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The Oscars are always a little frustrating. At every step of the process — from shortlisting to nominating to handing out the awards themselves — the Academy makes a few good choices but counterbalances them with others that are so infuriatingly bad it tanks much of the goodwill those good picks first generated. The Academy Is Its Own Worst Enemy Take 2023 for example, when Anatomy of a Fall — which would go on to be nominated for Best Picture and win Best Original Screenplay — missed out on even being shortlisted for Best International Feature because that list is determined by what the country of origin decides to submit, and France snubbed it....

Summary Yesterday was a pretty big day for game announcements.Microsofthosted its latest developer direct, revealingNinja Gaiden 4andshadow-dropping Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, plus sharing more information onSouth of Midnight,Doom: The Dark Ages, andClair Obscur: Expedition 33. One game that almost definitely slipped under your radar, though, is The Bench, which looks like the next viral hit, somewhere betweenThe WitnessandUntitled Goose Game. The Bench Is Untitled Goose Game With Pigeons, And The Witness Looking Puzzles Untitled Goose Game is one of the most viral indies of the last few years....

I love New York Times’ games. I play theWordle,Connections, andStrandsevery weekday, on my Pomodoro Method-assigned five minute breaks between writing sessions. It is a part of my daily routine, something I look forward to during my work day. I love my daily minigame time, but not enough to throw other workers under the bus. And crossing this picket line can be easily avoided. If you also want to avoid NYT’s games in solidarity as long as the strike continues, I have some alternatives that might end up replacing them in your routine entirely....

Summary Known for its complex stories and choices, the characters in the Life Is Strange series always reflect the same amount of intrigue and mystery. InLife Is Strange: Double Exposure, Max spends a lot of time interacting with the other characters, whether it’s just to chat or to learn information. Some of these characters will serve as love interests and friends, while others will be antagonists and road blocks. Regardless of their role in the plot, each character offers something unique to the game, and some are certainly better than others....

Quick Links Fortnite Ballisticis Epic Games' entry into the tactical shooter genre. Like every other tactical shooter, players are required to have the best settings to stay on top of the leaderboard. To stay ahead of the curve, having the smoothest frame rate is crucial, but you’ll still want good visuals. We’ve compiled this guide with the best settings to optimize Fortnite Ballistic and put you a step ahead of others....

Summary From manipulating time to controlling the elements, countless powerful anime characters have graced our screens over the years. Among the powers that have been portrayed, mind control is perhaps one of the strongest to have. Some of the characters on this list have used their ability to control minds for good, while others are much more sinister in their intentions. Whether they’re amassing an army, causing worldwide havoc or saving others from harm, they have mastered the art of controlling others - for better or worse....

Avatar: The Last Airbenderis a well-loved show that’s known for its excellent world-building, respectful nods to Asian cultures, and, most of all, the best story arcs of any kid’s cartoon. Supported by its memorable cast of characters, the show’s narrative sequences handle themes of grief, loss, friendship, and trust in a very mature and compelling way. Although the show doesn’t have a definitive name for its story arcs, we’ve decided to shine a spotlight on some of the best they have to offer....

Summary Silent protagonists have been commonplace in video games for decades, however, there are fewer who have been quieter than Link. In almost 30 years, Link hasn’t said a single word (kind of, more on that later). That almost changed inThe Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdomas the team behind the latest game in the long-running series revealed they originally intended on having Link speak in the game. Echoes Of Wisdom already broke the series' mold by having Zelda lead the way in her attempts to save Link rather than the other way around....

Animeoften presents characters initially seen as villains, only for their stories to reveal how wrong our opinions were about them. These characters may seem cold and cruel initially, but as we learn more about their backstories, they become far more complex. Whether it’s a tragic one, a misunderstood motive, or being judged too quickly, these characters challenge our perceptions and make us reconsider what it truly means to be a hero or a villain....

The Special Limited Set in theDigimon Card Gameis a first time product for the wonderful Digital Monsters game. The set features new cards that generically support every color, like the powerful Scrambles, reprints of powerhouse cards like DeathXmon and ShineGreymon: Ruin Mode, and some Regional-exclusive cards from Event Pack 7. The best part about the set is that you have at least two of the Scramble cards for your collection by simply buying a box, making the set quite on the budget side....

Godzillais still going strong and has come a long way from being a guy in a heavy suit destroying model cities. There was a simple charm to that monster movie style, but there’s lots to like about some of the more modern Godzilla films. We just want to see monsters fight, and if there’s an interesting story around that happening, that’s just a bonus. Still, Godzilla has always been extremely popular in terms of merchandise, with Godzilla toys of all kinds popping up at official auctions and garage sales....

Summary Who are the smartest characters inAnime? With so many different shows, from psychological thrillers to the greatest shonen anime, there are always prodigies made to excel in their world. While at times they use this knowledge for the good of others, there are times when they use it to go after their own personal desires. Which anime characters are at the top of their game at all times? From detectives trapped in their childhood bodies to scientists that attempt to reshape the world as we know it, these are eight of the smartest anime characters ever introduced....

Summary With live-action adaptations of Uncharted, The Last of Us, and Twisted Metal already seeing success, Sony and PlayStation have addedHelldivers 2to their list of upcoming game-to-film adaptations,as announced at CES 2025. Nominated for numerous awards in 2024, Helldivers 2 became a breakout multiplayer hit that blends fun sci-fi action adventure and hilarious political satire. Helldivers 2 is indeed one of the best sci-fi games out on PS5and it’s only continued to rise in popularity after Omens of Tyranny and the Killzone crossover....