lifting him up in the air. "I'm holding the script pages," Simmons remembered, "reading the scene on the audition, but then at the same time, trying to...[choking noises]...pretending I'm being lifted by the neck and choked." You can actually check out Simmons' screen test here, as part of one of our recent Time Capsules. The video also includes a shirtless and shredded Tobey Maguire kicking some bad guy butt. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/30/hbo-max-streaming-service-review"] Check out this updated look at Sony's slate of upcoming films -- including the Spider-Man 3, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2, Venom 2, and Morbius. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.