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Moana 2 Review
Nov 26, 2024Tap to summarizeMoana 2 opens in theaters Wednesday, November 26.The stakes seem higher in Moana 2: After saving her home from ruin, the adored, titular wayfinder has a new mission, reconnecting with the groups of people scattered across the ocean by an angry deity. Yet, more than building on the world she previously explored, the follow-up plays like a by-the-numbers, beat-by-beat rehash. Moana leaves Motunui, has a couple of encounters with allies and bad guys, and then faces a powerful natural entity in a final showdown. And while stars Auli'i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson and writer Jared Bush are back on board for Moana 2, the original directing and songwriting teams aren’t, resulting in more of the same minus the first movie’s freshness. Reuniting with the shapeshifting demigod Maui, Moana sets sail to the ancient island of Motufetu accompanied by a crew of her fellow islanders. Back home, her younger sister Simea awaits Moana’s return, adding to the emotional responsibility on the protagonist’s shoulders. Of the countless directions that Bush and directors David G. Derrick Jr., Jason HandDana, and Ledoux Miller could have taken the oceanic tale, they chose instead to reproduce the original blueprint with only slight variations to the story. There’s similarly not much of a visual departure from what legendary directors John Musker and Ron Clements and the animators of Moana accomplished with water effects and photorealistic vistas. There’s still some worthy spectacle in Moana 2’s most intense action sequences, particularly one where the group confronts a furious storm. But there’s no formal risk-taking as far as character design or the animation style. At least the filmmakers were able to come up with one, early standout segment, very briefly dabbling in evocative, dreamlike imagery while Moana has a bleak vision of things to come. Moana’s adorable pet pig Pua gets to join the journey this time around, though he doesn’t have much to do other than pose for a few reaction shots. The same goes for the wide-eyed chicken Hei Hei , whose comic relief role has less impact now that Alan Tudyk’s frantic clucking is vying for screentime with a boatful of unremarkable human sidekicks. These new friends include an expert builder/designer, a farmer, and a muscly admirer of Maui with a talent for painting. None of them upstage the main characters, and they all remain on the periphery of the story, adding the occasional humorous one-liner and absolutely zero conflict. But the central weakness of Moana 2 is the music, a lackluster collection of songs missing the spark of “How Far I’ll Go,” “You’re Welcome,” “Shiny,” or any of the other fan favorites Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa'i, and Mark Mancina wrote for Moana. Even the brooding main tune, “Beyond,” rings anticlimactic. Miranda may have reached a point of overexposure in recent years, but his knack for an earworm – recall that he’s also responsible for Encanto’s chart-topping “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” – is sorely absent here. Making Moana 2’s forgettable melodies even worse are the movie’s desperate attempts at recalling the franchise’s past musical glories through dialogue: Characters repeatedly ask themselves about how far they’ll go; at one point, Maui drops a tongue-in-cheek “You are welcome.”Originally envisioned as a Disney+ series before it was reworked for and redirected to theaters, Moana 2 bears the scars of a mangled conception. Its amalgamation of too many ideas and no clear vision is most evident in pseudo-villainess Matangi, whose introduction and swift dismissal are a squandered opportunity to provide Moana and crew with a memorable antagonist. There’s a suggestion that she has a history with Maui, and she gets a musical number that’s enlivened by the kooky bats who serve as her flying backup dancers. But just as suddenly as Matangi arrives, she vanishes, never to be seen again. Given the way Moana 2 primes us for future sequels, maybe we’ll see her sometime in the future. Considering that a live-action remake of Moana (with Johnson reprising his role in the flesh) is less than two years away, Moana 2’s inability to tell a brand new story with these characters and this setting speaks to a sickness plaguing Hollywood studios: an aversion, even disdain, towards originality. Even if there are a few scenes that help Moana 2 float above an awful misfire like the Frozen 2, this sequel still doesn’t hold much water.
Transcribe →Amazon UK Black Friday Deals: All-new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
Nov 21, 2024Tap to summarizeBookworms, rejoice! Amazon UK’s Black Friday sale brings you the all-new Kindle Paperwhite (16GB) for just £124.99 — a £35 discount from its usual £159.99. Whether you’re devouring thrillers, romances, or memoirs, this sleek e-reader is your ticket to endless literary adventures.Black Friday Audible Deal: Get three months for 99p and a £10 Audible voucher for freeAll-new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 16GBSAVE £35: As of Nov. 21, the all-new Kindle Paperwhite (16GB) is available for £124.99 at Amazon UK. That’s a 22% discount off its usual price of £159.99.Billed as Amazon’s fastest Kindle, this Paperwhite features a next-gen 7-inch glare-free display with sharper contrast and 25% faster page turns. Translation: no lag, no glare, and no excuses not to finish that cliffhanger chapter. Its ultra-thin design makes it perfect for travelling, while the USB-C charging gives you up to 12 weeks of battery life — yes, weeks, not hours.Unlike your phone or tablet, the Kindle Paperwhite is built for distraction-free reading. There’s no social media, notifications, or TikTok rabbit holes to pull you away from your books. And with adjustable white-to-amber lighting, it’s just as easy to read in bed as it is by the pool (it’s waterproof, of course).With 16GB of storage, this Kindle can hold thousands of titles, meaning your library goes wherever you do. If that’s not enough, you can add a Kindle Unlimited subscription to access even more books, audiobooks, and magazines. It’s like having an entire bookstore in your pocket — minus the coffee shop queue.This deal applies to the Black model with Ads, but other colours and configurations may also be discounted. At 22% off, it’s the perfect gift for the book lover in your life — or yourself. Grab yours now and turn those never-ending reading lists into completed stories.
Transcribe →PlayStation Officially Announces Black Friday PS5 Deals for 2024
Nov 21, 2024Tap to summarizeSony has officially announced its lineup of PlayStation Black Friday deals, featuring discounts on PS5 hardware, PlayStation VR2, games, and accessories – including the Fortnite Cobalt Star Bundle – at participating retailers and PS Direct. The announcement means we have officially confirmed this year's Black Friday deals for PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo. While the PlayStation Black Friday deals officially begin on November 22, here’s everything confirmed so far, along with details on a potential PS5 console bundle discount, new offers on games like Star Wars Outlaws, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Alan Wake 2, and so much more.Best PS5 Black Friday Deals Already LiveMost PS5 deals will go live from November 22, but there are already some sneaky select deals that you might want to consider before the official deals kick in at Amazon and Best Buy. This includes Elden Ring for $19.99, alongside new games like Star Wars Outlaws or GOTY contender Metaphor ReFantazio for $49.99, and plenty more. Have a look over our top picks in the sale, or take up the challenge yourself and have a gander over the many, many discounts found at Amazon today.More Early Black Friday PS5 Game DealsElden Ring: SOTE Edition - $49.99Persona 3 Reload - $24.99Cyberpunk 2077 UE - $39.99Unicorn Overlord - $29.99Shin Megami Tensei V - $24.99Dragon Age: The Veilguard - $62.99PS5 Black Friday Deals – Starting Nov. 24Starting November 22, and ending on December 2 (Cyber Monday) retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart will offer discounts on PS5 hardware, PlayStation VR2, games, and accessories, including the Fortnite Cobalt Star Bundle, which will launch alongside the new Black Friday promotions. A recently deleted PS5 ad hinted that the console bundle might be priced as low as $379.99, but this has not been officially confirmed by Sony following the ad's removal from YouTube. There is also currently no word on whether the PS5 Pro will also see a discount or a bundle deal.DualSense controllers will be discounted by up to 25%, which could bring their price down to at least $56.25 following the recent price increase ($74.99). Pricing may vary by retailer, so stay tuned for more details when the deals go live on Friday. Moreover, PlayStation VR 2 will be up to 40% off, a collosal discount, potentially bringing it down to ~$330-$360 depending on whether it's the Horizon Call of the Mountain bundle ($599.99) or just the standard VR headset ($549.99).Every PS5 Black Friday Deal Confirmed So FarPS5 Console – Fortnite Cobalt Star Bundle (expected to be ~$379.99)PlayStation VR2 (Up to 40% Off)DualSense Wireless Controllers (Up to 25% off)Save when joining or upgrading PlayStation Plus (Up to 30% off)Pulse Elite Wireless HeadsetsPulse Explore Wireless EarbudsPS5 Console CoversDiscounts on select PS5, PS4, and PC titlesPlayStation Plus Black Friday DealPlayStation Plus memberships are getting a big Black Friday discount. New members can save 30% on a 12-month subscription, while current PlayStation Plus Essential members can upgrade and save 25% on PlayStation Plus Extra or 30% on Premium/Deluxe.Sony has also recently confirmed its PlayStation Plus Game Catalog lineup for November 2024, and it includes the return of Rockstar’s GTA 5 in an exciting month for subscribers. Heavy hitters Dying Light 2: Stay Human and Like a Dragon: Ishin also joined the subscription service from November 19 onwards.Premium/Deluxe members also gain access to the Sony Pictures Catalog, featuring up to 100 movies available to stream on demand. During the Black Friday promotion, additional discounts on recent movie releases will also be available to all PS5 and PS4 players.When Is Black Friday 2024?We hope you've prepared your wallets, because it's Black Friday season. During the biggest sales event of the year, keep an eye out for price drops on the games you've been waiting to add to your library. The same can be said for TVs, gaming PCs, Apple products, and more. Whatever you're in the market for, right now is probably one of the best times to make your biggest purchases.The actual date of Black Friday in 2024 falls on November 29 this year, but the deals season began a lot sooner than that. In other Black Friday news, Nintendo has also recently announced its sale plans for Black Friday, with discounts on Tears of the Kingdom, Joy-Con controllers, and more confirmed to be on sale in the coming days. Xbox has also confirmed its deal lineup, with plenty of offers already live.Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.
Transcribe →Top 10 Gifts Under $50 to Shop This Holiday Season
Nov 21, 2024Tap to summarizeThe holidays are almost here, and that means it’s time to start the annual hunt to find a gift for everyone on your list. However, that’s definitely easier said than done, especially when you have a lot of family and friends to shop for. Thankfully, there are plenty of amazing gifts that you can score on a budget for the gamers and pop-culture lovers in your life. We’ve handpicked some of the best gift ideas you can find under $50 this holiday season. TL;DR - The Best Gifts Under $50Logitech G305 Wireless Gaming MouseThe Logitech G305 mouse is a great all-around choice for gamers of every genre. It features an ambidextrous design that comfortably fits many different grip types and weighs in at just 99g for a lightweight feel. It utilizes Logitech’s proprietary Lightspeed wireless connection for low-latency gaming with a 1ms response time. Best of all, the G305 can achieve up to 250 hours of gaming with a single AA battery.SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 HeadsetSteelSeries Arctis Nova headsets have consistently been rated highly by our team at IGN, and the Arctis Nova 1 is no exception. For an entry-level headset, it punches well above its weight as it features the same high-quality audio drivers featured in the Arctis Nova 7 at a fraction of the price. Its lightweight, adjustable frame and stretchy headband design make it comfortable to wear for extended gaming sessions. And, thanks to its universal wired design, it works seamlessly across the most popular gaming devices.Hori Split Pad ProIt’s not surprising that the Nintendo Switch is one of the most popular gaming consoles around since it can be played just about anywhere. However, its Handheld Mode can leave a bit to be desired as the included Joy-Con controllers feature small joysticks and buttons and aren’t very comfortable for long periods of time. Thankfully, the Hori Split Pad Pro remedies both situations featuring larger joysticks, buttons, and triggers, as well as customizable back buttons. Additionally, its grips provide a more full-size controller experience and are far more comfortable for larger hands.Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (3 Month Subscription)Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is truly the gift that keeps on giving. If you’re looking for the perfect gift for the Xbox or PC gamer in your life, an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership provides them access to hundreds of high-quality games on demand, including the recent Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, as well as other popular games like Madden 24, Starfield, Persona 3 Reload, and more.Deadpool & Wolverine 4K Blu-RayRyan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman make their official MCU debut in Deadpool & Wolverine, and they definitely stuck the landing. One of the MCU’s best films in the post-Endgame era, and its first R-rated release, Deadpool & Wolverine is a hilarious journey from start to finish. This is the perfect gift for fans of the Marvel movies and includes a 4K UHD copy of the film, as well as standard Blu-Ray and digital copies.LEGO Fortnite Supply LlamaInspired by the iconic battle royale Fortnite, the LEGO Supply Llama is a perfect gift for fans of LEGO, Fortnite, or LEGO Fortnite. The Supply Llama is a fun and easy build at just under 700 pieces and makes a great display piece. It features a movable head and plenty of exciting loot from the game in its pouch, including Slurp Juice, a grappler, dynamite, a Rough Ruby, a backpack, Slap Juice, and a Good Luck Charm.Gloomhaven: Jaws of the LionPlayable as a standalone game or as a prequel to the original Gloomhaven big box, Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion is a cooperative dungeon crawler that can be played solo or with up to four players. It features an abridged campaign that includes 25 scenarios, but still has plenty of exciting decisions to make and loot to uncover. Everything needed to experience this exciting adventure is in the box, including miniatures for the four playable characters, monster standees, tokens, and more.GameSir X2s Mobile ControllerThe GameSir X2s is a great all-around phone controller that takes many features from the X2 Pro and bundles them up nicely in a budget-friendly package, and, in some cases, actually improves upon its predecessor. The X2s has a built-in USB-C connector that works for most Android devices as well as iPhone 15 and later models that ditched the Lightning port. It features an expandable design that fits nicely around your phone for a Nintendo Switch-like experience. With the addition of Hall Effect sensors for its joysticks, stick drift becomes a non-issue, which is perfect for a device that’s likely going to be tossed into a bag while on the go. It also includes a passthrough USB-C port to charge your phone while playing.Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back T-ShirtStar Wars has been a cultural staple for nearly 50 years, and it’s only gotten more popular over time with all of the movies, TV shows on Disney+, <a href="https:...
Transcribe →The Worst Emperors in Pop Culture, From Gladiator to Star Wars
Nov 21, 2024Tap to summarizeSet roughly two decades after the events of the Oscar-winning first film, Gladiator II tells a new tale about the Roman Empire and those who dared to defy it. Ridley Scott’s original film featured two Roman emperors, one good (Marcus Aurelius) and one very bad (Commodus); likewise, Gladiator II also features a pair of real-life emperors, only this time both fit most clearly into the villain category. As played by Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger, respectively, Geta and Caracalla are twin brothers whose reign as co-emperors is marked by cruelty, corruption, and chaos. “Their bloodthirsty whims and equally unpredictable mood swings make this nightmarish pair of little freak boys worthy successors to Joaquin Phoenix’s supremely simpering Commodus. Their antics border on slapstick, but Quinn and Hechinger are each so temperamental and off-putting that they never let you forget the danger Geta and Caracalla pose to Rome’s future,” wrote IGN’s Tom Jorgensen in his Gladiator II review.Geta and Caracalla, however, are just the latest in a long line of wicked emperors to grace the screen. Indeed, evil emperors – some real, some fictional – have long been the villains that the forces of freedom must overcome in movies, video games, TV, literature, and comics. Here are the 10 best worst emperors that pop culture has yielded thus far, starting with …CaligulaThis 1979 Italian cult classic stars Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange) as the titular young Roman who assumes control of an empire in decline and, by the film’s end, has grown mad in his quest to destroy and humiliate Rome’s ruling political class. Depravity and corruption abound in this erotic production from Bob Guccione, founder of Penthouse magazine, who added hardcore sex scenes in post-production. Stalwarts of the British stage and screen like Helen Mirren, Peter O’Toole, and John Gielgud round out an ensemble far too classy for this notoriously crass affair. CommodusAnother real-life Roman emperor, Commodus, the demented son of the esteemed Marcus Aurelius, was portrayed by Christopher Plummer in 1964’s The Fall of the Roman Empire and, more famously, by Joaquin Phoenix in 2000’s Gladiator. Phoenix plays Commodus as murderously jealous of his father’s most loyal general and surrogate son Maximus. After Commodus kills Marcus, Maximus goes on an epic journey that sees him become a gladiator out for revenge against now Emperor Commodus. Ridley Scott’s sumptuous sword & sandal epic not only vividly recreates Ancient Rome but, through Phoenix’s Oscar-nominated performance, further seared the image of the thumbs-down, mad emperor in the public imagination.Doctor DoomAlready the monarch of the fictitious nation of Latveria, Marvel’s greatest supervillain is poised to get promoted next year in Marvel Comics’ crossover event The Rise of Emperor Doom. The synopsis for the storyline suggests some of Earth’s heroes wonder if the world isn’t better off under Doom’s control. This won’t be the first time Doom has become an emperor, mind you. In 2015’s Secret Wars, he became God Emperor Doom after stealing the Beyonders’ powers.HanJet Li starred in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor as the titular villain, a fictionalized version of the founder of China. In the film, the third and final entry in the Brendan Fraser-led franchise, the vicious tyrant Qin Han conquers ancient China, builds the Great Wall and gains supernatural power over the elements. He is later cursed, and he and his soldiers turn into terracotta statues. Han is resurrected centuries later and resumes his conquering ways only to meet his end at the hands of plucky adventurer Rick O’Connell and his pals.JokerIn Jeph Loeb’s Superman: Emperor Joker, the Clown Prince of Crime tricks fifth-dimensional being Mister Mxyzptlk into giving him nearly all of his reality-bending powers. The now-omnipotent Bat-villain uses them to warp existence into an absurdly hellish realm where he can do anything from repeatedly killing Batman and Lex Luthor to consuming the population of China. The Emperor Joker story was later adapted for an episode of the animated series Batman: The Brave And The Bold.Leto II<br><br>As emperor, he ruled the universe for over 3,500 years, following the Golden Path that necessitates he serve as a divine tyrant so that humanity eventually learns that it must not succumb to charismatic leaders if it’s to survive and thrive. Yeah, it’s all really weird but ultimately the point is that Leto II let himself become a literal monster emperor in order for humans to finally get their shit together. So yay? James McAvoy played a pre-sandworm Leto II in the TV miniseries Frank Herbert's Children of Dune."/>While Padishah Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV might be more widely known to general audiences through his depictions in David Lynch and Denis Villeneuve’s respective Dune movies, we’re opting to include a far stranger character from that franchise on this list. The son of Paul Atreides and his Fremen concubine Chani, Leto II eventually became known as the God Emperor of Dune. Like his aunt Alia, Leto II is a pre-born (deemed by the Bene Geserit as abominations) who possesses the memories of his ancestors. He ultimately undergoes a ritualistic test, consuming vast quantities of spice melange, and, over centuries, transforms into a human-sandworm hybrid. As emperor, he ruled the universe for over 3,500 years, following the Golden Path that necessitates he serve as a divine tyrant so that humanity eventually learns that it must not succumb to charismatic leaders if it’s to survive and thrive. Yeah, it’s all really weird but ultimately the point is that Leto II let himself become a literal monster emperor in order for humans to finally get their shit together. So yay? James McAvoy played a pre-sandworm Leto II in the TV miniseries Frank Herbert's Children of Dune.Ming the Merciless<a href="https://assets-prd.ignimgs.com/2024/11/14/ming-2-1731616...
Transcribe →The Witcher: Andrzej Sapkowski's New Book Focuses on a Teenage Geralt
Nov 21, 2024Tap to summarizeAndrzej Sapkowski has revealed his new The Witcher book will take place decades before the games and main novel saga as it focuses on a teenage Geralt of Rivia fresh from Kaer Morhen.As reported on and translated by Redanian Intelligence, the latest issue of Polish fantasy magazine Nowa Fantastyka, where The Witcher debuted in the form of a 1986 short story, includes a cover story detailing the first The Witcher ahead of its December 1 Polish release date.The book is called Rozdroże Kruków, which translates in English to Raven's Crossing or Crow's Crossroads or something along those lines, but fans will have to wait a little longer for the English version to be revealed and released early next year.The story will focus on a time talked about vaguely in a handful of The Witcher stories but not much: Geralt embarking on The Path for the very first time."This time, the grandmaster of Polish fantasy is going back to Geralt’s teenage years, who is only taking his first steps in the witchcraft and has to face numerous challenges," reads the translated synopsis."Armed with two runic swords, he fights monsters, saves innocent virgins, and helps unhappy lovers. Always and everywhere he tries to obey the unwritten code he got from his teachers and mentors. As usual, life spares no disappointments — youthful idealism clashes with reality from time to time. The saga continues. The story never ends."It makes sense the story goes back in time instead of forward, of course, as not only does Geralt's story come to a fairly definitive end in the main saga, but a (technically unofficial) progression has already taken place through the CD Projekt game series, which takes place in the few years following the books.While these are the only truly canonical entries in The Witcher franchise, the universe has now evolved far beyond the original book series. The game trilogy (and several incoming sequels and spin-offs) are joined by the Netflix show, a comic book series, a tabletop RPG, manga, and even a cookbook.Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.
Transcribe →My 10 Favorite Black Friday Video Game Deals—And Why You Should Snag Them Now
Nov 21, 2024Tap to summarizeA lot of big, excellent, high-scoring games have come out this year, so it’s perfectly understandable if you haven’t played them all. If you’ve been holding off on picking up games like Metaphor: ReFantazio, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Dragon's Dogma 2, or more, then we’ve got some good news. Whether you’re shopping for yourself, or for others and looking for the perfect gift, look no further as these are the best video game deals for Black Friday 2024.TL;DR - Best Video Game Black Friday DealsElden Ring - $19.99Metaphor ReFantazio - $49.99Xbox 1TB Expansion Card - $99.99Alan Wake 2: Deluxe Edition - $49.99Final Fantasy VII Rebirth - $39.99Alienware RTX 4080 Super PC - $1,999.99Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble - $24.99Dragon's Dogma 2 - $39.99Anker Prime 20K mAh Power Bank - $77.99Star Wars Outlaws - $49.99Elden Ring for $19.99Elden Ring is now just $19.99 on PS5, PS4, and Xbox as part of the Black Friday sales. With a massive $40 drop from its original $59.99 price, it’s easily a top pick and one of the best sellers of the season so far—don’t wait too long, as it could sell out due to its popularity.For the ultimate Elden Ring experience, the Shadow of the Erdtree Edition, which includes the base game and DLC, is on sale for $49.99 at Best Buy, down from $79.99. This $30 discount is $10 better than Amazon at the time of writing and the best deal for the full package. It’s another must-have Black Friday offer for fans and newcomers alike.Metaphor: ReFantazio for $49.99Metaphor: ReFantazio recently earned a nomination for 'Best Game' at the Game of the Year Awards, is now available for $49.99 on PS5 and Xbox—$20 off its original price. Whether you’ve been waiting for a sale or planning to grab it as a gift, this is likely the best deal before Christmas.In our 9/10 review, Michael Higham praised the game, saying: “There’s a certain familiarity in Metaphor: ReFantazio, but Atlus takes the principles of its already excellent RPGs and refines them in a way that effortlessly ushers you through its brutal, and sometimes beautiful, new fantasy world.”Xbox 1TB Expansion Card for $99.99Xbox 1TB expansion cards are now just $99.99 during the Black Friday sales—a historic low. These storage cards from Western Digital and Seagate have typically dropped to around $125 during past sale events, rarely going any cheaper. While occasional deeper discounts have appeared on Woot, they often sell out almost instantly.This year, Amazon has set the bar by slashing the price of the C50 1TB Storage Expansion Card by $50, making it just $99.99. It’s easily the best Xbox storage deal of the Black Friday season so far. While Amazon and other retailers haven’t matched the price yet, they may do so soon. Be sure to act fast if you’re interested, as demand could lead to quick sellouts at Best Buy.What Else to Look Out For This Black FridayFollowing all the sparkly announcements means we have officially confirmed this year's Black Friday deals for PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo. So, that means while all the deals I'm hyping up in this article are lovely, there's actually a whole lot more to look forward to that currently aren't live. Top tip, patience! The following discounts will be live by next week, and you'll want to jump on them ASAP to avoid disappointment, as there's some real doozies in here.Nov. 24: Switch OLED Black Friday Bundle for $274.99Nov. 22: PS5 Console – Fortnite Cobalt Star Bundle (expected to be ~$379.99)Nov. 22: PlayStation VR2 (expected to be ~$360)Nov. 22: DualSense Wireless Controllers (expected to be ~$55)Nov. 22: Save when joining or upgrading PlayStation Plus (up to 30% off)Alan Wake 2: Deluxe Edition for $49.99One of the standout Black Friday gaming deals so far is the Alan Wake 2 Deluxe Edition dropping to just $49.99—a steep discount from its $80 MSRP. Available for both PS5 and Xbox Series X, this deal offers incredible value for a critically acclaimed game.The Deluxe Edition includes the full base game, both expansions, in-game cosmetics, and bonus items. On top of that, it bundles the remastered version of the original Alan Wake, giving you the entire saga in one package. With this much content at half the price, it’s easily one of the best gaming bundles this Black Friday.Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for $39.99Best Buy is offering Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for only $39.99. That's a savings of nearly 40% off and the lowest price we've seen for it on Best Buy since launch. Rebirth is easily one of the best games of 2024, PS5 or otherwise, and has even got the nod as a potential GOTY winner at the Game Awards this year.Check out our Final Fantasy VII Rebirth review and see why this game earned an "Amazing" 9/10 score. In it, writer Michael Higham states that "Final Fantasy ...
Transcribe →Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth Won't Have Intergrade-Style DLC as Square Enix Focuses on Making Part 3
Nov 21, 2024Tap to summarizeSorry, Final Fantasy sickos. Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth isn't getting any major story DLC akin to Remake's Intergrade expansion, according to game director Naoki Hamaguchi.In an interview with The Daily Star, Hamaguchi gently denied fan hopes of an intermediary chapter between Rebirth and the next game. Final Fantasy 7: Remake received such a chapter with "Intermission," which included a new story featuring Yuffie."We definitely do hear the desire from fans, the voices out there that want that kind of thing," he said. "I understand it completely, but I think, from my perspective, what the fans really want to see the most is not necessarily DLC. They want to see the third part of the series as quickly as possible."While Hamaguchi's assessment is probably correct, this might be a let-down for fans who were expecting more. Rumors of a Rebirth DLC have been bubbling both due to Remake's existing DLC, as well as a prior comment from Hamaguchi about wanting to make "further expansions" to addictive minigame Queen's Blood.While that remark could have meant anything from minor updates to a standalone game, many took it to mean Queen's Blood DLC was in the cards. Hamaguchi's remarks today don't seem to totally refute that, as he appears to be specifically referring to a full-blown, character-driven, story DLC here. But it's also not looking hopeful.For now, it sounds like Square Enix is full speed ahead on the third part of Final Fantasy 7's trilogy of a remake. The first two games, Remake and Rebirth, were four years apart, and Rebirth just released this year. That means we likely have a bit of a wait ahead of us, with Square Enix suggesting it hoped to release the finale by 2027. That gives us plenty of time to play all the way through Rebirth, which we gave a 9/10 and which is a nominee for Game of the Year at The Game Awards in December.Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
Transcribe →Dragon’s Dogma 2 Drops to $40 in Amazon’s Black Friday Sale
Nov 21, 2024Tap to summarizeAmazon's Black Friday sale has officially begun, and there's already an abundance of deals to look through. This includes an excellent variety of discounts on video games, especially on some newer releases. Among this selection of video game deals is Dragon’s Dogma 2, which has gotten a $30 discount in Amazon's Black Friday sale that's dropped its price from $69.99 to $39.99.This saves you 43% on the title, which is a deal well worth taking advantage of if you've had your eye on it. This deal applies to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions of the game as well. Pick it up at the links below.Dragon’s Dogma 2 Down to $40 for Black FridayWe had high praise for Dragon's Dogma 2 in our review. Writer Jarrett Green said that it's "richly rewarding and incomparable to its contemporaries if you can be patient with its quirks and open to embracing its hands-off open-world and quest designs." It also recently scored a nomination at The Game Awards for Best RPG.There's plenty more games on offer at Amazon right now, too. Some of our favorites have been Metaphor: ReFantazio, Elden Ring, and Alan Wake 2 Deluxe Edition, but there's plenty more available. It's only day one of the sale event as well, so keep an eye out for even more game deals dropping over the next few days.A few more top retailers are jumping in on the early seasonal sale action as well. Walmart, Best Buy, and Target all have their own Black Friday plans ahead of the big day, so it's worth reading up on each to learn more. Check out our full Black Friday breakdown as well for more information on dates, which retailers are participating, and our deal predictions.When Is Black Friday 2024?If you want to get official, Black Friday in 2024 falls on November 29 this year, but the deals have already kicked off. Each day leading up to the big day, you'll find more deals, which ultimately leads to massive discounts on Black Friday. We already know what PlayStation and Xbox are planning, and most general deals will be available well in advance, such as this excellent deal on Alan Wake 2 Deluxe Edition.More Black Friday Game Deals We've Found So FarHannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.
Transcribe →Holidays at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure 2024 Guide: Food, Shows, Merch, and More
Nov 21, 2024Tap to summarizeThe holidays have officially arrived at Disneyland and the festivities are filled with new and returning favorites for guests to celebrate with their loved ones. What makes this most wonderful time of year so special at Disneyland, however, is how both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are infusing so many different cultures into their offerings to make everyone feel right at home.There is a lot happening at Disneyland Resort, and we're here to share everything you need to know to make the most of your holiday trip, from the best food and drinks to the new shows and so much more.Oh, and alongside all you'll read about below, Tiana's Bayou Adventure is now open at Disneyland after opening at Walt Disney World earlier this year. You can check out everything you need to know about Tiana's Bayou Adventure right here!Holidays at Disneyland Resort:Disneyland Park Is Bringing the Holiday MagicDisney California Adventure and Disney Festival of HolidaysThe Best Food at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure's Disney Festival of HolidaysHoliday Magic Outside Disneyland Park and Disney California AdventureDisneyland Park Is Bringing the Holiday MagicDisneyland Resort will be the place to celebrate with both Disney characters and Santa and one of the best ways to do so will be with the 'A Christmas Fantasy Parade' and 'Believe... In Holiday Magic' nighttime spectacular.'A Christmas Fantasy Parade' will feature many of you favorite Disney characters, including Mickey, Minnie, Chip 'n' Dale, Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Buzz Lightyear, Disney Princess, and more. Santa will lead the grand finale and will help make for one memorable show.'Believe... In Holiday Magic' is the holiday nighttime spectacular at Disneyland and, alongside a dazzling display of fireworks, Sleeping Beauty Castle will stand proud with over 80,000 twinkling lights, sparkling "icicles," and "shimmering snow-capped turrets" as the the night sky is filled with color.For that extra cherry on top, "snow" will fall every night along the Rivers of America, by 'it's a small world,' and on Main Street, U.S.A. If you haven't experienced "snow" at a Disney Park, I can't recommend it enough as it is true Disney Magic and so much fun for the kids and kids at heart.Fantasyland Theatre will be host to 'Holiday Fun with Santa and Friends,' and will be a place for craft making, sing-alongs, and holiday music to warm even the coldest day. Not only will you also be able to meet Santa, but Mickey, Minnie and other "select friends" will show up there and elsewhere in the parks in "all-new outfits reminiscent of writing heartfelt letters during the holidays."Some of the biggest Disneyland attractions get special theming during the holidays, so guests can look forward to 'it's a small world' Holiday, Haunted Mansion Holiday, and a big transformation of Cars Land. Not only will Radiator Springs be decorated in its holiday best, but so will Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters and Mater's Junkyard Jamboree as they will become Luigi's Joy to the Whirl and Mater's Jingle Jamboree, respectively.Disney California Adventure and Disney Festival of HolidaysDisney California Adventure is once again home to Disney Festival of Holidays, and that brings with it food and drink, live entertainment, merch, and so much more. We'll get to the food in the next section, but right now we're here to take about the fun you and the whole family can enjoy through January 6, 2025.Disney Festival of Holidays will feature two new shows, and they are inspired by both Coco and Encanto and will take place multiple times per day on Monday through Friday.The Coco-themed show is called 'A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegria de Disneyland & Miguel" and can be found right in the middle of Buena Vista Street. The performance begins with a procession down the street to the main fountain, and then the team break out into different Christmas songs. What makes this special is they are sung in both English and Spanish and the host, Carlos, takes us through traditions from around the world. Coco's Miguel joins the fun partway through the show and there is even a rendition of "Silent Night" where kids are encouraged to join the performers and sign along while holding candles.This show is a very special one and really highlights how these holiday celebrations are for guests from all walks of life and how wonderful it is when we all come together as one. Furthermore, it's honors the Mexican holiday tradition of La Posada, adding another layer to the fun.Outside of Paradise Gardens Park, 'Mirabel's Gifts of the Season' will bring guests into the world of Encanto as Mirabel and her friends sing your favorite songs from the film, including 'We Don't Talk About Bruno,' 'The Family Madrigal,' and 'Columbia, Mi Encanto.' The show is all about Mirabel and her friends getting ready to celebrate their own Fiesta de Navidad, and each of her friends represents one of her siblings. Throughout the show, they take center stage as their corresponding character appears (Bruno, Isabela, and Luisa) and sings their song from the film. Paradise Gardens is also home to The Disney ¡Viva Navidad! street party, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday and is a returning favorite. This party is hosted by The Three Caballeros and features "lively Mexican folklórico dancers and mariachis, uplifting Brazilian samba dancers and percussionists, along with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in their fiesta best, and more."The Best Food at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure's Disney Festival of HolidaysAll the delicious food and drinks are some of the best parts of a Disney Parks festival, and Holidays at Disneyland Resort and Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure are filled to the brim with 136 new items and 200 returning items. We had the chance to try some of the offerings at Disney Festival of Holidays at our preview event, and you can check out our reviews of 9 items, including a Mickey Mouse-shaped Sticky Toffee Pudding Macaron that is a must-get and earned a coveted 10/10.Before that, however, I wanted to share with you a bit of my chat with the chefs and creators behind these food and drink items, as they shared with me what makes this year so special.Disney Festival of Holidays is a celebration of holidays across the world, and this is shown perfectly in the food and drink items. Starting with that legendary Sticky Toffee Pudding Macaron, this combines that classic British dessert with a Disney holiday tradition to make a winning combination.While that's a great combo, a dish or drink gets taken to another level when there's a wonderful story behind it, and Disneyland's David Nguyen shared a story with me about one special beverage - the Café de Olla Cold Brew. Cold Brew is a big hit at Disneyland and elsewhere, but the team wanted to do something special to bring it to Disney Festival of Holidays.Another cast member had an idea of just how to do that and shared that when they used to sit around during the holidays and share memories, they would always do so with the Mexican spiced coffee known as Café de Olla alongside a sweet bread called a concha. The team took that heartwarming story and put all these ingredients together to create the Café de Olla Cold Brew - a celebration of modern trends and those that mean so much to us from the past. And yes, the concha sits right atop the drink for an extra treat.You can check out the full list of food and drink options for Disneyland Festival of Holidays and Holidays at Disneyland Resort right here, and also check out my reviews below of some of the items we were able to try! These were all from Disney California Adventure's Disney Festival of Holidays and are each at one of the many stalls you can find around the park.Sticky Toffee Pudding Macaron: Mickey-shaped chocolate macaron filled with vanilla buttercream, date cake, and salted toffee sauce (Favorite Things) - 10/10<a href="https://assets-prd.ignimgs.com/2024/1...
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