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The Best Streaming Services: HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, And More (May 2020)

More than ever, people are turning to streaming services in order to get their entertainment. Whether it be watching moves, TV shows, or originals content, these services offer up programming just as good–and sometimes higher quality–than what cable or satellite TV can provide. And watching on-demand services has never been easier, as users can watch on-demand video on their computer, television, phones, and video game consoles. Premium channels like HBO and Showtime are also getting into the streaming game as well, offering standalone apps. But for those who aren’t ready to leave cable, there are also services streaming local channels to your streaming device as well. Live TV streaming services are also a legitimate rival to TV, and that’s not changing anytime soon.

The days of an Netflix merely complimenting your cable package are gone. There are a ton of options out there now, for better and worse. Subscribing to one streaming service is a steal compared to cable, but sticking to just the best TV streaming service isn’t as convenient as it used to be. Most services don’t have access to all the TV channels like Comedy Central, As you rack up subscriptions to other services, the combined price can start to look a lot like that cable bill you were so eager to ditch. Even just a combination of the most popular services–Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Prime Video–will cost you $30 a month on the low end.

To help you make the best decisions, we’ve put together this handy guide outlining the best TV streaming services to consider in 2020. We weighed both cost and content and will continue to re-evaluate over time as services change and new options become available.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

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Crucible Review – A Prime Disappointment

It’s easy to recognize Crucible‘s many design influences. The Amazon-published third-person multiplayer game features hero-style characters with abilities similar to those found in Overwatch. Its one MOBA-centric game mode should feel familiar to you if you’ve played Smite or the now-defunct Paragon. And even its light progression system echoes the one found in Gearbox’s Battleborn. Crucible attempts to remix a lot of existing ideas and cohesively tie them together into something more successful, but as a result, it fails to create an identity for itself.

Crucible takes place on an alien planet primed for off-world mining, which plays host to three game modes on its single map. Heart of the Hive is as close to a MOBA as Crucible gets, with a focus on PvP and PvE play as two teams fight to secure the hearts of dangerous hives. Alpha Hunters is a spin on battle royale, with teams of two skirmishing in short matches. Lastly, Harvester Command combines traits of team deathmatch and classic point control, rewarding players for kills and the number of objectives controlled on the map. In each mode, you have a choice to play as one of 10 characters, each with a handful of unique abilities and unlockable traits.

Heart of the Hive is the main event, pitting two teams of four against one another on a large map filled with AI enemies as you hunt down periodically spawning hives and attempt to capture three of their underlying hearts. Like in most MOBAs, you kill these enemies for XP, levelling up your character to improve your health, damage, and ability effectiveness. But in Crucible, there’s no challenge involved in killing these enemies; it’s easy enough to tackle a large group of them alone without any risk, dancing around their slow and predictable attack patterns. It reduces the necessary farming of experience to a mindless annoyance, made even more irritating by the fact that it’s predominantly how you’ll spend most of your time in this mode.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

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Mafia 2: Definitive Edition Is A Lousy Remaster But Still An Interesting Game

Mafia II: Definitive Edition, the new version of the 2010 game available now on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, opens with a message that primed me for a game that might not have held up well. It reads:

“Mafia II: Definitive Edition presents the game’s narrative content in its original form from 2010. The game includes culturally sensitive content and themes, and is intended only for mature audiences.”

In some ways, this feels like an abdication of responsibility for some elements of the game that have aged poorly. And indeed, as I replay the game on my PS4, there are many such parts. Mafia II was never the most sensitive game, and in 2020 the “culturally sensitive content” made me squirm more than it might have 10 years ago. The game’s plot contains few women with any real agency, and the script is full of slurs against them, as well as various racist slurs. When your character goes to prison, there are the prerequisite homophobic jokes about the showers.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

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IGN Prime: Get Rising Hell for Free

IGN Prime has partnered with TOGE Productions to bring you early access to Rising Hell, a vertical platformer rogue-like filled with adrenaline-pumping action and tons of heavy gothic metal shreds.

Rising Hell places you in the shackles of Arok, a sinner with a mysterious power to kill demons. Fight your way through the horde of Belial and escape Hell as you unlock new characters and talents to create chaos in the randomly-generated and ever-changing landscape.

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Click here to get your early access key to Rising Hell on PC. Keys are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and reserved for IGN Prime members.

Every month, the IGN Prime team provides members an opportunity to grab great games and goodies picked by us.

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The Biggest Games Coming in June

Even though time seems to have no meaning anymore, I’m still astonished that 2020 is nearly halfway over. Here we are, already closing in on June–who knew? With a new month comes a good excuse to peek ahead at the PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC games on the horizon. This month brings the heaviest of heavy hitters in the form of The Last of Us Part 2, but there are plenty of other games for anyone who doesn’t want to spend time in a different sort of apocalypse.

The Last of Us Part 2

last-of-us-part-2Release Date: June 19

The biggest release of June 2020 is also one of the most anticipated games of the entire console generation. This sequel catches up with Ellie and Joel five years after the events of the original game and promises another violent, emotional adventure.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Greymoor

greymoorRelease Date: June 9

It’s already out on PC, but soon console ESO players can pick up this expansion. In it, you travel to the beloved snowy region of Skyrim to stop a vampire lord from doing very bad things to the people of Tamriel.

Spongebob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated

spongebobRelease Date: June 23

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Spongebob does, and you can visit the old chap with this remake of a platformer from 2003. It’s even available in a F.U.N. edition that comes with high-quality figurines, socks, and more.

Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics

clubhouse-games-51-worldwide-classics-switch-screenshot05Release Date: June 5

Not every game has to involve shooting and explosions. This collection of 51 classic tabletop games lets you play locally and online with up to four players.

The Outer Worlds

outer-worldsRelease Date: June 5

An open-world RPG from the makers of Fallout: New Vegas, The Outer Worlds scratches the same itch as that modern classic. And on June 5 it lands on Switch.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III – Extracurricular Edition

trails-of-cold-steel-3Release Date: June 30

In June the Switch is also getting the third Trails of Cold Steel game, which has previously been available on other platforms. Only this is the Extracurricular edition, which means it comes with a 20-page mini art book, animated lenticular card, reverse cover insert, and 26 DLC items.

Burnout Paradise Remastered

burnout-paradiseRelease Date: June 19

Whether you played this open-world racer when it first came out in 2008 or not, it’s worth checking out–possibly even if you’re not into racing games. There’s just something so satisfying about running your opponent off the road.

Valorant

valorantRelease Date: June 2

This first-person shooter from Riot Games pits two teams of five against each other. It features Overwatch-like character abilities and highly tactical shooting.

Other June 2020 Game Releases

Tour de France 2020 (June 4)

Command and Conquer Remastered Collection (June 5)

The Dark Eye: Book of Heroes (June 9)

Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD (June 9)

Ys: Memories of Celceta (June 9)

Warborn (June 12)

Daymare 1998 (June 16)

Desperados III (June 16)

Disintegration (June 16)

Waking (June 18)

  • PC | Xbox One

Little Town Hero (June 23)

Ninjala (June 24)

The Almost Gone (June 25)

Mr. Driller DrillLand (June 25)

Azuer Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack (June 30)

Hunting Simulator 2 (June 30)

Indivisible (June 30)

Railway Empire (June 30)

Truck Driver (June 30)

The Wonderful 101: Remastered (June 30)

For a broader look at upcoming releases, check out the rest of the games coming in 2020 and beyond.

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Chris Reed is IGN’s shopping and commerce editor. You can follow him on Twitter @_chrislreed.

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