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Category: Gamespot

  • Super Mario Odyssey Guide: Where To Find All The Warp Paintings

    Super Mario Odyssey has been out for just over a week now, but many players are still only scratching the surface of Mario’s first Switch adventure. Unlike the more linear level design of Super Mario Galaxy, Odyssey hearkens back to Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine with its many sprawling, sandbox-style Kingdoms, each of which houses a myriad of Power Moons and other collectibles to find.

    Mario traverses to each Kingdom in his hat-shaped airship, the Odyssey, but that isn’t the plumber’s only means of traveling between levels. Scattered about many of the Kingdoms are warp paintings, which will instantly transport you back to a specific world without having to take your ship. Not only are these paintings a convenient way to quickly revisit a previous level, they also drop you off in an out-of-reach area of the kingdom, where you can pick up a new Power Moon.

    There are 10 warp paintings scattered about Mario Odyssey, some of which are hidden better than others. In the video above, we take a look at all of the painting locations hidden throughout the game and which Kingdom they transport you to. The video contains some spoilers, so be advised if you’d like to find the paintings for yourself.

    Super Mario Odyssey launched for Nintendo Switch on October 27. For more about the game, be sure to check out six things we wish we knew before starting, as well as our roundup of guides, features, and everything you need to know about Super Mario Odyssey.

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  • Destiny 2 Nightfall Guide: Inverted Spire Strike Modifiers And Challenges Detailed

    Another weekly reset has occurred in Destiny 2, bringing with it the second-ever Faction Rally event to PS4 and Xbox One (or the first, if you’re on PC). It also means there is a new Flashpoint on Nessus and a new Nightfall Strike now available, and we’ve got the full rundown on what to expect from this week’s journey to The Inverted Spire.

    In terms of Modifiers, you’ll be able to gain some additional time to complete the Strike with Timewarp: Rings. This presents Vex rings in certain areas throughout the mission, which you can jump through to extend the time limit by 30 seconds. Momentum is also active, and this causes your health and shield regeneration to cease when you stand still. Sprinting allows you to regenerate both more quickly, meaning you’ll need to stay on the move in order to stay alive.

    As for Challenges, you’ll again be faced with Speed of Dark, which requires at least five minutes to still be on the clock when you finish the Strike. Unbroken asks you to make it through with fewer than three deaths. And The Floor is Lava tasks your entire Fireteam with avoiding Protheon’s fire attack; slay it without anyone taking a hit from the ground attack to complete this.

    The reward for completing the Nightfall is Powerful gear. This is one of the only ways to obtain such gear, and they’re among the best items you can get your hands on. It’s also an easy way to increase your Power level past 265, which presents a difficult point to surpass for many players. If you haven’t hit 265 yet, you may want to wait until after you’ve raised your Power level to grab the Nightfall reward. This Nightfall will be available until the next weekly reset, which occurs at 1 AM PT / 4 AM ET / 9 AM GMT / 8 PM AEDT on Tuesday, November 14.

    If you haven’t yet unlocked the Nightfall, you’ll need to complete two Strikes and approach the suggested Power level of 240 before Zavala will allow you to take part in them. Traditional matchmaking is not available, but in its place we have Guided Games, providing players with the opportunity to be matched up with members of a clan for the mission (which requires a Nightfall Ticket). Alternatively, clan members can sign up to serve as guides through the Nightfall. Doing so does not require a Ticket.

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  • PS5 And Next Xbox Are “Minimum Of Two Years” Away, Ubisoft Predicts

    It’s going to be quite a while before we see a new PlayStation or Xbox console, according to Assassin’s Creed Origins and Rainbow Six Siege publisher Ubisoft. In an investors’ call, CEO Yves Guillemot stated the company believes the next major consoles are “a minimum of two years” away.

    “As Sony launched PlayStation 4 Pro last year and Microsoft Xbox One X this year, we think we still have a minimum of two years in front of us before something new is coming,” Guillemot stated. “But that’s our perception, we don’t have any confidential information on that front.”

    Guillemot went on to say he likes that Sony and Microsoft are updating their platforms with iterative new consoles in the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X, and he believes the new devices will aid the industry.

    “We really like the fact that Sony and Microsoft are really putting more power in their machines, using the evolution of technology to give power to our developers to create better games for our players,” he said. “That is going in the right direction rather than trying to do accessories or other things. That is going to help the industry a lot because the games will be really beautiful on those machines.”

    Elsewhere in the call, Ubisoft revealed that Assassin’s Creed Origins has sold double the number of copies as its predecessor, Syndicate, so far. The company also said single-player games still have a future, despite many of the publisher’s games–For Honor, Rainbow Six Siege, and The Division, to name a few–being long-lasting multiplayer games that are continually updated.

    Xbox One X launched on November 7. It’s had a positive critical reception so far; check out our thoughts in our Xbox One X review. For more, be sure to watch our Xbox One X vs PC vs Xbox One graphics comparison, or take a look at everything you need to know about the Xbox One X.

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  • Ben Affleck Suggests He May Not Play Batman For Much Longer

    Ben Affleck Suggests He May Not Play Batman For Much Longer

    While a standalone Batman movie from DC has been planned for many years, it hasn’t always been clear what we’d be getting. Initially, current Batman actor Ben Affleck was set to star in, direct, and co-write The Batman. However, Affleck stepped down as director in January, to be replaced by War for the Planet of the Apes’ Matt Reeves. It was then reported that Affleck’s script had been scrapped, and that he might not appear in the movie at all.

    Affleck has now commented on his continued involvement with the DC universe. In an interview with ExtraTV, the star was asked if he will fulfil his five-film contract with the studio, to which he replied, rather wearily: “I don’t know about that. We’ll see what the future holds.”

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    In July it was rumored that DC were considering easing Affleck out of the role. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the studio were looking to replace the 45-year-old star as Batman, a change that would be addressed “in some shape or form in one of the upcoming DC films.”

    Since Reeves came on board, the direction of The Batman has clearly changed. While the director has since stated that Affleck is still involved, he has also confirmed that his script would no longer be used. Reeves has also teased a few details about his film. “It’s really that emotionality that I am interested in,” he said. “I want to do a very point-of-view-driven [film]. In all the films what I try to do, in almost a Hitchcockian sense, is use the camera and use the storytelling so that you become the character and you empathise with that point of view,” he said.

    “I think there is a chance to do an almost noir-driven detective version of Batman that is point of view driven in a very, very powerful way. And hopefully it is going to connect you to what’s going on inside of his head and inside of his heart.”

    Affleck’s latest appearance as Batman is in Justice League, which hits theaters on November 17. This week it was revealed that the surprisingly short running time of the movie was ordered by Warner CEO Kevin Tsujihara as a reaction to the extended length of previous movies such as Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. The film clocks in at 119 minutes, which makes it the shortest movie in the DC universe so far.

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  • Xbox One X Is For The “Discerning Connoisseur Of Gaming,” Says Spencer

    Microsoft’s next console, the Xbox One X, launches worldwide on November 7. Xbox boss Phil Spencer is doing the media rounds to talk about the super-powerful console. One of his stops was on CNBC in New York, where he was asked who he thinks is the target audience for the new system. As he’s said many times in the past, Spencer made it very clear that the Xbox One X is not for everyone.

    “This is for the discerning connoisseur of gaming [that] has a 4K television, [who] wants to see the absolute best visuals,” Spencer said. “This box is definitely targeted toward the customer that buys the most and plays the most.”

    By comparison, the less expensive Xbox One S, which will remain on sale, is being positioned as the mass-market device. As such, Microsoft believes it will sell much better than the Xbox One X. Spencer said Microsoft having two consoles on the market at the same time is all about giving players choice.

    Spencer said at the Brasil Game Show recently that the Xbox One is for people who are looking for the “very best experience” with a home console. It’s all about giving players choice, he said; if they want to spend more for a high-end experience, they can.

    The Xbox One costs $500 in the US, meaning it’s about twice the price of the Xbox One S. The new console plays all Xbox One games and works with the same controllers. More than 130 games are getting or already have been updated to take advantage of the Xbox One X’s power, including first-party games like Halo 5 and big-name third-party titles like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

    For lots more on the device, check out GameSpot’s feature, “Xbox One X Release Date, Games, Review, And Everything You Need To Know.”

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  • Xbox Could Launch A Streaming Service

    On the eve of the Xbox One X launch, Microsoft is talking about what may come next. In an interview with Bloomberg, Xbox boss Phil Spencer said Microsoft may launch a streaming service by 2020. Here is the exact wording from Bloomberg’s report:

    “Microsoft will probably debut a streaming service that doesn’t require a console for some types of content in the next three years, Spencer said.”

    The report says Microsoft held a trial for the service internally back in 2012. However, it was reportedly “too costly,” which is why it was never made available publicly. Whatever this service is, it may be powered by Microsoft’s cloud service program, Azure. Spencer said there have been advancements of late that could make this mysterious streaming service more potentially economically viable.

    We have known about Microsoft’s game-streaming service ambitions for a long time now. A prototype of the service from 2013 was reportedly capable of streaming Halo 4 to a Windows Phone and PC. In 2014, it was reported that Microsoft was moving forward with its game-streaming service, and Spencer’s comments this week suggest that Microsoft is growing even more confident still in the project.

    If Microsoft does indeed launch a game-streaming service, it would be following in the footsteps of Sony. The company’s PlayStation Now service lets subscribers stream a hundreds of games, including PS4 and PS3 titles, starting at $20/month. That service lets users stream games either to a console or PC.

    We’ll report back with more details on Microsoft’s secret game-streaming service as more information comes to light. Keep checking back with GameSpot for the latest.

    Microsoft’s Xbox One X launches worldwide on November 7. For lots more on the device, check out GameSpot’s feature, “Xbox One X Release Date, Games, Review, And Everything You Need To Know.”

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  • Xbox One X Enhancements For Halo 5 Detailed

    Xbox One X Enhancements For Halo 5 Detailed

    Microsoft’s Halo 5: Guardians is among the more than 130 Xbox One games that is getting or already has been updated to take advantage of the Xbox One X’s power. Now, 343’s studio head for FPS games, Chris Lee, has revealed more specifics about how Halo 5 leverages the power of the console.

    In an interview with the Xbox Wire, Lee said the Xbox One “provides a ton of additional power.” Specifically, the level of detail on elements that are further away are increased. And if you have a 4K TV, you may notice a “ton of detail” on things like characters, weapons, and vehicles, beyond what you would see on a 1080p set.

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    “From the materials and stitches on our Spartan’s gloves to operator instructions on the ARs all the little details really shine,” Lee said.

    He added that that Halo 5’s campaign and multiplayer see benefits on Xbox One X, especially in more intense things like the Warzone mode and larger campaign maps. Additionally, load times are “significantly faster,” Lee said.

    “The amount of visual detail that pops in 4K, from the texture of your Spartan’s glove holding a Magnum to the crisp details of the world of Sanghelios, really adds to the overall feel of the game,” Lee added. “The amount of detail that players didn’t know was there will be a nice surprise.”

    Microsoft worked with Canadian game studio SkyBox labs on Halo 5, and this includes the Xbox One X enhancements. You can expect Microsoft to continue to think about how to best leverage the power of the Xbox One X with its future games.

    “We have a lot of ambition for future projects. 4K lets us show a ton of detail in our assets. HDR is a great technology for a sci-fi game with vibrant color and FXs as a critical part of our gameplay sandbox,” Lee said.

    You can read the full Xbox Wire post to hear everything Lee had to say about Halo 5 and the power of the Xbox One X. The update that adds Xbox One X support came out last week, also introducing new game modes and major weapon balance changes.

    The Xbox One X launches on November 7, priced at $500 in the US. For lots more on the device, check out GameSpot’s feature, “Xbox One X Release Date, Games, Review, And Everything You Need To Know.”

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  • Justice League's Two Hour Running Time Was Ordered By Studio Boss

    Justice League's Two Hour Running Time Was Ordered By Studio Boss

    Every DC movie so far has been well over two hours in length, and in the case of the extended cut of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, a full three hours. Considering that the upcoming Justice League features five of DCs biggest heroes, it was expected that the movie would have a similar running time. So many fans were surprised when it was confirmed that it is just 119 minutes, making it the shortest film in the DC cinematic universe so far.

    It has now been reported that the reduced running time was ordered by Warner CEO Kevin Tsujihara, as opposed to a decision of the filmmakers. According to the Wall Street Journal, Tsujihara issued a “mandate” that Justice League come in under two hours, as a reaction to what was felt to be the overly extended running time of Batman v Superman.

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    The site also states that the studio was actively seeking a film that was lighter in tone than Batman v Superman or 2014’s Man of Steel. When original director Zack Snyder delivered a first cut of the movie earlier in the year, it was “felt [Snyder] had made progress with the lighter elements.” However, Warner wanted to go further and brought in Avengers director Joss Whedon to write new scenes for the movie’s reshoots.

    Whedon took over directing the reshoots when Snyder stepped away from the production in January, following a family tragedy. In August, actor Joe Morton, who plays who plays Dr. Silas Stone in the movie, confirmed that the reshoots were designed to lighten the film’s tone.

    In a recent interview, Batman actor Ben Affleck addressed the issue of how much influence Whedon ultimately had over the film. “The movie is Zack’s DNA,” he said. “The cast of the movie, the design of the movie–there’s something that people who don’t actually work on movies don’t understand, which is how much of the work is done in prep–the casting, the sets get built, the story is written. The ship is, in essence, sailing. I found as a director you can maybe change 10%, 15% or something, on the day.

    “Zack’s ship set sail with us, and we were fortunate that when Zack was not able to continue, we got really lucky in that we got a guy who is very accomplished in his own right, and particularly in this genre, and he kind of sprinkled some of his fairy dust on our movie and finished it.”

    “I don’t think there’s any way to go back, to me, and look at those scenes and go, ‘That’s a Joss scene, that’s a Zack scene,’” Affleck continued. “It was more that they were both working together toward a common goal. Debbie [Snyder, who produced the movie] would know better than I would, certainly, but I got the sense that Joss was working from what he had discussed with Zack before he stepped in.”

    Justice League hits theaters on November 17.

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  • Watch Today's Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Nintendo Direct Here

    A new Nintendo Direct presentation is coming very soon. The broadcast airs today, November 7, at 6 AM PT / 9 AM ET / 2 PM GMT and focuses on the company’s last major Switch release of the year, Xenoblade Chronicles 2.

    Nintendo hasn’t detailed what it will show off during today’s presentation, aside from that it will provide a “deep dive on the world of Alrest.” You can stream the Direct on the official Xenoblade Chronicles 2 website or right here on GameSpot via the YouTube embed below.

    Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is developed by Monolith Soft, the studio behind the Xenogears and Xenosaga titles. It stars Rex, a Driver capable of wielding living weapons known as Blades. Together with a Blade named Pyra, he voyages to different Titans on a quest to reach the World Tree and find the fabled paradise Elysium.

    Like the previous two Xenoblade Chronicles games, the upcoming Switch installment is an open-world RPG. Nintendo gave an in-depth look at its battle system in a nearly hour-long gameplay demonstration during Gamescom, which also provides fans with their first look at a beautiful area called Uraya.

    Xenoblade Chronicles 2 launches exclusively for Switch on December 1. On the same day, Nintendo is releasing a Xenoblade-themed Switch Pro Controller, which will retail for $75. Be sure to check back for all the major news from today’s Direct.

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  • Xbox One X Is Out Now

    The wait is over, and Xbox One X’s release date has finally arrived. Fans all over the world are getting their hands on Microsoft’s new console, and digging in to all the Xbox One X’s enhanced games.

    The new device offers the most powerful specs available in a console, helping Xbox One games to look better than ever. For more on how the console’s specs translate to what you actually see, check out our Xbox One X review. You can also see a wider view of critical opinion in our review roundup, or take a look at everything you need to know about the Xbox One X.

    If you’re looking for more on the new device, you can check out our Xbox One X graphics comparison with a PC and an original Xbox One, or take a look at how Halo 5 is being enhanced for Xbox One X.

    Microsoft says Xbox One X is for the “discerning connoisseur of gaming,” and that it’s not for everyone. What do you think about the new device? Are you planning on picking one up? Let us know in the comments, or check out all of our personal Xbox One X predictions. And if you haven’t decided on whether to pick one up yet, the Xbox One X costs US $500 / £450 / AU $650–check out our Xbox One X buying guide on where’s best to grab your unit.

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