Star Wars: The Acolyte is about to launch us into a bold new era of live-action Star Wars with an epic two-episode premiere. Although many unanswered questions remain about The Acolyte, we know precisely when and where ?every episode wi?ll air.

When is The Acolyte premiering?

The Acolyte is set to premiere on Disney+ on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET. Of course, these time zones only apply to the continental United States, and the two-episode premiere will happen a day later, on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, in countries li?ke Great Britain.

When will new Acolyte episodes come out?

Like most live-action Star Wars shows, The Acolyte's first season consists of eight episodes. As I mentioned above, the first two episodes ??will premiere back-to-back on Tuesday, June 4. The rest of the episodes will follow a weekly release schedule, with new episodes airing on?e week after another.

Here's the breakdown of The Acoylte's release schedule so you can know exactly when each episode premieres. If ?even a few of the rumors swirling around the series' mysterious villain are even remotely true, The Acolyte will feature some mind-bending twists, so you'll want to be there as soon as the episodes are out if you want to avoi?d spoilers.

What Star Wars shows and movies should you watch before The Acoylte?

The Acolyte is set during the final years of the High Republic era of the Star Wars timeline, which is set a few centuries before the events of Star Wars: Episode 1—The Phantom Menace and depicts the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic at the height of their power. This means you probably won't miss out on anything if you've only watched the mainline Star Wars movies.

If you want to know everything that happened in the High Republic era, we have an excellent reading order guide for the many Star Wars: The High Republic books and comics. It's too early to tell how big of a role forces like the Nihil will play in The Acolyte, but it wouldn't hurt to look into The High Republic series, just in case.

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'Tolerance is Extinction—Part 3' brought the first season of Disney's X-Men '97 to a finale that was as emotional as it was epic. While our titular heroes send Bastion and his army of Prime Sentinels to the scrap heap, the ?rest of the world assumes that Charles Xavier and his students sacrificed themselves to save them.

Of course, this is a Marvel series, and the final moments of X-Men 97's finale reveal that the X-Men are alive. The episode also hints at where the show's already-confirmed second season may be heading. There's a lot to discuss, so let's break down the final episode of X-Men '97 and what its many revelations and cam?eos mea??n for the series' future.

X-Men '97's finale ends one story and begins a few more

To say that things don't look good for the X-Men at the start of 'Tolerance is Extinction—Part 3' is quite an understatement. By the end of the previous episode, a Bastion-possessed Cable ha??d dealt a seemingly fatal blow to Jean Grey, and Xavier was locked in a psychic duel with Magneto, who was trying to send Asteroid M crashing down to Earth.

Thankfully, the tides of battle soon turn in the X-Men's favor. Xavier convinces Magneto to let go of his pain and fight for a better future. At the same time, a Phoenix-Force-empowered Jean slaps a power-dampening collar onto Bastion, cutting the Prime Sentinel threat off at its source. Refusing to accept defeat, Bastion forces Asteroid M to continue its collision course, driving the U.N. to initiate the "Magneto Protocols" and send a wave ??of warheads toward the meteor.

Pulling together as a team, the X-Men fight as one and bring Bastion to his knees, allowing Magneto to stop Asteroid M's descent with his magnetic powers. Unfortunately, Asteroid M explodes, and the X-Men and Magneto are caught in the blast, leaving Juibille, Sunspot, and Forge as the only apparent heirs of Xavier's dream. However, six?? months later, a despondent Forge is approached by the X-Men's time-traveling ally, Bishop, who reveals that the team is alive but scattered across time.

The past and future of the X-Men is apocalyptic

One group of time-displaced X-Men, consisting of Beast, Nightcrawler, Rogue, Magneto, and Xavier, finds itself in ancient Egypt. They quickly run to the aid of a chalky-skinned mutant menaced by soldiers. After Xavier smooths things over with his telepathy, the mutant reveals his name is En Sabah Nur, which X-Men fans will recognize as the original nom-de-plume of the iconic X-Men villain Apocalypse.

As this happens, Cyclops and Jean awaken in a distant, barren future, where they encounter a clan of robed, tattooed warriors known as Clan Askani, another Apocalypse-r??elated name that comic fans might have clocked. The clan's leader, Mother Askani, arrives to question the pair, accompanied by a preteen version of their son Nathan Summers. Nathan, born in the series' second episode, had to be sent to the future after the Techno-Organic Virus infected him, and it looks like this is where he ended up.

On top of all this, a post-credits scene confirms almost beyond a doubt that Apocalypse will be the big bad of X-Men 97's second season. Surveying the ruins of Genosha, the mutant nation that went up in smoke in X-Men 97's fifth episode, the prese?nt-incarnation version of Apocalypse muses on the sorry-state mutantkind is currently in, scooping one of Gambit's charred playing cards out ?from the ashes before smiling ominously.

The X-Men may be about to enter the age of apocalypse

If the hints are anything to go on, X-Men 97's second season will be a mash-up of several X-Men storylines centered around Apocalypse. While Apocalypse was one of the main villains of X-Men: The Animated Series, the series never explored the origins of the first mutant. With members of the X-Men face-to-face with the man who will become Apocalypse, X-Men '97's second season is perfectly positioned to adapt 1996's "The Rise of Apocalypse," which followed En Sabah Nur's rise from rebellious slave to tyrannical villain.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Cyclops and Jean's bleak future shares more than a few elements with the one featured in the infamous "Age of Apocalypse" storyline. This crossover event depicts an alternate timeline created when Xavier's time-traveling son, Legion, accidentally kills his father before he forms the X-Men, allowing Apocalypse to conquer the world. Since the first season of X-Men '97 ?focused on villains who wanted to exterminate mutants, it would make sense for the second season to pit the team against a foe who seeks to bring about mutant supremacy.

Apocalypse's interest in Gambit, who gave his life to end the massacre of Genosha, might be the subtlest nod of them all, but it's one fan of the Cajun card-slinger (like me) who was happy to see. During the "Blood of Apocalypse" storyline, Gambit joined the ranks of Apocalypse's guard, the Four Horseman, specifically occupying the seat of Death. With Wolverine, who also became a Horseman, MIA, there's plenty of reason to worry that some of the most powerful X-Men may not be fighting on the side of justice in X-Men '97 Season 2.

X-Men '97 sets the stage for an epic extended animated universe

If there's one thing that X-Men '97 made clear throughout its ten-episode run, it's that the X-Men aren't the only superheroes in this animated reimagining of the Marvel Universe. X-Men: The Animated Series aired alongside a few animated Marvel shows, including Spider-Man: The Animated Series, Fantastic Four, and Incredible Hulk. Characters from one show would regularly cameo in another, and X-Men '97 proved that it w??as ready to c??ontinue that pattern very early on.

While Captain America's surprise debut in episode 7, "Bright Eyes," was a delightful surprise, small potatoes compared to the array of cameos that crop up throughout the final three episodes. Iron Man, Doctor Strange, and Black Panther are just a few of the heroes who show up to lend a hand in the fight against the Prime Sentinels. Perhaps the most surprising was the appearance of Spider-Man, who appeared both in ??costume and as Peter Pakerer, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Mary Jane Watson and Flash Thompson as Asteroid M closes in on Earth.

With most of the team on opposite ends of history and an increasing focus on non-mutant heroes, it looks like X-Men '97's second season plans to build on everything that made the first season great while expanding the series' scope to greater height?s. Now that the stakes are higher than ever, only time will tell what the future holds for the X-Men.

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Can't get enough Death Stranding? Well, you're in luck. The documentary film Hideo Kojima: Connecting Worlds shows the creative process behind Hideo Kojima launching his independent studio Kojima Productions and the development of Death Stranding. Connecting Worlds is available to stream now on Disney+, H?ulu, and Hotstar depending on region.

If you are in the United States, Connecting Worlds is available to stream on Hulu. For most of the world, however, it can be streamed on Disney+. In South Africa and the Philippines, you will need Hotstar to stream the documentary. Here are all the regions in which you can watch Death Stranding: Connecting Worlds:

• Disney+: Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Balkans EU (Bulgaria, Croatia, Solvenia), Non-EU (Albania, Boasnia/Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia, Serbia), UK, Ireland, Gibraltar
• Hulu: United States
• Hotstar: South Africa, Philippines

At the time of this post, the documentary has a 8.3/10 rating on IMDB with a featured re?view calling the documentary "Very much a Kojima tribute piece". Did we really expect anything different?

According to the promotional images for Connecting Worlds, the one-hour-long documentary features "A visionary journey into the creation of Death Stranding."

I've always been a fan of?? behind-the-scenes-style game-dev documentaries. It's always fun to see the truly creative process of game development first-hand. Based on the trailer it looks like a bit of Kojima praising mixed with some actual behind-the-scenes, so maybe I'll give it a whirl??.

Think Geoff Keighley will make an appearance?

Death Stranding: Connecting Worlds is available to stream now ??on Disney+, Hulu, and Hotstar depending on re??gion.

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Disney Dreamlight Valley players take a trip to Monstropolis on February 28. The free Monsters, Inc. content for Disney Dreamlight Valley, which includes Mike and Sulley as villagers?, launches for free on ?all platforms

Announced on Twitter Wednesday, thi??s content marks the game's ninth update. Few details are shared so far. However, from the sneak peek video shared on social media, we know we'll be exploring the Laugh Floor, where Mike and Sulley work, in addition to a new costume. The outfit looks inspired by the film's intro with colorful doors embedded into the design.

The Disney Dreamlight Valley roadmap for this year is currently on schedule. In December, the A Rift In Time expansion launched. In Spring 2024, more of Ancient's Landing is explorable with two new villagers coming. The community believes the "vibrant new villager" and "very lucky villager" in the content roadmap to be Daisy Duck and Oswald?? the Lucky Rabbit.

After that, fans believe a realm based on Mulan launches in the late Spring season (with pink blossom flowers being displayed on the roadmap image) and The Princess and the Frog's Tiana could head to Disney Dreamlight Valley during the summer. Lastly, we'll likely have to stop Jafar from ruining the rift in an area inspired by Aladdin's Agrabah.

This isn't the only news we've heard from Disney today. The Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated developer Purple Lamp Studios is remaking the Nintendo Wii's Epic Mickey for modern platforms. It's a neat Mickey platformer that gives you the choice to remo??ve or bring back objects in the world with Ye??n Sid's magical paintbrush. You'll also meet long-lost Disney characters within this strange realm.

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The Walt Disn??ey Corporation has just put a lot of money into Epic Games, all to make a new universe. Disne?y announced today that it's purchased a $1.5 billion stake in Epic, with the latter working on a "new games and entertainment universe" for the former.

The announcement from Disney says it will be a multiyear project, for a new persistent universe that will be a "world class" games experience and also interoperate with Epic's ever-popular pop-culture mash-up machine, Fortnite. This new universe will have opportunities for people to "play, watch, shop and engage" with the likes of many of Disney's franchises. From classic Disney and Pixar to Marvel, Star Wars, and somehow James Cameron's Avatar, it's all here.

All o?f it will be powered by the Unreal Engine. And the deal is, of course, subject to regulato?ry approvals.

"Our exciting new relationship with Epic Games will bring together Disney’s beloved brands and franchises with the hugely popular Fortnite in a transformational new games and entertainment universe," said Disney CEO Bob Iger in the release. "This marks Disney’s biggest entry ever into the world of games and offers significant opportunities for growth and expansion. We canâ€??™t wait for fans to experience the Disney stories and worlds they lo??ve in groundbreaking new ways."

A whole new world?

It's not the first time that Disney and Epic, or even Fortnite, have crossed paths. Epic's battle royale has featured skins, weapons, and events for several Disney properties through Marvel and Star Wars.

Heck, Disney's own video game efforts feel like they've been steadily ramping up. Disney Dreamlight Valley has been capturing its own mindshare within the life sim genre, and games ranging from Disney Illusion Island to Marvel Snap and Jedi: Survivor have all been notable in their own rights.

Epic itself has been in a peculiar position. The company's been steadily churning out Fortnite, and recently launched increased efforts for a games ecosystem within Fortnite, through Festival and Rocket Racing. The tech giant also cut 16% of its workforce last year, amid the wave layoffs we've seen throughout the games industry. And the Fortnite maker also fought long legal campaigns with Google and Apple over the?i??r app store practices.

"Disney was one of the first companies to believe in the potential of bringing their worlds together with ours in Fortnite, and they use Unreal Engine across their portfolio," said Epic CEO Tim Sweeny in today's announcement. "Now we’re collaborating on something entirely new to build a persistent, open and interoperable ecosystem that will bring together the Disney and Fortnite communities."

A partnership with Disney lines up. But $1.5 billion is a huge investment. And a new persistent universe, tied into Fortnite? I'm curious what this end??s up looking like, and whether this is a sign of where games are headed in the next five or so years.

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With Steamboat Willie now in the public domain, people have free reign over the classic cartoon. To celebrate that, indie developer Nightmare Forge revealed their new co-op PC horror, Infestation 88, to IGN that stars the Disney ?mascot himself: Mickey Mouse.

The game features co-op gameplay where players have to handle a rodent infestation. Who’s the leader of that club? Mickey Mouse. A disgusting, vile-looking Mickey Mouse. We get some gameplay with some creepy crawlies and that’s pretty much it. If you did watch the video, you can see that it starts with a disclai??mer about Mickey that talks about free use. 

Now, the Mickey seen in the game is based on 1928's Steamboat Willie, Walt Disney’s first short. In it, a young Mickey Mouse plays music and transports Minnie Mouse on, you guessed it, a steamboat. Other versions of Mickey are still copyrighted, so you can’t use Fantasia’s version in your magic-based FPS just yet �sorry?? game developers.

Open Mouse

So why did Mickey Mouse go public? Copyright laws for any media from the past can only keep them for 95 years. It was originally 55 but Congr??ess extended the rights up 20 years back in 1984 and again in 2004. 

That means a majority of things from 1928 are public domain now, such as J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan and A.A. Milne’s The House on Pooh Corner, which introduced the bouncy marsupial Tigger. Also included is another Mickey Mouse short, Plane Crazy. Perhaps we’ll finally get a horror-based Peter Pan game that actually shows how insane Peter Pan is. Last year, A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh was inducted into the public domain. This brought Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey to life.

No release date was given for Infestation 88. Given that it looks, in a way, playable, as well as relevant, I wager it’ll be out this year. Also, expect to see way more ?uses of Mickey Mouse in media. Hopefully, it’ll be much more than cheesy horror. 

Update - Infestation 88 changed to Infestation: Origins

[Update: In a statement released by the studio, the team ??is changing their game to "Infestation: Origins," following allegations that the original title evoked Nazi imagery (which the team refers to as "additional meanings").]

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If you like the fun, rubber hose style of old Disney cartoons, but you wish they were more violent, this may be one for you. Mouse is an upcoming FPS that sty??les itself off these retro cartoons, and developer Fumi Gam??es has just released a gameplay trailer for it.

Taking direct inspiration from the animated shows and noir films of a bygone era, Mouse combines high-octane first-person shooting with the goofy antics of these ancient toons. From what can be seen in the trailer, it looks like there's even some blood for that added sense of mindless violence. You can wishlist the game right now.

The studio describes Mouse thus:

With guns blazing and a retro rubber hose animation style, battle your way through a corrupt city full of crooks and dang??er.

It's like Mickey Mouse meets Edward G Robinson

At the moment, there's no exact release date, but Fumi is aiming to launch in 2025. While the trailer says it's "early gameplay footage," it's looking pretty good so far. A post on Steam says the team is "aiming to make sure to hav??e the best ga??me possible!"

There aren't many video games like this. The most obvious example that comes to mind is Cuphead, which goes for that rubbery style of animation, but in a more fun �albeit brutally challenging �context. Then there's Bendy and the Ink Machine, which leans ??way more into the horror aspects, but clearly takes inspiration from? this era of cartoons.

It's nice that we live in a time when 1930s cartoons can be reborn as gritty shooters. There's a kind of fast-paced action to Mouse that seems like what Steamboat Willie would be like, if it was remade by Quentin Taranti??no.

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When we last checked, there was still a lot of uncertainty about the supposed remake of Knights of the Old Republic. A report suggested it was not being worked on by any studio, but Bloomberg's Jason Schreier says it's still in development. So where does that leave us???

Cut to a few weeks later, and Disney's head of gaming �Sean Shoptaw �may have given us a bit more hope. According to Axios, when asked about the possibility of reviving the much-loved Star Wars game??, the exec sai??d there's not "a lot I can say on that point for some hopefully obvious reasons."

The quote goes on to say that "KOTOR is obviously an incredibly popular game, one that we are incredibly proud of and think ??that there's still a lot of demand for," befor??e ending with, "I'll leave it there."

Leaving money on the table

Given the sheer legacy of the original Knights of the Old Republic, it w??ould seem remiss for Disney to not offer up an official remake of it?. Right now, we're in something of a golden age for remakes and remasters, so it would make sense.

However, at this moment in time, things are still up in the air. KOTOR came out in 2003 and is generally regarded as one of the best Star Wars adaptations in gaming. To not bring it back feels like a wasted oppor??tunity, for both old fans and those who never played it the first time round.

Make of Shoptaw's words what you will, but a lot of people will still be hanging onto the idea that Knights is coming back. I mean, it wasn't a definitive "no," that's for? sure.

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Get your wallets ready because the soon-to-be "Dearly Beloved" Sora amiibo is on its way. The latest Super Smash Bros. amiibo arrives on February 16.

Pre-orders have started to pop up at retailers, though it already seems like folks are clamoring to get their own Sora. It will likely be available at usual retailers, though. Sora marks the last Super Smash Bros. character to get an amiibo.

Better summon your bank account for this Sora amiibo

The Sora amiibo clocks in at the standard $15.99 that other Super Smash Bros. Ultimate amiibo have cost. If y?ou aren't able to pre-order Sora, you'll likely have to face t??he wrath of the second-hand market.

Just like the rest of the Smash Bros series, Sora takes on the same pose as his appearance in the character select screen in Ultimate. He's giving a big smile as he holds the keyblade over his shoulder. His attire is based on Sora's original costume from the first game. It's one of his best looks, but that might be my nostalgia talking.

The amiibo can be used in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and will learn from your attacks as it levels up. You can use it in amiibo battles online and in regular Smash matches. It would be cool if it had some integration with Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, but right now, there's no other usage announced.

Something else you should know about Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory

You may have forgotten this, but if you have a Melody of Memory save file on your Switch, you'll unlock a new song in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It's the "Dearly Beloved" theme from the rhythm game's main menu. It's an upbeat, jazzy take on the track that works well in battles within Ultimate.

_{This story has been updated to reflect pre-orders and pricing going live at some retailers.}

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It seems like it's well overdue, but Lightning McQueen is finally making his way to Rocket League. The Cars icon will be available for purchase beginning tomorrow, Novembe??r 7.

Lightning McQueen is a reskinned Dominus body. The character car can be purchased individually or as part of the Lightning McQueen Mega Bundle listed at 2,500 credits. 3,0??00 credits can be purchased within the in-game store for? $24.99.

The Lightning McQueen Mega Bundle is full of items that will make Pixar fans proud. In addition to Lightning McQueen's default 95 Rust-eze decal, there's also the cool blue Dinoco decal and a laid-back Cru??isin' decal.

There are three different sets of Lightyear wheels to match each of the available decals. A Lightning McQueen player banner is included in the pack. And, of course, Psyonix implemented a Ka-chow goal explosion and added Rascal Flatts' "Life is a Highway" as a player anthem. The latter two and Lightning's Ruste-eze skin can be purchased individually if you aren't interested i?n the entire Mega Bundle.

Ka-chow

In watching the trailer, you can see that the character's emotive eyes are incorporated into his Rocket League design. Psyonix notes that the characte??r/car is the first in the?? game to ever have dynamic expressions, which is a super cool addition.

It's unclear whether we'll get any voice-over lines from Owen Wilson or imitators, but one can hope. However, the aforementioned Ka-chow goal explosion and the inclusion of "Life is a Highway" are?? nice touches that f?ans are sure to appreciate.

As with most other licensed cars, there are some limitations in how you can modify Lightning's design. Only the three decals ?included in the Mega Bundle can be applied to the racecar (Rust-eze, Dinoco, and Cruizin�. Only select toppers, boosts, trails, and goal expl?osions can be added to Lightning's loadout. And antennas can't placed on top of the vehicle's roof.

The bundle and specific individual items are available for purchase as of tomorrow. Lightning McQueen and the Mega Bundle will remain available for purchase through November 21. You may be more inclined to bolster your garage now that player-to-player trading is set to end next month.

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Let's be honest, Kingdom Hearts 4 isn't coming anytime soon. So fans of the series may want to look elsewhere to get their fix of the Disney-verse. Luckily, with closed beta recruiting beginning today, Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link may not be all that far away.

Square Enix confirmed that Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link is arriving in 2024. Also, between today and November 19, iOS and Android users in the UK and Australia can sign up to potentially be chosen for the title's upcoming closed beta. In total, roughly 3,000 participants will be selected across the two platforms. To commemorate the announcement, the publisher also dropped a n??ew trailer for the?? game:

As for the Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link closed beta schedule, iOS users are up first. Square Enix revealed that invitation emails will be going out around November 28, with the closed beta spanning from November 29 to December 8. Selected Android users will follow, with their closed beta launching at some point in January 2024. Square Enix recommends following the Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link X account for future news on the Android beta.

Not much is known about the new mobile title to this point. At the game's initial reveal, we were told that the adventure would depart from Scala ad Caelum and instead take place in the real world. The Heartless would once again be a focal point as players experience a brand new story. And if these words mean nothing to you, feel free to check out Destructoid's full Kingdom Hearts timeline explained.

Today's trailer describes the upcoming game as a "GPS Action RPG". It's unclear how exactly GPS is incorporated, but you do see a rea??l-world global map with various chests scattered about. Though the trailer also states you can "travel the world without stepping outside".

The trailer also teases the ability to adventure through various Disney worlds and collect Disney characters to aid you. In a couple of quick ??battle clips, we can see Mickey, Pinocchio, Winnie the?? Pooh, Ariel, Woody, Aladdin, Rapunzel, Tinker Bell, Simba, and a few others.

As far as Kingdom Hearts 4 goes, we don't know much about that project either, aside from a teaser trailer. We do know a general timeframe that we will have Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link on our phones. Square Enix states in today's new trailer that the game will relea?se sometime in 2024. Unless, of course, you're one of the lucky 3,000 that gets to try the game out early.

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The best Disney games honor the source material and are exciti??ng to p??lay for all ages. From kart racing, to farming, to platforming, there's a surprising amount of variety. Here are the best Disney games you can play in 2023.

[Note: I'm including games you can easily access on modern platforms. Unfortunately, it's quite difficult to get a copy of Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure in 2023. Otherwise, I'd put it on the list!]

Cars 3: Driven to Win

Cars 3: Driven to Win takes the Mario Kart approach and makes for a surprisingly good Disney racing game. You're driving through locations from ?the film, and trying to triumph in the race, items included. There's a wide variety of characters to drive as, including Lightning, Cruz Ramirez, and even the unconventional Mater.

T?here's also a decent drifting and boosting syste??m in place in the game, making it feel high-speed.

Disney’s Aladdin

Disney's Aladdin took "one jump ahead" to the platforming genre with fun platforming levels, groundbreaking 2D roto-scoping animation, and a great recreation of the desert city Agrabah in game form. This game's tough, however, so I'd recommend getting the Disney Classic Games Collection.

It has the function to rewind and even does a perfect playthrough for you. For the latter feature, you can also jump into the game whenever you'd like. The collection can switch between the Genesis and Super Nintendo versions ?of the ??game too.

Disney Dreamlight Valley

Disney Dreamlight Valley is an absolute joy for any fan of the House of Mouse. In this relaxing Animal Crossing-like experience, you're rebuilding a town, as well as bringing back old and new Disney characters to the settlement. It's quite satisfying when the town gets busier and busie?r.

You'll also be cooking a bunch of recipes from the ingredients you grow and collect from around the world. You'll need to have some patience?? too in this game with the farming elements!

Disney Infinity on Steam

What once was a toys-to-life game (remember those?), Disney Infinity has become a comprehensive package on Steam. You can get all the characters and campaigns through the Gold Collection on Valve's client. You won't need a figure. Within the game are some charming levels, simple Lego-like beat-em-up sections you can play with your family, and great production values all around. For example, in Disney Infinity 1.0, you can explore the Caribbean on a pirate ship.

Yo?u can't share your creations online, but there's a pretty ??????????????????????????awesome toolset for making your own levels as well.

Disney Speedstorm

Disney Princesses don't have to wait for their "prince to come." Instead, they can race around all manner of landmarks throughout the animation studio's history. From Mulan's Great Walls of China to Aladdin's A?grabah, th??ere are exciting places to explore on your kart.

The action's ??intense, the driving's surprisingly smooth for a tie-in game like this, and the graphics are top-notch. I personally love that each item you use has a second ability from holding down the corresp??onding button.

The problem is that it's free-to-play and has a lot of barriers in place to unlock your favorite characters. Still, the game itself is thrilling to play; it's worth the headaches. Read my review for more information.

DuckTales

Available through The Disney Afternoon Collection, you can? play this platforming classic in 2023. You'r?e using Scrooge's cane as a pogo stick, bumping enemies. The level design is immaculate.

The music is also phenomenal, especially the Moon level's theme, which cover artists still love to highlight to this day. Like Aladdin's port to modern systems, you can rewind the game as well, making this game more accessible to modern players. It might be an NES game, but you might? go q?uackers over it.

"Borrowing a page from Mega Man with its freeing world selection system, the maps themselves are full of twists, turns, alternate paths, and secret areas," Chris Carter says in his Destructoid review for The Disney Afternoon Collection. "Like most of the Afternoon Collection, ??;it stands on its own two feet, free of the shackles o?f nostalgia."

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX

If you know me, this selection isn't a surprise at all. Kingdom Hearts is near and dear to my heart. The characters are relatable, the storyline is surprisingly deep, and the action RPG combat system keeps me coming back over and over. I've always found it wonderful how the magical worlds of Disney blend with the Final Fantasy-esque storyline and combat.

Mickey flips around like Star Wars' Yoda and uses a golden keyblade, while Final Fantasy X's tough Auron takes on Hercules' Cerberus in the Underworld alongside our heroes Sora, Donald, and Goofy. Kingdom Hearts is bonkers, and I'm here for it. The combat's also top of the line with some stunning abilities at Sora's disposal like Sonic Blade and Ragnarok. The bosses, for the most p??art, are also well-designed and will challenge you.

It's been said many times, but the fusion of Disney and Square Enix properties shouldn't work. And yet, it's a perfect match. Please get on the gummi ship and take a journey into the wacky chaos, which is the Kingdom Hearts series.

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Gargoyles was a show that interested me as a kid, but I rarely got to sit down and watch. It was another “darker�Saturday morning cartoon that came about in the wake of Batman: The Animated Series�success. In fact, the first season was penned by writers from that series. It was the thing at the time. What I remember liking best about Gargoyles was the comfortable feeling of danger and tension that was unique to this particu?lar brand of c?artoon.

I’m actually more familiar with the 1995 Sega Genesis game based on the property, which, as it turns out, isn’t entirely faithf??ul. It’s also not very good. It’s okay at best. So, it’s interesting to see Disney revisit the title, though it’s likely got a lot to do with the planned Disney+ live-action adaptation. But do??es a remaster fix all the issues with the Genesis original and make it a game worth playing?

No. Don’t be silly.

Gargoyles Remastered (PC, Switch [Reviewed], PS4, Xbox One)
Developer: Empty Clip Studios
Publisher: Disney
Released: October 19, 2023
MSRP: $14.99

If you’re unfamiliar, the premise of the series is that the eponymous race of mythological creatures have been kept dormant in stone and awakened in the present day. They sort of become super-heroes in a way, specializing in dealing with things from the past causing problems in the present. Along the way, they try to hide their existence from t?he public and learn about all the ways the world ha?s changed in the last century.

The game starts in 994 AD with Goliath dealing with the humans before it jumps ahead on the third level to the present day. It focuses on “The Eye of Odin,�an artifact of incredible but largely undefined pow?er.

In the game, you’re stuck playing as Goliath, since he’s the hunkiest, while all the other gargoyles are nowhere to be seen. That is, aside from Demona, who makes an appearance at the very end. There are cutscenes in between levels, but they do a very poor job of telling any sort of coherent ??narrative. Really, if you’re unfamiliar with the cartoon, it might look like a really angry Gargoyle wakes up and goes on a rampage. As I mentioned, it’s not incredibly faithful to the plot of the series, largely just sticking to, I don’t know, the spirit of the narrative. Kind of.

If you played The Lion King, I’ve got bad news for you: Gargoyles is sort of similar. Goliath can double-jump, but his slash attack is similar to Simba’s, complete with iffy collision detection. He’s also got a move where he picks up and throws his foe, but ??it’s extremely picky about how close you are to an enemy when attempting it. A throw is usually an instant kill, but attempting it can cost you a lot of health. However, some enemies take a lot of swipes to bring down, so it’s sometimes worth the risk. There’s always the?? rewind button if the game isn’t playing fair.

The movement system is difficult to get the hang of. That’s mostly a charitable way of saying it’s way worse than the best platformers on the Genesis, but it’s not completely awful. The biggest problem is having to swing on things, which a lot of games that use cartoon animations seem to love for some reason. The second level is the worst for it since its “hooks�open and close. When they’re open, the??y cause damage and make you fall backward, so it leads to an obnoxious difficulty spike. The third level also has a lot of swinging, but it’s a lot simpler because the hooks don’t abruptly turn into obstacles.

The bosses are horrible. The second one, in particular, you can just stand inside of and keep on ??swiping. It? stunlocks him until he just drops dead. The third boss is probably the best, but that’s largely because it takes place on a free-falling elevator. Being the best boss in this game is a really low bar to step over.

In ??terms of the upgrades in this remaster, the biggest one is a graphical overhaul, which is a mixed bag. One of the best parts of the Genesis original i?s its moody use of the limited color palette. The new style is more true to the cartoon, but it completely loses that atmosphere. The inconsistency is hard to ignore. 

The fourth level, which takes place on a subway train, looks worse in the remaster because it removes the train’s back wall. Likewise, I prefer the city skyline of the Genesis ver??sion, but that might just be my love of 16-bit cities. On the other hand, the third level features a lady sleeping on the couch in front of a TV, and this looks ?better in the remaster, and I really love it. That’s sort of damning with praise, I suppose.

The legibility of the graphics is similarly inconsistent. There is one part in the third level where?? you need to break open a steam valve. I walked in circles and couldn’t figure out where to go until I switched back to the 16-bit graphics and noticed the valve actually stand??s out as something that’s interactive. Enemy attacks are somewhat more legible in the newer art style, but only in some rare cases.

You can switch graphical styles at any time, which I always love to see in remasters. However, each time I did, I realized I appreciated the Genesis-style graphics better because of how they utiliz?ed the hardware. Within the context of the era, they’re fun to see, but when you go into higher-quality visuals, that’s entirely lost. 

Thankfully, you can still play a mostly faithful port of the Genesis game, but while I was playing through it, the game suddenly reset. There’s a button combination in the original version that would do this, but I wasn’t even close to hitting it. Not sure what?? that was about. One moment, I was batting an enemy like a cat with a toy mouse. The next, I was looking at the Buena Vista logo.

Even beyond the graphics, the entire package is pretty rough. One of my first experiences with the game was ??falling through the ground during combat in the first level. Not sure if that was a bug in the original release. There are also?? areas where the modern widescreen perspective goes beyond the level boundaries, but rather than extend the background or something, the developers just put a black strip there, which looks awful. These things might be fixed with a release update, but I’m not sure that’s worth counting on.

I’ve said it before, but Gargoyles is�fine. I’ve played worse. There are even far worse Disney games on Genesis, but there are also much, much better platformers. The remaster really doesn’t do anything to elevate the game above that, aside from modern comfor??ts like rewind and save states.

Speaking of which, you should also probably keep in mind that Gargoyles is a ridiculously short game. You only get one continue on medium difficulty, so depending on how much you fail and how willing you are to accept that failure, it might take longer for you to actually complete the game. However, a successful run can be a??ccomplishe?d in less than an hour. Five levels. Not great.

Truly, this is one for the fans. It’s a remaster for people who have fond memories of renting it for the Genesis back in the day. Fans of the cartoon might also find some value in it, as much as it tends to be an unfaithful adaptation. For everyone else, there are a lot of other games you can play before you need to reach the depths of Gargoyles. It’s not terrible, it just isn’t good. But at least it hasn’t been left sleeping for one thousand years???.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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The kart racing genre is known for many mediocre franchise tie-in titles. NASCAR, DreamWorks, and even Garfield have entered the party with varying results. Sonic and Crash are arguably the only two that can somewhat rival Mario and his friends. Disney Speedstorm is on the cusp of that.

Disney Speedstorm hits and adds some new mechanics and twists to the genre. While the overall game is impressive, it will be hard for many to ignore the microtransactions that poison th??e sweet apple that's this game (expect many Disney references, you have been warned).

Disney Speedstorm (PC, PS5 [Reviewed], PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch [Reviewed], iOS, Android)
Developer: Gameloft
Publisher: Gameloft
Released: September 28, 2023
MSRP: Free to play

"One Jump Ahead" of Mario Kart, in some ways

Disney Speedstorm is a refreshing addition to the kart racing genre. It brings all of these beloved Disney characters together, like Aladdin and Jack Sparrow, but also adds some awesome ga??meplay mechanics to the format. The Disney characters aren't the only attraction, unlike other tie-in games that live off the property's name and do the?? bare minimum.

One of the thrilling mechanics is the charged skill system. When you pick up an item, there are two variations of moves you can pull off. For example, with a mine, you can throw it in front of you or hold the item button to create an explosion in your near vicinity. This adds more of an element of strategy to the game. I hope Nintendo takes notes as I find the items in the Mario Kart series, ??like the banana and bombs, a bi?t repetitive and old.

There's also a slight tang of the Burnout series in Disney Speedstorm, as you can ram other players into the walls. I'm surprised such a violent move can be found in a game inspired by the House of Mouse. Additionally, you can use a nitro boost to speed yourself up, like in Team Sonic Racing and Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled.

These me?chanics truly add to the kart racing experience. "For the First Time in Forever," we're actually seeing some innovation within a tired genre.

A great start to the action but...

With Gameloft's experience with the Asphalt series, it's no surprise that Disney Speedstorm feels great to control. While the kart does move a little slower than I'd like, drifting around is a dream. Boosting also feels powerful as you work your way through the hills of the Steamboat Willie-inspired The Silver Screen track and around the halls of Monster's Inc.'s Factory.

I personally love that each character has their own unique item as well. Donald lays out fists around him as he gets angry, while Aladdin rides hi?s magic carpet across the stage. Jafar also bursts fire from his scepter. It makes each character unique and makes me want to try out everyone on the roster.

I'm happy to report that the game runs smoothly on both the PS5 and Nintendo Switch. The tracks look gorgeous on Sony's latest system, and while the Nintendo Switch does have a few rare hiccups here and there, Disney Speedstorm does run well on the hybrid system. It's also cross-play and cross-save compatibl??e, so you can take the game anywhere you'd like to go and play it with anyone you'd like.

Leveling up your character...

My main issue is that your characters need to be leveled up for better stats. For offline play, thankfully, this isn't a big issue. However, your success in the single-player Season Tour mode depends on your character's top speed, acceleration, handli?ng, boost, and combat. You won't be on an equal playing field at points. Mulan might be too slow to finish a race in the first place.

You'll need to get upgrade parts to level up your characters. Most of the time, I've been able to get them easily through unlocking them in the Season Tour mode and Starter Circuit. However, there have been points where I've had to grind for upgrade parts to proc??eed. It can be frustrating, and this is where the microtransactions r?ear their ugly head.

The good thing is that everyone is on a level playing field when you play the multiplayer mode. Your characters are automatically at Level 30, which is the regulated level of Regulated Multi?player. The Ranked mode, however, does depend on your character's stats, so keep that in mind. It does feel pay-to-win in this instance.

There are so many microtransactions!

Like The Goofy Movie with Goofy and Max, you'll need to be "I2I" with the ??micro-transactions in this game. There are so many to keep count of that it can be overwhelming. Here's an explanation of each? of them:

• Tokens - This is the main currency used towards character tokens, vehicle parts, crew members, etc.
• Multiplayer Coins - These are gained through finishing leaderboard events and doing well in ranked multiplayer. This is used for costumes and multiplayer boxes (loot boxes that give you random rewards).
• Season Coins - This is the most common currency you'll earn through finishing races in the Season Tour and Starter Circuit modes.
• Box Credits - These are credits that can be used for opening specifically marked boxes in the Shop.

Gameloft should have streamlined the microtransaction process to make the process clearer. There's also the Golden Pass and Collections level system to keep track of, which gives you character tokens, crew shards, and even mottos. It's a lot to take in and initially turned me off the game at first. With a family title like this, I bet kids are even more confused. Families would wish they'd have a "Friend Like Me" explaining this while playing Disney Speedstorm, I'm certain.

It can be irritating to miss out on your favorite characters like Stitch and Woody as well due to missing each season. You can get them from the Universal Box, but it's ridiculously difficult to get them. For example, to get Angel from Lilo & Stitch at the time of writing, there's a 0.98% chance of getting 1-3 rac??er shards from the Universal Box. You'll need ten racer shards to get her.

Disney Speedstorm has so much potential though

It's so irritating that there's a bad micro-transaction system in Disney Speedstorm because I genuinely love this game. If it was released at?? $39.99 and had all of the characters, tracks, and content, it would be marked as?? one of the best kart racing games out there.

There's a deep love of Disney behind each track design. You're maneuvering around plumes of fire in the Cave of Wonders before the lion opens its mouth, letting you out. Disney Speedstorm has a track based on Mulan that has you racing on the Great Walls of China Wipeout style, with the rockets from the avalanche scene becoming an ??obstacle later on.

In the Hercules stage, you're drifting around a gorgeous depiction of Mount Olympus as you're listening to a banging electro?nic remix of the film's opening song, "The Gospel Truth."

The tracks are also laid with fun obstacles and beautiful scenery inspired by the films we know and love. I especially like seeing the colorful and summer vibes of the Hawaii stage from Lilo & Stitch. It's just a s??hame that the game gets a little repetitive with a small selection ?of tracks currently.

If you're a Disney fan, you're going to see a lot of references. The music is a bit of a mixed bag with some fantastic remixes of tracks we'v?e grown up with and then others that go ?overboard with the dubstep and techno beats.

Disney Speedstorm "Goes the Distance" and makes a rough landing

Disney Speedstorm is certainly "on a roll" with its electrifying stages and game design, but it's certainly not "undefeated." The confusing microtransactions pull it down and become an annoying distraction to what's great in this kart racer. While a love for the Disney product is certainly present in Disney Speedstorm, there are a few annoying as??pects of the game to be mindful of.

Thankfully, you can play the game offline with all the characters unlocked. You can participate in the multiplayer modes, too, with a rotating selection of guest racers. As the game proceeds, we'll be getting new tracks and characters every two months, so there will be a regular stream of content incoming for Disney Speedstorm.

[This re?view is based on the Ultimate Founder’s Pack of the game provided by the publisher.]

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