Warning: Full spoilers ahead for episode 7 of HBO’s The Last of Us.
HBO’s The Last of Us episode 7 has arrived and this time we see Ellie and Riley reunite for a surprise trip to the mall just like The Last of Us: Left Behind DLC. But how close does the show compare to the game?
To help answer this question, we’ve gathered images from episode 7 of HBO’s The Last of Us and put them next to stills from Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us game to see how faithful the adaptation is. Check out the slideshow, or watch the video above to see the scenes from both the show and the game in action.
In our The Last of Us episode 7 review, we said it “is a beautifully faithful adaptation of the beloved Left Behind chapter of Ellie’s story. A real showcase for Bella Ramsey’s ability as a performer, we’re treated to a story of young love that is equal parts heartwarming as it is heartbreaking. It’s also a necessary tale to be told; a flashback that gives us a deeper understanding of the person Ellie is today and what drives her motivations in the present.”
Following the launch of the Dead Space remake and its positive reception, EA is seemingly asking select fans if they’d like to see a Dead Space 2 or 3 remake next.
As reported by Eurogamer, the survey in question was shared on Twitter by Dillon Rogers, a developer on Gloomwood, and it simply asks, “how interested would you be in a similar remake of Dead Space 2 (2011)?” and “How interested would you be in a similar remake of Dead Space 3 (2013)?”
It’s a pretty standard question with the responses ranging from “not at all interested” to “extremely interested,” but it shows EA is at least entertaining the idea. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, but it’s always nice to see these questions being asked.
Rogers’ tweet made its way to ResetERA, and fans began chiming in with their own opinions. Many are all for a Dead Space 2 remake, but there is a little more trepidation for one for Dead Space 3.
“[Dead Space] 3 needs to be reimagined entirely to remove the crafting mechanics and possibly redo some story beats to not have so much of that game’s story content locked behind co-op and which character you’re playing as,” ResetERA user Jersey_Tom wrote. “So much of that game was ruined because of EA’s meddling through micro-transactions and the mistaken idea that Dead Space fans were interested in an RE5-esque co-op experience.
“A full remake would be quite the undertaking to make that game standout. But definitely agree with others that a Dead Space 2 remake is a sure fire moneymaker.”
In our review of the Dead Space remake, we said it is “a superb remake and undoubtedly the definitive way to experience one of the best survival horror shooters that Capcom never made.”
Sons of the Forest has officially arrived in Early Access and one of the biggest talking points for the game has been Kelvin, an AI companion already so beloved by the community whose mission is to help you on your journey, even though he sometimes makes bizarre and hilarious decisions.
For those unfamiliar, Kelvin is an elite soldier who survived the helicopter crash that stranded you on the island featured in Sons of the Forest. Unfortunately for him, he suffered brain damage and can no longer hear or speak, so players must communicate with him via a notepad. Despite his new injuries, he remains extremely helpful… well, mostly.
The developers of Sons of the Forest created Kelvin to help replicate the multiplayer experience for solo players, but he is also very useful for those who wish to play Sons of the Forest with friends.
“We found in our first game, The Forest, that building and collecting resources in single-player could be a real slog compared to multiplayer where you had multiple players helping,” Endnight Games told IGN. “We wanted to solve this and help bridge the gap between the two modes. At the same time, the new AI system we had created for enemies/animals made it extremely easy to apply to an AI character that was friendly.”
So, this all sounds wonderful, right? A companion who is always there to help chop down some trees, catch fish, and more? While Kelvin is undoubtedly helpful, he does act a bit odd from time to time. For example, you can tell him to chop down trees to collect wood, but some players have found that Kelvin doesn’t know the difference between a free-standing tree and those that are part of the treehouse that you built.
Sons of the Forest is great and all. but you gotta watch out for that kelvin guy… pic.twitter.com/q2NIsJfxdN
Kelvin clearly plays by his own rules and, as IGN’s Mark Medina puts it, it fits perfectly into Sons of the Forest as, “there are no rules man, we’re lost!”
Endnight Games has big plans for Kelvin, so this is really only the beginning for the early favorite for the best helper in a video game for 2023.
“Throughout Early Access, we plan to add a lot more tasks Kelvin can do as well as integrate him more into the main story and giving him his own epilogue/ending if you keep him alive,” Endnight Games said.
Endnight is also very happy to see the community take to Kelvin so quickly, and the team knew they had something special on their hands early on, as many would “make sure not to overwork him and others would feel guilty if they accidentally killed him.”
Kelvin is only but one part of Sons of the Forest, and you can check out our full preview of the game, in which we said, “Sons of the Forest appears to evolve and build on every aspect of its predecessor with a focused goal of realism and developing a flexible ecosystem, and it feels like the building blocks are there to create something truly special. But its killer feature is the addition of impressively sophisticated and smarter AI enemies and companions that could not only provide a huge leap forward for the series, but the survival game genre as a whole.”
Although there are many folks out there who think the books were better than their film adaptations, the Harry Potter movies have become an essential part of the franchise. The film universe has even extended beyond the original series with 3 addtional Fantastic Beast prequels that introduced us to a new part of the wizarding world. Now that Hogwarts Legacy has arrived as well, it’s a good time to revisit the Potter timeline to see where everything fits.
Whether you’re new to the series or have just forgotten the proper order of the films, we’ve got you covered with our guides below. Take a look at how to watch the Harry Potter movies in chronological order or by release date.
Although there were only 7 books in the original series, there are a total of 11 movies in the Harry Potter franchise. This includes 8 films based on the books (2 parts for the Deathly Hallows) and 3 Fantastic Beasts prequels. Outside of the films there is a Broadway play called Harry Potter and the Cursed Child as well as quite a lot of Harry Potter games — including the newest one, Hogwarts Legacy.
Where Does Hogwarts Legacy Fit in the Harry Potter Timeline?
Hogwarts Legacy takes place before any of the mainline movies sometime around the 1890s. For context, the Fantastic Beasts movies begin in the 1920s and the Harry Potter films start in the 1990s. And although it takes place before the films, there are quite a few last names in Hogwarts Legacy you’ll recognize from the books and movies and Hogwarts Castle is pretty much exactly the same.
The Harry Potter Movies in Chronological Order
1. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
Set all the way back in 1926, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was the first Harry Potter spin-off prequel to hit theaters. Considering it takes place around 70 years before Harry starts school at Hogwarts, it is the first film you’ll want to watch if you’re going by chronological order. The first Fantastic Beasts film focuses on Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) as he navigates his way through New York and the magical underpinnings of the United States.
2. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)
Just a few months after the end of the first prequel, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald takes us back to England and features even more tie-ins to the original Harry Potter Movies. We get a look at a young Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) and even get introduced to a youthful Minderva McGonagall (Fiona Glascott). The film itself largely focuses on the villain revealed in the first movie, Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp).
3. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is the first film in the Fantastic Beasts series that sees a true time jump. Set 5 years after the events of The Crimes of Grindelwald, the third film in the Fantastic Beasts series largely focuses on Grindelwald himself once again — who is actually played by Mads Mikkelsen this time. There are a few time jumps due to a creature named Qilin, but most of the movie is set in the 1930s.
Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone is the first film in the original series. And while the majority of the film takes place in 1991, the true start of the film is technically 1980 — the year when Harry was born and Hagrid drops him of at the Dursley residence. Since this is the first Harry Potter movie released, it gives us our first look at Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), and Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) as well as our initial forray into wizarding world through a Muggle lens.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the second film released in the franchise and thus follows Harry’s second year at Hogwarts. This places the movie between 1992 and 1993 as Harry uncovers truths of the past from giant spiders and a young ghost-like Voldemort. It also gives us our first indroduction to Professor Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh) and Dobby the House Elf.
6. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the third film in the original series and coincides with Harry’s third year of classes at Hogwarts — taking place in 1993. This is the first film where we start to truly see the darker side of the wizarding world as we get introduced to the likes of Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) and Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall). We also get an introduction to werewolves from the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, Remus Lupin (David Thewlis), and of course the creepy soul-sucking Dementors of Azkaban.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth movie in the original series and coincides with Harry’s fourth year at Hogwarts. Taking place in 1994, The Goblet of Fire breathes new life into Hogwarts with the addition of the Triwizard Tournament and the Yule Ball. We get introduced to new important characters like Mad Eye Moody (Brendand Gleeson) and Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson). We also get our first look at a professional Quidditch tournament as well as members and faculty from other wizarding schools. This also the first film Harry comes face to face with a fully alive Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes).
8. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the fifth film in the original series and takes place in 1995. Harry starts his fifth year of Hogwarts with a newfound family of sorts and we get our first look at some of the other members of The Order of the Phoenix like the shapeshifting Nymphadora Tonks (Natalia Tena). We also get our first introduction to Luna Lovegood (Evanna Lynch), who plays an important role in the coming films. There is also a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor with a penchant for cruelty that everyone gets to hate, Delores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton).
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is the sixth film to be released and takes place in 1996. As Harry enters his sixth year at Hogwarts school for witchcraft and wizardry, he is starting to truly grow up after being faced with even more death. In this film we get our first true look into the motives of Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) and Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton). We also get to see Voldemort and the Deatheaters fully on the loose as Dumbledore reveals more secrets about the prophecy Harry is a part of. Although this film starts to get pretty dark, it’s also where we see more of Ginny Weasley (Bonnie Wright) and expand her relationship with Harry.
10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010)
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1 takes place in 1997 and coincides with the seventh and final book in the series. This is the first film that breaks up the story of a single book into two movies, and for good reason as there’s a lot of story to unpack. In what would have been Harry’s seventh year at Hogwarts, Harry, Hermione, and Ron instead set out into the real world to find and destroy Horcruxes. With quite a bit of action and deep character growth between Harry, Ron, and Hermione it’s clear the franchise is reaching it’s climax here. We also get a deeper look at the relationships between Voldemort and the rest of the Death Eaters.
11. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is the final movie in the Harry Potter series chronologically. Set in 1998, this film is a continuation of part 1 starting right where the previous film left off. As Harry and his friends reveal more information about the prophecy Harry is part of, they eventually make their way back to Hogwarts for a final showdown against Voldemort and the Deatheaters. It’s an emotional battle that ends in the death of a some fan favorite Harry Potter characters, but we do get to see the true heroics of Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis) and a rather definitive end to story.
After only 24 hours in Early Access, Sons of the Forest has already sold over two million copies.
Sons of the Forest developer Endnight Games shared the news on Twitter alongside promising some exciting things to come in the near future.
“Thanks to those who have joined us in our Early Access journey into Sons of the Forest,” Endnight Games wrote. “We have sold over 2 million copies in the first 24 hours, and are very excited for what we have in store for players in the coming weeks.”
Sons of the Forest, which is an open-world survival horror game that sends players to a remote island filled with cannibals and other dangers to find a missing billionaire, also rose up the concurrent player charts on Steam, with over 350,100 users playing the game at once.
As of this writing, Sons of the Forest is at 255,134 concurrent players and sits only behind Dota 2’s 271,407 players and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’s 563,954 players on Steam. For comparison, the original game – The Forest – had an all-time peak of 76,226.
We’ll have much more on Sons of the Forest in the future, but you can check out our preview of the game, where we said it, “appears to evolve and build on every aspect of its predecessor with a focused goal of realism and developing a flexible ecosystem, and it feels like the building blocks are there to create something truly special. But its killer feature is the addition of impressively sophisticated and smarter AI enemies and companions that could not only provide a huge leap forward for the series, but the survival game genre as a whole.”
We’re in an age of remasters and remakes. In the first few months of 2023 alone, we’re seeing relreases of high-profile games like Dead Space, Metroid Prime, and Resident Evil 4. With 2000s nostalgia at an all-time high right now, video game writer David Gaider is calling for a remaster of 2009’s Dragon Age: Origins.
Gaider was the lead writer and setting creator for BioWare’s Dragon Age: Origins, and would go on to work on both Dragon Age II and Dragon Age: Inquisition. On Twitter, Gaider wrote, “If we’re on a kick re-mastering games from the aughts, what about Dragon Age Origins? Its graphics were behind the curve even at the time of release… can you imagine it with brand new PS5-era bells and whistles?”
If we’re on a kick re-mastering games from the aughts, what about Dragon Age Origins? Its graphics were behind the curve even at the time of release… can you imagine it with brand new PS5-era bells and whistles? ?
Replying to some other Twitter users, Gaider played down the likelihood of a Dragon Age remaster happening, saying “I suspect EA would only do it if they thought it would sell like *gold-plated* hotcakes. They’ve… never really gotten DA, or understood why it sold better than Mass Effect, was my impression.”
The writer also said he’d even be satisfied with “Inquisition-level graphics” and just wants “Morrigan to not have the shoulders of a linebacker and for the sex scenes to not look like someone bashing marionettes together and shouting ‘now kiss!'”
We haven’t seen a new Dragon Age game released since Inquisition in 2014, but BioWare is currently working on the upcoming Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. There’s still a long ways to go in development, but the studio recently confirmed that the game is now playable from start to finish. However, the project recently lost its production designer when Mac Walters left BioWare after nearly 20 years.
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over six years of experience in the gaming industry with bylines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.
In recent years, video game companies like Nintendo and PlayStation have set expectations for any pre-recorded shows by announcing beforehand what kind of stream viewers should expect — whether focused on indie games, third-party titles, or about a specific game. This has been a welcome change as it sets appropriate expectations for an upcoming Nintendo Direct or State of Play showcase. After all, nobody will expect to see a new Zelda trailer during a Splatoon 3 Direct.
Sony did this too for its most recent State of Play earlier this week, announcing that the show will primarily focus on PSVR 2, Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad, and some indie and third-party games. But if the recent State of Play showcases have demonstrated anything, it’s that there’s a difference between setting the right expectations, and making it so that viewers should have no expectations at all.
Let’s start with PlayStation VR 2, which was just released to critical acclaim. Having spent a few hours with it myself, I can tell you that the tech underlying Sony’s newest VR headset is definitely something to write home about. Still, much has been made about the launch lineup of games which consists of one new first-party release (Horizon: Call of the Mountain) and several releases that are readily available on rival headsets.
When PlayStation announced that the State of Play would showcase five new PlayStation VR 2 games, the expectation would be that at least one of them would be a showstopper, meant to highlight a high-end product that was just released. Instead, the lineup consisted of titles that could have easily slotted into the rest of PlayStation VR 2’s launch offerings.
The reason for PlayStation State of Plays being what they are is both completely understandable, and self-defeating.
When I spoke with my colleague Brian Altano to discuss the State of Play, he aptly said, “The State of Plays, in general, have largely settled into a groove with their format, but it isn’t a great groove. They’re largely missing the fun surprise element that Nintendo Directs have.”
If the new PlayStation VR 2 reveals were a letdown for you as it was for me, it has to do with what I think is a disconnect between what PlayStation considers a surprise versus what the audience expects is an appropriate surprise.
For example, Nintendo ended its last Direct with Metroid Prime Remaster as a shadow drop, which falls in line with a showcase meant to highlight some first-party offerings. Xbox’s developer showcase featured the surprise release of Hi-Fi Rush for a similar, first-party-oriented stream that also continued to push for the ongoing benefits of Xbox Game Pass (which Hi-Fi Rush released on).
Sony set the audience up for a showcase headlined by five new PlayStation VR 2 games, and it seemed the biggest surprise was a new VR title from Enhance, the developers of one of my favorite games of all time, Tetris Effect. A tantalizing VR game for sure, but not one I would consider as something that could move a $550 VR headset on its own. And with a May release date, it’s not something current PlayStation VR 2 owners can enjoy immediately either.
The second headliner in the State of Play is Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League, a game that has few surprises left ahead of its May release date. The extended gameplay reveal did not share information that wasn’t previously known, and the elements that were confirmed — that it will be a live-service game with battle passes and gear levels — has been more of a concern for players than points of excitement. The reveal wasn’t even Warner Bros.’ biggest of the day after the company’s CEO David Zaslav let slip that Mortal Kombat 12 would be released later this year.
The reason for PlayStation State of Plays being what they are is both completely understandable, and self-defeating. As owners of the most popular gaming platform and with an enviable stable of first-party studios, Sony must work double to ensure fans come into the State of Plays with the right expectations, lest they leave completely disappointed that there’s no surprise God of War or The Last of Us or Ghost of Tsushima announcement. But by being so cautious about inflated expectations, Sony has created a series of showcases bereft of any surprises, making me wonder if the State of Plays are even necessary at this point when I get far more information from a PlayStation Blog.
One suggestion would be to make these shows more focused on a single topic. If PlayStation wants to do a VR State of Play, it should go all-in. Likewise, if PlayStation wants to update fans on third-party games, it should dedicate an entire show to those as well. Even if the entire State of Play was dedicated to one game, like Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League, a State of Play could offer a meaningful update on the anticipated title. By focusing on a single lane, Sony can manage expectations while still deliver meaningful updates on either its games or hardware. Hell, even a new PlayStation Productions show.
I get far more information from a PlayStation Blog.
By having a little of everything, and under-delivering on some of the headline items, State of Plays won’t be able to capture the same “must-watch” designation as shows put on by the other console-makers. But we know that this format works, and if PlayStation can zero in on what’s important to players, it can compete alongside Nintendo and Microsoft.
Matt T.M. Kim is IGN’s Senior Features Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.
Editor’s Note: The war in Ukraine is an ongoing, painful and emotive topic. IGN urges community members to be respectful when engaging in conversation around this subject and does not endorse harassment of any kind.
Atomic Heart’s launch week has been surrounded by controversy, as developer Mundfish is facing backlash for its Russian ties in relation to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, and a racist cartoon present within the game.
Earlier this week, PC Gamer published a story about online criticism surrounding the presence of a racist caricature within Atomic Heart. The caricature in question was found in the game’s Resident Evil-style save rooms, where players can take a breather from the action and watch old episodes of Nu, Pogodi!, or, Well, Just You Wait!, a Soviet-era cartoon that started in 1969.
The show can be summarized as a Soviet version of Tom and Jerry, starring a wolf who tries time and time again to get his hands on a hare. The issue is present in episode 12, titled Museum, which first aired in 1978. A statue is shown in the episode that’s a racist depiction of an African tribesman. Folks on Resetera criticized Atomic Heart for including the cartoon at all, let alone without any warning or context.
Atomic Heart devs:
“The Mundfish team thanks the PC Gamer contributor for bringing this lack of sensitivity to our attention. We apologize if using the vintage cartoon or music has caused hurt or insult. We will edit the parts in question.”
Mundfish responded to the PC Gamer report in a statement, saying, “The Mundfish team thanks the PCGamer contributor for bringing this lack of sensitivity to our attention. We apologize if using the vintage cartoon or music has caused hurt or insult. We will edit the parts in question.”
Ukraine government seeks to remove Atomic Heart
That’s not the only issue Mundfish and Atomic Heart are facing this week. While Mundfish’s official website now says the studio is headquartered in Cyprus, the developer’s Russian roots and potential ties to the Russian government has Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation seeking to remove Atomic Heart from digital storefronts in the country.
The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has seen many games and entertainment companies pull support in Russia, with many across the games industry calling for support for Ukraine. We’ve previously seen the Ukrainian government call on “all game development companies and esports platforms” to temporarily stop business in Russia.
Now, Atomic Heart has taken center stage regarding the games industry’s role in the war. As reported by PCGamesN, the Ukraine government will write an official letter to Valve, Microsoft, and Sony requesting that Atomic Heart be removed from digital stores in Ukraine, with an additional request that these companies consider “limiting distribution” in other countries.
The Ministry of Digital Transformation said its stance comes from the “toxicity” of Atomic Heart, and allegations that the Russian government could see financial gain from the game’s release.
“We also urge limiting the distribution of this game in other countries due to its toxicity, potential data collection of users, and the potential use of money raised from game purchases to conduct a war against Ukraine,” said Alex Bornyakov, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation.
This statement originally appeared on Ukrainian tech site Dev.au, with PCGamesN obtaining the English version directly from the Ukrainian government.
“According to media reports, the game’s development was funded by Russian enterprises,” the Ukraine government’s statement continued. “Therefore, we call for all users worldwide to avoid this game. We also want to emphasize that the game developers have not publicly condemned the Putin regime and the bloody war that Russia has unleashed against Ukraine.”
Both Mundfish and Xbox had “no comment” when contacted about the Ukraine situation. Valve and PlayStation did not respond to IGN’s request. IGN will update this article accordingly if we hear back.
Atomic Heart composer Mick Gordon recently revealed that he donated his fee to the Red Cross’ Ukraine Crisis Appeal. Gordon said he was contacted by Mundfish studio in 2020, nearly two full years before the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over six years of experience in the gaming industry with bylines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.
The Valiant Hearts series is a novel take on the familiar setting of World War I. Instead of focusing on armed skirmishes and large-scale battles, it hones in on the lives of those on the frontlines, the lingering trauma that war casts upon them, and the unexpected bonds found in dark times. Despite the smaller-scale storytelling, its more emotional take on living through war is a welcome change of pace.
Released in January as a Netflix Games exclusive, Valiant Hearts: Coming Home is the long overdue sequel to Ubisoft’s war-time narrative-adventure game from 2014. Along with the return of protagonists Anna and Freddie, the sequel also includes a new character whose story focuses on the African American service members in the famed 369th regiment, the Harlem Hellfighters.
We interviewed Ubisoft manager of inclusive games & content Maya Loreal, and product director Guillaume Cerda, about the making of Valiant Hearts: Coming Home and the potential video games have with bringing stories and underrepresented figures into the spotlight.
“It’s in our game’s DNA to tell the story of these ordinary people becoming unsung heroes,” said Cerda about Valiant Hearts; Coming Home. “And what better example than the Harlem Hellfighters, especially with the feats and efforts they are recognized with, even after a century following the end of World War I. Their stories fit in well with Valiant Hearts. We’re always saying that it’s not a war game, but it’s a game about war, being caught up in the turmoil of it.”
Revisiting The Past
Coming Home picks up after the original game’s events in 1917, with the United States entering the war and further expanding the scale of the conflict. As returning characters Freddie and Anna continue to survive with their fellow French soldiers, Freddie’s brother James enlists in the US army to join the war effort, going against his brother’s wishes. Along with facing the brutality of one of history’s most chaotic wars, James and other Black soldiers in his unit also contend with daily encounters of bigotry from their fellow service members at home and abroad.
The strength of the Valiant Hearts series lies in its focus on the human condition, along with the bonds of family and friendship during times of war. Much like Freddie’s experience from the original game – whose story was inspired by real-life WWI hero Freddie Stowers – James’ story is about the experiences of a Black soldier during the early 1900s, and what unfolds is a tale that’s rich and emotional.
Aside from 2016’s Battlefield 1, the Harlem Hellfighters have had little presence in other games focusing on World War 1. In real life, the Harlem Hellfighters, often known as the 369th regiment, comprised enlisted African American soldiers who wanted to join the war effort for the United States. However, the American military instead sent the 369th regiment to work with France, as American generals and other soldiers refused to work alongside Black servicemen in the racially segregated army.
The all-African American regiment was welcomed into the French military with open arms, and they would become a key segment of the French armed forces, helping to achieve victory in battles across Europe and in Northern Africa. The Harlem Hellfighters were not only exceptional in combat, but they also provided much-needed morale to the French and American military forces. In addition, several regiment members were talented Jazz musicians, and their music would lift the spirits of allied soldiers. It would also lead to the booming popularity of Jazz music in France during the 1900s.
A Fresh Perspective
James’ story in Valiant Hearts: Coming Home is compelling, and it pulls from the real-life experiences of Harlem Hellfighter James Reese Europe. Europe was a Jazz musician before entering the war, and he experienced many hardships during the war as well as in the racially segregated United States. Yet, despite that, he brought humanity and comfort to his fellow servicemen with his Jazz music and upbeat attitude – so much so that he became a celebrity in France after the war ended.
Speaking with Maya Loreal from Ubisoft, she explained the work that went into bringing James to life, and honoring the members of the 369th regiment in Valiant Hearts.
“Right from the start, the team intended to represent the experiences and the struggles [the 369th regiment] towards equality in the context of racial segregation,” said Loreal about incorporating the experiences of Black soldiers into Coming Home. “We did a lot of research to ensure we brought those stories to life. We partnered with Dr. John H. Morrow Jr., who is a scholar specializing in the history of the Harlem Hellfighters, and with the non-profit The 369th Experience, which is continuing their legacy. We see this as a long-term journey to make sure that we were celebrating those who hadn’t had a voice in history, and who had been overlooked.”
Coming Home delves into James’ story from the beginning of deployment to the end of his time in the war, highlighting many Black soldiers’ struggles in America. For instance, during a segment in James’ training for the war, he has to face racist drill sergeants who bark orders at him while demanding he enter the Blacks-only side of the barracks for his orientation. While in gun and performance training, the White soldiers are given rifles to practice with, whereas James and other Black soldiers have to run drills with brooms and other bricks instead. The sequence ends with James watching White soldiers stand in formation and raising the American flag, while he has to clean up the obstacle course.
Valiant Hearts: Coming Home shows its Black characters finding their joy in bleakest of times, and it’s a welcome and much-needed sight for video games.
Even with Valiant Hearts’ emotive and colorful art-style, you can sense the hostility and resentment that James experiences in his story. Thankfully, it’s not just tragedy and humiliation that he faces. In Valiant Hearts: Coming Home’s more hopeful and upbeat moments, we see James and the fellow members of the 369th division have pure and unbridled moments of joy amongst themselves, which is a rare sight for a game set during a war. Taking cues from the real-life James Reese Europe, the protagonist, and other characters come together to bond over a shared love of Jazz, which is an intractable rhythm-based sequence with music composed by musician and historian Jason Moran.
These moments are spaced throughout the game, and they’re always great moments of uplifting for the characters, showing that there is more to them and their stories than just suffering and hardship. Valiant Hearts: Coming Home shows its Black characters finding their joy in bleakest of times, and it’s a welcome and much-needed sight for video games.
Finding That Joy In Dark Times
Even today, we often see stereotypes and other harmful depictions of what it means to be Black in media – whether in a fantasy realm or in contemporary settings. Regardless of the setting, depictions of Black characters in media come from a real-world basis. Valiant Heroes: Coming Heroes shows a level of earnestness and warmth for its Black characters, which carries so much weight when you consider the real history and even in our present times.
“What worked so well with the collaboration with the 369 Experience and the dev team was that it was such an organic back-and-forth,” said Loreal. “It led us to explore other paths and also to acknowledge the full cultural resonance of that moment in time [during World War I], and what it means today. Working with Dr. John H. Morrow Jr. also brought a lot of insight into the specificity of the voice we needed to bring to the African American soldiers during that time, and it provided so much authenticity to the game.”
Much like the original game, Valiant Hearts: Coming Home is a moving and effective narrative game that portrays a particularly brutal period of history with a bittersweet sense of hope. This sequel not only lives up to its original story and characters, but it also shows that video games have a growing potential for telling stories about marginalized groups, and getting players to empathize with the perspective of an outsider and how it connects to real life. Simply put, to play as a Black character in a game about one of modern history’s most brutal wars just hits different.
Even with games that have several times the budget of Valiant Hearts: Coming Home, this sequel to a 2014 game manages to give more honesty and emotion than so many other titles in its genre, and it’s admirable to see a game punch above its weight. There’s always that prevailing hope that a medium you enjoy will continue to evolve. Games like Valiant Hearts show that video games can indeed offer something more.
Alessandro Fillari is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram @afillari.
The loot lizard, Xûr, is now live in Destiny 2 for the weekend until next week’s reset. If you’re looking to get your some shiny new Exotic armor or weapons for your Guardian, look no further.
Each week, Xûr has a random assortment of Exotic armor, one for each Guardian class, as well as a random Exotic Weapon and an Exotic Engram available for purchase. In addition to his Exotic wares, he’s got a random collection of Legendary weapons and armor to deck out your Guardians.
We’ve rounded up all the info on Xûr for the week including where to find Xûr, which Exotic weapons and armor are available, as well as which Legendary weapons you should pick up, either for PvE or PvP.
Where Is Xûr Today?
Xûr’s location today can be found at Watcher’s Grave on Nessus on February 24 through February 28. To reach him, travel to the landing point at Watcher’s Grave. When you arrive, make for the red moss-covered tree straight ahead. Climb up the roots and you’ll find Xûr waiting at the top to sell you exotic items and legendary weapons.
What Is Xûr Selling This Weekend?
Exotic Engram
Lord of Wolves – Exotic Shotgun
Lucky Pants – Exotic Hunter Boots
3 Mobility
28 Resilience
2 Recovery
7 Discipline
10 Intellect
24 Strength
Total: 64
Antaeus Wards – Exotic Titan Boots
10 Mobility
6 Resilience
19 Recovery
13 Discipline
8 Intellect
9 Strength
Total: 65
Nazarec’s Sin – Exotic Warlock Helmet
2 Mobility
3 Resilience
27 Recovery
2 Discipline
28 Intellect
2 Strength
Total: 64
None of the exotic armor pieces this week are particularly inspired. The highest-stat roll are the Antaeus Wards, which are admittedly the best boots in the game, but the roll isn’t spikey and only goes to 65. The Warlock helmet is much more spikey, but with only 64 points to offer, it’s not an ideal roll. Lord of Wolves is dope if you don’t have it!
Exotic Weapons
Hawkmoon – Exotic Hand Cannon
Paracausal Shot
Hammer-Forged Rifling
Alloy Magazine
Quickdraw
Smooth Grip
Dead Man’s Tale – Exotic Scout Rifle
Cranial Spike
Chambered Compensator
Flared Magwell
Killing Wind
Short-Action Stock
Both of the rolls for these two awesome weapons this week are just alright. Probably a pass unless you need one for some reason!
Legendary Weapons
Seventh Seraph Carbine – Auto Rifle
Full Bore/Hammer-Forged Rifling
Extended Mag/Armor-Piercing Rounds
Threat Detector
Elemental Capacitor
Stability Masterwork
Jian 7 Rifle – Pulse Rifle
SLO-21 Post/SLO-10 Post
Extended Mag/Flared Magwell
Zen Moment
Rampage
Range Masterwork
First In, Last Out – Shotgun
Chambered Compensator/Corkscrew Rifling
Tactical Mag/Steady Rounds
Outlaw
Eye of the Storm
Stability Masterwork
IKELOS_SMG_V1.0.3 – Submachine Gun
Chambered Compensator/Fluted Barrel
Extended Mag/Alloy Magazine
Shot Swap
Tap The Trigger
Rasputin’s Arsenal
Handling Masterwork
Far Future – Sniper Rifle
Chambered Compensator/Smallbore
Alloy Magazine/Flared Magwell
Surplus
Frenzy
Stability Masterwork
Honor’s Edge – Sword
Honed Edge/Jagged Edge
Heavy Guard/Swordmaster’s Guard
Relentless Strikes
Surrounded
Impact Masterwork
Eternity’s Edge – Sword
Hungry Edge/Honed Edge/Tempered Edge
Infinite Guard
Relentless Strikes
Flash Counter
Impact Masterwork
My top pick this week are Infinite Guard, simply because Xur rarely sells it, the Jian 7 pulse rifle, which rarely disappoints, and and interesting Ikelos SMG that seems to be the world’s best handling weapon.
Warlock Legendary Armor
For Warlocks, Xûr is selling the Vigil of Heroes set which include:
Vigil of Heroes Gloves
10 Mobility
11 Resilience
9 Recovery
2 Discipline
20 Intellect
11 Strength
Total: 63
Vigil of Heroes Chest Armor
24 Mobility
2 Resilience
2 Recovery
2 Discipline
18 Intellect
10 Strength
Total: 58
Vigil of Heroes Helmet
7 Mobility
10 Resilience
13 Recovery
2 Discipline
6 Intellect
20 Strength
Total: 58
Vigil of Heroes Leg Armor
2 Mobility
30 Resilience
2 Recovery
15 Discipline
7 Intellect
10 Strength
Total: 66
Vigil of Heroes Bond
Warlocks have some darn good boots with very spikey Resilience that are definitely worth your shards! Buy those suckers!
Titan Legendary Armor
For Titans, Xûr is selling the Vigil of Heroes set which include:
Vigil of Heroes Gauntlets
10 Mobility
16 Resilience
7 Recovery
19 Discipline
2 Intellect
10 Strength
Total: 64
Vigil of Heroes Chest Armor
6 Mobility
24 Resilience
2 Recovery
12 Discipline
6 Intellect
16 Strength
Total: 66
Vigil of Heroes Helmet
8 Mobility
19 Resilience
2 Recovery
13 Discipline
2 Intellect
16 Strength
Total: 60
Vigil of Heroes Leg Armor
8 Mobility
16 Resilience
8 Recovery
7 Discipline
10 Intellect
14 Strength
Total: 63
Vigil of Heroes Mark
Titans got two very good rolls this week! The boots are a fantastic high-stat roll with spikey Resilience and low Mobility. The guantlets are also not bad with 64 points to offer, though notably doesn’t have any spikiness.
Hunter Legendary Armor
For Hunters, Xûr is selling the Vigil of Heroes set which include:
Vigil of Heroes Grips
18 Mobility
2 Resilience
12 Recovery
10 Discipline
15 Intellect
6 Strength
Total: 63
Vigil of Heroes Chest Armor
6 Mobility
24 Resilience
2 Recovery
10 Discipline
12 Intellect
12 Strength
Total: 66
Vigil of Heroes Helmet
9 Mobility
13 Resilience
10 Recovery
2 Discipline
12 Intellect
12 Strength
Total: 58
Vigil of Heroes Leg Armor
14 Mobility
13 Resilience
2 Recovery
10 Discipline
16 Intellect
6 Strength
Total: 61
Vigil of Heroes Cloak
Hunters also got a fantstic high-Resilience rolled item with their chestpiece that’s absolutely to die for! Hurray for everyone!
That’s a wrap on Xûr for this week, Guardians! Lightfall comes out in a few short days and we just got an amazing launch trailer! Where are you hype levels at? Let us know in the comments!
