Apple TV Plus is free the weekend of January 3rd and 4th and, like a lot of people, I have a suggestion for what you should watch. Most of the suggestions are probably fantastic and worthwhile, as Apple has thrown their trillion dollar weight around the streaming wars and assembled a shockingly good catalogue of original shows. But I think you should ignore all of that and sit down for the single best season of science fiction television. No, not that one. Not that one either. Im talking about Foundation season 2.Oh, you think thats hyperbolic? Well Im just getting started. Foundation (season 2) has one of Lee Paces best performances, has the best space ship designs this side of Villeneuves Dune, has the best romantic scoundrel Han Solo-type since Empire Strikes Back, and has the most bombastic television finale since the Red Wedding. Its all backed up with an inexplicably lush costume, set, and CGI budget that cant be explained as anything other than a nine figure tax write off. And you dont need to have seen a single episode of the first season or read a page of the book to enjoy any of it!Heres the thing about Isaac Asimovs Foundation: its a strange choice for a television series, one that requires a lot of modifications to function as episodic storytelling. There were clearly some kinks to work out, and it seems to have taken one mediocre season to iron out all those wrinkles. Luckily, the series also sort of functions like an anthology, with a cast of mostly new characters for the second (and upcoming third) season. All you need to know from the first season is that (spoiler warning) immortal clone emperor Lee Pace is big mad about a group of nerds (led by Ed Harris and his protege Lou Llobell) who keep saying his galactic empire is going to collapse (and theyre totally right, because math). There, I summarized the mediocre first season and now youre ready for a prestige sci fi drama full of pulpy adventures, palace intrigue, steamy love stories (gay and not), and some really good explosions.Still not convinced? Well there is that naked Lee Pace ninja fight in the season 2 premiere.Now hurry up, youve got 10 incredible episodes to watch, you can thank me later!

These are the new releases that caught our attention this week: a (surprisingly refreshing) post-apocalyptic tale, and an exorcism thriller. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/what-to-read-this-weekend-the-friends-you-make-in-the-apocalypse-150002035.html?src=rss

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[cap-drop]J[/cap-drop]ust because a game isnt quite fully baked yet doesnt mean it isnt worth playing or capable of rivaling feature-complete games. Through the years, weve seen a number of early access titles filled with tons of content and polished to such a degree that puts other full games to shame. Baldurs Gate 3immediately comes to mind. It offered well over 40 hours of compelling content in its early access state before its award-winning full launch in 2023. This list comprises games operating with that same kind of spirit; one where potential is strikingly obvious right out of the gate. As well see, a couple of these titles show ample signs of being future GOTY winners.1. Path of Exile 2If theres one game on this list that couldve fooled us into thinking it was already a complete package, its Path of Exile 2. Its not an exaggeration to say that Path of Exile 2stands as the best action RPGs available right now, and its still early days with the full launch a year away. Between the intricate build customization, varied macabre environments, and story oozing with rich lore, were looking forward to just how much more jam-packed with content Path of Exile 2will get with its full launch sometime in the coming year.2. Hades 2The first sequel from the beloved indie dev, Supergiant, is already amazing and its still only in early access. Hades 2takes the brilliant roguelike structure of the first game and adds a whole lot of magic (literally) and added polish to the mix. The sequel expands upon the well-written Greek pantheon featured in the prequel, introducing a new protagonist in Melinoe, the sister of Hades 1s hero. Hades 2 aims to outdo Hades in every respect, which is already evident by the sheer number of new locations and the plethora of content present in its early access state.3. Wild WoodsThis four-player co-op indie game tasks players to defend a wagon going through some dangerous woods. Sounds rather simple, right? Well, it shares some very creative elements from Kunitsu-Gami, another game that has you gathering resources during daytime to prepare for night combat. The four-player cooperation elements serve as a good foundation for added maps and challenges leading up to its full release. Though, since Wild Woods just became available for early access on December 9th, odds are that it has a ways to go until its complete launch.4. PalworldWith well over eight million units sold and record-breaking Steam player counts, Pocket Pairs Palworldis doing well for itself despite the looming Nintendo lawsuit. Palworlddrew in a substantial number of players disillusioned by Pokemons latest offerings. The base building and gun-toting Pal battles are great fun, and with the Feybreak update coming December 23rd, players have a lot more content to look forward to.5. EnshroudedEnshroudedmay be yet another survival crafting game, but it executes each of its components well above most of the competition. The combat is rather satisfying with its action RPG mechanics and parry-laden fights. If youre struggling to make ends meet in this hostile open world, there are 15 other players who can help (or hinder) you in your journey. Enshrouded is notable for meeting a majority of its roadmap goals as it inches ever closer to its full 2025 release.6. Manor LordsWhat really sets Manor Lordsapart from other city builder strategy games is its unwavering attention to medieval historical accuracy. Theres a laudable amount of detail regarding town expansion and resource management with historical systems like burgage plot structuring all in play. These intricate town management systems raise the stakes of the real-time strategy battles tenfold, adding a level of immersion and urgency to the genre. Were looking forward to seeing how this one-man passion project turns out with its official launch.7. AstrometicaThis survival crafting game just released in early access on December 10th and Im already invested in what it offers. Unlike other endless space exploration games (like Starfield), the variety of ships within Astrometica are actually used to explore various anomalies and secrets. Theres even asteroid belts to navigate your ship through. Youll need to settle down in a base to survive the cold hostility of space, though, and Astrometica delivers with its compelling tech tree and outpost crafting.8. The Rogue Prince of PersiaMade by the studio that put out the acclaimed Dead CellsDLCs, this roguelite Prince of Persiatitle is in a quite the polished state half a year after its early access debut. As the title suggests, The Rogue Prince of Persia features procedurally generated levels filled with the kind of acrobatic platforming and action that the genre has been known for. Players who enjoyed Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownor classic 2D platforming titles will find a lot to love with The Rogue Prince of Persia.9. Rogue CommandRogue Command is another roguelike game on this list, yet in the form of a classic RTS title. I dont know if Ive seen a classic RTS in this roguelike format before. Its an intriguing gameplay conceit to have entirely different builds and units with every run, butRogue Commanddoes a good job keeping runs approachable and fun thanks to convenience features like a 10% time slow-down. Despite its early access status, theres quite a lot of content here already, including 100s of units and over 20 map types.10. Finnish Cottage SimulatorConsider me surprised to see Finnish Cottage Sim achieving an overwhelmingly positive rating on Steam with thousands of reviews as of its November 15th early access launch. The charming graphics and quant atmosphere help it stand out among the more budget-minded simulator games. But its really the variety of quests and dynamic 6-player multiplayer that have hooked players into this fun and relaxing take on cottage living.11. DunjungleIf you like The Rogue Prince of Persia, Dunjungleis another early access title worth checking out. This fast-paced action platformer roguelite distinguishes itself with customizable equipment and classes to exploit enemy weaknesses with. The gameplay loop is more frenetic and punishing than something like The Rogue Prince of Persia with its lack of checkpoints, but thankfully theres plenty of equipment and progress that stays with you between runs. Dunjungleis one of the most instantly gratifying early access games on the list thanks to its poppy drop-in, drop-out gameplay loop.12. CataclismoStrategy players with a love for Legos need to try out Cataclismo. The games combination of real time strategy battles with brick-built base building forms a rather unique experience. Structures are effortless to construct thanks to the clear piece-by-piece process of building them. Seriously, if you like stacking bricks together, Cataclismo satisfies with a bevy of architectural pieces to get creative with and RTS combat to test your structures against.13. AskaAskaisnt just another survival game; besides careful resource management and fights against wildlife and scavengers, the game asks you to manage your own tribe. This management wrinkle really adds a lot to the game. Take the unique way you add villagers to your village; you essentially craft villagers into existence out of resources, how cool is that? This fresh perspective on the survival genre further personalizes the village management aspect of the game, making survival that much more interesting and engaging.14. New Arc LineThis early access game is for the classic role-playing fans. New Arc Lineis set in a dystopian magi-tech setting where you begin as a penny-less immigrant aboard a steam ship to the new world. Between the range of NPC companions that you can recruit and build relationships with and the blend of mechanical and magic-based combat styles, New Arc Linehas been an early access favorite for those who love choice-heavy RPGs.15. ATLYSSATLYSSis one of those comfy and casual online RPGs that hits the sweet spot for those pining for some old-school nostalgia. The open world is rewarding to explore and quest through and the colorful PS2-stylized graphics really make it stand out. Players will have no trouble finding others to adventure with, considering the high concurrent player counts, though ATLYSSis unique in that none of the content is locked to multiplayer and can be experienced solo.Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

Even as we wait for something, anything, on Nintendos next console, the Switch still has a fair number of new releases in 2025. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is one of them, arriving on January 16th for the console at $59.99 and serving as an HD port of the 2010 platformer for the Nintendo Wii. With strong critical acclaim back in the day and over 6.5 million copies sold, theres plenty of reason to jump in. Check out 15 things you should know about it before pre-ordering.OriginsWith Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze available for the Nintendo Switch, it makes sense to bring Donkey Kong Country Returns over and give it the HD treatment. However, the latter was significant for many other reasons at launch. It was the first Donkey Kong Country title after the SNES trilogy, launching 14 years later for the Nintendo Wii. Also, instead of Rare, which handled the previous entries, Metroid Prime developer Retro Studios is at the helm for the first time in the franchise.Developed by Forever EntertainmentHowever, the Nintendo Switch version isnt handled by Retro Studios but Forever Entertainment, as reported by Bankier. The studio (which published the remakes for Front Mission 1 and 2) also worked Tropical Freeze for the Switch and did a pretty good job, though well get to the visual changes in Donkey Kong Country Returns HD shortly.GameplayIf you played the SNES titles, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD will feel familiar. As a side-scrolling platformer, players can control Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong (though only the former is playable solo). You can jump on and roll through enemies, pound on the ground to progress or reveal items, ride on mine carts, swing from vines, collect bananas and Puzzle Pieces to unlock gallery items. Animals like Rambi and Squawks also return to lend a hand.New Mechanics to the SeriesWhile characters in the original Donkey Kong Country trilogy could go down in one hit, Donkey Kong Country Returns features a health bar. The trade-off is you cant switch to Diddy Kong when playing solo. However, he can jump on Donkey Kongs back with his jetpack allowing you to make longer jumps. The other change is a new silhouette presentation for some levels, which not only looks sleek but also houses new challenges.For example, if you line up certain background objects in Sunset Shore, itll rain bananas and coins. Some platforms in Foggy Fumes may also not be immediately visible, leading to some second-guessing. On top of all this, theres a new vehicle, the Rocket Barrel, which offers its treacherous stages to navigate.Local PlayOne of the appeals of Donkey Kong Country is playing with a friend and Donkey Kong Country Returns HD supports this. A second player can control Diddy Kong, and yes, you can still hop on Donkey Kongs back to enhance his jumps (and cut down on your own work). Once a characters health is depleted, you can bring them back with DK Barrels scattered throughout the stages.Super KongIf things are too rough and you die multiple times in a level, Super Kong can be called in to save the day and complete a level (which also works with bosses). The downside is not receiving bananas, coins, balloons granting extra lives, and collectibles. You also wont see the locations for the latter, making 100 percent completion (or even finishing the final stage) impossible. Nevertheless, for those who get stuck and want to get on with the story, its an option.K-StagesWhen you collect the KONG letters scattered in every level, youll unlock a K-Stage. These are challenging locations in each world, and completing them grants a Rare Orb. If you beat the game and have all eight Rare Orbs, you can unlock the final world and then Mirror Mode.Extra LevelsThis isnt the first time Donkey Kong Country Returns has been ported to other platforms. Monster Games brought it to the Nintendo 3DS and added new features like New Mode and eight brand new levels, encompassed in the new Cloud world. Collecting all Rare Orbs is necessary to access the Cloud Gateway to enter this world and subsequently the last level.Mirror ModeAfter finishing the final level, theres good news you can do it all over again in Mirror Mode. Available only in solo play, it flips every level in the game, removes Diddy Kong, and only gives you one heart, which means one hit, and youre dead. You also cant use items, further increasing the difficulty.Time AttackIf youre the speed-running type, then Time Attack mode may be worth checking out. Available after completing a stage, your goal is to reach the end in the fastest time possible. There are Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals to earn, but you can also try for Shiny Golds, whose completion time is hidden. You dont get anything for all the medals, making this mode completely optional, but its a great way to test your knowledge of the levels.Original Mode and New ModeAnother new feature from the 3DS port, which carries over to the Nintendo Switch version, is New Mode. Its effectively Easy mode, granting more hearts, increasing held items to nine, and offering other protective measures. You can survive two crashes from mine carts and rocket barrels with Crash Guard, while Green Balloon will save you once if you fall into the abyss. Original Mode is still available for those who want to experience the game with the original difficulty, so dont worry.PlaytimeThe main story will last 11.5 hours on average per HowLongToBeat. This jumps to 18 hours when factoring in side content, but completionists will require 31 hours on average to finish everything. However, this is for the Wii version and doesnt account for the extra levels from the 3DS port. Regardless, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD promises a lengthy platforming experience if youre dedicated enough.Visually Enhanced (?)Donkey Kong Country Returns HD sports a higher resolution than the Wii release, but there are some noticeable visual changes, which arent all completely positive. Certain items like Hearts and KONG letters dont glow as brightly; the sunset in some levels is absent; and the colors in many instances arent the same. Your mileage may vary on how much all this matters, but if youre a stickler for a 1:1 HD port in visuals, this isnt it (though they still look pretty good).JoyCon FeaturesLocal play is entirely possible with a pair of JoyCons, with each player using one to control a character. And while the entire game is playable with buttons, the JoyCons can be shaken to smack the ground, thus unveiling hidden objectives. This carries over from the Wii version, and while unnecessary, its good to see it carry over to the Switch.File Size on Nintendo SwitchWhile Tropical Freeze required 6.7 GB of installation space on the Switch, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is surprisingly bigger. Youll need 8.3 GB of space instead its not much, but still a noticeable leap.

Arlo has once again increased the monthly subscription pricing for its smart home cameras Arlo Secure cloud storage plan. The company now charges $9.99 per month (up from $7.99) to store a single cameras recordings and $19.99 a month (up from $17.99) for unlimited cameras. And instead of calling the cheaper plan Arlo Secure, both are now named Secure Plus.At $9.99 per month, the cheapest Secure plan is now more than three times the monthly $2.99 Arlo once charged to store video for a single camera in the cloud. The company bumped that to $4.99 in early 2023, then to $7.99 last year. With annual billing, the single-camera plan still works out to $7.99 per month, while the unlimited-camera one is effectively $17.99 per month when you pay for a year upfront.Arlos annual pricing is a little cheaper per-month. Screenshot: Arlo websiteThis latest round of price increases comes after Arlo announced a new set of AI-powered features in September. The features include letting users name specific people or vehicles the camera sees and get notifications about them, or to train its cameras to detect and notify them of events like a sprinkler turning on or garage door opening. The company has also doubled how many days of recordings it will store, from 30 to 60 days.Arlo has offered at least some users the ability to keep their old rate by switching to an annual plan, according to a screenshot posted to the Arlo subreddit. Users can still get free storage by using Arlo Base Stations and SmartHub devices that are compatible with their cameras. However, going that route also means missing out on certain subscription-only features that make smart cameras appealing, such as package detection.