Grab A Star Wars Battlefront 2 PS4 Bundle From Newegg, Get Dragon Ball FighterZ Too
Dragon Ball FighterZ is finally upon us and Newegg's got a PS4 deal you won't want to miss if you've been looking for an excuse to pick it up. For $330, you can get a 1TB PS4 Slim, Star Wars Battlefront II, and Dragon Ball FighterZ.
The bundle is just the Star Wars Battlefront II PS4 bundle with Dragon Ball FighterZ tacked onto it. But with this deal, you're saving $30, and it looks like it comes with a physical copy of the title instead of a digital one.
Snag this deal over on Newegg. And while you're in the money saving department, check out our Dragon Ball Fighterz CollectorZ Edition giveaway for Xbox One. There's also another PS4 deal going on right now through Newegg's eBay store. It's a $399 PS4 Pro bundle with two free games: Monster Hunter: World and Titanfall 2.
For more Dragon Ball FighterZ, check out all of the the reviews, guides, release date, tips, and everything else you need to know, all in one place. Get a closer look at the game in our launch livestream.
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UFC 3 Review In Progress
EA Sports UFC 3 begins with a slick video package charting the meteoric rise to stardom of cover athlete Conor McGregor. The Notorious Irishman is the ideal poster boy for UFC 3's new G.O.A.T. Career Mode, as it focuses not just on your performances inside the octagon, but on your propensity for drumming up hype and promoting fights outside of it--something the high-powered southpaw has arguably mastered. McGregor's world class striking also serves as a perfect introduction to UFC 3's wince-inducing action, as you're thrust into a tutorialized fantasy matchup against interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson.
UFC 3 hits the ground running with this match-that-could've-been, hastily showcasing a plethora of improvements to its stand-up game, from an impressive suite of fluid new animations to an intuitive new control scheme that emphasises maneuverability. Much like previous entries in the series, developer EA Canada continues to excel at stand and bang slugfests--as fists fly, skin lacerates, and the canvas adopts a crimson hue--but falters when the action is dragged down to the ground.
UFC 3's grappling remains unchanged from its predecessor--utilizing the right stick for transitioning into and out of various positions--and is too cumbersome and binary to ever be particularly enjoyable. Submissions fall into the same category, too. The default four-quadrant mini game feels disconnected from what's happening on screen, while a simplified alternative that consists of mindless button mashing also fails to capture the intricacies of these bone-breaking holds. Not to mention how overpowered each arm bar and gogoplata is in the hands of the AI.
Fortunately, the stand-up game's redefined excellence does an admirable job of distracting from these flaws. Almost every aspect of UFC 3's striking has been completely redesigned, placing much more significance on movement, spacing, and momentum. With both fighters standing toe-to-toe, there's a palpable sense of weight to the way you move around the octagon, and a responsiveness to each blow and crucial head bob that allows you to act just as fast as you can think--reaction times notwithstanding.
The new control scheme does still require a certain degree of finger gymnastics in order to perform particular techniques, but by moving each offensive move to the face and shoulder buttons, the right stick is freed up to be used exclusively for ducking and weaving, while the left stick is dedicated entirely to movement, allowing you to throw strikes and move at the same time. This sounds like a simple change on the surface, but it's a crucial deviation that opens up myriad possibilities, and substantially increases the kinetic dynamism of each fight. Suddenly you can barrel forward like a freight train to apply pressure; retreat out of danger with defensive jabs to keep your opponent at bay; and laterally weave to a fighter's weak side while simultaneously throwing a dangerous uppercut to their unsuspecting jaw. It's a game changer, and beautifully complements UFC 3's newfound focus on momentum and the risk versus reward at play with each strike.
Being mindful of spacing becomes a key attribute as you look to get in and out of your opponent's striking range without sustaining damage. Stamina management also plays a crucial role, as repeated strikes lose power as your stamina fades to discourage aggressive players from their worst tendencies. You have to be smarter and more precise with each blow; reading your opponent's movement, using feints to throw off their timing, and slipping into counterattacks to punish any misguided swings. All of this results in a game that adopts a more measured pace than its predecessors, and should suit those who approach each fight with nuance and tactical astuteness.
Almost every aspect of UFC 3's striking has been completely redesigned, placing much more significance on movement, spacing, and momentum
Once you're comfortable in the octagon, the aforementioned G.O.A.T. Career Mode is on-hand to test you against the world's greatest fighters. With a few fights on the regional circuit under your belt, it doesn't take long until you impress Dana White enough to earn a UFC contract and can begin climbing up the ranks for a shot at a championship. It's a familiar setup, but one that differentiates from its contemporaries by embracing the promotional aspect of the sport and focusing on time management above all else. You start the run up to each fight by signing up to a gym that specialises in a specific fighting discipline, and can then choose to train and improve your attributes, learn new moves and perks, spar with a training partner who's emulating your upcoming opponent, or promote your next fight to drum up hype and attract more fans to your brand.
This balance between performance and promotion is an interesting concept, and it strips away a lot of the monotony these career modes often suffer from. Improving your attributes simply boils down to selecting which areas you want to develop, with each activity eating into that weeks designated time allotment. Promotion works much the same way as you're given the option to generate hype for your next fight by, say, predicting the finish on social media, attending autograph signings, or even taking a page out of Demetrious Johnson's book by streaming some video games. There are no tedious mini-games revolving around punching bags and speed balls, and those that are included are incredibly brief with immediate rewards in the shape of new moves and perks. The whole thing is so streamlined it's almost negligible, ensuring you spend less time staring at menus between each fight, which is a good thing.
Elsewhere, Ultimate Team returns and continues to be a curious addition to the world of mixed martial arts. With one-on-one fights on the agenda, UFC 3's particular flavour of Ultimate Team lacks the appeal of concocting your own unstoppable dream team. Instead, card packs are bundled with not just fighters, but tiered moves, perks, and bonuses as well, essentially painting each fighter as blank canvases for you to outfit with whatever moves you choose. It's a fascinating idea, and there are a number of single and multiplayer modes for you to unleash your Frankenstein's monster on. Microtransactions are still a factor, letting you spend real-world money on premium card packs, but there's enough in-game money to be earned from various fights and challenges that paying real money never seems necessary. Time will tell whether this changes once you fancy testing your mettle at high-level Ultimate Team play.
Of course, a lot of UFC 3's success will depend on the quality of servers that aren't currently populated enough to deliver a final verdict on. As it stands, EA Sports UFC 3 is a tense, exciting, and dynamic recreation of the stand and bang aspect of mixed martial arts. There's a fluidity to the way it moves, and a satisfying feel and unpredictability to the way fights can unfold that demands your engagement. The grappling still needs plenty of work, and one would hope this is something EA Canada addresses in the next iteration; yet these shortcomings become easier to overlook because of the accomplishment of its redefined striking. When it comes to the art of combat, few sports titles do it better.
Editor's note: Our review of UFC 3 will remain a review in progress until we've had adequate time to test multiplayer servers after the game's release on Feb. 2, 2018.
What It's Like Playing Strong Female Characters In Adult Swim's Latest Bizarre Animated Series
Adult Swim is known for their distinctive, offbeat humor and alternative programming, making their latest bizarre animated series, Hot Streets, a seemingly good fit among the likes of Rick and Morty and Robot Chicken. Creator Brian Wysol worked on both shows, and Hot Streets is also produced by Seth Green, Matt Senreich (Robot Chicken), and Justin Roiland (Rick and Morty), who also voices a dog in the new series.
Hot Streets focuses on the supernatural investigations of FBI Agent Mark Branski, who solves cases with help from his partner, his niece, and her cowardly talking dog. They’ve encountered the likes of brain monsters, mummies, and a snake cult, with each new episode becoming stranger than the one before it. The latest episode had Branksi stuck in a loop where he keeps waking up inside of an egg.
Hot Streets is Branski’s show, but the supporting characters are the series’ strongest assets. Chubbie Webbers, the worrisome dog, is a stand out, thanks to Justin Roiland’s hilarious voice work. He gets mixed up in solving Branski’s Hot Streets cases along with his owner, Jen, played by actress Chelsea Kane (Baby Daddy, Rick and Morty). Like Penny and Brain in Inspector Gadget before them, Jen and Chubbie Webbers are the unsung heroes who often solve the cases without getting the credit.
Notably, Hot Streets features two strong female characters. In addition to Jen, there’s Soo Park, Assistant Director of the FBI, played by Agents of SHIELD star Ming-Na Wen. We talked with the voices behind both characters about what attracted them to their strangest project yet.
GameSpot: How did you get involved with Hot Streets?
Ming-Na Wen (Soo Park): It’s one of those things where you’re friends with Seth (Green) and Matt (Senreich), they say come on in, we’ve got this cool project, and I read it--I really didn’t understand it, and I was like “Perfect! Let me do it.” I love a good challenge.
Chelsea Kane (Jen Sanders): It kind of fell into my lap in such an interesting way. I had worked with Justin Roiland years ago on our Disney Channel show, Fish Hooks, and throughout that whole time he was working on Rick and Morty.
I ended up getting an audition to do a voice on Rick and Morty...for Arthricia. And I really wanted to do it, and it was the first time I ever got to drop an F bomb in my acting career. And I got the part.
And then through that, Brian Wysol had actually seen an animatic of the Purge episode and Brian was in the process of putting together his cast for Hot Streets, and said, "Oh my god, that's the voice I would want for Jen."
What attracted you to the project?
Ming-Na Wen: It’s working with friends and meeting new people, the same kind of folks that share your madness or strange creativity and I knew I was going to have a great time.
Chelsea Kane: What really attracted me to Hot Streets is that Jen is kind of the only recurring female role that's really grounded. And I love that she's intelligent and smart and ends up solving most of these Hot Street cases even though she may not get the credit all the time. But at the same time, she's still very much flawed like me. Her dating life isn't really her strong point at this point in her life, which I can totally relate to. So, I love that she's kind of a real girl and a real strong leading female voice on the show. That makes me feel excited to be a part of it and kind of lending that tone to the show.
Tell us more about your characters.
Ming-Na Wen: [Soo Park] is no nonsense, and very to the point. As smart as she is, she’s also a bit oblivious of, I think, certain realities. And she has this vulnerable side I think the guys kind of bring out in her every so often. She just kind of calls the shots.
At first I was a little concerned, like, is this going to be stereotypical? Are they going to want me to do an accent? And they were like “No, no!” and I’m like “Oh, perfect, good. Thank you.”
Chelsea Kane: You've seen the first episode that [Jen] lost her mother, and that's why she's living with her uncle. She's at this kind of crossroads in her young adult life, which I think where we've all been, where she's just kind of trying to figure out who she is, and who she loves, and who loves her. She already takes off and kind of elopes with a mummy in the first episode, so you know she's still kind of figuring things out.
I love that she's super smart and I love that she's able to kind of hold her own with the boys whether it's going on missions, or solving the crime. She really knows what she's doing, and she's a tough cookie, and I love playing those type of girls. That's the type of girl I hope to be like.
How much input did you have on crafting the character?
Ming-Na Wen: The writers, Brian and them, they already have a clear idea about what they’re going for. And so they’re really crucial in the initial phase of creating an animated character and understanding her level of emotions, where she’s at, and where the humor would be based on it. And not working with other actors, you’re flying solo. It’s great to have their input in the beginning.
Chelsea Kane: I think it kind of slowly develops, but I love Brian's work and Brian's brain, and I don't tend to really go into the booth and ad-lib a bunch of stuff. I love what's on the page and most of the time I'm also confused by what's on the page just story wise. I'm like, "I feel like I have to say these words because I'm not quite sure what a flesh potato is, so I'm just going with it." But I think as the show went on we all kind of realized that Jen can oftentimes be like a throughline in the story to kind of pull you into the next scene, or ground some of the scenes.
Ming-Na, how does your experience working on Hot Streets compare to doing past voice over work?
Ming-Na Wen: It’s very similar to my process with all the other animations, except a lot of times I’ll be like “Why is she saying this, I don’t understand what this means.” And they’re like “Just go with it! Don’t worry about it, it’s good, it’s good. You’re doing great.” I’m like, “OK! Is it funny? Is it funny?” And they’re like “Yes. Very funny.” I’m like “OK.” I trust.
Chelsea, what makes Hot Streets stand out among other Adult Swim shows?
Chelsea Kane: I think the animation itself is ...it's a different style. You kind of have to get used to it in a way, I mean, even the opening credits. I just feel like it has a very specific look to it. And on top of that, I love the music. It's that cool kind of like '80s electro vibe. I love the opening sequence music, and Brian Wysol, our creator, does all of the music as well. So whenever he's finished recording with us in the booth he's off to the studio to record all the music for the show. So, I think it just adds that extra element to it that makes it really cool.
What would you like to see happen in future episodes of Hot Streets?
Chelsea Kane: So Brian does all the music. I think we should totally do a musical episode. I think it would be hilarious, and I just want to see Justin (Roiland) sing a whole show in the dog voice.
Hot Streets airs Sundays at midnight on Adult Swim.
With Fortnite And PUBG Soaring, These 5 Games Could Use A Battle Royale Mode
Much like what we saw with MOBAs years ago, battle royale-style games are all the rage thanks to PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds' domination of Steam. Fortnite beat PUBG to consoles and is available as a free-to-play title, and it introduces building mechanics to the mix that you don't get with PUBG. Like PUBG developer Bluehole, Epic has enjoyed an incredible level of success, with more than 40 million players spread across Fortnite: Battle Royale and the PvE Survive the World component.
Even more standalone battle royale games are undoubtedly on the way, but Fortnite won't be the only existing title to integrate the mode in some fashion. Grand Theft Auto V has already done so in modest fashion with Motor Wars mode, but there are a variety of other games--both those already playable and some that are still in development--that we think could also make interesting use of the concept. In the video above, we run down five games that should consider putting their own spin on battle royale in 2018.
There was some controversy surrounding Fortnite last year, as PUBG's developer made it known that it was less than pleased with "the similarities between the battle royale mode in Epic Games' newly revealed Fortnite and PUBG." The complaint is more complicated than it appears on the surface, as PUBG uses Unreal Engine 4, which is built by Fortnite maker Epic Games. PUBG's developer seemingly threatened legal action, though nothing has come of that yet--at least publicly.
Brendan "PlayerUnknown" Greene, who is credited with having established the genre as a modder, said last year, "I just feel that Fortnite: Battle Royale is a bit lazy to me. They could have had a great game because Fortnite is amazing and they could have put some unique, interesting building [systems] in there, almost like a tower defense Battle Royale, but they just didn't. But what can you do? It's going to happen. It's the nature of business I guess."
Whether upcoming battle royale modes and games put enough of a spin on the formula to satisfy Greene remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure: They are coming.
Monster Hunter: World Has Released, And It's A Great Starting Place For Newcomers
Monster Hunter has always been an intimidating series to jump into for a variety of reasons. It's challenging for anyone, and traditionally it hasn't done a great job of explaining its various mechanics, leaving players to seek outside help. Monster Hunter World, which is now available on PS4 and Xbox One, at least partially tries to address those problems, and in many ways, it succeeds.
In addition to providing more explanation to players in the early stages, players have what's called a Handler, who dispenses tips until you've made enough progress. There are also quality-of-life improvements like scoutflies that reduce the hassle of tracking a monster--something that's particularly helpful given World's larger environments.
In the video above, we chat about what it's been like to play World from both the standpoint of a series veteran and someone with less Monster Hunter experience. It should give you a sense of what to expect from World regardless of your experience level. Whatever your personal history with the series, this is a very solid RPG to jump into.
We also have starting tips and a beginner's guide, as well as a roundup of all of our key coverage about World. Plus, you can see what the game looks like in 4K on PS4 Pro and find out all the details about its day-one update. For more on the new game, check out our Monster Hunter World review, which states, "Monster Hunter World is finally here, and it blows the previous western releases out of the water."
Railway Empire On PS4 And Xbox One Codes Giveaway
We're giving away 5 PS4 codes and 5 Xbox One codes for Railway Empire! (List Price: $59.99, scroll down below to enter)
In Railway Empire, you will create an elaborate and wide-ranging rail network, purchase over 40 different trains modeled in extraordinary detail, and buy or build railway stations, maintenance buildings, factories, and tourist attractions to keep your travel network ahead of the competition.
Competition ends Sunday, February 4 at 9:00PM PT. Ten (10) winners will be emailed. Entry is open to USA residents only on PS4 and worldwide on Xbox One, void where prohibited. No purchase necessary.
Enter below (the additional entries are OPTIONAL to increase your chances of winning):
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