Month: September 2018

This September, IGN is spotlighting the best TV coming your way in the 2018-2019 season. Today we’ve got an exclusive behind-the-scenes photo from Black Lightning Season 2, along with a preview from star Cress Williams, who plays the titular hero (aka high school principal Jefferson Pierce). In the sophomore season, Jefferson will be faced with new threats as the town of Freeland must reckon with the ASA’s abduction of its children, who have been experimented on and held in stasis pods, some for decades. Closer to home, Jefferson and his wife Lynn (Christine Adams) are still coming to terms with the fact that both their daughters, Anissa (Nafessa Williams) and Jennifer (China Anne McClain), have inherited Jefferson’s metahuman gene and are manifesting powers, while Jefferson’s nemesis, Tobias Whale (Marvin “Krondon” Jones III) is still at large and plotting his adversary’s demise. Black Lightning Season 2 premieres October 9 on The CW.

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Black Ops is Call of Duty’s longest running and most interesting sub-series. From multiplayer, to zombies, to the numbers, each Black Ops game brings something different to the table. This year’s Black Ops 4 is no exception by trading in a campaign for its own take on Battle Royale genre, Blackout. So before the game comes out, let’s take a look back at this fan favorite series.

FX’s It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia just entered its 13th season, and over the years, the gang has done some incredible and despicable things. From exploiting the gas crisis, to getting drunk on planes, to putting on a rock opera that’s just a marriage proposal ploy, the show contains some hilarious and truly memorable episodes.

The show follows the owners–and employee–of Paddy’s Pub in Philadelphia: Ronald “Mac” McDonald, Dee Reynolds, Dennis Reynolds, Frank Reynolds, and Charlie Kelly. Together, this group of friends is toxic and ruins the lives of everyone around them through malicious schemes and plots to try and make themselves seem like better people.

In honor of the show’s 13th season, the folks at GameSpot came together to debate which episodes are the best. Obviously, this is no easy task because so many of these episodes are amazing.

After plenty of debate, looking at every scheme, every violent encounter, and every hilarious moment, we figured out the best 13 episodes from the series. Let us know what your favorite episodes are in the comment section below.

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia currently airs Wednesdays at 10 PM on FXX.

13. The Gang Gives Frank An Intervention

Season 5, Episode 4

Frank has gone off the wagon with his drinking so Dee, Dennis, and Charlie want to give him an intervention. Meanwhile, Frank is trying to have sex with his sister-in-law, who Mac is pursuing as well. However, Frank settles for her daughter, Gail the Snail, who is simply the worst (and one of the show’s best side characters, despite being underused). This episode is the point where Frank really goes off the deep end–Season 2 Frank is very different from what the character eventually becomes–and once he starts plumbing the depths of his depravity here, he’ll never stop. This episode is a great example of the group dynamic, which involved getting as drunk as possible (this time with wine in soda cans) and berating each other.

12. The Gang Wrestles For The Troops

Season 5, Episode 7

This episode has the first appearances of both Da Maniac and Ben the Soldier. Mac, Charlie, and Dennis decide nothing is more American than wrestling and decide to put on a wrestling show for the troops. They book Da Maniac, played by the late Roddy Piper, a deranged wrestler with a heart of gold who ends up getting arrested before the show. Meanwhile, Dee meets her online boyfriend Ben but passes him off to Artemis when Ben shows up in a wheelchair after spraining his ankle. One of the best moments of the episode is when Charlie, Mac, and Dennis come to the wrestling ring as “The Birds of War,” singing their entrance with drawn on abs. It’s one of the few times the majority of the gang actually tries to accomplish something where they aren’t benefiting from it in some way and gives the viewer some hope that these people aren’t all that bad.

Also check out Season 9, Episode 4: “Mac and Dennis Buy a Timeshare”

11. Maureen Ponderosa Wedding Massacre

Season 8, Episode 3

This is the only episode on this list where it really helps to have watched previous episodes revolving around the relationship of Dennis and his ex-wife Maureen Ponderosa. The Wedding Massacre all takes place in flashback form as Frank, Dennis, Charlie, and Mac are telling the story of what happened at the Maureen Ponderosa/Liam McPoyle wedding, which ended like a zombie movie. It’s a combination of two major antagonists in the gang’s lives that haven’t crossed over before. It’s tonally a bit different than a traditional Always Sunny episode, as it’s darker and a tad creepy, but it works. This episode is a pivotal point in Maureen’s storyline, right before she begins transitioning into a cat. Plus it’s always fun to spend time with the whole McPoyle clan–not least the raving mad Pappy McPoyle, played for some reason by none other than Guillermo del Toro.

Also check out Season 6, Episodes 1 & 2: “Mac Fights Gay Marriage” and “Dennis Gets Divorced.”

10. Paddy’s Pub: Home of the Original Kitten Mittens

Season 5, Episode 8

While the series had already been on the air for five years at the time, The original TV spot for the “Kitten Mittens” episode went viral, as a cat wearing socks tried to walk across a table as Charlie looked on. In the actual episode, everyone in the gang tries to develop products to market Paddy’s Pub, which leads them to The Lawyer (played again by Brian Unger). This episode sets up a couple recurring gags, like Charlie believing he’s a lawyer or “man of the law” and Frank trying to sell an egg dyed green as a stress ball and “jumping off point.” The episode also has one of the best sight gags in the series, with Mac’s “D**k towel,” a crudely drawn penis on a shower towel. It’s a stand-alone episode that’s just moment after moment of really solid comedy writing.

9. The Gang Broke Dee

Season 9, Episode 1

For eight seasons, the gang has been brutal to Dee Reynolds, and at the start of Season 9, she cracks like the shell of an egg that she would lay (because she is a bird). Mac, Charlie, and Frank try to lift her spirits by encouraging her to try stand-up comedy again. She actually does well for herself. While this is happening, Dennis tries to hook her up with a “select,” a mediocre man Dee can settle down with. The turn at the end episode is outstanding and unbelievably mean. It’s so malicious toward Dee, and it ends up breaking Dennis, for very different reasons. While it’s an extremely cold-hearted episode, it’s amazing to see the depths these characters will go just to one-up each other.

8. Dennis and Dee Go on Welfare

Season 2, Episode 3

Right after Danny Devito joined the cast as Frank Reynolds, Always Sunny started finding its footing, as the series offered more of a variety in how the gang split up into different alliances and they began to get more depraved than ever. “Dennis and Dee Go on Welfare” is a great early example of this. As the title suggests, Dennis and Dee quit their jobs to milk the welfare system–which leads them to become crack addicts–while Charlie and Mac spend all of Frank’s money in his secret bank account. This episode sets up a few reoccuring things in always Sunny, like Dennis and Dee’s addiction problems and Frank’s casual racism. It’s actually a great starting point for the series, as it gives the audience a greater understanding of how far these characters are willing to go in order to please their own egos, even if it means turning to addiction so they don’t have to work anymore.

7. A Very Sunny Christmas

Season 6, Episode 13

Originally a straight-to-video release and added a year later to Season 6, this 43-minute episode gives the audience plenty of insight into the gang’s childhood and why they’re all such damaged people. As kids, Frank would buy himself what Dennis and Dee wanted for Christmas and rub it in their faces. Mac learns his family would steal gifts from other families. Charlie learns his mother was a prostitute that had sex with men dressed like Santa Claus. Also, there’s a claymation sequence that is bonkers, and one of the top Sunny gags ever, involving a stark naked, glistening Frank bursting from the bowels of a saggy leather couch in the middle of an office holiday party full of strangers. While this episode tends to be overlooked, it is crucial to understanding these characters, as nowhere else do we see a better blueprint for who these characters are and where they came from.

6. The Gang Solves The Gas Crisis

Season 4, Episode 2

The gang is always coming up with schemes, none of which are good on paper nor do they play out as planned. “The Gang Solves The Gas Crisis” sees Mac, Dennis, and Charlie selling barrels of gasoline to people door-to-door in order to profit from the high gas prices at the time. Meanwhile, Frank and Dee try to besmirch Bruce Mathis (Dee and Dennis’s real father) after he plans on donating the late Barbara Reynolds’ inheritance. This episode starts the trend of Charlie as the “wild card” of the group, as he dresses up like a Texas oil man, tries to seduce a banker, and throws a fireball at Mac’s head. “The Gang Solves The Gas Crisis” sets the trend for how the group’s schemes will turn out–poorly–but it delivers the idea that they can work together, despite being despicable people. Out of all of the schemes the gang has come up with throughout the series, this one tops the list.

Also check out Season 8, Episode 2: “The Gang Recycles Their Trash”

5. The Gang Beats Boggs

Season 10, Episode 1

Throughout its 13 seasons, Always Sunny had plenty of road trip episodes where the gang leaves the bar to go on adventures. The best of them all is “The Gang Beats Boggs.” With Mac acting as commissioner, the gang goes on a cross-country flight in order to try and beat Wade Boggs’ record of drinking 70 beers in one flight. Meanwhile, Frank wants to start “The Air Sex Society,” by getting it on with someone on the flight. Where the episode shines is in the group dynamic. The gang is reved up for their plan, but as the episode goes on, one by one, they give up or find something they deem more interesting to focus on. This is a repeating trend throughout the series, and an element we’ve seen before, but no other episode does it as well as “The Gang Beats Boggs,” as it contains this all within a tight location, weaving multiple storylines, and keeping the dialogue comedic.

Also check out Season 13, Episode 3: “The Gang Beats Boggs: Ladies Reboot”

4. Charlie Work

Season 10, Episode 4

Not only is “Charlie Work” a hilarious and chaotic mess (in the best way possible), but it is shot beautifully, with plenty of long, single-shot takes following Charlie throughout the bar. In the episode, Charlie learns that the health inspector is on her way to inspect Paddy’s Pub, so Charlie kicks into high gear to make sure the bar is up to code. However, while this is happening, the rest of the gang has a convoluted scheme involving live chickens, airline miles, and steaks. Charlie has to make sure the health inspector isn’t wise to the scheme, all while keeping her none-the-wiser. The episode shows that Charlie is actually incredibly competent as one of the owners, and one of the best gags of the episode is set up right under your nose the entire time. It gives the audience a whole new perspective on the character, and you’ll come to respect him more.

3. “The D.E.N.N.I.S. System

Season 5, Episode 10

It’s well-established now that Dennis Reynolds is a full-blown sociopath, but it was this 2009 episode that really defined how awful the character is. Dennis explains to the gang his technique for seducing women, which involves Demonstrating his value, Engaging her physically, Nurturing her dependence, Neglecting her emotionally, Inspiring hope, and Separating entirely. A good portion of this system relies on Dennis making threatening phone calls as a disgruntled neighbor. We also learn about the M.A.C. System, which is just Mac trying to swoop in after Dennis leaves these women. This episode is a big turn for the character. Instead of being a typical scumbag who uses women, we learn that he’s a straight-up monster who plays a game to inflate his own self-worth. You’ll never look at Dennis the same way again. Fun fact: The pharmacist Dennis dates in this episode is Glenn Howerton’s wife in real life.

2. Charlie MacDennis: The Game of Games

Season 7, Episode 7

Without anything fun to do, the gang introduces Frank to a convoluted board/drinking game they created, Chardee MacDennis. Based on board games they loved as children–combined with their love of alcohol–the gang’s homebrew tabletop game is pure insanity and the whole goal of the game is to belittle the losers. It’s one of the more bizarre episodes and shows that this group thrives on being awful to other people, even if it’s to each other. The episode expands on the relationships between the characters and delivering a really fun plot, while never leaving the bar. More importantly, it’s one of the most light-hearted episodes in the series, with the endgame of the gang not being anything too crazy.

Also check out Chardee MacDennis 2: Electric Boogaloo (Season 11, Episode 1)

1. “The Nightman Cometh”

Season 4, Episode 13

In the Season 4 finale, Charlie and the gang decide to put on a rock opera based on Charlie’s song “Night Man” from Season 3. The opera’s story revolves around a young boy who must stop the Night Man in order to win the heart of a princess of a coffee shop. He does this by turning into the Day Man. There’s a huge turn at the end, as Charlie appears and asks the Waitress–who is in the audience–to marry him. While it’s undeniably one of the funniest episodes, especially when Frank–who plays the Troll–can’t get the lyrics right, it’s incredibly dark when you realize that this could be the story of Charlie, as a young boy, escaping the clutches of his Uncle Jack. It’s a prime example of taking a character who the audience tends to perceive as dumb and showing another side to him, as Charlie is–in many ways–a musical genius, even if the content of the music is disturbing.

Also check out “Sweet Dee’s Dating a R****ded Person” (Season 3, Episode 9)

Classic PS1 Games

Sony has announced that the company is taking a page out of Nintendo’s book and producing a mini version of an old console that plays classic games. Called PlayStation Classic, the console comes preloaded with 20 different PS1 games. Sony has already announced five of them, but the remaining 15 are still a mystery.

We’ve got our own ideas as to what should be included on the PlayStation Classic. In the following gallery, we’ve laid out our choices for 14 games that we hope make it onto Sony’s upcoming console. We’ve left one spot open, so let us know in the comments below which PlayStation game should fill out that final slot and why it deserves to be there.

The PlayStation Classic costs $100 / $130 CAN and will release on December 3, exactly 24 years after the original console launched in Japan. You can pre-order it right now. Currently, only Final Fantasy VII, Jumping Flash, Ridge Racer Type 4, Tekken 3, and Wild Arms have been confirmed for the Playstation Classic.

First releasing in Japan in 1994, the original PlayStation spread across the world in 1995. For the following four years, hundreds of different games arrived on the console. The PlayStation would ultimately be superseded by the much more popular PlayStation 2 in 1999, but Sony’s original console set the stage for some of gaming’s longest running franchises and gave the Nintendo 64 some healthy competition.

Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night

If Sony wants its mini console to be a time capsule of influential games from the PS1 era, it’s hard to find a better inclusion than Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. It seems as if every other week there’s a slew of new “Metroidvania” games hitting the market, and half of that moniker is due to this masterclass in game form and function. It defined Castlevania for a generation, and it changed action-RPGs forever.

But this is no staid relic or academic slog. Everything about Symphony of the Night holds up beautifully and is still fun to play today. The combat is so sharp and responsive that modern games like Dead Cells are praised for matching it. The RPG hooks are deep but not suffocating. The exploration is rich and varied and surprising. It’s one of the pinnacles of the genre and the platform, and it absolutely deserves to be included. — Steve Watts

Chrono Cross

To say that Chrono Cross had some big shoes to fill would be a massive understatement. Its predecessor, Chrono Trigger, stands as one of the 16-bit era’s most impressive and memorable role-playing games, with an inventive time-travel focused narrative and several different endings over the course of its story. Chrono Cross would rekindle the same type of magic when it released on PlayStation, but it also did enough to make a name for itself.

Chrono Cross is still one of the original PlayStation’s finest RPGs. Though it remains a contentious game among fans of the series, it still provided a memorable and heartfelt journey through time and space. Joining the lead character Serge was a massive roster of smugglers, rangers, magicians, and other vagabonds from across two parallel dimensions. Throughout the mostly non-linear story, you’d often head to places and run into people you’d least expect. Even without a fondness for the original, Chrono Cross works as a complex and involved RPG, and its spot in the PlayStation Classic’s lineup would allow a new audience to see what was so special about it. — Alessandro Fillari

Digimon World

Digimon and Pokemon have butted heads on a lot–anime, card games, and video games mostly–with the latter franchise winning out popularity-wise when it comes to games. In Japan, PlayStation’s Digimon World came out about a month before Game Boy’s Pokemon Red, and the pocket monsters beat out the digital ones in a landslide. That doesn’t mean Digimon World deserves to fade into obscurity, though.

Bandai Namco’s 1999 game has you team up with a partner–either Agumon or Gabumon–before venturing out and catching “feral” Digimon that you then train, raise, and evolve. Where Pokemon Red and Digimon World differ is in how you raise your monsters, with Pokemon solely focusing on growth through combat and Digimon relying on both battles and multiple systems of micromanagement, such as sleeping and feeding. Remember Tamagotchi? Digimon World is like that but in 3D and with an actual story. The game would be great on PlayStation Classic as something relaxing to check on between playing other titles. — Jordan Ramee

Driver

While it was Grand Theft Auto that would go on to receive much of the acclaim and success (and huge amounts of money) with its open-world games, it was Driver that first offered a similar style of driving action.

Unlike the top-down games in the GTA series on PS1, Driver presented you with a third-person perspective not unlike that of Gran Turismo and Need for Speed, but it offered a wide-open world to explore. It’s hard to overstate how thrilling the prospect of this was in 1999; you weren’t bound to closed tracks, but instead were free to explore condensed versions of real-world cities like San Francisco.

While there are games like the Forza Horizon series that continue to offer open-world driving action, there’s still nothing quite like Driver, with its thrilling, mission-based police chases and dedicated burnout button. It’s been bested in countless ways, but its basic formula remains enjoyable to this day, and it well deserves a spot on the PlayStation Classic alongside any of the other, bigger-name racing games that Sony could choose. — Chris Pereira

Grand Theft Auto 2

Fortnite might be the hottest thing going right now, but it’s hard to overstate the sustained success that Grand Theft Auto V has enjoyed since its release. GTA as a franchise has been hugely popular ever since it went 3D with PS2’s GTA III, and PlayStation Classic could offer a fun nostalgia trip (and history lesson) by taking us back to GTA’s more modest days as a top-down action game. Rockstar has done this to a small degree with a special mode in GTA Online, but why not do it right and include GTA 2 in the PlayStation Classic?

Particularly for those who have played the GTA III-era of games but none of the earlier entries, GTA 2 would be a great way to see how many of III’s ideas were already firmly established. Stealing cars, freely roaming the city, Rampages, wanted levels, side missions with vehicles like taxis, hidden packages–this was a game that firmly had the roadmap of GTA established. It simply took the less abstract third-person viewpoint of III to really catch on.

All of that aside, GTA 2 would be worth including because it remains very fun. — Chris Pereira

Legacy Of Kain: Soul Reaver

As the years go by, it seems like the cult favorite Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver is slowly getting lost to time. Developed by Crystal Dynamics and directed by Amy Hennig (Uncharted series), Soul Reaver is the quintessential entry in the long-dormant Legacy of Kain series, whose last entry released in 2003.

The game puts you in control of Raziel, a vampire lieutenant turned soul-sucking wraith after being betrayed by the tyrannical vampire lord Kain. Brought back to life by the Elder God, Raziel must embark on a journey across the desolate kingdom of Nosgoth to exact vengeance against his former master and vampiric brethren.

Soul Reaver’s grim narrative and intriguing characters remain some of gaming’s most memorable. Its combat system–which focused on taking advantage of vampiric weaknesses–is incredibly clever and creative. And its bevy of puzzles to solve and secrets to unearth still keeps you constantly engaged with the lore that covers the game’s haunting world.

Sony could do right in including this dark gothic epic in the PlayStation Classic’s game lineup–not only to remind folks what it is, but to give them an opportunity to experience one of the console’s best third-person action-adventure games. Make it happen, Sony! — Matt Espineli

Mega Man Legends

Mega Man has had plenty of spin-offs. Maybe too many. But even by the gonzo standards that brought us Mega Man Star Force, Legends is uniquely zany. Capcom’s first attempt to experiment with Mega Man in full 3D produced a strange Zelda-like concoction with loot and dungeon-crawling elements. Exploring the ruins underneath a humble town uncovered mechanized destroyers–Reavers–and a compelling mystery about their origins and purpose.

It didn’t work perfectly. Mega Man Legends was oftentimes difficult and imprecise to control, a side effect of new technology finding its footing. What set Mega Man Legends apart the most, though, was its lovable cast of characters. This was an early example of a game taking full advantage of the PS1 disc space with a staggering amount of voice acting, and each of them brought character and flavor to their roles. Mega Man and Roll were the earnest heroes, of course, and they were joined by a quirky cast of villains: the frazzled Teisel, take-no-guff Tron, and baby Bon-Bonne. It would be worth revisiting just to fall in love with these characters again–and revive demands for the cancelled Mega Man Legends 3. — Steve Watts

Metal Gear Solid

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Metal Gear Solid was a defining game of the PlayStation era. Featuring a unique brand of stealth-action gameplay, Hideo Kojima’s homage to western-centric military action films featured a remarkably mature story, coupled with some fourth wall-breaking weirdness that ultimately made for one of the 1990s’ most memorable 3D games. And with the coming release of the PlayStation Classic, Metal Gear Solid totally deserves a spot on the throwback console’s lineup.

What made Metal Gear Solid so groundbreaking at the time was that it was keenly aware of itself as a game. Along with some clever use of the then-new controller vibration, several moments throughout the game pulled tricks on players. In one of gaming’s most iconic boss battles, the villain Psycho Mantis uses his mind-bending powers to read the protagonist Solid Snake’s mind. But as it turns out, he was reading the player’s memory card to name drop Konami games they played recently. While it seems like a neat gimmick, this was mind-blowing back in the day, and it’s also a testament to the game’s forward and out-of-the-box thinking. Metal Gear Solid, even today, is a remarkable game, and the PlayStation Classic would be sorely lacking without it. — Alessandro Fillari

Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee

If you thought Limbo was the world’s first dark puzzle-platformer, you probably haven’t played Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee. In Abe’s Oddysee, you controlled an enslaved alien who discovers the factory in which he and his fellow Mudokons are forced to work is preparing to turn them all into snack cakes.

That’s when this unlikely hero burst into action, trying to escape the factory and save as many of his fellow slaves along the way. If you made one mistake, you’d get peppered with bullets, ground up by saw blades, mauled by dog-like creatures, or subjected to other, even worse fates. It was a tough game, but by the time you made your way to freedom you probably loved the doofy, farting protagonist. — Chris Reed

Resident Evil 2

Following up on the original Resident Evil‘s success, Resident Evil 2 took things much further. Bringing the scares and sense of dread to an overrun city, the sequel introduced two of the series’ most memorable characters and upped the stakes by making their struggle for survival more of a connected journey. While the original game introduced the concept of the survival horror game, Resident Evil 2 perfected it, making for one of the best action-horror games on the PlayStation. With the remake of Resident Evil 2 releasing next year on January 25, now would be a perfect time to get players refreshed or even introduced to the original game.

What made Resident Evil 2 so innovative was that it greatly expanded upon the concept of two playable protagonists. Known as the Zapping system, each character had their own particular campaign and perspective on events. After finishing one character’s story, you’d move on to the next, and often deal with the choices from the previous run–such as one character leaving little to no ammo for the other survivor. It all made for an experience that tasked players to think ahead, which was a series hallmark. Though Resident Evil and Resident Evil 3 were fantastic games, the middle point of the trilogy is the game that best used all these aspects of survival horror, making for one of the PlayStation’s best horror titles. — Alessandro Fillari

Silent Hill

The original 1999 Silent Hill has this eerily timeless quality that still produces a good scare in even long-time horror game veterans. Ironically, it’s been able to stand the test of time by relying on the PlayStation’s hardware limitations instead of trying to push for realistic graphics. The mysterious fog that blankets the town is supposed to hide that draw distance on the original PlayStation isn’t very good, but it also keeps Silent Hill’s frightening horrors hidden from you until they’re within striking distance. It’s terrifying to hear the soft sounds of something approaching and not being able to see what it is.

If the Resident Evil franchise is the primary inspiration behind shooter-heavy modern-day survival horror games like Dead Space and The Evil Within, then Silent Hill is the precursor to horror titles where your options for fighting back are very limited. For that alone, it deserves to be remembered, but Silent Hill is also a major influence for moving horror video games away from the Western-style of blood and gore and towards the Japanese style of psychological terror. Putting it on the PlayStation Classic is a good way of keeping the game from fading into grainy obscurity and will help dull the pain of losing PS4’s Silent Hills. — Jordan Ramee

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2

While skateboarding was popular in the late ’90s, the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series elevated it to unbelievable levels and acted as somewhat of a gateway for many future skaters. This was done by way of an easy-to-learn, hard-to-master trick system that had players pulling off grinds, flips, and grabs in an attempt to land a high score. Of course, that was just the first game; Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 allowed you to link all of these tricks together into mind-bending combos. At first, these combos seemed impossible and only doable by those who made the game, but to the players who just didn’t stop playing, they soon became second nature.

I can’t count how many times I’ve played through each entry in the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series. Even today, I’ll throw the disc into my console just to speed through each level and revisit the virtual playgrounds that are burned into my mind. The game I revisit the most is Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 on the original PlayStation, as its levels are some of my favorite in the series. However, none of them are quite as memorable as Warehouse from the original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. Paired with Superman by Goldfinger, it’s my generation’s version of Super Mario Bros.‘ 1-1.

Thanks to those licensed soundtracks, and the roster of real pro skaters, THPS 1 and 2 are not likely to be included on the PlayStation Classic, but that doesn’t mean either shouldn’t. This series is one of the best the PlayStation has ever seen. — Mat Paget

Twisted Metal 2

A system like PlayStation Classic is surely meant to evoke nostalgia and represent what made the platform special back in the day. If so, an entry from the Twisted Metal series–one of the platform’s defining exclusive franchises–is an essential inclusion.

There are plenty of Twisted Metal games to choose from, as a total of five were released on PS1. The easy choice is Twisted Metal 2: the final PS1 entry from David Jaffe and developer SingleTrac before 989 Studios took over and created a lesser copycat that lacked the soul of the first two games.

Twisted Metal 2 represents the best the series would have to offer until the PS2’s Black in 2001. It offers a demolition derby-style arena filled with gun-equipped cars, with the simple goal of wiping out the competition. With a varied arsenal of weapons, distinct vehicles, and numerous secrets to uncover, it made for a killer multiplayer experience–which would pair nicely with the predominantly single-player lineup of games revealed for the PlayStation Classic so far. — Chris Pereira

Here’s Devil May Cry 5’s in-game description of the Cavaliere, an actual weapon Dante is able to wield.

(I haven’t made this up.)

“Cavaliere – a motorcycle fused with a demon that splits in two to be wielded as twin swords.”

When equipped, Dante dons two motorbike chassis as if they were chrome boxing gloves. While the description above may say sword, chainsaw is far more accurate. As a combo escalates, the two halves fuse together to form a rideable bike, allowing Dante to power-slide his way through demons. It’s gloriously absurd, as you’d imagine, and stupidly fun to use.

But there’s more to the Cavaliere than you might think. Behind its ostentatious design lies the essence of how Capcom is navigating its return to the series (the last instalment was produced in 2013 by British studio Ninja Theory) and particularly the character of Dante.

Continue reading…

This is an early review of Amazon’s new scripted drama Homecoming out of the Toronto International Film Festival. The series premieres November 2 on Amazon Prime Video.

At first glance, Homecoming, Amazon Prime Video’s newest series based on a popular podcast of the same name (created by Eli Horowitz and Micah Bloomberg, who adapt their story for the screen here), may seem familiar to fans of Mr. Robot, which redefined the way one frames a scene for traditional television. Yet executive producer/director Sam Esmail not only knows how to make a mystery thriller look good, he knows exactly how to keep you on your toes and demanding more of the story.

Here, Esmail returns to confuse and intrigue audiences with another conspiracy thriller, this time leaning heavily into noir and Hitchcock to tell the story of Homecoming. We follow Heidi Bergman (Julia Roberts), a caseworker in a shady military reintegration facility that sells itself as a help center which prepares veterans for their return to civilian life. Bergman seems to be genuinely interested in helping her patients, instead of just using them as lab rats that can be mined for data on their trauma. She is especially interested in newcomer Walter Cruz (Stephan James), a soldier who’s on the verge of a breakdown as his compatriots’ paranoia starts getting to him, and the secrets of the eerie help center may threaten their very lives.

Continue reading…

IGN rounds up the best deals for the Apple iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max for September.

You’ve been thinking about using a cloud backup service, but don’t want to hassle with the research. Good news; we’ve done it for you, and here’s our picks for the very best.

Full-Tower ATX cases are still the best option if you want to keep your CPU or GPU (or both) liquid cooled, and here’s our picks for the very best at every price point.