Category: IGN

Let’s talk Game Pass. There’s news about Game Pass cannibalizing sales (though is anyone surprised by that?), but I’m more interested in using this space to share some neat games you can play on Game Pass now that may go overlooked. With a whopping 379 console games and 448 on PC as of this writing, there’s a lot to check out.

I try my best to play games outside of my comfort zone and, generally, grab ones that just look cool. Unfortunately, some of my favorite gems on Game Pass have been removed, but with those large aforementioned numbers, there’s no shortage of games to check out. The following games are all on Game Pass and are scheduled to stay through at least the month of February.

A Quick Mental Scrub

With as heavy as things are these days, sometimes you just need a quick run of something that doesn’t involve dropping into a massive (or small) map with other humans and something that won’t threaten to send you into a spiraling rage. The games below are easy to pop on and dip out of, or, they’ve got some sort of relaxing element to them.

Totally Accurate Battle Simulator (Xbox, PC)

Starting with the most chaotic and joyous option, Totally Accurate Battle Simulator pits your selected group of fighters against another preset challenge. Once you’ve got your fighting group ready to go you sit back and watch the battle playout, featuring, as the official description puts it, “wobbliest physics system ever created.” The ragdolls are fantastic, the eyes are goofy, and the victors of each battle aren’t always the ones you’d expect! Whether you’re interested in solving battle puzzles using your limited resources to select the right kind of fighters or playing around with weird matchups, these quick rounds are almost always a delight. Even better, there’s local and online co-op and multiplayer!

My Time at Portia (Xbox, PC)

If you’re still on the hunt for the right farming simulator, give My Time at Portia a try. I reviewed this back when it was released in 2019 and found it to be one of the most pleasant post-apocalyptic worlds I’ve explored. Combining farming, relationship building, combat, mining, building, and all sorts of activities in one, My Time at Portia is one of the few persistent simulation games I miss and plan on going back to.

DJMax Respect V (Xbox, PC)

DJMax Respect V isn’t the best rhythm game I’ve ever played but it’s certainly a fun one in quick bursts. If you’re a fan of the Hatsune Miku games, Guitar Hero, or other input-based rhythm game, DJMax Respect V is quick to get into with plenty of fun music. There are some more challenging inputs to figure out on controller, but ultimately it’s a quick download and a fun distraction if you’re looking to rest your thoughts.

A Longer Journey

Tinykin

I mentioned this one on Podcast Unlocked previously, but in case you missed it, Tinykin is a pleasant trip down memory lane for those of us who grew up with adventure platforming games that gave us a space littered with an abundance of trinkets to collect while working to reach the next area of our journey. Tinykin features a small extraterrestrial man exploring a bug-infested home in search of a way to get back to his home planet. With the help of creatures called Tinykin, you’ll platform, solve environmental puzzles, and investigate secrets. Every time I hop in to explore a new area I come away happy. Tinykin taps into that kid-like wonder of exploring something bigger than yourself and having fun while doing it.

Prey (Xbox, PC)

For folks looking for something more intense, you’ve gotta check out Prey. No, this game is not new nor is it all that unknown (I’d like to assume), but come on y’all if you haven’t played it, this is your reminder that it’s on Game Pass and it rules. In Arkane’s Prey, you’re left alone on a ship with a mysterious lifeform out to get you. And, unfortunately for you, it could be literally anywhere and mimicking anything. This first-person shooter is a tense, neat journey with an excellent DLC.

Up Next

Below are a few titles I’m interested in checking out soon. You can also check out my backlog on my Playlist page.

• Genesis Noir (Xbox, PC) – I’ve had this one on my list for a long time. It’s a stylish puzzle game and that’s really all I needed to see to be interested.
• Soccer Story (Xbox, PC) – Did you ever play Backyard Soccer or the other Backyard sports kids games? This vaguely reminded me of those and I’m interested to see how its story about a magical soccer ball in a world where soccer is forbidden plays out.
• Signalis (Xbox, PC) – Ever since IGN’s Senior Features Editor Matt Kim described this survivor horror game to me I’ve wanted to play it. I’m not usually great with horror, but the – perspective makes it seem like something I could handle and enjoy.
• Opus: Echo of Starsong – Full Bloom Edition (Xbox, PC) – This looks like a rather dreamy adventure and I like that it’s described to put its story front and center. I had a brief stint of digging deep into visual novels and I’m curious how it blends those elements with its puzzles and resource management.

Got a Game Pass recommendation you think has gone unnoticed? Don’t keep it to yourself! Share it in the comments below. You can check out other columns from the rest of the Podcast Unlocked crew on our show’s column page.

Miranda Sanchez is the executive editor of guides at IGN and a member of Podcast Unlocked. She’s a big fan of stationery and fountain pens. You can find her on Twitter and Twitch.

Supermassive Games has revealed how its upcoming horror shooter title Switchback VR will benefit from the PlayStation VR2’s new tech when it launches on February 22.

Switchback VR will see players blast their way through a series of rollercoaster levels steeped in the lore of Supermassive Games’ The Dark Pictures Anthology, while coming face to face — sometimes literally it seems — with the apparitions and monsters featured in titles including Man of Medan and The Devil in Me.

In a PlayStation Blog post, the developer detailed how it harnessed the upgraded capabilities of the PSVR 2 to intensify the experience and horror of their latest game.

Some monsters will be more likely to attack when the player blinks, for example, a feature which has been made possible by the improved eye-tracking tech built into the new headset, and other more insidious enemies will only move when you aren’t looking directly at them.

All the while, players will have to deal with demonic screams and whispers seemingly coming from all around, courtesy of the 3D audio headset that comes bundled in with the $549.99 PS VR2 hardware offering.

Failing to duck in time could also result in getting a smack to your virtual head from a low-slung wooden beam, triggering the haptic feedback system built into the headset.

Meanwhile haptics integrated in the headset and triggers of the Sense controllers will be used to “make each weapon feel unique”, and to simulate the feeling of careening down a bumpy track while being buffeted by rain, wind, and sand.

According to Supermassive, each Switchback VR level will feature multiple tracks and obstacles to ensure that “no two runs will be the same”.

In our review we gave the PlayStation VR2 a 9/10, describing it as “a quantum leap over its predecessor” that sets “a new standard for console VR gaming”. Be sure to check out IGN’s unboxing video to see how the new hardware stacks up against its predecessor.

Anthony is a freelance contributor covering science and video gaming news for IGN. He has over eight years experience of covering breaking developments in multiple scientific fields and absolutely no time for your shenanigans. Follow him on Twitter @BeardConGamer

Can you believe it? 2023 is already in full swing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t buy your friends and family members a brilliant gift. If you’re looking for the best gift ideas for the PlayStation gamer in your life, look no further. We’ve scoured the internet for what is sure to be the most popular gifts this season, so check out the many great PlayStation gift recommendations below to make your shopping this year a breeze.

PS5 Consoles Available Now

If you haven’t yet been able to secure one, have no fear, PS5 consoles are finally here. That’s right you can currently order a PS5 without any stress at Amazon and several other retailers. I’ll leave a quick link just below before we move on to the rest of the gifts.

Essential PS5 Gifts in 2023

Recently scored a PS5 for you and your family? Well, you’re going to need to get suited and booted with all the essential accessories over 2023, so here are the very best PS5-themed gifts to make sure your loved one is making the most out of their console. From boosting their internal SSD storage to the very best gaming headset, we’ve got you covered.

Top 3 PlayStation Themed Gifts for 2023

Aside from the obvious gift of the PS5 console itself, these are a few of the best gifts you can get the PlayStation gamer in your life this holiday season.

Best PlayStation Apparel Gifts

Buying clothes for someone else is never easy. But, if they’re into PlayStation, then there’s plenty of great options to choose to showcase their fandom including a couple sweet bomber jackets, t-shirts, pullover hoodies, hats, socks, and so much more.

Best PlayStation Collectibles and Toys Gifts

For the collectors out there, PlayStation has plenty of great options to add to a display shelf or show off on a desk at work or home. Check out these great PlayStation collectibles and toys gifts below.

Best God of War Ragnarok Gifts

It’s no surprise that God of War Ragnarok is one of the most anticipated games this year, so we’ve rounded up plenty of great gifts to celebrate the new release including artwork books, apparel, and more.

Best PS5 and PS4 Games Gifts

In the two years the PS5 has been out, there have been plenty of must-play titles including the recent God of War Ragnarok, Horizon Forbidden West, Returnal, The Last of Us: Part I, and so many more. Check out some great gift ideas across both PS5 and PS4 below.

Best IGN Store PlayStation Gifts

We’ve even got some great PlayStation gifts available on the IGN store including collectible items such as the LEGO Tallneck set from Horizon Forbidden West, and Joel and Ellie statues from The Last of Us, as well as plenty of sweet apparel.

Best PlayStation Gifts Under $50

If you’re looking for some great stocking stuffers or PlayStation gifts that won’t break the bank, we’ve got you covered below with some of the best PlayStation gifts under $50.

For even more holiday gift ideas, check out our roundup of all the best Marvel gifts, best Switch gifts, or check out the rest of our relevant gift guides below.

Matthew Adler is a Commerce, Features, Guides, News, Previews, and Reviews writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.

Horizon Call of the Mountain knows what its job is: to ride the popularity of Horizon Forbidden West and spearhead Sony’s new foray into virtual reality gaming, the PlayStation VR 2. It really goes for it by placing less of a focus on the expansive story of Forbidden West and much more on spectacle, often wowing with the sights it places in front of you. On that level it’s a remarkable technical showcase that lets you have a good deal of excitement when taking the handbrake off and handing you control of its exhilarating combat. It’s therefore a slight shame that it often operates at a much more relaxed pace, which does allow you to frequently take in the beauty of its world, but prevents itself from thrilling consistently from start to finish. When it does all click, though, and those heights are hit, a very fun time is there to be had.

Similarly to how a Disneyland ride borrows from whichever film it’s based on, Call of the Mountain takes the Horizon experience and condenses it into something much more bitesize while trying to keep the same flavour. This is exemplified best by the Pirates of the Caribbean-like opening, in which your peaceful river cruise is rudely interrupted by the likes of a soaring Stormbird and towering Tallneck dino-bot. It’s a real credit to the work that developer Firesprite has done in translating Guerrilla’s original art design into something more impressive than any TV screen could do justice to – both in the stunning vistas this world offers and the trademark machines that populate it.

The first time you see the scale of some of these creatures really is a sight to behold, not only from the shift to true first-person perspective emphasizing their true size, but with their presence felt further thanks to the haptic feedback felt both in each controller and the headset itself: as you quite literally feel the ground shake with every step as these massive machines pass by. It’s a real showcase for the PS VR2 right off the bat, with huge spectacle blending with small detail – right down to the delicate ripples your fingers make in the water and the rude splashes made by the feet of giant machines.

Blockbuster opening aside, over the course of its roughly six-hour campaign Call of the Mountain takes the essence of Horizon’s gameplay and boils it down into a much more manageable set of tools that works in VR. Rocky landscapes to explore, hostile machines to take down, puzzles to solve – it’s all here. What’s notable, however, is that this is very much a linear experience that stands in sharp contrast to Zero Dawn or Forbidden West’s vast open worlds. An inquisitive mind is occasionally rewarded with fun side activities, such as stacking rock cairns or collectible archery targets to hit, but mostly you’ll be guided down a funneled path. This narrow approach naturally works well in VR, even if some of the inherent exploration that Horizon normally offers is lost.

There are two movement options to choose from: a “gesture”-based system that moves you around when holding two buttons and imitating a walking motion with your arms, and a more traditional analog stick-based system. After trying both I opted for the former for most of my playthrough, despite both coming with their pros and cons. At first, the gesture system didn’t strike me as overly intuitive, but once I got to grips with it I preferred it simply because it made me feel far less nauseous when playing for long stretches (by which I mean about 30 minutes). I did, however, find myself switching to the analog sticks whenever entering combat, as the dodge mechanics associated with this moveset (a flick of the right stick) made for a much easier time. Everyone’s mileage on this will obviously vary based on your VR tolerances, so I’d recommend trying out both to see which suits you best.

Now’s the time to say that if you suffer from any level of vertigo, this may not be the game for you. I’m not too terrible with real heights, but here I did start to feel a little queasy when looking down at some of the ludicrous distances I could fall from. There are quite a few opportunities for potential plummets as well, thanks to the sheer amount of climbing you’re asked to do. Climbing cliffs. Climbing vines. Climbing ice walls. Climbing rock faces by lodging dual pickaxes into them. Almost so much climbing that you may find yourself wanting to climb the walls of your house as well.

Now, I wasn’t naive enough to think that a game called “Call of the Mountain” wouldn’t involve some climbing, but I was taken somewhat off guard when I found that it really is the majority of what you’ll be doing here, especially in the early hours. Climbing isn’t overly challenging, but honestly reaching for handhold after handhold gets quite dull after you’ve scaled your third or fourth outcrop. It does get slightly more interesting once tools such as the grappling Grabcaster are introduced, and the immersion of it all as the wind swirls around your ears and the excellent music swells as you reach the next peak is undeniable. Although some ascents offer slightly more excitement than others, I can honestly say I never found climbing to be consistently fun. It’s frustrating then, that it dominates much of what you’ll be doing in Call of the Mountain, in particular when compared to its much less frequent but infinitely more exciting combat sections.

Largely taking place in mini arenas, these gladiatorial battles against all manner of unfriendly machine are often the highlight of each mission. It’s where the immersion of it all really beds in as you briefly forget what era of Earth you’re living in and the rhythm of combat takes hold. Armed with the signature Horizon weapon of a bow and arrow, you’ll quickly find yourself aiming for enemy weak points using the PS VR2’s impressive eyeball tracking tech, and then quick-dodging out of the way of flying melee attacks before ducking and weaving your head out of the way of projectiles.

It’s a set of combat options that gradually builds over time as well, as new ammo types are introduced and your arsenal expanded. As stronger foes present themselves, naturally more firepower is needed, and with it the levels of excitement to find increase – a thrilling fight against a colossal Thunderjaw being a particular highlight. Preparing yourself for encounters becomes increasingly more important as you build all sorts of elemental arrows in a pleasing crafting system that lets you manually attach arrowheads, explosives, and flights, thus further creating a tangible connection to the world.

More gratifying than crafting arrows though is, of course, firing them – and in this regard Call of the Mountain has really nailed it. Now, my real-world archery experience may only stretch as far as giving it a go when 11 years old on a school trip, but in my expert opinion this feels pretty damn good. There’s a real pleasing “ping” to the way each arrow flies off of the bowstring and haptic feedback tickles your palm, and then an even greater thrill as it slams into whatever is unfortunate enough to be in its way and sets them aflame thanks to explosive Blaze. Unlike the climbing, it just never gets old to watch sparks fly and machine parts fall off as the fundamentally brilliant Horizon combat successfully makes its way into the virtual reality space.

It’s a highly satisfying cadence that works really well in VR thanks to its enthralling but never overwhelming speed, but is also forgiving if you happen to get blindsided by a roaming Scrapper, for example. If you do manage to take some damage you can find a pocket of peace amongst the mayhem by going for a snack break and refilling your health bar by munching on some fruit. A health bar is smartly located on one of your hands (much like we saw in Half-Life: Alyx) meaning it’s never more than a quick glance away, like checking the time on a watch, and always in view when aiming down sights. All in all, the interface of Call of the Mountain is very cleverly implemented, making it feel like a tangible part of your character and not a series of distracting floating boxes that threaten to take you out of the beautiful world.

Puzzles also pop up here and there and, again, serve as a welcome break from climbing. Did I mention there’s a lot of climbing? The problems are sometimes fun but never overly difficult, and once the novelty of actually physically picking up gears and slotting them into position myself wore out they became yet another minor obstacle on the way to the next combat encounter or story moment.

That story is serviceable, but one that is definitely engineered in order to facilitate big moments and fun cameos rather than tell a layered tale itself the way the previous two Horizons have. Here you play as Ryas rather than Aloy – he’s a Shadow Carja rebel who must complete a series of tasks in order to atone for his crimes. His internal monologues are mercifully limited in a smart maneuver that allows you to experience this world first-hand yourself and not be distracted by voices in your head.

Naturally, things escalate as the plot thickens, and the second half of the campaign becomes much more engaging than the first thanks to the action increasing in both quality and quantity. A personal highlight is the aforementioned Thunderjaw cat and mouse section, which conjures up memories of Jurassic Park at its rousing best. There are a few little nods scattered throughout for big Horizon fans to find of value here – familiar faces like Aloy drop in to say hello – but don’t necessarily come in expecting a dense new chapter in this universe’s lore.

Outside the main story you’re free to explore your small home base, take a closer look at artifacts collected on your expeditions, and chat with friends made along the way. It’s also home to the pleasant safari mode: a largely tranquil alternative version of the opening boat cruise which shows off a selection of the Horizon bestiary in its natural habitat. It’s short, sweet, and a reflection of the Disneyland-like nature of Call of the Mountain as a whole – an impressive technical showcase for PS VR2 which uses the inherent wonders of the Horizon world to sprinkle thrills into its sometimes-lazy river ride.

Nintendo Switch fans, you’re in for a treat here. There’s up to £20 off the very best Nintendo Switch games right now across UK retailers, with both physical and digital copies of big games like Mario Kart 8, Animal Crossing, Sonic Frontiers and more have been heavily discounted. Other great deals today include the perfect PS5 1TB SSD with Heatsink for £84, or 2TB with heatsink for £147, The Last of Us Part 2 down to just £8.39 for PS Plus members, the entire Harry Potter book collection for just £33.49, and a whole lot more. For even more gaming and tech deals, check out all the links just below, or follow @IGNUKDeals on Twitter for more instant updates.

TL;DR – Best UK Deals Right Now

Check Out This Awesome Sale on Nintendo Switch Games

There are some great deals here to check out, with some of my personal favourite Switch games included just below as well. Sonic Frontiers for £32 is a great deal and one of my top games from 2022, and LEGO Star Wars is absolutely one of the best portable games on the market at the moment. I’ve left all the relevant links, just below.

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AD: Avast One Individual Down to £23.99/Year (was £79.99/Year)

Looking for comprehensive protection for your digital life at a price that won’t break the bank? Look no further than Avast One Individual. For a limited time only, you can get offering the top-of-the-line digital security suite for just £23.99 per year – that’s a massive 70% off the regular price of £79.99.

With Avast One Individual, you’ll get all the features you need to stay safe online, including advanced antivirus protection, a powerful firewall, and cutting-edge anti-phishing technology. Plus, you’ll get real-time alerts to keep you informed of potential threats and the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your digital life is protected by one of the world’s most trusted names in cybersecurity.

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Perfect PS5 1TB SSD with Heatsink for £84 (Incredible Deal)

This is a very good deal on PS5 SSDs, especially as you don’t need to further invest in a separate heatsink for the Netac NV7000. Plus, if you want o go even further, 2TB for just under £147 is an incredible offer and well worth considering if you’re still on your base PS5 storage.

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The Last of Us Games Are On Sale Right Now

Here’s a great deal for those who are loving the latest HBO hit, The Last of Us. Yes, this is based on the game as many of us know, and many of us might also know that there’s a sequel to that game. The Last of Us Part 2 is a critically acclaimed darling (with a few controversies thrown in), and it can be picked up for just £8.39 if you’re a PS Plus member right now (down from £34.99).

More Video Game Deals to Check Out

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Best Random Deals I Love Right Now

These are the best random-ish deals that I want to highlight, but can’t necessarily fit anywhere else. A favourite of mine today is definitely the unisex hoodie blanket, down to just £12.99. This is a great price considering you’re looking at £20-30 anywhere else for a similar quality blanket. My top tip for when you buy one, wash it immediately on its own, once it’s dry it’ll be 10/10 comfort.

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Amazon Hogwarts Legacy Console Bundle Deals

There’s some great deals floating around at the moment for PS5 and Xbox bundles, and they even include the hottest game right now, Hogwarts Legacy. You can currently get the PS5 with Hogwarts Legacy Bundle for just £516.98 at Argos. (There’s also a bunch of other superb bundles to check out just below as well).

Overall that works out at £479.99 for the PS5, and just £36.99 for Hogwarts Legacy, about £23 off the new game already. Make sure to just click the ‘Money Off Bundles’ section which will take you to all the current bundle offers Argos has got, including the new Hogwarts Legacy deal. See our full 9/10 review for the game here.

Amazing Discounts on Anker Tech Right Now

There’s some great deals on Anker headphones, USB cables and more at Amazon right now. My favourite is definitely on the Soundcore Q45 Adaptive Noise Cancelling Headphones, dropping down to just £97.99. This is a great option for an affordable but amazing set of headphones (instead of dropping £300 on a Bose or Sony set).

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Amazing Password Manager Deal from Keeper (AD)

With Keeper, you can store all of your passwords, credit card info, and other sensitive data in one secure, encrypted digital vault. Plus, they use top-notch encryption technology to keep your stuff safe and have added bonus features like password generation, password sharing, and two-factor authentication.

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Where to Preorder The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in the UK

The best Tears of the Kingdom (or Breath of the Wild 2 as many of us called it for years) preorder deal in the UK is still at Hit for £49.85, or ShopTo for the same price. In case you’re wondering, both ShopTo and Hit are 100% legit UK retailers. We’ve linked out to both of them before, and have had no complaints! I’ll leave all the relevant links down below for Tears of the Kingdom preorders.

Where to Preorder Tears of the Kingdom Collector’s Edition and Amiibo

Preorders for the Collector’s Edition are currently sold out everywhere, including Smyths, GAME, and ShopTo. Amazon currently has a listing up, but has not gone live with it yet.

You can also register your interest in the Collector’s Edition, or the Link – Tears of the Kingdom amiibo (£12.99) from Nintendo right now in the UK. Otherwise, follow and set notifications on for @IGNUKDeals on Twitter as we’ll tweet when more preorders go live.

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Metroid Prime Remastered Is Now on Nintendo Switch

After years of rumors, Metroid Prime Remastered is real. If that wasn’t exciting enough, Nintendo has already released the game digitally. But, if you’d prefer to wait for a physical copy, it’s out on March 3, 2023, and can be preorder right now from the links below.

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Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.

Microsoft admits in a court filing as part of the proposed Activision-Blizzard acquisition that game sales suffer when games get added to Xbox Game Pass. We discuss why it doesn’t really matter, why Game Pass matters for games both big and small, and more! Plus: why Kotick has to go if the acquisition is approved, Dead Island 2’s release date changes AGAIN (but for the better this time!), and plenty more!

Subscribe on any of your favorite podcast feeds, to our YouTube channel, or grab an MP3 of this week’s episode. For more awesome content, check out our interview with Todd Howard, who answered all of our Starfield questions after the big reveal at the Xbox Showcase:

For more next-gen coverage, make sure to check out our Xbox Series X review, our Xbox Series S review, and our PS5 review.

Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s executive editor of previews and host of both IGN’s weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our monthly(-ish) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He’s a North Jersey guy, so it’s “Taylor ham,” not “pork roll.” Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.

It turns out Toothless will be taking to the skies in live-action.

Universal Pictures has greenlit a live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Dean DeBlois, who directed the entire How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, will return to write, direct, and produce.

And in a show of confidence, Universal has already set a March 14, 2025 release date.

The franchise primarily follows a young Viking named Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, voiced by Jay Baruchel, who eventually becomes a dragon expert alongside his trusty companion Toothless, a rare Night Fury dragon.

How to Train Your Dragon has been one of DreamWorks Animation’s strongest and most reliable properties. The first film, which was co-directed by Chris Sanders, grossed nearly $500 million globally after its release in 2010, spawning two sequels – 2014’s How to Train Your Dragon 2 and 2019’s How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. All three movies received critical acclaim, and were each nominated for that year’s Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

A TV series, DreamWorks Dragons, aired on Cartoon Network from 2012 to 2014 before moving to Netflix under a new subtitle, Race to the Edge, in 2015, where it would run for six more seasons. Universal also partnered with Netflix for two other related TV shows: DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders and the currently airing DreamWorks Dragons: The Nine Realms.

Prior to taking on How to Train Your Dragon, DeBlois was best known for writing and directing 2002’s Lilo & Stitch. He’s also credited as story co-head on 1998’s Mulan.

Alex Stedman is a News Editor for IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.

When Super Smash Bros. made its debut in 1999, it was an oddity among the Nintendo 64 library, a clear contrast from its monolithic status as a heavy hitter in the Nintendo pantheon today.

Along with the now iconic N64 commercial promoting the game, Nintendo devised creative ways to get it out to its audience. That effort included a bizarre yet amusing real-life slug fest with fighters wearing Nintendo costumes called SlamFest ’99. And now, some sleuths on Reddit have uncovered high-quality photos of the event, showcasing how this early, high-concept gaming event went down.

A legendary event

The event itself has been something of a legend in online gaming communities. Vice previously reported on efforts from communities trying to find media back in 2020, but not much has come from it. Once referred to as the “melee of the millennium” on the original site (which is now lost to time), this IRL Super Smash Bros. exhibition went down in Las Vegas at the beginning of 1999 in front of a live audience.

During the event, the fighters in Nintendo costumes would duke it out, with the referee determining which of the characters from the Smash Bros. lineup had the upper hand. Looking at it in retrospect, the event itself has pioneered many of the familiar convention or geek-centric spectacle events that are common today. Not only did it feature some fairly high-end cosplay for Pikachu, Mario, Yoshi, and Donkey Kong — the very same ones from the famous N64 commercial — it was also broadcast on the internet for fans to watch online.

Despite the spectacle, much of the footage for this event has yet to be recovered — something that’s common for content from the early days of the internet. However, content creators and Redditors still need to try to seek out photos or even a recording of the event. In recent years, GameXplain creator Andre Segers called for fans to find any photos or video of the showcase, which have led to some good finds. In addition to interviewing Ed Espinoza, one of the key producers behind Slamfest ’99, some Redditors have uncovered anecdotes and some stories heard about the exhibition.

Does anyone else remember the real-life Smash Bros battle (using the same costumes) that Nintendo live-streamed to promote the game? (Yep! a live stream in ’99!) I’ve never heard anyone else mention it and I can find zero evidence of it ever existing online. https://t.co/vR8gkTv3yY

— André (@AndreSegers) May 11, 2020

A new treasure trove of photos

Recently, Reddit user bozo_ssb posted a treasure trove of photos showcasing the event and what happened behind the curtain. These photos were taken by Ed Espinoza while working at the event. It is an exciting find, which showed off the growing scale of gaming events and how video games were becoming increasingly more mainstream. The photos from this SlamFest ’99 event are also an excellent time capsule from 1999. Video games, and the rest of the world, have changed a lot in the years since.

It’s fun to look back on where gaming events used to be. Hopefully, some more folks will step forward with actual footage of the event; I think any respectable Smash Bros fan would want to see footage of a real-life Pikachu make awkward swipes at Donkey Kong.

Thumbnail credit: Ed Espinoza
Alessandro Fillari is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram @afillari.

IGN Fan Fest is back for another special celebration of exclusives across your favorite games, comics and entertainment!

What is IGN Fan Fest?

Fan Fest is an event where fans from all over the world come together to celebrate their most anticipated movies, TV shows, and games. IGN Fan Fest returns following the success of last year’s show, which included special announcements and previews from Spider-Man: No Way Home, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the Halo TV series and so much more.

What to Expect at 2023 Fan Fest

From Redfall to John Wick: Chapter 4, we’re excited to bring you exclusive new looks, sneak peeks, and interviews from the games, movies, and shows you love. We’ll showcase exclusive preview content starting Monday, February 13 before the livestream begins on Friday.

What’s more, we’ll be hosting giveaways and freebies during, including giving away an average of 1 free game code per minute* during the streams on February 17 and 18. You can expect codes for Street Fighter V, Resident Evil Village, and many more. Lastly, the IGN Store is also hosting 3 deals for Fan Fest this week only, so be sure to check those out too! Be sure to browse the new IGN Fan Fest 2023 collection.

TL;DR

• Feb. 10: Full Fan Fest 2023 schedule dropped
• Feb. 13: Exclusive preview content starts, and limited-time IGN Store Fan Fest Deals launched!
• Feb. 17: Day 1 stream begins at 10am PT
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These days video games have gotten so complex, expensive, and time-consuming to develop that it’s apparently not worth the trouble of churning them out to coincide with every major movie release or hit TV show. While fully-fledged video game adaptations used to be commonplace for every major genre blockbuster, you’re now more likely to see some cosmetic DLC in an existing game like Fortnite. Meanwhile, few savvy licensors have taken a wildly groundbreaking approach with games based on their intellectual property: quality over quantity. Controversy aside, Hogwarts Legacy is the latest game to transcend “licensed game,” instead being received as a Very Good Video Game (…that just happens to be based on a licensed property.)

That said, if you don’t care about Harry Potter, your mileage with Hogwarts Legacy may vary. The same is true of Marvel, DC, Star Wars, et cetera, and if you flat-out hate what a game is about, it doesn’t matter how it plays. Conversely, die-hard fans may have higher expectations for games based on something they love, setting them up for disappointment.

Mostly though, what a licensed game is based on is what gets our attention in the first place, and our appreciation for the source material will allow us to overlook shortcomings that might otherwise be deal breakers. Here are a few licensed games that hold special spaces in the Beyond team’s hearts for better (or worse.)

Spider-Man 3 – Jada

Let me preface this with saying I love Spider-Man. It was one of my first comics and I’ve owned nearly every game at some point or another. Thankfully Spidey’s games have been more good than bad, unlike some other heroes, but that just wasn’t the case with Spider-Man 3, the official video game tie-in for the 2007 movie. Spider-Man 3 was a game many of us were seriously hyped for. We’d just gotten Spider-Man 2, one of the best Spider-Man games ever made, and with the addition of the symbiote suit, our expectations were justifiably high.

Now keep in mind this was 2007: the PS3 had launched roughly six months before Spider-Man 3 released and there were a few good games, but outside of Resistance: Fall of Man and Genji: Days of the Blade, there wasn’t really much in the way of good action or FPS games. I knew it was a risk seeing as how most movie tie-in games were laughably bad, but it didn’t stop me and countless others from shelling out our hard-earned cash for our favorite friendly neighborhood Spider-Man because the last one we got just three years earlier was so good. How could they screw this up?

I really wanted to like Spider-Man 3, so I gave it the college try (fitting since I was in college at the time), but it just didn’t really give anything back but disappointment. It was a step up from its predecessor in a few areas, like exploration, which benefited from the addition of subways and sewers, but for the most part it was underwhelming at best. The game’s bugs proved to be as much of a threat to the web-slinger as the boss battles, which were slow and uninteresting. Combat seemed to have taken a step backward, and the side quests ranged from barely passable to ‘I’m turning this off and going to bed’.

I did get around to finishing it eventually but it definitely made me pause before picking up future licensed games, so if nothing else Spider-Man 3 saved me from instantly buying more of those. Insomniac’s 2018 Spider-Man game proved the studio knows what they’re doing, and I have faith in the sequel – but if they announce another after that, you’ll have to forgive me if the words “Spider-Man 3” put my spidey-sense on edge.

Star Wars Super Bombad Racing – Josh

What even is a bombad? According to the Star Wars wiki, it’s a Gungan word that means ‘superior.’ So in essence, the title of this Mario Kart-clone is ‘Super Superior Racing,’ a title befitting one of the first video games I ever owned and sunk meaningful hours into.

The Phantom Menace was released right around the time I first started playing video games. And look, I’m not saying that either the movie or this game are good, but as a young kid looking to spend allowance money on media franchise products, there wasn’t much else.

In Star Wars: Super Superior Racing, you could play as bobble-head versions of all your favorite TPM characters in their own matching hovercraft-karts, slinging rockets and lightning at each other with randomized items. Was it better than Mario Kart? No. Was it as good as Mario Kart? No. Was I good at the game? Hell no. But I still sunk hours into it because it wasn’t a game that lived in its own universe.

The characters were all ones I recognized from the film (even Sebulba), and the race tracks were all locations in the Star Wars universe. And if I’m being honest, I probably would have never known the names of these planets were it not for this game. And while it was true that Mario Kart also is based on pre-existing Nintendo iconography, they were all still from Nintendo games; there was no multimedia crossover.

And that’s the magic of licensed video games. Even if you don’t really like the game, you’re going to enjoy it as a fan of the franchise since you’re consuming it in a new form. For me and SW:SBR, the experience was all more enriching since I wasn’t playing this game in a vacuum, and being introduced to gaming and Star Wars with this game was probably the reason I’m both a Bombad Star Wars and video game fan today.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro-Am – Akeem

This is a golf simulator disguised as an action-adventure game, beneath the cloak of a kart racer based on the Adult Swim show Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and was something that caught my attention when I was younger solely based on the name. Released on PlayStation 2 back in 2007, it’s just as quirky and weird as the animated series it was based on, combining various genres into one oddly entertaining package (if you’re a fan of the television series of course).

The entire voice cast reprised their roles for the game, which made traversing the game’s nine holes of golfing goodness all the more fun. It was as if you were playing an episode of the show, with quips from Master Shake, Frylock, Meatwad and other colorful characters from Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

Obviously it wasn’t really a crowning achievement for the PS2, with mediocre graphics and a play time of around 4-8 hours, but the fact it took these wacky characters and delivered a rather unique experience, much like Adult Swim itself, was enough. IGN gave it a 5 back in the day, but that didn’t stop me from buying it! I was ‘Sofa King’ excited to cue this one up and hit the golf course. It was my introduction to both golfing games and ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt, and sadly my only experience with either since. Just goes to show you the power of licensing – it can make you play something you otherwise might avoid.

Indiana Jones and The Fate of Atlantis – Max

When you’re a kid there’s no right or wrong way to get into a piece of pop-culture. Nobody accuses a six-year-old of being a fake Batman fan because their introduction to the character was a Batman pool toy or a pair of Batman pajamas rather than a copy of Year One or a Christopher Nolan movie.

I don’t remember if I’d seen the Indiana Jones movies the first time I played Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, the now-classic 1992 adventure game. I recall enjoying the movies when my mom rented them from the video store, but it wasn’t until I played the game that I really appreciated Indiana Jones as a character. If anything, it made me want to rent the movies all over again.

Fate of Atlantis, if you’re unfamiliar, is from the golden age of Lucasarts’ point-and-click adventure games. It’s got the same basic mechanics as Monkey Island and Day of the Tentacle, except it’s about Indiana Jones. As the name suggests, Fate of Atlantis centers around the search for the mysterious lost continent. Indy and his psychic companion Sophia Hapgood bounce around in search of clues, solving puzzles, and outwitting Nazis. One of the more ambitious things about it is its branching narrative; depending on choices made early on, the player is sent down one of three paths (wits, fists or team) that each feature completely unique challenges tailored to different playstyles. It might lack Harrison Ford and the music of John Williams, but it features an extremely passable Ford impression courtesy of Doug Lee and some charmingly faithful MIDI covers of the Indy score.

To a kid in the mid-’90s, some movies from the 1980s that take place before World War II might as well have been released in the 1930s. A game that came on a CD-ROM, on the other hand, was obviously a modern thing. At the time, the Indiana Jones franchise was barely a decade old, but Indy was nowhere to be found in the action figure aisle or in Saturday morning cartoon form, which made the archeologist seem completely archaic. Ironically, Bugs Bunny and Batman, characters who actually did date back to F.D.R.’s presidency, were everywhere. Like, you’d turn on MTV and they’d be there in Seal and R. Kelly videos. The ’90s were wild.

Anyway, the lack of any playground buzz surrounding Indiana Jones made The Fate of Atlantis seem like some forgotten relic I’d unearthed. It didn’t hurt that I had it for Mac, which usually got snubbed in the games department compared to my friends’ PCs.

As luck would have it, my fond feelings for this old game aren’t just a case of rose-colored glasses and fanboy nostalgia: in a lot of ways, Fate of Atlantis is the lost fourth Indiana Jones movie. It was directed by Hal Barwood, a contemporary of Lucas and Spielberg who’d been working with both directors since THX-1138 and Jaws respectively. He’d decided to try his hand at game development and after successfully translating The Last Crusade into a point-and-click adventure, Lucasarts let him tackle something original. The original plan was to adapt an unused Chris Columbus screenplay for a fourth Indy movie into a game, but Barwood scrapped that and we got The Fate of Atlantis instead.

The ‘licensed games’ developed by Lucasarts have always had a leg up, considering the licenses are basically in-house, and Lucasfilm started funneling money into game development long before most major movie studios considered games to be anything more than another merchandising arm.

By the time Kingdom of the Crystal Skull dropped into theaters with all the grace of an antique refrigerator, I’d gotten used to being underwhelmed by new additions to beloved Lucasfilm movie trilogies, but I ultimately walked away unfazed. After all, I’d already gotten a phenomenal fourth Indy movie. It just happened to be a computer game. The jury’s out on Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny but no matter how it turns out, just thinking about it has me itching to replay Fate of Atlantis. So, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some Orichalcum beads to collect.