At Darren's World of Entertainment

Thursday, 22 February 2018

Goodbye Christopher Robin: DVD Review

Very much a warts and all portrayal of one of the world's most famous children's icons, Goodbye Christopher Robin is a cautionary tale about the damage done to others by fame and neglect.

With a strong anti-war message, Goodbye Christopher Robin is the story of the playwright A A Milne (Gleeson, sombre and at times, drawn) whose London arty life is irrevocably changed when he returns from the first Great War.

Shell-shocked and sleep-walking through life, Milne, along with his flapper wife Daphne (Robbie in chocks away mode) relocate to the English countryside after their first child is born.

Milne believes the countryside will inspire his anti-war writing, but Daphne, disappointed at birthing a boy rather than a girl and fearing he will be conscripted, stays in London to party and forget the perils.

Left alone with Christopher Robin and forced to take on the kid when nanny Olive (Macdonald, the film's heart and vocal conscience) has to look after her ill mother, the pair bond as young Christopher helps him through post-war life and yearns for a father.

As the duo spend more time together, the whimsical world of Winnie The Pooh is born - and despite AA Milne saying the story would be for his son, it soon becomes a worldwide phenomenon, leading to an even stronger sense of estrangement in the Milne family.

Served with a large degree of as much sugariness as Pooh's beloved honey, Goodbye Christopher Robin comes dangerously close to over-egging the pudding at times, with the mawkish manipulation being piled on to occasionally over-bearing moments.

With the saccharine overdose being largely confined to the dimple-faced moppet playing young Christopher Robin and his fatherly interactions, there's little insight into what fully led to the bear's creation other than some downpat broad brush strokes applied to the stiffly-starched English accents and rather withdrawn adult acting.

And yet, bizarrely and equally so, the sense of detachment and the underlying sadness of lives wrecked within (Milne's PTSD haunts him at every turn, wife Daphne's denial pushes her to seek solace in London away from the boy she could lose and son Christopher's growing resentment over the fame he's handed and the lack of familial attachment) really hint at the dark story underneath it all.

This is perhaps Goodbye Christopher Robin's strength - it's not a film that celebrates an icon in many ways.

If anything, it shows a deeply tragic personal correlation between fame and its cost.

Pre-reality shows and post war with England aching for a return to more optimistic times, this is a harrowing introspective look at the trappings and perils of the creative world.

It puts a uniquely human spin (albeit occasionally laden with a spoon rather than a dollop) on proceedings and deserves to be saluted so.

Perhaps if some of the sentiment hadn't been ladelled on with such heft, this immensely thoughtful biopic could have been intensely more emotionally satisfying.

Wednesday, 21 February 2018

Game Night: Film Review

Cast: Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Kyle Chandler, Jesse Plemons, Sharon Horgan, Billy Magnussen, Kylie Bunbury, Lamorne Morris
Director: John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein

Mixing irreverence with edges of drama and wrapping it up in a kookiness grants Game Night a feel of crackling edginess for a comedy.

Tapping into the ennui that affects the middle class and using Bateman's usual laconic deadpan ways, it's the story of Max and Annie (Bateman, McAdams) a normal suburban couple who like to gather their friends together for a regular weekly game night.

But Max's competitive and always wants to win (as shown in a charming montage early on) - however, he finds against a backdrop of fertility struggles, that his competitive edge is further enraged and engaged when his brother Brooks (Friday Night Lights' Kyle Chandler) comes to town.
Brooks sets a game night down for them, but decides it'll be a murder mystery with one of their number being kidnapped.

However, it soon turns out that the planned Game Night wasn't what was on the cards - and a fight for survival begins...

Game Night is fresh, spiky and genuinely funny in parts.

Even if its denouement packs too many twists for general consumption and tries to be a bit cleverer than it actually is, its general desire to subvert expectations is a welcome one.

Sure, the usual messages are there - about being open with partners, honest with friends etc, but the hugging and learning portion feels earned in the final furlong - and amuses rather than overtly preaches.

It's nice to see McAdams cut loose a little and have some fun, and Catastrophe's Horganmakes an impressive big film debut , but this is, without a doubt, Plemons' film.

As the sadsack former member of the group and creepy divorced neighbour, this security guard is a delight as the cameras hang on his words and actions perhaps a little too long so as to make things uncomfortable and uncertain.

Daley and Goldstein's eyes behind the camera proffer up some interesting shots too - from high-in-the-sky shots which make the sets look like board games to fixed cameras in chases, the film's freshness leaps from the screen too.

Ultimately, the crackling Game Night may have edges of Funny Game and some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments, but its quirky irreverence towards the buddy dynamic and mixing up of various genres means it proves to be a winner for a refreshing night out and proves to be a game winner.

David Duchovny live - Photos

Here are some shots from David Duchovny live at Auckland's PowerStation on February 20th, 2018 as he toured New Zealand for the first time.

Final Portrait: DVD Review

A sort of Waiting for Godot piece about a man getting a portrait painted by a master, Final Portrait requires a bit of patience and a lot of goodwill to see it through.

Hammer plays James Lord, who's been asked by Geoffrey Rush's Swiss painter and sculptor Alberto Giacometti if he can paint his portrait in 1964 Paris. Flattered by the offer and on holiday in France, Lord agrees expecting it to be a few days at most.

However, Giacometti's eccentric style and the fact he's distracted by muse and prostitute Caroline (Poesy) means nothing goes according to plan.

Final Portrait may appeal to those who appreciate the artist and what they go through, but with an occasionally stultifying pace, it's punishing at times for those expecting anything other than sedate.

Thankfully, both Hammer and Rush inhabit their characters well and while Hammer's Lord is a little prim and proper, he eventually gives way to some cracks later on in the film and you see his patience crumble.

More impressive is Rush who makes his eccentric maestro frustratingly approachable and a character worth watching. Gradual tics and dismissive doubts plague Giacometti and it's intriguing to watch it unspool, even if it is punishing to bear at times.

Ultimately, while Tucci's eye for the arts leads to some bizarre directorial choices (jerky cam movements seem at odds with the subject matter), his desire to present the artist and their method of work is actually canny in places.

Final Portrait isn't one for everyone, and while it's a frustrating experience at times thanks to its real depth of character study, those who appreciate the arts may appreciate some of the insights on show here.

Tuesday, 20 February 2018

Fifty Shades Freed: Film Review

Cast: Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson
Director: James Foley

Let's be honest, nobody expects Oscar-calibre material from this mommy-porn book series.

And nobody really expects a critic's view of the film to quash the series that's galvanised female audiences and raked millions in here and abroad.

It is fair to say that the series' capper Fifty Shades Freed is perhaps not the film for fans of the franchise or for drama given how lacklustre and terrifically dull it plays out on screen.

At the end of Fifty Shades Darker, sub Ana Steele (played by Johnson, who finds the humour and humanity in some of her delivery) was betrothed to marry dom Christian Grey (Dornan, whose sole direction appears to be to act wooden throughout).

Fifty Shades Freed picks up the story, and rather than delivering a spanking capper to the franchise, it follows Christian and Ana's push-and-pull relationship as Ana tests the boundaries of marriage and Grey's expectations - while throwing in a laughable stalker plot and mountains of product placement.

Whereas the earlier films had a commitment to the central relationship, the problem with Fifty Shades Freed is its attempts to wrangle out conflict where there's little, drama that's underwhelming and has potential squandered and someone trying to jam all the narrative elements together with the skill of a 3-year-old trying to smash a jigsaw complete.

Things happen, then mesh into a highly choreographed music-driven sex scene, before morphing out into the wider story without any signs of cinematic finesse.

It doesn't help that in many ways, Fifty Shades Freed becomes a different tale of white privilege in the MeToo world. Most of the squabbles and in particular Christian's reaction to them seem petty and selfish. These are the personifications of first world problems in many ways.

Granted, this is supposed to be some kind of character arc for Mr Grey, but unfortunately, through Foley's lack of direction, Dornan's acting is wooden in extremis. What emerges is a problem that's dogged Christian's portrayal throughout the series.

By contrast, Johnson's Ana finds the humanity in her character, and as with previous films, brings it to the fore. She's been the star of this series and has risen above some of the more risible dialogue thrust upon her.

Ultimately, Fifty Shades Freed is a fizzer.

Complete with some unsexy sex scenes that perpetuate the male gaze (there's a constant surprise there's little equality here), sub-lots that drift and resolve without any tension, copious product placement and a lack of any real drama, Fifty Shades Freed is a limp flaccid end to the series.

Thankfully though, audiences have finally been freed of the shackles of this series.

Win a double pass to see Winchester

Win a double pass to see Winchester

Ensconced in her sprawling California mansion, eccentric firearm heiress Sarah Winchester believes she is haunted by the souls of people killed by the Winchester repeating rifle.

Starring Helen Mirren, Winchester is in cinemas March 1st.

Monday, 19 February 2018

Doctor Who: Complete Series 10: Blu Ray Review

Released by Roadshow Home Entertainment
Rating: G

Pulling together Peter Capaldi's final season as the Doctor and Pearl Mackie's debut as his plucky companion, Bill, the complete series 10 of the BBC show is a mixed bag that gets some things right and others not so much.

As usual, it's elements of the story-telling which hold Who back, but then given such an equal footing of actors in the first half of the episodes, including the return of Matt Lucas as Nardole, there's a great reason to engage with the show.

Mackie impresses as Bill, a naturally curious companion, but no slouch in the emotional and intellectual fronts either. Mackie certainly owns the screen within moments and Steven Moffat's writing helps solidify it all very early on.

But it's Capaldi's work which also helps the latest run - a genuine vein of sadness persists in the Doctor's being grounded on Earth and charging with looking after a vault with a mysterious entity housed within.

It's in the final episodes that this season finds its feet, wrapping back to the menace of the past and also cleverly segueing into the very first regeneration. Delivering one hell of a personal cliffhanger in episode 11 ups the ante and while writer Moffat falls back on his usual retcon lazy ways, there's a real feeling of danger that's been lacking through the season.

It helps that both Capaldi and Pearl Mackie as companion Bill have brought their A game to this series - the acting's been sensational even when the scripts have been as wobbly as the sets from back in the 1970s of the show.

Sunday, 18 February 2018

Happy End: Film Review

Michael Haneke returns to the festival circuit with something purporting to be lighter fare than his usual, but still with some of his usual concerns.

Centring on a construction dynasty and their gradual unravelling, a truly stellar cast taking on various roles as the Laurent family.

When the company's rocked by the ground giving way at a venue (an allegory much to be applied to the family itself), the various pressures on the Laurent clan become apparent. Combined with a suicide attempt from a family member and a patriarch determined to go on his terms, there's a lot to deal with for them all...

Happy End may be a comedy, but it seems to have forgone the laughs for something a little bleaker.

It's really only in its last 10 minutes that the humour seems to come to the fore and the film adds a few lighter touches. Described as a satire on bourgeois values, Happy End is a little lacking and frankly, in places, a touch dull as things happen off screen which are supposed to be of emotional consequence and leave you frustrated at what to cling on to.

With swathes of time devoted to a chatroom conversation in its full pixel glory, there are times when Happy End can sorely try your patience.

Where it not for Isabelle Huppert's calm composure, Toby Jones' presence and a searing turn from a young newcomer Fantine Harduin as a child entered into the dynasty, this would be sorely close to walk-out territory.

Haneke may be playing with some familiar themes of suicide and euthanasia, and there are some moments blessed by a scion of precision dialogue, but Happy End's wide varying eye means that it rarely feels like it settles on one subject for long enough for you to emotionally engage with.

Watch Extinction's New Action-Packed Features Trailer | Iron Galaxy and Modus Games Highlight Story, Combat and Gameplay

Watch Extinction’s New Action-Packed Features Trailer

Iron Galaxy and Modus Games Highlight Story, Combat and Gameplay

Sydney, Australia – February 16, 2017 — Overnight, the hard-working developers at Iron Galaxy and Modus Games published a new video showcasing much of whatExtinction has to offer players when it launches on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and PC on April 10, 2018.

Story and Features

The world of Extinction has always been at war with itself. When a giant portal opens in the land of Dolorum, the massive threats only spoken of in children’s fairy tales suddenly come to life. Our hero in this story is named Avil, a new trainee inducted into an ancient order known as the Sentinels, dedicated to preserving the knowledge of the monstrous threats called Ravenii – and the techniques to eliminate them. Unfortunately, the Sentinel order has degraded over the years and Avil is now the last hope for humanity.

Skill-Based Combat

Known for their work on fighting games, Iron Galaxy has applied their expertise to the action-adventure genre. Avil has a wide variety of skills and attacks he can execute on the horde of minions trailing in the wake of each Ravenii. Players can cancel into almost any attack they want at any time, switching seamlessly between single strikes, sweeping area of effect (AOE) attacks, knocking enemies into the sky for an aerial combo, and more.

Defending Dolorum

Avil’s key to permanently eliminating the Ravenii is the Rune Strike. This wicked attack can be used to dismember the massive ogres, and can be further powered up by saving people, killing Jackals, destroying Ravenii armour, dismembering the Ravenii themselves, and accomplishing objectives within each mission. One fell swoop is all Avil needs to stop a Ravenii, but these giant beasts won’t make it easy.

Gameplay and Strategy

All of the options Avil has when traveling through the city, he can also use on Ravenii, such as running vertically up a surface or using his whip to grapple to new heights. There are many types of Ravenii, each with their own attacks, armor and weapon combinations, and behaviors. Avil will need to overcome the challenge of climbing up the massive monsters, removing their armor, avoiding spikes and other obstacles that might hurt him, while also dodging the giant’s attacks long enough to perform a devastating Rune Strike and decapitate the Ravenii. Prioritizing competing objectives with the threat of civilians dying and towns being destroyed is what will truly test the skills of the player.

Extinction will launch on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and PC on April 10, 2018 and is available to pre-order now!

For more information:

Head to Extinction.com
Like the Facebook page
Follow along on Twitter
Watch the previous videos on YouTube

Secret of Mana Out Now & Launch Trailer

EXPERIENCE THE ENCHANTING ADVENTURE OF

SECRET OF MANA NOW

Complete Remake of Classic Game Now Available for PlayStation®4, PlayStation®Vita and STEAM

Square Enix Ltd., today invites players to discover the beloved magical adventures of Randi, Primm and Popoi in Secret of Mana®, the highly-praised entry in the respected Mana series, which is now available for the PlayStation®4, PlayStation®Vita and STEAM.

Originally released in 1993, Secret of Mana is a total remake of the original title, bringing the complete experience of the legendary adventure to modern audiences. Along with the classic, magical story and fun single player and offline multiplayer action, additional new features are included, such as:

Brand-New Presentation – a total 3D graphical overhaul and brand-new voice-overs bring the characters to life in new and exciting ways, while retaining the charm and personality of their original appearances.
Rearranged Soundtrack – at any time players can switch between the original soundtrack and a brand-new rearranged score, including a new orchestral arrangement of the much-loved ‘Fear of the Heavens’.
New Interlude Episodes– building upon the charm of the original, new /narrative scenes help enhance the story’s presentation and provide extra insight into the magical Mana-filled world.
Gameplay Adjustments – play the definitive version of the classic game, with new features and systems in place to update the game for players on modern hardware.

Secret of Mana is now available physically at select Australasian retailers for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, and digitally for PlayStation®4, PlayStation®Vita and STEAM. For more information visit: www.SecretofManaGame.com.

Saturday, 17 February 2018

The Party: Film Review

Cast: Patricia Carkson, Bruno Ganz, Cherry Jones, Emily Mortimer, Cillian Murphy, Kristin Scott Thomas, Timothy Spall
Director: Sally Potter

Continuing the British desire to only unburden repressed feelings in social gatherings, Sally Potter's The Party builds a fragile house of cards at a soirée, only to consequently scatter the deck without any food being served.

Opening with a 'how did they get here?' moment, the black and white melodrama plays out with some acidic aplomb by the troupe of players.

All gathered to celebrate Kristin Scott Thomas' Janet's ascension to ministry and politics, a group of fractured and apparently fragile friends begin to unravel in only the delicious way the Brits know how.

As the group comes together, Timothy Spall's Bill sits solo in the front room, hunched and haunted on a chair, with a wine glass in one hand, and with a near catatonic look on his face. But as the night goes on, everyone comes under scrutiny in some form or other.

Like a scab being ripped off or an itch incessantly being scratched, The Party's thrills come from the unexpected turn of events and the inevitably entangled revelations.

Perhaps it teeters perilously towards the end with disbelief, but Potter's black and white film crackles with dry acidity and typical scorn throughout, all topped off with a deliciously dark dry tragedy languishing within. It's fraught with spoilers to unveil what transpires within, but needless to say the troupe of players from Spall's distanced Bill, Thomas' haughty and yet easy to humble Janet, Patricia Clarkson's acidic April to Cillian Murphy's on edge Tom, all delivering in spades.

It helps the script is laced with one-liners and withering moments, as the sourness of the situation becomes more evident. In many ways, the film feels like a play with its whirling deliciousness on words and desire to ratchet up the moments to near contrived, but in Potter's hand, the curt run time feels just about right; any more would over-egg this pudding and any further reveals would push this dangerously close to cliche.

The Party's power lies in the picking over of the relationships and the unbinding of those ties; it's thanks to all involved that the polish and sheen comes tumbling from the screen; in black and white and close up, every detail is nuanced; from Spall's heavily white flecked beard to Murphy's drug-induced sweats, Potter's camera captures every subtlety.

This is most definitely one party to RSVP to

Overwatch Free Weekend Kicks Off 17-20 February

Overwatch Free Weekend Kicks Off 17-20 February

Hi,

Attention, recruits! If you haven't already had the opportunity to suit up and save the world as one of the heroes of Overwatch, now's your chance!

From 17-20 February AEDT/NZDT, we're calling on all prospective agents: assemble your teams and dive in during the Overwatch Free Weekend on PC, PlayStation 4, or Xbox One.

During this free weekend, we're making Overwatch's full roster of 26 heroes and 17 maps available for play in a variety of modes, including Quick Play, Custom Games, and the Arcade. Players will also have the ability to level up, earn loot boxes, and unlock a variety of different customisation options.

If players decide to purchase Overwatch after test driving the game, they’ll get to keep any progress made during the weekend—as long as they use the same Blizzard, Xbox Live, or Sony Entertainment account that they played on.

To learn more, please visit: https://playoverwatch.com/en-us/blog/21508380

Friday, 16 February 2018

The Evil Within 2 | First-Person Mode Now Available

Get closer to the nightmare than ever before in The Evil Within 2.

If the horrific world and hideous creatures weren’t terrifying enough already, the entirety of the game can now be played in first-person on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, thanks to the latest free update.

If you already have The Evil Within 2, changing to first-person is as simple as flipping a switch in the menu. You’ll be able to change this at any point, so you can experience the game however you like.

If you haven’t had a chance to check out The Evil Within 2 and want to try it out, you can download the Free Trial and play through the opening chapters of the game including the new first-person mode. All save data will carry over if you choose to upgrade to the full game.

“A lot of players like playing horror games in first-person, so for those who want to see some of the game’s situations through Sebastian’s eyes, it’s a really neat experience,” said Tango Gameworks’ producer, Shinsaku Ohara. “I think exploring Union in first-person makes the scale feel even bigger than it does when you’re in third-person. Also, being able to see our environments and enemies up close allows players to get an even better look at how much effort went into their designs.”

Be sure to check out https://bethesda.net/en/article/5SJjZYbiLYGwMo0G2MwcsC/the-evil-within-2-first-person-mode-now-available for even more details and insights on the new first-person mode from the team at Tango Gameworks!

For more information about the game, visit www.TheEvilWithin.com.

You can also grab all the latest assets on our press site press.bethsoft.com.

The Evil Within 2 is available now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

New Incredibles 2 trailer is here

Disney•Pixar's INCREDIBLES 2
In cinemas June 28
Rating: TBC
Visit: http://disneymovies.co.nz
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaltDisneyStudiosAUNZ
#Incredibles2

In “Incredibles 2,” Helen (voice of Holly Hunter) is called on to lead a campaign to bring Supers back, while Bob (voice of Craig T. Nelson) navigates the day-to-day heroics of “normal” life at home with Violet (voice of Sarah Vowell), Dash (voice of Huck Milner) and baby Jack-Jack—whose superpowers are about to be discovered. Their mission is derailed, however, when a new villain emerges with a brilliant and dangerous plot that threatens everything. But the Parrs don’t shy away from a challenge, especially with Frozone (voice of Samuel L. Jackson) by their side. That’s what makes this family so Incredible. Written and directed by Brad Bird (“Iron Giant,” “The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille”) and produced by John Walker (“The Incredibles,” “Tomorrowland”) and Nicole Grindle (“Sanjay’s Super Team” short, “Toy Story 3” associate producer), Disney•Pixar’s “Incredibles 2” busts into NZ cinemas on June 28, 2018.

Thursday, 15 February 2018

Phantom Thread: Film Review

Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Krieps, Lesley Manville
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

In 1950s post-war London, Paul Thomas Anderson's latest aims to shine with sleek production values, a pitch-perfect soundtrack from Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood and Daniel Day-Lewis' swansong in acting.

And yet, the chilly Phantom Thread fails to emotionally engage the viewer with its tale of control, powerplays and a decidedly uncomfortable central relationship.

Day-Lewis is renowned dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock, a fashion icon, and confirmed bachelor who welcomes women into his life as muses, then discards them when they reach the end of their usefulness.

Escaping to the country after delivering a dress, Woodcock meets waitress Alma (Krieps), whose entrance into his life is marred by a clumsiness that juxtaposes his own precision. Taken with her, Woodcock finds new inspiration in her shape and is consumed with the creative joy a muse brings.

However, Alma is strong-willed and refuses to bend to his more curious edges, setting up a conflict that has ramifications for the Woodcock house and empire.

It's fair to say that Anderson's Phantom Thread has an icy chilliness that some will find engaging, and others will find dis-engaging.

Sumptuously shot, delicately woven, this psychological battle of wills plays out on a frosty background that seems oddly contemporary despite its period setting.

While Day-Lewis' Woodcock is a relatively spiteful enigma, whose insouciance and desire for perfection irritates, Alma's desire to be part of this world and to be the woman who changes the man for the better is a universal theme in all relationship dramas.

Orbiting the pair of them is the Oscar-nominated Lesley Manville, as Cyril, Woodcock's sister and administrative arm of the empire. With relatively little dialogue and the nuance of minor actions throughout, Manville brings a thaw to proceedings as Cyril goes on her own arc.

But it's Krieps who engages the most here - going from doe-eyed would be suitor to woman determined to get her own way (elements of MacBeth and Lady MacBeth's Florence Pugh spring to mind), her character is one that feels like a reaction of the MeToo movement, a woman whose desires won't be thwarted by a creative fragile apparent genius.

And yet, despite the strong performances, Phantom Thread itself remains somewhat of an enigma, a curio of a film that never quite hits any emotional resonance and feels like you, the audience, are watching a game of chess and consequent strategies from afar.

It's a distant piece, and with its meticulous edges, feels a little too crafted for general consumption. It may be sumptuous, but it's never bewitching at the level it should be. Everyone's functioning at the top of their game, and the pieces are there, but the emotional core of where Phantom Thread should be feels hollow and unconnected and uninviting to anything else.

Wednesday, 14 February 2018

PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION 2 PLUS chomping its way to NINTENDO SWITCH on February 22, 2018

PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION 2 PLUS chomping its way to NINTENDO SWITCH on February 22, 2018

22 February 2018

The highly acclaimed PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION series has finally come digitally on Nintendo Switch!

In PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION 2 PLUS, Switch players and PAC-MAN fans alike can experience the reimagined retro series with intense mazes and fast action at home and on the go. This game includes PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION 2, which features a number of gameplay modes including Score Attack mode, Adventure mode and big boss battles, giving players endless opportunity to build on and improve their skills. Beloved ghosts, Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde will be in hot pursuit as PAC-MAN furiously devours Pac Dots and players chase the high score for a coveted spot at the top of the leader boards.

The Nintendo Switch version of PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION 2 PLUS also comes with an exclusive two player co-op mode called PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION 2 PLUS 2P for twice the fun! Team up on a single Nintendo Switch with each player controlling their PAC-MAN character with a single Joy-Con™ across multiple mazes to rack up the highest score possible. Special co-op manoeuvres give this mode a unique spin on traditional PAC-MAN gameplay.

PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION 2 PLUS will be available digitally on Nintendo Switch on February 22, 2018.

Valentine’s Day in GTA Online: The New Vapid Hustler, Valentine’s Discounts, Bonuses and More

To celebrate Valentine’s Day in GTA Online, the new Vapid Hustler Vehicle, a bevy of Double GTA$ & RP Bonuses, and massive Discounts are now available.

In addition to the latest addition to Legendary Motorsport, The Vapid Hustler, select adversary modes will be delivering Double GTA$ & RP bonuses from today until February 19^th, including Till Death Do Us Part, Slasher, Resurrection, Deadline, and Lost Vs. Damned. Additionally, Double GTA$ Bodyguard & Associates Salaries will be available to Organization members.

Till Death Do Us Part: Up to four pairs of star-crossed lovers take part in the ultimate GTA Online quadruple date: each couple has one life between them, so remember to look out for your partner - if they die, so do you.

Slasher: The shotgun-wielding Slasher stalks up to seven Hunted, equipped only with flashlights. After three minutes, the Hunted get shotguns of their own to turn the tables on the Slasher.

Resurrection: Nothing says ‘team building exercise’ like bringing your buddy back into the game by shooting some chump on the other team in the back of the head. But remember that it goes both ways - until you’ve wiped them out completely, they can always come back.

Deadline: Suit up and outmaneuver the enemy while mounted upon a blazingly fast Nagasaki Shotaro. Emitting a devastating beam of light in your wake as you ride through the arena, competitors unfortunate enough to come into contact with your trail meet an immediate and fiery end.

Lost vs. Damned: It’s Angels against Devils in the ultimate battle of the soul. Each match flips between day and night for 60 seconds at a clip, with advantages including regenerated Armor and Health and improved weapon options depending on the time – day for the Angels and night for the Devils.

And share the love this Valentine’s Day with Double GTA$ Bodyguard & Associates Salaries for your Organization members.

DISCOUNTS ON VEHICLES, CLOTHING, WEAPONS, & PROPERTIES

If you missed your chance last year, take advantage of 25% off the Gusenberg Sweeper and add a vintage SMG to your armory. You'll also find sweet deals on love nests in the Vinewood Hills, discounts on classic rides and more through February 19th:

Vehicle Discounts

Albany Roosevelt (Sports Classic) – 25% off
Albany Roosevelt Valor (Sports Classic) – 25% off
HVY Barrage (Military) – 35% off (Buy It Now & Trade Price)
Nagasaki Shotaro (Motorcycle) – 25% off (available for purchase after completing a round of Deadline)
RCV (Emergency) – 35% off (Buy It Now & Trade Price)
Ocelot Stromberg (Sports Classic/Weaponized) – 25% off (Buy It Now & Trade Price)
Nagasaki Buzzard (Attack Helicopter) – 25% off

Dynasty8 Discounts

All 10-car Properties (including High-End Apartments, Garages and Stilt Houses) – 25% off
Executive Offices – 25% off

Clothing and Accessories Discounts

All Valentine's clothing – 25% off
Doomsday Heist Tattoos – 25% off
Smuggler’s Run clothing – 25% off

While your significant other may have little to no regard for your wants and needs, your Executive Assistant is forever loyal. They're also feeling extra generous this Valentine's day with a 25% discount on Executive Assistant Services. And to help you catch the eye of that lucky someone, Benny is offering makeovers at a discount, with 25% off a custom Upgrade at Benny’s Original Motor Works.

GTA$ GIFT COMING SOON

Jump into GTA Online starting Friday, February 16^th to claim a GTA$ award in March. More details coming Friday.

PREMIUM RACE & TIME TRIAL

Premium Race: “Turbine” (Locked to Off-Road)

Turbine is an off-road slalom featuring bracing curves and jumps through the deadly airspace of an industrial wind farm.

Premium Races are your chance to test your skills and race for big cash. Ante up and compete in a Rockstar-created Stunt Race where the top three finishers earn GTA$ and all participants get Triple RP regardless of where they place. Launch Premium Races through the Quick Job App on your in-game phone or via the yellow corona at Legion Square.

Time Trial: “LSIA”

Make a mad dash across the city from Los Santos International Airport to the foothills of Mount Chiliad in LSIA. To take a shot at this Time Trial, set a waypoint to the marker on your in-game map and enter via the purple corona. Beat par time and you'll be duly rewarded with GTA$ & RP.