Photo Credit: Vivo Vivo T4 5G is offered in Emerald Blaze and Phantom Grey colourways Highlights Vivo T4 5G has an IP65-rated dust and splash-resistant build The handset has a 50-megapixel dual rear camera unit The Vivo T4 5G carries an 8-megapixel selfie shooter Advertisement Vivo T4 5G was launched in India on Tuesday. The smartphone comes with a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset paired with up to 12GB RAM and a 7,300mAh battery with 90W Flashcharge, as well as wireless and reverse charging support. It comes with a 50-megapixel dual rear camera unit and an 8-megapixel front camera sensor for selfies and video calls. The handset has a quad-curved AMOLED display and an IP65-rated dust and splash-resistant build. Notably, the Vivo T4x 5G variant was unveiled in India in March.Vivo T4 5G Price in India, AvailabilityVivo T4 5G price in India starts at Rs. 21,999 for the 8GB + 128GB option, while the 8GB + 256GB and 12GB + 256GB variants are marked at Rs. 23,999 and Rs. 25,999, respectively. It is offered in Emerald Blaze and Phantom Grey colour options. The phone will be available for purchase in the country via Flipkart, the Vivo India e-store and select offline retail stores.Vivo T4 5G Features, SpecificationsThe Vivo T4 5G sports a 6.77-inch full-HD+ (1,080 x 2,392 pixels) AMOLED quad-curved display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 5,000 nits of local peak brightness. The phone is powered by a 4nm octa-core Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 SoC paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 2.2 onboard storage. It ships with Android 15-based Funtouch OS 15.For optics, the Vivo T4 5G gets a 50-megapixel primary rear sensor with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and an f/1.8 aperture alongside a 2-megapixel secondary sensor with an f/2.4 aperture. The front camera is an 8-megapixel shooter with an f/2.0 aperture.  The Vivo T4 5G is backed by a 7,300mAh battery with support for 90W wired FlashCharge as well as reverse and bypass charging. The handset has an in-display fingerprint sensor for security. It has an IP65 dust and splash resistance rating. Connectivity options include 5G, 4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, OTG and a USB Type-C port. The Emerald Blaze variant measures 163.40 x 76.40 x 7.89mm, while the Phantom Grey option has a 7.93mm profile. Both versions weigh 199g.Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details. KEY SPECSNEWSDisplay 6.77-inchProcessor Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3Front Camera 8-megapixel Rear Camera 50-megapixel + 2-megapixel RAM 8GB, 12GBStorage 128GB, 256GBBattery Capacity 7300mAhOS Android 15Resolution 1080x2392 pixels For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube. Further reading: Vivo T4 5G, Vivo T4 5G Price in India, Vivo T4 5G India Launch, Vivo T4 5G Features, Vivo T4 series, Vivo Sucharita Ganguly Sucharita is a writer with Gadgets 360 and is mostly found playing with her cat in her free time. She has previously worked at breaking news desks across organizations. Powered by coffee, The Beatles, Bowie, and her newfound love for BTS, she aims to work towards contributing to a better media environment for women and queer folk. More Related Stories

Featured image by Greg NudelmanSecrets of Agentic UX: Emerging Design Patterns for Human Interaction with AI Agents11 min read·Just now--IDEAS IN BRIEFThe article examines how UX designers can effectively work with AI agents by understanding the four key capability types that shape agent behavior and user interaction.It emphasizes the importance of evaluating an AI agent’s perception, reasoning, action, and learning abilities early in the design process to create experiences that are realistic, ethical, and user-centered.The piece provides practical frameworks and examples — from smart home devices to healthcare bots — to help designers ask the right questions, collaborate cross-functionally, and scope AI use responsibly.As AI becomes more embedded in products, designers must understand what these systems can truly do. This article introduces a practical framework built around four core capabilities — perception, reasoning, memory, and agency — to help UX professionals design smarter, more trustworthy AI experiences. With real-world examples and actionable tips, it’s a must-read for anyone shaping the future of AI-powered interfaces.By many accounts, AI Agents are already here, but they are just not evenly distributed. However, few examples yet exist of what a good user experience of interacting with that near-futuristic incarnation of AI might look like. Fortunately, at the recent AWS Re: Invent conference, I came upon an excellent example of what the UX of interacting with AI Agents might look like, and I am eager to share that vision with you in this article. But first, what exactly are AI Agents?What are AI Agents?Imagine an ant colony. In a typical ant colony, you have different specialties of ants: workers, soldiers, drones, queens, etc. Every ant in a colony has a different job — they operate independently yet as part of a cohesive whole. You can “hire” an individual ant (Agent) to do some simple semi-autonomous job for you, which in itself is pretty cool. However, try to imagine that you can hire the entire ant hill to do something much more complex or interesting: figure out what’s wrong with your system, book your trip, or …Do pretty much anything a human can do in front of a computer. Each ant on their own is not very smart — they are instead highly specialized to do a particular job. However, put together, different specialties of ants present a kind of “collective intelligence” that we associate with higher-order animals. The most significant difference between “AI,” as we’ve been using the term in the blog, and AI Agents is autonomy. You don’t need to give an AI Agent precise instructions or wait for synchronized output — the entire interaction with a set of AI Agents is much more fluid and flexible, much like an ant hill would approach solving a problem.UX for AI: A Framework for Designing AI-Driven Products (Wiley, 2025). Image by Greg NudelmanHow do AI Agents work?There are many different ways that agentic AI might work — it’s an extensive topic worthy of its own book (perhaps in a year or two). In this article, we will use an example of troubleshooting a problem on a system as an example of a complex flow involving a Supervisor Agent (also called “Reasoning Agent”) and some Worker Agents. The flow starts when a human operator receives an alert about a problem. They launch an investigation, and a team of semi-autonomous AI Agents led by a supervisory Agent helps them find the root cause and make recommendations about how to fix the problem. Let’s break down the process of interacting with AI Agents in a step diagram:Multi-stage agentic AI flow. Image by Greg NudelmanA multi-stage agentic workflow pictured above has the following steps:A human operator issues a general request to a Supervisor AI Agent.Supervisor AI Agent then spins up and issues general requests to several specialized semi-autonomous Worker AI Agents that start investigating various parts of the system, looking for the root cause (Database).Worker Agents bring back findings to the Supervisor Agent, which collates them as Suggestions for the human operator.Human operator accepts or rejects various Suggestions, which causes the Supervisor Agent to spin up additional Workers to investigate (Cloud).After some time going back and forth, the Supervisor Agent produces a Hypothesis about the Root Cause and delivers it to the human operator.Just like in the case of contracting a typical human organization, a Supervisor AI Agent has a team of specialized AI Agents at their disposal. The Supervisor can route a message to any of the AI Worker Agents under its supervision, who will do the task and communicate back to the Supervisor. The Supervisor may choose to assign the task to a specific Agent and send additional instructions at a later time when more information becomes available. Finally, when the task is complete, the output is communicated back to the user. A human operator then has the option to give feedback or additional tasks to the Supervising AI Agent, in which case the entire process begins again.The human does not need to worry about any of the internal stuff — all that is handled in a semi-autonomous manner by the Supervisor. All the human does is state a general request, then review and react to the output of this agentic “organization.” This is exactly how you would communicate with an ant colony if you could do such a thing: you would assign the job to the queen and have her manage all of the workers, soldiers, drones, and the like. And much like in the ant colony, the individual specialized Agent does not need to be particularly smart or to communicate with the human operator directly — they need only to be able to semi-autonomously solve the specialized task they are designed to perform and be able to pass precise output back to the Supervisor Agent, and nothing more. It is the job of the Supervisor Agent to do all of the reasoning and communication. This AI model is more efficient, cheaper, and highly practical for many tasks. Let’s take a look at the interaction flow to get a better feel for what this experience is like in the real world.Use case: CloudWatch investigation with AI AgentsFor simplicity, we will follow the workflow diagram earlier in the article, with each step in the flow matching that in the diagram. This example comes from AWS Re: Invent 2024 — Don’t get stuck: How connected telemetry keeps you moving forward (COP322), by AWS Events on YouTube, starting at 53 minutes.Step 1The process starts when the user finds a sharp increase in faults in a service called “bot-service” (top left in the screenshot) and launches a new investigation. The user then passes all of the pertinent information and perhaps some additional instructions to the Supervisor Agent.Step 1: Human Operator launches a new investigation. Image Source: AWS via YouTubeStep 2Now, in Step 2, the Supervisor Agent receives the request and spawns a bunch of Worker AI Agents that will be semi-autonomously looking at different parts of the system. The process is asynchronous, meaning the initial state of suggestions on the right is empty: findings do not come immediately after the investigation is launched.Step 2: Supervisor Agent launches Worker Agents that take some time to report back. Image Source: AWS via YouTubeStep 3Now the Worker Agents come back with some “suggested observations” that are processed by the Supervisor and added to the Suggestions on the right side of the screen. Note that the right side of the screen is now wider to allow for easier reading of the agentic suggestions. In the screen below, two very different observations are suggested by different Agents, the first one specializing in the service metrics and the second one specializing in tracing.Step 3: Worker Agents come back with suggested observations that may pertain to the problem experienced by the system. Image Source: AWS via YouTubeThese “suggested observations” form the “evidence” in the investigation that is targeted at finding the root cause of the problem. To figure out the root cause, the human operator in this flow helps out: they respond back to the Supervisor Agent to tell it which of these observations are most relevant. Thus, the Supervisor Agent and human work side by side to collaboratively figure out the root cause of the problem.Step 4The human operator responds by clicking “Accept” on the observations they find relevant, and those are added to the investigation “case file” on the left side of the screen. Now that the humans have added some feedback to indicate the information they find relevant, the agentic process kicks in the next phase of the investigation. Now that the Supervisor Agent has received the user feedback, they will stop sending “more of the same” but instead will dig deeper and perhaps investigate a different aspect of the system as they search for the root cause. Note in the image below that the new suggestions now coming in on the right are of a different type — these are now looking at logs for a root cause.Step 4: After user feedback, the Agents look deeper and come back with different suggestions. Image Source: AWS via YouTubeStep 5Finally, the Supervisor Agent has enough information to take a stab at identifying the root cause of the problem. Hence, it switches from evidence gathering to reasoning about the root cause. In steps 3 and 4, the Supervisor Agent was providing “suggested observations.” Now, in Step 5, it is ready for a big reveal (the “denouement scene,” if you will) so, like a literary detective, the Supervisor Agent delivers its “Hypothesis suggestion.” (This is reminiscent of the game “Clue” where the players take turns making “suggestions,” and then, when they are ready to pounce, they make an “accusation.” The Supervisor Agent is doing the same thing here!)Step 5: Supervisor Agent is now ready to point out the culprit of the “crime.” Image Source: AWS via YouTubeThe suggested hypothesis is correct, and when the user clicks “accept,” the Supervisor Agent helpfully provides the next steps to fix the problem and prevent future issues of a similar nature. The Agent almost seems to wag a finger at the human by suggesting that they “implement proper change management procedures” — the foundation of any good system hygiene!Supervisor Agent also provides the next steps to fix the problem and prevent it in the future. Image Source: AWS via YouTubeFinal thoughtsThere are many reasons why agentic flows are highly compelling and are a focus of so much AI development work today. Agents are compelling, economical, and allow for a much more natural and flexible human-machine interface, where the Agents fill the gaps left by a human and vice versa, literally becoming a mind-meld of human and a machine, a super-human “Augmented Intelligence,” which is much more than the sum of its parts. However, getting the most value from interacting with agents also requires drastic changes in how we think about AI and how we design user interfaces that need to support agentic interactions:Flexible, adjustable UI: Agents work alongside humans, to do that, AI Agents require a flexible workflow that supports continuous interactions between humans and machines across multiple stages — starting investigation, accepting evidence, forming a hypothesis, providing next steps, etc. It’s a Flexible looping flow crossing multiple iterations.Autonomy: while, for now, human-in-the-loop seems to be the norm for agentic workflows, Agents show remarkable abilities to come up with hypotheses, gather evidence, and iterate the hypothesis as needed until they solve the problem. They do not get tired or run out of options and give up. AI Agents also show the ability to effectively “write code… a tool building its own tool” to explore novel ways to solve problems — this is new. This kind of interaction by nature requires an “aggressive” AI, e.g., these Agents are trained on maximum Recall, open to trying every possibility to ensure the most true positive outcomes (see our Value Matrix discussion here.) This means that sometimes the Agents will take an action “just to try it” without “thinking” about the cost of false positive or false negative outcomes. For example, an aggressive AI Agent “doctor” might prescribe an invasive brain cancer biopsy procedure without considering lower-risk alternatives first or even stopping to get the patient’s consent! All this requires a deeper level of human and machine analysis and multiple new approval flows for aggressive AI “exploration ideas” that might lead to human harm or simply balloon the out-of-budget costs.New controls are required: while much of the interaction can be accomplished with existing screens, the majority of Agent actions are asynchronous, which means that most web pages with the traditional transactional, synchronous request/response models are a poor match for this new kind of interaction. We are going to need to introduce some new design paradigms. For example, start, stop, and pause buttons are a good starting point for controlling the agentic flow, as otherwise you run a very real risk of ending up with the “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” situation from Fantasia (with self-replicating brooms fetching water without stopping, creating a huge, expensive mess).You “hire” AI to perform a task: this is a radical departure from traditional tool use. These are no longer tools, they are reasoning entities, intelligent in their own ways. AI service already consists of multiple specialized Agents monitored by a Supervisor. Very soon, we will introduce multiple levels of management with sub-supervisors and “team leads” reporting to the final “account executive Agent” that deals with humans… Just as human organizations do today. Up to now, organizations needed to track Products, People, and Processes. Now, we are adding a new definition of “people” — AI Agents. That means developing workable UIs for safeguarding confidential information, Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), and Agent versioning. Safeguarding the agentic data is going to be even more important than signing NDAs with your human staff.Continuously Learning Systems: to get full value out of Agents, they need continuous learning. Agents learn, quickly becoming experts in whatever systems they work with. The initial Agent, just like a new intern, will know very little, but they will quickly become the “adult in the room” with more access and more experience than most humans. This will have the effect of creating a massive power shift in the workplace. We need to be ready.Regardless of how you feel about AI Agents, it is clear that they are here to stay and evolve alongside their human counterparts. It is, therefore, essential that we understand how agentic AIs work and how to design systems that allow us to work with them safely and productively, emphasizing the best of what humans and machines can bring to the table.

News The Last of Us Season 2 Trailer Teases a Harrowing Episode 3 A new teaser offers glimpses of what's in store for the HBO series' next episode, after a game-changing episode 2. Posted By Shubhankar Parijat | On 22nd, Apr. 2025 The second episode of HBO’s The Last of Us premiered on Sunday, and suffice it to say, it was one that we won’t be forgetting about anytime soon- which, incidentally, is the most that can be said about it without veering into spoiler territory, for those who haven’t yet seen it. For those who are caught up, however, HBO has released a brief new trailer that offers a look at what next week’s episode will have in store. Plenty went down in Jackson in episode 2, to say the very least, and pretty much all of the major players of the story will be reeling with the aftermath, as pieces also begin moving into place for the story’s next phase. Check out the teaser below for a glimpse of what that’ll bring.  The Last of Us Season 2’s third episode will premiere next Sunday, April 27, after which, the season will have four episodes remaining in the pipeline. Tagged With: Atomfall Publisher:Rebellion Developments Developer:Rebellion Developments Platforms:PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, PCView More Monster Hunter Wilds Publisher:Capcom Developer:Capcom Platforms:PS5, Xbox Series X, PCView More South of Midnight Publisher:Microsoft Developer:Compulsion Games Platforms:Xbox Series X, PCView More Amazing Articles You Might Want To Check Out! Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO DLC Will Add 8 New Characters on April 24 Daima Character Pack 1 will add several new playable fighters in the form of Goku (Mini) Super Saiyan, several... The Last of Us Season 2 Trailer Teases a Harrowing Episode 3 A new teaser offers glimpses of what's in store for the HBO series' next episode, after a game-changing episod... Nintendo of America Boss on New 3D Mario for Switch 2: “Stay Tuned” Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser says he is "sure" Super Mario will "will make its way" to the Ninten... PS6 Portable Can Run PS5 Games Without Work by Developers – Rumour Developers might still want to end up releasing an update for their games on the rumoured console to improve p... Bethesda Confirms The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Announcement for April 22nd The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered could finally be announced as Bethesda teases "All will be revealed" ... Once Human Cross-Platform Progression Details Revealed, Out on April 23 The studio has revealed details surrounding what accounts players will need for Once Human's cross-platform pr... View More

w00tmanUK Member Nov 9, 2017 513 Hola people. Finally picked up a copy of Super Mario 3D All-stars and got to try, for the first time ever, Mario Sunshine. I have no affinity for the gamecube - I owned one, briefly, but I was going though a PC-gaming phase at the time so it didn't last long. Mario 64 is one of my GOATs - I was at the right age (12) when it launched, it was revolutionary, and I adore, but had never played the other two games on the pack. So I eagerly dove into Sunshine.. ..and absolutely hate it. Now I haven't put long into it - maybe 2 or 3 hours, tops, but so far it would be deadliest of all the Mario games I can remember playing (I am unlikely to have played any of the BAD Mario games, but relatively speaking). Thinking it was me at fault, I just started Galaxy - again, I had a Wii but not a massive game selection and not this game. WOW - brilliant, brilliant, brilliant - this is what a 3D Mario should feel like, fun, polished and excellent mechanics. I'm not going to give up on Sunshine if other people have been on that same journey of learning to love it - but I am worried it's a time-and-a-place game. Is it worth sticking with? Galaxy however, I'm annoyed I've not played it before!  KillstealWolf One Winged Slayer Avenger Oct 27, 2017 18,274 Bounce now, just stick with galaxy, Sunshine ain't that good anyway. You'll be spared from the poisoned waterway and Pachinko.   LewieP Member Oct 26, 2017 19,671 Super Mario Sunburn addresses a lot of the major issues imo. - YouTube Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. youtu.be   Jimnymebob Member Oct 26, 2017 21,948 Sunshine is one of those where it doesn't get better as you go further in. It just adds more frustrating things every so often.   Diogo Arez One Winged Slayer Member Oct 20, 2020 20,080 No, unfortunately the game is fundamentally flawed on basically every level, honestly just skip straight to Galaxy and don't look back   LordHuffnPuff Doctor Videogames at Allfather Productions Verified Oct 25, 2017 3,101 webernet It's lovable immediately! A massive step up over 64.   kenjieno Member May 31, 2023 1,459 I really liked it when it came out but it's interesting to see how people hate it now. I guess it just doesn't hold up so I'll never play it again. In my heart, I find it better than any of the new 3D Mario's.   Remark Member Oct 27, 2017 4,065 Never hated the game. The game definitely gets worse and more frustrating the farther you get into the game but the overall charm of the world kept me going. I will say I will probably never play that Mario again though lmao. Very much a one and done.  vio55555 Member Apr 11, 2024 3,195 Stick with Galaxy. You're not going to really learn to love Sunshine. Sunshine gameplay made sense back when it had no successors and there was just Mario 64 before it. Now though? Play any of the other 3D Marios instead, especially if you gave it 2-3 hours and didn't enjoy it. Not much will change another 10-20 hours later. Most just one and done it if they grind through...  NotLiquid One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 37,655 How much you love Sunshine really depends on if two key factors are enough to carry a game for you. The first is that the game has arguably the best and most fluid movement out of any 3D Mario game, only Odyssey gives it a run for its money in that regard and even then it's debatable. The game's schmovement is absolutely tight. The second is how fully committed it is to its island adventure aesthetic and how creative the game gets with its level theming. Getting deeper into the game and seeing the twists it does on well-treaded level tropes is an experience on its own; Sirena Beach in particular is a good one. If these two aren't enough for you to overcome some iffy mission design and jankier elements that show their head the further into the game you get, then you'll probably bounce off of it, and that's fine, it's a divisive game. If you do come to enjoy those elements, you're faced with what's easily the most unique 3D Mario game ever attempted.  FreddeGredde Member Oct 27, 2017 2,041 If you're not enjoying the challenge of mastering the complex movement and "janky" situations, you never will. I think it's my favorite Mario because the movement is the most expressive and you're rewarded for thinking outside the box and doing complicated things, while for example Galaxy is the opposite of that; you're led through a safe and polished obstacle course where you can't really do anything wrong. Since you love the latter, I think Sunshine just won't ever be for you.  Violet Wren Member Oct 25, 2017 418 I actually just started playing sunshine for the first time since I got it with my GameCube back in the early 2000s, and I think I hate it now more than I did back then. The way mario moves in this game is so frustrating, especially in the "secret level" sections where they take fludd away. It feels like even the most basic of jumps has to be made completely blind as judging where Mario will land after a fludd hover is next to impossible for me. Galaxy 2 might just be one of my fav games ever made, and I'd say the same about 64, but sunshine just doesn't feel like it's part of the game same lineage of games. To me, it's as bad as Other M is to Metroid games.   Kain-Nosgoth Member Oct 25, 2017 17,472 Switzerland i always loved it, sure it's the weakest of the 3D mario, but i still had lots of fun with it   HungryQuaggan Member Feb 27, 2024 144 I hated Sunshine back in the day, but I tried it again many years later with 3D All-Stars and I really love it now!! So I would definitely give it a chance.   mrmickfran The Fallen Oct 27, 2017 32,824 Gongaga Worst 3D Mario by far. I remember hating it as a kid, giving it another chance when 3D All-Stars released and ended up hating it even more. Move on to Galaxy, an actually good game. Tho I do like Sunshine's vacation vibes and music.  Remember Me Member Apr 3, 2018 333 Spain Yeah, Sunshine isn't a great game, while Galaxy is (more than great). I guess it was about as expected what you felt the first time playing them.   EmergencyPasta Member Aug 17, 2022 2,425 All this Sunshine hate makes me sad. Game absolutely rules. All these basic bitches thinking Galaxy is the best, the Mario equivalent of "press button to make shiny things go boom" whereas Sunshine you actually have to do things and be good  Skyfireblaze Member Oct 25, 2017 13,446 I can't fault people for not liking Sunshine due to its issues however as a complete package it's still among my favorite 3D Marios. Granted, a big part of it might be the setting that I love but I also found the levels plain fun and interesting and I wish Nintendo would one day revisit Isla Delfino and Fludd gameplay.   Taco_Human Member Jan 6, 2018 4,854 MA You playing with a gamecube controller? The analog shoulder buttons and the 8 notches in the analog stick are important.   Lkr Member Oct 28, 2017 11,923 there's a 60 fps mod for dolphin that makes it much smoother to play imo the warts are all still there though  mrmickfran The Fallen Oct 27, 2017 32,824 Gongaga Taco_Human said: You playing with a gamecube controller? The analog shoulder buttons and the 8 notches in the analog stick are important. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Also this Sunshine is definitely best played with a GC controller  Zyrokai Member Nov 1, 2017 5,157 Columbus, Ohio Strange this thread popped up. I recently restarted it in the 3D All Stars collection. Still in the first world. It's okay. I played it a ton when I was younger on the GameCube but it definitely doesn't spark the same joy that Galaxy and Odyssey and most other Mario games do. There's just something off about it to me.   OP OP w00tmanUK Member Nov 9, 2017 513 Some really interesting points, thanks everyone. I am leaning towards playing through Galaxy and then seeing how I feel - I think I might end up 'needing' to play more to at least satisfy my "given it a go" mentality, but we will see.   Lylo Member Oct 25, 2017 3,517 I love it. I play it at 60fps on my Wii U, it makes the experience so much better to me.   OP OP w00tmanUK Member Nov 9, 2017 513 Taco_Human said: You playing with a gamecube controller? The analog shoulder buttons and the 8 notches in the analog stick are important. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Nope - switch joy con grip thing.   Amnixia ▲ Legend ▲ The Fallen Jan 25, 2018 11,741 Loved the game from day one myself, the movement is absolutely amazing.   Culex Member Oct 29, 2017 8,999 In vacuum, it's a good game, marred by control issues and….those coins. Galaxy was such a monumental leap over it that it's completely overshadowed.  Jimnymebob Member Oct 26, 2017 21,948 EmergencyPasta said: All this Sunshine hate makes me sad. Game absolutely rules. All these basic bitches thinking Galaxy is the best, the Mario equivalent of "press button to make shiny things go boom" whereas Sunshine you actually have to do things and be good Click to expand... Click to shrink... The problem I had with Sunshine is that Mario feels awful to control, and as the sequel to the first 3D platformer that absolutely knocked the concept of controlling a character in a 3D space out of the park (and I say this as someone who really doesn't enjoy Mario 64), it's absolutely baffling that it feels as bad as it does. Sure, the FLUDD moveset is fun to use, but Bubsy 3D would've been improved tenfold by having FLUDD. I love the vibes of Sunshine, I think it has some of the best missions in this style of 3D Mario, but FLUDD feels like a band-aid, and it's especially noticeable when you hit those challenges where you don't have it, because it's absolutely miserable to play.  Alienhated Member Oct 25, 2017 4,087 It's weird, it's fugly, it's half baked, it's rough.   CanUKlehead Member Oct 30, 2017 3,757 I didn't grow up with Mario 64 so jumped into Sunshine from Mario World and it was fine, but I didn't care much for the Fludd gimmick TBF.   Derbel McDillet ▲ Legend ▲ Member Nov 23, 2022 23,324 EmergencyPasta said: All this Sunshine hate makes me sad. Game absolutely rules. All these basic bitches thinking Galaxy is the best, the Mario equivalent of "press button to make shiny things go boom" whereas Sunshine you actually have to do things and be good Click to expand... Click to shrink... Yes. Unlike Sunshine, Mario controls accurately when you press buttons in Galaxy.   Lylo Member Oct 25, 2017 3,517 Man, the hate for Sunshine is bizarre, it's one of those games that the internet decided that it's bad. I mean, Mario controls in Sunshire are the tightest of all the 3D Marios and yet there are people shitting on it already...   Alienhated Member Oct 25, 2017 4,087 EmergencyPasta said: All this Sunshine hate makes me sad. Game absolutely rules. All these basic bitches thinking Galaxy is the best, the Mario equivalent of "press button to make shiny things go boom" whereas Sunshine you actually have to do things and be good Click to expand... Click to shrink... Both things are true. Sunshine is a rough game, Galaxy is way too easy.   Neutron Member Jun 2, 2022 3,459 Nice water.   Salikawood Member Dec 26, 2024 1,260 I love the vibes of Sunshine and I think it's fine for the most part, but some sections are really difficult and drive me to a point of madness in not wanting to give up until I clear the part that's giving me trouble I liked it better than 64 tho. I have no nostalgia for any of these games and while I understand the ground-breaking nature of 64 at the time, I don't think it's THAT much better than Sunshine  construct Saw the truth behind the copied door Member Jun 5, 2020 10,868 𖦹 I liked it a lot during release, haven't played it since   HungryQuaggan Member Feb 27, 2024 144 It's interesting how some find the controls are better in Galaxy. I absolutely adore Galaxy and it's still my favourite Mario game, but going back to it in 3D All-Stars, I thought it controlled pretty badly compared to all other 3D Mario's. Mario feels sluggish and the movement can feel a bit janky at times. Edit: Actually... thinking back, I remember loving Galaxy's controls on the WIi. So maybe the Switch version just wasn't as great. The Wiimote motion for the spin felt great to me and that magic was kind of lost with a simple button press. Plus the lack of IR pointer made it feel awkward to collect star bits. So I'd like to play it with a Wiimote and Nunchuck again.  Last edited: Yesterday at 8:32 AM thewienke Member Oct 25, 2017 19,083 I was a full grown adult in college at launch and there was so much hype leading up to the game. It came out in late August which really helped with the whole vacation vibe. It was easily one of the best games I'd ever seen graphically at that point. I remember chilling on the beach and just enjoying how great everything looked, the music was fantastic, the atmosphere really didn't have any comparison points across gaming either. Compared to Mario 64, it was a significant step forward, controlled really well with the analog triggers, and was just an overall fantastic experience. So for me Sunshine remains one of the best Mario games I've ever played and after everything I would still rank it just under Odyssey. I think there's going to be an influence of nostalgia in folks opinions of every Mario game. I'm a touch older than most who probably played Galaxy instead of Sunshine just based on sales and general age of Millennials on this forum. Personally, I was mid to late 20s when Galaxy came out and I hated the Wii because it was a muddy looking sub-HD console released in an era where it should have been HD capable. I really did like Galaxy but, like most Wii games, it never stuck as one of my favorites. I played it, beat it, and immediately started Mass Effect right after it which overshadowed my memories of Galaxy (and most games in the epic fall of 2007). I need to replay it with the Switch collection at some point and see if my opinion on it has changed at all.  Okami Member Oct 28, 2017 77 I loved Sunshine from the get-go, but it has many rough moments, and I imagine if you already hate it you will not learn to love it but rather feel like throwing it out when reaching said rough moments. For me, learning to master the controls (excluding fludd) is really satisfying though, as they are some of the most responsive in the series imo.   mrzenga Member Jan 2, 2025 243 I don't have to - I already love it. It is a great game that gets underwhelming near the end  OP OP w00tmanUK Member Nov 9, 2017 513 Lylo said: Man, the hate for Sunshine is bizarre, it's one of those games that the internet decided that it's bad. I mean, Mario controls in Sunshire are the tightest of all the 3D Marios and yet there are people shitting on it already... Click to expand... Click to shrink... Trust me, this is not influenced by the 'internet' opinion on this - I have never played it (I went from Nintendo to be a hardcore Sony fan, and whilst I still have a PS5 Pro, have fallen deeply back in love with Switch, 3DS etc) and I am trying to catch up on about 20 years of gaming!   QuigleyMcShine Member Jan 29, 2018 10,781 Mario always felt too fidgety for me in Sunshine. Like you'd be trying to make a tiny precision adjustment and he'd jitter off an edge.   Jamesac68 Member Oct 27, 2017 3,135 First time I played Mario Sunshine I didn't much care one way or the other. I didn't hate it, didn't love it, didn't beat it. Fast forward 10 years and I gave it another shot, beating the whole thing. Again, I didn't love it, but I did enjoy playing Sunshine knowing what I was getting. The game isn't bad at all once you're acclimated to it.   KezayJS1 Member Apr 25, 2021 2,745 I was always surprised at just how much Sunshine as a game wasn't liked when I first started to get involved with online gaming communities. It's by no means a top contender in my favorite Mario platformers but I still enjoyed what I played despite its flaws. But yeah, if you're already not enjoying it I'm guessing you probably won't ever get to that point. As much as I liked having a different sort of locale that was a bit of an interconnected resort as the setting it does mean missing out on a lot of the usual fantastical whiplash of new environments and worlds like you got from Mario 64 prior and Mario Galaxy after.   Diogo Arez One Winged Slayer Member Oct 20, 2020 20,080 Lylo said: Man, the hate for Sunshine is bizarre, it's one of those games that the internet decided that it's bad. I mean, Mario controls in Sunshire are the tightest of all the 3D Marios and yet there are people shitting on it already... Click to expand... Click to shrink... If by tightest you mean some of the worst physics in a major 3D platformer, yeah I guess, Mario rarely does what you want even when you spend 30h with the game   Hakai Member Oct 27, 2017 147 Sunshine is a good game but a bad Mario game. That's it.   Marvie Member Oct 25, 2017 13,852 Sunshine is awesome but I get why people wouldnt like it.   Lylo Member Oct 25, 2017 3,517 w00tmanUK said: Trust me, this is not influenced by the 'internet' opinion on this - I have never played it (I went from Nintendo to be a hardcore Sony fan, and whilst I still have a PS5 Pro, have fallen deeply back in love with Switch, 3DS etc) and I am trying to catch up on about 20 years of gaming! Click to expand... Click to shrink... No worries! My message wasn't directed at you specifically :) My message was aimed at this kind of opinion: Diogo Arez said: If by tightest you mean some of the worst physics in a major 3D platformer, yeah I guess, Mario rarely does what you want even when you spend 30h with the game Click to expand... Click to shrink... This is simply not true at all...  addyb Member Oct 27, 2017 556 I actually finished sunshine for the very first time a few months ago. I'd always bounced off it early in the past, but this time I stuck with it and really enjoyed it. Some shines are painful to get due to the bloody camera, but overall I really enjoyed it. I'm of the opinion the game gets better the further in you go.   prestoil Member Sep 30, 2024 105 I don't think it gets better the farther in you go. Some of the upgrades you get are kind-of fun to use. But the game gets more and more demanding, and you have to complete almost every regular level objective to finish the game.  

Tomtom: a Unity customer story

When Nintendo announced price increases for first-party Switch 2 accessories, the upcoming slate of The Legend of Zelda and Street Fighter Amiibo were left unmentioned. At the time, many probably assumed that the seven Amiibo figures launching alongside the Switch 2 on June 5 would retain their originally announced prices. After all, those prices were already higher than we've come to expect for Amiibo. But it turns out that Amiibo figures are receiving the biggest price increases.Retailers including Walmart and GameStop have updated listings for the new Zelda and Street Fighter Amiibo figures. Each one is $10 more than its initial list price, which is tied for the highest increase with the Switch 2 Dock Set. That said, the Switch 2 Dock Set increased from $110 to $120, and it's only for users who want a second dock. The $10 price hike for Amiibo figures is a much higher percentage increase in comparison.As a result of the price change, Tears of the Kingdom's Champions Amiibo will cost $30 each. A fifth new Zelda Amiibo based on Mineru's Construct is expected to launch later this year, but a price hasn't been announced yet. Zelda Amiibo figures typically cost $16, though there are figures with $20 MSRPs such as Tears of the Kingdom's Ganondorf. Continue Reading at GameSpot

The official Roots of Pacha trailer for the latest update, Sun and Moon, has been unveiled. The popular farming sim debuted on Steam in early 2023 and was followed up over the next 15 months by launches on all major consoles. Roots of Pacha has received mostly positive reviews since its release and is known for taking Stardew Valley-style gameplay and dropping it into the Stone Age. The game has received several updates post-release, with the latest bringing plenty of new content for fans to explore and cultivate the fertile soil in the Land Between Two Rivers.

As all Ruddheads know, actor Paul Rudd made his acting debut in an iconic 1991 Super Nintendo commercial as a radical-looking 22-year-old playing games like F-Zero and a then-unnamed The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past on a gigantic, drive-in movie theater screen. And now, almost 35 years later, Rudd is back to promote the Switch 2 wearing the exact same outfit. Nintendo uploaded both commercials to YouTube on April 21, providing a wonderful side-by-side look at how differently video games are marketed in the 2020s compared to the 1990s, as well as how ageless Rudd continues to be even as he nears 60 years old. The two videos have since accrued nearly two million combined views. The new Switch 2 ad doesn’t show much we haven’t seen already. It focuses mostly on the C button’s GameChat functionality and the console’s official camera as fellow actors Joe Lo Truglio (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Superbad) and Jordan Carlos (The Colbert Report, The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore) join Rudd and a little girl who’s supposed to be his niece, trash talking their way through a game of Mario Kart World. “You know guys, it’s nice playing with power,” Rudd says to cap things off, referencing his turn in the Super Nintendo spot, “but this is better because now we’re playing together… super together!” Lo Truglio then breaks the fourth wall by making fun of Rudd’s advertisement voice, a very modern and meta strategy to distract us from the fact we’re just watching another commercial for a console with an arguably huge price tag. Cute!

Looking for a fast-moving car chase? Aerial acrobatics? How about a bit of fisticuffs, or a tiger straight up eating a dude? Look no further: Netflix has what you need.You can catch a high-minded thriller that uses action to underline plot, character, and message; or a hyper-stylish beat-em-up with cinematography and choreography that make art of violence; or you can just watch a lot of stuff blow up real good. No judgments! The only criteria is that the movie provides a fair share of fast-paced action thrills. Here are your best action options on Netflix right now.Carry-On (2024) Action thriller Carry-On starts off at the airport (naturally) and on Christmas Eve—I'm already tense. Taron Edgerton is TSA agent Ethan Kopek, who's blackmailed into allowing Jason Bateman to smuggle a dangerous package onto a flight (and yet I can't get through with my belt on). Having allowed the package through, Kopek is determined to stop the man (known only as The Traveller) from carrying out his devious plan. You can stream Carry-On on here.Back in Action (2025) Director Seth Gordon (Four Christmases, Horrible Bosses) does't swing for the fences with this action comedy, but there's enough fun to make up for its lack of originality. The title refers to Matt and Emily, a married couple who gave up their careers as CIA operatives in order to settle down for a quiet life in the suburbs. It's gone well for a number of years, until their identities are exposed, putting their kids are in danger. Back in Action is also a nod to stars Cameron Diaz, who hasn't been in a movie since 2014, and Jamie Foxx, acting again after his 2023 hospitalization. Neither has lost a step. You can stream Back in Action here. Damsel (2024) Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things, Enola Holmes) is virtually the young adult face of Netflix at this point. In her latest movie, she plays the title's damsel, Elodie, who agrees to marry a handsome prince, as young damsels did back in medieval times. Only she discovers that it's a trap, and she's actually meant to serve as a sacrifice to satisfy an ancient magical debt to a dragon. Luckily, our distressed damsel is far more resourceful than her would-be in-laws might have guessed. Angela Bassett, Robin Wright, and Shohreh Aghdashloo round out the cast of this fun action fantasy. You can stream Damsel here.RRR (2022) A fast-paced action movie should almost certainly not be as long as RRR, but there is not one single dull moment in this nearly three-hour Bollywood film. Likewise, a historical drama that touches on the national trauma brought on by the British Raj and depicting two real-life revolutionaries who died as martyrs to the cause of independence shouldn’t be this much pure fun, but somehow the context only makes it more satisfying. Find me a more thrilling moment in the movies than the bit where a truck full of wild animals is forcefully unleashed upon a sedate gathering at a British politician’s compound, or when a meet-cute between the two main characters involves wild acrobatics over and around a bridge. If American action epics insist on being this long, they could learn a thing or two or three from RRR’s refusal to ever sag. You can stream RRR here.Kill Boksoon (2023) Gil Bok-Soon (Jeon Do-yeon) is just a working single mom struggling to relate to her teenage daughter. Or, at least, that’s how it looks. It turns out that the company she works for, M. K. Ent., is in the assassination business, and Bok-Soon is their top-rated killer—she’s also in a slightly awkward relationship with one of her co-workers. It’s not a comedy, but the movie has fun playing up its parallels between a typical corporate job and Bok-Soon’s gig, while also offering up some impressively well-defined characters. What’s at least as important as all of that, though, is the plethora of spellbinding action sequences and brilliant fight choreo. You can stream Kill Boksoon here.The Equalizer 3 (2023) 2014's The Equalizer was the first of two ongoing, largely unrelated takes on the original 1980s TV series—a new CBS show starring Queen Latifah premiered in 2021 (it's also on Netflix). Given the failure ratio of reboots, finding success with two of them is no small feat, and it doesn't hurt the film series reunites Denzel Washington with Training Day director Antoine Fuqua. This third entry, probably the best of the three, finds Robert McCall taking it easy on the Amalfi coast following a close call when some new friends he's made are threatened by the Mafia-like Camorra. It doesn't break any new ground, but it's the bullet-filled equivalent of comfort food. You can stream The Equalizer 3 here.Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) It's hard to account for the box office failure of Furiosa, a movie that opened to stellar reviews and solid audience scores but still failed to make back its budget, let alone a profit—but here we are. This prequel is every bit the thrill-ride Fury Road was, even as it slightly dials back the action in favor of a bit more emotional complexity in and around our titular ass-kicker (here played by Anna Taylor-Joy as the younger version of Charlize Theron's one-armed badass). It's exactly the kind of smart, bonkers action spectacle we always say we want. You can stream Furiosa here. Sicario (2015) Before becoming our go-to director for smart, heady sci-fi with movies like Arrival and Dune(s), Denis Villeneuve helmed successful thrillers, including Prisoners and crime thriller Sicario. Emily Blunt stars as Kate Macer, an FBI agent taken with bringing down a leader in a powerful drug cartel along the Mexican border. In the process, Kate learns that the CIA's plans are legally and morally disturbing, raising questions about the extent to which the government will bend the rules to achieve its goals, and to what extent a loyal operative should follow orders. Timely. You can stream Sicario here. Conan the Barbarian (1982) The '80s fantasy movie wave saw a string of movies about sweaty, shirtless guys in loincloths battling dragons and demons, and the greatest of these was, of course, Conan the Barbarian, a brilliant vehicle for a young Arnold Schwarzenegger to show off those famous biceps. Here, Conan begins a lifelong quest of vengeance against the evil sorcerer Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones), beset by giant snakes, cannibal orgies, and the Wheel of Pain. It's all very silly while taking itself very seriously, which is just the right approach for adapting the pulpy novels of Robert E. Howard, and kind of the sweet spot for action movies of the era. You can stream Conan the Barbarian here.Waterworld (1995) The most expensive film ever made at the time of its 1995 release, Waterworld was lost to discourse about its inability to recoup its budget—which is kinda too bad. It's not a triumph by any measure, but it's solid escapist fun with some impressive action sequences and an environmental message; it also manages to concoct a convincing vision of a world built entirely on water, even if it all feels a little too Mad Max to be truly original. Still: It's fishy fun with a memorable villain turn from Dennis Hopper. You can stream Waterworld here.Godzilla Minus One (2023) Even given the success of Hollywood's recent stabs at the franchise, the best Godzilla movies still come from Japan, a fact made crystal clear by this emotional roller-coaster, set in the aftermath of World War II. With clear-cut and inventive action set against a story involving human characters who we genuinely care about, this isn't just the best recent kaiju movie...it may be the best ever. You can stream Godzilla Minus One here. Black Hawk Down (2001) Ridley Scott's historical drama repertoire doesn't stop with the ancient world (Gladiator, Exodus Gods and Kings) or even the French Revolution (Napoleon). Here, he dramatizes what came to be called the Battle of Mogadishu, which occurred not even a decade before the film was released. In 1992, A famine-relief operation saw the U.S. and United Nations embroiled in a Somali civil war during which three American Black Hawk helicopters were shot down, two of them landing deep in hostile territory. Scott and company (including leads Josh Hartnett, Eric Bana, and Ewan McGregor) focus purely on the resulting harrowing standoff without spending a lot of time on context or character development. The film received fair criticism for that, and for turning the Somali fighters into faceless enemies, but it's hard to argue that the laser-focus on the moment-to-moment trauma of combat doesn't make for a compelling action spectacle. You can stream Black Hawk Down here. Apollo 13 (1995) Another historical drama, but one with a quite different feel, Apollo 13 comes from the directing/acting team of Ron Howard and Tom Hanks, so you know you're in for something inspirational. Telling tells the story of astronauts Jim Lovell (Hanks), Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon), and Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) on the title's ill-fated lunar mission, the movie gets high points for technical accuracy while also maintaining tension alongside a sense of both wonder and loss as three men fight to survive while also facing the loss of their dream of the moon. You can stream Apollo 13 here.Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024) The fourth Bad Boys movie isn't quite as good as 2020's Bad Boys for Life, from the same directing team of Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, but it's still a fun action spectacle that makes clear that the modern sequels are better than their Michael Bay-helmed predecessors. Mike and Marcus (Will Smith and Martin Lawrence) are back as they learn that their captain, killed in the last film, is being framed for having drug cartel ties. Naturally, our heroes get back together to clear Conrad's name and also to blow stuff up. You can stream Ride or Die here. Smokey and the Bandit (1977) Burt Reynolds has a long way to go and a short time to get there. He's Bo "The Bandit" Darville, running point for an illegal shipment of bootleg beer (400 cases of Coors, to be precise) from Texas to Atlanta, using his cool car to draw attention from Jackie Gleason's Sheriff Buford T. Justice. He's joined along the way by Sally Field's Carrie, a runaway bride who makes a surprisingly helpful companion. The practical car action makes it a slightly more believable alternative to the Fast and the Furious films. You can stream Smokey and the Bandit here. The Guns of Navarone (1961) With plenty of action and hints of melodrama, this World War II-set adventure finds Gregory Peck, David Niven, and Anthony Quinn leading a commando unit tasked with taking out a couple of giant guns on the titular island in order to clear a path to rescue 2,000 marooned soldiers. Dogged by Nazis, the team faces the Germans on sea and land, with guns, fists, and their wits. It doesn't have much more on its mind that Nazi-punching action, and that's not a bad thing. You can stream the Guns of Navarone here.The Old Guard (2020) Greg Rucka wrote the screenplay for this adaptation of his graphic novel about a mercenary special ops team made up of impressively long-lived humans with unexplained regenerative powers. Charlize Theron leads the cynical group of warriors in a movie that effectively blends superhero tropes with military action. The lack of superpowers that don't have to do with healing helps differentiate it from Marvel and DC flicks, foregrounding skillfully choreographed fight sequences that don't feel like complete fantasy. You can stream The Old Guard here. The Harder They Fall (2021) The modern western takes on the story of real-life Black American cowboy Nat Love (played by Jonathan Majors), and he’s joined by several other characters out of actual American history, played by the likes of Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Regina King, and Delroy Lindo. It’s not a history lesson, but western movies have never been particularly troubled by the idea of heightening the true stories of the old American west into something like mythology. Here, young Nat Love’s parents are killed by Elba’s outlaw Rufus Buck, sending Love on a lifelong quest for revenge. This leads to a series of brilliantly exciting shoot-outs, stunts, and chases that pay tribute to the classic movies of the western genre, while also nodding to modern fight choreography and staging. You can stream The Harder They Fall here. The Night Comes for Us (2018) A sort-of successor to The Raid series (including many of the same actors), this movie from Indonesian writer/director Timo Tjahjanto (May the Devil Take You, a great horror movie also on Netflix) tells the story of a Triad member forced to fight his way out of the organization. The movie is on the bloodier end of its genre; the action is brilliant and stylized, but there’s quite a bit more realism in terms of blood and gore. The concluding fight scene is an all-time great one, if you’ve got the stomach for it. You can stream The Night Comes for Us here. Kate (2021) Though it’s lead by a French director and an American actor (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Kate stands apart in its anime-inspired, neon-lit, new-Tokyo aesthetic. There’s nothing new here, plot-wise, but that’s beside the point. Assigned to kill a yakuza assassin by her handler (Woody Harrelson), the titular assassin discovers that she’s been poisoned and has only 24 hours to live (i.e., 24 hours to get violent revenge). Imagine if the 1940s film noir classic D.O.A. were a martial arts action movie. You can stream Kate here. Gunpowder Milkshake (2021) An appearance by Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh doesn’t necessarily guarantee guarantee “action” (the Everything Everywhere All at Once and Crazy Rich Asians star can do it all)—but an appearance from Yeoh is guaranteed to be the icing on any action-movie cake. A modern take on classic gun-fu, this one further gilds that lily by adding in Lena Headey, Karen Gillan, Carla Gugino, and Angela Bassett(!) The cast aside, the film deals with two rival groups of assassins battling it out over the fate of a kidnapped child. You can stream Gunpowder Milkshake here.Baahubali (2015) The two Baahubali movies might not have quite the rousing political appeal of RRR (they’re all from the same director, S.S. Rajamouli)—honestly, it’s hard to beat the thrill of watching snotty colonials being eaten by tigers—but, if anything, these movies are even bigger, grander, and more operatic in their interests. Roughly inspired by the ancient Indian stories of the Mahabharata and featuring endless sweaty shirtless men (and not a few women, although more often clothed) fighting people and animals, the first film includes a 45-minute battle sequence that’s topped by the sequel. There’s just enough plot and romance to propel the action, but they’re the kinds of movies that know exactly what we’re here for, and they’re not afraid to give it to you. Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali: The Conclusion are both on Netflix, in English-dubbed and subtitled versions. You can stream Baahubali here.Enola Holmes (2020) Her brother Sherlock wasn’t above a bit of fisticuffs now and then, but it was his sister, Enola (Millie Bobbie Brown), we learn here, who really got to mix it up—with some help and training from their mother, Eudoria (Helena Bonham Carter). Enola uses that combat training throughout the movie in fights involving fists, guns, knives, explosives, and a moving train or two as Enola searches for her missing mum while staying a step or two ahead of big bro (Henry Cavill). The sequel is just as fun. You can stream Enola Holmes here.Outlaw King (2018) Chris Pine plays Robert the Bruce in this film that, unsurprisingly, takes plenty of liberties with the Scottish Wars of Independence of the 14th century. No matter. The film sees underdog Robert lead a guerrilla campaign against the future Edward II of England in a number of exceptionally (though believably) bloody Medieval battles. Spears and swords clash in a number of extended and expensive-looking sequences, making it look like a real-life (well, kinda) Game of Thrones. You can stream Outlaw Kings here. Beckett (2021) The film aspires to the paranoid, conspiracy-style of movies like The Parallax View, The Bourne Identity, or Enemy of the State, but the plot here is a little too thin to work on that level. Where Beckett excels, though, is in presenting a straightforward man-on-the-run action thriller. John David Washington stars as the title character, who finds himself getting chased through Greece, for reasons unclear to him, following an auto accident. Washington is fun to watch as he runs and gets shot at; the scenery is striking; and the movie does a good job of making Greece feel incredibly sinister, especially for a lead character who doesn’t know the language. You can stream Beckett here.Da 5 Bloods (2020) It feels strange to include Spike Lee’s thoughtful Vietnam War story—one that grapples with the experiences of Black American soldiers during that conflict as few (if any) movies have before. Nevertheless, part of the reason that it works as well as it does is that Lee’s film does all of that while also offering up plenty of impressively shot and choreographed action sequences. With a cast led by Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, and Clarke Peters, the movie finds four aging Vietnam vets returning to that country to recover the remains of their fallen squad leader—and also to dig up the gold bars they left behind. Set in two time frames, it plays as a war movie in the past and, often, a thriller in the characters’ present, as they’re hunted by mercenaries while they hunt their lost treasure. You can stream Da 5 Bloods here.Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024) Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy, of course) is back, and he kicks off the movie by hijacking a helicopter in pursuit of some criminals in Detroit. Encouraged to take some time off, he returns to Southern California just in time for his old partner (Judge Reinhold) to warn Foley that is estranged daughter (Taylour Paige), a defense attorney who went up against the wrong people, is in danger. Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot all return from the original film, joined by Axel's new partner played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. As legacy sequels go, this one's better than it has a right to be. You can stream Axel F here.

Instant Pots were all the rage a few years ago, promising to be an all-in-one multi-cooker that can pressure cook foods quickly in addition to being a rice cooker, yogurt maker, slow cooker and more. Pressure cooking is arguably the best feature of this gadget, but thanks to all of the cooking modes it supports, it can effectively replace other kitchen tech hiding in your cabinets if you know how to use it properly.Maybe you bought an Instant Pot at the height of the craze, or you just picked one up on discount. It can be overwhelming to decide what to do with a small appliance like this that seemingly does everything. In this guide, we’ll give you a primer on the first steps you should take when you get one, some tips and tricks on how to use it and a few favorite recipes and source links. A lot of this comes from personal experience; I've been an Instant Pot owner for a few years. I'll also note that the listed recipes reflect my own taste, but hopefully this guide will provide a good start for your own culinary adventures and help you find the best Instant Pot model for you. Table of contents Which Instant Pot model is right for you? How Instant Pots work Getting started with an Instant Pot Instant Pot accessories Instant Pot tips and tricks Instant Pot recipes and guides Which Instant Pot model is right for you? A brief word on other Instant Pot models:  The Duo Plus is an upgraded version of the Duo Series. It has two additional functions: sous vide (for temperature-controlled cooking) and sterilizer (a steam shortcut for sterilizing items like baby bottles). There’s also a cooking progress status bar plus an anti-spin design that keeps the inner pot in place when you’re sauteing. The Duo Crisp + Air Fryer is basically an Instant Pot that comes with an additional lid that adds dry-heat cooking methods like baking, broiling, dehydrating and of course air frying. There’s also a $200 Pro version that pairs the air fryer lid with the Pro model mentioned above. How Instant Pots work For the uninitiated, the Instant Pot is an "all-in-one" kitchen gadget that promises to replace a rice cooker, a yogurt maker, a slow cooker and more. But the real reason the Instant Pot has risen to fame is that it's also a very good electric pressure cooker. This lets you cook food at an accelerated rate; imagine pulled pork in an hour instead of five or a chicken curry done in 10 minutes. And because it's electric, you just press a few buttons and walk away. Unlike a stovetop pressure cooker, there's no need to keep a constant eye on it. There are several Instant Pot models to choose from. Some of the lower-end ones lack the yogurt mode, and a couple of the higher-end models have extra features like sous-vide cooking and canning, but even the basic models have the pressure cooker function, and indeed, much of this guide focuses on that. Getting started with an Instant Pot The Instant Pot has three parts: the housing with the cooking element at the bottom; the stainless steel inner pot; and the lid, which comes with a sealing ring plus a steam-release valve. Setup is as easy as putting the inner pot inside the housing and plugging it in. You'll also want to attach the tiny condensation collector on the back if the instructions call for it. The first thing to do is a "water test," which not only helps familiarize you with the basic pressure cooker features, but confirms your appliance is in proper working order. To do this, put three cups of water in the pot, twist the lid on — it'll make a sound when it's locked in place — and set the pressure cooker on high for two minutes. The way to do this varies from model to model; on the Duo machines, you'll have to press Manual, select High, then dial down the time to two minutes. On something like the Ultra, you just need to go to the Pressure Cooker menu, dial it to two minutes and select High. Then, make sure your valve is set to "Sealing" so that the Instant Pot can build pressure. On the Duo machines, this means rotating it so the arrow points up, while on the Ultra, the valve will automatically be set to Sealing. Finally, press "Start." The Instant Pot will then build up that pressure level to High, maintain it for the set two minutes, and then stop. In some cases, you'll hear hissing and see steam coming out of the Instant Pot. This is totally normal. You'll know the Instant Pot is under pressure when the float valve pops up and the hissing quiets down. The lid cannot be opened when the Instant Pot is under pressure; you must depressurize it first. Once the cooking is done, you can let the pot naturally depressurize (also known as "Natural Release"), which simply means leaving it alone for 20 or so minutes until the float valve comes down.If you don’t want to wait that long, you can do a manual pressure release (also known as "Quick Release") by switching the valve to "Venting." To do that on the Duo models you rotate the valve; on the Ultra, press the steam release button on top. This method will release a lot of steam, so I suggest doing this under a range hood if you have one. Again, once the float valve comes back down, you'll know the Instant Pot has been depressurized. Doing the water test teaches you the basics of sealing the Instant Pot, setting it and depressurizing it. Plus, if anything goes wrong along the way — especially if it doesn't seal the pressure — you can call the retailer or manufacturer to troubleshoot or ask about a return or exchange. It's a step that many people skip, but I recommend it for beginners. Instant Pot accessories The Instant Pot is ready to use right out of the box, but if you want to get even more functionality out of it, then you might want to consider some accessories. The following are just a few suggestions that we think will elevate your Instant Pot experience. Tempered glass lid The main reason to get an Instant Pot is to use it as a pressure cooker, but it has other functions too. If you want to use it as a slow cooker or you simply want to keep your food warm, you’ll want to invest in a tempered glass lid like our former editor-in-chief Dana Wollman did. This lid is also a good way to keep your food covered if you want to transfer the inner pot to a table or in the fridge. Steamers/PIP Steaming food in the Instant Pot is quick and easy, but you’ll want specific equipment to get the job done right. Instant Pot makes two styles of silicone steamers; one is a stacking model that you can use for dumplings or fish, and another is a collapsible one that is ideal for batch-cooking vegetables. If you need even more capacity, we recommend this Hatrigo mesh steamer basket. Along your Instant Pot discovery journey, you might come across a phrase called “PIP cooking.” This stands for Pot-in-Pot and involves putting another vessel inside the Instant Pot. This method is great if you’re cooking foods that don’t contain liquid (such as cheesecake) or you simply want to cook in smaller quantities. One of our favorite accessories for this is the Aozita Stackable Steamer, which not only acts as a steamer, but also contains tiered containers so that you could cook multiple foods at once. Sealing ring If you use your Instant Pot for both savory and sweet applications, then we suggest getting extra sealing rings so that the odor of one doesn’t affect the other. You don’t really want your cheesecake to smell like pulled pork or vice versa. Air fryer lid As the name suggests, the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid essentially turns your Instant Pot into an air fryer. It’s a good option if you don’t want two appliances taking up space on your kitchen counter, and this add-on does a decent job of “air frying” foods. Still, the Lid really only works for small batches as well as smaller pieces of food. Even a hot dog is too large to fit inside the air fryer basket. If you’re going to use the air fryer lid to add roasting and broiling capabilities to the Instant Pot — so you can brown a roast chicken or melt the cheese on a lasagna, for example — then it’s not a bad option. But as far as air frying goes, I’d recommend saving up and investing in one of the best air fryers instead. Instant Pot tips and tricks Don't worry about all the buttons When you first get the Instant Pot, you might be overwhelmed by all of the different buttons on the control panel. There are ones that say "Meat/Stew," "Chili/Beans," "Multigrain," "Egg" and even "Cake." With the exception of a few, most of these are simply shortcuts the Instant brand programmed ahead of time. You might never need to use them. The most important buttons to know are "Sauté," which (as you might expect) lets you sauté things in the pot, and the aforementioned "Manual" or "Pressure Cooker" function. The rest are pretty superfluous, with the exception of "Keep Warm," "Cancel" and non-pressure cooking settings like the "Slow Cooker" or "Yogurt" (which helps maintain the cultured milk at a specific temperature). Add at least half a cup of liquid, and don't go over the maximum One of the things you'll learn about pressure cooking is that you don't need to add as much liquid as you would in regular recipes. But you'll still need to add some because the pressure cooker requires moisture to build that pressure. Otherwise, the Instant Pot could overheat and show an "OvHT" or “BURN” error on the display. On the other hand, you shouldn't fill it up beyond two-thirds capacity, which is handily marked on the inside of the cooking pot. The Instant Pot probably won't explode on you — it has a lot of safety features to prevent that — but you probably shouldn't test its boundaries. Cooking times aren't always accurate Setting the pressure cooker timer for two minutes doesn't mean the entire cooking time is two minutes. You have to take into account the amount of time the Instant Pot needs to come to pressure and the time it'll need to depressurize. The more stuff you have in the pot (and the colder it is), the longer the cooking process takes. Because of that, a "five-minute" chicken curry could really be more like 10 or 15 minutes from start to finish. Clean it carefully and frequently The inner pot doesn't have a nonstick coating, but it is dishwasher safe, which is convenient. The rest has to be cleaned by hand, though. Also, don't make the same mistake I did and accidentally spill something hot directly on the cooking element. The outer shell is hard to clean because you can't put it in the sink — electricity and water don't mix, after all — and you risk damaging the appliance. As for the lid, hand wash it after every use. You'll also notice after a while that the sealing ring — the rubber/silicone gasket on the inside of the lid — might develop a smell as it absorbs the scent of the food you're cooking. I recommend soaking it in a vinegar solution, or you could also put it on the top rack of your dishwasher. You can't cook everything with it Sure, you can cook everything from dog food to jam in the Instant Pot, but it's not a miracle worker. You can't deep fry in it. You can't bake a pie in it. Don't be ridiculous. Instant Pot recipes and guides Now you're all ready to cook, and you're probably dying to know what to make in it. Due to the popularity of the Instant Pot, you'll find no shortage of cookbooks and recipe tutorials online. The Facebook group I mentioned is a good place to start, and there are countless YouTube tutorials as well. Here are just a few of my favorite resources: Pressure Cook Recipes Amy and Jacky are part of the OG Instant Pot community, and their site is great for beginners. Not only will you get the low-down on the aforementioned water test, but you'll also get great recipes for bone broth, "fail-proof" rice, yogurt, cheesecake and more. Nom Nom Paleo Whether or not you're into the "paleo" lifestyle, you'll like Michelle Tam's list of Instant Pot recipes. Pressure cookers are great for shortening the amount of time for cooking braised meats, and she has a lot of recipes that cater to your inner carnivore. Her Instant Pot pulled pork recipe is still my go-to, and the short ribs are great as well. Serious Eats My personal favorite site for pressure-cooker recipes is probably Serious Eats. All of these recipes are fantastic. I've tried the chicken stock, the mushroom risotto, the chicken pho, the chicken and chickpea masala, and they've all been outstanding. The New York Times Another personal favorite is The New York Times’ Cooking section, which has a list of wonderful pressure-cooker-friendly recipes. My favorites are from Melissa Clark, who has written two Instant Pot cookbooks: Dinner In an Instant and Comfort in an Instant. There's a recipe in Comfort in an Instant for spaghetti and meatballs that I was hugely skeptical of but turned out to be one of the most remarkable things I've ever made. I also love the recipes for chicken korma and shrimp biryani. Here are a few other guides that I found very useful in my own Instant Pot journey, and they contain links to many more recipes and sites than I have space for here: Neven Mrgan's Instant Pot guide The Instant Pot Starter Guide from 101 Cookbooks 75+ recipes to make in your Instant Pot by thekitchn With all of this information in your arsenal, you should have no fear in picking up an Instant Pot. Thankfully, not only is the base model pretty affordable at less than $100, Amazon frequently puts it on sale either on Prime Day or on Black Friday. So if you haven't bought one just yet, it's not a bad idea to wait until one of those times of year to get one at a deep discount. And when you do, come on back here, read through the guide once more and venture off on your own pressure-filled culinary adventures. Images: Detroit Free Press via Getty Images (First Instapot); Portland Press Herald via Getty Images (Instapot / chopping board); Boogich via Getty Images (cooking)This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/kitchen-tech/instant-pot-guide-131534709.html?src=rss