The year in Star Wars was a shaky one, but amid all the surprising big-screen announcements, the biggest earthquakes might have emanated from Disney+ series The Acolyte. The series upended a lot of Star Wars most ingrained tenets, especially about the Jedi Order, and poked the feels of fans who have toxic ways of expressing themselves. Then, not long after its season ended, the show was announced as cancelleda rare stroke of finality for Lucasfilm. Speaking to Vulture in a wide-ranging interview that also touches on Marvels streaming future, among other topics, Disneys Alan Bergman acknowledged The Acolytes achievements (it was a hit, remember?). But he also had a pragmatic explanation as to why it only got one season. As it relates to Acolyte, we were happy with our performance, but it wasnt where we needed it to be given the cost structure of that title, quite frankly, to go and make a season two, Bergman said. So thats the reason why we didnt do that. As for Disney+s current Star Wars title, the recently debuted Skeleton Crew, he said its too early to see whatll be next. Skeleton Crew is in process now, so well see. Weve seen some growth on that. Well see how that goes the reviews have been excellent on Skeleton Crew, so well have to see how that all plays out as it moves forward. That catches us up through 2024. But what about next year? We have Andor season two, which were really excited about. It is excellent. Ive watched all the episodes, and it is a fantastic season, Bergman said. Hes the boss, so its not like hes going to say anything differentbut that is nice to hear, isnt it?Theres also Dave Filonis second season of Ahsoka, Bergman continued, and added, Were looking at a number of additional series that are in development. Well see what we decide to do. As I said earlier, they have to be great, and when were in the position where we think we have what we want, were going to move forward. In terms of the films, at this point we have Mandalorian, which is coming out Memorial Day of 26, and weve got a number of films that we are developing. When were ready, well be making announcements as to what those are. The takeaway from that is that a lot of confirmed details about Star Wars future are still up in the airjust the way Star Wars seems to like it. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

By Matt Novak Published December 20, 2024 | Comments (2) | U.S. oligarch Elon Musk at the U.S. Capitol after a meeting with Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., while on the Hill to talk about President-elect Donald Trump's "Department of Government Efficiency," on Thursday, December 5, 2024 Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Elon Musk, Americas wealthiest oligarch, tweeted an endorsement of Germanys AfD political party and many Germans arent happy with that fact. Why? It probably has something to do with AfDs racism, xenophobia, and links to neo-Nazis. You know, just the normal things that Musk finds himself promoting here in 2024 as a top advisor to Donald Trump. Only the AfD can save Germany, the billionaire wrote in the early morning hours of Friday. Musks tweet was promoting another tweet from Naomi Seibt a German climate change denier who rose to prominence as the anti-Greta Thunberg. Seibt has also promoted conspiracy theories and been accused of being antisemitic, according to the Guardian, a claim she denies. The far-right in Germany were thrilled with Musks tweet, including Alice Weidel, whos running to be chancellor as co-leader of the AfD in the upcoming February elections, as Germanys DW news outlet reports.Yes! You are perfectly right! Weidel tweeted to Musk. Please also have a look into my interview on President Trump, how socialist Merkel ruined our country, how the Soviet European Union destroys the countries [sic] economic backbone and malfunctioning Germany! Germanys Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, its domestic intelligence organization, has listed AfD as a suspected terrorist organization and at least two German states have officially classified it as such, according to DW.But many other politicians in Germany were less than enthused, noting Musks interference in German politics and his rather notorious lack of intelligence, often displayed in late-night tweets. Alexander Throm, a politician with the Christian Democratic Union political party, even joked about Musks cognitive difficulties while talking to local media. I was a bit surprised because we usually hear that Elon Musk is this gifted wunderkind, but when I hear these comments, I have to doubt that, Throm told DW. Change can only be made by those who govern. And the AfD will not govern. Because no other party will form a government with them.Musks endorsement has serious implications for Americans as well, given the fact that he appears to be the most powerful political figure in the country right now. Musk has doubled his net worth this year as the wealthiest person in the world and helped Donald Trump get elected by spending over a quarter of a billion dollars on Republican races in the 2024 election. Musk, who has a history of racist comments, insists that he only voted for a Republican for the first time in 2022, suggesting he only voted for Democrats before that. But even if we take him at his word (he lies frequently, like when he initially denied funding Trumps presidential campaign) hes still become a powerhouse in Republican politics. And hes using that power right now.In fact, Musk has promised to initiate primaries against any Republicans that cross him, which is no idle threat given the fact that hes still operating a political action committee called America PAC. Musk has also been funding a group thats running ads to promote Pete Hegseths confirmation as Secretary of Defense. Those ads have been credited with applying pressure to Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa who was seen as a possible vote against Hegseth due to her history as a combat veteran who has publicly talked about her experience with sexual violence. Hegseth has been accused of sexual assault, a charge he denies. Ernst now appears to support Hegseths confirmation. Musk has also been making waves in the world of legislation even before Trump officially takes power on Jan. 20, 2025. The U.S. House is currently trying to pass funding to keep the government open before a 12:01 a.m. deadline that would shut down many governmental functions, but Musk has been credited with tanking two bills that were brought up Thursday.Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is reportedly working on another version of the funding bill thats supposed to get a vote Friday. But everyone is keeping an eye on Musks X account, which is where he gives orders and organizes his army of dipshit influencers who pressure politicians. If Musk gives the thumbs up, it seems likely to pass. If he says no, Trump will likely follow and well find ourselves in a government shutdown right in the middle of the busy holiday travel season. We live in a very transparent oligarchy at this point. And Musks promotion of a far-right party like AfD isnt a great sign of what lies ahead. Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Matthew Gault Published December 19, 2024 By Matthew Gault Published December 18, 2024 By Matthew Gault Published December 17, 2024 By Matt Novak Published December 16, 2024 By Lucas Ropek Published December 16, 2024 By Lucas Ropek Published December 13, 2024

By Passant Rabie Published December 20, 2024 | Comments (3) | NASA's Mars Chopper concept shown in a design software rendering. NASA/JPL-Caltech Almost a year after Ingenuity broke a blade and ended its experimental stint on Mars, NASA unveiled a new design concept for the Martian helicopters successor and its comparatively a big boy. NASAs Mars Chopper, as its called, is about the same size as an SUV, fitted with six rotors, with each rotor hosting six blades (I already did the math for you, thats a whopping 36 blades). The space agency recently revealed a rendering of the helicopter, which is still in its early conceptual and design stages, according to NASA. Chopper project manager Teddy Tzanetos also presented the concept during a briefing at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in Washington on December 11. Ingenuity was the first helicopter to fly on another planet, paving the way for more capable choppers to follow in its path. Its low cost design and durability is helping NASA design future concepts to explore other planets in an entirely new way. NASA also shared a thrilling 30-second animation depicting the rotorcraft flying over the Martian terrain during a potential future mission. The Mars Chopper could transport science payloads weighing up to 11 pounds (5 kilograms) over distances of 1.9 miles (3 kilometers) per Martian day, or sol. Scientists could use Chopper to study large swaths of terrain in detail, quickly including areas where rovers cannot safely travel, NASA explained. NASAs Mars Chopper concept, shown in a design software rendering. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech Ingenuity walked so Chopper could run. The OG Martian helicopter arrived on the Red Planet in February 2021, tucked inside the belly of the Perseverance rover. Shortly afterwards, the 19-inch-tall (48-centimeter), 4-pound (1.8-kilogram) helicopter became the first powered aircraft to lift off from the surface of another planet. Although it was originally intended to perform just five test flights, Ingenuity kept on going, performing 72 flights, and flying 14 times farther than planned for a total flight time of two hours.Things came crashing down for Ingenuity earlier this year after the helicopter broke its blades while landing for the 72nd time, officially ending its mission in January. NASA recently concluded that in-flight navigation errors caused high horizontal velocities at touchdown. Ingenuity fulfilled its purpose of feeding information to NASA that would help it develop similar aircraft to explore Mars, and other planets, from above. During its test mission, Ingenuity also assisted the Perseverance rover in exploring the Red Planet, hovering above the Martian robot and guiding its way across Mars dusty terrain. Even after it crashed, Ingenuity still delivers weather and avionics data to Perseverance on a weekly basis.The future Mars Chopper has some big shoes to fill, Ingenuity left behind a legendary legacy on the Red Planet.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Passant Rabie Published December 20, 2024 By AJ Dellinger Published December 19, 2024 By Passant Rabie Published December 18, 2024 By Passant Rabie Published December 18, 2024 By Passant Rabie Published December 17, 2024 By Margherita Bassi Published December 13, 2024

Ackerman Farmhouse / Fuller/Overby ArchitectureSave this picture! Paul WarcholHousesTeaneck, United StatesArchitects: Fuller/Overby ArchitectureYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 PhotographsPhotographs:Paul Warchol Structural Engineering: Silman, Nat Oppenheimer, Joe DiPompeo More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The Teaneck farmhouse was built as a homestead of the Dutch Ackermans, early immigrants to 17th century New Amsterdam. Around the turn of the century the family resettled along the Hackensack River in New Jersey where farmland was more plentiful than on Manhattan Island. The simple one room structure was built in 1734, in the 1780's the family expanded the house using a barn typology. Locally quarried New Jersey sandstone was used throughout to construct the two foot thick walls - the same material (now exhausted) which forms the brownstone row houses of New York City. The farmhouse stayed within the family through the early 20th century and then passed through a variety of owners. In 2021 the house was offered for sale and remained on the market for more than a year due to diminishing internal reconfigurations, minimal interior natural light, and its status upon the National Register of Historic Places which complicated alterations (drawings and photographs of the house are held within the Archives of the Library of Congress). The clients, of Belgian and Milanese birth, found the property during an extensive search for their first home. They had moved to NYC to study and purse careers and the farmhouse, unique amongst typical American housing stock , had a familiarity to their childhood. The dignity of the structure simmered underneath an abundance of infill partitions, attempts at modern amenities, and misguided remedies to wear and tear. Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!The renovation to the upper floors stripped away an accumulation of partition walls and muddled finishes to reveal hand-hewn structural timbers and a gambrel roof resting upon the stacked stone walls. The second floor is now an open plan with varying scales of construction woven among the newly exposed wooden framework. New internal walls, perimeter millwork wrappers at the masonry edge, and finely scaled cabinetry unify the spaces and define particular programmatic pockets. These areas can be opened or closed with sliding and pivoting panels in accord with the desire of the moment. The spaces surround a central stair core that runs the full height of the house - a sectional suturing of the historic and modern. The double height hall, created with the partial removal of the third floor, receives the primary light of the day and greets the ascent to the second floor from the first (ground) floor. Small 18th century windows have been resized with angled apertures to offer generous natural light. The main bedroom, bath, and dressing room suite are an atmospheric sequence of chambers interconnected by oversized sliding doors. The bedroom, a continuation of the white millwork stair hall, opens into a soften bathing suite coated in tadelakt and field stone, which leads into a warm waxed wood dressing room. This circles back to the stairwell hall via a paneled doorway to complete the full ring of the plan.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!A delicate steel staircase hangs amongst the timber structure within new lofty hall. The stair ascends to the uppermost level where a second bedroom/playroom is nestled within the folds of the roof. This cantilevered stair is a lightweight combination of perforated and expanded metal which hangs above an opening that penetrates the full height of the house. Light filters down to the less lit ground level, a floor fully ensconced by the two foot thick sandstone walls. The living room on this lower floor is within the original 1734 volume of the house. This space, efficient for the 18th century, was claustrophobically uncomfortable for modern use. A thin steel framed glazing system was cut into the rear facade to offer views of the river and western light from the setting sun. Double doors open onto a rolling landscape which has remained largely untouched throughout the past several centuries.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officePublished on December 20, 2024Cite: "Ackerman Farmhouse / Fuller/Overby Architecture" 20 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1024632/ackerman-farmhouse-fuller-overby-architecture&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

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2024 was a year of surprise hits and critical flops for Sony and its PlayStation division, as games like Helldivers 2 and Astro Bot launched to critical acclaim while other projects like Concord were released to middling reviews and general player apathy.While this year was also light on first-party exclusives, third-party studios came to the rescue with a selection of games covering multiple genres. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Stellar Blade were two notable examples of PS5-only games releasing this year--they're both headed to PC in 2025--while other studios released must-play titles like Metaphor: ReFantazio (our Game of the Year), Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, and Silent Hill 2 on the Sony system.Heck, even Microsoft wanted to attract a few PlayStation gamers to its brand, leading to former Xbox Series X|S exclusives like Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Grounded, and Sea of Thieves releasing on its gaming rival's hardware, which expanded this year with the release of the PS5 Pro console.So which games were the most popular with critics? Thanks to GameSpot's sister site Metacritic, we've got a comprehensive list of the games that walked away with the highest aggregate scores (as of December 5), and overall, players couldn't get enough of JRPGs, puzzle games, metroidvanias and more. More Best Of 2024:Our Favorite Games That Didn't Make The Top 10Best PS5-Exclusive Games Of 2024Best Switch-Exclusive Games Of 2024Best PC-Exclusive Games Of 2024Best Xbox Games Of 2024Best-Reviewed Games Of 2024Best Of 2024 hub Elden Ring: Shadow of the ErdtreeLike the best video game expansions, Shadow of the Erdtree uses Elden Ring as a foundation to create an even better adventure for returning players. Enhancing and refining the magic of the 2022 game, Shadow of the Erdtree invites players to explore a new realm that they'll never want to leave.Metascore: 94 | Read our Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree review See at Amazon Astro BotSony's first-party output has typically favored open-world games and those with mature themes, but Astro Bot is a breath of fresh air that'll appeal to anyone looking for a nostalgic return to simpler days. Not only is Astro Bot an exceptional platformer with an imaginative design, but it's also a delightful time capsule across multiple eras of PlayStation and a tribute to the lasting legacy of those influential adventures.Metascore: 94 | Read our Astro Bot review See at Amazon Metaphor ReFantazioGameSpot's Game of the Year for 2024, Metaphor: ReFantazio is another gem from developer Atlus. It takes the basic framework of what you'd expect in a Persona game and streamlines it in numerous ways, with a thought-provoking story, lovable characters, and some of the best turn-based RPG combat ever. It's a winning formula that is well worth the time investment.Metascore: 94 | Read our Metaphor: ReFantazio review See at Amazon Slay the Princess: The Pristine CutDo you think you have what it takes to commit some regicide and not ask any questions? That's the core premise of Slay the Princess, a game of time loops, twists, and murder most foul presented as a visual novel that never tells the same story twice. The Pristine Cut further polishes that experience, complementing its clever writing and excellent voice acting with even more content, thoughtful tweaks, and hundreds of new frames of handcrafted art.Metascore: 92 | Read our Slay the Princess: The Pristine Cut review See at Amazon Final Fantasy VII RebirthFinal Fantasy VII Remake set up an intriguing premise, both paying homage to the original while representing a very conscious break from it. Rebirth, the second installment in a planned trilogy, carries that idea forward, with new revelations, a vastly expanded world, and refined combat mechanics.Metascore: 92 | Read our Final Fantasy VII Rebirth review See at Amazon Dave the DiverA hilarious indie mash-up, Dave the Diver combines a deep-sea exploring action game with the madcap flurry of games like Diner Dash. You spend your days delving deeper into the briny waters to catch fish and nights working and managing a burgeoning sushi restaurant, only to spend your profits on better gear and do it all over again. It's a compelling mix of gameplay elements that's hard to put down.Metascore: 90 Destiny 2: The Final ShapeThe Final Shape had a challenging task to accomplish, as it had to serve as the culmination of the story that has been told since the beginning of the first Destiny a decade ago. Miraculously, it pulled that off, tying up much of the story in a satisfying way by focusing on the characters we've built relationships with over these years and offering an exciting new subclass and systems to engage with. The new Pale Heart location is great fun to explore and filled with mysteries to uncover, the new Dread enemies consistently mix up combat encounters, and quality-of-life improvements make for the best Destiny experience to date.Metascore: 90 | Read our Destiny 2: The Final Shape review BalatroBalatro is the embodiment of "just one more round" energy thanks to its killer combo of poker and roguelite gameplay mechanics. Easy to pick up, challenging to master, and undeniably hard to put down, it takes the best ideas from poker and repurposes them into one of the best puzzle games of the year. Sure, you're going to need to often cheat your way into a winning hand, but the euphoria that comes from successfully holding the right cards in a high-stakes game is an unbeatable feeling in Balatro.Metascore: 90 | Read our Balatro review See at Amazon The Last of Us Part 2 RemasteredThe best video games live rent-free in your head long after the end credits have rolled, and four years after it first released, it's still almost impossible to serve The Last of Us Part 2 an eviction notice. How much of a difference does this remastered version make to an already-brilliant game? Plenty, as not only does the game look phenomenal, but it benefits from several new features that helps to solidify The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered as a modern-day masterpiece. Come for the gripping story and polished gameplay, stick around for the guitar hero mode, lost levels, and a roguelite mode that'll make you sweat buckets.Metascore: 90 | Read our The Last of Us Part 2 review Tekken 8Tekken 8 plays like the kind of game that you'd happily sacrifice all your quarters to at an arcade. It looks amazing in action as you watch an international roster of fighters pop muscles and faces, the aggressive nature of its gameplay makes every match exciting, and the campaign mode is essentially Succession with a drastic increase in roundhouse kicks.Metascore: 90 | Read our Tekken 8 review See at Amazon Like a Dragon: Infinite WealthDoubling down on the RPG gameplay mechanics introduced in the previous game, Infinite Wealth introduced welcome changes and tweaks to its turn-based combat. Combined with a gripping story and an absurd amount of extra content, this year's Like a Dragon is a confident sequel and a passing of the torch as it continues to pave the way for a new era in the franchise.Metascore: 89 | Read our Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth review Castlevania Dominus CollectionAfter helping create the metroidvania genre, the Castlevania series moved into portable entries like the celebrated Aria of Sorrow. The Dominus Collection brings together the three Nintendo DS entries--Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, and Order of Ecclesia--making them easily playable for the first time in years. It's a ton of Castlevania action in one place and comes with the arcade reimagining Haunted Castle to boot.Metascore: 89 | Animal WellMetroidvanias are a dime a dozen these days, but Animal Well stands out from the pack with the sheer genius of its design. Loaded with mysteries and captivatingly strange, it's the kind of game you want to go into as blindly as possible so that you can savor just how deep its metaphorical--and actual--well truly is.Metascore: 88 | Read our Animal Well review See at Amazon Hi-Fi RushXbox and PC gamers already knew just how good Hi-Fi Rush was, and thanks to a new multi-platform strategy at Microsoft, PS5 owners got to share in on that fun in 2024. Essentially Scott Pilgrim meets Devil May Cry, Hi-Fi Rush is still a captivating blast of action and rhythm that's complemented by a curated playlist of certified bangers. On PS5, Hi-Fi Rush benefits from a year's worth of gameplay fine-tuning and new modes that were added after launch, making this a beautifully crafted celebration of music that's full of personality.Metascore: 88 | Read our Hi-Fi Rush review Persona 3 ReloadPersona 3 Reload is a welcome return to the game that defined the modern format of the popular Persona series. Persona 3 has a real edge to it that subsequent games arguably do not, and Reload brings both visual improvements and some quality-of-like changes--along with availability on modern platforms--that all make it an easy recommendation in 2024.Metascore: 87 | Read our Persona 3 Reload review See at Amazon Shin Megami Tensei V: VengeanceShin Megami Tensei has always been a core pillar for Atlus, and with the Vengeance edition of the fifth mainline game, that series feels stronger than ever. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance isn't just a game that looks and performs better on new platforms; it's an impressive rethink of its source material that smooths over rough spots, adds several clever quality-of-life upgrades, and a substantial chunk of new story content to experience.Metascore: 87 | Read our Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance review See at Amazon Unicorn Overlord Prince of Persia: The Lost CrownPrince of Persia reinvents itself yet again as a metroidvania, but this is far from a paint-by-numbers imitator. The Lost Crown boasts refined combat that's only augmented by the rich suite of traversal abilities you obtain, along with smart and innovative quality-of-life features.Metascore: 86 | Read our Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown review See at Amazon Spin Rhythm XDSpin Rhythm XD is a wonderful return to the glory days of rhythm games, but with its own distinct twist on the expected timing-based gameplay. As the name suggests, you'll spin a wheel in order to match up colors with tiles coming down the track, which can lead to a sort of zen-like state that the best rhythm games can provide. With support for an optional VR mode, you have additional ways to play an exhilarating experience.Metascore: 86 Silent Hill 2Unquestionably the Silent Hill series' high point, the 2001 original Silent Hill 2 certainly shows its age these days--both in its visuals and game mechanics. Developer Bloober Team managed to completely remake the game for a new generation of players, with modern visuals, an over-the-shoulder gameplay style, and, crucially, the same scares and storyline you'd expect from the horror masterpiece. Silent Hill 2 is so tense that it's easy to feel a sense of dread overwhelm you even when no enemies are present, and we'd pack a few spare pairs of underwear before making this trip.Metascore: 86 | Read our Silent Hill 2 review See at Amazon Dragon's Dogma 2Some games can make you feel like you're running around like a headless chicken because of poor design choices or unclear direction. Others do it on purpose. Dragon's Dogma 2 is a single-player action-RPG, but Capcom's massively successful game takes many of its best ideas from MMOs. You cannot defeat most of the game's toughest challenges by yourself, and it's up to you to recruit a squad of effective Pawns--both from chance encounters in the world and from other players' games--in order to stand a chance. It can often feel like you stumbled your way into victory rather than carrying out a carefully constructed plan, but that's the beauty of it.Metascore: 86 | Read our Dragon's Dogma 2 review See at Amazon Braid: Anniversary EditionIt's hard to believe that Braid was first released 16 years ago, but time hasn't dulled the appeal of one of the greatest platforming-puzzle games of all time. Its anniversary edition is a must-play for anyone looking to revisit this masterpiece, as the new collection of levels, exquisite visuals, and a completely remixed soundtrack make it an essential classic.Metascore: 86 Horizon Zero Dawn RemasteredIf there's a running theme with PS5 releases this year, it's that remasters have been a major focus for Sony in 2024. Horizon Zero Dawn was already a fun game, but with this new coat of ultra-high-definition paint, the game looks better than ever. Mechanically, it's still the same game, but it's the visual changes across the board that help elevate the first Horizon game into an experience that you'd happily leave running in the background when you feel like showing off your new PS5 Pro console or OLED TV.Metascore: 85 | Read our Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered review See at Amazon Alan Wake 2: Night SpringsThe first DLC pack for Alan Wake 2 is quite unlike the rest of the game, and it also doesn't advance the story in any way; for that, you'll want to play DLC 2, The Lake House. But Night Springs nonetheless serves as a fun diversion from the ongoing story, being composed of three standalone episodes in which you'll play as stand-ins for other Remedy characters and explore some alternative and very meta worlds, all through the guise of episodes of the Warlin Door-hosted TV show Night Springs.Metascore: 85 Dragon Quest III HD-2D RemakeSquare Enix's HD-2D visual style--first seen in Octopath Traveler--has been used to great effect in brand-new RPGs, but it can be just as effective for breathing new life into classic games. Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is, as the name suggests, a full-on remake of the classic '80s game, complete with a new character class focused on capturing monsters. It's hard to deny just how well the HD-2D style works for the game's pixel-art visuals, and it gives younger players a chance to experience the classic game like older players remembered it, rather than how it actually was.Metascore: 84 | Read our Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake review See at Amazon ImmortalityOne of 2022's best games only just released on PS5 in January 2024, but it's every bit as worth playing now as it was previously. Immortality takes the form of an unusual game in which you'll discover and piece together footage from live-action films and behind-the-scenes clips by selecting objects within those videos to jump to related ones. What ensues is a mind-warping, non-linear puzzle as you seek to discover what happened to a fictional actress and uncover numerous surprises--be sure to avoid finding out much in advance of playing, as it's a game best played knowing very little about what's to come.Metascore: 84 | Read our Immortality review Thank Goodness You're HereSometimes the most-captivating game isn't one that's flexing radical gameplay or graphical engines that are almost indistinguishable from reality. The games that have a defined sense of whimsy and personality can easily reach the same heights as a AAA blockbuster, and Thank Goodness You're Here is a prime example. More British than being told to keep a stiff upper lip during hard times, it's a short-and-sweet "slapformer" that goes all in on its premise, delivering comedy gold with its absurdist sense of humor and gleefully weird visuals.Metascore: 84 | Read our Thank Goodness You're Here review The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through DaybreakA Metacritic list looking at the best of the year just wouldn't be complete without some Trails representation, and on PS5, The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak is waving that flag. One of the best entries in the series for newcomers to hop into, Trails Through Daybreak is a surprisingly mature and nuanced action-RPG thanks to its gripping story. Revamped combat systems and colorful anime-inspired visuals add to its appeal, as players fight to save a nation from descending into chaos.Metascore: 84 See at Amazon Fear the SpotlightAs a genre, horror isn't always so beginner-friendly, but Fear the Spotlight is a game that helps address that. On the surface, it's a retro-style ghost story with Clinton-era visuals and classic Silent Hill and Resident Evil gameplay mechanics. But its under-the-radar best attribute is how it's an experience that doesn't ever get too scary. It makes for a great gateway horror for players looking to dip their toes in the genre's waters, but its tale is interesting enough for veterans, too. It's split into two campaigns, and the second one is definitely creepier, but by then you'll be a serious ghosthunter, unafraid of what lurks in the shadows right?Metascore: 84 | Read our Fear The Spotlight review

Electronic Arts can go ahead and mark one potential star player off its list for cover athlete on next year's edition of the Madden NFL franchise. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase revealed during a press conference this week that he doesn't want to appear on the game's cover, seemingly aware of the Madden curse.On X, Bengals columnist Mike Petraglia shared a video clip of Chase where the star wide receiver discusses video games. While he does play Madden, Chase clearly doesn't want to be the game's cover athlete. When asked about the possibility, the NFL's wide receiver leader in catches, yards, and touchdowns replied: "No, I don't want that [knocks on wood]. No."JaMarr Chase was all fun and games talking old school video football games and Madden until the subject of a possible cover came up. No! I dont want that. pic.twitter.com/jfo1P46hgD Mike Petraglia (@Trags) December 19, 2024 Chase offered a "no comment" when directly questioned about the Madden curse. However, the Bengals wide receiver was open to appearing on the cover of a NFL Street revival game. CBS Sports recently ran through the data of Madden cover stars for this century (2000-24), finding that 58% of the players were "cursed"--meaning they dealt with an injury or decline in performance. However, the report states that only 25% in the past decade have been "cursed."Continue Reading at GameSpot

Has a horror sequel gotten as much attention as Scream 7? It's been a big few weeks for the upcoming slasher sequel as fans have learned that Courteney Cox is playing Gale Weathers again and there are several other young actors attached, including Isabel May as Sidney Prescott's (Neve Campbell) daughter. Fans also cheered when they learned that Mason Gooding is coming back.