Month: February 2020

Tom Holland said that somebody has talked to him about a Back to the Future remake, but he ultimately feels it’s unnecessary to make considering the original is “one of the most perfect films” ever made.

Holland recently appeared on BBC Radio 1 and was talking about his new movie Onward and one of the movie’s themes of being yourself and not fake. The interviewer brought up the viral deep fake of Holland and his Marvel co-star Robert Downey Jr. replacing Marty McFly and Doc Brown from Back to the Future. The interviewer asked Holland how quickly he would deny a Back to the Future remake if he was ever asked to do it.

“I’d be lying if I said there hadn’t been conversations in the past about doing some sort of remake, but that film is the most perfect film — or one of the most perfect films, one that could never be made better,” Holland told BBC Radio 1. “That said, if Downey and I could just shoot that one scene that they remade for fun — he could pay for it cause he’s got loads of money — I would do it for my fee and we could remake that scene. I think we owe it to deep fake because they did such a good job.”

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The director of the original film, Robert Zemeckis, told The Telegraph in 2015 that he would have to be dead for them to remake the original film.

“That can’t happen until both Bob [Gale, the trilogy’s co-writer,] and I are dead. And then I’m sure they’ll do it, unless there’s a way our estates can stop it.” He continued, “I mean, to me, that’s outrageous. Especially since it’s a good movie. It’s like saying ‘Let’s remake Citizen Kane. Who are we going to get to play Kane?’ What folly, what insanity is that? Why would anyone do that?”

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Back to the Future recently placed on IGN’s best summer blockbusters of all time and IGN’s top 25 sci-fi movies.

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Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN who will buy a DeLorean and drive it 88 miles per hour through the Universal backlot if they go forward with a remake of Back to the Future. Go play the Telltale game!

Razer’s DeathAdder has become an iconic mouse in PC gaming. Over the years, it’s undergone multiple revisions and refreshes to stay current with the latest trends and advancements from Razer. At the same time, it plays it safe with its design and has typically been priced to match. This month, the company is refreshing it again with the Razer DeathAdder V2. This version features a new 20K DPI Focus+ sensor, optical switches, and Speedflex cable, but is it fresh enough to buy all over again?

Design and Features

The Razer DeathAdder has always been about purpose. It’s a mouse you pick up when you don’t need masses of extra thumb buttons or fancy features that jack up the price. It’s a straightforward mouse for straightforward games – shooters in particular. It features a simple sculpted design with symmetrical buttons. It’s still made for right-handed gamers, though. Sorry, lefties!

Like each version before it, the V2 is more about performance than flash, so the design is accessible and familiar, and doesn’t bother reinventing much of anything. If you’ve seen or used any version of the DeathAdder before, you know what to expect here. Its larger size is best suited for palm and claw grips, and it instantly felt right at home in my hand.

Even though it looks familiar, the DeathAdder V2 is easily the best version of the mouse yet. The V2 brings a number of major improvements, but the most noticeable is how light it is. We’re not quite in ultralight territory (usually considered around 70 grams or less) but are close at 82 grams – 23 grams lighter than its predecessor the DeathAdder Elite. The DeathAdder V2 nails this middle-ground, making it an excellent choice for gamers who want a lightweight mouse but may not be sold on going as light as possible.

The other thing you’re likely to notice right away are the new optical mouse switches. The clicks are magical. I previously considered Logitech to have the best-feeling mouse switches, but Razer now holds the crown in my book. They’re tactile and satisfying and just stiff enough to prevent mis-clicks. Beyond that, without any physical contacts they’re much more durable, so Razer has rated them for 70M clicks each.

Razer also claims the switches are “3x faster” than mechanical switches, since there’s no debounce delay in the electrical signal. This is a known benefit of optical switches and something much touted by switch manufacturers, but it’s not the kind of improvement you’ll feel or notice in actual gameplay. Still, the switches are fast, consistent, and feel great to use.

The mouse has also been upgraded with Razer’s Focus+ Optical Sensor. Along with a boost to 20K DPI, it features the company’s new Motion Sync technology. It’s an interesting idea but, like the debounce delay improvement on the optical switches, it’s about raising the bar on what’s possible versus what you’re actually likely to feel. Motion Sync functions by aligning the signals sent by the mouse with the rate your PC seeks them, so your position is always accurate. It’s an innovation that very likely does make the mouse more consistent but in practice it’s hard to tell the difference.

Focus+ does bring with it a cool feature that’s long overdue: automatic surface calibration. No more needing to open Synapse to calibrate your surface for lift-off distance! It also allows you to set the height that the mouse will begin sensing again.

Along with the improvements to the DeathAdder’s eye, Razer has added a number of quality of life features with this generation. You can now save five profiles to onboard storage, so you won’t need Synapse on multiple PCs. The addition of a profile-cycling button brings the button count from 7 to 8, but since it’s on the bottom, that extra button wasn’t helpful in games. The mouse also sports Razer’s excellent Speedflex cable which is super flexible and low drag for a wireless-like experience. The feet have also been upgraded to 100% PTFE for an extra-smooth glide.

As you might expect from a Razer peripheral, the DeathAdder is fully customizable. Inside the Synapse suite, you can remap every button except for Left Click. Razer has come a long way with its software, and it’s both intuitive and powerful. You can easily assign macros, launch programs, create second layers, or even turbo buttons. It also allows you to control the mouse’s palm and ring RGB with preset or custom effects.

Performance

The Razer DeathAdder V2 is a performance mouse, so I put it to the test in some of my favorite performance games. I’m a huge fan of first-person shooters, so I wasted no time jumping into a match of Apex Legends. The size and shape of the DeathAdder felt natural in my hand right away, so I was able to get up to speed with Wraith in no time at all.

Playing Apex with the DeathAdder really highlighted how fluid it makes high intensity gaming. The move to full PTFE feet was smart and allows the mouse to glide like a dream. I spent time on hard and smooth mouse mats as well as a bare desk and it still glides better than any of my mice with standard feet. This can make control a bit tougher, however, so I had to lower the DPI a touch when I swapped to hard surfaces.

Over the last two weeks, I also spent a good amount of time in other shooters like Overwatch, Battlefield V, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and PUBG. The DeathAdder V2 lived up to every demand I put on it, including fast whips to catch enemies stalking from behind. The new switches felt excellent to use and saved me from sending out accidental shots while tracking enemies with my sniper rifle.

The only time I felt like the mouse wasn’t a good fit was when I swapped genres and started playing World of Warcraft. The DeathAdder’s conventional button layout doesn’t lend itself to games that require lots of keybinds.

Purchasing Guide

The Razer DeathAdder V2 has an MSRP of $69 and is available on Amazon or direct from Razer.

As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread, many events are getting canceled due to health concerns. A number of upcoming Street Fighter 5 tournaments are getting axed for the same reasons.

The official Twitter account for the Capcom Pro Tour has confirmed that three different tournaments are now canceled as the team takes into consideration the health of its employees, organizers, and competitors. This year’s Brussels Challenge, Norcal Regionals, and April Annihilation are no longer part of the Capcom Pro Tour.

The Brussels Challenge is a three-day competition in Belgium that was originally scheduled to take place between March 20-22 before this cancellation. Similarly, both the Norcal Regionals and April Annihilation were slated to be held between April 10-12 in San Jose and New Jersey, respectively.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Marvel Comics has been teasing the debut of a major new X-Men storyline that will kick off the second phase of writer Jonathan Hickman’s multi-year X-Men saga. Now we know the name of that story – X of Swords.

As revealed at the Marvel Comics: X-Men panel at C2E2, X of Swords is a crossover event that will link together all the ongoing X-Men titles. X of Swords begins in July, following a prelude tale in Marvel’s Free Comic Book Day 2020 special. While Marvel isn’t revealing much about the plot of this crossover, their press release does tease the story will begin “the next phase of Jonathan Hickman’s vision for mutantkind, which will affect the entire X-Men line.”

The “X” in the title is meant to be read as “Ten.” As with 2019’s Powers of X, we assume that title will make more sense after reading the crossover. The title is probably inspired by the tarot card Ten of Swords, which generally represents betrayal, rivalry and tragic endings. The new art shown during the panel suggests the crossover will also literally revolve around sword-wielding X-Men. [note – we’ll update this article with new X of Swords art as it becomes available]

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What could X of Swords be about? Since the new mutant status quo was established, most of the X-books have focused on the growing pains facing the nation of Krakoa as it asserts its place on the world stage and various human enemies work to tear down what Moira MacTaggert, Professor Xavier and Magneto have built. Meanwhile, there have been increasing signs Xavier isn’t in his right mind, while Mystique may be plotting to bring Krakoa burning down. X of Swords may build on any of those ongoing story threads as Krakoa faces a dire new threat.

The emphasis on swords is certainly interesting in light of the recent X-Men #7. That issue revealed a grim ritual known as Crucible, where de-powered mutants have to fight Apocalypse in order to earn an honorable death and be reborn as full mutants again. Does the title also refer to the sword Apocalypse uses to kill these mutants? Are there ten resurrected mutants in particular who form the crux of this conflict?

It’s also worth remembering that the X-Men franchise features several noteworthy swords, including Magik’s mystical Soulsword and Wolverine’s healing factor-canceling Muramasa blade. Does the title imply there are ten swords of special significance to the mutant race?

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No doubt Marvel will have more to reveal as we get closer to July. For now, check out our biggest questions about the new X-Men status quo, stay tuned to IGN for more big C2E2 announcements over the course of the weekend.

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Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

After a fairly slow January for board games, things are beginning to speed up. We’ve got a delicious selection for your delectation this month. The board game releases range from raucous party games, through classic board game revamps to fresh new ideas. And we’ve got expansions to two of the very best titles from last year, a great reminder to check them out if you haven’t already.

These are all picked out of this month’s new releases with a likely-looking pedigree. So buckle in and read on for the highlights of February’s release round-up.

Board Game New Releases

In the Hall Of The Mountain King

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Optimization games are often cloaked under a drab theme, but in this one you get to be a clan of trolls, carving tunnels and statues deep beneath the earth. Players recruit new trolls to their team with a novel pyramid mechanic that can get you bonuses from existing workers. Then they’re set to work making burrows from a stack of polyominoes, adding spatial strategy to the mix. After enough delving, you score by erecting various statues to adorn your new hallways. It’s a tight, challenging mix of game elements that appeals across genres. Digging has never been more diverting.

Wavelength

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Wavelength is the latest hot party game to wow your friends and family and hobby group all alike. Divide into two teams — or one to play co-operatively — and players on each team take turns being psychic. This involves showing a card with two extremes of the same thing — say dystopia and utopia. They use the clever plastic wheel included to secretly choose a point between these two, then give a one-word clue. Their team-mates use this clue to try and match the chosen point. Wavelength has the usual fun guessing common to party games but its genius is that wheel. It allows leeway between right and wrong, giving more margin for error and keeping everyone engaged in the game.

Letterpress

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Word games are another wide crowd pleaser and Letterpress is no exception, with its smart tweaks to every stage of the formula. First, you get a hand of letter cards by draft, picking one and passing the rest on. If you win the round with a high scoring word, you get first pick of the letters used, plus a challenge letter if you’ve met the conditions, to add to your stash. Then it’s all on the fraught fifth round where you use what’s in your stash to make one final word, with the winner taking the game. This buildup of letters from round to round gives it a keen strategic edge its peers lack.

Sanctum

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From the fiery face on the box to the red and blue globes on the player board, it’s clear Sanctum is a homage to the classic video game franchise Diablo. Players advance across different areas, accumulating hordes of demons to stop and fight. Strategy comes from the clever skill and inventory system which demands tough decisions on what to upgrade and when. The rest of the game propping up that core is rather flat and repetitive, though. And it feels like a co-operative game with an awkward win condition shoehorned on at the end.

Rallyman GT

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This is a sweet revamp of 2009’s Rallyman, with all new components and rules. It’s a dice-based racing game where you go head to head around a twisting rally course you’ve built from the included pieces. Movement means rolling dice according to your current speed and using the results to plot your way around the course. You’ll need high gears to overtake your competitors but beware: hit a corner too fast and you’ll spin out of control. A risk-versus-reward game with a vicious edge to punish the overzealous, it’s a thrill ride to the finish line.

Sorcerer City

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Time pressure is becoming a more and more popular way to spice up stale genres. Sorcerer City brings the tyranny of the timer to tile laying as you compete to make the best district of a fantasy city from your stack of tiles. This isn’t just a race for points though: that’s only one reward you’re seeking as you struggle to slot your tiles together. There are other resources allowing you to buy new tiles for your stack and player order, making each round a balancing act. You also need to beware of the monster tiles that slip into your stack and cause havoc with your well- (or badly-) laid plans.

Board Game Expansions

Tiny Towns Fortune

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Tiny Towns was one of the best board games of 2019, an apparently simple and benign game of picking resources and making patterns out of them. One play revealed it as an infuriating, unforgiving, vicious game full of spatial puzzles and hate-drafting. Fortune adds a new resource — money — and building cards which use it. The catch is that you can’t pick it like other resources: it’s earned by saving cubes to make two builds at once. Cue even more spatial puzzles and hate-drafts as everyone’s town plans fill up with unfinished buildings.

Unmatched: Bruce Lee and Unmatched: Robin Hood vs Bigfoot

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• See Unmatched: Robinhood vs Bigfoot at Amazon

Unmatched is fantastic skirmish system, stripped to the bare essentials yet still full of tactics and variety. Its schtick is that it pits heroes from across time and space against each other. Bruce Lee is the latest legend to join the lineup with a snazzy sparkling base and dragon logo. His deck feels like a Kung-Fu manual, rewarding combos and sequences, a new feel for the series. Robin Hood vs Bigfoot has been out a bit longer, facing English archery against the melee might of the hairy hominid. It’s a bit more like the base set but is playable in its own right, with rules and a new board.

New Board Games on Kickstarter

Gladius

• See it on Kickstarter

Take your seats in the gladiatorial arenas of ancient Rome, and aim to walk away with the biggest purse. Gladius is a fast and furious betting game of stacking the odds in your favor. A random fight gets drawn from different events and gladiators and you’ve got to weigh up their chances and bet on the victor. Then comes the fun part where you plot, bluff, and backstab to try and influence the outcome. Already riding high on a slew of pre-publication awards, the production version boasts wonderful cartoon art.

Public Market

• See it on Kickstarter

Fish markets aren’t the most promising subject for a board game. But what stands out here is the clever recombination of standout gaming mechanics. First, there’s a classic auction where you bid for the best fishing spot. When you’ve landed your catch, you’ve got a spatial puzzle to solve to make sure you can get the lot into your frozen hold. Finally, it’s time to face the market with a challenging combination of demands to match against your haul of fish. All the parts fit neatly together into a new game in a classic mould.

Mirror’s Edge meets Hotline Miami in the cyberpunk action game Ghostrunner. See brand new footage from the PAX East demo featuring improvements to the game’s visuals and an added combat section.

Check out this gameplay for Recompile, a Metroidvania-inspired game where you play as a computer program that shoots and hacks though a mainframe, picking up new powers as you play.