Category: Gamespot

For all the advancements that have been made in gaming, one element that remains in place is the character-select screen. Talk to someone who played games years ago–whether it was Super Mario Bros. 2, Street Fighter II, or any number of games–and you’ll likely see them reminisce about the time spent on those screens agonizing over their character choice.

While they’re most commonly associated with fighting games, that genre is hardly the only to be home to them, as evidenced by games like Mario 2 to Team Fortress 2 to countless MMOs. And although perhaps not as prominent as they once were, character-select screens are still present in many games today.

In the video above, we’ve put together a nostalgia-inducing run through a number of the most memorable such screens. You should get a sense for how they’ve changed over the years, from the basics of the aforementioned Mario to more modern examples, like Overwatch and Injustice 2.

What character-select screens do you remember most fondly? Let us know in the comments below!

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As Netflix adds more and more original content every week, the streaming service is also removing a lot of popular titles from its library. March is no different, with dozens of films and TV shows being removed.

Among the most notable departure is the Jaws franchise of films. All four movies disappeared from Netflix on March 1. Likewise, the movies Less Than Zero, Baby’s Day Out, and Ferngully: The Last Rainforest were removed at the beginning of the month. Later in the month, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, The Good Son, and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou will go away, as well.

When it comes to TV, seasons of Archer, The Killing, Life In Pieces, The Carmichael Show, and The Finder will no longer be available to stream. You can take a look at everything leaving Netflix in March below. After that, check out every title the service is adding next month. Arrivals on the service include new seasons of Marvel’s Jessica Jones and Santa Clarita Diet. Additionally, you can see what both Hulu and Amazon Prime are debuting in March.

Leaving Netflix in March

March 1

• A Gang Story
• Anastasia
• Baby’s Day Out
• Eyewitness
• FernGully: The Last Rainforest
• First Response
• Forget and Forgive
• Hitch
• Jaws
• Jaws 2
• Jaws 3
• Jaws: The Revenge
• Less Than Zero
• Memento
• Slums of Beverly Hills
• The Chase
• The Craft
• The Panic in Needle Park
• Trigger Point
• Two Wrongs
• xXx

March 4

• Chloe
• Safe Haven

March 6

• The Finest Hours

March 8

• Victoria

March 11

• Believe
• Glitch

March 12

• Standby
• Disney’s The Santa Clause
• Disney’s The Santa Clause 2
• Disney’s The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

March 13

• Breakout Kings: Season 1
• City of God: 10 Years Later
• London Has Fallen
• The Killing: Seasons 1-2

March 14

• Archer: Seasons 1-7

March 19

• V/H/S: Viral

March 20

• Zootopia

March 22

• Steve Jobs: One Last Thing

March 24

• Voltron 84: Season 1
• Who Framed Roger Rabbit

March 26

• The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

March 29

• The Gates: Season 1

March 30

• Life in Pieces: Season 1

March 31

• Awake: Season 1
• Bordertown: Season 1
• Breakout Kings: Season 2
• Brickleberry: Seasons 1-3
• Cooper Barrett’s Guide to Surviving Life: Season 1
• Friends with Benefits: Season 1
• In Like Flint
• Lights Out: Season 1
• Rosewood: Season 1
• Salem: Seasons 2-3
• Small Shots: Season 1
• The Awakening
• The Carmichael Show: Seasons 1-2
• The Chicago Code: Season 1
• The Crazy Ones: Season 1
• The Finder: Season 1
• The Good Son
• Traffic Light: Season 1

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It looks like March 2018’s free Games With Gold titles on Xbox One and Xbox 360 are rolling out early. On Xbox One, you can now download the motorcycle platforming game Trials of the Blood Dragon for the low, low price of $0.00. A physics-based motorcycle platforming game from Ubisoft, Trials of the Blood Dragon is a spinoff of sorts from the main Trials series that incorporates the aesthetic of another Ubisoft game, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon.

On Xbox 360, you can pick up Brave: The Video Game completely free. Based on the Pixar movie of the same name, the Brave video game puts you into the role of Merida in mythical Scotland. The game, which plays on Xbox One through backwards compatibility, also incorporates motion controls through the Kinect camera.

You can download Trials of the Blood Dragon and Brave: The Video Game now on your Xbox console or through the Xbox.com links here: Trials of the Blood Dragon; Brave.

Trials of the Blood Dragon is free on Xbox One throughout all of March, while Brave: The Video Game is free until March 15. Then on March 16, Xbox One owners can grab the first-person shooter Superhot for free, while the puzzle-platformer Quantum Conundrum will go free on Xbox 360 on that date. Also note that one of February’s free Xbox One Games With Gold titles, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India, will stay free until March 15.

Even though March 2018’s free Games With Gold titles are already out, February’s are still free. So be sure to act quickly to grab games like Shadow Warrior and Crazy Taxi now while you still can.

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It’s a familiar story at the top of the UK physical games charts this week, with FIFA 18 finishing at No.1 for the third week in a row. Below EA’s sports title, Grand Theft Auto V retains the No.2 spot, while Call of Duty: WWII keeps its place at No.3.

Following those, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe climbs four places to No.4, while Monster Hunter World drops one place to No.5. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild re-enters the top 10 at No.9, one year after making its debut with the Nintendo Switch‘s launch.

FIFA 18 is currently undergoing a ratings refresh, with many players being buffed or nerfed in Ultimate Team. Call of Duty: WWII, meanwhile, just received its first DLC pack on Xbox One and PC (it was already available on PS4).

You can read the full top 10 sales chart below, courtesy of UKIE and Chart-Track. Note this table does not include digital sales data, and so should not be considered representative of all UK game sales.

1. FIFA 18
2. Grand Theft Auto V
3. Call of Duty: WWII
4. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
5. Monster Hunter World
6. Super Mario Odyssey
7. EA Sports UFC 3
8. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds
9. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
10. Shadow of the Colossus

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With March drawing near, Microsoft has announced the lineup of games that Xbox Live Gold members will be able to download for free next month. There’s the usual total of four new games being introduced across Xbox One and Xbox 360, with an especially good one up for grabs on the newer console.

On Xbox One, the month starts out with Trials of the Blood Dragon, a more action-oriented take on the Trials series that’s somewhat in the vein of Far Cry 3‘s Blood Dragon spin-off. It will be available for free for the entire month. From March 16 through April 15, Superhot will be free. The excellent shooter sports a distinct visual style and an even more novel concept, as time (mostly) freezes when you stop moving, allowing you to set up some Matrix-style bullet-dodging sequences.

Xbox 360 owners also get two games to download in March. During the first half of the month, it’s Brave: The Video Game, which is based on Disney’s film of the same name and was just added to the Xbox One’s backwards compatibility list. It’s then followed in the second half by Quantum Conundrum, the puzzle-based first-person game from Airtight Games and Kim Swift, one of the key developers behind Portal and Left 4 Dead. As always, both Xbox 360 games are playable on Xbox One through backwards compatibility.

In the meantime, it’s not too late to grab some of February’s free Games With Gold titles. One of the Xbox One games, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India, will also remain free for the first half of March. Claiming any of these games allows you to continue playing them for as long as you’re an Xbox Live Gold subscriber.

March 2018 Games With Gold

Xbox One

• Trials of the Blood Dragon (March 1-31)
• Superhot (March 16 – April 15)

Xbox 360 (playable on Xbox One)

• Brave: The Video Game (March 1-15)
• Quantum Conundrum (March 16-31)

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Black Panther continues to dominate and set records at the box office. The Marvel superhero movie made an estimated $67.5 million at the US and Canadian box office this weekend, putting it firmly ahead of newcomers like Jennifer Lawrence’s Red Sparrow and the new Bruce Willis movie Death Wish.

$67.5 million is good for the third best third weekend in history at the domestic box office, only behind the juggernauts Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Avatar. It’s a dropoff from last week’s $108 million for its second weekend, but downturns are always expected.

Black Panther has now pulled in $501.1 million in the US and Canada over its first 17 days, and it has been No. 1 at the box office every weekend since its release. The movie now ranks 10th best all time domestically (before inflation), and its $501.1 million is better than every previous Marvel movie to date except for 2012’s The Avengers.

Black Panther is also a hit overseas. This weekend it made an estimated $56.2 million, pushing its haul to $396.6 million. Combined with the more than $500 million it’s made in the US and Canada, Black Panther has now brought in close to $900 million.

You can see the full Top 10 list for the March 2-4 US/Canada box office below, as rounded up and compiled by Entertainment Weekly. As you’ll see, there is a massive gap between Black Panther and everything else.

US/Canada Box Office For March 2-4:

1. Black Panther — $65.7 million
2. Red Sparrow — $17 million
3. Death Wish — $13 million
4. Game Night — $10.7 million
5. Peter Rabbit — $10 million
6. Annihilation — $5.7 million
7. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle — $4.5 million
8. Fifty Shades Freed — $3.3 million
9. The Greatest Showman — $2.7 million
10. Every Day — $1.6 million

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As the first Far Cry game set in the USA, the upcoming entry in Ubisoft’s open-world shooter series has created some hot debate amongst fans and critics alike. Taking place in the fictional Hope County, nestled within the deep wilderness of Montana, the central character will come into conflict with Eden’s Gate, a powerful and growing cult led by the charismatic Joseph Seed. Tackling some topics and imagery related to religious extremism and the cult of personality, Far Cry 5‘s narrative feels rather timely.

After spending some time playing the game at a Ubisoft press event in Livermore, CA–which included a crossbow range and tons of barbecue–we took some time to discuss what Far Cry 5 is setting out to do. In the above video, Aaron Sampson, Jean-Luc Seipke, Mike Mahardy, and Alessandro Fillari had a chat about how Far Cry 5 handles its topics and the current timing of its release, while also reveling in the sort of open-world hijinks that players would expect from the series. While the setting and politics surrounding the game are receiving much attention, the game is still what many fans of Ubisoft’s open-world shooter can expect.

Along with our talks about the tone and story, Aaron and I shared some stories of a few of the side quests and events that took place during our session–including a few missions that went horribly wrong. We also got to talk about the added scope of the co-op play and just how much you push the game with a friend.

For more info about Far Cry 5, be sure to check out our interview with lead writer Drew Holmes and lead actor Greg Bryk about the making of the game, along with some videos showing off the more ridiculous and over-the-top moments of action.

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March is now underway, which means players have a slew of new titles to look forward to. In contrast to last month, which was dominated by remasters and re-releases like Shadow of the Colossus and Bayonetta 2, March is filled with some of the year’s most anticipated sequels, including Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom and Far Cry 5. On top of those games, players will be able to pick up some intriguing original titles like A Way Out and the crime-solving Pokemon game Detective Pikachu on 3DS this month.

Below, you can find a roundup of the biggest games set to arrive on PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and 3DS in March 2018. For a full look at all of the major titles coming to each platform throughout the rest of the year, check out our comprehensive 2018 game release date list.

Kirby Star Allies (Switch) — March 16

This month’s big Switch exclusive is Kirby Star Allies, the first Kirby game developed for Nintendo’s hybrid console. Like most of the puffball’s previous adventures, Star Allies is a side-scrolling platformer through the colorful world of Dream Land, which is under attack by a dark new force. On top of his signature copy ability, Kirby can now toss hearts at enemies to turn them into allies, who can be controlled by up to three other players for co-op platforming.

More Details:

• Nintendo Switch Exclusive Kirby Game Features A Weirdly Buff King Dedede
• All The New Switch Games Shown During The Nintendo Direct January 2018

Sea of Thieves (Xbox One, PC) — March 20

Rare’s highly anticipated pirate game, Sea of Thieves, makes landfall on Xbox One and PC this month. The online co-op adventure puts players in the role of a pirate, banding together with friends to sail the high seas, plunder treasure, and do battle with other pirate crews in the name of becoming a pirate legend. The title is also the first Microsoft exclusive to arrive on Xbox Game Pass the same day it launches and supports cross-play between Xbox One and PC.

More Details:

• Sea of Thieves: 10 Reasons We’re Excited
• Sea of Thieves Has Huge Potential, But We Have Some Concerns

A Way Out (PS4, Xbox One, PC) — March 23

EA’s innovative co-op game, A Way Out, arrives on PS4, Xbox One, and PC on March 23. Developed by Hazelight, the studio founded by the creators of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, A Way Out puts players in the roles of Leo and Vincent, two former convicts on the lam after breaking out of prison. What makes the game unique is that it can only be played cooperatively, either locally or online, as both players need to work in tandem to outrun the police and survive outside of prison.

More Details:

• EA’s Co-Op Prison Escape Game Crosses A Big Milestone
• New Co-Op Game Lets You Play With A Friend Who Doesn’t Own It

Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom (PS4, PC) — March 23

After several delays, Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom is finally slated to arrive on PS4 and PC this month. The sequel to PS3‘s beloved RPG Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, Revenant Kingdom takes place hundreds of years after the first game and follows the story of Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum, the deposed boy-king of Ding Dong Dell who sets off to found his own kingdom. The game also features a completely revamped battle system, as well as kingdom-building and real-time strategy elements.

More Details:

• Check Out A New Boss Fight From PS4/PC’s Beautiful RPG Ni No Kuni 2
• Ni No Kuni 2 Makes Some Dramatic Changes To The Series’ Battle System

Far Cry 5 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) — March 27

Ubisoft’s controversial new Far Cry game, Far Cry 5, arrives near the tail end of March, closing the month out in spectacular fashion. Set in Hope County, Montana, an isolated mountain region overrun by a cult of religious extremists known as Eden’s Gate, the ambitious first-person shooter features a vast open world and plenty of over-the-top heroes and villains, including a murderous grizzly bear named Cheeseburger. The game also supports online co-op, allowing you to take down zealots with a friend.

More Details:

• Far Cry 5’s DLC Sounds Crazy
• New Far Cry 5 Gameplay Shows Familiar Insanity In A New Setting

Full March Release Schedule

Bravo Team	PSVR	March 6
Final Fantasy XV: Royal Edition	PS4, Xbox One, PC	March 6
Frantics	PS4	March 6
Scribblenauts Showdown	PS4, Xbox One, Switch	March 6
Fear Effect Sedna	PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch	March 6
Devil May Cry HD Collection	PS4, Xbox One, PC	March 13
Golem	PSVR	March 13
Pure Farming 2018	PS4, Xbox One, PC	March 13
Kirby Star Allies	Switch	March 16
Assassin’s Creed Rogue: Remastered	PS4, Xbox One	March 20
Attack on Titan 2	PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch	March 20
Sea of Thieves	Xbox One, PC	March 20
Titan Quest	PS4, Xbox One	March 20
A Way Out	PS4, Xbox One, PC	March 23
Detective Pikachu	3DS	March 23
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom	PS4, PC	March 23
Atelier Lydie & Suelle: The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings	PS4, PC, Switch	March 27
Far Cry 5	PS4, Xbox One, PC	March 27
MLB The Show 18	PS4	March 27
Agony	PS4, Xbox One, PC	March 30

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As promised last week, Turok and Turok 2: Seeds of Evil are now available on Xbox One. Each has been visually enhanced but are otherwise untouched from the original dinosaur extinction events of your youth.

Turok: Dinosaur Hunter was a 1997 N64 first-person shooter and adaptation of the Acclaim Comic of the same name. The sequel, released in 1998, added a hub-based mission structure and multiplayer. Both were known for their inventive gadgetry to take down dinosaur threats, along with some pea-soup fog to compensate for the N64’s lack of draw distance.

Fighting dinosaurs was always the central pitch, but the story naturally encapsulated the tone of 1990s comic books. The time-traveling Native American warrior Turok was tasked with protecting the barrier between Earth and a primitive world called the Lost Land. An evil being called the Campaigner was seeking to recreate the Chronoscepter from its scattered parts, so it fell upon Turok to stop him. The sequel brought in aliens, spaceships, and telepathic abilities for good measure.

Nightdive Studios is responsible for the remasters, having come fresh off a remaster of System Shock. The System Shock remaster team was placed on on hiatus shortly after release. The Turok games are selling for $20 apiece.

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