Infinity Nikki gets its first major update soon, Infold Games has announced.The Shooting Star Season update lands on December 30 across PC, PlayStation 5, iOS and Android, and runs until January 23, 2025. It adds new adventures, limited-time events, and of course new outfits, which you can check out in the new trailer. Fans can also expect new storylines and platforming challenges. The tagline is: "Let shooting stars guide paper cranes on their journey of fulfilling dreams."Heres the official blurb:Stories of the past still echo in the wind, as new wishes begin a brand-new chapter. During the season of shooting stars, people come together beneath a starlit sky. May paper cranes carry each precious dream, shooting stars shine upon every heartfelt wish, and may every day of the new year shine as brilliantly as the stars in the sky.Infinity Nikki, downloaded over 20 million times since launch, is a free-to-play adventure dress-up game developed in China at Papergames and published by Infold Games. Its one of IGNs best-reviewed games of 2024, securing a 9/10. We said: Infinity Nikki has deep open-world exploration, a quirky story, and some of the most beautiful in-game outfits you'll ever see you just have to be ready to navigate a maze of menus to get them.For curious stylists and outfit collectors, we've got a guide to all Outfits in Infinity Nikki, plus all Ability Outfits, to help you avoid a fashion faux pas. As you explore Miraland and search for collectibles, keep an eye out for all the Whimstar locations, and make sure to check in with our Infinity Nikki daily tasks guide. Plus, there are plenty of Infinity Nikki launch rewards to claim, including some very generous promo codes you won't want to miss.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Tributes are being paid to Baby Driver actor Hudson Meek, who died aged 16 after falling from a moving vehicle.Meek played Young Baby in the 2017 action film directed by Edgar Wright and starring Ansel Elgort, Lily James, Jon Hamm, Jamie Foxx, and Jon Bernthal. He fell out of a moving vehicle in a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama on December 19, and died two days later.Meek was best known for playing a younger version of Elgorts titular character in Baby Driver, but he also appeared in 2014s The Santa Con and episodes of the MacGyver reboot. Meek provided the voice for Young Yasuo in a 2020 cinematic for Riot Games League of Legends, and appeared in a number of adverts.Hudson Meek, centre-right, during the Deauville American Film Festival in September 2024. Photo by Francois G. Durand/Getty Images.An obituary revealed that some of the movies and TV shows Meek worked on will be released in 2025. "He absolutely loved spending time on set and having the chance to learn the names and stories of every member of the cast and crew," the obituary reads.In a Facebook post, his mother Lani Wells Meek said: His 16 years on this earth were far too short, but he accomplished so much and significantly impacted everyone he met. Birmingham performing arts academy Acting Out said in a statement: "We are all devastated at the loss of one of AOA's first and brightest stars. May you shine forever Hud. You will be deeply missed."A Celebration of Life service will be live-streamed Saturday, December 28 at 11.30am Central time.Photo by Francois G. Durand/Getty Images.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Christopher Nolan has taken viewers from the streets of Gotham City to the shores of Dunkirk, and from the deepest recesses of the dreaming mind to the edges of a black hole itself. Yet the announcement of his latest project has raised more than a few eyebrows. Homers Ancient Greek epic The Odyssey seems like a strange choice for a filmmaker who has devoted his work to puzzle box stories about troubled great men.As different as The Odyssey might be for Nolan, we do already know we can count on one thing. Hell have a great cast joining him on this journey. Even when we thought that Nolans next project would be Blue Thunder, we knew that he would be working again with Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Robert Pattinson, as well as adding Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Lupita Nyongo to his repertoire of players. Now that we know hes adapting The Odyssey, Homers story of Odysseus 10-year journey back to Ithaca after the Trojan War, we can begin to speculate about which character these actors will play. So without further ado, here are our best guesses of who is playing which roleMatt Damon as OdysseusThe King of Ithaca, Odysseus spent 10 years fighting the Trojans alongside other Greek heroes from the mythical Bronze Age. Think Achilles and the troubled Ajax. Although the Greeks won the Trojan War (remember the Brad Pitt movie on this score?), Odysseus nonetheless angered the sea god Poseidon in the aftermath. This is problem if you plan to travel home by sea. As a result, Homer tells us it took Ithacas monarch another 10 years to return home, the span of which makes up this story.More than his leadership and strength, Odysseus craftiness makes him a hero. He outsmarts his opponents time and again, whether by fooling an enormous cyclops by calling himself Nobody, or having his crew plug their ears with beeswax to block out the Sirens song (Odysseus being who he is, asked to be tied to the mast so he could hear their beckoning call).Damon made a name for himself by playing against his boyish looks as a genius janitor in Good Will Hunting and as an identity stealing hanger-on in The Talented Mr. Ripley. Nolan gave Damon a new wrinkle to play in Oppenheimer, whose Colonel Leslie Groves boiled with rage under his all-American exterior. This combination of playfulness and likable demeanor makes Damon a strong choice for Odysseus.Anne Hathaway as PenelopeNolan is famously a wife guy. He makes himself unavailable during family time between projects, and his wife Emma works closely with him as a producer. Nolan is also famous for struggling to write female characters, especially wives and daughters. Marion Cotillards Mal from Inception is the paradigmatic example, a mad woman who must remain locked away, even as Cobb strives to come back to their children.Penelope, however, is much more than just Odysseus worrying wife. She must hold Ithaca together in the Kings absence, a project made more difficult by a phalanx of suitors trying to convince her that the king has died and she must remarry.By this point, Hathaway has outlasted the charges that shes a try-hard theater kid and most recognize her as an observant performer who can play against her natural charm, a change of public perception won in part by stealing every scene as Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises. That quality makes her a good counterpart to Damons Odysseus, outwitting the suitors while holding Ithaca together. We also know that Nolan has had both Christian Bales Bruce Wayne and Matthew McConaugheys Interstellar astronaut cross oceans (or more) to reach her.Tom Holland as TelemachusPenelopes problems at home get worse when her son Telemachus decides to follow in his fathers footsteps and head to sea to find him. Theres a tragic quality to Telemachus decision, suggesting that the son is damned to make the same mistakes as the father.Like Damon, Holland can do much more than his boyish looks suggest. Unlike Damon, however, Hollands been limited by huge MCU roles and by making disastrous choices with almost every other project he joins. Holland acquits himself well in The Devil All the Time or Cherry, but those half-baked films fall far short of the actors ambitions. Hopefully, working with Nolan will give Holland the chance to move beyond Peter Parker. Telemachus wants to prove himself just like Holland does, which will allow the actor to find some emotional truth for the part.Charlize Theron as CalypsoOdysseus spends seven of his 10 years away trapped on the island Ogygia where hes a captive of the nymph Calypso. Calypso wants Odysseus as her husband, offering him immortality as a reward.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!Charlize Theron has played her share of determined and complicated characters, whether it be a human train wreck in Young Adult, an immortal vigilante in The Old Guard, or the Imperator Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road. In each of these cases, her hard stare and cutting remarks belie a deep vulnerability. Homer presents Calypso as a tragic figure, someone almost bound by her desire for Odysseus. She knows that he will never love her as much as he does Penelope, but she accepts that, as long as she can have him as a husband.Lupita Nyongo as CirceWhere Calypso fails Circe succeeds. After transforming his men into swine, the witch Circe manages to keep Odysseus with her for a year. Even though he claims to be steadfast in his love for Penelope, Odysseus cannot resist Circes beauty or the abundance of her home. Tired of fighting, he gives in to her.Lupita Nyongo is easily one of the most versatile actors working today, as seen in her triumphant dual performance in Jordan Peeles Us, strong voice acting turns in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Wild Robot, and her Academy Award-winning work in 12 Years a Slave. Nyongo knows how to transform herself for the occasion, sometimes using her beauty and intelligence to project an ethereal quality and sometimes bringing raw physicality to her characters. This range makes her the perfect choice to portray a sorceress who beguiles the hero.Zendaya as AthenaOkay, yes, Zendaya is a bit young to play such a powerful goddess. But, come one, Athenas a Goddessexactly how old should she look?More importantly, Zendayas proven herself adept at playing wise beyond her years and slight frame. Just look at Dune: Part Two and Challengers from earlier in this year where she brought rage and ambition to characters seen as just a pretty face by the men around them. Zeus daughter, Athena is Odysseus patron on Mount Olympus. She helps throughout his battles and sends other gods, such as Hermes, to intercede on his behalf. Furthermore, she also has an eye for Telemachus, giving a treat for celebrity gossip fans when they see Zendaya and Tom Holland share the screen again.Read more Robert Pattinson as PoseidonAs with Zendaya, Pattinsons a bit younger than those we usually associate with the gods. But also like Zendaya, Pattinsons worked against his handsome features to play complicated figures. And no one in The Odyssey is more complicated than Poseidon, Odysseus chief antagonist. Furious with Odysseus for blinding his son, the cyclops Polyphemus, Poseidon doesnt kill his rival and instead just messes with him.Even by the standards of the idiosyncratic gods, thats a weird choice, and Pattinson loves to be weird. Plus, if he gets to exercise some of the watery muscles he developed while making The Lighthouse, all the better.So far, thats all we have for confirmed cast members. The Odyssey isnt slated for release until 2026, which means that theres still a lot of work to do.But we know how much Nolan likes working with people he knows, so were almost guaranteed to see him bring back some old favorites. It would be fun to see Tom Hardy cover the top part of his face instead of the bottom to play a muttering version of Polyphemus the Cyclops. Its not hard to see a venerable performer like Tom Conti or Ken Watanabe play Zeus or one of the other gods. Joseph Gordon-Levitt would be great as Eurymachus, the most charismatic and duplicitous of Penelopes suitors.Or, we could be wrong about all of this. After all, this is just speculation, and Nolan has surprised us before. Well be watching closely as The Odyssey finds its way to theaters.The Odyssey is slated for a 2026 release.

The threat actor known as Cloud Atlas has been observed using a previously undocumented malware called VBCloud as part of its cyber attack campaigns targeting "several dozen users" in 2024."Victims get infected via phishing emails containing a malicious document that exploits a vulnerability in the formula editor (CVE-2018-0802) to download and execute malware code," Kaspersky researcher Oleg Kupreev said in an analysis published this week.More than 80% of the targets were located in Russia. A lesser number of victims have been reported from Belarus, Canada, Moldova, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and Vietnam.Also referred to as Clean Ursa, Inception, Oxygen, and Red October, Cloud Atlas is an unattributed threat activity cluster that has been active since 2014. In December 2022, the group was linked to cyber attacks aimed at Russia, Belarus, and Transnistria that deployed a PowerShell-based backdoor called PowerShower.Then exactly a year later, Russian cybersecurity company F.A.C.C.T. revealed that various entities in the country were targeted by spear-phishing attacks that exploited an old Microsoft Office Equation Editor flaw (CVE-2017-11882) to drop a Visual Basic Script (VBS) payload responsible for downloading an unknown next-stage VBS malware.Kaspersky's latest report reveals that these components are part of what it calls VBShower, which is then used to download and install PowerShower as well as VBCloud.The starting point of the attack chain is a phishing email that contains a booby-trapped Microsoft Office document that, when opened, downloads a malicious template formatted as an RTF file from a remote server. It then abuses CVE-2018-0802, another flaw in the Equation Editor, to fetch and run an HTML Application (HTA) file hosted on the same server."The exploit downloads the HTA file via the RTF template and runs it," Kupreev said. "It leverages the alternate data streams (NTFS ADS) feature to extract and create several files at %APPDATA%\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\. These files make up the VBShower backdoor."This includes a launcher, which acts as a loader by extracting and running the backdoor module in memory. The other VB Script is a cleaner that cares about erasing the contents of all files inside the "\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Word\" folder, in addition to those within itself and the launcher, thereby covering up evidence of the malicious activity.The VBShower backdoor is designed to retrieve more VBS payloads from the command-and-control (C2) server that comes with capabilities to reboot the system; gather information about files in various folders, names of running processes, and scheduler tasks; and install PowerShower and VBCloud.PowerShower is analogous to VBShower in functionality, the chief difference being that it downloads and executes next-stage PowerShell scripts from the C2 server. It's also equipped to serve as a downloader for ZIP archive files.As many as seven PowerShell payloads have been observed by Kaspersky. Each of them carries out a distinct task as follows -Get a list of local groups and their members on remote computers via Active Directory Service Interfaces (ADSI)Conduct dictionary attacks on user accountsUnpack ZIP archive downloaded by PowerShower and execute a PowerShell script contained within it in order to carry out a Kerberoasting attack, which is a post-exploitation technique for obtaining credentials for Active Directory accountsGet a list of administrator groupsGet a list of domain controllersGet information about files inside the ProgramData folderGet the account policy and password policy settings on the local computerVBCloud also functions a lot like VBShower, but utilizes public cloud storage service for C2 communications. It gets triggered by a scheduled task every time a victim user logs into the system.The malware is equipped to harvest information about disks (drive letter, drive type, media type, size, and free space), system metadata, files and documents matching extensions DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, PDF, TXT, RTF, and RAR, and files related to the Telegram messaging app."PowerShower probes the local network and facilitates further infiltration, while VBCloud collects information about the system and steals files," Kupreev said. "The infection chain consists of several stages and ultimately aims to steal data from victims' devices."Found this article interesting? Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.

The edge computing landscape has undergone significant expansion. This growth has been matched by an increase in innovative architectural options, enabling organizations to optimize edge deployments for performance, scalability and security.Embedded databases are becoming increasingly crucial for the growing edge and internet of things (IoT). They are integrated directly into software, providing data management for end-users without the need for separate database servers. This allows for more efficient and streamlined operations than the traditional alternatives of file systems and message queues. Additionally, embedded databases can significantly reduce the complexity and cost associated with managing large amounts of data in IoT applications.This localized approach, where the database is located on the device itself, is particularly beneficial for IoT devices, offering several advantages.Reduced latency is a significant advantage. By eliminating communication with remote servers, embedded databases process data swiftly, enabling real-time insights and actions. This instantaneous processing empowers timely decision-making.Device independence is another vital feature. Embedded databases allow devices to function autonomously, even without network connectivity. This capability is crucial for applications where internet access is intermittent or unreliable, ensuring uninterrupted operation.Related:Resource optimization is also achieved. Embedded databases are tailored to leverage the specific capabilities and resources of their host devices. This optimization leads to efficient utilization of processing power, memory and storage, maximizing device potential. As a result, tasks can be completed more quickly and efficiently, enhancing overall productivity.Furthermore, embedded databases provide a level of security by storing data locally on the device, reducing the risk of data breaches or unauthorized access. Overall, the combination of device independence, resource optimization, and autonomous functionality make embedded databases an essential component in today's technology-driven world.The IoT landscape is evolving, with applications becoming increasingly sophisticated and data intensive. Consequently, demand for high-performance embedded databases is rising. As more devices connect to the internet and generate vast amounts of data, the need for efficient data storage and retrieval solutions is becoming more critical.Embedded databases offer a solution that can handle the growing demands of IoT applications, ensuring that data is managed securely and effectively. The adoption of embedded databases is crucial for businesses and industries looking to capitalize on the benefits of IoT technology while maintaining high levels of performance and security.Related:To effectively support IoT applications, embedded databases must deliver exceptional capabilities. They must handle real-time processing at scale, managing continuous data streams from IoT devices to provide instantaneous insights and support time-sensitive actions. Additionally, embedded databases must have robust security measures in place to protect sensitive data from potential cyber threats. They must also be able to handle the complex data relationships and connectivity requirements that come with IoT applications.By meeting these demands, embedded databases can empower businesses to fully leverage the potential of IoT technology and drive innovation in their respective industries.Scalability is also crucial. As connected devices proliferate and data volumes surge, embedded databases must seamlessly accommodate growth without compromising performance. Ensuring that embedded databases can easily scale up to meet the increasing demands of IoT applications is essential for businesses to stay competitive in today's fast-paced digital landscape.Related:High-performance embedded databases fuel IoT innovation through real-time data analysis, enabling informed decision-making and groundbreaking products. They adapt to emerging trends, keeping businesses competitive and unlocking IoT's transformative potential for efficiency, productivity and growth.Selecting the optimal embedded database for IoT applications requires careful consideration of several critical factors.Performance is paramount. The chosen database must efficiently handle required data ingestion rates and deliver low latency for real-time processing, ensuring timely insights.Scalability is also vital. The database should seamlessly accommodate anticipated growth in device numbers and data volume without compromising performance.Ease of use is essential for streamlined integration and management. A user-friendly application programming interface and minimal maintenance requirements minimize complexity.Resource consumption must be optimized. The database should boast a compact footprint, minimizing its impact on device resources such as processing power, memory and storage. The database must operate dependably in challenging environments, guaranteeing data integrity, availability and resilience.The future of embedded databases in IoT looks bright. As the demand for real-time data processing and analysis at the edge continues to grow, embedded databases are likely to play an even more critical role in driving innovation and enabling new possibilities in various industries. Consider them now for your edge applications to get the power of the database at the edge and enable many more processing capabilities there.

Spectrum leads when it comes to internet services in Portland, but CNETs experts have found some other great residential options, too.

If you're like me and don't have Apple Intelligence yet because you own an older Apple device, don't fret. You can use other apps to recreate some of its initial features.Released in October 2024, Apple Intelligence is a suite of generative AI tools built natively into the iPhone, iPad, MacBook and iMac, and accessible via the cloud on these devices. With the release ofiOS 18.2earlier this month, Apple Intelligence hasmessage summaries, various writing toolsand image creation like Image Playground and Genmoji. But you'll have to be on a newer device to access these tools. For example, you need an iPhone 15 Pro/15 Pro Max or iPhone 16 (any model) to use Apple Intelligence.As a creator who focuses on introducing business professionals to various AI tools, I was bummed at first that Apple Intelligence requires a hardware upgrade. Then I realized some of its initial features can be replicated by learning your way around various other apps. Here are a few ways I'm doing that. Voices Meet industry creators, contributors and emerging thought leaders that have paired with CNETs award-winning editorial team to provide you with unique content from different perspectives. AI-powered writing tools Upgrade your inbox Get cnet insider From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated. Apple Intelligence integrates an AI writing assistant across all apps and devices, letting you access features such as spelling checks, tone adjustment, summarization, proofreading and smart replies. Two non-Apple tools can deliver similar results with just a few additional clicks.Grammarly has been popular among consumers for quite some time now. The app offers spelling and grammar checks, style suggestions and tone adjustments. Many people don't realize Grammarly also has an iOS keyboard extension, so you won't have to leave your iMessage, Notes or email app to use it.ChatGPT is another favorite when it comes to AI writing assistants. As a standalone iOS app, you can download it for free from the App Store, and iOS 18.2 gives the option to integrate ChatGPT with Siri. Now with GPT-4o, ChatGPT is faster, cheaper and produces higher-quality content than its predecessors. You can use ChatGPT to come up with ideas, as well as titles, outlines and even the entirety of the content you want to create.Regardless of which AI app you use for writing assistance, make sure you review the content before sharing it with others. Human review and intervention are key to this process. Furthermore, if you ever choose to create and publish content entirely using AI, you should indicate it with a disclaimer.AI for photos, image generation and custom emojis Apple Intelligence's AI can analyze photos from your library and quickly find the ones you're looking for (i.e., "Katie with stickers on her face"). The new Image Playground and Genmoji features in iOS 18.2 let you generate custom images, sketches and emojis without third-party apps. (Note that these features won't be supported in China or the EU as of this writing due to regulatory restrictions.)Google Photos and Dropbox have similar AI features that automatically tag photos based on objects, locations, faces and events, allowing users to search for specific images without manually categorizing them. These features aren't without their flaws, but they generally work well. Google Photos offers many of the same features touted in Apple Intelligence, and I've been a loyal user for over six years.Google Photos automatically recognizes different people using facial recognition, allowing you to easily access all the photos and videos of a certain person. When in doubt, Google Photos will occasionally ask you to manually identify people. Screenshot: Fei WuThere's also the "most relevant to your search" feature, which allows you to enter a search term, then see results displayed based on relevance rather than date. For example, when I searched in Google Photos for a specific element like "red scarf," here were the results. Screenshot: Fei WuTo get started, Google Photos recommends that you try searching for phrases or ideas, such as:"colorful sunset""peaceful garden""Cinderella"Or, use names of friends and family you've added under People, like:"Charlie at the Golden Gate Bridge""Alice and Bob at the beach"Dropbox offers a solid alternative to Google Photos. But it's important to note that this AI-powered image search (as a feature) is only available to Dropbox Plus, Family, Professional, Standard, Business, Advanced, Business Plus and Enterprise customers.You can search for any element or feature represented in the photos. For example, here are the results returned from my Dropbox account when I searched "restaurant." Screenshot: Fei WuIf there are too many results or file types mixed in, you can use Dropbox's built-in filters to narrow them down, filtering by images, videos, PDFs, documents, dates taken and even image dimensions. Screenshot: Fei WuThe downside of Dropbox photos is that people in these photos are not tagged automatically using facial recognition, so you won't be able to easily search for photos of a particular person the same way you can in Google Photos.Notification prioritizationApple Intelligence leverages AI to analyze your text messages, calendar invites, notes and photos, prioritizing and summarizing notifications to save you time and minimize interruptions. So far, consumers haven't been wowed. To streamline your notifications, consider first removing apps you no longer need on your phone. Then, take advantage of a few built-in iOS features. I love using Focus modes, which allow me to create different profiles (Do Not Disturb, Work, Sleep, Personal) to control the notifications I receive based on the time of day and context. You can create custom Focus modes to allow notifications to come from specific apps or people, or automate them based on time and location.Apple's built-in notification features (without Apple Intelligence) are useful and sufficient in most cases. I recommend going through the settings for each of your apps (Go to Settings > Notifications) and deciding which ones need to have notifications turned on. Some apps, such as home security apps, also have the option to turn on Critical Alerts, which will deliver notifications with sound immediately, regardless of settings.You can start using AI nowGiven that Apple Intelligence is still new, it may be wise to hold off on a significant investment in a new device. Apple Intelligence features will most likely improve over time, but until then, you can still start using AI in your day-to-day life without the fancy upgrades.Find me on YouTubeto discover more AI tools that can help you in your everyday online life.Opinions expressed by CNET Voices contributors are their own.

Our Experts Written by David Carnoy Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement Why You Can Trust CNET 16171819202122232425+ Years of Experience 14151617181920212223 Hands-on Product Reviewers 6,0007,0008,0009,00010,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,000 Sq. Feet of Lab Space How we test CNETs expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. What to consider Budget Determine how much you're willing to spend on open wireless earbuds and how that lines up with quality and functionality. Fit Your earbuds should offer a comfortable, secure fit -- even without noise-canceling tips to seal them in. Ensuring the open earbuds you choose fit your head help minimize any discomfort from longer wear. Durability You want open wireless buds that hold up well over time, so look for models that we note have sturdy build quality and a good water-resistance rating. Return policy In case the open earbuds aren't a great fit for your ears, it's important that the retailer offers a good return policy. Table of Contents Back to selection

When you think back to every Indiana Jones movie, at one point or another Indy has had to be stealthy. Whether it's donning a disguise in The Last Crusade to get his fathers Holy Grail diary back, or sneaking onto a submarine to follow the Ark when it slipped out of his grasp, there's always a time he needs to be silent and sneaky - though whether Indy actually pulls this off without being caught is another matter entirely. He's not always the subtlest of human beings, which is precisely one of the reasons I feel stealth in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle works so well.I should preface this by saying I don't really get on with stealth in a lot of games - if I can bombard my way through them and hope for the best, then I will. Take Star Wars Outlaws from earlier this year. Sure, I could have been stealthy around the Imperial Bases, but why bother when I had a blaster? Apart from those insta-fail sections, which have now been patched out, it didn't really matter if you caught out. But the atmosphere in Indiana Jones makes you feel like so much more is at stake if you get seen - even when it's not an explicit requirement.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Watch on YouTubeIn the first moments of the game, it's made quite clear that there's a lot more going on in this story than has been revealed to you (as most Indy stories tend to go). By making this obvious from the beginning, it makes you want to be stealthy and keep yourself hidden from the eyes of enemies. You feel the sense of urgency hiding behind a crate while an enemy patrols past with a guard dog at their side, as you know it won't be long before one is behind you and spots you, so you need to swiftly move between cover without getting caught.The stealth itself is very approachable. When crouched, you can move silently through spaces, not having to worry about sound metres or the like as you might in other, more hardcore stealth games. Of course, if you run or fire your gun, then guards will naturally come running after you as well, and they'll likewise whistle for back-up if you stay too long in their direct line of sight. But it all feels very intuitive as you start feeling out what is and isn't possible in The Great Circle, making even stealth novices like myself feel like they confidently get through it. Image credit: Eurogamer/Bethesda SoftworksIf you do end up raising the alarm, of course, then all is not lost. For starters, you can usually knock out an alerted enemy with a broomstick or guitar you've found laying around, which is always fun. I mean, you can run away but, well, where's the fun in that? Similarly, if one approach isn't working for you, there are usually other routes you can try, or other objects you can use to switch up your tactics, which is precisely what this game does so well. You can throw a glass bottle to distract a guard as you slip into a cellar hatch, or use your whip to get them to turn in a different direction while you climb up some (questionably) safe scaffolding. It feels realistic, but not to the point that it becomes frustrating and unenjoyable. I once managed to get myself stuck behind a crate with no clear exit path, for example, and enemies were patrolling up and down (one had a dog which upped the ante), and I felt myself going, "Well this isn't good". But after a moment, I realised I had multiple chances to use stealth to my advantage - this time I chose to create a diversion by grabbing a nearby wrench and tossing it across the courtyard to get the enemy's attention. Then, while their backs were turned, I dashed across the way and dove through an open window only to then find myself behind yet another guard. Luckily, I kept myself out of their eyeline and snuck into the next room. "Phew," I thought. "I was safe!" And I liked that it didn't punish me for thinking on my feet.That's really one of the best thing about Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. You can lean into the stealth as much as you like, but if it goes wrong, you have the freedom to pick yourself back up again and try something new.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereThe democratic nation of Super Earth is renowned for two things: its superior firepower against alien threats and its powerful propaganda. After working on new stratagems that seriously pack a punch, developer Arrowhead has confirmed that it was working on radio stations to help spread the word of Super Earth.Helldivers 2 radio stationsResponding to a fan on Twitter, Helldivers 2 COO Johan Pilestedt explained that the team has considered adding official radio stations to the game. With vehicles now officially part of the game, players want some form of official radio to turn on as they drive across planets.Pilestedt explained that the creation of an in-game propaganda radio has been on the drawing board for some time. However, theres currently been no progress made on the potential feature.[The feature] is yet to be decided on, Pilestedt told fans on Twitter.If the feature does eventually get implemented, it would allow official news broadcasts, or even just the music that plays when raising the Super Earth flag, as players rock across planets, taking out enemies. Hopefully, they add Los Dos Laredos Acordeones for the true Puma experience.Arrowhead is also working on a tonne of additional content for Helldivers 2 for future updates. While unconfirmed, leaks have found evidence of a wildlife system to populate planets as well as new Illuminate enemies for players to battle. There are even more terrifying Automaton enemies in the works to give bot fighters more to worry about.For more Helldivers 2 coverage, check out the developers official word on increasing team sizes orthe new stratagems in development for the game. If you really want more coverage, you can even read about the best stratagems to use as well as the best weapons in the game. Helldivers 2Platform(s):PC, PlayStation 5Genre(s):Action, Shooter, Third Person8VideoGamerSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share